Trinity: Shadows of the Past

"So Twilight, you know this gentlecolt?" asked Rarity.

After the awkward and somewhat tense moment had passed, Twilight had invited Midnight to have lunch with her and her friends. He'd almost declined, but the hopeful look on her face had tugged at a heartstring that hadn't been tugged for a long time, so he caved but was a little uncomfortable sitting with Twilight and her friends. She wouldn't even let him raise his hood back up.

"I do, everypony," Twilight gave Midnight a friendly nudge with her shoulder, "This is Midnight Blaze, my old classmate and friend."

"WHAT?!" the others all gaped at Twilight and Midnight, making the latter shrink back a bit at their reaction.

But it was Pinkie who started shuddering again, her shudders vibrating her away from the table before squashing and stretching and popping and deflating before she finally settled down, thought a moment, and gasped, "THAT'S it! That's the doozy!"

"What is?" asked Twilight.

The others somehow got the idea and nodded in agreement, "Ah think Pinkie means that yer old classmate's also yer friend, sugarcube."

"Yeah! I totally wasn't expecting that!" Pinkie Pie hopped back onto her seat as she leaned forward, looking at Midnight. "So tell us about yourself, Midnight! Like, what's your favorite ice cream flavor? Or-or your favorite color or time of day! Whattya do for a living? Or-"

Applejack stuffed an apple into Pinkie's mouth to stop it from running a million miles an hour and said, "Pink? Cool it, Ah think yer disturbin' th' poor guy."

Indeed, Midnight was looking at Pinkie Pie like she had a second head. Rarity nodded, "Oh, don't worry, dear. That's just the way Pinkie Pie is, no point trying to understand it."

"It's true," Twilight agreed with a smile before she hesitated and asked, "So, Midnight? Where have you been all these years? What happened to you?"

"...I've been traveling," Midnight answered, taking a deep breath, "After I left Canterlot, I had no plans. All I had were my saddlebags, magic books, my cloak, and the bits I'd saved from my allowance. I hopped the first train out of Canterlot and never looked back."

"That sounds lonely," commented Fluttershy sympathetically.

"I preferred it that way," Midnight shrugged like it was no big deal. "The first few months were hard. The train I boarded took me to Fillydelphia. Believe me, if it weren't for my magic, I never would have made it out in the world. I avoided police and adult ponies as much as I could, didn't want someone to question me or find out I was a runaway. Thankfully, I managed to find work as an errand-colt for a shopkeeper.

"I delivered messages and stuff for him, he paid me and didn't ask questions about my past. He even gave me bits for doing chores around his shop. After working for him a couple of months, I thought I could trust him, but then one day he brought a police pony to question me. I bewitched them both to forget me and ran again.

"I studied my magic books to learn more spells and... I didn't want to work for someone anymore, I felt like they'd betray my confidence like the shopkeeper did. So... I stole."

"Oh my," Rarity tut-tutted.
"So you're not just a jerk, you're a thief too!" Rainbow sniped.
"Stealing's not very nice, Midnight," Pinkie added.

"When you're twelve years old and can rely on nopony but yourself, your options are limited..." Midnight glared reproachfully at the three of them.

"Er- Midnight, relax, nopony's judging you," Twilight assured with a forced smile before encouraging him, "Go on with your story."

Midnight gave those three another look before continuing, "I stole. Mostly it was food and water, but I won't deny a few times I stole things like more magic books to learn more magic, among other things... I didn't like stealing, so I decided I needed to find a way to earn money that didn't require working for someone else. I saw street-performers earn money, but that meant drawing unwanted attention to myself, but then one day I met a peddler.

"She sold hoofmade trinkets and baubles, and it got me thinking... Maybe I could do something like that! I studied my books more carefully, and before long I came up with the idea of crafting magical wares! I took stones, flowers, secondhoof stuff, and I enchanted them with spells for luck, safety, healing, and pretty soon I tried my first sale. I wore my cloak and cast a minor distractor spell upon it so nopony would pay attention to me, but I also cast an attractor spell on my wares so ponies would notice them instead!

"To my surprise, I sold out all my wares in just one day. I used my bits to buy more secondhoof stuff and started making more wares to sell. I even bought an alchemy kit to make simple potions. Before long, my business was helping bring in enough bits to live a little more comfortably. With more bits, I could afford to buy better materials for my wares, and even started doing business with magic shops. Pretty soon, I made better wares that I could sell for more money, and I decided to take my business on the road."

"So you became a traveling merchant," Twilight nodded with interest, "I'd like to see some of your wares, if that's okay with you."

