Chronicles of Midnightby MidnightRainChaptersChapter 1:Beginning....Memories of My PastFall Of IdealsBreakdownAwoken...A Gift? From Sombra?AdjustmentsChapter 1:Beginning...."Gah!" Midnight jolted awake. The same dream again. But why? RING! RING! "Hello?" Midnight asked. "Who is it? "Midnight, it's time you came home." Wast he response. Midnights eyes widened when he realized who it was. "T-tia?" Big sister never calls unless it's important! As he dressed into his combat suit, Midnight began to take inventory for the 42nd time that week. "Okay. Three shortswords, two broadswords, twenty four arrows, six throwing daggers, two bows and... Shit! They're gone! The bracelets are- oh." Midnight slapped himself and cursed. "Idiot! You are so absentminded!" As he walked out of the hotel room, he gave a look back. "Farewell... Human life." Later that night "Found it! I'm coming home, Tia, Luna." Midnight said with a sigh of relief. "I wonder why?" Little did he know, his past was coming back to haunt him... A past that will affect Equestria's opinion of him for years to come. Meanwhile in Equestria... "Princess, where do you think he-" Midnight tackled Twilight with uncanny speed, knocking her to the ground. As both lay on the castle floor, Midnight kissed Twilight, drawing a gasp of surprise from her, and stood up. "Hello, love." Twilight blushed a bright red while Celestia blanched. "Please try not to do that in public, OK Midnight?" The Next Day Midnight gulped down some cider. "Ah! Been a while since I had cider this good!" As he spoke, he walked out the barn door, noticing something poking out of a nearby hay bale. "What is this?" He grabbed the object in his magic and looked away in disgust. "What the buck, Applejack? Playfilly magazine? Applejack, please tell me this isn't yours!" He said. Applejack looked away, embarrassed, , and responded. "I'm sorry, sugarcube, but... It is." Midnight snorted in disgust, then laughed. Walking away, he tossed a small bag over his shoulder. "Oh well. Everypony has secrets. Even I do. In exchange for one of your secrets, here's one of my own." He said with a slightly unusual smile. "I enjoy a good bowl of ramen, and when getting cider, I get cider from you because its got the greatest taste." He paused, thinking of his next stop. Then it hit him, somewhat literally, as he ran into a post he hadn't noticed. "OW!" He exclaimed. "That was a bit painful, but I know where to go now. If you wanna talk some more, meet me at Carousal Boutique." As he walked away, his mind wandered. Memories of My PastAs his mind wandered, Midnight Storm remembered the last time he had loved a mare in Ponyville, and it wasn't too long after he arrived. It had been two years ago. "Thank you!" Midnight called to Roseluck. He broke into a sprint, not wanting to keep his marefriend waiting. After a few minutes of sprinting, he slowed down to catch his breath. As he stopped, gasping, he began to cough so hard, he couldn't breathe. As his mind faded, the last thing he saw was the beautiful flowers he had bought for Octavia wilt. [Location: Underworld, Time, Unknown] Midnight awoke with a start. As he stood up, he surveyed the area only to lay eyes on a semi-familiar script. "υπόκοσμος." he read aloud, wondering why it looked so familiar to him. Than he understood. "Underworld? What am I-" he cut off as he heard voices. "Uh-huh. And as she screamed, I killed her!" the voice sounded male to Midnight, but he couldn't be sure. "Yes...How wonderfully fun." another voice rang through his ears, soft yet vicious. Minight gasped as the owners of the voices rounded the corner. Two Nightmare's stood in front of him, and he gasped again, recognizing one of them. The one he recognized, a mare of deepest black, with red eyes, looked bemused.The other, a stallion with deep violet eyes and a coat that was black as night, spoke excitedly. "May I kill him Commander Shadow Wing? May I?" The mare, an odd case, being an Alicorn Demon, closely looking in appearance to Nightmare Moon, had eyes of silver, her pupils slits like the mare she resembled. "Sh-Shadow Wing!?" he stuttered in surprise. The black mare answered, a sinister look in her eyes. "Wake up, Prince!" She exclaimed, as she slugged him hard in the chest, followed by an uppercut that 'knocked him out'. "Get back to whatever you were doing," She said, "And remember that Nightmare Moon shall never be truly beaten. Eh, old friend?" As she spoke, she began walking back to what is safely assumed to be the central hub for Nightmares/Demons in the Underworld, a snide look on her face. 1030 Years Ago "Ha HA! I'm Queen of the Pillow Fort!" A filly bearing resemblance to Nightmare Moon scrambled onto the pile of pillows. A snow white colt cried out. "Not fair, Shadow Wing! I didn't push you!" The filly replied, smiling mischievously. "So what, Stormy? All is fair in Love and War!" It was the last time they spoke to one another over the course of the next 1327 years. Three Nights Later "Midnight? Art thou up brother?" Princess Luna nudged her younger brother. Midnight woke up, baffled as to why his sister would wake him so late at night. "Uh... I am now sister. Why must you wake me so late during the night?" He asked sleepily. Luna replied, rather embarrassed. "I... had a bad dream." The white colt's silver mane shook gently in the breeze, and his golden tired eyes grew wide in disbelief. "Alright... Just try not to roll around to-" Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. Midnight, slightly worried, climbed out of bed, who, much to his sister's shock, was already in combat uniform. Luna began to question her brother's sanity from then on. As Midnight rushed to the source of the crash, he pinpointed it in the Throne Room. As Midnight shoulder-rolled into the room, unsheathing his broadsword, and as he came upright, he gasped as he saw the culprit. "Sh-Shadow Wing!?" She looked away in what Midnight thought was pain, and spoke very simply. "Don't... Just make sure you tell them who your REAL father is...Before it is too late. Maybe we will see each other again, one day." She trailed off, and vanished in a cloud of black smoke. The next morning, Midnight walked into Celestia's bedroom, and shook her awake. She jolted awake, and sat up. "Huh? It's too early...Midnight?" Midnight told his sisters after shaking Luna awake, who his father was. Celestia and Luna stared at Midnight, their mouths agape... Present Day... As Midnight came back to reality, he realized he was already at the Boutique. He refocused his gaze, and bumped into the door. He was stunned by the sudden impact, but regained his composure as Rarity opened the door. She gasped as she saw an injury that