The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Romance
Length: 28082

Dusk Shine is enlisted to welcome Princess Luna's new student to Ponyville, a certain blue stallion gets jealous.

When Dusk Shine is enlisted to welcome Dawn Star, Princess Luna's new student, to Ponyville, a certain blue stallion gets jealous. Can their friendship survive it? And what romances may blossom from the stormy landscapes?

Don't be scared of the OC tag, don't worry, she's not a red and black alicorn with some dark and edgy back story.
I should also mention that this story is not related to my other rule 63 story Chasing Rainbows.
And only the Mane Six are gender swapped.
That be all.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-22 10:03:24 UTC

Dusk and Dawn

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Edited by Reevsie

thatman helped (a bit)

Chapter One

Dusk and Dawn

The amber fire burned lazily in the grate, suffusing the air with a soft golden warmth. Flames briefly licked up and hissed as yet another scrunched up piece of parchment was tossed angrily into its waiting jaws from the writing desk, followed by a groan.

Dusk Shine stared intently at the fresh sheet of parchment before him, as if daring it to challenge him as its previous brothers had. Every attempt he made to write a reply was futile, the words stubbornly refusing to string together. As a stallion of learning: reading and writing were Dusk's forte, or so he had thought, but today he'd received a letter that put him at an utter loss of what to write. Okay, that wasn't strictly true, he knew exactly what he wanted to write, he just didn't know how to phrase it so he wouldn't be spending the next five years on the Moon.

Silence reigned over the room, broken only by the irritable sniffs of the stallion occupying it, his ears twitching in annoyance every time the fire dared to utter so much as a crackle. The bands of tension that Dusk was emanating into the air were almost tangible; Spike could sense it from two rooms away and knew better than to interrupt, leaving Dusk to his contemplation, or rather, the lack of it.

His brain was jammed, or so he reasoned. So many thoughts were bouncing around in his skull, battling for dominance, that it was impractical to even try to write. The poor stallion had tried everything to induce mental clarity: meditation, reading, having a nice long bath, he even had a shot or two of Applejack's best whiskey, but nothing was working.

"This is ludicrous," he grumbled, playing with the half full bottle of spirits in front of him. "How can Celestia possibly expect me to do this?"

He glanced to his left at the innocent looking letter that was causing him all this trouble. It was innocent in roughly the same fashion that a bear looks beguiling and handsome until you see it maul a deer to death. Picking it up, he scanned the elegant, curvy words for an eighth time, just to make octuply sure that what he had read was correct, and it wasn't just his mind playing a cruel joke.

My most faithful student,

As you are perhaps not aware, shortly after my sister returned a few years ago, she took a student under her wing as I had with you. I have long neglected you ever meeting her, for which I apologise. I don't recall even telling you much about her. Her name is Dawn Star and she's a delightfully charming character who you'll get along with like a house on fire. I've found a little time to arrange for her to visit Ponyville from Seaddle, in the hope for you both to get to know each other and share your brilliant minds, and that it will do you both good. She's spending the night en route here in Canterlot and will be departing for Ponyville tomorrow morning. If I do say so myself, she is available, my student, so you might want to get to know each other a little more if you catch my meaning. Just keeping your best interests at heart you understand. Returning to topic, she'll be staying for two weeks so please help her feel welcome and introduce her to your friends, and I'm sure you'll have a blast. In more ways than one.

With warmest regards,

Your friend and mentor,

Celestia

To be super sure, Dusk read it yet again, and then let his head hit the desk with a dull thump.

Enclosed was a photograph of Dawn herself. A smiling white earth pony with wavy golden hair and inquisitive blue eyes looked at him, the smile seemed almost mocking now.

"She can't be serious. I never talk to– to girls! I-I'm not cut out for it, that's more Applejack's or Elusive's job."

He thought momentarily of just dumping her on one of them for the duration, but swiftly dismissed it. No matter how awkward he may be, he was still a gentlecolt at heart.

Clutching his head in frustration, he hesitantly raised his quill and set it into the inkwell.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Having made quite sure what you sent me was indeed correct, I've decided that although I'm used to you setting me challenging tasks, I can't help but feel this one takes the proverbial biscuit. Are you sure I'm up to this? I mean, you know, for wont of a better word, how reclusive I can be, is this the wisest decision? Still, I will graciously accept this assignment, if a little reluctantly. I've heard that mares often get in the way with work, though I hope this doesn't ring true, I still have a lot of research to be getting on with.

Your faithful student

Dusk Shine

Narrowing his eyes, Dusk gave his letter a critical once over, and breathed a relieved sigh when he found what he had written to be adequate.

"Spike!" he yelled.

There came a yelp and a small thump, as if something had been dropped on the kitchen floor, then a clattering of claws as the little dragon dutifully answered the call, flinging the living room door open.

"Yes?" he asked simply, trying his best not to look guilty.

Dusk leaned down from his seat and put a hoof on Spike's cheek, eyes suspicious.

"You've been eating ice cream again haven't you?" he said sternly, looking at the melted residue that was now on his hoof.

"M-maybe," admitted Spike, hanging his head low.

"Spike, what have I told you? Only at weekends! It'll do you no good."

"But you eat ice cream every day!" Spike complained.

"Yes, but I'm older than you and I need it. My job is very stressful," Dusk countered.

"But that's not–"

"Look, this is beside the point," said Dusk, surreptitiously licking his hoof, "I need you to send this letter for me."

"I– fine..." he grumbled.

Pressing a stamp to the parchment, Dusk sealed the letter and passed it to Spike, who sent it on its way.

"What's it about?" he asked, wondering what had got the stallion worked up this time.

"Spike, we've got company."

"And, done!"

Her reading glasses flashed in the grey moonlight, betraying the eager glint that her eyes also harboured. The frantic scratching of a quill echoed around the dark and spacious bedchamber as a young ivory coloured mare added the finishing touches to what was surely a very engaging essay on tree biology. Stretching demurely, Dawn Star neatly placed the quill into its holder and folded up her parchment, putting it into her bag.

Dawn had many other such bags, seven in fact, all fit to bursting with books, paper, quills, bathing products, nice smelling perfumes, and some other trivial items like money and train tickets. After double checking that they were all accounted for, Dawn glanced up at the clock in the dark room, and was surprised to find that it had passed eleven o'clock.

Yawning, the mare stood up and meandered wearily to the bathroom to prepare for bed.

"Gracious, you do look a mess," she mumbled to her reflection with a smile, peering at her fuzzy golden mane and weary sky blue eyes. She picked up an old looking hairbrush off the basin and her nose wrinkled a little when she noticed that there were several long blue and purple hairs tangled into it. Setting it back down, she rummaged through her bags until she found her own hairbrush, which had never known such horrors as tangled hair. After her mane was back to its long, flowing splendour, she set to work brushing her teeth. She began to fall into a bit of a daze, thinking about the next two weeks with this mysterious stallion with such imposing notoriety. She had seen the stained glass of the Royal Hall many a time and remembered noticing a small angular Dusk Shine forever immortalised in its panes. She'd also heard many tales about him these last few years, but struggled to believe any of them.

I wonder what he's like? she mused. I wonder what Ponyville is like?

Dawn had always loved travelling, even from a young age. She smiled to the mirror as she recalled the time she had boarded a train to central Manehatten as a foal, and the subsequent hysteria of her parents... the police eventually found her snoozing in a science museum. It amused her that she had been so adventurous even then.

As such, the trip to Ponyville was all very exciting to the young mare, even though she had an annoying little niggle at the back of her mind.

What if he doesn't like me?

A knock at the door startled Dawn out of her reverie.

"Hewwo?" she called with a mouth full of bubbly toothpaste.

Dawn heard the door open as she rinsed her mouth and sat upon her bed. She was not at all surprised with the new arrival, in fact, she'd been expecting her.

"Good evening," said the calm, low voice of Princess Luna, a bowl of pudding floating in front of her. "I trust you are all ready for tomorrow morning?"

"As always, Princess," said Dawn with a hint of pride at her organisational skills.

Luna looked the alabaster earth pony up and down critically.

"Is there anything that is troubling you?" she asked.

Dawn considered this for a moment, before answering:

"What is this Dusk Shine like?”

“I wouldn’t be sat here talking to you if it weren’t for him, you know that much,” said Luna, looking slightly uncomfortable at bringing up her past.

“Yes, but what’s he like?” she insisted, curiosity getting the better of her.

Luna cast her mind back to the few occasions she’d actually shared with the stallion.

“You’d do better asking ‘Tia,” she concluded, “but from what I’ve gathered, he’s a very kind, caring and honourable pony as you could ever wish to meet. He’s not bad looking either,” she added with a wink.

“I see, I guess it’s only to be expected from Celestia’s personal student," she said dryly.

“It’s also expected from my personal student,” said Luna pointedly, “requirements that she fulfils admirably if I might add.”

Dawn’s cheeks blushed silver in the moonlight.

"He sounds like a nice enough guy," said Dawn, getting into the bed proper and throwing her head into the pillow, catching a faint hint of lavender as she did so.

"You'll find out first hand tomorrow morning," said Luna amiably, drawing the curtains around her with her magic. "Goodnight, Dawn, I'll send some pleasant dreams your way tonight."

"Thank you, Princess," said Dawn sleepily, closing her eyes and drifting soundly to sleep.

Lit only by candlelight, Princess Celestia was reading a well-read book in her bed whilst munching on a hovering banana. The royal bedchambers were by matter of course a lucrative affair, oval shaped and large, featuring a snow white bed, cupboards full of accumulated possessions  and shelves with many a curious celestial instrument. A bedroom often reflects its inhabitant's personality, as such, Celestia's room was a calm and collected affair, bathed in serenity and peace, until Luna comes bounding in.

"Hellooo, sister!" she said playfully, jumping on the end of the bed and disturbing Celestia.

Celestia's magenta eyes appeared over the top of the book like the sun rising over the horizon.

"Do you like bananas?" she asked simply.

"Not really," said Luna.

"A pity, I was going to offer you one," she said, pointing at her banana bag. Luna looked puzzled, but shook it off.

"I was going to ask you how Dusk Shine has taken the news of my student visiting him."

Celestia opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a materialising letter that arrived with a little pop onto her head.

"Ah, a conveniently timed response from Dusk," she said. "That was fast."

Celestia broke the seal began to chuckle as she read the letter.

"Something amusing, 'Tia?"

"Aha, I think that my faithful student might have met his greatest challenge yet," said Celestia with a wide grin.

There Will be Cake

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Two

There Will be Cake

My dearest Dusk Shine,

Surely you jest! I have every confidence that you will be able to deftly handle her in all manners, my student. You talk as though this is just another assignment, a task to be tolerated. Let me remind you that she is a full grown mare and not another research project! From what Luna is telling me now, she appears to be very interested in meeting you and is greatly looking forward to spending time with you. She's very friendly and promises not to bite! I hope this helps to assuage your fears.

Best wishes and the warmest regards,

Celestia

Dusk heaved out a heavy sigh as he read the letter over his breakfast of pineapple rings. It was hardly a day to be in a sighing mood, the rising summer sun was blazing brightly through the open windows, casting a sparkling gleam on all the crockery piled in the kitchen sink, belying their true dirtiness.

"Good news?" asked Spike through a mouthful of cereal from across the table.

Dusk rubbed his temples and sighed again.

"Guess not?"

A cool breeze from the windows rolled over Dusk, sending a shiver down his spine, though he was unsure whether it was just a shiver of trepidation.

"It's... alright. I'm still not really looking forward to this, I'm so useless with girls! You should see me when I'm on a night out with the guys–" Dusk blanched. Looking up, he saw the eager expression on Spike's face. "Correction, you should never see me when I'm on a night out with the guys."

Spike disappointedly returned to his breakfast while Dusk's mind ticked away. He thought of his five friends, and one in particular stood out as the kind of stallion to turn to in such dire situations. He was handsome, charming, and always a hit with the ladies. Through many alcohol fuzzled memories, Dusk hazily recalled the time he had acted as wingcolt for him, and... well, that had been a bit of a disaster... He shook his head violently to dispel the painful memories. He had decided.

"Spike!" Dusk declared, "I'm going to see Elusive!"

It might have been a blip in the space-time continuum, a slip of the pencil on a cosmological scale where the Creator forgot to carry the one. It also might have been Rainbow Blitz tearing through the skies like a bull through tissue paper. But, in the end, what's the difference?

The stallion felt as though he were lord of all he surveyed, looking down on Ponyville, and around at the little woods, streams, fields and orchards. Although this wasn't strictly true, he was certainly a force to be reckoned with in the skies, and the tales of his mastery of his domain would be written into the annals of history, no doubt by Dusk Shine.

Dusk Shine.

The simple thought of the humble, bookish stallion brought Rainbow's bravado and confidence crashing to the ground. His wings, lacking energy all of a sudden, ground to a halt and Blitz glided down onto a cloud over Ponyville and flumped upon it.

Dusk Shine.

Blitz, by all rights, ought to have grown used to the thought by now, it had been over six months. Blitz liked Dusk. A lot. He liked to think he did a good job of hiding it, and he did to Dusk at least, who was the most romantically blind pony you could ever hope to meet. A war raged in his body, between heart and mind, a war that so far his mind was winning, if only out of fear.

"I can't let him know," he mumbled into the cloud. "He's too good a friend to risk losing."

A counterargument began to form a retaliation, but he was distracted by the very pony that was causing him such grief.

Walking nimbly through the lively streets of Ponyville was Dusk Shine. His gorgeous mane and tail shimmering like the stars in the sunlight. His well groomed coat equally shiny and glossy. And his plot, oh Celestia, that plot. Blitz shook his head forcibly, deterring the amorous thoughts that were congealing in his mind.

"Stop being an idiot, you're only making it worse for yourself."

Eventually struggling through his internal demons, he realised just how hungry he felt. Waiting for Dusk to disappear around a corner, he fluttered out from his cloud down to Sugar Cube Corner.

Dusk cantered through the vibrant streets of Ponyville, weaving through the crowds of colourful ponies, the cheerful chattering faded into a tranquil silence as Dusk daydreamed while he walked. Upon passing the town hall, it chimed loudly, scaring a few birds from its roof. Glancing up, Dusk saw that it was half past ten, which gave him one and a half hours before Dawn was due to arrive: plenty of time.

A bell tinkled merrily when Dusk opened the door to Elusive's shop. The rich display of brightly coloured suits and dresses hit his eyes like a fabulous tsunami, and through the vibrancy was a white stallion with his eyes closed, languidly kicked back in a chair behind his desk, a cup of coffee at his side. He didn't appear to have heard the bell.

"Yes, the red velvet," Elusive mumbled in a half doze, "just tie it there would you?"

Dusk stood patiently, awkwardly scratching a hoof against the pristine floor. Elusive cracked open an eye as he went to take a sip of his drink, and spat it straight out again upon sight of his visitor.

"Dusk!" he stammered, losing his usually calm and suave composure as he flailed like a beluga trying to haul himself out of his undignified and frankly revealing position."Ahem! How may I assist you this fine morning, my friend?"

"I need a favour," said Dusk meekly.

"I'm always happy to help a friend who requires my talents," he said happily. "What do you need? I can whip up anything you like after all. No, don't tell me, Spike spilled tea on one of your suits again did he?"

"Not exactly, it's more, uh, personal than that..."

Dusk's tone of voice interested Elusive. He was dancing around something important, he could tell that much. Grinning inwardly, he decided to have a little fun. At his friend's expense of course.

"Are you sure this is something you should be telling me and not a doctor?" muttered the alabaster unicorn conspiratorially.

"What?! No!" sighed Dusk, putting a hoof to his face.

"Then what?" asked Elusive, teasing the answer out of the tormented stallion.

"I need help with girls," Dusk blurted.

Elusive's ears swivelled like two radar dishes onto the purple pony, and his eyes lit up. The proverbial cat was out of the bag.

"Ooh hoo hoo! What's this? Our little Duskie is getting about is he? Who's the lucky mare? Is she nice? Do I know her?"

"Elusive–"

"Of course she's nice, what am I saying, you are a stallion of fine taste after all."

"Elusive– ... am I really?"

"Why didn't you let me know sooner? I mean, as one of your dear friends, I would have thought–"

"Elusive!" Dusk barked.

"Huh? Yes, my good man?"

"I-It's not like that! I got a letter from the Princess telling me that Luna's own personal student will be visiting Ponyville today, she's staying at the library with me, and I have no idea what to do!"

Elusive's expression slid from one of surprise to one of gentle sympathy. He knew what was going to happen, he could see it. Two intelligent ponies staying in such close company together, it was like it was straight from a story! If anything, he felt a few jabs of envy, but swiftly brushed them off. He drew up a chair beside him and invited Dusk to take a seat. He indicated to the coffee pot, but Dusk politely declined, caffeine would do no favours right now.

"Dusk," began the unicorn, taking a drink, "I've known you for a long time, and I can say you have everything you need already."

"'Lucy, you know how awkward I am around new ponies in general, especially girls," said Dusk miserably, looking pleadingly into his friend's bright blue eyes. "How do you make it look so easy?"

"So easy?" he said, waving a dismissive hoof. "A simple old stallion like me? Dusk, this will sound ever so cliché and repetitive, but you only have to be yourself. Least-ways, a charming pony such as you should have no problem."

"But, it can't be that simple!"

Elusive considered his next words carefully.

"The short of it is that you think too much about things," he said as tactfully as only Elusive could be. "If you try too hard to be yourself, you come across as fake, it's silly I know, but that's how ponies are. Take a few breaths and relax. I believe I know an old Canternese proverb for such matters: if you shine too bright, don't be surprised when others are burned."

