The mood had been solemn since the adults left. There was an aura of apprehension around those that stayed; almost as if they were waiting for something to happen; something that the nothing that actually happened just seemed to validate as going to happen.

After a while the group broke apart. Taz and Nighttide were off to their room; Flash, Blaze, and Vela went to test out the new armor, which struck Starlight as strange since Vela didn’t get a set of her own, but she didn’t press the issue. Aurora took her son to go eat.

That left Starlight and Ana by themselves, the latter of which decided that Starlight needed to look simply divine before her date, which was in ten hours away.

At the end of the ten hours, Starlight swore she’d shave her mane off before going through that again. Still, as she looked herself over in the mirror, she couldn’t exactly fault the results.

She had always kept her rainbow mane short since it was simply more practical; after all. It was easier to take care of, had low maintenance, and was quick to clean. That being said, somehow Ana had figured out how to take something pragmatic and turn it flamboyant.

Ana had styled her mane to be puffed up and over the side of her head. In the back, it almost stuck out at an angle. She didn’t stop there either. Ana went through Aurora’s room and borrowed a beautiful set of diamond earrings, plus a dress made from the finest silk. It’s coloring matched Starlight’s own with intricate designs and inscriptions running along the sides.

“I thought we agreed that this is not a date, but simply a dinner,” Starlight complained as she looked at her new accessories.

“You want to take them off?” Ana asked with a grin.

“Well… I never said that.” Even Starlight had to admit. She looked outstanding in these clothes. While she had never been the one to care about her looks before, this made her feel… pretty.

“Good; because she should be here any minute now,” Ana said as she glanced over to the clock.

Starlight looked too, it was six-fifteen. “Ana, she’s fifteen minutes late!”

“Bat-ponies,” Ana just snorted, “and a mare one at that, you gotta expect a little tardiness.”

Starlight glared at her. “That’s speciesist, and sexist, not all mares are late!”

Ana laughed. “You being the exception, right?”

Starlight wanted to retort, but almost bit her tongue when there was a knock at the door.

“Oh, your date’s here!” Ana said, giggling as she went to answer it.

“For the last time, it’s not a date!”

“Whatever,” Ana replied as she opened the door, seeing Echoside “Hello, Echoside.”

Starlight’s eyes locked on Echoside. The mare was sitting on her flank on the other side of the door. While Starlight was more dressed up than she ever remembered being in her life, Echoside’s attire was simply what she had managed to steal from her bunk when most of the ponies went to sleep. She was in plain grey sweater with a hoodie that had two white straps.

“That’s what you’re going to wear on my sister’s date?” Ana asked, shocked.

“Hello translator, nice to see you too,” Echoside said with a huff before locking eyes on Starlight. “Wow… I thought this wasn’t a date?”

Starlight just blushed madly, not knowing what to say. Echoside was just in a sweater, but still, she looked beautiful, and cute. “I-I… I mean... I um…”

“My sister says you look good too,” Ana said with a smirk.

Echoside rolled her eyes before replying, “Let’s get going, I’m starving and, maybe if we get out of your sister’s range of control, you’ll be able to complete a full sentence.”

Starlight nodded before heading out the door, she was more nervous than she’d ever been in her life.

“Enjoy your DATE you two!” Ana shouted when they were halfway down the hallway.

“It's not a date!” Starlight shouted back.

Echoside just chuckled as she led the way. It was… awkward having a unicorn by her side, but she had chosen this sweater on purpose. It—nicely—hid her bat wings. So, provided one didn’t notice her ears, eyes, or fangs, you could easily mistake her for an earth pony. Still, walking side by side with a blue unicorn that couldn’t figure out how her tongue worked didn’t exactly make for a good time.

“I hope you got bits,” Echoside commented when they left the palace. “We’ll need them where we’re going.”

“Where are we going anyway?” Starlight asked.

“You'll see it soon enough,” Echoside grinned.

Starlight kept silent while they walked. She tried to balance the space between them, keeping to just what she felt was appropriate; but every once in awhile they’d bump into each other, causing Starlight to blush. The bat-pony was lost in her thoughts while they walked. She was leading Starlight to the corner of the town, straight towards a bar.

When she saw it, Starlight snorted, “Echoside, you can't be serious, I can't go in there!”

“Why not? You thought I’d lead you to a fancy restaurant, fit for a princess?”

“It’d ruin my dress,” Starlight pleaded as she watched her walk forward.

