It was nine in the evening on an oddly snow less December. On a moonlit night like that one, it had to be the perfect night to look at the stars. Not a cloud was in the sky and Ruby had begged her father to take her to a near by field just so they could lay down and stare at the sky. The moon shined brighter than usual and Ruby admired how beaming it was. She was happy to be with her dad for once.
After the announcement of a new foul coming, Ruby and her father were distant for a while. This was the first time in a long time since they've had father daughter time. Ruby and her father, Short Cut, missed the old days. All the fun and laughter they shared. This night was the best time to have a reunion.
"Daddy! Daddy!" she squealed, "Look at that star!" Up in the sky, a bright star appeared to be rising later than the others. "Its beautiful."
The star rose up a bit shaky and seemed to weirdly move left and right. "That's new," Short Cut said, sitting up to get a better look. The two watched the star intently, wondering why it arose so funny. The more they stared at the star, the more it seemed to wiggle. "I don't think that's a star, Ruby."
Ruby looked puzzled at her father. "Yes it is, daddy," she smiled, "It looks just like one." The jittery star flickered in bursts of cosmic energy.
"But stars don't shake, sweetheart," her dad explained, "They can shimmer and shine, but never has a star risen so wiggly." Ruby glanced back at the star. "I'm sorry, but whatever it is, I know it's not-"
"Look!" Ruby interrupted. She pointed up at the star and gazed in wonder at it's bright glow. The star began rising normally and more gracefully. Around it, two other stars swirled round and round in a dance that seemed to quicken in pace. It shined brighter and bolder as the two other stars dances around faster and faster.
Ruby's jaw dropped in awe. The stars put her in a trance that she could not wake from. She stood to her hooves, still staring at the light show of stars in the sky and stepped closer. They were so bright that the shining light gleamed in her eyes and sparked something passionate inside her. Her eyes dilated wider with every second she watched.
"Ruby....?" Short Cut called, standing up and waved a hoof in front of Ruby's eyes trying to wake her up. She was too fixed on the beauty of the stars to answer her dad. "Ruby!"
Suddenly, the stars in the sky burst into a great array of colorful flares and solar outcasts that left Ruby breathless. "Wow," she said in awe. The bold colors highlighted the sky with shades of red, blue and green that soon swirled around and faded into a purple.
Short Cut looked up at the sky in pure shock. "Woah...." he gasped. At that moment, Ruby turned to her father and he turned to her. They exchanged wide eyes of disbelief, wonder, and amazement.
As the star settled in the night sky, Ruby snuggled up next to her father and continued to stare at the sky. "Daddy?" she called with a soft yawn.
"Yes, Ruby," her dad answered holding her closer.
Ruby closed her eyes and sighed. "Can a star have a heart?" she asked.
Short Cut fidgeted for a second. 'How do I answer that?' he thought. Ruby nuzzled her head into her dad's chest, waiting for a response. "Well...... I don't-" He was interrupted by a sigh from Ruby and her head drooping repeatedly. It was way past her bed time. Once Ruby seemed to drift into a world of sleep, Short Cut sighed in relief as he picked the little filly up and put her on his back and whispered, "I don't wanna hurt you, Ruby but that's a silly question." With his wings, he covered her and took her home so they both could get some sleep.
When they made it home, Ruby's mom, Maria Oil, was laying on floor rubbing her baby belly. "Where have you two been?" she asked in a worried tone.
"We're fine, babe," Short Cut said quietly. He glanced back at the sleeping little unicorn on his back and smiled. "We're just a bit sleepy. That's all."
~~ 2 YEARS LATER ~~
For the past two days, Ruby stayed locked in her room as little sister, Honey, screamed and cried for more attention. 'Why is she still CRYING!!!' she thought in anger. Through out the house, hoof steps were heard going back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth past Ruby's room. 'Does he even care that we were supposed to go see Granny Mac today?!' It was so annoying to her that she had to stuff cotton in her ears just to hear herself think. Sadly, it didn't work so well.
Ruby grow more and more angry with every clip-clop of hooves running past her door. No one checked on her in awhile either. The muffled crying was unbearable and Ruby's eye twitched as the wining baby's loud screaming exploded with a big, MMMMMAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
"That's IT!!" Ruby screamed as she jumped up and yanking the cotton from her ears, "I'm going to go see why they haven't checked on my and why were not leaving to go to Granny Mac's house!!" In a rust to unlock the door, she nearly break it down trying to got out the house.
