Horizon had stood outside what was considered the soldiers R&R hang out; it was ultimately a bar for soldiers who were off duty to relax and drink their fears away. She always hated coming here because there was always one stallion who thought they could court her, and sometimes there was one that wouldn’t take no for an answer. The violet mare giggled a little after remembering what Rapid Dash did to that stallion after he walked in on the scene. The mare sighed before walking in slowly and scanning the scene before making her way towards the bar.
Each step she took caught the eye of every nearby stallion; it could have been the fact her coat was recently groomed and held a bit of a shine to it, or the fact or mane also was cleaned and straightened to the point it flowed with every step to it. There was one stallion sitting at the bar, a cyan pegasus who coat and feathers were ruffled and mane looked a mess as if he had been in a fight with a brush and lost. She took her seat next to him and without hesitation, used her magic to pull the next glass of alcohol to her before he could reach it.
“Exactly how long have you been here?” Horizon asked, her voice held a sympathetic tone.
“Why are you here? Thought you hated this place?” Rapid responded.
“I was asked by Commander Spike to meet him here. I don’t think I need to ask why are you here…” She levitated the class up to her snout and swirled the liquid within it.
“On contrary to what you may believe… I was asked by Garble to meet him here….dammit….” Rapid begin to rub his hooves in his face.
“So that is how it is, Spike and Garbel just wanted to get us together in a nonprofessional environment. I can only assume this is some misguided attempt to further our romantic relationship.” The mare said before taking a small sip of the liquor.
“I guess now or never… look Horizon… I kinda, I mean …”
“You like me, you love me, and you have strong unexplained feelings for me. I’m not a simpleton Rapid; I have always known about your feelings. How else would I know that I could do things like take the drink from someone as hot headed, egotistical, prideful, and violent as you and not suffer some type of repercussion from it? Your willing to go at Garbel and Spike aggressively with no fear of being struck down; so what could a single mare do?” Horizon to another sip from the glass.
“If you knew…then why act how you do?” Rapid asked, still not looking in the mare’s direction.
“Because feelings are powerful things, and while yours may be clear to you; mine are still clouded Rapid, and I just don’t know. I can’t say I care for you the way you care for me, but I also can’t say there isn’t something there. I am attracted to you Rapid, but I don’t know if….if it is actually romantically or sexually.” She took a one last sip of the glass before sitting it down on the counter.
“W…what?” Rapid slowly turned his head to meet her gaze. Horizon’s eye s contained a lustful sparkle within them which sent shivers down the Pegasus spine.
“I’ll be in my lab if wish to speak with me further on this subject.” Horizon stood and made her way to the exit. Each step she took was accompanied with elegant sways which captured the eyes of every male in the bar.
Eyes quickly shifted to Rapid once the mare’s presence was no longer in the bar. It was obvious that their conversation was overheard by just about every pony in the bar, and by tomorrow morning will be the talk of the army. Yet the Pegasus simply ignored the stares and even snickers as he now mentally debated with himself on what to do next.
Outside the bar Horizon hoof laid over her heart as she took deep breaths replaying the last part in her mind.
“I…I can’t believe I actually acted like a…a”
“A mare chasing after what she wanted?” Garble said with a chuckle.
Both Garble and Spike stood on each side of here watching and snickering. This caused the mare to freeze completely in terror to the point that even her breath slowed down.
“I guess you were right Garble, I didn’t think she had it in her to go through with it.” Spike said as he waved his claw in her face.
“That means I get the free day to go to the badlands; and the trip will be taken care of by you.” Garble replied as he poked the mare trying to get a reaction out of her.
“As we said, but I wish you would tell me more about this special contact you have in changeling land though. I don’t need a friend completely disappearing on me, also lets leave her be. If everything goes according to plan then she will also be able to help him even more.” Spike and Garble begin to pull away from the mare before starting back to the meditation chamber.
“Well, I’m sorry, but I know she would rather remain in the dark, and I know it would be better if she remained unknown for now. Maybe later on she will be revealed to you, but I must ask you to trust me on this Spike!” Garble opened the door to the meditation chamber for Spike.
“You first your majesty.” Garble said in a sarcastic manor.
“Ah, thank you my court jester!” Spike Replied as we walked in and to his seat which sat in the far back.
“Jester, you could have at least made me a low ranking guard.” Garble laughed as he caught up with Spike.
