As soon as Butterscotch reached the long golden dining table on the other side of the lair, he took a moment to catch his breath. That was a close one! Butterscotch thought to himself.
Butterscotch felt like he was being extremely rude for leaving her in the dust just now. She didn't do anything wrong. As soon as they have breakfast, he will apologize. However, he can't tell her the reason why he left. If they continued...what they accidentally started on the bed...Butterscotch could lose his sanity. It was happening so fast. All his emotions and the blood was rushing to his head. It was like having a heart attack. Butterscotch wasn't expert about these kinds of situations. He has never had a special somepony before. He's never been kissed before. In his mind, he was a weak...spineless...awkward...rude...virgin. Butterscotch hate to admit that he was a virgin. Stallions at his age shouldn't be virgins still.
So then, what excuse can I tell her? Butterscotch asked himself. Before he could arrange his thoughts, he heard a chair skate on the floor along with Dopey saying "Your chair... Mr Butterscotch?"
Butterscotch looked up and saw Dopey pulling out a chair for him at the golden table. Dopey's head was bowed towards the yellow pegasus. Dopey's tone was refined and gracious. Butterscotch questioned Dopey's lack of happy enthusiasm. Butterscotch tells his new friend "Mr. Butterscotch? What happened to just Butterscotch?"
Dopey remarked with his head still bowed "Mistress told me to be on my best behavior for now on."
Butterscotch then remembered what happened earlier between the two of them and replied meekly "Oh. I see."
He then walked up to the chair that Dopey offered and sat down. Butterscotch noticed that the chair's cushion was red velvet...and it felt nice. But then memories of Eris's bed and the incident made Butterscotch squirm uncomfortably in his seat. When Dopey scooted Butterscotch's chair in, the yellow pegasus smiled at the hunchback pony. This made Dopey smile back at Butterscotch.
The grey pegasus bowed at Butterscotch before leaving the dining area. This made the shy pony to observe the food presented on the black laced table cloth. He saw a beautiful arrangement of white marzipan chocolate squares and balls, chocolate covered caramels, regular caramel squares, and other kinds of caramel candy. There was enough sweets to feed all the ponies in the opera house. The candy were placed on gorgeous yet colorful plates of all shapes and patterns. There was a milk chocolate foundation, almost towering to the ceiling, on the center of the table. Butterscotch looked into his pink checkered teacup and noticed that there was no tea in it. He took a slip and uttered out "chocolate in milk?"
"I like to call it chocolate milk."
Butterscotch looked up and saw Eris sitting on the other side of the table. Her elbows were on the table and her chin was resting on top of her hands. She had, surprisingly, a sweet smile on her face. Butterscotch wondered how she got in without him noticing. Oh wait, she had magic. He realized. Butterscotch also pondered why she was smiling at him. She had every right to be mad him. He deserved it.
Eris continued "I made itself. Do you like it?"
Butterscotch answered "Oh yes, I do. It's very sweet. Thank you." Then he placed his tea cup in front of him.
"So...what's for breakfast?" Butterscotch asked.
Eris joyously replied "This is breakfast!"
Butterscotch uttered out in confusion "But...there's sweets on the table?"
Eris happily remarked "Not just sweets, but our favorite sweets! I have marzipan for yours truly. Then, I have caramels galore for you! I have all kinds of caramel just to give you the pleasure of choosing. Let's see there's..."
"Um, how did you know that caramel was my favorite?" Butterscotch meekly questioned.
Eris hesitated to reply for a moment, with tiny drops of sweats running along the sides of her face. Then, with a fake smile across her face, she nervously stated "Lucky guess."
Butterscotch had a feeling that Eris was listening on his conversations with his new friends on his first day yesterday. After all, she was there to prank Elusive. So she had to stick around before, right?
Eris cleared her throat, and suggested to Butterscotch "Anywho, please enjoy yourself!"
Butterscotch admired all the caramels at his selection. They all looked so good, he just couldn't decide. Normally, Butterscotch wouldn't be in the mood for desert in the morning. After thoughtful reflection on his choices, Butterscotch decided to try the regular caramel squares.
It took just one bite for Butterscotch to groan in pleasure. Most caramels are sometimes too hard or too chewy, this caramel square was soft...smooth... creamy...and it just melts in the mouth. He quickly gobbled down the caramel square in his hoof, then stuffed his face with the other caramel treats.
