“Okay, say that again!”
My blood was boiling. My face was probably red as a tomato. My shoulders and neck muscles tensed until I could feel pain but I didn’t care. I had just heard the most impossibly infuriating thing I could imagine.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure Night Light has a mom. I saw him talking to her and his dad around town like, a few days ago.”
Cherry Blossom’s words confirmed my worst fears. I felt my stomach tighten and wanted to throw up.
“Then why would he tell me that his mom has been missing since he was a baby?” I could feel my front hooves begin to shake. I swallowed heavily and tried to calm myself.
“You've got me there. Some ponies just crave attention I guess.”
This was unthinkable. I could forgive almost anything. You could do nearly any wrong to me and I was able to look past it. But the one thing I would never excuse was lying to me. And this wasn't just any lie. He lied about something as profound as his mother being… dead… and I was foolish enough to believe it. To think that I had felt sorry for him? I felt used. I felt betrayed. I felt like kicking his teeth out.
I don’t remember what else I said to Cherry Blossom. I may not have said anything and just walked away. My mind was consumed by swimming thoughts of rage and disbelief. I started going over every conversation Night Light and I had ever had with a new light. Everything he had ever told me was now suspect. Did he really mean anything he had ever said? When he told me that we were special, that I was special to him, was that a lie too? I didn’t ever want to see him again.
I made it back to the girl’s dressing room backstage somehow. The award ceremony for the Young Fiction Writers of Equestria Competition was being held in the Canterlot Amphitheater. The gig was way bigger than the occasion called for, but I guess the star treatment was what you got when Princess Celestia was involved with anything. The enormous dressing room was full of props, costumes, and makeup sets, yet devoid of ponies except for me. Everypony was already gathered and waiting for the ceremony to begin. The other contestants were probably giddily meeting and greeting posh ponies, potential investors, and publishers.
None of it mattered to me now. I no longer cared if I won or lost. I just wanted to be alone. I felt something land on my lap and looked up at my reflection. There were tears running down my face. I hadn’t even realized I had been crying. I was wearing my fancy dress. It was the same dress that I wore the first time Night Light and I met at the cafe. This was the second time I wanted to rip it off and throw it in the trash.
This was it. This was the big day. The day that my manuscript was to be judged for the Young Fiction Writers of Equestria Competition. The princess herself was presiding over this event and I should have been thrilled and excited.
So why was I unable to leave the dressing room?
I was terrified. I just stood there staring at myself in the mirror like a middle school filly about to go on her first date. I kept waiting for my anxiety to die down. I took deep breaths to calm myself, but it just wouldn’t go away. What was wrong with me? I was stronger than this. I’d stood before crowds of thousands and given talks before. I’d never been too ashamed or too embarrassed to do anything. Why did I have such a huge mental block at that moment? Especially today of all days. I had to be strong if I wanted to win that stupid competition.
Why does it have to be a competition anyway? Why does art have to compete with itself? Can't we just display talent for what it is and leave it at that?
I thought to myself, realizing that I sounded like somepony who had already lost. This was what losers said to make themselves feel better. My part was already over. The words were written and I had submitted the finished work. Maybe that's why I was so scared. I couldn't do anymore. It was out of my hooves and that was terrifying to me. I felt like, now that I had turned it in, I was going to think of 50 things that were wrong and have a panic attack. But Night Light was thorough with his analysis. He thought of things I hadn't even considered and made me revise and polish so many times. He was somehow even more of a perfectionist than I was. Even if the work was not perfect, it was absolutely in the best shape it could possibly be in. I had nothing to worry about.
But if that was the case... why was I staring at myself in the mirror terrified like this?
Night Light, I wondered if he was worried about today?
Who cares... who cares what he thinks about anything? That freakin' jerk is nothing but a greedy opportunist. I don't care if I ever see him again. Two days ago he... we... maybe if we could go back in time and I hadn't... forget him. I am strong, I am capable of doing this without him...
