Dark Corners & Light Skulduggery
“And this, my little Sunspark, is why even a gentlecolt needs to know at least one semi-decent lockpicking spell.”
Although hushed, Fancy Pants’ smug yet supportive tone still echoed through the empty library. And yet, both he and his companion could still hear the telltale click from the door before them, as well as its creaking as it slowly slid open to a dark hallway. Though it was lit slightly by the glow emitted by Fancy Pants’ horn, the only source of light in the room, all it did was cast even harsher shadows within.
“A-are you sure we should be doing this?” Sunburst gulped, the small colt holding close to Fancy Pants out of both comfort and fear of the dark. “If anyone catches us out after curfew then…”
Instead of finishing his statement, Sunburst just shuddered with fright. Placing a hoof on his shoulder, Fancy Pants offered a reassuring smile in turn.
“Well, we’ll just have to make sure to not get caught, won’t we?” Fancy grinned, a glint in his eye as he looked down the dark hallway. “After all, isn’t it you who wanted to do something about your little sparkler problem?”
“W-well it’s not like I wanted to sneak into the restricted section for it!” Sunburst said as his face lit up with a blush, his horn flickering on in his embarrassment and dazzling Fancy Pants with a shower of sparks. “It’s just- I need to just- I just-”
The comforting hoof returned to Sunburst’s shoulder, Fancy Pants drawing closer to his younger friend. “Just breathe. Close your eyes, and count to ten.”
It was what the guidance counselor told him to do in situations like these, but for some reason it felt more real when Fancy Pants said it instead. Sunburst screwed his eyes shut and drew in one unsteady breath after another, counting in his head as he did so. All the while, the warmth of his friend’s hoof made everything start to feel better.
Both colts relaxing with a sigh, Fancy Pants withdrew his hoof. “We’ll get there eventually. Even if we have to engage in some…” He swirled his hoof in the air, a showy gesture towards the unlocked passage, “...skulduggery.”
Just the mention of skulls, whether dug or not, was enough to frighten Sunburst, the poor creamsicle colt emitting an eep of pure terror as he pulled even closer into Fancy Pants’ comforting aura.
“Just… let’s just be quick.” Sunburst’s small voice finally decided.
Fancy Pants smilled. “Then let’s be on our way.”
Naturally, Fancy took the lead in their travels. Not only was he the older, braver, and more adventurous of the two, he was also the only one who could conjure up an orb of light to illuminate their way forward. He hummed softly as he trotted along, a gentle song that he hoped would calm Sunburst’s still bristling nerves.
It had no effect on his own, but he made sure to hide it well.
Behind him, Sunburst spent most of his energy on forcing his way forwards, though it became much easier when darkness engulfed the way they’d came. Now it was either follow nervously behind the only source of light, or a blind sprint down an inky black tunnel where there was no telling what kinds of monsters were lurking.
Or, far worse, which of his instructors were waiting to reprimand him.
It was an easy choice.
And there was a far more comforting sight ahead of him anyway.
Sunburst’s mother always warned him against staring, how it wasn’t polite and made ponies feel uncomfortable. But without anything but more darkness to look at, he found his eyes naturally gravitating to Fancy Pants as he walked behind him.
That calm, stalwart expression even in the face of pure fear, the regal way he carried himself in almost every situation, and the caring way he’d help Sunburst manage his emotions even in the face of… his issues. He was even bathed in an attractive golden glow due to his magic, but Sunburst was sure Fancy would correct him and say it was a ‘light gamboge’ instead.
It didn’t matter. To Sunburst it was a brilliant gold, and it made his cheeks embarrassingly flush. The shade of his skin was hot and apparent enough, he was glad he was holding the back. Otherwise he was sure Fancy Pants would notice the yellow glow gradually turning rose.
And that said nothing about the fluttering his chest or the sinking pit in his stomach.
Other than warnings against staring, as well as several other things to prepare him for life away in Canterlot, Sunburst’s mother also taught him about romance. About how it would feel when, as soon as the time was right, he found the special mare that he’d one day marry and build a family with.
Or, alternatively, the stallion, but she quickly clammed up when Sunburst started asking questions about how building a family that way would be much different.
He wasn’t ready for that talk yet.
But, according to his flushed face, pounding heart, and timid stomach whenever he looked Fancy Pants’ way, he was ready to have the largest, most debilitating crush on the first (and, really, only) colt that was nice to him since he landed in Canterlot. But while his little trembling heart was tentatively sure it was ready, or at least wanted to try its hardest to be…
“Oof!”
