//------------------------------// // Beating Around The Bush (Part 2) // Story: Not a Cloud In the Sky // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// In the Canterlot dungeons, a group of mares in guard uniforms waited excitedly, occasionally peeking around the corner to see a certain guard standing with a stoic expression on his face. "Ooh, Gleaming Silver has got this in the bag, no way old corpse face cam resist her!" A confused looking mare near the back of the group cleared her throat and asked, "Um... what exactly are we doing, I thought we were supposed to ba at our posts?" The group turned to face the speaker and the mare from earlier spoke up. "Oh! I forgot you were new to this, see this is why we asked you for five bits, to enter you into the game pool. You see that stallion over there? He's the only pony stationed in the dungeons. His names like cloud... something or other, it's not important. What is important is his nickname. You see, everypony here calls him corpse face cause he always has that bored, tired look on his face. About a month after he joined the guard, me and a couple friends made a wager. We had to see who could successfully flirt with him first. We each put five bits into the betting pool and started trying to flirt with him. More and more ponies kept joining, both guards and civilians, mares and stallions alike. By now we have a grand total of one hundred and seven ponies playing. Whoever succeeds gets all of the bits in the pool. And right now Silver, she's one of the night guards, is going to try using some new... leisure clothing she bought." The mare keeping watch shushed the group and motioned them forward. The crowd all moved around until they could all see the stallion, who at the moment had a blank, if not mildly troubled expression, on his face. Just then, a bat pony mare came slowly walking around the opposite corner. Her grey fur and silver mane accented by red lipstick and a pair of silver striped stockings on her legs. As she walked by Cloud, she gave him a wink and said in her best bedroom voice, "Hi Cloud, you're looking good today." Before continuing by, carefully sliding her tail under his chin as she passed and kept walking with an obvious sway to her hips. Cloud didn't even notice due to the internal screaming going on in his head. "ASK HER OUT YOU PANSY!" "But what if she rejects me and then I go back to having no friends whatsoever?" "WHAT IF IT DOES WORK OUT!" "But what of it doesn't?" And so on and so forth. The group groaned when Silver reached them. The thestral had a shocked look on her face. "N-not even a blush. I've seen stallions pitch a tent in their armor from less, and not even a blush! H-he's not a pony, he's some sort of unfeeling android. Nopony's ever winning that money." The mares all groaned in frustration while the new mare just sat in shock, how could he have just ignored all of that! The mare from earlier stomped on frustration. "I could have sworn Silver would manage! There's not a guard in this castle who hasn't had fantasies about her, and yet he doesn't even sneak a peek! It's unheard of!" After that the group went back to their posts, leaving Cloud the sole pony in the dungeons yet again. ------------------------------------ "Woah... so after saving your life, he was chill with the whole 'changeling' thing, let you stay, and even squared up with a dude over you. I can't lie, dudes actually pretty cool for a pony." Beat and Pandora were currently making their way towards the castle after visiting the library to get more reading material for Pandora. She had gotten some romance novels, a book on animals, and a book entitled "Quantum Physics For Dummies." As the two entered the castle grounds, they approached a desk set up for tours. A mare with a brown coat and a light yellow mane looked up in surprise. The two did make an interesting scene given the fact that a pegasus that could seriously be a model and a gryphon with headphones standing at the reception desk wasn't exactly an everyday sight. "Hello, we're here to visit a guard by the name of Cloud Nine, can you tell us where he is?" The mare looked thoughtful for a second before asking, "Is his cutie mark a tornado inside a cloud?" Pandora nodded. "In the dungeons, just follow the signs." The two continued on their way, noting how all of the guards looked exactly the same except for their cutie marks. "So the only way to tell if it's angsty-Mcgee is by checking his magic ass tattoo? Great, just what I needed. An afternoon of scoping out dudes asses like a perv." "Oh be quiet Beat, we already have a good start, so let's just find him. After a while, they found Cloud standing in front of a hallway that lead to the dungeon. A school group had just left so there were a few guards in a group by the corner. Though why all of them were mares was beyond either of the changelings. They saw a mare casually attempting to talk to Cloud, and hin still looking straight ahead. Beat, however could sense the fear drifting off of him and spotted a nearby broom closet. He ran up to Cloud, grabbed him, and shouted "we need to talk" before pulling him into the closet, and out of earshot of everyone nearby. He squeezed into the tight space and helped angle Cloud's face out of his chest. He gave Cloud a smirk while Cloud looked confused. "Well well well, the angst lord is scared of mares." Cloud looked shocked, "What? N-no I'm not!" "Dude! I can't believe it! You're literally scared of girls! That... that's just too rich man." Cloud quickly shushed him, "Be quiet, and yes! Ok! I don't like talking to mares cause everytime I do I wind up embarrassing myself. So please, can you keep this secret for me?" Beat smirked, "So is that why you haven't asked out my sis on a date yet?" Cloud's jaw dropped, "Wh-what?!" "Dude, I can tell you've got the hots for her, just ask her out man." "But what if she says no?" "Dude, just ask. You've got this. I can tell Pandora really likes you and you like her so you need to ask. I'm her brother, so you can know I wouldn't do anything to hurr her, and because she likes you so much, I have the same deal for you, got it?" "B-but, why would she like me?" "Just trust me! so stop wimping out! You need to get in there my ninja. Come on, be my little pepper-master." Cloud shot him a glance, "...What?" Beat sighed before opening the door and dragging him out and plopping him down in front of Pandora who was still standing with a bemused expression. He made a "go on" motion with his claw. "Ok! Ok, um... listen ,uh, um, Pandora, I was wondering if maybe, well, you wanted..." Beat made a more urgent gesture to him. "Willyougooutonadatewithmetonight?" Pandora blinked, sorting through what she heard before gasping. "O-of course! Yes I, I'd love to! When are going to?" "How about you head hone and I'll meet you there after my shift." "Ok, yeah I can do that! This is just... oh I'm so excited!" Beat corralled his sister away before winking at Cloud and mouthing "told you" which was met with a quick thanks from Cloud. He settled back into his usual stance, unaware of the confused mares around the corner. He had a date tonight.