"Thunderclop (Warning Clop Also really GAY)"
By DangerousAmoeba (https://pastebin.com/u/DangerousAmoeba)

URL: https://pastebin.com/rW7JzhNX
Created on: Sunday 22nd of May 2016 08:37:02 AM CDT
Retrieved on: Sunday 25 of October 2020 05:03:51 AM UTC


>Be unemployed AiE
>Heading on down to the local pub to chat with/up some ponies.
>Whatever gets you a place to sleep for the night.
>You’ve already overstayed your welcome with your friends.
>Mares are hard to pick up, though you’ve had some. They only get you one night though, and are a ton of effort.
>Except a green one.
>Bar is almost empty today, just some assorted ponies, some who you’ve already gotten a bed out of.
>Scanning around, you see a friendly face. Thunderlane.
>You play hoofball with him when you’re not trying to make money, though his friends don’t like you.
>He’s a weatherpony or something, you don’t know, But you’ve already bunked on his couch.
>Still, nice to see a friend again.
“Hey Thunder.”
>”Ugh... H-hey Anon.”
>Damn, maybe this was a bad time. That’s a pretty big mug of cider.
“Something wrong?”
>”Sorry, yea. I lost my job.”
“Again? What did you do this time?”
>He seems to accept the bantz, and cracks a smile.
>”I didn’t do anything! Some idiot destroyed the weather factory, and blanketed some town in snow a week early.”
>Tough luck. Last time he was just sick.
>”Anyway, I was on break when it happened. Boss didn’t believe me.”
>You can feel for him, being unemployed sucks.
“Hey man, look at it this way. You’ll have your job back next week.”
>Being literally the only person who can do the job sure increases job security.
>”Yea I know. Cutie marks really help with job security.”
>He looks away unsure, but he’s probably just bummed out.
“I wouldn’t know.”
>”Oh sorry. How’ve you been?”
>And now it gets awkward.
“Still no job.”
>”How have you not managed to find a job, Anon? Unemployment among adults is 0%.”
“No cutie mark for one. Can’t fly or do magic, for other. And I can’t fit through most doorways.”
>”But you’re like twice my height, and beat that train guy hoof wrestling.”
“Doesn’t change that labor jobs aren’t there.”
>Now you’re bummed out.
>You’d almost payed off your student loan too, but now your degree is worth nothing.
>”So what did you do before?”
“I’m a civil engineer man. No one here knows what that is.”
>”Wait, you’re engineer? Even ponies with cutie marks have to go through school for that. Though all Engineers are in Canterlot, or another big city.”
“Yea, well no jobs around here.”
>You feel worst knowing that there is a big city with a job that suits your education, but you’re miles too far and a couple hundred bits too short.
“I guess I’ll get out of here then.”
>”Wait no hold up.”
“What?”
>”Let me buy you a drink.”
“No, it’s fine. I should really get back to job hunting, or maybe do some odd jobs.”
>”Shut up and stick around, bro.”
>Thunder signals a bartender to get another drink.
“Alright, but know I’m broke and can’t pay you back.”
>The bartender puts a mug in front of you.
>”I’m your friend, Anon.”
“If you say so.”
>Maybe you were too callous. He looks hurt.
>But fuck that.
>You spend the day looking for a decent source of income and making loose change for any backbreaking labor.
>Meanwhile stay at strangers houses for the night, since the ponice don’t like you sleeping on a bench.
>You’ve earned the right to be callous.
>Drinking from your cup, you feel yourself slowly turn into a robot, as hatred consumes your once good personality.
>Or some other /r9k/ shit.
>”So. Did you find a place of your own?”
>You don’t stop drinking and merely look at Thunderlane over the mug.
>Only in part because you don’t wanna talk about it, but more because this is the nicest thing you’ve drank in a long while.
>”Yea, I guess that was a stupid question.”
>Wow, this is exactly as awkward as you knew this was going to get.
>You put down your empty mug.
>”You wanna come over my house?”
“Nah, man. Thanks. I gotta get back to job hunting.”
>You stand up; this time sure you’re going to leave.
“Thanks for the drink Thunder. I’ll see you around.”
>”No, wait up!”
>You quickly start walking towards the door.
>Thunder still follows you, pleading to come home.
>You’re starting to feel bad, but you honestly don’t want to be a sympathy leach.
>You’re walking down the streets quickly, and Thunders stubby legs can hardly keep up.
>He starts flying, and flies right next to you.
>”C’mon Anon! W-we can play something?”
“Look Thunder. I’m tired of being a leach, I need to find something, I-”
>”You’re not leaching, we’re friends! What are friends for?”
>You slow down.
>Thunder is really set on this, what’s one night worth to you anyway?
“Fine.”
>he immediately lights up. You almost feel bad for denying him before.
>”Alright! Let’s go!”
>Thunderlane clings close, flying around you, sometimes landing on your shoulder and joking or saying something before flying.
>Maybe he’s making sure you don’t run away, he’s never more than a couple feet away.
“Wait, don’t you have a cloud house?”
>Last time he brought his house close to ground so you could sleep on his couch.
>”Well yea. But that’s not my only house.”
“Gee Thunderlane, how come your mom lets you have TWO houses?”
>”What? My mom didn’t let me have two houses.”
>You feel the meme simply glide over him, and into the abyss.
>”Anyway, most Pegasus have two houses. You didn’t think we all lived in clouds all the time did you?”
“You guys spend more time in the cloud house; I just assumed that’s the only one.”
>”Nah, they’re not very stable. Cloudsdale, needs constant maintenance. One time, half the city just disappeared.”
“Huh, I guess that’s interesting.”
>”Not far now.”
>You still have half a mind to try to refuse, but your pride should have been forgotten on some stranger’s side table.
>You’re not going cold tonight.
>”Here we are. I know it’s not much, but-“
>He stops saying whatever he was gonna say.
>”Anyway, come on inside.”
>You enter his modest home; your head almost hits the doorframe.
>”Let me set up the game system.”
>You two play the rest of the day away.
>You never thought 2-player pong could be so addicting. Considering you were born after the Cold War.
>”Oh, damn.”
“What?”
>”It’s dark. Almost 8.”
“Oh. Wanna call it for the night? Your score isn’t going to improve.”
>Your score is almost 4 times his; he was clearly distracted the whole time.
>Still looked like he had fun.
>”Yea, ok.”
>Thunderlane cleans up the console, while you do before bed while you have the luxury of a house.
>Soon you’re on Thunderlans couchbed, It’s one of those couches that fold out into a bed.
>All lights are off, and Thunder walks off.
>Covered in a blanket too small.
>Brain forgetty, eyes are heavy, sleep on your mind already...
>f(t) = t + x
“Mff..”
>”Shh, careful.”
>You swear something warm is on you, sliding around.
>You feel pangs of pokes and heat around your body.
>After a couple minutes of crawling around, the warmth settles in your chest.
>You’re not sure what it is, and more things poke you.
>You don’t dream anymore, not when you’re tired anyway.
>Imagining a rodent or something, you immediately thrash around in a sleepy state.
>Squeeze and turn.
>”Hey hey! It’s just me Thunderlane!”
>And it is.
>In the dark, you can make out his Mohawk and face.
>Your eyes adjust to the moon light in the window; you can see him blushing and his gray fur.
“Thnder? Wha ya doing?”
>”Hey, th-this is a misunderstanding right...”
>He starts looking for something to say.
>Then suddenly, he takes a breath, looks you right in the eyes determined.
>”Screw it.”
>He quickly moves down and locks lips with you.
>Trying to keep you from pulling away, though you are in no position to do so in your sleepy state.
>His tongue is unsure, but you limply penetrate his mouth and twirl around a little.
>Too sleepy to know what you’re doing, and now getting hard from the stallion on top of you.
>He pulls away, blushing and looks like anything could make him cry right now.
“Wha- you wan?”
>He opens his mouth to speak, but seams unsure himself.
>You can feel him involuntarily grinding on you.
>Feeling warmth wherever he rubs, as he uses his own pre to lubricate himself over your belly.
“Oh.”
>”I-I... Anon, I.”
>He tries to say something, but either you’re too sleepy to understand or he doesn’t complete.
>It’s probably the latter, because you’re in a state of sleepy hyper awareness.
>He gathers his balls, and just turns around.
>You sit up, more confused, just as the tingly feeling from your cock rises.
>You see his head bobbing up and down over your pelvis.
>Enjoying it, you grab the stallions rump.
>Operating entirely on sleepy instinct, you take something into your own mouth.
>Licking around his ponut, you taste a sweet fluid.
>Something is already lubricated this, your tongue easily glides over and into his ass.
>The stallion moans with your cock in his mouth.
>Enjoying the vibrations from his throat, you want him to moan more.
>Sticking your tongue in all the way, his legs simply give out.
>Thankfully, you’re supporting him.
>You pull your tongue out, and instead lick the area around, slowly moving down.
>Eventually, you take a lump into your mouth.
>You never fully understand what it is, just that anything you do makes the stallion verbally react.
>Drunkenly and unknowingly, you gently bite down.
>The stallion gives a powerful gasp, before he pull of your cock.
>”’Non! Mfff- Harder!”
>You do as told, and bite harder, earning a staggered moan from him.
>Returning to gently caressing the stallion, who returns to servicing you.
>You grab his cock, and give a short stroke.
>Immediately, thick fluid runs down your arm, with the one stroke.
>”A-Anon! Wait!”
>The stallion quickly turns around, to face you again.
>Your hands are still in mid-air, as the body parts are snatched away.
>You adjust a hand the short way to cup Thunders face.
>He looks you in the eyes, blushing with a sincere smile on his face.
>”I-I’m already really close, a-and I want this- this to last.”
>You’re not sure what you do, or with what state of mind.
>But you grab Thunderlane, and turn him around so his back is against your belly.
>Lying on your sides, you’re big spoon and he’s little.
>You look down; your cock is poking between Thunderlanes legs, stopping just after his shaft.
>Maneuvering with finesse you didn’t know you had, in a state of sleep and lust.
>You guide the head of your cock to Thunders tailhole.
