The Incredibly Crazy Days of a Little Sparkle

by BronyWriter

Rating: everyone
Tags: Derpy Hooves, Main 6, Original Character, Cloudkicker, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy, Dinky Hooves, Adventure
Length: 40716

Midnight Sparkle, Twilight's distant ancestor, travels forward in time.

Midnight Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle's distant ancestor, wakes up one morning to find that she's traveled forward in time several hundred years. Now she must try to get home while enduring an Equestria that is nothing like the one she knows.

That, and a ten year old with a fondness for painting animal skulls pink living with her great-great-great-great-great-great-great... etc. granddaughter poses some unique challenges of its own, even if there are those around Ponyville who are willing to become her friends.

Midnight Sparkle from Chengar Qordath's The Lunar Rebellion

Now co-authored by Ponibius

Thanks to Chengar Qordath and Ponibius for editing!

Special thanks to InuHoshi-to-Darkpen for the awesome cover art!

Published 2016-06-24 21:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2019-12-02 22:17:20 UTC

Morning in Ponyville

"Miss False Alicorn?"

"Gyaaah!"

I nearly hit the ceiling when I opened my eyes to discover Midnight staring at me, unblinking, mere inches away from my face. I had to take several deep breaths as my heart beat like a drum. Midnight frowned at me and tilted her head.

"Have I disturbed you in some manner?"

I really wanted to say yes. However, I don't think she'd really understand why, so she'd keep asking me until I explained it.

"N-no, you're fine, Midnight." I took another deep breath and looked at my alarm clock, frowning when I saw that it was only four in the morning. "Um... is there something wrong?"

"Indeed there is. I find the need to relieve myself. However, my room has not been provided with a chamber pot. I find your lack of foresight in this area troubling. Regardless, may I borrow yours?"

"Oh, right, um..." I awkwardly smiled at her. "I don't have a chamber pot. Ponies don't use those anymore. We have toilets now."

"Toilets," Midnight repeated with a frown.

"Yeah, they, uh..." I groaned rubbed my forehead. "It's easier to just show you. Probably."

I slipped out of bed, grumbling something to myself about being the only mare in history who had to toilet train their great, great, great etc. grandmother when she was a filly.

Someday my life would become something resembling normal, right?

I opened up the door to the bathroom and stepped aside to allow Midnight to go in. "So, uh, this is the bathroom, Midnight." I pointed to the toilet. "That's the toilet."

Midnight walked up to the toilet and stared at it, unblinking as usual. In fact, I think I'd only actually seen her blink a half-dozen times since I'd found her in the woods. She didn't seem to be reacting to it in any way, so I figured I needed to elaborate a little bit.

"So, um, you just sit on it and... yeah... That's the toilet paper for... wiping and stuff. Then when you're done, you just push that button on the side there. Pull up that handle on the sink to wash your hooves."

"Indeed." Midnight blinked once, then slowly sat on the toilet.

"Right. Yes. Just like that. I'll just... give you some privacy." I backed away, closing the door behind me. Once I was sure Midnight wasn't following me to ask more questions about the toilet, I groaned and sat down to put my head in my hooves. "So awkward," I whispered.

After a few minutes, I heard the toilet flush, followed by the water in the sink turning on. I took a deep breath to steady myself for any subsequent awkwardness once Midnight actually came out of the bathroom.

"I am finished," she declared.

"Right. That's good. I let out a little yawn and looked longingly in the direction of my bedroom. "I, um, I'm going to go back to sleep for a few hours. We'll get some breakfast once we wake up again, okay?"

Midnight slowly nodded. "That sounds like a reasonable course of action."

"Good. I like reasonable." Which, of course, meant that I didn't care for this situation. I bade Midnight a final goodnight before shuffling back to my bed and sliding underneath the warm covers. I groaned and put a pillow over my head. Why me? The only positive is that I could contact Princess Celestia tomorrow to see what she would have to say about the situation. She could fix this and send Midnight back to her own time, right?

With thoughts of that nature filling my head, I slowly drifted off to sleep one again.

* * * *

I woke up some time later. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw that it was morning, though my alarm clock stated that it was half past ten. I groaned and rubbed my face. I hated oversleeping. I sighed, then rolled over so that I could get up.

"GYAAAAH!"

I flinched back so hard that I fell out of bed, landing in a tangled mess of sheets. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but after my heart stopped pounding, I used my magic to untangle myself before sliding back onto my bed. Midnight sat beside it, mere inches from where I'd been sleeping, staring at me without blinking. I groaned and rubbed my head where I'd landed on it.

"Midnight, have you just been sitting there watching me sleep for the past..." I quickly did the math. "Six hours?"

"Aye," Midnight said after a few moments. "After using the toilet, I did not find myself to be tired. I attempted to sleep for a few minutes, then decided to merely observe thy sleep. I've never seen an alicorn sleep before. I confess I was curious to see if anything new happened." Midnight gave a slight tilt of her head. "You did not break your neck upon falling out of bed. I suppose you must be grateful for that."

"Very," I said, trying and failing to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

"Though if you had broken your neck, I imagine that you would not have been able to feel anything below your neck, removing any pain that usually comes with shattered bones. That is, of course, if the injury did not result in instantaneous death."

"Right." I groaned and rubbed my temples. "Right. So I guess the next course of action is breakfast. Then I'll probably send a letter to Princess Celestia."

"Princess Celestia?" Midnight said, her ears perking up ever so slightly. "We may contact her now?"

"Yeah. She and--" I paused for a moment. Would it really be the wisest move to tell Midnight that Princess Luna was back on the throne? Given that Midnight was created to be an avatar of Nightmare Moon, if Shadow Kicker's memoirs were correct, that could lead to some serious awkwardness, not to mention the fact that the whole Lunar Rebellion had been started to get Luna, or Nightmare Moon, back on the throne.

Best let Princess Celestia deal with that particular issue. I might be a princess now, but there were certain things that were still better suited for her to handle.

"Yeah, I'll send her a letter soon," I finished. "Yeah, I'm sure she'll be, um... happy to see you."

"And I her. She will likely shed light on this situation." Midnight frowned thoughtfully. "And if you are in contact with her, I suspect that you are not, in fact, a false alicorn. She would likely have incinerated you already, unless she has never seen you or your dark magic ascension came about fairly recently."

"I've been her personal student for about fifteen years," I said, hopping off of the bed. "Like I told you: I'm a princess too."

"Of?" Midnight replied, following me out of my room.

"I... don't know yet," I admitted. "But I am a princess!"

"Perhaps. However, I note you do not have the stature befitting a princess. You would even be dwarfed by my mother."

Hmm. I'd always wondered about that, actually.

"Well, I'm not the same type of alicorn as Celestia," I explained. "She's an Alpha Alicorn, and my sister-in-law and I are Beta Alicorns. We're not immortal, just longer lived, and while it would be simpler for us to raise the sun and moon, it would take a significant amount of power to do so compared to Princess Celestia."

"Indeed. I am further confused by you living in a small hamlet with no real value, and in a tree no less. Do you not even have servants?"

"No, and I'm rather okay with that." Midnight and I entered the kitchen, where I directed Midnight to sit at the table. "I know this isn't as grand as you're used to, but..."

"You could not fit an entire royal dining hall in a tree," Midnight finished.

"Sure. We'll go with that right now." I yawned and opened up the fridge to take out a gallon of milk. "We have cereal, if that's okay."

"I... suppose."

"Good." I opened up a cabinet, a silverware drawer, and the pantry to levitate a pair of spoons, bowls, and the cereal to the table. I poured Midnight a bowl of cereal, plunked the spoon into the bowl, then pushed it over to her. "Here you go. If you want any cinnamon or sugar in there, just let me know."

"Very well." Midnight took a small, experimental bite of the cereal, and must have decided that she liked it, because she nodded and continued eating. She ignited her horn and pulled the box of cereal over to her for a quick look, frowning when she read the brand name.

"Celesti-o's?"

Despite everything, I managed a laugh at that one. I guess she would find that weird. Unfortunately for me, I laughed just as I swallowed a bite of cereal. This had the dual effect of me nearly shooting milk out my nose, and getting a piece of cereal lodged in my throat. I began choking on the piece, and had to bang on my chest for a few moments before I managed to dislodge it.

"Sorry about that," I croaked. "I'm fine."

"I see that." Midnight looked a little disappointed. "I have often wondered what it would be like to see a pony choke to death. I suppose it is good that you did not as you are a ruler, but t'would have been a most fascinating experience."

"Yeah, I'll bet," I grumbled before taking another bite of cereal. Midnight quickly returned to her own food. "So do you want anything else? Toast? Eggs? Maybe some orange juice?"

"Orange juice? Thou must be wealthy indeed if you can purchase that luxury freely. Or are we near an orange farm?"

"No, it's fairly cheap stuff nowadays," I said, getting out of my seat so that I could pour Midnight and myself a glass. "Farming techniques have advanced considerably since your time, and we've made great strides in food production, leading to things that would be considered luxuries in your time fairly commonplace items in most households. It's actually kind of fascinating."

I have to admit, going into "lecture mode," as Rainbow Dash would call it, did help to relax me a little. It shifted the situation back to something more logical than "my distant ancestor is sitting at my table."

Right at that moment, Spike chose to come into the kitchen. He yawned and scratched his belly, but stopped halfway through when he saw Midnight. He frowned, but didn't comment on it when he sat down.

"Good morning, Spike," I said, fixing up a bowl of cereal for him. "You're up early."

"Morning, Twilight." He nodded in thanks when I gave him the cereal. "Got woken up earlier than usual. There was a raven outside my window that would just not shut up. I didn't even know we had ravens in Ponyville. I haven't seen any before today."

I froze with my cereal halfway to my mouth, and my gaze fixed on Midnight who was eating her cereal. No. No, it was just a coincidence. Sure, Midnight's memoirs made it clear that ravens tended to follow her wherever she went, not to mention that her tomb was covered in them, but... no. My home wasn't about to become the nesting ground for a massive unkindness of ravens.

I hoped.

"So..." Spike looked back to Midnight. "Who's our guest?"

"Yeah, uh... you remember the anomaly that Princess Celestia had us investigate last night?" Spike nodded. "Well, she's the anomaly."

"A filly in the Everfree Forest?" Spike said, sitting down at the table.

"I am Midnight Sparkle," Midnight said. "And I think thou art a baby dragon."

"Yep, sure am," Spike replied, puffing his chest out a little bit. His smile slowly faded when a thought struck him, and he turned to me. "So, did she say Midnight Sparkle?"

"I did," Midnight said.

"As in that Midnight Sparkle? The ancestor of yours that you keep talking about?"

Celestia dammit, Spike. I loved him, but he could be a bit oblivious to his situation sometimes. Granted, I hadn't exactly told him all of the details of what was going on, but that was not information that Midnight needed to know right then. Or at all, really. Sure enough, Midnight was giving me one of her unnerving stares. Dang it, this really wasn't a conversation that I wanted to have without Princess Celestia present. She'd be able to explain the situation way better than I could.

"You are one of my descendants," she said after an uncomfortable few seconds.

"Yeah, uh..." I chuckled uneasily and rubbed the back of my neck. "My full name is Twilight Sparkle."

"I see. A member of the Sparkle line becomes an alicorn through legitimate, though confusing, means."

"I guess if you want to put it that way..."

Midnight stared at me for a few more moments, then went back to her cereal. "Mother will be most interested to hear about this whenever I return to my proper time."

For some reason a chill went down my spine when I heard that. Don't get me wrong: Sunbeam Sparkle was the most powerful and brilliant unicorn of her era. I might go so far as to say she's still the most powerful unicorn who ever lived. That aside, she was heavily involved in the politics of the time, and she could be a bit... ruthless. That's actually a bit of an understatement. She tended to grab power whenever she could. If she found out that one of her descendants became an alicorn, even though it was nine hundred years down the line...

I didn't like the implications of that, and I doubted Princess Celestia would either. There is no way that Sunbeam Sparkle would ever simply ignore that piece of information. Heck, she might push for ascension herself. She'd say that if Celestia was willing to make a Sparkle into an alicorn, then who better to rule alongside Celestia than her, a mare who would be willing to get her hooves dirty for the good of Equestria?

Several other ponies, actually.

I desperately wanted to explain that to Midnight, but she did hold the high opinion of her mother that was common in daughters. That aside, she'd only decided that I wasn't a false alicorn about ten minutes ago. Like the rest of this, Princess Celestia would be far better suited to explain the situation to Midnight. She'd known Midnight for pretty much her entire life, after all.

"Anyway, I'm going to need you to take a letter, Spike. Princess Celestia really needs to know about all of this."

"Yeah, I'll bet," Spike said. "Just let me get a quill and ink."

"Sure thing."

Just then I heard a knock on the door. I stood up and walked over to the door, pausing before I opened it. I glanced back at Midnight, who had helped herself to another bowl of cereal. If it was one of my friends, that would be find because they already knew that Midnight was here. Other than that, I'd rather keep her presence here as quiet as possible. If the entire town found out that I had a pony from nine hundred years ago in my home, and in a town as gossipy as Ponyville, that wouldn't be difficult, then that could cause some undue complications. On the other hoof, I couldn't just shut myself in my house until this got resolved.

I hate complications.

I lit my horn and opened the door, revealing Derpy Hooves and her daughter, Dinky, on the other side. Derpy smiled and waved at me.

"Hey, Twilight! I'm just here to drop Dinky off for her magic lesson this morning!"

My breath died in my throat. Magic lesson? With Dinky? That was today?! Let's see. Yesterday was Tuesday, so... yep. Wednesday morning. Magic lessons with Dinky. Right. I forced a smile on my face.

"Oh, right. Yes. Magic lesson for Dinky. I didn't forget that. I'm not sure if--"

"This is gonna be awesome!" Dinky squeed, latching onto one of my legs with a big hug. "Thanks so much for teaching me magic, Miss Twilight! I've rilly been excited for it!"

Then Dinky hit me with one of the happiest, cutest looks I've ever seen. I... just...

Ugh. I couldn't say no to that.

"Right. I'll do my best to be a good teacher. Yes. A good teacher."

"Great," Derpy said, adjusting her mail bag on her side. "I'll be back to pick her up at one. Is that okay?"

"Sounds like a plan."

I stepped aside to let Dinky inside, then waved goodbye to Derpy as she flew away. "Okay, Dinky, let me get a few things settled, then we'll get started, okay?"

"A'kay," Dinky said, putting her saddlebag on the coat rack with her magic after a few tries. I smiled and patted her on the head.

"You're getting much better at that, Dinky! Very good job!"

Dinky beamed at the praise and took a few moments to hug my leg again. I turned around and saw Midnight staring at the both of us, a vaguely curious expression on her face.

"Oh, um... you're finished with your breakfast then, Midnight?"

"Indeed," she said. "I found its taste to be positive. Unless you have another container somewhere I am not privy to, you are out of... Celesti-o's."

Well, I guess that, whatever else Midnight was, she still had the appetite of a growing filly. Okay, I guess I could add "buy more cereal" to the list of things I needed to do today.

"Hi! I've never seen you before!" Dinky said, happily bouncing up to Midnight. "I'm Dinky! What's your name?"

"I am Midnight Sparkle, daughter of Sunbeam Sparkle, Archmagus of Canterlot, Grand Vizier of United Equestria, Savior of--"

"Yes, right! I didn't introduce you two. Silly of me," I said, interjecting before Midnight could get going. "This is Midnight. She's... well, I'm foalsitting her right now."

Midnight frowned at me and tilted her head. "I had just informed her that I am Midnight Sparkle. Was there some error in my method in doing so?"

"No, it's..." I groaned and rubbed my temple. "Never mind. Dinky, this is Midnight. Midnight, this is Dinky."

"Nice to meetcha!" Dinky said, grabbing Midnight's hoof with both of her own and shaking it. "Is Miss Twilight going to teach you magic too?"

"I had not thought of it," Midnight said. "However, I suppose there are definite benefits to learning magic from an alicorn who studied under Princess Celestia."

"Yay!" Dinky squeed. "This is gonna be rilly cool and stuff! We're gonna do lotsa awesome magic!"

"Yes, I'm sure we will," I said, a strained smile on my face. Teaching Dinky magic was one thing, but figuring out out where Midnight was in her magical education and trying to create a lesson plan on the fly to account for that would take time I'm not sure I wanted to spend. Besides, magic had advanced considerably in the nine hundred years since her time. There is no doubt that Midnight would still be an extremely powerful magus if she lived in the present day, but we'd spent hundreds of years building on magical theories put forward by both her and her mother.

Not to mention the fact that she'd been taught a lot of combat magic from an early age for her magus training. I could sling around an attack spell if I really needed to, but I didn't even come close to some of the stuff that Midnight and her mother could do. There just wasn't a need for that kind of thing in the present time. The magus corps throughout the years had done a pretty good job of getting rid of all of the really dangerous monsters out there.

Before we got started on all of that, though...

"If you two will excuse me for just a moment, I'll be right back."

I quickly trotted back to the kitchen, where Spike waited for me with a quill and ink. He was idly flipping through a comic book, but stopped when I walked in.

"So, Dinky's here," he said as he closed the comic book. "That's not gonna cause any problems, is it?"

"It shouldn't," I said. "Dinky's a good filly. She's smart, but I'm not sure if she would totally understand the situation. We just have to make sure that Midnight doesn't get out of the house and we'll be fine."

"She's probably not going to want to be stuck in the house the entire time she's here, Twilight," Spike observed. "She's not a prisoner, right?"

"Well no, but the fewer ponies who know about her the better. I know you haven't studied Midnight as extensively as I have, but you had a decent idea of who her mother was." I began pacing back and forth, trying to get my thoughts organized. I needed to approach this with as much logic as I could. "Midnight was the kind of pony who would do what her mother said, even when she wasn't sure about it. Especially at this age. If we ask her to do things that her mother wouldn't approve of, she might be stubborn about it."

"So I guess we gotta get Princess Celestia over here as soon as we can, right?"

"Right. So take a letter." I stopped pacing and cleared my throat as Spike picked up the quill. "'Dear Princess Celestia. I am writing to inform you that the anomaly you sensed in the Everfree Forest was, in fact, Midnight Sparkle. Somehow she has traveled forward nine hundred years to this time period. Given how you know Midnight well, I thought that you would be best suited for taking care of her. Let me know what you want to do. Your fellow princess, Twilight Sparkle.'"

After having Spike read over the letter a few times, he sent it off. Okay, that's one major thing out of the way. Now to take care of Midnight and Dinky. I left Spike to his comic book and went back to the main room of the library, where Midnight and Dinky were still talking. They stopped their conversation when I walked in.

"Hey, Miss Twilight!" Dinky said happily. "We were just talking about magic and stuff!"

"Indeed," Midnight replied. "I confess that I am confused by the decreasing quality of magical education. This filly has told me that she has not yet begun her combat training, nor is she particularly competent at basic levitation. She is rather far behind on her magus training, is she not?"

"Well, I'm not training her to be a magus," I admitted, sitting on the floor next to them. "She's just here to get the basics down."

"But thou art an alicorn. Would thy talents not be suited for magus training? I assume that thou hast at least an alpha ranking in magical skill."

"Alpha plus, actually, and that was before I became an alicorn," I admitted.

"And thou art not involved in the training of magi." Midnight gave me a blank look. "Thou art a princess and you are spending your time teaching mere levitation?"

I bit my tongue and had to remind myself that her words came from observing her mother's opinions. Based on what history remembers of Midnight Sparkle, a comment like that fit in more with Sunbeam. Although I imagined that Sunbeam would be ruder about it. Probably with a lot more disdain, too.

"Well, everypony learns at different speeds, Midnight. Besides, the Magus Corps has downsized considerably since your time. Even the ponies who are in it don't spend their whole lives training, for the most part. It's a choice they make when they're finished with school. It's..." I sighed. "Look, I'll explain later, okay? It's a lot of history to cover in a short time."

And I wasn't really sure of all I should tell her. I could be majorly changing the past here.

Stupid time travel.

Thankfully, Midnight nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. In the meantime, I am curious to see what kind of magic you have to teach."

"You're not gonna be disappointed!" Dinky said, latching onto one of my legs and nuzzling my shoulder. "Miss Twilight is the bestest magic teacher ever! I got lots better when she started teaching me!"

Midnight raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Why dost thou hug so much?"

"Hugs always make ponies feel better," Dinky said happily. "Don't you like it when your mommy hugs you?"

"My mother does not hug me."

Dinky gasped and brought her hooves up to her mouth. "Your mommy doesn't hug you? That's... that's the worst thing I've ever heard! Don't ya want her to?"

"I do not see the benefits."

"Hugs are the best!" Dinky removed herself from me and, before I could say anything to stop her, threw her hooves around Midnight and squeezed her into a tight hug.

"Dinky, I don't know if--"

"There ya go!" Dinky said, releasing Midnight. "Don't you feel a lot better now?"

Midnight, for her part, looked like she had no earthly idea of just what exactly had happened to her. She stared at Dinky for a few seconds, then looked over at me, then back to Dinky.

"No."

Dinky gasped again. "B-but hugs always make ponies feel better! That's what they do!"

"I fail to see how. Thou art merely participating in platonic physical contact. I confess I found it rather constricting."

"Maybe you just need another one," Dinky said, tapping her jaw in thought.

"Dinky, I--"

Once again Dinky pulled Midnight into a crushing hug. "Now you can hug me! Maybe that'll help." When Midnight didn't move, Dinky prodded her back. "Come on, Midnight! It's okay! Just hug me!"

I guess Midnight figured it was the only reason she could get this madpony off of her, as she slowly raised her hooves and returned the hug for a single second before quickly trying to pull away.

"A'kay, we'll need some practice," Dinky said, breaking away from the hug. "Do you feel better now?"

"No."

Dinky frowned in fillyish ponderance before looking back to me. "Miss Twilight, is it okay if we don't do magic today and try practicing hugs instead?"

"Thou wouldst make a sub-par magus," Midnight commented. "Neglecting studies for hugging practice is not a good use of time."

"I don't know about that. It's good to be happy!" Dinky insisted. "It's okay with me. I can always learn more magic later."

Before I could interject with my opinion, Spike ran into the room with a scroll in his hand. I quickly took it and broke the royal seal so I could read it. I scanned it quickly, and let out a relieved smile.

"Okay, that's good. That's really good." I rolled the scroll back up. "Alright then, Midnight. Princess Celestia is on her way."

Author's Note

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Time Travel Theories, Troubling Tribulatione, and Terrible Treats

Princess Celestia arrived at the library a few hours after her letter did. I’d been waiting anxiously for her considering there were several questions on my mind that I really needed to ask her. Thankfully I could keep myself occupied with magic lessons with Dinky and Midnight, even if it was tricky when the both of them were at different levels in their education. Then there was the whole issue that I didn’t want to teach Midnight anything that might cause a time paradox. My report for Princess Celestia was going to be awkward enough as was without me having to explain how I might have broken the universe with casualty issues.

I barely gave Her Highness enough time to knock on the door before I opened it. “Princess Celestia! It’s great to see you. Please, come in.”

Princess Celestia beamed as she ducked her head to enter the library. “You really don’t have to call me princess anymore, Twilight. At least when we’re in private. You’re a princess too, you know.”

“I know, I know.” I took a deep breath to calm myself. “It’s just, you know, habit.”

“Being a few millenniums or so old, I think I understand about falling into habits,” she said, keeping up her smile. “Though you hardly demand your friends call you princess, and I would like for us to be able to act like friends when we aren’t at some public function.”

“Okay—Celestia,” I made myself say.

Celestia grinned as she leaned in her head to whisper conspiratorially. “And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even call me Tia.”

