"Princess?" she heard a soft voice say before her.
Startled out of her thoughts, Princess Luna noticed a black pegasi hovering a short ways in front of her. Though his dark color made him appear mostly as a dark shadow against the backdrop of the night sky, the moonlight allowed her to see his lips forming a slight frown while his near-silver, blue eyes looked at her with concern.
"Hello there," she said. "Sorry I didn't notice you approach. Might I help you with something?"
"Oh.. No.." he replied slowly, as if trying to decide what he should say or do. "It's just.. I mean.."
She couldn't help smiling a little to herself, even as it seemed to her that here was another that was scared of her. With an inaudible sigh she used her magic to snag a small cloud from nearby and brought it closer.
"No need to tire yourself out hovering there. Please, have a seat."
He skipped half a wing-beat before making his way to the cloud, kneeling briefly, and sitting. "Thank you Princess. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but you looked.. sad."
She looked up at her moon trying to decide what to say. This young stallion had no need to hear her thoughts and wouldn't understand anyway. From the corner of her eyes she noticed him looking up to watch the moon as well.
"I've always loved the night, the moon, and the stars. Ever since I learned the story of Snowdrop in weather class."
Her head jerked to look at him of its own accord, but he kept his eyes on the moon and continued, "The teacher didn't give many details, but I went to the library after school and found a book about it. The story seemed like magic and I almost felt like I could feel what she did listening for the stars and trying to give it form in the snow."
Now he dropped his eyes and looked at her again. "I can't hear the stars like she did, even when I listen with all my might. But I feel emotion when I look at them. I mean.. I feel emotion that isn't mine. They were always so sad, but they've been happier this past year."
She looked away, scanning across the sky and trying to hold back any tears. "I am glad you enjoy my night. Nopony else seems to, even after a thousand years."
"You're wrong, Princess. They enjoy it, but for different reasons than the day."
She brought her gaze back upon him and could feel tears forming in spite of her will. "Look around. None are out enjoying my night. They still welcome the day and bask in my sister's glory, hiding away when the night falls."
He shifted his gaze to the starry sky and, after a brief period of silence, began to speak again. "Ponies do work, run errands, and play in the day. However, when they need comfort they seek it at night. Friends gather around campfires together, lovers go on moonlit walks or have a picnic under the stars, and ponies with troubled minds wander night-cloaked fields seeking answers in the sky.. much as you seemed to be doing when I saw you."
Memories were triggered by his words of just such cases, but so few by comparison. "Yes. Some ponies do enjoy the night, but not many."
"No. Very many. Nearly everypony seeks some sort of comfort in the night from time to time. It may not be very often for most, but when the need does arrive they are very happy that the night is there for them."
She couldn't stop a small smile from taking over. "Do you truly think so?"
"I'm sure of it. I've thought about it a lot." There was an almost unnoticeable pause before he continued, "This isn't the first time I've seen you watching the sky and looking sad, but I didn't know what to say.. and I didn't know how to act around a princess. Then I was looking at the stars tonight, and it felt like they wanted me to just come over and say hi."
He gave a slightly nervous looking grin.
"I'm glad you did."
There was a silence again as they both watched the stars, though Luna's thoughts were busy going over what the young pegasus had said. It was true that ponies did go out in her night. She had always compared the number who did so to those that went out in the day, and the few who would be out at a time had her focusing on the idea that it must be only a few. Thinking back she could see many hundreds or even thousands of difference faces - it wasn't just a few enjoying her night, it was only a few at a time!
Her heart warmed and her smile grew as the thought rang clear in her mind, 'Ponies do love my night!' She didn't need crowds and noise in her night. Now that she had been shown the truth, she could focus on those few at a time to ensure they got what they needed from her night.
"I think they missed you."
Caught by surprise at this sudden breaking of the silence, she reflexively asked, "Who?"
"The stars. I said they felt sad before, but feel happier now. They started feeling happier only after your return. I think they were sad because they missed you."
Again he had triggered a storm of new thoughts. She had always loved her stars, but hadn't considered that they might have feelings as well. True they had aided her escape from the moon, but that had been Nightmare Moon they aided. Or had it? Why didn't they help her escape sooner then? They didn't help her escape until after Twilight had met all of the ponies who would become the Bearers of Harmony. Perhaps the stars had just been waiting until the time was right that they could get her back, not Nightmare Moon.
