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                 Trial of The Marionetter                  
                         -by EZTP-                         
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                    00. The Marionetter                    
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00. The Marionetter
0
Princess Luna of the kingdom of Equestria, sat at her writing desk in her chamber. The night was faded, and the morning arrived. It was time for another entry. It had been a long time since last used, yet now she felt to be in a place where writing once more no longer carried the olden sting it did. There was no looming threats, no madness to endure, nothing to fear.
She opened an old book, still smiling at the fact her sister had kept it after all these years. The personal journal of Luna, correct to the final night before she did not desire to remember. Even now the page itself unintentionally opened, yet she refused to read the last entry with a wince and sharp turning.
Now she came upon the time of new, the days fallen upon her in recent history. She turned the pages documenting her return, the grasping of new culture, the enjoyment of new pleasures...and friends.
She laughed seeing the contrast again. Where her first entry began in formal script and elegant lettering, it had since fallen to a terrible habit of the so named doodling. She enjoyed finding her freedom to express, no longer needing to add long descriptions of her fondest pictures, but adding her own crude version so only she could know what they were.
Writing the date for clarity, she eagerly slid the tip of the quill along to trace a picture that became her fondest dream. Wanting to keep the entry as picturesque as possible, she overcame the temptation to doodle and her entry began.
Dearest Luna, tis a while past that I wrote, yet much has happened since Twilight became Princess Twilight.
As you read this, I hope you shall remember how you feel this moment. I hope it will wash anew after all the time past, and you will still have the one that brought it to you this moment. I pray thee to show him thine affections before continuing, one quick reminder to our special quote, not a pony, unquote. She giggled at the joke, more so because she thought of the one who had began the quoting tradition.
It has now been two months and some days since I happened by chance on the single greatest change in my life. The change spoken of is that of my meeting, friendship and love of The Marionetter.
While attending a performance theatre magic show of his, I became enthralled with the portrayal of my story as done by him. My story of the fight against Nightmare Moon. Such was the diplomacy that I became compelled to meet him.
While he attempted to elude me, twas feeble and I managed to thank him, pleasantly surprised to discover he was no pony. He was a masked creature from other lands, hiding his face and body under garments and a full headed pony mask in refuge.
In time we became friends despite his evasiveness, I even grew to discover we shared many things; tortured pasts, powerful abilities, immortality, even a favour for isolation from fear of further scorn from all creature kind. I promise we are both working to overcome that fear together.
A discovery was made that he was the wielder of suspect artefacts that breathed life to create great illusions on the stage, the reason he had become so well known as a performer. His Mentor, a pony of old lost tom time, had prepared him those two hundred or so years ago for this very purpose. I however suspect other motives yet to be known.
Those artefacts he names, ‘The Marionette Sticks’, proved to be more powerful than originally perceived. They were capable of wielding living bodies as those of marionettes, him using them to exact a justice on those wicked without chance of redemption. I was never afraid of him, for by then I did suspect him of other things.
He did so clumsily tune their might upon myself, I will defend him in saying he was pressed to decide something...important. Twas the moment we knew.
Tis true it had been difficult to realise it. In time, with the help of his friend called ‘Melody of battle axe’, I might have...I fell in love with this strange creature. He has many faults and strengths, and I love them all regardless. The mare Melody does command great respect from me for her friendship of me and my Marionetter, I have promised to perform her wedding in thanks.
He had such reservation to our joining, to admitting that he was indeed in love at all. For he loved me in the months we met, I suspect he loved me much sooner but was too afraid.
More surprisingly, that reservation caused him to spurn my most intimate request, on a night where my passions had succumbed to nature itself. He asked me if I was half baked, then gulped in fear of what I had asked.
I was persistent, and made it clear to him on a later night that my eternity would be all the brighter with him in it. I was clear that I wanted to hold his burdens with him, and that I needed to him to understand my love could not be changed by the appearance for which he had been persecuted. Not after all we had been through together.
That persecution did stretch two hundred and thirteen, almost fourteen, years. With his forced confession he did remove that mask, not once did my love falter at what he was. There was only joy to be lost to him in that moment, such was our kiss that it did resonate for all our eternity. Tis true...I kissed him, and him me...
