Ponyville
Monday
Two weeks, for two weeks Shimmering Night watched over her mother: Princess Twilight, like a griffin watches her young. Rainbow and Twilight tried to play it off at first, simply accepting their daughter’s increased attention like it was nothing out of the normal, like it was simply a daughter who wanted to spend more time with her parents. However, that quickly became too much for Rainbow after the fourth day. Night seemed to demand to spend every waking moment with Twilight, and while Rainbow wanted the same thing, she wanted to spend most of that time alone.
It was not long before Rainbow took an ‘I don’t give a buck’ attitude with Night’s increased attention. With Night refusing to come clean with why she was always around, Rainbow began acting as if she were not even there. The third time Night walked in on her parents, she called it quits. Whatever spell Twilight got hit with, it had not done anything to her yet, and chances are it did nothing, as any spell she could think of would have had a noticeable effect by now.
Of course, most spells were not randomly cast by a mare like Ataxia and mixed with her own magic before striking their unintentional victim while they were engaged in ‘activities’. That part still bugged her, Night knew Ataxia could be reckless at time, but this was taking it to a whole new level. Of course, Ataxia had apologized profusely over and over. Even offering to tell Twilight that it was all her fault. Night refused that offer; she did not really want her mom to know that they had been fighting like that outside their house. Ataxia was just starting to make up for all the bad things she had done in the past, and something like this would set her back in the eyes of all the town ponies. That was not something Night wanted to see happen.
However Night also did not want to watch her parents have sex like bucking rabbits all around the house. She got enough of that growing up. So, after the third time walking in at the inopportune time, (something she was sure Rainbow managed to plan out) Night called it quits with her surveillance and made her way back to Canterlot.
…
“Rainbow, who was that?” Twilight asked, while her mind was still in its own world, not even she could fail to miss the door slamming like that. For Rainbow’s part, she just smiled as she continued to run her tongue up and down her lower lips.
“Oh, that was Night, I think she just came by to say goodbye.” Rainbow said with a chuckle as she continued.
Twilight threw her wife off of her. “Rainbow!!!”
Rainbow simply laughed. “What can I say, I’m not going to let her get between me and my wife.”
Much to Rainbow’s chagrin, that was the end of their fun that day as Twilight could no longer continue after that little act. Her anger ruining her mood, regardless how many times Rainbow would bring up how much fun angry sex was.
………….
Canterlot
Shimmering Night flew into Canterlot at best speed. She had been gone much longer than she intended to be, while Luna kept everything working during her absence, she had no doubt that there would be a mountain of things that still needed to be done when she got back.
And she was right.
“Princess Night, it is imperative that we get your ap-“
“Princess Night, you simply must decide betw-“
“Princess Night, you have to sign thes-“
On and on it went, all she really wanted was a hot bath and to relax after such a long trip. Briefly she considered that maybe; just maybe this was Rainbow's real payback. Night quickly dismissed that thought, Rainbow was never the long-term planner that Twilight was, or that her broth-. Night took that train of thought, locked it in a box with several explosives, and threw it into the ocean. It would not do anyone any good to have a breakdown over that again… So she pressed on, some pain was easier to ignore than to forget. Even if it did normally bite you in the flank after a while.
It was time to lower the sun before she even realized it, something that Luna had to remind the princess of when she woke up. Night bid her goodnight after completing a mountain of paperwork, all of which had to have the royal stamp of approval, and left for her room.
When she walked in to her bedchambers, she noticed two very distinctive things, two things that simply jumped up at her and caught her eye before anything else. The first was her bed. It was an alicorn-sized bed, made of the softest feathers and warmest blankets. Each of which simply begged for their occupant to return, they called out for Night like a mother calling out for her foal, a promise of warm milk and unconditional love in their voice. Night almost collapsed immediately upon laying eyes on such a soft, warm, and inviting proposition. It would have brought a tear to her eye; it would have, if not for the second thing.
The second thing, completely killed the mood of the first, it was the one thing she could not take at this moment. The one thing she definitely did not want to see. Not now… not with her bed so close. Alas, she could not ignore it, as it was waiting in her bed.
Ataxia was laying in said bed waiting on her.
“Hey Night, welcome back!” Ataxia looked up with a grin on her face, she was going for seductress, but to Night it only came across as trouble.
“Ataxia, get out of my bed, I am so not in the mood for… whatever it is your planning right now.”
“Ah, and here I’ve been waiting patiently for you all this time, and you don’t want to see me now? I’m hurt.”
Night surrounded the mare with her magic and lifted her up and away from the bed; she could forgive the bed for cheating on her… this time. It simply looked too good for her to stay mad at it. That being said, she was not in the mood for a threesome. She wanted the bed all to herself.
When Night collapsed on the bed, she also let the magic go that was surrounding Ataxia; the mare fell on the floor with a loud thud. “What the hell Night!” She shouted, the damage to her ego far exceeded any actual pain she suffered.
“My bed, and I’m not in the mood to share.”
Ataxia got to her hooves and looked down at her friend, it was obvious Night was not in any sort of playing mood right now. That being said, Ataxia was not the type to simply give up, or to catch onto obvious hints like that. Something was truly bugging her friend, while Night would normally tire of her antics, this was the first time Night simply threw her to the side. That was the part that hurt the most. Night wasn’t the type to be so dismissive. “It’s more than that. I can tell, Night.”
“Who knew Miss Obvious made the rank of Captain.” Night replied, a snarky tone to her voice.
“Ha, ha, ha, that’s so funny I forgot to laugh.”
“Really? ‘Cause it sounds like you just did.”
Ataxia was really starting to worry now; it was a rare day that Shimmering Night would make a joke like that. For the mare to make two in one go? It was unheard of. “Night, what’s this really about.”
“I just want to sleep, Ataxia. It has been a long, long day. Can this conversation wait until the morning?”
The sudden vibrations coming from the side of the bed told Night the answer to that question. Ataxia would not go anywhere without getting an answer. ‘I swear, that mare is more stubborn than Applejack ever was.’
“Well, if you want the bed to yourself, you will tell me; otherwise, I’m not going anywhere.” Ataxia said, matter-of-factly.
Night turned her head and looked at her friend, Ataxia was doing her best to try to mimic her mom’s signature, ‘I’m too cute for you to be angry at,’ face. Needless to say, she needed more lessons, as only Rainbow has ever been able to pull of that look, and even then it only ever worked on Twilight.
“Fine, you want to know what the problem is Ataxia? Is that really what you want to know?”
“Of course.” Ataxia smiled.
Shimmering Night sat up and looked at Ataxia, there was no hint of anything but seriousness to her. “You’re the bucking problem!”
The smile faded.
“You never think, you never listen to what anypony else ever says! You don’t obey orders; you always do anything you want, whenever you want, regardless of the consequences. But you know what? I only ever went along with it! I’ve actually encouraged this behavior over the years!” Night looked up in the air as she let out everything that had been building up over the past few years. “I thought it was funny, I laughed when you pulled off your ‘Mostly harmless’ pranks. Luna dammit Ataxia… how many ponies have you hurt? How many will you hurt before you check yourself?”
