Splitting aMid the Night

Scheming attempt number umpteen-three. Seven PM, I arrive at the library. Question number one, do I bring a gift and if yes, what kind?

An offer with which to merge your possessions?

Midnight submerged her head until her nostrils were covered in water, occasionally blowing out a bit of air to create bubbles. The warm bath did unexpected wonders to relax muscles she hadn't known were even tensed. As an added benefit, any hair on her body, be it in mane, coat, or tail, was being cleaned. She wanted to look the best she could that evening. She shortly came back up to catch a breath, closed her eyes, and fully went underwater, laying her head on the bottom of the bathtub. Her sensitive horn fired off a single spark as the warmth surrounded it. She was blinded, but felt incredibly peaceful.

Try not drowning yourself.

Not now, not ever anymore. At long last, I have a goal in life, even if it is as mundane as getting Sparkle to like me. Returning to the point...

Our blood tells me she would be glad just to see you arrive. It also whispers that there will only be seven ponies in the library tonight. You mean much to her, just think about the signals she's giving out unconsciously.

Midnight slowly ran out of air. She reemerged, briefly shaking her head to get both water and mane out of her eyes, then reopened them to see the common lie ponies called the real world.

My blood runs cold and silent. Stop pretending otherwise.

Is there a difference if it is hints from our royal blood or whispers from the Flow that we receive? I feel it somewhat unnerving that I appear to be the only one of us able to conceive them, though. It's like I was but a plot device designed to filter out the important of the notions you receive. It is cold, yes, silent, I admit, but there is something waking your heart from its eternal dream. A drip of warmth, if you will. Thoughts of the filly... every single one takes away from the dreadful chill and replaces it with bliss, the warmth of life. Do I have to retell another fairy tale?

If you will, wait until I'm done and in my room. I need scrubbies. And you will help me with it. Also, we're still not through with the plan.

In the depths of Tartauros, where there sits the Demon Forge itself, I had more dignified purposes. And those were to burn to provide power to the Forge.

Less talky, more scrubby! Thinking about it, also more talky.

Midnight dived down once more, this time for not even a single second, then floated shampoo into her mane, rubbing it in in every place simultaneously. She was so used to having magic to aid her in any situation, she honestly couldn't imagine how the other pony races kept themselves clean. One thing was certain, it would involve lots of more time, far fewer relaxing stimulation, and also more irritated skin from being rubbed through with hooves.

I go there and... I guess it's out of my control from that point onwards. One thing I know for sure is that I must not be socially reclused. Talk openly and enjoy our time. Then, somehow, I'll manage to be alone with her and... find the time to... find the words to... tell her what I'm feeling. I don't care if I don't have the money to take her out or if she returns my feelings. I'll gather my courage this time.

Should it be your wish, you have my blessing.

Again, she dipped below the surface. Her mane flowed freely around her, floating as if it were one with the waves surrounding it, those of energy as well as those of water. Again, returning to above the surface brought with it the cold of reality as she had to leave her freedom behind in the liquid below her.

Whatever that means. Do I dress for this occasion? If so, how?

Why not in your gala dress? That went so well last time. No, wait, that was another universe I had observed, and another Midnight. Filly, calm down. It may be your crush under the surface, but above, it is simply friends getting together. Relax and the world will be benign to you. Dressing up would only draw suspicion.

Feeling satisfied with the results, Midnight pulled the plug and called on Blink to bring her upstairs to her room, feeling too lazy to walk the distance. Only after the teleport she realised that she was still soaking wet and that a target location such as to be used for standing teleportation put her just that much above the ground if she had been lying before casting, which called for gravity to forcefully close the distance. After fetching some towels and rubbing herself dry, she pulled out her various brushes, one to be used for mane, one for her coat, one for sensitive areas, and so on, and stood in front of the mirror while fixing up her looks.

Brushie brushie brush brush bruuush... brushie brushie brush brush brush...

You can't sing, you know that. Also, need I remind you that you had something to think about?

Brushing is S-R-S B-S-N-S.

Surely it is. Since you are not busy or anything, here comes promised tale.

