Her Starry Sky

Somehow, the next 4 hours rushed by you. You went home, tried to alleviate some stress with videogames, Minecraft to be precise, and when it was around 5 o' clock, started getting ready. You remembered Twilight didn't tell you how formal it was going to be, but because it was Princess Luna, you decided to play it safe and shoot for formal. You wore navy blue slacks with a midnight belt and a dark grey button-up shirt with a tie that resembled the night sky. You hoped she would enjoy the tie part, seeing as to how her hair sparkled with little stars. At least, that's what it looked like. Finishing getting ready, you collapse on your bed, careful not to mess yourself up, looking at the clock. 5:30, an hour to go. Too nervous to do anything to sit there and stare into space thinking about everything but the date you are going to have tonight. Food, sleep, groceries, errands, why one light in your house seemed to be flickering even though it was turned off, no wait it was on. Probably should get that fixed at some point you think to yourself.

And then you waited.

And waited.

And waited.

This last hour seemed to defy the laws of time and slow down to an old turtle shuffle. Or at least that one time tank walked that one day after Rainbow got you to try that energy drink she brewed up herself. Man that was one wild drink, You didn't even remember what happened afterward. Just Tank started to slow down and Rainbow started talking in a low voice. Sitting at the foot of your bed, all other thoughts having been run through you go to one series of ideas you wish you didn't: every bad scenario of this date playing out in your head. It was tortuous, it was maddening, and it wasn't even Sparta! All of the little things that could go wrong did go wrong in your mind, each scenario worse than the last. It started with you tripping, then to you accidentally insulting her, then sending her into a Nightmare Moon state. In the back of your mind you knew everything was probably going to be fine and that this anxiety was all in your head. As the thoughts ran their course this voice started becoming louder when the scenarios ended with Luna banishing you to the moon and raping you. Where in the holy heavens did that came from, you didn't know and prayed that it wouldn't happen. It would make for one hell of a story, though.

Eyeing the clock for what felt like the millionth time, it read 6:17. Might as well get a move-on... You think. Even though some of the worst thoughts you ever had in your entire life were in that hour, you wished you had it back. You grab your wallet, plenty of cash for dinner, and your key. Not sure why you needed your key, crime in Ponyville was practically nonexistent, but then again there was other problems this town had and maybe it was a good thing. You exit your house, lock it, and make the walk to Sugercube Corner. You're thankful the eatery is only a short walk away for the afternoon sun was hot... very hot indeed. One thing you learned of Ponyville, and loved, was the summers. Yes, they were hotter than holy hell, but they were some of the most beautiful days you have ever seen. But the nights... they were breathtaking.

You first noticed them after pulling the graveyard shift at the hospital. Having come from Las Pegasus and then the school in Canterlot, where the lights shined brightly all the time, when you arrived here you were captivated by it. Seeing the night sky from this sleepy little town Well, kind of sleepy. You couldn't take your eyes off of it. The first night you stayed up and saw it fully, the whole place could have been burning and you would have never have noticed. The stars and their constellations, the moon shining brightly. Shooting stars and the occasional meteor shower that ran through town. Especially that last one, that one was spectacular to say the least and even now there were still talks about it, and that was months ago. While the bonus you got for working nights was good, you had to admit, seeing that view from the hospitals main lobby was well worth the job. You never seemed to get tired of it for some reason.

One thing you were getting tired of, was this dang heat! It didn't help you were in these formal clothes that only added to it. Just as the heat was beginning to get to you, you saw the giant sweet house appear around a corner and give a breath of relief. You walk faster to escape the horrible heat. A smile graces your face as you open the door and feel the cool breeze blow past you. The nice breeze is replaced by curly pink hair and a face with a smile impossibly big for it.

"Hey Gray Flames! Ready for your daaaaaate?!" Pinkie asked in her childish way that only she could.

It somewhat catches you off guard, but then again, this is Pinkie Pie. What could possibly go wrong with her? Did I just think that?

"Twi told ya, huh?" You eventually ask with a slight smile.

"No! My hair itched and then my left foot spasmed and a cupcake exploded, but that could have been the new frosting I'm using!"

"Oh one of your, wait... Exploding cupcakes? Why were there exploding cupcakes?" You ask, worry in your voice.

"Don't worry, I'm still working on the recipe, so we aren't serving them yet!"

Come to think about it, I want to try one. "Alright, so where's my- erm, our table?"

"Right this way!" Pinkie begins to bounce (literally) off.

After a short walk, you find yourself in a somewhat distant corner booth, a romantic setting if a giant gingerbread house could be romantic. One thing you did admit though, while this place changed at night to a more relaxed high class setting at night. Well, as much as a upper class as one could get in Ponyville but it was different than the part place it was normally! One awesome party house and bakery! You slid into the seat and glance at your watch: 6:21. She should be here soon. Butterflies begin to roam about your stomach at the thought of what was to come. You wondered, for the first time, actually, what dating a princess would be like. Assuming this date went well enough to move onto a second date, what would it be like? Would paparazzi crowd you all the time? Would you have to visit the castle a lot? What would people think of Luna?

