Flare and Prim had decided to go to the Flare’s room. It was closer and Prim was already starting to nod off again. To keep her balance, she put her right wing over Flare’s back to keep steady, and Flare held her up by her side with his own. Even though Prim and Flare were tired, they struck up a friendly conversation, asking questions that they would remember in the morning.
“So... what do we call ourselves now?” Prim asked stopping shortly to gain her balance,” Marefriend and coltfriend or a couple?”
Flare thought for a moment, finally, he came to answer that might help,” Well, I’ve seen it both ways actually. We can be marefriend and coltfriend, well, until we go on a few dates. Really, I don’t know... I’m not the best with love titles.”
Prim nodded softly, her head leaning on Flare’s neck, her eyes closing.
“Hey, don’t fall asleep yet, we’re close to my room. I don’t want to carry you to my room. If anypony saw that, I think that’d raise a few alarms...,” Flare said softly, nuzzling the top of Prim’s head. Prim fought to stay awake, but, her eyes threatened to close on her and never open again.
“Why am I so tired all of a sudden?” Prim asked Flare, hoping that his voice and answer with stop the confusion that had built up.
Flare shrugged, giving an answer that made Prim’s half-asleep mind go from confused, to another level of confusion,” Honestly, I believe that the emotions that were shown in the eastern tower caused you to drain the remaining energy that you had after the gala. But, really, I don’t know. I may be an ex-royal scientist, but I wasn’t looking at emotional problems that much.”
“And just like that, you lost me,” Prim replied, as the two turned a corner.
Flare chuckled,” I know. It seems whenever I get tired, my brain decides to come up with complex things.”
Prim sighed, her head rising up slowly as to see where the two are now. Prim spotted Flare’s door, a tired smile appeared on her face as Flare guided her to it.
...
The door swung open as the two walked in. The blaster was still there sleeping away on top of the dark, blue bed.
Prim giggled as the blaster awoke and looked at Flare. She guessed it was happy to see him again, for it rushed over and struck him in the chest. It’s horn missing Flare’s neck by a centimeter. He laughed as he petted the skull, in turn, the skull purred loudly. Prim watched as the skull turned towards her. She swore she saw the skull look at her in a more affectionate way than the last time she saw it. So, reluctantly, she moved her hoof over to the top part of the blaster and rubbed it softly. She too was rewarded with a loud purring noise.
“Huh, I always wondered if Paradox blasters shared emotions with their summoner,” Flare said, amused,” I guess that theory is correct. Let us see if I can get you to juggle.” He poked the skull softly, earning a small yip from it.
Prim giggled at the response, losing her footing and almost falling to the ground. Flare’s magic aura caught her and lifted her up, the skull providing something else for the tired mare to hold onto.
“What do you mean, shares emotions with its summoner?” Prim asked as both the stallion and skull help her onto his bed.
Prim slid under the covers as Flare got onto the bed, all the while saying his theory,”Well, me and... a... friend wondered if the summoners weapons or creatures feel the what their summoners are feeling at a given moment.”
He moved the covers up and laid down on his back next to her, continuing,”He and I thought that a creature with a conscience wouldn’t and a creature who did what its summoner told it to do, without any predetermined judgment, would feel the emotions, thus, sharing them. But, I guess him and I were wrong since little Peridot likes you a lot more than last time.”
Prim moved next to Flare, wrapping both a hoof and wing around the blue stallion. Her head rested on Flare’s chest, as a long sigh escaping from her. Even though Flare wasn’t somepony to mess with, he was a softy, both mentally and physically. Prim thought this was perfect since she had always preferred a soft stallion over a fluffy one.
She felt a hoof hook underneath her and pull her closer to his body. The change from cold wind to a nice warm bed and soft company made her quickly unwind, her wings becoming limper and her hoof started feeling slightly numb. However, her mind came to a random thought, and her mouth moved before she could stop it.
“Flare, I think we can call each other a couple. W-what do you think?”
Flare tapped his chin with his hoof thoughtfully, racking his brain for an answer. He stopped, and turned to face Prim, giving her a soft nuzzle,”I like that, sounds more interesting and less childish than marefriend and coltfriend.”
