The Eyes Are Blind

Chapters

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Chapter 5
Chapter 20

Chapter 2

Chapter two

Present day.

A pair of golden eyes snap open at the rush of cold air past a pair of bat like ears that remain exposed in the wind. Dangling from the branch of a tree. A single pony resides via his tail holding him up in the air while the leather wings of the nocturnal kind wrap around him in an attempt to keep him warm, while the cloak that drapes over his body tries to keep the wind out.

‘Well I could have at least tried to pick a tree with at least some sort of leaves left on it to keep out the wind.’ The odd pony thinks back in hind sight, and is left silently cursing his decision to not look further.

Though at the same time glad that he at least found some place to roost for the night that would hold his rather large frame. Twisting down, and unwrapping his tail from the branch. The Pegasus colt lands on the ground on all fours. Standing a couple heads taller than many of the ponies he has run in too during his travels. Midnight flexes out his legs, after hanging there for the few hours of sleep that he managed.

Cracking his neck at the uncomfortable position of having his head dangling out from the enclosure, and left to swing in the wind. Midnight swipes some of the short cut black mane that he dons with the neon green highlights running down it, out of his face. Matching the tail in every way, both run along his crimson coat. The colt grasps the extra layer of the cloak even closer while another breeze makes its way through the forest. Just as it passes, the slit eyes peer in to the night sky, and through the foliage in front of him as he tries to judge a new place to hold up at. While on top of that attempting to find out how much time he has till day break, and to continue his journey.

‘About…four? No. Five hours till dawn,’ He determines from the moon, and estimates how long he has been out, ‘Well, I’m not going to find any place to settle in for the night from down here,’ Midnight realizes as he puts the hood back over top of his head to cover his features.

Stretching his wings out after being wrapped up for the last few hours. Midnight takes a few deep breaths to fill his lungs as his protruding ribs from his well-nourished sides, sticks out even more so. Before flaring out his immense leathery wings to his sides from under the shawl, and using their power, lifts himself up in to the night time sky. Up, and over the largely vacant trees that have lost all their leaves.

A clear sign to anypony who has lived for any amount of years, that summer is long gone. Fall is starting to take a back seat, and winter is coming about sooner than the warm hearted residences of Equestria could hope for. The barren trees below showing this even more so, as the lonely Pegasus finds himself traveling further and further north than he would have wanted.

“One night, that’s all I want,” Midnight is left shaking his head, “One night to have a good bed once again, and not worry about whether I’ll hurt another pony, or if I’ll be chased away in the middle of the-.” The heart wrenching scream of another pierces the night air, and his thoughts. As the colt soars through the still skies gracefully, “I should-” Midnight pauses for a second as a minor sting shows up in the back of his head, “I should see what is wrong?”

‘No, no… you don’t need that right now,’ The strange inner voice calls out in a raspy tone, almost sounding like hooves on a chalk board, ‘What you have to worry about, is you.’

“And I wasn’t talking to you,” Midnight grinds out behind clenched teeth for the other to hear.

‘You are always talking to me because I am always with you, Remember?’

“Sadly,” the colt groans on at that painful aide memoire.

‘Awe. Come on now,’ Midnight can almost hear the fake tears falling down his companion’s face, ‘Is that any way to treat an old friend?’

“Humph.” Midnight huffs. Almost laughing to even consider the voice talking to him to be a friend. Having been there for him for many years. It is the only companionship he has had in a while. Even giving him an odd sensation in his head while he sleeps. Almost like there is another there with him, “Whenever you come to mind bad things follow you know that right?”

‘That’s why I’m here after all,’ the sickening laughter of the voice surrounds him as he tries to think of a way to shut it up for the night.

The next yelp punctures the conversation as Midnight glides through the air to save his energy as he makes up his mind whether, or not to help another that could be in danger.

“If doing something, that may turn out to bite me later, even has the chance of getting you out for the night. Then that is a risk I am more than willing to take,” He finalizes. Flapping his wings harder towards the sounds of a scuffle.

‘So be it. When it blows up in your face. Let me know, would you?’ the voice finishes off, allowing Midnight to follow his own mind for the time being.

A single unicorn colt and mare rummage their way through the forest in an attempt to find a few pieces of fire wood, just to take the edge off of an evening like this. After a night of gathering wood out in the forest, and almost winding up lost several times. The pair make their way back to the trail and soon find themselves headed towards the quaint little cottage that they share with one another to warm up.

“Ugh, why did it have to be tonight of all times to have a cold chill in the area?” The mare groans over having to hull several things of wood over her shoulders.

“Here you go, dear,” He levitates some of the larger branches on to his back, to take some of the load off of his mare.

“Thank you, my love,” She gives him a light peck on the cheek, “at least I know I won’t have to sleep cold tonight…”

“I don’t want you to freeze, either of you,” The stallion places a hoof on her belly, and feels a small kick from the foal that he is to call his own in the next few months.

After trying so hard. The young couple was overjoyed to be able to say that they are to have their first child on the way. Taking extra care now to ensure her heath. It was upon the mare insistence to help her stallion with the wood to keep them, and their future child, warm for the night. Plus she didn’t want him alone out here at night.

Having the heightened maternal instincts. The mother to be, picks up on the crack of a tree branch in close proximity to them. As her hooves burry themselves in to the ground in a stance, and her ears perk up at the sound while they twitch about trying to detect it further.

“What was that?” Her head swivels about around the darkened area. Wishing that she had learned a little more magic, than the simple spells she would use to help around the house.

“I didn’t hear anything?” Her husband does the same to see if there really is anything to worry about, “I do believe we are the only ones out here right-”

All of a sudden his nostrils are filled with the fowl stench of what he could only make out as rotting meat and foliage mixed together as his mouth snaps shut. Putting himself in front of the mare he loves. The stallion tries to think of anything he can do in the department of combat. Having about as much experience as his wife in magic. Though he has lived out here in the wilderness away from town far longer than his mare, and knows a thing or two when it comes to other creatures to be wary of.

Namely, ‘Timberwolves.’

The name of the horrible smelling creatures of the forest. Made up of the woodland itself. Barley gets through his mind as he now sees what his nose could only tell. A small pack of four that have wandered the forest about as much as the young couple have, makes their way to encircle the ponies. Each one snarling at the meal to be, with delight for fresh meat as the mare with foal, and her stallion back themselves up in to one another.

“AGghh!” The mare yelps you while she tries to look for an exit, “Dear what do we do?!” She starts to whimper.

The thought of her husband getting injured, or even the life inside of her is placed in the forefront of the soon to be mother’s mind. While her own safety takes a place on the back burner. The stallion does what he can, as his horn lights up with a simple levitation spell, and breaks off a dry branch to bring to his side. Lighting it up in a blaze with the same spell he would have used to light the fire they had hoped to have back at home.

“Get back!” He yells at the slowly approaching creatures of the forest.

Waving the flaming branch back, and forth in front of them. A single wolf takes the first move, and lunges towards the couple with his fangs held open, only to get a branch to the side of its face. Tumbling over on to the ground with a few seer marks on its temple. The others hold their place for a second while they wait for his spell to die down and the fire to burn out.

“Go ahead.” The stallion’s voice calms down as he tries to hold his own. “Try me.”

“Hun please do something!” Her teeth grind together as the flame on the branch slowly starts to die down, and so do their chances of getting out with their lives. All the while, both ponies soon have the sound of several branches breaking filling their ears. Only to assume that it’s more of the wolves coming in for the meal from the forest.

Or so they thought.

A single form lands on the wolf that the stallion sent to the ground as it tries to get up. Crushing it under a pair hooves in one go as it fall to pieces all around the colt, while the others in the area take notice instantly at the new hidden figure joining them. Midnight rises up from his kneeling position with sap from the kill over his legs to face the attackers head on.

“Well… what are you waiting for?” he taunts the creatures, looking at them with his golden eyes through the darkened hood. Glad that the bait worked while they see the obvious threat, and seek to take him out before turning their attention to the original meal. Midnight closes his eyes, as time seems to slow down around him in an instant. Calming all his nerves to the point that the only thing he can hear is the beating of his heart in the trance.

‘Come on don’t fail me,’ Midnight persists, ‘You have to hold yourself together.’

Hearing the wooden paws upon the ground getting louder until the last second. The colt slams his hooves in to the ground. Instantly the veins in his legs start to glow with energy and a split second later the forelegs become wrapped up in a green aura of magic that shrouds them in a sort of shield, lighting up the ground around him slightly in their glow. The two unicorns present try to see their savior for who he really is. Though the cloak and hood that he wears, hides any trace of the colt’s features.

The magical charged hooves pound in to the first wolf that tries to attack him. Barely making contact, but it still has the desired effect. As it loses some of its power while sending the small surge in to the creature, and blowing out a lethal amount of wood from the wolf while sap from the material starts to drip down, and around the now lifeless form on the ground as a hefty chunk remains missing from its side. Not even taking the time to look at his first kill in a long, long time. The strange colt eyes the two there waiting still, though all is not well with him.

Midnight starts to feel the falter on his own part, while the creepy voice comes back with every use of his gift, ‘Did you really think you could keep me at bay?’

“I was hoping so!” Midnight yells out seemingly to no one. At least what it would seem to the others there, ‘Just a little more, that’s all I need.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be here when you need me. Ta-ta,’ it calls out while he goes about keeping himself alive, as he stumbles from the mental break.

The second one takes the opportunity, and jumps up to his side. Biting down hard in to Midnight’s ribs, while tearing out a small chunk of flesh as the blood runs down the side of him. Though Midnight doesn’t have time to think about this, as he focuses on only ending the wolf, and not his own safety. Boxing the second one in the head with both hooves, it shatters much like the first one did as its skull is crushed, and hits the ground without even a struggle. Tearing the cloak in to shreds and off the colt in one go, revealing his form to the ponies there.

“One more,” The colt notes as he watches the wolf start to circle around him. Closing his own eyes though, Midnight snuffs out the magical aura around his hooves to give it some incentive.

The final Timberwolf leaps forward when it seems he’ll have the advantage, and holds its claws out in front ready to tear in to the colt that has his eyes still clenched shut. Though as the distance starts to close between the wolf and its prey. The winged pony’s eyes snap open, not with the golden eyes that the wolf has seen, but an envious green. A ray of pure energy blasts from the colt’s eyes, as it tears in to the wolf. The magical spell doing its job and cuts through the foliage that makes up the creature, splitting it in two, leaving the two halves to pass harmlessly by either side of Midnight. Though as impressive as this may appear to the couple there to witness this, the colt responsible isn’t all that proud as he feels the use of his gift tearing in to him, causing his mind to waver back and forth between light and dark.

“I can’t slip, I have to beat this,” Midnight mutters under his breath. Not even hearing the sounds of the hooves from the husband slowly approaching to check on him, while he converses with his other self.

‘And how would you beat me? I am you after all. Your very heart and soul. How can you beat what you are?’ The fragile mind snaps back at the colt, after feeling itself grow stronger from the dark magic flowing in and through the colt’s body. It feels strong, it feels so good. Though Midnight knows that feeling all too well, having gone through the same thing more times than he would care to admit.

“It feels like it’s tearing in to my heart,” He clenches his chest. Before watching as his vision starts to fade on in to the night, ‘No, not again!’

Midnight’s mind goes blank in a flash as the darkness takes over. The familiar shine on his golden eyes lost as they find themselves filled with nothingness. Only a darkened void after they glass over in black. Giving sight, but seemingly without a soul in them, while they stare down to the ground like an empty void.

“You better believe again,” His voice changes to a raspy, almost growl. While the other colt present halts his advance after hearing his mutter. Not knowing at all what is going through this strange Pegasus pony’s mind.

“Sir? Are you okay?” The husband looks at the wound on his savior’s side, not even questioning at the time how this colt made what he knows is magic, without a horn. Pushing it off to the side for the time being, so the wounds that have been sustained can be attended to, “You’re hurt, sir. Come with us, we’ll get some help for you.”

“Oh-h-h,” An evil snarl stretches across Midnight’s face while he almost purrs, “You can’t help, what I have.”

A pair of dark onyx fangs glint off of the remaining embers of the branch, showing their sheen to the husband while it takes a second or two to process exactly what he is seeing. That sight turning out to be the last thing he sees, before Midnight buries them in to the colt’s neck, and brings the soon to be father down to the ground. The only sound in the still night, being the blood curdling scream of the mare, while Midnight’s form gulps down the life fluid from the kill. While his own gaping flesh wound along his side, starts to patch itself up in record time.

‘Why!’ Midnight yells at himself from inside his own head, ‘All I wanted to do was help. Why do you keep doing this to me?!’

‘Oh? Because it’s just so much fun, of course,’ the voice answers back at him while the body does what it does. Tearing out a chunk from his neck, and swallowing it whole, “Ahh, and you taste so good!” he answers to his dead prey.

The crazed pony dives in to the now long dead colt’s chest. Tearing out cut after cut of red meat, devouring the portions in one go while they slide down his gullet. Filling himself up just a bit. He lets the rest of the meal down on the ground, as the soft cries of the mare for her lover fill the void between them. Resting backed up against a tree, she can do little in her position. The soft kicks of the child inside her only giving the mare more, and more pain in her heart. Striking down every thought of leaving her husband’s body with this monster. Soon enough though with her sobs, it draws the attention of a pair of hollow gloomy eyes, devoid of any sort of remorse glaring back up at her. While the mare tries to scoot further in to the tree without gaining any head way.

“Please! What do you want?” The mare yells at what once was their savior, now her terror, “You have already taken my love from me! What more could you ask for?!”

Midnight’s form leaves the colt’s body be as he slowly walks towards her, “That I could answer with so many things.”

Every step tears more and more away from the mare, as the colt grinds his teeth at his prey. The blood from the colt laying on the ground still around his mouth, and even dripping down along the fangs and his coat. Almost blending in with the red fur he wears. Only being seen now when a small shimmer catches the moon light just right. Now only inches away from her face. Midnight’s breath matches that of the wolves almost. Just not nearly as putrid from the rot, as he traces his muzzle down her neck. Running the tip against her coat, she can feel her skin start to crawl underneath.

“I could go with a second feeding, of a different kind at least,” The seemingly tormented Midnight wraps his fore hooves around the mare and flips her down on to the ground. Using his powerful wings to push down in to her, while his hoof muffles her screams from escaping in to the night.

“Now, now my dear. You don’t want to alert any other wild animals out here, now do you?” he responds while her eyes look around in terror. The crazed colt holding her with all his might, and herself now having no possible way to get out of this even if to just run.

‘You. Can’t. Take. Her. Too!’ Midnight yells out between lapses in thought. The newly revitalized body from the feeding, fights back against the minds inner workings, and attempts to push out the darkness.

“What are you going to do?” The voice taunts back at the body’s real owner, as he seems to talk to no one but himself to the mare, “Do you expect to save her?”

‘I can certainly try!’ The flow of his own emotions does a mental sock to the face of the darkness with in him as Midnight tries to separate the good from bad, and take control. Even if for just a moment, ‘The nourishment from the kill of what seemed to be this mare’s significant other, is patching my head up just as it did by side… and you know what that means.’

With one final push Midnight moves back in to his own mind, and snaps back to reality as the darkness is pushed out for now. The glimmer in his eyes returning as everything is set back in to place. Lifting up his wings, and pulling back the hoof from the mare’s mouth. She uses what strength she can to punch Midnight in the jaw, and send the colt off to the side. Giving her enough room to get up on her hooves, as she runs up to her husband’s dead form. Pieces of his body missing never to be returned, the face of death on him as his eyes stay peeled open gazing in to her own, and blood now drenching her coat while it continues to seep from his very body.

“How could you!?” she yells at the colt, who remains in a trance it seems, “He was trying to help you after you saved us, and you killed him! You bucking killed him! Our child is going to grow up without a father now, and it’s all because of you!”

That last line strikes some sort of nerve with in the night time colt. A rush of emotions in the back of his head, that he can’t place in his long existence as to why they would ever be there, start to fill the very front of his mind. As a few tears of his own start to make their way in to his ducts, Midnight is flushed with a sudden grace of sorrow, and despondency. More so than the normal feelings up guilt he would have gotten from the killing of an innocent pony out in the woods. Not the first time that has happened in the attempt to do the right thing, and certainly not the first time he has been hit by the random assortment of emotions. This one though is far more potent, as he has yet to understand why.

Spreading his wings out as wide as they will physically allow. He ignores the mare’s pleads, and cries as he takes to the air away from it all, ignoring the remains of his cloak there on the ground in tatters. Easily avoiding any, and all trees, or other obstacles in his path thanks to the adapted night time eyes he has. The now bloodied colt that matches his coat breaks in to the air, and flies to where ever he can manage with what strength he can muster. Only landing a mile, or two away, half way up the north mountain that he saw in the distance. Though after he lands, Midnight takes a moment to turn around, and look back in to the forest.

Hanging his head down low at what he did. Midnight can still hear the whimpers of the mare, even from this distance, with his sharp ears, “I’m sorry, ma’am,” He whispers while trying to think of all the trouble he caused the, now, widow, “I-I-I’m not myself.”

‘You’re right. You aren’t.’

“Not you again,” He stomps his hoof in the light snow covering that surrounds him in the cold, which he tried to avoid sense he woke up, “Is there no end to you?” Midnight asks as he starts to walk up the mountain. Trudging through the snow however he can.

‘Well you have had me for your whole life. It was just a matter of unlocking your gift, and using it more, and more to let me free,’ the slow sound of hooves clapping fills his mind as the voice continues, ‘Though I will give you props for what you managed to do. Oddly enough the thing I did when it came to food, you used against me, and won. For now that is,’ the voice grows softer, and softer with every word spoken only to Midnight, as his mind gets some of its strength back to silence his thoughts, ‘We’ll. Be. In. Touch.’

The sound of nothingness fills his inner mind, as Midnight has a reprieve for the first time in a long while. Almost to the point of nearly forgetting what it’s like to have your mind, to yourself. The colt savors that thought as he treks on in his journey, reminded exactly what makes him who he is, sitting there right on his plot.

“My gift?” Midnight looks back at his flank to his cutie mark.

Viewing the grey shield that graces his rump with a green flame dancing in the center. It has been there for as long as the colt can remember. Though at heart, no matter how much he may try. He can’t recall when he got it, or what he was doing when it appeared. All he knows is it has to do with his special little gift, one that he would much rather be without at this point in life.

“Try my curse, I hate you… Shard,” Midnight shakes his head, while the strange stallion trudges through the snow, and onward to where ever he can go.

Chapter 3

Chapter three

A pair of head phones slide off of a mare’s head as she tosses, and turns in her bean bag chair. Flipping out of it this time, forcing gravity to do its work, and landing with her muzzle now getting on a more intimate level with the floor. Princess Luna snaps out of her daze, and shakes loose the nap she just had in not the most comfortable position that she has found herself in lately. Sitting up, controller in lap, and with the volume way to loud for any normal pony to live comfortably.

Though the addition of a blanket on her did bring some comfort as she wonders how it got there. Yawning wide as her jaw almost unhinges like a snake. She takes in a deep breath before rubbing her eyes as she glances up at the screen reading only the words ‘Game Over’ scribbled up in blood while now her jaw drops down even more. Face hoofing herself at the obvious mistake in her choice.

“I really shouldn’t have pulled an all-nighter with this blasted game,” The lunar princess picks the crust that the Sand Colt left behind in her light sapphire eyes. Using them now to look up at the clock when she realizes that it is actually eight in the evening.

“Oops,” she chuckles to herself at the mishap, and the laps of better judgment, “I guess this was an all-nighter from the night before hoof,” ‘Why do I do these things to me?’ the question pops up in her head for a moment, before realizing something very simple.

‘Oh right, because it’s fun,’ Lulu beams while putting her game away for the evening, and does a quick work on her mane. Brushing it to the side as it reverts back to its normal wind blowing form.

Taking a quick peak outside of her room, the hallways seem vacant for the moment as she steps out in her silver slippers on the carpet that lines the center, as she begins to walk about in search of any pony she knows.

The soft sounds of chatter while the giggling of children soon fill her ears in no time as the lunar princess draws closer, and closer to the study room before her. Putting her ear up to the doorway she can hear them ever clearer through the wooden frame.

‘If she is laughing that hard, then that can only mean he is here, and if he is. Then so are his parents,’ her gentle hoof nudges the door open while she looks inside before stepping in.

The near instant appearance of a young alicorn in pure a white coat, long graceful wings with a sharp horn on her, almost causes the Luna to stumble. At first thinking that she would have been jumped by her sister. The serpent like tail attaching itself to the hind of the pony while a tri colored fringe at the end flows off of it, and the similar colored Mohawk running down back of the alicorn’s neck before her would beg to differ of who she’s face to face with.

Rosebud, or Rose for short, has grown up quite a bit in the last eight years. For a fourteen year old, she already is becoming adept in the field of magic, and on top of that having just as much skill in the air with her wings as your ordinary guard. The daughter, between Celestia and Discord, has showed more than a hunger for knowledge. As she continues to study on her own the various fields of magic, and what they have to offer.

Much to the joy of her aunt Twilight, who happily sits idle on the couch, and chats with Rose’s mother while her husband, Flash Sentry, does his best to keep up with the kids. Flash, and Twilight met one another years ago in the Crystal Empire. Though it wasn’t until he was moved to be Twilight’s personal guard, that their affections finally started to blossom. After a somewhat troublesome relationship, at the hooves of a rather angry king and queen out for vengeance. The couple grew even closer with one another though the experience.

Soon enough after a few years dating, Flash popped the question, and the couple tied the knot with one another. Thankfully being graced with a now four year old son to call their own, as he fumbles about on the ground trying to control the wings on his back to fold them up, as they seem to get under his little feet, and trip him up while he runs. After another fumble from his appendages, Snow feels the cradling hooves of his father whisk him up and off his feet.

“Don’t worry, Snow, I got cha,” Flash strokes the wings that cause little Snow Bolt to have so much trouble. While the father runs his hoof through the black mane down his neck, and over snow white coat that he was aptly named from.

“I know you do, dad,” He beams with his little violet eyes that he got from his mother.

“Watch out though,” Flash motions to the incoming alicorn with his prosthetic wing, which he lost in combat all those years ago at the hooves of the queen, “Seems Rosie doesn’t like to be trifled with.”

“I hate that name!” the teenager in the room teases, as she flaps her wings to catch up to the pair.

“Run daddy! Run!” Snow leaps from his father’s grasp and gets to his feet. Promptly taking off running across the carpet.

As much as he can at least, with having his wings to worry about as they trip him up once more, and Sentry places him instead on his back as the now Captain in the guard takes off. Twilight can’t help, but giggle at the trio going about their business. Ever sense receiving the title of ‘Royal Canterlot Magical Advisor’ (a position she acquired upon the defeat of their adversaries. Like Flash now being a few ranks higher). Life for the young alicorn couldn’t be better. Besides the occasional political drama of having to wear a crown, but that just goes with the territory. Though these moments she shares with her royal in laws make it all worthwhile, as she peers around the room at the kids running about. Noticing the dark cobalt alicorn stepping in to the room, after almost being taken out by her niece. Twilight nearly leaps out of her seat.

“Luna! You’re awake!” Twilight beams at her fellow princess. Scooting over on the couch to give her some room to sit down.

“Aye, it would seem I am,” still shaking off the Sand Colt in his attempts to get the night mare to sleep once again. Luna’s head drops a little lower as she takes a seat. Almost sulking while she took the time to play her game rather than be with family, “If I had known you would be here though, I wouldn’t have stayed and slept in so much. My apologies I might add.”

“Oh don’t worry about it, dear sister,” Princess Celestia waves off the act with her prosthetic hoof. Having lost the original in a fight with the enemy, just like Flash had in his encounter, “You were well out of it when Twilight, and Flash arrived with Snow. Rose and Snow checked up on you actually, and she draped the blanket on you to keep warm, winter is almost upon us after all.”

As she opens her mouth to answer her sister. Luna instead finds herself the victim of a flying tackle that knocks her clear off the couch. Courtesy of the alicorn daughter to inherit the crown eventually, tumbling about on the ground until the night mare finds herself lying face up. The beaming face above staring down in to her blue eyes, is almost too cute to get mad at for the intrusion on one that is barely half awake.

“Thank you, Rose,” she grunts out over the inhale of breath she forces her body to take, “You are too kind.”

“Oh, auntie Lulu,” the soft wings of her niece envelops her as Rosebud squeezes her favorite aunt. Twilight only losing out by a close second, “I’m happy you enjoyed it. You looked just so cold with the small patch of drool running down your chin.”

“I didn’t have drool!” Luna teases as she pushes Rose back so she is on top, while going back and forth with her niece.

Knowing full well what spots to exploit, Luna’s hooves instinctively go for the tickle zones that she has learned throughout the years. Listening to the soft murmurs from the mare’s mouth as Rose tries to hide the joy in her face. Though after getting worked up from playing with her uncle and nephew, she soon enough breaks down at the seams. Allowing floods of laughter, and tears come forth, while Rose nearly begs for mercy.

“Okay! Okay! There wasn’t any drool! There wasn’t!” Luna barely hears her over the giggles.

“I’m sorry could you say that again?” Luna responds as her hears perk up, “Didn’t quite catch that over… This,” She runs her hooves even more over the young mare’s sides. Enticing even more choking laughter to come out from her soft lips.

“Luna! Please stop it-t-t-t!”

“Oh if you insist,” Luna’s hooves of warfare stop, and come back to her sides as the night mare leaves her victim to control her breathing for the time being, and takes her seat back, “Sorry about that, I had to show Rose a thing to two.”

“We understand completely, Lulu,” Discord mutters, sitting next to his wife Celestia while listening to the still gasping sound of his daughter in the background, “I trust things are going just fine with your game then, hmm?” he muses, not getting a particularly righteous answer from her, and instead only a deathly scowl.

“I do not particularly like wasting time on such a thing that inhibits me from spending time with loved ones,” Luna’s voice softens up a bit as the cheery smile returns to her once more, “That said, so far I am kicking the flank out of any pony who tries to oppose me online.”

“Thus I will never get on par with you when it comes to that infernal contraption,” Tia rolls her eyes at her seemingly inability to comprehend how her younger sister can beat her every which way to Sunday when it comes to the video game. Even at times while out in the courtyard, and swordplay is involved. Celestia having more of a mage in her, already being adept in magic, than a battle pony, “All that said though I have accepted my defeat when it comes to it. Though Dissy, and, or Rose would stand to hold their own to some extent.”

“Well duh? Children are easily able to pick up new things,” Luna points out. Snapping Rose from her daze, leaving the daughter to try to defend her honor.

“Hey! I’m not a child anymore!” she says in a tuff, sticking her nose up in the air, “I’m a teenager, thank you very much.”

“Don’t worry now Rose, I was talking about this one,” Luna points over to Discord. Who cranes his eyes at the sister in law that he goes back, and forth on a regular basis with.

“Oh you’re just hilarious aren’t you?”

“Auntie Luna is awesome!” Snow Bolt instantly finds himself atop the night mare’s head. In amongst the flowing mane, and horn while Luna just looks up as best she can from her angle at the little pair of hooves that drape over her face.

“Can we go down to the kitchens, and get some ice cream? Your belly was making all sorts of sounds when you were asleep in your room,” The audible sound of a stomach growling fills the void of the laughter, and play of before. Being followed by the former as they all share a good chuckle from the on time cue.

“Actually that wasn’t me,” Luna points out before they get the wrong idea. Though she could always go for some soft serve.

Discord raises his lion paw up in the air, “Guilty as charged. So it’s settled, we’re off!” He points the way.

Rose taking a quick position next to her father on one side as Tia assumes the other. Snow Bolt taking a new tactical position on his father’s back while Twilight, and he pace side by side with one another. Flash extending his false wing over her side, and bringing the whole family closer. Meanwhile, Luna picks up the rear for now. Admiring the happy couples, and families. Feeling the thoughts she pushes down time, and time again making their way back up to greet her.

Choosing that if she doesn’t do something, and answer them. Then they will just keep on coming back more, and more. Thinking about the short time she got to spend with them, and how happy her niece, and even Snow were to see her. The night mare turns her own thoughts to how she stays alone for most of the day, and night doing whatever pleases her. Playing that game of hers. Practicing in the courtyard a few spells here, and there, or her sword play. Even perhaps playing a game of Paint spell if she has it in her.

“I really don’t get out much do I?” She is reminded of the times Celestia would barely leave the castle herself. That is until she had Discord un-tombed, so she could get more time to live a little.

‘Saw how that worked out,’ Luna giggles under her breath, looking at the royal couple in front of her. As she speaks on hushed tones to her own self at the moment, while those in front of her remain oblivious to what she is thinking as they step through the door to the study, and start to head down the hallway.

“I can hang it up for a bit, get out, and live a little myself. Why not?” the lunar mare answers to herself. Before galloping a short distance to catch up with the rest of them, so they can all partake in the frosted treat of ice and cream.

Chapter 4

Chapter four

Northern winds bear gale force against a soft crimson face as the broken Pegasus tramps his way through the snow. The knee high cold mess around him almost halting his advance as Midnight finds this trek becoming harder, and harder the more he makes it. Though even through the frozen embrace, he continues to push further. Getting as much distance between him and the mare he left alone in the woods, never knowing what her demise might have been, and wishing himself only to push that part of his mind out to the darkest corner he can find. For now, Midnight just focuses on the path he takes, one that he has made for many, many years.

‘When was the last time we were out here anyway?' The dark voice asks in his head.

“Why are you still here Shard? Don’t you ever sleep?”

‘What? And miss our good old fun conversations that we always seem to have, while you are making things harder than they need to be?’ his constant companion replies.

Midnight is reminded that the voice inside does make a point far more often than he gives credit to, “There is a simple spell that could melt this cold rapture that surrounds me.”

The loud clapping of hooves rattles his fragile mind, while Shard picks up, ‘See now that’s the spirit!’

“But I won’t!” the Pegasus seemingly argues with himself, as he takes some of the frustration out on the snow below him. A small spark of magic flows out from his hooves as it contacts the ground, leaving a clear spot that encircles his form from where the snow is lifted up in a wave, and tossed away in a massive heap. Heavy panting following suit, as Midnight’s forelegs hit the ground, and he only hears the snickering of his off companion.

‘Oh you don’t want to use it. Than you go, and do this? Seriously you need to make up your mind.’

“Oh you aren’t helping,” Midnight shakes his head as he picks himself up from the spot, and continues onwards down the memorized path.

‘It really has been some time sense we saw the Empire hasn’t it?’ The eerie humming of the darkness inside rings about his noggin as it pries for a conversation. Submitting just to give himself some peace for only a moment, it oddly helps to pass the time.

“It really has been a while. I would say what? Two? No, no,” Midnight thinks long about his many travels through Equestria, and several of the other nations around in the world as he worked to keep himself hidden for the most part. If not to protect himself, but others from him, “Three hundred years I would have to say.”

‘We did take that stop through the Griffon Kingdom after all,’ the sound of the near gasping colt in his head fills Midnight’s ears, ‘Oh the females there were just marvelous!’

“You are a voice in my head, Shard,” He takes great pride in being able to throw something back in to his gift’s face whenever he can, “I’m the one who felt that pleasure.”

‘Oh and you only got one, or two while there, you sad excuse for a stud,’ Midnight can only picture that which makes him, him, rolling his eyes at himself as it tries to follow up with his insult, ‘You were there for at least a few decades, and only nabbed a few slutty females? Griffons aren’t fond of many ponies. That said, one with wings they can dig quite often, and will happily partake in many, many acts with you. Yet you didn’t indulge.’

“Hmm I guess that was just me trying to keep you out of the loop as well,” Midnight starts to chuckle.

‘Prude.’

“Pitiful justification for a conscience. Besides I don’t like having a three way with you when I can help it.” Midnight wanders through the snow as he gets the closest thing to silence that he can manage.

Knowing full well that hurting Shard’s ego will get him to shut up far easier than trying to fight back, or feed from another creature. In his silence the odd colt is left to do some personal wandering of his own. Thinking about his travels, and some of the fun marks that he has made. While several times more the bad ones that have almost gotten him killed flow to mind against his better wishes. Every so often though, Midnight does get a memory that brings a smile on his face. Just like the one he is having now.

‘Oh that was a good one,’ the voice trails over the memory that Midnight brings to his thought flow, as they watch it like a movie while he walks.

“A-a-a-a-and he’s back,” Midnight drones on.

‘Don’t sound so enthused, but come on we have a while to go before getting there. Might as well let me have my fun, and pass the time while watching a home movie.’

‘If it gets him to shut up. Then I guess so,’ Midnight thinks to himself, more or less.

‘I heard that you know.’

“I know you did, but let’s watch. Shall we?” he falls in to the memory as Shard seems to bring it to life even more than he could have thinking of it to himself.

The setting, a bar in the Griffon Kingdom. The time, is close to midnight. The drink of choice that he indulges in, potato vodka straight. The female, just happens to be a petite griffon by the name of Sycila. The date from his best guess…

Is about four hundred years ago.

__________________________

“Reload,” Midnight pushes the shot glass forward on the bar counter to the keep. Draped over in a long cloak to hide some of his features, while a hood covers his head, and the wings remain folded up underneath. Only dropping down a few bits to cover the charge, as the bartender does his purpose, and fills up the glass for him nearly as fast as the colt downs it in one go all over again.

“By this rate, you might as well pay for the whole bottle,” the bartender chuckles while holding the rest of the bottle in one of his eagle talons.

Perking his eagle head up at the sound of a dozen bits hitting the counter, he turns around to see the strange smile of the colt that has been there for more than an hour. Obliging his customer, the griffon places the bottle in front of him so he can tend to the others there. By others though, he means none, considering that for the most part, Midnight is the only one at the bar. The few griffons, and even the one other pony there, sit in either a booth or at their own table while a few waitresses take care of them.

Leaving only the colt before him to talk to, “You aren’t from around here, are you?”

‘What gave you that idea?’ Midnight ponders the obvious fact before deciding to remain polite for now, “No. not really from anywhere. Just passing through for the night.”

“Well if you are looking for some place to hold up, and get some sleep,” The bar keep passes through his head going over a mental map of the relatively small town, “There is a hotel only a few streets down from here, The Nightly Cot, its name be.”

Nodding slowly under his vale. Midnight remains in the same position as he came in, “Thank you for the help sir, but I am used to sleeping out under the stars.”

“What? Mom and dad gave you the boot once you grew up?” the bartender asks out of curiosity, “Nowhere else to go?”

He pauses to down the next shot of aqua vitae. Mulling over his response first, “Let’s just say I haven’t had that great of experiences with others when I come in to town.”

The griffon on the other side of the counter raises a curious brow to his strange customer. Considering this is the most he has gotten out of him sense he walked in, “You aren’t, Well… Running from the law are you?”

A pair of golden eyes look over the shot glass before downing it. Knowing full well that if he was a criminal, which by some extent he is, why would he tell another creature that? “No sir, just running from a past.”

“You say that like it’s nothing,” The griffon wonders intently. Already having his curiosity raised by the colt, “Bad past?”

“Don’t really know much of it,” Midnight tries to push out from his head what he can. Going deeper, and deeper in to his memories, but drawing only a painful pinch in his head as a migraine comes on him, “If I did then I’d-”

The sound of a small bell ringing announces the entrance of another customer to the bar. Also signaling a few eyes to turn, and give the figure a long gaze as she walks in to grace them with her presence. A swept over set of black feathers drape, and cover half her face as the griffon takes a seat up at the bar on her well sculpted flank. While a long, graceful lion’s tail runs down, and around the stools legs as it flips left, and right. The steely colored coat extending down to her toned hind lion legs, and up to her athletic build while the feathers of her glorious wings take on the same shade. At the same time her eyes giving a wonderful contrast of color, with them being a lighter jade hue, and her beak remains almost a near silver.

“Ahh, Sycila! You are going to make an appearance here tonight,” The bartender smiles warmly to his frequent customer.

“You know I can’t resist that honey mead that you brew so well,” Her beak starts to have a few drops of drool, at even the thought, run down to the end of her beak as her tongue laps it up, “Do you have-”

The tender brings up a pint glass with some already poured in it just as he anticipated her arrival, and thrusts it to the thirsty griffon.

“Well you know me all too well,” She gladly accepts the beverage, bringing it to her beak. Sycila allows the cooling drink to slither across her tongue while the bee’s work shows and leaves the wonderful sweet after taste she so much adores. Though as she puts it down to take a breath of air, the griffon finally eyes the colt there with her, leaning in to what one would guess has been a longtime companion of hers. She points with one of her claws down the bar, “Who’s the new guy?”

“Odd fellow that one,” He motions over to the pony that sits at the far end from her, “Though seems nice enough. That pony has been in here only an hour, and I can tell he isn’t that bad of a colt. Quiet, but polite, unlike some of those that come in here.”

‘Hmm a pony,’ The idea of it all fills her overactive mind as Sycila gets that same sultry look plastered on her face from when her brain starts to fire off the right nerves.

“I know that face now Sycila, and I have to say I’m get rather tired of having to run males out of here when they come looking for seconds in the morning.”

“Oh come on, I’m not that bad,” She teases with a playful punch to his shoulder, “Besides, you even said he was a nice colt.”

“Mhmm I guess I did now. Though he said he isn’t staying long so I guess I can allow you to give him a go,” he says almost like a father to the young female.

With her friend’s graces. Sycila picks up her glass, and heads down to meet the colt. Taking in all she can when given the very limited view from what he is hiding. Though one thing catches her soft eyes. The clear sight of two nubs poking up at the back from the cloak, tell her all she needs to know about what type of pony he is. Taking a seat next to him she glances over at him again, and tries to make any level of small talk.

“So stranger…” She puts on her best introduction voice, “You’re a Pegasus?”

“So far you state the obvious about as much as the bartender,” Midnight grins. Little to her knowledge being the fact that he overheard most of the conversation she just had.

Deciding that if he is going to drink, and have another female interested in him for the night. Then he might as well show his true colors, and give them fare warning to what they are getting in to. Pulling the cloak off, and putting it over his chair. Midnight extends his leathery wings out after being cramped up for a while. At the same time shaking his head to let the hair out while running his tongue over his fangs to polish their darkened tone. The colt cracks his neck, before taking his seat once again and just finishes his next shot before giving them any attention.

Only one golden eye looks over, and sees the almost star struck look on the bartender’s face as he nearly drops the glass that he decided to clean. Though that’s nothing to compare against the look that Sycila is giving him as her cheeks take on the same shade of Midnight’s coat even through her feathers, while her wings extend out to their fullest. Leaving the griffon fighting her best efforts to put them away, and hide her affections at the result of the wing boner that her kind, and Pegasus ponies alike get.

“That pretty much shows your colors, from what you and the bartender talked about over there,” He points to her still very exposed wings.

“Oh, ah you heard that?” The embarrassed griffon twiddles with her black feathers that cover her face. Trying to give her talons something to play with, while her mind is busy pulling itself back together.

“More than you will probably know, my ears are rather… attuned,” he raises a brow to her as Midnight downs his last shot, and turns the glass upside down while tucking the bottle under his wing, “I never said I wasn’t up for it though, now did I?”

The envious eyes of hers shoot open more than they were before as she realizes what he is insinuating. Almost instantly gulping down her glass, she tosses a few bits on the counter, while her fluttering heart races to catch up with her legs.

“Here you go, Tapper, This should cover it,” Sycila almost bowls over herself at her fumble as the door swings open, and she heads outside while waiting for the stallion that she plans to ride, to follow her out.

Midnight looks back towards the bartender as he watches the overzealous griffon take off. Her tail slipping right outside the door, as it seems to beckon him to pursue, “So, Tapper? What was the name of that hotel you mentioned earlier?”

__________________________

‘Oh come on now, why did you stop there? It was getting to the good part!’ Shard asks while the snow still enraptures them both.

Midnight takes a note that time during their travels really did fly by while they reminisced on the memory. The corky nature of his other side, giving a face to why at first he didn’t care about having two in one mind. Especially when he was so young, and felt so alone at times.

“We’ll just have to wait for that later. Besides, we’re here,” His eyes look onward to the wide open landscape as the clear glimmer of light shines off the top of a massive spire in the distance.

A clear beacon to all who may find themselves lost. Whether they need a guiding light to help them find their way out from the wild, or to help them find their way out from inside themselves, and seek help. The Crystal Palace, the shining crown to those that inhabit the Empire, stands a pillar of hope to them all. With a heavy sigh Midnight saves his wing strength, as he trudges through the snow onwards to the boarder.

“The Crystal Empire. How I have missed you at times like these.”

Chapter 6

Chapter six

The darkened streets of the Crystal Empire give much cover to the estranged colt in the dark as Midnight tolls around town at the time he is named after. Many years of running in, and out of towns has taught him a thing, or two about stealth. From either being chased out, or even choosing to leave, so as not to harm others while there. Now Midnight only chooses to enter any sort of established place of happiness, or dwelling for that matter on the down low. Just enough to feel like he has some where to belong, but far enough to stay safe.

At most times.

‘Can we please just go in somewhere this time? I mean it has been over three hundred years,’ the dark voice resonates in the back of his mind, ‘No pony would be alive from that time, to remember what you did the last time while we were here.’

“No, what you did Shard, You,” the Midnight steps in, and corrects as he lands on top of a roof top. Looking about to make sure no other is out at this time before landing in the ally below.

‘Okay. Everything is my fault,’ Shard says in a tuff.

“It is.”

‘Oh just shut it. If you aren’t going to go anywhere in town why do you even come back?’

Hanging his head down low, while peeking out the corners of the ally. Midnight just has to shake his head at the question that he is posed with by his constant companion, “Maybe it’s because I’d like to be around ponies.”

‘Even when you hurt them?’

“You’re the one that hurts them!” he snaps back, before holding his tongue to make sure no pony could have heard him, as he slowly walks down the dimly lit streets of the empire, “Magic is just a tool to be used by us. It doesn’t make us who we are, but how we use it, does…” Midnight recites the words in the back of his head. He picked them up when he was younger, but he can never remember who they came from.

‘Grow up, I use the magic in you for bad,’ Shard starts to chuckle inside of the colt’s head, ‘I’m what makes you who you are, ergo, you are bad as well.’

“You are the incarnation of a fowl creature on my shoulder, which wishes me to do evil,” he growls at the creature in his head. However, as much as Midnight may hate to admit it, Shard still does make a point.

“Though all that said… I do miss some of the fun,” Midnight tries to get a view of any place that may be open at this point of night.

Only one would likely be, and although it is the last place he would want to attend, given the effects that the primary beverage sold there can have on some. He finds himself going there more often than not. Before he knows it, the colt is standing in front of a tavern at the corner of a street, as he looks up at the sign on display.

“Lights still on, and it closes at four in the morning,” A light smile finds its way on his face. Though as he is about to step in he stops, looking over his back side. No cloak… Midnight pauses for a second, extending his wings around his frame so that they cover his sides and back. The large black leathery appendages acting like a temporary shawl, a little trick he learned after many years of practicing and needing to blend in, ‘So long as they remain still, no one will even notice.’

‘How many times have you said that?’

“Shut it.” Midnight calmly takes a step forward, and pushes open the door with his hoof.

Stepping inside the few faces of the crystal ponies that are there pay little attention to the new comer. Either because of no interest, or inebriation. Midnight takes his time making his way to the bar, glad to see such a small crowd, and takes a seat on a rickety bar stool that barely supports him. While the shimmering Pegasus mare at the bar does her best to wipe out a few glasses before attending to her new customer. Rather short for her age, the mare is graced with a flask on her coffee colored hind (much to suit her profession). While a vanilla colored mane falls evenly down her neck, as it parts on either side of her shoulders. Long eye lashes, capping the sweetly toned pony off, as they lead up to her radiant violet eyes.

“Top of the evening to ya!” she says with a cheery smile. Despite the sleep deprivation that clearly is all over her face, in the form of baggy eyes that remain blood shot, “Or is it morning?”

“I think this would fall in to the morning category, ma’am,” He finishes off with a wink. Trying to maintain the composure level in his mind, and tone of voice.

‘Awe… Such the gentlecolt,’ Shard teases him while he sits at the counter.

A slight grin stretches from either side of Midnight’s mouth, as he mentally kicks his counterpart. Snickering even more now, because he can hear the slight yelp coming from him. Though as far as the mare is concerned, the colt before her is just grinning at her fumble, like she is, “However, would it be possible to get any sort of food from the grill? Or is it closed, miss?”

The mare across him, sizes up the colt before her. Interested in the fact that he is far more polite than many of the other colts that come in here. Though curious as to why he has a pair of fangs that remind her so much of the Lunar guards, that would sometimes come in. When he clearly isn’t one to begin with, given his rather abnormal size when compared to most stallions she’s seen, and the coat that he is adorned with not matching theirs either.

“Well technically it is closed, actually, about ten minutes ago,” the smile on the colt’s face starts to wither, though as he is about to say something. The mare cuts him off, “however, it’s still hot so I think I can make an exception. Anything you fancy, my dear?” She flutters her long eye lashes at him for a moment.

Thankful for the tone of the coat he was born with. Midnight manages to hide the slightly flushed face underneath, while the mare seemingly does some light philandering of her own towards the colt.

“Hmm, surprise me?” He watches her pop up at the request, and with a jolly nod, trots off to get something for him.

‘Well she seems rather cute, stud.’

“Not the time for trying to bed with another,” He scorns the darkness while whispering under his breath.

‘Forget how long it’s been sense you came to the empire. How long has it been sense you had the sweet warm sensation around your colthood, of a mare’s tight-’

Another swift mental kick from his mind, hits only what Midnight can assume is Shard’s own colthood, as he doubles over in pain with a faint gasp. Resulting in silence for the next couple minutes. Leaving Midnight to bite down on his own tongue to keep his laughter under control.

“Why do I keep forgetting I can do that to you?”

‘Probably because. You’re the. Gentlecolt,’ Shard manages between gasps of the breath he can’t even take for himself.

“Why is it that you seem to come by for a visit more often than not these days?” Midnight questions, “Before it was only when I would use my magic heavily. Now it just seems to be whenever you want.”

‘Have you ever thought that maybe it’s because I am seeping in to the seams of your frail mind?’ Shard deadpans, leaving the colt to only imagine his expression within, ‘after all it has been a while sense you pushed it to your max, and hit that proverbial ‘reset switch’.’

Midnight looks over to the mare at the grill, trying to get a guess of how long he has to wait. While at the same time pondering Shard’s own incite, “You’re right, I really haven’t been doing that lately,” he recalls the experience years ago, resulting in his shadow being down and out for a few days, “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

‘You wouldn’t dare. After all you know very well it could kill you.’

“Don’t try me then,” Midnight grins within, “besides, if it means that I get you in a coma for even the slightest amount of time. I will take that chance, should the need arise,” He finishes with the conversation, knowing the consequences should he go too far, and break whatever is left of his mind.

The joyous mare comes back with a plate of grilled asparagus and other vegetables, over steamed rice. On the side, a bowl of noodle soup. Fills his nose, and mind with an appetite that he has seemed to forgotten about, sense his feeding in the woods earlier.

“Sorry it isn’t much, sir. I managed with what I had, not the usual pup food,” the mare adverts her gaze to the side, and pays attention to a rather dull salt shaker. While she tries to abstain from eye contact with the colt.

“Oh don’t worry about it, miss,” She looks back up to see the jubilant smile of the colt, as he drops a few bits on to the counter. Midnight even being sure to tip a little extra for her effort, “It will hit the spot just as well as anything else, I’m sure.”

“Well then my good sir,” She good humoredly holds a hoof to her chest while a slight increase in blood goes to her face, “Is there anything else I can get-?”

The sound of a door slamming in to the wall that holds it up fills the room. While the two at the counter, and pretty much every other pony in the room, snap their attention to a fuming earth pony colt in the doorway. Near puffs of smoke come out of the crystal stallion’s nostrils as he glares about the room. Soon locking eyes with the coffee colored mare at the counter while pointing an accusing hoof at her, as he marches his way further in to the establishment.

“Cream Mead! You were supposed to be back home an hour ago!” He yells across to her. All the while Cream’s face growing ever redder, and redder at his very presence.

“I told you I wanted to take an extra shift,” She grinds her teeth at him after having to remind him for the umpteenth time, “It’s not like it is a big deal after all. You usually come home, and pass out at this time anyway. Now you are embarrassing me at work!”

The colt almost shoves the rather intimidating form of Midnight to the side without even paying him any heed at first, “Embarrassing you? I got off early, and went to bed. Then woke up, and expected to see my loving marefriend there by his side. Now who are you embarrassed in front of? Hmmm? Are you flirting with another customer again? I saw the rosy cheeks on your face before I even walked in. Now I find you with a colt in front of you with the same expression!” he motions to Midnight finally acknowledging his presence. Even if it is a failure to realize that the color of his face, matches the rest of his body to begin with.

After having up to about the normal flying level she maintains with her wings, with the over bearing colt she said yes to go out with. Cream has had enough with him, and slams a hoof on the ground below her. Almost even chipping her hoof in the process as she goes off. Much to Midnight’s surprise, as he sits back for a moment, and lets the two go at it with one another.

“I wouldn’t even have to make conversation, or as you call it flirting, with the colts that come in here. If you could just take a few lessons from them, and were at least somewhat compassionate, and had a hint of caring in your voice!” She screams at the top of her lungs. Enough to even make the colt that just murdered a pony out in the woods, lean back in his stool, “At least then I would be happy, instead of disgusted with the sad excuse I have for a coltfriend!!!”

Those were the final words she spoke on that matter, as a heavy hoof of the one she beds with comes across the counter, and slams in to her gentle face. The impact being enough to bring her own hooves off the counter as Cream stumbles in to the back wall, struggling to realize just what happened to her. The lump forming in only a few seconds, as her eyes stay wide with fear from the enraged colt on the other side as he still remains in the same stance he had when he delivered the punch. Though having an assault charge, or battery, on his record is the last thing he has to worry about, considering who is next to him still.

Midnight was content letting the troubled couple hash it out in the bar while he stood at the sidelines. Knowing full well that if the colt had turned his accusing hoof towards him, and tried to make anything of it in a brawl. Than it wouldn’t take much to either beat his hind, or more than likely subdue him. Though the moment the colt turns his words in to violence, and strikes the virtuous mare with a hoof. Midnight’s vision narrows down to the colt next to him who threw the hit. A pinch in the back of his head suddenly tripping a nerve that only really rears its head when one so innocent is hurt. All of it, fills him with an anger that he seldom feels, but when he does.

Bad things tend to follow.

‘Well here. We. Go,’ the familiar voice puts in his two cents.

In one go Midnight extends out his leathery wings from his side, breaking their use as a cover. Revealing them to the other patrons. More so towards the stricken colt that turns his head and freezes in place from just fear alone of what this nightmarish creature is going to do. Though he doesn’t have to wait long, as his answer comes in the form of a solid right hook. Sending him losing contact with the ground, as he finds himself meeting a table head on. The force causing the legs to crumple underneath as it collapse to the ground.

“How dare you!” The Midnight bellows as he strides in one flap of his powerful wings, over top his prey. Landing with a head butt as the abusive one tries to sit up, only to be knocked back to the ground, “Violence is a disgrace, and only brings about misery!” Midnight brings a hoof up in to the colt’s jaw, and sends him back flipping across the room once more.

‘Oh this is such rich irony,’ Shard starts to laugh, not even breaking the stride of the colt that is enraged by the violence in the matter.

