I blinked as I woke up from what appeared to be a very long nap, even giving a yawn as I stood up. Blinking, I realized I was never laying down in the first place and...and why can't I see myself? Why does my own thoughts sound like an echo? Why-

"Welcome to your mind." I blink as I turn to face the source of the sound, which happens to be Cerebrial Magnus. He was just floating there in what seemed to be a void. In fact I couldn't even call it darkness, it was just...nothing. A whole lot of it. The unicorn glances around a bit before looking back at me. "Indeed, it does seem rather empty here, though I doubt it's cause of your lack of intelligence." He says. Wait, how is he reading my mind? "We are in your mind, so anything you are currently thinking I can hear it, along with your other thoughts and memories. It is why we are here in the first place." He sighs as he shakes his head before rubbing his chin with a hoof. "Perhaps it may be a little bit of a dimming problem..."

I feel myself raise an eyebrow at this, but he just shakes his head. "Anyways, I have brought us right into your mind, or more accurately, the frontal cortex, where we can view these memories. It will feel a bit strange, a bit like an outer body experience, but just know that it is all in your head, rather literally, so nothing here can hurt you. Physically wise that is."

What does he mean by that? I mean it does make sense but- "Now, if you are ready, let us see what we have here first." Before I can even 'say' anything else, his horn lights up and a giant hole suddenly appears right above us. Slowly it glows a bright white, almost like a lightbulb was shining through, or even the sun. It starts to expand, or are we getting closer...

---

Blinking my eyes, we are suddenly in the middle of a field, a large forest behind us. I look around and realize I can see my body again, but it is right in front of me. In fact, it was moving on its own, almost as if someone else was controlling it. Not only that, but walking right next to me was a pegasus...no, it was Aryas, her wings in a much better shape then the last time I saw her in the other memory.

"Are you sure they will be ok with this?" I blink as I hear my own voice and yet I said nothing myself. It was the me in front of me that said it to the unicorn.

She nods in response as she glances over at me. "Yes, for the umpteenth time! Geez Drak, you really need to relax." She said, giving me a chuckle and a light hip bump.

Me, or rather my other me, just chuckles as he, or I rub the back of his or my head. "I know, but...you know I don't have much of a choice now, especially with the fact that my own house is now gone thanks to the chaos troopers who found us."

She sighs at me/him before looking up at him/me. "I know, and I said I'm sorry about it and that I promised to find you a new place. You may have to do a bit of work, but I swear that my troop will be more than willing for you to stay with them for a time being, especially since you saved my life." She said to-

I can't help but to shake my head, or at least feel like I shook it since I can't see myself and only my memory self. Mag was right, this was very disorienting. Slowly, I started to focus more on myself before me as I just allowed me to float along, following the scene as it unfolded. If I can just focus on them...

I sighed as I grip my staff a bit more, looking down at her. "Still, the whole thing of losing my house, after all the work I put into it..."

"What do I have to do to make you forget about that silly place? I mean what is there even to be sad about, it was really a rather bleh house to be all honest. Not sure I would have called it a house." She replied back.

"Hey, it may have been a bit of a shack, but it was still my home."

Aryas shook her head at this. "Perhaps, but you really shouldn't get too attached to things. The only thing you should get close to are living beings...and your weapons." She said, motioning to her spear she was carrying on her back. "And even with living beings, you need to be careful with who you trust."

Silence falls upon us for a bit before I let out a small sigh. "Yea, I know. It's just that...it's all so sudden to me, after all I've already been through, I was just hoping for some peace and quiet. But now..."

"But now you were found, and once found there will always be people and ponies who will always be able to find you." She finished. She takes a few quick steps forward before turning to face me, looking up at me with a serious expression. "I know it must be hard, but if you tried to go on your own now, those chaos troops will just find you and do Array's knows what and I..." She fell silent, unable to finish her words but her eyes said it all.

I frown as I looked at her, and slowly I kneeled down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know, and honestly, I guessed that would have happened sooner or later. I'm just glad that you were the first one to find me." I smiled at her and she smiled back, leaning up and giving my cheek a small nuzzle.

