See How the Night Sky Glows

On the following Saturday morning, Sky slept in until ten o'clock. It had been a busy week for him, trying to get back into the swing of things after his suspension. He hadn't seen Noteworthy all week, but he certainly wasn't complaining about that. Since returning to school, he hadn't gotten many chances to talk to Lyra, because on the days when she wasn't working at the music store in the afternoon, she was busy training for the Friendship Games, which were approaching fast. The Games were to be held on Sunday at Canterlot High, and Sky would be there to watch on and support Lyra and the rest of the CHS team.

Sky had just gotten out of bed and gotten dressed into his usual clothes - a purple button-down T-shirt and black jeans - when his phone began ringing. He ran to his desk and picked up his phone to see who was calling. When he saw the name of the caller, he smiled. It was Lyra.

"Good morning, Lyra!" he said. "How have you been?"

"Morning, Sky!" Lyra replied on the other end. "I'm pretty tired from, you know, prepping for the Games. I actually just got up."

"Oh hey, me too!" said Sky. "I was pretty tired too, just from trying to settle back into school."

Lyra laughed. "Relatable." She sighed. "I really need to do something relaxing today."

"So do I." Sky agreed. He paused for a moment, then remembered the advice that Sugarcoat had given him the week before. "Say, I know what we could do together! If you're not busy tonight, do you want to go to the mall and get dinner there? If you're nervous about the Games tomorrow, maybe that'll help take your mind off of it."

When Sky finished speaking, he realized that he'd done it. He'd actually asked Lyra out. He was expecting a long silence as Lyra contemplated the offer, but to his surprise, she responded immediately. "Of course, that sounds great!" Lyra replied excitedly. "I'd love to go out with you! Where do you want to eat?"

"Does the Sweet Snacks Cafe sound good to you?" Sky asked. He'd only been to the mall a couple of times, and the Sweet Snacks Cafe was the only restaurant he knew. The food there was really good, though.

"Sure!" Lyra agreed. "What time were you thinking of?"

Sky thought for a moment. "Would six o'clock work?"

"Yep, that sounds good!"

"Great!" Sky was getting more and more excited. "I can pay if you want."

"Nah, I'd feel bad if I made you pay for everything." Lyra said kindly. "How about we go Dutch?"

Sky nodded. "Oh, all right. That sounds fair. Well then, I guess I'll see you tonight!"

"You too, Sky!"

Sky hung up and leaned back in his chair. He felt great. His dream was about to come true. Tonight, he and Lyra would go out together for the first time. He was a bit nervous, but looking forward to it enormously.

Sky figured that he should let his parents know ahead of time. He left his room and headed out to the living room of his apartment, where his parents were sitting on the couch together. "Good morning." he said as he entered the room.

"Morning, buddy." said Air Raider, Sky's dad, who was using his laptop.

"I see you're finally awake." said Evening Shade.

"Yeah, I was pretty tired from this week, just getting back into the usual school routine." Sky said as he sat down on the couch. "Speaking of which, I thought I'd let you know that I'm going to the mall with Lyra tonight."

"Oh, really?" Evening asked. "I remember you mentioning Lyra before. Was she one of the girls who showed you the high school last month?"

"Yep. It was her and Bon Bon. I've been friends with them both for a while now. This morning I asked Lyra if she wanted to get dinner at the mall tonight, and she said yes."

"So you asked her out?" Air asked.

"I guess you could say that, yeah." said Sky.

Air pat Sky on the back. "Congratulations, buddy! I guess this will be your first date! Just so you know, I feel very old right now."

Evening nodded in agreement. "Just be sure to treat her like a gentleman and you'll do great."

"Don't worry, I will." said Sky. He got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen to get himself breakfast.

At half past five, Sky made sure to comb his hair and shave before he left to go to the mall. He wanted to make sure he looked as nice as he could for his first date. After saying goodbye to his parents, he headed out of his apartment and into the elevator. He rode the elevator down to the lobby, and then went outside.