My mind was wandering and going back and forth. I knew that I could do this on my own, but at some point I was going to have to leave this dressing room.
I nearly jumped into the ceiling when I heard a knock on the door.
****
On a day such the day of the ceremony, I believe a pony is supposed to feel a sense of anticipation and excitement, perhaps even mild anxiety towards the potential results of a competition. I did not see myself as being above such emotional reactions however, as far as I could tell, I could not identify with those normal synaptic responses to said stimuli. The only emotion I could use to accurately express my state of mind was trepidation.
As I flipped through the program of the ceremony, I took particular notice of our submission to the competition. Or more accurately, Twilight’s submission. After a brief synopsis of her work of fiction and a quaintly written, and edited by me, bio of her person, it listed Twilight as the sole author of the submission. There was merely a cliff note at the bottom that read, “Special thanks to: Night Light” that connected me to the work whatsoever. Although I felt somewhat vain pursuing the issue, I couldn’t help but desire a dialogue with Twilight to determine reason for my near omission from the manner in which we had agreed to present this work.
I asked several ponies back stage the whereabouts of Twilight to no avail until I came across the likes of Cherry Blossom.
“Ooh, yeah… she’s in the girl’s dressing room. But you might not want to approach her right now.”
Cherry Blossom’s comment on the matter made me curious if not a bit concerned.
“Why would approaching my friend and colleague be inadvisable in your eyes? Is she ill?”
Cherry Blossom rolled her eyes, much the same way that Twilight was wont to do from time to time.
“No she’s not sick. Maybe sick of you.”
Cherry Blossom flipped her head in what I perceived to be a disapproving manner.
“I am afraid I do not understand.”
“Look, let’s drop the pretense, shall we? She knows, okay.”
Cherry Blossom narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils. I was certain I was being accused of something but I was unsure what the accusation was.
“What is she aware of?”
Cherry Blossom sighed and looked away from me.
“Whatever, if you want to be a dingus about it I don’t care. But just stay away from Twilight. I don’t want you hurting my friend anymore than you already have.”
I became profoundly concerned. In what way could I possibly have injured Twilight? Was it the same issue that I had with the program notes? Could she still have been angry about the contract terms and expressed that anger by removing me from our agreed level of recognition? I walked straight away to the mare’s dressing room. I knocked on the door, of course, as a male entering such a premises would be a social faux pa.
“Who is it?” Twilight’s distressed voice replied to me a few seconds later.
“It is Night Light. I wanted to discuss an editorial matter involving the ceremony program as it relates to our binding contract.”
I waited several seconds but she did not respond.
“I heard that you were upset at me. Is everything alright? Have I wronged you in some way.”
I was startled to hear a cackling chortle come from the her side of the door.
“Oh of course not, my dear Night Light, come right in, please. Let’s discuss our delightful little agreement, shall we?”
I had known Twilight well enough to recognize the most "dripping" of sarcasm in her tone.
“I… um… I am not supposed to enter the mare’s dressing room. Perhaps you could come out here in the hallway and…”
I was interrupted by her booming voice.
“Get in here right now, buster, or so help me I will kick this door into your face so hard, your mom will feel it!"
I was taken aback, not so much by her volume or even the venom in which she spoke, but rather to the sudden reference of my mother. Reluctantly, I entered the dressing room. The layout was same as the stallion’s dressing room except mirrored. Certainly a typical design choice, I assumed.
“I fail to see the necessity for violent threats even in…” I stayed my speech as I looked at her face. Her cheeks were drenched in tears. Some were fresh and some had dried in their tracks.
“Ah, I can see why you did not want to leave the dressing room. Forgive my intrusion. Are you alright?”
She looked at me with such disgust that I took a step back toward the door. I had never seen her look at me that way before. It made me feel like abandoning the event altogether, heading to the library, and burying my thoughts into the longest, driest magical studies manual I could find. Twilight had such a profound impact on my emotions. She quickly hid the expression and replaced it with a disappointingly unconvincing smile.
