//-------------------------------------------------------// So Far Away.... -by Talsbyn- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// A Crystal Butterfly //-------------------------------------------------------// A Crystal Butterfly In the peaceful sky city known as Cloudsdale, a soft hum of the city's streets could be heard from a mile away. However, the noise didn't bother most. In Cloudsdale, there could only be two species, the pegasi and Alicorn. One small pegasus filly, Talsbyn, had only seen the princesses come to Cloudsdale a few times. However, he didn't bother seeing them. He was to busy wrapped up in his school work. He wasn't a bad foal, in fact, he was one of the best fillies in his whole class. Unfortunately, the other pegasi didn't believe so. "Alright everypony, you're free to go home, remember to get the assignment done before the princesses get here!" Mrs. Heartfire had called to the students just before they had left. Talsbyn had already finished the project last week, so he didn't have to worry about anything for a few days. He was getting his stuff ready to leave, when his teacher called to him, "Talsbyn, can you come talk to me for a few minutes, please" Talsbyn awkwardly shuffled to his teachers desk. "Yes Mrs. Heartfire? I've already finished the thing for the princesses" Talsbyn says quickly making sure to not get any extra work for the week. "I know, Talsbyn. I called you over here to ask you if you could help a few other fillies with theirs" "I..I guess, it couldn't hurt" He says with a tone of curiosity. "Great! The filly you'll help is Dustcloud" Talsbyn froze. He didn't know how to react, he didn't know what to say, he just, froze "M-Mrs. Heartfire...I-I don't think that'll be such a good idea" "Talsbyn, I'll tell you what, if you help him, I'll give you freebee next project, what do you say?" It is very tempting, but Dustcloud was one of the most threatening ponies in class. He barely manages to say "O-ok, I'll help him with his project..." Regretting what he said. But it's to late to turn back "Great! You can tell him when you should meet up and finish it" Talsbyn wasn't going to 'tell' him. He was going to ask him, nopony told Dustcloud to do anything. He slowly rotates his body to where Dustcloud was sitting. Talsbyn manages to shuffle to where he sits. "H-hello Dustcloud, Mrs. Heartfire wanted me t-to help you with your assignment.." "Yeah, whatever, let's just get it over quick!" Dustcloud groggles him from under his Ponypod "W-well when should we start it?" Talsbyn hated the tone of his voice, being the obvious jerk, Dustcloud is probably going to make him do it all. Dustcloud pauses his game and looks up. "I guess we can start tomorrow" He returns to his game "U-uh sure that'll be fine" Talsbyn finishes the conversation with a 'see you later', but Dustcloud doesn't care. Talsbyn can tell that he doesn't care. He walks out of the classroom door, Dustcloud doesn't follow because he has detention. So, he walks home alone. It doesn't necessarily bother him, he gets to think. Not only that, he doesn't like talking to other ponies that much. He takes a path that he made, in order to avoid most of the city and get home as fast as possible. On the third turn, he notices a tall yellow furred pegasus tiptoeing her way to..somewhere. He brushes it out of his mind and trot's the rest of the way home. He arrives at the front door, nearly out of breathe. He slowly creaks the door open. Inside he see's his normal, three bedroom house. In the living room, a comforter for his dad and a couch for the rest of the family, with a television in one corner. His father is now 'slayping' is what Talsbyn called it. A form of sleeping and awake that only comes to a stallion that's been drunk out of his mind. His mother, in the kitchen, is talking on the telephone to one of her co-workers, Talsbyn thinks, about another mare. He tries to make conversation, but it fails. So, he goes into his room, with a twin sized cloud, a desk, a bunch of toys he doesn't play with anymore, and a desk with an old electronic keyboard. He throws his backpack on his bed and sits at the desk. An image immedialty comes to mind...the yellow filly he saw on the way here. What about her had been so....appealing. He keeps thinking while his hooves come up with a quick tone. So he goes along with it. He's not much of a singer, but he does so anyways. Even though it's he still manages to have lyrics about the shy pegasus. He finishes the song, he realizes it's about 9:00. So he turns his piano off and jumps on his cloud. Thoughts go through his mind, about the young filly, and about what the day tomorrow will hold. He slowly slips into his dreams as the clock reaches 11:15. Talsbyn's eyes snap awake, he looks at the clock and see's that it's 9:00. He statures up out of his cloud and stumbles into the bathroom. He brushes his teeth and does his business. He walks out of the bathroom and enters the living room, facing his father with an empty bottle next to hid passed out head. He ignores it and moves