“Hey, Cloud! Wait up!” I called out as I spotted a familiar shape before making my way over as the white-furred pegasus with a blue mane so pale it was almost white stopped and looked in my direction before he grinned.
“Page! Hey, I have not seen you in ages.”
Coming to a stop, I nodded. “I could say the same. How is basic?”
He shrugged his wings. “Just as tough as Swift said.” he answered before he grinned. “You sure you are not going to join up?”
I quickly shook my head. “No way, I know my limits.” I said, thinking back of the latest training session with Luna. “I even dropped the class.”
“I did hear you found another way to spend your time.” He said with a grin. “I never thought one of those rumors would end up being true. How in Equestria did you, of all people, end up with one of the Princesses? And Princess Luna at that?”
“I'm just that awesome.”
That earned me a thwack over the back of my head with his wing. “So what are you doing out and about anyway? Break from training?” I asked with a grin.
“Yep. Weekend off. So what are you up too? Seen Swift lately?”
“This morning, actually, met him at the castle, he was on patrol. I actually don't have anything to do right now, just grabbed a cup of tea at my normal place. You?”
He shrugged his wings. “On my way from visiting my parents. Wanna do something?”
“Sure. As long as it doesn't involve drinking.”
“Why, your girlfriend have you on a short leash?”
There was no way I'd leave such an easy one hanging, “Only if she asks nicely.”
The look on his face was hilarious.
“No, just messing with you. There is some stuff I need to do later.”
More specifically, getting my arse kicked across a field during training with Luna. It was difficult enough when sober. Her pace was difficult to keep up with.
He flicked his ears and nodded. “Ah. Well, wanna grab some food anyway?”
Nodding, I trotted along. “So, what's guard training like?”
Thunder Cloud shrugged his wings. “Pretty similar to what Swift's was. Just change magic lessons for flying ones. Formations, air tactics... that kind of thing. Lots and lots of practice.”
“Huh. Yeah, that makes sense.” I said with a nod. “So... you are basically a Wonderbolt now, then?”
That got a snort from the pegasus and he shook his head with a grin. “Ha! I wish.” he answered. “You've seen them fly. I have never even gotten close to that kind of speed.” he shrugged and continued; “Besides, they are not guards.”
“I thought they were military.”
He tilted his head in thought. “Well... they are. In a way. Technically. But they are not guards. Nowadays they are mostly a show and exhibition team, though.”
“...I feel like I should have known that.” I said with a frown as we entered the 'Hayburgers all 'round'. Never actually been here before, but I heard it was a pretty okay fast food style place.
“Most ponies don't know that.” Cloud said as we got into the line. “Not even most in the guard. Not exactly the kind of thing most ponies keep track of.”
“So, how do you know it?”
He grinned at that. “My grandmother was a Wonderbolt. I wanted to be one when I was little, before I realized that I'm simply not that great of of a flyer.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “...I've seen you fly, dude. I might not have wings, but I know good when I see it. You are really annoying to hit.”
“Practice.” Thunder Cloud said with a shrug. “Besides, I was always good at the whole air maneuver thing. It's speed I'm bad at. Don't have the stamina and my wings are a bit too large for me to ever get that fast. That does give me great low-speed maneuverability though.”
“What can I get you?” The pink earth pony mare by the counter asked with a smile.
“Uhm... burger and fries, grape juice.” I ordered and turned to Cloud. “My treat. I'm the rich one.”
That earned me a snort. “No arguments there. I'll have the same as well.”
As she moved to fill our orders, I turned back to my pegasus friend. “Wait, why does wing size matter for speed? I thought pegasus flight was mostly magic.”
He grinned at that. “It is. Most unicorns don't think about that.”
“Most unicorns are not me. I have a slightly different perspective.”
That got me a chuckle. “True, true. Anyway, yes, it's a kind of magic, but it's wings as well. Don't ask me how. Your marefriend likely know more.”
Need to remember to ask. That was a bit odd. Maybe it was an issue of aerodynamics?
