//------------------------------// // Celestia // Story: A Comedy in Three Lessons // by Knowledge //------------------------------// Today was the date. I got my mane all done up with gel and combed for once. I looked like a total pretender, and I wanted my date to see the real me. I just didn’t have time anymore. The Summer Sun Celebration starts at the crack of dawn, and I wanted to arrive early. My date had sent me a response to my letter and chocolate sweets a few weeks ago. He said he missed my sweet love and would meet me where we first met. Last night, I had booked a hotel. I hadn’t seen the black stallion of my dreams yet, so he might have gone to a different hotel or something. The royal gardens were resplendent as always. I arrived early so that my date wouldn’t have to wait on me. I savored the rare crisp air that would soon fall to sweltering humidity once the Princess raised the sun. “Oi, guess who?” An assailant covered my eyes, blinding me. Apparently, somepony had the same idea as me. He was always a sneaky one. I couldn’t count on one hoof the number of times he disappeared and reappeared out of thin air while we had our first couple of dates two years ago. “Honeybunch!” “You know that isn’t the name I gave you, but what is in a name, amirite?” His hooves slid down my face and onto my shoulders so he could give me a hug. My love for him radiated off me and made him hug me all the harder. I missed the dark equine. I peered into his brown eyes as I had done so many times before. I could be blinded by the depth and sincerity I saw in them. They seemed to flash green for a moment, but I figured it was just a refraction of the light on the green plants. That doesn’t make complete sense because there is so little light before dawn. We got to our spot in the garden. My date had thoughtfully brought a mat for us to sit on so we wouldn’t get wet in the morning dew. I chastised myself for not being equally thoughtful, but the ebony pony reminded me that my love was more than enough for him. Dozens of couples and families surrounded us. All of us waited for the sun to magically rise to mark the longest day of the year. During that time, I reminisced about how I met my love. We had met in the royal gardens, trying to hide from a spirit of chaos. I found him immediately found him attractive. He picked up on it immediately and surprisingly welcomed me. We went on several dates. I fell quickly in love the stallion. It wasn’t until the changelings attack the capital that we got separated. An announcement came from the Royal Guard telling us that the Princess would be late. (We learned later that another Princess in Ponyville was still recovering from her 'little' episode last week, and the solar diarch needed to make multiple visits to her in order to keep everypony safe.) Since we still had plenty of time, I suggested we share our stories about what happened to us after the attack. He suggested that I go first. I obliged him. So after I couldn’t find him anymore, I had packed up my things and moved to what was supposed to be a peaceful country town. Instead it was full of crazy wannabe heroines who seemed to inspire trouble wherever they went. One even almost killed me in a prank. I was so happy when I got a letter from my love that I woke up the neighbor’s twin kids. Skipping the whole mailing incident, I was back in Canterlot for our loving reunion. I had laughed at the end of my story but regretted that when I heard his. He and a lot of his family had gotten hurt during the attack. Many of them had lost everything they had built up in Canterlot and had to wander the countryside for scraps. When he told me that some of his family had starved to death, I could hardly believe it. Catastrophes happen all the time in Equestria. Whole towns have turned into trees for example. However, I had never heard of ponies just plain starving to death in modern Equestria. I felt deeply scandalized. He continued to tell me that, once he had his family settled again, he sent me a letter, hoping that I would still love him. “I still love you, my silly stallion,” I declared after wiping some tears from eyes. “I know that more than you can even imagine.” His eyes flashed green again. He should probably get that checked by a physician. It could be some weird disease. Before I could say anything, he hushed me. Everypony was ready for the sun rise, and rise it did. It was glorious. I don’t think I had ever seen anything so bright before. I was so happy to see it with my love at the time. A few days later, my favorite stallion was helping me up the steps and into his house. I swore silently to myself. “I will never stare directly into the sun.”