>”I trust you, Anon.”
“Ai wuw, ye, too.”
>You press your cock into him.
>He gasps at the feeling, and you hum at his warm interior.
>You go as far as you can, before you’re stopped by some annoying tissue in the way.
>Oh well, still about 27/32 of the way in.
>You start pumping, pulling out into the cold, before back into the warmth.
>Thunder moans each time you enter all the way again.
>His cock pulses each time, you glide in or out.
>Using your hands, you simultaneously rub his belly and scratch his neck.
>He starts moaning more and more.
>You quicken your pace, and his moans turn to yelps.
>His insides are maddening, tight all around, but easy to move in and out of.
>He’s drooling on the mattress now, you quicken up.
>”Fa-fas *HA*HA*, Rig*Moan*.”
>You just ignore it, and keep going as fast you can, but gently.
>Soon, you feel Thunder begin to tighten more and more.
>His breathing becomes even more unpredictable and ragged.
>You notice the head of his penis change shape.
>In a moment, he takes a sharp breath and tightens like a hydraulic vice.
>”AN’N!”
>You physically cannot move, though you still try.
>He lets out a moan mixed with a yelp and scream, as his cock twitches hard.
>He shoots a load a good yard.
>Followed by another scream and another shot, followed by another 3.
>His body twitches a couple of times, as his ass loosens again.
>You get back to pumping and with each, a small glob of cum exits his cock.
>Keep on pumping, you notice he’s almost screaming each time.
>”P-plea *haa* stop!”
>Hearing that, you immediately stop.
>”S-sorry. Sensitive.”
>You slowly pull out of his ass, hearing his plea.
>”No! N-no! Just gimme a minute.”
>Stopping midway more confused.
>You want to sleep, you want to fuck, you don’t need this.
>”Alright, go.”
>You don’t know if any time has passed, but you get back to it.
>Pumping into him once again, his breaths are more pained than before.
>You don’t know how much time passes, but soon you’re close to the edge.
>”Anon- Anon, I’m gonna... Again. Faster.”
>You accept, and increase your speed with all the might you have.
>His breathing becomes unpredictable again, though less than before.
>His head is flared again.
>He yells and gives a powerful spurt.
>Less impressive than last time, but still a foot or so.
>His squirming and squeezing drives you over the edge.
>You breathe hard and thrust into him, filling him with your seed.
>He moans more as he feels the warm fluid filing him up.
>Spurting a few more times, before going completely limp exhausted.
>All your lust converted into tiredness, and so all you have the energy to do is pull out.
>Kiss Thunder, and go to sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------
>Feeling some wetness, you wake up.
>Though you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, you feel fresh.
>Then you remember why. Only faintly, but still remember.
>There he lays, you’re friend.
>Almost like remembering a dream, but too real.
>Thunderlane, is pressed into your chest, happily breathing.
>You swear you see a smile on his face.
>You look down, seeing all the fluids on his ass, and your flaccid cock.
>Disgusted with yourself, you gently move away.
>Getting up as not to wake him, you quickly move to the bathroom.
>You feel like an awful person through your tasks.
>Wiping down your body, putting your pants on.
>You grab everything you own, and stand at the door.
>Feeling worse than you did the night before, you walk out the door.
>Gently shutting the door behind you, into the morning sun.
>Not wanting to turn into a leach, you used your friend in a worst way.
>Probably hurt him.
>You have some things stored around at assorted places.
>Some money to get you a ticket, all your belongings.
>You need to blow this town.
>Where? Wherever the ticket takes you.
>Why? You don’t know, you just can’t show your face in this town anymore.
>It’s time for you to have your way, move to another life time.
>Ride the train, through the misty daytime.
>This time, you’ll be ready when your feet touch ground. Wherever you come down.
>And if the folks will have you. Well IF they’ll have you.
>Broke and leaching off your friends, and strangers.
>Any world that welcomes you is better than the world you come from.
--------------------------------------------------------
>You feel great waking up
>A bit sticky, and your ass is sore, but still feeling great.
>You open your eyes, the afternoon sun shining through the window.
>Rolling around on your back, you turn over.
>Expecting a warm soft chest, instead there’s nothing.
>Maybe Anon’s getting breakfast.
>You smile and blush still feeling full from the night before.
>You roll around the bed for a while, just feeling too comfy to get up.
>You feel the mess you two made on the bedsheets, and giggle to yourself.
>If there was something, -well, somepony- here. You wouldn’t even bother getting up.
>Slowly, you get out of bed, wanting to find your friend quickly.
>You bounce around the house calling out.
>Feeling as peppy as ever, you check the obvious spots.
“Anon! Anon, you in the bathroom, buddy?”
>Opening the bathroom door, you see no one.
>Feeling some worry, you quickly enter the bathroom and take care of your morning routine as well as the mess from the night before.
>If you had your way, you’d keep it inside you all day.
>You quickly step out of the bathroom, looking for your alien friend.
“Anon! Are you around here?”
>You search your kitchen.
>It’s small, but pristine.
>You’re starting to feel worried. Where could Anon have ran off to?
>You sweep your house one more time, nothing.
>No longer thinking, you fly to the door.
>It’s unlocked, Anon left.
>You swallow at the realization.
>Did he leave because of you? Maybe he’s just out. Maybe he never saw you more than a bed.
>You hold back a quiver, and refuse to accept anything.
>Flying out the door, you fly above town.
>Scanning for a pale two-legged alien.
>You land at the bar, sometimes he shows up here to look for a bed, though it’s probably too early for that.
“Tap! You see Anon?”
>”Thunder? Nope. Thought he left with you yesterday?”
“Yea, but now I’ve lost him.”
>”Oh. Sorry to hear that, son. I’ll get the word out.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thanks, Tap.”
>You run out the bar, and back into the air.
>it’s a warm and humid day, you have a hard time flying on days like these.
>You circle around places Anon hangs around.
>Each time you circle around town, you feel more and more like you should give up.
>You check every place, everypony he’s ever worked for, every place he’s been.
>Maybe he just left; maybe he’s working right now.
>You feel torn between different theories on him leaving.
>A gut feeling keeps telling you, it’s your fault.
>Maybe if you’d been a better friend...
>After what feels like the hundredths sweep, you land next to the bakery.
>You spot Miss Pumpkin heading inside.
>Anon knows her pretty well, she even offered him a place to stay, but Anon declined.
“Misses Pumpkin!”
>The old mare looks your way; her summer bonnet shades her from the sun.
>”Thunderlane? How have you been dearie? I haven’t seen you since... well I don’t remember when I last saw you.”
>She looks away thinking, with a warm smile.
“Miss Pumpkin, have you seen Anon?”
>”Anonymous? Yes actually, I saw him earlier. I thought he was just looking for some my famous pumpkin pie, but no. He just wanted to take some things I was holding for him. Poor dear, I wish I had a pie for him.”
>She thinks for a second, almost as if she’s forgotten something.
“Where did he go?!”
>”Is he lost dear? He took a bag he said he brought from home, and then he said good-bye. I asked where he was going.”
>She looks a little worried, and looks away thinking.
“What did he say?”
>You rush her.
>”He said, he didn’t know. Just said something about moving to ‘another lifetime’. He always was a weird one, but soft on the inside. A rose of a colt, but so lost.”
>She looks off again.
>You don’t have time for this.
“Do you know where he went?”
>”Oh?! Umm, well he took his things, and hugged me. What a warm hug it was, he always was so gentle...”
“Then?!”
>”He walked to the station I think.”
>The train station? Why would Anon go there? Unless he left town.
“Thank you miss pumpkin.”
>As you turn to leave, miss pumpkin puts a hoof on you.
>”Be sure to find him dearie. He’s always lost, yes, but only thing sweeter than my pie, is that Anonymous.”
>You nod, and fly off towards the station.
>The station is outside of town by a little bit, which is why you missed it in each sweep.
>Flying as fast as you can, you reach the station quickly.--
>Landing just outside, exhausted.
>You run up to the platform, and you notice the train is already leaving.
>Heavily breathing, you scan for Anon, and then look up the train leaving.
>In the 3rd carriage, you see a hand out, Anon sitting looking out the window.
>You run towards him, too tired to fly anymore.
>You just can’t catch up to it, no matter how hard you try.
>Your run slows to a jog; your eyes are still locked on the man in the train.
>The train gets faster, and you slow down even more.
>Just then, Anon looks back, and sees you.
>You look each other in the eyes, and you stop moving.
>He looks away for a second, thinking, before looking back.
>He gives a soft smile, barely noticeable. Then puts a hand up, and waves.
>You slump down in defeat, and raise a hoof to wave.
>Holding back tears as best as you can, you sit on the platform watching the train turn into speck in the distance.
>Soon the train isn’t visible anymore.
>You hang your head, and shuffle home.
>Good luck to him, you’ll have to get along...
>Somehow...
--------------------------------------------------------
>You move some stuff around your shared office.
>Normally other ponies would be helping you, today; you’re the only one working office.
>You shift through some folders, sorting and separating things.
>Folder on desk, you sit down and start studying it.
>Start out reading, but your mind wanders immediately.
>You pick up a hoof-sized metal square, sitting on your desk.
>A buckle from an old friend’s belt.
>You’re not sure how he dropped it, or if he’s still wearing a buckle-less belt.
>You laugh at the thought of that.
>Stopping quickly, remembering old times.
>Memories and this buckle, is all you have left now.
>The buckle is brass, with some writing embossed on it.
>’Winchester Repeating arms’
>With some sort of bat embossed underneath the words.
>’New haven Conn’ embossed under that.
>He once said this was his favorite buckle, you hope he doesn’t miss it.
>Closing your eyes, you think back on the Alien. How he showed up one day, seemingly out of nowhere.
>Didn’t have a cutie mark, but was good at everything.
>Couldn’t get a job. Still gave it his best shot.
>”Thunderlane!”
>You turn to whoever called your name, wide-eyed staring at your manager.
>”What’s wrong with you, colt? I’ve called you for nigh a minute! Into my office, son.”
>You’re not sure what he wants, but you know it’s not something good.