The mare at one time, or another, would have wanted to see her coltfriend treated like this. Though right now she is more terrified for his safety than anything, as the brute of a gentlecolt lifts him up an over his head. Tossing him in to the window that runs to the outside. A loud crash, halting her advance to try and at least see if he is okay. Leaving the enraged stallion to leap through the window after him.

If it hadn’t been for the sound of the glass breaking. Then the small group of guards passing by may have completely walked past the scene unfolding as they catch only the after end of the brawl. From their perspective it doesn’t look all too well for Midnight. The only thing they see is a rather large, and pissed off stallion standing over top of another, while beating his face to a pulp with a blood covered hoof.

“You there! Halt!” The further most guard calls after Midnight, as his head snaps back too, for a moment to realize what he’s doing.

‘This is where you lose it, and I come out to play!’

“Ugh! I bucking hate you!” Midnight yells out to Shard, all the while back peddling to dodge the first guard trying to tackle him.

After avoiding the first attack. The colt brings up a wing, whipping another sparkling guard in the face with enough force to send him head over hooves. Though as Midnight has been toying with those two, two others made their way to either side him. Now charging head long in to the assailant. Midnight uses his powerful wings once more to lift himself in to the air in a moment’s notice as he watches the two guards below smash their heads together, and hit the ground in a daze.

‘Well it won’t be long now,’ he hears the distant sound of Shard cracking his neck, ‘After all the more you tire yourself out, the easier it is for me take over. Even when you don’t use your gift.’

“Now’s not the time!” He lands, and leans back to avoid a magic bolt from one of the guards that sends the shot at him. Narrowly missing it, as the bolt of pure energy takes a chuck out of a stone wall in the background.

‘Oh it’s never the time with you,’ The darkness inside can feel him taking hold more, and more, as it adopts a mare’s tone to further annoy him, ‘We never have time to ourselves. You always go out party with your friends, and leave me at home alone with the kids.’

Midnight rears back one of his powerful hind legs, bucking it up in to a guard’s chest plate as it crumples under the blow. Leaving the guard winded and out of the fight, but still alive. Thankfully for the sentries, the colt they are dealing with is just trying to wound them, and not outright kill them. Just enough to put them down for the count, and give him an opening to get out. As he is about to break in to a full sprint for an immediate take off, Midnight finds himself getting brought down by one lucky guard from behind. As much as the colt would love to give the guard props for holding on with all his might. The guilt-ridden stallion really can’t be staying much longer, hiking his leg between the guard’s hind legs as his eyes go wide and the injured colt tumbles off to the side in agony from the assault.

‘Cheap shot…’

“Oh in Celestia’s name, you are pissing me off!” He yells back at the voice.

The clanking of armor against one another, and the fighting in general, attracts the attention of several more guards in the area. Leaving Midnight now looking down at the faces of many angered crystal ponies headed right towards him.

‘Well this is just great,’ Midnight mumbles in his mind, knowing full well that the unicorns in the group would probably be able to hit him easily during takeoff.

‘I know isn’t it?! When I take over, I’ll have all of them to play with,’ the psychotic laughter of Shard bounces off his ears.

“I can’t let that happen,” He tries to look for an out of any sort, while finding nothing in his wake, “I just can’t,” The light bulb finally goes off in the colt’s mind at what was talked about earlier in the bar, giving him a simple plan that may just save the lives of those around him.

‘Oh now I hate you,’ Shard’s cold voice comes in from the side of his ear, as the plan is laid out in Midnight’s mind for the counterpart to see as clear as day.

“It’s annoying when the shoe is on the other hoof isn’t it!” He yells while drawing out all the magic he can muster in one go.

All four hooves on the ground plant themselves firmly, as Midnight conjures what he can of a protection spell. The eerie black glow in his hooves giving off the tell tail sign to him that it’s working while he watches the new incoming guards all lock their horns in his direction and charge up their own spells. In an instant, he erupts the spell around him. Listening to the sound of the soldiers own enchantments hitting his own but doing no damage. The only result being the rounds ricocheting off, and threatening to bounce back and hit the very guards that fired them.

“Sorry fellas,” Midnight mutters before he releases the final go, and sends the shield outwards.

Throwing all the crystal guards to the side, and to a safe distance so he can hash it out on his own. Pounding his hooves together to summon a magical build up in them. His fore legs shroud themselves in a familiar envious green barrier while the shield around him dissipates. Leaving his hooves to glow brighter as sparks shoot off from the power increasing with every second that passes.

‘Oh now you’re just being reckless.’

“Zip it!” Midnight snaps his attention to the guards that now halt their own advance at the sight before them. The strange new comer in to the Empire, utilizing some sort of magic, while he shouldn’t even have the ability to do so.

“What?” The officer out of the bunch asks, before he stops the others around him with a raised hoof. Not knowing exactly how to tackle this one without using more lethal magic of his own, “Alright we may have no choice in this matter, bring him down!” the leader commands the others around to do, as they charge up their own horns with a blackened pulse of energy that reverberates death through the very air they breathe.

Launching the beam out to its intended target. The various spells races towards the colt, ready to impart death in him, and give him a welcome reprieve of this misery he calls life. Just like Midnight had hoped they would. Midnight waits for the right time to bring his own charged hooves up. Using the shields on his hooves to either block, reflect, or absorb the various spells. The green aura around him, breaking down further and further with every spell that is ruined. Leaving the colt being forced to put more energy in to the hoof guards he wears.

‘I can feel it draining, power, failing me,’ the nocturnal pony notes the energy depleting within him at the use of nothing but pure power, as Midnight uses his hooves like a shield to block their attacks, ‘It won’t be long now.’

‘If it doesn’t kill you, that is.’

“Either way, I wouldn’t have to deal with you,” Midnight snaps back at the constant companion.

The final straw that breaks the notorious camel’s back, being one more shot to the fore hooves that they can’t quite handle. Breaking the shield block that he manages, and sending small shards of magic across the ground like glass as they wither away to nothing in a shower of jade sparks and dissipate in to the air. Amidst the failure of his spell at the use of so much of his energy, Midnight stand there as his hooves are afire in pain. Watching the guards closing in, with their horns at the ready. He narrows his eyes down upon them, while he calls upon an old trick from moments ago.

“One. Last. Go,” A blackened glow rises up around his hooves, as the guards let out one last volley at the colt.

The protection spell coming up in time to save him. Though it’s not strong enough to hold against the combined strength of the spells in his weakened state. Soon Midnight is sent clean across the ground as he tumbles about head over hooves. Finding his resting place upon his back as he lays underneath the night sky, only able to catch the glimpses of the stars between consciousness, and unconsciousness. The heavy footsteps of armored hooves running up to his side fills his honed ears. As his eyes start to glass over, and the lids close slowly across them.

‘You just had to go and do that, didn’t you?’ The withering remains of the once strong, and cocky, subconscious mocks him, ‘you couldn’t let me play, couldn’t let me have fun.’

‘You had your fun out in the woods, and however many times before that,’ Midnight speaks to him in his own slightly conscious mind, ‘If anything gets me killed, it will be you. I would sooner have that happen, than continue to allow you to seep in to my head, and taint it more than you already have.’

That final thought exhausts Midnight’s mind to its limits. Pushing the colt in to a sleep filled realm as his eyes close fully, and the guards are left over top of a pony that seemingly survived something that was supposed to kill him. While at the same time they silently admire the skill he showed, for one not even supposed to have access to magic.

The superior taking his place ahead of his colts, just in front of the comatose enemy. Nudging him slightly with a hoof to see if there is any response what so ever. The action gets him nothing, as the chest still rises, and falls with every breath he takes. Letting him know that Midnight isn’t gone completely, just out for the moment.

“You’re an odd one, aren’t you?” The crystal guard notes.

“He doesn’t even have horn,” Another guard takes a closer look to see if what he thought he saw earlier was true, “How? How did he manage to do any of what we saw?”

“That I’m not sure. Though that’s above our pay grade,” The higher up takes a few steps back from the downed adversary. Motioning over to a few other guards to come forth, “Get a stretcher, and take him to the crystal palace’s holding cells. After he is there, I’ll let Princess Cadance, and the Captain know that we have a very… unique, visitor.”

Chapter 7

Chapter seven

After having raided the freezer for a late night snack of the dairy cream kind. The gang at the castle made their way to bed soon after putting their bowls, and spoons up for the night, and replacing it with some much needed rest. Something that doesn’t come all too easily though as Snow Bolt gets a massive sugar high from the sweet treat. After a bedtime story by Rosebud however, the young colt soon meets his end at the embrace of the covers of his bed. While is parents kiss him goodnight and head down to the next room to do the same.

Morning though at the castle comes all too soon to some, as even Discord who has grown accustom to the early risings of his wife (and also the many times he had to tend to Rose when she was young). Is now buried under the pillows in the soft bed of their room, as he tries to fight off his wife’s undying light from the sun she has raised.

“Tia, I could turn you to stone myself some mornings,” The prince grogs while flipping over in the bed to try, and beat out the light again.

Though as much as he would want to surrender to the covers and doze off. Somepony else has a different idea, making their scheme known with the pitter patter of hooves Discord knows all too well. Growing in his ears with every passing second. Rolling out of bed just in time to avoid his daughter pouncing on him like she would many times in the years before. Rose stands defeated in the bed as her father slithers away. That is until Dissy does the same to her, and with a snap of his fingers, the youngest alicorn finds herself wrapped up in a torrent of blankets that trap her atop the mattress.

“Oh come on dad! That’s not fair,” Rosebud wines underneath the snare.

“You still have yet to understand, my dear. Your own father is the prince of chaos,” Another snap, and she is suspended in front of him in what would be called a lasso of sheets, “I never play fair.”

“And I am your daughter, Daddy,” The slight glow of her horn lights off a teleportation spell as the kin dives out from the side of her trap, bringing Discord down to the ground. Soon enough, the room is filled with the laughter of the young mare as she stand triumphantly atop her father’s chest, “I got some of your chaotic nature in me, when you and mom-”

“That’s enough out of you, young lady!” A zipper appears on her mouth. Closing it at the talons of her father, while he rights himself back up on the ground. Setting her on all fours, leaving Rosebud to slump down to her flank, “There is no way, and no how. That you should be talking about anything involving that subject. Seriously, you’re only fourteen.”

Rose uses her own magic to remove the zipper, “Well it didn’t take long for you, and mom to get that far with one another,” She mutters under her breath while they both head out of the room.

“Excuse me?!” Discord rises up off the ground, “Who told you that?”

“What? Lulu, and I talk,” Rose snickers while she watches her father’s face change from pale white that his daughter knows of him and her mother’s antics. To blue from loss of breath and speechlessness. Then to a fuming red, at the thought of his sister in law talking to Rose about him and his wife’s past… activities.

‘I’m going to kill you, Luna,’ His mind wanders over the idea of homicide as much as his legs do the ground. While he and his kin go through the castle hallways. Onwards to the dining room, as they run in to the solar goddess during their walk.

“Ah, there you two are,” Celestia nuzzles up to her husband, “I was about to come back to the room to wake you up dear.”

“Don’t worry, your blasted sun did that already,” Discord holds the door open for his ladies as Tia canters inside with a smirk on her face.

Once there, the trio finds the young couple with Snow at the table along with the already early risen lunar alicorn, as they all sit down at the table. The young foal munching away at a break neck pace with Luna on a stack of pancakes, as they both shovel them down their throats. All the while Twilight, and Flash have eaten their fill long ago. Now just admiring how a princess, can manage to act like a foal at times.

“Good morning, sister!” Luna halts her engulfing of the breakfast cakes to greet Tia this day.

“Good morning to you as well, Luna,” Celestia takes note of the time, “You seem to be beating me to awaken more, and more every day. Odd how I raise the sun, and yet you are the early riser,” She entices a giggle from herself, and her daughter.

“Well that’s because for the most part I stay up all night, go figure,” Luna slathers another stack in syrup before munching away at it at a more civilized pace, “Though this time it wasn’t because of a game. I wanted to catch up on some reading in the library, and before I knew it. It was morning already.”

“It seems to come to some of us, faster than others,” Twilight considers for a moment, not knowing of Discord’s predicament earlier, before letting the subject go for now. Turning her motherly attention to her young son, as Snow tries to wipe away bits, and pieces of food that are stuck in his coat, “Well it seems somepony needs a bath when we get home.”

“But can’t I just lick it off mom? It is syrup,” Snow pouts with puppy dog eyes that normally would melt his mother away in a second. Though considering the cleanliness of her child over his enjoyment, she takes that moment from him.

“Not a chance,” Twi drops the ball, “You aren’t going to track that mess all through the house when we get home.”

“Well… he does have a point there you know?” Flash chimes in while whispering in Twilight’s ear.

“What do you mean, dear?”

“I’ve had to lick clean you, on a few accounts,” her husband explains, while her face fills with blood at the memories of their earlier days together.

Quickly receiving a light hoof to the gut to prevent any further inquiry from the others at the table who may be listening. Flash, and his loving wife share in a chuckle all to their own before Twilight changes the subject all together to get her mind off… certain, matters.

“So ahh… What does everypony have planned for this lovely day?” She tries to calm her facial expression down. While the others think about their plans.

“Well Dissy, and I were going to teach Rose a thing or two in the magic department, and a little about colts for that matter,” Celestia states. Watching Rose roll her eyes at the mention of the latter, “Seeing as my sister, has so generously told her a few of my, exploits.”

“As a good aunt should always do, to embarrass the mother,” Luna holds a hoof to her chest while maintaining a regal pose. Both her, and Rosebud soon laughing to themselves, and hoof bumping across the table. Much to the dismay of the parents.

“You’re going to pay for that by the way,” Discord reminds her.

“Oh bite me,” She mocks without missing a beat, “No wait, isn’t that my sister’s thing?”

The dull thud of Discord’s head meeting the table, covers up his now crimson face as Tia does her best to not laugh at the hilarity of the matter. Even if it does get thrown in her face every so often, as the younger sister has her fun. It’s still always a pleasure to see her husband get his own from time to time. Gently now rubbing a hoof on her husband’s back to try, and quell some of his embarrassment. While their daughter puts in her own words of encouragement.

“Luna broke Dad, again,” Rose pokes her father in the side.

“Anyways,” The solar princess recomposes herself, “That’s our plan. What about you, sister?”

“Hmm I probably will make it up as I go along,” Luna answers, “Twilight? Flash? Any input?”

Flash manages to hold on to their son long enough to help his wife wipe away some of the syrup that stains the outside of Snow’s mouth, as he answers, “Well much to the dismay of this little guy right here,” he struggles with the squirming colt, “We have to get back to Ponyville. After that though, I’m not quite-”

In a flash of blue, and pink magic a letter lands in front of Twi, cutting her husband off. Bound in the royal seal of the Crystal Empire, and the parchment seeming freshly written as the ink still tries to soak through completely and dry. Twilight uses her magic to lift the letter up, and opens it, soon skimming over the words. Knowing it can only really be from two ponies.

“It’s from, Cadance?” Her ears perk up after reading a few lines, and instantly recognizes the writing style.

“Well go on then,” The chaotic prince motions as he recovers from the below the belt hit, and conjures up a glass of scotch before he continues to calm his nerves, “What does it say?”

“Let’s see here,” the mare clears her throat a bit, “Dear Twilight,

It should not take long for you to receive this letter long after I have sent it. I am sorry we haven’t been in touch, nearly as much as I would want us to be, and we will have to fix that. Though for now it seems I could use your help. Considering your title of ‘Royal Canterlot Magical Advisor’, I thought it best to see to you about this matter.

There is a rather peculiar visitor here in the palaces cells now that I think you would find most interesting. Although I have yet to see what he can do. The guards swear up, and down that what they saw was in fact, the truth. I am not quite sure what to make of it, and given his random psychotic outbursts, your brother is ready to put a hoof through is face. Though you may have better luck in the matter. Let me know when you get this, and try to write back. I shall explain further, when you get here.

Your dearest sister in law,

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza (aka, Princess Cadance)

Oh, and P.S.

Your brother says you better hurry, before he takes care of this colt himself. Whatever that may mean. I don’t want to know,” She finishes up reading the letter, and sets it down. Twilight left to now try and figure out what Cadance could be talking about, “Well I think I know what I’m doing today,” She turns to her husband with a slight grin, “What do you say about a trip to the Crystal Empire, hmm?”

The contact of a sticky hoof to Flash’s muzzle by their son, bids him a different response than he would have wanted to give to his wife, “As much fun as that sounds. I think Snow would do much better, if he wasn’t almost bathed in this sticky mess at the moment,” he answers her, “Alas, he and I will have to pass on that offer.”

“…I can make the trip,” Luna pipes up with a hoof raised, as they all turn their eyes to her, “What? I said I’d make it up as I go. There are no plans for me here, and it has been a while sense I’ve been to the Empire. Besides, it gets me out of the castle at the very least.”

“Well then, sounds like you two have a trip ahead of you,” Celestia finally grabs a few pancakes for herself, and slices a banana over top of them so she can get some food in her, “whatever they’re dealing with, it doesn’t sound all that pleasant.”

“Not at all,” Twilight tries to think what it could be, “I mean she mentions it’s a colt, but what could he have done to get even my brother in a bunch?”

_________________________

The normal trip to the far north of the Crystal Empire that would have taken several hours by train, for two able-bodied alicorns, can be made in no time at all. Even with the heavy frost bitten winds beating against their faces. Luna, and Twilight flap their way through the gusts, and onwards to the palace, as they see it glimmer in the distance. While the sun only starts to make its way down towards the horizon, to give way to the evening.

“Ah… I never get tired of seeing that,” Luna remarks more towards herself than any other. Relishing in the simple wonder of how the crystal reflects the sun’s rays. Even if she will still say, her moon is better.

“Kind of reminds me of the stars at night actually,” Twilight points out while she catches up to the lunar princess, who should see the similarities all too well in her own cosmic bodies, “I mean just look at it.”

“Oh it does now, doesn’t it?” Luna says with a new level of wonder, having never thought of them like such.

Each different curve from the crystal spire gives a different glint in her eye as they all catch the same sun, showing off a multitude of sparkles in her vision, like the stars at night. Even the variety of colors in them, reflecting their own wavelength as the pillar grows bigger, and bigger while the pair get closer. Looking around for the courtyard to touch down in. The cool cobalt eyes of the nocturnal goddess instantly locks contact with the pink, and white speck of two ponies on the ground, ready to greet them.

‘Target sighted… Terminating with extreme prejudice,’ Luna’s glare tapers down to one in particular, and in one quick flip of her wing. The lunar mare barrel rolls over in to a dive bomb, with the alicorn in her sights.

Chapter 8

Chapter eight

Meanwhile on the ground…

Shining Armor, along with his wife, Princess Cadance. Peer up at the sky to try and spot their guests before they arrive. Knowing the general direction that they have to take, it doesn’t take long for the captain’s trained eyes to pick out two shapes in the distance as they close in to them.

“Yep, that’s my sister,” Shining squints his eyes together, “Though, it appears we have two guests to meet actually.”

“That’s Luna isn’t it?” Cadance leans a little further in, to try and pick out the alicorn’s color, “Twily didn’t mention her coming as well,” she starts to bounce a bit with joy, “Oh this is going to be so fun!”

“Getting to see your aunt?” He sticks his hoof to the end of his muzzle trying to muse the last time that his wife, and Luna got to see one another, “It has been quite some time hasn’t it? Though it’s a good thing to have her around considering the colt’s appearance.”

“He does look rather similar to the ponies we all have come to know as her own,” The princess remarks while taking a closer look to the particular princess swooping down, already getting an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, “Though I don’t like that approach…”

Cadance starts to back pedal as the speck of the lunar princess grows ever bigger while her speed picks up the more she drops. The cobalt missile closing in faster and faster, while the princess of the Crystal Empire finds herself breaking in to a full gallop to avoid the over bearing tackle that is sure to follow when her aunt gets a hold of her. However, at the same time, oddly looking forward to it.

‘Oh dear,’ Cadance sees Luna breaking in the last few feet behind her, ‘Brace for impact,’ she closes her eyes as the impact knocks her clean off her hooves, and the pair tumbles about in a royal ball to a nearby bush. The laughter from Shining being the only thing to break the silence as the light flaps of a pair of wings, lands right next to him to signal the arrival of his baby sister.

“She didn’t?” Twilight ask the obvious while putting a wing around her brother, and pulling him in to a much yearned for hug, as he does the same to her.

“Oh yes…” He watches the pair stumbling out of the bushes, “She did,”

Cadance shakes her head to clear out a few leaves from her mane while righting her tiara atop her head, “It’s ahh… wonderful to see you to Luna,” She brings both fore hooves around her aunt’s midsection while they embrace.

“You as well, Cadance,” Luna start’s to chuckle, “You know I had to make a grand entry.”

“I believe it’s safe to say that you did just that,” Shining steps up to give his aunt in law a hug as well, “Though needless to say, I think both of you in this case, will want to see what came to the empire last night.”

They all nod to one another while walking inside of the palace to get down to business, before they actually spend some much needed personal time together. Heading down the many halls and staircases, they eventually come across a high ranking guard standing in the hall on their way to the cells.

The guard bows at first before saluting the royalty, as he is motioned up by Shining, “Copper Sheath?”

“Yes sir?” Copper answers at full attention still. Not breaking his thousand yard stare while his eyes seem to take most interest in the wall behind those before him.

“One word, relax,” Shining reminds the guard while watching him instantly let down his shoulders a bit, and loosen up in the armor, “Now you were there when this colt was brought in, correct?”

“Yes sir… nabbed him after we saw him beating another colt outside a tavern,” he catches up with the captain as they continue down the hall ways towards the cells, explaining what he saw the night earlier, “After subduing him me, and another guard asked how this all started. Apparently, the mare was serving the colt we have here in the cells. Her coltfriend walked in, accused her of flirting, tempers flared, and jealousy took over. Then the coltfriend slapped her in the face. That seemed to set the other colt off, from what the bartender said.”

“So was it really his fault?” Luna asks while thinking that more than anything, this sounds like a case of self-defense for the mare that took the first hit from them all.

“If he had taken the time to explain himself. I may have just let him off, and had the other colt that started it thrown in shackles for assault,” the guard answers, “Though right now the latter is in the hospital, and the crimson one is down in the cells passed out.”

“So why did you call for me?” Twilight asks trying to think how this could involve anything she could help with, “I know magic, in fact, a lot about magic. So I’m assuming that this colt was using some enchantments he shouldn’t even have access to? Dark magic? Chaos magic? What?”

“Well his magic did have a rather eerie feeling to it, but that wasn’t the issue,” Copper kicks the ground below him for a second, “this colt isn’t a unicorn, but he was still using magic.”

The two princesses that just showed up stop in their tracks at that sentence. Trying to put it together if the guard was speaking clearly, or both Luna, and Twilight need to get their ears cleaned. The look on their face says it all, as the couple next to them wait to hear what they have to say on that matter so far after having the ball dropped.

“Okay… I may be over a thousand years old,” The mare digs in to her ears, “However, my hearing could never be better. Tell me again why it sounded like you said he was using magic, when he isn’t a unicorn? What is he then?”

“Well actually he’s a Pegasus, of some kind,” Cadance scratches the back of her head while Copper opens the door to the cell block, and holds it for them to file in. Closing it behind them while they walk down to the cage at the far end.

Solid iron bars go up and over the cell, as they curve around and dig in to the wall behind it. A single opening is left, just large enough to slide a food tray in of bread, and water. While there is nothing more than a pile of straw to lay down on. Though the quote unquote ‘bed’ is completely empty. Leaving Twilight to look around in the dimmed light to try and find the colt, “I thought you said he was sleeping?”

“Oh he is…” Shining taps her on the shoulder, pointing to the bars above, “The colt did that to himself apparently, while he was out cold. Quite the tail on him I must say, wrapped him up there good and tight.”

Midnight remains suspended from the bars above as he dangles about, lightly being rocked to sleep. The leathery wings folded up to his sides while all four legs do the same, and his head is left to hang about like a lead weight on the end of a string. As harmless as he may look from this position. Even with the pair of fangs sticking out from his mouth, and what they heard from his actions last night. There is far more going on in the colt’s mind than any present may ever know at the moment, while a silent argument continues on in front of them.

‘Ugh… did anypony get the number of that carriage?’ Shard wallows over in pain from having the body it resides in used so much in one go.

‘Oh quit your complaining… I am going to get some sleep, so in the morning you can take a vacation,’ Midnight answers back, while his body hangs there in the sleeping position he has grown used to over the centuries, ‘It’s not nice to disturb a pony when they are trying to nap.’

‘It’s also not nice to ignore guests when they make their presence,’ Shard mentally crosses his hooves, ‘seriously, that’s just rude.’

‘What am I supposed to do? Say ‘hi’ while I am duly knocked out.’

The voice takes a moment or two to answer while it tries to think if there is anything better it can do to waist the time it has, before his host gets strong enough to put him out of commission for a while. The body it inhabits may be out at the moment, and the original host might be heading to sleep soon while his mind gets some of its strength back. However, so long as that’s the case. There’s no pony to stop him from causing a little mischief here, and there while he can.

‘Oh fine, if you won’t talk than I will. I may not be able to cause any physical damage considering your body is too weak to even move,’ the eerie feeling of Shard’s smile grows in the back of Midnight’s head, ‘but that doesn’t mean I can’t chat, like I did with the captain earlier.’

Any response from Midnight is paused at the moment, as he mentally groans in the back of his mind, while his brain tries to get some much needed rest from the workout earlier, ‘You and I, are going to have a serious talk when I wake up.’

‘Oh I look forward to it, pal,’ Shard chuckles, ‘until then… Sleep tight!’

Staying outside of the cell, considering she doesn’t know what the colt is capable of. Twilight can’t do much, or make any kind of call at what’s wrong with him from this position, and without seeing him in action. Using her eyes alone, the mare does an examination from what she can see to find out if there is anything on the outside at least that is cause for concern.

“He looks perfectly healthy. Actually, very healthy,” Twilight looks over the colt, noting the appearance and the strong wings and legs he has. Finding no fault in him, other than his odd looks, “Why did you want to beat this colt earlier?” she asks her brother, “I mean I know he hurt one of your citizens, but from what I heard, that colt didn’t sound any better.”

“Let’s just say that whatever is wrong with him,” Shining starts to grind his teeth at what the colt had said to him, and his wife earlier, “you may want to check his head first.”

“Oh you better believe it!” Midnight’s mouth opens up while his eyes remain shut. The outburst drawing all eyes to him, as the youngest alicorn steps up.

“Sir?” Twilight tries the polite approach. Leaning up to the cage, and adopting a regal pose to go with her tone, “My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. I was sent here to-”

“See what is wrong with me, and why I can do what I can do?”

“Why yes!” She beams. Thinking at first that the colt does have some sort of sense to him as she goes further in to the explanation, “It seems that you have caused quite a stir in the Crystal Empire last night, and from what I hear your intentions were good.”

“Oh yes they were,” The sincere sounding voice fails to portray the truth behind his actions as the troublesome side of Midnight plays it off, “All I wanted to do was teach that sad excuse for a colt a lesson about hitting another mare, but then things just got out of hoof,” every word sounds more, and more dramatic in their tone as they drop out of his mouth, and fill the ears of those present.

“Exactly what I wanted to hear from you,” Twilight nods in agreement. Even looking back at Copper Sheath doing the same, “I’m sure the guards would be more than understanding about your reasons in the-”

“Besides if that blasted colt hadn’t come in and hit the tramp. I may have gotten a piece of that flank after all!” The room goes silent at the sound of his words while they register in the minds of those present. The two new arrivals go silent while the others simply face hoof themselves. Neither one of the new princesses in the room are sure how to follow this one up, and it’s left to the lunar princess with a twitch in her eye to break the silence.

“What did you say?!” Luna snaps back at the pony like she might as well be yelling at a sack of potatoes.

“Oh you heard me,” Listening in even further to the sounds about him. Shard manages to put together who it is addressing him, and a faint, but ever so creepy smile grows on his face, “Though my own ears may be wrong, or could that really be Princess Luna? How wonderful it is to meet you… Moonbutt.”

Twilight takes a step back while she watches the mouth open, and continue to talk. Ignoring what it says completely. But taking interest in the sight of the colt’s tongue falling out, and just hanging there as she starts to see the stallion in a new light.

“I see what you mean, Shining,” She leans over to her brother, and whispers in his ear, “Something is very wrong with him. I mean he’s asleep it seems. Yet he is going back, and forth with Luna like no other has before… except for maybe Discord.”

“Note his appearance, Twilight,” Cadance points out, and whispers to her over the shouting of Luna at the hanging colt, “Who does he remind you of?”

The young alicorn looks over Midnight’s features once more, seeing through the fuming lunar pony. ‘Leathery wings, fangs, and a pair of bat ears to top it off,’ her own eyes wander over his frame. Taking in the odd shaped wings, and the frizzed ears about him it finally clicks, “Lunar guard?” she puts it together, “He has the features, but I’ve never seen one like this before.”

“Neither have we,” Shining answers her.

Meanwhile…

Luna continues to go back, and forth with the colt in front of her. She may not be the most humble of the alicorns. However, she can be as kind as any could ever imagine, and rather patient at that. Something that one acquires when you have been all by yourself on a floating moon, as it orbits a place you once called home, for a thousand years. All that said though. This colt is starting to push her to her limits. Holding her face up to the bars, Luna almost tries to force her way through to get at him.

“My Flank, is not the size of the moon!” She bellows at the colt, who only can chuckle at the pun he has made at the mare’s expense.

“I never said it was, Moonbutt,” the crazed colt starts to giggle, “All I said was that if you were to fly in front of the moon at night, you would cause a lunar eclipse.”

“It’s the same thing!”

“Well I’m not the one here getting all huffy, about having to shed some extra foal fat.”

“Why you little twit!” with one quick motion of her horn, Luna teleports inside of the cage, and socks the still knocked out colt in the lower jaw with a well-placed haymaker.

Causing him to dangle even more like a piñata, or in this case a punching bag, as he swings about from the hit. Shining, Cadance, and Twilight make their way in swiftly, to try and halt the angered princesses attack as she bucks wildly at him. Landing a solid hit that one would mistake it for a tree cracking in half. While her hind hoof withdraws and careens again in to his protruding ribs on the side. All the while, being dragged out by the others now doing their best to hold her back.

“Let me at him! I only want to teach him a lesson myself about proper etiquette for royalty… and to wipe the cell with his own flank!” Her blood continues to run even hotter as she fights back.

“Talking about etiquette… while being dragged out of a cell kicking, and screaming,” Cadance remarks under her breath. Sitting the lunar princess down as they try, and talk some sense in to her, “Auntie, he was doing the same thing earlier while Shining, and myself were down here. I don’t know what’s wrong, but it may not be his fault.”

“The hay it isn’t!” Luna shouts back after the insult to her rump.

Luna eye balls the stallion over Cadance’s shoulder, while Midnight fails to do the same. Both his eyes remain closed while no voice comes from his throat. The impact of her first hit seemingly knocking him out colder even more, while his jaw hangs open, and the colt’s tongue flops around. Leaving his body to continue to do the same.

‘I still got it,’ She shakes the sting in her hoof. Stomping out of the room with the others in tow, as they pick up from the back.

“It’s starting to get late, and I don’t think that we’ll get anywhere with him tonight,” Cadance remarks. Nodding at the guard as he, and another stand watch at the cells entryway.

“Agreed…” Shining, and his wife walk in step with one another. Still behind the fuming princess while Luna’s heavy hoof steps fill the hall, “…Though I don’t think that will help the one back there.”

“Oh we’ll see how that plays out in the morning,” Twilight only shakes her head at what the stallion had said about Luna’s flank, “one things for sure. He’ll have a whole lot of explaining to do when the time comes.”

Chapter 9

Chapter nine

A wonderful spring air wafts through the open window of the quaint little cottage at the edge of the Badlands. The evening sun starting to peak down towards the horizon, as it gives off its final rays of sunlight. Although farther south than many would have gone, even if they wanted to stay away from prying eyes. Golden is more than happy to call this place, home. Looking out the window for what would have to be the hundredth time in the last six months. She’ll never tired of the sight she sees every time she does.

The fresh grass that spans over the field that they have around their house, gives a wonderful scent in her nose as the wind picks it up. While the house sits in between the several trees that dot the area to give much wanted coverage to her husband as he uses his magic to work a hoe, and turn over some of the soil in the ground. A creeping smile edges its way on her face while the golden eyed ex-lunar guard rests her head down on a hoof while watching him work.

“All this planning, all that we had to go through, to get away from it all. I could have done it easily,” A bead of sweat drips down his brow as she watches, and lands in the soon to be garden that she hopes to grow with him, and their child, “However, you loved the guard, and you gave it up for me. Thank you, Sky.”

Shadows finishes her muttering as she hoists up a tray with a pair of glasses, and a pitcher of virgin strawberry cordial. Walking out the door, and in to the grass as it runs under her hooves. Something that seems almost alien to her. Having grown used to the bricks, and tile of Canterlot in the last few years she was stationed there. Golden is learning to appreciate the feel it has, as she makes her way over to her stallion, who leans himself up against one of the trees to take a much needed breather.

“Well I can safely say I will never catch you lying down on the job,” she teases him while pouring a glass for them both before sitting next to her husband, “I would be helping you know, if it wasn’t for my… Err, condition.”

His light hooves wrap around her protruding waist line, and pulls his pregnant mare in to him closer. Nuzzling her neck all the same as she presses further in to him, “I’m happy to have you in this condition. It gives me a chance to play homemaker for once, and soon enough we’ll be a family, with a foal of our own.”

“Considering our child was technically conceived out of wedlock…” Golden grins her fangs a bit at their seemingly careless mistake, “…I’m glad that Fall Cloud was able to help us in getting our relationship, official.”

She admires the simple hoof ring that she wears now. No flare to it, no extensive jewels, just a golden band with a trio of small cut diamonds in them. To the naked eye, it’s a ring that many mares would be chasing after the stallion who put it on, all the way back to the jewelers, to get a new one before they had to find a new mate. Though even with its simplicity, Golden wouldn’t have it any other way. To her it’s not the gift itself, but the one it comes from, that matters.

“Even going to the extent to sign the marriage certificate as a witness himself,” Sky fiddles with an equally simplistic horn ring that he wears to match hers, “The risk of him doing such a thing could land us all, even him, in a deep hole.”

“We both knew the risks, the first time we shared that moment together atop the wall.”

“Where we had our first kiss…”

“…That lead to so much more,” she nuzzles the end of her nose in to his, before giving a light but sweet peck on the lips.

The action getting an equal, but opposite reaction out of the foal that is now ever present in her belly. The soft kick to her outer wall, jarring Golden up from the restful position as a small flood of pain sweeps over her. Showing it ever clearly across her face.

“Either our kin has more of a leg than his father, or something else is in play,” The soon to be father reads his wife’s face like a book before settling her back down, and feeling the foal on the inside do what he can only guess are barrel roles.

“It-It’s just been a while sense I had any real,” she pauses for a bit as another wave of pain subsides, “well… meat,” Golden laps her lips at even the thought of a fresh cut lying in front of her, rare with blood drenching the sides of it.

An odd request for one that is normally a vegan species, but for her breed. The hunger for flesh is just as natural as the fangs they are born with to do the killing themselves. To her surprise the first time that she, and Sky ever shared a meal together. When she ordered meat, he didn’t even bat an eye at when the seemingly loving, and pretty mare devoured it up in a few bites (Having not eaten earlier that day, and hunger pains getting the best of her). Certainly not the best first impression to have, with what would one day become her significant other, but never the less it worked.

The extra nourishment in the lunar guard’s diet that they would get from the sustenance of another living creature, would give them a significant advantage over their Celestial counterparts. The extra protein that they would get from the meat, gave those lunar guards added strength and recovery. However, there was also another gift that they would get. Taking in the expended life force of another seemed to give an additional boost in those lunar guards that were born as unicorns with a curved horn atop their head. Their dark magic, and enchantments that they have access to became more potent as a result, and would allow even a basic level mage guard to hold their own against others far more powerful. Although both Lunar guards, horned and winged alike, experienced better, and faster healing as a result of the consuming of flesh. On top of all of this, they lived seemingly longer than others as well. Though this was never able to be answered by any that tried to study it. Either because the lack of participation, or the fact that it would take many years to do so. Needless to say, not many other ponies were all that thrilled to be studying another that they think would leap across a table and try to eat them. For the most part, their recovery abilities were explained away with the additional nutrients they would get from red meat.

That said, their gift doesn’t come without its own faults. For a Lunar guard that hasn’t weaned themselves off the taste of blood properly, and over time. They tend to have bouts of weakness, and simple things can lead to pain coursing through their body due to withdraw. A condition that Golden is now going through. Having not touched meat sense being out here with her new husband. She cut the habit cold turkey, no pun intended, and is paying for it. Having a foal inside you, who likely has the same hunger, doesn’t help the matter as the pain is amplified even more.

Though even more surprising than his reaction to her feasting on flesh in front of him for the first time. Is Sky Streak’s reaction to her pain coming from the very life inside of her, as it too wants to feed. Using his magic to lift the mare atop his back, Golden slumps over top of him and tries to figure out what Sky is doing while he begins walking towards the house. Using his horn to push the door open without even a second thought to what he is about to do, or even a word to his mare.

“Sky? What is it? I know I don’t have my usual spunk,” Shadow tries to lighten the mood, “Though that’s to be expected when I haven’t-”

“I know, dear,” He cuts her off while resting her gently down on the living room couch, and brings a blanket up to her neck, “You need extra nourishment from meat. It’s in your nature to eat flesh, and not eating it outright, makes you weaker. Blah, blah, blah I know it all.”

“Mhmm is this just what you’ve picked up from seeing me over the years?” She muses while noting the smirk that seems to grow on his face the more he talks.

“Well kind of… I did however also raided the Canterlot library, and learned several things about lunar guards when I seriously considered dating one,” Before she can counter with any sort of smart comment. Sky swoops down, and kisses her atop the forehead. Pulling back just as fast, as he heads towards the door, “You stay here, and get comfortable. I’m going to go get my lady something more proper for her to dine on tonight, rather than whatever her knight can muster up.”

Her ears instantly perk up at what this means he is about to do. Something that no matter how much she knows he loves her. Golden still finds rather hard to believe all the same, “You mean you’re going to… Kill for me?”

“Yes.”

“Like food?”

“No a sacrifice to my goddess,” He rolls his eyes sarcastically.

“Like going out to hunt, murder an animal so it will be dead, gut it, butcher it, and then cook it for me to eat?” She pesters while breaking down the process. Trying to dispel any sort of doubt in her mind that he is joking in the matter.

“Well when you say it like that…” Sky pauses for a moment to build the suspense, “yes my love. I am going to get you red meat,” He answers while putting his old guards sword on his side, sliding the helmet over top of him just to give some protection in case anything else is looking for a meal out there as well, “Don’t worry dear, I’ll be okay, and this really shouldn’t take long.”

With those last words Sky Streak takes off out the door in search of some flesh for his beloved as she lays there on the couch baffled at his actions. Yet at the same time pleased that she managed to find a stallion willing to go out of his comfort zone, and kill to get her something that she needs at the moment.

“In both Celestia and Luna’s name…” Golden props her head up on a hoof, smiling while she listens to the light clops of her husband going out on the hunt, “I love you, Sky Streak.”

Chapter 10

Chapter ten

Considering that she is used to having many lonely nights studying to herself in the past, present, and likely future. It isn’t hard for Twilight to pull an all-nighter without issue. Though when you have the stark raving mad lunar princess with you nearly the whole time shouting this, and that about a particular stallion that made the most careless number of insults to her. That alone can drain a young alicorn as Twi tries to hold herself up with her fore hooves to stay awake while Luna paces back, and forth in the bedroom shooting out her rant of the one in the cell.

“That insolent, uncouth, discourteous, disrespectful, atrocious, vagrant, snot nosed little twerp!” Luna shouts out while her cheeks remain flustered at even the thought of the stallion down stairs that she now shares the same facial color with, “How dare he insult the royal flank, and before that even make insinuations of physical activity of rutting between himself and I!”

“Wait?” Twilight shakes her head upon hearing that last bit, “He did what now?”

“Did you not hear me screaming at him earlier?”

“Well I tuned it out while me, Cadance, and Shining talked about the matter,” Twilight bites the edge of her lip upon seeing the princess temper go up another ten degrees. Quickly adverting her eyes to the side of the room, “We were only noting the similarities of him, and your own lunar guards.”

“Mhmm?” The almost violet ears pop up after being flushed with blood at the seemingly missed detail.

“Yes Luna. I mean what do you remember of him?”

The princess sits there to calm herself before recalling the stallion’s actual appearance in to her mind. The startling similarities of him, and her own guards are in play more than she would have noticed in her angered state. Though at the same time there is no way he would be in her guard. Not simply because the way he treated her, but also the appearance. As much as they may be similar to her guards. There are the obvious size, and color differences.

“You have a valid point now Twilight Sparkle. Normally, only the royal guards are gifted with those attributes,” Luna’s nostrils flare once more, “And he most surely isn’t… a… royal… guard!”

She relapses back in to her previous state of irritation while simultaneously hurtling a stool across the room, and in to the wall. Breaking it apart in one go while steam seems to pour itself from her ears, and muzzle. Though the opening of a door does bid her to calm herself a bit while Cadance, and Shining enter the room.

“Well I know I don’t necessarily like the décor…” Shining uses his magic to reassemble the stool, and puts it back in its original place, “…though that is no reason to take ones anger on it.”

“Sorry about that,” Luna scratches the back of her head, and reseats her askew tiara atop it, “You could say I’m just a little, flustered.”

“A little?” Twilight pushes further while her face deadpans the expression.

“Okay enough that I’m ready to disembowel the colt as soon as he wakes up,” Luna cracks her neck at the thought of getting her hooves on him.

“Wait you haven’t heard?” Cadance asks her aunt, as the devilish thoughts dance around Luna’s head, “He woke up about half an hour ago.”

“What?! What time is it???”

“It’s eight in the morning, Luna,” Twilight manages to flop herself out of bed, and stand on all fours without a problem, “You were going at it all night.”

“Oh… ahh,” The night blue cheeks turn to a lightened shake of pink even under the cover of her coat once again because her bumbling, “Silly me.”

The realization at what this means consumes the mare, and in a star lit streak Luna leaves the trio in the bed room spinning while powering her way down the halls, and in a warpath towards her target. Cadance being the first one to stabilize herself after her aunt’s actions, shakes her head to get a sit rep on things, “She’s going to beat him to death, isn’t she?”

“Well… more, or less,” Twilight trots lightly past her, as her brother, and Cadance pick up the same pace, “How else did you expect her to respond to having a colt try and flirt with her?”

Even Shining starts to feel sorry for the reaction the colt is about to get. Lowering his head down while they start to gallop in an attempt to save his life now, “Oh dear.”

_______________________

Sitting idly in a cell is about as much as one can do when they have been captured by the Royal Equestrian Guard, and made a mockery of not one, but three princesses, and a prince the day before. Though it doesn’t help the fact that the one colt who is about to endure the wrath of a particular lunar princess doesn’t even know what he said, or at least what his other self said. Having been more, or less knocked out at the time, and having an odd, but massive pain in his jaw.

‘Well if there is a plus in any of this mess…’ He pauses for a moment to check his luck in the matter, ‘…At least I can finally hear myself think without having that one listening. Even if my head is pounding at the moment,’ He rests his head back on the ground. Folding either hoof behind it, and using his wings as a blanket. Midnight doesn’t even shut his eyes as he takes in the peace, and quiet that he hasn’t had in a very long, long time, “I really need to do this more often,” Midnight says to no specific pony present.

“Ahh… who are you talking to?” A guard looks back to the lone prisoner.

“No one,” He sighs with some relief in the truth of it, “No one at all.”

“YOU!”

That one word is the last thing Midnight hears before a spell causes a few of the iron bars to bend back, and snap in an instant. Leaving a gaping hole big enough for a princess to slither her way through at full speed. Not even bothering to heed the warnings of the guards there, and somewhat oblivious to the frantic calls of her friends. Luna proceeds to contact hoof to rib, gut, and face, or anything else she can manage to get within reach. A rather easy prospect seeing as she now stands over top the bewildered colt, who only lies there in a daze, with his eyes shut.

“You dare remain silent after your previous comments from the night earlier of thine own flank!” She cares not to remove a silver slipper after having her fill of much needed violence released.

The evidence of which is peppered on him in the form of bloodied bruises, and marks. With drawing a single hoof, and topping off the entire gesture with a sincere slap to the face that further rekindles the previous pain from the haymaker she delivered before. Midnight screws his eyes shut even more to avoid her penetrating gaze and protect them the best he can.

“Do you have nothing to say for yourself?!” Luna shouts at the shuttered stallion beneath her while her eyes bore in to him further, and further.

Then a simple gesture grabs the furious mare at the very core of her being.

A pair of eyes below her, open up. A simple thing to see, something that she has seen many times as one would expect. Though with this pair, the mare is stricken with her own emotions at seeing the ones she is surprised to find in his own expression. The crazed look Luna was expecting to get from a stallion that she was sure had lost his flippen mind. Instead replaced by an expression that seemingly violates her own eyes, and mind with nothing, but sorrow, and guilt that she was so callous to a creature that she hasn’t even given a chance to speak for himself until now. Even then the look on his face, and the straightforwardness in his words holding more ground than she had likely given him credit as Luna is taken back in an instant.

“I’m Sorry, your majesty,” He responds while she remains incapacitated at first, “Needless to say, I’m not myself.”

The princess in question soon finds herself backing up off top of him as she fumbles down to her own hind for a moment, while Midnight gets his footing. Now getting the full picture of who she is dealing with at the moment. A stallion that is broader than Shining Armor, and in fact even head taller than herself. Though at the moment, the height is ignored as he extends a simple hoof down to her fallen position, and helps the mare up to her hooves. Taking a bow before the royalty to show respect, while still holding her out stretched hoof.

“Good morning, Princess Luna… I’m Midnight,” He rights himself soon afterwards, and kisses the end of her hoof.

Words seem to fail the princess as she holds a hoof to her chest to avoid ‘hoof in mouth syndrome’ as her face contorts to a more ‘what the buck just happened’ look. Not quite sure how to respond to a colt that she was ready to, and already, beat with her own hooves. Thankfully the silence is broken by the presence of three others as they make their way in to the cells for what they thought would be an attempt to save a colt’s life.

“Luna stop! He probably didn’t know what he was doing!” Cadance yells out.

“If you kill him than we may never know what’s wrong, and I won’t have anything to study!” Twilight follows up shortly.

“Don’t do this, otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it from my wife!” Shining adds to the end of it. Getting only a sour glare from the mare in question.

“Shining you aren’t help-Agh!”

The alicorn of love stops just short of the cell while almost slamming herself in to the bars as the other two behind her attempt to do the same, but fall just short. All three making a mockery of themselves as they end up in a pile at the base of the door way inside, and instead look up to find something they never would have possibly imagined seeing at a time like this.

Luna stands there in front of the colt, with her hoof still wrapped in his own. An awkward grin about her face, and the faintest hint of a pair of blood filled cheeks underneath her dark coat which is trying it’s hardest to hide, as she brushes her mane in her face to further the camouflage effect. Though no matter how much of her mane she repositions, or how dark her coat may be. The one thing she can’t hide is the obvious flight devices attached to her back, that seem to have a mind of their own, as they themselves protrude outwards to their fullest.

Cadance, being in her profession, is the one that decides to ask the obvious, “Ahh… Luna are you?”

“No!” Luna snaps back at the alicorn while trying to stammer out a complete sentence, “Flew, came in, beat down, stopped, and interrupted.”

The stricken princess says in a tuff, freezing afterwards without having anything else to say on the matter. All the while the trio tries to make out what that possibly meant, or even if it was of their language in the first place.

“…Run that by us again?” Shining shares the same facial expression with as his companions. Thankfully though, Midnight steps up to clear some of the air between them all.

“Princess Luna blew through the cage. Rather spectacularly I might add…” He pauses to replay the image in his mind. Much to the dismay of the lunar princess, but the joy of the princess of love in attendance who sees what is going on with the mare in question, “Then proceeded to tackle me, and deliver a well-deserved beating, for what was likely less than tastefully said earlier…” The thought of what his other side could have said to them all fills him with guilt as he adopts an apologetic bow to the others present to try and make up for the misgivings, “I must ask for forgiveness from you all…Princess Cadance, Captain Shining Armor, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and last but not least, Princess Luna. I’m not quite myself, it seems.”

“Mhmm…” Cadance muses for a second at the unhindered statement from his mouth. While at the same time remaining somewhat eyes on with Luna, “Well I can forgive you for it, and I’m sure all of us will as well. You were a little… out of it. However, you say that you aren’t yourself? What do you mean?”

“That…” Midnight bites the back of his tongue. Holding it to try, and think of a way to say this without sounding insane. ‘Wait, I already am labeled that,’ He imagines from what others have said in his long past, “…is a bit more difficult to explain.”

“Well considering you have been out for the past day, or so, and haven’t had anything to eat it seems,” Twilight notes the plate of rations still full, before looking over to her sister in law for approval, “how about we discuss this over a meal? Provided that you…?”

“Midnight, ma’am.”

“Well Midnight,” Shining starts while taking some sympathy with the colt who just got the one two punch from the princess herself, “Provided you show no malice towards any around here. I would even be willing to have you join us.”

“A-a-are you sure?” Midnight ask, imagining that this could just be a joke. Considering what he had done earlier, “after what I’ve done?

“You’re the reason we called in my baby sister,” Shining nods. Ignoring the glare he gets from Twilight, “to find out what is wrong, and help. It wouldn’t really be proper now to try and understand you from the ‘comfort’ of a cell. Now would it?”

“Then I must thank you for the hospitality, sir,” Nodding to them, Midnight follows out the open door. Stopping for a second to turn around, and still sees the princess of the night standing there dumbfounded after her attempt of an explanation, “Your majesty? Will you be joining us?”

“I ahh… Yes!” She shouts out unintentionally. Flapping her still extended wings to give them some purpose, and landing side by side with the bloodied colt, “Yes I will be. Though as it would seem, I also have something to say.”

“And what would that be ma’am?” Midnight says without hesitation.

‘Damn it why is he so nice right now?’ She tries to put her game face on, and at least act like the royalty she is expected to be, ‘I mean before he was just a truth be told jerk, but now…’ Luna shakes her head for a second to get her thoughts on track, “I want to say I’m sorry for how I acted earlier. Regarding…” She points to the several injuries about him, “Those, I should have waited until you were at least given a chance to speak, sanely that is.”

Though Midnight simply waves it off, “Don’t worry, your majesty. I would have expected nothing less. It’s not the first time that my mind has wandered out of my control and said the wrong thing. Though to a princess, that probably is at the top of the list.”

“Oh is it now?” She questions with only a playful smirk on her face. Something that the colt is glad to see in contrast to the stark raving mad mare, “Though I have something to ask of you in that case.”

“What would that be, miss?”

Any attempt to be a princess falls to the ground in a shattered state. After seeing that she showed so much malice, towards a colt that already has proven to have better manners than half of the guards she knows, “Most of my subjects don’t even call me by my title. A little thing I dispelled years ago at Nightmare Night,” She answers while barely hiding her face under her coat that soon would be matching his own, “so formalities aside… can call me, Luna.”

A small smile stretches from either side of Midnight’s mouth around the fangs of his kind at the princess’s soft words. Especially considering the actions of his other self earlier. To see one that was the target of those insults not kicking his flank is a rather wonderful sight. Even more so by the smile she now has again gracing her royal self to match his own.

