It was late in the morning around Ponyville as Midnight followed Twilight's directions towards his destination. Earlier, he'd visited the library, asking Twilight if Ponyville had any metal workers and she'd suggested a smith by the name of Smoldering Anvil, who ran a forge from his home.

He'd forgone his cloak today and wore only his saddlebags, carrying something of considerable worth to Midnight, as he hoped this Smoldering Anvil could spruce it up. As he walked to Smoldering Anvil's place, Midnight was contemplating his stay here in Ponyville.

He'd stayed much longer than he'd intended and although his wanderlust was beginning to call him back to the road, he found himself more and more reluctant to leave. It was Twilight, he couldn't deny that to himself, and if he was being completely honest with himself, he had to admit that Twilight's friends were beginning to grow on him as well, even though he still didn't like Rainbow Dash much and was still sometimes annoyed by Pinkie Pie and Rarity's stuffiness was a different kind of annoying.

But then his destination was in sight and Midnight felt a pang of disappointment to see two earth pony stallions apparently packing up a wagon with furniture and other things. The younger stallion was tall and though he had a noticeable paunch he looked quite sturdy. His coat was canary yellow, his mane a dark brown, and his cutie-mark was an anvil. The older stallion had an amber orange coat that looked faded due to his age, his mane was gray, five o'clock shadow, and green eyes that yet retained some twinkle to them. He was on the sturdy and corpulent side as well, only his flanks were a little junkier, and they sported an anvil surrounded by blistering sparks as a cutie-mark.

"Well, that's everything," the older stallion sighed as he secured his belongings into the wagon before turning to the younger, "Are you sure about this, Terra?"

"I am, Grandpa," answered the young stallion called Terra, "Ponyville will be a great place to make a fresh start, and with me taking over your forge it'll still have a smith to offer his hammer and anvil to anypony in need of metalwork. Even if the work of Terra still has a way to go before it can compare to the work of Smoldering Anvil."

The grandfather, Smoldering Anvil, chuckled warmly as he then pulled his grandson into a strong embrace, "That does set my heart ease and I'm sure Ponyville will make you happy, grandson. Guess I'll be headed to the station."

Terra helped his grandfather strap himself to the wagon and said, "Give Dad and Pop my love when you see them in Canterlot."

"Oh I will, and you take care," Smolder gave his grandson a parental look, "Mind the fires of the forge, make sure the bellows work right, keep your tools organized, and your workspace clean. Good luck, Terra."

"Who needs luck when you've got skills hammered into you by one of the best smiths in all of Equestria?" Terra gave his grandfather a good-natured shove in the withers and the two laughed as Smoldering Anvil took his leave.

Terra turned to look at his new home, smiling at the workspace and took a deep breath, "Well then, may as well get this place started."

"Uh, hi?"

Terra looked to see he had a visitor as Midnight approached, "Sorry to bother you, but I couldn't help but overhear. You're taking over the smithy? Because I need something worked on and a friend of mine directed me to Smoldering Anvil's forge."

"Oh yeah, hello!" Terra was pleasantly surprised to see he wasn't even open yet and here was his first customer. "My grandfather's retiring and going to live with my folks in Canterlot. I volunteered to take over the forge for him and move here to Ponyville."

"Welp, be on the lookout for a pink earth pony named Pinkie Pie," chuckled Midnight, "Every newcomer gets a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party thrown by Pinkie Pie."

"I'll keep that in mind. So!" Terra cricked his neck and rolled his shoulders, ready for work, "What do you have for me?"

"How would you like to spruce up an ancient artifact?" asked Midnight as he opened one of his saddlebags and levitated out an old-looking shield. It was bronze engraved with the image of a winged four-point star over laurel leaves, causing Terra to gasp in utter disbelief!

"Th-th-tha- Is it...?! No, it couldn't be!" Terra gave the shield a closer look, holding his hoof to it yet not quite daring to touch it. "That's not... the fireproof shield Netitus!?"

"My friend, it is the fireproof shield, Netitus," Midnight nodded with subtle pride as he allowed Terra to hold it. "Wielded ages ago by the legendary hero and Cloudsdale Royal Legionnaire, Flash Magnus."

"...How?!" Terra could not believe he was holding Netitus in his own hooves! "According to legend, Netitus was lost well over a thousand years ago!"

"It's actually an interesting story," Midnight chuckled as he then pointed out the shield had a couple damages and could do with some polishing to restore its luster, "one I'd gladly share with you once it's fixed up."

