//------------------------------// // Chapter 9- Princes // Story: Pull Me Through // by NightsongWrites //------------------------------// Dear Journal, Miss Celeste thought I should start writing a journal. Not a diary. I don’t know why James keeps calling his a diary. That’s for girls! We’re 15 and 13 for crying out loud. Teenagers! Journal. Not a diary. Anyway! Miss Celeste and Miss Diana came by again today. It was awesome! All the other kids are so jealous of me and James; Miss Celeste is beautiful and kind, and she always brings us some kind of gift. This journal was one of them, actually. Last week, she got me a cool leather jacket, and Miss Diana gave James a painting kit. I’m glad. He was really sad when the teachers took the last one away. I really hate it here. Like, it was better when we were little. I remember the teachers being nicer, and we got treats sometimes. Now, they just want us to learn. Learn, learn, learn, and behave. I’m sick of it. I’m sick of being quiet, I’m sick of writing only what they want, I’m sick of the paddle. I want a home. Kenneth Dear Diary, Today was awesome! Miss Diana and Miss Celeste came to see us. Miss Celeste even told Mrs. Wilkerson off when she said Kenneth needed to be punished for talking back. “Children deserve to have a voice too.” Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mrs. Wilkerson quiet like that. I really hope they don’t ban them from coming to see us. I really think they might be the ones. I know I’ve said that about adults before, like Polly or Mr. Hamilton, but… Kenneth said mom and dad would want us to be strong. But it’s really hard to not cry some nights. They won’t us share the bed anymore, and I’m so cold, and so lonely… heh, Jimmy would call me a faggot if he saw this. Too bad. I just wanna see them again. James Dear Journal, They came back again! And only after a week this time! Miss Diana set us both down in the private room, and told us stories. Kind of… girly stories, but it had magic, and the teachers never let us talk about that. They did that whole ‘burn the Harry Potter books’ march when those came back, and took my copy. I liked that story too… These stories had ponies in it too, but not those prissy ones that the girls like. These were pegasi fighting griffons and acting like knights, or unicorn magicians making mountains hover in the air! It was like Miss Celeste was really there! Miss Diana was crying when they talked about this Nightmare Moon and… well, I hugged her. She looked so sad and lonely, and I knew how that felt. She was warm, and when she hugged me back… Stupid tear drops. Sorry journal. I gotta go to sleep before the teachers see this. Kenneth Dear Diary, This isn’t fair! Why can’t I paint what I want? Why can’t I do anything I want? It isn’t fair! Who cares if my painting was kinda girly? Even when it wasn’t. Sure, it had a pony. Fine, it was a mare. But who the hell- yeah, HELL- cares! It was a knight. Like in Miss Diana’s story about the brave ponies who defeated Nightmare Moon and saved Luna. The six brave knights who risked everything for their friends and princess. Who won! Why can’t I dream? Why can’t I just paint and smile and be happy once in my fucking life? I’m not letting them take the next one. If they try to, I’m gonna break it in Mrs. Wilkerson’s fat face. These are my dreams. Why can’t knights come save me and Kenneth? James Dear Journal, Me and James made pony names for ourselves today. Yeah, I know it sounds stupid, but James was really excited about it, and… well, I did think of a cool name. Solaris. Neat, huh? It sounds like one of the great knights right out of Miss Celeste’s stories. I hope she likes it. They’re coming back in a few days. I really think they might take us home this time. They sure do talk with the teachers a lot. I don’t think Mrs. Wilkerson likes them though. I heard her call them dykes behind their backs, and I’m pretty sure Miss Diana heard her. She’s such a… a… I’m really not supposed to say this, but she’s a total bitch. I really gotta hide this journal now. Ke- Solaris Dear Diary, Something is going on. Something really bad. The teachers don’t talk to me and Solaris much anymore, and they keep bringing in some pastor friend of theirs, and a social worker. They keeps asking us the same questions: what do Miss Diana and Miss Celeste talk about? Do they seem close? Do they hug? It’s all really, really weird, and I’m afraid. Miss Celeste said they were going to make their final decision before they came here tonight, during the evening visiting. I want to go home with them. God I want to go home with them so badly. They’re amazing. Miss Diana is so mysterious, and calm, and she loves all my paintings and drawings… And Solaris is always so happy when he and Miss Celeste talk about history, or this cool pony world. It’s like she believes it really exists, and sometimes… I kind of do too. All the new stories- the ones about Twilight Sparkle and her friends- are really fun and, even though they aren’t quite as cool as the stories about the knights and stuff, it’s still sounds so much better than here. Please God, can we go home with them? Argent James- no, Argent, he was FIRM on that- looked up in surprise as he heard a door creak open down the hall. All the walls and doors were really, really thin, so one could practically hear every conversation that went on in the orphanage. Quickly tucking his journal underneath his pillow, Argent slid down out of his bunk, landing with a quiet ease he had perfected. Still, it had never been enough to fool Kenneth. Solaris. Right! “James?” he mumbled sleepily, sitting up and frowning as he brushed his reddish-golden hair out of his eyes, “What’s up?” “I think Miss Celeste and Miss Diana are here!” Argent replied cheerfully, smirking a bit, “You fell asleep?” Red lit up Solaris’ pale cheeks, and he glared at his darker-haired brother, “Oh shut up. Caffeine crash. Come on, let’s go see them!” “Get OUT!” Both boys froze, mid-standing, as Mrs. Wilkerson’s high-pitched voice hissed through the orphanage; James’ blood ran cold. Nononono… “Excuse me?” That was Miss Celeste’s voice, cool and calm, but with a definite note of surprise to the end, “This was our scheduled visit time, was it not?” “It’s been cancelled,” a deeper, male voice replied, and Argent heard a small growl from