It’s dark, and warm, and cramped. What is this place? I can’t move. I can’t see. I’m scared… Wait… what is that? It’s muffled, coming from outside, but it’s soft and gentle. It makes me… feel safe.
Time and again, I drift in and out, waking and dreaming, hearing that sound outside whatever this tiny place is. Soon, I realize that it’s a voice. I can barely make out a word or two because of how muffled it is, but still I hear words.
Baby. Love. Joy.
What’s a baby? What’s love? Or joy?
Is love this warm feeling I have inside myself? Because every time I hear that voice, I am glad to hear it, because it makes me feel safe, and it makes me feel better. Knowing that someone is there, and that someone seems to like me even if I can’t see them. Is that love? This feeling I feel every time I hear that voice?
Suddenly, after dreaming and waiting for so long, I feel everything around me shake and shift. The voice outside sounds scared, and that makes me scared. Is something wrong with the voice?
Is the voice going away? Is it going to leave me alone in this dark place?
I’m scared, feeling this place tighten around me, I can’t breathe!
Wait… What is that? It’s… bright?
Finally, the tight and smothering place seems to vanish, I’m surrounded by light and feel like I’m floating. For some reason, I cry.
Then, for the first time, I hear a voice so clearly. Except this one is different from the voice I know.
“Congratulations! It’s a colt!”
The light dims a little but still I cry as I begin to look around and see. I am no longer surrounded by soft warm walls but someplace more open, with things I have no idea what they are, and I feel something wrap around me. Almost instantly, I calm down a little, the thing around me soft and warm, reminding me a little of the warm place I used to be.
“Oh Faerie Tail, he’s perfect!” says a deep voice that sort of scares me at first but I can also hear how gentle it is.
Then I find myself being held by a large… something white with blue and yellow on its head as it looks down at me with big eyes of blue.
“Hello, my beautiful sweet little colt,” the voice!
I recognize it, and I know somehow this… big shape is the voice I’ve always heard that made me feel safe and happy! I reach out to the fae, and notice I have a hoof and it’s colored blue. The face smiles and… she? How do I know that?
Her face brightens up and she reaches up with her own white hoof to gently touch mine. I try to talk but only coos and burbles come out of my mouth.
“Oh, Ignitus, he’s everything I hoped he would be!” she says, sounding so happy. Who’s… Ig-what-us?
My answer appears before me as a large red shape appears. He’s bigger, has black and gold hair, and he smiles warmly at me.
“Hello, my son… I’m your daddy, and this beautiful mare is your mommy.”
My… mommy holds me out to the red shape who called himself my daddy, and I feel him take me in his hooves as he gives me a closer look, looking happy. I babble and hold up my hoof towards his face, and he says, “I can see it in your eyes, my son. You are destined for greatness!”
I don’t understand what Daddy means but then I fuss and whimper, and he chuckles, saying, “OK, okay, go back to Mommy.”
Daddy gives me back to Mommy when someone says, “Have you decided on a name?”
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Mommy giggles as she looks at Daddy, who smiles at her.
Daddy says, “Well, actually, Her Majesty kindly requested the honor, and I sent word to her the moment I heard Faerie Tail was in labor-”
A sound stops Daddy from talking and something opens on the other side of the room and in walks a shape even taller than Daddy! The face is white like Mommy but more pinkish while Mommy is more silver. The face has a really big mane with a bunch of colors… and it’s floating?
“Your Majesty!” Daddy welcomes the face with the floaty mane. “You’re right on time.”
“Hello Ignitus, and how are you Faerie Tail?” the floaty mane face says.
“I couldn’t be better, Princess Celestia,” Mommy says as she hugs me to her, and rubs her cheek to mine, causing me to giggle.
The floaty mane face Mommy called Princess sees me and her eyes, a soft purple, widen and she comes closer, not saying anything. She gave me a close look and then smiled as she said, “He’s truly something beautiful. You and your husband should be proud.”
“We are, Your Majesty,” Daddy agreed, nodding his head.
“May I?” the Princess asked Mommy, and she nodded, holding me out.
Then, the Princess’s… horn? How did I know what it was called? It seemed to light up with a soft yellow stuff.
It surrounded me, and I felt myself lifting out of Mommy’s hooves and towards the Princess. I don’t know why I was floating through the air without anything holding me but I didn’t like it! I started to panic and cry, only for the Princess to take me in her hooves, gently shushing, “Ooh. ohh. It’s okay, little one, what’s wrong?”
“I think levitating him with your magic scared him a little, Princess,” Daddy spoke up.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry,” the Princess said gently, and feeling her holding me securely calmed me down and I stopped fussing.
“And now.. It’s time to give you a name, my little pony.”
