//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Moonflower // by Lux //------------------------------// Moonflower By Lux Chapter 1 You stood in the middle of the grassy quadrangle, taking in the sights and sounds of college life. A year was a very eye-opening time adjusting to being a freshman at Canterlot University. It was the first time that you were truly on your own, away from your familiar home and town of Ponyville. You knew that it was just a short train ride away from the city, and your parents even explained that you could stay at home and commute, but you felt that doing so would only give you half the campus experience. It was tricky having to take care of everything from setting up your dorm room to mundane tasks like awaking at the right time and doing all the laundry, but through trial and error you succeeded. Now with that first year under your belt, you were armed with new knowledge and ready for the new college year. You loved college life, learning new things and preparing for a bright future. You knew that this time was just a short moment in your life, but you wished that college could last forever. You weren’t entirely sure what you wanted to do with your life after college, but you knew that your talent was all about the studying the stars! Ever since you were a colt you would look up at the night sky and wonder at the twinkling display. It wasn’t until you did a science fair project in school complete with star maps you made that your cutie mark appeared: a telescope with several stars around it. Still, you wondered what you could do with your talent. Maybe you could work at a planetarium in a museum when you graduate, or at an observatory! There was time to think of that later, for now you were too busy enjoy your time here. It was a load off your mind that you already had your dorm room selected and set up to your liking earlier in the day, a project rivaling most of the ones that you would encounter in class no doubt. Now you scanned the campus landscape hoping to find any of your friends so you could meet up with them for dinner. You were in touch with them during the summer, even having some of them over at your home in Ponyville, but there was nothing like seeing them all in the same place and sharing each other’s stories and a good laugh! But as you searched for them among the sea of students moving across campus, you saw her. She was like a living dream walking down the path towards you. The unicorn mare’s body looked like one a celebrity had, tall and thin, with ample curves in the places that counted. She had an indigo coat of hair, a soft tone that accentuated her exotic frame perfectly. She had a long full light blue mane that stopped just above her hips and cascaded down her shoulders, blending almost seamlessly with her equally long and billowing tail. She was dressed in a black halter top with an image of some kind of white flower on it and a purple pleated skirt, both of which showed off her body even more. But what mesmerized you even more were her eyes, those big aqua blue eyes accented with blue eye shadow that seemed to stare into your very heart. As she passed down the pathway, many stallions and mares stopped and turned their heads to gaze upon her beauty, parting around her like she was royalty. She knew the attention she was receiving, but acted like it was no big deal as she said hello to those who stopped to see her. It was at that moment that you realized that she was coming towards you! You struggled to find how to introduce yourself to her, knowing that there was no use trying to disappear into the crowd or otherwise disappear since she saw you. Not that you wanted to leave, in fact you wanted, no, needed, to know who this enchanting unicorn was! “Hi,” was the only thing you could think to say, hoping that this mare didn’t think you were weird with your lame comment. “Hello,” the mare said with a sweet sophisticated voice that set your heart fluttering, “I’m Moonflower, what’s your name?” You were shocked that she would even be interested in talking to you! She was a perfect ten, and you could only fantasize meeting girls like her. But somehow you managed to give her your name adding, “Nice to meet you.” “Likewise,” she said before adding, “Actually, can you help me with something?” “Uh… sure,” you replied not willing to waste the opportunity talking to Moonflower. “Well, I’m not really used to where everything is on campus as I just transferred here. I got a tour and all, but it was hard to take everything in. I managed to find my dorm room in Sunflower Hall, so at least I know where I’m sleeping tonight.” “Wait, you’re in Sunflower hall?” “Yeah, why?” “Because I’m there too, on the third floor.” “Wow, I’m on the same floor as you are! Anyway, can you help me with showing me where to go, just for the first few days? I promise I won’t bug you much.” “Oh you can bug me all you want,” you said to yourself, maybe a little too loud as Moonflower gave you a strange look. Carefully you change your tone saying, “I mean no problem. I’m a sophomore, so I’ve been here last year.” “I’m a sophomore here too!” Moonflower said, “Hey, what classes do you have this semester?” “Well, I still have to remember my schedule, but I have Medieval History of Equestria, Intermediate Magical Theory, a math class that I don’t remember the full name, Astronomy…” “Wait, I think I have Astronomy this semester too. You know what this means?” “Uh…we’re classmates?” “Better that that, we can be study partners! But, I don’t want to put too much pressure on you since I already asked you to give me a tour.” “No, that’s fine,” you replied, “I’d be happy to help you study. In fact Astronomy is what my talent is.” “Cool! I’m into astronomy as well, well, maybe not as much as you, but enough.” “I guess you were born with that love,” you said. “Really?” Moonflower said as she almost looked nervous, “How so?” “Your name, Moonflower?” “Oh, right,” she said recovering quickly, “Well, my mom named me that because she loves flowers. A Moonflower only blooms at night, so I guess that was her way of saying I’m special to her.” “Is that what that is?” you said motioning towards her shirt while somehow feeling uncomfortable pointing to it directly, “You know, on your shirt?” “Yep, that’s my cutie mark as well, but I can’t go around showing that to everypony, now can I?” she said with a laugh as you felt your face get hot as just for a moment you imagined that flower on each of her glorious hips. “So, where do you want to start?” “What do you mean?” she asked. “With the tour. The campus isn’t big, but we’re in the middle of it, so do you want to go this way or the other way?” “Oh, wherever you want to go,” she said taking you hand in her soft yet strong hand, “Lead me on sir!” The two of you walked hand and hand down the path as you felt that this was to be the start of a beautiful friendship, perhaps if you played your cards right even something more.