Hi. My name is Night Watcher. I am a unicorn, bet you didn't know that. I wasn't always this wise, using the stars to guide my path. No, I was a young curious pony, but most importantly, a good pony. I did what everypony did. Then I met...her.
***
I looked up at my mom's eyes. "Tell me a story!"
This was many years ago, when my mom was still alive.
"Alright Nighty. What do you want to hear?" She smiled and ruffled up my mane with a hand. Her horn sparked as she dimmed the lights.
"Princess Luna!" I squealed in joy at the prospect of hearing about my hero. She chuckled and started her tale.
"The Princess of the Night, co-ruler of Equestria, Walker of Dreams, but most importantly; the Creator of Stars!" My mom waved her arms about, making it more dramatic. I miss her stories. I really do. "Her purpose in life is to bring night to the creatures of Equestria and beyond. With a flick of her horn, the moon would rise up into the sky, sending the world into darkness. But Luna wasn't cruel, oh no. She created stars, fashioned out of magic, and placed them in her beautiful sky. These stars glowed brightly, bringing light to those who seek it." She made whooshing noises, flicking her hands all over the place.
I giggled, begging my mom to stop the dramatics and continue the story. My lavender eyes sparkled as I imagined what the night sky looked like back in the day, when Luna still reigned.
"Her labour does not end there, t'would be a shame not to work just as hard as her subjects. Nay, her job extended to dreamwalking! A power so old, it has been lost forever. Tales are told of the Princess, walking in the dreams of terrified foals, and granting them the strength to move on. No matter how many, all foals will be protected. Protected beneath her starry mane." My mom smiled warmly, ruffling up my mane, then said, "alright. It's time to go to sleep. You've got school."
"Ok...g'night mom." I said, my words slurred a bit due to sleepiness. When my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep instantly.
***
Ah, my first ever night with Selene.
"Hello, my little pony." A towering black pony loomed behind me. A black mare. Her left hand was outstretched while the right was planted on her hips. A black, flowing, robe covered her well-maintained body. Her mane was a glorious sight to behold; purple, and glittery. Out from her forehead, jutted a long horn.
"Wh-who are you?" I took her hand, and she pulled me up. She felt very motherly, with no intentions of harm, so I relaxed my childish guard. "Where am I?"
"I am Pri...ah, I mean, Selene. As for where you are." Selene waved an arm, and the expanse that I had found myself in earlier, shifted. In its place, I saw...myself. A small navy blue kid with a purple mane. I wore a happy expression, nestled in my blanket. "You are in bed."
"Wha...how? Am I dreaming?" I asked in wonder, looking around the mystical place.
"Yes little one. I've been alone for so long, how have you come to this place?" A couch manifested behind Selene and she sat down with such grace, that I thought only Princesses had.
"Uhh, what?" My attention still on the strange world around me.
"How did you get here?" I turned to face her; she was gesturing to the entire place. "How did you get here, this place, my realm."
"I don't know. I just went to sleep, then woke up here."
"What were you doing before that, little one?" Her voice, warm and calming.
"Umm, my mom was telling me about Princess Luna!" If I was older or more perceptive, I might've noticed it. Selene stiffened. "She's my hero! My mom tells me that she made the stars and raises the moon!" Then my ears drooped. "I don't remember the stars..."
"You don't rem..!" Selene blurted, her wise wide. I stared at her in shock, my sadness forgotten. "Excuse my surprise, how do you not remember? It comes out every night."
"I live in an underground shetter...wait, shelter. I meant shelter." I grinned sheepishly. Ah, the young naive mind. It truly is a magnificent thing. What I wouldn't give...
"Stars above, what ever are you doing underground?" Selene seemed confused, and she leaned back on her couch to ponder this.
"Dunno. My mom told me it was about the safety of ponykind or something like that. I think it's dumb, we don't get to see the stars." My ears wilted again, and I took a seat next to Selene. She looked at me in shock when I leaned against her. "I like you Selene. You listen to me, and you feel nice."
"...yes, little one. It's nice to talk to somepony again."
***
I laughed with a spray paint can in my hand, running as fast as I could, through the many halls that threaded through the earth. My rebellious days. I still remember those days fondly. Angry security ponies charged after me, yelling curses and nonverbal aggression.
My purple tail streamed behind me as I dodged boxes and confused ponies. I rounded a corner, not breaking a stride, as I dodged yet another pony. I kept glancing around frantically, trying to find a hiding spot, so I wouldn't have to keep running.
The security ponies were almost around the bend, so without thinking, I threw open the nearest door, and ducked inside.
"Ah, Night Watcher. At it again?"
I glanced up at the speaker. Through heaving breaths, I saw a dusty black stallion. He had dark blue eyes and a navy blue mane. His eyes looked down on me, through the spectacles, quite concerned. I still wasn't perceptive back then. An entire class was behind me, and I didn't notice at all.
"OH, hi Professor Crow. Whatcha reading?" I gestured at the book he was holding in one hand.
"The principles of good poetry. Tell me, dear boy, was it as good as last time?" The professor leaned forward, seemingly interested. I nodded vigorously, recollecting the art I put up at the back of this very classroom. "Good, good. Well, you better go back to class then, you don't want to get in trouble." He paused, then continued. "Oh, and make sure you leave your can here. No evidence, right?" Professor Crow winked at me slyly.
I nodded my thanks, and deposited my empty can. I sighed inwardly, that was my last black spray paint can, as I waved goodbye. I took a single step outside, when I smacked into somepony.
"What am I going to do with you Watcher."
"Oh, uh, hehe, hi mom."
***
"Hello little one." Selene greeted me with a smile. We've grown used to these meetings during the night. "I just had a thought, do you perchance, know what a shooting star is?"
I shook my head. "What's a shooting star? Do stars shoot?"
Selene chuckled and smiled warmly. I miss her too. "No my child. A shooting star is a star that shoots," Selene demonstrated by whooshing her arm in an arc, "across the night sky. It is fabled, that if you were to make a wish while a star shoots across the sky, it comes true."
"I wish, even for a second, to see the stars." I lifted my head and closed my eyes. Somewhere up there, passed through the earth, and out into the open; a star shot across the sky.
***
"My condolences." Professor Crow, now aged significantly, tipped his hat. I nodded tearfully, trying very hard not to bawl. In front of me, lay my mother. I hung my head; everything felt wrong.
More kind murmurs floated around me, their pitying eyes trying to find mine. I wasn't going to let them. Deep breaths. Then, without any warning, I spun around and took off, shoving ponies out of my way. Confused shouts were thrown my way. I ignored them.
This was my moment, And what a moment it was. I sprinted down the now empty hallways, my arms pumping beside me. My purple mane and tail streaming behind me. Within 5 minutes, I made it to the door. Not just any door, the door. The door to the outside.
To the stars.