private A New Life: Manehattan Story

[Starshine 16,334]

OOC
 

 

"I hear the wind call your name 
It calls me back home again 
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still burns 
Oh it's to you I'll always return 
I still feel your breath on my skin 
I hear your voice deep within 
The sound of my lover - a feeling so strong 
It's to you - I'll always belong 
 
Now I know it's true 
My every road leads to you 
And in the hour of darkness darlin' 
Your light gets me through 
 
Wanna swim in your river - be warmed by your sun
Bathe in your waters - cos you are the one 
I can't stand the distance - I can't dream alone 
I can't wait to see you - Yes I'm on my way home 
 
Oh I hear the wind call your name 
The sound that leads me home again 
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still burns 
Oh, it's to you - I will always, always return"

 
The train ride had been rather uneventful. Winterglade found herself unable to keep her eyes open, even though she already had a nice 5 hours of sleep from the night before. Her mind was overrun with inner turmoil. The letter was too vague and short, there was no way to tell what had happened back in her home. The sound of the train cars in motion sounded like a constant whispers to her ears, alluring her to take another rest. She did just that. Her head rested on Fender's strong shoulder, she entered the dreamland once more.
 
***
 
It's almost sunset when the train finally arrived in Manehattan's station. The sudden stop nearly threw Winterglade out of balance. With a start she jolted awake and quickly scampered to her hooves. "Whoa... That was fast," she muttered. She shook her head a few times to drive away the drowsiness before turning to Fender. There was a huge patch of dried saliva on his shoulder. The mare smiled nervously. "Whoops. Sorry for that, Fender. I guess I slept a bit too much."
 
Winterglade spared a glance through the cabin's window. Manehattan's station, true to its name, was quite huge. There were ponies as far as eye can see, each minding their own business. It seemed that this station was the train's last stop for the day. "Uhm, anyway, it looks like it's almost dark. Do you think we can make it there flying through the dark?" Winterglade asked Fender. She didn't particularly dig in the idea of flying over the bustling city without the sun's guidance, but on the other hoof she was desperate to know what was going on in her family.

;;RPCode

;;Character - Fender - Becker (Fender) - - %%Pegasus%%

;;Character - Winterglade - Starshine - - %%Pegasus%%

;;DefaultTitle - %%RP Player%%

 

Edited November 6, 2013 by Starshine

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

With a start she jolted awake and quickly scampered to her hooves. "Whoa... That was fast," she muttered. She shook her head a few times to drive away the drowsiness before turning to Fender. There was a huge patch of dried saliva on his shoulder. The mare smiled nervously. "Whoops. Sorry for that, Fender. I guess I slept a bit too much."

 

 

Fender woke not from the sudden stop of the train, but from Winterglade's jolt.

 

He grinned at the mare "Pay no mind, love."

 

 

 

There were ponies as far as eye can see, each minding their own business. It seemed that this station was the train's last stop for the day. "Uhm, anyway, it looks like it's almost dark. Do you think we can make it there flying through the dark?"

 

 

Fender and Winterglade had exited the train by now, and Fender was gawking at how large the city was. He had to snap himself out of his awe to answer. "I uh...yeah." He said as he grabbed her by the hoof and had both of them take off. "Lead on. I'll be right behind you."

[Starshine 16,334]

After clearing up the train with what little they brought along with them, Winterglade trotted side by side with Fender out from the station. It was quite nostalgic to see the majestic city after years she was away.

 

 

 

Fender was gawking at how large the city was. He had to snap himself out of his awe to answer. "I uh...yeah." He said as he grabbed her by the hoof and had both of them take off. "Lead on. I'll be right behind you."

 

Winterglade chuckled on Fender being marvelled in awe by the city. As soon as they were airborne, she gave the stallion a playful nudge. "You haven't seen nothing yet. There are a lot of great places in the center of the city, maybe we can take a look at them after we're done with my family." She sighed. "My house is somewhere in the north east of the town. Let's go."

