------------ Melody’s Tale - R and R ------------

“I’ll inform the families personally.” Dash said solemnly. Twilight, Verse, Lily, and Melody all stood in her office. As much as it pained her, Lily had agreed to give a second report to Dash. She deserved to hear it first hand. “So… The god of bitterness is back where he belongs?”

“That’s right.” Verse said quietly.

“And Gale controls the weather once more?”

“Also true.”

“I’ll make sure their families know their sacrifice wasn’t in vain.” Dash was quiet, a little more reserved than she normally was.

“Do… Do you tell them how they died?” Melody asked.

“Always. That’s why I asked for the details.” She certainly had… Recounting the exact death of each individual was difficult for Lily. Particularly the ones she couldn’t save. The two that she could save, though, made it back safely with them. The reason they had taken so long in returning was because of them... Injured avians shouldn’t fly.

“Why?” She asked quietly.

“Because they deserve to know. It isn’t pleasant, but it’s better than not knowing.”

“Dash, I don’t think-“

“Melody.” The avian cut her off with a soft sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose with two fingers. “Stop. Don’t tell me how to do my job. This isn’t the first soldier’s family I’ve dealt with. It won’t be the last, either. You and Verse have done a lot more than you think you have… Gale has been especially kind to our units, making the skies clear during the day and stormy at night. We can deploy in the morning, using superior speed and maneuverability to carry out our operations, then hunker down for the night and stay safe. We’re better rested, highly capable, and more mission-ready than we have been in a month. Without your intervention, we’d have lost hundreds of men to cold, insanity, and fatigue. Thank you. But please,” Dash turned to look back at her. For the umpteenth time, Melody found herself confronted not by auntie Dash, but by Commander Dash. “Don’t tell me what’s best for a soldier’s family.”

“S-sorry…” She muttered softly, looking down at her feet. She was surprised, then, when Dash swept around her desk and wrapped her arms around Melody.

“Don’t be.” Dash said into the hug. “You’re concerned for them. I understand. You’re stressed, tired, and dirty. It’s been a long, long month for you both. Go to bed. Take a week. Take two. You’ve already helped more than I can possibly thank you for.” Dash pulled away, a serene smile on her face. It was completely out-of-place on the brash avian. “Both of you. All three of you. Take as long as you need. Twilight and I have a plan in place.” She lifted Lily’s chin with a single finger, smiling into her eyes. “Thank you. Again.” When Dash leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, Lily smiled. Actually smiled. Dash may never admit it, but she had a mother’s touch. Melody blushed a little, feeling embarrassed at the display of affection, but her blush was nothing to match Verse’s.

“C’mon, you two.” Twilight said, pulling them out of the room. “You need to get some sleep.” After the exceedingly long hike back from the far-north town, Melody could think of nothing better than sleeping in her room. She and Verse plodded a short ways down the hall to their respective rooms, bidding one another good night before slipping inside and locking the door. Melody sighed as she stripped herself bare. After three weeks hiking through the Featherhome pine forests, sleeping under the stars and settling for chilly sponge baths out of frigid streams, she wanted a proper bathing experience. For the first time in a week, she let her hair out of the tight braid she had put it in, fretting over the set-in waves and grody strands. She probably smelled like an animal.

The hot bath filled with all sorts of soaps and oils that had mysteriously been laid out on the shelves of her bathroom since she last lived there. She was thankful for whoever had put them there, and after an extremely long soak, she treated her hair as vigorously as her tired fingers could manage. Her underclothes were dirty as ever when she finished bathing, but true to their blessed heritage, her tunic and pants were clean and smelled fresh. Smiling, she folded them and put them in the dresser before stretching out nude under the covers.

Her sleep was blissful, warm, and long. She didn’t wake until the next day was well underway, when the sun burned bright outside her window. With a deep, throaty groan of restfulness, she pulled herself out of bed, stretching sore and tired muscles. Despite her long bath the night before, Melody still felt out-of-sorts. A thought struck her, though, and she smiled. She dressed hurriedly and ate a quick breakfast before slipping down the hall to her parent’s room. A gentle knock and thirty seconds later, and Lily answered the door.

