Chapter two: Locking up the past
Cloudchaser sat in flight school and eagerly devoured all the knowledge she could. She wrote down every word her teacher said, and drew a sketch of every action that was demonstrated or explained. At her side was Flitter, eagerly listening. Neither of them could be happier.
At her right, a blue stallion tried to get her attention. He waved and whispered, but she simply ignored him. She was here to learn something, not to talk with Cerulean Skies. The stallion, however, did not give up.
“Hey Chase!” he hissed.
She snapped her head around. “What?”
“I wanted to ask you if you would like to go to the club with me tonight,” he asked, looking sheepishly away.
“W-what?” Cloudchaser asked.
“Ah… never mind…” came the whisper back.
Cloudchaser wasn't one to give up that easily. “Are you asking me on a date, Cerulean?”
The stallion nodded and hung his head, but Cloudchaser grinned. She liked the shy, quiet stallion. She didn’t know anything about dating, but she was happy to try it. After all, she was here to learn.
“Well, then count me in,” she said, grinning at him.
“Wow, really? Great! Meet me at sundown at Club Rising Moon,” Cerulean said with a wink.
Cloudchaser smirked happily and turned her attention back to the class, not aware of the look her sister was giving her. The day had just gotten way better.
After a while the bell rung and their teacher dismissed them for the weekend. Cloudchaser couldn't wait to get home and get ready, but her sister was hot on her tail.
“Cloud!” Flitter called out causing Cloudchaser to come to a stop.
“What, lil' sis?”
“You’re going on a date with that stallion?!” Flitter asked in disbelief.
“Well, it should be fun and I think he’s really nice,” Cloudchaser replied, turning bright red.
Flitter considered this. “Just… watch yourself, Cloud,” she said and spread her wings, taking off home.
Cloudchaser looked in Flitter’s direction, confused. Her younger sister was worried, as usual. But somehow this time it seemed like something more, and she had no idea what to say or think. Shaking her head she took off after her sister, trying to get home as fast as possible.
***
Cloudchaser was ready for her big date. She wore a casual dress and combed her mane one last time. The spikes in it were gone, and her hair cascaded over her shoulder much more like Flitter's now. With a happy sigh she turned away from the mirror and laid the brush down. It was time to go.
She left her room and went to the front door, her mother stopping her shortly in front of it. “You look amazing, darling. Please, don't forget to always be nice, and don't do anything you’ll regret.”
Cloudchaser hugged her and left the house. She thought Flitter would be there to wish her luck, but she was nowhere to be seen. Little did she know that Flitter was watching through her bedroom window until she was out of sight.
She sped up, not wanting to be late to her first date. The sun started going down and the air went chilly, but felt surprisingly good on her coat. It would be an enjoyable night at the club; Cerulean would take good care of her.
It wasn't long before she stood in front of the club, where the blue stallion was already waiting for her. She approached and hugged him.
He kissed her cheek softly. “Should we go in?” Cloudchaser nodded eagerly.
They both made their way into the club, ignoring the queue by the door and stepping straight in. It seemed like Cerulean knew somepony here, because the bouncer nodded at him and let them in without any wait.
Cerulean led her to a small corner, cordoned off by a red band. A sign read 'VIP' in big letters and Cloudchaser’s heart jumped as they sat down. The stallion looked at her sheepishly, avoiding her gaze until she softly smiled.
“I'm going to get us a drink, then maybe we could dance?” he suggested and again, Cloudchaser was more than eager to approve.
Cerulean Skies rose and went to the bar. He talked to the mare behind it for a while, and after a few moments, she passed him two blue glasses. Cloudchaser eyed hers suspiciously when he passed her one.
“Don't worry, you'll like it. It's a Lemon Kick — tastes awesome!” he said and motioned for her to drink.
Cloudchaser took a few sips and indeed, it tasted pretty good. She downed her drink and smacked her lips, smiling a bit. “That was awesome! Can I have another one?” she asked, earning an eager nod from Cerulean.
He got up and ordered another drink for her, this one disappearing faster than the first. She started to feel weird, but it was a good weird. The room was slightly spinning as Cerulean led her to the dancefloor, but she had no intention of stopping him. No, she wanted more.
They started to dance and the feeling quickly became worse. It could have been minutes, or hours, but Cloudchaser didn't care. She leaned on Cerulean for support. It all seemed so right. Maybe it was the drink, but she felt good.
Cerulean smiled at her and whispered into her ear. “C'mon, Chase, let's go somewhere more private.”