surprised Midnight. "What the..." Midnight was shocked, and promptly fainted. When he woke up, he immediately turned crimson at his moment of weakness. He noticed he was bandaged, the cloth covering his entire torso. He instinctively reached for his back, where he kept his Claymore, but remembered what he had planned. "Oh, right..." he said, walking out the door. "See you two at the wedding?" He said, not looking back, as if he knew what was to come.... Fall Of IdealsThe next week... Twilight walked down the aisle, her white dress swishing softly, hoping that today went perfectly. Midnight, however, was less certain of today. He edged around cautiously, highly aware of the immense hostility nearby. But the presence was not his only cause for worry. He was more focused on his conflicting emotions. Twilight or Rarity? He thought. I have very little time to decide... As he paced, Luna appeared in a burst of dark blue magic, beckoning him to begin walking. As he strode down the row, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. Why am I questioning my love? It matters not, as long as it means the impending threat looming fades. As he stopped next to Twilight, he noticed Tia was taking a moment to gather herself. He quickly searched his sisters thoughts, unsure as to why she was composing herself. Oh, I have such high hopes for you brother. you always treated everything like a game of chess. please follow your heart for this moment. He was shocked that his sister noticed how tactical he was at times, but it did not matter. As Celestia took a deep breath, he nodded to her. "At the request of the groom and the bride, the long speech that precedes the union is to be skipped. I understand many of you will be shocked at this break in tradition, but I hope you are content with their choice. Now," She stopped to breathe, "Do you, Prince Midnight Storm, take Princess twilight Sparkle as your beloved wife for the rest of your natural life?" Midnight clenched his fist, aware of the hostile presence growing as they spoke. "I do." he said, shifting his feet slightly, ready for what ever may come. "Do you, Princess Twilight Sparkle take Prince Midnight Storm as your beloved husband for the rest of your natural life?" Twilight answered happily, oblivious of the impending danger. "Than I now pronounce you husband and mare. Any who object to this union, speak now or forever hold your-" Celestia was cut off by a black Pegasus mare. "I object... Princess!" The mare spat the last word, and Midnight recognized her voice at once. "Damn it, Shadow Wing... not one decade goes by without you trying to kill me." He spoke with a sneer on his face, reaching for the sheathe on his waist. "But now... you have declared war on me. And this is a war you shall not win." Twilight was frightened at the immense measure of menace in Storm's voice. Suddenly Midnight's eyes flared red, and Twilight ran like she had never run before. "GRAAHH! All you ever manage to do is piss me off! but this time, im gonna make you regret breathing The Air That I Breathe!" As he unsheathed his Amethyst dagger, something resembling a Lycanthrope appeared in a plume of black flames. "We meet again, Slayer of Fear." It said, raising a battle axe with the omega symbols as its blades, into a combat position. Midnight looked at it blankly, unsure of what the wolf-like demon meant. "It's the Nightmare that begged to kill you when you trespassed into the Underworld!" Midnight eye's widened as he made the connection. "Oh! I don't think I got your name." The being began to advance, wary of any tricks. "My name is Dreadnaught, and I serve under the Nightmare Princess, Shadow Wing." Midnight looked at Dreadnaught quizzically. "I...um...I get the 'Dread' part, but 'not'? I don't understand." Dreadnaught charged Midnight, and with that action, Midnight decided that hell had broken loose. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" Celestia roared. Ponies screamed in fear as Midnight charged the Nightmare. As he charged, Dreadnaughts axe swung down, severing Midnight's head from his neck. Dreadnaught began to laugh like a maniac, not noticing the body in front of him fade. Suddenly, a sword erupted from his chest, and he stopped laughing at once. "Oh, buck. I thought-" Before Dreadnaught could finish, the sword slid back, and Midnight kicked him in the back, putting enough strength into the kick to knock a freight train back. Dreadnaught flew into the wall, cursing the white stallion as he staggered to his feet. Midnights gold eyes grew narrow as he tensed for what he hoped would be the finishing blow. Dreadnaught hurled his axe, as Midnight began to charge towards him. Time seemed to slow down as Midnight moved out of the way, whirling around, and hurling his sword at Dreadnaught. Dread tried to dodge, but couldn't move fast enough, as the sword stuck fast in his chest. "D...Damn you, Prince!" He sputtered, before Midnight split Dread in half. As Dreadnaught was split, he shrieked, shattering several windows. Twilight and the other girls looked on, terrified of what Midnight had just done, without any show of mercy. "You know...I might have ended it sooner, but you proved tougher than you look." He sheathed the sword, and looked expectantly at Shadow Wing. "What? I don't intend on fighting you. Not yet, anyway." She walked out, spreading her wings as she moved. "See you." The girls and Midnight watched Dreadnaughts remains disintegrate, and when there was nothing left but ash, Applejack spoke. "Is...Is that why you drink, sugercube?" Midnight nodded, almost imperceptibly. "When all you see is death, you want a way out." Twilight gasped at the prospect of Midnight killing more often. Celestia walked up to her brother, and hugged him. "You know, as your family and friends, you can trust us. we can help you through this." She said, with an almost motherly tone. BreakdownTwilight hugged Storm, as he sighed. "I...I cant tell you. not unless....you want to see my hell." Midnight's eyes began to tear up, as Twilight spoke. "Midnight, you know you can trust us, right? You can tell us what's wrong, sweetheart." Midnight hardly acknowledged what Twi said, and did not speak, even with Fluttershy attempting conversation. "Little brother?" Luna asked softly, reaching out to rest her hand on her brother's shoulder. Suddenly, he screamed. "STAY AWAY FROM ME! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE LIKE ME!" Midnights horn glowed a frightening red, and a bolt of magic lanced out, striking the ground between him, and Celestia. Everypony gasped, as his coat and mane became darker in colour, and his gold eyes became a sinister silver. as he changed, the environment seemed to change as well, the group was no longer in Canterlot Castle, but now in someplace that could only be described as hell. the creature that stood in Midnights place stood, smiling evilly. "Welcome to my domain, friends of the Prince. My name, is Nightmare Eclipse." Everypony gasped again, as the Nightmare simply laughed manically. "This is what your brother sees every night, Celestia! Do you understand why he wishes to keep to himself, now?" Midnights half-sisters looked around in disbelief. The screaming, tortured souls, the ruins of Equestria, the twisted reality of it all made Celestia and Luna want to hurl their lunches. The Nightmare begin to change, as the nightmarish place faded. when all was normal, the group found themselves in the Canterlot Throne room. "Now do you get it? Why I cant handle seeing suffering? Why I never mentioned my father.... The memories hurt, even after all this time, they still hurt." Storm's gold eyes softened, as he prepared to steel himself for what might be his biggest mistake ever. "Take a seat, this is going to take a while." The girls all sat, as Midnight looked around, ready for whatever emotional torment may be thrown his way. "Comfy? good." He looked down, and began to recount his life story, starting from the beginning, of what he knew. "I wasn't even born an Alicorn, but an Earth Pony, like all other Crystal Ponies..." three hours passed before he finished his life story, yawning, having never sat still for so long except in meditation. He stood up, and quickly walked to his bedroom in the Castle, while the girls, including Celestia and Luna. "Wandering the frozen North for three weeks getting by with willpower alone? how is that possible?" "Darling, maybe he exaggerated. You know how stallions can be." "Him, born an Earth Pony? how is it ive lost races to him than!?" "Um...excuse me...but doesn't something seem strange about it? He did leave out how he got his Cutie Mark, after all..." "We need a PARTY!" Everypony stopped, as Midnight returned, wearing something so casual, it was clear he didn't want to draw any attention, wherever he was going. Luna got up, and quickly hugged her brother, whispering, "I love you, please be safe, brother." in his ear. As he walked down the steps, one of his Guards saluted, and gave him a crossbow, and a katana. "Good luck with your trip, your Highness." The Guard was none other than Midnight Storm's Captain of the Guard, and best friend, Razor Wing. A blue stallion, with a sly smile that can woo just about any mare. As Midnight quickly made his way through Canterlot, not even stopping as onlookers gasp and yell out things like, "Look, the Vigilante!" He shook his head, knowing full well the Vigilante was no longer in Canterlot. He continued walking, until he reached the Everfree Forest, and suddenly stopped. Something was watching him...and he was going to find out what. "ROAR!" That something jumped out of the bushes, knocking Midnight to the ground, caught off guard, he took the full force of the blow, and could smell his attacker, before he saw it. A Timberwolf. And it was pissed. As the wooden beast lunged its head forward, Storm rolled to the side, getting grazed on his right arm. "Really? After all that training, and I get hit by a Timberwolf!?" He rushed forward, loading a flaming arrow into his crossbow, taking aim at the Timberwolf. "Burn mother bucker, burn!" He pulled the trigger, launching the arrow, but the beast was too close. it swiped at him, getting a powerful shot at his face, mauling his eyes. The Alicorn ducked, and unsheathed his Katana, the blade catching fire as he drew it. The wooden beast lashed at him again, but the currently blinded Alicorn swung the sword upwards, blocking the wolf's attack, and splitting its wooden head in half, as it caught fire. With the wooden wolf now defeated, Midnight trudged his way to Ponyville, in dire need f medical attention, before he blacked out. Awoken..."Im sorry, but his eyes were...." "I don't care! Find a way to fix them!" Midnight slowly woke up, hearing snippets of conversation between his sister and a doctor. My eyes? what about my eyes? Have their colour changed? He thought, and than he noticed something. He blinked, and blinked again. The nurse and doctor in charge of him both gasped, and instantly started shouting for assistance. "He's awake! Patient 46 is awake!" The doctor yelled until Midnight sat up, and attempted to glare, instead, since glaring seemed to fail, he growled at the doctor, saying the first words he'd said since he passed out. "What happened to me?" The doctor jumped, but Midnight didn't see it, but instead heard it, and the doctor explained to the prince about being in a coma for the last few months. Than, the doctor stopped talking, and began to gag, choking, as Midnight jumped out of the bed. "So, not only am I blind, but I missed out on the last four months!?" Midnight shouted angrily at the doctor, still holding him in his magical grip. Celestia ran to her brother, her once beautiful, flowing, mane, now a mess. "Stop, Storm, please! You're choking him! Please, see some sense!" Celestia instantly regretted saying that, as Midnight blew his top. "I. Can't. See. Do you not understand, sister!? How would you feel if you were blind suddenly, and having just awoken from a coma!?" Midnight showed no signs of fatigue, which startled the doctor. As the doctor went to get a wheelchair, though, he tripped. "Im leaving. Without medical help!" He swung his head to where the doctor was, and walked to where he thought the door was, only to walk into the closet, kissing the door before falling back on his rear. "Ok...maybe a little help." After Midnight got dressed, with help from his sisters, he let himself be guided out of the hospital. As he set foot outside the entrance, he was knocked down by two ponies, both of which squealed upon seeing him up and about. "Midnight!" Fluttershy and Twilight both tackled him to the ground, and he let out a gasp as the breath was knocked out of him. "Oof! Calm down, please, both of you!" He struggled under the mare's combined weight, and went limp in defeat as Twilight tried to kiss him on the mouth. After failing multiple times, with Midnight pushing her away, she gave up, and both mares got off of him. After the emotional(For the girls) reunion, time passed rather quickly for the now blind prince, as he trained day and night, honing his senses to make up for his new-found lack of sight. The first week, he didn't leave his training hall once, not for food, not for the bathroom. The weeks after, he was seen around Canterlot Castle at night, eating large amounts of food, and on occasion, seen leaving the