The Mayor of Cloudsdale

Around 20 years ago

It wasn't fair.

She turned around and threw her pillow away.

Everypony in class had friends to visit their house and they all said it was fun.

Her mom and dad always got mad when she asked that.

It was her first year she went to school and she wanted to have fun too.

On your own it can be fun too, but after a while it will get boring.

Her favourite game was hide and seek.

Quite difficult to play alone, but she made up some extra rules.

Search for the best place to hide and then wait for mommy or daddy to come.

As little filly, she could reach every place in the house except what was behind the wooden door in the kitchen.

Mommy said there was nothing behind it but she once saw daddy open it anyway.

She stared at the ceiling when mommy got upstairs,

"Are you still awake dear?" she asked.

"Yes." she whispered.

"Shhh. There's nothing to worry about." mommy hushed.

Yes there was. There was so much to worry about.

It wan't fair.

Around 10 years ago

She laid in her bed and stared at the ceiling.

Dad just left.

Every evening he would read her a story and after that she asked him questions.

The same every day and the same answers every day. It was like a game.

She started out with asking the old questions. Starting by the first one. After hearing all the answers she added another question and he answered. She never forgot the order of the questions. That would be a mistake. And you couldn't make a mistake, one was enough to blow everything.

That was question 126 by the way.

She loved the game. It made her believe she was strong. That was another thing he repeated. Be strong.

She had to be the strong one. Swallow your fears. Don't show anything. Put on the show. Number 15.

Years ago she questioned what was behind the big door in the kitchen.

Not a year after that she knew.

With the opening of the door the insecurities and fears started.

But it was worth it. It was worth it.

Oo, she was so naïve and excited when the door opened.

What she saw went beyond her imagination. It wasn't a portal to another world or a monster.

It was her house, mirrored. The same kitchen, the same table. Even the same flowers in a vase.

But the most attention drew her counterpart. A little replica of herself.

She was astonished and just gasped.

That's where the rules began. Don't talk. Avoid others. Just act. Don't be. Never talk at the same time.

At first she didn't understood, but later she learned why, thanks to the game.

It was because of Her. The mare with the laurel.

She turned around and listened to her dad downstairs opening the front door.