Princess Luna was in her chambers, removing the bandages. She could see a new scar, a round one on her chest. It was pink, standing out against the color of her fur. However, she knew it would soon fade away like many other scars before it did. But for now, it was a reminder of a battle she could've lost.

Someone knocked on the door to her chambers, and the princess unlocked it. Her sister entered, looking at Luna with worry.

"Are you alright, Luna?" Celestia asked, her eyes passing the scar.

"The scar will heal like others did." Luna replied as her horn glowed, her magic healing her. "I suppose we should talk about those that were affected by it the most." she teleported the bandages away. "Sirius and Iclyn, as well as the other two, are alright... at least physically." a frown appeared on her face. "Anastasia was shocked by what she had seen as Chrysalis' prisoner, I will have to work with her. Wave Rider took everything a bit better since he wasn't as close to Sirius or Iclyn, even though there is still a great amount of worry in him. He has something for Anastasia as well, I feel it."

"Could it be love?" Celestia asked warily.

"Not yet, it's probably just simple affection or a crush. After all, Anastasia is unique and she's quite a nice person." Luna explained. "It might grow into something bigger, but we'll see. The most I worry about is Sirius. He... he is in a state I don't think I can describe. For now, he is just empty but full at the same time. He is ready to burst but he doesn't feel it." she paused, gathering her thoughts. "Iclyn... She will be able to help him. She is the closest person to him. Though, I do worry about her. She's been taking it incredibly well but I'm not sure, it could be suppression..." she sighed. "Honestly speaking and without sugar-coating it, it's a big mess that I'm not sure how to solve."

"Luna, you know me, I'm not very good when it comes to things like this." Celestia reminded her sister. "I wish I could offer you some advice but I can't."

"Worry not, sister." Luna replied. "Sometimes, support is all that is needed." she looked out the window and at the city down below. "I'm waiting for Sirius' final decision. I think he will try to trust me."

"Are you certain?"

"Not completely. I feel great doubt and hesitation in him. Opening up to me would take a long time, much longer than he took with Iclyn." the alicorn of the night explained. "The important thing is, he knows he's not alone. He is on the path to recovery. I hope he makes a full one..."

Early in the morning, Sirius woke up. He slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath. He was lying on a comfortable bed, his loved one at his side, he could feel her warmth. He turned to her and looked at her. Iclyn was still asleep, lying on her side with her face turned to Sirius. A small smile graced her features, making the former human smile as well. He relaxed, deciding against going anywhere. After all, there were things to enjoy.

His memory of the night soon came and he remembered that he needed to talk to Iclyn about something very important. However, he didn't know how to approach this. He had never let anyone this close to him, even the previous person he loved didn't know the darkest of his. However, Iclyn accepted him and was willing to understand him, something he thought he'd never get in his life. He knew he wasn't normal, he was far from it, and things that he had done or the things that happened to him were unsettling, even disturbing and sometimes horrifying.
Sirius had no idea if letting Iclyn even closer or bringing anyone else into it would be a good idea, quite the opposite. He feared that it would cause nothing but pain to the one he loved. He looked at her scar, pain shooting through his heart — he had already caused much harm. He was spreading the darkness and it almost consumed the life of the person he claimed to love so much. Would it be right to expose her to even more memories of his past?

Sirius was so consumed by his thoughts that he didn't notice Iclyn opening her eyes. She yawned, stirring from sleep, slowly waking up. Once the former human noticed it, the thoughts in his mind went in a different direction.

"Good morning, Iclyn." he greeted her with a warm smile and a kiss on the forehead.

"Good morning, Sirius." she replied, nuzzling him in return. "Slept well?"

"I did." Sirius nodded, but a frown appeared on his face. "But... we need to talk about something. Not yet, though." he was quick to add the last part. "How about, um, we... have breakfast?"

"I wouldn't mind." Iclyn agreed, and the two got up and stretched themselves. "But first, how about a shower together?"

"I, uh... alright..." Sirius blushed, not entirely believing his ears. Was Iclyn implying something else as well? And if so, wasn't it too fast?

With slight hesitation, Sirius followed Iclyn into the bathroom. The pegasus turned on the water, and the small pool began to fill.

"I thought that maybe a shower would be too quick." she said, her hoof dipping into the water to check the temperature. "Something bigger would be better, don't you think?"

"I guess..." Sirius said reluctantly. Even though he didn't mind what she was doing, he was wondering what it was all about. Deciding not to beat around the bush, he asked: "Iclyn... is, uh, there something?"

"I just want the two of us to spend some quality time together." the pegasus filly replied. "Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just..." Sirius paused, trying to come up with an answer that made sense. "I... I don't know. I mean. Um..." he stuttered, a blush of awkwardness brightening on his cheeks. "What you've been through..."

"That's why I want both of us to relax." Iclyn explained. "Both of us has been through some shit, that's definitely true." she chuckled and then scratched the scar on her chest. "Again, I don't blame you. What I think is, we need to move on. We learned something from this, and now it's time to look forward."

"You're right." the former human agreed. "But, uh... There's more shit to deal with." he chuckled nervously. "I... I, uh... have some... past things..." he decided to silence himself, knowing he made himself look like a fool.

"I will help you through all of it." Iclyn put a hoof on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "That's what love is, you know. Helping each other in times of need. We pegasi are warriors, we fight for those we love. After all, what else is there to fight for?"

"It all m-makes sense." Sirius stuttered slightly. "It's just a bit, um... unusual."