“I’m just fine, Night Light. Nothing to worry about at all. Please, tell me what’s on your mind.”
I cautiously creeped a step towards her.
“Well, as per our contract, it states that if you make any changes to the plot and/or characters based on my recommendations that you would list me as a co-author for this work of fiction. And even if that point were to be disputed I am, at minimum, entitled to be credited as ‘editor in chief.’ However, this program only states ‘special thanks’ in regards to my involvement which is rather vague and an insufficient description of my involvement. Do you disagree?”
Twilight closed her eyes. She breathed loudly through her nose and stiffened her front hooves.
“I can’t believe you. Is that really all you have to say for yourself?”
I searched my memories trying to find some context with which to understand what she was on about. However, any explanation for her demeanor escaped me.
“Well, yes… I believe I adequately explained my position.”
Twilight lowered her head and looked at the ground.
“I’ll give you one more chance to come clean. Are you sure there is nothing else you would like to admit to me right now?”
She looked up at me with eyes that seemed to pierce through my cranium, and tried to expose my innermost secrets. I would have confessed any sin to her, but I honestly could not think of single transgression to exercise from my conscience.
“No… nothing.”
Twilight's cheeks flushed red as her fury returned to her speech. She bared her teeth as she spoke.
“I wouldn’t credit you as a co-author if my life was at stake. You cheap, lying, pathetic, son of a bitch!”
I stood in shock at her last words. I understood that it was a common turn of phrase, however this was the second time Twilight had made a reference to my mother and I knew it was not by accident nor coincidence. She had intended to wound me with her words in the most profound manner she could muster using the most sensitive possible subject matter from my past. I was certain that such an act was not the way a friend would behave and she had blatantly disregarded our contractual agreement. This meant that she was no longer my colleague nor my friend.
“If that is your position, then I suppose we have nothing further to discuss.”
She turned away from me.
“Get out…”
Her whisper was so soft that it was barely audible, yet nothing she had said thus far came across quite as clear as those two words did. I left the dressing room without saying anymore. I walked out into the main lobby, ignoring all of the ponies gathered around. They were already moving into the auditorium to be seated. I went down a corridor where nopony else was congregated at the time. I looked down at my bow tie and tuxedo. I had dressed for the occasion as I assumed Twilight would have wanted me to be. I noticed a small wet spot on my lapel and realized that tears were coming down my face.
Not wanting to advertise my current predicament, I elected to remain in the corridor until the ceremony began. Even with our association severed, Twilight still determined my emotional state. No, it was more than that. She controlled my very ability to be happy at all.
****
I finally worked up the courage to get to my seat. Unfortunately, butt face’s seat was supposed to be next to mine since he was technically my plus one. However, I was relieved to see that he wasn’t there when I sat down. I hardly remember the ceremony at all. Occasionally, ponies would clap for something or another and I would clap along with them. Celestia would say few things, then more clapping. A winner of a category would be announced, then more clapping. I just needed to wait out all of the clapping periods until it was over without losing my composure. I was lost in thought when I somehow managed to perceive Celestia announce the next category.
“And the winner of the full length novel category this year goes to…” she tore open a fancy laced envelope with her magic and pulled out the paper inside.
“Twilight Velvet for her submission ‘To Kill a Mockingjay.’ Come on up here Twilight.”
The applause started again. My eyes shot wide open. I couldn’t move. The contestants around me patted me and shook me with encouragement.
“Well done, Twilight.”
“Go on.”
“Go on up there.”
“You go girl!”
I heard them say. I slowly rose to my hooves and walked up the stairs of the stage. It took me so long that the applause had significantly died down by the time I reached the podium. Celestia smiled warmly at me and handed me a golden statue of a scroll. She gently gestured to the microphone. What in Equestria was I supposed to say?
