The Midnight Writer
Spike had been invited along with Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity for a weekend vacation. Fluttershy had to take care of her animals. Applejack didn’t want to leave the duties on her farm. Pinkie Pie said she had too many cake orders to help out with Sugar Cube Corner. Spike wasn’t going to object because he made sure to pack enough paper that he could keep busy when it got boring. Twilight had asked him why he wanted to bring the paper, Spike had replied “I know you by now, you’ll want to make a list or need me to write something down for you. What if we need to get hold of Celestia if something happens?”
“Uh…good thinking Spike.” Was Twilight’s response before they headed down to the beach hotel not too far from Ponyville. After everything was put away it was time for the group to head down to the beach before the day was completely lost.
The day had been amazing, Spike found himself setting up on a hill overlooking he was enjoying the warm air against his scales. “This was totally worth me coming along.” He looked down and spotted Rarity coming up to him.
“Hello, darling, would you mind some company?” Rarity asked.
“I’m not the author of the story you’ve been reading. It’s not my quill style, mine not that neat.” Spike knew why Rarity wanted to talk to him it had been the same thing for the past few weeks when a strange story had found its way into Rarity’s Boutique at night. Spike had no clue how it even started.
“I wasn’t going to ask about that darling.”
Spike lifted his head to her. He was at eye level when he was on all four but setting down, he had to look up at her even after his last growth spurt. He blew out a breath when he jumped to the wrong conclusion. “Sorry…go on Rarity.”
“It’s okay darling. I was just wondering why you were setting up here all by yourself.” She said sitting down beside him.
“Just thinking, that’s all,” Spike admitted it had been the truth.
“About what?” Rarity asked growing more curious.
“Nothing in particular really. I was enjoying the sun as it was sinking into the water casting the sky in hues of yellow’s and oranges and the way the water seems to act like flowing paint.”
“It is a lovely sight. I’ll admit.” She replied with a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to Twilight.” She said getting up and walking off back down the path that led to the hotel.
Spike let out a sigh when she was out of sight. “I really do wish it was me who was the author.”
***
"Rarity it's not Spike."
"How can you be certain Twilight?" Rarity questioned her best friend.
"Well, the writing style is different. Spike has a unique quill style." Twilight let Rarity read one of the letters to Princess Celestia that Spike had written.
Rarity studied the two parchment papers. Spike had mentioned that. She thought. The ones Rarity got were on standard white parchment paper that anyone could perchance. She could see that the two quill styles were totally different. Her mind flashed back to the story she'd been reading. In the story, the main heroine had found herself in a brutal situation with the stallion she'd thought she'd fallen for. Her best friend had tried to warn her. Yet with his words and actions, she'd been blindsided by the stallion. He spoke like he'd know her forever. She remembered the last scene in the current part she had and now Twilight was looking at it. A mysterious creature had swooped down from the night sky and swept the heroine off her hooves and up into the sky. On a pair of massive leathery wings. The way the voice was described Rarity could picture it in her mind. "I can see deceptions in other creatures. I wasn't about to let what I could see coming happen to you." Rarity already knew the heroin was aware of what he was. She'd see him in her dreams. Always watching over her.
"Rarity!" Twilight had used her alicorn magic to amplify her own voice.
Rarity about jumped out of her skin. She took in a quick breath and felt her heart hammering again in her ribcage.
"Sorry, Rarity," Twilight said apologizing for scaring her. "I can see why you like this story. Yet it is just that." Rarity had let her friends read the story that she’d been getting regularly from whoever it was that was delivering it.
"Of course I like it. Who wouldn't?" Rarity had let her friends read the part she'd gotten a few days ago before they went on vacation. It was too good not to share. "Twilight, I know it's just a story."
"Then why are you so obsessed with finding out who the author is?"
"Twilight, darling I am not obsessed, I am merely curious." Her voice rose in pitch on the last word. She used her magic to put the part of the story she let Twilight read back into her saddlebag. She then trotted off to the room across from Twilight's room.
***
Spike came walking into Twilight's room a few hours later. "Wow, that jacuzzi is really nice. Really relaxes the body and mind." He liked the fact that being older and bigger he was able to actually enjoy the hot bubbly water.
"Spike we have a problem," Twilight said the second she spotted him.
