Unlikely Heroes

by Raptor


Act I: Bonus Chapter: Goodbye, my flower...

Day VIII
Canterlot Castle, Canterlot, Equestria
Third stage of Rising Moon

Quill stood outside his bedroom door, quietly but nervously trotting in place. He took a deep breath. Okay. You can do this, he thought to himself. You've done it before. It'll all be fine. Quill stopped and let his ears droop. I just... don't like doing this... He sighed through his nostrils, stood up straight, and lightly tapped on the door before pushing it open quietly.

Silver...?

"Hm? Yes?"

"Ixia...?" Quill whispered, poking his head in the room. A pink unicorn mare with a blue and aqua mane was curled up on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

What do you think Quill meant when he said there was something he needed to take care of...?

Quill slowly walked up to the mare, an leaned his head down to her. "Ixia..." he whispered again. He nuzzled her neck affectionately and the mare's eyes started to flutter open. She squinted and looked up at the red stallion.
"Quill...?" she said sleepily. "What is it...?"

"...He's saying goodbye to his fiancée."

Quill was wearing a passionate smile, but it was visibly faltering. "I just wanted to say goodbye."
"'Goodbye'...?" Ixia repeated. She struggled to sit upright, stretching.

...Do you think there will be a problem...?

She looked at Quill confusedly. "Darling, I'm not leaving until tomorrow morning," she said. "Why are you saying goodbye now...?"

"...No. No, I don't."

"Well..." Quill's smile continued to falter. "You see..." Ixia looked at Quill with brilliant emerald eyes, her gaze full of concern.

...Are you sure about that...?

"...You were right," Quill sighed, lowering his head. "My... work has piled up on me. I got ahead of myself and... put it off for too long. I've gotten behind on my archive shift... as well as my compilation of today's royal court records... I'm going to be up all night... So I won't be able to see you off in the morning." He finished with an awkward grin.
Ixia stared at him for a moment. Then she groaned. "I knew you shouldn't have gone off looking for that bird today..." she said.
"Y-yeah..."
"You really need to get your priorities straight, Quill," she muttered. "You made me a promise."
"I-I know..."
"You can't keep going on all these... adventures." Quill's gaze fell to the floor, an the smile had left no trace of ever existing by this point. Ixia placed a hoof on Quill's cheek, and lifted his gaze to fixate on her. "You have to figure out what really matters most."
Quill sighed and nodded somberly. "I know... I'm... I'm sorry..."
"Hey..." Ixia smiled at him. "It's okay, sweetie." She leaned forward and gave Quill a kiss, which revived his own smile. "Goodbye, Quill."
"Goodbye, my flower," Quill replied. He returned her kiss an started walking out. "Have a safe trip."
"Don't worry about me. Goodbye...!"
Quill turned around when he reached the door and started backing out. "Goodbye..." he whispered. He closed the door, turned around, and lowered his head.

"...No. I'm not..."