Inheritance of the moon

Chapters

Once in a Blue Moon
Arrival
First night alone
Shopping?
Dreaming
Celebration
A Memory
Rude awaking with a gift
The Library and Spike
Magic Easy?
Fragments of Hatred Pt.1
The Fragment: Fluttershy
The Fragment: Rarity
The Fragment: Applejack
The Fragment: Rainbow Dash
Fragment: Pinkie Pie
Summer Sun Celebration

Once in a Blue Moon

Growing up with a father who loved the freedom of the open trails and a mother who enjoyed spending time outdoors might seem like a good time to some, in fact it should for many. For Midnight Breeze however it was simply life, he enjoyed it for a while, is there a filly or colt that wouldn’t? But his father being an earth pony and his mother a unicorn who preferred using magic only when needed did not present him with much time to learn his own ‘special something’ which he desperately wanted. And deep down he hoped it would be important, not something like traveling and sightseeing or things of the same sort, like his parents. Not that he begrudged them their love or freedom, it just wasn’t for him.

Besides they preferred the joy of the day and warmth of the sun while he preferred the beauty of the night. Whilst they slept in tents or under the stars weather permitting, he would be wide awake, counting the stars or trying to practice magic, even if he didn’t have much to go on. This way of life went on for some time before and he had yet to find his cutie mark. Soon enough though he would get his, and it would be mysterious.

It was almost his birthday, and by now he was growing into a fine colt. His coat had darkened into an ashen grey or perhaps a bit darker, his mane a nice even cobalt blue, and his horn grown nicely. At his persuasion or request they had set up camp near a small lake, which looked deep enough to swim in with water that reflected the sun nicely. That day they had spent time swimming and talking, he’d even received a new saddle bag, which held a small s book. The book caught his attention more than, unexpectedly it was a book on magic. Even though it was small it still surprised him, his parents had been all about doing things by hoof, and even his mother preferred doing things by hoof unless a situation demanded magical influence, like scrapping a knee. Once he got the book Midnight retreated to the side of the lake to read.

Hours passed even if they seemed like minutes, soon day turned to night. Still night was his favorite hours, he seemed more awake and aware, even if he’d been tired or drowsy during the day, and night would wake him up almost as if snapping him from a dream. This night however was special; he could feel it permeate through him. Slowly over the horizon the moon rose, which caught his absolute attention….it was blue. He’d never witnessed a blue moon before considering how well the rotation of the sun and moon was kept. As he stared at the moon energy seemed to surge through him and even about him, even the water level of the lake rose about a hoof. Even the appearance of his cutie mark was not enough to draw his gaze from the moon, even if it had been enough he would have only seen another blue moon for his cutie mark was the shape of a blue crescent moon. After what seemed like minutes the world around him went black.

Morning arrived slowly; the scent of lake water filled his nose, causing him to stir a bit. He didn’t seem to remember being so near the lake when he saw the moon and he didn’t recall anything from the night except the moon. Upon inspection it would seem the water of the lake had raised more than a hoof, it was more three or four hooves. As he returned to the camping spot his parents seemed to be packing. It wasn’t until his mother mentioned his cutie mark that realized he even had one. He simply stared at it for a few moments before his father chimed in about how odd it was to have such a cutie mark considering how they lived.

They would continue walking the road for a few days before Midnight makes a decision. It was time for him to leave his parents, there was more he needed to know and learn. Oddly enough the decision came easy and when he told his parents they were saddened but not surprised. The family would continue to travel until they arrived at the first town. That town happened to be Ponyville, just days before the Summer Sun Celebration..

Arrival

Their arrival in Ponyville seemed rather unnoticed as the preparations for the Summer Sun Festival was in full swing. It was ‘nice’ to see so many new faces, he’d never really been around other ponies before, even his schooling had been on the road. All this activity managed to distract him from his thoughts which had been bothering him. His magic, his cutie mark, the blue moon, the fact he’d neglected to eat any cake the one time a year he actually got cake, more importantly the energy he felt when the blue moon had risen. “I’ve never seen so much activity….” His family, at least during his life, had never really stayed in towns and when there was a celebration of sorts they normally went around. Nothing it seemed would keep them tied down in any town or setting. And even now his mother and father were departing, leaving him enough bits to stay somewhere and food, Once they left it would be hard to track them down, but he was willing to take that chance.

After bidding farewell to his mother and father he would begin to wonder Ponyville, managing to stay out of the way of busy ponies. His first real goal was to find somewhere to stay, even if it was a field. “It seems this isn’t going to be easy.” Somehow he’d had a feeling it wouldn’t be and for the rest of the day he would attempt to talk to any pony that wasn’t busy, which turned out to be impossible.

Letting out a sigh of exhaustion he would walk into a rather sweet looking building called Sugarcube Corner. Trotting to one of the empty tables he would sit, again letting out a breath, too much work during the day, at least for him. It wasn’t until he rested a moment before smelling the air around him, personally he’d never smelled so many sweets in one place. Over the noise he could hear a pony bouncing about, she was pink and appeared to be helping. “One for you oh and one for you, oooo couldn’t forget you!” Better yet…she was getting closer… “What will you ha….oooo you’re new here!” The pony took a deep breath before firing off questions like ‘What’s your name? Where are you from? What’s your favorite desert? Oooo and what’s your favorite color?’

And trying his best to keep up made him feel like a foal. “Midnight…um…hm…blue?” It seemed impossible to keep up with the pony. Moving a hoof he would place it to his forehead “Slow down, I can’t understand your questions.” That managed to get her to be quiet for oh maybe a few seconds. Well at least it was something so that he could think. “Stars above now ask your questions.” The strange and energetic pony did so, not nearly as fast but still with speed. “Midnight Breeze…I’m not from anywhere really….I don’t eat desert that..” And that’s where she cut in again.

“No desert! We have to get you something stat!” Then she simply vanished leaving a pink cloud behind. Once again he had to take a deep breath, were all ponies in this town like this? He hoped not for his own sanity. It was only a few moments later before the pink pony returned with a pie. “Apple pie on the house, can’t talk more more more ponies to serve!” And again she was gone, bouncing between table and table.

Midnight almost felt bad that he hadn’t managed to get the pony’s name, almost. At least the pie smelled good, he’d not really had apple pie before. Of course he’d had it once but his family had a more ‘nutritious’ choice of food, anything that could keep them moving and healthy. “Hm…” And of course as he was about to take a bite a certain pink pony would crash into him, causing the pie to skid off the table and on to the ground. “Of course.” Little did he know that this would only be the first of many pies he would never get to eat. With a heavy sigh he would stand up and walks away from Sugarcube Corner, not waiting for the pink pony to realize.

Eventually he would get directions from a tanish yellow earth pony who was selling apples to a small house at the edge of Ponyville. From outside it loved sturdy, light wood with darker wood as support. Inside it was well kept, there was a small kitchen and a table which matched the outer wood. Through the only door was a bedroom with a small bed and covers, honestly he’d never slept on a bed before so it would be an interesting first night. Just as he was looking around the house there was a knock at the door, or rather the frame since he had left the door wide open.

Floating into the house came a white Pegasus with a light red mane, gently curled at the ends. Her cutie mark which was clearly visible against her white coat was a stylized sun with three smaller hearts coming from the center. “Excuse me, I heard from Applejack that she’d sent somepony this way.” She caught his attention. “Hello I’m Sunshine.” Bowing her head slightly her main would fall in front of her face which she’d quickly brush away. “So are you interested in my cottage….oh I’m sorry I’ve forgotten to ask your name.” Smiling softly she’d chuckle, as if trying to forget that she’d forgotten to ask. To say there wasn’t an attraction at first sight would be like saying there’s no apple’s in apple pie, at least for Midnight.

“I’m Midnight Breeze and yes I think I’m interested. Though I’ve never stayed in a cottage before, so I don’t have anything to compare it to, tents and dirt yes, cottage’s no.” He certainly seemed a bit out of place here, but he did in fact like it. “It’s just I don’t have much, enough for a few weeks and food maybe.” Midnight wasn’t so much nervous as much as he’d never really talked to many other ponies. “I hope that’s not a problem, other than a few bits I only have my pack with a book and a few apples.” Carefully his pack would float with a light blue glow which matched the glow of his horn.”

Walking around Sunshine would look the colt over as if trying to determine what sort of pony he was. “I believe you; I can throw in a week or two without any charge. That way you can get used to the cottage and see if it suits your needs. It comes with what you see so what you see is what you get.” As she stopped walking she would look around the room “How about thirty bits for a month?” Hoping it wasn’t too much for the colt, in all honestly the cottage had been sitting empty for some time. “If you rent long enough you may keep the cottage, but we’ll talk more about that later.”

Whilst she spoke Midnight was running how much he had, at sixty-five bits it really wasn’t that much. “Thirty bits sounds fair, that should leave me enough to get food and stuff for the cottage if needed.” After a month or preferably during he would have to find some way to earn bits so that he could stay longer, else he end up back outside. Oddly it wasn’t night time that worried him, since he only slept a few hours which normally took place during the morning. With that the flap of his pack would open and small pouch would lift out, the jingle from inside held promise of bits. “That should be thirty bits.” His mother had a habit of separating bits so if one pouch went missing then all of their bits weren’t gone; to him it had made perfect sense.

Sunshine would take hold of the pouch with her hoof “I can count it when I go home, please if you need anything feel free to ask.” She would trot towards the door. “Oh and welcome to Ponyville, Midnight.” Offering a warm smile she would leave, closing the door behind her.

First night alone

Sunshine left a while after introducing herself, all and all she seemed really nice. Though Midnight himself didn't have much to go on, since growing up with a never stopping family made it extremely hard to make 'friends'. But his experiences so far left him much to think about, it seemed every pony had his or her own personality, not that he didn't expect it, but some were so explosively different. Well it left him feeling a bit odd.

The rest of the day, so little left as it were, was spent trying to get used to being indoors. To his surprise it was hard for him to get comfortable in any fashion, really he'd never even had a table to set things on. So from here to there he went within the small cottage, looking out the window every so often to laying on the bed, which was comfortable but it was a comfort he wasn't used to. And as night started to fall he found himself going outside, walking around the cottage till he found a small patch of grass. It was tended with a few flowers here and there scattered through out, the perfect place to rest. As he settled down he would pull out a small book from his bag, the book on magic his mother had given him. By now he'd read it forward and backwards, now he was in the process of rereading it again to see if maybe he'd missed something, the chances however were little.

Over time the stars would start to sparkle and the moon would raise, it was almost full which made him smile. Other than his mother and father, the moon was one of the few things that remained the same in his travels, almost like a long lost friend. As always it managed to draw his attention, but he'd managed to not let it over whelm him, but the full moon was always hard to resist. "Summer Sun Celebration starts tomorrow night, I wonder what it'll be like..." As a young pony his family had passed by towns during the Summer Sun Celebration, but they had never actually participated. The importance of the event wasn't lost on him or his family, but to his parents it was simply another event to get bogged down with. "Well...I'll see soon won't I?" Indeed, tomorrow night would be one no pony could forget.

Deep down though, he felt something bad was going to happen...

After a few hours of sitting out in the wonderous moon light he would eventually go back inside. The moon itself was slowly approaching the horizon, soon it would be day time. He would set his pack next to the table, which had a vase with a lovely red flower in it, then make his way towards the small sink. His mother had taught him to wash his hooves before going to sleep, or he'd get mud and dirt all of his sleeping bag. "Time for bed or I'll never get to sleep." Staying up late tomorrow wasn't really an issue though, after all the moon seemed to have an energizing effect on him, almost like refilling a canteen. Being able to stay awake during the day however was a completely different situation. While many pony frolliced and played during the day and slept at night he was almost the opposite, except that depending on the moon phase he too could frollic and play during the day and night.

