//------------------------------// // Angelos 01 // Story: Secret OC Origins Compilation // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// The wind flew softly against the gentle plains, filling the air with the scent of freshly blooming flowers. A white pegasus with a multi-hued blue mane glided through the air, eyes partially closed as the smell washed over him. The sun made the currents nice and strong, turning the flight into a soft, gentle exercise. He technically could have taken the train, but he'd decided to save his bits and just fly towards his destination. It was too nice a day not to. Off in the distance a small town, Ponyville, came into view. He let out a soft sigh of relief. He'd been flying from Canterlot and, while the flight was short and easy, he still had plenty of stress built up and was struggling to leave it behind. He occasionally flapped his wings, shooting up higher into the air as he went, just so he could burst through the clouds. The town came ever closer and he looked around with a soft hum. Near the center he made out a round building. Probably the mayors office. Welp, best to start there. He aimed his hooves down and dived. He tore through the air in a flash, making it to the ground in what he believed to be record time. He skidded to a stop in front of the building, a wide grin on his face. Though nopony seemed to have even noticed his dive or landing, he still felt pretty good. He'd moved like a rocket, he doubted... His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden blur up above. A rainbow colored flash seemed to be moving around the sky, getting rid of all the clouds. His mouth fell open as he watched. Heck, it was flying up faster than he could dive. It didn't seem to stop, either, until every cloud was gone and it disappeared behind a building. “Who was that?” he asked softly. “Oh, that would be Rainbow Dash, our local weathermare,” a voice said from behind him. He glanced over and saw an old tan mare, with a gray mane. She had golden-rimmed glasses over her eyes and a white collar with blue puff under her throat. “You must be Angelos, correct? I'm Mayor Mare.” “Huh? Oh, right. Ummm, yes. I'm Angelos,” he said before bowing his head. “You... know why I'm here?” “Oh yes. It's really quite common for members of the guard to take vacations here,” she said with a gentle smile. “We have lodging already prepared. If you'd just follow me I'll get you a map and your keys. I'd suggest heading to our local spa as well. Aloe and Lotus will be certain to cure whatever knots you may have.” “O-oh, I ummm... thanks,” he mumbled softly, before glancing up again. His whole dive just felt silly now. “So, do you know why I was sent on vacation here?” “I was just told for stress relief?” “Oh... heh heh. Yeah. Stress relief...” He looked nervously to the side. Well, he couldn't deny he had been feeling stressed the last few days. But then, what lunar guard wouldn't after getting drunk and waking up in a prench maid outfit in Princess Luna's bed? She had been quite forgiving about the whole incident, but the teasing would be atrocious when he got home. Not to mention the little joke interrogation he'd received. “So are there any other guards resting here?” “At the moment, no,” she shook her head. “You're coming back right near the end of our busy time. We had almost a dozen just last week.” He perked up. “Wow, I guess I'm pretty lucky. Know why there were so many then?” “Oh, I believe miss Rarity was doing a showing of her summer line of bathing suits. She always hosts it near the end of spring and we tend to get quite busy.” “O-oh...” he said, lowering his eyes and blushing. Why couldn't he have gotten drunk a week earlier? “We'll pick up again in a few weeks once we get into summer. Now it's too chilly though and nopony wants to go swimming in this.” Worst. Vacation. Ever. Mayor Mare led him into her office and pulled out a small foldable map, a brochure and a key, hoofing them over. “There. Your quarters are marked, you'll be in room L.” He looked over the map and nodded. “Ummm, thanks. So if I'm here... I guess I'll go unpack and try the spas then. Thanks.” “A pleasure. If you need anything, feel free to let me know.” She gave him a diplomatic smile. A smile that was impossible to tell if it was fake or real. He nodded and trotted off, smiling as he made his way towards his new quarters. The town did look nice and the air was fresh. Maybe the vacation would still be pretty good. He didn't need pretty mares to make it spectacular. ------ He wobbled out of the spa, his mouth hanging open. He was wrapped in one of their robes that he swore was made of the threads of baby clouds that were children of clouds that were made of only the finest silks. He didn't care if that wasn't how clouds were made, the robe was just that good. Granted, he wasn't so much relaxed as... very happy. He didn't know how those mares did it, he'd have sworn they were unicorns and used some kind of amazing relaxing paralyzation spell on him. The pink one, Aloe, was definitely the best. Sure, he knew her flirtations were only because that was her job, but it still felt really good having such a pretty mare talking to him like that. Everypony likes feeling special and attractive once in a while and she had a way of making you feel as if you belonged on the front cover of some magazine. With two or three mares dangling on your legs. He was two blocks away before he realized that he was walking down the street in a bath robe. As comfortable as it was, it didn't change the fact he was getting plenty of stares. He squeaked and quickly took it off, folded it up and put it over his back. “Soon...” he whispered to it before trotting down the streets. He just had to find lunch now. Then return to his home so he could being a long weekend of cuddling in that robe. Angelos hummed happily as he trotted through the town, glancing around at all the buildings and ponies. It really was a nice, simple town. The kind he'd expect to see postcards being taken of at any moment. It was a shame he'd never actually visited the place aside from when he was on royal duties. Then again, he didn't take that many vacations to begin with. He'd only really taken this one since it was forced on him. He was lucky he hadn't ended up in a jail cell. He nearly had. He shook his head, trying to clear those thoughts. He was on vacation, time for a little enjoyment. He looked around at all the little shops and wiggled his hips, making his bits jingle. Maybe it was time he got a real meal. Not the cheap, deep fried vegetables he usually picked up when he had a late night shift and had to rush to work. No, a real meal for once. He glanced around at all the stands, humming softly as he walked. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. The perfect meal. Big and oozing with clear, slightly yellow sauces that the rich and healthy used in place of ketchup, syrup and oil. Wrapped in a delicious tortilla shell around golden heated chestnuts. A small dusting of sugar. Whipped cream on top. It was a meal and a dessert. The sign for three bits dangled overhead, making him gasp. Well, things certainly weren't cheap. But the smell was mouth watering. He walked towards it. “Angel!” the voice called out. He paused for a moment before looking up. A yellow pegasus was galloping towards him and she-- His mind finally processed what he was seeing and he nearly fell on his flank. A yellow pegasus? Calling her that was like calling the moon a white rock. No, this mare was kissed by the sun itself, her coat radiating its own golden glow as she moved. Her coat and wings were perfectly shaped and maintained, without a single knot or scuffle. He swore she even glimmered in the sunlight. Her mane was long, flowing pink. Smooth with just a hint of curve on either end. Her frame was... well, if he was a mare THAT was the body he'd want. Not super thin, but not really plump, either. The body of a mare who ate healthy but still worked hard. A gentle hint of muscle, but not so much it drew attention away from her other features. Then her eyes. Green. The most perfect green he'd ever seen. He'd never even liked the color green before, but it suddenly jumped to the number one spot, possibly behind yellow. She was galloping, her mane jumping up and down with each movement. She was calling his name. She was running right towards him. He offered up a silent thank you to the heavens as he tried to think of a response, but no words seemed to be willing to enter his suddenly very dry, very parched mouth. He struggled to speak, to say anything, but nothing came out. She was coming closer and closer. Then she was in front of him. “Brggldish!” he managed to spurt out. She ran right past him, not even noticing. He mentally kicked himself as he watched her run by. He scared her off, how could he... wait, what? The mare suddenly plucked up a little white bunny from the ground. “Oh Angel, don't run off like that. You had me worried sick...” she said softly. Her voice was one of an angel. No, not an angel, angels wish they had voices like that. It was... it was to voices, to singing, what an angel's voice was to nails on a chalkboard. “You've had such a rough, scary day, didn't you? Come on, let's go get you that cherry...” He kept staring, his mouth hanging open. If his mouth wasn't as dry as the desert, he'd be drooling. Instead he just watched until she turned a corner, before finally grabbing the nearest pony, who just happened to be waiting in line for the meal he was about to buy. “Who was that?” “Hey! Get your hooves off me, creep!” the mare snapped, shoving him away. “What? I... o-oh, sorry, I was just... I errr...” He became distressingly aware of how many ponies were watching him. “I just meant, the ummm... the angelic yellow pegasus who just... she was just... walked by and she... errr...” His face turned bright red as he struggled to think of the words. The other mare just stared for a few moments, before glaring at him. “Who, you mean Fluttershy? You one of her stalkers?” “W-what? No! I-I'm not a stalker, h-honest!” he tried not to squeak, but he couldn't stop it. Something about this mare was... quite terrifying, though he couldn't place it. But he had a very bad suspicion that if he made her mad, he could kiss any chance of meeting this Fluttershy away. Along with most of his teeth. Oh wow, even her name was heavenly. “Oh? Then why do you want to know who she is so bad?” “I just, she's so, I mean and, I thought maybe, because she, my name and, I uhhh... p-please don't h-hurt me Ms... errr...” “Dash. Rainbow Dash,” the mare snorted before smirking. “Tell you what. Do you really wanna know who she is? Because Fluttershy there is a close, personal friend of mine.” “S-she is? S-so you'll introduce us?” “Buck no!” She jammed a hoof into his chest. “Wishy washy guy like you? Not a chance. If you wanna get to know Fluttershy... well, you'll have to earn it.” The moment he looked down she flicked her hoof up to tap his nose. He yelped. “For a guy like you? Might be easier to just give it up. My tests will break you like a cookie.” He took a deep breath but slowly shook his head. “I... I'll do it. I-I'll try. What kind of tests are these?” That grin got even wider. “Oh, you'll see. I got four in mind. You'll have to be awesomely awesome if you want a shot. The first--” She motioned to the stand. “--you're buying me lunch.” He blinked before looking up. Well... he guessed three bits wasn't much if it got him closer to a mare like that. He walked to the stand and paid for the meal, though he swore he could hear the mare cackling evily. What kind of pony cackled in this day and age? Why did he have a feeling that cackle would be haunting his nightmares for the rest of his days?