Author's Note

Please take note that only, Tapper "knows Quilt is hiding her gender.( He's like 80% sure.)

The rest do not. So if you see the others calling quilt out as a she, then that's probably my error. I made some edits.

Chapter 24

At the top of the inn, Bright watches over a window. "Do you think they're okay without us?"

Behind him was Bubbles, lying on the bed. " If what she says is true, then there's nothing to worry."

She went over to her lover and hugged him from behind.

" You think we'll get some answers from them?" Bright asked.

" If not, then we'll try out what that witch told me. If we can't get information, then they'll be of good use to us."

She'd grab his head and force her lips toward her.

Bright would try and break free.

" Sweetie, we just finished; what if they come?"

" They can watch; now come."

___________

Deep inside the Everfree forest, five lit ponies can be seen marching through the forest.

" Our flame manes sure are handy. I wonder why our manes don't get burned?" Bluebell questioned.

" I'm just glad that the creatures here still fear fire," Quilt added.

Meanwhile, Treasure would stick close to Apple, eventually putting his wings behind her shoulder.

Apple was glad and happy as she blushed at her master's action towards her.

Tapper sees this and would try to attempt it with Quilt. But before he could do that, Quilt easily saw his approach and gave him a scowl. He quickly gave distance, as he didn't want to piss Quilt off.

Cross was a bit off put at what Tapper is up to.

"Hey, what's up with them?" he asked the unicorn riding him.

" Maybe that's how he floats?" she said.

" Oh? Oh!... I didn't see him that way... Are you sure?" He asked, but she'd just give him a shrug and hum, " iduno?" and just kiss him instead.

"Hmmm... Well, Tapper needs to cut it out; I think Quilt is getting bothered." is what Cross observed, but Bluebell thought otherwise.

"Hm? Well, I think he's a tsundere, or probably a masochist. He moans like a horny mare whenever he gets injured. So weird."

Cross was taken aback and a bit embarrassed at what Bluebell was spouting out of her mouth.

" Bluebell, I think you said too much; that's quite rude. I didn't expect you to be that kind of a mare."

The thought of Cross hating her would put tears in her eyes." B-but it's the truth; I wouldn't lie about that!" She tried to convince Cross; which didn't take much.

"I know, but please be tactful with what you say next time."

Bluebell would nod and hug him again. "Sorry, I'll be more proper."

The two had gone quiet for a bit, but Cross's curiosity would get the better of him.

" So he really moaned?"

Bluebell would smack him in the head.

Eventually, their travel through the forest would be uneventful until they reached a ruined castle.

" Should we camp here or venture forth? It's hard to tell the time here in this dense forest," Treasure asked.

"Well, I'm sure we haven't taken more than 5 hours since we entered the forest. Perhaps we can take a quick look at the top to see where we are." Quilt Suggested.

" A quick tour wouldn't hurt, I guess?" Cross added, while Bluebell would act like a filly, going to an amusement park while riding on him. "Yey!"

Quilt would lag behind while Tapper seemed to slow down as well, so he could follow him behind, while the rest would head first into the ruins.

As soon as distance was made between the group, Quilt would turn around and stare down at Tapper, which would halt his movement.

" Look here, Tapper. I have no problems with you; in fact, I'm grateful to you. But if you keep on shoving your dick in my face, I'll fucking cut it off, so if it's alright with you, I'd like the old Tapper back, the one I consider a friend."

Tapper was stunned; as he was threatened, friend zoned, bustedand shamed at the same time.

" H-ey Quilt, I'm sorry. I-i don't know what's gotten over me." He sulked and quickly excused himself.

Quilt would not leave his sights and coldly stared at him. As soon as he left his sights, Quilt gave a heavy sigh and flew up the tower.

______

Inside the castle, rubble and dust remained, as time has taken mostly everything from this ruin.

Treasure and Apple would be resting for a bit in the corner, while Bluebell would be busy exploring the ruins, like a curious filly.

Cross, on the other hand, would notice the sulking Tapper enter the ruin and join them.

He'd give Tapper a pat on the shoulder, which just left Tapper confused.

He looked at Cross curiously at the pat on the back.

Cross would look back at him as well and shake his head." It's nothing," he said, giving a reassuring smile, which just further confused Tapper.

" So, where's Quilt?" Cross asked.

" Oh, she's still back there. Ahm, he's still checking things up, you know, mapping stuff. HIM being a mapper and all *cough*. We don't want to get lost now, do we? Ahrm...It sure is dusty here." He fidgets.

Cross shrugs it off, while Bluebell's eyes pierce him with doubt, to the point that her face wrinkles.

This did not make Tapper comfortable one bit.

Cross would sigh a bit and approach Bluebell. "You'll age quickly if you keep on doing that, Bluebell." Cross then quickly tried to iron down her wrinkles with his hoof.

Bluebell gasped. "You'd still love me though, right?" She worriedly asked.

" I'd prefer we age together, if that's alright with you," he replied with a smile.

Bluebell began to drool. "I want ten..."

Cross was a bit shocked by her sudden request." T-ten?" he questioned, although he had a faint idea of what she meant, which was the reason why he tensed up.

Bluebell would just blush, continue to drool, and give Cross her puppy eyes.

She'd hug him once more, snuggle at him, and grab him by the neck. " Excuse me, Tapper, I need to be alone with Cross for a while."

Tapper would then see Bluebell drag the struggling Cross into a corner, tapping and asking for help. But who was he to stop Bluebell?

Tapper would close his eyes to this crime that Bluebell was about to commit. " May your soul rest in peace, my friend."

To give them privacy, he left them and went towards Treasure and rested with them. In response, Treasure asked the same question as Cross, and he'd give the same answer.

" Hey Tapper, you look like shit; have you not been taking care of yourself lately? Are ya sick?" he asked.

" Nah, it's just probably one of those days, you know?" he said as he lied down and covered his eyes.

" I got some herbs here if you want."

" Nah, I'm good; I just need some proper rest."

A few minutes would pass before a loud crash could be heard above the ruins.

SLAM!

The ruin would shake, and small debris would fall from it.

Everyone was alarmed and wondered what it could have been.

Tapper could only worry about Quilt, since he hasn't returned yet.