Luna glides along on silent wings as the world below her sleeps under a blanket of new fallen snow. In the distance rises a low hill a top which stands a lone pony. Were it not for the light of the full moon reflecting off the snow it is unlikely that she would have noticed the pony. He stood, as though transfixed, with a coat and mane of inky black. Had the princess not known better she might have thought this dark stallion little more than a shadow upon the land. Curious as to why anypony would be out so late, especially on a night so cold; Luna banked slightly and began a slow spiral downward until she alighted gently a few feet away from the stallion.
At her arrival the stallion turned and, bowing deeply, greeted her, “Good evening your majesty.”
“Good evening sir. What has you out so late on such a cold evening?” she replied as he straightened from his bow.
Turning to gaze back up at the sky the stallion replied, “You do. Or rather, your night does.” This response startled the young princess. Did this pony know I was coming? “I spend most nights watching the stars and the moon as they dance across the night sky. Rather like players across a stage, wouldn’t you say? Evening Majesty.” As he said this he turned back to look at her, eyes meeting and the princess found that she could not look away. His eyes, a steely grey, held hers and in them she saw intelligence and an honesty that spoke of a simple and earnest character. There was strength in those eyes as well and a fierceness that gave the princess pause.
The princess’ mind raced as his words settled upon her. Players across a stage? Evening Majesty? Could this be? The Letter Writer! She had found him. A top a hill, looking up at her sky. Just as he described himself in so many of his letters. Her heart began to pound in her chest and her pulse quickened as his gaze continued to hold her. “You wrote them, didn’t you? The letters.” The words, a bare whisper, escaped her lips and were for a moment the only sound in the silent night air.
“Yes, your majesty.” He replied, finally breaking eye contact and looking down for a moment before returning to his contemplation of night sky.
It’s him! Oh, Celestia I’ve found him. Taking a deep breath and calming her racing heart the princess of the night stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “Why didn’t you sign them?” she asked. Voice still little more than a whisper. “I have looked for you, you know. For two years I have searched.” Her voice began to surge and gain confidence as her memories of frustration at the fruitless search for a nameless subject returned to her mind. “I have sent my Night Guard to every corner of Equestria in search of you. In fact, I had even begun to consider putting a bounty on your capture just to find you!” By this time the princess was shouting, her eyes ablaze and her wings flared in agitation. The stallions ears flattened as his face fell and he looked down at the ground before his hooves.
“I.. I am sorry princess. The words with which I penned those letters were heartfelt and true. I poured all the awe and wonder and honest care that I had for your beautiful night into those letters. But I am a cowardly stallion and I knew that should I ever meet you I would be unable to keep my regard for you from becoming more than is proper for a subject to have for his majesty.” The stallion’s words were gentle and filled with an honest remorse at the pain he had caused his beloved ruler. But his voice never wavered and he looked up from the ground to meet the princess’ eyes once more. “I knew that in the moment that we met I could no longer love you as a subject loves his majesty. No, the sight of you has robbed me of that. The love I bear you now is that of a stallion for a mare.” As he said this he turned, eyes downcast once more, and began to trot slowly away.
“STOP!” the princess shouted. “You would confess your love for me and then walk away? I still do not know your name.”
Stopping and turning, the earth stallion spoke again, “Polaris, your majesty. Polaris Northstar.”
“Ahhh” Finally, a name. Polaris Northstar. A bit redundant, perhaps, but apt. He had certainly been her pole star a number of times in the past couple of years. His letters had always arrived when she was most in need of encouragement and support. And they always contained words that brought a smile to her lips and seemed to ease the tensions that clouded her mind.
Walking forward again, the young princess spoke, “In your letters you describe yourself as honest and the love you have for me as steadfast. Is this true?”
“Yes princess. I have written no word to you that was false.”
“Is your will strong enough to suppress the feelings you have for me and serve me in the manner I see fit?” An idea was forming in the princess’ mind. She could not leave this stallion here. He intrigued her far too much. Better that he return with her to Canterlot. To what end though?
“If you wish it princess.”
“Hmm,” The night court had grown busier these past few months, as the members of the royal court grew more comfortable engaging with Luna. Perhaps it was time to hire a steward to help her with the administrative details. Yes, a steward would do nicely. “Polaris, I am in need of a steward. A pony loyal to me and committed to serving Equestria. I would have you return with me to Canterlot and serve in that role.”
Bowing deeply and with a small smile upon his face Polaris replied, “As you wish, Evening Majesty.”
