So, Prime was finally gone for good. A glorious day for horses and Etherians all. Though it was kind of a shame he hadn't gotten to give the guy a hoof to the face before Adora had blasted his soul into horse apples or whatever the heck had happened there.
Swift Wind watched Adora and Catra say their goodnights and retire to the same tent. Well, then. He'd known how Adora had felt, sacred bond and all that, and he hadn't exactly been sure he approved but there was no denying the happiness radiating through their connection now. He just hoped Catra's act really was cleaned up for good because if she hurt his buddy Adora... well, she'd have She-Ra mighty steed to deal with, that was for sure.
"Aah!" He startled when he realized that Melog was standing directly next to him and he hadn't even noticed. Moldy apples, that thing could be quiet when it wanted to. It was watching Catra disappear with its head tilted.
It? They? She? He still had no idea what pronoun to use for Melog. He'd tried to ask Catra but she just swore at him. Apparently making nice with her girlfriend's best horse friend wasn't a stop on her redemption tour. Yeah, well, the feeling is mutual, fuzzy.
"Sorry, Melog! Didn't see you there!" Swift Wind turned to the alien creature who stayed perfectly still, watching the tent. It was slightly unnerving. "I was wondering if those two would ever work it out, you know? Because Adora's head was all like..." He made circles in the air with his horn. "And Catra was all like..." He growled. "And they were always..." He clapped his hooves together. "Well, you know."
Melog turned and looked at him before turning to watch the people milling around the campsite.
"I could never really explain it to Adora. I didn't want to make her feel bad, or whatever, because, obviously, totally stoked about our sacred bond, glorious destiny and all. But sometimes it was like... wish I could turn it off, you know? Especially when they get..." He was trying to tune it out now, trying to keep his mind on literally anything than the ever present connection he had with Adora. Because he was happy for them, he really was, but he didn't particularly want to be hearing all that right now. Or maybe ever. "Guess it's going to just get worse from here on. Smooching. Frolicking. Whatever. You and I are going to have to come up with something distracting. Board games. Karaoke. Bet you're great at Charades with the shape shifting and all!"
Melog yawned and lay on the new grass, its paws tucked under its body. Swift Wind hesitated and then did the same. They were having a moment, right? Bonding? Becoming buds?
Or, maybe not.
"Hey, I wasn't trying to assume or anything. It just made sense in my head that you and I... because Adora and Catra are, you know. But we don't have to... I've got other friends, obviously. The princesses and Bow... oh, and Sea Hawk, he's great. They're all great! But they're, you know, bi-peds... and, hey, some of my best friends have two legs, I don't discriminate but... well, you get it. Pure magic. One of a kind. First and last of your species sort of thing, you know?" Swift Wind sighed, that heavy feeling he'd had for weeks collecting into a lump in his middle. One by one, watching his friends pair off and here he was... alone. "And it's not like we're the same, obviously, but there's some stuff in common there and... I don't know. I thought maybe we could be lonely together! Magic familiars unite, kind of thing. Best sidekick squad! Four-legged, mind meld melee of, uh... you know, maybe we should ask Bow for a name, he's better at this kind of thing."
He laughed but it died away as Melog did nothing but stare at him, its expression neutral. Its tail swished lazily in the grass but otherwise it was still that same unnerving stillness as before. He sighed.
"I'm probably annoying you." Talking too much. Trying too hard. That seemed to happen a lot. Turns out, magical speech powers don't come with a social skills starter pack. He should have figured, honestly. Catra can't stand him, why would Melog be any different? "I'll just... I was going to head out anyway, go for a fly. See how everything looks now that the magic is unleashed or whatever. You just… do whatever you were going to do."
He rose to his feet and spread his wings, tensing his knees for take-off. But he paused when he saw Melog rise along side him. The creature shook its translucent blue mane and then tilted its head as if considering him. Then its body shuddered, like it was shaking water off after a bath, and when it stopped there were a magnificent pair of gossamer wings extended from its sides. A ripple went through them and they changed color, a slight gradient, shades of blue patterned like feathers, almost like... well, his own wings, if the rainbow of colors was done over in only blues.
Melog extended its wings just like he had and Swift Wind realized he'd just been standing there with his mouth agape this whole time.
"Oh! Did you... did you want to come?"
Melog moved into a crouch, as if ready to spring. An unmistakable smile spread across the creature's face. It backside swayed, anticipatory.
"Well, hey, that's great! Does this mean we're buddies now? Gonna start hanging out? Because, you know, with Catra and Adora spending a lot more time together... I'd really like if we could... you know what, I'll shut up. Let's fly!"
He launched himself into the air, his wings catching the air. It was still such a thrill, the feeling that no pasture could ever hold him again, even though he'd done this a million times since he'd transformed. But this time, he wasn't alone. Melog's sleek cat-like body sailed through the air, the creature's face upturned to the wind, a wide grin stretched across its face. And Swift Wind didn't need any sacred bond to know it was having a wonderful time.
He put on speed and was delighted when Melog matched him, the planet being reborn below them, she bathed in She-Ra's golden light. A whole new world. For them to all face together.
Swift Wind turned to his new best friend and grinned.
"So, Melog. How do you feel about loop-dee-loops?"
