Twilight sat in her library and read a book in a quiet night. She couldn´t sleep and was feeling a bit stressful after a long schdules and a huge celebration, Pinke had thrown. "I should´ve take a nap a long time ago." Twilight thought to herself. Then, there was a knock on the door. She wondered who will visit in the middle of the night. When she opened the door, she was surprise to see Sweetheart outside. SHe asked her what she was doing here, but Sweetheart shushed and ask her if she can stay overnight. Twilight seems skeptical, but politely let her in.
She took some blankets and a pillow and told her it´s alright to share a bed, but as her friend instead passed by her room and went to the library. She thought it was strange, but follows her. When they were inside, Sweetheart sat on a pillow and picked a book from her bed. As Twilight stared confused on her, she just put the blankets and pillow aside, and sat beside her. "What are you reading?" she asked. Sweetheart didn´t respond, but nodded. Twilight wasn´t sure what she meant by it, but She got a bit startled by her whimper. "I just couldn´t sleep..." she said. That wasn´t the respond, Twilight was looking for, but that works too. She sat beside her and took a book to read with her, but it was too quiet. She took a glimpse of her friend, but Sweetheart did the same too and Twilight looked away by embarrassment. They sat quiet for a moment, but luckily Sweetheart was the one to break the ice, "I... took this book you liked from our secret place...".
She gave her the book, which was her favorite. Twilight even looked amazed by the title and started to scroll it quickly. This book was about a young apprentice of a wizard who taught her healing magic and went to a quest to prove her worth to her mentor. Twilight thought it sounds familiar, when she read it, but honestly she didn´t care much. She only loved the mysterious real-life stories that turns into myths.
She began to mention about The untold tales of Raggedy Randy, a weird pony who just loves to collect rags and gave it to the princess for marrige. It made Twilight and Sweetheart burst out of laughter because of these goofy stories.
But they stopped laughing to catch their breath.

"Do you have this feeling that even though everything turns alright, you can´t shake this feeling away..." Sweetheart mumbled.

Twilight didn´t pay much attention to what she said, but even asked her what she meant by it. Sweetheart implied that even though the evil is gone, but she felt that some things were still there. She can´t explain why, but it´s just a feeling, she has.
But in Twilight´s mind, something ticks some bad memories that she´ll rather forget. But she couldn´t shake the moment when they tried to stop Nightmare. She remembered one thing, she never forgets. She remembered the walls inside the castle started to move and flew right into Nightmare, but it didn´t hurt her. No, they cleaved together into a armor suit, even covering her wings. It was scary to imagine them like giant knifes as she swung her wings towards her friends. But the most scary part about it, is that she always saw her reflection in Nightmare´s mirrored armor and fear was the only thing, she sees.

"Yeah... I think I know what you mean..."

Sweetheart just nodded and continued to read on her book. Twilight did the same, but unfortunately the bad memories still gives her chills that crawls inside her skin, like a haunted ghost.
But the reflective armor wasn´t just the only scary part from their battle. No, it was a horrible incident that still haunts her. They defeated Nightmare. Or so they thought. Nightmare just emerged into a giant monster and grabbed Midnight. She started babbling about how she should´ve destroyed his mind, when she got the chance.
Her ego was like a loud roar than any manticores. It was also that moment, where she gently grab his wings, mumbling something before she ripped his wings with an aggressive laughter. It was a terrified view, even her friends looked pretty horrified and felt scared. It was also an traumatic memory for her.
But when she thought everything is lost, Midnight har prepared something, that seems like it was a dream. When he called Sweetheart to take something out, she was surprised to see that she took the elements of harmony from her sack. She didn´t understand how it is possible, but with no hesitation, Midnight despite being weak, performed a strange spell that brought her and her friends together along with their gems. It felt familiar, even taking her back to their first meeting and the moment, they defeated Nightmare Moon and their other victories.
It surpisingly deafeated their enemy like a blast. Suddenly, something strange had happen too. As she was deafeated, there was a big green smoke that surrounded her, as she laughed with a mocking tone towards them;

"You really think you won? Ha! You think you´re better than me cause you were the heros?! I don´t think so! Only I know how it all turns out!"

That´s the last thing, Twilight will rather forget, though she couldn´t. Perhaps it is something to remain, yet buried within and think of it as a abandond memory. But there is one thing, that made her relief of happiness. It was a time, where she and her friends, helping the wounded Midnight to find the exit. It was lucky, that Sweetheart was there guide them, cause after their fight with the evil witch, the tunnels was too unrecognizable to find a way out. Maybe it was cursed too?
But when they finally reached the exit, the sun was rising. Twilight was so relieved to feel sunlight again and saw her
friends´smiles of joy, and hugged each other as a comfort. Sweetheart smiled and a tear slowly rolled on her cheek. But she saw Midnight standing on the cliff and stared at the sun, she got a bit worried. It didn´t burn him as Sweetheart once described, so his curse is broken. But she asked him if something is wrong. But Midnight looked at her with a smile, that Twilight has never seen before. She remembers hearing him say;

"It´s strange... I´ve been living in the dark for a thousand years. I´ve already forgotten the sun and the beautiful colors of the sun rising into dawn... I got used to the comfort of the night...
But... after Nightmare is gone... I have this strange feeling, that I haven´t felt in years. It´s like these chains that kept me inside the castle was cut off and dissappeared. My body felt lighter that ever. I could feel the wind on my mane and I can breath! And... the warm feeling on my face.

