//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: A Sensitive Thing Indeed // Story: Through Crimson Eyes // by Level Dasher //------------------------------// The neon light sat glowing on the table in front of me; I sat up again to get a better look. The curved glass was almost large enough to put my hoof through. It glowed like a string of stars hidden behind a pink nebula. I would have sworn it had been done by a professional. I sat there staring at it for a moment. “Tess, you… you made this?” She just nodded and smiled at me, her blush becoming as bright as the light. “My uncle lives in Hoofington— he makes neon lights. I visited him a while ago, and he showed me how he does it. After I watched him for a while, he asked me if I wanted to make one of my own… It took me eight tries to get this right.” Tess brushed the back of her head with a hoof. “My uncle helped me shape the glass and put in the neon, but I did the wire connections myself.” She beamed at the last remark. I looked at the light and asked, “What wires? I don’t see any.” She smiled and responded, “The battery and the wires are all in the base. There’s a switch on the back— the box turned it on for you.” She giggled and pointed at the back of the light’s base. I gently shifted the light on the table so I could get a look at the back; I found the switch in question, resting in the down position. When I flipped the switch, the light winked out. I gave the clear glass heart a once-over, then flipped the switch again. As I bathed in the pink light, I couldn’t do anything but alternate gazing at the heart and its creator. I caught Tesla’s mouth turning down. After one more look at the light, I stared right at her. In a soft voice, she asked, “Is something wrong with it?” I slowly shook my head and looked back at the heart. “Then… what’s the matter?” As I slowly shook my head again, I responded, “Nothing… I just…” “Just what?” I glanced up at her and said, “I never thought you could do something like this…” before I looked back at the heart, admiring its structure. I heard the sound of hooves hitting the floor instead of a response, so I looked back in Tesla’s direction to find her on all fours, glaring at me. “What do you mean, ‘you didn’t think I could do something like that’? You think I’m not good enough with my hooves?” This was not at all the response I expected. “What? No! I just—” “You know electricity is my thing! Why would you think I couldn’t do something like that?” “That’s not at all what I—” “I can’t believe you’d say something like that!” Tesla huffed. She glared at me one more time before she swung the door open and stomped out, allowing the slow creak of the closing door to fill everypony’s ears. I stared at the door for a second as I let my mouth hang open, then I looked at my parents. “Uhh… what just happened?” Dad looked first at Mom, then at Gramma with a small smirk and a raised brow, before he turned to me and said, “Ya dun goofed, buddy.” “Huh?” “Sweetie, you forgot to say a few key things to Tesla there,” Mom remarked. “Huh? What didn’t I say?” Dad sighed. He looked at Mom and asked, “You want to take this one, hon?” Mom nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. You seem to forget these things from time to time, too.” Dad shrugged. “Hey, no stallion is perfect.” Mom chuckled. “Well, isn’t that a gross understatement!” I stared at the two of them. “Wait, what?” After a lesson from Mom on how to say certain things to girls, with occasional input from Gramma and Dad, I groaned and laid back on my pillow. “Why is this so complicated?” Mom sighed. “It’s really not, sweetie. All you have to do is think about their feelings constantly and you’ll be fine.” My shoulders slumped at the thought. How was that not complicated? Dad laughed. “I told you, Crimson— girls are a strange phenomenon. You need to say juuuuuuuuuust the right words or you’ll end up with a bunch of slammed doors. Well… that one didn’t exactly slam, but you know what I mean.” I did know what he meant. I didn’t want that happening with Tess. “Should I go after her?” Gramma sat up. “No, sweetheart. Let her come to you. If she really likes you, she’ll come back as soon as she’s cooled down a bit.” I looked at Gramma and asked, “But what if she doesn’t?” Mom chuckled and poked my nose. “Silly colt— she likes you too much. She’ll be back, don’t you worry. You just need to apologize when she does.” I laid back on my pillow and looked at Dad. “Dad, are girls always this exhausting?” He laughed and looked at Mom. “Eyyup.” Mom and Gramma both retaliated by punching him on opposite shoulders. “Hey! What’d I do?” Gramma replied, “You were bein’ a smart aleck.” Dad complained, “Am I wrong?” Mom and Gramma glanced at each other, and Mom said, “No, not really.” They all started laughing, then Mom punched him again. Adults… After I watched Dad getting beat on, I turned over and tried to go to sleep. As I dug my hooves into the grass, I settled down on the warm ground. The breeze blew through my coat as I stared at the lake’s reflection of the sun. We had been swimming, but at some point, Starry decided to get out and paint the scenery. With all the paint that had dripped from his brushes, his coat became a mess. He had to go back home and get himself cleaned up, and he refused to just jump back in the lake. “The sunset is so pretty. I love that color.” Tess sighed as she snuggled up against me. I draped a wing over her and replied, “Yeah. Too bad Starry left