“If you don't want to go out with me, just tell me,” Echoside replied, more than a little annoyed.

Starlight blushed at those words. She didn’t know why, but she really did want to go out with her today. The walk had been… awkward, but even still, she'd be lying if she said she didn’t—on some level—enjoy it. “And… um… I-I can’t.” She was… hesitant to say the real reason why.

“And why not?” Echoside asked coolly.

“It would, um.” Starlight nervously ran one hoof along the length of another. “Be illegal.”

“Princesses can go into bars,” Echoside scuffed.

“Not thirteen-year-old ones.”

Echoside paused at that. “You’re thirteen?”

Starlight stared down at her hooves, blushing as she meaked out, “Yes.”

“I can't believe it. I'm going out with a filly.” I’m so going to jail. Her mouth couldn’t help itself. “How can one... how can one look that beautiful at just thirteen?” Echoside asked.

That took Starlight aback. She had been called many things before, but that? She looked up, “Y-you’re not mad? I didn’t mean to lie to you or anything.”

“You never lied, so no I'm not mad. But this… This will make things complicated.” Echoside shook her head before grinning at the absurdity of this. “I'm twenty.”

“Oh. That’s only seven years difference. That’s not too bad. My parents are nine years apart, and Taz and Nighttide are like four hundred and forty-eight years apart.”

Echoside laughed. “Now I know you're shitting me.”

“No, I’m serious. Nighttide’s four hundred sixty-two; Taz, fourteen, do the math.”

“Wow,” Echoside whispered before blushing.

“Yeah,” Starlight replied.

I should take her home, apologize, and hope she doesn’t report me, Echoside thought. All I need to do is drink enough beer, and I’ll forget this ever happened.

“I know a place where we can go together.”

WHY DID I SAY THAT‽

Starlight actually found herself smiling at that. “You still want to? I mean… you still want to continue this… date?”

Echoside ran a hoof through her mane before saying, “Ah buck it, I’m already screwed, might as well have a good memory to keep me company in jail; so yes, let’s keep going.” Echoside stopped. “Wait… did you just call it a date?”

Starlight blushed as she glanced up into the mare’s lavender eyes. They were simply beautiful to her. She had denied it for ten hours, but now that they were out, now that Echoside had called her… beautiful, she simply couldn’t anymore. All the evidence pointed to only one logical conclusion: She was out on a date, her first date. “Yes. And they won’t arrest you, I’ll make sure they don’t.”

Echoside smirked. “Then let's go, date. We have a nice restaurant waiting for us.”

Starlight smiled and moved to Echoside’s side. She wasn’t sure just how close she could walk, but even though their coats were touching, she wanted to be that much closer to her. Her unspoken question was answered when Echoside bumped her flank with her own. Starlight laughed and recovered quickly enough. “So, if I may ask, that pony in the barracks, um… what did he mean by your grandmas anyway?”

Echoside smiled sadly. “My grandmas are kind of the most famous bat-ponies in history. I should feel good about that. But all the others say I’m just here because of them; that if I wasn’t related to them, I’d never have made it on my own. Like they’re giving me some bucking special treatment, even though I’m doing the same shitty work they are.”

Starlight shut her muzzle as she thought about that. In the end, she said, “I think I can relate to you on that one.”

“How come?” Echoside asked.

“My grandmas are Princess Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash. You want to talk about a big shadow?”

“Mine are General Night Watch and her wife, Blue Moon.”

Starlight’s eyes went wide. She knew little of bat-ponies, but everyone knew of the great general. “I guess we both got some big horseshoes to fill, huh?”

“Kinda.” Echoside chuckled. “Now let's hurry, If we wait too long it might fill up..”

Starlight did her best to keep up. She looked over at her date and saw Echoside in a new light, they both lived in the shadows of giants, shadows they’d never fill.

“What made you decide to join the Night Guard anyway?” Starlight asked.

“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”

“Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

Starlight looked down—a little put off, causing Echoside to sigh before continuing. “Well, if you must know, Luna basically forced me.”

“Pardon me?”

“Luna said that with whom my grandmas are, I should join; something about living up to the potential she sees something in me. She told me I could make it far if I tried… whatever that means.” Echoside started chuckling.

“Does ‘princess’ count?” Starlight asked before quickly shutting her muzzle.

Echoside blinked. “Uh, what?”

“Nothing!” Starlight shrieked.

“You’re weird, but funny, pri—I mean, Starlight.”

“Wow, you know my name?” Starlight asked playfully.