The colors of Midnight's mirror image began to blur and come together as it changed, the surface being repurposed to be a stage instead. A karyogram of an average pony was drawn from the mix.

After Princess Luna was defeated in her attempt to bring peace by conquering her sister and banished to the Moon, peace returned, somewhat, at least. But it was nothing like you could ever imagine. Pony race is regulated solely by genetics. That is how earth ponies give birth to unicorns and so forth. The chromosomes used for it are so spread out, though, that you could just as well think of it as blood in the way that it behaves like a simple percent model. If you have a major amount of 'blood' from a certain race, say, sixty percent unicorn compared to forty percent each for earth and pegasus, you are born as that race.

Certain chromosomes in the karyogram began to light up before blending into a single color again. From that, the throne room as Midnight imagined it - she had never been there - of Princess Celestia manifested, with a crowd built solely of alicorns spread before her.

As Princess Celestia took on the throne over all of Equestria, ponies were far different from what was usual in modern times. As they had just descended from those ponies who were the definition of pure blood, everypony held both a horn and wings on their bodies. Upon seeing what had happened, the spirit had searched out Celestia again, explaining that there had been some complications, but that those were unpure alicorns soon to die out for they had not been granted the gift of eternal life.

During their lifetimes, Those Who Came Before formed their very own utopia under Princess Celestia's leadership. While their bodies were in no way inferior to hers, nopony ever doubted that she was most fit for leadership. The ponies lived, studied, and created in prosperity. There was good in their hearts, clear and untainted by sin. Even for generations after, the royal dungeons laid unused.

Utopia, unlike the princess, was not eternal, however, and thus she quickly met the pain of seeing her subjects decease before her, managing to hold on only through binding herself to the duty of leading the new generations that were born. Those ponies were vastly different, however. As it turned out, to be an alicorn, a very specific configuration of genes is required. As a result of mating with others of unpure blood, their foals quickly broke away from said genome. Already in the first generation, a mere ten out of hundred ponies received the same form as their parents. Facing the rate at which alicorns diminished through the generations, the population adapted. It became normal to only be able to harness one of the world's blessings. Alicorns became legends instead of normal and Princess Celestia was the more adored, as she was the only proof of alicorns that survived the centuries.

Over time, the secrets of alicorns were forgotten entirely, even though the correct combination still occurs once in a lifetime. Those lucky ponies are considered and treated as the highest possible royalty, inferior in command only to the original princesses themselves, while they are technically just simple commoners.

Commoners like us!

Midnight shook her head violently. After blinking, everything looked as normal again. Demonic fairy tales were something she'd never get used to.

And that is to say that?

What if I told you there is a reason why I call you princess? What if I told you our blood was ninety percent pure?

Then I'm still ten short. It's win or lose. Nothing in between. Thinking about it, I'm surprised Sparkle is only a unicorn. I'd expect her of all ponies to deserve wings.

According to 'Researching the Princesses', chapter seven, the princesses possess the qualities of unburdened sight even of places they are out of sight of and of events yet to occur, high magic affinity, extreme resistance to diseases, and hearing the world itself whisper them advice.

All I can hear is the voice of an escaped Tartauran.

Those abilities are also said to be within other recorded alicorns, descendants of the princesses, or just simple commoners, though that last group often has only one of the abilities which is also weaker than it would be in an alicorn.

Since when have the princesses had any foals themselves?

An image shot into Midnight's mind, showing Princess Celestia in a rather implying pose, oddly wearing kneesocks on all four of her legs. She wondered for a moment if Sparkle would like it if she replicated it on paper. Perhaps that would make for an adequate present. Looking back on it, she didn't even know how old her marefriend-to-be turned. If she had been a year or two older than her before, then...

They have. Those weren't alicorns, though. Too much unpure blood. Also, I don't think she's quite the age where you give her clop yet. Or she's past it. Either way, the point is, don't you notice how a lot of those skills are in your possession? Did you ever wonder why?

I have a mental uplink to the Flow in the form of a clone.

Ha. Stop joking, would you kindly?