"I-I'd be honored!" Terra smiled at Midnight before looking uncertain, "Mister...?"

"Blaze, Midnight Blaze," Midngiht answered, "and don't call me mister. I wager we're around the same age."

After giving Netitus a thorough examination, Terra reported, "Well, the good news is, the damages are superficial. I should be able to make the shield as good as new."

"And... the bad news?" Midnight raised a brow.

"The bad news is, Netitus is forged of a unique mixture of rare metals and ore," Terra went on. "This unique blend of ore, minerals, and metals are what makes it so fireproof that not even dragonfyre or lava can damage it. Which still begs the question, how do you have it?"

"Before I came to Ponyville, I've been a traveling merchant," explained Midnight, "Been to many places, seen all sorts of amazing things, and picked up some unique mementos and treasures throughout my travels. I found Netitus in the Dragon Lands, where some punk teenaged dragon was using it to ride rivers of lava!

"Seeing such a storied weapon reduced to a dragon's toy?! I killed that beast and claimed Netitus for myself."

"You killed a dragon?!" Terra gaped in shock.

"It was only an adolescent," Midnight shrugged it off, "and even though his gang weren't too happy about it, I challenged him to a dragon's duel. Killing him was acceptable if he didn't submit or otherwise."

"I see..." Terra wasn't sure he liked the way Midnight was dismissing his killing of a dragon, even if the dragons' culture deemed it acceptable. "Well then, why haven't you given Netitus to a museum or something? It's a priceless artifact, associated with one of the greatest heroes in pony history."

"That's my business..." Midnight answered firmly, "Besides, in a museum, Netitus would be just another relic gawked at day after day. Though I won't deny it'd be awesome to figure out how Netitus was forged and recreate the forging techniques to make more fireproof armaments."

"Well, in order to get the shield back to perfect condition, I'm gonna need some rare ores," said Terra, "maybe some diamond to reinforce the stoutness, among other things. But you can't find what we need around Ponyville."

"Well... I think I know a few places we could try searching," Midnight said reluctantly.

The "few places" Midnight had suggested, they turned out to be rather unsafe locations. First, they tried the Ghastly Gorge, only to come all-too-close to getting eaten by the native quarray eels. Next, they tried a rocky field Rarity had mentioned to Midnight once before as it was a place she used to visit to dig up gemstones. The two of them found themselves confronted by diamond dogs that wanted to enslave them, which turned out to be a mistake after Midnight zapped their behinds while Terra bucked them in the faces. Afterwards, they found themselves on their way to their last destination, which lay within the Everfree Forest.

As they entered those woeful woods, they were actually sharing a laugh as Terra said, "Did you hear the way that diamond dog whimpered after I bucked him in the nards?"

"Heh, I could almost feel his pain!" Midnight laughed in response, the two of them enjoying each other's company as they ventured into the Everfree.

Once they paused a moment to catch their breath, they took in the mysterious forest around them, notcing how oddly quiet it was. That wasn't to say the Everfree was completely silent. They heard faint chirps of birds, the cry of a cicada, and even the distant roar of a beast that sounded far away. It made Midnight think about how harrowing the day had been so far, and looking at Terra, he felt guilty.

"Say, uh Terra." Terra looked to the sapphire blue unicorn, who seemed down as Midnight went on, "I'm sorry for dragging you all over the place, all this danger."

"Are you kidding?! I can't remember the last time I went on an adventure like this," Terra shrugged it off with a smile, "I mean, yeah, nearly getting eaten by that eel was scary, but it was still kinda thrilling, and it felt good to pound on those diamond dogs. I've heard that they abduct ponies to make into slaves. Not to mention, I'm gonna get to repair the legendary Netitus! Well, as long as we can find the right materials."

"We managed to find a few good ores," Midnight said as they walked to the top of a hill and gazed down the other side, and they saw their destination. "But let's see what more we might find here. Guess I can cross the Castle of the Two Sisters off my list of places I've visited."

There it stood, ancient, decrepit, yet still standing after a thousand years of neglect and abandonment. Once so long ago was this the seat of Equestrian power, until the first defeat of Nightmare Moon and Celestia had Canterlot constructed upon the face of Mount Canterhorn. It was a grand sight but at the same time somewhat depressing.

"Welp, we aint' gonna find nothing standing here," Terra took the lead but as Midnight followed, he couldn't help but feel a strange chill in his coat as they approached the ruined castle.

