Mirror Images

Chapter 3

The girls left but the princesses stayed after waving good-bye. I closed the door turned and looked at the rulers Celestia held up her index finger and said, “Dusk we respect your one rule and we will not disclose the information of which it is, my sister and I talked and if you have one then we want one as well.” I made a gesture with my arm for her to continue and she did, “We don’t want any formalities during our stay here. It’s our vacation so we will pay you for anything we use and will compensate you for any damages, use of utilities, and food.”

I held my right hand out and she shook it I said, “Deal, now go get washed up Barry’s starting dinner and I have to tell him to make for two more.”

Celestia and Luna were polite with table manners but the guys and I were shoveling down spaghetti even Elusive. I think that’s the only food Elusive just goes all out on he loves the breadsticks that Barry makes. The girls looked at us in confusion and Jack spoke up, “It’s no holds barred spaghetti night manners don’t count here.”

Spines wasn’t even using a fork just her hands and then told the sisters, “These guys can be rude and snobby but you girls don’t have to worry about them I keep them in line, and as long they don’t try to blow anything up you’ll be just fine so Dusk what’s next on the list?”

I stopped licking my plate and thought about it for a second then said, “We change into our nightwear and play darts.” I heard six plates clink in the sink and I wiped my mouth with my napkin and told the last two people at the table, “We love darts.”

The girls had found one guest room next to mine I put on sweat pants and a shirt that said ‘I will not keep calm and you can fuck off.’ I was drinking a beer when Celestia came down she laughed and said, “Nice shirt, Can I get a beer?”

I took one out of the fridge, tossed to her, and said, “If you told me a year ago that the beautiful Princess Celestia is going to be laughing at my fuck off shirt and drinking a beer in my kitchen I would’ve called bullshit.”

I started to sip my beer and she took a gulp and said, “Beautiful am I?”

I finished sipping and answered her, “Well you’re not average I can assure you that, I think you’re beautiful. You’re showing me a side of you that you don’t show anyone else especially the public and not your student either. That makes me think a bit and you don’t want me to do that.”

She walked up to me and asked, “Why not?”

I sipped again and answered. “In Hayvard I took an Psychoanalyst class for two terms. I learned a lot from that class like how since I’ve mentioned a different side of you that you don’t show you stopped drinking your beer. When I called you beautiful, you started to rub the label off the bottle which shows nervousness then I mentioned that you show a side of you that you don’t even show your student which brings me to the conclusion of either one or two things.” I paused to finish my beer and dropped it down the disposal tube then continued, “Either you are in love with you’re student which I find nearly impossible since you raised her like the daughter you never had or two you’re in love with me.”

She finished her beer and walked up dropped it down the tube and said, “What if you’re wrong.”

I leaned in close to her face and said, “I’m almost never wrong, if I think I am then I was on the right track and you’re a hard person to read, I love the challenge.”

She brought up her hand to brush her fingers against my jaw line and said, “I’m much more complicated than you think.”

I smirked and said, “Challenge accepted.” She rewarded my eagerness with a small peck on the cheek and to say I was shocked was the understatement of the entire universe. I stood there for a good five minutes before Barry and Blitz snapped me out of it. They had gotten the dartboard out, hung it on the wall, and opened it.

Blitz asked, “Regular or extreme?”

Luna sat down with a beer in her hand and asked, “What’s the difference?”

Everyone was sitting down and Scotch sat next to her and explained, “Regular is a normal game with the points adding up to 180, Extreme is added up to 360 but played with one less dart for each team.” I counted all the people up in my head it was nine. My sister Spines and I take turns when we have to sit out to keep score, and it was her turn this time. I tapped on her shoulder and said, “Still uneven your turn to sit out.”

We split up into two teams Luna, Blitz, Scotch, and Elusive were one the blue team while Celestia, Jack, Barry, and myself were on the red team. Celestia and Luna loved it though we trailed behind by 24 points and we were taking a break to use the restroom, grab more snacks and beer. Blitz was sitting next to me he bumped my shoulder I looked and him and he said, “Show them your knife.”

I rolled my eyes at that remark and retorted, “It’s not a knife it’s a military standard issue combat KA-Bar, knives are much smaller and duller.” He grunted and said, “Whatever it is just show the girls.” That time the sisters came back and the eldest asked, “Show us what?”

