“Freak!” “Loser!” “Weirdo!” Words that Derpy heard all the time, cutting remarks that penetrated deep into her heart, deeper and deeper each time she heard them. From elementary school to high school she’d heard it all. She’d been shunned and excluded, shoved and mocked, and treated like less than a pony. Not everyone had gone after her. Her teachers were kind, and she had Lyra and Bon Bon at times to protect her, but they just weren’t enough.

The light slowly dimmed from her eyes until the world felt pitch-black, and it led her to try to commit suicide. As she tied the rope tight and approached the cliff there was a sense of freedom, like there was a prize waiting if she only had the courage to jump. The greatest freedom of all: peace.

She looked down at the ground several thousand feet below, hesitating for a few moments, and then she made the jump…

For a few seconds there was a great sense of relief, even exhilaration. But right after that her head cleared, and she saw the fate she was heading toward. Thoughts of her parents, of her friends, ran through her mind, and she struggled to free herself from the ropes holding her wings shut. Sweat dripped down her face, only to be forced into the air as she descended. She pulled with her hooves and teeth, her heart racing.

She kept glancing down every few seconds, panic giving energy to her limbs. With only seconds to spare she gave one last hard yank and she felt the rope give. She immediately unfurled her wings, flapping them as hard as possible to lower her momentum before gliding and taking back to the air, missing the ground by millimeters.

As she landed back on the ground she stopped to think about what she had just done. The will to live was blazing inside her again. She couldn’t kill herself. The ones she loved would miss her too much. Collecting the rope she returned home, hugging her parents fiercely and telling them she loved them.

She had never told anyone about that incident. She didn’t want them to worry. It wouldn’t happen again, after all.

School didn’t get any easier after that. She fell into clearing her mind when they would start in on her, thinking solely of her parents or friends to bolster herself. And it worked, to an extent.

Things continued on in that manner for a while, and at times she did feel others would be better off without her. She didn’t try to kill herself again, but there were periods she had the strong desire to just die.

She was a loser, a washout, an idiot, a retard, a dope, and that was all she could ever be. At least… until she met HIM. Shooting Star. The most popular stallion in school. Jock of their school sports team.

She remembered that day clearly. It had started with her being mocked while walking down the halls.

“Hey, there! It’s Derpy! What’s she gonna break next? Who knows?”

“Maybe it’s intelligent. We should try to communicate with it. DUH! STU-PID!”

“What a freak! I’ve heard of four-eyes, but never magnet eyes. That’s the only reason I can think of for why they never want to be near each other.”

Tears began to drip down her eyes. She felt like she was about to break down, when suddenly her attention was diverted.

WHAM!

The sound of an impact resonated through the hall, the stallion going flying.

“Hey!” said the stallion, rubbing his eye. “Who in the he-he-he-hello.” He let out a nervous laugh as he saw the pony standing there.

Shooting Star stood there, looking down dispassionately at the bully.

“So,” said Shooting Star, looking around. “You all saw that, right? Poor guy walked right into a doorknob. Riiiight?”

Everyone else quickly nodded.

“Now,” Shooting Star said, pulling the pony up to his hooves, “I think you should apologize to the little lady, or I’ll give you a matching set again.” He lifted his hoof, gently tapping the stallion’s other eye.

“Y-y-yes. Right away!” He bowed his head toward Derpy. “I’m very sorry for my comments. Please forgive me.”

“Does anyone ELSE here want to make fun of her eyes?” He lifted up a hoof. “Maybe I’ll let someone else experience what it’s like to have mismatched eyes for a while.”

A hush went over the crowd, everyone sweating. They all looked at the ground or each other or the ceiling, but no one dared to look at him. “That’s what I thought.”

The other ponies quickly cleared out, leaving only the two of them.

“Umm, thanks,” said Derpy, blushing. “I really appreciate it.”

He smirked, giving one of his confident looks. “No prob. Those guys get swelled heads if you don’t knock them down a peg once in a while.”

Derpy saw him staring at her, and she started feeling self-conscious. She turned her head away, looking at the ground. She let out a little squeak as she felt his hoof on her chin. “W-what are you doing?”

He let out a little snicker as they met eyes again. “So that’s what all the fuss is about? Because your eyes don’t point in the same direction? Sheesh. If you’re going to bully someone you’d think you could at least do it for something of more substance.

“I actually think they’re kinda cute like that. It certainly makes you more unique than all the other ponies I know.”

