A cold, wintry wind blew through Ponyville's nighttime sky, and those few ponies who were out on such a raw night watched as their breath fogged into tiny clouds. But Orion Shadow was not bothered by the cold. He sat alone on his balcony, staring up at the clear sky and thinking hard of a night just like this, one year ago... Raven had been alive back then.

In the weeks since her untimely death, a great change had come over the grey unicorn. He rarely went out, and spent most of his time shut up inside his house, specifically his study. He talked little, save for the occasional greeting with Steno Pad, his loyal assistant, or (of course) a conversation with his foals about their schooldays. He would stare for hours at a picture of his beloved, then look to her empty side of the bed and cry, because he knew she would never come home again.

He was, in short, lonely and heartbroken. Carrie's presence had helped, but it wasn't quite the same. He sighed softly into the air, wishing he knew where Raven was now, so he could hear her voice once more. But most of all, he longed for an end to the loneliness.

The soft thump of hooves announced the arrival of Princess Luna, Orion's closest and dearest friend. She had been there the day the tragic events unfurled, and knew, on the anniversary of the event, that Orion would be more in need of some form of companionship.

Slowly approaching Orion, she spoke softly. "'Tis a cold night, my friend. Might we inquire what thou art doing out here instead of by the warmth of the hearth?" She sat next to Orion. "And, might we inquire as to why we have not received a visit from thee in far too many days now?"

Orion looks up at the sound of hooves, and then the sight of blue fur... his heart lightens just a little. "I felt like being out here a while," he says distantly. "And... well, I've been busy with house matters... and you have a country to run. Courts to hold, meetings to attend, things like that... I needn't bother you." He sighs a little. "I haven't had much interest in things these days... it's only been a few weeks, but it feels like it happened yesterday... I feel like a part of me has been ripped apart." He looks into her turquoise eyes. "Do you know that feeling?"

Luna shot Orion a look. "Orion, thou of all ponies know that we never consider thy visits as a burden or inconvenience. We are never too busy to make time for our dearest friends, of which thou hold the highest place, and thou are certainly never a bother." She looked directly at Orion, a look of knowing and sympathy in her eyes. "We do know the pain of loss. All too well. Be mindful that we have watched far too many friends and ... yes, even lovers, pass away. We will bear witness to many more; it is the price of immortality. But we do know that sealing thyself away as a hermit and shutting out thy friends when thou needs them the most will not heal thy heart."

"But what am I to do, Luna?" he asks, shivering despite himself. "There's nopony else in the world who could come close to filling the hole she left... what use is there in searching? I am not an immortal, like you, nor a royal... I have one life. And with her gone... I don't know what else to do with it."

Luna wraps her wings around Orion, shutting out the chill of the air. "We will share some very wise words that we received many years past. We were still quite young, and we had our first taste of romance. Oh, what a stallion he was! Smart, attractive, strong ... all a young mare in love could desire. We spent many a year together, and one day, as mortal ponies are wont to do, he prepared for his final journey. We were deeply saddened, vowing to do whatever it took to keep our lover by our side, to never let him go ... and he refused each time.

"Finally, he looked at us and asked, 'Why are you doing all of this?' We replied it was because we loved him. His final words to me were, 'Good. Now go love somepony else.'" Luna placed a hoof on Orion's. "The emptiness thou feels will never leave you, but finding somepony new to share your life, your joys, and even your sorrows will make it feel less empty. Do not shut thyself away, Orion. Thou art too good a pony for that."

Orion smiles at the hoof on his own, and looks into Luna's eyes once more. "I have often wondered... though we are as close as can be... have you ever wanted more?"

Despite her dark coloring, Luna's cheeks reddened slightly. "We would be a liar if we denied having any interest in thee. We kept it to ourselves in the interest of decorum, thou being a married stallion and all. But, there were times when we did wonder what it would be like with thou."

Orion Shadow smiles a little at that. and leans in a little. "I... would not mind finding out. I've often had similar thoughts about you." He takes the plunge, and kisses her lightly on the cheek.

Slightly taken aback by the impromptu kiss, Luna's cheeks redden even more. Gazing straight at Orion, she leans in and kisses him full on the lips - a deep kiss, filled with affection and a great love.

Orion Shadow gasps but finds himself kissing back, awkwardly at first but with great love and affection after a while. His hooves pass briefly through her ethereal mane, as they did the first time they met.