He paused and knew that tone in Twilight's voice. "So, what problem are we facing tonight, Twilight?" Spike asked knowing with Twilight it could be something minor or major or anything in between. “It’s Rarity.”
Spike’s eyes widened and he felt his heart drop. “What about Rarity?”
“I think she’s convinced herself that you’re the author,” Twilight said and added. “She was in here a few hours ago swooning over the latest part of a story she been received.
“Not this again…” Spike blew out a breath that turned into a yawn. “Wow, that jacuzzi makes you so sleepy…” He said letting out another yawn.
“Miss your bubble bath’s back home?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, I don’t want to fall asleep while talking to you, so I’ll head off to bed.”
***
Several hours had passed by and both Spike and Twilight were fast asleep in separate beds.
On the side of Spike’s nightstand table was the stack of parchment paper with a quill and inkwell beside them. Spike turned and tossed in his sleep, then just sat up slowly. His eyes were still closed and the sound of him lightly snoring could be heard. He lifted his right claw and grabbed the stack of parchment paper and put them on the bed. He grabbed the inkwell with his right claw and picked up the quill pen with his left claw. Still fully asleep he dipped the quill into the ink and put it to paper and started writing. Some time passed before he put the stuff back down on the nightstand table.
In his dream he found himself walking across the hallway that matched how the hotel looked while he was awake.
Rarity stirred in her sleep, and she hadn’t put on her face mask. Opening her eyes and in what little light the moon showed through the window she thought she caught the sight of a spikey tail leaving her room and closing the door. She rubbed her eyes with her hoof and tried to shake off the sleep. She looked at her clock and noticed that it was just passed midnight. “Was I dreaming that just now?” She summoned her unicorn magic to light up the room with the tip of her horn glowing a bright white. Looking around the room she spotted a stack of paper on her nightstand that she didn’t remember seeing before she went to bed. Her jaw dropped open. “Spike told me he wasn’t…then why…” Did he lie to me, to throw me off? No Spike wouldn’t do that. She was now surer than ever that it was him, there wasn’t another dragon at the hotel. She got out of bed and found the hallway to be totally empty and Twilights door was closed. I can’t just peak in… She danced around on her front hooves for a few seconds. Her mind drifted back to the stack of papers on her nightstand table. “I’ll just ask him directly in the morning.” She decided and trotted back to her bed, hopping in she used her unicorn magic to levitate the papers onto the bed and started to read.
I’ll never allow anyone to harm you. That is a promise I’ll make and forever keep.
“Yes, I can tell. I’ve seen you in my dreams on many occasions.” She admitted.
The dragon glanced down at her and lowered himself to her level. “Yes, it’s the only way I could speak to you before and warn you.” His silvery scales caught the moonlight above and made him look more like the surface of the ocean down below the cliff he’d taken her to. “That stallion was only after you for how you looked and not your heart. You would have been a pawn in his game.”
The heroin closed her eyes, what he said she’d thought about but to her he was perfect. It was like he knew just how to act to win her favor. “I…know…”
The dragon’s ears twitched when he caught the sound of someone approaching them. From out of the shadow the stallion jumped out and head-butted the dragon in the side sending the dragon over the edge of the cliff.
The heroin let out a scream at the sight and wanted to jump after him when she felt herself being pulled back from doing that.
“I had to follow you, that beast is nothing but trouble.” The stallion said.
“Why?” She turned to him with a glare in her eyes.
Rarity turned over the piece of parchment paper she’d read hopping there was more on the back. Finding the back blank she laid back on her bed and kicked her hooves in the air. “No, don’t stop at that part…” That dragon has to be okay. She then heard her inner voice echo. He’s not even real, he’s fictional. She found herself staring out of the large open window in her room that leads out to a balcony. I know a real dragon…
***
Rainbow Dash lifted an eyebrow at what Rarity had said. “If you didn’t want to get caught, then why tell us Rarity?”
Rarity turned to Rainbow Dash and narrowed her eyes. “Exactly what are you getting at? Get caught with what? I was merely telling you what I saw last night.”
Rainbow laughed. “Aw come on Rarity, it’s not rocket science, er no offense Twilight.”
“None was taken,” Twilight said placing a piece of hay and oat pancake in her mouth. She swallowed and added. “We’re talking about Rarity here.”