Pony? Is that what I am?
“What shall he be called, Your Majesty?” Daddy asked as he stood next to Mommy’s bed, both of them smiling at me and the Princess.
She gave me a funny look while sticking out her tongue, the way she did it made me giggle, which made her smile and laugh a little, as did my parents.
“Well… His sapphire coat, his black mane with a streak of midnight blue…” she wondered when her eyes lit up, and she looked to my parents and back at me.
“That’s it! My little pony, I name you… Midnight Blaze! Blaze, in honor of your father and your lineage, and Midnight, the hour when we say goodbye to yesterday and greet a new day,
“That special moment when we remember the past, we live the present, and we look forward to the future. You will grow up to become a pony that does wonderful things and betters the lives of those around you. And you will have your wonderful mommy to teach you, and your brave daddy to guide you.”
This time the Princess carried me back to Mommy, and as Mommy accepted me back into her hooves, I couldn’t help but look closer at the Princess… why do I feel like I’ve seen her before?
“Midnight Blaze…” Mommy whispered before smiling at Daddy, “A beautiful name.”
“A strong name!” Daddy agrees.
So that’s my name now. Midnight Blaze. I like it but then I let out a yawn and Mommy laughs, “I think this little sweetie could go for a nap. And I think I could as well.”
“You rest up, honey,” Daddy says and he seems to press his lips to her cheek, and then to me, on my forehead.
“Princess? I think they could do with some quiet time now.”
“Certainly,” the Princess stood by the door as Daddy walked towards it.
He looked back, and said, “I love you, my family.”
“We love you too, sweetheart,” Mommy says back, and she sets me by her, wrapping me in her… blanket.
There it is again, how do I know these things?
But after Daddy leaves, Princess Celestia lingers and looks straight at me. She looks happy, but there’s something about her that also seems sad. But my tired eyes can’t stay open and as they close and I fall asleep, I hear Princess Celestia say something.
But as I drift away to sleep, I don’t hear what it is, and everything turns blissfully dark.
Author's Note
This is something I thought about doing for a while
If you've read my work, and the side-story that goes with it, you know my OC Midnight Blaze died and was reborn. Now, you get to see how that new life unfolded and how it led Midnight to where he was before he revealed his true identity
It's 1st-person (I don't do those kinds of stories very often) and it's just something I'm doing at my own leisure
“...five ...six ...seven ...eight… nine… ten!” I heard Shiny finish counting before he called out, “Ready or not, here I come!”
I hold my hoof over my mouth, trying to stop myself from giggling `cuz I didn’t want Shiny to find me.
I’m now three, and playing with my bestest friend, Shiny. His real name is Shining Armor, and he’s like the big brother I never had (he’s the big brother since he’s four). We’re playing hide and go seek in his backyard, and I’m hiding in the bushes.
“Where arrrre yoooouuu, Nighty?” Shiny calls as he looks around.
From my hiding spot in the bushes, I see him look around. He first checked around the corner of his house, then he looked in the fort Uncle Night Light made for us, then he looked behind the woodpile, and I can tell he’s getting confused.
He’s too close to the tree, which is home base. If I can touch home base before he catches me, I win and he’s still it. But if I try to run to the tree, he’ll get me. He always wins when we play tag.
I duck down in the bushes as he looks towards me. Oh flooie, did he see me?!
“I’m gonna get you, Midnight...!” Shiny calls out, smiling as he looks around but he’s coming my way. Oh no!
“And when I get you…”
He’s getting too close, and if I stay here he’ll find me for sure! I do my best not to giggle, but my chest starts thumping, and it’s getting hard to stay still-
“YAUGH!!!”
I burst out of the bushes, scaring Shiny a little as I rush past him, and hurry for the tree! I’m gonna make it! I reach out and-
Oof!
Shiny tackles me and we roll over each other, laughing and trying to hold the other down, but since Shiny’ a little bigger than me, he pins me down, and as we catch our breath, I sigh, “You got me again…”
“And here comes… the tickle monster!” Shiny smiles with a sneaky grin.
“NOO! Not the tickle monstAH-HAHAHAA!!” I howl in laughter as Shiny starts tickling me, and I try to get loose but he’s got me good.
“Boys! It’s snack time!”
Shiny stops tickling me and let’s me up, as I pant and giggle, trying to calm down my bumpity chest, and we look to the backdoor where Shiny’s dad, my uncle Night Light, is waving us in.
“Coming, Dad! C’mon, Nighty!” Shiny hurries forward while I follow a little slower since I’m still catching my breath.
Inside, Uncle Night Light leads us into the kitchen where Shiny’s mom, my auntie Velvy, is setting up the table. I can smell fresh baked cookies, and while Shiny is able to hop up onto his seat. I try to get onto mine but I’m too small and almost fall!