"Of course you are, a lonely human male all alone finding a pretty mare like me." She said, batting her eyelashes rather obviously. This caused me to laugh as she returned the chuckle, giving me one last nuzzle before we continued on our way. "Now, you tell any pony about how mushy I was with you, I will-"

"A bit late on that soldier." We froze as we heard that voice suddenly come from ahead of us. Looking forward, we stop in our tracks as, somehow, several soldiers, both human and pony alike appeared before us.

They were all in some sort of white uniform, with yellow-gold trimmings on one of them, the pony who spoke up also having a few badges on his chest. They were all equipped with long short swords, all of them the same from the other, the leader, or who I assumed to be the one in charge, having a handle that is made of bright gold. He stares at us for a good while as the other troops remain silent, but soon he breaks into a rather large smile. "So, the Lightning does have a soft spot for humans."

Aryas groans as she nearly glared at what I assumed to be the one in charge. "Quiet there Dux, or I may give you another black eye." She warned him.

The earth pony captain, who I assumed is Dux, just shook his head. "You know, if I was any other captain in Arrays' army, I would have you court martial a long time ago." He tells her. They stared at each other for what felt like hours, but after only a minute of silence they both break it with laughter, coming towards each other and giving a hug of greeting.

"It's great to see you Captain." She said as she pulled back.

Dux just gave a small smile as he rubbed the back of his head. "Actually, I got promoted since you last saw me. Remember Trax?"

She nodded. "You mean the lieutenant?"

"Not anymore. He got promoted to commander and was brought back to the main city. You are looking at the new lieutenant now in charge of this unit!" He said rather proudly. This caused Aryas to smile in response as she gave him another hug.

"Congratulations!" She said. He was about to open his mouth to continue talking when she stopped him. "Actually, this kind of works for me, since I was going to ask him for a favor, but now I can ask you."

He raised an eyebrow, and this time he finally acknowledges me as he looks at me. "Does it involve the human hermit here?" He asked.

"Why does everyone keep calling me that." I groan, getting a chuckle from a few of the other humans there.

Dux smirks. "No offense, but you don't exactly look all that clean. I bet even the humans here can smell you."

One of said humans nods. "You really do smell bad, like ripe toes."

This caused another wave of small laughter from the group, Aryas can't help but to chuckle a little as well, but she soon shushes them with a wave of her hoof. "Well, he is a hermit no longer. He has come to join us." She said.

This caused me to give a surprise start. "What? But I didn't agree-" She quickly shushed me as we looked back at Dux, who was looking at me with a more interested look.

He slowly walked up to me, looking me over, examining me as he started walking around me. I remained still, a bit unsure as to what he was trying to find. After what felt like forever, he stops in front of me before suddenly rearing on his hind legs as he throws a kick at my face!

Instinctually, I parry the blow with my staff, deflecting it to the side before swinging my weapon upwards to get the bottom part of the staff to slam into his exposed belly, but the pony just dodges to the side as he aims another kick at my head, to which I also deflect. I'm about to swing my staff around to aim for his head, but that is when he goes back on all fours and swings his rear legs around, catching my legs and sweeping me off of my feet. I land on my back with a grunt and try to get back up, only to find a sword suddenly aimed at my neck. I look up the blade and right at Dux as he stares coldly in my eyes, my own eyes shocked to see such a bare expression. Not only that but the emotions coming from him...it was nearly none existing, just cold, hard logic.

Before I can say anything, he pulled his sword back and sheathed is, giving me a small smile as his cold expression vanished. "Not bad, but you really need to focus on your lower portion, otherwise you have a good defense. Most likely not used to dealing with a pony, or at the very least not with a pony who know's how to fight on two legs, so that will need to be fixed." He offered his hoof to me, to which I take after some hesitation, getting back on my feet as I stretch my back.

"Ok, ouch. And second, I've been practicing with Aryas, so-" I started to explain to him before he stopped me.