“Hold on, is that the next part?” Rainbow asked noticing the parchment paper beside Rarity. I got to read it…
Rarity smiled and nodded, both Rainbow and Twilight could see a dreamy look in her eyes.
"Rarity, it almost looks like you've fallen for a fictional dragon, or is it a real dragon that’s caught your eye and you're playing the heroin hoping that he turns out to be real," Rainbow replied catching the look in Rarity’s eyes. That look in your eyes is a dead giveaway. I wonder if Spike knows.
Rarity kept herself from reacting to Rainbow’s talk about her liking Spike. She noticed the look Twilight was giving her. Rarity came up with a quick response to the other part Rainbow had said. "Well look how high up you put Daring Do, even after you found out she was real."
"Rarity has you, their Rainbow," Twilight said with a grin.
"Okay...you got me on that. Yet, Rarity didn't deny what I said." Rainbow glanced over at Rarity. Keep denying that you like Spike. The truth will come out eventually. She thought and added. "I got to admit that dragons are awesome." She said with a smile knowing she’d get a reaction out of Rarity.
Rarity found herself unable to stop a grin from forming on her lips. "Indeed. So why can't I imagine being swept away into the night sky by a dashing hero?"
Spike had made his way to the breakfast room and happened to over here what Rarity had just said, and he could hear Rainbow and Twilight giggling back at her. His eyes widened at the thought, and he could picture taking her on a late-night flight. Sounds more like a dream as well. "Morning girls." Spike said with a lift to his voice. He noticed Rarity glancing at him for a second then looking away. "So what's the topic for breakfast?"
"Oh...the usual," Twilight said and grinned at Rarity.
Rarity narrowed her eyes at Twilight as if to say. Don’t you dare Twilight.
Spike noticed some parchment paper at Rarity's side as he took a seat beside her.
I don't remember her bringing the story with her. Spike thought as a second thought hit him. Whoever wrote it must be here… He took hold of his left claw again.
"You okay darling?" Rarity asked noticing that he was holding his left claw.
"Just a claw cramp, must have slept wrong on it or something," Spike replied he noticed it had been happening a few the past few weeks. Once he was up for a while it would go away. He found that soaking it in warm water worked faster.
"Darling, you only get that in your right claw after you've been writing for too long."
"Yeah, it's strange. So what was everypony talking about before I came in?"
"Just Rainbow picking on me as usual." Rarity admitted.
"About the story I assume?" He'd heard about it from Twilight after Rainbow read it out of curiosity. He knew Rarity liked to read that was no secret.
Rarity nodded. "I can't help it if I think it's good." She took a breath and a chance, she had to get it off her chest. “Spike I saw you last night-” She heard a few giggles from Twilight and Rainbow.
Spike glanced up at her and noticed a slight pink in her cheeks. “Say what now?”
Rarity cleared her throat. I could have asked if Spike wanted to speak to me in private…that would have warranted more giggles from the others. Guess I might as well finish. If certain friends will keep their giggles to themselves. She narrowed her eyes at Rainbow and Twilight the look had them both clamming up. She then turned back to Spike. “Well, more specifically I saw your tail exiting my room last night.”
Spike tilted his head at her while he held a sapphire gem in his claws. “I don’t get it how-”
“So you were in her room then.” Rainbow blurted out after she’d heard Rarity say it for the second time.
Spike rolled his eye at Rainbow. “I had to break it to you Rainbow, I was asleep last night, I don’t know where Rarity is getting this from. She must have been dreaming.”
Yeah, of you in her room with her. We all know you like her, and now Twilight, and I know you like him. She’s just too afraid to admit it. Rainbow thought to herself and tried to bite back another giggle.
“Something, I don’t know what, woke me up and I saw your tail leaving my room. Then I found this on my nightstand table.” Rarity said producing the parchment paper from beside her.
“Will we get to read that?” Rainbow asked with a big smile on her face. She was going to ask earlier but that was before Spike had come into the room. She’d found what was going on now to be a more interesting moment.
“I can tell you really want to.” Rarity said levitating the parchment paper over to Rainbow. “Go ahead.”
Rainbow took the paper in her hooves and started to read.
Twilight leaned over and started to read along with her. “Hope you don’t mind, Rainbow.”
