Never Change
The water was the stillest it had been in years. It slithered around the bay in such a slow and tranquil pace, the silky bay was as quiet and still as the clouds in the morning sky. The familiar and welcoming purple and orange hues sang to her. They enticed her, pleaded with her. They begged her to soar, be intimate with them once again. It was a truly beautiful offer, and yet Blossomforth couldn't bring herself to accept. Something glued herself to the dock, causing her to gaze wistfully into the misty bay, soothing her. The mist mirrored the tension leaving her being.
It was difficult to remember exactly when the last time she had been here, on this particular dock. She couldn't recall the time, but she remembered the event perfectly. The aquatic silk in front of her was just as calm, and just as serene. Only now there wasn't any perfect pyrotechnics to turn her eyes to the sky. There would be, by not yet.
And he wasn't here either.
Blossomforth sighed, wondering exactly why she was out here alone. She could have easily rested with him, and remained for the entire morning. And yet, here she found herself upon this old, almost forgotten dock. She continued to question herself with these strange questions. Why was she out here? Did she need to clear her head? If so, then why? Wasn't she happy? Why shouldn't she be? Both her and his dream had come true simultaneously, so why did she feel so apprehensive? With everything said and done?
Why, exactly, did she say yes?
She scoffed, cursing at herself. How could she even think that? Did she regret her decision? Laying down upon the dock, she rested her head over the edge, splashing some of the cold and refreshing water upon her face. The cool managed to ease her thoughts somewhat, but she still couldn't help but wonder. Why was it so difficult to answer?
Surely she loved him, that much was as obvious as the next sunset. The question that plagued, was why she loved him. The two had known each other since they were foals, and carried their feelings with them for all those years, until these exposed themselves to one another. The perfect elation was something Blossomforth would always remember, but it had been awhile since she felt that same spark.
This drew her back to her question. Had she said es, simply because all those years would have gone to waste? Was it a sense of obligation? She had wanted it, but was it really her choice? Of course it was, otherwise she wouldn't be here. She couldn't find a very satisfying answer, and the gaping hole of her query still pestered her.
“Oh dang,” Came a voice from behind her. “I was actually kinda hoping you'd forget about this place.”
Blossomforth turned to see the tired figure of Thunderlane. “Oh. Hey honey,” she replied. “What do you mean you'd hope I forget about this place? How could I?”
The stallion took his seat next to her, and she found herself instinctively smiling. There she was, grinning automatically. Was it truly her choice to?
A lot had changed in three years. Thunderlane wasn't as rambunctious as he was in the past. Not to say he wasn't still a fun pony, but far less reckless. Something Blossomforth was thankful for. His whole being seemed to by much more relaxed. His coat was the same ash grey, but seemed much comfortable. His ice blue mane was a deeper shade, and slacked against his shoulders, no longer in his signature mohawk. He had truly settled down, like he promised.
Blossomforth herself had changed as well. Her coat was still as pristine as ever, but bore a certain gentleness to it that had been absent in the past. She hadn't had the time to comb her mane that morning, leaving her hair in its natural wave. It wasn't something she was entirely proud of, but it was certainly comfortable.
“Well,” Thunderlane started. “I was going to surprise you here. Since it's the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow morning, Baltimare was gonna do their evening festival again. Fireworks and all.” He gestured with a hoof against the empty canvas in the sky, that would later become a gallery of lights.
Blossomforth smiled, involuntarily. “I would certainly love to see that again. Is that why you waited until Summer? Cloudchaser told me plucked the feather back in Winter.”
He chuckled. “It's a possibility.” His eyes fell upon hers. “I really like your mane by the way. It looks good like that.”
“Think so?” She idling brushed a hoof through it. “I just kinda forgot to comb it.”
Thundelane draped his wing over her. “So what are you doing out here so early? Is everything alright?” He asked her.
“Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to see this spot after all these years, ya'know?” She lied. A shiver galloped down her spine, as Thunderlane drew her in closer.
“Are you sure that's all?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
She looked him in the eyes, that special gleam shining through. She kissed him. “Yeah, I'm fine.” She sighed as she rested her head against his shoulder.
The two rested, as the sun crawled and inched across the sky, waiting to finally be free of the horizon's grasp. The cold air did little to the experienced pegasi. A subtle zephyr drifted over them, as the mist reached to catch it. The wind slid over their bodies, only being obstructed by the area in between the two. Blossomforth attempted to moved closer to him, further tightened this barrier of affection they had against the breeze.
“Hey, Thunderlane?” She began, trying her gaze towards him.
“Yeah?” He responded, looking back. She nuzzled him. Again, out of obligation.
“What were you thinking when you plucked that feather?” She asked, her serious tone throwing him off guard.
He pondered it sincerity, recollecting the past train of thought. “I was wondering why it was a lot darker than I remember my wings being.” He replied playfully.