“Melody. Good morning.” She said with a smile, tucking the ends of her robe around her. Melody blushed a little and glanced down the hall before slipping inside. Lily shut the door behind her, and Melody lit the fire with a flick of her hand. Twilight gave a soft smile as she pulled a shirt over her head, in no rush to make herself decent since she was with family. At times, Melody felt a little embarrassed she had seen both of her mothers nude as much as she had, but at other times it felt somewhat natural. They were, after all, unlike any family ever before.

“Everything okay?” Twilight asked gently, standing from the mussed bed. Melody nodded with a smile, one that was perhaps a little more devious than it ought to be.

“I just had a thought. I figured the sooner I share it, the better.” She said gently. Lily slipped past her, going to a nearby dresser and pulling out clothes.

“Oh? Do tell.” She teased, obviously torn between one bra or another.

“We need to go to a spa.”

“Ooooohh…” Lily dropped the clothes back into the drawer and turned around with wide eyes. Both of them looked at Twilight, their eyes pleading.

“A spa?” Twilight said, tapping her lower lip with a thoughtful groan. “I dunno…”

“Please?” Melody said, stepping forward. “Don’t make me beg. I’ll totally beg.”

“Fuck that, I’m begging.” Lily dove across the bed, her hands grabbing the hem of Twilight’s shirt. “Please, love? Let’s go to a spa. The three of us.”

“Hey, me too!” Melody fell to her knees, grabbing the other edge of Twilight’s pajama top. “Please, mom? Please?”

“Okay, I LIKE The sight of Lily begging. My own daughter is just weird. Get up, both of you. I’ll call ahead and see if they have any open spots.”

“Yes!” Lily sprung up with a laugh and threw her arms around Twilight’s shoulders, even as Melody jumped up and danced with excitement. She didn’t care if she had to beg. The wide, stupid grin on Twilight’s face was worth it.

“Melody, mind giving us a moment?” Twilight said, flagging under Lily’s repeated kisses. With a chuckle and a shake of her head, Melody slipped out of the room, just as Verse emerged from his own room.

“Hey, good morning.” He said, smiling at her. “Are they up?”

“Eer…” Melody shut the door with a click, the finality punctuating her smile. “Up and down… If you get my meaning.”

“Aah. Right. What, uh… What were you doing in there?” He asked, his brow drawn.

“Oh. I was just asking if we could go to the spa… Truth be told, I feel like I need it… I still feel so grody.” She lifted the hem of her shirt, frowning a little. She hadn’t shaved her legs, even… How could she have missed that in the bath last night?

“The spa? Well, you guys have fun with that, I suppose…” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was going to ask if you were up for a little… Eer… Well, how do I say this…” He appeared to be struggling with something, trying to spit out words that seemingly wouldn’t come. “I was going to ask if you would… Eer…”

“C’mon, out with it.” She rolled her hand, urging him on.

“Would you… Be my wingman?” She blinked, pondering over his meaning. When the silence stretched on long enough for Verse to blush, she suddenly realized what he was asking.

“Oh!”

“Yeah.”

“You…”

“You don’t?”

“Wow, really?”

“Hey, it’s been a while now.” She had to agree with him there… Thoughtfully, Melody gnawed on her lower lip for a moment.

“One condition.” She said after a moment.

“That is?”

“You return the favor.”

------------

The spa smelled like flowers and oil, scented baths and facial rubs. It was herbal, relaxing, soothing, and the second she swept through the door, Melody felt her stress begin to melt away already.

“Aah! Twilight, Lily, and Melody?” The receptionist smiled at them as the three of them slipped in the door.

“Mhmm.” Twilight nodded, rummaging around in her purse. “We… Would like the deluxe treatment.”