Derpy’s blush went from a little tinge to covering both her cheeks. Her face felt red hot. This was the first time anyone had ever complimented her eye disorder. She put her hooves on her face with an embarrassed giggle as she turned her head to the side.

“Come on,” he said with a laugh. “Stop turning away. Give me a smile and show them you’re not gonna let them get you down.”

Her face still flushed she forced a smile on her face. It felt like a dream. The most popular stallion in school was talking to her.

“That’s better. Don’t ever lose that smile. Those bums aren’t worth a single frown. I’ll prove that to you. Give me just an hour or two of your time and I promise no one will ever make fun of your eyes again.”

Derpy just blinked a few times, confused. She let out a sigh. “That would be lovely, but I don’t see how you’re gonna do that.”

He put his hoof out. “You wanna go out for a milkshake later?”

Derpy just blinked, sure that she had misheard him. “Excuse me?”

“After school let’s hit up Sugarcube Corner and get some milkshakes. What do you say?”

She heard it a second time, but she still didn’t believe it. In order to distract herself she asked, “Um, but what does that have to do with ponies bullying me?” She was still having a hard time believing the most popular pony wanted anything to do with the least popular pony.

He let out a mischievous laugh. “Once other ponies see you with me they won’t dare open their mouth to say anything bad about you. You just saw what happened a few minutes ago. Every single one of those ponies, including the one I hit, will swear he walked into a door to their dying day.”

Lifting his hoof he pushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. “So what’s your answer?”

Derpy looked at the ground, tears starting to form in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” Shooting Star asked, a concerned tone in his voice.

“I’m a loser and a washout. I appreciate you sticking up for me, but I just can’t accept that someone like you would want to go on a date with me. I’d only bring your reputation down. And,” she closed her eyes as a few tears dripped down, “I can just see it. I head to Sugarcube Corner and wait at the table, and then you never show up. And you and all your buddies get a laugh at how gullible and stupid I am.”

Shooting Star shook his head. “No way! Not at all. What kinda stallion do you think I am?”

Derpy looked up slightly. “Your dad is rich and you’re an athlete. Surely you can find a better mare than me.”

Shooting Star huffed, letting out a playful sigh. “Do you know why I’m asking you out?”

Derpy just shrugged, wiping away the tears coming down her face.

“Because I’m sick of all the shallow mares that surround me. Every day they gather around me, sucking up to me and hanging on my every word, but there isn’t a real one among them. They’re not actually interested in me as a pony, only for the prestige that comes with being close to me, and the hopes that they can get a life on easy street because of my family’s wealth. To be honest I’m getting fed up with it.

“So really I’m just looking for a change of pace. It’s a win-win scenario for both of us. All those idiots who like to mock you will leave you alone, and I get to know someone who has more on their minds than just what they can get out of me. Besides, once I show that I’m taken most of the phonies should back off. Well, even if I start dating you they’ll be watching like a hawk and hoping you mess up so they can flock to me again. All the talk of the popular ponies and the shallow mares gets really tiresome after a while. It’ll be nice to have a change of pace and really get to know someone who is a little lower on the popularity ladder.”

He lifted his hoof again, gently rubbing her face. “So come on. Stop those tears and give me an answer.”

Derpy looked at him, still feeling a little uncertain. She could still imagine it all being a big joke. She didn’t want to get her hopes up. “So, what if I say no? Are you gonna strike me too?”

He let out a snicker. “Ah, see. This is why I need a mare like you. It’s nice to see someone not falling over themselves to worship me.

“How about this? I’ll meet you after school and we’ll walk to the sweet shop together, then you won’t have to be worried about me not showing up. At least that way the worst that will happen if I let you down is you have to walk home alone, hmm?”

Derpy took a deep breath. “Well… okay. I’d love to, um, go out with you.”

“Sounds great. I’ll meet you near the front entrance after school.”

After school Derpy was pacing restlessly back and forth. A part of her felt like just running home. It had to be a trick. There was something behind it. Maybe he wanted to play a prank on her. Was she about to be humiliated in front of the whole school? Wasn’t she mocked enough already?

Her heart was racing and each second felt like an eternity. She felt out of breath, even though she was barely moving.

Lines of mares and stallions were filing out. Some of them stayed around the school, chatting before heading for home.

