Harmonic Blue Skies

It was another sunny morning in Ponyville, and Lyra and Bon Bon were taking a walk in the park together. “This is the life, isn’t it, Lyra?” Bon Bon said with a smile. “The sun is shining, and there’s just enough breeze to keep us cool and blow the clouds away.”

“And it’s even better with my best friend by my side.” said Lyra. “Our morning walks are my favorite time of the week!”

Bon Bon smiled cheekily. “Oh, nice! That’s a surprise. I thought your favorite time of the week would be any time you see Sky!”

Lyra blushed. “Well… I haven’t known him nearly as long as I’ve known you. He may be a nice handsome stallion, but you’re still my best friend!”

Bon Bon chuckled. “Well, that’s a relief. For a minute there, I thought you were about to ditch me for him!”

“Don’t worry, Bonnie, I won’t do that.” Lyra said, patting Bon Bon on the back. “I can have more than one friend, you know! But speaking of Sky… I’m still worried about him. Ever since that awkward visit to my parents a few days ago, I’ve been feeling like there’s something bothering him that he hasn’t told me about.”

“I’m with you on that one.” Bon Bon agreed. “You should reach out to him and ask him. As a friend.”

“Definitely.” said Lyra. “I’ll write a letter to him when I get home.”

Near the park’s central fountain, Lyra and Bon Bon spotted a blue pegasus sitting upright on a bench, reading a book. “Well, speak of the devil!” Lyra exclaimed. “I think that’s him right over there!”

“I guess this is definitely your favorite time of the week now!” Bon Bon laughed. “Go over and talk to him!”

Lyra decided to surprise Sky. She walked over quietly and sat down next to him on the bench. “Good morning, Sky!” she said cheerfully.

Sky looked up from his book and saw Lyra sitting next to him. “Oh, hi, Lyra!” he said with a smile. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here!”

Lyra giggled. “Just thought I’d surprise you, that’s all. How are you doing?”

Sky thought for a moment. “I’m feeling better than when I visited your parents the other day. You’re not mad at me for that, are you?”

“Of course I’m not!” said Lyra. “I was worried about you. It seemed like there was something bothering you that day.”

“Well… yes, there was.” Sky began. He considered telling Lyra about Noteworthy, but quickly decided that he didn’t want to sound possessive or jealous. “But I don’t really want to talk about it. Not right now, anyway.”

“Um… okay.” said Lyra. “I’m glad you’re feeling better now.”

“Thanks, Lyra.” said Sky. “I talked with Emerald and Sugarcoat the day after, and they were both able to cheer me up. But, um… your parents and sister aren’t mad at me, are they?”

“Don’t worry about it, Sky.” Lyra said kindly. “Nopony’s mad at you. You didn’t hurt anypony. You were just tired and having a tough day. That happens to everypony.”

“I know that.” said Sky. “I was just worried that I’d made a bad impression on them.”

“You were a little awkward, but you weren’t rude or anything.” said Lyra. “I can assure you that my dad is very happy to have you on board with the project. My mom hasn’t quite warmed up to you yet, but once the project really begins, I’m sure you’ll win her over. As for my little sister...” Lyra thought for a moment, then laughed. “…who cares what she thinks, anyway! You won’t see her around much. She only visits my parents a couple times a year.”

“Ah, okay.” Sky said, feeling relieved. “That’s good to hear. Anyway, how have you been?”

“I’ve been all right.” Lyra replied. “Bon Bon and I were taking a walk through the park this morning. We were actually talking about you just before I saw you!”

Sky blushed. “Really? What were you two saying about me?”

“Lyra was worried about you.” Bon Bon said as she sat down on the other side of Sky. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better now. Say, I just noticed that you and Lyra sit the exact same way!”

Sky looked over to Lyra and noticed that she was sitting upright on the bench, just like him. In contrast, Bon Bon was curled up on all fours. “Oh, yeah! I guess we do!”

“Before I met Lyra, I’d never seen anypony sit upright like that.” Bon Bon recalled. “I tried it, but it felt too awkward.”

“You know, I don’t understand why more ponies don’t sit this way.” Sky remarked. “This is a lot more comfortable. Crouching on all fours hurts my back.”

“Same here!” Lyra agreed. “I first started sitting like this after I read my first anthropology book. Apparently this is the way humans normally sit. I’m such an anthropology nerd – I could go on about it forever!”

