Perfect
It was a cool crisp night in the fields just outside of Ponyville. Not too cold for the grasshoppers and crickets however, who gently cut through the silence of the night with their soft sounds. Some distance away, the cows and sheep had settled down for the night along with the farmponies who were their keepers. And not too far away lay Ponyville. The residents of the quaint little town were just now turning off their lights and allowing the few streetlamps to give the roads a soft glow.
The same serenity however could not be found just a few stories above the starlit fields. Although the lights were out, the house was stirring with activity. Inside, a restless Rainbow Dash paced about in her darkened living room. She had tried everything to fall asleep but alas Luna’s sweet embrace eluded her.
First it had been the generic tossing and turning in her bed, which she attempted to remedy with a quick flight around the house. When an evening flight had done nothing to alleviate her restlessness she tried less conventional relaxants, by her standards at least. Tea was something the dashing and death defying mare would rarely be caught drinking. However, due to this particular predicament she figured it was worth a shot. After some difficulty with brewing and boiling the beverage, she had one cup of tea.
Some minor oral burns later, and Rainbow Dash proceeded to climb back into bed and, once again, attempt to fall asleep. For the second time that night she found sleep quite impossible. With a frustrated huff she tried her couch. Then the floor, the kitchen table, and at one point the roof. But sleep would not come.
Hovering outside her home, Rainbow Dash gave some thought as to what might be causing such a predicament. She had plenty of blankets, terrestrial and atmospheric, but was never warm enough. She had the most fluffy bed a pony could ask for, yet it wasn't soft enough. She was even feeling the sedating side effects of the tea in the weight of her eyelids, but wasn’t drowsy enough. The frustrated mare had everything that would normally grant her a good nights sleep. So the question remained, why couldn’t she sleep?
After some time she gave up, surrendering to the simple fact that she would not sleep tonight. With a dejected sigh the pegasus flew back up to her roof, lay on her back and watched the stars. Her mind drifted from one thought to another but settled on the simple fact that the stars were beautiful. From the sheer number of them, to the way each one sparkled. Her thoughts turned to the seemingly larger celestial body in the sky tonight: the moon. From dusk till dawn, to the special moment of twilight in between, the moon always made its way across the sky, adding to the peaceful luminescence that blanketed the fields below.
It was at this point that an idea hit Rainbow Dash like a discharging party cannon. It was so obvious, so simple, and yet hours had passed of restlessness before she realized it. While her ‘Eureka’ moment was still fresh, she bolted across the sky towards Ponyville.
***
The Ponyville Library was a small sanctuary of knowledge, where vast numbers of books ranging in all different topics and genres, both factual and fantastical, could be found. It also happened to be a small house, the residents of which were just now saying goodnight and heading off to bed.
It had been a long night that stretched into the wee hours of the morning for Twilight and her draconic assistant Spike. When all data was recorded, all books put back on the shelves, and all the mess was cleaned, Spike liberated himself from lucidity with his warm sheets and soft bed. Twilight however, stayed in the main room for a while longer scanning the bookshelves, scrutinizing her own perfectionism with a fine tooth comb.
When all was right with her world, Twilight ascended the staircase, performed her nightly hygienic rituals of combing this and brushing that and crawled into bed. With a content sigh she pulled the warm comforter over her body and let her fluttering eyelids finally shut.
The sound of the window opening and a draft against her mane was annoying but the light sound of wings flapping and brush of hooves against wood was almost terrifying. Despite this intrusion, Twilight maintained her current facade of being in a deep slumber. With one eye open in the semi-darkness she was able to make out the shape of a lithe pegasus with a scraggly mane and tail. Rainbow Dash.
Her fillyfriend was always pulling pranks on her, it was the brash pegasus’s weird way of showing affection. From the most obvious invisible ink prank, to the more subtle such as rearranging the order of her shampoo bottles. It seemed to be the subtle pranks that got to Twilight the most, especially when they involved her precious books.
But Twilight would be ready this time.
Rainbow Dash snuck closer while Twilight's mind reeled with possible ways to surprise the speedy and spunky mare.
Clip
Activate a sound dampening spell over the room.
Clop
Turn on the lights...
Clip
Jump up on hind legs...
Clop
Battle cry!
Clip
Tackle her with the sheets...
Clop
Victory dance...
But before she could execute this brilliant surprise attack, she felt the sheets being gently pulled back. It was as if someone had opened the freezer door. All of her heat instantly escaped her warm cocoon of blankets. The cold, merciless air was soon replaced by a warm body. A gentle smile spread across Twilight’s face as she realized there was no malicious intent in her action, no greater scheme. It seemed the brash and thick-headed mare was just looking for a place to curl up.
Twilight earned a squeak from the pegasus as she pulled her in closer, resting her weary head atop the organized chaos that was Rainbow Dash’s mane. Rainbow’s surprise quickly extinguished itself with a content sigh. All the stress of the day finally being able to dissipate. As she drifted off, the sleepy mare took stock of her surroundings. A cozy home, an even cozier bed, warm blankets and somepony to hold her. Just before the tendrils of sleep could fully embrace her, a small smile formed on her lips as she uttered her last drowsy word.
“Perfect”
