Just A Slice

Aeroslice woke up groggily, several days in a row now he had been making perfect hit after perfect hit and his wings ached and were sore despite the way the shimmering blade remained unscathed by the tests they put it under. He slowly donned the blades and folded he wings to his sides. They fit perfectly, and he could barely tell the metal still clung to his wings. Flare had crafted them perfectly.

He left his room and headed for the mess hall. For weeks he had anticipated this day, but now that it was finally here... he wasn't sure he was ready for it. After today he would have a week to wrap things and head for... Home.

At least he would have Flare. She had persuaded him to let her come home with him to meet his family. "I'm sure any family that could raise such an amazing stallion such as you will be great!"

Though he didn't really want her to come, he knew that she would comfort him when they got there, if she wasn't to stunned to say anything.

He brushed his dread aside when he spotted her sitting at their regular table with even his breakfast to boot.

"Ready for the big day Aero? Cheer up. Not everypony gets to be salutatorian of their class," She sang cheerfully.

"Still hate that I came under Fal by so little." Her answer almost seemed prepared, "You are more of a speed pony you are faster than everypony else but you give up acceleration for that. Plus she is a gryphon so even if you had normal acceleration, she would still have the upper hand."

"Still I kinda hoped I would have enough speed to make up for it." "It would take a Rainbow Dash to get that kind of speed."

This statement caused a wan smile to slide across his face. Rainbow Dash had been his idol for a long time and was one of the main factors he had gained his cutie mark the way he did, attempting a sonic rainboom.

Flare picked idly at his mane, "As gorgeous as you mane is I'm surprised you don't take better care of it."

"I do too, I condition it every morning." he said defiantly

"I meant something like brushing it, though it looks so sexy wild like this."

Aeroslash grunted and dug into his tulip sandwich, an indignant smile adorning his face.

Later that afternoon, after the graduation ceremonies and constant taunts from Falco, Flare walked up to her while nopony was looking.

"Hey Falco."

Fal looked surprised for a flash of a second before that cocky smile crawled over her face. The smile didn't last long as it was soon slapped across all of Equestria. "That's for being such a bitch." And with that Flare left her gaping there like an idiot and trotted back over to Aero's side.

The week went by quickly and the couple soon found themselves in flight ladened with heavy saddle bags. Aeroslash quickly became pretty tired even with the blades so light. His family lived in the palace at Canterlot due to their high status as having more than 10 members of the family serving in the army as officers and another 7 in the royal guard. The couple flew all day and most of the night before they saw the lights of the city on the horizon. Aeroslash was exhausted, his mouth foaming and his every breath was labored. Finally he gave in to Flashfire's request that they touch down and rest for the night. They could walk the rest of the way and get to spend plenty of time together on the road.

When Aeroslash landed, he immediately collapsed into a sprawled lump in the dirt. Flare landed next to her spent partner and laid down beside him. She put a hoof over his heaving sides as he gasped for breath, He lay there not even bothering to wipe the drool off his chin as he struggled to draw in breath.

When dawn came Flare woke but left Aero to sleep. Those plates were very light but they still wore on his wings hard, especially with his bags in tow. She could see Canterlot in the distance, a fleck on the horizon. To the right of their makeshift camp was the road to the city, huge on the ground where it had only been a ribbon of grey from up in the sky.

As she sat her mind began to wander about his family. Aeroslash never, ever talked about them and it was extremely difficult to persuade him to let her come meet them. "Stallions and their silly pride. What is so bad about introducing your marefriend to your parents? Are they really so bad to be around?"

Aero mumbled her name in his sleep and she smiled. He was such a great pony. They hardly ever argued, and he was completely faithful. True Blue. Like her coat, she giggled to herself. But she was going to have to do something about his shyness. Flare had met a mare named Fluttershy once and Aero was almost as bad. He wasn't timid like she was but he rarely spoke up about his opinions on much.

About the time the sun reached it's peak in the sky, a carriage rumbled down the road, startling Flare and waking Aero. As it passed by a mare from the interior shouted for the stallions pulling it to stop. Aero slowly got to his feet and put his bags over his back as the carriage slowed to a halt.

