[Note, this story is not canon to the Acceptance timeline]
“When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.”
“If only it were that simple,” Gwendolynn laughed.
“Hey, you can’t tell me that those things,” Sky pointed up to the twinkling dots of light, “aren’t magical. Just look at them!”
“It is a beautiful night,” I agreed, sighing happily and lying down on the sweet grass. The hill was one of the best places to watch the stars at night. Of course, we were all pegasi, and could have sat on a cloud, but there was something about that hill beside Sky’s house that gave me a warm mood. Besides, Gwen had insisted on us staying here for the night, and so, after packing a picnic blanket and pulling a little fluff from a nearby cloud, I set up a small camp... thing.
As the night closed in, we began to tucker out, and watched the sun set. Eventually, the stars began to show up, and Sky, in his own patronizing attitude, decided to lecture us on the magical abilities of the stars. Gwen and me, however, were attempting to develop another way of communicating so that we wouldn’t have to let Sky know that we were secretly talking about him.
“I know, it’s wonderful to see the sky like this.”
The blue colt who was lecturing us stopped, and grinned. It was obvious he had heard his name, when we hadn’t.
“Aw, please, spare the flattery, I’m wonderful all of the time,” Sky swaggered around the two of us, “I’ll need you two to be my most important fans when I become famous!”
Gwendolynn rolled her eyes. I caught her gaze, and raised my eyebrows, as if to say how the hay did you put up with him for ten years?! She smiled slightly.
“Patiently,” she answered out loud, before catching herself.
“What?” Sky brought his prancing screeching to a halt, a confused look on her face.
“Nothing,” Gwen quickly mumbled, and both of us giggled. Sky glared at the both of us, before repositioning himself to stare at a particular blue star in the dark azure hues brought forth by the moon and the receding reds and purples left by the fading sun.
For a while we sat, staring up at the sky. I occasionally turned to look at Sky, who was staring intently at that little blue star. I sensed he was longing for something from that star... Turning to Gwen, I could tell she was also deep in thought, translating the patterns of light bespeckling the night sky into intricate contraptions that only an inventor like her could imagine.
Funny, how my friends were watching the sky, and I was watching my friends... I always did enjoy observing other ponies, but I’d always gotten strange looks from most who had noticed. I guess I always got a kick out of reading a pony’s thoughts and feelings, just as Sky got out of flying, and Gwen got out of inventing. It was calming, exciting, and enervating all at once.
In my thoughts, I barely noticed Sky dropped out of sight. I watched him pass around and hover low to the ground, arousing Gwen’s suspicion.
“Sky, what are you doing- AHH!!”
Gwendolynn shrieked as Sky flew right by her, attacking her face with a hoof-full of grass. Flailing about, she screamed, lost balance, and began tumbling down the hill. Sky and I burst into laughter, and both of us followed her down.
Then she stopped. I looked to Sky, who was suddenly nervous. He landed, and poked Gwen with a hoof.
“Hey, you ok?” Sky asked. “I didn’t break your scope, did I?”
I suddenly caught Gwen’s eyes as she winked. I got the message, and grinned.
“RAWWWRR!!!” Gwen screamed, and knocked Sky off his feet. Using her wings, she quickly pinned him to the ground.
“Ow! No, no, don’t you dare-”
“Wait, I’ll get his legs!” I shouted, giggling and holding down his front legs.
“Perfect!” Gwen pulled a feather from Sky’s wing...
“Ow! Oh, no, nonono-”
...and started tickling him with it.
“AHHHHEHEHHE!!!” He flailed and screamed like a filly as the feathers rustled against his belly.
“Stop! Stop!” he cackled.
“What’s wrong, Sky? I thought you wanted all the mares to be around you!” Gwen teased.
“Not like this! GAAHAhAHHAAH!”
As much as he kicked and thrashed about, he could not get himself loose from us until we had exhausted him to the point where he could no longer move. Which was good, because at that point Gwendolynn and I were laughing way too hard to hold him down.