Barry spoke up, “His Knife.”

Luna looked confused and asked, “Sister is his ‘knife’ another sexual term I don’t know about yet?”

Jack then laughed and said, “If we were talking about that Barry would‘ve said party snake.”

Sighing I walked past the girls and grabbed a box with the E.N.M.C. Special Forces symbol on it. I came back into the living room slammed the box down on the table it so loud it startled everyone I said, “Here is when I was in the E.N.M.C. Special Forces first squadron response team. You guys want to constantly see my past look inside the box.”

Celestia gasped when I said that because it was a branch of the royal guard that responded to terrorist activities she spoke up, “I know what happened almost everyone in that squad died except for one no one knew his name but everyone called him ‘D-day’ he was never heard from again, that was you?”

Sitting down I started to talk, “Life has a way of screwing you over again and again. The guys that died had families to see it was our last mission together as a squad. Information got leaked we were led into an ambush, after the smoke cleared I was still alive and went A.W.O.L. killed the entire branch of the group then blew up their home base. They had missiles so I jury-rigged them to fire at the home base I wasn’t satisfied so I left soon after and the rest is a blur.” I pointed at the scratches in the top of the box and told them, “These aren’t just random scratches they are the ranks of all the soldiers that died in the ambush. When I returned I retired and left for the border I was thinking about leaving to Gryphonia then I met a kid searching for scraps at the train station she led me to the shelter she was staying in where I found Blitz and Scotch they came with me and the little girl got adopted by some relatives of mine. Then we got an apartment, we couldn’t pay all the rent so we got roommates it started with Barry. Then Elusive came along and all of his designs and clothing sales got a hell of a lot money then we met Jack and he needed a place to stay.” I relaxed then continued, “Spines was my sister that I didn’t know about until I reestablished contact with my parents. When I did, she was the rebellious type, I had a history with those people. I took her with me just as long as she kept her grades up I wouldn’t come down so hard on her. Moving around all the time didn’t help so I related to her and didn’t punish her.” I looked at everyone then looked around the house and said, “This is the very last place that I’ll ever be moving. Now all I can hope is that I can find love.” I looked at Celestia when I said that last sentence and she blushed.

I finished my beer put my KA-bar in the box picked it up looked at the clock and said, “Blue team wins time for bed.”

The guys put up the dartboard and I picked up Spines unconscious body like a bride and walked up the stairs opened the door to her room turned on the light and sat her on the bed. I took off her shoes and she looked up and grunted, “How… long waz I out?”

I finished with her last shoe and put it under her bed and answered, “Long enough to slur but not pregnant.”

She put her head back and mumbled something I couldn’t understand the she grabbed my hand and said, “Iz heard wat you said about findin’ love, Iz jus wan’ you ta kno’ that no madder wat I still lovez you.”

I patted her cheek and said, “You’re drunk.”

I was heading to my room when the bathroom door opened.

I turned my head to see Celestia coming out she stopped me on the way and asked, “Dusk, why did you look at me when you said that you were hoping to find love?”

I looked at her and said, “Is it a crime to show feelings for ya?” She shook her head no. Then I continued, “Then is it a crime to show the true you out to the public?” I left her there confused in the hallway while I didn’t lose a wink of sleep that night. I woke up earlier that the rest of the guys to go into my study I pull out a few books on astronomy and observe the stars for the short time I could and take notes on the alignment for certain constellations. Then the door opened to reveal Luna and Celestia with quizzical looks on their faces. I spoke up first and asked, “Yes do you need anything?”

Luna spoke up and said, “This is where Tia and I lower the moon and raise the sun.” I took the hint and started to move. “Sorry this is where I work so I can submit my papers to the Astronomy department I work for I’ll get out of the way.”

They raised their hands to defend themselves Celestia told me, “You don’t have to leave we just wanted to explain why we were here.” I nodded my head to ease them after they did their regular duties they both sat down and I submitted my papers to the P.C.S.U. Astronomy department.

Luna said to her sister, “Tia I thought that my old club wouldn’t prosper.”

This time I was confused, I grabbed my Rubik’s cube, started to mess around with it, then asked, “What are you girls talking about?”

