The Winning Pony and the Templar

Chane’s brow furrowed as stood on one hind leg, precariously balanced on a chair as he shelved a bag of flour. Pushing it into the shelf, he gave a nod of satisfaction. As he lowered the opposing leg, the chair began skidding slightly, putting the zebra off balance. Yelping in surprise, his forelegs scrambling for purchase as he began to fall backwards, he felt his perch beginning to fall back on it two back legs, and clenching his teeth for the impending ground, Chane fell back. The pain never came, only a slight grunt, and the feeling of something soft under him. As she was working, Fluttershy had seen her son, (the word still managing to send warm feelings in her heart), beginning to fall. Now, heart easing off its rapid pace, she lowered herself to let the zebra off her back.

Giving a slight exhale of relief, she turned to Chane, and smiled.

“Chane, I appreciate your help, but really…”

The foal shook his head vehemently.

“Ms Fluttershy…” the Pegasus winced internally. She didn’t expect him to call mom or anything like that, but it still hurt the distance he kept between him and her, “I simply cannot lay around your cottage like a lump. I must earn my keep as a guest in….” the rest of Chane’s words were stilled as the mare pressed a hoof to his lips, a slight frown in place.

“Chane…” the zebra jumped slightly. Fluttershy wasn’t angry, but her tone was firm, and altogether serious, commanding his respect and undivided attention. Eyes not leaving his, she continued, “First of all, you are not a guest here. This is your home. Do you understand?”

Chane nodded.

Nodding back, she took her hoof away, and continued in the same no-nonsense tone.

“Secondly, you shouldn’t be concerning yourself in grown pony problems. Zecora and I are the adults, you are the child. Clear?”

At her words, the zebra’s eyes flashed.

“I am not a child. I passed the trials of adulthood!”

The mare shook her head.

“Not here in Equestria you haven’t.”

Seeing his scowl, Flutteryshy sighed, then smiled.

“Ok, how about this? Just for the next few days, you just worry about school and settling in. And for today, after I finish putting everything away, you can help me with dinner.”

Scowl softening, Chane gave a slight nod, then with a sigh, turned and walked to the couch. Jumping onto it, he shifted until he was comfortable, and watched as the Pegasus bustled about. As he watched, he felt something jab him in the side. Turning slightly, he regarded the rabbit sitting next to him, beady little blacks looking up at him angrily. Shrugging, he went back to his thoughts. Now furious, Angel thumped his right hind leg against the zebras haunch.

Slowly, Chane looked back, then lowered his head to the rabbits level. Eyes narrowed, the zebra blew a gust of air out of his nostrils onto Angel. Tucking his forelegs to his chest, the rabbit leaned back slightly, giving a nervous smile. Chane just frowned, and after a moment, cocked a brow. And with that slight movement, Angel turned and jumped down off the couch. Cowering behind the table, he glared balefully up at his usurper.

……………………………………………….

Cloudkicker watched as Garret sliced off another strip of steak from his plate, then grimaced as he chewed, then swallowed the meat.

“I hope that’s not one of ours your chowing down on…”

The human shook his head.

“No, Territories oxen, not Equestrian cows or bulls.” Nodding towards the plate in front of the mare, he continued, “Enjoy your stir-fry?”

She thought it was delicious, but Cloudkicker wasn’t about to give Garret the satisfaction. Giving a shrug of her wings, she replied, “Not bad.”

Slicing off another piece of steak, Garret raised a brow.

“Oh good, I’m glad to hear that. Wasn’t too sure  since that’s your third plate…” Garret grunted slightly as the mares wing shot out to cuff him upside the head. Drawing it back, and blushing somewhat at being zinged, Cloudkicker scowled.

“Hey, fuck you. Cloud wrangling eats up a lot of calories you bastard.”

Rubbing the spot on his head a moment, Garret grinned.

“Oh, your hard work definitely shows.”

Picking up his fork again, he brought the piece of steak up to his mouth, and as he did said, “You know, I’m impressed. Most equines can’t stand the sight, or smell, of meat, cooked or raw.”

Still happy from his compliment of her frame, damage control over his insult or not, Cloudkicker answered, “Well, pegasi do eat fish. And I’ve had gryphons in my life now and again. Definitely exposes one to things most equines never see.”