‘She looks pretty cute, when she isn’t trying to crush me like a bug,’ He mentally slaps himself before answering the mare, “As you wish, Luna.”

Chapter 11

Chapter eleven

‘His wings? His ears… those fangs…those…eyes,’ Luna manages to keep her gaze at the colt, who only last night insulted her and made a complete turnaround, hidden from those at the table while they all get some grub in their stomach. Admiring ever little feature about Midnight that she can set her eyes on. Luna even feels remorseful about how she treated the stallion earlier.

‘Well how was I supposed to know this may have not been his fault…?’ she shakes off the thought about her head, ‘wait Cadance told me that one.’ The lunar princess brings a glass of orange juice to top off her plate of freshly diced fruit salad. More, or less burying those thoughts about her head while the others continue to talk, and she only listens for some time.

“You snapped on the colt that hit the mare? Why with so much force?” The princess of love questions as she looks to get an explanation from him.

Midnight only nods in response at first before giving a full explanation, “For as long as I can remember I never really had much tolerance towards violence against those that were vulnerable. It’s just a simple trigger for me,” Midnight awkwardly scratches the back of his head with a hoof, “ironic that I got in to it with a few of your guards. Sorry about that by the way.”

“Oh there was no real harm done,” Cadance assures him, though makes a mental note to have her husband give them extra training later on in hoof to hoof fighting just in case.

“Needless to say it’s not the first one I’ve gotten in to,” He recalls the many scuffles over the years, though most of them all become a blur over time, “Not in my travels.”

“So you have been traveling around Equestria?” Twilight eats another spoonful as the colt in question answers.

“Too many other nations as well, but yes ma’am. I try to stay clear of many towns, and cities for things don’t tend to go well when I come in,” Midnight shakes his head at his careless mistake.

“If you knew the danger then why did you come back though?” Cadance proposes, listening intently on the colt’s words ever sense he said earlier in their meal that he was here before, but not saying how long ago, “I mean surely some pony here would have recognized you?”

“With all due respect your majesty,” He takes a chunk out of an apple. Biting away nearly half of its core with his powerful jaw, and fangs, “That’s err… Doubtful.”

Shining, having years in the guard, knows when a pony is distressed about having a subject brought up. The tell tail signs to him that would pass by another, tell him more than he needs to know. While he notes the slight flicker in Midnight’s brow, and the momentary glance off to the side with his golden orbs. Both of which tell Shining that something isn’t quite right with him when it comes to this matter at hoof.

“And why would that be?” He asks calmly. Fully expecting to get some lie that he will be able to call the colt out on.

Shaking his head, Midnight knows that any attempt to tell anything else but the truth, will fail him. For while he may have never been in the guard, and trained to tell truth from deceit like Shining. He has had centuries of experience when it came to finding out who he could trust, and who would stab him in the back. The latter coming true more often than not, as he wipes any sort of shield from his face to hide the truth and comes clean.

“That’s because… I’m close to five hundred years old,” He says as plainly as physically possible. Slowly watching all those present mentally pause for a second and give him a slight scowl.

“Not to be rude, but we did ask a serious question,” Luna pours herself another glass, “So again, how would no pony here recognize you?”

“And I answered truthfully you majes-… err, Luna,” he corrects himself from their previous chat. Trying to think of how to dispel any sort of doubt in his words, “I am far older than I look now. Older than every pony here combined, well except for yourself at least,” he gestures with his glass to the lunar princess.

“Okay try me?” Luna leans in closer to him from across the table, “How can we tell you are being sincere in the matter?”

“Well… I’m sure the guards told you about what they managed to see me do outside the tavern?” Midnight muses as he hopes that he didn’t have to say it so bluntly, though the pause they give forces his card, “Magic?”

“That I am even skeptical about, no offence,” Twilight, ever the studious one, looks for an out to explain his abilities or what the guards had possibly seen, “You seem to be a rather gallant colt. Though I would have to guess that the guards were probably drinking on the job, and imagined what they saw.”

“And why would you guess that?” Shining wonders while taking an interest when the structure of his guards are brought in to question.

“Because I have seen some of the guards, and how they act Shining,” She maintains a regal pose while continuing her rebuttal, “On top of this, I have a brother who is the captain of the royal guard, and a husband who has the rank of captain. Don’t tell me I haven’t heard some interesting stories with the guards, and booze.”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Shining holds up his hooves in defense of his honor, “Sheesh… I was just curious.”

“Now that that’s taken care of…” The alicorn sibling turns her attention back to the blood moon colt, “How would you explain what they have seen?”

All their ears perk up at the sound of a few chuckles coming from the colt for the first time meeting him, and it probably not being at the best time either as many consider this a rather serious discussion.

“I think I can explain it far better…” Midnight holds up a single hoof over the table. Glancing at a pitcher of grape punch on the opposite end, “…If I show you.”

With the flick of a wrist, and the slight glow of his hoof in a green hue. The pitcher is draped in an emerald aura as it lifts off the ground, and over to the bunch. Following the rhythm of his hoof’s movements. Each, and every pony feeling their jaw unhinge at the sight that they behold. Almost not even believing their very eyes. Even for the princess that has studied magic in every sense possible, Twilight knows there are many things that can happen when it comes to magic, and so much more that can’t be explained. Though even this baffles her. Holding his glass in another aura, Midnight pours out the liquid, and sets down the jug.

He takes a refreshing sip from the glass as it quenches his thirst, “Ahh… much better,” Midnight sets the glass down without even breaking eye contact with the rest of them as he waits to enlighten the group, “You see… there are many things that I can do. All of which are simply because I have a gift, which is also my curse.”

“How did you…?” Twilight points a hoof at the glass, and the pitcher like it was some kind of sorcery (even if it kind of is). While Luna takes another drink trying to hide her own giggle at the expense of seeing Twi like this.

‘If I could just save her ‘surprised moment’ face that would be just priceless,’ Luna looks at her younger counter part, ‘it doesn’t happen that often.’

“Oh come now, it can’t be the strangest thing that has been seen?” Midnight vies for an answer. Only to gesture to the good lunar princess herself when he doesn’t get one, “I mean look at Luna, she’s only blushing at the display.”

Instantly aware that her cheeks are still on fire from nearly the entire meal of watching the stallion. Luna attempts to gain control of herself. Though somewhere between action, and success the only result is a mouth full of juice spewing in to the colt’s face as it drenches his hair, and as it leaves him with the wet mane look now covering half his muzzle.

‘Oh way to make an impression, Luna…’ She scowls her own self while suddenly finding her body slumping down behind the table with only her soft aqua eyes peaking over with a horn, and a pair of ears to boot. Thankfully covering the now ever growing temperature that is becoming more present in her cheeks while she levitates a few napkins over to her victim of her carelessness, ‘Well at least I now have a reason to be blushing. If not just sheer embarrassment.’

‘Not the reaction I was looking for. Though somepony seems to be flushing even more,’ Midnight notes as he accepts the napkins, and dabs his hair and face off, “Much appreciated,” He returns with a simple smile, despite the over the top show of appeal that is still clear on her face.

‘I spray orange juice in your face like a garden hose, and you say thank you?’ The lunar mare ponders while oblivious that the others there have fallen more or less silent, and just observe the two, ‘Something is seriously wrong with you, Midnight,’ “Ahh… You’re welcome. Sorry about that though,” ‘Dang it! That’s not what I wanted to say!’

“I’m probably the one in the wrong here. After all I shouldn’t have pointed out the redness in your cheeks,” Midnight glances away to avoid eye contact with those aqua corneas of hers, “Not very polite, now is it?”

“Well no, not really to call a lady out on her appearance,” She raises her muzzle up in the air. Though fails to hold the posh pose for very long after seeing his ears splay back against his head, and instead Luna fills the air between them with a few soft giggles of her own, “Though I will say that your display of the magical kind isn’t the oddest thing that has been seen. However, that doesn’t explain you being almost half a millennia old? Or the fact that you still would come in to a settlement knowing the risk? If you…ahh,” Hoof in mouth returns to the princess who was holding it together so well as Luna stumbles to get out the last few words, “If you don’t mind… you know… getting back on subject?”

“Not at all Luna,” He nods to her while continuing his explanation. Considering after an OJ barrage they did get a little off topic, “To answer why I came in town. The simple answer is I have been out, and alone for quite a while. Needless to say it does feel good to be around others every so often,” The heart felt smile from the sincerity in his words even brings a warmth to Luna’s own heart as she watches him beam.

“That much I can understand…” She quiets down to a near whisper, “I for one know what’s it’s like to be alone for so long.”

“What was that?” Twilight asks her.

“Nothing at all,” Luna ignores the question entirely. Though some of the more adept ears in the room pick it up. Ears of the nocturnal kind, “Anyway with that explained. What about being half a millennia old?”

Midnight takes a deep breath before this explanation. Seeing as this one will require the most clarification, and will likely lead to another subject entirely, “The magic inside me does harbor a lot of power. With it, for some reason, has come with a rather pleasant means of healing. Needless to say, I’m not the type of pony that many doctors want to see in their waiting room,” he awkwardly scratches behind his ear, “so without a professional opinion, I can only guess that I matured to a capping point, and then stopped from there.”

There is a dull silence between them all at what he has said. Though from his clear demonstration, as simple as it was, there is far more to the colt than meets the eye, “Okay that does make sense to some extent,” Twilight scratches the end of her chin while she thinks, “Many powerful unicorns, and even alicorns, have lived for much longer than normal ponies due to the magic in them. Though yours is on par with that of both Celestia, and Luna. Even Cadance and I will age, yet you have thrown it off almost completely.”

‘I know where this is going to lead,’ Midnight lowers his head a bit at the fact of why he is here. Why he has become what he is, and the sad truth of what makes him who he is in the end, “Being in the presence of four ponies adept in the field of magic. I would hope that you know the darker side of things?”

“If by dark magic, than yes,” Twilight says rather proudly, probably more than she should have, “I had to learn many spells in that field to get to where I am, and they did come in handy I have to say.”

“Well that princess, is my gift,” He pauses a second to collect himself, “I don’t know when it started. I can’t remember most of my past, and when I try to remember I nearly lose it all together. It’s just been there for as long as I can remember.”

“Memory block?” Shining asks.

“I don’t know sir, honestly,” He crosses what’s left of his heart with a hoof before continuing, “All I know is that the magic in me keeps me healthier than most, considering its power. Though at the cost of it eating away at me more, and more. Even now when I don’t use it. The thing in me is more, or less sleeping, but that’s because I exhausted myself when fighting the guards on purpose in an attempt to hit a ‘reset switch’ essentially.”

“That’s who was bickering with me earlier? That side of you?” Luna asks to confirm her suspicion ever sense he brought up the subject of dark magic.

“Yes, Luna,” Midnight nods, “I call him Shard.”

“You gave the voice in your head a name?” Shining asks.

“He’s been around for as long as I can remember,” the troubled colt shrugs his shoulders, “even when he wasn’t as loud, he was still there. I gave him the name because oddly enough, while in my travels, he was the only companion I had… might as well.”

As Midnight answers Shining, Luna is left to try and pry at the earlier subject further. Seeing as if something is really truly wrong with him, ‘Perhaps it can be fixed?’ “Shard’s…” she tries to think of the best word, “Coma, how long will it last?”

“I don’t know that either, it’s varied in the past. All I know is for now my mind is at peace,” Midnight’s mouth starts to go as many places as his mind is at the moment, “That trick worked last night, I don’t do it often because it leaves me unconscious while he is left to talk freely, as I heal up. Plus if I go too far, needless to say, it could kill me. Usually I have to indulge… in something else,” he remarks without much thought on how much inquiry that last comment would spark in those around him.

“Umm… care to explain that?” Cadance is the one to ask the obvious.

“I’m sorry miss,” Midnight bows his head for a moment to show his discontent in the matter, “I would not like to share that. Even if I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

Unexpectedly the nocturnal princess herself leans up, and over the table. Staring deep in to the golden eyes of the colt in front of her. Midnight stays plastered in his own seat, not wanting to move an inch away from her without reason. ‘Fangs… faster healing… slit eyes… dark magic?’ Luna has been slowly putting it all together while he spoke. Now her brain starts to realize what he means as she now finds herself a mere inch from him, so much so that he can feel her warm breath pass by his own muzzle.

An eerie smile creeps its way on her face as it clicks to her, “I’m going to ask this one time, and you should know exactly what I mean when I say this.”

“Yes… Your majesty?” He sinks a bit in his chair.

“Two things,” Luna pauses, “Do you find yourself stronger when you feed? And how long has it been?”

The blunt question stumps him for a few seconds. That is until he finally gets to his own conclusion, ‘If any pony were to know about that urge. Than it would be a princess of her sort,’ “Yes Luna, and I would say a couple of days.”

“Mhmm,” She mulls over his words.

After hearing his answer. Luna knows full well what this means. There may be a way to hold off Shard, though to do it. It would be better back at Canterlot. That way Twilight can look in to his condition further as well, while Luna does her own part. After all, Midnight is right about one thing. She is a princess that knows all too much about this subject. Excusing herself from the table, Luna dabs her lips with the cloth, and sets it neatly back down.

Standing regally up with all the poise of a princess, she addresses those around her, “By my conclusion I would have to say that Midnight won’t be able to be helped here, so Twilight if you would like to continue this little mystery.”

“You know I would,” Polishing off her drink while doing the same as Luna. Twilight rises up while the others take the cue, and do the same.

“Hmm I could have guessed that,” She chuckles for a second, “we must be going. Midnight, I trust that your wings are good?”

“Stronger than ever, and will carry me far,” he stretches out the massive appendages for a moment. Those with him stop for a second to admire the view as this is the first time they’ve seen them extended this much. Having only seen wings that large on one such as Celestia, or even a dragon at least. Midnight brings them back in to his sides, “Why do you ask though?”

“Simple… Canterlot will suit us better to try, and help your err… condition. Twilight will be able to look in to you better there,” The mare of the night turns her attention to those that housed them for the night, “Sorry to leave on such short notice. I know a thing, or two about what may help him actually. Thank you for the hospitality you two. We will have to see one another at some point when it isn’t just a matter of business,” Luna nods respectfully to both her relatives that dwell here, “We can handle it from here though.”

They begin to trot off to the court yard to make their trip after leaving from the table, and down the hallway to the door outside. The princess of love coming right up next to her aunt with a minor level of concern about the sudden decision.

“Ahh Lulu?” Cadance inquires at the request, and odd incite that her aunt shares on the colt’s situation, “This colt seems to have been through a lot in his past, and having these random outbursts of insanity doesn’t seem to help his case.”

“Your point?”

“Well… how can you help him?”

“Oh that’s actually quite simply, my dear,” A devious grin creeps on Luna’s muzzle as they step outside, “That colt feeds on something that my own lunar guards fed upon many years ago, and considering the startling similarities they share. From the appearance he has, to the dark magic he possesses, or even the healing he gets with a regular feeding of a certain variety.” She pauses for a moment to catch her breath after that mouthful, “All of which I am familiar with due to my association to them. It would stand to reason that I should be able to help him in the field of health, as much as Twilight can with magic.”

“Feeding of a certain variety?” The line repeats itself in the alicorn’s mind for a second, and even third time as she tries to wrap her head around it, “What do you mean? What would you give him?”

Turning ever so slowly to face her. Luna puts it as plainly, and as bluntly as the difference is between day, and night, “Flesh Cadance… he needs red meat.”

Chapter 12

Chapter twelve

The sounds of a crying mare on the inside of a cottage at the edge of town normally would cause any passerby to be curious, and downright dreading the thought of what could be going on inside of the quaint, and clean homey place. Though any pony who has lived in this town on the out skirts of Equestria for any amount of time would know the good doctors home/office when they saw it. The upper floor being a smaller apartment to the middle aged unicorn with gray, and silver hair running down over his caramel coat to a surgical mask for a cutie mark. Leaving a few magical lights to fill the room with illumination, as he goes to work on his patient.

“Easy now there, Golden,” The spread hind legs of the mare in front of him, beckons the doc to lean in farther to try and get a bead on the process of her contractions, “You’re doing just fine now,” He motions over to the two nurse maids on either side to hold her. While the nocturnal mare almost crushes one of their hooves with her own.

“AGghh!” Golden screeches out under the muffled gag of a cloth in her mouth to keep her fangs from digging down in to the gums below.

“Don’t worry miss,” a nurse tries to save her hoof from blood loss, “Everything will be okay.”

Outside of the room though, paces about one rather stricken ex-guard as his teeth start to grind away at the sound of his beloved on the inside. Sky Streak has stood up to creatures in combat twice his size, fought a few life threatening wounds, and countless times has had those other near death experiences from his years in the guard. Though having your wife inside a room delivering your first child, and not being able to do a thing to help her. Hurts Sky more than anything the guard has put him through.

“Ugh!” the father to be pounds his head against the wall, “I can’t just stand out here, and do nothing!”

“You are doin’ everythin’ ya can by just ah bein’ here for ‘er now lad,” Fall Cloud, the yellow tinged country Pegasus colt that helped the two settle down in town, reminds him.

After a trip to Canterlot several years back, he ran across the odd pair of guards, but took no interest in what others would call taboo. Fall instead only saw two ponies who were madly in love with one another, and showed no malice when it came to who they were. Over the years of corresponding, and seeing them frequently. The trio became everlasting friends, and when Fall settled in town. He opted to help them do the same.

Resting an easy hoof on his stressed friends shoulder. Cloud motions him to sit down in a chair, “Come on bud take ah load off. Ya earned it by now.”

“Thanks Fall,” Sky takes the advice, and eases himself down to the chair. Only to end up with his face in his hooves, “I just can’t help but think, how this will change things.”

“Yur havin’ a kid?” he states the obvious fact, “How did ya think it would work out?”

At heart the father to be knew the risk the instant he found out about his loves condition. Especially when they were still in the guard at the time, but something about being moments away from the actual birth of their child seems to drive that point home even more than before, “Well things between us won’t change,” Sky corrects his previous words, “However, I mean in the larger picture. What kind of life is our kid supposed to live?”

“Ah normal one, what else?” Fall presses after never hearing of these concerns from the parents. Though he knew they would come up as well given time.

“I’m serious, Fall. With me as a once Celestial guard, and her as one of Luna’s own guards. Who knows how our kin will look?” He stops for a moment to let that sink in to his friend’s mind, “We’ll love them to death no matter what, but others will surely turn their heads sideways if they see him. Plus that’s nothing to say of the urges he, or she, may find themselves feeling.”

“Yur talkin’ ‘bout meat, aren’t cha?” Fall answers, already knowing of Golden’s own tastes in flesh. The grim silence between the two only answers his question without a word being said, “Listen ‘ere now, ya’ve done the dirty work for ‘er before. There be plenty of meat for both yur lovely wife, and yur kin to indulge in.”

“What about if another pony sees the killing? For that matter, anything else that might pop up? After all we are staying together, even if our addresses are technically different,” Ideas of riots in the street at their unholy union unsettles the ex-guard as he shifts back, and forth uncomfortably in his seat trying to shrug them off, “What if we are found out?”

“Boy I’ll right slap ya in the face if I hear any more doubt comin’ from that mouth of yurs,” Fall waves a wary hoof at the colt in front of him with nothing, but misery covering his face, “Yur far from town now. Plus, ya got me, and the good doc lookin’ out for ya. Nothin’ will come to yur front door with intent to harm uns,” Before Sky even has a chance to answer though. The door to the room slowly opens as the doctor himself steps out. Wiping some of the blood from his brow with a white cloth as it’s steadily soaks up the fluids the more he uses it to clean up.

“Well Sky Streak, you have a foal to go see,” He says with a light smile after a job well done.

Sky returns the gesture to both the doc, and to his friend for his kind words while he steps in to the room. The nurse maids cleaning up what they can, and only offering a few words of congratulations. More than happy to have that done with, so they themselves can go to their own homes, and get some much needed rest.

The colt slowly steps up to the plate, as his wife cradles a small form wrapped up in a cloth for the most part, to keep the little tike warm. A shortened black mane covering the foal’s head while a black tail falls a bit out of the cloth. The red coat shining bright against the pristine white color of the blanket he is wrapped in, shows clearly to the father. As Sky’s child is rocked back, and forth by the new found mother.

“It’s a boy,” Golden says to her husband. The largest smile he as seen on her in a while gracing her soft, and gentle features as she cradles the colt in her hooves.

Sky leans in next to her, and puts a hoof around her shoulders as he pulls the two in closer to him, “He looks… handsome,” the ex-guard responds, fighting back a few tears at the sight of his son.

Streak looks over him even more. Not soon before reaching out a hoof to the one that he can call his own, while the foal starts to play with the odd appearance of a hoof he will know as his father’s. Even taking it upon himself to inspect the appendage by placing it in his mouth, and sucking on it a bit.

Though also chooses to bite down.

“Hmph,” Sky slowly pulls back his hoof after his son bites it out of curiosity. Looking at the small indentations at its edge.

“So he’s got fangs like his ma?” Fall leans in to the room before being beckoned in further, getting his own view of the child, “Adorable little colt aint he?”

Golden holds the colt in closer to her, feeling the soft press of his little wings fanning out from the blanket while his eyes open to meet hers for the first time. It seems to be at first like staring in to a mirror. The same color, and shade of gold meeting hers in the middle while the small slit eyes blink only momentarily at hers. A small grin is shared by both foal, and mom as she covers his wings back up in the blanket to keep him warm while she, and her husband sit there to relish in the moment.

“He’s… Perfect,” Sky strokes his son’s hair, keeping clear of the mouth this time around, “You know… In all our planning to try, and get to where we are now. We never did think of names…”

“Awe how could ya do that to the poor fella?” Fall even admires the little foal, who at first appearances only looks like his mother’s side. Short of being a mare at least, “Well seein’ as ya both are ill prepared… Any bright ideas?”

Golden looks out through the window at the night sky, and the bright moon that still sticks high above to light the room even more than the magic with them, as the ray of moonlight shines down on her son. Almost like Luna herself, trapped up there on her lunar prison, is bestowing her graces upon him. Many memories of the guard flow in to the back of her mind from when she used to relish this time of night. And in a spark of inspiration, it hits her.

‘Thank you, Princess,’ Golden silently thanks the sister she would help to watch over, time and time again, for giving them the luck to have this wonderful gift brought in to their lives, “Midnight… His name is Midnight.”

“I’m assuming Midnight dear, because of the time?” Sky muses over humorously, though finds no fault in a name that does fit one of his son’s kind, “honey, I love it.”

He kisses the top of her head before Golden nuzzles his neck. Both of the new parents looking down at their child that they just had, and wondering how his life will turn out to be in a world like this. While at the same time wanting to give him everything they can to better himself in a place that they know will likely not be so kind to him.

“Midnight,” Sky looks over his wonderful son, “welcome to the world.”

Chapter 13

Chapter thirteen

While the trip to the glorious city of Canterlot may have not been that long, or arduous. The resulting actions in the name of ‘research’ by a particular alicorn in reference to study on the curious colt with the odd abilities, have been found to be more of a hassle than Midnight would have expected. After a minor explanation to the solar princess, and her husband. The colt now finds himself strapped in to whatever contraption of science that Twilight can muster up in the middle of a lab room while she does her studies on him. Several wires stick out of his temple while few sensors attach to his chest, and a clamp on his tongue inhibits his speech to some extent. Leaving him only to look around at the odd assortment of tech surrounding him. The golden eyes wander about trying to figure out if the mare now running about is either going to help him, or likely kill him.

‘Well Shard is out for an undetermined amount of time,’ A deep sigh rolls past his tongue, ‘and now I might end up dead at the hooves of an overzealous princess with an experimentation hard on… odd way to go out.’

“Okay everything is set up now Midnight,” Twilight checks a few of the final connections to her sensors, “Just relax, and follow what I say, okay?”

Instead of trying to answer her with a few words that will likely come across as nothing more than bumbling. He instead nods to the princess while she does what she does best.

“Glad that we’re on the same page. Okay I’m going to try, and read out some of your scans so I can get an idea where this magic of yours is coming from,” The openly blank stare that she gets as a response proves to her that the colt generally has not a clue what she is talking about in the field of magic. Which makes sense considering who she is talking to, “In a unicorn, the magic flows from their head as well as their heart, and focuses on their horn. However, considering your circumstance. A horn isn’t a viable place to send it. So I’ll ask something simple like casting a few spells, or what you can do, and I’ll try to learn a thing, or two. Sound like a plan?” The nod from the colt drives forth her efforts as she flips on the switch, and checks some of the default settings, “Okay something simple. Like the levitation spell. Use it on whatever you’d like, just don’t hurt yourself.”

Closing his eyes for a moment he lifts up a single hoof, and aims at a trash can in the corner. Clearing his mind, Midnight focuses what he can on the action, and in only a few seconds his hoof is wrapped up in a green aura while the can does the same. Soon lifting itself up off the ground, and around the room as he guides it with his own motions. All the while Twilight looks over at his actions, and the charts to try, and get a reading on what is going on in the colt’s head. Her eyes widening with every passing second that the machine spits out new information.

‘This is astounding!’ she starts to jump up and down in her own mind, ‘Oh Celestia is going to have an entire essay written on this subject!’

The efforts continue while a single bead of sweat starts to trickle from Midnight’s brow, and down to his nose. The princess catching the strain on him before it becomes too great and motions him to halt, shutting the machine down. With a light clatter, the can hits the ground as Twilight uses her own magic to pull the tongue clamp off.

“How are you feeling?”

“My mouth tastes like copper, and heart rate is through the roof,” Midnight sums up after lapping his tongue against the roof of his mouth and tasting the metal, “Other than that, I’m okay”

“Good,” She beams for a moment before going full nerd on him, and spilling all she can see at the moment, “Because from what my readings have produced your magic is projecting itself from your very heart, while most of your mind is left in the dark. Translation… you are literally feeling what you want to cast, and between that, and your head. The spell moves to whatever part of your body is seen fit to best cast it.”

“So… What does that mean in terms of helping me control it?” He wonders the implications though they quickly fall from mares first words.

“I haven’t a clue!” Twilight yells out on accident. Catching herself in the moment of learning something new, while composing herself to deliver a better understanding, “Okay that came out bad. Sorry… I love learning,” She pauses in the moment of enthusiasm, “Unicorns will normally use all of their mind to use a spell. Putting every other thought they have on hold to concentrate on the enchantment. However, as I said, most of your mind is not even reacting… except for one.”

Mulling it over in his own head, Midnight poses the only question that one would imagine to ask, “What part is that?”

“Well, oddly enough, the part that takes care of memories,” She cringes as she remembers about what Midnight had said while they were in the empire about his memory block, “There might be a way around it. Have you ever had a unicorn actually try to peer inside your mind?” Another dumbfounded expression on him answers Twi better than he could have, “Hmm… I should have guessed that much from what you said about being alone for the-” A single knock on the door interrupts the two as the princess beckons in her visitors, “Come in!”

Midnight sits up in his seat to see a bright orange colt Pegasus guard enter with a small foal on his back with a white coat, and black mane. The male trots up to the princess, and plants a tender kiss on her muzzle while the child on his back just covers his little face with a pair of wings, gripping them by his hooves.

“Well looks like you’re having fun,” Flash looks over the wide array of science equipment around them, “Thank you for letting us know you got back safely. I assume this is the one that Cadance mentioned?” he casts a wary eye at the colt currently tied up to the said equipment. As his wife gives a second kiss to his cheek to butter him up before answering.

“Yes it is dear. I’ve already done a test or two on him, just to get a picture of what is going on in that head of his,” Twilight brings Flash’s shoulder off to the side to hide the small conversation between them, “Something is diffidently wrong with, obviously. So Luna and I are trying to help him as best we can… somehow.”

“Do you think he is a problem, or dangerous at that?” Flash looks over his own shoulder at the colt, “I wouldn’t want you down here if he could harm you, especially when you have no other protection.”

“Flash, you know very well that I can take care of myself, don’t worry dear,” She nuzzles the end of her nose in to his neck, thankful still for his concern, “It will be alright. Bumpy start at least, but he does feel remorse for actions in the past, and is rather compliant.”

“Okay if you say so. Besides…” The feeling of small hooves running up, and over his back to the top of his head, begs the father to change the subject matter, “This one wanted to see mom.”

“Hey mom!” Snow beams at his mother’s expression while dive-bombing in to her hooves, and wrapping his own small ones around her neck squeezing tight, “How was your trip to see Cadance, and Shiny?”

“Oh it was great dearie,” She beams to her son all the while keeping a sour grin to her husband. Considering in reality, they should visit more often, and not just when called upon to help in matters like this, “Though actually I went because aunt Cadance wanted some help with this gentlecolt,” she points to the blood moon colt who sits idly, waiting to be tended but not wanting to persist. After all they are doing this for him.

Though her son having little understanding of boundaries at the moment for his age finds no reason not to fly, or more so flutter and fall, over to the strange colt he has never met. Mostly to fill his curiosity with somepony new to him. ‘Landing’ atop his head without even a care in the world, Midnight freezes where he is while he lets the young colt get his footing. Soon becoming face to face with the tike when Snow leans his head over in front of him with a smile.

“Hello mister!” Snow beams from those violet eyes of his, “What’s your name?”

Both Twilight and Flash hold their tongue, already making a note between them to give Snow a talk about ‘personal space’ when meeting somepony new. Midnight is left to bite his lip at the odd intrusion, while both parents are waiting for him to beckon them over to pick up their son, though to their surprise. They only hear the kind words of an odd colt that treats their son like he is five times his age, and maturity level.

“Well good sir, my name is Midnight. Your mom and Aunt Luna are helping me with a… issue,” He answers the colt, not even phased at the curiosity he expresses. Midnight is used to this sort of response from little ones. They don’t know what to be afraid of, and usually are more fascinated than anything else. Best way he has learned to handle foals, is with a simple smile, even with the fangs, “What is your name though, little one?”

“I’m Snow Bolt,” He drapes his black mane over top of the larger colt’s own as he compares the two, “Cool! Your mane has green highlights! How did you do that?”

“I had them for as long as I can remember actually,” He nods in response while the little foal rocks back and forth as a result. Soon drawing his attention to Midnight’s own wings as he sits in awe.

“Leather wings?” it perks his curiosity even more, “are you a bat pony Mr. Midnight?”

The colt only chuckles a bit in the back of his throat, having been asked that many times before from ones that were more curious than afraid, “not that I know of Snow…”

Snow leans up, and looks down at the colt’s tail to see if it matches the mane. Though first notices the cutie mark he wears, “Your cutie mark is awesome!” Snow admires the sight of the grey shield with the green flame, “How did you get it?”

Instantly the smile on Midnight’s face falls away while his mind draws a blank and he only sits there in a dejected slump, looking off to the side away from the group. All the while Snow remains oblivious to the colt’s demeanor and only looks at the cutie mark more, and is left to wonder how he can get his own to look that awesome.

“Why don’t we wait a little later for questions?” Twilight suggests to draw her son’s attention after noticing the change in Midnight, “I was just about to try something on him, before you two walked in.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Flash whispers in his wife’s ear before taking their son from her magical aura. Attempting to dodge the sultry glance that she gives on the matter.

Taking her position in front of Midnight, Twi’s horn glows with a faint violet aura around it as she draws closer to the colt, “Now this is going to let me in your head for a bit. You may not be able to read some thoughts, or memories, but maybe I can.”

Without any reason to hold off on the action. Twilight leans in, and presses her horn to his fore head. The instant it contacts, the alicorn’s own mind is flooded with the experiences that Midnight has gone through while in his travels. Looking through the colt’s own eyes, she can see many times him running for his life after going in to a town or getting in a fight. Staring off from the most recent experience of the Crystal Empire and working her way back through the years, decades, and even centuries.

On any other occasion, Twilight would have been over joyed to have the opportunity to look at the world from centuries ago, but right now her geek sense will have to wait. At a certain point, from what she can tell, Twi could swear she is looking at a colt no older than her son. But from there, it all begins to haze as Midnight’s mind fights back against her.

‘If I can just push a little farther,’ The alicorn pries more, and more. Still meeting resistance with every step her spell tries to take her.

Then… something clicks in the back of his mind, and instinct takes over.

“N-n-no-o-o-o!!!” Midnight yells out from the deepest part of his lungs. Filling the air between himself and the princess with the single drawn out word that pulsates with the core essence of magic in a burst from his very being and soul.

The enchantment doing its job and hurtling Twilight up and off her feet in to the sky as the force hits her chest, knocking the wind clear out of her. Though much to her husband’s dismay, the princess is hurtled towards the wall on the other end of the room. Preventing the imminent headache, Twilight flares out her wings acting as an air break while she flutters her way to the ground. Quickly plopping herself down on her flank to catch her breath from the sudden outburst.

Flash races up to her side while glancing back at the stallion with a vinegary to his gaze, “Are you alright dear?”

Taking a deep much needed breath, she finally answers him, “Somepony write that down!” Twilight yells out loud as her husband face hoofs at her response.

“Yep, moms alright,” Snow picks up the plate while his dad tries to reconfigure his mind.

“Sorry about that, both of you,” Twilight gives her husband a light peck on the cheek as they start to walk back to the colt in question here, “I was trying to get in to his head, and I just found somewhere I shouldn’t have trotted.”

Flash leans in for a moment, “So I don’t have to kick his flank?”

“No dear, he’s fine,” She snickers at his protective mark.

“Sorry about that, your majesty,” Midnight manages to hold himself up in the chair, as he rubs his temples, “Uncontrolled release of magic can be an issue. Shockwave spell actually that time.”

“Both of you please stop worrying, it’s not the worst thing that I’ve been through,” She hushes the two colts with a single raised hoof so she can fill them in on what happened in reality. Already remembering having heard about this sort of thing, “I know that I read about this before. Ponies who have a tragic experience of some sort in their past, so much to the point that it is life changing and leaves an everlasting impression on them in their memories, their subconscious will put up barriers around it so they can’t remember to protect its already fragile self,” Twilight recalls the full article that she read, “The very thought of the memory causes too much pain for them to bear in the broken state, so it’s better if they were to simply forget… So to speak.”

“So…” Midnight puts what he just heard together, “…I won’t know what is missing in my broken mind?”

“Only if you were to find it out on your own,” Twi thinks how he could do that, “Retrace your steps, something of that sort. Perhaps it would jog your memory, and your own mind would start to bring down some of the walls it has,” She removes the rest of the sensors on the colt, and hangs them up for the time being, “I’m not sure it’s the best thing to do, though it might help. Luna could probably answer you better when it comes to your magic being involved. Considering she knows more about dark magic than I ever will.”

“Where-” Midnight tries to get out of the seat at first.

Though stumbles about the moment his hooves hit the ground. The use of his magic drawing far more than he realized, and the lack of flesh in his diet to refill his batteries not helping the matter anymore. Thankfully though, even if he is a mysterious new comer. Flash is always willing to lend a helping hoof, while he gives the colt a shoulder to lean on to get his footing.

“Thank you sir,” The colt gratefully nods to him.

“Eh don’t mention it,” Sentry brushes off the comment.

“I was going to ask though… where’s Princess Luna?” Flash and Twilight’s ears perk up at the colt mentioning the princess’s name. Though Midnight’s just rather glad his coat covers the truth that his cheeks are displaying, “I half way thought she would be here right now actually. Though I really haven’t seen her all day.”

Twilight rests a hoof on his shoulder, and pats it gently while a slight grin pops up on her muzzle, “She said that she was going to go out, and get something to help your condition. I have no idea what that means, but it should help you no matter what it is.”

“Thank you then,” His words full of truth with every word he says, still may not be enough to show what his heart is trying to say, “Thank you all for what you are doing.”

“Don’t worry about it. What were we supposed to do? Let you stay in the cell the rest of your life?” Twilight, and Flash share a small chuckle before taking note of his condition, “Though you do seem pretty weak from your exertion. Why don’t you rest a bit? We can let you know when she gets back, if she doesn’t find you first.”

“I do tend to get weaker when I haven’t… fed, in a while,” Midnight answers, not intending to flat out say what he dines on if Luna hasn’t already told them, “again, thank you,” he nods to them before heading out the door. Meeting the guards that have been placed to guide him back to his room during his stay at the castle.

All the while Twilight, and Flash look at one another. Mesmerized by the colt’s words on the lunar princess. Left now to only chat with one another as they themselves walk out of the lab, while Snow plays with his father’s false wing.

“Well it seems that Luna has a fan, don’t you think?” Flash sparks the conversation between them.

“And Luna didn’t seem to be faring any better, when he first spoke to her after waking up,” Twilight starts to giggle, “Considering that she could hardly do any speaking of her own.”

“Though I think it’s safe to say, from what you told me, her wings did more talking than she ever could have,” Flash remarks as his wife attempts to stave off any sort outburst while walking down the hall.

Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen

The night is young while the cooling breeze brushes past several trees, and out of the forest onwards to the field as several elk graze on the grasses before they are covered in snow by the fast approaching winter. Stocking up on whatever nutrients they can before the impending season beckons them to hunker down. Paying attention to the greens that they find, they never notice the slow approach of a single alicorn princess as she prowls her way through the tall grass. Stalking her prey, and reminiscing on the old times.

“It really has been a while sense I’ve done this?” Luna mutters under her breath to a pony that isn’t there, “I mean the last time was before being banished, and the practice withered away centuries after that. Long before my return.”

Black ink patches cover her face while the already darkened mare blends in to the surroundings. The herd in front of her moving slowly through the field. As Luna follows close behind them, stalking her way in between trees, and ducking behind them as she goes on.

“This is going to be interesting trying to explain to Tia,” Luna ponders. Finding it rather hard to hold back a chuckle. The mare giggles softly to herself, as she hushes up upon the noticing of several ears from her prey perking up from her sound. Waiting till they die down a bit before continuing her spiel, “Midnight better appreciate this one. Usually it’s the colt who is supposed to get the mare a meal.”

A slight rush of blood beckons uncouth thoughts to fill her mind as the depraved princess continues with her dirty work of trudging through the forest. Ducking in, and out of trees while at the same time the ideas continue their onslaught.

“Though I would hardly count this as a first date,” she rolls her eyes. Until other questions start to hit her, “I wonder if he would share. I mean I miss the taste here and-” Luna bites down on her tongue hard to discontinue the pressing matter. ‘Not the time or place for that, no. After all, Celestia would probably give me a mental exam if I even mentioned wanting to try it again, or having a minor infatuation for the bloody stallion,’ Luna pauses for a second as she realizes what she just thought, quickly face hoofing herself there from her cover. She drags the hoof across her face while pushing them to the back of her mind.

‘Bad thoughts bad thoughts,’ she blocks them out, ‘Though I do have to say. He is quite the gentlecolt. At least when his mind isn’t completely lost,’ A creeping smile for the mysterious stallion washes over her more than she realizes, “I do hope he enjoys this,” Luna finalizes as she makes a move.

In an instant she leaps out of the tall grass, and darts towards her prey. Several of the elk instantly notice the attacker, and shoot off towards the forest to lose her. Though being chased by a pony that has wings, and a magical horn at her disposal. Is more of a formality for her, as Luna keeps some sport in her hunt. Sticking only to the essentials. Using her hooves to carry her form instead, and a single sharpened dagger tucked under her wing. Many of the elk race ahead of one another knowing full well that they don’t have to out run the pony attacking them. Just each other as they choose self survival over protection of one another.

Soon enough her aqua eyes are set on a single one drawing itself further, and further to the back of the group. Becoming separated as time goes on. The heavy panting caused by every step it takes growing more, and more apparent as the princess closes the distance, and lands a solid flying tackle on the creature. Downing it not with her superior weight, of which she has none, but instead her speed while they tumble for a bit before Luna comes out on top.

“Ha! I do still have it in me!” The lunar princess exclaims in the heat of the moment, while almost forgetting what she is about to do.

“Princess Luna?” The elk glances up. Fully expecting to feel a pair of claws, or teeth in its neck by now but only finding the voice, and form of a pony that he knows as a co-ruler of the land he dwells in, “What is the meaning of this? Why did you attack me?”

“Well…ahh sir,” The mare falters. Having forgot the fact that the animal clearly can speak to her as well as she can do to it, “Oh this is awkward…” Luna runs a hoof in her mane, pushing it out of her face. Without another word she whips out the dagger from its sheath, and Luna digs it in to the elk’s chest between his ribs. Watching as the shock filled expression covers his face at the brutality of a princess so well loved throughout the land.

“B-b-b-but why?” His eyes slowly glass over in a final breath. As death takes him from the surface of the planet, and brings him to its domain.

Luna draws out the knife from his flesh, and wipes it clean on her coat. Covering his eyes while running her hoof over the eye lids to close them, “Sorry about that, but it’s the circle of life you know? Besides the colt does need this food that no pony seems to understand…” Levitating the kill in to the sky. Luna does the same with her wings, and in a few seconds both the mare, and the fruits of her night hunt are on their way to the castle, “Well no pony but my guards or I would understand at least.”

____________________

Celestia takes her time making her way about the castle at this hour. To her it’s just a sleepless night like she used to have years ago when the kids were young, and herself a few years younger. Even though it looks like she hasn’t changed for a millennia. Passing by several guards as they drop to a bow, and salute her as need be. She beckons them to all rise as she passes by and continues with her waltz.

‘It is far too late to be a getting this kind of attention from the guards,’ She rubs her temples to try, and ease herself down, ‘I mean I am a princess after all, but still. After eleven at night just say something simple like ‘good evening your majesty’ and that would do great.’

The sharp clatter of metal hitting another metallic object beckons the attention of the celestial princess. Stepping closer, and closer to the sound. It eventually draws her to one of the many kitchens in the castle. Though right now, this isn’t the time she would have expected one to be in there working.

“Weird? Didn’t the cooks already go to bed?” She pushes open the door, and peers inside.

Only to find one of the more gruesome sights in her years.

Half a carcass lies on the table, picked clean, degutted from the open wound in the gapping chest as the chest cavity remains cleaned out. Clearly an elk by her own view, or at least what’s left of one. The skin has been peeled off, and tossed away while the horns are cut away as well. Only the eyes glare eerily back at the stricken princess while she starts to dry heave from the painful spectacle that she has had to bear witness to. Though the worst part is not what Celestia saw to begin with, but what she turns her to see now.

The once beautiful dark blue coat, which would glimmer in the night sky, is now soaked in the blood of another creature as Luna sharpens a knife on a file. Bringing the edge cleanly in to the missing half of her kill while she starts to whisper a simple tune in her head while swaying her hips left and right with the lyrics.

‘What is this place filled with so many wonders,

Casting its spell that I am now under.

Squirrels in the trees, and the cute little bunnies.

Birds flying free, and bees with their honey,

Ho-o-o-o-n-ne-e-e-e-y-y!

O-o-o-o-o-o-oh-h-h!

What a magical place, and I owe it all to the Pegasus race.

If I knew the ground had so much up its sleeve,

I’d come here sooner, and never leave!’

Luna switches from singing in her head to out loud as she remains oblivious to her sister’s presence, “Yes, I …love…every-y-y…thing-g-g-g-g!” She turns around with the blade in her magical grasp. Meeting her sister’s stricken, horrid, and sickened glare with a way to cheery smile on her face as she drops the blade instantly with a clank to the ground.

Mustering only an awkward grin that stretches to either side of her lips, “Well… shit.”

“What…are…you… DOING!” Celestia yells out at the top of her lungs while stomping a hoof in the tile floor, and cracking it in half.

“Probably muttering a lovely little song Fluttershy taught me, at the worst time possible,” She kicks the ground a bit at the error while the sweet song might as well be peppered with as much blood as she is, “That was needless to say, not the best idea I’ve had.”

“You… y-y-y-y-you killed an innocent creature!” The eldest starts to rant, and rave as she stutters. While near steams of smoke, for concern of what her younger sister had done, are left shooting out of her nostrils, “What is wrong with you?!”

“Calm thine tongue sister!” Luna shoves a clean hoof, literally, in her sister’s mouth just to shut her up so she can speak her own piece before being blown out of the water for a few more minutes. Watching Tia now wipe off her tongue with her hooves to try, and get the possible taste of another creature’s flesh from her mouth, “now… please before you almost kill me for this, or give me a mental exam, let me explain.”

“What could you possibly have to say that would give me reason to allow this???” She closes the door to the kitchen. Locking it now so they don’t get any other intruders.

“The colt? Midnight?” Luna’s face takes on a slight rosy appearance while she fights to get the words out altogether, and hopes that her darker coat hides the expression on her cheeks the more they fill up. Celestia nods in acknowledgment of who she is talking about. Pondering it over from when they met, “You have to have noticed his appearance when he was brought in?”

Celestia thinks for a moment while even recalling Twilight’s observation on the stallion, all the while adverting her gaze from the carcass as best she can, “Well he looks like a Lunar Guard. What does this have to do with murder though?”

“Not murder sis,” Luna corrects, “It’s hunting.”

“Come again?”

“Oh come on,” Luna rolls her eyes at the obvious over look by her equivalent, “You should remember something about my guards. Something… bloody?”

Tia freezes for a second, knowing full well what her sister means. Already feeling the muscles in her stomach turn. It’s not that she hated the Lunar guards, oh no, after Luna’s banishment she showed no malice towards those that protected the night mare. Celestia even kept them around, they were better guards at night than her own after all. Why waist the talent. Though all that said, some of their ‘eating habits’ she wasn’t necessarily to fond of.

“B-b-but we haven’t done that for… centuries?” Celestia tries to remember the last time any of Luna’s kind partook in the taboo like act.

“Well this colt needs it,” The night mare cleaves another leg off of the body past her sister, as she leaves the conversation. Dropping it on the grill that has been lit to make the meal for its intended recipient. The steady sizzle of the meat now fills the room with an aroma that even Luna has missed to some extent.

‘A small dash of pepper, a little garlic salt, and…’ She dips a ladle in to a vat. Taking out a generous portion of blood, and spilling it over the cut to add another level of flavor, and to cauterize the seasoning in to it, “…a dousing of blood,” The fumes reach Celestia’s nostrils as they flare open as a result from the attack on her senses.

Even with her own distaste in the act, Tia still has to give credit where credit is due, “Well… you still can cook a mean cut,” The odd grin on Tia’s face grows ever wider as she remembers more of her sister’s expressions when the colt was brought in. Playing a devilish game on the seemingly smitten sibling, “Isn’t the colt supposed to do this for the mare?”

“That’s what I was thinking!” Luna blurts as her mouth snaps shut. Instantly regretting the outburst as the cheeks of truth on her grow ever brighter over the course of a few seconds. Celestia only giggling lightly to herself while avoiding the larger puddles of blood on the ground.

“Oh come now sister. The few words that you got out when I met him, were even laden with rapture for the colt,” Tia hoists herself up after clearing off a counter to take a seat with the sibling of the night, “If it wasn’t for the fact that he desires for the flesh of others, I’d say he was quite the gentlecolt when I met him. Well mannered, polite, and dare I say it handsome.”

“What’s wrong with eating flesh?” Luna muses for a second. Watching the clenched jaw on her sister’s face while she tries to hold back her obvious reservations about the subject.

“Oh you know how that gets to me.”

“My guards used to do it for centuries,” Luna brings up, “it just hasn’t been like that for a while.”

“And that is why I am just a little off about the matter,” Celestia levitates a slice of cake out of a fridge across from them, as she takes a bite out of it. Stopping at the following statement from her sister that even starts to turn her blood cold.

“Sometimes I miss it…” Luna slips while she pouts over the meat cooking. The saliva working its way through her mouth as she watches it.

The memories she has formed over the smells of the cooking of another animal’s flesh, and even the hunt itself, coming back to her one after the other. The bonds she made with her own guards when they would come out and hunt with her, glad to be with their princess in less than a formal setting, still fresh in her mind. Something that she herself misses more than she realized after her thousand year banishment. With all these memories coming back to her, it isn’t a surprise that a single tear runs its way out of her eye, and down her muzzle. Now only being brought back in to the real world by a white hoof on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry sister,” A deep sigh is followed by a gulp from the deepest part of Celestia’s throat, as she starts to taste the foul food choice from just saying it, “I know you desire to taste it once more in your life, and if it would make you happy. Then I see no reason you can’t dine together… I certainly won’t view you any different,” Tia reassures her, before making her own jab at her sibling, “though it is a rather vulgar choice for a first date.”

“I will give you that he is cute!” Luna shouts out in her utterly useless defense at the moment while forgetting to end it there, and not continue, “And he is quite the gentlecolt when he hasn’t lost it, and polite, dreamy golden eyes… large muscular frame… wide leathery…” The sudden appearance of Celestia’s widened pupils, and ever growing grin begs the mare to shut her trap as she stammers, and fails to come up with any sort of rebuttal.

“As I was saying,” Tia starts to giggle at her sister’s foolery, “Dine with him on the flesh if you’d like. I know you used to do the same with your past guards before the practice was phased out,” The solar goddess drops down to her four hooves. Instantly being caught in the warm embrace of her sister’s own wings, and hooves to bid a farewell for the moment, and give thanks.

“Thank you for the blessing big sister,” Luna snickers for a moment before adopting a serious tone, and face to go with her next few words, “Seriously though, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, but I would keep this to yourself for the time being,” Celestia takes her leave for the night, and heads back to her nice little tour of the castle.

All the while Luna takes the cooked meat off the grill. Looking back at the remains that still are on the counter. The princess notes in the back of her mind that another kill may be in order for next time, just to keep it on hoof in case his craving comes back soon.

‘We both are starving to have something that we enjoy,’ an eerie smile strikes up on the seemingly psychotic mare while she laps her lips from the morsels below her on the tray, ‘Well he needs it more than I do… I just want to taste it again.’

Cleaning up what she can at the moment, and making sure that some of the actual cooks won’t uncover the remains of her rather untraditional meal. Luna marches down the halls with a covered tray in a light blue aura to the colt that seems to have caught more of her attention than she realizes or cares to admit openly.

Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen

‘You’re slipping now Midnight,’ A darkened voices calls to the colt as he sleeps, or attempts to at least. Thinking for a moment, Midnight knows this is a dream. Even then though the voice comes through quite clearly from his end as it entrances the colt, ‘You wanted to play with the princesses so they could study you, and as a result, I have leaked in once again.’

The open landscape Midnight calls his mind, used to be somewhere that he would go to while asleep to take solace, and refuge. Now the foggy plains of his mind are home to one that he despises the most as Midnight stands there in the dim mist, slowly watching his companion come in to view.

A thin pony like mass forms itself in to a body made up of darkened shattered glass as it reaches just short of Midnight’s full height, held together by a tar like sludge. Protruding from it, a pair of wings seemingly made from the same pitch black smoke that makes up its mane, and tail. While an eerie pair of fangs lead up to the startling image of bright neon green eyes staring blankly upon the one they have missed.

‘Nice to see you again,’ the darkened mass speaks to him.

‘Hello… Shard…’ Midnight shakes his head while in his head, and only starts to pace back, and forth with the figure across from him in a circle, ‘I enjoyed the silence I had there for a bit. Did you really have to come back so soon?’

‘What can I say?’ Shard shrugs his shoulders at the colt, ‘I missed my companion, and the rather fun talks we had. Once I’m completely here we can have the fun like we used to!’ The odd counterpart starts to jump for joy while Midnight remains puzzled for a moment before putting it together, and hampering the dark ones joy.

‘So you aren’t in here completely. Are you?’ Midnight answers back knowing full well that if it could have, than the darker side of him would have fully taken over by now, and he would be at its mercy.