I´ve... never felt this way before...

I feel... free."

She took a glimpse at Sweetheart who´s still reading her book. She still has so many questions, despite finally knowing Midnight´s past now. But... There is one thing, that bothers her most.
"So... are you finish reading your fairytale book?" Sweetheart asked, that broke the awkward silaence. Twilight was almost speechless. It was like Sweetheart knew what she was gonna ask, despite keeping it quiet. Although... She never mentions it to her besides her dream? She just responded that she didn´t read it in a long time. Sweetheart just smiled and said that all stories should be taken for granted, just like the other stories in their secret hideout. Then she got up and stretching her legs. "Do you mind if I can get a herb tea?" she asked to Twilight. She just nodded, even when she asked her, if she would like to have tea too.
When she closes the door, Twilight started to speculate why she was asking about her fairytale book. Or the real question is; how did she know about it? Many questions flushed around her, but got interrupted by Sweetheart, who just came back with a teatrolley with two cups of tea. She places the teatrolley between them before she took her cup and drank it. Twilight uses her magic to teleport her cup, but lost her appetite for tea. She just stared at Sweetheart who just seem casually calm and just continued her book. Twilight decided to ask her a question. She puts the cup on the floor and stood up. "There is something I´ll like to ask,". Sweetheart just stared dumbfounded at her, but Twilight could see that she knew what she was talking about. "How did you know I have this book?" she asked directly. But Sweetheart just stared at her. "I just know that. Didn´t you know I´m great at spotting things!" she responded with a big smile. But Twilight seems pretty skeptical. She didn´t really buy her lie and something doesn´t add up.
Sweetheart nervously kept her smile, but Twilight told her to drop the act. So she did and sighed. "What do you wanna know?" she asked pretty sarcasmic, which came as a surprise for Twilight. Twilight wanted to ask her so many questions, but only asked her about how she knew her fairytale book. Despite wanting to demand many answers, she felt like she already knew them and asking her wouldn´t matter. Sweetheart sighed calmly, but seemed pretty annoyed by that. "I just happens to know." she just said. Twilight stared at her with a mix of confusion and frustruation. Then Sweetheart asked her that she has forgotten that she also lived the same time period as Midnight, which Twilight objectified that she didn´t. There was a awkward silence between them, but Sweetheart broke the awkwardness that she too isn´t normal and recalled to her friend that she was a `part´ of Nightmare too. Twilight nodded, yet Sweetheart sighed. But despite how she came to excist or how she came into Midnight´s life, she´ll do everything to make sure that Midnight would never be unhappy, even in terrible situations.
Twilight felt something strange. It was like all unsolved puzzles was gathering around her mind and became one picture. "It all makes sense now..." Twilight thought to herself and stared surprisely at Sweetheart. "It was you, isn´t it? she whimpered. Sweetheart stared at her in confusion, but Twilight was too busy to confirm her conspiracies. How could she be so blind? Of course it was Sweetheart who made the fairytale. It did all make sense now. Twilight was confirming her theories that her new friend who just happens to live with a long lifespan, made this book as a call for help. The only cry that someone would read this as a sign. It does make sense, that Midnight was actually a real pony.
Twilight couldn´t stop making ideas of all the crazy stuff, she´s been through. Sweetheart tried to get through to her, but she didn´t pay too much attention. She has no choice but to yell at her;

"Listen to me at once!"

Twilight was in shock, yet awaked from her conspiricies. But she feared that the echo was so loud, that it might wake Spike up, but luckily it didn´t. He still sleeps like a rock.
Twilight saw Sweetheart with serious eyes, but did apologize to her (even she didn´t do anything wrong?). She was pretty exciting and curious to know how she manages to slip the book to the library, perhaps it was meant to her, if she have psycic powers to sense from the future. Or something like that. But she saw Sweetheart´s eyes staring directly in her eyes and she felt a bit creepy awkwardsness between them. But she did give her a small smile before saying;

"Who said I wrote this story?"