For Ataxia, every blow was a shot to the gut; she had never felt like this before, Night was mad at her and from the sounds of it, she had been for quite some time. It was that which hurt the most; she had kept this all bottled in for Luna knows how long.
“But I looked the other way, always giving you the benefit of the doubt. I would simply say, that’s just who she is. Then… then your little stunt the other day, it hit my mom Ataxia….”
“Night I…”
“No, I’m not done. Ataxia, I still don’t know if that magic did anything to Twilight. For you, I did not tell her anything. I did not tell my mom that my best friend in the world hit her with an unknown spell that could have caused… whatever to happen.”
Ataxia got mad at that. “Hey! That wasn’t just me you know! You’re the one who deflected it like that.”
Night just looked at her.
“Really Ataxia? Bucking really? I’m the one who is at fault because I did not simply let myself get hit? Is that really the defense you are going to go with? Are you REALLY trying to turn this around on me for bucking defending myself? Think very carefully about your answer.”
“… No…” Hearing it said out loud, Ataxia realized just how dumb it sounded.
“Why don’t you just go? I need… I need some time to think…”
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no. I’m not just going to leave it like this. I… We… You mean too much to me, Night, to simply let this go. As such, I’m not going anywhere until we can get past this. Until we can both be good.”
“I’m tired Ataxia…”
“Tough. You’re a big girl now Night. Time to start to act like it.”
“If I call the guards to throw you out?”
“Night, we both know that only Rainbow or Twilight could toss me out of here against my will. If you want to go down that path, I’m all for it, but I somehow don’t think you're in the mood for such an action or the consequence that would come with it. I am, it’s not worth playing by the rules if it I can’t keep my friend.”
Night paused and thought of it, her mind playing through all the actions that would occur if she went down that road… it was not a pleasant idea and would definitely lead to even more trouble. She collapsed back onto the bed, her energy spent. “Fine… you win. Do… whatever you want, I don’t care anymore.”
Somehow, that hurt Ataxia more than anything else that had been said that night. “I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry about what happened; I don’t even know what happened or how it happened. Let me… let me make it up to you.”
“Make it up to me? How?”
“Let me take you out and treat you for a night. We can make a date of it.”
“You want to treat me?”
“I know I’m a pain in the flank… I always have been, but I’m trying Night. I really am. I can’t do it on my own though, I need your help, I need you to believe in me, because if you don’t… There is no reason for me to even try. With the loss of Fluttershy… you’re my best friend in the world Night, I don’t want to lose you too.”
Ataxia collapsed next to her friend and buried her head in Night’s side, tears running down her face. Shimmering Night did not know if it was the sincerity in her voice, the stupid logic of her statement, her actually bringing up Fluttershy, or the tears running down her eyes. For the life of her, Night did not want to forgive… not again, but she couldn’t do anything else. Ataxia was still her friend, regardless what else may come.
“Fine… We can go hit the town this Friday.”
“Really?” Ataxia looked up, tears still running down her cheeks.
“Sure… It would be good to get a break away from all of this. I do still believe in you Ataxia.” A weight lifted from Night’s chest as she realized that she did. It was all the truth. She did still believe in her friend. Even after everything that had happened. She did not hate her….
Ataxia jumped up and hugged her friend. “Thank you Night! I promise it will be the best date ever!”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure you will simply romance me off my hooves.” Night snarked sarcastically as Ataxia jumped out the window and flew off into the night. Night could only watch her go, with a smile on her face as her friend left. As Ataxia left, Shimmering Night smiled at the thought of Ataxia actually dolled up and pampered in a fancy dress trying to act mare-like. The thought made her laugh. She did not know what Ataxia was planning but she knew it would not be anything like that.
‘Wait… she doesn’t mean like a date-date, does she?’
Shimmering Night laughed again at that thought as she lay her head back down. The idea was preposterous and absurd to say the least. She knew Ataxia better than that.
‘Just my imagination playing games with me’ Night thought as sleep finally overtook her. She had a whole week before she had to deal with whatever game Ataxia wanted to play on Friday, she would not lose any sleep over it right this second. Her exhaustion made sure of that.
Her dreams spoke of a completely different story, as thoughts of the two on an actual date played out in her subconscious. While she did not remember any of them, she woke up very happy for some strange odd reason. Something all the nobles at court were quick to ruin.
…………………………….
Cloudsdale
Friday morning
Cadance had put it off long enough, she knew it had actually been too damn long. That only made the situation worse… She had to speak with Spitfire; she was not sure how, but somehow her son and daughter-in-law had wrangled her into this without her even being aware of it. That was the worst part of all of this; it was even worse than the fact that she was now the de facto ruler of the Crystal Empire and Cloudsdale. Something she had never, never signed up for.
‘The things we do for family.’ She thought to herself.
The fact she should have done this three bucking months ago… That made things hell. Or at least, that is what it was going to become. Cadance gulped and swallowed down the small amount of vomit that had just come up. Whatever was going to happen, she had to face it. Of course, that did not mean she could not plan for it. Just in case the worst-case scenario did happen.
Cadance paused before knocking on the door of the old mare. At the best of times, Spitfire was not a pleasant pony to be around. She had heard that the mare actually mellowed out a little after her daughter was married… of course, that was before her daughter ended up pregnant and bedridden for a year. That definitely made this news NOT one of the ‘better’ times.
So Cadance prepared. She wrote a quick letter to Spike, to be forwarded on to Twilight and Rainbow if things went from bad to worse… ‘Maybe it was a bad idea to come alone.’ Cadance dismissed that thought; this was something she had to do. It was not a duty she would shrink from. ‘I’m a princess dammit!!! I should not be afraid of an old pegasus! Yeah, keep telling yourself that…’
She was afraid, but any further delay would only make things worse.
Cadance put the letter in her knapsack and readied her courage. She rang the doorbell as three loud ding, ding, dings could be heard from inside the house.
‘Ask not for whom the bell tolls.’
“NOT HELPING!”
She blushed as she realized that she had just shouted the last part at herself. It was made even worse by the fact that it was at that moment that Spitfire opened the door.
“Princess Cadance?” Spitfire asked.
Cadance paused as she took in the old mare; it had been months since they had last seen each other. She looked... tired for the lack of a better word. The stress of all those years as Captain of the Wonderbolts had taken their toll on her. There were bags under her eyes that spoke of weeks since her last full night’s sleep. Another byproduct of her old age.
Her wings… Cadance did not believe that Spitfire had preened them since the wedding. She had heard that serving in the Wonderbolts was rough on a pegasus’s wings. The group would push you to your limits and then past them, over and over. Most ponies could not serve more than ten years before they had to retire. Somehow, Spitfire did twenty before her retirement. It was said she was saving the position for her daughter.
