//------------------------------// // Cheating Mare - Part ll // Story: Under the Moonlight // by Thunderblast //------------------------------// The day following Thunderblast breaking up with his now ex-marefriend Rainbow Dash, he trotted through Canterlot on his way to the main Royal Guard building near the castle, where he is to meet yet another wonderbolt, this time Spitfire. Thunder was not too happy about meeting another wonderbolt, or a mare wonderbolt for that matter. In fact, he almost didn't want to meet her after what happened yesterday. He grumbled the entire way there, finally arriving outside the large two story building, where Spitfire was waiting on a bench facing a large fountain, with a royal guard statue in the center. "Are you Spitfire?" Thunder spoke in a calm yet serious tone. "Hmm?" The yellow mare turned and pulled her aviator shades down so she could get a look at the stallion. "O-oh, yes sir. I am." she said, standing up, feeling awkward that she just briefly checked Thunder out. "Hi there, I'm Thunderblast. I've been given orders to show you around. You are joining the guard for the cold season, if I'm not mistaken?" Thunder said. "Yes Thunder." Spitfire replied. "Please, call me sir for now," Thunder replied, still in his serious tone. He tried his best to avoid being rude, but also tried to show he was unsettled around mares, yet he didn't want to scare her off. "Oh, my apologies sir. I-I'm just new," Spitfire replied, sounding slightly awkward. "It's perfectly fine. You're not the first. Most likely when I get more comfortable around you, I'll let you call me Thunder. Alright?" Thunderblast kept a stoic tone in his voice. "For now, I'd like to welcome you to Canterlot. Please, come with me." he continued, turning around and walking casually away, Spitfire trotting up by his side, secretly admiring the stallion. "Man, did Shining Armor send a handsome stallion..." Spitfire thought to herself, her eyes gazing from his hooves to his front, his flank, all the way up to his eyes, which to some relief, was one of her favorite colors. Thunder then got a sense that she was watching him closely, and he looked at her, Spitfire quickly looking away and whistling awkwardly, then he faced straight ahead, checking to see if she was watching a couple more times along the way, catching her once. "Ma'am, are you..." Thunder raised an eyebrow. "Ch-checking you out? Nawh, of course not. Why would I be checking out such an amazing and hot stallion like you?" Spitfire smiled awkwardly, momentarily realizing she just gave herself away. All Thunder could do then was smirk, his heart warming slightly that he was just called the two words that most royal guards would panic about if they were called that on duty. "Well, uh.. Thank you, Ms. Spitfire," Thunder then stopped to think of something nice to say back. "You're...beautiful yourself," he continued, mentally facehoofing himself. Spitfire then blushed brighter than her orange mane and gasped. "Why...th-thank you," she smiled and blushed harder. "A royal guard just called me beautiful! Especially a very...very...admirable one." She thought to herself. The two remained speechless to avoid starting an awkward situation out in public. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash sat by a window at Soarin's house in Cloudsdale, ears down, her head laying on her hooves. She sighed. "What's wrong, babe?" Soarin asked, trotting into the room with a couple of cups for the two of them. "I don't know, Soary," Rainbow responded in a quiet and depressed voice. "This doesn't have to do with that royal guard, does it?" Soarin asked, trotting up behind her. Rainbow then turned around and faced him. "It is. I feel like I was too harsh on Thunder." "You weren't. As a matter of fact, you should have scolded him more," Soarin raised a hoof and motioned it. "No, Soarin. I was too harsh on him. I didn't even tell him I still want to be friends," Rainbow turned and faced the window once again. "You still want to be friends with...a royal guard? What's so special about them? All they do is stand around and act like stupid little statues!" Soarin yelled. "They do not act like statues! I've seen Thunder and what he does. Sure he stands around on some days, but others he goes around Canterlot protecting ponies," Rainbow yelled back. "Really? Protecting ponies? Like they did when Nightmare Moon returned?" Soarin said, making somewhat of a point. "He tried his best, Soarin. Just please, stop. I like both of you, okay? You both have certain things I like, but I can't choose which one I want," Rainbow Dash started to cry. "You're