 

The mare flew in silence to the familiar direction. The city had changed quite a lot during her absence, but she still could recognize the various landmarks as if she was just here yesterday. Trees, parks, shops, everything seemed so familiar, but she paid no mind to all of it. The sun was nearly set when she finally caught her house's silhouette from far away. The mare stopped abruptly in her flight. She shivered. "Uhm... Do you think they're going to be upset with me?" she asked to Fender. "It's been so long since the last time I visited them."

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

The mare flew in silence to the familiar direction. The mare stopped abruptly in her flight. She shivered. "Uhm... Do you think they're going to be upset with me?" she asked to Fender. "It's been so long since the last time I visited them."

 

 

Fender seemed to join Winterglade in her silence. At the abrupt stop and question, he wasn't exactly sure what to say, it was like the ride away from Ponyville took something out of him..."Could just be homesickness" he thought. "Uhhhhm..." he sighed deeply. "I don't know. I really don't. I do know this: You're family, you'll find some way of connecting. If they are upset with you, then I'll be here for you...and you can always try again with them." He smiled.

[Starshine 16,334]

(Time to meet the family!)

 

 

 

"Uhhhhm..." he sighed deeply. "I don't know. I really don't. I do know this: You're family, you'll find some way of connecting. If they are upset with you, then I'll be here for you...and you can always try again with them." He smiled.

 

Winterglade's eyes wandered around the horizon. Her jaws clenched shut. She was about to say something before she finally sighed in resignation. "I hope you're right. It's just... I don't know for sure. Me and my father weren't exactly on good terms when I left. I hope he can forgive me."

 

The mare flew and covered the remaining distance. It didn't took too long for the pair to land on the cloud house. It was a relatively small thing, only barely 40 feet in both length and width. Other than a small attic on the top of the 1 story house, it was completely unremarkable in any way. Winterglade nervously knocked the door twice. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Fender," she said to Fender. "Maybe I was too rushed to go home, I didn't even excused my leave to my boss-"

 

"There you are!"

 

A cerulean pegasus mare was standing on the now wide open door, a huge smile on her face. She was slightly taller than Winterglade, almost reaching Fender's own height, and her frame was much stockier than any usual mare. Winterglade looked positively small in comparison. Winterglade's ears fell. "Uhm... Hi, big sis. This is Fender. I'm here to visit m- Eep!" Before she could finish her sentence, the older mare snatched her hooves and dragged her into the building.

 

"We can talk about you later. Mother is waiting for you!" said the cerulean mare, urgency was clear in her voice. Winterglade tried to shy away, but before she could say anything both mare disappeared behind a closed door at the far end of the room. Silence quickly filled the living room, the front door still left open. A lone ash gray pegasus stallion sat on a couch, unassuming and unmoving. He took a look to the other stallion in vicinity.

 

"Are you coming in?" the stallion inquired to Fender.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

Winterglade nervously knocked the door twice. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Fender," she said to Fender. "Maybe I was too rushed to go home, I didn't even excused my leave to my boss-"   "There you are!"   A cerulean pegasus mare was standing on the now wide open door, a huge smile on her face. She was slightly taller than Winterglade, almost reaching Fender's own height, and her frame was much stockier than any usual mare. Winterglade looked positively small in comparison. Winterglade's ears fell. "Uhm... Hi, big sis. This is Fender. I'm here to visit m- Eep!" Before she could finish her sentence, the older mare snatched her hooves and dragged her into the building.   "We can talk about you later. Mother is waiting for you!" said the cerulean mare, urgency was clear in her voice. Winterglade tried to shy away, but before she could say anything both mare disappeared behind a closed door at the far end of the room.

 

 

Fender watched the scene unfold...he wasn't exactly confused, but slightly uncomfortable, and even more-so when he heard 

 

"Are you coming in?"

 

 

"Ah! Yes sir, sorry about that, just a bit tired...distracted." He bowed his head quickly, walked in, and shut the door behind him.  Then facing the other stallion once more, he said "I'm Fender, and your name, sir?" Fender was nervous as he spoke, but he didn't show it, and kept on a pleasant grin.

[Starshine 16,334]

"Ah! Yes sir, sorry about that, just a bit tired...distracted." He bowed his head quickly, walked in, and shut the door behind him.

