//------------------------------//
// Appreciating the Moon 
// Story: Comforting the Moon 
// by Wodahseht 
//------------------------------//

Princess Luna woke at her usual time of evening, stretched, and climbed from her bed. As was her habit, she pulled apart the curtains of her chamber to gaze out on the evening sky before refreshing herself. A thick bed of clouds could be seen, outlined in reds and golds, stretched out across the city and out into the surrounding lands.

With a deep sigh and shake of her head she turned away again, closing the curtains on the sight.

It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the view. It was, in fact, quite lovely. However, clouds meant that even those few who might be out would be unable to truly take in her night.

It had been a week since her unexpected conversation with Star Shadow. Though she felt better for it, she had not yet had the opportunity to help those who might seek peace or answers in the night. And with the thick cloud-cover, it was unlikely this night would change that.

Celestia arrived as she was pushing aside the last of her breakfast. "Well sister, are you ready to take your watch?"

"Yes," she replied as she stood. "Though with all the clouds, I doubt I shall have much to see."

"Oh, I wouldn't know about that. I saw a pegasus clearing clouds over Canterlot as I was making my way here."

Stepping out onto the balcony showed this to be true. Half of the city was now almost cloud-free, though no pegasus was in sight any longer, so further clearing was unlikely.

Once the sun had been put to rest and the moon risen, Luna bid a good night to her sister and looked out over the quiet below. A few ponies were still in the street, but their numbers were quickly shrinking as they found their ways home.

'Perhaps I should just focus on the dreamscape tonight. All seems quiet out here.'

No sooner had that thought crossed her mind when she noticed a unicorn with a picnic basket held in his magic knocking on a door. Now, picnics are usually a daytime affair, so by all rights the fellow should be heading home, but who would knock on their own door?

A mare answered the door, greeted the stallion with a smile and hug. Together they set out down the street oblivious to the curious princess watching from her tower. As Luna realized that they were heading in the direction of the park she practically danced in place.

'They're out at night! A picnic at night!' she chanted in her mind. 'At last a chance...'

As they walked, she slowly called up a misty aura around the full moon, making it seem larger and brighter. Finishing just as they came to a halt in a small clearing in the park, she then focused on making the stars twinkle just a bit more noticeable and thanked that unknown pegasus mentally for clearing this side of the city tonight.

Though she made sure to check elsewhere for signs of trouble, Luna's primary attention was on the couple as they ate and talked. She was a bit disappointed that they didn't seem to be paying attention to the special effort she had put in for them, but when they finished eating they snuggled up next to each other and finally turned their attention to the moon and the sky around it.

They sat there quietly for a few minutes before an idea popped into Luna's head and she sent a single star shooting across the portion of the night sky they were watching.

The reaction was immediate. The mare pointed and started talking while the stallion smiled, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Shortly, he turned to his companion and began saying something to her. She seemed to freeze, one hoof to her mouth, before suddenly launching herself at him in a tackle and kissing him.

As the kiss continued, Luna blushed and turned to walk inside. 'I think now would be a good time to check on the state of the dreamscape...'

~*~

None of the three noticed the pegasus high above on a cloud as he watched the princess leave her balcony. A smile forming, he launched himself and flew away.

'Now to figure out what to tell my weather captain about why I cleared the sky without permission...'

Passing over Hoofington, he noticed a young colt that seemed to be hiding in a bush outside of the town with his hooves over his head.

'Looks like my night isn't quite over yet,' he thought. And dove.

~*~

The next evening, as she sat down to breakfast, Luna was surprised to find three letters had been delivered with it. All three envelopes had her name on them, though one appeared to have been written in crayon. Setting that one aside for last, she opened one of the others:





To Princess Luna:

Lemon Zest was much more detailed in his letter, but I still wanted to give you my own thanks for the wonderful night last night. It was the most beautiful one I can remember seeing and made the perfect setting for our date. (And to tell the truth, I don't think he'd have had the courage to ask me to marry him if he hadn't gotten to wish on that star!)

Sincerely,
Sweet Treat





'Oh. That must have been the couple in the park. That explains the tackle.' she thought with a chuckle.

She opened the next letter, interested in hearing what the stallion had written.





Princess Luna:

Thank you for that beautiful night and the shooting star last night. I have been dating Sweet Treat for over a year, but I could never get up the courage to ask her to marry me. I finally planned a night picnic hoping that it'd be easier to ask without other ponies around, but in the market preparing for the picnic I thought it would have to be cancelled with all those clouds looking like we might get rain. Luckily, a pegasus overheard a comment by me and told me he was going to be clearing the west side of the city before nightfall.

It could have just been that I was with Sweet at the time, but I'd swear the night got more beautiful as we made our way to the park. With no one else around, it felt like the night was just for us. And I'll tell you, she never looked more lovely to me than last night with the stars reflecting in her eyes.

And then there was that shooting star! I told myself that this was it, made a silent wish, and finally popped the question. And she said yes!

I saw that same pegasus in the market this morning and thanked him for clearing the sky, but he told me he was just doing his job, and that if I wanted to thank someone for the night I should thank you.

So, thank you again!

Thank you,
Lemon Zest





By this point, Luna had quite the smile on her face. 'They noticed. They noticed from the start!' She paused in thought for a few moments. 'I wonder if I could find that pegasus to thank him myself. He did me two favors in clearing the sky and mentioning me to these two.'

Finally she turned to the last letter, very curious as to just who this could be from. 'Perhaps from that young colt in Ponyville I met on Nightmare Night..'





Hi Princess Luna! You don't know me. Well, you may know me, but I never met you. Thank you for protecting me from monsters! Last night I got so scared. I fell asleep in the meadow, and when I woke up it was night. I was so scared I ran and hid in the closest bush I could find.

Then something big and dark swooped out of the sky and landed by my bush. I knew I was about to get eaten! I didn't though, it was just a pegasus. He just looked scary cause he was all dark colored, but he was nice and offered to walk me home.

When we were walking, he told me I didn't need to be scared because you watch at night to protect us. He said that you make the moon and stars so pretty to let us know we don't need to be afraid. I looked at them when he told me, and I wasn't afraid anymore.

Then he told me the most amazing thing. He said that you even protect us from nightmares in our dreams! Is that true? Can you go inside dreams? Can you visit me sometime in mine?

Leaf Chaser





Luna clutched the letter to her chest and began crying. She wasn't really thinking anymore at this point, she just knew that this letter, crayon and all, was the most important one she'd ever received.

She was still clutching the letter to her, breakfast untouched, when Celestia came in to get her for the raising of the moon.

"Luna! Are you alright?"

She smiled, wiped her eyes, and levitated the letter over to her dresser. "I'm wonderful sister. Come, let us bring the night!" 'I have a young colt waiting for my visit after all..'