Midnight took the brush out of her mane, shaking her head again. Her mane had reverted to its previous way of simply falling down straight, though a slight hint of what she had worn before remained. She sighed and magicked a strand that fell over her right eye to the side, though it fell right back. For whatever reason, her illusion spell had washed out partially and collected at the bottom like real dye would. As unwanted as it was, she took the idea and improved on it, going through various layouts of pink versus blue until she finally settled on two stripes of pink at the front that slowly increased in width as they travelled down to her shoulder, as well as one at the back that split into two halfway down and reunited at the bottom after smoothly curving. It was unusual to say the least, but she liked it. In fact, Midnight could feel the earlier desire to be pretty again, which was highly satisfied when she looked at her creation. Hopefully the pony her evening was going to entirely revolve around would think the same way.

And what if I do have a high concentration of genes from Those Who Came Before or how you called them? You said it before, it's nothing special. I'm nothing special.

Those Who Came Before may never have ruled the empire, but their genes keep on ruling the world.

So would that make me One Who Comes After? That might get useful if I manage to speak up to Sparkle.

No. Comment. Did you ever waste a thought at how easily you manipulate the Aether around you? Space and time themselves try to appease you.

Speaking of time, which one is it?

Do I have to tell you or do you want to just start running?

How great that the usual laws of travel time don't apply to me. Ha!

A quick final makeover, a hay sandwich and a Blink later, Midnight arrived in front of the library, just in time to see a violet tail disappear through the closing door. However, this one was lacking a line of pink like the one she adored so much had. It had to belong to Rarity. Midnight tried to magic a few strands of her mane that fell over her eyes, which ultimately proved itself as a futile attempt. Sighing, she went to knock.

Sparkle opened the door so quickly after that Midnight thought she had to have teleported right to it, which might even be true. "Hey, Midnight! Glad you managed to come."

"Wouldn't miss ya for anything," Midnight spoke while entering. The library was even tidier than usual, however that was possible. All the books were in their respective shelves and sorted by alphabet, length, and cover color all at once somehow. In the center of the room, there was a round table with seven table napkins laid out periodically on it. The other Mane Seven, excluding Midnight and Twilight, obviously, had already sat down by one of the napkins each. Midnight noticed that the remaining two slots were right next to each other. A bit out of the way, a square table sat with a small pile of presents on it as well as a soaked citron cake. Midnight walked over to it first to drop off the drawing she had taken along, having decided that it would serve better repurposed as a present for Sparkle. Rainbow Dash couldn't possibly want to object to that. While she was moving, Midnight had to review her earlier observation that the library was quite tidy. Obviously, it had a touch of Pink to it in the form of balloons and streamers and whatever the party pony would have pulled out of her sources.

Midnight spotted a barrel of cider, which had to be the one Applejack had gone to bring to Twilight's earlier, placed right next to some slightly foalish games, as if to give out a sarcastic message. She shrugged and finally went to the table in the middle to take her place next to Sparkle, certain features of whom caught her attention against her will. It was Twilight's own fault as she was leaning forward, her forelegs on the table, Midnight justified herself. Fluttershy gave her a look that was all too knowing, but quickly retreated both in behavior and even a bit physically upon seeing Midnight's reaction. Apparently used to that kind of behavior, Rarity, who happened to sit between the pegasus and Midnight, began to lightly comfort her. Next to them, Pinkie Pie and Applejack laughed over a pose that Rainbow Dash between them had pulled.

"Alright," Twilight spoke up. "Now that we're all here, thanks for coming. It means a lot to me. Okay, now let's get this party started." She turned to her left, where Midnight sat. "You're participating of course, right?"

"Uh, in cider, you mean? Sure thing."

"Great! I'll get you some then." She went off to draw from the barrel. Pinkie went along to help carry mugs. Off in the distance, they were talking about something Midnight probably didn't care about at all.

"Pst!" came from the side. Midnight turned her head, sadly taking out of sight those beautiful curves, to spot Rarity beckoning for her attention. "I'm not sure what you drink in Canterlot," she whispered. "But this here is hard cider. You know what you're getting yourself into, yes? Are you even legal drinking age?"