...only to feel myself lift up and set nicely onto the chair and I see it was Uncle Night Light as he smiles at me.
“There we go, little guy, comfy?”
“Uh-huh! Thank you, Uncle Night Light!” I give him a smile while Auntie Velvy sets plates onto the table.
“OK, sweethearts, what kind of sandwiches would you like?” she asks.
I smile at Auntie and notice her tummy, how big it is. I asked my mommy and daddy why auntie’s tummy got so big, and they told me she’s gonna have a baby, and I had no idea what that had to do with Auntie’s tummy. When I asked where babies come from, daddy just patted my head and said he’d tell me when I was older.
Shiny asks for peanut butter and jelly, while I ask for peanut butter and honey. But when Auntie Velvy opens the cupboard with her magic, she groans and rubs her tummy. Uncle Night Light hurries over to her, asking, “Are you okay, Vel?”
“I’m fine, dear,” Auntie Velvy tells him, “just getting tired.”
“Well, how about I fix up the boys’ snack and you go lie down?” Uncle Night Light suggests.
Before Auntie Velvy can say anything-
*DING-DONG*
“I got that,” Night Light declared as he hustled to the front door.
I look at Shiny and ask, “I still can’t believe you’re gonna be a big brother!”
“I know, I can’t wait to meet my baby brother or sister,” Shiny smiled happily. “I bet the three of us will have lots’o fun together.”
“I wish I was gonna have my own little brother or sister,” I sulk before thinking a moment. “Mmm, baby brother, definitely.”
“Then I guess I’m gonna wind up with a sister,” Shiny teased, and we both laugh.
“Midnight! Your folks are here to pick you up!” Uncle Night Light called.
I smile and run to the front door, calling, “Mommy! Daddy!”
Mommy and Daddy are there, and Mommy catches me with her magic as I jump to them, and she floats me up to her cheek, where she nuzzles me.
“Hello, sweetie, did you have fun today with Shiny?”
“Uh-huh! We played hide-and-go-seek, beat a firebreathing dragon, I was almost gobbled up by the tickle monster,” I say, all excited, “and Auntie Velvy was about to make a snack for us but she seems tired.”
“Well, sounds like your imagination took you on quite an adventure today, my little warrior,” Daddy chuckles as he blows my mane, tickling the back of my neck.
“Velvet, I’m sorry if we interrupted the boys’ snack time,” Mommy says to Auntie as she waddles over, with Shiny beside her.
“Oh it’s okay, Faerie Tail,” Auntie assured. “I love having my little nephew over, especially since he and Shining Armor have so much fun together.”
“Should you really be up and about?” Daddy asked, sounding worried before he looked at Uncle Night Light.
“You said the baby’s due any day now.”
“Oh Ignitus, I’m fine,” Auntie Velvy spoke up before Uncle Night Light can say anything. “Just because I’m having another baby doesn’t mean I stop making my two favorite little colts a yummy snack.”
“Well, we’re sorry to cut this visit short but we have to go now,” Daddy replied before saying to me, “What do you say, Midnight?”
I look at Auntie and Uncle and Shiny and say with a happy grin, “Thanks for having me over, everypony!”
“Always happy to have you, kiddo,” Uncle Night Light reaches up and ruffles my mane, and I laugh as I push his hoof away.
“Since you didn’t get your snack, Midnight, I’ll make you and Shiny sundaes the next time you visit,” Auntie Velvy promises, making me and Shiny cheer.
“YAY! ICE CREAM SUNDAES!”
Mommy places me on Daddy’s back and I look down at Shiny who smiles and says, “See ya soon, Midnight!”
Later at home, Mommy and Daddy sat me down for dinner and we were having my favorite! Spaghetti and Wheatballs, with garlic bread! Yummy!
But before I began to eat, I noticed Mommy and Daddy using their magic to hold their forks to eat their spaghetti. Mommy’s magic was yellow like a sunflower while Daddy’s was a bright reddish orange, like fire.
They’ve given me… man..ip… tion shoes? Special shoes on my hooves that lets ponies grab things with their hooves. They told me that once I could use my magic I wouldn’t need them as much, but seeing them do it, I looked at my fork and concentrated.
I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, but I thought of my horn lighting up and my fork lighting up. Nothing happened.
“Baby, are you trying to use magic?”
I looked at Mommy and Daddy, both of them giving me soft smiles as I sulked.
“I wanna use magic too,” I answered sadly.
“Oh, my boy,” Daddy lifted me with his magic and set me on his lap, “You’re not old enough to use magic yet. When you’re a little bigger, you’ll be using magic all over the place, just like you did when you were a baby.”
