Verve

The ‘dawn’ came much earlier than he’d like, and in the form of a gentle nuzzle against his cheek. The Seraph groaned as he turned over, away from the stifling fluff - and to the freedom of the tent’s corner.

This was, of course, the wrong choice. As he was still tightly bound in white wings and gentle hooves, Celestia quickly schooched her plushie back in for a round of affectionate nosing. The nose, the forehead, the neck - nothing was safe from her muzzle. Her tender affection grew a little more personal as Arin refused to open his eyes, until he gave up - gold irises meeting her soft pink hue.

“Good morning, Sunshine.” She whispered quietly in the dark, a warm smile filling her features. “It seems we’ve slept in. The others are already up and about - I thought we could use a little… talk.”

“Tia, we’ve had days of ‘talk’. What else is there to chat about?” he whispered back. Wait, if they’re alone, why are they whispering? Well… it is a snowy, cold night, and they just woke up. It must be some kind of instinct to be quiet in bed.

“I wanted to talk about… us. More specifically, back at the waterfall. Before we fell.”

He nodded slowly, as the mare held eye contact with him. “Okaaay.”

“Well, when I told you that… I love you. You said ‘I know’.”

“Celestia-” he began, but she quickly corrected him.

“Tia.”

“Right, right. Tia. Is this really important right now? Nightmare Moon has the throne, we’re broke and on the run like fugitives… and you want to talk about love.”

Then again, she did have a point in bringing it up. He was definitely stringing her along, and it was hard on both of them. If he had married Luna before he left three years ago, they wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

“No, I just… It’s… I’m sorry. I’m not blind, I’ve seen and felt every bit of havoc you have. I’ve experienced years of torture, I’ve seen the destruction caused by Nightmare Moon not just once - but twice now. It’s just, well… That first time you kissed me, I wanted to know what you meant by it. If you really have any feelings for me, or if you did it to calm me down. If you’re just playing along to keep me happy. I know I must make you… nervous. In some way. I’m the Princess. Everypony I’ve ever loved only returned my feelings for bits, or power. And I know you’re not like that… you have an open heart.”

Her hoof pressed to his chest. “When we first met all those years ago, I gave you hope. Now, you’ve given me hope. But I… I want to know if it’s real. I can find love again, Arin, if you’re not interested. It will hurt, but I’ve felt heartbreak. I’ve experienced it countless times, either with the passage of time - or when the truth comes forward. Love me, or let me go. But please, don’t make me wait.”

By the Feathers, she poured her heart out to him. And there definitely was an interest on his part. You know what - it was a time for change. If she wants love, then Luna will have to accept it when he finally frees her. He… he will free her. He can’t lose hope. For now, he’ll meet the morning mare halfway.

“I do love you, Tia. Your beauty struck me the day I met you. The Princess of the Sun, coming to visit a peasant like me - broken and alone, with nothing save the tatters of clothes on my back. I never knew you would be so kind to me, or that you’d take me in like one of your own. You have been a blessing, the light of the day and of my life. If Luna had not embraced me, I would have been smitten with you.”

Soft tears welled in her eyes, and before she could lean in for a kiss - a single finger darted before her lips. “I will share your feelings. Under one condition.”

He wiped away the happy sorrow from her cheek, slipping in closer. His legs tangling with hers, a gesture of love and acceptance. “When all of this is said and done, and it will be done, I want to talk with Luna. I want her opinion, if she’s still interested or not - I’ll even fill her in on our temporary arrangement. Besides, you just left a horrible situation. Once a week or two passes, and you’ve had your fill of affection - you’ll probably realize that you’ve been acting… reckless. And you’ll lose interest in me.”

He smiled now, a faint hope in the dim light of the snow-covered tent.

“Well? What do you say?”

“It sounds like you have commitment issues,” Celestia puffed.

“What? Oh come on - I rarely have a choice in what happens around me! I’ll be damned if-m-mmf…”

Her lips caught his, fully pinning the Seraph beneath her. Though she was extremely light from her recent captivity, the sheer amount of vigor and love she poured into him was enough to nearly overwhelm him. Immediately, his wings darted around her - laying the affection on thick. She ran her hooves over his body, the flutter of his heart striking in his chest. By the Feathers, she was quick - in mere seconds, she had locked every limb around him. Laying kiss after deep, exploratory kiss.

