Chapter 1: Patched Heart (Re-Write)

“Get. Out. Of that. Bed! AGH! Come on!” A small bat-pony mare tugged at a large lump of blankets, small as in just shorter than your average mare, but well more ferocious. Her dark blue coat was covered by a light grey jacket, just hiding her crescent moon with whisp-like clouds, short mane of blue with stripes of white done up in a messy bun, tail just simply brushed neatly for an interrupted date night, and sharp emerald eyes glaring at the large lump on the bed. In a hotel room of the crystal empire during the Hearts and Hooves Day festival, was Lunar Flare with her date.

A large earth pony mare of greyish silver coat that she had taken time to neaten up, aside from the long messy mane that was a darker shade of her coat and equally messy tail that was only neatened by a blue tie, large blue eyes peeked around the corner of the door with a quizzical grin. “Do I need to come in sweet pea?” Her rumbly-southern bell voice was always a pleasant sound to Lunar, an instant calmer really. “I’m bigger than him, I can yank ‘em right out. Cause I really wanna get this date going. Don’t mean to sound rude or nothin’ but……” Always a sweetheart.

“I don’t wanna leave…” And there he was, Mels, the stallion of the lump on the bed. A small portion of blanket slid off to show a similar set of emerald eyes to his sister. His body is almost completely hidden, other than his tail, wings, and well, most of his body. The large stallion was hard to hide. Messy blue and lavender mane with the same white stripes as his sister, quite large, blue and soft wings stuck out with a sky-blue color fading to white, his sky-blue coat was matted, and his large rump with a cutie mark of a castle tower with clouds around it were all easily visible. He was from what Lunar could see, is a mess, and most certainly been crying. “Just go and I’ll be fine.”

“Like Tartarus! I didn’t stop my date to come help you just to leave you here. Uncle said to keep an eye on you and me damn well plan on doing just that. I wanted to put my dress on tonight too, but I’m coming to help you instead.” She didn’t want Mels to feel guilty, but she was getting annoyed. “You are a royal guard for THE Princess Twilight. I know being dumped sucks the rottenest rear, but I need you to at least talk to me and we can figure this out.” Her Thestral-Cloudsdale accent really poked through the more irritated she got. She wasn’t angry, just annoyed. “Can’t let my little brother wallow in self-pity all day and night….and most likely week.” She was the oldest, half-sister, and youngest brother was a stubborn mule. “Come on, please. For your big sister?”

More blankets moved off as he showed himself more. He was in fact, the huge younger brother. The only size comparison he had to go to was Big Mac from Ponyville, standing eye-to-chin with that stallion. Fun part of an Earth-Pony mother and a Pegasus father. Big and very ‘floofy’. Well, he’d be his floofy if his fur wasn’t matted and wet from tears. “I didn’t have an issue with her. Even when she showed me, she was a Changeling….” More blankets peeled off, showing pale scars around his neck, one on his muzzle, and one above his left eye. But that didn’t detract from the miserable look on his muzzle and pure misery in his eyes. “I loved her and thought…. You know, could maybe get married and…. She just leaves. I brought up the idea yeah, but she wasn’t annoyed or angry with it, I mean…” Rambled on, letting his emotions run his mouth as he spilled to Lunar who knew what was wrong.

A mare, a Changeling, who was disguised as a mare before hoof as a mare named Storn. Was the partner of Mels. Who when was exposed and admitted to being a Changeling, was worried how Mels would react but was accepted by him fully. He had even admitted himself he preferred her natural look more. Found it more beautiful and even cute. Lunar, as a Lunar Guard, was skeptical of her but even she ended up liking her. But finding she ran off and left a note for her little brother to end it because she worried that she’d hurt him, was the last straw. “Yeah, I know, but she left you via a damned note. She didn’t care, if she did, she wouldn’t have left. Bet she was- “

“Stop! She did love me, and the note is fine! She left because she wasn’t sure if being a Changeling would get me in any trouble with anypony. Like those stupid nobles!”

