Light Through The Darkness

Midnight’s face was getting very warm. She opened her eyes to the sunlight streaming through the carriage window. Midnight looked down at Starry Skies who was still asleep. She’s sleeping like a rock. Hmmm? What’s that? Wrapped in Starry Skies’s hooves was a scroll. Midnight pried it out and opened it.

“Midnight, Celestia and I have gone up to the castle. Come up as soon as you’ve woken up. ~Luna” Better wake her up. “Star. Star, wake up.”

“Mmmm…”

“Star, wake up. C’mon!”

“Just a little longer…”

“Starry Skies, you get up right now!” The little filly turned around, refusing to get up. “Fine, I guess you won’t get to see Canterlot.” It was as if she had said the magic word. Starry Skies shot up and ran to the window.

“Mid, we’re here! We’re really here!” Midnight knew Starry Skies wouldn’t miss Canterlot for the world. After all, she had never been. Midnight, on the other had, was there a few times, including the time Starry Skies was born.

“Let’s go, Star. The Princesses are waiting for us. We’ll be able to see everything on the way up to the castle.” The pair got out of the carriage and headed off into the bustling streets. It was hectic trying to keep up with Starry Skies. She would run one way, then run the other. Midnight did her best, but her leg greatly restricted her mobility. They passed by all the cafés and restaurants through the food district.

“Slow down, Star!” shouted Midnight as the little filly ran through the crowds of ponies on the street. Starry Skies was in such a rush, she didn’t notice when she knocked a display over in front of an apothecary.

“Having trouble controlling your little one?” asked an aged mare outside of the apothecary shop.

“Yeah, kinda… but she’s not my little one! Umm, I mean… she’s my sister ma’am.” she replied, picking up some of the things from the ground.

“Oh, you don’t have to call me ma’am. You sister seem like a ball of energy. I remember when I was a spry, young filly. But that was long ago.” The aged mare gave a chuckle.

“Here, that’s everything. Wait there’s one more- Ouch!” Midnight hit her burned leg on a table trying to reach a little bottle.

“I got it missy,” said the mare, looking at her leg. “you should get that leg checked. It looks very serious.”

“I’m on my way to do that. If only I could get my sister under control.”

“Here take this.” The mare held out a bottle filled with a shimmery blue substance. “It’ll help with the burn.”

“Thank you very much. How much will it be?”

“Oh no deary, it’s on the house.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.”

“Come on now. You can and you will.” She put the bottle in Midnight’s hooves. “It’s my way of saying thanks. You saved me a lot of trouble cleaning this mess up. Besides,” she leaned in close, “most of the ponies around here are too snobby to help.” They both snickered.

“Okay, thank you. Good-bye, have a nice day.”

“You too, deary, you too. Oh, don’t forget. Drink half the bottle now, half later.” Midnight gave her a smile and a nod. She uncapped the bottle and drank out of it. It had a very faint taste of apples, but it had a strange consistency. It seemed to slither down her throat. The taste is fine, but it feels like drinking mane gel. She finished half of the bottle and put it in the pocket of her cloak. She continued along, thinking about the strange drink when she suddenly remembered. Oh no. Where’s Star?! She looked up and down the streets, but there was no sign of her little sister.

“Star!” she shouted into the crowd. Midnight started to panic. She walked fast through the crowd with pain surging through her leg. She was surprised, though. The pain was somewhat suppressed by the tonic she had taken. She used this new surge to power into a light gallop. She searched tirelessly, bumping into stallions and mare without time to say excuse me. Where did you go!? Lost in thought she crashed with a stallion and fell to the ground.

The pain started rushing through her leg no longer withheld. Tears streamed down her face as she sat there. The stallion got up and walked away with a very smug look. Great, I lost my little sister in Canterlot. And now, I’ve fallen in the middle of the street and can’t even get up! All of the ponies moved around her, they even avoided looking at her. Midnight tried to stand up, but the pain was too much to bear. There was a small tap on her shoulder. She looked up and a stallion was standing there with an outstretched hoof.

“I say, you look like you could use some assistance, ma’am.” stated the stallion smoothly.

“Thank you.” Midnight took his hoof and he guided her to a bench at the park across the street.

