---------- Melody’s Tale - Normality ----------

Melody may have been the farthest thing from normal, but in the next few weeks, she sure as anything felt normal. She and Connor became somewhat of a normal thing, going on more dates and making love quite often. Rainbow Dash saw fit to tease her about it, though her mothers couldn’t be more proud. Lily talked animatedly about both of their exploits, and Twilight would just grin and encourage them both. Melody knew this wasn’t the way normal mothers would act, but Twilight and Lily were anything but normal.

She began to fear, actually, for Twilight’s recent and rather rapid change. If the poor woman had just become a goddess, how was she acting so casual? Melody saw fit to bring the question up during one boring study session.

“Hey mom?”

“Hmm?” Twilight didn’t look up from her book.

“Are you… Doing okay?” Melody asked softly. Twilight closed her book slowly, looking up at Melody with a soft, serene smile.

“I’m fine, Melody. Why do you ask?” Mother and daughter were silent for a few long moments, but Melody had to break the silence.

“You… You’re not yourself anymore.” Melody set her own book aside, looking at her mother with a quizzical, concerned expression. “Don’t try and say that you are, because you aren’t… I-“

“Let me stop you right there.” Twilight said gently, her face lit with a warm smile. “I understand where you’re coming from.” She moved from the table she had been sitting at and moved to the chair next to Melody’s, draping an arm over her shoulder. “But your fear is unbiased. I am still Twilight Sparkle. In every way, shape, and form. But I’m also more than that. Look, I know this is difficult to grasp for you. It took me a few days to adjust, and Lily’s only just recently come around to it, too. But let me tell you this.” Twilight’s finger lifted Melody’s chin, their eyes meeting in a moment. Twilight’s were still that brilliant sort of violet they always had been.

“Would I love you and Verse as much as I do if I were no longer your mother?”

“N-no…” Melody muttered, feeling slightly foolish for her doubt.

“And I wouldn’t love Lily the same, either. I’m still your mother, and I’m still Lily’s lover. I’m just… More.” She sighed softly and nuzzled Melody with her temple. “The goddess Ephemira is a very complex and difficult to understand entity. But she is, more or less, still human… She loves, laughs, cries, and feels the same as any of us… I don’t want my power to make you think I’m any less your mother, or any less of your teacher. Now come on.” She thumped the book Melody had been reading with her fingertips. “Show me what you’ve found.” Melody smiled and nuzzled her back, feeling warm in the simple embrace Twilight had given her. She was silly to think Twilight was any different than she had been. As they pulled the book close and found her place again, Melody took on the role of student, and Twilight the teacher.

Aside from that, nothing happened. She and Connor made love often, sometimes mixing it up by finding empty rooms or trying different positions, other times just going out for a small, quiet dinner and then flying back to her room for deep, passionate sex… He was a proper gentleman every time, of course, apologizing that he couldn’t change their routine easily or provide a better atmosphere. Each time Melody would kiss his neck and assure him that her room in the Commander’s guest quarters was perfectly fine. And besides, his place probably wouldn’t have a fireplace.

It was on one night that they made love on the hearth that Melody began to feel something a little… More… Basking in the afterglow, both of them facing the fire with her back pressed tight to his chest, Connor’s big hand resting on her stomach, Melody whispered something she probably ought not to have…

“Connor?” She asked.

“Hmm?” The sound came from his chest, low and rumbling. She nestled back into him, curling up a little.

“I love you.”

He didn’t reply. He just kissed the back of her head and slowly drifted off.

When they awoke, Melody first noticed she was curled up in the same position, but they were on the bed… She was slightly sore from having slept on the floor for a while, but Connor must have lifted her up at some point onto the bed. His warm, still-bare body pressed against her from behind, her head resting on his bicep like a pillow, his other hand laying flat on her stomach. She loved being held like this… It felt warm and safe in his arms, and she didn’t want to move. So she lay there for a long while, thinking about what she had said last night.

“Mhh…” Connor groaned behind her. Gingerly, Melody turned over, pressing her face into his chest with a soft sigh. “Mornin’.” He grumbled slightly. Connor was not a morning person. She smiled faintly and kissed his chest, pushing one leg in between his so they were that much closer. He responded by wrapping his arms around her, drawing her tighter against his chest.

“Sleep well?” She asked gently, her arms trapped between her chest and his stomach. She turned her hands around so they lay flat against his chest, feeling him.

