A firm rapping on the front door of the library woke Spike from his nap on the couch. He yawned and stretched, taking a moment to scratch at the nubs on his shoulders. His wings coming in itched a lot, but he couldn't wait to start flying. He slid from the couch, slouched over to the door, mumbling that he was coming and peeked out.

Star blinked, Spike was a tiny bit taller than him. Lanky limbs and sharper green spines. The purple dragon looked him over and smiled a toothy smile. It certainly reminded Star of a crocodile.

“StarStep? Oh hey, haven't seen you around in a while. How's life in Canterlot?” He stepped aside to let the pony in, shutting the door behind them.

“Wow, Spike. You're the first pony to recognize me right off.” He chuckled and glanced about the library main room. Same as he remembered. Neat and tidy with everything in it's place. Books of all shapes and sizes stuffed into every available slot on the shelves built into the walls.

“Huh? Oh yeah. Twilight calls it photographic memory or something. It's weird, I can remember ever single thing in every book I've read. And every pony I've met. Twi says it's something to do with dragons being able to remember what's in their hoard.” He shrugged and wandered over to plop back on the couch, “So what brings you here?”

“Is Twilight around? I could really use her help.” As he asked there was a muffled boom from the stairway descending into the underground.

Spike smiled and jerked his thumb towards the stairs behind him, “Yeah, Professor Explosion is in the labs. She's yelled at me twice for interrupting her. All I was doing was bringing her something to eat.” He sighed, “Sometimes, she just gets so buried in her work, you know?”

“Well...maybe you can help then. Have any books on griffon interactions with the Princesses? Or heck, any books at all on past courtship attempts with Princess Luna?”

Spike raised an eyebrow, “Uh...no, not really. I did read some books about griffons and how they deal with other races, but that was back at Canterlot.”

“Do you remember any of it?” Star asked hopefully.

The purple dragon nodded and smiled another toothy grin, “Sure do. Tell you what, StarStep. You get Twilight out of the library for a while, and I'll let you pick my brain for info later. Deal?” He looked worriedly at the stairs to the basement, “I really worry about her. She doesn't get out as much anymore.”

“Yeah Spike, it's a deal. Let me see what I can do.” He nodded to the purple dragon as he trotted across the hardwood floor to the spiraling staircase that declined gently into the earth. Down he went, hooves clicking on the wood, onto the bottom floor and into a room the size of the library upstairs.

He paused in the doorway, noting all the tables filled with test-tubes and alchemy kits, various gizmos, parts, metal, wood, and gems. Loose scrolls were scattered around the tables and floors. A few pinned to the walls. Even a couple of chalkboards with hastily scribbled notes and equation. Frantic erasing and rewriting apparent on many spots. Towards the center of the room, leaning against a podium, Twilight Sparkle was nose deep in a tome as large as the lavender pony. Her glowing horn held three other books above that one, held open as she glanced occasionally from the massive tome to one of the others.

Star approached, halting short of her stained and dented podium. He softly cleared his throat.

The lavender unicorn ignored it, nose still buried in the heavy book. “Professor Sparkle?”

She didn't look up, flipping a huge page with her hoof and returning to her studies.

“Professor Sparkle. I need to talk to you.”

“Not now Spike, I'm a little busy. This whole magical equation for gravity distortion is wrong. Who wrote this thing?” She grumbled, flipped her page back to the previous.

“Professor Sparkle, Princess Celestia sent me.” He said a little louder, using his practiced Royal Guard voice to demand attention.

At that her ears swiveled towards him and she peeked over her book, Glasses perched on the end of her cute purple nose. Her mane was a tangled mess and her coat sticking up in spots. He wondered if her disheveled appearance was the result of an experiment gone wrong or lack of a brush. She blinked a few times, studying him. “The Princess? But...Oh gosh, have I been forgetting to send friendship reports again? Is Discord back? Or maybe Shining is getting married again?” There was slight panic creeping into her voice as she slammed her three floating books closed and stacked them on a side table.

“No, Twilight. Not exactly.” He gave his best smile, “It's been a while. How's that old telescope of yours?”

She blinked, tilted her head, then a smile spread on her lips as she ran forward to hug him tight, “OH, StarStep. It's so good to see you!” She pulled back as he started to cough. “Everything ok, Star?”