“Mels, Princess Twilight, with the other Princess, especially Princess Cadance made it law that any discrimination would be dealt with, even those stupid nobles. Shit, they even tried some shit with me when they saw me with Sumac, cause she’s…... well…. You know….”

Letting out an amused sigh, the mare mentioned shook her head. “A mare with a cock, you can say it honey. Dick mare, futa, hermaphrodite with all the bits but without the chance of kids, got the fluids, but all inert. Kinda sucks, but happy to have a mare that loves me to bits.” Sumac’s voice rang through to Lunar, leaving her blushing and stammering. “I’m not ashamed of it. It’s what I am,” Coming into the room, now fully visible with a faux-leather jacket on and a scarf with little moons in it around her neck. Also, her cutie mark of a steel plate with rivets in it. “A large, beautiful mare with some fun extra equipment. I’m bigger than your little brother, I was willing to yank you off that bed. But that was your sister’s idea, not mine. You doing, okay?”

Laying back down on the bed, he sighed. “I-I’m fine. Sorta.” Meeting Sumac’s gaze crumbled the lie. “It hurts. My heart hurts…... not like medically, just you know… “His voice was less raspy now and his softer voice with a shallow deep tone was adorable when paired with how he looks.

Patting Lunar on the shoulder as she moved past, Sumac had a bit more skill with the emotionally hurt. “Let me Hun.” She came to the bedside and lowered herself to eye-to-eye level. “Mels, honey, sweet little Mels. Look at me, I know it hurts, okay? I understand, but you can’t let this drag you down so hard. It’s Hearts and Hooves-Day week festival, it’s a chance. Maybe get cleaned up, wear something nice? Oh, maybe a simple outfit or a suit? Maybe something to show off those wonderful wings? Catch a few eyes~” She wiggled her eyebrows, the serious tone ticking too playful. She did get a tiny smile from him though. “Ah, there we go! Come on, get you in that uniform even if we must, get you a handsome stallion. Even maybe borrow a dress of mine like that one time. Oh, how about a Griffon? ~ I saw you looking at those Griffon guards during their visit. Hehe, I’m just playing with ya’, sorta~.”

Mels was now blushing and smiling just a bit more. “M-Maybe.” He was in fact eyeing the Griffon guards. But to be fair, one guard winked at him. “The dress was one time though. Pretty sure it was one of our drinking nights too…., Just a different thing to try. Even though it was kinda nice.”

“Mhm, true, bet that Griffon would have enjoyed a date with you. Oh, maybe one of those islander Griffons? Like Griffstralia? Across the water, but a quick airship ride would be easy.” Booping Mels’s nose, Sumac chuckled and got up, nudging Mels up to pull him into a hug. “There’s my smiling future brother-in-law.”

Lunar looked away with a blush and fidgeted a wing. “Yeah, well, someday….”

“Oh, I’d say yes. But a different discussion for another day.” Holding Mels for a little longer, comforting him just a little more before breaking the hug. “Okay, so here's the plan. You get cleaned up, put something on or not, -you looked nice in that dress too, don’t lie- go out for the evening and night. Find some pony, Griffon, Changeling, Hippogriff, Dimond Dog, Deer, or whatever. Female, Male, both, or whatever works. Trust me, I am both of the whatever, I’ll be damned if anycreature doesn’t find an interest in you. But yeah, plan set sugar plum, how about it?”

Mels looked between his sister, Sumac, the floor, and circled his eyes around. “I. Well.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll try…. I can’t promise anything, but you two won’t have any issue with whoever I find?”

His sister gave Sumac a quick smack on the rump. “Good shit honeybuns. I really gotta learn how you do that. But yeah, not an issue, as long as they don’t have any ulterior motives. I’ll make them vanish into the night. Cause I can-eugh!” Being Grabbed by a strong foreleg and cut off.

