> GSB vol2: Rivalry is a sweet display of love. > by RandomFics271197 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Ahuizota's cave... A light source displayed a small cat shadow on the wall, sitting on a stone chair, Ahuizota was reading one of her records of a week ago. ' Day 16, Month 5, Year 2152 I was in one of the most valuable ruin, as always Derring arrived before me and got in the central room before I had a chance to get past the third room. When I entered the central room I saw Derring rushing towards me, unfolding his wings he jumped and flew over me. Raising my left paw, I shook it in the air and yelled at him for ruining my plans... again... The structure began to collapse, I notice that the ground beneath me started shattering and falling down to a spike pit. I notice it and ran towards the exit, calling back Derring to be careful about the ground, until today I don't know why I warned him. I notice that the ground was falling so fast that I couldn't find a stable ground to jump to. I saw Derring stop and ran backward than he ran forward and jumped, unfolding his wings he reached the other side. Noticing this I tried to do the same but the other side was too far for me to jump. Looking back I saw the ground behind me falling faster and faster until he reached by back legs, squeaking in despair I ran forward and jumped. I used my tail to give aerodynamic, noticing that I wasn't going to make it I extended my front legs and grabbed the ground. Hanging on a stable tip of ground, I looked down and saw the spike trap waiting for a new victim. I despaired and tried to get back up but it only made it worse I started slipping off. I felt my breath becoming resilient, looking down I started by hallucinating about my body being impaled by those spikes. Closing my eyes I felt my front paws losing the grip and then I felt my body being pulled by the gravity. While I kept cursing myself about coming there without any type of rope or something to climb back up, I waited until my body reached the bottom and be done with it. I felt tears leaving my eyes and made its way out of my face, I was going to die. How dumb I was to adventure myself on this ruin? Suddenly I felt something soft making contact with my bareback and drove me back up. 'Was I dead already? Was God leading me to the Heavens?' After a few moments, the soft thing dropped me back on the floor. I was so scared to open my eyes but a familiar voice was enough to make them open. "Dear God, I was able to make it on time." Opening my eyes I notice, Derring looking back at me. He held the artifact under one of his wings, standing back on my legs. "Are you alright?" he asked. Looking back at him, I nodded and headed back where I was. Looking down I saw those spikes again, I looked back at him and laid on the floor in a desperate attempt to recover my breath. I raised my right paw and wiped my eyes, turning back at him I whispered. "Why? Why did you save me? We're supposed to be rivals. Why?" Looking back at him, I waited for his answer. "I know, I know. We're rivals but that doesn't mean that I wanted your end to be like this. Besides, you warned me about the falling ground so it was fair enough that I repaid you in the same coin, don't you think?" I whimpered and got back up. Derring unfolded his wings and flew out the ruin while leaving me dumbfounded about what happened. Getting back to my senses, I rushed out of the ruin and headed towards my cave to write all about this on you, dear diary.' Putting down the diary, she grabbed the book beside her. "Old creatures of Equestria." she read the title. Raising one of her paws, she placed it under her chin. "Hmm, interesting." Opening the book, she started her readings. "Myth Creatures: Hydra, large creature, multiple heads. Special ability: grows more heads if some got cut off. Threat: very dangerous (avoid at all costs). Manticore, large creature, head and the corpse of a lion, tail of a scorpion. Special ability: unknown. Threat: dangerous (avoid at all costs). Cockatrice, small creature, chicken. Special ability: Turning creatures into the stone that stared at its eyes. Threat: medium (avoid at all costs). More research is needed. Legend Creatures: Timberwolf, large creature, wolf made of wood. Special ability: None. Threat: Small (avoid if possible). Dragon, large creature, it's a dragon duh. Special ability: Spits fire or water. Threat: Dangerous (avoid at all costs). More research is needed. Hybrids Creatures: Kirin, an old creature, a pony-dragon breed. Special ability: Unknown. Threat: Unknown (avoid if possible). Veracity: Confirmed. HippoGriffin, an old creature, a pony-griffon breed. Special ability: None. Threat: Uncertain. Veracity: Confirmed. Ponyling, an old creature, a pony-changeling breed. Special