Splitting aMid the Night

One more week remaining. Even Midnight was beginning to get nervous. At least her body was. The body that was intoxicating her mind with romantic thoughts, especially the kind including a certain filly. Thinking of Sparkle, Midnight had to admit that she still had no idea what to do with her. Even though she had made some kind of romantic advances, those had turned out to be a joke between friends, as expected. Obviously, that explanation didn't stop the morons from behaving like the foals over at the other building. Midnight wasn't sure if she even wanted them to stop. Perhaps constantly hearing the chants about her and Midnight going on a date would soften up Sparkle's mind for when that was actually going to happen.

That 'when' signifying 'never at all', of course. Because Midnight and dating - or any romantic interest in anypony, for that matter - just did not add up. Attempting to do that addition would be like dividing by zero. Still, sometimes, when Midnight couldn't sleep, she'd lie awake and think about her life, decisions made and avoided. She'd ask herself why she hadn't just gone all in and told Sparkle the truth, whatever she might do with it. She'd wonder if her advances had really been just a joke or rather an experiment to see how Midnight would react. If they had been, then it had obviously been a failure, as she had taken great care to avoid any such reactions.

Occasionally, Midnight would even go for a what-if-scenario and plan how she'd ask the filly out, where they'd go, what they'd do. That could go on for minutes until Midnight remembered who she was. Even if she would do such a thing - which she was not going to - she would just be rejected and friendzoned. Like she had done with Zeddie. Although simply feeling her soft coat and hearing her soothing voice would be enough for Midnight already, even if it meant being rejected. Things would go the way they had to to make Sparkle happy, and that was all that Midnight wanted. Because she was in love. With a stupid, stupid filly who couldn't see through a mask of indifference neither of them wanted Midnight to wear.

Midnight had to get ready for school. There was no real reason for her to go, actually. She had been a good filly and done her work. And, just because she felt like she had to to equalise things with her worthless, average body, the same amount in addition to what she had already finished. The only reason she still went was because that meant meeting Sparkle. Which would also be the main reason to stay at home. Midnight knew that conflict, of all that was going on inside her, would be the first thing to tear her apart if she didn't resolve it. She was forced to take one side in it, whatever that may be.

She looked out through her window. The balcony just outside of it and especially the drop beyond it looked more inviting than ever. Surely, that would solve things for good. It would be bad, not good. At least for those around her. But what did Midnight care about those? There was nopony in the world she cared about at all... except for one.

Just how will I forget you? All the things you said, running through my head...

Shrine's still in here, if you want another try. You'd be at it for some time, though. Remember those ponies dying in eternal coma? They tried to remove something from their brain. Even if you didn't crash, it'd take you forever to carry even one picture to the Flow and let it go.

As if I hadn't been aware of that. Just what should I do?

Well, since we're too cowardly to take the direct approach and sort things out that way... stay patient. Honest advice right now. Rushing things here in Canterlot isn't going to help. Follow Filly to Ponyville, then look at the situation and plan things from there. We... are patient.

And I thought I was the nurse. Well, ignoring her didn't work, neither did either of us doing advances or... I suppose I could just focus on actually getting out of school so I'll be able to go to Ponyville.

We... are patient.

A bit later, Midnight was eating breakfast with her father, as usual. "Oh mare. Just one more week and my little Midnight's gonna move out and away. Going to be kinda lonely in here, just me in this big, empty house..."

"Listen to him go..." She muttered, too quietly for him to hear. "Can't we just skip all of this? I know. I've ensured myself a home, even if it's just living in the same house with some others like me. I'll earn my own money, and plenty of it. And should things not go right... well, that's why there are Moving-out-funds made just for me and of course you're just a letter away. Can we move on?"

"I suppose I have been a bit repetitive. Your father loves you, Midnight. I'll do everything I can to remove all that troubles you."

"Dad, I know. I'm thankful for that, but you don't have to say it."

"Oh, and, by the way, I want your wedding to be back here in Canterlot."

Midnight almost spilled the juice she had been drinking. "Uh, what exactly did you just say?"

"You know, when you've found that one stallion... or convinced the one you already have..."

"What do you mean? Like, me and Zeddie? Anypony else? Nah. Just no. Me plus other ponies equals anything, mostly imminent death I have to save them from, but romance. Besides..."

"No rush, of course."

"Not now, not ever. Besides, would it have to be a stallion?"

"Are you suggesting that..."

"Would you be disappointed in me if I was?"

"No, of course not. Whom you want to spend your life with is entirely up to you. You don't happen to..."

"Nah. But thanks. I'll keep that in mind for when I do find somepony I love - as if that was going to happen - and not just feel like I have to let them towards me to produce more average unicorns nobody cares about because they're not top spellcasters or know a library by heart or..."