“Erm. Please don't take this the wrong way, Twilight, but...when did you take a bath last?” he scrunched his nose.

She tilted her head again, looking upwards in thought, “Hmm..what's today?”

“Sunday.”

She blushed hotly, “Oh...um, yes. I guess it's been a little bit.” She looked around her lab with a guilty smile, “I get so caught up in everything, I lose track of time.”

As he followed her look, he noticed a lumpy mattress stuffed into a corner with tangled sheets. He shook his head and gave his best welcoming smile to the mare, “Hey, wanna take a little walk? Stretch those legs?”

She grimaced, looking back at her work. “I...really shouldn't. I feel like I'm so close to a breakthrough.”

“Tell you what, you come with me for a bit, and I'll tell you about my pretty silly attempts at wooing Princess Luna. AND, I'll throw in a tid-bit of knowledge I found about Princess Celestia making a constellation.” her eyes snapped to his in surprise.

“You and Princess Luna? Well...that does explain the letter she sent me the other day. And, what do you mean Princess Celestia made stars? She can't do that. Only her sister can.” She frowned in thought as the colt turned and trotted to the stairs.

“Well Professor Sparkle, care for a walk then?”

Twilight pulled a little of her mane to her nose, sniffed and wrinkled it. “Ugh...let me take a quick shower and I'll meet you at the park.”

Half an hour later, true to her word, Twilight popped into existence near the statue in the park, not too far from where Star was waiting. He called her name to get her attention and the two began a little walk down the path. Her mane was freshly brushed and her coat ever so slightly damp. She gave a little sigh, leaning back her head to face the sun, soaking in the light. “Mmm...I almost forgot what daylight felt like.”

Star chuckled softly, “You look good Twilight.”

She glanced over at him with a shy smile and a blush, “Um...thank you Star.”

He blinked and lightly coughed, “Er, what I mean to say is, you look much better. You had a bit of a...well, mad-scientist look going on in the basement.”

She laughed and shook her head, little red-framed glasses still on her nose, “I know. I apologized to Spike before I left. I really have been ignoring him lately. I'll pick him up a ruby crumb cake later.” She smiled over at the colt as they passed under a canopy of oak trees, “So, first the bit about Princess Celestia and the stars. Then we'll move on to your problem with Princess Luna.”

“Problem, what problem?” He faked a shocked expression.

“Why else would you need to tell me about it?” She giggled, “Now, first the stars.”

“Well, I came across a book in the library. And there was this little paragraph that talked about Princess Celestia trying her hoof at making a constellation. Unfortunately, it didn't say where to look or what it actually looked like. Just that it was too far away for us to see with our eyes, and was called the Infinite Twins.”

Twilight thought on his information, “I've heard about that constellation in other books, but I had no idea Princess Celestia was responsible. Hmm...I'll have to research that more later.”

“Have you ever seen it?”

She shook her head softly, “No, there's a lot of empty space between stars. It could be anywhere. I'm still really shocked she could make one at all.”

The two of them took a turn down a more well-used path. “But, I thought the Princess was controlling the moon and the stars while Princess Luna was banished?”

“Well...the Princess explained that to me once. She said she wasn't controlling the moon. She was forcing it aside with the sun. Without her sister to resist, that was all there was to it. And the stars are always there, we just can't see them when the sun is out. I don't think any constellations changed in the thousand years her sister was locked away.”

Star nodded thoughtfully. They trotted a little further in silence, enjoying the birds chirping and the warm late spring day.

“Star, what's this about you and Luna?”

“Ah well...promise you wont tell anypony else?” She nodded, so he launched into his telling of his rather awkward attempts at wooing Princess Luna. She giggled and gasped and oohed at all the right places. Very interested in what he had to say. When he finished she looked to the ground, pondering as they wandered along in the soft dirt path.

“I see. That would explain a few things...”

“Like?”

She shook her head, “Sorry Star. I promised her like I promised you.” She gave him an apologetic smile, “I really can't think of anything off the top of my head. I'm not sure what else she could be mad at. Might be something to do with griffon and pony interactions. Perhaps you made her look bad somehow?”

