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Bliss Above the Clouds

By microwave
Created: 2023-11-12 19:58:17
Updated: 2024-02-28 03:15:28
Expiry: Never

  1. You are Anon, looking at the massive spire of the main Platinum College building that protruded through the clouds below, admiring the magical architecture of this world. You've spent a good five years in this world, and four of those were spent serving Avtukia and her Sovereign, the Tsar, aboard the air frigate named "Gracemarean Excellence". Despite the sudden migration between dimensions, waking up in the center of Avtukia's capital city, and subsequent culture shock, you've managed to fully embrace your new life.
  2.  
  3. Your thoughts were interrupted by a female voice coming from behind you: "Lieutenant Anonymous, Sir! The navigation module is malfunctioning. Copper Sextant requests your assistance in its repair."
  4.  
  5. You turned as the mare behind you spoke. It was Senior Airmare Found Treasure. Assistant to the aforementioned Copper Sextant, the airship's navigator. With a sigh, you responded: "Alright, I'll come with you. Lead the way, Found."
  6.  
  7. She elaborated more as you two walked side by side towards the navigator's post: "The Platinum College spire appears about 30 kilometers further than what it's supposed to be. Copper tried to tinker with it..." Found paused and continued, whispering: "I think he made it worse, but keep that between you and me."
  8.  
  9. You arrive at the navigator's post with Found entering the room behind you, exclaiming "Officer on Deck!" as she entered. Copper, the grumpy unicorn navigator, dropped what he was doing and sat at attention next to the orb-like magical navigation module.
  10.  
  11. "Sir." Said Copper. Before he could continue, you said: "Found told me what the problem is. Magical navigation is out of whack?"
  12.  
  13. "Indeed, sir. The displayed position of the College spire relative to our position is severely inaccurate." Copper gave his report on the matter.
  14.  
  15. "Let's see here..." You went to the module and knelt next to it before opening the crystal receptacle, exposing the enchanted crystal in a lead casing marked with the number 320 in red paint applied onto the casing. After briefly taking it out and putting it back into the receptacle, Copper comes to the conclusion that it may have been out of battery after all. You close the receptacle door before hearing a frustrated Copper cuss out. The module was properly calibrated until you closed the door.
  16.  
  17. "I swear to Celestia, if this damn door closing is the root of it, I will scream." Copper quickly repeated what you've done a minute or two again, without closing the door. It worked flawlessly, though there was a risk of dust getting on the enchanted crystal through the open door.
  18.  
  19. Copper stomped with one of his forehooves before cussing in his native tongue again: "Nu kak, blya'?" He then went to Found, reaching into his uniform waist pocket with telekinesis for his pipe and tobacco as he walked towards her. "I'm going out for some fresh air. Look into the piece of shit door while I'm gone, alright?" he said. Found chuckled at Copper's display of frustration and agreed.
  20.  
  21. You decided to help Found in finding a fix or at least a temporary solution to the door issue. Despite serving on this fine air vessel for years, you haven't really been in the navigator's post that much. The magical navigation orb was a big almost pony-size sphere held above the ground with 8 equally spaced out iron legs, with the crystal receptacle on the bottom. The crystal's stored magical energy fires into the glass orb and displays nearby concentrations of magical presence. On one side of the room there is a table with the necessary maps and tools to plan out routes, while the other side is lined with cabinets that contain different enchanted crystals meant for navigation, with the smallest scope crystal being one with a 32 kilometer detection radius while the largest on board the airship was the 320 kilometer radius crystal currently in use.
  22.  
  23. Personally, you didn't know much about the specifics and working principles of the magical navigation system, though it is a well-known fact that Avtukia is dotted by magic-dense navigation beacons easily picked up by such a system. Ships of the Avtukian Highfleet among other civilian-owned cargo air freighters usually jump from one beacon to another in an effort to stay on route.
  24.  
  25. Hoofsteps could be heard coming closer and closer, until finally, Captain Cloud Bliss peeked into the room. "Oh hey, Anon! Didn't expect you here!" She chuckled, before continuing: "Copper knows full well he owes me two silvers after losing that bet last week. He could've simply called me in and that'd be that, but nope!"
  26.  
  27. "Well, to be fair... he did not expect the new coal powered systems to do anything for our agility." You walked closer to Cloud as you spoke. "The poor colt almost fell overboard with how hard that turn you made at Vorony..."
  28.  
  29. "Anon... you know already that I got my mark by defying expectations." She placed one of her forehooves on your knee and gave you a sly look. "That's something I quite appreciate about you..."
  30.  
  31. Her remark normally wouldn't sound any alarms, as Cloud wasn't shy to commend her subordinates' personalities and skills if they worked well with hers as part of the well oiled machine her crew and airship were. For example, she keeps Copper around despite his outbursts due to his magical skills coupled with his reliability as a navigator with both traditional and magical means, and you were there to hear that say it to him back when he just joined the crew.
  32.  
  33. However, the sly look she gave you, coupled with the hoof on your knee, took you and the onlooking Found by surprise. Cloud, in the meanwhile, interpreted your surprise as something else, and said: "Well…*ahem* …I'll just get going..." as her smug expression turned serious and stiff upper lipped before going on her way.
  34.  
  35. "Anon..." Found walked up next to you, as you were reeling from the compliment(?) your superior and long-time friend gave you. "Sir... she just... that means..."
  36.  
  37. "Did she just hit on me with that?" You said. Found immediately replied: "Perhaps... the Captain took a liking to you?"
  38.  
  39. "Perhaps, Found... perhaps..." You replied after a considerable pause: "Just... get this thing fixed."
  40.  
  41. Found saluted and got to work. You, meanwhile, went to investigate the matter.
  42.  
  43. You make your way towards Cloud's quarters. After walking up to the door, you give it a knock. After receiving no response, you slowly open the door and have a look around. The Captain's quarters are quite sizeable compared to yours, that on top of being smaller, you also have to share with another fellow officer. She has a king-sized bed placed right next to the massive thick windows of the stern, allowing her to wake up with the morning sky in her view every morning. Her quarters also featured a desk with a bookshelf next to it. As you quietly shuffled towards her desk, you could see a book inside of another, with the inner book having a book page marker in it.
  44.  
  45. The outside book was what you'd expect of her, "Friendship in War vol. 2", the mainstay Patriotic War-period drama. You tried to carefully manipulate the outer book to see the cover of the inner book, and recognized that the inner book's title goes something like "At Peace, In Love vol. 4"
  46.  
  47. After only a few minutes in her quarters, you decide that enough is enough, and leave her quarters before anyone sees, closing the door behind you.
  48.  
  49. Thoughts are racing through your head. Reading what appears according to the cover to be a romance? You remember that she wasn't interested in romance ever since you've asked her for a date a long two years ago, riding on the high after the victory over Gallund, not to mention her disdain for attending events like balls and galas. You've always considered her married to her airship... "What happened to her?" you think to yourself until you feel the airship suddenly nose-up and you find yourself knocked to the ground.
  50.  
  51. You manage to get up back on your feet and rush towards the top deck to see what has happened until you bump into Cloud on the stairs leading topside.
  52.  
  53. "Anon! I was just looking for you! I needed you at the helm yesterday!" She reprimanded you as your superior officer.
  54.  
  55. "Oh, I'm sorry, Cloud. I had to..." You tried to explain yourself before she cut you off: "We'll talk later, just go help me change course. Come on!"
  56.  
  57. "The headwind is blowing us backwards, colts and gentlemares! 10 degrees towards port! Helm - shift primary rudder half-right!" She gave you, the airship's lieutenant and helmsman the order to shift the rudder. You could her give out orders to the rest of the crew: "Starboard side-sails - fully extend!" Her subsequent orders were inaudible to you as the hustle and bustle on the top deck coupled with the distance between you and her drowned out her voice.
  58.  
  59. You turned the helm counter-clockwise to turn the rudder towards the right and awaited further orders from the Captain. You felt nauseous due to the sharp turn she has ordered. As you notice the balloon rotating, it became evident that she ordered the balloon to be turned to face the port bow, to help get out of the wind faster. A few seconds after a pegasus Midshipmare announced that the balloon rotation is complete, you heard something strikingly similar to fireworks. Suddenly, you feel a bit of whiplash as the newly installed rocket boosters were put to the test. With their help, the airship even started speeding up against the headwind.
  60.  
  61. With the ship's acceleration, the raised side-sails on the starboard side were able to catch sufficient wind and assist in turning the airship in its entirety, completing the maneuver just in time for the rockets to run out.
  62.  
  63. "Starboard side-sails - extend half!" You heard Cloud bark out orders towards her crew. As she walked past you, she ordered "Helm - rudder neutral!", and you did just that. Turning the helm clockwise until the rudder is in its neutral position.
  64.  
  65. The airship is now slowly chugging along with a headwind. It was still painfully slow for Cloud, as she ordered "Pegasi - commence weather manipulation!" As her words rang out, an integrated highfleet "marine" platoon of pegasi jumped overboard and started doing their weather magic.
  66.  
  67. You were always impressed by Cloud's competency in commanding her airship. Not only that, but doing so under pressure of being blown upside down by a strong headwind with a level head way above the water. Not to mention her ability to know exactly what orders to issue to save herself, her ship and her crew from damnation.
  68.  
  69. You can clearly see her from the helm. triumphantly standing on the bow, her short mane fluttering in the wind, almost as if to taunt whichever creature is in control of the winds of this earth. Cloud turned towards you, thinking you can't see her, and with her confidence bolstered with the newly minted victory over a dangerous headwind, she winked in your general direction.
  70.  
  71. However, you saw everything, and that display reignited your long lost crush on Cloud. After putting what just happened with her earlier display in the navigator's post, all these long repressed feelings for her suddenly hit you like a train, and you could audibly hear your heartbeat as your stomach got a severe case of the butterflies.
  72.  
  73. After half an hour of work on the pegasi's part, the window became accommodating enough to continue your current route from Magavo to Gracemare. The crew cheered as the airship's maneuvering elements and control surfaces were all returned to neutral, as the wind began gently blowing the vessel forward along the planned route.
  74.  
  75. Cloud slowly walked closer to you, dismissing the crew of the balloon rigging as she went by them. When she came to you, she simply said "Helm, at ease, await further-" before being interrupted by you.
  76.  