An awkward chuckle escaped me. “One step at a time.” Being that familiar with Her Highness was... I just wasn’t ready for that. It was already weird enough as it was. Becoming an alicorn had come with a lot of adjustments I still wasn’t used to yet.

Celestia nodded. “Of course, at your own pace. Though I don’t believe I came here for us to talk about what I’d like for you to call me.”

“No.” I shook my head. “There’s the little matter of my thirty times over great grandmother suddenly showing up in the Everfree Forest. Oh, and she’s only a filly. And she’s, um, how to put it...?”

“Different,” Celestia suggested helpfully.

I rubbed the back of my neck. “That’s probably the best word for it.”

“She was certainly one of the more unique ponies I’ve known.” Her gaze swept the library. “And where is she, by the way?”

“I’m having her and Dinky help Spike cook in the kitchen,” I told her. “That should be safe enough for them.”

Celestia nodded. “They should be fine.” She cast a privacy spell over the library, probably to make sure no curious fillies didn’t overhear something she shouldn’t. “I trust she’s alright?”

“As well as you could expect, given the circumstances,” I said. “Even if there have been a few hiccups from her adjusting to the present.”

Celestia smiled knowingly. “That much I can understand. Much has changed since she last walked the earth.”

I chuckled nervously and my ear twitched. “Yeah, and a lot of that she shouldn’t find out because if she does and brings that back to the past, what’s going to happen?”

I had to keep Midnight from reading nearly everything in the library. I hadn’t had the opportunity to confirm it yet, but I was pretty sure she had an eidetic memory. So her getting her hooves on any kind of science book was a bad idea for all the obvious reasons unless I wanted to risk all of history getting disrupted by technology from the eleventh century getting introduced in the second. Giving her a history book was every bit as bad. Even something as innocent as a Daring Do book could have all sort of consequences considering it could introduce ideas into her head that simply hadn’t existed during her time period. Ugh, her just being in the present was already doing that. I realized I had already introduced the idea that indoor plumbing would become commonplace, advancements in food production capacities, she was probably leaning all sorts of things just being in my kitchen with Spike, oh, and there was the teeny tiny little fact she had a descendant who was going to be an alicorn. Way to go, me. I was just asking to break space and time.

My breathing became a little more rapid and, despite myself, I began pacing. “Her telling Sunbeam that one of her descendants is going to become an alicorn is already a huge issue! And that’s only one issue that could come up!”

“I admit that it is a bit of a thorny issue,” Celestia said. “Sunbeam wouldn’t directly challenge me if I put my hoof down, but I’m certain you’ve read how she could be.”

I scoffed and emphatically nodded. “Yeah! That’s information she’d never forget or let go. Not to mention she’s the type to argue that ‘it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission’.”

Celestia sighed and nodded. “All too well. She was brilliant, but troublesome all the same at times.”

My pacing came to a half as another question came to me, something that had been nagging at me since Midnight had come to the present. “Wait, don’t you remember any of this? The history books still say Midnight did all the things she did, but they don't mention her time traveling. Though you would know if she got sent to the future by accident, and how she got back, right?”

Celestia’s smile became enigmatic in nature and she placed a hoof on my shoulder. “I’m sure everything will be fine, Twilight. Space and time are a bit more sturdy than some ponies give it credit for. We just need to concentrate on her immediate needs being taken care of, limit her exposure things she shouldn’t learn about, and work on getting her back home.”

I couldn’t help but frown as Celestia avoided directly answering my question. She had a tendency of doing that when certain questions came up. I wanted to find out how all this was supposed to go, assuming Celestia did know what was going to happen, which I’m pretty sure she did. The problem was that she wasn’t likely to answer unless I really pushed her. Worse still was that she might have very good reasons for not telling me the truth. Knowing how the future, or the past—time travel was starting to make which tense I should use very confusing—was supposed to go could taint my actions, which in turn could cause events to change. Which could cause history to change, and throw off how everything was to go, resulting in—

I shut down that train of thought before it lead me to crazytown. My previous experience with time travel and causation had ended with me getting stuck in a self-contained time loop where my attempts to warn myself not to worry had only caused me to go into a nervous breakdown as I thought the world was going to end. Best not to repeat that experience again.

That being the case, I locked away sanity-breaking theoreticals to concentrate on the much safer practicals. “So, do we have a way to send her back, then?”

“We do,” Celestia confirmed. “I’m having the magi pull out some materials from the Sealed Repository to help with this. It will take some time to review everything and put together a spell that will let us send Midnight back home.” A mischievous grin showed itself on Celestia’s face. “You could say that it’s all just a matter of time.”

Despite the fact it was my former teacher who said that, I couldn’t help but groan and facehoof. “Okay then, do you need any help with that? Not that I don’t mind the house guest, but it just strikes me as best to get Midnight where she needs to be. And I’m curious what sort of magic you’re planning on using.”

At least I could be helpful where it came to magic, and no small part of me was curious what they had dug up out of the Sealed Repository. That was where all the forbidden and heavily regulated spells, magical items, and similar materials went. Spells intended to send a pony back centuries in time would count. Time travel itself was a pretty heavily regulated school of magic given the potential risks involved in it. Sure, it was supposed to be extremely hard to change the past, but why take the chance? I shuddered to think what could happen if that type of power fell into the wrong hooves. Though this did make me wonder if all of this had been set up ahead of time. After all, Celestia had known exactly what materials to pull to send Midnight back, and if she had been around when Midnight had returned home...

Celestia shook her head. “I’m sure myself and the magi I’ve assigned to this task will suffice. Actually, I have a different, but no less important task I’d like you to do.”

My ears perked. “What did you have in mind?” I was disappointed I wouldn’t get to help with the magic end of things, but Celestia always had reasons for why she did things, however frustrating they might be sometimes.

“As you’ve noticed, Midnight can be very different from the average filly,” Celestia said. “Part of that is because she’s her own unique individual, another part because of the time she grew up in, and then...” A whisper of a frown showed itself on her face. “As is the case with all parents, her mother made her mistakes in raising Midnight. One of those errors was never really giving her child the opportunity to be a filly. That’s partially due to era she grew up in. The idea of having a time of innocence and just being a child is a slightly more modern invention.”

I nodded as I started to understand where she was going with this. “And you would like her to get some time as a normal little filly before we send her back?”

Celestia nodded. “Exactly. A few positive experiences as a child would do a lot to help her. Especially if she were to learn about friendship here, something she didn’t get to experience much during this time of her life.”

“Um.” I pressed my lips together as I thought of the best was to put my question. “Shouldn’t we worry about what we let her experience? Any experiences she has here could affect her outlook on life. It might change some of her decisions, maybe even change all of history considering how important she is. I know how much learning about friendship here in Ponyville fundamentally changed my life. The same could theoretically happen to her.”

“There are a couple of ways to look at that,” Celestia said. “First, near as we can tell history hasn’t been altered by her visit. Any changes that happened likely would have been instantaneous. What we have going on is most likely a stable time loop. Events are occurring in such a manner that they perpetuate one another. For the Midnight of the past all these events have already transpired, and thus helped created the present.”

That made a kind of sense. It was like my one experience with time travel. I’d ended up creating a series of events that with my time traveling that ended up causing me to go on a specific line of actions. If that was the case here then there wasn’t too much to worry about. What’s more, considering Celestia must know what happened here, then it was probably safe to say she knew the best course to follow. Theoretically any changes made by an occurance of time travel would instantaneously change the future. So any changes that would happen to the present have already occurred. I hoped.

“I think I’m following you,” I said. “What else?”

“My second point is this. Can you think of a reasonable scenario where history would be made the worse for her learning about friendship?” Celestia asked. “At the very least she should be made happier for it. Not to mention make the lives of those she befriends better.”

“That sounds like it makes sense.” I wasn’t completely sure about this idea, but Celestia usually knew what she was talking about.

Celestia beamed at me. “Besides, I can hardly think of a better pony to teach her about friendship than you.”

I guessed Princess Celestia had a point. As highly unorthodox as all of this was, I could see why she’d want Midnight to learn more about friendship. There were obvious benefits to one of the most magically powerful unicorns in history learning all about the magic of friendship, and if Celestia was right about this being a closed time loop, then after all of this was said and done, it would definitely be fascinating to go back and read Midnight’s memoirs and see some of the friendship lessons she learned in action! I could have a huge impact on the past, but in a positive way!

The loud caws of several ravens outside broke me out of my thoughts and made me flinch back. I glanced out one of the windows and grimaced at the sight of three of them perched on one of the branches.

“Was there ever a real consensus on why ravens followed her around everywhere?” I grumbled.

“I have a few theories on that, but nothing I could ever definitively prove,” Celestia admitted. “What you have here may very well be the descendants of the Great Unkindness that lives around her tomb. Ravens are highly intelligent creatures who do pass things down, so this particular unkindness would be drawn to her even here.”

“Oh that’s just great,” I snarked. “Absolutely wonderful. So my home is about to become the nesting ground for all of the ravens in Equestria. Should I start buying up all of the corn I can?”

“Well it might not be the worst idea,” Celestia mused. “It might be interesting to have Midnight interact with them.”

“I’ll add getting corn to the list of things to get later.” I rubbed the side of my head as I tried to focus my thoughts. There was a lot to absorb right then. “So that sounds like a plan. You can take care of arranging everything to get Midnight back home, and I’ll take care of her in the meantime.”

“That sounds reasonable to me,” Celestia said.

I smiled as the positives about this situation came to the forefront. “I do have a few lesson plans about friendship I wouldn’t mind giving a test run. This sounds like a perfect opportunity to try them out. I can give her a lecture on what friendship is, move onto lessons about how best to make friends, have her write a reports on the essentials of a healthy friendship, then—”

Celestia interrupted me as she raised a hoof to my mouth and cleared her throat. “If I may suggest an alternative idea? Considering Midnight shouldn’t be here for too long, it might be best if you put the time you’ve got to the best use. I’d suggest you let her try and make some friends, instead of spending all your time on lesson plans.”

“Oh.” My ears twitched as I thought it over. “That might be the most efficient method if we don’t have much time to work with.” My lesson plan was a ten week course. Considering we didn’t want Midnight to be here for three months, that might be a bit much upon reflection.

“Indeed, and in my experience hooves-on experience is the best for something like this,” Celestia said. “I seem to remember how a student of mine greatly benefitted from being sent off to make friends for herself instead of being given a point by point guide on how to do so.”

I chuckled awkwardly as the memories of meeting my friends for the first time trinkled through. “That is true. Though...” I frowned deeply as a problem started forming in my head.

Celestia’s head tilted slightly as she watched me. “What is it?”

“Thinking about when I came to Ponyville reminded me of a few things.” I grimaced. “And how I wanted to move here after I made so many wonderful friends. That... really isn’t an option for Midnight. Not if she’s going to be sent back to her time.”

Celestia’s ears wilted. “No, I’m afraid not.”

“It almost seems cruel to have her make friends, only to them separate them,” I told her.

Celestia turned so that she faced some photographs of me and my friends hanging on a nearby wall. “I can understand your fears. It can be hard to leave a friend. Especially when it might be forever. But ultimately that is a pain we all must learn to bear. Time, if nothing else, will eventually separate even the best of friends.” She turned to face me again. She still wore a smile, but it was tinged with sadness. “So I would ask this: is it better to have had a friend, but to lose them, or to never have had them to start with?”

“It’s better to have had the friend,” I said, even if I knew that answer to be problematic. “While the idea of losing any of my friends hurts, the idea of not having made friends with them to start with hurts even more. There’s so much I wouldn’t have experienced without my friends. So many great things memories I wouldn’t have now. Those experiences made me a better pony, who I am today.”

“Exactly.” Celestia wrapped a wing around me. “While we don’t like to think about it. The pain we feel from losing a friend shows how much they mean to us. Her learning how to make friends here will help her. In addition to the great memories she will be able to make in this time, she’ll gain experience at making friends and be able to carry on that experience to help her make yet more friends in her time.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. I still wasn’t used to making decisions like this—decisions that could shape the lives of ponies for the rest of their lives—but it was part of being a princess. This was something I needed to do. While I was making a huge decision for Midnight, I could do the best I could to make that decision the best for her wellbeing.

“I understand,” I told her. “And I do think it’s for the best.”

“Good to hear we can agree on this.” The corner of Celestia’s mouth turned up in a wry grin. “You weren’t thinking to adopting Midnight for yourself so she wouldn’t have to separate from her friends, were you? She has a way of growing on a pony, even if adopting your many times over great grandmother would be ... unconventional, to say the least.”

My eyes widened. “W-w-what?! I wasn’t thinking to do anything that’d massively change history! I mean, yes, I was thinking how best to manage the situation, but I was dismissing any of the crazier ideas!”

Celestia chuckled. “I’m kidding, Twilight.” She squeezed me with her wing. “I’ve been known for doing that from time to time.”

“Oh, right.” I chuckled nervously. “Just a joke.” Even if I was considering a few options to help with this problem facing us. But most of that was just theoretical at best at the moment.

Some of the mirth left Celestia’s features. “Though there is one last thing I wanted to bring up with you before I met Midnight again.”

My ears perked as I noted the shift in tone to something more serious. “What is it?”

“It’s about my sister,” Celestia told me. “She wants to meet with Midnight.”

My teeth clenched as all the implications of that settled on me. “Oh dear. That would be... um, awkward.” Considering Nightmare Moon had plotted Midnight’s birth so that she could serve as a vessel for her to possess and foster her escape from the moon, the two of them had history. And that history went on to affect Midnight for the rest of her life, and usually not for the better.

Celestia let out a long breath. “So it would be. But my sister sincerely wants to give Midnight an apology for everything, and it’s something I’m encouraging her to do. For her sake if nothing else. Her guilt for her actions as Nightmare Moon still haunts her.”

“And Midnight suddenly appearing in the present must have hit her hard,” I surmised.

Celestia’s gaze shifted to the floor. “So it has. But still, I think this is something she needs to do. Anything that helps her put the past to rest is good for her.”

“I can understand that.” I bit my lip as I considered the problem with that. “The problem with that is Midnight herself. To her Nightmare Moon is still, um...” I couldn’t think of a way to gently put ‘a monster’.

Celestia sighed. “That is the problem, yes. That’s why Luna isn’t here yet. I wanted to come here first to see exactly how Midnight is doing, and if possible, lay the groundwork for my sister to do a proper apology that Midnight will listen to.”

I ran a hoof through my mane. “Makes sense. That’s not something we should rush if we can help it.”

My old teacher shook her head. “No. This is something to be very carefully managed, and I wanted you to know what my sister and I were thinking about this, since this is very important to Luna.”

“Right.” This whole thing was getting more complicated by the minute. Though things getting continually more complicated was pretty much inevitable whenever time travel was involved. I was hopeful that it could all turn out alright in the end, but there were several tricky hurdles we were going to have to get over to make it work. Even if Celestia was right and we were in a closed time loop, I couldn’t just let Midnight run around and do whatever she wanted. A filly as curious and powerful as her could get into all kinds of trouble.

“Until then, I suppose we should see how she is getting along,” Celestia said, breaking me out of my musings. “I’m certain that Spike is doing what he can to keep control of her, but I think it will do her good to see a familiar face.”

“That’s true. We should let her know what the next steps are.”

The hardest part of that would definitely be broaching the topic of friendship lessons. As an idea it was a bit more abstract than Midnight might be used to, and certainly not something she would have studied in her lifetime. Tapping into the literal magic that friendship could create was still a new field. She wouldn’t have even thought of such a thing in her time. If nothing else, though, Celestia explaining it to her would help things along.

Thus the both of us headed to the kitchen. The aromas of baked goods hit my nostril as they waved from the oven. Thankfully everything seemed to be in order as Spike instructed Dinky and Midnight. Dinky was in the middle of putting some icing on a cookie when she spotted us.

Dinky gasped as she looked up and up at Celestia. “Miss Princess! I didn’t know you were here!”

“Your Highness.” Midnight bowed like a proper lady—something she had never done for me, an annoyed corner of my mind said. Not that I really wanted ponies to bow for me. It was just—gah, I really was off. I needed to get my head in the game.

My own existential crisis over being a princess aside, Midnight narrowed her eyes at Dinky as she remained bowed and then elbowed her in the ribs. Dinky frowned at Midnight before her eyes widened as she realized what Midnight was trying to tell her to do. “Oh right! Sorry, Miss Princess!” Dinky bowed for Celestia, if not with the practiced grace Midnight did.

Celestia chuckled. “It’s quite alright. I think we can dispense with some of the formalities when it’s just us.”

“Okay!” Dinky hopped back to her hooves and then tilted her head as she studied Celestia. “Can I ask you a question?”

“I don’t see why not,” Celestia said, always playing the role of benevolent mentor and ruler.

Dinky’s bright and hopeful smile widened. “Can I hug ya?”

Celestia lowered her head to whisper conspiratorially to Dinky. “A little hug shouldn’t hurt.”

“Yay!” Dinky ran over to Celestia to give her a big hug around the leg. She was too, um, dinky to reach anything else.

Celestia smiled as she wrapped a wing around Dinky. “Well aren’t you a really good hugger?”

“I have a lot of practice with Mommy, and Sparky, and Rainbow, and lots of other ponies.” Dinky nuzzled Celestia’s leg and let her go. “And now I’ve hugged a whole three princesses! Now I just need to hug Princess Luna and I’ll have hugged all of ya!”

Midnight glared and Dinky and scowled deeply. “Why would you want to hug the traitorous monster who tried to usurp the throne from her loving sister?”

Celestia stiffened and winced, one of the hooffull of times I’d ever seen her mask of serenity crack. Sweet, innocent little Dinky’s mouth hanged open at the sudden and harsh word directed at Luna. I moved in to do some damage control.

“Um, actually Luna isn’t evil anymore, Midnight.” I placed a hoof on her back. “A lot has changed since your time.”

Midnight narrowed her eyes at me. “Aye?”

Celestia nodded. “It’s as Twilight said. The madness that infected my sister is now gone, and now she rules Equestria alongside me, as it was always meant to be.”

“But—”

“I promise to you that everything is alright,” Celestia said, interrupting her before she could get any momentum for a protest. “In fact, she is very sorry for what she has done, and wishes to atone for her actions in the past. She would very much like to apologize to you personally.”

To my surprise, Midnight actually took a step closer to me, as though to hide behind my leg. She didn’t reply to Celestia, and instead focused her gaze on the floor.

Celestia took a deep breath. “I realize that seeing my sister won’t be easy for you.” She stepped closer to Midnight, and cupped her chin in her hoof so that the two of them would look at one another. “All I am asking is that you hear her out. Everything else after that is up to you.”

Midnight mumbled out an unenthusiastic, “Okay.”

“Think about it, okay?” Celestia released Midnight’s chin. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask Twilight. I’m sure she’ll give you good advice, whatever you want to talk about.”

Midnight’s gaze returned to the floor. “Okay...”

I grimaced and wrapped a protective wing around Midnight. This was the first time I’d really seen Midnight in a state of vulnerability since I’d met her. She was more composed being alone and confused in the Everfree Forest than she was right now talking about Luna. That was something I was going to need to work with her later. Though that was a topic I was going to have to bring up carefully. Little surprise when cultists working for Nightmare Moon had attempted to sacrifice her to power the Avatar so that she could take over Equestria. That was the type of thing that would have to stick with a filly like Midnight.

“It’s okay, Midnight,” I told her. “We can take this slowly.”

“Exactly. But for now, let's move onto something a bit happier to talk about.” Celestia looked Midnight over, the luster to her smile returning. “Now isn’t that a face I haven’t seen in a very long time?”

“A very long time if what Princess Twilight has told me is true.” Midnight glanced my way. “Is it true she is a true alicorn, and not an abomination?”

“I assure you, Twilight has earned her ascension and the crown she now wears.” Celestia smiled in my direction. “She has done much for the good of Equestria, and learned many valuable lessons about the Magic of Friendship and now seeks to spread what she has learned to the rest of Equestria.”

My cheeks flushed at the praise from my former mentor. “Just trying to do the right thing. Pri—Celestia.”

“Ah, that is good to hear,” Midnight said in her perpetual monotone. “I worried that Princess Twilight was an abomination who had used some dark and unholy ritual to give herself wings so that she could falsely claim herself to be royalty and start a dark reign where ponies would be enslaved and forced to toil endlessly under their evil tyrant. From there she would go on to raise the dead, summon foul beings from other dimensions, and invade neighboring realms to spread misery and death across all the world until all that is good in the world was extinguished.” She blinked owlishly. “Thankfully that is not the case.”

Dinky gasped. “But that’d all be really evil and super mean! Like Diamond Tiara times a million mean!”

I frowned at Midnight. “Now when have I done anything like that to make you think that was my goal?”

Midnight’s brow furrowed as she seriously thought over my question. “No small part of me worried I was being tricked into the service of a new and dark master and that a false front was being presented to me. Though I have to admit, the fact you live in a tree made me question that theory. Evil overlords do not live in trees that serve as public libraries. They are far too selfish to share their knowledge.”

Celestia covered her mouth as she chuckled. “Sorry, but this does bring back some old memories. It’s good to see my old—friend, that is.” She cleared her throat. “But yes, Midnight, I can assure you, evil is about one of the last words I would use to describe Twilight. In fact, I can hardly think of a better pony to take care of you while we work out the details of getting you back home to your time.”

Midnight tilted her head. “So you know of a means by which to return me from where I came?”

Celestia nodded. “We have. Though it’s probably going to take a few days for us to ready it, considering the complexity of the magics involved. But I have every confidence we’ll be returning you to your mother before long.”

“That is good to hear.” Midnight briefly glanced my way. “She will be most relieved to see me.” Her ears flattened and she gave Celestia a vulnerable, wide-eyed look. “Am I correct in assuming so?”

Celestia gave Midnight her motherly smile and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. “I know that Sunbeam can be a little...” She paused for a moment. “Abrasive, but know this: she loves you, Midnight. She just... doesn’t know how to show it.”

“Perhaps,” Midnight muttered. “I fear that she will be quite wroth with me when I return to my own time.”

“If she is, it is only out of fear of losing you. I am certain that you recall her efforts to free you from the cultists during the Lunar Rebellion.”

“I do. How could I forget the night I was almost sacrificed to Nightmare Moon by having a dagger plunged into me, causing my lifesblood to pour from my chest all over the floor for the purpose of resurrecting a mad alicorn with the intent to take over the world and destroying all I knew and loved?”

Dinky gave Midnight a blank stare and tilted her head. “Uh... what does that mean?”

“Oh, that’s a story for another time!” I said quickly. “For right now, I think it’s time for some lunch, wouldn’t you all agree?”

Dinky instantly perked up. “Yeah! Me and Midnight were making muffins!” Dinky skipped into the kitchen and returned a few moments later with a tray of muffins shakily floating beside her. I lit my horn and took it from her so she wouldn’t drop it and examined the muffins more closely.

“Oh, um... These look...” I lifted up one of the burnt muffins and went a little green. “Wonderful.”

“I followed the recipe closely,” Midnight said, taking one for herself. “I hope you enjoy them.”

Right. Right. Just take a bite out of one. It’s not going to kill me.

Will it?

I closed my eyes and took a tiny bite of the muffin. I am happy to say that it didn’t actually kill me.

But it came pretty close.

Author's Note

There are two big updates for you guys: one there is now a tumblr for my story The Secret Life of Rarity found --> here!
Secondly, I'm taking orders for the print version of TD the Alicorn Princess. PM me if you would like one!

Arranging Playdates

“You wish for me to make ... friends?” Midnight said the last word slowly, as though trying to sound it out for the first time. She pressed her lips together as she considered the idea. “Why?”