ability: Transform into other creatures. Threat: Unknown (avoid if possible). Veracity: Need further investigation. Draconequus, an old creature, a creature made of chaos. Special ability: Cause chaos. Threat: Chaotic (It can't be avoided). Veracity: Confirmed. Ponyak, an old creature, a pony-yak breed. Special ability: None. Threat: Uncertain. Veracity: Need further investigation. Ponyconequus, an old creature, a pony-draconequus breed. Special ability: Cause Chaos. Threat: Uncertain. Veracity: Confirmed. Ponyzotl, an old creature, a pony-ahuizotl breed. Special ability: Unknown. Threat: Unknown. Veracity: Need further investigation." Closing the book in a quick movement, she grunted and got up from her chair. Heading towards the kitchen, she felt her cheeks heating up, shaking her head to the sides she raised her paw and punched it against her chest. "Snap it out. That's stupid. Thinking about that it's stupid. 'Need further information'.". She felt her cheeks heating up again, noticing this she grabbed the nearest cup filled it with water and violently spilled it against her face. "Snap it off," she said while she used her paw to lightly punch her chest. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine herself claiming him. Smiling, she giggled. Her fun time was stopped by a sudden knock on her door. Opening her eyes, she grunted at her dream interruption. Heading towards the door, she opened it and saw one of Dr. Caballeron's men waiting for her. "Goodnight, what might I do for you?" she asked. He grunted back and raised his hoof, delivering a piece of paper to her. "Don't make yourself innocent. You failed the last mission. Boss is getting angry at you, so it's better to not fail this time or you know what will happen, don't you?" he asked "I won't fail this time," she answered while grabbing the paper. "That's what you said last time. Boss is getting tired of hearing some dumb excuses," he said. "The boss wants you to kill Derring Do in order to keep him away from our business line." Her eyes widen and unfolded the paper. Giving it a quick read, she turned back at him. "I will try it or maybe I could just focus on the artifact and deliver it to the boss. What do you think?" she asked. He raised his hoof and placed it on his chin. "Yes. But if you got him killed it will be better but try not to fail this time. The boss might have future plans for you." The stallion excused himself and got back to his carriage. She closed the door behind her and headed towards the kitchen, placing the paper down she sat on the chair and raised her paws brushing it against her face. "What am I supposed to do?" she asked, "He will be there for sure and like always he will get it first." She looked back at the paper, grunting she raised from her chair and grabbed the paper. "Ruin of MythKing." she read the paper. "If I go during the night maybe I could reach it before Derring," she said, "Yes, I will fulfill it. I will get this to get out from Caballeron hooves." She rushed towards the door, opening and closing it behind her she rushed towards the Ruin of MythKing. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heading towards the MythKing Ruin, Ahuizota stopped by a supply store to buy some pieces of equipment and then she resumed her expedition. Near the dawn, she had reached the entrance of the Ruin, breathing and exhaling she decided to step inside. Once inside, she noticed how old that ruin was. Scared by some dirt fall, she looked up and saw a giant spider sleeping on its web, looking beside her she saw giant cocoon and by the aspect of it, they were old enough to be there for at least five years. Trotting slowly to not awake the spider, she reached the main entrance. Raising a paw, she wiped her sweat over her head and resumed her normal pace. A few meters onward, she saw a large dark room it didn't appear to have some kind of sunlight or illumination at all. Grabbing a torch beside her, she entered the darkroom. Trotting carefully, she looked to the left and to the right amazed by the engravings that were drawn on the walls. Stepping on something soft, she looked down and noticed a hat. Bending down, she grabbed the hat, taking a good look at it she remembered that she had seen that hat before. A small rock hit the back of her head, grunting and raising a paw to brush the spot where the rock hit, she looked up and for her surprised her evidence was true. "Derring Do? What are you doing up there?" she asked. "I don't know maybe catching some air?" Raising her torch a little higher she saw that he was hanging on a small piece of metal that had caught the back of his shirt. Raising her paw, she brought it to her mouth to contain a giggle. "I can see now, you failed some kind of enigma," she said. "Don't worry I'll get it