into the kitchen. His mom is usually in her room from up to around 12:00, so Talsbyn makes himself breakfast. After eating, he grabs his Ponypod with all his songs and few extra songs on it and starts to go to Dustclouds house. He didn't bother telling his parents, they wouldn't listen or care. He arrives at his house to see that 30 minutes have gone by. He knocks on the door....no answer. He knocks harder...this time, after a few clicks from the door locks the door swings open, to reveal a half asleep Dustcloud. "H-hello Dustcloud, ready to start on the project?" Talsbyn says to his sleepy counterpart. "Ugh, fine, come on" He leaves the door open and walks to somewhere in his house. Talsbyn slowly enters to see a normal house, nothing different. Except this time, there was no stallion on a recliner, no mother in the kitchen. The absence of his parents comforted him. He picked a random spot to sit while he waited. He heard some shuffling and a loud thump followed by various curses. After a few minutes of waiting, Dust Cloud arrives back in the living room with a half-finished sculpture made out of cloud. After a few seconds of looking at it, Talsbyn assumed it was a sun. Dustcloud set it on the coffee table and waited to see what Talsbyn would do. Talsbyn got a closer look at it. Examining each point that extended from the sphere. "So, I assume this is a sun?" Dustcloud nods and leaves the room again for a minutes. This gives time for Talsbyn to to pick it up and get a much closer look at it. Checking to see the exact pattern that he was going for. Dustcloud had come back with a bundle of clouds in his hooves and put them on the table as well. "Well, you're the smart one, so get to it!" Talsbyn begins fiddling with with the sun-cloud and managed to place more and more clouds on it. After a few more minutes of frustration do to the fragile clouds fall off multiple times, he was nearly finished. "Ok.... I've just about got it.." Talsbyn stuck his tongue out to focus his concentration and out the last piece on. He held it up to Dustcloud and smiled. "K, thanks, you can leave now" He swooped the star away from Talsbyn's hooves and took it upstairs. He didn't come back down so Talsbyn let himself out the door. He took the quick way back home instead of his usual long route. Most other fillies were sleeping. So, if he could make it back within the hour, he'd be able to avoid his classmates. He began walking threw the market, then a couple of streets, and was nearly home. He began to walk a little fast just encase. But something caught his eye. He stopped for a few seconds. He turned around and observed his area. It wasn't something, it was somepony. The tall pegaus he saw yesterday on his way home. He viewed her much more this time. Her examines her and notices she has cyan eyes, a curvy milky-pink mane, and.... is very, very elegant. His mind fights to try talk to her, but he can't move. He's never seen her at school before, maybe he has just never noticed. He stares at her, giving no regard to the other ponies seeing him. She trots away with, her mom Talsbyn assumes, and disappears behind a house and Talsbyn's heart sinks. Within an instant he snaps back into reality and hurry's home before anypony can see him. He gets home at around 12:30 and notices his mom is awake and his father is at work. The stench from his foulf drunk-ridden father still hangs in the air. He tunes his mom's nagging out and sits on at the table. "Mum, can I have a-a sandwich for lunch please?"  He tries to sound as innocent as possible but fails to do so. His mother pulled the phone away from her face and mouths the words: "I'm busy, make your own" Talsbyn gets out of his chair and makes food for himself. When he's finished eating Talsbyn goes into his room and pulls out his project for school. He made a wing out of cloud, but he thought hard for a few moments and threw it away. He had to do something unique.... A picture came to his mind. The shy filly. The one he saw at the market the day before and before he came home from Dustcloud's. He ran to his closet and pulled out 45 bits from a small wooden box in his closet and rushed out the door. 20 minutes later, Talsbyn came home with his supplies and set them on his bed. He began sculpting and sculpting. He worked hard for 3 hours and miraculously finished. He was in awe how perfect it was. He put the figure and his left over bits in the wooden box and went to bed. The next day was pretty simple and plain like all the other Sundays. However this time, the thought of the filly raced through his mind. He kept asking himself what would happen the next day, the day the princesses came. He would have to present it... and she would be there, he knew she would... His thoughts soared through him until he finally fell asleep. Talsbyn arose in a field of white fluffy cloud. He looked to his right to fin the yellow pegasus a few yards away, he froze and tries not move. The shy filly slowly walked over to him, her mane corresponding hoofsteps. Talsbyn's heart started to bump faster and faster. He couldn't believe it, what was she doing, what was she going to do to him? She stood by his side and slowly mooved her head to his cheek and kissed it slightly. Talsbyn's face blushed instantly. Talsbyn's eye's snapped open. He lay in his bed, clutching his pillow  with a loud alarm clock ringing. He remembered the dream, how amazing it was. She actually kissed him. Well, not actually, but she figuratively kissed him. It was the best feeling in all of Equestria. Talsbyn stood up on his bed and jumped of. He began to get everything ready for school, including the assignment, and walked out of the house. 