So off to bed he went, but not before rolling out his sleeping pouch and curling up on it. He'd get used to sleeping on a bed but tonight wouldn't be that night, after all why not be comfortable?

Morning came all to soon, at least that's how Midnight felt when he woke up. He'd also like to assume he'd have slept longer had somepony not come by to knock on his door. Even with the constant knocking it took him a few good minutes to get up from the sleeping bag, who'd have known sleeping on a wooden floor wasn't as soft as sleeping on the ground. That would explain however why every pony slept in beds and not sleeping bags or pouches.

Stumbling about he would try to get presentable, mane and tail fixed up, teeth brushed, hooves cleaned and so on. Within the course of a few minutes he'd managed to get to the door and open it to find Sunshine, who was looking over the small garden in front of the cabin. "Good morning...Sunshine." Midnight was quite clearly not a morning pony, which was aparent enough to get a giggle from Sunshine.

"Some pony didn't get a good night sleep, I hope you're able to stay up for celestia raising the sun." Sunshine would pace backwards and flex her wings, she smelled lightly of flowers and morning dew indicating that she might have been up bright and early. "Come on, I'm going to see if we can track down some furniture to give the cottage a more homely feel for you." Now that thought was almost enough to make Midnight laugh, what exactly did a home feel like he wanted to ask but felt it smart not to. "And we'd better hurry, you're not the only new pony in town, we wouldn't want to be late to the surprise party."

Party for a new pony in town? Being glad he'd managed to come in under the scope, he would close the door. "Alright then, lead the way." With that he would follow the pegasus, who took off rather fast.

Shopping?

It would be nice to say that shopping came easily or naturally for him, it would also be nice to say if he didn't feel awkward following Sunshine. Midnight wasn't so lucky though, he'd never really been shopping and the only ponies he'd ever been around had been his mother and father. "Where are we going exactly...?" The question came out quietly as more and more ponies showed up, helping with preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. "So many ponies..." The number of ponies just seemed to grow with each passing moment, making him feel even more awkward.

"We're going shopping of course and there's a lot of places to do that at." Sunshine seemed to beaming, she rather enjoyed shopping and doing so in the morning made it even better. "Yes the Summer Sun Celebration brings ponies in from all over Equestria. Isn't it just wonderful?" Happy was only one word for how Sunshine felt about the celebration. Over the next few minutes they would pass a number of shops and even more ponies preparing to the celebration, but eventually they would stop at a small shop with a few benches out front. The building was a light shade of green with tan scattered about, highlighting windows and other details. Above the door would be a simple sign that red 'Furniture for the Every Day Pony'. "Here we are, the perfect store."

Midnight looked over the building, it looked lovely and inviting. Through the front window he could make out a blue mare with a long tied back mane, she also happened to be covered in saw dust. Walking to the door he would open it so that Sunshine could go in and once she was he would follow behind, leaving the crowds of ponies behind. "Thank you for bringing me along but...I don't think I'll have enough bits for anything." At this moment he only had thirty five bits, just enough to pay for meals for a while but not really enough to purchase a lot.

That would be when the blue pony noticed them, almost launching herself across the room. Thankfully Sunshine moved to the left, almost expecting it, on the downside that left Midnight open to take the tackle. With a loud crash the two hit the door, Midnight taking the most of the hit. "Well hello there! Another new pony in town and this one I didn't hear about?! SUNSHINE HOW COULD YOU?!" The odd pony shook Midnight, he wasn't sure if he was actually offended or if she was just playing, he did however hope she'd get off him. "I'm Dusty Hoof, maker of furniture and owner of this fine establishment! What's your name?" And now she seemed to be bouncing on him, why wouldn't she get off him?!

Before Midnight could answer Sunshine would pull the strange earth pony off him. "Now stop that, you're hurting him." A quick look down told her she was right, he had a few bruises and saw dust in his mane. "This is Midnight Breeze and he's going to be staying in town for a while, he also happens to need furniture for my cottage." Before she had even finished speaking Dusty was up and beaming. "And he.."

Then Dusty was gone, leaving a trail of saw dust behind her, she was fast it seemed. After a moment of Midnight staring at Sunshine then in the direction Dusty went there was a series of bangs and crashes before the mare reappeared. "He needs furniture! Well you certainly came to the right place, I have all your furniture needs at prices that are hard to beat!" Dusty seemed to love her job other wise her quick talking and shaking would have worried Midnight by now. "Well lay it on me, what'cha need, I'm sure we've got it some where around here, I'll even have it delivered for no extra cost!"

While she talked Sunshine would help Midnight too his hooves and help brush the saw dust from his mane. "Sorry about that, I forgot how energetic she can be when it comes to new ponies and furniture." Giggling she'd turn to look at Dusty with a smile. "Actually Dusty I'd like to call in those favors from last year, remember the Wonderbolt race?" Sunshine had paid for Dusty and her older brother to go to the races, and those tickets had been rather expensive. "Think you could let him have some of your lovely furniture, the cottage is rather empty and no one makes better furniture than you." Sunshine knew how her friend worked, and complimenting her furniture was always a good way to go. Some pony might say it was a little devious or manipulative, she saw it as fun since Dusty would have done the same thing.

"Really? So soon? Well..." Looking over to Midnight she'd give him a look over and smile. "Well for new pony I think that can be arranged, consider it a house warming gift." Quickly she'd look back to Sunshine and look the mare in the eyes. "But it still makes us even right? I hate not knowing when you'll ask, it's enough to drive a mare up the wall!"

The two would exchange words for a while longer, ever so often Sunshine would point to a particular piece of furniture. All the while all Midnight could do is sit and watch helplessly.

Dreaming

To say that something more odd than this moment had happened before would be a lie. Never once in all his life had he been set a drift some where so strange, it was like a cloud if he'd ever been in one before. Around him he could see sparkles that burned like stars in the distance and what he felt....emotions? Loneliness, sorrow, fear, and...curiosity? Worse he could struggle, not that it did any good because he never moved, sure he could flail about like an idiot but for no reason.

"Figures...I rush to see what's going on and something like this happens." There was only one thing he could compare this too, floating in water, but even that didn't quite feel right. "Lets see....ran from the library, heard a scary laugh, rushed to town hall, then got hit by a purple cloud." And now suddenly he felt as if he was being watched from all around him, causing goosebumps to spread across his body. "Who's there?" Jerking his head back there would be a pop from his neck. "Ow..." Add that to his luck as well, at least he still felt pain so he was alive, maybe.

Unbeknownst to him the mist was slowly beginning to form a shape, a purple mare. For the first time in a thousand years she had a shape of her own and better there was another pony! But...it was another pony and her other self was causing trouble for all the ponies she could see, and see she could through the eyes of Nightmare Moon. Fear wrapped her mind for that is what she was, nothing more than the innocence left, the true Princess Luna. Slowly her form would begin to dissipate, starting with her hooves, she just couldn't face another pony not now....Wait he'd already noticed her how was that possible, even here she was no more than a figment of her own mind. The missed stopped and reformed thus a sign of her own resolve strengthening. "H..Hello.." Drat her voice sounded frightened and shy even to herself!

The voice took no more than a few seconds to register, though he wasn't completely sure if he'd heard it with his ears or in his head. "Princess Luna?" With the realization came a form of gravity, sinking just slightly his hooves found purchase within the mist, finally he could feel his legs! That alone was almost blissful! The feeling however didn't last long as he realized that standing before him was the goddess of the moon, in the flesh and mist? Wait how did he know that, certain in his waking life since now it had to be a dream, he'd never heard of her but here she was.

Mean while in the waking world...

"Oh sweet Celestia he's out cold!" Running around in meaningless circles was Sunny, who was quite clearly freaking out. "What happened? What do I do? Where in Celestia's name was the doctor! "Never around when I need help! WHY?!" He was after all her responsibility, in an odd new to town way. "And why am I freaking out?!" Of course she wasn't the only one freaking out, Celestia was gone and Nightmare Moon was here with eternal night. But only she was panicking over over Midnight. And next was totally predictable, to everyone but her self, she tripped over Midnight's legs. Face planting hard she sighed, desperately needing to calm down.

Back in La La Land...

"Ow!" Something slammed into his leg hard, what the buck? Even that only distracted him for only a moment or two. Shaking his leg a few times he'd turn back to the entity that held the majority of his attention. "Princess? Where am I and how do I know who you are?" Cause really what was freaking him out more, not knowing where he was or the fact that a princess was standing before him, not just any princess either but Princess Luna who just happened to be the goddess of the moon. Another little thing she was which wasn't so little was that she was also Nightmare Moon.

The dark stallion intrigued her, some part of her at least. Was it because she had quite literally been alone for a thousand years? "Um...I am..." Still she sounded frightened, but now more shy. She was making progress, sort of. ""This is...well my mind and I mean mine..." What little left of her there was at least, and really she felt small in her own mind. "But...you can call me Luna." More progress! 'Yay' Yikes even that sounded meek!

"All right then....Luna. Why am I here?" Now that was the real question, why was he here? it bothered him to no extent that he'd not come of his own free will, not that he would have. Really who would choose to go into Nightmare....err....Princess Luna. "Oh I'm Midnight Breeze." His mother would have scolded him hard for being so rude, just because he grew up on the road didn't mean he could act like it.

"Oh I know! Sorry....I don't know why you're here..." Cautiously she would walk around Midnight, knowing he couldn't hurt her her, could he? No it was impossible after all it was her mind and not his, then again he was here after all so who knew maybe it was his mind? Ahaha she was starting to panic for no reason. Then she noticed his cutie mark which in truth shocked her, a crescent blue moon. "Why is your cutie mark a blue moon?"

From shy to sudden, could Luna make up her mind? Well obviously he was in it and it turned out she couldn't, great. "I got it a few weeks ago on my birthday, there was a blue moon and it well....it was beautiful." In truth there had been nothing more beautiful he'd ever seen in his whole life, getting it on his flank had been wonderful, it even made up for him not getting it till then. Wait was Luna blushing?!

Yes clearly she was blushing and worse she knew it! Taking a few step backs she'd grind a hoof against the ground? Ground yeah whatever it was. "Th...thank you...I made those just before..." Before she'd become Nightmare Moon and they held great power since it was so rare, possibly once every twenty years or so. "At least I did some good before." Deep down it meant a lot that the moon meant so much to some pony. Maybe just maybe she could be useful again, happy even, but she was scared...Before becoming what she was and being imprisoned she'd done evil things to not only Equestria but to her dear sister.

The emotions he felt around him stirred, pushing him too and fro, it was nauseating. "Luna? Are you all right?" Slowly the area around him started to dissolve, and her with it. "Luna!" Then things started to get dark, now he'd never feared the dark but this was worrying. Was it something he said? "What's going..." Thud! "Ow!"

'Thank you Midnight.'

Back in the awfully painful waking world...

"Ow!" Jerking Midnight turned over to rub his aching head, he'd been dropped! "Where am I now?" A look around quickly answered that for him, he was back in Ponyville...looking up at a guilty looking Sunny...who clearly dropped him.

Celebration

"Really though, did you have to drop me?" With his head throbbing slightly Midnight was at least back up on his hooves, though the whole effort made him feel a bit light headed. Was it from the ground or was it....Luna! Buck how could he have forgotten so fast and so soon. Scrambling he looked around, which way was she from here? Panic was one word he was feeling now as was fear, what would happen to her if he didn't get to her first? Worse how long had he been out cold? All these questions swarmed his head, making it hard to think.

All that however went out the window when he heard a familiar pink pony shoult "A Party!" And behind her was every pony running into the town, with streamers and candy all about, all heading towards...a float. But who stood on the float amazed him, of course there was Celestia, tall and elegant as she always had been, but next to her stood a smaller bluish purple pony. "It's Princess Luna." Saying aloud though it was more for himself than the others around him. She looked just as she had in the dream or mind or whatever it actually ahd been, except now she didn't look scared or worried. No quite the opposite she looked happy to be back.