“Huh?!” I gaped at Daddy, and Mommy laughed.
“It’s true, sweetheart. See, baby unicorns get strange magic surges that come and go. You had a few when you were a baby, and my goodness were you such a bouncing ball of trouble!”
“I was?!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“Hoo boy, I remember all that crazy you put us through,” Daddy laughed, “I’d rather face a hungry manticore than go through all that again.”
I sunk in my chair, feeling bad, which Mommy must have noticed, since she came over and hugged me.
“Oh, we didn’t mean it like that, baby. We just meant it was quite an exciting time when you had your magic surges.”
“Well… if I caused so much trouble when I had magic.... sooges?” I didn’t quite get the word.
“Surges, son,” Daddy corrected me.
“Surges… Well, if I did so much when I had them, how come I can’t do magic now?” I asked.
“Well, honey, after baby unicorns come along, they build up magic inside themselves and they also soak up ambient magic in the air,” Mommy explained, “kinda like a sponge.”
“But then the magic they gather up needs to get out,” Daddy added, “so they have surges where the magic they have comes out in ways that behaves in a way to give baby unicorns something they want.”
“And once the magic surges stop,” Mommy finished, “it’s because the baby unicorn has… gotten used to how much magic they can handle at the time until they grow older, and the magic builds up again, which is when they learn to be able to do magic whenever they want.”
“Ohh…!” It sounded complicated but somehow I got the idea. “I didn’t know magic was so… so....”
“Complicated?” Daddy offered. When I looked at him, not knowing what he meant, he explained, “Complicated means… hard, like there’s a lot more to something.”
“Yeah, compicaked,” I tried, which made Mommy and Daddy laugh, as they came over and we all hugged.
“That’s right, sweetie,” Mommy said, her hug so warm, “‘compicaked’”
After dinner, Daddy and I played with the toy guards and dragon stuffy he got for me for Hearth’s Warming but before we could save the princess, Mommy said it was bedtime.
After I brushed my teeth and went potty, Mommy tucked me in, Daddy turned on my lava lamp (they told me it wasn’t real lava, which I was actually glad to know). Then, while Daddy stood by the door, Mommy sat by my bed, saying, “Would you like a story, dear?”
I yawned and shook my head no, “No, too sleepy…”
“Well, then, how `bout this?” She took a deep breath. Then she began to sing.
It’s the end of the day
I’m here for you, Midnight, no need to cry
Here’s your mama’s lullaby
Let sleepy foals lie
No more time for play
Rest up and dream, sweetie, where you can fly
Here’s your mama’s lullaby
Let sleepy foals lie…
I was smiling, my eyes so sleepy before they closed, and I felt Mommy kiss me on the head, and heard her leave. Before the door closed, I heard Daddy, “Sweet dreams, son.”
"Night-night, Daddy…” I mumbled before I drifted away.
The next morning, Mommy had woken me up, washed my face, and we had breakfast. Her waffles are sooooo yummy!
Then Daddy opened the front door, looking excited. Normally, Daddy is gone before I wake up, since he has a big important job as the Captain of the Princess’s Guard. Normally, I wouldn’t see him to later in the day.
Mommy and me looked at him as she asked, “Ignitus, what’re you doing-”
“Night Light and Twilight Velvet!” Daddy announced. “The baby came late last night!”
Mommy gasped and smiled, and bounced in my chair, “Shiny’s a big brother now?!”
“Yes he is, sweet boy!” Mommy levitated me into her hooves and hugged me, and I laughed.
“Can we go see the new baby?”
“Sorry, buddy,” Daddy shook his head, “but Auntie Velvy and the new baby have to see the doctor for a while first. Once the doctor is sure they’re both healthy, they’ll go home and bring the baby with them.”
“So we gotta wait even longer.?” I whined, “No fair!”
“Midnight, you want your auntie and her baby to be okay, don’t you?” Mommy asked in a way that made me think.
I wanna see the new baby but I want for Auntie and the baby to be alright, too. I lowered my head, my ears pressing backwards, and Mommy hugs me closely, and I say, “Sorry…”
“It’s okay, buddy,” Daddy comes over and ruffles my mane. “To be honest, we want to see the new baby too, we don’t even know if it’s a filly or a colt.”
“I’m sure Uncle Night Light will let us know when they’re coming home, and we’ll go check on them then, okay?” Mommy suggested, and I nod, smiling a little.
I hope it won’t be long.
It was long. The sun was already starting go down, and I was fidgety, muttering, “I wanna see the baby….!”
As I lied on my back in the middle of the living room, Mommy was looking through a folder on the table and jotting something down while Daddy was reading his paper. I’d played with my toys, looked at my picture books, had lunch, taken a bath…
“WHEN CAN WE GO SEE THE NEW BABY?!”
