Night of the Gloomspinner

C3: Party Prep

Sugar Cube Corner was a madhouse of bustling activity accompanied by the sounds of a cannon going off. Pinkie Pie took full advantage of the speed and precision of the Party Cannon, as she used it to set tables with decorations and party favors. Rarity and Fluttershy were busy putting on finishing touches and setting up games. Applejack was baking the cake while Twilight and Spike worked on getting the ice cream.

“What?” Spike cried, having the tub of ice cream taken away from him.

“I said to wait on the ice cream. We don't want it melted before actually have it for the party,” Twilight said.

“I was just gonna have a little bit,” Spike said.

“How's it going?” Rainbow Dash asked, leaning against a window sill from outside with her eyes glued to the Daring Do book.

“We'd be moving a lot faster if I didn't have to keep Spike's claws out of the ice cream,” Twilight glared at Spike, using her magic to take the tub away again.

“I wasn't gonna have any, honest,” Spike countered.

“So, the lid had magically popped off of the top?” Twilight pointed out.

Spike smiled sheepishly. “Maybe I should go help Applejack?” He whisked away in a heartbeat.

Twilight sighed.

“Anything I can do to help?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well, actually,” Twilight thought for a moment. “Maybe you can keep an eye on Midnight and let us know when she is going to be stopping by. Now Pinkie Pie said that Sugar Cube Corner was definitely on the list, right?”

“Yep,” Rainbow Dash continued to read the book.

Spike walked by, carrying mixing bowls with the remains of batter, ready to start licking them clean. “You know, Twilight, not everypony follows everything on their checklists.”

“I know, it's so terrible,” Twilight gasped.

Rainbow Dash stifled a laugh.

“Just let us know if she is heading this way,” Twilight said.

Rainbow tucked the book under her arm and said, “No prob,” and took off.

*

Rainbow Dash scanned the town, trying to see if she could spot Midnight. It was getting late and the sun would be setting soon. More importantly, the Daring Do book was in her hooves and she was having a hard time finding a spot and the time to read it.

After several more passes over the area that she remembered Pinkie Pie mentioning was on Midnight's list, she saw her entering an arts and crafts shop. Rainbow Dash figured that she would be in there for a while, being an artist after all, which would give her some time to get a few pages into the book. She took a position on a roof, just out of sight, but allowing her an easy view and started reading.

After about thirty minutes, Rainbow Dash had finished three chapters in the book. She groaned, stretching out the crick in her neck and flexed her wings, cracking them. She had been sitting in that same position for the entire time, glancing up every few minutes to see if Midnight had exited the building. She said, “What is she doing, buying out the store?”

The door to the arts and crafts shop had opened and Midnight stepped out. Several bags floated in the air around her and several others were strapped to her back. She was having a hard time carrying the bags, moving very slowly as she walked, seeming to have problems with carrying some of the bags with her magic.

Rainbow Dash stared for a moment at the sight. “Maybe she did buy out the store.” She closed the book, deciding that she should lend a hoof. Before she finished that thought, she was gliding in for a landing and walking with Midnight.

Midnight grimaced at the strain of her burden. She glanced at Rainbow Dash, “Oh, hello again. Have you been following me or something?”

Rainbow Dash paused for a moment. “Um, no. I mean, did you need help with those?” She pointed a wing at the unicorn's cargo.

Midnight brightened a bit. “Oh thank you.” She levitated the bags she was carrying with her magic, taking a deep breath as if feeling relieved from a heavy burden. Rainbow Dash felt the bags and commented to herself that the bags weren't that heavy, remembering the times Rarity lifted even more than this. “Keeping those afloat was giving me a headache.” She trotted along as if the cargo on her back weighed nothing.

Rainbow Dash offered, “I can help you with the rest of those?”

Midnight smiled. “Oh thank you, but no. I'm fine. Just those were giving me trouble.”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash felt the bags again.

“Oh yes. I'm not very good at magic. Even with the levitation spell, I can lift a pencil or a few brushes. Anything heavier is a strain.”