 

The ash gray stallion's eyes followed Fender as he trotted in and closed the door. He had read some of the Winterglade's letters, and a great deal of them were referring to a pegasus stallion. The description matched with the one that was standing before him.

 

 

 

Then facing the other stallion once more, he said "I'm Fender, and your name, sir?" Fender was nervous as he spoke, but he didn't show it, and kept on a pleasant grin.

 

"You can call me Hot Wing," the stallion introduced himself, his voice flowed coldly. He motioned with his head to a nearby plush chair. "Please, have a seat. I'm Winterglade's older brother. I have heard a lot about you from her letters."

 

Hot Wing stared the door at the far end of the room for a brief moment before turning back to Fender. "So I've heard that Winterglade has started to live together with you, I assume you have been treating her well?" He looked straight at Fender's eyes. Hot Wing wasn't exactly a big stallion, but his sitting stance nearly mirrored that of a beast before striking its hapless prey.

Edited June 13, 2013 by Starshine

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"You can call me Hot Wing," the stallion introduced himself, his voice flowed coldly. He motioned with his head to a nearby plush chair. "Please, have a seat. I'm Winterglade's older brother. I have heard a lot about you from her letters."

 

 

"Right, and good to meet you." Fender said, as he began to join the Stallion in sitting.

 

 

 

"So I've heard that Winterglade has started to live together with you, I assume you have been treating her well?" He looked straight at Fender's eyes.

 

 

Fender admired the Stallion's apparent care for Winterglade. "As well as I can, I'd say...and, if I may say: It's been a right privilege to have her in my life." He smiled, "And in truth, I'm not really sure I could live without her." His smile turned into a grin "Just don't tell her I said that, she might try and disprove me." he chuckled.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

Fender admired the Stallion's apparent care for Winterglade. "As well as I can, I'd say...and, if I may say: It's been a right privilege to have her in my life." He smiled, "And in truth, I'm not really sure I could live without her." His smile turned into a grin "Just don't tell her I said that, she might try and disprove me." he chuckled.

 

Hot Wing didn't give out any reaction from Fender's attempt to make a joke, but he allowed himself a thin smile when Fender said that it was a privilege to have her in his life. At least Fender seemed to be sincere in his words. "Then I'm-" A pillow appeared out of nowhere and slammed to Hot Wing right in the face with a loud thump. The stallion lost his cool and nearly shouted in frustration, but stopped as soon as he saw who was the culprit.

 

"You should stop scaring our guest, Wing. He spent most of the day sitting in a cramped train cabin, he doesn't need you to tire him any more." The cerulean mare from earlier trotted from the still closed door and took a seat next to her brother. Next to each other, the two pegasi looked rather intimidating. Both of them are well above Winterglade in term of size. Hot Wing didn't make any move to return the sudden attack, but his irritation was palpable in the air. "Oh, and nice to meet you, Fender! I'm Autumn Glow, Winterglade's big sis. I'm sure Wing here already introduced himself so we can skip him. Winterglade wrote so much about you in her last letter. You sounds like a great fella. Thanks for taking care of my sis!" the mare said cheerily.

 

Hot Wing muttered something under his breath, but Autumn Glow didn't seem to notice it. She continued, "Anyhow, I want to talk to you about something, you see..." Autumn Glow took a breath to recollect her mind, but a stallion's shout from the room next door interrupted her line of thoughts. Another loud scream, but this time it was from a mare. Hot Wing and Autumn Glow visibly tensed on their seats. After three seconds of silence, the door opened. Autumn Glow facehoofed "Oh dear."

 

Winterglade slowly walked out from the room. She looked back into the room and said, "I'm sorry," before she broke a trot. Her head hung low, her cape looked a bit roughed. She trotted straight to the front door and through it without making any attempt to call out for Fender or any of her siblings. Outside, finally alone, Winterglade fluttered to a nearby cloud and slumped down on it.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"You should stop scaring our guest, Wing. He spent most of the day sitting in a cramped train cabin, he doesn't need you to tire him any more.