armory wearing his silver and gold regalia. After the final week of training, he walked through the giant doors of the Throne room, much to the surprise of everypony present. "I take it your all surprised to see me?" Twilight and Cadence both nodded, unsure of what Midnight was planning, and Celestia and Luna stood up, taking tentative steps toward their younger brother, and then ran up to him, hugging him tightly, as Midnight barely seemed to notice the crushing hugs, when he spoke up. "Mind letting go? Being trapped between the breasts of my sister wasn't exactly my plan." Both his sisters let go, as he spread his magnificent wings, stretching them out completely, as he yawned. "How.....how are things? yagh.....I'm tired...." Storm, much to eveyponies surprise, planted himself on the table, and lay down on his back, one leg crossed over the other, as he quickly fell asleep. Cadence just looked, as Twilight sighed. "Well...He must have been working himself to the bone.... I wonder what about?" Nopony answered, having no idea what he had been doing inside the Training hall. "Come on, lets get him to his bed, he must be exhausted." The Princesses all worked together to carry the slumbering stallion to his room, and when they got there, he woke with a start. "Huh? Wha? Leave me alone..." He mumbled, thinking he was in bed, sleeping the day off. As the Princesses lay him on his bed, Twilight stopped, and turned away, her cheeks red. "Um...Princess Celestia? Would it be ok if I stayed with him, just in case?" She asked, her cheeks growing redder with each word. The regal white Alicorn smiled, and nodded, as she began to walk out of the room, Luna and Cadence following behind, sighing and shaking their heads. As the door shut, Midnight stirred again, this time waking up fully. "Now what...what did I have planned again?" Midnight scratched his head in confusion. A Gift? From Sombra?Midnight struggled to think, and didn't realize he had a guest. That is, he didn't realize until he noticed something odd. "Huh? That's odd...what are these lines? They seem to be in the shape of...Twilight?" "Oh! Your awake! Uh....why are you glowing?" The lavender mare looked at Midnight in confusion as she spoke, noticing the glow looked familiar. Midnight looked down at himself, and couldn't believe what he was seeing, mainly because he couldn't believe he could see again. That's when he pieced it together. "You've got to be kidding me....I never expected him to act on it....I didn't even know he knew about it..." He said, as the glow took solid shape, which surprised Twilight. "Um....why did the glow take the shape of a mare?" She asked, worried because the glow was turning crimson rather quickly. Just as sudden as it appeared, the glow vanished, in a blinding flash of light. "Ow...." Midnight said, and quickly scrambled to his feet. He instantly did a check on how many limbs he had, and was rather shocked to find two missing. "Where are my wings?" He didn't notice yet, but his voice was several octaves higher than what it used to be. That's when he looked in the mirror, and freaked out. "WHAT THE BUCK DID HE DO TO ME!?" He turned around multiple times, seeing his tail had changed to a light silver and black, his ivory coat now onyx black. He could only imagine what had become of his mane and eyes as he passed out from the shock. Twilight just stood there, in shock, not because the stallion who should be her husband was now a mare, but because whoever did this was cruel enough to create a lack of clothes for Midnight. "Uh....oh..." Twilight, being responsible as she was, bolted to the lower floors of the castle to report this strange development, and never heard the voice of one she thought defeated. "Happy Birthday...you disgraceful brat!" ***Five minutes later*** "WHAT!? What do you mean he's been turned into a mare!?" Princess Celestia could barely register what Twilight had said, as she was on her way to her half brother's room, fearing the worst. When she arrived, she instantly shielded her eyes, having just seen her brother-turned-sister's nude body. "Well now." As Princess Luna entered, Midnight began to stir. "Ngh...what....happened?" He asked, visibly scared for the first time in a long while. He groaned, as his now silver eyes were directed towards the ceiling, and he thought back, before speaking. "Well, damn Dad, you were cruel yet nice. but you couldn't do anything about knowledge, could you?" Midnight sat up, and quickly rambled out various thoughts. "I'm gonna need a new identity...new wardrobe...new armor...new...everything." He stood up before looking himself over. "Well..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence in front of his sister. "Well what?" Luna asked rudely, her hand still covering her eyes. "Nothing.." Midnight replied, as he walked into his closet and threw on some rather casual clothing. His training attire, to be precise, dark blue shorts, and a light grey T-shirt. "I'm decent now, its safe to look." Midnight stepped out of the closet, and snapped, an idea clicking in his brain. "I just figured out a new name for myself. Starlight Crescent." Adjustments"Starlight Crescent? That makes...I don't know how much sense that makes." "Not meant too." Oh." The newly named Starlight made her way to the Throne Room, as she walked, she stumbled several times on her way, when Rarity caught sight of her when she fell for the third time. "Who might you be, darling?" Starlight jumped, and turned around quickly. "Oh! Rarity! You don't recognize me, do you?" She said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. Rarity tilted her head in confusion, before asking why. "Whatever do you mean, darling? Am I supposed to?" Starlight nodded slowly, before turning around quickly, hearing the sound of footsteps. "Oi! Who might go there?" She shouted, not caring who it was. She wanted to make sure nothing went wrong, as she tried to explain to Rarity who she really was. The source of the footsteps rounded the corner, and stopped suddenly. "Who the hell are you?" The source was Shining Armour, somepony that Starlight was never on good terms with, even before she was gender bent. "Please, one might think you'd recognize your old sparring buddy. I am insulted!" She proclaimed, waving her hand as if dismissing the Captain. Shining drew from his waist a dagger, and looked at Starlight with suspicion. "If you are Storm, what's our win-loss-draw ratio?" "98-96-12," Starlight replied effortlessly, "You convinced its me, yet?" Shining Armour sheathed the dagger, and bowed, knowing the ratios were never made public, as is the deal between Storm and himself. "My apologies, your high-" "Don't. Just....don't."
