Splitting aMid the Night

"Do you need to leave already?" As much as her father tried to play the guardian role, he could also make a convincing plea. He was the better actor of the two, even though she had the benefits of being both small and female. She told herself as much, anyway.

She flung her bags over her back. She knew it was all just show. "Yes, I will need some time. You are welcome to come back with me, if you knew proper magic."

"I am afraid I cannot do that. You can take care of yourself." He adjusted one of her bags when it had begun to slip off. "Stay safe."

"I shall." A moment later, Midnight was gone.

One more spell. One more leap not through space, but across it. Midnight's senses screamed when they came back to her. There was warmth from the sun battling against the cold air, birdsong somewhere in the distance, a smell of grass and rough roads. Then there was a throbbing filling her ears and an overwhelming nausea. Reality fled from her. Her only thought was staying on her hooves. With the sensation of her stomach turning and her horn bleeding energy, it ended. She did her best to pick up and save face. There was nopony nearby to have witnessed her weakness, anyway.

Each time you do that, you inch closer to death.

And He shall welcome me, for I do not deserve the gift of life.

Are there any who do not deserve it? Can you lose the right to it?

Present company. Some others.

Odd. I had thought the same thing. Now I am much more.

What, then?

Many things. Each one beyond your ability to imagine. Move.

She had arrived on the edge of a town. It was not Canterlot, thus she had no interest in it. The houses were built from large boards and covered with straw. Worst of all, there was an ever so gentle coat of snow on everything. It would not impede her, she could very well move through it even off the path – except she winced each time she had to take another step in the cold. She had to get somewhere warm, but without magic, the only way was to march and endure.

Now you are afraid of the cold?

A few flakes at a time, always just not where she was looking, the snow sparkled. This was not natural.

Canterlot has no time for such diversions. No snow can ever fall on the city, by choice. Or perhaps because of the insane ozone concentrations above it, caused by all the daily magic in practice.

In the big city, she would never be five minutes away from a house that would take her in from the cold. Here, she did not even know the name of the town. Canterlot was well visible in the distance, just too far away to reach. She knew she was not ready, yet train fares were nothing more than a ripoff. She could wait.

You will have come to enjoy it. Your hooves are too sensitive.

I was not made to walk through literal ice!

Ponies higher up than you have decided on the existence of seasons. You would do well to adapt.

Midnight came before a building with wide glass doors, covered in simple decorations and with a huge glowing sign stuck over the doors that reeked of magic.

Shelter for all ye cold and dark, for those who need only a bit of warmth for the tips of their ears, also Ponyville Spa. That is one large sign, that is.

Without a good reason not to, Midnight parted the doors and went inside. They were not lying, her ears appreciated the warmup. The air inside was warm and scented, but somehow even more moist than that outside. She had not smelled heavy perfumes like that in a long time. She had never enjoyed it as much as was expected of her. Completely new, however, was a note of chlorine in between all the flowers and fruit.

There were a few other ponies spread across the pillows and sofas scattered through the lobby. They were all so immaculate, so clean. Far better than they should look given the conditions outside. Something had to be going on. "Greetings. How can we serve you, miss?" In her haze, she had wandered to the desk on the far end of the room, where there sat a pink mare with a straight, light blue mane that rivaled Midnight's in length. "We are happy to provide anything to make you feel better."

"Without a horn, that is unlikely." She breathed through and let the scents sink in. She could imagine spending a bit of time here. She let her magic feel through her bag and count the money inside. It was still a good amount, more than she wanted to admit. "Perhaps if fifteen bits can buy something." She set a few coins on the counter.

"We will arrange." Her money disappeared and she was led through a door besides the counter. There was next to no one besides the two of them there. Without anyone in sight, the dotted mass of pools and mats had a surreal sense to them. It was a known world, but no less of an odd one. "Right here, miss." The spa pony's voice was so soft that Midnight felt she was missing half of it. "This bath will refresh your skin and inner grace. Once you are done, we will continue by touching up your features to perfection."

Midnight left her bags by the side of the pool and slipped in. It was warmer than she had expected with the fright outside. The more she sunk in, the more did she have to repress the urge to jump back out into the dry world. She could spend a bit of time here, until she felt ready again. Maybe even a little longer. She slid down along the basin's wall until her chin was just barely out of the water. "Very well. Do your thing."

"We will be back when you are ready. May I ask your name, miss?" In the mirror on the rectangular room's far end, she could see the spa pony toeing from leg to leg. She was either very eager to serve, or moments away from fainting.

"Midnight." She leaned backwards into the water. Her mane would take ages to dry. She did not care.

"We are honored that you chose us, miss Midnight." The spa pony turned and disappeared through the door. For a moment, Midnight let herself go in the sensations.

Fascinating.