“Aah, very good! The girls will be pleased. And…” She scanned a clipboard behind the desk, tapping her pen on the sheet of paper. “You’re right on time. We’re ready for you.” Twilight negotiated the payment and all three of them were guided into the locker room. Melody remembered from last time the first portion of the treatment, how they had to be mostly if not completely naked the entire time... Then again, she was with two women she bathed with on a regular basis. The three of them shamelessly stripped bare, leaving their clothes in baskets while they slowly submerged into a scented, heavily oiled bath. The water burned a little at first, but Melody took it slow as all three of them sank into the steamy, hot bath.

“Oooohh yesss…” She groaned, letting the last draw out into a hiss of relaxation. Her tense and sore muscles loosened under the water, her pores opening up. The water felt silky and smooth around her, the soft tendrils of oil separating in the water sliding over her skin like the lightest touch of a careful and cautious lover.

“Good call, Melody.” Lily said gently. Twilight hummed her agreement across the tub. Slowly, Melody submerged herself, letting the water soak into her face for a moment before emerging. Her hair fanned out in the water around her, and if she wasn’t mistaken, the long strands were past where she normally kept them… Truth be told, she liked it this long. She might require a trim, but she made the decision to keep it this way. The way the water sapped away her strength and exhaustion all together made her groan again, rolling her head back. Still, a thought nagged at the back of her head… It had been in her mind since Verse had proposed his plan to her yesterday morning. Why? Even she didn’t have that answer. Maybe Twilight and Lily did. She could certainly ask them, right? Melody swallowed her pride.

“Hey…” She said gently.

“Hmm?”

“What’s sex like with a woman?” Silence punctuated her question for quite a few long, awkward moments.

“Eer…”

“Wow. That came from nowhere.”

“What?” Melody flushed a little, opening her eyes to peek at both of them. “It’s just been bugging me…” She muttered, feeling embarrassed.

“No, don’t get me wrong. I’m actually kind of proud that you’re opening your mind.” Twilight said, her pride apparent in her voice and her warm smile. “I think Lily’s the authority on that, though…” The soft splash and gentle yelp that came later made them all laugh.

“It’s like this, Melody.” Lily said softly. The three of them scooted a little closer, speaking in hushed tones. “Men and women go together like milk and cereal. No doubt there.”

“Right…”

“But Equestrian society is seventy-five percent female.”

“Wait, is it really?” She asked, sitting up a little. Twilight nodded in confirmation.

“A recent census shows that between human, magi, and avian across Equestria, over seventy percent of them are female. The average heterosexual family has an average of six children. Only one in ten children born in the past ten years was male. So the numbers are only going to tip further in favor of us women in the coming generation. In the previous, two in ten, so that seventy percent is going to rise… In short, society may become more and more feminine-dominated, with lesbian and bi-sexual couples becoming commonplace. There was actually a stirring article written back in 5487 on a fluctuation in male/female ratios that resulted in several men becoming enslaved and their sperm… Well, rationed. So to speak.”

“Wow… Really?” Melody said softly. “How did Celestia and Luna condone that?”

“They rationed them.” Twilight said, waving a hand. “They would make trips to villages once a month and ration the sex the men had. Several men turned themselves in willingly, and were happily passed around from woman to woman, they had their pick of them all. Women would clamor for a man to call their own for a few hours, but that didn’t stop the huge increase in lesbian relationships. That was the same year that domestic partnerships were recognized by the government, and saw the invention of the dildo.”

“Huh…” Melody drew her legs up, resting her chin on her knees. “But… What is it like?”

“Well…” Lily spoke softly, sitting forward. “Who knows better how to please a woman than a woman?” Melody blushed, thankful for the hot steam to attribute the feature to. She thought about it for a moment. She certainly knew the way she liked it, the spots inside that she knew how to hit and where… Would another woman like it the same way she did? What’s more, could she replicate the feel with… Well, with her fingers, her tongue, or whatever? The thought of her lips working at another woman’s vagina, pressing into the fleshy folds and licking at all the right places…

“But… I mean, you can’t beat the feeling, you know…”

“What, of a penis? Well…” Lily smiled, almost chuckling at Melody’s naiveté. “There are ways… Sometimes, a dildo just doesn’t do it, right?” Melody nodded, her thoughts briefly flashing to the handle of her hairbrush, which still remained untouched in her room… “Twilight, you mind…?”