By the time she pulled away, they were both panting - and the smaller Seraph lay dazed beneath her. That lovely pink mane had toppled around his face, pink lavender eyes gleaming dimly in the faint light of the stars through the tent. He hadn’t seen her this happy since…

When had he seen her this happy? The thought never came to mind. When he rescued her, she simply didn’t believe it. Claiming it was a dream, over and over again… she was so fragile then, shivering in his arms.

“Thank you, Arin. I understand completely, my Love. This will be a temporary arrangement… think of it like we’re both healing from our individual solitudes. Perhaps you are right, and this is nothing more than a crush. Then, I will gladly give you away to my Sister, or whoever you choose. She would understand; after all, I’m the one who comforted her for the weeks following her banishment. You wouldn’t believe how long it took for her to sleep anywhere other than my bed!”

She giggled softly, her voice calming like soothing honey.

“Tia, by the way… Pumpkin uh, may have a bit of a crush on me, too.” He gave a nervous smile beneath her soft body.

“Huh?” She blinked. “Well, do you intend on pursuing her? I mean, yes! She seems sweet, but… You did just admit you loved me. By the Stars, this will be the fastest I’ve been cheated on!” She gave an airy laugh, smiling. “But I understand. Love who you will. Let this journey be one of healing and growth. I’m a big mare, after all.”

The Solar Princess winked, sewing another kiss on his lips - that he gratefully returned.

Luna would have a wonderful time setting up his execution. He fell into the deadly trope. He was going to cheat on her… with her Sister.

Her hooves slid down his body, feeling the soft tone of it against her frogs. Her eyes slipping shut to give another soft kiss, a gentle meeting of the lips - the greedy Princess giving a faint moan. He returned it, the Seraph’s strong hands squeezing over her supple form. Feeling the slowly returning curves of her body.

But eventually, they would have to leave the comfort of their tent. Having caught up on sleep, and the sound of talk around the campfire coming in intervals, it was time to leave. Before, Arin would have been rushed to pack up and hit the road. But with Tia locked tight in his arms, the warmth of supple lips against his own… it was difficult to even convince himself to move.

But move he did; he shuffled against her comfortable embrace, restraining a yelp as she tugged him back down.

“Tia, we have to start moving. Not only is the world at stake, but I’m positive that at least Tempest will check in on us.”

She gave a sad sigh. “For once, I wish the world wasn’t at stake. A new destructive force appears every other month, it seems. I sincerely believe Twilight is made of bad luck. You, on the other hoof, are just the opposite.”

Celestia let him free of her hooves, but her wings wouldn’t let go.

“Oh? And why’s that?”

“Because I love you.” The Princess trailed the tip of a feather across his cheek, before her grip vanished. He quickly made it to his feet, fully refreshed - and ready to tackle the day. Offering a hand to the lazy Princess, she snatched it up - joining him.

Oh yeah. He was still mostly naked, save his boxers. The Princess blushed, examining his nude body in detail.

“What? You never wear clothes. What’s so interesting about me when I take mine off?” He chuckled, quickly changing into his adventuring gear. It’s a shame they both lost their cozy jackets. The weather was only going to become worse from here, and without layers - they’re bound to freeze. Cold snaps away your endurance, as your body expends energy to keep you warm. It will definitely slow them down.

“The fact that I get to see all of you, is interesting in itself.” Celestia’s eyes explored, even as he bounced on his legs - slipping trousers back in place. Finding Luna’s vest, he eyed it for a moment. Sliding his hands over the silver buttons, the blue dragonhide surface. Feeling the mithril beneath it.

He couldn’t wear it. Not in good conscience. Thankfully, he still had the old, green, abandoned Griffon Vest - that he withdrew from his satchel, happy to find it still fitting. The buttons clasped it in place, and even after all these years - it would still serve him well, as an elegant solution to self preservation.

Celestia, upon seeing the old colors, brought a hoof to her chest. Feeling the spot where her regalia once lay, now long forgotten somewhere in the Castle Armory. She left it there, wearing her full golden platemail in its stead. But seeing Arin in his old jerkin, an idea crossed her mind. A surprise for Arin, in the future. Something heartfelt for sure.