“I call the ponies I like by name.” Echoside chuckled before groaning at her unintended slip up and hitting her head at the object she saw: a street lamp.

Starlight quickly laid her hoof on her shoulder, making her stop. “Hey, relax.”

“What happened to the shy mare from a few minutes ago?” Echoside asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Change of heart?”

“You’re funny now that you found your tongue, you know that?”

Starlight found herself blushing. Echoside smiled and brushed past her as she continued to their destination. The young mare shook her head clear when she remembered what she was supposed to say. “Oh, I wanted to say thanks; for the armor, I mean.”

Echoside smiled. “Better late than never, huh?”

“I blame your beautiful eyes,” Starlight said under her breath before remembering that bat-pony hearing was a mark above even pegasi.

Echoside laughed. “I think you have to learn a lot about my kind. I heard that.”

“I don't want to learn about your kind, I want to learn about you.”

Echoside blushed this time, and her pace increased as she looked away.

Starlight cocked her head, confused as she watched the mare all but trot away now. It’s almost like she doesn’t like talking about herself… but why?

The unicorn teleported in front of Echoside, almost making the mare jump out of her sweater. “You know you can talk to me, right? I don’t bite.”

“I know. Because it's me that usually does the biting,” Echoside said before her obvious blush intensified, making it match Starlight’s.

Starlight had heard tales of bat-ponies’ unusual habits before. They were something her mom, Ataxia, informed her of one day, despite her protests not to.

“W-why are you blushing now? Please don't tell me you understood that dumb innuendo,” Echoside groaned.

“S-so, it’s not true?”

Echoside opened her muzzle, only to close it again when she saw her saving grace: a way to change the subject without either admitting something to a thirteen-year-old she didn’t want to admit, or lying. “Oh look, we're here!”

Starlight was perplexed. “The… The Seafresh?”

Echoside smiled. “Yeah, it's a famous restaurant for thestrals, my grandmas and parents used to visit it all the time.”

Nervously, Starlight looked at Echoside. “Does it have… salads?”

Echoside giggled. “Don't worry, they’ve also got dishes edible for ponies.”

As the two walked inside together, Starlight got a huge sniff of the place. It was stinky. It smelt like meat, something that didn’t sit well in her stomach. Unconsciously, she pressed her coat against Echoside’s for whatever support she could get.

“Everything fine? The restaurant looks mostly empty, but we can leave if you feel uncomfortable,” Echoside said, pawing at the ground with her hoof.

“No it’s fine, I just… umm…”—Starlight looked around for something to use as an excuse—“just feeling a little overdressed.”

“You can tell me the truth. Let me guess, you’ve never smelled or seen meat dishes before?”

“That obvious?” Starlight asked.

“Kinda, yeah,” Echoside said, before groaning and shutting her muzzle. “Not the first time I’ve seen that look on a pony’s muzzle.”

“Oh.” Starlight’s stomach started to churn violently at the aroma. Stupid, did you really think you were her first too?

“Starlight, I'm not going to lie to you, yes, I was with others before; three to be exact, mares as well as stallions. Please don't feel bad about it, because I really like you,” Echoside said, gently cupping Starlight’s muzzle with a hoof.

The young mare chuckled a little. “Sorry. Before last night I’ve never even thought about dating somepony, not seriously anyway. And then you just kinda… I don’t know, you were just… intriguing to me? And now here I am… on my first date.”

“Well, let’s make sure that it isn't our last, huh?” Echoside said, her voice soft, alluring, and sentimental.. She's not the stuck up princess I thought she would be. She is… Nice… more than that actually.

“Why, Echoside, are you asking Princess Stick-In-Her-Flank out on a second date?”

“If she’s willing to take the rude and uncivilized mare out on another, sure.”

“I’d say she’s inclined to acquiesce to your request.”

“Uh, what?”

“It means yes,” Starlight said with a smile. Who knew she would be that much different?

Echoside laughed. “I don't understand fancy, so just say it.”

It was Starlight’s turn to lead the way. She rubbed her coat against Echoside’s and walked up to a booth. Jumping in, she smiled for her date to do likewise. Echoside gave her a cocky grin before following her.

“Welcome back, Echoside. It’s been a while,” the waiter—a dark-blue bat-pony—said as he walked up with several menus in his bag. Pulling out two, he placed them in front of both mares, a smile upon his muzzle at the sight of the two. “Is this your new marefriend?”

“Blue Fire, that's just—” Echoside groaned, making Starlight chuckle.