Something seemed off — he wasn't shy and quiet anymore — but Cloudchaser couldn't care less. With an eager nod she followed him unsteadily. He soon picked her up with his hooves and carried her off the dancefloor and out of the club. She had no idea where they were going but at that moment she didn’t care.
As the cold, fresh air hit her, she regained some of her composure, and the spinning faded. The warning of her sister came back to her, that she should watch herself. Before she could say anything, they were somewhere warm again, and that fuzzy feeling slowly returned. She forgot what she was thinking about.
Cerulean laid her down on something soft and began to give her the strangest look. Something was off; Cloudchaser couldn't tell what it was until the stallion crawled up on her. She was lying on a bed and her eyes flew open wide.
Cerulean said something and pushed his wings against her hooves, pinning her down. Cloudchaser was in panic now, trying to squirm free but it was no use. The stallion began to push her dress up, revealing everything she didn’t want him to see, but she hadn’t the wherewithal to defend herself.
The first thing she felt as he crawled closer was pain. Pain, then nothing.
***
Cloudchaser was met by a beam of sunlight directly on her muzzle, but she kept her eyes shut. She felt comfortable and didn't want that to end. As time ticked past, it dawned on her that she was in pain. The pain was everywhere, especially her hind legs. She cracked an eye open and looked around.
She was in a hospital, bandages wrapped around her hind legs, her forehead, and her waist. Cloudchaser wondered why for a while, but suddenly everything came back and tears welled up in her eyes. Cerulean had used her; he had used her like she was nothing — a tool for his own pleasure. As the tears blurred her vision she spotted someone at the side of her bed.
Flitter was lying at her side, snoring quietly. She was asleep, and Cloudchaser couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. She lay peacefully; she seemed to have been there the whole time. Somehow, this sight gave her strength; a strength she’d been unsure she still had.
Flitter stirred and raised her head, her gaze meeting Cloudchaser’s.
“Cloud... you’re awake...” Flitter sobbed and leapt at her, hugging Cloudchaser tightly. “I thought I’d lost you! Thank Celestia, you’re still alive!”
“What happened?” Cloudchaser asked, although she already knew. Flitter broke the embrace and winced, looking at the ground. She stayed silent and Cloudchaser raised a hoof to raise her chin. “Please… tell me!”
Flitter sighed and sat down. “It was Cerulean Skies. He… he used you… some of his friends work at that club and the mare behind the bar was his half-sister. She enchanted your drink to make you more… willing. He took you to his home and… and…” Flitter couldn't take it anymore and cried, the tears breaking the wall she had tried to create, letting every emotion free that she’d been trying to hold back.
Cloudchaser took her sister into another embrace and stroked her mane, softly squeezing her.
“I wasn't there to protect you and he used you!” Her voice was nearly a scream now and Cloudchaser froze. “You fought back, he… he forced you down and hurt you badly, Cloud. He dropped you off at home when he was done with you. I… I… I found you and brought you here.”
Flitter was blaming herself, and it seemed to have broken her. Cloudchaser wrapped a foreleg around Flitter and pulled her into an embrace. “You’re always there for me if I need you, but there was no way you could have seen this coming. Please don’t put this all on yourself! You’re my sister; we’re meant to stick together and give each other strength!”
Flitter looked up, more tears welling up. “Thank you big sister.”
Cloudchaser smiled at her younger sister and wrapped her deeper into the embrace, adding a wing as a soft blanket. They went back to sweet slumber. Being near Flitter numbed all Cloudchaser’s pain. It was her favourite place to be, and nothing would ever change that.
“It’s time to wake up, my little pony.”
The voice was soft and calm, reaching Cloudchaser’s ears. She stirred and tried to ignore it.
Just a few more minutes…
A soft touch on her forehead caused her to crack her eyes open slowly. She was lying in a bed in a blank-white room, and in front of her stood Princess Celestia, with a sad smile on her muzzle, her wing gently touching Cloudchaser’s forehead.
“Good morning, Cloudchaser. How are you feeling today?” she asked.
“P-p-princess Celestia. What are you doing here? I’m feeling…” Cloudchaser started, but stopped.
Everything hurt, especially her muzzle when she spoke. She noticed the bandages on her forehead and then something at her hoof. An IV was connected to it. She took this all in in an instant and looked back at the sun princess.
“I’m not feeling so good,” she said and looked down. “Where’s my sister?”