In reality, Midnight was still leaned back and supported only by the basin's wall. In the mirror, she sat straight. No matter how she moved, she could not get the images to match just right.

I can have mortal pleasures too.

They are a waste of time. Filling space before your destiny takes hold.

And a cure for freezing horns.

The love of your life could be less than a block away. Yet you waste the time here.

I doubt I am ready for that stallion.

You are not yet ready for the pony, no. It never hurts to start early.

Mmmh.

For just a bit, Midnight closed her eyes and became lost in the moment. Another second – or perhaps an hour – later, she was torn awake by a call. "Miss Midnight, we would now be ready to proceed." Its voice was stronger, more dominant. She was approached by a blue mare with pink mane. She could not remember if it was the same one as before. She had been taught long ago that she need not mind the identity of the ponies below her. The mare covered Midnight in towels as soon as she climbed out. "Right through there, miss." She pointed to a door in the closest wall, deeper into the building. She led, and Midnight followed.

This one was raised as a royal. Adorable.

We are bourgeois after all.

I was too, once. Well, I guess I had my chance. And I wasted it.

What do you claim to be?

It is too soon.

It always is.

There were more ponies in the next room, each laid out on a wooden bench. Each of them had some or another beauty product on her. Few of them seemed to notice Midnight.

Remember each one of them. The beyond says they are relevant.

Midnight did her best to memorise everypony present. However, the images were gone as soon as she laid down on the bench indicated to her. It had to have been hours since she had rested.

You only woke up an hour ago. How can we be such sloths?

You sleep plenty as well.

I have obsoleted such needs. There are benefits to not technically existing.

Hnng.

What exactly are you doing?

Trying to force you out of existence.

Princess, if it were that simple, I would not exist. She returns at last.

"We shall begin by cleaning and treating your hooves, followed by a hornicure and finish with a treatment of your mane and coat." Midnight and the spa pony came eye to eye. As eager as she sounded, as empty did her eyes look. Perhaps that was only because they were large beyond Midnight's belief. She chose the simple answer over committing philosophy.

"Do that." She stretched out every limb, then drew back them all except the one the spa pony approached. Her mind turned to greater things.

Clouds lightning sheep fluffy cloud candy candy candy.

Even though you already forgot your question, she visited a consult and feels hollow, just like you do, because she will never bear a child.

What, is she sterile?

Not that it even mattered, but no. The consult was an oracle, now she thinks herself to be fat and ugly.

Poor mare. Lucky pony. She believes wrong, either way. A bit gullible, but certainly adorable. How do you know all this if I do not?

You are not into fillies, are you?

I am not into ponies. That is a difference. But she does look lovely.

You will be.

Nevermore. I am so much more now without her.

At least you did not draw the conclusion that all females will waste and crush your trust, like some before you.

That would be a bit hard to justify.

There are selves of you that do. Some that become another thing entirely. Some by magic, some by force of will.

When biology is insufficient, one must force his way.

Odd ones. But that was not your fate to be. Your destiny is much greater.

What, receiving ponies in a coma and sending them back out on their hooves? Yeah, that is something that matters. Unlike florescence or floral remedies or whatever this one's talent is. She certainly is good at what she is currently doing. How did she get to my horn so quickly?

"Ouch!" The spa pony shrieked and dropped the file out of her mouth. Midnight's magic returned it from the ground to lying on her chest. "Miss Midnight, please keep your energy tamed. Our equipment is conductive." She took it and resumed her task.

Admit that you did that.

But I did not! Must have been remaining energy.

Or an excitement in a way you did not expect.

Not from her, not from here, not outside my own home.

Speaking of which.

Even though the spa pony was still working, Midnight felt done. "Everypony is different. How can you grind away at horns like that without risking that you nick something important?" she asked.

"We take great care to know ponies' weak points. In addition, we only perform surface work, far from any harm." Given that her mouth was full and working, it was surprising how little it changed her voice.

In other words, they guess. Perhaps I should send another spark.

You are recharged. You should be able to finish your journey as soon as this distraction ends.

What we wield is more than power. Our work is never over.

It took you forever. You need to do it faster. You barely had time to get ready for the shift.

Do you not mean I will barely have time?

You barely have it now. Move.

Midnight had a mind to get up and leave, but just then the softest of brushes ran through her coat and convinced her to stay. The treatment could have been worth its price after all. She only had to keep herself from expressing her enjoyment. She would be fine and gone in no time. Yet she had to admit that each time the brush set, she wished it could never stop.

It feels like I am melting, and I am okay with that.

Pfff. There are so many interesting ponies here, at the very least.

My eyes are still closed.

We never needed such petty methods to see.

You are right. I must go.

"Alright, miss Midnight. We would be finished now." Even though it was exactly what she wanted, she still felt she had a right to be offended that the spa pony had torn her out of her comfort. "If you would follow me." Midnight followed her outside without another word. This time, the mirror behaved. "Thank you for visiting us," she said once they reached the door, before Midnight could leave.

