#nightbound mc

"Where are we going?" Alex asked Nik.

"What did I tell you? it's a surprise."

"Come on, we have been walking for like what, five minutes? I am tired, dude."

"Dude?" He loosened his grip on her legs, making her almost fall down.

"Ah!"

"Why are you so tired, my lady? You are having all the luxury. It's my poor back that's hurting from carrying you. You know how heavy you are?"

"I am not heavy." Alex tightened her hands around his neck, making Nik cough. "Besides, I told you I can walk by myself. It's you who insisted on carrying me. So suffer."

"There was no way I was going to let you walk blindfolded. You trip over air with clear eyesight. How would you survive with both eyes closed?"

"Excuse me! You are the one who blindfolded me in the first place, you are the one who insisted on carrying me, and now you are complaining about your back?" She frowned, "you create problems, you suffer alone."

"Is that so?" Then pray tell why I always suffer when you create problems."

Alex tried to pout, but couldn't help smirking.

Few minutes later Nik stopped.

"FYI, we're finally here." He slowly put her down.

"Already? Man, I was enjoying the free ride."

"Care to leave reviews?"

"Well, excellent ride. Very comfortable. But bad service, could drop you any time. I will give 4 stars."

Nik chuckled. "Sorry about that earlier."

Alex waved her hands. "It's okay. I am going to have my revenge anyway," she smiled. "Can I see now?"

"Oh!" Nik went behind her and removed the cloth that covered her eyes. He gestured around them. "Well?"

Alex slowly opened her eyes. They were standing on top of a small hill. The green grass beneath her feet stretched as far as her eyes could see. Beneath her, around her, everywhere it was grass. Pretty, green grass, grass and…

"Horses?"

"...They are not horses."

Beneath the hill, a little far from where they stood, a small herd was grazing. As she closely watched, one of them flapped its wings and flew up.

"It's... It's..."

"Pegasi."

"Pe-pegasi, yeah." She stood there silent for a while.

"Rook?"

Alex ran down the hill towards the herd. Not caring to notice Nik calling out her name and shouting for her to slow down and avoid toppling down the hill.

Nik shook his head and ran after her. They met a little away from the herd, both breathing heavily.

"Rook... you okay?"

"Sorry...I'm just, processing all this. You know..." She paused and took a deep breath. "When I was a kid, I used to visit my grandparents in the countryside. I used to ride the horses in the farms and I always kind of wished they could fly. Flying horses…" She snorted. "And now there's a whole freaking herd right in front of me and…and." She ran towards them again.

"Alex wait! I'm not as fast as you!"

Alex stood beside one of the pegasi, marvelling it's beauty. It's white fur rustled against the wind, like the grass beneath her. The wings of the pegasus resembled those of the angels.

She raised her hand to touch it, but hesitated. "Can I?" She didn't speak pegasi, but the pegasus seemed to understand her. It tilted its head in a nod, which Alex took as a yes. Reaching out, she slowly touched the soft white fur. Seeing that the pegasus didn't hesitate, she began to run her palm along its back. To her surprise, it bumped its head with her neck.

"Oh, you like that don't you?" She smiled widely. She paused as she heard footsteps behind her. Turning back, she saw Nik walking towards her, panting. Reaching her side, he flopped down on the grass.

"You okay over there?" She asked.

"Stop... torturing... me..."

Alex chuckled. She looked back at the pegasus to find it looking at Nik. It seemed as if it recognised him. It bent down at him and bumped its nose against his face.

"Oh... Hey there... buddy...I missed you."

"You know him?"

"It's 'her'." Nik stood up. "Rook, meet Ruby. Ruby, meet Rook- er, Alex."

"Ruby? Did you..."

Nik scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I... it's not like that I-"

"You named them!"

Nik blushed. "I was just a kid-"

"Is this real? I can't believe it!" She laughed. "That's so cute!"

"Rook..."

"Why's your face so red?" She laughed harder.

"Because you're humiliating me. Now stop it or I'll take you back."

"Okay, heh, okay, okay." She stifled a giggle that was about to come out of her.

"Remind me to tell Katherine about this."

"No!" Nik shouted. "You will not tell her!"

"Come on," she pouted. "Can you imagine how fun it would be seeing her roast you?"

"Fun for you. Not for me."

Alex grinned.

"You are the worst." Nik rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide his smile.

"How many of them do you have names for?" Alex asked.

They were sitting beside a nearby lake with the new friend. Alex was leaning on Ruby, her hand slowly patting her. Sure, pegasi are friendly. But Alex seemed to be making friends with every creature easily. They adored her. She looked so relaxed and calm with the pegasus. And Nik couldn't help staring at her. He was rather proud of himself for taking her there.

"Two." He replied, embarrassed.

"Only two?"

"Well," his brows furrowed, "actually, there were four."

"What happened to the other two?" Alex asked.

Nik sighed. "Remember when I told you about the New Orleans pegasi going missing? Well, Max and Fred were two of them." His eyes dropped to the ground.

Alex reached out and touched his arm.

"I'm sorry. You were really close to them, weren't you?"

Nik covered her hand with his own. "I only named the ones that I was most close with," he said. "Man, I wish I was there to protect them." He turned to Ruby. "You miss them don't you?"

Nik sat closer to Ruby, seeing that her head was dropped too. He saw tears form in her eyes, and hugged her tightly.