As she stomped down the stares, her dad went past not knowing what she was doing or where she was going in such a hurry. "Whoa, where's the fire," he said.
"In your room," Ruby hissed.
Her dads playful face turn quickly into anger. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked as calmly as he could.
"Why is she still crying?" Ruby snapped, "I didn't cry that much. Plus, why aren't we going to Grandma's house. You said you would take me!" She took a few more steps down stares and made it to the bottom step before turning around to talk to her dad.
"She's a baby, Ruby!" Short Cut snapped back, "Where is this attitude coming from?!"
"I don't have an attitude!! I want my family back!!"
"What do you mean!! We're right here, in the house, doing our jobs!!"
"Not with me!! We use to do everything together, but now its just you and Honey Sweet against the world!!" Ruby broke down in sadness as ran towards the door crying, "I WANT MY DADDY BACK!!! I HATE YOU!!!"
Behind the door, her mother entered. "I-I can't believe this," she stuttered and sniffed. Out of nowhere, she collapsed on the floor and broke down in tears. She screamed with her hooves repeatedly hitting herself in the head.
Short Cut ran up to her and held her tightly, keeping her from hurting herself. "Maria, what happened!?" he asked, worriedly, "What's wrong!?"
In soft tone, she tried to make out the words. "Mommy, what's wrong!?" Ruby cried in confusion.
"It's mom...." Maria whimpered, "She passed away."
Author's Note
This first chapter in more for my grandma, who would've been 70 this year. It fits perfectly in a special timeline called "My Life".
I miss you, Grandma Deen.
And I miss you, Granny Mac.
After a month of preparing the funeral, it finally happened. They buried her. Everyone who knew her mourned her death for weeks. Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight attended to say a few words and mourn with them.
"I knew Granny Mac personally," Twilight said shaken, "She was like a real grandma to me as well... and..." Twilight paused her a second and cleared her throat. "She was.... just...." Again she paused. Quietly, she walked off the alter with quivering lips.
Celestia stepped forward in her place. "I'll go she if she's OK," she said. Granny Mac was gone forever and ever. Nothing more to do but expect it..... Right?
"GRAAANNDMAAA!!!!!!" Ruby cried as they lowered the casket. She reached down into the hole in the ground hoping her grandma would come back and take her hoof. "NNNOOOOO!!!!"
"Ruby," her father said calmly, holding Ruby close and tightly, "It's gonna be OK. Shhh....." He rubbed her back and tried to lull her into a safe sense of security. Ruby couldn't watch the funeral ponies put her grandmother in the ground. She buried her head in her father's chest as deep as they buried her grandmother. "It's gonna be OK....."
Later that night, Ruby went home, locked herself in her room and hid under the covers, crying. 'Why now?' she thought, 'She was the only one who understood me. Who will a talk to now?' At that moment, her thoughts were interrupted my a knock at the door. 'Oh, now they want to check on me.'
"Ruby," her dad's voice said from behind the door, "Can I come in?"
'Should I...?' Ruby pull the covers from over her head and looked at the door. Silence filled the air for a while. Then her father knocked again.
"I just want to see if you're OK." Ruby wiped her eyes and sniffed. Without saying a word, she pretended to be asleep by making soft snoring sounds. Her dad always said she snores and it must have been true. The second he heard her snore, he sighed and walked away without another word.
Ruby smiled weakly. 'I can't believe that worked....' Her room was silent again. She shuffled around in her bed, restlessly trying to think of something to do with herself. She felt lonely. What could she do now? She was a 7 and a half year old filly who just lost a grandmother. Her grandmother was the only pony she could really talk to. What would she do now?
Ruby then get a crazy idea. She looked up at the window, opened in, poked her head out and looked up at the roof. She then looked down at the ground below that seemed to wobble close to her and then far away. The frightened filly shut her eyes as tight as she could and held onto the window pane, shaking. Slowly, she opened her eyes, took a quick glance at her bedroom door.