"Are you ponies going to Canterlot?" came a voice from the inside.

"Er, yes. Yes we are." Flare responded.

A moment of silence, "Would you like to join me? It's ever so lonely in here with nopony to talk to. I would enjoy having somepony for company."

Flare looked at Aero and he nodded, hanging his head, "I think we will join you, thank you so much." she called.

As they climbed into the carriage and sat down Flashfire beheld a lovely white unicorn with an expertly groomed mane of a moderate violet color. Aero climbed in after her and sat down tiredly next to Flare, leaning his head back against the cushions tiredly.

The carriage resumed its rocking course as the unicorn spoke up, "Hello. My name is Rarity."

"I'm Flashfire and this is Aeroslash."

"Why are you two headed to the city? And on hoof! You poor dears, why not fly?"

"Well we did fly from Cloudsdale but we had to rest here for the night."

"Cloudsdale?!" her face turned to the embodiment of astonishment. "But that's so far away and you flew all in one day?"

"Yes we did."

"Well then I am overjoyed to be the one who alleviated you for the rest of your journey. So tell me about yourself dear."

Flare could see that she was talking to Aero, not to her. She grinned inwardly, if she had the intent to flirt, Rarity was in for a big surprise.

"I'm Aeroslash." he said plainly giving her a blank look and holding out his hoof to shake. Flare grinned inwardly, pleased at his facade of neutrality.

"So are you two together?" her slightly indignant tone gave away her disappointment as she looked at Flare, a hint of jealousy in her eye.

Aero answered before she could, "Yes we are." he stated calmly as he put a hoof on Flare's leg, sending waves of heat directly to her cheeks.

"Oh." was Rarity's only response, clearly disappointed.

They engaged in idle conversation for the remainder of the ride and the generous unicorn let two pegasi outside the gate when they arrived. "I wish you both the best of luck!" she called as the carriage rolled away. Aero turned straight to one of the guards and began conversing with him. After a few minutes of them talking, the guard called for an escort to the palace.

Aero walked back over to Flare, "They will give us an escort to the mansion." She started right in, "You know that unicorn had the hots for you right?" She sincerely hoped he did, then she would know he told her off on his faithfulness. She really was a very pretty mare and Flare knew how fickle stallions could get.

"Well it would have been kinda hard to miss wouldn't it?" he said with an amused smile as a decadent carriage rolled next to them. He opened the door and offered her a hoof, "After you my queen." he said playfully. Taking his hoof she stepped inside and sat down. He piled in after her. And when she turned to him, he met her with a passionate kiss.

The carriage rolled to a stop and Aeroslash let go of Flare giving her a caress on her wing before he turned to open the door. As he stepped out he looked up to see a huge four-story mansion towering above him, two statues of unicorns in full battle armour stood guard on either side of the ornate carved door. The house looked exactly the same as it had when he was last here, so many years ago. He turned to help Flare out of the carriage and whispered, "Stick close to me, there's no telling how he might react to you."

"He who?"

"You always asked me why I'm always so quiet, you are about to find out why." And with that, Aero twined his tail in hers and they approached the ominous door together.

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"Your father has been expecting you." answered the butler as he opened the door for them, letting them into a massive parlor. The walls were lined with portraits of serious-looking unicorns all dressed in some military uniform.Expensive vases and suits of pony armour stood along the walls. Two massive staircases ascended to the second story and to the floors above as Aero remembered and Flare saw. "He is waiting for you in his office," the old butler added warily, eying the mare at Aero's side. He shuffled off and left the two of them alone in the foyer. "It's been so long." he mumbled under his breath as the door closed behind the old butler. "What?"

"I just said that it has been a long time since I set foot in this place." he responded.

"And with good reason." Boomed a voice from above. Flare squeaked and pressed against Aeroslash's side as a deep red stallion garbed in a decorated military uniform descended a wide marble staircase, nemerous medals clinking against each other with each step. He slowed when he caught sight of Flare and then resumed his former pace, his hoofsteps echoing off the walls almost endlessly. "I see you have failed." He said sharply with obvious distaste in his voice. Aero said nothing, shirking at the unicorn's poisonous tone. "I told you to come back a unicorn or not at all and yet you defile my home with not only yourself but with this stray bird?" His fathers tone became angry and bitter, not even trying to contain his anger and hatred. "17 generations of my family were all unicorns and every stallion fought in the army. Then you came, not only destroying our families legacy but also my wife." Aero surprised Flare, actually speaking up, "The conditions of my birth are not of my cause Father."

