The Marionetter

The curtains were closed.

Princess Luna was beginning to feel insulted. She stood on the rooftop across The Starlight Lounge, a full hour after his performance had concluded, and she was greeted with closed curtains to ward her off. Only last eve she spoke with The Marionetter and they had agreed to meet again tonight. In earnest, she invited herself. Upon reflection, that could have been a greater insult to him.

It was too interesting. That was the problem. An odd creature, spell weaver and recluse was a change and a welcomed distraction. Sir Nightlark had even commented on Luna’s improved mood.

“And you are sure he is safe to be left alone with?”

“I will be more than safe. The Marionetter is a painfully shy one.”

“So are scorpions until you get too close.”

Luna chuckled, “Then one must not get too close.”

“It is far from a joke, Princess,” he haughtily argued, “If this thing proves to be yet another threat to Equestria, he could very well influence your judgement should the need arise to-”

“I will fell any foe,” she snapped. “I am not a flower to be coddled. You speak to Luna! Conqueror of the golden plains! The Chief…” the knight shrank back in shame, as did Luna’s anger. She stared at the curtains again, realising the bad temper was misplaced. “You are kind to care for me, Sir Nightlark. I assure you I am investigating his potential as a threat.”

“Oh,” he laughed, “Then your Highness is one step ahead of me as always.” He beamed to her, although Luna felt ashamed she had lied to her most trusted knight. If anything, she was very careless last night and did risk that creature harming her. Perhaps it was the instinct in her gut or even the way his body moved, but Luna did not see a threat in this Marionetter.

“I will still speak with him. Would you prefer to-”

“I must insist I accompany you, Princess. Allow me to observe and I can perhaps aid you investigation.”

The Marionetter was too shy. Luna was old enough to know better. If she showed herself with guard then he would probably flee as he nearly did yesternight. Sir Nightlark was still coddling her, gruff old cocker that he was.

“Do I project a dauncy visage, Sir?”

The pony blinked a few times. “Umm… no?”

“I assure thee my mind is not in zwodder. Now leave thine princess to her charge lest I seek council from yonder oddity.”

“Umm…yes, Princess Luna. I will keep watch.” he hammered his spear to the rooftop and saluted. Luna liked that he could bear her anger with pride. Her pony would often fall away when she felt stressed or angered. It recede to the ancient language she spoke before her banishment. The new dialect was irritating and mocked her once proud speech. It was with regret Luna studied it.

“I thank thee, Sir Nightlark.” She kicked off the rooftop and glided once more to the window. This time she landed neatly on the tiny balcony and flicked the latch open with her magic. It was not locked at least. She poked her head through the curtain, very hesitant to see what lay beyond.

The room was still very dark, only dimly lit by two candles, one placed at either end. There was a fireplace. It bathed the room in its warmth and Luna’s body felt jealous of her face.

“P…rincess Luna?” The voice held such confusion. She forgot herself a moment, nearly falling through but fortunately regaining her step for a hopefully graceful landing. The creature was stunned, caught with his arms up and hands about the collar. Luna noted the day, double checked it in her mind. She did say she would return, yet here he seemed to not remember her.

“Umm…Marionetter?”

“Y-Yes…” He dropped his arms and brushed the garment he wore down in an instant. “Please please”, he clumsily gestured to the seat by the dusty fireplace. She moved towards it, but hesitated as he pulled the draping away to a cluttering dusty pile on the floor. She beat her wings to fan the encroaching speckles away, now illuminated by her moonlight beams.

The seat was a magnificent piece, almost exactly the same as the chairs in the castle study. A wingback with striking height and fine woven rimming. Deep purple or dark blue in colour. The room lightened under the familiar distraught glimmer of a candle. She seated herself and watched as he sought to lighting more of them. The height and odd appendages proved useful and it seemed he did not need to use any magic at all in their versatility. He fumbled, scrambled to present himself and the room, she looked away with a sheepish smile when he adjusted the belt around what she imagined was the belly. Awkward, simply amusingly awkward.

“You have a fine abode hidden under sheet.”

“Thank you, Princess. I am very sorry but the lights here are not working well. Something with that fuse on yonder wall.” He casually gestured without facing her, still attending to the windows and pleading with the night air to remove all this dust. Following the gesture revealed these new age light switches, and told the tale of the large scorch marks decorating it. He was shocked, and she was surprised he was shocked. With the windows open he darted to sit opposite her, sitting on the edge and bending those knees in a manner that made her cringe for a moment.

She eyed him patiently, but in moments he hit his head as though forgetting something. He stood abruptly with a clumsy bow almost forgotten.

“I am sorry. I forgot the tea. May I interest you in milk or sugar?” She waved her hoof dismissively with a smile. “Perhaps a few biscuits with lemonade? I must not leave The Princess Luna thirsty or peckish.”

