> Draco and Ratchet > by RatchetFlash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Strange Love-Part 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Hahahah! S-Star! T-That was priceless!” The white pegasus laughed as he rolled around on the ground, her unicorn friend drenched in water. “Ratchet….” The dark blue unicorn looked down at the snow white pegasus with a glare and a snort. “Never. Do. That. Again.” The unicorn grumbled as the pegasus known as Ratchet Flash rolled around on the ground. Ratchet managed to stop laughing and look up at her friend. “Pfffft. All I did was pull a little prank on you. So what I drenched you and made your mane all poofy. All I did was jump on a water filled cloud that happened to be above your head. No harm done.” The pegasus held back a chuckle as she stood up. “Ratchet… Ugh…. I hate you sometimes…” The unicorn known as Stardust Shot grumbled as she turned away from her friend and started to walk toward the center of Ponyville. Stardust had a dark blue coat, a black mane with a red tint that was always up in a ponytail and a black tail. Her flank was covered in a green camera, representing her talent of photography. Ratchet Flash was a snow white pegasus with a brown mane and tail that had a streak of dark brown running through it. She had a pair of mechanical feather wings on her back. Her cutie mark was a hashtag on the left, exclamation point point on the right and right in the middle below these two symbols was a atmark. This cutie mark was meant to show her talent for coming up with insults, being random and having fun. “Stardust! Don’t be such a loser. Come on.” Ratchet nudged the unicorn softly as Stardust let out a sigh. “I’ll buy you a new camera!” Ratchet muttered in her ear. “No! Ratchet…. Just leave me alone. I have to get cleaned up and then maybe we can talk…. Why don’t you go do, whatever it is you do in your free time. Study Discord or something…. I know you can’t get enough of a draconequus. Just leave me alone so I can get some pictures for my shop.” And with that the dark blue unicorn trotted off, leaving the snow white pegasus to have her fun. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few hours later the Mayor of Ponyville had requested that all of the ponies in the town were to report to the center of the town by 5. Ratchet had nothing better to do, so why not. She glided down from the cloud she was on until her hooves touched the ground. She trotted over to Stardust’s shop and she walked inside. “Hey Star! Are you happy to see me?” The white pony said with confidence as she galloped over to her friend. Stardust looked at Ratchet with a glare. “Ratchet…. Yes… I am but I need to work. Who knows what the mayor has to say? All I know is that the both of the Princess’ and Discord are gonna be there. I want to show Luna my pictures of her wonderful moon.” She smiled a bit before going back to work on her films. Ratchet’s wings popped right up as a huge grin came over her face. “D-D-Discord? The Draconequus?” The white pony squeed in excitement. “Oh I have so many questions for him! Where did he come from? Is he the last of his kind? How old is he?” She went on and on until a hoof pushed up on her mouth. “Ratchet. Calm. Yourself. Now, we have to go see what all this fuss is about.” The unicorn took her hoof away from the pegasus pony’s mouth slowly. She levitated her book full of pictures of various stars and the moon and she placed it on her back and then strapped it on. “Are you ready to goooo now Star?” The impatient pony grumbled as she tapped her hoof on the wooden floor of the shop. Stardust nodded and Ratchet went flying out the door towards the center of the town, forgetting about the blue unicorn. “So much for walking together… Eh Flash?” The unicorn mumbled under her breath. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratchet beat her mechanical wings as she quickly flew towards the center of the town. A wide smile was plastered upon her snout as she felt the wind through her mane. When the snow white pegasus finally reached the middle of the town where everypony from Ponyville was gathered. She pushed through the crowd of ponies, earning herself a few glares. But she didn’t care. “Come on come on!!!! Hurry up I wanna see Discord now!” She spoke to herself as she patted her hooves on the ground in a rhythm. She looked around nervously as Mayor Mare stepped out onto the stage. “Attention! Attention everypony! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, along with Discord and a very special guest are here to give you all a announcement.” The Mayor pony spoke into the crowd. Ratchet bit her lip to hold back screams of joy. Finally! She gets to see Discord. The Princess’ stepped out, their manes waving slowly and swiftly. They stepped to the side and Discord walked out. “Hello everypony! Did you miss me Ponyville?” He shouted down into the crowd as Ratchet raised her hoof. “I missed you Discord!” She shouted before a deep red blush appeared on her cheeks. Ratchet let out nervous giggles as she crouched down onto the ground, waiting for the Draconequus to take his place. Once Discord was sitting on a Cotton Candy cloud above Luna, he began to speak. “Alright everypony. Your Princess told me I have to be serious, that is utterly boring but oh well. The second known living Draconequus, Draco. And he will be staying here in Ponyville.”And with those words, Ratchet let out a squee. “Ohmygoshohmygoshh!!!” The pony mumbled to herself as she tried not to explode and scream in happiness. Stardust Shot walked up next to her. “Calm yourself Flash.” She murmured to the excited mare. “I’m trying Star! Oh I just want to see this Draco!” Ratchet says as she keeps her eyes on the stage. A figure, with the same shape as Discord but slightly shorter steps out. Draco had a spiky mane, his goat horn and deer antler were both broken leaving spikes on the stubs of his horns, at the end of his grey pony head was two dark blue, pegasus wings. Below his wings was his arms tiger arms. Down his brown body sits a blue lizard leg and a tiger leg. Below his legs starts a red snake-like tail that is lined on the top with spikes. His long red tail ends in a black mace with grey spikes. Ratchet let out a squee, again. “H-Hiiiii Draco!” She shouted up towards the Draconequus, her unicorn friend nudging her. “Flash… Stop…” Star mutters in her ear. “Stop wha?” The pegasus murmurs to her friend before she beats her metal wings and takes off into the air. The unicorn rolls her eyes the draconequus loving pony hovers above. “Ponyville has been chosen to house Draco. We expect that everypony will treat Draco just like everypony is treated. Now, we must go. There is a moon that needs to be risen soon, and we must make it back to Canterlot in time.” The moon Princess says in her royal Canterlot voice. And with that, Discord, Celestia and Luna fly into their carriages and the Pegasi guards take off, towards Canterlot. A few Pegasus guards bring Draco to where he will be staying, and everypony goes back to their daily lives. Everypony, but one pony. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “This is where I am staying?” Draco said as the guards let him inside his new house. The two white guards nodded. Draco smiled as he looked around his new, small house. “Oh it is wonderful! Thank you so much.” The guards gave a nod and left the Draconequus to do whatever it is he will do in his new home. The draconequus sat down in a chair, enjoying the peace. The peace doesn’t stay for long before there is a knock at his door. “Oh, who could that possibly be? I just got here for goodness sake.” The draconequus grumbles as he stands up and walks to the door opening it. In the doorway stands a white pegasus with mechanical wings. His eyes widen at her and his wings pop out straight. “H-Hi. ” He mumbles as he looks down at the mare. Before he could say another word the pegasus jumps up and tackles him. “Hi! My name is Ratchet Flash! I loveee Discord! And he is a Draconequus like you! I have studied your kind for a longgg time and I just love any Draconequus!” She ignores the blush on her cheeks. “H-Hi Ratchet Flash… My name is Draco…..” He mutters shyly as he tries to get the mare off his chest, careful not to hit her with his maced tail. He stands up and looks down at the mare. “Oh you silly, I already know your name! I need facts! Are you immortal? How old are you? Who are you parents? Where did you come from? Why is your tail so spikey? Why are you so adorable.. hehe uh.. Nevermind that.” Ratchet giggles nervously as she tries to hide her blush with her hoof. “I-I.. I am not immortal… I don’t remember my exact age.. I don-Wait… Why are you asking me all these questions?” He said as he leaned down and got face to face with the blushing pony “Hehe… Uh… I dunno…. Even after all my studying I don’t know that much about your kind. No pony does.” Ratchet gave a innocent smile up at the Draconequus. “Ah well… Truth be told, I don’t remember much about me. I must have hit my head….. That would explain my missing horns…” Draco mumbled the last part to himself. “Oh… Okay… What was that last part? Can you say it again?” The white pony gave a smile at the towering draconequus. “I-It was nothing….” He murmurs as he turns around, being careful about his maced tail. Draco walks into the living room of his small house, the white pony trotting close behind his mace. “You still have to answer my questions!” The pegasus urged as he stood in front of him. “Ah… Not right now Ratchet.. But can I uh… Call you flash?” He gives a small smile as he yawned. “Well, uh. of course!!” She gave him a big grin. “I’d love it if you call me Flash!” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The two new friends talked late into the night, until Ratchet passed out. She was curled up in a tiny ball in a chair, snoring softly, her messy tail wrapping around her body as she shivers. Draco smiled as he stands up and lays a blanket over the sleeping pony. She snuggles into it’s warmth slightly. “She is so beautiful…” He mumbles to himself as he sits on the couch across from her and he watches her sleep. “Her white coat shimmers in the light of the moon…” He says to himself as he looks at the light of the moon shine in through the window and onto her coat. The beautiful mare’s coat. There was something about this certain mare. Was it her cutie mark? No…. He didn’t know what it was but he wanted this mare to be his. Ideas started to shoot through his head of how he can gain her trust. “I could… No.. That would never work…” He mumbles to himself as he started to pace around. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He continued to pace until the darkness was swept away by the sun of Celestia. “Oh! I’ll make her a big plate of pancakes! Oh that will make her happy, I know it will!” Draco says to himself as he walks off into his kitchen and looks around on his pre-setup counter. The draconequus grabbed some pancake batter dumped it into the bowl and then he added some water. He wrapped his paws around a spoon and he started to stir the batter into a smooth state. Soon enough he was flipping pancakes in and out of a pan. Just when he finished making pancakes, a tired looking Pegasus had followed the smell of pancakes into the Kitchen. She accidently walked into his leg and fell back onto her rump. “Oh… Hai..” She showed a tired smile as she wobbled back and forth tiredly. “O-Oh! H-Hi Flash. I was just about to go and wake you up. I make you pancakes, and I made a lot.” He smiled as he walked over to the table and sat down, waiting for the wonderful mare to join him. Ratchet Lazily walked over to the table and climbed into the chair “It looks wonderful Draco.” She yawns as she begins to eat the first pancake, picking it up with her hoof and taking a bite from it. “Is it good? Do you like it?” His ear twitched as he waited for her answer, taking a bite from his own pancakes. “O yea dis wander foal!” She says as she shoves the last pancake in her mouth. Draco lets out a chuckle as he eats his last pancake as well. “I am glad you li-” His words were cut off by a knocking at the door. “Oo! I’ll go get it!” Ratchet flies over to the door and opens it. When she sees who is standing in the doorway she frowns. “What are YOU three doing here?” “Ah! Ratchet. We expected you to be here… Seeing as how you are obsessed with Discord.” The red pegasus known as Fireball spoke. Ratchet glared up into his purple eyes. “Why did you have to bring your stupid friends?” She said he kicked his leg front leg. “We are not stupid!” The unicorn, Green Spark and the Earth Pony, Shining Blade said at the same time. “Oh yes you f**king are!” Ratchet said as she jumped towards them, a furry arm grabbing her and stopping her. “Flash… Come on…” Draco said as the white mare struggled around in his arm. “Let me go Draco! I gotta beat them up!” She gave up after a few seconds and let out a sigh. “Oh look! The big old Draconequus standing up for the stupidest mare in all of Ponyville! She is even stupider than Derpy!” Shining Blade chuckled at his words. “Shut up, midget..” Ratchet