She responded with a light purr, her grip tightening. She felt the blaster lay behind her, now snoring softly. Right now, she felt the most comfortable than she had ever been. Flare’s softness and warmth, the comfortable covers, the little skull laying behind her, snoring away soundly, it felt more like a dream than anything she could think of.
‘If this is a dream... I don’t want to wake up. Ever,’ Prim thought to herself, purring softly as her mind started to slip into the realm of sleep. Her breath syncing with Flare’s, her heart beating in rhythm with his as well.
...
“💣⍓ ♍♒♋■♍♏ ■□⬥ ⬧♒♓■♏⬧ ♌❒♓♑♒⧫” The green firgured said calmly.
With a quick pull, he grabbed the mares conscience and pulled it with him as his body forcefully retreats into his prison.
...
Cold... it was... cold. Prim opened her eyes. She felt as if she was in a cold forest. Her eyes opened slowly, feeling as if the world was sitting on them. Her body felt like nothing was underneath it. As she opened her eyes fully, she saw where she was. A cold, devoided land of blackness and darkness. She jumped up from the sleeping position she had taken, moments before waking up here. Her mind whirled with fear as she surveyed her surroundings.
Nothing, nothing but a cold abyss of fear. She felt confined, trapped in a small box. Her breathing increased at that thought, knowing that she was here, in the middle of a dark, unholy looking place, it didn’t help her feel better, being int eh unknown like this. She froze, she felt as if something unfriendly was watching her. The sound of slow, heavy breathing caused her to search around the dark void more quickly, hoping to find the creature making it. But... she was alone. Her body began to lock up, her muscles contracting, a dull pain ran through her, for her muscles have never been pulled this taut before. Her voice failed her, just like her muscles.
She could feel the creature getting closer, yet closer, yet ever so closer, to her. Until she felt it was right on top of her. She wanted to scream for help, but it was as if the creature made her hold her breath. The creature was colder than the whole abyss, it felt like a snake, coiling around her and slowing squeezing the life out of her. Her heartbeat increased, her breath became rapid, her muscles constricted even tighter, threating to snap right then and there. Her fears of the unknown, her fears of being inside a small, enclosed space, were these the things making her feel this way? Was she afraid of the creature, or the darkness, the emptiness that surrounded her?
At that point, she didn’t know. Her growing fear lead to the adrenaline flowing through her veins, allowing her voice to open, ready for it to be heard in this unholy silence. With a quick breath, she cried to the heavens, her voice shaking rapidly,” WHERE AM I?! WHERE IS THIS PLACE?! WHY AM I HERE?!”
Her voice reached nothing, or so she thought. The breathing became labored, slow and pained. It sounded like the creature was trying to hide its breath. But Prim knew it was there.
Another sound caught her attention... it sounded... it sounded like a heartbeat, slow and rhythmic. She stopped, her panic faded as a memory flashed before her. The memory was of the first time she had met Flare, the first time she set her eyes on the pony she now loved more than almost anything else in the world. This memory once gave her fear, now, it gave her comfort. Once, she thought of her lover as a random stallion brought to their world for no reason, now... now she thought fate had other plans for him, like some higher being was stringing together their story.
These to things made her feel hope, happiness, and satisfaction. She felt the creature of darkness back away from her, as if it feared the emotions coming off of her. She heard a hissing noise behind her. Quickly, she turned to look at the creature she knew was behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat, as the weight of the situation finally seats in. She realized that, not only that she was alone with a creature made of shadows, but, Flare wasn’t here to comfort her, to keep her happy, and, to make her feel better. This realization made her ears droop to the side of her head. A small tear started to form in her eye, she stumbled backward slightly, hearing the creature give off a hardy chuckle.
She stood firm, however, her body adopting a defensive position. She saw a purple, slit-like eye widen as if it felt fear. She could finally feel sympathy for the monster, she feared it as well. She heard a low sigh coming from the eyes location.
The creature shifted slightly, and finally, said something.