20 minutes later, Talsbyn arrives at fillyschool with the wooden box in his mouth, and his wings flapping nervously. He took a breath and opened the door to find a few fillies already there. He took a quick glance at the room to find no yellow pony. His head dropped in disappointment, then headed to the back corner of the classroom to his usual spot. Minute after minute, more ponies showed up besides the shy filly. Class had just started when a small voice was heard. "Um... I-I'm sorry I'm late.." The yellow pegasus shrinked herself down. Talsbyn's eyes flew up and hew saw her... the pony he had seen the other day He couldn't believe he never noticed her in class. "It's alright Fluttershy, go have a seat. Unfortunately, Razor Tail took your seat so you can sit in his old spot. Next to Talsbyn" He sat still. He couldn't digest what she had said until Fluttershy had sat down. Talsbyn's eyes quickly darted to his left to see her, but looked forward hoping she wouldn't notice. Her name stuck in his head.... Fluttershy... what an elegant name. "Okay class, in 10 minutes, we will be leaving to the ceremony for the princesses, you will all demonstrate your creations, and then Celestia and Luna will say a few things, and we'll be done. Just like last year, but with the projects." Heatfire began packing a few things in her saddle bag while everypony else was talking and discussing there projects. Talsbyn tried to look and feel comfortable but couldn't. His eyes went back to the tall pony next to him. She was doodling an image on a piece of paper. Talsbyn watched in awe how she graciously drew with her mouth. He stopped for a moment and Talsbyn looked the opposite direction. Fluttershy got out a small hat made out of leaves she bought from a store. It looked magnificent, but Talsbyn tried not to stare. A few minutes after they reach the middle of town where the princesses will come, Heartfire started lining up each filly to do there presentation. Talsbyn is last, and Fluttershy is as a few before him. He looks toward the stage and see's two giant ponies come on the platform. Celestia and Luna. He didn't pay much attention to the speaker. Then came time for the project. Pony after pony went up on stage and Talsbyn noticed each parent slowly getting more sleepy as they go. Next is Fluttershy's turn. Talsbyn is now in complete attention of the filly. "U-um... H-Hello everypony.. my name is F-Fluttershy.. I made a a hat out of leaves..." A loud shout came from a filly that said: "What's so good about a hat?" After he said that, a few giggles came from the crowd. "W-well.... the hat isn't the interesting part... b-but the leaves are... The leaves represent what's down below... the place that'll someday.. be one of our homes. Leaves support life... they show growth form the ground... And that's nothing we can ever get up here..." A few parents started clapping from her speech. She hastily took a seat next to her parents. A few more ponies went. And now, it's Talsbyn's turn. Luckily, everypony was almost asleep by now, so he wouldn't have to suffer much embarrassment. He went onto the stage and opened the wooden box. He took out an object and held it up for everypony to see. It was a butterfly, made out of crystals, it caught the light perfectly to reflect the suns shines across the audience. He heard a few ponies gasp. "Hello, everypony. I am Talsbyn, I have made, um, a butterfly out of crystals... This shows that... no matter how many faces, edges, and turns you might face... there's always a way out. No matter how trapped you feel... no matter how much depression you're there's always a way through it. As you can see.... no matter how much fragmented mirrors this has.. the sun's rays can still pass through it. It's in the shape of a butterfly because.... it reminds you of life.... no matter what form it's in..." He took a long exhale. He didn't tell the full story of why it was a butterfly (because it rhymed with fluttershy) but he didn't seem anypony noticed. "Thank you, I will now take my se-" A large gasp arose from the crowd, a loud splash. Dark red, pigs blood covered all of Talsbyn's body. Following that, a shattering sound from the crystal butterfly. He heard loud laughter from a few foals in the audience laughed and laughed. The two fillies above him joined in laughter. "HAHA!!! Nice speak, Fagsbyn!! BWAHAHA. What a stupid piece of crap!! HAHAHAHA!!" Dustcloud yelled from the crowd. As of now