//------------------------------// // More Than Friends // Story: What Remains III: Cracked Sky // by Bateman66 //------------------------------// Alistair held back a yawn as he shuffled through the sprawling stacks of paper draped across the plain work desk within his chambers. He’d been offered a larger workspace ever since the Queen’s return for a more suitable place to continue his work but he found a certain charm in the almost dungeon-like setting. You really should learn to prioritize yourself better, he mentally scolded himself. You spend weeks writing out the attack proposal and yet forget where you put the maps tied in with those plans. Have you ever considered a binder? Or at least a folder? “No,” he said aloud as he held the clutch of parchment maps triumphantly in the air. Finally letting out the yawn, he sluggishly leaned back in his chair and sighed. It had been a grueling week of near nonstop discussions, training, and of course his daily rounds of “incantations” among the Queen’s physical aura. He’d been doing his best to stay on top of it all, but even in the mid morning he already was feeling the pull of fatigue against his body. Rubbing his chin, he leaned back further in his chair and attempted to shut his eyes. Maybe I’ll just try sneak in a few extra minutes while nothing’s going on. Celestia knows you deserve it. And besides, it’s not like anypony’s— “Sleeping on the job?” called a familiar and musing female voice. Jolting his eyes open, he nearly fell out of his seat as he craned around to see an earth-pony mare with gray fur and a muted lavender mane standing in the doorway. “You know,” the mare continued with a sly grin, “most ponies at least close the door when their trying to squeeze in a little cat nap, just thought you should know.” He couldn’t help but grin at the sarcasm. “Hello, Shale. Nice to see you and your insurmountable charm are up this early.” She brought a hoof to her chest in feigned shock. “Was that an insult? I am dearly wounded.” “Good, now you know how I feel every time we have a conversation longer than twelve seconds. Cherish it.” She laughed and stepped inside. “Come on, I’m not that bad.” “Oh, yes. You certainly are. It’s charming, don’t get me wrong, but…your wit does show itself pretty frequently.” She shrugged. “That’s alright with me. I only typically use it on you or Pen. And he’s my little brother so he’s definitely coped with it longer than you have. Count yourself lucky.” He nodded in moderate surprise. “Really. I’d think you’d share your special talents with everypony else in the Night Lords. Would bring a nice level of positivity to things around here.” “It’s nothing,” she said with a wave of her hoof. “We’re always supposed to be focused on what’s important. Besides, if I tried to act like myself around everypony else—” she stopped herself a moment and shook her head. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. What’s going on with you?” He sighed. “Just feeling a bit a drained is all. I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard before, even back in External Affairs I had a little breathing room. But this? I barely have enough time to eat, better yet sleep.” “Did Silver Eclipse put you up to it? I can talk to him if you want.” Alistair shook his head. “No, I’m fine. The work schedule was my glorious idea. Yes, I’m not the most comfortable I’ve ever been, but the incantations with the Queen must come first. Everything depends on it.” “True, it’s quite vital, but I really don’t think you should be running yourself into the ground like this. With what you’re in charge of it’d best if your mind was running at one hundred percent instead of just barely chugging by. Like just said, everything depends on it.” “I’ll be fine. I’ve gone through much worse than just a little sleep deprivation. And considering that this is all temporary I can certainly make it up once her physical presence is completed.” Shale sighed dismally. “Just promise me you’ll at least try to look after yourself?” “Of course I will,” he said with a cheerful smile. “I’m still remembering to bathe…most of the time.” She giggled at this and stepped a bit closer to where he stood, closer than he’d typically feel comfortable with. “It’s nice to see a sense of humor finally shaping up around you. If I didn’t know better I’d say that you’re maturing.” He rose from his seat and took a few steps towards the doorway, away from her. “I wouldn’t say that. I think it teeters on just the general comfort level. It’s taken a little practice but I’m starting to feel an actual place when I’m around here. Certainly not like how things were in External Affairs.” “Didn’t you have any friends there?” “Not really. I was so devastated after everything that happened with Twilight I didn’t really want to connect with anypony else around there. I mean, I talked with Pen every now and again but never any real conversation between us. Things felt so flat all time.” She took a few steps closer to him. “Do you still feel that way?” “I’m reminded of it whenever I look back but I don’t get the same vibe as I used to. Things have changed and although I typically dislike that it is a better situation.” Shale took a few more steps even closer, her snout practically touching his much smaller human nose. She smiled gently. “I’m happy to hear that things are shaping up for you, especially now that the Queen is nearing her return. I hope I’ve been accommodating enough.” He stiffly shook his head. “Oh yes, you have been. And I’m appreciative of it. But, I’ve got to go attend to the Queen so…see you later!” Alistair was just about to turn towards the door when he felt Shale reach out and lock her hooves around him in a sudden embrace. “Keep up the good work, Alistair; we’re all counting on you.” She was right up to him, her fur rubbing against the parts of his arms that weren’t covered in the black over shirt he wore during off hours. Her grip was tight against his torso and he could feel the heat of her body against his own. Her eyes were shut tightly in a far-off bliss that displayed a level of attachment he hadn’t seen before. He couldn’t feel a certain aura emulating off her physical self the longer she held onto him, and it wasn’t the feeling he’d gotten from her typically. He’d acknowledged their friendship as one of substance long ago…but this? This felt like something beyond that, far beyond it. The how and why of the moment didn’t much matter at the moment, however, he couldn’t help but wonder how long this had been formulating within her. He’d never noticed a special look in her eyes when she’d looked upon him. Not even a few minutes earlier had he expected anything above what they typically experienced. Did he feel the same way? Did he feel anything period? He’d never been able to decipher his own age back in the Realm of Solitude but that didn’t quite throw out the notion of love out the window. Why was he even thinking about this? What the hell was even going on? The entire ordeal only seemed to be a minute’s length but he could feel a mild distortion coming into his perspective. He paused for a moment and looked to Shale with a blank expression on his face, not quite sure what to do with the situation. Patting her awkwardly on the shoulder, he gently broke away from her grasp and exited the room, an edge of surrealism following him out the door.