  77. "Captain, ma'am…" You smiled, giving her a salute. "...I believe this calls for celebration. Great job as always."
  78.  
  79. Cloud pondered about it. She remembered that shortly before departing from Magavo, she had the airship restocked with sufficient supplies to allow for a trip from Magavo to Gracemare, with enough to spare for a potential trip back with minimal resupply if rationed correctly.
  80.  
  81. "Sure. Let the crew know, Anon. Tonight at 8 o' clock, double dinner rations are to be prepared for the crew…" Cloud looked towards her "colts and gentlemares" before continuing: "...And distribute a day's booze on top of what they got today. They've sure earned it."
  82.  
  83. As Cloud went below deck towards quarters, you went to address the crew to announce the celebration planned for tonight. To help the airship's cook, you assigned two airmares in preparing the food for tonight, and assigned Found Treasure to handle the distribution of booze when the clock strikes eight.
  84.  
  85. As for yourself, you went towards the officer's quarters. When you entered, you saw your winged battle buddy, roommate and fellow officer Midshipstallion Rolling Thunder lounging on his bed as if nothing happened.
  86.  
  87. "Had fun up there, Anonshka?" He said, as he opened one of his eyes to see who entered.
  88.  
  89. "I guess you could say so…" You replied, "I think the Captain likes me, Roll."
  90.  
  91. "Well, of course she likes you, bratishka! There's a reason she chose you to replace poor Salmon as lieutenant after the Gall-" Rolling spoke with his eyes closed, still lounging on the bed until you interrupted him: "No, no, no…"
  92.  
  93. "...I meant, *likes* likes me…" Upon hearing this, Rolling immediately sprung up and said: "Oh Celestia, what did she do?"
  94.  
  95. "She put her hoof on my knee and gave me quite a look…" You paused to give Rolling time to process this information before continuing: "And then, when she dealt with the headwind, I swear I saw her look directly at me and wink from afar."
  96.  
  97. "Isn't she basically married to this airship? Did she just wake up this morning and choose to pursue you? Talk to me, Anon!" Rolling excitedly tapped his hoof against the floor.
  98.  
  99. "I thought the same, apparently not…" You paused again and sat down on your bed before continuing: "Anyways, I got her to issue double rations tonight!" You proudly exclaim.
  100.  
  101. The topic immediately changes as Rolling asks: "Booze, too?", to which you reply with a resounding "Yep!"
  102.  
  103. "You work wonders, Anon." Rolling chuckled as he laid back down on his bed. You did the same and stared at the ceiling, thinking about Cloud. Your body, now with nothing to focus on, fell once again to her spell. It seemed as if you couldn't get her out of your head. After a while you doze off to pass the time.
  104.  
  105. You wake up and check your pocket watch: It was half past 6 in the afternoon. After looking to the side you notice that Rolling was gone. You get up out of bed and make your way to the upper deck to enjoy the early evening scenery from above the clouds, and get some fresh air before heading down for the generous dinner currently being prepared.
  106.  
  107. Apart from you and another pony at the bow of the airship, the topside was devoid of all life. You could see the Captain sitting on a folding chair at the bow by herself. you saw Cloud reading, her book's pages somewhat illuminated by the setting sun the ship is facing towards. As usual, her mane was all sorts of messy from the wind. It seemed like she was completely caught up in reading, especially since she had not reacted to your approaching footsteps at all.
  108.  
  109. You walk up behind her, casting a shadow making her turn around. When she realised that it was you, she immediately let out a surprised yelp and slammed her book shut. That turned out to be the wrong move, as the book she was truly reading slid out from the bigger book used to hide it onto the deck.
  110.  
  111. Cloud sighed and blushed in embarrassment as she went to pick up the book on the deck.
  112.  
  113. "H-have you any reason for doing this?" She exclaimed stuttering a bit, trying to maintain her stoic ship captain demeanor as best as she could. She continued: "I'm sorry, you caught me by surprise. I thought you were with the rest of the crew…"
  114.  
  115. "No, I'm sorry, Cloud. I just wanted to ask you something." You asked, a nervous tone was noticeable in your voice. The butterflies were still going at it in your stomach. "I wanted to ask you about… you know, what happened in the navigator's post..."
  116.  
  117. Cloud blushed, and replied with the very same nervousness in her voice: "Anon, I…" She hesitated, "...I can't get myself to talk about it…"
  118.  
  119. "Perhaps… w-we could have our dinner together by ourselves? In m-my quarters? Then we c-could talk about it?" She stuttered out these words, in an even more nervous tone than before.
  120.  
  121. "Cloud, are you fine? You're a mess!" You tell her, mustering the courage to put one of your hands on her cheek. "Come on, Cloud! what's the matter?"
  122.  
  123. You notice her losing herself in your eyes, as do you lose yourself in hers just now. Suddenly, she snapped out of it and bolted below deck, towards her quarters. You take her small folding chair and both of her books off the deck, and make your way to check on Cloud. Did she just ask you out there? There's only one way to find out.
  124.  
  125. You knocked on her door. "Come in…" you hear a faint response from Cloud. You left her folding chair and books by the entrance and slowly opened the door, peeking into the room.
  126.  
  127. The first thing you see is a table in the middle of the room is a dinner table for two, though with no cover and currently no dishes on it. You open it the rest of the way and you see Cloud sitting on her bed, still blushing.
  128.  
  129. "Close the door, Anon, please." She said, her voice calmer than before. You moved the chair and books left outside into the room before closing the door. Afterwards, you went to her and sat next to her on the bed.
  130.  
  131. You wrapped your hand around her to comfort her and looked at her with concern, saying: "What's wrong, Cloud? You're scaring me!"
  132.  
  133. She replies, looking at the books you left by the door: "Anon… I tried all day to muster the strength, the courage, to say what's wrong with me, but…" She takes a deep breath. You feel the arm around Cloud slightly shaking in anticipation.
  134.  
  135. She chuckled, leaning onto you, with her head landing on your shoulder. You could muster no words to react to her advance, though your head seemingly by itself leaned onto hers.
  136.  
  137. "You're nervous, too, huh?" She said, before continuing: "I'll tell you all about it, if you dine with me tonight." Cloud nervously chuckled, awaiting your response, which was a simple "Yes, I will."
  138.  
  139. You used your free hand to check the time. It was almost 7. The first portions should be ready to be served to the crew by now, so you and Cloud went together, almost hoof in hand, towards the airship's kitchen.
  140.  
  141. Fortunately for you, the line was quite short when you arrived, consisting mostly of officers that immediately gave way for you two to get your food. You could see Rolling at a table overlooking the line, with a huge grin on his face as he ate his meal.
  142.  
  143. You and Cloud quickly got your double portions which consisted of a more refined "army apple soup" in a standard tin mess plate. Usually, the soup would be a sweet broth with chunks of apple swimming around as a treat. However, due to the double ration order, this night's soup was made much thicker, resembling more of a stew, perhaps a goulash from back home, though made out of apples instead of what you'd expect. The broth gave way to mushed apple mixed with oatmeal, with nuts sprinkled on top for extra crunch, and larger pieces of apple still present to act as sweet flavor bombs to further enhance the flavor of the stew as a whole. Of course, no meal in the Avtukian army, navy, nor highfleet would be complete without the signature hardtack to go with it all.
  144.  
  145. You've always admired the fact that Cloud preferred eating the same food served to the regular enlisted airmares and airstallions instead of partaking in the more refined officer's diet. In a way, she reminded you of Suvorov, who ate like his men, slept like them, and even drank like them. Without a doubt, she commanded the most respect out of any officer in any branch of the Avtukian military due to her choice to endure the same burdens as the ponies under her command.
  146.  
  147. Cloud finally led you to the dining table in her quarters, and you two took your seats. The silence was then broken by a laugh coming from Cloud: "Well, we're definitely not replacing our cook any time soon!"
  148.  
  149. "I'm quite impressed with what that stallion is able to do with only apples, oats and nuts." You responded, quite impressed with the heartiness of this simple but refined army meal.
  150.  
  151. You watched with fascination as Cloud took one of her pieces of hardtack in one hoof, and smacked it with her other hoof in order to break the cracker over her tin mess plate. She noticed you looking and said "You haven't tried eating them like that yet, Anon? Here, try this…" She said as she extended her hoof forward with a spoon that has a little bit of everything on it.
  152.  
  153. You obliged and accepted to be fed by Cloud, and boy, was she right! The hardtack gave off an amazing crunchy feeling in your mouth. You quickly tried to do the same with your share of hardtack, though it was much harder for you to break the crackers. Cloud giggled as she watched you struggle with it: "Need a little help there, Anon?" she asked. You, a gentleman embarrassed of asking for help from a lady, of course, refused and managed to break it with your fist the same way she did.
  154.  
  155. Eventually, you two finish your meals. Cloud stands up from the table and opens the door of her quarters, and signals you to follow her. She leads you to the bow of the airship, right where you startled her a hour or two ago. This time, the both of you are still quite nervous, though comfortable in each other's company.
  156.  
  157. She faces you, places a forehoof on your knee just like how she did in the navigator's post, and starts pouring her heart out: "Anon… we seem to have become best of friends over the years we've known each other…" She paused to recollect herself before continuing.
  158.  
  159. "I thought I had it all. I really did! My own airship and crew. A long military career ahead of me. I had no need for anything else in my life!" She continued,
  160.  
  161. "Then I saw all my acquaintances fall in love, one by one… I couldn't help but feel… jealous." As she poured her heart out, you knelt down to get on an eye level with her, putting both of your hands on the hoof on your knee.
  162.  
  163. "I eventually started reading these… quite mediocre romance novels… and I could feel my heart ache from the loneliness I suddenly found myself in." Cloud started tearing up.
  164.  
  165. "Anon… you were interested in me, and I rejected your advances due to my foolishness. Please… accept me into your heart-" She was interrupted by a kiss to the forehead. After pulling your head back after kissing her, you answered: "Cloud, how could I not?"
  166.  
  167. She went to hug you, with tears in your eyes. You also had tears in your eyes. You had the purest form of love right in front of you, in your embrace, all of it meant for you and only you.
  168.  
  169. "Shall we go to sleep, my love? You need to be well rested for our arrival to Gracemare tomorrow." You asked.
  170.  
  171. She chuckled, mumbling "My love…" and sunk even further into your embrace.
  172.  