I kept up my hopeful smile. It was the day after Princess Celestia’s visit, and after some planning and scheduling, I’d made some arrangements to help Midnight make some friends. Of course, it would help if I could get Midnight on board with the idea. Thus why I was speaking with her in the library before some of my other arrangements showed up.

Thankfully, in my preparations I had several answers ready for any questions she was likely to answer, complete with conversational outlines I’d drawn out the previous night. “Because making friends is really important. Friends make life more enjoyable, and also make you a better pony. Spending time and doing things with your friends can be a lot of fun. Not to mention there are several health benefits to having friends, thanks to reduced stress and the fact ponies are inherently social creatures.”

Midnight frowned and took time to think before replying. “Is this about making alliances? Mother always said that ‘tis important to interact with others for the purposes of making important allies who might be of use in the future. ‘Tis why she often engaged in, um...” Her face grew flush as she hesitated to continue. “Relations with others, from time to time.”

“No!” I shook my head. “No, we’re not talking about anything like that.” I’d nearly forgotten how some of Midnight’s more old-fashioned ideas might be a barrier her making friends. Back in the day when marriage alliances had been more prominent, who made friends with one another could have wider implications among the elite of society. But that wasn’t what I wanted for Midnight here. I just wanted her to have some friends she could enjoy the company of for its own sake.

Midnight’s head tilted to the side. “Then what are you speaking of?”

I placed my hoof on her shoulder. “I mean I want you to make some friends while you’re here. Not to make any alliances or anything like that, but just to have some friends whose company you enjoy just to have fun.”

Once against Midnight fell silent. “Can I not spent my time doing something else?” She stepped up to a nearby bookshelf and started looking over the titles of the books. “There are several books here that I am interested in reading. Would not reading up on the magic of this day and age be of more use to me?”

“No! Nononono!” I cried as Midnight started pulling down Star Sapphires’ Specialized Study on Spherical Spellcraft and Star Singularities. I pressed a hoof against the book to push it back into place. “You can’t do that, you might change the future by doing that.”

Midnight blinked slowly. “And? Would that be so terrible? Aye, your present might be irrevocably changed and cease to exist as several innovations in magic are introduced long before they were supposed to be invented, making your existence less than dust in a pitiless and uncaring universe that knows nothing of the struggles of little ponies and their minute struggles of survival, but Equestria might greatly benefit from me learning all that I can while I am here. I could learn much about your magic and other knowledge that could help ponies, and allow the ponies of your present to know even more as further developments are made. What inventions like your trains and internal plumbing might be improved up with nine centuries of advancements?”

I groaned and pressed my hoof to my face. This was not the direction I wanted this conversation to go. “That’s assuming everything would work out the way you think it would. You could easily create some sort of time paradox doing something like that. How will you learn about modern inventions if those developments have changed because of what you brought into the past? Would you try and bring even greater inventions from the future into the past? It’s a huge mess to causality.”

Midnight hummed to herself. “Mayhaps. Though perhaps—”

“I’m just going to have to say no to that,” I told her. “Whatever scheme you might come up with, it’s just going to be no. Celestia doesn’t want to change the past and future, and neither do I.”

“But reading these books about magic could help me become a great magus,” Midnight stubbornly insisted. “I hardly think ‘twould be so terrible if I used such knowledge to help ponies. I have nothing but good intentions.”

That was up to debate when I could tell that one of her motivations was to become a great magus for her own sake, even if she would probably help ponies in the process. That’s not even taking into account what would happen if Sunbeam got ahold of some of the knowledge. Ugh, this could quickly become a mess. No wonder Celestia had suggested distracting Midnight by helping her make some friends. There were just too many ways my many times over grandmother could get into trouble if she were left to her own devices. Best to push this conversation back onto the rails of what I’d planned for.

“Look, I know you would like to learn about things in the present, but that’s just going to be a bad idea.” I wrapped a wing around Midnight to guide her away from the potentially time warping books and the temptations they represented. “Let’s just concentrate on making you some friends in the meantime. Trust me, you’ll be happy that you did.”

“Could that not also change the future?” Midnight asked in a tone that made me pretty sure she was just asking it to cause me consternation. “Anything I experience could irrevocably change the past, neigh?”

“Celestia said it would be okay,” I assured her. “We’re going on the assumption we’re dealing with some sort of closed time loop, and that this shouldn’t be a problem.” Or at least I dearly hoped that Celestia knew what she was talking about. The consequences if she was wrong... best not to think about it too hard. I could panic about changing history when I wasn’t trying to convince Midnight to do what I wanted her to.

Midnight let out a long sigh. “Very well. If I am not to be allowed to study—which strikes me as a missed opportunity considering we are in library—then what do you intend for me to do?”

“Nothing too complicated.” I guided her to a table and the two of us sat down. “I’ve arranged for you to get it spend some time with some playmates. There are some fillies your own age around here who I’m sure you’ll get along great with.”

Midnight frowned. “And who are these other children?”

“I’ll introduce you once they arrive.” I glanced at the clock. “Which shouldn’t be too long from now. Though first there’s couple things I wanted to discuss with you.”

“What about?”

I recalled the list I had produced the previous list. “First is that I’m planning on introducing you as my cousin from Vanhoover.”

Midnight’s head tilted to the side. “Why? We are not cousins. That would be a lie.”

“Because I’d prefer if we could avoid any complications that could come up if they found out the truth. Not to mention I think it’d be easier for them to treat you as another filly their age if they didn’t have to wrap their heads around the fact that you’re my many times great grandmother.” That didn’t even get into all the types of trouble they might get into if they knew Midnight was from the past. The girls might very well get it into their heads to do something like send five bits apiece back into the past with Midnight with the intention of having Midnight open bank accounts for each of them. With nine centuries worth of accumulated interest that could turn into a tidy little sum of bits, at least by the standards of a few school-age children. But who knew where that could lead, and that was one of the more benign thinks they could try and pull off. Best to prevent them from getting ideas like those in the first place.

Midnight’s frown deepened. “Should an adult really be encouraging a child my age to lie? Much less the Princess or Friendship? I have heard that a friendship based on a lie is building a foundation on a swamp.”

My ear flicked and I had to put effort into not scraping my hoof on the ground. Technically Midnight was correct, but the pros outweighed the cons on this particular instance. But yeah, she was right. I’d read that Midnight could be extremely stubborn when she put her mind to it, but it was quite different to go from reading about it to bashing my head against that wall of stubborness.

“Well, um, it’s just that telling ponies you’re from the past could have some disastrous consequences. There’s no telling what ponies would do if they found out. I can’t see anything good coming of it.” I didn’t exactly want to bring this next point, because I didn’t want to worry Midnight, but considering she was digging in her heels it seemed best to make sure she knew that she needed to agree with me. “For example, I don’t want any of Equestria’s enemies to find out you’re here. There are a lot of immortal beings who have been around since before even you were born, and a few of them might try and take advantage of this situation. That’s something that would be really bad for all of us, and the last thing I want to happen is for you to get hurt because some ancient evil or monster wants to change the past to benefit them in the present.”

Midnight blinked owlishly as she processed that information. “Ah. Yes, that would be unsettling if I were kidnapped again by some terrible monster to further their schemes to destroy Equestria.”

I couldn’t help but let out a relieved breath. “Good. Though to keep up the disguise that also means you’re going to need to talk like the ponies of the present. So no thous, or words like ‘tis.”

Midnight pressed her lips together. “I still do not know why the modern tongue has done away with thou. ‘Tis useful to distinguish between ponies of different station and to express familiarity.”

This was not an argument I wanted to get into as I noted the seconds tick closer to Midnight’s playdate. “Be that as it may, that’s just how things are. So if you could just go along with doing your best to copy how everyone talks now I’d really appreciate it.”

Midnight let out a melodramatic sigh and her eyes rolled towards the ceiling. “Very well, I will do as you request.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate your cooperation.” Even if it felt like I was pulling teeth to get it, but we were getting there, and it would all be worth it in the end. I was sure once Midnight got some time with her new friends she would see that she enjoyed it, and go along with the idea. It was just a matter of pushing the boulder to the top of the hill before I could let momentum take its course.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. I slowly turned in the direction of my front door, part of me wishing that I didn’t have to do this. Sure, it would be great for Midnight to make some friends, but at the same time, I didn’t know what would happen. If I was being honest, the odds of Midnight not botching our cover story were rather low. Still, Princess Celestia had suggested this, and she knew what she was doing, right?

Right?

I took a deep breath and walked up to my door. I opened it up and saw Applejack smiling at me, surrounded by the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I forced a smile on my own face and pulled Applejack in for an awkward hug.

“So good to see you, Applejack,” I said. “And thanks for doing this.”

“No problem,” Applejack replied, tipping her hat to me. “Always willing ta help a friend out, and if mah sister and her friends can make a new friend themselves then so much the better. Although, uh...” Applejack grimaced and motioned outside. “You got a bit of a raven problem out there.”

I sighed and facehooved. “Yeah, I know. I’ve had a few of them around the library today.”

“Um... it’s kinda more than a few of them, Twilight,” Apple Bloom said.

“Yeah.” Scootaloo grinned uneasily. “Like, a lot more.”

“Great,” I said through gritted teeth as I pushed past the four of them. “How many more of theeeeaaaaaaa!”

Oh dear.

Instead of the half dozen ravens that I’d seen earlier, every single branch of my library home was completely overtaken by ravens. I had no doubt that if I was seeing the library from far away, the top of the tree would appear to just be a solid black mass. The ravens for the most part didn’t even move. One or two of them looked down at me with some mild interest, but for the most part they just sat there. Unmoving. Not doing anything. I could see an occasional flutter of a wing and one or two of them would snap at another, but that was it.

If I had nightmares, I knew what would cause it. I walked back into the library and tried to push the thoughts of hundreds of unnervingly smart birds making my library into their new home. I reminded myself to check that all of the windows were locked.

“Well, I can deal with that... later, I guess. Yeah, a bit later.”

“Uh, can it be sooner than later, Twi?” Applejack looked up at the mass of birds and grimaced. “They’re gonna get hungry soon, and when they decide that they wanna eat, there’s only one good place for them ta find food.”

My ear flicked at the implications of that. I mentally added ‘find spell that will repel ravens from crops’ to my ever-growing list of things to do today. I didn’t want this mess to negatively impact Applejack.

“In any case, thanks fer takin’ the girls today. It’ll be nice for them to meet new ponies.”

“And it’ll be great for my cousin to make some new friends, too.” I stepped aside and let the four of them come in. I glanced back and saw that Midnight had walked up to us, and I motioned to her. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, this is Midnight. She’s my cousin from Vanhoover.”

In a move I should have seen coming, the three fillies zipped over to Midnight as if they were all magnets. She flinched back and probably would have bolted if it weren’t for the fact that her back was to the wall. Thankfully she didn’t have some instinct that would cause her to go on the defensive, or if she did, she suppressed it.

“Well howdy do there, Midnight!” Apple Bloom said, sticking her hoof out for Midnight to shake. “Ah’m Apple Bloom!”

“I’m Sweetie Belle!”

“I’m Scootaloo! And we’re the--”

“Cutie Mark Crusaders!” all three of them said at once.

Midnight just stared at them, totally unblinking. She looked at each of them in turn before slowly inching away from the three of them.

“Um... hello.”

Well that could have gone worse, I suppose.

“So you’re from Vanhoover?” Sweetie Belle asked. “That’s so cool! My sister is thinking of opening up a shop there.”

“Um...” Midnight slowly nodded. “Good.”

“Yeah! She was thinking about a few spots.” Sweetie’s expression brightened a bit more. “Hey, since you’re from there, give me your opinion! Where’s the best place for my sister to put her shop?”

Midnight gave me a quick, helpless glanced before turning back to Sweetie Belle. “Mayhaps she could... put it where business might be best?”

“Well yeah, that’s a given,” Scootaloo said with a wave of her hoof. “But I’m sure you’ve been shopping there with your parents or your friends a few times. Where’s the busiest place? There’s a dress district, right?”

“...Yes?”

“Alright girls, I think we shouldn’t ask too much about that,” I said, exchanging an uneasy glance with Applejack. “How about I get you girls some cookies?” That immediately caught their attention. Thankfully, I’d made some arrangements for cookies. “Just give me a minute and then we’ll go get some.”

I turned back to Applejack. “Thanks for helping me out. I’ll try to keep the ravens from your farm. Although, if you have any spare bags of corn in your barn or something, I’d be happy to buy them from you. We could, um, kill two birds with one stone, as it were.”

Applejack chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, Ah think Ah have some bags lyin’ around. Ah’d be happy ta bring ‘em over later.”

Good. That was one less thing I had to worry about, then. Whether it would mean that more ravens would come to my tree, I didn’t know, but for the moment I had a solution for the ones that were there. I was going to need to talk with Fluttershy later about if she could do anything to fix that problem. Having my home infested with ravens was definitely not natural.

After a hug goodbye, I went into the kitchen where the fillies, including Dinky, who had been in the kitchen helping Spike, were sitting at the table, animatedly chattering with each other and eating cookies. Or rather, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Dinky were chattering. Midnight was sitting there and occasionally nodding to something that they would say. Thankfully Spike had made some actual edible cookies, so the girls wouldn’t be killed by Midnight’s attempts at making food. That would definitely be getting things off to the wrong hoof. Or maybe that would give Midnight and Sweetie something in common? Friendships could be weird like that.

Each of the fillies thanked Spike when he delivered the cookies onto the table, and each of them took one to eat. For a moment I thought thing might be alright, but then I realized I had made a terrible oversight when a question was asked.

“So how do ya get yer cutie mark, Midnight?” Apple Bloom craned her neck so that she could get a good look at her at her snowflake cutie mark.

“Why dost th-you want to know?” Midnight asked.

“Because we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Sweetie said as she snatched up another cookie. “We’re trying to get out cutie marks, and so we like to ask ponies how they go theirs.”

Midnight glanced as their blank flanks. “It seems you have failed in your quest thus far.”

Apple Bloom groaned with frustration. “It’s a work in progress. Sooner or later we’ll find our special talents. Just you see.”

Scootaloo nodded enthusiastically. “So what’s your special talent, already? Are you a champion snowball thrower? Snowboarder?”

“Or maybe you’re really good at making snowponies?” Sweetie asked over as Midnight as she tried to tell them, eliciting a scowl from Midnight. “Oooh! Or making snowflakes?”

“Nah, those would be boring,” Scootaloo dismissed as she chomped down on a cookie. “Making a snowfort would be way cooler than making some dopey snowpony.”

“Aw, but I like making snowponies,” Dinky pouted. “They’re really fun to make with your friends and big sister. And afterwards you get to snuggle up with your family with hot chocolate by the fire.”

Scootaloo frowned as she was faced by this cute logic. “Maybe. But who’d want to only be able to use their cutie mark for, like, a fourth of the year? That seems like a big waste. Unless you want to move all the way to the Crystal Empire where it’s always snowing.”

Apple Bloom rushed to finish chewing her cookie so she could add to the conversation. “Maybe her special talent is something else? Like snow magic? She is Twilight’s cousin, after all. It’d make sense if she was good at magic. So which is it, Middy?”

Midnight frowned deeply. “Middy?”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah, it’s short for Midnight. Right? Haven’t you ever gotten a nickname?”

“No.”

“Don’t get distracted!” Scootaloo slammed her hoof on the table, and upon seeing me frown at her being rough with my furniture, smiled apologetically before turning back to Midnight. “So how’d you get your cutie mark already?”

I cleared my throat, trying to interrupt before they could push anymore. Midnight’s cutie mark story was a bit ... sensitive, we’ll say. Not to mention it would be a pretty big hint that she wasn’t just some normal little filly. “Now girls, that can be a really personal question. If Midnight doesn’t want to answer quite yet when she’s only met you she can—”

Before I could head off a potentially awkward conversation, Midnight spoke. “I got my cutie mark when I was kidnapped by warlocks most foul who intended to sacrifice me to their dark goddess so that she could be empowered to overthrow all of Equestria and bring about and evil reign that would cause all ponies to know nothing by tyranny and despair. It was as they were about to plunge a dagger in my heart that my magic welled up and unleashed itself in a chaotic display of destruction that smote all the foul warlocks around me with ice and darkness, their pitiful cries for mercy consumed in an impenetrable.” She blinked slowly. “I would not recommend trying it for yourselves.”

Silent hanged in the dining room as everypony stared at Midnight. She just had to open up with that specific nugget about her history. Eventually Apple Bloom broke the silence. “Wait? What?”

I quickly dive in to save the situation. I forced out a laugh. “Midnight, I know you’re just joking, but that wasn’t very funny.”

Midnight’s ear twitched. “No, that it the tru—“

Now wasn’t the time for her to correct me, so I interrupted her. “We both know that you got your cutie mark when you practiced some cyromancy and were really good at it.” I shot her a meaningful stare. “Riiight?”

Midnight frowned back at me. “That is technically true.”

Sweetie glanced between us. “Um, okay. So, I guess it’s pretty cool that you’re good with, um, what was that word again?”

“Cyromancy,” I repeated. “That means ice or cold magic.”

“Right, that.” Sweetie puckered out her lips. “I don’t suppose you could try and teach me a bit? A snowflake cutie mark would be kinda pretty.”

“How much magic do you know?” Midnight asked.

“Um.” Sweetie squirmed in her seat. “Not much, yet.”

“I’m working with her on that,” I said, patting Sweetie’s back. “In fact, I’ve been giving lessons to all the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

Midnight tilted her head of the side. “Is that really the best use of a princess’ time?”

My ear twitched as she brought this topic up again. Midnight sure did like to criticize how I did things, but I wasn’t about to let that derail me. “Every princess does things different Midnight. But anyways, I was hoping you would all get to spend some time together.”

“Though probably not much crusading this time.” Scootaloo let out an annoyed huff. “Not like Apple Bloom or I can learn about ice magic.”

“There’s still plenty of things you can do together,” I assured them. “It’d be nice if you could play together and get to know one another. If you need any suggestions I’ve got a list prepared.”

Dinky smiles up at me. “Is it a really fun list of fun?”

“That’s the idea.” I magically summoned the scroll that listed out different activities a few fillies could do together. “Want to see it?”

Scootaloo groaned. “Ugh, I think we can figure out how to play by ourselves.”

“So what do you do fer fun, Middy?” Apple Bloom asked with a wide smile. “There’s bound to be plenty of fun things you do in Vanhoover.”

Midnight considered this for a moment. “I read.”

When Midnight didn’t offer up anything else, Sweetie asked, “And what else? What do you do with your friends?”

Midnight glanced over at me, and I gave her another meaningful look. She bit her lip and turned back to the Crusaders. “My friends and I like... painting things. I have a collection of...” I put my hoof on her shoulder. “Different things painted pink.”

“Ooh, like what?” Dinky asked.

“Skulls of animals I find,” Midnight said. “Or what skulls my mother will buy me.”

Dang it.

“Midnight, there’s that dark humor again,” I said with another forced laugh. I couldn’t miss the uncomfortable looks the other fillies were exchanging. I needed to salvage the situation. “Don’t worry, girls, she’s just kidding.”

“Yes, I am. Kidding.” Midnight nodded. “In truth I prefer to paint... rocks. It helps while away the hours when I have completed my studies and there is little to do.”

Sweetie raised an eyebrow. “Does everypony in Vanhoover like you?”

Sensing that things were starting to spin out of control, I stepped in for a course correction. “You know what I think you should do? I think you should show Midnight the type of games you play in Ponyville. You always seem to be having fun when you have time off.”

“Yeah, I guess we could do that,” Scootaloo said with a frown, not sounding convinced by the idea.

“Sure!” Dinky said much more enthusiastically before snatching up another cookie. “We could play tag, or hoofball, or beanbag toss, or house, or boardgames, or lotsa things!”

“I’m sure Midnight would really appreciate it.” I placed a hoof on Midnight’s shoulder. “Wouldn’t you?”

Midnight pressed her lips together as she stared up at me. I gave her my best encouraging smile, and she sighed. “I can see what it’s like.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “Don’t you worry, we’ll show ya some good old Ponyville hospitality. Then maybe you can help us try and find our cutie marks later.”

Midnight hummed contemplatively. “Yes, I could try this.” Somewhat to my surprise, her lips spread into a wide smile that made everypony around the table shiver and look away. “And after we have some fun, I have some ideas for things we could try that might earn you your cutie marks,” she declared as she tapped her forehooves together.

Why did she have to sound like a super villain when she said that?

Playtime

So the princess wanted me to make friends. I admit that I had never considered such a matter beyond possibly as a means to create alliances. As my mother had told me, everyone needs allies in order to gather power to oneself, and increase one’s influence. Her being friendly with Lady Protector Shadow Kicker had opened up all sorts of political avenues that she was quick to exploit when she could, and as a result she was one of the three most powerful ponies in Equestria. Or had been back in the past, in my present, when I had been in the past. The equine tongue was very poor at dealing with incidents of time travel.

Of course, these four fillies were not politically powerful as far as I knew, beyond one or two of them taking lessons in magic from a princess who lived in a tree. Perhaps their families were building some sort of favor with the princess by having her teach their youngest members? Having Her Highness take an interest in their children could provide many benefits to future favors. Though that still did not explain the tree.

I confess that I still felt some curiosity from such a strange thing. Is it a sort of rite of passage for princesses to live in trees for some time? It was possible she merely did not wish to be caught up in the politics of Canterlot, and desired a quiet life in the countryside. She would not be the first royal pony to do so, and would help explain why she lived in a tree that also served as a public library—or at least the part where she lived in a tree. I still did not completely understand why a princess would also run a public library. Mayhaps she merely found it a pleasing place to live, such as the great magus Mossy Banks and his horrifying, dirty bog?

The less said about that bog the better.

With some trepidation I left the library tree with the four other fillies who were chattering among themselves with some excitement. In truth I was unsure of what to expect. Her Highness’ desire for me to make friends had been an unusual request. In truth, I had hoped she might teach me a bit of modern magic or other practical things. She did seem to enjoy teaching others, and there was likely much I could learn from her, but instead she had assigned me to play with other children for reasons. Most adults appreciated when a child wanted to be studious and learn instead of taking part in frivolous play. Though whether Princess Twilight had some strange design in place, sincerely wished for me to pay for some reason, or was simply queer in her ways I knew not.

“So Middy, what would you like to play?” Apple Bloom asked as we walked along. “We could play some tag, hoofball, go to the school playground to slide and swing, or if ya know how to swim we could go to the local swimming hole.”

I frowned as I rejected the idea of swimming in a dirty pond filled with mud, fish, plants, insects, and a great many other things I did not wish to cover myself with. “Not swimming.”

“How about we play some ball then?” Scootaloo recommended. “Plenty of great games we could play with a ball.”

“How about we have a tea party?” Sweetie interjected. “That would be a lot of fun too.”

I had often enjoyed private tea parties back home, and like the idea. But when I opened my mouth to agree to the idea of a tea party, Scootaloo stuck out her tongue as she groaned. “Ugh, no way. That’s boring. It’s a nice day outside. Let’s not waste it. I say we kick a ball around.”

Dinky’s head bobbed up and down as she smiled widely. “Yeah! Let's play outside! Don’t you wanna play outside too, Midnight?”

I frowned. “No.”

Dinky gasped. “What?! You don’t?”

Scootaloo’s brow furrowed as she stared at me. “Come on, there’s gotta be something you enjoy doing outside. What do you normally play when you’re outside?”

“I do not.” I pressed my lips together as I thought of an addendum. “Though I enjoy snowball fights.”

“We can’t really do snowball fights in the summer,” Sweetie pointed out. “How about we play ball like Scootaloo wants, and then head inside?” She rubbed her chin. “Or we could show her the clubhouse.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “That’s a great idea! So let's get a ball, and have some fun.”