Mommy and Daddy both startled, Mommy’s pencil flying out of her magic, Daddy accidentally tore his paper in half. They both gave me a look, and I pressed my whole body to the floor, ,”Um, sorry... “
Daddy sighed as he bunched up his torn paper and threw it into the trash and was about to say something-
*DING DONG*
Saved by the bell.
He looked towards the front door, then at me, and then sighed as he shook his head before going to answer it. Phew!
I heard the door open and Daddy say, “Night Light! Whoa, you look exhausted!”
I looked at Mommy, and she gave a smiling sigh before gesturing me to go ahead, and I hurried to the door.
There stood Uncle Night Light and his eyes looked baggy underneath.
“Hello, all,” he said. He did sound tired! “We got home about an hour ago, Velvet’s resting and-”
“The new baby!” I hopped up and down, smiling, “Is it a filly or a colt?!”
Uncle Night Light seemed to brighten up when he saw how excited I was, “Heh-heh, it’s a filly, little guy. I guess you want to go see her?”
“Can we, Daddy? Please, please, can we?!” I looked up at Daddy and made the most saddest eyes I could.
Daddy just gave me a look, “I dunno… You know you’re not supposed to yell in the house, and I was so startled I ruined my paper.”
“I’m sorry!” I made a show of bawling. I did this once before when Mommy and Daddy took me to a place called Restaurant Road, where everypony noticed, and it got me a big ice cream cone.
“I promise never to do it again, just let us go see the new baby-hee-hee...!!!
“Alright, alright!” Daddy waved his hooves, trying to calm me down, Mommy coming out to join us.
“We’ll go see the baby! Oy…”
“Sorry, I taught him that trick,” Mommy whispered to him, and that caused him to glare at me.
I just pretended to ignore him before asking, “Can we go see the baby now, Uncle Night Light?”
“Uh…” Uncle Night Light looked at Mommy and Daddy.
Daddy sighed while Mommy just shrugged and smiled.
“I… guess so! C’mon, everypony,” Uncle Night Light started walking, “Time for you all to meet my daughter!”
At Uncle Night Light’s house, he opened the door, and whispered, “Now, Velvet’s resting, and so is the baby. No loud noises.”
Somehow, I felt Mommy and Daddy both giving me looks from behind.
“I’ll be good, promise!”
Uncle Night Light smiled at me, and led us in. We went down the hall, all the way to his and Aunt Velvy’s room. He quietly opened the door, and we saw Auntie lying in bed, and what looked to be a crib set beside it. Shiny was there, looking into the crib, smiling.
He noticed us and smiled as he quietly waved me over.
For some reason, I felt nervous and didn’t move.
“Go ahead, son,” Daddy whispered before nudging me forward by pressing his muzzle to my bottom.
I looked at him and Mommy, and they both smiled and gestured me to go ahead.
“Nighty, come over here,” Shiny whispered, “I want you to meet my new baby sister!”
I slowly came forward, and reared up to get a better look as me and Shiny peered into the crib.
The baby filly was a unicorn like her mommy and daddy and big brother. She was wrapped up in a soft yellow baby banket. Her coat was a very soft purple or… lavender? I don’t know how I knew that word, but somehow it fit. Her mane was a really dark blue with dark purple and magenta, and she was sleeping so quietly.
“She’s… so small,” I whispered.
“Well, she is my little sister,” Shiny whispered, sounding proud and happy.
“You were that small at one time, Midnight.”
I looked and saw Auntie Velvy looking at us, sounding so happy. Mommy, Daddy, and Uncle Night Light came closer, and Mommy gasped when she saw the baby, “Oh, Night Light, Velvet! She’s just adorable!”
“Congratulations, my friends,” Daddy shook hooves with Uncle Night Light.
“What’s her name?” I asked.
“Well, when she was born, the first thing I noticed about her was her sparkly eyes,” Auntie Velvy said.
“And so… we decided to name her Twilight Sparkle,” Uncle Night Light declared with a proud smile.
“I like it!” Shiny whispered, sounding excited, as he looked at his sister again. “My little sis, Twily!”
I looked at baby Twilight, feeling so happy for Shiny and his parents. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a little… jealous. Then, as I looked at Twilight some more, I couldn’t help but feel like… I already knew her.
“Mommy, Daddy? Can I spend the night with Shiny? Please!” I brought my hooves together, looking at them with the biggest saddest eyes I could.
“Oh no. I’m not falling for that again,” Daddy crossed his hooves.
“I don’t think so, sweety, Auntie Velvy’s really tired and her family’s got a lot to do,” Mommy whispered.