"She may be a good fighter, even a great one, but she also hasn't learned everything yet. There is plenty that she doesn't know about and even I don't know. But if you want to fight with us, then you will have to learn how to deal with all kinds of enemies, including ponies who do know how to fight humans and other bipedal beings." I fall silent as he said this, and as I looked over at Aryas, I could see the small glare she was giving to Dux, but quickly returned to look at me with a comforting smile and an encouraging nod. Dux tapped my shoulder to get me to look back at him as he continued. "Listen, you are good, even better than most recruits that I have seen, but we all have more that we need to learn. I can see great potential in you, and I know you have a few tricks up your sleeve if your weapons of choice are those. If you don't wish to join, I'll give you some money and such and send you to the closest friendly town to try and get your life back together. However, if you do join us, you will have to forget about whatever hermit ways you were trying to do." Again I open my mouth and again he shushed me. "We are at war, there is no room for mercy and hesitation. I don't know what rules you live by, but I do know that if someone wishes to live by themselves as a hermit, they most likely have a hard time not only living with others, but also taking a life, so I'm going to tell you this. If in the heat of the fight, when you are being counted on to protect your fellow soldier or an innocent and the only option is to stop the enemy dead, you will need to kill. If you can do it just by knocking them out, then fine, but if it comes down to it, better them dead than you cause they won't show you the same mercy." Once again I noticed the cold returning to his eyes, but this time with determination, a show that, no matter what it takes, he was going to finish whatever he has promised to set out to do.

I look back at the group, seeing all the humans that were there as well as the ponies. They all seemed calm with what was just said, none of them having moved a single muscle, but at the same time I could see a bit of hope from them, waiting for my answer. Perhaps they are just as eager for me to join as Aryas, and some of them even smiled at me a bit, the hope in their eyes telling me that they indeed would like me to join them.

Not seeing a single bit of dislike or even a hint of disdain for being offered to join them so easily from the other troops, I look back at Dux and gave a small nod. "Ok, but if I fight, I fight my way, with as minimum killing as possible."

Dux shrugged at this. "So long as you don't hinder or cause an issue with anyone here, then that shall be fine. Remember, the right way isn't always the direct way, so long as you protect those who need it, then you will do well." He fell silent for a few moments before he broke into a huge grin. "Besides, the more you capture alive means the more prisoners we get to learn about their secrets."

Aryas groans as she finally butted in, wing wrapped around my back as she nudges Dux aside. "Ok, enough with whatever you call humor, let's go back to camp and celebrate! I desperately need a drink!" She stated.

The earth pony looked at her with surprise. "A drink? You mean..."

She nodded. "I know, out of all the hermits I found, I find the one who hates alcohol."

He just looks stunned, a few of the other troops behind him laughing, while one of them, a dark human, shook his head and facepalmed. "I didn't think that was possible to find a hermit who hates drinking." He said to himself, though loud enough for everyone else to hear it.

"Then that does it! Once we get back, we are throwing a party to welcome our newest recruit!" Dux said, getting a cheer from everyone around us. I remained silent, giving my hood a small tug to keep it a bit lower and to keep me a bit calmer.

"Why do I get the feeling that I'm gonna regret this?" I asked myself.

Sadly, Aryas heard me as she just grinned. "Cause you are gonna get so wasted and it is going to be hilarious." She answered. I groan as I let her lead me with the rest of the troop, following them down the road and to their encampment.

---

Suddenly it shifts and I blink my eyes as I'm now staring at a ruined town, small fires lighting the night sky around me. Not only that but I was floating above it, like I was flying. Wasn't I just in an open area, and I don't remember seeing any houses nearby, let alone a ruined town. And how am I flying and why-

"I told you this will be a bit disorienting for a while." I turn and look at Mag, seeing him once again floating nearby. He is looking down at the sight as well, his eyes on two figures who seem to be looking around the debris of broken houses and homes. It takes me a second to see that it's once again me and Aryas, rummaging around some broken buildings looking for something, but as to what I had no idea.

"Where...where are we now?" I asked the mind mage, looking back over at him.

He stays silent for a few moments before responding. "From what I can see, this is well after the meeting with Dux, perhaps a few months later judging by the distance of this memory from the last one." I had no idea how he can tell that just from looking at this memory. "It's not hard, I just measured the Tuon string and...right, don't want to hurt your head. I'll just say I made an estimate thanks to the space in your mind between this memory to the last one."