  173. "Come on, you…" you whispered into her ear before lifting her up and carrying her like the Princess you believe she deserves to be treated as.
  174.  
  175. The crew that were enjoying their extra booze ration on the deck looked on as you princess-carried the Captain of this airship with awe, and began cheering, attracting attention from all crew that were in between you and the Captain's quarters. Rolling and his clique of crewpony friends, obviously drunk off of somepony's secret stash exclaimed: "That's right, Anon! Make us a couple more Cloud Blisses for good measure!" and laughed about it.
  176.  
  177. Cloud took it in good humor, naturally. She was the happiest she had been in her life ever since she commissioned this very airship into the service of the Tsar more than half a decade ago. You, meanwhile, were quite content yourself as you carried this very happy mare into her quarters, and put her on the bed. After tucking her into bed, you head to the door to leave her alone until Cloud called out for you.
  178.  
  179. “Anon~…” Cloud cooed as your back was turned to her.
  180.  
  181. You turned around to see Cloud on her back with her hindlegs up and forehooves to her chest, giving you a perfect side view of her body which was silhouetted by the evening sky visible through the stern windows right next to the bed.
  182.  
  183. Before you could respond, Cloud turned over to the side with her back facing the window, inviting you to lie in bed next to her: “Close that door and lock it… then join me here~” She said as she rubbed one of her forehooves along the empty space for you on the bed next to her, reaching for the key in her coat pocket with the other free hoof.
  184.  
  185. As you took the key from her hoof and went to lock the door, she took the boots off of her hindlegs, and unbuttoned her coat as well as the woolen shirt she wore under it. When you turned to come to her, you saw Cloud ready for you to come finish undressing her. At this point, your heart started beating heavily. As you slowly approached her, you tried to focus on your breathing.
  186.  
  187. “Nervous?” Cloud asked, using one of her forehooves to show more of her belly by pushing up a part of the coat and shirt to tease you.
  188.  
  189. “A bit…” You took your boots off and placed them next to hers. As your hands went to unbutton your coat, Cloud rose up from bed, sitting on her part of the bed before saying: “Come sit with me, I’ll take care of these~.”
  190.  
  191. You sat down on the bed cross-legged to face her. As she started slowly unbuttoning your coat, you looked into her eyes and put your hands around her waist. Cloud responded to the touch with a small moan as she continued her effort in undressing you on to your shirt. You start feeling her hooves shake slightly in anticipation of what’s coming next.
  192.  
  193. “This is so romantic…” You said to Cloud, “...Was there something like this in your silly novels you have stashed under this bed?”
  194.  
  195. Cloud sheepishly responded as she undid your shirt’s final button: “Yes… I’ve… t-touched myself to the thought of doing this to a stallion.” She mirrored your move and likewise put her hooves around your waist. You then took one of your arms off of her, and with the fingers of your newly freed hand, you guided her muzzle quite close towards your face.
  196.  
  197. After a brief pause of eye contact and sharing breath with her, you give her a small kiss on the lips. The small kiss slowly evolves into a passionate, deep kiss that the both of you seem to have a hard time breaking out of. After a minute, Cloud’s lips finally separate from yours, and says: “Anon… I want you…” between her heavy breaths.
  198.  
  199. “Let’s go slowly, Cloud…” You say before taking your partner’s top clothes off in their entirety, revealing her pristine cream colored coat in its full glory. “Turn around and lie down, dear.” You gently whisper into her ear.
  200.  
  201. After helping her do just that, you press your torso against her back. You use one hand to rub her belly while the other one moves to pull her pants down. Cloud’s heavy breathing slowly gets interrupted by moans of pleasure as you touch her. Upon sliding her pants down to her fetlocks, the other hand then begins rubbing her flank, which causes her to moan slightly louder.
  202.  
  203. “M-my… my…” Cloud struggles to arrange her words properly, though she moves one of her hooves down to her nether region in order to rub her winking marehood.
  204.  
  205. “Cloud, dear… let me handle everything. Relax.” You whispered in her ear, moving her hoof away from her now dripping marehood. She responded with a fatigued “Mmm-hmm…”.
  206.  
  207. “Good girl. Now…” You say as the hand you’ve used to rub her belly moved down to her teats, the other hand holding her wet hoof she tried to pleasure herself with. She let off an even stronger moan. You also feel the hoof you’re holding in your other hand shaking.
  208.  
  209. “Shhhhhh…” You whisper into her ear as your hand moves from her teats to her inner thighs, your fingers occasionally swiping her sensitive nipples. She moans out to you: “Anon… please… let me…”. Your response is quick. You move your hand off her inner thighs towards her marehood.
  210.  
  211. As you start rubbing her winking clitoris with one of your fingers, she moans loudly into her pillow in hopes to suppress the sound. You slowly add in two more fingers to the equation, using one to rub her clitoris while the other two rub her insides. Cloud couldn’t help but squirm around in your embrace as the sensation she never felt before “melts” her right in your arms.
  212.  
  213. She used her one free hoof to cover her mouth while the other one was still held. You found her muffled moans and overall genuine pleasure quite arousing. Your member is dripping with precum and about to burst from out of your pants, though you ignore that for now.
  214.  
  215. “Come on, dear Cloud…” You whisper into her ear, breathing heavily into her neck afterwards, “...cum for me, my love.” You free the hand you held her hoof with and rub her teats and inner thighs with it, as you continue fingering her with your other hand. Immediately after freeing her other hoof, she also put it to cover her mouth along with the hoof that was there first.
  216.  
  217. Her moaning ramped up until she released what you thought sounded like a scream, as the hand you used to finger her gets soaked with her juices. That signaled you to stop and move both of your hands back on her belly.
  218.  
  219. “Was that good?” You ask her. After a silence only broken up by Cloud’s quieter moaning and heavy breathing, responds with: “Very good. Now, Anon… Will you let me return the favor?”
  220.  
  221. Without a word more, she rolls into you. As you lay on your back, she rises and hungrily takes off your pants. After she took your underpants off, she saw your member, now free from clothing, rise to the maximum of its length.
  222.  
  223. “I’ll show you another thing I learned from these novels~!” Cloud cooed as she put her muzzle on to the top of your member and smelled it. She then giggled and licked her lips before kissing it.
  224.  
  225. You know what comes next, and you proceed to use both of your hands to grip the pillow your head is rested on. She starts licking off the precum off your member, both of her hooves resting on your thighs as she works her magic.
  226.  
  227. Being on the receiving end, it became hard to not moan yourself, especially since you’ve been pent up as you were satisfying your partner. Cloud started sucking on the head of your member, taking in more and more every few seconds, until she reached a satisfactory half-way point down your shaft.
  228.  
  229. “Cloud, I-I’m…” You interrupted yourself as you attempted to suppress your moan, though Cloud well understood what you wanted to say. She went down your entire shaft before pulling it out of her mouth, only to lick along its whole length once before putting your whole length into her mouth again.
  230.  
  231. She repeats this a few times before you finally reach climax. As soon as she notices your climax, Cloud takes only the tip of your shaft, and a second after that, you cum into her mouth. After your body stops discharging semen into Cloud’s mouth, she slides your member out of her mouth for the last time. Afterwards, she opened her mouth fully to show that she swallowed everything, and giggled afterwards.
  232.  
  233. “You’re good at this…” You said, huffing and puffing in the afterglow. Cloud quietly crawls up next to you and responds: “I’ve had my fill for tonight, love…”
  234.  
  235. “Likewise, dear Cloud.” You kiss her on the forehead and get under the covers, basking together in the afterglow, cuddling into the next day.
  236.  
  237. THE NEXT MORNING - Ch. II
  238.  
  239. You wake up to knocking on the door and a familiar voice “inviting” you specifically to come outside. Cloud seems to have woken up shortly after you, still in your embrace.
  240.  
  241. “What’s going on?” Cloud, still half-asleep, muttered out to you. Before getting a chance to respond, the same familiar voice knocks a few more times on the door, exclaiming: “Good morning, you two flightless lovebirds! I hear you~!” before breaking out in laughter. You can now tell that the voice behind the door is your roommate Rolling Thunder.
  242.  
  243. Cloud immediately realized what was going on and, with an expletive or two, sprung out of your embrace and out of bed, whispering: “Get dressed! Make it quick!” as she threw you your pants. Not questioning the “order”, you rushed out of bed to put on your pants.
  244.  
  245. After making yourself look like a proper officer of the Avtukian Highfleet, you answer the door on the insistence of the mare you’ve spent the night with. You unlock the door and slightly open it. You not only see your loud roommate, you also see pretty much half of the airship’s crew surrounding the door.
  246.  
  247. As the door opens and the ponies gathered outside see you, they begin cheering. You can’t help but slightly spread your arms as if you were a priest tending to his congregation of believers as you’re faced with cheers from dozens of fellow crewponies.
  248.  
  249. A stink eye to the crew from Captain Cloud stopped the cacophony. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she asked: “Right, what’s all this then?”.
  250.  
  251. “Ma’am, Midshipstallion Rolling Thunder assembled us-” One of the crewponies, an earthpony mare, replied before being interrupted by the Captain: “You. Front and center!”.
  252.  
  253. She gestured for you to move aside to make space for the crewmare that was ordered to report to her. As she made her way through the crowd over in front of the Captain, she stood at attention, saluted and started again: “Ordinary Airmare Fruit Joy reports that Midshipstallion Rolling Thunder ordered us to gather outside the Captain’s quarters for the purposes of celebrating this airship’s commanding officer’s newfound love according to Avtukian-Equestrian naval traditions!”
  254.  
  255. The crewmare nearly ran out of breath during her report, though her discipline did not falter, and she stayed at attention, saluting still.
  256.  
  257. A crack in Cloud’s armor of officerly stoicism was evident as it was revealed that suddenly, her love life was the business of everypony on board the airship. She snapped, barking out the orders for all crew to assemble in parade at the midships immediately. The crewponies immediately scattered towards the stairs leading topside. Soon after, the bells and whistles calling those who weren’t congregated in front of the Captain’s quarters topside as well sounded.
  258.  
  259. The Captain gave you a frustrated look, and with a sigh, said: “I can’t believe this…” before heading topside herself. You quickly followed behind her in silence.
  260.  
