I look upon my failure, and a rage from deep within me arises. I destroy all around me, leaving enormous craters on my beautiful moon. Once my rampage ends I realize what I have done.
‘’No…no, no, no!’’ I fall to my knees and weep at the sight of the destruction caused by myself to the one thing I hold dear. No one hears my cries. Alone.
‘’So you’re telling me you nagged so much that they begged you to leave and even gave you a cart full of gems?’’
I was having tea with Rarity in her room which had a balcony, some fancy tables and chairs on it too. Her room was way more furnished than mine that was for sure. Though I couldn’t really tell how much of it was hers. Probably half. Oh yeah, I can hold tea cups now. Should’ve been able to hold them from the beginning. Every day we learn new things. Luna taught me how. She was a bit hesitant at first but agreed nonetheless. It was actually pretty easy. Luna and Celestia both were surprised at how quick I learned it.
Well, I would too, if a caveman came out and used a teacup with no difficulties at all, I would be surprised too. I’m like a caveman to these guys. Knows nothing, raised in a forest and all that.
Rarity was telling me a story about how she got captured by these diamond dogs, which was dogs that walked on two legs, which you should be able to as well, it’s fine, we can walk on four just fine. And these guys loved gems, so much so that when they saw how Rarity was able to quickly find gems, they…enslaved her. Yeah, mental note. Don’t get captured by diamond dogs. If they do, complain as if your life depended on it, because it does.
‘’Well, that’s the long and short of it.’’ She takes a sip of her tea.
‘’Huh, seems like you know how to handle yourself.’’
‘’A lady should always be ready, darling, but thank you.’’ She smiles. ‘’I see you’re comfortable in your suit.’’
‘’Of course, you made it so good looking and comfy at the same time, and besides…nevermind.’’
‘’Oh do go on darling.’’ She leans in closer.
‘’It’s not important, just a thought.’’ It makes me feel human.
‘’If you say so…still, I’m glad you liked it.’’
‘’Thank you again by the wa-is that a cat?’’ My attention is instantly on the white cat nuzzling Rarity’s leg. She picks up the very grumpy and frankly ugly-looking cat.
‘’This is Opalescense.’’ She shows the cat who had a collar with gems on it.
‘’She does look very…opulent.’’ I reach my ho-hand out to pet it. ‘’Here kitty-kitty…’’ I say to get the attention of it. The cat yawns and looks at me, its pupils narrow her ears press against her head, and her fur ruffles.
‘’Ow! Opalescense what has gotten into you?!’’ The cat tries to escape from Rarity’s hold and it does it quite violently. Weird, I don’t look that threatening to a cat right? I mean Luna’s basically a cat and she’s fine? …
The cat scampers off under the bed like it has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
‘’I’m sorry darling, she’s not that unfriendly usually.’’ Why is her hoof getting redder? Oh, that’s blood, definitely.
‘’Rarity, you’re bleeding.’’ I get up from my chair. Am I actually going to treat a ponies hoof? Yes. Why? Why not? She made my suit. After she jumped me.
‘’Oh? It’s fine darlin-’’
‘’Hold on, I’ll go to the infirmary. Just wait for a minute, please.’’ I quickly leave the room and start making my way. I’ve been like there like 4 times already? I already know the place. After a short walk, I enter the infirmary.
‘’Hey, doc- woah!’’ I quickly duck and dodge the incoming pencil.
‘’I thought I told you not to come back here!’’ Bleeding Heart yells at me.
‘’Wha-? It’s not for me! Rarity’s cat scratched her! Even if it was me, would you throw a pencil at someone injured?’’ I frown.
‘’To a normal pony? No, but you? Yes!’’ Rude. Some doctor you are. A doctor who helped us a lot.
‘’Harsh.’’
‘’Just…get what you need and get outta here.’’ He sighs and collapses on his desk.
‘’Huh? That’s it?’’
‘’Yes! You have more authority than me now!’’ He regains his momentum picks himself up from the desk, and continues his tirade.
‘’Really? Nice.’’
‘’No! Not nice.’’
Yeah, okay I had my fun, now let’s not leave Rarity waiting right? I take one of the many first aid kits while ignoring the grumbling of Bleeding Heart, and leave the infirmary.
The second, the sideline, the shadow. These are the only titles I have right now. Even if it’s for just a small amount of time I use the last bit of my strength to block out the sun with my moon. That is the only thing that is bringing me joy, I feel happy that ponies are only seeing my moon and my moon alone.