“Hmm… You could say that.” He muttered, yawning above her. She gave him a few minutes to wake up. This was routine for them. They would cuddle, chat idly about things in the morning, Melody being courteous and giving him time to wake up. Still feeling the warm glow from last night’s sex, she didn’t really feel like moving away from him any time soon.

“Bath?” Connor finally asked, nudging her a little.

“I… Wanted to ask you something first.” She said gently. Train derailed. Connor pulled away just enough to look down at her, his eyes meeting hers as she looked up.

“Okay… Uum, what’s up?” She gnawed on her lip slightly, trying to find the proper way to word her question.

“Last night I told you I loved you… You didn’t say anything back… Why?” Connor stiffened a little at her words but relaxed slowly, sagging into the sheets.

“I… I’m not fit to love.” He said after a few long moments. Melody rose up on her elbow, looking down at him, her brow furrowed.

“Why?”

“Melody, I’m a soldier.” Connor said gently, rolling over so he was fully on his back. She looked down at him, and he looked up at her. “I’m a fighter. And admittedly, a killer.” He let the corner of his mouth curl with a soft laugh. “I might be good at sex, but I’m no good at loving, trust me…” His hand rose up before them, the soft, flickering light of the fire glowing in his skin. “I’m lucky enough to have escaped the battles I’ve been in with no scars, but heavens know I should have died a dozen times over. Melody, trust me.” He raised his hand to cup her cheek, doing his best to find the words. “Don’t think this is going to be serious… You had to have known from the start we weren’t going to, like… Get married or anything…”

“No,” Melody admitted… She really hadn’t. But she also hadn’t expected to develop feelings, either… Was she just being childish and immature? Or were feelings something that came naturally with sex? She sighed softly, nuzzling into his hand. “Just… I don’t know… First time, I guess…” Connor chuckled.

“I’d hate to be the one to break your heart-“

“Oh, don’t say that.” She teased, smacking him with the back of her hand. He chuckled and cupped her cheek more firmly. She kissed his thumb.

“Come on, Melody.” He said, sitting up. “We should take a bath.”

“Aah,” She gingerly pushed him back down, a hand on his chest. One of her legs swung out, straddling his waist. “Lay back down, mister.” Her lips curled into a devious smile.

“Melody, I… What are you doing?” He muttered, laughing softly as she pushed him all the way down to his back. Melody knew in her mind things between her and Connor wouldn’t last… He was a guard, a soldier, and she was… Well, she didn’t know exactly what she was, but a guard’s wife wasn’t one of them. Twilight and Lily were right… She shouldn’t develop feelings for Connor, not based off of just sex. What they had was nice, but it wasn’t permanent.

“I heard a whisper…” Melody said quietly, leaning in to brush her lips against his. “Once the restoration’s one hundred percent complete, they’re moving into Featherhome…” Connor’s expression darkened slightly, his frown deepening.

“Where did you hear that…”

“Connor, come on. The Commander is my flight teacher more often than not.” She teased, kissing his jaw line.

“Hmm…”

“They say half the guard will go with them…”

“Well, if that’s true-“

“You’re going with them.” She said, sitting back up. Her hips rode low on his, the blankets falling off her shoulders. In the warm mid-morning air, Melody peered down at him, sitting atop his hips. “Connor, I’ve asked this before, and I’ll ask it again… How many other women have you been with?”

“Melody…”

“Answer me, Connor.” She grasped his hand gently. “Please.”

“… Seven.” Honestly, not as much as she had been expecting.

“And I’m the eighth?”

“Yeah…” He nodded, whispering quietly.

“Good… Then you’ll have eight women to remember when you’re in Hearth.” She said quietly, leaning in to kiss him softly once more. “And I’ll have one very strapping young guard for the rest of my lovers to live up to.” Connor chuckled at that, his soft laugh infectious. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as he sat up slowly. His lips pressed to her collarbone, the smooth slope of her breasts.

“I’ll make sure they have a lot to live up to…” Connor’s early-morning manhood betrayed him. Melody reached behind herself, grabbing his shaft and smoothly guiding him in… “Aah…”

“We… Haven’t done it in the morning before… Have we…?” Melody whimpered, dropping her hips half an inch at a time. Connor held her close, his warm hands flat on her back.