I feel myself rubbing my head to soothe the pain that was indeed nearly forming from trying to listen to him, but soon I hear myself...my PAST self, talking once again. I lean in closer, slowly focusing...

"Are you sure there are any survivors around here? This place seems to be a complete wreck." I told the mare, lifting up a stone slab and tossing it to the side as I continued looking the place for any possible survivors.

She nodded her head. "Of course! Chaos minions may not be predictable in most senses, but one thing that we can predict of them is how unpredictable they are and as such they will always leave somepony alive." She said. She then glanced at my confused face as she waved it off. "Don't think about it too much"

I just remained silent as I shrug in return, going back to searching for survivors. Again we fall silent, focused on picking through the remains of the building we were in. After another few minutes of searching I was about to speak up when we heard a voice.

We both perked up quickly at the sound, which sounded like a low moan of pain. Aryas was quicker to react to it, quickly looking around as she called out, "Hello?! Can you hear us?!"

There was silence for a few seconds and I was about to think it was our imagination when we heard it again, along with some words. I turn to face her at this. "I think it said help." I told her.

She doesn't mention anything to me and instead quickly takes off, already going towards the source of the voice. As I quickly moved to catch up, I end up stumbling and falling onto the ground, thankfully catching myself before I did fall on my face. However, during that time the pegasus was already out of sight behind some ruined walls. Just as I get up and reach the broken mortar, I hear her scream.

Eyes wide, I turn the corner and come face to face with a rather skinny griffin, wearing rather ragged clothing, most likely some sort of chaos trooper, though she must have been here for a while. Her claws extended out as they slash at Aryas. The hit lands as she falls back, hoof on her face where it hit her. My eyes wide in shock as I stood there, just a few feet away as the chaos trooper quickly lands on top of her, already getting ready to land the second blow, this time aiming for her throat-

The next thing I knew, there was a "THUNK" as something heavy lands into her upper side, making the griffin fall over and crumple to the ground. I waste no time in rushing over to Aryas and kneeling down on her, grabbing her head to better look at her wound. "What's the damage? Where did he get you? Does it hurt too much? Should I-"

"Drak stop!" She shouts, causing me to fall silent. She is panting as she gently pulls herself out of my grasp, but otherwise doesn't move away. She inspects herself for a few moments before she adds, "I...I-I'm fine. She just caught me by surprise is all." She looks over at the trooper and gives a small spit towards her direction. "Must have been a straggler from the fight, probably hoping to find some stragglers of her own or even Order soldiers like us to catch off guard." She then turns to face me with a some awe in her eyes. "I didn't know you could throw those."

I blink as I look up at her in confusion. "Throw what?"

"Those trident things. Sais I think?" Seeing the blank expression on my face she adds, "You threw your sai right at her. The point slid right into her side. Think you nicked her heart with it."

My eyes go wide as I realize this, and quickly dash to the trooper. Kneeling before her, I see that my sai is indeed in her chest, all three points inside of her. Blood was bubbling from her beak as she gives a small twitch. I gently reach down and hold her head, trying to find a way to save her.

Slowly her eyes glaze over as they look at me, and then before I can do anything else, they are blank, her chest not moving, not a single muscle reacting to my touch.

I just...I just killed someone.

My heart pounds in my chest as I shakily drop the dead body back to the ground, slowly getting up as I stagger back, my mouth open in shock. I...I never...but I...

"Drak?" I turn and see Aryas, worry in her eyes now. It seems she realized what was just happening, slowly she approaches me as I stand there, shaking. "Drak, it had to be done, I know this must be tough right now but-"

"Get away!" I shouted. At that moment, I could feel something snap inside of me, and before I could even think about doing anything else, I turned and ran. Long and hard I ran, the ruins of buildings blowing past me. I could hear Aryas following behind me, no doubt easily keeping up with me as I ran. However slowly she became more distant, more quiet before her voice vanished all together.