“Yes, yes I am,” Starlight said with a smile.

Echoside snapped her head upwards so fast that Starlight could have sworn she heard her neck cracking. “What‽”

“Well, I mean, we’re dating, right?” Starlight asked.

“Y-yes, we are,” Echoside blushed.

“So that’d make you my marefriend and me yours?”

“I think she’s got you there, Echoside,” Blue Fire said with a grin as he watched the display. “Although I must say, this is the first time I’ve seen you in here with a normal.”

“Blue Fire, T-M-I, thanks!” Echoside cried.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean any offence, you have to understand we don’t get many no—day ponies in here, so we kinda get used to our own slang. Well, I’m going to go remove my hoof from my muzzle, I’ll leave you two to look over the menu and get back to you when it’s out.”

As Starlight watched Blue Fire walk away, she turned to Echoside to ask the burning question on her mind. “Normal?”

“You're not a thestral—bat-pony, so you're a normal in our speech.”

“Oh, so like a generic term for earth ponies, unicorns, or pegasi?”

Echoside frowned. “Yes, it’s just that some of my kind don’t mean it very... kindly.”

“Oh…” Starlight suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

“Hey, don’t worry, big Echoside is here,” Echoside said, a positive smile crossing her muzzle.

Starlight’s worried expression melted into a smile. “You truly are unique”—she giggled before opening her menu—“oh, so they do have a wide range of salads!”

“Yep.” Echoside blushed before cocking her head. “I hope you don’t mind if I order my usual.”

“What’s your usual?”

“This here.” Echoside pointed at one menu at the top. “Red seabream with a delicious topping of herbs and potatoes.”

“Oh, a fish,” Starlight mumbled, before raising her head as Echoside raised eyebrow. “I thought you’d order a really bloody steak or something.”

“I may not come across as fancy, but I do know how to behave on a date, and that’s why I took you here. It’s not bloody and the smell is less… potent. You can order any salad you want.” Echoside smiled.

Starlight blushed furiously. “You don’t have to hold back for me, but thanks. I think I’ll take the royal daisy salad with strawberry topping.”

“Excellent choice, both of you!” Blue Fire beamed, startling them both as he appeared at their table.

“Damn, Blue Fire, ten years out of duty and still that fast,” Echoside smiled awkwardly.

“You never forget some things if you keep your body in shape,” Blue Fire said before taking their menus under his wings. “I’ll bring you your meals as soon as they're ready!”

Starlight chuckled before turning to Echoside. “So, do you want to tell me a bit more about you?”

“Hmm, is there anything in particular you’d want to know?”

“Just tell me something. Where do you come from, what did you do before joining the guards?”

Echoside smirked. “Okay, but that might be a long story. Well, I was actually born in Las Pegasus; my moms had an equipment store there. You could buy everything from books specialized on rare topics, up to light bat-pony armor and other odd things.”

“You have two moms also?” Starlight asked.

Echoside blushed. “I don’t have a father. My parents are both mares. I don’t know much about how they did it, but it involved clinics, magic, and artificial something or another.”

“Artificial insemination?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Mine… used sex clones…” Starlight said under her breath, knowing Echoside would hear either way.

“You’re joking.”

Starlight shook her head that she wasn’t. Ataxia had just loved telling them that story.

“Wow, my story seems kinda boring now. My parents did it the mundane way.”

A voice behind them suddenly startled both mares. “And they have both paid the price for it.”

It was the big stallion from the barracks.

“What are you doing with the little princess here? On a date with a normal‽ Wow, I never thought you could fall that far.” He laughed.

“You better shut your muzzle before I bite it off,” Echoside growled, her fangs bared.

He smiled. “Oh really? You would lose in front of your little friend here?”

“Blue Fire!” Echoside yelled. “You better close early today.” She added the last sentence in a hiss, wings flared out.

“Not in here!” Blue Fire shrieked. But it was too late. The stallion rushed forward and served the first blow to Echoside.

That being said, being bigger is not always better. Echoside was much faster than him, allowing her to duck and dodge his blows. She knew that she was done if he served her a good hit. Starlight in the meanwhile sat still, her muzzle open as she watched Echoside.

She’s moving so fast and… elegantly… Starlight thought before mouthing a single: “Wow.”

Echoside was definitely a mover and a scrapper. She ducked low, seeming to respond to his blows like they were choreographed in advance to the mare. Whenever the larger, stronger pony would miss, Echoside would land two of her own.