He nodded, “Maybe...thanks for listening, Twilight. I thought it couldn't hurt to get your opinion on it.” He sighed, “There's only one other pony in town I really trust enough to discuss this whole thing with and she's um...indisposed for my whole vacation.” He hung his head, “I'm running out of time Twilight.”

They paused at an ice-cream vendor. Star payed for their pair of vanilla cones as Twilight carried them in her magic to a nearby bench.

“Wait, who's this other pony?” Twilight asked between licks.

“Miss Cheerilee. You're really book-smart Twilight, and I really admire that.” She blushed slightly, “But Cheerilee always seemed like the one who understood how to deal with life and relationships and stuff.”

The lavender unicorn nodded, “You have a point. She's my friend too. Always quick with a smile and advice.” She licked a her ice-cream, “So why haven't you talked with her?”

He smiled awkwardly, “Um...yeah...I tried right off. She uh, has a flower on her door. Big Mac said it wouldn't be done till my time here was up. So you see my problem.”

Twilight tilted her head, “Flower? What...OH...oh I see.” She blushed hotly and couldn't meet his gaze. They both sat in silence, eating their ice-creams. Then Twilight cleared her throat, “Um...Star. Something you should probably know. Cheerilee is a friend, a pretty good friend, when I can pull myself away from my work.” She frowned slightly, “And...she's talked about you from time to time. She even had me send a letter to Princess Celestia asking how you were doing.”

StarStep raised his eyebrow as he crunched on the last of his ice-cream cone. “Me? The Princess never said anything and why couldn't she just send me a letter herself? I'm not exactly hard to find.”

Scratching a hoof through her dark mane, Twilight looked away, “She didn't want to interrupt your training or distract you from your duty. Cheerilee always knew your dream was important to you. Despite how silly it sounded to other ponies. She wanted to make sure you were ok without complicating things. I mean, she was your teacher...” She smiled sadly at him, “You...understand, right?”

Star nodded softly, “Yeah, Twilight. Thanks. It's really nice to know she's still trying to look out for me.” he sighed, “It all keeps coming back to me getting back in touch with her, huh?”

Twilight looked down at the bench, nervously tracing her hoof tip on the wood, “You know...if you went to her. I don't think she'd turn you away...I'm...I'm just saying. As a friend.”

The pegasus gave a slight grimace, “In her state, I'm not sure she'd turn away any colt that knocked.”

“Oh...true. But in this case, I think she'd be happy it was you.” She blushed.

Star looked at the mare curiously, “Just how good a friend are you to her Twilight?”

Her eyes widened and she looked away suddenly, “Look, if you help her with her...urges, she'd be lucid enough to help you work out this problem. At least for a little while. I'm just offering the most practical solution.”

He nodded, “Well, as weird as it sounds coming from you Twilight, you have a point. But no offense when I say I'm not willing to sire a foal just to get answers. I love Luna and I want to fix this little mess I've made, but that's just too far.”

Twilight's expression turned thoughtful. Her brows creased as she seemed to be pondering something, “Star...do you like Cheerilee? I'm not saying 'love' but, do you like her, like her?”

He nodded, “Yeah, I guess in a strange sort of way I do. She was always the shoulder I could lean on. I wouldn't have said anything back in school, I guess I took it for granted. But when I reflect on how she used to act around me...” he paused, “Odd...it reminds me a lot of how I feel about Scootaloo, but not exactly the same, I can't describe it.”

Twilight looked up at him, studying his face and gave a sigh, “I can't believe I'm doing this...” She hopped off the bench and looked towards the setting sun before looking over her shoulder at the colt, “I know a spell that will let you be with Cheerilee without siring a foal. It's pretty advanced, very complex. Has to be done just right so it will fall off the colt after a fixed time or you'll end up unable to sire foals forever. Crazy manipulations of time-constraints, biology, and alteration, but I'm certain I can handle it.”

He blinked, “Wait, if there's a spell to let colts, well, you know with mares in heat, why don't more ponies use it?”

She smirked and rolled her eyes, “Because it's crazy hard. Show up at the library if you want to give it a try. I'll have Spike grab the spell book just in case you're interested.”

He hopped off the bench and tilted his head at her, “If this spell is that hard, how come you don't sound worried?”

