By Ariel
Rating: R
Warnings: references to past near -NCS and some violence, Ariel POV
Disclaimers: From now until I feel like adding the other important borrowed people, all ideas and characters are mine. *grins evilly* Don't take. It won't make me happy and then you won't like what will happen.
The moon emerged from behind the rain clouds as the storm cleared away. Her light danced along the tops of the trees as they swayed with the gentle breeze that remained after the downpour. To some children, the rain stopping meant they could expect to be allowed to run outside and play tomorrow after breakfast, but not to me. No. To me, the rain stopping meant something entirely different to me now. It meant that new life was beginning and the ones that were lost were to be returned to the earth. Midnight taught me that at one of our many secret meetings.
I sat on the window seat with my legs tucked to my chest staring out the window. A lot of things have changed during the past few months. There were children, all younger than myself, now at the orphanage and I found myself helping out with them. I knew I was able to get them to trust me since I was closest to their age and was in the same position as them somehow. I also knew that the headmistress would want me to help her when we ended up going on a group trip to the hospital for check-ups in a few short months. Ms. Haine appreciated my help even though she never said a word. I could tell by the look in her eyes whenever we made eye contact. The last girls in my room were adopted out shortly after my meeting of the black steed. I don’t mind being alone in the room at all now as it gives Midnight a chance to come in and talk to me – tell me about my past life. It’s not something I want to share with anyone just yet as I still have a hard time believing it myself.
Too many things have changed. Not just with the Orphanage but with myself. According to Ms. Haine, I was now well into being a 7 year old. She was unsure of my actual birth date so she had deemed it okay to select one for me with the date now being the 16th of December. That was about 6 months ago. Since then, I’ve gotten even quieter than before. I didn’t trust many of the adults that entered the place and I tended to get more depressed when one of the girls was adopted out. I was the oldest orphan of all the girls there now and I started losing hope that maybe someday someone – anyone - would want me.
But that’s where I was mistaken. Someone did want me. Midnight did and I knew he was telling the truth when he had told me how he had been searching long and hard for me. It was difficult for me to understand how a mystical creature such as he would be willing to take tremendous risks for a child like me but he somehow convinced me. I am still not sure how I feel about his ways sometimes even though I have learned to accept it. From him – that is. Perhaps it was because he was not human and would not be as likely to lie to a child. Or perhaps it was because he reminded me of the magical creatures in the storybooks in the library downstairs where they were loyal and true to a fault. Or maybe it was because I felt a bond with him – something stronger than anything I have ever felt with anyone or anything since entering the Orphanage. I was so lost in my thoughts that I failed to notice when Midnight entered the room.
“This is one moment where you look so much like your true Mother, my little Princess,” Midnight spoke in a near whisper as he quietly walked towards me. The rug on the floor softened the sounds of his footsteps so I did not need to worry about anyone hearing him move around. I turned to him and smiled, grateful to see my friend once again. “She used to sit and stare outside, often deep in thought, during the night with the moon’s light illuminating her and all that was around her.” He met my eyes and nickered softly. “You’re just as beautiful and as special as she was, Ariel. Please, don’t ever think otherwise.”
I could have argued with him that I wasn’t beautiful or special like he claimed but the fight was lost within me. It wasn’t often that one heard of a silver-horned black Pegasus that was completely convinced that an orphan girl was the universal princess from so long ago when he pledged his entire being to be the girl’s Guardian. With the way he spoke to me and treated me, I realized in the short time that I have known him that I would do anything to make him want to stay with me and not abandon me, that I want to make him proud. I should start to tell him soon that he has already given me some sort of hope but I sense that he knows this and that I do not need to try to force the words out of my mouth. The only thing I managed was a soft “I wish I could remember her, Mid.”
He watched me for a long time and nuzzled my hair, bringing a soft giggle from my lips. “You are easily distracted tonight, Ariel. Have you forgotten tonight’s lessons?” He eyed me with his sapphire orbs for a long moment before he carefully lay down on the floor near me, looking up at me expectantly.
“How could I forget, Midnight?” I whispered as I stretched my legs for a moment and then crossed them, turning away from the window and looking directly at the beautiful stallion. His eyes pierced right through me and at first I started to freak, not liking when anybody studied me so intently like he was doing at that moment.
However, he spoke softly to me – his mental voice soothing away my tension. “Relax, my princess. You know I will never cause you any harm. I only wish I was able to have to have found you sooner so you would never have had to deal with all that you have gone through.”
