//------------------------------// // Dancing Star Theory // Story: Stars and Scripts // by mr lovecolt //------------------------------// “I don’t like this idea.” Silver Script peered from behind a column at the crowd of ponies. There must be at least a thousand ponies here, he thought. His gaze narrowed as he scanned the front row—Derpy and Roseluck were seated near the podium, as were Star Bright’s coworkers, Blue Moon and Chocolate Sun, but many of the ponies present at the interview were there as well. He could only begin to imagine what would happen if they saw him. A tap on his shoulder caused the pegasus to squeak and leap into the air. He spun around and saw both Star Bright and Princess Luna. Taking a deep breath, he slowly allowed himself to float back to the floor. “Why are there so many ponies here?” he asked. “Well, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Princess Luna replied. “Besides,” Star Bright added, a wicked smile on his muzzle as he levitated a scroll in front of him. “I already have your script.” Silver Script gulped as Princess Luna made her way from behind the column and onto the stage of the main hall of Canterlot Castle. As she arrived, the bat ponies in front of the podium began playing the Equestrian Anthem on their horns. The ponies in the audience stomped their hooves in approval, and Silver Script couldn’t help but notice the look of serenity on the princess’ face. She strode to the podium, her smile growing brighter with each passing step. Finally, she reached the microphone and turned towards her subjects. “Fillies and gentlecolts,” she began as she waved at the ponies. “It is an honor to stand here before you. Not just as Guardian of the Night, not as Princess of the Moon, but as a pony amongst all of you, who have come from all across Equestria to witness this event.” Her horn glowed, and an orb of light appeared in front of her. The light dissipated, leaving behind a series of cards. She smiled, then tapped the cards together to put them in file. “An astrological event like this has not occurred in over a thousand years. We are on the verge of witnessing a new type of star formation. This is no easy feat.” Princess Luna paused to allow the hoof stomping to die down before she continued. “But before I create it, it is my privilege to announce the discoverer of this star. The stallion who broke a millennium of tradition. A stallion whose work has created a new understanding of how the night sky should be formed. I present to you, Doctor Star Bright.” Silver Script, still shaking from what he knew was to come, embraced Star Bright. “You can do it,” he said. “You’ll be great. You always were.” Star Bright smiled weakly at Silver Script, but took a deep breath and calmed his nerves. He kept the rolled scroll by his side as he approached the stage to greet the princess. Silver Script watched as his husband waved to the crowd and smiled. “Thank you, Equestria,” He said into the microphone. He waited until the crowd quieted before beginning. “I was given a few speeches from the Canterlot speech offices to give to you this evening.” His horn glowed and a series of scrolls appeared. The stallion shook his head, and the scrolls disappeared in a burst of fire. “I am not going to read from them,” he continued. “Because so many ponies want to know where I was inspired.” Star Bright turned and stared at Silver Script, a scroll of paper levitating next to him. “And so I will let my part—” He stopped and gazed at Silver Script. “My husband tell you of where I found my inspiration.” He turned back to the audience. “My husband, Silver Script.” Silver Script’s hooves turned to metal and his legs turned to rubber. He tried to move, but couldn’t. But then, he looked up and saw Star Bright’s face, and felt immediately drawn to him. As he emerged from the shadows, he could feel the stares of the ponies in the front row upon him. Still, his focus was on the stallion in front of him. As Silver Script emerged in front of the podium, Star Bright leaned in to give him a tight hug. “You are greater than you think you are,” Star Bright whispered before letting him go. “Are you ready?” “What do you want me to read?” Silver Script asked, leaping back as the stallion produced the scroll. As he turned towards the podium, Silver Script saw the numerous faces in front of him. He grinned and waved as the scroll hovered before him. He reached out, grabbed the scroll, and unrolled it. His eyes narrowed in confusion as he read the beginning, and he turned towards Star Bright to make sure that what he was reading was correct. When given the nod, he leaned in towards the microphone and cleared his throat. “An Epithalamium for Stars,” he said as he began to read without even glancing at the scroll, for he already knew it by heart: They said that for me to catch a shooting star Could never happen. Because their light, as bright As many suns, would burn me beyond repair. But this star’s light shone beyond the darkest night. I wanted it for my own, inside of me. The bright powers of Luna, astriding me. I only wanted to control my darkness. But the star which I caught said that it could see A light within that it wanted to possess. He stroked my cheek, and I lovingly stroked his. All I knew was how much I longed to be his. We can never be one, but still I can see We will inevitably become as one. Neither him, nor I, but