It's been 6 months since Sea Breeze and her family moved to Ponyville. She has her loyal dog that's been by her side through thick and thin, the sweetest coltfriend ever and the best group of friends a mare could ask for. But will it last?
sequel to New Town, New Beginnings Love. Everypony experiences it at one point or another. Sea has known what love is all her life. But she never knew what love truly is until she met Thunder Bolt. Now six months after moving to Ponyville, Sea and Bolt are as in love as two teenagers could be.
Ponyville's First Annual Music Festival is just several weeks away. Excited that there is to be a singing competition and desperate for her cutie mark, ten year old Daisy Juniper enters herself and her big sister Sea Breeze without the older mare's permission. When she finds out, Sea panics, as she does not do well in front of large crowds. After being comforted by her coltfriend, Sea agrees to accompany her little sis, but she can't help but having doubts about herself.
Meanwhile, Angus, Sea Breeze's loyal canine companion, still has ill thinking towards Thunder Bolt. Though he knows that the colt is a good one, the dog's deep rooted instinct of protecting his owner refuses to let Bolt in. After many months of being treated as if he is invisible, Angus begins to feel that Sea no longer loves him.
Life in Ponyville book 2: Forever Love by SeaBreeze173 Chapter 1
The past six months had been the best months of Sea Breeze’s life. Six months since her family had moved to Ponyville. Six months since she had reunited with her foalhood best friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Six months since she had met the love of her life. Six months since her father and dog began plotting for her love’s demise. Sea didn’t know how her life could get any better. ~~~
Cough cough cough
Aaaaaaa-CHOOO!
“Ugh,” the light grey mare reached for the tissue box beside her bed. “I hate being sick.”
Sea Breeze sneezed again, her loyal dog, Angus, snuggling closer to her as he tried to comfort his mistress. The dog perked up when the bedroom door opened, revealing Sea’s coltfriend, Thunder Bolt, balancing a tray on his back.
“Go away. This is your fault,” Sea wheezed. The mild cold Bolt had gotten a week before spread to Sea. The young pegasus didn’t get sick often, but if she ever had the misfortune of getting sick, it was always horrible. For her and the ponies that encountered her.
“Technically, it’s your fault. You never would have caught it if you hadn’t kissed me,” Bolt replied, setting the tray on the bedside table. It held a bowl of vegetable soup, a mug of honey tea and a bottle of cough medicine. The colt then looked towards the dog at his marefriend’s side. “What’s wrong with Noodles here? He hasn’t tried to kill me yet,”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Sea sipped some of the broth from her spoon.
“I guess. It just makes me uneasy seeing him like this. It’s as if he’s waiting for the right moment to attack,” Bolt responded, laughing nervously. Sea laughed as well, but it turned into a hard painful sounding cough. She continued to cough, Bolt gently patting her on the back. Sea finally got her breath and collapsed back into her pillows.
“You really don’t take sickness that well, do ya, babe?”
“Shut. Up.” Sea grumbled, glaring at the brown pegasus. ~~~
After a week of sniffling, coughing and feeling horrible, Sea finally got over her cold. Angus was grateful that his mistress could finally go outside. Being stuck in a bedroom with a sick and grumpy mare was not fun for the black and white beast.
“Good morning, Mom, Daddy,” Sea Breeze trotted happily into the kitchen of her home, Angus close behind. The kitchen was like nothing Sea had ever seen before. Her mother, Amethyst Rose, always wanted a gourmet kitchen and after nineteen years of marriage to the love of her life, Bass Tempo, she finally had it. The kitchen had a double everything. Two stoves, two ovens, two sinks, two dish washers, and two refrigerators, both of which were almost always empty due to Sea’s brother’s constant eating from being a young teenage colt. The walls were a light creamy white. In the center was a large island with bar stools along one side. Amethyst sat at the island each night, looking around and counting all the cabinets, which totaled at fifty-one. It was like a dream come true for the white pegasus.
“Good morning, Pal,” Bass Tempo replied, smiling brightly at his eldest daughter. He was sat on one of the bar stools, sipping on what was more than likely his fourth cup of coffee. Sea went up to her father and gave him a tight hug. “What was that for?” Bass asked as Sea gave an equally tight hug to her mother, who was fixing a breakfast of scrambled eggs, hay bacon and waffles.
“No reason, Daddy. Just want ya to know how much I love ya!” Sea replied happily, trotting over to Angus’ food bin and scooping out a few cups of the dry kibble. She would add some of the scrambled eggs after Amethyst finished cooking them.
“Okay then. I have no problem with that,” Bass went back to drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper he held in his magic. ~~~
Once breakfast was over, Sea took Angus outside to play with him for a few minutes. It was the middle of summer and the weather pegasi had taken it to heart. It was hot, hot, hot.
“Hey Sea Breeze!” Phoenix, one of Sea’s friends, shouted as she and Sweet Heart, another friend, landed a few feet away. Seeing Sweetie, Angus took off towards her in hopes of a treat, as the kind pegasus always had a biscuit just for him.
“Hey girls!” Sea smiled, flying the rest of the way to her friends. Angus was thanking Sweetie for his treat by licking her over and over on her face, the pink pegasus laughing as the dog’s wet tongue went over her fur.
“Geez, Heart, didja smear peanut butter on ya face?” Phoenix looked at her friend, totally grossed out.
“Lighten up Nixie,” Sweet Heart giggled as Sea pulled her enthusiastic pet away. Phoenix shook her head, turning to Sea Breeze.
“Anyway, Heart, Moonie and I were wondering if you wanted to go the spa with us. Moonie is already there,”
“I’d love to! Just let me put Angus up.”
After putting an upset pooch inside the house, Sea and her friends took flight towards the Ponyville Day Spa. Moon Glow was waiting outside the spa and smiled when her friends came into sight.
“Finally! I was wondering when you girls would show,” the unicorn exclaimed. “C’mon, let’s go inside and get pampered!” The girls squealed in agreement and filed into the building. At the desk stood Lotus Blossom, a blue earth pony with a pink mane and tail.
“Hi Lotus! Four usuals, please,” Moon Glow requested. Lotus Blossom smiled and led the four friends to the back where they met up with her twin sister, Aloe, who was basically Lotus with her colors switched.
Aloe led the fillies to the mud baths and the four carefully got in.
“Ah, this is the life,” Phoenix sighed. Sea Breeze glanced at her usually tom-coltish friend.
“When met you I never took you as a girl who liked to be pampered,”
“Hey, just because I like to get down and dirty with the guys, doesn’t mean that I don’t like being girly either,” Phoenix grinned, her eyes closed.
“What ever you say, Nixie,” Sea smirked.
The friends spent several hours at the spa, talking about girl things and having fun. Moon Glow and Sweet Heart got their hooves done, but Sea and Phoenix voted against it. Sea was not fond of having her hooves being touched and Phoenix knew that hers wouldn’t last long before being chipped and rough once more.
Sea bid goodbye to her friends outside of the spa and flew home to spend some time with her pet. When they lived in Vanhoover, Sea spent every waking moment with her dog. Now that they were in Ponyville and Sea had made several friends, Angus spent most days with Bass and Amethyst or the annoying fillies known as Daisy Juniper, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Angus was grateful for the days that his mistress made time for him. They seemed to be getting fewer and fewer.
~~~
The giant black and white dog sat begrudgingly as the four fillies put crowns, scarves, tu-tus and hats on him. At the sound of the front door opening, he immediately shook off the current hat they had on his head and went bounding to the foyer.
“Hi, Angusssuah—what in the name of Celestia happened to you?” Sea lifted a brow. Angus sat down on his haunches, gazing up to his owner with the saddest eyes he could make. He still had on the pink tu-tu and a fluffy pink boa, a clip-on ear ring hanging off his left ear. He also had the remains of what looked like glittery pink lip gloss on his snout.
“And what’s that on your paws?” Sea bent down to take a closer look. “Hoof polish? PINK HOOF POLISH?!? GIRLS!!”
After spending nearly an hour getting the hoof polish off her dog’s paws and attempting to wash the lip gloss off his snout, Sea finally finished and let the grumpy canine out of the bathroom. He ran downstairs and went out through the doggie door in the kitchen, hoping to get away from the torture he had been put through.
Sea, with Juniper close behind, continuously spouting of her apologies, came into the kitchen a few minutes later. The rest of the Crusaders had left already for their homes
“It’s fine, June. It was actually a little funny seeing him like that,” Sea smiled down at her little sister.
“He was so good!” Junie squeaked. Sea nodded as she picked up Angus’ food dish and began to prepare his supper.
“Breezey?” Juniper hopped up on a chair and sat down.
“Yeah, kid?” Sea opened the door to call Angus in. The dog trotted in and went to his food dish beside the island in the middle of the kitchen.
“Well, you know the music festival that’s going to be here in three weeks?” Sea nodded. “Uh-huh. Isn’t Daddy and the band going to be some of the entertainment?”
“Uh-huh! There’s also going to be a singing competition,” Juniper grinned brightly.
“That’s cool. Are you going to enter?” Sea knew how her sister loved to sing. The ten year old actually had quite a good voice.
“Yeah. I was wondering if you would like to compete with me.” Sea froze at that, her eyes going to pinpricks. She shook her head, saying,
“I don’t know—”
“I already signed us up,” Junie cut in. Sea gaped at her sister.
“Why would she do this?” Sea paced back and forth in front of the park bench the next day. Her coltfriend, Thunder Bolt, was sitting on the bench, watching his distressed marefriend pace in front of him.
“Sea.”
“I mean, she knows I can’t sing in front of other ponies!”
“Sea.”
“I can’t do it!”
“Sea.”
“She’ll have to do it without me,”
“SEA BREEZE!!!” Bolt shouted, making the mare flinch so hard she almost jumped out of her skin.
“What?”
“Relax,” Bolt said calmly. “You’re also making a trench.” He nodded at the ever-growing ditch. Sea’s right eye twitched slightly.
“Relax? Relax?! I can’t relax! My sister has gone and done something that is my worst fear! How can I relax?!” Bolt sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know why you’re so upset. You obviously have singing talent.” He gesturing toward her cutie mark. Sea took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. She folded her ears back against her head and looked at her hooves. “I know I have the talent,” Sea sniffed. “I just can’t do it.”
Bolt smiled gently. “C’mere,” he held his hooves out. Sea came up and sat down on the bench beside him, leaning into his warm embrace. Bolt wrapped his arms around his marefriend and kissed her lightly on her neck. “You don’t have to be afraid, Sea,”
“Ha, easy for you to say. You aren’t afraid of anything,” Sea scoffed. “Well, except Angus.”
Bolt pulled away and lifted Sea’s head up so that he could look her in the eyes. “I mean it. You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve heard you sing. You have a beautiful voice. If anypony has said otherwise, they are stupid and have no idea what real talent is,” Bolt paused, using his hoof to wipe back a wisp of Sea’s blue and burgundy mane. He smiled again. “You’ll do fine. Junie will be up there beside you. She’ll have enough confidence for the both of you,” he laughed, causing Sea to smile. She then closed her eyes and her ears flattened against her head.
“I’m still nervous. I really don’t like being the center of attention,” Sea pulled her head from Bolt’s hooves.
“Everypony is nervous at some point or another, Breezey,” Bolt bent down and lifted her chin once more. Sea stayed silent for several minutes as Bolt gazed lovingly into her eyes. She smiled gently, a light blush showing up on her cheeks.
“You’re right, Bolty. I’ll do the competition with Junie. You’ll be there, too, and the rest of the crew, right?”
“We wouldn’t miss it. I know the girls will be right up front, cheering you on. And I’ll be up there with them,”
“You’re the best.”
“You know it,” Bolt laughed. “Hey, how about a race? Loser gets a kiss.” Sea smirked and placed her hoof on Bolt’s chest, making him lean back.
“Then you’ll be getting a boat load of kisses.” ~~~
Sea Breeze kept the lead up until the last minute, when Thunder Bolt put on a sudden burst of speed. He sped up to where he was flying right beside her. She glanced at him and started flapping her wings faster. She didn’t notice Bolt pull up and begin flying above her. He descended and grabbed her with his arms.
“Eep!” Sea yelped as she felt his hooves around her midsection. “Bolt!” Bolt ignored her calls and went flying right onto a cloud. He wasn’t expecting the less-than-soft landing, however and really didn’t expect Sea falling right on his pride.
