Crickets chirped around the sleepy village in the forest, breaking the unusual silence at this time of night. The bright full moon shed a cool light down upon the land, with the billions of stars dotting every angle of the sky twinkling, as if some of them were winking down upon those who gazed up at them.
One particular little pony, from the open window of his bedroom, was. Like the stars themselves, his curious boysenberry eyes shimmered with awe. Even though he had sat and watched the stars every night before bed, the view did not cease to amaze him in the slightest. Even on the stormiest of evenings, he would sit here, gazing up, picturing the starry sky beyond the angry electrified clouds.
His furry tangerine coat fended off the occasional nippy breeze that would blow into the window where he sat, and his messy mane, just a few shades lighter than his eyes, bounced ever so gently.
He let out a small, contented sigh. The parted maw of wonder fell into a warm smile as he rested his head against the window sill. He did not understand it, among many other things. He simply did not understand how absolutely breathtaking the sky at night was. He didn't care much for the constellations, despite knowing a few of the more well-known ones.
The moon high above only added to the sheer beauty, and posed more questions to later be answered along with the other thousands dancing around his mind.
On the opposite side of his little bedroom, the brown wooden door swung halfway open with a light creak. In it stood a mare with a coat like his own, albeit shorter, but still noticeably fluffy. A faint frown pursed her lips, even as her gentle gaze set upon her son in his favorite spot like every evening before it. She could not help but to smile at that.
"Are you saying goodnight to the stars, Bouncer?" she asked, voice smooth as silk and kept low so as to not startle him.
Without turning to look at her, the little colt's smile grew wider, his ear swiveling as she spoke. "I am!"
The mare's smile grew not by much. "Have they said goodnight, too?"
"Nawt yet," he responded, pressing his hooves together on the sill. "Dey wuv to pway, mommy!"
"The stars always love to play, sweetie," she replied, striding closer to the little colt. "It is late, my love. You should lay down, the stars aren't going anywhere. They will be back tomorrow."
As soon as Bouncer's mother finished speaking, a white streak zipped across the sky. He let out a quick gasp. "A shooting stawr, mommy!"
"Quick, make a wish," she smiled, lifting a hoof to stroke her son's soft violet mane.
With a grin from ear to ear, Bouncer closed his eyes, hooves tapping giddily against the white-painted wood frame. Not a word of his wish was said, and moments later, he opened his eyes once more, turning to the mare standing behind him, smile retaining.
"I'm weady fwor bed, mommy!" he giggled, hopping down onto a little pillow laid across the floor beneath the window to land safely on.
"Come along, now," his mother said softly, motioning her head.
The small fluffy tangerine colt trotted his little hooves at a pace matched by his mother simply sauntering across the room to his bed side, where he stopped and crouched down, wiggling his body, before pouncing upward on to his bed and crawling up to the pillow that quite nearly was his size entirely.
His mother gently took the edge of his sheets, sliding them over the colt up to his chest, where he placed his hooves above them, laying his head back against the pillow. He let off a quiet yawn, and even that failed to disperse his little joyful smile.
A smaller smile held on the mare's muzzle. Her ears had lost their perk, yet nonetheless, she managed to hide away the guilt and sorrow paining her chest from her beautiful little son, her one and only foal that she could not be more proud of.
"I love you, Bouncer, with all of my heart. Daddy, too," she cooed, volume just narrowly above a whisper.
"Fwom the moon and back?!" he added, eyes twinkling.
The mare did smile more this time, responding with the gentlest of nods. "Yes, sweetie, from the moon and back."
She leaned forth, planting a soft kiss on Bouncer's forehead, still stroking his little mane.
"Sleep tight, my love. You have a big day tomorrow, y-you will need the energy for it."
"Okay, mommy! I wuv you!"
The mare's eyes grew shiny with faint tears. "I love you, too."
She rose up, lifting her hoof up into Bouncer's nightstand lamp shade and twisting the little knob to switch off the light, darkening the room, with nothing but the moon outside his window shining in, leaving a rectangular shape of bluish-white light across the wooden floor.
"Oh, mommy?" the little colt looked over at her as she had turned to walk away.
"Yes, darling?" she stopped, turning around slowly.
"Weave the window open, pwease."
"Are you sure? It might get a little chilly," she smiled, now able to wipe her eyes with a hoof.
Bouncer yawned heavily. "Pwease, mommy."
His mother nodded once, smiling one last time. "Okay, sweetie. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, mommy!"
Giving one final glance at her son, she turned back, moving out through the door and closing it quietly behind her. At that point, she had let her smile disappear altogether, a single tear falling to the floor as she walked away from his bedroom.
