The Story of Poland

My eyes sprung open, and my mind thought only a single, dominant thought-

"It's Monday, you know what this means."

The day before something big or meaningful happens is always odd. Mainly because the event never leaves your mind, really. Today was the day I was going to visit Luna again.

My weekend consisted of anxiety, calming thoughts and deep breaths that followed. Unfortunately that is a problem of mine- I have a slight case of anxiety. Not socially crippling, but it does get to you sometimes.

"Tonight will be fine. There's no need to be nervous. It's... Fine. Besides, she needs company, so your doing something good."

Thinking that, I reluctantly got out of bed and made myself breakfast. While I have a great job, and now it's only better, waking up at dawn can be rather difficult sometimes, when there is only a bit of light outside. But I had absolutely no problem waking up today, for sure. I took a shower and readied myself to head off to the post for the first time today. Leaving 4B, I shut the door behind me, took a deep breath, and set off. This mornings flight seemed to last longer than usual, and I knew that was because I knew what was to become of tonight. I dreaded it, yet I also couldn't wait. A very stressing mix of emotions, as you can imagine.

When I arrived at the post I made sure not to hit a light pole, or any objects for that matter, and greeted the postmaster with the usual

"Good morning sir."

"Morning Poland. You know you don't have to call me sir, right? You've worked here for over a year now." He said.

"Well I'll keep that in mind... Well speaking of- I've always just addressed you as 'sir' or 'postmaster'. What is your real name anyway?"

"You don't know what my name is?" He replied with amusement. "Ask around! You got plenty of friends that know."

"Will do. By the way I might be clocking out a bit late tonight." I said somewhat nervously. Not nervous for him to notice, hopefully.

"And why's that? You going on a date or something?" He teased.

My first reaction screamed "He knows! I'm doomed!", but thinking about it for a second made me realize that the probability of him knowing I'm visiting Princess Luna would be improbable.

I calmly replied "I wanted to take some extra time and...enjoy the night."

"Oh really..." he said with suspicion in his voice.

And 5 seconds of silence later-

"WITH ANOTHER PONY!" And he broke out in laughter. What is so funny about that? It's just a date- Well no it's not even a date! I'm getting way ahead of myself here. Noticing I was slightly blushing it was "Fight a hopelessly loosing teasing contest" or "Fly and do your job while avoiding any further embarrassment. I think the option was clear.

"Have a nice day... Whatever your name is!" I chuckled a bit myself, though that could come across as harsh.

"H-have a nn-ice day"  He replied, supressing his laughter.

I still have no clue why that was so funny. Maybe because he was older or something and any kind of young romance gives him the giggles. Whatever. I walked outside into the fresh morning air and proceeded to fly towards my route. I guess I was a bit late because the sun was already about an hour's worth above the horizon. At least I don't have to rush this time! But I will later tonight, and the thoughts about that popped up and consumed me once again.

Ponyville always looked like a nice little town from the air. It looked like a lower class place than Canterlot, but that was to be expected. Canterlot was the most sophisticated place in Equestria, though not the most populated. I think Manehatten gets that one, despite Canterlot being where Equestria's rulers live and raise the sun and moon from.

Moon, to Luna, to nervous, it's as simple and quick as that to get me on-edge again. I tried my best to push the thoughts about her out of my mind but they just kept popping back up. I guess my thoughts now doesn't really make a difference about how I am later. Besides, I have hours until my night route comes. Again, I'm getting way ahead of myself. I passed the Everfree forest again, and I noticed a cloud too big to let go. That's also another job for weather-patrol Pegasi- Is to break up and release the rain from rain or thunderstorm clouds. Nicely enough, this cloud looked much bigger from my previous angle,and upon further inspection it wasn't that bad at all. Releasing the rain from clouds is actually easy once you get practice. It requires you to go up maybe 10 feet and drop down on all four hooves and that usually does it.