“Um, thank you for this prestigious award. I am very humbled and blessed to have received such an honor.” There was absolutely no enthusiasm in my voice. The room remained silent for me to continue.
“I would like to thank all of the teachers who encouraged me along the way…” I looked down in the front row where I and the other contestants had been seated. I saw Night Light’s empty seat and before I could stop myself, I burst out into tears. A few members of the audience gave some pitying “aw” sounds as if to say, “isn’t that sweet, she’s moved to tears.”
“I’m sorry.” I managed to blurt out in a choked high pitched manner.
“I’m sorry but I don’t deserve this award. I plagiarized it.”
The audience gave a collective gasp.
“What I mean is, Night Light helped me write this story. He was my editor and worked just as hard on this as I did, maybe more so. I took his ideas and his advice and incorporated it. This story is as much his story as it is my own. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”
I left the award on the podium and ran off of the stage and out of the auditorium altogether.
****
I was uncomfortable with the thought of sitting next to Twilight so I had chosen to witness the ceremony from the wings of the main seating section. I must admit, I was most shocked by Twilight's admission to plagiarism. It was an extreme stance to take on the matter and an unexpected one at that. I could not simply stand idle and allow the situation to run its course. I had to take action as soon as possible. I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I failed to notice two very familiar ponies approach me.
“Night Light, that was a very… interesting ceremony just now. We wanted to discuss with you the nature miss Twilight's claims of…”
“I apologize for my rudeness, father, but there is something I must do and it cannot wait even a moment.”
I ran off before I could hear his response.
****
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid I kept repeating in my head over and over again. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was sure I would not only be disqualified for the award but also kicked out of school. I wasn’t sure exactly how long I had been outside, but the sun was just beginning to set. My heart sank as I saw Princess Celestia herself approach me.
“Your highness” I squeaked out as I bowed ungracefully to her. I laid prostrate on the ground in front of her.
“My dear Twilight, do get up please.”
I stood up slowly and looked at our wondrous princess. Her eyes were so gentle yet wise. Her smile was calm and soothing. I felt more at ease just being in her presence. She had this effect on me every time I met her, yet I was always so nervous to see her in person, especially now.
“Princess…” I swallowed hard, “I accept any punishment you deem that I deserve.”
The princess placed her hoof underneath my chin and I looked directly into her gaze. She grinned and shook her head.
“Oh Twilight, you’re being much too hard on yourself. I know you didn’t plagiarize your book.”
I took my eyes off of her, but allowed her to keep her hoof in place under my chin. Her golden royal shoes were somewhat cold yet her touch was also comforting at the same time.
“Night Light may have a different opinion on that, Princess.”
“Actually, I just spoke with Night Light.”
A shot of fear went through me.
“You did?”
“Yes I did.” Celestia’s expression briefly changed to looking slightly annoyed. “He gave me a ten minute lecture on the definition of plagiarism and how it doesn’t apply in any regard in your case. He also mentioned an agreement you two signed and said something about how, while he is supposed to be listed as co-author, that only technically applies to any official publications of the novel and since this is a contest for amateurs, the program notes do not constitute an official publication so you therefore haven’t violated the terms of the contract. I believe I remember most of what he said correctly.”
I smiled for what felt like the first time that day.
“That does sound like Night Light alright.”
“It’s good to see you smile, my faithful student.”
I blushed a little when she said that.
“Princess, you flatter me.”
Celestia crossed her front hooves and looked up as if in deep thought.
“Well, you may not be my personal student, but my name is on the school you attend so technically…”
As she trailed off, we both giggled together. The princess looked over her shoulder.
“Oh, speaking of Night Light, here he comes now.”
I saw Night Light walking towards us. He was carrying my silly award with his magic. He bowed his head a little as he approached the princess.
“Princess Celestia.”
It bothered me that he could look so natural while showing reverence but I couldn’t.
“Good day to you both,” Celestia remarked and began to walk away before turning around again. “Oh and Twilight, don’t let the good ones get away.” She winked at me and I felt my cheeks get warm.