Not that anypony would ever accuse them of nepotism. There was no doubt in any pony’s mind that Firestar earned that position the hard way. If anything, having her mother as her commander made it that much harder on Firestar. Small mistakes that other ponies could brush off were anything but for her daughter. She demanded the best from Firestar simply because she knew she was capable of it. After all, her mom was a Wonderbolt, and while Firestar did not know which stallion was her dad, she knew he was a Wonderbolt too. That meant it was in her blood. It was her destiny to be one of the greats, something she lived up to in every sense of the word.
“Princess Cadance?”
Cadance snapped to; she had spaced out there and left the old mare hanging… that was not the way she wanted to start this conversation. “Sorry about that Captain Spitfire, may I come in?” She asked the old mare.
“Sure, but please, just Spitfire, we are family now after all.”
‘I hope you remember that.’ Cadance thought to herself as she walked into the old mare’s house. It was standard Cloudsdale architecture, elegant but tactful, soft but sturdy, all at the same time.
“Would you like some tea, princess?”
“That would be lovely Spitfire, but please, just call me Cadance. As you said, we are family now.” Spitfire chuckled a bit as she turned and left for the kitchen. It only took the mare a few moments to return with two cups of tea balanced on her wings. Something Cadance relieved her of as soon as she saw. Magic generally made everything a little easier.
Spitfire took a sip of her tea with a smile on her face. Faking a smile of her own, Cadance began sipping her drink.
“This is about Firestar isn’t it?”
Cadance almost sprayed Spitfire with a mouthful of the liquid. While she did her best to keep the tea in her mouth, it did leave her with quite the coughing fit. Something that took her two minutes to get over.
When Cadance at last regained her ability to speak, a look at the old mare confirmed her suspicion that Spitfire planned that out. “What makes you say that?” Cadance tried to regain the upper hoof on this conversation. Something she desperately needed if she wanted this to go the right way.
“Well, for starters, when does a old mare like me get a personal visit from Royalty? I’m not dumb, Cadance, I know that you have been taking over a lot of the rule of Cloudsdale. What I don’t know is why… If something happened to my daughter one would think I would have been informed. Or that her husband would at least take over the duties that are not regulated by the council. Yet I haven’t seen or heard so much of a peep from either of them.”
Cadance officially lost any hope over ever getting the upper hoof. Spitfire not only knew, she had known for quite some time.
“Tell me, what mess did my daughter get herself in this time? Did she screw it up with the young prince?”
“No, no, no, no, nothing like that.”
“Is she missing, dead?” The look on Spitfire’s face spoke volumes of how angry she would be if that were the case. Cadance reached out with her magic and readied the letter.
“No, she’s not missing or dead.”
“Are we going to play twenty questions all night? Or do you just want to come out and say it?”
Cadance sighed… It was finally time to do what she should have done months ago. “First let me apologize, I should have told you this months ago, but the responsibilities of looking ov-“
“Cadance, enough of the platitudes, please, please tell me what happened to my daughter.” For those few moments, Cadance saw the truth in the old mare, gone was the tough drill instructor. The façade of the strong ornery old mare who had seen too much in her long life was dropped. All Cadance saw in those few seconds was a mother who was worried about the daughter she loved.
That Cadance could work with.
“Well, I should start by telling you that Firestar is pregnant.”
Cadance began recanting the story from start to finish. She did not skip on any of the details she knew of, from how impressive Firestar had been throughout her entire recovery, to what a total bitch she was stuck in bed. During the entire recant of the story, Cadance never took her eyes off of Spitfire. The mare was stoic throughout the telling, never once did her façade fade again. She sat patiently waiting for Cadance to finish telling her everything. All the while sipping her tea.
Cadance ended the story, her eyes glued to the floor as she did so. “And that’s what happened…”
Spitfire sat her tea back on the table, her expression unreadable. “I see.”
“Sorry, I know I should have come to you earlier, there was no excuse for keeping this from you as long as I did. It wasn’t right to hold this information from you.”
Spitfire grabbed her cup and took another sip. “What do you have to apologize for? It’s not like you intentionally kept this from me… Oh, wait, that’s right, you did. My daughter… she’s in the hospital, pregnant, and you kept it from me.” She smashed the cup against the table.
Cadance felt something was wrong, something really, really wrong. She could not identify what it was though.
Spitfire stood up and walked two steps closer to the princess. “And you come here now… to relieve your own guilt, princess.”
Cadance stood up and backed away slowly, she gulped at the thought of what this mare was about to do. This was definitely the worst-case scenario. “Spitfire, I-“
“You what? You didn’t mean it? Well, princess? You what?” Another two steps forward.
Cadance took another two steps backwards; her flank hit the side of the room. She felt something coming from the mare, a presence that Cadance could not explain. Something was wrong… something was fundamentally off. A… force had wrapped itself around the mare’s heart. Causing her hatred to boil over into rage, this was the definition of bad. How long it had been there, or how it had hidden itself so well, Cadance would never know.
Cadance wrapped her magic around the scroll in her bag and sent if off to Spike. She knew that he would forward the message on to Twilight and Rainbow. For this… whatever this is, she would need them both.
That action ended up saving all of Cloudsdale, but it would come at a cost that nopony would ever fully understand.
…………………………….
Canterlot
Friday evening
Shimmering Night finished shuffling the paperwork she just finished as the day was finally coming to an end. After this week, Night could not think of a Friday she was more appreciative for that she could ever remember. Taking a two-week vacation out of nowhere… even if it was to try and protect her mom, it was not the wisest move she had made in her life. Sure, Luna was here in case something went really wrong, but she did not cover the mundane, everyday, boring stuff that was required to keep the country running. Her elegant reply to Night’s question of why still played in her head.
“We wished to make sure you still had something to do when you got back.”
That ‘something to do’ included enough paperwork to drown a whole family in their beds. Night felt like she had signed a million forms in triplicate over the last two days alone. That did not even count the endless parade of ponies coming for her blessing, advice, and the dignitaries from other nations, and the downright beggars that requested a royal audience. Something else that Luna wanted no part in, and in truth, they wanted no part in her taking part in it. Not after she tried solving a custody dispute by sawing the foal in half….
So Night smiled, listened to each and every pony, griffin, minotaur, diamond dog, and whatever else came in the door. All the while she had her muzzle buried in paperwork. Without a doubt she had offended some of them, but she was quickly becoming the ‘Princess of Multitasking,’ something she inherited from Twilight no doubt.
But now, now it was all over. After busting her flank off getting everything done, she could finally enjoy a nice weekend of peace and quiet without any more distractions.
“I think I will start off with a nice, long, hot, show-“
“About time Night! You have no idea how boring it was sitting here for four hours waiting for you to get done playing princess. You about ready to go or what?”
Her good mood vanished when she walked into her room. Sitting there, looking bored was Ataxia, suddenly the shower which was only a few hooves away might as well have been on the other side of the planet, protected by a swarm of hungry pony-eating dragons and surrounded by one of her mom’s most powerful defense spells. It would take an army to get to it now, and even then success would be unlikely.
