//------------------------------// // Back To Normal // Story: Not a Cloud In the Sky // by OutOfTheBlue //------------------------------// Cloud grunted as he adjusted the bulky violin case slung across his back. Today he started his new job. Finally no broken bones, head trauma, or missing family was in his way. A bell chimed as he pushed the door of Hot Flambé's restaurant open. The loud chef turned to him and grumbled, "It's about DAMN time you got your lazy ass in here. Now unpack and get playing, and don't break yourself again okay!" Cloud nodded and hurried into the locker room. Today was definitely going to be busy. ----------------------- Aqua hummed as he trotted to school. The sun was shining, the grass was a brilliant, verdant green. He smiled as Rumble came galloping up to him. He stopped out of breath in front of Aqua and, once he had recovered, turned to Aqua and said, "Aqua! I heard you were missing! What happened! Where did you go!" Aqua stepped right up to him and replied, "I was in the woods! I got attacked by timberwolves and rescued by a gryphon named Gilda. It was so cool!" Rumble "ooh"ed appreciatively. Their conversation was halted when the bell for school to start rang. They turned and rushed towards the door along with all the other foals in the schoolyard. (At lunch) Aqua was sitting with Rumble eating his lunch when the Cutie Mark Crusaders came running up. Before Aqua could say anything they immediately tackled him into a massive group hug. "Where were you? We were all worried." "Mah sis said you were missin and ah thought you was gone fer good." "Did you get lost in the woods? Did Rainbow Dash save you!" Aqua slowly managed to extricate himself from the pile of fillies until only Apple Bloom was left. He was planning on pulling away, but it was Apple Bloom. He smiled as he hugged her back. Soon the three fillies had left and it was just him and Rumble. He turned to find Rumble giving him a sly grin. "I saw how you were hugging A.B. Got a bit of a crush hmmmmm?" Aqua blushed before countering. "G-give me a break! I don't bug you about your crush on Scootaloo!" Rumble gasped. "You know! How?... oh yeah, changeling." Aqua grinned before picking his lunch. ------------------------ It was time. Pandora let out a slow breath and tied a rag around her head. She picked up her weapon and prepared to charge. "Die germs dieeeeeeeeee!" She screamed and charged into the bathroom, squirt bottle spraying cleaner over the floor and bathtub. As she walked out of the bathroom she crossed another item off her checklist. "Cleaning done, now to prepare dinner! Being a mom is tough, I miss having Cloud do all of this for me and I just cuddled with him and kissed him." She sighed before heading into the kitchen. ----------------------- Aqua checked around the cottage and, once he was sure the coast was clear, allowed his disguise to melt away. He hadn't really had a chance to thank Fluttershy for helping him and now was a good time. He knocked on a window and waited for it to open. Soon, a yellow head poked out. "Hello? Is that you Mr. Robin?" She looked down and saw a smiling changeling looking up at her. She flinched before recognition dawned on her face. "Oh! It's you again. Do you want to come inside?" Aqua nodded and flew inside. He sat down on a couch next to the yellow pegasus and immediately found himself pulling into a hug. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Aqua laughed before responding. "I'm fine! I found my parents and came to say thanks! I'm really glad you helped me get away." Fluttershy smiled sweetly at him and nuzzled the top of his head. "Well that's wonderful. I'm glad you're doing alright. Oh! Do you want to stay for dinner? I'm making hay patties with raspberry jam." Aqua shook his head before cuddling closer into her fur. Just like before she was super soft. "No, Mom probably will make dinner, but it does sound yummy. I just wanted to say thanks before going home." Fluttershy nodded before letting him go. "Well, feel free to stop by again for some tea. After all the excitement in the Crystal Empire I could use a tea party." Aqua tilted his head. "Crystal Empire?" Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hooves and whispered, "Oh my, I don't know if I was supposed to talk about that. Um, please don't tell anypony." Aqua shrugged before flying out the window with a wave and a quick "goodbye." ------------------------ As the Ponyville branch of the Cloud family sat down to dinner, each family member was more invested in their own affairs than any family conversation. Cloud was just tired after playing violin all day (you might not think playing the violin is tiring but after a while you can barely move your shoulder.) Aqua was thinking about school and his friends (particularly a certain red-maned farm pony.) While Pandora was trying to figure out why Aqua was acting so strange. Suddenly, she figured it out. She grinned and said with a wry smile, "So... who is it?" Aqua and Cloud looked at her in confusion. She kept on staring at Aqua which prompted him to look away in embarrassment. "I-I don't know what you're talking about Mom." He lamely tried to cover up. Pandora leaned a bit closer. "Who do you have a crush on? I can sense the budding love trickling off somewhere, so who is it?" Aqua rubbed the back of his head before mumbling, "Apple Bloom." Pandora squealed in delight while Cloud just gave Aqua a look of pity. "I'm so proud of you! Now, tell Mommy all about this filly. Is she cute? It is a she right? Do I know her parents?" Pandora was practically bouncing up and down at this point. Not only was her adopted changeling son fitting in at school, but now he had a crush on a pony! Cloud sighed before telling Aqua, "I pity you, I could successfully lie to my parents. Your mom has emotion sense so you probably won't be able to." Aqua's ears flattened at that. Now he had to answer all sorts of uncomfortable questions about his crush. Pandora saw the discomfort on Aqua's chitinous face and managed to tone it down a notch. "Well, I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're fitting in at school and making some friends. Anyway, Cloud, this came in the mail today." She levitated a letter over to him which he promptly opened. He read through it and his jaw dropped. Pandora looked over his shoulder and couldn't believe what she saw. Dear Cloud and Pandora, I am sending you the bits I believe we owe as compensation. I hope your unfortunate experiences haven't soured you to the residents of Canterlot but I understand if that is the case. Enclosed are two things. Firstly is the bank note containing your compensation (and a little extra as an early wedding present if my sources are correct.) and also my personal permission to have your wedding in one of the castles ball rooms. I would be more than happy to wed you and Pandora and the ponies in attendance (or changelings) are purely up to you. Either way, I wish you well. Sincerely, -Princess Celestia. Attached to the bottom of the letter was a check for a rather hefty sum of bits. Pandora's jaw dropped as well. They turned to look at eachother before Cloud grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss. After separating Cloud grinned at Pandora. "So, want to have a Canterlot wedding officiated by the Princess herself?" Pandora smiled before giving him another quick kiss. "So long as I still end up married to you." Cloud grinned even wider before helping Pandora do the washing up. "I'm telling you, things are finally working out! The universe has beaten me for so long that it must finally be giving me a break!" Pandora laughed before bumping him with her flank. "Don't go jinxing it now, I'd rather not have to scrape you off the street when you get run over by a runaway cart." Cloud smiled before pressing closer to his wife to be. "I doubt that could stop me. No force on earth can stop me now!" They laughed before settling the rest of the plates away and then got to work modifying their wedding plans and writing letters. That night just as Cloud was putting away his writing equipment, a thought occured to him. I guess it wouldn't hurt to at least try writing him letters every bow and then, and maybe him too. He grimaced before pulling out a fresh sheet of paper and writing. "Dear Godspeed Cloud..."