Taking Elusive's zen advice immediately, he inhaled deeply, feeling better already.

"I just want to make a good first impression," he mumbled to his hooves.

"Don't we all," said the unicorn sagely. "I say, do you know anything of this mysterious mare?"

"Celestia says that her name is Dawn Star, and she's apparently very friendly. I also have a picture."

At the word 'picture,' Elusive sat up like a rocket, curiosity piqued. Whisking his glasses off the counter, he observed the picture as a jeweller might a fine diamond.

"Dusk... she's gorgeous! You're a very lucky fellow."

Something clicked in Dusk's head.

"Oh, no no no, I uh, don't have any intention to... ah, she's just staying at mine, we won't be–"

Elusive was impervious to Dusk's babbling, still disappointed that he didn't get to this stunning mare before Dusk did.

Still, he thought, I'm a stallion of honour, and it would not do to even think about pursuing her myself. And goodness gracious, that stallion needs to lose his virginity some day.

"I wish you the very best of luck," Elusive said stoically, ceasing Dusk's inane chatter. "You just have to be confident, but not overbearing. You're Dusk Shine, you can overcome any challenge!"

Dusk nodded, feeling more confident already with the pep talk.

"Oh I have just had the best idea! Wait here a second!"

Elusive zipped off and returned a few seconds later with a large orange flower.

"Give her this when you meet her! I've enchanted it so that it never wilts!"

"W-Won't that kinda give the wrong impression?"

"I shouldn't think so..." he began with furrowed brows. "Hmmm, maybe you're right." He took the flower back and procured a blue one instead. "Orange was so two seasons ago."

Dusk Shine absently played with a pebble under his hoof, and the temporal panther of twelve o'clock was creeping up on him whether he liked it or not.. Sitting on a bench at the smoky train station, the unicorn watched ponies arriving and departing, saying their hellos and goodbyes in turn over the hissing of the great steam engines; Dusk saw a certain beautiful poetry in that, even if their voices mingled into obscurity, as all voices will. Smiling grimly, he took a few calming breaths to banish his anxiety and kicked the little pebble off the platform. He caught sight of his nervous reflection in a window and he ran a hoof through his mane.

Ten to twelve.

He closed his eyes and breathed again, however, when he opened them, his vision was a wall of bright pink.

"Heya Duskie!"

Dusk yelped and recoiled, slamming his back into the metal seat. Grunting in pain, he looked up to see the ever smiling face of Bubble Berry.

"Argh! Berry, what in Celestia's glorious name are you doing here?!" he all but demanded, rubbing his back.

"Seeing what you were doing round here, duh!  Is somepony special coming to town?" he asked enthusiastically, dancing on his hooves. "Or are you going away?" It was frightening how quickly his mood could change from ecstatic to morose.

"I'm not going anywhere, don't worry," assured Dusk, putting a big smile back on his friend's face. "But somepony is coming."

"Ooooh! Who is it?! Will I like them? Will they like me? What's the flower for? Are you hungry? I'm hungry."

The slew of questions was starting to erode at Dusk's nerves.

"You'll meet her in due course, but Berry, in all seriousness, can you give me some space while I meet her? I mean, I really wouldn't like to mess this up. Why don't you go to Sugar Cube or something, 'cause you're hungry and all."

Realisation struck Bubble Berry like a custard pie to the face.

"Oh. Ohhh! I getcha," he said with a knowing wink. "You want some time alone, it's only natural! I'll be in Sugar Cube then, see ya around!"

As Berry bounded off, Dusk wondered how Berry knew that he'd even be here. He watched his pink friend's cotton candy tail disappear around a corner, filing the thought away into a section of his mind that was devoted entirely to Berry's peculiarities. In fact, Dusk's mind was so preoccupied that he didn't notice the steam train rolling into the station, belching thick, grey smoke across the platform. Nor did he notice the ponies disembarking and walking past. He felt a small tap on his shoulder and he turned around to be trapped face to face with a certain white mare with bright blue eyes. Dusk felt his brain freeze up.

"H-Hello? Are you Mr Shine?" she asked uncertainly. She glanced around but there was no other pony waiting on the platform.

"Mr Shine... me..." he murmured, his brain desperately trying to kick itself into action. "Yes! Yes I am, call me Dusk," he said, standing up and shaking her hoof as his mind clunked into gear "You must be Dawn Star?"

"The one and only! I checked," she replied, returning the hoof shake and eliciting a small chuckle from Dusk. "Um, couldn't give me a hoof with my luggage could you?" she asked, indicating to the seven bulging bags and cases that had accompanied her. "I couldn't help noticing you have a horn."

At this, Dusk started and instinctively drew his forelegs together to hide himself. Noticing his motion, a smile curled Dawn's lips.

"I merely meant you were a unicorn, don't worry," she said, trying not to laugh as his cheeks turned an adorable shade of red. Dusk nodded, not trusting himself to speak as he levitated Dawn's luggage for her. "I say, what's that?" she asked curiously, pointing at his sides.

"Oh, this?" he said, drawing out the flower Elusive had given him. "It's a Dragon Bell, I believe they only grow in forest glades around here, consider it a... um... w-welcome to Ponyville gift," he stammered, offering it to her.

"Celestia did say I didn't bite, right? I asked her to put that in," said Dawn, finding his slight nervousness endearing. She sniffed the flower, taking in its honeyed tones as they began trotting through Ponyville to Dusk's home. "Thank you, this is lovely."

Butterflies are peculiar creatures, if nothing else, they are the sole cause of all hurricanes and storms. But one particular butterfly was more intent upon Dawn's flower than trying to end the world. It fluttered down from the air to land on its sky blue petals. Coming to a halt, Dawn eyed it closely, tilting her head as ponies carried on their way around her, one or two giving her funny looks.

"I can't say I've ever seen one of these before," she said quietly, taking in its iridescent royal blue wings flecked with white speckles. "Does Ponyville have its own endemic ecosystem or something?"

"I don't know, I don't think anyone's really looked into it," Dusk replied. "But I do know that it's called a Shimmer Skipper."

"Shimmer Skipper," said Dawn, rolling the name over her tongue, "that's a fun name to say."

"Oh, you think so too!" said Dusk enthusiastially. "No-one else agrees... with... me... uh oh."

Dusk looked over the top of Dawn's head and realised they were stood directly outside Sugar Cube Corner. The domain of Bubble Berry. Dusk was quite sure that Dawn didn't need to experience the pink pony just yet.

"What is it?" asked Dawn, thoroughly confused, looking about.

"Hmmm? Nothing," lied the stallion convincingly, "let's get you to the library and unpack, eh?"

Dawn took a step forward, but it was too late, the door to the renowned café burst open to unleash the fizzing cascade of energy that took the physical form of Berry.

"Heeellooooo! Hello! Hello! Hello! Hello!" he squealed eagerly.

Dusk, accepting his fate, covered his eyes as Berry whipped out a one colt band set from nowhere and serenaded Dawn with the traditional 'Welcome to Ponyville' song. Dawn, taken by surprise, sat stunned as streamers and confetti fell all around her. Dusk, also taken by surprise, was now covered in a thick layer of dripping cake mix.

"What d'ya think?" asked Berry, bouncing up and down. "Was that fun or was that fun?!"

"The butterfly..." said Dawn sadly, watching it fly away into the distance, presumably to start a hurricane somewhere by flapping its wings. "A pity, I rather liked it," she lamented.

Dusk meanwhile squelched his way over to the pink stallion.

"Berry, what the hell are you playing at?" growled Dusk, out of Dawn's earshot. "I asked you to give us some space, and now look at me! What kind of first impression is this?!"

"That you're fun, sticky and taste like cake mix?" said the stallion suggestively while taking a lick of Dusk's neck. "Mmmmm!"

Dusk was quite thankful no-one could see his ferocious blush through the mixture as Berry zipped back into the shop. Dawn turned to Dusk and her mouth fell open.

"Well... at least the luggage is alright."

"Yup, gotta stay positive in dire situations after all. Which happen surprisingly often with me" said Dusk wearily, shaking off some of the sticky residue.

"Okay, Berry said I gotta see this so what's–" The familiar scratchy voice of Rainbow Blitz floated through the door. He stopped dead upon the sight of Dusk before him. "–going on?"

Blitz began shaking, his face becoming more and more contorted.

"Something funny, Blitz?" asked Dusk dryly.

Not being able to hold it in, Blitz collapsed and started rolling around in mirth. Berry came back out and promptly joined him. Dusk had to content himself with wishing a swift and painful death upon them both.

"Dawn," he began flatly, "may I introduce you to to the absolute bundle of fun that is Bubble Berry and my good friend Rainbow Blitz. No prizes for guessing which is which."

"What?!" yelped Blitz, his laughter sublimating into the aether. His eyes flashed from Dusk to Dawn like he was watching a tennis match.

"You two, this is Dawn, she's a student of Princess Luna and is staying with me for a bit."

"Staying with you?" said Blitz in a slightly strangled voice, it felt like he had swallowed a bucket of ice water that was now settling in his stomach. Dawn's eyes narrowed slightly at Blitz's sudden change of behaviour. She may have only just met him, but nopony flipped from raucous laughter to fear that rapidly. She made a mental note to keep an eye out for possible future occurrences, she also made a note reminding her that it was none of her business.

"Well yes, she's gotta stay somewhere," said Dusk matter-of-factly and obliviously.

"O-Of course," Blitz mumbled, his bombastic attitude noticeably lacking.

Frowning, Dusk decided to concentrate on the bigger matters at hoof.

"Well, it was nice seeing you both, but I hear my shower calling. More shouting, really."

"'Kay Duskie, see ya around!" yelled Berry as Blitz merely raised a heavy hoof in farewell, all manner of terrible thoughts were swimming in his head like sharks. Dawn and Dusk trotted and squelched away respectively, leaving the two stallions behind. Berry wasn't always the most observant of ponies, but he always knew when a friend was feeling down. Slinking closer to Blitz, who's face looked rather strained, Berry tentatively struck up conversation. "You okay, Blitzie?"

"I dunno Berry," he said lamely, sitting on his haunches, looking up to the infinite blue skies, letting the warm sunlight dapple his face. Silence fell between the two. Berry shifted restlessly, wishing Blitz would talk some more. "Berry, do you think I'm an idiot?"

The pink stallion was rather thrown off by this question.

"No... should I?"

"Probably," said Blitz with a humourless laugh. "Love is the domain of fools, at least, that's what Dusk always says..."

He looked at Berry fearfully, he hadn't intended to say that.

"Waaait a minute," said Berry slowly, putting the pieces together in his head. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Maybe," he mumbled to his hooves. Why was he embarrassed? He was supposed to be the coolest pony in Equestria for goodness' sake.

"Hey, it's natural," said Berry kindly, pulling Blitz's head up with a hoof. "She is very pretty after all."

Blitz couldn't help but think they might be talking about two different things at this point. He gave Berry a deadpan look.

"Berry, you've known me for years, you know I'm gay, don't you?"

"Well, I don't recall ever having to turn you down, so I guess it slipped my mind!," giggled the pink pony. "So that must mean... you like Duskie!"

Blitz lunged forward and clamped Berry's jaw together.

"Don't go shouting it to the whole town!" he hissed, looking around, lest anyone heard him. The only ponies in sight were two blobs in the distance that were Dusk's sexy behind and Dawn's much less interesting behind. Sighing with relief, he let go of Berry, and was struck with one of those rarest of things, a good idea. A smile crept over his face as he looked slyly over at his pink friend, who had been distracted by a pretty flower, and was batting it back and forth in his hooves. "You like fun, don'tcha Berry." It wasn't a question.

"Fun?" said Berry, ears perking up.

"I have an idea, and I'm gonna need your help."

"Ooh! If it's fun, count me in!"

"Then follow me, my friend," said Blitz, striding into Sugar Cube Corner. This was perfect! He was gonna find out what was going on (or not) between Dusk and Dawn, and they'd be none the wiser!

Squelp.

Despite his valiant efforts, Dusk had not managed to shake off most of the cake mix. It had become one with his mane and coat, so he was now technically a pony/cake hybrid. And while potentially delicious, he also looked ridiculous, a fact not lost on passers by, who were openly laughing at him. Dawn meanwhile seemed totally unphased and unabashed by the conspicuousness of her companion who was sticking out like a sore thumb over the edge of a precarious cliff.

"Why is it always me?" grumbled the unicorn angrily as they made towards the Library. The birds were twittering merrily in the young trees around them, he wished they'd shut up.

Dawn, in all honesty, had rather enjoyed the surprise introduction to Berry and Blitz, even if it interrupted her study of the butterfly. It was refreshing to meet such lively ponies sometimes, though she was also glad she wasn't staying with them instead of Dusk, that would have been a bit too much.

"Are all your friends that... rambunctious?" she asked tentatively. Dusk snorted, sending bits of cake mix everywhere.

"Thankfully, no. I apologise for their behaviour by the way. Those two are nothing but trouble, especially when they're together... I should swap their manes around, to teach them a lesson." Dusk was about to wonder into the logistics and whether he could get away with it when Dawn interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh you don't have to at my expense," she said suddenly. "It was a much more interesting introduction than some boring formalities over a coffee or something."

"Y-You think so?" asked Dusk through a layer of sugary goodness. He mentally crossed off her meeting Elusive over a coffee.

"Suuure! You think just because I'm an intellectual it means everything has to be neat and ordered in my life?"

Dusk's blush was once again mercifully hidden by the cake.

"No!" he exclaimed abruptly. "I mean, no. I just didn't think you'd apprectiate, well–" He gestured to his body. "The chaos, shall we say."

"Well, I'm sure you don't appreciate it, and I don't blame you. But I found it all very interesting. It's much better for ponies to act naturally around one another than trying to be something they're not in order to impress."

Dusk swallowed this particular sugar lump of wisdom and found it to be most agreeable. Perhaps this whole visiting business would be more simple than he thought. Looking up, he saw the familiar form of the library up ahead.

"Oh wow," said Dawn in awe, "I didn't know it was possible to live in a tree!"

"I guess in Seaddle, trees in themselves are a rarity," Dusk remarked.

The wistful look on Dawn's face told him all he needed to know about the concrete jungle. He opened the door and held it for her as she and her luggage entered the library.

Dawn's eyes were burning with such awe and interest, Dusk was genuinely worried sparks might fly out. She took in the thousands of books, old and new, big and small, popular and forgotten. She inhaled deeply the intoxicating scent of knowledge as she trotted around the entrance hall, her head twisting in all directions as she drank in her surroundings. Spike wandered in on the scene from the kitchen, seeing Dawn sniffing books, he gave Dusk a look that plainly said 'she's nuts,' and continued with his business before Dusk could give him a reprimanding glare.

"L-Let me show you to your room," said the stallion from the bottom of the stairs, not used to having ponies so interested in his library. "Then I'm gonna have a much needed shower."

Dawn however didn't appear to have heard him. She was apparently engrossed in a book about Equestrian history.

She really loves her books, thought Dusk. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that. A healthy literary appetite was to be commended, but she seemed to really love the books.

I wonder if her cutie mark is book related? Dusk surreptitiously craned his neck to glance at Dawn's flank.

I just wanna look at her cutie mark, I'm not staring at her butt, I just wanna–

"Enjoying the view?" sang an amused voice.

Shit.

"I... was just looking at your cutie mark," said Dusk in an unnaturally calm voice, wishing he could just sink through the floor and never be seen again. Why did cutie marks have to be in such a stupid place?

"You silly boys and your... hormones," she said, giggling.

"No! Honestly, I swear to–"

"Celestia told me about you," she said deviously, heaving the book back onto the shelf. Dusk's froze to the spot, he knew what Celestia was like. "She told me you were the most harmless stallion I'd ever meet. Don't worry! You're too easy to tease, Dusk Shine."

"What," deadpanned the stallion, his heart beating was beating as erratically as Ringhoof Starr in his chest, unsure whether to be panicking or not. "What did Celestia actually say?"

"That you don't hold that much interest in mares... or stallions."

Dusk breathed an internal sigh of relief.

"Right. Okay... I think... Anyway! I think your cutie mark suits you well."

Dawn turned to look at the open book that was imprinted on her flank.

"I think so too," she smiled.

"Right, I really need that shower," said Dusk, leaving Dawn to her exploration of the library. Might have to make it a cold one.

The Hoofy Decimal System

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Three

The Hoofy Decimal System

Steam rose up in aetheral curls and danced their vaporous dance together. Dusk let out a blissful sigh as the hot water cascaded over him; this was was easily the most satisfying shower he'd ever had. Feeling himself finally be rid of the cake mix was a blessing in itself, but he also found plenty of to think while he scrubbed.

That was the funny thing with showers, they had strange properties that let the storm of thoughts that occupied every active mind settle down and let the owner see the world in perfect clarity for a change. His calmed mind began to wander through the thickets of imagination, from what blackberries and carrots might taste like together, and then on to what books he'd like to buy, and then drifting aimlessly to what kissing somepony might be like... or even making love...

Wait, rein it in there, boy he thought, turning down the temperature of the shower to dispel the thoughts. Of course, all that succeeded in doing was making him more uncomfortable. Dusk knew that it would be impractical to pursue a lover, as he had explained countless times to seemingly deaf ears, he didn't much care for romance or any of that. He hadn't the time, the money, nor the patience for such reckless frivolities. Some, such as timid old Butterscotch, could relate, whereas some, such as Elusive, called him mad for not taking an interest. Even so, it was nice to imagine sometimes.

His thoughts naturally turned to his friends, first to Elusive, who could turn any guy gay at the drop of a hat if he wished, he was certainly handsome enough. But that was it for Dusk, he was nice to look at, but he was lacking in substance. He was also straight, but it's all hypothetical so it didn't matter.