"SILENCE!!!" he bellowed causing Flare to bury her head deeper into Aero's side as he tucked his wing around her.

Aero's father resumed his tirade, yelling so loud the portraits along the walls shuddered,"You will take that creature away from here or I will personally tear her wings off. This house has been ruled by unicorns since Celestia took the throne from her parents two millenia ago. You defile it's name with your very existence! I will not harm you because you are blood, but She..." his gaze shifted to Flare, trying to burn holes in her face with his glare, "is not."

His horn lit in a blue glow and he felt Flare be pulled away from him, enshrouded in the same essense. She started screaming in terror, flailing her legs helplessly against the magical grip.

Blindly acting without even thinking, Areo charged his father and rammed him hard, driving his shoulder into his father's side, sending the unicorn flying into the wall. The portraits shook in their frames as his body slammed into the wall. Flare fell from midair and landed on the marble floor with a sickening crunch and a scream of pain. Aero whirled and ran to her. She tried to get up, but her leg was twisted at an gross angle and she collapsed to the floor in agony. He picked her up and slung her over his back. He fled the mansion with his father screaming at the fleeing pegasi, "DON'T YOU EVER COME BACK YOU VILE HELLSPAWN!!"

A block away he sat down and laid Flare on the ground and examined her. Her right foreleg was broken and she was shivering uncontrollably. Not knowing what to do, he picked her up again and ran to the hospital, his broken marefriend laying limply over his back.

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Echoing hoofsteps woke him from his light slumber. Aero must have dozed off waiting for the doctor to tell him what was going on. He looked up to see an old doctor who looked at his clipboard before speaking. "Aeroslash Duriean?" Aero only nodded morosely.

"Well good news. It wasn't a bad break so it should only take a few weeks to heal, she is conscious and continues to ask for you so I suppose it's all right to go in now. But don't stay too long she needs her rest."

A mumbled "Yes Doctor." was all he could manage as he wearily rose from his chair and staggered to her room.

As he walked into the room the first thing he saw was the cast around her leg, then his eyes rose to meet hers. He walked over to an armchair next to her bed and sat down putting his head in her lap. He finally let go and cried where nopony but his marefriend could see his anguish.

Her foreleg ached and it still hurt every so often but it wasn't bad. When Aero walked in he looked like someone had sucked the life out of him. He still had his blades on his drooping wings and both of their saddlebags were slung over his back. She didn't know what to say to him. Didn't know how to comfort the one she cared about so much, she could only watch him walk over like a zombie, sit heavily into a chair at the side of her bed, and lay his head in her lap until he started crying. She didn't know what to do. She had never seen him cry, he was so strong, so composed, never flinched at anything. But she had also never seen someone get disowned and then have to attack their former father to save their love. She just laid her left forehoof on his head and kept stroking his mane as he moaned apologies into the sheets. She didn't know how long they sat there but eventually she fell asleep.

Aeroslash spent the next week by her side in the hospital bed before he realized, besides the hospital, they didn't have anywhere to stay, much less anything to pay the hospital with. He had a few bits, enough for food for a few days but nothing else. Telling Flare he would be back soon, he left her looking lonely and remorse on her hospital bed. As he stepped outside, he saw that it was nighttime and knew most businesses would be closed.

As he turned around to go back inside, something caught the corner of his vision: a dark pegasus in black armour bearing the standard of the Princess Luna flying towards the palace, and an idea struck him. Opening his wings he took flight, following the guard of the night.

He flew over most of the city before the guard realized he was being followed. His cargo was extremely important, he didn't want anypony following him. He drew up and faced the spy in the air. He could barely see him but for a flash of gold in his mane, His color was perfect, dark green, the hardest color to see at night. "Who art thou?" he called to the follower. The moment the words left his lips, the pony drew up and faced him, showing glinting razor-sharp blades attached to his wings. "Wingblades." The guard knew they were extremely dangerous especially if somepony knew how to use them, The rogue ponies intentions were clear and obvious.