open to you." Grunting in frustration, he crossed his arms and waited until she solved the enigma. Looking back at the wall, she noticed strange symbols and a small text written in antique language. "Step carefully!! What you think it might be, it can't be what you think it might be?" Raising a paw to her chin, she thought about what she could do. "Interesting," she said. "What?" he asked. Looking back at him, she raised her paw and explained it to him. "The ground and the engravings, you may think that it's for matching them but no," she said, "You need to pick one that is not on this wall." Graggin the torch with her tail, she threw it to him. "Here catch. Keep it high up," she ordered. Extending his hooves, he grabbed the torch and raised it. "I'm not helping you, I'm just allowing you to free me," he said. "Yeah whatever," she said, "I can't get it how you failed this enigma. You rarely fail on something." He sighed and replied. "I misunderstood it." Jumping from piece to piece, the door in front of them began to raise. Looking over her, he noticed a large saw that was slowly descending towards her. "Huh, if I was you, I would make it quicker," he said. "What? Why?" she asked. Holding the torch in one of his hooves, he pointed towards the ceiling, intrigued she looked up and noticed the saw slowly descending towards her. Squeaking in panic, she jumped towards another piece only to make the saw descended violently towards her. Looking up, she noticed the saw closing distance between them. In an act of despair, he threw the torch towards a random tile that made the saw stop. Slowly making its way up, she breathed ferociously and looked back at him. His eyes widen when he heard a sound and noticed that the small piece of metal retracted, leaving him hanging in the middle of the air. Shacking his hooves in despair, the gravity pushed him down until he hit the floor. Laying flat on the ground, he grunted and got back up. "The savior became the endangered maiden," he said. "Oh, shut up," she replied. "I panicked, ok." Looking back at the door, he rushed past her and entered the main room, noticing this she yelled and followed behind him. Once inside the main room, they looked around and the artifact was in the middle of the room. The problem was, the ground began to collapse, looking down he saw that if somepony or something falls on it, it can't get back up since it was too tall to climb back. Unfolding his wings, he jumped forward and landed on stable ground. Grunting in frustration, she walked backward and readied herself to jump. Running and jumping, she reached the other side. Following behind him, she reached the center of the room. Noticing that he had got there first then her, she rushed towards him. "Curse you, give me that," she said while running towards him. Looking back, he jumped and let her get past beneath him. Noticing this, she used her claws to make her stop but it was useless since she was too fast to stop in time. Shacking her paws in despair, the gravity pushed her until she reached the lower ground. Getting back up, she looked up and saw him shaking the artifact in front of his eyes. "Better luck next time," he said while unfolding his wings, "That's it if you can get out from there, of course." Grunting in frustration, she raised her voice and replied. "Curse you, I'll get you next time." "Yeah, whatever." Jumping forward, he flapped his wings and made his way towards the exit. Hearing him flapping his wings, she grabbed her bag and she picked a rope and a grappling hook. Using one of the sides of the rope, she tangled it around the grappling hook and started rotating it. Throwing the hook up, she heard a metal sound hitting the ground, giving a little push she confirmed that the hook was securely placed on the ground. Placing herself against the wall, she began to climb back up. Once on stable ground, she heard voices coming from behind her. Looking back, she saw Caballeron and his man running towards her. "Where is it?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders. "Don't make yourself unknown to what I am talking about," he said, "Where is it?" "Derring Do arrived first. I fell on this trap unable me from getting the arfifact before him," she answered. Gasping in frustration, he looked back at her and said. "I thought I was clear of what will happen if you failed me again." "What? It's not my fault that Derring tricked me." "Again. And again. And again. Always the same excuse," he said, "I was thinking about this since last month. Your specie is so rare or almost extinct. So I was thinking maybe if I sold you to this collector I could pay for all of your mistakes." Widening her eyes, she backed up and replied. "You can't do that. I'm a living thing." "You got no use to me now. Guys get