Night Light stirred from his rest on his uncomfortable, makeshift bed of chairs. He hastily checked Twilight Velvet before he even fully regained his senses.
She was still breathing, and still sound asleep.
His sigh of relief was barely audible. He felt silly every time he verified it. She wouldn’t leave yet. Not in the middle of the night when nopony noticed.
But then again, she very well could.
The walls of the hospital room were still the dull cream color they were in the day, and the very few amount of tacky decorations didn’t feel accommodating either. All the medical technology sitting next to Twilight Velvet’s bed, Night Light had no idea what any of it was for. All he knew was that one of the boxes of magic and technology made the occasional, quiet beeping sound that irritated him and made it nigh impossible for him to doze off.
Next to Twilight Velvet’s mattress, a bedside table stood with colorful flowers, balloons and cards stacked on top of it. There were so many gifts, old and new, that trying to fit anything else with the assorted presents would prove quite difficult.
Night Light sat up on his awkward cot, noticing the dropped magazine on the floor next to him. He surmised that he fell asleep when reading about the “Odd Foods That Griffins Eat.” In actuality, he didn’t really care for the article. It was just another way to pass the hours.
The clock on the wall was one minute from striking two in the morning. It seemed to Night Light that this would be yet another long evening. Sometimes he wished time would go faster.
He also desperately wished he could stop the inevitable future.
Night Light silently stretched his legs, muffling a grunt of pain when he attempted to do the same with his back. Three chairs placed next to each other made for a terrible bed, especially for an old stallion like him.
So as not to wake his wife, he slowly moved to the bathroom. Light seeped into the hospital chamber via the crack underneath the shut door exiting to the hallway. It only served to remind Night Light about the outside world, of his other responsibilities he had been neglecting to be here.
Night told himself would deal with it all later. Being here now was the most important thing.
After sluggish sneaking, Night Light leisurely pried the bathroom door open, and closed it behind him before turning the light on.
The blinded stallion immediately raised a foreleg to shield his eyes, lest his retinas burn away. Several blinks later, he could see once again. Though, what he saw was an unpleasant surprise; He looked simply dreadful. His reflection in the bathroom mirror stared back at him with crusty, half-lidded eyes, unkempt gray hairs, and even a bit of noticeable stubble rising from under his blue fur. He probably didn’t smell anything like the flowers on Velvet’s bed table, either.
Turning on the sink’s faucet, Night Light splashed some cold water onto his face before looking into the mirror again. Nothing about his sorry appearance changed, but for a brief moment he felt a little bit better than he originally did.
He switched off the light, waited for his eyes to adjust, and silently opened the bathroom door back into the dreadful room. He could tell that Twilight Velvet was still asleep, if her sudden muffled snoring was anything to go off of.
Instead of returning back to his chair-bed, he snuck to the window. The light of the full moon beamed into the room, sharing its beauty with the world. Night Light gazed at the luminous orb without a single thought for several minutes before recollecting himself.
He gave a brief glance to his wife, reduced to her pitiful state, and turned back towards the moon. Night Light wordlessly hoped that Princess Luna was watching over Twilight Velvet as well.
Speaking of princesses, he couldn’t imagine what his daughter or his son would think if they saw him as he was right now. Night Light needed to be strong for his family, but his mask kept cracking. As his wife grew weaker, his sorrow grew stronger.
Every time Night Light looked at Velvet, it felt like looking at a time-bomb. Just what would he do when the inevitable came?
Night Light wished there more he could do for her than simply pray.
He flared his nostrils, and slunk back to his personal chair-bed. He shut his eyes in hopes that a peaceful slumber would swiftly steal him away. Eventually it would come, but only after an agonizing amount of tossing and turning.
With no pillow or blanket, Night Light slowly drifted away.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Suddenly, Night Light was aware.
The encroaching darkness was all there was, and Night Light stood on nothing. There was no floor for him, yet his defiant hooves kept him standing.
He almost had the time to call out, but a spotlight as bright as the sun pierced the darkness, and a luminescent column shined down in front of him. From the pillar of light, a shadowy figure stepped forward into existence, but did not leave the beacon.
“Night Light,” she greeted.
“Who are you?” he choked out. Were his mind in a better state, he probably wouldn’t have asked that question.
“We think you know.” The shadow offered a hoof to him. “Come with us,” the feminine voice called.
“Why?” the confused stallion asked.
The mysterious figure hesitated for only a moment. “We wish to give the both of you a gift.”