In a way it was almost comical. That being said, Starlight could already see the problem. The old adage is true: You can’t hit what you can’t catch. However, the environment and terrain definitely favored the bigger pony. Between stalls like this, Echoside simply couldn’t maneuver. She couldn’t use her speed to its full advantage.

As the blows, launched from the bigger pony, came dangerously close to hitting Echoside, there was one in particular that caused Starlight to gasp. He tried to step down on her wing, pinning her in place. Echoside rolled to the left to avoid it, but only barely escaped.

I should help her, I could put an end to this, easily. But… would she hate me if I interfered? What do I do? Memories of bat-ponies and honor came back to the princess unbidden.

Her decision was made for her. For while Starlight had figured out that Echoside was at a disadvantage if the fight dragged out. Echoside already knew that. The mare let the larger stallion think she was tiring. He attempted to capitalize by body-slamming her into a support pillar. Echoside waited until he was fully committed before leaping back at the pillar itself, bouncing off of it, and then using her wings to flip herself in the air to land on the stallion’s back.

There, she extended her fangs and sunk them deep into the larger pony’s neck, viciously wounding him in the process and causing him to scream in pain as he tried to dislodge her.

Echoside was beyond pissed. This is for all the shit you and everyone else gave me! I’m NOT my grandmothers, I’m my own mare!

The larger pony slammed her back against a table three times, but each time his blows grew weaker and weaker as he failed to dislodge the mare.

Echoside grinned in victory as she knew she had won. This fool will need medical treatment after this. Ha, serves him right. She wouldn’t let go until the last possible moment between hurting him and killing him.

Then she saw Starlight staring at her, and the look of horror upon the princess’s face.

She let go. “Starlight, I—”

As the mare tried in vain to explain, the larger pony felt her teeth remove from his neck and roared back; finding the last of his strength, he squashed the mare between him and the very pillar she has used so effectively against him.

Echoside cried out as she felt something break.

He spun around as she fell to a heap on the ground. “Mediocre. Are you sure you’re Night Watch’s granddaughter? She must be rolling over in her grave.” At those words, he reared up his front legs, ready to break her wings.

The blow never landed. A magical aura surrounded his hooves, preventing them from falling.

“Yeah, enough,” Starlight said.

The large pony glared at her. “Oh, the little mare wants to join in too? Why don’t you go home, little princess, before you get hurt.”

Starlight growled at being so easily dismissed. Only a fool would underestimate my abilities. Ha, I guess he’d qualify.

“What’s your name?” Starlight asked.

“Darkstar.”

“Well, Darkstar, you’re right. I am a princess. I’m the DAUGHTER of Princess Shimmering Night—”

“What makes you think I c—”

“AND Ataxia.”

That caused him to gulp. “Ataxia, the crazy—”

“Yep, that one. Beyond the fact that you’re seriously pissing me off, something anypony who knew me would advise against, do you really, really, REALLY want me to tell my mom about this?”

“You think I’m scared of you and your bastard of a mother?” Darkstar snorted.

That was the wrong thing of him to say. With a growl, Starlight directed her magic, sending him flying through several booths, destroying them as he smashed through.

The young princess got to her hooves and started to walk to the dazed, large bat-pony. “I AM my grandmother’s granddaughter. I carry the abilities of Princess Twilight Sparkle, my grandmother, and my mother, Princess Shimmering Night, and you DARE talk to me like this‽”

Even Echoside looked up in shock as magical power radiated off Starlight in waves. The mare was strong, incredibly strong magic wise.

Darkstar’s eyes spoke of the fear he felt.

“Now I’ll give you two options, Darkstar. Leave and make sure I never see you again, or face your new opponent right here and now.”

The big stallion squeaked, a sound that was utterly amusing from his muzzle. “I’ll leave!”

“If you so much as lay one more hoof on Echoside, I’ll see to it that you’ll never see the darkness of the night again!” Starlight shouted, scowling him down. Starlight’s piercing green eyes watched him scamper away. She had let this happened because she knew honor was important to them, but nopony hurt her marefriend in front of her.

That being said… Starlight quickly looked to Echoside, shocked to see the mare lying on the ground, hard breathing, but looking wide-eyed at her.

“Echoside! Are you okay?”

“He, that bastard broke something,” Echoside choked out.

“I’m sorry I distracted you,” Starlight whispered as she kneeled down and nuzzled Echoside, who blushed furiously. “What’s broken? Your wings? Ribs?”