Rainbow shook her head and kept on reading. After a few minutes, Rainbow let out a grown. “Awe, common, the chapter just stops there?” Rainbow said dropping the parchment paper.
“We’ll just need to wait for the next chapter, who knows when that’ll be,” Twilight replied.
“Twi, a dragon can fly.” Rainbow informed her of the obvious.
“If he can open his wings fast enough,” Twilight replied. “He got surprised and caught off guard remember?”
“Believe me, girls I was thinking the same thing, it was truly a heartbreaking part.” Rarity chimed in using her magic to take the parchment papers back.
“That stallion turned out to be a real jerk,” Rainbow said slapping her hooves on the table. “I’m surprised the writer didn’t name the characters in the story.” She added.
“I think it’s because he or she wants you to put whatever name you want into the story to make it more personal,” Twilight suggested, that caused her, and Rainbow looked right at Rarity.
“Don’t even go their girls.” She said and kept a straight face.
Rainbow and Twilight smiled at one another.
Spike could see Rarity’s face starting to crack when she grabbed a glass of water with her unicorn magic and took a drink. She happened to glance down at Spike and caught a little smile on his lips. Rarity cleared her throat and took another drink. “So…um what are our plans for today at the beach.” She said trying to change the subject.
“Same as yesterday,” Rainbow said.
“Enjoying the sun and water,” Twilight added.
The four of them went down to the beach for another fun day in the sun and water. Time and the day slipped away from them and soon the sun was setting on the water. Rainbow and Twilight had returned to the hotel, both exhausted from the fun they had at the beach. That left Spike and Rarity alone on the beach.
***
"Well, here you are again." Rarity said to come up to Spike who was once again watching the sunset.
"And you're joining me again.' Spike replied as she sat down next to him. He glanced up at Rarity and said the first thing that came to mind, it had been on his mind since last night. "Um…what if I was this writer? What would you do?"
"Well, you've said you're not and you have made it clear..."
Spike heard her voice trail off. "But?" You do wish it were me, Rarity I can tell.
Rarity blinked and shook her head. "Sorry I was thinking about taking a dip in the jacuzzi. Would you like to join me?" I’m beginning to doubt if it is true. I just need to find a way to prove it one way or the other. Rarity realized and was secretly hoped that it was him.
Spike smiled." That might just put me to sleep."
"I'll carry you up to your bed."
Spike lifted an eyebrow. "Wouldn't I be too heavy? I’m a lot bigger now.”
Rarity smiled. Believe me I’ve noticed. “Darling, let's cross that road when and if it happens." She said as Spike followed her to where the jacuzzi was.
The water was warm, and the bubbles felt nice as Rarity slid into the water. She let out a sigh at the feeling of the bubbles on her coat.
Spike stepped into the water and moved up beside Rarity he leaned his head back and felt his body relax. “This is nice.” He closed his eyes.
“Thank you for joining my darling.”
“Sure, I’ve always enjoyed the warm water. There’s no way I could say no when you asked me. I enjoy spending time with you.” He said still keeping his eyes closed he didn’t see the blush on her cheeks.
So do I Spikey. So do I.” Rarity thought.
***
Later that night Rarity was glad that Twilight and Rainbow were already asleep. She could imagine what Rainbow would say if she saw a sleeping Spike laying over her back with his arms wrapped around her neck, she’d used her magic to do that. She wasn't sure how, but she found herself standing outside of Twilight's room still caring Spike on her back. She used her unicorn magic to open the door.
Rarity manages to get Spike into his bed but instead of him laying down he reached for the parchment paper, inkwell, and quill. She noticed that he was holding the quill with his left claw. Her eyes widen. I don’t believe it… How could you know it's you... Rarity thought to herself so she wouldn't wake up Spike. So, you sleep write. Do you also dream of us then- Rarity took a step back from Spike's bed. Instead of staying by his side, she retreated back to her room across the hallway. She knew he'd be coming over eventually to drop off what he wrote.
***
"I can't just wake him up." Rarity said to herself, ideas had been bouncing around in her head keeping her wide awake while she stared out through the large open window in her room. "Yet I am the only one who knows. Not even Spike knows. How could I convince him?" An idea then struck her, yet it went against her idea of neatness and perfection.
