Cupid's composite bow
It was a hot summer’s day over the fields, there was not a single cloud in the sky and a gentle wind blew across from the east carrying the scent of some of the forest’s wild-flower fields toward the woman laying the field. She sluggishly swept the few traces of pollen from her hair letting it fall off into the fields “AACHO!” well most of it anyway. She wiped her nose silently cursing as she looked around for any signs of her partner; he was almost always in a rush and easily should have made it here by now, unless of course he decided to take another ‘detour’ around the barracks. She sighed in contempt and continued to lie peacefully in the meadow she had been living near for the past week, the place was nothing compared to the Highland fields where she grew up but the closeness of the Pegasi meant that the weather was flawlessly scheduled.
She snorted at the thought of Streak ever being like that, despite being in their legion, he embodied few if any of the standard legion traits. “Like the ability to tell time” she muttered as she stretched and got comfortable, she didn't mind waiting when her profession demanded patience, lying still in a combat area and covered in stinking mud to stay hidden while remaining motionless was riveting and when there were enemies nearby work was all the more lively. Lying down in the middle of a sunny and pleasant smelling field however was boring. Tired of waiting she rolled over onto her stomach and closed her eyes and prepared to take a power nap, if Streak had the audacity to tell her to meet him in the west fields and then not show his face for a good half hour she could afford him the task of finding her in a field that spread further than her sharp eyes could see.
Eventually falling asleep to the sound of birdsong Forest Melody found herself buried in mud and sand again. She looked to her left and saw an entire file of her sisters each with their own longbows by their sides, and each almost invisible with the coat dye and dark clothes they wore. They were the pride and disgrace of the mercenary forces in the Highland choosing to fight their battles with a bow and arrows rather than take up the spear and shield as many of her associates chose instead. She could never understand the appeal her country gave to being covered in oil and standing in a phalanx next to an equally greased up and near naked man, that is if she were a male herself otherwise she would have no quarrel being put between the tight ranks of the fit warriors.
She looked up ahead of her where the enemy army had amassed in front of their own wall of warriors, the mass of black and grey clothed soldiers held their short spears from behind their own painted shields and stood ready to advance toward her. Their army outnumbered theirs vastly in terms of manpower, however she was far from worried. Their nation had no quarrel with this group but when a finely dressed commander of the Pegasus Legion wanted most of his troops in return in tact there was no better ally for hire than her commander. Now the legionaries stood shoulder to shoulder with Highlander Hoplites, their pitifully short Legion swords and square shields looked completely inadequate compared to the shining men of bronze armour carrying long pikes far over their heads waiting patiently for the enemy charge. Although far away from the front she could see the mass of opposing soldiers walk foolishly toward them and readied her bow, the contractor had spared no expense with the war he was about to wage and ordered victory at any cost by any means. Which meant that honour-less killers that dealt death from afar, also referred to by legion commander as archers, were more than welcome to join in the battle for a few scraps of silver.
She and her file were given the order to simply do what they did best before the enemy army came to close to their own. Standing as up together with her battle sisters when the hostile group came within their range she drew back and arrow and let it fly into the mass of spikes and men. The arrow found its mark striking one of the soldiers in the shoulder; the man shuddered with the impact but kept walking undeterred. She watched in shock as the foe kept advancing as arrows flew into their bodies and onto their shields as the wave kept walking on as she fired shot after shot until the enemy line looked more like a pincushion than ponies. As she reached back into her quiver for another arrow she grasped nothing but air. Holstering her bow she turned to retreat when a flaming boulder flew beside her almost crushing her, as she looked back at her wave of enemies to taunt them for their aim she gasped. The arrow ridden front line was now charging over the combined lines of her people and the legionaries running through the shield wall like it never existed.
Her eyes winded in shock as the mass of men became riders on horseback charging to greet her. Running in panic as the horses washed over her sisters she cried out in terror and rage, the hillside was burning, her sisters where dying. Where were the legion soldiers? What happened to the impenetrable wall of shields? The sound of hoof beats reached her ears and she saw the cruel blade that would end her life swing toward her and closed her eyes waiting for death. She heard the blade whistle past and felt weightless as sound of hoof steps was replaced by the beating of wings. Expecting heaven she opened her eyes and saw the battleground below disappear in a wave of crimson plumes atop helmets “Melody” she recognised the voice “Melody” she looked up and saw she was being held by a man with wings…
Crimson Streak flew over the city walls with practised ease, though he still donned his armour the damn thing took time to remove and weighted a ton when flying. He cursed the rule to remain ready for combat as he sailed past the gate sentries with a wave, they would usually stop and make sure he wasn't planning to desert the army. But then again the sight of centurions running from the watchtower was far from uncommon, especially when there was free time to enjoy and a well-earned pay check to spend outside the barracks walls and a tough-as-nails commanding officer inside them.
