Acid closes a panel on an upright metal circle sitting at one end of his lab. At the other is a very similar looking device. Connecting the two are a bunch of wires scattered about the floor. Sitting in the center of the room are two desks, one facing each device, with blast resistant glass bolted down onto the desk. Sitting on one of the desks are a group of buttons, much more organized than the last time he did this. Acid slides his goggles over his eyes as he makes his way over to the makeshift blast shield he created as the door to his lab opens up.
"Can you not read the sign?" Acid asks as he turns to see who just walked in. "Oh," Acid says with a slight surprise and a small smile. Standing by the door is Blood Moon in her dark blue captain's uniform. "What are you doing here Moon?" Acid asks as Moon walks over to him.
"Class got out for dinner," Moon starts as she wraps an arm over Acid's back. "So I decided to see how my Little Flask is doing," She looks down at him with a small smile. He looks back up at her with a big smile of his own.
"I'm working on a teleportation system that can be installed in one location and teleport you anywhere as long as you know the exact coordinates," Acid says, stressing exact. "But right now I'm just trying to get the portal open," Acid says before turning to his makeshift button.
"I do have to ask you something," Moon says as she removes her arm from around his back. Acid stands up on his hind legs and leans against the desk, still nowhere near the same height as Moon.
"Just give me a sec," Acid says as he starts pushing buttons at a somewhat regular timing. The metal circle lights up as the inside of the metal frame starts to spin. Blue lights start to form around the edges of the metal circle's insides before creeping closer to the center. The blue light connects as the other metal device starts up and goes through the same process. Moon watches in amazement as the portals stabilize. "There's merical number one," Acid says before grabbing an apple from the cabinet in the desk.
"It's taken me months just to get that far with the portal," Acid says as he walks around the barrier towards one of the portals. "Stabilizing the magic so it didn't collapse on its own weight and become a black hole for a second was harder than I thought," Acid explains as he throws the apple through the portal. The apple falls out of the other portal unharmed. "How is the apple?" Acid asks as he turns to the Moon.
"It's intact," Moon says, looking at the apple on the ground in front of the portal.
"All right, organic material unaffected," Acid whispers to himself as he walks over to the side of the room where a little cage sits with a few rats. "Now how about sentient life," Acid says, opening the top of the cage. "Who wants to jump through the portal?" Acid asks the rats. One of them raises its hand confidently. "All right Lucky, let's see how you do," Acid says, lifting the little rat out of the cage with his magic before closing the cage.
He walks over to the portal and places the rat in front of it. The rat runs up and into the portal. Moon looks over to see the rat unharmed on the other side. The rat looked itself over for any sign of damage before giving a thumbs up.
"Lucky is unharmed," Moon says, turning to Acid.
"Yes!" Acid yells in excitement, pumping his hoof into the air. His demeanor quickly changes as his eyes widen in fear. The hairs on the end of his neck stand up as his ears periscope towards the portal. It starts to waver and sizzle like bacon on a scilit. "DUCK!" Acid yells as he gets down. Moon ducks down as the portal near Acid explodes. Shrapnel flying around the room and flying threw the glass like it was nothing.
"Acid," Moon stands back up with fright in her eyes. "Acid!" Moon yells as she jumps up and flys over the desk. She lands on the ground by the unconscious unicorn laying on the ground. "Acid, wake up," Moon says as she shakes him. Acid groans in pain as he opens his eyes slowly. Moon signs as Acid gets his bearings.
"Ow," Acid grunts in pain as he sits up with the help of Moon. He leans against Moon's body as he rubs his head. Moon wrapped her arms around his body and pulls him closer to her.
"You all right?" She asked worriedly.
"I think so," Acid says as he blinks a few times before starting to scratch his chin. "I think the portal gained too much mass from the object and collapsed into itself. That's going to be hard to fix," Acid thinks before standing up. His eyes dart around the mess left behind from the explosion as Moon gets up. "Was there something you were going to ask me?" Acid asks as he starts to pick up the metal from the ground with his hooves.