“N-not… Yet…” He gasped, flexing powerfully within her. His head hit that spot, blowing fresh air into her fire. She threw her head back, her long hair whipping out above and behind her as she opened her mouth with a soft cry. She oozed wetness, already ready for him… She would have to be selfish this time.

“Lay back…” She whispered, her hands gently pushing his shoulders. Connor obeyed, following her gentle push as he lay out beneath her. “Let me… Ngh… Let me have this… One time…” Nodding softly, Connor reached up to grab the headboard… A motion she had used herself a few times in the recent past. Again, her mother’s advice served her well.

As with anything else, start out slow… But don’t move too much up and down. Doing that is only going to hurt your breasts, and make it feel like any other time to him. Try moving back and forth a little, too. Side-to-side if you’re comfortable. When you get good enough at it, you can put all three motions into one.

She started pushing her hips forward gingerly, angling his head so it pressed against the roof of her walls, teasing that spot she knew would set her off. She never hit it hard, just brushed it… The slightest amount of pressure. It was enough to make her breath shake. What’s more, the way she was atop him, Connor could see everything. Everything about her… Melody was bare to his eyes. Every contour of her stomach, the last detail of her goose-fleshed nipple, the way her mouth hung open with the breathy pants of exertion…

Something crossed her mind, then… She hadn’t hit her flow. They were always careful about using a condom. Always. This was probably the first time he had been inside of her raw… She took a moment to retrieve one, let him put it on, moving as fast as they dared lest the early-morning desire fade away. When he slid back in, the sheer walls of the condom slid over her wet flesh with ease, sliding in and out, back and forth… But still, this small, nagging thought rested somewhere in the back of her mind…

This might be the last time she and Connor made love. No, not made love… Had sex… Inside herself, Melody felt something grow… She knew what it was. She didn’t want to say it, but she knew… It was lust…

“Connor…” She panted softly, still moving atop him.

“Huh?” He grunted, gripping the headboard with white-knuckled fingers.

“Please…” Her words were breathy, her tone thin and high. She was shameless in that moment. “Please… Fuck me?”

“What?!” He gasped, looking up at her. Melody’s lips curled in a soft smile, her hips still moving, still stirring herself up atop him.

“Please… If this isn’t going to last, I want it good…” She laid her hands flat on his stomach, curling her nails into him gently. “Please… Just… Don’t hold back?” She slid a hand up his body, caressing the muscles from his toned abdomen, over his chest, his bicep, up to his forearm. She pulled his hand away from the headboard, firmly pushing it against her breast. “Touch me any way you want…” She dropped her hips, sealing the base of his shaft within her. “Any position you can imagine…” She swirled her hips in a circle, stirring herself up with his thick rod. “Any…” She hit her g-spot. “Way…” Liquid dripped out of her core. “You want.”

“Melody, I… I’ve never had any woman say that to me…” He whispered, his expression dumbfounded. “I’ve never… They’ve always just… had our routine, our…”

“Shh…” She laid a finger over his lips, silencing him. “You’ve never had a woman like me.” She teased, smiling down at him as she kept stirring herself up.

“I… What about…”

“Shh, shh…” She silenced him again, chuckling at his stubbornness. “Shut up, okay? If you don’t want to take me up on that offer, then we’ll stop now, you can bathe, and we’ll go our separate ways… But please… Please, Connor…” She whimpered softly, pushing against him in another smooth circle. “Don’t leave me hanging like this…”

The gloves were off. No more messing around. The second his hand tightened on her breast, Melody let it all go. Her hips moved smooth and fast, sliding him in, out, up, down, back and forth, left to right… It all came naturally to her. She gasped and bucked her hips, Connor lifted his own and rubbed her breasts… His hands were everywhere… They laid flat on her collarbone, cupped her breasts and squished them together, laid flat on her stomach… At one point, his thumb even slid down to spin her clitoris in smooth, rapid circles. That was the first time she came, her thrusting motions coming to a stop as she cried out with pleasure, oozing thin, clear liquid out onto his thick, throbbing shaft…

“F-fuck…” He grunted, feeling her muscles finally relax around her. “That good?” He asked, arching an eyebrow up at her. Gasping, breathing ragged, Melody nodded, her lips still curled in a warm smile.

“S… So good…”

“My turn.”

“Eep!” Connor sat up smooth and easy, wrapping her in a hug as he rolled them both over. Melody was pinned beneath him, her legs wrapped around his waist. He smoothly re-entered her, making her back arch as she felt him glide all the way in. Every time before, they had started slow, moved easy, taken every precaution to make sure the amateur woman was okay before moving ahead… But this… This was completely different… The second he was inside of her, he started thrusting. She gasped in time with his first four thrusts, but couldn’t keep up with the pace after that.

