Between Lyra’s complaining and Morning Star turning into a sourpuss every time he looks at Big Mac I’ve never been more ready to call it an early night. Or day or whatever. The princess volunteers to take the first watch.
She says that she recognizes this place, that she used to…play here.
It’s a dead field, whatever grass isn’t scorched black is brown and dead. The earth is hard and barren. How can she look at this wasteland like it’s a fond memory?
Like I said the ground is hard as stone. Sleeping through the day is hard enough when you’re comfortable, this is impossible.
It seems like I had just laid my head down and everypony else was asleep. I was watching the eastern sky while it turned pink. That’s when I started hearing a bunch of thumps behind me. At first I just thought it was Lyra(you think the stuff she does when she’s awake is weird) but when I turned over I saw Luna out in the field, jumping and kicking.
I thought it was just some exercise or some training…something. She turned in a circle, throwing wild kicks in every direction. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me then I saw it again on the next pass.
She slowed to a stop, a huge grin plastered across her face. Something caught her eye. From a few paces away a white butterfly as big as my hoof flew towards her. She watched it with that same grin as it landed on the tip of her nose.
It fluttered its wings gently, like it was welcoming her back before it took off into the predawn sky behind her. I remember turning back over and seeing Lyra beside me.
“What’s up with her?” she asked.
“She used to play here,” I said back before falling asleep.
-BB