everypony was aware of what was going on including the princesses. Nopony new how to react. They just sat and stared. "I...I....." Talsbyn couldn't manage to say any words. He couldn't move, his blood was ice cold and hard. Talsbyn started shaking and heat rushed through his body. It felt like he was about to pass out. "I can't believe you though we never noticed you bwahaha!! Dude, you're such a fuckin' loser!!!" Another filly said through the laughs. Talsbyn's eyes began to fill with water. Within seconds, tears rolled down his cheeks. "Oh look!! He's crying! What a pussy! BWAHAHA!! It was totally worth it to!" Soon, the parents began to laugh along, thinking it was a joke by all the fillies, it wasn't. Now, the blood began to dry, more and more parents started laughing. Talsbyn' felt like he was about to fall through the cloud. "HEY!!" A soft voice came from the audience. A tall, yellow coated, filly stood up and walked on-stage. "You think this is some kind of, joke!!?? His presentation was beautiful! An it's destroyed! No only that, you covered him in blood!! Why would anypony do that!? There's a special place in Discord's Cage for ponies like you! An you know what?!?" She took in a breath and rolled around in the blood on the floor. A gasp came from the crowd and Fluttershy's name being called by her parents. "Does this look like a joke to you!?!" Blood was falling down from her mane and onto the ground. Once again, everypony was at a loss of words. The laughter had stopped.  Fluttershy turned around to Talsbyn. "T-thank you.... thank you fro everything... F-Fluttershy..." Talsbyn managed to say under his blood covered lips. Fluttershy slowly leaned forward and kissed him on his cheek. Talsbyn face grew hot but nopony could tell, thankfully. "Your welcome... Talsbyn.." She slowly stepped off the stage and sat back down next to her parents. Some hurling followed by some curses went threw the ceremony. "Well, that was a little, strange.." Princess Celestia finally spoke. As she said it, Ms. Heartfire rushed the laughing foals off the stage and back to the classroom. "Are you alright, Talsbyn?" Celestia asked "I.... I think I'm okay... c-can I wash this off before I get sick?" Talsbyn began to calm down. "Ah, yes, in a moment, but first, can you repeat what you said about your butterfly?" Luna spoke before Talsbyn left "Um.. Well, I had said, even though that it seems hopeless, there's always a way to get away from it. If sompony blocks your path, you need to ignore them and keep moving on. The butterfly shows life and how meaningful it is.." Talsbyn began to sway back and forth "That's no the real reason why it's a butterfly, is it?" Luna replied. "N-no... It's a butterfly because it both rhymes with Fluttershy.... and every time I see her she reminds of a buterfly.... I also get them in my stomach when I see her..." He blushed harder. A few "awws" went through the audience. "Okay, let's get you cleaned up, I want you and little Ms. Fluttershy to be up here before the ceremony ends. " Celestia responds. Talsbyn and Fluttershy stand at the top of the newly-cleaned stage looking better then ever. No, everypony could see the red on Talsbyn's cheeks. But he didn't care, he was with the spectacular pony he only notices 3 days ago. "Thank you everypony for your wonderful presentations, escpically yours Talsbyn and Fluttershy. Your presentation showed actual meaning, unlike the rest, I'm sorry to say.  And what both of you showed up here when Talsbyn was.." Celestia was at a loss of words. "I could see no other pony staying up here like that, or being as equally as humiliated. Never, in my 1000 years of service have I ever seen acts performed that well. We will both remember you, Fluttershy, and you to Talsbyn. I wish we could keep your butterfly, but unfortunately, it's gone. Thank you everypony for giving us a warm-hearted greeting to Cloudsdale, one that we will never forget." Celestia finished her last sentence and walked off stage followed by Luna. "So.... um, I-I'll see you at school tomorrow, Talsbyn" Fluttershy said before she left the ceremony. Talsbyn nodded and walked away. He had so much to think about when he got home. He could tell his parents, but they wouldn't really care.  So instead, he kept it to himself. When he arrived home, he ran to his room and took out the song he made for Fluttershy. He made a quick copy on another CD Disk, and ran over to Fluttershy's house. Talsbyn stood on the footsteps of her house waiting for somepony to answer the door. A face that looked similar to Fluttershy's poked out and quickly closed the door. "U-um, H-Hello? Is something wrong? I just wanted to give Fluttershy something.." Talsbyn said through the closed door. "Get outa' here, kid! You made Fluttershy a fool of herself she has the smell of pigs blood! Just, never speak to our daughter! We've already discussed it with your parents, and the agree that they shouldn't see each other!" A mares voice came from inside the house. Talsbyn took a step back. Hoping it wasn't true. He dropped the CD and