A scene based on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic by Lauren Faust and Ask Queen Moon by Gloomy, with characters and story by Fireheart and Dalken Starbyne.

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“The moon is quite lovely tonight,” said Moonbeam. The bat pony watched it in the sky as it illuminated the world around her and Fireheart as far as the eye could see. A gentle breeze blew across the grassy plains surrounding them, off and into the mountains beyond. “I wonder, though. Do you remember it ever being just a little brighter?” She glanced over to the pony 1000 years her elder. Despite his experience far beyond what she could hope to imagine, still she couldn’t help but feel protective of him. The Moons had been watching over their dear friend and ward for close to a millennium, and Moonbeam took that responsibility very seriously.

Fireheart’s voice came back to her after a moment. “Yes, perhaps once…when I was a colt. The moon was brighter then…” He trailed off as he tried to draw forth memories long past. “But that was such a very long time ago. I can’t—it’s hard to remember…ugh…hurts my head to remember…”

Moonbeam reached a hoof over to settle her friend. “It is alright. Do not fret over it too much. I simply wonder about my ancestors’ writings sometimes. The nights never seem quite as clear as they described.“

“They are still beautiful stars though aren’t they? Like millions of little gems in the sky…”

“Indeed. I find that if I listen closely enough, I can hear them sing of hope. Perhaps eventually I will see a night like my ancestors described, and we can count the stars together as they once did.”

Fireheart sighed while looking up at the heavens. “I’ve watched these stars since I was a colt and yet…it’s as if something were missing, but I can’t put my hoof on it.” He grunted and put a hoof to his temple. “And it hurts my head to try and think about it.”

“Perhaps this will help,” Moonbeam said, and she retrieved a set of scroll cases from her saddlebags. “Then you will not have to focus so much on recalling memories from lifetimes long past.” She removed the scrolls from their cases and spread a set of star charts out on the grass, placing rocks on the corners to keep them from furling back up. “My family have kept these since before even you were born. These in particular cover the constellations over this part of Equestria this time of year.” As she continued, she pointed her hoof to one that looked particularly worn, then to another on parchment that looked as if it could have been purchased just a few weeks ago. “This chart was drawn by Moon Sabre approximately a decade before you were adopted. The newer one is one I documented last year. Notice anything different?“

Fireheart looked at the document quizzically. They were very similar but, aside from one being older than him, something was…off. “There is something different about this one, but…I can’t put my hoof on it.” Absentmindedly, the pegasus rubbed the scar on his neck, a wound received long ago. “It’s just….ugh. Something different about this one, and it’s not just the age of the paper.” He then threw his head back and looked again to the stars. There was always a kind of solace there, a peace that he found when gazing at them.

Moonbeam pointed her hoof to one of the constellations in particular. “Look at Numina,” she said, her hoof gliding over the constellation, and then stopping at a star that was a prominent dot on the old parchment. “This is Luminus, one of the brightest stars in the sky. It is nearly always visible, as am I sure you are familiar. Many ponies use it to navigate by.” Her hoof hovered down to another star, marked with significantly less ink. “This is, or at least was, Candela. While not as bright, it was still considered part of the constellation. But at some point, it disappeared from the charts.” She pointed to her copy, which, while having the constellations in different positions in the sky, was also missing the noted star, and then leaned over to Fire to point up to the constellation in the sky above them. “With a looking glass, I sometimes think I can see it, but it is difficult to tell if it is just my imagination. Even Luminus is not as bright in the sky as the old charts would imply.” She leaned back and looked to Fireheart. “I do not know why. It is possible it is simply due to the changes in our society. More ponies awake at night means more lights, and more lights mean the sky is often dimmed. But I still hope that one night I might see Candela for myself.“

The orange pegasus looked at the chart, and then back to the constellation in question. He did this several times, squinting his nocturnal eyes when looking for the missing star. “You’re right. It’s gone. Stars don’t just disappear…” He trailed off again in thought before continuing. “I must ask Mother about this. I’m sure she will know! After all the night sky is her realm. We should ask her.”

Moonbeam tried her best to hide the sadness in her smile. “I would not wish to trouble Her Majesty with such things when she has so many important matters to tend to,” she replied.

She removed the stones from the scrolls and started to roll them back into their cases.

Fireheart had a bit of disappointment as well but chose not to push the issue. “Ah…you’re probably right, I suppose.

“Still, though, I appreciate your coming out with me. There aren’t many ponies these days who truly want to be my friend…” He did his best to hide the stinging pain he felt and pushed a smile through.

The mare tucked the scrolls, cases and all, back into her saddlebag, and leaned over to nuzzle against Fireheart. “You will always be cherished, Fireheart,” she said. “I am very glad, even if I never get to see the sky as my ancestors did, that they at least passed your friendship along to me. Knowing you has always been and will always be one of my greatest privileges. The sky, at least, always seems a little brighter when you are near.” She smiled, more warmly this time, and just stared up at the night sky as she settled into a comfortable silence.

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A commission From BlueBrush09!

Moonbeam belongs to a very good friend of mine.

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Posted with permission

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