Splitting aMid the Night

"What did I get myself into?" Midnight shrieked, clinging to the chest of her other self who reacted with a fair amount of self control.

"Sometimes do I wonder that myself. What is a greater mystery to me though is how you managed to keep all of those thoughts hidden from me until we came here." She shook off Midnight and wandered through the warm grass, pausing as she reached the stream.

"That's basically a date, and she'll realise how worthless I am and never want anything from me again. Just look at me, I can't even swim!"

"Uh, filly?" Noon asked without turning around. "You do realise that it's currently winter in the real world and the lake is probably frozen over, so in all likelihood she meant ice skating or picknicking on top of it or something like that? Besides, I must say that being able to retreat into a personal sanctuary within your mind at will is really pretty awesome."

Midnight paused and looked around. The Sun was high, dispensing its blessed warmth onto the hill and its surroundings while a slight breeze rustled through the leaves of the tree on top of the hill and shook the swingset attached to it. "Eh, I do what I must. Because I can."

"Yet another proof that you hold power beyond your understanding and refuse to utilise it. Hmm, I wonder what the truth of this place is? Have a look for both of us, would you kindly?" Midnight had no intention to use the Eye, but she obviously had no choice in this matter. At first glance, the real version of her refuge looked quite similiar, until she went to cross the stream and noticed that within it ran blood instead. While they climbed the hill together, Noon said, "Unicorn blood. Is that your truth? You know, when you take away everything, the one thing that stays is somepony's worst nightmare. The one thing that they truly fear. Are you really still mourning for her?" When they reached the hilltop, Midnight jumped backwards and almost rolled back off. The tree had lost its leaves and the swing had been replaced with a pony, supported by a single rope slung around her neck. Even in death, Sparkle still held beauty incomprehensible to Midnight. "Thank you."

"For what?" Midnight asked.

"For making sense."

The moment after, Midnight woke up back in her bed where she had entered her mind. Pleased to find that only little time had passed, she rose and went to fix her looks.

Now that I think about it, Sparkle took it kinda calmly that I suddenly had long hair again. Perhaps she just saw my spell. Does she know about the Flow? Is she forced to live within it? Wouldn't surprise me, somepony of her power. Speaking of which, how should I look for such an event?

Mostly something against the cold to make sure you can ask her out tomorrow. Though you're welcome to do it today.

Oh gosh, that's tomorrow, right. Guess my trusted scarfy will do.

How long has it been since Dusk gave that to you? It's amazing how you still wear it, despite its flashiness. Perhaps it is less about the scarf and more because it was his gift. Isn't that so? Aren't you afraid to truly leave him behind, out of fear to be alone when the bell tolls?

Hush, you. I'm never alone. Never will be. I've learned that now. My friends - Sparkle - will never leave me, much less in the near future.

Illusions are convenient if you don't want to have to deal with your fate, aren't they?

Something liquid ran down from Midnight's right eye. She looked up. A constant stream of blood was running down through her face. She turned and exited the house.

You've changed. Why so serious?

You're right, I have changed. I've learned to no longer be fooled by momentaneous illusions. I've gained... patience.

What worth has patience if you do not know where you are going?

I guess I'll be heading by Sparkle's home to see which lake she meant. Or what is about to happen. That's also a possibility.

"Hello there, Midnight," Rarity called upon noticing her. "Twilight told me you were coming along today."

"Yeah, I'll be glad to join in," Midnight said, quickly adjusting her own path to match with the other mare's when she noticed it didn't.

"That's lovely of you. It's a true beauty about this time, you know. Besides," she lowered her voice a little, "Twilight doesn't get out as often as you may think. We're doing what we can for her, I guess." She paused for a moment, seemingly in thought, then giggled and said, "Maybe we'll even be able to find her a special somepony. Ah, our little adorable bookworm, getting herself a mare. Would you believe that she's already that grown up? Although, how old are you again?"

Interesting analogy. Want me to actually put a dagger in your heart so we can find out if maybe it does hurt more than the irony?

Hard to be cynical. I just realised something that she said. Wonderful.

Huh... you know, not like it's what I - the Flow - have told you the entire time.

