The Man and The Moon

It's been a month since my meeting with the princesses and their order to get a job and a home of my own was proving difficult. Turns out that underneath that overly happy face that these ponies put on is a wall of discrimination, as it so happens most ponies don't feel comfortable working with someone that looks like a toned down Minotaur, especially when his diet consists of mostly meat. I enter the castle and Twilight greets me.

"Hey, Edward, how'd the interview go?" I stare at her with a solemn deadpan expression while sitting on one of the many couches. "That bad huh?"

"About the same as everywhere else. I think I've exhausted every possible job opportunity available."

"Yeah... Have you talked to Applejack about working the farm?"

"Granny, says that since I look like a Minotaur, me being on the farm would be a bad luck or something along those lines."

"Rarities Boutique?"

"Scared away costumers."

"The Flower Shop?"

"Not certified in the care of floral specimens."

"Sugar Cube Corner....?" I go to speak before realizing I've never heard of it.

"Where is that one?"

"The sweet shop that Pinkie works at. It pay's good and well Pinkie's there so it'll never be boring."

"Terrifying but certainly not boring."

"Terrifying?"

"Twilight, that mare breaks the laws of everything, most notably the laws of Physics."

"That's true. Even I had trouble coming to terms with that, but, I learned 'It's Pinkie Pie, don't question it'."

"Easier said than done."

"Oh I know, trust me, but just give it a shot, Mr. and Mrs. Cake are the nicest ponies you'll ever meet."

"I'll go in the morning."

"Great! Now If you'll excuse me I must document your... Progress to the princesses." She trots off with a quill scribbling away on a piece of parchment, I swear Twilight is the only one who can turn a no-progress document into a three-page report. Looking out at the setting sun I can't help but think about home, rubbing my brand I'm left with a sense of unease. I didn't belong here, I know it, and they know it. So why offer me the chance become a citizen? Luna knows what I am and most likely Celestia knows now as well... I start chuckling before breaking out into a laugh, not a laugh of joy but rather one of self-mocking, a soldier, forced to work in the shadows, losing almost every shred of honor I once had and now I turned into a job hunting homeless no-body in a world where humans are non-existent and I'm bad luck because I 'resemble' a mythological beast from ancient religions. Returning to a soft chuckle I gaze at the fireplace lighting the room, as the fire danced the crackling of wood burning forming coals and ash, 'A perfect metaphor for my life' I think to myself as unknown to me Twilight stepped back into the room. "Edward...?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"Why are you crying?" Blinking rapidly I stare at her for a second, 'crying? I can't be crying.' I take to rubbing my eyes, and no doubt my hands wipe away tears that I unknowingly shed, I sit there for a second before Twilights soft and caring voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Are you alright...?"

"Oh, y-yeah, I'm fine Twilight." Standing I pat her on the head. "Thank you for your concern but I am fine, I just need some sleep. It's a thing with humans when we get too tired our eyes water up and it resembles crying."

"I suppose that makes sense... Alright, then you should probably get to bed then." Giving her a nod I turn and head upstairs.

--->Twilight<---

Watching the human leave, his words ring in my head, 'I am fine.' I want to believe him, but how he spoke those words, he seemed like he was reassuring himself, telling him that he was fine instead of telling me. Concern for the foreign being filled my chest, though he gave me a perfectly good reason as to what the tears could stem from I can't help but feel that it was a front. He was closed to me, whether it was a lack of trust or his own human pride getting in the way of opening up, there were only two ponies who came to mind that he's shown a softness towards, Princess Luna and Fluttershy.

"Spike!" The purple dragon sped out of the kitchen, gem dust adorning his mouth as he was finishing his five-course gem buffet.

"What is it Twilight?"

"Take a letter please." With a salute, he produces a quill and parchment, ready to scribble away.

"Dear, Princess Luna..."

"Uh, don't you usually send letters to Celestia...?"

"This one is for Luna, It concerns Edward."

"Oooh!" He begins scribbling away as I speak.

"I feel that there is something bothering Edward, though he says he is fine, I discovered him staring at one of my empty fireplaces with tears adorning his face. He told me that it simply happens when humans get increasingly tired. The reason he gave would seem valid if it weren't for the manner that he spoke, I may be overreacting but I can't simply stand by and watch as one of my friends suffers sadness, however badly I may want to help him, his heart is closed to me for reasons I do not know, so I'm writing this letter to you. You know more about his past than I do and he seems to let his guard down most when he's with you, so I ask could you please contact him in his dreams and inquire as to what could be bothering him. I will speak with Fluttershy as he also displays a level of softness towards her, I hope that I am wrong and that he really is fine but I can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong. I trust that you'll get to the bottom of this and help resolve whatever may be causing him grief.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle." Running to the nearest window Spike blows the parchment into a burst of magical fire sending it to the Night Princess before waddling back towards me while I go to exit the castle.

"Twilight, are you sure it's a good idea to have two ponies bothering him? He's going to find out that you set it up."

"He's my friend Spike, If there's any possible way I can help him get better then I'll do it."

"Fine.."