She began to trot off, a smug expression on her face, “Because, I'm Twilight Sparkle.”

_______________________________________________________________

Star wandered about the town for the rest of the early evening. Everywhere he passed a pony, he was greeted with a beaming smile, sometimes with a quick wave. He'd forgotten how welcoming Ponyville citizens were. Up in Canterlot, you were lucky to get a passing nod. It certainly did a lot to uplift his heart. He took a short stop on a bench near the town square, quietly eating his apple-slices and hay-sandwich his mom had packed for him. Dusk came and went, the stars glimmered in the sky above with the sliver of the moon cutting the blackness. He gazed to the heavens, lost in how truly bright they were in the countryside. Something about the great city up on the hill, dulled their sparkle. Down here, in the simple town, with these simple ponies. Everything was more vibrant.

He thought on Twilight's proposal. Logically, it would solve his problem of getting close to Cheerilee. The added bonus of helping the school-mare soothe her mind-clouding urges did sound like a nice thing to do. Though the thoughts of what that entailed did have his cheeks slightly darkened.

“Bit for yer thoughts, Star?”

Star blinked, glancing around to find Apple Bloom leaning against the back of the bench, looking down on him with a sly smile. “Oh...hey AB. Off work?”

She nodded, leaping over the back of the bench to land beside him, “Yup. Just closed shop. You were pretty lost up in them stars, so I thought I might join yah for a sec.” She leaned up against his shoulder and gazed up at the heavens with him. “I remember us all doin' this quite often.”

The pegasus nodded slightly, unfurling a wing to tuck around his yellow friend. “Yeah. You, me, Scoots, and Sweetie. Sometimes Twilight and Cheerilee.”

She chuckled, “Yup. Sometimes it feels like forever ago, but it weren't, was it?”

He sighed, “When did life get so complicated, AB?”

She turned to look at him, slightly confused, “I don't know, Star. It's been pretty simple for me. I got my shop, made it with my own two hooves, and everything feels right.” She paused, “For you, I reckon it's always been a little...complicated. What with your sights set on the full-moon.” She grinned.

“Full moon?” He glanced at the silvery sliver of a moon hanging just over the horizon, “What do you mean?”

She laughed and nudged him on the shoulder, “Princess Luna, yah gosh-durned lunk-head.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, guess you got a point there.” He smiled, “What about the others? Scoots, Sweetie...”

She paused in thought, “Well...ah tried to be there for Scoots, she was pretty devastated when she failed Wonderbolt try-outs. Even with Rainbow Dash putting in a good word for her. She had pretty high hopes.” She shrugged, “Well, it all worked out. She found something she was good at, made her feel wanted. It's not as flashy as bein' a bolt, but she seems content...mostly.”

Star raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the earth-mare, “Mostly?”

“Sorry Star. Somethings are best left between fillies. Best tah keep yah nose outta it.”

He chuckled softly and gave her a gentle wing-hug as he eyed the constellation, Starswirl the Bearded. “And Sweetie? No one's saying much. If it wasn't for Rarity stopping by the castle, I wouldn't have known she was in Canterlot.”

The mare frowned, “Well...yah know how Sweetie got her cutie mark from ah singing so gosh dern pretty. Well, she took her big sis's advice and struck out to Canterlot to make it big. At first, her letters back to us were pretty uplifting and exciting. I think she even tried to get in touch with yah once. Anyhoof, letters got a little...less frequent. Then they just stopped a few months ago.” She sighed, “Me and Scoots figured she just lost interest in her old friends, now that she was livin' it up in Canterlot. Scoots even tried visiting her once, but just about had the door slammed in her face. We still love her, Star. She's our best friend. We're just worried.”

Star sighed and hugged her tight, “Yeah. I haven’t been too great a friend either. I've been so wrapped up with guard duty and Princess Luna I've kinda been neglecting things back home. I'll have to make it up to you three later.”

She smiled and nuzzled into his neck with a soft sigh, “Promise yah silly feather-brain'd colt?”

He nodded, giving her another tight hug, “Pinkie Promise, AB.” He gave a soft sigh, “Hey...AB...I have a little problem I'm trying to work out. I...don't want to get into the details, but I want your opinion.”