"Psht, of course I am," Midnight replied sure of herself, yet still quiet enough to not be heard by the other ponies. "But thanks for the warning anyway." Her mind was already somewhere else, though. There were so many wonderful things she'd be able to do if she managed to get Sparkle drunk and maybe take a few mugs herself in the process.

How evil of you.

Patience has yielded an opportunity. Let us grasp it.

Sparkle returned, carrying four mugs in her magic while Pinkie somehow had three without falling over or spilling anything. They gave everypony one and settled down again. Midnight could see how the evening would run. First a bit of talk over some cider, then the cake, followed by presents, all wrapped up in the end by playing those juvenile board games. Obviously, cider was going to be involved in each step. She liked that. She'd have to watch her own consumption, though. According to some rough estimates, she should be fine until having drunk three, and sentient until the sixth. It looked like the ponies had stored enough and every intention to use that much, though. Also, she couldn't know for sure how alcoholic it was. All she could conclude from were estimated time of production versus current date and taste. Rarity seemed like a responsible drinker, however, and she looked as if she had about Midnight's body weight, so all she had to do was stick to that pony in terms of alcohol. Noticing that she was behind, Midnight quickly took a swig herself before everypony else could set their mugs down and notice she had been thinking that entire time. While every manner she had ever learned pressed her to use magic, Midnight instead lifted the cider up to her mouth through simply lifting it with a foreleg.

It tasted vastly different than expected. She had had cider before, some with alcohol in it as well. Still, Midnight couldn't resist making a face when expectation met reality.

Rarity appeared to have seen it before Midnight could push it back. With a tone sounding like she had been just waiting for it to happen, she said, "Of course, you don't have to drink along just because we do, dear."

Midnight shook her head no in response. "Nah, it's fine, 's just... different than I expected. The supply at Canterlot isn't quite as... sour. More sweetness in it. Not that I'm complaining, of course."

"Thatta girl," Applejack came in. "Cider's fun whatever way ya put it. 'Specially ours here from 'em Acres."

Social pressure. Reason number one to lie.

Really, I'm fine.

Or so you say. How sad your sweet tooth has to meet mildly sweet food for tonight. More specifically, sour.

Midnight didn't let that pull her down. She, as well as the other ponies present, gaily talked, drank, and ate. She had to notice how devoting her life to stealthily scheming plans had left her little time to keep practicing social contact, though. Occasionally, she just didn't feel like participating when others were already in the discussion. Unless Sparkle said something, of course. Eventually, they got to the third part, the interesting one. Everypony had had their share, but Midnight had been watching herself and still felt fine. It wasn't time to get really drunk yet, anyway. On the other hoof, it was noticeable that some were rather tipsy. For instance, Twilight herself, who tried to artfully magic open the band on a small box. After a few attempts ending in broken concentration and thus failed spell, she just settled on levitating a blade. Midnight held ready a simple shield spell that she could put over everypony, just in case. It proved unnecessary as the band was successfully cut, Twilight putting away the blade and removing the lid, revealing an assortment of small ornaments inside.

The most prominent item was a hairclip shaped and colored like her cutie mark. She quickly put it on next to her right ear. Midnight was amazed at how such a simple change made Sparkle look so much prettier. Also in the box were two golden ear rings with small violet gems inlaid in them, apparently designed to reference her mane. She put them back into the box to store them for later while moving on to the last two, which left everypony briefly speechless. Those two rings looked like they had a very specific purpose, not to make their wearer more attractive to other ponies, no, contrarily, to repel those that wanted a simple relationship with that pony. Wordlessly, she cleared her throat while putting them back inside.

"Well. Um, who was so generous with you?" Rarity asked.

"Huh? Oh, that one's from my parents..." Twilight replied. She took out the letter from the package, unfolding it and setting to read aloud, "Hmhmhm, 'dear Twilight'... 'We got a surprisingly good deal on those, so enclosed are a few bits. Spend those on whatever - or whomever - pleases you.' Why, she's direct about wanting grandchildren. Heh... me and children. As if that was ever gonna happen."

'Can't judge it 'til you tried it'? 'If pregnancy's not your thing, I'll gladly bear them for you'? Too direct.