“I’m not playing princess, Ataxia. I AM a princess. What are you even doing here anyway?”
“Equestria to Night? We’re going out tonight, remember?”
‘Buck me, I so forgot.’
“Of course I do, but isn’t it kind of early, shouldn’t we wait a little bit?”
‘Maybe if I get her distracted she will forget this whole thing.”
“Ah, Night, it’s after ten, that’s plenty late enough. Now move your flank and lets go!”
‘Damn….’
Night took one last longing look at her bathroom. It was so close… She would have signed over all the treasure in the place at that moment for five bucking minutes alone in that room right now. Alas, it was not meant to be, Ataxia had waited for a long time for her and she did promise that she would go out with her. Regardless of how she felt, it was the right thing to do. ‘Once you make a promise, that’s your word out there. It’s how others judge your character. You should always keep your promises.’
Night mentality cursed Rainbow for installing that lesson into her. She turned to her friend and did her best to fake a smile. “What are we waiting for? Lead the way.”
Ataxia’s smile was brighter than the sun. “That’s my girl; c’mon lets go!” Night reflected that it was a mark of restraint for her friend that she did not simply blow a hole in the side of the castle for them to fly out. Instead she simply jumped out of the window and transformed. Something she was getting infinitely good at doing.
“You coming, slowpoke?!”
That made Shimmering Night’s blood run. While she would never claim to be the athlete Rainbow or Aurora was, no pony called a foal of Rainbow Dash slow. “Oh it’s on Ataxia.” Night stretched her wings, the creaking in her joints letting her know just how long it had been since she had last done that. Still, even after all this time, her muscles felt ready; they were tense, tense for some real action, for a real workout.
She did not have much hope of actually beating Ataxia, not if the mare took it seriously, but she could give her a run for her money. Which was exactly what they did as the two made their way to Las Pegasus. Their flight time would have impressed Rainbow Dash.
Mind you, it was nowhere near Rainbow's record, but it was impressive nevertheless. They covered the distance in less than an hour. Arriving just as the clock struck eleven.
…
“Damn Night, who knew you had that much energy.” Ataxia and Night both landed completely out of breath on the top of a building in Los Pegasus. Exhausted, panting, and both very much awake. Something that Ataxia was entirely grateful of as she transformed back into her pony form. Part of her had been worried that Night would fall asleep halfway through the night.
“Ataxia, you have no idea how much I needed that. Sitting on my rump all damn day signing forms or listening to a pony complain about this or that… I have no idea why any pony would ever want this job; it's mentally exhausting to say the least.”
“Don’t you enjoy being the glamor of the job? Wearing a crown and having your regality preserved in a stained glass window for everypony to see?” Ataxia could not keep the shit-eating grin off her face as she channeled her ‘inner Rarity’, it was a mark of true self control that she did not simply bust out laughing.
Night simply pushed her over onto her side. “Shut up! Now where are we heading?”
Ataxia’s façade broke down at that, she burst into laughter that became all consuming. Her voice carried over several blocks. Night simply put up with the indignation of the situation. When Ataxia finally finished, Night spoke up. “You done?”
“Hey, that was funny.” Ataxia smiled, realizing that she was the only one laughing. Yet somehow, that just made it all the funnier.
“We going or what?” Night asked, her patience reaching the end for this little stunt.
“Yeah, yeah, there are just two little problems we have to address first.”
“Ataxia…”
“Relax, it’s just that we both stink. I doubt you want to go into town smelling like that.”
‘Not that I would mind…’ Ataxia thought to herself.
“Oh, yeah, right.” Night took a big inhale through her nose. Her face instantly grimaced. Ataxia was right, she did stink. “I might know just the thing.” Night focused her magic on the two of them. In a flash of light, they were both clean. It was nowhere near as satisfying as actually taking a shower, or a bath for that matter, but it still got the job done all the same.
“What’s the second thing?”
“Well, I’m sure you can get into wherever you want as an alicorn, but that won't really work if we want any of this night to ourselves. Anything you can do to hide the wings or horn?”
Night looked at her wings, Ataxia had a point. If they were going to have a good time here, they needed to blend in… while it was true most ponies would not look twice at an alicorn walking down the street. Still, it could attract a little more attention than they would want right now. This night should just be about the two of them. Relaxing and getting caught up, just like it was in the good old days.
“I know what to do, I’ll just cast a basic glamor spell.” Once again focusing her magic, Night surrounded her body with a charm spell. Her appearance shrunk down several hooves. Her horn and wings disappeared into her body as the spell went to work. In all reality, she was still Princess Shimmering Night, the purple alicorn with the rainbow mane. However, to anypony who looked at her, she was a pink earth pony, with a sky blue mane and sunflower cutie mark. No different looking than any of the other thousand earth ponies in town.
To Ataxia, she was still drop dead gorgeous.
“Ok, that should do it.” Night replied, after a few minutes of no response she looked over at her friend. Slightly surprised to find Ataxia’s mouth stuck in the open position. Night smiled and started laughing as she walked past her. “C’mon Ataxia, it’s not that impressive of a spell, I’ve seen you do things that blow this out of the water.”
Ataxia realized her mistake and shut her mouth. ‘Yeah, the spell.’ She started blushing at that thought. Something she was glad the cold night’s air quickly hid. “Alright, lets get going.” Ataxia went to jump off the roof; something a quick magic grasp on her tail stopped her from doing.
“What the buck, Night?”
“Isn’t the point of this to enjoy the night, without attracting a lot of undue attention?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So what do you think will happen if you transform above the city? You can go incognito as a pony but your dragacorn form is well known Ataxia. You would be recognized in an instant and that would definitely ruin whatever plans you have for the night.”
“Says the earth pony who just used magic.”
“Shut up.” Night blushed at that, “It was just to stop you from being stupid.”
“Yeah, yeah, well how do you suggest we get off this building then?”
Night gestured over to the doors that lead to the stairs.
“Oh, yeah… right.” For the second time in so many moments, Ataxia found a blush on her face. Something that did not go away as she followed her friend down the stairs. Night’s flank bouncing up and down in front of her face as she trailed her a little closer then she should have did nothing to help the situation. When they reached the bottom, Ataxia was very; very grateful to not be a stallion, as there was no way she could have hidden what she felt at this moment.
“Are… are you ok, Ataxia? You look a little flushed.”
Ataxia shook her head; Night was staring straight at her as she said that. Ataxia mentally berated herself for acting so brash like that. “Yeah, I’m alright Night, I’m just so excited about being back here. I can’t wait to show you what I have in store for you tonight! It’s going to be a blast.”
“Oh, ok. So where too?” Night was not sure just what was going on with her friend, but she seemed to have snapped out of it.
“We’re almost there actually, just two blocks to the north. Trust me, you can’t miss it.” Ataxia winked and took off to the north. “C’mon slowpoke; lets have a good old fashioned hoof race!” Ataxia left a very confused Night in the dust, leaving her with no choice but to run after her.