already. I think he had the perfect color for this.” Tess looked at me and chuckled, “Are you kidding? Starry has the perfect color for everything.” I laughed. “Good point.” As we bathed in the pink light of the sunset, I could see the moon rising on the horizon. “Ah, it’s almost my favorite time of the day.” “What’s that?” Tess asked. “Nighttime. I oughta get my telescope— it’s nice and clear tonight.” I heard a huff and felt Tesla pull herself out from under my wing. “But I’m not with you at night! I usually have to be home by the time the stars come out! What are you saying? You don’t like spending time with me?” “W-What?” “I can’t believe you! You’re so insensitive!” As I stood up, Tess turned away from me and stomped down the path back toward town. I stood there with my mouth agape. “What… what did I say? Why did she think I was— wait… why does this feel so familiar…?” I turned around and looked at the horizon again; the moon was higher, but the pink light of the sunset hadn’t changed. “That’s weird…” I heard a chuckle echo from behind me. “‘Tis not as strange as you may think, my faithful stargazer.” I whipped around when I heard the familiar, regal voice. “Your surroundings can permeate the Dreamscape rather easily— visual as well as audible.” “Princess Luna!” I bowed to her, but remembering the times she told me it was unnecessary, I quickly rose again. “I was wondering why the stars weren’t coming out. I’m surprised I didn’t figure out I was dreaming sooner. Especially with all the stuff you told me about lu— uh…” I put my hoof to my head and tried to remember the word. The Princess smiled. “Lucidity?” “That’s it!” My hoof leapt from my temple. “The fact that I’m not in the hospital should’ve been a pretty big clue.” I smacked my forehead with a hoof, then I sighed. “But even my dreams won’t let me forget what happened with Tesla today…” Princess Luna cocked a brow. “Oh?” I winced. “Can I tell the short version?” She nodded. “That is fine.” I started, “Tesla gave me this awesome birthday present— a pink neon light that—” “Ah, likely the source of the everlasting sunset.” I looked at the sky again. “…I didn’t even think of that; I must have left it on. Anyway, I guess I said something wrong. Whatever I said, she took it as an insult, and I didn’t mean it that way at all. She was really upset when she left.” Luna nodded. “Yes, you must be careful what you say, Crimson. Improper words can pierce a filly’s heart— ‘tis a sensitive thing. However, as long as there is no permanent damage, it can be repaired. With patience, and a well-worded apology, all will be forgiven.” I thought back to the conversation with my family, then looked at her and said, “That’s… basically what my parents and Gramma told me before.” The Princess smiled. “Wise ponies indeed. You need not worry; Tesla will return to you… soon. Your family is absolutely right. “Speaking of your family…” Luna paused. “What about them?” The Princess raised her eyebrows at me. “I hear that the Crimson Star Adolescents’ Foundation shall be coming to fruition.” It only took me a second to catch what she meant. “How did you know?” “It has been prominent in your parents’ dreams as of late. Last I observed your father, he was signing ‘the last document’.” I smiled as I finally understood how much work Mom, Dad, and Gramma really must have put into the process if they were dreaming about it. Only one thing made that smile falter. “Princess?” “Yes?” “Did you come up with that name? The ‘Crimson Star Adolescents’ Foundation’?” “Nay. ‘Twas one of your parents— likely your father. Why do you ask?” I shrugged. “I dunno, I just… I don’t like the idea of a foundation really being named after me. I feel like… it might put too much attention on me, I guess.” Luna tapped her chin with a hoof. “Can you think of a superior title?” I thought for a second. “Well… not right now, no, but maybe I might later.” The Princess smiled. “I am certain you will have no trouble doing so. You are an intelligent colt.” I blushed. “Thanks, Princess.” I smiled back at her and rubbed the back of my head, which felt surprisingly soft. Realizing I had my mane again, I said, “Oh, yeah! Dream!” Luna chuckled. “You will find a better lucidity cue in due time, but for now, that will do.” I grinned. “Yeah, my mane is growing back! I won’t be able to use it as my sign for much longer!” Luna raised her brows and nodded. “‘Tis good news, Crimson— a good step toward recovery. I shall depart and allow you to, shall we say, meddle with your own mind.” The two of us laughed, then turned in opposite directions. Before I had a chance to do anything, I heard, “Oh, wait! I nearly forgot!” I whipped around and faced the Princess, expecting something was wrong. The Princess approached me and lit up her horn. A small table appeared in front of me, then two cupcakes on top of it, one of them bearing a lit candle. The Princess smiled and gestured to the flame, which I promptly blew out after returning her smile. She lifted the cupcakes in her aura, unwrapped them both, and deposited the candle on the table. Placing my cupcake in my hoof, she asked, “As per Ponyville tradition?” I grinned like an idiot and nodded. On the count of three, the two of us shoved the cupcakes into our mouths whole, chewing for a good minute before swallowing. The table disappeared, and the two of us laughed. Before she left me to my own devices, the Princess had only one more thing to say as she tousled my hair. “Happy birthday, Crimson.”