Moving On...[PRIVATE]

[GreyMatter]

There they were. Grey Matter, hoof in hoof with his fillyfriend of several years, Pesto, was atop a hill overlooking what would become their new home. His mind was filled with memories of the past few years. They met on his first day at Canterlot U, where he majored in business. She was not enrolled at that point, but had come to see Sydphony, a well known musician who happened to be friends with Grey. The two had hit it off, and by the end of that same day, had fallen in love. It was a short period of time, but they felt as though they had known each other much longer. Not wanting her to leave, as she lived her life at that time on the road, Grey eventually convinced her to enroll, where she majored in Visual Arts, with a minor in Fine Arts.

But that was several years ago. Since then, they grew closer everyday, and they had a plan. They were both very forward thinking ponies, very concerned about raising a family. Grey, as a child, rarely had time with his parents, and had few friends in Fillydelphia. For Pesto, it was always nervewracking for her to live in such a bustling city as Manehattan. They knew where they wanted to be. It was a quaint town. Everypony seemed to know each other, a perfect place for raising foals. Also important, it was on the water. This provided them a chance to vacation every day, simply by trotting down to the bay. It also opened many opportunities for Grey to start a business, so he could make his own hours to spend time with his family. For Pesto, it gave her many unique species of tree for her leaf prints, and provided ample inspiration for her other artworks. Baltimare.

Still, with all of this in sight, the two were not looking down on the city that would be their future. They were instead looking into the future, into each other's eyes. Wherever their house was, they knew they had made a home in each other's hearts. They had been together long enough, they hardly even needed words anymore. He looked at her, and cocked his head toward the city, as if to ask her what she thought, or if she was nervous about their future, and the adventure they were soon to embark on...

[CrimsonNova]

After all this time, the feeling of Grey's hoof around hers never failed to give Pesto butterflies. It seemed to her, that every moment they spent together brought them ever closer. Which in it's own right, seemed something a little ludicrous to Pesto, considering how close the two already were. Currently, gazing down upon the beauty that was soon to be their future home, did nothing to help ease the butterflies in her stomach. It had been long coming, but finally she knew that she was going to settle, after so many years of the uncertainty.

The long awaited stability she had so craved was finally upon them, and as she turned to gaze into Grey's eyes, she inclined her head, indicating that she was ready to take the next step in her life.

She then touched her nose to his cheek; something that had become a habit of hers. Her features showed that of anticipation, and of nerves, but at the feeling of his warm cheek, a small smile began to play around her lips.

"It's more amazing than I ever could have imagined. It's ... perfect," she murmured, as though she had read his mind, rather than read the simple action that indicated the silent question he hadn't ever asked.

[GreyMatter]

Grey looks at her once more, before begining down the hill. He says to her, for what could have easilly been the millionth time, "I love you." Even so, it still felt like the first time, and he remembers that night, once more, at Sydphony's concert, as they were headed up the catwalk. It seemed somehow fitting, that the last major step he with her was going up those steps, and now, his next big step, was headed down a hill. As if, with her in his life, it was balanced. "Where to, dear?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto's soft smile widened, the pink blush - that seemed so permanent when she was Grey - tinging her cheeks. She spoke again, her voice as soft as the waves lapping against the shore.

"I love you too."

They set down the hill, and once the two had reached the bottom, she turned her smile back to Grey. She put her right forehoof over her eyes and pointed her wing in a random direction. She laughed softly, wondering if Grey would remember the significance of this gesture.

Either way, she began in the direction she had indicated, until her hooves made contact with the stone streets of Baltimare. She took a breath and looked back to Grey once more, gazing down the road that was soon to be an oh-so-familiar path as they made their home here.

[GreyMatter]

Grey would always remember when she pointed out where to go by using herself as a spinner, as he remembered everything from that day. He began to playfully chase her as she had gone. When he caught up to her, he looked beside him and saw a condo. "Great for a couple," he remarked, "But not so much for a family, huh?" He looked forward. The bay was in sight. "What about waterfront?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto followed his line of sight, a gentle frown replacing her smile as she gazed up to the condo, thinking hard. No, he was right. Not the most suitable place for a family. She then turned back to glance to the bay.