Princess Celestia sighed and frowned. “She is currently in jail until we can get this all sorted out. I don’t want to alarm you but witnesses are saying she jumped on another pony; she attacked and almost killed him. You have to tell me exactly what happened.”
“In jail? She tried to rescue me, princess! That… stallion… Cerulean… he… he used me years ago… he was convicted of rape and went to jail for several years. It seems like he is back and today I saw him on the streets. He was angry and tried to force me to his home…” Cloudchaser sobbed. She would not keep what Cerulean had tried secret.
“Thank you, my little pony. Everything you said matches with the statements from various ponies that saw what happened. I will inform the captain to immediately release your sister. And let me give you my word that Cerulean Skies will end up in front of a court for his actions. If what you and your sister have been saying is true, then he will end up in jail for a long time. Now rest, and get well.” With that, Princess Celestia gave her a reassuring smile and left the room.
Cloudchaser sighed. Maybe not everything was so bad. Flitter had rescued her and Cerulean would end up in jail.
Flitter…
Her heart fluttered at the thought of her. She had saved her; had risked her life for her. She was everything she could wish for as a marefriend. The past might be hurtful, but with Flitter she could live a new live. Smiling with her mind focussed on Flitter, she went back into a peaceful sleep. That their relationship could cause even more problems wasn’t on her mind for once.
***
Flitter lay on the floor of her cell, waiting to give her statement. The captain had told her bluntly that with the evidence at hoof, things did not look good for her. Worst case scenario, she’d end up in jail for assault.
Please, wake up and tell them the truth, sister.
She lay her head in her hooves and sobbed. There was a high chance that she would end up in jail, and that Cerulean would get away. Worse, she would be unable to see or love Cloudchaser ever again. It was something that broke her completely.
Flitter’s gentle sobs turned into full weeping; the thoughts going through her mind causing her almost physical pain. The next sound startled her: the door opened and hooves neared. Flitter was sure that they had come to take her to a more permanent cell. However, instead she heard Princess Celestia’s voice. “Let her go, lieutenant.”
The lieutenant looked on in shock, seemingly unsure what to do. “P-princess Celestia! I… I can’t just…”
“That wasn’t a request or a suggestion, lieutenant, it was an order. You will let her go immediately.” Her voice did not leave any room for doubt — this was not up for discussion.
The hoofsteps came closer and Flitter raised her head. Princess Celestia was standing in front of her cell with a smile on her muzzle while the lieutenant fumbled, trying to find the right key. He was rightly afraid of the sun goddess behind him.
After what seemed like forever, he found the key he needed and opened the door, quickly stepping aside. Flitter tried to stand up, but she hadn’t realized how long she’d been without food, and was surprised when she was not able to bring herself to her hooves.
“Let me help you,” Princess Celestia said and walked in. “There is somepony eagerly waiting for you.”
The Princess reached out a wing and gently pulled Flitter up onto her hooves. Flitter stammered her thanks and walked out of the cell, supported by the princess. Outside, they boarded a waiting chariot before it pulled off, heading in the direction of the hospital. Flitter couldn’t do anything other than smile; she would soon be with her love again.
“My little pony, what you did was indeed astonishing — you saved your sister from a stallion. You were unafraid to defend her life. I cannot say that I have seen such actions in a while.” Princess Celestia stopped and sighed. “While you may still have to face consequences for the violent actions you took, if your statements are true, then Cerulean Skies’ activities have come to an end. That stallion will never again cause any problems for you or your sister.”
A content silence hung over the rest of the trip until they reached the hospital. Princess Celestia led Flitter through various corridors, supporting her while she walked. The staff in the hospital seemed shocked to see them. Celestia used her magic to push open the door to the room Cloudchaser was staying in.
What Flitter saw made her heart jump with joy. Cloudchaser was sitting on the bed, looking out of the window. Flitter forgot her weakened state and hobbled to her sister, pulling her into a soft hug that caught Cloudchaser by surprise, but she quickly leaned in.
“I missed you, Cloud,” she mumbled and buried herself deep in her sister’s coat, enjoying the warmth.
Princess Celestia smiled and turned to the door. “I’ll leave you two alone for now. When I have the exact date for the trial, I’ll send somepony to inform you about it. Rest well, my little ponies.”
They both waited for the door to close, then broke their embrace and looked into each others eyes. After what seemed like an endless wait, they leaned in until their lips met. It was a long kiss, full of passion, love, and desire. It was a kiss that marked another chapter of their deep love. It said something important.
Whatever we have to face, we will overcome it together.