Midnight teleported away, out of sight. She came to rest on the edge of a fountain, where the castle was in sight. She could feel the gaze of the statue atop the fountain. She heard the song of falling snow judging her. Either way, she had no time for such distraction. She was ready to move on.

You look adorable like that.

That is one of the more innocent things I have been called in this dressup.

The mirror caught sight of Midnight. Her white nurse's outfit had always clashed with her own colors, as well as being just a bit too long for her. However, she did not want to go through the paperwork of commissioning a new one. She just had to think of it as contrast to draw attention to her good features, and the spare cloth could be used to feign having better proportions than she did. She struck a little pose, just to see how it would look. Then she realised what she was doing and that anypony, of either gender, could walk in on her in the locker room. She was not sure which gender she would prefer.

Are you not a minor?

Not any more.

Move. You are needed.

Right.

The mirror bade goodbye and she left. She had just made it to the nurses' station when she was called away again, "There you are. Come along, filly. Things you need to do." She knew the voice. It belonged to the best doctor she knew, as well as the most handsome stallion; Doctor Pond. She barely heard her own steps as she followed him into one of the countless rooms, different only by the door's number. Inside, an intern doctor was writing in the patient's chart.

I did not like that pony. Why you do is beyond my imagination.

Nnnh, he looked at me!

I suppose that. Do not wet yourself.

"Now, as you may have observed, Janet here is not writing with her magic," said Doctor Pond. The intern gave him a glare of death, as well as he could while still writing with the pen in his mouth. "The reason is, besides her incompetence, that Mister Brabblestoff is what they call Tranquil. Any magic performed near him will send him into an allergic fit. One of those will be grounds to sue us. Two or three in rapid succession would kill him. Both are to be avoided."

The intern put down his clipboard and approached them. "Doctor Pond, his scan came back. Shows positives as we predicted. We should get him to surgery, and start him on antibiotics immediately to prevent an infection spreading. The narcotics should be enough to suppress his reaction to their magic." Even though they met on each of her shifts, she had forgotten his meek voice and recessive behavior. She could swear he was supposed to be taller than she.

"I am impressed, Barbara. You are right for once. Fetch your friend in surgery." Doctor Pond leafed through the chart. He had astonishing dexterity even without any spells. "Filly, you heard him. Set up the patient." Without any chance for a response, he rushed out of the room.

The intern was left hanging with an open mouth. After a few seconds he murmured, "Why does he do that? Should have stuck with the psych ward job."

"Being named Golden Dawn might not help." Midnight giggled to herself and left to prepare what she needed.

It would be easier to focus if it was less fun to mess with him.

In another world, she has more courage, but even less confidence. The only constant is that you do not help matters.

Multitudes of me?

Of course. Your consciousness, as well as that mane clip you always seem to wear yet is always out of anypony's sight, exist across space and time itself. It is a necessity for parallel worlds, and foolish to assume you were in any way unique.

That is the power I am feeling inside me sometimes, then? A conflux, a million selves concentrating on the same point across reality?

No, that is your magic. It is a strong power. An untamed one.

Midnight returned into the room with a bag of solution floating besides her shoulder, then noticed her mistake and brought the infusion stand outside without a spell.

And a useless one. Will not be easy to hit the vein without it.

Watch, and do not interfere.

Midnight's horn felt cold, as if an icy wind had caught it. The needle head escaped her grasp and approached the patient on its own, held by an invisible force that was beyond even magic. She followed it as if in a trance, fighting her own urge to intervene while concealing it from any other curious minds. She was ready to pull it back out as soon as it sunk into the patient's leg, but it had set itself pinpoint accurate. There was nothing more for her to do than to bandage the incision.

What was that?

I have seen secrets that would erase your mind just to imagine, princess. It was only a fragment of your potential.

What blinding dream could that be?

A dream of reality. Not the end, but you can see it from there. A place beyond existence itself.

I should like to visit it.

It would be the death of you, and many others. Prevent them for now.

Midnight trudged towards the next room on her schedule. Some would say it was just the first one she found after leaving the previous one. They would be right. She did not let that drag her down. She had a job to do, she did not have time for crises. No crises of her own, at least. She knew one was coming when she spotted the hooded figure standing in front of the door. "Hello, The Grim Jasper."

"That is what they call me, is it." Jasper was not loud, nor bright or large. He always seemed to blend into his surroundings. Perhaps that was better for him. He was the hospital's attorney, prepared to answer any question and win any case. Of course, she was capable at medicine, so she only saw him when he was consulting the families of terminal patients. He claimed he was showing them what treatment had been done and what legal power they had. Everypony knew he was talking them out of taking any action, even if there had been malpractice. "Perhaps it is what I am."

