"Spike? Spiiiike. Come on, Spike, we're going to miss Luna raising the full moon tonight!"

Princess Twilight was scouring her library home for her number one assistant, who had unexpectedly vanished earlier while she had been reading a most fascinating book on the applications of Earth Pony Magic. Time had gone by quickly, and when the lavender alicorn had looked up, Spike had been nowhere to be seen or heard.

"Oooh, there's only an hour before the moon rise, and we haven't even gone through the checklist!"

She sighed, tapping a hoof to her chin as she took a few moments to think of how she could find said dragon, when her ears flicked up upon hearing the kitchen door open. Galloping through into the kitchen without hesitation, she sighed in relief as the purple and green youngster kicked the door closed, gently, as his claws were too full of grocery bags and a large cake box, which teetered dangerously upon the purchases.

"There you are Spike! I was worried something had happened to you. Oh...now I remember, I sent you to get tonight's supplies!"

Spike set the bag down, neatly catching the cake box as it tried to meet the ground, which he set upon the kitchen table with a smirk. He responded in his slightly gruff but noticeably young voice.

"You were pretty deep into that book when I went off. Surprised you even noticed I left."

"Oh...I finished it already."

She laughed with a blush as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof, unable to hide her embarrassment at her, as usual, avid reading habits.

"I got the bread and the cake from Bon Bon since Sugarcube Corner was closed for the night, and some grape jelly from the general store. That's three things off your list Twilight."

She nodded and trot back into the main room, gesturing with her head for Spike to follow.

"Now, I know you're probably still tired from the Equestria Games, but Luna promised it would be a night to remember, and I don't want you to miss out on it."

Spike sighed, giving her an annoyed look as he started up the stairs to the bedroom, to pick up the picnic cloth they would be sitting on to watch the moonrise.

"It's been a week already Twi, I don't need any more extra naps."

With the cloth folded neatly, he tossed it over the railing, watching the familiar lavender glow that indicated Twilight had it in her magical grip flow over the bundle, which sank out of sight while he continued around the railing to the observation balcony where the telescope sat on its tripod. Gently pulling the scope off, he rose his voice to alert his best friend to the incoming package, which was neatly caught in the glow as he jogged to the stairs with the tripod.

"Alright, so we have everything, we're running ahead of schedule, and best of all..."

The alicorn produced a checklist out of seemingly nowhere, though Spike was certain it had been hidden under one of her wings.

"All that's left on the checklist is to arrive on the tall knoll on the east side of town, and set up there. I hope everyone makes it."

Spike just shook his head and rolled his eyes, packing Twilight's bags with the food before hoisting the telescope and tripod onto his shoulders with practiced ease. With a happy smile, and a quick nuzzle to the dragon, Twilight lifted the bags onto her back and trot out the door with Spike right behind, the door shutting from a telekinetic nudge.

"I'm telling you, there's no way what Luna is doing will be as awesome as me, but I bet it's ALMOST as awesome! I mean, it is Luna after all."

"Now, Dash, ah'm tellin' you to pipe down and just watch that there moonrise. I'm sure anypony can judge for themselves just how awesome it is."

Rainbow Dash, famed pegasus, bearer of the Element of Loyalty, self proclaimed most awesome pony in the world, and one and only performer of the Sonic Rainboom, was having a staring contest with one of his best friends and fellow Element of Harmony. Applejack stared right back, the Element of Honesty not backing down an inch, for the farm pony, who happened to be part of a just as famous orchard, Sweet Apple Acres, was well known for her strength of both body and character.

"And I'm telling you that there isn't a thing that can top my awesomeness!"

The farm pony grinned, tapping Dash upon her chest. "Not even a barrel of mah finest cider?"

Dash opened her mouth to respond, but stopped short, having to think for a moment. "As close of a call as that would be, I'm still on the top."

Applejack chuckled as she shook her head at her friend, promptly pulling her into a bone cracking hug. "Don't ever change Dash, ya hear me? It'd be too hard to tease yah if'n you ever got humble."