“I am not sure I wish to—“ I squawked as Apple Bloom grabbed me by the leg and started dragging me along for their fun and games. I could tell already this was going to be a difficult day.

“Come on, Middy, you’ve played ball before, right?”

I looked over to Sweetie Belle who was exerting a little effort to keep a bright red rubber ball levitated in her magic. I studied the ball for a few moments before shaking my head.

“I have not. As I said: I prefer snowballs. Is this a similar principle? Are we attempting to participate in a dodging exercise for the sake of increasing our agility and stamina?”

“No no, that’s dodgeball, and we can totally play that later!” Scootaloo replied, buzzing her underdeveloped wings in excitement.

“All you gotta do is throw the ball to a pony around you!” Dinky replied, taking the ball from Sweetie Belle and tossing it into the air. I watched it fly toward me, but its momentum decreased as it went, and it landed at my hooves after a single, small bounce. I frowned and tilted my head.

“And that is all?”

“Well you gotta bounce it back to another pony, silly,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s really awesome when you bounce it from pony ta pony and it doesn’t hit the ground!” Apple Bloom ran over to me. “Like this!”

Apple Bloom threw the ball in the air before headbutting it to Scootaloo, who bounced it off of her head in the direction of Sweetie Belle. Sweetie giggled and bounced it to Dinky, who bounced it off of her head toward Apple Bloom.

“Alright Middy, here it comes!” Apple Bloom cried. She headbutted the ball, sending it flying straight toward me. My head moved to intercept the ball as they had, only for the ball to hit me right in the eye and my vision to flash in pain. Next thing I knew I was lying on the ground. An undesirable start to things l, would venture. The pain supported that hypothesis.

The other fillies were standing over me with with a range of concerned expressions on their faces. “Geeze, how hard did you hit her, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie asked with a note of accusation in her tone.

Apple Bloomed blinked and took a step back. “Ah didn’t mean to! She was supposed to use the top of her head to pass the ball, not her face.”

I groaned and pressed a hoof to my stinging eye. “Ah, is that they key to it?”

“You dropped her like a sack of potatoes.” Scootaloo pointed down at me. “Not the best way to introduce her to passing a ball.”

“Ugh!” Sweetie ran a hoof down her face. “This is just like the time we tried to earn our coaching cutie marks.”

“Don’t remind me,” Scootaloo said with a moan. “Ms. Cheerilee still looks at us weird whenever we go near the sports equipment because of that.”

“Are you okay?!” Dinky looked me over for injuries. “You got hit right in the face.”

Mine eyes narrowed. “I am aware. That just happened and my face hurts aplenty still.”

“Meh, you look fine,” Scootaloo said. “Walk it off, as Rainbow would say.”

I frowned up at her. “How do you walk off an injury? I do not believe pain works that way.”

Scootaloo huffed. “I didn’t mean it, um... Sweetie, what’s the word I wanna use? You know, like seriously, but not that.”

Sweetie scowled at her friend. “Do I look like a dictionary to you?”

“What? You know all those big words. You know what I’m trying to get at, right?”

Sweetie rolled her eyes and lifted the ball in her magic. “Come on, let’s try it again.” She turned to me and smiled. “Are you ready for it this time?”

I took a stance and stared at the ball. If Mother were here she would no doubt chide me for my poor reflexes. T’was merely a game, and a game of some skill at that. I nodded to her. The ball would not get the better of me this time. Sweetie nodded back, served the ball, then promptly bounced it off of her head in my direction.

Time seemed to slow as I focused on the bright rubber ball. I would not let it get the better of me this time. I readied my head to intercept it, allowing the game to continue in a way that wouldst warrant my involvement.

Instead it bounced off of my face underneath my other eye.

“Confound this game!” I growled as the other fillies flinched. “I shall not be defeated by such a simple game!”

I lit my horn and picked up the ball in my magic. Unfortunately, due to my cholor I put too much effort into the motion, sending the ball flying into the air at great speeds. The five of us looked up to see it, but I had sent it beyond the clouds.

“That is... not optimal,” I said with some embarrassment. I looked away from the no doubt judgemental stares of the other four fillies. “Mayhaps we can... ask Princess Twilight if she has possession of another?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” Scootaloo said. “Maybe we should play something else.”

“But we can’t just let the ball go!” Dinky replied. “It’s Apple Bloom’s ball that she brought from home!”

“Yeah, but it’ll turn up,” Apple Bloom said. “I mean... you just sent it right into the air, right? Straight up, it looks like. Maybe it’ll come right back down.”

“Mayhaps,” I allowed. “If not, I am certain that Princess Twilight will have suggestions for discerning its location.”

“Wait, why are you calling her ‘Princess’ Twilight?” Sweetie Belle asked with a frown. “She’s your cousin, right?”

“Hey yeah, that’s right,” Apple Bloom said. “She don’t even like us callin’ her Princess, and we ain’t even related to her. You’re her family, right?”

“Well...” I bit my lip and scraped my hoof on the ground. “It is something... my mother places a great deal of importance on formality, so she requires me to use proper titles when referring to royalty.”

Scootaloo frowned and tilted her head. “Really? That’s kind of weird. I would have thought--”

It was then that I was struck on the top of my head by the ball we had previously been discussing, and stars once again flashed over my vision. Apple Bloom was the first to react as it went in her direction, and she batted the ball in the direction of Sweetie Belle, who caught the ball in her magic. She smiled widely at me as she placed the ball at her hooves.

“Hey, you did it, Middy!” she said happily. “See? It’s just like that!”

“Um, I don’t know if I’d count that, Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo replied. “I think--”

“Nope, she got it, just like Ah always knew she would!” Apple Bloom said as she shoved her hoof into Scootaloo’s mouth. “Yer gettin’ it, Middy!”

“Now we can play for realsies!” Dinky agreed, taking the ball from Sweetie Belle. “Ready to try it again, Middy?”

I eyed the ball suspiciously, for I was starting to suspect that it had foul intentions towards me. “That depends. Does this game always hurt so much?”

“Nah, you just have to know how to do it right.” Scootaloo gestured for Dinky to toss the ball her way. “Do like we do. Besides, third time’s a charm.”

“This is our fourth attempt.”

“Details. Now here we go.” Scootaloo bounced the ball off her head to Apple Bloom once again. “Careful of your horn. You don’t want to pop the ball with it.” Her eyes briefly flicked in Sweetie’s direction.

Sweetie stomped a hoof. “That happened once! Once!”

I instinctively flinched as the ball streamed towards me, but instead of knocking me over like before, it bounced off the top of my head with minimal pain and flew into the air at an arc. Dinky scrambled and she missed the ball before it hit the ground, but then quickly recovered to send the ball to Sweetie.

“There you go!” Dinky called out. “Just like that.”

Scootaloo nodded as she prepared to send the ball back to me. “Now try and bounce it right at one of us this time. Like we showed you.”

A most strange feeling come over me. My heart started racing and I started smiling, feeling eagerness in my limbs as I waited for my turn with the ball, instead of the profound dread I had but moments ago. Scootaloo shot the ball in my direction and I managed to knock it back up in the air towards Sweetie. While the ball still hit the ground again, nopony seemed particularly bothered by this fact, but instead kept the game going as the ball was passed around without any real plan or pattern to it all. Instead there seemed to be an unspoken agreement that everypony should get a turn to pass the ball every so often, even if Apple Bloom and Scootaloo seemed to get the ball the most times. Still, I found myself ... enjoying the activity. I knew it t’was nothing but a silly children’s game of no consequence, but I was having fun nonetheless. ‘Twas a most curious feeling, and ‘twas one I wished to keep experiencing.

I lost track of time until an unfamiliar voice cried out, bringing the game to a sudden halt. “Hey blank flanks!”

Apple Bloom flinched right as she was bouncing the ball and it spiraled off in an erratic direction. I tilted my head at the fillies gathered around me. All of them seemed to be trying very hard not to look in a specific direction, and their ears were flattened against their heads. None seemed eager to restart the game, to my surprise. Curious what had caused this sudden change in their demeanor, I turned to see who had called out to us.

A pair of fillies approached us, each wearing a smile with a malevolent edge to them. The lead filly had a pink coat, and wore a silver tiara on top of her head. A sign of status perhaps? Or at least one of wealth. Her companion possessed a grey coat, and wore a pearl necklace and a pair of glasses. Whoever they were, they had interrupted our game, which irritated me.

“And who are they?” I asked the others.

“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” Apple Bloom growled out.

“We go to school with them,” Scootaloo said through clenched teeth. “Unfortunately.”

“And who are you?” The one I guessed was Diamond Tiara examined me with a haughty glower that would not have been amiss on many a noble in Canterlot.

I frowned back at her. “I am Midnight Sparkle.”

Sweetie forced a smile onto her face. “She’s Twilight’s cousin. She’s visiting from Vanhoover.”

Diamond Tiara snorted dismissively. “I bet. Though I can’t understand why anypony would want to hang out with a bunch of loser blank flanks like you.”

I tilted my head. “What does them being blank flanks have to do with us consorting with one another?”

Silver Spoon rounded around Dinky with a nasty smile, and Dinky wilted away from her. “Because they’re a bunch of crybaby losers.”

My head tilted further. “They do not appear to be crying, and they are certainly not foals. If anything, they appear to be of like age to you.”

Diamond Tiara’s nose wrinkled as she stared at me. “Yeah, well, they’re still losers because they don’t got their cutie marks.”

Scootaloo sighed and picked up the ball. “Come on, let’s just go. We don’t have to listen to this.”

I held up a hoof to forestall my companions. “Neigh, I wish to hear their poor logic and correct them. I believe them to be misinformed.”

“No we’re not,” Silver Spoon insisted. “We know exactly what we’re talking about. Besides, you talk weird. Like, you talk like you belong in one of those old plays my parents take me too.”

Diamond Tiara sneered. “Yeah, figures the only friend the Cutie Mark Crusaders could make was a little weirdo like you. ”

Mine patience was fast fraying with these two, for now I knew that these two were mere malcontent, only deserving my contempt. “I can assure you, where I am from everypony speaks like this, and I would ask that you not insult my friends.”

Apple Bloom pulled on my shoulder. “Let’s just go, Middy. There ain’t no point talkin’ with those two.”

Diamond Tiara grinned evilly as she and her cohort circled us. “That’s right, better run away to cry. That’s what crybabies do, after all.”

Something my mother had impressed upon me with her lessons was how bullies were to be dealt with. One should never show weakness to bullies, for that would only encourage them to torment us.

“I think you should watch thy—your tongue.” Mine eyes narrowed. “Otherwise I will take offense.”

“Oooh, you’ll be offended,” Diamond Tiara mocked, and then giggled. “I’m so scared.”

Dinky hunched her shoulders and whispered to me. “Middy, we should go. We don’t wanna get in trouble.”

I ignored her, for these bullies needed to be put in their place. I stared Diamond Tiara in the eyes, and did my best to copy mine mother when she wished to intimidate another. “If thou dost not know what fear is then I can show it to thee.”

Silver Spoon scoffed at my threat. “Hey, you can’t talk to her like that.”

“Quiet sycophant, thy words do not matter here. Let thy master speak for thee and be silent.”

“Hey!” Diamond Tiara shoved me, sending me stumbling back several steps. “Don’t talk about my friend like that!”

Like a good sycophant, Silver Spoon took her place by her master’s side. “Yeah! And I’m not a sycoph-anthy. Or whatever dumb word you used. I bet you just made it up anyways.”

I did my best to regain my footing as I faced them, my choler rising by the second. “I did not, and if thou art not a sycophant then thou hast done a fine job of fooling me.”

“I said shut up!” Diamond Tiara stomped up to me so that we were face to face. “You’re just some weirdo who talks funny and hangs out with a bunch of blank flank losers. You don’t get to talk like that to us.”

“I assure thee, I am more than capable.” I squared my jaw as I addressed her. “And I am warning thee once, apologize and take back thy foul words, or there shall be consequences.”

Diamond Tiara snorted derisively. “Yeah? And what’re you gonna do if I don’t apologize?”

“You have insulted the honor of myself and my friends. Should you continue, I shall demand satisfaction!”

Diamond Tiara instantly burst out into rambunctious laughter that I did not care for. “Oh puh-leeze. What on Earth could you do to me, loser?”

As she finished her petty insult, she tapped me on the tip of my horn. T’was a most foolish move.

* * * *

“Holy Celestia, Midnight, what did you do?!”

I frowned and tilted my head. “I merely faced her on the field of honor. Her insults, no matter how petty they may have been, could not have been merely ignored. Surely you as a princess have had to fight to keep your honor?”

“No! I mean, not like that!” Princess Twilight sighed and pinched the bridge of her muzzle. “For Celestia’s sake, Midnight, she’s been curled up in a ball for the last hour whimpering about clowns!”

I nodded. “I cast a spell upon her that showed her the most terrifying thing she could imagine.”

Apple Bloom and the rest of the Crusaders shared a confused look.

“Diamond Tiara is scared of... clowns?” Apple Bloom said.

“Who’da thought?” Scootaloo replied.

Sweetie rubbed her chin. “We might have to use that in the future.”

Princess Twilight groaned and pressed her hooves to her face. “Why did you even learn a spell like that?!”

“To inflict mine enemies greatest fears upon them.”

She mumbled something under her breath about ‘stupid questions.’ “I mean why did you do that to her?”

“I assume that you have studied the writings of my mother in great detail,” I continued. “Surely you agree that to keep one’s status and not appear weak, one must use every advantage against those who would seek to weaken you through any means. Had I let that foul filly continue with her slander, t’would reflect most poorly on me.”

I felt that I needed to diffuse some of the tension that had no doubt built up in Princess Twilight, so I gave her my best smile. “All will be well.”

“I don’t know about that,” Twilight said, flinching back as she averted my gaze. “Anyways, you’re going to need to apologize to Diamond Tiara for casting that spell on her... Once she’s recovered.”

I scowled. “I will be doing no such thing. She wounded my honor, and I will not apologize for smiting her during a duel.”

“Midnight...” Princess Twilight sighed and ran a hoof through her mane. “Ponies don’t really duel over honor anymore. Especially not kids. What you did to her was really mean.”

“I don’t know, I thought it was pretty rad,” Scootaloo said. “Plus Diamond Tiara deserved it. Like, a lot.”

Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. “She was being mean to us, and Middy did warn her to stop.”

Princess Twilight slashed a hoof through the air. “That’s besides the point. Attacking another pony with a spell isn’t something you just do.”

I tilted my head, not understanding what she was talking about. “But should I not defend my friends from a bully who is harassing them?”

Her wings wilted as she groaned once again. “If somepony is picking on you then you should have come to me. I could have talked with Diamond’s dad and sorted everything out.”

“Aaah, now I understand.” I nodded firmly. “You wished to duel with her father over his scion’s misbehavior. That makes sense. A parent should be responsible for the sins of their child.”

“What?! No!” Princess Twilight took a deep breath.

“Then you seek weregild?”

Princess Twilight vigorously shook her head. “No, not that either!”

“Ah, so you would punish him outright, as should be your right as a princess,” I said. “Mayhaps he will learn to put a stop to his daughter’s misdeeds if he were thrown into a dungeon for a time, or given a fine to endanger him with poverty.”

“No!” Princess Twilight rubbed her brow. “I meant we would talk it out to make this stop, like reasonable adults.”

“Ah...” No convinced by this proposal, I turned to my new companions. “Have you not tried this before?”

Sweetie hunched her shoulders and did not meet my gaze. “I told my mom that they were being mean to me, and she went to talk to Diamond Tiara’s mom. Afterwards she said just to ignore Diamond.”

Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I did the same with my big sis and brother. They talked to both of Diamond’s parents, and she stopped bothering us for a while. But then she got right back to bullying us later. Eventually Applejack and Big Mac told me to just ignore her too.”

I scowled at this news and turned my attention back to Princess Twilight. “I think my method is better. Unless she is particularly foolish, I doubt Diamond Tiara will so readily cross me again.”

“And thanks to you attacking her I’m going to have to explain to Mr. Rich what happened to his daughter.” Princess Twilight teeth showed in something that was not a smile. “And he isn’t going to be happy about this.”

“And why should you care?” I looked to my compatriots. “Who is this Mr. Rich that we should be concerned?”

“He’s the richest pony in Ponyville,” Apple Bloom told me. “He’s like, really important.”

Several facts came together for me. “So that is what this is about.” I nodded to myself. “This Mr. Rich is a pony of wealth and influence, and thus cannot be easily crossed. No doubt this is why his daughter is a spoiled scion who is allowed to be a terror to the other children of the town. I have seen this be the case with the scion of many a noble house. ‘Tis not so different from what I have seen in Canterlot.”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” Princess Twilight let out a huff. “Duels of honor just aren’t something we do anymore.”

“Then how do you resolve matters of honor?” I asked. “Or any other argument of consequence?”

Princess Twilight flashed a smile that was brittle at the edges. “We talk things out, and if need be, go to court to have a trial to decide things.”

“I see.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I contemplated the full implications of this. I could well imagine the whole of Equestria being overrun by lawyers running to and fro as ponies sued one another over every little matter that disrupted their lives. All while everypony was drowned under a sea of legal papers that they ill-understood. Many times I had seen my mother or Her Highness be forced to preside over the most trivial of matters in court. Such as when two farmers disagreed with great energy and vehemence over who truly owned a pig. If every dispute ‘tween ponies had to be resolved in such a manner...

“What dark times are these that ponies cannot defend their honor, but instead must depend on lawyers to fight for them?”

Twilight let out a long sigh and rubbed her eyes. “Girls, would you mind leaving the two of us alone? I think I’ve got a lot of explaining to do with Midnight.”

Apologies of the Unconvincing Sort

Midnight’s continued scowl as the other fillies left the room didn’t give me a lot of hope that we’d be able to just talk this out in a rational way. I already knew that it would be a little difficult to get her to understand that dueling wasn’t how we did things now, but she would definitely see herself in the right when it came to the fact that Diamond was bullying the five of them. I waited until the rest of the fillies were out of the room before I started.

“So Midnight, it’s like I was saying: ponies don’t duel for honor anymore, especially not for something like what Diamond was doing. I’m not saying that she was in the right at all, but--”

“My new friends already made it quite clear that your impotent attempts at resolving the issue yourselves have been laughably unsuccessful,” Midnight growled, her scowl deepening. “In fact, t’was she who initiated the physical aggression. She tapped mine horn. How else should I have dealt with such disrespect?”

Ah, that actually explained a few things. Back in Midnight’s day, touching a unicorn’s horn during an argument would have been seen as the height of aggression. If somepony had done that to Sunbeam, they’d be met with instant, um... death.

Still, I needed to try and make her understand that things were done differently in modern times. “I realize that you didn’t like her touching your horn, but these days we don’t—” I was interrupted by a knock on the door. I suppressed a groan as I went to the door. “Give me a sec to deal with this.”

I opened the door and found just about the last pony I wanted to talk to at that moment. Filthy Rich glowered as he stood opposite of me. “Princess Twilight, I heard that my daughter was here. There was apparently some incident between her and some of the other children?”

My smile probably looked as genuine as it felt right at that moment. I had wanted to straighten things out with Midnight before having to deal with Mr. Rich, but it seemed it hadn’t taken him long to find out something had happened and then come here.

“Yes, they had a bit of a fight.” My eyes flicked in Midnight’s direction, who seemed content to glower in our direction. “From what I was told Midnight--my cousin and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were being picked on by Silver Spoon and your daughter, she touched Midnight's horn, which she’s really sensitive about, and Midnight ended up casting a spell on Diamond Tiara.”

Rich’s eyes widened. “She did what?”

“She’s fine!” I was quick to say. “She just needs a bit of time to recover, is all.” Probably best if I didn’t tell him what sort of spell she got hit by. That would just add fuel to a fire I was having more than enough time controlling.

Rich sighed and rubbed his brow. “Would it be okay if I saw her?”

“Of course, she’s laying down right upstairs.”

Rich’s smile was about as sincere as mine. “Thank you, Your Highness. I trust you’ll be taking care of everything on your end with your cousin?” His eyes darted meaningfully in Midnight’s direction.

“I was just talking with her when you knocked,” I assured him. “I was explaining to her that it’s not appropriate to cast spells on ponies like she did.”

He nodded. “Good. I’ll talk with Diamond about what is and isn’t appropriate behavior for a young lady. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, Your Highness...” I stood aside and let him go upstairs to see his daughter.

“That did not sound like an apology for his daughter’s ill behavior,” Midnight said as soon as he was out of earshot.

“He probably wants to get Diamond’s side of the story before he makes a decision,” I told her.

Midnight crossed her arms over her chest. “Likely she will just lie to him. She is a foul creature like that.”

“Midnight!” I scolded. “You can at least give her the chance to do the right thing.”

“I did. She had the chance to walk away before I cast a spell on her, but then she touched my horn, as I have already explained.”

This conversation was getting nowhere. It felt like I was talking to a brick wall. “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Midnight’s head tilted to the side. “I never suggested such a thing. Such is foolish logic. Otherwise Diamond Tiara would have committed several rights through misdeeds, which would make no sense.”

Of course that saying went right over her head. Or maybe she was just being stubborn and intentionally misinterpreted what I meant. It was hard to say with Midnight. “What I mean is that these days it’s taboo to attack ponies, even if they might be in the wrong.”

“And we can see how well that works with my friends,” Midnight said, digging in her hooves. “I would think that obvious by now.”

Before I could think of a different approach, Mr. Rich came down the stairs with Diamond Tiara on his back. He cleared his throat before addressing us. “I’ve talked with my daughter, and it strikes me that this was just a case where some kids let an argument get out of control and it resulted in a fight. I think it best that we make them apologize to one another, and try and put this unpleasant incident behind us.”

I nodded, relief washing over me. I’d worried that this might explode into some big incident, but it seemed that we could do damage control on this. “That seems like the best was to deal with this to me too.”

Rich looked back to address his daughter with a firm, fatherly tone. “So then, what do you say to Midnight?” Diamond Tiara looked at the floor as she mumbled something unintelligible. Her father’s eyes narrowed and his tone took on a harsher tone. “What was that? I don’t think any of us heard that.”

“I’m sorry,” Diamond Tiara said barely above a whisper, still not looking at any of us.

Rich frowned at the lackluster apology, but it seemed good enough for him to turn to Midnight. “And is there anything you want to say, Midnight?”

In a fashion, Midnight did not disappoint. She jutted out her jaw and spoke with shere bullheaded stubbornness. “I am not going to apologize for anything. She wronged me and my friends, and I regret nothing.”

Rich’s eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”

I groaned and rubbed my face. “Like I said, I’m still talking with her about what she did.”

“And I found her arguments less than compelling.” Midnight nodded firmly. “I gave Diamond Tiara every opportunity to apologize and back away from her foul behavior, and she proceeded to do nothing but provoke me. Worst still, she is now only apologizing to avoid your displeasure instead of out of any desire to do what is right. Therefore I am in the right, and her in the wrong.”

Rich’s mouth worked wordlessly for a few moments as he tried to react. This was way off script from how these discussions were supposed to go, but he eventually managed to recover. “That’s not how a young lady should be acting.”

Midnight narrowed her eyes. “Considering how your daughter acts, I am not convinced you are an expert on the conduct of young ladies.”

Rich blinked as though he’d just been slapped, and I quickly stepped in between them before this could get any worse. “Mr. Rich, I really need to talk with Midnight about how she’s acting. If you don’t mind, I can talk her into apologizing later.”

“That will not be happening,” Midnight insisted in her typical dull monotone.

Dammit, Midnight...