“It seems that you’re not so easily scared, or not as I’d thought you would be. It seems my son has chosen well, finding a mate like you,” Its voice was gruff, deep, and dangerous.
She blushed at the word ‘mate’, the male, she assumed, was talking as if that was her only purpose being with Flare... was to have kids, and spread their genetics to future offspring.
“I’m am not just a simple mate! I’m his lover, we love each other! I’m not a simple foal carrier!” She snapped at him. Her words had the desired effect, the male creature shuffled back.
Another question surged through her mind, so, she voiced it with a small growl,” Also ‘son’? Flare never told me about his father! He only told me about his brother and his changeling adoptive mother! Who are you?!”
“Of course, he would always leave his scattered father out of conversations... I can see why. Who’ve ever heard of a stallion shattered through time and space?” The figure questioned instantly, before continuing with what he was saying,” My name is Fire Hearth Malachite or Dr. Malachite. I’m Flare’s adoptive parent, well, before the changeling took him and his brother in...”
Prim glared daggers at the purple eye. Her body getting down low.
‘I don’t trust this thing’ she thought loudly, growling as the figure shifted once more.
The purple eye scanned left, then right, as if searching for something. Finally, she heard the creature sigh once more. With a lower, more threating voice, it said,” I’m going to show you what I look like. And you and I are going to talk about my son, and what he thinks of you, understand, Princess Prim Star Bite.”
Prim’s mouth tightened, her mind screamed for her to run, but, she remembered something Midnight had taught her. To stay low and get ready to pounce first.
‘Malachite’ moved forward, and to Prim’s shock, he wore a black suit and tie and looked ready to conduct business. He also didn’t look like anypony she had seen before. He looked half dragon half pony, his fur was emerald green, and his hair was a dark, lime green. Not only that, but his hair was also very messy, like Flare’s. He must have expected her to attack him, or try to pounce, so he exited out of the shadows slowly. Every inch revealed more about him, for one, two large cracks were formed in his face. One going up the right side, the other leaving the left eye and heading downwards, ending once it reached the base of his head. His body looked to be melting, even with the black suit on, which also looked to be melting. His right eye had a faded purple slash, like the of a cats pupil. His left eyes glowed a brighter purple, glowing more vibrantly than his right one.
“Here, this is what I look like. Now get out of that pose, you look ridiculous,” Malachite replied.
Prim reluctantly followed Malachite’s orders, slowing rising to a more slacked posture. Her eyes, however, never left Malachite’s form, for she feared that he would attack her.
“Hm, you don’t trust me... good,” Malachite observed, getting a weird look from Prim. He rolled his eyes, replying,” It’s a good thing you don’t trust strangers. What does Flare see in you? I thought he would fall in love with a scientist or historian, not a princess who doesn’t see the obvious.”
“HEY!” Prim began to protest,” I AM NOT OBLIVIOUS!”
“Hmph! You sure act like it,” he growled back, his eyes narrowing.
Prim didn’t hold back, she felt a strong rage for this stallion. With a good breath, she shouted,” Who do you think you are?! What did I do wrong?! I just want to be with Flare! I don’t want to see him alone, I don’t want to see him suffer! But you, you emerald green-”
“Malachite green,”
“Whatever type of green you are! Thinks that you can boss me around?! I just want to live a normal life, a normal life with the stallion I love! Isn’t that so hard to ask?! Why is being royalty so difficult?! ALL. THE. DAMN. TIME?!”
Malachite staggered backward, feeling the emotional magic coming off of the mare as she shouted the last part. He wanted to scream at her as well, but now, he felt that this mare was actually worth his son’s time. And her saying the part about a normal life made him puzzled. Albeit that she just yelled at him, he knew yelling back would do nothing, other than pouring gas on the open, crackling fire so he went with a different approach.
He grunted, his head level with hers as he spoke softly,” You just want a normal life, with the stallion you love? Did I hear you correctly?”
