Chapter 4
An Egg Heads Guide to Art
Ink let out a yawn as he made through the streets through Ponyville with his art supplies in his saddle bags. He rubbed his tired eyes to feel a familiar warm liquid meet his hoof. He quickly mixed the blood in the dirt as he made his way to the library. As he approached the door he laughed at the fact that he was entering a building that sold books. He gave a hard knock and the door opened to reveal a small purple dragon.
“Um.....Is Twilight in?”
“Yeah she’s in the kitchen. You must be Ink right?”
“Yup.”
“I’m Spike.” he said with a smile. Ink gave him a nod and made his way inside the hollowed out tree. He sent out a pulse, the magical line rippled over the thousands of books the library had stacked on the shelves.
“Hey Ink.” Said a familiar voice. The dark stallion turned around to see a familiar lavender outline standing over in the kitchenette. He nodded and turned his attention to the massive pile of books that were stacked on a nearby table. “I spent the whole night studying Art.”
“Are all of these books about Art?”
“Yeah I pulled them out to-”
“We won’t need them.”
“What? Why?” she said in surprise.
“Art cannot be explained with words, that’s the beauty of it.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Welcome to my world.” he set his supplies down and lifted the pile off books off the desk, he pulled out a quill and paper. “Now, draw a circle.”
“Okay.” she said as she levitated the quill and drew a perfect circle. Ink took the piece of paper and sent out another pulse outlining the circle.
“Sweet Celestia, looks like this is going to be harder than I thought.”
“What do you mean? Is it that bad?” she said in a nervous tone.
“No, quite the opposite. It’s a perfect circle.”
“So what’s the issue?”
“Art isn’t supposed to be perfect it HAS to have a flaw in it.” he said as he crumpled up the piece of paper.
“Why? The book said-”
“Forget what the book said. The book is a collection of facts and figures, the complete opposite of what Art is truly about.” he said as he withdrew a fresh sheet. “Watch.” he put the quill to the paper and drew a very slim circle. “Now tell me what do you see?”
“I see a crooked circle.”
“No. Open your mind! Think outside the box, use the unorthodox!”
“All I see is a crooked circle! What do you see?”
Seriously?
“I see a pancake, a trash can lid, a possible eye ball and hundreds of other possibilities. Art isn’t about it being perfect, it’s about seeing the world around you in different ways.” he said as he looked at the confused mare.
“I don’t get it.”
“Ugh. Follow me.” he said as he trotted towards the door.
“Hey wait you said you’d teach me that spell!”
“Before I teach you that which gives Art life you must first understand what Art is.” he said as he continued to walk out into the street with the confused mare following him. The two unicorns made their way through town until they reached a nearby cafe. “Now I want you to look at that mare sitting at the table over there and tell me what you see.” he said as he pointed to a mint green unicorn sipping on a smoothie. “Be sure to really look, there are no wrong answers in Art. Only your opinion.” Twilight focused on the mare, she could feel the gears in her brain beginning to turn in frustration.
“I don’t know....she’s waiting for some-pony.”
“Good. Who’s she waiting for?”
“How would I-”
“Use your imagination.” Twilight looked at the mare harder but found nothing.
“I don’t know.”
“Just watch.” Ink took a moment to ‘stare’ at the mare. “She’s sitting at a table, waiting for her friend who’s running late. This is not the first time it’s happened and she is becoming very annoyed at her partners’ tardiness. Her anger is beginning to peak and when the guest arrives all hell will break loose.” he finished.
“That is completely-” she was cut off by the green mars shouting, the two looked over to see a cream colored mare with a pink and purple mane standing there with a guilty look on her face.
“Seriously Bonbon! This is the third time this month you showed up ten minutes late!”
“Sorry Lyra, I got a new shipment today at the candy shop.”
“I know...It’s just that. I feel like you don’t want to spend time with me anymore.” she said in a sad tone.
“That’s crazy! I love you. I’ve just been so busy because Hearts and Hooves day is only a month away and I’ve been getting all of these crazy orders. It’s making my life a living hell.” Lyra’s face turned from angry to sad hearing the information.
“I’m sorry Bonnie.” she said in a low voice. “I was just being selfish.” the cream colored mare hugged her and gave her a smile.
“You help me forget all the work I have to do, that’s why I love you so much. I’m sorry that I’ve been so busy lately and I’ll be sure to pencil in some more time for us.” the green mare gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Twilight was staring, mouth agate at the action while Ink had a smug grin on his face.