He soared over the fields looking out for Melody. Since the legion sent him south he hadn't seen her for a month. They hated being apart when the other was at risk and the only embrace they shared recently was him offering her a brief kiss and a promise to meet her here at mid-day then helping her sneak out of the building before falling asleep on the floor from exhaustion. When he was complete with his usual shift the commander decided to lecture him about his sleeping habits and delayed their meeting for half of an hour. He was proud of his status of a legionary and loved his country like any of his comrades, but after a month without sex and constant tales form his friends about the local prostitutes he simply couldn't waste another minute.
He eventually he spotted a grove of cropped grass cut down to barely an inch from the ground in the field of waist high plants and tall fruit trees with a shapely figure lying in the middle of it. Landing and seeing her lack of movement he crept up behind her and fearing the worst kept his ears open for any sounds. Kneeling beside her and seeing no injuries and her peaceful expression he immediately relaxed lying on his side next to her. He saw her smile slightly and decided against waking her when she was having such a happy dream and instead let his eyes wander of her sleeping form. The short skirt she was wearing embodied with her city colours was far less clothing any woman of his race would wear and the her fine vest was pressed tight against her chest and back leaving little of her body to his imagination. He took once last look around the secluded area they was in making sure there was nobody around to see him admire her form, while soldiers in uniform could usually get away with harassing villagers if he was caught looking at melody untowardly a hefty bonus was given to members of her trade to reap vengeance on any who would defile the honour for the city’s army-for-hire. Certain that they were alone he continued to look around the grove, the forest was something she always enjoyed living near, and he had to admit while there were fewer predators among the clouds there was a sense of beauty among the trees.
Melody’s face twitched and her pleasant smile disappeared to be replaced with a scowl. Confused Streak continued to watch as her face contorted and hands moved to her chest, deciding to risk her anger to break her from her nightmare he gently placed a hand across her back “melody” he whispered as her body responded tensing entirely. He hesitated calling her name again, he knew she wasn't a typical light sleeping and going sometimes days without food or movement waiting for a target to come into range. This had left her with a defensive habit to lacerate the unlucky bastard who thought that a sleeping sniper made an easy target to capture. He had already made this mistake once and it had almost cost him his life had he not been wearing his uniform, she had apologised profusely afterward and even helped him bandage his face. Right now though he could see her unhappy and downright scared of something which was hurting him more than an accidental cut could. Gently shaking her he whispered again “melody”. Her eyes shot open and one hand grabbed the knife she kept next strapped to her waist, and wrapped the other around the back of whoever was holding her. She stopped when she saw Crimson’s calm face “bad dreams” he said softly hugging her tightly “hmm” she replied dropping the knife and returning the hug.
The pair said nothing for brief moment and simply enjoyed each other’s company. “It’s so good to see you again” he said giving her a brief kiss on the cheek “how’s life back in the fields” he said jovially. She rolled her eyes at the poor joke his people made about her people and the lack of a standing army “ I'm kidding” he said sitting up as they broke the hug “you know how lonely it is on duty when you can’t have any action” he said with a smirk “I would not actually, spending time at home gives our men plenty of time to practice ploughing fields” she said stretching seductively while sitting in his lap. Crimson laughed for a few seconds before he saw her serious expression “what” he said plainly a month of celibacy vividly returning to mind before she broke into laughter “oh dear gods the look on your face” she said bursting into laughter again and rolling onto the ground. Figuring this was probably some belated revenge for telling her he worked in a brothel a while after he first slept with her Crimson eventually caved and joined her. Seeing her good mood he went in for another kiss, only to be stopped as she placed a hand against his breastplate “why are you wearing your armour” she asked idly dragging her fingers across the abdominal section and over a small scratch “just me being the slacker in the cohort” he said as she moved upwards to another small indentation.
Throwing spear she thought as she continued to run her hands to the next noticeable blemish in the otherwise polished metal. Seeing his lover become more interested in his attire Crimson put his hand to hers “feeling nostalgic” he asked as they both touched the small cut going from the top of his chest plate and finishing as a scar just under his chin. She thought back to her dream, her first job that let her run free of her home and travel, her trial by fire and the most terrible campaign she would ever see. And the scar Crimson had to remember by it when she woke up the next day almost unscathed herself “just strange to wake up to the scar you dreamt about” she said solemnly “you had a dream about me” Crimson said piping up.