As my past self kept on running, I had to take a moment to pause, shaking my head as I took all those sudden waves of new emotions. Trama, anxiety, sadness, despair...and hate. So much hate to myself. As I slowly relaxed myself, I realized that the memory had seemed to stop, everything frozen in time. What just-

"The memory paused cause you needed a moment." I hear Mag say,. I turn to face him as he continues. "Nothing unusual, not to worry. It's like any other memory. You can pause it like a movie and have it play again later. I'm guessing that the emotions of what just happened must have overwhelmed you, yes?" How did he- "I'm in your mind remember, I can hear your thoughts, and that includes everything you are feeling at the moment. The feelings that went on when you killed that griffin...I'm assuming, along with the way you reacted, this was your first kill."

I shake my head as I force myself to speak over just thinking it, to make the conversation feel a bit more normal. "What do you mean? You've seen this before?"

He nods. "Indeed. We may be in a peaceful time, but there are still a few who have their own issues. Majority of them end up regretting what they do, and I go into their minds to either help them live with the memory of it, or to remove it altogether. And while rare, it does sometimes involve the memories of some pony...killing another being." He falls silent for a few moments before he continues. "I'm guessing that, cause of this, your mind from what I can tell went into shock, unable to handle the fact that you ended somepony's life so easily. Understandable, since it is a very hard thing to handle."

Again silence falls over us, my mind still unsure what to make of all of this. Did I just go insane after that? Maybe I- "You won't know what happens till you let the memory finish itself." I blink as I look back at myself, and at this point, my past slowly goes back...I sink in...

I'm panting as I finally come to a stop, landing on my knees as I gasp for air. I have no idea how long I was running, or how hard I was running for, but now I felt exhausted and just empty, both emotionally and physically.

Silence is all I hear, along with the crackle of some flames nearby or the chirping of crickets. I assumed I was going to be left like that forever when I hear a familiar voice once again, softly saying my name behind me. I don't bother looking up as Aryas walks closer and sits next to me. Gently I feel a wing get placed around me as she pulls me in, my body not bothering to resist her. I sigh as I lay my head against her shoulder, and slowly I start to tear up. I stay silent during this now, letting her just hold me as I wrap my arms around her in return, hugging her close.

The minutes slowly tick by, feeling like hours were washing over us as I just sat there, holding her close. After what felt like forever once more, the pegasus finally speaks up. "You did what you had to do."

I give a small sniffle before finally responding. "It...it doesn't feel right though. I...I could have-"

She squeezes me a bit with her wing making me stop. "You did nothing wrong! This is war, and she was the enemy. Yes it really sucks having to end a life like that, but if you didn't do what you did, I would have been the one dead." I look up sharply at her in slight anger, but I pause as I lock eyes with her, seeing the cold, determined look behind her eyes. However, much more prominent was the look of care and worry for me. "It's never easy, taking another life. I remember when I made my first kill I couldn't sleep for a week. And it never gets easy as well, no matter how many times. The only thing that changes is how we deal with it." She gently places both hooves on my shoulders to keep me looking at her. "Even though this happened, it didn't change who you are. You are still a good person and someone who cares for everyone he loves. That won't change just cause you took a life."

Again silence falls on us, allowing me to absorb her information. Slowly I feel myself relaxing, calming down from the horrible moment that happened. After a while I finally find myself leaning in closer and resting my head against her shoulder, just hugging her close as she returns it happily. She nuzzles my cheek for comfort as I slowly let the tears fall silently, the water sliding down my cheeks and staining her shoulder a bit.

Once again we remain like that for a few minutes, neither of us moving an inch. After a while I finally calm down enough to pull back a bit, looking at her with thanks. "How...how do you know what to say?" I ask.

She gives a small, sad smile at this. "Just repeating the same words my own mentor told me really." She admits. "Also, in case you haven't noticed, all of us have been through the same thing. Some of us are more ready to accept this, but we all react in some way or another. It's never easy, but the alternative is much worse."

I nod, understanding what she means as I gently pull myself off of her. Slowly we both get up on our feet/hooves, my legs still feeling a bit wobbly. She notices this as she gently leans against me, allowing me to rest against her as she helps me walk. During this she reaches under her wing and pulls out my sai, holding it out in her mouth. Slowly, I take the weapon and look it over, finding it to be rather clean. "You...you cleaned it?"

