I don’t think I could possibly express it adequately, how flying with Aurora for the first time felt. What it was like to have that true freedom that was offered to me by Rarity’s device. My wings were too weak back then to fly with impunity on my own. That changed, which is obvious, but it took time.

In any case, we had taken off, soaring through the evening sky and abreast the waning Sun. Aurora shot ahead, which allowed me to enjoy the view a little more than I should have until she looked over her shoulder, grinned, and pulled up, over my head, and around. I watched as her graceful form slipped above me, did a corkscrew in the sky and came up to pace at my side. A right-ways motion with her head flipped her mane around a bit, a bit of it catching in her mouth, eliciting an expression of embarrassed minor distaste. I laughed and followed as we banked away from the sun, my heart racing as we entered the clouds above. The inside of a cloud was cool, calming, and surreal. It was also wet… something I hadn’t expected despite knowing that they were made of rain that had yet to fall. In that high-altitude mist I nearly lost Aurora as she shot through the fluffy white-ness until we burst through the pillow-like formation, staring at each other as we regained our bearings in the reddening sky. She was ravishingly beautiful, the ice-blue of her eyes contrasting well with the fiery colors of the horizon. Every muscle, every wingbeat of hers was flattered by a range of fiery color.

If I could have fallen in love twice, that would have been the moment I would have done so.

I wished the moment could have lasted forever, spinning, looping, chasing each other through the clouds, but eventually we had to head down to the earth, landing together, laughing and carrying on like the old friends we truly were.

Seeing us, Fray floated over to me and yawned.

“Father, I am tired…” he whined a little, which was a new emotional aspect for him, “Is there somewhere we can sleep?”

I looked to Aurora. She nodded, then turned her attention to Rarity, who was looking me over to see if anything had come loose from her assembly.

“Everything seems to have worked quite well!” Rarity smiled, “Though, you should consider taking Fray with you next time. The poor dear didn’t seem to feel very well once you took to the sky like that, beautiful to watch as it was.”

“Rarity.” I said, “I can’t thank you enough. I don’t have much, but I’ll find a way to pay you back.”

“Oh think nothing of it, darling.” she insisted making a ‘shoo’ motion with one of her hooves, “It was an interesting project and pushed my knowledge to its limit. I actually discovered a number of new ideas for use in the future. So really, think nothing of it!”

“Well… thank you again… we’ll get out of your hair.” Aurora offered, picking Fray up and having him take up a place on her back, “This means a lot to us both.”

“Try not to be strangers!” she said as she headed towards the door,, “You’re always welcome with us.”

As I headed away with Aurora, I remembered the key, and how similar the fabric was to some of Rarity’s works. Pulling it from my pocket, I turned back, and called to the white Unicorn.

“What is it, dear?” she asked, “Is something wrong with the device? Did I miss something?” she asked, quickly appraising me again.

“No. Actually, it’s this.” I told her, offering the key up, “I recognize your handiwork on the ribbon.”

Rarity stared at it for a moment, as if remembering something long forgotten.

“It’s my work… yes.” she said in a low, airy voice, “But I can’t say what it was for.”

“You don’t remember… I understand.”

She held up her hoof, “No. I remember. I just cannot say. Talk to Twilight the next time you get the chance. Have a good night, Mr. Ramp.” she said with a small smile, “Do try to get some rest.”

With that, Rarity and Sweetie went inside, probably to argue about Sweetie’s young stallion ‘troubles.’

“Never get like that if we have a foal.” I said to Aurora, “Please.”

Aurora bumped my side with hers, “No promises.” she countered then spread her wings, jumped and began to hover. Fray squeaked and shot into my skull, making me reel a little.

“Fray?” I asked him mentally, stabilizing myself, “Are you okay?”

“I do not like flying.” he said, ”I will stay in here until you land again…”

Aurora seemed concerned. I shrugged and told her he was afraid of flying, which like myself, she thought was odd for a creature that floated around most of the time. I laughed a little, and we took off into the air above Ponyville, leaving it behind.

“We’ll be meeting my parents in Cumulus. I think you’ll like it there.” she offered, “The clouds are soft and it’s pretty there in the morning.”

“There are hard clouds?” I asked, half joking.

“Oh, my dear, you have a LOT to learn about the sky.” she said with a wry smile, “So much to learn.”

