//------------------------------//
// Radiant Query 
// Story: Beyond Blind Eyes 
// by Lunaric 
//------------------------------//

"Wait, you do know if she works today, right?"

Solid fidgeted with his hooves as he stood. "She does. Or at least, she usually does."

Aqua snorted, "How do you know that?"

"I'm a guard. Most of my time is spent watching ponies."

"Little creepy, but that makes sense, I suppose. Well, you definitely can't deny you have a crush on her now."

Solid turned to glare at the filly.

"See? Cotton, tell me you can see this. He's definitely in love."

The pegasus covered her mouth as Solid began to glare at her. "No comment."

"Y'all got no sense of humour sometimes, I swear."

"Ma'am, when your humour consists of poking fun at somepony else, it isn't really funny."

Aqua lightly scoffed, "Eh. I guess that's true." She then covered her mouth with a hoof and stage-whispered, "If you're a coward." 

Cotton scuffed the back of Aqua's head as she saw a blotch of yellow out of the corner of her eye.

Rubbing the back of her head, "Ow. Point taken. Message received."

Cotton nodded and looked back out. Spotting the yellow, she could tell it was Sunny despite the far distance. Mainly due to her size. Cotton glanced at Solid. Should probably wait a minute to mention it so it doesn't get awkward... Can he see that far? He is an earth pony...

Cotton began to pay attention again as Aqua was talking. "... intending on just one date to get a feel of her? Or more?" 

The pegasus glanced at the filly. Does she know..?

She could see Solid's blush despite his red fur as he was trying to tactfully avoid pointing out what the filly had just said.

Right as he opened his mouth, Cotton decided to bail him out. "I-"

She interjected with a hoof pointed towards the distance golden pegasus, "Solid. Sunny's here." 

His previous comment forgotten, he nodded and mumbled out a "Thanks. Wish me luck."

Aqua waved as he trotted off. "Don't die!"

Cotton glared at the filly.

With her glare unbeknownst to the filly, Aqua commented, "He seems so anxious."

The pegasus leaned towards Aqua. "With all your teasing, I can see why. Still, at least he didn't hesitate."

"True that. It's probably because he's in the guard."

Looking down at the filly, "What do you mean?"

"You know. Military types. Do or do not type of stuff. You get the thing done. The training gives you confidence and all that... Well, less like confidence, and more like discipline to do it."

Quirking an eyebrow, Cotton smirked. "And how do you know anything about military types?"

Aqua looked down and blushed. "Oh, you know..."

A giggle. "No, really."

"Alright, fine. I was always interested in it and stuff. Don't get me wrong; I know I'd be bad at it. Likely horrible, actually." She pointed a hoof at her face. "Even before the happening..." Aqua sighed and shook her head. Looking up, she continued, "Well, I could be an officer at least. Don't think I'd be a very good guard with these."

Aqua had a lopsided smirk and her grey eyes were sparkling. Cotton moved and sat down beside Aqua as she covered the filly with her left wing. With softening eyes, Cotton responded, "It's gonna be alright."

The filly let out a heavy sigh and faced ahead. "Yeah... Yeah, it is. It always is... Not that that's a bad thing, but hell if it isn't annoying sometimes." Aqua put on a posh accent, "To endure and all that."

Cotton decided not to voice her question about Aqua's wording as she looked ahead. "True. Thankfully, you have friends." Even if we're older... Looking out, Cotton saw Solid. He looked dejected. Guess she said no. Sorry, Solid. She saw him continue talking.

Aqua shuffled underneath the wing-blanket. "Yeah. My whole situation is weird. Not that I really have a frame of reference, but you get my point."

Cotton hummed an agreeance. Suddenly, she giggled and turned towards Aqua. Looking down, she saw Aqua nuzzling the underside of her wing.

Aqua paused to turn towards Cotton. With a few feathers covering most of her face, she spoke up. "I could hear ya turn. You good?"

The pegasus put a hoof to her mouth as she giggled again. So cute! "Yup." Cotton rubbed the wing against the filly.

Aqua nodded, "Good."

Looking out, Cotton saw Solid with a small smile on her face. So did Sunny, now that she looked. Wait, what? "Solid is heading back. He and Sunny are both smiling, though I'm confused as to why he was looking sad earlier."

The filly snorted. "Maybe she doesn't want a relationship, but she's down for hookups..."

With that and her earlier comments... Leaning in and looking Aqua directly in the eyes, she whispered back, "Aqua. We're going to talk about that later."

Aqua immediately looked more anxious than Solid did earlier. "Oh. Okay."

Right. I can't just say that to a filly. Especially not one that might be abused. "I'm not mad, I just want to ask about something."

"Oh."

At least she looks less nervous now... She could hear Solid approaching. turning to him, she spoke up. "How did it go?"

Moving to stand beside the filly, he responded, "Not as well as I'd hoped, but not as bad as it could have been."

Cotton raised her eyebrows as she looked at him. "So..? What happened? Did she say yes, no, or something worse?"

With a smile, he elaborated. "She said she doesn't have time as her schedule is always backed up. She said she would likely be able to make a spot in roughly a month."

Cotton looked up. Not as bad as it could be... Well, he didn't lie. "Backed up a month? Where does she work; at the castle?"

He nodded. "Yes, actually. She said she mainly does paperwork and rarely gets time to leave. Apparently, she goes here to unwind. It is beyond me how somepony can unwind while corralling foals."

Cotton smirks. "It's not for everypony. Though, I don't think I've seen a pony who handles foals like her, though."

"She definitely is unique..." Solid was looking into the distance.

Following his eyes, she spotted said pegasus. Shaking her head, she looked up at the clouds. Even the winter chill doesn't stop the weather ponies from doing their job.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Solid trying to get her attention. Looking down, he pointed with his eyes at Aqua and mouthed a question: "Is Aqua okay?"

Cotton nodded and mouthed back, "She should be."

Solid nodded once and retook the pose he does when guarding the filly.

Looking down, she saw the filly fidgeting her forehooves against each other. Using her wing, Cotton hugged the filly closer.

Aqua leaned into Cotton's embrace.