“Of course. Shortly after that report close to two thousand years ago, when the dildo was formally invented, another, more private one was published. A woman who had had sex with one of the male slaves found she was unable to bear child, but the feeling was indescribable. She tried to use several dildos and had homosexual sex with several women, but couldn’t find a solution to the same brand of rough love that man had shown her. She was a very skilled seamstress, and… Melody, do you know what a strapon is?” Melody would have to admit that she did not.

“Eer… No, not really… I don’t.”

“Huhn… With all the snooping you did, I’m surprised you didn’t find ours.” Melody blushed again. She had, admittedly, rummaged around her parents’ room several times, and had uncovered one or two intimate articles. Just one set of odd-shaped beads all strung together and a long, slender, phallic object. Twilight’s mention of a ‘strapon’ had her curious.

“Anywho. You see, what this woman did was attach a dildo to a sturdy pair of feminine underwear. When her partner put them on-“

“Oh!” Melody grasped the concept in a moment. Her blush deepened considerably. “So…”

“Right. They could imitate male sex. Well, the design was shared, published in this report, and over the years refined. There are ways, of course, that magi would be able to replicate the sensation of male sex, but not every relationship involved a magi. Therefore, this design offered an option to those couples.”

“That’s… Actually kinda neat…” Her mind wandered, thinking about the same as earlier… Only instead of licking, she was wearing one of these things… Giving pleasure to another woman, hitting all those little spots only another woman would know about. She fell silent, her eyes staring intently off into space as she imagined many different things.

“Melody?” Twilight said after a few moments. “You okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah… I’m fine.” She muttered, her heart hammering for a few seconds. She prayed the spa attendants wouldn’t notice her arousal. “Just… You know… Thinking.”

“Oh no…” Lily groaned, her head rolling back. “Twilight, you’ve turned our daughter into a lesbian. We’ll never have grandkids now.”

“Shush, you.” Twilight teasingly scolded Lily. “We still have Verse.” They all shared a laugh at that.

---------

Over the course of the spa treatment, the three of them chatted amicably. As she had with straight sex, Melody had plenty of questions about the inverse, techniques and practices for pleasuring and being pleasured by another woman. It seemed both her mothers had a wealth of knowledge on the subject, and readily shared stories and techniques equally. It seemed only natural, of course, since they were both female… Twilight would love Lily no matter if she were shifted into a male or a female, and Lily would love Twilight in all her simple, uncomplicated beauty.

Melody surprised herself when she realized she hadn’t thought all that much about the sexual relationship between her two mothers… So much, in fact, that all the previous awkward moments when she had caught the two of them in the act or when they were close to devolving into it became much more clear… She had never really seen Lily shift into a male… The only time she had was for demonstration purposes, or one time when she needed to reach a jar high on a shelf.

Why hadn’t she really thought about it before? All the times she had fingered herself, her hormones wishing she had a dashing young man, a prince like the ones she read about in her silly novels, and she had never realized that women had fingers just as capable as a man’s… Melody felt like an entirely different person with all the steamy thoughts racing through her mind as they exited the spa. While Lily hadn’t given her a formal challenge, Melody made a resolution.

She would try and have sex with another woman.

Verse, of course, was utterly shocked when she shared that with him.

“Alright,” he groaned, blanching visibly as they chatted in his room. “No more spa trips with Lily and Twilight for you.”

“Oh shut the fuck up, Verse.” She teased, tossing a throw pillow at him. He caught it and threw it at the foot of the couch, shaking his head.

“Look, it’s hard enough thinking about finding a new woman. Half of them in Eyriewatch are military, and after Sam, I really don’t feel like fucking another soldier. I don’t need you cockblocking me out of every girl that comes our way.”

“You say that like I’m some raging horndog who can’t keep her panties on for anyone who comes along… I haven’t even TRIED it yet, Verse. I might not search for it actively. Just, you know… What happens if I try and scope out a girl for you, and she turns out to be a lesbian? Hmm?”

