The Ballad of Midnight Edge

Autumn gave in to winter. Midnight Edge began to prepare for his departure. The first change the locals noticed was the absence of Puffy, Midnight Edge's pet fungus. The small creature returned to its home world, it found the cold Equestrian winter unbearable and left before snow began to fall. The polished stone tower felt lonely and cold, Midnight Edge was ready to leave Equestria, staying only to spend Heart's Warming eve with Babs Seed and her family. The stallion had no interest in spending that day with his parents, and his siblings would be busy with other matters.

Midnight Edge sat on his desk, wondering what would happen next, where to go. He was eager to seek new adventures, and even expected to take Babs Seed on an adventure beyond Equestria. There were places he wanted her to see. As he pondered on his next move, he remembered the mirror that once revealed him the paths he was more likely to take. He was used to find visions and answers in dreams, but the mirror revealed even further, it revealed the answers he sought in an almost conscious way.

The stallion held the mirror and gazed into its black surface. Soon he was swallowed by it's smoky blackness. Then he saw his first vision. A wold he saw the first time he held the mirror, a city full of humans with varied skin tones, linked to Equestria in a mysterious way. But this time the vision was not the landscape of that world, but two humans arguing. One was a young man with dark purple skin, green eyes, and clear blue hair tied in a ponytail, the stallion found his face extremely familiar. The other human was a girl, slightly younger than him, her skin had a light brown color, green eyes, and dark pink hair styled in an unfamiliar way, her face also brought memories to his mind. They seemed angry at each other, their argument escalating until it got close to physical violence. Then both took separate ways with a sad expression on their face. Two voices spoke in unison “I wish we were nicer to each other”.

The second vision was a place he was familiar with. A vast city where people were divided in ten guilds struggling to keep the unstable population in balance. The ten guilds achieved a fragile peace after a long time of conflict. A riot initiated by the members of the most unruly of the guilds unleashed chaos in the city as the other guilds fought to restore order. The voice of a man spoke from a tower far from the conflict. “They can't get along without me.”

The third vision took him to a world where machines took the lead after the fall of their creators. The inhabitants were divided between those who sought their expansion by invading other worlds and those who preferred their constant improvement and understanding of the world around them. Their conflict was initiated by the discovery of magic. One of the machines looked at its reflection, realizing it was once a female of the species that created her. A voice echoed “Reborn in steel”.

The next vision led to an unfamiliar night landscape. The only familiar sight were his friends, in particular the one he recognized as Riv. He looked at the stars, wondering what his other friends, including Midnight Edge, could be doing at the moment. The mysterious man walked through the vast grass field he and his friends stood on. Then a voice of unknown origin spoke, “They are waiting for you”.

A fifth vision revealed before the stallion. A world he once saw in dreams. A world made of machines, it's floor covered in layers of metal. A black oil flowed everywhere polluting life and making it mechanical. A small group of living creatures resisted the spread of the taint as they fought back against the creatures born of it. The resistance was small and weak, but they refused to give in. The monstrous machines gathered before five of their own which seemed to be their leaders. The mechanical world infected with corruption seemed to be in a state beyond salvation. The echo of thousand voices spoke resisting corruption, “We must endure!”

Finally the creature shown in previous visions appeared. The mirror on it's leg reflecting light on it's dark surface. The creature spoke to Midnight Edge. “You seek my guidance again. Now I offer you to chose between glory and peace. Which path will you take? Will you try to become a legend, or seek the comforting peace of causing small changes in the lives of others?” The vision faded and Midnight Edge considered the options shown by the mirror, realizing the reason to keep it away from the wrong individuals. Following its visions lead in one way or another to influencing the lives of others. In the right hooves it could lead it's owner to heroic acts and the birth of strong bonds with others. In the wrong hooves it could create tyrants and frauds.

...

Midnight Edge spent Heart's Warming eve with Babs Seed and her family. He was even allowed to stay at their house. The stallion was no longer a stranger. He was part of the family now. The stallion noticed how his life changed. He was no longer troubled by his fear of predestination. His frown became less common than it was upon arrival. He was more determined and determined. It was all because of Babs Seed, the impact they had on each other was something everypony noticed.

Even though both had close friends they were fond of, before knowing each other they always felt lonely. They still felt something was missing. Midnight Edge believed ponies saw him as an outcast, and Babs Seed felt her family was too busy to pay attention to her and her friends were distant either in location or emotionally. Both felt incomplete, there was something missing, and they found it in each other. Now Babs Seed had somepony she could speak to, and Midnight Edge somepony who made him feel at home.