She smiled again at the thought that a pegasus she'd never met before could help her see things around herself so differently.
"Thank you. You've given me a lot to think about. You know, I still don't know your name."
His cheeks seemed to grow a shade darker as he replied, "Oh sorry! I'm Star Shadow, Princess."
She smiled warmly at him. "Please, call me Luna."
"Thank you. I need to go now. I have weather duties in the morning. It was a pleasure to speak to you."
"No, thank you. And please, feel free to watch the stars with me again in the future."
"I will! Good night, Luna." He launched himself with a grin and waved as he flew off.
She watched him go, feeling a new warmth holding away the old sadness. Finally she looked up at the stars and whispered, "Thank you friends. That was exactly what I needed."
Author's Note
That's it, just a simple interaction that's been begging to be written down for well over a year - ever since watching "Luna Eclipsed." And yes, unless the show specifically counters it, I'm treating Snowdrop's story as part of valid Equestrian history. Please let me know what you think.
** To those who may be annoyed at Luna not using her royal we's and old English: I'm not familiar enough with those to avoid butchering an attempt at them right now, so it was better to just steer clear. It's also been at about a year since her return in this story, so let's just say she's been learning more about modern speech habits.
I finally drew up what Star Shadow looks like: On to Deviantart!
Author's Note
Previously this chapter was a separate story. However, I've long felt it made more sense as a second chapter to this one rather than a sequel. Since that point, I've always planned to move it here if I did a third piece.
Commissioned a bit of cover art and decided to go ahead with the move.
Appreciating the Moon
Princess Luna woke at her usual time of evening, stretched, and climbed from her bed. As was her habit, she pulled apart the curtains of her chamber to gaze out on the evening sky before refreshing herself. A thick bed of clouds could be seen, outlined in reds and golds, stretched out across the city and out into the surrounding lands.
With a deep sigh and shake of her head she turned away again, closing the curtains on the sight.
It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the view. It was, in fact, quite lovely. However, clouds meant that even those few who might be out would be unable to truly take in her night.
It had been a week since her unexpected conversation with Star Shadow. Though she felt better for it, she had not yet had the opportunity to help those who might seek peace or answers in the night. And with the thick cloud-cover, it was unlikely this night would change that.
Celestia arrived as she was pushing aside the last of her breakfast. "Well sister, are you ready to take your watch?"
"Yes," she replied as she stood. "Though with all the clouds, I doubt I shall have much to see."
"Oh, I wouldn't know about that. I saw a pegasus clearing clouds over Canterlot as I was making my way here."
Stepping out onto the balcony showed this to be true. Half of the city was now almost cloud-free, though no pegasus was in sight any longer, so further clearing was unlikely.
Once the sun had been put to rest and the moon risen, Luna bid a good night to her sister and looked out over the quiet below. A few ponies were still in the street, but their numbers were quickly shrinking as they found their ways home.
'Perhaps I should just focus on the dreamscape tonight. All seems quiet out here.'
No sooner had that thought crossed her mind when she noticed a unicorn with a picnic basket held in his magic knocking on a door. Now, picnics are usually a daytime affair, so by all rights the fellow should be heading home, but who would knock on their own door?
A mare answered the door, greeted the stallion with a smile and hug. Together they set out down the street oblivious to the curious princess watching from her tower. As Luna realized that they were heading in the direction of the park she practically danced in place.
'They're out at night! A picnic at night!' she chanted in her mind. 'At last a chance...'
As they walked, she slowly called up a misty aura around the full moon, making it seem larger and brighter. Finishing just as they came to a halt in a small clearing in the park, she then focused on making the stars twinkle just a bit more noticeable and thanked that unknown pegasus mentally for clearing this side of the city tonight.
Though she made sure to check elsewhere for signs of trouble, Luna's primary attention was on the couple as they ate and talked. She was a bit disappointed that they didn't seem to be paying attention to the special effort she had put in for them, but when they finished eating they snuggled up next to each other and finally turned their attention to the moon and the sky around it.