I studied his eyes carefully. It was something that I had started doing a long time ago apparently but only now was it becoming easier to do. There was nothing in the steed’s gaze that led me to believe he was lying even if the flicker of doubt went through me each time he said that. I still couldn’t believe how he would care for someone like me. At times I believe him wholeheartedly, but then there are times that I don’t understand it at all. Luckily for me, and for him, today was not one of those times and I smiled as I reached down to brush back some of the long strands of hair that fell on his eyes. Responding back to him with telepathy, I giggled softly. “This whole telepathy thing is rather neat, Mid. Thank you for teaching it to me and lettin’ me use it with you.”
Midnight snorted softly, mentally answering back to me, “You are welcome Ariel. However, it has always been one of your gifts. In time, you will be able to speak telepathically to anyone you wish even though I know you will use this gift carefully. You do not trust enough as it is so I need not worry. However, one thing does, in fact, concern me.” He waited until I was completely focused on him – both curiosity and wariness clear on my face. “You have started to learn how to block me from your mind and even sensing your presence. Do you do this purposefully or do you not know?”
I blinked slowly, trying to figure out how I had been able to do such a thing. There was nothing at the moment that I felt necessary to hide away from the steed and was confused as to how and what I had hidden from him. I whispered back to him, loud enough so he could hear but soft enough so as not to attract any attention from any wandering youngster on the second floor. “I don’t know Midnight. I was not even sure I was able to do somethin’ like that.”
He sighed softly and reached his face up, nuzzling my cheek with his muzzle and then resting his head on my knee. “It is alright, Mistress. I had thought that would have been your answer. In your past life, you hid nothing from me. You were an open book and I had cherished everything you shared with me. But I understand that things have changed. No longer do we live in a world where you didn't fear going outside or looked at anyone with distrust. I understand completely that things are different now and I will never force you to do anything you don’t want, Ariel. Please – understand that I am your Guardian. I have learned through you that being stubborn is one of my stronger traits so do not be surprised if I at least try to convince you to do something anyway. However, whether I agree with you or not, I will respect your decisions and will support you in any possible way that I can. Even when you think no one is by your side, I will always be there.”
His words touched something deep inside of me and I blinked back rapidly, not wanting to break down in tears but I was unable to hold them back. I slid off my seat by the window, wrapped my arms around Midnight’s neck and buried my face against his mane, tears streaming down my face. He didn’t have to hear an explanation of my reaction – he knew. Just as he always did, I was sure of it. I felt him curl his neck, resting his head against my back and the tip of his horn pressing lightly against my head. A warm tingly feeling started flowing through me from that spot and I smiled, my tears subsiding.
“You are just wonderful, Midnight. Do you even know how much?” I whispered and turned around, my back against his mane and pulling his head down to my lap, brushing his mane away from his eyes with my fingers in gentle motions. He didn’t answer and we sat in silence for a long while. I stared back up at the moon through the window and spoke quietly. “Someday you will tell me about the Moon Kingdom you mentioned once before, right Midnight?” I had remembered that from one of our earlier meetings. He had said that during my past life, there were different Kingdoms and one of the most powerful and influential ones of those times was that of the Moon. She and the Earth were to unite all and lead all kingdoms into an era of peace and prosperity until things started to happen. Things I wanted to know about but I know I wouldn’t just yet.
The stallion nickered softly and turned his eyes up to the moon as well. “Yes, Ariel. Someday I will, but not now. There are other things you must learn first.” His voice was deep and soothing but I knew he stood by what he just said and I was not going to push – no matter how curious I was. There was a lot he wasn’t telling me and had no intentions of doing so just yet. He remained quiet for several moment as if gathering his thoughts before he spoke quietly, “Have you ever wondered where some of your gifts were inspired from Ariel?” I turned my gaze away from the moon and gave him a puzzled look as he continued on. “You feel at ease when you are out in nature, ne? There is a kind of glow that surrounds you that I have been honored to witness when you are outside time and again. Your ability to communicate and to understand both creatures and the earth is still something that leaves me awe and inspired. It isn’t often when a soul had a bond so deeply engraved into it with nature. And of everything, you trust in it. You trust in the earth, the animals, and the elements to help and guide you. Have you ever wondered where that came comes from, princess?”
I sat in thought, picking apart what Midnight had said and tried to make sense of any of it. It was true. I did feel better outside or having some sort of contact with the earth. The animals and plant life were incredible things. I could easily feel their strengths and their weaknesses and I had learned to dislike it when people throughout the City treated them badly. Could they not see that these plants and animals had lives too? I never dwelled on it before but I started to remember the duck that had been kicked the day Midnight had come back into my life. I had felt the poor bird’s pain like it was my own. I didn’t understand it and wondered why. I remembered feeling a chill moment’s prior to that. Was it the something in the Earth telling me that something was going to go very wrong? Normally, I don’t want to think back on what could have happened that day but the moments prior to running away from the horrid man did, in fact, bring about a few questions. I looked down at Midnight and I could see he knew that I understood what he meant. “Midnight?”
