//------------------------------// // Danger Inbound // Story: Not a Cloud In the Sky // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// Cloud sighed as he settled into bed. He read while listening to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. After a few minutes Pandora emerged and got into bed beside him. She wormed her way past his foreleg and lay resting her head on his shoulder. She was still much more clingy than usual, but at least she hadn't pounced on him while Aqua was around. He continued reading for a few minutes before closing his book and turning off the lights. He wrapped Pandora in a hug before drifting off to sleep. Cloud jolted awake as he felt something wet touch his face. After his eyes adjusted he realized Pandora was... licking him? "Um... what are you doing?" Pandora stopped before giving him a half-lidded gaze. "~Oh, your awake~" Cloud gulped. He didn't like where this was going. He pulled back as she started advancing on him. He started coughing as she drew closer. A strange, sweet smell suffusing the air around her. The more of the smell he smelt, the harder it was to think clearly. He tried to get away but his movements were slow and sluggish. He started panicking, what was she doing? Was this some weird spell? He couldn't... it was so hard to.... He started gasping like a fish out of water as she slithered up his form. Through his mental stupor he noticed an uncomfortable tingling in his lower regions. He gasped out, "P-pandora! S... stop! Please!" Pandora hesitated and suddenly her eyes opened wide. She pulled back and gasped, holding a hoof over mouth. She dashed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. Shortly after Cloud heard the water turn on and choked sobbing. Once Cloud managed to shake himself out of his stupor, he looked nervously at the bathroom door. I... I should go see if she's okay. But, what if it happens again! But... she seems to be taking it pretty hard. Cloud steeled himself and, after swallowing his fear, slowly opened the door. He peeked his head through the gap and immediately Pandora choked out, "N-no! Go away! I-i-it's not s-safe to be around me!" Her crying returned with a vengeance. Cloud gulped before sitting down across from her. He tentatively reached out a hoof and placed it on the crying changeling's shoulder. Cloud took a couple deep breaths before saying, "Listen, It-it's okay. It's all--" "IT'S NOT FINE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I ALMOST DID!! AND DON'T EVEN PRETEND YOU WEREN'T SCARED! I COULD FEEL YOUR FEAR AND... and... it was directed at me." She whispered the last part. Cloud drew back but scooted a bit closer. He finally climbed into the tub with her and gathered her into a tight hug. She feebly resisted before burying her head on his shoulder. "I'm a horrible changeling, and an even worse fiancé." She moaned as she pressed tighter against him. Cloud sighed before tilting his head into the stream of water. "You're not a bad changeling. I know you wouldn't hurt me." Pandora shook her head. "If I'm so much better than all the other changelings than why did I almost do to you what all the other females do during mating season." Cloud laid his head in top of her as he continued calming her down. A question suddenly sprang to mind. "Wait, what do the females do?" Pandora sniffed before placing her head on his shoulder. "Well, they choose some poor, unsuspecting male and ambush him. Then, they dope him out of his mind with pheromones before doing whatever they want to him. Trust me, it's not pretty. Especially if multiple females want one male. Sometimes they end up ripping the poor guy apart in their frenzy. And, and I almost did that to you!" Cloud sighed before rubbing her back. At least that explained what happened that stopped him from getting away. "Listen, I don't blame you, I know you're having a tough time controlling yourself right now. So just calm down and let's go back to bed." Pandora shakily nodded before getting out of the tub. Cloud turned the water off before grabbing a towel and beginning the arduous process of drying his wet fur. He laid back down on his side of the bed and noticed Pandora was curled up as far away as possible. He made his way over to her and curled himself around her. He cut off her protests by pressing his hoof to her lips. "I won't let you beat yourself up over this. This one little incident isn't enough to make me stop loving you Pandora, and you need to realize that." She nodded before pressing closer to his side. "How did I get so lucky that you love me this much?" Cloud laughed before answering. "By being the most lovable and adorable changeling I know." Pandora hummed happily at that. She sighed, "Honestly, I'm just glad that Aqua is staying with us. I'd hate for him to wind up being filled with hatred like the rest of the changelings." Cloud nodded his assent. "Yeah, thought given what I know now, I can see why they were so eager to lash out. When all you know is hatred and fear you will do anything to find release for even a few seconds. Many find that release in making others as miserable as they are. It's like the old saying, 'Misery loves company.'" He planted a kiss on Pandora's cheek before draping his wing over them both. ----------------------------- Aqua tapped his hoof as he looked at the clock. So close yet so far! There were only minutes, MINUTES! Separating him from his sleepover. He looked over at his three friends as he waited for the minutes to slowly drudge by. Rumble was asleep so he couldn't help, Scootaloo was... also asleep. Sweetie Bell was doing her math worksheet, and Apple Bloom was staring out the window. With nothing better to do, Aqua stared at her as she stared out the window. He didn't really understand why, but he just wanted to look at her forever. She was so nice and pretty that he couldn't help himself. His thoughts returned to the sleepover. He, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, and Scootaloo were all spending the night at Apple Bloom's families farm. Rumble couldn't go because he was busy and he got grounded for stealing cookies from the cookie jar at home, so that wasn't good. But the rest was awesome! Finally the bell rang and Aqua jumped out of his desk and galloped out the door with his friends. Finally! The sleepover could begin! (That Night) "Oh Celestia everything hurts!" Scootaloo groaned as she flopped on her sleeping bag. They had all tryed to get their cutie marks in fishing, rock climbing, rock throwing, fish throwing, hitting eachother with fishes... okay, that one was just for fun, but needless to say they were all pooped. "Ah think ahm ready ta hit tha hay." Apple Bloom murmured sleepily. Her sister Applejack snorted, "Ah told y'all you'd be more tuckered out 'n a jackrabbit after summer but y'all had ta go and over do it." Aqua just burrowed his way into his sleeping bag. Sweetie Bell jumped on her sleeping bag too before saying, "We know! can we please just go to sleep now? I feel like I'm about to pass out, right Scootaloo?" They all turned to find the orange pegasus had already fallen asleep in the middle of their conversation. For a filly who slept during school so much, she sure could sleep at the drop of a hat. Applejack sighed before smiling at the group of foals. "Ahlright, but if y'all need anything just holler!" And trotted out of the room, turning the lights off as she left. Aqua rolled over and soon was asleep as well. ----------------------------- Aqua woke up to a searing pain in his chest. He was hungry. He looked around to see it was still dark out and that everyone was still asleep. He groggily got up and stumbled to the door. He needed love, but the only place he knew he could get it was his parents. Maybe he could get some from Applejack? She was kind of like Apple Bloom's mom and sister all at once. He made his way to her room and slowly opened the door. He was about to ask if he could stay with her for the night when he heard loud snoring. It would be rude to wake her up, I should just be nice and quiet. Aqua slowly slid under the blankets until he was pressed up against her warm back. He sighed in contentment as a small trickle of love started flowing into him. He got comfortable and started slowly drifting off. He jolted in surprise when Applejack rolled over and, upon accidentally bumping into Aqua in her sleep, pulled him to her chest. Aqua chirped happily as the flow of love almost tripled. He was planning on leaving once he was full, but he was so comfortable that he fell back asleep. Little did he know, his disguise had dropped in his sleep.