With the supplies situated, they stepped into the bitter chill once more. Luckily, it wasn’t windy in this midnight darkness; the trees did well to block that. The duo set to work packing up their camp, Celestia’s eyes flicking up to Vee’s abandoned project.

“I didn’t hear Vee come in. Did… did she sleep outside, or?...” the Princess asked Arin, collecting the tent poles to situate in the bag.

“Tia, Vee doesn’t sleep. Vee is… Vee. She merely pretends to sleep. She also does a great many things you’ll never understand. It’s just a fact of life.”

“...I’m willing to believe that. Her very being is an enigma, one I may yet decipher before the millenium is out.”

Packed up and ready for a quick breakfast, they rejoined the ‘lively’ conversation. It was mostly just Pumpkin Spice, sitting next to Tempest and quietly talking. Vee hadn’t moved from her position by the fire, her coffee cup now empty by her side. Instead, her eyes watched the forest with intent. She always seemed to be at least somewhat spaced out.

Celestia used this as an opportunity to pry at her mind. Living without rest simply wasn’t healthy, after all.

“Vee? When was the last time you slept?” Celestia questioned, as Arin retrieved a small pot from the bag.

“Hmhm? Oho! Let’s see. I had just applied the smackdown on an unruly witch back at school, and I had terrible dreams all night about it. Bad for the feathers, you know. Since then, I’ve staved off the urge with coffee, coffee, and brisk evening flaps. D’ohoho! Just foalin’ around. It was more coffee.” She picked a feather to preen, stirred to movement from the question. Her hat floated down from her head in her magic grasp, withdrawing a small sheet of paper. A checklist of sorts.

“Let’s see… Princess Snooty snootin’ up my business. Check,” she said, flicking her spent feather across the page. Remarkably, even without ink - the broken pinion could write. Arin leaned over to get a good look at the parchment - but before he could, the Purple tossed it into the rolling flames.

“Look at that, Tall-fry! You ruined my schedule. I was just about to stuff it in my hat.” Another fresh piece of paper appeared - with the previous checkmark included, and clearly written out as she said before, ‘Princess Snooty snootin’ up my business’.

“Feed the fire… check.” This new list was returned to her hat.

Ooookay. Scooching around to the other side of the fire, Celestia set to work making ‘breakfast’. This was literally impossible to ruin. Dump the contents of the cans into the pan, and then immediately give it to literally anypony else before it catches fire from being within her presence. The true cook happened to be Pumpkin at the time, who held the pot in unsteady hooves after Celestia had filled it. Taking it as a job to be done, the small autumn mare brought it to the fire - hovering it unsteadily above the blaze in her unsure grasp.

“So! What are you two talking about?” Arin asked, hoping to stir up some good conversation from the nervous witch and stern mare.

“Oh! I was recommending this one novel to Tempest - Fifty Shades of Neigh - but it turns out, she already r-” A wine hoof clapped over her small mouth, the Unicorn in question locking eyes with the Seraph.

“We were discussing the novelties of life, nothing more. But now that you two have untangled from the sheets, let’s speak of geography. Sit,” she commanded, waving her hoof to the snow-ridden floor. Arin gave a quick check for a seat - and finding a log, he rolled it by the fire’s blaze. What was surprising was that Celestia obeyed the command; wasn’t she supposed to be the leader here?

“Alright. Shoot.” He gestured, as the Princess joined his side.

“While I have not directly visited the unexplored West, I have heard rumors of what lay beyond the Corpse Vale, as the few who survived in my former troop called it.”

“Corpse Vale?” Arin began, “Seems a bit dark compared to well… everything, in Equestria. Go on?”

“The Corpse Vale is essentially a long mire, moored by streams and hills. It stretches south of the Luna Sea, past the Storm Ridge. It’s the first obstacle beyond the hills guarding it. The few who survived the experience noted it as a harrowing place to explore, as the muddy earth tugged at one’s hooves and the cool of the marsh claimed lives - the dead yet stir in its dark valleys, anchored to their fetid corpses by dark magics. It’s extreme nature summons the plane of the Shadowfell, a place of misery and suffering. Bitter ash hangs in the air within the plane, with the stench of rot and decay. A truly foul place, at the edge of the world.”