Sumac sighed and kissed the little bat on her forehead. “Sweetpea, no vanishing folks on our nice week. Now, we gotta go and let our little Pegasus here get ready. Those wings need some fixin’ though. Make sure to hit those.” Letting Lunar go, she gave Mels another nose boop and nodded. “You got this. Go have some fun, if things go well, let us know. If not, still let us know, I do enjoy my sweet alone time with Lunar. But I do care a heck lot about you. A future sister-in-law has to, it’s part of the job I reckon.”

“Thank you, both of you. I will do my best. Ummmm,” He blushed and started playing with his mane. “What if things go extremely well and whoever I’m with and I…. you know.” He bumped his hooves together. “Do the cloud shuffle?”

That got a snicker out of Sumac, and she nodded. “You enjoy them and make sure they care about you. A casual bit of fun is alright, but not tonight, you need something more. Someone who cares. Okay? We’re gonna go now. So, I wish ya luck and have a safe night sugar plum.” Grabbing Lunar and placing her on her back, cause the small mare is no challenge for Sumac to move. Bidding Mels a good evening and going off for their own date finally.

Leaving Mels to himself and time to prepare, clean up, and maybe -an extreme maybe- make sure an outfit is ready for later that week. Let it be that dress, which was more a sun dress last he checked with Sumac, which he could pull off. For a stallion, his features were leaning towards soft and a hint mare-like at a glance, hiding his muscle and pulling away from his sturdier build. Or just a jacket and scarf. Mostly because he didn’t have that dress, he’d have to find Sumac for it. By the moon he couldn’t imagine going to buy one for himself. “Okay…... gotta get cleaned up. Ugh, why did she have to mention the dress…” Dragging his hooves towards the bathroom, the stallion got the shower going as he got his wings cleaned up, a quick preen before a good wash wouldn’t hurt. “It was once and yes, the nice unicorn stallion liked it, but definitely not for an attempt at finding love again. An established relationship, yes, but just meeting someone for the first time might not be the best option.” Anyone new might not want a stallion who is willing to dress like a mare or just wear a dress in general really, it’s not an unknown or a taboo thing, but it’s still not common. “Maybe just my jacket and scarf. Keep it simple. Clean up and get presentable for someone. If it goes well…. which I doubt.” With a heavy sigh, Mels went about the motions about cleaning up and fixing the emotional mess he became. Fur brushed, mane the same, tail combed, and wings preened. “Floof at maximum, wings beautiful, and eyes…. Only slightly red still… great. Won’t be super obvious I’ve been bawling my eyes out.” That won’t totally throw anyone off who might be interested. “I’d be happy with just a compliment today. By Luna’s starry mane, what a mess this day has been.” Getting his jacket and scarf on and a small saddlebag, he set out for the evening.

Tonight, didn’t have any events aside from the ‘Courting’ shows that displayed different cultures courting methods of past ages. Tonight was the bat-ponies, tomorrow is the Pegasus. If, a big if, Mels found someone tonight, they could see that show tomorrow if things go well enough. But the doubts still rode high in his mind. Leaving the hotel area and entering the festival areas around the central castle. It was set up in rings, four to be specific with some outer laying set ups and areas near the parks in the Crystal Empire which are scattered thought the city.

The first area was the scattered outer set-ups was just gathering areas, places to relax, eat, and generally enjoy the festival in a much quieter location. The first actual ring was food and drink, pop-up ‘restaurants’ with actual dining areas, stands for quick bites, and all the food was different cultures serving what they’d have during their versions of Hearts-and-Hooves Day. The second ring was where things got more romantic in a way, shops and crafters showing off their creations or showing what their cultures share during these days or when courting. It does include several jewelers who certainly enjoy helping those find the perfect ring or other piece of jewelry that is used in proposals. Mels definitely eyed many of the shops, dreaming of the idea of giving a special someone something unique or sharing the experience, ending in a wonderful and cherished kiss. A stallion can certainly dream.