going to choose me, Rainbow Dash," Soarin slowly approached her. Rainbow looked up and saw Soarin standing above her. "W-what are you doing?" "You want to be with that stupid stallion? Fine. I'll let you keep your hopes of being with him, but you will never be with him," Soarin said, holding a rope under his wing, and pinning Rainbow Dash down. Rainbow screamed. "Help! SOMEPONY HELP!" "Shut up!" Soarin yelled, headbutting her and knocking her unconscious, before tying her hooves up and dragging her away. "So... Here it is," Thunderblast stood in front of the castle with Spitfire, who was in total awe that the Canterlot Castle was right before her eyes. "Whoa... The Canterlot castle!" Spitfire's eyes widened. "Amazing sight, ain't it?" Thunder said, smiling lightly. "It's...it's magnificent. I've seen pictures, but..." Spitfire said in total awe. "It's much more beautiful in person, I agree. I was the same way when I first came here in o'four," Thunder opened the door for her, following her inside after she entered. Even after walking into the castle, Spitfire's wide smile and wonder never left her face, as she looked around the large rooms with cathedral ceilings. As Thunderblast trotted through the large hallways, he stopped once and chuckled. "Ya coming?" Spitfire was knocked out of her awe trance, and looked at the stallion smiling at her from around a corner, then smiled back. "Sure thing!" she ran over to him. After the tour of the castle, as well as a surprise visit from Princess Luna, the two sat on a ledge on one of the castle towers, looking at the sunset. In Spitfire's mind, she had a million different thoughts flying through, but only one she could read. "Should I ask him to remove his helmet?" she thought, as she looked at the stallion smiling slightly at the bright orange sunset, unaware Spitfire was looking at him. "Hey uh...sir?" Spitfire nervously started. "Hmm?" Thunder turned and looked at her. "Can you, um...maybe...take off your helmet? I want to see you without it on." Spitfire nervously continued. Thunder smiled lightly. "Of course." he smiled and took off his helmet, revealing a slightly messy black mane, which fell down slightly, not being held back by an iron helmet. Spitfire's eyes widened, now staring at Thunder in awe, feeling as if cupid had struck her with an arrow. "What?" Thunder raised an eyebrow at Spitfire's face, which appeared as if she was in some sort of dream, with him in it. Spitfire then came to her senses, sitting up straight. "Oh, er, nothing. Sorry. I just wanted to see you without your helmet on." she quickly looked out at the sunset and away from Thunder, briefly turning her eyes to look at him, who was still staring at her. Thunder cracked a small smile on his face. "I saw you checking me out all day today, don't think I didn't." he said. Spitfire felt a large chill down her spine, knowing she has been caught red-hooved. "B-but...I-I wasn't.." "Shh..." Thunder tried to calm her. "But..." "Shh. I saw you do it, and I'm not mad." Thunder scooted closer to her and smiling. Spitfire started to panic inside. A strong, admirable guard stallion without his helmet was just inches from her, and was actually smiling. She had more thoughts fly through her mind, but they were all one. "Should I kiss him?" When she re-entered reality, she then realized her hoof was in his. "S-sir?" She stuttered. "Please, call me Thunder." Thunderblast replied in a soothing voice. Suddenly, Spitfire's wings slowly unfolded and straightened out, which made her feel even more uncomfortable and embarrassed. "I need to make a move...but what if I scare him off?" She thought to herself. Thunder then made another unexpected move, and scooted against her. He was now right against her side, which shocked her even more. "Thunder?" Spitfire whimpered lightly. "Yeah?" Thunder glanced over, smiling lightly. Spitfire sighed. "I really like you." Thunder's jaw hung open. "You do?" "Yeah... You're...a very handsome stallion." Spitfire smiled awkwardly. "I'm sure by now you're taken though..." she said, scooching a few inches over. "I'm not." Thunder said, opening his wing and wrapping it around her, and sliding her against his side. "Y-you aren't? But you're so...amazing. How are you not taken?" Spitfire said. "I was...but the mare I loved, loves somepony else." Thunder said, sighing and lowering his head. Spitfire felt sympathy for the stallion, then leaned closer and gave him a slow peck on the cheek, which made his eyes shrink and his face to blush, before turning and looking at the mare, jaw hanging open from the kiss. Spitfire smiled back and giggled