>You get up quickly, putting the buckle around your neck by the chain you put on it.
>It’s a bit clunky, but you don’t want to lose it.
>The walk down the hall is uninteresting; your boss sits at his desk waiting for you.
>”Take a seat, colter.”
>Doing as your told, you prepare for whatever he’s going to tell you.
>”What’s gotten over you, colt? I know ya had a loss, but that was nigh a year ago.”
>Your manager sounds like a scolding dad.
>You don’t entirely mind, but you know he doesn’t know anything.
>”Ya gotta pull outta it colt. Sometimes, life ain’t fair; you can’t just sit around and mope.”
“I’m not moping, sir.”
>You know you’ve been moping, but you still don’t wanna hear it.
>”Thunder, son. You been doin the work ya used to hate, I know ya liked to fly not sit around a office all day.”
>You look away, he’s not wrong, you hate office work.
>But you just haven’t been feeling like flying, or doing anything.
>You’ve been trying to do the least amount of work possible.
>”And ya sit around and stare at that thing whenever ya get the chance.”
>He points at the buckle around your neck.
“It’s not a thing, it’s my friends.”
>The old stallion shakes his head, looks you in the eyes.
>Serious, but sincere.
>”Look colter. Take a couple months off. Don’t worry, there’s a job waitin for ya when ya feel better. Go out there, find what ye’re missin lad. Go see the good nurse at the hospital, if ye’re still confused.”
>You think about it for a while.
>Since Anon left, you’ve done very little.
>You wake up, work, come home and sleep. You can’t even remember when you went to a bar.
“OK. Thanks boss.”
>”Stay safe, son. Now get outta here and take life while yer young.”
>You immediately head for the exit; you don’t have anything at work.
>You opt to fly.
>The town looks better from here; the day’s not too bad for flying.
>You circle around the town, just as you did 8 months ago.
>Except this time you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
>You think back to hanging out with your friends and Anon.
>He used to humble everypony.
>Once he hoof wrestled your train yard worker friend. Big guy, legs like trees.
>Anon’s skinny, everypony tells him to hoof wrestle, Track.
>Minute later, he’s got track under his hoof trying to get out.
>Doesn’t even make anything of it, just takes another drink and says good game.
>That’s what made him cool.
>Some ponies didn’t like him.
>You circle around a few more times, thinking back to all the times you hung out.
>You’ve been thinking about him a lot more now.
>More than you did for 8 months. Something about this week.
>You’ve had dreams with him in it, but he never says a word.
>Soon, tears are blurring your vision.
>It’s best to just go home.
>Apathetically, you land on your front door.
>Open it, and enter.
>You don’t care to do anything else, and just decide to go to bed.
>Taking a minute to go to the bathroom, you catch something as you walk out.
>A small metal thing.
>You pick it up and look at it, it’s got Anons name badly engraved on the side.
>You’re not sure what it is, it has smaller pieces of metal sticking out of it.
>You try pulling one of the larger pieces with your wing.
>Your hooves keep slipping, and your wings aren’t strong enough to do much.
>Though it is a struggle, you manage to pull it out.
>A small knife.
>You smile to yourself, thinking about how this is just another weird little thing from Anon.
>You carry the knife to your room, and stare at it in bed.
>After a few thoughts you don’t like, you put the knife into your drawer.
>Anon wouldn’t like it if you used the knife to hurt yourself.
>He was your friend.
>He’s still your frien...
>...
>”Thunder...”
“Hmmf..”
>”Thunder buddy.”
“Huh!”
>’There he is! It’s Anon!’
>’Say something Thunder! Say something!’
>”Huh! Hmm! Mmmf!”
>’Say words! What are you doing?’
>’Wait!’
>’He’s saying something.’
>”...Open the door, feel the wind on your face...”
>”Mhh..”
>His hand rubs your head, but it feels really strange.
>”...Hold on tight, while I find you your place...”
>’What is he saying?’
>You don’t really care though, just hearing him speak is more than what you’ve been getting.
>”...I don't know why I left you here anyway...”
>’It’s OK Anon.’
>’Please, come back.’
>”...When I went out to claim my prize...”
>Anon follows your mane, and under your neck.
>The feeling is just like you remember.
>”...You pulled up to me with your three guys...”
>You remember when you first met Anon.
>You found him in a field you played hoofball.
>”...You didn't say you’d bring, so I had to fit in...”
>Some of the guys where pretty shitty to Anon.
>You never really thought about that.
”Mmmmmh.”
>You want to say sorry, but you can’t.
>The words just won’t come out.
>”...There's a time and there's a place...”
>He looks somewhere, somewhere behind you.
>You try to turn your head, but you can’t.
>”...I'll confront you between earth and space...”
>Where!?
>I’ll be there! Tell me where!
>”...Or else, your loyalty will be the end of you...”
>He looks you right in the eyes, and you stare back.
>”...Unless I spit some sense into you...”
>There he is, protecting you from yourself.
>Again.
>”...I didn't fly too good...”
>He looks at the floor, and you see the top of his head.
>This was what you looked for every day.
>A quick spot of that hair below, and your day was set.
>”...Dropped in this town alone...”
“Mhhhm!”
>You want to say something, anything.
>Nothing comes out.
>You keep trying.
>”...I know you thought I would...”
>”...So I wanted to try next...”
>You guess that’s why he left.
>You knew he wasn’t happy here, he had nothing.
>Even though he tried his hardest, he just couldn’t do anything.
>”...maybe if I decide to speak up...”
>He looks you in the eyes again.
>”...You won't have to go out just like your friend...”
>You think you smile.
>Maybe not.
>But either way, you feel warmed.
>He doesn’t want you to feel the way he used to.
>The way that made him leave.
>”...so let me tell you, give you an answer...”
>”...tell you what you wanna know, so you won't meet your end...”
>’Tell me Anon!’
>’Where are you! I’ll find you! Promise!’
>”...Our destination is over the horizon...”
>He hugs you, in this weird way he would.
>Anytime you felt bad, this is what he’d do.
>”...but if you don't talk, it’s ok, I’ll put it down...”
>’No! I do wanna talk!’
>”Mmmmmh!”
>You try again, but it’s almost as if something is keeping your mouth shut.
>”...you're gonna fly so good...”
>”...over the fields below...”
>”...you’ll see where we stood...”
>”...get ready to go...”
”Anon.”
>Though you didn’t say much, it was a struggle to say that much.
>You keep trying to say something else.
>Something more.
>Anon is still holding you, the way he held you.
>You know it was a weird way to hold a pony, but you loved it.
>Suddenly, he grabs you and looks you in the eyes.
>”...Black cape, Everfree, old man, carpentry...”
>”...how could you not see him?...”
>You think you know who he’s talking about.
>A carpenter visiting from a town north of Canterlot.
>”...Right there all along, looking oh so weak, he’s strong...”
>”...Where you play your stupid games...”
>You’ve seen the carpenter at the town square.
>That’s where the town games are gonna be played for the next week.
>Something that happens every year, to celebrate the founding of the town.
>Anon always did call the games stupid.
>”...but you'll have to take him...”
>”...you'll have to break him...”
>”...if you want to try and find this place...”
>You think he’s warning you that the carpenter won’t just tell you.
>You’ve heard that too, the old stallion isn’t exactly friendly.
>Anon, slowly loosens his grip.
>Then embraces you warmly again.
>”...This is where I fly so good...”
>”...Now, I’m gonna drift away...”
>”Nnnnmm!”
>’No! Please don’t go!’
>You want to beg for a few more minutes.
>But once again, words just don’t work.
>”...it's ok, I know you’re up for the job...”
>”...of being my best friend.”
>You try to hold your friend longer.
>But you feel his grasp simply fade away.
>Like he just disappeared.
>You’re left alone in the middle of some place.
>It doesn’t seem to make sense, just some empty room.
>Suddenly, the walls and ceiling melt away, like wax from a candle.
>And you’re left in some abyss.
>You look around, and all you see is the void.
>You feel like something is looking at you, but you don’t see anything but black.
>Then suddenly, the floor crumbles beneath you.
>You try to step away, but nothing helps.
>You start falling into the black, trying to scream but you can’t.
>It’s like you’re on a rollercoaster, or in freefall.
>Then suddenly, it’s like you hit the lower limit of the void and you feel a sharp pain.
>--
>Your eyes shoot open and you breathe heavily.
>Feeling the cold sweat on you, you feel pain in your chest.
>Your heart is beating wildly, and your eyes are filled with tears.
>It’s now you realize; it was all a dream.
>Maybe a nightmare.
>But it was too real, too vivid.
>Maybe it was Princess Luna helping you.
>But Anon, what did he have to do with it?
>You look out the window and realize it is midday.
>You get out of bed, and quickly do your morning routine.
>There is an old carpenter with information about your friend.
>You’re gonna find him.
>You have to find him.
>Swallowing 3 apples whole, you rush out the door.
>Flying fast, you rush to the town square.
>You circle around the square for a while, looking.
>The ground below is packed already with ponies; it’s hard to discern one from the other.
>Searching through the crowd of mares and stallions.
>Fillies and colts, you try to find who you’re looking for.
>No matter, you simply can’t find him.
>Then you suddenly remember.
“Black cape.”
>You whisper to yourself, and start searching for that feature.
>Not many ponies wear anything, and a black cape in this weather is a rare thing.
>You spend more time searching, but then you spot him.
>Old stallion, a black cape covering him, a cutie mark with a saw cutting wood.
>You approach him, and he immediately perks to your sound from the crowd.
>”Don’t bother me, young whipper snapper!”
>He yells to you, staring into his cider mug.
“S-sorry, sir. I was just wondering if.”
>You don’t really know what to say.
>Maybe you should have brought a friend.
>Actually most of them are too brash; they’d annoy the old dude.
>Anon would be perfect right about now. He’d probably not even say anything, just sit in front of him and drink.
>Make the old man ask what he needs. Or something.
>”Ah don’t care! Ah was just enjoying my visit and this darn place filled up!”
“I just need to know something! Are you a carpenter!?”
