(Note: For this part, I thought we needed a little change of pace after what happened in Chapter 8 ;) We'll get some happiness here. Shadow really does wanna try. Of course, I had to have another dress scene, lol! I love Shadow Bright in drag, I don't know why. I think unconsciously, so does Shadow. Card certainly loves it! I'll briefly use Rarity as a character, I mean dress scene, so duh! Hope this made you smile like I did when I wrote it!)
Chapter 9.5 Missing in Action
Sky Daisy opened the door when we knocked. She ushered us in. "Fluttershy is asleep upstairs," Sky told us. "Angel and Ceran ate our dinner."
"That's okay, I wasn't very hungry anyway." I told her.
A bed was in the center of the living room. Sky Daisy said, "She pulled that out for you. Tomorrow will be a better day," she added as she went upstairs.
Card and I got into the bed, sharing the covers. I unconsciously smiled as I wrapped my arms around him, spooning. He snuggled into me, and soon I heard his soft snores. I wasn't sure how long it took me to fall asleep, but I knew it was a fitful night.
"Shadethrower," Card was poking me in the face the next morning.
"Ugh, it's too early for this, Cardkeeper!" I groaned in protest.
"Shade, I wanna go somewhere for breakfast, but I don't want Sky or Fluttershy to feel obligated to join us. I want it to be just us."
I grunted but complied, "Okay…" I got up and followed him out door.
He led us back to Sugarcube Corner, which seemed to be the only food shop here. I wouldn't mind, but Pinkie Pie was a bit eccentric for my taste. Thankfully, it was a pony named Mrs. Cake who served our meal today.
"Hello dear, what can I get you?" her eyes were darting to other tables, checking to see if there were other ponies to serve. Card and I were the only ones here, however. The mare just seemed a bit stressed.
I looked at the menu. "How about just a croissant."
"I'll take a chocolate chip muffin, please!" Card smiled at her.
"Coming right up!" Mrs. Cake dashed off into the store.
"So," Card was still giving me a grin, "I'm glad Ponyville is safe."
"Yeah, me too."
Card frowned, "Well, I mean didn't you hear what was playing on that radio last night?"
"Yep, and that's what got us into last night's mess. Most of the horseshit on that station was probably inaccurate, Card."
"I'm just worried for Los Pegasus." Card looked down at the table.
I reached forward, touching my hoof to his, "That's reasonable, Card."
"Here you are!" came Mrs. Cake, placing our orders in front of us. We thanked her and she bustled off.
"Do you think we should go there?" Card suddenly said. I was concerned, because he was playing with his muffin. "I mean, we haven't seen Sarge in awhile…"
"He's not dead, Card." I was trying to be positive, but I wasn't even sure how much I believed it. After what happened at Mustang Town, I wouldn't be surprised if Card and I were the only survivors.
"I know, I don't think he is, but I'm just thinking we need to do something. We're still Royal Guard, we should do something for Equestria." Card was smiling to himself, and he looked up slowly to meet my eyes. I saw a glint there, and it made me warm. I think today would be another happy day. It felt like we hadn't had one for so long. I wasn't about to ruin it by telling him we should report to Celestia or any of that other crap.
"I think for once, we should do something for ourselves," I said firmly. I was grinning kinda evilly, coming up with a plan, "As of right now, Card, we are MIA."
We made our way to the big tree that served as the village's library. The sign hanging above the door read Golden Oak Library. I held the door open for Card. His cheeks turned pink as he accepted my gesture. My heart skipped a beat. All I wanted was for today to go well, despite how much my demons said it would not.
Nopony was here, but that was fine. I'd heard a unicorn named Twilight lived here, and that she was the element of magic. Whatever that meant. But apparently she was important to Queen Celestia, especially since she'd apparently gained wings and became an alicorn recently. That made her a princess, but she wasn't well known by name yet. Just her element.
"Whoa," Card let out a breath. "Shade, do you remember the library in Manehattan?"
"Yeah," I looked up at the shelves and shelves of books that towered around us. It was impressive.
"We used to go there as foals and stay to read for hours on end." he said.
"I liked spending that time with you."
Card ran a hoof along the lengths of books, feeling each spine as he passed. He was nostalgic. "I did too Shade."
"I never actually read much of the books. I kinda…um, well, I watched you read."
Card stopped, turning his head just slightly, his eyes partly closed with a thoughtful smile on his muzzle. "You did?"
"I-I liked your reactions. It made me feel something positive. Better than I usually feel."
"I loved that you were there, Shade, that I always had you with me. Not only the library, but at school…" Card slowly brought his gaze up to meet mine.
I remembered how Card used to get bullied in school, because the other foals thought he acted funny. I'd never noticed or minded how Card acted, but, "I would never let anypony hurt you, even back then. Nothing they said was true, it didn't matter Card."