"Uh, yeah, Twily, I'd... I'd like that," Midnight said shyly, looking at Twilight.

It'd been so many years since he'd seen her, but he couldn't help but think, She's become so beautiful...

The way he was looking at Twilight didn't escape Rarity, who smirked before asking, "So darlings, how did the two of you meet? You said you were classmates, yes?"

"Oh that's kind of, uh..." Twilight remembered that meeting, "Well, it was after I got my cutie-mark. You know how I had my magic surge shortly after Rainbow Dash's first Sonic Rainboom?"

"Wait, what?!" Midnight gaped at Twilight and then Rainbow, "That big boom in the sky was you?!"

"Heh, I know, pretty awesome, huh?" Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair while polishing her hoof onto her chest before looking at it.

"Yes, Rainbow Dash, it was awesome... the first ten thousand times," Twilight retorted dryly, making Rainbow Dash's ego deflate a bit, causing everypony to have a little laugh at her expense. Even Midnight couldn't help but chuckle a little.
"Well anyway, apparently, Midnight had a magic surge too, but unlike me, his magic didn't burst out of control."

All eyes turned to Midnight who nodded, not fond of that memory, "My magic surged, but... it wouldn't come out. For some reason, it was all trapped inside of me, I couldn't even will for it to come out. I went into shock and woke up in the castle infirmary. The doctors determined I was in a magically agitated state, and though they kept me stable I was in constant pain for days!"

"Oh that sounds awful!" Fluttershy couldn't even imagine what that must have felt like. "But... you got better, right?"

"I did, but the way I got better might surprise you," Midnight gave them a slightly cocky look "During the days I was stuck this way, Twilight visited me, and that was how we first met, though I wish it had been under better circumstances."

"After Princess Celestia took me on as her pupil, she caught wind of Midnight's condition and took me to see him," Twilight added, "I felt so bad for him that I promised to visit him every day he was sick."

"And I'm so glad you did," Midnight smiled warmly at Twilight. "You made those days bearable, and if you hadn't brought magic books to read to me, I wouldn't have gotten the idea of how to fix myself."

"Wha' happened?" asked Applejack.

"So nearly a week passed, and I wasn't getting any better," Midnight went on, "but during that time, I always noticed I didn't hurt as much at night than I did during the day. So I got to thinking, and recalled something from one of the books Twilight read to me, and I came up with a crazy idea!

"I had no idea if it would work, but the doctors didn't know what to do with me. They'd tried siphoning away my excess magic, neutralizing some of it, nothing they did worked. So I came up with a way to use up my extra magic. I asked Twilight for a certain book, studied what I was looking for from front to back, and then a week after the magic surge first happened, I finally took action. I waited until it was almost sunset, and snuck out of the infirmary. I made my way to the highest room of the tallest tower, and waited for Princess Celestia to lower the sun, and that's when I did it."

"What'd ya do, what'd ya do?!" Pinkie bounced in her seat with excitement, and Midnight could see everypony else leaning inwards with anticipation.

"Believe it or not, ladies, I did what no single pony except for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and supposedly Star Swirl the Bearded had done," Midnight declared, "I raised the moon!"

"No way!" Rainbow Dash scoffed, "Even I know it took five unicorn wizards plus Star Swirl to raise the sun everyday before the princesses started doing it."
"Not to mention those unicorns who raised the sun lost their magic forever," added Spike.

"It's true, everypony," Twilight threw a foreleg around Midnight's shoulders, causing him to blush, "Princess Celestia confirmed it herself!"

"To be honest, I wasn't even sure if it was going to work, but it did," Midnight added, "Somehow, I was able to channel all my excess magic to raise the moon, although it did use up almost all the magic I had that night, that I fainted. When I woke up, Princess Celestia told me all my excess magic was gone, and I felt better than I had in a week. It was even better after Princess Celestia pointed out... this!"

Midnight raised his cloak and showed off his flank for them to see his cutie-mark, "I earned this cutie-mark representing my magical talent and potential and the feat that I accomplished. But Princess Celestia said we had to keep my accomplishment a secret."

"How come?" asked Spike.

"Because if word got out that a colt had raised the moon, the wrong ears might hear of it," Midnight replied, "and Princess Celestia was afraid I might be targeted. So, she made me a part of her private class."

"It was a class she had once a week for students she hoof-picked," Twilight added, "Me and Midnight were both in it, along with several other unicorn foals. But enough of the past! Tell us what you've been up to recently, Midnight! Like... where you've gone, the things you've seen?"

"Well, believe it or not, I just got back into Equestria from a trek into the Dragon Lands," Midnight raised a brow.