"For Luna!" he screamed a battle call and dive-bombed the mysterious pony. The pony tried to scramble out of the way but he obviously wasn't much for acceleration, and the armoured pegasus hit him full on, driving a practiced, steel-clad shoulder into the rogue's chest. The pony was knocked unconscious and the guard took him to Luna to be dealt with, flying for her throne room.

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There was still nopony in her throne room as there hardly ever was. Just her personal guard of pegasi. Her sister always kept unicorns around, but they were so limited even with their magic. "Why does Tia always discount pegasi so easily? They are much better for sending messages and whatnot throughout the land, they are so much faster."

She was interrupted in her musings by Praetorian, her guard captain, carrying an unconscious green pegasus as he entered the room. She stood from the throne, worried. Praetorian was carrying very important information and the pony over his shoulders obviously had malevolent intentions judging from the blades over his wings, sharp and deadly.

"Your Majesty." Praetorian bowed and threw the unconscious pegasus onto the ground. "I caught him following me through the city. When I saw the wingblades, I knew he was after your package." he explained as he walked to her and gave her the package. She took it, grateful that the pony had succeeded in his mission.

"Thank you Praetorian, you may take a well deserved rest. You have served Equestria well." Praetorian nodded and took a bow before departing to the guard chambers, a proud swagger in his stride. Luna looked down on the pegasus. He was skinny and lean like he hadn't eaten in some while and was falling behind on sleep, but he was ridiculously good-looking. His wings were very powerful,his body lean and muscular, and his jet-green and gold hair proved perfect contrast with his dark green coat. His blades were made from what looked like some kind of aluminum alloy, shining like gold. They were sharper than even normal blades were which meant that the metal was designed for cutting through thick armour.

She lifted one of his wings and put a small electric current through it to lock the muscles, curious at the significance of the strange metal. She then took a sword from one of her guards and swung the sword at the wing with as much force as she could put into the rod of steel. What she saw terrified her.

Aeroslash awoke paralyzed and with his wing vivid with electricity. He was soon released after he felt something strike his blades, passing smoothly over the metal with a loud ring. He opened his eyes and saw two halves of a sword laying on the ground. Magic enveloped them and the were pushed aside as blue hooves in silvered shoes approached him.

"Who art thou?" he was asked in a thunderous voice by the pony to whom the hooves belonged. "And where did you acquire wingblades of such a manner?"

He hesitantly answered, not looking to see who addressed him, "M-My marefriend made them for me."

"And who is your marefriend?" He was immediately asked. "And why did you attack my guard?"

Aero scrambled to his feet. That could only mean he was in the presence of THE Princess Luna. He hastily bowed.

"I did not attack him Your Majesty. I merely followed him so I could see you." A moment of silence.

"And why would you be interested in seeing me?"

"Your Majesty, I have no job nor home and I must care for my marefriend and myself and I have little money. I saw your guard and had the idea to join your night watch. We would have a home and meals and my family honor requires me to join the royal army or palace guard. I cannot join the army because as you can see, I am not a unicorn." It was the most he had said at one time in a very long while.

He dared not look at Luna, but as she remained silent he continued to get more and more worried so he added, "Flare has trained me on how to use my blades to the point of perfection and I shall not fail you."

"Is Flare your marefriend?" He nodded slowly, nervous.

"Take me to her and there we will discuss your admission to the guard."

Flare laid there on the bed with the incessant beeping of the heart monitor driving her crazy. He should have been back by now, what was taking him so long? The minutes continued to slide by, dragging slowly and doing everything in their power to drive her crazy. He left both their saddlebags here so he didn't have any money. Maybe he was more dedicated than she thought. "Or less." her mind prodded her. She shook her head violently to make the thought go away. "No, he was the most loyal stallion I have ever met, he won't leave me. Besides if he really meant to leave her for good he wouldn't have left his bag here." she said to herself, as if that would help her keep calm. That bag was the one with all the money, or what little they had.