"I'm sorry I dropped you, but you're too heavy for me to carry on my own." Sunny had been explaining what happened the entire time, though the words had gone in one ear and out the other."But at least you didn't hit the ground hard, well not terribly hard. I mean there was a bit of a thud but there was no blood." And yet she rambled on before she followed his gaze to the float and the princesses. "Oh isn't it amazing! Princess Luna has returned and she's with her big sister! Don't they just look regal and happy!" As she spoke he'd moved closer to the float so to get a better look at her.

By now he couldn't hear Sunny, not ignoring her perse just not paying attention to her. Now he was at the base of the float looking up at them, as were many ponies so he shouldn't have stood out. Luna however had caught sight of him as soon as she'd entered Ponyville on the float. Her features were regal, to every pony except himself and perhaps Celestia, her eyes said she was shocked to see him.

There was indeed shock in her mind, after all she'd t hought she'd dreamed him up. After all being alone for a thousand years did wonders for one's mind. "Midnight?" To her credit, the only one who looked was Celestia, who showed no emotion other than joy and that hadn't changed since she'd arrived back in Ponyville. Celestia would excuse herself to see to the purple pony who's party he'd gone too, leaving them alone. Sort of at least, Sunny was a little bit off enjoying the celebration with friends, having gotten distracted by some streamers or something.

With a nod he'd answer. "Yes..." Glances around to look if any pony were listening to closer, surprisingly most were off with the celebration. "Luna, I'm glad to see you're all right." He need not mention he was glad she was no longer Nightmare Moon, in fact everypony was probably glad for that. "And welcome back." It was only polite to welcome someone back who hadn't been around for a while, he'd learned that from various towns he and his family had passed through numerous times.

Her mind was screaming now, he's real! The first pony she'd really met in a thousand years and he was nice and concerned. But at least for now she had to appear formal, though she did allow herself to smile. "We are glad to be back after so many years. We thank you for your concern as well Midnight Breeze." Her voice wasn't loud since she'd not spoken terribly much using her real voice in a thousand years, though she did have the royal 'we'. "It has been a long time since we have seen the day and felt the air around us."

Well at least he understood why she spoke weird, it must have been an old dialect. "Don't push yourself too hard then." He would have said more but Celestia returned only a few moments later and announced they would have to return to Canterlot, after all there was much work to be done. The two had to say their fairwells, though a promise to meet again sometime. "Farewell Princess Luna." Seeing them off and waving to them, he suddenly found himself in the mood to join the celebration that was going on. Trotting over he would join Sunny and the group she was in.

"Hey Midnight!" Sunny ushered him over and gave him a cup of punch, which he would take graciously, oddly being dropped on one's head made him thirsty. "is this just amazing! Oh oh oh did you enjoy your conversation with the princess?" True she didn't understand how or why the princess would talk to a regular pony but it didn't bother her terribly much, after all she must have been lonely.

"Actually I did enjoy our talk, though it was only a few words." Taking a sip from the glass he made a 'bleh' face, of course it was way to sweet, what did they dump sugar into it. Looking around he would find a table to set the cup on. "Yeah that figures." Can't they ever just have tea or water, something told him no. "My head still hurts a little but I don't think I'll get used to all these super sweet things, growing up I think I might have had it once a year?" Indeed it was true, growing up he was only allowed cake and punch on his birthday and even then only if they were near a town, which normally they were. The announcement however seemed to shock every pony standing around him, one even seemed to fake passing out from it. In the end though it let him be healthier and more atheletic than many other unicorn, most who seemed to have a pudge from what he'd seen in other towns.

"What?! Really? What kind of parents did you have?" A random pegasus almost shouted, she was light blue with a rainbow colored mane and tail. The tone of her voice said she was shocked but maybe with a hint of disbelief. "That's just cruel and unusual punishment! Stick around kid we'll get you hooked on the stuff." But she didn't stick around long enough for him to reply, jetting back towards a group of ponies.

"Is it really that bad? "Asking out loud, though it was more of a thought. It was how he was raised and he never thought any different about it, even now he didn't. Maybe he would get used to the sweets but then perhaps he didn't really want to.

"Oh don't pay her any mind Midnight, that's just Rainbow Dash. She clears the skies over Ponyville and helps with the weather." Sunny was going for the cup Midnight had set down, unlike him she quite liked the sugar laced drink. "She's fun though once you get to know her, fastest flyer in Ponyville. Lazy though, if she's not practicing then she's dozing off on a cloud. Did you know clouds are really comfy?" There was nothing better than spending an afternoon drifting on a cloud and enjoying snacks, at least in her mind so it could be up for debate.

Well that was comforting to know...not really. His parents had been health nuts and he loved them for it, so at the moment he couldn't tell if the rainbow colored pony was poking fun at them or just being painfully blunt. "I won't, sticks and stones may break my bones and so on." Oh yes he knew quite well sticks and stones could break bones, his father had gotten in a fight with a tree and lost. The whole ordeal had been funny actually, who knew trees had feelings? At least it seemed that way at the time and even now he wouldn't want to annoy one.

And that's how the rest of the day would play out, casual talking and partying on and off, celebrating the return of Princess Luna and the rising of the sun. No pony could foresee the danger and trouble coming their way...

A Memory

The celebration lasted long into the night, even after the princesses who the celebration was for left. Longer than Midnight would have thought any party could last, though at this point a lot of his beliefs or ideas were broken or shattered. Eventually the celebration died and ponies began to return home, this wouldn't be forgotten any time soon. Only Midnight was left, though Sunny had tried her best to get him to go hom, but nights were his time to think and feel...well better. Even the moon was beautiful this night, it was nearly full and the sky was clear, letting all the stars shine so bright.

Trotting through town quietly Midnight began to explore the tow, he'd not quite been able to earlier or the day before. There was of course Sugarcube Corner, he'd been, there was the library, which he would go again but was certain it would be closed, and so much more. It seemed to him that Ponyville had a little bit of everything, from shops to a spa even, it just blew him away a bit. Sure he'd been to other towns similar to this, just not as big or well established. It was big but not too big either, something about major cities did something to him...

Ten Years ago...

Serious storms were coming, weather pegasai had been flying about warning every pony in shouting distance. A few days of rain had been missed and those days had to be made up with one massive storm to put the weather back in order, otherwise crops might start dying. This was of course near Manehatten, one of the largest cities in all of Equestria, it was elegant and over crowded with buildings as high as the sky.

At least it seemed to a young colt who rode on the back of his father as they rode in through the main entrance. The family had been near enough Manehatten to hear the warnings of the storm and knew that if they didn't hunker down in the city then they'd not been in good condition afterwards. "Daaaad what is this place and why are there so many buildings? And why are they soooo big." Midnight nearly fell from his fathers back as he'd followed a building with his eyes as they passed it. "And why is it cold." This time the question was a little bit quieter, since he didn't know if he felt cold or it was something else since it very well could be.

Dusty Trail could only laugh at his son's reaction to the big bad city. "Thats right this is your first time in a city." Oh he felt foalish, of course it'd been his first time in a city, they did their best to go around. "Well this here is Manehatten." The cart he was pulling bumped as they walked over loose cobble. Trotting next to the cart with a soft smile was his dear mother Morning Flower. "And well there are a lot of ponies and a lot of ponies need places to live and work. Besides there's a lot of rich and high society ponies here as well. The whole lot of them put a bad taste in his mouth for some reason

"Darling are you cold? You're not feeling sick are you?" As it turned out that even with the storm clouds starting to be brought it it was still a warm day. Picking up her pace she'd trot up to her precious Midnight and place a hoof on his head, which he squirmed under. "Now hold still and let me check." Beneath her hoof Midnight was trembling as if he was cold but he had no temperture. "Honey why don't we find a place to sleep tonight, it's already getting late and he's shaking."

"But momma...can't we just..." Yawning interrupted him as he spoke, he did actually feel tired and that was different, normally he felt more awake. Even at this age the moon effected him though the effect wasn't as strong as it soon would be. "Nevermind..." Besides what his momma said went, he could never argue.

It took the family a good ten minutes to find a place to stay, since the storms had been a big thing most hotels were offering rooms at discounted prices. But it took another ten minutes to find a place to put the wagon that was safe. The hotel however was worth it, it was large and elegant and their room was nearly a the bottom. By the time they arrived at the room Midnight was nearly asleep on the back of Dusty who took great care not to drop him.

"Well I don't know if he's sick Flo, he doesn't have a temperature you say but he's shaking a little." The room was lovely and well furnished, but it meant little to Midnight nor his parents who were worried about him. Trotting through one of the doors they would be in a bedroom. "Why don't we just lay him down and let him rest, it might just be the shock getting to him." A very light blue veil of magic would wrap Midnight and lifted him over to the bed, being as gentle as could be.

The tip Morning Flower's horn glew soft, matching the glow that wrapped Midnight, who only mumbled as he was moved. "Maybe hun, but if he's not better in the morning I think we should fetch a doctor." Still she was worried but now the storm was beginning to start and it could only get worse and would. So the two would slip out of the room, closing the door gently behind.

A few hours later the storm was raging and the sky was blanketed, though it was dark so it must have been late. Midnight had been asleep for the entire time but now he stirred, not because he wasn't sleepy but something was bugging him. "Mo...m...da...d.." His voice wasn't loud enough to call out, something was going through him, it was panic. Oh yes he was panic and he didn't know why, even the tip of his horn was glowing as the shutters were thrown open revealing...revealing walls and windows...."the..sky...moon..." Gasping he couldn't see it no worse he couldn't feel it! He could always feel it during the night, always! Something snapped inside him, his eyes began to glow as and the draft in the room began to pick up swirling around him, tossing the pillows and covers all over. Thankfully it seemed that there was enough noise to wake his parents who came charging in the room.

Each gasped as their son floated in the air, freaking out. "I got him!" Dusty didn't even hesitate as he rushed into the eye of well the storm as it were while Flower's horn began to glow. Despite the resistance caused by the wind Dusty was able to get to his son and pin him to the bed, gently. A moment later a bolt of blue would hit Midnight, knocking him out. With him out the magical energy would fade away, pillows and covers alike would drop to the ground with soft thuds. "Remind me not to get on your bad side love, that sleeping spell's strong." As he talked Morning Flower would walk closer to Midnight and run a hoof through his mane gently before looking him over. Still he didn't have a cutie mark so what could have caused the freak out?

Present Day...

The memory caused him to shudder, he didn't remember much from the event, only what his parents had told them. "Mom...dad...I'm going ot miss you." Whispering to himself as he began his short trip home.

Rude awaking with a gift

A loud and rather annoying knocking woke Midnight from his sleep. "Uh..." Moaning he would turn over, causing the red cover he had wrapped around him to fall on to the floor, that would be followed by another moan. Squinting he'd look at the window, the tip of his horn was glowing faintly as he opened the blinds to look out. It was...early...too early...why would some pony wake him at this time, the sun hung low, it was perhaps eight or so in the morning. His sleeping was well different from most normal ponies, normally he'd stay up all night with no problem and sleep a good portion of the morning away, unless the moon was new and then he just felt tired the whole day.

The knocking continued and as much as he wanted to stay in bed he knew it was rude to keep some pony waiting. Rolling over again he would attempt to roll out of bed, however thanks to a little red cover caught on his foot he ened up face planting on the ground. "Hold...on...ow..." Calling out the first part but keeping the ow fairly quiet, no pony needed to know he wasn't a morning pony. Again he'd push himself up on his hooves, his legs wobbled ever so slightly as he made his way from his room, through the kitchen, and to the door, the red cover trailing behind him. At this point the morning couldn't get terribly worse, being awake seemed to do that, so he pulled open the door. Outside stood a grey pegasus with a yellow mane, what really caught him though, which made him feel bad later, was the crossed look in her eyes. "Hello?"