>You force the question in before he can shut you down.
>”Are ya blind colt?! ‘Course I’m a carpenter! I ain’t no griffin, it’s written right on my flank!”
>This old stallion is starting to annoy you.
>You’re just trying to find where Anon is.
“I just need to know where somepony is!”
>”Whas wrong with you colt? Firs ya ask me if I’m a carpenter, now ya wanna ask me about somepony?”
“Sir, do you know someone named Anonymous?”
>The old man looks up and right into your eyes.
>You swear you see anger in his eyes.
>”Nah! I ain’t heard that name. Now go away!”
>Alright this guy has annoyed you enough.
“Listen you old relic! I don’t care if you’ve had a shitty day or shitty life! Tell me where Anon is!”
>You demand standing over him with your wings flared ready to fight.
>You’re not really sure what you’re trying to do, but screaming at the old stallion sure helped with the stress.
>You realize many ponies around you have stopped their daily business, and are now looking at you.
>Some give you dirty looks, presumably for yelling at an old stallion.
>”I don’ know what your problem is, colt. Get outta here Thunder.”
>Some ponies guide you away from the old stallion, asking what’s wrong.
>You try to explain it away to them, and leave the square more frustrated than ever.
>Head to the bar right outside town square, you get a drink sitting at the counter.
>”What’s wrong, Thunder?”
“Nothing, Tap.”
>You try to brush him off, but knowing Tap that isn’t gonna work.
>”Don’t seem like nothing. Say, why haven’t you been coming in? Settle down with that Anon, ya colt cuddler?”
>Damn it Tap...
>You feel your cheeks warm up. Anon’s a human, that ain’t colt cuddling.
“I’m not a colt cuddler, Tap. And no, Anon left...”
>It’s all wrong, the dream, the old stallion.
>”Left? Damn... Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
>There’s something you’re missing, maybe something in the dream, maybe something the old dude said, maybe something else.
>”That Anon was something else though, eh? I never knew it was so easy to tell somepony is lyin.”
>Tap cleans a mug with a rag, while talking to you.
>You stare into your half empty cider mug, thinking if you’ve missed something.
>”Just think about what they’d said, and think about who said it and when they said it.”
>’I don’ know what your problem is, colt. Get outta here Thunder.’
>’Get outta here Thunder.’
>How did he know your name?
>The old stallion was lying; he does know where Anon is.
>Or at least who he is.
>You down your drink in one go, and jump out of your chair.
“Thanks Tap!”
>”Go get em sport!”
>You camp outside the square, with new conviction.
>Eyeing every pony to enter or leave.
>Then suddenly, it’s him.
>Your lookout has paid off. The old stallion is leaving.
>You observe him walk towards the dirt path away from town.
>Taking flight, you hide into clouds as you observe him.
>He looks over his flank a few times, but he can’t see you.
>Jumping cloud to cloud, you see him walk into the Everfree.
>The Everfree is too thick for anypony to fly around in, but you can’t lose the trail.
>Without a thought, you land and follow the stallion into the forest.
>You stick far behind enough that he doesn’t see you, but keep on his trail.
>Suddenly, he stops at a clearing with some logging work being done.
>”That’s close enough. What do ya want?”
>No point in keeping the cover up now.
>You walk out and look at him.
>”You again? You lost yer mind colt?”
“You know what I want, old man.”
>”I ain’t telling you again colt; I don’t know nopony named Anon.”
>You’re getting information out of him one way or another.
>You walk closer, trying to be intimidating, but you know your desperation is clear as day.
“I know you’re lying! I know you know who he is!”
>The old stallion sits down and looks at you.
>You keep on him, but you don’t know how long you can keep this up.
>Maybe you’ve been chasing ghosts this whole time.
>Maybe the dream was just that, a dream.
>Meaningless, not really guidance.
>”That his buckle?”
>You’re taken back, and you clear your face, allow the real emotion through.
“Yes... Please tell me where he is.”
>”So, you really are Thunderlane?”
“Yes, do you know Anon?”
>”Yes son. He’s the son me and my wife couldn’t have.”
>You thank Luna in your heart.
>Finally, you’ll see Anon again.
>”Anon... got into trouble with the wrong kind of ponies in Manehattan. He’ll tell you the specifics, but long story short he ran from the guard, some griffons and more than a few mad ponies on hoof.”
>The old stallion laughs a little.
>”Funny, the way he is, you’d think he couldn’t raise trouble if he tried.”
>You want to urge him on, but you listen intently anyway.
>”Anyway, he ended up in our town. Trottsville.”
>You know Trottsville, it’s an average sized town next to Neighagra falls.
>It’s known for it’s practical arts.
>Recently, clocks that don’t need magic to run have been coming out Trottsville.
>”I know what yer thinking, ‘the town with the clocks?’. Yer friend Anon’s the one that’s responsible for that.”
>Anon invented the clocks?
>Those clocks are valuable; I guess that means he’s finally got a job.
>”I could go on till Celestia grows a beard, but ya heard me yap enough.”
>You’re speechless, you don’t know if you should say anything.
“Does he talk about me?”
>”Can’t stop talking about ya. Some other ponies, but mostly you. Gather you where his only good friend.”
>You look away, thinking if you were a good friend.
>”He always wants to come back here, son. Says he didn’t see he needed ya till he left. But with the guard lookin for him, I ain’t letting him leave.”
>Once again, you’re at a loss for words.
>But now you know where Anon is. Should you go visit?
>A few minutes ago, you wouldn’t even have asked that question.
>But now, he sounds like he’s happy. He has a job; he can probably find plenty of ponies.
>”Oi, stop thinkin about it. Here.”
>The stallion pulls a piece of paper outside of his cape.
>He gives it to you, and you take it with your wings.
>Train ticket, first class cabin.
>”The train stops a couple pastures from the town. A sign points the way.”
>You look at the stallion speechless.
>”Go on, colt. I need to stay here anyway. Go get em, son.”
>The old stallion pats you on a wither, and you smile.
“Thank you.”
>With that, you fly home, ticket in teeth.
>You check the time of departure, it’s later tonight.
>You’ll be there by noon tomorrow.
>Without thinking anymore, you pack some things into a saddlebag.
>Putting Anon’s knife thing into the pack, and his buckle.
>You spend some time grabbing some other things.
>By the time you finish, the train boarding time has come.
>With some hope, and some fear.
>You fly to the train station, and board the train.
--------------------------------------------------------
>You quietly look out the window of the train.
>The train being behind schedule has put you on an edge.
>You haven’t enjoyed any of the first class amenities.
>A bowl of assorted candies, nuts, dried fruit and other snacks sits untouched on your table.
>You sit on the comfortable bench in your own carriage.
>Your mind is full, mostly doubt.
>Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea.
>You just left everything in a day because of a weird dream.
>But then again, the dream turned out to be true.
>Here you are, you know where the person you’ve been looking for the past 8 months is.
>You’re on the way to him right now.
>But you still have doubts in the back of your mind.
>Maybe Anon doesn’t want to see you anymore.
>Why would he? You weren’t much help when he was around, you’re probably one of the things he wanted to get away from.
>But then again, the old stallion said he talked about you.
>”Excuse me sir.”
>You didn’t even hear the stallion enter your carriage.
>”May I please see your ticket?”
>Without a sound, you reach into your saddlebag, and pull out a piece of paper.
>You continue looking out the window, while the stallion looks over your information.
>”Looks like your ticket is all paid for sir. Dinner will be served in a few hours sir.”
>Without even knowing it, you’ve tuned out the stallions voice.
>You hear another voice in your head, a familiar one.
>‘I’ll make dinner, when do you have it?’
>’How about some eggs you little shit?’
>You crack a smile, watching the trees flies by, and the endless sea of green grass.
>”...Excuse me sir?”
>This is a perfect hoofball field, soft grass, big and wide.
>”Sir!”
“Hmm!”
>You snap out of your trance, and notice the stallion is still standing there.
>You focus on him.
>”I was just asking if you would like dinner in your carriage or in the dinner carriage.”
“Here would be fine, thanks, sorry.”
>”It’s ok sir.”
>You’re almost back in your thoughts.
>”Are you ok sir?”
>Are you ok?
“Yea, yea I’m fine.”
>”Are you sure?”
>He has no idea.
“Yea, just nervous. Going to meet a friend I haven’t seen for a while.”
>”You have a friend in Trottsville? Or is around?”
“No, it’s Trottsville. Why?”
>”Well I mean, no one younger than 40 lives there.”
>You give him a little smile.
>”Well there is one dude. Some Alien or something.”
>Alien?!
“Alien?! You know him?”
>”Him? Yea, name is Anon or something. He took this train a bunch of months back. I was working the cheap carriage then.”
>He knows Anon!
>Not that it really matters anymore you know where he is.
>Still maybe ask him if he knows where he’s been.
>That would help you know where Anon has been.
“Did he say anything?”
>”He didn’t talk much, but we still chatted a little. He said he made a bad choice leaving, but a good choice sticking to it.”
>You look at your table while the stallion speaks.
>”He’s your friend isn’t he?”
>You turn to him and nod.
>”Seemed like a cool guy. From what I’ve seen him with, I’d say he has a good bit of bits. Weird nopony every talks about him.”
>You attentively listen.
>Why wouldn’t ponies want to talk about Anon?
>”Anyway, I gotta go serve some other carriages.”
>What kind of trouble did Anon get into anyway?
>The old dude was defensive and secretive. No pony wants to talk about him.
>You’re sure he’ll tell you.
>Unless he doesn’t even want to see you.
>’Oh come on, the old man said he still remembers you.’
>But doesn’t remember you well enough to send a letter.
>You just think for Celestia knows how long.
>Worried about if Anon would even want to talk to you.
>You don’t know how long it’s been, just that you didn’t notice Celestia put the sun down.
>You hear the door of the carriage open and the outside sounds rush in.
>The door quickly closes.
>The stallion from earlier is back, with a cart of food.
>”Dinner, sir.”
>He puts a bowl of soup in front of you.
>You think back to that one time Anon accidentally made you tomato soup and you had a bellyache for a while.
