Our walk is interrupted by a very familiar sinkhole. Looking around I’m shocked to see all the buildings and cracks have been completely repaired. The only evidence that something happened here is the gaping hole in the middle of the street. Sensing my confusion, Force speaks up. “Magic speeds up reconstruction pretty quick. To be honest I’m more surprised the sinkhole is still there, but I guess they ran out of material or need a specialist or something.”

“Have they announced a memorial for those who were lost before we realized what was happening?”

Her voice becomes quite somber, “Yeah. Once the hydra was down for good everypony got their memories back, the current death toll is over 150. The memorial is in a few days on Saturday. They even plan on putting a statue of the heroes who slayed the beast where the sinkhole is.”

“Who is organizing the statue? I won’t be able to attend the memorial, but I need to give some instructions to whoever is making the statue.”

She gives me a very judgmental look, “Oh you wanna make sure they capture your good side? Surely that can’t be what your first thought was.”

I let out a small chuckle, “No. That statue shouldn’t even have me on it. That statue should be a single filly. Her name is Cursive Hoof and she’s the only reason we even discovered the monster. She was born deaf which made her immune to the monster's mind altering lullaby, and she watched it eat her parents. If it hadn’t been for her the death toll would likely be several times higher.”

Her eyes actually well up and she stares at the ground. “Th-that poor foal. I don’t know who’s making the statue but Princess Luna should.”

I reach out and ruffle up her mane a bit, feeling bad that I brought the mood down even further. I decide to just move on from the topic entirely. “C’mon let’s hurry up, I’m starving.”

“H-Hey! I spent 30 minutes trying to style this!” She forgets her sadness in an instant and gives me a glare. After spending a few seconds trying to fix her mane with a wing she starts walking. “Ugh, don’t do that again.”

“No promises~” I should probably bring this up before we get to the place. “Hey actually can we stop for a second, sorry I just remembered something.”

She stops and turns to me. “What is it?”

“I feel obligated to explain why I was so apprehensive to this idea to begin with. You know I’m not from this realm or plane, right?” She gives me a nod with a confused look. “I’m not going to be here forever, Force. I’m still actively trying to figure out a way home. I’ll admit that as of right now it’s not looking all that possible, but it is still possible. Part of my magic gives me quests to accomplish and it awards me with magic items and strength, one of my quests is to find my way back home and it’s still showing as “In Progress” if it wasn’t possible it would’ve changed to “Completed.” Basically, I’m not looking for love because I don’t see a point in it if it just means I’m going to leave in a few years. If you wanna call this whole thing off then I understand.”

She looks even more confused now and…angry? “WHAT?!” She rears up and gets in my face. “You’re just going to get up and leave one day? You became Luna’s paladin and swore an oath against your soul just to one day leave her? Why do you draw the line at love? You think your friends won’t miss you? You think Princess Luna wouldn’t miss you? Why not just live in solitude in the Everfree if you’re still planning to leave? Would that just be too miserable for you? I mean seriously how selfish can you be to just draw some arbitrary line in the feelings sand and say Love is too far-”

“Luna knows! Luna and Celestia, they both know I’m still researching how to leave!”

“Oh so if I told you that in 30 seconds I’m going to kick you in the balls then it won’t hurt anymore right? Since I told you I’m going to do it that makes it painless right?! I can guarantee Princess Cadence doesn’t know about this because if she did she'd be more furious than me! I can’t imagine how Princess Luna feels. The guilt she feels every time she catches herself thinking “I hope he never finds a way home.”” She drops back onto all fours and takes a deep breath. “I just didn’t realize how much of a coward you are.”

“Coward?! Oh pl-”

“Yeah you’re a coward. If you weren’t a coward you’d either be completely selfish and let yourself fall in love or you would live in misery alone in the woods. You’re scared to fall in love because you know you won’t be able to go home anymore. Even if you find a way you wouldn’t take it if you’re in love. Either that or you’re scared of how broken you’d be when you do go home. Either way don’t just sit here and lie and hide behind this notion that you can’t possibly bear to place that pain on somepony else.”

