Author's Note

I hope you guys like this chapter. I do apoligize if it took too long, but anyways, thank you for your patience and support, remember stay tuned for more chapters to come in the future. And remember to always keep on bronying on even after Gen 4 comes to an end, everypony

The Truth Will Set You Free

Today's tests were difficult just as I predicted. But, thanks to the studying I've done, I managed to pass with an A- in History, a B+ in Math class, A+ in English, surprisingly and a regular A in science. I couldn't have done all of this without the help of Twilight, though, I wish I could celebrate more, but I still had other things I needed to discuss with her on the subject of Midnight Sparkle. So, when lunchtime had come, I was coming into the cafeteria and walked over to one of the tables. I didn't have any money to buy a lunch, so I just made a lunch at home in advance.

I opened up my lunchbox and pulled out a cheeseburger. I made some extra ones just for special occasions like this and even left Midnight a burger at home. Next, I pulled out a banana and a container filled with water before closing my box back up.

Moments later, the girls showed up and grabbed their lunch trays, serving themselves some pizza slices with a bowl of fresh fruit and a tall glass of water. Twilight spoke to the others, telling them she'd meet up with them later after she had a chat with me. The other girls first tried to get involved, but Twilight insisted that it'd only be her and me, to which Sunset did as her girlfriend asked. So, the girls took their seats at a different table while Twilight came and sat down next to me.

"Okay, Chance. What happened between you and Midnight? Did she hurt you?" Twilight asked quietly.

"No, far from it. It's quite the opposite. Midnight told me something that she's been keeping to herself for a while now and she told me everything that happened some time ago," I responded quietly.

"What did she tell you?" the lavender bookworm asked.

I laid out the details of what had transpired during this event called the Friendship Games and how Midnight came to life due to all of the contained Equestrian magic inside Twilight's pendant and her plans to take over both this world and this other world Midnight called "Equestria." Twilight placed a hand over her heart as if it had gotten hit by a ton of bricks. I also mentioned how she fought against Sunset and ended up losing the fight and got seperated from Twilight when she was overpowered by the magic blast wave and became lost and along in the city.

"That's pretty much everything she told me," I said.

"Every word of it... is true," Twilight said, looking down, depressed. "It's all true, Midnight Sparkle was born from the magic contained in my pendant. I was trying to understand the magic at this school, but my curiosity nearly costed everyone's lives after that event." I got concerned when Twilight started shedding tears from her eyes as if it was her fault.

"Twilight...the important thing here is that you still feel bad about it. You're not a bad person and I'm pretty sure Sunset and the others agree to that," I assured her.

The lavender egghead sniffled. "Thanks, Chance," she said. I grabbed a napkin from one of the napkin dispensers they had on the table and gave it to her. She used it to wipe her tears away and then threw it in the trash before letting out a sigh. "Is there anything else you wanted to tell me about Midnight?" I knew she was going to ask me that, so I told her everything that happened after that.

When I got to the parts where Midnight kissed me on the cheek and started being friendly with me, Twilight was shocked to hear it. She was even more shocked when I told her about the dream I had where Midnight and I were standing on a hillside in our wedding outfits.

"I'm not sure what to think of it, other than I might actually be falling for her. Though, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to go and pursue her, so I figured maybe you might know what I should do. I know you and the others might not think this is such a good idea, but I'm not sure what else to do. Do you have any tips on what I should do when it comes to matters like this?" I asked.

"Umm, well if you want my advise, you should take things slow. Midnight's still very new to the whole love thing, even if she doesn't show it. I'm pretty sure you're new to it, too," Twilight said.

"I see. So I should just stick to trying to be her friend for now?" I asked, earning a nod from Twilight. "Alright, I'll try not to make things bad between me and Midnight. In the meantime, maybe I'll try to convince Midnight to have a meeting with you and the rest of the group. Would that be okay?"

"Sure, but we'd have to arrange a day when we're the least busiest. Is there anything else you wanted to know before I head back with the others?" she asked.

"Y-Yeah, I do have one more question..." I paused and Twilight gave me her full attention. "What was it that made you fall in love with Sunset?" I asked, making Twilight blush a little. Though, there wasn't a hint of her feeling uncomfortable in the very least.

Twilight took a deep breath and told me everything.

"It was when she rescued me from Midnight that I grew fond of her. I was still a little nervous at first and I was afraid that she might reject me and that she might not like me the same way. So I summed up the courage and confessed to her a week after the Friendship Games had ended when school had come to an end and do you know what she did?" she asked. I shook my head. "She kissed me... right on my lips. She told me how she had a thing for me for a while and she was too nervous to pursue me. I felt like I was the happiest girl in all of Canterlot High."

"Aww, that's so sweet. I'm really happy for you and Sunset," I replied.

