//------------------------------// // A Sky of Stars // Story: Thing a Day // by Rennoc215 //------------------------------// Thing A Day: A Sky of Stars Princess Luna paced back and forth rapidly. She looked up at the blackening night sky, then back to her hooves. "Here we go, Luna," she whispered to herself, then she looked to the horizon, and the descending sun. As the last tendril of solar light tucked away behind the world's edge, Luna charged her horn, the masterpiece painting itself on the interior of her brain. And then she let it out. Using her brilliant royal blue magic, she swept across the sky, leaving a trail of stars in her wake. Once she was done, a smile crossed her face. This was it, once of her masterpieces. The stars were aligned on such a way to commemerate one of the most important days: The foundation of Equestria, and the beginning of the Diarchy, which ironically landed on the same day. The stars showed friends enjoying the company of each under while under the watchful gaze of the two sisters, positioned on opposite sides of the sky. She clapped her hooves together in excitement, and then gazed out over the plains at the base of the mountain, looking at the several towns, and waited excitedly. Soon enough, the ponies would come out in droves, and admire her work. -+-+-+-+-+- "Any minute now," she whispered to herself, still waiting in the same position. A voice from inside the castle called to her, and she turned, distracted. The door opened, and Lunar Shadow, captain of the Lunar guard stepped out. "Mistress, we've been looking all across the castle for you." He said, prostrating himself before her. "You never showed up for the night court, and we began to worry as the minutes turned into hours." Hours? Luna asked herself, before recognizing Captain Shadow was waiting for a reply. "Of course, Captain Shadow. Our apologies, we were... preoccupied with the night sky." Lunar Shadow looked to the sky, and studied the starry sky. "Was something wrong with it, mistress?" "Nay," She replied. "I was just waiting to hear a comment about it." Lunar resumed the prostate position. "It is done in commemoration of the foundation of Equestria, was it not?" He asked. "And our coronation date." Luna added with a huff. "Nevermind that, though. We're just glad that somepony recognized our work. Thank thou, captian." "Of course, mistress. Now, may we return inside? The night is coming to a close, and your sister will be rising soon. "Already?" Luna asked, incredulously. "What time is it?" Lunar pressed himself closer to the ground, hoping not to upset the Princess of the night. "Four in the morning, mistress." He closed his eyes, hoping he might be spared punishment. What came next shocked him: she backed down. "F-four in the morning?" She turned to the fields, watching for any activity. Yet they all remained silent. This brought her beyond the edge. Suprising both of them, she sunk to her knees, her regality stripped of her, and she broke down in tears. "Why me, Captain? Why do they ignore my beautiful nights? They play during the simple, undecorated days, and sleep through my masterpiece nights!" She turned to the now standing guardspony, and he saw the true misery welling deep within her. She's really hurt by this, He commented. "Worry not, mistress. I'm here, and I love the nights you provide us." He reached a hoof down to her, offering to help pick her up. "Come now, mistress. Let us be off, for there are some things we must still get to." -+-+-+-+-+- Nightmare Moon's lip twitched, and she looked away from Admiral Lunar Shadow. "Something bothering you, Nightmare?" He asked, watching her with worried eyes. "No, admiral." She replied flatly. "I was just thinking. Remember that night when we decided what we had to do?" Lunar Shadow smiled. "Ah, the night when you painted a masterpiece, and I was the only one who noticed? Yes, I think of it often. It was a year ago, tonight, wasn't it?" Nightmare smiled. "Admiral, your memory continues to amaze." His eyes widened, and he turned. "I have something I need to do real quick." He said as he stood. "By your leave?" She gave him a curt nod, and he was out of the tent in a blink of an eye. She chuckled slightly. He probably just has to use the restroom, but didn't want to be impolite. Sweet of him, if foolish, she thought. She turned away from the tent flap and back to the opening in the roof, admiring the stars. Today was a chaotic muddle, but it had a sort of displacing beauty behind trying to make sense of the splattering of stars. She heard the flap open again, and as she was turning, she heard him call out "No peeking, now." She lifted an eyebrow in amusement, but turned back to the opening. she heard him pull up next to her. "I wanted you to have this," he said, setting something down beside her. She playfully kept her attention focused anywhere but him and the item. "Well, I thought you said 'No peeking.'" She stated, arching her neck. He sighed, but got the point. "You may look now," He said. She smiled, and turned to see... a box. "A box?" She asked. He groaned, and she poked him in the chest. "I'm only playing with you, bat." She said, causing him to blush and tuck his bat wings close to his sides, hiding them under his robe. She laughed, and reached under his robe, and pulled them back out. "Keep them out. You look good with them." She commented, causing him to blush deeper. "As you wish," He said. Then, he distracted her by tapping the box with a hoof, and she turned to it. Slowly she peeled the box open to find a painting. But it was of something she thought she'd never see again. It was a painting of the night sky, one year ago, with every star in the right place. "How did you...?" She began, when he put his hoof to her lips. "Shh. I made the chart while you were missing. When I realized how important it was to you, I knew I had to paint it. So, with my stellar memory," She chuckled at his pun, and he patiently waited for her to stop. "I took the time to draw and paint the entire thing. All for this one day." "Happy revolution anniversary, My Nightmare."