In that regard, I was actually pretty glad. I had an expert at my side to teach me a little about the new world I was a part of before Rainbow Dash kicked my face in… I just hoped what Aurora had to teach would be enough to keep me alive. I didn’t let those thoughts get in the way of my happiness, though, and decided to check on Fray while we flew.

“Come on buddy.” I asked, “Don’t you want to sit on my back, or between my ears?”

“No.” Fray said shortly.

“Are you worried about falling?” I asked.

Fray refused to answer.

“We won’t let you fall.” I told him.

“I do not want to go out.” he insisted.

I sighed a little. He was missing out on a beautiful night, and it was unusual to find him so afraid of something. So, I gave Fray a little mental hug and focused more on the things going on outside my head. Specifically on Aurora in the cold Moonlight of the night. Her gaze was on the horizon, a happy but distant look on her face. Contentedness, I’d guessed. My own gaze followed her neckline, down to her wings as curiosity demanded that I watch them for a moment, observing their twitches, small adjustments as she glided, and the way her feathers were angled. I could see so much more than I had before. Maybe it came with understanding flight a little. Sure, my wings were Batpony wings, and therefore the dynamics of flight were somewhat different, but… I don’t know… something in my head clicked, and I began to take note of the differences between the feathers on her wings.

Eventually she looked to me, and a lopsided smirk spread across her face as my eyes met hers.

“You’re staring.” she said, bringing back memories of a month ago, “That interested, huh?”

My heart leapt a little at the question, not wanting to seem like I was trying to take things too fast, “I was just… noticing your wings. They’re very interesting… It’s just I noticed the difference in the feathers and… I guess I just see more now that I’ve got wings of my own.” I stumbled on my words.

I wasn’t lying, even if I did admire her rear a little more than I should have.

Once again, she told me that I had a lot to learn, and that she’d ‘show me’ later that night. I had a idea of what that meant, but I didn’t want to make assumptions. Besides, I could feel my wings getting harder to control with thoughts like those surfing through my head. That, and I had to try to hide them from Fray, who was luckily too occupied with something else to notice them as I forced them away from his location in my conscience.

I turned my attention back to the flying that was at hand. The exhaustion that had accompanied my last long flight was much less prevalent this time, which was of course due completely to Rarity’s assistance though the device that was attached to my wings. Despite that, however, I was still feeling tired when I spotted a massive cloud ahead. It was towering and glowed bright with a white-blue aura from diffused moonlight in the night sky. Against the starry horizon, which was endless in all directions, the formation seemed an oasis of mystery and wonder to me. My heart ached, not with sadness or fear, but with the urge of the intrepid. I wanted to know more!

Thankfully, those feelings were eased by Aurora who announced that we were headed that way, because within resided the Pegasus town of Cumulus. Hardly able to contain my excitement as we punched a hole in the wall of the clouds surrounding the town, we entered into a world of pure and open beauty. Homes built of… hardened cloud, I remembered asking myself... towered above the ground, which seemed to be made of the same material. Windows on the exterior were illuminated by strange, ice-like crystals, matching the cold air of the interior of the cloud. Streets, fields, hills, and buildings… all made of cloud! Never had I imagined such a place, and I thought it was fitting that somepony as beautiful as Aurora should have come from a place as that I saw before me.

“Welcome to Cumulus.” Aurora said with a big smile, “This is my home. Come on!”

Aurora took off towards the clouds that made up the ground, and landed, a small puff of water vapour rising up around her hooves, floating like so many small stars as they reflected the moonlight that beamed down from a hole in the clouds above. I landed, testing the ground… which I found solid…

I could walk on clouds. Like a Pegasus. Like a Batpony. I could walk on the clouds!

Testing the give of the ground, I pressed down with all my weight, finding myself a little confused by the consistency. Even Fray came outside, now that I was no longer flying, and poked at the cloudfloor.

“This is amazing…” I said, “How can we walk on the clouds, when we can go right through them?” I asked.

Aurora shrugged, “Nopony knows. Probably magic or something. Pegasi and Batponies have their own magics just like Earth and Unicorn Ponies do.” she explained, “It’s just one of those things.”

I was distracted, “I wonder if I can…” I mumbled, and reared up, smashing my hooves into the cloudfloor.