‘Well no that may not be true,’ Shard admits, ‘Though it won’t be long till I-’

Shards words are cut off by the sounds of another entering the fray. A light cobalt glow radiates above Midnight as he dreams of himself in his mind, now left to watch the light glow brighter and brighter with every word.

‘Midnight? Mister Midnight?’ Every word stabs the evil entity in his head as the form persists in its attempt to make contact with the blood colt, ‘Wake up I have something that may help.’

‘What is this?’ The demon like creature that makes him who he is, asks Midnight, all the while feeling his own form falling apart from the intrusion. For the first time, Shard is being threatened in his own lair, ‘She’s pushing me out? She’s healing you? And I thought she was a nice looking mare,’ the lights start to click on as Midnight seeps out of dream land, the lunar princess’s own home. A wary warning thrown to his ears at the last moment, while Shard leaches away, ‘I will be seeing you later, Midnight.’

____________________

The light in his mind is replaced as Midnight opens his eyes and the soft glow of a horn fills his vision. Blinking several times over to try, and grasp where he is at first. It soon becomes apparent that he isn’t exactly alone in the room now. A pair of wonderful cobalt eyes are there almost standing over him as the colt shuffles in the bed only to find himself now in the presence of the lunar princess herself.

“Ahh… good evening Luna,” He manages to get out with a warm smile on his face. Finding himself thankful for his coat color more often than not lately, “To what do I owe the visit?”

“How about…” Luna levitates the covered tray over to a table in the room as she beckons the stallion to get up, “Dinner?” she asks when Midnight’s eyes widen even more. His mouth is instantly sent drooling at the sight of the fresh meat that has been cooked to a wonderful tender cut while the aroma fills his nostrils with every breath.

“You… you did this?” He stares star struck at the princess while Luna just chuckles at the action of killing another.

“Well yes? What was I going to do, let you starve? Besides…” she aims to sit down. Though before she can the colt using just a hoof, and a light green aura that surrounds it, scoots her chair out for the mare now sitting across from him, “Ever the gentlecolt?” The princess allows her to be somewhat smitten for the moment to show her gratitude for the gesture that seemingly is lost on so many others, “Thank you sir, but as I was saying. Besides… there’s enough for both of us.”

The mouthing of any sort of words would be useless at this point seeing as the colt has already put it together of what exactly the princess means by this statement. Only meeting her rather charming glare with nothing more than an instant jaw to floor motion, and fumbling to pick it up. Midnight parts the servings in two for him to share, with the very pony that he apparently insulted the first time meeting her.

Serving the mare her own helping before indulging in his own. They both sit down, and few words hence forth are exchanged between one another while the meal takes place. The moment causing a distinct change in the colt’s mindset as he can even feel the purge of one he dreads to hear the most. Just like out in the forest, and so many times before that, the fresh tissue running down his throat and in to his system gives Midnight the extra strength he needs to push the presence of Shard out of his head for the time being. Not a lengthy solution like overloading himself, but it does help from time to time. Now only allowing his mind to be filled by his growing fascination with a mare that is currently on par with his level of depravity.

‘She’s eating faster than I do,’ Midnight thinks in his mind as he passes curious glances to Luna. Who now is, more or less, covered in a warm bloody ooze that flows out of the cut that she made. Clearly missing the taste of a fresh kill gracing her own lips, the princess laps up the excess on her hooves with her tongue, only drawing even more admiration from the colt, ‘That’s just-’

“Umm Midnight?” Luna pauses for a moment while attempting to pick a bone clean to point out the obvious on her companion, “Your wings are… ahh…”

Looking back at his appendages, Midnight finds that they have flared out to their fullest at the sight of the opposite sex now partaking in the forbidden act with him, and doing so with the utmost of enthusiasm. ‘Wing boner,’ the colt bites his lip, setting down his own meal for a second to tuck them back in as best he can, ‘How do I explain this one?’ he stalls, “Sorry about that… they’re…ahh.”

“Probably should keep that one between us?” She calms his worries with a wink to reassure the colt. Knowing full well what an aroused winged stallion looks like. Especially considering her own fumble when he was still in the cell, “After all, I don’t think my sister would find that display particularly amusing.”

“I can agree to that entirely,” He answers as they both share a light chuckle, brightening the mood. Soon finishing up their meal after the little interruption by his appendages, the pair take a moment to relax as they lean back in their chairs and enjoy the feeling of having their stomachs filled.

After a long exasperated sigh to clear a little room in his gut. The stallion tries to make conversation with the mare that so lovingly prepared it, “I didn’t think any pony would ever share a meal like this, let alone cook it themselves.”

“Well… before my banishment to the moon,” Luna continues with her own back story to try, and explain some of her behavior, “My guards partook in the act of eating another creature’s flesh. A rather forbidden thing at the time, and by the time I returned, it had been largely put out of practice,” She shrugs off while they remain at the table, “I on many occasions would dine with my own guards, and I have to say it was a rather… enjoyable, guilty pleasure.”

“Though you can cook a very pleasant cut of meat,” Midnight nods to her drawing a heartfelt giggle out of the princess who covers her mouth a bit at the odd sort of appreciation for what she did.

“It was nothing really,” Luna brushes off, “Not the first time I went out on the hunt.”

“However, in all seriousness,” He pauses for a moment, and they both in fact, come to a halt now in speech. Extending his hoof across the table, Luna finds herself unable to see where he is going with this simple gesture. With a gentle hoof, Midnight lifts her own as he towers over the princess even in his seat, and kisses one of the mare’s royal slippers in a simple gesture of thanks, “With my most sincere appreciation. I thank you for what you did. I know of none that would have done the same.”

Words once again fail the princess as she shoots back, and forth between her heart stopping mid beat, and it deciding to go a mile a minute at the actions of the colt. The sweet act taking her by storm while she attempts to try, and carry on the conversation any way she can without falling to pieces in front of him once again.

‘At least there’s nothing in my mouth this time,’ she thanks her lucky stars, “It’s… really no problem, Midnight.”

Without even thinking, as her mind continues to dwell in the more passionate areas, Luna pulls herself across the table and wraps her hooves around the still stranger of a colt. Giving him a slight squeeze in the embrace, she breathes a sigh of relief from the level of comfort that she finds herself in as a result of the contact. “Next time you need a feeding, we could both go,” Luna proposes to him, “If you’d like?” The affectionate gesture throws him off as Midnight finds the act rather soothing, up until the point she pulled away to ask her question.

“Well I’ve never done that with another pony,” He scratches the back of his head. Finding it rather hard to resist the princess’s offer, “I would love to, Luna.”

“Then it’s a date!” Luna nearly jumps up as she beams. Failing to catch herself before the words leave her mouth, “I mean…we could… ah…” before the mare can make a foal out of herself even more, she feels the heavy but soft touch of the stallion’s hoof press against her lips. Beckoning her to remain quiet as she listens to him.

“Why don’t we keep that between us as well? Mhmm?” he flashes a wink at the mare, while they both start to giggle like little foals from the play.

Luna eventually settles down enough to ask of something that she missed while on the hunt, and she was curious to hear about upon her return, “How did today with Princess Twilight go? Learn anything?”

“Good… you could say,” Midnight covers all that happened that day. The tests where his magic comes from, radiating from his heart, to where ever the spell is produced. The intriguing findings that most of his mind is shut off while casting a spell, all except the parts that harbor memory. Midnight even brings up about his own outburst, where he hurtled one of Equestria’s princesses across a room and almost in to a wall. However, the last part doesn’t even faze Luna, who expects that her sister’s student will continue to get in to more trouble than she may realize at times. Though upon hearing the colt mention the term ‘Broken mind’, after Twilight’s findings, Luna finds her own mind stuck, swearing up and down to herself that she’s heard that term before.

“And that’s pretty much it,” Her companion finishes off at the moment and snaps her back from her own thoughts.

“Mhmm I see what you’re saying. Though I may have an answer for you,” Her mind walks around the thoughts in her head as she glances up at a clock in the room, and reads the time off in her head, “And it is far later than I would have imagined so…we really should be getting to bed then.”

The noticeable sigh on the colt, that seemed to be enjoying himself and the company he had, is easily apparent as the edges of his lips falls down the side of his face. While she, unknown to him, takes note of this. Midnight calmly gets up, and helps the mare clean up after what she did for him. Pressing that it is the least he could do while he carries the tray, and plates to follow her down the hall to the kitchen where she prepared it.

“Okay now you are going a little over board,” Luna teases him while the stallion takes a cloth in hoof, and runs the water to clean the dishes of their meal in the sink.

“It’s the polite thing to do, your majesty,” He grins back to her while finishing up the simple act. Rather rejuvenated after the nighttime feeding. Midnight places the sparkling clean plates up, and calmly walks back over to the mare who still stands near the doorway more, or less admiring his stature, and genuine kindness. Though to him it seems that she is only gawking from the plain, and humdrum motion of cleaning up after one’s self, “What? You seem like you never have seen someone act like a gentlecolt before?”

“Oh, sorry for staring,” She mumbles under her breath. Whisking the bangs of blue in front of her face to cover her expression, “For one who seemed so heartless when I first met them, you sure show that first impressions aren’t quite everything.”

“Hehe,” He chuckles for a moment as they both step out in to the halls, “Well I have to thank my upbringing from what I remember that is.”

The noticeable change in his demeanor draws the princess’s attention even more, when the rather modest colt goes silent in an instant when it comes to mind. Luna looks him over once more, as she too feels more than awake after her own feeding, and decides to throw him a bone on the matter. If all else to fill her own curiosity.

‘It couldn’t hurt could it?’ She ponders at first while trying to at least give her some reason to it at all, ‘After all, if what’s wrong with him is correct, it may actually help. Perhaps give a starting point,’ “If you don’t mind though, Midnight,” Her soft words, and expression that she now shows proudly while pushing away the hair does her more joy than he may realize, “The time may be late, but if you would like, we don’t have to retire quite yet? I would like to talk to you on a similar matter. If you trust me to that is.”

Even though he knows that this may lead down a path that he doesn’t know much about himself. There are certain things that the strange stallion with the dark thoughts in his head, can answer for the mare, which seems to bring a light where ever she is present. Even if she oddly enough is the mare of the night. Silently overjoyed by the fact that she is not too weary, and willing to go further in to the night. Midnight bows his head slightly to address her request formally, and also, to prolong their time together.

“I trust you fully, Princess Luna,” he responds, “After all if I couldn’t trust you, than who could I?”

Not even bothering to think about his question the princess herself answers simply to him, “Well valid point. Although-” Luna halts for a second while looking either way down the halls to see if there perhaps is a guard walking about or even her sister. Once the coast is clear for her, and the colt. Luna motions him over to a different hallway all together, “Follow me… if we are going to chat. I would like to go somewhere else.”

Without even any questioning of her, Midnight follows the mare down the path way, and to where ever this wondrous, elegant night mare will take him.

Chapter 16

Chapter sixteen

The starry skies fill the night time domain of the lunar mare as she prances out of the castle on a side archway out in to the open space. Lined with many small lanterns that dot the area, it gives a wonderful lighting to the already lit up space from the moon she provides. The smell of all the flowers, while even though winter is coming, still wafts its way through the air and fills her nose as Luna takes it all in to her own pleasure. This is one of the many gardens that surround the castle, giving it almost a warm welcoming atmosphere to the place she calls home, and not just a stronghold. Leaning down, and smelling a patch of daisies, they lose only a few of their peddles while the cold air of the season changes. Though the still strong aroma brings an ever growing smile to her face, while the seemingly oblivious mare forgets that she is actually escorting another in her presence.

Not that he minds though.

Midnight just stands there, and holds back his intrusion on her serenity while allowing his mind to wander on its own. Something that is rather lost on him over many occasions considering his unwanted cohort likes to invade the privacy he hoped to have over the years.

‘A princess well over a thousand years old, one of the rulers of Equestria, and still able to act like a young filly without a care in the world,’ He laughs on the inside to avoid her attention while instead watching the princess he speaks about prancing over to a rose bush that for some reason, remains in full bloom, ‘It’s actually quite-’

The thought process he was hoping to contort in to some sort of action or words, falls apart as the moon that she was aptly named after, more or less shows its true colors on the princess. Her flowing starry mane catching the moons rays as they shimmer in the night, and reflect it against his eyes as Midnight admires the princess leaning over, and bringing her muzzle to the end of a rose. Luna’s smooth, and sweet features radiating from her, just as much as her hair does at the moment. While both speak silent volumes to the colt who, although he may be the one named Midnight, can see why this poetical mare is duly named ‘The princess of the night’.

“Magnificent,” He mutters under his breath. Hoping that it was actually in his mind as the one word snaps her out of her trance.

“Oh… sorry for me going about here in my own little world,” She starts to blush hard realizing that she in fact did forget about him for an amount of time that the mare can’t quite put a hoof on.

Catching only a momentary view of his utter bafflement, Luna fights her best to keep that under wraps to her knowledge alone. Motioning him along as the colt now takes a place beside her, they both walk further in to the garden. Slowly but surely, the two reach a spot that doesn’t have much to mark it at all. Down along a narrow path, barely big enough for the two to walk side by side. They come across an open circle in amongst its own floral arrangement, of a peculiar sort. Surrounding the couple, are solid onyx flowers of all different varieties, while their darkened shimmer still holds the same fragrant aroma shared by their vibrant counterparts. Set away from the rest of the garden with nothing more than a bench in the center, and no lanterns of any sort. The lunar light alone providing what she needs, as Luna goes up to one of the flowers there on display.

“This part of the gardens usually doesn’t attract all that much attention to the ponies that would come here. Preferring to pick a few flowers from the more colorful areas,” She starts to play with the stem of what looks like a pitch colored tulip, but this one having many thorns that run up, and down the stem to protect it, “Many of them don’t find these magically made Nocturnal flowers as attractive, or as breathe taking as I do. They only look at the dark nature of them, and not what it may hide,” Luna leans down once more, taking in the almost honey like fragrance that drifts off of it only a short distance.

“They ignore the beauty that is only skin deep in them,” A small green aura wraps around the edge of the one that she is enraptured in. Cleanly slicing off the thorns, and plucking itself from the rest of the stem. The princess turns around to see Midnight with a hoof extended, as he guides it to her. Now finding a neat little home at the edge of her ear, “…The eyes are blind. You have to look with your heart.”

With one final twist, the flower is firmly in place. Luna does her best to remain upbeat while Midnight’s little act of putting one of her favorite flowers in her mane, leaves the mare speechless. All the while she has to fight with her legs at the moment as they try to bring her down from the sudden weak feeling running up, and down them.

‘Seriously?! Flattery…’ Luna becomes well aware of the fire rising up in her soft cheeks, ‘I can only be thankful that Celestia isn’t out here with a camera.’

Before she can fall flat on her face. Luna eyes the bench, and tries only to canter over, and not full fledge launch herself at her support structure. Midnight calmly takes a seat next to her. At first thinking that, for the most part, his little act didn’t bring any sort of joy to the princess. Until she manages to clear her mind enough to speak clearly for once.

“That was a beautiful quote,” She tries with some simple small talk, though the fighting in her chest only causes more, and more blood flow to her cheeks as they warm up to a near second degree burn, “Where did you hear of it?”

“I can’t remember honestly,” The same battle rages in him. While Midnight thanks his lucky stars that it’s the middle of the night, as he is sure his coat wouldn’t be enough to hide his face’s true colors, “Just over time, I guess I picked it up.”

“Well no matter its origins. Thank you for your kindness, Midnight,” Luna responds while attempting not to giggle like a filly that just got asked to prom, “in all my years I never thought of putting one in my mane like this… it looks-”

“Gorgeous,” He cuts her off, respectfully holding a hoof out to answer for her, “Me and Twilight had a chat or two between the various tests she was running, and she told me about how you had issues ‘fitting in’ when you returned from your banishment.”

The memories of being cast aside by those subject she wanted to hold dear, still haunt Luna to some extent even after all these years. Though having him around, one that chose to be alone for what sounds like most of his life, does make it easier to explain even more so why she wanted to come out here.

“That was needless to say, a trying time, I will admit. This place used to be my refuge,” She motions to the little circle of solitude created by the surroundings of the thorn ridden, almost protective, nocturnal flowers. “I used to come here many times in the years leading up to my banishment, and just think on things that were troubling me. Rather easy to do when no pony is around, or awake to stumble upon you. I still find myself coming here every so often. Though now it’s simply because it’s just downright peaceful.”

“Oh that much I have to admit, it is calming,” Midnight takes in the sights once more before getting his attention drawn back to the mare that is fiddling with the flower in her ear.

“I know what it’s like to be ignored by so many others,” She uses the flower as a vessel to keep her mind off of him for a little bit, so she can talk straight with the colt, “Many ponies feared me upon my return, because they thought I was still Nightmare Moon.”

“Just like myself, why I avoid so many others,” Midnight responds as he sees the connection between two ponies who have gone through something similar in their past.

“Yet another reason I bring you here Midnight. I knew the feeling when you said you came back in to town to be around others… no matter how long you may be alone, and how used to it you may get. A little company is eventually looked for,” They both nod to on another in a moment of understanding. Though the princess decides it’s time to change the subject to something else on her mind entirely. “So… Mister Midnight,” A light hoof toys with the peddles still, “You don’t remember much of an upbringing. Though you have to remember something seeing as you still act as such, and follow a moral compass.”

“Well…” Midnight shrugs off. Remembering that they do have this to talk about, and not just the ramblings of him, and a loving mare out in the gardens, “Considering it was a few centuries ago. From what I can remember I was raised by a Pegasus. Though I know not his name… sadly. The passage of time, and having Shard play with my head, will do that sort of thing,” he silently curses his counterpart before continuing on, “He helped me from what I can remember. He even knew a unicorn mare that helped to teach me about magic. Eventually I just called them Mom and Dad, because that’s all I knew them to be.”

The mare rests a gentle hoof to her breast, “Awe that’s so sweet.”

“It is…” a brief but truthful smile graces Midnight’s lips for a moment, “As was he from what I remember. He helped raise me on his own with the help of his unicorn friend. Who, from what I recall, he ended up marrying and having kin of their own.” He takes a deep breath. Ready to launch in to the full story from what he can bring to mind without straining himself, and possibly hurting her in the process, “The Pegasus taught me manners, how to act with a mare, but most of all… respect. The unicorn taught me a few good spells to keep close to hoof, and about controlling my magic, as it seems to have gotten out of hoof on more than one occasion,” He picks back up while shifting uncomfortably in the bench, after remembering that he basically threw a princess, “As I grew up I matured, and after hitting what seemed to be a cap limit. I stopped aging all together. Instead… I just watched those around me grow older, and older.”

“I know that feeling all too well,” If there was any other that can share in this tragedy, it would be the regal sisters. Both Luna, and Celestia have seen their fair share of good ponies come, and go with the passage of time. Aging to the point of death, as they themselves watched the kin of those, go through the same process generation after generation.

“Before he passed my ‘father’ said to me, to get out in the world. He knew in his very heart I was a special one,” Midnight looks over his oddly shaped wings, the protruding ribs from his side, the green hair that runs down his face, and even feels the fangs sticking out of the roof of his mouth. Special isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind, but he certainly is the odd ball out, “He didn’t want me to see the other kids that he raised grow old, and go out the same way… so I left.”

Judging from the obvious dam that he had built up in his eyes to hold back the several tears that piled themselves atop one another from the memories. Luna can tell that this is a touchy subject for the colt, as she tries to tip toe around it, so as not to burst the dam, “Sense then, you have been on the road I would guess?”

“Eh, so it would seem,” Midnight rolls off his tongue all too easily.

“Did you ever… well,” She scratches the bench with a hoof, “go back to visit?”

“Only to risk tearing them apart after seeing what I have become, when it comes to almost killing others with my gift?” The all too telling expression on his face lets the princess know that was a rather dunce of a question. Though he knows she didn’t mean anything by it, “No I left, and never turned back.”

“What you have become is quite the noblecolt. One of the best I’ve seen,” The sly grin on her face tells Midnight that there is more to follow behind that, “Well besides whenever Shard takes over, and I want to beat you upside the head with a two by four.”

“Or your hooves for that matter,” Her face now flushes once more as Midnight giggles at the princess’s demise, “Twilight told me that bit as well as to why my jaw felt like it got hit by a train. You do have a mean right hook by the way,” The slight cracking of his jaw only justifies that the princess isn’t one to be toyed with when she is upset.

“And don’t you forget it,” She responds in a tuff to him. Waving a wary hoof at the colt before jumping back at the subject, “But still… don’t you at least think about seeing them.”

“Well of course I do, after all that Pegasus, and unicorn saved me. However, the memory of the place that I called home all those years ago is lost on me,” An odd cooling envelops his frame just from delving in to that thought alone. Though he still not knows why, as the colt explains what he can, “All I remember is being cold, and alone, but he was the one that brought me back from it. I know not what happened exactly… never the less, it was better than what I was dealing with at the time.”

“That much…ahh…is for sure,” She yawns out openly. The vitalizing sensation of the kill leaving her body finally as Luna struggles to keep her eyes open, “Excuse me for that. Now I will say that it’s getting rather late.”

“And now I can agree with you,” He suppresses the urge to yawn as well to follow hers while they both rise up from their seat. Both walking in tandem with one another to the archway that they entered outside from, and back in to the castle down the halls. Left to part ways soon afterwards as his quarters are in the opposite direction of her own, “Goodnight, Ms. Luna. Have a wonderful evening, and a restful sleep.”

“Likewise, Mr. Midnight,” She pulls a curtsy to show off the thanks she has for the farewell, and the adornment in her mane that still remains, “And thank you again for this sweet gesture.”

Without another word Luna canters off to her quarters. Beaming like a foal while tucking herself in bed, and levitating the flower in to a small vase on nightstand next to her.

‘Such a gentlecolt,’ she smiles at the flower the same color as the time of night he was named for, ‘Dealt a bad hoof in life, and suffering for it... A broken mind,’ the final thought passes through her head once more, before she drifts off in to her own domain. Soon enough finding herself staring at the image of a blood drenched stallion coming to meet her there as well.

Chapter 17

Chapter seventeen

Having only seen her sister last night when she was grilling up her kill, and that certainly not being the best case to run in to one another. Considering all that, among other things, gives the solar princess a reason to knock on her younger sister’s door other than just to wake her up the next morning. Or in this case, afternoon, as the clock strikes one while she enters.

“Luna?” Celestia looks around the room not hearing a single thing at first.

Though it becomes apparent that the only reason Lulu has slept in is because she didn’t get much sleep the previous night to begin with. Several dozen books are stacked high on the floor around the bed as several more are scattered across it. Note books lay written out that look they have been in use for centuries, and some even look like they haven’t been touched in the same amount of time. Though on top of this her bed is only occupied by the material, and not the actual pony that should have been using it.

“Of all the places that one could occupy to get a restful night’s sleep,” Celestia shakes her head while walking over to the desk that has even more material along with the resting form of her sister, “For some reason a desk does not seem like the best place,” She rests a careful hoof on the younger ones shoulder shaking her a bit. “Come on sleepy head,” ‘you look like you had a long night, and I’m eager to hear it.’

“Ugh… no five more minutes…” Luna shuffles about while shaking her head a bit as she scoffs.

“Do you have any idea how cute this is?” Her horn lights up, as Tia uses her magic to grab the blinds, and fling them open. Almost blinding the mare of the night as she falls out of the chair, and on to the ground, “Seriously you just reverted back to when we were going to school still.”’

“Ahh!” Luna’s wings unfold, and wrap around her face to shut out the piercing rays as they launch a full onslaught against her eyes, “It burns!”

“Oh now you’re just being melodramatic.”

“I am the night!” Luna declares with a hoof raised to the sky.

“You’re delirious,” Celestia scoffs at her while Luna rubs her eyes from the intrusion.

“In my defense, I recall you acted the same way when we were young,” Luna teases right back at her while coming to her feet. Peeling off a piece of paper that sticks itself to her cheek after the puddle of drool got to it, “For one that raises the sun, you used to hate it so much too.”

“As you hated the night at one point. Though you look like you have had quite a night yourself,” Tia notes the scattered remains of a hard study time that even her own student would admire. “Late night test taking?”

“In your dreams.”

“Well actually you are the one that handles that area of ponies mind.”

“And you are the one that usually will handle being a pain in my flank,” Luna ridicules while fixing her mane a bit in the mirror to get it back in the normal wavy order for the day, “Though if you must know I did get about an hour of sleep. Then had an epiphany in the middle of a rather lovely dream, and woke up to do a little research.”

A pile of books falls over on to the ground breaking the conversation at first for a moment. Though the older alicorn in the room picks it up before Luna can continue, “I don’t know if this all qualifies as a little research. Though I am curious if this dream involved a particular stallion that just so happens to be named after your time of the night?” Her eyes can’t lie while the growing flustered nature of the sibling tells Celestia all she needs to know without even saying a word.

“No!” Luna tries to say in her pitiful excuse of a defense. Clearly her cheeks don’t feel the same as they betray her true colors in a wonderful shade of crimson, “Okay yes it did, but so did the research!”

Luna picks up a tomb to try and back her findings. Also to change the subject to save her skin at the time from the ever persistent nature of her sister. Flipping to the desired page, she tosses it over to her familial. Before going in to her own explanation, “What do you, myself, Twilight, Cadance, and Midnight have in common?”

Celestia doesn’t even have to take a shot in the dark to guess here. Glancing over the section in the book, it makes it painfully obvious what Luna is getting to. ‘Dark magic and those that control it,’ Tia reads, “Well if I had to make a guess here, I would say all of us have the use of dark magic.”

“Very astute observation, sister.”

“You know it…” Celestia, and Luna bump their rumps in to one another playfully while the latter goes over to a few more notes to check herself for a second, “… Though he doesn’t have as much control of it as we do.”

“This I know, and I am getting to that…” She takes a deep breath. Prepared to go in to a full lecture on the inner workings of the colt’s mind, “While Midnight, and myself were engaging in a rather pleasant talk after dinner. Followed by a walk around the gardens last night-”

“I must correct myself,” Celestia cuts her off, “That is cute.”

With only a smirk on her face. Luna levitates the memento of last night that Midnight had opted to put in her hair. Over to her while she puts it right back in place. Drawing a rather confused glare from her dearest sibling while Celestia tries to put together what happened between them. That becoming apparent enough to the youngest as she puts it together, and answers a few questions to ease Tia’s mind.

“No, nothing like that happened. Don’t worry we’ll talk later, and yes… it was very sweet,” Luna’s desire to lose eye contact with the one that presses for details, forces her to turn around for a second to break off the stabbing gaze of her sister as the night mare gets back on topic. “While we were chatting, Midnight informed me of what Twilight had put together about him. The broken mind he exhibits is being brought on by some sort of event that probably forced his mind to block off that memory, and now results in a massive pain in the rump when he tries to remember. This has caused the colt to lose parts of himself, and lead to the less than whole stallion that you see around here now. Having lost the full control of his magic as a result, it seems to consume him from when he uses constantly. Leading to Midnight also to go partially insane as a result at the hooves of the magic taking over his form.”

“Luna?”

“Yes?”

“Breathe,” Celestia exhales.

Taking in a deep breath of air to recharge her lungs, and thankful that the blue tint to her coat probably held back the color from lack of oxygen from showing. Luna nods to the one that reminded her of the life giving action, as she picks up where she left off, “…Now that is his story. However, why is it that you, and I are able to use darker forms of magic on a whim, without even a worry?”

“Well as much as a pony can keep it together after a thousand years…” Celestia brushes off her shoulder, “our minds have remained intact.”

“Precisely!” Luna beams at the notion that her sister is putting it together to some extent, “Our minds are strong, and can hold against the forces of the corrupt magic wanting to devour us. Midnight’s isn’t, so therefore when he uses the gift, it does just that.”

Luna starts to prance around the room, only leaving Celestia to make her own assumptions, “Judging by how much you are leaping about here like Ms. Pie after an overdose of sugar. I would guess you may have a way to fix him?”

A single stomp to the ground answers Celestia. Though the cheery mare still can’t help, but shout it out like she just aced the test that Tia thought she was studying for, “You better believe it sister!” Her nerves settle down a bit as she continues, “If there is a way to patch his mind back together. Perhaps heal the damage that has been done, by unlocking that part of him that is blocked off and, more or less, lost. Than it could bring him back to normal, or at the very least, give Midnight some sort of control over his magic, so he doesn’t hurt himself!”

“Then you two could live happily ever after!” Celestia leans in to her sister with the widest, even kind of creepy, smile on her face. Staring at her counterpart, Luna only silently raises one eye brow to Tia before giggling a bit, and walking off slowly.

“…Perhaps.”

“Was that admittance I hear?” Tia catches up with her for more info, “After all, usually you just stomp off in a tough with your tail between your legs.”

“Okay I’ll admit that he is quite the gentlecolt like I said before, and handsome at that,” She, and Tia make their way out of the room, and start down the hallway in no particular direction, “Though I have only known him for a short while, so I will give it time. Besides I know not what he thinks.”

“If that gift is any sign, I think I know who’s on his mind,” Celestia remarks to the flower in Luna’s mane. Before she caresses the younger sister with a wing, and brings her in closer, “Dare I say he is deserving of you, so long as he keeps his hooves to himself.”

“For now that is,” Another giggle escapes her blue lips much to her sister’s demise, “Though I have to ask. Before coming to my room, and waking me from my unrestful sleep. Did you by happens chance encounter the colt himself?”

Celestia ponders the thought. Thinking about how to best answer this question with some sort of tact, and sensitivity, considering what they just talked about. Throwing that idea out the window at the moment she realizes there really is no way to do that for her.

“Well you could say I did. Midnight is currently playing magical games with Twilight,” Tia awkwardly grins, “Ironically something that we just were talking about having a detrimental effect on him.”

The last thing Celestia hears is the flapping of wings as the mare next to her disappears in a streak of cobalt down the hall to try and make her way to the colt to check, and see if he will slip back in to the darkness. Ready to do her best to bring him back if she can. Ideally without knocking him out cold with another swift punch.

Chapter 18

Chapter eighteen

The lab area that has been set up for the occasion of studying the colt has now been turned in to an arena of some sort. All the while, Twilight uses her magic to set up a few targets for Midnight to take aim at. Flash assists where he can, while their son stays on his mother’s back, eager to see the colt he’s heard about in action. Midnight, as advised by the princess, does his best to clear his mind so that he can make the most of the tests that she wants to conduct.

“Now Midnight…” Twilight sets up the final target of wood with a bull’s-eye on it, “…The point of this is to test the extent of your magic. How many spells you actually know, and how strong they are. Also, to see what your actual limit may be, not to push it, but just keep it at the threshold. Considering many of the spells you have talked about are combat spells…”

“…Besides the Levitation spell that is,” Flash points out while he takes a spot next to his wife. While Snow leaps off of her, and on to him.

“Besides that,” she acknowledges, “training targets would seem like the ideal thing to test on,” Twilight answers as Snow looks at the targets that have been set up, and back at the colt ready to do his work against them.

“Is Mister Midnight going to make magic?” The small colt beams to both his parents. More fascinated by the demonstration.

“That’s the plan sweetie,” Twi gives her son a peck on the cheek before him, and his father step off to the side. The first of the targets that are put up, in a line of three, are to test his aim of any projectile spell he knows. Nodding to the subject, Twilight finishes the check of the area to make sure there isn’t anything too bad that will be damaged, should it go awry, “Now considering you’re not a unicorn, I have no idea how to possibly gauge your magic levels any other way, than to have you use them,” she reminds herself of their dilemma, “though considering you become less than a desirable colt should you pass your capacity. Do make sure to keep yourself under control. Who knows what will happen if you push it too far.”

“Well ma’am if it comes down to that, I’m sure your husband will more than take care of that problem,” He snickers under his breath. However, any attempt for Twilight to try and quell Midnight’s possible fear of getting the snot kicked out of him by the Pegasus, is completely destroyed by said Pegasus calling over to them.

“I like him already!” Flash shouts out.

The mare sends a cold scowl over to her spouse, before she turns back to Midnight, and gives a polite nod for him to continue, “First spell, you may start when you’re ready…” He nods in return while thinking of the simplest one he knows.

Breathing in deep, Midnight attempts to clear his mind from thoughts of the very real possibility of Shard taking control here in Canterlot castle of all places, and going on a rampage. No less in the presence of ones that are only trying to help him, and if Midnight does slip, their lives would likely be ended before any pony had the chance to put him down.

‘Flash is a strong one from what I have learned so far,’ the colt lowers his head while silencing his thoughts, ‘But if Shard takes over, the Captain would only act as a subtle speed bump in my path. If anything, that would certainly be the death of me here… Well… here goes everything.’

A green surge powers its way up through his spine and neck. Engulfing the golden orbs in his skull and replacing them with nothing, but a thick neon haze as Midnight takes aim. Through the haze, he eyes the targets, and with nothing more than a thought. The solid emerald rays shoot from him as they speed towards the bull’s-eye. The bright light of the attack, forces the others present to avert their eyes, while Midnight runs the beam in a clear line across all three targets. The heat of the spell, scorches the surface to the point that it singes its way all the way through, cutting them neatly in half the upper portion slides off.

The ambient glow leaving her eyelids, and the sound of hunks of wood hitting the floor, lets Twilight know that it’s safe to look while she brings her eyes open. The scorch mark etched in the back wall, show her clearly the power that this colt has inside him, as she examines the targets.

“Well you certainly have that one under control,” she chuckles wholeheartedly, almost admiring the destroyed pieces of wood, “How do you feel though?”

Midnight looks himself over, and then listens in for any adverse thoughts from his counterpart, “Actually… quite well still,” he responds after hearing nothing but sweet silence, ‘That feeding from last night must still be holding me together.’

“I have to hand it to you,” Flash, and his son look over the damage done to the targets. Normally these are used by average unicorns to practice simple plasma bolts. Being married to an alicorn, the captain knows that they can be extinguished easily, and reused fairly often. These ones though, not so much, “That is quite impressive.”

“It is, now isn’t it?” Another voice in the room beckons them to turn around to see who has graced them with their presence.

Though the smiling face of the lunar princess entering the room brings the same gesture from the tallest colt there as well. Mostly because of the particular floral arrangement in her hair at the moment. Also because of the twinkle in her eye from her seeing him preform finally. Luna steps in to the group, and looks at the targets, or what’s left of them. All the while, she teasingly ignores the smitten expression on the colt for the time being.

“Having never seen your other spells at work in the presence of you, until a few seconds ago when I walked in unannounced. I would have to follow Flash’s answer with this matter,” She turns now to the colt that has her interest, giving him a gracious smile and a wink, “You do impress.”

“I live to please,” Midnight returns the gesture to her, getting only the snide expressions from the other two adults in the room at the moment while they keep quiet.

“Though as I would imagine, Twilight did tell you to make sure you are careful about using your gift?” Her face turns from cute to serious, and then all the way to grim in the space of a few seconds as Luna finishes up her statement, “I wouldn’t want to have to put you down… should it come to that.”

The grim thought alone is enough for her head to lower a bit, while she ponders the possible outcome of putting the colt she is smitten with out of his misery, just for the sake of other’s lives.

“Don’t worry Luna,” Midnight smiles softly at her. Even his fangs becoming not intimidating in any sense of the word from his sweet words. “I’ll be sure to not take it that far… though you may like if I go a little too far.”

“What could I possibly like about having to kill you?” ‘A colt that I will admit I am rather… taken back by,’ she mutters in her head, while expressing her own worry in her words, ‘I’ll leave it at that.’

“Well not, so much that part,” Midnight pauses to recognize that fact, and try to alleviate some of her stress, “Though if that’s the case, and there isn’t any more of that elk left. As you called it, a date may be in order.”

Even from his distance from her, Midnight can still feel the rising heat coming off of the mare across from him, as Luna turns her eyes away from him in a sheepish smile. Neither of the others though have a clue exactly how to go about this in any sort of way, seeing as they haven’t a clue as to what they are talking about. Leaving Flash and Twilight standing there for a few moments just glancing between the pair and themselves.

“Well I might just take you up on that offer then,” She canters off to the side to avoid Twilight’s gaze at her for the comment, “Shall we get this show on the road though?”

“Yes ma’am,” Midnight agrees while the others take their place with the lunar princess.

More targets set up in a matter of seconds while the gifted colt picks a new selection from his bag of tricks. The steps of going through several spells now just start to blend together as he repeats them over, and over again.

Target, engage, and have Twilight gawk over the sight.

The simple spells he has been casting all over the place on their own, are enough to push the limits of what Twilight even thought would be possible with magic. Especially considering that Midnight, by physical appearance alone, shouldn’t even be able to cast something as simple as an Illumination spell. Though the colt sends out bolts of lightning from whipping his tail. Creates almost magical boxing gloves around his fore hooves as he smashes apart targets. While the shockwave spell, Twi knows all too well, radiates from his voice, and hasn’t lost any of its touch.

Though the appearance of him being fine is just that, an appearance. Every single time Midnight continues to use his magic, it brings him closer and closer to the return of a companion that he would rather not see ever again. Though on the flip side, there is another drive in the male mind of his, which has beckoned itself forth and now he must address. Now surrounded by a dozen or so of the targets, Midnight shakes his head for a second. Fighting back the urge to try, and impress a certain mare honoring him with her presence.

‘She would kill me if I did,’ Midnight tries to reason. However, as he looks back to the mare in question, the same stars in her eyes that he saw last night. Appear while she stands there in wonder at what he is doing. Doing their own part, and pushing him onwards, ‘I really shouldn’t. Though I guess it couldn’t hurt. I feel great after all,’ He sweeps aside the foolish act, as nothing more than just pushing his own limits. After all how are you supposed to increase them? Something that he used to do very often while younger. Much to the dismay of his conscience later on in the day, when he would try to suppress the darkness in him from taking over.

“He really is amazing isn’t he?” Twilight nudges the shoulder of a flattered mare standing next to her, noticing that she doesn’t even blink, as Luna watches the intimidating form of Midnight stretch out.

“Yea…ahh…yup,” Lulu mutters under her breath to her companion. Barely even recognizing the fact that Twilight said something.

“That wasn’t even a sentence, you know?” Flash starts to chuckle a bit at her falter, “I guess he too, has an admirer.”

“What do you mean too?” Luna finally picks up.

“Well Midnight asked about you while we were running the first tests,” Twilight says rather proud of this fact. Wondering herself if the princess has picked up on any of his flirts that Midnight has for the most part, been screaming her way.

“Really?” Luna manages to contain her own excitement in her body. Resisting the urge to jump up, and down, and scream at the top of her lungs, ‘Well… that’s just…’ Her thought process though is cut off without Twilight even realizing it, as a single hoof of hers rests on Luna’s shoulder gently.

“We can talk about that later,” Twi points out to the colt in the middle of the room, “it seems that your colt is going to start again.”

If it wasn’t for the interesting events that Luna was looking forward to seeing, then she may have caught that last comment. However, being caught up in the zone can do this to you, as all four of them watch the colt go to work. Flapping his wings hard against the ground below, Midnight never seems to leave the ground. Instead the individual veins of his wings, which make up the frame, start to glow red as the enchantment inside of him takes hold. Flowing through the veins, the aura wraps itself around them and starts to stick out the ends. Tapering to a point, they stick out a full foot, making a series of spikes along his wings like a dragon.

Almost at the drop of a hat, Midnight angles his wings differently. Spinning him in to a circle, as the javelins fly out the instant centrifugal force is applied. Though the colt doesn’t stop at one volley. As one set leaves his body, they quickly solidify in to a sort of crystal it seems, and are quickly replaced by his magic to reload and go all over again. Each and every spike sticks itself in to the targets around him with enough force to punch through the back of it as the colt picks up speed. Though Midnight only stops when each target looks more like a seamstresses pin cushion, rather than a target for combat practice.

The screech on the tile from his hooves grinding against it, announces his cease fire. Leaving the others, even Luna, at a loss of words while two of the targets just fall over from the weight of the number of quills sticking out of them alone. The expression on Midnight’s face stays it all. The rather smug grin he wears, full of pride at what he accomplished, gives him a little boost in confidence of his limits. However, the sweat dripping down his brow from his exertion, and the sight of seeing him cast the spell itself, only excites Luna further while she tries to regulate her breathing in order to calm herself down.

‘Easy there Luna…’ She tells herself, ‘even though he looks downright attractive right now. That’s no reason to have thoughts of throwing yourself at him, and dragging the already sweaty colt up to your room so you two can- Oh just stop it!’, “You look…” The night mare stomps on her hind hoof to give her mind something else to pay attention to. Finally managing to get a better look at the colt, and not liking what she sees, “Tired… are you feeling alright?”

“Just a little weary,” Midnight huffs, sounding more like a smokers hack than simply being out of breath, “Crystal Storm spell… will do… that.”

Slowly but surely, a pain rises up in his chest where his heart would be as Midnight clenches it with a hoof. The action forcing his weakened body to the ground, as he puts up a brawl, to hold his own against the dark force working against him. With-in an instant Luna, is next to him and holding the colt up in her fore hooves. Soon followed by the others as they come to his side.

“Is he alright?” Twilight looks Midnight over to ensure he is at least still breathing, “Did he reach his limit?”

“It… doesn’t seem so,” Luna peers in to the colt’s eyes. The solid onyx tint flickers in and out as they cover up the golden orbs she was captivated by in the first place.

“Not… limit…” He gripes out, “…Pushed self… too far,” Midnight fights between himself and Shard, already feeling his presence there trickling back in, even if he can’t hear him. Though at the same time kicking his own flank that he would do something so careless.

‘And this is where I get my head chewed off,’ He couldn’t have predicted that much better.

The only thing that greets Midnight, is the split second image of a hoof careening in to his face at high speed. The impact throws the colt from the princess’s hooves while he flops on to the ground in a limp pile. Even then he has no chance to get up, for Luna is atop him in no time. Fuming over his face as smoke starts to pour from her nostrils.

“What were you thinking?!” Luna screams at the top of her lungs. “You could have died! Either from it consuming you… again! Or by one of us having to kill you ourselves to protect others!!!” In her rant on, and on to the colt of the implications that could have resulted from his hasty actions. The princess of the night fails to realize that she in fact is now tearing up, as the final thought continues to replay itself in her head and drives her emotions wild, “Why?! Why would you do that?!”

In reality anything that Midnight could say to her, would be lost in translation as the mare he is starting to hold a higher regard for, tears him a new one. Nothing could explain why he may want to impress her. Only thing he could say would be that he just wants to astound Luna. Though that would probably lead to another face/hoof interface. To test his limits? Normally that’s a strength building exercise for a unicorn to build up their magical reservoir. Though in his case it could hurt others, if not kill them. After all, he isn’t your average unicorn. Fully unable to say a word to her that would save his flank. The only thing Midnight can do, is sink his head further down in to his chest as the mare stays atop him fuming.

“I just… I just wanted to amaze you,” He mumbles the poor excuse under his breath, as the family next to them hold their distance a bit. Knowing full well that if any pony would get him to talk, it would be the nocturnal princess. Though that idea is lost, as she tries to figure out how exactly to answer him herself as Midnight continues, “There aren’t many that find what I can do normal, impressive yes. But also terrifying to some extent and not many are openly welcome about it… so having one pony that takes interest in it because it makes her eyes dance,” He pauses for a second to raise his slightly teary eyes to her, as the golden shade pushes out any darkness remaining. The powerful emotions of whatever he finds himself feeling now for the mare, overpowering Shard, just as much as flesh does, “I just wanted to show you what I could do… I… I’m-”

Once again, a single hoof contacts his face, cutting him off.

Though this one is far gentler than Midnight previously expected, as the sapphire hoof holds against his crimson lips hushing any, and all words to follow his attempted apology. The only thing on her face now is just a monotone scowl, not really directed at him, but down to the floor as she holds back her true colors with only a soft voice and looks through the colt.

“Midnight, prepare yourself…” Luna gets up from him, and takes a few steps away. Only turning her head back to continue her statement, “If there is anything I have learned about you. After a demonstration like that, you will need sustenance,” Luna maintains the same calm expression on her face as she reaches the others there that just saw her go off on the colt, “Twilight, Flash, and little Snow Bolt… Midnight, and I are going to go out for a bit to get him something that he needs… we will be back later,” Neither Flash, nor Twilight dare say a word against her. Not like they have a reason to. Luna is helping him with what’s wrong with him, so they decide to let her do her own thing. The lunar princess turns her attention back to the stallion as he sits up on his fore hooves with his rump on the ground. Still hanging his head low like a puppy that’s done something wrong, “Midnight… we’re going on a hunt.”

At the sound of that, and her hoof steps leading away from him. Midnight gets up to all fours, and follows her without challenge. Slumping his head down almost all the way to the floor in shame. Knowing that he has fallen out of good graces with the mare that his heart is becoming more than smitten with.

Muttering only two words as they head towards the door, “Yes Luna.”

The door slams behind him, as Midnight makes his way after the mare. Meanwhile though the couple with their son stand there in the room, and only the mother can shake her head at the actions of the colt after over hearing some of what he had to say to Luna at the time.

“Silly colt,” Twilight responds, “Luna would much rather want to see him safe, than what he is capable of.”

“Well I don’t know,” Flash responds with at first while they start to walk towards the door as well, “I can understand his view.”

Twilight snaps back at her husband with her head at the comment, “How do you figure that?”

“Well that’s simple, my dear,” Flash gives her a simple, but sweet kiss on the cheek as they start to part the room, “it’s in a colt’s nature to want to astound a pretty mare. I recall trying to impress a certain Princess when I first got here as her personal guard.”

Chapter 19

Chapter nineteen

While the short flight out towards the Ever Free Forest to go on a hunt, doesn’t take a pair of winged ponies no more than an hour or so. A rather ticked mare, extended this towards the near setting of her dear sister’s sun, with the help of several fast fly byes of the colt in travel with her as she ignores his pleads all together. Letting out some of her pent up anger in the form of several choice spells that would dazzle any pony, or creature close enough to see them.

The shower of sparks, and colors from the simple enchantments doing more so to put her mind at ease than to cause any sort of real damage. Being that they aren’t aimed towards anything particular, and are left to detonate in the air harmlessly. Though even her in this state of silent anger, after she left Midnight without a word sense their departure of the castle. The colt himself, has still not managed to realize that the best thing he could possibly do right now. Is to allow her to let it all out.

Not tap her on the shoulder in midflight, as Midnight catches her hovering enough to do so, “Luna…Can we talk?”

Even the mere sound of his voice in the princess’s ear, after his foolish act, causes her to lash out at whatever she can at the moment, and in this case, it would be the ground below. A dark blue aura encapsulates her horn, and in a few seconds a single cobalt beam laced with strands of pulsating aqua light and sparks, rockets down towards the forest floor. Impacting the surface with a small crater left over, before the energy buries itself in to the soil. For a moment, everything is quiet. The only sound that fills Midnight’s own ears is the soft breaths of Luna panting after an exertion of a spell at that magnitude. Though before he can say anything to try and calm her down.

Part of the forest floor is lifted up in to the air several feet from the enchantments work.

Uprooting many of the foliage, which lies around the impact point, without any effort. Then after a split second, the spells energy dissipates in a torrent of sparks, dropping the forest floor in one go. Trees snap in half as they fall back to their original positions, and the weight of themselves becomes too much for the trunks and various branches to handle. All the while, the sparks start to ignite the twigs that remain there as kindling. Quickly lighting up the tinder, before it jumps to the trunks with help from the magical kick start. Even from his position high up in the air, Midnight can see the thick clouds of smoke rising up to meet himself and the princess. Deciding that he better take care of this problem before it gets out of hoof, he flies in amongst the fuming forest.

“I’ll take that as a no,” the colt shakes his head at the fault of his own self, watching what it has caused her to do out of sheer frustration.

Taking a deep breath, the colt fills his lungs to their max capacity, before clenching his lips nearly together. Pouring some of his magic in to his lungs, Midnight releases the torrent of breath infused with a spell from his very being. While the icy embrace of his enchantment starts to engulf the area in a frozen mist, putting out the fires in a pillar of steam. Though all of this, to fix what he caused, has its own effect on the colt. The use of such magic puts even more strain on his feeble mind, as Midnight shakes his head at the awareness of one he wishes he didn’t hear from again anytime soon.

‘Well you sure seem to be having quite the effect on the princess, now don’t you?’ The voice of his longtime companion calls out.

“That’s putting it lightly, Shard. Did you really have to come back?” Midnight rams his head in to an oak. Thrashing his cranium about against it, while kicking himself still for not only ticking off the princess, but choosing to use such strong magic when he is already weakened from earlier, “Now of all times too.”

‘Well did you expect me gone so easily?’ Shard chuckles back at the colt. Mocking his every attempt to rid his mind, and body of the one he shares it with. ‘After all I have to say that you can’t try that blasted trick of over loading yourself now. The forest is a dangerous place after all. Especially for a mare to be watching over the unconscious body of a colt by herself… princess or not,’ the steady flapping of wings, beckons Midnight to turn his head back around from its wooden punching bag, ‘well speak of the devil.’

The graceful form of Luna, flutters her way through a puff of steam. Still just as attractive as he noticed the other night, even when she’s the one sending him a death glare. Midnight hasn’t a clue how to suppress her anger at the moment, especially when she is willing to set a forest on fire just to make a point. The only thing the hapless colt can think of, is too simply bow his head in respect for the one before him. Though with his eyes to the ground, Midnight can never see the slight smirk on her face while she walks closer to him.

‘Even when he is at fault for the whole thing…’ she holds her tongue, ‘He still shows nothing, but respect. Even if it isn’t for his own safety…’ The night mare argues amongst herself. Knowing full well that she should be mad at him, but unable to hold that sentiment for long, “rise now, Midnight.”

Her words are met with nothing but compliance, as he stands on all fours with no further thought on the matter. Midnight’s golden orbs remain flat, showing not a single trace of emotion in them. Luna’s attempt to gaze eye to eye with the colt, only results in her craning her neck up to meet him. Though Midnight does not return the favor, only giving a thousand yard stare through the forest itself. That she would have expected if she had addressed a guard, while they stand at attention.

“Look at me,” She commands, as he glances down for only a moment to take in her cerulean irises, “Better now.”

A strong wing swings around her petite frame, and meets Midnight’s cheek as the feathers she is adorned with, act like a whip against the soft coat. Even after taking another hit from the princess, the colt does not move an inch, and only stands there and takes it. After several more hits from the likes of the princess’s wings. Midnight can certainly feel the sting rising up more and more, with every successive hit, as the blood rushes towards his cheeks for a reason he is less than pleased with. Though towards the end of it, even Luna has had enough. In the wake of her letting out some of her frustrations, a single tear beads down towards the ground from the lunar princess, as it falls to the dirt now cracked up from the heat of her previous spell.

“Why… Why did you think you needed to impress me?” The monotone voice, which is normally so soft and sweet, runs the blood in his veins cold. Leaving Midnight to pick himself up mentally, to formulate an answer.

‘Come on lover boy,’ the snickering of his unwanted companion remains all too real in his ear.

“I just wanted to impress you, princess. A small part of me wanted to push my limits a bit to see if I could with stand the abuse also, but…” His vision never departs from hers during his entire sentence. Noting the subtle changes in her demeanor the more he explains, “…I wanted to show what I was capable of. Even I don’t know sometimes what my gift can do, and to have a pony who doesn’t take it as wicked magic. That has had an entire village chasing after me with pitchforks, and torches,” Midnight pauses to recall some of his less than stellar times, “Well… I’m delighted to see that twinkle in your eyes that you got when I was casting spells, and I just wanted to see it again.”

