The singing. It was quiet, and barely audible within the heart of Equestria. The soft tones were beautiful enough to lull a foal to sleep, and enthralling enough to capture the attention of all of the heartland. Not a soul stirred, and not a pony made a sound as the beautiful singing waved across the land. Families came and openned their windows to better hear the rhythm. That is when they saw it.
The stars in the sky. They were quivering. The normal twinkle to go with them was heavily accented by the way they seemed to sway and move in time with the singing. The stars were dancing! To all, the beauty of this sight was unparalleled. Many wished they could capture this moment to hang upon their wall, or to review in later years.
The moon stayed still, as the stars themselves seemed to spiral around it, one leap, one step, and one bound at a time. The singing continued in it's soft and beautiful tune, beginning into a crescendo. The stars remained ever graceful in their midnight waltz, circling the moon. Finally, the stars slowly seemed to fall from the sky. For some, it was into their own city. For others, it was beyond the horizon. Soon, save for the moonlight, now seeming infinitely brighter, the sky went dark.
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It was as if one were watching millions of particles of magic as they slowly danced around the alicorn of the night. Luna smiled as the stars slowly spun, spiraled and danced around her, her horn aglow with magic. Her singing slowly died down to a quiet hum as the stars slowly settled into the ground, becoming solid. The platform upon which Luna stood was raised high, and was large enough to house every star.
Luna smiled as her creation slowly took shape. The stars began to shift position, slowly forming into an image. First, it was a mountain, the stars changing color as needed. Then she made the image of a family of ponies, resting on a hill. The stars continued their dance, all the while her humming continued, soothing the ponies across Equestria.
Luna raised the stars once more into the air, before turning and letting the wind take them into the distance. She nodded as the stars blew away, across Equestria. “Go on, children. This night belongs to you. Worry not. I shall watch from above.”
And so they did. The stars began to slowly weave and fly through Equestria. A young filly in Canterlot squealed with delight as they seemed to swirl around her, before spiraling off into the distance. The singing began once more, the words no more than little wordless lullabies. Luna sang gently, but with passion.
In Ponyville, the stars entered into the room of a young foal, scaring her at first, but mystifying her with their dance. They spun and swirled, and finally fled out of her bedroom window and back into the night. The filly called to her parents, and she showed them the stars as they slowly made their way across the town.
In the city of Cloudsdale, a beginner athelete gasped for breath as he flew along, trying to beat his previous record. He hadn't seen the falling stars, but he had heard the song, and it had inspired him to come out here and work towards his goal. He felt himself faltering, and was about to begin a plummet to the hard and condensed cloudy surface below when his wings suddenly felt suspended, and soothed.
A glance in either direction showed him the stars themselves having suspended him in the air, allowing him to rest. He smiled and laughed as a solitary star came out from the crowd, and gently brushed by his nose. It was warm, incredibly so, but very comforting. It felt alive.
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Lunas song gradually died down once more to a quiet hum. She opened her eyes, having closed them in the peace. She turned slightly, her gaze resting on the now open door that opened onto the balcony. Standing in the open doorway, Celestia herself held a warm smile on her face. They said nothing as Celestia stepped up next to Luna, and seated herself. “I see you decided to do it.” Celestia said quietly.
“Yes. Their loneliness could not be ignored.” Luna replied, giving a slow nod.
“you know they must return before sunrise.” Celestia reminded carefully, looking over at her younger sister.
“I know, sister. Just let them have this night,” Luna said sadly, looking out over the snow sparkling land before them.
“I have no intention of robbing them of their time. Just remember to return them to the sky before sunrise.” Silence befell the alicorn sisters as they watched the land sparkle with millions of tiny stars.
“They are older than I, sister. And yet they are amazingly like children.” Luna smiled as one of the stars danced back curiously to the balcony. “They need care. they need company and nurture. Yet in all of the time they reside in the sky, they can never see us like we see them.”
“It is no different with the Sun.” Celestia nodded.
“It has existed since eons before you or I. Same with the moon.”
“But they all belong in the sky.” Celestia said, resulting in a heavy sigh from Luna.
“I know, sister. But they are always so lonely. They can see our world from afar... but they never understand what it looks like up close.” Luna explained.
“You felt their sadness, then?” Celestia asked, shifting to better see her sister.
“Of course. Always so sad, and ever lonely. But also curious and inquisitive.” Luna said, resulting in a nod from Celestia. For several long hours they sat there, watching the stars dance and weave across Equestria. Finally, Celestia looked over at Luna.
“It's time.” She said simply. Luna nodded, and stood from her sitting position. A soft hum left her mouth, gradually turning once more into a beautiful lullaby. Slowly, but surely, the stars began to swirl and return to their positions in the night sky. She nodded sadly at them all.
“Rest now, children. Your dance has touched many. We shall not forget the wonder you have given to all of us tonight. When the day is right, we may yet have one more dance of the stars.”
