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The autumn breeze carried a crisp freshness through Maretime Bay, rustling the vibrant orange and yellow leaves that blanketed the ground. Hitch Trailblazer slowly opened his eyes and yawned, rolling over the bed in order to shift into a more comfortable position, until he realized he wasn't alone on his bed.
At first, he thought he was with Sparky, but he remembers placing the little dragon on his cradle. So, he opened his eyes and saw that beautiful face that relieved him and made him smile.
Zipp Storm slept peacefully with him, her head almost burred on his fluffy chest and her wings wrapped around him like a blanket. She came over last night as the awesome marefriend she is to help him out with some unfinished paper. Once they were done, Hitch offered her to stay over just for the night, and here they are now.
Hitch couldn't help but let a soft smile creep across his face as he gazed at the mare beside him. Zipp's pink mane fell messily over her face, her expression serene and unguarded. She rarely let herself appear so vulnerable, even with him. That made this moment all the more special.
He traced the curve of her wing draped across him, its softness providing more comfort than any blanket ever could. 'How did I get so lucky?' He thought, his chest tightening with a quiet gratitude that made him feel both grounded and light as air.
Zipp stirred slightly, letting out a small sigh before settling deeper into his fur. Hitch chuckled softly to himself. Normally, she was so energetic, her mind constantly whirring with new ideas, adventures, or mysteries to solve. Seeing her like this—a picture of calm—was a rare sight he wanted to savor.
The room was silent save for the rustling of leaves outside and the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards beneath the wind's pressure. Hitch turned his gaze to the window, where the golden sunlight filtered through the curtains. Maretime Bay had always been his home, but since Zipp had become a part of his life, it felt even warmer—like he was truly where he was meant to be.
His mind wandered to the day he'd first started noticing her differently. It wasn't during some grand, heroic moment like the stories might suggest. No, it was something simple—a shared laugh over a silly mistake he'd made, the way she had teased him but with a glimmer of affection in her eyes that left his heart racing. Since then, Zipp had become more than just a partner in solving problems or protecting their town. She was his partner, period.
Hitch carefully shifted to reach a hoof over and tuck a stray strand of mane away from Zipp's face. His movement must have woken her because her eyes fluttered open, their brilliant cyan blue locking with his sleepy browns.
"Morning, Sheriff," She murmured, her voice thick with sleep but carrying that signature spark of hers.
"Morning, Princess," He replied with a teasing grin, knowing how much she hated the royal title.
Zipp groaned playfully, burying her face back into his chest. "Five more minutes."
"You know," Hitch said softly, his voice laced with affection, "I don't think I'd mind if you stayed a little longer than that."
Her only response was a muffled laugh and the tightening of her wings around him. 'Yeah', Hitch thought, 'I wouldn't mind at all.'
As the minutes ticked by, Hitch let himself bask in the quiet joy of the moment. It wasn't often he got the chance to slow down and just be. Between his duties as sheriff and keeping up with Sparky, his life was a constant whirlwind of responsibility. But Zipp had a way of grounding him, of reminding him that it was okay to let go every once in a while. She brought balance to his carefully structured world, and he adored her for it.
Outside, the streets of Maretime Bay were beginning to stir. He could hear the distant clatter of hoofsteps on cobblestones and the faint murmur of ponies greeting each other as they began their day. Normally, Hitch would have been up at the crack of dawn, making his rounds and ensuring everything in the town was running smoothly. But today? Today, he was more than content to let the world wait just a little while longer.
Zipp stirred again, her wings twitching slightly as she began to wake. This time, she didn't bury herself back into his chest. Instead, she stretched, her wings extending gracefully before folding back against her sides. She blinked a few times, her cyan eyes still heavy with sleep but shining with warmth as they met his.
"Okay," She said, her voice still groggy but carrying a hint of her usual humor. "Maybe ten more minutes."
Hitch laughed, the sound light and genuine. "I'll take it."
Zipp rolled onto her back, stretching her legs toward the ceiling and letting out a long yawn. "What time is it anyway?" She asked, her voice muffled as she draped a hoof over her face to block out the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Not late enough to worry about," Hitch replied, glancing toward the clock on his bedside table. It was barely past seven, early by most standards but late enough that he knew Sparky would be up soon.
As if on cue, a soft cooing sound came from the other side of the room. Zipp's ears perked up, and she turned her head toward the cradle where Sparky was beginning to stir. Hitch followed her gaze, his heart swelling at the sight of the little dragon wriggling beneath his blanket.
"I'll get him," Zipp offered, already sliding off the bed with a surprising amount of grace for somepony who'd just woken up.
Hitch watched as she made her way over to the cradle, her movements unhurried but purposeful. She reached down and scooped Sparky up, cradling him gently in her forelegs. The little dragon blinked up at her, his wide eyes sparkling as he let out a happy chirp.
"Good morning, little guy," Zipp said softly, her voice taking on a tone that Hitch rarely heard but always loved. She had a way with Sparky that was both tender and playful, a side of her that she didn't show to just anyone.
Hitch propped himself up on one elbow, watching the scene unfold with a smile. "You're a natural, you know that?"
Zipp glanced over at him, her expression equal parts amused and bashful. "Don't go getting any ideas, Trailblazer," She teased, though there was a warmth in her eyes that hinted she didn't entirely mind the compliment.
"Ideas?" He replied, feigning innocence. "Me? Never."
Zipp rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. She returned her attention to Sparky, who was now reaching up to bat at her mane with tiny claws.
"Alright, mister," She said, laughing softly as she gently batted his claws away. "Let's get you some breakfast."
Hitch swung his legs over the side of the bed, stretching as he stood. "I'll handle that. You're still my guest after all, remember?"
"Guest, huh?" Zipp raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I'm pretty sure I did most of the work on those papers last night, sheriff."
"Pretty sure you just wanted an excuse to stay over," Hitch shot back, grinning.
"Caught me," She admitted with a wink, shifting Sparky into one foreleg so she could nudge Hitch playfully with the other.
THE END