She nods. "Figured you weren't in the right mind to take care of yourself or your weapons, so I did it for you this once. Of course you are gonna need to clean it yourself, this is just a one time thing!" She states. I give her a weak smile and nod, sheathing it back in my belt.

Slowly we walk back down the ruined roads, and during this I can feel things getting fuzzy. It's at this point that the memory slowly starts to fade, leaving us back into the void. Mag appears as he shakes his head. "Hmm, interesting." What is? "It seems the next memory is locked a bit less than the others, almost like..." Before he can finish, the light returns as it slowly fills the void, and once again I'm falling...

---

I yawn once again as I lean on the table that Arya and I were at, still very much bored with life. The pegasus herself is just sitting there, happily munching on some hay as she looks back at me. "You really need to relax more Drak. we are very much safe here." She teases me.

I roll my eyes as I look at her. "Funny Aryas. I just wish I was back at camp practicing my stances." I tell her. She giggles as she continues eating her food, my food having been done a while ago. "Care to tell me why we are here in the biggest city of the Order?" I ask for the fifteenth time.

She returns my look with an amused look of her own. "Because we have been out in the field for the better part of two years, and you have been with us for the last year. We aren't machines and we do need our rest, so that is why we are on leave here, relaxing and just recharging." She explains...for the fifteenth time.

Again I sigh and again I just lean back on the table, clearly not feeling relaxed at all. "Still, maybe I should have joined Dux-"

"All he is doing is most likely getting laid, getting wasted, and then if he gets unlucky, getting his ass kicked by the mare he just fucked." She says. "Sometimes all at once. Besides, if you were with him, then you wouldn't be able to join me~"

I can't help but to chuckle as I hear this, looking up at her rather beautiful eyes. Once again I feel my cheeks turning a bit red as I turn to look away from her. I couldn't help myself. For the last few months I had been slowly falling head over heels for the pegasus. Sure we saved each other's life over and over again, and we even got nicknamed the Thunder and Lightening, but that had nothing to do with how we had grown closer these past few months.

I have no idea how it happened, or when it even started. All I know is that somewhere along the line, as we continued to work together and fight battle after battle, I slowly started seeing Aryas more than just a friend and someone who I could be together with. These feelings were very much new to me as I had never felt such a thing before, so of course I was confused. It took me almost a month, as well as a lot of questioning from a few trusted others to figure out that I was falling for her, and ever since then I've been keeping it quiet. Now, I finally got tired of being on the sidelines and decided to ask her out.

I've been trying to muster up the courage to do that, and I had figured that our time in the capital might be as good a chance as any. Of course I'm so unused to relaxing that I felt rather out of it, like it wasn't even normal to relax so readily. During our time so far I made multiple attempts to ask her, but so far they either failed before I could even speak, or I just missed my chance cause of a random event that happened...like a stupid sundial salesman who nearly "flashed" us when we were walking by.

Now it was about a week into our leave and I still haven't been able to ask her properly. It was getting to the point where I was about to give up, but I kept on shaking that and steeling my resolve...I just wish it would always stay with me before it chickened out right at the finish line.

So deep was I in thought that I didn't even notice when she finished her meal, her hoof prodding at my shoulder. Looking up I see Aryas staring back at me with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, you ok Drak? You seemed less focused than usual." She asks.

I blink and quickly pull back, doing my best to not blush as I shook my head, clearing my thoughts as I nod my head. "Yea I'm fine, I'm fine. Just thinking about...something..."

She gives me a rather curious look before giving a small shrug. "Ok, if you say so." She says as she finishes her meal, leaning back and patting her stomach. "Mmm, that was a good meal, don't you agree?" Before I can respond she is already asking another question. "So, I heard that this show was going to start rather soon in the theater, and I really wanted to go see it. Perhaps-"

"Oh no." I quickly shake my head at that. "You know how much I hate crowded places and what it does to me."

"Come on, it won't be that bad. I've been wanting to watch this for ages. Please Drak~" She leans in and does her best big, puppy eyes, looking at me so deeply that it nearly made my heart drop. Thankfully this isn't the first time she had done it and I was starting to adjust to it, if with some difficulty.