Since daylight saving time had begun a couple of weeks ago, it was still warm and sunny outside at this hour. As Sky made his way to the Canterlot Mall, he allowed himself to bask in the evening sun. The mall was located some distance away from his apartment building, but Sky had always been a fast walker, so he ended up getting there several minutes ahead of schedule. Outside the Sweet Snacks Cafe, there was no sign of Lyra, so Sky found a bench near the entrance and sat down. He was reading some random news articles on his phone when Lyra sat down on the bench and slid over so that she was right next to Sky. "Hey, Sky." she said in a soft, sweet voice. "Did I keep you waiting?"

Sky felt his face begin to get warm from Lyra being so close to him. "No, no, not really. I only got here a few minutes ago."

"Well, that's good." Lyra said with a smile. "Really wouldn't want to be late for our hangout, would I?"

Sky chuckled nervously. "Me neither. That's why I left about half an hour in advance. Anyway, are you ready to eat?"

"Of course I am! The food here is amazing!" Lyra got up and beckoned for Sky to follow her to the door. Sky did so and opened the door for her. Lyra smiled. "Thanks, Sky." she said as she entered the diner.

"No problem." Sky replied. "What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't?"

Lyra blushed lightly as she and Sky found an empty booth and sat down. Shortly after, a waitress with light blue hair arrived at their booth. "Hi! I'm Sugarsocks and I'll be your server tonight." the waitress said with a smile as she handed a pair of menus to Sky and Lyra. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"

Lyra and Sky exchanged glances. "We'll both have strawberry milkshakes." said Lyra. Sky nodded.

"Sure thing!" Sugarsocks left to make the milkshakes. She returned with them quite soon. "Here you go!" she said as she placed the milkshakes in front of Sky and Lyra. "Can I get you anything to eat?"

"I'll just have a bacon cheeseburger." said Lyra.

"I'll have what she's having." Sky said with a smile.

"No problem!" Sugarsocks went back to the kitchen to prepare their food.

Lyra turned her head to peer at Sky's shirt. Sky became nervous and looked down. "Is... there something on my shirt?" he asked.

"Oh, no." said Lyra. "I was just wondering what the building symbol on it means. You've never told me about it."

Sky smiled and pointed to the symbol on his shirt pocket. "Oh, this? This represents my interest in architecture. It's an interest I've had since I was really young."

Lyra's face lit up. "That's really cool! One of my dad's friends is an architect, and he lives in Manehattan."

"Wow, that's awesome!" said Sky. "You know, I've never actually been to Manehattan. What's it like?"

"I've been there a bunch of times." Lyra explained. "You'd love it, it's a really cool city! There's so much stuff to do. I mean, you've got Bridleway, Saddle Row, Manehattan Escapes, you name it! And of course, the Statue of Liberty."

"It definitely sounds like a fun place." said Sky. "I'm not a fan of the huge crowds there, though."

"I understand that." said Lyra. "When I first went there, I didn't like the crowds, either. You get used to it, though, once you've been there for a while. My big sister lives there, and she'll say pretty much the same thing."

"I didn't know you had a sister!" Sky remarked. "How old is she?"

"Her name's Minty." said Lyra. "She's 21, so she's five years older than me. She's in her junior year at Flash Magnus Memorial University."

"Cool!" said Sky. "I've heard that's a really good college, with one of the best architecture programs."

"Yeah, and it's got one of the top music programs in the country too." Lyra added. "So I'm already looking into it, since Minty's having such a great time there."

Sky smiled. "I might consider it too, especially if you are." he said, causing Lyra to blush lightly.

At that moment, Sugarsocks returned with a pair of bacon cheeseburgers. "Here you go!" she said. "Enjoy!"

"Thank you!" said Lyra. Sky smiled and nodded in agreement.

Sky then looked at the golden pendant around Lyra's neck. "I'm guessing that lyre necklace of yours represents your musical talent?"

Lyra smiled. "Yep! I've been playing the lyre since elementary school. My goal is to become a musician someday."

"That sounds like it'd be really cool." said Sky. "I've always liked string instruments myself, but I have absolutely no musical talent at all!" He laughed. "Plus, I could never play an instrument in front of a crowd. I'd get stage fright."

