Moonflower

by Lux

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

That night that went so from good to bad you dreamt you were in an amusement park like the one you’ve visited in the summertime. This one, however, wasn’t the cheery place filled with laughter and thrills. Most of the games and food stalls were shuttered up and the rides sat motionless. Even stranger was the fact that there were no ponies enjoying the night scene of the park. Still the colorful lights still gleamed like they did as you remembered them. It was like that you had the park all to yourself after the season was opened, but much as you would cherish this moment there was a feeling of unease as you walked the place.

Suddenly you saw in the distance a familiar silhouette, her form outlined by an aura of carnival lights. It was Moonflower. You walked quickly towards her, glad to see a familiar face in this place, but as she came into view you noticed something troubling. Moonflower was crying.
“Moon, what’s the matter?” you said as you approached, hoping to offer some consolation to her.

“I…can’t…” she said through her crying, “I… just can’t. I’m so…. Sorry.”

“Moon what…” you began, but before you could finish your sentence she suddenly turned and walked quickly away without saying anything else.

“Moon, wait!” you shouted as you ran down the midway, no longer interested in the thrills and wonders around you. No matter how fast you ran it always seemed like you were always too slow for her as she weaved past stalls and rides. Even so, she wasn’t so far away that you would lose her, making your quest to catch up with her still obtainable. As you pursued her through the abandoned park, you couldn’t help but think why she was running away from you in the first place. You know you messed up taking her to that club, but her running away like this was something more than that one event. It was like Moonflower was hiding something big that you couldn’t tell. This was the second time that you were chasing her, although this was a much friendlier place than the eerie castle of the dream before.

“Moon, stop, I’m sorry that I took you to the club” you shouted, but Moon said nothing or made no indication that she heard you. Instead she jumped over a fence and into a carousel with dozens of carved animals like lions, swans, and even an elephant! The moment you approached the carousel, the ride started with a fanfare of calliope music as the animals started their parade. You caught a glimpse of Moonflower deep among the wooden animals as the ride made its first revolution staring at you with a sad look. You wasted no time to hop the fence and jump on as the ride spun faster with each second. You fought the motion of the ride as you made your way around the ride, hoping to find the mare. At last you were within a few feet from her, but just when you were about to move forward, you felt your legs collapse as you tumbled to the carousel’s platform. The last thing you saw was not Moonflower’s beautiful yet saddened face, but the wooden claws of a lion coming down upon you. Then the world turned to black as you found yourself sitting up in bed, panting heavily.

“Dear Luna, why are you showing me these dreams?” you said to the absent Moon Princess, “I made a mistake, ok? I didn’t know she was going to be scared of that club or Nightmare Moon. It feels like every time I try to get to know her something happens and we’re still apart! If that was you in the dream before telling me I needed to get to know her, I tried, but I feel that she doesn’t want to know me. How can I show her that… I love her?”

You were shocked by the confession that escaped your lips, but it felt so wonderful admitting what your heart felt. There was no mystery on your part, no denial or other possibility. You loved Moonflower, flaws and all. As the euphoria of you uttering the confession subsided, you were left with the realization that maybe she didn’t feel that way. As you turned to look out the window at the night sky, a reminder of the bond you shared with Moonflower, you couldn’t help but notice a large shadow passing by your window, the same one that you saw passing overhead the night before. It was like whoever was that figure, it was as if he or she was listening in to your pleas.

“Who was that pony?” you said when a thought crossed your mind, “Was that you, Princess Luna?”

Author's Note:

More mysteries and truths revealed.