ran back home. He slowly opened the door and heard loud crashing from his room. He walked past the living room and looked into his bedroom. His parents, both the nagging mother and drunk father were smashing and throwing away all of his pianos, headphones, everything he used to make music, was now gone. He looked toward his bed and didn't see a stuffed pegasus Vinyl Scratch. The pony that helped him get to sleep, the one his parents got him last year for Christmas, was now gone. He started to cry, he didn't believe it, he couldn't believe it. Tears started forming in his tearducts. His parents saw him and stopped. "Talsbyn, this is for your own good! We need to this so you will stay away from the filly!" His mother said. They continue there smashing. Talsbyn slowly backed out of his room. He turned around and ran out of the house with tears flying past him. He wanted to escape, he wanted to wish this was a dream. But it was reality. He wanted to escape, but couldn't the only thing that helped was music, and that's gone now. He sprinted faster and faster until he saw the edge of Cloudsdale. He wanted it to be gone so badly. He ran and ran and... jumped. As in instant reaction, his wings spread out, allowing him to slowly glide down. He landed on a nearby cloud. His heart was racing. He looked up, the very place he grew up, was now above him. This is the first time he's ever left. He wanted to go farther down. He glided back and forth between each cloud getting lower and lower until he could almost reach the ground. With one last jump, he landed. It was hard, a lot harder then clouds. But he loved it. He's only seen pictures of it. But his mouth was open in awe. Taking in every detail about it. How the grass felt, the air, the sounds, everything. The idea dawned upon him to wonder where he'd sleep. After walking for what seemed like hours, he found a small cottage about a quarter-mile from a town. Nopony lived there, so he decided to sleep in it. He slowly walked up to the front porch, hoping nopony would see him. He opened the door and looked inside. It was dark, but he could sleep in it. He found a match and a candle. Within a few moments, the room filled with light. Talsbyn walked upstairs and into a bedroom. A plain bed, that wasn't a cloud, was placed on the right side, near a window. He jumped onto the bed hoping it was soft, but realized it was as hard as a rock. But he still lie. Every event of the day soared through his mind, the good parts and the bad parts. He had one last thought before he finally went to sleep... Why couldn't Fluttershy and him be together? //-------------------------------------------------------// One Chance //-------------------------------------------------------// One Chance Cloudsdale, the city in the blue sky that housed the pegasi race, was going about it's normal day each pony was either going to work, or each filly going to school. That's where Storm Fire is, sitting in class, slamming his head lightly on his desk waiting for class to be over. He had been waiting so long to finally see the princesses come to Cloudsdale. It's been 2 years since he last saw them, the previous years he didn't go because his parents wouldn't let him. But this time he was finally going to meet them. "Alright everypony, you're free to go home, remember to get the assignment done before the princesses get here!" Mrs. Heartfire said before she had dismissed class. Storm Fire has worked very hard on it trying to get it just perfect. He was missing only one thing and he knew exactly what it was. Before he left the classroom, he decided to ask the other ponies how there projects were going. Most of the responses were the same, "It's going fine" or "What's it to you?" he was about to ask the foal at the front of the room speaking to Mrs. Heartfire, but he ended up leaving instead. The route back home wasn't very confusing. Just a 10 minute walk through town, and he'd be home. After a few minutes of walking, he stopped and almost forgot to pick up the final supplies for the project. His parents gave him a few bits to buy it with, so Storm Fire turned around and quickly moved to get the materials. After what had seemed like hours, he'd finally arrived at home. Storm opened the door to his living room, with a couch, television, and chair. He walked into the kitchen and saw his mother was making Storm Fire something to eat. "Good afternoon, mom!" Storm Fire said happily as he sat down at the table. "Hello, Stormy, I've made you a haysandwhich for a snack, did you pick up the supplies for your project?" His mother responded "Ah, yes, thank you, would you like the extra bits back?" "No, you can keep them, I'm just glad you can finish the assignment" "Thanks, mom!" Storm Fire finished the rest of his sandwich and scurried off into his room. He took out a snow globe from his saddle bag and put it on his desk. After a few more minutes of gathering the rest of his items from his closet, he was ready to finish it. He opened the bottom of the snow globe, careful not to spill any of the liquid. He