grumbled as the draconequus put her down. She let out a sigh as she walked into the living room of the house. “I’m not a midget…” Shining Blade mumbled as Draco pushed them away. “Hehe… I wonder how happy Flash’s father would be if he found out she was friends with a draconequus!” Green Spark said to his friends. “You are a genius, Spark.” Fire Ball chuckled as he spoke. > Strange Love-Part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Ugh! I swear I would beat them all up!” Ratchet grumbled as she paced around in Draco’s living room. “Flash, why don’t you just tell someone that they keep on bothering you?” Draco said calmly. “Because they are a**holes! That’s why Draco.” Ratchet sighs as she curls up in a ball on the floor. “They have always teased be… Always trying to make my life shit just when everything is perfect…” She lets out a long sigh as she looks up the draconequus. Draco doesn’t know exactly how to respond so he sits down next to her and wraps an arm around the Pegasus and pulls her close into him. “Draco… Water you doing…” She says as a slight protest, but doesn’t make a move to move out of his grasp, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. “ I. Have. No. Idea.” He mumbles as a deep blush appears on his cheeks. Draco pulls the mare into him, blushing even more as he felt her snuggle into him. Ratchet let out a nervous giggle as she smiled into his grey neck. She could not believe that this was happening. But she didn’t care. She was cuddling with the colt of her dreams, or in this case, the draconequus of her dreams. She was enjoying the moment when she remember she was supposed to meet Zecord, Star and Zealous at Star’s shop. Ratchet let out a grumble as she stood up. “Draco.. I have to go and meet some friends at Star’s Shop.” Her ears went down as she let out a sigh. “Oh… It is okay… Can I.. uh.. Come with you?” The draconequus gave a big smile as he stood up. Ratchet’s ears popped up. “Uh… Sure! That would be great. Plus, I should introduce my new friend to my fillyhood friends.” She unfolded her wings and walked to the door. “You coming?” She said as she flipped her tail around and walked out the door. Draco let out a laugh as he walked out. A few ponies looked at the two walk out together and started to whisper to the other ponies. Ratchet knew that rumors would spread, but she didn’t care. With a few beats from her wings she was airborne, and started flying towards the shop, Draco close on her tail. Soon enough, she was at Star’s shop with Draco. She walked up and knocked on the door and Zecord comes storming out of the door and glomps Ratchet, sending her to the ground. “Ratchet! I missed you!” He folded his metal wings as he nuzzled the Pegasus under him. “Hehe… I uh… missed you too Zecord.” Ratchet blushed lightly as she climbed out from under the zebra and she walked over to the door of the shop. “Come on in Draco.” The Pegasus smiled as she looked back at the draconequus. He walked up behind Flash and looked down at Zecord as he held out his paw. “My name is Draco, it is nice to meet you Zecord.” He gives the zebra a smile as Draco grabbed his hoof and shook it. Zecord looked up at him with a glare. “You better not hurt Ratchet… I know what your kind does…” The zebra said with a low grumble as he pushed past the draconequus and walked up next to Zealous. Draco let out a long sigh as he walked in behind the zebra. “Star! Did Luna like your pictures?” Ratchet smiled as she nuzzled her unicorn friend softly. “She loved them. But… Where were you last night? I went to your house and Crimson said you weren’t home.” Star smiled at her friend. Ratchet blushed a bit as she giggled. “I was at.. uh… Draco’s house…” The white pony mumbled as she looked back at Draco, who was just awkwardly standing behind her. She walked up behind Draco and pushed him up yo Star. “Introduce yourself, Draco.” “O-Oh.. O-Okay… Uh.. H-Hi… My name is Draco. Flash told me all about you Star.” He nervously smiled as she shook his paw “Nice to meet you Draco! I am Stardust Shot! I love photography! It is my talent!” Star lets go of his paw and looks over at Zecord. “Hey, Zecord, bring Zealous over here and let him meet Draco!” “Pffft. I don’t need a escort Star, I’m coming.” The crimson earth pony trots over and looks at Draco. “I already know your name, mine is Zealous Spike. That is all you need to know.” And with a huff he walks off into a different room with the zebra. “Ugh…. Why are they being so rude, Star?” Ratchet let out a sigh as she sat down on the floor. “Oh I don’t know…. They are just grumpy colts is all.” Star murmurs as she nuzzled the saddened mare. Draco walked over and sat next Ratchet. Ratchet sighed as she leaned on him and folded up her wings. “It’s because I am a draconequus, Flash… Don’t worry… They will come around…” Draco says softly to the white mare, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Then right then there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it!” Star yelled as she ran over to the door and opened it with her magic. She let out a bit of a gasp as she saw who it was. “Crimson! I-I-I wasn't expecting you!” Star said to the large, white Pegasus. “Where is my daughter.” The colt said, his voice sounding of anger and disappointment. The unicorn mare point to her friend, who was full on cuddling with Draco at this point, both of them blushing. Ratchet was snuggled into his chest and he had his arms and legs wrapped around her body. Ratchet open her eye as she looked up, hearing heavy hoof steps coming towards her. She looked up at her father and smiled. “Daddy!” Ratchet smiled as she climbed out from the draconequus’ arms and walked up to her father. Her ears went down and she frowned when she saw his expression. The snow white colt pushed Ratchet behind him and he pointed a hoof at Draco. “You are to stay away from my daughter! If I ever see you near her again I will report you! Do you understand me draconequus?” He yelled at Draco. Draco’s ears went down and he kept on playing with his fingers as he nodded. “Dad! Stop! He isn't doing anything wrong!” Ratchet says as she tries to push past her father. Crimson Shield grumbles as he turns around and drags his daughter out of the shop with him. > Strange Love-Part 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a few weeks after Ratchet was separated from Draco, not that it stopped them from hanging out.. . Draco made good friends with Zecord Blitz. Ratchet caused small chaos around the town with Draco. Pranks and such. Ratchet came strolling into Star’s