“OOF”
“Gah, Bolt! Why’d you do—uh, are you okay?” Sea turned her head sideways, her brows raised. Bolt had his eyes closed, his cheeks puffed out and slightly blue colored.
“You landed on my you know whats,” he choked out.
“Didn’t catch that,”
“You landed on myyou know whats,” the colt grimaced. “Please, move.” Sea scrambled to get her hooves under her.
“Sorry,” she lifted up off her coltfriend and stepped beside him. "It was your fault, you know," she giggled. Bolt groaned as he tried to lean up, but ended up just falling back down on the cloud. Sea's eyes softened and softly smiled.
“Are you going to be okay?” she asked, leaning down to Bolt’s face.
“We’ll find out when we have kids,” he smirked, opening his eyes.
“BOLT! We’re only seventeen!” Sea punched him in the shoulder.
“What? Just planning for the future. And OW!” The brown pegasus rubbed the shoulder Sea hit.
“Is that all you colts think about?”
“Hey! We think of other things. Like hoofball. And pizza,”
“Sometimes I really don’t like you,” Sea huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at the colt. Bolt sat up and reached his arms around Sea, pulling her close.
“You know you love me,” he whispered in her ear, his hot breath making her ear twitch. Sea felt her cheeks go hot and she lowered her ears. She felt chills go down her spine and she shivered slightly.
“Ooh, did I hit a sweet spot?”
“You do know that I can punch you right where the sun don’t shine, right?”
“You’re brutal,” Bolt flinched, pulling away.
“And don’t you forget it either, buster,” Sea wiggled out of his grip and pushed him back down on the cloud, lying across his chest. Bolt leaned up slightly and placed an arm behind his neck. Sea looked up at him, her emerald eyes made him feel as if she were looking straight into his soul. Sea smiled gently as she gazed into his own pools of blue. She could get lost looking into his eyes. So loving. So kind. Bolt used a hoof to push back a wisp of her mane that was always hanging over her right eye. He used to same hoof to hold her face gently.
“Sea, do you know how beautiful you are?”
“I should, you never stop telling me,” Sea’s face turned crimson.
“And I never will. You are beautiful,” Bolt leaned towards Sea, kissing her lovingly on the lips. Sea closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss. The kiss felt as if it lasted forever and Sea wished that it would never end. She loved Bolt. She loved him so much. Every day she woke up and every day she went to bed, that brown coated, blonde maned, blue eyed knucklehead was on her mind. She didn’t want it any other way. ~~~
Sea didn’t know how long she and Bolt stayed on the cloud. She stayed snuggled into her coltfriend’s embrace. No words were needed. Just being in each other’s presence was enough for both.
It was nearing sunset when the two began to fly back down to Ponyville. They landed at the outskirts of town and took the path leading to Sea’s home. Sea leaned up against Thunder Bolt as the two slowly walked. He nuzzled her head sweetly and kissed her lightly on her cheek.
Angus came around from the back of the house as the two walked up. He took a glance at Bolt and did as much as scoff as dog could do. He leapt up onto the porch and laid down on his mat, his head between his tiny black paws. Despite his body being so large and muscular, his paws were small, something that made the mix breed canine all the more unique.
Angus continued to watch the two love birds stroll up the path. He knew that growling at the pony who stole his mistress’ heart was pointless. He would just be reprimanded and told to knock it off. He wished that things could just go back to the way they were, before Sea fell for Bolt. Angus wanted to be the love of her life once more. But her love had been given to another. He watched as his love kissed the one that had ruined his life. His sad brown eyes followed the mare’s every movement as she trotted slowly up the steps, turning to blow a kiss to the colt. His ears drooped as she walked right past him and through the door. He sighed sadly. Angus knew that he had been replaced. And for a dog, the creature that was made to be Pony’s Best Friend, that is the worst feeling of all.
The next morning came fast. Sea yawned as she sat up on her bed. The sun was shining through the curtains on her windows.
“C’mon, Angus. Time to get up,” Sea turned to where her dog laid on the bed. Only the canine was not there.
“Angus?” Sea looked around the room for her pet. That’s weird, she thought. The pegasus opened her already cracked door and walked down the hallway to her parents’ room.
“Momma? Daddy?” Sea called. Her father peeked out of the bedroom.
“Yeah, Pal?”
“Do you know where Angus is? He wasn’t in my room when I woke up,”
“I haven’t seen him. Rosie?” Bass called into the room.
“Yeah?” Amethyst answered from the bathroom.
“You haven’t seen Angus this morning, have you?”
“No. Why?” the white pegasus came up beside him.
“He wasn’t in my room. I don’t know where he is. I don’t even know if he even came in.” Sea was beginning to get a little panicky.
“Don’t worry, honey. I’m sure he’ll show up. Maybe he went to see Winona,” Amethyst suggested.
“Y-yeah. Maybe. I’m going to go to Applejack’s to see if she’s seen him,”
“Do you want any breakfast first?”
“I not very hungry, Momma,” Sea turned away and trotted down stairs. Bass and Amethyst stood at the doorway of their room, hearing the opening and shutting of the front door as Sea went out. ~~~
“Sorry, Sea Breeze. Ah haven’t seen ‘im. ‘Course if Ah did Ah’d of chased his curly tailed rear home,” Applejack chuckled. She stopped when she saw Sea’s dejected face. “If ya want any help looking for ‘im, though, let me know and me and the girls will help ya search for him,”
“Thanks, AJ,” Sea flapped her wings and slowly flew away. Applejack watched her as she disappeared from sight.
“Poor kid. Ah know Ah’d be wreck if Winona went missing,” Applejack sighed to herself.
Sea went to all of Twilight’s friends, asking if they had seen Angus. Each time she received a downhearted ‘no’. She swore that she saw Pinkie’s mane deflate slightly when she said that Angus was missing. Rainbow Dash was down casted after Sea asked her. Fluttershy and Rarity each fought a flood of tears. When she arrived at Twilight’s castle, Sea finally broke down and cried in the princess’ arms, Spike laying a comforting claw on her shoulder.
“I don’t know what to do, Twi,” Sea sniffed. “He’s never done this before. He is always on my bed, right beside me.” A few more tears came rolling down her face. Twilight patted the pegasus’ back.
“Don’t worry, Sea. We’ll find him. I promise you. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Twilight smiled gently at the mare still holding on to her.
“Now, how about you head home, rest, maybe have something to eat. I’ll rally the girls and we’ll get a game plan together,”
“Okay, Twilight. Thanks.” Sea hugged her friend tightly and then hugging Spike.
“You can trust Twilight, Sea Breeze. We’ll bring Angus home,” the baby dragon stated. Sea smiled at him and hugged him again.
~~~
The black and white dog trotted slowly through the Everfree Forest. He had left his home in the middle of the night. In his mind, there was no reason to stay. His mistress no longer loved him, Bass and Amethyst rarely had time for him, Lightning didn’t even know he existed half the time and the four annoying fillies were always torturing him with tu-tus and lip stick.
He trotted down the pathway, his head and usually curled tailed hung low. His eyes were full of hurt and pain. Most days he was a proud standing, muscular beast that dared ponies to mess with him. Now, he was a sad, miserable shell of his once magnificent self. If one looked close enough, they could see what looked like a tear falling from his eye.
Angus suddenly stopped mid-step, his front left paw held up. His nose picked up a scent, a horrible stench that made him want to gag. He looked around cautiously, his dark brown eyes settling on some bushes beside the pathway. He took a step closer, curious as to what it was that he smelled. That’s when he saw it.
He began running down the path as fast as his legs could carry him. Behind him was a rapidly approaching adolescent timberwolf. He jumped over streams, rocks and logs, but he could not shake the timberwolf. He jumped over another log, but he stumbled and fell as he landed. He felt a sharp pain go up his right front leg and into his shoulder. He heard the timberwolf howling, approaching him quickly. The last thing he thought of as the wooden creature jumped over the log, was his Sea Breeze. ~~~
Sea walked up the front steps of her home. Sitting on the swing was Thunder Bolt. Sea ran to him and collapsed into his open arms. Bolt pulled her close as she cried into his chest. She held onto him as if her life depended on it. She burrowed her head into his neck as he placed his head over her shoulder.
“I miss him, Bolty. I miss my dog.” she cried. Bolt felt tears come into his own eyes as he heard his marefriend’s words. A few drops fell out and onto her mane.
“Shhh, it’s okay, Sea. It’s fine. I’m here, baby,” Bolt rubbed his hoof up and down her back.
The pegasi sat on the swing for a long time, Sea never letting go of Bolt. Bass and Amethyst watched the two out the window. The husband and wife both had unshed tears in their eyes, heartbroken over what their daughter was going through. Amethyst flinched, a sonic boom sounding in the distance. Sea looked up from Bolt’s chest to see Rainbow Dash flying quickly to the house.
“SEA BREEZE!” the cyan mare shouted, landing hard, grass and dirt showering down around her.
“Rainbow! What’s wrong?” Sea asked frantically, running down the steps, Bolt at her heels. Bass and Amethyst busted out of the house and followed the teens. Rainbow panted hard, trying to catch her breath.
“Angus-we-found him,” she managed to get out. Sea rushed up and placed her hooves on the mare’s shoulders.
“Where?!” she shook the pegasus.
“The Everfree For—” Sea didn’t wait for Dash to finish, instead spreading her wings and quickly flying towards the dark forest.
“Sea! WAIT!” Dash called, but the pegasus was already out of hearing range. She turned to Bolt, Bass and Amethyst.
“Somepony needs to go after her! Angus is hurt, badly! We got him to Zecorra’s cottage,” The weather pony collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Bass looked to his wife and Bolt.
“Go! I’ll help Dash!” Amethyst and Bolt spread their wings and took off towards the forest. Bass levitated the mare to his back and took her inside the house.
~~~ Earlier
“Angus!”
“Angus!”
“C’mon, ya goofy dog!”
“Angus?” Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy called out to the lost dog.
“Goosey?” Pinkie Pie peeked under a rock.
“Angu—Ooh, I think I stepped in something,” Rarity lifted her front hoof, grimacing.
“Are you sure he even came here, Twi?” Rainbow asked, ignoring the white unicorn.
“Positive. The spell I’m using is a tracking spell. I scan an article of something that belonged to Angus and the DNA on it can be tracked to his current location,” Twilight replied happily.
“When did you get something that belonged to him?” Rarity trotted up beside the alicorn.
“Sea left one of his toys at the castle last weekend when they stayed over. I kept forgetting to give it back.”
The mares continued to walk through the dark forest. Fluttershy wished she could be anywhere but the forest, but the thought that her favorite canine could be hurt somewhere kept her from flying away. Of course Rainbow Dash would go after her and drag her back, so leaving was out of the question.
Rrhhmmm
Applejack paused, her ears pricked forward.
“Oof!”
“Aah! Pinkie!” Applejack grumbled, the part pony running into the farmer.
“Sorry, AJ,” Pinkie grinned. Applejack shook her head. Her ears picked up the sound again.
“Listen!”
“Listen to what?” Pinkie asked.
“Shh!” Applejack stuck her hoof in Pinkie’s mouth. The sound came once more. “That! It sounds like whimpering!”
“C’mon girls!” Twilight charged forward, the other mares galloping behind her.
They came upon a log lying across the pathway. The whimpering sound came again and Fluttershy hurriedly flew to and over it.
“AAHHH!” Fluttershy screamed. The rest of the mares quickly climbed/flew to the pegasus’ aid.
“Fluttershy! What—oh no!” Twilight cried out as she took the sight of the dog.
“Rainbow! Fly to Sea’s house and get her! Pinkie! Alert the veterinarian! Zeccora’s cottage isn’t far. The rest of us will get Angus there. GO!” Twilight said quickly, not taking her eyes off the dog.
“You got it Twi!” Rainbow saluted, racing into the air and to the young pegasus’ home. Pinkie rapidly took off for Ponyville.
“Come on girls, let get him to Zeccora’s! It’s okay Angus, we’ll get you safe.” ~~~
Present
Sea landed in front of the zebra’s cottage. She had accompanied Fluttershy and Twilight several times and knew the way by heart. Standing outside was Rarity and Applejack. Sea galloped up and tried to pass by them, but the seamstress and farmer caught her.