Interrupting her thoughts was a derisive voice. “Move it, freak eyes!” A mare shoved her, knocking her to the ground. Derpy was so shocked she couldn’t react at first. Tears began forming in her eyes as the laughter and name-calling started. She really wanted to just crawl into a hole and hide.

As she looked the mare and her group of friends ran over to a stallion, fangirling. She gasped as she saw it was Shooting Star. He didn’t look happy. “Great!” she muttered to herself. “Not only do I look like an idiot in front of everyone else, but now I have to look like an idiot in front of him too.” There was no way he was going to want to lower his reputation in front of a fool like her.

Shooting Star pushed his way through the giggling girls, walking along the path.

Clop clop clop. She heard the sound of his hooves on the pavement as he got closer and closer. Derpy prayed he would just continue walking and not notice her.

When he was right next to her he sat down and used both his hooves to pull her back up. Rounding on the surprised girls he said nastily, “You want to tell me why you think it’s okay to shove a girl and mock her and then expect me to want you by my side?”

The mare looked speechless. “Um, I, um-”

“I’m looking for more than the shallow attention horses like you, so grow up and get a life. From now on anyone who messes with my mare will have to answer to me.” With that he put a hoof around Derpy and pulled her to him.

A hush went over the crowd as every head turned to him.

Derpy’s face felt like it exploded as her face burned at the crowd all looking toward her. The expressions ranged from surprised and shocked, to confused, and, most prevalent of all, outrage from the mares.

“Do-I-make-myself-clear?” He said each word slowly and deliberately.

“Y-y-yes, Shooting Star.”

“Good! Now let’s go, baby.”

It took Derpy a few seconds before his words penetrated her brain. “O-okay. Sure.” She began walking, her legs feeling shaky.

After they had left the school yard behind and were walking along the grass Shooting Star laughed and said, “Man, that felt great!” He looked over at her. “Wouldn’t you agree? Hmm? Are you crying again?”

Derpy wiped her face, bowing her head. “I’m sorry!”

His head tilted a little. “For what?”

“For not believing in you.”

Putting a hoof around her he mussed up her mane a bit. “Come on! I told you I got your back. Just wait until you see how they treat you tomorrow. So long as you got my backing they won’t have the courage to be disrespectful to you anymore. All the idiots who wouldn’t even give you a chance before will want to talk to you now.”

Derpy giggled, gently pushing his hoof away. He had really done it. Publicly, right in front of everyone, he had pledged himself to her. She couldn’t deny it now. He was being truthful. She let out a long breath, feeling like a ton of stress and pain was leaving along with it. He really was being genuine, and that felt like the greatest thing.

The two of them chatted about inconsequential things on the way to the shop. When they arrived they took a corner booth, ordering two shakes. Derpy was a lot more open in talking, leaving behind her shyness and suspicion. She laughed and joked and blushed, feeling like the luckiest mare in the world. Shooting Star was a fascinating pony to her. She certainly never thought she’d be worth more than a passing glance to a star like him, but he actually did value her.

The highlight of her date was seeing another one of her worst bully’s mouth drop when she saw the two of them together. The mare sputtered incoherently for a few seconds, and Derpy just waved hello to her, suppressing the urge to be cocky about it. Shooting Star had said that he wanted to get to know her better because she was different from all the other arrogant mares, so it wouldn’t do to get a swelled head over her position.

At the end of their date he paid for their shakes and walked her home.

“I had a lot of fun today,” Shooting Star said as they stood in front of her front door.

“Same here!” Derpy said in an overly excitable tone, her voice squeaking. She blushed, giving an awkward smile. “I’m sorry. I’m-I just… I-I-I-” She giggled, her cheeks turning a deeper pink. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just didn’t know life could feel this good.”

Shooting Star grinned back at her. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s just like I thought. You’re different. You certainly don’t talk all the same garbage the so-called popular girls do. They’re all just carbon copies of each other.

“You wanna go out again sometime?”

Not trusting herself to speak she simply nodded.

“Great. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and winked at her before walking away. “See ya.”

Derpy blinked in surprise, putting a hoof to her cheek. She let out a squeal, hurrying inside to her room. “What a day!” she yelled out to the air. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw her cheeks were still flushed. She was used to blushing from embarrassment from all the jerks and bullies who relentlessly berated her. This was the first day that she could recall happy embarrassment. She took out her brush and began combing her mane, happy tears pouring down her eyes.

The rest of the day she was anxious and excited and nervous and joyful and so many other mixes of emotions she couldn’t comprehend them all. She had never felt like this before.