shop, head held head as she walked like the royal guards did. Star let out a giggle as she saw her friend walk in the shop. The unicorn used her magic and put a picture of the moon on the wall before she turned around to face her friend, a grin on her face. “Hey Star!” The white pony proclaimed as she trotted over to her friend with her mechanical wings up high. Ratchet lightly nuzzled the mare as she caught a glimpse of the picture on the moon and let out a small gasp. Star chuckled as she let out a happy sigh. “Isn’t Luna’s moon… Just… Wonderful? I can’t think of a time more beautiful than night.. The stars…. The moon…” Stardust sighed happily again. Her eyes moved from picture to picture. The whole left side of her shop was full of pictures of the night. It was Star’s favorite part of the store. Ratchet walked up next to Star and smiled at her friend. “I love the night… And Star… I think the only pony who loves the night more than you is Princess Luna.” Ratchet wrapped a wing around her friend. The cold metal of Ratchet’s wing chilled the unicorn to the bone and the soft feathers felt smooth on her dark blue coat. Star giggled softly. “Your wings always freak me out.” The unicorn mutter softly and jokingly. Ratchet started to lean heavily on her unicorn friend, letting out a sigh of relaxation. The joints in her mechanical wings bending around the curves of her friends back. “Aw, really? Is there still a little filly inside that grown up mare?” Ratchet chuckled evilly as she moved away from her friend. She folded up her wings as she twisted her neck, cracks coming from her neck before she twisted it the other way, getting the same result. “Ah…. That feels better.” The Pegasus yawned and stretched like a cat and as she did that cracking sounds came from her back. The blue unicorn blushed and giggled before an evil look came over her face. Star ran over to Ratchet and bumped her forehead into the white pony’s forehead with a snort. “There is no filly in me! I am a fully grown mare. Not a speck of a scared little fillies in me.” The unicorn grunted as she grinned, wondering what the white pony would say back. Ratchet let out a chuckle as she seemed unimpressed with her friend’s actions. Almost like she was disappointed with her. “Pffft? No filly? In you? Are you kidding me?? You were a scared little filly when my Dad came storming in here! I saw your legs tremble.” Ratchet grinned and snorted. Nopony could ever beat her when it came to insulting. She was the best insulter in Ponyville. The unicorn glared into Ratchet’s eyes as she let out a sigh of defeat. “You win this time, Ratchet. I swear, next time I will win a battle with you.” And with that she back away from the Pegasus with her ears down. She smiled sheepishly at her friend as Ratchet smiled softly at her. The Pegasus pony giggled as she started to walk around the unicorn. “Don’t worry Stardust. There is a little filly in all of of us.” Ratchet walked up next to her friend. She moved her muzzle up to the dark pony’s ear. “There is even a little filly in me. A filly who is afraid of losing her best friend.” And with those words she backed away and looked at her smiling and blushing friend. Ratchet chuckled and tried to intimidate Rainbow Dash’s voice. “Who is the awesomest friend in the world?” Ratchet says with over confidence as she held her head up high. Star giggled and lifting up her hoof, pointing it at Ratchet. The Pegasus grinned and put her wings out, the wings bending at the first joint as she waved her wing at Star. “It is time for me to go Star. My dad is being an A** and wants me to be home. Cya.” And with that, Ratchet walked over to the door but when she went to go out her face was blocked by a bunch of brown fur. She backed up and shook her head a bit as she looked up the brown body, seeing the two tiger arms and the grey head. “Draco?!?!?!?” She yelled up to him, a hint of surprise in her voice. She beat her wings a few times and started to hover in front of the draconequus. “Oh… Uh… H-Hi Flash.” The draconequus smiled nervously as he looked into the Pegasus Pony’s eyes. She eyed him up and down before turning her head to look back at her unicorn friend, who seemed to be just as shocked as Ratchet was. The white pony looked back at the draconequus who was still smiling nervously. Flash smiled happily as she landed back down on the ground. “Hey Draco! I would have gone to see you, but my dad has something against you. But, I don’t find anything wrong with you!” She grinned up at him as she flapped her wings. The metal creaked a bit as she flapped them. She hadn’t oiled them in a while. That might explain it. “Oh… Yeah.. Uh.. Don’t worry about it Flash. I got to hang out with one of your friends, Zecord. He was telling me about how Zealous made your wings, Zecords wings and the own wings on Zealous’ back.” Draco said as he looked down at the snow white mare. She looked back up at him smiling before she frowned a bit. She let out a sigh as she lifted up into the air. “I am sorry Draco.. But if I am a minute late home, my father will punish me.” Flash flew around Draco and out the door. She looked around to find her way before dashing off towards her house. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Draco looked over at Star with a small smile. She smiled back and walked over to him. “O-Oh… H-Hi Stardust… I-I’m sorry for coming in so suddenly. I-I didn’t know F-Flash was here.” Draco let out a short sigh as he frowned. “Pffft. No need to be sorry Draco. I think it is good that you came in here when you did.” She said with a small smile, trying to reassure the draconequus that he did nothing wrong. He smiled back at her as he began to walk around the shop. He ended up over at the biggest part of the shop, the area that is dedicated to Luna and her night. “Oh wow… I-It is so pretty…” He muttered softly to himself. “Just like her…” He mumbled even quieter in an attempt to make sure that Star doesn’t hear him. Draco stared at the at a picture of the moon, a slight smile coming over his face as he looked at the picture. Stardust walked up behind him, a smile also on her face. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Star murmured softly as she looked at picture with him. Her eyes looked up the draconequus until her eyes met his. A large grin appeared on her face as she looked at him. “Yeah.. It is…” He smiled at her before feeling up and down his sides. “Dammit it… I would buy the picture… But it seems I have forgotten my bits at home…” Draco sighed as he turned around and started to walk towards the door. The dark blue mare and thinking she had an idea of what he wanted to do with the picture, grabbed the picture using her magic and brought it over to the draconequus. “Here… I can take more pictures… I don’t need the bits… I have plenty.” She smiled up at him as he grabbed the picture. Draco grinned as he looked down at the unicorn. “Thank you… S-So much..” He turned around and ran out the door, careful to not hit his mace on anything. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratchet flew down onto the path before her house. The pony’s head was swirling around with thoughts. Most of them were about the draconequus. In fact, she was pretty sure all of them were about him. She shook her head as she pushed the door open and walked into her house. She looked around the house, peeking her head in every single room and she looked for any signs of a living Pegasus or unicorn. She found nothing and came to the conclusion that she was home alone. Ratchet let out a sigh as she trotted downstairs and plopped down onto the couch. She rolled around, trying to find a comfy area on the couch. She failed as she snorted softly. She decided to lay on her front side with her head resting on her forehooves. She fell asleep after a hour or so, snoring softly on the couch. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next morning Ratchet was awoken by her sister, Moon Brush. She had a green coat and a brown mane. Her cutie mark was a brush with rainbow colors on the tip. The pony nudged her sister roughly. “Get up Ratchet! Now!” Moon grumbled as she sister turned away from her. “Let me sleep in Moon…..” Ratchet mumbled tiredly as she tried to get adjusted again. The green unicorn rolled her eyes as she used her magic to hover a scroll over to the half awake pony. “Read it. Now.” Moon almost sounded mad, but a hint of sadness in her voice. The pegasus fluttered her eyes open as she read the letter slowly, her eyes widening with each word. Once she finished reading the letter her other Sister, a snow white pegasus with a blue mane, and rainbow cutiemark known as Blue Rainbow came running in the door. “Did you hear Moon?” Blue said with panic as she panted. She looked over at Ratchet, who was on the verge of tears at this point. Blue quickly ran over and nuzzled her sister, wrapping a wing around her. “Don’t worry… She will be okay… I promise….” Ratchet sniffled as she looked up at her big sister. Blue smiled down at her. “Okay… Ratchet… Moon and I will be heading up to Canterlot to see Dashing Mystery…. Do you want to come with us Ratchet?” Ratchet nodded quickly as she stood up and walked out the door with her two sisters. They got on a chariot and the two Royal Guards lifted up into the air and headed off towards Canterlot. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Draco walked over to where Ratchet’s house was. He opened the door to her house and found nopony home, but he found a scroll and he picked it up and began to read. The scroll said My dear fillies Your sister, Dashing Mystery was flying around with her friends early this morning. We don’t know how, but she was knocked out of the sky. She fell all the way to the ground and fractured her skull. The piece of broken skull is going into her brain by a ¼ of a inch. We are in the hospital at Canterlot. Please come. Your mother and I need you. Ask Ratchet if she wants to come. Never forget I love you. -Your Dad Crimson Shield > Strange Love-Part 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The three sisters finally reached Canterlot after a few hours of flying in the chariot. When they reached the point of landing, their father, a snow white pegasus with a blue mane and tail came running towards them. He was a member of the Royal Guard and was rarely seen without his armor on in Canterlot, but he had on at this moment. His Cutie Mark was a crimson red shield. Ratchet was the first to run up to him. She wrapped her forehooves around his neck as the two embraced. After hugging her father for a bit she backed up and let her sisters talk to him. “Hi Dad…” Blue Rainbow mumbled as she looked at the ground and kicked a rock around with her hoof. Moon Brush walked up to her father and nuzzled his neck lightly before she backed up. Blue suddenly ran over and wrapped her forehooves around her father. “Daddy….” She muttered as she sniffled a bit. Crimson let out a sigh and nuzzled his mare. “Whaty?” He said, like he always did whenever someone called him daddy. Blue giggled a bit and backed away from him. “Now… Lets go see your sister… Shall we?” All three of the sisters nodded and Crimson turned around. He started to walk towards the big Hospital at Canterlot. “Star! Star!” Draco yelled as he grasped the scroll he found in his left paw. He ran up to Star’s shop and walked inside. “Star! You have to read this!” He said as he panted. Star picked up the scroll with her magic, a greenish-blue aurora surrounding the scroll as she read it. Her eyes were wide by the time she had finished the scroll. “Oh…. My….. Celestia!” She lost concentration and dropped the scroll. It fell to the ground with a light thud. Draco bent down and picked up the scroll, clutching it tightly. He let out a soft whimper as he looked down at the unicorn, a look of shock on her face. “Um… S-Star… W-What should I-I do to h-help..?” He muttered softly as he crouched down on all fours to get face to face with the dark blue pony. She looked up at him as she showed nothing but a look of helplessness on her face. “I can’t go… So you have to. Go. Fly to Canterlot. Ratchet is gonna need you. She has a HUGEEE crush on you. I would go, but I don’t have time, nor wings to get me there. And I am not getting on that dreaded train.” She nodded at him before she frowned a bit. He hadn’t budged. His head was going in circles. ‘Did she really just say that Ratchet has a crush on me?’ he thought to himself before a hoof in the torso brought him back to the real world. “Go to Canterlot. She will likely be flying around the hospital there. Trust me. Just comfort her. Try and distract her from her sister. This is all I ask of you, Draco.” That was all he needed. He dropped the scroll and turned out the door. He looked up to the sky and started to run. He spread out his wings and started to flap them up and down, quicker and quicker. After what seemed like forever, he finally lifted up off the ground and was well on his way to Canterlot. Ratchet, her sisters, and brother were all sitting in the waiting room with their parents. Ratchet’s brother was a purple unicorn with a