Hi, my name is Midnight Gleaming, at least, that's what they call me.
I don't remember much of my past, the first thing that I can remember is waking up in the middle of the everfree forest, I was alone, confused, and a bit disoriented. I felt odd, and strange. Almost like I didn't belong. But most of all, i remember how cold it was. So cold, and so dark... It was aweful!
I walked through the forest for days, weeks perhaps, eating what I could find, and looking, I was looking for...
Anyway, it was so long, and the more I walked, the more confused I became.
Where was I? Why was I here? How did I get here? Who was I? What was I? A long time later I fell face down into a patch of blue flowers and curled up to sleep. I dreamed, I dreamed of a voice, it was dark, and everything was falling apart, he was yelling to me, telling me to hold on! But I couldn't hold on, I fell! Screaming for help, please, oh please help... Sorry, sometimes I go off like that.
When I woke again I was in a strange sort of room, a hut, decorated with very tribal looking decor. I was surprised when a zebra walked in, and even more surprised when she spoke to me.
"I found you in the forest last night, and I thought it was a pitiful sight. To see a mare all alone out there, I'll admit it gave me quite a scare."
I was able to blink slowly and nod once, before I slipped back into unconsciousness.
Then I dreamed. I don't know how to describe it, but it felt more like a memory then a dream. I can't hold onto the details very well, all I remember is there is someone, someone was there, his name, it's on the tip of my tongue, but even now it eludes me. But I know one thing, whoever it was, he will be looking for me.
I woke up a while later, the zebra was holding a bowl of stew, I ate hungrily, although I was soon full.
She then told me how she had found me, in a patch of flowers she called "poison joke", apparently it would cause strange side effects that the flower viewed as humorous.
I asked what happened to me, worried how bad it would be, but her response surprised me.
"What's wrong with you, I cannot tell, perhaps it can be told with a spell. What has changed, I fear, may be permanent my dear, for so long you slept in the flowers, it's effects grow stronger with the hours. I believe a spell could do the trick, if we knew what makes you sick."
She sat down, and talked with me, although I couldn't remember anything, at all, except my dreams. My dreams...
I stayed there with her for months, she helping me get my strength back. And I keeping her hut nice and neat. I would always hide when other ponies came, I felt shy around them, only one pony ever talked to me besides Zecora, that's the zebra's name, Princess Luna. I met her in my dream, I was alone, and scared, trying to remember my friend, and find him.
I was in the depths of the most darkest thoughts. Running, running, why was I running? But thats what I was doing, i was running. From what, I don't know, but that's when she came. She was so magestic, and beautiful, I thought she she was part of the dream, but she was kind, and comforted me, I didn't feel afraid any more, she talked to me every night, and helped me try to remember.
We would travel through my dreams, and she was there, helping to keep the nightmares away. She always knew what to do.
It's funny, but in all the time I lived with Zecora I had no clue what I looked like, until one day, in my dreams, I discovered a mirror, that was the first time I ever saw myself. A yellow unicorn with green eyes, and a dark blue and black mane. It was why Zecora had given me my name, Midnight.
It was also the first time I really looked at my cutie mark, a large seven point star, surrounded by seven smaller four point stars. They seamed to gleam in the light, I think I stared at it for hours.
Zecora explained cutie marks to me, how the told you about your destiny! But, I have no clue what my destiny could be. Zecora said that it is possible that I could be gifted with some type of magic, but I have no clue how to even use magic.
Zecora promised me that she would help me, but in the end I had to find out for myself.
In the mean time, I was going to study, and learn, then i would try my best to use magic!
That's when everything went completely and utterly wrong.
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It happened when Zecora was out in town, and I had decided to try the simplest spell ever, levitating. I was alone, but I didn't want to do it in her house, so I went outside and chose a small stone to start with, and concentrated hard.
Come on! I thought. I can do this... I can do this! Lift!
I felt something strange happen next, an energy flowed through me! QMore powerful then anything I had ever expirienced! To be perfectly honest, the rock did lift into the air, but it also lifted literally everything else too! I may have panicked after that, which made it worse.
The trees, the rocks, Zecora's house, everything! And once it go going I couldn't stop it, it just spread, lifting more and more until almost the whole forest was uprooted by my magic! It kept have been spreading more and more, I think it was for only a few minutes, but it felt like hours. And then, they came.
Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Princess Twilight came to see what was happening, all of ponyville behind then, including Zecora, I could only see them through a haze, everything looked so blindingly bright, things kept being blasted by the silver rays of magic now coming from my horn, everything was being affected by my crazy magic! I couldn't stop!
Trees started turning into flowers, flowers turned into trees, and rocks turned into dust! Things were appearing, disappearing and appearing, everything was chaos!
Celestial and Twilight looked as though they were discussing a plan to stop me with Zecora, who was probably telling them about me, she looked so worried.
But as they were talking, princess Luna just walked up to me, looked at me and our eyes met. She reached her hoof out to me and I took it, and used the other to wipe away the tears.
Slowly everything just stopped, and I sank down to the ground, so ashamed of what had happened.
I felt drained, empty, weak even, especially compared to how powerful I had just felt.
"I'm so sorry." Was all I could say.
Princess Luna turned to the others, who were either gazing at me in awe, or looking at me as though i was a monster. "This is over, you may all go!" And they did, except for Celestia, Twilight, and Zecora. Luna went over to them, and they started discussing something, probably me, by the way they kept looking over at me. I felt aweful.
I looked around at the damage I had caused, Zecora's house had been flipped upside down, the forest was more tangled and messy then it had ever been. It was aweful to look at.
I felt worse then aweful, I felt wretchedly horridly inconceivably terrible. What in Equestria had I done?
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"Midnight, would you come over here please?"
I nodded and walked slowly over there, I felt ready to accept any punishment. Perhaps they would take away my magic. Yes, that had to be it! It made perfect sense. And i would accept it. It was right.
I looked them in the eye, trying to feel brave, but I was worried too, would it hurt? Would it change me? What would happen to me without my magic?
I took a deep breath and spoke. "I know it's for the best, but please get it over with quickly."
Then I closed my eyes, and prepared for the worst.
"Midnight dear, whatever are you talking about?" Celestia said kindly.
I opened one eye cautiously. "Aren't you going to remove my magic?"
Then they all started laughing.
I, however, was confused. "What's so funny?"
Twilight came up to me, admiration shone in her intelligent purple eyes. "We would never do that, in fact, we are all so impressed with your level of power, it was incredible!"
Celestia stepped forward. "Yes, but you need to learn how to control this power, now usually I would have you join my school in Canterlot, but my sister has made a request."
Luna came up to me and I looked into those familiar nighttime eyes.
"If you would allow me to be your teacher, I would be please to make you my personal student, I would teach you to control your abilities, and help you in your other task."
I smiled, and bowed. "I would be honored, your highness."
And that is how I became Midnight, the personal student of Princess Luna. But my story is just begining.
Okay, first lesson, super excited! Trying to remain calm, and failing! Oh, I can hardly wait!
I only know a few things about my upcoming lesson.
Item one: Luna will be teaching.
Item two: It will be held in a magical containment field in case my magic goes crazy again.
Item three: We will be starting with basics, since I have no clue how to use my magic.
Item four: This is going to be awesome!
I like to make lists, it helps me with my memory, you see. I always seem to know things, but I can never remember where the knowledge came from. It's almost spooky, how I just, know!
Like apparently I can play a flute... Who knew?
Anyway, I walk to princess Luna's chamber, where she said to meet her.
I knock twice upon the door, which was decorated in carvings of the night sky.
"Come in Midnight!" Her voice called out. "We are ready for you!"
We? I open the door to find Luna standing in front of a tall mirror, lined with silver stars. There was something off about it, something that I couldn't quite put my fin- I mean, put my hoof on.
"Hello Midnight, we hope that thou hast slept well." She says, turning to me. "Are thou ready for thy first lesson?"
I straightened up and tried to look serious. "Yes your highness!"
She smiles at me. "Please, call me Luna. Now come! We begin."
I look at her, confused. "Where are we going your hi- I mean, Luna?"
She gestured to the mirror.
"This is no ordinary mirror, it will lead into an enclosed magic space where we can practice with your magic, it will contain all magic, so nopony will be hurt on the outside."
"That's brilliant!" I shout. "Um, I mean." I feel cheeks get warm. "What do I do?"
"Follow!" She said, then leaped into the mirror. And just melted into the glass! Wow!
I stepped up to the mirror and touched it gentle, the surface rippled like a pond.
"Well," I said aloud as I took a deep breath, "Here I go!"