“Nice!” said Sky. “I took an anthropology class one year when I was in school. It was pretty interesting.”

“Well, yeah!” said Lyra. “There’s just so much we don’t know. Were there once humans in Equestria, and will they return some day? Personally, I say yes to both!”

“To be honest, I don’t really know what to think about it.” said Sky. “I’ve never really thought about it other than when I was taking the class, I guess.”

“If you’re ever interested, I could teach you about it.” Lyra offered. “It’s my main interest outside of my musical career.”

“That sounds great!” Sky said with a smile. “If you’re interested in it, I’d love to learn more about it.” He then remembered how both Emerald and Sugarcoat had encouraged him to take the next step. “I’d also love to spend more time talking to you one-on-one. Do you want to… go out for dinner tonight? The two of us, together?”

Lyra blushed, then smiled. “Of course, Sky! That sounds wonderful! I’d love to have dinner with you! Which restaurant would you like to go to?”

“How about the Ponyville Cafe?” Sky suggested. “I usually go there for lunch, but the dinner menu is really good too.”

“Sure!” said Lyra. “I was actually thinking of that place before you suggested it.”

“Perfect!” said Sky. “See you there at… seven o’clock tonight, then?”

“Yes, indeed!” Lyra replied. “Bon Bon and I have to get going now, though. See you tonight, Sky!”

“You too, Lyra!” Sky said as Lyra and Bon Bon got up from the bench and continued on their way. Sky smiled to himself. Just a few days ago, he had thought Lyra wouldn’t want to be friends with him anymore, and now he had a date with her. The advice he’d gotten from Emerald and Sugarcoat had been spot-on, and he was excited for what his evening with Lyra would bring.

Meanwhile, Bon Bon was teasing Lyra as they continued on their walk. “I just told you to check on how he was doing.” Bon Bon chuckled. “I wasn’t expecting you two to set up a date!”

“I wasn’t expecting it either!” Lyra agreed. “It was a nice surprise, though.”

Bon Bon gave Lyra a playful nudge. “Well, now I know you both like each other!” she teased.

“We’ll wait and see!” Lyra laughed. But just like Sky, she was excited for the evening. And Bon Bon was happy for her best friend.

At a quarter to seven that evening, Sky brushed his teeth and combed his mane one more time in preparation for the date. He then exited his house and glided over the lake. The air was warm, the sky was clear, and the water was calm.

Since it was high summer, it was still light outside, and many ponies were walking together on the dirt streets. Sky smiled as he flew high above them, through the warm air and beneath the blue sky. Inwardly, he felt a bit nervous, but he reassured himself that it was perfectly normal. After all, this wasn’t just his first date with Lyra, but also his first date with any mare. He’d been interested in two other mares while he was living in Manehattan, but he’d been rejected by both of them.

Eventually, Sky spotted the Ponyville Cafe on the ground below. He began to gradually descend, landing just outside the outdoor dining area. He looked up at the clock tower in the distance, and saw that the time was 6:55. He sat down at the first table and waited for Lyra to arrive.

Within a minute, Sky spotted Lyra trotting down the road. He waved to Lyra, and she waved back and began trotting faster. “Good evening, Sky!” she said cheerfully when she arrived. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Sky smiled. “Nope! I only got here a minute ago. And since the seating here is free, I figured I’d get a table and save a seat for you.”

“Thanks, Sky.” Lyra said as she sat down across from him. “I guess you and I both had the same idea. This evening is too nice to not be outside.”

“Well, I’ve always liked outdoor dining.” said Sky. “Especially on a light summer evening like this.”

Just then, a well-dressed tan unicorn stallion with a slicked-back dark green mane and a small mustache came out of the cafe building. He noticed the two new cafe patrons, and came over to Sky and Lyra’s table. “Good evening, fine ponies!” he said in a cheerful English accent. “My name is Montgomery and I will be your waiter tonight. May I get you anything to drink on this fine occasion? We’ve recently received fresh barrels of white grape juice from the Grape family’s vineyard out west.”

“Well then, I’d like some grape juice!” said Lyra.

“Make it two!” Sky agreed.

“Excellent choice!” Montgomery said with a smile. He placed a pair of menus on the table. “You may peruse our dinner menu while I get your juice. Cheerio!” He turned and walked back inside.