5 minutes later I was done. Nearing the end of my run was by the castle. In the distance I saw Princess Celestia standing atop her tower. Among all of the odd things that has happened in these past days, seeing the sun goddess two days in a row can be added to the list as well. As I passed the castle I looked at Luna's empty tower. It looks nice in the daytime, with the telescope shining, the tiles shining, the backdrop behind it, Princess Celestia looking directly at me..

Wait, why is she looking at me? What... I don't even... She's still staring at me! Ok, just act calm and look ahead. You didn't notice that! No no no, you were just... just flying by and wasn't looking.

When I neared the post I finally had some time to think about it. What did that mean? Did Luna talk to her or something? And then how did she know it was me? Well, then again I do that same path every day, so that wouldn't be hard. But still, that was intriguing and only made me think harder about it, and made me more nervous for tonight.

"See you at night, Aero" I said, proudly stating that I'd learned his name from a passing co-worker on landing.

He looked up from his newspaper he was reading-

"Ok see ya then!" With the no signs of laughter. He probably saw that I blushed earlier.

Well that's embarrassing.

        8:00 came like it was 5 minutes later. For the second time today I readied myself and flew to the post. I wanted to get in and out of Aero's office as quick as I could to avoid any further humiliation, but he got me right as I was coming up to the door to leave.

"Poland" He said with a straight face, "Good luck!"

"Umm...Thanks?" I said with a 'I have no clue what your talking about' face.

"Now go!"

I threw my hooves up in the air as if to surrender

"Okay Aero I'm going! I'm going!" I replied with only a bit of nervous feeling in my chest.

Well great, what does that mean? I decided to forget about that for now.

The night was perfect, much like Fridays; Just a bit chillier. To my luck the weekend's weather was worse, with 5 collective storm clouds over the Everfree. That really is a nasty place when it comes to storms. I took a second look over the forest and saw nothing but unsaturated clouds- Perfect. After that everything went in fast motion, as if somepony were pressing the "Skip forward" on a tape player. Half because I was nervous and what not, and half because I actually was flying fast, not to keep the princess waiting. At last I saw the castle in the distance. I felt those butterflies in my stomach, but pushed them away. I can't look like the idiot I probably looked like on Friday night. I neared the castle and slowed down, scanning the towers for Luna. At first I didn't see anypony, so I carefully scanned each tower.

But... I didn't see the mare anywhere.

The feeling of disappointment was unbearable, and I'm sure I looked disappointed as well. I continued on, miserable, when suddenly I caught something in the corner of my eye. Turning my head, it almost looked like somepony waving their forehoof...

It was Princess Luna!

She was underneath the small roof of the tower! Oh the relief! I didn't even care that she probably saw me look disappointed! The night would turn out fine!

She then curled her foreleg making a "Come here" motion. The feeling of relief blocked out 90% of nervousness, which made things so much easier. I flew back over to her.

"Princess Luna!" I exclaimed, "I didn't see you! How are you?"

When I said that she seemed to light up a bit.

"Fine Poland, how are you?" she calmly replied.

"Good." I calmly replied as well. "Quite a nice night out, isn't it?"

I was baffling myself at the ease of which I was saying these things.

"I agree. I put some work into it when you left last Friday night. Also, saying 'Princess' isn't required."

I didn't expect that. I mean, addressing a Princess as any other pony? I am just a Pegasus! Surely only her personal friends and relatives would be able to do that.

"It looks marvelous, Prin- umm... What would you like me to call you?"

"Luna is fine." She said, turning her head to the sky to look at her masterpiece once more.

"Okay, Luna." I couldn't help but smiling a bit when I said that.

"So do you bring any other ponies up here to watch the sky? I mean it's quite a view."

Luna's face saddened a bit. Too personal?

She took a breath to reply but stopped herself short. After a brief moment of pondering,

"No, not usually. Not anypony of your... Status. I've brought the royal family but other than that..." Her voice trailed off.

I felt a bit of sorrow just then, seemingly out of the blue. After about a minute of silence I looked over at Luna's face to find a tear escaping.

Oh no what did I do!

"Luna, are you Alright? I quietly said.

She stayed quiet. I could see a few more tears now. I bet she feels so lonely. I felt so bad it almost had me in tears.

