Splitting aMid the Night

"My daughter, the day you were born, the very forests of Everfree whispered the name... Midnight."

Midnight opened her eyes. She found herself sitting on some kind of throne, though it didn't look very royal at all. Somehow, she knew she wasn't supposed to be here, and set out to travel wherever it drew her. After a surprisingly brief walk, she came to a cliff, a snow storm blowing around her as she stepped over the ice, uncaring about the weather. It was here. Something was here. She slid some of the snow away with her hoof, revealing the clear ice below.

"My child, I watched with pride as you grew into a weapon of righteousness," the voice she could neither place nor remember to whom it belonged continued to narrate. She didn't worry too much about it and instead drew a single Focus rune down in the snow, empowering it as soon as it could take effect. "Remember, our line has always ruled with wisdom... and strength."

Energy started to collect at her horn, which glowed in an unfamiliarly light blue. Requiring a nucleus, it bound to nearby snowflakes, making those change color and home in to her horn. "And I know you will show restraint when exercising your great power."

It was time. She had more energy focused at her horn than she could ever hope to unleash. She could use additional runes, but another method would prove just as effective. She took in a breath and thrust her head down to the ground, piercing the ice. Instantenously, the spell took effect, wiping clear the snow and cracking the surface. Slowly, a skeletal dragon began to rise behind her. She ignored it and walked forward to the cliff's edge. Seconds later, the bone construct came past her, leaping off and flying through the valley below, Midnight's magic stabilised in its chest cavity, animating the beast to life.

"But the truest victory, my daughter, is stirring the heart of your people." Thousands of minions below roared out, inspired by Midnight's newest creation, revealing the same magic that was forcing them to be alive as well. Only then, Midnight noticed the cloak and crown she was wearing. "I tell you this, for when my days have come to an end, you shall be princess."

What... Princess Luna? I'm her daughter? I already have the regalia, so does that mean...

Gasping, Midnight awoke with a start. She nearly fell out of her bed trying to sort out everything that was flooding her sensory systems.

That wasn't funny!

Seems we've got the wrong universe. According to the information I got through... erm, magic, you'd have three mothers in that one. What a ridiculous thought, isn't it.

Bah, I don't wanna. What day is it, anyway? If I have to work, I'll take the day off. Such a headache...

Oh, just what could've caused that, I wonder. It's Saturday, by the way.

So yesterday was Friday... oh yeah. That. I remember.

Anything I can do to help, princess?

Midnight turned to lay flat on her back before grunting and beginning to stand up.

I am not a princess!

Not in this life, I am afraid. Do not rush to conclusions you will regret. However, if you'd marry our sweet little darling...

Do me a favor and don't mention that... pony again. I have enough of her for now.

Like you've had enough of Shimmer for so many years, yet love will mercilessly blossom from the hate. Psychology. Fascinating, isn't it?

Midnight didn't respond as she trotted down the stairs and went into the kitchen. The Sun was up, but not since long. She could see it through the window.

"Look who we have here. Good morning, darling," Octavia greeted her. She responded with another grunt and sat down. "Vinyl told me everything. We got you a little something to cheer you up," she said while sliding over a little book-shaped object. Judging by its cover, Midnight could determine it was a drawing book designed to make ponies not quite her age find joy in drawing. However, as she was a well-educated filly, she followed the saying and took to reading it. And it was proven once again, the inside was far more informational.

"Hm. Ironic. I assume you got it for free while shopping?" As determined as she was to keep the illusion of a ruined mood going, Midnight couldn't deny she was slightly interested.

"We... yes. Why is it ironic?"

"You see," Midnight explained, "I used to be pretty good with crayons. Everypony thought I would get my cutie mark there. If only I had... Actually, I think I still have some equipment. Box of crayons!" Midnight called towards the staircase.

"Now what is she doing?" Octavia whispered.

"Showing off. Unicorns half her age could levitate small objects past this distance without direct line of sight," Vinyl Scratch replied.

"I'm not THAT old yet. Oh wait, I am. I'll die as an old virgin. Insert sob."

Finally, Midnight's objects of desire arrived. She set the box down on the table, pulled out the pencil she had stored within for sketching, and riffled through the pages until she found something interesting. "Try drawing your cutie mark. If you don't have yours yet, what would you like yours to look like? The next page contains some examples. Yep, totally age appropriate."

"I would like to point out that this was Scratchy's idea, not mine. Something to keep your mind off of yesterday evening, I suppose."

"Tavy, part of the plan is NOT MENTIONING IT."

Midnight couldn't resist smiling as she began to draw, though her focus was still on breakfast itself.

Would you kindly let out what is on your mind?

Sure, I was about to.

For a minute or two, they sat in silence, Midnight's pencil racing across the paper, carried by a blue aura. She munched down the cereal, not really thinking about anything, until the giggles Octavia and Vinyl Scratch occasionally let out became too distracting and she took at look at what she had produced so far.

