Pride Parade

Packing early, Marcellus stuffed his bags full of armour, the clanging making him wince. He typically liked the sound of armour, but it was exposing his surprises. The pride parade was today and it was the first time he’d get to show Eurus the pride of knights! Orville was always openly proud of anything and Marcellus loved that about knights, you have to be brave and showing your stripes was a part of that.

The creaking of a wheelchair came up behind him, making Mars use magic to quickly seal off the bag. “Are you almost done? We’re gonna miss the parade you’ve been so excited about if you keep packing.” The light gray pouflon teased, nudging Mars with his cheek.

“I just finished! Man, I didn’t take you as such an impatient lon~” the darker pouflon nudged back, a big grin on his face. They already agreed to put on some pride paraphernalia at the parade, which would make sneaking the decorated armour past Eurus easier. Picking the bags up with magic, Marcellus trotted off out the door, making sure they floated noiselessly behind him.

Eurus followed suit, the two making their way down towards the roars of the audience. Their pippets bounding alongside them, Iris, his albino pyropine, lighting her fire so much it was making popping sounds. Finding a place to set up in the middle, so if Eurus wanted to change his mind midway, it wouldn’t be that much of an issue. Laying a blanket and making sure the wheelchair was in a good place, they watched for a while. Pride filled Mars’ chest as he watched knights stomp and chant. The ones with fire affinities doing tricks catching his breath the most.

A chuckle came out next to him, looking over, Eurus’ eyes were bright, but from looking at him. “What!?” Mars asked, getting flustered whenever his boyfriend looked at him that way.

“You sure like the fiery ones, don’t you?” Eurus pointed out, making Mars huff.

“It’s an impressive act! I’m allowed to appreciate that!”

They started laughing seeing Iris also light up at the fire performance.

They continued to watch, the two also getting excited for the new Elyvians who were making an appearance to celebrate. The cheering from them filled the air. Achilles and Patroclus, their Loupines, barking along with the cheering, wagging their tails. Mars and Eurus always joked that the two were ‘boyfriends’ and the way they were cuddling together while watching made Mars wish he brought a camera.

The smokey pouf got reminded that he wanted to support the local stores here. “Stay here and enjoy the parade, I’m gonna go check out the local stores!”

“Don’t spend it all in one place~” Eurus called as Mars trotted away.

The brightly colored items overwhelmed him a bit, Mars never knew which ones he was supposed to get. That was until he saw an ombre of blue and green.

“Which flag is this? I don’t recognize it?” Marcellus asked the shopkeeper, who was excited to give an answer.

“Oh! That’s the Men Loving Men flag! It’s inspired by the trans flag and gives gay men their own flag.”

Mars’ eyes lit up, although he liked waving the rainbow flag, he always wanted one that was specific towards MLM. Buying the pin, he then searched around for more, collecting the cool toned ‘merch’. Coming back with a haul of bright colors, Mars showed off his haul, explaining the new flag and decorating each other in the colors. Mars put little MLM bandanas on their loupines and Iris a little rainbow flag to wave. He gave Eurus snacks he picked up, and grinned seeing the other stuff his face with snacks.

They didn’t talk much, filling their mouths with sweets, their tails wagging as lons went all out with their performances. Giving it a moment, Mars gained the courage to ask what he really wanted to. “Want to put our knight gear on and join the parade? There's a section towards the end where any knight can join in!" He was excited and that came out in his voice.

Eurus perked up, but seemed more embarrassed at the thought than interested, the lighter pouflon had always been self-conscious of his wheelchair and possibly being a bother, but Mars was confident that no lon would mind. If they did, they’d meet a yellow hoof anyway.

It took a bit of convincing, Eurus only recently becoming a knight, and not feeling like he’d fit in taking over his confidence. Marcellus felt bad, but kept the pressure, wanting nothing more than to stomp proudly to the beat on the street with his boyfriend.

"Fine, I guess I'd be willing to try… but only for one street! Then we're going back to cruising the sidelines…"  Eurus finally gave in, filling Mars’ chest with joy, opening their bags, the smokey pouflon revealed all the armour and how they are decorated in ribbons. Mars now able to add the MLM ribbons he bought at the shops an hour ago.

This shocked Eurus as he checked out the pride decorated armour, the lighter lon seeming more nervous by the bright colors added. “Do you not like it?” Mars got nervous, wondering if he maybe should have asked first, this is something new to his boyfriend.

“No! It’s ok, I just don’t want to be a laughing stock.” Eurus admitted as they put on their armour.

“Who do you think is going to think that at all! If anything you’ll be an inspiration to others that no matter who you are, you can protect others! Now come on, I want to go out with you for a reason!”

Eurus still looked nervous but followed Mars who was shaking his hair and pounding his hooves against the cobblestone, dancing with the other knights who matched the amount of ribbons. Eurus stared and blushed, making the darker pouf look around and take it all in. Mars could almost feel his eyes well up seeing the variety within the knights. Trans, lesbian, nonbinary, intersex, demi, ace, the list went on. The allies stomped their hooves to the beat in celebration as knights showed off their decorated armour.

Continuing to dance to keep himself from tearing up, he eventually glanced over at his partner. Eurus was welled up with matching pride, and his look became more confident. The lighter pouflon started dancing, using his stronger legs as the forefront of his marching. He brought his wings out, the ribbons dancing around Eurus in ways that filled Mars chest with love.

Matching Eurus, the larger pouflon brought his wings out, making sure to not accidentally whap anyone. They both became more confident seeing each other have fun. “You’re doing amazing, Eure!”

One of Marcellus’ favourite songs came on, he belted with those near him who also loved the song, making his partner laugh. They didn’t notice once they went down the first street. That one became three, which became the halfway point where they waved their wings at the pippets who waved their flags back.

“You want to get off here?” Mars asked, wanting to make sure his partner was comfortable was wanting to stay on the street.

“No! Now that I’m surrounded by everyone.” Eurus looked around and something caught his attention. Following his gaze, he noticed a young lon with a missing their leg. Mars bumped Eurus with his hoof, making the lighter pouflon make his way over and give the teen bloom a bag of candy.

“Thank you, sir!” the teen called out, his parents laughing in response, not having seen their quieter bloom so excited before.

Some mages trotted up to the group and passed out water, Mars didn’t even notice how parched he got with all this dancing. Gladly drinking any water offered before the mages started cooling down others. Eurus laughed at the amount of water dripping out of Mars’ mouth as he accidentally spilled some.

They both laughed as they continued, watching the group in front of him, LGBT+ and Ally family members marching together. It reminded Mars how badly he wanted to one day start a family with the handsome devil beside him. Not long until they reached the 3/4ths marker, the crowd seeming to grow, everylon coming out of the woodwork. Some flying above to fill the skies with kites, confetti, and dancing lovers. He wanted to join them, but wanted to finish the whole march with Eurus if he was willing.

As they reached the end, the two slowed down, panting and exhausted. Taking off their helmets with their magic, they smiled at each other. Even though they were surrounded by love. At that moment, they only saw each other.

“Eurus?”

“Mars?”

“I love you… so much. Thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

Mars couldn’t express with words, so he leaned forward and bumped noses, making the crowd near them roar. “Thank you for believing in yourself, and getting out of your comfort zone for me. I love you.”