light brown mane. His name was Hashtag, and his cutie mark was a blue hashtag. Their mother was a purple pegasus that had the same color mane as Ratchet did. Her cutie mark was a rainbow. “Hashtag?” Rainbow said in a soft voice towards her son. He looked over at her with a frown. “Do you want to go in and see Dashing?” Hashtag gulped as he nodded. Rainbow stood up and walked to the door of Dashing’s room with Hashtag who followed her quickly. Hashtag opened the door, the knob covering in purple magic for a moment before Rainbow walked in, with her son behind her. It wasn’t long before Hashtag came running out of the room. He embraced with his mother as the tears flowed down his cheeks. “Shhh……… She will be okay Hashtag… Shhh… Don’t worry now… Mommy is here for you…” Rainbow said softly as she rubbed her son’s back softly, hoping to calm him down. Ratchet heard crying from her Big Brother and her eyes got all teary. She rubbed her eyes and sniffled, knowing that if Hashtag cried, she would. Ratchet felt guilty. She felt sad. She felt anger. She felt the discord welling up in her. She could feel the disharmony forming in her heart. And he, he never left her mind. Not for a moment. Crimson walked up to his daughter. “Hey kiddo… Are you ready to go in and see her?” He said softly and quietly to her. She looked up at him and shook her head. “You have to stop thinking of what she will look like. You just have to go and see with your own eyes.” Ratchet took a shaky breath as she nodded slowly. Her father turned around and headed down the hall. Ratchet followed behind her father with her head low. He walked in the usual way a royal guard did as they walked into Dashing’s room. Ratchet walked up to the bed and look at her sister. Her coat was a purplish brown and was usually brushed through. There were rough spots, bald spots and even places where her fur was matted. She looked up her sister and saw that half of her usually braided mane was shaved off, and some of her coat. The bald spot had a 4 inch long cut on it with 24 stitches in it. There was a tube in her mouth and a ton of wires connecting to all kinds of places on her body. All of those wires were hooked up to machines on the wall. Ratchet backed up and took a few shaky breath as she backed up away from the bed and turned to face her father and hugged him. The tears had been stinging her eyes for hours now. She just stood there, hugging her dad and crying. Her tears soaked her cheeks and made her eyes bloodshot. It took a long while but she stopped hugging her father. “Lets ….. Go…. See…. Mommy… Please.. Daddy.” Ratchet said shakily as she walked out of the room. Her mind was swirling around. So many thoughts, wrapping around each other in her mind. Some of them were ways her sister could harm her self more. Some of them were just sad thoughts swirling through her head, telling her it is her fault, telling her she could have saved Dashing. She was trying to push the thoughts away, but they always would creep back up on her mind. It almost felt like her brain hurt. Her throat hurt from holding back all the tears. She was dying on the inside. She never got a break from being teary eyed. Never. She just needed somepony to comfort her. Her dad just wasn’t enough. She knew who she wanted, but he would never come. Or would he? She wanted to know. She just needed somepony. Somedraconequus. There was something about him. It was his personality partly. He was shy and nice. He was caring and soft. But he was strong and brave. His red eyes and yellow eyes gave her comfort. The sound of his voice was ringing in her ears. The feeling of his soft coat. All of these things is what she wanted. And then, she saw it. A brown blur zipping past the hospital window, breaking her thoughts as she turned her attention to the window. One, short name came from her mouth. “Draco…” Her father looked back when he heard that name. The thought coming back to his head. Green Spark knocking on his door and informing him about how much trouble Ratchet is in. That Draco would hurt his little filly. He wouldn’t have it though. He would not allow a monster to hurt his filly. But, before he could grab onto his daughter, she was zipping out the window after the brown blur of fur. “Oh hay… I can’t deal with this right now…” Crimson mumbled to himself as he galloped to the waiting room. Rainbow Flash looked up at him, a look of worry appeared over her face as she opened her mouth to speak. “Where is Ratchet?” “With that.. Stupid… Bucking… Draconequus….” Crimson mumbled with a hint of hate tingling in his voice. “Draco! Draco!” Ratchet called out for the draconequus as she flew behind him. It took a moment, but he recognized that voice. It was more raspy and shaky than usually. He thought she may have been crying and ran into him, but no. It was just the sound of her being on the edge of crying. She had been like that all day. Draco turned around and was surprised as hooves wrapped around his neck. He was shocked at the feeling of a warm body on his in the cold night. He felt as she stopped moving her wings and he started to move his wings faster to hold the extra weight. He felt as a few tears wetted the fur on his neck. He felt the mare he knew to be strong, break down before him. “So…. You can’t remember the last time you cried, eh Flash?” Draco questioned as he rolled around on the cloud next to Ratchet. “Pffft! Hell no! I don’t cry. I am a strong mare. I rarely show emotion.” Ratchet said with over confidence. “Ah I see… On the other hand, me? I tend to show my emotions.” Draco said in his soft, low voice. “Awwww… The big bad draconequus isn’t so big and bad after all, huh?” Ratchet chuckled as the draconequus tried to hide his blush. “N-N-No! I am just a sucker.. For… Uh…. Anything cute or somepony in love is what I meant.” The draconequus mumbled as he buried his face in the cloud. “Awwww, is the ‘Big Bad’ draconequus blushing??” Ratchet teased softly as she stood up on the cloud and walked around him. Draco responded with a mumbled. Ratchet chuckled softly and opened up her wings. Draco stopped living in old memories as the white mare looked up at him. “D-D-Draco?” She said through tears and sobs. Her cheeks were soaked with tears. There was a stinging in her throat. The last time she cried this hard is… Well never. “Yes, Flash?” Draco said in his soft, soothing and calming voice as he tried to comfort the saddened mare. She almost felt as if her sanity was being picked at a bit, but wasn’t it always? The sight of her Sister, who was always flawless. To see her