These questions floated around in your mind like a swarm of bees, they were not angry, however. Nervous, but not angry. The angry ones happened earlier and you were glad those left. You look at your watch again, 6:28. How did time go so fast? You look around to make sure she hadn't arrived yet. Looking at the other tables and booths you could see revealed that she wasn't here yet. A bunch of others were that was for sure and you sort of sank into the booth. You remembered last time when she arrived and the whole town went into a panic. How was everyone going to react when she arrived this time? Panic? Screams? Was she going to somehow blame you for it? Giant evil spiders?

Not these thoughts again! Begone with you!

Everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves and not paying attention and you hoped it wouldn't be that bad. But the time was quickly approaching. Any minute now she would enter through the very door you did. Wow, that sounded like a fanboy moment. You hope you don't get star-struck (no pun intended) when you started having dinner with her. That would make things awkward and practically guarantee that there would be no second date. Looking at your watch, it read the fateful 6:30. And then you raise your head when you hear the soft chime of the bell hung above the door when it opens and you finally see her. A few noticed, and from there everyone else turned their heads to see the Princess of the Night walking in. Many turn back not wanting to anger her or anything, while a few others shudder in stunned silence. You however look on amazed at the sight.

The first thing you notice is how she seems much shorter then when you saw her on Nightmare Night. She also didn't seem quite... well, royal. She seemed to follow the formal theme as well, thankfully, she wore a dress that cascaded down her left leg to her ankle while ending at mid-thigh on her right leg. Her dress had a single strap that was roughly an inch thick that was on her right shoulder, giving the dress a nice balance. Her dress seemed to be a darker version of her hair, millions of tiny sparkles glinting as she moved. Speaking of, her hair was let down to flow in the mystical, tantalizing way it did, the tiny stars shining bright in the restaurant. She was also missing her tiara, a shame too, she was cute in it, in your mind. What was catching your eye most was her skin; aside from being next to flawless, it was very pale, almost paper white. The contrast between her dress and skin was surprising. As she walked to the counter to see Pinkie about your table, she didn't carry herself as royalty should, but much like you did; lonely, depressed, and overall miserable. That's not to say she didn't have an air of authority about her, far from it. The feel of respect she demanded almost blotted out the way she walked.

When she arrived at the counter, Pinkie gave her Pinkie Pie greeting and showed her to the table you currently sat in. Once she noticed that table was the one she was going to sit in, her eyes locked with yours. Even though your gaze was one with hers for only a moment, it expressed many things. In her teal eyes lay a loneliness that haunted your eyes, a need for touch that was from anyone, even as little as a hand to hold in your own, and in a much smaller amount, hope that the other would be ready to find someone to smile at, to hold in their arms, to wake up to, to be able to say, "I love you" after all the lonely years. But the royal authority was now there as well, trying in vain to cover up everything that glowed behind those eyes. Sitting down across from you, she keeps her face neutral, the feelings in her eyes save the authority leaving, making her rather intimidating. Pinkie places two menus down and states that she will be back soon to take your orders.

With one last grin, she leaves you and Luna alone to begin your date.

For several moments, the two of you simply look at one another. Luna almost glares at you while you feel uneasy in your seat under her authoritative gaze. Nervously, you are the first to look away, hoping that if you gaze off she will attempt to break the silence. You notice Twilight enter and begin to talk with Pinkie in a hushed voice. What is she doing here? Curious, you were about to rise when Luna speaks.

"Good evening." She says in her normal voice and not the Royal Voice, thank Celestia.

Wow, she has a pretty voice. "H-hello." You kick yourself for stuttering. Mentally, of course.

"How are you doing tonight?" The way she talks seems almost forced, like she doesn't know how to hold small talk with another person. Then again, after a thousand-year banishment, she probably doesn't.

"I'm, uh, I'm fine. How are you?" Damnit, stop fucking up!

"I am well." She states flatly.

Damn, that was cold enough to freeze water. "That's... good." You hesitate slightly.

"Are you nervous?" She asks, slight worry leaking into her voice.

I'm on a date with Princess mother fucking Luna, what do you think? Oh dear Celestia, she can't read thoughts, can she?!?!

Yeah, a little.

She raises an eyebrow. You raise one as well as a thought enters your head you suddenly shiver at.

Fuck me. Well, not like that! If you can hear me, that is. Speak, idiot!

"Okay, maybe a bit more than a little."

You begin to feel a blush grow on your cheeks.

"I am a little nervous myself." She says, her face still void of emotion.

