Between Two Worlds

Only the sound of the wind against the branches of the trees or the grass could be heard in the orchards. Two minutes have passed since she opened her heart to him and said the words. But for Applejack, the waiting has been far too long. She only wanted something, a sign, like a movement or anything else from him...but he did nothing. Finally, a heavy sigh escaped his tiny lips and broke the awkward silence between them.

He turned his head on the side and looked at her with only his right icy blue eye. His expression was blank, devoid of any emotion, the pony with blonde mane was afraid of that. She feared it because she couldn't know what he was feeling at the moment. The tension around them was heavy, like a weight on their shoulders. A small and sad smile grew on his face. Saying that he saw this moment coming was an understatement. It was as big as a fly in the middle of the nose. In his mind, he secretly hoped that it only was a temporary crush and not real love. If it was the second case…well, it could give him some serious trouble.

"I knew it." he finally said, loud and clear enough to reach her ears. "I knew that you possibly had a crush for me."

"H...how?"

He turned his whole body toward the Element of Honesty.

"I saved your life, it's completely understandable."

She frowned.

"What make ya think that Ah don't really love ya? Ya think it's only a crush?"

Again, he sighed.

"We don’t really know each other. I only opened a part of my past to you, there some things that you could not understand. Besides, it would be vain."

"Why?" she asked, even if he gave the answer, which was obvious, a few minutes ago.

"The virus. Do you really think that I'm going to love someone, give her the hope to have a good life with me if I pass away six months later? No, I can't. I'm too good and honest to do that. So, found somepony who worth it but not me."

She stayed silent. For the second time of the night, he left her speechless. There was no arguing possible. Even if she hated it, he was right.

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings but I prefer it that way."

Applejack nodded. Her heart ached because of the rude words he said. Her emerald eyes watered because of the emotional pain. There was nothing else that she could do. But, for Pete’s sake, she loved him! He rejected her... but there was something she wanted before letting him go.

"Ah understand but...can ya, at least, make me a favor?"

Smiling, he nodded.

"Kiss me."

Ethan let his mouth closed and stayed silent but complied. He walked to her, lowered at her level and put a hand on her cheek. He began stroking and she blushed furiously. It was cute. His hand was warm and soft, a warm and strange feeling appeared on her stomach, like butterflies. She knew what it was. Continuing smiling, he approached his head and closed his eyes. Applejack did the same. They closed the gap between them.

At first, the feeling of the coat on her lips and having a muzzle against his face was rather strange but he put the thought away, letting himself enjoying the kiss. Something pressed on his teeth. He immediately knew that it was her tongue and allowed it to enter his mouth. She explored every inch of him and he did the same. Applejack moaned when she feel it in her maw. At least, she was enjoying it, he though. What they didn't know is that her older brother was looking at the scene, a stern look on his face.

"Ah hope ya know what ya do, little sis'." he whispered to himself, in a sigh, before walking away from the window.

Finally, they broke the kiss. The human and the pony looked into each other souls. He moved his head to her left ear and whispered:

“I’m sorry it had to end like this, but it’s for the better. One day, when you’ll understand, you’ll thank me.”

He stared into her green eyes, the small smile never left his face. Ethan stood up.

“Goodnight AJ. See you later.”

Then, he walked away, like if nothing happened between them. The Earth pony stayed in this position, looking him fading away in the dark of the night. A soft wind passed in front of her, making her blonde mane move in the direction of the breeze. Her face was still hot from the embarrassment and the kiss.

“’Night, sugar cube.” she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Applejack sighed and entered in her home. The sudden revelation, his reaction and the kiss added to the work in the orchards left her completely tired. She called it a night and jumped in her bed, fast asleep.

At the same moment

Tears fell down his cheeks and the color around his eyes began to change, becoming red, when he turned away from her. It had hurt him to refuse her advances, more than he let her see. He had to be distant and cold. Why he acted like this? His approaching death was a part of it, true. But something else took a part. No, he was not a virgin or something like that, it’s just…he shuddered.

