//------------------------------// // Fateful Meeting // Story: Surviving Secrets // by Aetaes Wolf //------------------------------// Hooves pound against the stone streets as a black mare dashes through the streets, a grey filly holding tightly onto her as she carries the young pegasus on her back. The sounds of the raging battle echo all around them. The mare’s golden yellow eyes dart all around, her mind racing to find the quickest route to the safe house she has made. Skidding to a stop, the mare’s long blood red mane falls so it covers her right eye. Narrowing her eyes, her horn glows red as she lifts the filly off of her back, setting her down gently beside her. The filly whimpers from fear as he quickly darts underneath the mare, latching onto her arm. The mare bites back a smile as she scans her surroundings. “Stay close to me, understand?” The filly nods, her long golden mane bouncing slightly at the action as her green eyes dart around fearfully. The mare’s eyes flicker to where a flash of black catches her eye, her eyes narrowing slightly as she takes a defensive stance. Her horn glows red a she builds up power, her eyes glowing red. A changeling bursts out from its cover, heading straight for the pair. Concentrating her power, a beam of red magic shoots from the mare’s horn, hitting the changeling and blasting it into a nearby wall, effectively knocking it out. The filly looks up at the mare in awe as the mare’s eyes return to their normal colour, her magic dying down. The mare lets out a breath, taking a quick glance around. “You alright?” The filly nods. “Y-yeah, I’m- LOOK OUT!” The mare looks up in time to see a changeling heading directly toward her, though a brown and black blur slams into the changeling, knocking it into the ground as the pair get caught in their own fight. From what the mare could tell, a brown pegasus colt was fighting off the changeling. Blinking slightly, the mare furrows her brows in confusion. “He’s a changeling, too. Why is he fighting his own?” She shakes her head, nudging the filling toward a house that is encased in a magic shield. “Hide there, they won’t be able to get to you.” The filly looks back to the mare. “W-what about you?” “Others need my help. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.” The filly nods, dashing for the house, the shield allowing her to pass as she quickly makes her way inside. The mare watches the filly, letting her guard down as she makes sure the young pony gets to safety. A changeling slams into her side; send her rolling onto the ground. She hisses slightly as the impact causing a cut to open on her face. She glares at the changeling above her whom as her pinned to the ground. The brown colt slams into the changeling, sending it flying a few feet away from the mare. The mare blinks, getting up and watching as the colt flies over to the changeling, grabbing its head and slamming it down into the ground, knocking it out. Panting slightly, the brown colt folds his wings neatly against him, his long black mane slightly ruffled from the fight. He turns to face the mare, his emerald eyes looking into her golden yellow eyes. “You alright?” “I’m fine.” The mare replies, ignoring the blood dripping down her face from the cut she had received. The colt narrows his eyes, walking up to the mare. “You’re injured.” He lifts his hoof to try and get a better look at the wound, but the mare slaps it away. “I don’t need your help, changeling!” The colt takes a step back. “How did you-?!” “My eyes can see through your disguise.” The mare simply replies, relaxing her stance slightly. “But you have yet to hurt me. Why do you fight your own kind?” “Long story...” The colt mutters. The mare simply nods in reply. Silence comes over the pair. The colt shifts slightly, moving forward and lifting his hoof towards the mare’s wound once more, causing the mare to take a step back. The colt sighs. “I’m not gonna hurt you.” “It’s not I who I am afraid will be injured.” The mare deadpans. The colt blinks in confusion. “Wha-?” He watches as the blood drips from her face, landing on the stone below them. His eyes widen slightly as he notices the blood starts to eat away at the stone, acting as a form of acid. He takes a step back. “D-demon-!” The mare tilts her head slightly. “I am.” “Th-then why are you helping ponies?! Shouldn’t you be causing them chaos?!” “I could ask you the same question.” The colt pauses a moment to think. “Fair point.” He relaxes a bit. “So... does the demon have a name?” The mare shrugs. “I do, but I have not used it in many years. But you may call me Eclipse.” “So, Eclipse isn’t your real name?” “The name has been dead and lost for over ten thousand years. Eclipse has become my name.” “Oh...” “...Does the changeling have a name?” The colt blinks slightly. “H-huh? Oh, it’s ah... it’s Crevdar...” “Crevdar...” Eclipse repeats. “That means “Changer”, does it not?” The colt nods. “I’m surprised you know its meaning.” Eclipse shrugs. “I may have been asleep for ten thousand years, but my knowledge is still vast.” The pair duck as a changeling comes flying overhead, smashing into the side of the building. Crevdar blinks, standing straight as he stares at the changeling. “You should probably find somewhere to hide until the battle is over.” Eclipse chuckles, walking past Crevdar as she runs her tail underneath his chin, a blush erupting on the brown colt’s face as blood rushes to his wings, sending them up into the air. “That’s awfully sweet of you, Crevy. But I assure you, I can take care of myself.” Crevdar stutters for a few moments before awkwardly coughing into his hoof, looking away from Eclipse as he tries to control the blush on his face. “Still, it’s dangerous out here, its best if you find somewhere to hide until the battle has passed.” “I would be more concerned about yourself, a demon’s wounds will heal quickly, a mortal’s wounds will not.” Crevdar thinks for a moment. Glancing to the wound on Eclipse’s cheek, he sees that it has already healed. “...Huh.” Smiling slightly, Eclipse walks forward, pressing a swift kiss to Crevdar’s cheek, causing blush to once again erupt on his face. Crevdar blinks, confused by the warm feeling spreading through him and the taste of love he is feeling in his mouth him from the gesture. “W-what was that for?!” “A gift, to help protect you in battle.” Eclipse simply replies, quickly turning on her heel and dashing down the streets. Crevdar stares blankly after her, ignoring the chaos around him. A smile makes its way onto his face as he spreads his wings out, taking into the air. He certainly won’t forget his encounter with the oddly sweet demon.