I fell through of course. Didn’t even feel the impact of my hooves against the ground, because there wasn’t one. I’d just slipped through, tumbling into the cloud and managed to right myself as I heard Fray cry out and saw him looking over the edge of the hole in the ‘fground’

“Don’t worry.” Aurora giggled, “Daddy’s fine.” she said, patting him on the head, before yelling down at me with a smug look on her face, “Come on, Ramp! You can play around later, my parents are waiting!”

I flew out of the hole, or tried to, bumping my head on some of the ‘cloud tiles’ that made up the walkways in Cumulus. Apparently, I couldn’t go through those.

“You can’t go through things you didn’t make, dear. That’s how it works. If a pony makes a wall properly, or a floor, you can’t go through it without breaking it with something. It keeps ponies secure and keeps troublemakers from messing everything up.”

“How does that work…?” I asked, rubbing the sore spot between my ears, “That doesn’t make any sense.” I mumbled irritatedly.

“Dunno.” Aurora affirmed again, “It’s just the way things are, no come on.” she demanded.

I flew back through where I’d come though to begin with, the cloud reforming into ‘ground’ when I did so. Aurora smiled, looking me over.

“Never knew you’d look so good covered in cloudspire.” she offered in compliment, pointing out the waterdrops all over my coat, “It suits your coat well.”

I stared at the stuff, looking down at my forehooves, and rolling them over and over to see what it was like. Aurora giggled, stifling her laugh a little by covering her mouth with a forehoof. That’s about when I got an idea, and gathered some cloud up in my hooves, then chucked it at her lightly. The cloudball made a small ‘poofing’ sound and dissipated harmlessly into vapours, glinting in the Moonlight.

I stuck my tongue out as she glared at me a little.

“Well that wasn’t nice.” she started slowly as I made rude noises.

Then she chucked a cloudball at me too, and the chase was on. I nabbed up Fray and told him to hold onto my ears. He protested, but I didn’t give my son any time to hop into my skull, essentially forcing him to fly with me. He’d have to get comfortable with it some time, I figured.

Fray screamed a little as I launched myself parallel to the ground, collecting a little cloudball in my hooves and readying it for throwing at Aurora, who was shaking her hips and making faces at me. If I weren’t for the ‘nyah nyah nyah’ sound she was making and the fact that I was trying to smack her with a ball of cloud, I might have thought it was sexy. She bolted, of course, before I could get good aim on her, collecting one up with her front hooves, letting it go as she flew, and then launching it with her rear hooves.

Apparently, my fiance’ was skilled at this, and I would have to try harder. Fray whimpered a little as I scooped up a second ball of cloud and dove into the ground below, concealing myself. I had a feeling I knew which way she’d go, and was rewarded with my chance when I came back up between two homes, chucking both of the cloudballs at her, and only missing once. She had a retort ready though, and I ended up with a whole pile of cloud on my head, like snow from a tree above.

Which, as it turned out, Cumulus had. Icetrees, they were called, and they grew on the ground, feeding off the cloudspire from below the cloudfloor. Clear as their name suggested, a pony could watch as glowing cloudspire as it traveled through their trunks and into the leaves at the tips of each twig.

Aurora saw my amazement at this new sight, and began to explain to me what all fillies and foals know who’ve lived in the clouds since birth.

“These trees live off of the light of the Moon.” she said, taking a leaf in her hand, which glowed softly, “They provide us with ice for the winter weather patterns below… which some Ponies craft into snowflakes like SnowDrop, the first maker, once did.”

“Why do you craft snowflakes?” Fray asked, floating up and poking at one of the leaves with his tiny arms.

Aurora went on to explain that before snowflakes were created, that ponies had nothing to offer the Winter. Unlike most seasons, the Winter was something that ponies disliked because it was cold and icy. Because of this, Winter was harsher than it is today, being that it was not appreciated as much as the other seasons. Celestia did her best to find ways to make Winter less disliked, going so far as to hold contests to see who could make something that would make ponies enjoy the Winter as much as other seasons. Many of those contests were held, until a blind young filly by the name of SnowDrop crafted the first snowflake. Celestia, amazed by the beauty of the creation, offered it as something that the Winter would be known for. Each year, up until her death, Snowdrop would make the first snowflake of the season, which would prompt the winter to bring more snow for the Ponies below to enjoy. In Cumulus, we keep the tradition alive… but because none of us are the actual SnowDrop, it takes many more snowflakes to goad Winter into doing the same for us. I used to be pretty good at it… but that might have been because SnowDrop was my great, great grandmother.”