broken. To see machines connected to her body. To see a tube down her throat. That would pick at anypony’s sanity. “I’m scared…. I don’t want to lose Dashing… My sister… My idol…. She is so beautiful… But now… She just looks…. Broken… And I hate it! I wish I was on that bed instead of her! I would do anything to be on that bed instead of her!” The pegasus was on the verge of tears again. “Shhh… Flash….. I think you just need a break from his hospital… Lets go for a walk in the garden… How does that sound, Flash?”” Draco said in a soft voice. His voice always comforted her. She looked up at him and nodded and unwrapped her hooves from his neck and started to slowly fly towards the Royal Canterlot Gardens, Draco close behind her. > Strange Love-Part 4.5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am Ratchet Flash.... I shouldn't be feeling sad... Why should I, of all ponies, be crying? I don't know. My head. It hurts. So many thoughts... So much sadness... My sanity being picked at..... That stinging in my eyes.... The tears... They sting my eyes.... My throat.... It hurts from all the crying... My breathing... I can't steady it.... I look down at her. My broken sister. So many thoughts in my mind.... One more string of sanity is plucked away..... All these images.... My sister.... Crashing to the ground... Crunch... Her skull cracks..... Blood rushes out..... The warm feeling going down her head as the darkness engulfs her.. WHY? Why couldn't it have been me? Why did it have to be her? She did nothing! EVER! I look down at her. I watch her chest raise and fall slowly and unsteady. I look up her body to her head. I look at the scar on her head and I cringe. The stitches in her head... Her pillow had blood on it... Her mane was mostly shaved off.... Her eyes were closed... I wanted to stare down into her perfect eyes... I just..... I just wanted my sister back. It was all I wished for. Everything I wanted. Just. Her. Back. I wanted to rip the tube from her throat. I wanted to put a horn on my head and magically heal her... I wanted to rip the wires from her body. I wanted to break the machines. I was full of hate. Anger. Sadness. And I felt it. It was creeping up. The discord. I didn't want it. But I had a feeling, my technicolor? It would fade. It would fade to black. Maybe... Maybe it would be a good thing.. The harmony would be ripped from my body. It would be replaced by nothing but chaos. I let out a shaky breath. And I said one word. I never really knew how weak her sanity was. I was always... Always close to snapping. And the Anger... The discord... The sadness... It took over. As my white coat turned a very light grey, as my mane became grayish brown... One word came from her muzzle. Just one. "Why?" > Strange Love-Part 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The wind blew through her mane. Her mechanical wings moved to hold her up in the air. She loved it. For once, in a few hours, her sister was off her mind. It felt good, oh so good. She loved flying. But even how much she loved flying, it didn’t bring a smile over her face, instead a constant frown. It made Draco feel… Uncomfortable. It was a awkward and silent trip to the gardens. When they both landed, they looked at each other. Ratchet’s eyes were glazed over with tears as she looked over at Draco. He hated seeing her like this. Hated. She sniffled and forced a smile. He knew the smile was fake, but it still brought up a warmth in his heart. She looked around the garden until she saw Discord standing on the pedestal that he was imprisoned on her 1000 years. Discord turned around to look down at the saddened mare as she walked up to him. Draco stayed behind, watching. “Ah…. Ratchet Flash… I heard what happened to you. And may I say… You are one brave pony.” Discord jumped down from his seat and stood next to Ratchet. He was taller than Draco. Ratchet didn’t even think that was possible. Discord traced his talon around Ratchet’s ear and she shivered a bit. Draco, who was on all fours just glared at Discord. Discord noticed Dracos glare and grinned at him. “Oh.. Ratchet… Don’t you think that you have been happy for much too long? Don’t you feel it… Welling up in you? he disharmony? Can’t you feel it?” Ratchet nodded slowly as she looked down. “Then why don’t you embrace it? Stop making others happy… It just makes you unhappy.. Stop making jokes.. Your sister won’t live...The truth hurts.” Discord pushed his talon down on the center of her head. Draco watched as the color started to fade from her body and he made a mad dash towards her. But he was too late. Her eyes swirled. The wave of grey washed down her body. Her mane turned a grayish brown. Her body turned a very light grey. Discord grinned and snapped his talson, disappearing into thin air. Ratchet didn’t move. Not at all. She just stood there, breathing heavily. Draco placed a paw on her back and rubbed it softly. “Um… Flash? Are you okay?” Draco said in a soft voice to the discorded pony. Ratchet just turned her head and looked him in the eyes. “Get away from me… You… Monster… I don’t even know what I saw in you… Ugh…. You make me sick! Just like the rest of this stupid fucking world! Fuck you! Fuck life! Fuck everything! I hate it all! It makes me sick!” Ratchet yelled as she fell to the ground sobbing. Draco backed away from Flash, unsure what to do. "Um.. Flash... You seem a little... Um... Gray.. *mumbles* What did Discord do to you?" Draco spoke softly to himself as he looked down at Ratchet. "Just leave me alone... All you do is make me unhappy... I hate you.... Just go... " Ratchet continued to sob into her forehooves. "Flash..." "No! I said go! Just go!" Ratchet cried out. Draco let out at whimper as he looked down at Ratchet. "Flash... I promise.. Whatever happened to you... I will reverse it." Draco opened his wings and flew off towards Ponyville. "Well... If I just... Look in here... No.. Where is that book? Memory spell.. Memory spell... Ah! Here it is!" Star proclaims as she uses her magic to bring a book over to her. She flips to the middle of the book and scans the page. "Oh... I don't know Draco... I mean, gifted unicorns could do this easy... But my talent is not magic... I am not really good with spells...." Star let out a sigh as she dropped the book on the counter. "But how are we gonna get a depressed, even bigger of an asshole Ratchet... Wait... But how do you become a BIGGER asshole than Ratchet? Is that even possible? But if I am right, she won't be an asshole.. Instead she will be very sensitive... And she will try to make