“Shoot. I'm all ears.”

“Ah well...I got one week to figure out the problem before I have to go back to work. And the one pony I can think of that can help, is Cheerilee.” He noticed her grimace, “Yeah, guess you know why that's part of the issue.” He tried to figure out how to dance around the issue with his friend. He had too much respect for AB to make the situation overly awkward. “So, long story short. Twilight says she has a spell that would let me visit Cheerilee without...you know.”

She smirked, raising an eyebrow, “Being ah father?”

He nodded, “Yeah...that. You're my friend AB. You and Scoots and even Sweetie. I've always thought you the most straight-forward of us all. I have to admit it's also why it's so hard to be open around you, AB. You tell it like it is. That can sting sometimes.”

She nodded thoughtfully, “Right yah are, Star. Truth does hurt sometimes. What I don't understand is why yah can't come out and tell me the whole problem.”

He looked away, “Cause...I don't want to hurt any feelings.. Only reason I told Twilight is because she's sort of a neutral party whom I trust. I trust you too just...”

“Yer afraid I might get riled up cause this is about Princess Moon-flanks, anit it?” He oofed as she slugged him in the shoulder, “Yer right, stings, don't it?”

Apple Bloom chuckled softly, “Yer not fooling me. I knew the moment yah walked in mah door earlier, that she was somewhere at the root ah all this. But it don't mean I like yah any less.” She ruffled his spiky mane. “Yah remember when us three gave yah a hearts and hooves card? And yah turned us down?” He nodded softly, “Mah respect for yah grew a lot that day, Star. You were honest with us. I like straight-shooters. All that dancing about, don't do no pony any favors.” She smiled up at him and put a reassuring hoof on his shoulder, “Whatever may be going on, don't mean a hill of beans to why ah like you. Scoots done told me she spent ah little private time with yah recently.”

He paled and she laughed at his expression, “Yer a grown colt, she's a grown mare. What y'all do is y'alls business. Yer mah friend, Star. I want yah to be happy whatever that means. Even if it is with that prissy Princess.”

He frowned at her, she just laughed it off, “Hey now, I'm entitled to mah opinions. I think she done has you wrapped up like a bale of hay. But it's not mah place tah run yer life. Now, yah wanna tell me the whole story? 'Fore I get to thinking you just want to harass poor Miss Cheerilee for no good reason?”

Reluctantly, he relented, telling her a rather censored and short version of what went on in the last few weeks. He finished and she nodded thoughtfully for a moment, “Alright. Guess I get what yer saying. Miss Cheerilee is the kind of pony who could help with yer courtin'. And she did kinda have a thing for yah. But that was a couple years ago, Star. Yer just gonna pop up to her door and say, 'Hey Miss Cheerilee, I know it's been a while. I need answers to be ah courtin' Princess Luna. So let's rut so yah mind's clear.' Even then, yah don't even know if she'll be able tah help.”

“Yeah...you got a point AB. How about you, any suggestions?”

She tapped her hoof to her chin, “Well...don't reckon I got a clue what has the Princess' all worked up about. The whole relationship thing is kinda new to me, Star. Been so busy getting mah business running, I haven't had time to go ah courtin' mah self.” She sighed, “As much as ah hate to say it, and as insane as yer plan sounds, it's probably yer best option with the time yah got. You could try askin' strangers, but ah got a feeling that's just gonna spawn a whole heap-a-trouble for yah.” She kissed the colt on the cheek and slid from his wing. “Now, don't go ah thinking I approve of this hair-brained scheme of yers. But ah think Miss Cheerilee would appreciate the company. Except for a little time with Twilight, when that crazy mare can drag herself from the books, she's been pretty alone. So, go cheer her up. Iff'n you can get Cheerilee to smile, I'd say it's reason enough to go through with this.”

“Hey AB, thanks for being straight-up. I should have just told you what was going on in the first place.”

She looked over her shoulder, “Anytime, Star. And mah dinner invitation is still open. You be good to her, and good luck on fixin' yer little problem.” With that, the sturdy yellow filly wandered off into the shadows of night-time Ponyville.

StarStep had made his decision. In the morning, things would get rather interesting.