Luna wraps her hooves around Orion and pulls him in closer, a passion igniting between the two as they kiss under the chilly night sky. Breaking the kiss, she looks at Orion, smiling brightly as she strokes his mane. "Did we meet thy expectations?" she asked with a flirty grin.

"Spectacularly," Orion says with a smile, his tail flicking as his mane is stroked. "Shall we go in? I can make us cocoa."

Luna nods. "Yes, that would be lovely." She follows Orion into the house.

Orion Shadow enters and goes downstairs to the kitchen to begin making coca, letting Luna sit down at the table. "Kissing you... my goodness! It was quite a thrill, I've never experienced anything like it! How was I?"

"It was better than we could have imagined," Luna said, sitting down. "We can now see we were correct about thee, and thou managed to surpass even our best dreams about that moment."

Orion Shadow blushes bright red at that remark, "You've dreamed about me?!" He pours the cocoa into mugs and serves it, complete with a dish of marshmallows.

"As we had stated, we had developed quite the crush on thee," Luna said, spooning some marshmallows into her mug. "Our sister did tease us when she learned our secret ... but we bore no grudge for it was the truth." She took a sip of cocoa. "This is marvelous, my dear Orion."

Orion Shadow smiles softly, adding marshmallows to his own, "Thanks you... I find the peppermint works wonderfully in winter." He smiles across the table at the blue mare, "I've always liked you... even when I was a little colt, and I heard the story of Nightmare Moon... I wasn't afraid."

"We could see thou were strong of heart, and filled with courage. What drew thee to us?" Luna asked, intrigued.

"Your mysterious nature, I think... and how much you loved your nights... I remember wishing I had a time machine, so I could go back and visit you on the moon, so you wouldn't be lonely." He holds her hoof in his. "And more recently, after Chrysalis invaded... how quiet you are."

Luna smiled. "We do not need lots of words to reveal our true nature," she said softly. "We allow our actions to speak for us, we use our words only when necessary."

"I admire that... and not just because I talk too much." He chuckles a little. "How about you? What drew you to me?"

Luna stops to think for a moment. "The way thou conducts thyself, the quiet aura of strength thou projects, thy intelligence, thy love of our night ... these are but a few of the reasons we found ourselves drawn to thee. We are glad we got to know thee as a friend first most of all."

Orion blushes a little, nodding. "So am I, Luna... you're a wonderful, fascinating mare... I am glad to call you my friend. And who knows, perhaps a lover."

"Perhaps, my dear Orion. We feel it is best not to rush into these matters headlong, rather let things progress as they will and follow along." Luna looked down at the table. "It, um ... it is a path we would not mind walking with thee."

Orion Shadow looks mildly surprised, "...Really? You mean it?" He sounds hopeful. "I... I would like the same…"

Taking both of Orion's hooves in hers, Luna leaned in over the table. "Then, let us see where the journey takes us," she said quietly, kissing Orion again on the lips.

Orion kisses her back, more confidently this time with much more passion. He drinks in her scent, allowing it to fill him. It felt so warm and soothing!

Luna took the kiss deeper, moving closer to Orion and drawing him close, wrapping her hooves around him.

Orion lets himself fall into her grip, wrapping his own hooves around her as he goes deeper still.

Luna caresses Orion's back, her hooves moving up and down from his shoulders down toward his flanks and back again.

Orion meanwhile rubs the spaces of her back between her wing joints, being very careful so as to not exert too much pressure on them.

Luna sighs contentedly, releasing the kiss, but not Orion. "It has been years since we felt this god."

Orion chuckles, "I am glad to have helped that, Luna... I'm already feeling better thanks to you." He smiles, taking a marshmallow and popping it into her mouth.

Nomming happily, Luna smiles. "We are glad for that. And we expect to see thee for tea at the palace next week. Perhaps some stargazing afterwards ... if thou wishes."

"Of course," Orion says with a smile. "On both counts. I may even fly there, this time." He winks.

"We will look forward to thy arrival, however you choose to do so." She gives Orion a peck on the nose.

Orion blushes bright red, and smiles. "Of course. Farewell for now, I suppose?" He kisses her nose back.

"For now ... but we will see thee again soon." Wrapping Orion in her biggest hug of the night, and kissing him tenderly, she prepares to depart. "We are glad thou art in better spirits, my dear Orion. Please, call upon us if thou are troubled and we will be there for thou."

"And I will be there for you," he promises, smiling and watching her go. "Goodnight, dear Luna. I'll see you in my dreams!"

"As will we, my dear one. We will see thee soon!" With a mighty flap of her wings, Luna ascends into the night sky and back towards the castle.