He expected her to yell again, however, her voice now threatened to break as she sat on her rump. With a small whimper, she said softly,” I just want to be happy, I just-just want Flare to be happy. I want to-to repay all that he has-has done for me. He knew that vampony mares become stronger during the heat, but he took a chance with me, he read me a book and made me feel a little better. He didn’t complain when I randomly bit him, then held him like a soft teddy bear... Now, now with you here, I don’t think I deserve him. I’ve done nothing but help him that one time... and that was months ago...”
For the first time, Malachite saw royalty weep. Though it was soft and faint, he could hear it. Did she really want Flare to be happy? Even if what she said was true, she only helped him once, then put him at risk or in fear twice or even three times. All Flare did was help her, in return, he got treated like a pillow/ cooler, and a snack. He opened his mouth to say something snappy, however, remembered something that Trail had told him.
It was a cold morning, and Malachite had had enough with the fool scientist. He kept on making mistakes, tripping over equipment, never cleaned up his area, and most of all, never helped with anything, all the monster did was stay in his office, playing some stupid game.
Taking matters into his own claws, Malachite stormed into the office, forgetting the 5-year-old Lightning Trail on his back. The mockery of a scientist jumped as the door slammed open. He was so shaken that he had fallen out of his chair.
A loud game over screen theme echoed throughout the office. Malachite stood firm near the desk of the idiot, who had gotten up from the floor he fell on, a glare in his eye as he spoke to his superior,” The hell man?! I just got the jetpack! The hells your problem?!”
Malachite didn’t hesitate, with a low growl, he roared,” MY PROBLEM IS YOU! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A FAILURE! YOU DO NOTHING BUT SIT ON YOU FATASS AND PLAY THAT GOD DAMN VIDEO GAME! ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU HELP WITH THE DT PROJECT! BUT NO! YOU YELL AT MY FACE SAYING THAT I SHOULD DO IT BY MYSELF, SAYING THAT THE PROJECT IS USELESS! LET ME TELL YOU A FACT MAGGOT, DID YOU KNOW THE KING ASKED FOR IT TO BE MADE? OR DID YOU ASSUME THAT I WANTED IT DONE FOR
LAUGHS-AND-GIGGLES?!”
The stallion went to open his mouth but Malachite slammed his clawed hoof on the table, which formed spider-like cracks in the smooth metallic surface. Malachite glared daggers at the stallion, then continued,” YOU KNOW WHAT?! IM SICK OF YOUR USELESSNESS! YOU. ARE. FIRED!
The stallion stared, wide-eyed and jawed at his superior, with surprise he stammered saying,” W-wait you can’t d-do that! P-please, s-s-sir I’ll do any-anything to keep this job! I’ll work extra hours, I’ll work as hard as I can both on the project and anything else! Please!”
The stallion had both of his hooves together in a pleading gesture. Malachite was about to literally kick the stallion out of the office until he felt a light tug on his ear. Turning back, he saw Trail, teary-eyed and on the verge of crying.
Malachite cursed under his breath. He was about to apologize, but a small blue wing stopped him.
“Pwease papa, he wants a second cwance. He couwd cwange, you doesn’t know what he had gones twrough.”
“Trail, this isn’t for you to-” Malachite started, but stopped upon seeing that Trail started to shed a few tears. Once more the green stallion cursed silently.
With a sharp glare, he stared down at the ex-scientist, who was still in the pleading position. Malachite growled, his eyes narrowing at the stallion. He spoke through clenched teeth,” Fine, I’ll let you stay. BUT! You need to give me a good reason why you’re acting so bitter and useless!”
The last word barely left his mouth as the stallion cried,” I'm so, so sorry that I’m acting this way. My-my wife passed away in an accident, my child is sick with a life-threating illness. This job is the only way I can pay the bills! If I don’t get enough money next week... they’ll, they’ll,” He teared up, but continued,” They say they’ll pull the plug and dust him quickly...”
Malachite’s eyes widened, and his heart ached. Had this stallion really had this happen to him? The part about the illness reminded him of Flare’s worsening cold, not that life-threating, but still dangerous enough for him to be on edge.
With a short cough, he concluded what needs to be done,” Listen, Chemical Reaction, I’ve come up with a decision... I take back my order to fire you...”
