//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Rain or Shine // Story: Strawberries and Storm Clouds // by Skyblitz //------------------------------// "It's literally raining fire" "Soar, when you said you had something special in mind, this wasn't what I expected." The pair of stallions were drenched, both their usually styled manes drooping as they sat at their usual table in Crusty Clouds, their hooves clasped around two mugs of steaming hot cocoa. Outside, the rain hammered down relentlessly, so loud that Thunderlane wasn't even sure if the café could hold against it. He could see the vague outlines of ponies running and flying to and fro in mad dashes to get under cover. Thunder roared in the air and multicoloured lightning stabbed the sky, mixing in with the panicked voices and shouts from pegasi both inside and out. Soarin groaned. "I'm so, so, so sorry, Thunderlane. I didn't mean for any of this to happen at all. It was supposed to be a nice surprise. I'd asked my dad to switch on a double rainbow arch above the Sky Gardens for you and me. Not blow up the weather factory. Is, is that snow?" "No it's one hundred percent ash from the rainbow fire," Thunderlane stated bluntly. He reached out a forehoof and took Soarin's cold, wet hoof in his own. "Look, burning rain and an act of minor terrorism aside, I'm touched. Really. You shouldn't feel bad about wanting to do something special!" Soarin looked up, his green eyes rimmed with the beginnings of tears. "I just, I really wanted to show that cared about you! I'm sorry I ate the caramels, though." "Yeah, you ate those off the wet street, that's just nasty. You were welcome to them," Thunderlane chuckled, taking a sip of his cocoa. Soarin wasn't amused, and Thunderlane stood up and hugged him as his facade finally broke, crying out of guilt for his failed plans and irresponsibility. "Hey, it's okay, babe." "No it's not!" Soarin sniffled. "I really wanted today to be perfect for you. You've always been there for me and you always know what to say or do to make things better. i just wanted to do something for you. I'm sorry that I ate your caramels and I'm sorry I blew up the weather factory." "I mean, that's definitely a sentence I didn't expect to hear when I woke up today, but hey, life's never boring with you, Soarin." The blue pegasus only gave out an uncharacteristic whimper. "Look, I get you wanting to do something nice, and while i have to admit this went wrong in the most spectacular way possible..." In the distance, sirens could be heard. "It's obviously an accident, Soar! Come here you big baby." Thunderlane hugged his coltfriend's damp head in his forelegs, patting his wet mane with a small smirk. Soarin's ears were pressed flat against his head as he sobbed into Thunderlane's fur. "If you wanted to talk to me about us, then just say so. We know each other too well not to." "That's just it!" Soarin exclaimed. "I feel you know me waaay better than I know you. You remember everything about me from how I like my cocoa to the fucking chocolate strawberries. You always remember birthdays and anniversaries and all that stuff, for everypony! And I just seem to screw up again and again and you don't deserve that, Thunder! I wanted to show you how much you mean to me today but instead I just screwed up big time and ruined everypony's Hearts and Hooves Day." "Listen, Soar. You know I don't really care about all the fluffy stuff. yeah, it's nice, but it's not why I'm with you. I don't expect the world, just you. You will always be enough for me and it makes me sad that you can't see that. I don't need a fancy box of caramels, which, by the way, were definitely waaaaay too overpriced from what you said, or even a double rainbow to know you care about me. You might miss a date or two, but that's just because you have an empty vacuum and a couple of feathers for a brain, not because you don't care." Both pegasi laughed, Soarin wiping the tears from his face as Thunderlane cupped it in between his forehooves. "I love you, Thunderlane." The grey pony blinked in surprise. "Wait, did you just...you really mean it?" Soarin grasped both his forehooves in his own and smiled, pressing his forehead against Thunder's. "I love you, my perfect little stallion. I'm still gonna try and make up for today, and i promise that I'll do better. You say it doesn't bother you but it bothers me, and I want this to last forever." Thunderlane blinked again and smiled, a smile so warm and heartfelt that he couldn't help himself. Closing his eyes, he leaned forwards and gave Soarin a long, deep kiss. "I love you too, you featherbrain." They sat there for a moment, nose to nose, letting the sounds of panicked ponies and relentless rainfall disappear for a moment. A single perfectly imperfect moment, and one that would stay with the two of them for the rest of their lives, even if neither of them knew it yet. When they finally separated, Soarin chuckled. "How about I get you a milkshake? It's the least I can do." "You old romantic." Soarin waved to Chèvrefeuille behind the counter, her round cheeks creasing as she smiled at her two favourite customers. She already knew the order. "Oh, by the way," said Soarin with a sheepish smile, "all my money was in that bag with the caramels, soooo...you might have to get this...sorry..." Thunderlane shook his head and let out a very long sigh. The rain continued to fall outside. The End