Luna nodded. “Lemonade with some biscuits would be fine.” She somehow knew he was about to fuss over the biscuits. “Surprise me with what you are comfortable in choosing.”

He bowed yet again and darted off to the dresser. There was a single cup and a teapot with steaming nozzle. Built into the counter was a refrigeration machine from which he took a bottle and poured the lemonade into the cup. He elegantly chose the biscuits, arranging them in a fan pattern without a second thought. Luna did notice something odd; the loose strap on his back collar. He seemed to pick up on her sighting, and the strap was buckled in an instant. It occurred that while the eyes of the mask were fixed on the serving tray he laid out, the eyes underneath might have been watching her. Such a thought was eerie.

“Were you not expecting me Marionetter?.”

He lay the tray down before her on the table between the two seaters. It was a little disheartening to see that nothing matched. The cup, the saucer for the cup and the biscuits, the tray and spoon. He lived in that poverty with them, although his wages seemed a bit lower than the others. “In truth I was not, I am very sorry.”

She inspected the tray and elegantly pinched a single and sadly small biscuit. “You must surely have one with me,” she offered. The delicacy was very bitter, housing the dark chocolate she adored as a palate cleanser. It was not the most favoured of sweets in Equestria, so to have one here was a pleasant surprise.

He had stepped a distance away, remaining standing before the seater. Luna hated this, she hated the nervousness with which her company was received. He stood at attention to her every whim, but she did not wish to lord any authority over any creature in their own home. That was what this place seemed to be for him at least, a home or a venue of quiet she intruded.

“I would of course have to refuse. It is no disrespect at all but I bind myself to my false visage while entertaining company.”

She pushed the chair back with her magic to coax him to sit.

The Marionetter spun to the side, she nearly choked on her biscuit in shock. It took a moment for him to realise she was coughing, but Luna noted his hands were already clasped firmly to those wands he wielded. While she recovered her composure, he found calm enough and poured a glass of water from the bathroom tap, very hesitantly offering it to her in case needed. She coughed it up, and took a small sip without using magic to lift the glass. He did not like magic. This was intriguing for one who presented a firm grasp of it.

“I am so sorry, Princess.”

“Ahem. Marionetter, I do not hold a grudge for my startling you. Indeed I apologise to you. Now please sit to receive me lest I consider it rude and have you thrown in the stockade.” The comment, while a joke, left him paralysed. Her smile faded. It was becoming clear this might have been a mistake. He was another one to fear Princess Luna of the night. A wave of foolishness swept over, enough to ask herself why she had bothered returning at all.

“Were you to throw me in the stockade, I fear your current incarcerated would protest a great deal because of the awful smell.” Luna smiled as his tone lightened. It still held nerves, but a hesitant confidence.

“Then perhaps your incarceration would encourage them to mend their ways. We must hurry there at once! I shall summon the guard!” She bit on her biscuit piece with a mischievous grin.

“Indeed. You should in turn join me for your outrageous eating habits.”

“What!?” she cried out.

“Or do you make a habit of decorating your hosts abode in their own food?” She did not catch the reference instantly, but following his hand’s gesture to the crumb covered floor made her laugh out with burning cheeks.

“Oh I like you,” she finished. “Please sit down, it makes me uncomfortable to sit alone.”

“He did so,” but remained on the edge uncomfortably. “It was a start to say the least.”

She took a sip of her lemonade. It was those new soft drinks with bubbles.

“To what do I owe this pressure, Princess Luna?

“”Pressure?”

“Pleasure!” he exclaimed. “I forget my words sometimes! Sorry!”

“You are forgiven,” she exhaled exhaustively. “I said unto thee that I would return, so I have.” She fluttered her wings for a little flare. “Are you not honoured and humbled? Maybe the desire for flight courses through your veins or whatever it is you have.”

He laughed, a light chuckle that the mask could not muffle. In truth the clarity of the speech was remarkable, and eerie considering the mouth did not move nor the eyes blink. “I am all the things expected of me aside confused as to why you would…waste time here.”

“Waste?”

“I would not visit me.”

“Perhaps I need to know you a little better to be appropriately repelled.”

“Then we have a purpose with a set goal to this visit,” he enthusiastically responded. “What could my humbled self offer unto thee?” She took another sip, having noted his apprehension in her levitating it with magic.

“Another splendid performance of course. Do you use any particular spells to create your visions? If I may ask of course,” she politely added.

“It is more the Marionette Sticks controlled with proper technique. They craft blank canvas to be manipulated at the will of the wielder. The manipulations required were taught by my former mentor.”

“Interesting, might I have heard of…him?”

“A him indeed,” he nodded. “Although his name will not be known to anypony.”