"I said no, ok? I...I just..." I try to tell her that I couldn't go, that me and crowds just don't mix and all, but sadly the eyes slowly started to get to me, making me slowly give in.

It was at this point that Aryas adds, "The room will be dark. Plus, we can sit in the back where it will be less crowded." She says.

"And what about the prices? I remember they cost an arm and a leg to get in and-" I tried to counter, only to be countered right back.

"It's a free show cause of how popular it is, plus it's being done by some locals, so no money needed."

At this I finally give in, letting out a small sigh. "Ok, fine!" I say, getting a small smile and a yes of joy from the mare. With that, she leaves the payment on the table and gets out of her seat with me following suit. As we start heading out, she extends her wing and wraps it around my back, pulling me a bit closer to her.

As usual I just give a curious look before letting it slide. She was always a rather cuddly type, then again most of the ponies in the squad are, even the guys to an extent, much more so than I was ever used to. But for some reason Aryas seemed to be more so with me, at least within the past couple of months. Of course I just assumed that it was just cause of how long we've been friends so she was just getting more friendly with me.

In any case we started up a small chat about random things, such as weapon usage and the like, typical soldier stuff before we reached the theater room. It was a rather fancy building, and I remember some of the higher ups would go inside for a show or two. As I looked at the prices of the shows it reminded me that our budget would never allow us to even step inside of the theater, but like she said, the show for this was free, and after going to the clerk griffon in front we walked inside and found our seats, going to the back row like she promised before sitting down.

I take a slow scan of the room, mostly to find the closest exits as well as just how many people are really here. As expected, it was a mix of species, mostly ponies and humans, but a few others as well, such as some griffons, a few changelings and even a minotaur. However like Aryas said there weren't that many beings to begin with and most of them seemed to be sticking closer to the stage.

As we took our seats, Aryas's wing gently pulls back so that I wouldn't accidentally crush it as we settle down, patiently waiting for the show to start. During this I could see her glance my way every so often, most likely checking to see if I'm going to panic or not. Thankfully I was managing to do just fine, keeping myself calm enough as the lights started to dim down.

The mare gives a small yay as the curtains pull back, showing off the stage of the play, a wilderness like setting with some ponies walking onto stage. It seemed they were on a quest to recover a lost treasure of their kingdom, the main character in charge of their group being a strapping young Pegasus.

It seemed rather normal, just a group of soldiers traveling as they make a joke here and there before the next scene pops up, having them run into some chaos troopers who had hostages, one of them a human maiden. There was a clash as the fight scene happened and of course the chaos troopers were driven back as the Order soldiers saved the hostages.

It was at this point that I felt a small brush against my hand, and looking down I noticed Aryas was resting her hoof against my hand as she was watching the show. She seemed to have noticed as well as she glances over at me, our eyes meeting for just a moment. Before I could pull back she quickly pushes forward, placing her hoof on my hand in a form of hand holding, giving me a smile as she returns to watching the show. I just sit there staring at our hand/hoof holding each other before returning my attention to the show.

The show was, in all honesty, pretty good. Some of it was a bit cliche, but there was just enough unique moments that made it rather interesting. Overall, the troopers went on a long trip to find this treasure, the maiden joining them once she was saved. As the story went on, the leader and maiden slowly started to grow closer together, bonding with each other before they reached their destination.

During this Aryas would slowly slide closer to me and while I didn't really mind or noticed, about forty minutes in I realized that she was resting against my side. I could feel my cheeks burning at how close we are, and it didn't help that the show was reaching a more romantic part of the scene, with the maiden confessing her love to the leader. Of course he declined her love, despite how he truly feels, saying that he has to stick with honor and duty, but the scene was still very moving, and I could hear the mare next to me sniffle as she nuzzles against my arm.

Almost out of instinct, I pull my arm out of her grasp and wrap it around her, pulling her close to try and make her feel better. Now it was her turn to blink in surprise as she looks at me, making me give a small smile as I was able to catch her off guard this time...that is until she did something I was never going to expect from her.

Smiling, she leans in and kisses my cheek, nuzzling it before returning to the show.