"Hey, no shame in that." Lyra said with a smile. She winked at Sky. "If you're ever interested, I'd be more than happy to teach you how to play."

Sky blushed. That was the first time that Lyra had winked at him in person. "Um... sure, that sounds great." he said. He took a bite of his burger and washed it down with his milkshake. "Oh boy, I forgot how good the burgers here were!" he remarked.

"Well, like I said, the food here is amazing!" said Lyra, taking a bite of hers as well.

"It sure is." said Sky. "Say, going back to what we were talking about earlier, are you part of of CHS band?"

"Yep!" said Lyra. "I play the lyre, of course, and I'm just about the only person in Canterlot who knows how to play it."

"That's awesome!" said Sky. He sighed. "I wish I had a special talent like that. It seems like no matter what I'm good at, there's always someone who's a lot better than me."

Lyra looked at Sky with a sad expression. "Come on, Sky, don't be so hard on yourself!" she said kindly. "I know you, and you're good at lots of things! For one thing, you're about a million times better at drawing than I could ever be."

Sky smiled. "Thanks. I've always been sort of a perfectionist, though, which caused me no end of stress when I was younger."

"Oh well. You know what they say, the past is in the past." Lyra said with a smile. "Besides, being a perfectionist just shows that you care about your work!"

Sky blushed again. "Well, I guess that's one way of looking at it." he admitted. "Just wondering, how long have you and Bon Bon known each other? You two seem so close."

Lyra smiled. "Oh, Bonnie and I go way back! We've been besties since kindergarten!"

"Wow!" Sky remarked. "You've known each other for that long?"

"Oh, sure!" said Lyra. "I still remember when we met for the first time, on the first day of school for both of us!"

"That's really cool!" said Sky. "It must be nice, having a friend that you've known for ten years."

Lyra nodded. "It definitely is!" She giggled. "Bonnie and I were pretty much inseparable all throughout elementary and middle school. We were in all of the same classes together, and after middle school, we both moved up to Crystal Prep."

"Oh yeah, you told me about that." said Sky. "You transferred to CHS after one year, though. I guess Crystal Prep didn't work for either of you?"

"No, it most certainly did not." said Lyra. "I tell you, that school is full of arrogant jerks, and the teachers are even worse. I can't wait to beat them in the Games tomorrow!"

"Yeah, that's not the first time I've heard that said about Crystal Prep." said Sky. "Although I do know one girl who goes there. She's my cousin, and also my best friend."

"Really?" Lyra asked. "Who is it?"

"You might actually know her." said Sky. "Her name's Sugarcoat. She's on the Crystal Prep Friendship Games team this year."

Lyra was surprised. "Seriously?" she exclaimed. "Sugarcoat's your cousin?"

"Yep!" said Sky. "I'm so happy to be in the same city as her now."

"Not gonna lie, I would not have guessed that you and Sugarcoat would be related." said Lyra. "I knew Sugarcoat back in eighth grade. Contrary to her name, she doesn't sugarcoat anything!"

"You got that right!" Sky laughed. "She and I have been besties for pretty much our entire lives, though. She's been my rock for as long as I can remember. I was really reclusive and socially awkward when I was little, and so Sugar basically did the talking for me. Even when I didn't really have any friends at school, I always had her."

Lyra smiled warmly. "Aw, that's really sweet! How often do you guys hang out?"

"Too many times to count!" Sky laughed. "I don't actually have any siblings, but I've always considered Sugar to be my sister."

"Sounds amazing!" said Lyra. "None of my cousins live anywhere close to me, and so I'm not really close with any of them."

"Nothing wrong with that." said Sky. "Sugar's really the only cousin that I'm close with. Did you have any friends at Crystal Prep besides Bon Bon?"

"Of course I did! Bonnie and I mostly hung out with four other girls in the same grade as us: Minuette, Twinkleshine, Lemon Hearts and Moondancer. We're still in touch with them, and I really hope we see them at the Games tomorrow!"