"Oh ya, that," Moon says, scratching her arm awkwardly while looking down at the ground. She takes a deep breath in before saying, "Would you and Dox like to move in with me?" Acid drops the stuff in his hooves in surprise. He looks over at her with a small smile forming on his face. "I was just thinking, we've been together for over two year, and maybe it's time to take the next step,"
"Of course!" Acid yells in excitement as his horn shoots sparks of orange out of the top. He runs over to her and gives her as big of a hug that his little arms could muster.
"That's a yes then," Moon replise as she hugs back.
"What else would it be?" Acid asks, pulling back a bit to look up at her. Moon smiles before placing a gentle kiss on Acid's forehead. Acid smiles at the gesture as a thought crosses his mind. "What about Film?" He whispers, not intending for Moon to hear, but she does.
"What about him?" Moon asks, tilting her head to the side.
"I would be leaving him without someone in the apartment," Acid says, a little worried.
"I think he can manage," Moon replies with a knowing smile.
"I better warn him first," Moon chuckles at Acid's response as he pulls away in confusion. "What's so funny?"
"You and Film sound like a married couple," Moon replies, calming down.
"Sometimes it feels like it," Acid admits with a cheeky smile.
(Time skip)
"I'm home!" Acid yells out in excitement. "And I have good news!" Acid drops his bag at the door as Film walks in from the kitchen.
"You're moving out?" Film asks jokenly. Acid chuckles a little before responding.
"Yes, actually," Acid responds, causing Film to genuinely smile.
"Moving in with Moon?" Film asks as Dox walks into the room, who is very confused.
"Yep," Acid responds before turning to face Dox. "How about it Dox, would you like to move in with Moon?"
"Hell yes!" Dox yells in excitement. Both Acid and Film cringe at Dox's use of a real swear word.
"Dox, what did we tell you about using that word?" Acid asks sturnly.
"Not to," Dox says, looking down at the ground as his ears flop against his head.
"What's the funner word to say?" Film asks.
"Flap Jacks!" Dox replies with a smile. His ears perk up as he looks at Film.
"First, it's more fun," Acid corrects Film. "Two, Flap Jacks?" Acid chukels while still looking at Film with a questioning look.
"He cussed once and I told him that's not how we do it in this family," Film starts explaining.
"So you told him Flapjacks?" Acid asks with a smile.
"He told me to be creative, so I came up with Flap Jacks," Dox replies. Film smiles and gestures to Dox for Acid's explanation.
"I see," Acid says, looking down at the little guy. "It's good to hear Film teaching you proper Flask family traditions,"
"Flash family?" Film asks, tilting his head to the side.
"Ya," Acid says, turning to face Film in a defensive tone of voice. "What about it?"
"Nothing," Film replies, shaking his head in disbelief. Acid rolls his eyes before walking past the two.
"I've got paking to do," Acid says, walking up to the hallway before turning back to look at the two. "You can join if you want,"
"That means we have to," Film says, nudging Dox lightly, causing him to flinch in surprise.
"You don't have to," Acid replies.
"That means you have to," Film wispears to Dox with a small smile.
"No you dont!" Acid yells back in anger as he walks into his room. Dox rolls his eyes before running after Acid. Film following far behind Dox.
(Time Skip)
Acid knocks on the wooden door of a smallish one story building. The walls are painted dark blue with the roof a very dark purple. Dox unloads some of the boxes from the wagon that carries a large amount of boxes on it. The door opens to reveal Moon with messy hair and tired eyes.
"Do we have to do it this early in the night?" Moon asks, looking up at the moon rising over the horizon.
"If you want all my stuff moved into where you want it, yes," Acid replies. Moon smiles before sighing.
"What exactly do you have?" Moon asks as Dox carries a box over to them.
"A good portion is just stuff from my childhood," Acid says as Dox puts down the box. "The other set is my home work equipment,"
"How big is the set up?"
"About this big," Acid says, sitting down and stretching his arms as long as he can stretch them. Moon lets out a small laugh as Acid retracts his arms back into his body. "What are you laughing at?" Acid asks, tilting his head to the side as Dox walks back to the wagon, laughing to himself.
"Sorry," Moon replies, slowly calming back down. "You looked cute doing that,"
"Ok," Acid replies with slight confusion in his voice as he stands back up. "So, where do you want my stuff?"