The mare thrust a pile of envelopes and a box in to his hooves. "Mail! Bye Bye!" Then she took off with a sack of mail slung over her back. "What an odd pony... Midnight throught to himself as he closed the door, there was a lot of mail to go through it seemed.

Right, out of fifty letters only two were actually for him, one was from his parents and the other...Princess Luna? Setting aside the letter from his parents since it was probably something about where they were he would stare at the other letter, it was well pretty. It had only been a few days since the Summer Sun Celebration and she must have been busy trying to get used to well the world again, why would she have taken time to write him? Carefully he'd open the envelope with his horn, being careful not to rip the paper in any way. Slipping the paper out he would open it and read it.

Greets Midnight Breeze

We wanted to thank you for helping us return.to who we are. Yes we are aware that the elements

of harmor stripped us of the evil of Nightmare Moon, but had you not spoken to me then I might not have had the strength to over come her. We very much wish to see you again and to speak

in person and on normal turms if you would be willing to venture to Canterlot, If not we then we

do understand, it could be seen as a bad thing. However inside we have included a necklace for

you, it bares my symbol, we hope that it brings you luck and keep you safe, it is the least we can

do for you.

Sincerley Luna

P.S. It may or may not be enchanted, that is our secret

P.S.S Do not hold the envelope too close to your face.

A smile crept across his face, Princess Luna had taken her time to write him and send him a gift...Wait wat? Carefully he looked at the envelope, there was nothing inside it. "Maybe ...." Thats when there was a pop and puff from the envelope, magic smoke caused thim to reel and gag as he breathed it. "Thanks for the warning." Coughing it suddenly seemed there was something on his hoof and after clearing his eyes, blinking repeatedly, he saw a silver necklace. It was...beautiful, there in the middle of it there was Luna's official seal. It was light and the chain dangled from his chain, but that wasn't all, no he felt a tingle of magic from it. Carefully he'd use his own magic to lift the necklace over his head and around his neck, it felt warm against his coat.

Tempted as he were to stay here by the door he knew he needed to get moving about, otherwise he'd be tired through the whole day and that didn't do any pony any good. Taking a quick look at the other letter it turned out that it was indeed a letter about where they were, aparently the Apple family was going to help set up a new town and figured they'd help out with setting up. Glad that they had finally found something to do he picked up the cover and walked back to his bed, after all it was new and the least he could do was make a new one. After a few minutes he was finally ready to go outside in the morning air, had he mentioned he was not in fact a morning pony? But there was a library and a library that had books on magic.

Opening the door the fresh morning air greeted him, the breeze felt nice and the smell sweet. Before closing the door behind him he'd look around for any pony he might know but came up short, since there were only a few. The trip to the library wasn't that long of one, now that the celebration was over there weren't as many pony in town so the walk was nice and quiet. "Hopefully I can learn..." As he knew he was starting later, most unicorn foals learned the basics in school and he'd not attended that, no he kenw the bare minimal like telekinesis. Slowing his trott briefly he would run a hoof over the necklace, for some reason it gave him hope. It wasn't until this point that he realized. "Wait Canterlot?!" His eye twitched as a memory flashed through his mind, the same one from the previous night. "I...I..." Honestly he didn't know if he could go, of course he wanted to, but he didn't trust himself. "Yeah..that figures..." Maybe if he got better with his magic then he could go but not until then otherwise he was a danger to him and every pony around him.

The Library and Spike

The tree that was the library loomed over his head as he approached almost as if it was welcoming him or trying to scare him away. Undaunted he continued to the door that he'd passed through earlier, this time he wasn't expecting a party since it was after all a library. Today he had his saddle packs with him, which he did normally carry with him, all ways be prepared for any situation and he was hoping to leave with a book or two. Slowing as he reached the door he would stop, even though it was a library he knew it was the home of Twilight Sparkle and Spike. Reaching a hoof up he would knock on the door and step back.

It would only be a few moments before a loud crash comes from the otherside of the door followed by a muffled "Coming!" The door would open slowly as would the sound of yet another crash which started the small dragon enough to jump. "Yikes!" Looking past him would reveal the library in complete and total chaos, there were books every where! "Sorry about the mess, welcome to the library! I'm Spike the greatest assistant ever!" The dragon spoke as if it was a matter of fact, not that Midnight could doubt him on it. "Twilight didn't like the way the books were arranged so I'm rearranging them...again." Stepping aside Spike would usher him into the mess, even now he could tell the books on magic weren't where they were before.

Yeah...this just figured with his luck, of course every book would be moved around. "It's...no problem, I'm Midnight Breeze." Glancing around for a moment he spotted at least one book from before. "Could you use a helping hoof Spike? I might not know where every thing goes but at least I can practice my telekinesis." That was one spell he knew, though every foal should know a little of that. "If not I can come back later."

"Of course you can help! Thank you so much for asking! Reshelving books can get soo boring alone, I don't mind it, but having someone help makes it go by easier." Spike would close the door behind them and motion to the piles of books in one motion. "All right if we can get this done fast enough maybe we can get a snack afterwards! Twilight wants the books in the pony decimal system, sub divided by fiction and non fiction, and those sub divided by type." Pointing to the left of the room he'd say "Fiction on that side." Then to the other "Non fiction on this side. In the middle will be a shelf of recommended reading from both Twilight and myself...it too will be sorted in the same way. I personally am only going to put one book on there." Again he made it sound as if it was the easiest of all things to do and for him it probably was.

The two would set off to work on the books, Midnight taking noticeably longer than Spike since he'd taken the non fiction side. Twilight it seemed prefered to keep more non fiction books than fiction, not that he minded since he came across several helpful looking books on magic like 'Magic for Foals' and 'Protection spells and Barriers for dummies', the latter might have been insulting if he wasn't so new to magic himself. The process also took longer since he was using his magic to float each book to where it needed to go, at first it had been difficult to get a grasp on each book but over the time it took to do so he got better and better getting to the point where he could do multiple books at a time. "So Spike how long have you been with Twilight?" Was it odd for a pony to have a dragon as an assistant or did all unicorn in Canterlot have one?

"Oh she hatched me as her entrance exam to the Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorn and I've been with her ever since." Spike spoke highly of Twilight "She was so powerful that Celestia made her her personal student! She's the best even when she wants to rearrange the library." Spike was blowing through the books like no pony's, or dragon's, business!

Now that had shocked him, Twilight was powerful enough to be Celestia's student? Maybe she could teach him some on magic, he really needed the help if he were to get on any scale worthy of being noticed by Princess Luna. "She must really be something else then..." Someday, maybe, he'd be strong too. Most unicorn's magic had to do with their special something, what ever their cutie mark represented, but his own cutie mark was that of the blue moon so what did that mean? "I don't know a lot about magic, I didn't even go to school as a foal. Hey Spike does every unicorn at the school get a dragon for an assistant?"

Spike was now on top of a ladder with books balanced on one paw. "As far as I know I was the only one, could you even imagine if every unicorn there had one? It would be totally awesome!" He must have forgotten where he was cause he jumped with excitement and ended up tumbling down the ladder in a heap of books. "I'm alright!" The fall didn't even slow him down as he hopped right up, this must have happened to him all the time. "And don't worry about magic I'm sure you'll figure it out, it's not like you don't have your cutie mark yet." Then Spike would lean over to take a closer look at Midnight's cutie mark and gasp, his eyes going big. "A m..m..moon?" Moving nearer he wanted a closer look. "You should take to Twilight, I've not heard of any other pony having just a moon as a cutie mark."

"Maybe..." Gently he'd run a hoof over the medallion that was on his necklace. "I just don't want to look foalish..." It really made him feel bad that he didn't know that much and it wasn't even his fault. The glow of his horn didn't waver as he picked up more and more books with magic, he wasn't even paying attention at this point. The books shelved themselves as the two he'd been looking at drifted closer to him, neither of them was big but both would help. "Would it be alright if I borrowed these, they shouldn't take me long to read."

The dragon was already climbing back up the ladder, this time a bit more carefully. "Oh you won't look foalish, even Twilight needed help with magic at first and sure just have the books back soon, Twilight will notice them. Though it is a library so she might not mind, but really it's a tree! Talk about a fire hazard." Both Spike and Midnight would laugh as they got back to work on the books. "So Midnight wanna be my friend? We don't get many visitors here at the library and it might start to get lonely."

Oddly he had a feeling he'd be to the library fairly often and seeing Spike just as often. "Of course Spike I'd like that." Spike would be his first real friend right? Sunny was his landmare but perhaps she was his friend too, only time would tell. "Anyway lets get finished with these books then we can have a snack." Spike's spins bristled with the mention of snack and got back to shelving the books. "I'm thinking apple pie and tea."

"Oh oh with gemstones! Well on my piece anyway."

"Gemstones?" Midnight actually looked puzzled at the comment, he didn't know much about dragons.

"Of course! We dragons eat gemstones mmmm I think rubies are the best!" Of course dragons ate gemstones and Spike was excited. "You shouldn't try them though, they'd break your teeth. Twilight tried one once, she ended up swallowing it though, it was funny." Again both laughed as they worked, the time passed by quickly and even though there were so many books they had fun.

Magic Easy?

~ I would like to apologize for how long it's taken me write another chapter and that it might not be up to snuff. I've spent the last mont in bed with the flu.I'm feeling better now and can't wait to really get this story going again. ~

Magic is Easy

At least that's how it was supposed to work or so he'd been told. Over the last few days Midnight had been practicing his own magic with the help of book and even a very busy purple unicorn. Twilight Sparkle decided to pitch in with his learning since he appeared to have no training in magic or even told the fundamental basis of using magic other than levitation. Starting with the most basic of spells had been the plan: sparks, light, and some other more basic skills. The sparks? Backfired horribly, leaving a good portion of his mane and coat singed, at least he was dark coated. Light had worked in a strange way, instead of being a bright light it had been soft and easy on the eyes, almost like moon light. All this took place on the first day, the next few days held absolutely no progress. By the third day Twilight had resigned to other seemingly more important such as applebuck season.

When he wasn't studying magic he was studying the night sky and stars. If he wasn't studying he was out and exploring Ponyville at the urging of Spike and Sunny. In the few days he'd been in town he had learned that Sugarcube Crner was one of the most prominent buildings in town but it wasn'tthe only one, there was townhall where he had to go register, Carousel Boutique where a white mare named Rarity, and there was even a small cottage at the edge of town where a pegasus named Fluttershy helped animals. But even knowing all this he'd decidd to spend muh of his time in the library learning.

Today had been no different, he woke up around eleven, ate breakfast, then high tailed it to the library. Twilight was gone for the day and possibly evening and Spike wasout gathering supplies they' need for the week. To Midnight's astonishment there had been very little hoof traffic in the library any of the days he'd come, it was only the random or bored pny looking for something to do or eding up at the wrong place. How any pony could mistake a giant tree for a giant building that looked like food was beyond him. He hadn't expected that someone would come by actually looking for the library, nor had he expected the pegasus to bring in a rain cloud. More so there were more clouds coming in by the moment. "Best Prank EVER!

Thunder cracked thn air as the pegasus thrashed into the cloud. "Ever!" Shouting again just before rain poured into he room.

"Whatdo you think your doing!" The tip of Midnight's horn was already glowing even i he wasnt aware of it, the water which should have been filling the room stopped just in front of the book shelves. "This is a librar you're going to ruin all the books." Pranks? This was going too far and he was not amused by it. Apparently the pegasus hadn't expected any pony to be at the library either, the lookof shock and surprise on her face seemed to mash well. The water within the room began to take on the glow of magic, Midnight's magic, soon the water was reversing dirction towards the egasus.

