Brighter Dawn

by Luminous Comet

Restless

Misty! Come here right now!

What did you do this time, Misty?

Sloppy as always, Misty.

Misty...
...Misty!
...Misty!?...

MISTY!

Misty started up, halfway tripping over the cushions before one hoof slid off the couch and sent her stumbling to the floor. She quickly picked herself up, getting tangled in the light blanket.

"I-I'm right here, Opaline! I'm..." Her head spun, but realisation sunk in quickly. This wasn't her room and Opaline wasn't calling her.

Opaline wasn't here. She left.

Dimmed light was cast over her sleeping arrangement, from the candle halfway burnt down on the table. A clock ticked faintly in one of the distant corners, where the only light was from the stars outside the window.

She sighed and pulled the blanket the rest of the way off of her, putting it back onto the couch. In her drowsiness, she remembered her magic halfway through and used the glow of her horn to pick up the cushion she had inadvertently kicked to the floor as well.

It was still nighttime. She was supposed to sleep, but her mouth was dry and that feeling sat in her withers, that restlessness that didn't let her find comfort. She used to sneak out to the washroom when this happened, all the way down, past Opaline's chambers, careful not to wake her and make her mad.

The washroom in the Brighthouse was halfway up the stairs. She could spot the door from here. However, it was also halfway into the bedroom, with no door between them. Which probably meant she was far more likely to wake somepony. But the dryness was making it hard to swallow and she already caught herself pacing around the table while she was debating with herself.

Slowly, she crept up the ramp, careful to lightly place her hooves and keep them from clopping to not wake anypony. She kept her ears sharp, trying to listen for anything from upstairs. It was all silent now. No rustling, nopony talking in their sleep. Opaline talked in her sleep. Misty never questioned it, or whether anypony else did, until recently.

She managed to get to the washroom door without making any noise and sighed silently in relief, reaching for the doorknob. Suddenly, it opened on its own, away from her outstretched hoof, and she nearly stumbled forward following after it. She caught herself on crossed hooves and her surprised yelp in her throat, managing to stifle it into a squeak.

"Misty?"

She sunk back a little, squinting against the light flooding out of the room and framing the pony standing on the other side of the door.

"S-Sunny! I-I'm sorry, I was, uh..." She quickly stepped back, keeping her voice low, trying to fish for an excuse, until she just defaulted to the truth, casting her eyes down. "I... was thirsty."

Sunny chuckled softly as she also stepped out of the room, leaving the light on. "That's okay. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I didn't?" Maybe she was still sleepy, but somehow it came as a surprise.

"Of course not." Sunny smiled, but her eyelids drooped a little. Between that and her messy, unbraided mane, it was obvious she had just rolled out of bed same as her. "Are you sleeping alright? I can bring you another blanket if it's too cold."

"No, no, I'm fine," Misty quickly assured her, slipping past her into the washroom. The last thing she wanted was for anypony to think she was being picky. "Sorry. Good night." She quickly closed the door and breathed a silent sigh.

"Okay... good night," Sunny's voice came muffled through the door.

---

"Misty!"

She started up with a yelp, getting caught in the blanket and tumbling onto the floor when the couch proved too narrow to quickly roll over. She blinked her eyes rapidly as something moved into her vision, long curls hanging over her like a curtain.

"What do you want on your pancakes!?"

"What?" Misty squeezed her burning eyes shut and slowly squinted them open, looking at the pony leaning over her.

"Pancakes," Izzy repeated brightly. "Do you want powdered sugar, or whipped cream, or syrup, or fruits, or peanut butter, or everything?"

"Uh... sugar?"

"Okay!" Izzy skipped over her and started prancing towards the kitchen corner. "She said sugar!"

"Izzy, I said see if she's awake, not yell at her," Sunny's voice came from the same direction, equal parts amused and chiding.

"Whoops. Sorry, Misty!"

She picked herself up and quickly set the cushions and blanket back down neatly, before running a hoof over her mane, making sure it all fell over her right shoulder. "That's okay. I'm good, I'm awake." She made her way over to the table and sat down near one of the corners while Sunny was still stacking pancakes onto plates.

Gradually, the table filled, plates and bowls being set down, while Pipp and Zipp joined them from upstairs. And just when everypony was getting ready to start, Hitch arrived with Sparky to join them. Within moments, they were all eating and chatting, and naturally taking turns entertaining the dragon.

All except Misty, who quietly sat by, snatching up pieces of conversations from one side of the table or the other, trying to keep her concentration to not drop the fork from her magic, before eventually giving up and eating her stack by hoof, one cake at a time.

Breakfast had never been like this. It was eating cold food in silence, in her room, or with Opaline on the days where she tolerated it. And as long as she stayed quiet, didn't chew too loud. By contrast, the buzz of voices and laughter, the warm, fluffy texture of the pancakes, the sunlight streaming in from the window behind her, it was surprisingly comfortable. Slowly, her mind drifted, her eyes closed as she faded away into the warm comfort of her surroundings.

"Uh, Misty?"