“That cannot be,” she said in what she hoped was convincing disbelief, “if he wielded such enchanting tools his name must be noted in Equestrian history.”

“A history you have studied a great deal?” She set her cup down, and the smile was gone. So it had been seen that he was thinking on her shame, her crushing expulsion for a millennia. It was an innocent question though, he could not have known. “I am sorry, Princess.” He stood with a bow to her. “I am terrible at navigating the labyrinth of conversation.” He remained bowed. “My mentor’s name was changed each time he performed, never remaining in one place too long. I do not think he ever told me his real name.”

“An…umm…an odd pony.”

“He certainly was.” The creature stood tall once more, remaining at attention. Luna did not know what to say, but his reminder had dampened her enthusiasm in the flood of memories. “Your departure must have been very difficult. I did not mean to open old wounds.” She nodded with a slight smile and gestured for him to sit. He returned so, this time leaning back. “I find my mind in unease not knowing the full truth of your thoughts on my portrayal.”

“You seek compliment?”

“I seek your comfort in its expression. There was no envoy or reply to the letters we sent out asking for approval. We assumed our show too minor for the important matters of state, and thought our showing of said show would incur no wrath.”

“Wrath? You think I would rain down a fearsome wrath for an offensive portrayal?”

“I would.”

She smiled with a chuckle, that calm returning once more. “It did not offend me one detail. I enjoyed how you assumed I implored my sister to banish me. I did implore her, but she could not hear me from where I did so.”

“Interesting. Know I do not inquire further. The story seemed to be appropriate now as public opinion of you has ventured into the freedom of press.”

“If I may ask, Marionetter…why would you choose my story? There have been a great deal of republications of the mare in the moon of late, with a detailed exposition from Canterlot’s royal scribe. Why venture a guess based on a dream?”

“In earnest,” even his mask looked away, “I knew about your story a long time ago. Then I had that dream. You see, I became angry with the increasingly adventurous comments in those tabloid publications. It motivated me to try my best to show Equestria you are not a mad witch like those cartoons they drew.”

Luna had to think on what he said. This was a strange comment to make. It seemed now he took an interest in the story of her return. “You seek to protect my name? I am grateful-”

“Forgive me but I did not venture this portrayal for anypony’s gratitude,” he explained, and the interruption was forgiven. “Your story is a heartbreaking one, Princess Luna. Now you have returned to your home, and all is restored at last. To see those articles, those bodies of text angered me.”

“ Angered?”

“I imagined you reading them and taking offence. I know my medium reaches a small audience, but it is something that can retain the reality of that event.” He was leaning forward and gesturing with his hands. “It is nothing to make light of in the least, and it must have been tartarus while it happened. Free speech unfortunately grants a venue with enough readers and sometimes listeners to encourage inappropriate things. I hoped my contribution would be more…well not offensive.”

Luna was lost on most of his explanation, his need to explain himself to her. “Why do you imagine myself in these situations? I find it…odd.”

“I am sorry if you-”

“No no, odd is not bad. Please enlighten your Princess.”

He sat in silence while the head looked about the floor in a search for words. “I am from very distant lands.” Luna felt foolish not understanding it sooner. “My arrival here was untimely and very traumatising. Reception was…shall we say the mask was put on for a reason. I thought I understood what it is like to go through that loss and the fear of arriving in a pond so changed and different to what is familiar.” His head dropped to a hand with a chuckle. “Of course now I feel stupid saying this to the Princess of Eq-”

“Thank you,” she interrupted. Luna needed only speak to stay his words, not strain her voice at all over his impassioned one. “Tis appreciated. Very much so.” She smiled and sipped more tea with another biscuit silently. He awaited her next word, obviously confused at what had been said. She stirred the cup, speaking into it. “I admit that I happened by chance upon your stage, yet I did enjoy that refuge. To see my ponies reacting to your story, to your partner’s song, I felt more welcomed home when they shared in the triumph.”

He nodded slowly, the hands rubbing on themselves in his relieving tension. “I appreciate that, Princess Luna.”

There was a silence that came upon the room a few moments, and it was a comfortable one. Luna felt confident in her expressions, as well as a little pleased at having brought this performer praise of his story. It was the highest praise in her mind not because it came from a princess, but from the protagonist of the story itself. It occurred that his other tales were not as powerful, and she knew then this story was truly his creation.

“How long do you plan to perform this story?”

“One more day, seven days of one show a piece with optional follow ups three hours later. We alternate different tales a week much like the moving picture theatre down the road. Sometimes there are a few ponies but they do enjoy it nonetheless.”

“You have not been here long enough to make a name for yourself.”

“I do not seek a name. The only disappointment is the limited audience who can learn from one story. It does feel right to know even one pony is better for seeing it.”

“I am indeed better for it.”

