From Prince to King

A cold breeze kicked up a cloud of dust atop the abandoned building that Czar had become so familiar with. For Tactic, who’d just ascended the stairs to the rooftop and was overlooking a small portion of Canterlot, it was a sad sight not to see his newfound friend perched on the edge like a hawk. Tugging his jacket over him to shield him from the slightly chilly wind, he turned and left the building; he’d figured it would be best just to go back home. He’d become worried not to see his friend where he usually would hole up at for a week now. Tactic had thought about visiting the Princess or the visiting foreign king, but he was too shy to do so, even if Princess Celestia was a thoughtful and caring individual.

Not wanting to stay in this derelict sect longer than he had to, Tactic half walked, half ran back to the more familiar, calmer streets of Canterlot.

***

“And where exactly would I find her?”

“She absolutely loves this place near Everfree Forest; she’d always gather up some clouds and watch the animals frolic.

It’s barely half an hour away from the outskirts of Ponyville.”

“I still don’t see how you can’t just do this on your own…”

Czar recalled the words of his last conversation with Abacus as he leaned against a stationary wagon on the street. His main concern was, if this Serene Breeze was where Abacus had said, how would he reach her? Clouds weren’t exactly accessible for anyone who wasn’t a pegasus. He imagined an embarrassing scenario of himself trying to get her attention via yelling, which ended in a not-so-beneficial way.

With a sigh, he pushed himself off the side of the wagon and trekked on to meet this Serene Breeze character.

After a good half hour of walking, Czar reached the supposed favorite resting area of Abacus’s lover. As soon as he realized what he was doing, anxiety set in.

This…is the first time I’m talking to a girl my age… Czar smacked his forehead, sighing with an exasperated tone. Oh get off it, man, she’s taken, what do I have to worry about? Despite thinking that, Czar was still quite nervous about talking to a female peer.

“U-uh…” he said up toward the cloud that held Serene Breeze. “Uh….” He repeated, louder, “are you Serene Breeze?”

Straight to the point, good, Czar reassured himself. Wait, should I have been so straightforward? I might sound like a creep…

“Erm…wh-who are you?” she responded, her voice frightened and soft.

“Um, I need to tell you something,” as soon as he spoke, Czar wanted to kick himself. That’s not how you bring that up!

Jeez, you’re an idiot!

“And…that is?” her voice was still quiet and shy. Yep, you scared her.

“Do you know someone by the name of Abacus?” Czar managed to speak.

When she heard his name, Serene Breeze’s mood instantly changed.. “Oh, yes, I know him. Hold on, I’m coming down now,” she called as she hopped off the cloud. With a thud, she landed gracefully on the grass, ready to continue this awkward conversation.

“What about him?” she inquired.

“He wanted to tell you that,” Czar stopped to sigh. I can’t believe I’m about to say this, he thought to himself. “Abacus doesn’t-“ Czar stopped suddenly.

Silence followed the sudden stop. Why am I going say this, the anti-social prince thought, like hell is she going to believe me! I’m just some guy that showed up saying I know her boyfriend. No one’s stupid enough to believe that. I hope.

“Um…are you okay?” Serene asked.

“Follow me,” Czar blurted out, then turned around and walked away. Serene just stood there, perplexed and oblivious.

Czar looked over his shoulder and shouted, “C’mon, follow me.” Not knowing any other option, she followed this strange young man to wherever he was leading her.

He doesn’t look too dangerous, thought Serene, he’s going back towards town, at least, so he might not try anything strange.

“You better try any funny stuff, okay?” Czar didn’t respond, just kept walking. Serene caught up, and followed behind him.

***

“She didn’t listen.”

“Wh-what!? For real? She didn’t believe you? At all?”

“Nope.” Czar watched as Abacus hung his head in despair. The two of them were at street corner, where Abacus told

Czar to meet him after he had done what was asked of him.

“You gotta be kidding…how will I talk with her now?” he asked no one. Abacus slumped to her floor, legs crossed forehead in his palm.

Czar kneeled down and spoke quietly, trying to lower his voice to a softer tone. “I don’t know, but maybe it was because it didn’t come from you.

“What?” the sullen pegasus lifted his head to look at Czar.

“If you told her how you really felt yourself, she just might have listened. I don’t know for sure, but I am positive it would’ve left more of an imprint on her if it wasn’t someone she didn’t know.

“B-but…she was really, really mad, man! I don’t know if she would even try to listen if I went to her…” he let his head hang again.