Her head shot up from the table and half a pancake softly plopped back onto her plate from the side of her face. She needed a moment before she realised everypony was looking at her. She smiled sheepishly, trying to sink away into the cushions.

"Did you not get enough sleep?" Hitch asked, while taking Sparky off the table before he got to the rest of her plate.

"N-no, I mean - yes! I-I'm fine, really," she tried to argue, sitting up a little more in a posture that she hoped would make her seem more awake.

"Is that why you have powdered sugar all over your face?" Zipp asked more flatly.

Misty hurriedly scraped her hoof over her mane, making sugar gently snow onto the bench. "No, I, uh... I just couldn't..." She sunk away again, feeling the guilt of failure already gnawing on her. "I couldn't stay asleep. I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" Zipp pressed, furrowing her brow.

"Is it the beacon?" Pipp questioned, before Misty could really think about it. "Do you want to borrow a sleeping mask?"

"The beacon doesn't reach all the way down here," Zipp pointed out, gesturing at the solid ceiling.

"I knew the couch wasn't the best idea," Sunny admitted, "It's a little too stiff for naps."

"Really? I think the couch is great!" Izzy jumped in.

"Just because you can sleep everywhere," Sunny said with a short laugh. "I don't think just anypony can fall asleep in the garden, either."

Misty felt the tension in her shoulders slip away, as the admonishment she had expected didn't come. It returned briefly as Sunny turned back to face her again. "Sorry, Misty. We'll try to make it more accommodating for you."

"N-no, no, you don't have to," she tried to argue.

"Sure we do! Everypony needs a good night of sleep," Hitch responded quickly. "We offered you a place to stay, so it's our responsibility to make sure you get yours."

"Lack of sleep will lead to so many other issues. You gotta keep up your rhythm," Pipp added matter-of-factly.

"How was your sleeping situation before?" Sunny asked.

"Well, uh..." She visualised what had been her room until a night before. The empty walls, the single small window, the little rickety shelf, filled with few belongings, most of which were now stuffed into the old satchel resting next to the couch. And... "I guess it was like a really big cushion."

"And... that was comfortable?" Zipp questioned.

That should be enough for you, Misty.

"It was enough for me."

"Oh, my bed is kinda like that!" Izzy said excitedly, scooping a generous helping of whipped cream onto her last pancake. "You wanna try sleeping there?"

"Would that really be okay?" She felt the tension slip away from her again, looking at Izzy excitedly. The unicorn nodded and hummed her approval through her full mouth, whipped cream clinging to her cheek.

"But, uh, maybe clean up a little first," Pipp said gently, turning her compact mirror so Misty could see her reflection, and the mass of powdered sugar still clinging to her coat and mane, like she had lost a snowball fight.

---

The bedroom of the Crystal Brighthouse was... bright. Of course the sun had come up now, but the rainbow lights coming down from the gallery were just as luminous. But somehow Misty already knew the light wouldn't be keeping her awake. After all, she managed to fall asleep sitting upright at the table.

Between the poor night of sleep and the stress and excitement of the last couple of days - her cutie mark, betraying and slipping away from Opaline, then sneaking all the way back here - her steps up into the bedroom were heavy and her body was ready to slump down and curl up.

After making sure she wouldn't drag any sugar into Izzy's bed, she approached and looked over at her new friend, just to make extra sure again. Izzy gave her a wide smile and gestured at the suspended mound of cushions and pillows with an open sweep of her hoof.

The bed wasn't at all like what she'd slept on before. It was big, fluffy, and colourful. There were more pillows than she would have ever guessed a single pony would need. Was it really okay for her to be indulging like this? Did even Opaline's bed look this comfortable?

Misty reached up and pulled herself onto it. It swayed slightly and the round mattress gave way under her hooves. When she carefully sat down, her body sunk in just a little bit, like she was resting on a mound of snow. Except it was somehow warm. So not actually like snow at all. She was sleepy.

"It's so soft..." she muttered, her eyes already falling closed. "You sleep here every night?"

"Oh, most nights. Or days. Sometimes I fall asleep in my workshop. Or when I find some really comfortable shade. Or on the couch. But most of the time, I'm supposed to sleep here." Izzy levitated one of the pillows and nudged it between Misty's forelegs. "You can just use it if it's more comfortable."

"What? No!" She sat up again halfway. "I can't just take your bed. I'll find something else."

"Hey, no rush. There's enough room for both of us."

Stop that annoying cuddling, Misty. You're not a foal anymore.

Nightmares or not, this is my bed and you have yours. Shoo.

"Both of us? Is that okay?"

"Duh! It's always okay to snuggle with your friends!" Izzy jumped onto the bed, making the hook it was suspended on creek quietly as it swayed again, though its weight kept it relatively stable. She slumped down next to Misty and put one hoof over her withers, gently pushing her to lie down again.

"Always?" Her eyes drifted closed again, the added warmth from Izzy being so close starting to lull her back into drowsiness.

"Sure," Izzy said more softly. A blanket draped itself over them. "I'll just stay here until you're asleep, okay?"