He reeled through the rest of his friends, who all fell into the same class as Elusive, except one...

Blitz?

The charismatic, prismatic, and often problematic pegasus stormed through Dusk's inner eye just like he would in reality. There was something more about him, Dusk couldn't put his hoof on it, but Blitz always acted very kindly towards him, and rarely poked fun at him anymore like he used to, not only that, but he was strong, athletic, everything he himself wasn't...

Meanwhile, back in the real world, time was whittling away as usual, and there was a hammering on the door.

"Hey! Unless you're planning on washing your fur off or something, you have a visitor down here!" shouted Dawn through the woodwork.

Snapping out of his intimate thoughts, Dusk jammed off the faucet and all but fell out of the shower, dripping wet and disgruntled, but at least squeaky clean. He shook off the thoughts of his friends, and even one or two about Dawn as he dried himself off.

Stupid ideas. I've never acted on them before, no need to start now.

With a ruffled purple coat and mane that made him look as if he'd been bedraggled in a rain shower and then dragged through a hedge backwards, Dusk came trotting down the stairs to meet: apparently no-one.

"Hello?" he called out to the empty entrance hall as he drew a brush through his hair. Dawn's head poked out from around a corner, her golden mane flowing over her face.

"Umm, he's in the living room," she said uncertainly. "Didn't seem too keen on talking, so I just left him to it..."

"Oh, it'll be Butterscotch then," said Dusk confidently. "He's just very shy of ponies he hasn't met before... uh, is all your luggage still down here?" he asked.

"Yes, but don't mind me, I'm not exactly short of entertainment," she said amiably, gesturing to the city of literature around her.

"Right, I'll go deal with 'Scotch, and I'll help you settle in, 'kay?"

"Take your time," said Dawn, climbing up a ladder to peruse the higher tiers.

Nodding to himself, Dusk ventured into the living room, to see a wavy pink tail sticking out from behind his sofa.

"Hey Butterscotch," said Dusk, rolling his eyes.

There was a frightened squeak that was unnaturally high for any stallion, and two bright blue eyes rose from behind the sofa, surveying the room fearfully.

"Hello, Dusk," he whispered. "I-Is she in here?"

"No, she's outside," said Dusk gently, gently coaxing the timid pony out from behind the sofa. "Come on, she's not gonna bite you, I even have a letter from Celestia proving it."

Slowly but surely, Butterscotch slunk out of the shadows like a cautious deer and into the entrance hall, albeit nervously. Dawn tactfully stayed up the ladders so as not to scare him away.

"Butterscotch, this is Dawn Star, she only got here about an hour ago."

"Two hours actually, you were in that shower for ages. And hello Butterscotch, it's always nice to meet a handsome pegasus."

Butterscotch, although still confused as to what this mare was doing in Dusk's house, blushed furiously at being called handsome. Most nopony ever called him handsome.

"Th-Thank you," he stammered, feeling a measure of confidence being injected into him. "Dusk, I'd like to borrow a book, please," he said with a tentative, yet firm smile.

"Of course," he said, pleased that his friend wasn't hiding behind him as he'd expected.

"I don't know if you have any books on feng shui?" asked Butterscotch. Up behind Dusk, he noticed Dawn push the ladders about down the room as she searched the shelves.

"Feng shui?" said Dusk with a hint of disdain. "'Scotch, you don't actually believe in that crap do you?"

"The way I see it, it's not about believing it," called Dawn from on high, "it's good to dabble in other cultures after all. Mind expanding. You don't have to believe in it."

Butterscotch nodded fervently.

"That's– actually reasonable," said Dusk, surprised. "Though I dunno if we have any books on it, I don't recall seeing any."

"Here," said Dawn, stepping off the ladder and presenting Butterscotch with eight books. "I'd personally recommend The Equestrian Guide to Balance in the Home, it has a very approachable format that's neatly presented."

"Oh my, thank you!" said Butterscotch gratefully, taking the book and looking at them with interest.

"How–" began Dusk staring at her in disbelief.

"Hoofy decimal system, memorised it when I was a filly. And close you mouth, it's not a good look."

"You'd make a better librarian than I!" he exclaimed, throwing a hoof into the air.

"Oh, I don't know about that," she said modestly, "I'm sure there's lots of things I don't know about taking care of all these books."

Dusk shrugged. He wondered just how many more surprises this mare had up her proverbial sleeves.

"Thank you, these look wonderful!" said Butterscotch. "Yes, I'll take these three please."

"Okie doke," said Dusk, "Spike! Could you stamp these out please?"

"On it!"

Dusk eyed Dawn critically. He'd only just met her, and she'd surprised him more than half the ponies he knew. He came to only one vague conclusion.

She is not a normal pony.

"Thanks, Dusk! A-And Miss Star!"

Dusk nodded with a smile while Dawn insisted he call her by her first name. The bell on the door tinkled as Butterscotch left with a noticeable spring in his step, leaving silence in his wake.

"So, handsome eh?" said Dusk with a wry smile.

"Well, he's not bad looking," said Dawn. "But it was mainly to give him some confidence, the poor guy."

"Whatever you say."

"I do say!" she said indignantly. "He looked so terrified of me, I didn't know what else to say!"

"Come on," said Dusk chuckling, "let's get you unpacked."

Bubble Berry set two cups of tea down on the polished wooden table. He took a seat opposite Blitz and immediately took the lid off the sugar bowl. The pink pony took a generous spoonful of sugar out of it, tipped the whole sugar bowl into his tea and put the spoonful back into it. Shrugging, Blitz took the remaining spoon of sugar and added it to his own.

Sugar Cube Corner was relatively quiet for an afternoon, which was good news considering Berry had been distracted from his job by Blitz.

"So Blitz," said Berry as he stirred his 'tea', "what fun plans do you have in mind? More pranking and/or drinking?"

"Not exactly," said Blitz, considering his words carefully, and wondering how he was supposed to word the proposal without sounding creepy. "Uh, you know how um... er... do you wanna sneak on Dusk with me?" he asked, deciding to get straight to the point.

"Huh?" asked Berry, puzzled. "You mean like spy on him?"

"Shhh!" hissed the pegasus, looking around to make sure no-one was listening in. "You make it sound so... dishonest. I just wanna see how he's getting on with this Dawn Star chick."

"Ohhh," said Berry, realisation dawning. Rainbow Blitz was worried about Dusk falling for this new mare! But if that was the case... "Why don't you just talk to her about it yourself? Or him?"

"In case I'm wrong and he does like her!"

"But what if you're right?" asked Berry tactlessly as he ate some of his sugar with tea in it.

"I don't wanna think about it," muttered the pegasus darkly. "But I have to know. So, will ya help a guy out?"

Berry considered. There didn't seem to be any harm in Blitz's plan, and it did sound fun, especially if he was allowed to wear his black latex ninja suit.

"I'll do it!" he said eagerly, bumping Blitz's hoof.

"Great! We'll leave it until tomorrow, then have a look at what they're up to! Or not up to, as the case may be."

This was the perfect plan! Nothing could possibly go wrong!

Sunlight streamed in through the windows of the spare bedroom, and Dusk Shine, champion of locked luggage everywhere, was pottering around opening up bags and trunks effortlessly with his magic. It's often said that you could comfortably fit everything you'd need to travel into one suitcase. Dawn had apparently never heard of this principle.

"You really like books, huh?" commented Dusk as he snapped open yet another suitcase and was greeted by the smell of paper and ink.

"Huh? Oh, yes. Despite this whole visiting business, I still have work to be getting on with. Although Luna seemed to neglect to mention that I'd be staying in a library." She sighed irritably. "I could've made space for more things... I dunno, clothes maybe."

"What would you need clothes for?" asked Dusk, puzzled.

"Dusk Shine, a mare always needs clothing when she's travelling."

"Uh, if you say so..." He opened another bag, but found this one full of sanitary items. "I-I'll let you sort that one out yourself," he said, cheeks tinting pink. He flipped open another case, and found this one containing a few steamy romance novels. In retrospect he was wishing he hadn't volunteered to unpack for her, this was riskier than being drunk in a minefield.

Dawn meanwhile tried out the guest bed, first pressing her hooves down on it to test the springs, and then sitting down on the edge as she sorted out another bag that contained her quills and inks.

"Nice bed," she complimented, "much better than that old, dusty one I had to put up with last night in the Aurora Tower."

Dusk, who was setting a few books onto the bedside table, fumbled and dropped them. He winced as one struck him on his hoof.

"Did you say the Aurora Tower?" he asked, rubbing his leg. Dawn nodded. "But that's where I used to live! You must have slept in my own old bed!"

"Oh really?" said Dawn, taking an interest to this coincidence. "Ahh, that does make sense," she said, looking at Dusk's mane. "I did see some horrible blue and purple hairs in an old hairbrush in the bathroom..."

Dusk couldn't help but feel a little affronted by this.

"My mane isn't horrible," he mumbled awkwardly.

"Oh no, I didn't mean your mane," said Dawn hurriedly, doubling back on her words, "I just meant the hairs in your old brush..." Dawn took a vase off the window sill and shuffled to the bathroom to fill it with water. She returned and put the flower Dusk had given her into it. "I didn't mean your mane," she repeated, eyeing him uncertainly.

"Don't worry about it," said Dusk waving a hoof carelessly. "Besides, if you see my mane in the morning you would think it was horrible!"

Dawn chuckled. She wouldn't have long to wait to see if that claim was true.

The sweet melodies of the twittering birds in the trees outside would have been pleasant to listen to, but the vernal symphonies were spoiled somewhat, partly by the windows, but mostly from Dusk's grunting as he busied himself around her. Dawn gazed out the window to assess the view she'd be living with for the next two weeks. Through the emerald dappled shadows of the young summer leaves, Dawn could see some of the small streets of Ponyville. Peering down curiously, she could see a chocolate brown earth pony and a blue-grey pegasus in cheerful conversation with one another as they walked. Dawn wondered what they were talking about. She also noticed that the pegasus' eyes were... well, a little wonky to say the least. An innocent intrigue burned within her, but she composed herself not to stare at the poor mare. Dragging her eyes up to the horizon, she could see–

"Canterlot," she whispered. Dusk, hearing some kind of faint hissing sound, trotted over to the radiator, and tapped it with a confused expression, before returning to work with a shrug.

The afternoon's light struck the mountains of Canterlot at an impressive angle, accentuating the rugged formations and casting them in sharp relief. As beautiful as they were in their own right, they regrettably paled in comparison to the glowing beacon that was Canterlot itself. The city shimmered proudly over the plains of Equestria, and Dawn was loving it. Due to it being invisible from Seaddle, she'd never seen Canterlot like this before, shining like a polished lighthouse made of diamonds. So all in all, Dawn concluded that it was rather a pleasant view.

She became aware that she could hear the bird song clearly now, it leapt merrily through the now open windows and settled down gently into Dawn's ears. The white mare turned to see Dusk's horn glowing as he opened the panes with his magic. He gave her a swift smile that she returned.

"You seem to be enjoying the view," remarked Dusk, as he snapped shut the mostly empty cases around him, again with magic.

"I- It's beautiful," she said, turning to look at the stunning horizon again. Dusk chuckled.

"I won't deny that it is, but I found it ever so distracting when I moved in. This used to be my study, but I had to swap the study and the guest bedroom around so I could focus on my work!"

"So are you of the easily distractable type?" asked Dawn casually as her eyes spun back to the designer skyline.

"Not particularly," said Dusk, frowning slightly. "I doubt anypony could do research on second era economic policies or mitochondrial biochemistry with that glittering like a waterfall. Heck, there are waterfalls!"

While he had been talking, he rose up the cases and bags and set them neatly in the corner of the room, not even taking his eyes off Dawn. She however, watched with interest and even a little envy at his skills.

I wonder just how adept his magic is, she wondered, staring at his horn. Of all the stories I've heard, are any of them true?

"Dawn, you alright?" asked Dusk, glancing self-consciously up at his horn.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, giving her head a little shake.

"Wonderful," he said, flashing her a smile as he headed for the door. "Seeing as all your stuff is now in place, I'll be down in the laboratory if you want anything. Or if you wanna come and join me or whatever." That had sounded a lot better in his head than it had vocalised.

"Thanks, Dusk."

"I'll just leave you to it," he said sheepishly, fumbling slightly with the doorknob on his way out.

Dawn grinned and turned back to take out a battered brown note book and quill. She sat at the edge of her bed and began to write:

Dear Journal,

I got to Ponyville today; it looks like a charming little town and I can't wait to explore it some more tomorrow. I'll ask Dusk if he can show me around or something. Speaking of Dusk Shine, I met him today, he's one of the most helpful unicorns I've ever met! He carried my bags to the library and even unpacked most of my stuff for me. He seems a little unsure of himself at times but I think that comes of him having just met me.

Anyway, it's nice here, I have a great room and I think I'm going to enjoy my visit.

Dawn put the quill to her mouth and she sucked on the end of it for a second before adding:

I met a few of Dusk's friends today too. Butterscotch, who seems very pleasant, if terrified of me.Bubble Berry , who is nuts, but in the good way. And Rainbow Blitz, who I don't know anything about yet, but was acting rather oddly when I met him. I'll keep an eye out on that.

Going to do some reading now, and have a look at Dusk's laboratory later. I've never even heard of a library with a lab in it before!

Nodding to herself, she closed her journal and took out a new book she was reading: Daring Do and the Jungle of Terror.

Yes, this was going to be a fun two weeks.

Pegasus Undercover

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Four

Pegasus Undercover

"Alright, sounds like a plan! Catch ya later, Berry!"

Rainbow Blitz walked out of Sugar Cube Corner feeling considerably better than he had when he entered. This was a normal side effect of Berry's infectiously gleeful nature. Yes, it had been fun. Yes, it had been chaotic. And yes, it had been confusing. Smiling, he snapped open his wings and swept powerfully into the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust in his wake. Blood coursed through his veins, fuelling his straining flight muscles. He closed his eyes blissfully as the wind roared over his powder blue wings. Nothing else mattered now. He was flying, and that meant he was home. He was free. He was liberated. He was soaring. He was–

WHAM!

–Crashing into another pony. Blitz couldn't see who it was, but he heard a very surprised squeal of terror upon collision. The ball of confused ponies spiralled down like a galaxy's twisting arms to the ground, which thankfully wasn't all that far. Unfortunately, when they did land, it was in a pond.

With an almighty splash, the duo found themselves submerged in icy cold water. Blitz surfaced first, spitting out a mouthful of reedy water, anger painting his face. Whoever had just crashed into him was about to pay. This was not cool. Eyes sweeping his surroundings, he saw a lily pad that was wobbling. A pony surfaced from underneath it, looking dazed and confused.

"Butterscotch?!" said Blitz, his anger dispelling as fast as it had arrived. The yellow stallion shook his mane, sending water and bits of lily pad everywhere.

"Blitz, I– oh no! My library books! Whe–Where are they?" he cried, looking frantically around him.

"Books? I, um, is that them over there?" he asked, pointing to a small blue something on the bank of the water and mercifully not in the water.

"Oh thank goodness!" sighed Butterscotch, paddling across the water to retrieve them. "I don't want to even want to think what Dusk might do if I dropped his books in water. This bag's ruined though," he said sadly, looking at the rips in the canvas. "I'm sorry for colliding into you, Blitz, I was just so eager to get home."

"I'm sorry for breaking your bag," mumbled Blitz. "It's also kinda my fault for crashing into you, I wasn't really looking where I was going."

Butterscotch was quietly stunned. Blitz rarely ever apologised for his actions, whether he was in the wrong or no.

"I-It's alright," said Butterscotch softly. "Neither of us was hurt, that's what counts." He took stock of his surroundings, and then looked back at Blitz, his normally spiky and impressive mane and tail looking like a wilted willow. "We're not far from my house. Come, you can dry off there. If-If you want..."

After a short and soggy walk, the bedraggled stallions found themselves in front of Butterscotch's secluded country home. The yellow pony did his best to shake the water off himself before entering for obvious reasons, however, Rainbow Blitz didn't seem to take this into consideration and simply trotted inside, scattering animals everywhere and leaving small puddles in his wake. Inwardly wincing, Butterscotch followed him and flitted upstairs to fetch his careless friend a towel. The poor pegasus came back down into his living room, and to his horror found Blitz sitting on his sofa, no doubt getting it all wet and pondy.

"Ah, thanks 'Scotch," said Blitz as his friend exasperatedly threw the towel over his head and began drying his mane, face and shoulders. While Blitz's vision was impeded, Butterscotch tactfully nodded to his animal friends who were hiding in the corners and he motioned to the trail of water. Silently and efficiently, the assortment of mammals and birds soaked up the excess water with cloths, sponges and mops. The stallion smiled gratefully at them and wordlessly promised them an extra treat for their help.

"I'll let you dry yourself now," said Butterscotch awkwardly, having accomplished what he'd intended.

"Good call. Don't really fancy you drying off my wings or my junk to be honest, even if I am that sexy" said Blitz slyly, knowing it would fluster Butterscotch. He stuck his tongue out at the crimson faced pegasus as he took the towel. "By the way, could I have a drink? Like OJ or something? I can't get the taste of weeds outta my mouth."

Butterscotch nodded weakly and sped to his kitchen, highly embarrassed. Blitz grinned evilly at having mentally traumatised his friend. He leaned forwards to have a look at the books Butterscotch had borrowed. He casually flicked through one of them and then looked at the cover, brows furrowed.

"Hey, 'Scotch!" he called over the tinkling of glasses from the kitchen. "What the hay is feng shoes?"

