These Sweet Summer Nights

Everything was perfect - and yet, I couldn't bring myself to sleep. The warm air had just a touch of humidity, but every once in a while a cool breeze would drift in the wake of the water's clockwork cycle. In and out. The water lapped at the shore, swelling over the sand and cooling what remained of the sun's fading heat. The bullfrogs that perched in the bog-like section of the lake croaked in tune to an invisible maestro, forming the notes of a beautiful symphony. I clenched my eyes shut and shifted in my position, kicking away the covers - the go-to, fail-safe solution for every sleepless night.... had failed.

With a defeated groan, I swung my legs over the side of my bed and groped through the pitch black air for my bathrobe. The sky blue robe successfully tied around me, I made my way hesitantly down the stairs with my hoof on the banister. I crept down the hallway, careful not to disturb mom and dad as I passed their room. My heart lurched as a loud creak emanated from the floor. Thankfully, my mother's dragon-like snoring was enough to mask the disturbance, and I was soon on my way outside.

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs to the brim with the crisp night air. I grinned as the familiar hum of crickets chirping droned on around me. A few fireflies buzzed about like lone stars in the dark. I was perfectly alone... free to spend the wee hours of the night in the peaceful embrace of nature. Mom would kick my butt if she caught me, but I'm sure Diamond could persuade her that it was just some harmless summer pass-time. Yes, sweet solitude. That was until I noticed the flickering glow of a lantern emanating from the beach. Cocking my head, I followed the light. Sure enough, the silhouette of an earth pony sitting alone beside a candlelight lantern came into view. I could hear him mumbling something to himself as he gazed up at the lone moon, a sliver against the sky.

"Nightheart? Is that you?" I asked. The colt whipped his head around to see me, clearly startled.

"Viola! You... scared me." he gasped. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing." I retorted. Something competitive within me always urged me to argue when it came to questioning.

"I was just... getting some.. fresh air." he mumbled with a shrug.

"Right. And I'm an alicorn. What were you really doing out here?" I said with a smirk. I settled down on the sand beside him, dipping my hooves in the water. Despite my sarcasm, he laughed.

"Can you keep a secret?" the colt sighed. To my surprise, I felt the brush of his foreleg against my back as it found its way in the sand just behind me. I nodded vigorously. "Well.... I sneak out here every night and talk-" the remainder of his sentence came out in an incoherent murmur.

"Huh?"

"I kinda... talk to the moon sometimes. Feels like she's the only one who'll listen to me anymore." he whispers. I could nearly feel the heat rising of his cheeks. He was afraid. Afraid of being judged, most likely. I nodded slowly in silent response, pressing my tongue against my cheek. I admit, talking to the moon was odd. But something about him didn't leave me surprised.

"Why's the moon a "she"? Is it Luna?" I asked.

"No. Not Luna. The moon herself. She's a 'she' because the moon reminds me of my mom in some ways. The moon is there for me as much as it can be, like my mom. She has to work two jobs to pay for rent, while my dad handles a carpentry business of the side. She's hardly ever home, but when she is, she makes sure I'm fed and happy. And my mom always listens to me and calms me down." Nightheart explained.

I bit my lip as I fought the urge to reach out to him, hug him, do.... something to calm him as his shoulders convulsed in a sob. I knew he was trying to hide it from me, the way his head jerked away. Probably trying to look tough for me. Truth was, I didn't care for those insensitive colts. I placed a hoof on his shoulder, resting my head on it as that very hoof worked across his back and hugged his side.

"Shh." I cooed.

"I... um, I also like looking at the night sky because it fascinates me. Shooting stars, comets and the like. I admire the moon the most though. I study her cycles all the time. I love Astronomy. That is even how I got my cutie mark." he said, gesturing to his thigh. In the dim glow of the lantern's light, I could make out the mark of a large heart with a crescent moon behind it.

"No kidding! My dad got his cutie mark from astronomy too! You remind me a lot of him.... he likes the moon the best as well. He tried teaching me the constellations once... but I kinda forgot." I giggled.

"Wow, really? Maybe I could meet him sometime. I'm still working on the constellations myself - I've got this big book of them and I read it as much as I can."

I hear the sound of a door swing open, and the sound of hoofsteps on the creaking boards of Nightheart's porch. I winced, praying to Celestia it wasn't the same stallion I had seen earlier in the afternoon. Nightheart seemed to have the same reaction, but his tensed muscles soon relaxed in my grasp as a mare approached us instead. She had a warm smile on her face, but the bags beneath her eyes was a clear signal that she worked hard.

"Nightheart, dear. It's time to come inside. You know how your father feels about you being out here." she said, her words carried to us in the gentle embrace of the wind. Her voice was beautiful; firm yet soothing. Nightheart nodded and stood to his hooves. The mare glanced at me. "Hello. I'm Nightheart's mom, Wind Whisperer."

"Nice to meet you." I responded quietly. Nightheart waved a hoof in goodbye, clenching the lantern handle in his teeth. I waved silently, a grin on my face. The two returned to their house. Nightheart vanishing after his mother, but not before he had paused to smile at me. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the birches beside me, snaking down my spine and chilling me to the bone. Tying my robe a little tighter, I made my way to my cabin, a bounce in my step as I trotted to the tune of the crickets and the frogs.