In The End? I Love You.

I Hear a Symphony

As they walked through the busy streets of Ponyville, Starry felt a sense of peace washing over her fur and through her mane. Stone's comforting wing, coupled with the new but familiar sights and sounds of the world around them. At times, she couldn't shake the feeling that there were eyes on her. She felt exposed as if the memories and trauma of her past were no longer hidden, but on full display to see.

The embarrassment washed over her like waves on the beach. 

Yet, she felt safe, knowing that Stone was by her side. A constant in her shifting world.

As they passed a few local ponies, she could feel their eyes watching her. She could hear the whispers in their mind wondering what Stone River of all ponies, was doing with a mare. Their thoughts and comments hung in the air around her, trying to suffocate her. She knew why they were talking about them like that, Stone had no interest in any Poyville mare. This just made her wonder why he had taken to her of all ponies.

It wasn't like she was prettier than other mares, or that she was smarter or powerful. She could speak to the dead and she could hear minds, but those were traits many lunacorns had. She was talented, but anyone who went to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns was talented. Starry didn't feel special enough to deserve the attention he gave her.

She glanced up at Stone, watching a flood of frustration and concern on his face. She wanted to tell him that she would hear them too, that their thoughts were shifting into her mind. Her throat tightened, but before she could say a word, Stone brushed his wing over her back.

Starry shivered at the affectionate touch, it sent warm flutters into her chest and shivers down her spine. His touch was always gentle, but this felt confident. As he brushed her back again, Starry could feel the tension in her throat fading away.

"Don't worry, Starry. They aren't talking about you," Stone muttered to her after a few moments of his wing on her back ", They talk about me."

Starry nodded, tipping her head down ", It feels like the eyes are on me. Like I'm an outsider and they know it, so they watch when they see me."

Stoe's wing brushed her back, once again bringing a sense of calm and comfort to the lunacorn mare. She glanced at him, watching as his brown eyes scanned her.

"That's understandable, Starry- Just know that those eyes don't mean anything. They aren't watching you because you're a stranger or an outcast. It's because my eyes are on you." With his words, Starry felt the weight of the stares and the judgment disappear. Like she belonged and was safe. "Try to ignore them, you belong here. This is your home. Who cares if they're watching?"

Starry let out a slight laugh, letting the tone of her voice change from defensive to resigned ", You're right. Who cares if they're watching me? What they think doesn't matter."

She shook her head and looked ahead, still feeling self-conscious of the eyes on her, but the fear began fading away. As they kept walking, Stone's wing continued to brush her back every now and then, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity in the home that Ponyville was becoming. Starry took a deep breath and smiled at the bat pony stallion as they trotted forward together.

As they walked, Starry's stomach suddenly growled, loudly. Starry felt her face flush at the sound, her long tail curling around her back leg as she glanced awkwardly up at Stone. If she were honest with herself? She hadn't eaten since the morning of the previous day.

"I-" Starry started, trying to cover the shame in her voice ", I can make supper tonight. I don't expect you to do it."

Stone glanced at her, eyes wide and, gracefully, trying to keep a smirk off his face, "When did you last eat?"

Starry shrugged her shoulders, trying to brush off the look on his face and the laugh that she was trying to hold back, "Well- I didn't really have time this morning." The reply felt awkward on her tongue, but she pressed on ", Seeing how my evening went that is."

"Hopefully-" Stone smirked, lowering his head to her ", We can do better next time around."

Starry's face turned redder than she could have thought, as Stone lowered his head to her. If she had wings, she knew they would be fluttering from her nerves. "Umm... Yeah..." She trailed off, her mind quickly spiraling into thoughts about the kiss.

"We... Definitely can do better," She smiled nervously ", I just... I haven't been the best and reading these situations. So..." Her voice faded as the silence stretched between them. As she struggled to speak, Stone stepped in.

"Look, Starry-" He spoke confidently, bringing her mind back to the present moment ", Let's just focus on dinner. We can talk later."

Starry nodded her head, face still red but thankful for the stallion's quick response, "Dinner sounds great." She replied, now eager to change the topic ", I can make fish if you eat fish- I know my family was omnivorous..."

Her voice steadied as they continued walking, hints of her earlier discomfort still prickled in her throat but not as horrible as it had before. Not after long, the two night ponies had agreed on salmon for supper. The pair continued walking toward the apartment in mock silence, Stone's wing brushing Starry's back and her tail brushing his flank.

Starry felt the shift in their relationship, the tension in the air as they walked side by side, keeping close contact. It would have been awkward if not for the sense of hope, a feeling of no longer needing to hide away from the world. Whatever these feelings for Stone River were, they had taken her by surprise, made her care in a way that she couldn't compare to anything except...

Except for Hoverstep.

But it wasn't the same. These feelings for Stone could not be the same as what she had felt for the unicorn colt, because Stone had already told her that he wasn't going anywhere. Her feelings for Stone had surprised her, but she also cared about them. Something precious.

Starry took a breath, "Stone? May I ask you something?"

Stone glanced at her, a slight smile crossing his face ", I am an open book for you."