Chapter 10: Moving Forward
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Lynx moved slowly through a grass field, the moon was high in the sky and nopony could be seen in any direction he turned. He was still in his white unicorn form, and carefully took a step forward, only to hear a voice from behind him.
“You don’t think this will last do you?”
Lynx turned staring himself dead in the eyes, but this wasn’t the eyes of the unicorn, but the soul piercing sapphire of a changeling. A changeling with a strikingly similar mane cut. “Who are you?”
“How stupid have you become? I am you, or I was you before you got with that pony.” The last word like venom as it escaped the changeling’s lips.
“Well if you are me then you already know my answer...”
“Say it anyways, I want to hear it from you.”
“Fine, have it your way. Yes I do think this can last, so long as her brother doesn’t push it any further and we are careful.”
“But what if you slip? What if for one second you slip up and say or do something that reveals what you really are?” The changeling chuckled, “Let me show you the outcome.”
A door popped up behind Lynx as the rest of the world faded to black around the two. Lynx turned to open the door and stepped inside. Quickly shutting, the door locked itself and vanished in a flash of emerald. Looking around, Lynx soon found himself at Storm’s front door. About to knock he was stopped when the door opened revealing a frightening sight.
Storm stood there, a hurt look on her face and tears streaming from her eyes, “How could you lie to me!?”
“W-What are you talking about?” Storm asked.
“Don’t play stupid! I know you’re a changeling!”
“What’re you talking about?”
“Moon Spark, or Para, if I’m using her real name told me everything! She was tired of lying, which is more than what I can say for you!”
“Please storm let me ex-”
“No! Get out of here and never come back Luck- No Lynx, I should call you by your real name too... Go back to your queen and leave me alone!”
“Storm I-” Before he could finish the door was slammed in his face and he could hear the weeping coming from behind the door. His heart felt crushed, and he turned to see his former queen standing behind him.
“Lynx it’s not too late to come back, do you really want this future?” She asked.
“So you’re behind this! Get out of my head dammit!”
“Why so hostile Lynx? Is it because I’m right?”
“Shut up! And Stay out of my dreams, stay out of my life even!”
“Fine, but one day you will regret this decision. Mark my words.”
Lynx snapped awake sitting up, his breathing frantic as he realized where he was. Storm seemed to be still asleep. Even though there was little light other than what leaked through the window, he could still make out Storm’s face. Softly brushing her mane from her face he crawled back under the sheets and cuddled close.
Storm woke up briefly and smiled wrapping her hooves around him, feeling something was wrong she spoke softly still partly asleep, “Something wrong?”
“Bad dream.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not right now.”
“Alrighty, well I hope you don’t have anymore.”
“With you this close I doubt that’s even possible.”
Storm smiled and cuddled in closer resting her head under his chin, “Good night Lucky.”
“Good night Storm.”
-----
A loud knocking awoke Lynx as he jumped up in surprise nearly bumping into Storm in the process. Getting out of bed and going to the door he peeked out to see Neon.
Neon grinned, “So the rumors are true.”
Lynx let out a heavy sigh, “Well I should have seen that coming.” Lynx said stepping out of the room so he didn’t wake up Storm, “What’s up? Or did you want to talk to Storm?”
“Well I kinda wanted to talk to both of you. You see I’ve finally got everything prepared but...”
“But? I don’t like it when ponies say but”
“I’m more or less curious if you want to move back in... I mean you’re pretty comfortable here, and I would be more than willing to use my two spare rooms for your brother and sister.”
“So basically, you’re asking me to stay here with Storm while Sparky and Thunder get your other two rooms?”
“Basically.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m being kicked out?”
“Don’t think of it as being kicked out. Think of it as me getting your siblings out of here so you and Storm can have this place all to yourselves... Just imagine it, you two here, alooone. The possibilities are endless.”
“S-Shut up Neon!” Lynx grumbled his face beat red.
Neon let out a soft chuckle as he pointed to the door behind Lynx that lead to Storms room.
And there she stood, as if on cue or something looking at Lynx curiously, “Do you not want to stay with me?”