She slowly began to nod. "The waterfront. It sounds beautiful. Well, it can't hurt to try," she said, in a playful tone.

Her imagination had flared up, and she was smiling as she imagined their young foals running around under their hooves all the time. She couldn't begin to think of a better place to raise a family, and she was so grateful to Grey for everything he had done to make this possible.

[GreyMatter]

Grey was stunned, to his memory, that was the first time she had frowned near him. It was...diffferent. He worried, until he realized why, that she felt it was unsuitable. He knew he was where he needed to be. He knew his ideal family, with three (or more) foals, so they would have siblings to keep each other company, unlike what he had. Only one question remained, whether they would be earth ponies or pegasi, or perhaps some of each. But that wasn't what mattered, he loved his future foals regardless. They trotted toward the bay, eagerly awaiting what houses they would see for sale, and with aid from Grey's parents, the only thing they had to consider in purchasing a house would be the foals.

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto's smile returned fully as the two began to make their way to the bay. The sun sparkled off the water, and every which way Pesto glanced, she could see the shimmering and glinting of the surface. The sun on her pelt kept her warm, and there was nothing that could dampen her spirits.

She looked up to the houses that dotted along the bay, and she felt the feathers on her wings ruffle slightly with the soft breeze that played around the bay. She couldn't see any faults with them yet. They seemed big enough, and it seemed like a lovely place to raise foals.

She turned to Grey, a soft smile upon her features as she fixed her glasses up onto her nose. She tilted her head, "What do you think?"

[GreyMatter]

Grey looked at Pesto, then followed her eyes to a for sale sign. From there, he saw the entire development, dozens of houses for sale. Most of them, houses on stilts for floods. No. Children can't really use stairs as foals.But then, that was it. It needs to be two stories, so they could escape a flood, and finally he say the house.

It was not quite finished yet, which was better, they could have a hand in picking out any features, or paint color. It was fairly large, and three stories. He saw that his beloved was peering at the same house, and at almost the same time she asked, he replied, "It looks perfect."

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto's ears perked up in excitement, and she surveyed the house again, weighing up the pros and cons. She was struggling to keep her excitement caged, but she tried to remain focused; everypony that knew her knew she could get easily distracted.

She smiled widely to Grey, and nuzzled him, giving in and letting out a small squee of excitement.

She closed her eyes briefly and began to imagine their foals running (or zooming..) around the house. She hoped there might be a spare room in which she could have her paint supplies, away from the foals, but that was the least of her worries.

"Really? You like it too?"

[GreyMatter]

"I couldn't have imagined a better home." Said Grey. It was spacious, a good neighbourhood, overlooks water, and was right by where a school was being built. "Do you want this one?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto's eyes widened and she wrapped her forehooves around Grey's neck, and the excitement began to work its way out of her system, through her giggles.

"Yes, it's perfect! So perfect"

She stretched her wings and pulled away from her coltfriend, and zoomed into the air, hovering a few feet over Grey as she surveyed the house once again. She was smiling widely and her wings were flapping rapidly as she shook with repressed excitement. This is it!

[GreyMatter]

Grey Matter just sat and watched Pesto as she flew around, as an Earth Pony, he was unable to join her, and whenever she went up into the air like that, he just watched her. "I suppose we need to find a realtor then, don't we?" Said Grey, hoping not to bring Pesto down.

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto bolted over to Grey, calming down a little as she did so. She didn't want to seem to childish in front of him. She smiled and hovered beside him, at eye level.

"Yep!" she smiled widely, and planted a kiss on his nose, hoping that this simple gesture would convey all of her emotions, and especially her thanks and appreciation for what he was doing for her.

She dropped to the ground, her wings still extended, and still smiling widely at him. If only she were as good with words as she was with paint..