“Let me go!” Sea struggled.
“Ah can’t let ya go in there, Sea,” Applejack gripped the pegasus tighter, taken by surprise at how strong she was.
“Darling, you have to calm down,” Rarity attempted to soothe Sea.
“What happened to him?! Why won’t you let me in?!” Sea stepped back, anger and confusion laced across her face.
“Did Rainbow not tell you?” Rarity asked. Sea lifted a brow.
“Tell me what?”
Rarity felt her eyes swell up with tears, Applejack pulling her Stetson off. “Sea, Ah—”
Amethyst trotted to Rarity, motioning for the unicorn to follow her.
“Sea flew off before Rainbow could tell her. What happened?” Amethyst inquired, her eyes then went wide, “He isn’t dead, is he?”
Rarity shook her head. “No, but he is hurt. Pinkie went back to town to alert the veterinarian,” Amethyst put her hoof over her mouth.
“ What could have done this to him?”
“Twilight thinks that he was attacked. By a Timberwolf. He’s a lucky dog,” Amethyst smiled slightly, “He always has been a fighter.”
Twilight came out of the cottage. Her eyes settled on Sea Breeze, who was still trying to get around Applejack. Sea saw her friend and spread her wings. She leaped over Applejack, using her wings to catch the air and rushed up to the alicorn princess.
“Twi! Where’s my dog? Where’s Angus?”
“He’s inside,” Sea started to go in, but stopped when she felt Twilight’s hoof on her own. “Not yet. I need to tell you something,”
“W-what is it?” Sea began to shake. Bolt strode up beside her. Twilight took a breath, preparing herself to tell her foalhood friend the news. “We found him by using a tracking spell I learned a while back. Applejack heard whimpering and we followed the sound to him—” Twilight shut her eyes, several tears squeaking their way through. “I didn’t know if he was even alive. There was so much blood. But he must had heard us because he opened his eyes and tried to get up. Somehow, someway, he was still alive,” Twilight sighed. Sea’s tears had come back in full swing, but she was happy that her beloved pet was safe. Twilight continued, “He actually walked here himself, though he was limping terribly. He collapsed once we got him inside.
“Zeccora and I got him cleaned up. He’s got a deep slash across his chest. We didn’t see any other cuts, but I think his leg might be broken,”
“Can I see him?” Sea asked once Twilight finished, Applejack, Rarity and Amethyst coming beside her
It was three days after Angus’ disappearance and finding. His leg was not broken, but it was sprained badly. It was decided to put a cast on it anyways to keep it still so that the sprain would heal. The slash across his chest was disinfected and bandaged. The vet wanted it to start healing before she put any stitches in order to prevent infection. In his mouth, she found several wood splinters, proving that somehow the dog had fought off the timberwolf.
Sea and her father brought the dog home after two days at the veterinarian office. Even with the cast and bandages, Angus was determined to run, or quickly trot, around. As Amethyst had told Rarity, Angus was a fighter and he was proving that fact each step he took.
Right now, however, he was pumped full of pain medication and antibiotics, so the canine felt pretty darn chipper on the warm summer morning. Sea was not looking forward to give her pet the antibiotics. His pain meds would be no problem, just stick a few pills in some cheese and he would eat them with no problem. But the antibiotic was liquid. Angus did not do well with liquid meds and Sea new that he would smell it if she put it in food.
“Daddy?” the pegasus asked as she watched her dog limp to a bush and attempt to pee on it. After several attempts he gave up and did his business without the usual mandatory lifting of his leg.
“Yeah, Pal?” Bass responded.
“I think I know why Angus ran away,” Sea put her focus on the ground before her. Bass stayed silent, waiting for Sea to continue.
“I think that he left because I’ve neglected him. Ever since I started dating Bolt I haven’t spent as much time with Angus. I think that he felt as if I didn’t love him any more or something like that,”
Bass Tempo glanced to his daughter. “Sea, I can’t tell you what to do about Angus and Bolt. Although they may be a different species from each other, they are still of the male gender. And dudes get pretty paralyzed when they’re in love. I know that both your dog and your coltfriend love you more than life itself. But it’s going to have to be you who decides what is best,”
The father and daughter continued on the walk home. Sea had a lot of things to think about. And she didn’t know what to do. ~~~
Later that afternoon, Sea showed Angus his temporary bedroom in the laundry room. With the large cast on his leg, he could not go up the stairs to Sea’s room. For the first few nights Sea planned on pulling his bed to the family room and sleeping on the couch so that she could be near him. Right now Angus was loose, sun bathing in the family room.
Sea decided to sneak outside to get a break before she would have to wrestle her pet to get his meds in him. She went to the swing and sat down. It was a beautiful day. Sunny, with some clouds. Birds were chirping contently, squirrels and rabbits played and searched for food. Sea closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh scents of the great outdoors. She didn’t hear the wing flaps and soft hoof falls on the front porch.
“Hey, Sea,”
“AAHH!” Sea screamed, throwing her hoof out.
“OWW!” Bolt yelped, holding his muzzle.
“Bolt! Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” Sea jumped up, fussing over her coltfriend.
“I think you broke my nose,” Bolt said, his voice stuffy.
“I didn’t hit you that hard,” Sea rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I know. It was just fun seeing you so worried about my wellbeing,” the brown colt smirked.
“Jerk,”
“So, how’s Angus hanging in?” Bolt sat down beside Sea on the swing.
“He acts as if nothing happened. He’s a hoot.” Sea smiled. She then frowned, “Bolt, I need to tell you something,”
“I’m listening,”
“I think I know why he ran off,” Sea looked into her coltfriend’s eyes.
“And?” Bolt pushed.
“I think that he felt as if I didn’t love him anymore because I spent so much time with you,” Sea turned away, afraid of how Bolt would react.
“I can understand that,” Bolt sighed after several minutes. Sea looked back to him, surprised at what she heard. “I mean, I have pretty much stolen you away from him. I know how he is really attached to you, and suddenly I come into your lives and turn everything that he ever knew completely upside down. He has to be confused,” Bolt placed a hoof around Sea, pulling her close. He continued, “I may have never had a dog, but I know that they can be sensitive animals and anything that puts an imbalance in their environment can stress them out.” Sea was astounded at how Bolt understood her situation. It was just one more thing that made her adore him.
“Well that’s a relief. I thought that you’d be mad,” Sea replied.
“How could I be mad? Angus had you first. I’ve pretty much figured out that you two are a package deal,” Bolt laughed, causing Sea to burst into a fit of giggles as well.
“I love you, Bolty,” Sea sighed once she settled down her laughing fit. She leaned into Bolt’s shoulder. Bolt smiled gently down at his marefriend. ~~~
That night Sea layed on the couch in the family room, Angus on a thick bed of blankets on the floor beside her. The dog had felt discomfort when he tried to lie in his usual sleeping position; on his back with all four legs in the air. After several minutes of trying to figure out to lie down with a cast and bandages, he finally just flipped onto his side, not caring if he would be able to get up the next morning.
It was way past midnight, but Sea was still awake. After everything that happened with her dog, she nearly had forgotten about the singing competition. It was three weeks away now and although she knew there was no reason to be nervous, she still felt the butterflies in her stomach. She reached a hoof down and rubbed her pet’s head. She smiled as she heard the dog moan in delight and felt his tongue flick across her hoof. “I love you, Goose Goose. Good night, boy.”
“CAN YOU FOUR JUST SHUT IT ALREADY!!” Sea exclaimed, her hooves covering her head. Juniper had enlisted her friends, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, aka the Cutie Mark Crusaders, to help her find a song for her and her sister to sing. Despite Sea Breeze telling her little sis to pick whatever she wanted to do, Daisy Juniper insisted that Sea help as well. Right now the friends were bickering over which song that would be sung.
“Sorry sis,” Junie flinched. Sea took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“It’s okay. I just wish you would pick something. I don’t have all day, you know,” Sea ruffled her sister’s mane, making the little pegasus laugh and push her hoof away. Juniper turned to the stack of CDs and pulled the next disc off the top. Sea recognized the cover and inched closer to have a better look at the title.
“I remember this one! Gramma Sapphire got this for me five years ago! I thought I’d lost it!” Sea exclaimed joyfully. Junie placed the disc in her CD player, pressing the ‘play’ button.
“I like this one,” Junie smiled. Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom
“FINALLY!” Sea exclaimed. “See ya, girls!” Sea spread her wings and took off in the sky, hoping to get as far away as possible.
“But Sis! We have to practice!” Junie called, but her sister was already too far away to hear. ~~~
“Yo! Breezey!” Sea flinched hard in the air as she flew over the makeshift soccer field, nearly forgetting to flap her wings. “Down here!” Sea looked down and saw her friends congregated under the lone oak tree beside the field. Stone Brook, Sweat Heart, Moon Glow, Phoenix, Skye Racer, Glacier and Red Knight were all there, but Bolt was no where to seen.
“Hi guys,” Sea touched down beside Moon. “What’s up?”
“Nothing really. We were going to play some soccer, but Bolt hasn’t gotten here yet. Dude’s ten minutes late,” Skye huffed.
“Ya haven’t seen him, have ya?” Phoenix asked.
“Not since last night,” Sea replied, stopping as she saw Bolt land behind Skye.
“Well if he doesn’t get here soon I’m gonna go find him and drag his—”
“BOO!” Bolt shouted in Skye’s ear. Skye jumped three feet in the air, his feathers ruffled and fur poofed out.
“Dude! Don’t do that!” Skye exclaimed. The group laughed heartily, Stone practically rolling on the ground.
“Nice one, Bolt!” Red laughed, Phoenix falling over him in a fit of giggles. Skye grumbled and glared at his friends.
“So, are we gonna play soccer or sit here and humiliate Racer?” Phoenix wiped some tears from her eyes. “I’m good with either one!”
“Nixie!” Skye
“What?” Phoenix smiled innocently, batting her eye lashes.
“Okay, okay, guys. C’mon, let’s play!” Stone bounced the soccer ball from wing to wing. “Bolt and Nixie are on my team!”
Sweet Heart, Moon and Sea chatted happily with each other as Phoenix and the boys played soccer. It was beginning to become more of a game of hoofball/dodge ball, with the friends tackling each other and then throwing the ball at members of the other team, instead of just stealing the ball. Phoenix stole the soccer ball out of Red’s hooves and chucked it hard at Skye Racer, who was flapping a few feet off the ground . “Oh crap,” Skye shut his eyes, knowing that there was no way he could get out the ball’s path. The three young mares flinched as Skye took the hit right where a stallion does not like to be hit.
“Eeow” Skye groaned, his hooves between his hind legs. “I’m out!” the pegasus fell over on the ground, hooves still guarding his bruised stallionhood. Nixie stared at the downed colt for several moments before she burst out laughing, also falling onto the ground. The rest of the colts looked from the laughing mare to the pained colt.
“Dude, remind me to never make Nixie mad,” Red whispered to Glacier.
“That’s your own problem, bud. She’s your marefriend,” the white pegasus responded to his earth pony friend. Bolt shook his head and smiled.
“Okay guys. I think we’ve had enough of, what ever this was.” Stone trotted over to his brother, who was still groaning on the ground.
“Geez Racer. She really hit you hard, didn’t she?” Stone chuckled.
“Shut up and help me,” Skye snapped. Stone rolled his eyes and grabbed Skye’s outstretched hoof, pulling his twin off the ground.
“You gonna be okay?”
“Fine.” Skye said, slowly walking off, hind legs a little more spread apart. ~~~
The eight friends trotted into Sugarcube Corner in hopes of getting a cool treat on the hot summer afternoon. After placing their orders with Pinkie Pie, they settled at several tables near the front windows, Sea, Sweet Heart and Phoenix sitting beside their coltfriends. Moon Glow and Glacier had bonded a bit more since the spring dance, though the two were not in a full on relationship as of yet. Moon wished to take it slow and Glacier went along with her, though he was a bit disappointed.
Bolt leaned over towards Sea Breeze. “How about we go somewhere private for a little while after we’re done here?” he whispered in her ear. Sea blushed slightly and nodded. Bolt smiled and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Phoenix rolled her eyes as she watched the two lovebirds.
“Seriously, you two. Must you do that in public?”
