//------------------------------// // Chapter one // Story: The Return of King David // by Ebony Gryphon //------------------------------// Lero paced the floor of his home, occasionally casting a gaze to the blonde maned mare sitting on his couch, her ears flat against her skull. Rubbing the back of his neck, the human shook his head. An odd thump made the human pause mid stride, then another made him look up. Cloud Kicker rubbed the spot her hoof had struck, and bit her lip. “Sweet Celestia… I’m… I’m sorry Lero…” Lero began pacing again, and waved of the apology. “We’re both at fault here Cloud.” Cloud Kicker shook her head, and looking down, whimpered. “Damn it. I’ve got bucking rules for this….” “Cloud… it’s okay…” The mare jumped up, and walked up to the human, her gaze locked with his, her eyes hard. “How, Lero? How is this okay?” Lero patted her neck, and with a growl, Cloud Kicker leaped back. “Don’t bucking touch me.” Lero slowly lowered his hand. Teeth bared, Cloud Kicker snarled again, “Don’t look at like that, damn you… those bucking eyes are what got us into this…” Hand now at his side, Lero walked forward. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Cloud Kicker took a step back. “Don’t…. get back!” But Lero persisted. Slowly he walked forward, his expression unreadable. Cloud backed up, shaking her head. “Get back, damn you!” With a thump, Cloud reached the houses wall. Lero knelt down, and slowly wrapped his arms around her neck. “I’m sorry Cloud.” Cloud Kicker slumped fully, her wings and ears fully drooped in misery. Clenching her eyes, she choked out a sob. “You bucking idiot…” Pressing her face against Lero’s shoulder, Cloud Kicker sobbed, all the years of training and discipline as a guard lost in the face of what she had done. ……………………………………………………….. Cloud Kicker closed her eyes, waiting for the blow. Across the room, Lero sat, his face in his hands. Slowly, Rainbow Dash laid her pen down, and covered her head in her hooves. “Why?” Lero could only sit and burn with shame. He couldn’t look at his herd mate. Cloud sat, and slowly opened her eyes. “Rainbow… I’m ready to accept whatever punishment you deem fit.” The polychromatic mare let out a bitter laugh, and thumped a hoof on the desk. “Cloud… I’m not your sergeant, and this isn’t the barracks. I’m your friend, even in this…” Idly, Rainbow flapped a hoof in the air, “… fiasco.” “Dash… I’m sorry.” Lero finally stood up, and folding his arms behind his back, took a stand next to Cloud. “We both are Dash.” Snorting, Rainbow lifted her head, and rolled her eyes. “Ah, can the water works you two. This… what you two did is messed up, but… I love you both too much to hold a grudge.” Smiling, Lero walked around the desk, and hugged the Pegasus. Snorting, Rainbow nudged him off with a wing. “Don’t think you ain’t in the dog house, big guy. We’ll deal with Lyra and Twilight together…” Dash frowned, and looked at Cloud. “After you go and tell them what you and Lero did. Whether they forgive you is between you and them, just like whether the forgive Lero is between him and them. Understood?” Cloud Kicker could only nod. ……………………………………………………. Twilight slumped back on her haunches, her eyes wide. Slowly, tears began to gather. “No… you’re… you’re lying…” “Twi…” The lavender took her tail in her forehooves, furiously shaking her head. “No… no, you’re our friend… and Lero… he wouldn’t…” Cloud nodded, and lowered her head. “I’m… I’m so sorry duchess… I didn’t…. I didn’t mean for it to happen…” Cloud looked up again, and winced. Clutching her tail to her chest, Twilight began to rock back and forth, shaking her head. Cloud half raised her hoof, then lowered, dread growing in her chest. The unicorn stopped, and in a dead monotone, she said, “I’m afraid miss Kicker, you’ll have to leave.” “Duchess…” Twilight leaped to her hooves, and stamped one on the wooden floor of the tree, and growled, “No! No more Duchess! Cloud Kicker, you are no friend of mine, and are no longer welcome in my home. I may not be able to stop you from coming to the library, but from today onward, there will be no more words between us.” Without another word, Twilight turned, and without a second glance, stomped up the steps. Heart breaking, Cloud Kicker stood, and walked out. ……………………………………………….. Lyra pressed her muzzle against Bon-Bon’s neck, her eyes scrunched tight. Across her friends table, Cloud sat, her eyes downcast, biting her bottom lip. Rubbing a hoof against Lyra’s withers, Bon-bon glared at Cloud Kicker, her voice trembling with emotion. “How? How could you do this, huh?” “I’m… I’m so sorry Lyra…” “Sorry…” slowly, the teal unicorn lifted her head, eyes still closed, though tears still leaked down her cheeks. “Your… sorry…” Lyra’s eye flashed open, an unearthly white light issuing forth. Yelling in fright, Bon fell off the couch, and Cloud found herself pinned to the wall. Standing, Lyra walked forward, her eyes and horn now glowing the same golden color. As she spoke, the floor rumbled, and windows, plates, and glasses shattered. “You’re sorry! He was ours Cloud! We are his mares, and you took his gift to us for yourself! Why?” “It…. It was a mistake!” Lyra drew Cloud back, then slammed her back into the wall, and screeched, “No! How you strung Derpy and Blossomforth along was a mistake! What you did to my herd mate Dash was a mistake! What you did to Fluttershy was a mistake! This is flat out betrayal Cloud!” "What do you want me to say damn it?" Lyra scowled, and in an instant the light from her eyes and horn faded. With a yelp, Cloud Kicker flopped down onto her hindquarters as the aura around her faded. “Don't bother. You're not even worth the effort” Cloud sniffed, and stamped a hoof on the ground. “Damn, I never meant for this to happen…” Cloud Kicker hung her head, and sobbed. Snorting, Lyra turned, and walked to the door. Opening it, she looked over her shoulder. And without another word, Lyra looked forward, and left.