Are you falling asleep, Misty!?

Daylight is wasting, get out there and get me that dragon fire!

Misty!
Misty...
...Misty...

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

Written after Chapter 4,

Chapter four of what?

[Flamewarrior02]

11642954
Make Your Mark

[OneAmongOthers]

Not bad. I too am also wonder what’s going to happen to Misty after chapter four. She is too clumsy to keep her secret hidden from Opaline for too long. In anycase this will be my canon (well not the sleeping together because we’re friends… that’s weird and a little too accepting), until chapter 5 releases in September.

[DMDash71]

Poor broken blueberry. She’s got the social skills of a toddler. She knows something is wrong but doesn’t know how to fix it. Her reticence is crippling her because the rest of the gang doesn’t realize how deep this wound goes.

[Axolotl222]

Credit for keeping the abuse subtle yet still letting us see how devastating it was. Poor Misty...

[Cxcd]

I like this exploration of the emotional manipulation of Opaline. Keep it up, I’ll watch this story with great interest. Not enough good Misty stories out there.

[OneAmongOthers]

11643020
Yeah Misty does seem pretty socially lacking. It’s endearing and cute in a way. Poor Misty! At least now she’ll be in the company of caring friends.

[Hedonism Bot]

11643015

I too am also wonder what’s going to happen to Misty after chapter four. She is too clumsy to keep her secret hidden from Opaline for too long.

You'd think so, but then again Opaline wasn't the least bit suspicious of Misty getting her cutie mark right as Sunny and the others had broken out of the barrier and allegedly overpowered her.

[LordFlareon]

11643058
Actually, she doesn't know about Misty's cutie mark yet. There was a moment near the end of Missing the Mark where Misty was covering it with her tail when Opaline was talking to her.

[OneAmongOthers]

11643058
Well Misty did a ploy where She made it look like the mane 5 tied her up with vines and also she hid her mark with her tail and moved things back with her hooves instead of her magic when Opaline came back. Still I do hope she does leave and move in with the other ponies in the Brighthouse. It would be only fitting for her.

[heartlessons]

This is the sort of thing I'm reallyyyy hoping we get from Chapter 5, but even if we don't, I won't be too upset because I'll have this very excellent fic to fall back on! c: You do a great job capturing the fallout of everything Opaline's done to Misty. Opaline's dialogue in particular is spot-on, and I like how her past words are incorporated into Misty's present. So so good.

I'm especially fond of the way you write the Mane 5—their interactions (both with each other and with Misty) feel very organic and real. I loved Pipp asking Misty if she needed an eye mask, and Izzy waking her up with screaming was very funny. They are all so silly. My babies.

I also really like the dual meaning of the chapter title. Hopefully Misty will get more rest soon. That final bit with the cuddling was very sweet. :)

Thank you for the chapter! I look forward to what's to come. :D

[Bronie312]

I must say that I relate to Misty in this scenario. I suffer from insomnia, either because of my near-obsession with the laptop or the already-existing lack of sleep as per default. Still, even when none of those are there to torment me, the yelling and shouting of my parents up to 2 am certainly are.

There was this instance in which I couldn't hold it anymore and left the house (I hope you understand me: exams were just around the corner and I needed some mental stability to keep my brain relatively sane), so a friend of mine let me stay at his place for about 2 weeks. But what stood out the most for me, besides the incredibly comfortable bed he and his family had let me sleep in, was that, as soon as my body sunk into the sheets and cushion, a rush of adrenaline ran through my brain. I found myself waiting in my bed for a yell, a shout, a swear... ANYTHING that could justify my sudden sense of alert that eventually kept me up for another hour and a half. The following week, at my psychologist's appointment, I told her about the situation. he said that I got so accustomed to the shouting and yelling, that I developed some kind of PTSD regarding yelling and shouting (I know it isn't PTSD 'cause that's a whole 'nother level of trauma and stuff, but I needed to explain everything understandably, both for you all and for me; especially for me).

So, yeah. The metaphor of the day: Parents suck, especially when they can't differentiate and separate married-couple issues from family ones. Oh, and never let them use you as a shield for their arguments in the middle of an all-out dispute. A word of advice? Screw them until they learn not to traumatize their children with THEIR problems.

Anyway, I REALLY liked this chapter! Hope we get to see more in the future ^^

[6-D Pegasus]

Really enjoyed this, wish we get to explore more of Misty's feelings and past in the next chapter (of MYM). Looking forward for your next chapters (of your story)!

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

She started up with a yelp, getting caught in the blanket and tumbling onto the floor when the couch proved too narrow to quickly roll over. She blinked her eyes rapidly as something moved into her vision, long curls hanging over her like a curtain.

Now there's a way to start the morning.

"Just because you can sleep everywhere," Sunny said with a short laugh. "I don't think just anypony can fall asleep in the garden, either."

I'm not even gonna question that.

Nightmares or not, this is my bed and your have yours. Shoo.

you have yours.*

[redmar]

Poor Misty she clearly has a lot of healing to do after Opaline's abuse.