The third and final fourth ring is where things really started to show and get louder. Larger areas showing courting methods, history, advice on how to properly propose if one partner was confused or worried about how to do things. Some even shared advice of hybrid children, love does tend to bring two together, even across species in Equestria. It was common to see a Pony with a Griffon, or a Zebra with a Changeling, now that things have settled in peace across the world. The final area had the show grounds and a platform used by Princess Cadance to start and close or throughout the festival weeks. Having yet to attend one of those, even the Changeling show was avoided due to Storn’s fears of their relationship’s future, which was most likely the first sign that their time together was coming to an end.

Mels avoided going past the second ring since Storn left, keeping to the food area for the more festival style foods and no point of going to the shops anymore. Sheepishly moving around, the large stallion moved through the late day crowd quietly, feeling small regardless of his larger size. Even among the crowd. His ears picking up the conversations between couples and only fueling his doubts. Ending up mindlessly at a little empty picnic table off to the side, little thing of hay-fries. Just the pressure of the night was a little daunting, started with high spirits. Maybe. High spirits may be overestimating things. Truthfully Mels was feeling increasingly pressured. He was fine on his own before Storn, but after she left, it just left part of him he didn’t know was there, empty. As cliché as it can sound, his heart of missing something. Not even a nice thing of hay-fries can help it. Shifting his wings, a sense of discomfort settled in. “Knew this was a bad idea,” Aggressive regret rung in his voice. “Damn it…. forget this…” Leaving the table and the still warm fries. Mels walked off down a side street towards a shop district.

The store he looked for was quick to find, a bottle-shop named the ‘Talon Flask drink stop’. A set of talons holding a flask and a cork on one of the sharp talons on a sign hanging out front. The low lights inside showed a lack of business, but Mels could see the lone shop keeper, getting a quiet “Welcome.” when he entered. The old Griffon idly clamped his beak on an unlit wood pipe as Mels grabbed a bottle of Griffon Rye Whiskey. Certainly not his plan for the night originally, but it certainly ended there.

“This is for ya’?” The old Griffon who’s feathers long greyed and fur far thinned set his pipe down and rung up the purchase. “Not many Ponies get the Griffon made whisky. Bad day youngin’?” The faded yellow eyes scanned over Mels, and he took a deep breath. “Yeah, been there. Just Don’t let it Get to ya too much kiddo, trust this old bird. Took me a few partners to get it right, last one is why this pipe is empty. Mhm, alright, forty bits, H&H Day special going. Figured some might need a drink but I also offer advice. You’ll find them one day.”

Nodding idly, Mels shrugged. “I guess, just figured becoming a Royal Guard was going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with. But… yeah.” Setting the bits down, taking the bagged drink, he thanked the shop keeper and left. Heading down the road some more, making a few turns, lost at this point. Lost in his thoughts and losing his way.

Looking around left him even more defeated and eyeing the bottle in his bags, but before his wing could move for it. A set of voices reached him, a pair of crystal mares dressed to entice and not impress for the night giggled as they neared him. “Oh sis, look here, lone stallion on his own~” A blue shaded mare with glittering pink eyes, shorter of the pair, moved around his left.

“Oh poor dear~” A taller mare, the opposite coloration stepped to his right. “Lovely stallion like you shouldn’t be alone on a night like this~.”

Mels shrunk away from this a bit, his wings folding in front of him. “O-Oh, hi…um…. well, I’d rather be alone if that’s alright, I’d-“He was stopped by the pink crystal hoof on his shoulder.

“Oh please, my sister and I can take care of you tonight deary. Just give us a chance, won’t ya?” She scooched closer and smirked. “Pretty and strong looking, quite the catch we got, Topaz~”

“Indeed Amaranth, quite the catch I’d say, bet he’s packing quite the spear~” Her hoof neared his rear, causing him to shoot up and away from them.

“S-sorry, I’d rather not, I’m really not looking for anyone right now so please leave me alone.” Nervous and uncomfortable betrayed the assertive tone he tried to put forth. “Just want to be left alone and head back to my hotel and sleep the rest of this festival away and forget about it. So, pl-please leave me alone.”