Next, Twilight pulled forward a roll of paper, for which it was obvious from whom it came. Still, Midnight probably should clarify before it became opened. "That one's from me," she said. "Sorry I didn't get to wrap it, but what's more important is what's inside, right?"

Sparkle nodded and opened the paper, revealing for everypony to see the drawing of earlier, now fully fleshed out, signed and dubbed 'Dashing between the Apples'. For diligence reasons, Midnight had found it appropriate to remove the writing on its back. Twilight looked, simply put, amazed. "You made that yourself?"

"Yeah, you know, not the best, but I wanted to show you how much I appreciate your company."

"This is gorgeous! I don't think I could do anything near this well."

"I... what?"

Twilight flung the paper across the table so that the drawing's main subject and those sitting around her could also look at it, as well as allowing her to talk more directly to Midnight. Only thanks to Rarity's quick reaction time with summoning a levitation magic of her own the drawing could avoid a premature death due to landing on a mug and spilling its contents. "Where did you get that kind of skills?"

"Practice, I suppose."

"Anyway, thank you so much." Sparkle set for shaking hooves, but an idea crossed Midnight's mind. It had to be set up just perfectly, but if she managed to pull it off, it'd be well worth the risk. She lowered her head, aiming directly at Twilight, as if she wanted to kiss her on the cheek. Expectedly, she was confused. Midnight just needed to bring out the right response. "What are you?"

"Crossing horns. It's... a gesture common in Canterlot for expressing gratitude. Of course, we don't have to..."

Hook and bait...

"Uh, no, no, let's do that."

Bitten.

Sparkle responded with fitting movements of her own. Their horns crossed about a quarter of the way down. Midnight took the lead, lightly knocking them together first on one side, then the other. Obviously, they were still friends, so they kept their faces apart, but they had to come together close enough so that Midnight could feel her breath on her neck. Simply doing that felt just wonderful. It was an ancient itch, finally getting even the least bit satisfied. Sadly, she had to withdraw soon. Midnight took a moment to let everything sink in while the others progressed through the stack.

Have a look at this.

The Flow looked as she would have expected of it. Everypony had their essences and all, including Midnight, were connected through a band of their combined colors. Between some ponies, mostly Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but also between Midnight and Sparkle, their own two colors glowed far brighter to indicate the connection between the two exceeded friendship.

Well, first, do you see how her own color is also stronger? She's in for you. But also, there's this... up, would you kindly?

Between their horns, a new band had formed. It was very thin, looking so fragile that Midnight might be able to shatter it by simply waving her hoof through it.

Magic interconnected. You are linked. Not only metaphorically, but also in essence. In fact, when you do that, you are able to draw from her power pool, and vice versa. Try it.

Unable to find a reason why she should not, Midnight tried lifting her mug through magic. She was overwhelmed by finding that it did not take any effort any more at all. In fact, she accidentally overdid the spell due to being used to her own puny resources. Once she managed to halt the upwards momentum, she was quickly reminded of mass inertia as the cider within kept flying up and through the air. However, by creating five separate gateways the likes of which she would usually be able to sustain one in the blink of an eye, each of them linking to one point in the mug, she managed to catch back all but a few drops of liquid.

Such power... I can't imagine how she even controls that. Any pony I can imagine would crack beneath it, unable to keep it under control. They would... unleash it all at once, annihilating their surroundings in endless magic before literally exploding with enough force to flatten Canterlot Mountain. I mustn't draw into it too much myself. Don't want to waste her gift... I fear what would happen should I focus too much of it within me.

You have the world at your hooves, yet you give it all up for your love, strengthening both of you in the process.

What do you mean?

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Look at her. Can you not see how she has regained easy control over her power?

Indeed, Sparkle had unfastened the band around one of the presents and was now making it twist and twirl in the air like a snake while she casually completed the rest of the opening procedure, looking at and talking to her friends while doing so.

You may contribute little to the bond, but it is your love that strengthens her to the point where she can act as if sober while still inebriated. Claim her!

... Patience.