I went to the back of the room and stood by the moon statue, then I turned to the mirror and ran towards the mirror, at the last moment I closed my eyes, prepared for an impact should things go wrong.
The sensation was very weird, like walking through a gelatin wall that was so cold yet warm at the same time.
It was... It was... Familiar?
I landed flat of my face upon a smooth surface. "Midnight? Art thou alright?"
I rubbed my head, "Yeah, I think so... Oh my Celestia! Where are we?"
The room was like being inside a giant crystal ball filled with mist and smoke that seemed to sparkle.
"This is a realm I created to contain thy magic, now, shall we begin?" She concentrated for a moment, and I watches her horn glow longingly. After a second the area was filled with many smallish stones. She gestured to them with an elegant wave of her hoof. And I tried my best to focus, but the way her hair waved was so... magical!
"These are what you shall practice on. To levitate you must focus on one rock, then imagine it lifting into the air. Magic is a mixture of thoughts and imagination, turned into action. Some require specific words or thoughts, some require higher concentration, some only the most advanced unicorns or alicorns can accomplish. And there are some that are not even possible unless it is your special talent."
"Like you and Celestia?" I ask.
"Yes. Now, try to lift a stone." She says.
I look around, a bit confused. "Any stone?"
She nods and smiles.
I look at the one that is at my feet and take a deep breath. "Here I go."
Come on stone, you can do it! Up! Up! UP!
My horn glowed with a silver hue and the stone shot up into the air like a rocket, then it came crashing down on my head like a bullet.
"Ouch." I managed to say before falling on my rump.
Luna smiles gently and helps me up. "That was a good start, but perhaps you should try to do it more gently. Like lifting a feather?"
"Okay." I look at another rock, slightly smaller then the last.
I concentrate again. Up, please go up!
Again the rock shot up into the air, but this time several others went with it.
Me and Luna had to jump away to dodge them.
"I'm so sorry!" I said as I looked down at the ground. It was getting a little out of hand, and my horn was still glowing.
Another rock shot up into the air, and another, and another! Soon they were raining down on us, and we had to dive bomb out of the way.
"How do I stop it?" I shout as I dodge another rock.
"Close your eyes!" She commanded. "And try to clear your mind, or distract it at least."
I obeyed, and closed my eyes, trying to block out the sounds of the rocks clashing together as they whirled around me. Think... Think!
I cast my mind about trying to focus, but it was as chaotic as the world around me, bits and pieces of my dreams swirled in my mind, and I couldn't focus on anything.
Except...
A voice, there was a voice, telling me to calm down. It was his voice... but who was he?
But I did manage to calm down, and the rocks drifted to the floor.
Luna was in front of me, saying something, but I couldn't focus, I felt dizzy.
I woke up in my bed, with Luna standing over me.
"What happened?" I asked her.
She looked serious as she spoke. "Your magic is unusual. You have great abilities, but you have little energy to sustain it. I am sure your strength will grow, but it will take time. If we do not learn to tame your magic, it may prove too much for you to handle."
I looked into eyes, dreading the answer. "What would happen?"
She looked away. "It may prove to be... Fatal."
My image in the mirror is still very unfamiliar to me. It always feels as if I am looking at a stranger, and a strange one at that. Why?
I look around my room. It has been several days since I last left it. There is trash, books, clothes, and random things scattered everywhere, after the hundredth time practicing, I've grown tired of picking them up. I trudge over to my bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling which has been painted blue, and dotted with thousands of stars.
I liked stars, so far away, so distant, and yet, so reachable. I stand on my hind legs and reach out to them, balancing against the bedposts, almost touching them and-
Bang, bang, bang!
"Gahh!" I scream, falling into a heap on the floor, my fall softened by an over length scarf I had been trying yo knit with magic. It was more a tangle of yarn then a scarf.
"Hello! Midnight, art thou here?" Luna said as she entered, "I heard thou scream, are you alright?"
"Yeah, totally." I call as I untangle myself from the mess. "I'm fine. I am totally and absolutely fine."
Luna smiles at e, and helps me up, then magics away my mess as we sit on the floor.
"I know this has not been easy for you, but I am sure one day we will be able to unlock the key to your magic, however, that will have to wait a while."
I look at her, confused. "Why?"
