Author's Note
This story is brought to you by: I was going to be able to finish my originally planned story but after a weekend camping trip that was both longer than I expected and more draining than I expected (camping is usually so refreshing for me! Like what just happened?) I realised I did not have the capacity to make that story what I wanted it to be.
Soooo… with my lack of social energy contributing to my lack of drive towards my original plan, I abandoned ship, picked a new song and wrote something simple and sweet. In about an hour. Right before bed. And fought with the little service I had to get this posted.
All because I love Fluttercord way too much and finishing something today will bring me new life by morning. Enjoy.
Sweet Dreams Be Yours
The hush of night fell upon the cottage, animals climbing into their beds and homes after a long and tiresome day. Long and tiresome indeed, Fluttershy thought as she stifled a delicate yawn with her hoof.
Though the sun had just recently set, she was ready to wind down and bring a close to her day which had been full of chores and animals that kept her hard at work.
The wonderful feeling of knowing she'd had a well accomplished day was only second that night to knowing she'd get a well earned rest.
There was just one last thing to do before she got ready for bed, though. One little tradition that could not wait. So, with light hoofsteps she crossed her room to the somewhat large window that looked out into the night sky. There on the sill sat a small carved wooden music box which she wound up, a fond smile decorating her face.
Carefully, she opened the lid of the well-loved box, allowing the soothing melody to fill the air.
It was the perfect night music as her eyes lifted to the vast blue sky where slowly but surely the stars were coming out; one by one. There, shining brighter than the rest was the unmistakable twinkling of Luna's beautiful evening star.
Her mother used to say that you could look at the evening star and whisper the name of the pony you loved. Every time you whispered the name of your beloved, it was a wish and the star would save all those little wishes just for you. Until one day, those wishes could come true.
But you had to be patient and you had to believe.
Back then, she hadn't had a name, no face, nothing about the one she would one day desire. But she'd look up at that star and whisper a hopeful 'goodnight' to her somepony out there. Every night.
"Goodnight my someone" she'd repeated time and time again, the moment she saw that precious star
It had to be done the moment you saw the star or else it wouldn't count. Not that night.
Her eyes locked steadfastly on the glittering beacon of light and with the gentle ringing of the music box she whispered her loving goodnight.
She couldn't count all the ways she'd said it over the years. Some nights were hopeful while others felt hopeless. A few of her goodnights had been begrudgingly as she'd say to her someone: if you don't show up soon, I'll stop saying goodnight. Some of her wishes were, admittedly, passive, just one last thing to do that night and others meant everything.
Lately, however her goodnight had been different from all the other ways she'd said the.. They weren't the same 'goodnight my someone' as they had been when she was a filly. As wistful and romantic as that tradition had been, she did know who she wanted her someone to be. She knew the name she'd whisper to that evening star as she hoped he'd someday be hers.
She had a someone to dream about as she watched the star shine brightly among the many other stars that lit up the sky around it.
The lullaby swirled in her head as she found herself humming along to the melody she'd sung often as a filly.
'Goodnight, my someone
Goodnight, my love' Her soft crystal clear voice sang in gentle harmony to the music box's chiming.
'Sleep tight, my someone
Sleep tight, my love
Our star is shining, it's brightest light
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight'
What had been a heartwarming tradition to her, even after she'd moved from home, grew more tender and loving each day as her heart fell deeper in love with him
'Sweet dreams be yours, dear, if dreams there be' She offered hopefully,
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me'
Did he ever dream of her, she wondered? Did he think as tenderly of her? Oh, he could act tough, sometimes even aloof, or indifferent, but there was an undeniable soft spot between them. A little room for them to be dear friends. With every passing day she both selfishly and sweetly wished for more.
'Yes, I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight'
Not just 'her someone' anymore.
Her best friend: Discord.
Oh perhaps it was childish, to wish him goodnight when she knew he wouldn't hear, or to sing him little lullabies when he was busy doing whatever the lord of chaos did in his realm of endless possibilities, but he was Discord, her dearest someone. He was worth every silly little affection she could offer him.
She'd yet to gain the courage to tell him of her blooming affections, yet to admit it to anyone other than herself really, but she wanted to. She wanted to and vowed that one day she'd tell him.
One day she could whisper a goodnight to him as she held him close. And just as softly, just as sweetly, he'd whisper a goodnight right back.
Wouldn't that be wonderful? Magical, even?
For now, wishing on stars would do as she had done since her childhood.
"Goodnight, my dearest Discord," she sighed as the drifting music slowed to a halt.
After watching the stars a little longer, she deemed it time to go to bed, and pushed herself from her seat at the windowsill, absent-mindedly humming her little lullaby the whole way.
Across a shift in reality, within the pocket dimension of Discord, the aforementioned draconequus was slipping into his own nightly routine just as he looked out one window that, unlike the others, gave him a beautiful view of Luna's night. Not only the night, but the bright and shining evening star.
He paused for a moment with a tender smile, the type he saved specially for his best and dearest friend. While focusing on that little beacon of light, he whispered his own: "Goodnight, sweet Fluttershy. Rest well."