Desreal: Delilah, my step-mother who doesn't know me;

Wish upon a shooting star;
For dreams and things that never are.

Night. It holds a significant meaning to Courage’s heart as she wanders through the tempting shadows so aimlessly. There is a melancholy hint to her stride, to the very essence of her proud and beautifully angelic being. Her gold sides quiver as her elements surround her, emitting a soft glow with her fire. In her solitude, she might look like a perfect angel lost amongst the darkness of Desreal. Butterflies might have danced around her. Fireflies might have rejoiced in her mere presence. But tonight, she was content to walk alone on this well-trodden path. Tears were in her eyes; tears of sadness, tears of joy. Being pregnant with her first child you’d think she would be as happy as a clown. But having lived a life like hers, it’s something almost unexpected to find happiness and have it be eternal. The moment she has discovered what happiness means, Fantome had rejected her. She wasn’t good enough for him, as a daughter or as a fellow equine. It was enough to make someone want to hit him upside the head and wonder if he even had a heart. But Courage knew he had a heart; he had a great heart. It just didn’t belong to her, and she certainly had no place in it. That much was certain. And it was a grim reality she had to face.

But in her wandering, she was not alone. Those beautiful oceanic eyes blaze as they come upon another traveler. Instantly, her guard is up and her elements working as one to protect their beloved Courage. As soon as the other mare is in sight, Courage senses no threat from her so her elements abide by her wishes and cease in their magnificence. A small smile weaves its way to her lips, and she dips her head in polite respect to the other mare. ”Sorry if I scared you, ma’am,” said Courage, trying to puff out her chest and stick out her chin with a welcoming and genuine grin. But it wouldn’t work. She was still much too heartbroken. And so, she offers a small smile that might faintly remind the Andarin mare of someone she knows. But my angel, my darling sweet Courage would not read her thoughts just yet. ”I’m Courage, from Solira. I was wandering around trying to find someone…” she pauses. Her mind finishes her sentence with a soft whisper along her water element “my father” but she cannot finish it as such. Instead, she merely hesitates and with a sad look on her face manages to squeeze out, ”…I knew him when I was young.”

Tears again threaten to burst into her eyes. Courage, you are not alone. Kratos is there for you always, as is Marshall. With those two (your lover and hero in every way, Kratos, and the one who had adopted you all that time ago, Marshall) you can do anything. But alas, Courage does not go to them tonight, wishing, wanting, needing to speak to her father now that she is going to be a parent (Kratos and Marshall knew nothing about parenting, and Fantome at least had one other child). Courage’s heart is breaking in a slow, painful way. It does not shatter as one might expect. It does, however, peel away layer by layer, being sliced with small paper cuts. ”Forgive me, I was looking for my father,” she said through a whispered, teary voice that quivered like a frail leaf trying to cling to a tree on a windy day. ”I was abandoned when I was young. My mother had no choice and left me here with my father. But he didn’t want me. He doesn’t want me.” And now the tears inundate her eyes, flowing freely down her face. ”He doesn’t want anything to do with me because he has a family in Andarin – a real family. He hates me, even if I’m not like the Soliran reputation would suggest.” Salty liquid falls to the ground, and Courage is now trying to keep herself from falling apart, from erupting into an all-out sob. The pain of rejection shines in her eyes. ”And I miss him. And I don’t understand why I’m not good enough.” Eyes close. Heart lurches. Tears continue. Oh, my poor angel is falling apart. Who on earth wouldn’t want her? It should be against the law to mistreat Courage and break her heart like this.

AP: C O U R A G E

Water III | Fire III

Nidor Nex