//------------------------------// // Career Change // Story: Moments in Time // by Shingo //------------------------------// If there was one downside to being a near immortal being, it was boredom. After a countless number of years, things would eventually become boring. The younger diarch of Equestria was experiencing this first hand. Even after having a thousand year sabbatical, things were still the same. And they were still boring. It was the same routine over and over for her: wake up, raise the moon, prepare for the night, breakfast/dinner, Night Court, overwhelming boredom, dinner/breakfast, lower the moon, bed, rinse and repeat. For Luna’s sanity, she needed something different. Two captains within the Lunar Guard had suggested a career change. Much to their surprise, Luna agreed. She was in her personal chambers with two bat winged ponies. An eye patch was over the left eye of one of the bat ponies. Sitting between the three of them was a dartboard. Scraps of paper with careers and titles written on them were pinned to the board. All three ponies were writing on pieces of paper. Once they were done, they placed their paper on a blank spot on the dartboard. “Let’s see,” the eye patched pony said. He had a fountain pen in his mouth and moved it along some paper. “Pretty, pony, princess.” The piece of paper was placed on the board. “Sunshine Smiles,” Luna said. “Why would you torture me with such a boring career prospect?” “Come on, Lulu,” the other bat pony chuckled. “You have a one in forty-five chance of hitting that. Your chances of hitting that are less than one percent. Actually, if you want a concrete number, you have a…” “Zero point zero two percent chance of hitting it. I am aware of the math, Frolicsome Meadowlark,” Luna looked at the board. There were two empty spots left and both Luna and Sunshine had run out of paper. “Are you going to give any ideas?” Sunshine asked. “In a minute,” Meadowlark said. “I’m trying to think of careers that haven’t been put here.” He held his fountain pen is his mouth, idly moving it up and down. After a few seconds, Meadowlark’s eyes widened. “Eureka!” he cried. The fountain pen quickly scribbled on the two sheets in front of him. Both sheets were placed in the empty spaces. “There, all done.” Sunshine and Luna both raised an eyebrow. “What?” “Super villain?” Luna asked. “Really?” “Hey! Being a super villain would be awesome! Besides, you already have an army, you’re half way there.” “True,” Sunshine said. “But keep in mind, the last time she tried that things didn’t go so well.” “Fair point. But remember, zero point zero two percent chance.” “Right,” a midnight blue hoof pointed to the second scrap of paper. “I’m more concerned about that one.” “What’s wrong with that suggestion?” Meadowlark asked. “It’s illegal for one thing,” Sunshine deadpanned. “So are half of your suggestions.” “Fair enough. Luna, why are you concerned about it?” “Perhaps concern wasn’t the right word,” Luna tapped her chin. “Interested seems more appropriate. I like the idea though; being a mafioso could be fun.” The dartboard was covered in a blue aura and lifted from the ground. It was placed on a nearby pinwheel. Sunshine and Meadowlark walked to the sides of the wheel. Sunshine spun the wheel letting it roll counter clockwise. Meadowlark stopped it from spinning and did the same only clockwise. Both bat ponies grabbed onto the dartboard stopping it. “Ready?” Sunshine asked. Three darts were brought in front of Luna. She tied a deep purple blindfold over her eyes. “Am I in front of it?” she asked. “Take three steps to your right,” Meadowlark said. Luna shuffled to the right. “Perfect.” A gray hoof spun the wheel clockwise. The bat ponies stepped away from the wheel. “Okay, go.” A dart was thrown forward. It landed on a sheet of paper with a thunk. Sunshine stopped the board. He chuckled when he saw where the dart was. “So?” Luna asked taking her blindfold off. “What’s the result?” “Take a look for yourself,” Sunshine chuckled. Luna took a few steps forward. The dart was stuck through a piece of paper near the center of the board. The words ‘Pretty Pony Princess’ were written on it. Meadowlark was attempting to hold his laughter. He was failing miserably. “That doesn’t count,” Luna stepped back and put her blindfold back on. “Remove the dart, and spin it again.” Sunshine pulled the dart out and spun the board. After ten rotations, another dart was embedded into it. Meadowlark stopped the board’s movements. He fell to the ground laughing and Sunshine laughed along with him. Once again, the dart was through the sheet of paper that said ‘Pretty Pony Princess’. Luna puffed her cheeks out. “One more time,” the dart was removed and the blindfold was put back on. The board was covered in Luna’s magic before being spun. The final dart was thrown. Sunshine stopped the board as soon as the dart made contact with it. His laughter grew in strength causing him to fall on the ground. Meadowlark was rolling and hitting the floor. For the third time, the dart had landed on ‘Pretty Pony Princess’. Luna’s face heated up. “Faust damnit!” “Dear Faust,” Meadowlark laughed. “This… this has to be the best thing ever.” “I’m done,” Sunshine snorted. “Nothing will be funnier than this moment. Nothing!” “This isn’t funny!” Luna cried. The two Lunar Guards ignored her cry and continued laughing. After a few moments, their laughter died down. “Done?” They pushed themselves off the ground. “Just give me a second,” Meadowlark held up a hoof. He took in a deep breath and laughed again. A hoof wiped a tear from his eye. “Okay, now I’m done.” “So,” Sunshine said. “Though highly unlikely, you’ve managed to hit ‘Pretty Pony Princess’ three times. You’re already one, so are you going to stay with it?” “As boring as the job is, yes,” Luna looked to the dartboard. “If I hit it three times, it means that it’s my destiny. This is going to be a boring eternity.” “Here’s the thing, Lulu,” Meadowlark wrapped a hoof around her shoulder. “You’re near immortal. Eventually, ponies won’t need you and your sister to watch over them. Eventually, they’re going to find a way to govern themselves. And when that happens, you’ll be free to do whatever you choose.” “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” “No, the first three drinks on us at the pub are.” “What pub…” both Meadowlark and Sunshine smiled at her. Luna slowly matched their expression. “I see. Well then boys, shall we?” The three ponies left Luna’s chamber. “You could always do this again,” Sunshine said. “Just try once more without the ‘Pretty Pony Princess’ idea on the board.” “Perhaps at a later date. Besides, there’s one good thing that eventually came from the years of doing the same boring tasks.” “And what would that be?” “I acquired some very important friends, you two,” a blush appeared on Sunshine’s face. “Aww, that’s so sweet of you to say, Lulu,” Meadowlark turned to Sunshine. “Are you blushing?” “No, not at all.” “You totally are! That’s adorable.” “Quiet you!” Meadowlark continued laughing at his friend. Luna giggled at the sight of the two bat ponies fighting. Though politics and Night Court was draining, all of her political duties were worth it because she got to spend time with her friends.