"You're special because you know you're equal. Remember that."

Through the open front door, Midnight looked outside. The weather wasn't that bad. She could easily go out without having to put on her coat. At least, she thought so until lightning struck the top of a tower no hundred meters away from her. The flash mercilessly hit on her eyes, which had been accustomed to the low light levels of a cloudy day. The following bang was deafening. Any lesser pony might have jumped in shock, but Midnight didn't even move a hoof. There was nothing that could hurt her, and thus, nothing to be afraid of. So she didn't see the point in acting like a foal.

Yep. Putting on some protection today.

Just as Midnight arrived at school, the storm started to clear up. Of course it would. It was just her luck again. Once again, the door to their first classroom for the day opened, giving somepony access to the empty room. Empty unless Midnight sitting at her desk and having a mental nap was taken into account. But she wasn't. Nopony ever cared about her. Nopony would notice if she would suddenly vanish.

She didn't have to look to know who it was for a few reasons. One of them was that the first unicorn to arrive after Midnight was always Sparkle. Another was that Noon (Or Midnight herself?) had managed to boost Pegasus Eye a bit, granting Midnight the passive ability to sense ponies' auras when they approached. It was neither very accurate nor reliabe, like anything Noon did, but it could be useful at times. In that moment, she could clearly feel one she knew very well. Perhaps the only one that she knew and would still feel about a week later.

Something told Midnight that courtesy demanded her to look at who was coming in, though. A quick glance revealed to her that Sparkle's mane color had been dulled out from the Midnight blue it had been for some time to a regular midnight blue, which looked a lot less pretty. Another instance where Midnight caught herself lying. The filly was, of course, the prettiest thing in the universe for her, regardless of how she actually looked.

"Putting that illusion to work, I see."

Sparkle briefly looked around as if she didn't already know who was talking to her. After that, she walked over to the front side of Midnight's desk, put both of her forelegs on it, then rested her head on them. She once again had her trademark smile on her face. She was so close now. Midnight could both hear and feel her breathing. Just what did that Filly have in mind? Midnight could remember having officially put the whole 'Sparkle occasionally acts like we're dating' thing to rest, yet she just wouldn't stop charming Midnight yet another time. Worst of all, unlike earlier times, this was likely to be her intention, even though she couldn't see the effects she had on Midnight.

Their heads were so close to each other, Midnight could see some blood vessels in her eyes. All that she needed to do now was to slide forwards half a foot and plant a long, wet kiss on that muzzle right in front of her and finally deal with the problem. It was so inviting. If Sparkle wouldn't start talking soon, she'd just do it. Fortunately, the filly did start to move her lips, making them an impossible target for Midnight. Of course she could still hit them, but that would be rude. In the split second before Sparkle began to speak, Midnight seriously wondered if kissing somepony on the lips could ever be rude.

"Yeah, what can I say. I think this color harmonises more with my coat. You see..."

"Don't start what I won't let you finish. You've still got so many things to learn. Filly, have you ever had any friends aside from me?"

"O- of course! They're just in Ponyville, you know. Kinda far away... um, just so you know, the blue really fits with your shade, seeing as you're kind of darker than me and thus the colors won't clash as much because the blue can just flow down and basically keep its dark tone and also there's the pink around it so that adds some contrast also I think if you mix both of those colors you get around the purple..."

Midnight gently held a hoof up to Sparkle's mouth to silence her. She was only barely touching her skin, but it still felt extremely well with forbidden pleasure. "Whoa. You just missed at least three commas there. Relax, catch a breath. I get the point. Ran into any trouble coming here?"

"Not that I'd know, why are you asking?"

"Trying to establish a conversation here."

"Oh, okay. That reminds me... you'd better not have any plans for tonight."

She couldn't possibly?

"I don't think I do. Why?"

"Well, a little birdie who works for weather control and constantly mails me the newest plans has told me that, even though it's cleared up now, the storm should come back in the evening, which is when it'll be louder than ever. I don't think you'd get anything done in that noise, not to mention doing anything oustide.

"Oh, that's okay, as if I had somepony to share my evenings anyway. You don't happen to want to?"

"Like, doing all kinds of slumber party things and then getting scared by the storm and cuddling up for comfort and then falling asleep like that?"

Sometimes, Sparkle could act so foalish, but that was what Midnight loved about her.

"Uh, sure, if you want to."

Now I know less about what she wants of me than ever.

At least you could call it a proper date, no?

Hm. If we're sleeping with each other - close to each other, I mean - I might be able to reach the common subconscious and work my way into her mind from there. Or maybe I'll be able to just get into her like that. I'd love to see how she looks on the inside.

What a pity we don't have eyes on our horn. I mean... we... are patient.