"You think she's really that way?" Midnight asked, determined to further test the waters.

"I have sources. Tongue slips. The looks she gives other ponies, especially unicorns, funnily... of course, there's nothing certain. But so long that she isn't seen kissing a filly or something," Rarity paused to see if Midnight was alright after the latter had produced an odd snorting noise. "Uh, what I am saying is she could be either, so don't hope emptily, but signs point to a certain direction."

"I can see that," Midnight said, indicating towards a guidepost they were passing which showed the way to their destination.

"Still a little ways, dear. Plenty of time for us to talk."

In fact, they were only now leaving the hive of buildings and entering the rich grassy hills outside of Ponyville. Midnight assumed that they were so anyway, as she had never left the town before snow took over them and, during the flight over that first brought her into Ponyville, she had had better things to look at. "Well, now that I know how far away it is, there is theoretically nothing stopping me from just teleporting there."

"You wouldn't want to do that."

"Name a reason why I shouldn't."

"Because you'd end up with more energy in your Blink than you expected, fall into the lake, and drown there miserably," Rarity explained with the same calmness as if she was teaching her a new cooking recipe.

"Just 'cause swimming classes were always pointless and I eventually just pretended Dad didn't want me to go," Midnight mumbled.

"Exactly."

"I wonder if Mend could also supply air. Because that spell isn't doing enough for me already. If it healed about anything, I wouldn't have to do any actual nursery - oh wait, I haven't in my entire life! Yay for magic!"

"Ah, you're here," a voice called that consistently made Midnight's heart beat a tiny bit faster.

"Forever yours," Midnight replied as they approached, then looked around.

Let's see. Lake is indeed frozen, but not safe to cross, so it's prolly neither skating nor swimming. Guess it'll just be... wow.

Grade A ward spell to hold out snow, combined with some - magical, of course - heating to make it all comfortable and snuggly. Just a force field like you taught her, isn't it? No, wait, you didn't. Hee hee hee.

"You never stop pulling more amazing tricks, do you," Midnight commented upon entering the barrier and lying down on the blanket that already protected Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rarity, and a basket she assumed was filled with tastinesses from making contact with the grass.

"I'm afraid I can't quite follow. Isn't this just some everyday magic?" Twilight asked.

"Not really - then again, judging by the fact that everypony who's voluntarily staying in Canterlot is a moron, yep, I guess it is for you."

Ugh, I shouldn't have eaten those pills I found lying in the back of your mind. Oh wait, that's just the bucketiness I can feel coming up. Excuse me, I'm going to black out for the next few hours.

Do that. Too busy with noms and Sparkle.

I'm back. Did something interesting happen?

Mildly. Ate some noms, had a great time, maybe accidentally shot down a few insects with a bit of telepathy. She didn't like that, tee hee. As if I cared for her. Now what are they doing?

Rarity took the word and said, "We'll be going then. I really need to get back on that design. Goodbye girls, looking forward to doing this again!" as she and Fluttershy stood up and left. Midnight mumbled something that she could claim had been a goodbye if necessary and watched them leave. The pegasus shivered slightly as they stepped back out into the cold air side by side, but something rose suspicious thoughts within her. They didn't speak a word until well out of hearing range.

Warm spring afternoon - close to it, anyways - with a lovely little picknick, nopony around anywhere near earshot, you've got the next three days off for a honeymoon and, of course, lil' Sparkle is right here, in a high mood, alone with you. Huh. I wonder if this is coincidental. Now, would you kindly take the opportunity you've been waiting for?

Pati-

No! This is the time, do it. Do not force me to help you again. Get a move on, would you kindly?

Midnight's body slid a bit closer to Sparkle almost by itself, "Remember back in Canterlot?" Why did she have to be fumbling for the right words just now? Midnight felt driness coming into her mouth and prayed that her face wouldn't betray her before it was time.

"Those were great times, weren't they?" Twilight answered, absent-mindedly playing with a flower which enjoyed a bit of warmth for a change.

"Yeah, what happened since then. Sparkle, I think we should be a bit closer."