“H-how did you know?”
“I didn’t. I just guessed and let Art do the rest. Believe me now?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Good. Come along then, we still have much more to see.” he said as he began to trot away with Twilight following close behind. As she walked beside the stallion she noticed that his Cutie Mark was a quill and paint brush criss crossing.
“How did you get your Cutie Mark?”
“That old thing? Hmm.” he scratched his chin for a moment. “Oh right, I was entered in an art show at school and I accidentally spilled paint over the drawing I entered. There wasn’t time to clean it so I sucked it up and braced for failure.”
“Did you fail?”
“Nope. I won first prize.” he said with a smile. “The judges said they hadn’t seen anything like it before. I explained to them that it was just a fluke, but they didn’t care. The judge told me that, ‘sometimes the greatest works of art are made by accident.’ I was so proud of myself that day as was my mother. The rest is history.” Twilight looked at him in amazement.
“Wow! That’s cool.”
“Yeah. That phrase applied to me immensely.”
“How so?” Ink bit his lip at the question.
“I wasn’t born......On purpose If you get my meaning.”
“Oh...I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. My mom loved me all the same.”
“What about your father?” Inks eyes shrank at the memory of the stallion.
“He was never around all that much.”
“Oh, I see. What do they do?”
“My mom was an editor for the news paper and my dad was a doctor.”
“That sounds interesting. Where are they now?” Ink lowered his head at the question.
“They’re...dead.” Twilight looked back at him with a sad look on her face.
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have-” she was cut off as he raised a hoof to the mare.
“It’s all right Twilight.” He said with a smile. “Now on with the lesson!” he said as they two made it to the edge of Sweet Apple Acres.
“What are we doing here?”
“Just wait and see.” He said as the two trotted up a hill. “Look down there.” he pointed to an orange blur kicking a nearby apple tree.
“What? It’s AJ bucking apples. Don’t tell me that’s art.”
“It is. Applejack is doing something that makes her happy and allows her to express herself in her own unique way.”
“She’s working.”
“Yeah, it reflects her hardworking personality and stamina.” He explained. Twilight looked at the stallion in confusion as her brain processed his comment.
“That’s very observant.”
Not bad for a blind pony if I do say so myself. He thought as he looked at Twilight with a smile. “Comes with the job, you learn to see the world in a whole new perspective.” He said as he began to trot away from the scene and made his way back into town with Twilight following close behind him. The two stopped in the park and sat down at a bench next to the lake. “Now that you have a basic idea of what art is let’s try that circle exercise again.” He said as he summoned a quill and paper. Twilight took a deep breath and drew a jagged circle. “Good, now what do you see?”
“I see a broken wheel.”
“Good, why is the wheel broken?”
“Somepony was pulling a cart and hit a pot hole.”
“Excellent what was in the cart?” he said as he observed her.
“Food supplies, camping gear and a tent!” Twilight looked at the stallion in amazement. “I saw it, I saw it on the paper!” Ink clapped his hooves together in happiness.
“You’re ready.”
“For what?”
“To draw.” he said as he packed up his things and got to his hooves. “C’mon, back into town we go.” he said with a smile. “Lead the way Ms. Sparkle.” he said with a smug grin. Twilight blushed at the formal greeting and started to lead the two back into the busy town. As they walked through the park Ink couldn’t help but glance at the lavender mares flank.
“What are you staring at?” Twilight ask as she looked back at the dark stallion.
Oh crap! She caught me looking, hurry Say something!
“Nothing, just admiring the trees.” He lied.
Seriously? That’s the best you could think of?
“The trees?” she said as she raised an eyebrow.
Great, I peeked at Celestia’s pupil. I hope there are beds on the moon.
“Yup, I don’t see to may like these in Manehattan, it’s refreshing.” he said as he put on a fake smile.
That’s it, I’m dead!
“I can see that.” She said with a smile.
Wait, she’s buying this?
“Yeah, never seen these kind before. But enough about that lets-” he was cut off a a familiar cyan Pegasus landed in front of them. “Sup Rainbow?”
“Hey guys, what are you two doing here? Is this a date?” She said with a smirk across her face. Twilight’s face started to blush at the statement.
“No, Ink was just teaching me about art.” She said wit a heavy sigh.
“Sure he was.” She said in an innocent tone. “I bet he’d love to draw you on a bed, fluffy pillows with a pleading look in your-” she was cut off by Twilight summoning a small storm cloud and shocking the cyan mare. “OW! Jeez Twi, I was only kidding.” She said as she rubbed the sore spot on her flank.