"Well I...you're not...library's never..DIDN'T DO IT!" The pegaus with a rainbow mane bolted for the door. Luck wasn't with her though, barely out the door the sound of rushing water followed. "No no no no no AH!" The sound of her mufled scream could be herd as a wall of water Rainbow dash was quickly washed out of the library and down the street when the flow of magic finally cut out. Soaked the mair would walk down the street, mutterin and suttering from the coolness of the water. "Oh it's on, you hear me it's on!"

Midnight heard but he wasn't paying attention to it, he'd just done magic and it wasn't levitation. Well in a way or two it was like levitation but in the broader picture it was lunar magic, the color of the glow was more than enough to say that. "Feeling..." A unicorn had to feel the magic he or she had to feel the magic within themself, it was one of the first rules of learning it. "Magic is easy..." It was what all the books said at least and he had no reason to doubt booksor Twilight.

But right now there was another small problem on his mind, one that could possibly get him in trouble. The library and all the books were in a mess. "Just figures..." With a sigh and a little bit of magic he would get to work restoring the books to their propper spots. The effort took it out of him but he managed to get every book in the right spots just as Spike returned with arms full of things. "Hey Midnight could you help me?" The dragon called out as he entered. "And you have to tell me what happened!" Spike of course had a broad grin on his face.

"Tell ou about what?" Even though he was breathig heavily he took the groceries and set them on the table in middle of the room. Once they were set down he'd sit down, he'd over exerted himself without even thinking about it.

"What you did to Raibow Dash of course! She was absolutely soaked when she walked down the market and she was complaining about a prank turned around by a pony in the library." Spike actually fell over in a fit of giggles and didn't stopfor a minute or two. Rolling back up on tohis feet he'd bounce on to the table and sit. "So spill it." Of curse Spike would want to know what happened after all he was a silly dragon. "Come on come on come on."

Fighting back a chuckle of his own Minight would recount what had happened in full detail, not that there was much to tell. "I didn't even know I did it until she was out the door with the water."

With a cheer Spike would pat Midnight on the back. "See I kew you could do it! And you did it to get Rainbow Dash! Wait until I tell Twilight Sparkle she'll be excited! Well not about the library part she'll probably scold Rainbow." Jumping from the table he'd grab the bgs. "Well I need to get all this stuff sorted before Twilight gets back." Dashing upstairs the little dragon would disappea.

Shaking his hea Midnight found himself walking towards the door and to his surprise the sun was already starting to set. "Well another day past." But this day he had learned smething and it was important. With a smile on his face he walked out into the evening air, already he felt the tingle of energy returning to him. "It's going to be a good night."

Rainbow Dash's attempted prank is ony the beginning of trouble to come...

Fragments of Hatred Pt.1

The Castle of the Pony Sisters once again sat in silence, nothing was aloft not even the wind. The castle would have remained so for centuries had Nightmare Moon not returned and been converted back into Princess Luna. Days had passed since this transformation had taken place, nothing had been left behind except the shell of what had been Nightmare Moon's armor. Rocking and spinning the armor began to move and pull together returning to it's original state of a dark cloud. As this transformation occurred the sound of dark whispers began to fill the hall. One voice stood out from the rest, the voice of the mist, as it spoke back to the voices.

"Yes...we were defeated..." The voice was reminiscent of Nightmare Moon, though it lacked the BOOMING quality which the princess had been raised upon. "Crushed beneath the elements of harmony once again..." Long and drawn out the voice spoke, the shadows within the room began to writhe and pulse, the dark cloud at the center. "Painful as it was...a new situation has arisen and one we mayhap take advantage of." If the voice was capable of sounding darker it certainly did, the words dripped with ill intent.

The whispers in the room quieted for a few moments before it continued, louder as if they were talking with not only the cloud but other entities."What is this advantage? Is it worth our time and power...the shadows are weakening in this era...our end is neigh?" The whispers spoke as one, even so the sounded lower than an inside voice.

The cloud laughed at what had been said, it had little thoughts of weakening, only of hatred and the destruction it wrought. "Weakness? You speak as if you have given up on all that is fear, hate, and destruction. My time returns at present as does your own should you continue to render aid. The Elements no longer preside with the princesses and can no longer be used by a single pony, thus their power is divided amongst six individuals."

"Individuals which defeated your guise and puppet Nightmare Moon....a goddess in her own right, a goddess by birth no less...The elements still hold great power within the individual which holds the fragment of power...but divided...they may yet fall... The whispering once again returned as the shadows seemed to talk to themselves. "We concede that his may be an opportunity to which we can gain more strength and tighten our fleeting grasp upon this world. What shall be the course of action to which we reenforce our control oh being of hatred whom wishes this world in turmoil? Speak for we listen but this shall be our last attempt with you as our bastion, our spear which to return. Should you fail you will be alone in all that you may reap." The shadows are finally silent as they listen, perhaps there was hope for them yet.

"As I said the elements are divided, their grasp must be weakened that their bond lies within six instead of one. Our defeat was inevitable, Nightmare Moon's strength had lapsed, her judgement weakened, and her resolve all but broken from her imprisonment. With your assistance we will take the guise of each and with each we will sough the seeds of fear and doubt amongst pony kind. And with each shape we may be able to obtain the individual's element, eventually gaining all six and all the power which this course promises. Yes I seek to plunge this world into turmoil, to watch the landscape be set ablaze with the flames of hatred But with my will and desire you will rule this world and all those who still call it home when I have finished...," Now the cloud's voice was strong and re-assertive, there was power.

"Perhaps...there is a chance...this plan strikes a cord with deception, Discord would be most pleased...You have our support....but which guise would you first choose? To which should we begin this task?" As one the shadows had spoken but now they returned to whispering, as if trying to decide which would be best or rather easiest which the cloud heard more times than not.

"The pegasus....dull yellow of coat and pink of mane, fear had been strong in that one and for that you must agree...the most tasteful beginning. The element of kindness has chosen such an accommodating host. A just beginning for us to start anew, join me now there is much work to be done." The shadows converged on her in those short words, a swirling vortex replaced the cloud for only a few moments. Once all was done there stood a darkened pegasus, clearly yellow and pink but coated in shadow. With a flap of her wings the pegasus grinned. "May hate once again rise and kindness fall..." The voice was indeed Fluttershy's but instead of it's squeaky demeanor it contained a dark seductive tone. In shape but not color, in voice but not tone, she was Fluttershy...but perhaps that was not all that had changed...

A lone figure fled the castle...

The Fragment: Fluttershy

A lone black figure drifted towards one of Canterlot's towers, it's outline hard to see against the night sky as it glided past night patrol as if unseen. With barely a sound the figure landed on a balcony just beside a large telescope pointed towards the heavens. "This cannot be, we are yet prepared for such a confrontation, nary a month has past since our return..." Throwing back the hood of the cloak she wore Luna's full body would manifest beginning with her flowing mane. "Why has it...our hatred taken such measures?" The doors to her chambers flew open as she spoke aloud, as were orders there was not a servant or guard in her room, no all that awaited her were drawings and maps of the stars above. For the last few weeks all Luna had done was work on the stars, making changes here, tweaking there, and so on, no she'd hardly even eaten so absorbed into her work. "Maybe our dear sister can help in this? She does have a student she aents on quests after all, this Twilight Sparkle." Another little pile in the corner would be a stack of rolled scrolls which appeared untouched since they'd been placed. "No...perhaps we have a better idea..." Strolling towards a small orb within a small box, cushioned by a black velvet linning, Luna would wave her horn just above it. "Dearest Midnight...I think thou shall have the strength where we lack..."

The mist within the black orb began to swirl and pulsate as a murky image began to appear, over a few minutes the murky image would become clearer and clearer revealing Midnight. Through the orb she saw Midnight staring at the lake, or rather the reflection of the moon on the lake. Scattered around him books were laying about, each and every one of them open to a different page, each of which was some form of magic. "He is awake and studying at the same time of night, why I believe I am surprised." To study was one thing, boring as it got and alone, but to do so by moon light? Luna felt touched even if it wasn't done for her, what she saw below was some pony enjoying her night. "Thou are the right choice for the task."

A tingling made it's way down Midnight's back, starting with his mane to his tail. Perking his head up he would look around, the current book of interest fell to the ground with a light thud. "All right...who's there?" And he most certainly felt someone watching him right then and he had to be ready to flee, the Everfree Forest rarely took visitors kindly. Indeed he was in Everfree forest, Midnight didn't need anypony finding out that he didn't really know magic and that he preferred doing practing at night as it seemed to ease the learning process. With a light sigh he'd sigh the books he was using would start to float back into his saddle packs, study session was over for tonight. "And I was on to something too." Muttering as he took off from the small lake, aware he was still being watched but by who and from where escaped him.

Hatred, for that's what she was, flew through the air with little worry. This night would be her night to prove herself to the shadows and darkness who's powers she craved. "Mine...After tonight their power will be mine!" Her path took her over the Everfree forest and her very presence made the forest darker. "Oh I wonder who my first victim shall be, some pony stupid enough to be out so late perhaps? Some pony who's powerful would make this all the sweeter..." A tingle ran through the shadowy things spine, causing a dark grin to cross her lips. "And I have found him." Adjusting her flight Hatred would angle downwards towards the poor black colt running through Everfree, dumb colt should have known better.

Dropping from the sky she'd land mere paces behind the poor whelp who slid to a halt...was there a glow to his eyes? Nevermind it made no difference to Hatred as hatred was brought to any and all. "Pathetic whelp tremble before me and I may let you live, flee and your death is assured." Now while she tried to sound all dark and evil it quite frankly didn't come out that way, it may have been in a seductive tone the voice was very clearly Fluttershy's. "Now fall to your knees!"

For Midnight who hadn't quite met the quiet pony he didn't know how to make this out, from what Spike had told him Fluttershy was for all purposes quiet and avoided conflict. This...whatever it was didn't seem that way. "No...I uh..don't think so actually.." A buzz went over his fur as he recalled a familiar feeling, it was that of the energy that kept Luna bound within herself. Wait how did he know that? "What do you want?" Moving his legs in a more defensive stance he was ready to fight if he needed to, beneath his coat no pony would guess but he was in peak condition for a unicorn possibly even better from all the years of travel and good diet.

"Well now you think you can fight me? Me? You're kidding right? I want nothing more than to spread hatred, pure and simple hatred. Should a few colts die in the process so be it." Hatred had no fear, no in fact she seemed to enjoy this banter. The colt was not the purple unicorn that stripped Nightmare Moon, that had been the work of the elements. The mare knelt her head down and focused on a spell...and focused some more...and...she was a pegasus not an alicorn! Spells wouldn't come that easy in this form, no matter she still had the shadows around her and wings. "So be it..." Leaping into the air she made to strike Midnight with all four of her hooves. Another problem with Fluttershy, which hadn't been so apparent before, was her frail build and lack of muscles.

Midnight dodged as expected, the start of Hatred's attack was too slow and the follow up didn't have enough force to give it a chance to hit. On the other hoof the tip of Midnight's horn was beginning to glow, water began to lift from the leaves, the ground, and...even the sky. "I don't know who you are and really I don't care." The glow of his eyes intensified, the moon wasn't full but it's strength syphoned off into Midnight, the orbs of water increased in size before being launched at the mare who was only just recovering from the failed attack. Timing was everything and Midnight's was right on time, five orbs of water struck the mare knocking her back. "Mom forgive me for that, but I'm protecting myself." While Midnight's mother hadn't taught him much about magic she had taught him right and wrong, one of the biggest wrongs were to hit mares! "Know what now I'm going to feel bad."

Soaked and thrashed Hatred stood up, she had made a bad choice in forms! This body...this weak weak body of hers was truly fit for nothing other than being kind and gentle, the though made her spit. "You! This is not the last you have seen of me! I assure you I will end your miserable existence!" Trying to exend her wings to fly the water had hit just hard enough and in the right spot to make it impossible to fly! "Ugh!" The water was already beginning to form again so she fled, already beginning to deform into the clump of hatred she truely was. "I'll be back!"