"Celestia has asked that I accompany her on a special trip to a tribe that lives in the far east. She is uncertain how long we will be gone, perhaps a few days, or a few weeks, at most several months..."
"Oh, okay. I'll just wait here, for your return. I promise not to get into any trouble." I smile to reassure her. "I promise I won't blow anything up."
She nods. "We shall return swiftly, dear pupil, we will not fail you, nor our subjects. Farewell Midnight."
She turns and leaves before I can say goodbye.
"I command you mug! Rise! I order you to rise!" I say for the thirtieth time. I was bored. I was cranky. I was upset. I was- grumble- hungry. It had been three weeks. I hadn't even heard from Luna, I am sick of waiting, but I am still nervous about using magic. I've been trying to practice, but everything just goes boom, splat, and kaput.
I hadn't even left my room in days, I was a total wreck. And what was worse, almost nobody knew I existed, so I was left on my own. Not that I had the courage to try to make friends. Twilight stops by every few days to see how I am, order of Luna I suppose, she brings me food sometimes, and tries to resist using a spell to make my room clean. She can tell it wouldn't help, and I suppose it would just make me feel guilty. But the look on her face! Man, it would be funny if I wasn't so depressed.
I drag myself off my bed and start tidying up a smidgen. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I look at me, a sour lemon color, with a bruise colored mane, and a stupid cutie mark that I don't understand, and I'm stuck by a massive wave of self-pity. I feel so awful. I want to learn magic, and to be helpful, and be as amazing as all the other unicorns. But I can't. I just can't do it! I'm dangerous, like a walking bomb. I can't do anything without being a danger. I-I can't do this anymore!
I grab a saddlebag and start packing, I throw in some things, a scarf, a hat, a crystal that I found, a sparkly stone. A picture of me and Luna. I start sobbing. Why? Why had she tried to train me? They should have taken away my magic, before something awful happens. It could still happen, perhaps I can find someone who can do that! Someone who can remove magic...
I finish packing, and am about to put it on, when the last thing I expect happens.
Someone knocks on my door.
I quickly shove the bag into my closest and open the door.
A blue unicorn is standing there, she has a blue and white mane, and a time-turner cutie mark. "Hello!" She says. "I'm looking for "Melody Ocean." do you know where her room is?" She asks, and I am almost blinded by her smile.
"Uh, no, sorry. I don't really know anypony here." I explain, then turn to close the door, but she talks again.
"Well, okay then. Hey, I don't think I know you, but I am sure I've see you somewhere..." She says, looking at me so closely with those bright blue eyes that I am starting to feel uncomfortable. "Hmm, no, no. Thought for sure I knew you... What's your name?"
"Midnight, Midnight Gleaming, and you are?" I ask, only to be polite. I was rather anxious to be going, I didn't want Twilight to find out about me running away any sooner then she had to.
"I'm Minuette, I work at the local dentistry. Wow, your room is a mess, do you need some help?" She says, and before I can say no, she's levitating things left and right, cleaning up whatever she sees. I don't want to make her do it alone, since there is obviously no stopping her, so I start picking up things as well. She looks at me oddly. "Why aren't you using magic? You are a unicorn, right?"
I blush. "It's a long story."
She just shrugged, and got back to work. In five minutes the whole room was spick and span, clean as a whistle.
"Wow." Was all I could say.
"No problem. It was fun!" She smiles. Then she looks at the clock. "Oh my! I have to go, well, it was nice meeting you Midnight!" She rushes out the door, but right before she closes it, she pops her head back in. "Hey, I am having my friends over to celebrate my friend Twinkle Shine's birthday at my house. Wanna come? It'll be fun!"
"Um, I dunno, I have a lot of things I need to um-" I look at her eager, smiling face and sigh. "Sure, I'd love to." I smile.
"Awesome-kay-bye-see-you-later!" Then she slams the door, and I am left on my own in a very clean room.
What just happened?
I am standing in front of my mirror, alone, and feel, different. Just an hour ago I saw an ugly, useless, and rather obnoxious unicorn, but now...
How can ones view change so quickly after a smile? I saw a sunny yellow mare, with a shiny star cutie mark, a mane the color of night, and eyes like emeralds. Why? Why did I see that? All that mare did was be nice, and now, I felt... happy?
Wow, I would have to get to know this Minuette, and discover her secret to being so magical and friendly and happy.
Perhaps it could help my own studies.