“Dash don’t push me!” She said as she frowned at the mare.
“Sorry, didn’t know you were so touchy.” She said in an annoyed tone.
“Did you need something Dash?” Ink asked with flat expression on his face.
“Just wanted to hang out.”
“I’m still giving Twilight a lesson.” He said in a stern tone.
“Fine, let me know when you want to see some real art.” She said in a cocky tone. The mare extended her wings and rocketed towards the sky as Twilight face hoofed and shook her head.
“Why did Rainbow assume we were on a date?” Ink asked as he ‘looked’ at the lavender mare. Twilights face started to blush profusely at the question and began to search her mind for the answer.
“You know how she is, always jumping to conclusions like that.” She said with a weak grin.
She’s cute when she tries to lie.
“Yeah, I guess.” Ink said as he and the mare made their way back to the library. Ink’s horn glowed and a canvas and paint brush appeared before them. “Okay, now go ahead and paint.”
“Just like that?” She said as she looked at him in confusion.
“Yep, give it your best shot.” He said as he sat down on the couch. Twilight levitated the paint brush and drew a stick pony. She looked back at him with a disappointed look on her face. “Relax, you’ll get it eventually.”
“I don’t know Ink. I’ve never been good with art, that’s why I always preferred academics and books.” She said in a sad tone. “Sorry for wasting your time.”
“You’re gonna give up just like that?”
“Look at what you can do and compare it to my little monstrosity.” She said as she pointed to the canvas.
“You think I was born with this talent? No, I spent hours on end perfecting it. Everypony I knew told me to give up, that it was a waste of time and effort.” He said as he trotted over to the mare. “It just takes practice, I’m sure you weren’t born with all the knowledge that you have right now.”
“Well, no but-”
“But nothing, these things take time. You’ve already shown some progress.” He said with a smile.
“Really?”
“Yeah, a little progress is better than no progress.”
“I wish I could see the world like you can.” She said with a smile.
Trust me, you don’t.
“Well, ya can’t. What time is it?”
“Almost six o’clock. Wow time really flew by.” She said with a smile. Ink trotted over to his supplies and made them vanish.
“I’ll get out of your mane then and-”
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” She asked with a bright blush on her face. Ink looked at the mare with a smug grin on his face.
“That eager to spend time with me huh?”
“Oh get over yourself.” She said as she rolled her eyes.
“Relax, I’m just messing with you. If it’s not too much trouble then yes, I’d love to stay for dinner.” He said with a smile. Twilight nodded and called for her dragon assistant. While the dragon cooked their meal the two unicorns sat and talked to one another. “Seriously? That many Pinkie’s?”
“Yeah it took us quite a while to round them all up.” She said as Spike put their food on the table.
“Sounds like it.” He said as the two walked over to the table and started eating.
“So what was it like growing up in Manehattan?”
“Rough. I had to watch my back on a daily basis.” He said as he took a bite from his sandwich.
“What about you and Vinyl?”
“We weren’t always friends. Before her most ponies treated me like trash.” He said as he took a sip. Twilight put a hoof to her mouth in surprise. “Manehattan is a tough place to grow up in, if you don’t learn how to survive it’ll swallow you up.”
“Oh my.”
“What about you? All I know about ya is that you love books and your Celestia’s student.” He said as he leaned back in his chair.
“I grew up in Canterlot. I had extremely powerful magic for my age so my parents enrolled me in ‘Celestia’s Private School for the Magically Gifted.’” She said with a smile.
“Sounds cool.”
“There was just one small problem, I had to pass an entrance exam.”
“What was it?”
“I had to hatch a dragon egg.” She said as she looked over at Spike.
“So that’s where Spike came from. I was wondering how you got a dragon as an assistant.” He said with a grin. “So you passed with a perfect score right?”
“Kind of. My magic went haywire and I accidentally made a two foot baby dragon grow into a fifty foot behemoth and I turned my parents into plants.” She said with a blush. Ink’s jaw dropped.
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.” He said as he gulped.
“It all worked out though. The Princess was so impressed with my potential that she took me under wing and I’ve been her student ever since.” Twilight said as she finished her meal.
“Awesome! What about your family?”
“My dad is an astronomer, my mom is a psychiatrist.” Ink levitated the glass to his lips and began to drink. “and brother is captain of the royal guard.” Inks eyes shrank and almost choked on his drink. “You okay?”