“That... wasn’t... fair...” he groaned, barely audible over the two of us and our heaving stomachs. Through my squinting eyes, I found my head on top of Sky’s belly. Turning to see his face, I suddenly locked eyes with him. He suddenly looked more flushed than usual, and I felt heat rise to my face as well.
Quickly turning away, I pretended nothing had happened, and instead helped Gwen up.
After all three of us made it back up the hill, we snuggled together and watched a shooting star flare by.
“You know, my parents were going to name me Star Modification.”
“Why not?” Gwen asked, “that has a nice ring to it.”
“Well, because Sky is cooler!” Sky stuck a tongue out at Gwen, who retorted with a huff. Wanting to change the subject, I pointed at the star.
“Look at that... isn’t it amazing.” The star streaked across the sky, leaving a faint cyan cloud around the space that it had traveled. The teal mists shone scarcely, twinkling occasionally. Meanwhile the star continued on its path. I wondered where it was going. It almost begged me to ask the question, but I knew no one could answer it... Maybe it was headed to where other stars were. Perhaps it had lost its way. Or, it was lonely, and wanted to meet with the other stars, and had set out on its own journey to find a friend. Being lonely in the sky must be awful.
Lonely or not, the star was beautiful.
Sky did a double take, and squealed in delight.
“I think that’s a wishing star!”
“Wait, what do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, look at it! It looks... magical!” Sky shouted, unable to contain himself.
Suddenly a new theory emerged. Maybe the star was here to grant wishes. My heart soared as I thought about the possibilities.
“It does look very pretty from here,” Gwendolynn remarked.
“Exactly! When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true! That must be it!” He shrieked triumphantly, and raised his muzzle to the sky.
“I WISH I HAD A COOL ONE MILLION BITS RIGHT NOW!” A look of glee was plastered on his face as he waited eagerly for the bits to fall from the sky. Gwen glanced around to make sure money wasn’t falling elsewhere nearby.
I secretly made my own wish in my head. Looking to Sky, I kept a hidden smile to myself, and hoped the star had listened to my thoughts. Then I looked to Gwen, who glanced back to me with a confused look. The bits weren’t anywhere, and there was no observable change to indicate any money.
After a minute of waiting, Sky’s patience failed him, and his grin turned into a pout.
“Um...” Gwen suggested, “maybe you should say it louder.”
“Yea, maybe the star couldn’t hear... stupid thing is too far away...” Sky looked devastated. I promptly decided to intervene.
“Maybe... the star doesn’t grant wishes instantaneously,” I interjected.
“Huh?” Gwen and Sky both turned to listen to me.
“Maybe the star wants to give the wishes, but it can’t do it all at once... maybe it really is just here to remind us that we will get our wishes someday,” I explained. “After all, Sky, you know you’re gonna be famous someday. Why get all the fame right away?” Gwen nodded and agreed with me. “And Gwen, we both know you’re gonna be great at building and tinkering and making things, and that wish will definitely be granted over time.” She smiled.
“But what about right now?” Sky groaned. “Where’s my money now?”
“Right now?” I wrapped my wing around my two friends. “We have each other, and that is worth more than a million bits to me.”
“Aw, thanks, Leafwing,” Gwen giggled, “you’re the best.” She gave me a wink.
Sky suddenly looked genuinely happy for a second. Then, realizing that he had been beaten, he frowned. “What a waste of time. I’m gonna go inside and watch some gum commercials.” He got up and left, leaving Gwen and me.
I oddly felt crushed. I put my head down Gwendolynn noticed, and tilted my head up. Making eye contact, I could tell she knew what I had wished for.
“I guess stars aren’t miracle workers, after all...” I said with a sudden look on my face.
“True dat,” Gwen smirked, and pulled me up. “Let’s go in.”
As we left our spot at the top of the hill, the lonely, magical, beautiful star traveled into the distance, humming along and leaving its trail of dust, hope, and longing.