“And me who think it was over….”

The disturbing moments flashed in his mind, making him remember the scene. His breathing was short and difficult. He almost could feel her hand when she approached his private area. When she… mounted him. This thought gave him the need to throw up but he restrained himself.

A scream escaped from his lips and he fell on his knees, his head between his hands. The young Gray closed his eyes and tried to catch his breath. It has been a long time since he was flooded by those painful recollections. Three years passed after the incident so, why now? Why doesn’t she want to get out of his head? Ethan sighed heavily and put the thought away. Awkwardly, he got up. It was not evident for him to keep a good balance. With some difficulties, he walked back to his camp.

For a spring night, the weather was rather cool. No cloud in the night sky, giving the opportunity to the stars to show their brightness and beauty. How could he not be amazed by their magnificence? It was not possible. This and the twilight, when the sun appeared or vanished on the horizon, were his favorite things to admire. The temperature was pleasantly warm, even a little too hot for him, with his leather jacket. After a few minutes, he was at his destination.

Thanks to the full moon, he could clearly see his Skyline. Without a word, he took a key and opened the passenger door. He put his coat in the backseat and took his pack of six beers, not before turning on his radio and lowering the window. The human closed the door and slipped against the car. With the help of his knife, he removed the cap of his drink and drank its contents. He opened a second beer and did the same, in an expert gesture. He was accustomed to this, it was obvious.

Soon, the first notes of a classical song could be heard. Contrary to a lot of his songs, this one had real instruments: guitar, drums and a bass. He smiled at the moment when he recognized which song it was. The lyrics, the way the instruments were played….everything in it corresponded to him. In a way, that described how he was inside.

Sometimes I feel like

I don't have a partner

Sometimes I feel like

My only friend

Is the city I live in

The city of angels

Lonely as I am

Together we cry

Fresh tears, similar to thin transparent diamond, appeared under his blue eyes which became moist, they streamed down his cheeks. His vision blurred gradually but he smirked. As always, even if he doesn’t know why, this music had this effect on him. They were not tears of pain, joy or sorrow…they were just tears. Being in the heartbreak mood, the young man sang, in perfect sync with the singer.

I drive on her streets 'cause

She's my companion

I walk through her hills 'cause

She knows who I am

She sees my good deeds

And she kisses me windy

I never worry

Now that is a lie

He closed his eyes. His whole body trembled with emotion. He could feel each note of the guitar, each word, each drum echoing in him. There was no comparison he could use to describe how he felt.

I don't ever want to feel

Like I did that day

Take me to the place I love

Take me all the way

It's hard to believe that

There's nobody out there

It's hard to believe

That I'm all alone

At least I have her love

The city she loves me

Lonely as I am

Together we cry

What he didn’t know is that he was actually observed. The pony who spied him didn’t move or say a word. For the spy, the human looked completely harmless.

Under the bridge downtown

Is where I drew some blood

Under the bridge downtown

I could not get enough

Under the bridge downtown

Forgot about my love

Under the bridge downtown

I gave my life away

He lowered the tone of his voice, finishing the last words of the song and a question, in a whisper:

“Will I stay?”

Ethan opened his eyes and sighed.

“Thou seem sad. Art thou alright?”

Thanks to his reflexes learned from his time in the army, he got up quickly, rolled on the side with one knee against the ground and his right arm pointed to the origin of the sound. The stalker stepped away from the car. With the light produced by the moon, he could clearly see his face…or her face in this case.

“Princess Luna?”

Seeing it was her, the tension left his body and he calmed down, before lowering his right arm.

“I am sorry if I scared you.”

"No, absolutely not. I was just surprised, that's all."

She nodded.

"Why art thou crying?"

The young man dried his cheeks and shook his head.

"It's nothing Miss Luna. Just a little emotional breakdown."