The mare only takes her travel companions words in to heart for what they really were, the truth. Luna knows that it wouldn’t be hard for one such as Midnight to drain himself with his special gift. Having that happen is just as much of a danger to himself as it is to those around him. Pushing limits is understandable, unicorns do it all the time. But impressing? That is something that Luna is new to having another pony try and do for her.

‘He shouldn’t have,’ she mutters to herself.

The light sound of a graceful hoof lifting from the ground, beckons Midnight to wince, having not expected another hit. Though now fully embracing the next one to follow, as his muscles go tight. Said hit never comes though, as the same hoof comes to rest on the side of his face while Luna rubs in slow circles to ease the pain that she caused him with her wing. A light smile coaxing away some of his strain in the wake of her outburst.

“You really have been around for a long time, if they were using pitchforks and torches…” The slight message of understanding in her voice seems to break up some of the silence around them from the crackling of wood and embers. The wondrous orbs of hers mellowing out a bit even in her speech.

“Does that mean-?” Midnight wonders for a moment, before her eyes turn furious once more.

“Oh I am still mad… but that doesn’t mean I can’t ease some of your burden,” She motions him for a stroll in the forest, while they stick to the shadows.

In reality the princess hasn’t a clue what they came out here to hunt. Only hoping to find some sort of red meat to fill him. Still the search does give her time to chat, “You have nothing to try, and impress me over Midnight. After all you can do things that I haven’t see any pony do before,” The gentlecolt holds a branch up for her while they pass through the foliage, “Thank you kindly. I never underestimated your gift, after your little demonstration while back at the empire with the pitcher.”

“Really now?” Midnight reads some of her tells on her face.

“Okay maybe once, or twice,” She rolls her eyes at him while trotting ahead a bit, and forcing him to catch up, “Though it didn’t take long for me to see that there was more to you then, and now.”

“That sounds more like it,” He says proudly. Lightening up a bit after being scolded by royalty. The still enraged expression shows clearly in her eyes. Although at the same time a simple flicker in there of a concerned mare, lets him know that it is all for the better, “you’re never going to let me live this down. Will you?”

“Nope!” The mare gives him a light kick in the hind leg, “Now I hope to never have you reminded of this mishap, and leave it at that,” She sticks her muzzle up in the air in a prudish manner while walking with him, “I understand that sometimes a unicorn must be pushed to the limits, and in the end they may be hurt for doing so… but let’s not go seeking that, shall we?”

The first chuckle for him to give her comes out of Midnight’s throat finally, as some of his worries melt away from just the sound of her voice. However, any attempt he may have to speak on his own behalf is cut off. When Luna starts speaking on a matter she had hoped to fill him in on while they were back at the castle.

However, his current condition forces her hoof now, “Though I may have an idea how to correct your problem.”

“You didn’t go to bed last night when we parted, did you?” Midnight already puts together.

“Well… maybe just for a little,” She keeps up the coy attitude with him.

Luna launches in to a full explanation on how the patching of his mind could allow Midnight to control his magic so he isn’t at the whim of it more often than not. The colt is fed all sorts of information about the dark magic she, and her sister use, but aren’t harmed by it. His weakened mind being a possible cause, and solution to it all. On top of that Luna goes in to several cases where ponies lost their minds while trying to master the dark arts, but not being able to cope because something in their life broke them on the inside as well. Allowing the corruption to fully take over.

“Patching up your mind may work, or it could blow up in our faces. I don’t know,” Luna shrugs, “Whatever it may be, it’s better than nothing right?”

“You certainly make a point…” he mulls it over, “Though I can’t think of where to start.”

“Oh don’t be such a sour puss-” A playful shove to his side from her doesn’t even move the colt at all, while Luna instead just pushes herself a few paces off to the side and almost in to a bush.

“Oh sorry was that meant for me?” Midnight holds a hoof to his chest while teasing the bashful mare. Both of them going silent for a few seconds before bursting out laugh again. Each sharing the same blood filled cheeks with one another.

‘You two are just so cute together,’ another two cents from the ego maniac in his mind, is thrown in.

“Oh hell,” the golden pair of eyes roll about in the colt’s skull, while he is reminded again that they aren’t completely alone.

“Midnight?” Luna can tell the displeasure in his face from a mile away. Much less right next to her, “What’s the matter?”

“He’s back…”

Luna knows instantly what he means. Having already experienced the colt when he has completely lost it, “Are you still…sane?”

“Don’t worry Luna,” Midnight eases her own burden the same way she did his, “Just dealing with Shard’s voice.”

‘For now…’

Any more conversation in the matter is cut off when Luna takes a few rapid steps forward. Getting to the edge of a small stream before jumping across, and turning back towards the colt with a pained expression on her face as she balances on a fallen trees stump, “We better get you something then, and fast.”

________________________

After wandering about for an hour or so in now the long sense dead of night. It doesn’t take the two long to find something to make their late night snack. Just a small group of deer that have managed to find a slightly grassy spot in amongst the trees next to a cave. For the pair this is a rather lucky find, considering that many other creatures would have long laid to rest for the night, but with winter still fast approaching. Some of the late bloomers of the fall still try to stock up on whatever they can get their hooves on.

‘If it wasn’t for the fact that one of them is going to die, this might just be a picture perfect moment,’ Luna ponders while the golden pair of eyes shifts left and right at each one.

After being through many hunts on his own, Midnight knows all the signs to look for when choosing a member of a herd to kill. What looks hefty enough to fill, but not get away? Are any of them sick looking? Do they have young? Which ones look old? Going through the usual checklist with himself his eyes instantly click on to a single deer standing slightly away from the rest of the group. Nudging her in the side he motions the mare to the one that he has chosen to bring down. With only a nod, Luna knows exactly what to do. Though she didn’t bring any blades, seeing it better to actually just use the more modern method of magic. Quick, simple, and clean of all things. Luna puts a simple enough spell in to her mind to cast out. One that would instantly immobilize her prey, and allow them to close in to finish it off easily.

“Sorry about this,” She mutters under her breath.

“Gotcha!” The mare hears yelled out near her.

A red blur rushes by out of the woods from a bush. Propelled even faster by the mighty flapping of the leathery appendages. The deer Luna had in her sights is crushed under the colt’s weight as Midnight wraps his bat like wings around the deer’s form to hold it in. Any scream that it tries to let out, are cut off when the colt’s pair of blackened fangs dig deep in to his prey’s neck. The knife like additions puncture the flesh easily, tearing through the tissue, and blood vessels as the life fluid starts to spurt up, and over in to the colt’s mouth. The pure ecstasy of having another creature’s blood running down his throat. Sends Midnight in to a blood rage as he lifts the deer still clinging to life with the sound of gurgles in its throat from its own blood pool, and drops it flat on its back.

Shattering some of its bones under the impact, the crunch fills the night air and the ears of the princess there to watch this. The shocked mare steps out of her comfort zone, after seeing a creature brutally killed. Not something she is unfamiliar with. After all she has done her fair share of violence in the past, and killed many in some pretty spectacular ways.

Though when it comes to the hunt she is used to either a quick kill with horn, or blade. The limp body lies at the colt’s feet now devoid of all life after it was painfully ended. While Midnight bears his fangs mere inches from its gut. Ready to take the first dive in to something that he finds himself craving more when it’s so close to him. In the heat of it all though, his blood hazed vision leaves him well aware that he isn’t alone there.

Luna stands there flabbergasted at what he had done, watching him only turn around awkwardly with few words coming to mind, “I ahh get like that when I’m hungry.”

“You need not explain,” She holds up a single hoof while trying to return her face back to normal, “I certainly have seen worse from some of my lunar guards while they would feed.”

Surprisingly the colt takes a side step. Letting the mare take full view of what he did to the animal. Though instead of diving in to it, Midnight offers it up fully to her, “Would you like to take first pick, ma’am”

“Hardly the time to fall back to being a gentle colt,” Luna sniggers at his act of generosity of the most grueling kind. Her own lips start to drip saliva from the anticipation of the tissue touching her tongue. Even if it isn’t cooked, after all, she and her guards would just eat it raw if they were too hungry to wait, “Though, still just as sweet as can be… I must-”

A growl from the cave next to them draws their attention away from the fresh meat of the kill. Readying themselves for whatever may come out of the cave in the middle of a forest, known for its variety of creatures that would love to gobble up any pony that dwells in here for too long. The lion like body of a large male Manticore comes out of the cave growling, and snarling at the pair. Having the same issue of hunger, the creature was hoping to make a member of the herd its own dinner. That was until its ambush got interrupted. It allowed the ponies to do the killing to make his job easier in the end. Plus as far as the blood thirsty animal is concerned. A deer body, and two ponies is better than maybe nabbing one deer at most from the herd.

Making a second decision. The Manticore decides that getting the seemingly easier mare would be better than trying to deal with the colt too. As it dives head long towards the princess in a quick pounce, baring its fangs and claws in front of it. However, it has seriously underestimated the blossoming protective nature that Midnight has towards the lunar princess.

“Don’t even think about it!” A bloodied hoof, both in a metaphorical sense, and literal, makes contact with the lion like jaw. Enough force is put in to the swing from the powerful colt, to knock out a fang, and even send the creature spilling over in to the ground stunning it for a moment. Midnight turns back to Luna, who stands there in a trance at the suddenness of the actions, trying to figure out what exactly is going on at the moment, “Luna! Get out of here!”

Snapping too at seeing the Manticore standing back up. The lunar mare leaps back in to action, scraping her hooves against the ground, “Fat chance!” She sneers back at him.

Her horn glows bright as it lets out her own blizzard of ice. Wrapping it around one of the claws that it extends towards her, and freezing it solid. The following up buck from her hind legs, wounds the creature even more as the solid ice block, shatters to pieces while only parts of bone remain sticking out while the flesh is frost burned closed. The penetrating screech latching out from the Manticore’s throat reverberates through the night air, as it swipes right back at the mare with its good paw. The agile princess manages to dodge the first swipe and the claws with it, but a follow up from the club of a limb now does her in. The blunt side strikes Luna in her own ribs, and causes her nimble frame to skip across the ground like a stone rolling down a bumpy hill for a second. Before coming to a restful stop against a tree.

“Luna!” Midnight calls out after her, but no response is heard. The impact had knocked her out for a second.

A second they really can’t afford right now, as the hungry critter draws in further for the kill of the easy target lying there flaccid on the ground. The stampeding Manticore charges at her with its jaw hanging low ready to latch its fangs around the pony before it, completely ignoring the pain in its own limb as it still uses the stump.

“Hey you!” It hears the colt yell out towards it.

Turning around, and not even bothering to close its mouth. The overly sized cat gets more than it bargained for, as the colt dives straight down his throat with force and in to his gullet with an audible thump being heard after hitting the back of its guts. The collision in to the creature’s stomach even sends the Manticore back a few feet from the intrusion.

“Midnight!!!” Luna screams to him after coming too just in time to see the colt’s tail slipping past the mandibles.

The only one now keeping the princess company is the stumbling Manticore, while it wobbles about on the ground, clenching its gut at the stallion’s intrusion in to its bowels. Whatever that colt is made of, certainly isn’t agreeing with his stomach. The eerie gurgling in the lower intestines teems higher, and higher as it works its way up. As the temperature does the same. Clasping a paw, and stump over its mouth. The only result is a massive burn to his paws pad as emerald flames make short work of his throat, and mouth. The internal organs don’t fare any better from the angered colt inside going to work on them, toasting everything in his path with a gout of envious flame. Not being able to take it anymore, the Manticore falls over to its side with a dull thud. Only a pair of smoke trails rise up from his nose while the eyes start to char away, and turn to ash. Luna rushes over to the corpse. Listening in to catch if there is any movement from the one that literally dove in to the belly of the beast.

“Can you hear me?! Are you there?!” She pounds her hoof against its chest, “Midnight bucking answer me!”

Not soon after that, a blood covered hoof of the colt punches through the skin, and rips a whole big enough for him to fall out. To which he does right in to the open hooves of the mare with him, while he drains the fluids out of his nose, mouth and ears. Coughing up blood that isn’t in fact yours, is something that no pony could see themselves doing. An interesting thing to experience, but not one that Midnight looks forward to doing again any time soon.

“Easy now, let it all out,” Luna pats him on the back like she would Snow Bolt when he was younger, or Rosebud even more years ago, “How do you feel?”

“Well for flying down the throat of another, and being eaten,” The blank expression even under the red hue tells her all she needs to know on that matter while he just rest his head back on her chest, “I’d have to say, not half bad.”

“Okay poor question, sorry.”

“It’s not the worst you could have asked,” He winces from the experience.

Not so much the idea, but the magic that drained from his body did not help his pervious state. Now far wearier after using a fire spell while inside to cook, and more, or less eat his way out of the new kill. The meat may be in his system after he chomped away to work himself out, but that doesn’t mean the darkness can’t try, and fight back before it’s absorbed in to his blood stream. Midnight’s eyes flicker from their forgiving golden color to the hated solid black as he loses it. Along with his touch of reality, as he has only his old companion to fill his ears of his blackened vision from not the night time atmosphere, but the view inside a dark canvas of his mind.

‘You can’t hold on forever,’ Shard taunts him. Managing to still have some sort of grasp while it antagonizes the colt it harbors in, ‘I can even feel you slipping.’

‘I should also be gaining my strength back soon from what I ate,’ Midnight snickers back at him as best he can.

‘That may be true, but it won’t work forever you-’

‘Midnight!’ Another sweeter sounding voice cuts Shard off as it enters the fray in a sort of internal battle with the other, ‘Stay with me now! You’re still in there, I know it!’

‘What is this? That blasted mare again?’ The fading voice starts to whimper more, and more, ‘Well I was going to say that Luna was a cute one. Though she is hampering my fun, ergo… I dislike her,’ Midnight can all, but picture the snooty image of Shard’s darkened form, ‘I will see you… again.’

Snapping back to reality, Midnight finds himself still in the fore hooves of a wonderfully close mare that called him back from the storm. The soft whimpers of her cheek against his, quiet breathing of her chest pressing against him with every intake, and even the slight wetness on his side as she sheds the occasional tear for him. All beckon the colt to follow the light back to her night time embrace.

“Please Midnight… Come back,” Luna clenches her teeth to hold back a tide of emotions, “You are still in there. I know it… Just… come back to me.”

“Don’t worry…” She feels the embrace returned to her, while one of his massive wings wrap around her light form, as they both sit up better, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re back!” Luna squeezes out whatever remains of breath from Midnight’s lungs. All but crushing him in her hooves.

By sheer desire, and not thought alone. Luna leans in and plants a simplistic, but all too compassionate, kiss on the colt’s cheek. Ironically, the one she beat earlier for what he had done. Just from that touch, Luna feels the rising heat in Midnight’s coat. Completely ignoring her own, while she allows the subtle spark to pass between them in this moment of bliss and fantasy. Once her mind has finally caught up with her lips though. Luna retorts her advance, while at the same time trying to suppress urge to do more. As she leans back from him, and strains to almost get away.

“I ahh… well…” Her fumble is only met by a slight chuckle from the colt, instead of the shock she was expecting.

“You know, if it’s my place to say at least,” Midnight takes a moment to add that last bit in, to cover his bases, “You’re cute when you lose your ability to speak.”

“Ohhh… you,” With a good hearted shove, she gets back up to her feet while attempting to hide the massive Rosie red cheeks she now wears. Helping him up afterwards, they turn their attention back to the corpse of the Manticore, “So… what do we do?”

“Well… it is cooked after all…” Midnight laps his lips at the smell of the simply charred flesh. Having not gotten his fill when he was on the inside, and being robbed of eating the deer earlier for the most part.

“…And I’m starving,” Luna feels her stomach growl, just as much as the Manticore’s did before meeting its demise, “It has been over a millennia sense I’ve had Manticore.”

The light batting of her eyes is all the colt needs to hear, or see, as they both look at one another, and just nod in agreement. After all, it would be far more wasteful to leave it out here to rot. On top of that, to look for another thing to eat takes up to much time, and they are fairly tired after all. No use flying back home on an empty stomach.

Considering now they need to not only make it back to Canterlot tonight, but also carry a dead deer along with them for a snack later. So for now, the two gorge themselves on a meal that was not really intended, but will hit the spot just as much as any. Though the company is better than the cut in this case, even if they are both now the color of a rose from snout to hoof. Though not all of that is because of the blood on their coat, as much as it is the blood under it.

Chapter 21

Chapter twenty one

A ruffle in the sack.

Tossing about in bed.

The widest grin on one ponies face.

These things follow the princess of the night as she dives in to the late morning while remaining in bed, after getting back home to the castle very late in the morning. Though in reality Luna knows not where she is, only that the she’s enjoying it in her own mind. The feeling of being tucked in to your own bed brings warmth, and comfort to the lunar mare as she snuggles deep in to the sheets, and openly embraces the counter effect of the cool pillows she has on her cheek.

Sadly though, like all good things, they must come to an end.

There are many ways to wake up a sleeping mare, and usually the choice is decided by who you are in relation to them. A fellow friend, may nudge them gently. A sibling, would probably leave them there to sleep the day away. A lover, would use the simple act of a kiss on the lips to stir them in to wakefulness.

A particular teenage niece, who loves her aunt very much, has a special way of doing things.

A rather large pillow to the face.

“Aunt Luna! Wake up,” Rosebud throttles her delicate features with the feathery weapon, getting the desired response in the form of a now coughing mare who tumbles up, and out of bed kissing the floor boards.

“Ugh…” Luna parts lips with her floor to try, and raise herself up to her flank, “Good morning to you as well… Rose.”

The gritting of teeth from the lunar mare is lost on the very young princess, who can only bounce up, and down like she has learned from her auntie Pinkie Pie out of joy, “You too auntie!”

“Well it seems we didn’t have to come get you at all,” Twilight’s voice fills the room while she, and Celestia come in.

“Good morning sister,” Tia chimes in, fully ignoring the death glare that Luna is giving her own daughter, “It seems Rosebud has already taken the time to come and get you ready to start the day.”

“Start the day with a sore muzzle?” Luna rubs the end of her snout with a gentle hoof. Getting a pillow to the face, and falling flat on said face, can force even the most weary pony back in to full consciousness. Making the mare instantly aware of her surroundings. Snapping her head about Luna instantly recognizes her room from the decor, and attire that she sees. Though how did she get here? “Umm?”

The nervous lip biting on her younger sister’s face urges the solar princess to step forward, and help her up all the way to four feet, “What’s the matter Luna? Twilight told me what had happened while she was with Midnight. Is everything alright?”

“Oh… we had our little chat out in the forest last night about that matter, it won’t be happening again,” Luna answers simply, trying to avoid having to explain why some of the forest is now bare black, and scorched beyond recognition, “He just needed a little-”

“Nourishment?” Tia winks at her while picking up her sister’s sentence. Leaving Twilight, and Rose to remain oblivious to the needs of the colt still.

“Precisely…” the mare starts to giggle, “well after a small fight with a Manticore he got what he needed, we both did actually,” The all too telling glare that her older sis gives her, lets Luna know that she is in for a long story to tell later on to keep Tia in the loop. Opting now to try, and change the subject at hoof for the moment, she draws a complete blank, “Though after our fill. I can’t recall a single-”

“You passed out after your meal with Midnight,” Rosebud interjects in to the conversation, causing all ears and eyes to turn towards the young mare who clearly knows more than it seems, “What? I couldn’t sleep last night, so as I was walking around the halls, I found him,” Rose shrugs it off, “Midnight introduced himself when he came in with a sack over his back, and you also hunched over top of him passed out. He said that you had had too much to eat, and passed out from a food-coma, and he was looking for your room to tuck you in to bed.”

“Oh did he now…” Twilight passes a wary eye over to the lunar princess, who eagerly tries to hide her facial expression of sheer embarrassment under the crimson coat. Silently wishing she was still in bed so she could hide under the covers.

“Yea!” the daughter shouts out with joy, “He’s super polite, kind, and gentle. Oh, oh! And so sweet! Plus his eyes are wicked cool!” Rose starts to bounce up and down around her aunt, who remains the center of attention for the moment. While at the same time, Rose wonders to herself if there’s a spell that can change her eyes, “I lead him up to your room so he could lay you down after I pulled back the covers. It was adorable when he tucked you in, like you used to do to me,” The wide beaming face of a young mare, over shadows the completely lost expression on Luna’s own. An already eerie sweat, begins to trickle down the base of Luna’s neck as she can feel the piercing gaze of her own sister from just where the conversation (or at least the night before) could have ended up.

“And then what happened?” Lulu moves along the story to try, and prevent Tia from getting in on the conversation to see if she really doesn’t remember anything, or just has selective amnesia.

“Well after he tucked you in. We both walked out while Midnight still had that sack on his back. He and I chatted for a bit while he explained why he was here in the castle, and what you were doing with him,” she tries to recall the conversation, “Though for some reason he asked where the nearest kitchen was before parting ways, and at an hour like that…” Rose wonders the odd predicament in her mind for a moment. Before her ears instantly perk up, as the soft eyes click on exactly why the night princess is slightly squirmy over this matter, “Wait, are you and him-”

“NO!” Luna bellows out in the Royal Canterlot Voice. Hushing herself back up with a hoof over her muzzle a second later, ‘Dang it… I thought I got control of that habit years ago at Nightmare night.’

“Awe…” Rose sighs playfully at her, “Do you want to talk about it auntie?”

“That’s…” She exclaims, not quite sure how to follow up the offer of being helped by her own niece in the romance department. Until Luna reasons that it’s better to chat with her niece, than the prying ears of Rose’s mother, “…maybe later. For now though let’s just leave it at that. I find myself pondering many uncouth thoughts lately…” Luna winks at Rose. A silent promise to meet later to talk about colts that only the pair could share, “…However, where is Midnight anyway? He went through quite an ordeal last night. Is he okay?”

“Actually he’s in the same place you would normally find me,” Twilight answers back as they can all guess where that would be, “Sense I have been up at least, after getting my morning coffee. When I went in the library, I saw him peeling through several books on his own.”

“Did he say what for?”

“All Midnight mentioned was that he had a brain storm earlier.”

Without a second thought, Luna starts to march towards the door, and onwards to see the colt. That is until the soothing voice of her sister beckons her to turn around, “Luna… perhaps you should get something to eat first before seeing him.”

“Breakfast can wait, dear sister.”

“Oh I don’t know,” Celestia mulls over in her own mind. A golden aura forming around her horn as she pulls a covered tray out from off a table in the room, which has been overlooked by the night mare entirely, “I think Midnight made this especially for you.”

The original thought to question the statement falls apart in the sibling’s mind, as she sees from under the lid that there is a few drops of red liquid making its way out. Already dried up from time, but still looking as ever glassy from when it was first shed. It becomes all too obvious to her of what kind of meal it is. Nodding only now to the elder in the room, Luna takes the tray in her own magical grasp, and rests it back down on the table to take a seat.

“Thank you, Tia,” Luna grins wildly at the meal she can already smell from its proximity.

“Likewise,” Her counterpart answers back. Ushering the others out of the room so the only other pony she knows to feed on such things, can do so in privacy.

As they depart, Luna lifts the top off of the tray. Instantly having her tongue seemingly roll out of her mouth at the sight to behold. Cut up portions of ribs, nicely seasoned, and charred. Full legs of the deer that she remembers Midnight killing, grilled to a rare color. Even on top of that some of the choice organ meats have been left to simmer with one another as the flavors blend together.

Liver, heart, kidney, spleen, and even parts of brain. Each of their juices flowing in to the next, and placed well done in to the better part of the rib cage that remains like a savage serving dish. All of it, from the ribs, to the kidney, dripping with the red life liquid that Luna finds herself now lapping her lips for more and more.

“Well I’ll be…” she gasps, rolling her tongue back in to place to marvel at the meal, “Midnight… there’s breakfast in bed, and then there’s this, and by the smell of things,” She takes one last mighty whiff before digging in, “you sure can cook too.”

_____________________

Another book is placed on top of already a growing stack next to the odd colt, as Midnight sits off in a distant corner in one of the many libraries that Canterlot castle is graced with. With the guards of the castle already knowing of his presence, it’s rather easy for Midnight to move about. Though the glares of intrigue, and only what he can assume a small level of disgust that he gets from many ponies that make up the staff around here ,still lets him know that although the royalty has allowed him to stay. He may not be wanted all that much by others. For now though, the colt has more pressing matters as a single word is in the front of his mind.

‘Flankton…’ His mind reads over, and over to itself. Thankful that another isn’t there to listen, ‘I know you are here somewhere.’

The dropping of a feather duster to the ground, and the slight yelp that follows, lets Midnight know that he isn’t alone anymore at the moment. Snapping his head around, the pair of golden orbs lock with a rather disturbed maid that stumbled in to this part of the library at the wrong time in her book.

“Oh… ahh terribly sorry to disturb you sir,” The mare starts to wipe down some of the shelves with her own hoof. Trying not to look in to the slit eyes staring at her, while her actual duster lays in his path. If it weren’t for the pair of shadowy fangs he wore, Midnight’s smile might have eased her own mind without a word. Though thanks to the gesture, she only freezes where she stands.

“No miss…” instantly recognizing the look in her eyes as fear. He pauses for a second, and remains in his seat. Picking up the duster with a green aura around it, and levitates it over to the mare, “…I should be the one that is sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you ma’am, it just is a habit I have, as you might be able to tell.”

“Umm… it’s… okay?” The statement comes out more as a question as she tries to figure out how he is doing what her eyes can’t lie to her about. Though after the colt drops the duster in her hooves, she remains there out of curiosity now. The polite, and generally soothing voice calming her a bit, “How did you…?”

“Just my own special talent…” Midnight chuckles a bit to lighten the mood. Showing only his cutie mark from his seat, “The names Midnight. I’m fairly new here, as you can see… what’s yours if I may ask?”

Now fumbling from his manner. The mare puts the duster away, and extends a hoof to him as she draws in closer, “Silly me… I’m Dusty… you can imagine how I got my name,” They both share a little laugh with one another for a moment. Soon being graced now by a third party.

“Well thanks to Dusty’s yelp, I didn’t have to look far to find you,” Luna prances in to the back corner with them, “It seems you are making friends just all around, aren’t you?”

“Yea…” Midnight kicks at the dirt under his chair, with a slight blush on his face, “You could call it that. I take it you had your breakfast?”

The evidence of what remains, still paints part of her mouth in a slight reddish tint from it running out during her feast. Hastily wiping it away now with a hoof, the lunar mare gets to the same position with facial color as the colt is, “Oh yes, yes I did.”

The obvious facial exchanges between the two ponies makes it all too clear to the maid of what is going on in their minds at the moment. Even if the two involved haven’t realized it yet fully, to her, Dusty has seen the same thing on more than one occasion in the castle, “Well it seems that you two have some catching up to do…” She takes her leave, “Have a good day your majesty, and you as well Mr. Midnight, it was a pleasure to meet you,” The calm mare leaves them be in the library to chat. Both now biting their lips, and avoiding eye contact with one another for the moment at how that must have looked.

‘Well that was painfully obvious,’ Midnight talks to himself before scooting a chair over so his companion can take a seat as well. “I trust you enjoyed all of your meal then?”

“Why yes, and if I must say. It was rather… divine,” Luna laps her lips once more. Nearly reliving the meal all over again in her mind, “Where did you learn to cook like that anyway? Most colts I know could set a bowl of cereal on fire.”

“How many other colts do you actually know then?” His raised brow reminds her of her own social life.

“Hmm… well Twilight’s husband for one. Flash can cook a mean meal after all. My brother in law counts, though unless you like things spicy you’re out of luck. Then Shining Armor is best when it comes to stews,” She mulls over the thought of any others she has seen in the past. “Apart from them. Random social experiences over the millennia… more of a gender role I guess I throw it up to.”

“I can accept that answer,” Midnight cracks open another book, and spreads it between them to either side of the desk, “Having been alive for centuries, you have time to experiment when it comes to such things, and when you eat a lot of meat you have to keep the flavors interesting. Otherwise it’s just another cut.”

“The organ meat though?” Small droplets of drool pepper the page below her as Luna wipes herself once again just from the thought, “Sorry… I just haven’t had a nicely cooked kidney in a while. Let alone the heart.”

He shrugs his shoulders a bit at the simple act, “It’s an art lost on many races. Only ones I’ve seen practicing it is the gryphons, and for the most part they still stay clear of many organs.”

“And they haven’t a clue what they’re missing,” The smitten kitten of a princess giggles to herself like a filly, “I always loved liver.”

“I’m more of a spleen kind of colt,” Midnight laps his tongue.

“What do you have against my liver?” She teases him a bit with a little push in the shoulder.

“Eh to irony…” Midnight beams wide at her, “Though a grilled heart never hurt anyone,” They both begin to laugh a bit with one another now. Trying to keep it down for the sakes of those that might be with in ear shot. After all, they are in a library.

“Is it bad that we are laughing about what cuts of meat we prefer?” she poses the question.

“Well we’re both omnivores so let’s call it an inside joke,” he answers before bringing his hoof back down on a page, and the subject back to attention of the princess. Midnight flips through a few more pages to get to one he had marked. While he gives reason to even be in the library at this time, and why he has books lined all around him, “After putting you to bed last night. During my own sleep my mind was left to wander, and I started to relive some of my past memories in my dreams.”

“Really?” She gasps, “But I thought you couldn’t remember?”

“Up to a certain point at least… though with Shard being silenced more often than not finally from something calling me out of the darkness,” Midnight recalls the few times he’s met his nightmare face to face in his mind. Only to be pulled out by the princess herself from her soothing and caring words, “my subconscious has been able to enter a little further back and instead of a haze of memories, one name managed to pop up,” His hoof stops on a single page. An open map of Equestria is left in their view, though this one with far less towns, and settlements here and there. Clearly an early version, of what they know now as the colt points to one settlement, “Flankton… it’s the name of an old town many years ago. From what I recall I spent many years there. I know not what years, however from what I saw through my eyes… I was a young one.”

“Hmm…” Luna looks over the map. Having seen the change in times of the land she loves over the years. She flips through a few pages now to a more modern map, “I think I know where you’re going with this… and… there,” She stops herself on one town.

“Coltsdale…” He reads aloud, “Built and renamed over the years, the modern Flankton. If the town has any records left over …”

“…Then you may be able to cross reference…”

“…And probably get an idea of…” They start to lean in closer to one another.

“…Where you started out from!” Luna yells out as it all clicks to her mind even more so now as they both embrace one another in joy.

A single library mare leans around the corner, and puts a hoof to the end of her muzzle, “Shh.”

‘Sorry,’ the princess mouths to her before composing herself from the hug. Now just grinning at him like a little filly once more, “But still, even if they have records. Do you really think you’d be in there? Or even if any pony there would remember you after all this time?”

All the colt does is stand up, and extend a hoof to help pull Luna out of her own chair, “Look at me…” He presents his frame with all its odds, and ends, “Do I look like I am one to be easily forgotten?”

“Meh… point made Midnight,” She levitates the book up next to her while they both start to trot out towards the exit of the library, “Well I better let my sister know that we’ll be on a little trip for the next few days.”

“Do you think she’ll mind? After all you do have your own duties here,” He raises the question.

“I raise, and lower the moon. That I can do anywhere. The castle can watch itself without me at night, seeing as my guards still are around here,” Luna ponders another thought for a moment before going back to the subject, “Kind of surprised you haven’t seen any actually… On top of this, before Discord was reformed. Celestia and I didn’t really have that much free time. However, ever sense then, and getting the aid from having Twilight rise up to be a princess as well. We all have more leisure time than we know what to do with,” The mare brushes off the question as she magics the door open for her, and her companion, “Besides… we’re only going out on a little road trip in to the country…” Luna responds to him while the door close behind them, and they go to fill in the others.

Chapter 22

Chapter twenty two

A single leathery wing drapes over a four year olds body, as he is pulled in closer to his mother on the couch. Snuggling even closer to her warm form, the young Midnight eagerly leans his head back against her soft rising, and falling chest as she plants a tender kiss a top his fore head. Simply enjoying the little things in life, like spending a simple moment with her son.

“What happened next mom?” He asks, trying to read over the story book in front of him now as she holds it open.

“Hehe,” Golden giggles with pride at her son’s eagerness from him being wrapped up in the story, “Well let’s continue, and we shall see… ‘The lone knight tracks his way through the forest onwards to his beloved. Not a single mountain is too tall, or forest to dense to stop him in his quest. The only one that is in his mind, and heart is the one who stole it from him-’”

“A sweet tail none the less,” Sky calls out from the kitchen as he leans out with several splatters of blood draping over his own face from the carving of the meat. Stepping out in to the living room, and in the middle of the story.

Knowing the tail all too well by now. Seeing as Golden has read it to their son at least a dozen times, and the book was originally his own. Though he can’t complain, as it is one of his favorites. Wiping off his hoof with a towel to avoid drenching them in the life fluid, the father runs his hoof gently through his sons jet black mane as he can only admire the shiny fangs that stick out from the little smile he receives, “How’s it going sport? Hungry?”

“Starving dad,” Midnight’s stomach growls while mouth beams even more so at the larger colt he is proud to call dad.

Using his own magical horn, Sky levitates a single strip of flesh from inside the kitchen without even needing to see. Quickly peeling it from the bone, and hovering it next to him to cool for a second, “Here ya go…” he hands the cut off to his kin, “Dinner will be ready soon, but that should wet your pallet for-” Sky is cut off at the sudden release of magic from his son’s muzzle in the form of a green flame. Already feeling some of his own hairs singed shorter from the heat, the father only wipes off some of the char as he watches his son cough a bit after the taste of flesh.

“You put a lot of pepper on it, didn’t you?” Golden raises her own brow at her husband. Trying to hold back her giggles as she dampens out the smoke coming from her son’s mouth, and brings a glass of water from the table next to her so Midnight can take a sip.

The slight shrug of her husband’s shoulder, lets her know that she was spot on with the judgment without even a word from him, “It’s a habit,” he cleans the last bit of black from his coat, “Though I will say his magic does seem to be growing with age.”

“As do most unicorns magic,” Golden fills in after taking the now empty glass from her son’s grasp, “Let’s see... he’s already been able to launch a shock wave spell, shoot fire from his mouth, and Midnight’s vomit had a nasty acidic effect when it nearly ate away at whatever it touched.”

Sky slides in next to his wife, and cradles both of them for a moment, “Then our Midnight learned he could levitate items with his hooves… oh and who could forget, blast apart objects with a head butt, or punch, so long as he covered it in a protective barrier,” Sky thinks about any other talents that their son had picked up, though a single thought keeps filling his mind, “All of them though seem to be combat spells, besides the telekinesis.”

“Well look who his parents are,” Golden reminds him. Giving Sky a quick peck on the cheek.

After eavesdropping on those around him a sadden filled expression on Midnight’s face greets his father’s own, after hearing both parents talk about his little gift. For all his life he has been sheltered from most other ponies. The only ones he would see is Fall being a family friend. Even the doctor in town, when he would be sick, though that wouldn’t happen often. In terms of other ponies his age, there were none really.

Any time he would go in to town, his parents would cover him over in a cloak, and sit him atop their back. From day one, he always knew that he was different, that something was just off with him. From his mother reading him all sorts of adventure stories, it seems the unicorns that would use spells to hurt were always the bad ones, and those spell just happen to be the ones that come naturally to him.

“Is… Is that bad?” A single tear wells up in his eyes, as Midnight wonders what makes him so different, “I… I don’t mean to make bad spells. It’s just all I know how to do.”

Both parents remain shocked at this development. After all, their son never really took the time to talk about such things to them. Though with his magic growing in his age, so does the questions of how he is able to do it all. For a unicorn with not only the ability to use magic, but one that is also the colt’s father. Sky takes his son’s body in to his own grasp, and brings him over in to his lap.

“Hey… there is no such thing as a bad spell, Midnight,” He corrects his son with a lighthearted bump on his muzzle, “You’ve seen the spells that I can do in the back yard, right?” Sky waits for his son to nod at him before carrying on, “The same Fire spell that you can do, I can use to start a camp fire. The Shock wave spell, I’ve seen unicorns use that to knock ripe fruit off of trees, instead of bucking them off. The levitation spell that you probably think is just harmless? Well that all matters how fast you throw the object, and how big it is in the first place.”

“Then why is it that-” His lower lip starts to quiver as Midnight fights to get the words out while holding back a few more tears from his own revelation, “All the bad guys in the stories that mom, and you read use the same spells as me? Does that mean I’m bad because I can only really do bad magic?”

‘So that’s why he was asking,’ the slight chuckle in the base of the father’s throat eases his own curiosity as it escapes between the two colts, “Son, Midnight… as I said before. There is no such thing as bad magic. Magic is just a tool to be used by us. It doesn’t make you who you are. You decide what you want it to be… if you do bad with it. Then it’s called evil, but if you help others using it, well then how bad can you really be?” He kisses the top of his son’s forehead before putting him back in Golden’s lap, “You’re a sweet little colt, and will grow up to make quite the noble colt one day.”

“Thanks dad,” Midnight smiles back at him, wiping away any tear that remains with his leathery wing. Happy to have that little issue that dwelled in the back of his mind, at ease now.

Sky meanwhile walks over to his wife’s side, and gives her a heartfelt kiss on the cheek, “However, in my haste to try, and start dinner earlier. I forgot to get something for later to preserve the meat, so I just have to run in to town real quick to grab some salts.”

“It’s starting to get late now,” Golden looks out the window, and sees the sun start to peak down behind the tree line while the horizon remains not too far after that, “Are you sure about that?”

“Well it will be bad in the morning,” He puts a small satchel around his collar before heading towards the door, “Don’t worry now, there are few ponies out at this time anyway. I’ll be back soon. I love you both now.”

“I love you too, dear,” Golden blows him a quick kiss.

“I love you too, daddy,” Midnight waves at him with flailing little hooves.

Sky can’t help but get his own waterworks from the warm nature of his own son, as he pushes open the door way, and steps out in to the night. Closing it gently behind him so the pair inside can get back to the story, of the knight in shining armor.

Chapter 23

Chapter twenty three

After a rather brief explanation to the monarch of the castle. Followed by a few good ‘luck’s and ‘see you soon’s from the others. Both Luna, and Midnight have found themselves already out the door faster than was expected, or could have been hoped, and onward towards their destination. Soaring through the air on their own power, and making great time at that. Midnight, having been up far earlier while studying over the map, guides them towards the town of Coltsdale. For what amounts to a midafternoon flight it’s none the less pleasant. Especially given the company for the trip. With each a pair of powerful wings to propel them, it takes neither the princess nor her, more or less, escort very long to reach the outskirts of the town itself. As they land just out of the limits with a graceful step.

“And princess I welcome you to…” Midnight extends a hoof pointing out to the establishments in view, “Coltsdale.”

“Not a bad little flight, even enjoyable I would go to say,” She summarizes, trotting ahead of him a bit while he catches up to her side, “Though I will say that now that we are here and all… The order of business is to find, the library.”

“I haven’t known her very long, but just from my brief experience,” Midnight starts to chuckle to himself while walking at the connection he’s made, “You sound like Twilight.”

“That mare has been around more often lately, so I guess she’s rubbing off on me,” She giggles with him for a moment before explaining her piece, “Though, as we are looking for records, the best place would be the library after all,” They both nod to one another, and start to trot a little faster while they now enter the town.

Being the middle of the day, the town center bustles with other ponies going about their daily tasks of buying groceries, selling their own products, cleaning up shop, or taking care of miscellaneous different tasks of their own lives. However, being on what amounts to the back end of Equestria, you never get to have that many visitors. Let alone an appearance from one of the nation’s regal sisters. A single earth pony colt carting around, well, a cart just happens to be the first to see her, and even has to pause to do a double take to make sure he hasn’t been exhorting himself too much with his wagon.

“Ahh…” He stumbles to the ground in a bow while she starts to close the distance in between them, “…Your majesty, welcome!” The final word brings the attention to many of the others near him, and as they drop to the ground and a domino effect takes hold. After a few seconds, what seems like the whole town square, is now at her hooves.

“Is it always like this?” Midnight leans in to her ear, while looking at the masses.

“Well I don’t come here often,” Luna shrugs off at him before addressing the rest of the town in the Royal Canterlot Voice just to get her point across, “CITIZENS OF COLTSDALE. YOUR PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT HAS GRACED YOU WITH HER PRESENCE. HOWEVER, SHE BECKONS YOU TO ENJOY THE DAY, AND CARRY ON AS SUCH. SO PLEASE, RISE!” The single command beckons them to get to their feet where they are greeted by her warm smile, “Much better,” Luna leans in to the earth pony who started it all, as he gets to his hooves, “Though perhaps you could direct me, and my companion, to the town library?” she asks in hushed tones.

“Oh…well, three streets down,” He points in a single direction with his hoof past them, “On your right. You can’t miss it, your majesty.”

“Thank you, kind colt…” She nods to him, while now she and Midnight trot off to follow the directions given to them.

Coming across the old building just outside the center, several chairs outside are set up for patrons to read to their hearts desire in the warm sun. Or should the weather not hold up, then they can come inside to where they will meet the warm reception of a unicorn mare who looks to be about as old as the building itself.

“Good afternoon, Princess Luna,” The elderly mare lightly bows down to her before raising herself back up, and readjusting the spectacles on her muzzle as she notices the peculiar colt near her, “And to you as well sir…to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Good day ma’am,” Midnight takes the stand before Luna even gets the chance to, “We have come from Canterlot, and were hoping to get a look at your town records… Older ones if at all possible.”

“Well let’s see now,” The mare holds a hoof to her chin. Going over the entire mental image, and layout of the library itself, having been here long enough to nearly memorize it, “Well just how old are ya looking for?”

“All the way back to when this town was known by a different name,” Luna interjects as they both begin to follow the mare back in to the aisles, “Flankton, around that time period.”

“Ahh Flankton!” Her old eyes light up, while just the simple mention of the name brings back memories, “I haven’t heard that name in a while now, it seems most ponies around here have forgotten it…” Her small horn lights up with a violet tinge, picking up a book from a shelf above them. Before laying it neatly down on the colt’s back so he can carry it for the princess, “That there is the list of many town residences, occupations, and businesses that were here…” the mare takes a much needed sigh, “Though sadly there isn’t anything else from around that time. Several years ago there was a storm, and with this places leaky roof, needless to say many of the books didn’t last long.”

“We appreciate the help miss,” Luna nods to her, while the librarian trots off in the distance. Luna waits for her to get out of distance, before bringing up the topic between them, “Well… This is the best we’ve got.”

“I remember neither the name of the pony who raised me, nor any of their kin that surrounded me,” Midnight grumbles while scrapping his hoof at the ground below him. Silently kicking himself at the fault he has to blame on himself. Of all the things he could have forgotten over the many, many years. He has lost track of the names to those that were the closest thing he had to a family growing up, ‘and now I’m stuck with a book, that has nothing of use to me, but names,’ Midnight thinks before biting the inner part of his lip with a fang, trying to hide his displeasure. Though no matter how quiet he may be about the failure, one mare is able to hear him loud and clear.

“It’s not your fault you can’t remember,” A gentle hoof rests itself on the colt’s shoulder as Luna stands even closer to him, while they go over to a desk to look through the tomb, “After all it has been literally century’s sense then, and Shard’s presence hasn’t likely helped.”

“And yet almost five hundred years is what it took for me to even really start looking to where it all could have begun,” He does not even open the book, instead Midnight decides to slam his head atop the cover in shame. Though with the thump that came from the action, neither of them hear the mighty gasp from a colt who had only entered the library for a good book.

“Can it be…?” The Pegasus steps closer to them. His hoof steps and words finally registering to the couple, and bidding them to turn around. Upon seeing the large colt beside the princess, the one that just entered the library halts his way, and is left slack jawed at the sight, “…It is…” he mutters still in shock.

“Ahh… sir? Can we help you?” Luna waves a hoof in front of him to get his attention, snapping him back in to reality.

Instantly recognizing the princess far faster than he did the other colt, the Pegasus hits the floor for an instant before rising back up, “My apologies Princess… Though I was more taken back by your companion,” He gestures to Midnight. Who simply steps back a few paces, thinking that at first this may be a pony who somehow remembers his less than stellar moments in the town.

“I must apologize sir,” he answers quickly, “but if I did something to offend you in the past, I am sorry.”

“Oh no, no, no… nothing of that sort. Where are my manners,” The colt shakes his head, and extends a hoof to him, “Mr. Midnight allow me to introduce myself… my name is North Cloud. I’m a decedent of Fall Cloud,” North answers confidently. Expecting the name to bring up some memories, though the blank stare that the colt gives him brings him to explain more, “the one that raised you?” The speechless manner of the stallion in front of him, tells North that he left Midnight’s mind even worse off than it was, “Why of course there is much to discuss… please, come with me… I’ll fill you in with what I can.”

__________________

The short walk to North’s house after checking out the record book, is over in a few moments. The pure white Pegasus opening up the door to a comfortable looking cottage, and leads them in. Beckoning the two to come in, he leads them to the living room with the book tucked under his wing. Opening it up on a low coffee table, North flips through a few pages, and rests it there to show them what he found in only a couple of seconds, “See there…” He points with a hoof, “… Fall Cloud moved here when the town first was established… The fact that you don’t remember the name though is understandable,” He now points to the date, far in to Luna’s own banishment. The fact that he knows more about Midnight than originally guessed already apparent on the snowy colt’s face, as he beams widely to them both, “Fall was my great, great, great grandfather… and you Midnight, have been around for quite a while.”

“How is it you know all this?” The baffled nocturnal mare leans in from the couch.

“Midnight here is a story that stuck around in the Cloud family… Fall’s kids, and grandkids were around you and told their own children about you in the past, kind of a mysterious one that little foals like to hear about,” North gets up for a moment, and returns with a photo album to share. Flipping steadily through the pages that show many family moments between them all. Several of them, showing a rather odd pony that seems to stick out like a sore hoof. The smaller colt in the beginning, is further away from most of the others in the pictures as they begin looking through, though as the years progressed. Not only did his size dramatically grow, but so did the appearance of a more warming acceptance to the group, as a young Midnight embraced his family.

“…Fall brought you in under his wing when you were just a pup. Though you stuck together with us up until his own grandchildren, just as Fall himself, did…” A single tear falls from North’s eye as he remembers the memories that have been passed down from his ancestor. To his children, grandchildren, and eventually to himself, “Bless his kind heart. Fall started our line, oddly enough it was always the family joke that he said he wasn’t going to get married, have kids, or anything of the sort… Whelp, look how that turned out,” The decedent points to himself.

Out of the many pictures that they see of Fall, he always has a smile on his face, and usually with a unicorn mare under his wing. Though in the silence of them taking in the pictures, Midnight himself has a tear beading up in his eyes. Touching the picture with a single hoof, the other two look at him now to see their friend attempting to fight back water works, “I… I remember. Not much, but some…” He points to another one. Of himself, along with Fall, and the unicorn out at a park at what looks to be dusk, “Here… This was the first memory of a park I have.”

“But who took the pictures?” Luna turns slightly to North for an answer.

“One of the doctors in town was a friend of Fall’s. Didn’t really care of what Midnight here looked like. Heck if I remember correctly he helped deliver the little tike,” North shrugged off.

“But the unicorn…” The taken colt runs his hoof lightly across the mares form in the photo “…she’s the one that helped me with my gift…”

“Aye that makes sense now… Fall Cloud, and Floral,” North points out to him as he goes in to more of an explanation, “You were their first foal, well kinda… He found you, and brought you in. Helping to raise you, they ended up getting married not long after that,” He snickers at the small joke. Though the memory of Midnight being rescued, is a myth to him that he hasn’t even solved.

“You said Fall found Midnight?” Luna perks up, waiting for her question to grab North, “What do you mean, did he explain that?”

Soft eyes on the Pegasus’s face fall slowly to the floor in a moment of silence, “Sadly no… The only thing Fall ever conveyed about your discovery, was that he only wished he could have forgotten it himself,” Before anything more on that matter can be spilled. the door opens wide once more, and the slight sequels of a foal pierce the air.

“Daddy!” a small Pegasus darts forward, and topples her father out of the chair, and on to the floor. Not even noticing the other two ponies there in the room while North does the fatherly thing...

Rough house with his child, and let them win.

“I love you too, Cirrus,” He kisses the tip of her muzzle while the small foal stays atop his chest. That is before being lifted back up in an amber glow around her, and to the back of a mare.

“She does love her father…” the rose unicorn comes in, and kisses North for what she can only say, is never long enough. Though the presences of others in the room as she opens one eye urges her to cut the show of affection short. Mostly because the fact of who one of the guests is, “…well it would be nice to get a note that we were having company,” She chuckles to herself, and extends a hoof to both Midnight, and even the princess without missing a beat. Though even if she isn’t showing it. The mother is slightly unnerved by having the unexpected royalty in her home without even the chance to clean things up a bit, “It is a pleasure to have you here your majesty, both of you…”

“Why the pleasure is all mine,” Luna insists, though the light feel of a pair of wings running below her beckons the mare to look down, only to see the foal sitting there idly with wide eyes at the princess of the night.

“Hello Miss Luna,” She mutters while trying to speak around the hoof in her mouth.

“Good evening little one,” She smiles back. Even using her own magic to lift up the foal, and put her on her own back.

Though the foal’s attention is broken by the noticing of the other colt there in the room. His strange appearance captivating her, and even causing the young pony to twist her head back and forth as she looks over Midnight’s form.

“Cirrus? Was it?” Midnight asks calmly as he leans down to be on eye level with her, “After Cirrus clouds that are high above the others in the air. Did you know that?”

“Yep!” she beams widely at the colt, “Mommy says it’s because I’m going high places in the world!” The simple incite relaxes her a bit, to the point where she even starts to ask the new comer a thing or two, “Why do you have fangs?”

The blunt question stumps the parents for a second. Though Midnight simply answers the questions as they come, “I was born with them actually.”

“Do you know my daddy?”

“No, not exactly…” Midnight takes a moment to answer. Recalling the relation, “But I do know one of his old relatives.”

“Are…” Cirrus starts to put it together, “Are you the pony my dad would talk about? The one with the magic but no horn?”

At that moment, Midnight knows that the foal is more than just curious. Bringing out a single hoof, he points it towards the photo album on the table, and levitates it with a slight glow in his hoof over to them to answer the foal’s question, “That I am…” He beams back at her, as they go back in to the living room to chat.

Cirrus sits atop Midnight’s lap while North fills his wife in, “Crimson… this is Midnight. He is the one that you see in the photos, the one Fall rescued.”

“I remember you talking about him many times. Though I honestly never thought I’d see him for myself,” Crimson smiles lightly at the similar colored colt, “North here has shared many stories with our little Cirrus over the years. However, she will be able to tell her kids one day, that she actually met you.”

“Hehe that she will,” Luna giggles a bit as the foal pokes, and prods the bat like wings of the colt. Though at heart she can’t find the words to describe how adorable it is to see Midnight going along with it, and even to the point of bringing one out a bit so she can lay down in it like a hammock, ‘This is just too precious…’ She tries to cover her muzzle to stave off the laughter, “I would have expected Cirrus to be a little more hesitant, around a new pony such as yourself, no offence,” Luna follows up quickly as she bites her tongue, while herself and the parents watch Cirrus climb all over the colt, “usually kids are frightened more easily.”

“Sometimes yes…” Midnight answers, already knowing how to answer this, “though for the most part when they are young. To see a pony like me inspires more awe and wonder than fear, even with the fangs,” he recalls a few of the instances of running in to a foal while out in the world.

