//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: A rift opens. (no s!) // Story: Five years of Ice, A thousand years of Flame // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// I stood on the balcony of Luna's get away, looking over the city. It truly was a sight to behold, and I hadn't really gotten much of the chance to look during my two previous visits. A pair of furry blue arms wrapped themselves around my chest, Luna laying her head across the top of my back. She probably would've prefered my shoulder, but she wasn't tall enough. I turned around and returned the gesture, kissing her forehead. She let out an airy sigh and melted even more into my embrace. She trusted me to do this. I had spent the last three days getting ready, Dash helping me. Luna looked up and nodded, telling me that she was ready. I tightened my hold on her and fell backwards over the railings. I could see Luna struggling not to open her wings, and she was doing well. I kept an eye out for the marker, and as soon as we passed it I spread my wings, flaring them up and then gliding through the skies on my back, Luna resting upon my chest. She gently unfurled her wings and pushed away, keeping a hand in one of mine. Together we flew over the city and around the mountain once, before alighting on a low lying cloud. Now, a meteorologist would tell you that it is physically impossible to walk on a cloud, and that your body's density would be too much, so you'd just fall through it. Well, I was, right then, on a planet where magic existed. And I guess you all want to know if clouds as comfortable as they look? No, they are not. If there is such a place as heaven, and a cloud is a... change of train stop, for example, then I would never get on the next train. I was ready to tell Luna, even if I hadn't known her for that long, and thanks to Dash being well know throughout the weather business, the scene was set, a floor of clouds for us to move on. There was just one more thing to come, and I pulled away from Luna to signal down to the castle. Two light flashes showed my message was received, so I turned back to Luna, bowing and offering my hand as the music drifted up. She took my hand and we moved to the centre, where I placed my other hand on her lower back, and then we began. We let the music move us as we glided across the cloud, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. More than once I almost stepped on Luna's feet, and she just giggled at my clumsiness. I was never a good dancer anyway... The music came to a close, and I pulled Luna close, wrapping my wings around her. This was it. I was going to confess my feelings for her. I swallowed nervously before meeting her gaze. I got lost in those soft blue eyes, letting them fill my confidence. "Luna? A few days ago, you wanted to ask me something, but were afraid of my answer. Now it's my turn to tell you something, but I'm scared of what you will think." "There is nothing you can say that will cause me to worry. Say what is on your mind." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them and locking my eyes with Luna's. Time to take the plunge. "Luna, I know we haven't known each other for very long, but out of the ponies I have met, I've only felt a real connection with you." I cupped Luna's hands in my own. "Luna, I lo..." I was interrupted by a loud bang, seeing light flashing in her eyes. Luna's eyes drifted up to watch the fireworks, whilst I huffed in annoyance. Pinkie had gone early. Luna turned around and pressed back against my chest. I wrapped both my arms and wings around her, holding her tight. We stood there for a good ten minutes watching until the display ended, where upon Luna turned back to me. "What was it you were going to say?" "Doesn't matter now, the moments gone." I pulled away and sat on the edge of the cloud, legs swinging in the air. I could just make out the street lights of Ponyville below us. I felt the cloud 'shift' as Luna came closer, sitting next to me. It was weird, in any other place we wouldn't look strange, but looking like we did, with me in a suit and Luna in a black ballgown on the cloud, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were hallucinating. She shifted closer, and I put my arm across her shoulders, when she gave a shudder, so I added my wing to the mix. She let out a satisfied sigh, and then fell backwards, pulling me with her. We ended up lying on the cloud in the same position, so I shifted us away from the edge. "Alec?" I looked down to Luna, staring in to those luminous pools once more. "I just wanted to say, I lo you too." I gave a chuckle and leant down, kissing her. Pulling away, we just stayed there staring up at the stars in the night sky. "Admiral, the fleet is ready. We'll be ready to rendezvous with the Reich's Third Fleet in two days, and then we'll reorientate to our destination. What is the order?" She looked over her data pad, saw the lines showing the seventy five vessel's flight paths. It sounded like a lot, but the Chaos Region had hundreds of planets, so it would take a while to search them all, and that was just the ones where they would encounter no problems. The last time someone had ventured in there, they hadn't returned, and they only went in by three au. "What is the estimated time to a complete scan of the region, assuming that he is on the final world?" "With a fleet total of a hundred and eighty five ships, it should take approximately two months for a full scan. That is allowing for no issues, ma'am." "So, a possible eight month round journey. Are you sure you want to come