“Both?” Night Light was almost sure that specter was smirking, but it was too bright to be sure.
“Trust us,” she replied.
His only other option was to stay where there was nothing else. If a bit reluctantly, he stepped forward and took the voice’s hoof with his.
Whatever happened next, it was too bright for him to see.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Night Light found himself aboard a moving train.
Though he hadn’t the faintest idea where it was going, he couldn’t help but feel that wasn't important. He took a couple of brave steps forward, and the situation instantly felt very familiar to him.
He pondered if it was a dream, or perhaps a distant memory of his. Why he was brought here, he hadn’t a clue.
Night Light paced down the length of the empty train car, noticing that the creaking in his bones had hushed. He hadn’t felt so fit for a long while.
Thoroughly examining his surroundings, Night surmised he would find his answers in the next train car down. He stepped through the door blocking his way, and noticed the difference in this part of the train.
Ponies filled the seats, happily waiting in silence or chatting with their peers. Though, one specific unicorn caught his eye, and he simultaneously remembered.
The bright spirit from before, now a bright star, suddenly manifested next to him.
“This is a dream, right?” he asked without hesitation.
“Yes, but not one out of the ordinary,” the voice confirmed. “This dream is not just your own, but Velvet’s as well.”
“I’m in her dream.” Night Light was stunned. “And… you did this?”
The illusion flickered as she chuckled. “Cherish your time together, Night Light,” she advised. “It will not last forever.”
He marveled at the opportunity before answering, “Thank you. Thank you so much for this.”
The figure vanished, leaving Night Light alone to do what he needed. Twilight Velvet, currently looking around herself in confusion, still had not noticed him standing at the end of the car.
Funny. The way he remembered it, her nose was buried in a novel.
He trotted to her, and she glanced his way before he even made it to her. Her face was one of surprise, and confusion.
“You remember this, Vel’?” he gave a knowing smirk. “The day you met the most handsome stallion in Equestria?” he joked to her.
Twilight Velvet, looking a lot younger, gave Night Light the biggest smile he had seen. It had been too long since she smiled like that.
Before he could do anything else, Velvet was already wrapping her hooves around Night Light, her eyes glossy. “I remember this being the luckiest day of your life, Nighty,” she managed to snark back to him.
“It truly was.” Night Light held her close.
The two unicorns hugged each other, not caring that their train background had melted away into a pure white surrounding.
Twilight Velvet met his eyes, rubbing hers with a hoof. “Will you do it with me again?”
Night Light’s face lit up. “I’d spend a thousand lifetimes with you if I could.”
Their white environment shifted, and shapes and colors were born anew. Memories of old came through in droves, and they enjoyed it all again.
Night Light, who had reservations for the fanciest restaurant in Canterlot, sat across the table from the prettiest mare he had ever met. Night had wanted everything to be perfect for their first real date, and spared no expense for Twilight Velvet. The poor stallion was so nervous that he threw up on the waiter’s hooves, and the rest of the restaurant looked over in annoyance as Twilight uncontrollably laughed aloud. Their first date had gone perfectly.
In Twilight Velvet’s apartment, the two lovers had their first real argument. What the shouting match was originally about, neither of them could remember. Every flaw the two ponies could think of about their partner, they threw it in each others face. Twilight would scream how Night Light had somehow ruined every one of their dates, and Night would retaliate by calling her ungrateful. It was shortly after Night Light had stomped out the door that they both realized how stupid they had been. Night came back to Twilight’s apartment the next day to apologize, only to find her eyes puffy and red. They never had an argument like that again, and in the coming weeks Night Light would realize that he didn't want to lose her ever again.
The doors burst open to reveal Night Light in a suit, and Twilight Velvet in a long, white dress. Their family and friends cheered after them as they rushed to the carriage, smiles on their faces and jeweled rings hanging from golden chains around their necks. Their lives together had begun anew.
The air in Las Pegasus was warm and dry, but it was cool and comfortable inside the colorful casino. Night Light struggled with his rationed money, and it was up to Twilight Velvet to teach him a better poker face. Had it not been for her help, Night Light probably would have lost their rings.
It was a colt. The newborn had his mothers brilliant blue eyes, and those eyes scanned the world around him with wonder and innocence. Twilight Velvet tiredly held him in her hooves on the hospital bed as Night Light sat next to her, suggesting any names that may be appropriate for the foal. Night Light fantasized about all the moments he would share with his new son, whether it be playing with him, caring for him, or telling him about the time he managed to lose 200 bits in Las Pegasus. Their future was bright.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light both gave exhausted groans as their giggling young daughter Twilight Sparkle excitedly jumped on their bed at five in the morning. Neither of them had foreseen this issue when their daughter was born. Night Light silently thanked Celestia that their son Shining Armor had never woken them before sunrise even came.