“You should be more careful. I’m sorry to say the the crowd of my hometown isn’t very helpful.”

“No kidding.”

“What had you in such a rush, anyway? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I seem to have lost my sister, sir.”

“Please, call me Fancy Pants.”

“Okay… Fancy Pants.”

“You were saying something about a lost sister?”

“Yes. My sister, Starry Skies. See, it’s her first time in Canterlot, and she slipped away while I was at a shop.”

“I’m sure she can’t have gone to far. Would you like help finding her?”

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“It’s no problem at all. I’m sure my entourage would be willing to assist me. What, pray tell, does your sister look like?”

“She has a grey coat, a white mane, light blue eyes, and her cutie mark is six stars in a circle.”

“Not to worry, Miss… do forgive me, but I never got your name.”

“Midnight Spark.”

“Well, not to worry Miss Spark. We’ll find your sister in a heartbeat.” Fancy Pants walked over to a group of ponies who seemed to be waiting for him. “Alright sirs and madams, I need your help finding a young filly for my friend, Miss Midnight Spark. She’s got a grey coat, a white mane, light blue eyes, and six stars in a circle as her cutie mark. Let’s hop to it.” The group of ponies quickly dispersed and navigated through the crowd. Not even five minutes had passed when one mare led Starry Skies out of the crowd. Thank Celestia she’s alright. Starry Skies ran over to Midnight and sat next to her.

“Mid, I’m so sorry. I got carried away and left you behind.”

“Don’t worry about it. It is your first time in Canterlot, after all.” Fancy Pants left his entourage, and trotted up to the two. “Thank you, again for your help.”

“Oh, no need to thank me. It was my pleasure, my dear. I’ll leave you two. Have a nice day.”

“Wait,” Midnight called out. Fancy Pants turned around. “I have to ask. You said most ponies around here aren’t very helpful… Why did you help me? No disrespect.”

“None taken, my dear. I helped you because I wanted to, simply that. Also, you remind me of a dear friend of mine. A designer named Rarity from Ponyville with an amazing sense of generosity. I think you two would make great friends. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, my entourage is getting impatient.” He gave a smile and a nod, and left with the group of ponies. Not every day that you find somepony like that. Midnight got up and, with Starry Skies’s help, continued to the castle. They were nearing the gate when they noticed a stern looking unicorn waiting at the gate.

“Maybe he’s here to help.”

“Or, he’s just taking in the scenery.” They walked up to the gate and the unicorn opened it. “Thank you, sir.”

“Not a problem ma’am.” Replied the unicorn. He was turning to the street again, but stopped at the sight of Midnight’s leg. “Excuse me.I’d hate to bother you on this fine day, but I was hoping you could help me. I’m looking for a unicorn. Do you know anyone by the name of Midnight Spark?” His voice is so calm, so reassured. He must be expecting me. Playing it of like he doesn’t know that it’s me.

“Yes. Midnight is a good friend of ours.”

“Wait-” Midnight gave her a nudge. “Oh, Oh right. Midnight. Yeah, we saw here at the umm, at the-”

“Train Station. She was on her way to… Ponyville. Right, Star?” Starry Skies gave a reaffirmed nod.

“Ah, thanks anyways.”

“No problem, Mister.”

“Oh, how rude of me. My name is Half-Life.”

“Well, Half-Life, we need to get be on our way-”

“I’m the medical expert of the castle sent to find a unicorn named Midnight Spark.” He circled around the two sisters like a shark circling his prey. “She has a burned leg that needs treating, I do believe it was the left.” He stepped on her cloak, causing it to fall off as she turned. Her burned leg was exposed and in plain sight. “That and she is supposed to be with her little sister, Starry Skies, whom I hear goes by the name Star very often.” He turned his gaze to the little filly. “Am I to assume, that I’m looking for you two? Because if I am, I’m to take you up to the castle.”