I wander the endless, mystical ash-colored deserts of my fair moon. I stand at the peak of the tallest mountain looking over my bewitching moon, I look over my moon, and see that the kingdom I rule is empty. I rule no one. No subjects, no people, no friends by my side.
I descend down the mountain and continue to wander the deserts. Alone.
With the kit in hand, I enter Rarity’s room, finding her still sitting on the chair.
‘’Sorry for the wait.’’
I put the kit on the table and open it, taking a small piece of bandage, I press it on her hoof where her cat scratched it, it’s bleeding but not so much. Once the bleeding stops. I clean the wound with water.
‘’Sorry if the water feels cold.’’
‘’It’s lukewarm.’’ She smiles.
Turning back to the kit, I look around for the antibiotic ointment. Hmmm, ah there it is. Miracle Mare’s Mystic Ointment? Weird. Don’t trust the strange medicine. We did take it from an actual doctor, it’s fine. Not like it’s my own wound.
‘’You didn’t need to do all that darling, it’s just a simple scratch.’’
‘’Well, a cat’s nails are so sharp that they can leave deep wounds.’’ I apply the ointment on her hoof. ‘’Which can lead to infection. We wouldn’t want that now would we lady Rarity?’’
‘’O-of course not.’’ She looks away, I take out a small band-aid with a small cute teddy bear on it.
‘’Here we go. All done.’’ I put away the ointment and packed the kit back up. Rarity raises her hoof, looks at the little bear band-aid, and giggles.
‘’It’s very cute, darling.’’
I look at the overly intricate clock on her wall and see that it’s already 2 pm. About time I go to the kitchen and extor-convice Hearty Meal to give up some of his chocolate. And I should take this kit back to Bleeding Heart too.
‘’Well, I must take my leave. It was wonderful talking to you and that tale about the diamond dogs was a delight to hear too.’’ It was horrible, the diamond dogs bit was fun. …okay yeah, that was fun. I take the kit, give out a small nod, and begin walking to the door.
‘’W-wait!’’ She suddenly calls out.
‘’Yes?’’ I turn my head and stop.
‘’I-...it was wonderful talking to you too darling I hope we meet again in the gala.’’
I nod again and take my leave. Was she lying? She didn’t look like she was, I mean I really didn’t add much to the conversation just nodded and said small stuff here and there. She did most of the talking. Eh, it’s better to be on her good side, Celestia said she was one of the elements, I still don’t know what is that, but it seems important.
But her cat? That was weird, I mean there is not liking a stranger, but that cat looked as if it was staring down death itself. It’s not the first time either. There are a lot of animals in the gardens like a…lot. But the moment they see me they start to run. Then why didn’t that white bunny run from me? Was he different? Or did I change somehow? No longer human, besides that asshole. …I don’t know. Of course you don’t, you’re me. Since I don’t know, you can’t know eithe- why am I talking to myself?
The Gala is two days away and everyone was preparing for it. Each of the staff was preparing for it. Even Moonlight and Misty were working. Lily made sure they were not skipping off work, she even came by my room to check if Moonlight was there. Moonlight was there one time and she hid under my bed, too bad she was caught. Moonlight begged me to save her, but I couldn’t do anything. Lily is scary. I’ll pay back Moonlight with some ice cream later.
They greet my sister but not me. They bow down to my sister but not me. They respect my sister but not me. They love my sister…but not me. What crime have I committed? Was my moon worthless as opposed to my sister’s sun? Did I not illuminate the night to keep my ponies safe? Did I not make the night as beautiful as the day? Why her? Why not me? Why her sun? Why not my moon? Is it not as wondrous as the sun?
I look at the empty void, It is filled with so many breathtaking stars. I gaze at them, and every time I do, I am mesmerized, how can one deny the beauty of the starry canvas? I continue gazing at the stars. Alone.
‘’Woah, that is one looong line.’’ I look towards the carriages lining up, passengers getting out then moving on. I don’t think I can see the end of it. Yeah no, it’s stretching on. They’re getting pulled by other ponies though, that’s… uhhh, is that slavery? I mean they don’t look sad about it. Hmmm. ‘’Ohh, those ones are dressed very diff- wait. No…’’ Out of one of the carriages comes the ponies from the place I stole the balloon, I think it was called Ponyville? Such a dumb name, imagine a town named Humangrad, Homosapiens Valley, Monkey Tow- okay, we’re getting a little sidetracked, awww I wondered how many we could come up with. Yep, the pink-haired yellow one. The rainbow-haired pegasus, oh, and that bitch who tied me up! Why is she here?!
