What is Love to You?
Sun Ray, a pony from far far away, from a world that may or may not be our own, has an important quest before her. She is on a mission from her king studying the magic of love, as a bringer of light and passionate believer in this magic she looks forward to what she can learn from the ponies of the this world. She is wise, kind, and brings a happiness that shines as bright as she does to wherever she goes, the smiles she creates inspires everypony everywhere, but this love she seeks is quite illusive. She is the star student among her fellow ponies which is why she was chosen for this assignment, pursuing her studies almost obsessively, and this one was no different, she writes regular reports and constantly questions ponies she meets "What is love to you?", she has received many many answers, most of which are typical that she has heard often, but one pony left her puzzled.
Clouds fought to take over her sunny sky, this has never happened before, usually just her presence is enough to keep storms away but these were unusual, she had to will them away, and even then they fought to stay, this was more than just a storm, their was magic at work, she soared high into the sky, above the clouds to see where they led, and she saw they formed around the highest peak of a mountain near by. She flew over to see what was causing this, and saw only a single pony laying, watching the horizon, clouds surrounding him, soaking him with endless rain. This made her sad and she didn't know why, she did not know this pony but his sorrow was so great she could feel it. She flies down through the clouds and lands a ways back from him, it was raining harder than she thought, she closed her eye's and concentrated, willing the clouds away, rays of light pierced through as the dark clouds broke apart, soon the rain stopped and the sun was bright, the pony still layed, head down, gazing, she began to walk to him but he would not move "Are you alright?", she asks, her concern obvious, still he says nothing, but he raises his head and slowly stands, shakes the rain away, and without even the smallest glance he jumps and gently floats down.
Sun Ray stood puzzled as she looked over the cliff as this pony glided down, clouds following, the message was clear but she was determined to find out more about him, so she jumped as well following him down, her sunlight following her. He was walking on a small trail down below, the rain pouring again, she flies ahead and lands in front of him, stopping him, he froze except for a light shaking, his head down, not wanting to look. "I am Sun Ray, may i have your name", she spoke, but still he did not speak, he was still shaking, but it was not the cold rain causing it as she thought before, he was... afraid.
Slowly the sun's light pushed the clouds away again, "Their is no reason to be nervous, i was... concerned", spoke Sun Ray, he would look at her then look away quickly, blushing, but still would not say anything, she was beginning to understand more, he was not in any trouble or danger, he obviously does not come in contact with others very often and doesn't know what to say. She spoke with a more gentle tone "May i please have your name", and he said ever so softly "Stormy", no wonder these clouds follow him she thought to herself looking at him kindly. "Stormy, what happened to your horn?", she said noticing his injury. But he just looks at her, after a few moments of silence he spoke again, still so quietly "What do you want?", she could tell he wanted her to leave, but she wouldn't do so, not yet, "I just need a question answered if you would be so kind, then I'll be on my way", he nods his head, avoiding any chance to speak he can. "What is love to you?", she asks. Stormy says nothing for a long time, and just stares at the ground, but Sun Ray was patient and gave him all the time he need, but he finally looks up, tears filling his eye's, she was caught off guard at this emotional response, and he said "Empty", he did not wait for her response, just walked around her, his clouds following again. Sun Ray could not hide her shock, "Empty" was not an answer she has received before, she turns and follows "I don't understand", stormy keeps walking, "It doesn't matter, i am wrong anyway", he says, Sun Ray's puzzlement grew "You're not making any sense", the clouds took over again, but no rain yet, Sun Ray's light fought with Stormy's clouds. She was intrigued, never before has this happened, whether he likes it or not he now has Sun Ray's attention. "Maybe it was fate that led me to you Stormy, do you believe in fate?", she asks him still following, again it takes him a while to answer, "I believe fate is cruel", his words were spoken sweetly but cold, like he is trying to push her away but doesn't have the heart to, but Sun Ray can see through this, she feels his real feelings trying to escape, she knows that deep down he wants nothing more than friendship and love, but for some reason he is terrified to show it. He is a mystery and she wants to solve it. And so the attraction began to form.
Sun Ray followed Stormy silently for a long long time, and not once did he make a glance back at her, but still she followed, always determined, ever stubborn, she would befriend this pony, but it would not be easy, he does no take trust lightly. After a great while, he finally spoke again "Why do you follow a lost soul?", still not looking at her", "Why do you hide from what you want most?", no more words were spoken but she noticed something she didn't before, teardrops on the trail. It was not about reports or studying anymore, this pony needed her.
He was hurting, broken even, that much was clear but not beyond helping she believed. The markings that decorated Sun Ray glowed brightly in the presence of Stormy's clouds, it showed her emotions, how she was feeling, she was shining with life. Stormy however didn't share this, he was uncomfortable, shy, and still had a nervous shake, he wanted to be alone again but she kept following. Neither one has spoken in hours, he thought she would have left by now, the few he has come in contact with before gave up by now, but Stormy knew he could wait her out, he has nothing to lose in doing do. Stormy stopped at a small creek to drink, he was deep in the wilderness now, the tree's blocked out the sun for the most part, but it was getting dark anyway. As Stormy took his drinks from the creek Sun Ray came to him with freshly picked apples that was growing around the trail, she placed them next to him "In case you are hungry", she said, and then she began to eat some for herself. Stormy looks at them deciding what to do, he wishes she hadn't done that that, he doesn't want to give false hope by accepting her gift, but also doesn't want to hurt her feelings by ignoring it, it should be an easy choice, but he takes them anyway, he sit under one of the tree's away from her and slowly ate them. Sun Ray didn't take her eye's away from Stormy. Night time blanketed over the land, Stormy was still in the same spot, now laying down, he was still shaking but this time it wasn't his nerves, he was cold under the night air, she had an idea, that would hopefully warm his cold heart. Sun Ray walked over to him, layed down beside him and rested her head on him, she could feel his heart racing, her markings glowed brightly and kept them warm all night.