Midnight felt very exposed under his eyes. Like he knew everything about her, but that wasn’t a good or bad thing yet. “Let’s get you two to the castle. And if I may be so bold, I’d like to tell you this. You should figure out who you’re lying to first. Otherwise you’ll make a fool out of yourself, or selves for that matter.” He’s smart, I’ll give him that. I’m not sure if I can deal with that smartass attitude. Doctor Half-Life doesn’t seem too pleased about helping me. Cold and calculating, go figure. “I apologize if I may have come across as pretentious. I just couldn’t resist the chance to observe you two. As I’m sure you’ve picked up, I’m a very calculating type of stallion. And though I may seem cold, I take the utmost pride in helping everypony.”

“What, did you read my mind?”

“So you were thinking that?”

“Prick.” muttered Midnight.

“Now, Now. If you’re going to insult me, at least let me hear it so I can agree with you.” Half-Life gave her a smirk. Midnight was slightly embarrassed, but also angry. Starry Skies chortled until Midnight gave her a disapproving scowl.

“Okay, on to more pressing matters. Why don’t you tell me about your leg?”

“What? Don’t you have the answer, good doctor?”

“Well yes, but I’m still not sure I heard right. I’d like to hear it from the source.”

“Fine. I’ll just give you the brief since you’ve already heard. I was in my dream. There was a dragon. Long story short, it burned my leg, and I woke up to find it burned.”

“So I wasn’t told a lie? It’s hard to conceive of a dream that can breach between the fine line into reality.” What the hell is he going on about? “I’ve never seen it happen before, and it will be difficult, but I think I can treat it.”

“Excellent, that’s great news.” I was so caught up with the doctor, I forgot we were meeting with Celestia and Luna. “You’ll be pleased to hear that Princess Cadence and Princess Twilight are both on their way here. We have to get ready for the summit. Half-Life, do your best to fix up Midnight Spark. Starry Skies, Luna needs your assistance in the upper hall. I need to talk to the guards. We’ll all meet back in the Grand Chamber before sunset.” Celestia departed toward the guardhouse. Luna took Starry Skies into the castle. And I’m stuck with the nut. Great.

“So, doc, what are we gonna do about my leg, hmm?”

“Let’s find out. My office is right down this hall.”

Starry Skies had followed the princess to the upper hall of the castle. She was amazed by the size of everything, the halls, the windows, the doors. They were all enormous. Luna opened a door to a small office.

“In here, Starry Skies.”

“Why did we come in here?”

“I need to ask a favor of you.”

“And you needed me alone up here to do it?”

“It’s not something easy to ask of you. You’re so young and… unprepared.”

“I don’t like where this is going. Can’t Midnight be here?” Starry Skies was starting to get a lump in her throat.

“I’m afraid not. She would protest what we’re about to do.” Luna locked the door behind her.

“I’m scared, Princess. Please, don’t make me do this. Please, please just let me go.” pleaded Starry Skies, on the verge of tears.

“Listen, Starry Skies. I need you to do this. I need you to be strong. This is for Midnight.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“I won’t always be there for her, but you will. I… I want to put you in the dream she had.”

“What?!”

“Hear me out, okay? When I put you in there. You’ll be connected with her. If she has a dream, you will be able to enter it. I can’t always be there.”

“How will it work?”

“You’re going to enter the dream. You’ll hear her thoughts, see her actions, and feel her interactions.”

“Wait a second, what do you mean ‘feel’?”

“Unfortunately, I mean just that. You’re going to go through the dream exactly like Midnight did. It’s the only way to get you two on the same level of communication and connection, for you to know everything. Look at the big picture, you’ll be there to help your sister.” In her dreams. I can help her… I can protect her for a change.

“O-Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Excellent. But be warned. I don’t know what all Midnight went through. You have to be ready for anything.”

“I… I understand.”

“You won’t wake up until the dream is over. Okay? Tell me when you’re ready.”

“I’m ready.” Starry Skies took a deep breath, and Luna cast the spell. Starry Skies drifted to sleep, but more importantly, into Midnight’s dream.

Midnight sat on the examining table in Half-Life’s office. She watched him mix powders and potions together, looking for the right mixture. Looks like he’s making a cake or something.

“Transcendent dreams, are one thing, but transcendent injuries? They get a bit tricky. I mean, they are injuries, but can’t be classified as such, or at least the medical professionals think that they can’t. I put them in their own special category.”

“Cut the crap, doc.”