"Thanks, Chance. And I hope everything turns out alright between you and Midnight," Twilight said, patting my shoulder before taking her seat next to her sweetheart. Meanwhile, I decided to do some thinking while began to start eating my homemade lunch. I'm still pretty new to the whole "love" thing and I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to adapt to it. Then again, Twilight did mention for me to take things slow with Midnight and it does seem like the more logical approach. I can only hope things work out between her and me and if they do, I'll have to find a way to tell my friends about this.

Secrets never stay secret forever. I sighed and continued to eat my lunch quietly to myself.

Another couple of hours went by and school had finally ended. Everyone ran out the front doors, ready to finally get some well-deserved relaxation for the weekend. I was in no rush for obvious reason. I crossed the street and walked up to my front door and was about to unlock it, but then Midnight unlocked it for me and opened up the door for me, letting me into my house.

"Thanks, Midnight," I said.

"You're welcome," she replied almost quietly. I step inside and she closes and locks the door for me. It was rather courteous of her. "Did... did you do okay on the tests?" My ears definitely caught that. I thought Midnight being friendly was just a one time thing yesterday, but she's actually taking interest in how I'm doing at school, it's like she's slowly changing deep down. Guess that talk we had yesterday about her past is what's causing her to slowly open up her heart to me.

"Y-Yeah, I passed with A's and B's," I say. Although, technically, I only got a B+ in math. "So what have you been up to while I was at school, did you do anything in your free time?"

"Other than watching a few movies, nothing. And... well... I think I'm finally ready for you to tell the others about me, but I want to make an arrangement for them to meet us here. So, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like you to call your friends over here, Chance," Midnight says.

"You sure about this? And what day do you want them to come over here?" I ask

"I'm 100% positive about this and I want it to be next Saturday... I'm still too nervous to face them today or tomorrow, so I hope you don't mind," Midnight twiddles her thumbs after saying that.

"I don't mind at all," I reply. Midnight's eyes sparkle as she walks over and hugs me. I hug her back and take her with me to the couch, sitting us both down.

Reaching into my pocket, I grab my phone and dial Twilight's number. I wait for her to pick up and she answers her phone on the third ring. "Hi, Chance. Sorry for telling you this, but Sunset's taking me out for dinner soon, did you need something from me?" she asks.

"Actually, Midnight and I just had a short talk and... she wants to know if you can bring the girls on by and have a talk with her next week on Saturday," I explain.

"Next week on Saturday? I'll have to check with the girls about this, but I don't think we'll be doing anything next Saturday, so I'll talk to Sunset about this and we'll go ahead and spread the word about the meeting to the others, that okay, Chance?" Twilight asks.

"Okay sure, do what you gotta do," I respond.

"And how is Midnight doing, is she pulling through alright?" My eyes turn to look at the magical she-demon who has this calm and relaxed smile on her face. I smile right back before responding.

"Yes, she's doing just fine."

"Okay, take care, Chance. Tell Midnight I said this: Best wishes to you," she says before she hangs up. I put my phone down on the coffee table and turn back to Midnight.

"She's offering her best wishes to you and we might have our meeting," I say.

"That's good to hear. I'm really grateful for your help, Chance. I just wish I knew how I can somehow repay for all you've done for me," Midnight says.

"No need to trouble yourself, I'm just glad you're wanting to make amends," I reply.

Midnight's eyes swell up with tears and she starts sniffling, but her smile still stands strong. "I guess I made the right choice in staying with you. I... I just..." she couldn't finish her sentence and just lunges at me, hugging me tightly and sobbing on my shoulder, but I didn't mind at all. Midnight must still have some emotions she never had the chance to let out before. She's so vulnerable right now and I did all I can to soothe her aching heart and show her that she's not alone anymore.

I try to make things better by rocking Midnight from side to side, silently shushing her. Her sobbing fades into nothing more than soft whimpers. I've never seen her so vulnerable like this before. I was right to take Midnight in away from the cold hard streets.

Midnight finally calmed herself down and soon looks up at me. "Chance..." she says. Suddenly, my heart races the moment I lock my eyes onto hers. I don't know why I never saw this before, but Midnight somehow looks so cute... so beautiful... and so attractive. I feel my face burning up a little just as her cheeks turn red.

"Midnight..." that's the only word I'm able to get out of my mouth. My hand gently rubs her cheek. Midnight nuzzles slowly into my hand and slowly leans up towards me. I lean down closer to her simultaneously.

Soon, I feel the sensation... of her soft lips touching my own. At that moment, I felt a spark coarsing throughout my whole entire body. I close my eyes, basking in the sensation of what I never felt before: The sensation of having my very first kiss. I can honestly say that I don't regret it. I gently rock Midnight side to side, which she enjoys as she hums into the kiss. There was no tongue involved, just our lips staying connected to each other for who knows how long until she and I broke free.

