Splitting aMid the Night

The leg bone is connected to the hip bone... the hip bone is connected to the spinal chord... the spinal chord is connected to the clavicle...

Where exactly do you get your books?

I do not need them either way. I have enough talent in healing as it is.

I napped through the entire day again?

It is convenient when you do. Not that you missed much.

Substituting social contact with morbid picture books, staying inside all day, and plenty of sulking?

Exactly.

Odd.

The book slammed shut. She had better things to do. As soon as the book was stashed away, the brush came forth and began its work on her mane. It needed more care than she had been giving it. She was in for a longer session. Given how brainless the task was for magic alone, she could use another source of distraction. Unfortunately, she found none.

What would that noise be? Where can it be found?

What, indeed?

Hurry, hurry!

This way? That way? Toward the sound's source...

The rain was not tapping on her window. She knew who was, and what cheap trick he was using in lieu of a proper spell.

Is it for killing time, or...

To the secrets below. Hey, on the ground!

"Yo, Night!" Zeddie called up as soon as she opened the window. There he was, standing in the street, with another few ponies behind him. "The zoo is open for some odd reason. Wanna come?"

"Why exactly would it be open in the middle of winter?" she called back down. Unseen to them, she collected a few useful things in the back of her room. With a bit of luck, her spell was actually grabbing what she thought it was.

"Like it ever gets cold here." He turned his head to the group. There had to have been something she had not heard. "So, what do you say?"

"Sure. I'll be down in a moment." She went back inside and flung her back over her shoulder, then walked downstairs. "Friends outside. Want me to come to the zoo. Then will be back in a few hours."

"Enjoy yourself," said her father without rising from the sofa.

The others were already in front of the door. Since her room was directly above it, that came as little of a surprise. "And what reason would there be to visit it today?"

The group set off. "They have something new and special. I am not sure what, though."

"Tumbling forward on a notion without plan, vision, or care. As always." Her hair was too long. She had hoped to tolerate it for longer, but could not muster the patience. Thus she brushed it back with a hoof and inserted a clip to hold it by spell.

"You look great today," said Zeddie. "More than usual."

"You already saw me thirty seconds ago on the balcony." She paused as she noticed a smudge of blood still on her chest. Apparently, he had not seen it. "Am I that amazing?"

"Certainly." He drifted away from her again.

In ways the whelp cannot fathom.

You are gone longer than you used to.

And shorter. It all ends the same. What matters is the now. Not everyone gets it as you do.

I would certainly hope so.

This seems like a dreadful situation to be stranded.

It is better than the consuming nothingness.

I suppose you are right.

"In this cage, you may see the common Gazorpazorp. You may also not see them because only those born with a special gift can. If the cage is empty, verify they should be visible to you, then please notify our staff and help them localise the Gazorpazorps. None of them have the gift. Hmm, the sign is honest at least." He turned towards the group. "Do you see them?"

"Say, it doesn't look like there is anything."

"Oh? Not there?"

"Not here."

"Not this way."

"Indeed, nowhere."

"Nowhere to be found."

"Was it hidden?"

"Or destroyed?"

"Fools." The air within the cage was different, taking shapes at times and disturbing itself. Like an underwater current, the disturbances ran throughout. "There is something. Look, you can see the shimmer in the air!"

You do not even see properly, do you.

"Fascinating," said somepony.

"I suppose that means we have the gift," replied somepony else.

"Sensing magic is not a miracle. Any decent unicorn can do it." V led them away. For some reason, they all followed.

A mare with long, blonde mane pushed forward. "What about those with an abnormally inactive glandula magicans?"

"That does not exist, Emma," said Midnight. "How exactly magic is generated or bound is unknown. We only know the horn is involved as the end of the process." She felt a magical itch, then sated it by causing Emma's mane to fall over her face. "You are still so adorably unprepared to spells thrown at you."

"Well," replied Emma before falling silent. Midnight was about to inquire when she was poked in the side by simple physical force. "And you have fallen for this at least three times." Both of them shared a giggle.

"Just screw already!" called somepony from behind. After a flash of Emma's horn, a high yelp was the only further sound from that direction.

Midnight could only whistle in admiration. "Where did you pick up that kind of magic? Was that elemental?"

"It was indeed. Apparently it is a simple matter of changing whom you are summoning. Easy." They entered a slightly darker area, indoors. One compound built into the walls was stacked on top of the other and the air humidity was already getting to Midnight. Emma lit small fires that danced around her neck, either to provide light or to keep her dry. "It is not that hard. We should hang out again sometime soon, I could probably teach you a lot of it."

"Ah, I am on duty tomorrow. Dedication, bleh." Midnight stole some of Emma's flame. In her hoof, it was both cool to carry and just warm enough for comfort. She decided to keep her luck together and keep it away from her more sensitive parts, carrying it only as a torch. "Unless you want to come later, when I am done."

She noticed little of the animals all around them, except for the penetrating birdsong. Emma was just too interesting. "At least your job does not involve meditating for multiple hours a day lest the elementals disobey you. I suppose we will see when we meet."