His brain was still flusteredly running him into problems. Namely, the back-end of Fancy Pants who had stopped while he wasn't paying attention.
“Ah! Sorry, my little Sparkler.” Fancy Pants chuckled with a bit of a bashful smirk. “I just seem to be having trouble with this second lock.”
He gestured to the locked door that awaited them at the end of the hall, surely a necessary security measure after the first. As a novice ne'er-do-well, this second lock looked almost exactly like the first, but if Fancy Pants insisted…
Fancy Pants hummed loudly, bringing a hoof to his chin as his magic flickered on the lock. “Perhaps I’m a little overtaxed.” His smile turned a little uncertain. “Do you think you could take over the light for a moment? This may require more focus.”
"Oh, uh, if you insist..." Sunburst softly stammered.
It took a fair few seconds for his horn to flare to life, overtaking the hallway in a bright yellow light even stronger than Fancy Pants' own. It held for a moment, lighting Fancy's own spellwork, but began to flicker shortly thereafter as Sunburst's horn quickly tired of the output.
“Aha! I’ve got it!” Fancy Pants cried as the lock clicked, the door swinging open moments later. Just as he did, Sunburst’s magic fizzled out and he once again took over the light. He raised a hoof, ruffling Sunburst’s messy orange mane. “A good effort, Sunburst. Now, shall we?”
Once again basking in Fancy Pants’ warm light, Sunburst nodded with a small blush.
While they certainly expected the Restricted Section to have its fair share of books, neither colt expected it to be in such… poor condition.
Dust caked seemingly every inch of the shelves and the books that sat upon them. Cobwebs infected every dark corner and underside, belying whatever nasty creatures lurked within. This was a room rarely, if ever, visited by anypony. And it was clear that the school's cleaners had long since forgotten its existence.
Sunburst shook as he held down the doorway next to Fancy Pants, petrified at the thought of spiders crawling around where he couldn’t see them. Fancy Pants, on the other hoof, was far more concerned with the idea of this much dust getting in his mane.
“So, where’s the book?”
Both colts looked at each other in shock as the other said exactly what they were thinking.
Fancy Pants pursed his lips. “I… thought you had an idea of what you were looking for when you suggested the Restricted Section.”
Sunburst scratched a hoof at the ground. “Well you- you’re the one who said he’d been here before. I thought maybe you… saw something.”
Fancy Pants hummed as he looked over the room from the doorway. It was in no way a large room, probably the size of a standard dorm. But with every wall being covered from floor to ceiling with bookshelves, each one chock-full of books, it might take them time to find anything related to Sunburst’s horn.
With a dreadful sigh, Fancy Pants shook his head. “I suppose we’ll just have to get started.”
And thus, the two colts began to search the shelves together. Both kept their eyes peeled for any book that might help.
But, with book names like ‘The Earth Pony Problem’ and ‘To Preen a Pegasus’, neither was exactly sure they’d find anything about magic. Just reminders of Canterlot’s past, thankfully hidden away for no one to find.
Except, of course, anyone who wanted to break in.
With a bit of a confused look, Fancy Pants pulled a book off the shelf entitled ‘Cooking for Her: A Cookbook for the Lazy Househusband’. He turned it over in his hooves with annoyance, then opened it and flipped through a few pages. “Doesn’t this seem so reductive? Stallions can be more than just househusbands.”
Sunburst looked up towards the book curiously, tilting his head as he read the title. “Ooh, I think my mom bought that one for my dad one Hearth’s Warming.” He said with a bit of a snicker, though it trailed off to a sigh. “I think it was the one before he had to go on that big business trip.”
Quickly putting the book back, Fancy Pants smiled down at Sunburst and ruffled his mane with a hoof. “Let’s keep searching. Maybe you could try that shelf over there?”
Fancy Pants gestured towards a shelf of books that at least resembled ancient grimoires. Though, if following the trend, Fancy was sure that, instead of spells, their pages were full of ramblings about the ‘Unicorn’s Burden’ his parents were so incensed about.
Sunburst had no such qualms, immediately scampering up to the impressive looking spellbooks and staring up at them in awe at the knowledge he assumed they contained within. One shaky hoof reaching out, he reached for one particularly shiny and purple beauty. Though, as a Short Prince of a colt, he had to stretch his entire body out just to try and grab it.
Though just his hooftip was able to brush the spine of the book, Sunburst began to slowly pry the grimoire free from the shelf. It was a tight squeeze, so it took more effort than he expected. But eventually he got it free, holding it above his head triumphantly before spinning around to beam at Fancy Pants.