“Wow…” I mouthed, “That’s… pretty cool.”

That’s when we both noticed Fray fiddling with something while sitting on a branch.

“Whatcha got there?” I asked.

As impossible as it seemed, Fray had somehow folded one of the leaves from the tree into the shape of a bird. It sat, glowing in his tiny arms.

“It is a bird.” he said simply, smiling up at us as he drifted down to give it to Aurora, “Here.” he offered, drifting back up and placing it in her hair, “It will not dry up.”

“How?” Aurora asked with a smile, “How will it not dry up?”

Fray shrugged and glided down to the floor, “Cloudspire magic.” he said as if it was something normal, picking up some of the fluffy cloud and letting it into the air above him where it shimmered as the droplets settled back to the floor.

I wasn’t sure at the time if Fray was serious or not… but then, when had he not been serious? Aurora smiled and picked him up.

“Thank you, Fray. It’s very pretty.”

Fray only smiled back and slipped loose of her grasp, settling on top of my head as before.

“We should get to your parents.” I suggested.

Only a short walk from where we’d been, Aurora’s childhood home was a decently sized, two-story, columned house which sat inside Cumulus’ proper. Some portions of the building were made of ice-tree… wood, somehow not as clear as its living counterparts… while others were constructed of a fluffier-looking hardcloud, giving the home a more inviting look than it might have had on its own. Windows of ice, clear as glass, provided an opening through which a warm glow emanated.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen them… do you think they’ll recognize me…?” I asked, somewhat worried “What will they think of Fray? Have they heard anything about what happened in Ponyville?”

Aurora put a hoof to my lips.

“They know what I’ve told them, which is that you’ve been through some rough stuff in the past few months..” she said with a small smile, irises reflecting the Moonlight, “Don’t worry. Just follow my lead.”

My worries somewhat allayed, my light blue, pink-maned fiance’ dropped the hoof from my lips and knocked on the door.

“Coming, coming!” a familiar voice, that of Aurora’s mother, Winter Mist, called, “Oh… I hope they don’t track dirt from below in…”

“Don’t worry, honey! I’ve got it!” a booming, almost Canterlotian accented voice called out.

I watched Aurora flinch as a crash sounded out from inside. She shrugged with a somewhat apologetic grin, as if she was asking ‘parents: what’re you going to do?’ More shuffling and a thud against the door.

“One moment, please!” Aurora’s father, Open Wing, called as the doorknob jiggled, “I think we may have jammed the deadbolt.”

“Oh you.” her mother could be heard saying, “Just let me do it.”

Finally, the door unlocked and opened, revealing a small white Pegasus mare and a rather large green stallion with an impressive wingspan. The two seemed a bit ruffled, and Winter Mist blew a lock of hair out of her eyes, then grinned openly.

“Aurora!” she greeted, opening her forehooves for a hug, which Aurora returned, “Oh we were so worried…”

“You’re always worried, Mom…” Aurora laughed, arching her brow inward and upward, “How’s it going, Dad?” she asked.

“It’s been going quite well, dear.” he returned, “I’m guessing… that this is Air Ramp?” he asked.

Aurora nodded after being let loose from her mother’s grasp, “It is… some things have happened…”

“Things that landed him some wings, it seems!” Winter Mist noted, “Oh, I can’t wait to hear this… might they come in, dear?” she asked her husband.

“Oh, yes! I’m terribly sorry, where are my manners?” he coughed, “Your new look has me thrown for a loop almost as much as seeing you up here, in Cumulus!”

“Please wipe your hooves before you come in, dears!”

The interior of Aurora’s parents’ home was beautiful. Crystal-like floors, a spiraling staircase up to the second floor, open rooms. It was spacious and imposing.

“Do sit, let’s all have some dinner.” Winter Mist offered, “I want to hear ALL about what’s happened, and how your little friend came about.”

She was talking about Fray, and just as I began to open my mouth, Aurora pulled me off to the side.

“Ramp… listen… They don’t know about what I do, okay?” she told me, “I don’t want them to know right now… Not just yet.”

“I can’t lie to your father!” I whispered, gesturing towards the kitchen, where he was trying his best to help Winter Mist, who kept shooing him off, leaving him looking somewhat dejected.