With that, the two returned to their meal. Finishing hers first, Cloudkicker licked her chops.

“Seriously, where did you learn to cook?”

The human shrugged, and took the plates to the sink.

“Again, had to relearn it all when my wife died. But even before I was married, I knew how to cook. I used to spend a lot of time out in the forest as a Templar. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve had too cook something on the fly out there.”

As he began to wash, Cloudkicker asked, “What was your wifes name?”

“Kala.”

Somewhat encouraged, Cloudkicker followed up her questions.

“Do you mind telling me what she was like?”

Stepping from the sink, Garret turned, and walked back to the couch.

“She was… confident. And kind. Stubborn as a mule, and loved the color blue.” Garret smiled as he sat down. “She was my best friend.”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a photo. Looking over it, Cloudkicker’s jaw dropped.

“You were married to her?”

“Impressed?”

Cloudkicker nodded mutely.

“She’s… she was beautiful Garret…”the mare shot her hoof to her muzzle, eyes widened with shock. Before she could apologize, the human put the photo back into his pocket, and said simply, “Yeah, she was.”

As he sipped his drink, Cloudkicker waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“I bet she was a great lay too…”

Looking at the mare out of the corner of his eye, Garret laid the glass back on the table, and said warningly, “Cloud…”

Nudging his arm with a hoof, Cloudkicker forged ahead.

“Oh come on. Give me something? I’ll tell you one of mine.”

Garret rolled his eyes, and leaned back against the couch.

“You can’t compare one of your conquests with my wedding night.”

“Why? Cause a proper mare shouldn’t talk about these sort of things?”

The human looked at the pony evenly.

“No. Because I don’t think any of those people loved you.”

Cloudkicker winced, and rubbed her foreleg with a hoof, looking away from the human.

“That’s not… true…”

“It’s not?”

Looking back, the mare shook her head.

“Well, yeah! I know the difference between banging and lovemaking. Like with….” Cloudkicker paused, and gnawed her lip a moment.

“Like with Derpy.”

“What was she like?”

The mare giggled.

“She was a klutz. I remember the first words I ever heard from her were “I don’t know what went wrong!’ That was way back in flight camp, and it would be years before I saw her again. Third day in Ponyville, most pregnant mare I’ve ever seen saunters up, asking me to fuck her silly.”

Seeing the look on his face, she amended, “I didn’t of course! She was all hopped up on hormones, would have been no better then hopping in the sack with a drunk. A few month later, gave birth to the cutest filly in all of Equestria, and took in Sparks.”

Garret nodded.

“Oh yeah, Cal’s girl right?”

“You know the human?”

“Brother in law.”

Cloudkicker frowned.

“May I be direct Garret?”

“Proceed.”

“I love Sparkler like she was my own. She’s tough as all get out, but she’s got a soft heart under the shell. If Cal breaks her heart, I’ll break his legs.”

Chuckling, Garret nodded.

“Fair enough.I take it you two were pretty serious?”

“Nah. Like I said, I’m not in for the long term.”

“Huh?”

“Ok, look, I loved Derps more then anypony in the world. That’s why I couldn’t get serious with her, you know?”

Seeing the look in his eyes, Cloudkicker rubbed the end of her snout.

“Ok… lets see… I love the idea of marriage. When I was a filly, I used to love the idea of finding my special somepony, getting married, growing old… But, in the end, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t have been fair to Derpy, and wouldn’t  have been right to say I was commited when I wasn’t.”

The mare wiped a tear from her eye with a wing.

“And then that… fucking tumor got her…”

“Cloudkicker….”

“Its ok… Me and her slept together one last time the day she died, so…”

Cloudkicker jumped slightly as the glass slid from Garret’s fingers, and he looked over at her.

“What?”

Bristling somewhat from his glare, she replied, “Hey, save your preaching! This ain’t no church.”

Leaning forward, Garret moaned.

“A mare was dying… cancer eating her, and you…”

“Hey! I made her last day special…”

The human snarled, “Don’t fucking kid yourself!”

Cloudkicker leaned away from Garret, eyes wide.

“Don’t kid yourself Cloudkicker… what you did, you did just for you…”