No answer.

"Oh come on, Butter," he groaned. "I wasn't that bad. It's not as if it's like that time Berry full on kissed you at Applejack's last birthday party." Blitz grinned at the hilarious memory. "Boy, was he smashed."

"I guess not," said a voice on the lower limits of hearing.

"So, what's feng shoes?" he repeated.

"Uh, it's feng shui," came a tiny voice.

"Oh." A few seconds of silence. "Well what the hell is it?"

Butterscotch came trotting in, carrying a tray of drinks on his rump. He sat himself opposite Blitz and took a nimble sip of his drink.

"It's traditionally about the balance and flow of 'energy' in the home," explained Butterscotch, happy that Blitz was taking an interest. "It's a common practise in the Far East of Equestria, and it's a nice hobby to have."

"Sounds like a load of crap to me," said Blitz bluntly, and Butterscotch's face fell like a stone.

"I-I don't believe in it myself..." said the pegasus, looking at his hooves, "b-but there's no harm in it, is there?"

"I guess not," said Blitz, gulping down his drink in one. "Ah, that's the good stuff."

A tiny packet of inspiration burst into Butterscotch's head and an idea struck him. He wondered whether to ask Blitz. He considered the stallion thoughtfully, staring at his bright magenta eyes, that were currently centred on his glass as he tried to extract the last few drops from the glass with his tongue like an aardvark in an anthill.

No, no. It's stupid. Why would he want to? He's not into that sort of stuff. At least, it seems like it.

"What's eating you?" asked Blitz with mild concern, for Butterscotch's face resembled one of constipation right then.

"Oh," he said, snapping back to the real world. "I was just... um– if you're not busy or... er–"

"Spit it out, man." Butterscotch started trembling. "Look, you can always talk to me when something's bugging you," said Blitz kindly, his expression softening like butter in the sun. "I'm not the Element of Loyalty for nothing ya know."

"I was just wondering... if you'd like to..."

Blitz began to wonder just where this statement was headed. Was Butterscotch about to declare his undying love for him? He fervently hoped not.

"Wondering if you'd like to help me do some feng shui?" Butterscotch asked hopefully.

Blitz was so relieved, he didn't even think twice before answering:

"Yes, Butterscotch, I'd love to."

"Oh Blitz, thank you!" said the overjoyed pony. "I didn't think you'd want to!"

Despair filled Blitz as he realised just what he'd accidentally signed up for.

Oh, honeysuckle.

There was a gentle knocking at Dusk's lab door.

"Enter," he called stoically.

The merry bubbling of many distinctly coloured and labelled flasks and test tubes obscured Dusk's hearing and vision of his visitor's approach. He examined a small cotton bud in his hoof and pulled a rack of test tubes closer to him. It was quite unconnected to the brightly coloured liquids around him.

"Aha! Yes, this just might work!" he whispered with triumph, making a note in his lab book.

"Hello," said Dawn pleasantly, "it's a bit of a maze to find you in here!"

She found Dusk sat down, hunched over a desk like an old arthritic stallion. He turned around at Dawn's greeting.

"Ah, hello! Nice to see you down here. What's it like in the outside world?"

"It's gone half eight."

"Goodness, I really need to put a clock in here..."

"This is all very impressive, what does it all do?" she asked, pointing to the dozens of sciencey looking concoctions.

"Uh, wouldn't like to say," he said swiftly. "Work in progress you know?"

"I can't help but feel it isn't really necessary," she said, idly tapping one of the flasks with a hoof.

Dusk gave her a look of surprise, then a sly grin crept across his features.

"You're a clever one," he said as he routed in a drawer for some safety goggles. "Three years I've lived here, and no-one has questioned them."

"You mean they actually serve no purpose?!" she asked, snapping a pair of goggles over her eyes. "Goodness, I thought they looked a bit overzealous but–"

"No. But Celestia always advised me to set something like this up, so that if anypony came to see me, like a friend for example, my work looks a lot more impressive than it actually is. Showmanship she called it. Can't say I'm a fan for the purposes she told me to use it for, but it provides a pleasant enough environment for me to work in."

"I guess that's all fair," said Dawn. "So what are you actually doing down here?" She looked at the small test tubes Dusk had set on a stand in front of him. "Is that all?" she said, disappointment lacing her voice.

"See?!" said Dusk. "That's why all these bubbly flasks are necessary. And besides, as unimpressive as it may appear, I'm on the verge of perfecting my hypothesis!"

Dawn looked at the humble test tubes in front of her. They were empty. Looking sceptically around his desk, she saw a box of sea salt, a bottle of washing up liquid and another of rubbing alcohol.

"You are doing science, right? Not topping yourself off?"

"Yes!" said Dusk indignantly. "I think these may help to precipitate DNA!"

"But we already know how–"

"Maybe so," said Dusk, waving an idle hoof. "But, is it accessible to the everyday pony?"

"Of course not! You need a powerful centrifuge for a start if I recall."

Dusk nodded in agreement. "But what if we only wanted to see the DNA itself?"

Dawn merely looked bemused. Being the curious mare she was, she could fully see why he was doing it.

"Celestia charged me with a task of helping science become more accessible to the population in an interesting fashion. So, with just a few home ingredients, I'm about to find out if I'm right."

Without further ado, Dusk picked up the cotton bud and jammed it into his mouth, rubbing it against his cheeks. Dawn watched with wide eyes as he threw the bud into a tube.

"There, Dusk Shine DNA, check!"

He opened the bottle of detergent.

"That to break–"

"Break down the cell membranes, yeah," said Dawn.

"Add a little salt and alcohol–"

"To precipitate the DNA."

"And, voilà," sighed Dusk, slightly grated at being interrupted, but pleased nonetheless at the successful outcome of his experiment. "It worked!" he said happily, scribbling in his lab book. "The Princess will be pleased with this."

Dawn picked up the test tube, and observed the thin, white tendrils that were suspended delicately in the liquid like the most fragile of whispers. Indeed, it was a whisper. The whisper of life itself. She found it a very sobering thought that everything that made up the pony standing in front of her was encoded in those fragile strands of gloop.

"That's what I want to inspire in every filly and colt across the country," said Dusk, noticing the awe on Dawn's face. "To help inspire a whole generation."

"You'll certainly do that," she said softly. "Well done!"

"Thanks. What time did you say it was again?"

"Just gone half eight."

Dusk straightened his back, eliciting a series of loud cracks like a firecracker, making Dawn wince.

"Let's head on back up," said Dusk, groaning as he stretched his stiff muscles. He trotted around the room, switching off the Bunsen burners.

"Um, Dusk?" asked Dawn.

"Hmmm?"

"Would it be alright if you could give me a tour of the town tomorrow? I'd love to have a look around."

"Of course! It's not a huge town, but there's a few interesting places here and there."

Dawn said her thanks and followed him back upstairs to surface back into the world outside, both ponies feeling a slight, crackling undercurrent of intellectual rivalry.

"Do you think if I hang like this, I'll pass for a hanging basket?"

Blitz looked up at Bubble Berry, who was suspended from the corner of Rose Luck's flower shop by his hooves, swaying gently in the breeze. He was tired and more than a little irritable after being trapped at Butterscotch's for the majority of the evening doing feng shoes with him. Blitz opened his mouth to tell Berry to shut up but was interrupted.

"Or!" he said, bounding over to a bench and whipping out a newspaper, scaring the elderly couple who were sat there. "Should I put holes in this and stare at 'em?"

Before Blitz could even form a thought to begin to answer, Berry was off again, suggesting another ludicrous idea to 'spy' but 'not spy' on Dusk and Dawn. Rainbow shook his head and decided that enrolling Berry to help might have been a bad idea.

"Berry," said Blitz wearily, closing his eyes and taking a sip of Star Buck's delicious coffee.

"And then if I shimmy down here with a pair of binoculars–"

"Look," muttered Blitz darkly. I'll shimmy down you in a minute if you don't shut the hell up. Whatever shimmy means."

Blitz opened his eyes and spat his coffee out. Berry was covered head to hoof in very tight black latex.

"Uhh, Berry, what the fuck is that?"

"Why, it's a ninja suit silly! For super sneaking!"

Blitz tried to look away, but found his eyes drawn inexorably back to Berry.

"You know... that suit leaves nothing to the imagination."

"Oh Blitzy, you're so funny," said Berry, bouncing off again.

With a groan, Blitz looked up to the clock tower over the town hall. He had no idea when Dusk might be about in town, but it was almost lunch time. Couldn't be long now, surely. He threw his empty cup into a bin and began tapping a hoof impatiently, his eyes scanning around restlessly. Where were they?! Blitz hated standing around at the best of times, and having spent all morning doing just that with no results had only worsened his mood. Something heavy collided with him, from above of all directions. Blitz' knees buckled and he fell to the ground with a yelp of surprise. It turned out the object that had hit him smelled of candy floss and was giggling.

Who else?

"I found them!" Berry whispered excitedly, still on top of Dusk. "Follow me!"

With a leap that knocked the wind out of the pegasus, Berry sprinted off, leaving a dusty Rainbow Blitz behind to hurry after him.

Dusk Shine was stood by the front door, his eyes drooping in sheer tedium. The familiar clitter clatter of Spike coming down the stairs roused Dusk from his near stupor.

"What in Celestia's name is she doing up there?" asked Dusk incredulously.

"Getting ready, bro," said Spike. "Don't you know anything about mares?"

"Why is she taking so long?"

"I refer you to my previous statement," he replied, and then scurrying off to the kitchen.

Dusk watched the pendulum of the clock in the entrance hall, his eyes following the hypnotic chronological metronome, feeling his soul drain into the the abysses of time.

Are mares always like this?

For how long he was stood there, not even he knew, but eventually, Dawn came down the stairs flashing him a smile, looking as normal as always, a saddlebag slung over her back.

"But you don't look any different!" exclaimed Dusk's mouth before his brain could stop it.

"Huh?"

"Spike said you were getting ready..."

"Sorry! I must've got carried away reading my book, for um," she glanced at the clock, "twenty minutes."

Dusk's eyes narrowed momentarily, then began chuckling.

"You remind me of me," he said, opening the door for her. "The number of times I've been late to events because of getting lost in a book." Dusk flipped the 'open' sign of the library to 'closed.' See ya, Spike!"

Spike gave a distracted farewell as the door shut behind them. Scrambling to the freezer, the little dragon hauled out a huge tub of strawberry ice cream. Today was going to be a good day.

"So what do you wanna see first?" asked Dusk as they walked in tandem down a narrow cobbled street. The tall wooden houses leaning over them, casting them in cool shade.

"I dunno," said Dawn, feeling a little like a filly in a candy shop. They emerged at the end of the street into bright sunlight. Before them lay a sprawling green field, surrounded by many trees. Ponies of all ages were scattered like confetti across the grass, some on a morning stroll, some playing hoofball, and some simply sitting and admiring the view. The duo crossed the road and Dawn noticed that they were impeded by a river that the road they were on was straddling. Looking up and down, there was only two bridges that they could see, each roughly equidistant. On the left, an old, wooden and rickety bridge, on the right, an elegant bridge, made of finely cut stone arced gracefully over the lazy river like a dolphin.

"Yeah, the town could only afford to renovate one of them this year," said Dusk apologetically.

"Oh."

"Come," said Dusk, leading the way to the new bridge and into the park.

"Good morning Mr Kindle!"

"Ah, nice to see you out and about Mrs Smith, how's Applejack doing?"

"Hello Melody, I like your new mane cut!"

As they walked around, Dusk habitually greeted the ponies who they passed.

"It's odd," said Dawn, as Dusk bade greetings to an elderly stallion he had to considerably raise his voice for. "Celestia said you were a bit of a recluse."

"Aha, she would," said Dusk. "And it was completely true when I was under her study, working for hours and hours on end, day in, day out. I never made friends you know, they didn't seem worth it."  Dawn raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. "I've made a few friends since I came here, and although I still am cooped up in the library a lot, as I'm sure Blitz will tell you, I make a point of being neighbourly around town."

"I see. So you're like a friendly recluse?"

Dusk laughed openly at this as they walked down a gentle bank to the old bridge at the other side of the park.

"Friendly recluse. I love it!"

They came to the bridge, which lay under the boughs of a tall, and more impressive pine tree. Dawn looked dubious that it would hold their weight. In fact, she was dubious that it should even be supporting its own weight. The old and weather-worn wood had cracked and splintered over the years. The elements had warped its shape, making it sag and dip down in the middle, looking less like a graceful dolphin and more like a soggy paperback.

"Look, I know I am a little husky, being a librarian and all, but we're not gonna break the bridge, 'kay?" said Dusk amiably, trotting forward onto the bridge, evoking a loud groan from it.

Dawn watched him go, observing his figure.

"You're not fat," she decided, which was the truth. If Dusk was as big as he was claiming, she couldn't see it.

From the bushes, Dusk thought he heard a rustle and a yelp, but dismissed it.

"Thanks," he said, pausing at the centre of the bridge. He picked up two sticks with his magic, and handing one to Dawn.

"What's this for?" she asked, cautiously joining him as the bridge gave another loud creek.

"Poohsticks," he said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I beg your pardon," said Dawn, trying to suppress a giggle, and failing miserably.

"Poohsticks," said Dusk. Incomprehension was still painted across her face, along with a wide smile. "Don't tell me you've never played poohsticks before!"

Dawn merely shook her head, her bangs swinging left and right across her face like silky curtains.

"Nope! And poohsticks. Is it really called that?"

"I'll teach you then. It's not hard. And yes it is. Stop giggling, you're making me laugh too!"

Dawn had to hold onto the bridge to support herself and Dusk joined in with her. Eventually, he cleared his throat.

"The rules are easy. We both drop our sticks into the water, run to the other side, and whoever's stick is first to appear on the other side is the winner! Simple."

"This is a game?" asked Dawn, doubtful that this could be classed under 'fun' of any description.

"Yeah, Celestia and I used to play it when I was a colt. She said it was invented nearly a century ago by some author."

Dawn felt slightly more enthusiastic. If it was good enough for a princess of the Sun, it was good enough for her.

"Oh, well, while we're here, might as well have a go."

Dusk counted down from three and they dropped their sticks, resulting in a synchronous 'plop'. They rushed over and waited. And waited. And waited...

"Where are they?" asked Dawn.

"I-I don't know," said Dusk with a constrained voice. "I've read a book on poohsticks before and it never mentioned anything like this. This isn't supposed to happen." Dawn noticed that a bead of sweat was running down his face.

Silence flowed out from around them, dispelled only by the quacking of the ducks on the water. Dusk knelt down and leaned over the bridge to have a look at where the sticks might have got to.

"Be careful," said Dawn, seeing as Dusk was now on his belly, leaning over.

"I am, I–"

Berry, who had two sticks in his mouth and was currently hanging onto the bridge from the underside swung his face up to Dusk like a jack in the box.

"Hey Duskie!" he yelled.

Dusk fell into the river.

Berry's Blunder

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Five

Berry's Blunder

Inside some not very inconspicuous bushes, just downstream of an elderly and sorry looking bridge, two very cramped ponies were hiding.

"So where are they, Berry?" said Blitz impatiently, squinting through the leaves. "I can't see them."

"They'll be along soon. Trust me."

Blitz couldn't help but think that they could've picked a better spot for this. The bush was prickly and kept jabbing him in places he'd rather not be jabbed.

"I'll hold you to that," growled the stallion, whipping his tail to beat off the branches that were so intent on stabbing him.

They waited for about ten minutes. Blitz grumbled while Berry hummed merrily. However, true to his word, both Dusk and Dawn made their appearance. Berry, in his excitement, perked up and jammed his head forwards to have a better view of what was going on. Unfortunately, that came at the price of Blitz's face being shoved first into one of Berry's forehooves, and then roughly into the ground as the pink pony clambered on top of him enthusiastically.

"They're on the bridge!" whispered Berry, excitement oozing from his voice. "They look like they're talking!"

"Ggreff tffphe fffucff offmm mmmffee," said something from underneath Berry's tummy.

"I wonder what they're talking abou– yaahhh!"

Blitz thrust up his head angrily, knocking Berry off balance. Taking a deep, much needed breath, he sat up and finally looked through the foliage himself. Dusk and Dawn were on the opposite sides to the bridge, and Blitz once again couldn't help but find his eyes drawn to Dusk's behind like a compass to the North Pole. His eyes unfocussed a little as he stared. Berry, having picked himself up, waved a hoof violently in front of his face until he snapped back into reality.

"Sorry, Berry, I was just uh..."

Berry patted Blitz on the withers in a knowing fashion. A sparkling laugh washed over them and they turned their attention back to the duo on the bridge.

"Looks like Dusk told a joke or something, sounds like fun," whispered Berry. Blitz didn't even need to look, he knew his friend was squirming with excitement to go and join them.

"Don't you dare," warned Blitz, not shifting his gaze from the couple on the bridge. He squinted. "Looks like they have sticks in their hooves," he said, puzzled.

"Sticks," said Berry under his breath, the saccharine gears turning away in his head. "Sticks, bridges, ponies, sticks, stones, breaking bones, words, hurt, divide, connect, bridging gaps, sticks on bridges, drop like stones, dropping sticks, ponies dropping sticks on bridge. Poohsticks!"

"Poohsticks?" asked Blitz, turning his head to find that Berry was standing up. "What are you doing?!" he hissed. "Get down!"

"But Blitz!" Berry whined, "they're playing poohsticks! I wanna play!"

"No Berry, sit down. I said sit down!"

Blitz grabbed the pink stallion by the barrel, trying to force him down, but it was useless. A fine athletic stallion he may have been, but he couldn't compete with the raw power of an earth pony. Berry wriggled free of Blitz's grip like a slippery fish from a hungry angler and zipped off before Blitz could stop him.

