“Astronomy”
“It all started when I was a little filly. Only five years old, actually. My mother, she was always travelling so I couldn’t really remember her; I lived with my dad most of the time. I developed a love for the stars and astronomy, and I would look out the window and stare at the stars for hours at a time,” I said.
“Oh, so you stayed up past your bedtime? Bad girl,” Star Hunter asked, a smile on his face.
“I was five!” I retorted, smiling back. “Anyway, all I wanted was to finally meet my mother. I knew that she would be everything I had dreamed of - nice, kind, inspiring... I just knew that she would care about the stars too, and maybe even help me with astronomy. So when my father said she was coming home, I was so excited! As soon as she arrived I dashed to meet her, and it was nice for the first couple of hours. She nuzzled me, and colored with me. Then when we sat down for dinner, she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I told her that I wanted to be an astronomer, mapping stars and such.”
“Which you do,” Star Hunter added, grinning.
“Which I do now,” I finished, and then took another deep breath. “Anyway, she laughed at me and told me that it was a stupid dream; that I would probably end up working at the Weather Factory, like all pegasi from Ponyville.”
“She didn’t!” Star Hunter shouted, shooting to his hooves in rage. “I was born and raised here, and I’m known all over Equestria for my star maps and my work in astronomy! My father Orion and his friends are the official astronomers of Equestria!”
“Lucky you,” I replied drearily.
His face paled, and he sat down, nuzzling me gently. “I’m so sorry Merry May. I didn’t mean - I was just angry.”
“It’s all right,” I answered sadly. “Anyway, it crushed me. I was afraid to trust anyone else with that part of me, with my biggest secret. So I hid my passion, sneaking out here at night to map stars. I work for the Weather Factory, like every other pegasus from Ponyville. I’m just a normal little pegasus with a huge secret.”
He wrapped his wing around me.
“A huge secret which you now know,” I said, turning to look at Star Hunter. “Please don’t tell.”
“Of course I won’t,” he answered soothingly. “But I’m not going to betray you. You could sell these star maps, publish your findings. These are some of the best maps I’ve ever seen - detailed and accurate. There aren’t many pony astronomers, you know. You could make a living like this, and nopony can say you can’t.”
“But I’m…I’m scared what ponies will think. I mean, it’s not the most realistic idea. What if I fail, and I lose my job because of it? And what if Parasol…laughs?” I said fearfully.
“Who cares what they think? You’ve got to have some faith in yourself,” he reasoned, nuzzling me again.
“Maybe, okay? Anyway, it’s late. I need to go or I’ll be too tired to work,” I answered, packing up my belongings into my saddlebags.
“Merry May, wait,” Star Hunter said, and I turned around, wings ready to fly.
“When can I see you again?” he asked.
“Twenty-three Sunflower Street. I get weekends off, and I get home around four-thirty on weekdays. Or call me at eight one six - two three four two,” I answered, already in the sky.
“Goodbye!”
“Goodbye!”
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I watched her fly off, unevenly beating her wings through the air. Poor thing. I must have given her a heck of a shock.
There’s just something about her. The way she looks at me with those sparkling eyes, or the way she scrapes at the ground when she’s nervous.
She’s different from all those crazy fillies I meet at speeches.
Maybe it’s because she doesn't want me, and isn't interested romantically.
But I do know one thing.
She’s the most beautiful mare I've ever seen.
I thought she was beautiful before I knew she loved stars.
Now, things are different.
I just want to be with her so badly, help her complete her story.
Is that wrong?
It can’t be wrong, can it?
But only she can stop the horrible guilt in my stomach.
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I’m still in shock as I fly away; my wing-strokes are unbalanced, and it’s only out of habit that I remember to fly in the cloud cover.
I’m stunned, shell-shocked. I don’t know this stallion! He has no right to go about, telling me what I should do.
But some part of me, however small it may be, knows he’s right.
I could be famous.
I could have everything I've ever wanted.
I shake my head, and continue flying towards home.
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“Umm…Parasol?” I asked into the phone, my hoof quivering a little.
“Yes Mers?” she responded cheerfully.
“I can’t come into work today. Tell Rainbow Shine, please?” I answered.
“Of course! Are you all right?” she exclaimed, worry in her tone.
“Yes. I just have a light cough,” I responded calmly.
“Okay. Get better soon, all right?” she said, worry still in her tone.
“I will. Bye,” I answered, putting the phone back on the receiver.
“Bye!”