This got me to freeze up completely. eyes wide with shock as the scene ended and it went on an intermission. We were both silent for a good while as she just stared at the stage and I stared at her, though it was her who broke the silence first. "Drak...I...I-"

"Did you...really kiss me?" I asked, interrupting her. She may be rather touchy and cuddly as well, even more so than the others to me, but she never once kissed me anywhere. As I waited for a response, I finally pulled myself to look down at her, and what I saw made my breath stop in my chest.

She was looking up at me with reddened cheeks, her hooves around my arm as she stares back into my eyes. It was at this moment that I felt everything; how she noticed I was falling for her, how much she has been wanting for me to make a move, how she remained ever so patient during our trip, and how frustrated she is with how long it has been. I could see the nerves that she was feeling, especially after that kiss, and finally it all hit me like a charging minotaur.

She knew.

I open my mouth to ask but she beats me to it. "Drak, I've been waiting ever since our last fight, when you saved me from the manticore attack. That's when I noticed that you were feeling different for me. I...I was feeling the same too, for a good while, but seeing that you did care made me so happy. I know your kind normally have the males ask the females out, but damn it you were taking forever, so I had to set this up just so I could finally ask you on a date myself while making it seem like it was your idea."

I just stare at her in shock, still trying to get over the fact that she knew about my crush and that my feelings were being returned. This has never happened to me before, and I had no idea what to expect either, nor how to react. Just from looking at her, I could see that she was a bit confused as well, though her next words said otherwise. "I waited so damn long, but I just...I couldn't wait any longer. I'm sorry for ruining it..." She falls silent as she looks away, slowly starting to pull herself off of my arm.

It takes me a second to realize that she thought she ruined the whole "date" just by saying she initiated it, and quickly I grab her hooves with my free hand and hold it, letting her stay against my arm. She looks up at me in surprise and once I got her attention, I smile. "Aryas, I...I'm so happy that you feel the same way. Really I am. And I really...really am enjoying this date, if you wish to call it that."

She blinks in surprise, the few tears that nearly appeared vanishing as she does that. "Really? B-But I thought-"

I shake my head. "No need to worry. From what I know, there are some females that start asking the men out as well for us humans. Also." I added a chuckle before I continued. "Do you really think I'm one to follow the normal ways of things?"

She giggles and shakes her head. "No, I guess not." She falls silent as she looks up at me, our eyes staying locked together the entire time. Finally, after what feels like forever, she seemed to reach a decision and asked, "Drak? Can I...Can I be your marefriend please?"

I stay silent for a few moments longer before replying. "I never had a marefriend before you know? I don't even know the first thing about being in a relationship." I admitted.

She smiled. "Good, cause I never had a human coltfriend...or wait, I remember some others say it's called a boyfriend, yes?" I nodded. "Then yes, I never had a boyfriend before, so we can learn together."

I looked down at her as she continued to look up at me, and while I didn't say out loud that I accept, we both knew it didn't need to be said at all. Slowly, our heads lean in close, drifting closer as if being pulled by an inner force...

The next thing I knew, our lips brush against each other, and she pushes the rest of the way, locking our lips in our first ever proper kiss. I stare at her in shock, her eyes staring back for a few seconds before slowly closing. My eyes follow soon afterwards as we kiss each other, holding ourselves to one another, my arms wrapped around her and her hooves holding my body as close as possible to her.

Slowly, after what feels like forever but is way too soon, we part, panting lightly as we open our eyes, staring at each other in awe at our actions and in a deep seated love for each other. Smiling, Aryas kisses me again on the lips before nuzzling closely against my side, making sure I was holding onto one hoof as she shifts my other arm around her back, basically laying against my side now.

"Thank you Drak. I hope to be a great marefriend." She says.

"And I hope to be a great boyfriend." I add.

Just then the lights start to dim again as the show begins to pick up, and this time we just stay silent as we watch the show, holding each other in our arms/hooves and just enjoying our presence with each other. Despite what the future may hold, as of right now all we cared for was each other...and to watch the rest of the play.

Next Chapter: Chapter 28: The Final Curtain Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 9 Minutes