I run a hand through my hair as I stare at the ground with a scowl on my face. Finally I click my tongue in annoyance and look at the pegasus. “I’m just being realistic. Why the fuck would I get into a relationship with someone if I know it’s not going to last? Why put them and myself through that?! I should’ve just put my foot down at the castle and went back to bed, this was a stupid idea.” I turn and start to walk away.

“Or you can just stop being a coward.”

I stop and glare at the knight.

“Anything but a coward Ignis. I actually admire selfish ponies. Being able to just throw away the expectations and desires of everypony around you to chase after what YOU want. That’s a rare thing to find in this kingdom. I think it takes a lot of guts. If you were a selfish bastard I’d still want to date you. As long as you don’t hate me for also being selfish and hoping every night that you don’t find a way home. I can accept you as you are with any flaws you have, except being a coward. I hate cowards. So, what’s it gunna be?”

I turn and start stomping towards her. Once I reach her I just scoff out loud. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? Fine, I’ll be selfish. Let’s go.” She finally adopts a smug grin on her face as she starts leading me down the road again. “But Force, if this somehow works out and we end up dating. When the time comes, and I leave forever I just want you to remember. You asked for this.”

“Yup! Cause I’m selfish too.”

This place is way nicer than I thought it’d be. The inside is a mostly white completely open banquet hall. It reminds me of my fathers but smaller. The dim light also gives a romantic vibe. The only confusing part is that it’s damn near empty, even though it's peak dinner time right now. A griffon in a cheap tux approaches us. “Ah, tonight we are graced by the knight and the knight to be. Will it just be you two dining with us tonight?”

Force answers for us, smiling towards me. “Yep, just the two of us.”

We start following the griffon towards our table when I lean towards the pegasus. “Him saying soon to be knight reminded me, you haven’t completed your oath yet have you? When’s the ceremony?”

“No, we were going to do it the day before you woke up, but all three princesses agreed that symbolically it’d be better if the only other living knight was at the ceremony. So, we agreed to do it after you woke up.”

I slide her chair out for her but it just results in a strange look from the griffon and the pegasus. I slap my forehead. “Sorry, keep forgetting the things I would normally do for girls are reversed in this horse kingdom.” I take a few steps over to my chair and roll my eyes as Force pulls it out for me to sit down. “Anyways. Why wait for me to wake up? Apparently Lunas plan was for us to go on the multi-week long adventure as soon as I woke up. Are you all going to delay the ceremony until we come back? That seems like such a long delay…”

She sits down across from me. “Nah it’s okay. I’m still getting paid as a knight and I’m honestly struggling to come up with my oath. The only reason I even knew about the details of your oath is because I asked Luna what you used to see if I could steal some of it for my own.” She looks at the waiter who has just been staring at us with a bored expression. “Sorry.” She looks back at me. “Do you drink? I was going to get us a bottle of champagne.”

“Not often, but I’ll indulge tonight.” I turn towards the griffon, “Can I also get some water, though?”

“Certainly sir, and which bottle were you thinking for this occasion ma’am?”

She picks up the menu and holds it toward the waiter. “I don’t feel like embarrassing myself trying to pronounce it, can we get this one?” She points her hoof somewhere towards the middle of the menu. It’s facing away from me so I can’t really tell which one she’s picked out.

“And do you two already know what you’d like to eat or do you need some time?”

I glance down at the menu and realize I haven’t even looked at the bloody thing yet. “Oh yeah I probably should’ve been reading this, huh? I definitely need a few minutes.”

The waiter just gives a slight bow and walks off. “Woah this place serves meat? I guess I should’ve figured that out when you said you found this place on escort duty for a griffon. Well, that and the waiter being a griffon.”

“We actually probably only got the griffon waiter because you were with me. The few times I’ve been able to splurge and come here alone I always get an Equestrian waiter until I order meat. Then the Griffon usually brings it out and becomes my waiter. See anything in particular? It’s my treat so feel free to get whatever you want.”

