//------------------------------// // The Beach. (Luna POV) // Story: Lighten Up and Loosen Up. // by overlord-flinx //------------------------------// "Sister, it is for your own good. You have been disconnect from the entire kingdom for decades. Many do not know what you look like, and some can't even recall what your name is. It's unhealthy for you and the people." "And, when you think about it, your public image is next to nothing. A little positive exposure would do a lot of good for your PR. I mean, you don't want to look emotionally distant from everyone who'd loyally serve you, right?" "Come on, Aunt Luna. It'll be fun! Just you, the three of us; it could be the start of a whole new part of our weekly plans. If not for your subjects, do it for your loving sister, dedicated friend, and eager niece. Please?" The democratic process works against me... A process that I should not have to deal with when I am in a monarchy! Alas, out favored or not... Perhaps their words hold grains of truth. I have--since my return--kept myself dormant and alone from the rest of the world by keeping myself within my chambers. It is very rare I venture out into the light of day. More so rare that when I do leave my room publicly that I allow myself to be known. Maybe, for one day, I can indulge in some time within the morning star. A simple walk through the kingdom--greeting subjects as we pass--does sound--in a way--pleasant... ...This was not what I agreed to. The agreement I complied to was not to gallivant about in public dressed like a common strumpet! The nerve of my so-called "sister" and her two cackling instigators! Holding me down and--and... The nerve. But, I am to blame as much as they. The warning signs were all there right upon our departure from the palace. Twilight Sparkle had hurried me into the carriage whilst my sister and Cadance were curving the ear of the carriage handler. Dubious. At least, I should have assumed how dubious the act was upon seeing it. However, I had resigned myself at that point to being more--as the children of this age say--"laid back". If only I had known how "laid back" this criminal act would escalate to. Furthermore, I should have noted that the carriage ride was going on too greatly for a simple "ride into town" as I was led to believe. Yet, by the time I had pieced together their malicious intent, I was already caught. Like cravens upon a leg of meat, my fellow princesses had latched onto me and sundered me to the floor of the carriage. I had fought against them...! Alas, my poor physique was ultimately used against me. For such a literary aficionado, Twilight Sparkle has marveling upper body strength... It took the three of them a collective of minutes to strip me down to my most bare form and subsequently adorned me in a new garb. I use "garb" with great charity... They too had cast off their regal attires in favor of these... Peacocking display costumes. However, unlike myself, they willingly changed into those scandalous displays. The only blessing within this dubious state that I have been forced into is that--with its own right--my attire is not as flagrant against my regality. Even so, standing upon a sun baked sea of sand before the spanning eternity of the ocean--knowing that dozens of my loyal subjects are walking about within view--even the mild humility of what my cohorts left me in leaves me... Feeling small. I freely admit that in regards of physical development, my sister has trumped me in multiple degrees. Also, I concede to the idea that perhaps my complexion could stand to benefit from a little more sunlight. But I deny the claim that my sister has made that I am "as pasty as sour cream". Which, I do not see a problem with. Sour cream is delectable and it would be an honor to share a trait with it. Perhaps then it was my sister's idea for the outfit they left me in. Unlike the droves of other women on this sand laden cesspool of debauchery, my attire is in a single piece. Granted the top half has resigned to slacking off on me--an oversight by whoever made this for my 'size', clearly--and the bottom most half riding uncomfortably around my unmentionable regions; I would not exchange this attire in lieu of what alternatives there are. I was informed by the carriage driver that he is under strict orders by my sister to not allow me to leave for at least four hours. Treacherous... But it is a circumstance I can not change; nor is it too grievous. Thinking it over, this may be for my own greater good. The fresh seaside air is remarkably refreshing. A drastic alternative to the musty scent of the castle at night. Not to mention that--feeling it now--the sun feel unusually good against my "pasty" skin. Perhaps, for the time being, I could just lay out on this beach and enjoy the time I am being forced to for as much as it's worth. Although, the sand does feel like hot, shifting coals the longer I stand here... Very hot... Extraordinarily hot... Excruciatingly hot! Splendid...! Now I must look like a jester. Dancing about from foot to foot, fanning at each blistering hot foot before switching to the next. Outrageous...! I must find some sort of oasis for my feet from this accursed sand! Hold... An obvious salutation! I shall simply submerge myself into the ocean! A perfect escape from the boiling heat as well as a fine vale to obscure onlookers from seeing their princess in a compromising state! I just need to make a dash for the water. One... Two... Embark! Hot-hot-hot-hot-hot-hot-hot! Cool-cool-cool-cool-cool... Refreshing... Interesting... I had never known for the ocean water to feel so... liberating! To think, all around me at this moment is the water of our world. Water that has plunged to the deepest depths of the abyss and has stretched from one land to the next. It is so... vast. So... spacious... So... peaceful. Once more, I am feeling as though my sister had the right motives. Feeling this water against my exposed skin, having the sun bake against my face, and hearing other beach-goers enjoying themselves... All seems very harmonious. Perhaps I had jumped to conclusions. It all seems so petty of me now that I think about it. My sister and fellow princesses had only the best of intentions for me to be out here. I owe it to them to enjoy myself and to thank them for this introspective upon my life. ...Wait... Now that I think about it... Where did they go? I am in the water... I have a fair view of the entirety of the beach... There exists a chance I can spot all three from where I am. Hm... Curious... The way they were speaking of this day, I would have come to expect them to be much more public about where they were. ...No... I can't see them. Curious... And highly suspicious...