“Hrm… You have a point there.” He muttered, tapping his lip. “But… I’m not doing any bi-sexual threeways with my sister.”

“Eew!” She tossed another pillow at him, this one propelled by magic. He took it full in the face, both of them laughing as they set in on a magic-fueled pillow fight for a few moments.

“Seriously, though.” He gasped, both of them smiling as they flopped down into chairs around Verse’s dining table. “We’re not…?”

“Not at all. You’re my brother, and I love you, but no. Not like that.”

“Of course. Just checking… I mean, if we-“

“Look, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it, okay?” Melody admitted with a sigh. She really had, especially during the long month they had spent up north. “But… No… The thoughts were there, you know, on that primal sort of level. In the form of, ‘oh hey, he has a penis and I have a vagina. Hormones and procreation mean there’s a possibility there.’ But as soon as my silly little brain reminded me that you were my brother, it was like switching a light off.”

“So, you felt the same thing I did!” Verse grew excited as he leaned in. “I mean, look. You’re obviously a very beautiful woman. I’ll be the first to admit my own thoughts went there, as well. But just like you said. As soon as I told myself you were my sister, bam. Like shutting a door.”

“Exactly!” Truth be told, Melody was glad they had touched on this subject… Her thoughts had her worried. She knew for certain how she felt about Verse, but she was unsure how he felt about her. This recent development put some fears to rest for her. “But, I mean… Nothing awkward about…”

“No. Trust me, I’d be hurt if you said we couldn’t hug or anything anymore.”

“Aww. C’mere.” She smiled and wrapped Verse in a gentle hug. While it was maybe a little more meaningful than a brother/sister hug, there was nothing more to it that caused her to worry. Call it… A healthy interest in your brother’s sexual well-being. Melody felt like she could talk to him about it…

“I’m not weird for wanting to have sex with another woman, am I?” She said. Verse shrugged.

“Personally, I think it’s a little hot…” They laughed for a moment. “In all seriousness, though, no.”

“You haven’t… You know, thought about it? With other guys?” Verse almost laughed, but when he noticed she was asking a serious question, his expression sobered a little.

“The thought is there, Melody. I won’t lie. But just like my thoughts with you, it shuts off at a certain point…” The question slipped out before she could stop it.

“What point is that?”

Both of them blushed.

“Truth?” Verse asked.

“Truth.”

“…” He sighed, sat back, held his head in his hands, then finally sat forward. “Anal.”

“Really?” She hadn’t expected things to go that far.

“Really… The thought of… You know, doing it back there… I just can’t see how it’s attractive.” He shuddered visibly. The way he moved in his chair told Lily he was flexing muscles. “Just… That’s where we poop. Fecal matter. Ick.” Melody could identify… The thought of doing anything back there made her tense up, too.

“I can understand… But, like…”

“What, oral? I’d consider it… When Sam did it, it felt amazing. If I really cared for a guy, and he cared for me, I would consider it…” Verse admitted. Melody sat back, gnawing on her lip. “What?” He asked, noting her drawn expression.

“I guess…” She said, picking her words softly. “We’re all just a little bit gay…”

---------

Life returned to some semblance of normalcy after that. The opportunity for Melody and Verse to go out and search for someone to bring to their rooms at night never really presented itself, despite their desire to do so. Dash insisted on giving them extra flight training, and Lily pressed the issue of training their shifting powers as well. Now that they both could shift into male and female with ease, Lily began teaching them how to blend. In one short week, both she and Verse had learned how to blend with a crowd, how to fit in with a new and different culture. They learned to mingle, do small talk. Melody learned how to listen like a man, and Verse learned how to talk like a woman. That, coupled with Twilight’s revised magic lessons, their entire family grew much closer than they had been in just one short week.

Melody was so preoccupied, she didn’t have time to remind herself of the nastiness that had taken place up north. Connor’s death was remembered, but not in a negative way… She thought of him a hero, just like the others who had died with him. Their names and deeds were not forgotten, but not remembered in a fashion that put anyone under. Verse seemed different, but not in a bad way… Melody guessed she had changed, too… In six months, half a short year, they had matured from children to adults.

