//------------------------------// // Luna // Story: The Cutie Alchemist // by Visharo //------------------------------// Luna: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, moon ------------------------------------------------------ Starswirl the Bearded, the only intelligent lifeform on the planet Equus. Or he used to be. "Luna! Please come down!" The filly smiled bashfully and slowly climbed down from the roof. Once she touched the floor, she streaked off, no doubt in search of her sister. Starswirl stared after her for a while then sat down on one of the padded rocks. This past week has been an adventure, filled with chaos and new words. The night that Luna appeared was eventful to say the least. The filly, another biped, and had dark blue skin. Her hair, a lighter shade of blue and a horn, smaller than Celestia's, adorned her forehead. What surprised Starswirl the most was the innocence in her teal eyes. Despite Celestia having the same childish attitude, Luna had even less knowhow of the world. The days after that, Starswirl was running around after the fillies trying to get the two to behave. Their constant emissions of loud noises made his ears hurt and sometimes made his head pound. There was even one night where Luna got lost and the Starswirl and Celestia spent many countings looking for the blue filly. The search nearly brought Celestia to eye-water and such a pitiful sound came forth, such a sound Starswirl had never heard. It compelled him to comfort the little pony until she fell asleep. He decided that it would be best to bring her back to the hut by keeping her on his back. On the way back, Starswirl found Luna atop the roof, sleeping soundly. "I'm booooooored." Luna whined, breaking Starswirl out of his thoughts. New words, indeed. "What would you like to do then?" He replied, his gaze trained on the filly's. "Can we go outside again?" Celestia rumbled through the hut and sat down beside her sister. "It was so much fun last time!" "That sounds fun!" Luna nodded, a smile forming. "Can we go do that?" "Alright, just let me pack first." Starswirl heaved himself off his padded rock and grabbed his pack. This time, he packed for three. Some Shimmer Redleaves in case they stayed out late, Bittergreen Leaves for midday meals, and Snap Beans for snacks. Snacks, it used to be a lovely word, now after many pesterings from the fillies, it is anything but. He picked out a stick that seemed right for today and headed out, the girls following. The noise they made harmonized and gave Starswirl a pained head, but he smiled. Together, the three of them headed off in a direction pointed by Luna. The two played as they walked, throwing rocks, spot the leaf, running ahead, play fighting, or hiding and seeking. The last two were particularly interesting to Starswirl because their names were peculiar as well as the actions. Fighting seemed very rough for the fillies but they didn't mind. And Hiding and then Seeking, another interesting action. "Swirly? What's this called?" Starswirl looked to where Celestia was pointing to, and saw a round thing poking out of the grass. "I call it Capplant, because of the cap it has." "I don't like it. It sounds boring." Luna exclaimed, then fell to the floor to look at it closely. Starswirl watched from a distance as the blue filly touched it and sniffed it. "I got it! I will call it Woona!" "Hey! You can't name it after yourself!" Celestia shoved Luna lightly causing her to slide away while letting out a noise. "She can't do that, right?" "I think not." Starswirl mused, his hand slowly running through his lengthy beard. "It has to be something we all agree to. I agree with Celestia, little Luna. It does not seem fair to name it Woona." "Aw." The filly's eyes fell to the floor, but then it rose up just as fast. "What about Mushwoon! It's mushy, I know because I touched it. Also woon because I found a name better then Capplant!" "That is fair and the new name seems to fit." Starswirl had to give Luna credit, apparently all sentient life was good at naming things. "Hmph." A huff drew Starswirls attention. "Fine, if she can name this one, I name the next one!" "That is also fair. Let us continue our walk." It didn't take long until Celestia spotted something to name hanging from some small trees. "What's that?" "I call it Two Redberry, because it..." "Nope! I'm going to call them Cellies!" Celestia beamed up at Starswirl. There was no other word he could use to describe it. He stared at her, then shrugged, thus sealing the deal. Luna didn't say anything and that made Celestia curious. "What'cha looking at?" "These leaves, they look pretty." Luna pointed at the trees around them. "They aren't the colors like the trees closer to the hut. Why is that?" Starswirl looked up at the leaves that surrounded them. Trees were interesting in his view. From his many wanderings, he has encountered trees of all shapes and sizes, some producing berries, nuts, or cones. Some not at all. The only constants the different trees have, are the leaves and their beautiful colors. Pink, purple, blue, green, red, yellow, orange, and even white. However, something seemed to be changing, the leaves were now a brownish color. It wasn't a bad brown, it was a melancholy kind of brown. Melancholy...interesting. "I do not know. There are many wonders in this world that are still to be found." Starswirl finally replied. After another few more countings of staring at the new leaves, he snapped himself out and continued to walk. "Come on, we are almost there." "Race you there!" Celestia called out before taking off, Luna chased after her. Starswirl watched the two girls with a contented smile on his lips. Then something falling caught his eye. The force from the fillies running was causing the newly browned leaves to fall. Horror. That was the right word. Horror was what Starswirl was feeling when he saw the leaves fall from the trees. Something completely new and different, but he felt no sense of wonder. No, something...wrong was happening. *** The shadows stirred once again, but not from wakefulness, but because of mirth. The glowing eyes sparkled with cruel laughter. "These ponies have no idea what's in store! Muahahaha!" Laughter of such malice made every living thing within close proximity shivered with dread.