A stormy sky revealed itself to Starlight when she pulled the curtain aside.
Sunday had come, along with rain and wind that hadn’t let up all week, painting the world in every shade of gray imaginable. She rested her chin over her crossed hooves and sighed, another boring day was here with nothing to do except sit at home and watch the world go by. No lessons, no adventures, she couldn’t even go outside and fly her kite. Her next sigh was deep enough to fog the window, blocking her view.
“Breakfast is ready,” Sunburst called from the kitchen.
She could’ve teleported, but she walked instead, taking her time. It must’ve taken Sunburst by surprise, for he looked at her strangely when she entered.
“Are you alright?”
Starlight looked away, her face a little warm. She hated and loved it when he looked at her closely. Loved it since it meant she finally had his attention. Hated it because she feared he would find something he disliked, something ugly and bad, that would finally scare him away. “Yep.”
He looked skeptical. “Are you sure? You’ve been quiet lately, which isn’t like you at all,” he met her eyes and made Starlight even more flustered. It was so unfair, how he knew her so well, but she, on the other hoof, couldn’t even decide if his eyes were blue or green or something in between. She was never close enough to decide.
“Stop looking at me like that!” she snapped, taking a seat with a huff. “It’s nothing, honestly. This stupid weather is just making me gloomy, that’s all.”
“Oh…I see.” He gave her a sympathetic smile before turning away, speaking in a rush. “Say, d-do you want to hang out?”
Starlight frowned, why did his voice sound so odd? “And do what?”
“We could practice magic, play a game, or learn something interesting together.”
She sighed. Since when had her life become so tedious? “I think I’ll pass.”
Sunburst didn’t answer and took a seat at the table instead. Starlight looked down at her plate. Pancakes. Just like yesterday, and the day before that. Everything was the same, from the weather to Sunburst’s boring suggestions. Nothing changes. Starlight made faces as she ate. It just wasn’t fair, she wanted something new, something exciting, something that was missing in her life. She was sick of the monotony. Even her work had become uninteresting, regurgitating the same lessons over and over—friendship this, friendship that, the magic is in you, bla-bla-bla—sometimes, she couldn’t blame the dead-eye look her students gave her during her lectures.
“Thanks for the food.” Starlight placed her dishes in the sink and left with quick steps.
Sunburst watched her go with a worried frown but kept quiet. With breakfast over, he put his plates next to hers in the sink, watching them disappear into the murky water, the surface rippling and distorting his image. Sometimes she acted so…odd, almost hostile, and he didn’t know why. He couldn’t help but worry about her, but it hurt when it felt like he was the last pony she wanted to talk to; he would gladly help her if only she asked...
He wandered to the living room, his mind full of thoughts of Starlight and her strange, stubborn ways. He tried to sit and read, but the words didn’t register, blending with the sound of the storm outside. He thought of the swoop of her mane along her neck, the shape of her face and her blue eyes—
“Sunburst?”
He jumped. “Cheese and crackers, Starlight! You scared me!”
“Sorry,” she giggled. “Are you busy?”
He shook his head, smiling as he moved to give her space on the couch.
And for a moment, Starlight didn’t move. Instead, she took in his sun-kissed fur, his long lashes, the hint of a stubble on his jaw, his chapped lips…How many times had she seen him like this? On the couch, reading, smiling, and waiting for her? When had his presence become a constant she could always count on? The monotony should’ve bothered her, but instead, she found it reassuring, slowly realizing that what she needed, what she’d been searching for, was…
Her legs moved and she sat down next to him, heart racing with revelation she didn’t know how to voice. “I was thinking about what you said, about learning something interesting?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, and you said you were going to pass.”
She squirmed in her seat. “I didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, you did.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because,” he said, smiling gently, “you always mean what you say.”
She gaped, then snapped her mouth shut with a blush. “Are we doing this or not?”
Sunburst grinned. “Let me get my notes!”
But she stopped him by placing a gentle hoof on his shoulder. The question was painted plainly on his face, but she honestly didn’t know how to answer…or maybe she did, a part of her at least. Her heart, beating like a war drum, urged her forward, close enough that she could see all the shades of teal swimming in his eyes.
“Starlight—?”
She silenced him with a simple kiss.
For a moment, his body was numb…and then set on fire. She smelled so nice and sweet, and he realized that it was Starlight’s perfume. He lifted a hoof and softly cradled the back of her head, pulling her close, deepening the kiss. So warm. The feeling of her lips was addicting, the way she sighed his name made his heart race, and the grip of her hooves on his shoulders made him feel whole, complete. He didn’t want to let her go, not now, not ever. The world outside was dark and cold, but inside, together, they were as warm as they could be.
They pulled back, still holding each other close. Starlight smiled.
“Interesting enough for you?”
“Huh…”
“Should I take that as a no?”
Instead of answering, he leaned in for another kiss.