Sky began to flip through the menu. It was quite extensive, and Sky couldn’t decide what to order. He’d gone to dinner here the week before, but he couldn’t seem to remember what he’d eaten that night. “I can’t decide what to order.” he finally said to Lyra. “Do you have any recommendations?”

“How about the hay ravioli?” Lyra suggested. “That’s what I’m ordering. I think you got that the last time we had dinner here, too.”

“Oh, yes.” Sky chuckled nervously, now remembering what he’d ordered last week. “Good idea. I’ll get that too.”

Montgomery returned with two glasses of white grape juice. “Here you are, my friends! Fresh white grape juice straight from the vineyard! I hope you enjoy! Now then, what delectable dinner entree may I serve you tonight?”

“We’ll both have the hay ravioli.” Lyra said with a smile.

“Excellent choice once again!” said Montgomery. “Two plates of hay ravioli will be here in a jiffy. Ta-ta!” He walked briskly into the cafe building again.

Lyra took a sip of juice from her glass. “This juice is really good!” she remarked. “It’s cold and refreshing, and it’s sweet but not too sweet.”

Sky nodded in agreement as he began drinking his. “I’ll have to be careful not to drink all of it before the food gets here!” he laughed.

“If you do, you can always ask for a refill.” Lyra chuckled. “Anyway, Sky, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” said Sky. “You can ask me anything.”

Lyra thought for a moment. “Well, you already know my family and I’ve told you about my experiences growing up in Canterlot, but you haven’t told me much about your family or what it was like growing up in Manebridge.”

“Then I’ll tell you now.” Sky said with a smile. “Manebridge is a nice little town, and my parents still live there. It’s northeast of Manehattan, so it can get pretty cold in the winter. But the rest of the seasons there are nice and temperate. I usually visit in the spring and summer.”

“It sounds like a nice place to live.” said Lyra. “What’s your family like?”

“I don’t have any siblings.” Sky explained. “Sugarcoat is my only relative who’s around the same age as me. She lived only a few towns west of Manebridge, so we were able to hang out a lot when we were foals. When I moved to Manehattan, spending time with her was the thing I missed most.”

“That’s really sweet.” Lyra said warmly. “I’m happy for you that you live near her again. All of my cousins are scattered around different parts of Equestria, so I don’t see them very much.”

“Apart from Sugarcoat, it’s the same with my family.” said Sky. “My dad, Air Raider, and his brother Silver Bullet, who’s Sugarcoat’s dad, are the only ones who live near each other these days.”

“What does your dad do for a living?” Lyra asked.

“He was a guard pony when he was younger, but now he programs computers.” Sky replied. “He’s probably one of the only ponies in Equestria who knows how to do that. My mom, Evening Shade, used to be a weather control pony but stayed home to take care of me when I was a colt. She went to work at the cloud factory in Cloudsdale after I moved out.”

“You’re lucky that she was willing to stay home with you for so many years.” said Lyra. “My dad was constantly traveling and performing around Equestria, and my mom’s job at the tea company was really time-consuming, so most of the time I was home alone, watching out for my sister.”

“I am really lucky.” Sky agreed. “Even if my mom got annoying sometimes, as all parents do, I’ll always be thankful for her.”

At that moment, Montgomery arrived with two steaming plates of hay ravioli with pasta sauce. “Here is your dinner, my fine friends!” He placed one plate in front of Lyra, and the other in front of Sky.

“Thank you!” said Lyra.

“Very fast service, too!” said Sky.

“Oh, no problem!” Montgomery said with a smile. “I’m often fashionably late to parties, but when it comes to customers at the cafe, I’m always right on the ball! The ravioli is fresh from the kitchen and rather hot, so please be careful. But I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!” Montgomery took a bow and headed off to greet some other ponies.

“I have to say, our waiter tonight is very friendly.” Sky remarked.

Lyra nodded in agreement. “He’s the most enthusiastic waiter I’ve ever had. The staff here are all really nice, but I think Montgomery is the best!”

“Indeed.” said Sky. “Anyway, can you tell me the story of how you got your cutie mark? Everypony seems to have such a great story about it.”