The stallion beamed at him, Malachite continued, ignoring the small ‘thank yous’ coming from Reaction,” But, on one condition. You will behave and do everything I say, understand?”
The stallion nodded, and Malachite gave him a small one in return.
“Yes, sir!” he said happily.
“Good, now go to the reactor room, Lily needs some help with the hydraulics,”
“Yes sir, I’ll be on my way, sir!”
End of flashback
This memory reminded him that not everyone as they seem. He looked down at the softly weeping mare, wondering if she truly did love his son.
‘NO!’ cried an angry voice within Malachites head,’ She’s a pony! Her kind is the indirect reason Flare got hurt, and the main reason why we were all stuck in the underground!’
‘Trust her, she hasn’t done anything remotely wrong!’ another voice argued,’ She wants to be with him, she wants to make him happy, she wants to have a happy life with Flare!’
He needed to make a split-second decision, just like he did last time, for fear that the mare will wake up, leaving this time for his original purpose, useless.
He walked over to the weeping mare and reluctantly put a his hoof on her shoulder, causing her to jump slightly and look up at him. He didn’t smile, it would be rather creepy for him to do so, with his sharp teeth and all, so he cut right to the chase. With a calming voice he said to her,” Listen, I’m sorry I insulted you. If my son was here, either of them, they would tan my hide. But, that's not the main reason I pulled you in here. That reason is so I can ask you some questions, to get to know you better before I give you any blessings to be with Flare,” Feeling like that came off a little cold-hearted, he quickly added,” I hope you can understand. I’m sure he told you the history of the monsters and ponies.”
She nodded, wiping a tear from her eye as she slowly got up. She shuddred slightly, feeling as if a cold breeze had passed under her. And with her big, red, puffy eyes, she looked Malachite in the eyes, whimpering softly,” Go ahead and ask the questions... please?”
Malachite snapped his fingers and with a loud ‘poof’ a table and two chairs appeared in front of both of them. Malachite took a seat and waved Prim over to the other one, a clipboard now resting in his out-stretched talons. Prim accepted the seat, sitting in it and scooting it closer to the table.
Malachite sighed, looking at what Prim assumed was the first question. Only a moment later was the assumption confirmed.
“Alright, the first question,” Do you have any past regrets that Flare doesn’t know about, but should?”
“No, I’ve been completely honest with him.”
Malachite scribbled the response done with a pen that randomly appeared in his right claw,“Alright, the second question is, have you ever had any form of sexual pleasure with another?”
Prim blushed and blurted,” NO! IM NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO DO ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT!”
Malachite nodded, ignoring the outburst. Under his breath, he muttered,” Say that to your X-rated manga comic , princess,”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Third question, what do you plan to do with my son?”
Prim opened her mouth, but then closed it. What did she plan to do with Flare? Marry him? Start a family?
‘No,’ she thought, getting the weird pictures out of her mind of the idea,’ I don’t even know if this will work out... Night’s been looking at him funny as well, kinda, flirtatiously.’
“I plan on seeing where this goes. If he wants to stay with me, then... then I guess marriage? But, it’s too early to talk about that type of stuff...”
“Planning ahead is always a good idea, never let anyone tell you otherwise,” Malachite responded,” Speaking of planning ahead, the fourth question is, would you start a family with him? I need to know, because I’ve seen many outcomes to this question... Living in the void has its perks, but, also its downfalls”
Prim squeaked, her blush growing at the thought she had just gotten out of her head. Did she want to start a family? What would it feel like? How can two different species interact like that?
‘What would he fe-NO!’ Prim mentally shouted, her blush deepening,’ Don’t think of Flare like that! You just became lovers!’. With a calm and as steady as she could make her voice, she replied,” W-well if he wants to, then... then yes... I would love to start a family. It would be something that he and I can hold dear to our hearts.”
Malachite nodded awkwardly, not expecting to get an emotional response from the mare during this particular question. He looked down at his clipboard and saw only four questions left.
“Question number five, what are your future plans? Remember, planning ahead is always the right decision.”