slowly placed a glass moon-crescent, red, orange, and yellow confetti inside the globe. It wasn't much, but at the same time, it was just right. He didn't like to tell people about his obsession with the moon. Not even the moon itself grabbed his interest. It was the pony who controlled it. Luna.... The brightest star in the night sky.... That's who he was making it for, her. He didn't know what he would say when it was his turn, hopefully it won't confuse the princess of the night. He put the globe back together and inspected the final result. It wasn't too terrible, even though he made it within an hour a few days before he was finished presenting it. Storm Fire set it down on a nightstand next to his desk. That night, before he went to sleep, Storm Fire gazed at the moon like he does every night. Only this time, he thinks of what the future will hold. He thinks to himself, 'I wonder what would happen if she understood me, and she'd take me back to the castle with her. We'd live out the rest of our days in piece, I'd help her raise the moon, and every night, we would stare at the moon and talk about each others life all day long'. Through his thoughts, Storm Fire begins to drift off to a deep slumber. Storm Fire is about to ready himself for the attack of the changelings. The whole city of Canterlot has been planning for this event. Storm Fire wouldn't really call it an event, more like a battle. He was putting on his battle armor when a familiar pony enters the room. "Storm Fire.... I'm scared of what could happen... You could actually..." Luna's voice trails off. Storm Fire rushes over to her and brushes off a newly formed tear. "Don't talk like that, I'll be fine, I promise, we've defended Canterlot from the changelings before, we can do it again." Storm Fire reassures her. "Okay... I believe you, but just be careful alright.." Luna leans in toward Storm Fire and they hold a kiss for a few moments. They pull away, out of breath. "I have to get prepared, go up to your Observatory.. they won't have the nerve to go there." Storm Fire says before leaving Luna. She did trust him.. but the thought of her loosing her husband made her stomach queezy. Before she leaves to her Observatory, she sits still and alone in the empty room Storm Fire was previously in. So many thoughts go through her mind about what could happen. Tears begin to roll down her face, she's never been a softy, but she cries anyway. Storm Fire stands behind a few barricades awaiting the arrival of the changeling army. Next to him, a whole row of other Royal Guard Ponies. Storm Fire remembers how they each met.... Iron Mits, he saved her from a crashing building in Manehatten. Bronze Roll was the first out of the bunch, they met when Storm Fire accidentally spilt hot coffee on him. He chuckles a little inside but hears a familiar noise. It was the noise they'd use to signal the changelings. Storm Fir e looked straight ahead, waiting for the enemy ponies. All at once, a giant hoard of changelings comes rushing down at them. A battle cry is yelled and all Hell brakes loose. After a few minutes of fighting, Storm Fire takes a quick look back at Canterlot. It seems fine to him, before he turns back around something catches his eye. He looks back, only to find a single changeling flying straight down into Canterlot. But, it didn't seem like it was going to hit the ground anytime soon. So, Storm Fire continues to fight. After a few more minutes of defending, (and winning) a terrible truth comes over Storm Fire. It wasn't headed for Canterlot... It was headed for Luna's observatory. Storm Fire became overwhelmed with fear. He left the fight and bolted through Canterlot. Each familiar building he's grown to love is now whizzing past him without a single care in his life besides saving his bride. Luna sits in her private study, hoping the war would be over soon. She takes a quick glance outside to see if it was over, it wasn't. She continues to read a book titled: Battle Tactics, Defending Yourself from Opposite Races. It was quite a good read that seemed to calm her nerves. Luna was in the middle of learning how you can use a certain technique of body language to communicate with buffalo, when she hears a thud from the top of her observatory. Luna slowly walks to the window and pokes her head out. She thinks to herself 'Must be a bird or something..' She walks back to her seat and begins reading again. Within a few seconds, the noise comes. 