  261. Upon climbing the stairs leading to the top deck, the sight was one to remember: even after… whatever that was, the crew still respected the Captain, and all were found standing at parade. Upon her arrival, the Midshipstallion’s voice rang out: “Captain and Lieutenant on deck! Atten-HUT!”
  262.  
  263. The sound of a nearly-hundred sets of hooves and dozens of musket buttstocks hitting the wooden deck ensued. The Midshipstallion approached the Captain, saluting before reporting: “Ma’am! Midshipstallion Rolling Thunder reports that all crew is accounted for and awaiting further orders!”
  264.  
  265. Cloud saluted back and shortly after put her hoof down, allowing her reporting subordinate to break the salute himself. “Thank you, Midshipstallion.” She said, “Now that you’re here with me, please explain to all of us here…” She gestured with a hoof towards the crew in parade formation, “...this Avtukian-Equestrian naval tradition you wanted this airship’s officers and crew to follow.”
  266.  
  267. “Yes, ma’am. According to Avtukian-Equestrian naval tradition, if a ship Captain takes a lover from the ship’s crew, the ship’s chaplain, along with the rest of the crew, is supposed to organize a mock wedding ceremony for the Captain and his or her lover.” The pegasus officer explained to the now blushing Captain.
  268.  
  269. Cloud scraped your leg with a hoof, prompting you to take over, which you do by asking: “And a naval tradition gives you authority to organize a mock wedding aboard an airship of the highfleet?”
  270.  
  271. “Anon-” Rolling began his reply before being interrupted by Cloud: “Lieutenant Anonymous is your superior and you WILL address him as such!”
  272.  
  273. “Sorry… Sir. The crew and your fellow officers were simply overjoyed that our Captain had found love, and wished to celebrate-” Cloud interrupted him again: “And since when is my love life of any concern to you, or anypony else aboard this airship?”
  274.  
  275. The pegasus stood silent, realizing he really fucked up. After being implored to speak up by the Captain, he finally replied: “I accept any and all consequences that come with this severe lapse of judgment, ma’am!” He saluted, with a defeated look in his eyes.
  276.  
  277. Cloud looked at you, seemingly waiting for you to do something. “You have to lay off the drink for a few days, Midshipstallion. There will be no booze rations for you until the end of the week.”
  278.  
  279. With an obvious relief in his eyes, Rolling saluted and asked: “Permission to fall back in formation, sir?”, to which you replied with a simple “Yes.”
  280.  
  281. You glanced at Cloud, and she smiled, though you know for a fact that she’s still extremely frustrated at this whole ordeal. She then faced the formation and exclaimed: “At ease!”
  282.  
  283. Once again the sound of hundreds of hooves and rifle stocks hitting the wooden deck rang out. It all subsided quickly, and afterward, Cloud began addressing the crew: “The Avtukian Highfleet, the youngest branch of the Tsar’s armies, has no time for naval traditions, or any other traditions for that matter! We are our own branch of arms, and accordingly, we deserve to develop our own traditions!”
  284.  
  285. Cloud continued: “I nurtured the Highfleet in its infancy, with this vessel we’re aboard right now being the first airship to be commissioned. To give up an opportunity for all of you here to forge new traditions is simply unthinkable, wouldn’t you agree?” She asked the crew.
  286.  
  287. You could hear the crew muse among themselves, agreeing with the Captain’s sentiment.
  288.  
  289. “We are not the navy, and, my fellow colts and gentlemares, we’re certainly not the army! Am I right?” Cloud exclaimed after a pause. The parade formation broke out into a cheering crowd, with hooves and rifles being raised, cheering for the Captain and the Highfleet.
  290.  
  291. You also joined in, applauding while approaching the Captain, coming up next to her. As the cheering died down, all eyes were on you and Cloud. After hesitating for a split-second, she dismissed the crew, allowing the crewponies to move on with their day.
  292.  
  293. “Anon…” Cloud whispered to you,“...Would you like to keep me company in my quarters for a bit?” She gave you an innocent smile, completely ignorant of last night’s events.
  294.  
  295. “I’ll check up on Rolling first, I’ll come knocking.” You replied, to which she responded with a nod. You then went below deck to your and Rolling’s shared quarters.
  296.  
  297. As you were approaching your shared room, you noticed the airship’s chaplain, Solar Wisdom, an unicorn mare carrying a few bottles with her telekinesis magic. When you made way for her to pass by you, she stopped to notify you: “Sir, I went and confiscated Midshipstallion Rolling’s remaining stock of drink in accordance with your disciplinary measure.” You barely get to thank her before she goes off, presumably to dump the booze overboard.
  298.  
  299. When you arrive in front of your room, and after letting yourself in, not closing the door behind you, you lean on the doorframe as you notice your fellow officer burying his face in a pillow out of embarrassment, laying face down on his bed.
  300.  
  301. Noticing the distinct rhythm of a bipedal creature's footsteps, the pegasus correctly assumes it is you that dropped in to visit. Rolling gets his face out of the pillow before rolling around to face the ceiling.
  302.  
  303. Rolling broke the silence: "Well then, are you going to say something or just judge me?"
  304.  
  305. You chuckled, replying: "On the contrary. I have a lot to say. Sure, something may be judgemental, though-"
  306.  
  307. Rolling sprung up, sitting on the bed before interrupting you: "Start off with that first, then. Just… get it out of the way."
  308.  
  309. After a pause, you continued: "Alright, fine. The Captain is terribly frustrated at your little stunt. Not everyone, or… everypony, whatever, needs to know nor care what she's up to, especially with as much of a touchy subject as a lover."
  310.  
  311. He laughed, before seemingly flipping you off with a wing and saying: "Oh, I think you princess-carrying her from one end of the ship to another did most of the work in that department! I just brought up the idea, and everypony just… went along with it."
  312.  
  313. "So, you half-drunkenly organized a picket outside of the Captain’s quarters the morning right after she poured her heart out to me?" You asked.
  314.  
  315. Rolling nodded, letting you continue: "And then, you expected that same emotionally vulnerable mare to participate in a mock wedding?"
  316.  
  317. "Yeah… well, y'know…" The pegasus steered his eyes away from you, "...I wasn't the only one expecting that outcome, and you saw that yourself."
  318.  
  319. "Meh… fair enough." You paused to think of a more light hearted topic, "I hope you forgive me for your stash, by the way."
  320.  
  321. "At least it wasn't my stripes. Without them, I got nothing…" Rolling laid back down, and you quickly try to steer the topic… again: "C'mon now! Think of something else! What's done is-"
  322.  
  323. "Alright! Here's something else! How was she?" He let out a laugh as you scramble to close the door.
  324.  
  325. "Are you fucking crazy?" You whispered, "She'd murder us if she finds out that I told you anything about last night!"
  326.  
  327. "Oh, come on, Anon!" He chuckled, whispering back, chanting "Spill it!" to no avail.
  328.  
  329. "Nope. I won't budge. All you gotta know is that these…" You showed the pegasus one of your hands, waving your digits around, "...come out on top of whatever you try to pull off with those wings."
  330.  
  331. Rolling chuckled before quietly replying: "That was all? Just some fondling? What'd you get out of it?"
  332.  
  333. "Um… that's all." You sheepishly lied to Rolling, and he could obviously tell.
  334.  
  335. "Yeah, right. Keep your secrets." Rolling put on the most shit-eating grin you've ever seen on a pony and looks at you quietly. Meanwhile, you were quick to see where this was going. As you were leaving the room while being stared at by the pegasus, you couldn't resist the urge to flip him off with both of your hands from the hallway.
  336.  
  337. You noticed an onlooker as you turned to face the hallway. "Just a bit of banter." You said, chuckling. Rolling could also be heard laughing from the room, returning the favor with his wings. The lone crewpony, amused by the brief display of immaturity between two officers, simply continued going about his day though with a smile.
  338.  
  339. After checking up on Rolling, you’ve made your way to the Captain’s quarters. You knocked on the door, exclaiming “It’s me!”. After a few seconds, Cloud unlocked the door and welcomed you in. She locked the door after you entered the room, which made your heart skip a beat. It’s *definitely* going to be yet another emotional one-on-one with your newfound marefriend.
  340.  
  341. Cloud went and sat on the bed, patting a spot on it next to her, signaling you to sit next to her. You oblige and an awkward silence ensues. The mare leans against your shoulder and sighs, closing her eyes. “What a familiar scene.” You chuckled, wrapping your arm around the mare.
  342.  
  343. “I can’t help it, Anon~...” Cloud said, “...I really enjoy being held like this.” The mare put one of her hooves on your thigh, a move which was met with a swift reply - your other hand on her hoof.
  344.  
  345. “What did I even want to talk about with you again?” The Captain murmured, giggling.
  346.  
  347. “About whatever happened this morning?” You answered.
  348.  
  349. “Oh, that. Well…” Cloud hesitated, “...You talked to Rolling, what did he say?”
  350.  
  351. “Apparently, he only suggested it first, then the entire crew egged him on to organize… whatever that was.” You tried to explain the situation to the Captain, “I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve to be reprimanded for bending to pressure, but-”
  352.  
  353. Cloud interrupted you: “That’s enough, I know the whole song and dance already, dear.”
  354.  
  355. “Dear? Maybe we should get Solar and arrange ourselves a ceremony if you’re going to keep talking like this… my love.” You laughed, while Cloud blushed, giggled and used her free hoof to slap you across the knee.
  356.  
  357. After the laughter died down, you and Cloud found yourselves in silence once more, looking into each other’s eyes. This particular silence speaks more than a thousand words, and both you and the mare lovingly looking at you know that very well. As you notice her blushing profusely and hesitating to do… “something.”, you make the move for her and give her a kiss on the lips.
  358.  
  359. Seeing that you forced her hoof, Cloud used her earth pony strength to push you away and pin you to the bed you were previously sitting on. She laid on top of you, and, in order to keep you in place, she took your hands with her hooves to press them against the bed, and used her hindlegs to bind your knees together.
  360.  
  361. You looked on in silence, surprised by Cloud’s sudden change in attitude. Nonetheless, even if you had something to say you would be quick to lose the opportunity to do so, as the mare on top of you returned the kiss you gave her in kind, before licking your lips to invite your tongue out to play. As you gladly obliged her request, Cloud slid her tongue into your mouth, on top of your own. You responded to that move by natural instinct, “wrestling” her tongue with yours with small breaks in between, which consisted of Cloud’s lips and tongue separating from yours to catch a deep breath before starting all over again.