It seemed like this was a day of new firsts. When she went to sleep that night she didn’t dread going to school in the morning. She couldn’t recall the last time she had felt that way.

It had blown her mind. The superstar of the school, interested in her? Taking her out on a date, a perfect gentlecolt the whole while? It was beyond her wildest dreams.

She thought she had to be dreaming. She was sure she’d wake up and find out it had all been a delusion, her last hope for a normal school life. However, it wasn’t.

She woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. Going to school that day was just as glorious as it had been in her dreams. Just like Shooting Star promised not a single pony said a word about her eyes. The ponies who usually made fun of her gave her a wide berth. Everywhere she walked ponies finally treated her like an equal instead of as inferior.

“Hi, Derpy!” a nervous stallion said.

“O-oh, hi.” She waved nervously as she walked down the hallway.

“Hello, Derpy,” said a mare. “How are you today?”

“Um… fine.”

“Hey, Derpy.” “What’s up, Derpy?” Derpy, Derpy, Derpy, Derpy, Derpy.

By the time she’d gotten to her locker she’d been greeted at least twenty times, kindly and respectfully. No one was insulting her. No one was mocking her. It felt so unusual. For the life of her she couldn’t figure out the reason at first, but it came to her with a touch.

“Guess who, sweetness?” Her vision went black as something covered her eyes.

“Shooting Star?” she mumbled.

“Got it in one.” He chuckled as he put his hooves down.

She turned her head to the push of his hoof, and before she could react he kissed her on the lips. It only lasted for a few seconds, but to her they lasted forever. When he pulled away she blushed deeply, her heart soaring.

He shook his head playfully. “Hey, now! Are you gonna start crying every time I see you?”

She laughed too through her tears, wiping her face. “I had the most beautiful morning at school, even though I’ve only been here a few minutes.”

“I guess I’m just one heck of a kisser, then,” he said with a wink.

“It’s not ONLY that. Ponies have been a lot nicer to me today.”

He stood at her side, throwing a leg around her neck. “What did I tell you? Give me a little of your time, and all your bullies will go by the wayside.” He nuzzled her face. “I always keep my promises. So long as I’m with you than you’ve got nothing to fear. I’ll protect you and keep the baddies away.”

Derpy beamed as she nuzzled him back, walking side by side to her first class as other ponies continued to greet her, some of them looking like they were in a blind panic that she would squeal about their behavior to Shooting. She had no desire to make them suffer. As long as she had him and his affection that was enough.

He was everything she needed and wanted. Big, strong, powerful, influential, caring. He was like a warm blanket on a cold night, protecting her. She had nothing to fear.

The following day, amidst the group of ponies greeting her, came another unexpected surprise.

“Um… excuse me?” said a mare, tapping her on the shoulder.

Derpy turned to see a blue-coated mare looking shamefaced. “Yes?”

She bowed her head. “I’m so sorry!”

“For… what?”

“I know that I’ve been terrible to you in the past.”

“You have? Sorry, but… do I know you?”

“No, but I used to join in on the namecalling against you.”

“Oh…” There was a tense silence between them before Derpy said, “Well, I’m not going to rat you out to Shooting if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

As Derpy turned to leave the mare grabbed her. “No, no, no! It’s not that! It’s not that at all!”

Derpy turned back to her. “Then what is it?”

“I never had a problem with you. I don’t care about your eyes. It’s never bothered me. But, well, I’m shy and I don’t have many friends. I joined in, but I never enjoyed it. I just… I just wanted to fit in, and I thought if I stood up for you than I’d wind up picked on just like you. It was wrong, and I’m ashamed of myself.

“I’m so sorry! Can you ever forgive me?”

“Oh.” She was a bit surprised. “Sure.”

“Thank you.”

“So what’s your name?”

“Shoeshine.”

That was how she gained Shoeshine as a friend. She got Berry Punch much the same way. There were others that confessed to going along with the crowd, but the two of them were the only ones she grew to be more than acquaintances with.

Life grew better and better. She felt a little ashamed of herself at the enjoyment she got at the way the tables were turned on her bullies; how they were as scared of her as they were of Shooting. Though she hadn’t changed at all she had been rocketed up the popularity ladder, cool by association.

School became a new experience. She could focus on learning and making friends like all the “normal” ponies did. Without the constant barrage of taunts and insults life felt a lot brighter, and she came out of her shell. She felt confident. She felt beautiful. What did it matter what those other ponies thought of her? She had Shooting Star.