***
Spike came into her room an hour later still asleep with the parchment paper held in his claws. His back left claw got caught on her bedsheet on the floor and Spike stumbled forward with Rarity jumping up to make sure that he was alright after he bumped his nose on her bed. "Darling? Spikey?" She activated her unicorn magic to light up the room
Spike shook his head and looked around before he noticed Rarity. He rubbed his nose when he realized it was hurting slightly. "Huh? Rarity? How'd…I get into your room?" He glanced down and noticed the parchment papers in his claws. "What's going on? Why do I have this?"
"Darling, just take a deep breath. You came in here yourself, but you were sleepwalking and apparently you sleep write as well. Also, you tripped and bumped your nose.”
Spike knew he sleepwalked from time to time. Then he noticed the cramp in his left claw. He recalled Rarity talking to him about it yesterday morning. He let what Rarity said sink in. "I was dreaming…so it's me..." He paused. "I'm the writer?"
"Apparently so. It's no wonder that you didn't know. How could you?"
Spike smiled at that. “You have a point.” He put the parchment paper on Rarity's bed. "Guess I should finish my delivery."
"I was hoping that it was you." Rarity admitted and used her unicorn magic to gather up the pieces of parchment papers and put them on the nightstand table.
"You were wanting it to be me?"
Rarity nodded. "Of course Spikey, mind sitting beside me?"
“Sure.” Spike didn’t waste a second and climbed up and sat beside her in her bed. Rarity levitated the paper over to her and started reading.
***
"I'll never be yours." Her anger gave her the strength to break free of the stallion's grip. She got around to his backside and raised her back hooves up and used all her strength to thrust her legs back.
The stallion let out a loud high pitched scream and collapsed on the ground rolling around in pain.
A shadow loomed over her and swooped down to scoop her up.
She knew in an instant who had her. "You're...alive..." She said and felt them rising up into the sky again. Tears were in her eyes. "I feared I had lost you."
"We've known each other for far too long to let anything or anypony separate us." He happened to glance down at the stallion still rolling around. "I happened to catch a branch on the way down to stop me from falling." He explained and felt her hooves come around his neck.
“I’m so glad, I wanted to jump off the cliff after you.”
“I for one am glad you weren’t able to.” He couldn’t have taken the pain of losing her.
“Yet I didn’t hear you take flight again.”
“I can fly on the silent wing.”
She glanced up as he lowered his face to her, his nose touching against hers. The heroin felt her body melt as his lips calmed hers in a kiss, she’d been dreaming of…
***
She placed the last piece of parchment paperback on the nightstand with a tear in her eye. “First off that was a romantic ending. Also, darling, I think you unconsciously found a way of talking to me about your feelings and in an unexpected way it helped me to discover mine-” She paused for a second. Save for Rainbow tormenting me, and I’ll hear about it from both of them once they find out. Rarity said and felt her cheeks turning red. “For a certain dragon, that I’ve known for years.” She said and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Spike held his cheek and grinned. “In my dream, you were the heroin, and I was the one to save you. I think the villain was all the stallions who’ve tried to court you that you ended up turning down combined into one antagonist.”
Rarity smiled at him. “I kinda figured that Spikey. I just didn’t see my hero that’s been by my side through it all.”
Spike could feel his cheeks growing warmer. Spike got up from her bed and stood beside it.
“Spikey?” Rarity tilted her head when he turned around and faced her.
He held out a claw. “Can I make your dream of a midnight fight come true?”
Rarity’s mouth opened at his question. “I would love that darling.” She said placing her hoof in his claw.
Spike got his other claw under her waist and lifted her up into his arms. She wrapped her hooves around his neck as he walked over to the balcony that overlooked the beach. He kept his grip on her. Knelling down he kicked off the balcony and opened his wings, catching an updraft it carried them up into the stary night sky. The stars twinkled against the warm blanket of night.
Rarity rested her head on his shoulder and felt the wind on her face and the feeling of her mane and tail blowing out behind her. It was a feeling that she found herself unable to put into words. “So, darling, is the story done?”
“I say we write our own story and ending for us,” Spike replied, he had a feeling he’d be able to sleep better tonight than he had in weeks.
Rarity took her hoof and turned his face towards her. “I agree my Spikey, my hero, my dragon…”
Spike smiled and leaned in and this time when he kissed her, he knew he wasn’t dreaming, this was real, and he knew nothing in Equestria was going to separate them.