They sat there quietly for a few minutes before an idea popped into Luna's head and she sent a single star shooting across the portion of the night sky they were watching.
The reaction was immediate. The mare pointed and started talking while the stallion smiled, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Shortly, he turned to his companion and began saying something to her. She seemed to freeze, one hoof to her mouth, before suddenly launching herself at him in a tackle and kissing him.
As the kiss continued, Luna blushed and turned to walk inside. 'I think now would be a good time to check on the state of the dreamscape...'
~*~
None of the three noticed the pegasus high above on a cloud as he watched the princess leave her balcony. A smile forming, he launched himself and flew away.
'Now to figure out what to tell my weather captain about why I cleared the sky without permission...'
Passing over Hoofington, he noticed a young colt that seemed to be hiding in a bush outside of the town with his hooves over his head.
'Looks like my night isn't quite over yet,' he thought. And dove.
~*~
The next evening, as she sat down to breakfast, Luna was surprised to find three letters had been delivered with it. All three envelopes had her name on them, though one appeared to have been written in crayon. Setting that one aside for last, she opened one of the others:
To Princess Luna:
Lemon Zest was much more detailed in his letter, but I still wanted to give you my own thanks for the wonderful night last night. It was the most beautiful one I can remember seeing and made the perfect setting for our date. (And to tell the truth, I don't think he'd have had the courage to ask me to marry him if he hadn't gotten to wish on that star!)
Sincerely,
Sweet Treat
'Oh. That must have been the couple in the park. That explains the tackle.' she thought with a chuckle.
She opened the next letter, interested in hearing what the stallion had written.
Princess Luna:
Thank you for that beautiful night and the shooting star last night. I have been dating Sweet Treat for over a year, but I could never get up the courage to ask her to marry me. I finally planned a night picnic hoping that it'd be easier to ask without other ponies around, but in the market preparing for the picnic I thought it would have to be cancelled with all those clouds looking like we might get rain. Luckily, a pegasus overheard a comment by me and told me he was going to be clearing the west side of the city before nightfall.
It could have just been that I was with Sweet at the time, but I'd swear the night got more beautiful as we made our way to the park. With no one else around, it felt like the night was just for us. And I'll tell you, she never looked more lovely to me than last night with the stars reflecting in her eyes.
And then there was that shooting star! I told myself that this was it, made a silent wish, and finally popped the question. And she said yes!
I saw that same pegasus in the market this morning and thanked him for clearing the sky, but he told me he was just doing his job, and that if I wanted to thank someone for the night I should thank you.
So, thank you again!
Thank you,
Lemon Zest
By this point, Luna had quite the smile on her face. 'They noticed. They noticed from the start!' She paused in thought for a few moments. 'I wonder if I could find that pegasus to thank him myself. He did me two favors in clearing the sky and mentioning me to these two.'
Finally she turned to the last letter, very curious as to just who this could be from. 'Perhaps from that young colt in Ponyville I met on Nightmare Night..'
Hi Princess Luna! You don't know me. Well, you may know me, but I never met you. Thank you for protecting me from monsters! Last night I got so scared. I fell asleep in the meadow, and when I woke up it was night. I was so scared I ran and hid in the closest bush I could find.
Then something big and dark swooped out of the sky and landed by my bush. I knew I was about to get eaten! I didn't though, it was just a pegasus. He just looked scary cause he was all dark colored, but he was nice and offered to walk me home.
When we were walking, he told me I didn't need to be scared because you watch at night to protect us. He said that you make the moon and stars so pretty to let us know we don't need to be afraid. I looked at them when he told me, and I wasn't afraid anymore.
Then he told me the most amazing thing. He said that you even protect us from nightmares in our dreams! Is that true? Can you go inside dreams? Can you visit me sometime in mine?
Leaf Chaser
Luna clutched the letter to her chest and began crying. She wasn't really thinking anymore at this point, she just knew that this letter, crayon and all, was the most important one she'd ever received.
She was still clutching the letter to her, breakfast untouched, when Celestia came in to get her for the raising of the moon.
"Luna! Are you alright?"
She smiled, wiped her eyes, and levitated the letter over to her dresser. "I'm wonderful sister. Come, let us bring the night!" 'I have a young colt waiting for my visit after all..'