"Follow me," Moon says before turning around and yawning. Acid grabs the box and places it on his back as he follows her into the house with Dox following behind with a box on his back.
The main room Acid just stepped into is a good sized living room with a couch facing a white wall with a film reel behind the couch pointed at the blank wall. Against the corner is a cabinet full of projector wheels. On the other side of the living room is the dining room. Marked by the end of the carpet and into hard wood. Sitting in the center of the dining room is a dark wooden table etched with strange patterns. Sitting around the table are 8 wooden chairs that are the exact same color as the table. On the far end from the door is a hallway that ends in a turn. Along the hallway are two doors on the right, and one door and doorway on the left.
"Didn't take you as a movie fan," Acid says, looking over at the sizable collection of film wheels.
Moon walks into the hallway as she says, "Ya, no one thinks that bat ponies have hobbies," Acid keeps following Moon with Dox following slowly behind him. Acid passes the doorway to see a small kitchen with a stove top oven and a fridge. He turns back to see Moon opening the last door on the right before walking in. Acid walks over to the door and walks into a room lined with shelves around the top of the room and bookcases lining the room walls with awards of all types.
"This bookshelf has been empty for a long time," Moon says, pointing to the empty bookshelf in the corner. "You can use it for anything you want," Acid puts down the box as Dox does the same. "Oh, and I have a medium shed in the back yard you can use for your workbench,"
"Thanks," Acid says as he checks the box. He slides it to the door as Docx leaves the room. Acid opens the other box before saying, "There we go," Acid starts pulling out stuff as Moon walks over to the door. "Hey, Moon," Acid says as he places a trophy on the shelf.
Moon turns around before asking "What is it?"
"Wired question," Acid starts as he turns around to face her. "I'm sleeping with you know aren't I?" Acid asks in a genuinely curious voice.
"That's if you want to," Moon replies.
"Ya," Acid replies with a smile. "I was just making sure it was ok with you,"
"You want to see our bedroom?" Moon asks, raising an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
"If you don't mind," Acid replies, walking over to the Moon.
"Come on you child," Moon replies with a chuckle as she walks down the hallway. Acid follows her into the hallway and into the room further down from the kitchen. Acid steps in as his eyes widen and his mouth slightly opens in surprise.
The walls of the room were bright pink with dark pink stripes. The bed is centered in the middle of the wall with it's backboard against the wall. The bed sheets are a light blue with dark blue pillows. Tucked in the corner of the room is a dark oak dresser.
"Wow," Acid says, speechless as he looks around the room. "Didn't expect it to be…"
"Girly?" Moon asks, turning to face him.
"Colorful," Acid finishes.
"Oh," Moon responds in slight shock. "Why is that?"
"Seeing that the rest of your house is in dark blues and purples, I just thought your room would be the same," Acid replies with a cheeky smile.
"Ok, that's a far assumption," Moon replies. The two's eyes widen as a loud thud rings out from the front door. Acid quickly runs out, followed by the Moon. The two quickly make their way to the front door, where Dox stands next to a group of boxes. Dox is breathing heavily as his face is flush red.
"I… got… all.. of them in…" Dox says between deep breaths of air.
"Oh my celestia," Acid says in worry as he walks over to Dox. "You did not need to do that," Acid looks worryingly down at him. "Are you ok?"
"Just… a little…" Dox doesn't get to finish his sentence as he passes out and collapses into Acid's body. Acid wraps and arm around Dox to keep him from face planting into the ground.
"Sshhh.." Acid wispears into Dox's ear as he pats his head. "Rest my little bug, you deserve it," Acid says before sliding Dox onto his back. With a little grunt, Acid walks past Moon and into the hallway. "Is it ok if I put Dox on the bed until we get his set up?" Acid asks, looking back at the Moon.
Moon takes a deep breath in before releasing it in a heavy sigh. "Go ahead," Moon replies reluctantly. Acid presses his lips together in a concerned look before walking into the bedroom and gently placing Dox onto the bed. He turns around and walks out of the room before quietly closing the door behind him. Acid walks over to the Moon with a concerned look.
