Resting on the soft silky grass on top of the highest hill I could find, I watched the horizon attentively, waiting for the moment I came for. The clouds floated lazily up in the dark blue tinted sky, the songbirds began to arouse from their slumber, slowly giving their own unique songs to welcome the day. A cool breeze swept through the hill, helping me stay awake and energized as it calmly swept over my body.
Finally, colors ranging from pink, orange, and golden yellow arose from the horizon, illuminating the land with the golden light of the early morning sun. While Celestia’s sun continued to rise, I had my eye on a small blueberry farm in plain view as sunlight began to touch the land they worked on with welcoming warmth. The blueberry bushes growing on that very land sparkled as the sunlight reflected off the morning dew gathered on the leaves.
I took a deep breath, allowing myself to take in the view of Celestia’s sunrise. A small smirk crept to my face, I couldn’t fully grasp why I was smirking, but for now, I didn’t need to. All the while, I could hear small, quiet flaps of wings approaching behind me. A soft, hardly audible thud could be heard as the Pegasus touched down beside me. I turned my head to face her; her sapphire blue mane danced in the breeze, her sky blue coat’s sheen seemed to radiate beautifully in the sunlight’s rays, and her lavender eyes sparkled as she looked into my dark brown ones with a certain aura of kindness I’d come to know. I patted the spot next to me, signaling for her to lay down beside me. She smiled shyly as she accepted the offer.
After moments of the sun rising gracefully from the horizon, she spoke up timidly, “U-Um, beautiful sunrise, isn’t it?”
“Mhmm,” I solemnly agreed, “I might as well see this once while I’m here.”
“O-Oh,” she managed to get out.
There was a dead silence that soon followed after she spoke. The silence nagged at me to say something of importance, but nothing stood out to me. I got annoyed at the awkward silence as I finally turned to the Pegasus.
“Is there… any reason you came out here on your own?” My voice came out a little more strained than I intended.
The mare froze up at the sudden question; somehow I caught the slight blush as she broke eye contact with me. “Umm, I-I usually come out here to relax too.”
“Oh, sorry if I’m intruding,” I apologized.
“It’s fine,” she dismissed kindly, “I like a little company.”
“I see,” I stared at the horizon, focusing on nothing in particular, “so you’re not… bothered by me staying here with you.”
I jerked my head towards the barn in the distance. She took a moment to answer properly, “Of course not. I would have to get used to someone else living with me and my family, but I’m sure you’re a nice pony.”
I chuckled a little, “Even with the kind of introduction I made? I wasn’t exactly graceful when I fainted on your doorstep.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” she said, concern still lingered in her voice, “The bruises you had when we found you… it looked like it hurt.”
I gave a slight nod, my head downcasted staring at the grass near my hooves. I couldn’t help but frown as I recalled that awful night, the blistering pain, the thunderous roar, the retreating silhouettes entering the darkness while I tried to call to them. Nopony came but a pair of red eyes.
“Thermal?” Blueberry’s voice barely registered to me as I could feel the softness of her coat pressed against me, her left wing wrapped around my back comfortably.
Fully snapped out of my trance, I looked at Blueberry, bewilderment alit in my face until it shortly melted into a content smile as I slowly snuggled up against her. Her warmth began to soothe me as the memories faded away into my subconscious like a bad dream.
After I had fully collected my thoughts, I quietly took a deep breath, “Blueberry…”
She gingerly lifted her head from my side where she was happily resting and looked into my eyes with a gentle gaze, “Hmm?”
I opened my mouth to speak but closed it shortly after trying to find the right words to say, “...Have you ever… felt like you’re a burden to others?”
“What do you mean?” she asked with concern.
“The standards I had to reach, skills I needed to perfect, relationships I had to uphold… only for all of that progress to be destroyed in one swift moment… especially that fateful night.”
I sighed as I continued, “I often wonder what my comrades thought of me even before this, they’ll probably remember me as a failure.”
I jolted at the soft touch of her hoof on my own, a sad smile crept on her face. “You’re being too hard on yourself,” she said quietly.
“But Blueberry…”
“You did the best you could, I’m sure your friends don’t think of you as a failure.” The gentleness of her words soothed my thoughts but doubt still lingered within me.
“I guess… it’s possible,” I strained to find the right words to say.
“Mhmm,” she nodded.
“I just feel so lost.”
“Then let me guide you,” As soon as she said that, she got flustered and attempted to hide her face with her mane as if realizing what she said.
A genuine smile formed on my face as I held Blueberry closer to me, seemingly calming her down. I gazed upon the scene in front of me once more, the sun fully over the horizon displaying its grandeur with the warmth of its sunlight. Basking in the comforting warmth, all of the buds on the blueberry bushes began to slowly open up, revealing the pure white blossoms for all to see. I could faintly smell the sweet nectar in the breeze as the bushes were speckled with the beauty of the little white flowers.
“Well, I guess it’s time to head back,” I said a little begrudgingly.
“Yeah…” she agreed with the same disappointment in her voice.
We began to make our way down the hill and onto the trail leading to the barn.
“Umm, Blueberry,” I began, dawning some nervousness.
“Hmm?” She hummed curiously.
“Do you think we can... spend more time together?” I blushed as I got my question out, waiting eagerly for her answer.
She blushed matching the color on my face, the sweet smile I began to love appeared on her face, “Sure.”
In that moment, I wasn’t sure what exact emotions were coursing through me, but what I knew was I was the happiest I could be.