Stamping the ground in a burst of anger, Blitz was helpless to intervene without revealing himself. He closed his eyes and prepared himself for the inevitable chaos.

"Hey, Duskie!"

There was a loud splash as of something approximately pony sized hit the water.

"Fucking great," he growled. He assumed it had been Berry, obnoxiously into the water, but he looked out to see that it was Dusk.

A jolt of panic hit him. Thinking fast, he sneaked out from the bushes as stealthily as possible, running through the undergrowth to the main road outside the park.

Sneaky though he was, he wasn't sneaky enough to escape the notice of a certain mare who, despite the scene unfolding before her, saw a flash of blue between the trees.

"Maybe I shouldn't have surprised him," said Berry uncertainly as he watched a floundering purple pony float downstream. "Should I go and get him out?"

"Perhaps not," said Dawn dryly, her attention on the entrance to the park ahead of her, where she waiting for Blitz. He didn't disappoint. "Perhaps Rainbow Blitz would be better suited to the task."

"Heya guys," he said casually as he could while his crush was floating downstream. "What's going on down here? I heard a splash and so I'd thought I'd come and check it out." One of his eyes was twitching slightly.

"It's lucky you just happened to drop by actually, we really need a pegasus right now to go and help him out."

Sensing that Dawn knew what he was up to, he ruffled his feathers. He shot Berry an angry glance and took off like a bullet on caffeine to save his friend.

Dusk, having never been a strong swimmer, wasn't having all that much fun as he struggled to stay afloat even in the languid and slow flowing river. Panic clouded his thoughts as he inhaled a little bit of water in his efforts to stay afloat. He had no idea where the shore was and no idea how he was going to get out.

"Help!" he gasped during a few seconds of buoyancy.

He thought, or maybe hoped that he heard a voice reply from up above him through his water logged ears. It didn't really matter any more. Just as he was accepting his fate as being 'death by muddy water', he felt two strong hooves grip him by the stomach. Bewildered but relieved, he cracked open an eye to see the river falling beneath him as was carried to safety by his saviour. An involuntary squeak of fright escaped him.

"Don't worry," said Blitz gruffly, tightening his grip around the purple stallion. "I've got you. You're safe."

"B-Blitz? Where did you come from?"

"That doesn't matter," grunted the pegasus evasively. "What matters is that you're out of danger."

They touched down on the road outside the park, and Dusk was extremely happy to be back on solid ground. Blitz released his grip with slight reluctance, even if the unicorn smelled of weeds and muddy water, it was Dusk after all.

Shaking himself like a soggy dog, Dusk dried himself off, Blitz using his wing as a shield from the assault of water droplets.

"Thank you, Blitz," said Dusk, gratitude shimmering from his eyes. He raised a hoof in a gesture for a hug.

Hardly daring to believe his luck, Blitz almost stumbled forwards into the close, if damp hug.

Best day ever, thought the pegasus.

Dusk embraced his friend tightly, and felt... warm? He'd hugged his friends lots of times before, but they'd never felt quite like this. Blitz's scratchy mane tickled his face. Inhaling deeply, he smelled petrichor in Blitz's hair; the scent freshly fallen rain. It went straight to his head. He closed his eyes and let himself melt into the hug–

"Hey, lover boys!" came a call from nearby. Dawn was approaching them down the road, followed by a unusually sorry looking Berry.

Blitz sighed in irritation, he wanted that hug to last forever. He broke away and coughed, looking up at the trees as if they were suddenly the most interesting things in the world. Dawn's implications flew straight over Dusk's head, who was thoroughly confused at what had just happened.

Berry approached him.

"I'm sorry, Duskie," he whispered meekly. "I didn't mean for you to fall in."

"Berry, I could have drowned," said Dusk dispassionately.

The poor pink pony had rarely felt so uncomfortable. He never liked upsetting his friends, and he especially never liked almost killing them by accident.

"W-Would you like to push me in to make us even?"

Dusk started laughing.

"Oh, Berry! You know I'm far to used to your antics to get mad!" he said, ruffling Berry's already ruffled mane.

Berry started chuckling too, and the two ponies trotted back to the others. Dawn, who had initially looked worried at Dusk's apparent anger, was smiling genially, while Blitz, who was still abashed at Dawn's remark, was also eyeing Berry to let him know he was not pleased with his behaviour at all.

"So, you two again," said Dawn mischievously, "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were following us."

Berry opened his mouth but swiftly closed it due to the deadly look Blitz was giving him.

"Don't be silly," said Dusk amiably. "Why would they be?"

"Why indeed?" said Dawn neutrally, eyes on Blitz, who shuffled on his hooves.

Deciding that his plan had been a total disaster, decided to cut his losses. He coughed pointedly.

"Berry, weren't you gonna make some cakes today that I was gonna help you with?"

"Huh? I thought we were–"

"Yeah, we better get going," said Blitz loudly, headbutting the pink stallion in the rump. "See ya later, guys!"

They both watched as they ambled off, Dawn, wondering if her suspicions about Blitz were true, Dusk, dripping slowly.

"Look at you," said Dawn, tutting. "You look like a drowned rat."

"Just an almost drowned stallion," he remarked, flicking his damp bangs out of his eyes. "So, where do you wanna go next?"

Dawn's eyes widened.

"You can't carry on like this!" she implored, eyes grazing his mane and coat.

"Oh yes I can. I made a schedule for today, and by Celestia's wings I'm sticking to it!"

"Blitzie?" said Berry hopefully, as the blue stallion stomped wordlessly into the town centre. "Blitzie, I didn't mean to ruin your plan..."

Stomp, stomp, stomp.

Blitz was angry, he knew he was. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. A knot that coiled slowly tighter the more he thought.

If Dawn didn't suspect anything before, she did now. In fact, it was like she was rubbing it in his face. All the casual looks in his direction. All the undertones in her words. 'Lover boy' indeed! She knew that she had Dusk wrapped around her hoof already and was smugly satisfied that he didn't.

It is often said that love makes fools of us all. In this case it should be amended to include: 'especially Rainbow Blitz', after it.

"We could try again maybe?"

Blitz slowed to a halt and turned round slowly. He glared at Berry sharply.

"Try again?" he muttered. "Try again?! To let you fuck it up again?! I don't think so! She knows, Berry. She knows I like Dusk now, and she'll probably turn him against me! She obviously wants him for herself!"

"Blitz," said Berry reasonably. "I don't think she–"

"Just– shut up okay? I'm not in the mood right now."

Berry looked helplessly around him, as if expecting someone to come to his rescue.

"But you saved Dusk," said a quiet voice eventually. "That's gotta count for something." Blitz's ears twitched, and he felt the painful knot unravel slightly. "And I really don't think she's trying to turn him against you, or even likes him like that to be honest. In fact, you might want to talk to her about all this..."

"Hmmf," he said grudgingly. "You might be right. Though I'm still pissed off at the whole thing."

Berry sped off and returned so quickly, Blitz didn't even notice his nanosecond of absence. In his hooves lay a delectable looking lemon drizzle cake.

"I know it's your favourite," he said. "I'm sorry Blitz." Berry's eyes became very shiny as they became heart meltingly adorable.

Blitz sighed heavily.

"C'mere, you," said Blitz, grabbing the earth pony by the neck and giving him a noogie. They both began laughing.

"C'mon Blitz, quit it!" he begged playfully.

Releasing his friend, and panting lightly, Blitz finally smiled.

"Berry, you're as annoying as hell sometimes, but never change 'kay?" He stretched his legs and cricked his neck.

"Where ya going?"

"To the pub! I need a drink and a good think. Catch ya later, dude, thanks for the cake!"

And with that, he trotted down the main high street to Jingo's, a quiet pub that Blitz was rather fond of... even at one in the afternoon.

Berry merely shrugged and zoomed off into the next scene.

"And this is Sugar Cube Corner, where me and the guys sometimes meet up if we have the time for a snack."

"It smells delicious," commented Dawn, her blue eyes sweeping the pristine and welcoming bakery.

"You got that right," said Dusk. "Berry works here on weekdays, or at least, he's supposed to."

"Supposed to what, Duskie?" asked a voice from behind him, zipping in from the previous scene. Dusk yelped. "Sorry! While you're here, ya want something?"

"Sure," said Dusk, his tummy suddenly rumbling like a minor tectonic fault line. "What would you like, Dawn? I'll pay."

Berry made a number of very quick calculations in his mind, and for once, the numbers all came out nice and neatly. He could still help Blitz in his quest for not losing Dusk, and he was going to do it Bubble Berry style.

"Don't worry!" he bubbled. "They're on the house."

"No, really Berry, I can–"

"I insist," said Berry firmly. Then the cogs spat out some more thoughts. "As an apology for making you fall in the river, see?"

Dusk reluctantly accepted the offer, and had a gingerbread pony for himself, and a large strawberry cheesecake with tea and cream for Dawn. They took a seat by the window and watched as life did what it did best around them. Customers circulated around, and Berry, like an electron, had the property of existing in several different places at once. Dusk talked Dawn through the high street, and regaled her with dramatic tales of animal stampedes, "freak" weather caused by Blitz not doing his job, random synchronised outbreaks into song, everyday things like that.

All the while, Berry watched them closely.

"And you see down there?" said Dusk, pointing behind him. Dawn craned her neck. "That's where an ursa minor decided to visit town."

"You're joking."

"Nope, a real life ursa minor."

Dawn still looked a little sceptical. She swept the café with her eyes, and noticed that Berry was watching them as he washed dishes. He quickly looked away. Suppressing a grin, Dawn turned back to Dusk, his mouth full of gingerbread.

"But... how did the town get rid of it? Something like that is very dangerous!"

"I-It doesn't really matter," said Dusk, awkwardly trying to divert the conversation, but he was no match for Dawn's curiosity.

"Come ooon," she pressed, coaxing it out of him as Butterscotch would a rabbit from its den.

Dusk sighed heavily, resting his head on a hoof.

"I um, did it," he said quietly.

"You did it?"

"Yes!" he said shortly. "I built it a giant milk bottle and floated it home."

Dawn's jaw looked as though it had dislocated. Yes, she had heard rumours of his magical prowess, but they were all modest compared to what she was hearing straight from the horse's mouth.

"But... magic of that calibre, that power..." she stammered while Dusk squirmed uncomfortably.

"Please, it sounds a lot more impressive than it was–" he babbled, "I'm just a unicorn–"

"Dusk, stop belittling yourself," she snapped suddenly, shutting him up in his surprise.

Dusk still looked abashed, as though saving Ponyville was something to be ashamed of. Dawn watched him, and felt an unfamiliar twinge strike at her insides. She had always longed for an intellectual equal, but Dusk was amounting himself to be her intellectual superior. Was she beginning to feel... jealousy? No! Dusk was nice, she didn't want to start fighting with him after all. So why did she feel the urge to prove herself?

"Dawn?" asked Dusk uncertainly. She'd been sat staring at the floor for over a minute.

"Sorry. You were telling me more about the town?"

"Yes!" he said, getting back into his flow. He pointed out the bowling alley and the flower shops. Then he went on a passionate tangent about the local bookstore, Waterstones. He certainly painted such a favourable picture in Dawn's mind regarding the tasteful décor, wide selection, reasonable prices and two for one offers that she wanted to visit it next, until Dusk motioned a little further down the street, past a water fountain.  "That one over there, see the one with the green roof? That's the spa."

Dawn's ears perked up at that. A mare always did enjoy a good spa treatment after all.

"I have heard about this town's spa, it's supposed to be one of the best in the country! Can we go?" she asked enthusiastically.

"..." said Dusk, conversation extraordinaire. He'd never been to the spa before; Elusive was the only stallion he knew who visited frequently.

"Pleeease?" she said, leaning forwards. Dusk met her eyes and held her gaze for a few seconds. "It's not like you couldn't do with a cleanup. You are a little... river-y," she said delicately, deciding not to point out he still had bits of twig in his hair.

This was all it took to cause Dusk to collapse.

"Alright," he conceded. "Elusive's probably in there anyway, so you can meet him."

They waved Berry farewell, and he waved energetically back. The tinkling of the bell chimed in their wake. Berry all but slinked his way up to his bedroom in the attic, to scribble down what he'd observed for Blitz. Looking at the clock, he saw that it had just gone two. He finished his shift at four, so three would be a fine time to go and see Blitz. Bouncing back down the stairs, he returned to his work.

Follow Me to the Bath House

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Five

Follow Me to the Bath House

Rainbow Blitz knocked his head back, tipping the last drops of delicious cider into his mouth. He hiccoughed slightly and set his mug back on the bar, giggling to himself. Maybe he was just being silly. Neither Dusk nor Dawn seemed the type to just jump into bed after so short a time. But still... the thought that he should perhaps let Dusk know the truth weighed heavily on his mind, as it skipped hoof in hoof with his fear. He groaned and slumped forwards, tracing his hoof in small circles on the counter. The silver-maned barkeep gave him a concerned look through his half moon spectacles, mumbling something along the lines of: "Pegasi..."

"How *hick* many am I on, dude?" he asked genially to the elder stallion behind the bar.

"This is yer first..." he said, trying to keep a straight face. "Yer Rainbow Blitz, right?"

"One and only!" he said proudly, displaying his wings and looking like a fool.

"Ah," said the pony. He'd served the bold and brash pegasus before, and would've recalled him sooner, but his memory wasn't quite what it used to be. But he did remember that Blitz was a complete lightweight. "W-Why don't you go play pool in the corner?" he offered kindly, trying to distract him from more alcohol. "It's free this afternoon."

"But the sign says it's two bits–"

"It needs updating," he said swiftly. "Off you trot."

Easily persuaded, he grabbed a cue and set up the table. Eventually, he realised that he was alone and had no opponent.

"Oh well, I'll just have to play with myself," he said, giggling like a school filly.

Rainbow Blitz always fancied himself quite a shot when it came to pool, snooker and the like, unfortunately, the reality was that Blitz couldn't have landed a ball even if the pocket was the size of Applejack's barn door, but still, he was happy, so nobody pointed it out to him.

Hitting the ball with his cue in the same fashion as a blind pony would hit an anvil with a hammer, he sent all the balls scattering in true Brownian Motion, including sending a red ball off the table entirely and by sheer coincidence, a yellow into a pocket.

"Nailed it!"

"Oh wow! Great shot Blitz! Can I join in?"

Blitz turned to see Berry sitting at a table, clapping happily.

"Uh, how long you been there, Berry?"

"Only thirteen point three seven seconds."

Shrugging, Blitz tossed him a cue, and missed, sending it clattering to the floor.

"Please be careful!" called the barkeeper.

"Sorry!"

"Ya know," said Berry as he lined up his shot. "Dusk and Dawn visited me earlier."

Blitz, who had been placidly laying his head on the end of his cue, jerked his head up and lost balance of the cue, sending it clattering to the floor.

"Once more, and you can leave!

"Sorry!" Blitz shouted. "Berry. Please tell me you didn't do anything to make the situation worse!"

"What? Oh, no! I just sat and watched them, I don't think they noticed," said Berry as he took his shot, bending the white around a yellow to hit a red.

"And?" said Blitz tensely.

"They acted completely normally, like two friends," said Berry simply. "If there was anything worth mentioning, it was that Dusk wanted to pay for their snacks."

"Ah, that's just Dusk being Dusk," said Blitz, taking a shot that send the ball whizzing narrowly past Berry's head.

"I paid anyway, just to be on the safe side," said Berry, looking proud of himself.

"Aw Berry, you didn't have to do that!"

Berry shrugged modestly.

"I must admit, it makes me feel a little, uh, better," said Blitz, lining up his next shot. "Still gonna keep an eye on 'em though."

"I'm super happy to hear that, Blitz," Berry chirped. "Now all you have to do is let Duskie know how you feel!"

Blitz spluttered and dropped his cue, sending it clattering to the floor.

"Okay," said the barkeep, losing his temper. "Out!"

"I'm still not entirely sure about this," said Dusk, looking up at the gently swaying sign above him. It depicted a hoof on a purple cushion, it was being filed. Underneath the picture, in fancy gold writing was written: Lotus' and Aloe's Day Spa. It seemed to swing tauntingly at him.

"Dusk, sometimes it's good to challenge gender stereotypes," said Dawn soothingly. "And also to try new things I guess," she added as an afterthought.

Dragging his hooves, Dusk followed Dawn into the spa. His initial thoughts were that of a very large bathroom, even though they were only in the foyer. The walls were shiny and enamelled with large, pale turquoise tiles, the graceful, curving roof had large, stained glass windows, sunlight cascading through it like a waterfall. Taking a deep breath, Dusk smelled what can only be described as cleanliness. He tilted his head in slight approval of the whole spa thing.

"May we help you?" came a silky, feminine voice from their right.

Dusk turned to see a beautiful pink earth pony mare with a shimmering blue mane. He started stammering, but thankfully, Dawn came to his rescue.

"Hello," she began politely. "We're both rather new to this, so yes, what would you recommend?"

"If it's your first time here, which... I think it is," she said, scrutinising them closely, "then it's free."

"Whoa, really?" said Dusk, surprised.

"Of course, we don't get prestigious awards for being greedy," she said pleasantly. "And if I may be blunt sir," she said, looking at his matted fur and twiggy mane, "you need it..."

"So, um, what are you going to do to us?" asked Dusk awkwardly.

The spa pony gave a chuckle, which echoed around the foyer.

"You needn't be so nervous Master...?"

"D-Dusk Shine, my name's Dusk Shine."

The spa pony turned to Dawn with a smile.