lightly, before the two made eye contact. Thunderblast stared into Spitfire's fiery orange eyes, and Spitfire stared into Thunder's deep-blue eyes, similar to an ocean at night. During their trance, the two had unknowingly moved closer, and were now muzzle to muzzle. Then, Thunder leaned forward slightly, closing his eyes slowly, and Spitfire leaned closer as well, both kissing deeply. "Mmm...augh.." "Rainbow, wake the hell up!" "Mm wah?" Rainbow Dash woke up, tied to a bed inside a darkened room, which appeared to be part of a shack. The windows had basic everyday blinds, and next to the bed was a nightstand and a lamp. The only thing off, was Soarin sitting menacingly on a stool across the room. "Finally, you're awake." He said, standing up and slowly approaching the bed. "W-where am I?" Rainbow nervously asked. "Nowhere special. Listen, Dashie. I love you too much to let you fall into the hooves of that guard. I'm sorry about the ropes, it's just I can't let you leave to tell anypony. I hope you can understand." Soarin walked closer to the bed. "No, Soarin. Let me go! I promise I won't tell anypony." Rainbow struggled slightly against the ropes holding her to the bed. Soarin then held her down. "Stop struggling. I will only untie you when I need to. You know, to let you eat and stuff like that." "Please...Let me go. I just want to talk to him. I still want to be with you." Rainbow begged, tearing up. "No. I'm sorry, Dashie." Soarin walked over to the door. "No. SOARIN! Don't go! Please!" Rainbow cried. Before she could finish, Soarin turned off the lamp with a simple switch on the wall, and shut the door behind him, leaving the rainbow-maned mare tied to the bed. He walked out of the house, a partially broken down shack in the middle of a pine forest near a lake. "Thunder...please...I need you back." Rainbow whispered to herself, quietly crying. "AH!" Thunderblast screamed, waking up in a shock, eyes the size of marbles, and breathing heavily, before realizing he just had another bad dream. "Ugh." he grumbled, slowly laying himself back down after fiddling with his pillow to make it puff up again. He laid in bed with his eyes wide open, before hearing a sound out in his living room. Thunder slowly and quietly got out of his bed, and grabbed a small flashlight he had on his nightstand, then slowly opened the door and peeked out into his living room, which was completely dark, before shining his flashlight around. "Anypony there?" He called out, before being yanked from the door, dropping his flashlight, and being pinned down. The flashlight dropped, shining on him, and the light revealed Soarin on top of him. "Soarin? What on earth are you doing?!" Soarin held up a rope and a cloth. "I'm sorry I have to do this, but you leave me no choice." Thunder's pupils shrunk as he saw Soarin reach down to tie him up, unable to move to do anything. "H-hey, w-what are you doing?!" Thunder screamed, before being gagged and tied up by Soarin, then knocked unconscious and dragged away. An unknown amount of time later, Thunderblast woke, tied to a chair, and blindfolded. "H-hello?" Thunder stuttered. He then heard some hoofsteps. "I hear you coming. Who are you?" "Thunder, it's just me. No need to panic." Soarin said in a calm tone. "Soarin. I'm ordering you to untie me this instant!" Thunder said, gritting his teeth in an angry way. "Shush, Thunder. Or i'll kill you." Soarin threatened, and the sound of a knife being sharpened could be heard. Thunder quickly quieted down. "You see, I really love Dashie. But she really loves you, so I can't exactly let you and her roam the streets." Soarin smirked insanely. "What is it you want with me?" Thunder asked. "I want to rid of you so I can have your love. But, I can't let her leave here, or else she'll get your buddies to come after me." Soarin continued. "She's here too?" Thunder's eyes widened. "Yes. She is. But you won't get to see her again." Soarin chuckled darkly. Thunder's jaw hung open, then he growled. "If you do anything to her, ANYTHING, I will kill you. You hear me?" he said, struggling. Soarin laughed. "That won't happen, Thunder. I would never do anything to her. You, on the other hoof..." he said, before flipping out a pocket knife and stabbing Thunderblast's hoof, causing him to scream. The scream and cries from Thunder could be heard by Rainbow Dash. "Thunder?! WHERE ARE YOU?" She yelled. Thunder heard her, despite his scream. "Dashie?! I'm in another room! Soarin's in here!" Thunder yelled back, before getting silenced by Soarin's hoof. "SHUT UP!" Soarin yelled, holding Thunder's mouth shut, Thunder's muffled screams