One young colt found Midnight hanging in a tree before by his very tail, though when his golden eyes snapped open. The foal didn’t run, only looked in amazement that a pony could even suspend themselves like that. Another time a little filly bumped in to him while out in a village, that’s when she noticed that the cloak he was wearing was actually his wings, and being a Pegasus, never imagined that wings on a pony could be that big. While out in the city once, Midnight saved a mother and her daughter from a couple muggers while the parent took a short cut at night through an ally. Though while the criminals were shocked that he levitated a dumpster in to them, and rather hurt at that, the foal just stared in wonder at what he did with no horn.

However, no matter how harmless he may be. Midnight still got the same treatment by their parents when they came around. The colt’s father hurtled a few energy bolts at him when he saw the fangs. Half of the village chased him out when the mother noticed his slit eyes. And even after being rescued. Upon seeing he wasn’t a unicorn, the mare in the ally grabbed her daughter and screamed, taking off away from the colt that just likely saved her live. Midnight is, needless to say, used to that sort of treatment. Though his little memory trip did give North something to ponder on while he watched his daughter play.

“However, I must ask, is there anything we can help you with?” He asks the pair, “After all I doubt you would have come here all the way from Canterlot just to chat, especially after I found you in the library.”

“Well then you would assume right,” Midnight answers, letting the little mare play on him while he explains their position.

Starting off from where he should, in the Crystal Empire, and how he was brought to Canterlot. He jumps onwards to Luna, and Twilight helping him to understand what his wrong, after explaining that for a good minute. Finally capping off with the little ‘following of bread crumbs’ to find his origins. The final detail on his less than perfect mind, bringing only a sympathetic hoof to Crimson’s muzzle as she gasps.

“Oh my…” She takes in another breath, “…How is it now though? Is he gone? I mean you seem quite healthy.”

“For now, Shard’s at bay,” Midnight answers while the slight tingle in the back of his mind lets him know that it isn’t gone.

“Well if you are looking for answers then… I may be able to help you,” North brings out a small map of the area, and with a quill circles a single town that doesn’t seem too far off from them, “As I said, Midnight, Fall moved here when the town was built… Though he was originally from a town nearby. Though the name has changed, much of the town hasn’t, and even to this day their library is far better than ours… Perhaps you can find your records there?”

Midnight graciously accepts the map from the colt, and tucks it in to his wing while Cirrus takes her place by her mother, “Thank you very much, North Cloud… you don’t know how much this means for me.”

“Oh I can imagine,” North, who considers Midnight not a stranger but family in his mind, wraps a single wing around the massive bat like Pegasus, and squeezes slightly. It’s an odd action at first for the recipient, though even in time Midnight melts a bit, and puts a wing around North in response. Soon being followed by Cirrus, as she wraps her hooves around the colt’s leg. All three of them lightly relinquishing the embrace, as the family Midnight never knew he had leads him, and Luna to the door.

“Take care you two… I hope you find what you’re looking for,” North waves them on. Now with Crimson, and their daughter waving goodbye to them as they go down the road towards their target.

“Make sure you stop by again sometime, Mr. Midnight!” Crimson calls back to them as the sun starts to dip down towards the horizon.

“I’ll be sure he does!” Luna responds to them while they go down to road, and off in to the distance.

Chapter 24

Chapter twenty four

'Dear Luna,

The first day of your trip is almost over, and although I didn’t expect the travel to take long. I am curious to what you may have found? If anything at all that is. I know Midnight’s mind is not a strong one at the moment, so I will ask the tough question, how is he doing? Is Shard still effecting him as much, or is it contained for now? I personally would hate to have to kick the flank of a colt you are more than smitten with on such short notice… Twilight, and Discord give their best wishes, and Rose has said that when you get back you two will have ‘girl talk’ then… what are you feeding her now Lulu?

Please give my own regards to your colt, oh I’m sorry… travel companion. And I wish you both a safe trip and the best of luck.

Your dear sister,

Celestia

P.S. Have you kissed him yet?!'

Luna reads over the message in silence as she received it on the path to the next town over. Examining it line for line as she does, the mare can only picture her sweet sister snickering to no end while she wrote this out, and Rose probably had every part in it as well… or at least the last bit.

“What does it say?” Midnight asks her, interrupting her thought process and startling the mare.

“Nothing!” she yells at first, forgetting that action just makes her look guilty to no end, “Just my sister asking how things are going is all, getting good wishes and if all was okay,” ‘no… it’s not lying, it’s just hiding some of the truth,’ the response works as Midnight simply nods to her with a suspicious grin, but pushes no further on the subject. Allowing Luna to flip the parchment over, and scribble out her own message in magic ink.

'Dear Tia,

Although our trip is not a particularly long one, checking up on me would not be needed unless I was captured and held for ransom, or had not returned for another thousand years… though I doubt you would wait that long. As for the search, we may have just found something, and I will be sure to fill you in once it plays out. Until then, give Discord my regards, thank you for your own. As for Rose and I having girl talk… wouldn’t you like to know…

Your unamused sister,

Luna

P.S. To answer your last question… you and I will have words when I see you.'

She leaves it at that and in a quick aqua flame from her horn, she express mails the scroll back to the original. Brushing off the comment made and putting in the back of her mind, Luna makes a mental note to ignore further letters from her sister, instead deciding to pay attention to the task at hoof. Catching up to Midnight to keep in step with him, the edge of the town comes in to eye sight finally.

Though while the sun may be setting, this doesn’t stop the nocturnal colt from catching a glimpse of the flustered mare, “Trouble with Princess Celestia?”

“Celestia, just call her that,” Luna snaps back unintentionally at the wrong target of her perplexity, following shortly with a low head to boot as she mutters out a simple apology, and tries to not make eye contact, “Sorry about that… she has been on my flank about a… matter.”

“Us?” he answers quickly. Though the answer to her can mean so many things.

‘Us? What does he mean by that? Like together? Traveling? Is he reading what I’m writing out in the clear of day, or is it going over the top of his head?’ “Umm… Could you elaborate?” Luna manages to get out while all other words and thoughts seem to evade the mare. Leaving the colt to do nothing but silently chuckle to himself so she can’t read what he himself is writing.

‘Well that got quite a reaction…’ he notes the blank stare that she gives him like a slap to the face, ‘… though I think I can guess what the letter said. Nice to know Celestia has already picked up on what I hope is mutual… if it isn’t already obvious.’ Having decided that his cohort has suffered long enough. Midnight follows up with a slight explanation to ease her down, “She knows about my odd condition, so it would stand to reason that she would be worried that I may snap, and hurt you,” he answers sincerely, “after all as your sister, I can understand the protective nature Celestia would have with us traveling alone out here.”

After inhaling a mighty breath of fresh air in to her lungs to further speech, Luna’s face mellows out after recalling that was in the letter after all. “Tia is slightly, unnerved, about it… you are fairly new to us. Though if she let us go out of the castle on this little trip so quickly, it can’t be so bad,” She answers to quell his curiosity.

Finally entering the town limits, they pass by several homes, and closed up businesses for the night. Luna spots what can only be the library, judging by the many books that can still be seen in the dim windows, from off in the distance. While both of them breaking in to a full gallop to catch the librarian as he brings out the key to do the same as most of the town, and lock up for the night, “Excuse me sir, do you have a moment?”

“I am sorry, but we are just about-” The stallion finally turns around to see the princess standing in front of him with a rather large colt to her side, all of which takes most forms of communication from him for but a moment, “… err… ahh… h-how is it I can help you?” He gulps hard in the back of his throat, “Your highness?”

“Please gentle colt relax,” She brushes away his nerves, “me and my friend here just need to look at your records… that’s all.”

“Well normally I would have closed an hour ago… only reason I was still here is for restock,” he scratches the back of his head for a moment, “Records you say miss? Well we have them for the whole town I know that much… I don’t see the harm in letting royalty enjoy themselves to a little night time reading,” He brings the key out hoofs it over to the princess, “Just do please lock up, oh and of course put things back where you found them?”

“Not a problem sir,” Midnight answers instead as he and the princess go inside and close the door behind them.

North was right about the older library having a far larger selection in terms of material. Many of the tombs there to be read that have been in the library sense its start, are in almost mint condition, likely due to preservation enchantments that were applied to them when they were first made. All the better for the colt who is trying to learn a thing or two about his past, and the mare that has followed him all this way. After looking through a dozen of the records however, Midnight himself hurtles a helpless book over to the wall where it is about to make impact, before being caught by the lunar princess in her own magical grasp.

“You know Twilight would have your flank if she saw you doing that,” Luna chuckles under her breath, much to his dismay but at the same time not in malice.

“Sorry about that…” He grumbles to himself before sitting up properly in the chair to address her, “Fall Cloud is in here as a resident around the same time period, even Floral is here, but apart from their names,” He flips over to another page in the book that didn’t make it across room, but remained in his possession to make a point. Showing only a list of names, and several blank spaces, “None of them have any sort of ties to another pony of blood in town that could even remotely be parents of mine…”

Walking over to the colt’s side, Luna sets the book back down next to him before taking a seat herself, ‘How am I supposed to respond to that one? I can’t go back five hundred years to find out where he came from,’ she ponders in the back of her mind. Picking up another record book, and skimming all the way back to the possible dates of his birth, ‘There has to be some way to make a connection…’ With only a single eye dipping off to meet Midnight’s own face while he has a muzzle deep in the books, something finally clicks to her as she looks over his features once more, like she had many times before, ‘Bat like ears, sharp fangs, and a set of rather pleasant golden slit eyes,’ The mare smiles lightly before making her point known.

“Midnight?” She watches as the orbs rest on her gaze, “Go back to the census records for the town, does it show occupation? Their job?”

“Mhmm…” A few seconds later he finds the column that she asked for, “Yes right here, why?”

“Lunar guards,” Luna responds to him, “Are any of them lunar guards, or perhaps ex-guards?”

Running his hoof down the page, Midnight skims through the column, until it rests on only one name as he calls it out, “Winter Night, mare, ex-Lunar guard, lived just on the outskirts of town.”

“There you have it…” She says rather smug of herself before explaining further, “Your appearance is of that like of my personal guards… So it stands to reason that the only one who would be able to give you some of your features, would be a lunar guard,” Luna herself now looks over the page on her own, only to fall back in to the chair at a slight disappoint, “Though a husband is not listed, it seems that Winter lived alone.”

Midnight sits there in silence for a moment, thinking about all the bits and pieces of information that he has in his head, trying to put the puzzle together. Though with this little bit of information he got on a possible mother, it leaves another thing to click in his mind, “Celestial guards… Is there one there in town? A colt?” after a short skim, the princess simply nods to him, “What’s the address?”

“Ahh… thirty fifth sun tame avenue,” Luna watches as the stallion almost falls out of his seat, and proceeds to look through the archives for who knows what, just as another book flies over her head. This time landing square on the table that they were using as he trots past her, and puts muzzle to pages without a word, “…I’m going to go out on a wild limb here, and guess you have a hunch?”

“I’ve been around for quite a while Luna, and I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with the Lunar and Celestial guards. One thing that I learned is that the two groups have always been at odds with one another,” Midnight can still remember many of the fights he has seen over the years involving the two. Several in a bar after a few too many, and many that resulted in riots, “Relationships between two guards were allowed, even if they were both sun and moon, though it was frowned upon. Not so much by their superiors… but their peers. So if two ponies of Lunar and Celestial were in love, and with child… don’t you think that they would come out to the edges of Equestria to live their lives?” He points to a single home built up on the town limits off far to the side.

Reading just below it ‘thirty fifth sun tame avenue’ with a name of the resident, Spector, leaving only Midnight grinning to himself. Giving time for the royalty with him to catch up. Luna now does her own digging for a second, looking back through the records to find the lunar guard. Though as she finds the address that is supposedly listed for the mare, she back tracks to the map itself and then back to the records to make sure her findings are correct.

“Another thing…” Luna points to a vacant lot on the map, “while Winter has an address listed here in the town record. According to the map, there was no home built, likely just a mail box there,” she looks in relation to Spector’s home, “and it just so happens these two are right next to one another.”

“And if you take all of that and add it up?” Midnight asks while each of them start to grin at what this will entail even before Luna says it all.

“Then you get a Celestial and Lunar guard, in a relationship with each other at a time it was forbidden, and with a secret they need to keep in the dark,” The mare grins happily to him now as he jots down the address on a small scrap of paper to take with them.

“If they were living together than perhaps there is something’s still there… it may be close to half a millennia old, but according to the more modern town layout, the place is still there to some extent,” He shrugs his shoulder while putting the paper under a wing, “We got this far… No harm in doing a little more digging?” Midnight motions with a few hoof movements, and several of the books they brought out are already back in place. Luna doing the same with her own magic, and catching right up next to him as they reach the door at the same time. Walking out in to the dark night as they start down the way.

“Oh…” The present mare pipes up before trotting back to the library door. Sliding the key in, and locking it up for the night, before leaving the key up atop the door frame, “Almost forgot.”

Chapter 25

Chapter twenty five

Levitating out a few fresh fruits from the cart with his magic, Sky Streak sends a couple of bits over to the vendor before he closes up, while sky himself walks through town. Neatly putting the fruit in to the satchel around his neck. Several other shops are closing up by this time as the vendors out on the street pack up for the day, and head home to count their bits.

‘Ahh it should still be open though,’ the ex-guard peers through squinted eyes from the glare of the sun at a building not too far off.

The general store of the town is always fully stocked with all the necessities that a border town would need. And in the case of this stallion, just what is required to help keep the two loves of his life happy, and full of the meat they so much enjoy. The single bell on the top of the door brings a welcome customer in to the establishment, as the rather buff earth pony looks over his red handle bar mustache that matches the rest of his mane, and tail at the dreary colored unicorn. “Well good evening now, mister Spector,” he ruffles the facial hair with a hoof, “What can I do for you at this time? Usually I don’t get many customers around this time of the day.”

“Well Bronze when have I ever been the usual customer?” Sky peers a wary eye over at the toasted toned pony. That is before the snicker melts down in to a smile, and the two clop their hooves together in the usual brohoof. After a few years being settled down here, both Sky and Golden have gotten more integrated in to the town folk on the down low. Having made several friends under the table, that hold no malice to their relationship or their kin… and even some of the families unorthodox eating habits, “How have you been friend?”

“Eh same old same old… new stock comes in, old customers with rather bland tastes buy the same thing over and over again, and then new stock gets thrown out. Tis the way of a seller in these parts of the land,” Bronze answers while putting away a few jars of jam on the back shelf for his morning breakfast. Looking around a bit in the small store just to see if there are any prying ears of the little ones that would like to come in, and look at the sweets on the bottom shelves then haggle their parents to get some. Having the satisfaction that the coast is clear, he leans in a bit, “How’s the misses, and little Midnight doing?”

“Very well actually. I was making dinner for them, but I did forget to pick up some salts for… flavor,” Sky winks at him, letting the truth pass without a word as Bronze picks it up.

Nodding now, and taking out a few small sacks of salt on the counter. The owner places a single thing of taffy along with it. The latter gets only a chuckle between the two, as the broad shouldered pony throws up his tree trunks of legs in a fuss, “what can I say? The little tike loves these things,” Bronze answers.

“Well he’s not so little anymore though. For a four year old, Midnight is rather big compared to others,” Sky places them in the bag, while taking out a few bits and swapping spots with them.

“Is that so? Must be all the extra nutrients you’ve been feeding ‘em,” Bronze answers with a simple wink before pushing back the bits to the ex-guard, “Eh don’t worry about it there Sky, it’s just a few things of salt and a single treat for a young’un.”

“Well you are just as kind to us as the day we met you,” Sky answers before he slips one bit on the counter, and Bronze allows it to slide.

Although he may be out of the guard. Charity is not one of his codes, and as long as Sky has an ability to pay. He’ll put something down on the table. Leaving Bronze to say good bye to his friend for now, while the unicorn backs out of the store with his merchandise.

“Take care now Sky, and do let them know I can’t wait to have one of our little get-together’s again soon.”

The ever stellar pony gives a single salute, as he leaves out of the building and on to the street. The sun has started to leave much of the town now in shadows as it dips further, and further past the buildings. The darkened streets leaving Sky in the blind for a second, but long enough for him to run headlong in to another pony as the ex-guard tries to make his way back home. The impact knocks both he and the Pegasus on their rumps, while a Sky rubs the end of his muzzle as he tries to get his bearings.

“Agh… sorry about that one sir,” he answers, as a few other ponies come up to the sides of the other on the ground, and help him up to his feet.

“Don’t worry about it, didn’t see where I was going and after coming out of a bar… well needless to say it’s expected to-” The pony stops in mid-sentence as he notices who exactly he is talking to, “Sky? Sky Streak?”

The Ex-guards ears snap up as he tries to bury the thoughts bubbling up in to his mind, ‘no… it can’t be them,’ “Constellation? Y-y-you’re here?” The warm embrace of the other answers one of his worst fears that he could have come across while out here. And from now, it can only get worse as the awkward embrace is released and the pain is only added.

“Fellas! Look who we ran in to, Its Sky!” The whooping, and hollering of the others there only remind Steak of the days in the guard as several Pegisy guards, old coworkers of his, clad in armor surround him, and all fire off a barrage of questions his way that he can’t hope to answer at the moment.

“Sky? Where ya been!”

“Why are you all the way down here in this neck of Equestria?”

“You didn’t even say good bye?! What gives?”

“Why are you shaking so much?” The final question sums up the entire environment at the moment for the stricken colt, as he tries to process what is going on here in this so called safe haven that he was hoping to have with his family.

“W-w-what are you all doing here?” Sky questions them all while avoiding their own, “The nearest guard out post is fifty miles from here?”

“Yea until last month that is,” A Pegasus in full guard gear answers him, “They made another to try, and keep the boarders of the badlands more secure down here.”

Constellation turns back to his old mentor in the guard before he got out, to fill him in a bit, “Pommel Stone back there is getting married next week, so me and the boys were going to take him out here for his last week of freedom before heading back to base…” The current guard looks over the other still standing there in more or less a daze, “Though it’s been a couple years now, heck most of us never expected to see you at all… Let alone here.”

“Ahh what can I say?” Sky tries to keep his cool, “Mail doesn’t get out much here, and even at that it always has had trouble reaching its destination.”

“Oh I can imagine,” Constellation answers, “Well me and the gang are bar hopping as best we can in this small town…”

“Explains why you all smell like a brewery,” Sky chuckles to keep his thoughts hidden, getting only a few snickers out of the group.

“Good point there… how about you join us?” his drunken friend asks.

“I… Ahh… have to get going,” Sky tries to answer them, thinking of any excuse he could possibly have to draw himself away, “I’ve got dinner back at home, and only came back to town to get a thing or two that I forgot.”

“Oh by all means don’t let us keep you. We’ll be here probably all night so when you’re finished you can join us if you’d like,” A single wing from his counterpart drapes over top of Sky’s shoulder, as Constellation acts like everything is alright, having not a clue of what is going on in Sky’s mind, “…So how’s the mare?”

“How do you know about-?!...” A lone hoof covers Sky’s mouth to quell his outburst.

“Calm down there now Lieutenant,” Constellation starts to chuckle to himself, tapping only the horn ring that Sky wears with a light feather, “That kind of gives away, so would you mind introducing us to the miss that stole our good friend away?” The others lean in eagerly now to hear their friends answer to them while the persistent Pegisy continues, “After all not every guard that was as stellar as yourself would have left on so much of a whim, unless there was a piece of tail he was chasing… she must be quite a mare.”

In that moment the only thing that Sky is left with is a small opening between some of them, as he darts down the street away from the group at full speed. He remembers these friends. They are good ponies, but they do have a rather bad taste in pleasantries. Especially when it involves guards like his wife. That’s nothing to say how they’ll react with a healthy dose of booze in their system spurring them on.

‘They will never drop it until I show them…’ Sky tells himself while leaving a small dust trail in his wake, ‘…and if they do see her, who knows what might happen then,’ that single thought grants him an extra burst of speed he flies down past the town limits, and onwards to the refuge of his home.

Meanwhile the others there in town are left to blunder to themselves in their mildly inebriated state, as to why their friend of years past would leave them high, and dry like this, “What has gotten in to him?” Constellation asks himself.

“Maybe he’s nervous?” A random pony in the group answers to him.

“Well that may be true…” Another pipes up.

“Should we go to say sorry? After all we did just see him for the first time after years.”

Several of them, and soon all start to nod in agreement with the latter as Constellation, remaining the most sober of the group (but still not quite all there) acts as the ring leader. “Okay now that makes sense… come on y’all,” Constellation flexes out his wings, “Perhaps after we smooth things over he’ll introduce us,” All of them fan out their wings to their fullest might, and take to the skies to see if they can spot their friend in distance so they can make an apology for their blunders and the sort of surprise visit.

None having a clue what this will entail for those at the cottage.

Chapter 26

Chapter twenty six

“Are you sure this is the place?” Luna looks up at the homey cottage just a few dozen yards up the path way to its front door. The nearly impeccable establishment looks like that it should be getting fixed up for a new family to come in, and make it a full house. Though the address marker right next to her, and Midnight answers her question as he reads the address slip again.

“Last I checked I could read…” He snickers back at her. Only to receive the glare that he has become more than accustom to by now, “…if this Spector really was a unicorn guard, perhaps there is a preservation spell on the property?”

The question is only pondered by the mare in a simple ‘uh huh’ while she stands in awe of the home. Other than a few broken windows, and what looks like some overgrowth on the outside, it is perfect. Though their concentration is broken up by a single flash of light that sparks up a scroll, likely Tia’s response to her. Luna coughs for a second to read out loud the letter as they both walk towards the front door.

'Dear Lulu,

Although I am generally concerned with your safety while not there to keep an eye on you, as the big sister of course. I will remind you that, I in fact am all too curious about how you two are coming with your search. I am sure I will find out when you get here, and don’t worry… if you ever got kidnapped, one things for sure.

Whoever it is, they would bring you back.

Let me know when you can about what you have found, and give my regards to your-'

With a painful cough to try, and muffle out the last bit of the letter without so much a glance from Midnight, Luna expertly skips over the part where her sister says ‘your coltfriend’. As she flips it over to see if there is anything on the back at all before brushing it off.

“Well Celestia is ever attentive on your whereabouts…” Midnight mocks under hushed tones as they reach the door. Though the mare with him has far too much on her mind to even give it a second thought as she pushes the letter under her wing for later.

“I can write her back in a bit, for now… let’s see what we have here,” A few sharp knocks on the door gives the princess no answer on the other side. Several more from a heavier hoof of Midnight only brings about the same result, as they look about though the ground floor windows. Each one taking either side of the house before meeting right back at the front door.

“Seems like no pony is home,” Midnight answers before rearing up a hind leg, and nearly kicking the door off the hinges with one mighty buck.

“A little much don’t you think?” She ask rhetorically. Taking the rule of ladies first, and leading herself in doors not soon followed by him. Though if they thought the appearance from the outside was stellar for the age, the inside is a marvel of enchantments. With only a thin layer of dust built up on the various furniture pieces, shelves, and even the window sill. Not a thing looks like it has been moved. Not a thing looks like it has even been taken, as the two walk in further, and take in some of the surroundings. “It’s wonder honestly…” Luna marvels at the sight still with her jaw only slightly hinged to her skull, “If in fact that you did come from here, than your father was one heck of a guard with his magic.”

“That much is apparent,” Midnight lifts up a single book with a hoof, and watches the pages flip over as centuries of dust falls at the same time on to the floor, and fills his lungs. Causing the poor colt to sneeze with a mighty blast, kicking up even more dust, and leading to a seemingly never ending cycle on his end of the room for a bit as it all starts to settle on the ground. The only sound at the moment being a rather pleased mare trying her best to not lose it here in the house from dying of laughter as she covers her muzzle a bit with a hoof, before reaching to open a closet with the other.

“Eh, bless you Midnight,” The slight slip of a grin tells the colt all he needs to hear as he playfully contorts back to her.

“Oh your just hilarious aren’t you?”

“Oh come now don’t be such a sour-” That is as far as she herself gets, while a single suit of armor comes crashing out of the closet, and lands atop Luna’s chest.

Knocking the lunar princess down towards the ground, and leaving her there unhurt, but never the less a little startled as she tries to control the rising and falling of her chest. The only thing to fill her eye sight now, being a colt who himself has a face of pure delight at the mare’s own fumble as he seems all too eager to help her up.

“Do you need a helping hoof?”

“Oh…” Her muzzle falls down to her chest before she can get her comeback out, leaving her high and dry at the moment, “…shut it,” With only a chuckle from her colt, he lends down a hoof, and pulls her back up. Pushing off the armor to the side with a clack as it hits the ground. After getting to her hooves, Luna and Midnight both look over the suit. Noting the appearance of the golden plating, and the sword in the sheath beside it, “It’s diffidently a Celestial guard set…” Luna comments, “We’ve been using the same pattern for the armor and swords for centuries. Although both are quite worn.”

A heavy hoof runs itself across the edging of the plates. All the bumps, and scratches done to them over years of use. Though one thing makes him stop, a name, etched in on the inside of the head cover. “Sky Streak…” Midnight mumbles under his breath. Luna makes an attempt to say something, but that is lost as a few sharp pains come flying back at him. Stabbing at the back of his head the name resonates in, and out like an echo in a cave running its course. Though thankfully a quick shaking from Luna brings him swiftly out of the daze as he comes too.

“Midnight? Did you find something?” Words aren’t required as she has a helmet turned towards her. Reading over the same etch as he just did, and coming to the same conclusion, “So… they were fake names.”

“And if this is the colt… my father?” he gulps, “Then where is mom?”

“That we’ll find soon enough Midnight,” A reassuring hoof rests gently on his shoulder while they start to look around even more on the ground level. Not even touching the hallway that leads further back in to the house, and aiming to cover as much as they can here with what is at hoof. Though a single book that Luna picks up will bring about more answers than could have ever been hoped.

“Midnight take a look at this…” She calls him over to present her findings. The title across it simply reading Memories as she unravels the hemp cord tying it shut. The pages that follow are just as preserved as the house. Though the few words that are scribbled along the side don’t speak nearly the volumes that the pictures it contains do. Dozens of them in front of their eyes, as the couple end up leaning back in to the old couch so they can take in the photos and memories along with them.

The earlier photos bringing light to his savior in an instant, “That’s Fall…” Midnight’s eye lock on to the fall weather Pegasus there before him, leaning propped up against a tree with a grey unicorn drinking a glass of something or other.

“Fall Cloud and Sky, boys will be boys,” Luna reads the caption next to the photo. Midnight now left to see both of his father’s there in one go. The one that raised him after his rescue, and the one he never knew he had.

Luna flips over to the next page, and only finds a single full photo taking up the whole page. Two ponies at the alter with one another. Sky standing there in his guard uniform, while the mare before him stands there in a simplistic wedding dress. She reminds Luna of a lot of her guards, though this one adorned with a pair of golden eyes barely hidden underneath the vale while the ears, and bat wings contained at her side shows just where one particular colt got his appearance. His own golden pair of orbs shutter for a moment, as Midnight reads over the caption on his own.

“Sky Streak and Golden Shadows… tying the knot forever and always…” Midnight is left to clench his own tongue as the pages slips slowly from his grasp, “Mom? Dad?” he whispers, while Luna presses on where he cannot. Turning now even further, after noting one particular feature of Golden in the wedding photo.

‘If that wasn’t a baby bump on her, than I will eat my tiara,’ The princess mutters to herself.

Flipping back to the next few pages, and watching the transition of a simple bump, to full stomach… ending in only a tight frame once more, though in this first picture. Golden is blessed with a foal in her lap while lying in a bed. Both of the new parents are looking down at the young colt, red coat, jet black main, and tail. Golden eyes with sharp little fangs sticking out of the widest, sweetest grin that a foal could possibly have at his age while being next to his mother, and father.

Neither of them read aloud, only in the back of their minds separately do they take in the words jotted down next to the photo. ‘Midnight … welcome to the world, love your mom and dad.’ The emotional toll of having just gone from not knowing ones origins a few weeks prior while getting help, to literally in the space of a day or so now seeing pictures of your folks long sense dead, can wreak havoc on any pony. And one that has been dealing with it for almost five hundred years, is no exception.

Instantly Midnight can feel a pinch at the back of his head, the nerve has been struck, and seeing these memories once again only bring back so many more to the colt’s mind. Though they all remain a blur to him. Many questions still are to be answered, though for now only shouting and yelling fills his head while images run past his eyes in a haze, completely oblivious to the alicorn next to him trying to get his attention. While Midnight remains in a trance like watching a home movie in his mind.

“Midnight?! Wake up!” Luna shakes his shoulders back, and forth to try, and pull him out of his daze like she did back in the forest. To no avail though, “Sorry about this…” Luna cocks back a hoof, and plows it in to his jaw line. Even with the solid hit, the shutter in his eyes of it bouncing back and forth between light and dark remains still present. Though even through this mist, Luna can see that something is tearing him apart moment by moment.

The realization of his lost years of life, from what his mind was trying to protect him from, come back. Leaving the only think Midnight can hear being the sinister sound of the egotistical laughter filling his mind that he has put up with, ‘You’re putting it together I see… let’s see if you go all the way,’ Shard taunts as the last nerve gives in.

And with that the final piece of the puzzle falls in to place, as Midnights eyes snap open. Centuries of living in the dark, washed away nearly in an instant. With a shuttered breath taking its time to reach his lungs, once it does he mouths only one word, “…No.” With that the colt ignores the mare that sat there with him, and leaps up off the ground in to the air. Peeling around the corner while Luna calls after him.

“Midnight what is it!” She shouts only watching as a black, and green tail disappears down the corner.

Taking off at break neck speed, Midnight smashes in to the wall with his mass after slipping a bit. As he runs around another corner, and continues his storm down the hall. Though with a slight trip up in his footing he hits the dirt, and topples overtop something in the hallway, giving time for him to catch his breath and Luna to catch up.

“Midnight, is everything-?” Luna gets out before she sees the quivering colt before her, sitting there with a skull in his lap, a single horn atop its head, and a ring on its base.

Words fail the princess once again in her time of knowing the strange colt. Though from the other occasions caused by the colt’s allure, this one is caused by a heavy weight of pain and sorrow on her heart. As Midnight pulls himself up and casts an eye towards the rest of the bones on the ground now at the princess’s feet that she didn’t even notice at first. Luna herself even jumps upon seeing the remains while her colt turns towards what his original intentions were.

“No…” He panics once again, and Midnight’s eyes rest on the closed door in front of him, “That can’t be what happened.”

Rearing back his head, Midnight slams his forehead in to the wooden door. Knocking the latch out of place and sending the door swinging open in to the wall behind it. Though as the colt steps in, it isn’t soon after that, that his pupils stretch to nearly the size of his eyes, and the strong stallion is brought down to his knees. The sight to behold him opening a window to his past, strikes him down as Midnight falls back in to the open hooves of his companion. All the while in a shade of darkness, the golden orbs of his glass over and he replays the single memory of a night that was kept away from him for nearly five hundred years.

Chapter 27

Chapter twenty seven

“Don’t worry now Midnight, daddy will be back soon,” Golden takes her son up closer up in her chest with her wings holding him up. As her kin looks at the pictures through the book before turning the page, and his mom starts reading again. The mother in question though looks up at the clock, and finds that it has actually been well past an hour, and he still isn’t home, ‘Where are you Sky?’ She starts to wonder without letting Midnight know of the concern ‘It’s not like you to be out this late…’ Squeezing her son just a tad tighter from reflex. The mother continues to read to her child while keeping her worries under wraps.

The door to their home flies open for a split second, as Sky almost rolls inside, and braces himself against the frame. Though the desperate nature of this action is lost on his wife altogether, “Ahh we’re glad to see you now dear. We were both getting a little-”

“Golden not now…” He answers with a stern glare, cutting her off, and instantly peers out the window to the doorway to see if there are others on the foot path, but in his haste…

He forgets to check the sky.

The realization that something is wrong dawns on her finally after hearing the nature of her usually sweet husband’s words coming out from him now like vinegar on her ears, “Sky now you’re scaring me. What is it? Did something happen while in town?” Golden asks, setting her son down on the couch cushion next to her before trying to get up to look with her husband.

“Let’s just say I ran in to a few old coworkers…”

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“Do you think he went this way Constellation?” Star Chaser questions his own self, while looking down to the small path way that he hopes guided Sky on his retreat.

“How would I know Star? You’re the one that’s the tracker of the group,” The leader Pegasus remarks, while they all fly in formation hoping to make an apology to their friend of years back, after a rather surprising meeting.

“Why do you think he still took off?” a guard at the outer band of their flying V questions to the group.

“What if it’s not a mare but another colt?” Several start murmuring to themselves at the notion of their Lieutenant having turned in to a colt-cuddlier in their time away from around him. Though a single voice stamps that out.

“No that’s not possible…” Constellation answers for Sky in his defense, “Sky is straighter than the spells that fly from his horn, and last I checked his aim is pretty damn good.”

“Then what spooked him?”

“That I don’t even know, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon.”

“Down there!” Star calls out. Pointing with a single hoof to the little cottage down below them. Seeing as it is the only visible dwelling out in these parts there is no other place that he could be “I’d bet my next check that he is in there!”

In sync with one another, they all start to fly downwards to the home in a barrel roll. Though some of them are more adept at flying than others, especially when it comes to the added weight of armor, and how to control ones decent. Unlike a rather small Pegasus, who is about to learn a lesson in physics.

“Twiggy! You’re going in to fast!” Pommel calls out to his companion out in front of them.

“I’m sorry sir! Still trying to get used to-”

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“It’s a little hard to explain right now,” Sky steps a tad away from the door while keeping his voice down so their son can’t hear, “In short… they were friends from back in the guard. However, they never really liked your kind, or relations with lunar guards for that matter.”

A single bead of sweat trickles its way down the back of Golden’s neck as she stands there for a second taking this in, “Do you think they will try to harm… him?”

“I ran in to them, and I could smell the booze on their breath…” Sky answers coldly knowing first hoof how rowdy a bunch of drunken guards can be, after having to break up several fights over the years, “There’s no telling what they’ll-”

A single crash hitting the door, signals the arrival of the guards, and the loss of whatever time Sky had hoped to have for their arrival should they show up. The scrawny Pegasus would have only put a crack in the door frame had it not been for the armor giving him extra weight, and allowing him the gift of a wrecking ball. Tearing clear through the door way, and almost knocking it off the hinges. Now left to lie there with a massive head ache at his actions on top of the few splinters of wood, Sky stands before him while his attuned ears pick up the flapping of several other wings making their way closer, as they land outside the door way and soon help their friend up.

“Damn it Twiggy!” Constellation scolds the young Pegasus in the doorway, as he makes his way to his feet once more, “You were supposed to practice with your fight under added weight!”

“Sorry about that Sky,” The scrawny colt shakes his head for a moment to look up at the stallion of the house, “Didn’t mean to come in and-” Finally an eye glances over towards the mare to his right. The darkened appearance, the fangs, the slit eyes, and the obviously out of place wings cause Twiggy to only shake his head once more, and rethink that hit he just took, “Ugh… I think I hit my head harder than I thought.”

“No…no you didn’t,” Constellation grunts as he realizes what he is seeing is all true, while his eyes catch up with his brain. Sky even steps forward a bit to put his mare behind him slightly, while the ring leader of the rowdy bunch says his piece, or at least tries to, “Sky? What? But why? How even? Is that why you left?!”

“She… is the only reason I needed to leave,” He says confidently, not ever breaking eye contact with that and his accuser.

“But the guard, your friends, all of us…” The fumbling colt remains baffled for a moment, before finding his tongue once more, “You left us all, and a life for this…this… leathery winged whore!”

Although Constellation may be an up, and coming guard in his own command, respected by those that are his counter parts, subordinates, and even superiors. He never really did learn when to shut his mouth, as a single hoof flies through the air, and socks him in the jaw with one forceful upper cut. The hit causing him to fall over backwards on the ground on his back, while the others stand there for a moment and look at one they used to call friend, seemingly standing over top of them.

“You are all blind two what is right before you…” Sky takes a deep breath. Brushing off the glare that Constellation gives him after wiping blood off the end of his muzzle, “…Princess Celestia herself has always preached tolerance, and love to us all. Even to her guards, who would have to set aside such things from time to time, to think and do what is right. However, even with all these teachings that have been beat in our heads sense basic training. There are still those, like yourselves, who can’t see that sometimes happiness is in the form that others see as beautiful…”

“And what?!” Constellations words echo through the room in the moment of silence that follows for a second, “You gave up everything, for one such as the likes of her?”

A single nod from Sky answers his question.

“You could have had any mare in Canterlot! They were practically beating down your door when you started to show your potential as a leader. Heck even several of Celestia’s closest assistants wanted a piece of you!” He finishes for a moments now while fuming at the betrayal. The feeling is becoming almost infectious to those around him, as the others behind Constellation also start to shoot Sky a piercing gaze that strikes right at his heart. All of them bewildered by the fact that he could pick up, and leave because of once such as her. The opposite of anything a Celestial guard stood for in their mind. Even though the two still followed the same orders that were passed down to them. Constellation asks but one more question, “Why choose her, when you could have had so many others?!”

Sky looks down at his hooves contemplating it all. He has gone against everything that the guard has thought as a social norm. It has kicked many guards out in the past after their chain of command found out, and would find any reason to get rid of them, while never admitting it was because of the relation with Luna’s on guard that was the cause of it. On several other occasions, the participants have been shunned by their friends, and even families…

Just for following their heart.

‘And that’s exactly what has been done…’ “I did it because none of them were... Golden,” Sky says confidently as he stands tall, “Sometimes you have to break away from what you can only see, look past everything else before you, to find what you truly need…” A single tear makes its way up, and out of Golden’s eye as it runs down her cheek.

The soft hoof grazing her own beckons the mare to look down, and finds Midnight standing there in wonder at the others that have come in to the place he calls home. Though the sight of one so out of place among other foals, only causes even more silent anger in the guards that have come in, and are now witness to the off spring of the pair. None of this is lost though on the father in the room, as he eyes the ring leader.

“…The eyes are blind, you have to look with your heart… and I have found what I wanted in life,” The lobbing of a helmet in to Sky’s face causes him to pause for a second, before catching it in his magic. Only to hurtle it back at its owner, and leaves the subsequent yelp to follow from both the guard that threw it, and Sky’s wife.

“You are a traitor to the guard!” Constellation bellows at the top of his lungs, “The practice may be allowed, but that in no way makes it right!”

“Constellation… you and your friends are drunk. I would appreciate it if you would kindly leave my home,” Sky motions for Golden to back away with a wink as he tries to talk some sense in to them, “Think about what you are doing, before you make a mistake.”

“The only mistake that has been made is to allow an… abomination such as that,” He points to the kin of the couple in front of him, “To be allowed to walk the earth!”

And with that any sort of reasoning to him, or the group has been crushed as Constellation darts forward with a bout of liquid courage, and attempts to tackle his once superior. Though to no avail. Sky was always better at this game, and with a simple side step, and a trip. He sends the would-be attacker in to the wall with a rather nasty bump atop his unprotected head. Sky now gives his full attention to his wife, and child, giving but only one order for them to follow.

“Run!” And that she does. Snatching their son up in her wings, she leaps over the dazed guard, and down the hallway.

‘Please Celestia, Luna…’ Golden prays to the regal sisters that have been revered as almost gods to some, ‘we are good ponies please let no harm come to our son. Sky, and even myself can live with if one of us gotten hurt, but if anything happened to him…’ She dares not finish. Golden only slams the door behind herself to the bedroom that she, and Sky have shared with one another for years. Not wanting to leave his presence entirely, sticking to the vow of ‘till death do us part’.

“You’re going to pay for that!” Constellation whips back around, and strikes at him with a drawn out dagger.

The sharpened blade cuts deep in to his soft uncovered skin, and coat while the crimson blood color that he knows his son by, stains his own. Though such a thing is only a paper cut to him compared to the past injuries that he had. Sky simply lifts up the attacker with a magical aura, and tossing him in to a few of the others, knocking them down like pins at a bowling alley.

“You still have time to leave you know?” Sky says calmly, taking up his own stance as Constellation does the same along with two others on either side of him.

“Not until that thing is removed from this earth!” The Pegasus next to the leader shouts in his drunken haze, while they all three dash forwards.

The hits are taken in stride by the ex-guard, as Sky Streak back pedals once to avoid a body slam, while another side step allows him to forgo a head butt. Though the final kick that the third guard lands square in his chest, sends him in to the wall. Having the wind knocked out of you can cause a great deal of pain at first. Though getting the edge of a blade held against your throat is even more painful, as Constellation brings Sky’s muzzle back up to meet his gaze.

“You brought this upon yourself, Sky…” the guard mutters to his once comrade, “we all used to consider you a brother.”

“And I used to consider you all good ponies,” Sky spits in to his face.

The action giving the momentary advantage he needed before casting a frost spell. A singular block of ice forming in the middle of nowhere, thrusts itself in to the face of the two attackers on the leader’s side, and knocks them over before being hurtled in to Constellation, knocking him out cold for a second while he lies there on the ground.

If it had been for a moment longer, Sky may have delivered enough pummeling to the ringleader to get them all to back off, and scamper away with their tails between their legs. But Constellation recovers fast enough to see the unicorn blazed with anger, leaping right at him with blood lust in his eyes. Two instincts kick in between the colts there. Sky’s protective instinct that he has for his family, leaves him with tunnel vision to the one that is wishing to do them harm. While the defensive instinct that the guard has taught Constellation, kicks in finally even through the daze of alcohol, while his mind processes only one command to his hoof still holding the dagger…

Lift up.

“Constellation?!” Pommel yells out to his friend who sits there still drenched in blood, “What did you do?!”

“I-I-I didn’t mean to,” He stammers out. The act of plunging the blade in to Sky’s gut snapping him out of any drunken bliss he might have had, and in to the land of cold hearted sobriety once more, “It was an accident! He lunged at me!”

“After we tried to beat the crap out of him!”

“And basically invaded his own home!” Twiggy backs up, to the loss of their defense.

Though the leader is still baffled at the actions of his own hoof, “What-t are we going to do now?”

“Well there isn’t much we can do! Now is there?” Pommel all but slaps him in the face. Every single one of them coming to the realization of what just happened as the alcohol leaves their systems in the sweat that starts to flow, “You just killed another pony without cause or reason! Even if we may have not liked his life choices. Here’s some news for you, it wasn’t illegal!”

“We’re all accessories though now…” Constellation tries to back himself up at the fate of those around him, “After all I wasn’t the only one here who tried to throw a punch… plus you all saw, and did nothing!” That fact dawns on all of them just as fast as it did him. Even Pommel, who just wanted to go out, and have a good time before getting hitched, knows full well that this will likely just land him in jail.

That’s if he his lucky.

The silence among them, only furthers the power in the leader’s hooves as he tries to reason with them, “We can’t go back, and undo what we did… there is no way to fix that,” Constellation shakes his head, full of guilt, “Though there is only two others here that know our faces, and they probably even know our names from Sky talking to them before we came in.”

“…The wife, and child…” A lone Pegasus mutters the answer that none of them wanted to hear.

“Exactly… They seem to have kept a low profile out here. So if those two are gone?” Constellation forms it as a question. Though has to put it together for them as they all give a blank stare, “Then no pony can tie us to the crime.”

Although none of them are ready to admit it. They all know he is right, the two still around here are the only ones that can tie them to the events of tonight. Seeing as none of them will likely talk. Without another word they all silently agree to the terms, and turn around to see Sky’s trail of blood across the floor leading down the hallway.

The stallion that once stood proudly as a leader, and a father. Now reduced to fighting for every breath he once took for granted as his chest cavity pains itself with every inhale. With a lone hoof outstretched to the bedroom door to his lover and kin. A single hoof cups around his muzzle to muffle any more sounds, bringing him up to the face of Pommel himself, as he looks down with only a few tears from his eyes.

“I’m sorry about this, old friend…” The blade slides cleanly through Sky’s throat, severing arteries and veins that run along the neck line. Soon enough only the cold eyes of a colt that had the life snuffed out of him, meets the killers own as he is laid, or more so dropped, to rest.

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“Stay there dear…everything will be alright,” Golden kisses the top of her son’s head while he sits in the now cleared closet.

She heard the shouting out in the living room after the fighting died down, and the hoof steps getting closer, followed by a single thud outside the door. After closing the closet door, she knows the time is now. The bedroom door cracks open as the group piles in to the master bedroom. Each one in line with one another, as they face the mare before their gaze.

Having broken open the closet in the room, Golden stands there clad in her lunar armor that she kept. The darkened purple metal, complementing her own coat as she wields the blade as such. Constellation steps forth again as their leader, now running off of fear for his own life, and future, not just booze.

“Golden did he call you?” He waits for the mare to nod, “It would seem that we and Sky were… at an in pass.”

“He’s dead isn’t he?” She says without even batting an eye.

“Yes, yes he is.”

Although her demeanor may be calm, and collected. At heart the mare is ready to do what she can to take them on as best she can, or die trying. She, and Sky talked about this day coming, and although they never wanted to believe it. They both knew it could happen given their life choices.

“Now where is your-” Constellation gets out from his muzzle. As the mare’s blade whips through the air in a flash in front of him. Though before any of them are even able to respond. The sword is back at her side once more, as their leader stands there with a star struck look, although unable to say a word.

“You…will…not…harm him,” Golden answers with frost collecting on her words, and with every passing second, droplets of blood start to bead their way around Constellation’s neck line.

With a single breath leaving the guard’s lungs, the head of Constellation falls off of the body as the blade cut through between the platting on his neck. Rolling off between the group, with the same face on him before he died. The other guards are shocked to see the mare dispatch a fellow guard so easily. As his body soon follows, and starts to soak the floor with fluids, even staining some of their own hooves.

“If you know what’s good for you… then you will leave… now,” ‘but they don’t,’ Golden tells herself in her head before she is proved right.

The first guard throws himself at the mare, followed by the second, and third.

Midnight sits inside the darkened closet, only hearing the sounds of metal upon metal contact, and the occasional insult being called out in reference to his mother. Having heard though the first part of the new ponies speaking. He knows in his little heart that something is not right with dad. Curiosity gets the best of him though, as it does most young colts, and with an eager hoof he points it to the door latch.

‘I know you can do it…’ He tells himself, ‘There’s no such thing as bad magic… just try.’

With a slight glow of his hoof a green aura around the latch forms, and the door swings freely a bit as he pushes it to just a crack. Having never seen ones mother harm so much as a fly, to now going on to see her drop one colt by slicing up his middle. Stabbing another through an eye socket. To even going to the extent to tear out another’s throat with her own fangs. The entire transition can take quite a toll on a young colt’s mind in sheer surprise, especially as you see the mother that you adore covered from snout to hoof in the blood of another.

“M-mommy?” Midnight manages to mumble out, as he quivers there.

The soft sound of her son’s voice, punctures through her blood lust. As only four colts remain there standing. The others having already met their own demise among the leaders corpse, while Golden turns around to meet her kin, “…Midnight…” She says from only quiet lips, mouthing the word.

That single break in her stride, doing the mare in.

A single blade thrusts in to the side, and with enough force, punctures through the violet armor in to her chest cavity to the vital organs. The bright red blood she cherishes to drink from most, now coating the weapons edges as it slides back out, and in to the hooves of Pommel. While the mother drops to the ground.

“Mom!” The young colt yells out to her as she falls. Her body hits the ground painfully, though all that, and even the pain of having been stabbed is lost on her, as Golden watches the fearful eyes of her son come up to her own. The weakened rising, and falling of her chest is all he sees at first, though even as he looks in to the eyes that he inherited, all Midnight can see is love from her, “Mom…W-w-what happened? You-u-u said everything was going to be alright!” A few tears start to stream down his face as the young colt whimpers.

A gentle hoof, that he has come to know from the years, wipes away the waterworks that he spills before they fall on her. Golden still puts on her smile for her son, even as every word she says spurts more blood from her chest, and out on to the floor between them. As Golden puts a hoof on to his cheek so her son can still feel the warmth of her heart while it lasts.

“Everything will be alright my dear…” She kisses his little forehead once more for the last time, leaving an impression of her blood on his coat in the shape of her lips, “…Even if your father, and I aren’t there. We both love you, and will always be there,” Golden can feel the light fading from her eyes, “Be strong… my little… Midnight.”

A final breath, a final act of love, and one final tear rolls down her muzzle, and drops on to her sons out stretched hoof as he whimpers. Holding a hoof on to her cheek just as she did his own. All the while the commotion of the bunch arguing in the background, is lost on the child, as his mother parts ways with this world, and on to the next.

“W-we only have one more,” Pommel mutters under his breath, while eyeing the little colt who is still by his loving mother.

“But he’s just a little one,” Twiggy tries to reason with him to at least spare the colt’s life, “He won’t even remember our names, and if all else fails I’m sure we can scare him in to keeping quiet?”

“And what! Years later all of this could be brought up with a simple spell…” Pommel, now acting as ring leader after the death of Constellation, finishes, “…he has to be dealt with.”

With that final word. He extends out one hoof to try, and grab the colt. Halfway expecting him to flee in fear. The Pegasus is surprised to find that Midnight in fact doesn’t even move in the slightest, but instead looks up at him with seemingly the same golden eyes from the mare that he just put down. Now looking in to his very soul, and breaking the last strand of hope the guard had left to have a normal life.

“You…Killed… THEM!” The foal shouts at the top of his lungs.

The anger, and rage infuse with the words from the young colt’s viper like voice, as latches on to the magic in his system. A shockwave thrusts its way out of Midnight’s throat, and in to the chest of Pommel as it hurtles the Pegasus past the other murderous guards in to the wall, leaving a dent from his hide. The tell tail energetic glow of magic still falling out of his mouth like a mist, leaves all of the guards there baffled and shaking at the knees, while Midnight shakes his head wildly from a storm of thoughts buzzing about his head. The other Pegisy in the room not knowing what to make of it, while the fuming young colt is quite literally foaming at the mouth of pure energy.

“But… this isn’t possible?!” One turns to try and take off through the doorway.

However, a green aura around the door slams it shut, and traps them all in there with what they could only guess is the work of a demon. Midnight stands atop the bed, green pulses of energy flowing through him in waves as it starts to radiate outwards while the colts back pedal as best they can. Plastering themselves against the wall to put as much distance between them and the foal standing there with an eerie glow in his eyes.

Tendrils of energy protrudes from the walls as they wrap around the guards, and hoist them up against the wall, even choking some of them in the process, as the bands pull harder on their necks. All the while their pleads for mercy at the hooves of what they thought was nothing more than a foal, only fall on deaf ears as something else has leached its way in to Midnight’s mind.

‘Good… they have wronged you, and taken what you loved…’ the voice drives him forward, nudging the young foal in the right direction, ‘now take the same of which they value.’

“W-w-what is that?” he asks under his breath to the voice he hears.

‘Their lives.’

Those final words, seal the lives of those that Midnight has pinned against the wall, as his golden eyes glass over with not a shred of mercy for their pleads of life.

“GET…OUT!” The foal bellows from his throat as the tendrils hold them in place on the wall while running along its surface to stretch out the colts before him.

Each limb being pulled out to their furthest, and then well past their breaking strength as the sounds of tissue, cartilage, muscle and bone ripping and tearing apart fills the air along with the screams of his victims. Painting the walls in fluids as the colts split along the seams, and are left there only to meet their maker at the hooves of a four year old. With one final tug each of the legs, and heads of the murderers are plucked off like pedals on a flower from their torso. As the center piece seemingly hangs there for but a moment, until gravity takes over and, upon the dispelling of the enchantment. All the limbs and body parts are left to fall to the ground in a pile of nothing more than spare parts for a Doctor Frankenstallion to use.