 

 

"It's fine-" Fender mumbled shortly, in surprise.

 

 

 

"Oh, and nice to meet you, Fender! I'm Autumn Glow, Winterglade's big sis. I'm sure Wing here already introduced himself so we can skip him. Winterglade wrote so much about you in her last letter. You sounds like a great fella. Thanks for taking care of my sis!"

 

 

"Nice to meet you as well, and I'm glad to be there for her."

 

 

 

Hot Wing muttered something under his breath, but Autumn Glow didn't seem to notice it. She continued, "Anyhow, I want to talk to you about something, you see..." Autumn Glow took a breath to recollect her mind, but a stallion's shout from the room next door interrupted her line of thoughts. Another loud scream, but this time it was from a mare. Hot Wing and Autumn Glow visibly tensed on their seats. After three seconds of silence, the door opened. Autumn Glow facehoofed "Oh dear."   Winterglade slowly walked out from the room. She looked back into the room and said, "I'm sorry," before she broke a trot. Her head hung low, her cape looked a bit roughed. She trotted straight to the front door and through it without making any attempt to call out for Fender or any of her siblings. Outside, finally alone, Winterglade fluttered to a nearby cloud and slumped down on it.

 

 

Fender was surprised by the situation, and a bit more uncomfortable now. With a serious face he looked back and forth between Hot Wing and Autumn Glow, and said "I'll be back, excuse me."

 

Upon saying this, he got up and raced outside to find Winterglade, which didn't take long at all. He sat on the cloud next to the slumped over mare, and started rubbing her back. He began speaking softly, "Hey, hey, what's wrong, what happened? Do you want to talk about it?" concern in his face.

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade didn't flinch when Fender landed on her cloud. She pressed her face to the downy cloud, trying to obscure her face from the stallion. She nearly jumped from the sudden back rub, but soon her tensed wings relaxed from the gentle touch. The mare hiccuped.

 

He began speaking softly, "Hey, hey, what's wrong, what happened? Do you want to talk about it?" concern in his face.

 

"It's... fine," muttered Winterglade, face still pressed onto the cloud. She didn't want to talk about it, but she knew that keeping Fender out of the loop wouldn't do any good. She took a deep, long breath before raising her head from the unnaturally comfortable cloud. "My father said that it was my fault that I my mother got sick. I left him working alone in the weather factory about... three years ago. I thought that my father would be enough to take care of my mother. I was wrong."

 

Everything felt cold to her coat. The cloud thankfully had drifted away from her house, carrying the two away from prying eyes. Her hooves felt so weak, she had a hard time trying to push herself to a sitting position. The night wind stung her freshly reddened eyes "Fender?" she asks. "Any ideas on what should I do? It feels like... Everything I'm trying to do always ends up a huge failure." She stomped a hoof to the edge of the cloud in frustration, a small part of it broke into a lump of snow that soon fell to the ground below.

 

E: Gotta go now. See you tomorrow!

Edited June 13, 2013 by Starshine

[Fender 1,283]

Fender listened to the upset mare with compassion, and care.

 

 

 

"Fender?" she asks. "Any ideas on what should I do? It feels like... Everything I'm trying to do always ends up a huge failure." She stomped a hoof to the edge of the cloud in frustration, a small part of it broke into a lump of snow that soon fell to the ground below.

 

 

Fender actually hadn't seen weather-making happen first hand, so he was quite intrigued by Winterglade making snow, but he had to control his curiosity.

 

"I know it may not be what you want to hear right away, but there are two sides to this, two things you can do. Well, at least that's what I think. I grew up without parents...so I wouldn't exactly be the most knowledgeable.-" He paused, nuzzling her, and continued rubbing her back to try to help calm her frustration. "-When I was about 14, and I still lived in Cloudsdale, my only real freind there at the time always had trouble with his parents. He had goals, interests, ideas...you name it, his parents never agreed with him. He spent the next year or so in just...utter confusion, and he was never happy. Eventually he came to the realization that he didn't have to live his life to please them. He was rebellious about it though, so I told him what I thought was right: That he should still love and respect his parents even in disagreement, because sometime in his life, he may not have that luxury." Fender looked down, "I didn't..." He quickly looked back up and breathed in, turning Winterglades head to look him right in the eyes "Now! You're father may or may not like it, but I'm gonna throw in whatever help I can for your mother, and most definitely for you." he proceeded to kiss her, and smile. "Will you be alright?"