“No. Listen, I'm willing to adapt to this culture to a certain extent, but I won’t budge on this one. You’ve only been on a knight's pay for like a week at most and you already admitted this place is pretty expensive. Also, I don’t even pay for things, like it’s kind of ridiculous actually. Everything in the castle is just provided for me and I haven’t had a reason to really go out and spend bits, so I’m either splitting the bill or I’m paying for the whole thing.”

“Okay! Okay. I get it. Honestly if you’re offering then buck it, you can pay for the whole thing.” She gives me a small laugh. “Honestly the change of pace feels pretty nice.”

“I’m noticing a distinct lack of beef on this menu. Does Equestria not have cows?”

“Oh we do, but they’re sapient creatures. If we were actually in Griffonstone you could probably get some, but it’d be even more expensive than half of this menu combined. They don’t have their own nation but they have a business union here in Equestria. The reason it’d be so expensive is because of how impossible it is to even find cows outside of Equestria, and of course killing them here is illegal, so is the sale or consumption of any beef products.”

“Yeah I kinda lost my appetite for them as soon as you said they could talk.”

The waiter returns and sets down two glasses of water and a bucket filled with ice and our bottle poking out of the top. “Do the two of you still need a minute?”
I shake my head and Force grabs my menu and stacks it on top of hers before passing them both to the griffon. “Nope, I think we’re all set. I’ll have the salmon with a salad.”

He looks over to me, “And you sir?”

“I’ll have some chicken parmesan and…. Do you guys have bacon here?” He gives me a nod. “Oh hell yeah, I’ll take some bacon as well.” He walks away as I look back towards Force. “Honestly not two foods I’d normally order together but I haven’t had bacon in months. Even before I was sent here I had been craving it but hadn’t gotten around to actually buying some to cook up. Also you ordered salmon?”

“Yep! This place wouldn’t be one of my favorites if I wasn’t coming here for some kind of meat. There’s a few places around here that serve fish for pegasi like myself, but griffons will always cook meat better than a pony.”

Force grabs the bottle of champagne from the bucket and pours two glasses. I grab mine and start to take a sip when she clears her throat. Pausing, I look over and see her giving me a look that screams “Duh” while holding her glass towards the center of the table. “We gotta toast to something, doofus.” I just snorted and hold my glass in the air a few centimeters from hers. After flashing a smile she announces, “To your health!”

As we clink the glasses I decide I hate that toast and offer my own. “To your promotion!” I take a sip and let out a sigh. “Woah, that’s sweet. Sweeter than anything from Earth for sure.”

Constitution Saving Throw (Advantage).

1 and 4. 4 + 2 = 6. You are drunk.

“I know! Isn’t it great?”

Wow this got awkward fast. It’s been like 30 seconds of pure silence. “So do your parents actually hate you just because you were born with wings? They realize you didn’t really get any say in the matter, right?”

“Ugh, I know right. Honestly I think the main problem is that for years my sire was convinced that I wasn’t his. Both of my parents are unicorns so he assumed she must’ve been fooling around, but the mana signature test confirmed it as soon as I was old enough to take the test. I remember hoping that everything would get better after the test, but it didn’t. His entire family started rioting and claiming that the bloodline is impure. Things only finally calmed down when my little brother was born. They finally got the unicorn they wanted. Once he was born I just quietly existed until I was old enough to move out. Got selected for the Wonderbolts Academy, wasn’t good enough to make the main squad but still got an officer recommendation with a specialization in maneuvers. I actually plan to invite them to the knighting ceremony, but who knows if they’ll show.”

“Ha, if they do, you should have Cadence tell them about how she was born a pegasus too. Seems like Harmony or whoever is in charge doesn’t care what appendages you’re born with.”

“She, WHAT?!”

“Oh… was that confidential information? Listen, you didn’t hear that from me. I’m sure you would’ve found out anyways….eventually. Sorry I’m kind of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.”