Why is she crying in front of me though? I literally just met her...

"I'm so sorry, was it something I said?"

I felt genuinely bad for the princess. Was it my fault? Making a princess cry would be something I couldn't forgive myself for, even if I didn't intend to. It's my fault isn't it. Well now that's crashed and burned; another failed..something. Maybe I'll give a last gesture of kindness before she shoos me away.

"Do...You... want a hug?"

Silence ensued. What happened next surprised me.

She actually began nodding her head, and I could see her eyes shut tight. So, well, I stepped in front of her and hugged the princess, and she hugged back. I could tell she was silently lamenting. I actually felt her pain, and it defiantly hurt. I can understand it though, she was banished to the moon for 1000 years and now that she's back she has no friends, and no stallion to share her time with. While I don't have any mare to spend my time with, I certainly wasn't sent to the moon for 1,000 years!

Her body was warm, and her mane was silently flowing in very little amount of wind that was up here. She was lighter than i expected; She defiantly was a larger pony than me, but felt about the same weight. The princess then buried her nose into my shoulder.

How is this happening??

Well if she is willing to give somepony like me a long, meaningful hug on their second time meeting, then maybe...

"Do.. you.. want.. to talk about it?" I asked.

She responded by pushing her nose a bit harder into my shoulder. I guess not.

That made my empathy skyrocket, however. I never felt so bad for anypony. I felt a connection and it was like none other. It was like a... like a deep caring; It's hard to describe.

Just then I felt a small drop land on my shoulder. I couldn't hold back anymore, I allowed just a couple tears to roll down my cheek. But that's it. I couldn't make myself look emotional in front of the seemingly heartbroken princess I suddenly cared so deeply for, even if it was a trait to be desired.

Luna let go of her grip a bit, signalling that she wanted to let go of our hug. So I relaxed my arms and she slid out from them. She glanced at me, noticing my couple of tears.

Oh Celestia, please don't mention them...

She then looked away, and the occasional chilling gusts of wind was the only thing to be heard. Luna composed herself, wiping away her tears. I then took the opportunity to clear my face too.

Looking back over at me,

"I'm so sorry, have I wasted your time?" She said with a bit of sadness still in her voice.

"Of course you haven't." I lightly replied to her.

The silence continued once more.

"If you ever need somepony to talk to, other than your relatives, I am willing to listen." I said.

"Thank you, Poland." With her frown slowly disappearing. "Perhaps Wednesday?"

"Absolutely. I'll be there."

"Eh-hem", clearing her throat, "Thank you again, I suppose you should be needing sleep now." she said, now with some hope to be heard.

"Okay then... So, uh, I'll see you on Wednesday." With a slight blush forming. Why now??

"Sleep well, Poland."

"You too." I reluctantly said. I didn't really want to leave her but I think she needed some time by herself, which I completely understand.

And so I flew off, head down, towards the post. I knew I was late and that Aero would probably tease me. He did, and I accepted it, though I did NOT go on a date! Besides, why would I be going on one when I was on the job? It didn't matter, since the castle was my last stop anyway, (though he didn't know where I would've been visiting somepony) but it didn't make sense that he thinks I'm getting into relationships just like that. Then again, he himself didn't make sense sometimes...

As I landed back at 4B, I noticed I wasn't wobbly or nervous like last time. I guess that's progress? Not planned progress of course. In fact when you think about it when we met it was simply an awkward exchange of words. This time it was a quick greeting, hugging and crying, a tiny bit of talking, plan making and leaving; Yet it seemed like so much had happened. Thinking about it now, most ponies would consider that an incredibly awkward encounter, and they wouldn't be wrong. I mean, at least meetings of that fashion would result in some kind of conversation... and, usually ponies meeting on a second occasion don't just cry like that...

"Ugh" I said aloud, my head flopping down on my pillow.

That's enough emotions for now...

Who knows what will happen on Wednesday, I certainly don't. Anything could happen really, considering that the Princess of the night, whom I've just recently met, decided to share a long hug with me. At least I wasn't nervous, and that's a step in the right direction, I guess.