Her parents had always told her not to let the other ponies get her down; that they were only picking on her because of their own insecurities. That, one day, she would find a special somepony that would see the beauty and specialness of her, if she only didn’t give up. She had believed it for a while, but as the years went by it only felt like something they said to try to make her feel better about being a total loser.

But now… now… she finally saw what they were talking about. Shooting had gotten tired of the shallow mares that only sucked up to him for his money. Money wasn’t what drew her to him. It was his actions, the way he came to her rescue when she was in trouble. How he had given her a chance when no one else had. How he had declared for everyone to hear that she was HIS mare, and thus under his protection. And suddenly everyone was looking at her in a new way, with grudging respect or interest, wanting to know just what it was that would cause a stallion like him to want a mare like her.

They continued going on dates once or twice a week, like the time they went on a picnic late at night. They had just finished eating and were in a playful mood.

“I’m gonna get you!” Shooting said, rearing up.

“EEK! NO!” she replied, running away from him.

He was an athlete, so naturally he was faster than her, but he let her stay ahead for a bit.

Just as he was about to grab her she flew up into the air, looking down at him smugly. “Can’t get me up here, huh, tough guy?”

“Oh yeah?” His horn began to glow brightly, and his back similarly began to light up. There was a flash, and what looked like a pair of energy wings appeared. “How about that?”

“Oh, my,” she said. “That’s pretty cool!”

He laughed bashfully, rubbing his head. “They’re just for show. I can’t actually fly with these.”

Derpy busted out laughing, doubling over and holding her stomach. “You goof!” She flew down toward him, tackling him and they rolled over and over until they stopped, her on top. “I got YOU now! You’re at my mercy.”

“Oh no!” he said dramatically. “Whatever shall I do?”

“Just take it like a stallion,” she said toughly, but then her eyes softened and she put her head to his, kissing him.

He responded in turn, and they made out passionately, feeling the warmth of his body on hers as she let herself go.

When they finally broke apart her head was swimming. She nuzzled him a few times before resting her head on him. Her heart was beating with life and vigor.

Shooting put a hoof over her, rubbing her back as he gave her gentle kisses. “Uh-oh! It’s the return of the crying one.”

Derpy let out a choked laugh. “Hush, you!’ She gave him a light smack. “I can’t help it. You have no idea how hard my life has been. You’ve always been popular and on the top. I’ve always been on the bottom. Since you’ve come into my life things have become so great I could never have imagined it. I smile every day, ponies treat me with respect, and life just feels worth living.”

“Glad to hear it.” He stopped rubbing her back and just threw his hooves over her, hugging her tightly. “You have nothing to fear as long as you’re with me. I love you, Derpy! I promise that I’ll always protect you.”

Things continued on in that manner for a while, until one day he invited her over to his house. He told her he had something special to show her.

As she entered his room he levitated a dress in front of him. “Well? What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful and all, but I didn’t know you had such strange hobbies.”

He lowered the dress, confused. Then understanding hit him and he facehoofed, snickering. “It’s not for me, you dolt!”

“Oh, my apologies.” She laughed too, a hoof on her mouth.

He approached her, levitating the dress against her. “This is for you.”

She looked down at the fine material. “Me?” she said, awed. She felt it, rubbing up and down. It was smooth as silk. “That must have cost a lot of money.” Her face went red.

“Oh, pish-tosh. Don’t worry about the money. You’re worth every bit.

“The prom is coming up, and I want you to come with me.”

“Prom?”

“Yes. Now try it on. I want to make sure it fits.”

Derpy hesitated, but after a while she finally took the dress and slipped it on. It was a near perfect fit. It felt so nice against her fur.

Shooting looked her up and down, then let out a seductive purr. “That’s perfect, Bright Eyes. You’ll knock ‘em dead. Of course, seeing as how you’re my girl, if they try to make any moves on you I’LL be the one knocking them dead.” He winked.

She chuckled, but it slowly turned into sobs.

“Oh, no! I made you cry AGAIN! When am I going to stop doing that?”

Derpy flung herself at him, clinging to him. “T-thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

He put a comforting leg around her. “There, there. So are you going to come with me? I bought that dress specifically for you, to show you just how much you mean to me. I want all the other stallions to be so jealous of me they regret only seeing you for your eyes. They’ll know they could have had you, but they lost their chance by being so superficial.”