Lynx froze, his blush only burning brighter. When he tried to speak nothing short of a squeak came out.
Neon ruffled his mane and sighed, “Take that as a yes Storm, and by the way, the official re-opening is later this evening. Can I expect you two there or should I have Thunder and Sparky cover your shift?”
“We will be there Neon.” Storm responded with a small smile, “Oh and stop teasing Lucky, that’s my job.”
Neon gave a happy nod and wandered into the living room.
Lynx looked back over to Storm, “How can something so evil look so beautiful.”
“One of the many secrets of this world.” She smiled and kissed his cheek, “Mind waking up your brother and sister while I get some food going?”
“Well I suppose so.” Smiling back at her he wandered down the hall and to the door of his siblings.
Storm smiled watching Lynx go off to wake up his siblings and then went into the kitchen to begin cooking. As Storm worked she heard some pony walk in and turned to see Neon coming in from the living room, “Hey do you want to stay for breakfast?”
“Sure thing but uh, since I know Lucky wont spill anything. How close have you two gotten?”
“We’re sleeping in the same bed, and I occasionally give him a kiss on the cheek, but I wouldn’t say we are an item yet. We’re getting there though.”
“Interesting.”
“What is?”
“Nothing.” Neon said offering her a comforting smile.
“Oh come on Neon were friends aren’t we?”
“Oh alright, but to be painfully honest I would prefer to keep my mouth shut until I am One hundred percent sure.”
“Well tell me.” She said as she turned around letting their breakfast cook while they spoke.
“I was just thinking, what if Lucky isn’t who he says he is.”
“What? You’ve met him right?”
“Oh I have, which is why it’s just a stupid thought. In any case keep him close. I don’t want my friend being captured by a changeling.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t leave my side.”
“Good.” Neon smiled and watched as Lynx entered and walked over to the fridge to grab a drink.
-----
As Neon walked back he spotted a yellow unicorn standing in front of the shop. Neon sighed and walked up to her, “May I help you?”
“Oh yes you can, I was hoping I could get a job here.”
“Oh well I must admit this is a surprise.” Running his hoof through his mane he thought for a moment, “Have we met?”
She smiled, “No, well not officially anyways. My name’s Strawberry Sunshine, I owned two drink shops of my own, and wrote the article on this place.”
“Waiiit, you’re that yellow unicorn!?”
“The one and only.” She said fixing her mane.
“Well then it would be a great honor. Though there is one thing I don’t understand?”
She raised her brows curiously, “What is that?”
“Why would such a successful pony want to work for somepony else? I mean you’re your own boss right?”
“While this is true, I always wanted to try being an employee for once. Sure owning places like this is nice. But I want to experience actually working again.”
“Well I’m not going to stop you, and it would be nice to have some pony help me behind the mixing stand who actually knows what they are doing... How fast can you learn the menu?”
“How long do I have?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be ready in twenty.” A proud smirk spreading across her face.
***
Neon and Strawberry were standing behind the drink counter and practicing a few new combinations that strawberry felt like disclosing to help bring in more business.
Turning to Neon Strawberry gave him a curious look, “So why did this place get ransacked in the first place.”
“Oh some guard pony thought I was harboring changelings.” He responded rolling his eyes and focusing on getting some practice.
Her interest piqued, she continued to press the matter, “Really? And whose bright idea was it to believe him?”
“I don’t know but it probably killed my business.”
“Maybe, maybe not... Still I am curious about something.”
“What?”
“If one of your employee’s were a changeling? What would you have done?”
“I don’t know, I trust my employee’s like they’re family. I have a feeling I can trust that none of them have any thoughts of hurting me or my customers.”
“And that’s enough for you?”
“Damn right, what about you? What if someone close to you was a changeling?”
“I’m not sure, but really who can we trust these days.”
Lynx, Para, Dox, and Storm each walked in just then, all dressed in their uniforms except for Dox.
“Oh hey guys!” Neon rushed out from behind the counter to greet them and looked at Dox, “Um Thunder you know you’re supposed to wear the hat when you show up for work right?”
“I’m not here to work yet, I don’t think I’m quite ready to work here.”