"Wow!" "No way!" "My stars, the Dragon Lands?!"

"Pfth, big deal," Rainbow Dash harrumphed, "I could fly circles around dragons!"

"Maybe, but could you trick some dragon jerks into practically giving you some of their treasure?" asked Midnight with a raised brow. "I even managed to get this interesting artifact from this one teenaged dragon? The creep was using it for mountain boarding! Oh, and I visited the village of Somnambula and managed to find a glowpaz band belonging to Prince Hisan, and before that I visited the ruins of Rockhoof's village where I found a lot if interesting stuff, like the winged helmet that was worn by Rockhoof himself when he joined the Mighty Helm!"

"Wow, Midnight! It sounds like you've had some interesting adventures, ," Fluttershy commented with meek admiration.

"And found my share of treasures," Midnight nodded, feeling pretty good about himself, "I betcha I could even give Daring Do a run for her bits."

"Who's Daring Do?" asked Rainbow Dash in a blasé manner.

"Oh, that's right, you're a jock," Midnight responded dryly. "Never mind, you wouldn't be interested."

"Hmph!" Rainbow snubbed before taking a sip of her drink.

"Well, it's been good talkin' t' ya, Midnight, but Ah gotta get home," Applejack stood up, "Applebuck season ain't far off an' Ah gotta start talkin' with muh brother about how wer' gonna divvy up th' work."

"Nice meeting you too," Midnight waved to her as she left while Rarity stood up.

"I'm afraid I have to return home as well," she said apologetically, "With fall beginning to settle in, my autumn seasonal wear will be in demand. A pleasure, meeting you, Midnight. I look forward to getting to know you better."

"And a pleasant day to you, Miss Rarity," Midnight said politely before she left.

"I gotta go too! I have a... previous engagement to attend to," Pinkie said in a not-so-conspicuous manner before she hopped off.

"Bye," Midnight wasn't sure how he felt towards Pinkie. She seemed sweet, but by Faust was she annoying!

"Later," Rainbow said curtly before zooming off.

"I should go home as well," Fluttershy stood up, "Some of my critters are preparing to hibernate, and a lot of the birds are getting ready for migration and they need to be in the best shape they can. Have a nice stay here in Ponyville, Midnight."

"So long," Midnight waved as Fluttershy flew off. He turned to Twilight and Spike, "So... I guess I'll see you later?"

"Actually, Midnight," Twilight brought up, "Why don't you come to my home and we catch up together? I was planning to practice a new spell and if you're interested..."

A part of Midnight was hesitant, warning him that this might not be a good idea, and yet... he hadn't realized how much he'd missed his old classmate and friend. Smiling, he nodded and replied, "I would like that very much."

"...and that is how you can cast an abjuration or enchantment without it being rebounded back upon you," Twilight said as she and Midnight enjoyed a talk in the library. They'd been there for hours, just talking about magic, comparing notes and even getting into a few laughs, as they discussed their mutual passion.
"See, a lot of spells tend to be direct, aimed at a single target. But what happens if such spells can be turned against you by using a magical defense that rebounds direct spells back upon the caster?"

"Use spells that don't specifically target somepony, but rather have an area of effect," Midnight nodded in amazement before he chuckled, "Twily, you're still a magical genius!"

"Oh, I didn't figure that out by myself," Twilight waved it off while blushing a bit, "If Shining Armor hadn't helped me during that practice session, I never would have gotten the idea for AoE spells circumventing magic defense that turn your spells against you."

"Heheh, you saying spells that are AoE? Sounds like you're talking Ogres & Oubliettes," Midnight pointed out, causing both of them to laugh more.

"You still like that game?" Twilight giggled.

"Blame your brother for introducing it to me," Midnight gave her a cheeky look, "I still play it every once in a while when I can find somepony to play it with me. Which isn't that often, to tell you the truth..."

For a moment, neither of them said anything as a sadness seemed to befall the moment, until Twilight finally had to ask, "Midnight? What happened to you? Why did you leave?"

Midnight gave Twilight a hesitant look before sighing, "What did Celestia tell you?"

"That it was you who was behind that April Foals Day prank ten years ago," Twilight replied before giving him a funny look, "You know, after that day, what everypony dubbed the 'Bouncy Ball Incident', Princess Celestia literally banned bouncy balls on April Foals Day!"

"Yeah, I heard..." Midnight chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck but noticed the waiting look on Twilight's face. "Twilight... You know that I was Celestia's ward, right?"

"Mm-hm, she told me she took you in from the orphanage in Canterlot," Twilight nodded.