She also couldn’t help it as her nails dug into his back. Connor grunted, but didn’t relent… If anything, he moved harder. She cried out, long and loud, completely shameless as he drove into her over and over and again… This was no longer lovemaking. This was fucking.

And Melody loved it.

“Gonna cum.” He panted, his thrusts growing more feverish, coming a lot faster.

“Cum! Cum for me!” Melody gasped, her words leaving her mouth before she had a chance to think about them.

“Hnn!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH YESSS!” Melody cried out as his hips met hers with an audible, fleshy slap. His member throbbed and twitched inside of her, punctuating each spurt of his semen into the condom. The bloated head swelled inside of her, sliding across her insides as he gingerly pulled out. She could feel her abused hole gaping slightly, her core muscles flexing, trying to return everything to normal…

She grinned up at him, her hands sliding down his shoulders, his front, down to his fading erection. She pulled the condom off, pinching the milky fluid inside as she carefully deposited it in the waste bin next to her bed. Then she grabbed another.

“Melody, I…”

“You can at least make me cum two more times.” She teased, breaking the plastic.

“I don’t know… If I can get it up again.” He whimpered. She gave him a teasing grin, one that said ‘oh yes you can.’ “Hey… Hey, no, Melody, please… Aah!” She slid underneath him, her one hand stroking the soft skin of his member, the other still holding the condom. “Melody… Don’t… Don’t suck i- AAH!” She opened her mouth with a hot breath and pulled his flaccid member inside, ignoring the taste of the condom’s lubricant, the spunky aftertaste of his release. She focused on the texture, the slippery feel, the smooth sensation of it running against her tongue… This was as much for her as it was for him at this point, and she wouldn’t be left dissatisfied. Connor couldn’t hold out. Blood rushed into sore veins, filling him up. She felt the transition in her mouth, the way he inflated and throbbed, his cock growing inch by inch…

“Aaahh… That feels REALLY good…” Connor muttered, looking down at her. Gently, his hands pulled her hair out of her way, bunching the frazzled strands above her head, the rest of her lengthy hair fanned out above her on the bed… “Keep going…” She obliged, sliding him deeper, spinning the tip of her tongue around the sensitive flare of his head… Licking the salty slit at the tip of his cock… She wanted him inside of her, mouth or vagina. Didn’t matter. The hand that had previously been stroking him beckoned, urging him to move his hips.

“You sure?” She nodded, half of his member buried in between her lips, her tongue massaging him eagerly. “Alright…” Slowly, like testing the waters of a freshly-drawn bath, he pushed forward, his head gliding over the roof of her mouth until it hit her throat. Melody fought her gag, won the fight, groaned instead. “Aah… Can I?” She encouraged him with a squeeze. Then he did it. Connor started fucking her mouth.

It was addictive. The way his scent filled her senses, making her vision blur and her thoughts go muddy… He slid over her wet skin, making her salivate more… It dripped from her mouth, down her chin… She was thankful he was holding her hair then, or she might have drooled in it. As it were, the slippery sensation of him moving in and out, abusing her mouth, using her… She loved it.

“Okay.” He grunted, pulling out. His hand smoothly stroked his shaft, keeping him hard while she fumbled with the condom. His taste remained in her mouth, the muscles in her jaw weak as she gasped and panted raggedly. “Put it on. I want you.” He grunted, letting her clumsy fingers slide the condom on. He pulled it down the rest of the way, walking his way down her body. She was still coming down off of the euphoric feeling of the blowjob when he lifted her leg over his shoulder and smoothly slid in.

“Aahn!” She cried out, lifting her back. Her hands shamelessly grasped her breasts, rotating the nipples and squeezing the tender flesh. “Yess…” Her breath hissed out between her teeth, her senses filled with Connor… With his manhood, pulsing and hard and eager.

“Melody,” He grunted, sliding into her. He leaned forward, stretching her leg out, pushing her down into the sheets more firmly. “This is so good… I feel so close already…”

“Don’t!” She pleaded, her hands squeezing harder. One of them slid down to her swollen clitoris, flicking it eagerly. “Just… Lemme go one more time, okay?” Her tone was pleading, her eyes begging for permission.