“Or I could have made you a serving wench!” Spike broke into laughter as he put on the robes that laid on the arm of the throne.
“Oh, you ass…. Anyways, I already have one of your crystals so I just need you to open a portal to the crystal capitol.” Garble said while continuing to laugh.
“….Garble….Last I remember, that is where Chrysalis’ castle is located. Why….” Spike’s laughter came to a sudden halt.
“Spike, you trusted me for over a thousand years ever since we came to peace with each other nearly fifteen hundred years ago. Now on that friendship, no on the bound that holds our friendship together; I ask you to trust me. I promise I’ll tell you everything later.” Garble stared Spike in the eyes.
“Your right, I’ll try to put the portal somewhere safe. Oh, and Garble… you suck at being a shadow player in this game ours.” Spike chuckled before taking his seat and opening a flame portal next to Garble.
“Dang, and here I thought I would never be caught!” Garble waved at Spike before jumping into the portal. Unknowing to either the other end opened up in front of Chrysalis’ castle, and when Garble stepped out he found himself surrounded by thousands of changeling soldier.
“Thank you Spike, for not knowing Chrysalis changed her castle location 200 years ago” As the portal closed behind the red dragon; Garble started to make his way forward to the castle’s entrance. Even though the changlings surrounded him in a defensive manor, not a single one attempted to stop him. He made his way through the castle to Chrysalis chamber where she laid there as if she was awaiting his arrival.
“Oh, look who we have here…. You haven’t visited me in7 years!” Chrysalis said with contempt in her voice.
“Yea, sorry about that I as busy as of late and honestly… I was expecting some type of fight when I returned to you.” Garble stepped closer to the changling queen just to be cut of by one of her royal guards.
“Just because I haven’t order my babies to attack you on site; doesn’t mean I have forgiven you Garble! You hurt me on the night you simply left without a single goodbye. Instead you imply left this letter saying you would return to me soon… I should have known never to love a dragon.” Chrysalis said as she levitated the letter writing by the red dragon.
*****
Rapid had his fifteenth drink since Horizon left out the bar; his mind still filled with the things the violet mare said to him. Any Stallion would jump at the opportunity that was offered to him, so why was he still sitting in a bar having another drink? The answer was a simple one; he didn’t fear the intimacy he would have with her, but instead what would happen after. His feelings for her were much more than mere carnal desires, but what if afterwards that is all her feelings were.
With a deep breath Rapid stood on his hooves and made his way out of the bar and on his way to the medical center where Horizon’s office was located.
“Horizon are you in here.” The cyan stallion called out as he knocked on the door.
“Rapid… you actually… came!” The violet mare made her way to the door from her desk. Her face held an expression of both embarrassment and nervousness due to her earlier actions in the bar.
“Calm yourself Horizon; I am not here for that….I don’t think I could with you even if I wanted to.” Rapid stated as he rubbed his head.
“Wait, what? Are you saying I’m not good enough?” The mare gave him a annoyed stare.
“No… that is not what I meant… It is just that I really care for you. Much more than I am capable of saying and well I don’t know. Look at me, I can pick a fight with Spike and Garble but can’t say the words I want to say to you… I’m sorry for disturbing you so I’ll just.” He turned to walk away just to be stopped by a gentle tug on his tail.
“There is more bothering you than your feeling for me… isn’t there and it has something to do with Spike’s plan doesn’t it?” Horizon asked simply.
“….I guess you can say that; something about him in general just doesn’t sit right with me. This plan to bring back the dead to fight a war; now he is playing match maker as well with the little stunt he pulled earlier today. How do we really know we can trust him, and he is not just another Discord or Celestia in the waiting.”
“It is not just Spike, you don’t trust Garble either do you? You have a distrust of all dragons don’t you? What all have you been letting build up?” The mare asked as she started taking steps back and pulling him into the office.
*****
“So, what do I have to do this time to make it up to you Chrysalis? You know you are my favorite lady” Garble said as he nuzzled his snout against the changling queen’s neck.
“Oh, no.. I won’t be forgiving you so easily this time Garble!” Chrysalis did her best to hide the gentle smile that was slowly forming on her face.
“Of course, I stayed away from my loving queen for seven whole years without as much as a letter and I am now ready to make amends for!” The red dragon stood on his hind legs and placed his closed fist against his chest .