The End of The World

NIGHTMARE

It's easy to decide when there is only one choice.

"Y-yes. Show me." She stammered, voice slightly too eager. Thanatos's large eyes narrowed mischievously, sobering the situation and forcing Uranus to bite back her enthusiasm. After a couple of seconds, the Pegasus emerged from his statuesque state.

"As you wish."

Excitement electrified the air, emitted not only for Uranus- who quickly drew back in caution- but the Pegasus as well. In one fluid motion, the shoulder muscles flexed and lifted, allowing two leathery wings to unfurl. They extended at least five feet on either end and caused the air to ripple in forceful waves. Thanatos was obviously doing his best to display the best angles, not-so-discreetly showing off the veiny structures so elegantly poised upon his back.

"That's even less aerodynamic than a brick... " Uranus muttered under her breath, eyeing the wings in a strange mixture of awe and disdain. "They are way too thin, and short too. Is that base cartilage or styrofoam?"

"You will find that I surpass the laws that the human mind so feebly contrived." He intoned smugly, letting the purple-tinged skin turn up to combat the breeze.

"This feeble mind can summon a hurricane at will. And I won't hesitate if you show any sign of being anything you haven't claimed." Her head cocked mockingly as she snapped her fingers. An icy breeze wafted throughout the area, causing the bat-like wings to rustle.

"Understood." He gave a brief bow, lowering his wings in what appeared to be respect. "Lady Uranus." Eyes hardened in suspicion and mild annoyance, Uranus snatched up the Carillon and broach, pinning it to her waist where Michiru's cyan scarf was tied. With minimal grunts, she managed to hoist herself onto his slick body, scrabbling up gracelessly over the oily hairs. Thanatos barely seemed to feel her weight, his body refusing to sway as normal horses might have. Once properly situated- legs over either side and a death grip on the rippling mane- she tensed in preparation to perform any attack. Yet none was needed.

Thanatos listed his head and elegantly stepped forward, his pace causing the Senshi to rock uncomfortably upon her perch. Then, he rose to his hind legs, releasing a whinny that shook the world. Uranus bit back a scream as his hooves hit the ground, thundering forward with the force of a steam engine.

It might have been only a half a second, or an hour as they tore down the hill in a flash of white, black, blue, and yellow, the winds against them is it jabbed knives into her exposed skin. The only solid thing being the thick body squeezed between her legs and a hammering heart.

Then they were off.

It was at least a minute before Uranus was able to open her eyes. Wind sliced through her hair, biting into her fuku till it could be felt beneath the protective fabric, forcing her to squint. She found herself splayed over his body like a sloth, gripping the greasy locks of mane till the hair was nearly ripped from its roots. Though night engulfed her vision, the electric lights were twinkling bright enough to replace the stars- Tokyo tower glinting red in the distant city. There was a twinge in her navel as Thanatos broke from the steady glide, pumping his wings furiously to pass vertically through the clouds.

It. Was. Incredible.

Nothing could compare- not motorsports, running, or even piloting could surpass the thrill that flooded her body as they shot through the barrier of white, spiraling upward until her sweaty grip nearly slipped. An involuntary grin tugged at her lips as the freedom of the empty sky awaited. How could I have ever mistrusted this guy?

"I must warn you," Thanatos began passively. Somehow, his voice carried over the whipping of the wind and wings. "Nightmares too are dreams."

They began to a slow decline, hooves skimming the blurred edge of the clouds, creating a fine mist that beaded and dampened the Pegasus's lower body. Uranus scoffed at his words, muttering something about Thanatos being the worst nightmare, literally. She was soon cut off as he flipped nearly straight downward, transitioning into a steep dive that contradicted with the wind's flow. The Senshi bit hard on her tongue to hold back a half scream, half whoop that adrenaline conjured. The mass of fleecy cloud abandoned them, a slight chill emanating from whatever was below. The skies shifting to various shades of grey as the high winds passed over, clearing to partially reveal what was below.