It didn't look like her own cutie mark at all. In fact, it was a rough draft of one she had hoped to never see again. "What the? How did... Rubber!"

Now that their roommate was aware of the comedic situation she had gotten herself in, Octavinyl gave up on repressing it and laughed out loud. Octavia was first to recover and added, "Why, isn't this deliciously romantic."

Midnight felt the blood rushing to her head as she frantically erased every line she could find, paying close attention this time as she redrew the correct shapes.

Very, very funny.

I didn't, but it was very kind of you to admit your feelings.

About half an hour later, Midnight sat on a bench not too far away from home, a drawing pad next to her with a pencil scribbling a sketch of a fountain onto the paper fixated on the pad. Being a unicorn was gread, she found. She could always keep her eyes on the subject while sketching it out. Right then, she was in the process of adding final details, such as refining the statue in the middle that was mostly concealed by water most of the time and thus needed time to draw correctly.

Would you kindly?

I would, what kind?

Stop the farces, would you kindly?

Quickly after breakfast, Midnight had collected her drawing equipment and headed out to town to find new inspiration. At least, she would have, had not Vinyl Scratch literally dragged her back into the kitchen by the tail and forced her to help with washing up. She took another look at her drawing. Then, her eyes returned to the statue. Then back to the paper. In reality, it was a pegasus with messy hair. Drawn, however, it had somehow morphed into a unicorn with ruler-straight hair. Almost unfazed by the trickery played on her, Midnight erased and added what lines were necessary to correct the picture. Only then it struck her that she, as an average adept spellcaster, could just use magic to colorthe image or even draw it from scratch. Then again, all of the illusions she knew would be a constant power drain and she had never been good at conjuration. Not that she was good at anything, of course. But in that particular field, attempts to study had proven even more fruitless than usual. Midnight sighed and took a short break, walking over to the fountain to inspect it closely.

"Gah. Who is that supposed to be, anyway? 'Dedicated to Rainbow Dash. Her awesomeness will continue to inspire ponies even in future generations'. Why, did she happen to, I don't know, get hit by lightning and die? Although, since I work at the hospital, I'd probably have noticed her autopsy. How do we even get such stuff done with our tiny clinic? You'd expect there to be problems arising with missing infrastructure, but... magic. I'll say it's magic. But why does she have a public fountain for her overblown ego?"

"I didn't die for your sins, I'm just that awesome, silly," a nearby cloud told her with an overconfident voice. Midnight didn't want to respond and instead let Rainbow be carried off by the natural drift. However, she flapped her wings and gently brought herself down to ground level. "Whatcha doing?"

Are we really considered friends? I guess Sparkle at least aknowledges me for the three months we've been together, I mean friends. Some of that has probably splashed over. I'd hardly be a Mane Seven otherwise. Maybe it's because I saved the life of one of them, though. Or from all the stuff we've done already. Incredible to believe I've only been here for a week.

"Practicing a bit of drawing," Midnight responded, gesturing towards the bench with her head. "Not much, really. Anypony with a bit of practice could..." She stopped talking once she noticed that Dash had already sped over to her started picture. She momentarily shut her eyes, reopened them, and also returned to her belongings.

"That's awesome! You really just drew it?" she squealed, hovering above the sketch.

"Not done yet, mind you. Still gotta fill in color." Rainbow Dash didn't seem less amazed after Midnight's explanation.

"Just one thing, why do I have a horn? And Twilight's mane?" she asked, looking up from the board with an expression that held both interest and sarcasm.

"I thought I had erased those properly..."

Dash dismissively waved a hoof, "Yeah, ponies say I have a great perception. Supernatural, even."

Should I?

Confirmation, please.

"Ponies like you tend to be sought out by a certain organisation. Yet my own gift does not say you are a foe to me."

"You've also? I thought it was just me who could See. You could be used within the Brotherhoof."

"What business should I have with murderers?"

"Oh yeah, you're the... um, sorry. Let's just... Do you take requests?"

"I guess so, since I don't have anything else to do today. What do you have in mind?"

Rainbow Dash landed, still trying to shake off the awkwardness from before. "Dunno... something with me and my dear future wife."

"You're marrying soon, I remember. I'm sorry," Midnight murmured.

"Pardon me?"

"Nothing." Midnight thought for a second about what the best pose would be to satisfy such tacky ponies. She decided on one she had seen them in once while using extended Pegasus Eye.

Midnight added the finishing touches, then revealed her creation to Rainbow Dash.

"Wow. I don't know what to say. I can have it, right?"

"Well," said Midnight, urging Rainbow to come closer. "what would you do for it?"

Dash instantly built herself to full size out of pride. "For Applejack? I'd do anything."

"Would you even pay me? Artists hardly ever do work for free."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

On her way home, Midnight grinned to herself. The sun was already on its descent again, but she had squeezed a bit of coin out of Rainbow Dash. It could never hurt to increase her available budget. Perhaps she'd need some soon.