…
Night had to admit; Ataxia was right, she could not miss it. Not even if she wanted too. The Rainbow Light club had a way of sticking out from a mile away. Named for the rather impressive light display put on by the unicorns that ran it, it featured several impressive spaces that transformed as ponies danced on them, although, never in such a way to hurt anypony. It seemed as if the ponies that ran it figured out exactly what they could get away with.
Despite herself, Night was actually looking forward to this. The beat from the music could be felt from outside, a strange mix of classical and dubstep that just seemed to work. Of course, farther enjoyment could only come if they could actually get inside. The line seemed to be a bucking mile long.
“Ataxia, by the time we get in, it’s going to be Monday.” There was some truth to that statement. Night ran the numbers of ponies that actually made it inside and divided that by the time it took for those ponies to get inside, then multiplied that by the number of ponies in line, adjusted for the fact she could not even see the whole line. Accounting for a six-hour rest, it would take all weekend before it was their turn to go in.
“Should I just…” Night gestured to her head, if she revealed who she was, that would no doubt get them into the club. Of course, that would also give away who she was, something Ataxia did not want to happen.
“C’mon Night, do you think I would leave my best girl hanging like that. Trust me, I’ll get us in.” With that proclamation, Ataxia proceeded to bypass the line entirely and walked right up to the bouncer pony, who was a huge earth pony with a black coat and gray mane. His cutie mark was of a door being broken open. Briefly, Night wondered just how a pony figures out that that is their special talent in life. There were some things in this world that she would never understand.
“Back of the lin-“ the pony shut up as soon as he saw who was coming up. “Ataxia! I’m sorry; I did not know it was you. Who’s your friend?”
Ataxia smiled. “Oh, this is Sunflower. Don’t worry, she’s cool.”
“Any friend of Ataxia’s is welcome here. Do come in.” Ataxia walked into the club with her head held high and a bounce in her tail. Night followed, a little guilty about cutting in front of all the ponies waiting in line that were none too pleased with having to wait even longer to get in.
“Alright, two questions: Sunflower? And how did you do that?”
“What, you don’t like the name?” Ataxia smirked.
“It’s not that… Where did you even come up with it?”
Ataxia simply grinned and pointed a hoof at Night’s cutie mark. “Oh, yeah, right…” Night said with a blush.
“As far as the second thing goes. What, did you think I don’t have my own sort of fame here?”
“What did you do?” Night’s face took on a grimace. Unsure just what a pony like Ataxia could have done to be so well known in a place like this… she could imagine, but she hoped that it was simply that, her imagination. Somehow, she had a feeling it was not, that the reality of the situation would be worse than what she could picture.
“Lets just say, I get around.” Ataxia blew her friend a raspberry as she walked through the last set of doors. Letting Night know that this conversation was indeed over as the music ruined any chance of them continuing.
Night followed her friend into the main area. The music was deafening. A constant beat that seemed to shake every bone in her body and rob any sort of hearing she might hope for. Of course, if the music was loud on her ears. What her eyes saw put that to shame.
Rainbow Light got its name from the impressive light display that it put on each and every night, and tonight was no exception. Rainbows bounced from crystal to crystal, all around the club. Night watched as one rainbow made several different stops all along its path, before finally striking a prism that separated it into its component lights that showered the ponies dancing on the floor, leaving them covered in glitter, each made of a different color of the rainbow.
It all made of one impressive show. Other than the rainbows and the component lights, the room would have been pitch black. Somehow, that seemed to enhance the whole experience. Despite her frustration over everything that had occurred, Night actually found herself in the mood to dance. She began looking for her friend. Something that was unnecessary as it was at that moment that Ataxia found her.
Ataxia levitated a tray of drinks over to Night. Who picked up one of the two drinks meant for her in her mouth and chugged it back, something that impressed Ataxia to no end. To Night’s surprise, the drink went down quite smooth. She could taste the alcohol in it, but it did not leave any of the nasty side effects that normally accompanied such activities.
“This is really good!”
“What?!”
“I said… Never mind!”
“What?!”
Night shook her head and smiled, she simply placed the empty cup back down on the tray and took the other one meant for her. Slamming that back she saw that Ataxia shot back both of hers without pause. They appeared to be a slightly different color, and judging by the look of Ataxia face as she did so, Night had no doubt that she had just drunk something a lot stronger than what she got for her.
‘So she went out of her way to order me something I would like…’ Night thought to herself. That caused a whole slew of different emotions in the young alicorn.
“Let's dance!” Night shouted.
“What?!”
Night laughed and grabbed Ataxia’s hoof. Leading her friend out onto the dance floor.
…
Night was not wrong. Ataxia’s drinks were far, far stronger than her own, and there was a reason for that. Ataxia knew her friend would want to dance. While Night had gotten many things from each of her parents. Unfortunately, she inherited her dancing skills from Twilight and not Rainbow. This led to her ‘busting a move’ like a seizure patient. Something Ataxia normally thought of as cute… but in a place like this, with Ataxia’s reputation on the line, it was quite embarrassing. The sheer amount of eyes that turned to the two of them would normally cause her to begin frying those eyes out of the sockets they belonged too.
However, she was sure that would kill the night. Something she did not want to happen, so Ataxia turned to her old friend instead: Liquid courage. Although even that could not stop Ataxia from almost breaking out in giggles every time she watched Shimmering Night.
When the song finally ended, Shimmering Night was standing there exhausted with a grin on her face. She was blissfully unaware of just how many ponies had paused to watch her ‘dance,’ something Ataxia was grateful for. “Lets rest for a minute.” Ataxia suggested.
“Ok… Sounds good.” Night replied with panting breaths and a wide grin on her face.
‘Maybe if you learned how to dance you wouldn’t be so tired.’ Ataxia thought to herself, but she dismissed that thought. It was just another thing that made Night... well, Night. She would not change that for the world.
Ataxia smiled as she realized the truth in that, she really would not change a thing about her friend. She was, for lack of a better term, perfect. Quirks and all, after all, they are what makes her, her.
When they found a booth, Night turned to Ataxia. “What are you smiling for?” Night asked with a playful look on her face.
“What can I say? I like dancing with you.”
“Oh, I thought it was because of the company that’s coming our way.” Night pointed to two stallions walking over. The one on the left was taller than his companion. A dark blue pegasus with a white mane and cloud cutie mark. The ‘I am one hundred percent confident in myself’ look on his face made Ataxia want to gag. His companion was not any better. He was a short, stocky brown unicorn with a light blue mane. His cutie mark was that of a hard hat.
Their presence did anything but make Ataxia want to smile.
“Evening madams, I’m Sky Buster and this is my friend Bearing Point. May we join you ladies and buy you a drink?”
Night and Ataxia looked at each other, a smile passed between them. “Sure, have a seat.” After all, why pass up a free drink?