her." The ponies that were accompanying Cabarellon rushed towards her. Jumping over them, she rushed towards the exit but she felt a rope catching her back leg and being pushed towards Cabarellon. Grabbing a small bat, he hit on her head making her blacking out. "Put her in the cage and inform that collector," he said. Nodding the ponies grabbed her and put her on the cage. On Derring Do cottage... He stepped inside his 'museum' and placed the artifact on a table. Heading back to his living room, he sat on the couch and waited for the night to come. On the next day... He was awakened up by a ferocious knock on his door, jumping in a panic he headed towards the door. Opening the door, he saw Rainbow Blitz standing in front of him. Pushing him inside, he took a large breath and took a piece of paper from his bag. "Cabarellon is trying to sell Ahuizota. I got this from one of his man when I notice that they were acting strange around the woods" he said. Grabbing the paper, he saw that he was offering over one million bits. "Not my problem," he said while giving him back the paper. Heading back to his couch, Rainbow Blitz grunted and flew over his head. "She is a living thing," he said while overing in front of his face, "I thought that you were better than this." "Why should I help her? Tell me why," he asked. Laying back on the floor, he raised his hoof and placed it on his chin. "I don't know but you can't deny that you are..." Placing a hoof on his mouth, Derring tried to shut him up. "Don't you dare say that," he said, "We're rivals. And besides, she is not turned to that side." Smiling, Rainbow pushed his hoof down. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, "Should I remind you, who tended your wing when you got seriously hurt?" "I don't remember anything of that day, I was seriously hurt that I couldn't remember anything," he answered while brushing his head. Touching the tip of his nose, he looked him in the eyes. "But I saw. When I found you, I saw a small figure leaving the place where you were left. I notice a small tail hand." Grunting in disbelief, he pushed him aside. "You're lying, she would never help me." Giggling, he got back and moved towards him. "But she did. We probably don't know why, but she helped you and you can't deny that." Gasping in frustration, he looked back at him. "Fine," he said, "What you want me to do?" he asked. "Well, you're the only one who knows where Caballeron is settled." he answered, "I'll call for help if you need some." "I can do this alone, no help needed," he said. "I will report this to Dusk and see what he is going to do to Caballeron and his crew." he said, "Good Luck." Opening his wings, Rainbow flew towards the Friendship Castle. Grabbing his bag, he headed towards Caballeron settlement. Reaching Dr.Caballeron's settlement, he saw some guards passing by. Looking around, he tried to find where Ahuizota was. He was ready to give up but a sudden roar made him look towards the source of that noise. Looking down, he saw a small cage and one of Caballeron man with a whip, whipping inside the cage. "Shut up," he ordered, "Don't make it worse." Looking deep towards the cage, he saw a small tail hand coming out of it. Another whip sound made him look back at the pony "Put your tail back in or I'll chop it off." he threatened. "You wouldn't dare, Caballeron would chop your head off," she said. "He wouldn't mind if you were delivered without a part of your body," he said. Shacking in despair, she pushed her tail back inside the cage. "Good kitty, now I will get something to eat. I'll be back in a second." Laying down, she put her head in the middle of her front legs and starting sobbing. 'Where did I get myself into? What will happen to me?' A sudden click made her head raise. Looking towards the cage door, she saw Derring standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Are you going or not? I will close it aga..." His tracks of words were lost when he looked over her body. "What were they doing to you? Your body is seriously hurt," he asked. Getting back up, she headed towards him. "They were whipping me," she answered, "They were saying that I needed discipline because this collector won't pay enough if I won't obey him." Looking back, he saw some guards coming towards the cage. Grabbing her paw, he rushed towards the bushes. The guard returned and looked back at the cage, rushing towards the main tent he yelled. "She escaped. She escaped." A large crew of guards got out from the main tent and parted ways to find where she went. Returning towards the cage, the guard raised his hoof and grabbed the lock. "She couldn't open it from inside, even if she used her tail," he said, "Which means..." Looking down, he noticed a small stick. Grabbing it, he took a good look. "Derring Do. Derring Do was here," he said. Returning to the tent, he called some guards and rushed out of the settlement. Wiping his sweat, he looked back at her. "Don't need to thank me again," he said, "Now, go on," he said while shaking his hoof in the air. Looking back at him, she nodded and rushed towards her cave. "It's dangerous to return home, those guys are on the hunt," he said. Grabbing his bag, he headed towards his secret cottage. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On his way to his secret cottage... Something hard has hit the back on his head that made him lose his consciousness. Before he completely blackout he saw a pair of hooves standing near his muzzle. He didn't know how long he stood blacked out, he recovered his consciousness when he heard a large crowd noise and some laughs. Opening his eyes, he tried to move his body but it didn't move as he expected. Looking over his hooves he saw that he had his hooves curled with a rope against what he could tell was a torture table. "I see that you're awake,". Looking back at the source of the voice, he saw his captor. "Dr.Caballeron?" he asked. "Bone and flesh," he answered. Trying to move his hooves, he fell towards the grass. Screaming while he was falling, he reached the grass and whimpered. "How did you find me?" he asked while keeping the grass away from his mouth. Giving his thugs a sign, they raised Derring back up and put him in a way where his eyes met Caballeron. "When you got your wing hurt, remember?" he asked while brushing his hoof on his chin, "Ahuizota healed you and brought you here and when we found your body fall on the grass we couldn't finish what I was expecting to do since that guy found you first." Grunting in frustration, he pushed himself forward only to fall over him. "And trying to sell a living being, Caballeron..." he said while baring his teeth, "The Prince will have something to you and your thugs." Pushing him away, he brought his knife out and brushed it over his body. "Don't you think that I know that?" he asked, "We are giving them a bait so we could run away and return to our business line, but first we need to make sure that nopony will interfere with our plans." Stabbing his knife on his wing, he grunted in pain, shaking his body in despair he pushed him away. "How dare you? You know what could happen if you hurt my wings, don't you?" Laughing and licking the knife, he smiled and replied. "Of course I know. That's why I'm doing it. No competition." Moving back to him, he raised his knife and stabbed him again. Crying and shaking in pain, he tried to free from his grasp but only made his knife pierce deeper. Stepping back, he raised his knife licked it again and store it on his bag. Looking back at him, he gently brushed his wounds. "Now, let's see how much you can handle," he said. Signaling to one of his thugs, he brought up a small axe. Grabbing the axe, he headed towards him. "Caballeron, what are you going to do with that axe?" he asked in fear. "What it looks like to you, chop some wood?" he asked while shrugging his shoulders. Looking him back in fear, he tried to shake his body to flee from his captor. Slowly steeping towards him, he let the axe scratching the grass making a screeching sound in the process. Moving away from him, he kept slowly moving his body up and down in a hope that the ropes would break. Raising the axe, he made his way to his wings. "I'm going to chop them off." Closing his eyes in despair, he waited until something could stop him or that would end soon. A large hiss noise came from the bushes, jumping towards him Ahuizota pinned him down and picked her knife from the back of her backpack and placed it on his throat. Kicking the axe away from him, she pressed the knife on his throat. "Keep away from him, you crazy monster," she said while brushing the knife near his throat, "I'll stab you if you try to move." Noticing some movement coming from behind her, she said. "Tell your thugs to keep away from me if you want to have a throat." Using her tail hand, she grabbed the axe and threw it towards the Derring's side. Looking back at Caballeron, she pressed the knife further and slowly stabbed his throat. "Did you like it too?" she asked. Squirming and shaking his body, he tried to shake her off of him. After a few attempts, he finally shook her off of him. Getting back up, he slowly trotted towards her, grabbing his knife he pinned her down and brushed his knife on her body. "The two love birds will join each other... in the afterlife," he said while raising his knife. Stabbing his knife on her, she grunted in pain and squirmed trying to shake him off of her. Small blood drops starting falling from her body. She kept trying to shake him off but only made it worse. Looking back at