Twilight coughed hard, her eyes stinging from the dark smoke surrounding her. Her head pounded, small jolts of pain rocketing through her horn. She continued to stumble through the meadow, however, head swiveling side to side.


"Stygian!? Where are you?! Oh, please! Stygian!" The alicorn called out, searching for the companion that had helped her send the deadly Stryx back to Taurtarus…and was struck down in the process. As the smoke slowly began to dissipate, Twilight caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. He was slumped against the ground, motionless. Her heart dropped into her hooves as her violet eyes widened.


"Oh, no…Stygian!" She galloped towards the un-moving stallion. His burgundy cape was singed at the edges, blue mane blown over his eyes. Twilight's voice caught in her throat, a deluge of emotions washing over her. Feeling like there were iron bands around her chest, she lifted a shaking hoof and placed it on his shoulder. Tears pricked her stinging eyes. There was so much she hadn't asked him, so much she hadn't told him…so much she'd never admitted —


"Oh…Mother Gaia…" a quiet voice came from below, accompanied by a strained groan. The mare's breath came out in a rough cry of relief, a smile splitting her muzzle as she realized he was alive. Helping him to lift his head and get his forelegs underneath him, Twilight crouched before Stygian, the tears helping to clear the soot from her lashes. The lanky stallion winced as he stretched out his forelegs, prominent bruises spattering them. His right eye was nearly swollen shut, the fur around it heavily darkened.


"Stygian, what in the world were you thinking? You were nearly killed! The power in that talisman was " Twilight began, ignoring the stinging sparks still erupting from her horn, but Stygian waved away her words. His expression was soft, though became pinched whenever he shifted. Raising his muzzle, his sky blue eyes met hers as he let out a small sigh.


"Because I couldn't merely stand by and allow you to get hurt. Yes, you most likely could have handled the power of the talisman better than I," he gingerly touched his chest, the few ashes there all that remained of the object, "but after all you've done for me? Twilight, you've saved me. In more ways than one."


The lavender alicorn shook her head, slightly moving his collar out of the way to observe the seared fur on his chest, perfectly in the shape of the talisman. "And that makes it okay to put your life in danger? That's not how it works. We protect each other."


Her stern tone made Stygian laugh weakly. He certainly felt the effects of the extreme power of the mystical item that had sent the Stryx back to where it belonged and he was certain he would feel so for a few weeks afterwards. However, the realization that he would be able to do so, because of the wonderful mare before him, overtook most other thought. "If you hadn't pulled me back, Twilight, I would be trapped alongside that beast. You saved me from the darkness that had overtaken me. You've helped me live again. Quite literally."


Twilight gave an exasperated, affectionate sigh. "A princess looks after her friends, no matter how rash and crazy they might be in the face of danger."


Stygian's brow knitted, glancing over his friend's shoulder as they began to hear a few other voices, mingling together, calling out for the pair as they navigated the smoky meadow. Lifting a foreleg, he placed it over Twilight's, causing her to look away from the edge of the meadow and back to him in slight surprise. He took a deeper breath, trying not to wince with the sharp pinch that spiked through his ribs. Instead, he tried to gather his thoughts as quickly as he could, the effort proving to be futile. All he could think about was how he felt for the pony before him, not an alicorn, not a princess, not a master of magic, but an intelligent, kind mare that showed him life was worth living again. Now, if only he could properly articulate such without sounding like an absolute fool before all her friends —


"Styg-?"


"I do not expect anything in return. No reciprocation, or an expectation of such. I, however, must tell you, here and now. Before I lose this moment." He took another deep breath. "I've never met anypony quite like you. In this time, or the old. You are extraordinary. I admire how you've stepped into your role with such grace, the influence you've had on this realm, what you've done for ponies and other creatures alike…and what you've done for me. If it wasn't for you, Twilight Sparkle, I would not be here in many ways. If it wasn't for your empathy and heart…I owe quite a bit to you. I'm really…quite fond of you."


The voices of Twilight's band of friends began to get closer just as Stygian finished his statement, a triumphant yell from Rainbow Dash telling them they'd been found. However, neither of them looked back this time. Their heartbeats thundered in their ears, the gray stallion's words hanging in the air like a thick mist. He nearly broke their gaze when he noticed that Twilight's lower lip was quivering, and the tears were freely rolling down her cheeks.


Before either of them could react, she wrapped her forelegs around his shoulders, closed the distance between them, and…well, attempted a passionate kiss. Their muzzles bumped together, and she was a little off-center (this being the mare's literal first kiss) but she conveyed what she needed to, all the same. Stygian let out a small grunt of pain, but the burst of warm, sweet balm seemed to fill him and wash away the pain (mostly). His eyes closed, allowing himself to return the action as best he could.


The moment, forever locked in their memories, was over quite quickly. Twilight pulled back, seeming a bit shocked with herself, as she placed a hoof over her mouth and a crimson blush took over her muzzle. Instead of allowing her to sputter out the apologies he knew she would, Stygian lifted his hoof and placed it gently against her cheek, giving her a tender smile. She shared it with him, sniffling and swiping a hoof along her other cheek.


The voices of the others grew louder as they approached, calling out in joy and relief. They gave their friends a smile of repose, feeling the rush of excitement begin to leave them. Stygian's brow knitted slightly as he lifted a hoof, gently running it through a few strands of her frizzy hair in amusement."And do you always have new colors in your mane after protecting your friends?"


She looked down, noticing that he was indeed correct. Small sparkles were beginning to disappear with the smoke, a pale yellow streak flashing through her mane and tail. Something that wasn't present before the gigantic burst of magic she'd felt when pulling Stygian back from the darkness of the Stryx.


"No, that…that's new." Twilight admitted, giving her tail a slight flick. The stallion chuckled.


"It suits you." He said, giving her a gentle nuzzle. The girls circled them, rearing, jumping and laughing as they celebrated the victory of the two ponies, still locked in time with one another.


~


And that's why Twilight has that silly yellow streak in the Athenaverse :3
Enjoy the fluff, lovelies.