As little Bouncer's eyelids came to a close, outside, many more white streaks lit up the sky, creating a spectacle that all for miles could watch.
Behind all of them sat a tiny, orange spec, hardly visible to the naked eye. It moved ever so gradually, but on a far larger scale, was coming at many thousands of kilometers per hour.
It would soon be visible to all.
***
The little furry colt's eyelids fluttered open and unrolled. His dark purple eyes gazed upward at the ceiling, where warm light from the window echoed off of, filling his room with warm sunlight from the still-opened window.
A big smile spread on his muzzle upon hearing chirping birds in the trees near his home, like every morning prior.
As quickly as he could, Bouncer jumped up out of his bed sheets and leaped off the edge, landing on the floor with a little grunt as his little hooves gave out beneath him. Without a second to spare, he hopped right back up on all fours and galloped to the door.
Standing on his hinds, the fluffy colt pulled down on the door handle to jar it open, creaking as it swung wide to make way. He released the handle and dropped back down, and without wasting another second, he raced out into the hallway, sliding against the wall opposite of his door with forward momentum, before he could gain traction to run toward the stairs.
He huffed audibly for each step he landed on, that being all of them, before skidding to a stop at the curve near the bottom, peeking between the railing throughout the shadowed kitchen and living room. He cocked his head slightly.
"Mommy, daddy?" he called out, scanning about the area. The curtains had been pulled, as kept overnight for the usual privacy. It came across him as strange to discover them to have not been opened.
Bouncer's ears suddenly perked to a quiet coughing across the room, and his eyes shot wide open. "Mommy, daddy? Are you hwere?"
As soon as he had finished, the room lit up as the curtains were opened, and all lights turned on.
Ponies donning colorful pointy hats, shutter sunglasses, and other party wear filled the room, surrounding the main dinner table, where Bouncer's parents sat around a beautiful cake, all shouting "Surprise!" in unison.
The little tangerine colt's eyes exploded with sparkles, his face filled with awe and glee as an ear-to-ear wide-mouthed smile appeared on his muzzle. "Whoa!" he gasped aloud.
"Happy birthday, Bouncer!" every pony declared, whistling or stomping their hooves for joy as the little pony finished making his way down the stairs.
"A supwise biwthday pawty, for me?!" he practically wiggled with excitement, hopping around in circles on the spot. "Oh boy, oh boy, thank you!"
A few of the ponies made room for Bouncer as he hopped up into a chair, placing his little hooves on the edge of the finely-polished wooden table, his eyes steadily growing wider the longer he took in the sight of the enormous cake in front of him.
The cake itself was three layers of different size, glazed from top to bottom in sky-blue icing with stars, rainbows, sprinkles, and candles decorating it. For any colt or filly, this cake was truly a dream come true, and was the most gorgeous cake Bouncer has ever seen in his life.
One final candle was placed on top, it being the number seven in all white, outlined with blue and red, with decorative dots along the sides.
As all of the candles were soon lit by a careful match, the bright flame topping each one reflected off of the tangerine colt's wide-eyes, his smile only growing wider until it could not physically continue. This was the greatest moment in his life!
To be surrounded by his family, his friends—or, well, most of them—filled Bouncer with unimaginable joy. Every pony in his town were his friends. There were some who did not feel the same way about him, though, he did not pay much care into it.
Even from birth, he'd found much enjoyment in life and, to just about everypony, he was the happiest, most optimistic pony they have ever known, especially at his age. And they all hoped to keep it that way for the rest of their time.
The mass group joined in on a birthday song, one that even made Bouncer blush across his fuzzy cheeks. Upon their finish, he pressed his forehooves on the table to stand up as high as the cake, giving the whole of his lungs to blow out each and every one of the candles, which was followed by more cheers and stomping.
He observed his father cut down the center of the cake and spread it to view its brown-and-white sweet interior. Bouncer's jaw dropped, staring in utter shock as his day just got so much better.
"Whooooa! I thought I wasn't awowd to have chocwate?" he commented, eyes twinkling like the stars themselves.
The same smile as last night was worn by his mother, albeit slightly more genuine, but with evident hurt most would point out had Bouncer not been present. "W-we will let you today, sweetie," she replied, holding her own hooves.
Carefully plating the first piece while going along with tradition, it was then pushed over to Bouncer, who giddily bounced in place, anxious to take his first bite into the scrumptious-looking dessert. He leaned forward to bite into it, but then stopped, reaching for a fork beside his plate.
"No, please, feel free to eat without the silverware, Bouncer," his father said with a warm smile.
