Rainy Nights and Paintbrushes
Rain. Such a beautiful form of weather. When it rains, most ponies would scatter and duck for cover and wouldn’t think twice about anything other than staying dry or keeping their valuables safe. Some would stop and look at it. Others would just grumble and trot through it angrily. Even young fillies and colts would occasionally jump and splash in puddles. Though that’s all during the day, when everyone’s awake. When it rains at night…..that’s one of the most beautiful forms of it.This night was no exception.
On this night in particular, a young unicorn stallion by the name of Spectrum Dream sits on his back porch quietly listening to the sounds of the wind quietly blowing and his 9-year-old daughter play her guitar. Now Spectrum knew it was to rain soon, he could smell it and apparently so could his daughter because she suddenly stopped playing to look up at the darkening sky.
“Papa, look! It’s going to rain!” the filly, Midnight Dream said rather excited.
The older unicorn looked up and past the setting sun to the dark clouds that started to cover the sky.
“Hmmm...Indeed it is...Midnight, can you go get papa’s easel and a canvas or two please?” Spectrum asked his daughter.
“Okay papa! I’ll be back.” Midnight said as she trotted back into the house.
Spectrum chuckled as he reached down and unhooked the latch that held his chair in place so that he could roll it off the porch and onto the grass. He slowly rolls down the ramp and onto the cool grass as Midnight returns with his supplies and helps him set them up in his favorite spot under the big elm tree.
“Here you go papa. Oh! I forgot the paints and smock!” Midnight gasped and ran back into the house. Only to come back a few minutes later with an old, paint stained smock and equally stained pastel holder. She held the tubes of paint in her magic as she helped her father into his smock.
“Haha.Thank you sweetie, say why don’t you continue that beautiful song you were playing earlier?” Spectrum Dream suggested.
“Oh, that! Papa...i don't think it was all that good.” Midnight Dream said bashfully.
“Nonsense! it was beautiful my little moonpie!” Spectrum praised as he set up his paints and easel.
“Well…..If you insist….I suppose I could continue.” Midnight said happily as she picked up her guitar and began to play a beautiful song on her guitar while her father thought about what he was going to paint.
Hours went by and yet Spectrum still couldn’t think of what to paint and to make matters worse, it began to rain harder. So eventually he and Midnight moved the easel and canvases to the back porch, safely stored from the rain. Then they went inside to prepare for the evening meal.
“So papa, have you thought of what you’ll paint next?” Midnight asked while collecting the soup dishes to be washed.
“Ahhh...unfortunately no I haven’t yet, Midnight. Though I’m sure I’ll think of something soon.” Spectrum answered his daughter from the living room where he was stretching his paralyzed back legs. As he stretched his left leg, he heard a grotesque pop emanate from it followed by a sharp pain run up his spine. “Ahhhh!” he howled in pain.
Midnight heard her father’s anguished cry of pain and immediately came rushing in to try to help.
“Papa! hold on, I’ll call Mrs. Moondance!” Midnight said as she phoned her next-door neighbor.
Their next-door neighbor, a pegasus named Moondance came bounding over the fence and into the open front door.
“Sweet Celestia! what did you do this time Specs?” Moondance asked as she analyzed the situation.
Through gritted teeth Spectrum replied, “All I did was stretch it out a little Moon!”
Moondance smiled and shook her head as she got the medical box from Midnight and got to work fixing her neighbor and good friend up. “There...now you should be all good now Specs! Oh! and thank you Midnight for calling when you saw your papa in trouble.” She addressed them both before departing.
A few hours later…
Midnight lay asleep in her bed as the rain continued to fall, now only a light drizzle as the night slowly came back into focus.In fact, the whole neighborhood was practically asleep, well...all except one stallion who suddenly awoke from his slumber with a feeling of inspiration.He silently lifted himself from his bed and eased himself into his chair. He quietly wheeled himself outside onto the back porch and over to his easel.As he applied the paint onto the pastel he remembered the song Midnight had played for him earlier. He looked up from his pastel and saw that, despite it being slightly cloudy there was still a full moon out. He smiled as he got to work with his masterpiece.
3 hours later
He rolled back and admired his finished work as he set it in the protected place where all his works go to dry. He took one last look at the moon and said, in almost perfect prench:
“L'art de la nuit est la plus précieuse quand la lune est présente.”
He smiled as he rolled back into the house and resumed sleep.
The Canterlot International Art Expo was a buzz with ponies showcasing their top masterpieces to renowned artists of the time. This event was so popular that even Princesses Celestia and Luna partook in the festivities every once in a while. Tonight was one such night that the princesses attended the event. They looked around and saw many different and unique pieces of art. From sculptures to paintings and everything in between. Eventually, Luna caught eye of a large group of ponies gathered around a small podium-like display area in total awe over what they saw.
"Magnificent!" one mare said.
"Astonishing!" a colt remarked.
Luna's curiosity got the better of her and she went over to the display area to see what got everypony's attention. When she arrived, ponies made way for the princess as she approached the stand. Her eyes were met with what could only be described as a simplistic, yet inspiring piece of art.
"Who is responsible for this artwork?" Luna asked the crowd.
Just then a stallion in a wheelchair rolled over to the princess, accompanied by his daughter.
"Y-Your majesty, I am who painted this piece." He said, a bit in shock to have a princess ask about his work.
"Well young stallion, may I ask what is it that inspired your work?" Luna asked the amazed colt.
"Why your highness, it is your wonderful night that is what inspired me to paint this. One night, some time ago I awoke from a dream that involved a crescent moon and stars that looked so amazing that I simply had to make that dream a reality!"
Luna gasped in amazement. Not many ponies would often comment on her nights, much less draw inspiration to create something as beautiful as this.
"May I ask, what is your name sir. For I may be interested in purchasing this item, that is...if you were willing to sell that is?" Luna asked.
"Spectrum Dream, your majesty and it would be an honor to sell this panting to you!" Spectrum Dream answered.