“Please, Midnight. I’m trying to give you a little lesson about magical injuries. And I’d appreciate it if you were to call me Half-Life. ‘Doc’, makes me feel… unprofessional.”

“Seriously? Fine. Whatever. Please continue, Do- I mean, Half-Life.”

“Thank you. Now as I was saying. Transcendent injuries can be treated by potions and tonics, but you need to know what you’re trying to fix. Look at you leg for example. It’s burned.” No shit. “But burns don’t look like that. When somepony gets burned the area usually shrivels up, right?” Whoa, I didn’t even notice that. “See, that injury wasn’t on you physically. It was a more ethereal matter. Spiritual, if you will. I’m no expert in spirit magic, but I am an expert in spiritual injuries. Here drink this.”

Half-Life finished his concoction. It was a bubbly bright red brew, and it burned her throat. It tastes like apples. Weird. “I’m glad I had everything I needed. I was running low one ingredient in particular.”

“And what was that?” asked Midnight, starting to feel really dizzy.

“Hydra blood. It’s a very tricky substance to find. It has powerful restorative properties when it comes to burns, but most apothecaries don’t have it on a count of how hard it is to retrieve. I was surprised to find some in your cloak.” Hydra blood!? In my cloak!? I think I’m gonna be sick. “So, let’s wrap that leg up, and let the Hydra blood work it’s magic. It’s a very interesting thing, Hydra blood. It has the consistency of mane gel. Though some say it tastes like apples. Don’t know who’d think of drinking Hydra blood. They must have a natural attraction to the Hydra blood.” Why does he keep saying Hydra blood?! It’s making me dizzy and nauseous.

“Yeah, Half-Life. Could you stop saying Hydra blood?”

“Oh? Don’t like it now that you know what it is? I’m surprised you haven’t thown up yet. Most people have very weak stomachs after finding out something like that. Even more so when they drink a concoction as strong as the cure.”

“Well, I’m getting there the more you talk.”

“You’re funny, Midnight. But did you catch anything that I said before?”

“Of course!” Not! “You were talking about how ah… transcendent injuries need a special form of magic to be healed. They do manage to break the ummm… bonds of the dreams, but not enough to leave the ethereal state. Therefore, they are harder to deal with, unless somepony, such as yourself, knows how to deal with such matters.”

“Wow, it seems you do know how to keep up with boring medical talk. I must say you don’t cease to impress me. Tell me how did you piece that together.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even I know your head must have been spinning too much for you to even catch a single word I was saying. Your willpower is unimaginable, and your thirst to prove yourself even more so. You might just be the Starswirl the Bearded of our time.”

“That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.”

“I was serious, Midnight. It may sound like crap to you now, but you have a very special talent. With it, the possibilities for you are endless. I think enough time has passed. Let’s check the leg.”

It was so hard to wrap her head around everything. How did Midnight manage to do this? Starry Skies look on as Midnight quickly adapted to the new form. She’s so quick to learn. I don’t think I’d be able to handle this. But if these are her dreams, I’m gonna have to get used to them.

The dream continued on, like a movie shot from her point of view. Starry Skies saw everything Midnight saw, and did everything she did, but she couldn’t get over the voice. It was helping Midnight all throughout the dream, but something about it made Starry Skies feel uneasy.

She kept watching every little development. No horns on humans. Need to use whatever can channel my magic, IF the dream is like this. What are the odds? No one ever has the same dream twice… but this is Midnight’s dream. I have to focus.

Everything moved by so smoothly, how she ran, how she moved, how she thought. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this is the real Midnight. Nothing changed the pace of the dream, until Midnight saw the shadow. Chasing shadows? That’s not like her. The shadow disappeared just as she had caught up to it. Suddenly, the whole atmosphere of the dream changed. She’s scared.

The true terrors of the dream were just beginning. Midnight dashed through the trees with the roar behind her. I know why she doesn’t want to wake up sometimes. Coming back to these nightmares? I wouldn’t want to either. Midnight stopped running. She turned to face a monstrous black dragon chasing her. What are you doing Midnight, run!