Ruby scrunched her face in determination. Glancing back at the roof, she looked around for a way to clime up. She took note of everything and planned out a map to get to the top without getting hurt. She began climbing out the window and up to the roof, holding onto pipes, water spouts and every other thing she could hold on to. Here and there she used her magic as a safety net just in case she slipped.
Once she was safely on the flat roof, she looked up at the sky to find an old friend. "There you are," she said when she found a star that arose, brightly shining in the night sky, "I knew you would be there for me." The star twinkled as if it was trying to communicate. "I need a talk. Can you just listen to what I have to say?" The star twinkled again in response. "Great! You might wanna take a seat. This is gonna take awhile."
~~ 5 YEARS LATER ~~
Sapphire sat restlessly on her bed, waiting for Ruby to come back to their room. 'Where is she?' she thought, 'And what did she want me to see?'
"I'm back!" Ruby chimed. She burst thought the door, closed it behind her and locked it as if what they were about to do was so secretive. "I had to check the time."
Sapphire gave Ruby 'The Look'. "For a half hour?" Sapphire scolded.
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Dad," she said blankly.
"Oh." Sapphire had only lived with Ruby for two months, but already she knew what her new dad was about. "I swear, I don't see why you ever loved him as a father."
"He was the one who hoof picked me at the faster home," Ruby explained, "Mom didn't want a unicorn at first. I had to grow on her and now she loves me more than ever." Ruby trailed off into thought and her ears drooped. "... Unlike, him...."
Sapphire frowned at her sister. "Hey, it's OK," she said calmly, "He's just a 'meany'." She waked her hooves above her head making air quotations. "Don't let your dad get you down just 'cause he turned on you."
"Our dad," Ruby corrected, "And it's not just me. He turned his back on Honey and he doesn't even care about you." Sapphire glared at Ruby, who smiled sheepishly, realizing what she said. "Sorry."
"No, you're right, sadly. I could care less about him though too."
"Poor Honey," Ruby sighed.
Sapphire founded and in an attempt to change the subject see smiled and spoke up. "Hey, what was it you wanted to show me?"
"Oh, yeah! Its almost time!" Ruby looked up and out the window. To get a better look, she opened the window and did the unthinkable. "Follow me." As she climbed out the window, Sapphire followed close behind. Ponyville was beautiful in night. The stars shine just right in the night sky and the moon gleamed boldly.
On the roof, a telescope, a blanket, two pillows and saddlebag of muffins laid spread out in wait for it's creator. "Whoa," Sapphire gasped, "Where did this come from?"
"Me," Ruby said with a big smile.
"How did you find the time for all this?"
"Dad thinks I'm asleep all night. I take a little nap here and there and then at 9 o'clock, I come up here." Ruby let out a cute little giggle. "Sometimes I sleep up here."
Sapphire seemed lost. "We sleep in the same room," she stated, "I might be a hard sleeper, but dad can hear the neighbor's window open two blocks down. How do you sneak up there without mom and dad hearing you." Ruby zipped her lips and winked at her clueless sister. Sapphire just blinked.
Ruby then looked up and with wide eyes, she squealed. "Look!" Up in the sky was the same star she saw ever night. For years, the little filly came up on the roof to talk to the brilliant star about her problems. It appeared to responded back to her, using it's light flickers and twinkles to communicate.
As the star arose over the years, it rose more gracefully with little to no shakiness. It still gave off solar flares that make its our colorful Aurora Borealis. This year, the stars seemed brighter than ever and it's aurora was bolder than the last.
"Whoa," Sapphire gasped, "Déjà vu."
Ruby glanced over at her sister. "What?" she questioned.
"Nothing. Nothing." The two sisters sat watching the light show until the bold colors that highlighted the night sky once more faded away.
"Hey, Phire?" Ruby said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, Ruby," Sapphire replied.
"Can a star have a heart?" Ruby asked nervously.
Sapphire laughed. "What type of question is that?!" she asked.
Ruby frowned. "Never mind," she sighed. Sapphire's laughter weakened in realization.
"Oh no! I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine...." Ruby stared at her hooves, disappoint at the answer she got from her sister.
"Maybe we should get in the house," Sapphire suggested as she stood up. Ruby waved her off as if she was a fly. Sapphire's ears drooped as she walked away and climbed down off the roof.