  362.  
  363. After a few rounds of more tongue-wrestling than kissing, Cloud separated for the final time and rolled over to lie down next to you, freeing your hands and knees from her. Initially, her back faced you, though she quickly rectified that by rolling over once again to face you in earnest. You kept playing along and rolled over to your side to face her.
  364.  
  365. “Ahh… I needed that… so much.” She whispered, putting both of her hooves on your shoulders.
  366.  
  367. “Are you satisfied now? Or…” You whispered back, placing one of your hands on Cloud’s cheek, gently caressing her.
  368.  
  369. “Or… do I want something… more? Most definitely, Anon.” She chuckled, before continuing, “Hop off the bed and turn around~.”
  370.  
  371. You followed your Captain’s order and did just that. You could hear the bed creak a little and also the distinct sound of hooves against thick glass. You did not plan on disobeying your Captain, however, and you curbed your curiosity until she gave you order to turn about.
  372.  
  373. “Oh Anon~... You can look now~!” Said Cloud. As you turned around, you saw a mare sitting upright on the bed. She leaned against the thick stern window for support, placing her hooves on it. She continued, raising her tail as she looked back at you with a lusty smile on her face: “You know what to do~.”
  374.  
  375. You touch Cloud’s flank with both of your hands before grabbing her pants to slide them down. The mare shakes in pleasure as your touch makes her marehood wink in anticipation for your member. You take a moment to smell Cloud’s marehood through her panties. It is what you would expect, of course: a musky scent that can drive even the most abstinent stallion mad.
  376.  
  377. Sliding her panties down as well, she lifted her left hindleg up to free it of the unneeded clothing, leaving it all to dangle off of her right. You couldn’t help but stare at Cloud’s winking marehood. You even helped yourself to a few licks, to which she reacted with a gentle moan.
  378.  
  379. You couldn’t help it anymore, and you took off your pants, freeing your erect member. After stroking it a few times, you tried to mount her as she leant against the thick window by sitting behind her, and guiding your member in with your hand. Cloud could be seen and felt shaking as your tip entered her marehood. Slowly, you slid your shaft forward with a gentle upward thrust until her flank met your hilt.
  380.  
  381. You leaned forward and truly became one with her, with your head resting on top of hers and chest pressed against her back. One of your hands was placed on her chest with the other holding the hoof pressed against the window. “You’re… you’re so tight, Cloud…” You said, writhing in pleasure along with your mare.
  382.  
  383. You paused to savor the moment, groaning as you felt Cloud’s clitoris winking out of her marehood, rubbing against your member in the process. Cloud’s mare pussy tightly gripping your dick also made it extremely pleasurable, even without thrusting into her.
  384.  
  385. “I’ll start slow, okay dear?” You said to Cloud, to which she responded with a nod.
  386.  
  387. After basking in the beauty of the erotic embrace you’ve found yourself in, you slowly started thrusting upwards into Cloud. She covered her mouth with her free hoof in order to moan into it. The last thing she would want is the crew hearing the Captain getting shafted by the Lieutenant.
  388.  
  389. Cloud moaned into her hoof as she looked out of the window, seemingly enjoying both the view of the city of Gracemare from above, and the sensation of your shaft sliding in and out of her marehood. You took your head off of her pate and reached your head around to kiss her on the cheek.
  390.  
  391. After the kiss, you sped up your thrusts, returning your head to its previous spot. In between pleasured groans, you bury your nose in her mane and breathe through it, enjoying the pleasant fragrance of her mane.
  392.  
  393. “Anon… inside… do it inside.~” Said Cloud, between moans. She turned her head away from the window towards you. This request made you pick up the pace even further, your primal instincts taking over and thrusting away into Cloud’s mare pussy.
  394.  
  395. The mare you were plowing started speaking gibberish, as if you’ve scrambled her brain by passionate lovemaking. She turned her head back towards the window, muttering out a myriad of unintelligible, slurred words.
  396.  
  397. Cloud’s entire body suddenly tensed up and started shaking, taking you by surprise, prompting you to slow down. You felt your member getting soaked as Cloud reached her orgasm, to which you responded by pressing her against the glass and violently fucking her marehood until climax.
  398.  
  399. You hilted for the final time and came inside as per her request. The feeling of her insides milking your member for every last drop of your cum overwhelmed every nerve in your body, exhausted from the pounding of a lifetime you’ve served your superior officer.
  400.  
  401. After pulling your member out of Cloud’s marehood, still winking from her orgasm, you stopped to admire the creampie you made with her. You then flopped down behind her on the bed, taking Cloud down from her position with you, basking in post-coital bliss for a moment before having to go land this airship.
  402.  
  403. Following the after-sex cuddles, you two made your way topside, but not before a passionate kiss before exiting the Captain’s quarters, the two of you putting on your serious “working faces” so as to not raise eyebrows during this critical moment. Cloud ordered you to the helm before ordering the signalmare to ring the bell to prepare for landing.
  404.  
  405. The side-sails on both sides of the airship deployed in a full position, acting as air brakes at first, then they were slowly positioned upwards to allow for your descent. The pegasus air-marines then proceeded to push air into the upwards-facing side-sails, pushing the airship down. Once everything was set, the Captain made her way over to the helm to guide you in, acting as your eyes in a way, as from your station you can’t see anything.
  406.  
  407. The Captain blew her whistle, signaling the pegasi to stop flowing air downwards onto the side-sails. “Gently now!” She exclaimed, looking at the air-dock’s pier getting closer and closer. After the airship’s side-sails were fully withdrawn, a half-dozen crewponies threw hooks to latch the vessel onto the wooden pier. Finally, the “anchors” replaced the hooks, and were tied to the pier. To end the landing and docking procedure, the balloonetes, the smaller balloons contained within the large enveloping structure that is colloquially called the “balloon” were drained of their contents, that being magically-enriched hydrogen gas.
  408.  
  409. “Good job, everypony! Another good landing!” Cloud exclaimed for all to hear, before giving the order to disembark the vessel, “The highfleet’s landsponies working the air-dock will handle the cargo destined for our army friends in this city. All of you, get some rest now!” She continued.
  410.  
  411. You followed her off the airship. Finally, you’re on the ground.
  412.  
  413. REST AND RECUPERATION - Ch. III
  414.  
  415. You and Cloud, after disembarking the Gracemarean Excellence following the days long journeys to and from Tsarigrad, went together on hoof (in your case, foot) to the Gracemare Army Garrison Barracks to report on the successful delivery of this “special cargo” not even you nor Cloud were trusted with the fine details on.
  416.  
  417. The topic regarding this cargo, stowed into the airship back in Tsarigrad in plain wood, nailed-shut crates bearing the mark of the Hierta Arsenal, right below it hoof-painted words in white paint reading: “SPECIAL WEAPON”, came up once again as you were getting close to the Garrison Barracks.
  418.  
  419. “I still can’t help but wonder, what is in those crates we brought with us?” You said, intending to spark conversation.
  420.  
  421. Cloud sighed, rolling her eyes. “Listen, if you guess right, you may end up in jail… or worse. I wouldn’t concern myself with the contents, my only concern is this: whatever is inside better be in one piece.”
  422.  
  423. She gave you a small smile before continuing “Also, Anon… I just poured my heart out to you, y’know…” said Cloud, her eyes looking at you with sincere care for your well-being, “Don’t get caught up in some spy plot to seize military secrets or whatnot.”
  424.  
  425. “Fine… whatever then. These boxes shall keep their secrets.” You said, the boredom in your voice nigh palpable.
  426.  
  427. Cloud noticed that boredom and said, jesting: “Bored already? I thought you’d be thrilled to walk with your lover along the streets of a beautiful city…” She rubbed her flank against your leg before recovering her stride, walking beside you, “...Especially after a good bit of something-something back aboard the Excellence~.”
  428.  
  429. You slightly blushed at the mention of your latest lewd encounter with your Captain, “I’m not bored, it’s just…” You shook your cramping left leg in between steps, “...The fact that the barracks are on the other side of this damn city.”
  430.  
  431. “Aw… Anon! Don’t talk bad about my city! Take a look around, it’s beautiful!” Said Cloud, stopping to melodramatically take in the scenery.
  432.  
  433. You stopped to face the mare’s dramatic display. Kneeling down to get on eye-level with her, you said: “Maybe you can convince me to love Gracemare, then? Would you like to show me all the nice sights around town? Maybe spend the night together at the end?”
  434.  
  435. “Is that your excuse for an invitation to a date, Lieutenant?” She feigned her signature “serious” face in response, though you could make out a blush on her face. Shortly after, she swapped the frown out for a grin, and continued: “I’ll drag your sorry flank around the entire city~...” She giggled, “I accept your invitation, though with one condition.”
  436.  
  437. “And that would be?” You asked, to which she replied: “Nothing fancy. I may be of noble blood, but I don’t want anything to do with those snobs.”
  438.  
  439. “Sure. I wasn’t in the mood to pay a whole gold coin for a single bite of… whatever rich ponies eat.” You said, standing up and motioning for Cloud to continue the long walk towards the barracks.
  440.  
  441. Trotting, Cloud caught up with you and chuckled: “Ordering me around now, Lieutenant? Our little wrestle made you take yourself for a Commodore, huh?”
  442.  
  443. “Gah! Shut up!” You said, annoyed. Cloud’s chuckling turned into laughter thanks to your reaction. Fortunately, the streets weren’t busy, so no pony could possibly hear the Captain talking dirty to you.
  444.  
  445. It also happened that you were right at the gates of the barracks. It was a sprawling complex consisting of - on one side, box-like three storey buildings made of bare red brick meant to house troops, with the larger and more pleasantly built headquarters building in the middle of the barrack-city.
  446.  
  447. On the other side, there was supposed to be a publicly available park with the Pikemare Hero Memorial, though that side was now turned from a quaint garden formed around a statue to a tent city of sorts.
  448.  
  449. The parade grounds were teeming with unusual guests as well, with figures wearing the long black coats and papakha caps of the Winged Hundreds militia making full use of said grounds.
  450.  
  451. As you approached, the pair of soldier mares in the more familiar red coats of the Gracemarean regular troops posted in front of the main gates as sentries were quick to snap to attention, noticing the pair of you in your gold-adorned purple officer coats.