“Hey, it isn’t my fault that Red isn’t sweet on you,” Bolt smirked.
“Dude!” Red exclaimed. Phoenix ignored her coltfriend and continued looking at her friends.
“Reddy doesn’t have to be all lovey-dovey for me to know he cares,”
“Have you two even kissed yet?” Moon Glow got into the conversation. Phoenix narrowed her eyes and scrunched up her muzzle.
“Of course we have! I’m surprised you even know what a kiss is, miss “Let’s-Take-It-Slow,”
“Proove it,” Skye smirked slyly.
“Do you want me to bruise you again, Racer?”
“I’ll shut up now,” the pegasus grimaced. The rest of the group, minus Skye Racer, laughed heartily. Pinkie popped up between Phoenix and Moon.
“What’s so funny?”
“GAH!” Phoenix flinched, her hooves going around Red’s neck. Her actions just made her friends laugh harder, Pinkie joining in as well.
“Haha. Heh. Ha. ZIP IT!” The table silenced immediately, knowing that Nixie was at her limit. Pinkie blinked and glanced around. She then smiled and held up the tray of milkshakes.
“Okay! Here ya go! Two banana, three chocolate, one cookie dough, one chocolate chip mint, one vanilla and one strawberry,” Pinkie said as she placed each shake at the pony that ordered it. Sea had tried nearly all of the different milkshakes, but the strawberry would always be her favorite.
After finishing their cold creamy treat, the group parted ways. Bolt grinned deviously at Sea Breeze. She lifted a brow. She knew this look like the back of her hoof.
“Bolt. What’s going on in that crazy head of your’s?” She asked, already knowing what his answer would be. This time however, the brown colt surprised her and lifted her up easily in his hooves. Sea squeaked and rapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his torso. “Bolt! What are you doing?!” She yelled out. Her eyes were shut as the colt continued to fly upwards. “Bolt! If you don’t let me go I will never forgive you!”
“Geesh. Let a guy have some fun,” Bolt sighed as he burst through a large cloud and came down to land on it. He released his hold on Sea and the mare fell backwards onto the cloud. She glared up the brown colt. “Don’t. Ever. Do. That again,” she growled.
“You’re no fun,” Bolt pouted.
“You scared the living daylights outa me!”
“Okay, okay. I won’t do it again. As far as you know,” he added quietly.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, babe,” Bolt smiled, sitting down on the cloud. Sea continued to glare at her coltfriend. Eventually his sweet, kind, goofy smile melted her glare and she sighed, smiling gently back. She slowly walked up to him, placing a hoof on his chest. She lifted her head so that she could see his eyes. Those gorgeous blue eyes.
“I’ll forgive you. This time,” she leaned towards him. Expecting a kiss, Bolt closed his eyes and leaned forward as well. Sea paused right before their lips touched and pulled back. Lifting her hoof away from his chest, she raised it up and bonked him lightly on the head.
“Oof,” Bolt shook his head. “What was that for?”
“Play that stunt again and I’ll tie your wings up, smear peanut butter on your butt and let Angus loose after you. He loves peanut butter, by the way,” she smirked, the same devious smirk Bolt had not fifteen minutes earlier. He gulped and nodded. Sea’s smirk turned in a happy grin.
“Good Bolty,” the mare patted Bolt’s head as if he was her dog. “Now, where were we?” she asked.
“I think we were right, here.” Bolt pulled her close and kissed her passionately, Sea melting into his warm embrace. Bolt began to lean back and fell softly onto the cloud, Sea now laying on his chest. She pulled away from the kiss, Bolt whimpering as he no longer felt his love’s lips upon his. He opened his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Sea ignored him and walked to the edge of the cloud. “Sea, what are you doing?” Bolt got up and stepped towards her. The grey pegasus turned to her coltfriend. “You want another kiss? You’ll have to catch me first,” with that, she jumped of the cloud, spreading her wings and flapping down. She was projected forward, the gusts from her wings hitting Bolt and making his mane blow back. “Wow,” Bolt shook his head and spread his wings, taking off quickly. Sea was already several paces in front of him. Flapping as fast as he could, Bolt began to gain on Sea.
“If this is about what I did, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!” Sea once more ignored her coltfriend and put on an extra burst of speed.
“Ugh!” Bolt grunted. He saw her disappear in a large cloud. Having a good idea as to what she was planning, Bolt stopped in front of the puffy white cloud. “I know what you’re doing, Sea Breeze. I’m not falling for it,”
Bolt flapped in place for five minutes. He was not falling for his marefriend’s trickery. But… “Sea?” Bolt flapped closer to the cloud and tried to peer in, even though he knew that he wouldn’t see anything. “Sea? Come on, this isn’t funny any more. Please, can we just, you know, get back to where we were earlier?”
“Seriously, Bolty, is that all you colts think about?”
“Huh?” Bolt turned around, only to be tackled and flung into the cloud.
“Just relax, Bolt,” Sea said softly, her voice distorted from being outside of the cloud.
“What are you doing?” Bolt asked as he struggled. His head popped out of the fluffy cloud and he pulled the rest of his body out onto the top of the cloud.
“You’re no fun,” Sea flapped up behind him. Bolt turned to her and pouted.
“I know why you’re doing this,”
“And that is?”
“For what I did to you,”
“And?”
“I’m really sorry.” Sea stared at Bolt for several moments. Bolt had the most pitiful looking face she had ever seen. As the pegasus mare continued to stay silent, Bolt began to get a little antsy.
“Uh, Sea?” Bolt leaned back. Sea rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly, giving Bolt her trademark “you’re a dork” face.
“I’m just playing with you, you knucklehead,” Sea laughed. “This had nothing to do with it. I just like seeing you squirm.”
“So, this was just a joke?” Bolt asked, raising his brow. Sea nodded. “Mm-hmm.” Bolt exhaled the breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. “Whew. That’s a relief. I thought you were really mad,”
“I could never be truly mad at you, Bolt. Frustrated, but never mad. Having Angus has granted me a lot of patience,” the pegasus giggled. Bolt smiled, standing up and shuffling over beside her. He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck. Sea leaned into him returning the nuzzle. Bolt snuck in a kiss, making Sea squeak softly. The brown colt pulled his marefriend into a hug and fell down onto the cloud, kissing her again. The couple laid together on the cloud for the remainder of the afternoon in each other’s arms.
Angus rose up from his bed in the laundry room. It was two weeks since he had sprained his leg while trying to escape from a Timberwolf in the Everfree Forest. He had left his home in the middle of the night after he began to believe that his owner, Sea Breeze, did not love him anymore. The canine believed that she had found a new love and didn’t want him around. He realized his mistake when the teary eyed pegasus rushed into the cottage of the zebra, Zeccora, and wrapped her hooves around his slightly bloody and tattered body. After finding the black dog and sending Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie to town to get Sea and alert the veterinarian, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy had helped the injured beast to Zeccora’s home.
Angus hobbled to the gate that separated him from the rest of the home. “Woof,” he barked softly. He could hear Amethyst in the kitchen and wanted to be where she was. His one lop ear stood up to the point of it being fully erect while his floppy ear pricked and flopped over in a triangle shape. He began wagging his tail as he heard the pegasus’ soft hoof falls coming in his direction. Angus held his head over the gate and began wagging his curled tail faster, letting out happy rumbling noises from deep in his throat. He then yawned, ending in a high pitched whine. Amethyst laughed and opened the gate.
“Come along, Angus. Let’s go out.” The dog happily hobbled behind the mare. He waited as she put a plastic garbage bag around his casted leg to keep the cast from getting dirty. She then opened the back door and Angus hobbled out to go about his business. Amethyst noticed that the bandages around his chest and upper body were bloody, signaling that he needed yet another bandage change and thorough cleaning. The veterinarian had decided to not stitch up the cut because it was draining so much. It had to be cleaned and re-bandaged daily, sometimes up to five times. It was a job Amethyst would have to leave to Bass and Sea, as she could not stand the sight or smell of blood.
Angus trotted back to the door and barked to be let in. Even if the door was left open, he would wait and bark, as if asking permission to continue on indoors. Amethyst complied and opened the door to let the giant dog in. He wagged his tail in approval of his “slave’s” cooperation. The writer rolled her eyes and went to the base of the stairs leading upstairs.
“SEA BREEZE!!!!!” she shouted. ~~~
Upstairs in her room, a light grey pegasus snored. She lay on her stomach, her head underneath her pillow to keep the sun rays, which squeaked through the curtains hanging over the windows across from her bed, from penetrating her eyes. She groaned in her sleep and turned over on her side, pulling her covers up and over her head, cuddling into the giant stuffed dog she had slept with every night since she was four. Her nose twitched, signaling that she was dreaming of something wonderful. Her dreams were silenced as her ears picked up the sound she dreaded each morning.
Sea’s eyes slowly opened. Her sight was blurry at first, soon focusing on the digital clock that sat on her bedside table. It read eight thirty. Sea sighed and lifted her covers. She closed her eyes and rubbed a hoof through her mane. She yawned and then sneezed, her eyes tearing up slightly. Her mother called once more. The pegasus wiped her eyes dry and went to stand up. Instead of her hoof meeting the hard wood floor, she stepped on Bolt’s skateboard, which was conveniently placed right beside her bed. The skateboard rolled as Sea’s hoof set down on it. Sea yelped, her hoof going out. Flapping her wings to catch her balance, Sea grumbled and kicked the board aside. Stupid Bolt and his stupid skateboard.
Sea walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Angus lay on a thick blanket in the corner beside his food and water dishes. He wagged his tail and barked a greeting to his mistress. Amethyst stood at the stove, mixing up pancake batter. She smiled lovingly at her daughter. Sea smiled back, although sleepily. Her ear flicked, picking up her father’s hoof falls. Bass stumbled into the kitchen, his mane showing that he had also just arose. He shook his head and tried to smooth down his wild mane with his hoof. Seeing that his mane would require a washing and styling instead of a simple hoof smoothing, he gave up and went to sit at the island beside his equally messy maned daughter. Both father and daughter yawned and reached for coffee mugs simultaneously. Bass then levitated the coffee pot and poured some of the steaming hot caffeinated drink into both mugs. Sea picked up the sugar and creamer holders and spooned two large spoon fulls of each into both mugs and stirred. The two picked up their coffee and lifted it to their noses, taking a deep breath of the deliciousness. They then both took a sip of their cups and smiled as the hot liquid coursed down their throats. Amethyst watched her husband and daughter throughout their morning routine, brow raised.
“You two are seriously freaking me out,” Amethyst said after watching for several minutes.
“What?” Bass and Sea asked in unison, having no idea what Amethyst Rose was speaking of.
“Never mind,” the white pegasus shook her head. Bass and Sea glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders, once more taking a sip of their coffees.
Angus watched the exchange with curious eyes. He knew that Bass and Sea had weird things they did together. Sometimes their movements were so alike it seemed as if they were one mind separated into two bodies. Becoming bored and having hunger pangs in his stomach, he woofed, making Sea Breeze flinch. She turned towards her pet and noticed his empty bowls, the canine glancing from the bowls to his mistress as if saying, “hello, think you forgot something.”
“Oh. Right,” Sea chuckled, as if she had understood. She hopped down from the stool at the island and trotted over to the pantry where Angus’ dry food bin was. She also grabbed a can of his favorite canned food. Retrieving his dish, she mixed up his breakfast, expertly hiding his medications in a lump of the can food and then set the bowl on the short stool she had bought to hold his bowls so that he wouldn’t have to bend down to eat or drink. Angus wagged is tail gratefully and immediately began chowing down. ~~~
Several hours later, Angus lay snoring in a sun beam that shined through the family room windows. He had clean bandages over his wounds and Sea Breeze pampered him with a massage afterwards. Now he lay in the sun beam, dreaming of things only a dog could dream. Every now and then he would whimper or bark, but he never stirred from his slumber. Until…
“GIRLS!” Sea Breeze shouted from upstairs. Angus jumped at the angry yell. He lifted up from his bed and looked around the corner. In the kitchen he could see four fillies trying their best to hide from the pegasus’ wrath. Angus’ ears flicked as they picked up angry stomping coming down the stairs. The dog’s eyes widened as he saw the state his mistress was in. Or rather, her mane. Sea’s usually smooth but stylishly messy mane stood straight up. The mare was so steamed that Angus could almost see smoke coming from her ears.