still heard by Rainbow Dash. "SOARIN! Stop doing whatever you're doing to him! THUNDER! I'm coming to you... Don't worry." Rainbow said, managing to slip herself free from the ropes after spending the last hour struggling, then untying the rest of herself, and running to Thunder's distress. "See what you did now, Thunder? She's coming for you." Soarin pulled his hoof out of Thunder's mouth and stepping away. "Soarin, what is your problem?" Thunder struggled harder to free himself. "My problem? What is your problem? Why is it that you should get the mare, and I shouldn't?" Soarin angrily glared back at Thunderblast. "Because she was mine long before she was ever yours, Soarin!" Thunder shouted back. "Why do you need to kidnap us and kill me, just so you can have her? Go find another mare!" "Shut it! Just shut it! Worthless guard..." Soarin walked over to the door, before getting smashed into the wall unintentionally by Rainbow Dash, who ran in and up to Thunder. "Thundey! Did he hurt you?" Rainbow asked, quickly untying the stallion and taking the blindfold off. "Agh...he stabbed my hoof with a pocket knife, but that's it. Where is he?" Thunder replied. "I don't know, but we need to go before he finds us." Rainbow Dash said back, helping Thunder walk due to his injured hoof, before the door slammed shut, and Soarin popped out of it, eyes spinning and stumbling around from being smashed into the wall by a door. "Ouch..." Soarin said, falling onto his back, eyes still spinning. He shook his head and got back on all four, then got into an attack position in front of Thunder. "I should kill you Thunder! You stole my mare!" Soarin yelled. "No, Soarin. It is you that stole me from Thunder!" Rainbow said, stepping forward. "Quiet, Dashie. This is between you, and me guardie." Soarin growled. "Pfft. Guardie?" Thunderblast said, laughing. "Come here so I can open a can of whoop flank, Thunder!" Soarin shouted, before being tackled by Thunder and repeatedly punched, instantly overwhelmed. Rainbow Dash watched, tearing up, as the two fought on the floor, Soarin taking most of the beating. "Okay, both of you, STOP!" Rainbow Dash screamed, before getting punched by Soarin accidentally. Thunder gasped and ran over to Rainbow, who was on the floor crying. "Thunder! Get him!" Rainbow said, rubbing her cheek, before Thunder got back up and ran to the light blue pegasus, delivering a massive, painful punch to the muzzle, which threw him into the wall, stunning him. Soarin peeled himself off of the wall, now very weak and bloody. When he tried to get up, Thunder pinned him down. "N-no... P-please... Have mercy." Soarin begged, unable to get up. "Why should I have mercy?" Thunder growled. "L-listen... All I wanted...was a marefriend. I really wish it did not have to come to this. Please, Thunder." Soarin begged more, sobbing afterwards. Thunderblast continued to sit on Soarin, holding him down, then looked at Rainbow Dash who was now standing beside the two, then nodded yes, and Thunder rose off of Soarin, and the two helped him up, then let him stand on his own. "Th-thank you." Soarin said, shaking and badly beaten, with a black eye and a bloody muzzle. Before anypony else could say a word, Thunder flew out of the building and away, Rainbow Dash quickly following him. "Thunder wait!" she yelled, trying to catch up with him. Thunder wiped some tears from his eyes, as he flew through the cloudy night sky towards Canterlot, before being tackled and pinned down on a cloud by Rainbow Dash. "HEY! Get off of me Rainbow!" Thunder yelled, trying to get out from under her. "No, Thunder. Stop. Just stop." She continued to hold him down, and he quickly stopped after he received a slap. "What do you want?" Thunder asked. "Thundey. I want you back. I want to take back everything negative I said about you. Please." Rainbow teared up. Thunder's glare softened slightly. "No, Rainbow. You cheated on me, and I think I may have found somepony else." "Wh-who?" Rainbow asked, sniffling. "Spitfire." Thunder replied. "Spitfire?! Her?!" Rainbow's eyes widened in shock. "Yes... Why?" Thunder's eyebrow raised. "She has a crush on Soarin." Rainbow replied. "Then why didn't he go with her?" Thunder's eyes widened at her response.. "He didn't want her. He wanted me, but he can't have me, because I want you." Rainbow started to sob. "Please Thunder, I want you back. I regret ever leaving you." Thunder's glare softened more, then he reached up and pulled her into a tight hug, and she cried into his shoulder as he rubbed her back to calm her. "I love you, Thunder." Rainbow continued to sob. "I love you too, Dashie."