//------------------------------//
// 1 - The Angel 
// Story: Mending Light 
// by Kiromancer 
//------------------------------//

Even after all these years, it would be hard for me to forget that day. The first days of winter were always special to me, but even amongst them this day stood out. This was the day I first saw her.

The conversations throughout town hall all blended together into one overpowering din. My goal at these kinds of events was to just keep my head down, stay quiet, and don’t draw attention to myself. The others were all sharing their stories and plans for the upcoming winter, but I was only there out of necessity. My hooves were tied.

I don’t often go to parties. Or any kind of social gatherings, really. If I could have just excused myself and stayed home, I would have. No pony would have missed me. Of course this wasn't a party, this was work. Normally, I would have been working alone, in the blessed quiet of the night shift, but for these really big events needed the whole weather team. From the full-time team members to the temporary volunteers, every pegasus was here to prepare the first snow of the year.

It was some consolation that all of this excitement was about the first day of winter, and not the Summer Sun Celebration, or one of the other big events. Despite all the other ponies crowding so close, I couldn't keep the smile from my face as I spared a look backwards to the snowflake and star that adorned my light blue flank. It brought back a flood of memories. Some of the happiest moments of my life were tied to this day, and once all the work was done I had a tradition to uphold. The reward was well worth the wait.

The meeting was just another obstacle I had to get through and I tried, as inconspicuously as possible, to blend in at the back of the room. No pony wanted to talk with me, anyway, and if they tried, they’d just be disappointed. At least, that’s what I’d told myself; it was probably true back then, if only because I’d made it that way. And so I just sat in the rear, waiting for the meeting to end.  All of my thoughts were focused on the end of the night, when I could sit alone with the stars, and the Moon and the wonderful night.

If there was one thing dependable about Rainbow Dash, it was that she never left anypony waiting too long. She got everypony’s attention quickly, and with an overconfident ease—which I admit I envied just a little—she detailed her plans for the team. Well, my plans. Not that I had said anything. She needed help with weather plans, and I just didn't want to make waves. Besides, I knew snow, which makes planning these kinds of things pretty simple. 

Once Rainbow dismissed everypony, I turned towards the door and prepared to head out. And that was when I heard it. Why it was that phrase, I don’t know. It was a simple sentence, mundane even.  It seems a strange thing now, but my ears couldn't help but perk up as her voice cut through the growing din of the crowd, and a single line burned into my memory forever more: “It seems like a solid plan.”

My heart caught in my throat. I lowered my hoof away from the door, barely registering the way my foreleg trembled. I’d never heard a voice like that before, one that pierced me like an arrow to the heart. I turned to watch the crowd, desperate in a way I couldn't quite understand.

She was a beautiful black winged angel. The most amazing, radiant, wonderful pegasus I'd ever seen. Charcoal coat like the pitch night, her head crowned by a brilliant blue mane, her stunning features accentuated by a teal scarf. I stood still, not daring to move lest the vision of her fade away. When she laughed, the melodic sound filled my ears. Her coat glowed with a brilliant sheen, and her smile filled the room. Most stunning of all, her eyes, like deep pools, threatening to drown me as I continued to look, but woe, that I was unable to pull my gaze away!

I don’t know how long I sat there, staring. I was brought out of my reverie by a sharp “Ahem.” I barely registered the other pegasus standing there, tapping his hoof impatiently.  He nudged his head to the side, directing me out of way. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, and scrambled to comply. I must have seemed so stupid, my sorry-self rushing towards the side of the room. I slipped into the corner, falling to my haunches and trying to hide my face.

That amazing pony was still standing where she’d been, talking, smiling. There was some point where time stopped, and at the same time every second rushed past in a blur and before long, I watched her wave goodbye and trot towards the door. She stopped there, turning her head, and for an instant, her eyes met mine. A moment, that was all, but in that second, I was utterly lost. Before I could even realize it, she had slipped out the door. She was gone. 

If there had been a crushing weight upon me before, it was only in contrast to the emptiness I felt afterwards. It was gone, and so was my ability to move under my own power. Breathing took considerable effort, as if it were new to me. Or maybe I was taking my first breaths after being born anew. In reality, I think... I was afraid, even if I couldn't recognize it.

My legs were trembling, threatening to betray me. All from one little glance. I pushed forward anyway, searching out anything that could help distract me.  And there, amidst the crowd, was the familiar multi-colored mane of Rainbow Dash. Of everypony in the hall, she was the only pony I ever really talked to, if only because she was basically my boss.

I pushed my courage to its limit, trying to overcome my strained nerves. "H-h-hey R-rainbow Dash?" I flinched at my stuttering.  That was an old tic that cropped up whenever I was nervous, or self-conscious. So quite often, unfortunately. I dropped my gaze down to the floor as I waited for a response.

