Let Nature Take Its Course

The first time Princess Luna and Greenfielder ever met was a very, very long time ago, back when they were both little foals. It was late afternoon, and the sun was just beginning to disappear behind the mountains of Canterlot, turning the sky an explosive pinkish orange. Night would be here soon. Sweet, beautiful night.

Luna was lying under the constantly diminishing shadow of a big tree in the castle courtyard all alone. She lay in the grass, trying to leave the world around her, wanting it all to just go away, to be gone and for her not to have to have to worry about it anymore. She tried to imagine herself away from all the cruel bullies and the even crueler jokes. But as the horrible memories of her first day of school came flooding back, tears began to stream out of her eyes like a faucet. She squeezed her eyes so tight it hurt, trying to fight back even more tears. But she couldn't. So there she was, sobbing, and curled up in the middle of the courtyard. She was in so much pain, so much emotional pain her heart ached.

She was honestly too young to understand why seemingly everyone was like this. She couldn't comprehend how people could be so absolutely cruel. They would call her names like weirdo and freak. But what was worse than the names was the looks she got: scared, judgmental, and cold stares met her gaze in every classroom, hallway, and bathroom she entered. Reflecting back on the events that transpired earlier that day made her sadder. She cried and cried for so long she lost track.

She opened her eyes just to see the last little sliver of orange light vanish behind the horizon. The sky was now purplish grey and Luna could see the first stars peeking out in the sky. She thought at first that this would make her happy, but as time moved on she knew it wasn't helping. She was about to break down again, but suddenly, she heard hoofsteps coming towards her. They were too light to be one of the guards. They always stomp around with uncalled authority. That left one possible pony; her big sister, Celestia. The footsteps got closer and closer, then stopped right next to her. She knew she wouldn't be able to hide her emotions. But she had to try to pull herself together.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her hoof, "Look, big sister," she said through a pained voice, "I just wanna be alone right now."

When her sister didn't say anything, she became confused. She turned around to find not her sister standing in front of her, but a small, familiar colt. He was green with an olive green coat and a forest green mane with forest green stripes all over him. At first, she though he was a zebra, but quickly dismissed that idea as soon as she realized what would a zebra be doing in Equestria? And since when are zebras that color. But this colt was no stranger, she knew him from somewhere. Then it hit her. She recognized him from her school, and her sadness quickly turned into outrageous anger.

"What do you want? How'd you get in here? How dare you come in here and even approach me!" she said with a huff as she got to her hooves.

"I-I uh..." the colt stuttered nervously.

"Are you here to torture me more? Was one day not enough for you? By Celestia, I will get the guards to--" she was about to say something but the startled colt suddenly spoke up.

"NO! I-I just wanted to say, that..." he paused, as if trying to get a fix on his words.

Luna sat with her hooves crossed, glaring at the colt who she believed to be her worst enemy at this point.

The young colt took a deep breath and spoke. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry for how they treat you, and... that I think you're... well... pretty." He quickly looked down at his hooves, nervously kicking at some grass.

Luna's harsh glare softened into surprise and shock. Her arms dropped and so did her mouth, and her's and the colt's cheeks turned a very bright shade of red. She was speechless for a few moments. She was barely complimented ever, even talked to her, mostly because everyone was afraid of the royal guard.

"You... you think I'm... pretty?" Luna asked, more trying to get a grip on what just happened than anything else.

"Mmhmm." he muttered, not looking up from his hooves.

"Wow, I've never had anyone tell me that I'm pretty before, except for my big sister, but big sisters are supposed to do that so it doesn't really count." she said, grinning a little.

"Well, that's really all I wanted to say, so I guess I'll just leave." he said, running hastily towards the garden exit.

"Wait!" shouted Luna, a little louder than anticipated, "What's your name?"

He kept running.

"Wait!" Luna cries.

But once he turned the corner, he was gone, out of sight.

"Hmm..." she sighed, laying back into the grass.

But instead of sorrow she felt the tiniest bit of gladness. In fact she was... happy. A small smile curled over her mouth. With the sky getting dimmer and dimmer by the moment, Luna knew it was time to go inside. But the whole way up to her room she couldn't stop thinking about that one colt. She was so focused on the enigma of this stranger she didn't even notice the fact that she was covered in grass clippings and was spreading them all over her bed. That colt, whoever he was sure did a number on her. It's strange; her persona, everything in her seemed to get brighter, happier. She spend hours thinking about him: his mane, his eyes. And as sleep finally began to take hold of her, she thought about what he said.  "Hmm... pretty." Luna said with a big, goofy smile on her face.