her, Derring slowly reached the axe and used its head to cut the ropes. Slowly controlling his breathing, he finally cut one of the ropes, slowly reaching the axe with the free hoof he cut the other ropes. Stopping stabbing her, he got back up and looked over her. "I could make use of you, but you're always a revolutionary female," he said while raising his knife, "Derring will meet you soon." Closing her eyes, she felt tears falling down her face. Yelling he pushed the knife down. CLANG. A noise from metal hitting another metal object was heard by them. Using the axe to block the knife, Derring pushed his body forward that made Caballeron fall aside. Dropping the knife, Caballeron grunted and looked back at him. Pushing the axe towards him, he threatened him. "I'll cut you down if you don't go away." Raising, he rushed towards his knife and pointed it back to him. "Let's see who will fall first," he said. He rushed towards him, readying himself he brought up his axe and block the knife attack. Trying again, Caballeron rushed towards him. Using the axe, he swung it and hit Caballeron on his back that made him fall. One of his thugs came rushing from the woods and yelled. "Boss, Prince Dusk is here. We need to flee. NOW." Looking back at him, he grunted in frustration and ran away together with his thugs. Leaving them alone, Caballeron and his thugs disappeared between the woods. Looking back at her, he slowly stepped towards her. Noticing that he was carrying the axe, she raised her paws to protect her body. "No, please no... more," she said while shaking his hooves in despair. Dropping the axe, he bends down and reached her body. Feeling the wounds and the bruises on her body, he laid down beside her. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, "Can you move?" Making an effort to get back up, she whimpered and grunted in pain. "I can't... Help me," she said. "Crawl and get on my back I will help you I have some meds on my cottage," he said. Shacking her head to the sides, she kept on the same position. "Why do you care?" she asked, "Just leave me alone." Grunting in frustration, he crawled behind her and got beneath her. "Hey," she protested. Getting back up, he turned his head back and looked at her. Raising his hoof, he started his explanation. "Put me down now," she said while kicking her paws in the middle of the air. "You're hurt, I can't stand watching you bleed out to death. If you want I will leave you here," he said. He felt her snuggling on his back and adjusted her body on his back. "Ahuizota?" he asked worried by her recent behavior. "Help... me..." she answered in a low tone. Rushing towards his cottage, he opened the main door and laid her on the couch. Rushing towards his bedroom he grabbed some meds and some bandages, heading towards the living room he closed the main door and laid beside her. Opening the medkit, he picked some scissors and a small bandage, cutting a small portion of it, he started tending her small wounds. 'Please don't die, Don't die on me now' he said to himself while keeping tending her. Grabbing some painkillers, he forced it down on her. Hearing her gulping, he proceeded towards the large wounds on her back and belly. 'Careful' he said to himself while holding a small line and a small needle and started tending her large wounds, 'Careful, careful. I'm not a specialist but I can do this. Careful'. Finishing tending her last wound, he proceeded towards his own. Giving her a glass of water, he opened her mouth and poured it down. Noticing that her breath came to a natural pace he stored all of his medical tools inside the medkit and closed it. Laying beside her, he used his wing and placed it over her back. Smiling back, he closed his eyes and let himself enter the DreamLand. Later... Ahuizota started opening her eyes, only to be able to see that she was inside of somepony house. She was scared that all that happened before was a dream and now she was serving that crazy old pony that wanted to buy her. A sudden snore made her look to the source of the sounds, noticing Derring sleeping beside her she lightly squeaked and tried to crawl away from him. Crawling away from his embrace, she stood up and looked over her surroundings only to see a small medkit near him and small bandages on him. 'Oh, I remember now.' she said, 'He was engaged by Caballeron and was stabbed by his knife.' Remembering the last event, something on her mind clinked and made her look over her body. Some of her wounds were tended by bandages while others were tended by a line. 