//------------------------------// // A Little Detour part 3 // Story: The Legend of Lightning Ace: Childhood // by LightningAce7 //------------------------------// The trio had finished dinner and had checked in at a local hotel. It was a relatively posh hotel, complete with super soft beds and over the top decor. They wasted no time getting comfortable. "Ah gotta thank mah aunty Orange for givin us that money. Otherwise we'd be on the street." Applejack said, getting into her bed. "One day we'll get to thank her. Lightning, why are we in Canterlot again?" Flash asked. "To make a visit to the royal library." Lightning said. "A book I need is hopefully there, and maybe they can help identify who attacked us on the mountain." Lightning then got in his bed. "We'll go in the morning....hhhmmmmhhh." He yawned. "Night everypony." Applejack said, also yawning. "Night...Aj..." Lightning managed before falling asleep. He was in a dark forest within an equally dark temple structure. There upon a pedistal stood a strange statue that had five strange stone orbs adorning it. For some reason he couldn't help but approach the statue. But before he could reach it, there was an evil presence in the room. Before him was an amorphous black-as-night form that had an erie similarity to it. Before he could do anything, six lights of various colors entered the temple. The darkness then said some undissernable things and vanished with the orbs. He was then in the forest again, though he was in control of his body now. Before him now was a vaguely famililar pony among three other pegasi that were wearing darkened, twisted versions of what the Wonder Bolts wore. He couldn't hear what they were saying but he found out soon enough when all four of them attacked. He tried his best to fend them off but he was eventually overwhelmed. As they reared for the final blow, he began to scream. Everything became a blur as their hooves came down on him. Applejack was woken by Lightning's violent tossing and turning. She got out of her bed and made her way to his bed. She could see that he was in a cold sweat and had managed to buck off his covers as well. "Lightning!" Applejack yelled as she gave him a shake. "Lightning!" She shouted again. But he still slept, thrashing about as if he were being attacked. She then threw herself onto him and tried to restrain him. "That's it y'all" Applejack said as she held him tight with her forelegs. He continued to struggle as she then tried a new tactic: rubbing his wings. 'It worked in the carrage ride to dinner' she thought, blushing. She then snuggled up to Lightning, who was still struggling, and managed to get a wing into her hooves. She then started to rub it. Slowly but surely, Lightning began to calm down, and relax into her embrace. 'What was that all bout' ' Applejack thought as he finally relaxed. She then realised that she couldn't move without disturbing his now peaceful sleep. Applejack was still tired still though, and succombed to her need for sleep. Her eyes closed as she relaxed into Lightning's side. The sun began to rise as Flash woke up. He rubbed his eyes as the invading sunlight encroached onto his face. "Hmmmnn" he muttered as he sat up. As he was getting his bearings, he then looked at Applejack's bed to see it empty. "Whats huh?" He uttered as he then looked at Lightning's bed. He then noticed not one, but two pony sized bumps in the covers. He took a closer look and saw the front of Lightning's head, half hidden by the plush covers. Flash then moved around the bed to see the other side to discover the cause of the other bump. He looked closer to see two orange forelegs wrapped around Lightning. "D'aaaawwwww." Flash said out loud. At last the invading sunlight reached Lightning's face, which caused him to stir. As he started waking up he began to recall his restless night turned pleasant. He remembered having a familiar nightmare followed by a calming, warm embrace that washed the nightmare away and brought him into a state of peace. It was a familiar sensation...such as during that ride to dinner back in... It then hit him, making him blush as he then noticed a pair of orange hooves and forelegs secured snuggly around his sides. He then felt somepony's breath on the back of his neck. It only took him a second to guess who it was. It took every nerve in his body to resist letting his wings turn ridged. His face and neck began to turn a bright red, his light blue coat betraying him to his embarrasment. His breathing turned fast paced, his heart now racing. It then hit him that at some point in the night, the filly he has a crush on had climbed into bed with him and fell asleep cuddling him. Not long after Lightning woke up, Applejack had also started to awaken, only to find herself with Lightning in her embrace. There was now no hiding it. Her stiffened tail said it all. Thankfully it was under covers. She also could feel Lightning's wings tightening, like they were attempting to spread. She then realised he was awake, and likely aware that she was there. This only made her blush more. The worse part, was she now had to tell him. She couldn't lie. She was terrible at lying. So she figured the only way to go, was to tell him how she felt. "L...Lightning? A...are y'all u...up?" Applejack finally managed to say. She felt his body get even warmer. "I...uhhh...yea..." Lightning said, barely able to talk straight. His every hair in his head and coat nearly standing on end. "Ah think Ah l...like y...y'all...Lightning..." Applejack said. Lightning processed this for a moment...His crush, in bed cuddling him, just confessed to liking him. There was only one thing to do... "Applejack..." Lightning sat up and turned to face Applejack. "I...I like you too..." Applejack then hugged Lightning. Meanwhile Flash could no longer hold it in. He drew in a deep breath... "AAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!" to be continued...