"Nice!" said Sky. "I'm looking forward to seeing Sugar tomorrow, too!"

By now, both Sky and Lyra had finished their dinner. "I'm going to the bathroom, my hands are all greasy." said Sky.

Lyra nodded. "Yeah, so are mine." She and Sky went to their respectively gendered bathrooms to wash their hands. Shortly after they returned, Sugarsocks came back with the check and told them what the total for their meal would be. As they had agreed, Sky and Lyra each paid half of the bill. Then they got up from their booth.

"Have a nice day!" Sugarsocks called as the pair of them left.

"You too!" Sky replied. He turned to Lyra. "Do you want to go outside or walk around the mall for a bit?"

"Why don't we walk through the mall?" said Lyra. "The other end of the mall is closer to my house, anyway. Plus, I'd love to spend more time with you tonight." She gave Sky a somewhat flirtatious nudge.

Sky felt his face get very warm from the nudge. "Um... all right. Through the mall we go!" He and Lyra headed out the diner's other entrance and into the mall proper.

The Canterlot Mall was full of life tonight, with many people talking and laughing as they walked in and out of the various stores. Sky and Lyra stuck close by one another so as not to lose each other in the crowd. Occasionally, their hands or arms would brush against one another, causing Sky and Lyra to glance at each other and blush lightly. They eventually reached the center of the mall, with the famous golden water fountain. Sky and Lyra could at last have some peace and quiet alone with one another as they stood near the fountain, watching the water shoot up into the air and fall back down.

Lyra reached into her pocket and pulled out a penny. She then tossed it into the fountain. "Made a wish." she giggled.

Sky smiled knowingly. "What'd you wish for?"

Lyra laughed. "I can't tell you, silly! Then it won't come true!" She pulled another penny out of her pocket. "Try it, Sky!" Sky held out his hand and allowed Lyra to place the penny in his open palm.

Sky thought for a moment and in his mind, he wished for him and Lyra to grow an everlasting relationship. But of course, he wasn't going to tell Lyra that. He tossed the penny into the fountain and it disappeared in the water jets.

"Made your wish?" Lyra asked.

"Yes, I did!" Sky said happily.

"Awesome! Let's go!" Lyra led Sky to a door near the fountain, and they stepped out into the night. It was still warm outside, and the sun hadn't fully set yet. Lyra sighed peacefully. "I love nights like this."

Sky smiled. "So do I." He looked down the street and noticed that the west entrance to the town park was nearby. The last time he'd been in the park, and all the times before, he'd gone in through the east entrance. He remembered the jaw-droppingly beautiful view he'd seen last month, and really wanted to show it to Lyra. "How about we go to the park?" he asked her. "There's something amazing there that I would love to show you!"

Lyra's eyes lit up. "Of course! That sounds wonderful!"

"Awesome!" said Sky. He and Lyra strolled down the lit suburban street to the park. The metal gate that marked the entrance was still open, and inside the park, the light poles that lined the concrete pathways were all lit up. Sky and Lyra walked slowly, enjoying the warm light and each other's company. There was no one else in the park but them.

"I forgot how nice this place is." said Lyra. "Especially on a night like tonight!"

"Our town sure has a great park." Sky agreed. "On nights like these, I usually take a walk through the town, and most of time, I end up here sooner or later. I've always liked walking at this hour. Nothing brightens my spirits more than a calm night breeze." Lyra smiled and nodded in agreement.

Soon the pair arrived at a fork in the path. The path to the left went up a mild gradient and into the trees. "Let's go this way." Sky said, pointing to the left.

"Of course!" said Lyra. "I've never been up there before." She and Sky began walking up the narrow path, which Sky was sure led to the view from the cliff.

Compared to the path that Sky had taken the first time he'd gone up this hill, this path was long and winding, but also much less steep. Since it wasn't quite dark yet, Sky and Lyra had no problem seeing in front of them. Tall trees lined both sides of the path, silhouetted by the light from the setting sun. Lyra found herself enamored by the sunlit trees to either side and the almost violet sky above. She sighed happily. "This place is so pretty."