“JUNIE! SWEETIE BELL! SCOOTALOO! APPLE BLOOM!! YOU GIRLS ARE DEAD! D-E-A-D! DEAD!” Sea shouted once more, practically causing the house to shake. She stomped into the kitchen and scanned the area for the fillies. Her eyes settled on a purple tail peeking from behind the island. She hardened her glare more as she walked around to the other side. The fillies shrunk back, Juniper smiling innocently.
“Hey Sis! Did you do something different with your mane?” Sea began to shake and a growling noise erupted from her throat.
“Ah don’t think you shoulda said that, June,” Apple Bloom hissed.
“I think you’re right. RUN FOR IT!!” Junie exclaimed and the four fillies high tailed it out of the house. Sea galloped after them and stood in the doorway leading outside.
“YOU BETTER RUN! NEXT TIME STAY OUT OF MY BATHROOM!” Sea yelled after them. She paused, noticing the looks she was getting from ponies passing by her home. “Heh heh, nothing to see here. Move along.” The ponies shook their heads and continued on their way. Sea took a deep breath, releasing her tension.
“Hey Breezey—woah, what happened to your mane?” Bolt landed in front of the house. Sea rolled her eyes. “Don’t start with me, Bolt,” she turned and went in the house. Bolt stared after her for several moments before following.
“Was it the Crusaders?”
“No, it was my mother.” Sea replied sarcastically.
“Somehow, I can actually see her doing that," Sea lifted her brow, Bolt chuckling slightly. "Well, at least you make it work,” Bolt bumped the grey mare playfully as they walked up the stairs. Sea lifted her wing and bopped him over the head.
“You’re such a dork,” she laughed.
“You love it,”
“Sometimes I wonder if Ocean dropped you on your head when you were a foal,” Sea said, referring to Bolt’s mother, Ocean Light.
Angus watched as the two teens continued upstairs. He wished that he could go up as well, mostly to keep an eye on that colt. Angus knew that the kid was a good one and he would probably like Bolt if he wasn’t so close to Sea Breeze. Call him possessive, but it was his duty to be with and protect Sea at all times. That was his sole purpose in life and he wouldn’t let a sprained leg and a few steps keep him from his job. Mind set and eyes determined, Angus hobbled to the stairs. He stopped at the first step and looked up. It was a twelve-step case. He put his one good leg and pushed up to get his sprained leg up. Success! Step two. Good leg, push, bad leg, hind leg, push, other hind leg.
After a grueling twenty minutes, Angus reached the top. He sat down to rest and looked proudly down at his work. The bandages over his chest were spotted red from his exercise. There was just one thing he did not think of. How in Equestria was he was going to get back down? He shook his head. He’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it. Standing up, he made his way to Sea’s bedroom. The door was shut. He scratched at it and barked.
Inside the bedroom, Sea and Bolt were cuddling on Sea’s bed. Sea had just managed to get the glue out of her mane with the help of a whole bottle of mane conditioner, Bolt and two combs.
Sea’s ears pricked up as she heard a sound that was just like her dog’s bark. She sat up and glanced at the door. “Did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear anything. Now come back here!” Bolt reached his arm around Sea’s waist. She pushed away his hoof and got off the bed.
“It sounded like Goose. But he couldn’t of gotten up here with his sprained—” She opened the door, come face to face with the giant black and white pooch.
“—Leg?” Angus pushed by her and entered the room. He froze, wide eyed at the sight of Thunder Bolt laying in HIS spot on the bed. He stiffened his body, his hackles rising along his back and showed his pearly white fangs at the pegasus colt, clearly saying “get your brown flank off my bed!” Bolt got the message and quickly got off the bed, backing away slowly. She trotted up beside her pet. “You—how—what? Ugh, never mind,” Angus woofed and licked Sea’s cheek, causing the pegasus to giggle.
“Well, I guess since the fun police has arrived, no more cuddle time, huh?” Bolt groaned.
“Sorry, Bolty. I don’t want both of my favorite guys in bandages.” Sea rubbed Angus’ head. Bolt trotted up beside her so that she was between him and the dog.
Bolt looked around Sea at the dog. “Sometimes I don’t like you.”
Angus gave as best a glare as a canine can do, his eyes clearly saying, “the feeling’s mutual.”
The day finally arrived. Neither Junie nor Sea slept the night before, both for totally different reasons. Junie couldn’t wait for the singing competition. Sea couldn’t wait for the singing competition…to be over.
This would be Ponyville’s first music festival. If this year’s festival went well enough, Mayor Mare hoped to make it an annual event. Bass’ band, The Delegates, would be just one of several groups and solo artists to be the entertainment for the night. Each group or soloist would represent a genre of music as well as the time of when that particular music was most popular. The Delegates, being one of the most popular bands from over twenty years before, was the most anticipated. They were one of only a few groups from their time that still toured regularly and had all the original members.
Sea came downstairs from her bedroom after being rudely awoken by her overly excited younger sister. Angus hobbled along behind her. After finding out the dog could go upstairs with his casted leg, Sea had convinced her parents to start letting him come to bed with her at night. Angus couldn’t get up on the bed yet, but he was just happy to be near his owner.
The two entered the kitchen. Not watching where she was going, she bumped right into another pony.
“Oof. Good morning to you as well, Sea Breeze,” Sea heard a masculine voice say. She raised her head and came face to face with one her favorite ponies.
“Uncle Shaggy!” Sea exclaimed, wrapping her hooves around the stallion. Shaggy was the nickname of Step Beat, the bass guitar player and backup singer for The Delegates. Step Beat, Eight Note, Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm had all arrived from Trottingham by train late the night before after Sea, Lightning and Juniper had gone to bed.
Sea released her honorary uncle from her vice-like grip. Step Beat’s nickname originated back the band’s younger days, when the stallion had a long and unruly mane. Eventually he had it cut into a more manageable style, but the name stuck. Shaggy was a dark brown coated pegasus with green eyes and a dark green mane.
Bass was talking and laughing with his oldest friend, Eight Note, a chestnut red coated earth pony with a black mane with a few streaks of silver coming in. His ice blue eyes were not focused on Bass, however, as the stallion had been blind since an accident when he was sixteen. Eight Note was the lead singer for the group.
The two remaining members, Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm, were drinking coffee with Amethyst Rose at the breakfast table. Rock was a cerulean blue coated earth pony with a cerulean and turquoise mane and tail with turquoise eyes while Rhythm was a silver eyed, jet black coated pegasus with a white and silver striped mane and tail. Rock played the keyboard and Rhythm played the guitar.
Seeing Sea Breeze, Rhythm got up from the table and snuck around behind her. “Boo!” He shouted, making Shaggy flinch hard and glare at his friend and bandmate. Sea, however, didn’t even budge. Rhythm looked on, confused as to why the grey pegasus didn’t jump or scream or do anything. Junie trotted up beside him.
“Sorry, Uncle Rhythm. She’s immune to that stuff. Believe me, I’ve tried,”
“Your sister isn’t any fun, Daisy,” Rhythm replied, walking back to the table with Juniper trotting beside him.
“Tell me about it,” Juniper hopped up on a chair beside her mother. Amethyst turned to her daughter. “Is Lightning up yet?”
“I don’t think so, Momma. Ooh ooh! Can I use the spray bottle on him?!” Junie was always coming up with ways to wake up her siblings in the morning. A spray bottle filled with cold water was her current trick.
“Just get away quickly if he lights his horn,” Amethyst smirked.
“Yes!” Junie fluttered over to the cabinet underneath the sink and grabbed her spray bottle, then flying up the stairs with a devilish smirk.
Several minutes later the ponies in the kitchen heard the startled shouts of the teenage unicorn. Lightning Strike teleported into the kitchen with a loud ‘pop’. The grey colt’s black and red mane was sopping wet. “Holy Celestia that’s cold!” he shook.
“Gee whiz, Junie, did you dump the whole thing on him?” Sea asked her sister as Junie trotted in.
“Maaayybbeee?” ~~~
Several hours later, Sea and Angus were enjoying the sunny day on the front porch. The canine’s sprained leg was almost completely healed and Sea was letting him have more freedom now.
Sea sat beside the dog and was giving him a neck massage. The black beast loved his owner’s massages and would always fall asleep.
Angus suddenly awoke and jumped up quickly, nearly knocking Sea off the porch.
“Angus!” Sea exclaimed as she picked herself up off the wooden planks. “What the heck was that for?” Angus glanced at her and wagged his tail. Sea rolled her eyes and walked over beside him. Lifting her gaze to the sky, she saw what had Angus so excited.
“Hey, Breezey!” Bolt landed at the bottom of the steps. Angus rumbled low in his throat and Bolt stepped back a pace. Sea placed a hoof around her pet and rubbed his head.
“Good boy, Goosey. Protect Momma from the bad colt,” Sea smiled jokingly. Angus wagged his tail, a little confused as to why his mistress was acting this way. Bolt also had a look of confusion. “He already hates me. Now you’re encouraging it?” Sea pouted playfully. “It makes him feel like a tough guy,”
“That dog already has an ego as big as Rainbow Dash’s,”
“Oh, please. Nopony’s ego is a big as Dash’s,” Sea smirked.
“Whatever. Now can I come kiss you or do I need to go hide in a tree or something?”
“You do know that he climbed a oak tree after a squirrel once, don’t you?” At the perplexed look on Bolt’s face, she giggled and pulled her dog over to the door pushing the unenthusiastic pooch into the house. Turning back to her coltfriend, she asked, “Are you happy now?” Bolt nodded, moving up beside her and kissing her cheek. Sea chuckled and placed a light peck on his lips.
Smiling happily, she said, “Hey, Bolty, I’ve got somepony, or really, ‘someponies’, that I want you to meet! C’mon!” The happy mare grabbed her coltfriend’s hoof and pulled him inside. Sea led Bolt down the hallway and into Bass’ “Stallion Cave” at the back of the house, Angus following close behind the pegasi
Inside the room, the blue unicorn stallion was sitting at his drum set, Eight Note standing beside him. Step Beat was leaning up against the wall, his hooves slammed against his ears. In the middle of the room was Rock Blues and Rhythm. The black pegasus had the cerulean earth pony pinned to the floor. Blues easily flipped Rhythm onto the floor and held the pegasus to the ground with his elbow in the middle of Rhythm’s back, between his wings. Both stallions were shouting obscenities and cursing at each other.
“Sea, stop pulling,”
“Oh, hush,”
The stallions froze as they heard Sea’s voice on the other side of the closed door. “Daddy, I wanted to introduce—uh, what are you guys doing?” Sea looked down at her honorary uncles, who were apparently having some sort of band bonding time. Rhythm pushed Blues off and quickly stood up, his usual goofy smile plastered on his face. Blues, however, didn’t get his hooves under himself fast enough and ended up rolling over on the floor. Several seconds passed before he too got up. He glared at his pegasus band mate.
Ignoring her question, Rhythm trotted up to Sea. “Hey, Kid. Who’s your friend?”
Blues turned his eyes away from Rhythm and caught sight of the brown colt standing nervously behind Sea Breeze. “Huh, looks like our little Sea finally got herself a friend. A colt, no less,” Blues smirked. Bolt gulped and nervously grinned back. “Um, hiii?” Bolt said, his voice squeaking a little at the end. Step Beat trotted up beside his band mates.
“And he squeaks! Ain’t that just cute,” the brown stallion chuckled. Bolt shrunk back behind Sea a bit more. Bass pushed up between his friends with Eight Note behind him.
“Knock it off, guys. You’re gonna scare him off,” Bass laughed. Sea rolled her eyes. Shaking her head in amusement, she pulled Bolt up beside her. “This is Thunder Bolt. He’s my coltfriend.”
The three stallions had looks of shock on their faces, Rhythm having the most shocked face of all. Eight Note smiled kindly, his unseeing eyes hidden behind his dark sunglasses. His ears swiveled, trying to figure out the direction Sea’s voice came from.
“Well that’s just great!” Step Beat finally said. He stepped over beside Bolt and swung his arm over the teen’s shoulders, pulling him close. “Any stallion the passes Bass’ Coltfriend Test is a good one. Ain’t that right, Tempo?”
Bass nodded, shooting a warning glance to Bolt. Bolt grinned shyly once more. The colt's senses were all locked up, especially now that one of the members of his favorite band was standing right beside him.
