//------------------------------// // Ch III- Complications v.1 // Story: My Lily of The Valley // by Reedling //------------------------------// In another month the poisonous ‘spices’ for Arborous’ finest glass of plum wine would be ready. But there was somepony more urgent taking my attention from me, my fiancée. Or to state her title correctly, my arranged somepony. She was who the foal-father arranged for me to marry. It wasn’t her lack of beauty or manners that made me question his choice, but her breed. She was a Pegasus and a high flier to add. She hated the thought of being grounded, force to wed a smelly, dirty work-pony. Or that is what I imagine she thought I was at first. “Excuse me, you there!” A voice echoed from the clouds. I tilted my head towards the sky to find the pony to the voice, then behind me I heard the flip of wings. “Are you who Loam Seedling picked?” I asked. “Loam? Oh! Was he cute elder pony that talked to my parents?” The voice chirped. “Yes?" My voice gave an unsettling squeak, no earth-pony who had the 'privileged' to met my foal-father would call him cute. "How are Aster Sky and Sol Tides?” The pegasus began to giggle, when I turned around she was flapping her wings to keep her from touching the grass. As she hovered, holding her sides like my question had actually tickled her. “You act as old as your father!” she snorted. “What does that mean? One is as old as they behave. Does that make you a filly?!” “I’d love to be a filly again! Could you make me a filly again?” She begged. “What? I can’t do that!” As I spoke she flew towards me and swept me into the setting sky.“P-Please p-put me back on the ground! I begging you Pegasus, return my hooves to the soil!” “Not until you turn me back in to a filly!” She said in a motherly tone, as if I had stolen one of her toys. “I’m not a unicorn! I’m an earth pony!” I screamed like the wussy colt I was. By then I assumed she had an over the top comical grin stretched to each end of her muzzle. “See Damson, it isn't too hard to act your age.” She softly landed me down. “Thank you Bright.” “I’m Brightly-lit” She coughed, as if she was used to ponies calling her otherwise. “Bright is my brother.” She added. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any offence. I was just shortening your name.” “Oh.” Brightly-lit blushed at me, she didn’t expect me to remember her name, which I understood. Not only was our first meeting rather brief, her brother was known for being a kind of hero in the Spectral court. Oh, and the Spectral court is the domain that the Dusk kingdom holds within the three tribes. “Shall we get something to eat or...” I started, I was horrible at courting. “I’m not really hungry Damson, I ate before I came to visit you.” “Oh, is that what you are doing? Coming to check up on me, in case I get stuck in some mud, or is it the roots from old trees I should be watching out for?” “No, no!” “Relax Brightly! “ I let out a hissing sigh. “I have a terrible humor. I won’t hold it against you if you choose an enjoyable somepony.” “I don’t think I’ll base my choice on humor alone Damson, you may have some other enjoyable qualities.” “No? Then I might still have a chance after all.” I nickered. It took sometime for me to realize that Brightly made sure to never touch the ground. I wasn’t sure if this was a type of exercise, or a naive belief of what would happen if she dared. From what I knew, she lived in the Pegasi capital her whole life. Her only time seeing my world was in the last few days. “Brightly... you can touch the ground. You do know that right?” “Why of course I do!” Brightly giggled, “I just choose not to!” “It might give you wings a break, and make me feel-” “Oh... I’m making you uncomfortable,Then I just need you to cast your magic and make sure the trees won’t hurt me.” “...What?” “...The spell that makes nature not hurt Pegasi.” “I thought I made it quite clear Brightly, I am no unicorn. I will however promise that if the ground or trees start attacking, I’ll protect you.” I gave a soft smile to Brightly, extending my hoof to hers and she ceased her floating after a few squeamish attempts at poking the grass with her hoof. “This stuff is really soft!” Brightly squeaked trampling over the spring shoots of grass. “Now can I interest you in may stepping in my house perhaps?” I blushed softly as I opened the door. Brightly smiled back “I guess it would be a good idea, seeing how the sun is setting." Then her eyes opened in time with her lower jaw as she saw the flowers and trees I kept safe in my green house. "Those are beautiful!" she whispered in shock that such beauty was fathomable in my mud filled world. "They are called Lily of the Valley." Her eyes beaded up with joy as she ran to them, her nostrils taking deep breaths of their fragrance. "I thought the Fruit and Vegetable families were in a boycott of flowers." She asked. "Then I hope my trust in you is worth it Brightly-Lit." She turned around to me with innocent eyes. "You're a fool, you'd rest your livelihood, your families reputation! On me?" "Yes Brightly, and I am a fool. I'm falling in love with a Pegasus I've only known for three days." Brightly looked to me her head tilting softly, as she motioned closer. She rested her head on my neck. "I'm honored you trust me Damson. You read up on Pegasi culture didn't you?" "I may have skimmed through some 'Courting Pegasi for Colts' yesterday." I felt my face grow hotter, as she closed her eyes and kissed my unsuspecting muzzle. I felt my colthood scream for her body. I could see it in her longing eyes, she was ready to give the Plum family Pegasi genes. But there was a numbness building in a place I kept guarded from anypony's eyes, My heart. It yearned for another mare's affections, one I had given up searching for. This was a filly I had spent years with, when Flora and Loam were still friends. She was one from the Lily family, and as I already explained after the fight for a new source of food, and new found rivalry made my closest friend my arch nemesis. But unlike my siblings, or relatives I didn't hold on to my foal-father's teachings so strongly, in fact. I hated them. I kept seeing her, at the market place or at her favorite boutique, or at the spring festivals! She was always around, always smiling with her friends. But when her eyes looked to mine I saw her face turn, and her friend's question and comfort her tears. The next night of the spring festival was one of the strongest rainstorms Prancington had. It was the day Loam broke into my house, and tied me up whilst I slept. When the potato sack was lifted I was in a musty stone room with a dim light glaring to my eyes. Then I heard him call out. "Damson Elderberry! There are members of the Fruit and Vegetable families that tell me you have been passing looks to one of Flora's. Is this true?" "Ye-" "Let me remind you Damson. That if you where to have done such a thing. I would have to ask one of my friends I brought with me to 'correct' this." He uttered without mercy. I heard the eerie hum of magic charging up behind me. "I did." "But will you continue to." "I Lo-" Before I could confess he had ordered the unicorn to choke me, or maybe the unicorn wished to save my life from the horrors Loam would have commanded if I had fully confessed my love to her. "That is preposterous Damson, you knew the filly for three days." In actuality I knew her for four years, but had only talked to her about half of that time. "Maybe I should make myself absolutely clear. The three Ideals I expect everypony of my descendants to follow includes you! You are to stay away from her! You are to never speak, cough, laugh or gaze at her! Ever!" The magic's strength increased as he shouted, and when he finished rambling I was given the right to breath once more. I heaved it in. "Fine." I gasped. "Fine, you say? This isn't me giving you a slap on the hoof, colt! I'm warning you to stay away from Flora's kind! They're the type that lead you into holes only a younger you could survive! Next time I hear word of such foolishness I will teach you myself some discipline!" "Damson, are you not? You-you don't like me like that." Brightly backed away quickly, she began flapping her wings feverishly getting back her comfort zone, In the air. But she forgotten were she was, and hit her head sharply on the glass ceiling. As I came to my senses I dove for her, twisting my body so I could gauge where she was falling. She landed on top of mine, her head bouncing on my pot belly. It had to have been the only time I was happy about having such a large appetite.