Rich’s nostrils flared and her turned away from us. “If you say so, Your Highness. By your leave...” He stormed out of the library, leaving me alone with my very, very stubborn many times over great grandmother who was pretending to be my cousin.

I took a deep breath as I turned to face Midnight. “You could have tried to apologize.”

“I could have, but I did not wish to.”

I rubbed my brow as I felt a headache come on. “I mean you could have made an attempt to try and mend bridges with Diamond Tiara and try and be friendly with her.”

Midnight pressed her lips together in a frown. “Why would I wish to be friends with somepony who is so cruel with my friends?”

I wasn't making any progress with her trying to appeal to logic. Part of me was happy that Midnight had made friends and was willing to stand up for them, but this hadn’t been what I’d intended when I’d made a play date with Crusaders. I thought of what my parents might do in a situation like this. “Well for not even making the attempt to try and fix things with Diamond and disrespecting an adult you’re grounded for the rest of the day.”

Midnight stared at me for several moments before her head tilted to the side. “But I am already grounded. I have no means by which to fly on mine own, and I do not have any pony who would fly me around at my beck and call.”

“No I mean...” I took a deep breath as I found myself running headlong into the brick wall of Midnight's literalness and nine centuries worth of cultural differences. This was going to be a long evening.

I really needed to send a letter to my mom asking how to deal with misbehaving children. As I realized halfway into the evening of the previous day, grounding somepony who had little desire to go outside and play wasn’t much of a punishment. That and I suspected Midnight would bear most punishments as a worthwhile expense to maintain her pride and honor. Midnight was from a culture where duels were regularly fought over matters of honor, and being perceived as having a lack of honor could have dire consequences for your social standing. The only thing she had seemed to be disappointed about was that she wouldn’t get to play with her friends again that afternoon. Unfortunately a couple of books I’d consulted on how to deal with misbehaving children weren’t of the best help in this exact situation. Perhaps I could ask Princess Celestia what to do about this? She lived all throughout that period of time, and knew Midnight. Maybe she would have some good suggestions. Thought that might be an admission that I might be in over my head...

But as I waffled on what to do, worked on a series of plans for how I could deal with problems like these in the future, the next day came and the Crusaders came around asking if Midnight was around to play. Though I was somewhat reluctant to let Midnight go, in the end I relented. I was trying to help Midnight make friends, after all. Hopefully the Crusaders and Midnight would just avoid Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon until I could figure out how to deal with that thorny problem. There was clearly a longstanding problem there, but I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it. It might be something to ask Applejack or Rarity about later.

An hour after Midnight left with the Crusaders I was surprised to see Apple Bloom and Scootaloo return to the library. Curious about what was going on, I asked, “Hey there girls. Is everything going alright?”

Scootaloo flashed me a smile that was brittle along the edges. “Oh! Yes! Everything’s going great.”

“Middy, Dinky, and Sweetie wanted to play tea party, but we weren’t very interested in playin’,” Apple Bloom announced with a hint of stiffness. “So we decided to head to the library all on our own. You know, to get some books. To read.”

Scootaloo bobbed her head. “Right, and what better place to get books than the library? It’s what libraries are for, right?”

“Of course.” I raised an eyebrow, because something seemed off here. The girls were acting oddly, there was a hint of nervousness as their eyes darted to one another. Sometimes Apple Bloom came to the library to get a book, but it was pretty rare to see Scootaloo in the library unless it was for one of my lessons or research to do for school. Though perhaps I was reading too much into things. It might just be that they were nervous that I was still upset about what happened with Diamond Tiara. That would explain why they were reluctant to come to the library for a book. But I wasn’t about to shirk my responsibilities as a librarian, even if Midnight’s words about how it was ridiculous for a princess was also running a small town library echoed in the back of my mind.

“So what were you looking for?” I asked.

The two of them briefly looked at each other before Apple Bloom took the lead. “Um, we were just plannin’ on lookin’ around if it’s all the same. You know, to see if anything leaps out at us.”

“That’s fine,” I told them. “Just ask if you need any help.” I went to the central table to start writing a letter to Princess Celestia. I wanted to update on how things were going with Midnight and ask for some advice. Thing was that I didn’t want to sound desperate or that I couldn’t handle everything either. This was going to require some careful wording.

I was in the middle of writing a rough draft when Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dropped a pile of books in front of me. “Here ya go, we’re ready to check out.” Apple Bloom flashed me a smile, though once again it seemed a bit strained at the edges.

“Looks like you’ve got quite the selection here,” I observed. “Good to see.”

Scootaloo shuffled in place. “Yeah, well, we didn’t know what we wanted, so we just grabbed some stuff that looked like it might be good.”

“Okay then. Nother wrong with trying out new things and seeing how they work out.” I started the process of checking out each book. “So then, one The Adventures of Young Daring Do: A Short Story Compilation, Escape From Freeport, and...” I raised an eyebrow when I got to the third book in the pile. “Advanced Algorithmic Arcana by Archmagus Aerial Aurora?” I peered over the boom to find the both of their faces spread with unnatural smiles.

“Um, the title just leap out at me,” Scootaloo tried to explain. “Seemed like it might be an interesting read.”

I wasn’t convinced by that explanation. “If you want to learn about magic then I can point you to some better picks to help introduce you to magic. No offense, but this is more for advanced students than somepony who needs to learn the basics. Trust me, I’ve read this book cover to cover.”

“Maybe Sweetie could learn something from it?” Apple Bloom suggested. “She’s been learning about magic from you.”

“Yeeesss, but nothing this advanced. I know where her skill level is, and this isn’t really what she needs to be covering yet. We’re still need build up her basics before we dive into more advanced skills.” Suspecting what was up, I placed the book to the side. “What’s this about, girls?”

“What’s up?” Scootaloo’s darted from side to side. “What do you mean?”

Apple Bloom raised a leg and held it up for some reason. “There’s nothing wrong with us just checking out a book, right?”

“No, not as long as you just want to learn, but there’s more efficient ways to go about that then just jumping into the deep end when you’re not likely to understand what you’re reading,” I said. “Also, why are you holding your leg up? We’re not in a classroom right now.”

“Oh, um, Ah’m just stretching is all.” Apple Bloom started waving her leg more enthusiastically. “Just a bit sore from my chores on the farm. You know how it is.”

Before I could press the issue I heard the thumpathumpathump of hooves on the floor racing towards me. My head started turning towards the noise, but then I felt something collide with my side and wrap its furry arms around me. Looking down, Dinky stared up at me with a wide smile. “Hiya Miss Twilight! I wanted to surprise you with a surprise hug.” She squeezed me and nuzzled my side. “Did it work?!”

I blinked, this hadn’t been something I expected to suddenly happen. Not that seeing Dinky didn’t immediately melt my heart. It was certainly a big stress reliever after a rough couple of days. “Um, you sure did.”

“Yay!” Dinky nuzzled again. “Because I like hugging you.”

Apple Bloom cleared her throat and started scooping up the books with near indecent haste as I was distracted by Dinky. “Well looks like yer busy. So how about we just mosey on out of here and—”

I quickly snatched the copy of Advanced Algorithmic Arcana with my magic before the two of them could bolt. “Whoa, wait up there! We’re not done here.”

Scootaloo scowled. “What’s the big deal? It’s just some books, this is a library, and you’re supposed to let us check out some books.”

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I think you know exactly what’s up. How about you just come clean with me about—” My ear twitched as I heard just more hoofsteps inside the library. I looked but didn’t see anypony there. Strange. As an alicorn my hearing had become a lot better, and I knew I had heard somepony new entering the room, even if they had suddenly stopped walking when I’d looked for them.

“What’s the matter, Miss Twilight?” asked Dinky.

Scootaloo tried grabbing the book, but it failed to move as it remained suspended in my magic field. “Yeah, can we just go now?”

“Now just slow down for one moment.” As soon as I turned my attention back to the others I heard the hoofsteps start up once again, a pair of hoofsteps I noted. A quick magic detection spell confirmed what I suspected: an invisibility spell. It was a basic one, but it did its job. And I had a pretty good feeling exactly who was under that veil, and what those mischievous fillies were up to. Part of me was tempted to call them out on what they were doing, but then another idea stuck me.

I levitated a beginners’ guide to magic off a shelf and replaced it with its much more advanced cousin. “How about you start with this and then tell me what you think?”

“Um, okay then.” Scootaloo scowled we she examined the book, and while she wanted to argue the point, no good counter argument came to her.

In the periphery of my vision another book slid off the shelf and then disappeared into nothingness. Under the cover of levitating the Crusaders’ books, I cast a series of spells, the first one to allow me to penetrate the invisibility spell. Another spell allowed me to see through the sneaking fillies’ bag to see that they had taken another book of advanced magic from the shelf. It took another spell to allow me to retrieve a book from my personal collection upstairs, and then replace it with the magic book with a teleportation spell. That done, everything was set.

Finished checking out all the books, I gave them to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. They flashed each other a smile. “Thanks Twilight! We’ll be goin’ now,” Apple Bloom said. “Come on Dinky. We’re gonna, um, check these books out!”

“Sure!” Dinky gave me a quick squeeze before scampering to her friends’ side. “Thanks Miss Twilight, I'll give ya somemore hugs later. ‘Kay?”

“That sounds great,” I said as I waved them all off. “Enjoy your books, girls.”

Soon they were all gone—including the fillies who had snuck in. Wanting to see how all of this was going to turn out, I head down into the basement and found my crystal ball. I normally didn’t like spying on ponies with scrying magic, but it had its uses now and again. It wasn’t long before I had the crystal ball glowing and showing an image of the Crusaders gathering not far from the library. It only took a couple of minutes before Midnight and Sweetie suddenly appeared as Midnight dispelled her invisibility spell.

Sweetie looked herself over as she confirmed she was indeed visible again. “You really need to teach me how to do that later. That could have helped keep me out of trouble a few times.”

“We can do that later,” Midnight said. “But first I would like to see how successful our quest was.”

Scootaloo smiled mischievously. “We didn’t sneak the advanced what-do-you-call-it book past Twilight, but we managed to distracted her while you did your thing.”

“Aye, at the end of the day thy objective was to hold Her Highness’ attention,” Midnight mused. “T’would have been well and good if you had gotten the other book as well, but that was but a secondary objective.”

Dinky nodded vigorously. “I liked the part where I got to hug Miss Twilight. I thought that was the best part.”

“Aye, thy adorableness served its purpose well this day,” Midnight announced with great solemness. “You all did well in playing your parts.”

Apple Bloom beamed. “Darn tootin’ we did. Cutie Mark Crusaders Spy Masters was a success!”

“Did we get our cutie marks in spying?” Sweetie looked at her flank, quickly followed by the others. But alas, their flanks were still blank, much to the disappointment of the others.

Part of me was happy that Midnight was getting along with the Crusaders, even if getting them all to help her steal a book from the library wasn’t what I envision them doing. But then, Midnight seemed to have profound deficiencies is normality. I probably should have foreseen that one of the things she would do upon making friends was to use them to achieve her various goals, given what she became a master manipulator when she grew up.

Scootaloo sighed. “Aw, it would have been cool to have spy cutie marks. I really thought we were onto something this time.”

Apple Bloom double checked to make sure there was indeed no cutie mark on her flank. “Right? We managed to get the book and everything.”

“As I did warn all of you, there was only a remote chance this would result in you getting cutie marks. Such things cannot be forced, near as I know. Still, I am happy we managed to procure a magic book.” Midnight pulled out the book from Sweetie’s bag and then scowled as she examined. “Or perhaps not.”

“What’s the matter, Middy?” Apple Bloom asked. “Didn’t ya grab the book you wanted?”

Midnight glared at the book I’d given her as though it had personally wronged her. “I thought I had, but it seems we have been made the fools in this.”

“Huh, what do you mean?” Sweetie craned her neck as she tried to get a better look at the book Midnight was holding.

“I believe Her Highness has just sent us a message.” Midnight held up the book so that the others could see its title: Slumber 101: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Slumber Parties But Were Afraid to Ask.

Pillows, Tea, and Stars

“I would like to have a tea party at the sleepover.”

I stopped using the feather duster, feeling a pang of dread as Midnight made her request. We’d been in the middle of cleaning when Midnight had asked me several questions about sleepovers, and now she’d come around to something she said she wanted to do. “Oh? Is that so?”

Midnight nodded. “Indeed, I think ‘twould be quite enjoyable, and ‘tis one of the activities suggested in this book on sleepovers.” She flipped to the page in question and showed it to me, even though I knew she was telling the truth.

“Um, and what exactly were you planning on doing at the tea party?”

“The normal things involved with tea parties,” Midnight reassured me, badly. “Drinking tea, enjoying such things as crumpets and one another’s company, and engaging in a tale of murder, deception, betrayal, and intrigue as Lord Lordington of Lordsdale plots his revenge against Viceroy Stuffins for murdering his sister and lover Lady Buttoneyes, whom was enraged upon discovering his wife was carrying on an incestuous relationship with her brother, and that all of his heirs were in fact scions of said affair. Now Lordington is making his final moves on the board as Viceroy Stuffins plans his marriage alliance with Duchess Diamond, but he doesn’t know what Diamond truly is or that she has her own agenda within the Great Game. All while the Silent Ones move in as Lord Lordington’s plot for revenge would unknowingly doom them all. 'Tis a rather bloody affair. It should entertain my new friends.”

I stared at Midnight, unsure exactly how to respond to that. Like with most things, Midnight had a very morbid approach to tea parties. Her tea parties had come up in the historical accounts, so I had a pretty good idea how this would turn out. “Well Midnight, I think your idea of tea parties might be a bit ... intense for the girls.”

Midnight tilted her head to the side. “Aye?”

I tried to think of the best way to convince Midnight not to accidentally traumatize the Crusaders for life. “Your idea of tea parties are very ... involved. Tea parties are more light-hearted these days.”

Midnight frowned as she contemplated this. “I still wish to have a tea party. As this book states, friends at a sleepover should be willing to try the things their friends wish to do, as long as no single individual is dominating the occasion and ruining the enjoyment of the others.” She flipped to the page in question in an attempt to use my own literature against me. “I will restate, I wish to have a tea party in the way I am accustomed. In exchange, I will seriously consider what the others wish to do. I think this a more than reasonable proposal.”

Spike looked up cleaning cleaning the library bookshelves. “Actually, that sounds pretty interesting to me.” He rubbed his chin as he thought the idea over. “If in a trainwreck kind of way.”

“What is a train?” Midnight asked. “And how calamitous are their wrecks?”

Spike started to answer, but I hissed and made a cutting motion. “Spike, remember what we said about time travel and causality?”

“Oh right, oops.” Spike chuckled awkwardly. “Forget I said anything.”

Midnight's ear twitched. “So can we have a tea party at the sleepover?”

I could well imagine Midnight traumatizing the rest of the girls with her morbid fantasies, and their parents and guardians having some rather firm words with me afterwards. So I quickly thought of a way to deflect the issue. “Well you see, the sleepover is already going to be pretty packed for activities already. I’m not sure if we can fit something like that in.” Before Midnight could protest with what I just knew would be some solid logic, I added, “Maybe the two of us could have a tea party later.”

“Can I join too?” Spike smiled hopefully. “I’m pretty curious how this will go, and I’d be happy to make some cupcakes or whatever we’d like for it.”

Well that just increased the likelihood it was going to happen. Now I couldn’t back out of this idea without disappointing the both of them. Though having a silly little tea party with Midnight couldn’t be that bad. Right?

Midnight frowned deeply as she studied me carefully. “You are sincere in this? I would not wish to get my hopes up only to see them utterly crushed into pitiless despair because an adult lied to me merely to placate me in the short term.”

It was times like these that made me wonder how much in daily conversation really went over Midnight’s head. Still, I was committed by this point. “Definitely. It’ll be fun.”

“I think so.” Spike patted Midnight on the back. “It’ll at least be different, I have a pretty good feeling about that.”

“And can my friends be invited?” Midnight flashed one of her unsettling smiles and I shivered as goosebumps ran up my back.

“We’ll see,” I said, trying to temporize. “They all have their own things to do, after all.”

Midnight hummed unhappily. “I suppose that is true. Though I do have to wonder—”

There was a knock on the door, and Midnight scowled at it as though it had gravely offended her.

“Oh! That’s probably them.” I went to the door and opened it to find Rarity and the Cutie Mark Crusaders on the other side. “Hello there! Come on in.”

Rarity stepped inside with the girls at her hooves. Dinky instantly charged in past Rarity to give me a big hug. “Hi, Miss Twilight! I just wanted to give ya a hello hug before I ran over to hug Middy. ‘Kay?”

I smiled and patted her back. “That sounds good to me.”

“‘Kay! I’ll give ya another hug later.” Dinky ran over and threw her forelegs around Midnight. Midnight could only hang limply in the hug as though not sure what to do with this sudden sign of affection.

Rarity closed the door behind her and gave me a smile. “Good to see you. You’re doing well, I hope?”

“I’m doing fine,” I said. “Just finishing up the preparations for the sleepover.”

“That’s good to hear.” She glanced at the kids as they all gathered in the center of the library. “You’re definitely going to need to be at the top of your game to keep on top of this lot.”

“I should be fine. I’m a princess, if I can deal with monsters and everything else that’s hit Equestria over the years, I should be able to handle a hoofful of fillies.” Despite sounding confident, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit of trepidation. Sure, I’d made my lists, planned several activities out, made arrangements for food and refreshments, and allowed for several contingencies, but something could always go wrong. So while I wanted to run upstairs to plan some more, there just wasn’t time for it now that everypony was here.

Rarity smile warmly. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll manage. I just thought it fair to warn you that they can be a rambunctious lot. The last time Sweetie had the Crusaders over for a sleepover at my place ... well let us just say their attempt at Cutie Mark Crusaders Fashion Show Designers had me in a bit of a tizzy by the end.”

I could well imagine the devastation that must have been caused by unleashing the girls on her boutique. “Hopefully things won’t get quite that interesting here.” I pulled out a scroll and reexamined it. “I’ve got several activities lined up that should keep them busy for a fun evening before they head to bed.”

“I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” Rarity bit her lip and hesitated before continuing. “Though there was something I briefly wanted to bring up with you. Outside I couldn’t help but notice the, um...”

I let out a huff. “The ravens?”

“Yeees. There do seem to be, well...”

Knowing where this was going, I asked, “A lot of them?”

Rarity smiled apologetically. “I didn’t want to make a fuss, but your home is positively covered by them. And that’s not an exaggeration, darling. It’s hard to see the tree underneath all the black feathers. It’s positively morbid.”

I groaned and ran my hoof down my face. “I know I know, I’ve talked with Fluttershy about it, and she said she’d get to it as soon as she can, but this morning she said she was busy with something involving a union dispute with the beavers? I didn’t get any details about it, considering she was rushing out the door when I got to her.”

“Oh dear, that could take a while,” Rarity said. “From what Fluttershy’s told me, beavers can very particular about their working hours.”

I had so many questions, but those questions were best saved for Fluttershy. “Well I won’t keep you, Rarity. Thanks for bringing the girls.”

“Don’t think anything of it. I’m sure everyone will have a wonderful time.” Rarity stepped towards the door, but stopped to wave for her little sister. “Goodbye, Sweetie! Have fun!”

Sweetie waved back. “I will, Rarity!”

When Rarity departed, I turned to addressed the collection of fillies. “Okay, girls! Is everypony ready to have a fun night?”

“You know it!” Apple Bloom cheered. “What’re we gonna do first?”

“Twilight’s probably got a list for everything we’re going to do.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “She always does.”

I frowned, not necessarily liking her tone. “You make that sounds like a bad thing.”

“Well I’m not saying it’s necessarily a bad thing,” Scootaloo said, walking it back. “She just, you know, makes them for everything.”

Dinky gave Midnight another hug that made her squawk. “That’s because Miss Twilight wants us to have the best sleepover. Ain’t that right?”

I nodded and worked to seize control back for the conversation. “That’s right. I’ve prepared several activities for a fun packed night.” I summoned the scroll in question and smiled. “Who's ready to have some fun?”

“So this is called ... chocolate?” Midnight slowly turned the chocolate bar around with her telekinesis as though worried it might be poison.

Scootaloo raised her eyebrow. “Of course it is. Haven’t you ever seen chocolate before?”

“Neigh.”

Sweetie’s face wrinkled with consternation. “What, don’t they have chocolate in Vanhoover?”

Midnight’s eyes flicked to me. “There ... that is to say, I have not had any before.”

“You haven’t?!” Apple Bloom cried out in shock. “What, is yer mom some kinda health nut?”

Midnight's ear flicked. “My mother is not a nut. She is a pony, a unicorn specifically.”

I stepped in before this inquisition could cause any trouble. I realized belatedly they chocolate hadn’t even been invented when Midnight had been around. Unless I wanted to stick Midnight in a box somewhere, it was just going to prove impossible to prevent every possible causality time travel issue. At least introducing Midnight to chocolate shouldn’t cause too many problems... until I remembered how wars had been fought over sugar in the past. Well I was in too deep now with my plan to have the girls make smores.

“Well now she can try some,” I said, fighting to keep the panic from time travel paradoxes down.

Sweetie frowned as she watched me. “Twilight, is everything okay? You seem a bit... stressed.”

“Everything’sfinejustenjoythesmores!” I snapped out, my ear twitching. I swear, if I managed to destroy history and start entire wars over something as stupid as chocolate...

“Yeah, let’s eat some yummy smores,” Dinky agreed. “Go on, Middy, have some of the chocolate, it’s super good and Miss Twilight’s got plenty here.”

“Very well...” Midnight, with the utmost care and caution, snapped off a corner square or the chocolate bar and put it into her mouth. She chewed slowly, as though she were a food critic eating at the newest high society restaurant. When she finally spoke it was with extreme gravitas. “That was delicious. May I have more?”

I smiled, enjoying introducing my many times over great grandmother to chocolate, while also possibly dooming is all with sugary snacks. “Of course, go ahead and enjoy the rest of the bar.”

Midnight promptly shoved the rest of the bar into her mouth and smiled as the chocolate melted in her mouth. She licked her lips to get the remainder of the chocolate flavor.

“Great, now you should try out what a smore tastes like!” Apple Bloom said. “It’s even better than chocolate.”

Midnight tilted her head. “What is a smore?”

“Sheesh, don’t you know anything?” Scootaloo asked. “It’s like you were raised in a crazy cult commune.”

Midnight glowered. “I assure thee I was not. I grew up as a respected member of the nobility in ... Vanhoover.”

Sweetie frowned at her friend. “Be nice, Scootaloo.”

“Hey, I am! I’m just saying.”

Thankfully Spike came in for the save before an argument could break out. “Come on over here, Midnight. I’ll show you how to make a smore.” He blew a burst of fire into the fireplace to get the fireplace going before sticking a marshmallow on a stick into the flame. “Now, what you do is heat up a marshmallow, then once it’s just about to melt, you take it out. Once you’re done with that you take two halves of a graham cracker, and then sandwich a chocolate bar and the marshmallow between them.” He did as he said and then put the smore into his mouth. “See?”

Midnight studiously watched the whole process and was frowning by the end. “These smores seem messy.”

“But super yummy!” Dinky plopped herself by the fire and started warming a marshmallow. “Come on, try one.”

Sweetie also started her own marshmallow. “Yeah, try at least one. If you like chocolate you’ll love this. Do it just like this.”

“Is your marshmallow supposed to be on fire?” Midnight asked.

Sweetie yelped as she blew to put out her marshmallow.

Scootaloo snickered. “Only if you like them burnt.”

“Here, try a couple.” Apple Bloom offered up her properly cooked marshmallow, and Midnight cautiously took it, studied it, and then popped it into her mouth.