>”Mushroom and onion soup, as appetizer sir.”
>Anon took care of you while you were down, that was great.
>Next he puts a plate of, something.
>You don’t know what it is, but it’s the fanciest thing you’ve ever been served in a train.
>Looks like pasta with many different garnishes.
>”Gourmet bowtie pasta with sautéed vegetables and garlic sauce as the main course.”
>At this point, you tune out the stallion again, as he lays out more food and tells you what they are.
>You go back to thinking.
>’Anon I have to tell you something!’
>’You don’t have to tell me anything, Thunderlane. But, you have to eat all these’
>’Eggs?’
>’HARD BOILED!’
>’Why are you doing this?’
>’Because you’re hungry, duh.’
>’How did you know?’
>”Sir?”
>The stallion once again snaps you out of your trance.
>”Are you OK? You just started smiling.”
“Yea, I’m fine.”
>You look away.
>The stallion sits down in front of you, and places a more modest meal in front of himself.
>”I have my break now, and figured you could use some company.”
>There’s only one pony who you want to talk to right now.
>Or creature.
>But still he knows things about Anon you might learn something.
“Yea. Yea I’d appreciate that. Thunderlane.”
>You extend a hoof across the table; the stallion takes it with his hoof.
>”Carriage Cuisine.”
>You start eating slowly; you didn’t realize before, the appetizer is tiny.
“So that alien you talked to?”
>You realize how awkward your attempt at shoehorning the question is.
>Thankfully, he smiles and accepts it.
>”I met him on his way to Manehatten.”
>He takes a big bite from his food, and you finish your soup, just to stick to his pace.
>”He said something about the big city; he said his friend said good things about it.”
>’His friend’ That would be you, you love Manehatten, it’s a busy city but it has a taste of it’s own.
>Hate to think, but you’re partially responsible for his problems.
>”He hardly talked, but eventually said somethings about his friend. You know his friend? He felt bad about leaving him.”
>There’s no one else Anon would call his friend, you slowly eat your pasta, looking into it.
>”Oh, that’s you isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
>”Hey, he said good things. You brought a cloud down for him to sleep on?”
>That was the first time he bunked with you.
>Your ground house was in rough shape, so you just brought your cloud house down.
>It wasn’t that hard, don’t know why Anon remembered that.
>You don’t think you would.
“Yea, that was a while back.”
>You calmly answer.
>”I think that’s really nice. Anyway, I never saw him after we stopped at Manehatten.”
>That’s cos he was in trouble.
>”I transferred to this line, a few months back. It pays better. I saw him again a month back; he was carrying stuff for an old stallion.”
>You listen intently, like a kid on an interesting story.
>He stops to eat some food, and you too take a bite to make this less awkward.
>”The old stallion is a carpenter I think, he’s loaded from the looks of it.”
>He takes the last of his food, and downs his drink quickly.
>”Anyway, that’s the last I saw him. I don’t know how he’s doing, but I’ve heard he’s loaded too.”
>You hope that rumor is true.
>You hope he’s not back where he started.
>He deserves better.
>”Thanks for the table.”
>He gets up and puts his empty plate and your bowl on his cart, leaving the food.
>You return to staring at your food, with blank expression.
>”Hey.”
>He puts a hoof on your shoulder. You look up at him.
>”This is something your friend said: Don’t cross that bridge till you come to it.”
>You’ve heard him say something like that before.
>You asked him about what he was gonna do for the future, while he was still new.
>’One bridge at a time’ He said.
>No point in worrying about something you haven’t gotten to yet.
>You smile at the stallion and nod, and he pushes his cart away.
>You shove all the thoughts of Anon rejecting you in the back of your mind.
>Have to find him first.
>One bridge at a time.
>You quickly eat the rest of your food.
>The stallion comes in and takes your plates you tip him.
>Pushing every bad thought with your friend’s phrase, you go to bed.
>You can’t be too tired to cross that bridge.
>Lying in bed, you think about the last night you spent.
>Though brief, it was the best night you’ve ever had.
>With the only happy thoughts you’ve had in a while.
>You drift away.
>-------------------------------------------------------
>You’re eyes crack open to a bright window.
>It’s probably early noon, Celestia’s sun is bright and bold.
>You think back on where you are and what you’re doing.
>A dream still fresh in your mind, this night it was just some old memories.
>It would be nice to stay in bed; you don’t want to leave the safety of this bed.
>But you can’t do that, can’t hide away like a foal.
>Your buddy is out there and you have to find closure.
>Getting up out of bed, you quickly rush to the bathroom.
>First class carriage is nice.
>You storm through your morning routine, not wanting to be late by a minute.
>Food is already on the table, you assume one of the staff left it for you.
>You eat quickly, it’s room temperature, must have been here for a while.
>”Sir?”
>It’s Carriage Cuisine, you didn’t hear him.
“Good morning Carriage.”
>”Good afternoon, sir. I hope you are feeling better.”
>You have to say, you are feeling better.
“Yea, thanks. How long till we get to the station?”
>He gives you a friendly laugh.
>”I figured you were wondering. About 30 minutes, we’ve already begun braking.”
>Not that long now, you can feel that feeling returning.
>”Actually I came to tell you that Trottsville is a little bit away from the station. Just go north East of the station.”
>The old man told you that too, no trail goes directly to Trottsville.
“How far away is it?”
>”Well you can fly, so no need to stick to the road. The road takes about an hour by carriage, but you can fly in 30 minutes.”
>He quickly adds on.
>”Just don’t get lost in the mountains, and forests.”
>You gulp, at the idea of getting lost in a place like this.
“Thanks Carriage.”
>”My pleasure sir, and good luck.”
>He leaves, and you begin making sure everything in your saddlebag is ok.
>Really you’re just too excited to stay still.
>Though it takes no time at all, and you see the station in the distance closing in.
>You watch through the window as the small station comes closer and closer.
>You gulp with anxiety as the train lurches to a stop.
>Soon, you step out of the train. Carriage shakes your hoof and bids you farewell and good luck.
>He also gives you directions and you take off.
>High above the ground to dodge the posts, fences and trees, you sweep the land below.
>Nothing is familiar; you fly for more than 20 minutes.
>Something is wrong.
>You look back towards where you think you came from.
>The station isn’t there, nor is the road.
>You’re lost.
>Damn, so close, but so far.
>You stay hovering in the air, ready to give up.
>Maybe it wasn’t meant to be, you’re fine with this.
>You’re fine with dying here.
>You think about the dream as you look out into the vast open skies.
>What did Anon say?
>It’s just a dream to some, but so much was right.
>You think through every line and every word.
>’...you're gonna fly so good...’
>’...over the fields below...’
>Fields below?
>You scan down below, and there is a winding path of pure grass.
>Almost as if artificially made.
>You look back to the grass field.
>You see a lone tree, a familiar section.
>Already flown over that.
>On blind faith and hope, you begin following what you think is a path.
>Ready to give up, but you can’t give up, not this close.
>You don’t understand your condition, your conviction, just gotta keep flying again.
>Wings sore, and tears in dry eyes from flying so fast without goggles.
>Eyes glued to the ground ahead to stick to the fields.
>You scan the skies and ground around periodically.
>You don’t know how long you’ve been flying.
>Just long enough that your wings are ready to lock up, you have to land.
>But no, you can’t. You’re getting Trottsville or dying on the way.
>You have a tear in your eye at the thought of you dying just outside and Anon having to find you.
>Shaking away the bad thoughts, and focus.
>Your wings are beginning to stiffen up; you don’t know how much longer you can keep up.
>Then, like a blessing from Celestia herself.
>There in the distance, you squint, a clock tower.
>Surrounded by buildings of an architecture you’ve never seen before.
>Each building is unique, almost as if built specifically for the occupants.
>You smile, and begin gliding to lose height and rest your sore wings.
>Quickly you’ve gone too low, and the fields feel narrow at speed.
>You have to work hard keeping pace and dodging.
>But the town is close, you can see it.
>Exerting yourself even more, you speed up a little bit and are now within the town boundaries.
>Then suddenly, your fears are realized, your left wing locks.
>A painful surge shoots through you.
>You quickly spiral and lose control as one wing simply refuses to work.
>Try as you might, there’s nothing you can do.
>You close your eyes just as you impact the ground.
>The angle with which you hit sends your rolling over the ground like ball.
>Your aching body tossed around with no care.
>Soon, you stop, lying on your side, you moan in pain.
“Stupid wing.”
>Doesn’t look like anypony saw you crashing and tumbling.
>You look around some more, and you see a sign.
>’Trottsville General goods.’
>You did it.
>You made it to Trottsville, and alive.
>Finally, you genuinely smile after a long while, accomplished.
>Anon is here somewhere.
>He has to be.
>He said so himself.
>You gather as much energy as your aching self can muster, and get up.
>You realize somethings fell from your saddlebag. You gather them.
>A brush, some bits, a bottle of strawberry lubricant.
>You blush holding this, considering throwing it away.
>This is probably the cockiest thing you’ve packed, but you’re keeping it.
>You never know. He might just forget and bend you over without care.
>You giggle to yourself at the thought.
>Putting away the happier thoughts for later, you remember you have to get to him first.
>Trying your hardest not to limp, you walk through an alley into town.
>Immediately, eyes are on you.
>These ponies aren’t used to seeing a stranger, especially not one like you.
>You probably look like a mess.
>You can feel each muscle in your body screaming, asking for a massage or at least a rest.
>Hopefully, Anon can take care of that.
>You walk through town, trying not to look dangerous, menacing, or even noteworthy.
>but you stand out like a sore wing.
>Or maybe it’s just your sore wings.
>Every single eye is on you, stallions stand in front of mares as you walk through.
>”Hey.”
>You quickly see a large earth pony standing over you, with other stallions looking on not far.
“He-hello.”
>You stutter like you have a speech impediment.
>”Who are you partner? What brings you into town?”
>That’s not a friendly question at all.
>He’s almost snarling at you, daring to give you the wrong answer.
>’If you tell them the truth, then all they can make you do is lie,’
>Get out of my mind Anons voice.