“Of course!” said Lyra. She then began her story. “When I was very young, my dad used to play his lyre for me all the time. I was fascinated by it, and wanted to learn how to play it as well as he did. When I got into the School for Gifted Unicorns, he taught me how to play the lyre with magic rather than hooves. It took me a while to fully master the spell, but I eventually got the hang of it, and my dad began teaching me some of his favorite songs. Two years later, the school hosted a talent show for all the students to show off their unique skills. Some of my friends had already gotten their cutie marks, but I was still a blank flank, so I was nervous about playing my lyre in front of a large crowd. Before that, I’d only ever performed in front of my family. The fillies who already had their cutie marks went first, and then it was my turn. I was sweating as I walked out onto the stage, but when I closed my eyes and began playing my favorite symphony, all of my anxiety was washed away. I became one with my lyre, and my lyre became one with me. When I finished my performance, everypony in the audience cheered, and then my flank suddenly started glowing. My cutie mark had appeared!” Lyra beamed as she remembered that glorious moment.

While Lyra was telling her story, Sky had cleared half his plate of ravioli. “That was a beautiful story.” he said wholeheartedly. “You put so much time, love and care into your music back then, and you put in just as much now.”

Lyra blushed and smiled warmly. “Thank you, Sky. That means a lot. My lyre is my most treasured possession, and hearing that one of my favorite ponies likes my music that much, means the world to me.”

Sky blushed when he heard Lyra refer to him as one of her favorite ponies. “You’re more than welcome, Lyra. You’re an amazingly talented mare. And…” Sky blushed even more, “…you’re one of my favorite ponies too.”

“Awww.” said Lyra. “You’re so sweet.”

“I do my best.” Sky chuckled. He wasn’t sure what to say in response. No mare had ever complimented him like that before.

Lyra giggled. “Now then, how about your cutie mark story? I told you mine, so now you can tell me yours!”

“Well, it took me a long time to get mine.” Sky recalled. “When I was a colt, I was very much a perfectionist, and I guess I still am. No matter how good I was at something, it always seemed like there was somepony else who was far better than me. I lost motivation easily and gave up on a lot of things because I thought if I couldn’t do it perfectly, then I may as well not do it at all. I was one of the last remaining blank flanks in my class. However, one thing I had always enjoyed and stuck with was drawing buildings, bridges and maps. I’d always had an interest in architecture, and I enjoyed going to cities and seeing the tall buildings. When I was old enough to go off on my own, I applied to the Canterlot School of Architecture and sent them a portfolio of my drawings. I wasn’t expecting them to accept me, being a blank flank and all, but my parents urged me to take the chance. A few days later, I got a letter in the mail. The School of Architecture had accepted my application and wanted me to come to Canterlot for a tour. When I finished reading the letter, my flank started glowing and after many years of imperfection and indecision, my cutie mark finally appeared and my future was set. I was a late bloomer, but I made it in the end.”

Lyra smiled. “I’m glad things turned out well for you. Your cutie mark story is really inspiring. I’ve never liked the fillies and colts who pick on blank flanks. Just because they don’t have their cutie mark yet doesn’t make them inferior.”

“Exactly.” Sky agreed. “I was lucky that there were no bullies at my school.”

Lyra nodded. “Definitely. Your confidence must have gone up after you got your cutie mark, too.”

“Oh, it did.” Sky said as he prepared to continue his story. “I felt so much better about myself and my abilities after that. I entered the School of Architecture with a newfound self-reliance, and I soon discovered that I was more talented and more creative than many of the established architects at the time. I always took my designs in a different direction than anypony else, and I graduated as the top student.”

“Wow!” Lyra remarked. “You must have been so good! How come you didn’t start your career in Canterlot, though?”

“I would have liked to, but Canterlot isn’t usually a place for architects to start their careers.” Sky admitted. “Since Canterlot is the capital of Equestria, and most of the buildings are pretty old, ponies looking to build there generally look for old established architects rather than young inexperienced ones. Manehattan, on the other hoof, has always been full of opportunities for architects looking to start their careers, plus it’s not too far away from Manebridge. I didn’t really want to leave Canterlot, especially when Sugarcoat was living only a few blocks away from me, but I knew it was for the best. So I said goodbye to Sugar, and rented a small apartment in downtown Manehattan. It was noisy and cramped, but I was able to start my career quickly, and I soon had enough money to move to a bigger apartment near the ocean. I stayed there for a few years, but eventually I got tired of Manehattan in general. It was far too crowded for somepony like me, and I wanted to have my own house.”