And then the book that was beside it on the shelf fell to Sunburst’s side.
And then another.
Soon, a veritable avalanche of books surrounded poor Sunburst, and Fancy Pants was far too shocked to rush to his aid. Standing stock still as he watched most of the shelf collapse in upon itself and cover Sunburst in a pile of books.
There was a harsh moment of silence that followed. Fancy Pants finally felt his hooves unglue themselves from the floor as he rushed towards the books that imprisoned Sunburst.
He wasted no time in digging his forelegs into the pile, tossing spellbooks haphazardly to the wayside as he hurriedly sped to free Sunburst. Hooves that fared better holding wine glasses or fencing sabers ached with every pull, but Fancy bit his lip to ignore it.
Just as Fancy Pants felt the situation growing particularly dire, an orange and white hoof shot up from the stack, tightly clutching a purple grimoire in its grip.
Scampering up the pile, Fancy Pants quickly grabbed onto Sunburst’s foreleg and pulled with all of his might. Sunburst popped free of his literary predicament with such a force that he flew out, flipping over Fancy Pants and dragging him along as he fell to the ground.
Landing with a painful thud, Fancy quickly pulled Sunburst into a tight hug, holding him protectively tight. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Fancy Pants whimpered, his voice cracking. “Sunny, I’m so so sorry. Holy Princess...! Sunny? Are you okay...?”
But Fancy’s apologies were brought to a halt as Sunburst loosely wrapped his hooves around him. “Fancy, I’m fine! I barely even got hurt!”
Taking a moment to look over Sunburst, confirming he was not in fact currently a ghost, Fancy Pants breathed a large sigh of relief as he saw a fully corporeal, fully safe Sunburst.
Despite that, it still took him several moments to unlatch himself from Sunburst, slowly pulling away and standing himself up on shaky legs. Fancy took a second to brush the dust off of himself, and an extra to settle himself with a few breaths, but offered a foreleg to help Sunburst up as well.
Sunburst scrambled to his hooves with Fancy Pants’ assistance, a simmering blush across his face as he only now realized what just happened. To distract both himself and Fancy Pants from it, he held the purple grimoire he’d stolen between the two of them.
“So I, um, I got the book.” Sunburst squeaked quietly. “I dunno if it’s the right one but… it’s purple. My friend back home is purple, and she taught me a whole ton about magic, so…”
Fancy Pants couldn’t help but snicker at that, but he ruffled Sunburst’s mane again before he could take offense to his laughter. “Let’s find a place to sit, and we can take a look together. I think I saw some candles in the corner.”
Luckily for the both of them, it wasn’t too difficult to find a desk in the restricted section. Tucked into the corner sat a dusty, cobweb-covered old table with two seats, perfect for the colts to sit beside each other and peruse the tome together. Though both were apprehensive as they went to sit down, Sunburst a bit terrified by the spiders that the cobwebs implied while Fancy Pants just didn’t want to get even dustier than he already was.
Both colts sat down despite their qualms about the seating, and Sunburst placed the forbidden grimoire in between them. It sat for a moment, a bit ominously as neither wanted to risk opening it and revealing the secrets held within.
“S-so, what exactly are you hoping from this book?” Fancy Pants asked, hoping to cut the tension just a bit. “Just something to help your magic, or…”
Sunburst shrugged. “Well, if it’s not something that can fix my dumb horn, then maybe some battle spells?” Adjusting nervously in his seat, his eyes bore holes into the book in front of him. “Anything that can help me out against Blueblood.”
Fancy Pants laughed again, far more openly this time, as he shook his head. “I keep telling you, Blueblood is all show. A little bit of the good ol’ hoof-to-hoof and he’ll go running.”
“Easy for you to say.” Sunburst rolled his eyes with a scoff, crossing his hooves over his chest. “Rich colts like you all grew up with fencing lessons and bodyguards. All I got growing up was a pocket knife, and I think that’d do more than just scare Blueblood.”
Fancy Pants just smiled.
It was nice to see Sunburst like this, openly speaking his mind and even adding a light jab at Fancy’s expense. When the two had met just a year ago, Sunburst would have been a stammering, stuttering mess before even thinking to make a comment like that.
It made Fancy Pants happy to see him able to come out of his shell, and he hoped to help him continue in that.