He looked where his hand touched hers, it was just over the scar he got a while ago when they. “Oh” he said in realization. The worst circumstances they had ever endured and ironically where they first started talking to each other, after he dragged her unconscious form back to their base camp “Horsca” he said as she nodded in acknowledgement. He lay down again and hugged her putting an wing around her shoulders “it was surreal” she said curling up against him “several days of events that ran into what seemed like half an hour”. He nodded in agreement while she lay against him battling her mental turmoil. She didn't want to remember being chased or anything about the campaign, she wanted to feel being pulled away from the sand filled hell by two powerful arms and wings. She wanted to hold onto him and feel safe, to feel free of the invisible amour she wore all the time working with males who believed she was supposed to be subservient to their every whim despite her city’s status rules. Above all though she wished she could tell that to Streak, Hell she wished she could scream that she already was taken to everyone in the city. But every time she wanted to talk to him the sentence died in her mouth and she became either tongue tied or bitter. Sighing she just hugged him closer and enjoyed the silence and company for what it was "I find it's best not to think about such things" he said softly kissing her forehead "I could never escape war back home, it was too hard to when you could just kick the lighting out of dark clouds at whoever you disliked and then later on watch he same thing on a larger bloodier scale in the cloud Coliseum"
She blinked in confusion as he slowly pulled from her embrace keeping his arm over her waist "life was just like that growing up and eventually I got used to it" she felt his hand stroke her belly as he continued "and then I met you and for once I felt truly alive". He tuned to look into her eyes as he continued "I could tell your strength lay elsewhere when we first talked, and for once I felt the rush in mere conversation that only jumping from cloud could offer" he lightly felt the scar over his chin with his free hand and chuckled " I felt both vulnerable and at ease with you, and even without a means of defending myself I could feel at peace"
She sat up leaning against him, if he could admit he was smitten by her by the gods so could she, the moment was perfect, the feeling was there all she had to do was "I never knew you enjoyed feeling vulnerable in the company of women" she blurted instantly regretting it as he shyly chuckled. Stupid stupid stupid stupid she thought relentlessly as she once again killed the moment "should my company happen to have wings? No I would never" he said assuredly "should a woman take interest in you back home she seeks either fame or fortune to some degree, and I have known women who have caused more damage than you and I combined with their sheer ruthlessness" he said wrapping his arm around her back to support her "back home you say somepony means everything to you when you need to use them to achieve greater heights, you never listen to them ramble and care, let alone put up with their antics like you’re able to".
She chuckled lightly “you are trouble, but I suppose you’re worth it” so close just bucking tell him. she was about to speak when she felt his hand under her chin prompting her to look into his eyes “I cannot promise you the world in the flat of your hand Melody of the Forest Highlands nor can I move the mountains to see you when our callings come to part us" she looked downcast, the tunic she wore suddenly felt heavier with the green embodiment that let her fight on foreign soil “I can only give what a centurion is paid or plunders from the ones who fight for a far less worthy cause”
"And swear that I have no place in paradise above when I have my own angel here on the ground" She continued to look deeply into his eyes, and stars be damned if she could not tell him how much he meant to her she would show him. She tackled him to the ground and pulled him into a opened mouth kiss letting their tongues battle and hand freely caress each other. She brought her hands to the straps holding his chest plate together and began to undo them, feeling his armour come lose Crimson began to untie the bracings on his glaives and threw them aside, landing on top of his discarded chest plate in a heap.
As melody finished unbuttoning the front of his tunic she felt his hands reach either side of her waist firmly grabbing her vest. She momentarily broke the kiss and put her hands far above her head as he pulled it over her head and off her, he stared dumbstruck at her bare breasts before Melody wrapped a hand around his head and resumed kissing him. Crimson’s awestruck trace was broken as he practically melted into the kiss with a low groan, hearing her lover’s excitement Melody started rocking her hips against his as she felt his excitement rise. Not one to be outdone he grabbed one of her breasts and used his other hand to stroke her back.
