//------------------------------// // XXXV: The story // Story: The Flutterheart Diaries // by lilinuyasha //------------------------------// “What a wonderful story, Peach blossom!” said Legible Scrawl, the Equestrian teacher. “Anacrusis, it’s your turn!” “Do I have to read it out loud?” he asked, terror striking his heart. “Well, why not?” “Um...” “He’s chicken.” said a pony in the back, snickering. “Because I wanted...um...ok. Let’s do this.” he said, grabbing his papers and moving up to the front of the room. “Let’s get this over with...” *** "Darkwing Bandmaster Anacrusis IV Darkwing sniffed the air. The pungent aroma of moldy, slimy sludge water assaulted his nostrils, making him cringe, desperate for some febreeze. His target was in here somewhere, lurking the the shadows, probably watching him. Darkwing, a black coated stallion with an equal color mane, stuck to the shadows, using his natural camouflage at his disposal in an attempt at stealth. He spread his wings, slowly gliding through the air as gracefully as a bowling ball wouldn’t, doing his best not to make sound. He forgot to take into account that it was fall, and the gush of his wings blew dead leaves off the nearby trees. A light came on in the mansion ahead of him. His pulse pounded as a shadowy figure appeared in the window. He’d made a foalish mistake. Darkwing froze as the figure in the mansion in front of him came closer to the window, casting a menacing shadow across the yard. Darkwing was frozen in place, afraid to move. However, he knew that if he didn’t he’d be spotted. The figure drew closer. His time was limited. Darkwing quietly slipped into the shadows, attempting to scamper in his fear of being caught. The figure opened the window, the full bodied grace of Starstruck shining in the darkness. “Who’s there?” she called. Darkwing stayed silent. Partially out of fear, the other out of sheer awe of her beauty this night. “Hello?” The wind carried her scent, her mane flowing in the breeze. Darkwing gently sniffed the air, her fresh scent wafting about his nostrils, tempting him to come to her. She looked side to side, searching in the darkness for movement. She shook her head and closed the window, turning the light off again. darkwing hesitated for a minute, before slinking off towards the front door, leaves softly crunching under his hooves. He pulled out his pair of lockpicks, quietly fiddling with the knob, letting the door softly swing open before he tiptoed his way in. He shut the door behind him with equal care, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light. “I’m going to return for you.” “This war’s going to kill you, Darkwing!” she told me. I kissed her tenderly, holding her tight, and whispered in her ear. “No. No I’m not. I’ll come back for you. I will come back. Trust me.” “Darkwing...” she hugged me tighter, crying. “Please don’t go...” “Equestria’s in danger, Starstruck. I have to do this.” I said, giving her another tight hug before breaking off. I had to go. I had to. “I love you.” “Darkwing!!!” she screamed, galloping after me. Security on base grabbed hold of her, preventing her from reaching me as I stepped onto the train. I blew her a kiss, a silent tear falling down my cheek as I took my spot aboard. I kept an eye on her until she was out of sight. Darkwing looked out past the hall, checking left and right. He saw nothing in dark and stealthily flew up the stairs, with no fear of leaves rustling in the breeze. He slunk down through the hallway, approaching on her room. He quietly pushed it open, seeing her small table light on, reading a book in bed. He looked beside him, seeing a small bowl full of pebbles, a decorative accent. He picked one up, carefully throwing it down the hall. He quickly hid behind a corner, watching her cautiously investigate the noise. As she trotted down the hall, he slipped into her room, sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the wall. He heard her trot back up the hallway, cursing to herself. She stepped into the room, ignoring him, looking straight towards her bed. “You really need to pay more attention.” he said, smiling. She jumped up, falling backwards, crashing into a dresser behind her. She stared long and hard at Darkwing, tears coming to her eyes, a huge, huge smile starting to beam across her face. “Dar...da...wi...” she tried to stutter, eventually conceding and throwing herself upon him, holding him tight. “They said...said you died in the conflict...” “I was a P.O.W under the radar. I managed to escape. I told you I’d come back for you.” he said, wiping tears from his own eyes. “It’s been 5 years, Darkwing...” she said, burying her nose into him. “...I didn’t think you’d ever return...” “Well I’m here now, for good.” he said. Starstruck continued to press against him tight. “Honey, what’s going on?” said a voice, coming into the room from the bathroom. “Who are you talking...” he stopped, seeing Darkwing. “Who’s this?” Starstruck looked up at him. “I...I can explain...” she said, presumably to both of them. “You found somepony else, then. I guess I’m not needed here.” he said, extending his wings, looking down on her. She looked up at him with teary, bloodshot eyes, whispering, “Please don’t leave.” “You’ve made your decision, it seems.” he said, quickly bending down to give her a kiss on the forehead. “I love you.” “Darkwing, please!” she shouted, as he flew out the nearby window, disappearing in the darkness. “I think I should go.” said the other stallion, slamming her door behind him. Starstruck collapsed on the floor, crying. Had she not drowned in her tears of sorrow that night, she would have seen Darkwing’s obituary the next morning. *** “Wow.” said the teacher. “That was...sad.” “It was a romantic tragedy.” “Well, you did it well. I think I’ll just have the rest of you turn in your papers next class.” she said, her voice faltering, as if she was about to cry. “Good story.” The final bell rung, sending everypony filing out of the classroom hurriedly. Anacrusis stayed behind. “You can go home now, Anacrusis.” she said, looking through her desk. “Are you alright?” “I’m fine. Just go.” she said, burying her head on her desk, softly sobbing. “Was it something I wrote?” he asked, regretting doing this to his teacher. She shuffled through her desk, flinging a picture his way before slamming her head back down. In the picture, he could see a young Ms. Scrawl, and another stallion...a stallion that looked exactly like Darkwing. He’d unknowingly written a story about a past she had suffered once. “I lost him...I lost him in a conflict once, too. Please go.” she said again, taking the picture from him. Anacrusis gave her a quick pat on the back before silently trotting out. The minute be closed the door, he heard her bawl. He placed his head low and trotted home. *** “How’d your story go?” asked Trey, seeing Anacrusis trot in, head hung. “Good enough to drive my teacher to tears, apparently. I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.” “Good writers can being other ponies all kinds of emotion!” said Fluttershy, giving him a hug. “You’re just a good writer! Think of all the emotions you can bring ponies! Happy, impatient, oh, the possibilities are endless!” “I didn’t want to make her sad, though...” “Why not write her a story to make her happy, then?” asked Trey, giving him a pat on the back, rustling his mane like he did long ago. “I dunno...maybe. I just wanna...I don’t know.” he said, trotting off to his room. “Is he gonna be ok?” asked Fluttershy. “He’ll be fine. He’s just not used to seeing his writing affect ponies like that. Poor guy. Why don’t I make his favorite dinner tonight?” “Hay?” asked Fluttershy, smiling. “You betcha.” said Trey, giving her a kiss.