“I… Haahhh… Can’t hold out.” He panted, still thrusting gently.

“Just… A little bit… More…” Melody groaned, her fingers working restlessly over her clit. “I’m close… Ooooh, I’m gonna… Aahn! AAAAAAAAAAUUUUGHH!” Melody cried out louder than she ever had before, even as Connor ruthlessly pushed his way as deep as he could go. She felt his head pulse and twitch, flexing up into that magical little spot, which only helped her release more. She felt it dribble down her thighs, undoubtedly staining the mattress even as Connor came inside the condom.

It all faded into this warm, fuzzy sort of sensation, the waves of pleasure crashing through her and Connor’s warm body pressed tight… She gasped and moaned and whimpered, her hands wrapping around his muscular body, clutching him tight…

And then she cried…

Connor normally would have freaked out. Instead, his hands gently massaged her sides… She wasn’t sure when, but he slid out and pulled her against him as they lay on their sides, both of them pressed tight in the aftermath. She cried for a while, sobbing and shaking, clinging as tight to him as he possibly could in those long, warm moments…

She cried for the frustration of saying goodbye, of her first heartache. She cried for the war, all the soldiers like Connor who had died, who had left behind women like her to be heartbroken and wanting… She cried for the wounded soldiers who would never be able to serve like Connor was, she cried for all the little things in her life…

“Sorry,” She sniffled, wiping at her face pathetically.

“No, it’s okay.” Connor said, gently stroking her hair. “I don’t mind… C’mon, let’s take our bath…” She sniffled and nodded, standing up with him. They were both bare, slightly sweaty, and sticky. She stripped the sheets now, leaving the poor mattress alone as they slipped into the bathroom and held one another close in the hot water. He helped her shave her legs, and she scrubbed his back… It was warm, but the whole thing had this odd sense of… Terminality to it… Like this was the very last time they would do something like this…

Even over breakfast as she buttered his toast for him, she couldn’t help but think This is the last time I’ll do this with him… They were quiet, for once… Where they normally would have chatted, they ate in silence, sitting close and holding hands… When they dressed, he helped clasp her bra and slid the straps of her dress up her shoulders. She handed him his shirt and buttoned the front when he pulled it on… Then, standing on the threshold of the balcony, they said their goodbyes…

“I’d be lying if I said you didn’t mean anything special to me.” Melody said gently, holding onto his arms as he hugged her.

“There will be others. Trust me.” He said gently, stroking her hair a few times. He loved to play with her hair… “Better men than I…”

“Don’t sell yourself short, big guy.” She teased, kissing his chest. He chuckled, the vibrations running through her lips…

“My advice?”

“Hmm?” She looked up at him.

“Take some time…” His voice was sad and low, sort of melancholy… “Don’t… You know, find another, until you’re ready… Rushing into another relationship was one of the mistakes I’ve made before.” He lifted her chin gingerly, wiping away one tear as it escaped. He kissed his thumb, the tear shining slightly on his lips as he pulled away. Melody watched as he untied the knot on the blue handkerchief she used to mark her balcony, the soft fabric tucked away in his pocket.

“Something to remember me by?” She asked, her voice quivering slightly.

“Hearth nights can be cold and long.” He said, standing up on the balcony. “I’m gonna need some pleasant thoughts to keep me warm. Give me a reason to come back.”

“If you don’t come back, I swear I’ll find you.” She chuckled nervously, the tears flowing fast and free now. She sniffled, feeling her chest shake with repressed sobs.

“If I don’t come back, I’ll be dead. And I’ll have died serving the land I love.” He pulled his fist to his heart, the natural salute of the Equestrian forces. “I’ll have died keeping people like you safe to live and love another day.” His lips broke into a smile… Not just any smile… That was the warmest smile she had ever seen. So happy and serene… Like nothing else in the world mattered. That was the smile of a man whose purpose in life was laid out before him clear as day. “I can’t think of any better way to spend my life.” And then he was gone…

In his absence, Melody curled up on the bed and cried.

-----------

“You doing okay, kiddo?” Lily asked gently. Melody sniffled and wiped her puffy eyes, nodding slightly.

“Just hurts is all… You never… Felt love before Twilight, did you?” She asked. Lily sighed and joined her daughter on her bed, both of them cuddling close. Melody was thankful for the warm arms around her, the way her mother’s red curls tickled her nose and cheeks.