Ataxia was a little insulted when Sky Buster sat next to Night… she had seen this play before, even doing it a few times herself. Bearing Point was Sky Buster’s wing pony; it was his job to distract the cute one’s friend while he went after the real prize. Although, Ataxia did have to admit that Night was, probably, the cute one in this situation. It did not remove the sting of it though.
It was then that the music started up again. Thinking quickly, Bearing Point cast a quick sound-damping spell over the group so they could talk. Ataxia cursed under her breath for not remembering that herself.
“So, what brings a lovely earth pony like yourself out to a place like this?” Ataxia watched as Sky Buster moved ever so closer to Night. She already did not like this pony and he was only digging that hole even deeper with every passing second.
Night looked at him, his devilish good looks were something to be admired, even if she knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere. “Actually it was my friends idea; she saw how hard I was working this week and took me out for a night on the town.”
“Oh, so I have her to thank for my pleasure of meeting such a beautiful mare. Tell me, what does a pony like you do for a living?”
Ataxia almost threw up all over Breaking Point at that line. This stallion could not be more cliché if he was reading from a book.
“Oh, I own a small flower shop, it’s not much but I get by. You... you think I’m pretty?”
“How could I not? My eyes work after all.”
The blush on ‘Sunflower’s’ face almost did cause Ataxia to puke. Thinking quickly. “So about those drinks?”
“Oh, of course. Breaking Point, do you mind?”
“Sure.” Ataxia groaned when he got up and left, she was sure the stallion had been trying some moves out on her, but she had not heard a word he said, she was too engrossed in watching this sick display in front of her.
When he left the table, Sky Buster turned back to his prize. “So what should I call a mare as lovely as yourself?”
“Sunflower.”
“A beautiful name fitting a beautiful pony.” He grabbed her hoof and lifted it to his lips, giving it a slow kiss as he did so.
At that, Ataxia rushed out of there, she really was going to puke and had to find the bathroom before that happened. Something she barely made in time. On the way back she felt a little guilty about leaving Night alone with a sleazebag like him, but it was that or completely ruin the night.
She made it back just in time to watch Breaking Point stop several hooves before reaching the table and drop something in their glasses… the stallion only dropped the item into two of the four glasses and then he shook them up. There was no doubt in Ataxia’s mind just who those drinks were meant for or what he dropped in them.
‘Oh, hell no…’ Ataxia followed him. She knew what that was, there was a time she would partake in such activities herself, but it was always her choice. She pushed her way past all of the ponies in the club and followed Breaking Point into the booth. Once there, she barely had any time to stop Night from taking a sip of her drink. Grabbing it with her magic she splashed the liquid all over Sky Buster's face. “I don’t bucking thing so!” She shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Ataxia! Why did you do that?” Sunflower asked.
“C’mon Sunflower, we need to leave.”
“But…”
“I’ll tell you outside.” It was the serious look on Ataxia’s face that caused Night to not question it. Whatever the reason was, Ataxia would not be persuaded from this course of action.
“What if she wants to stay here?” Sky Buster wiped his face off with a napkin as he stood up. It was an obvious attempt to use his bulk to intimidate the smaller unicorn.
‘Oh please, let this happen.’ Ataxia did her absolute best to avoid grinning. “I tell you what, why don’t you follow us out back and we can discuss what Sunflower wants to do.”
“Yes, let us discuss that in detail.”
Ataxia led the way, all the while pressing her side close to Night’s. “Ataxia, what are you going to do to them?” Night whispered to her friend, worry permeating in her voice.
“Oh me? Nothing at all.” Ataxia snickered back. “I promise I won’t lay a hoof on them.”
The group left out the side door. Ataxia skillfully avoided the massive amount of ponies walking around. When they left the building, Ataxia found an empty alley around the side and turned to the two stallions. Who were doing their best to be as intimidating as possible.
That is to say, they were largely a joke to Ataxia. Something made even funnier by the fact that they were not in on it.
“So like I said, I think Sunflower can do as she pleases.” Sky Buster restated. He took two steps towards Ataxia.
“You're right, she can do as she wants. Tell me, Sunflower, did you want to take drugs with your drink.”
“What?!” Night’s eyes got large at that.
“I saw this one,” Ataxia pointed at Breaking Point, “drop pills in our drinks, I think you can imagine what they were for.”
“I would never!” Breaking Point shouted.
“Really?” Ataxia played a little spell she had picked up from Dayspring Gleam all those years ago. A magic recording of Breaking Point adding two capsules to two of the drinks.
The look on Night’s face told Ataxia all she needed to know; there was no longer any reason for her to lift a hoof now.
Sky Buster knew he was busted. “C’mon, Breaking Point. Lets leave these two old mares alone.” He turned to leave. “I think we can find better company somewhere else.”
“Oh, I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”
Sky Buster and Breaking Point both turned and looked at Sunflower. “What’s an earth pony like you going to do about it? You going to plant us a pretty flower?” Breaking Point laughed at his friend’s joke.
They both almost shit themselves when Shimmering Night dropped the glamor spell. “As a Princess of Equestria, I am placing you both under arrest.”
Ataxia laughed as Night teleported them both away. She knew, without a doubt, that the guards in the Palace would find two new occupants in the cells. Something that would cause a bit of paperwork when they got back, but in her opinion, they got off easy. Ataxia wanted to do far, far worse herself, but she did tell Night that she would not touch them.
“Thanks.” Night said.
“Hey, those stallions were creeps anyway. It was the least I could do.”
“You don’t know the half of it. If you thought his pickup lines were bad while you were there, you should have heard the ones he spoke when you left.”
“Wait, you knew?”
Night laughed. “Of course I knew, I’m not that dense Ataxia. I just…”
“Just what?”
“I liked the attention is all. It was nice to feel appreciated like that. It’s been… a long time since someone looked at me like that.”
That shocked Ataxia, she had never thought about that before.
Night lead the way out of the ally, pressing her side against Ataxia as they walked together. Ataxia was too lost in thought to lead the way. It did not matter to Night; she was having a wonderful time with her friend. Even with almost being drugged.
Somehow, it made things better knowing that Ataxia had her back like that.
“Night, you do know that we all appreciate what you do for us, right?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What you said, about liking the attention, about feeling appreciated like that. I don’t know of any pony who doesn’t appreciate what you do, what our families have done.”
“Oh, yeah I guess that’s true…” the way she said it spoke the exact opposite to Ataxia.
“It's true, never forget it. I know it may be taxing at times, but you are appreciated.”
“I wish I was as sure as you.”
“Come with me, I want to show you something.”
“What?”
“Just trust me, I’ve been here a lot more than you after all.”
“Ok, fine.”
Ataxia led her friend several blocks away, each time she took another turn, Night got more and more lost. They were leaving the nightlife of Los Pegasus and heading into a completely new area. One that looked a lot more official, and a lot more boring, at least to a mare like Ataxia. Night’s interest was peaked as they passed several museums.