She nudged him in the side with an elbow. “You know that's not what I mean.”
“So you're wondering why I married you?” He asked, his tone growing skeptical.
Blossomforth shifted uncomfortably. “...Yeah.”
He looked at her with concern, before continuing. “Well, everything was going so well for us, it seemed right. The next logical step I suppose. I mean, I couldn't even picture myself with anyone else. You were just such a perfect match, even after the past three years. You kept me from doing stupid things, or just joined me for that ride. It's a challenge to find someone you can love, who can also be your best friend when it comes to things like that. Not a lot of ponies get the chance like I did, and I wasn't about to hesitate like I did back in Cloudsdale. I didn't want to waste what we had, I suppose.
“C'mon Bloss. I can tell something's got you worked up. What's wrong?” He asked.
“...So you did it out of obligation?” She asked him, her eyes pleading for a proper answer.
Thunderlane chuckled. “I'd hardly call it obligation if it's something I always dreamt about.”
“I guess...” She replied, brushing her hoof along the rotten wood.
Thunderlane's wing drew her in closer. “Blossomforth, what's wrong? You're worrying me.”
“I... I dunno. I just... I just wonder if I really had a choice,” She started.
She could feel his tense slightly. “What? Like I forced you to?”
“No! No, nothing like that. Just... Okay. The thing is when you gave me that feather, I instantly said yes. Their was no decision-making, no time to think. I just reacted, on instinct. I always do around you, and I wonder if I really have a choice in it all. I'm glad I did say yes, Thunderlane, I really am. But did I even have any other option?” She asked, her head hung low. She readied for an outburst. Waiting for him to shout and walk off. Thunderlane was always very calm and collected around her, but she feared this would be the thing to send him over the edge.
He planted a kiss on the top of her head.
Blossomforth looked up him. He still carried that expression of warm contentedness.
He smiled. “Getting cold hooves during the honeymoon? That's a first.” He joked. He could almost hear her frustration. “Listen Bloss, it's something I thought about too. Even after all the crushing we did over each other when we were foals, now that we were dating, I did have some thoughts about whether this was right or wrong. If this felt right. I was seriously worried that we had both changed so much over the years, that we were only dating because we felt like we had to.
“But you know what? We didn't. Even as adults we still messed around like we were foals again. We hadn't changed in the slightest. To me, that made it so easy. Knowing that you were the same Blossomforth I pined after for most of my life. It was instinct, yes, but to me that's a good thing. Because the two of us worked so well together, I didn't have to actively try to love you. It all came naturally, and my actions became second nature.
“Take... Take two years ago. We were resting upon that cloud during the sunset, and you worried about whether I actual loved you. What did I say?” He asked her.
Blossomforth smiled. Instinctively, but happily so. “You said that you wouldn't have moved down to Ponyville for a slim chance like this. That you wouldn't have moved down here after me I you weren't head over hooves for me.”
“Exactly. And I mean that now. Just because you answered by instinct, doesn't mean you didn't have a choice, Blossomforth. The fact that you answered so quickly tells me that you already had your answer long before I asked. All those times we did something, just for the heck of it, wasn't because we felt we should, it's because we wanted to. Everything comes naturally between the two of us. It's a sort of testament to how perfect we are for each other. I'll never forget what your dad said we when told him. 'It's about bloody time!' It felt like an entire mountain fell off of my shoulders.” Thunderlane kissed her. “So there's nothing to worry about.”
Blossomforth smiled, as she looked into her reflection upon the water, his reflection right next to her. Just how it always should have been. She giggled. “You're a very sentimental stallion, aren't you?”
Thunderlane stuck his hoof up in mock protest. “Of course! I'd never forget the time I've sent with you.”
Blossomforth her head underneath his, happy now that it came so easily. “You're so hopeless.”
The sun had freed itself from the horizon, and now shone its wonderful glow upon the two of them in its full beauty. The water was just as still as ever, much more relaxed now that her turmoil had subsided. All of her stress and worries evaporated, as she rubbed herself against the coat she loved. She could finally understand why she had remembered this place so vividly. The first time she saw that glint in his eyes, amid all the fiery flowers erupting in the sky. It was at that moment, almost ten years ago, that she realized she never wanted them to part.
Blossomforth lifted her head from under her husband's, a very sly grin on her face. “Hey Thunderlane,” she started, “did you take a shower yet?”
Thunderlane gave her a confused look. “Not yet, why?”
Within an instant, Blossomforth used all of her might, pushing Thunderlane away. She tackled him, the both of them falling straight into the water. She laughed as they both rose to the surface. Thunderlane retaliated and began to splash her, trying to dunk her underneath. She smiled, and he couldn't stop himself from doing so either. The two of them continued to play, like foals in a lake.
They had never changed, and she hoped they never would.