Venturing in, the two stallions gazed up and around at the grand hall, noting the twin thrones and banners above them depicting which princess sat where. Much had worn or crumbled away from the passage of time and yet it instilled a feeling of awe and greatness as Midngiht and Terra entered, their hoofsteps echoing around them.

"Wow... Can you even imagine the histories that transpired within these walls?" asked Terra, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. "It's kind of sad to think it was all just left to languish like this."

"Well, after Princess Celestia was forced to banish her sister all those years ago, she could no longer call this place home," replied Midnight, recalling those times when he'd seen his old guardian crying in the privacy of her bedchambers. Unwilling to allow her subjects to see that side of herself. "Too many memories..."

"How do you know that?" asked Terra, looking to the blue unicorn, who reluctantly sighed as he looked back.

"Because I was once Celestia's ward."

"Her war- What?!" Terra gaped in shock, "You mean... she adopted you?!"

"I was left as a baby on the doorstep of an orphanage in Canterlot," explained Midnight as they walked around, exploring, "When I was still a baby, just about to become a toddler, I was able to use my magic in ways considered too advanced for a unicorn of that age, and I was well past the age of experiencing magic surges.

"The matron called upon Celestia for help, and the princess took me in, seeing me as raw potential she wanted to polish into greatness."

Terra noticed Midnight's tone turned resentful, "And... did she?"

"No, because when I was twelve, I'd had enough of her pressuring me," Midnight answered, his eyes narrowed, "So I ran away and have lived on my own ever since. I've traveled to many lands outside of Equestria, learned magic while experiencing a great many things the world has to offer. I've had my share of near-death experiences, Terra, and despite the hard times I've been through I wouldn't trade any of it for a cushy life as a pompous unicorn noble in Canterlot under Celestia."

"...Was she really that bad?" asked Terra, sounding concerned.

It was a long moment before Midnight finally answered, "Not all of the time..."

Terra felt he should say something although he felt defending the princess might not be the right thing to say. So he took a deep breath and spoke, "I didn't grow up in the castle, but my dad is the Royal Blacksmith. It's his job to make armor for the Royal Guard, as well as repairs and improvements. My dad would bring me to his work every now and then, show me his work. When I was old enough, I started learning from him, because it was a family tradition to train a smith for each new generation."

"Family traditions, huh... Sounds nice," Midnight said softly, sounding a little sad.

Realizing that family was a probably touchy subject with Midnight, Terra quickly took the conversation in a different direction, "So! Uh, Midnight, how long have you been living in Ponyville?"

"...I've been here about a month," replied Midnight with a shrug but the look in his eyes seemed better, "Longer than I originally intended, but when I ran into my old friend Twilight, I decided to stick around for a while."

"Twilight?" Terra raised a brow as the two continued to walk almost aimlessly through the dark and abandoned halls of the castle ruins. There was an awkward silence between the two. During that time, Terra couldn't help but sneak quick little glances over at his new friend that walked beside him and admire the stallion.
"This Twilight a looker?"

He cringed at the furrowed brow Midnight gave him and backpedaled as Terra held up his front hooves in surrender, "I was only asking, I swear! Besides, uh my... barn door swings the other way."

"Hmm," Midnight left it at that as they carried on.

"Say, when we get back to town, you think you can show me around a bit?" asked Terra. "I was planning to explore Ponyville after I got settled in, but here we are."

"Sure, we can do that tomorrow," offered Midnight, "It'd be cool to hang out with another guy. Twilight and her friends are growing on me, but a stallion can take only so much time with mares-"

*Ker-chick*

Midnight and Terra froze, hearing that strange sound and Midnight looked down to see his hoof was standing on an old panel in the floor that had given way under his step. They slowly shared a troubled look, having a bad feeling about this... when the floor gave way underneath Midnight and he screamed as he was swallowed up by darkness and the floor quickly closed up afterwards.

"Midnight!" Terra crouched down to the trapdoor, pressing his ear against it, but already did Midnight's screams recede, and Terra beat against it, trying to open in, "Midnight!!"

Midnight cried out as he was deposited into a dark space, sent tumbling horn over hoof before he came to a bruised stop. Groaning in pain, he managed to stand himself up despite his sore flanks and lit up the tip of his horn to find himself in what appeared to be a long and dismal hallway. Looking up, Midnight was dismayed when he couldn't see exactly from where he'd dropped into this situation. No tunnel, no opening, nothing to indicate a way back up. Just a flat ceiling.

Sighing, he looked down the hallway again, and thought to himself, Well, nothing else to do but try and find Terra.