Topaz scoffed. “Oh, come now, that certainly isn’t true. Two mares like us offer you a good night and you say no? Please, as if you really wanna say no to us. Mhm, plus, from that little scoot you did, I saw plenty underneath, benefit of being short. I want some of what you got honey~”

Amaranth snickered and fixed her shiny mane. “Come on deary, come with us, loose that cheap drink and let us get a taste of you and then some~”

Mels was now scooched into a corner, figuratively and latterly as his back bumped against the corner of two buildings in this little side road. “I-I said no, and that means no dang it. Just go bother some other stallion or whoever catches your fancy.”

The two mares laughed and moved in on him, words flowed but his ears didn’t hear them as the panic rose around the stress of the night. The anxiety ran though him like a Minotaur in a tiny potion shop. The closer they got, the worse he felt, in a panic he grabbed the bottle and tossed it at them, falling short as it hit the ground and smashed. Their surprised yelps were heard as now they got angry with him, yelling and demanding he spend the night as payment for being so rude to them.

The only thing that would save him would be a timely intervention by literally anyone. Even a silent prayer to Luna was hopefully enough. Luck would have it; it’d be answered in a loud bird like screech. Wait…. More Griffon like…. a Griffon was an odd answer from Luna but he’d take anything at this point.

“Get a bloody ‘ell away from ‘em ya pair of Molls!” Looking up he saw them, a black feathered Griffon with a brown tint to the end of them on his head and wings, his fur was black with white spots, like a leopard, which bled into his feathers, with white feathers mixed into his chest plume. A short grey beak frowned deeply, and bright golden eyes pierced down at them, a pair of sharp grey talons scratched the ground loudly as he landed defensively in front of Mels. “Oi, I said get. This stunner of a stallion said piss of polite like, so I’ll be a touch worse. Piss off!” He was smaller in stature to Mels, only coming up to his neck, but the accent was a far shot from what Mels had heard from a Griffon.

“Oh, buzz off fish-breath! My sister and I have every-“He cut them off with another scrape of his talons.

“Oi! Not gonna say it again, ya galah. Take ya sister, and go, this is the third one this week you’ve bothered. One more and I’ll get the diggers. Well, you drongos, the guard. You know they hate your lot.” The two reluctantly, and thankfully, did leave after a moment of tense quiet. “What I thought, sheesh. Right, now- ow!” He lifted paw and found shards of glass in it. “Shit, welp, should have landed better.” He kept that one paw up and looked up at the stallion with a smile. “G’day, or G’eve rather, haha. Names Quill, how ya doing?” A talon was set out, waiting a friendly hoof. Ignoring the bleeding paw.

“Uh…y-your paw…” Mels eyes it nervously as he shakily put his hoof to the talons and idly shook it. “Um…its….”

“Yeah, waste of whisky, but stuff shit anyway. What’s a stunner like you doing alone though, if ya don’t mind me asking?” Quill was straight to his point; his accent was like a sweet honey to Mels’s ears though. “Hello? Ya in there Hun?” He laughed and sighed. “Right, probably a little shaken up. How about this, my hotel room in literally right above us a few floors if ya want to come in, might need some help with my paw to be honest.”

In a switch, the panic left as a preset reaction took Mels. Injury, paw, bleeding, and glass. Combat Medical training. “Right, come here!” He quickly got up, tried some tears that he didn’t even know he had and grabbed the Griffon gently. “Third floor directly up you said. Tell me when.” Huge wings spread out leaving Quill in awe of the Stallions directness and honestly his size. Of his wings.

“Wait, I just- Crickey!” He was lifted easily up and into chest floof of Mels, which was almost like a cloudy heaven to the Griffon. Oh, and smelled of lavender! “R-Right here!” Quickly onto the third-floor balcony and into the room, Mels quickly and gently set Quill on the room couch, placing the paw on the coffee table. “First aid kit- “Interrupted by a towel and said kit being placed under the foot and on the table.