Though all of the gore is ignored by the colt that remains.

All Midnight does is jump down from the bed, and on to the floor that still holds his mother’s body, untouched by the destruction that he unleashed. Without even a drop of their blood on her. Everything he loved is gone, everything he cared about has been taken away, and for now all the foal can do is rest his head down on to the no longer lively chest of his mom. Golden’s warmth that he would adore to have near him on a cold night, lost in her as he listens to the voice in the back of his head. While the energy starts to fade around him, and so does what light in his eyes.

‘You did well Midnight, you did very well…’ A slow creeping feeling on his flank starts to immerge, and in a flash. The appearance of a grey shield covers his hind with a green flame in its center. Along with a line of green hair, now running down along his mane, and tail. A shield from his parents past as a guard, and Midnight trying to protect them even after their demise. An emerald flame for the Dark magic inside of him, from his mother’s bloodline mixing with his father’s.

And finally, a voice to keep him company, from the magic starting to corrupt Midnight’s broken mind, ‘Everything will be just fine.’

Chapter 28

Chapter twenty eight

It’s an odd feeling, having one’s mind quite literally put together after centuries of being lost among your own thoughts. To not know where you come from, to now relive the final moments of your past life, and quite literally see the parents that you never knew you had, but always knew were there, die before you all over again.

A strange feeling indeed, and one that doesn’t come without its own heart ache.

Crimson hooves wrap around the set of lunar armor there on the floor, cracked, and worn from years of use, and repair. It holds all the marks of battle that the Celestial counterpart from the closet they found shares as well. Picking up the helmet, Midnight flips it over to get a glance at the inside, already having an idea what he may find, but still making the choice to.

Only reading out one thing etched, “Golden Shadow…” A few tears start to fall as he holds the metal piece close to his chest. “…mom.”

He looks over the rest of the armor, or more so at the bones that he can see underneath the open parts from where leather used to bind the plates and had long sense broken open. Eventually his own hoof comes to rest on the hoof ring that protrudes out from under the bracer before him. Similar to the, one that he had a momentary glance at, out in the hall.

They loved one another… both were willing to give up a life they had come to know in the guard, just to have the chance at having a life with each other, and making something more of it together than they ever could apart. Get married, have a family, dreams of growing old together, and watching their own grandchildren. And in less than an hour, all of it was taken away. Because their love wasn’t looked at the same way by others, like it was by them.

“Midnight?” Luna rests a hoof on his shoulder. Swearing that she can feel the colt’s own temperature dropping as he dies a little inside. Though before she can make a proper judgment on that, Midnight tugs his body away from her, “Don’t close others out, please don’t… Midnight,” the smitten princess nearly begs with him, “…I know what happened.”

“How…?” he asks her in silent anger. Even though his voice was calm and almost a whisper. Without even seeing the tears running down his face, Luna can hear the venom in his words, until he finally breaks. “How could you know?!” Midnight snaps back at her, nearly grinding away at his fangs while he fumes at the mare, not even caring about who he is addressing, “In what way could you ever know, what happened to them!”

“I watched it… with you…” Luna maintains her cool and composed tone, knowing that he has every right to be angry. Even if it is just being misdirected. The best thing she can do is try to calm him down, and let him vent a bit, “…The same spell that Twilight did before to try and look at your memories, I did on you while you were going through the motions, and reliving them for yourself…”

Soon enough at that realization, without any more will in his own legs to even hold himself up. Midnight falls forward in to Luna’s all too willing hooves, and they are both on the ground. Luna cradling the colt against her bosom, as he starts to sob once more in to her chest, and she runs a hoof through his mane while trying to relax him.

“They were once friends… his friends? How could they have done that to him, to her?” He questions their own actions, looking at the bones that remain from the guards that came in that night and took everything he held dear to him while but a foal, “They had never done anything to harm another, and then they get cut down by these… these… Royal Guards!” With a single hoof he raises up the remaining bones in the room from the guards out of their armor, and with nothing more than a flick of the wrist, crushes them in one go in to dust. But a quick squeeze from a mares wings that envelope him, beckons the colt to calm himself and use his gift wisely.

“Easy now Midnight…” she shushes him with a stroke of his mane, “I know this is a lot to take in all at once… though lets be reasonable… after all these years, I don’t think either of us would have expected them to be found alive,” After a few tensing seconds for Midnight to collect himself, a simple nod from him agrees with her for a moment. It is a true motion, after all, close to being half a millennia old. Midnight can’t really say that he thought he was going to walk in and get to talk to them face to face.

“…I know, as much as I hate to say it, you’re right,” Midnight finally answers her, “I just wished it didn’t have to end for them like it did… not like this,” He lowers his head a tad even more, to steer his eyes clear of the bodies that lie around.

“No one would wish such a thing, not even on my worst enemies would I desire it to happen to their parents,” Luna nudges him a bit to raise his head up to look at her, “However, you know your roots now. Even if they are not the most pleasant of beginnings,” she cringes for a second to hold back a tear, “Look at where you have come to?”

“Crying my eyes out in the middle of a floor, to a home that I once knew?” he deadpans at the worst possible time.

A pair of cobalt eyes as cold as ice snaps to his own in a scowl at the smart ass answer, “I mean what you went through to get here.”

Silently kicking himself for the previous answer. Midnight does take a moment as he looks away from her gaze to think about that question, and to keep his mind from any more pain at her penetrating gaze. After having a childhood at the hooves of Fall and Floral, and then beginning his life out in the real world. Midnight has traveled the world, encountered many different characters when he would venture in to town. Seen the rise, and fall of several kingdoms of other nations. Watched families in his passing through certain towns over years, age up, and down with the coming of newborns, and the passing of old ones. Over the years, he has helped dozens upon dozens of individuals with various life threatening bouts, even if they may have not known it was him.

Midnight wondered for years about where he came from, and his origins, of who his parents actually were. After all, it didn’t take long for him to find out that Fall and Floral where not his parents, just look at him. Midnight has caused so much heart ache over time in his attempts to do good as well, due to his travel companion that was there on his shoulder. Ready and willing to make things head towards disaster whenever he could. Though in the end, Midnight would always rather try and fail, than not try at all. On top of this the colt had learned many things that you can’t get in a class room.

He has learned how to treat others with respect from his upbringing, and watching others interact.

He’s learned how to laugh, and smile, because he always had more than enough time to be sad.

Midnight knew how to be strong, because when he loses himself, he feels the most weak.

He learned how to love, because he has seen hatred in the world, and the effects it can have on others.

On top of this, he knows how to be sweet and kind to others… Because seldom has Midnight ever had the feeling returned to him.

From all his walks of life that he has stepped in the horse shoes of. He has managed to wind up in the Crystal Empire once more. Insult the royal family there. Obtain the Lunar Princess’s own sympathy. Had the opportunity for the princess and another to help figure out what is wrong with him. The lunar princess even going out of her way, and helping him to satisfy the odd food cravings he has, as well as her own. Managed to share quite a few tender moments with Luna, grow feelings for such a mare that he would not even have thought possible, and now both of them together finding out his origins.

‘And me crying my eyes out… like a foal in a home I once knew, held in the princess’s very hooves,’ Midnight smiles for the first time after his little event. Nuzzling himself a little closer in to her chest, enjoying the comfort he gets from having another there to hold him. Luna doesn’t even question the action, and only tightens her grip ever more. As she graces him with a warm smile, and a gentle stroke of his mane once again.

“Everything that you have been though, has made you who you are now. Even if you may not like where they took you…” She leans down, and kisses the top of his head. Telling herself in an excuse that it is to show her compassion, and not affection, “…They have all, influenced you.”

“For better… or for worse,” Midnight beams back at her.

‘Oh I would say it’s for worse,’ Shard’s voice tinged with anger, and an odd amount of joy. Reigns in to Midnight’s mind as it speaks for the first time in what seems like ages, ‘Your parents died at the hooves of others that didn’t understand. Boo bucking who… cry me a river.’

The simple twitch in the side of his eye is enough to tell Luna that they aren’t alone any more in conversation, and with a nod from him, it is confirmed even more so, “you’re the one that gave me that push to kill those guards,” Midnight holds his tongue, “I guess that’s about the only thing I should thank you for.”

‘You’re oh so welcome, Midnight,’ Shard mutters back sincerely, ‘it was the first time I was ever let in to you. You were nothing, but a foal that was alone, and afraid. That dark magic flowed after your loss more than I would have ever dreamed,’ with a sucker punch to his conscious, Shard makes his move finally, ‘and filled every pore you had to offer!’ A choke hold is put at the base of Midnight’s brain, as it seems everything starts to go dark. Not even the calls from the mare he cares for, break through to him as Midnight drifts back in to the domain of one he hates so much.

____________________

The open area of his minds landscape remains set back in to a dim mist. As Midnight sits up to his flank from the ground. Looking about, and seeing nothing but the eerie glow of the ethereal light. It’s enough to make out the body of the darkness that surrounds him usually. Broken, and cracked glass shards, compile themselves together with sludge to make the pony form of Shard. Though this form has the same build as Midnight, as opposed to the lean colt that he is used to. With a single stomp of Shard’s hoof, the wings, tail and mane erupt from his body in a shroud of black smoke as they flow through a never felt breeze.

Emerald eyes no longer staying hidden behind a vale, as the eye lids open to give a wink to the colt across from them at the same level as he, “You and I haven’t talked in a while now,” Shard snickers to his counterpart.

“And I would have liked it to stay an eternity,” Midnight grunts under his breath loud enough for him to hear, “Though I’m hearing from you later than I would have expected.”

“Well that’s because I have been busy wouldn’t you know…” He pauses while taking in Midnight’s oblivious glare, “What? Did you think I was just sitting back, and watching you play about in records, and history books with the princess, and doing nothing about it? I’ve been getting stronger, focusing my energies… I mean look at me!” the darkness flares out his wings to their fullest, and shows off his strong stature that is on par with Midnight himself.

“Your mind is weak after all…” Shard tuts, “All I needed was… a push,” The darkness launches out a few tendrils of glass from his own body. Wrapping up and around the colt as they ensnare is form, though Midnight does nothing. All he does is allow the dark magic to do its work, as the glass cuts in to his skin and tries to seep inside his body once again, “You see… you are still weak. Even with your knew found knowledge, I still am stronger than you!” The light chuckling of the stallion Shard is trying to intimidate, beckons only insult from the almost crystalline colt, “What? Why are you laughing?!”

“BECAUSE YOU FOOL!” Midnight bursts out in one go from his enchanted voice. The shockwave spell doing in his mind what it would do out in the real world. Throwing off the darkness, and even shattering the front of Shard’s muzzle off. As the demon spawn rises back up from the ground, and its nose starts to put itself back together shard by shard. “…My mind was weak, I was weak… though now I am stronger. Nothing is broken in me anymore,” Midnight explains as he slowly approaches the stunned form of his tormentor, “There are no pores to fill up like you did when I was a foal… you are now nothing, but a nightmare to me,” The final offence breaks off any hold that the darkness would have hoped to have against the stallion. And with the pounding of his own hoof, Midnight sends a tremor through the ground that lifts Shard, tossing him about like a rag doll against the terrain.

“This…isn’t possible?” Shard says, dumbfounded for once in a blue moon.

Soon becoming well away of the looming shadow over him, as he looks up to the hulking form of Midnight there only a few paces from him. All his patients, and waiting to build up his strength for the last win, and he only waited too long to launch that assault. Though the more he thinks about his fault, the more he realizes that he has enough strength to try something else. To him, there may just be a way out of this. The voice of reason in the tone of a sweet mare on the outside is just an added bonus to Midnight’s awakening, already feeling her sweet symphony of words ushering him back from his prison, and onward to the Luna’s presence.

‘And once again she pulls me out,’ Midnight smiles to himself before turning to look once more at the entity of misery and pain before him, “It is possible…you have lost.”

“When will you learn?” It snaps back at him, as Shard rises to his own hooves, “I am you! If I lose… then so do you!” With that the darkened form lunges at the colt. Literally leaping down Midnight’s throat, and inside of him once more. Leaving Midnight gagging at the fowl taste in his mouth, while it slithers down his gullet and around his gut. Just in time for his eyes to shut, as he’s brought back.

___________________

Luna meanwhile sits there still on the ground with the colt wrapped up in her hooves as she rests the back of his head against her chest. He has been like this for a few minutes by now, and she is starting to worry at what is going on in that head of his, “Come on Midnight I know you are in there… find the light. Just like you always have,” Her muzzle grazes by his own, tickling all the right nerves, and with a mighty cough. A puff of black smoke and tar, hurtles its way out of his chest, and throat and in to the wall in front of them. Though the mare isn’t even paying attention to that at the moment, only watching as Midnight starts to come too finally, “I knew you had it in you,” She squeezes ever tighter around his middle. Glad to have the colt there once more with her.

“I’m glad I did after all…” Midnight says proudly. Happy to still be held in her rather warm embrace, as he feels the heat run off from her cheeks, “…I heard you in my mind once more… thank you, Luna.”

“Don’t mention it. Kind of getting used to it by now,” She giggles with him while nuzzling his neck. Not even caring if her cheeks are flushed red, or her heart is racing a mile a minute. The princess is simply enjoying the moment they have together after this little journey, they both are in fact. And Midnight thankfully closes his eyes in peace.

“Oh isn’t this just… sweet.”

Both of them snap their attention to the pile of what looks like ooze at first in the corner of the room. Though after a few seconds, it starts to pull itself back together piece by piece. Every shard of glass from the shattered mind that was expelled from Midnight’s own, pulling in to one another with a black sort of muck that holds it all together. The smoke beginning to come out of the top of its head as it wraps around the body and leaves behind the wings, tail, and mane to suit. Finally, finishing off with the same pair of neon green eyes that would haunt Midnight in his head for centuries.

Now meeting him face to face for the first time out in the real world, “Hello… Midnight.”

Star struck at first, Luna finally puts it together as she involuntarily holds him a bit tauter, “Is that who I think I is?”

“That it is, Luna…” Midnight rises up to gain his footing, “…That’s Shard, my inner demon.”

“Oh don’t sound so coy… Besides I think I count as an outer demon now,” The darkness begins to snicker at him. That is before wrapping the smoke from his wings around the colt, and lifting him up off his feet in one go, “…After all we have some catching up to do!”

Before either of the ponies have time to react, with a single buck from his hind legs. The darkness kicks down the wall behind him, and throws himself, and Midnight out in to the yard under the time of night that he was named after. Shard whips the ensnared colt up and over his head, hurtling him across the back yard. Being tossed in to a tree will do wonders to a colt’s back, as Midnight hears half his vertebra crack in unison, as he gets back to his feet while the tree itself even starts to show signs of damage.

Now left to face off against that which he wants to spit in the face of most.

“Ha! You see Midnight what happens when you, and I don’t play!” The darkness starts to mock him while laughing insanely, “Thanks to you I was allowed to fester! My usual overzealous nature inhibited me from doing so before hoof,” he owes it up to his own flaws, “Though I learned a little self-control, and in doing so my strength has increased. Although it wasn’t enough to get in your blasted head and beat you once and for all… It was enough to get out here in the real world to see you one on one,” Shard kicks up some of the dirt under his hooves, almost ready to charge like a bull, “I should thank you! But heck, let’s be honest here,” The jade eyes lock with that of the colt across from him once more in his rant, “It’d be more fun just to kill you.”

“NO!” Midnight shouts immediately.

The magical shock catches the demon off guard, and tears off a portion of Shard’s side. Forcing the colt down to the ground. In doing so, giving Midnight the time he needs to attack. Pounding either hoof in to the ground. The outside is enraptured in an aura, and encases the colt’s limbs. Thrusting himself forward as Midnight starts to pummel the dark colt, and take off chunks left, and right with every swing. The splinters fly, Midnight breaks a sweat, and the dark laughs at him once more. That is until it finally realizes something, a little too late, and a hoof comes up cracking him in the jaw. The resulting fall from the hit lands the dark colt on the ground as he spits out a jagged tooth, and a puddle of muck which can only be assumed as blood.

“Shut you up now didn’t it,” Midnight mutters as he bucks the dark in to the same tree he was sent in to. The final blow toppling over the tree to its side. The fallen now resting there next to the stump for a moment as it looks over its own wounds. All of which are still clear as crystal for him to see, “You heal perfectly fine in my head, but out here… I have a chance.”

“And you still forget one thing!” The dark gets back up, glaring at the stallion across from him with a pair of unworldly emerald eyes. Eyes that start to glow brighter as the Ray spell leaves them and head toward Shard’s once host. The sensation from his flesh being incinerated reaches Midnight’s mind in a split second while the tissue burns way, and from sheer reflex alone the same hoof bracer enchantment is used to act as a shield while he brings is up to block the attack. The force from Shard’s attack has enough oomph in it to even force the colt across the ground, Midnight’s hooves digging in to the ground, while the final charge hits him and sends a shower of sparks from the breaking of both spells. Dazed after the hit, the crimson colt looks up from the pit he’s dug himself. To see the dark entity standing there triumphantly as his green eyes start to glow once more for another attack, “Even when I am no longer in you, you and I are still connected at a deeper level than you will ever understand…” he chuckles, “you can’t kill what makes you, you.”

“But I can!” A blue blur comes out of nowhere, and socks the dark pony in the side with a mighty magical burst from her own horn. The impact leaving a clear hole in his chest, and his own impact crater. As Luna lands next to Midnight, and helps him out of the hole, “Are you alright?”

“Taking a spell to the chest isn’t one of my better past times… Though I have to say, better now,” he covers the burn marks on his chest to ease her pain, getting a quick smile from her in return as they both take a fighting stance against the one before them now, “He’s weak while out here in our world… He can’t heal like he could before.”

“He is rather adept in magic though… your kind of magic.”

“And so am I…” The tell tail feeling of scorching air beckons Midnight to raise up an onyx barrier from his shrouded hooves to protect them. Luna seeing through, watches the dark pony sending the searing magical flame from its gullet, at them. Though in the attack, as they both feel the heat beating against the wall between them and a trip to the burn ward, their attackers eyes remain closed. Luna rolls out, and around the cover piece as Shard closes his mouth and smoke is left to come out of the nostrils.

‘My turn…’ Luna tells herself, charging up a lighting spell, and casting in in to the form. Though with only a quick flick of the wrist, it is deflected off to Shard’s side with only a shield sphere held in midair as it glances off the surface. Harmlessly blasting a hole back in to the ground, as it makes contact.

“Is that all you got prince-” Shard tries to call her out.

Though his words are cut short by the rapture of frost around his legs, and body as ice starts to build up in a block. Before quickly being cracked out of it once more by getting body slammed by a girthy colt, “That is called a distraction thank you very much!” Midnight brings himself back around, only to have his hoof caught in mid-swing, and struck upwards. Buckling the elbow, and almost cracking the bone altogether. The darkness lifts him right back up, and with an ear perked up from the sound of the on rushing princess. Shard twists around, and tosses Midnight in to her.

Wide eyed with the sight of the colt flying through the air against his will. Luna has not the time to react, as he collides with her form, and they both find themselves tumbling over the ground. Resulting in the mare on the sour end of this deal, the bottom. Luna tries to get up, but the weight of the colt is something of wonder, and soon she finds herself eating dirt once more, ‘Oh he isn’t going to live this one down.’

Eventually he rolls off, and they both get up in time to see the darkness pouring a green mass of energy in to the ground as several roots pick themselves up, and out of the dirt, and thrust at the two under Shard’s control. Luna conjures up a magic blade, and slices away at those that come at her, even splitting a few down the middle. While Midnight pulls a new trick out of the bag, forcing his gag reflex with a little throat flexing. The colt’s gullet sends a stream of what one would guess is radioactive looking, magically infused, glowing, vomit at the foliage. The steaming concoction, liquefying the roots as it collides with them. Running the stream down their length, the foliage appendages are quick work for the acid as they wither away in to nothing more than a pile of muck on the ground.

“Ack!” The sound of a mare in over her head fills, Midnight’s ears while he turns around to find Luna twisted up in a pair of the roots grabbing at her hooves, and around her horn.

Winding her up like an anaconda off the ground, and in to the air. The wind slowly is being crushed out of her lungs with every exhale as the intake becomes harder, and harder the more she tries. Even the dim light of her moon is fading away, as the roots cover her even more. Though with a quick spell to the base, the mare starts to fall, only to be caught by the carful hooves of Midnight before she hits the ground.

“Don’t worry…I got you,” And with several chomps of his jaw, Midnight takes off the roots that bound her.

Meanwhile the darkness has his own fun at the moment watching the display. More so the magic that is flowing in, and through the colt freely without any hint of failure. ‘It isn’t draining him like it would before… he really is healed now. Drat, now how is this going to work?’ the subtle eye glance that Midnight gives Luna as he sets her back down, reminds Shard all he needs to know for the moment. Breaking out of his trance, to feel the full force of a spike spell digging in to him, it’s moments like these he is thankful that he has no internal organs, as the darkness digs out the crystal spike.

“That… is a cheap shot! Princess,” He drops the spike to the ground while getting a scowl from the lunar mare.

“Oh cry me a river will you!” Midnight mocks him back while tackling the form to the ground and head butting him a few times.

A rising heat up in his throat, beckons the nocturnal colt to leap up in the air and hover off the ground from his target while sending a scorching flame in to Shard’s direction. The head from the magic flame doing its part, as it scorches the earth around the apparition, and even starts to boil off some of the ooze that held him together, leaving a few smaller pieces to chip off. Though the glass has an entirely different effect. With a touch down from Midnight away from the flames. The darkness manages to get up while there are several cracks from the joints across him straining to hold up the heated frame.

However, the cracking halts in his body while the now pliable glass allows him to bend well from the heat until the muck is replenished from his own magic, “I may not be able to heal entirely, and put myself back together. Though that doesn’t mean that I’m entirely helpless to heal something.”

“Good to know…” Midnight brings out the same flames from his throat as they both do the same spell.

In the center, lime flames dance and tango with one another. Neither caster giving in, until they extinguish the spell, and leave a plot of smoke between them. Until the princess hurtles herself through the cloud at her target with a magic mace. Caving it in to Shard’s hot form, while she tries to hold him by the head, though the heated glass is able to absorb the hit rather well. On top of that, it does give Shard a rather nice defense.

“Son of a-!” Luna barks out for a second as she leaps back away from his still searing hot form that even still glows at this hour in the night.

“Awe. Too hot for you my dear?” He snickers at her, before a gout of acid from his good counterpart snuffs out Shard’s fun, and leaves him dripping there green before he shakes it off like a dog, “Oh that’s just… nasty.”

“Cooled you down still,” Midnight responds while he flies through the air, tackling the apparition to the other side of the yard. Proceeding to try, and bring a glowing hoof in to Shard’s skull. Before he can make contact though, Shard’s reflexes kick in and he lets loose a quick shockwave spell, hurtling Midnight up and off of his target. Allowing the darkness a moment to get his footing.

The heavy trotting of a mare scorned, lets Shard know that he is about to get another hit soon, while his ears perk up at the sound. Whipping around to meet her, Shard holds out a hoof, wrapping a green aura around Luna and lifting her clear off the ground. Moving faster than Luna’s own ability to catch herself, the entity tosses the princess in to an oak with just the flick of a hoof that Luna felt all too well. The impact is forceful enough to whip her head backwards right in to the trunk, as it sends stars dancing across her vision as she slumps down to the ground in a daze.

“You’re grounded, princess,” Shard spits out under his tongue. Using the same hoof to grab hold of the branch above her, and drop it down in to Luna’s outstretched wing.

“AGghh!” Luna bites down on her lip, while the cracking of bone is heard over the calmness of the night air drawing the attention of her colt, “M-m-my wing…” She quivers unable to move from the weight of the limb on her own and the pain as it shoots through her body, lighting up her brain.

“Luna!” Midnight holds out a hoof to her. Rolling back over on to his feet, and faces off against the colt.

“You are stronger…” The darkness that Midnight has dealt with for years realizes as he talks out loud. Watching the blood start to trickle from Midnight’s nose after the previous blow, “On top of this your mind has healed… which means,” Shard sends his gaze to the lunar mare that still rests there by the tree with the branch fallen on her wing. Laying there defenseless, and ripe for the picking, “…All I need to do is break it once more!”

In a flash, Shard conjures the smoke that makes up his wings to beat furiously against the air, lifting his high in to the air from a position where he eye balls the princess like a hawk ready to strike down. Narrowing down his jade orbs, he dive bombs Luna at the base of the tree. Dead set on taking out the one that Midnight is falling for, and shattering his mind once more. This is something that he would never recover from, and with the added strength of waiting it out. The darkness would have full reign of the body he will soon call home again.

Luna looks up at the pair of glowing green eyes that puncture the night sky above her. Still unable to move, and not able to concentrate enough through the dancing of pain to cast a simple spell to get the branch off of her so she could move better. The princess for all her might, is left there at the mercy of one that would do nothing, but cause her death, and one who has her affections, misery.

That is, until that very colt steps in.

The top half of the tree that Luna resides against gets encased in an emerald aura at the hooves of Midnight’s own magic. Tearing clean from the base, leaving the princess to lie there against a trunk, as the top portion is hurtled in to the air to meet Shard head on. While his eyes grow wider the closer it gets, “Oh bugger…”

The foliage smashes in to his face, bringing Shard back down to the ground in a heaping pile of twisted branches and an evil putrid mess. Stepping out of the tangled mess of limbs, with several branches and twigs sticking out of which ever various parts of his body. The nightmarish mass of pure dark magic, and even Luna, both look up to see the same sight. Though each with a different outlook on the colt standing there between each other.

Shard hatting the fact that now he lost the element of surprise in rushing the princess.

While Luna remains ever to glad to see her colt of the night, standing there with hooves braced firm against the ground.

“Don’t even think about it!” Midnight screeches out.

Though this one outburst does not call out a shockwave that the dark had braced for, but instead causing Midnight’s hooves to glow without him even directing them. While he calls upon something else, guiding it only with his mind. A rattle, a crash and several other sounds of broken wood and masonry coming from the house, urges the dark colt to look upon the home, and watch as the Lunar and Celestial suits of armor from his parents. Come flying out towards Midnight with himself in the path. Breaking apart at their straps midflight, Shard is forced to duck a few times to dodge them as they make their way to the new owner.

Each, and every section that makes up the armor breaking apart as they are fitted up, and around the colt’s own large frame. Bracers fusing together to patch up his longer legs, as the back plates do the same as well. While much of the rest of the armor follows the same process, meeting the needs of the wearer. Back plates layer atop each other like shingles on a roof, fitting over his spine and running up to the base of the neck, where the neck plates take over. Both chest plates weld together from the magic alone that Midnight is pumping in to them, while they strap themselves on to his chest. All the plates locking up and around him, giving him full protection and only allowing his wings and tail to protrude from his suit.

Meanwhile, the helmets of both his mother, and father, are shaped out in midair from one another. To cover his larger head as they lock around, under his jaw line, while each of the decorative manes trail down the back of his skull. As each of the weapon sheaths strap on to either side of him. Capping off the suit in its transformation to fit the user, leaving the bloodied colt to stand there in an impressive display of gold and violet plates, mixed in with one another. A sight that even forces Shard to pause for a second, raise his hooves, and applaud.

“Well I got to give you credit where it’s due…” He slowly claps at the colt, antagonizing him, “I have to say that is impressive,” The mocking nature only results in a charge from the darkness, as Shard tries to attack once more.

“Oh… I’m not done yet,” Midnight mutters. Drawing out both weapons from the sheaths, under the power from his magic, the blades themselves are forge welded together in midair. Both normal sized swords, growing in one length twice as long as it is wielded outwards. Forcing Shard to run head long in to the broadsword, skewering him down the middle. Lifting him up and over his head, Midnight slams him back in to the ground, drawing out the sword to strike. The darkness from his mind feels fear for one of the first times in a long while as it rolls out, and away from the attack, from a colt he has tormented more and more through the years. “Oh you aren’t going anywhere…” the angered stallion scorns him.

Shard attempts to get to his hooves and gallop away to get some distance between himself and Midnight. Though the conjuring of enchanted barbed wire shooting in the ground from the armored colt’s mane and tail, erupting around his legs, halts any escape. While he is dragged right back in front of the stallion, quickly being pinned to the ground with a sword to the gut, “Ugh… that’s going to leave a-” any further remark Shard could come up with is silenced the moment a metal hoof bracer contacts his jaw.

“You have irritated me for years,” Midnight socks him once more, “Played with me to kill like a puppet, when I just wanted to help others, and for what?” he asks before bringing his forehead in to Shard’s, “Your enjoyment!”

A darkened hoof rises up, and punches Midnight back in the jaw to return the favor, but nothing will break the colt’s stride while he wears the armor. The action only furthering the adrenaline pumping through the already enraged colt. As Midnight whips his wings back and forth, bringing out the enchanted darts, and hurtles them in to Shard’s limbs to pin him even more, “You will never be allowed to harm me, any pony else, or her… I will end this one way or another!”

“And how will you do that? Huh?!” Shard spits back in his face, “You can’t kill me! Remember? I am you. To kill me, would be to kill part of you,” the sinister grin that Midnight has come to know and hate, fills his face once more as he realizes something, “and now I’m out in the real world… how hard would it be for me to find another host?”

In truth Midnight never did think of that as a possibility. Inside of himself the darkness is his tormentor, his burden, but it is also contained, and only his burden. No other pony has to deal with it, unless they are a victim of Shard’s actions. Though the thoughts buzzing about his head, leaves Midnight open to attack. A single shockwave spell launches Midnight back up in to the air, and on to his back once again, giving a severe case of déjà vu. The added weight of the armor does its part, and protects him from the force of the spell. But not so much the weight of its own self as the plates land on top of his chest, crunching inwards, and Midnight can only feel what he can guess is a few cracked ribs.

‘No time for that now though,’ He mutters to himself while forcing himself to get back up.

Meanwhile Shard picks himself up off the ground, and gets the sword out of his chest. Now only glaring at the mare still at the base of the tree. Wielding the sword in an aura he slowly makes his way over to her. While the princess still squirms about from her position helplessly, as she can feel the twisting, and further cracking of bone with every movement, as she slumps down to her hooves once more. Panting after her efforts to get free, and listening in to the calm hoof steps of the tormentor approaching.

“Princess…” She glances up at the dark pony after he calls to her, “Give my regards to Sky, and Golden would you?”

The sword is raised up above his head for the attack, as she gracefully closes her eyes, and let’s lose one final tear. The sorrows and woes that she never got to know a particular colt a little better after this mess is all said, and done with. Though as she hears the grunt from the colt attempting to drop the blade upon her. It is only followed by a loud ting from it hitting another piece of metal. Slowly cracking her eyes open, Luna sees that Midnight dived in front of the blade in the hopes, and success, of his parent’s armor stopping the attack in time. Whipping around Shard, and grasping the blade to stave off any further attempt to swing it. Midnight peers deep in to his curses soul with a wicked grin, before tossing him over to one side.

“You know, you’re right…” Midnight notes. Ripping the blade from the darkness with his own magic, “…I can’t kill you.”

“Well it’s about time you realized-”

With a swipe of the hoof, the blade is brought down across Shard’s midsection, cutting him cleanly in half. Pints of ooze seeps out over the ground, as the shadow of a pony tries to hold off his own yelp from the attack. With closed eyes, Midnight stabs the blade back in to the ground next to himself. Conjuring out green tendrils of barbed wire, running out from his mane and tail and down to the ground while slithering across the surface. Several of the wires wrap clear around the severed lower half of his enemy’s body, and the colt lifts it up in to the air. All it takes is a moment, and the body is torn to pieces from the tendrils. Reduced down to shards of Shard, and sludge as Midnight funnels it in to the one place he knows it will remain safe no matter what.

His mouth.

Now even the pitch black pony is horrified at what he is witnessing. Using his remaining hooves to try, and push himself away as he watches half his body get swallowed by his seemingly demented host, “But… but how?”

“I can’t kill you,” Midnight explains while licking up the remaining parts of ooze on his face, “However, that doesn’t mean I can’t eat you, and keep you where you can’t hurt others.”

With that the colt throws himself at his fears, and attacks them head long. With every punch that the dark tries to throw. Midnight bites chunks out of the remaining hooves, and the spells that it tries to cast, he simply blocks. With Shard’s wings, or what’s left of them, flapping to try to fly. Midnight eyes the small torso, and head still there hovering.

Building up the energy in his eyes he shoots out a ray, and clips the very wings from the creature. Catching all the falling bits in his tendrils before they even hit the ground as he guides them down his gullet. With that gone out of the way, Midnight unhinges his jaw, extending it out like a snack as he engulfs the torso. Drawing it in with the enchanted wire and his neck muscles until it is completely down. Leaving nothing more than a head with a blank stare still gazing at him.

“Don’t worry,” Midnight whispers to him, “We aren’t quite done yet,” In a few quick slices the head falls apart like having gone through a cheese grader, and Midnight lifts them all back up to throw down the hatch. To another battle field that the night time colt had fought on for years.

_____________________

The dark landscape of the colt’s mind now houses the darkness, as Shard comes to in the middle of the floor there after being engulfed. It takes a few seconds for him to realize where he is, and once he does. He immediately checks the rest of his limbs to see if they are all there. “Everything is back the way it was?” He wonders in surprise after finding all his parts attached to him now.

“As I said, you heal great in my head,” The echoing voice of Midnight resonates through the walls of his mind as he speaks, and takes up the roll that his curse once had.

“You put me back here?” A slow grin starts to grow on Shard’s face ever more at what this might allow, though the egomaniacal laugh of his host puts him back in place.

“You fool… You are my burden to bear. No one else will have to deal with you so long as you are in here…” Midnight starts to explain. The light of the area getting brighter, and brighter with every passing second, and word. While the light itself from the colt’s mind seems to burn Shard across his whole form, “you may have been strong, but I tore you apart… you are nothing… and I will end it,” A pair of chains shoots out of the ground, and wraps themselves around the glassy colt in the center. Crushing him under their weight as they start to squeeze even tighter, breaking apart the glass under the strain. Followed shortly by the trickles of the dark puss running down their length from Shard.

“I will… get… you,” It fights to speak between breaths. Though the chains tighten further, and further.

“You tried once, and you failed to stay …” His now captor reminds him, “After all… my mind is strong now, and I am no longer afraid of you…” The floor underneath the colt opens up in to a dark abyss. Not even the light that is now shining about Midnight’s mind lights it up in the slightest, and the helpless victim can only stare down in to it with his own fear at what this brings to the table for himself.

“What… Is this place?”

“Oh this place? This is where my mind hid the memories of my past,” Midnight informs him while lifting the trapped colt higher up in to the air above the pit, “It is the deepest darkest hole I could find for you, and one that you will have no power at all in, with nothing to feed off of…” in the silence of his mind, Midnight swears he can hear a final gulp from the inmost part of Shard’s throat, “So long, my old friend.”

With a final whip of the chain, Shard is cast in to the darkness that he helped to create in the colt’s mind. Feeling every little hint of fear, and thought of lonesomeness that Midnight himself had gone through over the years. All the while screaming his way in to the depths, as the door closes. Letting the light shine completely in for Midnight, and his eyes open to the world for what would seem like the first time.

_____________________

Luna had sat there, and watched Midnight mumble to himself with his eyes glassed over in the back of his head. With not a clue as to what was going on in his head. She just saw the colt literally eat his demon after tearing him apart, and then go in to a trance in his own little world. Now left to see the golden orbs come back to her, and glance over with a straight face that slowly breaks in to a smile. The colt makes his way over to her, and uses his own strength to lift the branch off.

Only to get a shooting glare from the mare in return from the sharp pain, “Sorry about that…” he bites his lip.

“Don’t… mention it,” She winces at the surge coursing through her now after sitting down for so long. Though as Luna tries to get back up, it only results in her stumbling in to his hooves as Midnight catches her once more.

“Don’t worry…” She hears, before looking back up to him with graceful eyes, “I’ve got you.”

“I know you do, Midnight,” Luna leans in to his neck for a moment with a tear falling from her eye. The soft secure beat of his heart even through the neck line, brings a steady smile to her face as the mare welcomes it openly. Though even with this happy moment that he is back to her. It still urges one question to be asked, “Is…is it over?”

“He’s …not gone,” Midnight admits, listening in to the back of his head. Silent now, but still knowing that he is never going to be alone for as long as he lives. Though for now, Shard is trapped in some of the chaos he helped to create, ‘I can live with him being lost in my own thoughts,’ he starts to chuckle to himself, “But he isn’t coming back any time soon either… whatever strength Shard had over me is gone, and now, he is nothing.”

Sheathing the sword away after combining the holders, and with a short walk back to the house with her leaning on his side for support. Midnight uses a sheet to wrap up his mare’s wing, keeping it steady for now. Seeing as she won’t be using it any time soon to fly back home. Though as they head out the front door and prepare to depart, the colt simply holds up a hoof to her so he can have a moment. Running inside the home he once knew, after a few seconds, Midnight appears once more.

“What was it you had to grab?” She asks him while she sits down on the ground to ease her wing. Only thing he shows her, is a photo book titled Memories in his grasp, as he slides it down in to the breast plate of the armor he still wears.

“I had to grab it… a reminder of sorts.”

“That I can understand… besides,” She smiles at him warmly, “Now you can fill it with your own.”

With only a simple grin to answer her opinion. Midnight reaches up, and under her, lifting the mare up on to his back as she steadies herself after the surprising action by wrapping a pair of hooves around his neck. Though the slight giggle from behind the nape of his neck draws his attention away from the night sky ahead of them in their journey back.

“What are you laughing at back there?”

“Oh nothing…” She brushes it off at first, before leaning in to his neck with her own, “I just have to say you look rather fetching with armor on.”

‘Hmm I can’t really argue with that…’ He looks himself over for a moment. His parent’s protected him when he was but a foal, preventing him from meeting his own fate too soon, while they met their own. And now, their armor doing their part, and protecting him in his time of need, and even giving him the tools needed to help finish the fight. Flaring out his wings to stretch them a bit, the colt flexes them some before looking up at the clear night sky.

“Well we got a long trip ahead of us with only one making the flight…” Midnight smiles for a moment while craning his head to meet hers halfway, “But hey, the company is half the fun… right?” With that he plants a sweet, and simple kiss on her cheek. Before she has time to think about the sudden on rush of hormones running through her system, he shoots off in to the night time air.

Chapter 29

Chapter twenty nine

“Oh for the love of yourself, Tia…” Discord rubs the tip of his muzzle with a talon as he pounds back his fifth cup of coffee, and by cup, he means about a goblets worth, “…Let up a bit, Luna is a big girl now. You know that right?” For the last several hours after having not gotten a letter, in response to the one she sent the previous night. Celestia has been pacing about in the den to the master bedroom back and forth, nearly digging a hole in to the ground with her hoof steps.

“It’s not that I don’t think she can take care of herself,” Celestia tries to defend her position while walking over to a cupboard and breaking out a decanter of scotch to take the edge off, “I just am worried as the older sister about my younger siblings safety… that’s all,” With that she pounds back the third glass of the night while her own daughter starts to giggle on the couch, next to her aunt Cadance and uncle ‘Shiny’.

“This is one of those very rare occasions mom, where dad is probably right,” Rosebud pipes up slipping that first bit in, “After all Lulu can take care of herself.”

“Exactly!” Discord shoots up in to the air, before realizing the first bit of his daughter’s words, soon meeting her with a playful glare.

“All we are trying to say auntie, is that Luna is more than capable of taking on whatever they may find,” Cadance follows up.

“Besides…” Shining tags on to his wives statement, “Midnight is more than capable with that dark magic he’s packing,” The resulting hoof to the side from his wife, lets him know that that may be part of the problem to begin with, “Okay so his magic needs some work. From what I understand after you explained it Celestia, this was the whole reason they went out on this little trip.”

“It is Shining Armor…” Celestia refills her glass, taking a quick swig and savoring the burning aftertaste, before she answers him, “Though after nearly a full day of not hearing anything from them, I am just worried that he may have gone off the deep end, and done something to her that he would regret later.”

Her husband rolls his crazy red, and yellow eyes at her over, and over again while they dislocate in his sockets, “Oh please… Like he would dare lose his mind in front of her.”

“You never know Dissy… after all he has before.”

“That was when he first met her in the Empire, and he was already nuts…” He attempts to back up his own point, “After all sense then he has showed no malice towards your sister, and if anything, there is only affection for him to her.”

“And auntie even returning the favor!” Rose yells out to help her father. All eyes turning towards her soon afterwards in an instant as she sits there cross legged on the couch, “What? Please tell me I’m not the only one that sees this? Me and her have to have girl talk later.”

“No Rose, you are surely not the only one that has noticed,” Cadance puts a hoof to the end of her face to cover up her grin.

Needless to say, they have all noticed to some extent how smitten their beloved Luna is with the new comer Midnight, and even his own attraction to her is noted as they have interacted with one another. With a silent nod between Cadance, Rosebud, and Tia they all already know exactly what the other is thinking, even if the boys remain clueless to the actions. Though their quiet moment is interrupted by the sound of heavy hoof steps on the balcony that attaches to the royal families chambers. All five family members get up, and head over to the bedroom door to take a peek through as the balcony doors to the outside open up, and in comes a colt draped in full combat armor that is unlike anything they have seen. With the hooves of a princess they all love, wrapped around his neck.

“Luna!” Celestia bursts in past them, and even knocks a few of the others over, except for Rose, to takes to the air before hoof. The mother out of the bunch comes right up to her sister’s side as the latter gets off the back of Midnight. Only to be nearly crushed by the loving hooves of her sister.

“As nice as it is to see you too sister,” Luna bites down on her lower lip, as her wing is crushed back in to her side, “it would be nicer… if you could watch the bandage.”

At even the sound of the word bandage Celestia backs off, and looks Luna over from head to hoof. Examining each, and every cut and scrap that came from the battle she knows nothing of yet, and then turning to the colt who has the same dealings of combat across his face as he takes off the helmet, and holds it up under his wing respectfully. Meanwhile, the others by this point are surrounding the two that have returned finally, and are more than eager to hear their tale.

“So… I want to guess that you found something?” Discord states the obvious like he always does at moments like these, while looking over the condition of the two.

The resulting smirk that both Midnight, and Luna share with one another. Along with the slight enflamed cheeks, that the colt has a far easier time hiding than the mare, lets them all know that this one may require some time to go though. “Oh you could say that, though we’ll need a pot of coffee…” Midnight responds for his mare.

Moments later, a punch bowl of the caffeinated brew appears right in front of the colt. Courtesy of the prince of chaos himself, “Oh do tell…” Discord slithers off his tongue.

_________________________

While Luna is taken off by to the med bay to have her wing attended too. Midnight is left to the care of the five as he starts off with a deep breath and a single finding he had a few days ago about a town that he once knew. Launching from there, going in to the town records that they attempted to recover from the old library, he explains the run in with an old friend that he never would have recognized. Going further in to the connection with North Cloud and even his family with Stratus and Crimson, he tells them of the ties to Floral, and North’s ancestor Fall Cloud, who was the one that had found him after his tragedy. After getting the helping tip from them. He and Luna had gone to the other town not too far from them originally, and then made their way in to the library there to search the paper work.

While there, Midnight tells them about the several anomalies they found involving a pair of ex-guards, one Lunar and the other Celestial. A mare and a colt, each having a different address close to one another, but only one house ever actually showing up on the maps of the time. Finding the house that was still nearly perfectly preserved, Midnight draws to the more gruesome part of their tail, and after getting the go ahead from Celestia with a simple wink to proceed with young ears there (namely Rose). The colt goes one to tell them about what they had found. The suit of armor that fell on to Luna as she was snooping, and even the photo book that showed pages upon pages of pictures of a young Midnight with a pair of loving parents. At which time, Midnight reaches down in to the breast plate and pulls out the book, passing it around to them. Until it resides in Rose’s hooves, as she goes through it while the adults press on eagerly for the rest of the story.

“You started to have flash backs to then?” Shining asks while mindlessly shoving a muffin from the snack tray that Cadance had brought in for them, “You must have really struck a nerve then.”

“That I did, and then some…” Midnight takes it almost as an understatement, “I saw them for the first time, and that first time just happened to be when they were… well… you can imagine,” Each one shares the sympathetic pout of the colt that had lost it all without even realizing why at the time, and wouldn’t learn why for centuries to come.

“H-how did it happen?” Celestia stumbles out from sheer curiosity. “If you don’t mind of course.”

“It is in the past your majesty… there is nothing that can be done,” He takes yet another breath before going in to it, “As you know relations between the two factions of guards were always a bit sour, and as a result any personal relationships were heavily frowned upon…” He waits for that bit to sink in to the rest of them, as a few nod in agreement that they are following him, “Well I am the product of such a relationship, and after they were found out by another group of guards in sheer drunken anger. My mother, and father were cut down,” A few of the women gasp. The men burry their faces in either hoof or claw while they even shake their head at the senseless nature of it.

“Horrible thing aint it…” Discord even admits to himself under his breath.

“That’s though when that little tinge of dark sparked up in me… it allowed me even as a foal to put an end to those guards that did It,” He looks down at the green flame over top the shield on his rump, and even the tinge of it tainting his brow, “Even if it did mark me for the rest of my life…”

“What happened to him though?” Rose asks now, setting the book back down after hearing about the deaths of others, “I mean if you went there to try, and heal your mind. Did it work, or is Shard still there with you.”

“Well Miss Rosebud… He tried to take over once again,” Midnight turns his head slightly to the young princess to address her while at the same time the others as well, “Though as my mind healed, it couldn’t take completely over… so he escaped out in to the real world,” The colt gives out a brief explanation of what happened after the darkness literally upchucked from his gullet and was spit out. Leaving out some of the more horrid details as he simply brushes them off to the side to come up later if needed. Though the way it was finally brought down is a little surprising to them all, except Celestia, who is all too familiar about his flesh thirsty nature.

“So you ate him?” Shining says bluntly. Getting only a sour faced, and awkward affirmation from Midnight.

“Basically… if he was let out to roam then he would have found another host. And he could have never been killed, not in our world.”

“How come?” The princess of love questions.

“I have been fed many lies by that thing over the centuries,” The colt slowly chuckles to himself at that fact now. The sense in it all being irony that the thing that does his demon in finally, is the one truth that he ignored, and didn’t want to except from day one, “Though the one truth he did say all that time was ‘I am as much a part of you as you are of me’ and he was right. There was always a small part of it in me that would be there no matter what I had done. So even with Shard out in the real world, that fragment would have festered still. However, once I learned that he could still be beaten down to nothing, and contained finally with a stronger will… then his fate was sealed once he was cast in to the darkest hole I could find in my head…”

“And which hole was that?” Discord asks out of curiosity.

“Hehe… ironically,” Midnight tries to fight an ill laugh in this twist, “the same part my memories were.”

A silence follows suit until the prince of chaos himself even makes the decision to break it for the time being, and give the brave colt a round of applause. “Well I have to say that is a tail that you could even tell a foal of your own one day,” he winks at the ever more flushed colt, “Though you will have to talk to Luna about that one,” Discord slips in that last comment. Barely enough for his wife next to him even to hear, while they both start to snicker and giggle to themselves.

“Speaking of Luna…” Midnight brings up, halting any laughter from the two as they lock eyes with him, “Do you think she is asleep by now? We did have a long trip, but needless to say, she is one to stay up well in to the night.”

“She’s… ahh, should still be in medical.” Celestia stumbles a bit after both her and her husband were caught red hoofed. Checking the clock that now reads a quarter after one in the morning before she continues, “It has been a couple of hour’s sense you two arrived though, perhaps you may get some rest as well.”

“With all due respect your majesty,” He bows lightly before getting up from his seat, “I would very much like to see her now, if you would excuse me.”

Only a kind, and gentle smile graces her face as she beckons him to go with nothing more than a hoof towards the door and a nod. Though one question stops him in his tracks, “Midnight… how did you hear my husband mention her?” Tia asks.

The colt turns only half his face around with a sly grin on it before he answers truthfully, “It’s the enhanced hearing I got from my mother… comes in handy don’t it?” Midnight answers, watching Discord even bite his tongue before he continues, “…and if I may say. The Princess of the night, has been on my mind as of late…” With that, and no other word, the colt leaves their presence with the shutting of a door.

Chapter 30

Chapter thirty

To walk through the castle at this time of night, and only be passed by the royal guards that patrol the area is a treat that only the sleepless find themselves receiving. With the marble tile all over the place and the warmth radiating off of them from the day time on a cool night like this, it is a wonder that Midnight is glad to have, as opposed to his usual travels through dark woods in the middle of the night, or even the long flights to a new area when he is run out of town.

However, as much as he may like this feeling of being able to think to himself. His travel is to find a particular princess of the night. Though in doing so he, meet’s a particular set of guards that unlike the others, show no fear towards him, only intrigue.

“Comet come here!” Nocturn calls over to his companion. Getting Midnight’s attention in the hallway, as he is gestured over by the guard with a wave of the hoof. The guards of the castle have been made aware of his arrival, so the night time colt knows this isn’t anything of malice, while he remains curious why the guards would want to see him, “This is the stallion that we were informed of… Midnight is it, sir?”

“Yes it is, Sir,” Midnight returns the bow that he gets from the pair of guards, “Though there is no need to bow to one such as myself, I’m the furthest thing from royalty you could see,” as the guards rise up though, the colt realizes where their interest comes from, after getting a better look at them…

Two slit eyes meet his own, both of them in awe of the colt, “Force of habit there, sir,” The lunar guard acknowledges, while his unicorn counterpart of the night follows up shortly.

“Nocturn here has mentioned that there was another like us here at the castle,” Comet answers him with a slight chuckle to follow, “Though we never thought that we would run in to you.”

“Well that you have.” Midnight follows suit for a bit. Noting the obvious height difference between him, and the pair that he is a head, and a half taller, and broader on all accounts. It’s no wonder they’re star struck by the sight of him, “Though I never realized that my name has gotten about the castle that fast?”

“You would be surprised with that sir, news here travels faster than a high school.”

“Especially when it comes to a colt that has spent a lot of time with the lunar princess herself…” Comet gets a quick elbow to the side from his companion as they all start to giggle a bit from his statement. Only to elaborate on it further, “…for being what was once our soul ruler under the moon, needless to say. Every lunar guard has had the hots for her at one point or another.”

“Though that eventually fades away, when they realize there isn’t a chance,” Nocturn sighs a bit off to the side, “but hey, you got something going on… from what we heard at least, sir.”

“Sir will not be necessary…” Midnight brushes off, “however speaking of Luna, me and her came back last night from our…” He tries to think of the best way to word this last sentence, “…Trip. Though her majesty ended up in a slightly less ideal position…”

“Had a fight out in Equestria did you?” Nocturn guesses out of the blue.

“That’s an understatement,” Midnight simply rolls his eyes off to the side a bit. Recalling the vivid memories fresh in his mind of him and the princess fighting with his inner demon.

“Love to hear about it sometime, trade war stories?” Comet offers, “heard you been around for a while, you’ve got to have some. If you wouldn’t mind of course,” he remarks while in wonder of the colt before him from what he has heard around, “From what I understand you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve, which would make short work of whatever the problem could have been.”

“Dark magic?” Midnight asks flatly.

Nocturn steps slightly away as his friend tries to deliver the same elbow strike. Just leaving him glaring at his counterpart while they both eye the unusual colt, “Is that really true? Can you use it?”