Watching as Midnight walked away, head low as if he was deep in thought, Luna did her best to not cheer. Instead she settled on clopping a hoof on the ground and smiling. "Most impressive Midnight, most impressive indeed." Luna had never thought to be impressed but the way Midnight handled the situation seemed to be enough. "Brave and creative, we had thought such qualities did not mesh so well." Turning from the orb the cloak she wore would vanish, it was almost time for lunch and the princess of night had to be presentable for even the cooks.

(( before anyone starts thinking I hate fluttershy it's the opposite, she's one of my favorites in the series. Definately in the top eight. The fragmented Fluttershy conflict wasn't intended to be a long fight, expect worse when Midnight fight's Rarity or even...the dreaded pinkie pie! DUN DUN DUN! ))

The Fragment: Rarity

The next few days were quiet and some would say a bit too quiet, Ponyville was settling down after a near suffocation by dragon smoke. Midnight had decided to spend these quiet days studying, practicing, and trying to figure out what exactly he fought. While it appeared to be Fluttershy he knew otherwise for the mare was quiet and kind, after all she was the element of kindness. Further Midnight knew the quiet mare had been out of town with the other elements, dealing with said dragon smoke. “It was familiar…” The conundrum was going to bug him till he couldn’t sleep and as it was Midnight didn’t sleep much anyway.

Pushing up from his place in the library, which thanks to him was in good order as Spike had let loose a posse of animals, Midnight would move towards the door only stopping to look back. “You know Spike, you might be the number one assistant but I’m a pretty good helper.” The baby dragon just turned in his sleep, after having dealt with Angel Bunny and the likes Midnight couldn’t blame him for catching some rest while he could. From here he would go out into the night, forgoing the lake he had been practicing at for logical reasons, so instead he went to the park. While most nights other ponies would be at the park even this late at night but with smoke in the air many just decided to stay home.

The park was clear as Midnight had expected it to be though some ponies had obviously been around, some trash and even a picnic blanket was on the ground. Passing by the cozy looking blanket Midnight would push deeper into the park, further from the street lights which now lit the roads for weary travelers and busy bodies. The spot he would go on to choose was decently secluded and open to the night sky which was an absolute must for the coal coated stallion. Setting up was quite simple; all he needed to do was set down a book and open it. “Where was I before?” No sooner had the question left his muzzle when he found a marked page and thus with it being so near a full moon no light was needed. Unbeknownst to Midnight the glow from his eyes from the other night was present, brighter as it seemed to depend on how full the moon was.

Elsewhere in Ponyville a white mare with a purple mane was wondering , from shadow to shadow she vanished and reappeared, “Where art thou whelp, thy end shall be this night.” With a horn to focus its energy the hatred, she as it was clear from its disposition and choice of body, could move about as quickly as she pleased and work magic as well. But tonight her goal was to be rid of that..that…stallion! He had been a constant thought in her mind, a most hated of enemies much like those meddlesome element bearers! “When the is found the suffering will begin…” Talking to herself seemed to help the hatred keep focus, the goal was clear.

An hour or so would pass, the shade was completely and utterly lost in this town and with no wings she couldn’t risk flying! “Once I rule I shall level this town with a passion unseen in centuries…” A park came into view, being near the edge of town it might give her some direction to go or at least that had been the hope when a familiar tingle coursed through it. “Found you whelp…” The expression on the beautiful mare’s face could be described as sick and twisted.

The very same tingle that the shade felt would also pulse through Midnight, though unlike the shade who knew what the feeling was he wrote it off as a byproduct of his magic. In front of him stood a practice dummy arranged from things he had found around the park, for example the torso was made from the picnic blanket stuffed with leaves. Around the dummy were little impact marks from the spell he was currently practicing. “It can’t be that hard…” Muttering to himself as magic once again gathered around his horn, maybe it was the shape he was launching the bolt of magic? That’s right he had spent the better part of two whole hours trying to hit a dummy with a single spell. The fight had taught Midnight that he should be prepared for anything and water or the elements might not always be around for aid. This time instead of a sphere floating in front of him he kept the magic built up in his horn so that it would be more dart like when fired. When the bolt finally left his horn it made little sound and had very little arch, a dart shape seemed to do it as the bolt struck home on the dummy.

“How pathetic that a whelp such as you should practice magic, it brings me great joy that I shall be the one to wipe you off this plane of existence.” A sinister voice smoke from behind him had it not been so dark and filled with venom Midnight might have mistaken it as Rarity. As it was the difference was more than enough for him to whirl around in a stance much like the previous night. “Again?” How did this thing find him out here and why did it look different?

“Returned as I have promised and this night I am prepared.” With a fluid movement she would tap the horn on Rarity’s forehead; it would ping with a dark energy. “Thy shall parish this night and bring me much satisfaction.” Not a second later several bolts of the dark energy launched from her horn to strike Midnight square in the chest sending him whirling back. Warm blood leaked from the wounds, while the bolts hadn’t gone as deep as they could have it was enough to draw blood. “And I shall take my time doing it.”

The ground Midnight decided felt very nice beneath him and that he would like to be very close friends with it. However since it was apparent that his life was in danger that friendship would have to wait for a more opportune time. Trying to move though wasn’t easy either, as he pushed from the amazingly soft ground a groan of pain left his muzzle. “Ow…” A hoof across the chest was more than enough to confirm the warmth there was blood, worse than any cut he’d gotten before. “Have to…play it defensively…” But what spell did he know that could stop magic? Somewhere in his studies had been a spell to bring up a barrier which might be enough to save him from further pain but not enough to stop this fight.

“Truth be told I must thank the for removing myself from that ghastly form, this one suits me so much better.” Yes it seemed the shade was as vain as Rarity when it came to looks, even if she didn’t realize it. “But thanks shall not keep the from death.” Swooshing her mane back the shade tried to strike again only for Midnight to roll away. “Stay still!”

Nope, staying s till was an incredibly bad idea he felt so Midnight would keep moving. More bolts flew at him though as he tried focusing on the spell, one bolt struck his tail and the others missed. “How did…” Not noticing the bolt Midnight remembered the spell and began to cast it, problem was it demanded focus which he couldn’t do WHILE DODGING A CRAZY MARE! A distraction was needed something fierce when another bolt struck true, his hoof was knocked out from beneath him sending the stallion sliding along the ground.

“Now you parish!” With Midnight sliding to his defeat some detail was missed, as such a mass of dirt was flung into the air with the majority landing on the Rarity wanna be. “D…dirt…” Why did she suddenly have the urge to run in circles screaming ‘my hair!’ all of a sudden? “Dirt shall not stop my revenge!” As the shade stepped forward something began to wiggle on the tip of her snout. “What is th…” There were no words to describe her absolute disgust as a cute earth worm popped out of the dirt there and into her nose. A shriek was heard all around Ponyville and maybe even the entirety of Equestria that night as the shade Rarity ran circles so fast Rainbow Dash would be impressed. “Ew ew ew ew get it…it’s in my nose!” Luckily the trees caused the shriek to echo so the exactly location was hidden quite well as lights came on across the town, tired ponies walked on to the street with a single question. ‘What the hay was that?’

This single thing that appeared to be a simple accident was the key Midnight needed to win and redirect his magic from defense to attack, as if something agreed in the universe his eyes began to glow bright. Suddenly the pain in his chest and hoof began to fade as the wounds began to heal, allowing Midnight to rise from the ground. “Go away…” If Midnight felt bad for the mare it certainly didn’t show as several orbs of magic floated around him and began to form spinning bolts of energy. “But first I’m going to return the favor.” Was he a bit angry? Well this thing had shot him in the chest and in the hoof with the intention to kill him; angry was one word for it. There was no hesitation when he launched the bolts of magic at the shade, each one struck her in the same exact places that she had struck him.

“Worm…no!” Was all she got out before the bolts struck, causing her to slide from the spot as well as causing her form to waver. From beautiful to scary and back again hatred went, a normal pony would miss it but Midnight saw this in slow motion. “Again?! To be defeated yet again by a pathetic whelp?!” Panic? Again that was a word she felt, though if it was from Midnight or the worm trying to go in her nose she couldn’t tell. With a burst of magic Rarity vanished from sight, leaving a dirt outline and a very confused worm floating in the air for a split second.

Done, Midnight was done for the night. He was done moving, thinking, and even caring, all he wanted was to rest as the magical strain caught up to him. Eyes closing as darkness over took his vision Midnight fell asleep where he was.

Hatred screamed raw anger to the sky, the trees, and yes the ground beneath her. “That form was perfect! Perfect! To be defeated by an earth…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it as a full body shiver took over. “Oh no this is not over…not by a long shot…I need another form, one much more down to the ground…” Mist swirled around Hatred as she remembered one of the element bearers, an orange-ish mare with a cowboy hat and country twang. “Well look at this, a strong mare…I like it..” Where magic and grace failed perhaps raw strength would prevail.

Luna sat staring at the viewing orb before her, it was rare for a princess to become so dumbstruck. Yet here she sat not quite able to believe what she witnessed. “Un…unexpected Midnight...” While the anger didn’t seem to bother the princess, after all death threats were angering sentiments, it was the reaction of Hatred that caught her off guard. “None the less I am most impressed Midnight, with more study you will go far.” And he needed to go far she feared for what was to come would be harder than she could tell him. Closing the curtain which hid the orb from prying eyes Luna would return to work, watching and arranging the night sky.

The Fragment: Applejack

Several days had passed since the last incident with the shadeor whatever it really was, Midnight had spent much time thinking about what exactly was going on. He would pour through story after story in the library looking for any reference to a threat that coul take any form it so desired, even Spike had joined in the search though he know not why. "I know it's the same thing over and over." Muttering low enough tohimself that the baby drago wouldn't over hear, sometimes it did help to speak allowed when trying to solve a problem. Looking down Midnight would have sworn he'd seen a story about such a thing but it was only a story about shadows, not useful when dealing with the physical he thought.

That movement however did make him notice his necklace he had been given, funny how Midnight hadn't really paid attention to it. "I bet Luna would know..." At the mention of the night princess, even in whisper, Spike dove for a pile of books and stayed submerged for a few minutes before his head poked up, nervus. Did every pony and dragon react this way when she was brought up even in passing? Yes Nightmare Moon had been a horrible pony who planned to essentially destroy Equestria but she and Princess Luna were no longer the same...a light bulb would appear above his head as he looked back down to the story about shadows.

"Sometimes shadows are just the manipulation of light within a room and sometimes they

could be far far worse. One can never know when a shadow might be living and waiting for

the right moment to strike out at an unsuspecting pony. Or worse one might be waiting to

take your place. A candle can do no harm to such a thing, one can only fight or run for their

lives. Choose to fight and know you may win one battle or one hundred before a shadow

decides to surrender while running may mean you are never safe from harm. A hard choice

indeed but one that should be made none the less. Have hope and know that any victory

may be a step to bettering yourself in one way or another, have courage that the true will

all ways succeed."

Granted that this passage was not so much of a story but words of hope it did seem to help Midnight decide what he must do, he would fight. "Did you ay Luna, like princess luna, he same one that's Nightmare Moon?" Spike looked completely panied, pehaps it was because he had been near face to face with the thing or maybe it was stories he had red. Climbing from the pile of books, later to be dubbed the book hall of safety, Spike would begin to walk around nervously. "I need FOOD, any food, just food, good food even, food." Then he was gone, leaving behind nothng more than a cloud of dust that as roughly shaped like him.

Another thing Midnight would put together fromhis reading and lookin outside is that he has only fought with it at night. Even now the sun was about an hour till it set, some time to get some exercise and prepare for the fight he could only guess was coming. "I'm leaving now Spike." Calling out to the baby dragon who was no claws deep in cake batter. With that he would take off from the library to make his way towards Applejack's farm. After all it was a good distance and would allow him to get back home for supplies before sunset.