“I’m Step Beat, but you c’n call me ‘Shaggy’. These two knuckleheads are Rock Blues and Mystic Rhythm,” Step Beat removed his arm from Bolt and stepped over beside Eight Note. “And this is Eight Note.” Eight nodded and smiled once more. “Nice to meet you,” the red stallion said.
Rhythm still had a look of shock on his face. He shook his head and grunted. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. Did you say that this, this, shrimp, is your coltfriend? Nuh huh, that is not happening. You are way too young, little miss,” Rhythm stomped up to Bolt and glared at the brown colt, even though Bolt was several inches taller.
“Ugh…” Bolt stammered. Sea got between her uncle and coltfriend. “Rhythm, do not intimidate my coltfriend. Only Angus is allowed to do that.” Bolt nodded behind her, then stopped abruptly, looking at Sea with his mouth slightly open and his eyebrows raised.
“But—”
“No,”
“He—”
“Nope,”
“You’re too—”
“I said no, Uncle Rhythm. Bolt’s a great guy and if Daddy trusts him (although not much) you can trust him too.” Rhythm and Sea continued to stare each other down. Finally, Rhythm backed down.
“Fine,” Rhythm said. Then to Bolt, “But if I catch word that you hurt my little niece, I will find you. And I will make you wish you were never born. Got it?” He poked the colt in the chest.
“Yes, sir! I-I mean, no sir. Uh, got it?” Bolt shrunk back. Rhythm’s trademark smile then broke out on his face. He shuffled over to Bolt’s side and swung his arm around the colt, pulling him close. “I think you and I will become great friends, kid,” Rhythm ruffled Bolt’s mane and than trotted over to his guitar, swinging the strap it over his head.
Bolt glanced at Sea. “Is he always like that?” He whispered in her ear.
“That’s Mystic Rhythm. Fun, slightly crazy. But do anything to his little niece and you are in for it,” Sea giggled. Bolt didn’t feel confident. He was beginning to think that Sea’s family (and honorary family) were a little more nuts than he first thought. Between an overprotective dog and an overprotective uncle, Bolt knew that one mess up and he was dead. Was it something about both stallion and canine being black and white (and silver) that made them loony?
Bolt was pulled from his thoughts when Sea poked his shoulder. Step Beat and Blues had also gone back to their instruments, but Bass Temp and Eight Note were still over near the two teenagers. Eight sauntered over beside them.
“So, you’re the colt Tempo said stole his daughter’s heart, huh?” Eight smiled, fixing his sunglasses that hid his eyes. Since the accident that took his sight at just sixteen years old, Eight Note had spent a lot of time training himself how to cope with just his hearing and sense of smell. He didn’t have the luxury of being a unicorn and using spells nor the sensitive feathers of a pegasus. Being a blind earth pony had its challenges, but the red stallion overcame his disability with the help of his family and oldest friend, Bass Tempo.
“Uh-huh,” Bolt responded, sparing Bass a weary look. Bass narrowed his eyes slightly.
“You seem like a good kid. Don’t mind Rhythm. He’s all bark, absolutely no bite,” Eight paused a moment. “As far as you know…”
~~~
After much anticipation from the whole town of Ponyville, the time for the music festival to begin finally came. The town square was filled to the brim with the townsponies, plus some out-of-towners.
A stage was set up in front of the town hall, which would act as a dressing room and resting area for the groups and soloists that were going to perform.
All around the town square, going up the streets and even as far out to the fields which surround the town, were food stands, activities for foals and adults alike, and areas where ponies could meet their favorite groups and musicians.
Sea, Bolt, Stone Brook, and Sweet Heart were walking down the street to the town square when Junie came galloping up.
“Sea! Sea!” The little filly panted as she came to a stop in front of her sister.
Easy, kiddo. What do you need?” Sea asked.
“Not what I need, but what you need,” Junie responded.
“I don’t follow,” Sea lifted a brow. Junie rolled her eyes.
“Sis, there are fried pickles.”
“No. Way,” Sea bent down to her sister’s height, her mouth watering. Fried pickles were her favorite way to eat pickles. Especially dill pickles.
“Yes way!” Junie squealed. The sisters began hopping up and down, squealing like crazy.
Meanwhile, Bolt, Stone and Heart watched the sisters’ interaction. Stone leaned towards Bolt, saying, “Fried pickles? What the heck are fried pickles?” Somehow Junie heard the colt and rushed over to him.
“YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF FRIED PICKLES!?!!” Stone leaned back.
“Uh, no?” Stone replied, freaked out that the filly had heard him. Junie gasped loudly and rushed back to her sister, whispering in her ear.
Sea trotted back to her friends. “You’ve seriously never heard of fried pickles?” The pegasi shook their heads. Sea stared at them with a blank face for several moments. “Guys, you have not lived until you’ve had fried pickles. Junie, lead the way!”
After ordering three large baskets of the deliciousness that is pickles, battered and deep fried, the group sat a picnic table. Sea opened the large container of ranch dressing, the perfect dip for the perfect pickles. Sea picked up one of the spears and dipped it in the dressing and bit off the end, Junie doing the same. The pickles still had the crisp crunch the sisters loved. Combined with the buttermilk and corn meal batter and dressing, the steaming hot pickles were absolutely wonderful.
“Dig in, guys. Before we eat them all,” Sea laughed, grabbing her second piece. Junie was already on her third. Bolt, Stone and Heart exchanged glances and each gingerly reached for a spear, dipping the crunchy pickle in the dressing. Bolt took a bite of his. His eyes widened in pleasure. He quickly swallowed and ate the rest of the spear, reaching for another. Stone and Heart also quickly finished theirs and got another.
“This is the BEST thing I’ve EVER had!!” Bolt exclaimed, grabbing his fourth pickle. Sweet Heart had her eyes closed and was savoring the deliciousness that was flooding her taste buds. Stone was too busy stuffing one pickle after another in his mouth to say anything.
The pickles rapidly disappeared. Sea ordered several more baskets of the delicacy. Soon the rest of Sea and Bolt’s friends arrived and they too were introduced to the fried snack. The vendor at the fried pickle stand made a lot of bits that afternoon.
The nine teenagers, along with the ten year old filly, finally having their fill of fried pickles (Sweet Heart having to pull Stone Brook away from the pickle stand after his third basket), slowly walked down to the town square. Celestia’s sun had not yet fully set and the late afternoon sky was beginning to become an array of gorgeous pink, orange, red and purple, Luna’s stars just starting to twinkle, ready for the night to come.
The stage in front of town hall had the curtains drawn. The Delegates would be the first band of the night. They were the most anticipated act, even by the other bands and soloists, which included the famous DJ PON3.
Amethyst and Lightning Strike met up with Junie, Sea, Bolt and the rest of the group in front of the stage. The Mane Six also arrived soon, Twilight taking a spot beside Sea Breeze.
“Hey, Twi!” Sea grinned happily, giving her foalhood friend a hug.
“Great night for a concert, right?” the alicorn smiled. Sea nodded excitedly.
On her other side, Bolt was quivering more than Pinkie Pie on a sugar rush. It wasn’t a secret that the brown pegasus’ favorite band was The Delegates and this would be his first time seeing them perform live. Sea leaned into him and whispered in his ear.
“I hope you’re this excited when I perform,” she said jokingly.
“Uh-huh, yeah,” Bolt responded absent mindedly. Sea rolled her eyes, smiling and giggling at her coltfriend. She placed a quick kiss on his cheek, making the colt flinch.
“Gah!” Bolt sidestepped and looked down at Sea, who was trying to conceal her giggling. “You think that’s funny, huh?” Sea nodded, letting out a few laughs. Bolt loved her laugh. He smiled and bent to kiss her lightly on the lips.
“Ugh. Enough of the PDA,” Lightning Strike groaned and shielded his eyes.
“But they’re so cute!” Rarity gushed.
“I’m with Striker, Rares. Get a room, you two,” Rainbow Dash said from above.
“Oh, lay off, Rainbow. We all know that ya got eyes on a certain Wonderbolt,” Applejack smirked. Rainbow stared slack jawed at the farmer pony.
“Eeeaaaeeee,” was all the sound Dash could make. Twilight leaned over to Applejack. “I think you broke her, AJ,” the alicorn giggled. Applejack was trying to hold back her laughter, failing horribly. Rainbow Dash shook her head, a light blush on her cheeks. The pegasus huffed and glared at her farmer friend and landed beside Fluttershy.
“Hey, guys! It’s starting!” Phoenix said from beside Sweet Heart. Everypony in town square and beyond immediately quieted as smoke began to accumulate around the stage.
The curtain was pulled back to reveal the five stallions. Bass at his drums, Step Beat with the bass guitar, Rhythm had his favorite guitar, Rock Blues was at the keyboard and center stage stood Eight Note with a microphone, his usual black sunglasses perched over his eyes.
Bass started on the drums, Rhythm falling in behind with a few strings on his guitar. Blues hit a few notes on the keyboard, Rhythm once more playing his guitar. Eight sung the first lines of the song: I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord? Oh Lord Well, if you told me you were drowning I would not lend a hand I've seen your face before my friend But I don't know if you know who I am
The crowd stayed silent in total awe as the red stallion sang. Eight Note continued on with the next few verses.
Well, I was there and I saw what you did I saw it with my own two eyes So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been It's all been a pack of lies
Sea softly sang along. Bolt heard her and smiled down at his marefriend.
Well, I remember, I remember, don't worry (worry, worry, worry) How could I ever forget? It's the first time, the last time We ever met (met, met, met) But I know the reason why you keep your silence No, you don't fool me Well, the hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows It's no stranger to you and me
As Bass went into the drum solo of the song, the crowd went wild. Rhythm began playing his guitar and Step Beat the bass guitar.
I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord
All the citizens and out-of-towners began singing along as well.
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh Lord. I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord (oh Lord, oh Lord)
The legendary song ended. The entirety of Ponyville didn’t calm throughout the rest of the song. Eight Note smiled as his ears picked up the shouts his and his friend’s fans. He lifted up his hoof and motioned for everypony to settle down. Several minutes went by before everypony ended their shouts and hollers.
“GOOD EVENING PONYVILLE!” Eight shouted in the microphone, once more causing the town square to erupt. He chuckled happily and turned to his band mates. Even though he couldn’t see them, he knew that they too were smiling. Soon the audience settled once more.
“We are so glad to be here tonight! We know that many of you traveled a long ways to come to this music festival in one of the friendliest towns in Equestria. But we aren’t the only acts of the night. We have everypony’s favorite DJ, DJ PON3!” Vinyl Scratch trotted out on stage, her trademark purple sunglasses perched on her muzzle.
“Also with us is Sapphire Shores!” the olive colored earth pony strode stylishly on stage and gave Eight a light kiss on his cheek. The red stallion’s ears went up and he shook his head. “Ah, Sapphire, you sly kitty. Better be glad my wife isn’t here.” Sapphire kissed his other cheek in response, causing the crowd to laugh. Eight cleared his throat as the Pony of Pop took her place beside Vinyl.
“Moving on. We have many other great ponies and bands backstage that are excited to perform for all of you tonight.” Sapphire Shores and DJ PON3 walked off stage. “There is also going to be a singing competition. I was told not show any favorites, but there are two particularly great young mares that are going to competing. And I’m not saying that just because they are my honorary nieces.” Sea Breeze blushed slightly after hearing that.
“Now, there’s a whole lot of fun to be had, so on with the show!! But first, a song written for one of our close friends who is no longer with us,” At that Bass began a soft beat on the drums. Step Beat, Rhythm and Blues followed with their instruments.
“I know you all will recognize it. It’s a song of living every day as if it were your last,” My best friend gave me the best advice He said each day's a gift and not a given right Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind And try to take the path less traveled by That first step you take is the longest stride (Step Beat and Blues) What if, what if
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? (Would you? Would You?) Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past? Donate every bit you had? (Would you? Would you?)
To everypony’s shock and amusement, Rarity began bouncing up and down and singing along. Noticing everypony’s stares, she stopped. “What?”
Against the grain should be a way of life What's worth the price is always worth the fight Every second counts 'cause there's no second try (try, try) So live like you're never living twice Don't take the free ride in your own life
(What if, What if) If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday? (Would you? Would you?) Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past? Donate every bit you had? (Would you? Would you?)