Sky smiled. "Trust me, you haven't even seen the best of it yet."

The path went onward and gradually upward for quite some distance, but eventually Sky could see an opening in the trees up ahead. "We're almost there!" he said as he pointed to the light.

Lyra laughed. "Well, it's about time! What is it up there that's so amazing?"

Sky winked at Lyra. "You'll see!" He led Lyra up the rest of the way to the top of the cliff. When they got there, it was even more beautiful than Sky had remembered.

"Lyra... Look at that."

Lyra was at the edge of a cliff, and out beyond the cliff was a breathtaking view of the entire city and more. There was a lake directly below, with the sunlight shimmering off of the water. Past that were all the lights of Canterlot, both the houses of the suburbs and the tall buildings of the city. The entire place looked absolutely incredible from above.

Beyond the suburbs, Lyra could see all the way out to the hills that lined the edges of Canterlot, and beyond the city, she could see the ocean. She'd never had such an expansive view of a city before, and couldn't believe that she'd never been up this path until now.

Lyra was so awestruck that she almost didn't know what to say. "This... this is beautiful!" she finally exclaimed.

Sky blushed and smiled. "I figured you'd like it."

Lyra laughed. "Like it? I love it! I've been living in this amazing town for my entire life... how could I have never come up here before?"

Sky shrugged. "Not a lot of people know about this place, I guess. But a view like this is rare and beautiful." Sky put his hand on Lyra's shoulder. "Just like you, Lyra."

Lyra blushed and her beautiful golden eyes twinkled. "Sky... no one has ever said anything like that to me before." She paused before putting her hand on Sky's shoulder. "Getting to spend this entire evening with you has been absolutely amazing."

Sky felt his face getting warm again. "The feeling is more than mutual." he said softly, and he and Lyra shared a long, warm hug. Lyra leaned her head on Sky's shoulder, and Sky stroked Lyra's soft minty green hair. Sky felt a warm, fuzzy feeling on the inside, one that he'd never felt before in his life.

Eventually, Sky and Lyra let go of one another and stood at the edge of the cliff, together gazing out at the entire town of Canterlot as well as the hills and oceans beyond. As they watched the sun gradually set and the sky turn a darker shade of blue, Sky brushed his hand against Lyra's, and Lyra grabbed onto it, causing Sky to blush and smile nervously again.

As they stood hand-in-hand together at the edge of the cliff, Sky realized that he could see his apartment building far off in the distance. He pointed to it. "There's my apartment building!" he said.

Lyra looked to where Sky had pointed. "Your place must be really nice." she said softly. She then looked down to one of the houses closer to the park. "I can see my house down there." she said, pointing to it.

"You have a really nice place, too." said Sky, looking to where Lyra had pointed. He sighed once again. "Being up here, just the two of us, seeing the entire city from the air... it really makes you realize how small we actually are, doesn't it?"

Lyra nodded. "Yeah. And to think that this is just one city, in one of the smallest states in the country... it really puts things in perspective." She smiled. "It's just so relaxing up here. So quiet and peaceful, so free from everyday stress. This was just what I needed to clear my mind before tomorrow."

Sky smiled warmly. "I'm glad I could help."

"I really appreciate it." said Lyra. "It's getting kind of late, though. I really don't want to stay up for too long on the night before the Games."

"All right." said Sky. "Do you... want me to walk you home?"

Lyra smiled. "Sure. That sounds great."

"Very well then. You'll have to give me directions, though." Sky chuckled.

"No problem." Lyra led Sky back down the long, winding path through the trees, still holding onto his hand. They exited the park together and headed back out onto the main road. Lyra and Sky strolled down the main road for some distance before turning onto a quiet side street that Sky had never seen before. Lyra stopped in front of a light green two-story house. "Is this your house?" Sky asked.

"Yep!" Before parting, Lyra smiled warmly at Sky again. "Good night, Sky. Thanks so much for a lovely night out." She gave Sky a peck on the cheek, then headed up the front steps of her house. Sky silently watched her go through the door. Then he began walking back toward his own home in a state of euphoria.