"Reawy?" the colt gasped, before he returned his attention to the cake with a wide-open maw, taking a sizable chomp of the tip and closing his eyes, chewing happily with little squeaks as he savored the first bite. "Mmmm!"
***
The party went on for most of the afternoon. Bouncer spent much of the time conversing with every pony in his house, telling stories that were undeniably amazing, coming from a colt of his age. What he discussed more of was the shooting star the night before, where he later learned from other colts and fillies and their parents that there had been a meteor shower afterward.
While slightly bummed to have missed the light show, he remained cheerful to have witnessed at least one and wished upon it, and describing just what it looked like became his new temporary pastime.
That was, until it was time for presents, much to his surprise once more as he returned to the table, where once sat the cake, now piled up with small assortment of colorful gift bags and neatly-wrapped packages that once more brought a blissful tear to his eye. Never before has he had so many gifts to open!
First, an unimaginably delicious cake, shared between everypony in the house, and now six presents. His day could not get any better than this, he thought.
One by one, Bouncer tore into each of the gifts as ponies watched with smiles all around. First up, a new, soft blanket with clouds and rainbows stitched in, telling him merely by looking at it that the older mare a few houses from his own had made especially for him.
Next, a fishing hat from the fisherpony. Perhaps it was given just a bit too soon, as the hat fell over his eyes and did not fit on his head. Not yet, that is.
Some new toys were among the three that followed, before the final gift sat in front of him from both of his parents.
They watched, hooves around each other, smiling as Bouncer plucked out decorative paper covering the gift inside. He stopped, ears perking, eyes opening wide, feeling a soft fur rub against his hoof.
Squealing, he yanked the object out, gasping loudly as he now held a fluffy plush pony—much like himself—in his hooves. As much as he greatly cherished the other gifts from his friends, this one topped all!
"Mommy, daddy, is perfwect! I wuv it!" he grinned wide, hugging the plush to his chest. Some 'd'awws' came from those around him.
Just barely tearful in the eyes, his mother smiled, ears still not perked, as they haven't been for some time now. "I'm... I'm sorry we couldn't get you everything you could have hoped for. We tried, t-there just wasn't much we could do..."
"Das okay! I got to spend it wif my best fwiends and famiwy... das all I could ask for!"
A heartfelt smile cracked on his father's muzzle. "Did you have a good birthday?"
"Good? It was gweat, the gweatest evah!" Bouncer answered, living up to his name as he hopped on the seat gently like a spring.
"We're glad," his mother's smile retained, a hoof wiping away the only tear that broke free.
"Thank you, evweypony. This is da best birfday I have evah had."
***
By mid-day, the house cleared out, with most ponies hurrying home the very moment they stepped outside. Without paying much mind to it, Bouncer did not notice the sudden change of mood in every pony as they scattered, and was too occupied by his wonderful new stuffed pony friend.
Unlike birthdays before, his parents did not bother to clean the mess left behind. To them, there was no point in doing it. Rather, they spent the time close together on the couch as soon as the last pony went home.
"Mommy, daddy?" he asked, still in his chair at the table, playing with the little plush pony.
"Y-yes, sweetie?" the mare replied, glancing over the back of the couch.
"Is it twue, that there will be another shooting star tonight?" he questioned, wondrous as ever.
A silence followed. Neither of his parents were truly prepared to explain what was on its way. Their only option for the moment was to lie.
"Yes, Bouncer, there will be. A huge one," his father responded, containing much sorrow and forcing a lump down his throat. The fur on his cheeks was damp with streaming tears.
"Wow! When will it come, daddy?"
"Soon, Bouncer. Soon."
The joyful, excited smile on the little colt's muzzle, hours after waking, still had yet to fade at all. Looking out the window, he watched as some of their neighbors rushed by, carrying things across their backs or stumbling over each other. He did not think of it as a terrible thing, and instead believed they were simply acting silly. He was not aware in the slightest.
In the skies above, the distant orange dot from the night before had grown more visible, flickering with light as it approached. A mere glance from a pony knowing its intentions terrified them to the soul. It was coming.
"Mommy, daddy, can I go to my favwite pwace?"
"W-what? What for, s-sweetie?" his mother stammered.
"So I can show my new fwiend the view, of couwse!"
Another silence. A lengthy one, too.
Both of his parents exchanged firm looks. His mother was adamantly against it, as was his father. Yet, his father believed there was still time.
"You may, Bouncer. Just... be back before dinner time, okay?"
"Okay, daddy! I wuv you guys!" the tangerine colt said, hopping down from the chair with his little stuffed buddy held tight to his chest.
"I-I love you, too. P-please, be safe, sweetie," his mother sniffled, watching closely as he exited out the front door. She waited until then before bursting into tears, squeezing her husband stiffer than before.