Is that Rarity? Walking up to them, please don’t tell me they’re friends. They’re hugging, that’s a big hug. Ughhh. So now I really can’t burn down that orchard? We can, no we can’t. Awww. Is that a Purple Lizard walking on two legs? I look closer, and yeah it even has spikes on its back. Okay… one more to the list of sentient animals in this world. Lizards? …He just burped fire…I’m going to lose my mind. The pink one seems to have a lot of energy. The purple one… She’s dangerous.
…
…
Oh, and there pass the Wonder Bolts, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to some of them through my balcony, apparently, they’re training there in case of more accidents involving me and balloons. Talking to them was not bad per se, but honestly? It makes me feel like I’m being watched, even from the sky. We are being watched at this very moment, stop being paranoid.
Luna told me to wait with Celestia since she still had to prepare. Didn’t tell me why though. So I make my way downstairs to the entrance and to Celestia.
Ah, there is Celestia, right on top of the stairs. Giving out greetings to the guests coming in.
‘’Hello, are you seriously gonna greet every single one?’’
‘’Oh, hello dear.’’ She let’s out a sigh and her smile falls, but the moment another pony comes it’s right back on her face, after the ponies go, she continues speaking to me. ‘’Yes, I have to. Would you happen to know where Luna is?’’ I shake my head.
‘’She said she was preparing and that I shouldn’t wait for her and join you.’’ Another pony comes and greets Celestia. ‘’Do you even know half of these pe-ponies names?’’
‘’Of course I do. I’m their Pri- Hello, it’s so nice to see you here.’’ She greets another one, ugh, this has to be tiring.
‘’You didn’t even say their name, when the next one comes I want you to say their name.’’
‘’Ordering around a Princess? Quite bold of you.’’ She smirks.
‘’Oh, let’s not say order, I’m…advising you, I’m a royal knight now, I should have enough influence for you to listen to me, no?’’ She giggles.
‘’My, my, looks like my sister chose- Hi, it’s lovely to have… you here.’’ She welcomes yet another pony but doesn’t say their name, infact she stoped for a moment but probably didn’t even know who it was.
‘’You didn’t say their name.’’
‘’I didn’t?’’ She acts oblivious. ‘’Anyway don’t let me keep you dear, go enjoy the gala, talk to some ponies.’’ She turns back to greet another pony but her smiles becomes more real this time. I turn to see who it is. Oh, it’s the purple pony from earlier running up the stairs. Why do I feel threatened by her? I haven’t talked to her once.
‘’Actually stay for a minute, I want you to talk to someone.’’
‘’Princess Celestia!’’ The purple one steps forward when she reaches the top of the stairs.
‘’Twilight! It is so lovely to see my star student.’’ She’s… her student? Whose balloon I stole and crashed through the castle window? That student?
‘’Oh we have so much to catch up on!’’ Twilight doesn’t even notice me standing right beside Celestia. Someone’s tunnel visioned. Don’t let her fool you.
…
…
‘’Well, I want you right by my side the entire evening, so we’ll have plenty of time together. But first I want you to meet someone.’’
Twilight finally breaks her gaze directed at the princess and realizes that I exist too.
‘’Oh hello, I’m Twilight Sparkle, what’s your name?’’ She extends one of her hoofs.
My sister had many knights, and every single one of them begged to serve her. None of them even looked in my direction. Knights of the Sun dotted the countryside, they were renowned. I didn’t have one knight to my name. The servants who served my sister did their job with such fervor. Mine did theirs with scorn and disappointment, disappointment that they couldn’t serve the better princess. My sister’s guard were proud. My guards were ashamed that they served me.
Run, we should run away right now. Get out of here, the front gate is open right now, run past the guards, just. get. away. from. that. Calm down. No. She won’t don’t anything to us, she is just greeting us. Then why do we feel this overwhelming fear? …Luna wouldn’t allow us to be hurt. Why? What if this pony is more important than we could ever be? Could she protect us then? I…don’t know.
We would protect you.
…
…
‘’I’m…I’m Laika.’’ I nervously reach out my hoof despite wanting to run away as far as my pony legs could take me. I try my damned hardest to keep a poker face on and it works, or I hope it does. It didn’t, it did. She gasps. See? It didn’t. Most likely because of our name, of course the princesses student would know about the person who stole her balloon.
‘’Laika?! Princess is he?’’
‘’Yes, Twilight. He is the one, and I think he has something to say to you.’’ Celestia pushes me a little with her wing. I do have something to say? We do? Yes. Really? What is it? A simple sorry for stealing her balloon probably? …Right.
