“I look like a total dweeb, Star. Mom made me look like a freak.”
“Aww, don’t worry kiddo. We can fix it.”
–
“There ya go, my little punk prince - oof!”
“I love it Star! Thank you thank you thank you!!”
“Heh…anything for you, babe.”
Larkspur and Starshade were the self-proclaimed cool kids at Ponyville Elementary. Those prep kids fawning over that snobby jock hypogriff had nothing on these baddies, and both Starshade and Larkspur loved the attention it brought them, even if it was negative. Being the local bad boy was starting to become more and more appealing, especially when the most dangerous girl at the school was your best friend.
Starshade got into things she shouldn’t have at a very young age, and she found a lot of strength reading things she wasn’t supposed to. Media became an enormous influence on her as an empowering escape…for Larkspur however, it was not.
As Starshade kissed him, Larkspur felt himself try to push her away in vain. A strong wing wrapped around him, forcing him closer into this horrible feeling. He was scared. So unexpectedly scared. He thought he would have liked this. His mother read him fairytales about this. But something was wrong. He didn’t want it…but Starshade didn’t care as she licked his muzzle. A sickly tingle sank down his spine like nails on a chalkboard, and he felt his wings spread. He couldn’t stop it. How badly he wanted to stop it. He didn’t like Starshade doing this…but his wings said otherwise. That’s what that is supposed to mean right? That he likes it? So why did he feel this way? Was something wrong with him? Any other boy would have smiled against her. Any other boy would have liked it for real. What was wrong with him? Why was he being such a coward?
LATER
“They won’t GO DOWN. It hurts!” Larkspur cried, curling up on the bathroom floor. Starshade waved him off, “Relax. You’re being a gigantic baby. It just means you really liked it.” She bit her lolipop, sending an echoing, resounding crack along the empty walls. The sound assaulted Larkspur’s mind, and yet, he forced himself to find comfort in her words. Maybe he was overreacting. He must be.
“Just don’t embarrass me.”
LATER LATER
“Psh yeah…we totally kissed - with tongue.” Starshade gloated, parading Larkspur in front of the other students.
“No way!”
“Really?”
“What was it like? Give me all the details!”
“Well, I’ll leave that to my main stallion here. Right Larkspur?” She nudged him out of his vacant daydream.
He met the eyes of at least a dozen curious foals, eager to hear about this forbidden knowledge that he had. He bit his lip as he finally understood. This was his in. Starshade was doing him a favor. A pathway to being accepted had opened..why didn’t she explain that beforehand? He felt himself tremble. Trying to stifle it, he faked a confident smile and told just enough to keep the students curious yet impressed. Starshade cracked a joke. Someone invited them to a party. Spin the bottle. Awesome…isn’t this what Larkspur wanted? To be accepted by ponies? Why did he feel so humiliated? His body didn’t feel like his anymore…did he like that?
He thought of Starshade’s weight on him, forcing him into that wet, sloppy kiss. He felt strange. He wanted to cry, and yet…some part of him liked it. He didn’t like that he liked it. Did he like being Starshade’s toy? Did he like her pushing him around? Maybe he could try that…he wondered what would happen. But Starshade was quick to lay down the law that she was going to always be in charge. The magazines said so. Okay…if it has to be that way. If it has to be like this, Larkspur would make the best of it.
Since that day, Larkspur lost a part of himself. A part of his personal autonomy. Starshade could do whatever she wanted to him, and all he could do was bow. He grew to love it. Or at least he thought he did. For a very, very long time he thought he did. Eventually, as Starshade gains more popularity, she casts Larkspur aside and he is left by the wayside once again, now having lost something more than just friends. These days he doesn’t like to think about his body.