“I can imagine.” Lyra said sympathetically. “I’m not much of a city pony either. Canterlot is nice, but I’ve never wanted to live in Manehattan or any of the other big cities. I’ve performed there a few times with Octavia and Vinyl, and Noteworthy calls it the music capital of Equestria, but I wouldn’t want to stay there permanently.”

At the mention of Noteworthy, Sky grimaced. “Is there something wrong?” Lyra asked with concern.

Sky hesitated. “Well, um… yes. I think I should tell you what was bothering me the last time I visited your parents. Promise you won’t brush me off?”

“Of course not.” Lyra said kindly. “You can tell me anything. If you need somepony to confide in, I’m here.”

“All right.” Sky nodded and took a deep breath. “It was Noteworthy. When I rode the train up to Canterlot that day, he sat down next to me and was friendly at first, but then…” Sky paused to think about what words he wanted to use, “…he started insulting me. He told me that you weren’t interested in being my friend, and that I was a loner who had no chance with you. And… I believed him. That’s why I was so awkward around your family.” Sky slammed his front hooves down on the table. “That arrogant, smug jerk… he ruined my whole day!”

Lyra was taken aback. “I’m really sorry that happened to you, Sky. But… that doesn’t sound like Noteworthy. I’ve been friends with him for a long time, and insulting somepony else like that just seems out of character for him. I mean, I believe you, but maybe there was a misunderstanding?”

“There was no misunderstanding.” Sky replied. “He clearly stated that he’s been interested in you for a long time, and told me to stay out of his way. I did nothing to provoke him. I was perfectly friendly to him, and then he suddenly started bragging about himself and putting me down. The worst part was that he told me to have a nice day at the end, when he clearly didn’t mean it and had been nothing but an arrogant jerk to me!”

Lyra’s eyes widened. “Wow! Just… wow! To think that Noteworthy of all ponies would act like that…”

“Clearly, Noteworthy isn’t who you thought he was.” Sky said firmly. “He may be nice to you, but he certainly wasn’t nice to me.”

Lyra nodded, deep in thought. “I’ll talk to him about this the next time I see him. Hopefully this whole thing can be straightened out.” She winked at Sky. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t have any feelings for him.”

Sky blushed and smiled. “That’s good to know. Thanks, Lyra.”

By now, both Sky and Lyra had finished their dinner. Montgomery soon arrived. “How was your dinner tonight, my friends?” he asked with a smile.

“Very good, thank you!” said Lyra.

“Excellent!” said Montgomery. “I’m very glad you enjoyed your meal! We always do our best to provide fine food and sincere service!”

“You’ve certainly done that tonight.” said Sky. “And for that we thank you!”

“Oh, no problem!” Montgomery said cheerfully. “May I get you any dessert tonight?”

Sky and Lyra looked at each other. They were both feeling full. “No, thank you.” said Sky. “You can just give us the bill.”

“Righto!” Montgomery placed the bill on the table. “Your dinner came to twenty-eight bits.”

Sky figured that since he was the one who asked Lyra out, he should be the one to pay. He reached into his saddlebag, but Lyra stopped him. “I’d feel bad if I made you pay for everything, Sky.” she said. “How about we each pay half? Fourteen bits each.”

Sky was surprised by Lyra’s offer, but agreed. “If you want to, sure! That sounds good.” Sky pulled 14 bits out of his saddlebag, and Lyra did the same.

“Thank you very much!” said Montgomery. “Have a wonderful night!”

“You too!” said Lyra. She and Sky got up from their seats and departed the cafe. The sky was now dark, and a crescent moon and many distant stars illuminated the streets below. “Do you want to take a walk along the river?” Sky asked. “It’s a lovely night.”

“I’d love to!” Lyra replied. “Being by the river is always nice.”

“Indeed it is.” Sky agreed. “We can walk along the road on the other side.”

Sky and Lyra walked down the street together and soon arrived at one of the many stone bridges over the river. From the south, the river emerges from the Everfree Forest and curves through the east side of Ponyville. On the river’s east bank, there is a dirt road that runs alongside the river for several miles. A gentle night breeze wafted through Sky and Lyra’s manes as they leisurely trotted across the stone bridge and onto the east bank.

“Which way do you want to go?” Sky asked.

“Let’s turn left.” Lyra suggested. “I’d rather not go into the Everfree after dark. We’ll head north and see where this road goes. I’ve never actually walked along here before.”