“We don’t mind, Faerie Tail,” Auntie Velvy whispered, making me smile. “As long as the boys are quiet.”
“We’ll be quiet!” I agreed, “so quiet you won’t even know we’re here!”
I looked at Shining, pleading for his help, and he shrugged, “Yeah, Midnight can sleep with me in my room. It’s upstairs!”
“And we are keeping Twilight here with us tonight,” Uncle Night Light added, “Haven’t quite finished up the nursery yet.”
“Well…” Daddy and Mommy looked at each other, unsure, but then they noticed everypony’s faces smiling at them to say yes.
“Alright…” Daddy sighed.
I hurried over and gave him a big hug!
Uncle Night Light led us into the kitchen where they discussed the sleepover, while Shining led me to his room.
“I can’t believe you’re finally a big brother!”
“It’s pretty cool, yeah,” Shining said, but he sounded… worried?
“You okay?”
“I’m… just hoping I’ll be a good brother to Twily,” he said.
“Are you kidding, Shiny?!” I smiled at him. “You’ll be a great brother to her! I mean, c’mon! You’re practically my big brother, and if you were I couldn’t ask for a better one.”
Shiny smiled at me and held out his hoof, which I gladly met in a brohoof, and he said, “Thanks, Midnight.”
“Always,” I smiled.
The next morning, Uncle Night Light set up a playpen and Auntie Velvy placed Twilight inside it. Twilight was awake and wearing a diaper, sitting up thanks to a baby pillow propped up behind her back, with a blanket and stuffies and a pacifier to keep her company. Not that she needed them since me and Shining were peering over her playpen and Shining was making silly faces while I waved a rabbit stuffy at her.
Twilight laughed, and it was such a sweet little sound, that I couldn’t help but smile. It was like she just loved all the attention she was getting.
“She’s just the sweetest little filly,” Shining gave me a big smile.
“And she’s got us looking out for her,” I added.
Author's Note
Before any of you ask, NO.
Midnight is not related to Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armor, or their parents.
The two families are just close friends, and it was easier for toddler-aged Midnight and Shining Armor to relate with the other's parents by thinking of them as surrogate aunt and uncle.
Here, Midnight is 3, Shining Armor is 4, Twilight is a newborn.
Chapter 3: First Day of School
The playground was covered with colts and fillies, all running and playing and laughing, sliding, swinging, merry-go-rounding, seesawing, that it made me a little dizzy to look at. Which didn’t help how scared I felt.
“This is so exciting,” Momma looked so proud as we walked towards the school. Auntie Velvy, Shining Armor, and Twilight were with us too. Twilight was snoozing in her mom’s foal-carrier (lucky filly) while my mom looked so happy.
“My little colt is starting his first day of school!”
“What’s with you, Midnight?” Shining asked me, while I was giving my hooves a lot of attention. “You’re finally coming to school with me!”
“No I’m not…” I whispered, not wanting Momma or Auntie Velvet to hear. “I have to go to kindergarten and you’re in first grade. I wanted to be in the same class as you.”
“Well, you gotta start at the beginning, just like I did, Midnight,” Shining shrugged but he smiled at me. “But even if we’re not in the same class together, we can still play together during recess.”
“But-but what if the teacher asks me something and I don’t know the answer?” I worried, feeling my heart thumping in my chest. “What if I do something dumb and everypony laughs at me?!”
“Midnight…” Shining tried to say but I was too worked up.
“WHAT IF I LOSE MY HALL PASS?!” I screamed so loud that Shining grabbed my shoulders.
“Down, boy, down!” he insisted and I shut up because of the look he gave me.
“Boys, is something wrong?”
We looked and saw Auntie Velvy and Mom, and I felt bad as Twilight whined and started waking up. Auntie started rocking her to calm her down while Mom came over to me, and I couldn’t hide how worried I was in front of her.
“Shiny, could you help your mom?” she asked, and Shining got the idea, as did I. Mom wanted to talk to me in private. I looked down, feeling silly and a little ashamed, when Mom brushed her hoof against my mane.
“You’re gonna be just fine.”
“Do I have to go…?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Oh baby, you’re gonna have so much fun!” she sounded so sure. “You’re gonna learn so much, and it’ll all be okay!”
“But… what if everypony’s mean?” I whined, trying to hold back the tears, feeling like a big chicken. “Why can’t I go with dad and he can teach me stuff?”
“Well, Midnight, your dad’s super busy already being the Captain of the Royal Guard that he just wouldn’t have time to teach you,” Mom explained, “and because you’re much too young to even think of being a guard.”
“I don’t really care about being a guard,” I admitted, “I just… I love learning stuff from you and Dad, and Uncle Night Light and Aunt Velvet!”