Luna answered, “Before my time on the moon I had a small club to observe the positions of the stars, to ask questions and take notes about the ever expanding universe. My sister always thought it would never be anything more than a silly hobby.”

Celestia spoke up, “I was proven wrong over the years, and eventually it became a science.”

I then spoke up while fiddling with the puzzle in my hands, “It’s amazing how we can be connected through thousands of years and never think anything of it. I originally I took up astronomy as a hobby to keep me relaxed. My former teacher found out and actually quizzed me a bit and realized I really liked it.” I paused and looked down at the cube to find two sides already solved I continued, “It’s a lot like this puzzle in my hand, I went through life confused, worrying, and now I look back and think what did I have to worry about anyways.” I put on my desk it was solved. I looked at both of the sisters standing in front of me and said, “You girls have had to go through a lot to get to the place where you are right now and so did I, looking back I saw what I was missing.” I grabbed both of their hands and said, “Helping hands.”

In the second time of two days, I left the sisters speechless. I opened the door again and said, “Barry is bound to be awake by now. Let’s see if we can get some breakfast.” Walking down the stairs.

The sisters were following close behind me and the younger one asked me, “How do you know so much about our pasts when we haven’t even told you anything to insinuate about our lives?”

I turned and looked up at both of them and said this, “Both of you put up these masks to protect yourselves from people hurting your feelings and vice versa but the one thing these masks you put up can’t cover one thing your eyes. I see all the pain and years of separation that you cant make up. I know these things because I’ve been through things like what you are putting yourselves through.” I continued down the stairs to find a mug of coffee sitting on the counter with creamer and sugar for it next to it. I saw everyone else up and Blitz was in his running gear he said, “Dash said that she would bring me along running with her as long as I can keep up.”

I smirked at that they’re going to race each other instead of just jog before he left I told him, “Hey it’s the second week we have to start looking.” He gave me the finger and ran off, I turned to Jack and said, “I need you to drop me off at the library I need to read some books since I didn’t get the chance to last week.” Celestia then said, “Can I come with you Dusk? I didn’t get the chance to speak with Twilight and since my sister and I are going to be staying here for the next two and a half months it would be a great time to catch up.” I thought about it for a few seconds then asked Luna, “Are you going to be alright staying here by yourself?” She looked up at me and said, “You’re concerned for my safety?”

I shook my head, jabbed a thumb at my roommates direction, then said, “I’m concerned for them.” She nodded and drank the coffee that Barry had just made for her. I turned to the older sister and ordered, “Get in the shower get breakfast and get ready to go before eight. I’m a stickler for schedules.” She just then smiled and spoke up, “Don’t worry so am I.” I have a feeling that we’re going to get along quite well. I turned to Scotch and handed him the flier I got from Fluttershy and said, “Here they need volunteers at the animal shelter see if you can get a position there.”

He smiled knowing that he would have been too intimidated by the building to go inside and apply for a job. Sev then tapped on my shoulder and asked, “Do you know where I can get some more fabrics for my designs? I’ve been thinking about experimenting with some of my sketches.” I smiled up at him and said, “No idea buddy but you’re welcome to use my computer if you like, just don’t put anything on my credit card last time there were so many scarves that I thought Santa Claus had blown up in a shipping crate.”

I rushed upstairs to my bedroom to take a shower when I noticed that the door to the master bathroom was locked I knocked on it to hear a certain princess’ voice answer, “Hello?” I banged my head on the wall next to the door and said, “When I said take a shower I didn’t mean that you should use my bathroom, soaps, shampoo, conditioner or towels.” There was a pause before an answer came, “About that last part there seems to be no towels in here.” In all of the things in the entire universe I forgot to stock towels in my bathroom, as the saying goes hindsight’s 20/20. I went to get one from the linen closet and came back as fast as my legs could carry me.

I had to speed walk because running like a madman wouldn’t make me look good. I knocked on the door since I was in a rush I was also off-balance a bit it was nothing it’s just I was a bit exhausted which meant I needed to exercise more because when I was in special forces I could run five kilometers and not even breath heavy. The door opened and the Celestia yanked on the towel which sent me flying forward and tumbling on top of her with only one layer of clothing and a towel separating us. I rushed out of there as soon as I got my bearings, closing the door behind me.