Midnight chewed for several seconds before nodding in approval once again. “Hm, this is quite delicious as well.”

Apple Bloom smiled and then started cooking another one “That’s how it’s supposed to be. You can try one of Sweetie’s burnt marshmallows next. Everything she cooks pretty much ends up the flavor of burnt, so you can taste the difference and see what you like.”

“I don’t burn everything!” Sweetie’s voice hit a higher octave as she protested.

Scootaloo’s face wrinkled with incredulity. “You managed to burn cereal. I was there and I’m still not sure how you managed to do that.”

“Also the orange juice,” Apple Bloom added. “Ah was starting to wonder if Sweetie was playing a prank on us.”

“What about the time she set ice cream on fire?” Scootaloo asked. “Granted, that was pretty radical. Even Rainbow was impressed.”

Sweetie’s voice continued to climb the scale. “That was the one time!”

Scootaloo smirked. “You know your marshmallow is on fire again, right?”

“No it’s—AH!” Sweetie wildly swing her stick to put out her marshmallow. She shot a sour glower at Scootaloo. “That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Your cooking is like my mommy’s,” Dinky said. “It’s very fwooshy.”

Midnight sat down by everyone and watched them cook marshmallows. “Mayhaps thou shouldst attempt to apply less fire and heat to thy cooking?”

“So we keep telling her.” Scootaloo took Sweetie’s stick and gave it to Midnight. “Here’s a taste of the Sweetie Special.”

Sweetie Belle crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not that bad.”

“Kinda are,” Scootaloo replied.

“Girls, be nice to one another,” I cautioned, wanting to put a hoof down on any fight.

Midnight took the burned marshmallow and ate it. “Hm, it tastes like ash. Is that intentional? Because ‘tis much less appealing than the one that was not burned to a crisp.”

“Everypony’s a critic,” Sweetie grumbled.

I started building smores as they finished cooking marshmallows and put them out in neat rows. “Okay everypony, try a couple out! Though not too many. You don’t want to fill up before dinner later.”

Spike smiled and puffed out his chest. “Right, I’m making lasagna.”

The girls quickly started scarfing down the smores, except for Midnight, who of course took her time to examine the smore before delicately putting it in her mouth. Once she was done she turned to me. “Do you always eat such delicious things?”

“Well, not always.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Smores aren’t very healthy, and all that sugar will go right to your hips.” Among the reasons why I was resisting the temptation of having any smores right then. Considering how many sugary treats Pinkie tended to shove my way and anypony in general proximity to her, I had to be pretty careful how much I ate, especially when I didn’t have all that active of a lifestyle.

“Neigh, I suppose not.” Midnight frowned as she seriously considered the idea of eating a second smore.

Scootaloo scoffed and chowed down on another. “Nah, we’re kids. We don’t have to worry about stuff like that like old ponies.”

I tried not to be irked by the assertion that I might be old. I was still well within a mare in my prime, thank you, and that didn’t even count all of the changes I’d gone through when I’d become an alicorn.

Apple Bloom nodded. “Besides, Ah do all sorts of work on the farm. That’s gotta count for somethin’.”

“And I do a lot of exercise,” Scootaloo added.

“Do hugs count as exercise?” Dinky asked. “Because I do a lot of those.”’

Apple Bloom pressed her lips together. “Ah don’t know. Maybe?”

Not having much to add to the conversation, Sweetie turned to me. “So what’re we doing after eating smores?”

I retrieved my list and looked it over. “Let me see...”

“I love pillow fights!” Scootaloo cried out as she took a test swing of her pillow.

“Me too!” Apple Bloom grinned mischievously and then bapped her with a pillow.

“Oh now it’s on!”

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom went at one another with gusto before I put a shield up between them. “Now don’t get started before everypony is ready,” I told them.

“Meh, let them wear one another out so that we can win.” Sweetie and Dinky we’re standing next to one another, already having made an impromptu team against the others.

Scootaloo frowned at them. “That doesn’t work if everyone else knows that’s what you’re gonna be doing.”

“Will too!” Sweetie shot back.

As those two started arguing and bantering back and forth, Midnight examine her own pillow. “So the objective is to strike one another with these pillows? To what ends?”

“Because it’s fun!” Dinky said. “See?” She smacked Apple Bloom in the face with a pillow.

Apple Bloom hit her back and grinned. “Oh yer gonna get it!”

Chaos soon broke out as the little filles started wacking one another nearly at random, all while Midnight watched on and returned to looking at her pillow. “And this is fun?”

I nodded. “Just get in there and have some nice safe fun. It’s like dodgeball or snowball fights, but with pillows.”

“Aaah, I see.” It was as Midnight’s face spread in a profoundly disturbing predatory smile that I realized who I was talking to and I had just made a terrible mistake. This was a pony who later in life would traumatize a whole generation of children with a simple snowball fight, and I had just unleashed her on the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Midnight lit her horn and floated three pillows into the air, spinning them around her. For Celestia’s sake. Only Midnight Sparkle could make pillows seem threatening. I cleared my throat and reached out to touch her shoulder.

“But the goal isn’t to hurt anypony, Midnight. It’s okay to have fun and roughhouse a little bit, but you don’t want to go too far.”

Scootaloo scoffed and flipped a pillow onto her back. “Come on, Twilight, they’re just pillows. Nopony is going to get hurt.”

“Um...” Apple Bloom bit her lip and slowly started backing away as Midnight advanced. “Ah don’t know about that. Middy, ya don’t need to take this so seriously.”

“Nonsense, my friends. I am not taking this too seriously. This will be a fun game of skill, strategy, and endurance!”

“Midnight, I’d really rather not--”

My words were cut off when Midnight shot a pillow at Sweetie Belle fast enough that I could barely see it. Sweetie Belle squeaked and ducked, thankfully landing on the pillow that she had grabbed for herself.

Scootaloo grinned and prepared her pillow. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” She charged Midnight, eager to meet the sudden challenge before her. She didn’t make it more than a couple of steps before a torrent of pillows hit her from every direction. She was quickly stopped in her tracks, and vainly tried to keep the whirling assault of pillows from pummeling her.

What followed wasn’t so much a pillow fight than a pillow massacre. The girls screamed as Midnight used her telekinesis to toss the pillows from every direction. Midnight even had time to pile up pillows around her to build up a little pillow fort with which to protect herself as she kept her assault. Scootaloo briefly managed to go on the offensive, but Midnight already had a full pillow fort in the shape of a skull ready to stop her from directly from getting to her. Soon she succumbed to the battering of pillows. Before I could even bring it to a stop, it ended of its own accord. All of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were on the floor, most of them groaning and stunned. For just a few seconds I got to see the pony that would one day become one of the most formidable magical duelists of her generation.

“Uuugh, what happened?” Sweetie groaned.

“I think we lost,” Dinky said as she stared up at the ceiling. “Like, a lot.”

Apple Bloom rolled to her side to look at the others. “Why did we think it was a good idea to go up against Middy in a pillow fight? Ah mean, we saw what she did to Diamond Tiara.”

“I thought that was pretty radical,” Scootaloo said as she crawled her way out of a pile of a pillows. “If we ever do anything like a pillow fight competition, we’re definitely having Middy on our team.”

“Yes, know that I am victorious!” Midnight emerged from the mouth of her pillow fort. She smiled proudly and puffed out her chest as she cawed. “Know that there is no hope, and that my victory was inevitable! Doom is the only fate to all that oppose me in pillow fights, and that my ascension will mark a new age of pillow fight that the bards shall sing for generations to come! All who contemplate having a pillow fight with me shall only know despair!” She tilted her head back and laughed heartily in a way that reminded me just a little too much of Nightmare Moon.

Then her smile disappeared and she returned to her usually dour mood with its accompanying monotone voice. “That was enjoyable. Can we try that again?”

“No!” I said a bit too quickly. Midnight just didn’t seem to have a concept of proportion or restraint. That was something I was going to have to work with her on later before I ever tried anything like this with her again. I cleared my throat before continuing. “I mean, we have plenty of other fun activities to do before bedtime.”

Midnight tilted her head. “Oh, that makes sense. Anything else like where I pummel my friends into submission for enjoyment?”

“Not exactly.” Or at least there wasn’t after I pulled out the list of activities and crossed out any of the more boisterous games.

Later we moved to an activity I’d been really looking forward to: stargazing. We stepped out onto the balcony to a perfect nighttime sky. There was barely a cloud in the sky, and the stars shined brightly. We were set up for a wonderful night of stargazing as I set up my telescope. Except for one little problem.

Dozens upon dozens of ravens stared at us with black-eyed stares. They perched on every available branch and railing they could fit upon, nearly making the tree as black as the night sky.

“Creepy,” Spike said to sum up the situation. “So when was Fluttershy coming around to deal with this? Sometime before this becomes a horror story, I hope.”

I sighed. “As soon as she can.” Which hopefully would be soon. I didn’t need ponies avoiding the library because they were scared of the Great Unkindness. I had enough trouble with my reputation as it was without this becoming a problem.

“Um, is it okay for us to be out here?” Sweetie said, asking the question that was probably on all our minds. “It seems a bit, um, occupied out here.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, are we going to be scared of a bunch of dumb birds?” As one all the ravens fixed their gazes on her, and she gulped. “I mean, nice birds. We don’t have to worry about the whole bunch of nice birds, right?”

Midnight tilted her head. “What is everypony so concerned about? ‘Tis merely the Great Unkindness.”

Dinky partially hid behind me, even if that was kinda hopeless considering we were utterly surrounded by the ravens. “It’s kinda scary.”

“I do not see anything to be fearful of.”

“Doom, doom, doom!” the Great Unkindness cawed in a great chorus, causing the girls to cluster around me. Except for Midnight, of course, who didn’t seem the least bit perturbed by any of this, and looked more confused by everypony else’s reactions than anything.

I tried to rally the situation. “Alright everypony! Let’s just ignore the ravens. There’s a brilliant sky to look at, so let’s take advantage of it.” I finished setting up the telescope and pointed it to look at a particular constellation. “So, this is Aquila.” I created an illusion to show how all the stars in question were supposed to be linked together. “Form a line and have a look.”

“Oooh!” Dinky was the first to trot up and have a look. “The stars are so pretty. They’re like gems in the sky.”

I smiled, enjoying the opportunity to get to teach the girls as they each took turn. “And most of those stars each have their own planets and other objects orbiting them. There is a whole universe out there to explore that we’re only a small part of.”

For a time I turned the telescope to different constellations for the girls to look at while listing off various space facts I knew off the top of my head. But something seemed off—besides the ravens watching everything we were doing, that was. Midnight was standing off to the side, staring off into the night sky. She was trembling in a way that had nothing to do with the cooling night air. That was concerning, though I wasn’t sure what might be upsetting her.

“Girls, could you excuse me for a moment?” I stepped to the side to speak with Midnight quietly. They all looked at me and Midnight, but they didn’t cause too much of a fuss. “Midnight, is everything okay?”

“The stars, they are different.”

“Huh?” I looked up and it took me a second to figure out what she meant. “Oh! Yes, after nine hundred years the stars would have moved. Don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal. It’s all just an effect of the cosmos moving by slowly expanding outwards and different gravitational bodies interacting with one another.”

Rather than reassure her like I thought the fact would, Midnight continued shivering. “But-but that means I really am in the future. That I am very, very far from home. I had thought ... mayhaps ‘twas not true. But even the moon is different! The Mare on the Moon is not there, and if she is not on the moon...” Her shivering intensified.

Oh dear, this was a problem. Midnight’s predicament must have only really hit right now. I wrapped a wing around her and started her back inside. “Spike, mind taking over for a few minutes?”

“Sure,” Spike said with his usual helpful smile. “Take as long as you need.”

I thanked him and brought Midnight inside. She nearly stumbled on the way, being completely silent as we walked, and I ended up stopping to levitate her onto my bed. I sat down next to her and gave her the most reassuring tone I could. “Now Midnight, everything is going to be okay. I know things might seem a bit dire, but we’re going to get through this, I promise.”

Midnight hunched her shoulders. “Adults often say everything will be fine when they will not be so as to pacify children.”

Wow, she must really have been shaken to say something that pessimistic. But I wasn’t going to let her fall into despair if I could do anything about it. I placed a hoof on her leg and gave her a squeeze. “Well I’m telling you the truth. Princess Celestia is working with some of the best magi in Equestria to get you home. They just want to make sure that everything is going to be as safe as possible before they send you back.”

“What if they cannot?” Midnight asked. “Or if whatever magic they use fails?”

I wrapped a wing around her. “They won’t fail. If Princess Celestia is confident that it’ll work, then I have no doubts it’s all going to be fine.”

Midnight looked down in silence for several moments and she started sniffling. “I miss my mother.”

It was strange to see Midnight actually vulnerable. She was always so difficult to read that her showing herself to be a scared little filly tore at my heart. “I know, just give us a little bit of time, okay? We’ll get you home, whatever it takes. Then you’ll get to see your mother and everypony else you know again.”

“I would like that.” Midnight hesitated before leaning against me. “This has been the most unusual of experiences. I had never imagined I would be drawn into the future where I would live with a false—an actual alicorn who lives in a tree.”

“And you’re welcome under my roof for as long as you need it.” I squeezed her with a wing. “None of us expected this, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the best of it. After all, you’re enjoy spending time with your friends, right?”

Midnight smiled slightly. “Aye, that much is true. And I have liked eating smores with them, and the pillow fight, and the friendship bracelets we made.”

“See, this hasn’t been all bad. And when you go back home you’re going to have so many good memories to tell everypony.” Reconsidering that idea, I added, “Though please don’t tell anypony anything that might change the future.”

Midnight pressed her lips together. “I imagine Mother would like hearing about one of her descendants becoming an alicorn.”

I shivered. I could well imagine the pride somepony like Sunbeam would take in that, and what she might consider if she knew about that. “How about we talk with Celestia about what you tell everypony before we send you back?”

“That sounds reasonable.” Midnight stared me in the eyes. “And you promise I will get back home?”

“I promise. Besides, if we don’t get you back to your time then I might not get to exist anymore,” I reasoned. “So you could say I have an invested interest in making that happen.”

“Unless time travel merely causes multiple dimensions to develop,” Midnight countered. “In which case it might not matter in this dimension.”

“Well yes.” I let out a sigh. “Either way, it’s best if you get back home.”

“Do you know how long this will take?”

“I think it shouldn’t be too—”

I was interrupted when Spike entered the room while carrying a sealed scroll. “Hey Twilight, you just had a letter come in.”

Wondering what this was about, I levitated the scroll to myself to examine. It carried Princess Luna’s seal. That would explain why I’d received it at night. I started to open the scroll but then stopped myself. Perhaps this wouldn’t be the best thing to read right in front of Midnight. Instead I asked, “Are the Crusaders doing alright?”

Spike nodded. “Yep! Everything’s going gr—“ There was a loud bang and crash outside on the balcony in reaction to fate being tempted with the Crusaders. The Great Unkindness erupted in a grin caws, barely allowing me to hear the Crusaders shouting outside. Spike grimaced as he glanced at the balcony. “Um, I better get out there.”

I sighed with resignation. “Go ahead, I just need to read this scroll here to make sure that Equestria isn’t in danger of being conquered by some monster, or some ancient evil is about to awaken and require us to blast it with magical rainbows.”

Midnight blinked slowly. “Is this a regular occurrence?”

“More than I care to think about.” I nudged her with a wing before she could ask more questions. “Mind going outside and seeing if you can quiet down the ravens? I’d really prefer if half the town didn’t show up at the door demanding I cut down the racket.”

Midnight nodded. “Very well, I will see what can be done.”

Once I was alone I broke the seal and started reading. I read the scroll again to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood anything, but no, everything was as plain as black and white. Princess Luna wanted to see Midnight, and soon.

Digging Your Heels In

Getting Midnight to see Princess Luna was going about as well as I expected it to.

“I do not wish to see the Nightmare.” Midnight folded her legs over her chest and glowered at me. “She is evil. She attempted to slay her sister, and plunge all the world into an eternal night that would eventually have resulted in everything freezing to death. Also, she attempted to have her cultists sacrifice me to her so that she could escape from her prison. I have no interest in seeing such an evil monster.”

I sighed as I rubbed my brow. It was only a matter of time until Luna and Celestia arrived at the library to meet with Midnight. If this was going to work then I needed to try and get her onboard for seeing Luna. But that was easier said than done.

I did my best to speak in a calm and even tone with my many times great grandmother. “It’s really important to both of them that you see Luna. I assure you, Luna isn’t Nightmare Moon anymore. My friends and I cleansed her with the Elements of Harmony. She isn’t evil or trying to bring about eternal night anymore.”

Midnight frowned. “Or she is merely tricking you into thinking she is not evil. She has tricked ponies in the past into doing as she wished. That is part of how Pegasopolis fell, after all. She has the advantage of being able to be patient, for she can enact schemes that could take generations to complete. And I hardly see the difference between Nightmare Moon and Luna, they are one in the same, and always have been. They are but two names for the same pony. She chose to betray her sister and Equestria.”

“She isn’t tricking anypony,” I assured her. “I know her. She’s different now.”

Midnight directed her glower at the floor. “I do not trust her.”

I placed a hoof on her shoulder and smiled. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you give her a chance. And even if you’re worried Luna might try something, Celestia and I will be there to support you, and you know neither of us would let anything bad happen to you.”

Midnight hummed unhappily. “Or Nightmare Moon might merely wait until the moment is right to strike, steal me away, and sacrifice me for some dark purpose.”

Oh no, Midnight was digging in her hooves, and if there was one thing I had learned since coming to know her was that she could be very stubborn when she chose to be. But before I could figure out how to convince Midnight to see Luna, Spike knocked on the doorframe to the main library.

“Hey Twilight, mind if I talk to you about something real quick?” Spike asked.

“Sure.” I turned back to Midnight. “Just wait here for one minute.”

Midnight let out an overly dramatic sigh that made me wonder if she was getting an early start on being a teenager. “Very well.”

Spike and I went to the kitchen to talk, and Spike jumped right into what he wanted to talk about. “Celestia and Luna are almost here. I just saw the flying our direction.”

I groaned as I rubbed my brow. “Ugh, perfect, just perfect.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “I’m guessing the talk with Midnight hasn’t been going very well?”

“No, no it hasn’t,” I admitted. “Big surprise, she’s holding a grudge from when she was kidnapped and nearly sacrificed. Just telling Midnight that Luna’s different now isn’t working.”

Spike rubbed his chin. “Maybe she just needs to meet Luna to see that she isn’t the boogiemare anymore.”

I started pacing about the kitchen as my heartbeat started going faster. “That’s what I’m hoping for, but first I need to convince Midnight to give Luna a chance. I can drag Midnight into a meeting with Luna, but that isn’t going to accomplish anything unless Midnight’s at least willing to consider the idea that Luna isn’t evil anymore.”

“Midnight can be pretty stubborn,” Spike agreed. “She kept calling you a false alicorn until Celestia said otherwise.”

“Yes, I remember,” I groused. Though my ears perked as I thought of something. “Maybe Celestia would be able to put Midnight in the right frame of mind. Midnight trusts her, and all we need to do is give Luna a big enough opening to prove that she has good intentions now. From there everything should work out.”

Or it could become a huge disaster that would blow Luna’s one chance to make some small atonement for what she did as Nightmare Moon, sending her into a spiral of depression and self-loathing, which could end in one of several unpleasant ways. Such as Luna thinking she could never really change and go back to being evil! Not to mention how this meeting could change the timeline and several of Midnight’s actions in the past, resulting in the present never even happening!

“Um, Twilight? Are you okay there?” Spike was frowning up at me in the way he usually did when he was concerned I had stayed up a little too long studying.

A chuckle burst from within me. “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be okay? We’re just trying to arrange a meeting between two ponies with an extremely complicated and difficult relationship that could have a profound effect on the timeline.”

Spike’s frown didn’t go anywhere as her stared at me. “Probably because you’re nervous about the stuff you just said.”

I reviewed what I had just said and groaned. “Okay, yes, I’m a bit stressed right now, but I have good reasons to be! Celestia and Luna really want this to work out, and I’m just not sure Midnight will want any part of this.”

Spike placed a claw on my shoulder and guided me towards the door. “How about you just explain this to Celestia, and see if she can talk Midnight into cooperating?”

I let out a long breath. “It’s as good as any plan right now. Mind watching over Midnight while I talk to Celestia and Luna?”

Spike smiled. “Sure thing. Maybe I can distract her with some cooking to buy you some time.”

“Sound good to me.” Hopefully Celestia would have the key to pulling this together. Only one way to find out.

I left Spike with Midnight and waited outside for the Royal Sisters to arrive. It wasn’t long before both of them landed in front of the library with their guard escort. I fought the instinctive reaction to bow for them. Old habits die hard. Instead I smiled and met them with a friendly greeting. “Hello. Welcome back to Ponyville.”

Celestia returned with her own smile. “Hello, Twilight.”

But while Celestia seemed relaxed and normal, her sister wasn’t as quick to return my greeting. She was stiff as she glanced about, probably to see if Midnight was around. “Greetings. Thank you for hosting us in your home.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, trying to break the ice a bit. “It’s always nice when you get to visit me.”

“We have never had reason to complain about your hospitality yet.” Luna’s eyes flicked between the windows of the library. “I am to assume that ... young Midnight is inside?”

Oh dear, here we go. “She is. Though if you don’t mind, Luna, I’d like to talk with Celestia for a minute.”

“What about?” Luna asked.

“Just about a couple minor things,” I said perhaps a bit too quickly. “It shouldn’t take too long, probably. We’ll see.”

Celestia and I stepped to the side, and once we were out of immediate earshot Celestia sighed and her ears wilted. “Midnight doesn’t want to see Luna, does she?”

I grimaced. It seemed Celestia knew me and Midnight well enough to guess what I wanted to talk with her about. “She’s ... not keen on the idea, no. I’ve tried to talk her into it, but you know their history.”

“So I do.” Celestia glanced her sister’s way. “But this is extremely important for Luna. She’s unlikely to ever get another opportunity like this again.”

I rubbed the bridge of my muzzle. “I know, I know, but you know how stubborn Midnight can be once she digs in her heels about something.”

“That is true,” Celestia said. “Her mother often complained about it whenever it happened, and that’s not even getting into when she got older. There are a couple stories I can tell you after we’ve dealt with all of this.”

I was always curious to hear one of Celestia’s stories, but now wasn't the time for them. “I was hoping you could talk with Midnight. You’ve spent the most time with her, so if anypony here knows how to talk to her it’s you.”

“It’s worth a shot,” Celestia agreed. “Can I go ahead and speak with her inside? I can tell Luna that I just need a couple minutes with Midnight to help prepare her for their meeting.”

I nodded. “Yep, she’s just—” I stopped speaking when I saw Spike running out of the library.

Spike skidded to a halt in front of me and Celestia and had to take a moment to catch his breath. “Twilight! Midnight’s—” His head snapped Celestia’s direction, and an all too strained smile stretched over his face. “Could we have a moment, Twilight? There’s a little, um, something I need to talk with you about. Like, right now, if you can.”

Oh no, what went wrong this time?

Celestia arched an eyebrow, and a giggle escaped my lips as I pulled Spike aside. “If you’ll just give me one minute...” I put up a privacy spell once we stepped away from Celestia and then turned my full attention to Spike. “What happened?!”

“Midnight ran away!” Spike fiddled with his claws. “One moment she was there, and then she was gone. She must have used an invisibility spell or something.”

I pressed my hoof to my face. I took my eyes off Midnight for five minutes... “I really don’t need this right now.” I took a deep breath to steady myself and then canceled out the privacy spell to address Celestia. “Excuse me, just got a little something to take care of.”