“Lightweight?! You’ve had like half a glass that’s more like a featherweight!”

I’m not gunna tell her that I’m only drunk cause I got insanely unlucky on a dice roll. “Its fineee~. I’m like 108 years old or something I can handle myself.”

“So the rumors are true…. I thought there was no way you could be that old.”

“Oh please, my kind aren’t even considered adults until we’re 100. The really old one lives in my sword, she’s like 30,000 years old. That reminds me I should check on her at some point tonight…”

“Your homeland sounds so different and interesting. Do you have any stories? If it’s not too painful to talk about… I mean.”

“No, I don't mind. Let me tell you about my family….” I tell her everything. Tala, Mom, Dad, the Final Dance ritual, the Moonblade, all the events and banquets, the system, everything. Everything except Earth. Just like with Luna all I did was mention it in a passing comment.

In the middle of my stories the food comes out and it’s delightful. In between my own tales she tells me how she got her cutie mark, stories from when she was escorting dignitaries. Eventually the only thing on the table is an empty bottle and a griffon is kindly asking us to leave so they can close up shop.

Standing outside looking at the sky, Luna’s outdone herself tonight. I glance back down to Force when I hear speak up. “If only you had wings! That’d be the perfect ending to tonight, a romantic flight over the city and we can lay down on a cloud and stare at the stars. Wait no, we can’t stargaze. I don't want you thinking about another mare! Look at me!” She flies up and gets in my face. Seems like I’m not the only drunk one now.

“I’m looking at you! Listen no stargazing, but give me a minute I might be able to do something about the whole no wings thing.” If I’m a bonafide Chosen for a deity surely I have wings now, right? Double checking over my racial features and my paladin features I don’t see anything…

“What are you doing~? Is it that weird system thing you were talking about?”

“Shhh. I’m making a deal with the devil.”

Hello!!!~~ Oh Nightmare~, Wherefore art thou my Nightmare?

You keep talking like that and I’ll recreate the ending to that play. What do you want? Also… are you drunk?!

I want wings!

….. Okay? You aren’t going to expand on that at all?

I’m the Chosen of the moon, every Chosen gets wings. It’s like…. a law.

No, it’s not. I can give you wings, bladesinger, but nothing comes without a price.

Wait, I can just ask Luna. Silly me. Have a good night…. Nightmare. That sounds awkward.

W-wait, no!

Pulling out the gem from the changeling hive I grasp firmly.

Oh Luna~.

I’m glad to see you seem to be enjoying your night, what is it Ignis.

Can you give me wings? Nightmare supposedly fixed my connection to your divinity and I was really hoping that meant I could get a nice set of wings.

…What? No, I can't give you wings. I mean I can, there’s a spell for it, but it has nothing to do with our connection. Why do you-

“Hurry up!” I receive two hooves straight to the chest as Force throws a mild tantrum.

“Shush, the grown ups are talking.”

Excuse me?

Oh shit sorry I thought I only said that part outloud, Force is being impatient.

Tch. So that’s why you want wings, huh?

At this exact moment…. Yes, but I’ve always been jealous of creatures that can fly. It seems so freeing and relaxing.

Whatever, just don’t fly into something and hurt yourself. The last thing any of us needs is a drinking and flying scandal.

As she says that two giant wings appear on my back, “Woah!!” You’re the best Luna! Thank you!

Uh huh. Tell Cadence's knight that she only has 45 minutes left.

“Luna says you only have 45 minutes left. Whatever that means.”

“Oh buck it’s already 2315! Did those wings come with instructions?”

“Instructions? No?”

“Do you instinctively know how to fly, is what I’m asking.”

I jump into the air and feel the wings behind me flap on their own as I hover in the air. “Yeah, it seems pretty automatic.”

“Good, follow me.” She zips off into the open air and I slowly trail behind her. Looking back I watch as the castle gets smaller and smaller. How high are we going? “Oh my gosh you’re so slow! C'mon!” She banks around and flies down to me and after grabbing my hand with her hoof she zips up again.