I grabbed some leisure clothes for me and headed to the guest bathroom after that incident I didn’t want to speak to her for the rest of the day let alone see her. Having a crush on someone is a healthy thing, but when it’s the person that could have you banished and then sent to a dungeon in the place you were banished to you can chalk that up to downright insanity, and on top of all of that she is an introvert the only hope I have left is Twilight.

I got out of the shower and saw Jack waiting with his keys in hand he looked at my face which couldn’t hide the fact that I was completely red. I pulled the cowboy’s arm pulling him outside and said this, “Sit down, shut up, and listen. I just got into an awkward situation with the older sister and I’ve developed a crush on her.”

He readjusted his hat and then stopped messing with it and asked, “How awkward was it?”

I frowned and said, “I don’t want to explain. Can you help me out here?”

He then stood up and said, “The princess has been around for a long time am ah right?”

I nodded and said, “Yeah thousands. What’s the point?”

He smirked then added, “Well the point is that she can do the horizontal hoe-down purty damn well don’ ya think?”

I then took my knee drove it straight into his apple seeds, and said. “For the love of all things under the sun if you ever think about something about that again I will ask Luna if she can reserve a spot on the moon for the rest of the summer. Got it?” He nodded his confirmation, Jack may be the toughest one out of all of us, but guys always have the same weakness. Celestia came out and looked at Jack and asked, “Is he alright?” I patted his back and said, “Jack will be fine it takes a lot to put him down.  Shall we get going?”

Jack dropped us off at the library and said, “I’ll be back ta’ pick ya up at 12:30”

I saluted him and said, “Godspeed you damn cowboy.”

He drove off and left me and the princess and she asked, “What did you say?”

I looked at her and knew that this was going to boil into a bigger thing that it was so I just answered her with honesty, “I going to say this I don’t believe in any type of religion I’m atheist. So, in order for my bullshit luck and payback I insult the fuck out of all types of religions even yours.”

I walked in with her again in shock. She caught up to me and asked, “Any type?”

I nodded and opened the door while replying, “I don’t believe in anything that can’t be supported by actual facts like how I don’t believe in magic.”

Twilight heard that and shouted, “WHAT!!!!”

Well shit, I was damn out of my bullshit luck and it was a downward spiral from there so I had to get out of it. “It’s like I said I don’t believe in anything that isn’t backed up but absolute fact.”

Twilight and her mentor followed me throughout the building. I started to look through the shelves to see if my author pen name was anywhere in here. I saw a few but then there was a very worn down one under my science pen name it was about my research on astronomy I picked up the book and show it to the pair of women following me and asked, “How many time do you read this book?”

Twilight said, “Whenever I do my stargazing which is almost every night the author focuses on the facts and it causes a lot more to look up at the sky during the night.”

I smiled and said, “I wrote this book.” Twilight gained a scowl on her face witch in turn had it’s own meaning and that was bullshit. I spoke up once more and said this, “You  don’t believe me watch this.” I set the book on a desk with the title facing up ‘A Guide to the Stars’ by Stargazer I continued, “Page 316 paragraph 5 line 3.” I looked at Celestia while doing this I said, “Now you see that I’m not looking at the book right?” She nodded yes and I spoke, “I’m now going to quote this exact book without looking at it, ‘Therefore millions of stars shine within the night sky I look up not knowing whether there is an almighty being out there responsible for the complete creation of life. I do not see the facts and I personally don’t believe in anything but.’” I stood there back to both ladies and there was silence. I have shocked more people in this past weekend than in my entire life and right now, it’s not going to stop anytime soon. I just walked off and found my favorite fiction series Daring Do.

I smiled and grabbed the newest book and flipped it open and started to read it until I heard both Blitz and Dash run in Dash asked Twilight, “Hey I heard you got the new Daring Do!”

The librarian nodded and pointed at me and said, “He’s got the last copy maybe you can ask if he’ll let you check it out?”

She ran over to and tackled me out of the chair I was sitting in grabbing at the book saying, “Give it to me I need my fix.”

That was the point where I tapped on her shoulder and said this, “You do realize that  you’re on top of me and there are grade school children over there.” She got red in the face and punched me in the chest grabbed the book and brushed herself off.