Butterscotch's display of appetite made Eris giggle in glee. But she had to cover her smile and laughter from him. In order for him not stop eating. Eris adored how this little pony is filled with little surprises. As she chewed on her marzipan, Eris couldn't help seeing the glimmering caramel shine on Butterscotch's lips. She could just tell that his lips were sweetened with the taste of caramel...and she wanted to taste it. She felt ridiculous thinking such a thought and paying such close attention to his lips. It's not like she just likes Butterscotch for his looks. Butterscotch has alot more to offer besides his looks. He has depth. He has kindness, gentleness, purity, passion, musicality, and more. It's just that...ever since the display earlier on her bed...when his lips were so close to hers. It's hard not to think about and see his lips. Or gaze into his eyes. Or imagine burying her face into his neck. She can't get enough of him now.
Eris then realized how much her heart and her body aches for Butterscotch. That moment between them was too short. She wanted to embrace him into her chest again. She longed to be in his strong forelegs once more. There was an intense chemistry when they touched. She can't deny it. And either can he.
But if he does deny chemistry in their touch, there is one thing he can't deny. The chemistry and harmony in their singing. Their duet in the song just proved that there was something between them. Eris couldn't name what it was, but it was something.
The memory of their duet made Eris asked "Um Butterscotch?"
This question made Butterscotch stop eating. He realized just how much a pig he was just now. He blushed awhile quickly wiping away the caramel all over his mouth. He replied while feeling embarrassed "Yes Eris?"
"Why didn't you tell me that you could sing?" was all Eris could say.
Butterscotch's blush grew redder. He stuttered "Oh no, I can't sing. I mean, I can. No. What I mean is...I'm not a good singer. I just like singing. That's all."
Eris explained "I beg to differ! For years, I have heard the best of the best come in and out of my opera house. And you, my dear Butterscotch, can be one of the greats! You can sing. With a little bit of training and practice, you can be The Tenor of my opera! Not that Primadonna Elusive."
Then a lit candlelight literally appeared above Eris's head to signify that she had an idea. She shouted with glee "And I can teach you!"
Butterscotch exclaimed "What?!"
"C'mon! It'll be great!" Eris reassured Butterscotch.
Butterscotch pointed out "But-But I can't! I have..." Then he whispered "stage fright..."
Eris replied with "Stage fright? How can you have stage fright? I mean, you can just sing with me just fine. So what's the difference?"
Butterscotch remarked "The difference is...well...you weren't staring at me. I mean, we did have to look at each other every now and then. But you were busy dancing and singing the song. If I was on that stage...it will happen again!"
"What will happen again?" said a concerned Eris.
Butterscotch answered with terror in his voice "Yesterday, after Elusive asked for my name...every pony was staring at me. They were judging me...just waiting for me to mess up...ready to laugh at me or call me names...or..."
Eris immediately stood up from her chair and ran to Butterscotch's side. She took his shaking hooves into her hands. Butterscotch looked straight into her worried yet compassionate eyes. She asked softly "Butterscotch? Have you been bullied before?"
Butterscotch was speak less. He turned his attention to his hooves in her hands, instead of looking at her eyes. He didn't know if he had the right words to explain his past experiences with stallions picking on him. Plus, he didn't want Eris to worry about him.
He answered her question with "Not bullying per say...just some playground teasing when I was younger...nothing too serious. But it went away when I grew up."
Eris scolded gently "Butterscotch, don't lie to me. You have been bullied."
Then she took his face in her paw and claw,which made Butterscotch's face fluster. She spoke sincerely "Do not defend those ugly ponies who hurt you."
Butterscotch saw the empathic pain expressed in her face. Her eyes revealed the same kind of hurt he went through when ponies at the playground teased him. In the moment, she looked like a lonely young filly...without a friend in the world. She looked like him when he was a sad little colt. Butterscotch carefully lifted his left front hoof and placed it over Eris's lion paw.
While still holding his face, Eris then whispered "Butterscotch, when you sing...you will make ponies forget their ugliness. Your voice will make them feel beautiful. Ponies will not bully you...they will not judge you...once you start singing on that stage."
Butterscotch leaned into her lion paw and closed his eyes. His little frown expressed fear and doubt. Eris continued while bringing her face closer to his, "You will not be alone. I will be there. The music will be there. You can never to be alone."
Butterscotch opened his eyes. Eris gave him a small yet hopeful smile. Butterscotch took Eris's hands and brought them back into his hooves and in front of him once more. He smiled at her with his eyes gleaming with hope. He then tells her "If it's your music,then yes...I'll never be alone. I suppose we could..give it try."
It was around eleven am when Butterscotch left the sanctuary and the portal leading to Eris's lair. He quietly trotted through the empty and silent opera house. He kept praying that no pony would hear him. With each step he took, he would swiftly look around his surroundings to make sure no pony was following.