Rainbow Dash was flying a few feet off of the ground now. “That's odd. Almost all of the unicorns I know are pretty talented with their magic.”

Midnight shrugged. “I'm pleased to be the first unicorn that you met that is not.”

“Heh, it's always awesome to meet new friends.”

“Yes it is,” Midnight agreed. “So what do you do around here, besides spying on unicorns carrying more bags than she should carry?”

Rainbow Dash flew around just over Midnight, avoiding spilling the bags and dropping the Daring Do book. She hovered a few feet off the ground. “I'm the greatest flier in Ponyville. Oh, I'm also a cloud buster.”

“I see. Do you know if it will be raining in the next few days?”

Rainbow Dash thought back to the schedule. “Well, there is going to be rain a few days from today.”

Midnight nodded. She took out her list and jotted something down, thought for a moment and asked, “Will it be during the day or at night?”

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. “It is going to be an all day storm. Should be cleared up by the next morning and it will be sunny and warm.”

Midnight smiled, nodded and jotted something down on her list before tucking it away. “Thank you.”

“Why did you want to know?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh, well, I tend to take long walks at night,” Midnight replied.

“At night, really?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Yes. I love the night air and the moon and stars,” Midnight said. “So different from the bright and sunny day.”

Rainbow Dash tried to make her words sound spooky, “Aren't you scared of the things that walk around at night?”

Midnight looked downcast at the ground for a moment and replied softly, “No, not really.”

Rainbow Dash landed on the ground next to Midnight. “You seem pretty brave. Are you athletic?”

Midnight shook her head. “Nope.”

“Do you like animals? I have a pet turtle named Tank and....”

“Animals don't like me,” Midnight cut her off.

“Really? I'm sure Fluttershy could help you with that.” Rainbow Dash said.

Midnight stopped. “Fluttershy? You mean the yellow cream colored, pink maned pegasus that Photo Finish made into a star and suddenly left?”

“Yep,” Rainbow Dash nodded.

“Why did she go? Photo Finish and I were hard pressed to get somepony to model for a commission we were working on.” Midnight's tone became hard.

Rainbow Dash noticed the change in mood. “Well, Fluttershy isn't the type of pony to stay in the spotlight. Frankly, it's amazing that she continued modeling for as long as she did.”

Midnight nodded. “I see.”

“So...”

Midnight asked. “So...what?”

“So do you have any hobbies?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well, as you know, I'm an artist. I paint. Oil is preferred, but I do use acrylics from time to time. Small bit of sculpting here and there. Besides that, I like to draw.”

“Like what?”

“The night sky. The moon. The land blanketed in darkness,” Midnight shrugged. “Oh, and monsters, zombie ponies and other things.”

“Really? Never seen a painting of a zombie pony before,” Rainbow Dash admitted.

Midnight laughed lightly. “Well, hopefully you'll be able to see my work in everyponys home in town.”

“Don't worry,” Rainbow Dash said. “I'm sure you'll do just fine here.”

Midnight sighed. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

Rainbow Dash hefted the bags for a moment. “So, where are we taking these?”

“My studio, of course,” Midnight said, leading the way.

*

Rainbow Dash and Midnight chatted as they walked down the street. Rainbow told Midnight about Tank and about her other friends, even her old friend Gilda and that she had been friends with Fluttershy since they were fillies. Also mentioned how she saved Rarity and three members of the Wonderbolts and made a sonic rainboom, which the latter she was most proud of. Went on and on about her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt.

Midnight pointed out that her life was lack luster compared to Rainbow Dash's. She is a popular pony in Canterlot and how her paintings were sought after by almost every pony there. She mentioned her friends in the city and how much she missed them. With a sigh, she told Rainbow Dash she didn't have a pet.

“I'm telling you, you should ask Fluttershy about finding a pet,” Rainbow Dash suggested.

“I don't think so, Rainbow Dash,” Midnight insisted.

“Oh come on. Fluttershy takes care of all the animals in the forest. She helped me find Tank, I'm sure she'll be able to find one for you.”

“No, thank you, I....”

“Maybe a bat?”

“No, well, that would be cool, but...”

