//------------------------------// // When Life Gives You Stress, Get A Changeling // Story: Not a Cloud In the Sky // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// Cloud was placing any belongings that were in his locker into his saddlebags while pondering the interesting conversation he'd had with a certain High Keep. ---------------------------- "Hey uh... you." High Keep nervously asked. "Yeah?" "You seem like a pretty chill stallion so... can I ask you something?" He winced, expecting to be ignored. Cloud sighed, "Sure." Keep started before taking a deep breath. "Howdoyouknowifyou'regayornot." He rapidly said. Cloud blinked. "What?" Keep sighed before saying slower than before, "Um... how do you tell if you're gay. I mean, do you get like a vision or you piss a rainbow or what?" Cloud looked at him incredulously, before shaking his head. "Well, are you attracted to mares or stallions?" Keep tapped his chin in thought. "I don't know." Cloud turned to face him. "What do you mean you don't know?" Keep shrugged. "I'm just so confused, I mean, am I attracted to mares? Or is that just my response based off the pressing social stigma of mare and stallion relationships? I mean, I think some mares are hot, but I've found myself thinking the same about some stallions too. Just yesterday I found myself staring at Muscle Bound after training and was like 'damn, he looks hot all muscly and sweaty like that' and I'm just... I don't know anymore." Cloud frowned. "You realize you can like both, right?" Keep looked at him in surprise. "You can?!" Cloud nodded, a bewildered look on his face. "Yeah, you know, if you're bi you like both mares and stallions. Of course it could also be inter species too. I once dated a gryphon." Keep slumped to the floor. "I forgot about that! I could be into gryphons or something like that. Great, now I don't know if I'm gay or straight AND now I don't know which species I like." Cloud facehoofed. "You don't have to choose between them, by my guess, you're bi! And besides, if you find yourself liking multiple beings, well, bigamy is technically legal in Equestria." Keep frowned in thought before sighing. "Well now how am I supposed to date?!?" ------------------------------- Cloud groaned, he could feel a headache coming on and was almost tempted to use his special supply to forget the entire discussion and High Keep's subsequent rambling about the various merits of each option. Cloud pulled the small bottle out of it's hidding place beneath his wing. The bottle contained a clear substance and bore a label reading "Nepenthe" in his own messy writing. He couldn't stop a pang of guilt that shot through him at remembering how he last used the potion. I know it was wrong but they found out about Pandora. But taking their memory of an entire hour is still just... no, I did what I had to and then covered it up with Pandora. No one can know or she's at risk. I'll always do what has to be done. He sighed as he tucked the small bottle away. Some secrets just can't get out. -------------------------------- Cloud sighed as Pandora gently massaged his back. After hours of dealing with his new, and very chatty, partner, Cloud needed a break. His adorable changeling fiancé massaging him was more than an improvement on the concept of a break. Beat, in disguise, threw the door open while carrying a plastic bag in his magic. He set the boxes of food on the table before pouring himself a drink. "If you're gonna be all cuddly and shit, do it in your bedroom, that way I can at least sit down. Also, Cloud buddy, bye sone damn beer. A grown ass stallion like you should have at least a six pack, but Noooooo, you don't drink, f#*€%n hippy." He grumbled. Cloud sighed before he and Pandora moved to the small table. "How long until you leave?" Cloud groaned. Beat just shrugged before floating a box to Pandora and another one to Cloud. Whereas Pandora had a hamburger, Beat had gotten Cloud a hayburger. "Hey! Why'd you get me this!" Beat looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Cause you're a pony. Vegetarianism and all that crap." Cloud's response was simply to accept the half of hamburger offered to him by Pandora. As he ate the sandwich, Cloud shuddered at the taste of sweet, juicy meat in his mouth. "Mph, that's better, thanks babe." He said while wrapping a wing around his fiancé. Beat whistled, "Damn, you're a right weirdo ain't ya bub." Pandora giggled. "If you think that's weird, wait until he gets a craving for resin." Cloud shot her a glare while Beat spit out a mouthful of soda. "You eat that shit!? That's f#€*%n weird bro." Cloud glared at Pandora. "Well at least I don't PREEN my fiancé while he sleeps!" Pandora gasped. "Y-you knew? B-but, I always waited until you were asleep!" Cloud rolled his eyes. "There were some signs, you don't just wake up with glossy, perfectly straight feathers. Also I can fake being asleep too you know." Pandora blushed. "B-but, Ok fine, I like to preen you. You just look so cute while I'm doing it with this cute little smile and you start sighing all happily and...." she was interrupted by Beat dying laughing. "Wow, you're perfect for eachother, you're both weirdos!" Cloud gave him a steely gaze. "Don't think I don't know about the magazine." Beat promptly paled. "Y-you wouldn't. I mean, chill! It was just a prank bro!" Pandora cocked her head. "What magazine?" Beat looked at Cloud, a pleading look on his face. Cloud sighed, "I would tell you, but I need to keep hold of my blackmail." Beat sighed before eating the rest of his burger in one bite. As Cloud and Pandora were lying in bed, Cloud became aware of a pleasant sensation worming around his feathers. "Pandora, what are you doing?" Pandora giggled. "Well I don't have to do it in secret anymore, so I'm preening you. You do have to look sharp for the wedding tomorrow." Cloud sighed before extending his wings si she could reach them better. He wasn't about to admit it, but having someone preen your wings felt almost as good as having sex. Cloud slowly drifted off, already wishing tomorrow was iver with. A bunch of stuck up ponies trying to order him around would not be fun. ----------------------------- "Hmmmmmmmmm." High Keep scratched his chin while looking at the wide array of magazines in front of him. "Great! Now I don't know what kind of porn to get!"