Solaris, beneath his own growing despair, “As will any further contact with the boys. You’re banned from these grounds.” “For what reason?!” That was Diana’s voice, younger and sharper; it was ice-like now, a cold fury resonating throughout, “We have been nothing but cordial, and the boys mean-” “We have reason to believe both of you are nothing but perverts,” Wilkerson interrupted sharply, a smug note ringing out; Argent could practically see her drawing up her toad-like body, “Here to drag the boys into your den of iniquity. I will not give any of my children to a pair of dykes.” Argent felt a swish of air, and their door slammed open as Solaris charged out, fists clenched tightly. ********************** “LEAVE HER ALONE!” Solaris had never yelled in his life. The orphanage had a strict volume rule, and the one time Solaris had raised his voice, it had cost him a massive paddling that left sitting down a terrible chore for several days. But this was different. This wasn’t Mrs. Wilkerson not liking his answer to a question on the test, or his tone of voice. They had told Miss Celeste and Miss Diana- his and Argent’s possibly one chance at real family, the women who had made them both smile and laugh and dream again- to leave them forever. And insulted them. At fifteen, Solarius was fairly tall and well-built, at least coming up to Mrs. Wilkerson’s fat shoulders. Beside her stood the social worker- a larger man in his mid-forties, with hard hazel eyes and a blonde buzzcut. He gazed at Solaris in surprise as the young boy stood defiantly in front of Wilkerson, chin tilted up to her. Mrs. Wilkerson’s eyes, both a deep brown, were now blazing in white-hot anger. “What did you say to me?” she whispered tightly, their gazes locked. Steeling himself, Solaris bared his teeth a bit as he spoke, “I said to l-leave them alone, they’re ama-” Smack! The older woman’s hand was faster than Solaris thought, and fire lanced up his face at the impact, sending him staggering to the ground, tears welling in his eyes. “HEY!” Argent was smaller than Solaris, but he had always been a bit of a firebrand. Running full tilt down the hallway, he would have bowled Wilkerson right over, had the social worker not stepped in his way, arms outstretched to- “ENOUGH!” A force struck the social worker in the side, sending him careening into the orphanage wall with a dull boom, silver light curling tightly about his arms and legs and pinning him in place. Mrs. Wilkerson, her hand raised for another slap, squealed like a pig as a golden light struck her in the chest, sending her skidding down the smooth linoleum floor. Silver and fiery red light lit up the walls and floor around Solaris, and it took a great effort of will not to stare at the unconscious body of Mrs. Wilkerson, and turn around. Miss Celeste was glowing softly; her hair, usually a soft blonde, had seemed to take on a ruddier, redder hue, billowing lightly in an invisible breeze. Her ever-present business suit seemed to be slowly changing, growing more golden and metallic, like armor plates. Her eyes had always been a little strange to Solaris- they were light pink and… somehow he knew now that they weren’t contacts. Those amazing, gleaming orbs were oh-so real. “Are you alright?” she whispered softly, a slim hand reaching out to cup the already swollen skin, “Hold on…” Warmth surged into Solaris’ body, the pain fading as suddenly as it had come. Despite his shell-shocked mind, Solaris leaned into the touch… then darted forward with a small, unmanly-but-who-cares sob, burying his head against Celeste’s firm stomach. “Pl-please,” Argent whispered faintly, and Solaris quickly turned his head towards his brother’s voice. Argent was gently holding onto Miss Diana’s hands, tears tracing their way down his pale cheeks, “P-please take us with you.” “Of course we are,” Diana replied softly, turning to smile at both boys fondly, “Right, Tia?” “Of course, sister.” “Tia?” Solaris mumbled, rubbing his eyes a bit as he looked between them, understanding slowly dawning. By then, both women seemed to have… transformed. Silver armor lined Diana’s body now, and little wisps of silver light seemed to make up wings on her back. Gazing back at Celeste, Solaris’ eyes widened in awe; golden armor now fully covered the woman, golden-red light forming wide, glorious wings that framed her gloriously. “C-celestia… and Luna? From the stories?” Argent managed after a few, stunned moments, staring at them both, “But… how…” “Magic is… probably the safest and easiest answer,” Celestia replied slowly, giving a faint chuckle as she ran her fingers through her billowing hair. “So… the ponies… the knights?” “All real,” Luna replied softly, “We know a great many stories, and it was such fun to share our lives with you… you two are such wise, caring children for your age.” “And you’ve been through far too much,” Celestia added, “Our being human may have been an act… but our love for you both is very real. We’d love nothing more than to take you home. If not…” She slowly waved a hand, red magic slowly flowing out to cover the orphanage, “We will wipe their memories. They’ll remember none of this. We’ll set aside money for you both, so when you come of age, you can live a good, long life. A life you deserve.” “But one alone,” Solaris mumbled, exchanging looks with a shaking Argent. Being stuck, quiet, with just one’s sibling for company often leads to “silent communication.” Of course, the answer both gave each other was a practical, mental scream. But they kept their answers a little more quiet, for the sake of their mother’s. “Y-yes, ma’am.” “P-please…” The smiles the Sisters gave the boys were blinding in their intensity and love, powerful arms tugging them close. Solaris gave a small gasp as the energy-wings enfolded him, warmth and power shimmering down his spine and soothing his tense muscles. Turning, Celestia waved her hand at the doorway; instead of leading out onto a dark, rain-slicked street, the threshold glew with a bright, incandescent light. Trembling slightly, Solaris reached out, lightly pressing his palm against the light. It was warm and squishy, like hot jello. One last time, he peeked up at Celestia, taking comfort in her radiant smile. With the hands of their mothers behind them, both boys joined hands… smiled at each other, and stepped through.