somewhere in between. It was due to the forces of gravity. All that was inside of him now became mine And he embraced me, both our souls intertwine. Our love is outside us, but also within. The souls of our being between us now spin. His brow furrowed as he set the scroll atop the podium and looked out into the crowd. The entire room was silent, and with each passing moment, Silver Script felt his pulse quicken. It was only a few seconds, but the stallion could feel his chest tighten and his throat run dry. This is why, he thought as he backed away from the podium. Near the front of the audience, he heard the sound of a pair of hooves stomping. He looked around until he saw Trenderhoof standing from his seat, applauding him. Instantly, more hooves stomped their approval. Silver Script’s lip twitched, and when he felt Star Bright’s hoof on his shoulder, he turned towards his husband and smiled. As the stomping died down, Silver Script saw Derpy tapping the empty chair next to him. With a wing wrapped around Star Bright, he leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You did wonderfully, Silvy,” Star Bright whispered. “I’m curious to see where this is going,” the stallion replied before heading down to take his seat. Derpy leaned towards him. “That was amazing.” “Thank you.” Silver Script looked up to his husband, who was now looking around the room at the audience. “Since antiquity,” Star Bright began. “Gravity was seen as a force within objects. As each object comes into contact with one another, the reaction was always assumed to be based off of the size of the object. The gravitational force of the larger object would, in turn, affect the smaller one. Two objects of equal size would either nullify their effects, or, in the case of stars, would absorb one another.” He’s not stuttering at all, Silver Script thought with wonder. As he was about to lean in, he suddenly sensed a pair of eyes staring at the back of his neck. He turned around and scanned the audience until he found Princess Luna staring at him. He gave a small smirk and winked at her before turning back, only to see Star Bright now staring at him as well. “My husband’s use of the word gravity always confused me,” he continued. “And his poem struck me ever since the wedding, until one day, I was at my desk, thinking about stars.” He tapped a hoof against the podium, as though still contemplating the words. “Silver Script viewed love as a force both internal and external. When two bodies come together, their size is irrelevant. The two bodies don’t become one, they become as one.” Star Bright’s eyes widened, and he looked at Silver Script and nodded for him to come back onstage. Puzzled, the stallion slowly rose from his seat. Seriously, he wondered, where are you going with this? The two stallions stood on either side of the podium. Star Bright pointed to himself. “My love for you, Silvy,” he said, Silver Script’s wings ruffling at the sound of his pet name. “Is within me, but it is also within you. It is both of us, and it is each of us.” Silver Script nodded as he took a step closer. “And gravity is within each of us, but also flowing through us.” “Our center of gravity between us, locking us together, sending our souls in a dance for all time.” Star Bright took a step forward until they stood muzzle to muzzle. The two stallions stared into each other’s eyes until  a single sob tore through the audience. Silver Script snapped his head to attention and turned back, only to see that the sobbing came from none other than Trenderhoof. “Please,” he said as he reached into his sweater and grabbed a handkerchief. “Just ignore me.” He waved a hoof. “Carry on.” Star Bright returned to the podium. “Everypony keeps congratulating me on my discovery.” He gazed back at Silver Script for a moment before continuing. “But I couldn’t have done this without my husband. He instinctively knew something that the best of science hadn’t even considered. You cannot thank me without thanking him as well.” As the audience began to stomp their hooves again, Star Bright turned to Silver Script. “Don’t put your wings up this time.” “What?” he asked. “Why would I—” Star Bright launched towards him and pressed his lips against his own. He fought the instinct to cover their heads and instead, simply closed his eyes and let his husband take over. “Whoo hoo! Somepony gimme some popcorn!” The two stallions’ eyes shot open and they immediately separated. Knowing right away who said it, Silver Script glared at Derpy, whose muzzle was turned up into an evil grin. Still, he couldn’t help the urge to chuckle at his friend. “Your friend is incorrigible,” Star Bright said. “I don’t know,” Silver Script replied, nudging against him. “I like how she encourages us.” Silver Script beamed with pride at the pun, ignoring the way Star Bright raised a hoof to his muzzle and shook his head. ***** Everypony stood on the grand balcony, awaiting the arrival of Princess Luna. The stars long since appearing, everypony turned to one another, whispering about why they were asked to come there. “Do you know why she wanted us to come out here?” Silver Script asked, receiving only a confused shrug from the unicorn. There was a commotion behind them, and the two turned to see Trenderhoof making his way through the crowd towards them. The moment he broke through, the stallion turned to Silver Script and smiled