"Why don't you light a fire before it gets too cold, don't want anypony being uncomfortable." Trotting out of the castle I make for Fluttershy's hut by the Everfree, by the time I get there the sun had set and the darkness of night was apparent, not a single star in the sky, in hindsight it would've been faster to teleport or fly here but as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. Arriving at the hut I quickly knock and wait for an answer. Moments pass as the sound of animals moving around grows until the door opens reviling the yellow mare.

"Oh, hello Twilight, what can I do for you?"

"Hey there Fluttershy, may I come in?"

"Oh, yes, please do." She moves to the side allowing me passage into her humble abode. "Can I get you anything? Tea or cider?"

"No thank you, I'm actually here to ask a favor." Fluttershy trots into her kitchen and brings out a cup of tea as she sits on her couch.

"What could I possibly do for you?"

"Its Edward, I think something's wrong with him."

"What makes you say that?"

"I found him staring into my fireplace crying."

"Oh, dear. W-well how do you think I could help? I mean you tried to ask what was wrong didn't you?"

"I did, but he won't tell me, I'm asking you because he seems to let his guard down a little when you're there, I've also sent a letter to Luna, asking her to visit his dreams, I was hoping that you'd accompany him to Sugar Cube Corner tomorrow and you, know help him feel better."

"So... You want me to go on a date with him...?"

"What? No! I just want you to go with him for his interview maybe stay there with him a little bit eating cupcakes and drinking tea, talking you know having a good time, help him get out of whatever funk he's in!" She hits me with a deadpan as she slowly sips her tea.

"Alright, I'll go with him."

"Thank you, Fluttershy. Oh, but please don't let him know that I asked you to do this." Her eyebrow slowly rises at my request as she continues to sip her tea.

--->Edward<---

The morning sun slowly filled my room as I sat on the bed, staring out of the window, figuring Twilight will be up I put on my jacket, and head down stairs, where I'm greeted by not just Twilight, but Fluttershy.

"Oh, good morning Edward, how'd you sleep?" The yellow mare trots up to me, a smile on her face.

"Uh, good, what brings you here?"

"I heard you were going into town again today and I was wondering if I could come with you."

"Uh, I dunno, I'd much rather go-" She engages puppy-dog-eyes mode, her eyes seemingly grow three sizes as she becomes more adorable. "alone...." she stares at me unrelenting in her assault of cuteness, eventually I give. "Fine, you can come, just, quit it with the puppy eyes."

"Yay! Common let's go!" She trots out with me right behind her, looking over at Twilight I can't help but notice she has a slight smile on her face.

We arrive at the marketplace, still getting looks from ponies who've seen me many times now my feeling of not-belonging only increases.

"So, where are you going today, Edward?"

"Sugar Cube Corner, Twilight says I should apply there and work with Pinkie."

"That sounds neat, do you know the way?"

"Not really, no."

"Then it's a good thing you agreed to bring me along, I'll show you the way."

"Thank you." With a slight nod, she picks up the pace, leading me to what looks to be a giant gingerbread house. I take a deep breath before sighing and entering the candy-filled building and being greeted with the sight of Pinkie Pie hard at work, somehow juggling shakers, topping ice cream, and taking money all at the same time. The mare looked like a one pony task force, it was terrifying.

"Eddie! you came to visit!" 'Oh shit, she noticed me'

"Actually, Pinkie, I was looking for work and figured that your bosses might higher me." Her eyes lock onto mine as she stops what she's doing, after handing a customer their Sunday. Bouncing up to me, she closes the distance between our faces before putting her hooves on my chest and bringing me to the ground.

"Are you sure, Eddie? The sweet making business is veeeeeeeery serious and takes a lot of work."

"Yeah, I'm sure..."

"Can you bake?"

"I can cook, and I can memorize ingredients and proportions and times very easily, so I could learn on the job maybe?"

"Hmmmmm." She lifts her head tapping her muzzle with a hoof thinking it over before getting off of me, letting me up. "Tell ya what Eddie, I'll tell Mr. and Mrs. Cake that you'd be a good hire and I'll teach you all of my baking tricks if they hire you! But you'll be primarily in the kitchen since Rarity said you're not too great at customer service.

"Thanks...?"

"You're welcome Eddie, but you'd better be careful 'cause ponies love pestering poor pastry preparers." She giggles as she hops away. "Oh! and order anything you like, it's on me today!" She waves as she dashes into the kitchen leaving me and Fluttershy sitting on the floor"

"That was interesting."

"Yeah."

"That mare scares me sometimes."

"She scares everypony sometimes." Standing up she offers me a hoof to help me stand, taking it, I go over to a stool with Fluttershy doing the same. "What would you like?"

"Just a regular Sunday I guess." Resting my head on my hand Fluttershy makes the order to the pony that at some point in time replaced Pinkie at the counter, looking at me, she notices one of my brands poking out from underneath my collar she slowly points to it while looking at my expression.

"Can I see it?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah sure, I suppose." She pulls down the collar just enough to see the entire thing she studies it for a little while before tracing it with her surprisingly gentle hoof.

"Why is the skin her lighter than the rest of you?"

"There used to be a tattoo there. They got rid of it when they changed my job."

"It looks like it hurt."

"It did, but it's necessary for security reasons."

"They hurt you this badly just for safety?"

"A necessary evil."

"Edward." She turns my face to hers, her hazel eyes locked onto mine, filled with concern and worry I can't help but be taken aback by her next question. "Do you miss them?"