The cute unicorn faced her with beaming, but seemingly ignorant eyes. "Oh, absolutely. I mean, we barely got to hang out since we're here. No offense taken, of course, I assume that you're really busy working and all that."

"Yeah, I..." Midnight was stuck. She had to continue quickly, lest Sparkle get suspicious, but everything she could say just seemed like it'd ruin matters. Her eyes darted around looking for help, temporarily off of Twilight's face to the lake, Canterlot Castle, the nearby tree, and back to the other mare.

Celestia, force my tongue, for I am not strong enough.

"Uh, so, wanna do something sometime? Just us, I mean?"

Here's to hoping she hasn't read any romances doing the exact same thing - I mean, hopefully she has and wants to help me out.

Twilight didn't appear to catch what Midnight was aiming for, which may be a good thing. Her smile grew slightly bigger as she said, "Of course! What do you wanna do?"

"Uh, movies?" Midnight stuttered, still unable to believe she had gotten even so far. "Sunday, maybe?"

To be followed up by romantic dinner and going to bed. In one place. I maybe possibly could be able to scrape the bits together for that.

Twilight's face dropped a little again, "Um, on Sunday, I don't think I'm gonna have time. There's the wedding of two good friends of mine that I really gotta attend."

"Which I neither am invited to nor care about."

Twilight mumbled a little, clearly still not used to Midnight's unique honesty, then caught herself, "Anyway, well, then maybe later, like, Monday?"

"I'll be- wait, will I? No, I don't think so, it's a Tuwethri week. Alright, that works. I'll come and pick you up, I guess."

"Great, see you there. Really looking forward to spending time with my friends. I haven't forgotten Canterlot."

"Yeah, me too. Listen, I gotta be somewhere, mind if I leave too?"

"Not at all. And, Midnight?" Twilight grasped her hoof while she had already warmed up Blink, causing the energy to shatter if Midnight's willpower was just a little weaker to such a silken touch, "Take care until then."

"I will," she said before disappearing from reality and popping up in her room far far away. Suddenly, she was back in her own, normal reality, though a fuzzy feeling deep within her stayed, the same that she felt whenever near Sparkle. From somewhere at the back of her head, she heard slow clopping.

Amazing. Look at that, I managed to salvage your slow clop center from the crater. On another note, bloody finally you did it.!

I... I can't believe I really just did that. I mean, she's still oblivious, but it's a step.

You're still afraid of confronting with her. But this is courage. Standing up to your fears and dealing with them, step by step, all in due time. Through patience, the moment is revealed, through courage, it is taken.

Midnight, starting to feel drowsy, flopped down onto her bed and covered her face with her hooves.

This is it. No turning back. And I still have to go foalsitting. Ugh.

Well, since you were as kind as to let me nap off earlier while I salvaged stuff, I guess I could push our body through it if you desire.

Nev- yawn. Okay, maybe. Do I get to sleep then?

As if you were still here the entire time.

Anyway, what could you have salvaged? There's nothing here.

Y'know, stuff from the crater. Things that you thought lost to insanity coming to light again.

Like?

Like your old talent for artificial farts. Just listen!

That was entirely unnecessary and immature. Now I won't be able to publicise my autobiography on the Equestria Daily.

Yeah, well, screw Equestria Daily. Bunch of snobbed twats, that's what they are anyway.

Heh, agreed.

Given that it's about time that you are there instead of here, shall I begin?

Ugh, fine. But don't try anything!

I wouldn't in my dreams. And neither in yours, tee hee.

After that, Midnight fell into darkness where she was lying.

She awoke, back in her room, standing and storing away a fair amount of bits. Everything seemed normal, with the added bonus that her body was just normally tired and she could thus go right back to sleep.

Ah, there you are. I've done everything to satisfaction, you're now that required little bit richer. And it's a little after ten. Thought you might wanna know.

Anything else I actually have to do, as in myself?

Nope. I also took the liberty of cleaning up our room a little before waking you. You're free to go to your favoritest place ever. Which I see you are not wasting any time doing. Well, good night, sweet princess. You've got a lot ahead of you, and for the first time, I think you've grown enough to handle it all.