“Well, look at you now! If you sulk over to her and mumble, of course she won’t listen to you! Go over to her and look her straight in the eyes and talk to her! I rarely actually talk to people, but I know enough that being so depressed won’t get you anywhere.” Czar sighed and rubbed his forehead. He knew that he wasn’t getting through to Abacus at all, and wouldn’t get anywhere at this rate.

“Do you love her, Abacus?” Czar said.

“Of course I do!” Abacus responded without a hitch.

“Then prove it. Show her you’re dedicated to her! You may not care about your education, but make sure she knows you care about her! Isn’t that what started all of this? School?”

“I failed my finals for the third time this year…she had enough and told me if I didn’t have enough in me to care about my schooling, then I definitely wouldn’t have enough to care about this relationship.” Abacus repeated.

“Do you?”

“I… I guess.” Abacus had clearly given up.

“Dammit, Abacus, I’m not gonna do this if you’re just gonna sit there and not do anything about this!” Czar put his face up

to Abacus’s, where only an inch was between their faces. “Do. You. Love. Her?

“Yes…” Abacus said quietly…”Yes!” he repeated, louder.

“Do you care about your relationship, and do you want to be with her for the rest of your life?

“Yes!” Abacus shouted and stood with new resolve.

“I want you to go to her and tell her this. You love her, go show her.” Czar walked behind and Abacus and pushed him forward. “Do it, kid!”

“Got it!” Abacus said, and half walked, half ran off.

Czar broke into a grin of accomplishment. “Gotcha,” he whispered to himself. Serene Breeze walked around the corner, right into Abacus’ path, causing him to stop in his tracks.

“Did you mean it? All that you said?” She blurted out. Not wasting any time, are you?

Abacus was clearly taken by surprise, but his resolve didn’t falter in the slightest. “Yeah, Serene, every word of it. I care about you, and I love you so much, and I want to be with you. I’m sorry that I seem like I don’t care about us, but I do.”

“You mean it?”

“Definitely.”

Czar merely spectated the little scene from afar. A weird feeling was festering inside of him as he watched it as well, and he didn’t know what it was. This reunion of sorts was of his doing; most likely, without him, this wouldn’t have happened. They would’ve stayed separated and estranged until they split apart permanently. Was it accomplishment? Success?

Sensitivity. Selflessness. Czar had worried about another, and stepped out of his comfort zone for the good of someone else. Czar didn’t want to admit it, but…

It felt good.

***

“Are you sure this will work?” Serene Breeze asked.

“Not sure, but I’ll give it a try.” Czar responded. The two of them were walking through the streets of Ponyville, which was still in its slow phase of inactivity. That was a good thing, because for their plan would cause some strange looks.

“Why are you doing this? Do you even know Abacus?”

“Not really.” Czar responded.

“Then why do this? What do you gain?” Serene, despite somewhat relieved that this skirmish would soon be resolved, was concerned as to why this strange boy would go through this much for a stranger. He didn’t look like the kind type; his flat, shoulder length silver hair was always in his eyes, his head was always somewhat lowered, and he had a bored look on his face constantly.

“I…I dunno. Guess I just felt charitable today.” Czar lied. He had no idea as to why he was going through this long, boring, and tedious task. He was getting no reward for this, just a ‘thank-you,’ and Czar didn’t care for gratitude in the first place. Why was he doing this?

“Ok, there he is,” Czar suddenly said as he jolted back behind a corner. “Just wait here. You’ll know when to come out.”

“Wait,” Serene grabbed his arm, “first, you have to tell me what exactly you’re doing. You don’t know Abacus, or me, so why do whatever it is you’re about to do?”

“I told you, I-I don’t know.” Czar was getting annoyed by this girl’s questions. He told the truth, why won’t she lay off?

“I don’t believe that at all. There’s got to be some reason, there’s a reason for everything, or else nothing would get done.

So why don’t you just tell me?”

“Fine, you want a reason?” Czar whispered harshly, to prevent Abacus from hearing him. “Pri-er, someone important to me says that there’s good in me. She said that no matter what anyone else says, I will always have that kindness in me. I guess... I guess I wanted to prove her right.” Czar was surprised of what he just said. It just…came out. And the scariest thing was it felt true.

Serene stayed quiet for a while. She looked like she was deep in thought as she leaned her back against the building and bit her thumbnail. Soon, she spoke up.

“I guess…that’s a good reason. I just hope you know what you’re doing.” she said.

“Me too,” Czar muttered under his breath.