The learning curve

POV Lance.Corporal Ben Beal

The first thing Ben noticed was that the day/night system here was unlike that of Earth. On Earth, the sun arced across the sky with a perfect curve and disappeared below the horizon like it had never been there at all. Then the moon faded into view from behind a blanket of cyan blue to light up the newly blackened sky. Here however, the sun and moon both travelled across the sky. Alternating in perfect timing, taking turns to stroll through the heavens like angels in their elements. The moon was huge. It stared down at him with its craters and 'seas' dotting the surface, highlighting its age and untouched purity. It cast a slight glow over the ground in its transparent natural beauty. Everything looked better at night. During the day, the buildings, trees, the people, they all looked so...industrial. The detail of an objects exterior shown to the world on a colourful banner that spoke lies to its surroundings. A being or object is not defined by how it looks, or how it feels. Nor is it reflection of those who created it. Everything is governed by its meaning, its purpose. Everything meant something to somebody or something else. Nothing was meaningless, everything has its own affect on everything around it. The universe was a product of the Big Bang, yes. But it would not mean anything without its contents. It's what is inside it that counts most. And here, in the cloak of darkness, the shell hiding the true purpose of everything is blocked out. Pushed away by the absence of light. In the darkness, Ben could now see. As he walked he stared constantly at the new set of stars that lined the infinite beyond. He could not locate the old constellation that once watched over his life. Instead he had these new, younger companions to guide him amongst the black shadows and the invisible objects that cast them. Shadows were not present at night, but the shadows covered any and all who dared to stride into the unknown corners of reality. Time slowed here in those shadows. It almost stopped entirely as Ben was left to only his thoughts and the true world. Without all that detail that the day provided, he could see past the blanket of the hollow lies and stare deeply into what there really was around him. Walking up a tall, rocky hillside. Ben thought back the the Ladybug crawling up his rifle. It had not needed to climb the mountain that lay before it, but it had wanted to. And it was that same desire to conquer your challenges that compelled life to go on, day and night. Most people knew it, but didn't realise it. Living was ironically like the only thing that kept a person alive. It was like breathing. When you live, the suck inward, all those lies and deceitful shells of the world around you, and you decipher them into something you can understand. Necessity. Daily need keeps a person alive. Eating, drinking, respiring and all that nonsense. But when you breathe out, you throw away all those lies into the surrounding area, only to take in a new set of codes of in-comprehension again for questioning. To once again devise a set of needs to keep you alive. But what is it really? You don't have to breathe. It keeps you alive but you could say it only prolongs our deaths. We all die someday, does it matter when or how? We are so isolated in our thoughts that no other being can sense our happiness, our sadness, our pain. We just sit here on our own little slice of atomic cake and 'live'. Our lives only sum up to mean what is made of them in the past. The present is constant. The present is harsh and kind. It too, just like us, is only a biproduct of reality and what has been. So what of now? Why is he hiking up this mountain side? Why is he staring into the starry night for what seems like an eternity? Why do the shadows slow down time? The best answer he could think of was that he was not meant to know. The future can not be predicted any more than life can be explained. We live for 'now', and die for later. That is what we do, every hour of every day. Our consciousness tries to make what it can out of the bread crumbs of the universes truths, and turns them into something that is really worth living for. The human will to live only exists because of the reason it works for. Every though of the conscious mind, every bash, bruise, cut, kiss, smile, frown and breath is only performed because of one reason.

Because we are alive.

This is what it is all for. Life. Life is so utterly complex that it can destroy itself in its own delicacy, or blossom in its success. It is so powerful that it can turn the lies of the light into dark truths.

So as Ben turned around to look at the rocks he had just scaled. He smiled. He was alive, and he was loving it. The night had been the catalyst for his comfort for so long. Every evening is the turning of a new age for Ben. Ben walked over the dry ground to a ledge, reaching out towards the fields, over 50 feet below. The moon had shifted significantly along its line of travel. Judging by how far it had moved in comparison to the horizon it had left, and the one it was bound for. Ben guessed that he had spent about an hour and a half scaling this cliff side. It must be 11O-clock by now. Ben sat down with his legs dangling over the edge of his perch as he stared out over the town that he now called his home, and the country side that hosted it. The moon was bright enough on this world to be able to make out the edges of objects on the rolling hills that spread out in front of him. Stretching into the distance like a beautiful grey, and black solid ocean. And on the mountain a few miles before him was the royal palace. It's dotted yellow lights made it a landmark for any travellers, making their way across this land. He sat and observed for a short while. Taking in the scenery of his new home and complimenting its natural beauty. He then laid back in the short grass to stare at the stars some more. See if he could spot some new star patterns to study in any further nights. Only to find a tall, navy blue mare with black fancy shoes and an icon of the crescent moon jewelled into an black necklace. Her mane waved in the breeze, comprised of a dark purple and a nightly blue with stars contained within its grasp. Almost like it was its own universe.

He stared for a few seconds. Her eyes were deep. Not like the surface concentrated orbs that the other ponies had, no. These were more like corridors into another place. A place of emotion and thought. He couldn't help but compare her to the night itself. She was so...

Beautiful.