  452.  
  453. You let Cloud take the lead. She approached and presented her identification papers to one of the guardmares. The second guard, a unicorn mare, gestured for you to come to her to do the same.
  454.  
  455. “Papers?” Said the redcoat mare. You quietly reached for them and handed them over. She took the document from your hand with telekinesis and quickly went through it, doing a double take as she compared the real you with the picture of you from the document.
  456.  
  457. “Lieutenant Anonymous…” Said the mare as she offered you the document back. After taking your papers, she turned to her comrade who held a clipboard in her hooves and nodded. The clipboard mare, acknowledging the signal from her fellow guardmare, wrote your name in it as well, right below Cloud’s.
  458.  
  459. She repeated your name out loud as she wrote on the clipboard with a simple graphite pencil in her mouth. The sight was quite funny to look at, though you’ve lived in this world long enough to not break out in laughter whenever you saw such things.
  460.  
  461. The clipboard mare brought one of her hooves to the pencil in her mouth and took it out. “Everything is in good order, you may enter.” She said. As you crossed onto the grounds of the Barracks, Cloud was already waiting for you on the other side of the gate in silence. You could tell that she was admiring you as your attention was turned towards the guardsmares checking your papers.
  462.  
  463. “What are you looking at me like that for?” You said, catching the Captain off guard. She quickly snapped out of it and muttered out a reply. “Oh, i-it’s nothing.” Said the mare, stuttering a bit. It was obvious that Cloud was still severely crushing on you. You intended on saving the teasing about that for later, however, as your destination, the headquarters building, was within sight.
  464.  
  465. The soldier stallion standing guard in front of the headquarters building saluted as he let you in. Immediately after entering, Ocean went up to the receptionist mare. “Good day. Highfleet Captain Cloud Bliss reporting to General Amber Dream.” said Cloud.
  466.  
  467. The receptionist put down her book and politely smiled: “General Amber is currently busy, It’ll only take a moment.” She said, taking a sip from her cup of tea before continuing, “Feel free to take a seat.” The mare pointed towards the vacant chairs in the corner of the room.
  468.  
  469. The Captain sighed in frustration and went over to the seats. You simply looked on as she grumpily picked out a seat with a good view of the outside. When she made her choice, you went and followed her, sitting on the chair on her left. Cloud did nothing except stare at the hustle and bustle of the parade grounds outside of the window as she waited, the back of her head facing you, held up on one of her forehooves.
  470.  
  471. Meanwhile, you had no window to look out of to pass the time. You simply leaned back and stared at the ceiling, that is, before your neck started objecting to such posture. Sighing, you turned towards the distracted Captain.
  472.  
  473. Taking advantage of her absent mind, you ever so slowly run your finger along the mane on the back of her head. You even kick back as you start caressing the back of Cloud’s head and neck. The mare you’ve put your hand on seems to be relaxing, enjoying the more innocent sensation your hand and digits provide.
  474.  
  475. Cloud’s head suddenly slipped out of the hoof that held it. You were quick to catch her head mid-fall with the aid of your unoccupied hand, and upon doing so, realized that she fell asleep. You decided to accommodate for her nap, pulling her body towards you, resulting in the napping Captain mare using your lap as a pillow.
  476.  
  477. Seeing that she started moving one of her forehooves around in her sleep, you took that moving forehoof in your hand and gently squeezed it. You then put your other hand to work, stroking her mane as she napped the wait away.
  478.  
  479. You looked around the room as you kept your mare comfortable. There was no pony in the room except for the receptionist, you and Cloud. The receptionist seemed to have turned her eyes towards you, and at the exact moment your eyes met, she immediately turned back to reading her book.
  480.  
  481. A few minutes passed, and you saw a smug griffon in a business suit walk downstairs into the lobby where you and Cloud were waiting. “My meeting with General Amber has been concluded.” Said the griffon to the receptionist mare. He gave her no time to answer as he immediately turned tail and left the building.
  482.  
  483. The receptionist called out for Cloud: “Captain Cloud Bliss! General Amber is waiting for you in her office!” She immediately sprung up from your embrace as her name was called. Cloud was quick to realize what happened as she was napping and blushed. She looked at you with a conflicted expression, but the blush said it all: she enjoyed every second of it, despite appearing to be in denial.
  484.  
  485. “W-we will talk about this later.” Cloud muttered out to you, standing up from her chair before heading up the same staircase the griffon from earlier went down from. You followed closely behind her to the General’s office upstairs.
  486.  
  487. Cloud knocked on the door of General Amber’s office. After a few, somewhat tense seconds of waiting at the door, you were let in by not the General’s assistant, but… the General of the Tsargrad army as well? The presence of the pegasus militia from the other side of the country training in the yard softened the blow of the surprise, though the shock in both your and Cloud’s faces was visible.
  488.  
  489. You saluted the General at the door. “Captain Cloud. Lieutenant Anonymous.” General Ice Blossom, a white unicorn mare in her purple General’s uniform nodded at you both, returning your salutes. “General Blossom, ma’am. To what or whom do we owe the pleasure?” Cloud put her hoof back down from the salute, and you followed her lead.
  490.  
  491. “You owe it to the news I bring.” Said Blossom, her Avtukian accent showing as she spoke in Equestrian. Very good news, so much so that I couldn’t help but present it to you in person.” The General presented Cloud the letter. You noticed that she hoofed it over, instead of giving it with telekinesis.
  492.  
  493. “Shall I open and read this letter now, ma’am?” Said Cloud, examining the letter. Blossom responded with a simple nod.
  494.  
  495. Cloud opened the letter and started reading it. Not a minute passed, and her jaw dropped. “What is it, Captain?” You asked her.
  496.  
  497. She chuckled and looked at you. “It’s Air Admiral to you.” You were shocked, and almost went for a celebratory kiss, but you stopped yourself as soon as your subconscious reminded you that you were in the same room with two Generals.
  498.  
  499. “Very well, Admiral, ma’am!” You gave Cloud the first salute after her big promotion, and she, smiling, returned it.
  500.  
  501. “Congratulations, Admiral.” Said General Amber, a light purple mare, also an unicorn like her colleague from Tsargrad. “I also am expecting news, though, from you. I assume the shipment arrived in one piece?” The Gracemarean General adjusted her posture on the cushy chair, leaning forward on the desk in front of her.
  502.  
  503. “Yes ma’am. The cargo is intact, and is awaiting the loving hooves of the Gracemarean garrison.“ Cloud reported to General Amber.
  504.  
  505. “I’m afraid, it’s not meant for the Gracemareans. It’s meant for our guests. Speaking of, your next assignment is to assist them in a campaign across the pond in Northern Traunulu.” Amber opened a drawer and took out a folder, looked at Cloud, and waved it at her, gesturing to her to come closer.
  506.  
  507. “Captain- er…” she paused, clearing her throat before continuing, “...Admiral, your eyes only. Sorry, Lieutenant.” the seated General mare said to you. You simply nodded before taking one of the seats in the corner of the room, right across where the Tsargradian general once more took her seat. You were still able to discern some points regarding the campaign, but nothing really tangible.
  508.  
  509. General Blossom gestured for you to come closer: “The conversation is going to go on for a while, Lieutenant. Feel free to leave the office. You thanked her and quietly left the room. You were all alone, and had nothing to do, well, except for trying to make some new friends from the currently stationed Hundreds.
  510.  
  511. And so, you found yourself outside, wandering into the camp of the black-clad pegasus band. You’ve made your way past the neatly arrayed streets of tents towards the memorial statue in the middle of what would usually be the public park.
  512.  
  513. The Pikemare Hero Memorial was a simple copper statue of two flag-bearing ponies: the first one, an earth pony holding the Gracemarean “minutemare” militia standard while the other, an unicorn, held the Avtukian national flag. There was a third pony, a pegasus, standing in between the two flag bearers, his or her musket held at the charge, inviting any Luanan griffon invader to come and get run through if they so dared.
  514.  
  515. The statue, long turned green to oxidation, was surrounded by a ring wall, separated into four parts as the cobbled paths leading towards the pedestal and the statue on it. On both the inner and outer sides of the ring wall, names and respective ranks of soldiers that died during the battle of Pikemare were inscribed in the marble, the lettering enhanced with a coat of gold paint.
  516.  
  517. There was a squad of guards dressed in period appropriate uniforms of the Gracemarean militia, ever so vigilantly standing guard to protect the memorial. The only pony other than the guards was a brown pegasus mare. Her braided white mane went beautifully with her black pegasus militia uniform. Finally getting a closer look at her uniform, you were reminded of the cossacks of the Russian White Movement of its civil war years.
  518.  
  519. She noticed you, and was visibly surprised to see a non-pony wearing the regular purple uniform, let alone one of an officer. So much so, that she approached you to get a closer look.
  520.  
  521. “Oh, um… hi?” You said as the mare looked weirdly at you.
  522.  
  523. She paused to recollect, before looking you in the eyes and saying in her native Avtukian: “What… are you?”
  524.  
  525. Your Avtukian, more Russian from back in your world than anything, was quite good. You’ve had a lot of practice over the years living with these pastel colored ponies. “A Human, wearing the Tsar’s colors.” you said.
  526.  
  527. You smiled to break the tension. “My name is Anonymous. Lieutenant serving in the airship service… and you?”
  528.  
  529. “Lieutenant?” The mare said, prompting her to salute you in the pegasus fashion: along with the right forehoof on the brow, her right wing was also fully extended upwards at a steep, though not perfectly vertical angle.
  530.  
  531. “Ensign Loyal Wing. Tsargrad Winged Hundreds Militia Brigade.” She broke the salute as she finished her sentence. You weren’t that hard-headed when it came to stuff like saluting etiquette and whatnot, courtesy of years of serving alongside Cloud rubbing off of you. You simply returned a quick salute.
  532.  
  533. “Well, then. Loyal Wing. Would you happen to know what your bunch is doing on the other side of the country?” You asked her. Her expression relaxed as she responded: “Don’t know much. Something about going over the sea to claim virgin lands out west.”
  534.  
  535. The mare came closer and said in a quiet tone, “Keep this between you and me, but I think that the big-wig Generals are just trying to get rid of us by sending us to pizdetsk.” Pizdetsk, of course, being the Avtukian equivalent to the expression “bumfuck-nowhere”. The mare continued, “Well, at least my lot. You in the airships don’t seem that… radical compared to us.”