“I… I think some ribs,” Echoside whispered.

“Let’s get you to the doctors,” Starlight said as she held out a hoof for Echoside to take.

The bat-pony looked at it like it was a snake that was going to bite her. “You shouldn't have gotten in the way,” she growled but took Starlight’s hoof.

“But it was my fault you got hurt.”

Echoside used it to pull herself to her hooves. “Yeah, but… you could’ve been hurt.”

“Not in this or any other lifetime by someone like him,” Starlight said. “Now stop arguing with me. I’m your marefriend and you’re hurt, so we’re gonna get you to the doctors, now.”

As the mare tried to walk, she quickly realized that walking with a broken rib sucks, as does talking, and breathing for that manner. “Ugh, this is gonna be tough.”

“I might have an idea, if you’re willing I can just teleport us there.”

Echoside chuckled. “Teleport?” As she sat down, she grasped her side with a hoof. “You mean like what you did to get us out of your room a few days ago?”

“Yes, but this’ll be a bit different since we’re going a lot further.”

“Oh, what’s that like?”

“Well it’s… it’s easier to just do it then to try and explain.”

“Ahh what the hell, do it.”

“Trust me already, huh?” Starlight teased.

“Yes,” Echoside replied, earning a smile from the young mare.

“Hey, what about this mess‽” Blue Fire shouted.

“Send me the bill at the castle. I’ll replace everything,” Starlight replied before concentrating on her teleport.

“Castle…” Blue Fire’s eyes went wide as the two teleported away.

Echoside coughed when she reappeared in a strange, new location; partly from the broken rib, and partly because of the after-effects of the teleportation. She felt hot and… strange.

Although that could be because of the mare next to me.

Starlight wasted no time. The Emergency Room she took her to was practically empty. There were only two ponies waiting in the seats, one of which who did his best to hide his muzzle behind a magical lifted magazine when he realized a bat-pony was in the same room as him. The young princess ran to the reception desk. “We need a doctor, my marefriend broke her ribs!”

The reception pony, a brown unicorn mare, didn’t even look up. “Fill out these forms and we’ll see her when we can.”

“No!” Starlight growled. “Under my order, Princess Starlight, you will see her right now!”

Echoside was impressed, more than impressed when she saw the receptionist jump out of her seat upon hearing those words. “Yes, princess, right away.”

The next few minutes were filled with her getting practically shoved into a wheelchair, poked, prodded, X-rayed, and examined by more unicorns then she had seen since joint drills with the Royal Guard. In the end, they deposited her in an exam room with Starlight.

Something that didn’t happen easily; they had asked Starlight to wait outside, but after an enraged princess and a likewise pissed off bat-pony said no, they stopped arguing and simply let them stay together.

She blinked three times, seeing the unicorn with her sweater draped over her back. “W-what just happened?” Echoside asked.

Starlight blushed. “Sorry, I don’t normally throw my title around but…”

“Why not? Heck you could get anypony to do anything.”

“Which leads to ponies hating you. And makes you a very dull individual.”

Echoside blinked to clear her eyes. “So, you don’t do it, save for special occasions?”

Starlight smiled at Echoside. “Very special occasions.”

Echoside smiled, her heart felt… warm, light… she was… enraptured by her beautiful princess. Something she would’ve doubted the very possibility of happening just hours ago.

Starlight felt her eyes locked on Echoside’s. She blushed and tried to look away, but it was almost an impossibility, as if the mare’s lavender cat-like eyes were a strong magnet that magnetized her own back to them every time she’d look away. Without even thinking what she was doing, Starlight felt herself leaning closer to the mare. It was like the pull of those eyes were just drawing her in.

“Echoside, I—”

“Shh,” Echoside whispered as she raised a hoof and placed it on the back of Starlight’s head. The touch caused the young mare’s heart to leap into her chest. She opened her muzzle ever so and leaned in for—

The door smashed open, revealing a brightly grinning unicorn. “Good evening, my patient!”

And just like that, the magnetic pull was broken. Starlight yanked her head back and blushed furiously as she looked away.

“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No doc, you’re not interrupting ANYTHING,” Echoside growled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Oh good. Anyway, Miss Echoside, I have your X-rays and wanted to go over them with you as soon as I could.” He levitated several pictures up to an X-ray view box. With a flick of his magic, he turned on the light, revealing the bat-pony’s skeletal structure. “As you can see here, the ribs are in fact not broken, however you did fracture this one here and this one here.”

“W-what does that mean?” Starlight asked.