Thank Celestia you weren't playing poker. She could have a high card when you had a royal flush and you would still fold. Maybe it was because you were bad at poker, either way, this is best left reviewed another time.

You let out a nervous chuckle. "Really? I thought you would be cool like a cucumber." What the fuck did I just say?!?!

Luna lets out a small giggle, "What saying is that? I fear I have not heard it before."

Her giggle is fucking adorable. "It's something my mom would say... whenever I saw her." You start off happy and then remember your mom, ending sad.

"Did something happen to your mother?" Luna asks, showing compassion, if only slightly, and curiosity.

"No, nothing's happened to her. It's just, when I was a kid, my dad and my mom always seemed to have something to do that didn't need me." You explain, sounding slightly depressed.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I reminded you of a painful memory." Luna said softly, showing some remorse.

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine." you say, perking back up and putting on a smile.

Luna smiles as well, for the first time that night and hopefully not the last. "Oh, good."

Now a new silence settles around you, the kind when two old friends meeting for the first time in ages have when they don't know what to say. Remembering you haven't so much as opened the menu, you do so and browse the meals. Peeking around your menu, you see Luna has done the same. Going back to the list of food, mostly goodies that were best saved for desert, you settle on the chicken parmesan with risotto. Italian, always a good choice of meal. Pinkie comes bouncing up right as you put the menu down, notepad and pen in hand.

"Are you two ready to order?" She asks, seemingly more bubbly then usual.

"I'll have the chicken parmesan with risotto and angel hair." You say, stomach rumbling just from the thought of it.

"I will have the summer fruit salad with caramel dipping sauce." Luna says, her menu down as well.

"Ooohhh! That's my favorite! I'll be back with your food soon!" Pinkie finishes her writing and bounds off for the kitchen.

Luna has a slightly confused look. "Is that dish truly her favorite of all of these?" She asks.

You chuckle lightly, "With Pinkie Pie? Everything is her favorite."

"How could that be? Do people not have but one favorite?" Luna asks, her old way of talking coming off as rather adorable to you.

"No, people often only have one favorite of something, but Pinkie is the kind of person that loves everything and everyone. It's impossible to not be her friend, she is one of the kindest, most compassionate people I know. All she wants to do is make people smile and throw some of the best parties anyone has ever had. I bet she jumped at the opportunity to help out with our date." You say, unable to keep a smile off your face.

"Hmm. I have not met anyone that wants to make everyone happy. It must be quite exhausting." Luna says, a thoughtful gaze on her face.

"Actually, you have met her. She was the chicken last Nightmare Night. Do you remember? She laid that egg? That was actually very weird."

Luna thought for a moment, "Ah, yes, now I remember her. All she did was run and scream whenever I attempted to become friends with her. It was rather unpleasant..." she has a sad undertone at the last sentence.

"Why? I thought Twilight taught you how to enjoy people when they were looking for a good scare?" You ask, worried at the sudden turn of things.

"How can you have friends when all they want is 'a good scare'?" Luna asked sadly, not looking at you.

Well when you put it that way.... "Yeah, I know what it's like to want friends but not find them."

Luna perked up a bit, "Really? I thought that you had many friends such as my sister’s student, Twilight Sparkle?"

"I don't have that many friends, but she is one of them. I actually didn't have any friends until I was 13 and met Octavia, she's a Cello player in Canterlot by now. Even then, I still didn't get more friends until I moved here last year." You explain.

"The only friends I have made since my return are Twilight Sparkle and her friends."

You feel bad for her but she keeps talking before you can say anything. What she said next however nearly knocked you out of your seat and onto the floor.

"And you, if you are willing."

Is she? No she can't be? Can she?

I am

She is!

You can't believe it yourself, but Luna was actually asking for you to be her friend. You actually did it, despite all the worry and fear, Gray Flames right here actually made Luna want to be his friend. She looks to you somewhat concerned for his silence. Recovering from the shock and amazement you return her smile. "I would love to be your friend."

With that you reach out and place a hand on her own. She gives a small gasp of surprise and turns red in the face, adorable to you. At that point however you both turn in confusion when you hear a squeeing noise in the near-empty room. You see Twilight notice your gaze and turn quickly away like she hadn't been looking your direction. You smile slightly before turning back to Luna, your hand still on hers.

"What was that noise?" She asks you in confusion, noticing your hand for the first time and blushing slightly.

"I'm sure it was Pinkie cooking our food." You say. Who owes who one now, Twilight?

"Ah, I see." She then turns her hand over and grips yours softly, her skin feeling like velvet on yours, her touch electrifying your nerves in the greatest possible way. Unable to help the blush on your face, you smile at her and notice a small blush form on her as she smiles back.