Pumpkin had begun to shiver in fear, scooching closer to Tempest for comfort. The wine mare ignored her, her eyes falling on the light of the campfire.

“It’s the first deadly barricade between us, and Umbra. The next is equally worrying, and for that, I only have faint accounts. Only one word, in truth. ‘Spiders’.”

“D’ohoho! I speak Drider, so it’s no problem at all,” Vee chimed, a fresh cup of coffee joining her. Where she found it, was anypony’s guess. “I’m quite adept, too. I learned when I was naught but a strapping young witch, with the world at her wing tips.”

“I-I’ve never seen her speak to spiders before…” Pumpkin whispered. Unfortunately, she was ignored.

“I guess Vee will take point when the time comes, then?” Arin shrugged. By now, the slop in the pot was at a boil - and small, mismatched bowls were produced from Vee’s pack. Pumpkin made extra sure to clean them out with a fresh cloth, before Arin could divide up the rations.

“I’d prefer to find a pass around spiders myself. I have few fears, but spiders are definitely one of them.” Tempest gave a disgusted shiver, the first real emotion besides contempt for the less-than-serious group around her. At least, this was the only time Arin had seen her do anything but scold. Or glare.

“W-Why don’t we um… take a boat?” Pumpkin offered. Celestia shook her head.

“Unlike many planets, which are round - at one point in time, something struck the very world of Equis. It left half the world a molten, endless disaster of boiling magma and deadly gases that the few who were tempted to explore it named ‘swirling death’. That very same disaster separated the sun and moon from its orbit, far before the times of written history. The Luna Sea is a deadly whirlpool disaster as you travel farther west - the Celestia Sea being much the same. The laws of reality are bent at its edges, as well; those who tumble into the endless tide may find themselves momentarily suspended, or pushed back into the waterfalls of the Great Cusp. Water that plummets to the exposed molten core of Equis soon reforms as Free Weather Clouds, that churns the oceans in violent storms. There is a reason our world is small, as it quickly becomes inhospitable as you move into the distant lands East or West.” The Solar Princess gave her recount of history quite well, resting a hoof on her chest.

Arin dumbly dropped his spoon into his bowl, taking in the words of the morning mare with wonder. “That’s… crazy. Almost makes Leotoln’s story of what happened back in the Far Reaches half-believable. I didn’t believe it myself, when I saw it from the moon. But tell me… how’d your planet survive that?”

“I wish I knew. A tale was spoken that passed through the generations; the Mother of Equis - an alicorn with crimson hair and a kind heart - sacrificed not just her magic, but her very being to cast a spell of protection on our lands.” Finding food available and served to her in a bowl, the regal mare fumbled with her spoon in her hoof before roughly slamming the boiling hot soup into her muzzle.

“H-HOT!” She gasped, sizzling her tongue as she spat her breakfast onto the snow around them. She fanned her scorched tongue with her hoof, whimpering softly. Her eyes soon fell to the Seraph, fighting back tears.

“Arin, I know magic is… stretched right now, but if you could…” She pointed at her tongue. The Seraph rolled his eyes - snapping his fingers as his golden aura embraced her burnt appendage. Within seconds, she was all patched up - her muzzle fully healed.

“What a waste of magic,” Tempest said bluntly. “Save it for real injuries, please. I will not bleed out at the bottom of a cliff over careless waste of our precious resources.”

“You’ll bleed out when I say you bleed out!” Arin laughed, blowing on a boiling spoonful of thickening stew. “But I’ll try. Twilight was smart to include a first aid kit with our supplies. Any bumps or scrapes should be easy to tend to.”

“Oho! I also have many magical things in my shop that could prove useful. But! I don’t want to go bankrupt. So I’m sorry, but there is no employee discount.” She was given a bowl of thick soup, which she graciously accepted. “By the way, Arin. You missed work all last week. You snoot, you get the boot. You’re fired.”

“What? Seriously? I traveled to the Lunar Plane to save Celstia’s-”

“Tia.”

“Tia’s life! You can’t just… Oh. That was a joke.” Arin stared right through the Pegasus, who hid her muzzle behind a wing.

“D’ohoho! I couldn’t resist. You’re fine, Tall-fry. But my register is not! Let’s not rob me blind, once we get there.”