Starry Skies looked on, and everything seemed to move so slow. The spray of fire shot out and in a split second that seemed like hours, Starry Skies felt the real terror. The pain surged through her uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but cry and wonder how Midnight kept her composure. Her sister’s last moments were about to unravel in front of her, but her thoughts were so calm.

She was thinking… About me. I really am what keeps her going. Luna was right, the two sisters had reach a new level. They were connected, because of what Starry Skies learned then and there. I know now what I mean to her. A blinding light shot out, striking the dragon and making it disappear. The dark angel came down. Luna, you came just in time. Moments later the dream ended.

Half-Life took the bandages off of Midnight’s leg, and to her astonishment, the burn had dissipated, or at least most of it. The only thing left was a strange,pale-red mark where the burn was.

“Half-Life, it worked!”

“Of course it did, I made it. It just took a few ingredients, and a decent knowledge of spiritual healing. So, did you learn something? Hmm?”

“I can honestly say that I have. I learned that this stuff takes some thought, but if you put your mind to it, it can be incredibly useful. That, and I learned that you’re not as big of a nut as I thought you were. But you’re still a bit of a prick”

“I can’t argue with that. An accurate observation, if I do say so myself.”

“But what about this mark? I don’t know if I like it too much.”

“I don’t find anything wrong with it, but if it bothers you that much, I’m sure we can find a way to get rid of it.”

“We? I don’t think I’ll be of much help.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, lass. You might have a bright future as a medical pro.” Midnight’s heart fluttered at the very idea. Me, a doctor? If he says so, it must be true. He is the doctor. There was something about him. He gave off a very warm and comfortable feeling. Come on, Midnight. You aren’t falling for him, you aren’t… Are you? “Come on Midnight. It’s almost sunset. Who know’s? Everyone might be waiting on us.” Us, it’s just a word Midnight. One little word, that could mean so much more.

Starry Skies opened her eyes. Luna was standing over her looking very shocked.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.” Am I? Starry Skies glanced at her leg. Luckily, it didn’t have a burn like Midnight. Mid. “Princess, did it work?”

“I’m sensing a stable connection between the two of you. I’m actually quite surprised. Such a link is usually very hard to maintain. Most of the times, there is a strong connection of one particular thought. Did you find it?” One thought…

“I think so, yes.”

“Okay, so tell me what exactly happened.”

“Well, Midnight woke up in the middle of the forest, but she wasn’t a pony. She was a hu… a hu…”

“A human?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“I was there, remember?”

“Yeah, but it looked like it wasn’t your first time.”

“Umm, it’s kind of a dreamer-overseer confidentiality thing. I don’t usually talk about other ponies’ dreams, unless it’s with the dreamer. But, yes. There is one very curious unicorn who dreams of humans all the time.”

“That’s strange, but it’s her dreams, right? Anyway, she was running through the forest while arguing with someone. Well, not someone. More like a voice. In her head. It seemed to want to help her, but she wouldn’t let it. She went through, learning to control herself with incredible ease. Midnight happened upon a strange pair of intertwined trees, but something made her turn. When she looked back, the trees were gone. In their place, was a big shadow. She didn’t think twice about going after it when it took off. But it got away from her. Then, there was rustling all around her. I could tell she was getting scared. She tried to talk to whatever was there, but a scary growl made her scream and run. She argued with the voice about the creature being a dragon, and the whole thing just being a dream. So she stopped and turned toward the dragon.”

“I can understand why she would do that, but I still question that.” No kidding. Why did you do it, Mid?

“I have no idea. She looked at the dragon as if she had no fears, but I could feel how scared she was. She might have thought that it couldn’t hurt her in her dreams. But we already know that she was wrong. That huge dragon moved quicker than the wind, letting out the spray of fire. Midnight never saw it coming. She got hurt and that’s it. Then you came in.”

“Interesting. Now we’re done here.”

“What about Midnight?”

“What about her?”

“Should I tell her about what we did here?”

“Midnight will find out about this eventually, but for now don’t tell her about it.”

“Why not?”

“Sometimes, it’s better to find out about something when it happens, not beforehand?”

“If you say so.” I hope something doesn’t happen. But if it does, I’ll be there for you, Mid.

“Let’s go. Everypony’s probably waiting for us.”