Somewhere along the sam road another mare was making her way down, one could easily mistae e for Applejack in the dark but even in the light it appeared as though she was cloaked in shadow. "As dandy as this twang is I reckon it should stop sometime soon." As happy as Shade was with the new shape the only thing that trul annoyed her, possiblymore than the annoying stallion, was the way it forced her to speak! "Conound it all!" Bt he sleek form did please her quitea bit, sh was quite built and if magic didn't beat the stallion then sheer strength would!

Down the path she felt a tingle go over her as the sound of controlled breathing caught her attention. Either the dreadful Midnight was nearby or another sem powerful unicorn was around. "Tarnation must be..." With a growl of utmost suffering she shut up and started to run. Over the next hill in fact she nearly ran straight in to Midnight cauing her to nearly curse, well she did curse his existence but intentially. "Well if it ain't Midnight, it's time we settled..." Forcing herself to hack and wheeze in an attempt to get rid of the twang Shade would continue. "The time has come to end you! This eve you shall be out of my mane so that I might plunge Equestria into utter agony!"

With his mind else where Midnight had taken much longer than he had intended with his running, truth be told he had been thinking about Luna. "Why did she give me this necklace?" Muttering lightly, perhaps she knew what was going on? If the princess did then why didn't she do anything to help him? "Maybe she doesn't know." Coming over a hill it took all of his skill and dumb luck to not crashing into Applejack. "Applejack what..." But it wasn't the yellow mare, it was easy to tell since she appeared to be cloaked in shadows that never moved. "Nice accent and all but I'm not going to run away." This time would be different as he wasn't tired and he had actually prepared for this fight, sort of.

Midnight would move around the shade carefully, as he moved she too seemed to mimic his movements. "Thou are a fool to believe the has a chance of winning, I shall consume you!" And if this fight went as she wanted it to Shade would do just that, this stallion was powerful so that would add to hers. Without warning she would throw herself at him, hooves up to strike him hard across the face.

The fight was on, Midnight was able to duck one of the hooves but one connected with his cheek causing him to whirl about slightly. It occured to Midnight that fighting a mare that was physically fit, if not the very description of such, in a hoof to hoof fight was a very bad idea. At the same time using magic did feel a little dirty as a win would be almost certain, so he would continue this dance for a while longer. Shade had over extended with the punches which left her open to a hoof sweep of sorts and with two hooves off the ground the mare fell. "I'd say you hit hard but that would be Applejack, your nothing but a copy and I won't lose to you." Circle and circle they continued, trading blows here and there, in the hoof fight Shade had an advantage and Midnight was taking far more blows than he would have liked.

"I shall end this pathetic fight now, know absolute misery!" Shade's form began to waver to and fro as the shadows around her began to move on their own. Enough, Midnight had enough of this fight an agreed entirely. It was time to end this fight. As the shadows moved to him his horn would begin to glow, the same magical aura that wrapped it would wrap around Shade. "It is too...what art thou doing?!" Her voice seemed more paniced as she lifted from the ground.

Midnight's plan was simple, Applejack was an earth pony so she lacked any magical ability and the ability to fly only came to those with wings. "Agreeing." Earth pony meet earth, if this wasn't a serious fight he might have actually chuckled, as it was he was just annoyed. Instead of seeing her off properly as a gentlestallion should he simple threw her as far and as hard as he could. All that Shade could say in return was a yelp and a scream as she flew. "How long until she gives up I wonder..." Fighting like this was changing him Midnight felt and it wasn't a change he was expecting and really wasn't wanting.

Still screaming sometime later Shade's flight would go uninterrupted until she hit a tree...

The shock of the hit caused her to vaporate on contact, leaving her a spawling mound of darkness on the ground, groaning in agony. "I shall have his life and power!" Screaming she flew into the sky as she took yet a new shape, this of another pegasus with a rainbow streaked mane. "And it will be awesome!" Where power and magic failed perhaps speed would be the one element she could use to beat him. It was on.

The Fragment: Rainbow Dash

Awakening the following morning had done nothing for his mood, there was something going on and it was now solely after him it seemed. "Three...two...one..." As if on cue a large amount of letters flooded through his mail slot, this had become a morning routine as Derpy had not intention of letting sleep the morning away, whether she knew it or not. Of course he had been informed that he should sift through the mail, find what was his, and send the rest back to the post office. Normally none of it was for him, only his second day in Ponyville had seen him anything truly special, then there were letters from his parents which he cherished. Floating the rather intimating pile of letters to him he would begin his morning routine, two letters, one from his parents and one...from Canterlot? Setting aside the one from Canterlot he would read the letter from his parents while preparing breakfast.

The letter consisted of thoughts and well wishes from his parents, dreams and hopes that he might find whatever he was looking for. Little did they know he had found something and didn't exactly want it, the scorn of a shade or whatever wasn't a very bright spot in his life. Breakfast on the other hoof was something he hoped would be good, after all who could possibly go wrong with waffles and syrup? Hot and sweet, waffles was exactly what he needed then, his spirits lifted he went back for the other letter.

Unlike the last unexpected letter this one did not feel heavier than it should, no gift was included but the words he hoped were good ones.

Greetings Midnight Breeze

In writing we hope that this letter finds you well, we have been watching you very closely and your endeavors have

not gone unnoticed. Know that what you face is not something many can defeat alone, even I could not stand

long against it's clawing grasp. From night to night we watch you struggle and watch you sinking into depression.

This fate we would not wish upon my worst of allies or closest of friends, it is hatred, it is sorrow, it is fear, and it

is evil. But you fight it better than I had, this are happier times and you have help that we never had, know it or

not but you will succeed. You must succeed, have faith in your own strength, your own feelings, and above

all you must have faith in yourself. From here the fight only gets harder, we have the utmost faith in you.

Princess Luna

P.S. Seems we cannot get over the royal we, we all have our struggles...we as in every pony not 'we' as in we.

At first Midnight had to reread the letter a few times to trying and fully understand what was written. By the third time he found himself smiling, it honestly touched him that the princess cared enough to show concern. It also struck him funny that she would include her own struggle, he had course noticed the use of we instead of I and thought it odd. Setting the letter down he would head towards the bathroom to prepare for the day ahead, only making it half way he would stop and blink. "Wait she's watching me." Quickly Midnight would look around the house looking for anything, not knowing what he only came to one conclusion, warm against his chest sat the necklace, it must have been how. "Stalker..."

Cleaning himself up didn't take long, a come through the mane and a rinse with magic was all it took. "Alright then, I'll talk to Twilight." It wasn't an easy decision since Luna thought so highly of him but he needed the help, his skills just weren't enough. Stepping out in the day he was greeted by a flash down pour, flash snow fall, and a bwahahaha. It sounded so familiar that it had to be Rainbow Dasy, and it so happened that he was not prepared for the prank.

"Oh my gosh I can't believe you fell for it! Payback tastes so sweet!" Rainbow giggled as she rolled around the cloud. "You should have seen your face, it was like!" Trying to copy Midnight's very annoyed face she failed miserably. "Lets see you top that! You can't!"

Midnight however didn't think that was quite right, in fact when his horn began to glow Rainbow sat straight up on the cloud. "You can't reach me!" When the glowing didn't stop she began to panic ever so slightly. "Oh no no no no!" Using her hind legs to kick off the cloud the rainbow maned pegasus tried to get away, when she didn't move she panicked even more. "Not fair! Magic's like cheating and and and dang." A slight over glow occurred as he pulled all the water and snow from him and ground. "What...eep!" A large ball of snow and water collided with prankster mare, which in turn caused her to flop to the ground. "Too...cooooold, cold Midnight just cold." Well it did make him feel better so it must not have been.

"Go inside and dry off, I have a few towels in the closet. Oh and remember all's fair in love and pranks, at least that's what I read." Books were so informative sometimes and helped in situations just like this. Not waiting to see what Rainbow Dash did he would start is walk towards the library, going around town rather than through it just in case Rainbow Dash decided to strike back.

At about the same time another rainbow streaked mare flew across the sky, her colors were noticeably darker than Rainbow Dash's, but not enough so to cause panic what so ever in the town. After all Night Mare Moon was taken care of and what could be worse than that right? "Foolish ponies, they should know that hatred shall soon be upon them!" But not before she took care of the meddlesome Midnight Breeze! That one stallion brought a large amount of hate to her, not that it was a bad feeling but he hated that someone would dare oppose her! "AH! I'll get him!" Doing a loop de loop to make herself appear normal she set out to find him! "Where are you?!"

From her height it wouldn't take long for Shade to find her the annoyance and he seemed in high spirits? How was that even possible! Did he not know that she was hunting him, that hatred was going to be his downfall! "How dare he?!" From here she angled downwards towards the stallion, he couldn't see this coming. "Victory!"

It was a more than likely thought, it just didn't seem to be the case. Midnight, thanks to Rainbow Dash's earlier prank he was in fact on edge and ready for anything coming from the sky. A dark spec was coming straight at him from above, yelling something about victory? The color didn't look right though, this dot wasn't the sky blue and rainbow maned mare, no a sinking suspicion told him it was the shade after him once again. With a sigh he would take a stronger stance, maybe tonight's prank wasn't all bad?

The distance was crossed in roughly fifteen to twenty seconds, clearly not as fast as Rainbow Dash.

Why is he just standing there? Hatred thought as she flew directly at him, something rainbow's directness was definitely getting to her as she saw nothing wrong with this approach. "You're going down Midnight Breeze!" That was until she was twenty feet or so from him and just stopped dead in her wings. "What/!" Hatred struggled and flared as much as she could but to no avail, apparently if there was nothing to press against then there was no force to break the telekinesis.

Midnight found himself staring at the mare, his horn was glowing bright with a little bit of over glow to signify how much effort this took. He was after all a stallion of the night and it was no longer the full moon, thus his magic was weaker. This fact was not something Hatred missed and while she might be defeated now it was an acceptable defeat. At least until she began to spin around and around, the speed was gaining as well. "Put....me....down..!" Oh madness could a shade get sick?

"Can't you leave me alone for one day?" Midnight asked, his voice was a bit strained as he focused on the magic rather than the words. "I'm not going to give up!" Angry? Not quite the words for it, high annoyed seemed to fit all the better. This attempt had been really sad to be honest, knowing the real Rainbow Dash really showed how under powered the shade was. "Just go away." The magic would burst from his horn as he once again sent the shade flying off towards the ever free, the spinning had done it's job quite well as she flew in an uncontrolled zig zag. "I'd rather go against Rainbow Dash any day, at least she's fun." Fun wasn't the right word again but it seemed to fit well enough and so he would continue towards the tree house to speak with Twilight.

"Tree tree tree!" There were lots of trees and more than she remembered, Hatred's eyes were all loopy and so she was seeing triples of the trees. It was no surprise to her that more than one tree hit her on the rather rough landing. Moments would pass before she regained her bearings and stood up. "He beat me again but I learned, oh yes I learned." With wobbly steps she would begin to change once again, the shadows wrapped and danced around as he form changed. "He tires during the day so something with a bit more energy should do quite nicely." Speaking Hatred's voice changed from Rainbow's voice to Pinkie's, though a slightly more insane version of it.

Fragment: Pinkie Pie

The walk to the library should have been just like every other day he went, quiet and uneventful. Once already this walk had been interrupted and it wasn't even by a friendly pony. "That took more out of me than I'd have liked." Muttering lightly to himself, there was a bit of a way to go and he prayed to Luna that nothing else stopped him. Of course that's when a bush sprang to life as he passed it and a very pink pony tackled him.

