Moving the Stars

Moving the Stars

Story 2

Chapter 4: I Enjoy You

By: FluttersIsAwesome

I had been working on reading the book I started that morning when I heard the door to the library open. When I turned, Astro was standing there with a small bottle of Marine Luster in each saddlebag.

“Ready to go, Trixie?”

The sight of him smiling was enough to excite me. This is going to be fun. It was nice to think that we would be able to share an evening together without any lectures or punishments. “Yeah, let’s go.”

As we left the Manor, Astro turned to me. “So, where are we going?”

I think he knew I hadn’t really thought much about it and was trying to tease me. “Um... I don’t know. Surprise me.” I wasn’t too sure if telling him to surprise me was a good idea or not, but I knew he wouldn’t take me anywhere he didn’t think I should be. As we walked, I remembered that I wanted to talk to Astro about his constellation. “Astro, can we talk?”

By now I head learned that his ears perking up was a sure sign that I got his attention. “What about?”

I never knew what his reason for wanting a constellation was, but that was because he never told me when I asked him. He always said “now’s not the time.” Deciding that I wouldn’t take no for an answer this time, I looked at him sternly. “Tell me: how did you get your constellation, and what exactly is it?”

I heard him sigh as he lowered his head a bit. “I guess it’s finally time to tell you.” As we came onto the bridge leading to the main part of Canterlot, he stopped me and leaned on the guard rails. “Look up at the moon.”

I did so. It was a full moon, bright a beautiful as always. However, I didn’t see anything unusual until I went to look back at him. Underneath the moon was a close assemblage of stars that formed what looked like a dolphin with a horn; it was the crest of the River Mares.

Lowering my head back, I noticed that Astro’s expression was one that I had not seen before. He looked... lost. His eyes were staring into space and he was as still as the toaster in the kitchen. It made me think of a father who had just lost his child.

“I never told you about the history of the River Mares, did I?”

I shook my head. He knew I didn’t, so it was a mystery to me as to why he asked.

“Trixie, there’s a disease. It’s a common one, but it’s deadly to River Mares because of their need to coexist with some form of water. It’s called Hyperthermal Cerebral Syndrome. It’s like a fever, but more intense. Some ponies merely call it heatstroke, but it’s still slightly different. Not only does it raise one’s body temperature, but it also drains the body’s fluids at a decent pace.”

I nodded. I understood the disease, seeing as how I had come down with it a year ago. However, I didn’t see how it would affect a River Mare any differently than a normal pony. “Ok? Keep going.”

He closed his eyes and hesitated before resuming. “River Mares depend on water. It’s what powers their magic as well as their physical bodies, and because of this, even the slightest shift in fluid content can make one bedridden. Such a fast loss in fluids will definitely kill them. Not only that, but they seem to be more susceptible to it than regular ponies and we still haven’t even figured out why. It kills them quickly, and as a result their numbers will eventually dwindle to nothing.” He stood up and motioned for me to follow as he walked.

“I wanted to give the River Mares a way to be remembered. When I met Oceana swimming in a lake near my house, I was captivated not only by her beauty, but also by her exceptional magical talent. I wanted to give the lass, and all of her kin, a way to be remembered. After a few long years, I went to Celestia and told her my reason for wanting a constellation. She said that she believed it was noble motivation, and if I could manage to create it, she would allow it to stay.”

I couldn’t help but stare at Astro for a minute. “That’s... sweet of you.” To think that everything he did... I couldn’t finish my thought. We were standing in front of Floral Essence, one of the most expensive restaurants in Canterlot.

Astro opened the door for me and held his hoof out. “Lassies first.”

I smiled as I entered with Astro following close behind. The entire place smelled like a mix of sweet pastries, warm pastas, and the fragrant flowers placed on each table. The walls were covered with embroidered banners and beautifully decorated tapestries, and the ceiling was one huge mural of the royal sisters.

The light blue filly standing behind a podium bowed to us. “Two?”

Astro nodded. “Yes ma’am. Should be under Stellaris.”

She looked through the list before her and found the name. “Right, Astro and Trixie, corner table. Right this way, please.”

She led us to a table in the far back of the restaurant. It was in a corner with a curved leather cushion next to a window: quite cozy. As I slipped in to my seat, I noticed that Astro was sitting a bit closer to me than he had on previous “dates” like this.

The filly smiled as she bowed again. “Your waiter will be right with you.”

Not two minutes after she left, a light brown colt with a suit and a smile walked up to our table. He seemed quite cheery, and I noticed he had an accent similar to Astro’s. “Hello! Thank you for visiting Floral Essence. My name is Collin Windfall, and I’ll be your waiter this evening. How are you both?”

His perkiness quickly rubbed off on me. I grinned as I responded, “I’m doing wonderfully, thank you.”

Astro apparently felt the same way, despite his response. He yawned loudly, but was smiling when he came out of it. “Sorry, lad. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

Collin laughed heartily. “Don’tcha worry. I’ve had my share of tired times too.” I saw him take out a pencil and a notepad using magic, and only then did I notice his horn. “So, any drinks for the two of ya?”