>Instead, come here right now. Save me. Please?
>”Hey kid? You dumb?”
“Ah, um, ah, err.”
>”Ahumarr? That your name kid?”
“N-no sir. It’s Th-Thunderlane.”
>You finally spit out your name, out of fear if anything else.
>”That’s better. Whatcha doin in our little town Thunderlane?”
“I’m here to see a friend.”
>You think they can see you’re scared, and they’re not wrong.
>”A friend? Well I don’t know, nopony who has a friend named Thunderlane. Who’s yer friend?”
“A-Anon.”
>The stallion recoils back, he has worry in his eyes, you can tell.
>”There ain’t nopony livin here with that name, why don’t you mosey on over to the next town?”
>He sounds mad, like he doesn’t even want to hear that name.
>But he also sounds protective, like you saying his name is blasphemous.
“Anonymous, he’s not a pony.”
>”Not a pony? There’s no one in this town who ain’t a pony! Why don’t we show him around?”
>He’s really angry, and so are the townsfolk.
>They start closing in on you, you’re not sure what they’re gonna do, but they’re faces don’t indicate good things.
>You bolt.
>There’s no way you’re staying in that place, so you run as fast as your ‘stubby little hooves’ can carry you.
>”Get him! He’s after Anon!”
>They do know where he is!
>”After him!”
>But they’re too busy trying to kill you, to help.
>You keep running, half the town is after you.
>You’re throat is burning and your lungs can hardly take this.
>Muscles are in pain, but you don’t stop lest the mob get you.
>Eventually, you hit a dead end.
>The town ends and turns into a forest, you stop for just a second and.
>*SMACK*
>You double over and your hooves instantly grab between your legs.
>The stallion from before runs over but no town behind him.
>”You’re a fast bastard yknow that?”
>You look up at him, feeling the pain in your groin.
>”Not fast enough.”
>He brushes your hooves aside, and puts one of his fore hooves right on your eggs.
>You whimper as he applies pressure.
>”Now listen here, you two bit loser.”
>He grinds down and tears form in your eyes at the pain, and you try to lift his hoof.
>You think it lifts a little, but you’re in too much pain to really know.
>”Get out of this town! Anon isn’t comin with you, the guard or nobody! He’s stayin right here!”
“I-I’m his friEND!”
>He crushes your colthood again. And you howl.
>”Can it! I’ve heard it all! Next time you come into this town! I’ll personally boil your jewels and gift them to Anon.”
>For a moment you think, if it means meeting Anon again.
>You’d do it.
>”Now get out of here!”
>He lets off you and pushes you into the forest.
>You run away, and he watches you until you can’t be seen.
>Thankfully your dark coat means you don’t have to run too far before you can’t be seen.
>The stallion turns tail and walks away.
>So close.
>But defeated.
>That’s it, time to just give up.
>There’s no way those town ponies will let you near Anon.
>You stroll through the forest, completely contempt with getting lost and being eaten by a manticore.
>Turning your head towards the town.
>You don’t believe your eyes.
>There he is.
>The alien.	
>The outcast.
>Your friend.
>He’s standing outside of a lavish looking shop, with ‘Woodrows emporium’ written in massive letters outside.
>He looks your way.
>You swear you meet eye to eye.
>You hold that for a very long time.
>Even at this distance, you can see he has something in his eyes.
>He begins walking towards you, he’s coming here.
>You begin walking towards him.
>He quickens.
>You quicken.
>You can see it, a smile on his face.
>You smile back, tears streaming down.
>Suddenly, a town pony grabs him.
>He looks down, leaving your eyes.
>Two others join in, and drag him away, back into the shop.
>He looks over his shoulder, scanning the forest.
>He reluctantly closes the door, as if he’s forgetting something.
>You can’t hold it anymore, tears stream down your face.
>This is some cruel joke the world is playing on you.
>Every step closer is just another obstacle.
>You’ve had it!
>You don’t care anymore.
>That’s it.
>’Sometimes, all that works is blind determination.’
>Blind determination.
>You charge out of the forest.
>He’s there.
>You don’t care anymore, enough is enough.
>”He’s back!”
>You hear the town ponies stampeding after you.
>Blind determination is all you have anymore.
>You can feel projectiles assaulting you.
>Some pony grabs you, but you manage to shake him off.
>They’re all after you.
>You carry on your charge.
>The town’s folk throw whatever they can grab to slow you down.
>You don’t stop.
>Blind determination.
>The door is mere hooves away from you, you speed up.
>Closing your eyes.
>You smash open the heavy wood door with your head.
>The door swings open, and there he is.
>It wasn’t a lie.
>It wasn’t a dream.
>It wasn’t a hallucination.
>There he is, there’s your friend, there’s your buddy, there’s your pal.
>He looks distraught, askance.
>There’s tools in his hand and a thing in front of him.
>But his eyes are facing away.
>He’s withdrawn from the world, thinking.
>You’re lungs are asking for too much air, and you can’t get enough to call him.
>The town’s ponies are asking for blood.
>You can hear the savage screams of a town gone wild.
>Like a sacred shrine has been disturbed.
>The evil cries, the lies and the anger.
>You can hear your insides, the mechanized hum of another world.
>And the one who disturbed the shrine must be aptly punished.
>You turn around, everything feels as if it’s moving too slow but happening too fast.
>The town’s ponies are in the shop.
>You muster up every ounce of energy you have left.
>”Anon!”
>That’s it.
>The savagery quiets down.
>Not even Celestia’s name has so much power.
>No one dares make a noise, not a single birdcall, the world stops.
>He looks up from his original place.
>Finally
>Eye to eye, he looks you with that same friendliness.
>It’s still him.
>He opens his mouth, but says nothing.
>You can see disbelief in his eyes.
>Nothing else in the room matters to you.
>You keep your eyes on him.
>He gives you that smile, the one he’d give you before giving you something he bought with his measly income.
>’I owed you’
>”Thunder.”
>-------------------------------------------------------
>You stare into your mug of hot cocoa.
>It’s Anons special, the way they made it back at his home.
>It tastes good, always has, but it tastes even more special now.
>Before, you thought you had so much to say, so much to ask.
>But now here you are, 8 months, far, far away. Where you wanted to be. With whom you wanted to be with.
>But now you have nothing to say, you don’t even know where to begin.
>It all feels too distant, like it was a lifetime ago.
>In this moment, it’s like nothing changed.
>It doesn’t matter if just a few days, heck hours ago you had no will to go on.
>Or that the future is uncertain even with Anon right here.
>Right now, in this moment. Everything is fine. If life stayed like this, you’d be ok with it.
>You spy at Anon sitting hunched in his chair.
>He’s looking between his legs at the floor, deep in thought.
>About what you don’t know. Maybe he’s thinking about you, maybe he’s as lost as you. Maybe he’s thinking of how to tell you to leave…
>”How was the trip?”
“Good…”
>His silence was driving you crazy. But you don’t know what to do now and that’s driving you crazier.
>He laughs to himself, and you look up at him.
>”You didn’t come all this way to sit. C’mon, let me show you around the shop.”
>Finally, you sigh in relief and smile at him. Hopping off the chair.
>With mug in wing, you follow him through his new home.
>”You’ve seen the front, it’s just a showroom, but we don’t really sell much in person. Here’s my favorite room.”
>He opens the door to a workshop, full of machines and tools you’ll never understand.
>There’s pieces and parts of things all over the place, some you can identify, but most are a mystery.
>”I used to work for a company that made custom clocks and watches. I was a designer, learned a lot, found somewhere to put that to work.”
>He sounds happy. You’re happy for him, he doesn’t have that slight regret in his voice, just happiness.
>”Anyway, that’s the room where the magic happens.”
>The two of you leave the room, and walk through the fairly large home.
>It’s much bigger than your house, heck it’s bigger than any shop back home.
>”Kitchen, dining room, the works. And my room.”
>He opens his door to a decent sized room. He’s decorated it with things he’s made himself.
>Everything looks like it has a personal flare.
>You notice something you recognize on the side table protectively stored in a little case.
>”Oh yea… This is yours. I don’t know how it ended up on me, but I sorta took it.”
>He picks it up and reaches it towards you, smiling nervously.
>It’s your prize Wonderbolts pin, rare and collectable, you got it personally from Spitfire. You thought you’d lost it.
>But Anon’s taken care of it, he’s probably remembered you by it.
>You don’t think you’ve stopped blushing since you got here.
“Keep it… You’ve taken good care of it.”
>”Are you sure? You told me it was valuable.”
“Yea dude.”
>”Well then, trade ya. You keep that old buckle…”
>You eye the pin once more, and the buckle hanging off your neck. You give Anon a smile and a nod.
>He looks at it for a while, and then back to you smiling, before putting the pin back where it belongs.
>In a flash he lunges on you, wrapping you in his long skinny arms.
>You wrap him back in return with your hooves and wings.
>He’s warm, like he’s always been. His hugs tight like it always was.
>It’s been so long.
>You needed this.
>You feel a couple tears escape your eyes, and down your face, you rest your head on his shoulder.
>”Anyway… I missed you.”
>He moves away, but stays on the ground and keeps a hand on your side.
>You quietly respond with:
“I missed you too…”
>And wipe a few tear.
>With that the two of you leave his room, and leave your empty mug in the kitchen.
>Idly talking about whatever that’s happened in the past months, he mostly just talks about Trottsville, his work, or something he missed about home.
>You’re just happy to see him happy finally. His hard work finally paid off. He’s got a family here, he’s got money, he has everything.
>Except, to your delight.
>”…You. No one like you here. I know they gave you trouble, but they’re really sweet… Just old.”
“It’s not the same without you either, Anon.”
>He smiles at you, and pats your back. You understand what he’s trying to say, and lean closer to him.
>The sun is gonna be gone soon, but the two of you walk out into the late afternoon.
>”How’s everyone doing back there?”
“We miss you, Miss Pumpkin and Tap definitely do.”
>”Yea? Funny… Say. How’d you find me anyway?”