“Please.” she insisted, putting a hoof on my chest, “I don’t want Kain recruiting them or something… you know what happens once a Pony knows what’s going on… it’ll change everything for them…”

I sighed, looking into the kitchen as the older couple’s shenanigans turned near-violent as Aurora’s mother chased him off with a wooden spoon. Maybe he wasn’t trying to help, but instead sneak a taste of the food...

“Don’t get like that when we’re older…” Aurora mused

“No promises.” I told her with a smile, echoing what she’d said earlier, “I’ll try not to reveal anything that’ll put them in danger.”

“Thank you…” Aurora said, “Now let’s go get you fed… you’re probably starving.”

I was, having not eaten since lunch… and it was really late.

A dinner table made of polished icetree and furnished with matching chairs was set with beautifully crafted, hand-etched plates and glasses, frosted as if by frozen spring dew. Aurora’s mother set down a crock pot, steaming and filled with a delicious smelling stew. My stomach growled a little, but was eclipsed by Aurora’s own. She blushed a little, and I patted her back with a knowing smile just as Fray peered over the top of my mane and I could feel, through our connection, his ears perked up like tiny antennae as he stared down at the meal before us. It made me wonder just how much he could or would eat. When Winter Mist finally settled at the table and we had all been served something, with Fray sitting atop the table since he was too small to sit in a chair, the questions came flowing in. With the first being about Fray.

I had to warn him mentally not to reveal anything about Kain, Chaos, or anything that might expose them to the truth which, to my relief, he agreed was probably for the best. So, we had to make something up about his origins entirely, telling Aurora’s parents that Fray was not from Equestria, and I’d found him in the Everfree some time during mine and Aurora’s separation. This, of course, raised two questions; One: what was I doing in the Everfree, and two: why Aurora and I had broken up to begin with. I could answer the first one with ease, and cover my tracks as far as growing wings was concerned.

My story was simply that I’d always wanted to fly and, hearing a rumor about a temple in the middle of the forest, decided it would be my best bet. Ponies went on adventures all the time, right? What with Aurora gone, I felt that I had little left to live for and took a different outlook on life. During the adventure, I’d picked up Fray, and we’d been together ever since as companions.

That left Aurora to tell them why we’d separated, which she explained was simply that she was very busy at her delivery job, and lost her patience with what she had thought was insane to begin with. When she’d found that my house had burned down in an accidental fire, and that I had returned with wings, she reconsidered her stance on the matter.

Besides, I made a cute Batpony.

When we had finished, silence grew between Aurora and myself, and her parents.

Then Aurora’s father began laughing a little, albeit with a serious undertone, “Well then. Tell me, dear. What are you trying to hide?” he asked suddenly, surprising Aurora enough that she nearly choked on her water, “You did not think we would fall for a lie like that, did you?”

I was surprised too, “Wait… how do you know we’re not telling you the truth?” I asked.

Winter Mist smiled gently, “Well, dear… we keep our ear to the floor.” she offered.

Open Wings held a hoof between himself and his wife and pointed to her, “SHE keeps an ear to the floor. Sometimes all the way to the diamond-dog tunnels below Equestria.” he whispered, earning himself a smack on the back of the head.

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that again.” she hissed, then clopped her hooves together, “Anyways, dears… we know there’s been some… unrest in Ponyville, and that your fiance’ there is in the middle of it.”

Fray huffed, crossing his arms, “It is mostly lies…” he grumped.

“You mean like what your companion there is telling us?” Open Wing shrugged, “Tell me, Aurora, what kind of trouble have you two gotten into?”

“I… I… um…” Aurora stammered, looking about, but eventually sighing, “Listen… Dad, Mom… I can’t say…”

Her mother put on a worried expression, “Why not, dear?” she asked, “It can’t be that bad… You know you can talk to us about anything…”

I stepped in on her behalf. What I was about to tell them was technically true in some aspects.

“Well… Here’s the real deal…” I began, eliciting a glare from Aurora, which I used to my advantage, “Aurora’s on business for the ERNG… she’s doing things that keep everypony safe. She’s not a mailmare. You should be very proud of her. “I offered with an open-hoof gesture over the table, “I only just recently figured it out, and she broke up with me to protect me from the mess that I might get into. Unfortunately… I ended up getting caught up in it anyways. These wings were part of an an accident that occurred while I was on the run, as was Fray. We barely escaped with our lives.” I shrugged a little, “There’s been a lot of confusing surrounding the events. Nopony in Ponyville can seem to come together with the complete story.”

