Last Kisses

by Quill Scratch

fall

Come to me, my darling, and rest your body.
Night has fallen; Luna has painted bright stars,
Guiding ponies home by the constellations
Dotting the heavens.

See? Orion, standing so proud, points northwards.
Sailors used to find their way home by tracing
‘Cross the sky a line from his saddle’s three stars
Straight to Polaris.

I remember, Twilight; it’s called the North Star.
How could I forget all those wondrous stories?
May I have another before I slumber?
Darling, I’m tired.

Have you heard the tale of the foolish Phaethon?
There—he stands by Gemini, long forgotten.
Ponies gave new names to his stars, his story
Lost and discarded.

Once, it’s said, Celestia foaled twin colts:
Cycnus gave his people a home in Cloudsdale;
Phaethon studied till he was Starswirl’s equal,
Forging new magics.

Phaethon disbelieved that his mother’s power
Was enough to raise up the sun each morning.
Wanting proof, he begged her to let him try it,
Thirsting for knowledge.

Pleading him to leave it to her, the Princess
Knew her son would forfeit his life by failing.
Phaethon, though, would not leave the matter be, and
Tried it regardless.

Dawn did not come quietly. Burning sunlight
Poured across the country like scalding water.
When his strength was starting to falter, Phaethon
Called for his mother.

Up above them, over the clouds, the sun fell.
Streaking downwards, plummeting through the cirri,
All the lands below it were scorched; it threatened
Total destruction.

Luna saw what had to be done. So long as
Phaethon lived—