Splitting aMid the Night

Interesting. She really is the little miss important she claims to be.

Midnight could see Sparkle, having followed her trail of energy all the way to a meek house somewhere not too far from her own, even, where she was having breakfast with not just her parents, but with Princess Celestia herself as well.

Sometimes during that observation, Midnight felt like she could sense another presence nearby, very strong, as if already ascended and united with the Flow.

Most likely, it was just interference from the solar princess, who, occasionally, glanced over to where Midnight's spirit was floating, as if she knew she was there.

In the Flow, there was no air, or any matter, for that particular one. Consequently, there was nothing to carry sound waves.

Thoughty, being partially magic, could sustain themselves through the void and thus be picked up once emanated, as could spells, which, though they were bound to a specific cluster of energy, allowed those moving through the void without the moving imperfection that was their body to bend the magic away in order to see what was hidden beneath.

The only problem in the current situation was that there was nothing of interest within the house. Midnight couldn't hear what they were saying and Twilight's mind was still filled with foalish thoughts, despite apparently being a bit older than Midnight.

So Midnight decided to retreat outside to see if there was anything there that was worth her time. She didn't have much of it, obviously. While her luggage was packed and her home at Ponyville was organised, she still had to get a train ticket to actually go down there.

Or not. Outside, Midnight spotted a pegasus drawn carriage, standing there and waiting for its passenger. It wasn't one that the princess would use, so Midnight assumed it was meant for the filly still inside. Perhaps she could get a ride on that if she timed her arrival perfectly. Even if that failed, she could still use the train, even though that'd consume money not necessarily needing to be spent.

As she was thinking about the right time, Midnight saw Princess Celestia leave the building. If her math was correct, she had about a bit more time than she needed. So all she had to do was prepare her departure, cloak her luggage in case Sparkle didn't want to take her along or had already left to save herself some embarassment and get right on to Ponyville, leaving all of those things she hated so much in Canterlot behind.

It was time to wake up and get those things done.

Wake up, Missy Midnight. Wake up and smell the ashes. Not that you have been sleeping on the job... well, let's just say your hour has come again.

Of course, leaving Canterlot also meant saying goodbye to her father, if only temporary. He had insisted on walking through Canterlot together one last time before she went away.

"Calm down, Dad. I'm not leaving you forever. I'll be back for Hearth's Warming and whatever other occasion you want."

He signalled that he wanted to turn into an alley to the left, which they both quickly did. Midnight got a feeling that he had somewhere very specific to go and she didn't like that.

"I know, I know. But isn't a father allowed to worry about his daughter's safety? There are more scumbags out there."

More than what? She was hit with the sudden realisation about where they were going. Midnight had been there before and sworn to herself that she'd never return if possible. Not from the beginning, she had. At first, she had sued to sit by herself on the same particular spot, occasionally wetting the ground a bit more with another unrepressed tear. There was no life in that place.

All of the plants, as well as the ground itself, just screamed at her, reeking of death and dispair. In that constant screaming for liberation, she could also hear those from below whisper at her, constanly asking where they were and who she was. She had heard them since her foalhood. At least she now understood why. In places like those the border between the world her consciousness was trapped in and the Magic Flow began to blur and fade.

Midnight didn't mind. She had been able to hear her beloved mother's voice again, so the filly she'd been back then obviously had spent all the time she could there. But she had had to let go. The ghosts of the past could no longer haunt her. In their world, there was no place for her. She had to tap into it to use magic, of course, deeper and longer the more powerful her spell was.

Through her extended Pegasus Eye ritual Midnight would not only enter the Flow temporarily, but even move through it in the form of what she truly was, that being, a mediocre spirit and nothing else. But even in her true form, she had always made sure to avoid graveyards, as she would be directly facing those still wandering. Perhaps Daylight was still among them. No, she wasn't. After so long, she'd have moved on.

But where? Where did those hit by random selection go? Midnight would find out. In time.

We... are patient.

So there Midnight was, absent-mindedly talking to her father about her departure and what happened after while getting closer and closer to that damned grave.

Just what did he want with it? The past was dead and buried for a reason. Whatever it was, she'd have to stand through it.

"There we are. I just... thought... you know. Pay her a visit while you're still here." His voice was steady, but not by much. It was clear that Daylight had never really left his memory.

Midnight understood what he wanted to say. There were no words fitting. Instead, she threw her forelegs around his neck, as she'd done often when she had been just a filly, barely half as tall as him. Despite the fact that there now was almost no size difference between them, the effect was achieved.

"Don't worry Dad... I won't end like her. I'll come back, I promise."

"Never forget what she has done for us. Never forget her."

The bell in the tower above them began to ring deeply. Midnight didn't want to dispel the moment, so she just slightly moved her legs to draw his attention to the time that had passed.

"Yes. It's time you get out of this spoiled castle. The world outside is far better. Just promise me one thing..."

"Yes?"

"Bring me back somepony. Honestly. I don't care when or who - that's up to you - but you must promise me you won't end up in isolation. You need company to talk about your troubles."

"I will. In time."

"Ah, we're getting saggy. Let's go home and finally assure your departure."

Everything was prepared. Midnight had her things all in her saddlebags and concealed by weak Invsibility. That way she could avoid looking like the idiot she was if Sparkle didn't have room or had already left.

Fortunately, Midnight arrived just in time. Her friend had prepared her own luggage and was preparing to take off.

"Miss Sparkle, you're not going to leave without saying goodbye, are you?" After hearing that call and looking around to spot Midnight, Twilight rubbed the back of her head with a hoof in embarassment.

"Er... to be honest, I forgot."

"Well, then I've got good news. As mentioned, I got myself a job in Ponyville, near you! So now staying in contact will be super easy!"

"Awesome. That village really could use more sophisticated ponies like you..."

So it's true. Ponies down there are honest workers, but illiterate. Still better than here.

"Still got space in that carriage of yours?"

"Don't you want to pack?"

"I already did!" Midnight said and lowered the intensity of her invisibility spell. If she looked closely, Sparkle would be able to see her saddlebags flimmer into view just barely.

"Hop on then!"

Now it was happening. Midnight was not only flying through the air for her first time, but also changing her life at last. She deserted the decadent ponies sitting in what sometimes were literally porcelain towers. She left her father with the promise of returning when needed and some time bringing along a special somepony. She abandoned her friends for chasing after one particular of them. She didn't care about any of those.

Midnight was leaving Canterlot as a whole behind. At long last, she was doing what she had wanted her whole life. She leaned over the edge. Now there were only her and Sparkle. She was following her own decisions and desires for the very first time.

Midnight was free.