Even Babs Seed's family acknowledge they seemed to be meant for each other. They still came to terms with the possibility of them interacting beyond mere affection. They were aware of the fact that Babs Seed was an early bloomer in terms of sexuality and understanding an adult stallion would be prone to engage in sexual activities with his lover. They were not comfortable with the idea, yet still accepted it as Babs Seed's choice. In the end they decided to welcome the stallion into the family. He was not that bad after all, his behavior was strange, his diet abnormal, and his siblings seemed to be insane, but he was honest and loyal, and cared deeply about Babs Seed.

It was late at night, the festive air floated all over the place, not so long ago the whole family celebrated Heart's Warming eve with the unusual guest. All of them shared memories of past years, remembering both sweet and bitter memories of Heart's Warming eve celebrations which took place in previous years. Midnight Edge sat on the couch reading a message on his strange petaled device. The green light on the device illuminated the place with it's crystalline glow. In his ear the stallion heard small hoof steps drawing closer to his location.

“Can't sleep, uh?” Babs Seed spoke to him as she walked closer to him.

“Not exactly. More like I don't want to.” The stallion responded leaving the golden device on a table, the message on it still visible.

“Why so?”

“Because once I fall asleep this moment will end. I would like to enjoy it for a little longer.”

“Is it because of that thing? Are you leaving tomorrow or something?”

“No. I have a few days before leaving. I actually hope you could meet my friend Riv before we leave. He will come to pick me soon.”

“Is there something else then?”

“It has been so long since I actually enjoyed Heart's Warming eve. There were some winter celebrations I took part of in my travels, but this... I really feel at home now. I wish I could make this moment last for a little longer.” Midnight Edge had tears of joy in his eyes. He finally found what was missing in his life.

“But then it would not be as important.” The filly sat next to the stallion and placed her hoof on his.

“I am not sure I want to leave anymore.”

“Don't say that Midnight. I don't want to hold you back. I know you would never do that to me. I promised I will wait for you.” Babs Seed refused to allow him to give up on his goals because of her. She knew he would not feel free if he was forced to stay.

“But I feel so happy when you are around. I belong to no place, but I belong to you.”

“Then take me with you. Well, not now. But someday we could travel together. I would like to see some of the places you told me about.”

“Babs, I have no words to express how much I love you. I don't think there is a word for such strong feeling in any language I am aware of.”

“How about a kiss?” Babs Seed kissed the stallion, the kiss was passionate and long. Both knew it was more than just a kiss, it was a kiss to seal their promises.

They remained in silence, cuddling on the couch and thinking about their future. Their love was strong enough to endure all challenges, and they knew there would be many challenges in the future. Soon both fell asleep, embracing each other in their sleep in such a way that anypony would feel reluctant to disturb their sleep and end that wonderful moment.

Early at dawn Sunflower found the couple still asleep, she looked at them and thoughts passed through her mind. Her sister, she looked small and innocent, but her will was strong enough to change the world around her. And that stallion, the one her sister fell in love with, at first she did not approve of him, she saw him with suspicion, but now he felt like part of the family. She actually hoped they would marry, and wondered how their wedding would be. The mare smiled and spoke. “You were right. I got used to him. Your coltfriend has no idea how fortunate he is, he got the best filly around.”

...

Midnight Edge returned to Ponyville two days after Heart's Warming eve. The news about his departure spread quite fast. Pinkie Pie intended to organize a farewell party for him, but Midnight Edge convinced her of not doing so. He asked her to gather his friends the day he would leave. He wanted them to bid him farewell right before he left. He knew he would return someday, and so he wanted to make sure his friends would not feel his departure would be permanent, therefore a party should not be necessary.

After all the things that happened, things changed so much. Everypony in Ponyville grew used to him, even Bon Bon began to accept him after the events in Mechania. His research would be continued by Starlight Glimmer, who was now inspired to know cutie marks better in order to understand how they linked to friendship. Even his relationship with Babs Seed had an impact on others, inspiring Spike to not give up on his love. The dragon finally earned the attention of Rarity during Heart's Warming eve. If a stallion and a filly could make their relationship work, it should not be so difficult for a young dragon and a mare.

Midnight Edge's arrival to Ponyville left a mark on the locals, and they would miss him once he left, but he intended to return, he had a reason to do so.

...