"She is a deado? Must have gotten worse since my last shift," said Midnight while reading the room number. There was only one patient there, an adult mare with a short red mane. She was asleep – or comatose. The sun fell through the half-closed blinds to illuminate just one half of her in a soft glow.

Miss Hatsoon? For one, silly name. For another, I have heard it before. Is she not from an influential family?

You have, but no.

Odd.

Move.

I suppose I must.

She walked into the room and opened the patient chart. Just then, she remembered that she got her orders elsewhere, from ponies more qualified than her. It did not matter. Those doctors by name only did not know any more than she did. She had always been able to deduce her work from the chart. Something else tugged at her mind, or more accurately her ears. "Do you know what will happen to her?" A soft voice, small as a foal's yet still male.

It did not take long to confirm her suspicion. Behind her, out of sight from the door, sat two blonde foals, one of each gender. She had run into the doll twins again. She really had to learn their true name. "Hey guys." This was not her job. It had not to be. She scrambled for words regardless. "You were not told anything?"

"We were not." Either the filly's mane was half-covering her bow, or she was wearing a set of black cat ears just above her real ears. She looked odd regardless. "What is it?"

Midnight set down the chart. She could make a quick escape with magic, or a normal one with dignity. "Excuse me." She went outside in three steps while avoiding any eye contact. Just there, she found her savior leaning on the desk of the nurses' station. "Doctor Pond, the deado in room fourty-seven has a family to inform."

"Come along, filly." He led her right back into the room. The doll twins looked up to him as though she was no longer present. She was glad she was not a doctor. She would never be able to hold such authority. "Nurse Midnight will explain the details of your mother's condition. Have a great day. Bye." He was not smiling on the outside, but she knew that he was on the inside.

He was gone. Their eyes turned back to her. The job was hers after all. "Well." She read through the chart again. She knew what was inside, but needed more time. "You see, we attempted treatment with your mother, but she is not responding to it. The growth is spreading, at this rate her heart and lungs will shut down soon. She is not going to wake up." She ran out of voice. The damage was done regardless.

There it came. They had been allowed to keep hope, and she had crushed it. "That is the fate," whispered the colt.

"You are welcome to stay with her as long as you want." Midnight's mind was rushing across all the phrases she had learned, each seeming more inappropriate than the next.

The filly was not crying, but she could not be any closer to it. "Where will we be?" This was Midnight's fault. She had made her that miserable.

"He will take care of us." The colt led her outside, passing Midnight as though she no longer existed.

"See you at school, I guess," she tried to call after them, but her voice did not rise above normal speech. She had no strength for it. To make it worse, there was nothing for her to do with the patient. She trotted outside to the nurses' station to sit and collect her thoughts. She caught her reflection in the glass of another room's window. Perhaps her reflection caught her, given its refusal to be just where she was.

Is this the fate you enjoy so much?

Not this one, but it is regrettably unavoidable.

The reflection spoke, but only she heard. Midnight decided to sort the pile of paperwork on the desk. It was not pleasant work, but something to keep busy. She feared the thoughts her mind would produce if she stayed idle.

Princess? You are not going to do something drastic just because of a patient, are you? She was not even your kill.

Did anyone kill her?

Well, yes. But you had nothing to do in the entire process. It was somepony else.

I participated. I did nothing to prevent it. That was enough.

You really think that way? So little value to yourself?

I need to wash that poison off my skin. Where is the next patient.

Right over there.

Another deado. Of course. I am tired of this.

The sun was down. Midnight went out just after it. She could not spend another minute in that wretched hospital. Even though there was still enough light to see, the windows of Canterlot already glimmered up. She was not far from the city's end. A few spells brought her to sitting on the edge. The lowlands were still covered in snow. Settlements glowed in the darkness. Nothing else could be made out. She was surrounded by darkness. Naked as she was, she should be freezing. It was far too warm in the city. Something was there with her, a thought, an idea, a phantom.

Much better to be up here than down where the elements are still untamed, would you agree?

Midnight hesitated.

I know better than you do, and let me tell you it is. You will freeze your ears off down there. Delicate things.

I cannot do this anymore.

It is quite the view.

I live on a mountain, this is only regular.

Even to catch the middle of the firebutterfly migration?

A river of lights erupted from the darkness below. A million pieces each flowed through one another without disturbing the rhythm. She could not see a beginning nor an end until it swallowed the horizon. For a moment, reality blurred. All that was within it faded beneath the infinite shimmer.

What is this? I have never seen things like this.

You never bothered to look. It has been. It will be. Your lifetime is enough to contain a few.

Quite amazing.

Some say it to be the glow of dawn. Perhaps souls of those deceased. That is wrong, but at least romantic.

It is more than that. Perhaps her light is among them.

Her father was still in the city. No one would expect her. She was alone with the stars, above and below.