'What is that?' Luna asks herself. She almost gets up to look out the window again, when a changeling enters in through the window. "Hehe! Hello there, your 'highness' Watch ya doin' up here? Hiding from the battle because your scared? Haha! Your strange Armored Ponies are no match against the changeling army, especially without you!" He begins to move closer and closer. Luna backs up towards a wall in fear. "W-What are you doing here! I command you to leave at once!" Luna tries to sound as forceful as possible. "I will, after I finish you!" The changeling pulls out a large club. Luna's eyes become filled with tears of fear. The changeling gets closer and closer to her. Luna thinks to herself 'This is it, I will pass, due to a changeling'. Luna's assassin moves closer and closer. "Good night, your highness!" He raises the club above her head. Storm Fire rushes as fast as possible, leaving a trail of tears behind him, 'Please don't let it be too late' he thinks to himself. Storm Fire nears the door and kicks it open as hard a possible. He looks around and see's his wife and a fearless changeling. Storm Fire looks into Luna's eyes and he see's only terror. He holds out a hoof, only to be responded by a loud thud. Storm Fire snaps awake, covered in tears and sweat. 'Had it all been a dream? Is she really still with us?' He jumps out of his bed and runs to the window, he see's the sun shining bright through window. Storm Fire relaxes and begins to get ready for school. He packs all his necessary items, including the globe, and eats breakfast. "How did you sleep, dear?" His mother asked. "I had a nightmare..." Storm Fire says, lowering his head. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, do you feel comfortable talking about it?" "No, not really.." Storm Fire didn't like to talk about his feelings for Luna, even if they were bad ones. He finishes eating his meal and goes back into his room. Usually, over the weekend, he spent most of his time playing games, flying, or thinking about Luna.He choose the second option and stayed in his room for a few hours until finally coming out. He walks into his living-room to find his family watching T.V and enjoying lunch. "Hey dad, can you come teach me some more cool tricks about flying? I want to be the first foal in class to get their flying certificate!" Even though Storm Fire wasn't ever active, or liked to be, he always found time in practicing the art of flight. "Not today, sorry kiddo. Boss wants me in a few hours early, maybe next week or something." Storm Fire isn't really disappointing, his dad works the night shift, so he usually expects this. It doesn't bother him though, so instead, he returns to his room. A few more hours go by, and Storm Fire says goodnight to the moon before heading off to bed. It's been years since Luna and Storm Fire met, they've been such a great couple and were perfect for each other. However, tonight, it was going to become something different. The past few weeks Storm Fire has been thinking of what it would be like if the two were to be married. Overtime, he slowly convinced himself that he would do the proposal on their 3 year anniversary. They plan on going to the Grand Galloping Gala, there, Storm Fire will ask her the question after Celestia gives her speech. He's already bought the ring, but still feels a little worried that she will say no. That night, both Luna and Storm Fire, enjoy the wonderful event known as the Grand Galloping Gala. They explore all the exciting activities that'll be done. Tea with the mayor of Las Pegasus, an orchestral piece done by Octavia, herself. It was all going to go perfect. As they enter enter into the castle, they find many decorations set up for the event. "Welcome you two, I hope you have a wonderful time, and please, make yourselves feel comfortable." Celestia says, just before shoving them along. "So, Storm Fire, where should we go first? I'm really interested in the tea party, or the solo by Octavia, oh I'm so excited!" Luna exclaims while dragging Storm Fire along. "Luna, slow down a little, it's still going to all be here." Storm Fire responded. Luna nods, but doesn't slow down. A few hours go by, and Luna and Storm Fire have already been to most of the events. There was one more to go, and that was the one where he'd ask her to marry him. They enter into a giant room with many tables and seats. Hosting it was a large, white alicorn. "Hello sister, aren't thou enjoying thy night?" Luna questions. "It's been going wonderful, how about you two?" "It's been a blast, Luna can hardly slow down she's so excited, I just hope this last event will really blow the rest out of the park." Storm Fire smirks a little. "Well, I hope so, why don't you two have a seat up here with me?" The couple moves beside Celestia and have a seat. A few minutes go by and the room slowly begins to fill. Each pony takes a seat next to another, waiting for Celestia to start. More and more ponies come into the room and finally, everypony is seated. "Can I have everypony's attention, please" Celestia says, trying to calm down the crowd. "Tonight had been a very enjoyable night, agreed?" A few ponies shake their heads. "Ah, wonderful, I'll liked to propose a toast, to another great Gala, and hopefully, many more." Clinking of glasses go around the room. At the front, Storm Fire fiddles with the ring, he was nervous enough to throw up, but doesn't. "Um, I'd like to say a few words." Storm Fire begins. "I've had a marvelous time tonight, thank you all very much for this evening. And I'd like to ask my very special somepony an important question" Storm Fire raises his head up from the pillow in a confusing haze. 