But as he ventured forward, Midngiht felt a strange chilly breeze softly blow over his withers, which caused him to shiver as it strangely felt as thought something or someone had just breathed on him.

Terra pressed the side of his face to give the floor a closer look as he examined the spot where a trapdoor had suddenly swallowed up his new friend Midnight, but after Midnight had fallen in the trapdoor had quickly shut closed and it seemed as though it had vanished entirely. Terra desperately tried to feel he way along the floor in hopes to find the trap door or even the switch that opened it to begin with, all the while calling for Midnight in hopes to get some kind of response.

He found and received nothing.

Sighing, Terra stood up as he looked around, "Maybe if I just explore a little, I'll find Midnight."

But just before he could choose a hallway or door to take, Terra felt a warm sensation he couldn't queite describe, only that it told him one thing.

He was not alone.

Taking a more careful look of his surroundings, he caught sight of a figure at the end of the nearest hallway. It was too far to see it in detail, only that the figure gave off a soft and gentle glow of faint yellow. Terra froze, wondering if he was looking a t some kind of a ghost, except he didn't feel like this presence meant him any harm. There was only a gentle vibe of comfort of sorts, when the figure turned, revealing it was shaped like a pony but quickly vanished around a corner.

Gulping, Terra thought, I hope I'm not doing something stupid, as he went down the hallway and took the direction he'd seen the figure go.

There it was again, down the hallway, still too far but a little closer. The figure seemed to have a coat of pale gold and a mane and tail faint silver, and it still gave off a glow of gentle yellow. Judging from the distance, Terra could tell this pony-like presence was rather tall and since it lacked a horn or wings it was most likely an earth pony.

"H-hello?" he called out to the figure.

It didn't answer. Again it vanished around another corner at the end of the hall, so Terra continued to follow. Coming around the next corner, Terra froze to see the figure was much closer, close enough that the could tell it was a stallion and that the figure was large and strong and looking back at Terra with soft orange eyes that reminded Terra of the warm coals of a forge.

The figure seemed to smile as he entered a doorway and when Terra followed, he saw the figure had led him to what appeared to be a library or reading room, evident by all the books inside. But the figure was gone!

"Uh... was-was I seeing things?" Terra wondered aloud when a book seemed to fall from one of the shelves and laid open on the floor. Curious, Terra took a closer look... and was surprised!

The language was Old Equish, but he recognized enough words to see, "This is an old book on magical metallurgy!"

Picking it up, Terra was confused yet interested, a little unnerved yet eager to see what ancient smithy secrets this old book had in store, just waiting for him to read it and learn. Looking around, he noticed what appeared to be an old chair that seemed to be in good condition for being over a thousand years old. He gave it a look and wondered if it'd be able to support his bumper of a backside.

Preferring not to risk it, Terra looked and saw an old sitting cushion on a worn-out carpet and made himself comfortable as he looked at the book, saying, "Well this is why we came here and I'm sure Midnight will be okay for a little bit while I give this thing a quick look."

Meanwhile, Midnight was slowly making his way through the dark hallways, which ere beginning to feel more and more like a labyrinth. The walls were cold and decrepit stone, echoing his every hoofstep, and every time he passed by a door he'd find it locked or sealed shut from the weight of the castle above pressing down.

It was depressing, seeing this castle long abandoned and left to slowly fall apart. But recalling his old guardian's nights when he'd found her in her chambers, crying while gazing up at the moon and whispering 'I miss you'. The first time it had happened, when he was six, Midnight had approached her, holding a hanky in his mouth as he gave her eyes full of sad concern, and she'd gratefully accepted the gesture and given him a loving hug.

It was still one of his warmest memories of Princess Celestia.

He sighed, knowing he must have hurt her after he ran away all those years ago. He'd convinced himself it was for the best he go his own way, find his own destiny, and he'd done many things and been to many places in his travels. More than he'd have ever done if he's stayed in Canterlot, sheltered and pressured. Yet, he'd been living in Ponyville for well over a month, far longer than he'd ever stayed in one place since his early travels shortly after he'd run away, and Canterlot was only a train ride away.

He'd stayed because of Twilight, of course, and so far she'd kept his confidence by keeping her promise not to reveal to Celestia he was in Ponyville. But how long could that last?

Midnight always felt an ache inside when he thought of Princess Celestia, a mixture of emotions that troubled him so that it was easier not to think about Celestia at all. He felt guilty for running away yet he resented Celestia for the way she'd pressured him and made him feel like he was never good enough. But he couldn't deny he missed her, the only mother he'd ever known.