Mom smiled and pulled me into a hug, which I was happy to bury myself in, if only to hide from everything else around us. Momma’s hugs are always so warm and make me feel safe. She then held me at foreleg’s length, her hooves on my shoulders, and smiled softly as she said, “Midnight, you are a very special little colt and one day you will do amazing things and help a lot of ponies.
“Every time I look at you and see you smiling and happy I can’t help but feel like you’re going to do things that will help ponies so they can smile and be happy. But before you do amazing things you have to learn amazing things. So chin up, sweetheart, because you’re gonna have fun, learn a lot, and you’re gonna make new friends as fun and good to you as Shining Armor.”
The way Momma spoke and sounded so sure, it made me feel less afraid and more excited! I looked away from her and towards the school. It was tall but felt welcoming, almost like a big pony inviting us in for a hug. And all the other colts and fillies laughing and having fun, I started to want to go out there and have fun with them.
I looked at Momma and in her eyes I saw something that made me feel brave, and I smiled back before giving her a hug. As she held me, she whispered, “That’s my big boy.”
*Ding-dong-ding-dong.... Ding-dong-ding-dong*
“Uh-oh! Class is about to start,” Shining Armor got hot hooves, as he gave his mom and sister a kiss and hurried off, saying, “See you later, everypony!”
I was about to follow but felt Momma gently stop me and say, “No, no, Midnight. We need to go to the front office and take care of a few things before you go to class.”
“Okay,” I nodded before stepping over to Auntie Velvet and Twilight. “See you soon, Auntie, and you too, Twily!”
“Have fun and learn lots, Midnight,” Auntie Velvet gave me a hug and Twily giggled at me, making me smile and I waved to them before following Momma into the school.
All the other colts and fillies were already heading for their classrooms when we stepped in, Momma saying, “Stay close to me, dear, and come along.”
I had no problem with that, as I walked right next to Momma, feeling not as brave as I was before we came inside. I saw Shining Armor for a bit but he disappeared among all the other colts and fillies as he was going to class.
Soon the hall wasn’t so crowded, and Momma said, “Let’s see… Where’s the school office, it should be right around the entrance.”
“Pardon me, ma’am.”
I went “YIPE” and spun around to see a BIG earth pony walking towards us, his hoofsteps kinda loud or maybe I was imagining it. He had a coat brown like Dad’s coffee, his mane was orange like the poppies in Aunt Velvet’s garden, and his cutie-mark looked like a big old key with a rolled up scroll fitting through the hole in the key’s handle. He also wore a funny hat, like those spiffy unicorn nobles that liked to show off their looks.
“Oh, sorry there, lil’ guv’nor,” the earth pony chuckled before he talked to Momma while holing out his hoof, “allow me to introduce myself. Chiron Lodestar, at yor service, Miss…”
Momma smiled as she shook his hoof, “Faerie Tail, and this is my son, Midnight Blaze. He’s starting his first day of school, although things got a little mixed up and… I only found out yesterday that school began a few days ago, so I was looking for the school office to speak with the principal?”
“Oh, you won’ be speakin’ t’ any principal anytime soon, Miss Tail,” Mr. Lodestar sighed, “see, our school principal, well… E’s a fine chap an’ all, but…e as this strange standardsbout is morning coffee, likes to tweakis recipe an-”
*KABLOOSH*
“AUGH!” I dove under Momma, and she sounded worried too.
“My word! Whatever was that?”
“That would be Principal Archimedes and yet anotha’ attempt to serve tha’ mornin’ coffee recipe o’ his in th’ teacher’s lounge,” Mr. Lodestar chuckled but sounded weary.
“Seein’ as ow he’s likely busy, I’ll be glad t’elp you get yor son settled in fer is first day! I take it tha’ meanse’s startin’ kindergarten?”
“Well, ahem, yes,” Momma cleared her throat as she coaxed me out from under her, “and like I said before, I realize he’s few days late, but, well! Better late than never!”
“Ain’t no buggah, Miss Tail,” Mr. Lodestar said to Momma, “all’s you need’s fer th’ lad is a few school supplies fer next week when the real learnin’ begins. First week’s about settlin’ in to a new routine for th’ foals an’ gettin’ used to their class. If you’ll both kindly follow yours truly!”
Mr. Lodestar turned around and trotted down the hall, Momma smiling at me as she gestured we follow.
First Mr. Lodestar showed Momma and me the school office (really boring place) where he had Momma sign some papers. He showed us around, pointing out places like the lunchroom, the gym, the indoor pool, the theater stage, the nurse’s office, and the main hallway that helps you know where you are, as well as how it leads you out to the playground.