others feel her pain.. So she won't be an asshole but instead she will try to spread her pain.... Make others unhappy instead of making others happy...." Star continues to rant before Draco grabs her muzzle. "Okay. I get it. I know. Can we just go and use the memory spell on her?" Draco exclaimed with obvious impatience. "Oh.. I uh would but... I need to test the spell on somepony first. But there isn't anypony I know with amnesia." Star mumbled quietly. "Um.. Well.. I uh... I have uh... Amnesia... I don't remember anything before waking up in the Canterlot Garden." Draco said quietly. Star jumped up with a big grin. "Soooo? Can I try the spell on you? I need my friend back and I want to KNOW I can do the spell." Star says with a loud and happy voice. "Oh... Um.. I don't know if that is a goo idea..." Draco whispered softly. He was scared to know his own past. Star rolled her eyes as her horn started to glow. She jumped on the draconequus and sent him onto the ground. "Get ready to remember!" Her horn touched his forehead and she jumped off him to wait for his reaction. "Blood.... Cold.... So lonely.... Parents... So much blood... My sisters... My brother... Died in front of my eyes!... No! No!" Draco grabs his head as all his bloody memories flood back in almost painful way. Star backed up and put her ears down as she watched the draconequus curl around himself and shake. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know your memories were... That! I'm sorry!" Star said softly as she walked up to him. He looked up at her and took a shaky breath. His whole life was flooded into his brain. All the pain and the sadness. "Lets just... Lets fix Flash... Please?" Draco winced as a new painful memory flowed into his brain. Star nodded quickly and walked outside of Twilight's Library. "She better not care that I was snooping in her books, because I don't give to shits if she cares!" Star said with a giggle and she happily trotted around the streets. Draco followed her and looked down at her like she was insane. "How do you keep such a happy outlook when your best friend is a depressed insane mare?" Draco questioned the bouncy mare. "Something Ratchet told me, be happy in sad places, so you won't be so down! Also I'm hyper because I just did FRICKEN MEMORY SPELL!" Star squealed as she jumped onto Draco's back. "Now to the skies! Time to find that pony!" Draco let out a groan as he lifted up off the ground and flew towards Canterlot. Ratchet was walking through the streets of Canterlot. She was throwing various things at different ponies. "And I hate you and you and Oh I also hate you!" She said as tears continued to flow from her eyes. The hatred was filling her mind as a new wave of gray went over her body, making her whole body a monotone of gray, her body being a light gray and her mane being two darker colors of brownish gray. "Oh what the hell. Time to bash some ponies!" She flashed towards a Fancy looking earth pony mare who was wearing a bow tie around her neck. She frowned down at the earth pony as tears fell from her face. "Oh... Sadness... It is a wonderful thing! Happiness isn't really satisfying, is it?" Ratchet looked down into her eyes as she started to push down harder on the the mare's forehooves. "Spread it. Spread the sadness. Spread the discord." Ratchet grinned as a wave of gray took the color from the earth pony. The mare stood up and began to run around, trying to discord to the other ponies. "Flash! This has to stop!" Draco yelled as he flew down from the sky with Star on his back. "Look. I know what you are feeling Flash. I watched my whole family die before my eyes! I know what you are feeling... Please.. Stop this.." Ratchet scoffed at him. He looked into her gray eyes as tears continued to fall from them. "Star... Use the spell... Now..." Star nodded and jumped off the draconequus' back and walked towards her friend. "Ratchet.. Come here... I am gonna fix you." Star smiled as her horn glowed. "Fix me...? FIX ME? I am perfect the way I am! Sadness is better than happiness. But you wouldn't fucking know that? Would you? You are nothing to me anymore! Fuck you! I hate you!" Ratchet yelled as more tears fell from her eyes. Star was baffled. Ratchet grumbled as a few spots of her body started to turn back to normal before they went back gray. She was fighting the discord, and being returned to normal. Ratchet was confused and scared, and Star could see that. "Yes... Ratchet this isn't you! You like to make others happy, not make them sad... I know who you are Ratchet! This is not you! Please. Let me do this spell. For him. For you sister for Celestia sake!" Star spoke softly as her horn glowed bright and she moved closer to Ratchet. "Draco. Grab her. NOW!" Draco nodded and jumped on Ratchet and held her in place. Ratchet groaned and tried to escape. Star ran towards the white Pegasus and touched her forehead with her glowing horn. Star smiled as she watched the color come back to her body. > Strange Love-Part 6-The Happy Ending...? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 weeks later The sun was setting. It was perfect. Draco walked up to Ratchet's house and knocked on the door. A happy white pegasus came bounding out and jumped on Draco. "Draco! I missed you! Oh I missed you so much!" Ratchet smiled as she hugged the draconequus. Draco blushed as he hugged the pegasus back. "I missed you too, Flash. So, are you still up to going to see the sunset with me?" Draco asked her happily. Ratchet nodded and lifted up into the air. "Wanna race?" The white pony challenged. Draco snorted playfully and grinned as he took off into the air. Ratchet chuckled and followed right behind him. Draco looked to his side and saw Ratchet there. He scoffed and flew a bit faster, and so did Ratchet. After doing this for a while, they were both going at the same speed. When they finally reached the cloud at the same time, they were both exhausted. After they got their breath back, Draco smiled softly over at Ratchet. She smiled back at him and nuzzle his neck softly. "Flash?" "Yeah?" "Can I ask you something?" Draco whispered. "You can ask me anything." She smiled. "Ratchet Flash.. Will you be... my very special somepony?" Draco blushed. Ratchet's mouth dropped open as she jumped up into his arms. "YES YES YES YES YES YES OH I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO ANSWER FOR SO LONG! OH YES YES YES!" Ratchet blushed deeply as she pulled him into a kiss with her forehooves wrapped around his neck as the sun set. And they lived happily ever after... Or did they?