“This place was set up several years back. I was told of it one day after the manager of a club found out who my parents were.”
Night saw it as soon as they came into view. A large museum at the end of the street. The sign on it spoke in loud bold words: ‘The Saviors of Equestria.’
“Ataxia… what is this place.” Night spoke, her mouth agape.
“It’s a museum, dedicated to the heroes that saved Equestria. Don’t worry, we don’t have to break in, it’s open all night.”
She led her friend up the stairs and into the museum. Night was a little relieved that Ataxia was right; it was indeed open all night. When she stepped inside, the first thing that came into her view was an oversized statue of Celestia, in all her regal glory.
Carved in her finest getup, the sculptor took every pain to make the statue as realistic as possible, and what a job he did. Looking at it, if it was not for the size of the thing, Night could have been forgiven for thinking that she had come back from the dead. Magic imbued her mane and tail, causing it to flow in the exact same way as the real thing had. It was a perfect replica of the real thing.
“Ataxia… this, this is incredible.”
“Oh that? That’s not what I wanted to show you.”
“There’s more…”
“Oh much more.” Ataxia smiled and led the way past the statue. Off to the corner, Night spotted a whole wing dedicated to the two royal sisters. Each of whom had a life-sized statue carved of them. She briefly wondered if Luna even knew… however, she decided against telling her. Luna either knew and did not care, did not know and would not care, or did not know and would care. The last result would see her destroy all of these works of art. Something Night would be sad to see go.
Their path took them down the Hall of Elements. Four of the element barriers had two statues carved of them. One of their normal look with golden necklaces with their cutie mark embedded in them around their neck and one in their rainbow transformation. Something Night had to admit looked rather gaudy on most of them.
“It’s been forever since I’ve seen any of them like this…” Night paused in front of the Pinkie Pie rainbow power statue. She stopped to examine her outrageous mane and extra cutie marks.
“Tell me about it.” Ataxia was looking at Rarity’s rainbow power statue. Taking in, with disgust, her two tails. “Mom spends forever combing, brushing, and cleaning her one tail, if this is how she always looked, if she had to do that to two tails… forget about it. She would never go anywhere ever again.”
“Did you two ever really make up?” Night asked her friend. The spat they had… it hurt them both, even if Ataxia would never admit to it.
“Not really, we get along alright but it’s still there.” She laughed at that. “You know how they say you can’t ignore the elephant in the room. Well it’s true… believe me, every time I talk to her it's like that damn thing is simply staring at us.”
Night simply nodded as she watched her friend walk by. Right by another statue that wasn’t one Ataxia needed to look at right now. Ataxia did her absolute best to avoid looking at the statue of Fluttershy. That was something Night took easy notice of. It was easy to see that the wound was still too painful for her to deal with.
“I know right?” Night added as she walked down the hallway. Right into the room dedicated to Princess Twilight Sparkle and her wife, Princess Rainbow Dash.
She could only look on with eyes as wide as dinner plates. She knew the story; she heard and lived some of it first hoof, but to see it like this… She never imagined in a million years. All along the wall were statues, plaques, awards, dedications, and tributes. All dedicated to both of her mom’s. Gigantic statues of Rainbow and Twilight flanked the entrance to the rooms, each reaching out for the other; their hooves connecting the two. All along the wall were pictures of the two taken over the years. Somehow they even had Rainbow’s Wonderbolt uniform from back when she was a member of the Wonderbolts reserve and even when she made full-fledged member.
“Wow…” It was all Night could say.
“Over there is the Cadance and Shining Armor room.” Ataxia gestured with her hoof. “But that’s not what we are here to see. I want to show you this.” Ataxia led them both past the larger than life statue of Twilight with her Element of Magic crown. Straight into a room that Shimmering Night was both fully expecting and totally unprepared to see.
“Hello… brother.” A tear rolled down her eye as she took in a life-sized statue dedicated to her brother: Dayspring Gleam.
Ataxia ran to her side. “Night, I’m sorry. I should have remembered that.” She pressed her side up to her friend, allowing Night to bury her face into her shoulder. Something the alicorn took full advantage of. Shimmering Night was not sure if it was just the surprise that caused her to cry out, or the fact that others loved Dayspring enough to carve… this, this statue of him.
She realized why Ataxia brought her here. It came to her like a light switch being turned on. Ataxia wanted to show her the love that the ponies of Equestria had for all her family, even the ones that were no longer with them. The ones that it hurt to remember, but to do any less would be a dishonor to their memory.
“Thank you.” Night said with a sniffle
“You haven’t even seen what I want to show you yet.”
“I know and I will, but thank you anyway. This… this is amazing. I needed this Ataxia, more than I could ever say.”
“Hey, that’s what friends are for.”
Night removed her head and started walking around. All around the room was posters, plaques and dedications to the unicorn. Many of which she remembered him getting first hoof, others she had forgotten about or were not present for. Images of him hung all over the walls. Most of which were from his term as headmaster. “He really was talented, wasn’t he?”
“So are his sisters.” Ataxia pointed a hoof to the next room. Night walked into it to find a statue of Aurora waiting for her.
It was obvious to the mare that this room had seen a lot of remodeling as of late. Several things were moved around, all to make room for her new accomplishments as the new Empress of the Griffin Empire. It looked as if they were making room for another statue to be added. Night figured out without needing to be told that it was going to be dedicated to her new husband, Icarus. Again, pictures and images hung all over the walls. Night had to admit. She was cute as a little filly. Even if she had been nothing but trouble to grow up with.
“This is…”
“This is nothing, you should see your room.” Ataxia gestured to the room off to the side. Night walked though to see herself carved out in twenty-four karat gold. The statue was laced with gems of all sorts. Night smiled as she recognized the hoof work of one pony in it.
“Ok, I’ll admit, I did lie about one thing. I did not find this out from some club manager. My mom told me she was hired to design your statue.”
Night laughed. Off to the side she saw something that caught her interest. There was a carving of her standing victorious over a titan.
“But… that didn’t happen like that.”
“Come again?” Ataxia asked, unsure what she was talking about.
“I didn’t defeat the titan, Luna did.” Night gestured a hoof to the carving.
“Sorry Night, but you’re wrong about that.”
“Ataxia, I was there.”
“Yes, and so was Luna. I heard the story as well as the next pony. It was your ability that drew away the power of the Titan. Luna had tried several times to injure the thing, nothing she did worked. She was only able to kill it because of you, because of your special talent. You defeated the titan, not her. Luna’s own words in fact.”
“Ataxia…”
“Night listen, this is what I wanted to show you. You are appreciated. Look around here if you need any confirmation of that fact.”
Shimmering Night did just that. Glancing around, she saw statues, paintings, and carvings of her taking over raising and lowering the sun. Of her standing proud as a little filly and a grown mare.
“You truly are special, Night, and not just to me. Hell, you were the only Alicorn to ever be born! You were born special. But you're more than that, it’s something you have proven through your actions time and time again. But don’t just take my word for it.” Ataxia gestured to a little filly that just then walked into the room.
