"Melody, I hope tonight never ends."



Permafrost laid his wing across the back of his new wife, Midnight melody. Together, the two ponies had just watched the sun set over Canterlot, and now Princess Luna could be seen leaving her castle to bring up the moon. Glancing to Melody's cutie mark, which bore a crescent moon and a single music note, Permafrost smiled gently.



"Want to show the Princess how you got that cutie mark?" he asked, nuzzling the earth pony laying next to him. Sheepishly, Melody looked at the ground and blushed furiously, her eyes darting back and forth from their balcony to her love and to the Princess. Then she smiled.



"The sun has set, the moon arose, and still I bet their tale's untold. The Dark Princess shall watch my dreams, my heart caressed by wafting streams." Melody's sweet, airy voice rode gently over a slow breeze and carried off into the night sky. "I wish I could stay up to sing, but if I would my voice would sting. I wish this night was here to stay; the dark's as bright as any day."



The newlyweds retreated into their home for a long night's rest, and the beautiful full moon lit the now empty balcony where they had been. Princess Luna hung in the air for a while after this earth pony had finished singing. Because the stallion was in the Royal Guard, Luna had attended the wedding, but had kept herself hidden from the purple mare that had been called Midnight Melody. Luna admired her a little; every now and then, it was nice to have somepony prefer the night to the day. And what a voice! This reclusive mare from Ponyville was such a marvelous singer. Luna looked at her own cutie mark. They were similar, sort of, both bearing crescent moons. She wondered what she could do to show her appreciation for this strange mare...



A thought came to her. A thought Luna hadn't had for several years, but one that had existed for thousands crept up in her mind, seething a desire for a dream she had when she was young. A devilish smirk creeping across her face, Luna made a decision.



She would not lower the moon tomorrow morning. Just for one day, the night would last a little longer. School-age foals would get a little longer to sleep in, hell, everyone would have a little longer to sleep in. Except Melody. Melody would wake up in the "morning" and see still that the beautiful night had not ended. Wouldn't that be a nice start for a honeymoon? She was sure that Permafrost would appreciate it too; after all, it was the sun that warmed the air, not the moon, and she knew that he loved the cold. So, yes. Just once.



Probably.





~~~



"I just got a call from Captain Shining Armor. I have to be on-duty all day today."



Permafrost hurried through his closet, haphazardly throwing his armor on. Stretching lazily in their bed, Melody rolled over onto her side and gave Permafrost a tired stare.



"How come?"



"Apparently, Princess Luna is missing, along with her own guards." Permafrost explained as he stepped out onto the balcony. His wife followed. "Without her, the moon can't be lowered. If we can't find her, the night might last forever, unless we can get the newest princess and her friends to intervene."



"Well, good luck finding her." Melody replied, kissing her husband on the forehead. "Have a good day, sweetums."



"You too. Are you going to give your composition to Celestia like I suggested?"



"Why would the princess who raises the sun appreciate a song that glorifies the night?"



Permafrost unfurled his wings and began to fly to the castle.