The following eve, we did rendezvous with him to satiate the lingering nature. I...gave my innocence to the being whom I wanted to be with for all eternity. Twas exhilarating and terrifying.
That next day there was a promise made he would walk with me in the gardens of my new home; Canterlot Castle. He did ask one more week for to wait, I did wait with reluctance. He in one with whom I must be patient. I suppose there is time to be patient in the least.
What a worthwhile time it had been! He stepped out to the stage of the modest theatre he works at, and let them pay witness to an emergence from two hundred years of hiding. The reception was mostly as mine; pleasant surprise, for his tender stories did win the hearts of many.
The name of The Marionetter was prominent enough by then, to gain a respect and reverence for the being he was. That night he told his story, watered down to condense into one short night. The dining theatre had been packed then, all manner of creatures resorting to floor seating for space. My sister was beside me to see him, sadly she is yet to comment on my match. Upon the tale’s conclusion there was a silence, then applause. There was one amongst them though who loved it beyond all measure, and she had savoured every moment of it from her seat.
Two months of our encounters were slowly revealed to the kingdom. The reception had been rough at first, in a short time most of it smoothening. There are still those who dislike my choice, I care not for they will not understand what I know of him.
We had walked in that garden together, never was there a more perfect night for you Luna. I hope he could say the same. Twas certainly one that was not the last.
We decided for the time being, he would keep that mask on for the greater population. Tis their princess he is with after all, and hopefully still is with on the distant day of this reading. The scrutiny has been difficult to bear at times for him, twas the reason he donned that prison atop his head in the first days. However any shame or doubt will go when I can be there with him.
Remaining with the mask was...brilliant. The choice had a wonderful effect of bringing enough business to the theatre that it does thrive. He only takes that mask off during a few performances of his after all, a cheeky trick to gain that extra business.
Although there is difficulty, I noticed he avoids sister, Princess Celestia of the sun he names her, quote unquote. I plan on asking him to join me for a stay in the Castle during his leave over winter, the Starlight Lounge Performance Theatre is using the profits to maintain and expand. Winter is admittedly a poor choice, but the manager wanted to be ready for the summer holidays when business would be booming. There was a lot of work planned after all.
My invitation shall be issued tonight, and it is very exciting. I know he will hesitate, I know he will try to avoid it, but I know he wants to be with me. This time however, he must face trial by sister, perhaps the most fearful of all.
Sister is still protective of me, although she does try to regally avoid it. I cannot wait to see him panic stricken when they meet.
I grow weary now, so we shall part ways now Luna. Fear not, for I plan to make many more entires so we can always remember how special this is.
Luna concluded her entry with a silly doodle that she was embarrassed at the moment of completion. She smiled and allowed a moment for the last of the ink to dry, it was not needed to waste magic on this simple action. She leaned back in her seater and waited, savouring the morning chirping birds from the grounds far below. The gentle sway of wind, the dim light in her own room. All was a perfect end to another busy night.
She was distracted however as an obnoxious flapping beat through the peace. She waited for it to pass yet it grew louder, quickly.
“Princess!” a worried voice called out in the distance. Without hesitating she flung open her balcony doors, in time for one of her pony guards to crash clumsily though. He stood to attention and his helmet flew off to clang on the chamber floor. Luna could not laugh however, for she recognised this guard.
This was the trusted soldier she assigned to watch over the Marionetter in his own quarters, and his face held great terror.
“What is it!?” Luna could not hide her worry. The soldier panted for breath.
“There... There has been an attack!”
Her blood ran cold, her breath barely able to carry a word “Marion...?”
“No, the one known as Melody! She is... She is in the emergency centre being tended to last I saw.”
“Last you saw!?” Luna thundered.
“It was I who brought her there Princess.”
“Oh...” Luna felt instantly deflated then. “Then...what did happen?”
“I do not know Princess Luna. The Marionetter is currently awaiting word on Melody, she was in...grave condition.”
She turned about and slammed her ledger closed. “Lead me to him!” Luna did not wait for anything else, her weariness away in an instant. The soldier took a great breath and darted out the door, leading Luna to what she cursed as yet another cruel turn of fate. In the least, this turn did have one clear place; right beside her Marionetter.