“Well, I don’t have many plans, since I just had to rework them since I didn’t expect Flare’s response. So I guess I don’t have any at this point.”
Malachite hummed thoughtfully, writing down her response.
“Question number six, Do you know the relationships between monster and ponies? Not history type, but, love and romantic type?”
Prim shook her head softly,” No...? Flare hasn’t told me much about what happens when a pony and a monster fall in love. I guess it has something to do with their emotions controlling the magicical flow of their bodies?”
“Correct, If a pony were to fall in love with a monster, the monster's soul would attach itself to the partner. Nothing would happen if either of them got hurt, mainly its only purpose is beneficial for both resipiants. The monster heals faster and the pony, if it was a unicorn, would gain extra magical abilities.” Malachite responded, writing down her response to two questions instead of the one, since she had, inavertantly, answered question seven.
“Last question, this one is important, Do you know about Flare’s family and family history?”
‘I guess not if he didn’t mention me,’ Malachite thought angrily
“Well, he hasn’t told me much, but he said he was cousins with a powerful figure in the underground, has a brother named Lightning Trail, and his adoptive mother is a changeling queen named Crumpet,” Prim replied, giving a soft shrug after it.
“Alright,” Malachite said,” We are done here. I would allow you to ask me questions, but, I believe your own conscience is trying to wake up. So really, we don’t have much time... But, I bid thy farewell!”
Prim opened her mouth to speak but then became dizzy. Her mind whirled in every dircetion and she wanted to vomit. She crumpled to the ground, an audilbe ‘thud’ echoing out. She closed her eyes, covered her ears, and wrapped her wings around her face. The dizzieness had gotten to her as she felt her mind slip into an unconscience state.
...
Prim eyes opened softly. She felt the covers of the bed lay around her waist and a soft form next to her. Her mind felt normal, albeit a little tired from the dream she just had... was it a dream? She shuffled slightly, she felt the soft forms heartbeat start to change from a slow tempo to a rather quicker one. She felt a hoof, hooked around her back, pull her closer to the figure. Finally, it clicked in her head,’That’s right! I’m sleeping with Flare!’
She shifted slightly, trying to get back into a comfortable position. Every time she inched upwards, the memory of the dream began to fade, as if something was trying to make her forget it. She didn’t care though, the dream was weird, and she never wanted to go back to that place again. Finally, her head rested on Flare’s neck, right under his chin. A soft groan escaping her lips as her body settled in with the new position.
Curiosity had gotten the better of her, with a slow turn, she looked over at Flare’s digital clock. On it, it read ‘3:28 pm’. She had slept for a couple of hours, and even then, she felt tired. Whether it was the soft stallion, the warm and cozy bed, or the simple fact that it was three in the morning, she felt tired all the same.
Calmly, she turned back over and laid her head back in its original position, a low snort coming from her. She couldn’t get that dream out of her mind.
‘It felt so real, but, it was just a dream... right?’ Prim thought to herself, a cold chill running down her spine at it,’ No worries! I can just ask Flare when he wakes up.’ She calmed down at the thought, as if knowing Flare would have some form of an answer. Besides, she wanted to ask him a lot of questions when he does.
She sighed, her hoof making a circular motion on Flare’s chest as she slowly drifted off to sleep...
...
“✋⧫🕯⬧ ♑□□♎ ⍓□◆ ⧫♒♓■& ♓⧫ ♓⬧ ♋ ♎❒♏♋❍📬📬📬 ♐□❒ ⧫♒♏ ♌□⧫♒ □♐ ◆⬧📪 ⧫♒♋⧫ ♓⬧📬📬📬 💧●♏♏p ⧫♓♑♒⧫ ⍓□◆■♑ □■♏📬📬📬,” Malachite said softly, watching the screen that lead to their world slowly fade into nothing.
...
-WARNING!-
-UNKNOWN MESSAGE FOUND-
“I don’t care! We are going to find him! And you can’t stop me, Trail! YOU CAN’T STOP ME!”
-UNKOWN MESSAGE-ENDS-