I took a lock of Midnight’s mane I’d taken when she’d been asleep. Okay, yes, that sounds a bit creepy, but I had perfectly legitimate reasons for getting a lock of her mane. Midnight kept trying to get into the library to read its books, and I needed a focus to keep track of where she was. Besides, it was coming into use right then as I cast a tracking spell with the lock of hair and then cast a teleportation spell.

I teleported onto another Ponyville street, and not immediately seeing Midnight, I cast a see invisibility spell. I pierced the illusion Midnight had cast over herself, and I saw that she was attempting to sneak past me. She stopped in her tracks when she saw that she had been caught and the sneaky little filly sighed.

“I see I failed to anticipate that you would steal some of my hair for a tracking spell. A foolish error I will not repeat.” Midnight cocked her head to the side as looked at the lock her mane I was holding. “Also, I must learn the spell you used to teleport without any intervening medium.”

I rubbed my brow as I tried not to think about how teaching Midnight how to teleport would be a bad idea for several reasons. “Midnight, running away isn't going to fix anything.”

Midnight met my eyes with an unwavering frown. “It will prevent the Nightmare from subjecting me to unspeakable tortures. Though she will doubtless resume her nightly torments in my dreams, she will only be able to harm my spirit so long as I keep myself from her grasp. I need not fear having her dark servants strap me to a table, sharpening knives and debating whether they should draw out my entrails to take an augury ere they slit my throat to do their dark mistress's foul bidding.”

“I told you, she's not going to do any of that! She's—” I was interrupted by the pop of another teleport spell.

Princess Celestia looked between us and then raised an eyebrow. “I take it Midnight decided to take a little walk?”

I grimaced, not quite being able to look her in the eye. “It's a bit obvious, isn't it?”

“I'm over a thousand years old,” Celestia said with a hint of mirth to her tone. “It takes a lot to really surprise me.” She turned to face Midnight, who bowed dutifully before the princess.”

“I have no wish to be murdered by the Nightmare,” Midnight said. “Can you banish her back to her prison, or better yet, destroy her once and for all with the fire and fury of the sun so that all of Equestria need not be threatened by her, and especially myself? I would like that.”

Celestia’s face briefly became an unreadable mask before an easy smile slowly showed on her lips. “Nothing like that will be necessary, for a great deal has changed since the past. My sister no longer wishes to harm you, or anypony else. The Elements of Harmony have cured her of her madness, and she has retaken her place by my side. You no longer need to fear her, trust me.”

Midnight frowned as she considered Celestia’s words. “I have heard talk of these Elements, but I do not believe they can turn a being like the Nightmare into something she is not. She is evil, and should be dealt with as any evil should be.”

As I feared, Midnight was really digging in her hooves on this. We had been going through similar arguments right up to Celestia and Luna arriving in Ponyville, and it didn’t look like she was going to be moved anytime soon. Still, I hoped Celestia might be able to convince Midnight to give Luna a chance.

Celestia took a deep breath and wrapped a wing around Midnight as she spoke gently. “You never got to know Luna as I did before she fell into darkness. She was once one of Equestria's greatest champions, and now she is again. She wants to atone for what she did in the past, and especially for what happened to you back then.”

Midnight’s ear twitched. “It seems unwise to offer trust to one who would betray her own sister. I am sure you once believed her to be a good and noble mare who would never turn against you, but then she did.”

The corner of Celestia’s mouth twitched. “That is true, but we must also know when to forgive those who have hurt us, particularly when they honestly want to make amends for the past. Luna feels a lot of regret for what she did during her madness, and she now wants to correct the wrongs she did. At the very least she wants to apologize to you for her actions as Nightmare Moon.”

Midnight’s crossed her forelegs over her chest. “E'en if this is not some artifice where she attempts to play you for a fool, and I find that far more likely than what you claim, I do not see why I should care for her desires. She is a monster. Her misery should be a cause for celebration.”

Celestia momentarily grimaced before she quickly covered it up, returning her face and tone to its usual serenity. “”And what if I said it was really important to me for you to meet her?”

That question caused Midnight to pause. “Your judgement might be compromised when it comes to your sister. Mother always said you were too quick to offer unearned forgiveness.”

“And if memory serves, there was more than once when I forgave your mother for one misdeed or another, when many told me to cast her aside for one act or another,” Celestia countered.

Midnight shook her head. “But that is different. The ones who said that were ignorant small-minded fools who did not realize that Mother was right. The Nightmare is a murderous monster who sought to slit my throat to fuel her own dark return so that she might kill my mother, Shadow, and you, then mount your heads upon the walls of Canterlot as a gruesome reminder of her terrible power ere she plunged all the world into eternal darkness. These situations are not comparable.”

“And what if you are wrong and my sister has changed?”

Midnight huffed. “I see no evidence that would persuade me of that. Nor does any personal change she might have undergone erase her past crimes.”

“And that is because you haven't met my sister yet,” Celestia said. “You would change your opinion if you gave her a chance.”

Midnight narrowed her eyes as she stared up at Celestia. “Let us consider the matter logically, then. If I am wrong, the Nightmare will be sad that one of her countless victims refused to offer her unearned forgiveness. If you are wrong, I shall be brutally murdered after being subjected to vicious and extended torture.” She nodded to herself. “I believe my course to be wiser, as it carries far less risk than yours.”

Celestia rubbed her brow. “You truly are your mother's daughter.”

For the first time for the conversation, the barest smile showed on Midnight’s face. “Yes.”

Celestia let out a huff. “Very well. Your mother served as my grand vizier for many years, and I have a great deal of experience with knowing how to deal with her.” She stood straighter as she addressed Midnight formally. “What do you want in exchange to meet with my sister?”

That made Midnight pause. “This will be a closely supervised meeting, where you stand ready to strike down your sister the instant she moves against me?”

Celestia nodded. “I promise, she will not harm you in any way. You have my word on that.”

Midnight pressed her lips together before she looked to the library. “I wish for books on spellcasting arts contemporary to this time. I have been repeatedly denied them.”

A couple seconds passed before Celestia said, “You may have one.”

My eyes widened as I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “What?! But-but-but-but, the timeline!”

Celestia held up a hoof to me as she gave Midnight most of her attention. “It’ll work out. Trust me, Twilight.”

Midnight blinked owlishly. “Two. And I get to choose them.”

“And you will give my sister a fair chance to plead her case?” Celestia pressed.

Midnight stared up at Celestia, no doubt considering how this deal could be turned against her. “We have a bargain then.”

I groaned and applied my hoof to my face. “What have we done?”

I tried not to panic as we escorted Midnight back to the library. Celestia had to have a plan, she always did. I mean, she wouldn’t risk all of time and space just so Luna could talk to Midnight, right? I really wanted to lie down, close the blinds, and settle in with a good book while ignoring the troubles of the world right then. But that wasn’t going to fix anything. At least Midnight seemed open to talking to Luna now. That was ... something at least.

For her part, Midnight seemed more concerned with the rewards of her deal with Celestia than anything else as we walked. “I wonder which books would be wisest to procure? Advances in evocation theory offer a number of immediate applications, but would perhaps not offer as many options for long-term development. Unless somepony uncovered a way to apply it in ways I have not anticipated. Or perhaps thaumaturgy could be used to...”

Wanting some assurance Celestia knew what she was doing, I whispered to her. “You realize you're potentially creating a time paradox, right?”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan, Twilight.” Celestia smiled with a mischievous glint in her eye. Yeah, she was up to something alright. That was probably good. Probably.

Midnight frowned as we neared the library and her steps slowed. “I sense the Nightmare.”

Celestia wrapped a wing around her. “It’ll be okay, Midnight. We’re here.”

Midnight hesitated before letting us lead her into the library.

Luna was in the middle of pacing around the library when we entered. She stopped at the sight of us and stiffened at the sight of Midnight.

I stepped forward and put on the friendliest smile I could. “Princess Luna, this is Midnight. Midnight, this is Princess Luna. Though I guess you both sort of know each other already. Eh-heh-heh-heh...” Yes, good work at trying not to make this awkward, Twilight...

Midnight glowered at Luna. “Yes. I remember her well.”

Luna seemed rooted in place as she faced the little pony whom she had tormented centuries ago as Nightmare Moon. “Hello, Midnight.”

“Nightmare Moon.”

Luna flinched slightly at her old title. “Perhaps this was a mistake.”

She looked to the door, but her sister shook her head. “Go ahead, Luna. Please, this is important.”

Luna took a deep breath before continuing. “I am sorry for what you suffered, Midnight. A great deal happened to you while I was Nightmare Moon, and I am sorry for that.”

Midnight’s eyes narrowed and venom started lacing her words. “Thou art sorry for what happened to me? I see. A genuine apology might have taken ownership of thy past bad acts rather than seeking to distance thyself from them. Thou art sorry for what happened, yet do not actually apologize for any specific actions. What next? Will thou say that I am sorry I feel wounded? That mistakes were made, without stating who made the mistakes? Some other false apology that seeks to place upon an unnamed other, or imply that I am at fault for not allowing thee to murder me?”

Luna winced. “What can I say that would make a difference? That my past is not my today? Midnight ... what I infli—what she inflicted upon you was unforgivable. I would never do what the Nightmare did to you or anypony else, and the fact that some facet of me would have horrifies me.”

Midnight snorted incredulously. “You deny that you did these things? This is no apology at all, Nightmare Moon. This is a farce. I was a fool to indulge this madness.”

“Midnight, please,” Celestia said with a gentle voice. “She's trying to make amends.”

Midnight refused to look at either of them. “I see no indication of that. I thought you wiser than this, Your Majesty. Pity Mother is no longer present to advise you, for it seems that in her absence your wisdom has suffered. How can she e’en pretend to be making amends when she denies any responsibility for the crimes she committed?”

Celestia stiffened and her tone became more firm. “You’re not even giving her a chance. The situation is more complicated than you’re allowing for.”

Luna took a step towards Midnight before stopping herself up short. “What can I say to undo the pain inflicted by somepony who no longer exists?! Nightmare Moon is dead. The Elements of Harmony saw to that, and spared my life as well. I am no longer that mare anymore, but I am sorry for the pain I brought you.”

Midnight’s head snapped towards her with a baleful glare. “If only you did not exist, Nightmare Moon. I and all the rest of the world would be much happier were that so.” Luna flinched as though slapped, and Midnight started stomping towards the door.

“Midnight, please,” I called out to her to try and make her stop. “Give her a chance.”

Midnight stopped at the door and shot Luna with another hateful glare. “If Nightmare Moon is dead, then bring me her skull.” When nopony could think of a good answer to that demand, she continued. “Thou art Nightmare Moon, and thou shalt e'er be her. Do not insult me by denying it. If thou wouldst have my forgiveness, then gain it in the manner of old Pegasopolis. I am sure thy sister can provide thee with a suitable blade for the task.”

Luna raised a hoof to try and stop her. “Midnight, please—“

Midnight slammed the door after herself, and Luna slumped down onto a cushion, her head bowed. “Well that is a fine mess I made of that apology.”

Yeah, that could have gone better.

A Talk of Forgiveness

I stormed my way across Ponyville. The further away I got from Nightmare Moon, the better. It had been a mistake to even consider speaking with that monster. I was more convinced than ever that everypony had been fooled by the Nightmare. How else could they all believe that she had reformed, despite all she had done in the past? They were fools, the lot of them, and only I saw the truth. I now more dearly than ever wished to return home. Mother would know what to do in a situation like this, she always did. But alas, I was alone, and had nopony to turn to. Even Princess Celestia could not be depended upon where her sister was concerned. Her judgment was badly compromised, and she would not see the danger that was right in front of her.

Having few other options for where to go, I headed to Sweet Apple Acres to find my friends. Could I call them my friends? I had only known them for but a short time. I knew not the answer. Mayhaps I would see if a book knew the truth of it later. In the meantime, I wished to find somepony to talk with, even if I knew it would probably do little good. But what other choices did I have available?

As they often were, the Crusaders were located within their clubhouse amongst the orchards of Apple Bloom’s farm. Scootaloo was speaking with her friends as I opened the door. “I still say that the next time Rainbow Dash does her practice routine, we should just...” She stopped in her regular exercise of talking about Rainbow Dash when she saw me enter. “Oh hey, Middy!”

“Greetings,” I grumbled.

Dinky’s head tilted. “What's gotcha grumbly? Did you miss the muffin cart too?”

“Wait, there was a muffin cart?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I didn’t know that.”

“Well, it's more like it's Sugarcube Corner's cart,” Dinky said. “But I call it the Muffin Cart 'cause I always get a couple of muffins from it when I go by. Mommy used to, but she had to stop when they talked to her about minimum safe distances.” She held up a hoof to speak in a low whisper. “There were a few accidents.”

“Neigh, ‘tis not failing to procure muffins that has imbalanced my humors.” I growled in my throat. “Nightmare Moon wished to see me.”

Sweetie Belle blinked. “Wait, Nightmare Moon is back?!”

Dinky slapped her hooves to her cheeks. “Oh NO!”

Scootaloo ran for the window and looked up to see the sun. “I thought Luna stopped being evil! What happened?”

I scoffed. “She never stopped being evil. She has always been evil, and has merely tricked everypony into thinking she has changed her ways. As part of her scheme, she attempted to fool me with a fake apology, and thus make me lower my guard.”

Apple Bloom arched an eyebrow. “That don't sound right...”

“Yeah, she was really nice to me when I had a nightmare about...” Scootaloo cleared her throat. “Stuff.”

Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. “And she helped me with Rarity.”

“‘Lula likes her too,” Dinky said. “‘cause she was there to help when her mom died. I dun think she's evil. She was really nice to us on Nightmare Night—especially to Pipsqueak. He said she's his favorite princess ever!”

I shook my head, hardly being able to believe my ears. The Nightmare was helping these ponies? Neigh, that did not sound right. She was a selfish creature; one who would destroy all of Equestria and commit the vile crime of kinslaying just to serve herself. Helping others was not something she would do.

“I do not see why she would be helping any of you. Unless...” I rubbed my chin. “There must be some bigger plot here. Mayhaps she wishes to convince the next generation that she is good so that she can turn them into her soldiers to try and overthrow her sister. She has fooled others and used them as tools against her sister in the past. ‘Tis what she did during the Lunar Rebellion. She has the gift of eternal life, so she can stand to wait until for whole generations to pass in order to further her goals.”

Sweetie Belle wrinkled her nose and her tone took on a note of incredulity. “That doesn't sound like her. She’s been really nice to everypony since my sister and the others used the Elements of Harmony on her.”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Everypony says she's good now.”

I stomped a hoof. “Then they have all been fooled!”

Scootaloo crossed her hooves over her chest. “Even Princess Celestia and Rainbow Dash? Rainbow Dash wouldn’t think someone was cool if they were evil. If she did she’d be kicking Luna’s butt.”

“Except they have all been fooled,” I declared. “Mother was right about Celestia. She is too kind-hearted, and blind where her sister is concerned.”

Sweetie Belle’s brow furrowed. “Hey, don't say mean things about the princess! That’s not very nice.”

“I need not be kind to black-hearted fiends!” I started pacing about the clubhouse. “I should have known you would not understand. The adults did not understand, even with the advantage of history telling them to be wary. So why would any of you be different?”

Sweetie Belle grimaced. “Why do you still think she's still evil?”

Scootaloo nodded. “Right, she’s Luna now, not Nightmare Moon.”

“Because she is,” I said. “She has not changed. Her apology ... she claimed the Luna and Nightmare Moon are not the same person, when they are. They are but two names for the same pony. ‘Tis as simple as that. She chose to betray her sister and Equestria and to commit her crimes. Merely dropping one of the titles she called herself by does not change anything.”

Dinky pressed her lips together and her brow furrowed as she thought hard. “I don’t know. I mean, Sparky said that she's not the same pony she was five years ago. Even if I don't totally believe that, 'cause she's still a brat.”

Sweetie Belle rubbed her chin. “Besides, all the bad stuff she did was a really long time ago. I mean, I guess she did a few bad things when she came back as Nightmare Moon, but nothing that bad. She scared everypony, but she was stopped pretty quickly. I think we can forgive her for anything bad she did if she really is a good pony now.”

“She is not a good pony!” I stomped my hoof again. “The passage of time does not neglect the evil of her actions. And to me she—” I stopped myself from saying more about what had happened in the past. Princess Twilight had been quite specific about not talking about the distant past, even if those events had not been long ago for me.

Scootaloo stepped closer to me. “What? What is it?”

I shook my head and my ears wilted. “Forget it, thou wouldst not understand.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Of course we don't understand. You haven't told us why.”

Apple Bloom placed a hoof on my shoulder. “Right, you need to tell us what’s wrong if we’re ever gonna know what’s botherin’ ya.”

Dinky gave me a gentle hug. “Sorry, but it felt like ya needed a hug.”

I grumbled as Dinky hugged me. “I am not allowed to explain.”

Dinky blinked owlishly. “Why?”

“Because Prin—Twilight said I was not to,” I said.

“Then how're we supposed to understand?” Scootaloo asked.

Apple Bloom wrapped a leg around my shoulders. “It's awful hard to help if we can't understand what the problem is. It's like Applejack always says: ya can't fix apple rot if you don't know the apple's rotted. Besides, Ah’m sure Twilight would understand if ya told us what’s wrong if it’s ta help ya. Friends should listen and help one another, after all.”

Sweetie Belle smiled and nodded. “Yeah, something's wrong, and we wanna help!”

I hesitated. Partially because I was unused to so many ponies being so close to me and touching me, but more so because I was unsure what to do. Twilight had been specific in not telling them the truth, but I dearly wished to so that they could understand me. Besides, they needed to understand the evil of Nightmare Moon, and the danger she presented.

So be it. If Princess Twilight was not aware enough to understand that Nightmare Moon was a danger, perhaps her judgment was not infallible.

“The truth is ... I am from nine hundred years in the past.”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “Whaaaaat?!”

“Whoooa.” Dinky cupped my cheeks and stared into my face. “I hope I look this good when I'm that old! You’re old enough to be a super-duper-mega-ultra grandma!”

“I am not nine hundred years old,” I grumbled. “I traveled in time by accident and ended up here. “Twilight did not wish for me to tell anyone due to potential complications, such as disrupting history, or destroying all of reality as we know it.”

Apple Bloom scratched her cheek. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Messing with history so that we erased ourselves by accident would be pretty bad,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “I read in a story once about a pony who ended up being their own grandpa. That’d just be weird.”

I tilted my head to the side. “I do not think ‘tis possible to become your own grandparent. The inbreeding alone would cause degenerative conditions.”

Sweetie Belle shrugged. “Well it was just a dumb story.”

“You all seem quite content with my story,” I said. “I admit, I half expected none of you would believe me.”

Scootaloo snorted as she smiled. “Nah, we believe you. This is Ponyville. We’ve seen all sorts of weird things, like when Discord escaped his prison and made the world absolutely crazy.”

“Or that time when there were about a hundred Pinkie Pie’s running around town,” Sweetie Belle added. “That was a pretty crazy day too.”

“Don’t forget the time when everypony ran through a bunch of poison joke.” Apple Bloom snickered. “I mean, mah sister was no more than six inches tall.”

Dinky nodded. “And my mommy set cereal on fire once. Everypony’s still confused how she even did that.”

“Ah, I see.” It seemed that my time traveling was just one strange event in a series of them. Admittedly, that did make things easier for me, so I should perhaps not complain too much.

“So, why does that make you hate Luna?” Sweetie Belle asked, bringing the conversation back to its original point.

My lips peeled back from my lips in a snarl. “Because she attempted to have me sacrificed to free herself from her prison during the Lunar Rebellion.” The declaration made everypony back away from me, and it took several seconds before they replied.

Apple Bloom took a step back from me. “She did what?!”

Scootaloo rubbed the back of her neck. “That's ... um ... wow.”

Dinky stared at me with wide eyes and her mouth agape. “Uuuum, I don't have the hugs for that.”

“As I said, she has a heart of evil. I have seen who she really is and know she cannot be trusted,” I said. “I will not apologize to such an evil pony when all she speaks of are lies.”

Sweetie Belle grimaced. “Um, maybe that's who she was, but like we’ve said, it's not who she is.

I shook my head. “I do not believe it.”

Apple Bloom rubbed her leg. “Um, well has she tried to kill ya lately?”

Scootaloo glowered at her friend. “Seriously, Apple Bloom?!”

Apple Bloom groaned and hurried her face in her hooves. “That seemed like a better question in mah head.”

I frowned as I answered her. “I do not think her not attempting to kill me recently makes up for previous attempts.”

“But that was a looong time ago,” Dinky said. “Like, even longer ago than when Grampa was born, and that's a long time!”

“That might be true for thee, but 'twas not that long ago to me,” I pointed out to them. “I can still remember when one of her cultists threatened to plunge a dagger into my heart and bleed me of my lifeblood to fuel the ritual to free their master.”

“But she's not evil now,” Sweetie insisted. “That’s what we’re trying to tell you. She's really nice. She helped me when I was fighting with Rarity.”

I sighed and slumped down against the wall. “Nopony will believe me.” I should have known that my friends would be no different than anypony else. It seemed all the world was against me on this. What would Mother do during a time such as this? Alas, none of her lessons had gone over what to do if I accidentally became a time traveler, and found myself facing my greatest enemy in a time and place where no one believed she was evil. If I ever saw her again I would ask.

Apple Bloom sat down next to me, sighing as well. “It's not that we don't believe ya. We all know she used to be bad. It's just ... well ... she ain't now.”

“That seems to be where we disagree,” I grumbled.

Scootaloo sat on the opposite side of me from her friend. “How can she prove she ain't evil?”

I frowned as I considered the question. “That is a difficult question, for I am certain she is evil.”

There was a knock on the door that interrupted the conversation.

“I’ll get it!” Dinky ran for the door and opened it. On the other side stood Princess Twilight. Dinky smiled widely and embraced her in a hug. “Hiya! It’s nice to see you again. Here, let me give you a hug! Well, I’m already giving you a hug, but you know what I mean.”

“It’s the feeling that counts.” Twilight looked up from the hug with a brittle smile. “Um, hello girls. Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could talk to Midnight?”

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my forelegs. “To what end? I am certain that you are simply trying to erroneously convince me that Nightmare Moon is no longer a monster. You have already proven beyond a doubt that her lies have fooled you as well.”

Princess Twilight sighed and ran her hoof down the side of her face before turning to the rest of the fillies. “Girls, if you would…”

“Sure thing, Twilight,” Apple Bloom said, nudging the other fillies out of the clubhouse. They silently filed out, with Scootaloo shooting me one final glance before following her friends.

When it was but the princess and I, I gave Princess Twilight my best scowl. “I believe that I have already made my position on Nightmare Moon quite clear. I will not fall for her lies as you have!”

“Midnight…” Princess Twilight reached a hoof out, but I took a step back before she could put it on my shoulder. “Okay, let me try this again from the start. So, how are you doing?”

“It has been a very trying day,” I said, keeping my back to her. “But such tends to be the way after meeting the monster that tried to kill you, and are forced to try and reconcile with said monster when all logic say ‘tis a terrible idea.”

Princess Twilight grimaced. “Right.” She hesitated before continuing. “It was very brave of you to meet with Luna.”

I was not immediately sure how to reply to that. “It was a very trying experience. To see the Nightmare before me once more, declaring herself blameless and innocent despite all the innocent blood upon her hooves. To ask my forgiveness while refusing to e'en acknowledge her own crimes. I do not grasp why you have forgiven such an unspeakable and unrepentant monster.”

“It's ... complicated,” Princess Twilight said. “She was mentally unhealthy and was suffering from a condition that was causing her to act in a destructive and dangerous manner. But we cured her of those problems with the Elements of Harmony.”