“It means we don’t need to do surgery or reset the rib; however, these things take time to heal. We’ll have to wrap you in bandages and you’ll have to take things easy for a while.”

“How long’s a while?” Echoside asked.

“Taking into account your species’ advanced healing, I’d say about two months, then a month of light duties just to make sure.”

“BUCK THAT!”

“Isn’t there another way?” Starlight asked.

He smiled. “Well, princess, there is. A way that needs one week of tender care from a unicorn with strong magic.”

Starlight looked at Echoside, her heart fluttering, then back at the doctor. “I’ll do it, just explain everything.”

“It’s very advanced, are you su—”

“Trust me, she’s the best at advanced stuff,” Echoside said with a smile.

“Hmm… Okay, I’ll teach you how to do it, if I feel you can handle it, then I’ll give the go ahead. However, we’ll still need to bandage her up. Nurse, if you’d come in here please?”

Starlight saw a white unicorn mare walk in with a heartbeat monitor cutie mark. “Follow me, princess.”

She took one look at Echoside. The bat-pony seemed annoyed, albeit Starlight couldn’t say if that was because she was being bandaged, or because Starlight was leaving.

Without realizing what she was doing, as soon as she saw Echoside turn to the nurse, Starlight planted a kiss on the side of the mare’s cheek. “Be nice while I’m gone,” she said before turning back to the doctor.

Echoside’s eyes went wide as she felt it. She turned to the unicorn that was already walking away while rubbing her cheek with a hoof in hopes of saving that feeling.

The two ponies walked side by side on their way home. Starlight had proven to be a natural with the spell, so much so that the doctor asked if she’d volunteer her time at the hospital once a week to help others. The mare had agreed to twice a week, for an hour a day.

Echoside immediately felt better after the spell was cast. She was told that her sides would hurt, as when healed. Doing it this way meant that she couldn’t be put on pain meds; but, after the spell was cast once a day, she’d feel better for a few hours.

“I’m sorry about this,” Echoside said, her eyes downcast.

“For what?” Starlight asked.

Echoside looked over to the young mare. The blue unicorn was in her grey sweater; Echoside said it looked better on her anyway. “Our date. I mean, it was kinda a crappy first date. We didn’t even get to eat at the restaurant; hospital food, yuck.”

Starlight smiled and hummed. “Well, as far as I can see, our first date just got extended by a week.”

Echoside chuckled. “You always do that, huh? See the good in everything?”

“Mhm, especially with my marefriend around.”

“Well, I am that awesome, aren't I?

“Don’t push it,” Starlight said.

Echoside laughed at that as they rounded the bend to the castle. “Well, princess, I have to say, I had a good night.”

“Back to princess?” Starlight asked.

“What can I say, I have a new… respect for princesses after tonight, well, one anyway.”

“You’re cute, you better watch out that I don’t keep you,” Starlight teased.

“Would that be so bad?”

“I love my cushions fluffy and warm.”

Echoside blushed as she sat back on her flanks, her cheeks turning a shade of lavender that matched her eyes.

Starlight paused, confused why the mare stopped there. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, I’m that way.”

“You’re fluffy and warm?”

“No, I mean I live that way, and you’re that way,” Echoside said, poking a hoof to the right.

“Aww, that was the wrong answer. I guess my bed stays cold tonight,” Starlight said, her voice saddened.

“W-what?” Echoside blushed even more.

Starlight looked confused, until she caught on. “You pervert! I meant for cuddling. But yeah, I guess that’s a bit far for a first date?”

“A little,” Echoside replied. “I mean, I’ve moved fast before, but with you… I kinda want to… do this right?”

“It’s not because I’m that young, right?” Starlight asked, worried.

“No!” Echoside shouted before stopping herself. “I just don’t want to lose you. I want to do things right. I know it sounds silly, but I just don’t want to rush it; I… like you, a lot.” She was looking right into Starlight’s eyes.

“Well…” Starlight said, keeping her eyes locked on Echoside’s. “Who am I to deny my new marefriend what she likes.” At that the mare started leaning in, going in for the kiss the doctor interrupted earlier.

Echoside responded wholeheartedly, leaning slowly in as well. As their lips finally touched; Starlight’s eyes went wide as a fire started in her chest and dozens of butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

That was until she felt a soft pain on her lower lip. But a pain that wasn’t all that bad. Pulling back, she noticed Echoside’s fangs and a bit of blood.