“Well… Uh, funny story…”
>Anon listens in slight bewilderment, you tell him everything, the dream, his words, his thoughts, the old man, the guy in the train.
>He listened, he laughed, he bantered, just like old times.
>It’s a feeling you missed.
“…So here I am. Crazy huh?”
>”That’s some shit, buddy.”
>There he is again, your buddy. Your pal, just relaxing, talking. Not a worry in the world…
“How did you end up in Trottsville?”
>”Heh, it’s not as fucked as you, but here goes.”
>He talks for a long time. Accidentally being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A misunderstanding husband, a misunderstanding wife.
>Turns out the husband was a captain or something, he ran from guards to Las Pegasus. Where he got into trouble with some griffon gambling racket, so he ran to Baltimare.
>There he got into trouble with both guards and griffons. But he got away while the guards and griffons fought.
>Ran as far as he could, and ended up in Trottsville by some serious dumb luck.
>”…Anyway, pops needed someone to carry lumber for him. I found a job, and a place to stay.”
“Wow.”
>The two of you found a bench at some point.
>Anon reclines like he used to, head back, legs apart: ‘loafting’ he calls it. Unlike home, all the ponies smile at his carefree self.
>He gets waves, and greetings all around, he’s really found a place he’s happy.
>A part of you wanted to take him home with you, but you can’t do that. Not just because of the griffon and guard thing, but he’s found happiness.
>But where do you fit into this? Do you fit at all?
>”Lets head home. Mom’s probably putting on dinner.”
>You hop off the bench and walk next to him like you had done so many times before.
>His teasing about your ‘stubby legs’ never gets old. And you reach his door as the sun goes down.
>Inside there’s a delicious smell of a home cooked meal, and an old mare setting up dinner. The old stallion is reclining in a chair reading the newspaper.
>”Mom, Pops? I brought a friend.”
>”That’s wonderful dearie! Please come to the table, er don’t forget to wash your hooves.”
>Anon does as he’s told, and the two of you wash your hooves in a clean and lavish bathroom.
>When you return the table is full of wonderful food, the kind only a mother can make.
>You take a seat next to Anon, and the old ponies sit across from you.
>”Mom, Pops. This is Thunderlane. I told-“
>”Oh! Thunderlane! Anon’s told us so much about you!”
>The old mare rambles on and occasionally making both you and Anon blush.
>Eventually she quiets down and the three of you enjoy your meal in quiet.
>”He prolly din’t say nuthin ‘bout bein famous, huh?”
>The old stallion speaks up. You don’t entirely understand what he’s saying, but you shake your head.
>”Heh… Pup came in lookin for work, my back ain’t what it was, so I said yes. Wish anypony ‘round here worked like he did.”
>He trails off and rambles some more, you can see Anon look away embarrassed, but you’re happy to hear the old stallion.
>The stallion gave him a home when he caught him sleeping in the forest, said it was his raise. Anon wouldn’t take a thing for free.
>”Anyway, I see colt workin in his free time. To think he was sleeping in a forest a few weeks before. An he made that.”
>The old stallion looks up at a simple looking clock on the wall.
>”No magic, no nothin’. Thought he struck gold, an I wasn’t wrong.”
>”Well, I wouldn’t be anywhere without you.”
>The old stallion dismisses Anon with a laugh and smile.
>”Yer frien’ brought life back to this old town… An the two of us.”
>Guess that explains why the town loves him so much. They finally have something to do, they where like Anon in a way.
>Plenty of talent, skill and will to work, but no work to do. All a little abandoned in a corner of Equestria.
>You feel proud of Anon, and even happier for him.
>But that’s it isn’t it… There’s no room here for you, you have work, you’ve never felt how he’s felt. You wouldn’t even know how to feel it.
>You should leave. Seeing him alive and well is all you really needed anyway. Him remembering you is just icing on the cake.
>You finish dinner, and follow Anon ready to take your leave.
>Sure it’s late, but you don’t want to intrude on his perfect life.
“I guess I should get going Anon.”
>”Like hell. C’mon. I got a new gamestation.”
>You follow him, but protest.
“It’s been good to see you again Anon, but yknow I can’t stay here…”
>”Says who? This is my world Thunder. And you’re always welcome in my world.”
>You shut up and sit yourself in front of the game station, and play a game of tennis, just like old times.
>It’s like nothing’s changed.
>He’s making you laugh, and he’s beating you like heck.
>Eventually, the night gets late, and you two get tired.
>On the way to getting ready for bed, you look at yourself in the mirror.
>You look a mess, probably have all day. Your mane is ruined, your fur is matted from dry sweat, your tail, hooves. 
>You’re like Anon all those months ago. Any other pony wouldn’t even look at you, but that’s it isn’t it. It clicks in your head, maybe you weren’t such a bad friend after all…
>Taking a quick shower, to fix yourself up a little, and to wash away the grime of the day. Thankfully, Anon took care of the stress.
“Where am I sleeping?”
>”Bed.”
>Without another thought, you get on his huge bed, and lay down on the most comfortable mattress, tired from everything.
>Anon turns the lamps off, and you see him moving in the dark.
“Where are you sleeping?”
>Without a sound he takes the other side of the bed, and moves close to you.
>”Where do you think?”
>He whispers and comes in closer, he wraps his arms around you, resting his head right on top of yours, pushing your hair down.
>You blush, but feel happy enough to die. This is what you wanted. All those months ago, all those lonely nights, and now.
>”Stop me if I get too close.”
>He kisses you on the cheek, and you blush more. His hands rub your aching wings making you coo. The best massage anypony could ask for.
>Thinking fast you think of what to say, and your mind flashes back a few months ago. How you talked, how relaxed you two where.
“You gotta get closer then.”
>You hear him giggle, and he uses his hand to turn your face to him.
>”Smartass.”
>He whispers before locking lips with you.
>Even more heavenly this time, he’s sure, but gentle.
>He moves away and gently kisses and bites your neck and face.
>”Thanks for my knife. But… you should hide your lube better.”
>Your face turns warmer than before, as he caresses your whole body making you moan and coo.
>It’s been so long… Something in your body is awake again. No not just awake, alive again.
>A hoof or wing just didn’t do the trick after that night, you need him. Your heart and your body need him.
>You can feel the warmth between your legs, your stallionhood is already out of it’s sheath, and each of his kisses and rubs makes you buck at nothing.
>He quickly takes his top off revealing what you always wanted to feel.
>Soft smooth skin, it feels amazing on your fur. You want to touch and feel every bit of it, you lick and kiss him, but you need more.
>And he delivers as he kicks off his pants, letting his stallionhood out.
>He doesn’t have a sheath, just as well, hiding that would be a travesty.
>He’s excited, but not as much as you, and you’re not gonna leave it at that.
>Giggling, you slide down to his bits, and without a thought lick every bit of it.
>His musky smell is overwhelming. There’s something about him, nopony not even a mare in heat makes your heart pump like this.
>You engulf his member and drive it deep inside yourself cutting off your own air. You don’t need air as much as you need his smooth skin.
>He encourages you with his breathing, his hands petting and rubbing you as you bob.
>Shifting you end up on top of him, and he turns you around while you’re lost in his cock.
>Abandoning any sense of decency your tail is raised as high as it will go, exposing Anons target.
>His tongue traces your sensitive flesh and traces up to your tailhole, then with a few more licks he gently plunges in making you moan in delight.
>His serpent like tongue caresses your insides, and it’s like the tip of it always hits the right place as it moves around.
>You feel something cool pour on your dock and slide down, Anons tongue massages the liquid inside you.
>He slowly moves away pouring more liquid into you.
>”Yknow… Strawberry is my favorite flavor…”
>He gently uses one of his fingers and presses into your butt, pushing deep inside you before adding in another and another.
>With three fingers he spreads your tail hole making lose yourself and lie your head on his leg, his cock still in your mouth.
>Massaging your ponut, he makes you tremble in ecstasy, barely able to hold yourself together.
>His mouth moves to your jewels hanging free, and he roughly licks them forcing another moan from you.
>Then as if your mind wasn’t lost in pleasure enough, he gently presses his teeth into one of your orbs, and the spike in pain entices a new form of pleasure.
>You almost yelp but with the cock in your mouth and your mind turned to mush, it comes off as a muffled whine.
>He sinks his teeth deeper, and you feel new flavors of pleasure, his other hand squeezes your other orb and you’re breathing turns loud only muffled by his cock.
>He moves his other hand to your cock uselessly hard, twitching and leaking with need, but he doesn’t stroke it as much as you want him to.
>Instead he traces his finger over it, the sharp ends teasing the sensitive shaft and head, making you leak even more.
>Suddenly he stops everything, and while your body needs more, your mind begins to clear.
>He rubs your body, petting and massaging your back, occasionally he kisses and licks your flank.
>”Thunder?”
>His drool covered cock stands tall as a you pull away to face Him.
>Drunkenly you kiss him and he returns the kiss, while supporting your weakened body, knowing that neither of you are done.
>You wrap your wings around him, and feel the warmest you’ve felt in your life.
>You want to say something, and you know what to say, but first there’s a mighty need in both of you.
>Moving away, you line your tail with his member standing proud.
>”Ride it cowpony.”
>He whispers and kisses your cheek as you lower yourself down with a louder and louder gasp the more you take.
>His rock hard cock stretches your tailhole in a way fingers and tongues can’t match.
>Immediately you’re not sure if you can do this, as you try to lift your shaking knees, and only manage a little before dropping down again.
>He supports you with his hands and helps your legs lift you up until just his head is inside you, then both of you lower yourself again.
>Each movement makes your cock twitch, aching and begging for attention that it doesn’t deserve.
>Trying again you manage to lift yourself with his help, but he drops you quickly making you gasp. Then before you have a chance to recover, he raises and drops you again.
>You feel your mind slipping as the pleasure overtakes you once more.
>Your legs are just barely keeping you in the same place, his muscles are doing all the work.
>Letting your mind go to mush, you lean your head against his and look into his eyes.
>Mouth open and eyes lost in pleasure, you gasp and moan every time he makes a move and his moves are getting faster.