"She saw in me 'potential' and 'talent' and wanted to 'help me realize it'," Midnight said, bitterness beginning to lace his word. "Well, Twilight, she took me in and told me that she expected great things from me, a five year-old foal, and that just got worse after I got my cutie-mark."

"What do you mean?" Twilight was confused. "I thought she just wanted for you to do your best."

"Twilight, you didn't see how it was for me back then," Midnight sighed as he leaned onto the table where they were having milk and cookies courtesy of Spike. "Celestia was my legal guardian, but she was hardly a parental figure. I was mostly raised by members of her staff, and the rare times I was able to talk to her, she did most of the talking. She noted how I was doing in my studies, whether it was good or bad, but she always told me to keep doing my best.

"Now, it's one thing to encourage somepony to do their best, but it's something else when they expect you to and aren't interested in your 'excuses' and won't even let you speak your side of the story."

"That... that doesn't sound like-" Twilight tried to say.

"But it is," Midnight said, sounding contemptuous. "I just... I just got so sick of her telling me to do my best but not listening to me! I decided I was gonna make her listen, so I planned my April Foals Day prank. I spent weeks researching Enchantment to figure out how I was gonna put it all together. And when it was all over and done with, I thought she was gonna see the work I put into that prank, the way I wove those spells together to create something amazing, but no!

"All she saw was a mess and the aftermath! Once again, she talked down to me, wasn't interested in my point of view, and I just couldn't take it anymore!"

"So you ran away..." Twilight said morosely.

Midnight noticed the sadness on Twilight's face and sighed, "I'm sorry, Twily. I didn't mean to hurt you, I... All I wanted back then was..."

He sighed again, unable to find the words, "To be honest, I wish somepony else had adopted me instead of the princess."

"But... Midnight," Twilight brought up, "if she hadn't, you and I might never have met."

For a moment, Midnight didn't know what to say before he gave a slight chuckle, "I guess I can't argue with that."

She was relieved to see Midnight take some good from what he deemed a bad situation, but then she said, "You know, Midnight... Princess Celestia has never been quite the same after you left."

Midnight didn't respond, instead looking away while wearing an unreadable look.

"...She fell into a depression that lasted weeks," Twilight went on, "and even before I left Canterlot to study Friendship here in Ponyville, every once in a while... I would find her alone in her study, sometimes crying, sometimes looking at the picture she took of you the day she adopted you.

"She continued to teach me, but not quite so rigidly as she apparently was towards you. And while I appreciated her letting me figure things out on my own, she always told me I could come to her. Even so, her stepping back to let me learn and grow through my own volition... it wasn't a perfect way of teaching either. I became so immersed into my own studies that I distanced myself from my classmates and started to think my education mattered more than making friends. But then she assigned me to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration here in Ponyville, and that was the day my life truly changed for the better. I've learned a lot about friendship since I moved here and as you've seen, I've made wonderful friends. Though I'm still learning, I would be happy to share with you all that I've learned."

Midnight finally looked at his old classmate and couldn't help but smile warmly. Though their schooldays together had been short, they were still among his fondest memories. Taking a deep breath, Midnight replied, "Okay, Twilight, I'll stay and learn about friendship from you. On one condition..."

"And what's that?" asked Twilight.

"You have to give me your word that you won't tell Princess Celestia about me," Midnight stated with an unyielding tone. "You won't tell her that I'm here, you won't mention me, you won't hint about me, or even bring me up in conversation. Promise me that, and I'll stay."

Twilight found herself at a loss for words. On one hoof, she didn't like the idea of lying to her teacher even if she didn't know Midnight was in Ponyville, but on the other she didn't want to say no and cause Midnight to leave. Then of course the look on Midnight's face warned her that this condition was non-negotiable.

"Is there any chance that you'll talk to her when you're ready?" she asked.

Midnight's steel-hard look softened somewhat to stony, but he remained firm before finally answering, "Maybe."

"...Okay. I promise, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Twilight assured while doing some strange gestures, to Midnight's confusion. Giggling, she explained, "It's a Pinkie Promise, and nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise. After all, breaking your promises is a way that could cause you to lose your friends."

"FOREVER!!" Midnight startled and fired a bolt of mana at the direction he heard the shout, only for Pinkie to vanish as quickly as she'd appeared, leaving the spot on the bookshelf she'd popped out of to be blown apart with no sign of her.

"What the hell was that?!" Midnight gawked back and forth between the shelf where Pinkie had popped out and at Twilight, who sighed and shook her head.

"Just... accept that Pinkie is being Pinkie, don't question it, it'll save you your sanity," Twilight assured before thinking, I'm gonna have to have a word with Pinkie about popping up around Midnight...