“Good idea.” said Sky. “I’ve never walked along this road either. It’ll be an adventure!”

Lyra beamed. “I’d love to go on an adventure tonight. Especially with you.”

Sky blushed. “Same here, Lyra.”

Sky and Lyra began walking along the river road. The water in the river was calm, and the reflection of the moon and stars twinkled on the surface. “Ah, this night is perfect.” Sky sighed happily. “The air is warm but not too warm, there’s just enough of a breeze to cool us off, and the stars are out. I’ve always liked taking walks at this hour. The night air washes away whatever stress I’m feeling, and helps clear my mind.”

Lyra smiled and nodded in agreement. “That must have been another thing you missed when you were in Manehattan. The polluted city air blocks out the light of the stars, and it’s just not the same. I used to love going to the Canterlot sculpture gardens after dark when I was a filly, because it was the only place where I could see the night sky clearly.”

“That’s another place I should visit at some point.” said Sky. “I’ve heard it’s the best sculpture park in Equestria.”

“You and I should go together one of these days!” Lyra exclaimed. “I’d love to show you around!”

“That’d be great!” Sky replied. “We’ll just have to pick a day to go.”

Sky and Lyra were now making their way around the widest section of the river. The Ivory Estate, the place where they first met, was visible on the opposite bank. “Seeing the Ivory Estate from the other side of the river makes me remember the time we first met.” Sky remarked fondly. “It wasn’t so long ago that we sat on that balcony together, overlooking the bright blue river and basking in the warm summer sun.”

Lyra sighed peacefully. “I remember that day very well. I suppose it’s a bit poetic that we came back here tonight. You may have given me some inspiration for a new song…”

“Glad I could be of assistance.” Sky chuckled. “I’d love to hear that song when you compose it.”

After Sky and Lyra passed by the Ivory Estate, the river narrowed again and curved west. It was a blind curve, lined with trees. Just before the curve, the dirt road abruptly ended. “Well… I guess we’ve reached the end of the road.” said Sky. “Where do we go now?”

“Let’s just keep following the river.” said Lyra. “It’s an adventure, right?”

Sky thought for a moment, then agreed. “True. Plus, the night is still young. We’ve still got plenty of time to walk around together!”

Lyra grinned, and led the way around the bend. Sky followed, with Lyra and the moonlight guiding his steps. Lyra’s turquoise mane and tail looked radiant under the stars.

Suddenly, Lyra stopped. “Sky!” she called. “Look where we are!”

Sky ran up alongside Lyra, and gasped as he recognized the location. “We’re at the lake!” he exclaimed. “I can’t believe I never noticed that the river flows into it!”

“I never noticed that either!” Lyra agreed. “I’ve just never seen the lake from this side before. We must be close to your house, then!”

Sky looked around the lake and spotted his front porch light about two miles ahead. “There it is!” he said, pointing to it. “My porch light is still on. I’ll show it to you! We can sit on the deck together.”

“I’ve wanted to see your house ever since you first told me about it.” said Lyra. “And sitting on the deck with you sounds wonderful.”

Sky and Lyra made their way around the lake to Sky’s house. Sky led Lyra up the front steps and onto the spacious deck. Two deck chairs were already sitting side by side near the railing. “Take a seat.” Sky said with a smile. Lyra blushed as Sky pulled out the first chair for her.

Lyra and Sky sat down together and enjoyed the panoramic night view. The lake was a crystal clear shade of midnight blue. “So… do you like the view?” Sky asked.

“It’s amazing.” whispered Lyra. “You’re so lucky to have this place all to yourself.”

“I really am.” Sky agreed. “A view like this is a delight to behold each and every day.” He blushed profusely as he prepared to confess his feelings. “Just like you, Lyra.”

Lyra blushed in return, her ears flopped down, and she smiled her most adorable smile. “Oh, Sky… nopony’s ever said that to me before.” She gave Sky a kiss on the cheek, and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m really glad I met you.”

Sky looked down and nuzzled Lyra’s silky soft mane. “Me too, Lyra. Me too.”

Lyra and Sky were content to stay where they were for the night, enjoying each other’s company and the most beautiful view either of them had ever seen. Eventually Lyra drifted off to sleep, her head still resting on Sky’s shoulder.

She looks so adorable when she’s asleep, Sky thought to himself. His eyes twinkled and began to close, and he soon fell asleep too.