lieutenant?" "Yes ma'am. She's due just after we a scheduled to return, so I won't miss it." "Very well, give me comm to all ships." Seventy five lights on the tac display showed that they were listening, and she opened the intercom on her own ship. "This is Admiral Luckes. I'm sure most of you are wondering why we have amassed such a large fleet. The truth of the matter is that we are going on a rescue mission, to the Chaos Region. I know there are rumours flying around about the 'ghost ship', but I can tell you with certainty that the Friendship Of Magic is real, and it is the survivors of said vessel that we are looking for. This is your last chance to back out. Ship captains, when your crews are ready, give me a green." Ten minutes later and the tac lights changed from blue to green, not one dropship leaving them. "Excellent. All ships, slave your nav software to my AI, and prepare for FTL jump." The tac lights flashed twice, before turning yellow. "Lieutenant, get us under way." "Yes ma'am." They watched on the centre view screen of the capital-class ship as the forward phalanx classes entered spinning blue auras, the ships behind soon following. Then they passed through themselves, the view screen now showing what looked like a tunnel in space. "Ma'am, all ships have successfully jumped. ETA is forty six hours." I awoke to warmth on my face, turning my head to see the sun rising in the east. Luna was standing a few metres away, horn glowing as she lowered the moon. Rarity had filled me in whilst I was staying at hers. I still didn't understand it, but it worked, so I let it be. There was a chill on the air, and even through my fur I could feel it. Luna could too, if the way she was shivering was any sign, so I stood up and walked over, once more wrapping her with a wing. She gave a slight gasp from the shock, before pressing against my side. "Good morning. I didn't want to wake you, but I had duties to attend to." I smiled and kissed her forehead, then rested my head over hers. "It's okay. I think we'd better get back now anyway, Dash said today was supposed to be a clear one." "That's right, and this cloud is in our way!" I looked round for the source of the voice, finding no one around. And then I fell through the cloud as the part where I was standing disappeared. Flaring my wings I managed to stop myself falling, and looked up to see two mares eyeing me with interest. They had nearly the same coat colour, but their manes were complete different. They could almost be twins. I briefly wondered it they were rel... "Hey sis, get a load of this guy!" I guess so. "Well, that's something you don't see every day. Are you a crossbreed?" "A what?" "Well, you've got the body of a minotaur, the wings and coat of a pony, not to mention that gorgeous mane and tail of yours." "Ah. No, I am not a crossbreed. I don't usually look like this, it is purely the result of out of control magic." The mare with the blue and white spiky hair flew closer to me. Much too close as her hoof started to trace over my frame. "So, Mr hunk, what do you do for a living, and where are you staying?" A voice drifted down the clouds, punctuated with laughter. "He's... a royal... consort! Ha hah haha! And he... stays at the... castle!" "A royal consort, hmm. What do you think Flitter, does he know how to please a mare?" The other pony flew down and wrapped herself around my side, stroking her hoof across my chest. It took all my concentration to keep in the air. "Well, if he is Celestia's consort, then probably. But I've heard that Princess Luna has a new toy, and that she is very pleased with him!" "I AM NOT A TOY!" "YOU ARE SOMETIMES!" "THAT'S IT! LUNA, GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE!" The cloud above was gently pulled apart, and Luna's grinning face appeared in the hole. "Could you please tell these mares to let me go?" "Hmm, could I? Yes, I could, but I'm not going to." "Luna, if you don't..." "You may have had your revenge, but what you did to me was much worse. So, now I have to even things up again. Ladies, as long as nothing actually happens, you can tease him all you see fit!" The two mares faces lit up as Luna teleported away, leaving me with them. The pony still wrapped around my side, Flitter I think, started to move her hoof down my body, and that was enough for me. I shook her off and flew into the cloud, right into the centre, hoping they wouldn't see me. I was fine until a light blue wing was brushed across my muzzle. Yes, I had a muzzle, and it wasn't very long, but it was there. Did I not mention that bit yet? Ah, doesn't matter now. "You know, you can't hide in a cloud from mares that have been on the weather team for years." "Leave me alone!" I shot forward, trying to escape, but I could see the other mare's shadow, and changed directions. After around ten minutes I realised they could see my every move, and were herding me around. "What the hay is going on up here?" I stopped, recognizing the voice. "Flitter, Cloudchaser, you are supposed to be clearing the skies, not playing in them! Now I've got to get back to Ponyville, they need me back there while I'm on leave from the Academy, so I'll be leaving this afternoon. And what's with all the mares up here?" All... the... mares? Fuck. "Aw, but we wanted you to stay for a while! Is Rumble going too?" Wait a minute, Rumble, Academy? That meant the stallion was none other than... "THUNDERLANE, SAVE ME!!" I shot forward towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I then saw the other ponies there, around thirty of them, all in weather team