“Hey.” Verse caught her in the hall one day. “We need to go play.”

“Play?” She said, arching her eyebrow questioningly.

“Music.” He said simply. “I haven’t held a guitar in a while. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to hear you sing again. In fact, we need to sing our song.” The mention of the tune made Melody grin. They really hadn’t sang it since they left home.

“Oh yes. Let’s go.” They made their way down to the music room, and were surprised to find it empty. They were not unfamiliar with the handling of the communal instruments, so they picked them out and tuned them, smiling as they settled into two chairs opposite each other. When Verse plucked the first few notes of the song, Melody remembered all the lyrics, the beat and time signature. Her foot tapped in time with his as he started singing.

I wanted you to know

That I love the way you laugh.

I wanna hold you high

And steal your pain.

I keep your photograph

And I know it serves me well.

I wanna hold you high

And steal your pain.

Melody joined in then, singing the chorus with him. She pulled the bow across the strings, the high-pitched wail sending shivers up her own spine.

’Cause I’m broken

When I’m lonesome.

I don’t feel right

When you’re gone away.

Together they moved through the brief instrumental, both of them playing perfectly as their eyes closed, their bodies swaying and feet tapping out the slow, melancholy time signature. When the next verse came, Melody sang alone, her high voice strong and proud, singing loud.

The worst is over now

And we can breathe again.

I wanna hold you high

And steal my name

There’s so much left to learn

And no one left to fight.

I wanna hold you high

And steal your pain.

Verse joined in, both of them singing twice as loud as they had. Melody felt the chills run all over her body, fueling her voice and her fingers.

’Cause I’m broken

When I’m lonesome.

And I don’t feel right

When you’re gone away.

What was probably Melody’s favorite part of the song came next. She played soft, subdued strains while Verse’s fingers flew over the pickups. His guitar sang a simple, sweet solo, low and slow, the simple notes making Melody shiver all over. It had been far, far too long since they had sang this song…

‘Cause I’m broken

When I’m open.

And I don’t feel right,

That I’m strong enough

‘Cause I’m broken

When I’m lonesome.

And I don’t wanna feel right

When you’re gone away.

Melody’s bow screeched across the strings, playing a haunting solo in between two choruses. The next few lines were the loudest and strongest of them all.

’Cause I’m broken

When I’m lo-onesome

And I don’t wanna fee-eel right,

That you’re gone a-way…

The notes died off, leaving Melody’s knees feeling weak. She had that sweat in the small of her back, the kind someone got when they were chilled to the bone, excited and happy. She and Verse shared a grin…

Just as the applause started.

With a jolt, both of them turned around, looking at the small crowd of people gathered in the music room. There had to have been two or three dozen… Melody didn’t want to count, she just knew it was a lot. For someone who had never performed for any number of people greater than seven, this was a first. She hadn’t even heard them come in! Among them, surprisingly enough, were Lily, Twilight, and Dash. Most of them, though, were stewards. Non-avian personnel who cleaned and performed upkeep on the massive tower. The surprisingly familiar face of Comitatus, the magi steward they had played with last time they visited the room, was grinning the widest.

“Shit,” Verse said, laughing nervously. “Didn’t even hear any of you…” He and Melody stood up, and after a quick glance, shared a bow. Several of the spectators moved forward, shaking their hands and complimenting them. They basked in the moment for a long while before the requests started coming. Song names came from all over, Melody couldn’t even keep up with all of them. One in particular stood out amongst them.

“Okay, that’s gonna take a pianist and a backup guitarist AT LEAST.” She chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. She remembered reading the sheet music for it, and she had really wanted to play it.

“Come on, kiddo.” Lily said, stepping forward smoothly. She pinched Melody’s cheek with a patronizing touch before taking her seat behind the piano. “You know I’m good for it.”