"You still don't like Dox, do you?" Acid asks, looking up at her. Moon signs before sitting down. Without thinking, Acid mirrors her actions.
"First," Moon starts. "Watching you do that was heartwarming," Acid smiles a bit at the comment. "Second, it's hard for me to get around Dox being a changeling, even if he's not one of Chrysalis's. And finally, I'm mostly having childhood trauma flashbacks," Acid tilts his head in worried curiosity. "I don't think I've ever told you about my childhood,"
"And you don't have to if it's uncomfortable," Acid chimes in as he places a concerned hoof on top of her hoof. Moon smiles at the small guster before sighing.
"You've told me so much about yourself, it's only fair I tell you something about me," Moon says, looking away as Acid scoots a bit closer to her. "My mother hated me because my father loved me, and the reason was my mother tried to baby trap my father by raping him in a drunken state, causing her to birth me," Moon looks down at the ground as tears form in her eyes. Acid looks up at her in shock and horror as his brain processes the information. "He loved me, but my mother didn't. She called me a waste of time, and a piece of shit. My father divorced her after I was in middle school. He took me and went to Canterlot." Tears start to fall down her cheeks as she continues. "She had the audacity to send a court order after him to drag him and me back to ponyville to setal what would happen to me, and guess what the court decided?" Moon asks no one at all.
"Your mother," Acid says, knowingly.
"I was taken from the only thing I loved, and the only one that loved me back," Moon flinches as she looks down to see Acid had wrapped his arms around her lower body and was nuzzling his head into her chest. Moon's eyes flood with tears again before she hugs him back. Placing her head on top of his before finishing her story. "When I turned eight-teen, I left for Canterlot to get away from her," Moon says as the tears roll down her cheeks. "I worry for your sake that if I snap, that I could end up sending Dox into the darkest prison because of my statis, that I'll ruin you all because the system is favoring Mares over Stallions,"
"You would never do that," Acid replies.
"How do you know that?" Moon asks. "Ponies replicate what their parents did a lot more than you think,"
"Because while I've never gone through something like that before, I know someone who is like their parent, but has improved themselves because they see what their parent did wrong and corrected it," Acid explains as he squeezes her lower body a bit tighter. "Also, by worrying about it, it shows you want to change," Tears roll down Moon's cheek as a smile forms on her face.
"Luna, I don't deserve you," Moon says through her tears as she grips Acid tighter to herself. She buries her face into Acid's hair as she lets her tears flow freely. Acid squeezes her tighter as he tries to bury himself into her, to try and show how much he loves her with just a simple hug.
"You deserve all the love I have," Acid replies as he nuzzles against her chest. Moon takes a deep breath in as she tries to stop crying. After a few deep breaths, she wipes her eyes before pulling away from Acid and standing up. Acid stands up as Moon collects herself.
"Sorry about the tears," Moon says awkwardly.
"There's nothing to be sorry for," Acid replies, gently placing a hoof against her arm. "I bet you needed that," Moon looks down at him with a small smile.
"I think your right,"
"Just remember, I'm here for you," Acid says as he sets down his hoof back to the ground.
"Now how about we get Dox's bed set up?" Moon asks, walking past him.
"I'll get the box!" Acid yells back as he goes and looks through the boxes. He finds the one with the bed and picks it up with his magic before walking after the Moon.
(Time Skip)
"Dox is finally asleep," Acid says, walking into the bedroom as he yawns. Moon sits in bed as she watches him walk to his side of the bed.
"I still can't believe you were able to shift to sleeping during the day," Moon says as Acid slips into the bed.
"It was hard at first, but I slowly managed," Acid says, bouncing on the bed a bit. Satisfied with the softness, he lays down before Moon follows suit. "Good night," Acid says as he rolls onto his side to look at Moon. Moon rolls over to look at Acid with a small smile.
"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Moon asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe," Acid replies before rolling to the other side. Moon smiles before sliding herself closer to him. She wraps her arms around his body and pulls him into her chest. Acid smiles before snuggling into her chest before closing his eyes. Moon smiles as she closes her eyes. The two slowly drift off to sleep.