I cough. ‘’Ummm, I’m really sorry about stealing your uhh balloon. I really didn’t have any other option.’’ I feel Celestia poke me on the back with the tip of her wing. ‘’Not that it makes it any different…a-anyway I have to go now! Bye Celestia! Sorry about your balloon again Twinkle Star!’’ I quickly shake her hoof and I run down the stairs.
‘’No Laika, wait!’’ I hear Celestia but I don’t stop. We have to get away from that, thing. She looked fine.
‘’Ummm, Princess?’’
‘’He’s really not like that most of the time. I don’t know what came over him.’’ Celestia sighs and looks over her sister’s knight’s visage as he swiftly disappears into the main hall. ‘’So tell me about what’s been going on in Ponyville, Twilight.’’ Twilight’s confused face turns into one of happiness.
‘’Oh Princes-’’ But before Twilight can even finish her sentence. Other ponies come up the stair.
‘’Hello, welcome! it’s so nice to see you.’’
This continues on for a while with Twilight barely able to talk to the Princess. She didn’t have this in mind when she came to the Gala… Especially that peculiar pony in the purple suit.
I need fresh air, like right now. I run into the gardens while ignoring the looks of the ponies, the cool night breeze hits my face. Breathe in. I take a huge breath. Breathe out. I let out all the Carbon Monoxide and my body relaxes a little.
I go back inside. Oh hey the Wonderbolts, guess I could talk to them. Heh, that one is eating that pie like he’s hungry as a horse, oh wait he is! Haha…I’m very funny. …No. Yeah, I thought so aswell. I only remember the captain’s name It’s Spitfire. I almost lost my mind when I heard her name. A flying pony is named Spitfire? If only she had that British accent.
‘’Hello Spitfire, enjoying the night?’’ I greet her.
‘’Hmm? Oh hello Laika, yeah the whole team is pretty exhausted after the show.’’ She turns to the origin of the voice which so happened to be me.
‘’I saw that, it looked nice.’’ Duck. Huh? DUCK! I duck, and something flies right above me.
‘’You dodged that eh? Pretty slick, for a thief.’’ The Rainbow coloured one taunts while flapping her wings in the air.
‘’Wha-?’’ My eyes widen as she goes in for a dive. Fuck. I close my eyes and wait for the crash. This is getting old…no crash? I open my eyes and see the cyan menace flailing in the air.
‘’Rainbow Dash stop that!’’ What? Is that Rarity? She’s holding her with her magic.
‘’Rarity?’’
‘’Oh, I’m so terribly sorry darling. Me and Rainbow Dash need to have a little chat. You enjoy yourself.’’ She throws a sharp glance at the pegasus which stops her flailing and she walks away. I might like Rarity more now, she gave me a suit and now saved me? Best tailor pony I’ve ever met. The only pony tailor we ever met, she’s still the best one though.
‘’You good dude?’’ Spitfire asks. ‘’You somehow dodged that, and she is pretty fast.’’ I don’t even know how I did that.
‘’Hmm? Yeah…yeah, I’m fine.’’ I look at the pie that’s half eaten. ‘’Hey, where did you get that?’’
‘’Mhm? I got it from the stall over there.’’ The pony whose name I still don’t know points towards the some other part of the gardens. Looks like I’m headed there again. Where is Luna for god’s sake?
‘’Hey! Let me go Rarity!’’
‘’Are you gonna stay still if I do?’’
‘’No! We need to get that guy! He’s the Apple Thief!’’
Rarity sighs. ‘’Look darling, I’ve made the same mistake too. He’s not a thief, in fact, he is Princess Luna’s Knight.’’
‘’Wha-? So I’ve just tried-?’’
‘’Yes darling, now let’s just be happy that the Princess is not here.’’ Rarity releases Rainbow and she falls to the floor.
‘’I’m gonna go back to the Wonderbolts.’’ Rainbow mumbles and drags her feet to where the Wonderbolts are supposed to be. Rarity sighs at her friend's departure. Her night was going terribly. Her dream prince was nothing more than a self-centered, arrogant brute!
She looks at her hoof and sees the little band-aid with the bear on it. She smiles and starts walking. If she couldn’t get a prince, then she would have a knight. A small shiver passes through her. She pushes on.
‘’Ugh, where is that pie?’’ I walk in search on the quest for something to eat. Turning a corner I see a stand with all kinds of apple-based food. Ugh, no thanks, I don’t want to eat apples.
‘’You?!’’ A loud cry surprises me, looking up I see…her. That bitch. Now now, let’s calm down. No… Oh dear.
‘’You!’’
I see my sister surrounded by her knights. They all protect her with their lives, they all love her with their hearts. I look around myself, there is none but myself.
…I want a knight too.