Content that this logic was true she continued to wait and eventually fell into fitful dreams of Aeroslash and his father.

Flare was awakened by the door opening and the hoofsteps of two ponies. She opened her eyes and beheld Aero standing next to an alicorn, a mare alicorn at that. Rage built in her like a sudden hurricane. She hopped out of bed and slapped Aero as hard as she could. He just looked at her shocked. "What was that for?" he asked innocently.

That only made her madder. That he had the audacity to stand there so innocently next to the strange mare enraged her like a bar of iron.

She tried to slap him again but he ducked and she fell, off balance. She only had three hooves after all. She fell on the ground and he immediately picked her up and gently placed her on the bed. "Sorry I took so long." he whispered in her ear. He took a step back, "Flare, meet Her Majesty Princess Luna, guardian of the night.

Flare suddenly realized what she had done, embarrassed her boyfriend in front of the Princess for no reason. She could only mumble, "Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty."She could admit she was jealous that Aero was giving the princess more attention then her, but that was because she was a Princess. Her authority demanded it.

Luna spoke, "I hope I am not the cause of that display of emotion. Aeroslash brought me here to see you as I needed proof of his claims. But I hadn't imagined the hospital. Why didn't you tell me?"

He only shrugged. "You never asked me what condition she was in, only about myself."

Flare realized he was still faithful to her. He showed indifference and was bluntly frank with anypony other than her. His casual answer, shut her suspicions off in a heartbeat. Luna looked her over and nodded, mumbling quietly to herself.

"When is she free to leave to hospital?" Flare didn't know, the doctors never told her. Aero spoke up, surprising her, "She was free to go the day after we got here but I persuaded the doctor to let her stay here until I could find work and a place for us to stay." "And how long ago was that?"

He hesitated, looking at Flare, she only looked back. "We have been here a week or so." he finally answered.

Luna stood astonished. "Truly?" Aero only nodded his response sheepishly.

Flare began to wonder, just what had he tried to do to get the attention of a princess? What was he trying to do? She gave voice to her queries, "Why did he bring you here Princess?"

Luna looked thoughtful, eying Flare thoughtfully as she spoke, "I needed to verify his situation. I don't let just anypony into my personal guard." She turned to Aero, "Go ahead and bring her to the palace I will find quarters for the both of you. In the meantime I will consider you proposal." And with that she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Flare looked at Aero. Then and only then did she see the anger in his eyes. She braced herself, she knew she deserved it. But he only kept it in as he so often did. He didn't make voice to his hurt pride just said, "C'mon your wings still work, we will fly to the palace." as he picked up their saddlebags. "I'm sorry for hitting you Aero." He looked at her, a hint of a smile on his face. He gave her a peck on the lips and forgave her. She got out of bed and followed him through the door, hobbling on three legs.

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As Aeroslash and Flare flew through the palace doors a servant greeted them and showed them to their room. He left them after they were inside with a, "If you need anything just let the guards outside know." Aeroslash took Flare in his arms, careful not to hurt her injured leg, and kissed her passionately before letting go of her turning to the enormous bed. She flinched she saw the left side of his face, all swollen and bruised. A thin crack had split over the bruise, welling up blood in a steady trickle, only making her feel worse.

He saw her flinch at the corner of his vision and felt sorry for her. That pony could hit hard, courtesy of working in the forge all the time, but she was very self-critical. "It's okay babe, I know it must have been quite a shock to see me standing there with another mare after being gone so long." He then relayed the nights events to her to explain his lengthy absence.

When Aeroslash got to the part where he got rammed by the guard, he saw her look at his chest to see the cuts and numerous bruises the armour had inflicted on his being. He took her face in his hooves and told her he was fine before continuing with his story.

Flare did smile when he told her how the wingblade had split the sword so easily, pride in her work clear on her face. When he finished he picked her up in his forelegs and carried her over to the bed and tucked her into the covers. He laid a kiss on her forehead before he crawled into the bed with her. He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Luna had decided to give him her invitation to breakfast personally but when she opened the door she saw the two ponies snuggling motionless under the sheets. She smiled to herself, slightly jealous of the lucky mare, and closed the door. She would have to tell him in the morning.