Chapter 1:Beginning...."Gah!" Midnight jolted awake. The same dream again. But why? RING! RING! "Hello?" Midnight asked. "Who is it? "Midnight, it's time you came home." Wast he response. Midnights eyes widened when he realized who it was. "T-tia?" Big sister never calls unless it's important! As he dressed into his combat suit, Midnight began to take inventory for the 42nd time that week. "Okay. Three shortswords, two broadswords, twenty four arrows, six throwing daggers, two bows and... Shit! They're gone! The bracelets are- oh." Midnight slapped himself and cursed. "Idiot! You are so absentminded!" As he walked out of the hotel room, he gave a look back. "Farewell... Human life." Later that night "Found it! I'm coming home, Tia, Luna." Midnight said with a sigh of relief. "I wonder why?" Little did he know, his past was coming back to haunt him... A past that will affect Equestria's opinion of him for years to come. Meanwhile in Equestria... "Princess, where do you think he-" Midnight tackled Twilight with uncanny speed, knocking her to the ground. As both lay on the castle floor, Midnight kissed Twilight, drawing a gasp of surprise from her, and stood up. "Hello, love." Twilight blushed a bright red while Celestia blanched. "Please try not to do that in public, OK Midnight?" The Next Day Midnight gulped down some cider. "Ah! Been a while since I had cider this good!" As he spoke, he walked out the barn door, noticing something poking out of a nearby hay bale. "What is this?" He grabbed the object in his magic and looked away in disgust. "What the buck, Applejack? Playfilly magazine? Applejack, please tell me this isn't yours!" He said. Applejack looked away, embarrassed, , and responded. "I'm sorry, sugarcube, but... It is." Midnight snorted in disgust, then laughed. Walking away, he tossed a small bag over his shoulder. "Oh well. Everypony has secrets. Even I do. In exchange for one of your secrets, here's one of my own." He said with a slightly unusual smile. "I enjoy a good bowl of ramen, and when getting cider, I get cider from you because its got the greatest taste." He paused, thinking of his next stop. Then it hit him, somewhat literally, as he ran into a post he hadn't noticed. "OW!" He exclaimed. "That was a bit painful, but I know where to go now. If you wanna talk some more, meet me at Carousal Boutique." As he walked away, his mind wandered.
Memories of My PastAs his mind wandered, Midnight Storm remembered the last time he had loved a mare in Ponyville, and it wasn't too long after he arrived. It had been two years ago. "Thank you!" Midnight called to Roseluck. He broke into a sprint, not wanting to keep his marefriend waiting. After a few minutes of sprinting, he slowed down to catch his breath. As he stopped, gasping, he began to cough so hard, he couldn't breathe. As his mind faded, the last thing he saw was the beautiful flowers he had bought for Octavia wilt. [Location: Underworld, Time, Unknown] Midnight awoke with a start. As he stood up, he surveyed the area only to lay eyes on a semi-familiar script. "υπόκοσμος." he read aloud, wondering why it looked so familiar to him. Than he understood. "Underworld? What am I-" he cut off as he heard voices. "Uh-huh. And as she screamed, I killed her!" the voice sounded male to Midnight, but he couldn't be sure. "Yes...How wonderfully fun." another voice rang through his ears, soft yet vicious. Minight gasped as the owners of the voices rounded the corner. Two Nightmare's stood in front of him, and he gasped again, recognizing one of them. The one he recognized, a mare of deepest black, with red eyes, looked bemused.The other, a stallion with deep violet eyes and a coat that was black as night, spoke excitedly. "May I kill him Commander Shadow Wing? May I?" The mare, an odd case, being an Alicorn Demon, closely looking in appearance to Nightmare Moon, had eyes of silver, her pupils slits like the mare she resembled. "Sh-Shadow Wing!?" he stuttered in surprise. The black mare answered, a sinister look in her eyes. "Wake up, Prince!" She exclaimed, as she slugged him hard in the chest, followed by an uppercut that 'knocked him out'. "Get back to whatever you were doing," She said, "And remember that Nightmare Moon shall never be truly beaten. Eh, old friend?" As she spoke, she began walking back to what is safely assumed to be the central hub for Nightmares/Demons in the Underworld, a snide look on her face. 1030 Years Ago "Ha HA! I'm Queen of the Pillow Fort!" A filly bearing resemblance to Nightmare Moon scrambled onto the pile of pillows. A snow white colt cried out. "Not fair, Shadow Wing! I didn't push you!" The filly replied, smiling mischievously. "So what, Stormy? All is fair in Love and War!" It was the last time they spoke to one another over the course of the next 1327 years. Three Nights Later "Midnight? Art thou up brother?" Princess Luna nudged her younger brother. Midnight woke up, baffled as to why his sister would wake him so late at night. "Uh... I am now sister. Why must you wake me so late during the night?" He asked sleepily. Luna replied, rather embarrassed. "I... had a bad dream." The white colt's silver mane shook gently in the breeze, and his golden tired eyes grew wide in disbelief. "Alright... Just try not to roll around to-" Suddenly, a loud crash was heard. Midnight, slightly worried, climbed out of bed, who, much to his sister's shock, was already in combat uniform. Luna began to question her brother's sanity from then on. As Midnight rushed to the source of the crash, he pinpointed it in the Throne Room. As Midnight shoulder-rolled into the room, unsheathing his broadsword, and as he came upright, he gasped as he saw the culprit. "Sh-Shadow Wing!?" She looked away in what Midnight thought was pain, and spoke very simply. "Don't... Just make sure you tell them who your REAL father is...Before it is too late. Maybe we will see each other again, one day." She trailed off, and vanished in a cloud of black smoke. The next morning, Midnight walked into Celestia's bedroom, and shook her awake. She jolted awake, and sat up. "Huh? It's too early...Midnight?" Midnight told his sisters after shaking Luna awake, who his father was. Celestia and Luna stared at Midnight, their mouths agape... Present Day... As Midnight came back to reality, he realized he was already at the Boutique. He refocused his gaze, and bumped into the door. He was stunned by the sudden impact, but regained his composure as Rarity opened the door. She gasped as she saw an injury that surprised Midnight. "What the..." Midnight was shocked, and promptly fainted. When he woke up, he immediately turned crimson at his moment of weakness. He noticed he was bandaged, the cloth covering his entire torso. He instinctively reached for his back, where he kept his Claymore, but remembered what he had planned. "Oh, right..." he said, walking out the door. "See you two at the wedding?" He said, not looking back, as if he knew what was to come....