“Fine by me, your room is the one you originally slept in, and Sparky you’re getting Lucky’s old room.”
Lynx blinked for a moment and sighed, “Replaced already huh?”
“Oh cheer up bro, it’s not like you have nowhere to go.” Para replied looking to Neon, “Thank you so much for putting up with us.”
“No need to thank me I’m happy to help, alright every pony let’s get ready we will be re-opening soon and I want to be ready for anything that might happen understood?”
Every pony nodded in agreement and went to do their respective jobs while Thunder went upstairs to find his new room. It was very basic having one window and a brand new double bed, dresser, and a throw rug in the center of the hardwood floor.
***
Work was slow at the start but picked up once the air was cleared and their names were cleared. It wasn’t even close to the original amount of customers they had before the incident, but regulars showed up and others showed up interested in some of the new menu they were providing.
Lynx was more than happy to keep working and when things slowed down that he actually had a moment to think he took a step back and let his mind wander.
At first he was just running through everything that had happened that had made his life so exciting. Reflecting on it all he wondered how in Celestia’s name he had gotten to this point considering the amount of trouble he has gone through to keep his secret, including nearly being discovered by an act of sheer carelessness.
Shifting from the bad to good he remembered that his life was finally looking up. He was now staying with Storm, he had a steady job. And with a few exceptions, no pony suspected for a second he was a changeling. Especially not Storm. Thinking about Storm he began to blush at how quickly their relationship had moved along, he began thinking about what going forward would mean. They weren’t even together yet but he was curious what actually kissing her would be like. For awhile he stood their lost in thought until Para’s voice finally broke the train of thought, “Wha?”
“I said, what are you thinking about?”
“Oh nothing just some stuff.”
“It was Storm wasn’t it?”
“Of course not.”
“So it was about Storm, if it really wasn’t then you wouldn’t deny it. Plus it’s written on your face.”
“Dammit.” He scowled.
“Hmm I’m going to tell Storm, this looks pretty serious.”
“Wait Sparky don’t-”
Para already began bouncing off despite her brother’s protest and went over to Storm who happened to be on break, “Hey Storm.”
“Hey Sparky, what’s up?”
“I think you and my brother should talk.”
“Why’s that?” She asked taking a sip of her drink.
“Because I caught him daydreaming about you and I don’t want him losing his job.”
“Oh...” Storms face lit up with blush for a second, “A-alright I’ll talk to him about it.”
“Thank you!~” She replied bouncing off.
Storm got up and walked over to Lynx, “Um hey can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, what about?”
“Oh uh not here, it’s not really something I want to have here. Mind if we go in back?”
“Sure” Lynx turned to Neon, “Can you cover the register for me?”
“Indeed I can, just don’t be too long okay?” He replied walking over to take Lynx’s place.
“Thanks Neon.”
“Anytime.” He said with a bright smile watching the two ponies disappear into the backroom.
***
“So what did you want to talk about Storm?” Lynx asked turning to look at her.
“Just what you’re thinking about. Sparky says she caught you lost in thought and she’s worried about you.”
“Well you can tell my nosy sister I’m fine.”
Storm let out a soft giggle, “She also told me that you were thinking about me, is that true?”
“She cannot keep her mouth shut can she?” Lynx let out a heavy sigh nodding, “Yes I was thinking about you.”
“C-could you tell me what specifically you were thinking about?” She asked with a bright blush.
“W-well, to be perfectly honest... I was thinking about what it would feel like to really kiss you.” He admitted his own blush sparking up.
“Well I know we aren’t together but...” Storm grew closer to Lynx, “I w-wouldn’t mind seeing how it feels either.”
“S-storm?” Lynx looked at her confused, he wanted to back up but something had him frozen.
Storm closed her eyes and leaned in planting a soft kiss on Lynx’s lips, her face burning with a hot blush.
Lynx stood their frozen in shock for a moment, but as soon as he realized it was happening, that it was real, he could barely believe it. Closing his eyes and accepting, it he leaned in and kissed her back, silently celebrating his first kiss with the mare he loved.