  536.  
  537. “Radical?” You asked, “I don’t know much about the ‘Hundreds, what’s radical about you?”
  538.  
  539. She laughed, giving you a minor feeling of guilt for being ignorant over this specific topic. “What’s not radical about us? We’re quite zealous when it comes to our service to the Tsar. Quite violent, too, whether or not said violence is needed, if you catch my drift.”
  540.  
  541. After another chuckle, you came to a conclusion of your own: “So, the city of Tsargrad had enough of police brutality and then, the ever-wise Sovereign decided to send you to do your police brutality somewhere else?”
  542.  
  543. “I guess.” The mare sighed as she went back to a specific section of the memorial wall, touched one of the names with a hoof, before bidding it farewell. Judging from what you heard her mutter out, her grandfather died during the battle this memorial commemorated. She then nodded towards you, “Well, it’s been a good talk with you, Anon. It’s about to be my company’s turn on the training ground, so I’ll be on my way.”
  544.  
  545. You waved her goodbye and followed her back through the tent city in hopes of getting out through a faster way. Lo and behold, the cobbled path leading to and from the barracks complex that you did not acknowledge at first was completely open and devoid of any badly placed tents, so you made your way back fast.
  546.  
  547. You saw Cloud looking for you outside of the headquarters building. It didn’t take her long to find you though, and she yelled out your name and waved for you to come to her.
  548.  
  549. “And that’s over and done with. C’mon, let’s go grab something to eat.” Said Cloud, wearing her brand-spanking new shoulder straps with the Admiral’s rank insignia. Of course, with a unique airship service twist: replace the anchor with a hot air balloon superimposed over a pair of wings.
  550.  
  551. Cloud led the way as she reprimanded you for your stunt during the wait in the lobby. You understood her perfectly, you wouldn’t want to cuddle with her in front of the entire general staff, though your excuse of “Only the receptionist was with us in the room.” fell quite short of its mark. You knew for a fact that she was fine with it however: you’d find yourself with a loose jaw at best if she were to actually dislike that move.
  552.  
  553. Cloud knew just the place for the both of you, of course. Sufficiently working-class for Cloud’s taste, but still quite romantic and rich in its own way. An establishment by the sea with a prime view. Since Gracemare was a stronghold of patriotism, you and your “date’s” uniforms warranted some sort of VIP status, securing for the both of you the best, most romantic table for two around.
  554.  
  555. When you were seated and left with the menu, Cloud immediately looked to her side over the gulf in awe, seeing the lights of the city of Vorony in the distance. You couldn’t help but reach out to boop her to snap her out of it. “Enjoying the view, *dear*?” You say, rubbing in the word of endearment with a wink.
  556.  
  557. She turned to you and smiled back, checking you out from top to bottom. “I think, on second thought… I like this view better over the previous one~.” Cloud winked back.
  558.  
  559. You laughed as you took the menu and opened it. “This is so cheesy, but…” Cloud sighed, “...It feels nice, despite everything.”
  560.  
  561. “Don’t worry, we’re writing our own story, it can be as cheesy as you’d like.” You looked up from the menu at her.
  562.  
  563. She blushed, occasionally steering her eyes downwards, away from your eyes. “Oh my… the way you put it, Anon.”
  564.  
  565. You interrupted her: “Extremely cheesy? Yep!” You chuckled, “You know, readers may dislike cheesy love stories because of jealousy.”
  566.  
  567. Cloud blushed even harder, realizing that you brought up quite a valid point. After pausing to give the mare a now unused opportunity to respond, you continued, “Don’t forget, dear. You deserve all of the cheesy love I can offer to a special somebody… or somepony.”
  568.  
  569. The flustered mare covered her face with her hooves and muttered out something unintelligible. After asking for her to repeat herself, she uncovered only her mouth. “Just order something, Anon.”
  570.  
  571. “Huh? Fish and chips?” You read out a dish from the menu.
  572.  
  573. “Yes, pegasi eat fish to maintain their wings’ plumage. Something to do with oil, or whatever.” Cloud put her hooves back on her table, but not before wiping her eyes with one of them. Did you make her tear up? you wondered.
  574.  
  575. “I think I’ll have that, then. Haven’t had meat in a while.” You put the opened menu down on the table, “What about you?”
  576.  
  577. “I already know, I’ll have my favorite salad… and a bottle of good ol’ soldier’s cider.” She chuckled.
  578.  
  579. “Cider? You wouldn’t get a nice bottle of wine for ourselves?” You asked her.
  580.  
  581. “Nope. Never was a wine snob.” Said Cloud, “I’m a soldier and by Celestia’s flank I will have a soldier’s drink.” She taped her hoof against the table after every word.
  582.  
  583. “Fine, I’ll have the same drink you’re having.” You said before waving to a waiter.
  584.  
  585. The waiter took your orders. An order of fish and chips, a salad, and two bottles of the so-called soldier’s cider. Quite hard apple cider, at that! A whopping 10% alcohol by volume advertised on the chilled glass bottles that were brought in by the unicorn waiter, holding the tray with telekinesis applied to its bottom.
  586.  
  587. With his hooves, the waiter put the bottles down, then the glasses which had a few cubes of ice in them. He left the opening and pouring of the cider up to you, leaving a small cheap-looking bottle opener on the table in between you and Cloud.
  588.  
  589. You take the bottle from Cloud’s side, open it, and pour it in her glass. “Oh, you’re such a gentlecolt.” She cooed.
  590.  
  591. “Anything for the mare I love!” You said, reaching to pour your own bottle.
  592.  
  593. “Anything, you say?” Said Cloud, taking a sip from her glass, “Ah, I needed this drink. So good…”
  594.  
  595. As you took a sip from your glass, Cloud elaborated further, “As I was saying, you would do *anything*, right?” You responded with a nod. “Sure?”
  596.  
  597. “Well… you mentioned us writing our own romance novel, I hope you’d be willing to… how do I put it?” She took another sip of her drink.
  598.  
  599. “...Plagiarize? That’s the word for it?” Said Cloud.
  600.  
  601. “Plagiarize? What do you-” You were interrupted by Cloud, “Y’know, there’s a lot of things from these books that I’d like to experience for myself.”
  602.  
  603. “Oh! Like that!” You chuckled, “What do you have in mind?” You took a sip from your glass, waiting attentively for Cloud’s answer.
  604.  
  605. “Well… it’s quite lewd, just to warn you.” She tapped her hooves together, her eyes focused on the drink in front of her.
  606.  
  607. “We’re already past that stage, wouldn’t you say so, dear?” You lifted an eyebrow.
  608.  
  609. “Alright, one of the fantasies I had in my mind is… come closer.” She leaned over the table. You did the same. “I want you to pleasure me under this here table.” She whispered, as blunt as she could be.
  610.  
  611. You blushed, recoiling your head back to its starting position. “Cloud, what is wrong with you?” You said, laughing in hopes of warding off the awkwardness. “Don’t tell anypony!” Cloud said, laughing with you.
  612.  
  613. “Dear, I didn’t know you were so… thirsty.” You gave the mare a wink before taking another sip of your drink.
  614.  
  615. “Hey, I have a good decade of sexual frustration in me. I got to lose that somehow.” Cloud seductively licked her lips.
  616.  
  617. “That’s what continuously living in your airship instead of interacting with the outside civilian world gets you, dear.” You chuckled, your words prompting Cloud to pout, now fully avoiding eye contact.
  618.  
  619. You heard hoofsteps coming closer to you. It was the waiter holding your ordered dishes. “I’m afraid that we’re going to have to pick up this topic later.” You give the still grumpy-looking Cloud a reassuring wink.
  620.  
  621. You were served your fish and chips, and the mare her salad. It was splendidly plated, three battered and fried filets of cod and, curiously enough, exactly what you’d call “french fries'' back home.
  622.  
  623. Cloud’s salad was unusual compared to your dish. Lettuce and big petals of flowers you can’t identify covered in dressing and garnished with croutons and more flower petals. Amongst all the apple soups, tomato stews, oat gruel and crackers you saw your comrades in arms eat on the daily, you tend to forget that they also eat grass and flowers if needed or, more commonly in a civilian environment, so desired.
  624.  
  625. You took your time enjoying the fish. Last time you got to eat meat was… you don’t actually remember. Maybe, it was that one time you traded a Hippogriff merchant for a few dozen cans of liver pâté a few months back.
  626.  
  627. Cloud was silently enjoying her meal too, or at least she tried to. She rested her head on one of her hooves as she somehow twirled her fork around in her bowl with her hooves. “Are you alright, my love?” You asked, with a gentle tone in your voice.
  628.  
  629. “I’m fine, it’s just that I don’t really take being reminded of my more… zealous past all too well.” She sighed.
  630.  
  631. With a nod, you asked her: “Zealous about your airship?” She looked at you in the eyes and nodded after a very much noticeable few seconds’ worth of embarrassed hesitation.
  632.  
  633. “I was really stupid back then. Sure, a graduate of the artillery class of the Gracemarean Military Academy, but that’s book smarts. When it came to talking to ponies outside of a military context… dear Celestia was I horrible at it.” She released her head from the hoof that held it, instead bringing the glass of cider to her mouth to take a slow sip.
  634.  
  635. “I can’t believe what you’re saying, Cloud. Remember the speech from this morning? It even got the hairs on my body to stand at attention. You have the respect of a hundred ponies, they would and did go into battle with you as their leader, yet you believe that you’re unable to win over hearts of ponies…” You pause, pointing a finger towards yourself, “...and humans.”
  636.  
  637. Cloud put her hooves down on the table. “Because in those cases, I’m dealing with a military matter. I consider myself well suited for that. Talking to civvies is my major concern. What stallion wants to hear me go on about my airship for hours upon hours?” She said.
  638.  
  639. You gave her a blank look, though betrayed by an ever-growing smug smile. “I’m not a stallion exactly, but…”
  640.  
  641. “Sure, but the problem with that is, was or may still be: I’m your superior. I don’t want the crew to see us two together and imagine us… y’know.” Cloud waved one of her hooves around in frustration.
  642.  
  643. “So I just backed myself into that corner until finally having enough and…” The mare paused, which allowed you to finish her sentence, “Until you hinted that you had feelings for the stallion you knew fancied you the most?”