“I can’t say that I have, Melody… But someone told me once, some quote from some poem or something… ‘It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.’ In a way, I kind of envy you…” Melody sighed as she contemplated Lily’s words… It was a week after he had left. The tower was left with the basic forces while the rest of them were deployed into Featherhome. Dash had confirmed his name was on a roster, assigned to a unit patrolling the northern reaches of the Featherhome/Hearth border, close to the high, imposing mountains…

“I guess…” She sighed, rubbing her eyes.

“Think about it this way, Melody…” Lily said gently, stroking her hair soothingly… This wasn’t the way he would have stroked her hair… Lily’s way was fretting, tender and caring. His was compassionate, soft, and wonderful. Like he was doing it just for the sake of touching her hair… Lily felt like she was fretting with the long, slightly frazzled and neglected strands. Still, Melody appreciated the touch, and nuzzled closer to Lily as she continued. “You know what it feels like, now… Yeah, it hurts, but you’ll live through it… You’ll move on, find another, and you’re more of a person now because you had him.”

“Like… The way Twilight loves you, not in spite of the fact that you’ve been with others, but because of it?” Melody asked.

“Exactly…” The relief in Lily’s voice was audible, like she was glad that Melody had caught on. “The next man you love will love you in return, not because you’ve been with another man, but because you’re stronger for having been with him, for having love and lost, as it were...”

“I see…” Melody groaned. Admittedly, her menstruation hadn’t helped. It started two days after he left, and the cramps and emotions hadn’t been as kind to her as they had in the past. She groaned and sat up, rubbing her puffy eyes some more. “Ugh, I’m a mess…”

“You know what you need?” Lily said with a smile.

“Enlighten me…” Melody groaned.

“You need a spa treatment.” Melody arched her eyebrow.

“What?” She had read about them, of course, and they certainly sounded wonderful… But there was no easy way they could have had one in their home, and ever since leaving it had been a crazy, insane, fearful flight. As much as Melody knew about spas, she had never even come close to having a spa treatment…

“A spa treatment. Trust me, I’ve had a few in my day. They’re amazing. You know, I think there’s one in the city… If I find one, will you go with me? Twilight will go, too, I’m sure. We’ll have a girl’s day.” She smiled and rubbed Melody’s shoulder warmly. Melody mulled it over in her head. She was done with her flow, and she was an utter mess…

“You know what? That sounds great. I think I will.” She offered a brave, warm smile to Lily. The first she had given in a week. It felt so good, the simple motion making her cheeks spread apart…

“’Atta girl. I’m going to go see what I can find. See you at dinner?” Lily slid off the bed, stretching her muscles as Melody lifted the hem of her pajama shirt.

“I think I’ll eat in again tonight… Still feel like a mess.”

“Not gonna lie, you look like it, too. Aah!” Melody swatted at her mother’s rear for the teasing quip, connecting with the perky flesh and making her jump from the spank. “Oh you little… C’mere!”

“Eep! Aah, no! Not my sides! Aah!” Lily tickled her relentlessly, both of them squirming and rolling around. Laughing. Inside, Melody felt warm again. Her mother loved her, and so did Twilight, and her brother, and Dash and all the others. She still had a lot of love in her life… The month-long relationship with Connor had only made her stronger in the end. No reason to get so beat up over it. At the end of the romp, she and Lily lay spread-eagle on the bed, panting and chuckling, their cheeks sore from laughing and smiling.

“I gotta get goin’, kiddo.” Lily said, sitting up with a smile, rubbing her cheeks.

“’Kay… Hey mom?”

“Hmm?” Melody grasped her pillow and curled up with it, peaking at Lily over the edge of the bunched-up fabric.

“I love you.” Lily smiled, wide and warm… Not the laughter kind of smile… This one could only be described as… Maternal. She leaned over and kissed Melody’s forehead.

“I love you too, Melody. My beautiful daughter… I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks…” Melody muttered, curling up with the pillow tighter. Lily rubbed her shoulder again and exited onto Melody’s balcony, shifting into the woman known as Dancer and diving off of the edge. Melody watched her disappear, heaving a happy sigh as she rolled over and watched the fire dance and crackle in the hearth…

Hearth… Hearthfire. Connor. Melody sat up on her bed, her hands glowing. The magical fire set on the logs slowly died away, flickering once and then extinguishing.

With it, Melody let her feelings die.

She had loved and lost.

She was normal.