The skyscape looked like a stormy sea with waves caught in mid roll as far as the eye could see. The peaks were tinged with white, but the troughs were a deep dark blue and suspended above it all like a magical aura was an ethereal electric blue haze.
Princess Luna cast her eyes over the beguiling beauty of the skyscape, and despite the illumination by her most steadfast friend, the moon, sighed a little sadly. She had so wanted those ponies down below who had stayed up to be able to witness tonight’s meteorite storm, but had been overruled by the weather team. Apparently, some administrative oversight had allowed the reservoirs to get too low and more rain was needed in the reservoirs so that the forthcoming tornado lift could deliver enough water up to Cloudsdale in time for the rainy season.
She shook her head sadly as another bright flash of light zipped through her peripheral vision.
“I know one pony who will be down there watching through her telescope waiting for the sky to clear”, she thought, and without dwelling on it further, slipped off her cloud and dived headlong into the amorphous cloudbase and through to the darkness below.
Luna benefitted from a clarity of night vision unrivalled in Equestria and to her, darkness held no secrets or fears, so she took stock of the landscape beneath her and quickly calculated how far and in what direction her cloud had drifted since she had first settled on it. Her goal set, she flapped her majestic wings and set off in a direction that skirted around the rain, heading towards Ponyville, to somepony she really felt would appreciate a visit.
Fully at ease in her natural element, Luna flew in conditions of near total darkness, enjoying the freedom it gave her and even found time to perform some aerobatics on the way, just for the sheer joy it brought.
She arrived over the familiar buildings of Ponyville, noticing the smell of recent rainfall and the rash of puddles that had broken out across streets and parks alike, still catching the last drops of water from the overhanging rooves. The chance sighting of one or two lights at the occasional window bore witness to where somepony was staying up late, but nopony would have wanted to have been out during the recent rainstorm, except for maybe one she could think of.
Continuing on towards a distinctive tree, Luna congratulated herself; sure enough there was a unicorn, huddling under a soaked poncho, diligently probing the overcast through her telescope for a chance glimpse of the spectacular astronomical phenomenon going on just beyond her vision.
Luna backwinged and made a gentle landing in what little space remained on the cramped viewing platform, announcing herself so as not to cause the amateur astronomer a fright.
“Good evening, Twilight Sparkle” she said warmly, “Not the best viewing weather for you tonight I am sorry to say.”
“Oh, Hi Princess” she replied, “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a chance to see them properly, you know, out here in the countryside. I’ve tried before in previous years when I lived in Canterlot, but there was always too much light around and I never really saw them clearly. Looks like I’ve lucked out again this year too.”
“Yes, I believe the weather ponies have had so many demands for good weather that they have not met their quota for rainfall and Cloudsdale is running short” replied Luna, “But why they must choose tonight is beyond me.”
“Oh well” replied Twilight philosophically, “There’s always next year.”
There was a friendly silence between the two, one that didn’t need to be punctuated with words because both were at ease with each other. Then Luna spoke again, “Twilight, if you should care to leave behind your accoutrements, I may be able to make your late night worthwhile after all.”
“What do you mean Princess?”
“Climb on my back” said Luna with a twinkle in her eye, “And hold on tight!”
Twilight did as she had been requested.
Luna tensed, and Twilight heard herself make an involuntary ‘glurk’ sound as she was catapulted into the air. Her eyes had become adapted to the dark and she could just about see where she was going and gave a whoop of excitement as she accelerated into the sky.
After a flight that Twilight loved, but wished had happened in daylight so she could have seen better, they finally approached the cloudbase and were engulfed in a thick fog that seemed to get lighter and lighter with each wingbeat until eventually they broke through into a spectacular moonlit diorama.
Twilight gasped as her eyes adjusted to the intense brightness, but Luna continued her inexorable climb regardless.
“There!” cried Twilight, “Over there – I just saw a meteorite! And another one!”
Luna smiled as suddenly the extra effort of having carried a passenger became worthwhile, hearing her friend’s enthusiasm. A puffy little cloud appeared in front of her and Luna aimed for it, gently folding her legs under her as she landed and furled her wings.
“We’re … we’re stopping?” asked Twilight apprehensively, remembering Rarity’s recent near disaster at the Best Young Flyers' Competition and scared that they may suddenly fall now Luna had stopped flying.
“You are quite safe, Twilight Sparkle” said Luna, “But do not even consider dismounting or you will certainly fall through the cloud.”
Twilight’s head swivelled with every bright flash she saw, gasping in wonder at each as it twinkled into existence, sped across the sky and burned up as she watched.
“I’d never imagined it could be so beautiful!” she gasped, “Thank you Princess!”
“You are quite welcome, Twilight Sparkle.”
For Luna, this was an event she had seen many times before, but the delight of sharing it with somepony close brought back some of the mystery and magic she had experienced the very first time she had seen it for herself.
A gentle glow had been emanating from Luna’s horn and Twilight’s curiosity eventually overcame her reserve as she asked, “Princess, are you putting on this show just for me?”
“No” said the midnight blue mare, a little flustered, “As you know it happens at this time every year.”
“Then why is your horn lit?”
Luna shifted uncomfortably before answering, “I will tell you shortly, but for now, be patient and watch the meteorites if you still find them enjoyable.”
“I do” she said.
By the time a further quarter hour had passed, Twilight’s patience had almost reached breaking point and she was about to ask Luna again what she was up to, when the Princess spoke.
“Twilight Sparkle, do you wish me to show you what I have been doing” she said knowing full well she was about to burst with curiosity.
“Yes Princess, what have you been doing?”
“I believe you may have been looking without seeing” she said enigmatically.
“What do you mean?”
“Look to the quarter of the sky from whence the meteorites are arriving.”
Twilight did as she was told, focusing on the flashes of light being fired randomly out of the darkness.
“Now, what do you see?”
“I see meteorites coming every few seconds” replied the lilac pony.
“Now look beyond the meteorites, deep into the night sky itself” said Luna before adding, “Do you see it now?”
“No… no … wait!” she cried, “That wasn’t there before!”
“What have you found?”
“It can’t be, it just can’t be” gasped Twilight, “It’s my cutie mark made out of stars!”
“I shall name it the ‘Twilight Constellation’, and you will see it every time you look in this quarter of the sky.”
“You mean, you made it?”
“Just now, yes.”
“Oh Princess!”
“Please, just call me Luna.”
Twilight hugged the midnight blue Princess tightly and reached forward to plant a tender kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you” she said, “Luna.”
As she lost herself in the scent from the Princess' midnight blue coat, she considered her feelings for this elegant yet insecure Princess struggling to come to terms with her role in Equestrian society and realised Luna had been right; she had been looking without seeing.
Luna closed her eyes in delight as Twilight’s hug lingered and became more of a gentle caress.
“I do” she said under her breath.