However, Butterscotch was glancing from side to side too much. It caused him to not pay attention to what was in front of him and crash into somepony.
Butterscotch immediately squeaked with his eyes closed "Oh dear! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"
A familiar voice responded "It's okay, I'm alright. Don't be sorry."
Butterscotch opened with one eye and uttered out "Monsieur Dusk Shine."
Dusk Shine offered his hoof to Butterscotch. The purple unicorn wanted to help Butterscotch get up. Dusk Shine smiled and replied "Just call me Dusk Shine. Every pony does."
Butterscotch opened both his eyes and slowly took Dusk Shine's hoof. Once the yellow pegasus was back on all fours, Dusk Shine kindly "So, what brings you to this part of the opera house at such an hour?"
Butterscotch shyly answered "I was...um..praying. At the sanctuary."
Dusk Shine then softly questioned "Were you praying about the phantom?"
Butterscotch hesitantly replied "You could...say that."
Dusk Shine comforted Butterscotch with "There is no need to fear my friend. I'm working on a...solution...to stop this phantom once and for all."
Butterscotch uttered out "You are?"
Dusk Shine proudly stated "Yes, I am. You see, this is why I'm out and about."
The purple unicorn looked side to side before whispering to his new friend, "Can you keep a secret?"
Butterscotch sighed out "Unfortunately, I can."
Dusk Shine continued "I've been using my magic to track down the phantom. With my dark magic tracking spell, I should be able to find her."
Butterscotch, with streams of sweat trailing down from his forehead to his neck, nervously stated "Y-You don't say?"
Dusk Shine then pondered out loud "Although so far, I haven't pin point a strong dark magic signal yet. Base on my analysis of the spell performed yesterday, this ghost's magic is certainly not light magic. However, it's not quite dark magic either. It's strange...it's like she's a master of a new kind of magic. A magic that combines both light and dark."
Butterscotch added "I never knew that there could be such a thing."
Dusk Shine explained "Yes well, nevertheless! It's easier to track traces of dark magic versus light magic due to the fact that unicorns use light magic."
Butterscotch warned "Well, please be careful Monsieur Dusk Shine."
Dusk Shine smiled and replied with "Thank you Monsieur...?"
Butterscotch whispered while trying to hide in his mane "B-Butterscotch. Butterscotch Daae...Monsieur."
Dusk Shine replied happily "Well Monsieur Daae, I shall let you be on your way. It was a pleasure to meet you."
Butterscotch smiled and joyously whispered "Oh um, it was a pleasure to meet you too Monsieur." He gave Dusk Shine a wave before quietly trotting back to his room.
Dusk Shine waved back at Butterscotch...before he went to go investigate the sanctuary. Dusk Shine knew that there had to be a reason why Butterscotch was running away from the sanctuary. He saw the opera ghost but cannot tell a soul in order to protect himself and his friends.
Dusk Shine's glowed with a hue of black, purple, and green magic. He closed his eyes and slowly walked with the magically pull of his horn. The horn glowed brighter...and brighter...when he slowly approached the sanctuary. His magic opened the door and he quietly crawled down to the cave-like church.
When his horn tapped against a stone wall, he opened his eyes. He found that a magical residue was left just on the side of the picture of The Two Royal Brothers. He concluded that the phantom just recently opened a portal here. She used dark magic. Dusk Shine "Haha yes!"
Dusk Shine just knew he could find her! He closed his eyes once more and focused on the dark portal spell that Prince Artemis taught him not too long ago. His horn lit up like fire and radiated a bright hue of black, purple, and green. Dusk Shine concentrated all his might towards that spot on the wall, with sweat and heat pouring out of his face and body.
A spiral of green flames began to arise and swirl on the wall. It started out small..but with every passing second...it grew...and grew! Dusk Shine could sense that the spell was working. So he opened eyes and saw the giant green flame spiral.
But then the green flame conjured up a shape! It grew spines...and claws...a long serpent body...and thin long wings...a narrow snout...and glowing green eyes. The green flame spiral became a green flame dragon! His spell back fired!
The dragon roared and growled at Dusk Shine, which made the unicorn back away quickly. This encouraged the dragon to chase Dusk Shine out of the sanctuary. He galloped as fast as he could, avoiding the snaps and bites of the fiery dragon's green flame teeth. He rapidly shut the down behind him and pushed against the door with all his hooves. He waited for the dragon to burst through...but the dragon never came.
Dusk Shine panted out "What sorcery is this?!"