And would you call those friends you never see? Reminisce old memories? Would you forgive your enemies? (Would you? Could you?) And would you find that one you're dreaming of? Swear up and down to Faust above That you'd finally fall in love (finally fall in love) If today was your last day If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart? You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars Regardless of who you are So do whatever it takes 'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life Let nothing stand in your way 'Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Eight Beat paused, the rest of the group also pausing mid way. “Sing it, Ponyville!!” The entire town square erupted in song right where he left off.
Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past Donate every bit you had (Would you? Would you?)
The group picked back up.
And would you call those friends you never see? Reminisce old memories? Would you forgive your enemies? And would you find that one you're dreaming of Swear up and down to Faust above That you'd finally fall in love (Would you? Would you?) If today was your last day?
Once more Ponyville erupted in loud cheers.
“WOOOO! Go Daddy!” Junie shouted, flapping her wings excitedly. Bass smiled and waved to his little filly.
“Give it up for The Delegates!” Mayor Mare said into her microphone as she came on stage. She stepped up beside Eight Note. “Don’t worry, they will be back,” she said, noticing some the down trodden looks from several of the mares in the crowd. “Next up we have DJ PON3 with some of her newest beats.” ~~~
Vinyl Scratch’s tremendous performance earned her an almost ear killing applause. Sapphire Shores had everypony, young and old, dancing to her fast pop songs. The light show that went along with her performance had all the young fillies and colts mesmerized. Sweetie Bell cheered the loudest as Sapphire ended her last song, the little unicorn being Sapphire’s biggest fan.
As the Pony of Pop finished, Mayor Mare came out onto the stage. “Good evening once more, citizens and visitors of Ponyville. I do hope that you all have enjoyed this evening so far,” she said, smiling as the crowd applauded. “Very good! We still have a long night of entertainment, but first, it is time for the talent show that I know so many of you are excited for. We are going to take a fifteen minute break so that our contestants can get prepared.” ~~~
Sea paced backstage. Only two more contestants before her and Junie would be performing. On stage. In front of hundreds of ponies. Staring at her. Just waiting for her to mess up.
“I can’t do this!” Sea cried out, falling onto her belly and covering her head with her hooves just Eight Note came in. Hearing his niece’s words, he trotted over to where he believed her to be.
“I can’t do this,” Sea said once more, burrowing her face even more in her arms. “AAHH!” The pegasus jumped as she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She relaxed when she saw the earth pony.
“Oh, hi, Uncle Note,” Sea glanced down at her hooves. Eight extended a hoof and helped Sea onto her hooves. He nodded his head over to where he remembered some chairs being. “Come, sit,” he said. Sea followed and sat down beside the blind stallion.
Sea took a deep breath to settle her nerves. “I—I’m scared. Scared to go on stage. To sing in front of all those ponies.” Sea sniffed. “I promised Junie that I would sing with her, but I—I just can’t. I’ve tried singing in front of ponies before and it never works out. I don’t want to disappoint my sister, but I don’t want to perform, either.”
Eight pondered her words for several moments. Their situations were really quite similar. Growing up, he had had his sight. He was able to do all the things a teenage colt could. Until that tragic day that robbed him of his little brother and took his sight. Not being given the gift of magic or flight had left the young pony practically useless. And that’s what he began to think of himself as being. Useless. He couldn’t do anything for himself, always needing help to do even the simplest of tasks. The sixteen year old colt was depressed because he believed that he couldn’t do anything. At least until his best friend since pre-school, a blue coated, blond maned unicorn by the name of Bass Tempo, brought Eight out of his depression and self doubt, changing Eight’s life forever. For the first time since loosing his eyesight, Eight believed that he was worth something.
“You know that isn’t true, that you can’t do it. You can do it. There is no such thing as can’t. I used to think that without a horn or wings, that I was useless. I was an earth pony colt, blind, had to depend on my parents and my older sister. I was always saying that I can’t do this or I can’t do that. And you know, I began to believe it. Until a good friend knocked some sense into this noggin of mine and I realized that I could.
“Can’t. Whomever came up with that word ought to be slapped silly. Can’t is practically saying “I give up.” You’re surrendering to your fears. If you surrender to your fears, they will eventually consume you. You have to rise above the “I can’t” and change it from “I can’t” to “I CAN”.” Eight smiled and got up. He paused right before getting to the door and said, “Sea, I don’t think you can do this. I KNOW you can do this. And no matter what happens out there, have fun on that stage with your little sister. You never know what might be right around the corner.” Eight Note continued out the door. Letting the door shut softly behind him, he removed his sunglasses and wiped the tears he felt brewing in his eyes. Placing the glasses back on, he turned his head up to the sky.
"I miss you, little brother. I miss you, Coda. More than words can say.” ~~~
Eight Note’s words continued to spin around inside Sea’s mind. Saying I can’t means you’re surrendering to your fears. You have to rise above your fears.
“Sis! There you are! It’s almost our turn!” Junie fluttered in, her parents, Lightning, Bolt, the Mane Six, and Sea’s friends coming in behind her. Sea smiled and stood up, Junie landing on her back.
“You’re going to do great, sweetie,” Amethyst reassured her eldest daughter.
“Hey, what about me?!” Junie piped up. Bass Tempo levitated his filly off her sister’s back and into his hooves. “You’re gonna do great, too, silly filly.”
Twilight trotted to Sea and swung her hooves around the younger pony’s neck. “Don’t think about all the ponies that are out there. Just imagine you’re with your friends and you’ll be just fine,” the princess released Sea from the hug, Sea smiling up to her oldest friend.
“Thanks, Twi. I think—no, I KNOW that I can do this. Just needed somepony to show me that I could,”
“That’s the spirit,” Twilight hugged her friend once more.
As soon as Twilight walked away, Sea was tackled by her friends.
“Good luck, Breezey!” Sweet Heart grinned.
“You’re gonna be awesome!” Phoenix said.
“The best,” Moon Glow nodded.
“Totally,” Glacier and Sky Racer hoof bumped Sea.
“Absolutely,” Red Knight and Stone Brook hoof bumped the grey pegasus as well.
“See ya after the show!” Phoenix smiled as she and the others began filing out the door. Sweet Heart gave Sea Breeze one last hug before following. Bass Tempo ruffled Sea’s mane as he went by, winking at her when she looked up. Once everypony left, save for Junie, who was over by the curtain trying to look out at the audience, Sea saw Thunder Bolt standing by the door. He trotted over to his marefriend.
Sea smiled sweetly and nuzzled the brown pegasus. Bolt wrapped his wing around her, pulling her close.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Bolt asked, kissing her cheek.
“Not anymore,” Sea responded, gazing up into his eyes. Bolt leaned down, but before his lips could connect with Sea’s…
“If you two kiss again, I’m gonna puke!” Junie gagged from beside the curtain. Sea giggled and lightly pecked Bolt on his lips before trotting over to her sister.
“Are you ready, little sissy?” Sea asked Junie.
“I was born ready, big sissy.” The stage manager poked his head through the backstage door.
“You two are on in thirty seconds,” he said before closing the door once more.
Bolt trotted up to the sisters. “I’ll be right up front. You two will be awesome,”
Before leaving, Bolt stepped close to Sea Breeze and whispered, “I have a surprise for you later on.” Sea lifted a brow, but smiled and nodded. The pegasus colt blew a kiss to his marefriend as he went out the door. Sea acted as if she caught the kiss and placed it on her cheek. Turning to her sister, she said, “Let’s do this.” ~~~
“Next up, Sea Breeze and Daisy Juniper!” Mayor Mare introduced the pegasus sisters. Junie was practically vibrating with excitement as she emerged from back stage. Sea walked behind her. The mare paused right before she could be seen by the audience, but she could see them. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and slowly let it out. You can do this, Sea. Give it your all and you’ll do fine. Don’t let the fear consume you.
Opening her eyes, she smiled and trotted out on stage beside her sister. They stood behind two microphones. Junie reached over to her sister and gave her an encouraging hug before standing back up straight just as the music began. Junie began the lyrics first, singing softly with her high pitched, but passionate filly voice.
I’ve been waiting for my dreams to turn into something I could believe in and lookin’ for that magic rainbow on the horizon, I couldn’t see it
Sea closed her eyes and ignored the large crowd of ponies, picturing just her friends and family. Her part came quickly and she gave it her all as she sang out the lyrics.
Until I let go, gave into love, Watched all the bitterness burn Now I’m comin’ alive, body and soul, Feelin’ my world start to turn
The sisters turned towards each other and sang the next verse together.
And I’ll taste every moment And live it out loud I know this is the time; this is the time to be More than a name or face in the crowd, I know this is the time; this is the time of my life, Time of my life.
Sea looked out towards the crowd and laid eyes on Bolt, who was smiling brightly at his marefriend. She looked at her friends, Sweet Heart, Phoenix and Moon Glow about to burst with glee. Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down. Her parents had smiles of pride, Amethyst having tears of joy in her eyes. Junie began the next verse
Holding onto things that vanish Into the air, left me in pieces, but, Now I’m risin’ from the ashes Finding my wings and all that I needed Was there all along, within my reach As close as the beat in my heart,
And I’ll taste every moment, And live it out loud, I know This is the time, this the time to be More than a name or face in the crowd, I know This is the time; this is the time of my life. Time of my life.
Junie stepped back and let Sea take center stage. And I’m out on the edge of forever, ready to run!! Keepin’ my hooves on the ground, arms open wide, Face to the sun!
And I’ll taste every moment, And live it out loud, I know, This is the time, this is the time to be More than a name or face in the crowd, I know, This is the time, this is the time of my life!! My life!
More than a name or face in the crowd, I know, This is the time, this the time of my life!!! (Nah, nah, nah nah) This is the time of my life!!! (Nah, nah, nah, nah) Life.
Sea and Junie turned to each other once more and sang softly in unison.
Time of my life, Time of my life, Time of our lives.
As the song ended, the crowd went wild. Junie jumped into Sea’s hooves and hugged her sister tightly, Sea hugging back just as tightly and burrowing her muzzle in the filly’s mane.
“You did it, sissy! You overcame your fear!”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Kid,” Sea pulled her sister away and looked her in the eyes. “You’re awesome, you know that?” Junie smiled and said, “Only because I have you as my big sister.” The sisters hugged once more.
“WOOO!!!” Came the shouts of Sea’s friends as they rushed up on stage. The filly and mare were lifted up on the shoulders of Stone Brook and Thunder Bolt, the rest of Sea’s friends crowding around the colts.
“You guys were amazing!” Phoenix cheered, hugging Sea she wiggled away from Bolt.
“Nixie-can’t-breathe,” Sea choked out.
“Oh, breathing’s overrated,” the yellow pegasus laughed.
Mayor Mare trotted up to the group. “Okay, everypony, let’s vacate the stage, please,” the grey mare smiled. As the teens and the filly walked off stage, the mayor turned to the audience. “Give it up for Sea Breeze and Daisy Juniper!!” The crowd once more erupted into cheers. “They were the last contestants, so now our judges will talk among themselves and decide a winner. Good luck, singers,” Mayor Mare trotted off stage and over to the judge’s table.
As Sea and Junie came off stage, they were once more stampeded, this time by Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six, their parents, Lightning and the remaining members of The Delegates. Bass pulled his girls into a big hug. Amethyst kissed her daughters on their foreheads once her husband finished smothering them.
“We are so proud of you two,” Amethyst smiled tearfully. “I have to say, that was pretty awesome,” Rainbow Dash said from above. “Though, it would have been twenty per cent cooler had I been up there with you.”
“Rainbow!” Twilight glared.
“What? I was just joking,” Rainbow shrugged. The alicorn rolled her eyes at her speedy pegasus friend. Turning to Sea Breeze, she said, “That was so brave of you, Sea. Overcoming your fears to perform onstage takes a lot of courage.” Twilight smiled. Sea grinned back and gave her foalhood friend a hug. “Thanks, Twi,”
“This calls for a PARTY!!” Pinkie Pie shouted.
“Not just yet, Pinkie,” Applejack replied, putting a hoof on the vibrating party pony’s back, only to start bouncing beside her. ~~~
It was time for the winner and the runner ups to be announced. One of the judges, Lyra, came onstage.