“Maybe a dog or a cat?”

“Not really, I'm....”

“Maybe a toothless alligator, like Pinkie Pie has?'

“No, I....How did she acquire a toothless.....”

“Or maybe a....”

“We're here,” Midnight said forcefully enough to cut Rainbow Dash off. “Thank you for the help.”

Rainbow Dash stopped mid sentence of mentioning a flying squirrel. “Oh, we are. Alright, then. Maybe I can....”

“Oh, I can take care of them from here,” Midnight said. “Just help me bring them inside.”

“Oh, sure,” Rainbow Dash helped bring the bags into the building. She didn't get to see too much inside, since none of the lights were on. She did notice that Midnight took a pad and pencil out of one of the bags.

Rainbow remembered the party and decided that this would be the best time to get Midnight to go to Sugar Cube Corner. “Hey, did you want to...”

“Hold still,” Midnight said, creating a light for her to see and moved the pencil about on the pad. Every few moments, she would glance up at Rainbow Dash and return to the pad.

“What are you doing/” Rainbow Dash asked skeptically.

Midnight paused from her work. “I just wanted to thank you for helping me with the bags.”

“Aw, you don't need to thank me. It was fun talking to you,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Please, I insist. If you can just hold still for a moment,” Midnight insisted.

Rainbow Dash complied, feeling a bit impatient waiting around. She started tapping her hoof and rolled her eyes about, glancing left and right as Midnight continued to draw. When the waiting started to wear on her nerves, she opened her mouth to say something.

“There, done,” Midnight said, finishing by signing the corner.

“Okay, let's see,” Rainbow Dash said, moving to look at the page.

“No,” Midnight said, playfully keeping it from her.

“Aw, come on,” Rainbow Dash said.

“No,” Midnight said, sticking her tongue out at her with a wink. With a playful smile, she showed her the drawing.

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped as she looked at the picture for several minutes. A picture of her in a pose that showed her looking back, as if she were walking away with a swagger and a look in her eyes as if she knew she was cool.

“Wow,” Rainbow Dash gasped.

“It is not my best work, but it was on the spur of the moment,” Midnight admitted.

“No, I just can't believe it,” Rainbow Dash gasped.

“What? Did I mess up on something?”

“No. You made me look twenty percent cooler.”

Midnight sighed. “Darn. I was hoping it was twenty five percent cooler.”

“Thank you, I really like it,” Rainbow Dash said.

Midnight smiled. “I'm glad you do.” She used her magic to tear out the page and passed it over to Rainbow Dash. “Here, you keep it.”

“Oh really, thanks,” Rainbow Dash took the page very carefully and thought to fold it and place it in the book. She decided that it might get ruined with a crease in the center and decided to try laying it flat in the book and be careful not to ruin it when she flew back to Sugar Cube Corner. She turned to Midnight and said, “Thanks a lot. You wanna hang out tomorrow?”

Midnight nodded. “Sure, that depends. Where would you like to meet?”

“How about I just meet you,” Rainbow Dash said. “I fly really fast so it won't take me long to find ya tomorrow.”

“I noticed. See you then,” Midnight said, entering her studio and closing the door behind her as Rainbow Dash flew off. Ignoring the fact that she was still carrying the Daring Do book, she flew back to Sugar Cube Corner as quick as she could. Hopefully Pinkie Pie would have something that she could put the picture in. A frame or something.

She opened the front door. “Surprise!” everypony yelled. Rainbow Dash fumbled with the book from the shock, but was able to keep it from launching into the air, breathing a sigh of relief.

Pinkie Pie bounced up. “Hi Dashie, where...”

“Pinkie, do you have a frame?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Pinkie Pie blinked. “Oh, sure.” She bounced off to another room, humming a song.

“Hey, Rainbow, finished the book yet?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, no, but look,” Rainbow Dash said, opening to the page where she had slipped the picture. “Midnight drew a picture of me.”

The others looked at the picture.

“Wow, that looks almost real,” Applejack said.

“Darling, I think she made you, how did you say it,” Rarity thought for a moment, “twenty percent cooler?”