No, that didn't make sense. The wings was the least of the problems with the aerodynamics of a pony.
Picking the tray up with my magic, I put the bits on the counter with a smile and a thanks to the mare before making my way over to a free table.
“Oh and I read your latest book, by the way.” Cloud said as we sat down. “It was pretty good. Liked the ending.”
“Thanks.”
“Also, I think we are being followed. Fan of yours?”
I frowned. “Huh?”
“White unicorn mare, two tables down. Changeling from the wings.”
Glancing back I smirked and turned back to him. “Oh, that's Skitter. She is my bodyguard. Luna insisted I needed one. We compromised and I have a changeling guard for public relations reasons.”
“She is cute.”
“Changeling. She can look anyway she like.”
“Still cute.” Cloud said and leaned to the side to look around me and over at her.
I rolled my eyes. “You need a marefriend.”
He snorted and returned his attention to his food. “Like I have the time right now. Maybe when I graduate. Besides, I'll probably be assigned somewhere else when I'm done with basic and need to move.”
“Ah yeah. Still not going to join the Night Guard?”
Cloud shook his head. “No, my family has always been wearing the golden armor. I see no reason to break it.”
“Well... here's to hoping you end up in Canterlot. There is a chance, right?”
He nodded. “Not too bad. The best couple in class usually do, I think I'm doing okay... I give it a 50/50 odds. But I don't want to start anything before I know.”
“Yeah, I suppose that's a good idea.”
“Introduce us?”
Sighing, I turned to look back over at Skitter to motion her over. He did just spend months away from everything female...
I'm gonna get spoiled from these daily updates,eh, who cares? THANKS.
Best story tag i've seen
data.archive.horse/4ch/mlp/image/1422/13/1422131623687.jpg
I have nothing further to add.
Featured again!
In all honesty, this story and the one before it aren't bad, they're just... generic. The whole thing just feels vaguely bland; there's just isn't really anything about it to make it stand out. Entertaining enough, but in that, you know, "could be better" sense. Even the romance aspect feels vaguely passionless. The whole Chrysalis thing was probably the most noticeable thing about it and then it just kind of drops it again. Seems like there could've been more done with all that.
I have a new shipping pairing, soooo digging the Swiftter!
Featured again! Woo hoo
6771593 Thunder Cloud, not Swift Spear.
6771615 ...right.... I was... Going against the story! Haha! ....crap....
Still...digging the Skitter lovin'
Ain't that the truth.
I've been reading Worm again recently and any mention of a 'Skitter' guarding anything is hilariously terrifying. Great story!
6771615
I thought he was Strife Cloud.
6821741
Worm? I googled it and all I saw was https://parahumans.wordpress.com, was that what you were talking about?
7432554
It is indeed what he is talking about.
Read it if you like Dark stories that are very long, have lots of death, and deconstructs what it means to make a superhero universe.
It is a draining read, but it is IMMENSELY good, and it has a pretty big fanbase online.
oh my GOD
edit: I support Skitter X Cloud
8205499
No, no, no. It's Cloudskitter!
I'm re-reading through this series, yet every time I see the word 'Skitter' as a name I immediately have flash backs to worm.
8867936
ANOTHER FAN!!!!! YAS!!!!!!
8867936
Skitter, Weaver, Khepri fans unite!
All hail the one true bug queen!
9486821
And here Blank page is scared of Cadence playing around with love... He really doesn't know what true horrors an unleashed mind controller can do ^^;; A bit sad Skitter's story ended though, I was really enjoying it.
TL:DR Khepri is fucking SCARY...
Or a pairing could just fall into the lap...
That stallion is one of the few friends Page has...
One can only hope for a fullfillinging position and life.
9992238
With a little help from the Love Page.
Got to love the humor.
Changeling lovers are awesome, they want you to love them so they can feed of it. Archiving that they have to make you love them. Like a Farmer cares for his lifestock and his farm land to reap what they seed.
Changelings are awesome for most things i can think off.
Damn I would love me Changeling action, snuggle that bug ♡