Midnight returned to the normal world in both mind and vision, just in time to see the content of this package. It was... a book. At least that one wouldn't contest Midnight's present as the most creative one. It was a bit of a special one, though.

"You're of Age, Now Let's Get You Laid. Erm, thanks? To whoever..."

"Oh, heh, don't worry about the title. They told me it's a nice read and I figured you could use some where you don't, you know, study everything you read," Rainbow Dash explained, clearly feeling the awkwardness of this misunderstanding.

"As it would happen, I know the author of this one," Midnight said. "Just a story about a young filly searching for a mate. You know, like you." She giggled.

It's quite inspiring, if you want to put it that way. Plenty of do-it-yourself tips in it. Don't ask me how I know that. Well, here's for hoping she will try to use that on me and nopony else.

"Oh, okay. Thanks!"

Across the table, Rarity caught Midnight's eye. It was clear that she, too, knew what this book contained. This didn't really surprise Midnight, but it amused her nonetheless.

Sparkle's friends appeared to really care for her. While none of their presents were quite as personal as Midnight's, at least in her opinion, they had still all put effort into making her happy. Some more cider later, they sat collected in a circle on the upper floor of the library, playing Truth or Dare. It didn't feel like something mares of their age should do, but if Sparkle wanted to, they all gladly obeyed.

"Now, Rainbow Dash, truth or dare?" Rarity asked as her turn was over.

"Gimme truth," Dash responded.

"Okay, erm... ah! My dear Dash, was Applejack really your first ever kiss?"

It was visible how Rainbow hadn't expected anything like this question. Her eyes showed clear stress signals, as well as her wings that had sprung open to allow sudden flight if need be. "Do I have to answer this?"

"Heh, 's alright, Ah wanna know too!" Applejack piped out. The very idea of it seemed paradox, but the farmer looked like she was to be the first one to overstep her tolerance border concerning alcohol.

"Um, well, it was at flight camp..." she began.

"Ya made out with Gilda?" Applejack interrupted her.

"What? No! That was in Junior Speedsters... no, not there either. Gee, I hope you don't mind... anyway. One day, 'Shy came to me, saying some colt had asked her out and..."

"Wait a second, OUR little Fluttershy?" Pinkie Pie asked, though the answer to that question was already obvious from how said pegasus was literally shrinking together where she sat.

Rainbow Dash aknowledged this fact, but chose to continue anyway, "Yeah, yeah, that one. And so," she let loose a fit of giggles she had to have been repressing the entire time, "the day before they went out, we were at hers, practicing."

"Oh my gosh, you never said anything about this. What's his name? How did he look? Did he treat you well?" Rarity inquired, though only squeaks came as response.

"I think you gotta wait for her turn. Back to topic, I can't remember anypony else. Except for this one, of course," Dash said before diving onto Applejack for a passionate kiss. This was met with mixed reactions from the other ponies. Most of them showed admiration and expressed how cute they thought the two were, especially Fluttershy, who seemed glad to have escaped fate this time. Midnight, however, just rolled her eyes and, after a moment of letting them be, cleared her throat as a signal for them to move on.

Rainbow finally lifted her head and climbed off of Applejack. "Oh yeah. Twilight, what'll it be?"

"I think I'll take truth."

"Alright." Rainbow Dash thought for a moment, then her face twisted into a devilish grin. "Imagine it's mating season, but you're a stallion. Who would you take?"

"I..."

"Now, you really don't have to answer that. Rainbow, you should feel ashamed of yourself," Rarity intervened before Sparkle could form an answer.

"Big Mac," Twilight said without further hesitation, ignoring Rarity's attempts at helping her.

"Wh... remember, you're a stallion!"

"Yeah, I know. But I think he's really cute and... to be honest, I think he'd be having more of me than of any of you."

"So you're implying..."

"She's right," Applejack whispered.

"Wow. That's a load coming for Apple Bloom. But seriously, him, of all ponies?" Rainbow said.

"Can't change who he is."

"No, of course not. Gotta hope he'll find his proper somepony."

What an emotional moment of accidental revelations. Consequently, Midnight was bored. "Most importantly, who are those ponies you're talking about?"