As the two continued to converse about awesomeness and cider, to their right, another pair simply sat and watched the horizon, waiting for the moonrise they'd come to see. Fluttershy, the yellow and pink Element of Kindness, town renown veterinarian, master of 'The Stare', and all around the most gentle pony one could meet, was shoulder to shoulder with Rarity, her white and indigo friend. Element of Generosity, owner of the Carousel Boutique, master dress maker, and quite possibly one of the best stylists in Equestria, her well kept mane and proper posture stated much, but nothing compared to her deeds with her fellow Elements. And while the two did not yet speak, a wing from Fluttershy offering a hug to her friend said more than enough as the fashionista accepted.

Twilight, Element of Magic, recently having risen to the status of Princess, student of Celestia herself, and all around magic geek, was helping Spike to set up the telescope and tripod upon their picnic cloth.

"Now, for optimal viewing, we need it at this angle, and at...this level of magnification, it should be perfect!"

The dragon followed her instruction in adjusting the view as she looked into the lense and made calculations on her notepad. And while she worked, a pink blur bounced around the entirety of the group, speaking so fast that...well, nopony could tell what she was saying. After all, the Element of Laughter was the most hyper creature in the known kingdom, possibly even the world.

"Alright everypony! It's time!"

Twilight sat back and watched the horizon with the rest, even Pinkie coming to a stop and flopping next to Fluttershy, who promptly pulled the pink menace into her other wing as behind them, the bright sun that Celestia brought them each and every day vanished into the dark. Before them, on the other hand, rose the moon that Luna gave them every night, the stars twinkling in the sky as they waited with held breaths for the surprise from the Princess of the Moon.

And what a surprise it was, for upon the full moon's surface sat their cutie marks, Twilight's in the center, with the other five spaced evenly around them. While they lacked any color...anypony who knew of the bearers would know the marks. All but one pony started to tear up at the sight, the last, Rainbow Dash, turning away and coughing as she tried to hold it in.

"That's...oh, I hope it's not permanent. That's just too much!"

Fluttershy voiced what was likely a concern among them all, for to mark the moon like that for them would be too great a gift for any to accept. But poor Fluttershy soon found herself hiding behind Rarity when a voice behind them spooked her, a quick 'eep' following her vanishing act.

"And we are not allowed to do what we want with the moon, permanent or no?"

Luna herself stood with them, her smile gentle and amused at the second surprise she'd just given to them by actually being there, her etherial mane, flowing with the appearance of the start studded night sky itself, as did her tail. She had disdained her usual royal attire for the occasion, instead having donned a simple scarf that Rarity had made her. One that matched her mane and tail in both color and jewels representing stars, though the designer had yet to manage to make any material flow without wind as the manes of Celestia and Luna did.

Twilight shook off her stunned expression, gulping as she spoke to the master of the night.

"I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that it is an amazing honor, but...it wouldn't be right for it to be permanent. We may be the elements of Harmony, but there are many other ponies out there who do such amazing things for everypony. We've even gotten to meet one in Daring Do! But..I know I wouldn't feel right to take such an honor without being able to honor all the others."

Her five friends voiced their agreements, Luna looking impressed at the concerns.

"Very well then. We shall only have it as such one night a year. Pray tell, what day dost thou believe would be best suited for this display in your honor?"

"Why not the night after the Summer Sun Celebration, since Celestia wants it to represent your return from the Nightmare and it was the elements that made it possible?"

Spike's outburst brought an even bigger smile to Luna's face, while Twilight turned to give him a nod in approval of the thought.

"We...ahem...I shall make it so. Now, I have dreams to attend to, so you must pardon me if I cut this visit with you short. Please, come see me sometime. It is...difficult to find time to go out and socialize with my subjects, and it would not go amiss to have company come to me instead. Fair thee well!"

And with a flap of her wings, she soared into the night, to the goodbyes of the Elements and a baby dragon.

"Sooo...I'm still the most awesome thing in this world, since that's on the moon and doesn't count."

