Luna let out a shaky breath of air, which warm air met the freezing cool air of the Winter night. From her balcony, she gazed upon the lands as the snow from the skies fell, coating the area of view in a cold white blanket.
The gentle trickle of the snow had been ease and now storms had tainted the graceful winter. Each drop fell to the earth with purpose, slowly and gently, falling onto anything that awaited below.
Several of which, she had allowed to fall upon her and either melt against her warm body or stayed intact on her magical mane. Either of which, she embraced each and every flake. Each one carried its own unique shape and size, none the same but they all shared one common purpose.
“Snowdrop.” She whispered. Her warm breath wisped through the cool air, it too carrying purpose.
The name, which held so much purpose and so much hope in her heart. The name itself gave her shivers that the snow couldn’t match. It brought warmth to her heart and cheeks. Her wings couldn’t stop fidgeting by her thoughts and all around her; the each drop of snow reminded her of that wonderful mare.
“Yes, Princess Luna?”
Luna smiled. Her head turned to the door where a pale blue Pegasus mare stood. Her white mane looked like a blanket of snow and her eyes, despite being blind, still carried so much beauty of baby blue.
The mare closed the door behind her before slowly walked towards her, almost sure that Luna was there. She was almost as tall as Luna now, reaching close to her neck. She grew quickly from the small weak filly to a strong mare.
Close enough, Luna brought her wing over and brought her closer to her, embracing her somewhat cool body to hers. She nuzzled the mare and she returned it.
“You know you don’t have to call me that in private.”
The mare blushed.
“Sorry I am not used to… you know… this.”
Luna giggled.
“You mean that you are the royal consort to a Princess or that you have a mare that loves you so much, or that you live in a huge castle?”
Snowdrop smiled and brought her head to her neck.
“All I suppose. I never even knew I would have a special somepony, let alone it be you.”
“Well… the universe is full of surprises and some things we can’t expect. Without you and your wonderful gift, I think that I wouldn’t be this happy.”
“What do you mean?” Snowdrop asked. “I thought you were happy?”
Luna sighed.
“You said it before that even though you could not see my stars, you could always hear them. No pony else bothers to look at my night sky. They don’t appreciate what the night holds, what wonders it carries.” She shuddered. “I’ve tried for centuries, teaching my ponies that and yet, they all fear the darkness and hide in their homes to avoid it. They sleep when they could be playing or learning of its secrets. They could find history of Equestria if they looked not but unto the stars themselves. If they could spend just even a short moments noticed to gaze upon the heavens I have shown then…” she stopped. A tear trailed down her face.
Snowdrop didn’t have to see, already hearing and feeling her lover’s sadness. She reached up and brought her mouth to her lips. Luna was caught off guard by the sudden action but nonetheless returned the kiss.
Nothing else mattered to her but this moment and despite the open door and the coolness of Snowdrop’s body, Luna felt warmth she had never experienced before. The heat of her lover’s lips, the fire that burned in her chest and the warm glow and pulse, coming from Snowdrop’s heart, it was the best feeling she had ever felt.
It felt almost like eternity before the two separated and the blush on Snowdrop’s face brought the smile back into Luna.
“Your are full of surprises, my love.” She gave her another quick kiss. “Thank you, I needed that.”
Snowdrop smiled.
“I know you may think that ponies don’t appreciate your nights but I do.”
“I know you do but others…” she was silenced as the Pegasus brought her hoof to her mouth… she missed and was on her noose. However she knew that she wanted her silent.
“The others can think what they want, Luna, but if you look at me, I don’t see the sky the way they can.” Luna released air she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I hear your night, I feel the coolness of the air, when the sun is down and when it is your beauty that crosses the lands.”
“I have been blind since I was born and never once been able to see my mom, my dad, any of my relatives or even seen the world itself. I can’t tell what color my house is, I don’t know what a cloud is supposed to look like or even how the food I eat is nasty looking to others or not. I can’t tell; all I know is that I have to let the world be my eyes. I have to trust the ponies around to tell me what is the right thing to eat or not, to guide me to the restroom or my room, to make sure that I can survive making it up or down the skies. I can’t do that on my own.
“But I can still tell what is around me and that includes your night. Yes, others may not notice it but they are dumb for not. Night is a time for rest, a time to sleep when the days are long and hard. The night is when families can come together after a long days of work when they are away from each other.”
“They can choose to have dinner together and speak, they can stay up late watching the foals play around, or speak to one another before going to sleep together in bed.” She wrinkled her nose hearing the soft sobs of Luna. She brought her into a hug, holding onto the larger mare.
“You don’t think ponies don’t appreciate your nights but they do. Nights are what let the world relax. They left ponies sleep, under your watchful eyes, to keep their dreams safe from nightmares and to make sure that they can wake up the next day, ready to move on. They may not say it now, but someday, they will thank you for that Luna. They will one day appreciate you for what you do and they will bless you with their kindness and love.”
At this point, Luna openly cried into Snowdrop’s neck, feeling emotions that she had never released before. She held the mare, close to her as possible and never wanting to let go.
“It’s because of you,” managed Luna, sobbing every other word. “That I am still me. I feared that I would become lost with everypony hating me. That I would lose myself and become some sort of Nightmare!” She sobbed out again. “I didn’t know what would happen if you hadn’t come into my life. I don’t know if I could… could…” She just held her tighter, afraid she will let go.
Snowdrop didn’t let go and despite the overbearing hug, she held onto her lover, crying silently with her. Each sob was a hit to her heart but knowing that she saved Luna from her own Nightmares, it was a blessing to hear it from her.
After a few moments of crying Luna pulled away and looked down to the mare. Her blind eyes still managed to focus on her.
“I love you, Snowdrop… so much.”
Snowdrop smiled.
“I-I love you to Luna.”
Luna quickly brought her to her bed. She shut her balcony doors with her magic and turned out any lights in the room. She brought her lover’s head close to her.
“Make love to me.” She spoke to her. “Please, I need you Snowdrop!”
Snowdrop didn’t say anything but brought her lips to hers, missing again and kissing her noose. Luna giggled, her tears finally stopping. She bopped her on the noose.
“Silly, that is my noose.”
Snowdrop blushed.
“Sorry, still… not used to it.”
Luna smiled.
“We have all the time in the world to practice.”
And so, it was without the help from a blind filly, that Luna had been spared a dreadful fate. And it was through her that she found a new hope in the world. A better light had shinned for Luna, a light that she had not created but was there to guide her. To guide her from the darkest parts of her mind, the thickest troubles and the heaviest blizzards. She found a star, a star that shinned so brightly, it pierced the thickness of the clouds and found her way to her heart.