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade silently cursed herself for forgetting that Fender hadn't had any luxury of parents for a good portion of his life. She felt absolutely terrible. Fender had been so caring for her, and now she forgot about him. She returned the nuzzle, "I'm sorry..."

 

 

 

He quickly looked back up and breathed in, turning Winterglades head to look him right in the eyes "Now! You're father may or may not like it, but I'm gonna throw in whatever help I can for your mother, and most definitely for you." he proceeded to kiss her, and smile. "Will you be alright?"

 

Winterglade laughed almost heartily at the quick kiss. Her cheeks now flaring. It definitely felt nice to have somepony caring and supporting you when you're down "Yes, I'll be fine." She moved closer to the stallion, savoring his precious body heat. "Thanks. I'm sorry I forgot about your... I should have been thankful that at least they are still alive."

 

The mare sighed. She was still tired beyond all reasons, but with Fender on her side she felt safe. She rested her head on his shoulder. "You shouldn't worry too much about my mother. My brother and sister should be more than enough to afford her medications now. The offer is much appreciated, but I doubt my father would accept it with an open mind." She looked upwards. The night sky above the clouds looked positively enchanting, hundreds of stars twinkling peacefully, without a single care on what happened below the heavens. "The stars, they're beautiful aren't they?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Thanks. I'm sorry I forgot about your... I should have been thankful that at least they are still alive."

 

 

"Hey, it's fine." he wasn't exactly bothered about talking about his parents.

 

 

 

"You shouldn't worry too much about my mother. My brother and sister should be more than enough to afford her medications now. The offer is much appreciated, but I doubt my father would accept it with an open mind."

 

 

"I'll still help how I can." He nodded at her,

 

 

 

"The stars, they're beautiful aren't they?"

 

 

"Yeah." He grinned "But they're no match for my mare." he nuzzled her again. A moment passed before Fender could ask "So, when will you take me to meet your parents?"

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"Yeah." He grinned "But they're no match for my mare." he nuzzled her again. A moment passed before Fender could ask "So, when will you take me to meet your parents?"

 

Winterglade couldn't help but to giggle like a schoolfilly hearing Fender's blatant flattery, but she accepted it nonetheless. She buried her face in his fur. "Oh you silly casanova," she murmured while rocking back and forth slightly. She felt much better than she was ten minutes ago. "We can talk to them tomorrow. Right now I'm sure that my sister is trying to calm them down."

 

"Anyway... Maybe we should get some place to sleep for the night? Unless you fancy sleeping under the stars, we should start searching for some inn," she asked.

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"We can talk to them tomorrow. Right now I'm sure that my sister is trying to calm them down."   "Anyway... Maybe we should get some place to sleep for the night? Unless you fancy sleeping under the stars, we should start searching for some inn,"

 

 

"Righto then...uh, you lead though, I might end up putting us in an alley or something." He began hovering, waiting for her to lead on. 

Fender quickly thought back to the first few days that he had met Winterglade, and remembered what an adventure that had been for him, then he imagined what an adventure they would have during their time in Manehattan. Now, he waited for her to take flight with him.

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

"Righto then...uh, you lead though, I might end up putting us in an alley or something." He began hovering, waiting for her to lead on.

 

Winterglade chuckled. Honestly, spending the night in a damp alley somewhere would be okay with her, as long as Fender would stay on her side. She jumped and took flight next to Fender. "Let's go!" she said.. She took one last look at her house before taking flight to the nearest inn she remembered.

