//------------------------------// // ~~Someone Who Once Belonged To Me~~ // Story: When I Look At You // by Meteor_Mirage //------------------------------// A storm raged above The Crystal Empire. A torrent of cold rain fell from the skies and, despite the change in season, icy wind still whipped at the populus who quickly seeked shelter indoors. The streets now were empty, flooded, as citizens waited in hopes that the rain would end soon. Hopes that the sun would shine bright again on the kingdom. It seemed the only place free of the flood was the castle at the center of the kingdom. The waterlogged Prince stormed the halls of the castle, shaking slightly as the freezing rain had yet to dry from his thick coat. A scowl pulled across his face, though it lightened slightly as he passed what few guards were still stationed within the castle proper. They quickly made themselves scarce, however, as their presence was needed to quell a problem elsewhere. With a sigh, The Prince made himself scarce as well, picking up his pace as the scowl returned to his face. Deep in the castle, away from prying eyes, was where The Prince found his destination. Pressing through a set of wide, heavy doors, the stallion found himself within the castle’s war room. He let out a sigh, shoulders slumping briefly as he finally let himself relax now that he was alone. Only to be startled, jumping slightly, by a sound coming from the table at the center of the room. The Prince stood tall again, ruby red eyes searching the room briefly before locking onto a small, pale green stallion sitting at the table. The smaller stallion shifted slightly, slowly, and every now and then emitted a gentle snoring sound as he breathed. The scowl completely fell from The Prince’s face, quickly replaced with a gentle smirk instead as he slowly and quietly approached the sleeping Scholar. It wouldn’t do well to wake him up. Not yet. Standing above him for a moment, The Prince took a moment to look his little Scholar over as he rested on the battle map. It almost pained him, seeing that peaceful smile on his sleeping face. The gentle, near inaudible mumbles he gave. The small line of drool that trickled down onto the book he’d fallen asleep reading; a treatise on strategy from years ago that, in The Prince’s opinion, deserved the defacing.  It pained The Prince, as he knew he’d have to wake the sleeping stallion. He did so gently, at least, leaning down and carefully wrapping a hoof around the slumbering stallion. Equally as gently, he slowly leaned in and pressed his muzzle against his Scholar’s cheek, providing a surely direly needed nuzzle. The Scholar stirred slightly, bleary eyes barely opening as he returned the nuzzle quickly and without question. The moment stretched on between them for a few blissful seconds, each stallion enjoying the other’s company. As The Scholar continued to awaken, blue eyes tracing across something that wasn’t The Prince’s jawline for the first time since wrested from his slumber, a red blush crossed his face. He pulled away quickly, letting out a loud squeak as he finally realized their canoodling was in a more public location than he was used to. And as he pulled back as well, The Prince wore a pleased grin on his face, chuckling softly at his love’s embarrassment.  Then the first book came flying, thrown gently towards The Prince but not aiming at him. It was easily caught, wrapped in The Prince’s red magic and brought towards him. He eyed the book with interest, knowing it to be a tome on the practical applications of dark magic and other such rituals. Normally kept under lock and key in the restricted parts of the library, and yet, somehow, free to read in front of him. Paying it little mind, trusting his Scholar’s innocent thirst for knowledge despite its inherent danger, he passed the book back to its reader. Only to get it passed back. The Scholar looked to his Prince, imploring him to take it. To study it and use it in only worst-case scenarios. A weapon to stave off the worst of the war that befell them. And the thought tempted The Prince. The thought of shouldering the burden of such corruptive knowledge, of casting one dangerous spell that would surely lead to many more in its wake.  Considered because it was his Scholar who asked. But it was a brief flicker of a thought, cast aside with the book back onto the table. Instead, he leaned in towards the smaller stallion, giving him another gentle nuzzle. Grumbling a response as his lips barely grazed his cheek. The Scholar pressed a hoof against his Prince’s chest, not quite pushing him away but using it as a reminder that they were still more in public than a bedroom now. The Prince paid it no mind, taking his love’s hoof gently in his own. Leaning up, he pressed his lips against his Scholar’s, an act that was quickly and eagerly reciprocated.