“Hey, I’m in on this.” Comitatus produced a second guitar and sat opposite Verse. Lily felt her heart race as someone handed them the sheet music for it. Tabs for Verse and Comitatus, a lyric book for Melody, and a whole spread for Lily.

“Right.” Melody said, smiling at all of them. “Ready? One, two, three, four.”

-----------

When darkness fell, she was hoarse, her fingers were sore, and she was oh so happy. At some point, they had all agreed to go out for drinks. The crowd thinned a little, but there was still a sizeable chunk. They all drew strange looks from guards as a dozen of them walked through the gates, belting an upbeat tune at the top of their lungs. When Melody and Verse slipped in the bar, the topic had turned to them. They were obviously twins, with their similar hair and eye color. They smiled at one another over the rim of tall mugs filled to the brim with a delicious, very dark ale.

When they shared their story, people laughed, some of them cried, and every one of them was in awe.

“So… You were the ones who stopped that horrible storm?” Comitatus asked, his eyes wide.

“Well… Wait, it came this far south?” Melody asked, her brow drawn.

“Yeah… A few weeks ago, the entire town got covered with snow. No one went out to the bars, no one came to the music room, no one wanted to be sociable… Everything just sort of… Froze. It was odd. And it lasted for two whole days. Two days of crazy snow and bitter cold. It was miserable.” He set his mug down, looking between them. “Then it just stopped. Out of nowhere. Bam.” He slammed his fist down. “Snows melted, and this… This… Wave came over everyone. They were out in the streets, in the bars, talking, socializing… Man, it was like… Instant.” Everyone around the table all shared knowing nods, their mugs at varying ranges of emptiness. “You two did that?”

“Well… If it was at the same time Verse here had a little chat with Wendigo, then yeah. I guess we did.” Melody chuckled and crossed her legs underneath the table. After so long talking and singing, her throat felt sore. She switched from beer to lemon water, and grew slightly more reserved through the night. Rather than chatting and talking, they listened. Comitatus shared his own story, a warm tale about him and his childhood friend joining the equestrian military, how they had both been posted at Eyriewatch… About how he had died in the same changeling attack that Melody and Verse had escaped from. Melody felt closer to him when she realized he had lost a close, good friend the same day she had technically lost Twilight.

The stories went around and around, Melody and Verse just sitting there, soaking in the culture, the different experiences… It was truly an experience, one that made her feel so much more like a person, real and normal, and not just another face passing through Eyriewatch. She had had an impact in the lives of so many people. As the sky darkened further, though, everyone began to slowly dwindle off. They swaggered through the door in groups of twos and threes, only very few of them leaving alone. Finally, it came down to two female avian couriers, Comitatus, and Melody. Verse had excused himself fifteen minutes prior, explaining he had things to do the next day. Melody recalled Lily pulling him aside at some point to set up what she had to guess was a solo training session. She basically had tomorrow to herself, provided Twilight or Dash didn’t have anything for her to do. She was, at the moment, listening to this wonderful woman named Faith explain how she had come to join the military.

“It started when all my older sisters started joining the guard. One after the other, bam, bam, bam... Three gone in five months, each of them into different branches. One of them joined the cavalry, the next moved on to recon, and the third into the scouts. There was a lot of pressure to join from my family, but after me, the next oldest of my sisters was only seven. I really didn’t want to leave them...” She went on, describing how she eventually did; Melody would be lying if she said the story didn’t tug on her heartstrings.

“Sometimes, I wonder how my little sisters are growing up... They don’t know anything about our home in Canterlot, they don’t know what it’s like to live in a time of peace... All they know is Fillydelphia. War-torn Fillydelphia...” She sagged then. Melody’s brow drew down with concern as she leaned in, gently rubbing the poor woman’s back. It was almost like Melody’s ginger touch triggered something in her. The avian sagged, her eyes brimming with tears as she slowly lowered her head onto her arms. Melody watched her start to sob, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Comitatus raise from his chair. Together, he and the other avian left, shooting her sympathetic looks.

“I’m sorry,” Faith blubbered, wiping tears from her eyes. Melody looked around and saw that anyone nearby was ignoring them. They were alone at the table.