After she left, Ruby sat quietly looking up at the star before her. "They don't understand me," she said to the star, "Sometimes I don't understand myself." She chuckled a bit. "What am I saying...? You don't even understand." She looked up the star waiting for a small twinkle or spark that gave off any sign of life.
The star shined dimly and still.
Ruby got mad, but not at the star. She was mad at herself. "You know, sometimes I think I'm talking to myself....!" She trailed off before realizing something. "I... am.... Aren't I?"
The star showed no emotion.
"Look what you made me do! I look like an idiot up here!" Ruby yelled, "How could you embarrass me like this?!" In a fit of rage, she bucked her telescope making it fall over with a loud crash. Her anger got the best of her and she screamed at the sky, "I HATE YOU!!"
Without even thinking, Ruby stormed off into the house forgetting she was on the roof. The ground below grew near and the ants seemed bigger in size. Her year old life flashed before her eyes. Then, everything when black and the sound of a thousand stars filled Ruby's ears. She opened one eyes slowly and saw sparkly, gleaming, miniature stars in a crystal blue ora.
'Am I....' she began. Ruby looked upward to see the ground. She then looked down to see the sky. '... in an alternate universes?!' Slowly, she put a hoof on the ground above her and without warning, was lifted inch by inch. Foot by foot. Yard by yard.
"Who's doing this!?" she cried in fear and confuse.
"Stop moving so much!" a voice said. Ruby couldn't place the voice but it sounded like...
'Did the star save me....?' she thought at first.
"Just.... argh... stay still!!"
"Sapphire!?" Ruby cried out in confusion.
"Who else would it be, sister!?" Sapphire asked sarcastically.
"But you told me you weren't magically educated!!"
"Yeah! Well you told me you were 90 pounds!!" Ruby glared in annoyances. "Now please shut up... argh... and get in the house!!!"
At the window, Sapphire strained to lift Ruby in her magically grasp. "Give me a hoof!" Ruby cried. Sapphire reached out and grabbed a hold of Ruby's hoof with both of her own.
"You could help me safe your life!!" she groaned. With a flash of her horn, Ruby sparked up her magic and tried to levitate into the house. "Come on, Ruby!"
Ruby tried as hard as she could to fight to get in through the window. 'Sweet Celestia,' she prayed. In a loud outcry, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "SAVE ME!!!" With another flash of bright pink, Ruby and Sapphire disappeared from in window and reappeared in their bedroom, tumbling onto the floor.
"Ow..." they both whined. They looked up, wall-eyed at each other in a daze.
Sapphire glanced behind her sister to see that they both went from the window to the other side of the room. "Ruby....?" she said in shock, "Did you just...?" She trailed off and looked Ruby in the eyes. "How did you that?"
Ruby looked around to see what she had done. "I-I don't know...." she said. They continued to stare at the window then back at the floor. Utter silence filled the room.
Sapphire finally spoke up. "We should probably go the bed before dad hears us," she said firmly. Ruby nodded as they quickly jumped in their separate beds. However, just before Ruby fell asleep, she snuck up to the roof again to do one more thing.
On the roof, she looked up at the sky and saw the star still shining. "Hey," she said to the star, "I'm sorry about what I said." Ruby looked down and poked at the roof floor. She then glanced up, her eyes filled with tears. "Was that you who helped me earlier?"
The star didn't speak. Ruby looked back at her hooves and shook her head, thinking about how dumb she was to come back the star. But then, her thoughts were interrupted by a small twinkle out the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw the star flashing brilliantly in the sky. It's bright flare contrasted wonderfully against the black and blue night.
Ruby wiped her eyes free of the blurry tears and smiled at the star. "I knew you would be there for me."
Author's Note
This story might be a bit rushed at the bottom, but I put a lot of meaning in this chapter.
~~ 4 YEARS LATER ~~
After finding out that she was one of the rightful daughters of Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor, and after moving into the Cantorlot castle for the time being, Ruby thought her and her new boyfriend would be together forever. On a happy day like that one, the couple laid in a field not far from the castle and cuddled up with each other.
"This really is the best birthday I have ever had," Kasper said.
"Yeah?" Ruby questioned, "Did you have a favorite before this one?"
Kasper shook his head. "Nope. Me and my brothers would always fight about the presents my mom and aunt Luna would give us."