"Um, yeah? Hey Flurry, what's up?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, but could barely do more than sigh. "I... I... um...”

Rainbow let out a low breath, raising a hoof to her forehead. "Oh come on Flurry, talk to me! I'm amazed you're still here, so it must be important."

"T-that pegasus... w-who?"

"Pegasus?" She looked about the room, still filled with the greater majority of the Ponyville weather team. "You're gonna have to be a little more specific."

"B-black coat..." I couldn't stop myself from stammering nervously as I finally looked up at Rainbow. "A-and a s-scarf..."

Her expression was somewhere between pity and annoyance, but at last a flash of recognition crossed her face. "Oh! Are you talking about Dusky? Oh yeah, she's great! Wonderful weather pony. What, you mean you've never met her?"

I started, shaking my head as if to deny some accusation of terrible impropriety. "No! I... I mean... n-no... I haven't..." And with that, I was unable to hold Rainbow's gaze. "H-how long has she worked for the team?"

"Like, a couple years. But she's pretty part time. She's always volunteering for these big gatherings when we need extra help, but of course, you’re never at them, so that explains that too." She nudged me gently with a wing, an oddly supportive gesture. "Hey, don't let it bother you Night. You just... get through tonight, and if she's still bothering you, I can talk to her about leaving you alone, alright?" 

She waited a moment for a reply, but I offered nothing, unsure what she was thinking, or even what I was thinking. A moment later, she murmured an apology, making an excuse to leave the awkward moment, but that was fine. 

Gradually, I looked at all the other Pegasi gathered together, but I couldn't talk to them. Even in the crowd, I was alone. I think I needed to be alone then. I started the slow walk out of the town hall, and considered everything that had happened. And despite the terror of the moment, and the confusion looming through my mind, I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from rising, the faintest of smiles upon my face as I spoke softly, letting her name play across my lips. "Dusky..."

---

I finished work on time as expected that night, and the snow fell right on schedule. With the job done, I started to make the preparations for my own little tradition. I lifted one of the smaller, now empty, snow clouds further up into the sky. Scoping out the empty heights, I kept a critical eye upon the town, seeking the best view.  It was a simple matter to find the perfect spot; it doesn’t change much year to year. Once the cloud was in place, I opened up my flight satchel and begin unpacking, setting out a modest spread: a blanket to rest beneath, with a small thermos of hot tea. 

With everything in its place, I settled down upon the cloud, making myself cozy as I gazed down at Ponyville. Below, the world sparkled in a glittering display. The fresh coat of snow covered everything as far as the eye could see, and the waning moonlight illuminating the ground as if presenting it solely for me. This was my tradition, to wait and watch the sunrise over the town. Since I'd moved to Ponyville, and since starting my job with the Weather Bureau, I’d taken this time for myself to cherish the beauty. This moment had been everything to me, my reward, the peace that oft eluded me. In the years when I was alone, here, more than anywhere else, was where I had been happy. 

The moonlight filtered down to reflect in a million shining lights upon the ground.  It was a stunning spectacle that I had always, and will always hold dear. But that year something was wrong. The happiness and peace that I'd always found here was being gnawed at by more than just my lingering doubts. No, instead there was almost nothing. Like a hole had been drilled through my heart and some vital piece had gone missing. I said before that looking back, I needed to be alone that night. But upon that cloud, the weight of that loneliness came crushing down upon me. And that pain was only made harsher when I thought about how she had me feel.

"Dusky..." the name escaped my lips unbidden, although perhaps to no surprise. I let the word sit in the chill winter air as if my breath would solidify into that mare that had set my heart ablaze. The thought of her smile, her eyes, it threatened to push me over the edge. How could such a beautiful thing even exist in this world? It didn't seem fair. Not only because of how badly it hurt my heart to know of her, but the utter certainty that she was far too good for me. I was, after all, only Night Flurry, not somepony of importance or means. 

I let my eyes rise up to the moon, feeling that odd sensation of tears cutting paths down my face. "What do I do? H-how can I make this pain go away?" I lowered my head back to look at my hooves resting upon the cloud. I was unsure I even wanted it to go away. There was something strong in that pain, something affirming. "I... I just... I want to see her again..."

I sat in that early morning silence, watching Ponyville through blurry eyes. It stretched on, the moon falling, and the sun rising as Celestia officially began the first day of winter. The light of the sun crossed over my face, I blinked the tears out of my eyes and gave the day my best grin. "And... I will." 

Maybe it was the bright new day, or that place, high in the clouds above a scene of infinite beauty, but there was some strength of resolve in that moment that I desperately needed. I grabbed it with both hooves. "By Luna... By the Goddesses, I will see her again. Dusky! I promise you! I... I will find you... I will... I will meet you."