“Twilight, I believe you left this at the podium.” Night Light presented the award to me and I held it in my hoof.
“Thanks. But, I feel like you should get an award like this too, though.”
“Your speech was reward enough for me. I have never felt so… appreciated before. Although, I wish that it had not been so much at your expense.”
I sighed and slowly let a smile form on my face. It felt like I was letting out a toxic breath I had been holding in for the past hour.
“I’m sorry about earlier, will you forgive me?”
Night Light nodded quickly.
“Of course.”
I reached out to embrace him and he accepted my hug. As we let our embrace linger, it seemed like the moment would last forever. But my nagging curiosity forced me to finally break it off. I took a step back and tilted my head at him. My suspicions had still not been settled.
“I just have to know, why did you lie about your mom?”
Night Light jerked his head back abruptly.
“Lied about my mother? In what regard?”
“Well, Cherry Blossom said she saw you talking to your mom and dad the other day and…”
I was interrupted by a rather tall pegasus mare with a giant poofy permed mane. She wore an excessive amount of jewelry on her neck, ears, and hooves and was rather dolled up in make up.
“Oh my dear Night Light, come here and give me a big ol’ hug!” She yanked Night Light into her embrace and squeezed him tight enough that he looked a bit uncomfortable.
“That’s my beautiful nearly fully grown stallion. Come here and greet your father too.”
She pushed him into a unicorn stallion of about similar height to Night Light and almost the identical mane style. He wore a white lab coat and had protective eye wear around his neck. The two stallions did not embrace.
“Twilight, allow me to introduce my father, Peer Review and miss Marzipan Summer, my father’s lover.”
I looked at Marzipan Summer and the realization hit me like a wheelbarrow full of bricks.
“Oh you are just like your father, what with your blunt way of putting everything. Have you no tact for a lady? You should call me his intended or fiance.” She held her hoof out daintily.
“That would be an incorrect statement as we are not yet properly engaged at this time.” Night Light’s father said flatly with calm conviction, exactly the way Night Light would have said it. Marzipan gave him a dismissive hoof wave. She turned her sights on me.
“Oh and you must be Twilight Velvet, aren’t you just the cutest little darling. So gorgeous in a simple way. Oh, don’t take that the wrong way, my dear. You see I wish I could pull of the minimalist approach to beauty, but you see I have to get all dolled up just be presentable in public. But you, why it just comes naturally to you, my dear.”
I’m pretty sure I was flattered.
“My darling Marzipan,” Peer Review began, sounding like he was reading an index card for notes, “You could neglect all efforts towards your appearance and I would still find you exactly as attractive as I always have.”
Marzipan blushed and held her hoof to her face in faux embarrassment. I wasn’t sure what a scientific mind like Night Light’s father saw in her. It’s not that she wasn’t friendly but…
“Oh, you are such a charmer. I guess there is something to be said about the blunt approach after all.”
Peer Review turned to his son.
“Night Light, if you were having difficulties with wording the terms of your contract with miss Velvet, you should have brought it to my attention to for appropriate revisions.”
Night Light furrowed his eyebrows.
“I do not require revisions, father. I am perfectly capable of drafting a simple coherent legal document.”
Peer Review shook his head.
“Considering the events of today’s ceremony I would say that the evidence states otherwise. There is no shame in requesting assistance in areas outside of your expertise.”
Night Light gave an exasperated sigh and raised his voice slightly, a habit he probably got from me.
“Father, do you think… why do you always… can I not just…” Night Light jumbled his words.
“What is the matter? Gather your thoughts before you begin to speak. Do not allow emotional stimuli to interfere with your ability to properly communicate.”
I was about to jump in and say something but Marzipan gently tugged my hoof so I turned to look at her. She spoke in a whisper.
“It’s best to let them have at it, honey. This conversation has been a long time coming.” She winked at me. Perhaps Marzipan was more perceptive than I first gave her credit for.