It was only now that his brain caught up with the stallion. “I- oh…. OH! Oh my, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…I mean your paw…. I, sorry, I’ll just-“He scrambled back and into the wall, banging his head against the solid mass. “Ow……” He shook a little and shut his eyes tightly as he rubbed his head. “That hurt.”

Quill on the other hoof…. Or talon chuckled. “Oi, no worries. Ya definitely a lot faster than I with it all. Not every night a beaut of a stallion scoops ya up to fix up a bloody paw.” The small blush spread through Griffon’s cheeks as he looked over the stallion. “Now we both need some first aid, eh?”

It took a moment, but Mels uncoiled from the wall he hit and shook his head. “Y-yeah, guess so…heh….” He sheepishly made his way back over to the table, removing his jacket and scarf, setting them on the couch. “S-Sorry Quill….”

“Ha, remembered my name from all the commotion we had, but you are?” Quill leaned in a little but hissed as his paw flexed and pain lanced due to a few shards in the soft paw pads. “Blimey that stings.”

“Himmelwatcher, but folks call me Mels…...” He opened the first aid kit and set out a few things.

“Ah, Germane name. From Griffstralia myself, well, born there. Moved to Equestria with my pa when I was young, near the border of stalliongrad territories. Ma was one of those airship ladies, pa was a miner. Long story. Anyway, a pleasure to meet you Mels.” Quill leaned back and watched the stallion work. “So, how ya know what to do with this sorta thing?”

“O-oh, well I’m a Royal Guard actually. Princess Twilight’s detachment in Ponyville. Heh, yeah…… kinda pathetic a Royal Guard couldn’t stand up against a pair of mares like that….” He put antiseptic around the paw and tweezers as he gently pulled out the shard. “S-sorry, might sting a little…”

“No worries, Hun, ya gentle as a breeze. Barely feel a thing. But Royal Guard, oh my, saved me a handsome guard I did and then scooped up by him too, lucky me.” This got Mels to stop his work and explode into a burning blush as his week pomf’d out, smacking the nearby wall. “Blimey! Big one ain’t ya? I’m just teasing you a little, get the jitters and spooks from that nastiness down there out of us. They’ve been bothering folks all week…...”

“A-And you just stop them…. What about your partner or mate?” The room was oddly absent of any evidence of a mate or partner. “They must be worried about you, hopefully th-they don’t mind me being here…”

“Well,” Feeling the last shard be removed and bandage wrap around the paw, Quill sighed. “All alone you see. Came hoping to maybe meet someone, maybe a soulmate or some silliness like that. Probably foolish, but kinda felt a tug towards you. But a big stallion like you has to have better- “He was got off by a quiet sniff. “Oh. Oh no, oh dear.” He saw the pony tearing up. “She left, didn’t she? While you were here?”

“Y-yesterday….” His voice quivered and cracked. Tears now again streaming like that afternoon and morning and night prior. Matting his blue fur yet again. “I don’t blame her though……I might have been too much…”

Quill scooted off the couch and easy on his wrapped paw, sat next to the Pegasus. A set of talons laid on his shoulder as a wing presented itself slowly in comfort around the back. “Of course you don’t. You’re a good stallion, I see that plain as day. Sorry if I came on a little much earlier, If I knew you were hurting, I might have chosen better words.”

In a surprise, Mels leaned into Quill, the large stallion looking a little funny shrinking into the Griffon’s support. “Heh…it’s fine.” He took a few deep breaths. “I think the more I think about it and talk about it, the less it hurts. But it still hurts.”

Running the talons over Mels’s back slowly in a comforting manner, Quill nodded. “I understand. Havn’t had any luck with anyone personally. Never found anyone that fit me really. But who could resist you, stunner you are, a beaut in my opinion. Maybe she was scared?”