She looked up at him, tears still streaming down her eyes, and nodded. “Yes,” she sputtered. “I will.”

The night of prom she was a bundle of nerves, not all of them bad. She was excited. More excited than she had ever been. She didn’t expect to even have a date for prom, let alone someone so popular. He had bought her a fancy dress as a symbol of his devotion. She didn’t want him to regret it. She couldn’t fix her eyes, but she could do all she could to make sure she carried herself as a mare worthy of a stallion of class like Shooting. She spent hours in front of the mirror, trying a ton of different mane styles, putting on makeup, trying on accessories. She had showered three times that day. She just wanted everything to go perfect.

When she heard the knocking of the door her heart hammered, hoping she looked decent. She opened the door, forcing a smile on her face. “H-hello, Shooting.” She was blushing deeply, much like the first date they had.

“Hubba-hubba!” he said, clicking his tongue. “You look beautiful, Derpy.”

Her face burned deeper. “T-thank you, Shooting.”

They spent a short time at her house as he chatted with her parents and promised to take good care of her. She expected to have to walk there, but as he took her around the corner of her house she saw he had hired a carriage.

They got on, and the ponies took off at a leisurely pace. They didn’t go right to their school. The ponies took them for a ride around Ponyville Park.

Derpy felt the breeze on her face, a fresh sensation of being out in the world, seeing the scenery passing them by. The fireflies lighting up for a second, the stars and moon overhead, the beauty of the nature around them, the shimmering reflection of the land around them in the water; it all felt so magical, like she was in her own world. Unconsciously she sat up straighter, holding herself erect. She was like a forest princess, and all around her was her domain. Next to her was her Prince Charming, who had helped her shed her timid skin and start believing in herself, in her own worth. The stallion that taught her that she shouldn’t be ashamed of her eyes.

The illusion didn’t last forever. When they left the park and returned to town she returned back to reality but, given who was still next to her, she didn’t mind it a bit.

As they entered the auditorium she saw it was decked out with decorations, tables, refreshments and food, and packed to the brim with ponies.

She walked with meaning and purpose, not a trace of fear within her. Shooting Star had chosen her, out of all the ponies in school, to be his mare. She wouldn’t disgrace that at such a big event. She wanted to show everyone they had been wrong about her. She wasn’t a loser or an idiot or a fool or anything else they had said. She was tough, confident, and powerful. Shooting Star radiated those qualities, and they had been slowly rubbing off on her, growing stronger with every meeting.

She smiled assuredly at those around her, starting up conversations with whoever she pleased. Sometimes she could feel what Shooting Star talked about, that the stallions were jealous that they had missed out on her because of that focus on her one deformity, and it only made her feel more valued. She could definitely feel the heat of jealousy from the mares, that all felt that THEY should have been there with Shooting Star.

She danced and danced and danced, letting herself go completely. She didn’t care if she was a good dancer. She just cared about being passionate about it. Shooting joined in with her. A spotlight shone upon them, and she didn’t mind a bit. In fact, she was glad of it. She had the eyes of every pony upon her, with the most special stallion in the world, having the time of her life. Where were her critics now? Where were the voices telling her she’d never amount to anything? That all she was in the end was a loser and a retard? What did they think of her now?

She was pretty exhausted by the time they stopped dancing, and she sat down with Shooting and her friends, all of them congratulating her on her spirited performance.

After a rest she got back on the dance floor to a slow song. She leisurely moved around in a circle with him, her feelings changing with the mood of the song. Before it had been about her and her feelings toward her former antagonists. Now, it was all about Shooting, and everyone else might well have disappeared. Soft tears came down her eyes as she reflected on how much he had helped her.

Before the festivities ended the principal announced the winner of prom king and queen: “Derpy Doo and Shooting Star!”

She couldn’t say she was surprised, but since the slower song had played she had gotten her ego under control. She shyly got on stage, bowing slightly as they placed a tiara upon her head, looking out upon the crowd of students applauding. The flash of camera’s blinded her for a few seconds, and she was given a polaroid of the two of them standing together, him with his crown and her with her tiara, smiles upon their faces.

The night came to an end eventually. Shooting was all for taking the carriage again, but she felt like waking. She knew the fun was going to end soon, and she wanted to prolong it as long as possible.

The school cleared of students, some talking and joking. Some of them came up to wish her congratulations.