“Woah! How high up are we going?!” I yell over the sound of wind.

“We’re going to my house, silly!”

I’m so confused. But, sure enough as we pass a particularly dense cloud I see it. A two story house made entirely out of clouds. “What the fuck?” I can’t help but mutter out loud. “You live in a cloud?”

“Yep! Most pegasus do, it’s basically free, we just have to do the maintenance to make sure the clouds don’t dissipate. Let’s go to the roof, oh I can’t believe I get to see your reaction to your first time laying on a cloud!”

“I thought you said no stargazing?”

“Oh shoot that’s right. Well either way you should still lay down, laying on a cloud for the first time will literally change your life. After that we could always take things inside…. 30 minutes should be plenty of time for… something or two.”

“Sorry, Force. I had a great time, and I definitely wouldn’t mind doing something like this again, but I don’t quite think I’m ready to take things that far yet. With anyone.”

“Ah that’s fine I was like… half joking.” She says that but she looks pretty disappointed.

I lay down on the cloud and let out a huge sigh. “Oh wow you weren’t kidding. It’s like all the tension in my body just melted away. It literally feels like I’m just floating on nothing.”

She lays down on her side an arm length away from me. “I know right, honestly just the ability to sleep on one of these babies is almost worth all the trouble these wings caused me. Almost.”

I roll over and grab the pegasus. Laying back down on my back I plop her down next to me, with her head resting on the area where my left pectoral meets my shoulder, both of her forehooves laying across my chest. I glance at her face to find her eyes opened wide, pupils like saucer plates, and a bright blush under her eyes. “...I never realized how big you are. I’m only a bit longer than your torso, and you just tossed me around like it was nothing.” Her forelegs fold up a bit and she nestles her head closer to me. “Feels…. safe.”

“Sorry for not saying anything, you just looked so dejected and I really did have a great time. FIgured this should be good enough.”

All I get in response is a quiet “Mhmm.”

“Hey don’t fall asleep! I gotta leave in like 10 minutes or something.”

“Nuh uh. She’ll get over it and she’s not my princess. I didn't vote for her!”

“None of you voted for any of the princesses!" I can't help but let out a chuckle. "I never expected you to have such a childish side. It’s pretty cute.”

She looks up at me with a pout. “Shut it. I’m tired and drunk. I don’t have the energy to talk like a proper grown up.”

“Uh huh. Alright upsy daisy!” I stand up and hold her against my chest. “Let’s get the cute pony to bed.”

“Stop calling me cute! I’m a knight! Knights aren’t cute!” She continues to protest as I walk down her cloudy hallway and stop at the only decorated door I see. Pushing it open I can confirm it is at the very least a bedroom. Hopefully it’s hers.

“Fine fine, O brave and mighty knight!” I announce as I drop her onto the bed. I watch as she curls up into a ball and pulls a puffy blanket over herself with her wings. “Good night, Force. Cya at breakfast.”

“Mhmm.”

Landing on Luna’s balcony I knock on the glass door a few times before opening it. “You in here, Luna?”

“Yes, just patrolling the dreamscape.” I watch as her eyes open and stare at me with a neutral expression.

Closing the balcony door I take a seat next to her bed. With a sigh I mutter to myself, “Be selfish. You can do this.” Looking at Luna I see her staring at me with her head cocked to the side and a confused look on her face. I call out to her.

“We need to talk, Luna.”

Author's Note

Took a little longer than I was hoping for to get this chapter out, but that's okay. Cute little chapter.

Nothing much to say about this one, not sure if clop will ever be a thing. I feel bad adding it to a story that wasn't advertised to have it to begin with, I know it's not really a thing a lot of readers like. If it ever happens I might just elude to the fact the event occurred and start a spin-off fic that just contains the smut chapters as it's own separate entity.

Anyways, that's a problem for future me! Thanks for reading!