“She was,” Answered that quickly. Knew the answer. “She was a Changeling, I knew her first as a pony, but saw her change and even told her I loved her still and thought her natural look was beautiful, cute even. But guess when I brought up the idea of getting married one day might have scared her, note said she worried what the nobles and such would think of a Royal Guard marrying and Changeling.” His head rested on the chest crest of feathers, extremely soft and warm. “I didn’t care. Laws said those pompous pricks couldn’t do anything. Maybe it was some old fear cause her hive wasn’t like King Thorax’s, not changed. Heh…. she was beautiful. Called me similar things too, like you have.”

Quill took his turn to blush and chuckle. “Well, can’t be the only one to appreciate you. Not lying when I think you’re handsome and beautiful. I mean,” He carefully touched the wings. “Look at these, huge and wondrous wings, I thought Griffs had huge wings but these? Absolutely stunning.” The colors like a beautiful sky, the blue mixed with the white, like clouds.”

“O-Oh well…heh, yours are nice too. Like a night sky, tinted by light….” He lifted his head and now was a head over the Griffon. “Y-You’re not bad yourself…. umm…handsome, if you don’t mind me saying….”

Taken by surprise and turn of emotions, which may need to be questioned later, Quill gave a bird-like chuckle and a soft coo as his neck feathers bristled in embarrassment. “W-Well, not one to say no to a compliment. Heh, so, how about this? We share the night, have some tea, and I can take you back to your hotel afterwards?”

Now Mels was taken by surprise. “O-oh! I mean, like…. a date?”

“Well, no, doesn’t have to be a date. But,” Quill booped the stallion and gently pulled away and went to the kitchenet of the room. Real fancy rooms in the Empire. “A get to know one another over tea night, really. If you want to that is.”

Mels quickly cleaned up the first aid area and set it away. “A-Any cleaning spray for the table?” This hooked Quill as the stallion had his head cocked, mane falling around his face, emerald eyes sparkling in innocence, and looking rather beautiful and hunky at the same time.

“Y-yeah…umm….” Quill jumped a little as his own wings pomf’d up, his feathers did the same, leaving the Griffon embarrassed. But getting the cutest laugh out of Mels, a stark contrast from earlier. Maybe Quill was just the stabilizer this poor stallion needed, Quill had to thank Princess Cadance for this, your country works in mysterious ways indeed. “Oh my. Heh…well…um…. preference for tea? I have a few…. types of Black Tea, some Chai, some other ginger types….sweet or…?” He grabbed a box and a pot.

“A sweet ginger please. I-If that’s alright.” Quill had to look away quickly as Mels just got cuter, his little sheepish asking, and the sweet tone with that subtle strength. It was breathtaking. Oh, dear Quill was struck by that arrow.

“N-N-No problem, let me just get the pot started! ~” He excitedly moved carefully around and moved to get the tea ready, his eye catching Mels just sitting in the middle of the room. “Y-You can sit, it’ll take a minute.”

“O-Oh, right! Sorry.” Sitting on the couch, the stallion blushed as he felt the warm spot from where Quill sat. The warmth of his chest feathers tantalized his mind. “W-warm….” He quickly covered his mouth.

“Sorry, what was that?” Quill looked back over his shoulder.

“N-Nothing, just…. uh…. admiring the room?” His eyes locked onto Quill, then his backside, and lower before he shook his head and mentally chastised himself for such a thing. He just met this Griffon; he shouldn’t be eyeing him up like some eye candy in those magazines. Which got his mind in trouble again as he put Quill in those outfits and positions. “Oh….my…” At least he was quiet this time, but his face was burning hot now.

“Now, it’s getting ready. How- oh, you’re quite red. Feeling sick?” Oh, Quill you sweet soul, if only you knew.