Fall Of IdealsThe next week... Twilight walked down the aisle, her white dress swishing softly, hoping that today went perfectly. Midnight, however, was less certain of today. He edged around cautiously, highly aware of the immense hostility nearby. But the presence was not his only cause for worry. He was more focused on his conflicting emotions. Twilight or Rarity? He thought. I have very little time to decide... As he paced, Luna appeared in a burst of dark blue magic, beckoning him to begin walking. As he strode down the row, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. Why am I questioning my love? It matters not, as long as it means the impending threat looming fades. As he stopped next to Twilight, he noticed Tia was taking a moment to gather herself. He quickly searched his sisters thoughts, unsure as to why she was composing herself. Oh, I have such high hopes for you brother. you always treated everything like a game of chess. please follow your heart for this moment. He was shocked that his sister noticed how tactical he was at times, but it did not matter. As Celestia took a deep breath, he nodded to her. "At the request of the groom and the bride, the long speech that precedes the union is to be skipped. I understand many of you will be shocked at this break in tradition, but I hope you are content with their choice. Now," She stopped to breathe, "Do you, Prince Midnight Storm, take Princess twilight Sparkle as your beloved wife for the rest of your natural life?" Midnight clenched his fist, aware of the hostile presence growing as they spoke. "I do." he said, shifting his feet slightly, ready for what ever may come. "Do you, Princess Twilight Sparkle take Prince Midnight Storm as your beloved husband for the rest of your natural life?" Twilight answered happily, oblivious of the impending danger. "Than I now pronounce you husband and mare. Any who object to this union, speak now or forever hold your-" Celestia was cut off by a black Pegasus mare. "I object... Princess!" The mare spat the last word, and Midnight recognized her voice at once. "Damn it, Shadow Wing... not one decade goes by without you trying to kill me." He spoke with a sneer on his face, reaching for the sheathe on his waist. "But now... you have declared war on me. And this is a war you shall not win." Twilight was frightened at the immense measure of menace in Storm's voice. Suddenly Midnight's eyes flared red, and Twilight ran like she had never run before. "GRAAHH! All you ever manage to do is piss me off! but this time, im gonna make you regret breathing The Air That I Breathe!" As he unsheathed his Amethyst dagger, something resembling a Lycanthrope appeared in a plume of black flames. "We meet again, Slayer of Fear." It said, raising a battle axe with the omega symbols as its blades, into a combat position. Midnight looked at it blankly, unsure of what the wolf-like demon meant. "It's the Nightmare that begged to kill you when you trespassed into the Underworld!" Midnight eye's widened as he made the connection. "Oh! I don't think I got your name." The being began to advance, wary of any tricks. "My name is Dreadnaught, and I serve under the Nightmare Princess, Shadow Wing." Midnight looked at Dreadnaught quizzically. "I...um...I get the 'Dread' part, but 'not'? I don't understand." Dreadnaught charged Midnight, and with that action, Midnight decided that hell had broken loose. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" Celestia roared. Ponies screamed in fear as Midnight charged the Nightmare. As he charged, Dreadnaughts axe swung down, severing Midnight's head from his neck. Dreadnaught began to laugh like a maniac, not noticing the body in front of him fade. Suddenly, a sword erupted from his chest, and he stopped laughing at once. "Oh, buck. I thought-" Before Dreadnaught could finish, the sword slid back, and Midnight kicked him in the back, putting enough strength into the kick to knock a freight train back. Dreadnaught flew into the wall, cursing the white stallion as he staggered to his feet. Midnights gold eyes grew narrow as he tensed for what he hoped would be the finishing blow. Dreadnaught hurled his axe, as Midnight began to charge towards him. Time seemed to slow down as Midnight moved out of the way, whirling around, and hurling his sword at Dreadnaught. Dread tried to dodge, but couldn't move fast enough, as the sword stuck fast in his chest. "D...Damn you, Prince!" He sputtered, before Midnight split Dread in half. As Dreadnaught was split, he shrieked, shattering several windows. Twilight and the other girls looked on, terrified of what Midnight had just done, without any show of mercy. "You know...I might have ended it sooner, but you proved tougher than you look." He sheathed the sword, and looked expectantly at Shadow Wing. "What? I don't intend on fighting you. Not yet, anyway." She walked out, spreading her wings as she moved. "See you." The girls and Midnight watched Dreadnaughts remains disintegrate, and when there was nothing left but ash, Applejack spoke. "Is...Is that why you drink, sugercube?" Midnight nodded, almost imperceptibly. "When all you see is death, you want a way out." Twilight gasped at the prospect of Midnight killing more often. Celestia walked up to her brother, and hugged him. "You know, as your family and friends, you can trust us. we can help you through this." She said, with an almost motherly tone.