They were speechless, which was good, as it gave me time to put the icing on the cake.

“Mr. Wings, Mrs. Mist, I can’t tell you any more than I have. We’re under oath, and we’ve probably said too much as it is, but once this is over… I promise you we’ll tell you everything.”

After a few minutes of silence, probably to process what I’d just told them, I stood from the table.

“I think I should wait outside.” I said, with a serious tone, “Come on Fray.”

Fray hopped up from the table and drifted to my back, but not before Open Wings stopped me, getting up as well.

“Wait. Air Ramp. Just wait a minute.” The large Pegasus stallion, “I do not know what to say to you. First you lie, then tells us you’re both involved in something that, from the sound of it, may have your home town hanging in the balance?” he asked, looking toward Aurora, “Is this really the truth? Can you two really not talk about this?”

Aurora nodded silently, “It’s true, Dad… If we told you any more, the knowledge might put your lives in danger. Please don’t think ill of Ramp, he was doing what I asked him to. He loves me a lot, you know.”

Winter Mist came up and hugged her daughter, looking into her eyes with sympathy, “We understand.” she added, “Don’t we dear?” she asked her husband, “We understand.”

Open Wing did not seem happy, but sighed and conceded, “I suppose we do… Just, try to stay out of trouble, Aurora.” he told her, addressing me next, “And you…” he growled, glaring at first, but softening his expression after a moment, “... don’t let anything happen to my daughter. If something does… I’ll be coming after you for answers.”

I nodded, “I understand, Mr. Wings. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her if I could help it.”

“See that you do not.” he said, offering his hoof.

I took it and shook it in a gentleman’s agreement as he added one more thing, “By the way… I know you’ll be asking eventually… but you DO have my blessing as a father.” he sighed a little, obviously somewhat stressed, “I am not fond of these secrets… but I would be a fool not to believe you have my daughter’s life and love in the forefront of your heart, especially considering how long you have been together, and how short the time was that you were apart.”

“T-thank you, sir.” I stammered, a little surprised, “We… we’d planned on getting married next year… but while things are as crazy as they are… We’re postponing it.”

Winter Mist grinned, stepping towards the table to pick up some of the dinner plates and bring them to the sink, “Oh that’s fine, dears. It just gives us more time to prepare.” she said as she placed the plates on her back and headed over.

“Prepare?” Aurora asked whilst raising an eyebrow, “Prepare for what?”

“Grandfoals, of course!” she said with a short laugh, making Aurora step back a bit and her father roll her eyes, “Bouncing baby foals. Oh it’ll be wonderful to hear the pitter-patter of tiny hooves again, won’t it, honey?” she asked.

“Yes, dear.”

“Come help me with the dishes.” she demanded, “From what I can tell, they’re both tired and probably want to get to bed.” she cooed, “Do be gentle with the poor stallion, Aurora.”

I stifled a laugh as Aurora blushed, “Mo~om! Stop it!” she cried.

“I’m just saying dear. Don’t break ‘em before-”

“Mom!”

“I think I know what’s on YOUR mind, dear.” her father rumbled, nipping his wife’s ear a little.

“DAD!”

I burst out laughing. Fray was confused, which was something I was glad for. Aurora’s father coughed a little and regained his composure.

“Well… erm. Yes, indeed. It was wonderful having you both, and please… do be careful, you two.”

“Oh yes…” Winter Mist traced circles with one of her hooves on her husband’s flank, “Do be careful… don’t break him before midnight… It only gets better after that you know…” she said as she stared into Open Wings’ eyes.

“Ugh!” Aurora sighed exasperatedly, head held high, eyes screwed shut with embarrassment as she left out the door taking me and Fray with her, “Auuugh!”

“Thanks for the meal!” I called as we exited.

“Get o~uuut!” Winter Mist sang just before we shut the door.

A few steps away from the door, we heard a crashing and thudding coupled with laughter.

“Oh for Luna’s sake…” Aurora grieved as she dragged a hoof down her face, trying to hide her shame.

I just snickered. Awkward as the situation had been, the night had started off well. Aurora’s parents didn’t hate me, I was in the clouds, and we hadn’t endangered anypony.

“Think we’ll ever be like that?”

Aurora glared at me for a minute before heading off down the tiled pathways on her own.

“What?” I asked, catching up with her, “They seemed like they were having fun…”