"Nik, where's the other pegasus? The other one you named."

"Hamster? Well I didn't see him earlier. Maybe he went for a little flight."

"Wait- Hamster?? Why would you name him that? Can't you have a proper name for a horse?"

He looked away. "It's a long story."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Anyway, why don't you bring him here? Maybe it will cheer up Ruby. It will cheer up you too."

Nik stood up and started walking, but paused and looked back at Alex. "You are enough to cheer me up, Rook." He winked.

"I am back." Nik said. Beside him was a black furred pegasi. "This is Hamster."

Hamster and Ruby seemed to be suddenly nervous.

"What is happening?" Alex whispered to Nik.

"Hamster has a little crush on our Ruby."

"Really?" She chuckled.

"Yeah, and I think Ruby likes him too."

"If only Ivy was here..."

"...she would have definitely set them up by now."

They laughed hard, catching both the pegasi by surprise.

"Anyway." Alex walked over to Hamster. "Hey there buddy, nice to meet you. I'm Alex, this stony man's girlfriend."

"Stony?"

Alex patted him. "Who's a good boy?"

"Neigh!" *me! I'm the good boy*

"He likes me!"

"It would be impossible not to."

Alex turned to him. "Flirting, are we?"

"Only with you." He grinned.

"Better be only with me. But maybe not in front of our Hamster."

"Why, maybe I could teach him a thing or two. You could try it on your beloved Ruby, Hamster."

"Neigh!?" Hamster didn't seem to like Nik saying it out loud in front of Ruby.

"Well, your skills aren't so good. That's why you shouldn't do it in front of him." Alex smirked.

"Mine ain't good, huh?" Nik leaned forward.

"Nope." She tried hard to stiffle a laugh.

"Then let me show you-" In a swift movement, Nik tried to kiss her. But Alex moved out of the way, making Nik almost fall face down.

"Gotcha." She caught him before he could touch the ground.

"Hell, Rook."

Alex giggled and placed a kiss to his cheek.

"Ruby! Wanna race?"

"Neigh!!" *Bring it on!!*

"NIK!" Alex shouted to him.

Nik was lying on the ground a little far away from them, about to catch a small nap. He waved to Alex.

"WE ARE GONNA HAVE A RACE! ME AND RUBY!"

"What?! Just don't go too far!"

"WHAT?"

"Don't go- nevermind." He did a thumbs up.

"WE'LL BE BACK SOON. HAVE A NICE NAP, NIK."

He chuckled, and waved. "Bye. Damn." He closed his eyes. "I love her."

"Now, wasn't that fun Ruby?"

"Neigh!" *Of course it was! I won two times!*

"Uh-oh, Nik's still sleeping." She stood beside him. "Nik, wake up. Nik! NIK. Oh, finally."

"Lemme sleep, Rook..."

"We are not here for sleeping. We are here to have fun."

Sighing, he sat up. "What do you have in mind?"

"You wanna fly?"

"What?"

Alex extended a hand to him. "We are going flying."

"Flying?" He grabbed her hand and got up. "You mean..."

"Pegasi, you, me, sunset, zoom across the sky."

"But, it's too dangerous. What if-"

"Shut up and come on." She dragged him with her to were Ruby and Hamster stood.

"So... you already made plans, huh?" Nik chuckled as he got a wink from Alex.

Soon, both parties- Alex on Ruby and Nik on Hamster- were ready to take off.

"Hamster, give him the best ride of his lifetime!"

"Neigh!"

"Was that threatening? Oh man." Nik hoped to not die that day.

"Alright. Ready, 1...2...3... GO!"

The pegasi flapped their wings and flew up. Above, under and through the clouds. The sight, was mind blowing.

"Amazing."

"Terrifying."

They flew side to side as the sun began to set along the horizon.

"So, how are you feeling now? Still hate this?" Alex asked.

"To be honest, I like it. Sunset and flying with you, not so bad. Well, anything is good with you."

"Keep saying that and I won't call you Stony."

"I am anything but stony. Right guys?" He looked at the pegasi who happened to be looking at each other. "Guys?"

"Eye contact? Now??"

"Hamster! Ruby! Not now! You guys are gonna kill us all."

"No flirting in the middle of a flight, got it?! Look straight both of you!"

"Neigh?!" *What do you mean you can do it, but we can't?!*

As they landed on the ground minutes later, Alex walked over to Nik. "Today was wonderful! I don't want to go back, but we probably should, right?"

"Yeah, we should. Let's bid our goodbyes to Ruby and Hamster."

"Promise we will come here again?"

"Of course we will. And by that time these two will have kids."

They giggled.

Hamster looked at them. "Neigh?" *What are they whispering about? I heard my name?*

As they walked, Alex reached out to Nik and laced her fingers with his. "Thanks for this, Nik. I needed it after the shity day I had."

"Anytime, Rook. That's what I am here for."

"So if I had a bad day again, we will do whatever I want?"

"You don't need to have a bad day for it, but sure."

"Anything?"

"Anything."

"How about another ride?"

"On pegasi? Of course."

"On unicorns."

Nik realised that he should use words carefully. "...No."

"What? That's not fair! You said we can do anything."

"'Anything' doesn't involve unicorns."

Alex was silent for a while. Then she asked him, "Are you sure I can't change your mind?"

Nik nodded in agreement.