"And I'm Dawn Star," she said.

"Very pretty names," she complimented. "I'm Aloe. And as I say, you needn't be so nervous, the mares will take good care of you for sure."

Dusk found himself blushing.

"I-I have heard r-rumours about um w-what goes on in... ah, certain spas..."

"Rest assured, that does not happen in this establishment," said Aloe with another tinkling laugh. "Although, you never know, it might bump us up to number one in Equestria!"

Dusk chuckled nervously, but it came out as a near hysterical giggle.

"Getting back on topic," said Dawn, rolling her eyes, "what can we expect today?"

"Yes," said Aloe, blushing in turn. "Um, yes. Our standard treatment covers, a power shower, a full body massage, a facial–" She tactfully ignored Dawn's snort of laughter. "–hoof care, a session in the sauna, and finally, a soak in the pool. Sound good?"

Dawn's eyes had glazed over slightly.

"It certainly sounds... interesting," said Dusk with an air of caution.

Dawn nodded weakly, a smile on her face.

"Very well, follow me please."

This might not be so bad after all, thought Dusk lazily, as he felt a pair of hooves grind slowly and deliberately down his back. He was lying face down on a plush, snow white bed. His body melted into it like it was made of cloud. It was nice to have a mane relieved of twigs at least.

"Mmmf!" he grunted involuntarily into his pillow.

"I'm sorry, Master Dusk," said a mare who'd introduced herself as Lotus Blossom. "Was that too hard?"

"N-No, it's fine," said the unicorn muffledly.

"I think Dusk Shine's just enjoying this a bit more than he anticipated," said Dawn, who was in a separate bed next to him, the amusement clear in her voice.

"Quiet, you," said Dusk. She was quite right, but he wasn't going to tell her that.

In fact, Dusk was in a totally different world. He'd never experienced anything like this before. Years and years of muscular tension were unravelling under the skilled hooves of Lotus. The knots caused by many hard years of... reading books were being kneaded out of him like lumps of flour from dough. He shut his eyes in pure bliss as he melted like jelly into the bed. There was a pause to Lotus' ministrations and Dusk cracked open a heavy eyelid.

"What's– aaaaagh!"

He yelped as he felt his tail be moved to one side and then two hooves press down on his rump.

"Just relax, Master Dusk," said Lotus soothingly. "I won't go for anything too ah, sensitive."

"That's surprisingly reassuring," said Dusk in a high voice.

Dawn grinned into her pillow.

They were alone. The sizzle of boiling water bounced around the tiny, wooden room. A mushroom of steam rose up to join the thick cloud that dominated the room. Dawn poured a little more water onto the coals with a ladle and then returned to Dusk's side.

Dusk meanwhile could barely breathe, the air was hot, dense, and as sticky as boiling treacle, but he supposed this was necessary for whatever this was doing to him. He swept his sweaty fringe from his eyes.

"Can you please explain to me why we're wearing towels?" asked Dusk, drawing his own closer to himself.

"Well, it's traditional I guess," she replied. "Traditional things hardly ever make sense."

"I suppose... and why does it have to be so hot? What does this actually do?" he asked, panting slightly.

"It's good for your skin," said Dawn happily. "You sweat all the toxins out, or so I'm told. It's generally good for your pores too." She was very pleased to be in an environment where she knew a lot more than he did.

"Oh," said Dusk with interest. "It's certainly doing its job in making me sweat at least."

"You got that right," said Dawn, pouring some more water over the coal. Sitting back down, she cast her mind back to the bridge, and Blitz's behaviour. She had her suspicions about the guy, but had to put her hypothesis to the test, like any good scientist. She began to wonder how to approach the subject that was on her mind. They sat in silence for a little time. "Dusk?"

"Mm?" said Dusk, who was laying back with his eyes shut.

"You know Rainbow Blitz, is he... um, how do I put this..." Dusk opened one eye. "Is he– does he, prefer the company of stallions?"

Dusk's eyes looked lost.

"Is he gay?" she said bluntly.

"Oh! Yeah, he's gay."

"Is he open about it then?"

"Yeah, he only came out about six months ago though. Come to think about it, he started acting a bit different around that time..."

"Hmm," said Dawn thoughtfully, "have you ever considered, you know..."

"I wouldn't know about that," said Dusk blushing deeply, he was never comfortable when it came to romance, or even potential romance.

"What about your other friends, Berry or Butterscotch? They seemed sweet enough, even if Berry's a little... energetic."

Dusk stumbled over his words like a pony with four left feet, his blush going supernova.

"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it," said Dawn quickly, seeing Dusk's crimson face.

"I'm okay, I think it's the heat," he mumbled.

They sat in silence for a few minutes while Dawn digested the new information, and while Dusk sat in excruciating embarrassment.

"You wanna go to the pool?" she offered, diverting the conversation. "The water's nice and cool."

Dusk nodded, grateful for the sudden snapping of the tension that had been hanging in the air. They both got up, and Dusk's hoof got caught on his towel. With a strangled cry he fell forwards, straight into Dawn, who went tumbling to the floor with him. There was a confused flurry of hooves and tails, and Dusk closed his eyes tightly, wishing that this wasn't happening. They came to rest, and Dusk didn't dare open his eyes, he could only hear heavy breathing in the dense air, and the rise and fall of a chest from under him. He timidly opened his eyes to assess the situation. To his horror, he found that he was straddling Dawn and that his hot and sweaty body was pressing, quite intimately, into the mare who he was now bearing down upon.

This can't be happening, this cannot be happening!

Dawn was flat on her back, her damp mane was covering an eye and her face was but inches from his, their hot panting mingling together in the steamy air. Her expression was merely of surprise. Dusk's mind was going into meltdown from the five hundred things he was thinking about at once. The fear, the embarrassment, and even the arousal...

"So..." said Dawn neutrally. "This is cosy."

Dusk was still in too much shock to form a cognitive thought or action, let alone process what she just said.

"I–"

"You know Dusk, you work fast I'll give you that," said an impressed voice from behind them.

Dusk's heart leapt in terror. The door to the sauna  had opened, the clouds of thick steam dissipated to reveal a white unicorn with a fabulous mane standing before them.

Cooling Off

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Seven

Cooling Off

"Elusive!" Dusk gasped, leaping off Dawn as though she had become electrified. "This is not what it looks like I swear, I–"

"Now now, Dusk," he said lazily, waving a dismissing hoof, "there's no need to be coy around me. Although I must say this is not quite the manner in which I expected to meet your... friend here."

Dusk looked as though he wanted to say something, but no words were forthcoming for his jaws appeared to be locked together. Elusive turned and flashed Dawn a glittering smile as he helped her to her hooves, her cheeks glowing.

"Thank you," she said softly. "But might I add something?"

"Certainly, my dear."

"I think it's what Dusk is probably trying to say... or at least, what he's trying to try to say, is that he's not my ah... coltfriend, despite initial appearances."

"Ohhh!" said Elusive, tapping his snout knowingly. "A casual encounter I see! Dusk you old dog! I must admit I can't say I'm not a little jealous–"

"N-No! Not that either!" exclaimed Dawn, while Dusk fell onto his haunches, feeling severely flustered. "We're just friends! Aren't we, Dusk?"

The purple stallion nodded weakly. "Y-yes, just friends," he said quietly, but assuredly.

"See? Although... what were you saying about being jealous?" said Dawn slyly, eyes fixed on Elusive's own deep blue ones.

Elusive was caught off guard, if only for a moment.

"Well, ah, Dusk came to me the other day to tell me about you and your visit to Ponyville. Personal student of Princess Luna I believe, yes? So I thought to myself, 'she must be a very refined and intelligent mare to study under her, not like the riff-raff Celestia will take."

"Oi!" said Dusk indignantly.

"You know I jest, Dusk. But asides, my guesses have thus far been accurate," he said smoothly, looking at Dawn with a cocky smile.

Dawn noticed that he made absolutely no mention about her appearance; this pleased her greatly, she never found stallions who valued appearance over personality attractive anyway.

Elusive was studying her carefully, he'd tactfully made a point of not making any points on her appearance; that never went down well with mares of a more... intelligent persuasion.

She is gorgeous though, he thought, his eyes surreptitiously drinking in her sleek form, golden mane and round, inquisitive eyes. Travelling down, he saw that her cutie mark was an open book. Yeah, she can open my book any time she likes... wait, that doesn't even make sense–

Dusk coughed loudly, and they suddenly remembered that they weren't alone.

"Can we get out of here?" he asked. "I think I'm gonna die of hyperthermia."

"Of course, of course," said Elusive, leading them to the pool where clients went to cool off after a sauna.

They entered a large, circular room, which Dusk assumed to be the pool room. One clue that alluded to this conclusion was the vast, round pool that dominated it, complete with its own waterfall. The sunlight streamed through the glass-domed roof, where it hit the cascade to send it sparkling like midnight diamonds, the beams echoing off the walls along with the sound of crashing water.

"This is... mixed sex then?" said Dusk limply, standing at the water's edge. There were a dozen mares and stallions in the water.

"Yes Dusk," said Dawn in the overly kind way an adult talks to a child. "You seem to forget that you've been with me since we walked in here."

Far too preoccupied trying to evaluate whether he'd caused offence, he didn't notice Elusive and Dawn nod evilly to one another at either side of him. Time to have a little fun.

"I only meant–" he began sincerely, before he felt two hooves thrust him forward. The resultant splash made others turn their heads, and the two white ponies feigned innocence as they gently slipped into the water.

Coughing and spluttering, Dusk surfaced. He was quite tired of surprise attacks by bodies of water for one day.

"Please don't do that again," he growled, irritably jerking his mane from his eyes.

"Oh lighten up you big sugar lump," said Elusive, who was propelling himself through the water with an aqatic grace that rivalled an otter. "You have to admit that this water feels gorgeous does it not?"

Dusk had to agree to that. Whilst being only barely able to just about tread water, the water itself was cool and relaxing, the perfect temperature after the boiling hot sauna.

"Plus," murmured Elusive conspiratorially, "it's a great place for checking out mares. And stallions if that's your kinda thing of course."

Just as he was getting over his flusterfulness, poor Dusk was thrown headfirst into another wall of bumbling agitation. He started longing for the end of the day, for his bed, and for a good night's sleep, preferably with a nice book.

In fact, he appeared to be longing for it so much that he forgot to tread water and would have sank like a stone with a big hole in it if it weren't for Elusive holding him afloat.

"Sorry," said Dusk. "I think I was thinking too much. I think."

"You never really want to do that," said Dawn, shaking her head.

"There is some steps into the pool over there," said Elusive, nodding in their direction. "You can sit on one of those and still be in the water if you like?"

Dusk fervently agreed and they paddled over to the shallow steps. He sat down and stared blankly into the middle distance while Dawn and Elusive engaged in animated conversation with one another. His deep purple eyes resolved his vision into focus, and they found themselves centred on a pair of ponies sitting at the water's edge, a mare and a stallion. His attentions became divided upon each of them in turn. He could never tell which he liked more...

"I told you the views were delightful, didn't I?" said Elusive into Dusk's ear, making him jump.

He opened his mouth to say that he wouldn't dream of doing such a thing, and then remembered who he was talking to; he nodded bashfully.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, my friend," said Elusive gently. "You're only pony after all. Hay, it might even do you good to get out there a bit... you're twenty-one for goodness sake and you've never even been kissed!"

"'Lucy," said Dusk shortly, the use of his nickname grating on the white stallion, "we've been over this before and you know my opinion on the matter."

"Yes, yes, it's all very noble and everything that you should put your work before all else, and heavens, I know how devoted you are to it...I just don't think it's that healthy."

"Don't tell me how to live my life," Dusk snapped, much to Elusive's surprise. He knew Dusk was always sensitive to such topics, but he rarely lashed out.

"I'm not!" said Elusive, moving away slightly, "I only have your best interests at heart, you know that." He daringly reached for one of Dusk's hooves and held it. "Just think about it, okay?"

Dusk scrunched up his face in frustration, then sighed deeply.

"I'll think about it," he muttered reluctantly.

As one, they turned to see Dawn looking at them, making no attempt to conceal the fact that she had been listening.

"What?"

In the end, considered Dusk, his first trip to the spa had at least been interesting. He'd not felt so flexible in years, and he'd rarely felt cleaner. He considered the debacle of being found in such a compromising position with Dawn, but the subsequent embarrassment and short conversation with Elusive that Dawn overheard had put him in a bit of a bad mood. He took another sip of hot chocolate and looked up from his book to Dawn, who was sitting in an armchair, just like him and drinking a hot chocolate, just like him. If her opinion of him had changed at all in lieu of the news that he had never been kissed, she didn't show it. Instead, she had been curiously questioning Spike for the last hour about what it was like to be a dragon. The little dragon had been eager to comply, enjoying the attention he was receiving.

"Dawn, you do know I wrote an entire book about dragons, extensively using Spike as a primary source?" said Dusk.

"Oh I know," said Dawn, pausing in her conversation. "But I like to get a first hoof account."

"But he was a first hoof– never mind."

"And that's when I went on the Great Dragon Migration!" exclaimed Spike happily, successfully drawing Dawn's attention back to him. Dusk rolled his eyes irritably, he didn't feel much in the mood for illogical conversations.

"I'll be in the lab," Dusk announced shortly. "I've got to follow up that DNA experiment with an essay to the Princess." And without another word, he stalked off to the cellar door. Dawn waited for the door to slam behind him.

"What's up with him?" she asked bluntly.

Spike shrugged.

"Beats me, he's always been a bit grumpy from time to time, you saw what he was like when he–" Spike allowed himself a little giggle, "–when he got covered in cake mix."

"Well, yes, but anyone would be grumpy if they were covered in cake mix."

"Except Bubble Berry," chipped in Spike.

"Except Bubble Berry," Dawn conceded.

Spike put a claw to his chin, in what he must have thought was a pondering manner.

"So, did you say anything to upset him?" asked Spike.

"Me? I don't think so," she said, casting her mind back. "It may have something to do with what Elusive was talking to him about though..."

"Which was?" asked Spike eagerly.

"Never you mind!" said Dawn, leaning towards him and batting him on the snout.

"Awww!" he whined.

Dawn drained the last of her hot chocolate and sat up.

"I think I might go to bed, it's been a busy day."

"'Night," said Spike as she began to climb the stairs.

Dawn had all the intentions of going straight to bed, but as she passed Dusk's bedroom, a glint from inside caught her eye. She tried her hardest to keep her nose out and just walk past, a furious battle of wills between her reasoning and her cat-like curiosity and magpie like interest for shiny objects. Eventually, she cracked and snook into Dusk's room quietly, her heart hammering in her chest.

"You shouldn't be in here, you shouldn't be in here, you really shouldn't be in here."

Shutting the door behind her, she looked around his room for the first time. It didn't much surprise her at first glance, mountains of books, towers of tomes and shelves crammed with literature dominated, a modest bed and scattered notes, not unlike her own bedroom in Seaddle, except here, instead of a flowery scent there was the faint, indefinable smell that could only ever be described as 'male'.

Upon closer inspection, she saw small photographs in tasteful frames dotted on his bookshelves and window-sill. Photographs of Dusk and his five best friends, her eyes lingering slightly upon Elusive. She recognised all of them already except the orange one. There was also a half empty bottle of whiskey, of all the things Dawn expected to see in here, alcohol was not on the list. She shook her head, she was getting distracted.

The glinty thing that was glinting so enticingly resided on Dusk's writing desk, was in between a solitary book and a stack of loosely bound papers. It was two sparkling and ornate crystal jars of a thousand shimmering facets, one filled to the brim with a rich, golden brown liquid, the other, of an iridescent bluish purple. Dawn's eyes felt funny looking at it, unable to focus on it. She tapped one softly. It resonated a clear, singing note.

"I wonder what's inside them for them to get such beautiful jars... they must be very special, magical or something.

Every fibre of her being was screaming at her to just leave and to please, go to bed. So, why were her hooves moving of their own accord to the lid of the purplish jar? She knew it was none of her business, she knew it might be dangerous, she knew Dusk would be angry if he caught her, but she couldn't help herself.

The last thing she remembered was a blinding flash, a strangled cry and something colliding with her from behind.

A Midsummer Night's Dance

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Eight

A Midsummer Night's Dance

There was the smell of lavender. And a soft snuffling sound in the low light, followed by silence. All was dark; most probably because her eyes were shut.

Dawn felt as though she had been hit in the face by a custard pie made of lead; her face hurt, her head hurt, her everything hurt. She tried to open her eyes, but they were far too heavy. She lay for a few minutes, in a bed if the softness was any indication, trying to coalesce her thoughts. The faint snuffling punctuating the air periodically. She tried to open her eyes again, and she saw that she was still in Dusk's room. The curtain's were drawn, it appeared to be daylight outside, and she... she was in his bed! Turning groggily to the side, she saw Dusk, fast asleep in his rickety old writing chair across the room. His head was slumped forward, and rose and fell with the cadence of his breathing. He looked exhausted, his mane was frazzled as though he'd been electrified, and his horn looked as though it had a scorch mark on it. A crackle filled the air, and a vivid purple spark lanced from Dusk's horn, straight to the ground. What the hell had happened? She sat up, and immediately wished she hadn't. Groaning with pain, she fell back onto the bed with a flump.

Dusk snorted in his sleep and awoke, bleary eyed and confused.

"Snnk! Wh-oh, you're awake!" he said, stumbling to his hooves.

"Wh-what happened?" she mumbled.

"Well, in short, you happened," said Dusk, not unkindly. "I guess you saw the jar, yes? Either that or you were just sneaking around my room, but for some reason I doubt that."