“Your brother is captain of the royal guard!” He said in surprise.
“Yeah. I guess I didn’t mention that.” She said with a sheepish grin.
“I take it that scares most stallions away.” He said with a weak grin. Ink looked over to see Twilight lowering her head. “Hey, I was only kidding.” He said in an apologetic voice.
“I’ve....never had a date.” Inks jaw dropped and face-hoofed.
Oh crap.
“I’m so sorry, I just assumed that-”
“It’s fine.” Twilight said as she poked at her food. Ink let out a sigh and put a hoof on her shoulder.
“If it’s any consolation, I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve never been on a date either.” Twilight looked at him in surprise.
“Really? I figured that the mares would swoon over the artist type like you.”
“Oh they do. The ones that usually do are dumb as rocks and don’t even know who painted the Mona Celestia.”
“Leoneighdo Da Vinci. One of his most popular works and is displayed at the Royal Canterlot Museum of Art and is guarded twenty-four seven by armed guards.”
“Finally somepony who respects the classics!” He said as he raised his hooves.
“So you’ve really never had a date I figured that you and Vinyl-” Ink burst out in a fit of laughter.
“Vinyl? No way, she’s my best friend and I’m so not her type.”
“What do you mean? You’re both artists.”
“Vinyl isn’t ‘into’ stallions if you know what I mean.” He said as he looked at the blushing mare who had a look of confusion on her face.
“Oh. I see. I’m sorry I just assumed that you two had a thing.”
“Relax, many ponies suspected that.” He said with a laugh. “Vinyl is just my oldest friend, she’s my sister after all.” Twilight looked at him in confusion.
“Wait I thought you two were just friends. What do you mean by she’s your sister?” Ink bit his lip at the next part.
“When my mom died Vinyls folks took me in and looked after me.” Twilight put a hoof to her mouth in shock.
“How old were you?”
“I was around ten.” He said in a low tone.
“How did your mom..Forget it, I shouldn’t ask.”
“Carriage accident, she died on the operating table and my dad started drinking.....a lot. So until he got his act together I stayed with Vinyl.” He said as he took another sip. “Unfortunately that day never came. He couldn’t care for himself let alone me. So Social Services came and Vinyl’s folks adopted me.” Twilight started to cry and wrapped him in a hug.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” She said with a sniffle. Ink patted her on the back and smiled.
“Relax, I’ve moved on. It happened a long time ago.” He said as he broke the hug and made his way towards the door. “Thanks for dinner Twi. I’ll see you later.” Twilight bit her lip and turned around to face the dark stallion.
“Are you doing anything tomorrow?” She asked in a nervous tone.
“I’ll probably go around town to see if anypony needs a painting.”
“Mind if I come along? Tomorrow’s my day off and I’m ahead of all my studies.”
“That eager to spend some more time with me eh?” Ink said with a smug grin on his face. Twilight’s face instantly turned beat red.
“No, you’re just interesting to talk to and it’s refreshing to talk to somepony who’s so cultured.” She said as her blush increased.
“Whatever, you’re free to join if you want.” He said as he trotted out the door. “Goodnight.” He said with a wave. Twilight smiled and returned the gesture. After Twilight closed the door she turned around to see Spike with a smile stretching from ear to ear.
“You like him don’t you.”
“Not now Spike.”
“Come on Twilight, it’s obvious that you like him.” He said as he walked up next to her.
“Just shut up Spike. I’ll admit that Ink is interesting and fun to talk to that’s all.”
“Sure, I totally believe you.” He said in a sarcastic tone. Twilight let out a grunt and trotted upstairs and crawled into her bed. The mare stared up at the ceiling trying to get the dark stallions image out of her mind.
“Ugh! I don’t like him! Sure he’s charming, smart, has great taste in art and he’s cu-” She stopped herself before the words left her lips. She buried her face in her pillow and let out a sigh. “Who am I kidding? I like him.” She laid still until sleep eventually claimed her.
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As Ink closed the door his smiled vanished and was replaced by flowing red tears. He angrily made his way into the kitchen and withdrew a bottle of Vodka and an orange bottle of pills. He popped two in his mouth and chased them down with a swig from the bottle. He sent out another pulse and noticed a mirror standing in the corner. He cursed and threw the bottle at the mirror causing it to shatter. He made his way to his room and closed his eyes, he felt the sleeping pills take effect and he soon drifted off to sleep.