 

It didn't took Winterglade long to find a suitable lodging for the night. The building was rather unassuming, built on mahogany, two stories and about three rooms wide. It was a bit different than the one she remembered standing on its place, but it will do for the night. She entered through the door and made her way to the receptionist. The exchange was brief, the old receptionist hardly looked at the slightly irritated mare. With a sigh Winterglade snatched the room key and called for Fender, "I guess we will be sleeping on a small room tonight. Before we go to sleep, do you have anything in mind?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"I guess we will be sleeping on a small room tonight. Before we go to sleep, do you have anything in mind?"

 

 

He wasn't exactly sure what she meant, he knew she probably meant that if there was anything else they needed taken care of, they should do so, but it almost sounded like an implication...he turned to the side and faked a cough to disguise the redness in his face. He turned back to her and cleared his throat "Uhm, what about something to eat? Haven't had anything since before we left Ponyville." He paused for a moment to think, and continued "Here, I'll go grab us a bite, there was some store nearby that we passed on our way. And don't worry, I'll remember the way back." He grinned shortly, and turned to leave.

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade tilted her head in confusion when Fender turned aside and coughed. Did she said something wrong? She looked around the lobby, there was nopony else but the still musty-looking receptionist who hardly paid any attention at everything. After a moment of she decided to shrug it off.

 

 

 

He turned back to her and cleared his throat "Uhm, what about something to eat? Haven't had anything since before we left Ponyville." He paused for a moment to think, and continued "Here, I'll go grab us a bite, there was some store nearby that we passed on our way. And don't worry, I'll remember the way back." He grinned shortly, and turned to leave.

 

"Wait!" Winterglade called out. She quickly excused herself from the receptionist and pocketed the room key before galloping to follow Fender. The idea of being left alone in an empty building just didn't suit her. "Don't just leave me like that! I want to go around the place too." She coughed. "Anyway, what food do you have in mind?"

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

"Wait!" Winterglade called out. She quickly excused herself from the receptionist and pocketed the room key before galloping to follow Fender. "Don't just leave me like that! I want to go around the place too." She coughed. "Anyway, what food do you have in mind?"

 

 

He turned red again, partly in shame, and partly in the fact that he found her behavior cute. 

 

"Oh sorry," he smiled defensively, "I didn't mean to sound like I was trying to escape!" His smile now turning into one of acceptance, "Well, come on then." he said, as he lead them outside, and into flight.

 

They made it to a restaurant a few blocks from the inn, and it was almost closing time. Granted, the place wasn't a dump, but it didn't exactly look like a very homely place. Fender couldn't complain though, he was quite hungry after the long train ride, now  wasn't the time to be the most picky. He ordered a salad and some tea, and looked to Winterglade, "And you, love?"

[Starshine 16,334]

Winterglade raised an eyebrow, partially in confusion, when Fender stammered out an answer. His face was also looked a bit red. Winterglade chortled a laugh when she finally figured out what had happened in the lobby earlier. She closed the distance between them, a content smile on her face. Stallions can be silly sometimes. The pair entered a small restaurant, and Fender quickly placed an order.

 

 

 

He ordered a salad and some tea, and looked to Winterglade, "And you, love?"

 

"Um..." She took a peek to the kitchen area. It seemed like the place was preparing to call it a day. No big menu for tonight. "I'll take two salads and a tea," she said to the waitress. She was a bit hungry after all that happened since the morning. After the waitress left to retrieve the meal, Winterglade took a seat on a table and flopped her face to the table. "By Celestia my head hurts..."

[Fender 1,283]

 

 

After the waitress left to retrieve the meal, Winterglade took a seat on a table and flopped her face to the table. "By Celestia my head hurts..."

 

 

Fender joined Winterglade at the table, and lifted her head up, "Was it the long day, or your family? -Either way, right now and until tomorrow, it's just us. Alright?" He smiled and paused shortly, and before she could say something, he continued "Do you remember...back when I first told you I loved you? Do you remember when I told you I would commit myself to making you happy? Because that's exactly what I'm going to do, through whatever hardship. So for now, let's relax and enjoy dinner, then we'll get a good night's sleep, and deal with the stress tomorrow." The waitress approached their table and set down the food and drinks, leaving them a moment later. Fender realized he had had his saddle bag on almost all day. He couldn't wait to take it off when they got back to the inn. His smile grew wide, "Now, let's eat, shall we?"