It was just a matter of how…
“Oh!” Fancy squeaked, suddenly recalling a question he’d meant to ask Sunburst a fair bit ago. And a sly smirk pulled across his face as he turned to face the smaller colt. “You know… the Hearth’s Warming Dance is coming up in a few weeks. Were you thinking of taking anyone?”
The sudden question and the sudden eye contact got Sunburst blushing furiously yet again. “O-oh right, the dance! Well, da-dances aren’t exactly my speed. I was gonna ask someone but… I figured I need to get them alone before I asked. I’d be way too nervous otherwise.” He looked up to Fancy Pants hopefully, hooftips nervously pressing against each other. “Are you, uh, going with anyone?”
“Well, I’m sure you know that a popular colt like myself is practically swimming with invites.” Fancy Pants said with a laugh that didn’t seem to know whether it wanted to be bashful or braggadocious. “However, I’ve also found myself wanting to ask a specific pony as well.”
Sunburst’s heart skipped a beat, eyes widening as he waited with bated breath for Fancy Pants to hopefully elaborate. Could it be that they were on the same page? Were the subtle, almost subliminal hints Sunburst was laying down enough? Or was Fancy simply enamored by Sunburst’s immense, dorky charm?
“I haven’t had the chance to ask yet, but I’m sure the answer will be ‘yes’.” Fancy Pants continued. “My mother will be fitting both Fleur and I for our outfits this weekend, so perhaps I can ask her there.”
Oh.
Of course not.
Sunburst lowered his head, his mood darkening as his little heart slowly shattered in his chest. “O-oh! I didn’t know you and Fleur were…”
Noting his friend’s sudden sour mood, Fancy Pants tilted his head. He hadn’t even considered how being left out would harm his little friend, so he tried to assuage any fears with a hoof on Sunburst’s shoulder. “If you’d like, you can also tag along. Mother said the offer is open to all of my friends.” He explained, smiling down at Sunburst. “Perhaps you can invite the filly you were going to ask, and I can help you ask her out.”
“Ah, no, I think I’m fine.” Sunburst sighed, slowly shaking his head. “I don’t think it’d turn out good anyway. They’re already going with someone else.”
“Well, the offer is still on the table. My father always says, there’s no shame in going stag.” Turning his attention back to the table, Fancy Pants placed a hoof on the pilfered grimoire that rested between them. “However, let’s get back to the topic at hoof. What say you we finally crack open this ancient spellbook and see what lies within?”
Sunburst pursed his lips, eyes flickering to the purple book Fancy Pants held in his grasp. “I say… it’s getting late.” His eyes flickered back downwards. “Maybe we should head back before anyone sees we’re gone.”
Fancy Pants blinked. “But we came so far for this! Why would we give up on it now?”
“We’re not giving up, we’ll just come back later.” Sunburst said a bit gruffly as he turned in his seat and stepped off, stealing the book away from Fancy’s grasp as he did so. “But I’m tired, so let’s just head back to the dorms for now. The book’ll be here if we come back.”
Fancy Pants hesitated for a moment, and Sunburst took that time to begin his slow trudge away.
Rushing to catch up, Fancy trailed closely behind Sunburst. “If- if you say so! Just let me know when, and I’ll again be here for you.”
Sunburst only responded with a curt nod, still walking towards the exit door. As he passed the pile of books he’d accidentally made, he left the one he’d stolen at its peak where he hoped whoever found the mess would just assume it was part of it. While Fancy Pants took a moment to commit it to memory, Sunburst just didn’t bother.
The walk through the forbidden tunnel was as quiet as it was before, though the tension between the two colts felt twofold as this time Sunburst led the charge. Fancy Pants still dutifully lit the way, but Sunburst just seemed to want to rush ahead of the light.
Or, perhaps, wanted to get away from Fancy himself.
Either way, the two colts stood apart on the other side. Fancy Pants quickly ensured that the door behind them shut and locked, then stepped closer to Sunburst with an uneasy look.
“Would you like me to walk you back to your dorm?” Fancy asked. “Happy to stand watch just in case any prefects are-”
“N-no, I think I’ll be fine.” Sunburst said as he continued to avert his gaze, taking a few steps away. “Thank you though. I just… wanna walk alone.”
Another moment of hesitation, the only sound between the two being the quiet breaths they took as each tried to read the other. Though that sound was soon joined by Sunburst’s slow hoofsteps away.
“W-well I’ll see you tomorrow!” Fancy Pants said as loudly as could be allowed in the quiet library.
“Yeah… see you tomorrow.” Sunburst said softly with a gentle nod, not looking back as he walked away.