BreakdownTwilight hugged Storm, as he sighed. "I...I cant tell you. not unless....you want to see my hell." Midnight's eyes began to tear up, as Twilight spoke. "Midnight, you know you can trust us, right? You can tell us what's wrong, sweetheart." Midnight hardly acknowledged what Twi said, and did not speak, even with Fluttershy attempting conversation. "Little brother?" Luna asked softly, reaching out to rest her hand on her brother's shoulder. Suddenly, he screamed. "STAY AWAY FROM ME! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE LIKE ME!" Midnights horn glowed a frightening red, and a bolt of magic lanced out, striking the ground between him, and Celestia. Everypony gasped, as his coat and mane became darker in colour, and his gold eyes became a sinister silver. as he changed, the environment seemed to change as well, the group was no longer in Canterlot Castle, but now in someplace that could only be described as hell. the creature that stood in Midnights place stood, smiling evilly. "Welcome to my domain, friends of the Prince. My name, is Nightmare Eclipse." Everypony gasped again, as the Nightmare simply laughed manically. "This is what your brother sees every night, Celestia! Do you understand why he wishes to keep to himself, now?" Midnights half-sisters looked around in disbelief. The screaming, tortured souls, the ruins of Equestria, the twisted reality of it all made Celestia and Luna want to hurl their lunches. The Nightmare begin to change, as the nightmarish place faded. when all was normal, the group found themselves in the Canterlot Throne room. "Now do you get it? Why I cant handle seeing suffering? Why I never mentioned my father.... The memories hurt, even after all this time, they still hurt." Storm's gold eyes softened, as he prepared to steel himself for what might be his biggest mistake ever. "Take a seat, this is going to take a while." The girls all sat, as Midnight looked around, ready for whatever emotional torment may be thrown his way. "Comfy? good." He looked down, and began to recount his life story, starting from the beginning, of what he knew. "I wasn't even born an Alicorn, but an Earth Pony, like all other Crystal Ponies..." three hours passed before he finished his life story, yawning, having never sat still for so long except in meditation. He stood up, and quickly walked to his bedroom in the Castle, while the girls, including Celestia and Luna. "Wandering the frozen North for three weeks getting by with willpower alone? how is that possible?" "Darling, maybe he exaggerated. You know how stallions can be." "Him, born an Earth Pony? how is it ive lost races to him than!?" "Um...excuse me...but doesn't something seem strange about it? He did leave out how he got his Cutie Mark, after all..." "We need a PARTY!" Everypony stopped, as Midnight returned, wearing something so casual, it was clear he didn't want to draw any attention, wherever he was going. Luna got up, and quickly hugged her brother, whispering, "I love you, please be safe, brother." in his ear. As he walked down the steps, one of his Guards saluted, and gave him a crossbow, and a katana. "Good luck with your trip, your Highness." The Guard was none other than Midnight Storm's Captain of the Guard, and best friend, Razor Wing. A blue stallion, with a sly smile that can woo just about any mare. As Midnight quickly made his way through Canterlot, not even stopping as onlookers gasp and yell out things like, "Look, the Vigilante!" He shook his head, knowing full well the Vigilante was no longer in Canterlot. He continued walking, until he reached the Everfree Forest, and suddenly stopped. Something was watching him...and he was going to find out what. "ROAR!" That something jumped out of the bushes, knocking Midnight to the ground, caught off guard, he took the full force of the blow, and could smell his attacker, before he saw it. A Timberwolf. And it was pissed. As the wooden beast lunged its head forward, Storm rolled to the side, getting grazed on his right arm. "Really? After all that training, and I get hit by a Timberwolf!?" He rushed forward, loading a flaming arrow into his crossbow, taking aim at the Timberwolf. "Burn mother bucker, burn!" He pulled the trigger, launching the arrow, but the beast was too close. it swiped at him, getting a powerful shot at his face, mauling his eyes. The Alicorn ducked, and unsheathed his Katana, the blade catching fire as he drew it. The wooden beast lashed at him again, but the currently blinded Alicorn swung the sword upwards, blocking the wolf's attack, and splitting its wooden head in half, as it caught fire. With the wooden wolf now defeated, Midnight trudged his way to Ponyville, in dire need f medical attention, before he blacked out.
Awoken..."Im sorry, but his eyes were...." "I don't care! Find a way to fix them!" Midnight slowly woke up, hearing snippets of conversation between his sister and a doctor. My eyes? what about my eyes? Have their colour changed? He thought, and than he noticed something. He blinked, and blinked again. The nurse and doctor in charge of him both gasped, and instantly started shouting for assistance. "He's awake! Patient 46 is awake!" The doctor yelled until Midnight sat up, and attempted to glare, instead, since glaring seemed to fail, he growled at the doctor, saying the first words he'd said since he passed out. "What happened to me?" The doctor jumped, but Midnight didn't see it, but instead heard it, and the doctor explained to the prince about being in a coma for the last few months. Than, the doctor stopped talking, and began to gag, choking, as Midnight jumped out of the bed. "So, not only am I blind, but I missed out on the last four months!?" Midnight shouted angrily at the doctor, still holding him in his magical grip. Celestia ran to her brother, her once beautiful, flowing, mane, now a mess. "Stop, Storm, please! You're choking him! Please, see some sense!" Celestia instantly regretted saying that, as Midnight blew his top. "I. Can't. See. Do you not understand, sister!? How would you feel if you were blind suddenly, and having just awoken from a coma!?" Midnight showed no signs of fatigue, which startled the doctor. As the doctor went to get a wheelchair, though, he tripped. "Im leaving. Without medical help!" He swung his head to where the doctor was, and walked to where he thought the door was, only to walk into the closet, kissing the door before falling back on his rear. "Ok...maybe a little help." After Midnight got dressed, with help from his sisters, he let himself be guided out of the hospital. As he set foot outside the entrance, he was knocked down by two ponies, both of which squealed upon seeing him up and about. "Midnight!" Fluttershy and Twilight both tackled him to the ground, and he let out a gasp as the breath was knocked out of him. "Oof! Calm down, please, both of you!" He struggled under the mare's combined weight, and went limp in defeat as Twilight tried to kiss him on the mouth. After failing multiple times, with Midnight pushing her away, she gave up, and both mares got off of him. After the emotional(For the girls) reunion, time passed rather quickly for the now blind prince, as he trained day and night, honing his senses to make up for his new-found lack of sight. The first week, he didn't leave his training hall once, not for food, not for the bathroom. The weeks after, he was seen around Canterlot Castle at night, eating large amounts of food, and on occasion, seen leaving the armory wearing his silver and gold regalia. After the final week of training, he walked through the giant doors of the Throne room, much to the surprise of everypony present. "I take it your all surprised to see me?" Twilight and Cadence both nodded, unsure of what Midnight was planning, and Celestia and Luna stood up, taking tentative steps toward their younger brother, and then ran up to him, hugging him tightly, as Midnight barely seemed to notice the crushing hugs, when he spoke up. "Mind letting go? Being trapped between the breasts of my sister wasn't exactly my plan." Both his sisters let go, as he spread his magnificent wings, stretching them out completely, as he yawned. "How.....how are things? yagh.....I'm tired...." Storm, much to eveyponies surprise, planted himself on the table, and lay down on his back, one leg crossed over the other, as he quickly fell asleep. Cadence just looked, as Twilight sighed. "Well...He must have been working himself to the bone.... I wonder what about?" Nopony answered, having no idea what he had been doing inside the Training hall. "Come on, lets get him to his bed, he must be exhausted." The Princesses all worked together to carry the slumbering stallion to his room, and when they got there, he woke with a start. "Huh? Wha? Leave me alone..." He mumbled, thinking he was in bed, sleeping the day off. As the Princesses lay him on his bed, Twilight stopped, and turned away, her cheeks red. "Um...Princess Celestia? Would it be ok if I stayed with him, just in case?" She asked, her cheeks growing redder with each word. The regal white Alicorn smiled, and nodded, as she began to walk out of the room, Luna and Cadence following behind, sighing and shaking their heads. As the door shut, Midnight stirred again, this time waking up fully. "Now what...what did I have planned again?" Midnight scratched his head in confusion.