"Hey Midnight! I was just out and about looking for you!" Oh goddess Pinkie was jumping on his ribs, at least it felt that way from here. "Didn't forget about you, nope! Things have just been soo loopy with everything." To show just how loopy things had been here eyes did that weird spinney thing that ponies often got after being spun around and around. "So I'm throwing you a party, a welcome to Ponyville and sorry for forgetting party! Yep right here!" For a brief moment she would bounce back into the bush and reappear moments later with...a cannon?

As soon as the mare was off Midnight quickly backpedaled away from the bush, giving it a wide birth for the inevitable return of the party pony. "But I'm." There wasn't enough time to finish his sentence, as soon as the cannon touched the ground Pinkie yanked the cord on the back of it. A BOOM would cause him to duck for cover while holding his ears, no warning left his ears ringing. "in a rush..." His voice sounded very far away though it would start to clear within a few minutes. Looking up from his spot on the ground Midnight couldn't do anything other than blink. Pinkie hadn't been kidding, before him was a full blown, albeit small, party, complete with streamers, balloons, punch, and hats.

"Tada! A party just for you, it has absolutely everything! Even music!" Zipping to the table which had appeared from the cannon was a boom box, clicked on it played soft rock. "See even..." Moving around the table and even going so far as to look under Midnight she would blink, look around, then blink again. "Whoops! I knew I forgot something, silly Pinkie you forgot the cake. Be right back!" Once again she would jump back into the mysterious bush.

This was, if anything, a chance to make a run for it. However Midnight had been raised better than that and really if he ran now she would track him down later. "Right..." Sitting up he would just wait, surely it couldn't take the mare long to get the cake, right? No sooner than an hour later the bush began to rustle again and he had actually taken a few sips of the punch, the mare knew her sweets. "Welcome back..."

What came out of the bush was not Pinkie Pie, it did look like her but the colors were so much darker. Oh no, he knew exactly who this was. "Not you again, I just got rid of you."

Leaping from the bush Hatred made her grand entrance once again, this pony was something special alright. What surprised her upon her exit of the bush was that Midnight was right there and there was...a party? "Oh no Midnight, it seems I am interrupting something and so I am right on time." What ever was going on here had kept him outside in the sun and if she was correct then Midnight would be all the weaker. "This will be fun, well for me." Then she moved but instead of forward she jumped back into the bush and vanished, only to reappear from a bush behind Midnight.

Oh no was all Midnight could think, Pinkie Pie was perhaps the most random pony in town if not all of Equestria! While he hadn't seen a lot of the pink mare there were more than enough rumors of her abilities to worry him. Before he knew it Hatred was gone and if his guess was right she would appear behind him. Spinning he was able to catch a streamer to the face before the dark blur vanished again. "Horse apples."

Around and around she went, where ever she stopped no pony knew, except for Hatred of course. With each and every jump or random movement there was something new in her hooves, there were streamers, cupcakes, fruits, vegetables, party hats, and anything else one would expect from a party. Best of all this was so much fun, Midnight couldn't stand a chance against her now. "Aw poor Midnight's too slow, I'm going to take my time ending you!"

By now Midnight was finding that keeping up with the shade was a dizzying affair, it was just impossible for him to keep up at this time of day. Again and again he would trying to grab the earth pony with telekinesis or shoot her with a bolt of magic, it just never seemed to hit or even be in the right place at the right time. This situation was bad and he knew it, there was just no way he could keep up. Every move was countered, even when Midnight tried to make a dive for the table which held the radio, needless to say the radio was now on the ground in a few pieces and the table was just gone. The struggle would go on for another ten minutes before hatred seemed to grow bored.

"Now that I've had my fun it turns out that I have bigger and better things to do, like taking over this happy world and bringing it to it's knees." Without hesitation she would reach a hoof into the giant mane of hers and pull out a cannon similar to the Pinkie's party cannon. "You should see the look on your face, ti's going to end for you and you have that look. Not going to try anything? I thought not." Then she yanked the cord which was followed by a large boom, even if Midnight brought up his shield this close whatever was launched would hit him.

Whatever was meant to come out however certainly didn't, instead of shooting a party or even a ball there was...a fluff of pink? And it was moving. A fit of giggles and a flailing Pinkie announced her valiant return, if not some what comical arrival. "I got the cake! That was so fun!" Indeed there was a cake sitting on a brand new table just in front of Pinkie Pie. "Sorry it took so long, had to bake an all new cake, the old one just walked away! At least the hoof prints suggest as much." Never to point a hoof at someone she would turn to look around, her eyes going wide at the sight of...her? "Oh Breezy this she's so cool, did you make her? Colors are a bit off but oooo" Bouncing around the now awestruck mare she just continued to talk and talk. "Oh oh oh can she talk? How about dance? I want to see her dance, I'll dance too if she does."

"It's one of you elements! ARGH I'll destroy you both! And shut up!" How could this mare have known what Hatred was up to or even know she was here? But she was an element of harmony and better yet Pinkie was alone safe the weak Midnight. It was, at least to her, a fight she could win easily. Jumping back with the cannon Hatred would pull the cord only for the real Pinkie to be gone. "What where?"

Hatred's mane began to shake which lead to Pinkie appearing out of the top. "You're grumpy, you should laugh more or my face might get stuck." As if having the greatest idea ever Pinkie's eyes got bigger. "I know I know I can sing!" Taking a deep breath she was about to start the laughter song, until a hoof was shoved in her mouth. Did such a thing stop the pink mare? Heck no! With hoof in mouth she just mumbled the song as loud as possible.

Hatred, Luna bless her, let out a moan of ultimate suffering. As it turned out being one of those things that was so often laughed away was bad, even now her coat itched. "Stop it...stop it...stop it...STOP IT!" It was too much, with about of anger Hatred would yank the overly obnoxious pink mare from her mane who was promptly caught by Midnight. Without hoof in mouth, a mistake on her behalf, it left Pinkie Pie completely unhindered in singing and now even Midnight joined in. "No...Noooooo!" Yanking the cannon's cord all that was produced was cake, streamers, and party hats! Pain wasn't the right word for how she felt, the body Hatred used began to waver and dull as if the song it self was forcing her away. "Enough! I will be back, mark my words! I'll get you and all the elements!" Not able to wait any longer she jumped in a bush and vanished.

Midnight just watched as Hatred left and moved to explain what just happened, what Pinkie did next just left him dumbstruck.

"You have been fighting with something that may or may not been related to Nightmare Moon, which has been taking the shape of the elements of harmony in an attempt to cause chaos so that the powers of meanness can take over." A rather large breath later she would continue. "And so she has taken you as a personal threat and seeks to take you out before conquering Equestria and she's starting to wear on you which is why you decided to go see Twilight!" At the end of summarizing everything that had been happening Pinkie Pie would smile with a squeak. "You should go see Twilight, she's like super duper smart! We can party later."

His mouth just hung open at this point, was Pinkie psychic? "Um...alright....I'll go do that." Something was horribly wrong with this mare and so he started to back away. "Talk to you later." Once a good distance away he would take off running towards the library.

Hatred stumbled out of a bush in the Everfree forest, her form was already beginning to waver and fall apart. "No more...no more...I'll have to...destroy them all. All of them!" The guise fell apart, there was only one form left to take and she did just that. This unicorn felt strong, everything about the shape just felt right. As the shade took form she couldn't help but think that perhaps this shape would be even stronger than Nightmare Moon, but then there wasn't a true physical body to control. "We shall see how this form fairs, Element of Magic what have you for me."

Summer Sun Celebration

Well the shopping lasted a few hours, who'd have thought there were so many colors and variations of tables, beds, and such. Even more surprisingly they didn't seem to ask him about any of the furniture, only side ward glances at him as they moved from piece to piece. Not that he would have known any better anyway, something about traveling his whole life left his knowledge on furniture lacking. So while they talked he just stared out the window, watching ponies trot around getting ready for the night ahead.

"Well now that the furniture shopping is done why don't we head over to the library, there's another new pony in town and Pinkie Pie is throwing her a party. I'm sure I could talk her into adding you to the celebration, after all you're new too." Sunshine didn't even look tired after all the shopping! Midnight had at least been able to nap on his new bed while they went here and there so he too wasn't tired. "Besides it's a Pinkie party so there's more than enough party to go around." It sounded as if Sunshine had been to her fair share of them and it some what worried Midnight. "It'll be so much fun and after we get to see the Princess, I heard she's beautiful and elegant."

It was Midnight's turn to speak up. "Um...It's fine I don't really need a party..." It wasn't that he was shy exactly but he certainly wasn't used to being around a lot of ponies. Worse what if they found that he didn't know much about magic, that he'd only been taught a brief little by his mother. That would be embarressing and humiliating because from what he understood all foals went to school and a lot of unicorn foals learned magic there, he'd not been to school. "But I'll go if you want to." He wouldn't deny Sunshine her fun, after all she deserved it for being so nice to him.

The sun was already setting when the two arrived, they'd spent the time talking about Pinkie Pie's parties and such. Sunshine had been more than understanding about his want to keep quiet and ou of the spot light, she too had been ambushed by the pink mare and thoroughly embarressed. Music could be heard blarring from a good distance away from the tree library and it was even louder at the door. "It seems Pinkie's out done her self!" Sunshine had to shout to be heard clearly over the music as she opened the door, streamers and balloons shot out from the opening. "Come on, can't let them have all the fun!" With that Sunshine grabbed him by the hoof and pulled him in.

First thing he noticed inside was all the ponies, not surprising, the second thing however was a purple pony running away as if she was on fire. Alright that wasn't normal, at least he didn't think it was though he didn't know much better. Every pony other than that one looked like they were having lots and lots of fun, partying and bouncing about while enjoying the snacks and drinks. There was even a little purple lizard dancing about with a lamp shade sitting on his head. So it seemed Ponyville was at least not as boring as his parents had told him it would be, how could they know about Pinkie Pie or the lizard?

After a little dancing, granted Midnight watched rather than participating, the ponies were beginning to calm down a bit though there was almost an electric excitement in the air. Sunshine had in fact spent the entire time dancing and t alking to other ponies, introducing them to Midnight ever so often which he had to be admit was nice. The dancing and partying had actually taken hours even if he hadn't exactly noticed. But not that night was about he felt more awake and aware of his surrounding, though he couldn't explain why he always felt better at night.

Then one by one, or at least at first, ponies began to leave, soon they were leaving as a whole nearly sweeping him away. Sunshine on the other hoof hadn't been so lucky, in fact she was one of the very first ponies swept away by the crowd. Alone in the library he would take a look around at the bookselves briefly, not really looking for anything in particular. What he found however was a shelf dedicated to magic, there was even something called The Elements of Harmony: A reference Guide, and it was under E. This was all amazing, considering this was all on magic and he knew almost nothing about magic what so ever. He could have spent time looking at all the books and reading some but being alone here and not knowing if it was alright made him feel odd, so he would leave.

Stepping outside however sent a sensation through his body causing him to jerk his head upward towards the moon. There was something wrong with it, he could tell just by looking at it. The feeling was almost like something was going even though he still felt the moon as a whole. That would of course be when he heard screams from what must have been the town hall. "Figures..." Muttering to himself as he took off at a full gallop towards the screams. "Come on..." The closer he got though the odder he felt, it was almost the same way he felt during the full moon, which it was, but it was tainted some how. That would be when he heard a voice, some how it was familiar but not at the same time.

"Remember this day little ponies for it was your last. From this moment forward The Night Will Last Forever!" This was followed by an evil laugher.

The door was flung open once he arrived and he only caught a glance of a dark pony who had both a horn and wings, this was also the source of the tainted feel. Somehow he knew who and what she was upon seeing her, as if she'd somehow been in the back of his head this entire time. It was...Nightmare Moon...no she was more she was Princess Luna, one of the princesses of Equestria. Taking steps back the dark pony would jump into the air and turn into a cloud of purple smoke, the smoke would sweep by him, engulfing him for only a moment. He wouldn't even notice the rainbow colored pony rush by as he lost consciousness, it had been too much for him to handle.