“It’s fine. You’re allowed to be, you know, human sometimes.” Melody whispered, leaning in close. Faith sobbed a little more, sniffling and shaking. When the waitress stopped by, arching a questioning eyebrow, Melody handed their half-empty drinks off and gave her a look that said ‘Too much to drink.’

Faith gave a mighty sniff a minute or two later, raising her head. “Thanks,” She muttered, wiping her puffy eyes.

“Don’t mention it.” Melody smiled, rubbing her shoulder. When her hand left the avian’s back, she was given a look of hopelessness, like this woman had just been abandoned. Her hand hovered for a moment in midair before resting on her forearm... The relief in her face was almost painfully apparent. Melody’s own mind was hazed over with alcohol. Not enough to make her worry about making it back to her room safely, but certainly enough to make her not want to take this any further... At least, not until she was sober.

“I really mean it,” Faith muttered quietly. “Thank you.”

“Look, if you really want to make it up to me,” Melody said with a soft sigh and a smile. Her thumb gingerly rubbed Faith’s forearm, the woman’s face lighting up at the mention of paying her back. “Take me out on a date?”

There was a pause. Melody knew it. She felt it, even through the haze of the drink. She didn’t know if Faith didn’t swing that way, or if she wasn’t interested in Melody, or what, but it stretched on for what felt like forever. Melody began to worry when Faith burst out with some words she hadn’t been quite expecting.

“Like, right now?”

“No! No, not right now.” Melody laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh wow, you’re drunk.”

“Haha, yeah I am...” Tears gone, both of them dissolved into a fit of giggles, then on into laughter, and soon enough the bartender was asking them to leave. Melody paid their tabs and stumbled out onto the street with Faith.

“Tomorrow?” Faith asked once they had composed themselves enough.

“If you’re free.” Melody answered with a smile.

“I will be, I’ve got two weeks off before I’m back on assignment.” She said with a nod. Melody noticed that during their stumbling departure, their arms had somehow become loosely looped around one another’s waists... Both of them were drunk, weren’t they? Melody groaned inwardly, but Faith took it as an invitation.

“Mff...” Melody whimpered as the avian’s lips suddenly pressed against hers, making her head swim more than it already was. The kiss stretched on, and Melody could only guess that it lasted anywhere from ten seconds to an hour... She wished she could remember all of it. Once their lips broke apart, she had forgotten the beginning... So she had to have another. This time, Melody moved forward, eagerly kissing Faith. Somehow, she was pushed against the wall, Faith’s wings flaring out to conceal them against the brick. There, in the middle of the street, Melody was willingly assaulted by drunken, sloppy kisses.

She wasn’t sure when it ended, maybe it was when she felt Faith’s fingers sliding up her thigh, or maybe when her own hands cupped her counterpart’s moderate breasts... Whenever it was, though, it ended suddenly.

“On the street?” Faith gasped, her hot breath washing over Melody’s lips. She smelled like whiskey. Sadly enough, the panted question was enough to sober her enough.

“Save it for tomorrow...” She whimpered, sliding her hands down to Faith’s waist.

“Right... Where at?”

“Well...” Melody teased, leaning in to let her breath wash over the fine hairs on Faith’s neck. “It has to be somewhere we’re gonna remember...” That got a soft chuckle from her new target, the poor woman quaking under Melody’s lips... Even drunk, she had that magical healer’s touch. Light as a feather and filled with promise.

“Top of the tower at sundown?”

“Sounds good.”

“Right then... Uum...”

“Good night?”

“‘Night...” Melody smiled, flashing her teeth brilliantly as Faith flapped her wings. The courier lifted off into the sky, looking back at Melody with what she swore was more than just feminine appreciation... Then again, it could have just been the alcohol. She kept her back against the stone wall for a few more long moments, trying to recollect her thoughts before she pushed away from the wall, her own wings sprouting from her back...

Somehow, she made it back to her room, stripped her dress and underwear off, and passed out on the bed.

Her dreams were filled with thin, eager lips and skilled, gentle hands...