She moaned into his mouth and pressing closer to him until. Ultimately the kiss broke leaving both of them gasping for air “enough teasing” she panted breathlessly “Take me, now”. She wore her best seductive look and never one to keep a lady waiting removed the last of his uniform constricting his shaft, he was about to enter her when a familiar smell came to him “you are not in estrous are you” he said slightly worried. She flashed him her usual carefree smile and leaned close to his ear “my cycle is not until next week” she said positioning her hips just over his and still smiling devilishly “now stop stalling and fu-AH!” she cried as he bucked his hips into her took burying his entire length. Their lovemaking progressed as Crimson started to pump into her, grabbing her waist for more leverage as she bounced up and down on his shaft biting her lip to stop herself crying out. Every time he drove up she felt full and after in their absence had been craving the feeling. Unlike the many times before when they had been either drunk, bored or just horny though she felt a fire rise inside her filling her with a welcoming warmth.
Crimson gritted his teeth and continued to pound into the moaning mare feeling his muscles ache in protest and the pleasant burn rise from his chest and spread though his body. This was hardly the hardest he had ever been worked but unlike the pain that came with hard labours or even when he was deep inside a woman the fire did more than burn. It was pushing him, screaming at his baser instincts like a trainer to a bunch of recruits, driving him to greater highs in his erotic fuelled state. He felt Melody collapse onto him and wrap her arms around his midsection keeping their bodies tight together as he redoubled his efforts grunting as another feeling began to flare inside him “close” he grunted gritting his teeth trying to hold back against the inevitable.
Melody heard him and pressed her face between his shoulder and his neck unable to form words she moaned and whimpered from the pleasure she felt building in her own nether region. With a final thrust they both broke; crying out and grunting as he released load after load of seed inside her. What her womb could not hold seeped from her onto his shaft which was soaked in her own excitement. She squirmed over his rigid body enjoying the feeling of his still tense muscles determined to keep her upright and contently moaned as he wrapped his wings around her in a protective and affectionate embrace.
The pair enjoyed the feeling of afterglow in their own ways. Melody much to Crimson’s amusement fell asleep before him while he stroked his lover’s hair and admired her, she was by no means the most physically appealing girl he had seen in private or just passing by. It took years of dedication for a woman to fight in an army and even when they did earn their colours, mercenaries like her were rarely hired being seen as weaker than their male counterparts. This meant for many a promised place in the Highland army usually required shedding any traces of femininity. The end result came out looking like the woman that lay atop of him a lovely, quick tempered aggressive and arrogant ground pounder strong enough to put ninety pounds of force behind an arrow. And he had told her he would do anything for her. He chuckled at the entire situation; a legionary sleeping with a mare that may be in heat who happened to be a mercenary and an earth pony. Melody alone would kill him if she found the well hidden silver rings, let alone the punishment for refusing to leave whoever he impregnated behind. And strangely enough the neither the thought of a child or the Emperor himself cutting him down didn't worry him, the idea of lineage in fact thrilled him.
He quickly checked she was sound asleep before he offered a quick prayer to the nameless gods of the sky "please lords I, your humble servant have asked much of you lately, to protect me in battle and to accept my mate even when she has no wings" he idly traced his hand down her back, not regretting her inability to fly one bit. "Today what I ask Is not on my behalf but for the good of all future generations of Pegasi, let my children have the minds of their mother, let them have the pride, beauty and intellect which every mare back home would envy"
"Furthermore let them have the all the health and vigour that my family line gives its kin for my children and theirs for evermore" he felt a stab of pride reach his own chest as he pictured the strong stallions and stunning mares that his children would grow up to be. He was about to wave them goodbye as they flew from their three story cloud and ground based palace to conquer the world when a horrifying thought came to mind; his babies were missing one trait "oh and please don't ever let them have green fur" he pleaded quickly. He loved Melody and almost everything that made her the mare she was. But Green pelted Pegasi? boisterous, arrogant, dare devils who would dig their own graves with risky stunts? Green wasn't a colour Pegasi wore well.
He continued to smile as he left the waking world just in time to witness his now perfect children taking flight and from their perfect house leaving him with the perfect mare sleeping on his chest. Her green coat was duller and her mane was now grey, and she still looked just as beautiful as the day they met. The day when he would reveal the silver rings and a place where the legion's law dared not tread, a dream come true.
Author's Note
Well there you are. I hope you enjoyed the little a back story for two yet to been seen characters in The Terra affirmation. This is my first attempt at writing something like this thus the reason they are anthropomorphized rather than their usual pony selves. As per usual rate me and hate just make sure to give me feedback so I can get better (unless you enjoy down voting me with no reason). Now in the mean time i'm going to see if there are any openings in pony hell, happy hearts and hooves!