Card chuckled, "You let me know it all the time. I got through it because of you."
I noticed how we were getting closer to each other. I started noticing the muscles in his shoulders, around his wings. He was handsome, there was no denying it. The look he had, his manestyle, always so adorable. And that smile that blew me away all the time. I couldn't get enough of it.
"Cardkeeper, I couldn't be more lucky in my entire life to have a coltfriend like you."
"Y-you mean it?" his breath tickled my lower lip.
I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips in answer, and a soft light emanated from my horn. It was Card that pressed the kiss and made it more passionate. He always surprised me, in the best way.
He broke away enough just to say, "Faust, I love you more than anything in Equestria." he was breathy.
We were back to kissing, and I felt his tongue find its way into my mouth. Card was full of passion and determination. I knew this was all his emotions from yesterday flooding out. All his anxiety, his frustration, his anger, but most of all his love. I returned that love, because I wanted him to know it was true.
I was letting him take the lead. I wasn't good at expressing myself. He was, and he knew what he wanted to say. It was a song I wanted hear.
I don't know how long we were at it, making out like that on the floor of the library, pressed up against a shelf of books, but when he finally broke away, Card said, "I'm hungry."
I had to catch my breath, and I stared at him for a second. Then I began to laugh.
We went back to the cottage for lunch. Fluttershy was outside attending some of the animals. She smiled at us as we approached. "Sky Daisy is inside waiting. She made lunch if you want some."
"Thanks," I said as I moved past her.
Card and I found Sky waiting in the kitchen, food sitting on the small round table. "Hey there," Sky said, giving us a nervous grin. "I wasn't sure you were gonna come back. Flutter kept saying you would and not to worry."
"Can we join you for lunch then?" I asked.
Sky laughed, "That's why I made it." As we sat down to eat, she said, "After you left this morning, Fluttershy found a note. It's for you, and I think it's important."
Card opened his mouth to respond, but I interrupted, "No, today is for me and Card. I'm not ruining it by reading some note that probably relates to this war."
"But, what if it does?"
I finished my apple, not touching the oats. I stood up, "I'm not dealing with it right now." I went outside to wait for Card to eat his lunch.
It was only about ten minutes later when Card came out. "Why do you always leave at the worst possible time?" Card asked.
"Did you read the note, I take it?" I grumbled.
"No!" I turned to find he was laughing. His angry words were only in good humor. "I want a good day too, Shade. I agree with you that we should wait." he bumped me with a hip, "I just don't agree that that was the way you should've told Sky Daisy. Now come on, she told me about this really great shop!"
I shook my head, "It better not be another dress shop."
It was another dress shop.
The Carousel Boutique. A white unicorn mare with a luscious purple mane and tail. Her cutie mark was three diamonds. "Hello, darlings, welcome to the Carousel Boutique." She had a cockney accent. "My name is Rarity. I'm afraid if you're looking for fashion for stallions, you've come to the wrong place."
Card got a wicked grin, looking at me with those mischievous eyes. "Oh, we're not."
Rarity shared the grin, "Something for him, I presume?"
"Oh no, nonononono! Not again, Card!" I was shaking my head, already digging my hooves in.
"Again?" that made Rarity laugh. "Come, darling, I've got something perfect for you." both she and Card dragged me by my tail with their teeth. She was helping him.
I just muttered, "Nonononono," the entire way.
Card left the changing room as Rarity's horn glew a whitish-blue and an ebony colored dress with glitter running through it floated over. "Magic makes everything so much easier, don't you think, darling?"
"Oh, yeah, soo much easier!" The dress was slipped over my head, and she was right. Unlike at the dress shop in Canterlot, where two earth ponies put my dress on, this one slipped on nice and easy. It was even comfortable!
She brought me to a mirror, and the reflection instantly made me blush. This time, since I'd already had a past experience with this, I wasn't as disgusted, plus Rarity wasn't laughing like a little filly. She was very professional.
Suddenly I was pummeled by Card. "Shadethrower! You look amazing! You know how much I love you in a dress? If we ever get married I want it to be here, in Ponyville!" He was speaking very fast and he was acting very energetic. He squeezed me tightly.
"Married?" I squeaked, "Isn't that getting a bit ahead of ourselves?" Card laughed hysterically, not letting me go. Yes, today had been a good day. For once, I felt I hadn't made a mistake, and as my horn glowed brightly while Card and I kissed on the floor of the shop, I realized just how quiet my shadows had been all day…
(Chapter 10 set for 2/2/17 11:00am CT
That was enjoyable! We needed a different mood for once. I hope you liked. Next chapter I'll be moving the story on. Love ya! See ya soon!)