I... I Don't Need To... It's Fine...

The two continued walking, talking to each other like old friends. They spoke of performances, animals and the beauty of the scenery around them. At one point Soarin' placed his wing over Fluttershy's eyes and told her to just let him be her guide. He stopped when they were close to a grassy clearing and took his wing away, allowing her to see the fullnes sof the divine park.

The yellow pegasus' eyes grew wide. The clearing was a cascade of silver surrounded by trees the swished faintly in the wind. Clouds dotted the sky here and there, the brilliance of Luna's canvas shining around them. Purple, deep blue and black mixed together, dyed silver and white around the shining moon and stars. Everything glowed under a natural light, as bright as the sun. But instead of warmth, it left a refreshing coolness as they walked towards the clearing. Soarin' lifted any branches as to not let Fluttershy get her mane or dress caught in them. He stopped her just before she stepped in a small puddle and watched as she daintily flew over, her twee form making his eyes sparkle.

Everything about her was magnificent.

Fluttershy admired the beauty of the park. She'd never been here at night and she loved how the moonlight lit up everything in a silver glow. She turned to look at Soarin', who was walking beside her. He looked back at her and smiled warmly, causing her to blush lightly and hide behind her mane, hiding her tiny shy smile. She peeked through the strands of her curled mane at him, adorned in a tuxedo with his mane that he had attempted to slick back but refused to stay down. He was so handsome, she couldn't help but admire him. He was such a kind stallion too, fame hadn't gotten to his head. He acted like such a gentlecolt to her, keeping branches away from her and making sure she never stepped in mud or puddles.

Soarin' looked at her through the corner of his eye. She was beautiful, but delicate and fragile. He loved the dress she was wearing, pale pink just like her mane. It wasn't frilly or lacy, just a simple dress that fell nicely around her back hooves with long sleeves on the forelegs. Her mane was curled with ivy and flowers, just like what she had done at the Grand Galloping Gala. He closed his eyes and imagined when he'd seen her at the Gala. Her stunning dress, her styled mane and everything about her was beautiful, her personality was the most beautiful part of-

"Ouch!"

He snapped out of his trance and turned to see she had tripped and fallen over while he'd been distracted. Cursing himself for his ignorance, he quickly trotted back over and kneeled down to examine her. The scent of roses and lilies filled his nose and he gently nosed her mane aside. To his horror her could see tears in her eyes. Another mental kick to himself. "Fluttershy what's wrong? Are you hurt?" He looked directly into her eyes, feeling nothing but worry for the beautiful damsel.

Fluttershy's back leg had snared a tree root, causing her to stumble. Tears pooled into her eyes and she sank away from Soarin', closing her eyes. "Oh I'm such a clumsy pegasus." She sniffed miserably. She had been having such a beautiful moment and now it was ruined just because she'd been careless to what was on the woodland floor.

Soarin' felt his heart break for the fallen mare. "You're not clumsy. Everypony trips now and then, it's nothing to be ashamed about. Here." He stood up and offered her his hoof. After a moment, a pale yellow hoof took it and Fluttershy raised herself up.

The shy mare let out a little squeak and winced, lifting one of her back legs above the ground with a pained look on her face.

Soarin' gasped softly. She'd hurt herself! "Fluttershy are you ok?" He asked dumbly. "Wait, no, sorry. I can tell you're hurt. That was a dumb question. What's wrong?" He corrected, taking a step closer.

Fluttershy shook her head in response. "I twisted my ankle..." She whimpered, her eyes tearing up again. She unfurled her wings to start flying, more specifically fly away and hide her face in shame, but she never got the chance. Something swept her off her hooves and she was on top of something. She looked down to see Soarin'. She was on Soarin's back. "S-Soarin'? What are you doing? I c-can fly." She asked.

Soarin' chuckled. "I know, but in the romance books if the mare twists her ankle then the stallion carries her. So I think it's only proper if I carry my fair maiden." He explained, looking back at her with shining eyes.

Fluttershy giggled softly and smiled at him. "Alright..." She agreed quietly as he started walking. "Oh, and Soarin'?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." She nuzzled his ear and wrapped her front hooves around his neck in a warm embrace.

Soarin' blushed lightly as he felt her warm breath on his ear and her soft front legs around his chest. "No problem Fluttershy." An idea lit up his eyes as he thought of a way to make it up to her. He'd beat himself up when he got home, for now he wanted the poor mare to have a nice time. "Hold on." He bid her and unfurled his wings, taking off. On his back, he heard a soft gasp as Fluttershy realized what he was doing.

The timid mare buried her face in his mane, but pulled out when she caught a glimpse of the amazing view. Her smile grew wider and the tears left her eyes. It was so beautiful, she could see every detail from a bird's eye view, traced in silver. She let out a soft cry of joy and hugged Soarin' tighter.

After a few minutes of circling and climbing into the sky Soarin' landed on a cloud and helped Fluttershy off his back so that she could lay down on the cloud. "Alright, lets see that ankle." He said gently, laying down next to her and giving her a comforting smile. Fluttershy smiled back and stretched her back leg out to where he could see it. The Wonderbolt inched back and examined her leg, noting the slightly swollen joint and faint bruise. "It isn't bad so you should be ok. I'm sorry Fluttershy, this is my fault. If I'd been paying more attention I could've kept you from tripping." He sighed, looking at her with sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry I ruined our date." He apologized.

Fluttershy looked at him and giggled a bit. "Oh Soarin' you didn't ruin our date. Accidents happen, it's fine. I'm grateful you care though." She declined his apology politely, a smile on her face. A cold draft blew by their cloud, making her shiver. She felt something warm press against her and pull her into an embrace. She looked up to See Soarin' looking down at her, eyes shining with his wing drape over her like a blanket.

Soarin' looked up at the sky, Fluttershy pressed close to him. He felt her rest her head on his chest and he looked into those eyes. Those beautiful shining teal eyes. A smile crossed his and he looked back up, pointing out constellations to her. "See that one? That's the Big Dipper over there. And if you look up from its handle you can see the North Star." He whispered. For a while that was what the two pegasi did, watch the stars together. As a shooting star shot by, they each made a wish. When Soarin' looked down again, he saw that Fluttershy had fallen asleep snuggled up to him. He smiled warmly at her and rested his chin on her head, keeping the night chill from getting to her.

In that moment of serenity, something clicked inside Soarin's head. The perfect moment couldn't be planned, it just happened. You couldn't ask for a perfect moment, nothing could predict a perfect moment. Even a simple accident could cause a perfect moment. Even if it wasn't a kiss, it could still be perfect. Here, on a cloud, under the stars with a sleeping mare snuggled against him, was Soarin's perfect moment.