>You feel a pressure deep inside you building and you’re less and less capable of controlling it as your mind turns to mush.
“Ah-Ah-N-non!  I-Ah-I Sl-oh-ah-!”
>With a ragged breath you try to regain some control over your lost mind, as his pace continues to increase and his member plunges into and out of your deepest parts.
>”Slow down? Why?”
>His voice is exerting itself, but not nearly as lost as yours. But that makes no difference you try to tell him.
“Ah! I-I-Ah! C-c-uh-mm!”
>He grins mischievously, still looking into your eyes and pecks your lips gently.
>”That’s the goal, buddy.”
>You’re about to protest but he increases his speed tenfold, slamming himself inside you harder and faster.
>His member hits all the right spots on the way on and the way out melting your thoughts into mush.
>If you where lost in ecstasy before, now you’ve drowned in it, you can’t think, all your wet eyes see is a blur, and your body feels is pleasure and warmth, and a pressure building inside you.
>Your voice is panting, strained, moaning.
>Then without warning, the pressure builds to a limit you didn’t know, and with a sharp breath your eyes go blank, and all you feel is crashing waves of pleasure pulse through you.
>You feel your whole body twitch and writhe in shear ecstasy, and all your mind feels is shocks.
>In sometime you come around and open your eyes, Anon cradles you while kissing your cheek.
>Your mind returns to work slowly and you drunkenly peck him, giggling in the after pleasure, as your senses return.
>Anon is covered in strings of white, on his chest, some on his face.
>”Liked that? You made a mess.”
>Your face turns redder as you realize the origin of those strings, and redder still as you find yourself lapping them off him wherever you see it.
>He uses his hands to scrape some and holds it between two fingers, before dragging it over your face making you moan, which he silences by gently forcing the cum covered fingers into your mouth.
>Humming a moan as you taste the salty and bitter stuff, you suck Anons fingers with the same care and love as his stallion hood.
>”Good boy.”
>You shudder at his comment and his fingers moving and dancing inside your mouth.
>In a shuffle you’re on your side on the bed, with Anon like before as big spoon. But you know neither of you are done.
>Anon begins pumping inside you, his fingers muffling your moans and gasps, and his other hands tracing your pleasure shaken body.
>One of his hands finds one of your orbs and he squeezes them as he rams as deep as he can into you, and increases his pace.
>You have no choice but to lose your mind yet again, and you tremble and moan once more.
>He cocks back and rams into you with force and speed over and over and over.
>His hand threatens your jewels but the pleasure from the pain is too intense for you to care about the threat.
>As far as your concerned he can destroy them, as long as he keeps pushing into you.
>The pleasure becomes unbearable, intense, almost too much but he doesn’t stop, your voice is ragged and almost screaming.
>Trying to call his name, trying to reason with him, but they only come out as broken yelps and moans.
>Once again without warning, Anon hilts deep inside you and you feel the most intense pain from between your legs, pain that is immediately transformed into pleasure and joins the next thunderstorm.
>You yell, and your eyes roll back as the shock pulses through you, stronger than any lighting.
>You’re sure your orbs are no more, but you want him to squeeze harder, the pleasure makes you high beyond repent.
>Once again your mind goes blank for a period and when you come around, your orbs though aching are fine. Your cock aches in pain as well, you see the string you shot, much less impressive than before.
>Your cock aches from the effort exerted, like an intense work out, and your body and mind are still pudding from the pleasure.
“Ah-Ah-non!”
>You manage to yelp and he gently pulls himself clean of you and turns you around.
>Although your mind is shot, something feels wrong, you feel a little too light, as though there’s something missing.
>Through heavy breathing and a scrambled mind you ask:
“Ah- y-you didn’t… f-fin-?”
>In return he kisses you and gently rolls you on your back making you instinctively unfurl your wings and wrap them around his body.
>Resting your hooves on his chest, you feel like this is all you truly wanted.
>He pulls away and kisses you a few more times, relaxing your mind and making you both blush and moan.
>”I will this time.”
>He whispers as he re-enters you sending a shiver up your spine.
>Thinking before you lose your mind, you request something from him:
“I-in-side… pl-ah-ease.”
>To which he responds with more kisses and gentle thrusts getting faster.
>He’s not like the animal he was before, his rutting is gentler even if it’s just as fast and just as deep.
>He whispers things into your ear, things you only heard him say in dreams.
>Wings and arms hold each other promising to never let go again.
>Your lips lock whenever there’s a chance and you feel warmth all over you.
>Soon he gets faster and his breathing shallower.
>His eyes stay locked on yours, and both of your moans and breathing intermix.
>The pressure rises again.
>He digs the gold and cans it back, over and over, faster and faster.
>Your aching cock twitches more and more, and your aching jewels are gently pressed everytime he pushes in again.
>The useless drained pole between your legs, painfully flares once more and the pain adds to your pleasure.
>You feel the pressure at it’s peak once more, as your moans turn to yelps again, and his breathing becomes more erratic.
>Even so without warning, he slams into you, sending a short jolt of painful pleasure up your groin, and your already sore cock struggles to spurt anything sending more bolts of pain mixed pleasure through you.
>As you scream in ecstasy once more, a set of soft lips lock to yours and your eyes rollback.
>The feeling of his seed flooding inside you adds more to the pleasure and your body shudders and tightens locking him inside you.
>Both of you moan into each others mouths as you ride the apex of your pleasure together.
>After who knows how long, your friend rolls to the side next to you.
>His member leaves you once again, and you feel his mark overflowing from your insides.
>Despite that, his arms continue to hold you, and your wings continue to hold him. Your hooves stay rested on his chest and your forheads rested against each other.
>”Thunder.”
“Anon.”
>You both begin, but neither stop.
>”I love you.”
“I love you.”
>You both proclaim, but neither question.
>”I love you too.”
“I love you too.”
>You both smile, and neither worry.
>And finally, you gently lock lips once more and both kiss with a warmth through your hearts, and a few tears of joy in your eyes, before drifting into a peaceful sleep.
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>Your eyes crack open sometime in the early afternoon.
>There’s a warm ball of fur wrapped up in your arms, and his wings are around you, with hooves and rested on your chest: Your buddy.
>”Good morning…”
>His voice is shy and he’s blushing, as you lower your head.
“Morning, buddy.”
>You whisper and kiss him again.
>The mess you two made is apparent as you shift, and the two of you giggle recognizing it.
>If the mess wasn’t enough, your sore naked body is further proof.
>Thunderlane eyes you in new light, looking down at what you used on him last night.
“I’m a little sore for seconds, sadly…”
>”Y-yea… Heh, me too.”
>Lifting Thunder up to eye level, he blushes as he looks you right in the eyes.
>Kissing again, he blushes deeper and tries to hold you tighter.
>He gently whines as you move away leaving a little trail between you.
>”N-now what?”
“Dunno… I didn’t actually think this far ahead.”
>”O-oh… me neither.”
>You look away thinking for a moment.
“Breakfast then gamestation?”
>”Heck yea!”
>He excitedly responds.
>The two of you move out of bed, and you toss the messed up sheets and blanket in a pile.
>Together you move to the bathroom closest to your room, and get down your business.
>As soon as Thunder finishes his, you run a warm shower and lift him up into it, kissing him as you scrub him.
>In a long moment you two leave the bathroom for the dining table, where mom left the two of a breakfast. Which you two enjoy in each other’s company.
>”I should probably head home tomorrow.”
>Thunder sounds disappointed, with a hint of regret.
>You want him to stay, you can afford to keep him, he did the same for you.
>But he has responsibilities, and friends back home.
>Even you thought you left that lifetime, but it’s not that easy. There’s a lot of people, a lot of things you still miss.
>And while you’re not hungry and homeless anymore, you have other problems.
“You’re always welcome to crash here… I still owe you.”
>He gently hits your shoulder with a hoof, and you do the same to his.
>As you finish your breakfast, you step outside a moment to check the mail as you always do.
>There’s not a pony in sight, the town is usually busy around this time, and you don’t even have any mail.
>Weird, and you don’t like the look of it.
>But you shrug your shoulders and head back inside to the gamestation where Thunderlane’s already set up.
>”Ready to lose?”
“Always.”
>The two of you laugh, and you take your seat.
>Thunder stands up and you look at him stroll over and sit down between your crossed legs.
>He shakes his butt, leaning back on your chest and lets out a comfortable sigh.
“Just as expected?”
>”Better than expected.”
>He coos and you two kiss before returning to the game.
>You only bought this thing because Thunder and you used to play it all the time, pong isn’t much fun alone.
>Suddenly a pony you recognize knocks on your window, she looks like she’s ran a mile.
>Excusing yourself from an annoyed Thunder, you open the window, and the pony flies in closes your window and drops the curtains before you can react.
>Before either of you can open your mouth, she speaks quickly.
>”Anon, the guard is here! They’re searching every home; the other townsfolk are stalling as best we can!”
>Oh shit.
>They’ve tracked you down to even this corner of the world.
>You grab your head and exhale, trying to think of what to do now.
>This was your last hope, there’s no place you’re safe but here, except maybe…
>”We don’t have any guards, just a local ponice.”
>Thunder comments and you remember that.
>But that would be wrong. You left didn’t even say goodbye, and you’d be back to leaching off your friend. And besides you can’t keep running forever.
>”You can stay with me.”
>He says hopefully with a small smile on his face, and you look at the mare.
>”That’s a good idea. If you’re not here, they can’t catch you! We’ll send somepony to tell you when it’s safe.”
>They probably see your apprehension but other than facing the guard, you don’t have much choice.
>Thunderlane flies up to you, and wraps his hooves around you.
“I shouldn’t Thunder-“
>”It’s not leaching, we’re friends. And what are friends for?”
>Damn, he remembers the exact words…
>The mare smiles at the both of you, and she pecks your cheek wishing you luck, before leaving your home.
“Fine…”
>You respond just like you had all that time ago.
>Except this time you’re not just giving up. You have a lot of things to set right there too.
>And besides, you have Thunder.
>The two of you kiss, and prepare to sneak out into your old world.
>If it will welcome you.
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[END]