“Am I not intelligent enough to be called your son? Are you even proud of me?”
Night Light was unable to look directly at his father. There was an intense silence that left the air dead. Finally, Peer Review spoke up.
“Son, have I ever told you why your mother and I chose the name ‘Night Light’ for you?”
Night Light stood very still. He was facing away from me but I could imagine exactly what his face looked like in that moment.
“When she was pregnant with you, she was very ill. There was no cure for her disease and we both knew that she did not have very much time left. I had to take care of her during the day and the only time I had to continue my research was during the night when she was asleep. I was obsessed with getting on with my work. It was the only thing that could distract me from the fact that I was going to lose the mare that I loved more than anypony in the world. I knew that my work had to be successful if I was to further my career and be able to provide for you on my own.
“Late at night, I would get so exhausted that I was unable to maintain a illumination spell and work a quill at the same time, thus inhibiting my work. Your mother bought me an electronic night light to keep by my desk so that I could continue on working no matter how tired I was, or how hard it seemed to go on. We agreed to name you Night Light because it would only be you that could keep me going. You would keep me motivated to continue my research after she was gone.
“And now, for the first time in your life, I am truly disappointed in you. How could you not know, that I have always been immensely impressed by your progress. You have exceeded my expectations at every phase of your development. Your intelligence is far more superior than mine was at your age. I am now and forever proud to call you my son.”
Even though the day had emotionally drained me, I was still deeply touched by Peer Review's heart felt words. Marzipan sniffled as she interjected.
“You see, that wasn’t so hard now was it Peer?”
Night Light and his father exchanged stonewall looks with each other.
“Oh don’t just stand there like a couple of Canterlot garden statues. You two hug it out now.” Marzipan insisted.
The two reluctant stallions embraced in a very robotic looking hug.
“Father, thank you for your remarks and for finally revealing to me some details about mother. I know it was not easy for you to say.”
“You are welcome.”
They let go of each other and returned to their original standing positions. I couldn’t help but blurt out,
“That’s it? After all of that, that’s all you two have to say?”
Everypony turned to stare at me. I felt like I was only an inch tall.
“I mean, how lovely…” I tried to recover.
Marzipan suddenly burst out laughing and wrapped me up in her hooves.
“Oh sweetheart, you know my pain, don’t you. You know my pain.”
****
After Twilight and I left my father and Marzipan, we returned to her dorm room to prepare to attend the celebration for the students who participated in the competition. We already had an incredibly eventful day and I would have been satisfied to simply go to bed. However, I intended to celebrate with her regardless of my exhaustion.
“Oh my Celestia, Night Light I am so, so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”
“You have already apologized several times to me.”
“I know, but I should have gone to you. I should have asked you to clarify. How could I not have considered the possibility that your dad was just dating somepony?”
Twilight was pacing the room. She had been doing so for about 20 minutes.
“Your misunderstanding is understandable and I have already forgiven you.”
She stopped pacing in front of me.
“I know, I know but I really messed up and I can’t stand to lose you. You've become so important to me and I want you to…”
She wrapped her hooves around my shoulders and looked into my eyes.
“I want you to be with me.”
My heartbeat accelerated and my body temperature rose. There was nothing I could do to temper the biological effects but it did not bother me in the slightest. However, I was still very new at handling situations such as this one.
“We should leave soon if want to meet at the celebration party with the other students.” My breathing became heavier as Twilight gently ran her hoof down my cheek.
“Oh, I think we can have a great celebration right here.”
I could feel her breath on my ear as she said it. She looked at me with that warm smile. The smile that I wanted to always see on her face when she looked at me. I could not help but smile back at her.
“Twilight Velvet, do you love me?”
“Mmmm keep talking, buster and I’ll let you know.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Consider it binding.”
Twilight and I kissed our first kiss as an official couple. I decided that my preferred life of solitude was overrated.
The End