"Y-yes, definitely the former," said Dawn, her head throbbing painfully as she nodded.

"Well, what possessed you to open it? Strange, mysterious liquid in fancy crystal jar, didn't you consider the danger of what you were doing?"

"Of course I did," she said. "But still... I couldn't help myself." Dawn couldn't help but feel he was trying not to reveal the contents of the jars on purpose, to tease her.

Dusk tried to understand this, but came up with nothing. Were all mares like this?

"Well, whatever. If only you'd opened the other jar first... that's completely harmless."

"What are in the jars?"

Dusk chuckled weakly.

"The one you opened... is pure, unrefined magic," he said simply, with a hint of embarrassment.

Dawn blinked. She must have heard wrongly.

"No, seriously, what is it?"

"Magic. My magic."

"But how?!" she stammered. "I thought it was only a legend! No mortal pony since the great Starswirl the Bearded have managed such a feat." Again, that feeling of mingled awe and jealousy was rising up inside her, but she stamped it down.

Dusk blushed furiously, scratching the back of his neck modestly.

"It wasn't easy, not only did I have to contain all the mana, I had to concentrate and condense it down into a liquid. I want to do some research on it, I'm just glad most of it's still there." His face suddenly looked troubled. "It's lucky my quill had broken in the basement, if I hadn't come up here to get a new one..." He shuddered. "I dread to think what might have happened."

"What happened? I don't remember any of it."

"Um, if I remember correctly, you opened the jar and of course the magic escaped, or at least it tried to, by diffusing into the nearest living thing, that being you of course. I jumped on top of you, sorry about that, and had to force it back in with my own magic." Dawn took a moment to appreciate the absurdity of Dusk commanding his own magic with his own magic. "Fortunately for you and unfortunately for me, I think my horn acted like a lightning rod, so you were shielded, but now I'm full of surplus magic, no doubt It'll discharge outta me during the day."

"That explains the sparks from your horn a minute ago," she said. She looked him over and her ears drooped in shame. "I'm sorry, Dusk," she murmured, looking down at her hooves. She heard the creak of the chair, and hoofsteps cross the room. Dusk's hoof took hers gently as he knelt beside the bed.

"Just taking your pulse, don't worry, I'm not coming onto you or anything," he said matter-of-factly. "You don't have to be sorry. No-one was hurt... permanently, and I shouldn't really have left it in such a conspicuous place anyway, should have put a lock on it or something..."

Dawn smiled.

"Stop trying to make it your fault, it was all mine, and I'm still going to say sorry."

"Well, in that case, I accept your apology." He stood up and gave his head a little shake. Unlike Dawn, he'd escaped a headache and was feeling quite keen to get on with his day. "Right, you better stay in bed today, you don't look too good."

"Hmmf!"

"You don't," he said bluntly. "And it's not like you have a shortage of entertainment, you are in a library after all. If you want anything just give a shout, and either me or Spike will come and help, okay?"

He's too kind, thought Dawn. After all the trouble I've caused him already.

"Thank you, Dusk, really," she said with a small smile. "Though, may I ask you something? Actually, two things."

Dusk paused at the door.

"Yes?"

"Uh, why were you grumpy last night?"

His expression became rather tense, like a deer in the headlights.

"It was nothing," he said coolly.

"Right," said Dawn hurriedly, not particularly keen on the possibility of touching a nerve. "And the other, what was in the other jar?"

"Honey," he said with a chuckle.

"Honey," Dawn deadpanned.

"Ah, not just any honey," said Dusk, getting up. "This is the best honey you could ever hope for in Equestria!" He rummaged in a drawer for a spoon, picked up the jar and returned. "From Princess Celestia's own beehive, the species Melissa majoria if you care to know."

"I never knew the Princess kept bees," said Dawn as the purple stallion dipped the spoon into the thick golden liquid.

"Oh yes, she's quite fond of them, she gave me this last year as a birthday present. Now open up, it'll do you good."

Dusk stuck the sticky spoon into her mouth. Dawn's eyes flew open as the flavour exploded like a syrupy tsunami. She'd never had that much of a sweet tooth, but she definitely liked this.

"Oh wow," she said with a sticky voice.

"Good, isn't it?" he said, sealing the lid back on and getting up. "Right, I'm headed out, there's a few things I gotta do in town before Blitz comes round later."

Dawn coughed pointedly and gestured for him to look in the mirror.

"Goodness!" he exclaimed, trying desperately to flatten his mane. "I look like Jimi Haydrix!"

"Perhaps a shower is in order before you go off galavanting," said Dawn, winking at him.

Dusk smiled sheepishly, and left Dawn to her own devices as he retired to his shower.

Rainbow Blitz was in space, spinning serenely and completely weightless. Looking around, he found he was swimming with the stars, bound to an unknown galaxy. Rainbow wasn't always the smartest pegasus, but he was pretty sure he should be boiling, suffocating and generally exploding to death, yet this clearly wasn't the case. Flapping his wings didn't seem to have any effect as he rotated slowly amongst the shimmering diamonds, so there he floated, unable to do anything except watch the infinite majesty and complexity of the Universe unfold around him in the shattering beauty of supernovae and coalescing cataclysms of spiralling hot gas and dust, forming stars, planets, life, kitchen sinks, wheels and all manner of other cool things. The spectrum of light split through his heart as each star shone with every colour of his namesake. This was what it is to be truly alive, to see all of creation telling its never-ending story, to be one with all that is, was, and ever would be.

The roar of our stars.

He grew bored after five minutes.

After ten minutes, while he was drooling into infinity, he saw two apparitions materialise in front of him.

"Come with me if you want to live!" said Princess Luna frantically.

"Live with me if you want to come!" said Princess Celestia enticingly.

Rainbow blinked stupidly.

"Hold up," said Blitz. "Firstly, what the fuck is going on here? Secondly, sorry to disappoint, Princess, but this pegasus is batting for the other team, 'kay?"

Instead of answering, like any reasonable pony would, they decided to morph together into a featureless ball, which reshaped itself into Dusk Shine, the stars shining in his deep purple eyes.

The two stared at each other in the deafening silence, whole empires rising and falling around them, like candles in the gnawing dark. A powerful ache lanced through Blitz as he raised a hoof longingly towards Dusk, the stallion of his dreams. Blitz's hopes and fears leapt in tandem when Dusk began to reciprocate, extending his hoof to meet Blitz's. They were an inch apart–

Blitz woke up.

His hoof was stretched out towards the ceiling, and it promptly fell, like his heart. Rubbing his eyes, he realised his cheeks were damp, but he passed it off as being sweat. Yeah, just sweat. Lying for undefined length of time in his bed, he thought about Dusk. His face swam across Blitz's mind and his insides clenched painfully as though were being clawed from the inside out. He screwed his eyes tight and some inner barrier deep inside him cracked.

I've had enough.

It was time to take some action... or at least talk to him... nah, too upfront, maybe just... talk to Elusive first? Yes, that seemed like a reasonable thing to do, he always had good advice on that sort of stuff. Oh, but today was his weekly reading time with Dusk. Right. Reading time with Dusk, talk to Elusive tomorrow.

"Sounds like a plan!" he said to himself, throwing off this tangled covers and cricking his back. "But first, breakfast!" He looked at his bedside clock. It was half past eleven. He shrugged. "Alright, lunch then."

Squeaky clean and groomed, Dusk trotted out of Quills and Sofas, a small paper bag stuffed full of new pens. Another job to tick off the checklist! The town's bell tolled eleven times, its ringing bouncing down the streets and across the town.

"Excellent," he said, rolling up his list. "I'm even ahead of schedule!"

He was cantering leisurely past the town hall when something caught his eye on the noticeboard. He scanned his eyes past the various sales, coffee clubs, weather reports and other paraphernalia that came with such boards until they came to rest upon a colourful, yet tasteful poster.

Ponyville Annual Midsummer Night's Dance

21st June, 19:00-01:00

Everypony welcome

Meal optional (+10 bits)

5 bits entry

Alcohol will not be served to under 18's!

"Ooh! The dance is back!" Dusk squealed excitedly as a bright spark of magic discharged from his horn, catching the poster and setting it alight. He hastily blew it out and trotted away, whistling nonchalantly.

Every year, as part of the Summer Sun Celebration, Ponyville hosted a fun, semi-formal evening dance, as had been the tradition ever since the town's founding. Dusk had attended the last two dances and had enjoyed them immensely, even if he never actually had a partner to go with, he had still had a grand time with his friends.

"That's the day before Dawn leaves! Perhaps she would like to go? There's no harm in asking; as friends of course."

Humming merrily, he all but skipped the way home, daring to break his schedule to inform Dawn about the dance. She did want to learn all about Ponyville after all, and what better place was there to meet the townsfolk themselves?

"Spike, I'm home!" he called over the tinkling bell, "I got you that special phoenix quill that you wanted!"

There was a scampering, and Spike appeared at the foot of the stairs, eyes sparkling.

"You did?! Thanks!" said the drake happily, observing his new golden-red pen.

"It's no problem. You've worked hard recently, I figured you should have a treat," said Dusk with a warm smile. "How's Dawn by the way?"

"Alright. She's gone back to her own room, and she's looking a lot better, but still a little... fragile."

"She will be. Still, I better say hello."

Dawn sat alone in the guest bedroom, the blue flower on her window-sill was still as youthful as the day it had been picked. The same could not be applied to Dawn. She was as tired as a rubber wheel, and felt like one to boot. She drew the covers closer to herself as she snuggled deeper into her bed. She was licking a hoof and turning the page of the book she was reading when she was interrupted.

"Knock knock!" said Dusk, tapping the door with his hoof.

"Who's there?"

"Dusk."

"Dusk who?"

"Oh no, maybe you have concussion too!" said the unicorn worriedly as the attempted joke sailed clean over his head and into the Zebrahara.

"Urgh, never mind," said Dawn huffily. "I know who you are."

"Riiight," said Dusk slowly, entering the room with a cup of cocoa. "How are you feeling?"

"Still really tired," she said, stifling a yawn. "But better than when I woke up."

"That's to be expected. Has Spike been treating you well?"

"Oh yes," said Dawn happily, "he's such a little gentleman. You're lucky to have him."

Dusk nodded approvingly as he sat down at the end of the bed, the bed springs creaking slightly.

"What's going on in the outside world then? All I can tell is that the birds are quite happy," she said, nodding to the branches outside the window.

"Not too much, Blitz hasn't been doing his job as usual, I've seen a lot of rogue clouds floating around..."

"When's he coming round?" asked Dawn.

"Probably about one o'clockish... oh, oh, and there's a dance coming up soon as part of the Summer Sun Celebration," he said excitedly.

Dawn's ears flickered.

"Oh really? Will I still be here in time for it?"

"Yup! And I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?" said Dusk rather thickly, as his tongue felt suddenly twice its usual size in his mouth. Dawn raised an eyebrow. "Just as friends of course," he added quickly.

Dawn, who had been wondering if she could ask Elusive to the dance, met his gaze. It took a more heartless pony than Dawn to turn down those warm purple eyes that radiated sincerity like a... sincerity radiator.

"Sure," she said brightly. It wasn't like Elusive wouldn't be there anyway, plus, she owed Dusk Shine for his gracious hospitality.

"Oh, thank you! I've never gone with anyone before! It's going to be so much fun!"

With a veritable skip, he left the room and cantered down the stairs, humming happily again.

"Just as friends, right?!" called Dawn after his retreating back.

"Yup yup!" he returned, only one thing on his mind. Elusive's shop.

Sometimes I wonder if he ever does work, thought Dusk, the familiar tsunami of fabulosity hitting him as he entered Elusive's domain. He appeared to have been reading a newspaper but had found the struggle to stay concious too overwhelming, for he was slumped over his desk, asleep, with his face pressed into the paper.

Dusk looked at the bell on the counter and grinned mischievously.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

"Snnk!" said Elusive elegantly, snapping bolt upright, a sheet of newspaper stuck to his face. He peeled it off and took stock of his surroundings. "Oh Dusk! Please, you're going to give this stallion a heart attack one of these days!" he said while washing his face with a wash cloth he'd procured from seemingly nowhere.

Dusk gave him a lopsided smile and cleared his throat.

"'Lucy, I would like a new suit please!" he said, drawing himself up smartly.

"Ooh!" said the alabaster stallion enthusiastically, leaping out of his chair and starting to pull out fabric willy-nilly. He halted abruptly and wheeled around. "Oh look at me, I'm so excited I'm getting ahead of myself. I can hardly design you a suit if I don't know what it's for now, can I? Get up onto the measuring stand, would you?"

"It's for the Midsummer Night's Dance," said Dusk, hopping up onto the slightly raised wooden platform while Elusive pulled out snakes of measuring tape which he had to untangle.

"You don't say?" said Elusive with interest as he shook one length of tape free. He briefly contemplated on why he had so many when one was sufficient. "Will you be going with anypony this time?" he asked as he ran the tape from Dusk's left forehoof to his withers, jotting down some numbers with his magic.

"Yup! I'm taking Dawn with me!"

The pen slipped on the paper, marking it with a long, black streak.

"I... uh, didn't quite expect you to... ask her. I mean... never mind."

He walked around Dusk and he noticed the look of hurt in Elusive's eyes.

"Oh! Wait! We-We're only going as friends!" Dusk burst out.

"Ahhh! Very good! I mean... I see."

"Only b-because I felt it was my duty, seeing as I am hosting her and everything," said Dusk, desperately trying to explain his actions.

"Oh, my dear friend," said Elusive smoothly as he ran the tape around Dusk's barrel, "you sound worried! Rest assured, I understand entirely. Besides, I bet it feels nice for you to be finally going with somepony, isn't it?"

Dusk nodded bashfully.

"It does," he mumbled.

"Well, there you are!" said Elusive happily, making some more notes. "Have you thought at all about what we were talking about yesterday? Also, lift your tail please."

"What?"

"Your tail, Dusk. How do you expect me to measure your inner leg? I'll use my magic for this bit don't worry–"

"No, I mean what we were talking about," said Dusk, obediently following his instruction, if with a little reluctance.

"Surely you remember out little talk in the pool?"

"Oh that!" said Dusk, trying hard not to giggle at the tape's tickling. "No, not really, but that may be because Dawn kinda almost killed herself last night."

"She what?!" shouted Elusive, losing control of his magic, causing the tape to snap back like an elastic band. "How?!"

Dusk however, was in no position to respond. In fact, his position was on the floor, writhing in exquisite agony.

"Uh, Dusk?"

"'Lucy," he hissed through clenched teeth while rolling back and forth, "I trusted you!"

"I don't–"

"Tape... snap... pain... so much pain..." he grunted.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"A thousand apologies!" said Elusive fretfully. "Believe me, this has never happened before!"

"I feel so lucky!" Dusk returned sarcastically.

Elusive just stood there, not sure what to do. Most stallions at this point would be laughing their sides off at such an event, but he was above such vulgar humour, and instead just stood there like a fashionable lemon.

"When you've... recovered, could you please hop back on? There's a few more measurements I need to take," he said delicately.

"As long as they don't involve my balls, near my balls, or anywhere in the vicinity of my balls," Dusk grumbled, gingerly getting to his hooves and wincing. Elusive merely coughed in a nondescript manner.

"Now," said Elusive eventually, breaking the silence that had fell upon them, "what were you saying about Dawn nearly killing herself?"

"Hm? Oh, she uh, opened a jar of pure magic and it sort of attacked her. She's resting up today."

"Attacked her?"

"Once released it tries to inhabit the nearest living thing, and it would have been too much for her, it was almost too much for me..."

"Goodness. Why in Equestria do you have something so dangerous in your home? Especially where Dawn could be hurt!"

Dusk was surprised at Elusive's sudden change in tone, it was almost... accusatory?

"It was in my room," said Dusk defensively. "None of this was my fault, she might have died if I hadn't found her!"

"But–!" Elusive began hotly, then took a deep breath. "Sorry," he said shortly, clearing his throat, "I just feel... never mind. Does– Does Dawn want a dress made?"

Dusk, having never been known for his tact with the opposite sex, hadn't considered this.

"I uh, suppose she should, shouldn't she?" he said slowly, the thought of the huge hole he would have in his bank balance looming over him.

"I know that look!" said Elusive briskly. "And you don't have to worry, I'll do it for free!"

"Are you sure, Elusive?" said Dusk, feeling as he always did, a little guilty when Elusive was extremely generous.

"Of course! Right, your measurements are all fine!"

Dusk hopped off the table and Elusive trotted over to his calendar, where he consulted his empty days.

"If you tell Dawn to pop down... the day after tomorrow, I'll measure her up."

He had the entire afternoon off, he might even take her for coffee after. Coffee and... who knows?

A dreamy look must have come over him because Dusk was waving his hoof.

"Is that all, Elusive? Only I am meeting with Blitz in half an hour."

"Wuh? Oh, yes, of course. How's that flower I gave you by the way?"

"She has it on her windowsill in a glass of water," said Dusk.

Elusive nodded thoughtfully and bade Dusk farewell.

So Many Books, So Little Time

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Nine

So Many Books, So Little Time

It was a typical entry to Dusk's house for Rainbow Blitz.

He'd been flying, as is to be expected, when he tried to pull off a new trick, as is to be expected. Unfortunately, he overextended himself and starts crashing, as is to be expected. And naturally, this collision course always has to be directed squarely through one of Dusk's open windows and into a (preferably large and heavy) bookshelf, as is to be expected. Berry Bubble claimed it was a common fanfiction cliché, whatever that meant.

"Hey Blitz," said Dusk genially, not turning around from his writing desk.

"Hey," grunted Blitz, rubbing his temples. "Dodgy landing today."