Hearing this, Twilight felt a bit dissapointing that her conspiricy was false. But some part of her was happy to finally know the truth. Sweetheart shook her head and giggle for a bit. She told her how silly she looked when she thought it was her. Twilight realizes that too and made a small laugh. They stopped and sighed by the awkwardness. But Sweetheart implied that all she know is, that someone truly dear to Midnight, wrote this story to those who read this, will know his story and give them a slight of hope to finally open their eyes. "... You were the only one, who have a bit of faith to know, he´s real". It was true, but Twilight felt more proud than ever. Since fillyhood, she just thought it was just a childish tale, but she kept it within her as a encouragement to reach her goals. Even having a bit faith to finally have her dream come true.
She wanted to ask more about Midnight´s life. Other than she know from her fairytale book. But before she could ask her, Sweetheart quickly interrupted and ran in Pinkie Pie-speed towards the window. "Look! A shooting star!". Twilight shook her head and followed her. She wasn´t annoyed, but perhaps asking can wait. She looked up at the sky and was pretty amazed by the star. A star so rare and has the beautiful rainbow colors than the most shooting stars, she sees.
"Quick! Wish something!" Sweetheart said in a childish way and closed her eyes. Twilight closed her eyes too, but instead of wishing, she started to remember something. She remembered when she and her friends were celebrating, she notices Midnight slipping into the garden and she followed him. One time, she have a weird fear of getting lost in the garden maze, even though Princess Celestia escorted her while having lessons. But as she got older, she didn´t feel frighting anymore. She did thought it was weird at first, but maybe it´s just a filly thing. Luckily, she already found Midnight standing in the middle of the garden and stared up at the sky. Twilight came a bit closer asked him what constellation he was looking at. but he didn´t answer, so she have to look up. There were so many stars, that she couldn´t find any constellations. But she took a glimpse on Midnight, who actually smiles...

"It´s beautiful, isn´t it?" he asked.

Twilight just nodded, but she knew that Midnight knows. Although... she did miss someone dearly to her. She missed the blind pupil in his eyes that felt kind, but very much wiser. His lightblue mane swirling in the wind, and the dark blue fur. She missed his mentor personality and the interesting life lessons (if you could say that...). For the first time in her life, she never thought of missing someone who wasn´t there. Someone who was the same pony. The only one was the disguise of the prince. Could it be... that she missed... Astral?

"I´m sorry I wasn´t the one, you missed..." she heard Midnight say. She was startled by his respond. Is he psychic? How did he know that? Twilight tried to change subject, but Midnight just laughed and told her not to apologize. But she did feel bad of thinking that way. She even tried to confess to him that she did miss her old friend. Not only his company or because he was Midnight, but... "... I just missed the one, who made me feel... like myself..."
She thought he would be upset, but instead he smiles. He even said that he knows how he feels. He even admitted that he was going on a journey to find himself. Twilight was a bit upset that he´ll leave soon, but was more curious to know where he will find out there. Midnight wasn´t sure yet, but he told her the reason why he´doing it, was because he has been living in Nightmare´s curse for so long, that sometimes he even forgot who he was. And even missed out the wonderful things, that happens. He wants to find out more about himself than he thought.

"That´s my decision," he said with a smile.

Twilight understood. They gave each other a hug before he was about to go. Twilight wasn´t sure if the princess´s knew about it, but Midnight reassures her that he gave them the message. "I hope you find, where you´re looking for," she said with a calm voice. She tried to smile, yet she couldn´t get her eyes from the scars on his back. Scars that used to be his wings...
"Don´t worry about me, Twilight. I´ll be fine," he reminded her with a reassuring face. Twilight knows and just nodded. But before he was about to go, he gave her a light kiss on her cheek and she blushed like never before. She stared at him with a startle look, yet he giggles as if he teases her. He said his goodbye and went out from the garden, leaving Twilight still blushing and confused. But she made a big smile, knowing he will be alright.

"Bye..."

That was the last time, Twilight ever saw him. But she never felt more happier than ever. Well, more than that. She pets on her cheek, still remembering the light, but delightful kiss. Sweetheart interrupted her daydreaming and asked her if Midnight was looking at the same stars as they do now. Twilight thought about it, yet still couldn´t hold her giggle from Sweetheart´s childish look, but she thought it was cute.
She looked up at the shooting star, perhaps they were looking at the same stars. Who knows? But She was hoping that Midnight soon will come back, so they can have their usual star-watching again. She looked at Sweetheart and gave her a hertwarming smile, an so did Sweetheart too.

"Yes... I hope so too..."

Author's Note

Finally done with the final chapter!!

It was quite of a journey to finish this story ever since 2014. Even thought it didn´t quite go as I planned, but I never gave up to write and finish my story, and my goal of this is complete.

I do hope you enjoyed this story and you all welcome to ask questions or if there are things, I should do better next time.
But other than that, i´m glad this part is complete. Perhaps i´ll do more of Midnight´s journey next time. ;)

I do have a deviantart, if you´ll like to see my other arts, including my three characters: https://www.deviantart.com/divamanga19.

See you next time. ;)