"Mah brother 'n' sis. Ya haven't met 'em? Shucks, ya should. Weell, interestin' choice, Twilight."

"Why, who would you take?"

Bad. This conversation is drifting all the way to awkward right now. I'll have to say my own and she'll find out and reject me and...

You got ninety-nine problems, but a ditch ain't one. On a slightly related note, thanks for poisoning me. I swear I enjoy getting murdered more every time you do it.

"Guess who." To further clear whom she meant, Applejack leaned over to quickly peck Dash on the cheek.

"I would go for Octavia. She's such a classy mare and very nice once you get to know her," Rarity said.

"Filly fooler," Midnight threw in.

There goes...

"Oh. Well. Come on, the rest of you. Three of us have already said it, tell us whom you would go for! It's no fun if only some ponies participate."

"Myself," Pinkie Pie cheerfully exclaimed. "Ain't nopony partyin' in Pinkie like Pinkie."

"Absolutely Fluttershy. Sorry, AJ, but I'd just love to pin her down and, while she's squealing..."

"Rainbow, watch your tongue."

"I, um..."

"Darling, don't tell me you'd enjoy that ruffian?"

"I'd take you because I think you're really graceful and you've always been there for me and..." Fluttershy quickly rambled down in whisper volume. Her wings were extended and her cheeks glowed in a pink brighter than her mane behind which she quickly hid after saying that.

"Oh, I see," Rarity said, her face becoming slightly tinted as well. "Don't worry about it. It's just a fantasy and we won't let this come between us."

Always the quiet ones. And now I'm the only one left and don't have one to pull me out of this affair. Care to help me?

Be as you are and kindly say the truth.

"Well. Heh. Midnight, what about you?" Sparkle asked to bridge the awkward situation that had occured.

"I... you. I can't imagine anypony else. I'd want you, with all the consequences it'd bring. I think you're really cute, Sparkle."

Alcohol, liquid courage. This is one step up the slope you've been standing in front of the entire time. Now press your advantage or you'll slide off again.

I can't believe I really did this. Are you also starting to feel sick?

Relax, she's taking it nicely.

"Oh, that's so sweet of you to say," Twilight said, clearly oblivious to the meaning behind Midnight's words. "Anyway, stick to the schedule. Midnight, your pick?"

I pick truth, I have to say whom I have a crush on. That'd be a quick and painless way to put it behind us, but no. Dare... well, I guess I won't have to kiss Sparkle since she's asking herself. Isn't that how those two others came together?

"I'll do a dare."

"Hm, I dare you to... down a mug of cider without breathing or making a face."

"No problem. Give me some and I'll down it," Midnight boasted.

"That's a word!" Sparkle cheered alongside the others as she rose to refill Midnight's mug.

With her challenge set before her, Midnight took a few deep breaths in preparation. Slowly, she lifted it into the air through levitation, noting that she was no longer connected to Sparkle's power source. Now that it was before her, she suddenly realised how much it really was. Still, there was no backing out any more. She had to do it. She took her final breath and began drinking.

The first gulp was relatively easy if not even pleasing. By the fifth, it had lost its flavor and Midnight was merely pushing it through. When she was at number seven, Midnight accidentally tried to breathe, burning her nasal cavity with the sour liquid that had been sucked into it, but she kept going. Finally, shortly before running out of air, the flow ceased and Midnight could gather some much needed breath. Following this through had been a bad idea, that was now clear to her. She needed a moment of closed-eyes solitude to handle the feeling of liquid gushing into her stomach she was experiencing.

"Are you okay?" Sparkle's sweet voice asked beside her.

Midnight shook her head such as to clear her mind and reopened her eyes. "Yah. Now, Fluttershy, what do you want?"

"Um, truth."

"Oh, really?" Midnight already knew exactly what she was going to ask. "So... tell us about that colt."

Given how much fun they had been having, the party had ended far too quickly. It was probably for the better, though. Everypony could feel the warmth of slightly overdone alcohol consumption, to the extent that the babbling Applejack had to be escorted home lest she hurt herself. The others were slowly leaving as well. Midnight could see them from the balcony. She felt that her presence would still be required at the library later. In fact, it was a setup for just the perfect moment she had been waiting for. Should that fail, she still had to say she enjoyed the serenity of being alone with just flowers and the night sky to accompany her.