“Actually, I think it is twenty five percent,” Rainbow Dash said.

Pinkie Pie bounced in the room, passing a frame over to Rainbow Dash. “Here you go. Oh wow, is that you?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said. “Midnight drew it for me.”

“How long did it take?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well, I admit, I was getting a bit impatient. A few minutes, maybe,” Rainbow Dash estimated.

“Wow, that's good,” Fluttershy said.

“Oh, look at her signature,” Rarity said, pointing a hoof at it.

Rainbow Dash quickly took the page and gingerly slipped it into the frame. Once she felt it was safely there, she asked, “What about the signature?”

“I've seen that signature before on art pieces in galleries and in many of the most posh of ponies' homes and places of business during my last visit to Canterlot.” Rarity explained. “Her art work is very popular in the city.”

“Really?” Twilight asked. “I was never really an art lover.”

“Oh yes, dear,” Rarity pointed at the signature. “There is no mistaking the way she signs her pieces. Just an 'M' and a 'Z” forming together in such a way to kind of form an 'A' when brought together. I've heard ponies pay more for a commission from her than for anything I've made.”

“Wow,” Twilight said.

“Then why in Equestria would she wanna come here if she is so popular there?” Applejack asked.

“Well there is one thing she is not doing. That is coming to her party,” Pinkie Pie pointed out, her hooves on her hips, looking at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash blinked for a moment, then facehooved, “Oh no, I was so excited by the drawing that I forgot to mention coming here.”

“Oh silly,” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Well, why don't you go and bring her here now?”

“Yeah, I'll bring her here.” She thought to pass the drawing to Pinkie Pie, but decided to pass it to Rarity instead. “Can you watch this for me while I'm gone?”

Rarity took the framed picture with her magic. “Of course, darling. Hurry back.”

“Count on it,” Rainbow Dash said, zipping out the door and flying towards Midnight's studio.

In only a few moments, she landed in front of the studio and knocked on the door. She waited a few more moments and knocked again, yelling, “Hello, Midnight. Are you in there?” After a few more moments of silence, she knocked and tried the door. Locked. She peered through the glass door, seeing the sign. 'Coming Soon. Midnight Azure's Studio of the Night and Beyond.'

“Interesting name,” she said, noticing another sign.

'Be back later.'

Rainbow scratched her head for a moment. “Where would somepony go this late at night? She did mention that she usually went out for walks at night.” She knocked on the door again and after not receiving a response after a couple of minutes, she shrugged her shoulders. “Should have told her earlier. Maybe I'll do a quick fly over the rest of town.”

Rainbow Dash took several minutes to fly about the town. It was getting a bit dark, but she was still able to see well enough. There weren't many ponies out now, but Midnight was nowhere to be found.

“I guess I'll stop by her place later,” she sighed, returning to Sugar Cube Corner.

A loud “Surprise!” greeted her as she strolled through the front door. Her friends sighed when they noticed that Rainbow Dash was alone and Pinkie Pie said, “Shoot.”

“Where is she, darling?” Rarity asked.

“We have a big cake waiting for her,” Pinkie Pie said, pointing to the cake that was sitting on the table. It read, 'Welcome to Ponyville, Population, Friends.'

“And ah brought apple fritters,” Applejack pointed to a large stack that sat on the table with a sign that read, 'To Midnight, from Applejack.' Another smaller stack sat next to it with a sign, 'For everypony else.'

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I don't know. She wasn't there.” She scratched her head. “She said that she likes to take late night walks, so I flew around town, but couldn't find her.”

“Where would a pony go at this time at night?” Spike asked.

“I don't know,” Rainbow Dash said. “There was a sign on the door that read that she would be back later.”

“Oh well,” Twilight said. “We can probably just wait a little while. I'm sure she'll be home soon. Not many places open this late.”

“I'll keep checking to see if she returns,” Rainbow Dash suggested, admiring the drawing. “It's not far.”

“Great. Can we start on eating the cake?” Spike said, drooling over the frosting.

Twilight tapped him on the shoulder. “No.”

Spike sighed. “Rats.”