“Then two,” he chuckled. Luna could feel a smile there. It was absurd, there was no expression in that mask, but she could feel that smile.

She glances about this venue with the brighter lights, taking in the new sights. The skirting of the walls had a very beautiful carving pattern. There were a great deal of objects hidden, he did not use many of them it seemed.

“Is it inappropriate to ask if you live here?”

“Not at all.” He paused in thought, as though this simple question was a query of life’s great mysteries. It took time to get any direct answer out of him, but Luna did admit she appreciated his thoughtfulness. “I eat here, sleep here.”

“So you live elsewhere?”

“I…” he hesitated, “I live here.”

“Tis not what you wanted to say. I do not like hearing what I am thought to like to hear.” It was amusing to speak this way, to try confuse him in his careful speech. Luna was considerably more versed in conversation, that was clear from her reflexive wit. Although she did reflect on the lack of attention to his body. Movement was more revealing than words and tone of voice. She did not need to understand how to read his movements, for his body spoke of ease while he hid in darkened garments. It was disturbing to look at those empty eyes, incredible in their realism. They drew her attention from the tiny pupils that were actual holes through which he watched the world. A limited view it must have been.

“I do not want to bore you, Princess.”

“I thought my knowing you was to see how repellent you are,” she teased. “Repel me.”

He shook his head with a laugh, leaning back in new found comfort. “Alright. I eat here, I sleep here, I bathe and relax here. I live on the stage, for it is there I feel alive again.”

“A wonderful thought, Marionetter, you speak with literal sense. I can see my words must be carefully chosen about you.”

“The culture here is confusing at times, so I ask you forgive anything I do not grasp.”

“It does confuse me in kind. Perhaps two confused minds can make sense of it?” she mused.

“I have been trying a long time,” he chuckled, “however I welcome our teamwork to align the befuddlement.”

“Then perhaps my future visits shall be twofold in purpose.” Luna set her empty cup down and stood up. He shot right up with her. “For now, I might have to leave our musings.” He nodded, a very funny sight with that mask. “I apologise for the short visit but you do have a very messy home.” She gestured to the crumbs and he laughed with her.

“I will clean it.” He bowed politely and walked beside her to the window.

Luna was ready to take flight but she thought it would be best to not be an intruder anymore.

“Marionetter… Would I assume too much should I presume you to expect me to return?”

He thought on it, raising a hand to his chin. “Your presumption would not be too much.”

“Then it seems I am welcomed to return?”

“As you please, Princess Luna. For as long as my little chapter keeps you interested. Please do not fear, I shall be better prepared of course.”

She turned to face him. “Please do not prepare too well. I ask no compromise on the lifestyle you have. In earnest, I enjoyed this little conversation.” She smiled, then realised her fault. “Not that it was little as in insignificant! I meant it little in scale and form.” She flapped her wings about in gesture to imaginary grandeur. “Normal discourse for myself is sought in larger venues of-“

“I enjoyed it in kind, Princess. Although it seems I failed to repel you,” he laughed. “As you wish, not too great a fuss.” She composed herself to recover from that embarrassing attempt to backtrack upon a misplaced word. He waited patiently, unmoving and motionless. Luna stepped back to the full bodied window and onto the small balcony.

“I bid thee a good night, Marionetter. I must try to say this right… Break a leg?”

He nodded, “Most eloquent, and I wish you success in all your night.”

She nodded her thanks and opened wings wide, darkening the room in their eclipsing span. “Until next time.” Without waiting for a reply she beat down to propel her up and outwards over the edge.

“When was that?” he faintly called after her. Luna smiled to herself and pretended not to hear him. A quick twist with a sturdy flap sent her soaring over the rooftops. She chanced a glance back to the window, and The Marionetter stood on the edge watching her soar into the night.

In moments she was joined by the loyal Sir Nightlark.

“What is that thing?” he said with unrestrained shock. He clutched his spear tighter and stared hard at the Marionetter. Luna made the effort this time to place her hoof on the soldier's shoulder. It was more a show to assure this creature she did not intend him harm.

“He is nothing to be afraid of.”

“If you say so, Princess. It would be wise to consult your sister on this thing first.”

“That thing is but a humble resident of our kingdom, Sir Nightlark. And that thing does have a name.”

“Which is…?”

“The Marionetter.”

“And its real name?”

Luna’s cheeks turned red. She completely forgot to ask. “I need not prove myself to thee, Sir.”

“Very well, Princess.” He flew by her with a mischievous smile. “I will not interfere with your ‘investigation’ so long as you keep your sister informed.” He highlighted the word sister in that slang gesture of sarcasm from this new age. Before Luna could speak the knight bolted ahead.

“It…It is an investigation!” she protested. She was investigating this intriguing thing she found in her new kingdom. It was the most interesting thing it had produced thus far.