Astro shook his head and took out the Marine Luster. “We brought our own for tonight.”

Collin nodded. “Alright then, either of you interested in appetizers?”

Picking up the menu, I perused through the list of appetizers, but decided not to get anything. “Nothing for me. Astro?”

He shook his head as well. “I’ll just skip straight to the main course.”

Collin nodded again. “No problem, then. What’ll ya have, friend?”

Astro looked through the menu, but waited for me to order.

I was particularly interested in the pastas, so I ordered something called Idoniya Masterwork. Astro said he would share with me, and after writing it down, Collin left to deliver the order.

“You seem awfully laid back.”

My mentor grinned at me. “Why wouldn’t I be? Tonight is a chance to relax, so that’s what I’m doing.” He took out the Marine Luster and two glasses from the saddlebags, setting one in front of my and the other by his side. As he filled the both, he used magic to lift his up and winked at me.

I followed suit, and we clinked our glasses together. “Cheers!” Although we had started at the same time, Astro finished first. Call me prejudiced, but I couldn’t help but think that his lineage gave him an advantage when it came to drinking.

He smiled at me again and patted my back. “I’m proud of you, Trixie, I really am. You did well today, and you’ve earned this.”

I saw myself blush in the reflection of the window, but our moment was interrupted by a familiar, obnoxious voice.

“Look, girls, it’s Trixie!”

Three mares stood at our table, and I recognized them immediately. The one on the left was tall, with a light green coat and pink mane. She looked about three years older than me. It was Midnight Dawn, Astro’s first student.

The one in the middle was the shortest, sporting a black mane and a blood red coat. This was Diamond Rose, Astro’s second student.

Finally, the filly on the right was a dark blue with a purple-and-red combo mane: Astro’s third student, Haze.

Astro’s expression changed, and he looked severely irritated. However, before he could say anything, Diamond walked up to me with a condescending look on her own face.

“Careful, Trixie. You wouldn’t want to screw up your ‘date’ and have the table flip over on top of Astro~”

After her, Haze joined in. “What makes you think you can even get with dearest Astro anyway? I mean, you’re such a failure Astro probably is inches away from kicking you out.”

Right on cue, Midnight chimed in. “She’s right. Have you even managed to learn anything? I bet you’ve done nothing but break stuff and give Astro a headache!”

They all cackled like witches, making me jump up. I was not about to put up with their insults. “Now you uncouth wenches listen to me! I am the Great and Powerful Trixie, the greatest unicorn to ever live! I’ve been practicing spells that unicorns like you only dream of! You could never hope to reach my level of prowess, and knowing you three, you’d most likely die trying.”

Diamond got in my face with a smirk. “Prove it.”

My hesitation brought out laughter from all three of them, and I was on the verge of tears. They called my bluff, and now I had no way of defending myself.

Astro had many tell-tale signs that he was mad. Seeing the mares’ reaction to the loud bang that came from beside me, I assumed that Astro slamming his hoof on some surface was one of them. He stood up, furious, and stalked towards the three mares. “Now you listen, and you bloody listen well! I’ll have you know that outta all four of you, Trixie may not be the strongest. However,” As he moved forward, the three began to cower, “She has admirable traits you three never had and never will have: ambition, drive, the willingness to learn.” Another loud bang came from his left hind hoof as it met the floor. “Midnight Dawn! You were the most self-absorbed, selfish git I ever met! You were so preoccupied with dressing up and beautifying yourself that you failed over half my damn tests!”

He then turned to Diamond. “Diamond Rose! You operated on your own bloody schedule, despite knowing that’s not how things work. You never listened and you went out of your way to piss me off! You were incompetent and defiant, and you wonder why I kicked you to the ploughin’ curb!”

He stomped again as he faced Haze. “And you, Haze! You were the sluttiest piece of shit that I ever had to deal with. You never even got past the first week, you were so damn flirty! If any of you think you can come in here and insult the one student I’ve had that has parted water and passed the plate test, you had better be ready to deal with me! I want you all gone, and if I ever see your faces again, it won’t be pretty. Now get out!”

After a final stomp, all three of them hurried out. As Astro looked around, he realized that most of the patrons had gathered to see the altercation. My teacher backed away a little, sheepish. “Sorry for the commotion...”

His apology was not needed. A clapping came from the crowd, and soon everypony else followed suit. We heard many “Sock it to ‘em”s and “You tell those assholes!”s coming from the crowd, and after they had calmed down, they all smiled and returned to their seats. Astro sat back down by me with an embarrassed grin. “Sorry you have to keep dealing with those three, Tri-“

I had wrapped my arms around him in a hug. “Thank you, Astro... nopony’s ever stood up for me like that before... I thought I got on your nerves more than anything.”

I knew my face turned red again. Astro pulled me to him, smiling. “You irritate me sometimes, Trixie, but in all honesty, I enjoy being with you. You’re by far my favorite student.”