"Mmmmpfff..." Derpy rolled over, still sleeping. It's been a strange year, Cynthia thought to herself, I began as a jobless, almost desperate, young woman. Trapped in a 22 year old body.

Over the year, Cynthia had been ogled lots. As the new human 'round Ponyville, she had garnered much scrutiny. Unwelcome scrutiny, but still it came anyways. First had been Mayor Mare, 'Oh... well, I suppose you know the King, then... Right?' She could never quite wrap her head around the fact that Cynthia just didn't want to rule them, and she acted like Cynthia was the new emissary of Canterlot. Then there were the Apples, with their 'If Celestia will have it, then we live with it' attitude. As if it weren't enough of a standout being a human! Being obviously clumsy, a misgendered fit... it was quite the ride, even here. How do they even know how to make me feel so... so... WORTHLESS!

With time, Cynthia had become a fixture of life in Ponyville. After all, local jewellers would have gone out of business, if not for her magical ability to pull gold and other elements out of the Sun! And then there's Derpy... The plucky mare, known for her cheer and lack of awareness, had instantly taken to Cynthia. At first, they were only friendly acquaintances. It was soon more; much, much more. Even Carrot Top was suddenly on the sidelines of Derpy's life. The two talked less and less.

Almost a year ago to the day, the King had been turned to stone. 'Not dead,' they had told a stunned citizenry. 'Only in slumber.' The Princesses had returned to regency of Equestria, and the other mares of the King had either disappeared or gone insane. Rumours abounded, and conspiracies were suspected.

Equestria had become what every human Cynthia knew hoped it would not.

Still awake, Cynthia gently extricated herself from Derpy's loving embrace, and pushed away the wings that tried to pull her back. Striding to the balcony of their cave-home, Cynthia looked out at the night.

"Why are you sad?"

Cynthia gazed sideways at the mare who had followed her out to the balcony. "I couldn't sleep. I came out here... to... to think" she finally responded.

Nodding her head, Derpy continued to observe the sky above Ponyville. "It will never be quite the same, will it?" Trembling slightly, the pegasus remembered the day of her fight with Carrot Top, and let tears stream down her face.

"It's like, I barely even matter to you anymore! That... that... person has you locked into her life, and you only treat me like a lamp anymore! It's like I'm not even here!" Carrot had screamed. The tears had flooded Derpy's vision, before she could even reply. "But... it's not like I don't love you! It's just that..." "Oh, so we're going back to 'just friends', is that it?! You can't feed me that bullshit anymore!"

It was the last time they had really said anything with meaning to each other. Derpy had found a kindred soul in Cynthia, if locked in a funny body. But Carrot Top...

Cynthia gazed at the vista; the beautiful starscape, painted by Princess Luna herself since time immemorial. Ponyville's soft lines of harmony with the forest. A brand new theatre, still letting light through its stained glass windows at this late hour. The world looked at peace.

But she had left someone behind; a young man, broken by the vast machinations of the world. His youth taken and beaten out of him, by years of endless requirements, overcompensating peers who had nothing but pride left of their former lives, and a drive to simply see the job they had chosen through. Death, chaos, and confusion were his abettors, and yet he had never wanted any of them. They simply were, and he had only chosen what side of the barrel he would find himself on.

I wonder what he ever did; where he went. I hope he found someone to take care of him.

Feeling a mess of feathers at her side, Cynthia slid into Derpy's silent embrace, comforting her partner; hoping life was all just the dream some philosophers thought it was.

Justin. I love you. Forever.

Author's Note

I'm experimenting; please give feedback in the comments!