The blob of light below vanished. Through the open door, Midnight could hear unsure hoofsteps approaching.

"Hey," Sparkle said as she was coming out. It was all just like last time. "I gotta ask you something."

"Go ahead," Midnight responded, faking not knowing what Twilight was about to say, when she was verily just waiting for it to come. She wasn't disappointed.

"What you said earlier, how you think about me... was that true?"

"Every single word."

"Wow... I never realised. Everything you did makes sense now. Heh. Heh heh." She burst into laughter. Midnight noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from her.

Smashed. She won't remember a thing in the morning.

As painful as this was, Midnight had come to realise that the words themselves didn't hurt at all. Soon, she'd find herself able to say them to a sober Sparkle. Also, while they were both inebriated, she might as well take advantage of it. She moved in closer, giving Twilight a small kiss on the cheek. Said unicorn countered in a way she didn't see coming at all, coming around to catch Midnight's lips with her own. She didn't stop at that, however, and shily pushed her tongue into Midnight's mouth, which gladly accepted it. It tasted like apples, but also bitter, of alcohol. Nevertheless, it was the best thing Midnight had ever tasted.

Finally, after so long, Midnight got to follow her heart's desire. Now that she was at it, she had to admit that both the pain and the good feelings that followed it were far beyond anything she could've imagined. The former was well worth it for the latter, however, as she got a moment's respite and looked down to see Sparkle's horn had taken on a rather dark red color.

Enjoying yourself?

Ngh, go away.

How pathetic it is how you shape your illusions. Also, there are minors watching, pull it together, filly! Which is why, rather than offering you the illusion of free choice, I've taken the liberty of choosing for you if and when you'll find yourself in the next dream.

Nooo! Dammit.

Everything faded back to darkness. Not only was the scenery gone, but with it had vanished any kind of feelings that dream had evoked.

It's for the better. Now, in this magical world I've pulled out, there is some wonderful magic in place. Many ponies are born with a special gift.

Midnight fell. After eons of falling, she landed on a smooth surface, though the darkness was still all-consuming around her. That didn't last long, however, as with the first step she took, the dark flew away in the form of birds until a big circular stained glass picture was revealed. She didn't have the best view of it, but Midnight could see it was showing her in the center, surrounded by small versions of the Elements of Harmony. The style reminded her somewhat of the windows in the royal castle. A stone pedestal rose from the ground not too far away.

They can bend to their will one of the elements that which make up the world. First, there is air.

A small cloud of mist manifested on the pedestal.

It is the embodiment of freedom. Nothing can stop the flow of air as it goes about its own business drifting across the world. Like air, those that control it are always close to the skies. They care little for affairs down on the ground as they live in solitude, free in meditation as their element. Do you wish to take this element as your birthright?

"Yeah, I'd..." Midnight tried to speak up, but was interrupted by another pedestal rising. This one bore a ring of water twisting and turning.

Then there is water. Similiar in principle to air, water also highly values freedom. When in a fight, water users will fluidly chain offense and defense into each other, never giving up one for the other.

"Gimme..." A third one. On this one, there was a small formation of common stone.

Earth. Very much unlike the former two, earth holds great tenacity and patience. However, simply to bend it, the user must already possess a will so strong she can overpower the earth's desire to hold still.

"That sounds... why am I even trying?" The fourth rose. It held an orb of flame, a tiny sun.

Fire. In fire, there is rage, destruction, the spark of life. Fire benders require a great soul to ignite the aether around them and use flames effectively. As much destruction as uncontrolled fire will bring, there is always beauty in it. It is unleashed energy. The reason to live focused. Now, take your pick.

"I want... erm... earth. Patience."

A wise choice. However, to fully understand your element, you must exclude another's properties from your soul.

"What? What kind of restriction is that? I guess I can live without... air."

You give up endless freedom in order to achieve the strength of the earth, as well as its limitless patience. Once again, wise. Enjoy your stay, princess.