//------------------------------// // Romeo and Juliet (Ruby's Dream) // Story: Under Every Lamppost // by SwiperTheFox //------------------------------// Ruby’s Story – Part I I wish there was something I could say besides ‘It started with a filly’. Oh, Praise Celestia, the cliché is so bad that I almost feel ill just thinking it. Still, that doesn’t keep it from being the honest truth. I could spend hours describing her. I have, actually. It doesn’t matter. My story began with me right where I always was. I stood there right on the steps in front of my house. I skidded down onto the warm pavement just like every other morning. I shifted over to see that big brick building off to the side. I gazed up at the open window. She leaned out. My jaw dropped. It all happened like clockwork every single day. That soft, supple white coat looked as cushy as a pillow and as warm as a campfire. That elegant, beautiful blue mane flowed down her sides. It moved left and right with a delicate swoosh. Every inch sparkled in the summer sun. She leaned out a bit more, and I instantly felt jealous of the windowsill. I thought that every last touch of that flowing mane must feel like a thousand tiny kisses. I fantasized about how wonderful things could be if only I could spend just a moment with my hooves around her. She opened her mouth and greeted the ponies below her with that sunny, sing-song voice. She smiled and waved. I felt totally invisible. But I didn’t care that she faced the other way. All I cared about was getting that beautiful face— the prettiest, softest, and most elegant face of all of Equestria— next to mine in a chapel someday. I looked down at the rest of the street. Birds chirped. Ponies walked down from one side of the street to the other. Foals played with their toys. Dogs jumped up to fetch. I trotted over to her window, and I leaned back on the white picket fence. I started clicking my hooves upon the curb. The clopping beat became infectious. The foals started to clap. The horse delivering the mail swung around a bit to the tune. I whistled. I glanced upwards one more time, and I breathed in her beauty. I whispered her name to myself. “Sweetie Belle…” I raised my voice and said it again. She kept leaning out of her window, oblivious to my every move below her like always, and she flashed that sweet smile that made my insides melt. I then hurled myself up against the wall as if I could fly up to her. I bounced back down on the ground, and then I flipped over. I clapped my hooves together, and I sang. “Oooooh…” I began, and the foals danced in the street in front of me, “I'm findin' a job tomorrow mornin'…” I jumped on top of a passing apple cart as Big Mac glanced at me. “I got a little somethin' that I wanna do…” I bounced onto Big Mac’s back. “I'm gonna buy!” “Gonna buy!” the mailpony sang over. “A-somethin' I could… ride in… Then, I’ll a-take my girl, datin' at the drive-in…” I hopped atop the mailbox and kicked in tune. “Oooooh! Our love! It’s gonna BE written down in HISTORYYYYYYYYYY—” I grabbed the string of a nearby kite and fluttered in the air. “Just! Like! Romeo and… Juliet…” The ponies at the other end of the street let out some ‘Oooohs’. I let go and plopped on top of a souvenir pushcart. “I'm gonna buy her pretty presents… Just like the ones in the catalog…” The salespony gave me a smile. “I’m gonna show…” “Gonna show!” yelled the salespony. “How much I love her…” I bounced back on the curb. “I’ll let her know… one way or the other…” I threw myself down on the front lawn and smelled the nearby flowers as I sang “Our love's gonna be written down in history!” I picked a rose and then flew myself back upright. “A-just… like Romeo and… Juliet…” I kept singing as I walked over to the window where Sweetie Belle looked out, still oblivious. “Ruby!” yelled a mysterious voice. “Together…” I said, and I put my hoof on my frantically beating heart. I stepped forwards. “Just like…” “RUBY!” Cheerilee hollered. I felt a soft nudge on my body. Everything went black. In the next moment, I found myself back in class with my head on my desk and a huge puddle of drool on my papers. I stared at the chalkboard and made as if I had paid attention the whole time. My hooves clinked nervously. “Is something the matter?” Cheerilee asked. I shifted my head to the left and realized that she was standing just a few inches besides me. “Oh, it’s… fine…” I stammered. I brought my eyes back to my paper, which had all kinds of monsters and dragons doodled on it. “I was… resting my... nose…” “Your nose?” my teacher asked. I nodded, and then I heard some snickers from over by my right. Diamond Tiara looked ready to throw something at me. Cheerilee spotted that, and she sped over. I picked up my paper and I turned it around. I grabbed my pencil and tried my best to focus on whatever Cheerilee scribbled onto the board. I glanced a bit to the side, and I spotted Sweetie Belle focused on a set of difficult calculations. I gazed at how her mane fluttered across the sides of her chair for a little bit. “Ruby Raindrops, is everything okay?” my teacher asked me again. I cringed at the full name drop, hoping that I wouldn’t be in big trouble after class for another blasted day. She accepted my nodding, though, and she went on to finish the problem. I shot a glance out the window. I knew that— after class when every last one of my chores were done— I’d need a good, long, calming walk down Vine Street. That would cheer me up for sure. I thought I had good odds. I might spot another traveler’s group that I hadn’t heard before. I then looked back at the blackboard, and I jotted down my notes.