“Third place goes to, Cloudchaser and Flitter!” The pegasus sisters trotted onstage to get their ribbons.
“Second place goes to, Caramel!” The earth pony stallion strode onstage to collect his ribbon. He moved over beside Cloudchaser and Flitter.
“And first place goes to, Sea Breeze and Daisy Juniper!” Sea’s jaw dropped as she heard her and Junie’s names called out. “What—How?” the grey pegasus stuttered.
“C’mon sis!” Sea shook her head and glanced down at the little pink filly pulling on her leg. It wasn’t until Bolt bumped his head against her shoulder that she began moving forward and up the steps behind her sister.
“Congratulations, girls!” Lyra smiled brightly, levitating the first place trophy to Junie. “You’ve earned it.” Ponyville cheered loudly as the green unicorn stepped back and stomped her hooves in applause. Cloudchaser, Flitter and Caramel joined in the applause, all cheering for the victory of the sisters.
“Okay Ponyville! Let’s get those hooves stomping and those hips moving! Hit it Octy!” DJ Pon-3 shouted as she began another performance in conjunction with Octavia Melody and her orchestra. The grey earth pony cellist rolled her eyes at the DJ’s energy, nodding to her group to begin. The quick paced beats of the DJ went along flawlessly with the classical sounds of the musicians, much to the surprise of Phoenix and Rainbow Dash.
Two songs later, the curtain fell over the stage so that the next group could get ready. Princess Luna’s night covered Ponyville, her moon and stars shining down on the ponies below. They were just bright enough so that everypony could see each other, giving off a calming effect despite the energy and excitement of the crowd.
The audience’s attention was drawn back to the stage once more as the curtain pulled away, revealing The Delegates. Bass and Rock Blues began the soft intro into the song, Step Beat hitting a few notes on his bass guitar. Rhythm followed through with a quick string on his electric guitar. Eight Note started the lyrics;
If he could hold her, so close in his arms…again If she could show him The letter her heart forgot to send, Why? They’re livin’ dreams on their own Ooh, they’ll never stop running…
The girl can’t help it, she needs more He hasn’t found what he’s lookin’ for They’re still standing in the rain He can’t help it and she’s just that way
Bolt heard a familiar voice beside him and looked down to see Sea Breeze singing each word perfectly in sync with Eight. Glancing upward, Sea caught Bolt staring at her, causing her to stumble over the lyrics and end up coughing lightly. Catching her breath, Sea teased, “Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer.” Bolt chuckled and turned his attention back to the group onstage. Sea bumped his shoulder with hers and smiled up at him before she began singing softly once more.
Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (don’t you know she stills cries) Ooh… do you know she still cries for you? (Yeah) Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (For you she cries) Ooh… do you know she still cries for you? (Fire) Yeah!
Ooh Ooh… there’s a fire in his eyes for you (ooh… there’s a fire) Ooh.. do you know she still cries for you? Ooh nothing stands between love and you.
Ponyville cheered its applause as the curtain fell once more. Sweetie Bell popped up beside her sister, nearly giving Rarity a heart attack at her sudden appearance. “Hey, sis, do you know how many more groups are playing?”
The white unicorn had a hoof over her chest and was breathing fast. “Goodness, Sweetie Bell, give a mare a warning before you decide to pop up her face,”
“Sorry sis,”
“It’s fine, darling. As for your question, I’m not sure. Let me ask Amethyst,”
“Ask me what?” Amethyst spoke up from Rarity’s other side. The unicorn shrieked and jumped sideways. The older mare put a hoof over her muzzle to try and hold back her giggling. Rarity shot a lady like glare at the romance author before fixing her slightly messy mane back into its usual style. Clearing her throat, she said, “Sweetie Bell wanted to know how many more groups were to be playing tonight?”
“Bass and the guys are the last. They have a little surprise for everypony and want the festival to end with a bang,” Amethyst Rose replied, not saying that they were actually going for a literal ‘bang’.
The curtain pulled back to reveal The Delegates once more. This time, however, tightly, but still comfortably, packed onto the stage were all the groups and soloist that had performed earlier in the night. Sapphire Shores, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia Melody and her group of musicians, an up and coming rock n’ roll artist whose stage name was Ka-Boom, and many other ponies. Bass levitated up his drum sticks and struck them together. “And a one, two, one, two, three, four!” At four, Rhythm and Ka-boom went down on their guitars, Rock Blues hitting several keys on his keyboard. The rest of the ponies followed through with their respective instruments, Vinyl quickly and smoothly adding in her beats. Eight smiled and brought the microphone up to his muzzle. Runnin’ out of self-control Getting’ close to an overload Up against a no win situation Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I’m hangin’ up my boxing gloves I’m ready for a looong vacation, yeah.
Rock, Ka-Boom and Rhythm followed with their backup vocals. (Be good to yourself) Be good to yourself when nobody else will Oh be good to yourself! You’re walking a high wire (caught in a cross fire) Caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself
“Take it, Boomer!” Eight shouted to Ka-Boom.
When you can’t take no more They want it all but you gotta say no I’m turnin’ off the noise that makes me crazy! Yeah! Lookin’ back with no regrets, To forgive is to forget I want a little piece of mind to turn
Eight joined back in, singing along with the younger earth pony.
Be good to yourself when nobody else will Oh be good to yourself! You’re walking a high wire (caught in a cross fire) Caught in a cross fire Oh be good to yourself!
“C’mon Ponyville! Sing it!” Ka-Boom laughed out. Eight began the next line, his voice being almost completely drowned out.
Oh be good to yourself when nobody else will!
Eight pushed his vocal cords to the limit, wanting to give Ponyville’s first music festival the best finale ever.
Oh be good to yourself! Ooooohhh Ooooh!!!! Yeah!!
Ka-Boom and Rhythm turned to each other, battling each other over who could do the best guitar solo. Behind the stage over in the fields outside Ponyville, fireworks lit up the night sky. All colors of the rainbow, some even making shapes. The crowd was awestruck at the display. Never had Ponyville seen so many fireworks.
On the stage, any musician that wasn’t near a microphone got beside somepony who was and at Bass’ signal, Ka-Boom and Rhythm slowly began to cease their guitar battle. As the ten minute firework show ended, the groups and soloist on stage proclaimed, “BE GOOD TO YOURSELF!” Four more fireworks lit up the sky, signaling the end of Ponyville’s First Annual Music Festival. ______________________________________________________________________ 15 minutes earlier
As Ka-Boom and Rhythm began their guitar solo, Thunder Bolt slowly began backing away from his friends. When he was sure that their attention was completely on the stage, he turned and began pushing through the crowd. Once he got to the edge of the town square, he spread his wings and flew rapidly to his home on the outskirts of town. Bolt’s house was just like any other Ponyville home, with just a few things that made it stand out, such as the large front porch. The home wasn’t as large as Sea’s house but it was good enough for Bolt, his sister and their parents.
Flying through his open bedroom window, Bolt landed on the floor and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Grabbing a picnic basket, he quickly filled it with his and Sea’s favorite snacks and placed a blanket inside as well. He picked up his father’s portable camping lantern and stuffed it in the picnic basket. The brown pegasus looked around the room once more, hoping that he had not forgotten anything. “Oh!” he ran upstairs and went into his sister’s bedroom. Spying her portable radio, he picked it up, stopping in his room to get the CD he recently purchased and galloped back downstairs to get the basket.
“Food? Check. Blanket? Check. Radio and CD? Double check. Breath?” he breathed onto his hoof and took a sniff. “Better bring some breath mints. Now, to give Sea the best night of her life.” __________________________________________________________________________________
Back in the town square, Sea Breeze was looking all over for Bolt. Where did that knucklehead go off to? He disappears faster than donuts on Lightning’s plate. Guess I gotta go hunt down a coltfriend. Sea trotted over to her mother and the Mane Six.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were all barely awake after the long day of excitement, each on their respective sister’s/sister figure’s backs, Daisy Juniper passed out on Amethyst Rose.
After saying goodnight to Princess Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six and telling her mother where she was going, Sea Breeze strolled through the slowly dispersing crowd, straining her neck to find Bolt. Spying Stone Brook, Sweet Heart and Skye Racer, Sea spread her wings and lifted into the air.
“Hey, Sea,” Stone Brook smiled as Sea Breeze landed in front of the trio. “Tonight was totally awesome. Your dad is a killer drum player,”
Sea returned the smile, “I’ll be sure to tell him that. It isn’t that his ego could get any bigger,” the mare laughed. Pushing her bangs out of her eyes, Sea asked, “Have you guys seen Bolt? He pulled a disappearing act earlier and I haven’t seen him since.” The twins and Sweet Heart all shared a knowing glance. Skye looked back at Sea Breeze and said, “He said to tell you to meet him at our soccer field. Something about a—OW!” The silver colt glared at his brother, who had knocked him over the head. Stone shook his head and nodded towards Sea. Skye rolled his eyes while Sweet Heart facehoofed, saying, “Idiots,” under her breath. Ignoring the brothers, Sea spread her wings and smiled at Sweet Heart, lifting off the ground to go find her coltfriend. ~~~
Sea landed beside the large oak tree on the edge of the field she and her friends played soccer on. In the middle of the field, Bolt was smoothing out what looked like a large blanket on the grass. He also had a lantern and a small picnic basket. Sea began to walk towards him but paused as she stepped on a stick. Bolt jerked his head up in alarm, relaxing when he saw it was only Sea. The light from the moon and stars made it just bright enough to see and give a slightly romantic feel.
“What are you up to, Bolt?” Sea asked once she was close enough to be heard.
“Just a little surprise I’ve been planning,” Bolt opened the picnic basket, revealing some of Sea’s favorite snack foods. Sea gazed wide eyed at the apples, cheddar cheese, plain bagels, grapes, and a plastic bottle filled with what she assumed was sweet tea, her favorite summer time drink.
Glancing back up at Bolt, she said, “When did you do all this?”
“Just now,” Bolt replied. “Pretty impressive for only twenty-five minutes, huh?”
“You’re a riot,” Sea rolled her eyes playfully. She trotted up to the brown pegasus, stopping once she was only a few inches in front of him. Sea Breeze lifted her head and gazed at Bolt’s face. Bolt lowered his head and nuzzled Sea’s cheek softly. He flinched slightly when he felt her hooves around his neck and her muzzle buried in his mane. Smiling, he reached his hooves around Sea’s back and pulled her into his chest softly, rolling back onto his hindquarters. Sea cuddled up closely in Bolt’s arms and sighed contently.
“I love when we can spend time together, Bolty. Just you and me. No parents, no crazy friends, no—” Sea said a few minutes later.
“Angus?” Bolt asked. Sea’s ears went back and she pulled away from Bolt’s embrace, looking Bolt straight in the eyes. Those dreamy, kind blue eyes. Sea stared in to them several moments until Bolt booped her nose.
“Bolt!” Sea giggled, swatting at his hoof and bowing her head. Frowning, she glanced back up at Bolt. “Bolty, I—”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Bolt said quickly, raising to his hooves. Sea lifted her hoof and gently pushed him back down.
“No, its fine,” Sea pulled her eyes away from the brown pegasus. Sighing, she continued, “Bolty, you know that Angus will always come first for me. I love you with all my heart, truly, I do, but Angus. He’s my best friend. He was my only friend until we moved here and I met you and the guys.”
Bolt nuzzled his marefriend’s cheek. “I know. Honestly, I don’t think that dog would stand letting me come between you and him. As you know, he can be very… persuasive.”
“He got it from me,” Sea smirked.
“Don’t I know it,” Bolt returned the smirk. The mare lifted up slightly and lightly pecked her coltfriend on the lips.
“So,” Sea jumped up enthusiastically. “What do you have planned, my dear gentlestallion?”
Bolt rose as well, lifting up Sea’s hoof with his own. “Well, m’lady, I was thinking a quiet picnic, maybe go on a slow, romantic flight and then, if you’re up to it, some star gazing,”
“And kissing?” Sea inquired, shuffling up flirtatiously beside Bolt and leaning into his shoulder.
“Oh, there most definitely will be kissing.” Bolt lowered his head, connecting his lips softly with Sea’s.
“Mmm,” Sea moaned, deepening the kiss. Bolt pulled away after several seconds. “I love you, Breezey,” he whispered in her ear.
