Look to the Stars

“That Stallion in Line”

“Pegasus meeting?” I wondered aloud, my eyes flicking across the flyer. “Wonder what Rainbow Dash wants to do now.”

My best friend and co-worker Parasol responded, fluttering her wings happily. “It’ll probably be really fun!”

“I hope,” I muttered, my hoof scraping the dirt. For me it just meant one more night that I couldn't go to the field.

“Oh darn,” Parasol said, unfolding her wings, “Lunch Break ends in five minutes.”

“Darn darn darn!” I responded, flapping my wings and taking to the sky. Parasol did the same and soon we were flying, dodging clouds and riding wind currents, until we cantered to the employee entrance of the Weather Factory. I flung open the door, pulled off my saddlebag and trotted to my station.

“Parasol, Merry May,” a strict voice called from behind us. We both spun around, and I felt a jolt of terror course through me.

Then I saw the pretty, purplish mare with her curly pink mane, and my fear disappeared.

“Rainbow Shine.” I sighed with relief.

“Don’t trick us like that!” Parasol nickered.

“But it’s so much fun. Anyway, you better hurry. We’re one rainbow behind,” Rainbow Shine called, flying over to her station at one of the large vats full of mixed spectra. I fluttered over to the cabinet that held the giant spoons we used for mixing, grabbed one in my hooves, and flew over to one of the pools of spectra to begin stirring it.

“Merry May! Bring me some of that liquid,” a pony called, so I scooped up a spoon-full of spectra and carefully brought it over to the rainbow-making station.

We went on like that for a while, until (finally!) I hung up my apron and hat, put my saddlebag on, stretched my tired wings, and flew home.

I live in a tiny cottage in the center of Ponyville. It’s not the fanciest house, or the biggest, but I love it. I love its smooth, worn floorboards. I love its soft blue curtains. I love my garden in the back. I love my flower-boxes, and I love my bookcases and my bedroom. My cottage is one of the only things in my life that I love.

I sighed, and hung my saddle-bag on a hook near my door. I trotted wearily into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. Once that was done I carried it over to my balcony and sipped at it, lost in thought. It’s such a calming place, with the sweet aroma from my garden drifting up, and the gentle flavor of the tea in my mouth.

Once I drained the cup I trotted back into my house, put the cup in the sink, and packed my saddlebags. I would have to eat early if I was to make it to the meeting on time. I fluttered out of my house and over Ponyville until I reached Sugarcube Corner. I landed in front of my favorite restaurant, Sweet Sassafras, and trotted over to my favorite table.

“Ahh, Merry May!” the owner said, walking over. “Your usual?”

“Yes please.” I responded, pulling my book out of my saddlebag and started to read.

My food came in ten minutes or so. It was delicious, hot sassafras and blueberry soup. I slurped it happily, left some bits on the table, then put my book back in my bag and took to the skies.

The sky had just started to grow dim by the time I landed at Twilight Sparkle’s library. I took my place at the back of the line of pegasi and waited, because I was a few minutes early. I scraped at the dirt and trotted in place a little, fluttering my wings nervously.

“Hi,” a deep voice said from behind me. I turned around to look at him and nearly gasped. He had a dark blue coat and a light blue mane. His wings were pretty big for a pegasus. His eyes were huge, with pale blue irises. But it was his cutie mark that got me. It was a constellation, a complex version of Orion. A constellation I had seen many times.

“Umm…hi,” I responded nervously.

“My name’s Star Hunter. What’s yours?” he asked kindly.

“Mmm…Merry May,” I responded, stuttering a bit. This pony had all I ever wanted. How do you talk to somepony who probably had your dream life?!

“Well, Merry May, don’t you work at the weather factory?”

“Yeah. But…but I hate working there,” I answered, so incredibly nervous I didn’t even know what I was saying.

“Why? It seems like a cool job.” He frowned, flicking his head so his mane flipped just over his eye.

“It’s just sort of tedious. Doing the same thing over and over. Plus I live in Ponyville, so it’s a little bit of a hike, even with the right wind currents,” I answered, slowly gaining control of my words.

“Oh. I understand. Well, why don’t you do something else? What do you like to do?” he asked curiously.

“I…I-” I stuttered, suddenly shyer than Fluttershy. “I like to…ummm…”

At that moment Rainbow Dash called out, “Come on everypony! In ya’ go!” I silently thanked Celestia, and trotted into the room full of pegasi.

I made my way out of the meeting, excited for training tomorrow and terrified that I would bump into Star Hunter again.

I had to see them tonight, I just had to. No matter how tired I was in the morning.

I flew home quickly and ran around my house in a flurry, grabbing my journal, maps, telescope, extra quills and ink, a blanket, and a thermos of coffee. Once my saddlebags were packed, I took flight, hiding myself in the gentle cloud cover. I knew the way so well, I could find the hill blind-folded.

I slowly descended from the clouds, and landed on the grassy hill.

My hill.

The stars were out tonight, brighter than ever before.

I just sat and stared for a little bit. They were so magnificent, shining brightly from thousands of miles away. They told stories and inspired wonder. Every time I felt doubtful, lonely or sad, all I had to do was look to the stars, and I was reminded that I was not alone.

I could barely take my eyes off them to get a quill out of my bag. I eventually forced myself to get my journals and maps, and started recording which constellations were visible. It was relaxing and fun; and I loved doing it more than anything.

“Merry May?”

I spun around, my ink spilling and staining my hooves black. “Star…Star Hunter?” I asked, my face pale with shock, disbelief, and fear
.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, trotting over to help me wipe off my hooves. “Are those…maps? Star maps?!”

“I guess I’d better tell you everything.” I whinnied sadly, pushing the ink bottle upright with my hoof.