She was a pink pegasus, and from the looks of things no older than five or six. Her eyes were staring directly at Night. Her mouth agape with awe and wonder.
“Sunshine!! Get back here!” A voice called from down the hall. Thinking quickly, Ataxia cast an illusion over the two of them. Causing both mares to disappear from sight.
“Sunshine, what are you doing?”
“Mom! Mom! I saw Princess Shimmering Night!!! I saw her!”
“I’m sure you did sweetheart. But we came here because you said you wouldn’t go to sleep without thanking all of the princesses first. Now come on, there's still a few more down this way.”
“Oh that reminds me.” Sunshine ran up to where the two mares were standing. She could not see them anymore, but she was sure that they were still there. “Thank you Princess Shimmering Night. Thank you for everything.”
The little filly took off down the hall, straight for the room dedicated to Twilight and Rainbow. When she was well down the hallway, Ataxia lowered the illusion. It did not surprise her to see a tear fall down Night’s face.
“She’s not the only one you know. Thank you; thank you for believing in me all these years. Thank you for being my friend. For awhile, it seemed like you were the only one I had.”
“Ataxia, I…”
Ataxia held up a hoof, placing it gently on Night’s mouth. “No, let me get this out. I mean it Night. You have been there for me ever since we were little. When Dayspring and I had our falling out… it was you that didn’t just abandon me. It was you that gave me pause… I know I’m a big bitch at times.” She laughed at that.
“Ataxia…”
“Let me finish, please, I don’t think I can ever get this out again. I know I’m hard to deal with at the best of times. At my worst… well, I probably deserve a spot on the villains hall of fame. You... you and Fluttershy…” Ataxia visibly flinched as she said that name. “You two, you saved me from myself. You showed me that there are reasons not to hurt others, even if it was simply because I did not want to see you two disappointed in me. I don’t know what I would be if it wasn’t for you… I know I wouldn’t like myself though.”
Night reared up and hugged her friend. She was not surprised when she felt a few teardrops fall onto her coat. “Ataxia, you could never disappoint me.”
“Please… Please don’t ever stop believing in me, I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.” Ataxia sobbed out the words. “You… you mean the world to me Night. Please don’t leave me.”
“I could never.”
“Pinkie Promise?”
Night sat back on her flank. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Her hoof went through the motions as if it were only yesterday when Pinkie Pie taught her them.
Ataxia smiled.
Night smiled back.
Ataxia could not explain it, not in a million years of study. She was never an egghead; she had her fair share of talents. But that was never one of them. However, something just felt right about the moment at hoof.
There was something in the air, the connection that one only reads about in stores, in sappy fables of two ponies in love, the standard cliché of two hearts becoming one. Ataxia had never believed any of that garbage, but now… now she knew what that feeling was, what that felt like. She was living such a moment.
She leaned in. the moment was right, and she could not imagine a better way or time to steal a kiss from the one she loved more than anything else in the world. If she did not know better, she would have sworn that Cadance herself planned this moment. Or at the very least, she was right around the corner, hitting them both with her love magic. Ataxia supposed with her statue right around that corner, that may not be far from the truth.
Night paused as her friend moved in. She knew, intellectually, what was going to happen. What Ataxia was about to do and her mind was screaming at her to stop it, to stop it before it went any farther. Before it jeopardized their friendship, but her body would not obey. It wanted something completely different.
With the two opposing forces at war with each other, Night could only sit there as Ataxia closed the distance between them. Every second brought her an inch closer. Brought their lips that much closer…
Closer
Closer
Night could feel the heat from Ataxia’s breath. Their breathing matched up, each getting in sync with the other.
Closer
Closer
It would not be long now… a few more seconds, and it would be done. There would be no going back. Perhaps, it was already too late for that anyway? Oddly, Night found herself welcoming the moment. Her lips slightly parted, reading to meet her friend’s.
Closer
Closer
One more second and their lips would be together. Whatever happened at that point was beyond either of their knowledge. That thought filled them both with excitement and dread, all at the same time.
Clo-
Green dragon fire materialized in the small space between them. Causing both ponies to jump back in surprise. A letter came out of the fire, falling to the ground as it did so.
“What the buck, dad!” Ataxia shouted, a little louder then she meant to.
Night scooped up the letter in her magic. Fully expecting it to be for her. To her surprise, it was not. “Ataxia… It’s addressed to you.”
“What? He never writes me…” Ataxia took the letter in her own magic. Unrolling the scroll, she looked at it in disgust. “I hate reading.”
“Want me to read it to you?” Night asked, teasing her friend as she did so.
“Shut up. I’ll do it myself.”
Ataxia did a quick read.
Then another.
Then a third.
Then a forth, just to be sure.
She dropped the scroll. “Night, I… I gotta go.”
Shimmering Night was left with a flash of magic as she watched her friend cast a long distance teleportation spell. The haunted look on her face, and the fact that Ataxia would actually teleport herself somewhere told Night that whatever had happened, it was serious. Anything serious enough to cause a pony the likes of Ataxia to freak out… that was bad news for everyone.
She did not want to invade her friend’s privacy, but she had to know, just in case it was a matter of grave importance for the entire kingdom. Scooping up the letter, Night did a quick read of what it said. When she finished, her world came crashing down.
Dearest Ataxia.
Rarity is in Ponyville General Hospital, I… I’m afraid we haven’t been entirely honest with you over these last few months. She is ill, very ill. It was her decision to keep it from you and everyone else. I went along with it… You know how she is; she doesn’t want others to worry about her. She’s just not the type, always giving… even in the end.
I… I’m afraid that we can’t keep it quiet anymore. It’s her time. She doesn’t want her life extended magically… she says she has lived long enough. But, regardless what she may say… I do want her to see her friends and family one last time before she goes. Please make it here as soon as you can. I know you two always had your issues, but I don’t want there to be any regrets, for either of you.
I hope you can make it soon.
Your loving Dad,
Spike
It was a mark of the tearstains on the paper that told Night just how painful that had been to write for the dragon. She readied a teleportation spell of her own to follow her friend in her time of need. Even if Rarity did not want her help, she could at least be there for her friend. Focusing on her destination, she gathered more then enough magic to cast it.
She went nowhere.
“What’s going on?” Night asked no pony in particular.
A voice echoed through the wall. It was loud and grating on her ears as it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be fine, just no teleportation and no sending letters. Not for tonight at least.”
Laughter echoed throughout the room as Night began panicking. Whoever that was… he wanted to keep her away from Ataxia. That much was obvious.
“You won’t succeed!”
“Oh, but I already have. You just don’t know it yet.”
Night spread her wings and took off; straight up and out a hole she blasted in the roof. The sound of laughter following her all the way.
“Ataxia. Hold on, I’m coming.” Shimmering Night flew at top speed. Pushing herself as hard as she could. Straight towards Ponyville General Hospital and her friend. Who Night was convinced just teleported right into an ambush.