A Gift? From Sombra?Midnight struggled to think, and didn't realize he had a guest. That is, he didn't realize until he noticed something odd. "Huh? That's odd...what are these lines? They seem to be in the shape of...Twilight?" "Oh! Your awake! Uh....why are you glowing?" The lavender mare looked at Midnight in confusion as she spoke, noticing the glow looked familiar. Midnight looked down at himself, and couldn't believe what he was seeing, mainly because he couldn't believe he could see again. That's when he pieced it together. "You've got to be kidding me....I never expected him to act on it....I didn't even know he knew about it..." He said, as the glow took solid shape, which surprised Twilight. "Um....why did the glow take the shape of a mare?" She asked, worried because the glow was turning crimson rather quickly. Just as sudden as it appeared, the glow vanished, in a blinding flash of light. "Ow...." Midnight said, and quickly scrambled to his feet. He instantly did a check on how many limbs he had, and was rather shocked to find two missing. "Where are my wings?" He didn't notice yet, but his voice was several octaves higher than what it used to be. That's when he looked in the mirror, and freaked out. "WHAT THE BUCK DID HE DO TO ME!?" He turned around multiple times, seeing his tail had changed to a light silver and black, his ivory coat now onyx black. He could only imagine what had become of his mane and eyes as he passed out from the shock. Twilight just stood there, in shock, not because the stallion who should be her husband was now a mare, but because whoever did this was cruel enough to create a lack of clothes for Midnight. "Uh....oh..." Twilight, being responsible as she was, bolted to the lower floors of the castle to report this strange development, and never heard the voice of one she thought defeated. "Happy Birthday...you disgraceful brat!" ***Five minutes later*** "WHAT!? What do you mean he's been turned into a mare!?" Princess Celestia could barely register what Twilight had said, as she was on her way to her half brother's room, fearing the worst. When she arrived, she instantly shielded her eyes, having just seen her brother-turned-sister's nude body. "Well now." As Princess Luna entered, Midnight began to stir. "Ngh...what....happened?" He asked, visibly scared for the first time in a long while. He groaned, as his now silver eyes were directed towards the ceiling, and he thought back, before speaking. "Well, damn Dad, you were cruel yet nice. but you couldn't do anything about knowledge, could you?" Midnight sat up, and quickly rambled out various thoughts. "I'm gonna need a new identity...new wardrobe...new armor...new...everything." He stood up before looking himself over. "Well..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence in front of his sister. "Well what?" Luna asked rudely, her hand still covering her eyes. "Nothing.." Midnight replied, as he walked into his closet and threw on some rather casual clothing. His training attire, to be precise, dark blue shorts, and a light grey T-shirt. "I'm decent now, its safe to look." Midnight stepped out of the closet, and snapped, an idea clicking in his brain. "I just figured out a new name for myself. Starlight Crescent."
Adjustments"Starlight Crescent? That makes...I don't know how much sense that makes." "Not meant too." Oh." The newly named Starlight made her way to the Throne Room, as she walked, she stumbled several times on her way, when Rarity caught sight of her when she fell for the third time. "Who might you be, darling?" Starlight jumped, and turned around quickly. "Oh! Rarity! You don't recognize me, do you?" She said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. Rarity tilted her head in confusion, before asking why. "Whatever do you mean, darling? Am I supposed to?" Starlight nodded slowly, before turning around quickly, hearing the sound of footsteps. "Oi! Who might go there?" She shouted, not caring who it was. She wanted to make sure nothing went wrong, as she tried to explain to Rarity who she really was. The source of the footsteps rounded the corner, and stopped suddenly. "Who the hell are you?" The source was Shining Armour, somepony that Starlight was never on good terms with, even before she was gender bent. "Please, one might think you'd recognize your old sparring buddy. I am insulted!" She proclaimed, waving her hand as if dismissing the Captain. Shining drew from his waist a dagger, and looked at Starlight with suspicion. "If you are Storm, what's our win-loss-draw ratio?" "98-96-12," Starlight replied effortlessly, "You convinced its me, yet?" Shining Armour sheathed the dagger, and bowed, knowing the ratios were never made public, as is the deal between Storm and himself. "My apologies, your high-" "Don't. Just....don't."