POV Princess Luna

The bipeds gaze was almost infinite. It was harsh, yet forgiving. She wondered what thoughts lay behind those eyes. She had watched it for a while, watching it stare into space and study the stars. She could almost hear his thoughts in the deathly silence. They had been looking at each other for at least five minutes before the nothingness was filled.

"Greetings."

The creature smiled.

"Hello."

"What brings you out here at this time?"

"I'm just taking in the views and absorbing the beauty of night time."

Luna's curious expression broke into a light smile to match the creatures.

"I like it out here..." It continued.

"No sun to blind the senses, and all the time in the world to just think. And observe."

Luna knew exactly what that meant.

"I understand..." She said softly. Walking over to meet the creature.

"I am Luna, Princess of the night. Pleased to meet you..."

"Ben."

"...Ben."

There was quiet between them for a few seconds. Before the creature stared back into the sky. She moved over to the Bens side and joined his intent observations of the stars. They was silence for a good ten minutes this time.

"You know, princess. I have always been attracted toward the night. My entire life almost revolves around my nocturnal experiences. Have you ever felt this way?"

"I have felt that every night for over one thousand years."

"Over a millennia, eh? Got to say princess, you are looking good for a mare of your age."

Luna shy'd away for a moment and blushed at his comment. The creature took of his hat and rustled his hands through his dark blonde hair. Before inspecting it closely. Luna had been called many things in her lifetime, but never once had anypony other than her sister complimented her looks. There was another round of quiet.

"I'm travelling to the palace tomorrow to meet your sister, Celestia. And to get a job working as Twilights personal guard. It's a bit much for me."

"Why. Are things different here than where you come from? By the way, where does thou come from?"

"Yes, well, a little. For one, I'm on a whole different world here. I came here after I had been killed in my home world."

"Where you murdered?"

"No, not exactly. I was shot to death by soldiers of my own country. For reasons I have not been comfortable in sharing with the ponies here."

Luna grimaced.

Shot to death by the very ponies meant to protect you? I wonder...

"But for some reason I feel okay with it here. I want to get it off my chest but you need to keep it a secret unless I decide to tell the others myself, okay?"

"It's okay, Ben. You can trust me. I promise."

"You swear?"

"I swear that it will be a secret unless thou decides to give it up."

"Ok..."

Ben seemed to take a deep breath. Like he was preparing to tell her something life threatening.

"... I killed four innocent people."

Luna was not shocked. She had killed several in her time as Nightmare Moon. This creature was possibly experiencing the same depression she was, judging by its solum attitude toward its past. She sighed.

"It's okay, Ben. I understand."

Ben looked up.

"Huh?"

"A long time ago, I was possessed by a nightmare. I was turned into a monster. I...I... Wanted to make the night eternal. I was fully aware of what I was doing. But I did not want to do it, you see. I too, killed several innocent ponies trying to achieve my selfish goals. My sister banished me to the moon for one thousand years for my crimes. I more than paid my dues. It was only recently that I was brought back to my real self. So for the past two years I have regretted every evil action I have ever performed, wishing I could take them back. But time is a mean mare, and my depression is the punishment I bear with me every where I go, at every time."

The two stared into each others eyes for a bit as they realised they had both found each others equal. Ben wrapped his arms around Luna and she buried her head in his chest, listening to his heart beat. They hugged for a while. But as nothing good lasts forever, the embrace was finally broken by the creature. It stood up to its full height and pulled her to her hooves. He put his hand on her cheek and gently held her head in position.

"It didn't matter what you are going through, Luna. There is always someone around to help you. It's just a matter of finding the right person."

"Thank you Ben."

She held her hoof out for a hoof shake. The creature curled his appendages into a fist, before bumping her hoof carefully.

"Are we friends, Ben?"

She gazed hopefully into his eyes.

"Of course."

His smile told Luna that she had truly found a friend. Somepony to help her in her time of need.

"Until next time Luna."

"Goodbye Ben."

Luna stood and stared as her eyes followed him down the pathway. He suddenly stopped and turned around...

POV Lance.Corporal Ben Beal

Ben stopped to make sure his new friend remembered something. Turning around, he saw that Luna was still stood where he had left her, smiling.

"Don't forget about the secret."

"Do not fret. I will not forget."

Ben grinned as he turned to continue on his way. He had made a friend that was in his same predicament. He wondered of he would meet her again the following night. Maybe. As he walked on down the path, Ben thought to himself about Luna.

She is so beautiful. It's a shame she is a princess. If she was just a normal pony, I may have hinted my feelings for her at some point in that conversation. Wait! I love her? That's a bit weird, I've never felt love for another person in my life, but I spend one day in Equestria and find myself falling for a 'pony'?

Ben retraced his steps along the pathway toward Fluttershy's cottage. The path was lined with large trees either side. They loomed over him, threatening to swallow him in their grasp. They dared not however. And as he arrived at the cottage it was well past midnight. Around one O-clock at his best estimate. The key was under the mat just like Fluttershy had said. He unlocked the door, walked in, and locked it again. Searching around, he found the box containing the keys and hung the ring in the only vacant prong. He found the bed fluttershy had prepared for him last evening and sat down on the bedside. Removing his weapons, armour, jumper and boots, he slipped into the bed and got comfy. Closing his eyes, he felt sleep beginning to claim him quickly. And as he started to slip away, he said his personal goodbye to the stars.

"Goodnight, night."