Mourning came more pleasantly than it usually does, Stormy doesn't remember a time he slept so well, kindness can have that effect. It was hard for him to open his eye's, it was brighter than it should be, but he finally was able to open them, the suns light pierced through the tree's, he looked to the sky, his clouds were gone, he almost panicked, he didn't understand, he kept looking but finally saw her, Sun Ray, she flew through the sky bathing in the light, not a cloud around, how did she do this, the thought almost frightened him, but he was shocked at her... beauty, he hadn't noticed before, he stumbled, tripped over his hooves, and fell. Sun Ray descended like an angel, smiling at him, he was shaking again, blushing heavily, without saying anything he stood back up and continued on his trail to no where.
Stormy and Sun Ray walked together for days upon weeks, her reports had stopped, what once was just an assignment was now... more, Stormy was still quiet and kept to himself, but she felt something for him, she wanted so bad for him to let out his feelings, they have been locked away to long but he wouldn't and it hurt. In the coming days she was beginning to fade, the clouds were coming back, Stormy's fears were causing him to push her away, and it was affecting her, Sun Ray's markings were more than they seemed for if they ever fade completely out she would die, and she was growing weak, Stormys sadness was finally getting to her, and her own as well, "What does love mean to you?", the question that brought her to him, he said "Empty", he said "He was wrong", she began to understand more now, a longing for that which he desires but won't let himself have, he feels empty, he knows he is wrong but still does not change, maybe he can't, such an awful way to live, her heart hurts for him. One last idea, one last chance, she runs ahead of him and stops him on the trail, "Stormy, please listen to me, i may not be here much longer", Stormy stood, all his attention focused on her. "Your lack of words, your cold appearance that hides who you truly are, has saddened me... if you will not listen to my words i will have to tell you how i feel with this", she leans to Stormy, kisses him. Stormy for the first time he can recall feels like magic. When it is done he still says nothing, he doesn't know what to say, he just stares at the ground once again. Sun Ray dims a little more.
The kiss was all Stormy could think of, it hasn't left his mind since it happened, how could she feel anything for him, he doesn't deserve it he thinks to himself constantly. Night falls once again, Stormy notices how much Sun Ray has faded, he feels so bad, he almost goes to her but can't seem to, he uneasily falls asleep, these thoughts haunting him. The next mourning came like it use to, damp and dreary, it was raining again, it hasn't since Sun Ray has been with him, another thought frightens him, she must be feeling worse or... he jumps up and looks for her, but she is not there... only a note laying at his tree and her final report on love. The report read "Empty", Stormy's heart sunk, as bad as he has felt, this was just to much, he read her note "My dearest Stormy, i am afraid i can no longer walk these trails with you, i grow weaker everyday, it pains me to leave but you truly will not accept the love i offer, it is time for me to go home now, please believe me when i say that i do love you. I hope you find happiness, forever with love Sun Ray". When Stormy finishes the note it is covered with tears, "What have i done", he says to himself, "Maybe it's not to late", he franticly runs through the forest looking for her, he takes flight into cloudy sky, Stormy has never flown so fast, but still she was no where to be found, his heart finally gives out and he falls from the sky, tears pouring out of his eye's, the rain falling it's hardest. "She is gone...", he lays there hurting for what seems like forever.
Stormy finally gets back up, it is so hard to do, he flies again, he goes to the mountain where she first came to him, on the highest peak he sits gazing into the sky, tears still rolling, full of regret now, if he went to her that night she would still be here, he never realized how much it hurt missing someone, it was awful, she was there and he did nothing, this is why he chose to live his life alone, but still even trying his hardest not to, he cared, not only that but he actually loved, he... loved her. All the memories of the moments they had came rushing to him, and it only hurt that much more. He stared longingly into the sky hoping against hope she would fly down out of no where again and break apart his clouds like no one else could, but she never came, he began to speak to the sky "I... am sorry, i always believed that love hurts, and if that is so then i love you more than i could ever describe, what does love mean to me? you, because you showed me what it is", Stormy just kept staring, he didn't feel like moving anymore. But then a faint light began to glow, it got brighter and brighter, Stormy turned to face it, Sun Ray, she was as bright as the day he met her, tears in her eye's as well, they did not say anything, just smiled and looked at one another, Stormy had forgot what it was like to actually smile, she sat beside him, rested her head on him, and together they watched the sun break through the clouds.
Sun Ray Finished her final report.
"My king, this has been the toughest assignment i have ever had. I found that love as you know burns within us all, but for for some it's hard to accept because they are afraid of it's magic and what it does, this fear over time becomes pain, they hurt because they desire it but also hurt because they don't want to have it for fear of more pain. It is a subject that needs much care and patients, the impact we have on anothers life is not to be taken lightly, Your faithful student, Sun Ray"