Midnight flicked his tail, his eyes lighting up with something close to excitement at being able to recount something from the past to me. “Your Mother in your past life was very unlike any other woman of the time. Mysterious, beautiful and powerful – she was always someone everyone looked up to even while she preferred to remain in the shadows. She never let her True Self be seen by any other than her family. I was lucky to have been considered as such for I was able to learn from her a great deal of what had been passed on to you.” He shifted his neck and allowed me to turn around to face him, listening intently. I always eager to absorb anything he spoke of. I loved learning and this was something that no books or teachers nowadays could give anyone.
“She had somehow come to befriend Gaea who was said to be the one of the original goddesses and who represented the Earth. They were true friends and your Mother would often pay homage to great Gaea, thanking her for the beautiful planet and everything that sprang forth from it – whether they were animals, plants, or elements. Everything. When you came this world, Gaea, being so grateful at having such a devoted and wonderful friend as your Mother, filtered some of all her powers into your soul – giving you the potential to maximize them to the highest potential if you ever chose to do so but also filling you with love and humility. In Gaea’s eyes, your soul was the purest to have ever graced the universe and your Mother was honored that her friend believed that.”
A few moments passed and I knew Midnight was letting me think about what he had just told me. I nodded slowly and whispered, “So that really does clear up a few things.” I ran my fingers down his mane, still deep in thought before I asked him quietly, “And about the universe, Midnight? How is it possible that I am destined to rule it?”
It was at that moment, I realized how much Midnight really cared for me even after all this time. “Because, my Princess. Your Mother of your past life was, in fact, Queen of the Universe. But being in a time where the focus was on trying to find a certain peace between the Moon and the Earth, she preferred to fulfill her duties away from others. You were born as a Princess – not only of the Earth but of the Universe as well. Being a lady, you were to follow in her footsteps. Even after so much time has passed, it is still deep within you. I have sworn myself to you time and again since your Mother asked if I would be your Guardian. I have never once backed down or doubted if I were capable.”
He must have recognized the look in my eyes that I wanted to ask him a flood of questions but he only closed his eyes and spoke quietly. “For the time being, you must learn to live and enjoy your life as a child and to do more than to just exist in this world. Your time will come to shine in more ways than one, my Princess but you must live one day at a time. I will always by your side and should a day come where I cannot be in a physical sense, I will still be there in spirit.”
I knew that ended tonight’s lesson. Even though I had a thousand questions running through my head, I kept quiet. I was certain he knew of them but he was the Teacher and I was the Student. He set the pace and I trusted him not to misguide me. I would get my answers soon enough. Now I just had to do as he said and try to be a child in this life. I looked over at the clock on the dresser and sighed softly. It was close to bedtime and I should start to get ready to crawl into bed. Ms. Haine was sure to be checking up on me as she had the habit of doing lately. Being the oldest orphan left, I knew she counted on my help with the younger kids and I did not really want to disappoint her.
I returned my gaze over to Midnight and found him staring at me with an odd look on his face. I didn’t want to question him so instead I leaned over, pressed a kiss below his silvery horn, and touched his cheek. “You are a great Guardian, Midnight…” I paused for a moment and then added, a smile on my face, “and my best friend.” I didn’t give him a chance to verbally respond but I saw the surprise and delight that lit up in his eyes before I stood up and went to my dresser and pulled out my pajamas.
“Thank you, Ariel.” His mental voice was quiet and soothing, as usual as he stood and stretched his wings. We both turned towards each other and I smiled before he left, each of us bidding the other a “goodnight” using telepathy.
I quickly changed and went to the bathroom down the hall to brush my teeth before returning back to my room to find Ms. Haine waiting at the door. She gave me a small smile and led me back into the room. She followed me to my bed, waiting until I crawled under the covers so she could tuck me in. She never did this with any of the other kids and I found myself wanting to believe she actually cared for me but I never pushed. I whispered softly, “Goodnight, Ms. Haine. Thank you.” She only smiled and brushed her fingers down my face before walking towards the door, closing it behind her after she flicked off the light switch. I shifted on the bed to stare at the moon, allowing all the whirling thoughts in my head to settle. When they did, I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds of the light wind outside and I was fast asleep.
TBC...
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