Momma asked questions, like what kind of clubs or activ… viddies? Whatever, what kind of stuff the students get to do besides schoolwork. Mr. Lodestar said there was the drama club (Momma explained it’s where students learn to act and do plays when she noticed the look on my face), the sports club where students who wanna take up sports after school (…mmmaybe soccer…), a chess club (BORING), and other clubs.
None of them really sounded all that fun, but I just shrugged or nodded whenever Momma or Mr. Lodestar suggested them, like I was saying maybe.
“Sweet Mother of Celestia, look at the time!”
“Yipe!” I felt like such a scaredy-pony today, ugh…
Mr. Lodestar was looking at a clock in the hall, “My apologies, Mrs. Tail, I got so wrapped un the tour I let the time get away from me. Let’s pop on over to the office, you fill out some forms, and I take my new little pony to `is classroom!”
“Oh, so then you’re going to be Midnight’s teacher?” Momma asked, and I hoped Mr. Lodestar said-
“Indeed I am!” he smiled proudly. Ugh…
“To be honest, I was on my way back to my class when I bumped into you. I left a teaching assistant in charge but she’s due back in the office. Oh bugger, am I gonna get an earful about this later.”
I gave Momma a look and she shrugged with a smile when Mr. Lodestar said, “Right then, tally ho, a paper-signing we’ll go!”
After Momma signed some papers, it was time. I looked up at her, pleading with my eyes for her not to g, but she just smiled at me so warmly, I couldn’t help but smile back a little. She gave me a hug, and whispered, “Make me proud, my big boy…”
“Okay, Momma, I’ll do it for you…” I whispered back.
When we let go, she said, “I’ll be here to pick you up after school, and then we can go out for pizza!”
That made me smile hopefully but I felt my smile go away as Momma then said, “Bye-bye, sweetie! Have fun!”
Watching her leave down the hall, I felt nervous and sad when Mr. Lodestar patted my head, “No need to worry, lil’ guvnor! You’re gonna `ave th’ time o’ yor life here or bob’s your uncle!”
“Uh, actually, my uncle’s name is Joe-” I tried to say only for Mr. Lodestar to get all excited.
“Right then! To the classroom!” He picked me up, placed me on his back and took off, me yelping and wondering, Isn’t there some rule that says no running in the halls?
“Alright, me little buggahs! Settle down, th’ lot o’ you!” Mr. Lodestar had taken me to his classroom. There were lots of other colts and fillies, most of them were unicorns, several others were pegasi and earth ponies too.
The classroom had rows of desks with the tops you lift, there was a corner of the room with a table covered with arts & crafts stuff, cubby-holes on the far side of the room, below the windows, at the front to one side was Mr. Lodestar’s desk, and of course a big chalkboard he and I were standing in front of.
Everypony had been talking or laughing or playing with toys they’d brought with them, the teaching asis… assit… the teacher’s helper Mr. Lodestar had already left, and now everypony was looking at him and me.
“We’ve got us `ere another classmate for you, go on, lad! Introduce yourself and say anything you wanna tell us.”
“Mmm…” I whimpered a bit, looking from Mr. Lodestar, his big funny smile, then to the class, everypony looking at me, and I felt so small.
“I… um… My name… is Midnight Blaze. My dad’s the captain of the guard and my momma’s a librarian. I, uh… I like reading and playing and looking at the moon.”
“C’mon, everypony, let’s give a nice big `ello to our new friend here,” Mr. Lodestar waved his hoof.
“Hi Midnight!” everypony said altogether, and I felt a little better.
“Now, lad, take a seat over theres, right next to Bright Side,” Mr. Lodestar pointed to the only empty desk left, next to an earth pony colt with a yellow coat and a funny brown mane, and… did he have stripes too?
I did as he asked and sat down in my new desk, and then Mr. Lodestar started talking but I wasn’t listening. I was peering at the colt next to me. Bright Side was… chubby. I don’t think that to be mean, I mean he’s cubby in a… teddy bear sort of way. But it was his stripes that stuck out. They were faint but still noticeable, a soft golden brown almost invisible on his yellow coat. He noticed me looking and squirmed in his seat, and I felt bad. I didn’t mean to make him feel uncomfortable!
“Um…” He looked at me as I tried to find the right words. “You, uh… your stripes are kinda cool!”
That caused Bright to give me a confused look, his eyes were golden brown and seemed to be more curious than nervous now. I held out my hoof to him, saying with a nervous smile, “You already heard me but… I’m Midnight! Nice to meet’cha!”
Bright looked at me and my hoof… before he smiled back and shook hooves with me, “Y-You too… I’m Bright Side!”
Author's Note
Except for Midnight and Faerie Tail (who are my OCs) all other OCs in this chapter belong to Creative Quill