Both Night Light and Twilight Velvet watched with happy tears in their eyes as their daughter stood at the end of the castles great hall. Twilight Sparkles coronation was made even sweeter by the fact that Shining Armor stood watch as captain of the Royal Guard. The two parents could not have been more proud of the children they had raised.
There they were in their own home, nuzzling each other in their bed together. The early morning sun shined through the windows at the two aging ponies, and they smiled lovingly at one another.
“I never want this to end,” Night Light said to her under the fake blankets. “I… I don’t want you to go.”
“Oh, Nighty,” she lifted a hoof to his creased face, wiping away his tear. “I can’t stay forever, no matter how much I wish I could.”
Night Light said nothing.
“I will have to go, but that doesn’t mean your happiness has to follow as well.”
“I know, I know,” he wanted desperately not to hear this.
Twilight Velvet adopted a sterner tone, “No, none of that. Nighty, look at me.”
He reluctantly obeyed, gazing upon her wrinkled visage.
“I know you, Night Light. I don’t want you moping forever, alright?” she ran a hoof through his grayed mane.
“I…”
“I love you too much to see you so sad.”
Words failed Night Light.
Her old eyes softened, and she held him closer. “This is where you say you love me too, Nighty.”
He embraced her, shutting his eyes tight and reminding himself that she was still in his grasp, living and breathing.
“Y-you know I do,” his voice cracked. “I love you more than you will ever know, Twilight.”
She softly hummed to him in response.
He kept reminding himself that he could still feel her fur, and sob into her curled, white mane. That she was still there.
Slowly, it all began to fade.
The feeling of her coat, the sound of her humming, all gradually vanished until he held nopony in his hooves anymore. If he could still hear anything, it would be his own hoarse voice calling out his wife’s name before everything turned black.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Night Light awoke with a start, his face damp and his eyes wet.
He wasted no time rising from his chair-bed, and ignored his muscles as they ached in pain again. He rushed to the side of Twilight’s bed, fearfully observing her in the dim room. He released a breath he didn’t know he was holding, seeing her chest moving up and down still.
He gently held her hoof to confirm it. She was still here.
Twilight Velvet’s closed eyes creaked open, and she gave a soft grunt. “Nighty,” she spoke with a much weaker, throaty voice. “I was having the most wonderful dream.”
He grinned, wiping a foreleg against his eyes.
With what little energy she had, Twilight Velvet managed to turn her head. ‘What time is it?”
Night glanced at the clock for her, frowning. “It’s only six thirty-seven.”
“Been a long time since I woke up this early,” she yawned.
“You should rest some more,” he implored. “Shiny and Twily won’t be here to visit until later.”
She blinked her half-lidded eyes. “Ever the caretaker, Nighty,”
He rolled his eyes in spite of her being completely right. “You know me.”
A glimpse towards the window showed that the sun had not managed to show itself yet, but the sky had begun to brighten up nonetheless.
“I’m serious though, you really should go back to sleep. You need your energy,” Night Light persisted.
“Oh, I suppose you’re right. I probably look terrible, don’t I?”
Night Light took in the sight of her, as he had already done many times over. Her once-vibrant eyes had faded, her unwashed mane was bedraggled and greasy, and her wrinkles had become prominent.
And Night Light loved everything about her.
“No,” he assured. “You’re beautiful.”
Her sad smile grew wider.
Night Light tenderly kissed her forehead before she closed her eyes once again. Satisfied, Night Light turned back to the uncomfortable chairs.
“And Night?” Velvet added without opening her eyes, “Go wash yourself up, dear. You don’t look much better than I do right now.”
Night Light didn’t say anything, instead choosing to watch her fall back asleep.
Another night had passed, and another long day was ahead of them. Along with whatever few of them were left.
Author's Note
Why is there no character tag for Twilight Sparkle's parents?
No really, I looked. They're not in there. Some tool bag named Noteworthy is there, but not Twilight's parents. (EDIT: THEY'RE THERE NOW THANK YOU BASED KNIGHTY)
Anyways, this story marks the first time I've tried to write for 'sad.' Let me know what you think in the comments below, please!
PLEASE.