'It was another dream' he thought. Those were the few amazing dreams he actually enjoyed, hopefully he'll be able to get more soon, he never gets to finish them. In his groggy state, Storm Fire manages to get out of his bead and go into the kitchen so he can eat breakfast. He stops and smells for a moment, his favorite food, rainbow covered eggs. Not most people enjoyed rainbows for their taste, but Storm Fire did, and he loved it. "Good morning mom, what's for breakfast?" Storm Fire asks as soon as he enters the kitchen. "Oh, you know what we're having, stop playing innocent." His mom replies. They both laugh and eat there food. His dad was still at work, so a lot of the times, he ate with his mother instead. He usually ate lunch and sometimes dinner with him. After the two pegasi were finished eating, Storm Fire gave his dirty plate to his mother and scurried off to his room. The whole day, he spent contemplating what he was going to say.. "Hmm, how about 'I made this snow globe to represent Luna' no, that sounds creepy. What about 'A very special somepony influenced me to make this, she is the goddess of the night, Princess Luna!' hmm, that could work." He rehearsed exactly what he was going to say for hours until he could hardly speak. He barely had enough strength to say goodnight to the moon before passing out on his bed. Storm Fire woke up earlier then usual, being excited cost you time to sleep, but he didn't care. Before going to school, Storm Fire quickly packed his saddlebag with the snow globe and a few other materials he could use for school. He hardly had time to finish breakfast before rushing out the door to school. Storm Fire arrives at school a few minutes before everypony else was there. He quickly took his seat and waited impatiently. For the next half-hour, Storm Fire saw everypony's projects. A cloud made out ice, a leaf hat, a sun made from cloud, all looked pretty uninteresting to him. So, he ignored the projects and instead, waited for Mrs. Heartfire to begin the class.      "Okay class, in 10 minutes, we will be leaving to the ceremony for the princesses, you will all demonstrate your creations, and then Celestia and Luna will say a few things, and we'll be done. Just like last year, but with the projects." Mrs. Heartfire said while getting her saddlebag. Storm Fire nearly jumped out of seat, but stayed still until they were released. And the second they were, he was the first pony out the door. At the ceremony, Mrs. Heartfire lined everypony up in an orderly fashion. He's first up, but the thought of going on stage made his stomach churn. He rehearsed the lines in his head till they stuck and moved on stage. "Um... Hey, everypony my name is, Storm Fire. For the ceremony I had made a snow globe, and in it, I placed a moon's crescent, and orange and yellow confetti. Um.." He tries to find his words. "I had made this, in mind of a special somepony..." he begins to sweat. "The orange and yellow confetti represent Fire.. my last name. And the moon is for.. um... L-Luna" He winced thinking his punishment were to be bad, but instead, he heard a lot of "Aww's" instead of embarrassing nonsense. Storm Fire smiled and trotted off the stage. For the rest of the ceremony, Storm Fire spent it gazing at Luna. 'Every year she becomes more and more beautiful' he thinks to himself. Towards the end of the ceremony, something happened that Storm Fire didn't quite payed attention to. Instead his eyes and brain were locked on Luna. After everything was back to normal, the princesses said a few things and then they left, simple as that. Storm Fire felt both sad and proud inside that he was able to say something like that in front of everypony. He got out of his seat to leave, when behind him, a majestic voice was heard. "I enjoyed your speech... It was beautiful, thank you" A tall, dark-violet colored alicorn stand behind him. Storm Fire froze, hoping it wasn't a dream. 'I-Is that really Luna? She's talking, to me' he thought. Storm Fire slowly turned around and he saw a heart-warming face. "T-Thank you Luna... I'm sorry if it creeped you out.." "None to worry about, that was a very courageous thing you did." Luna said while gesturing towards the stage. "Thank you... Princess Luna." "Storm Fire... why did you make it specifically for me?" "Well.... I have a sort of.... crush on you..." a smile came across Luna's face. "Oh, well why didn't you just say so?" "I was... scared about how you'd react." "Do I look scared to you? It's sweet having somepony have a crush on me, most ponies think I'm evil..." Luna thinks for a few moments. "Hey, I tell you what? How about when you get older, you can come to Canterlot, and we can try this whole thing out." Storm Fire's eyes lit up with excitement. "O-Okay! Thanks Luna!" Luna gave him a small kiss on the head and went back to her sister. Storm Fire stood still and let a blush came on his face. 'That..... was..... incredible' thought. He was about to explode with happiness. But he couldn't, because he'd have to find a way to see her again.