The look on her teal eyes was full of curiosity.

"Want to talk about it?" asked the Princess Of The Night, walking carefully toward him. "I’ll not repeat to anypony what I hear, even my sister. I swear."

Taking his third beer, he put away the cap and drank in three gulps.

"Nope. No need to bother you with that. But I wonder...what are you doing here?"

"The truth is, I was curious about thou. This is the first time I see a strange creature like thou and I wanted to know more."

At this, he laughed. "I see. It's very courageous to come observing a weird and dangerous creature like me."

Luna ignored his sarcasm and sighed. She saw his bottle and asked:

"What is this?"

Seeing where she pointed, he smiled.

"Beer."

"Oh! the first or...."

"The third...I know, it's not very proper from me but I need to drink....need to forget."

She had the courtesy to not ask and let him open his heart. Ethan repeated the process a fourth time and finally, finished the pack. He was on the grass, his eyes lost in the space.

"The stars are so beautiful tonight, I wonder why it's not like that on Earth."

The dark blue coated mare blushed at his comment.

"Thank thou for the compliment. There not a lot of ponies who appreciate my nights like thou."

"Huh?"

He looked at her, confused.

"You made this?"

While asking this, he waved at the sky.

"Of course. I made the night and my sister the day. Thou didn't know it?"

"Nope.”

"How it is in thy world?"

"Gravity. It controls everything. No magic."

Luna looked at him, awestruck. Silently, she stepped toward him and lowered at his level.

"Sooner, thou said that thou needed to forget but, why?"

The human locked his eyes with hers. She could see that even drunk, he could stay serious and professional. A loud sigh escaped his lips.

"Only a few people who I trust with all of my heart know about what I'm going to say. You should feel grateful for going to know why I am like this. If you share this story without my consent, you'll lose my trust. Am I clear?"

She nodded.

"Good. Three years ago, when I was still in the army, I fell in love with a girl. She was intelligent, polite...well, anything a man could ask for. We were together, but the problem was me. I'm not a pressed guy who rushes things. I like to take my time. After a few months, she...made a big mistake. Not being able to wait anymore, she knocked me out, attached me to a bed, waited that I regain consciousness and..." He trembled in apprehension and fear, a few tears reappeared. His breathing was ragged. "....and s-s-she...raped me."

The words echoed in her head. Did she hear right? It was rare for a mare to be raped...but a stallion, almost exceptional (even during spring heat). The emotional trauma has really been very difficult for him. The Night Goddess wanted to show her compassion but a little voice in her head tells her to not do it, for his sake.

"Saying that I know what thou feel is a lie but I understand if you want to stay alone and away from us, mares."

Filled with her understanding and friendship, Ethan couldn't help but smiled at those warm words.

"Thank you a lot Ms Luna, it means a lot for me."

"Thou are welcome. But why thou call me Miss and not by my title?"

He laughed.

"Simple." he said, touching where her heart was with his index. "I talk to the pony who is inside. Not the royalty."

"But my sister...-"

"She and I didn't have a good beginning so, give me some time to be accustomed to her."

A howl interrupted their moment. With little difficulties, the Major stood up.

"Again? Oh Come on! They never quit or what?"

"Timberwolves?"

"Exactly. Maybe three or four of them, at least." he said, listening to their approaching footstep.

In mere seconds, his black armor appeared.

[All systems are online and functional]

“I need your sister’s help on this one. The missiles should be enough for deal with them.”

“Thou are lucky. My sister allowed me unlocks your weapons if she was not able to do it.” She explained, while her horn glowed in a light blue color.

[Missiles: online]

“Perfect. I know that you are capable to defend yourself but I’ll handle the fight from now. Stay close to the car.”

“Are thou sure?”

He didn’t respond, his opponents were here. Ten… ten timberwolves in front of him, all growling dangerously. He aimed his right arm toward them, a grey cannon covered its back.

“Let’s rock!”