'Where did he learn how to tend others?' she asked herself. Slowing trotting towards him, she pushed her muzzle towards his face and started nuzzling him. Feeling fur on his face, he opened his eyes and noticed a small purr on his face. Looking back at the source of the purr, he saw Ahuizota nuzzling him while she kept her eyes closed and purring in the process. "What are you doing?" he asked. His question was enough to take her back to her senses. Blushing, she trotted backward and said. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean." Seeing him getting back up, she looked awkwardly at his main door. 'Just made your way to the door and be done with it.' She readied herself and started making her way towards the main door. Rushing towards the door, she felt her body being pinned down. Looking back up, she saw Derring looking back at her. "Why did you come to my help?" he asked. "You saved me from his grasp. I was going to be sold to some crazy old pony," she answered while swishing her tail to the sides. "I followed some of them and then I heard your cries. When I noticed what he was going to do I had to act." Noticing that her tail was touching both of his legs, he looked back at her tail and saw how desperately it swished side to side. "Excited, aren't you?" he asked with a grin. Blushing, she squirmed and tried to crawl off him. "Stop. You're embarrassing me." Letting her body go, he trotted backward and let her get back up. Heading towards the main door, he stood there forbidding her to run away. "You're not going away now. You can't walk by yourself and heading back to your house is dangerous Caballeron could come back to you." "Why do you care?" she asked. Slowly towards her, he kept humming a sound on his mouth. Stepping backward, she felt the wall hitting her tail. Looking back at him, she raised her paws and let her claws out. "Stop. Don't come any closer I will scratch and bite you if you do that," she said He grinned and asked. "Would you really do that? I think not." Keeping trotting towards her, he stopped in front of her and raised his hoof settling her paw down. Blushing, she pushed her paw away from his hoof. "I'm willing to give you shelter until you recover or Caballeron leaves Ponyville or get caught." "What? Why? Why are you doing this?" He raised his hoof and placed it on his chin. "That's simple..." Blushing, she looked him deep in the eyes. "That's simple... What?" she asked. Pushing his muzzle towards her nose tip, he answered. "I want to know you better." "What?" she yelled. Giggling at her despair, he settled her hoof down. "If you allow me, I recently saw how good you are on solving some enigmas and I need some help. Since you are being pursued by the royal guard because of your ruin thieving. I'm willing to take you as my companion so I could use that as an excuse for them to forgive you. So, what do you say?" 'Say yes, say yes. It's your chance here.' she said to herself. "For now I'll think about it..." "Would you change your mind if I told you something?" he asked "What?" "I love you." Heavily breathing, she tackled him down. "You know what? I'll consider your proposal, I want to know you better too. And thank you for saving me. I love you, too." she said while keeping nuzzling his chest purring in the process. Smiling, he raised his hoof and started 'petting' her back. "I need to get somethings from my house first. Will you accompany me?" she asked. "Is that a date invite?" Blushing, she replied. "Nooo" Getting back up, they trotted beside each other and headed towards her house. Picking some tools from her house, they headed back towards his cottage. Arriving at his cottage, they decided to lay near the fireplace heating both of them. Laying beside his body, she felt her body trembling by his touch. Looking back at each other, their muzzles came closer to each other and then 'sparks'. A few months later... Small cries were heard all over the house. Moving inside the bed, Derring waked up by the loud cries and looked beside him and saw that she was waked too. "Again?" he asked. "Eyup," she answered, "It's natural and it's your turn now. Go on." "But... but..." he stammered. Raising her paw, she placed it over his face. "No buts. You want to get hit." He gasped and pushed the sheets to the sides. Heading towards a foal crib, he raised the foal that was placed inside of it. Caressing and lightly shaking his hooves, he started to sing a lullaby. After a few moments, the foal was sleeping peacefully again. Placing down the foal back on the crib, he brushed his hoof over its body. Smiling, he admired how cute it was. Laying back on the bed, he used his wing and pushed her towards him. Waking her up again, she grunted and looked back at him. "Stop waking me up, will you?" she asked. Smiling, he placed his hoof on her nose and 'booped' it. "I like the way this turned out. Don't you agree?" She nodded. 'I can't regret it.' Holding her in his embrace, he kissed her and waited until the Dream Land embraced them. THE END!!!