[GreyMatter]

Grey was still stunned by that kiss, as he had always been. Once he was back to normal, seeing how Pesto was, he offered up an alternate suggestion. "Well, seeing as the money is with my parents still, how about I call them, make an offer, and then we can skip the boring suff and tour the town?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto tilted her head and tapped a wing to her chin, as she did sometimes when she was thinking. She nodded. "You always come up with such good ideas, Grey," she trilled lightly, still smiling.

Her eyes were still focused on the house, but she kept close to Grey, and tucked her wings into her sides, itching to get going and see the rest of the town. She was thrilled by his suggestion, and hoped that the rest of the town would be just as beautiful as the bay.

She glanced in the direction of the town and smiled. Even though she couldn't see much, she figured she wouldn't be let down.

[GreyMatter]

Grey called up his parents, and promtply called the number listed to make an ofer. A large one, if only to save time, and ensure they got the house, that finished, he turned to Pesto. "Mares first," he said, pointing the way to the town. "Where do you want to go first?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto began to trot towards the town, and waited for him to follow. She smiled and once they had entered the town, she glanced around, and immediately spotted where she wanted to be. "Hmmm," she smiled, glancing to Grey.

The bell above the door jingled as they entered the book store, and she smiled, reveling in the smell of new books. She half wanted to see what kind of shopes the town had, but also she wanted a new book. She trotted straight over to the hobby section, and began to sift through the art titles, hoping to perhaps find one on new techniques for printing. Or failing that, a new book on trees and plants of Equestria.

[GreyMatter]

Grey followed Pesto in, and saw her reading books. as she was reading books on trees, he couldn't help but notice that his stomach was growling. It can wait. And he did wait, for her to do what she needed. He wasn't too hungry, and he took the time to make another call, reserving a spot at the best restaurant in town. He set it for 30 minutes, figuring they should be able to squeeze something else in. "What are you looking at, honey?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto looked up as she heard his voice. "Oh. This book." she showed him a few pages with detailed explanations about trees and plans, locations and examples of their prints. She led Grey to the counter and plopped the book down on it, then handed over the amount of bits that it cost to the pony behind it.

She smiled and slid the book into her saddle bag and exited the shop. "Okay, your turn. Anything you want to do?" she asked gently, smiling.

[GreyMatter]

"No, no, you pick another place. I've already picked where we go after this place. We just need to be there in a half an hour." Said Grey, hoping not to give away his plan for the two of them. The meal was only just the start... "You lead the way, I will follow you to the ends of Equestria, and whatever lays beyond."

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto giggled. "Well, if you're sure.."

Truth be told, she felt a little bad dragging Grey all around the stores she wanted to visit. She trotted into a floral shop and smiled as the scent of flowers and earth hit her. If only she could bottle her favourite smells.

She looked around at the different flowers, smiling as she imagined the gardens she might some day be designing for other ponies. She didn't want to buy these flowers, just look and imagine the gardens that somepony will enjoy sitting in one day. She turned to Grey, blushing a little. She was concerned that he might think she was silly for chasing what seemed like a far-fetched dream.

[GreyMatter]

Grey, as if reading her mind, turned to her and said, "I can't wait to see whatever garden you got cooking up in there," as he touched his hoof to her head. "I'm sure plenty of the ponies here need help with the gardens, especially since they are starting from scratch. Besides, crazier things than that has happened. Remember how I found you?"

[CrimsonNova]

Pesto laughed nervously, but smiled still. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

She turned to leave, and nuzzled him as she past him, glad he was able to reassure her so easily. When she thought about it, she really was so lucky. "So, what have you got planned now?" she resisted the urge to grumble at him.

"You know I'm not a big fan of surprises," she teased, smiling widely at him so that he'd understand she was just kidding.

[GreyMatter]

"Luckily, you won't need to wait much longer..." said Grey, as he led her, hoof in hoof, down the streets. It was a big restaruant, and you could see it from several streets away. Once it had come into view, Grey pointed it out. "There," he said.