Her beautiful smile was so hypnotizing, I could stare at it for hours. "Chance... why are you so nice? I'm glad you are, but I want to know... you had every chance to leave me out in that cold alley and never look back, yet you tolerated me and took me in without hesitation... why?" she asks.

I blink in surprise. "W-Well, that's kind of a personal thing I don't usually tell people," I reply, turning my head away a little bit, but Midnight places her hand on my cheek and turns me back to face her.

"Chance, did something happen to you a long time ago? You can always tell me," Midnight says.

I wanted to refuse, but I realize something. I persuaded her to tell me about why she was so angry with Twilight and her friends and it wouldn't be fair if I keep hiding the truth about what I went through. "Alright, Midnight, you win, I'll tell you everything that happened," I say.

She nods and scooches up close to me. "I'm all ears," she says.

I clear my throat and tell her my story. "You see, back when I was only 6 years old. I lived in this quiet town, in this quiet neighborhood 45 minutes away from Canterlot City. My parents... weren't the best parents a kid could ever ask for, they made my life a living nightmare. Every day, when I got off school, I had to work part-time at this grocery store with my mom to make ends meet. My dad never appreciated the cash we brougt home from work and would only feed me small scraps of food, nothing big."

"What? Why would he do that?" Midnight asks.

"Because he didn't want to be a father in the first place. He hated me with a burning passion. Sometimes whenever he got drunk, he would either beat me or my mom. It went on for a long time and it eventually made my mom start attacking me. I never felt so scared in my life. I even felt my sanity about to leave me because all I could think about was disappearing so that I could be free," I continue.

Midnight gasps. "You... you mean you tried to...?"

"Yes... but I chose not to do it. Instead, I ran away from home, if I could ever call it that. I hid in a back alley inside a box with nothing to eat or drink. I didn't have anything to keep me warm except for the torn-up clothes on my back, but I didn't care about it. It was a lot better than sleeping on a hard board floor in my room. I stayed in that alleyway for two days until a cop found me. I told him everything about my mom and dad and all the bad stuff they did to me and I showed him the bruises and scars they left me," I say.

"Scars? What scars?" Midnight asks, worried.

"These scars," I turn myself around and have my back turn to Midnight. I lift up the back of my shirt and show her all of the whip marks I got from my childhood. She gasps. "Those were all my mom and dad's doing," I say as I turn back around to face her. "My parents were furious with the way I "turned my back on them after everything they did for me, after they took me in and fed me." But I told them straight away... and I ended up cursing at them... "I'm tired of your bullshit and all the times you made my life a living hell. I wish you two never existed and I hope you both get the electric chair so I can watch you suffer the way you made me suffer."

"You must've been really upset that day," Midnight says.

"Upset is an understatement. When the court date arrived, my parents denied ever putting their hands on me, but when I testified, my dad tried to grab me and choke me to death. The judge sentenced my dad to 20 years in prison with a lifetime restraining order and the judge ordered to have me under the witness protection program, but my mom was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In that one moment before she was carted off, she gave me one last look and mouthed out these words: "I'm sorry, Chance. I never should have abandoned you, be strong, sweetie, I'll make it up to you one day, I promise." I cried so hard that day, I was in pieces when the harsh reality had finally hit me: I had no parents to watch over me and my mom showed remorse after all the pain she had inflicted on me," I keep going.

"Oh, Chance... I'm so sorry," Midnight says, hugging me. "What happened after that?"

"I got put in an orphanage for the remainder of my childhood. This particular orphanage knew about the case with my bad parents and the kids showed sympathy towards me and welcomed me with open arms. I stayed in the orphanage the rest of my life until I was an adult. I only had one couple try to take me in, but they didn't look like they wanted a child, just an errand boy. I refused and chose to stay at the orphanage. I was too scared to go to a new family and preferred to stay until I could take care of myself. And now, here I am, about to graduate high school in just a few short months and I've got you with me," I say.

"You know... even after you told me everything: you didn't cry once," Midnight says.

"It's because... I... I just felt like I needed to hold it in so you underst-" But Midnight shook her head.

"It's okay to cry every once in a while. I cried after I told you my story, you can do the same, too. There's no need to act all tough anymore. The truth will always set you free," she insists.

Now, for some reason, I felt like my heart had just gotten lighter. My eyes got all swollen and my body quivered just like it did 8 years ago. But this time, it felt different. It's as if the darkness itself has been driven out from inside of me and a warm light has taken its place. For the first time in my entire life: I sobbed and cried and Midnight was here to comfort me. I was so lucky to have her by my side.

"It's alright, Chance. I'm here for you... just like you were there for me," Midnight whispers in my ear.

"Thank you... Midnight Sparkle," I whisper, my eyes closed... but with a warm smile on my face.