  644.  
  645. “Right....” She said, “...and I have no regrets. You’re such a gentlecolt.” Cloud paused. You could notice her hooves visibly shaking, until she broke the silence with a sniffle, followed by a simple “I love you, Anon.”
  646.  
  647. “I… love you t-too.” You replied, stuttering. Your reply made Cloud tear up for sure, as you saw her cover her eyes with a hoof before trying to wipe her tears. It was all for naught, however, as the torrent of tears was simply too much to successfully wipe off with a hoof.
  648.  
  649. She gave up trying to wipe them, instead getting off her chair and made her way around the table to where you sat. As you stood up, Cloud reared on her hindlegs and hugged you, her forehooves wrapped around your waist. Her head rested on your chest, the purple coat you wore quickly became stained with Cloud’s tears.”
  650.  
  651. When you heard her silently weep into your chest, you put one of your hands around her barrel, the other was placed on the backside of her head. You leaned your head onto hers, though you had to bend your legs slightly to achieve that.
  652.  
  653. You slowly began sitting down with Cloud still in your embrace. After you got back on your chair, she adjusted accordingly by resting her head on one of your shoulders and placing one of her hooves over your shoulder. The hand that was around her barrel remained there as the other took her other hoof, caressing it with your thumb. You leaned your head against hers, getting teary-eyed yourself.
  654.  
  655. “I… I think you should eat your salad, dear.” You chuckled, and the laughter, as contagious as it was in a spotty mood like this, made her laugh too. “You’re right, I really should…” Cloud said, reminded of the fact that she’s absolutely starving right now.
  656.  
  657. As you enjoyed your meals and the remainder of your drinks together, Cloud’s mood brightened up like Celestia’s Sun. You even fed each other, you with a few fries on your fork while the mare fed you with a hearty amount of salad on her fork.
  658.  
  659. She giggled as you leaned over the railing to spit out the bite into the sea, purposely loaded with as many flower petals indigestible to you as possible. The waiter even noticed you spitting it out, and scrambled to see if everything was in order, though you and Cloud reassured him that the food was perfect.
  660.  
  661. Leaving the restaurant and stepping outside, you noticed that the night wasn’t only young, it hadn’t even started yet. Cloud decided to take a small detour to a flower shop for “A surprise for later.”, whatever she meant by it. She bought a bouquet of roses, presenting it to you right after paying for it.
  662.  
  663. “Cloud, do you have a proper house here, or do you *actually* live in your airship.” You asked her.
  664.  
  665. She laughed, “No, I have a house of my own, but it’s a long way from here…” a silence followed, broken by the mare after a few seconds, “...Why? You want to come over to my place, you wanna do it again, you horndog?”
  666.  
  667. “I mean… if you want to?” You scratched the back of your neck.
  668.  
  669. Cloud stopped and asked you to give her the bouquet. After you obliged her request out of curiosity, she reared on her hindlegs to gently tap you over the head with said bouquet, “What do you think I got these for, dummy?” She gave your head a few mock whacks as she spoke, “You might as well buy us some candles now that you’ve spoiled the surprise.”
  670.  
  671. Another pause followed, you intended to break it, though before you did, Cloud barked out an order: “Lieutenant, take these silver bits and buy some candles, that is an order!” She gave you three silver coins, continuing in a more gentle tone as you took them from her hoof: “Get those red ones. Scented, you know. We’ll meet back at the airdock.
  672.  
  673. “Yes, Captain!” You responded, saluting before marching out towards a candle shop. She laughed at your exaggerated British-style drill, swinging your hands around back and forth. “I’m an Admiral now! Don’t make me whack you again!” You stopped to laugh with her, turning around to face her.
  674.  
  675. Eventually, you did buy these candles and made your way back to the airdock. The premises of the ‘Excellence was devoid of its usual posted military police guards. You followed your gut, going to the Captain’s (now Admiral’s) quarters and giving the door a few rapid knocks, calling out your name.
  676.  
  677. Cloud opened the door, “Give me the candles and wait outside.” said the mare. You follow her instructions and wait a bit. You hear her ruffling around with the wrapping of the bouquet and the bag in which you brought the candles.
  678.  
  679. After hearing the distinct sound of the lighting of a match for a few times, she opened the door slightly to say: "Wait 10 seconds after I close this door, okay love~?” She whispered. Shortly after closing, you heard the bed creak a little. You gave her a few extra seconds to make herself comfortable, and also to make the anticipation ever more palpable.
  680.  
  681. You open the door to see an oasis of red candlelight in a dark room. The windows were covered from the outside by a white tarp, preventing the little remaining daylight from entering, along with preventing anyone from seeing the goings-on inside.
  682.  
  683. In the middle of the oasis of candlelight, there was the bed, covered in rose petals. On it lay Cloud, fully naked, on her back. Her clothes were on the floor right next to the bed. The mare on the bed had spread her hindlegs apart and her forehooves were waiting on her chest, with her tail in between them which covered her marehood.
  684.  
  685. “You know the drill, dear. Close and lock~.” Said the mare on the bed, raising one of her forehooves up from her chest upwards. A key fell on the ground by your feet. After a few seconds of searching in the dark, you took the key, closed the door and locked it.
  686.  
  687. “Now, love, come here…” She pointed her previously raised hoof at you, making a sort-of “come hither” gesture with it.
  688.  
  689. You unbuttoned your coat and shirt, and took your belt off. After approaching the pile of clothes left by Cloud, you added your clothes to it. For the first time in your life, you were able to see her cutiemark: a ship “sailing” on top of a cloud.
  690.  
  691. Cloud raised her hooves in anticipation before you entered her embrace, lying on top of her. She wrapped her hooves around your back as your noses touched. The both of you opted to savor the moment for minutes on end. Your naked bodies took their time enjoying how they felt to each other. Amidst the heavy breathing coming from both you and her, you could feel her heartbeat, and you could bet that she felt yours as well.
  692.  
  693. Finally, your lips met. After a few repeated smooches on the lips, your mouths opened and began a long, passionate Prench kiss. As your lips separated from hers, a string of saliva went along from her tongue to yours. It remained there for a while before breaking and disappearing into nothingness as you took a few seconds to catch your breath.
  694.  
  695. Her hindlegs tightened around your waist, and her dark blue eyes looked at you with unmistakable desire. As you both felt your member growing, you separated from her embrace and sat in front of the waiting mare. Her tail moved out of the way, revealing her marehood in time for it to wink at you.
  696.  
  697. You prepared the mare for your love, massaging her insides and winking clitoris with two of your fingers. This time, when compared to last night’s encounter, you were able to see your fingers do their magic, making the mare wink and squirm as your other hand occupied itself with massaging her inner thighs, belly and teats. She moaned freely, as the crew were all on the ground, taking the opportunity to respite between recent journeys.
  698.  
  699. “I want you, Anon. Put it inside me already.” Said the mare with a shaky voice.
  700.  
  701. Seeing the mare is eager for you to make love to her, you take your fingers out of her marehood, and stroke your penis with it, making it throb in anticipation of imminent sex. You slowly slid in, running it up her marehood until you hilt. The mare moaned in pleasure, her pussy milking your member.
  702.  
  703. You brought your body back on hers, her hooves once again wrapped around your back. You kissed passionately once more as you made shallow thrusts into her marehood. Separating from the kiss, you moved your knees closer to the mare, allowing you to thrust deep into her with comfort and ease.
  704.  
  705. Your thrusts were slow, making use of your entire length to give Cloud as much of a pleasurable experience as possible while you are dicking her down.
  706.  
  707. The smell of your mare’s juices, combined with the romantic atmosphere of the candlelit lovemaking and her long-repressed moaning overwhelm your mind, causing you to get closer and closer to her, turning your position from a missionary to more of a mating press.
  708.  
  709. Your pounding sped up, causing the bed to creak and your flesh to sound off with a slap as it strikes hers following every thrust. Cloud repeatedly screamed out “Yes!” as her hindlegs locked you in. However, you felt that things were going too fast, and slowed down to an incomplete halt. You covered her neck, cheeks and lips in kisses as one of your hands reached in between your bodies to fondle her teats.
  710.  
  711. “I want us to finish together, Anon, rut me~! I’m… I’m close!” She exclaimed, which invited you to start back up again, slowly, of course. Your lips met again, followed by an extremely sloppy Prench kiss that devolved into your tongues simply touching as you sped up to match your prior pace.
  712.  
  713. Cloud loudly moaned as your mouth enveloped hers, almost screaming in pleasure. Eventually you put the kiss to an end to catch your breath. It seemed as if you scrambled her brain with your dick, for the second time today, at that. Cloud started babbling, talking nonsense in between moans and yells of pleasure.
  714.  
  715. “Now, Anon! Now~!” She locked your whole body in her embrace with her hooves, your only option was to keep pounding her, which you did, faster and faster.
  716.  
  717. Cloud was not alone in her mind being completely overtaken by pleasure. As your mind clouded up, you were on autopilot, with the only thought running through your mind was to pound the ever-living hell out of this mare. Your thrusting nearly broke the bed frame, though your mare’s orgasm saved it from your frenzy.
  718.  
  719. The sensation of the warm mare juices shooting all over your dick and crotch forced you off your limit, causing you to cum inside of Cloud as she kept you entrapped within her embrace with her hooves. One string of cum after another shot into her marehood as you wrapped your arms around her and hugged her tight, resting your head on the bed and right beside hers, leaning against her head.
  720.  
  721. She also seemed to have calmed down in the face of the orgasm, though her grip on you was not showing any signs of slacking. “So much… I love you…” She said, in between heavy breaths.
  722.  
  723. You rolled over to cuddle with her in the afterglow. Your member slid out of her marehood by itself, aided by the marehood’s sexual fluids. This time, you weren’t able to admire the creampie, though you paid that no mind as Cloud’s shaking hooves slowly started letting go. You gave the mare a small kiss on the lips before helping her turn over.
  724.  
  725. You grabbed your larger coat to use as a sheet, covering you and your mare up as you spooned into the night… or so you thought. Cloud gave you a few kicks with her hindlegs, asking for a second round.
  726.  
  727. This was going to be a long, long night. Cloud certainly had her fill for the night. Multiple times. You thought to yourself that you were going to take a “small break” from screwing her, but who were you kidding? You’re probably going to ruin her again first thing come morning.