"Well what did you get?"
Kasper smirked at Ruby. "True story. Aunt Luna gave me a moon rock that Flare was so jealous of. He tackled me to ground, teleported away with it, and soon we found out he went to some alternate universe with creature called 'humans'."
Ruby giggled. "That's crazy!" she said in awe.
"Yeah? Guess how long it took us to calm him down after the incident." They both laughed. Kasper then put a wing around Ruby and sigh as he looked her in the eyes.
They stared endlessly at each other until Ruby spoke up. "Can I ask you something?" she said nervously.
"You just did," Kasper said sticking his tongue out. Ruby rolled her eyes at him. "Ru-Ru, you know you can ask me anything. Whatever you need, I'm here."
Ruby sighed. "Well," she said shaken, "It's kind of weird but...." Ruby closed her eyes and exploded with her question. "Can a star have a heart?"
Kasper looked a bit puzzled and chuckled at the scared little unicorn. "Although that's a question for me aunt," he started, "I think anything can have a heart. Living or not." Kasper pulled Ruby closer. "Look at me and you. I have a star for a cutie mark and you have a heart. You are my heart." Ruby faced Kasper and to his surprise, she began to cry. Kasper shook his head in denial. "Oh-no! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-" Before he could finish his statement, Ruby planted a kiss on his warm, soft lips. Kasper kissed back and held on tightly to his loving mare.
When the kiss was broken, Ruby smiled with tears of joy streaming from her eyes. "I love you, too," she said. Without a reply, Kasper held Ruby even closer in a warm embrace they both never wanted to get out of. By the time the sun had fled and the moon took it's place, they laid there, looking at the beautiful night sky with their star shining over them.
~~ 1 YEAR LATER ~~
It was a day quiet like no other. Ruby laid peacefully in a field, waiting for the sun to fully set with her eyes half open. Her whole day was stressful. In fact, she had a stressful couple of mouths. Could it have been her fights with Kasper. Or maybe the fact that she might not have known what love was in the first place. Or did she just misses him....? A lot...?
She couldn't quiet figure it out, but it haunted her ever seems Kasper left on some "family trip" with his brothers. "Family trip my flank," she mumbled in anger. Ruby took in a big breath of air and let it out with a large sigh. "Today of all days and you aren't back yet nor have you visited." The sun slowly lowered into the ground and as it did, Ruby's eyes flooded with tears. "I can't believe I have to wait every night around the same time as always for you to show me you're still alive and well."
Ruby shivered and blinked the tears away, but it was too much. The white unicorn broke down in the short, soft grass. Every breath she tried so desperately to take sucked in the dirt and pollen from the ground. Every exhale pushed out hard and heavy coughs of sadness. The tears wouldn't stop no matter how badly Ruby wanted them to.
It was conformed right then and there. Ruby didn't just miss her lover. She missed her star. She missed her protector. She missed her bright knight light in the darkness of night skies. She longed for it to come home to her and on that day, she expected it to return.
"Why did you leave me?" she cried, "WHHHHYYYYYYYY!?!?!?!"
Author's Note
Dear Darwin,
I know we've had a fallout or two.... or three... and I know everyone's turning on you, but no matter what I've done and what you've done, we will always be one person. We will always be together. You say you don't deserve me and sometimes I think you're right, but I feel the same about you everyday and every night. Do you know how much really love you? Do you know how much I truly need you? I bet you do but I'll tell you anyways. You are my love. You are my life. I've said this day in and day out. I swear, if I ever lost you, I wouldn't have another love ever again. You are my last blazing bright star in the darkest of night skies. I lost my first bright star this same year and I'm not losing another one. I know you're a one way trip away, but it feels like you're in far, far away land. I want to touch you. Even the graze of your dark chocolate fingertips across my shoulder would be enough for me right now. I want to kiss you again. If you only peaked my cheek the next time we meet, it would appease me enough to the point where I wouldn't even beg for more. I want to see your brown eyes with the flame of our love wrapped around them. I miss the way you love me. Hearing your voice is the only thing keeping me happy inside, and yet, it haunts me every night. I can't just call you anymore.... I need your physical body right next to me... talking with me... talking to me.... I need it badly. I miss you so much. I love you, Darwin.
Your one and only,
~ Linise
