//------------------------------// // A Frantic Wake-Up // Story: Nightmare's Heir // by johnnycajxrt //------------------------------// I awoke to the clock ringing 10 AM. I opened my eyes to see that Cloudflower was no longer in my bed. I quickly sat up and looked around, I didn’t see her. However, I noticed a piece of paper sitting on the nightstand. I quickly levitated it over to me and started to read: Dear Francois, Thank you for letting me stay and I’m sorry that I won’t be there when you wake up, but I had to leave and here is why. Last night, I couldn’t help but feel like you were hiding something from me, and I couldn’t get to sleep because of it. So I spoke with Princess Celestia about what all that has happened since you came back. My heart sank at reading those words, knowing that Celestia would tell her everything, especially when Cloudflower would have told her about the relationship that was blossoming. I hoped against hope that it wasn’t the case as I continued reading: How could you hide so much from me? Before you fell asleep last night, you told me that you loved me, and I truly thought that you meant it. But after what Celestia told me, I have to question that. I’m sorry, but I have to think about what’s best for me. I thought that you had completely changed for the better, but it turns out I was wrong. I can’t feel safe knowing that I slept in the same bed with you, only hours after you killed somepony else. Don’t look for me in Canterlot, because I won’t be there, I am taking the first train back to New Horseleans. Goodbye forever, Cloudflower. As I finished reading the letter, I jumped up and started at a gallop out of the castle, hoping that her train hadn’t left yet. I burst out of the castle, running at a full gallop, only stopping to ask a guard where the train station was. Luckily, it wasn’t very far from the castle, and I knew that Cloudflower would have had to at least wait until Celestia had woken to raise the sun before speaking to her, packing and leaving for the train station. As I arrived at the station, I looked around the small waiting room for any sign of Cloudflower. Seeing none, I went up to the ticket counter. “Hello sir, how can I help you today.” “Have you seen a teal pegasus with a pink and red mane, cutie mark of a dandelion growing out of a cloud?” “As a matter of fact, I have. She bought a ticket to the train to New Horseleans, and it leaves at… Eleven o’clock from platform three.” “Thank you!” I yelled as I took off towards the platform, checking the clock as I ran; 10:30, I still had time. The distance to the platform was further than I expected, because as I got there, I heard an announcement, “Attention Canterlot Station, Eleven O’clock train to New Horseleans boarding now on platform three. Eleven O’clock train to New Horseleans boarding now on platform three, thank you.” I continued running, dodging ponies so I could try and catch Cloudflower before the train left. Looking around, I saw her in line to get on the train on the other end of the platform, “Cloudflower!” I yelled out, running toward her. She didn’t hear me. “CLOUDFLOWER!” I yelled out louder when I was closer. She looked over and gasped when she saw me running towards her. “Francois, what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised. “I came to talk to you about the letter you left me and to try to explain myself-” “There’s nothing for you to explain!” she shouted back, cutting me off. “Cloudflower, please, let me at least hear what Celestia told you and I’ll tell you the real truth.” “I can’t, the train is leaving soon and I need to be aboard when it does.” “And if you miss the train, I will personally have the royal night guards give you a private carriage flight back to New Horseleans if you so wish. Just let me explain myself, please.” She stood there for a moment before speaking again, “Why did you even come out here? Are you worried that I’ll tell anypony else about what you’ve done?” “NO!” I yelled back, “I came here because I care about you. I love you Cloudflower. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have run all the way out here to at least TRY to convince you to stay. Please, I’m begging you, give me a chance to explain myself,” I said. She thought for a moment before responding, “Fine… I’ll give you one chance. If for any reason other than I’ll get a private carriage ride back home if you don’t convince me.” “Thank you, and I promise that you’ll get nothing but the truth from me. Let’s go to the cafe and I’ll explain everything.” “Lead the way.” she replied. We walked in silence until we got to the Moonbuck’s cafe right outside the train station. We ordered our drinks and sat in a booth in the corner, far away from anypony else. “Alright Cloudflower, you first. What did Celestia tell you that I did?” I asked. “To keep it short... Princess Celestia told me that you went to Ponyville yesterday specifically to kill Rainbow Dash because she had voiced suspicions of you being involved in another murder.” “Okay, here’s the truth: I went to Ponyville yesterday to see Rainbow Dash, yes. But I went there to talk to her and to ask why she would accuse me of murder with no evidence that shows that I did anything. The discussion got heated, and she threw the first punch. She ended up cracking three of my ribs when she dropped an elbow into my abdomen, fracturing my right eye socket, and gashing my right eye when she knocked me into her kitchen counter. She kept coming, despite the fact that she was overpowering me, and I ended up putting a kitchen knife into her chest when she jumped at me again. I fought back in self-defense, Cloudflower. It wasn’t my intention to kill anypony, much less one of the Elements of Harmony, and even less because I know that if I step out of line, Celestia will banish me again without a second thought.” Cloudflower sat there for a moment, slowly sipping her drink, taking in everything that I had just told her. I sat across from her, worried that she wouldn’t believe me, despite me having just told her the truth. It felt like hours before she finally spoke, “Francois, I honestly don’t know what to say…” Upon hearing those words, I hung my head in sadness, tears starting to form because I knew what she was going to say next… Or so I thought. “My head is telling me that you’re still hiding something, but my heart believes you. If you really wanted to hide everything from me, you wouldn’t have run out here to stop me from leaving.” I looked up, tears still in my eyes, “Of course I ran out here to try to stop you. I love you Cloudflower, and I’m not going to let someone I love leave my life without a fight. If you’ll pardon the expression.” She laughed, “Alright Francois, what would you like to do today? I don’t have anything planned and you’ve convinced me to stay.” “Why don’t we go out to lunch like we planned to yesterday before mother interrupted us?” “Okay, that sounds nice. Where do you want to go?” “Let’s walk around and see what sounds good to us.” “Okay, that sounds good, maybe after lunch we can go by ‘Donut Joe’s’ and get us some dessert.” “Okay, let’s go, mare’s first,” I said, opening the door of the coffee shop. “Still such a gentlecolt,” she said with a smile. After a nice lunch at one of the less-fancy Canterlot restaurants and a very sweet dessert from Donut Joe’s shop, we decided to head back to the castle and just spend the rest of the day together. As we walked into the castle, it seemed that Cloudflower had something else in mind as to how to spend the day. “Francois?” she asked “Hmm?” “Since I didn’t really stay and sleep with you last night, I’m kinda tired already. Do you think we could go and take a nap in your room?” “Of course we can. I got woken up by my clock at ten and I’ve been running on adrenaline since I read your note. So I’m kinda tired too.” As we walked down the hall, I half expected for Celestia to come out and start yelling at me for something else she thought I did. But we got to my room without a hitch. As I got back into my bed, I looked and saw Cloudflower lock the door, “What was that for?” I asked. She opened her wings and flew right at me, kissing me hard and passionately. The kiss went on for what felt like hours, but was probably only a minute or so. As we broke the kiss Cloudflower smiled and said, “That’s why I locked the door…” she trailed off as she leaned forward to kiss me again. I’m surprised we didn’t have anyone come knocking on my door with all the noise we made that afternoon.