Then Pinkie comes bounding out the door, a plate one hand and a bowl in another to you, ruining the moment and causing you two to retract your hands. As you do, your hand feels naked without hers. You ponder just how a hand can feel naked before Pinkie arrives and places the plate in front of you and the bowl in front of Luna. "Enjoy your meals! I'll be back to check on you shortly!" And with that, she's out of sight.

Not wasting a moment, both you and Luna dug into your meals, keeping light conversation as you eat. One thing that catches you by surprise is how hungry you've gotten since you arrived. Maybe it was the nerves that wasted your energy, or maybe it was that you hadn't eaten a thing all day since this morning. To say the chicken Parmesan was the best you ever had would be a massive understatement. Everything about your meal was perfect, from the chicken being white all the way through to the pasta being perfectly al dante, or al dente, el denta? You never could really remember what word was used to describe pasta. Luna expressed how her salad was sublime, all of the fruits being sweet and ripe as though they had been picked just before the salad was made. You joked when you asked if it was better than what the castle served and were completely surprised when Luna enthusiastically said that it was. You both shared a laugh at that.

Well so far this ain't that bad. Wonder if Luna is enjoying this

I am. Thanks for wondering

You go wide eyed and look up to Luna who is fortunately, enjoying her food, albeit looking at you again. You try and keep your thoughts to a minimum because she can read them at her own will. You go back to your food and concentrate on eating when you suddenly hear a little *burp* from across from you. You look up to see Luna sitting there with a shocked and embarrassed look on her face. She holds her hand over her face and looks at you as if she had just done the worst possible thing. You meanwhile, laugh a little at it, it sounded so cute! She however looks mortified that she just did that and looks around in near panic trying to find something that would change the subject. You got back to your food still chuckling a little from what happened when you discover that your food is, suddenly, gone. You check the time and it's been a half of hour and your food was gone. Sure you were full, but you were just starting to enjoy yourselves, or yourself at least.

The sudden realization came down as you noticed her food, and your food was finished, not helped as Pinkie appeared as if out of the bottom of the table. You saw this as perfectly normal for Pinkie, Luna not so much.

“Tell me, how does one do that?” she asked Pinkie

You are starting to love her old way of talking.

“Do what?” asked Pinkie confused

“How does one appear from underneath thine table?” commented Luna

I hope she knows she's never going to get a straight answer.

Well do you know then?

She looked to you wanting a answer. You remember her apparent ability to read thoughts in your mind. You give her a dull look but her piercing inquisitive gaze does not leave her face. Pinkie Pie meanwhile is looking at both of you confused.

Best you leave this alone. It's Pinkie Pie, we can't really answer how. You think, hoping she is listening

We? Thou uses the royal we as well?

You give a small chuckle at that thought. No I meant the whole town, or all of Equestria. You get used to it after awhile. It's actually entertaining.

If you say so.

“Are you guys talking without talking?” asked Pinkie Pie

“What's the bill?” you asked knowing that's why she is here

“Well, do want some desserts?” she asked with a big smile

“Well, I, uh-” you start

“No Pinkie, it is late I must be getting back to Canterlot to watch over the night.”

“Awe, ok. Well, here's the bill.”

You look at it, questioning as to why it's only a few bits. You glance over to Twilight who you swear had something to do with that and hand Pinkie the money.

“Okie-dokie! I hope you two enjoyed your date!” she squeaks before bounding off

You get a few awkward looks from the other patrons as they realize what was going on. You get out of your seat as Luna does the same and you both walk to the door and step outside. Looking at the time it is 7:15, a short date, but it didn't nearly go as bad as your worst fears, and those were some bad fears. Your still here and ain't on the moon and Luna didn't go off on a tangent. Well, so far anyway. As the two of you step outside you look to the sun setting thanks to Celestia as you finally speak.

“I guess you go have to raise the moon now?”

“Yes.” she says rigidly, back to that again

She turns to you and you can tell she is trying to put the words together but can't find the right combination to say. You wait patiently until she looks at you again, your eyes locking. The royal authority is there, but this time it seems for protection or something. Behind them there is something else, what appears to be, dare you say it, happiness? Hope or something?

“I...had... a good... time... tonight. Thank you Gray Flames.”

“Your welcome. I enjoyed it... as well.”

In honest, you did, but you were a nervous wreck inwardly half the time.

“Well,... I must go now.”

With that she spreads her wings and flies off with a grace you've never seen, even among yourself, although you take off like a train. You watch her as she flies back to Canterlot, the stars starting to come out around her until she appears nothing more than a star in the sky to yourself.

I just had a date with Princess Luna!

You hold your hands up in victory and one could see the sweat that had formed around your armpits and it wasn't the heat that caused it either. You let out a cry of victory, getting a few odd looks from others who were still out and about. You don't care, you lower your arms and smile a big grin. With that and this date finally over, you collapse onto the ground.