“Sorry!” Echoside blushed before licking the blood away and retracted her fangs. “I didn’t mean to— I mean, I don’t know why I—”

Starlight smiled. “I know what this means. That’s part of your species, right? You try to make somepony you love yours with this, right?” Echoside nodded and Starlight chuckled. “It’s no problem, but maybe it’s a bit early for that.”

Echoside blushed. “I-I…” she closed her eyes and signed.

“What’s wrong?” Starlight asked.

“I’ve actually never done that before.”

“Wait.. but you said…”

“I know, but I didn’t feel this way… with them, I mean.”

“You never tried to… with them?”

“No…”

Starlight licked her lips, tasting a bit of what Echoside must have tasted. To her it was nothing more than a slightly coppery taste, but to her marefriend… “Do you… I mean… do you want to do it again?”

Echoside’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious? Please don’t tempt me if you don’t mean it seriously…”

“You just… took me by surprise. Let’s do it again, but right this time.”

“By right… Starlight, you do know what right in this case means for me?”

Starlight smiled. “I know, my neck.”

Echoside’s wings went stiff behind her back. She felt like she was weightless, walking on cloud nine. Her hooves started forward on their own until she was inches away from Starlight. The blue unicorn extended her neck. She looked apprehensive and composed at the same time.

“Starlight…” Echoside whispered, “this is the last chance to say stop.”

“Do it.”

Echoside smiled, then growled as she took in Starlight’s beautiful coat and skin. She slowly closed the distance, taking a whiff of her sent before peppering her neck with soft kisses. Starlight cooed in response, and Echoside continued until she felt that the mare was more than relaxed. Then she extended her fangs and slowly sunk them into the young mare’s neck.

Starlight gasped as she first felt pain, but that feeling soon faded, replaced by something else. Something that made her hot, and crave for so much more.

Despite her wanting it, her giving herself willingly, Echoside fought against every instinct she had so she could hold back. She had chosen a minor vein on the side of the unicorn's neck. Her fangs instantly released pain dampeners into the unicorn’s skin.

But the taste… The taste was a divine nectar hitting her mouth. Starlight’s blood assaulted every sense she had, begging her to take more and more, to fill herself up with the taste of an endless bounty of flavors.

She gave herself a two count, one that turned into a five count before pulling her fangs out. It was the hardest thing she had ever done, like purposely pulling yourself away from the greatest pleasure you had ever experienced in your life.

Echoside looked down at the mare’s neck. The fur was matted from her saliva and two puncture marks penetrated her skin, leaking a small trail of blood as it sought to clot all on it’s own. She licked the wounds clean, ensuring that not a drop of blood was wasted until the bleeding stopped. The wounds would remain until they scabbed over, but even then, there would always be a scar, her scar.

Starlight only knew it was over when Echoside pulled back from her neck. “Oh… wow…” she grunted at the sensation. Her neck was stiff and slightly painful. But the feeling, the sensation of those five seconds Echoside had fed from her, that was something she would never forget; and if she was being honest with herself: it was something she wanted to experience again.

Echoside’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates when she saw the look on Starlight’s face. She had seen it before, she‘d had that look before, the unicorn looked: horny. “I… um… thank you,” Echoside said, knowing that if she stayed any longer, neither of them would be able to hold back, something she wasn’t a hundred percent sure why she was fighting against.

“A-anytime. So, I’ll um… see you tomorrow?”

Echoside smirked. “You won’t get rid of me, so yes, see you tomorrow.”

“Six again?” Starlight asked.

“Can’t wait,” Echoside said before leaning in and kissing her again.

Starlight felt herself melt into the kiss, the pressure, the heat, and that same taste of copper coming from the mare’s mouth. When they pulled back, she actually felt disappointed by the end, as this time Echoside’s fangs didn’t pierce her lips.

Echoside seemed to sense it and smiled. “Listen…”—Echoside pressed her forehead against Starlight’s, their mouths barely apart—“let this… develop further, and we can try it again sometime, okay?”

Starlight only nodded her head in agreement.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Starlight,” Echoside said with a smile as she turned away and walked to her barracks.

Starlight blinked her eyes a few times before calling out, “Your sweater?”

Echoside chuckled. “Keep it, it looks better on you anyway!”

As she rounded the bend that annoying voice came back to her head.

You know she’s only thirteen, right?

Oh, shut up, uhh... me.

You’re soooo going to jail.

She’s worth it.

Echoside smiled as that seemed to finally shut up the nagging voice inside her head.