My ear twitched. “Evil is not a disease that can be cured.”

Princess Twilight let out a long breath. “Let me put it this way: do you know the correlation between crime and poverty?”

“Aye.” Mother had spent no small time with me talking about society's many ills. Among them were how a lack of coin could drive a pony to break many laws to provide for themselves. Hence why she had argued that prosperity could cure many of the problems of society. After all, there was little reason to steal when one had plenty of coin for lodging, food, and some entertainment. Not that ‘twas a universal cure, but it did help prevent many problems.

“So you'll agree that certain conditions can cause undesirable behaviors?”

I hesitated as I started to see where this conversation was leading. “That can be so, aye.”

Princess Twilight nodded. “And we can surmise that can be true of certain mental illnesses that ponies can either be born with or can develop due to outside stimulus?”

I frowned, not being able to find sufficient arguments against this point. “That would make sense.”

“And Luna suffered from such an illness.” She tapped the side of her head. “And that’s a big problem when an alicorn queen develops a mental illness.”

“So you claim she went mad?”

“Right, and the Elements of Harmony fixed that,” Princess Twilight said. “That’s why she's been able to pick up her duties at her sister's side again. She’s no longer suffering from the malady that was causing her to hurt ponies, or do things like try and cause an eternal night.”

That all sounded well and good, but I was not convinced. “E'en if that is so, it does not change all the many crimes she committed. And a mare who went mad once is more likely to do so again. She allowed the jealousy of her sister to drive her to evil in the past. What is stopping that from happening again, or something else causing her to become mad?”

Princess Twilight shook her head. “Luna is trying to atone for what she did in the past, and to learn from her mistakes. Shouldn't a pony be given a chance to do that if they're sincere?”

I frowned as I pondered this question. “That may be so, but I see no reason to believe in her sincerity, and she is a well-known deceiver. It seems far more likely this is some wicked artifice of hers, and she is only waiting until you lower your guard before she has you all brutally murdered, your eyeless heads staked upon the walls of Canterlot Palace as a warning to any who would dare to oppose her reign of unending darkness and despair.”

Princess Twilight sighed as she ran a hoof down her face. “Yes, there is a degree of risk. She might be deceiving us, or she might backslide into becoming evil again. But she might also become a real force for good again. The only way you can know for sure is to give her a chance to prove herself. And yes, that means you might get hurt doing so.”

I scowled, and my body stiffened as memories of the Lunar Rebellion returned to me. “I have suffered enough pain on the Nightmare's account. I have no intention of putting myself in a position where she could do me further harm, no matter how much she might have claimed to have reformed.”

Princess Twilight stared at me for several moments before she sat down next to me, and wrapped me with a wing. “If that's your choice, then alright. I'm not going to force you to accept her apology. It wouldn’t mean anything if I did. And this is, ultimately, your decision.”

I wrapped my forelegs over my chest. “Yes, it is.”

“I just want to give you and Luna the chance to move on from what happened between you in the past.”

My head tilted to the side. “Move on?”

She shook her head as though to clear it. “To be able to go on with your life without it bothering you. This is a very unique opportunity for both of you to reconcile and be able to move past this.”

“So long as the Nightmare is not currently attempting to murder or torment me, she does not bother me.” I blinked owlishly. “Or, at present, attempting to declare that she has never done either of those things, despite that being a blatantly obvious lie. Though only one of the many to leave her foul lips.”

“Midnight... how to put this?” Princess Twilight stared at the wall where the Crusaders had several new plans in the works to try and get their cutie marks. “She's trying to move on from what she did in the past. She knows what she did was bad, but just dwelling on it all the time and letting it drag her down isn't healthy for her.”

“And ... why is this my concern?” I asked. “The Nightmare feels sorry for some of her many crimes. Good. She should. Let the pain and remorse for her countless crimes eat away at whatever shriveled remnant of soul remains within her. Perhaps then she will know to never let herself fall so low again.” I snorted. “You speak as if she is entitled to my forgiveness.”

Princess Twilight shook her head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. She's trying to earn it.”

“I have yet to see any evidence of that.”

Is there anything she can do to help prove to you that she's good now?” She frowned as she added, “That doesn't involve her dying?”

I pressed my lips together. “That would have been my first choice.”

Princess Twilight let out a huff. “Of course it would.”

“As Mother often says, words are naught but wind unless they backed by decisive action.”

“There's some truth in that.” She hugged me closer with her wing. “But you can't ask her to die. Though I'm sure she would be willing to do things less ... deadly.”

A pity, I would have liked for the Nightmare to die and no longer be a threat to anyone else, but I rarely got what I wished for. “Such as?”

“She wouldn't mind spending time with you.” Twilight grimaced. “Though it sounds like you might want some space from her.”

I nodded. “Yes, I do want space from the vicious monster who tormented my dreams and sought to have her minions ritually sacrifice me.”

Princess Twilight’s ears flattened. “She can do that if that's what you want. We talked about it after you left, and she understands if you might not want to see her again.”

“I should be quite content to ne'er again see the Nightmare,” I said. “For all she can bring to my world is pain, misery, and the death of those who have been good to me.”

Princess Twilight sighed. “Alright then, I’ll tell the others what you decided.”

I tilted my head to the other side as I considered this strange descendant of mine. I sensed that she wished for what was best for me, even if she often went about it in the wrong way. She might be a bit foolish, but neither did I wish for her to be harmed. “Be careful around her, for you are one of those who I would not wish to see die at the Nightmare's hooves.”

The corner of her mouth turned up in something that was almost a smile. “I will be, though I think you don't need to worry so much. I’ve spent time with her, and I’m convinced she's good now.”

My eyes turned to the ground. Why did nopony believe me when I said the Nightmare was evil, despite all the evidence of her misdeeds? Were ponies so quick to forget the crimes of others? “You are too trusting.”

She nudged my shoulder with a hoof. “Maybe you could learn how to trust a bit more.”

“Trusting others rarely ends well.”

Princess Twilight stood up. “I think you just haven't found the right people to trust.”

“Perhaps, but there are some I trust,” I said. “Mother. Lady Protector Shadow. Gale.”

Princess Twilight smiled. “And you're happy you can trust them, right?”

“Yes.”

“And I'm sure you would be happier if you could find more people you like,” Princess Twilight said. “I know I’ve been a lot happier after finding my friends.”

My head to the door my friends had exited. “I have ... enjoyed my time with the Crusaders.”

“That's good to hear. So...” Princess Twilight wrapped a wing around me to guide us to the door. “How about we all go and get some ice cream? My treat. I think you’ve been through enough to deserve it.”

My lips peeled back in a smile. “I would like that.”

For some reason, Twilight grimaced and turned her head from me as though she were staring into the sun. “Great, I'm sure we'll all have a great time.”

Forest Discovery

I groaned and pushed another tree branch aside as I trudged through the Everfree Forest with my friends. Princess Celestia had said that she had detected some anomaly a few hours ago and sent my friends and I to investigate. That was all well and good, but it happened to be raining at the moment, and the thick tree branches made it difficult to cast a shield spell to keep us all dry.

"Are we there yet?" Rainbow Dash groaned. "This is taking forever!"

"We should be, if my tracking spell is any indication," I replied. Princess Celestia had let me copy her magical signature when she gave me the assignment, so I got to find out where she sensed the anomaly. Now, what kind of anomaly was it? I had no idea. I just knew that I'd much rather be back in my library next to a fire with a good book and some strong tea.

"What do ya think it could be, Twi?" Applejack asked, looking warily around the forest. "This here forest ain't known fer havin' the nicest bein's around."

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I don't think that Princess Celestia would have sent us to find it if she thought that it would be something we couldn't handle."

"It's not as though we still possess the Elements, though," Rarity pointed out. "Our capacity for dealing with Equestria-ending abominations have become severely limited."

"True, but I think Princess Celestia would have factored that in, too."

"If Princess Celestia is so worried about this anomaly thing, why doesn't she just deal with it herself?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Then we wouldn't be out here in the rain!"

"Well, I'm the princess in Ponyville, so it makes sense that she'd send me," I said, a feeling of pride swelling up in me. "I mean, how else am I supposed to grow into an effective ruler if I can't solve problems in my own backyard?"

"I guess," Fluttershy muttered. "But I'd prefer it if the problem was literally in your backyard."

"Aw come on, Fluttershy, don't be such a scaredy-pony!" Pinkie said as she happily proinked next to me. "It's only the Everfree Forest! We've been in here tons of times and, other than the whole nasty Nightmare Moon and crazy vine stuff, nothing bad has ever happened to us!"

"Those were some pretty life-threatenin' things there, sugarcube," Applejack pointed out. "We could--"

I gasped when my horn let loose a bright flash of light, then faded away just as quickly. My friends stopped talking and looked at me with various degrees of worry. I gave them a comforting smile to let them know I was alright, but steeled myself all the same.

"It's here. Whatever Princess Celestia sensed is close."

"How close?" Fluttershy whispered, looking fearfully around the forest.

"Very close." I lit my horn and copied Princess Celestia's magical signature again. I felt a slight tugging on my horn, directing me to a bush about twenty hooves away from me. I nodded and powered my horn down. "Okay, girls, whatever it is in that bush over there." I pointed at the bush in question, and my friends gave it uneasy looks.

"It'd have to be pretty small ta be able ta fit inside a bush that size," Applejack observed.

"It could still be pretty dangerous, though," I pointed out. "Okay. Here's the plan: I'm going to check inside the bush. If whatever's in there is dangerous, we'll fall back into Attack Formation Beta."

"Uh, Twilight, we didn't actually read those attack formation plans you gave us," Rainbow Dash said, uneasily scratching the back of her neck. "They were kind of... complicated."

"I did!" Pinkie said happily.

"Fine! Just..." I took a deep breath. "Just be prepared for anything, okay?"

I gingerly walked up to the bush, my horn lit. Preparing myself for anything, I gingerly pushed aside some of the shrubs and peeked inside. My eyes widened when I found the source of the anomaly. A filly, probably no older than Dinky, lay inside. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving, but I could see the rising and falling of her chest, so I knew she was alive. She had a blue coat and a white and blue striped mane and a snowflake cutie mark. Something about her seemed... familiar.

"What is it, Twilight?" Rarity asked, uneasily walking up to me. "Is it dangerous?"

"I... I don't think so," I replied with a frown. "It looks like it's just a filly." My friends moved up behind me as I gently lifted the filly out of the bush. She had a few minor cuts from the branches, but otherwise seemed no worse for wear. Her ear flicked when I set her down on the ground.

"Who is that?" Pinkie asked, leaning in closer to get a better look.

"I..." I tilted my head. "I don't know for sure. She looks familiar, though. Almost like..." I brightened when I finally realized where I'd seen her before. "Midnight Sparkle! She looks exactly like my great to the nth power grandmother Midnight Sparkle!" My smile was replaced with a frown. "But I don't know what a pony who looks like Midnight Sparkle is doing all the way out here."

"Maybe she is Midnight Sparkle?" Rainbow offered.

I shook my head. "Don't be silly, Rainbow. Midnight Sparkle died hundreds of years ago. She's buried in my family crypt in Canterlot. I visited the grave for a report once. There were... a lot of ravens hanging around, actually." I knelt down to get a closer look at the filly, performing a few spells to make sure she was actually okay and not under the influence of some kind of magic. She didn't seem to be. "The question is why she's out here. The fact that she looks a lot like my ancestor is weird... really weird, but I'm not sure if it means anything."

Before my friends could respond, the filly began stirring. We all took a small step back as if she might magically surge, or something. Which was kind of ridiculous in hindsight. She was just waking up. Her horn wasn't powering up. Still, Princess Celestia called us out here to investigate this, so who knows what was truly going on?

The filly opened her eyes and frowned when she saw what I could only guess were unfamiliar surroundings. She raised her head and spotted Fluttershy, who shrank away at the attention, which only made the filly's frown deeper. She looked over to Rarity and tilted her head. Rarity gave her a weak smile.

"Hello, darling. Are... are you alright?"

Instead of answering, the filly pushed herself onto her haunches and looked at each one of us in turn. When she stared at me, I saw that she had blue eyes, a shade or two lighter than her coat. They matched the eye color Midnight Sparkle was supposed to have, but that still didn't mean that this was her! A nagging voice in the back of my head began offering objections to that hypothesis, Occam's Razor, and all that, but it still wouldn't make any sense! Pushing those thoughts aside, I gave her a warm smile.

"H-hello. Um... my name is Twilight."

The filly blinked once. "Good day," she responded cautiously. She blinked again and looked around the forest. "Pray tell, where are we?"

"We're in the Everfree Forest, sugarcube," Applejack said, causing the filly to look over at her. "Do you remember how you got here?" The filly shook her head. "That's alright, sugarcube," Applejack said warmly. "Do you remember yer name?"

"I am Midnight Sparkle, daughter of Sunbeam Sparkle, Archmagus of Canterlot, Grand Vizier of United Equestria, Savior of the City of Canterlot, Malleus Maleficarum, Countess of Maresidia, and Defender of the Realm."

My eyes widened as Rainbow Dash shot me a "told you so" look. No no no, that couldn't be right. Midnight Sparkle lived during the Lunar Rebellion, nearly a millennia ago! I mean, I know that time travel is technically possible, given that I'd done it myself, but I'd only gone back a week! Traveling forward nine hundred years would require an insane amount of magic, or at the very least, a spell that I hadn't been told about yet.

"Are... are you sure about that?" I asked.

"As certain as I can be about my own name," she responded, frowning at me. "Dost thou think that I am attempting to fool thee?"

"No, no, it's not that," I insisted. "It's just that... well, I don't know if you can be Midnight Sparkle. I mean, the Midnight Sparkle!"

"I am. If there is another Midnight Sparkle in the world, I am not aware of that pony."

I weakly chuckled. I could press the issue, but I realized that we were still in the rain in the middle of the Everfree Forest. My magic might be deflecting most of the rain, but my friends and I were still more soaked than we wanted to be. It would be far easier to figure all of this out when we were back home drying off.

"Okay, um, Midnight, we're going to go back to my house to figure all of this out." I took a step toward her. "Are you okay with riding on my back?"

"I suppose." Midnight looked around the forest again. "It would be best if we hurried, though. If we linger too long then some fearsome monster may come and feed upon our flesh while we still live, leaving little remains to be found before taking a single survivor back to its grisly cave for future feedings. I would rather not experience the feeling of teeth biting into me, severing tendons and snapping bones and causing what I'm certain would be immense pain."

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. Not for the same reason as my friends, I'm sure. I just... I couldn't believe it!

"Holy Celestia, you're Midnight Sparkle!"

Midnight frowned at me again. "I have already stated as such." She turned to look at Rarity. "Has thy friend recently suffered from some manner of brain injury?"

"No, but I wouldn't rule out shock," Rarity said. She trotted over to me and put a hoof on my shoulder, which didn't do a lot to calm down my imminent hyperventilating. "Twilight, darling, are you okay?"

I put a hoof up to my forehead, and my breathing became a little heavier. "I... I..."

"I think she's just about to lose it," Rainbow Dash said to Applejack.

I didn't dignify that with a response. I just pointed at Midnight. "You're Midnight Sparkle!"

Midnight’s ear flicked in irritation. "Mayhaps she has some sort of flesh-eating insect in her brain that is causing her to forget things she learned mere moments ago?" Midnight guessed. “The Everfree Forest is filled with many strange and unique creatures.”

"No. No this can't be happening," I muttered to myself as I began pacing back and forth. "You've been dead for almost eight hundred years!"

"I have not," Midnight grumbled, crossing her forelegs and glaring at me. "I have not yet finished my magus training. I think I would be made aware of my own death, and ‘tis rather easy to notice. So unless I am some evil spectre that is about to rip thy souls screaming from thy bodies into eternal damnation, and am not aware of it, I can safely say I am quite alive."

"Twilight, darling, I'm sure this is all very shocking to you, but wouldn't it be best if we continued this discussion back at the library?" Rarity pointed out. "The longer we stay here, the more soaked we are going to get, and the higher chance of..." Rarity glanced at Midnight. "Of something untoward coming for us."

"And snapping our bones like weak tree branches in its powerful jaws," Midnight helpfully supplied. “Or being dragged through the mud to our doom. The mud would make it infinitely worse.”

"Y-yes, I assumed that was a given," Rarity replied.

I took a deep breath using the calming technique that Cadance taught me. It helped enough that I could begin thinking clearly. "Okay. You're right. Let's get out of here."

* * * *

The seven of us reached Ponyville and went straight to my library. Midnight didn't say anything else while she sat on my back during the return journey. Pinkie Pie tried to start up a conversation with the group, but none of us really felt like talking. I suppose we were all trying to register the fact that one of my ancestors, one of the greatest magi and a pony who was probably history's greatest cryomancer, sat on my back as a filly. Something was very wrong here. Did Princess Celestia know that this was the anomaly? If so, why did she send me out there to get it, princess or no? Midnight already knew Princess Celestia, so I would have thought that she would prefer to deal with this herself.

Ugh. That was all too much to think about right now. I was rather tired, and I couldn't make my best judgement calls in this state. That tended to end... poorly, if past experiences were anything to go by.

We entered the library and I used a spell to dry all of us off. Spike was asleep in his basket upstairs, so I didn't want to wake him. I could send the letter to Princess Celestia tomorrow.

Midnight tilted her head and looked around my home. Given who she was, I could imagine that living in a library would certainly appeal to her, even if it wasn't so grandiose as the tower in Canterlot Castle that she was used to. According to the history books, Sunbeam Sparkle had a personal library that rivaled the one I was currently living in.

"So... um, Midnight, how are you doing?" I asked.

Midnight continued her examination of my house for a few more seconds before turning back to me.

"Thou does live in a tree," she stated.

I weakly chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I do."

"Why dost thou live in a tree?" she asked. "Dost thou not have the means to live in a proper home?"

I frowned at that. "I think this is a very nice home."

"Perhaps thou art on the run, then?" Midnight guessed. "Princess Celestia would certainly come to disintegrate thee with her magic if she discovered a false alicorn living among innocent ponies."

"What?!" I cried, fluttering my wings angrily. "I... I am not a false alicorn!"

Midnight blinked owlishly at me. "Hast thou assumed the mantle of the moon, then? I did not think it was something so easily given."

"No!" I insisted. "I'm the Princess of Ponyville! Princess Celestia herself gave me that title, and these wings!"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack didn't even try to hide their amusement as Midnight stared blankly at me.

"The Princess of Ponyville," she repeated. "And thou livest in a tree." Midnight turned her head to look at Pinkie Pie. "Is this some form of jest, or is Ponyville some outlying protectorate of Equestria that demanded its own ceremonial figurehead monarch?"

"Nope!" Pinkie said happily. "We live in Equestria proper! In case you didn't know, you're waaayyy far into the future! A lot has changed since you were a filly." Pinkie frowned and tapped her jaw. "I think so, anyway. We don't have a lot of bad magic ponies running around!"

"So even though you are supposedly a princess, thou dost not have any experience hunting warlocks?" Midnight asked me.

"Well, there aren't really warlocks around Ponyville for me to hunt," I admitted.

“Indeed? Then how many terrible monsters hast thou slain?”

“None! Monsters don’t really come out of the Everfree Forest into Ponyville that often.”

"Ponyville," she replied as if testing the name on her tongue. "I have never heard of such a place."

"Well that's because it ain't that old, strictly speaking," Applejack said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Mah family started it a few hundred years ago. We're just south of Canterlot. We ain't a big town, but we're all friendly here."

"And thou livest on the edge of a forest full of dangerous creatures that could murder thee at any moment." Midnight tilted her head. "I confess I do not see the logic in it."

"Well, the land here is real fertile," Applejack insisted. "Ah own an apple farm not too far from here."

"I see." Midnight turned her attention back to me. I guess she figured I was the only one who could give her real information, being an alicorn and all that. Maybe she was just naturally drawn to that, given that her family was close to Princess Celestia. "Is it possible that I can speak to Princess Celestia, Miss False Alicorn? Perhaps she could give me the truth of the matter."

"I am not a false alicorn!" I insisted. "I didn't use any dark magic to get like this!"

"I express my doubts that 'Princess of Ponyville' is a real thing. From what I have seen, this town is of little importance, sits on no rare natural resources, is of little strategic significance, and is but a little bit south of Canterlot, where Princess Celestia herself reigns. A ‘Princess of Ponyville’ seems... unnecessary. Unless there is some information I am not privy to yet that would shed light on the situation."

"No! It’s just... I... the Princess of Ponyville is a real thing, okay?" I groaned and ran a hoof down my face. This was getting us nowhere. "Princess Celestia can explain when you see her. For the moment, it's too late at night to send her a letter. We'll talk to her in the morning, okay?"

"I suppose I can wait until then."

"Come on, Middy!" Pinkie said happily. "Cheer up! You're gonna love Ponyville! Applejack is right: all of the ponies here are really friendly! So turn that frown upside down!" When Midnight did nothing of the sort, Pinkie nudged her a little bit. "Come on. Just one little smile for Pinkie Pie, ple-- wow... okay, never mind!"

“Indeed? But didst thou not just ask me to smile for thee?” Midnight asked.

I had read the stories that Midnight Sparkle's smile was... scary, but even I wasn't prepared to actually see it in front of me. Fluttershy whimpered and hid her face behind her wings, while Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow all pointedly looked away. I uneasily rubbed the back of my neck. This was not going to be easy.

"Um... maybe we should all go to bed," I said. "We can figure out what to do in the morning."

"I suppose that is wise," Midnight said. "Where shall I stay for the night?"

"Well, since you're already here, you could use my guest room," I offered. "I'm sure it's not as... grand as you're used to, but the bed is comfy, and there's a bathroom across the hall that you could use."

"I have never stayed in a tree before." Midnight tilted her head. "Perhaps it will be a fine experience. One I never thought I'd endure." Midnight nodded. "Very well. I shall stay in the false alicorn's tree," she said, mostly to herself. I groaned, but decided not to push the issue again. Princess Celestia would come and explain that I was not a false alicorn! Those are the kind of ponies that got their wings by doing some black magic ritual, and it always ended in a painful death for them, either because Princess Celestia would take them down, or the black magic in them would eat them from the inside out. I got my wings by finishing that spell!

Although, now that I think about it, in Midnight's time, a spell that changed the cutie marks and destinies of another pony could be considered black magic.

I'd think about that later.

I said goodbye to all of my friends, who all promised to help me through this. Hopefully that would be unnecessary. Princess Celestia would come down to Ponyville tomorrow and sort this all out. Send Midnight back to her own time. Then we'd put this all behind us and add another thing to the list of weird things that happened to me since I came to Ponyville.

I got Midnight settled in her room, and I liked that she didn't really complain about the conditions. She called them 'passable'. I'd take it at this point. Maybe if she stayed longer than tonight I could do some things for her to make it more like her room back in her time. I wanted to make her as comfortable as I could while she was here.

Even if she kept calling me a false alicorn.

Once Midnight was settled, I went to my room and collapsed on my bed, the stress and strain of the day starting to wear on me a bit. I mean, I was talking to my great, great, etc. grandmother! She was sleeping in my guest room right now! My mind thought of all of the things I could ask her. She'd be a treasure trove of information about her time, even if she was too young to know about all of the really interesting things she did as a magus. She seemed old enough to have lived through the Lunar Rebellion. That could be fun.

Overall, though, one thought kept popping into my brain: this was going to be interesting.

Author's Note

Chapter one of my Midnight/Dinky/possibly Kukri crossover. I hope you all enjoy!

Also, this is, as far as I know, the first time I have ever written Twilight as an alicorn.

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