"Don't worry about that." the pegasus replied, checking the water again. "Huh, it looks like the water's fine. Hop in!" and so, Iclyn jumped into the water, splashing some on Sirius. He let out a short laugh and followed his loved one, joining her in the pool.

Shivers ran down his spine as he went deeper into the water, feeling just how comfortable it was. He allowed himself to relax, warm water soaking into his fur, a deep sigh escaping his lips.

"Perfect, right?" Iclyn asked him with a smirk.

"Mh-hmm." Sirius replied, going neck-deep into the water.

He deeply inhaled and disappeared under the water, reemerging a few seconds later. He let out a chuckle as water streamed down his head, getting into his eyes. Instinctively, he shook his head, sending droplets of water flying everywhere. He sighed once again and settled down, deciding to relax for a bit. Iclyn swam to him and stopped at his side, leaning on him soon after.

"I hate sand." Sirius spoke suddenly. "It's coarse, rough, and irritating, and it gets everywhere, but you... You're smooth." he ran his hoof against her fur.

"Uh... what?" Iclyn blinked in confusion.

"That's a quote from a movie." Sirius explained, stifling his laughter. "It had really, um, questionable romance."

"Heh, I see." the pegasus chuckled and the former human followed her with loud laughter. Iclyn looked at him, a smile spreading across her face. She was glad to see him finally having some fun. "Well, I have my own joke!"

Iclyn started swimming away from Sirius, him following her with his gaze. Once she was far enough, she folded her legs but remained afloat.

"I'm a duck." she proclaimed, crossing her eyes. "Quack!"

Sirius guffawed, tears of joy streaming from his eyes as Iclyn continued to quack and swim around chaotically, eliciting more joy from her loved one. Soon, she swam back to him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Quack!" she giggled, watching at him as his cheeks became redder and redder.

The former human was paralyzed. The soft touch, the sensation, the feel of her breath against his face, it seemed like something ethereal, something that he would never be able to feel. He still remembered how intimate he was with Iclyn but her every touch made him shiver, his heart fluttering in his chest. It was unlike anything else he had ever felt before. Truth was, he had never had close contact with anyone before Iclyn.

A memory emerged inside his head. It was a warm autumn evening with a slight breeze washing over. He was still a human, his age was thirteen, and he was sitting on the grass near a lake, Anastasia by his side. Both of them were gazing at the lake where a flock of ducks was swimming, soon disappearing in tall bulrush on a lake's side.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" the girl commented, looking at the birds.

Stanislav opened his mouth to make a compliment to her, a thought running through his head: "Just like you."

However, he stayed silent. What if it was a wrong thing to say? It would come out awkward and besides, it might ruin the moment. She was watching the birds, distracting her with random compliments would be bad. But still, in his eyes, Anastasia outshone the birds with her own beauty. Never having touched her before, Stanislav imagined that her skin felt soft and smooth, her hair like silk. She imagined holding hands with her, walking together somewhere, the place wouldn't even matter. He would smile at her and she would smile at him. The two would spend a great time together.
His hormones were strengthening at the time, bombarding him with unknown sensations. His mother was quick to help him understand what was happening to him but it still left Stanislav confused. Being close to someone, being intimate, how would it work? Would anyone even be willing to be with him that close?

What about what he had done?

"Sirius?" the voice of Iclyn broke through his line of thoughts to the former human. She was looking at him with worry in her eyes. "You're..."

He felt something hot rolling down his cheeks. He blinked, confused.

"Crying." the pegasus finished, her voice fading.

Suddenly, a wave of emotions crashed against Sirius, knocking him off his hooves and metaphorically sending him flying through his own mind. The pain, the fear, the anger, the suffering, all the things that he had done, all things that were done to him, all of it came to him at once, deafening and blinding him.
He could be happy, he could be joyful, he could be so much more if not for what happened. But even then, he somehow wasn't alone. Iclyn was there for him, he felt it. Tears of both pain and happiness streamed from his eyes, falling into the water, and soon he found himself hugging his loved one and crying loudly. She whispered comforting things in his ear, holding him tightly, giving him enough comfort to express all of the bottled-up emotions that he was finally letting out in an act of complete vulnerability. He was vulnerable in front of her, letting her see his damaged and weak side, letting her see him. He put great trust in her, knowing that she would help.
Sirius continued to shake and sob, opening his mouth in a cry of pain and misery that he endured, everything he experienced hit him at once, but Iclyn was there. He felt her hugging him, he felt the warmth of her body against his, he heard her comforting, gentle words entering his ears, and he could feel her beating heart. She was alive and so was he. They both had things to look forward to, he knew it.

After long moments of pure emotions, he finally stopped crying but didn't separate from Iclyn, continuing to hug her, his body still shaking from all the mental shock he had just gone through.

"Thank you." he whispered to her. "For all you've done to me. Thank you so m-much..." he let out a final cry, and then a shaky sigh of relief escaped him.

"Everything for you." Iclyn said softly.

"I will... do the same." Sirius replied, not breaking the embrace. "I will. Trust me."

Author's Notes:

I wish I had a loved one like Iclyn. Caring, supportive, and understanding. I've fallen in love once but it was with a wrong person. No reciprocated feelings either. A story like what happened between Stanislav and Anastasia but worse.

So, I wish you all find (if you don't already have) someone who will love you the way Iclyn loves Sirius.

Love helps.

I wish I knew how it feels to be loved.