uniforms. And all mares. "Thunderlane, I could do with your help right now!" "Who the hay are you?!" "It's me, Alec! I'll explain later, but I need to get away from them!" He pried himself out of my grasp and looked at the assembled ponies, smiling to the two mares who had initially found us. "You do know he's with Princess Luna, right?" "Uh huh, and she said as long as nothing happened, we could tease him all we wanted." "I see. Well then Alec, I hope you can fly pretty fast, because when those two get an idea, they stick with it." With that he dropped out the sky, heading for Canterlot. "JUST YOU WAIT TILL RARITY HEARS ABOUT THIS, THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY!" I turned round and looked at the mares, who were all staring at me with hungry eyes. "Well, I can see ony one way out of this." They started to drift closer, and I smirked at them. "And that is... a one way express elevator to hell." They stopped moving, looking confused. And then I snapped my wings shut, flipping so that my head was pointing straight down. A quick glance 'back' and I saw that half the mares decided not to follow, returning to clear the clouds. At the head of the ones chasing me were Flitter and Cloudchaser, and I knew one of them had tried for the Wonderbolts, so this would take some work. I waited until I could almost feel them next to me, and a quick glance to my side showed they were, massive smirks on their faces. It was now or never. I snapped my wings open again and stopped as the mares all flew past, and then took off as fast as I could towards the castle. I chanced a glance behind me, and there were now only two ponies chasing me, the rest not bothering. Yep, it was those two again, and they were gaining, so I pushed myself to the limit, and could see Luna's window. The curtains were open and drifting around, so that meant the window was open and I was safe! I snapped my wings to my side and dove towards it, speed increasing. By the time I saw the glass and frames it was too late to slow down. The last thing I remember seeing was the concerned face of Luna looking down at me from her bed. "Luna?" She whipped her head up to see Celestia standing by the door. "How is he?" "Still unconscious, as he has been for the first two days. Is there something you need?" "No, I just wanted to see how he was, and how you are doing." Luna got to all fours, trotting over and nuzzling her sister. "I have been better. There is something we need to talk about, in private." With a quick nod of her head, Celestia sent the guards and servants away, and then placed a soundproofing spell around the room. Luna took a deep breath and continued. "Out there on the cloud, he was going to say something to me, before the fireworks stopped him. Do you know what that was?" "No, I do not. He did not tell me all of his plans this time." "He was about to say he loved me." "Luna, I dread to tell you this, but I sense the day when his kind come for him will soon be upon us. He will go home, and he will find another, then grow old and die. It is his choice, and what he deserves. Would you deny him this?" "...no, but that is not the problem." "Then what is?" "...I... love him as well." "Oh, Luna!" Celestia swept her in to her forelegs as she began to cry, running a hoof through her mane. Over the years, they had both had many lovers, but Luna had never been in love. Celestia had, but after they had turned him to stone the first time, her feelings for him disappeared. She stayed the rest of the night next to her sister's side, hoping he'd awaken. When he did the next morning, she wished he had stayed asleep. Two months later....... "WHAT IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE?" The stallion dropped to the floor, cowering with fear as Luna shouted at him. "D-d-dasiy and h-h-h-h-ha cakes, y-y-our majesty." "YOU DARE INSULT US? WE ASKED FOR FRIED DAISES AND HAY CAKES, YOU WASTREL! GIVE US ONE GOOD REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT HAVE YOU THROWN IN THE DUNGEON!" The stallion said nothing, quivering on the floor. "WELL?" "Luna..." "WHAT?" "You're doing it again." She looked across the table at Celestia, whose face was one of sympathy and concern. This would be the tenth chef in three weeks, and Celestia was running out faster than she could replace them. Luna then focused on the pony cowering before her, and gasped. "We... I am sorry, I didn't mean to cause offence. Please, accept my apologies." The stallion looked up with fearful eyes and gulped, then controlled his shaking and nodded. Luna bent down and kissed his forehead. "I would be honoured to eat this meal, thank you." The stallion got up and trotted away, back towards the kitchen. Once inside he fell to the floor in floods of tears, the head chef coming over and comforting him. Back in the dining room, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. "Luna, why don't you just go talk to him?" "Why?" "Because the longer you wait, the further he will drift from you." "He has made it clear he want's nothing to do with me. When last I visited, he ran into the Everfree Forest! Not even we go in there without a good reason, and he did it by choice! And the times before that when he would not run, he would not even speak to me nor acknowledge my presence! He even injured three guards that I ordered to restrain him! Why would I want to go talk to him?" "Because of what you told me that night." Luna dropped her gaze to the table, her voice a whisper. "And what if that is no longer true?" "Then why don't you look me in the eye and say that?" "....I... can't."