Fly Me to the Moon

    Jacob felt tired.

Not 'tired' like 'sleep-deprived', but just.... 'worn-out'. He looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the lines on his face seeming to stand out more than usual. He wasn't old; he was still a sophomore in high-school. But he felt old and tired. Empty. Jacob lifted a hand to his face, and sighed. His blonde hair was cut short, like the military. He thought his hazel eyes looked rather dull. He never changed his wardrobe, either; just a graphic tee and a pair of jeans, evey day, for the past three years. Today, his shirt held the logo of Aerosmith.

Jacob turned on the faucet and splashed some cold water on his face. His tiredness seemed to feel alieved, if only temporarily. He cracked his neck, and left the bathroom, going down the hall to his bedroom. He sat on his bed, and looked at his alarm clock. 4:16 AM. He wasn't supposed to get up for the next two hours, but his body clock got him up anyway. Jacob sighed, thinking of his options. Read a book? He read too much already. Music? Maybe. He decided just to watch Youtube on his iPod Touch. He was hoping he didn't get much homework in school today.

Some of you may be asking, 'Why would Jacob be so tired?' There is one thing he devotes his energy to, each and every night. You see, Jacob has found himself in a strange predicament. He has fallen in love with not a human, but a pony. A pony named Princess Luna. He thought at first it was just a phase, but phases don't last a whole year, and grow stronger as time goes on. He would pray to her, each and every night, before he went to bed. It just felt right to do so. He looked out his window, seeing the full moon shining onto his bed.

He smiled.

    Princess Celestia felt tired.

Not 'tired' like 'sleep-deprived' but just.... 'worn-out'. She had been very busy lately, what with the court full of snobby nobles, a ridiculous amount of paperwork, and her current project, she never had a minute to rest.

Ah, yes, her project. Her project was to give her sister what she desired most: a certain human. Celestia found Luna's announcement of her choice of a lover rather unexpected, even moreso when she said she had loved this human for a whole year now. She said she could feel his love for her emanate strongly all the time. She searched this 'Jacob' out nonetheless. It would be worth it to see her sister happy.

Princess Celestia read her most recent letter from Twilight Sparkle, who was helping with this project.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I have found him. He is quite studious and intelligent, and very mature for his age. I see why Princess Luna loves him so much. He seems to have great respect for his teachers, so my current cover is perfect for getting close to him. With any luck, I will be able to bring him here within the week. Of course, he can stay if he chooses, but I doubt he will, if what you have told me is true. Besides, we can always bring him back later.

Your faithful undercover student,

Twilight Sparkle

Celestia smiled. She would be able to give her sister the object of her affection.

Jacob walked down the hallways of his school at his normal pace (speed walking) and entered his morning English class. Most people weren't here yet, and it was still a few minutes before class started. This gave him time to take off his backpack and sit down to relax at his desk. He looked at the teacher's desk to see the substitute teacher, Ms. Sandra, filing some papers. Her hair was her most striking feature. It was straight, dyed purple, with a pink streak. She glanced over to see Jacob, and began typing on her laptop. She was wearing a lavender dress, with a pair of star-shaped earrings.

Of course Jacob was suspicious. He couldn't tell why she dressed like that, but he just thought that she was eccentric pegasister.

That, or she just really liked purple.

Jacob put in his earbuds, hoping to relax for a few minutes before class started.

Twilight glanced over to see Jacob sitting at his desk, as usual. She began typing her letter to the Princess.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Jacob is now in class. I will be asking him to stay after class. That is when I plan to tell him. Though, part of me thinks he may already know. I have one question, Princess. What if he doesn't believe me?

Your faithful undercover student,

Twilight Sparkle

After hitting send, Twilight looked back up to see the classroom was now mostly full. She got up with a smile and said "All right, students, please pull out your textbooks and turn to page 71....."

Celestia read over her student's letter. She thought for a moment. What would convince Jacob that Twilight's words were true. A necklace, or even a lock of mane? No, those could be faked. She needed something non-material, something meaningful to Jacob. Then she remembered hearing something interesting in her times of eavesdropping. She wrote her response and sent it off, assured that Jacob would believe Twilight now.

Class was over, but Jacob still sat in his desk, waiting for Ms. Sandra to return. He had been asked to stay after class, but he didn't know why. He sighed and just let time pass for a few minutes. Ms. Sandra walked back in at that moment. She sat down at the desk across from Jacob and looked him in the eyes.

"Do you know why I asked you to stay after?" She asked, to which Jacob simply shook his head. Jacob was not one to talk for the sake of talking. She sighed. Here it goes.

"How much does the name... 'Princess Luna' mean to you?" Jacob's eyes widened, and his voice caught in his throat.

".... It means a lot to me." He managed to say. Ms. Sandra smiled, and continued.

"What if I said she heard your prayers? That she loves you and yearns to see you?" Jacob's face was a mix of hope, sadness, and a hint of anger.

"How did you know about that?" He asked quietly, standing up from his desk. She couldn't actually be... no. That's crazy.

"My teacher asked me to disguise as your teacher," She said with a smile, "and to bring you back with me. Bring you to Luna."

Jacob was tearing up. Could this woman really be who she says she is? He shakily asked "How d-do I know you're telling the truth?"

She got up and went to her computer, and read off exactly what Princess Celestia had sent her. It was a string of numbers, meaningless to everyone but Jacob.

"Two, six, eight, four, three, five, four, five, nine, one, one, five, four, three, six, eight, zero, zero."

Jacob's final doubts were shattered. He walked forward, up to the woman who was not really a woman, but a mare in disguise. He finally said her name.

'Twilight Sparkle." Twilight looked up with a smile. She held out her hand, and he took it.

They disappeared.