They took the long way home, detouring around the park. They didn’t exchange many words. Shooting was letting her set the pace now. He was close to her, and that was all that was important. They didn’t need words.

He plucked a flower, putting it in her mane. She took the time to drink in the night scene, hearing the calling of the nocturnal animals as they went about their business. The two of them skipped rocks across the river and sat on a bench, observing the sky.

The whole time she kept reflecting on a question: Was this what life was supposed to feel like? She had been through so much in her life from so many other ponies. She had nearly been driven to suicide. Looking at Shooting she couldn’t imagine that desire anymore. So much pain, so much misfortune, so much bullying. She had forgotten what joy felt like. He had reminded her of the wonders of life.

Didn’t she deserve this happiness? Didn’t she deserve this joy? She had been patient, and now life was finally paying it’s due. She was being rewarded for all her troubles and agony by being delivered from it all by her prince.

When they arrived back at her house she invited him inside for a final drink, once more wanting to prolong the magic of the night just a little bit longer. She called out for her parents, but when she arrived in the kitchen she saw a note telling her that her parents were out on their own special event together and they’d be gone most of the night.

It was only the two of them, and she didn’t mind that a bit. She didn’t know if she wanted to share any of her time with her parents explaining the night, not when their time together was drawing to a close. She invited him to her bedroom to talk a little more.

She slipped off her dress, hanging it up nicely as she sat down on her bed, letting out a sigh. “What a night,” she said dreamily. “My legs hurt from dancing so much, but it’s a good hurt.”

Shooting sat down on a chair next to her desk. “I have to agree with you there.” He stretched a bit. “That was a blast.

“Well… you’re home, and safe, as promised. I guess I should get going.”

As he stood up she shot up, her heart beating a little faster. “Stay?” she said simply.

“Are you sure you want me to?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? The night is still young.”

“And so are we.”

Derpy reached over her desk, picking up the photo of the two of them. “Tonight has been like a fairytale. Just like a unicorn you’ve made everything magical.” She ran her hoof over her face. “Just look at me. I never used to smile like that.”

Shooting walked over, planting a kiss on her lips. “Of course not. Before all this you didn’t have ME. What other reason does a mare have to smile like that?”

She shook her head. “What an ego.” She chuckled.

She met his eyes, and her heart began thumping harder as it filled up with all her love and passion for him. This WAS her reward for what life had put her through. What did it matter if her eyes pointed in different directions, or if she was a little clumsy, so long as she had a stallion like him to protect her, to stand up for her and keep her safe?

The six months they had shared together had been special since day one. He’d never changed or backed down from his duty to her. He had stolen her heart and captured her, body and soul. He had given her everything without reservation. Wasn’t it about time she did the same?

He was so special and brilliant and talented and amazing. Compared to him she didn’t feel very unique. Still, she wanted to do something for him to prove her love and trust. It was something she’d never be able to take back, and that was why she knew it would make a big impression on him.

She slipped off her bed, nuzzling him as she circled around him. As she passed by him one time she ran her tail across his face, hopping back up on her bed.

Shooting could feel a difference in the way she was acting. “Derpy?”

She patted the bed. “Come on up here.”

After a second he joined her.

She continued her circles and nuzzles, not knowing or caring if it was the proper way to get a stallion excited. She moved in front of him, turning her head to him. “Please, Shooting,” she said, in barely a whisper. “Take me.”

He blinked in surprise. “What?”

“Make me your mare! Please. Make me your one and only.”

“Bright Eyes… this is so sudden. Are… are you sure you want this?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’ve never been more sure of something in my life. Please. Make me a real mare.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I want you now.”

He probed her a few more times, and each time Derpy insisted on going through with it. Finally, he stopped fighting her, and gave her what she asked for.

Whether from the intensity of the new experience or from his harsh use of her body she didn’t remember most of it. She thought she must have passed out. The next thing she knew the two of them were under the covers together, and she had no idea how they had gotten there.

“Are you alright, Bright Eyes?” he asked.

Her head was swimming a bit and her lower body had a dull ache, but she saw how satisfied he looked. He looked so very pleased with himself. That was all she needed to see. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said firmly, snuggling up close to him and closing her eyes. He put a leg around her as she put her head on his neck.

He had enjoyed it! He looked content and joyful. Now he knew how very special he was to her. They would only grow closer from here. Maybe in a year or so they could start taking about marriage, and then plan for some kids. She drifted off to the image of the two of them at the altar, their union being immortalized for all to see.