It was an hour before dawn and in the great city of Canterlot only one mortal pony stood awake as her monarch communed with stars.
As she had done every night for a thousand years, Princess Luna, Warden of the Night and Steward of the Sun, held her lonely vigil. Tonight she did so from the eastern balcony of the palace. The light pollution from the city below meant it was perhaps not the best place from which to view the stars.
Luna, however, did not need to see the stars to talk to them.
She had dismissed the few Night Guard from her presence hours ago, commanding them to rest for the coming celebration. They did not have to know it was not the Summer Sun Celebration.
Closing her eyes she whispered words no pony was present to hear. The stars seemed to shine more brightly for a brief moment as the shy brightened to a dusky purple. Then Luna lit her horn and they faded away, replaced by a silent twilight.
Alone at last, Luna's eyes opened. Bowing her head towards the open sky the alicorn finally let the tears fall.
"Thank you. Thank you for everything."
*****************************
In the West tower sat the only other pony currently awake. That pony was a unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle.
Though awake as her mentor brought about her namesake, she was currently oblivious to the transition of night and day, being far too wrapped up in a book. This particular tome was both rather heavy and extremely old, having been exhumed by Twilight from some dark corner of the Royal Canterlot archives. It was also the seventh she had read since her assistant Spike had given up and gone to bed.
Carefully bringing her lamp closer she leaned forward squinting at the faded text. Her eyes narrowed, then immediately widened at seeing the contents. Leaping from her seat with uncharacteristic athleticism, she rushed over to a rather large pile of reference books on the far side of the desk.
"A lost princess? Days never ending? I have to tell Princess Luna. Spike take a note!"
From the corner of the room a young dragon groaned before rolling over in his basket, pulling his starry blue blanket over his head.
Sighing, Twilight walked over to a wooden cabinet set into the wall. Her horn lit up as purple magic swirled around the lock. Pulling out a blue crystal she carefully relocked the cabinet before levitating the stone towards the sleeping dragon, waving it under his nose.
It immediately garnered a response. The baby drake shifted beneath the blankets, head poking out to sniff the air as his mouth began to water.
"Mmmm sapphires."
Tiny claws reached out towards the sapphire to grab it, but Twilight quickly levitated it higher.
Overreaching in his quest for gems, Spike lost his balance, tumbling out of his basket as his feet tangled in the blankets.
Aiming a somewhat sleepy glare at his companion he held out a claw expectantly for the gem.
"No Spike. Letter first."
Grumbling Spike pulled out a quill and piece of parchment as Twilight began to dictate, oblivious to her assistant's muttered plans of mutiny.
"Dear Princess Luna..."
"Is this really necessary Twilight?" he cut in. "You live in the same castle."
"Letters are the most efficient way of conveying information, you know that Spike. Besides your fire breath will make this letter reach her faster than I can walk."
Spike sighed heavily. "Fine. Then can I go to sleep? With the summer sun celebration tomorrow I need all the rest I can get. It's not easy staying up all night three days in a row you know."
Twilight hesitated. "I'm sorry Spike, you're only young. It's not fair to expect you to deliver messages so late. I'll talk to her in the morning."
The young dragon levelled a disbelieving look at her.
Twilight winced. "I don't want to wait all night, but what if she's busy, or doesn’t want to talk to me?" Her eyed widened in horror. "What if I wake her up and she's so angry she makes me go back to magic kindergarten!" She shivered.
Spike took a deep breath for what felt like the hundredth time since Twilight dragged him out of bed. "Twilight you're her favourite student. Not to mention her only student since Sunset...left."
Twilight calmed. "You're right Spike. Princess Luna did say I was her favourite student."
Silently breathing a sigh of relief she hadn't noticed his slip-up Spike continued.
"Besides I'm not even sure princess Luna knows how to sleep."
"Spike, she's the Princess of Dreams, of course she knows how to sleep."
"Could have fooled me. Besides she's the princess of like everything."
"Spike!"
"Yeah, yeah. Don’t you have someplace to be already?"
"Of course you're right Spike. I'll go now." She quirked her mouth. "Now into bed with you young drake!"
Seeing Spike yawn Twilight quietly levitated him onto her back. Feeling his arms wrap around her neck she gently carried him back to bed; tucking the blanket around him with military precision.
Spike's eyes began to close, before suddenly flicking back open with new zeal. "Hey Twilight can I have that sapphire now?"
Twilight laughed, resisting the urge to smirk. "Oh no Spike! I cant be giving you gems so late. It will ruin your digestion, you are a baby dragon after all." At the sight of his frown she relented. "Alright you can have it in the morning with your breakfast."
Smiling dopily Spike's eyes grew droopy. "Thanks. G'mornin Twilight"
Quietly pulling the door to, Twilight looked fondly at her charge.
"Goodnight Spike."