Fluttershy and Twilight were the last on the hill, enjoying some extra time stargazing. Spike had gone home to get some shuteye, having taken the telescope and tripod with him. The food had all been eaten, leaving Twi with only the cloth to take back herself. Fluttershy's animals had all been taken care of before she'd set off, but the others all had early mornings to attend to, leaving the studious with the kindest.

"Well, I suppose we should finally head home Fluttershy. Want me to walk you home?"

"Oh...if it's not too much trouble. I mean...I don't want to impose...."

"It's perfectly fine, and I could use the walk before heading to bed."

The two stood up, Twilight's magic folding the cloth, perfectly of course, and setting it in her saddlebags, when Fluttershy gasped and pointed into the sky.

"Look Twilight, a shooting star!"

"Huh, but Luna's schedule didn't say anything about shooting stars tonight. She always tells ponies ahead of time for anything like that."

They watched as the star streaked across the sky, although it seemed to be going slower than the usual spectacles that Luna made in the night sky. And...it seemed to be getting bigger. For that matter, the tail had vanished. Almost as if...

"It's coming this way! Fluttershy, hold on to me!"

Twilight grabbed the easily frightened pony, and with a burst of her magic...teleported them off of the hill and closer to town. As they watched, the star fell with a shriek, smashing into the very spot they had been sitting upon not a moment before, dirt and dust flying into the air as they felt the thud of the impact.

"Luna's stars never fall. We need to send a letter right away! Fluttershy, go get Spike, and tell him to send letter C54 to Captain Crescent Star. Between the two of us, you should be able to wake him without startling him. I'm going to go make sure that whatever that is isn't a danger to the town. Hurry!"

Fluttershy gulped at the prospect of having to go through town, alone, in the dark, to wake a sleeping dragon, baby or not, in the middle of the night. But Twilight trusted her to do it, so with a nod and whimper, she galloped off towards the library, as Twilight took shaky steps towards the impact site.

"Oh, please don't be something dangerous or chaotic."

She eventually gained more confidence, each step closer bringing no scary monsters or evil villains to her eyes, so with a curious but still prepared demeaner, she edged her view over the lip of the crater, and gasped at its occupant.

"Is that...a pony, or a griffin?"

Twilight reacted instantly, teleporting herself next to the iron grey creature, leaning over and nudging it with a hoof.

"Are you ok? Hello?"

It didn't respond, probably out cold. Being awake after such a fall would have been a miracle, aside from the fact that it was alive anyways. She could hardly comprehend that, despite the knowledge that all three pony tribes were capable of amazing feats, it had survived that velocity. Not even one of the Pegasi could have survived such a crash. A unicorn spell might have cushioned the blow, but that was assuming they knew such a spell, or could even cast it. And an Earth Pony might be tough enough to live, but they would not be unscathed as this one was.

She continued to take stock of the it, the egghead in her gauging that it looked like a griffin pony...what was it she'd read in a book of rare creatures? Ah yes, a relative of the ancient hippogryphs, the Roavi. Something exciting had practically fell into her hooves for study!

"Let's get you to a hospital. I don't know how you survived that, but we're going to find out...as soon as you're awake and able to anyways...then I can study you and ask you questions!"

She concentrated on her magic, encircling him in her lavender glow, carefully lifting him and putting him right next to her, and with a flash, they were gone from the crater. Moments later, a mismatched pair of eyes leaned over the side of the crater, opposite of where Twilight had peered over herself.

"Oooh, this will be so much FUN! After all, it's not everyday a neigh indestructible creature lands on the doorstep of Ponyville...no, wait, that actually happens quite often. Oh well, that just means I get to mix things up even more...so long as I don't destroy anything. Yes, no destruction. I'll be a good draconequus and just make Celestia blush and Luna faint. Or maybe the other way around. Oh, who am I kidding, destruction can be so chaotic when done right!"

And with a mischievous laugh that rang into the night air, the Lord of Chaos, Discord himself, vanished to wherever it was he liked to vanish to.

Author's Note

Comments/Critiques/Suggestions more than welcome.