weakly. “So,” he said with uncertainty. “I felt it best for me to apologize for my actions earlier today.” Silver Script waved a hoof in front of him. “No, it was my fault.” He sighed. “I lost control.” Trenderhoof’s cheeks burned red, causing the pegasus to cock his head. “No, you definitely looked like a pony in control,” he whispered with a sideways glance. Silver Script quirked an eyebrow. “What was that?” “Nothing.” Trenderhoof’s horn glowed, and a card levitated from his pocket. “Please take this.” Silver Script grabbed the card floating in midair. “What’s this?” “If your other poetry is anything like what I heard this evening, then I need to see it published.” His gaze narrowed. “You mentioned you were rejected. Who did you submit it to?” “…The Manehattener.” “Well there’s your problem,” Trenderhoof scoffed. “Their publishing house is much to small to be bold in their decisions. I know a pony in Vanhoover.” He leaned in. “I do hope you will be in contact. Your work is too beautiful to be so unappreciated.” Star Bright’s mouth dropped. Silver Script began to stammer, but was cut off by Trenderhoof. “I…” he said. “I don’t know what to say.” Trenderhoof leaned in again and whispered. “It’s what I do.” The stallion leaned back and gave Silver Script a wink before turning around and disappearing back into the crowd. The two stallions stood motionless, until finally Star Bright brushed up against him. “He’s… odd.” “I don’t know,” Silver Script replied. “He’s kind of interesting.” “Am I going to have to puff my chest out at him now?” Silver Script responded to Star Bright’s laughter with a snort in the direction of the stallion’s muzzle. The two turned back to the edge of the balcony as a crackle of sparks appeared. An orb grew, and a moment later, Princess Luna materialized in front of the crowd. “Fillies and Gentlecolts,” she said with her wings outstretched. “I have called you out here to bear witness to how I have decided to celebrate this event. It is a rare event, indeed, that can influence so much of ponykind’s thought. One usually associates those events with wars, battles, fights—however, there are times when scientific breakthroughs cause a massive change. This is one of those events.” Silver Script glanced up at the night sky, then over to Star Bright. He remembered what he saw on the walls of the cage. “Starry,” he whispered. “Do you realize what’s about to happen?” Star Bright shook his head. “I had planned this before,” she said before turning to Silver Script. “But, with the information given to me today, I have had to make some changes.” Silver Script felt his chest seize. Nevertheless, Princess Luna continued, turning away from the audience and to the night sky. Her horn glowed, and the stars in the southeast side of the sky began to spin. Both stallions stared in shock as the stars began to rearrange. “There are constellations for the Pillars of Equestria,” she said. “And there are constellations for navigating. This one, however, is meant for love, and how it is always flowing.” Silver Script’s eyes burned as tears streamed down his muzzle. There, in the night sky, was the image of a pegasus and a unicorn facing upward. In between their stationary bodies was a pair of stars, spinning. “Though the stallions are separate, their love is one.” She sighed and turned to the audience. “Always remember their love. For it is their love that has pulled ponykind forward.” She closed her eyes and nodded. “Thank you all for coming.” The audience began to disperse, but the pair stood still as they tried to process what had just happened. They didn’t have long to wait, though, as they were soon surrounded by four ponies. “You two are a constellation,” Blue Moon said. The pair stood still. “Ponies will look at you and think you are the example of love,” Chocolate Sun added. The pair slowly gazed into each other’s eyes. “You two are literally a part of history,” Roseluck said as she waved a hoof in between them. Silver Script and StarBright simply looked into each other’s eyes. They were both still dumbfounded at what had just happened. To be given such an honor was more than they could have imagined. Their lips twitched as they wondered about the honor they had been given. “Ponies are going to think of you two as some sort of sex gods.” The other ponies glared at Derpy. “What?” she asked. “They are.” “Would everypony mind giving us some time alone?” Star Bright asked. The other ponies nodded, and slowly made their way back into the castle. Soon, only the two of them remained. They stared silently up at the sky, at that pair of stars spinning in the night. Silver Script wanted to say more, but found that them being there was enough. He snickered. “What’s so funny?” Star Bright asked. “This is enough,” he replied with a nod. “Our love is here.” He pressed a hoof against Star Bright’s chest. “And our love is all the way out there.” He pointed to the constellation. “The center of gravity of our love is everywhere. There is now no way that we cannot feel it, even in our dreams.” Silver Script felt a hoof against his chin pulling him towards Star Bright. “I didn’t need to see the stars to know that.” The two stallions stood at the edge of the balcony and stared at the newly created constellation. Silver Script slowly lifted a wing over Star Bright’s back, and the two became silent as they watched the pair of stars dance in the night sky.