Letting off a small sigh as he stroked her mane, the stallion closed his eyes.
"He is far too innocent. He does not deserve this."
"N-none of us d-do," the mare wept, sniffling heavily. "I-it is not right!"
A faint boom rattled the home, quite nearly knocking over picture frames and other small objects.
Suddenly, she broke the hold, snapping up to meet the stallion's gaze with her own teary, red, puffy-eyed stare.
"W-which of his happy places did he say he was going?!"
***
Bouncer trotted happily along the dirt path away from his home, humming to himself as he scanned around him. Fewer ponies than earlier rushed about in just a few minutes time. Most were back in their homes, locking their doors or covering up their windows.
They also tended to do just that before rain, which prompted him to reach where he wanted to go sooner than ever.
"Come awong!" he said to his plush, beginning to skip along the trail leading out of the village.
***
The mare rushed outside of their home, galloping halfway out into the open, then stopping. Only a few others zipped by, hurrying to reach their homes before it came.
"W-where's Bouncer?!" she cried in a panic. "Bouncer!" she called, choking on her own voice and searching around her frantically for her son.
Her husband strode up behind her, keeping his cool, and his tone lowered as he gently wrapped his hooves around her. "Honey, I want you to listen to me..."
Their hooves interlocked as the two grasped each other in lung-crushing embraces, the light orange-coated mare nestling beneath her stallion's chin, wetting the surface of his thick fur with tears.
"If he is anywhere we know him to go, he is in his happy place. We should respect that," he calmly spoke.
"B-but, h-he's—he's out there... a-all by himself! D-does he even know what is happening?!" she sobbed into his neck, placing a hoof on his shoulder bone.
The stallion lifted his hoof to caress the back of her mane, stroking her carefully-weaved magenta braids. "He does not need to know, honey. He does not deserve to understand."
The mare wept more quieter, lifting her chin, gaze fixing on the approaching fireball in the sky. It was coming quickly, sooner than expected. It was only a matter of time.
"If you love him enough, let him go. He will come back to us, in time. We will all be together again, no matter what."
But, he would not be returning in time. There was no time left at all.
***
The little fluffy tangerine colt trotted up near the edge of an inclined hang-over standing above a green valley, overlooking it and two massive white-capped peaks at the edge of the horizon.
Careful so as to avoid dirtying his new friend, Bouncer carried the little plush pony in one hoof, nestled safely against his chest. He plopped down near the edge of the cliff and held up the stuffed pony up in both hooves, like a father with his newborn foal.
For the first few minutes, he neglected to notice the fiery rock approaching ever so gradually in the sky. When he finally did, he placed the plush down between his hinds, gazing up with curiosity.
Like the stars the night prior, his eyes twinkled with wonder, closely focusing in on the strange object. It wasn't the sun, he knew that much, nor was it a shooting star, like the one told to have been coming later on. Those only come at night, he pondered.
Without managing to figure out what it was, he smiled once more, hugging his little pony closely. "Wuv bawl."
Returning his attention to the plush, he held it by the forehooves and bounced it gently, pretending it was dancing. He hummed his own tune for the plush to dance along to, ignoring the fireball as it grew closer to the ground, but still not quite. Only a few minutes were left.
He continued to sing random, vocalized tunes as he played with the plush, going over in his mind just what he should name his new friend. He needed a perfect name.
The meteor was closer than ever. The sky began to change into an eerie shade of yellowish-orange, far too similar to that of a sunset. Yet, it was mid-afternoon, and the sun held high in the sky beyond its peak with many hours left before it is supposed to set.
Yet, remaining completely oblivious to the looming threat, the fluffy colt kept on hugging his little furry friend tightly against his chest, eyes closing with a smile still resting across his muzzle.
Not once for the remainder of time did he open his eyes as a blinding flash ignited the atmosphere.
There was no sound, no sudden heat, not even the ground shook as it struck, spreading an incinerating shock wave in all directions around the impact site many miles away.
In the short ten minutes that it took for the fire to graze across the distant mountains, vaporizing the snow that coated them, Bouncer paid no mind. He simply loved his new friend too much, and could not wait to formally introduce him to everypony else.
Gradually, everything around the little joyous colt grew brighter, until all turned pure white.
Live every day to the fullest with a smile as if it were your last. You never know just when it might be.
Author's Note
This is a little story I've had in mind for a while. It is actually inspired by the cover art (which I did not draw, the artist is mrpaint, according to Derpibooru, which is where I got it from).
Also, I hope Bouncer's dialogue was not too hard to make out. I wanted to give him more of a baby-like voice. 