“F-Fine! Um…. yeah sorry, I’m fine. Umm…. just night catching up with me. Heh, started today off pretty bad and now I’m in the room of a very handsome Griffon….” Oh. There ya go Mels. “I-I mean…. I….uh….a very generous Griffon, that’s what I meant!” The quiet settled in as Quill smiled fondly as the silliness of the Pegasus. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, I will happily take the compliment after all the things I’ve called you. Heh, always been a bit more forward.” It took no time for the pot to whistle and shorter for two cups of steaming Sweet Ginger tea to be on the table, after they finally got around to wiping it down. Blood drops cost extra on the check-out bill. “There we go, all set. Let me know what you think.”

Mels took a tentative sip, a soft sigh leaving him as the sweet tea warmed his soul. “A much better choice then that whiskey…. thank you.”

Taking his own cup the Griffon nodded. “Of course. Now, with tea in claw and hoof. Let’s start over, shall we?” Clearing his throat and sipping his tea. “Hello, I’m Quill, from Griffstralia. A pleasure to meet you.”

“O-oh, right. Of course.” Setting the cup down, Mels fidgeted with his wings. “I’m Himmelwatcher, or Mels. From Ponyville. A similar…. pleasure? Is that what I’d say?” He was not a stranger to formal, but in such a setting he was lost.

“Yes, haha, but I assure you. The pleasure is mine. I’m happy to share my tea with someone. Oh…. uh, should of mentioned. I also live in Ponyville….yeah, probably should of said that too. Hahaha.” Now it was his turn to be sheepish in his laugh.

Mels giggled and shook his head gently. “It’s fine, would be surprised if we’ve seen each other and never noticed. The guard armor hides our coat color.”

“Heh, so if I said the big guard at the Ponyville castle has had my eye for a while, would that be you?” Quill leaned onto the table and gave a sly wink.

This got the leaving blush to hold. “W-Well, maybe, can’t honestly say I can remember you… sorry.”

“It’s fine, we’ve got time to know each other now. And, well, more if you want to. Like know each other, more time like this, not well…. More as in, you know….physically…” Now who was a blushing mess.

Now the images flooded back and Mels tightened his legs. “O-oh! Well, of course, heheh, more tea and more this is nice, I think. Maybe. I’m not sure. Ummmm…. Can I be honest?”

Quill snapped out from his blushing freeze. “Yes?”

“I don’t remember how to get back to my hotel from here……” Oh, now that presents a challenge for them. Easily solved.

“Well, if you want, you can stay here if you’d like?” Quill offered his wing towards the bed. “I can take the couch, it’s a fold out.”

“No, I mean, yes…I mean,” Mels took a breath and steadied himself. “That would be lovely, thank you.” As if reading from a script. “You take the bed; the couch bed will be plenty. But one request?”

“Y-yes?” Quill kinda hoped the stallion would want to share the bed….he looked cozy.

“More tea?” Oh darn…well, it’s a start, maybe a trail to be followed.

“Of course.” Definitely. Follow this trail, see where it goes. “I have a few other types if you’d like to try, oh! And maybe some food?” That’s how that night will go, tea, some food, and conversation. Help him back to the hotel in the morning and hopefully and maybe see where it goes from there. Quill’s mind was flush with hope.

Mels mind was flush with the same hope, maybe a lot more hesitant, but Lunar and Sumac said to find someone. So maybe this is some sign from the moon above. Oh, but those images also like to flush back, Mels certainly had a lot to consider this night and the following morning. Nice and slow, just like mom taught him. She’s a Griffon, she certainly knew what she was talking about. Nice and slow. What a trail he’s on now.

Author's Note

Okay, I know it has been an VERY long time and I know someone is probably not happy. I am not happy with how long it took, but I finally did it and this is my final rewrite and the start of the story. Now I have a more concrete place to start from and feel a lot more confident in this story. I am sorry about taking forever and just doing a re-do again, it just hasn't been sitting right in my mind with how I started the story and I had to take a long hard look at how I want it to go, I have plans and ideas, and i get ahead of myself a lot. But the two stories I wrote helped me figure out how I want to do this. So, this is it, this is The Trail of Feathers.