"You don't say?"

Blitz trotted over to him, feeling cool and collected.

"What'cha doin'?" he asked, peering over Dusk's shoulder.

"I've spent the last half hour just trying to refill this jar," said Dusk.

Blitz looked at the sparkly jar with its purple contents.

"What is it?" he asked, trying to take an interest in the random crap that Dusk filled his days with.

"At least you asked what it is first. It's liquid magic."

"So, uh, do you like rub your horn and it comes out or something?"

"No!" said Dusk indignantly, while Blitz laughed.

"Sorry dude, but I dunno how you unicorns work!" he said, still chuckling. Dusk sighed, and Blitz looked around, noticing that someone was missing. "Hey, where's that Dawn chick?"

"She's in bed, she tried to open this jar and... let's just say the magic wasn't too fond of her."

"Oh. She alright?"

"Nothing to worry about; it's just lethargy really."

Blitz nodded, and then asked, as casually as possible: "And how are you two getting along?"

"Just fine," replied Dusk honestly. "She really likes this town and you guys. I think she's really enjoying staying here."

"Good good," said Blitz distractedly. "It's just that I know what it can be like when two super clever ponies like you two spend lots of time together," he said, trying to keep any suspicion out of his voice.

"What can it be like?" asked Dusk innocently, genuinely curious at what the answer was.

"Well, they either make love or hate each other," said Blitz simply.

Dusk's cheeks suddenly decided they loved the colour pink.

"I can safely say neither of those has occurred," he stated.

"Oh good," said Blitz with relief before his brain had caught up with his mouth.

"What?"

"Oh good gracious, can we read some books?" said Blitz, trying to save himself and failing spectacularly. But still, it seemed good enough for Dusk.

"What d'ya wanna read? I have a feeling you may like this," he said, getting up and bouncing across his bed, picking up an oblong object wrapped neatly in brown paper. "I picked it up the other day, here, my treat."

"So, this is for me?" asked Blitz, taking the package and tearing through it.

"Yes, I hope you li–"

"Ohmygosh! No way!" Blitz had ripped through to reveal a smart hardback book entitled Captains of the Sky. Blitz read the back. "Spitfire's autobiography... this doesn't come out for another week!"

"One of the benefits of being head librarian I guess," he said, shrugging. He started to lean over his bed to pick up his own copy, but had barely moved an inch before a prismatically coloured blur collided with him, sending Dusk reeling onto his back.

"Thank youuu so much!" Blitz exclaimed, hugging Dusk tightly.

"If's no profblem!" said the breathless unicorn from under a pile of Rainbow Blitz.

Blitz let up and suddenly realised he was in Dusk's bed, bearing over the young unicorn, his mane splayed out on the bed like that, wow, that looked good, his face mere inches away... his lips, so tantalisingly close...

"I... uh..." said Blitz vaguely, his heart thumping madly.

Do it! Do it! Do it! chanted the voices in Blitz's head. His face contorted into one of supreme inner conflict, a contortion that Dusk hadn't failed to notice.

"You okay Blitz?" he asked.

"Yeah..."

They met each other's eyes for a long moment, each of them teetering on the edge of a knife. Dusk blinked, and the spell was broken.

"I uh, shall we read this book?" said Dusk shyly.

"Yeah," said Blitz with a barely concealed sigh.

Dusk picked up his copy and leaned back on the headboard. He looked up to see Blitz sitting nervously on the end of the bed.

"C'mon, get up here," said Dusk encouragingly, patting the space next to him.

Blitz shimmied his way up and settled down beside him. It was nice and cosy, Blitz thought as he cracked open his book and relaxed into a more comfortable position.

Reading time with Dusk; these were the highlights of his week, and never before had it been in Dusk's bed.

"I brought some jammie dodgers too for snacks," commented Dusk as he opened a packet and let them spill onto a plate. Blitz's eyes twinkled.

This just gets better and better! he thought.

"Oh Dusk, you spoil me," said Blitz.

"I try," said Dusk simply.

Blitz raid an eyebrow, wondering whether there was a hidden meaning to the stallion's words, but was immediately distracted by a hovering jammie dodger hovering in front of him.

A few hours and chapters later, both stallions were growing drowsy. The fault didn't lie with the book, in fact, it had been a very entertaining read about the young life of the Wonderbolt Captain. No, the blame rested with the hot summer air that was rolling in through the open window, compounded with the serene atmosphere of contentment that had wrapped around them both like a fluffy blanket. The plate of jammie dodgers was almost empty (thanks mostly to Blitz) and their eyes were now drooping down as they became heavier and heavier as time plodded inexorably ahead.

"Dusk?" whispered Blitz eventually. "Dusk?"

He was met by a soft snunt of a sound, for Dusk had fallen asleep, his head resting on Blitz's shoulder. Blitz wriggled a bit, trying to shake him off, lest he wake up, but Blitz's movements only caused Dusk to mumble and snuggle his head into his shoulder even more, the unicorn's sleepy breathing gently caressing his neck.

Blitz's mind was split in two, half of it wanted it to stop, feeling as if he was almost taking advantage of the purple stallion beside him, and yet... half of him never wanted this to end.

"Blitzzz," mumbled Dusk, shifting in his sleep, turning over so that his back was facing Blitz, almost as if they were spooning...

Blitz never did like being indecisive, and so the mental sparring quickly intensified and one side emerged victorious.

Heart racing like a leopard on energy drinks, Blitz shifted his weight and lay on his side. The floral, lavender scent of the stallion tinted the air before him, leaning forward, he could feel Dusk's floppy mane tickle his nose. Gritting his teeth, Blitz lifted a trembling hoof and with agonising slowness began to move it over his best friend. He was so close, their bodies were but inches apart. Time to finally close the gap.

The doorknob rattled. Blitz froze up in sheer terror as it swung slowly open to reveal the worst possible intruder.

"Uh, good afternoon, Blitz," said Dawn hesitantly as she surveyed the unexpected scene before her.

"I was just stretching!" said Blitz, his face hidden behind Dusk, his voice coloured with fright.

Dawn's eyes narrowed as she saw the opportunity for a bit of fun.

"Cosy, are we?"

"Yes. I mean, no! No, that's why I was stretching, see? Because of the uncomfortableness."

"Pretty sure that's not a word," she said before she could stop herself.

Blitz couldn't help but feel affronted by that.

"Miss know-it-all," he muttered under his breath. The fright had subsided now, to be replaced with anger. Why now? He was so close! It was like she planned her entry, and now she was making fun of him. Just when he was thinking she was alright, too.

Dawn, blissfully unaware of Blitz's chagrin, walked over to the bed. Two stallions sharing a bed together, it was all very sweet, but Blitz was definitely going about it the wrong way. There was little doubt in her mind anymore, Blitz liked Dusk.

Her consciousness tried to flag her down and remind her it wasn't her business. She met his eyes and saw the frustration smouldering in them. She sighed.

"Look," she said, turning her eyes down to the slumbering stallion, "you won't get him like this."

"What?"

"I'm just saying, it's pretty obvious you like him, you might want to let him know that," she said cautiously.

Blitz sat up and glared venomously at her.

"Do you want me to make a fool of myself? I can't tell him because I– You just barge in here like this and now I'm being lectured on what to do? Well no-one tells me what to do, alright?" he snarled.

"O-Okay," said Dawn timidly, backing away slightly at the fury being directed at her, feeling it flare up in herself at this unwarranted assault. "I was trying to help. I'm sorry if I somehow hurt you."

"Hurt me?" he said, raising his voice. "If you weren't so–"

"So what, pray tell?" she said dangerously, her teeth bared.

Dusk's eyes fluttered open and he groaned.

"Wus goin' on?" he said sleepily. "Dawn! Are you alright? You should be in bed."

"I-I'm feeling rather better now, thank you," she stammered, but keeping her composure. "I came in to see how you were getting on... but I'll be going now."

"Oh, don't leave on my account," said Dusk amiably, quite unaware that Blitz was shooting daggers at her from behind his back.

"No, it's fine. I-I'll see if I can help Spike with dinner."

The door closed behind her.

"Whew," said Dusk, picking his copy of the book off the floor and putting on the bedside cabinet. "That was a good nap. What about you, Blitz? Did you nod off too?"

Dusk turned to face an empty bed. The curtains rustled in the breeze by the open window.

Chapter 10

The Colours of Dusk

by Gallifrey

Chapter Ten

So Many Books, So Little Time

Dusk turned to face an empty bed. The curtains rustled in the breeze by the open window.

"Blitz?" said Dusk softly, reaching a hoof out over the empty space that Blitz had occupied not five seconds ago. With a sigh, Dusk picked up Blitz's abandoned book and set it on the cabinet beside his own. Staring at the ceiling, he frowned. He felt... funny; he couldn't exactly put his hoof on it, but Blitz's sudden departure left him feeling slightly hollow inside, and he didn't like it.

He didn't say goodbye...

A gentle tapping at the door distracted him. It was Spike.

"Hey, um, are you guys okay? I just bumped into Dawn and she looked upset."

"I... yeah. I'll go talk to her... what's for dinner?"

"Tomato soup, it'll be ready soon, so you better hurry it up."

"Right," said Dusk, getting to his hooves and trotting up to the guest room.

"Come in," said a small voice after Dusk knocked.

He took a calming breath and entered the room to find Dawn perched on a chair by the open window, morosely batting the dragon bell flower Dusk had given her between her hooves.

"Hey," she said, without turning around.

"Are-Are you okay?" asked Dusk uncertainly.

Dawn sighed and looked up at the shining mountains in the distance. She'd done it again, meddling in affairs that weren't hers to meddle in. She'd tried to help Rainbow Blitz, and she'd only made it worse for him.

I wonder when I'll learn?

She turned to look at him, his face coloured with uncertainty and concern.

"I'm fine," she said briskly. "I expect I'm still tired from the magic."

Dusk approached her and conjured a chair out of thin air, taking a seat next to her.

"You know..." he began quietly, staring out at the shimmering spires of Canterlot in the distance, "Sometimes, it's like I don't understand anything in this world. Do you ever have that feeling?"

"I think I know what you mean. Like the more you learn the less you know kinda thing."

"Mmm," said Dusk, nodding. "Precisely that. In ignorance we know nothing, in wisdom we know that we know nothing." He gave his head a little shake. "Whoa, that's too deep for me."

A prismatic blur streaked the flawless blue sky. Both Dusk and Dawn felt their hearts sink at the sight. They watched as the rainbow sped into the west, disappearing into the summer haze. Dusk wearily pressed a hoof to his face and rubbed his eyes.

"Hey," he said, "you wanna go for a ride in my hot air balloon tomorrow? The weather's supposed to be great again and it's very peaceful."

"You have a hot air balloon?" said Dawn, surprised. "I'd love to! I've never been in a hot air balloon before!"

"You'll enjoy it," said Dusk, suddenly feeling much happier. "That is, if you've recovered from the magic."

"I'm sure I'll be fine," she said, waving a hoof.

"Excellent."

"Dusk! Dawn! Soup's on!"

"Perfect timing," chuckled Dawn, leaving the room, a suddenly hungry Dusk in tow.

Blitz slammed roughly into the ground, which was not wise when the ground was made out of cloud. He stood in front of his house and stomped in. Hurt and upset, he could barely contain his fury, fury at Dawn, at the world, but himself most of all. He'd been so stupid. As if he could compare to Dawn. He roughly opened his bedroom door and went straight to the bottom drawer of his dresser and extracted his bottle of emergency firewhiskey. He looked at it intently, teetering on the edge of a decision so badly he was like Schrödinghoof's famous feline. He hadn't felt the need for it for a long time, not since he'd come out to his father...

He put a tentative hoof on the lid of the bottle, and shoved it back in the drawer. Cursing, the pegasus threw himself onto his bed and let his anger simmer for a while. The face of a white mare swan into his mind.

"Stupid mare, thinks she can one-up me, she can think again."

He bitterly wished he had someone to talk to, but he also wanted to be alone. A nice catch twenty two indeed. He tossed and turned, trying vainly to get comfortable. He then tried falling asleep, he then tried reading a book to distract himself, all to no avail, Dusk and Dawn weighed heavily on his mind. In the end, he started to meticulously clean his bedroom, just for something to do, but he didn't stop there, soon his entire house was spotless. He fluttered up to his roof and flumped down upon it, exhausted. Night had fallen, and the stars sparkled overhead.

It hadn't worked.

He scooted down into his room and grabbed the bottle of whiskey and flew back to the roof. He took a great swig of the honey-brown liquid. His face scrunched up as it burnt his throat, but he immediately felt all warm inside.

"Man that's good," he said to himself, laying back under the stars. He could already feel his mind slowing down, and was grateful it was. He took another gulp. "Tomorrow... I need *hic!* to see... um..." He thought hard. "*Hic!*" And thought harder. "Elusive! Yes... m-maybe I should see him now. It's not too, um, late. *hic!*"

He made to stand up, but all of a sudden, there didn't seem to be any ground beneath him. He hiccoughed and puzzled over this for a second before he realised he'd fallen off the roof. He braced himself at the last moment and felt his front garden slam into his face.

"Ow!" he said lamely, rubbing his head. "I-I think I'm too... drunk to *hic!* fly..." He started giggling.

Rainbow Blitz tried to stand again and collapsed. He took one last drink of whiskey and fell asleep at his front porch.

The sound of hoofsteps echoed along the marbled corridors. A door opened silently, and the steps continued. Princess Celestia was on a mission. She strode past ornately decorated windows, dark in the night. She quietened her steps as she drew closer to her destination, this was too important.

She opened the ebony doors that stood before her and snook stealthily into the room, she could hear the tinkling of water and a soft melodious voice emenating from the bathroom, confirming to the alabaster alicorn that Luna was bathing. Putting her plan into action, Celestia raised a wing and withdrew a whoopie cushion she'd been carrying, placing it on a certain spot under Luna's bed. Giggling silently to herself, Celestia hurried to a corner of the room and hid behind an armchair, waiting patiently.

Eventually, her patience was rewarded, as Luna exited the bathroom, running a towel through her flowing mane. If only she didn't sit on the exact same spot on the bed every time, she could have avoided Celestia's devious flim flams. Nonetheless, she sat her rump down on the edge of the bed, and the resultant sound made her jump so badly that she slipped off and tumbled to the floor.

"'Tia!"

Celestia, trying her hardest not to laugh, couldn't hold back any longer, collapsing to the floor and giggling wildly.

"Why, 'Tia?" asked Luna exasperatedly.

"Because–" Celestia wheezed, "your face! Ahahahaha!"

"Hilarious, I'm sure," said Luna, lifting her bedsheets and flinging the cushion in Celestia's direction. "True comedic genius."

"Oh come," said Celestia, getting to her hooves and sitting beside her. "Sometimes I wonder where your sense of humour is."

"I could say the same to you," said Luna dryly. "Was there anything you wanted? Other than to play practical jokes?"

"In fact, there was: I'm a little concerned at the lack of letters from either of our two students. I would have thought they'd have written by now."

"Is that all?" said Luna. "Celestia, forgive me, but I fear you have forgotten what it is to be young."

Celestia looked thoughtful.

"You think so?"

"Perhaps. Ponies are forgetful in youth, they, for wont of a better phrase 'live in the moment'. Let them be, and do... whatever it is that they do."

"It seems I am not the only one who has forgotten," said Celestia.

"Shut up."

Beams of golden sunlight bathed the early morning land as the Sun rose above the horizon, waking every pony except one.

Rainbow Blitz was fast asleep. The birds that had tried to sing outside his house had given up in trying to make themselves heard over the cacophony of his snoring, and a small puddle of drool lay on the ground beneath his cheek.

An eyelid fluttered, a voice-box groaned, a pair of lungs yawned and a brain throbbed painfully. Rainbow Blitz awoke and sat up, clutching his head.

"Urgh, good goddess, what did I do last nigh– oh yeah," he said, noticing the bottle beside him. Getting gingerly to his hooves, he trudged into his house and made several cups of very strong tea to help clear his mind. It sort of worked. S he was stirring sugar lump into his fourth cup, a thought came to mind.

"I need to see Elusive."

Stretching his stiff wings, he ran outside and threw himself off the edge of his house, gliding down to Ponyville town.

Dusk reached a hoof out in his sleep, as though he were trying to touch something, or someone. Vainly he grasped at thin air, until he overextended and tumbled out of bed, waking with a start. From his world of tangled blankets, he wasn't completely sure which way was up, his head popped out and he found he was upside down, and that the door had just opened.

"Morning," said Dawn. "We heard a bang and Spike asked me to check it out. You alright?"

"I'm fine," said Dusk, extracting himself and stretching. He sniffed. "Can I smell eggs?" he asked hopefully.

"Yup! I guess you want some?"

"Please," he said gratefully. "I'll just, you know, have a wash and whatnot and I'll be straight down."

Dawn nodded and made her way back downstairs.

"He'll be down in a little bit," said Dawn to Spike, who was standing on a stool, cooking eggs merrily.

Ten oil spitting minutes later, Dusk came down the stairs sparkling clean and ready for his breakfast.

"Morning, Spike," he said happily as he made a cup of tea.

"Hey, you're in a good mood today."

"Well, I am looking forward to a ride in the hot air balloon later," he said, sitting down opposite Dawn.

"Aw, can I come?" asked the little drake, looking hopefully at them both. Dusk glanced at Dawn, who nodded serenely.

"Of course you can," said Dusk briskly. "You've been very good lately after all, you deserve a treat."

"Can I bring some ice cream?" he added.

"Don't push it now," said Dusk, grinning at Spike's nerve.

"A-All I want is Dusk... is that too much to ask?"