Midnight simply shrugs his shoulders at the comment. The fact that these guards aren’t even fazed by his appearance, let alone his gift, is a comfort to him. Though considering he, and them share much the same traits, it’s no wonder, “It’s just a talent I was born with, much like yourself,” He gestures to Comet.

“Do you know if you’re sticking around?” The Lunar unicorn asks, almost sounding like a kid talking to his foalhood hero, “Wouldn’t mind sparing with a new lunar pony about the castle.”

“I wouldn’t mind that at all either,” He answers first before following up with a new question to them, “However, as for me staying, that would be up to the princess. She’s probably in the med bay I would imagine. Could you point me in the right direction?”

His question is graced by a hoof thrown up in the air, to point his way by the other guard, a smile on both their faces after having met the colt of their kind that they heard about roaming the castle. And one that is more extraordinary than they could ever imagine. After a gracious thanks, a departure, and a short walk.

Midnight finds himself standing outside the doorway with a red cross on its exterior, and gently pushes it open. The lights in the bay have been dimmed down for the few ponies that are sleeping at this time of night, like most should be, though that is all except for a lone nurse tirelessly staying up to ensure that any patient in need is attended too. Still being in full armor from the fight earlier doesn’t help a colt’s skills when it comes to sneaking about, and it isn’t long until the mare at the desk reading a book turns her tired eyes to see the colt tiptoeing his way over.

“Good evening sir…” She rechecks the wrist watch she wears, “Or my bad… morning… is there anything I can help you with?” The mare asks while taking in the many cuts, and smaller injuries about his face from the scuffle she knows nothing about.

“Actually ma’am, I was hoping to know if the princess was still in.”

“That I can answer for sure,” She pauses for a moment, taking a sip of her coffee before setting it back down on the desk to fight back the drooping eye lids, “She’s not actually, her majesty checked herself out after getting a splint put on, and a tighter dressing… after that she walked out.”

“Any idea where she could have gone?” He asks concerned. Even after having not known her for long, it didn’t take long for him to figure out how strong headed she can be. The nurse sees the colt’s concerns clear as day on his face, and tries to help him as best she can. Putting the pieces together from what she can see.

“You’re Midnight aren’t you?” She waits for confirmation before going on, “She mentioned you several times while I was attending to her. Though when she was patched up, instead of getting some sleep here where she would be waited on with ease. Princess Luna got up, and left. Seemed kind of upset about something… Though I know not what.”

Midnight bows his head out of respect, before continuing his search elsewhere, “Thank you miss… I will try to find her. Have yourself a good night.”

With a polite wave from the mare at the desk. The colt leaves her alone for now, and ponders her words. ‘Why would she be upset? After all granted the time we just shared wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t all that bad… minus the fact about my own fears, and demon trying to kill us,’ the last thought crossing his head giving an answer to his question. However, it is behind them. So what could it be? ‘Where would she go if she was upset…?’ The question brought up is answered sooner than expected, as one place comes to mind instantly.

_____________________

The faraway garden provides sanctuary to those that need just a little space from the rest of the castle, and the lightless area does that tenfold for a mare sitting alone on a park bench, surrounded by the onyx colored flowers that darken further with the setting of the sun, but still give off such a fragrance that the princess of this time can only adore. The slight wind chill running about the area causes the peddles to wave back, and forth with one another as the nocturnal mare holds her hooves around herself. Relishing in the cold enrapture of the night, while hating it all the same.

“Tis strange… I adore this time of year, but hate it all the same because I can’t enjoy your company,” She talks to the floral setting around her. The situation hitting her even more so while she slumps down a bit further in the bench, and would have had her head in her own lap if it weren’t for the brace on her blocking the movement, “Then where will I go when I don’t have these wonders to cheer me up?”

The snapping of a stem draws her perking ears up, soon followed by her head as she sees a blackened rose float over to her in a green aura. As the magic clips off the thorns, and glides the flower gently in to her mane behind her ear. Even in the cool of the night, Luna cheeks reign fire upon them as the colt responsible stands off to the side for a moment before coming in to the light of the moon in full few of her, “I figured you’d be out here.”

“You went to medical first?”

“Yes, but the nurse said you weren’t there,” He responds while taking a seat down next to her.

The space between them becomes even cooler in the growing silence after the last statement. As they both seem to twiddle their hooves without a word, before the princess breaks the ice that is starting to form, “You know…” She starts with a coy smile, lowing her head to hide it under her mane while he turns to look at her, “it is kind of chilly out here this clear night. If you scooted a little closer for some warmth and comfort, I wouldn’t be against it,” ‘That’s even too corny for your liking, Luna,’ she teases herself in her head.

With a simple chuckle, and a nod the colt stretches out one wing, glides it around her taking care to avoid her own injured one, and brings the mare closer in to his side as he does the same, “I had actually hoped to find you out here tonight, and not in a bed before tomorrow.”

“And that you have now…” She leans in to the warmth of the wing, and the side of his chest a bit. Thankful that it helps to fight off the growing cold of winters approach, “… how noble of you.”

“Well after bringing you back to the castle and to your family, it wouldn’t have been that respectful to leave you high, and dry in the medical ward before going off to bed,” Midnight answers in his defense, “The nurse said you had checked yourself out, and that you seemed…well… upset about something.”

Luna grows silent at that moment, looking even further down from him and nowhere near the wonderful golden orbs that she loves, “It’s… ah, nothing really.”

“You are a horrible liar, your majesty… you know that?” He toys with her, and squeezes her ever so slightly with his large wing, “You can tell me, can’t you?”

Finally Luna works up the courage, looking at him eye to eye. Her blue like ice melting in to his golden sun as she heaves one last sigh in to the night. ‘Well if I don’t say anything now, I may never get the chance later…’ Luna ponders before continuing on, “Our time together…” She starts off, putting the words together as best she can voice them to the stallion, “… It was a special thing to me, if that’s not off to say. But now that all is well said, and done with. Then I don’t know what to do…” A single blink and her long eye lashes brush away what’s left of a tear leaving her eye that she had dropped earlier just before his arrival, “…I don’t know what you would do.”

Midnight puts it together as best he can, summarizing her words, “You are worried about what I would do… now that I’m, well… free?”

The night mare rolls her eyes over to one side in haste, before bringing them back to him with a nod. Midnight only leans forward a bit while keeping her wrapped up in the warmth of a leathery wing, as she snuggles a tad closer to him as he speaks his mind, “My mind is healed now. For the first time sense I was, but a foal. There is nothing I couldn’t do with my gift…” Midnight starts off to list many things that have come to his mind before while he was pondering years back what it would be like to be normal, “I could travel the world once moreover, visit countless other kingdoms, meet untold number of other ponies, or griffons, or any other creature that would come my way. Before last night, any of that would have put myself and others in danger. However, the danger is gone now…” With every word that the colt speaks. The princess next to him feels a knife hitting her still heavily beating heart over, and over again.

Hearing about all the things he could go, and do now that he is well. Puts her in a place she never wanted to be again, and hadn’t been sense she was banished to the moon. A cold, dark… and lonely place. But who is she to stop him? She and even Twilight did set out to help the colt, with no intentions to keep him here really other than for the help. Even if the lunar princess did have an odd fascination with him at first, after really talking to him. She couldn’t have helped that attraction, and it’s not her place to have him to stay. So no matter what his choice may be.

Even if it is to leave, she would have to suck it up.

“The badlands would always be welcome to one like me that may not be accepted by others, and there is the old home that I never really knew still there in nearly mint shape… besides the whole back side being blown out recently, but that’s a quick patch job,” Midnight ponders for a second going back and fixing up the home. Perhaps a vacation spot? After all, he has family in the area that he has much catching up to do with, “Plus on top of that I can list off several dozen places in other nations that I had loved to go to from time to time, that I can now enjoy because my little travel companion is no longer there with me, tugging my hoof.”

The blades twist deeper, and deeper in to the mare, tearing away any hope she had once had while he speaks. So much so that Luna in her trance doesn’t even realize that he has come to a stop, and is just glancing over to her with a sly, wicked grin about his face. Leaving her mind busy trying to process it all.

‘That’s it Luna… It’s over,’ Her mind races through the motions, ‘any hope you had is gone, considering he basically just shot you down in a moments-’

“However…” The stern tone breaks her out of her trance, and back in to reality while he picks back up, “All of those things I would love to do… and kind of already have done. So I think I’d rather stick around for a while, settle down a bit, travel later maybe when I have free time? I think I know a particular mare that would enjoy some of the sites to see out in this world that I could show her, and if she wouldn’t mind, I’d gladly stick by her side,” An eye rolls back down to her confused face, as it slowly starts to realize what he is entailing.

“Do… I know this mare?” Her frown is slowly replaced by a smile while he answers ever so truthfully.

“You may… about your height, wondrous cobalt eyes, and lovely pair of dark blue wings,” His own face starts to glow a similar color red as it goes through the motions. Even rubbing his lower jaw with a hoof, “A mean right hook when she is mad enough… on top of all that, a mare who is as sweet as honey… and can be as volatile as hard cider,” The princess giggles at first. Quickly playfully shoving him a bit off the bench. However, Midnight goes along with it, and falls to the ground. Pulling her along with him with a slight yelp, as he looks back up to her laying atop him, “See what I mean by volatile?”

“I can show you volatile,” Luna glares back at him, quickly replacing it with a wide eyed smile in place of the false hostility, “Though I can save that for later… considering this particular mare, would love to have you stick around the castle,” She nuzzles his cheek with her own.

Savoring the warmth that he radiates off of himself, while they both manage to feel the others heartbeat. Almost in rhythm with each other as they lay there for a moment in their own little trance. Though as she remains there in bliss with her muzzle against his own. A light moisture running down the tip of Luna’s snout summons her to rise up, and see a colt that she has the utmost affections for… tearing up at his eye lids.

“You have brought me out of the brink of self destruction, Luna…” Midnight tries to fight back from the dam ready to burst, “Given me the gift of peace which I have not known for the longest of times. For that I will never be able to repay you in your life time, for the life you have returned to me…I am forever in your debt, your majesty.”

“And there is nothing you have to return… Although I could get used to hearing that last bit from you,” With a wink she gives him a quick peck on the cheek, and is only met by a sincere smile from the colt.

“The eyes are blind, your majesty… you have to look with your heart,” A crimson hoof runs itself through the marvelous lunar mane as Midnight strokes it down the back of her head, while he rests a hoof on her cheek, “and my heart is showing me clearly what it yearns for.”

Luna bites down on her tongue in order to attempt to quell the wake of tears trying to break through, and make their way through her eye lids, down her muzzle, and drip down to his face as she leans in to the colt. Taking the hint, he does the same. And for the first time, beside the coy side kisses here and there, their lips meet in the middle in a glorious exchange of affection that only two ponies that have a mutual attraction to one another could have that rockets the fireworks that have been building up in them to the sky.

The warmth of the soft lips pressing against his own, draws the colt in further while the feeling of having his sharp fangs against her own lips. Has the same effect on Luna as she slips her tongue out between them, and in to his own mouth. Encapsulating the insides of his mouth, Midnight lets loose a slight grunt, and uses his fangs to nibble down on the mare’s soft tissue, granting him a fleeting moan from her own throat as it reverberates to his own. The fires in both of their chests riding up even more so as the passions start to cap off, and Luna throws her hooves around his neck, and buries herself back in to his face. Ignoring the growing pain in her wing from the motions and only relishing in the moment she is blessed with.

Smothering each other with warm levels of affection. Their lips nearly suffocate each other like a pair of lustful teenager. This outburst long in waiting, left to fester until it was finally released. While they enjoy every little spark that goes off in the back of their minds, as it rides through the neurons in them. Lighting off even more pyrotechnics in the display all the same, and even more so when a pair of leather like wings wrap around the princess’s torso and pulls her in closer than she has ever been before. The appendages ride up her spine, and between the base of her own wings sends a relaxing chill down the mare. Leaving her hind legs starting to twitch from the action, and she responds with a bite of her own on to his lips. The resulting gasps leaving his mouth, runs past her own as Luna laps her tongue across his sharp fangs. Diving even more in to the display, driven by lust and pent up desires.

The feeling of being a mare in heat, rushes through Luna once more in the back of her mind as she kisses his lips again. Though between the two of them. Midnight is the one that gains a little self-control first, and pulls back to not only give themselves a chance for a full breath, but also to keep them from getting ahead of themselves… at least for now, especially while out here in the open garden.

Glaring in to the eyes that behold him. Luna’s eyes reflect the stars light above, almost making it seem like the celestial bodies are in fact trapped in her own orbs, as they twinkle in the watery ducts of the princess. A sweet hearted smile stretches between the edges of his lips, as Midnight draws her in once more. Kissing her a single time on the fore head, just before the horn, as the soft giggles of the mare fill the space between them and his ears.

“Hehe…” She teases him while covering her muzzle. Straightening out her hair, and tiara before both of them just lie there for a moment, with Luna still relaxed atop his strong frame, “We should probably keep our affections a little more controlled in the future,” she makes a note out loud, though afterwards breaths a hefty sigh of relief, “however, that did feel great to finally let out in to the open instead of just bouncing around the subject.”

“That I can agree to. On both accounts of course,” He chuckles at first before they both lean in to one another. Touching their foreheads to one another, and almost melding as one mind as they nuzzle their snouts together.

Though the flash of a picture being taken immediately issues both of them to snap their heads off to the side of the light. Where they now find Celestia standing there with the camera, Discord there also grinning as wide as can be, Rose jumping up and down, Shining covering up his muzzle full of laughter, and Cadance having the face of ‘figures’ plastered all over her. The newly made couple, fumbles back up to their feet from a less than desired picture perfect position. Now dumbfounded as they both scratch the back of their heads trying to look for a way out of this mess real quick, to avoid as much conversation with the royals as possible, for tonight at least. Luna looks up to the sky, over past the dozens of towers that dot about the castle, and to the lone one that still has an open balcony on it.

Leading to her own bed room.

“This is probably the time when we depart, Mister Midnight,” Luna winks at him, “It has been an eventful few days and I for one could use a rest… with some company.”

“I’ll lead the way, Princess Luna,” He bows to her lightly.

Spreading his bat wings out as wide as possible. The princess leaps up on his back, takes hold, and with one mighty flap her colt takes off to her castle room. Away from prying eyes, and to share one more private moment with one another before they retire for the night, and start the day anew.

A few tears fall down from Celestia’s muzzle, and hit the ground as she watches the pair go off in the distance. The chance to finally see her sister happy, is something that she has looked forward to for years, and finally gotten to witness, “That a girl.”

“It’s about time!” Rose blurts out, soon covering her mouth when she gets a slight glare from the rest of her family, “What? It was…” The youngest princess tries to back up her reasons as the rest of the group starts to head back to the castle for the night as well, “…Seriously did you see the look on her face when their lips parted!”

Rosebud starts to go on, and on about how the two will be so perfect together. How long it will take them to get married, and even to the extent of what their kids will look like. The simple chuckles from her mother are lost to the filly all the way as they walk.

“Oh she has this all planned out,” Tia mentions to her husband as they walk claw, and hoof.

“Luna can do some better planning than we did,” Discord points out to her about their little unexpected pregnancy, which resulted in gracing their lives with kin of their own. Even the father of the filly finds it hard to hide the grin on his face, thankful that his daughter can’t see, though the eldest princess picks up on it all.

“What are you thinking about over there?” She raises a curious brow to the chaotic male.

“Just thinking…” Discord starts off while he pushes open the door to the castle. Holding it for the others while Celestia stands there with him waiting for an answer, “…If this is how she acts when it’s her aunt… How do you think she’ll take it, when a colt takes a fancy to her?”

It’s an image that the father himself can start to see every now, and again. Even though he may not want that for quite a while, he knows it’s inevitable. So might as well get used to the idea? Though the snowy alicorn with him, has her eyes almost spread out of their sockets, at the thought of her daughter falling in love for the first time.

“Oh dear,” Celestia mutters to herself, while the door behind them all closes.

Epilogue

Fall Cloud waltzes his way across the path that heads up to his friend’s home. It has been a few days sense he seen them last. Not an uncommon occurrence when you consider who they are, and what they are trying to hide. A small basket of goodies, and sweets for the little one is clamped between his teeth as he hums a little tune to pass the time. Taking his time in this wonderful morning to enjoy the trip instead of taking to the skies.

‘Oh Midnight will be happy to know that I know a unicorn that could help with his…talent,’ Fall ponders while making his way to the cottage, ‘Floral does love to work with kids, and she is so sweet that perhaps with the proper introduction, she may be able to help.’

The Pegasus allows vivid images of the cute little unicorn he met a few weeks back to dance across his mind. As he recalls their few interactions with one another in the market. Floral was setting up her flower stand, and asked Fall if he could help with positioning the cart. Seeing as her magic was already in use at the time holding up a few petunias. It was the first time they met, and one he won’t soon forget. Able to feel the heat in his face, the colt knows full well that it’s not the sun that’s causing it at the moment. Especially after that introduction, he’s run in to her several times in town sense then, and has even shared a meal after meeting by accident at a dinner.

‘She is a cute one… I wonder...’ Fall shakes his head for a moment to get to the task at hoof, ‘Mares later, friends now… though still,’ he wonders while breaking off in to a trot, and soon finds himself outside of Sky’s and Golden’s home. Though as he approaches, he sees the door is slightly open. ‘Well it’s a nice day out,’ he finalizes, ‘Golden is probably letting the breeze in.’

Though as he gets closer, Fall sees that part of the door is cracked after being forced in. He drops the basket on the porch, thinking perhaps that it’s just another accident from Midnight’s gift. ‘No cause for alarm,’ he throws it up to, trying to fight back the feeling of the sweat trickling down his neck, ‘I’m sure everything is alright,’ “Sky! Golden! Are you-?” though before the last word can leave his mouth, Fall cracks open the door, and sees the trail of blood on the ground leading off down the hall.

Not even waiting to read the sight for what it is one more time, the colt takes off down the path while kicking over the basket after a burst of speed fuels his legs. Making it around the corner, and almost stumbling over the body of a friend he once knew, “Sky…” He mumbles while bringing his friend up in to his hooves, as he sees the open eyed stricken expression that remains on what’s left of Sky’s face from the rot. Throat slashed, stabbed in the chest, with a pool of blood around him from where he bled out in the hall. Small flakes of dried up blood sticks to Fall’s coat, along with pieces of oily tissue from decomposition as he shakes his head in near disbelief at what his eyes are showing him, “…Who did this to you my friend…who?”

Fall was the one that said something like this wouldn’t happen. He told Sky not to worry time, and time again. Yet now he is holding the corpse of Sky in his hooves. Slowly lowering him back down to the ground, and with a single hoof he closes his eyes so that he may rest peacefully. Already mentally preparing himself for what he may find behind the door, that the once guard was clearly trying to reach for. With a gentle push the door creaks open, and then comes to a halt against something blocking it.

Fall cocks back his hind legs, and in one kick the door is open. A few steps inside he finds several other guards lying about in armor, dead and rotting away from the wounds they have sustained after looking like they’ve been ripped limb from limb by a back of Timberwolves. Though they are ignored, as the Pegasus takes up along the side of the mare laying there on the ground. Golden dead where she lays, almost cradling the small silent form of Midnight in her hooves as she passed.

“Not you too… not all of you,” Fall strokes the mane of the young tike that lays there motionless to his touch, at first.

“…Mhmm…” The young Midnight starts to roll over in his bed, made of his mother’s body.

Fall almost jumps at the sight, as he pulls his hoof back, sure that his eyes and ears just tricked him. Though after seeing the small chest rise up and go back down, the colt is sure the foal is alive. With a gentle hoof Fall lifts up the form, and brings the kin in to his own hooves. The cold remains of the mother he loved no longer comforting the tike, as Midnight instinctively almost grabs at the warmth that Fall brings with him which he has missed for a few days now. The tiny hooves wrap around his neck, as the Pegasus falls back on to his own rump, and sits there for a moment.

Taking in the scene he has witnessed at the moment for what it is.

‘Sky, and Golden… dead,’ He mumbles in his mind while Midnights eyes remain closed against his chest. The other bodies that he doesn’t recognize, look like they used to belong to what once was royal guards, now mangled beyond belief. For the parents that fell, those guards are likely the only suspect that he can imagine that would do harm to them, ‘But who brought them down once Sky, and Golden were done for?’

He wonders while cradling the foal, and running a hoof through his hair once more. Though this time he notices the odd green highlight on Midnight’s mane, and tail, and finally even the cutie mark that he sees. “A shield I can understand…” Cloud speaks aloud, while the slight snores from foal fills his ears. Thankful that he isn’t awake to see his parents like this once more, “…after all look who his parents are, but the flame?”

“…Nmm…” A slight coo escapes the little lips as Fall gets up, and grabs a clean blanket to wrap him up in.

“There, there Midnight…” He pats the back of him while resting the foals head against his chest. “…I got you.”

At heart the Pegasus knows that no other pony, short of the few friends that the couple made in town, would accept the foal. And out of them, he can’t imagine any going through with it. Fall looks down at the sleeping foal wrapped up. Now in a sling around his neck, rocking gently against his chest, as he walks past the fallen mother, and soon enough the fallen father as well.

‘I never thought I’d have a foal… or a mare for that reason,’ Fall knows that as nice and charming as he can be, even if he plays it off so much, he still had doubt, “But if that’s what it will take to make sure you get through this… then I’ll do it,” The Pegasus rubs the end of his muzzle atop Midnight’s head. Getting a small smile across his face, as the older colt starts off to one that may be able to help with this sorrowful predicament, ‘This isn’t exactly how I wanted them to meet… but I hope Floral is up at this hour.’

The end

Chapter 1

Chapter one

500 years in to Princess Luna’s banishment.

Golden Shadow looks out the open window, just outside of the Royal guard Captain’s office, at the night sky that she used to guard for the years she’s been in. Left to silently remember the good times that she had in the guard herself. While she also reminisces on the bad times that seemed to happen more often than not to a pony of her… type.

As a Lunar Royal Guard, unlike her Celestial counterparts. Golden has been adorned sense birth with a strong pair of leather bat wings that protrude out of her shoulder blades, tucked neatly along her side. Just as a pair of fangs poke out of her closed lips, skimming down along her lower jaw. While at the same time her bat ears perk up at the sound of the secretary’s quill making contact with parchment and scribbling down the final details of her paper work.

If it wasn’t for these things, many colts would be beating down her door to get a chance with the mare. Other than the oddities that other ponies are accustom to, why wouldn’t they? The grey coat that covers her body is kept in pristine condition. Cleaned and washed on the daily, just like her short cut purple mane is, so it can drape down her face, just the way she likes it. Only partially covering the attractive golden slit eyes, which she was given her name from.

A deep sigh escapes past her soft lips. As the mare breaths in and out ever so deeply, the pure Canterlot air, ‘The night time breeze… I always loved these moments,’ Shadow lets herself drift in and out of the memories. Barely hearing the sound of the secretary call her.

“Ms. Shadow? Ms. Golden Shadow?” She calls out again. Grabbing her attention finally as Golden twists her head around to look at the pony, “The captain will see you now. Bring this to him and he will sign you out.”

The pony hoofs over her paper work, as Shadow takes it from the mare and heads in to the office to meet the Capt. Stopping just short of his desk as he leans back in the chair with his back to her, “Good evening, sir,” She snaps to attention after setting the paper down on his desk.

“Oh please you don’t need to do that, Golden,” The Celestial guard captain turns around in his chair. Easing her salute down, as he returns the gesture from the comfort of his own chair, “You have served under me long enough for me to say, with confidence, that there is nothing that you owe me. When you consider this is going to be your last night here, I should be the one saluting you.”

“If only I had the rank to deserve that,” The lunar mare chuckles at his joke.

Captain Lurch isn’t wrong when he said that she has been here a long time. Joining only as a teenager, she surpassed many of the colts twice her age and even broke a few records in training, earning her cutie mark of a sword with five stars around it on her flank. Which impressed, and annoyed, many of her coworkers to no end. After making it in to the guard. She never moved stations out of Canterlot, and surely Lurch had been there ever sense she has, if not longer.

“If you weren’t getting out I would promote you right now. You more than deserve it,” Lurch signs off the final line on her separation papers. Even though he knows Lunar and Celestial Guards haven’t gotten along for centuries. Especially after the banishment of the nocturnal princess herself to the moon. The captain has seen more respectful Lunar guards in his years, than ones of his own kind. This night guard in particular, has earned his respect when it comes to servitude of the crown, and that is something to be proud of in its own right, “It doesn’t matter what any of my fellow Celestial guards say. You are one heck of a soldier, Ms. Shadow, and I for one will surely miss you.”

A sincere smile is passed between the two ponies as the parchment exchanges hooves once more and Golden Shadow tucks it in the satchel on the dark purple armor she still wears. Shaking Lurch’s hoof for the last time. A tear is almost shed by the mare when she recalls that many of the good memories that she had here in Canterlot, involved few ponies to begin with, but quite a few start off with Lurch. She too, will miss him.

Before departing though, Shadow bids one last request, “Ahh… Captain?”

“I’m not your captain any more now. You can just call me, Lurch,” He playfully reminds her with a snicker on his face.

“Well, Lurch,” she fixes her mind trying to autocorrect her, “I know it is customary for guards to turn in their armor after they get out, and I was wondering-?” Golden tries to think how she can word this so that he will allow her to keep it. Though his generosity is far more than she could have guessed, and with the wave of a hoof he expels any of her worries on that matter.

“My dear, it’s yours. I can do that much at least,” He rises up and salutes the departing guard, now just an ordinary pony to others, but to him, a friend. Shadow pauses for a moment before taking her helmet off from under her wing and slides it over top her head. Gladly returning the gesture to Lurch, before she parts ways with the colt and takes a stroll down the hall. Soon having the wafting smells of the galley fill her nostrils.

The grill is still fired up for the late guards that have patrols to do, as the mare starts to pass by. Soon being reminded of her decision to skip lunch and dinner at a time like this, while her stomach starts to growl all the same and only encourages the mare to head in to the line. For which she is thankful that she is the only one there.

‘Well I’m not supposed to meet him for another twenty minutes, and I do need to eat given my… condition,’ she reasons as she picks up a tray and enters the vacant line. Stepping right in front of a chubby earth pony with a cleaver on his hind, “I’ll take a rack of Manticore ribs, bloody, and rare.”

The cook simply glares at her for a second before looking over the guard in disgust. Mentally trying to figure out how he got stuck with the work of cooking for these red meat hungry ponies that the princess insists on keeping around here for whatever reasons she may have.

‘Seriously, why can’t Celestia just send them to the moon along with their princess?’ He asks himself while reaching down in to a barrel of marinating blood and meat. Pulling out a small rack, and puts it on the grill.

“Will that be all?” he rolls his eyes at the mare, not even trying to hide his distaste in cooking this up for her.

“Why yes it will,” the growl in her stomach kicks in as the saliva from her mouth starts to drip down her fangs while smelling the scent of the searing flesh. Though Shadow’s thought process shattering at the sound of another that she knows all too well.

“So you’re really leaving us?” she looks behind the counter to see another cook there. A fellow Lunar Guard currently assigned to kitchen duty. Her friend walks up to the earth pony who set up the ribs, and thankfully relieves him from his duties of the red meat meal, “So soon too at that.”

Even in his few words, Golden can hear the disappointment in the colt’s tone from her parting ways, “As much as I would love to stay and roam the castle walls, Night Stalker,” She muses over the idea for a second before dispelling it, “I can safely say I would rather enjoy myself outside of Canterlot for my retirement years.”

“Still surprised you’re taking retirement so early,” He muses while rolling his eyes at his longtime pal, “Usually lunar guards are in till they keel over.”

“And when have I ever been like a usual guard?” She raises an eye brow to him as he chuckles. Picking up the rack in a pair of tongs and places it down on her tray while bidding a final farewell.

“You certainly are like no other, Shadow,” Stalker manages to put his long wing over the counter and give his friend a light embrace, “Take care out there, and do remember to write every so often, would you?”

“I’ll be sure to, don’t worry,” Golden breaths the voice of false promise. Knowing full well that this is the last time Stalker and herself will share a word with one another, ‘But for now, it’s too dangerous for me here.’

The lonely mare takes her seat as she is reminded of the many fights, and almost riots, which have occurred between the Celestial, and Lunar guards over the years that she has been here. After all when you have one group that represents the sun princess, and one the moon princess, there is sure to be a rivalry. Knowing full well, that for one in her position, things could only get worse if the truth would get out.

Ripping, and tearing the flesh away from the bone with a ferocious attitude. The thick, red, plasma soaked, cut drips its blood down along her cheeks as it runs out. Not having a meal sense this morning will do this to a starving pony, as she devours the plate and sucks the bones dry of any flesh in only a few minutes. Savoring the last bits of her meal, while she glances up at the clock.

“Five after midnight. I’ll be there soon, don’t you worry,” Golden gets up and slides her tray off in to wash room, calmly walking out of the galley and in to the halls. After looking around her to see if a patrol is around, she breaks neck through the halls, making her way to the court yard.

Sky Streak paces back, and forth. Almost digging a hole in to the ground as he eagerly looks at the clock counting down the minutes, ‘Come on, where are you?’ The Celestial Unicorn Guard that wears the traditional gold armor over his grey coat questions, while his brown eyes periodically check over his shoulder to make sure the courtyard is vacant. Just to be sure there aren’t any ease droppers.

Thankfully hearing the light sound of soft hooves approaching in his ears. Sky turns around, only to be tackled by a featherweight of a guard compared to himself. Looking up from his position. He catches the glimmer of a pair of golden eyes above him, as they shine in the moon light, and twinkle like the stars above.

“Well you have a way of making an entrance,” Sky leans up and plants a much needed kiss on the mare’s soft lips. Thankful that Golden tackled him behind a bush, so that no pony that may have heard the clank of armor and came to investigate, could see.

“Oh you know me, besides you know I missed you,” Golden Shadow pulls back from the affectionate moment to clean off her lips from her earlier meal. Soon seeing in the light that some of her meal made its way to his face, “Sorry about the mess, I was hungry after all.”

“Don’t worry about it, my dear,” Sky laps up the remains of blood that transferred to his face, “It happens, and I would expect nothing less of you. Do you have it?”

Shadow reaches in to the satchel on her armor. Pulling out the documents, showing him the signature, and the many stamps that she had to get over the past few weeks, “You are no longer speaking to a guard under Celestia,” she answers, slightly disappointed that it is all going away soon, “as of less than an hour ago. I am just an ordinary pony.”

A gentle hoof goes up under her chin. Lifting it up to meet his brown eyes as Sky admires the golden ones that struck the young colt the first day he met her, while being partnered up to rove the castle.

“Golden Shadow, you are far from an ordinary pony to me. I love the guard, but I love you far more. I wouldn’t be going through with my own separation after all, if I didn’t,” A single tear comes up in the young mare’s eye as the truthful words fill her heart and soul, at the future that she hopes to share with her guard.

Even in the early days of them working together, upon Luna’s banishment. Lunar, and Celestial guards didn’t take to kindly to the intermingling of the two. Whether as partners, friends or even something more. Needless to say, the many years that have followed sense then haven’t changed a whole lot on that matter. Leaning down in to her colt, she delivers a tender peck on his lips. Golden feels the rush of endorphins between them that even the simplest show of affection ignites, forcing the calm and cool night air to be held off for a few moments by their warmth. Sadly, she has to break contact once more. Knowing full well that he has his own things to attend to.

“You, my love, have to go to your own captain and finish your check out process,” Shadow reminds him while getting off.

“I know, dear. I’m heading there now,” she helps to pull him up from the ground as he finishes, “Though I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.”

“I know you do, Sky,” With a peck on his cheek, she urges him on with a few words of encouragement, “Now do go finish up. I expect to make the morning train, and I would like to sleep with my stallion for the trip, and not be disturbed.”

At the sound of that news. The stallion in question gives her a quick kiss, before taking off from the ground even without any wings to power him up, and leaves almost a trail of fire as he tears off in to the castle. Leaving his mare standing there only to giggle to herself at his actions while she trots off in to the night, heading to her quaint little apartment. Never being one for things that didn’t have a purpose. It doesn’t take long at all for the mare to pack for her one way trip. Toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, a sack of food that will keep, a few blankets, bag of bits from her savings, and a few photos neatly tucked away in an album. The mare manages to fit them all in one case, before hulling it up and on to her back. The only thing left for her to carry, is the sheath that holds the sword she has carried for years.

“My dear friend,” Shadow admires the sheen of the metal as she watches her reflection in it. Knowing full well the amount of blood that has been spilled by this very blade, and rather thankful she can put that part of her life behind her now, “Hopefully, you will not be needed more than to clear a few bushes.”

She tucks it away under her wing, and heads back out in to the night. Closing the door behind her for the last time as Shadow leaves a small note for her landlord, and the last month’s payment. Seeing as she’ll never see this place again. The ex-guard gracefully trots to the train station a few blocks over, to wait for the sun to break dawn, so her and her love’s new life can start.

Chapter 5

Chapter five

The bumpy train ride does little to sooth the now departure of the life that Sky Streak has come to know, and love. The other Canterlot guards that he has grown close to as friends with over the years. The many (if not few, and far between) adventures that he’s had in the guard. The travels across Equestria, and other nations nearby as a result that he has gotten to experience. All of it now only going to be a memory in his mind as he attempts to start a new life out in the badlands to the far south of the Equestria central lands.

‘But for you,’ He strokes the soft purple mane of his beloved Golden Shadow as she rests her head down in his lap, ‘I would cross the great oceans if that’s what it would take for us to be together.’

Leaning down, and planting a light kiss atop her head. Only can he smile, as she coos under her sleep ridden breath while turning about to a more comfortable position. Both of them having gotten on the train separately, and removed their armor to make the trip more comfortable, But also to avoid suspicion. Golden has remained in his lap sense then, while her colt stares out the window at the scenery that passes by though the window. Though many of the sights of trees, and mountains off in the distance start to fade away.

Already having been on the tracks for several hours. The sun has started to dip further down to the horizon line as the evening takes hold of the day, and night will soon follow. The slight rumble in the cabin that they share with one another, grows more apparent as the colt realizes it isn’t the train making it. Looking down his mare’s stomach he can even see it vibrate some as her gut growls for sustenance.

“Hehe, we both could probably use some food in this case,” Streak reasons to himself as he props her head up, and slides a pillow up underneath to make it seem like he hasn’t even left.

Giving her a few moments of peace to make sure she still sleeps soundly, before heading out of the cabin, and to the mess car. The now ex-guard waltzes up to the counter to look as casual as possible while he rests his hooves on its edge.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” He grabs the attention of the unicorn mare manning the grill.

“Oh hello sir,” She perks up at the sight of the guard in front of her, “What can I get for you today, or well, this evening?”

“I don’t know really what you have to offer at this time, but if possible, a few vegie subs would be nice?”

‘Hmm I think I can whip something up for him, but two?’, “Not a problem sir,” She waves him off at the ease of the request. Taking out two rolls, and a variety of vegetables for the meal while slicing the bread down the center with a little help from her horn, “One sub coming up for you, and a travel companion? I would guess.”

“A rather hungry one at that,” He snickers while he, and the mare engage in small talk with one another.

Trying his best not to give off too much information on his part, but keeping it polite with the matter. In no time at all, the mare has finished up on the two late night meals for Sky, and Golden on a small tray.

“Have a good trip sir,” The unicorn mare calls after him, “Always a pleasure to the help the Royal Equestrian Guard.”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” He answers back to her, while carrying the tray in his own magical grasp down to the cabin.

Not bothering to announce his presence in an attempt to not wake up his mare in the process. Sky cracks open the door, and catches himself staring at a sight that captivated him the first time he ever laid his eyes on it.

Golden rests her head on a hoof, while looking out the window at the setting sun. The soft yellow, orange, and red tint to the setting bouncing off her unique eye color, and giving them an even more vibrant appearance to complement her already fine physical form. Streak only wants to stand there, and relive the memory of when they first met. One of the most defining times in his life, and one that can only be trumped by one soon to come to them.

“Beautiful,” He mutters under his breath. Caught in a spell that she seems to cast on him while she can’t even use magic. Still, his hushed words are enough for her over tuned ears to pick up on.

“Oh dear, How long were you standing there?” She fumbles to right herself while in the seat. Taking note of his grin that starts to grow ever wider on his face with every passing second. The answer becoming ever more obvious as time goes on.

“Long enough I take it then?” Golden scoots over so he can take a seat beside her. Nuzzling up next to him while they both take a view at the outside. The subs almost forgotten for the time being.

“Sorry about that dear, just had a little blast from the past. Do you remember when we first met?” he asks the bat pony, with her head up upon his chest.

“I don’t think I’d still be here, if I didn’t,” The fond memory replays in her mind as they both go through the motions with one another, “Late night watch. You, and I had to walk around the castle perimeter just at a time like this, with nothing more than to twiddle our hooves to pass the time.”

“The outer wall. The sun glancing over the ramparts, just enough to catch you in the right light,” Sky runs his tongue along the back of her ear.

The nearly silent giggles piping up in her throat from the act, while she tries to maintain some sort of composure around him. Rather hard to do when one considers that they haven’t been able to itch a certain scratch for the past two months. Mostly due to timing, but Shadow knows that this isn’t the time, or place. Not with others so close to hearing distance.

“You know what that does to me,” She playfully brushes him off while she picks herself back up, “As I recall, your exact words were-”

“Your eyes rival that of the lunar princess’s own moon, in their sheer beauty, and elegance,” The words from his mouth brush past her while they sit in each other’s hooves in the cart without a single care in the world. A heart felt tear falls away from the mare while she thinks of those words being uttered by a guard so sweet, and kind. When many of his fellow brethren only would turn away, and shun one like her.

“Kinda corny when you think about it,” Golden teases before pressing a little more in to him, “but with those words, I all but melted in your hooves,” Thankful that his warm body has stuck by her through the several years they’ve been together. Never faltering once, never treating her with any sort of malice, and never regarding her as anything less, than the pony she is now.

“And I’m sure glad I did,” Golden twists her head around, and pulls him in to an embrace with her leathery wings.

The soft coos of the mare, meeting the slight gasps of her colt while they display their affection to one another openly. More than happy that they don’t have to try, and sneak out for those light night meetings, or get their schedules the same so they would see one another at work, or even the many times they would meet up in the privacy of a hotel. Where their rooms would just happen to be adjoining.

A hushed ‘I love you’ passes between their open lips, as they don’t even have to say it for the other to understand what the other is feeling on the inside. Though in the back of Sky’s mind he knows exactly now what they have done, and how it will be viewed by others, “We’ll still have to keep our relationship secret to some extent. Even out here in the Bad Lands.”

“I know dear, I know,” The grave reminder now first, and foremost in her mind at the time.

As they both sit up a bit from their moment, and take in to account what they have to look forward to. While at the same time the plan they have in place to keep things as normal as possible. Sky levitates the tray over, and passing her the much needed meal, as she nearly gulps down half of it in one go without even a second thought.

“Sorry that it’s all they could manage,” He gives the much unneeded apology. Even though he thinks that he should, “If I asked for anything with blood dripping down the sides, it may have gotten a little weird for the cook.”

“Oh don’t worry about it dearie,” She rests the side of her wing on his shoulder, “Besides, if I wanted my share of blood, all I have to do is go at your neck.”

“You mean like our first time sleeping together?” He plays with her, while taking out a notebook from his bag in the corner. He too, only took the essentials, and this being one of the most important, “Our contact in the area already has our house being built there. Under a different name of course, but our pension from the guard will still show up to the small town, and will have to be picked up as well.”

“On top of that the nearest guard outpost is about fifty miles from that town, and sixty from our, soon to be, quaint little home,” She looks over the note book. The planning that they have gone through to make sure this all works out smoothly, so they can have their life together is apparent in the many nights they would spend with each other to make it come true, “The town has all the provisions we could need, and according to my friend down there. Even seeds, so we can grow some of our own food.”

“Territory secluded for the home?”

“Of course,” Golden checks the note on the area even more, to ease his mind out of its strain, “Low traffic of any pony coming that way. Not much to see after all. In an open field with sparse trees around, but enough for some cover. On top of that, the doctor in town is a friend of my friend as well.”

Sky looks down to make sure the information that has been passed off to them seems legitimate. Seeing as if they are found out, many of their kind don’t like the intermingling of the two guards, and on several occasions. Have taken to more drastic measures of harm when it comes to relationships that may occur between them.

“Are you sure he’ll help us?” Sky rests a gentle hoof on her stomach. Rubbing it lightly as the life inside of her grows more every day.

“Don’t worry now, our child will be okay. No matter what the little tike may look like.”

“I’m only concerned for his safety, Golden. After all with you being a lunar guard, the likely hood of him taking after your side is-”

“Evenly with the same chances of him, or her for that matter. Taking after your side, or after both,” Shadow good-humoredly shoves her colt a bit in the seat after cutting him off, “You worry too much, my dear. Alone, and away from any other pony, is probably the best our child could be. With things how they are, between the two fractions of guards.”

“On top of this,” He lifts up her chin to meet his, “No matter how our kin turns out. Lunar born or a Celestial child. I wouldn’t trade his mother for any other.”

The sweet sincere words fill her mind once more, as they embrace with one another, and lean back on to the bench in the cabin. Lip locked with each other, as long as were, when they first started to see each other. The couple passes the time by in their quaint surroundings. Looking forward to what they have set in motion.

Seeing as they can’t go back at this point.

Chapter 20

Chapter twenty

“Come on daddy! Catch me,” The young colt of only a year old calls out to his father.

While his small bat wings have still much to develop from what they are now, they never the less are more than a match for his father in being able to carry the foal out of the parents path as he stumbles about to catch his son. Sky Streak falls face first in to the ground of their quaint home’s living room, after tripping over his own feet.

“And I probably never will,” The father mutters under his breath wholeheartedly while picking himself up from the fall, and continuing on the pursuit. “Alright Midnight… you asked for it.”

The husband lights up his own horn, and takes aim towards the little pony. Shooting off a small jolt of electric arc his way, and zapping the ground underneath Midnight. While the laughter from the foal is more than music to Sky’s ears, the small streak of terror to follow the fun only stresses the mom’s ears while she brings a frightened Midnight off the top of her muzzle to address the two.

“Honestly dear do you have to do that?” Golden Shadow shoots her husband a playful glare from over her own shoulder, “After all you know how he gets when you try to zap him.”

“About as riled up as you do?” Dodging a single book that is tossed his way by the misses. Sky does a back flip, and nearly falls right in to the open hooves of a friend as he makes his way in to the home.

“Easy there now Sky,” Fall Cloud hoists his friend back up to his own hooves, “I know we’re close friends. But I don’t think yur wife would appreciate ‘hat sort of display.”

“Much obliged Fall-” Sky gets out, before the ear splitting voice of a foal fills the small space between them and cuts him off.

“Uncle Fall!” The small blur flies past the two, and in to the traditionally winged pony’s side, easily bringing Fall to the floor without any difficulty.

“Ugh… nice ta see ya too tike,” Cloud scratches the back of Midnight’s heads while the bloodied colt looks down with his slit eyes, and nuzzles the only pony he has really considered family. Well outside of the obvious parents that is.

“Did we get anything in the mail today, Uncle?”

“Eeyup…” The feathered pony answers back while bringing up the satchel he wears, and uses his teeth to take out a few letters, “For yur Ma, and Pa at least… sorry sport.”

“Easy there now Midnight…” A larger pair of leathery wings lifts the foal up, and off of Fall. Now landing him in to the legs of his mother while she cradles her only child, “Mr. Cloud probably wants to chat with daddy for a bit,” Golden turns her attention back to the Pegasus in question here, “Sorry about that Fall. You know how he can get when around other ponies.”

“Don’t fret over it miss. Though there is a matter I would like to discuss with your husband ‘ere.”

“Talk his ear off by all means,” She lets out a light chuckle before turning her attention back to her son. “Why don’t we get a few drinks, and a snack? That way we can all have a nice lunch… sound fun?”

“Sure mom!” The small wings propel Midnight’s form in to the kitchen ahead of his mother while the latter only can keep a smile on her face as she follows in.

The two older colts in the living room now can talk privately for the moment. Taking a load off from the day in and day out life of living far from most establishments. Fall has thankfully taken up the task of picking up the couple’s mail from town so as to limit their exposure in the town itself other than for the necessities. Even though they have insisted many times that it would be alright so long as either Sky, or Golden went in early enough before anyone else. The latter only going to those merchants that they know they can trust. Fall maintained that he help them in that simple matter while even refusing any sort of compensation they tried to offer. Plus on top of this, it does allow the colt to overhear the latest gossip of the small town.

“Well a few checks is always good,” Sky looks over the slip of paper with a rather hefty sum on it that’s a result from years of service to the crown. A similar one next to him with his wives name on it, “I’ll cash these in later on this week, just before closing time.”

“Smart move I reckon.”

“That it is. Just like we’ve always done,” Sky nods to him while setting the envelopes off to the side, “Though you said there was something you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Aye…” Fall coaxes himself back up from the comfy couch up to his fore hooves to get a little closer to his friend’s ear, so the foal in the next room doesn’t hear him, “A few ponies out in town have said words ‘bout what’s goin’ on out in this neck of the woods… nothin to serious.”

Instantly Sky’s eyes shoot open at the prospect of others trying to snoop around here. Possibly seeing him, his wife… their son. The results could be devastating had they taken any hostile intent towards them, and worst still he, and his wife wouldn’t even know till the mob showed up on their door step bearing pitch forks, torches, and three nooses to go with it, “Has anypony been looking out here? Names? Rumors? Ideas?”

“Calm down there now,” Fall eases his friend’s ever growing worry in his voice, “As I told ya ‘words have been said’. That’s all now ya hear? Heck I’ve even thrown my two cents in to a few conversations to try, and get more information out of those that I heard.”

“And? What have you gotten?”

“Not a durned thing. It’s all just rumors… Lights being on at night, and seeing shadows going through the house. The ponies living here planting a garden, but never going out in the day to harvest,” Fall stretches out the distance between them a bit, and leans back in to his seat, “Which I know that last bit is way too tall of a tail, because I have seen ya have a conversation or two with those that pass by.”

“That I have,” Streak smiles a bit from some of the ponies that have walked by while he was outside, and have stopped to chat, “Though to my knowledge, they only know of me that lives here.”

“That they do…” Fall starts to chuckle at some of his misdealing’s, “Many that have talked about this in town suspect why they only see you out, and about. Some suspect that there is another pony here with you. Though in the regard to that, the information that I myself have thrown in should send them chasin’ after their tails.”

Sky holds up a single hoof to halt his friend’s words, “I don’t even want to know, but if you say that it’s nothing to worry about than I won’t. I trust you Fall.”

“Good because you should by now, Sky,” the good hearted stallion chuckles.

The pitter patter of little hooves beckons the two to look in the door way as Midnight carries in a small try of sliced up cheese, and crackers while his mother follows shortly behind him with a large pitcher of cider, and several glasses on her own tray, “It isn’t much…” Golden, and her son rest them down on the table between Sky, and Fall, “…But hopefully it will hold you over till supper.”

“Oh thank ya kindly ma’am,” Fall bows his head a bit at her before taking a light sip of cider.

“Oh Fall you know you don’t have to call me ma’am,” Golden’s bashful expression fills her cheeks up with blood as she leans back in to her husband’s chest. As their son sits idly at the edge of the table, and munches away at a few slices of cheese, “After all you have helped our little family enough to earn that right. Golden will do just fine.”

“I know I don’t… but it aint proper if I don’t show some air of respect…” He corrects setting his glass back down gingerly for a moment, “Especially in yur own home.”

“With manners like that, how is it you have remained single all this time we’ve known you?” Sky asks him out of the blue, more or less. The topic has come up on more than one occasion, and usually always leads to Fall just eating his own words with poor excuses, or reasons. Now it’s just a topic to rise up a laugh for the couple at their friend’s demise while they press the issue of a suitor, “I mean I know that Midnight here would love to have other play ponies around.”

“And if you raised them the way you were, than I’m sure they would not take any interest in our son’s unique appearance,” Golden tacks in at the end of her husband’s statement, “I mean some nice mare must have your heart somewhere?”

“Eh… haven’t met the right type yet,” Fall shrugs his shoulders to try, and hold off the subject even more than he has in the past, “Besides it’s not anything I see happening any time soon.”

“You say that now,” Sky brings up some of his own experience, “Then you wake up one fine morning, and there is a mare on your chest, and a foal coming through the door calling for daddy.”

Though any sort of answer Fall might be able to give them is lost in translation as Midnight picks up in the middle, and only goes off of what he tries to understand from the adults conversation.

“Uncle Fall is getting a foal too?!”

“Not any time soon,” Cloud lifts the beaning foal up in to his hooves, and proceeds to tickle attack the sensitive coat. The sharp screams coming from their son normally would only assume to any parent’s ear that a child is in immediate danger, or possibly already injured. But to see their dear friend attacking the son under gentle hooves that they know couldn’t even harm a fly does them nothing more than to look at one another, and smile while they start to share in a chuckle with one another all to their own, “I am not havin’ any foals now ya hear!” He playfully yells at the little colt.

“Y-y-ye-e-s-s-s Uncle F-fall!” Midnight squirms within his grasp. Though trying to beat a Pegasus in a tickle fight is a battle that is already lost. Seeing as they possess one thing that can entice even the most stubborn ponies in to keeling over with laughter… feathers. To which Fall uses to his utmost advantage at the moment, and runs them up, and down the back up the foal as he struggles to get away.

“Agh!!! Stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it!!!” Midnight’s little lungs take in as much breath as they can with every word, and his ribs expand even further to the point that it seems his ribs have unhinged from the rest of his body. Until Midnight has finally reached his breaking point, and lets out one final pair of words. “STOP IT!” he wails.

The normally cheerful nature of the foal is broken upon the resonating nature of the voice as it rasps its way out of his throat. A magically enraptured shockwave leaves from his mouth, and hits the target of weakness at the moment square in the chest. Not only taking the wind out of Fall’s chest, but the tell tail energy glow from the enchantment telling the others there what it was, while in the same go forcing Midnight right out of his attackers hooves. The blast hurtles the foal across to the other end of the couch. While the magical hit from such a small foal is nothing, in reality it still packed quite a punch. Leaving the Pegasus sitting there for a few moments not only to catch his breath, but try, and put together what just happened.

“Ahh… What?” He manages to get out in the small amount of air he had taken in, but his mind still draws a blank.

“Was… was that?” Sky goes over to his son’s side, who now finds himself flipping back to right side up after his little skip across the cushions under his own power, “Midnight?”

“But… he has no horn?” Golden looks over Fall for a moment to see if there was any damage to him that would warrant some patch work, before seeing to her child. Only the beaming face of her son is displayed for a moment, as Midnight has yet to realize something is very wrong with what happened.

“What is it mommy? Why are you all looking at me like that?” He remains oblivious to what just happened. Not aware of the gravity of the situation at the moment as Sky scoops him up in to his fore hooves, and cradles his son while they take a seat back down on the couch to carry on like nothing’s happened.

“Don’t worry about it son,” He strokes Midnight’s onyx, smooth mane with a gentle hoof running through it, “Just surprised that’s all. Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Well then… now it all makes sense,” Golden mutters under her breath only enough to let the other adults hear, and keep her son out of it.

“What might that be lass?” Fall asks after getting a full breath of air in his system.

“For the longest time, I wondered what our son got from his father’s side of the family,” she pauses a moment after answering their friend to turn to her husband, and address him with exactly what she means, “I guess now we have our answer… somehow, it seems he’s acquired your horn… without having your horn.”