[Starshine 16,334]

 

 

Fender joined Winterglade at the table, and lifted her head up, "Was it the long day, or your family? -Either way, right now and until tomorrow, it's just us. Alright?"

 

Winterglade smiled weakly, the day's fatigue finally catched up to her. Fender was right, there is no need to muse with things too much. For now, it's time to take it easy.

 

 

 

before she could say something, he continued "Do you remember...back when I first told you I loved you? Do you remember when I told you I would commit myself to making you happy? Because that's exactly what I'm going to do, through whatever hardship. So for now, let's relax and enjoy dinner, then we'll get a good night's sleep, and deal with the stress tomorrow." The waitress approached their table and set down the food and drinks, leaving them a moment later. Fender realized he had had his saddle bag on almost all day. He couldn't wait to take it off when they got back to the inn. His smile grew wide, "Now, let's eat, shall we?"

 

Winterglade's mind wandered back to one month before. They were on their way back home from Fluttershy's house. She remembered that Fender indeed promised her that he would commit himself to her happiness, a promise that sealed her life together with the stallion. Her cheeks turned a faint shade of red from the wonderful memory. If she wasn't so absurdly tired she would move and swoop on the stallion already. She nodded slightly. "Thanks..."

 

The waitress came with their food. Winterglade spared no time to wolf down on the salads, paying no mind that Fender might be a bit revolted on the sight of it. She sighed in satisfaction. "Now this is dinner!" she cheered, absentmindedly flicking a piece of carrot to the air before catching it with her mouth. "You're right, Fender. Tonight is just between us, no need to worry too much about anything any more."

 

Winterglade slurped her tea greedily. After an entire afternoon and evening with empty stomach, even a simple meal like salad tasted like heavens. "Tomorrow..." she murmured. "I'm not sure if we can go back to my home that soon. I still need to talk with my family." Her ears fell flat, doubt fully expressed on her face. "Would you be okay with staying in this town a bit longer?"

[Fender 1,283]

Fender couldn't quite match her pace in eating, but he didn't care, nor did he slow down in scarfing down his food and drink. He was happy she was enjoying herself a bit. 

 

 

 

"I'm not sure if we can go back to my home that soon. I still need to talk with my family." Her ears fell flat, doubt fully expressed on her face. "Would you be okay with staying in this town a bit longer?"

 

 

He smiled, and used a hoof fix her head to wear she would be looking directly into his eyes "As long as I'm with you."

 

He payed for the meal, and lead Winterglade out while the place was closing. At this, they flew back to the inn, and opened up their room. Fender proceeded to take a deep breath, "Wee bit cramped, isn't it? Looks like snuggling may not be optional tonight." He chuckled, removing his saddle bag and closing the door behind them.

[Starshine 16,334]

He smiled, and used a hoof fix her head to wear she would be looking directly into his eyes "As long as I'm with you."

 

He payed for the meal, and lead Winterglade out while the place was closing. At this, they flew back to the inn, and opened up their room. Fender proceeded to take a deep breath, "Wee bit cramped, isn't it? Looks like snuggling may not be optional tonight." He chuckled, removing his saddle bag and closing the door behind them.

Once again, the mare couldn't help but to giggle like a prepubescent filly. With so many uncertainty going on around her day, Fender served as a great anchor. She smiled. "As long as I'm with you."

 

The trip back to the inn was rather quick. As soon as they entered their room, Winterglade unlatched her cape and folded it nicely on a small chair. The thick fabric was a bit coarse to the touch, there was even a sign of tear at the far end. Seemed like she will had to repair it later. She raised an eyebrow when Fender commented on how snuggling may not be optional. She took a glance to the tiny bed. "Really? I would be surprised if we won't fall off during our sleep," she replied. After looking back and forth between the bed and Fender, Winterglade shrugged and shoved Fender onto the bed and snuggled in to use his body as a makeshift pillow. She yawned. "Now that's more like it..."

 

Before Fender should so much take a breath, Winterglade already dozed off, far gone to the dreamland.