He shuddered from the feelings that almost felt like a curdling in his stomach... when he realized, Wait! It's actually getting real cold in here!

It was when he saw his breath that confirmed it, and Midnight knew at once. Dark and deep this place beneath the ruins was, it couldn't possibly be this cold, especially fall had yet to start. No, this felt... unnaturally cold! All of a sudden did Midnight fear that he might not be as alone as he thought.

Shuddering, the sapphire blue unicorn tried to shake it off as he thought, Don't sweat it, Midnight, just find a way up and find Terra.

But then he noticed a figure ahead of him in the stony hallway. Very carefully, he brightened his illuminated horn a bit, and was relieved to see it was just an old suit of armor. Approaching it, he gave the armor a closer look and saw how rusted and dusty it looked, "Hard to believe this thing's still standing after a thousand years."

But as Midnight passed the armor by, there was a slight shift in the air and then a rusty whine sounded and Midnight heard something fall behind him with a metallic KA-CHINK striking the ground! He froze up and slowly looked over his withers to see the armor's halberd had fallen forward... and missed his long leonine tail by mere inches!

He moaned fearfully as he pulled his tail up and held it like he did as a colt. Not many knew it, but Midnight took pride in his tail. It was so different and unique compared to other ponies' tails and though he did get teased for it a little back when he was a colt, he found his tail was so much more versatile and dexterous that the teasing never really bothered him.

"Gotta find Terra, and fast..." Midnight continued down the hallways, moving a little fast, and this time keeping his tail closer. Thankfully, he soon saw some stairs ahead and they looked like they went up.
"Oh thank Faust, maybe those will take me to the ground level."

But just before he could take the first step, a feeling of dread overcame him so that he froze mid-step and Midnight knew. Something was behind him. His instincts to run were trying to spur him up the stairs but for some reason his legs and hooves felt frozen that he couldn't move. Gulping, Midnight turned slowly to look back down the hall from which he came... and looking back from the deepest darkness was a pair of eyes glowing a sickening yellow!

The dread was turning into terror and Midnight was on the verge of screaming when the eyes seemed to close, causing whatever it was to seemingly vanish, only for a blast of bone-chilling cold to howl and Midnight cried out in alarm as he felt the cold and some kind of sensation wash over him. It felt like being blasted with thick vapor and it caused his whole body to go numb and that awful sensation of pins and needles followed after that Midngiht collapsed and started gasping, which made it worse!

He felt that same cold enter him as he accidentally breathed it in! But then... almost immediately, the cold vanished, as did the paralyzing numbness that had overcome him, and Midnight was panting from his heart beating so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. When finally he began to calm his heart down, he managed to sit up onto his haunches and noticed it wasn't as dark as it had been before.

He could even see a faint light coming from up the stairs, and that feeling of dread was gone as though it had never been here.

But Midnight knew better... and he scrambled to his hooves and hurried up the stairs, screaming, "TEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"TEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Snnrk- Huh?! What th-!?!?" Terra had dozed off while reading the book on magic metallurgy when the distant yet unmistakable scream of Midnight calling his name roused him from his rest and Terra stood up, only to feel something over his withers get caught under his hoof from standing up and he brayed in alarm as he fumbled and slipped, falling back onto his sizeable plot.

Shaking off the sudden rush, Terra realized there was an old yet comfy blanket around his neck and shoulders, which bewildered him, "Where did this blanket come from?"

"TERRA!!!!!"

"Huh?! Oh- Midnight!" Terra made sure to grab the book as he hurried out the door of the reading room and quickly turned to the lef-

*CRASH!!!!*

Terra slumped to the floor, groaning in pain from his aching face and heard another equally-agonized groan and he looked to see it was, "Midnight! You're here!"

"Ow... Terra?" Midnight looked to Terra and suddenly realized something. "Terra... did we just...?!"

Terra was confused before he suddenly realized what Midnight was asking. He then realized the pain he was feeling was mostly around his mouth, and he could see Midnight gingerly rubbing the area around his own mouth.

Especially his lips.

"Uh..." Terra felt his face warm up with a blush, but then Midnight shook it off.

"Never mind that- Terra! We gotta get the hell outta here!" Midnight grabbed Terra's face, smushing his cheeks together as Midnight was clearly panicking, "This place is freakin' haunted!!"

"Hawnteth?" Terra echoed, unable to speak perfectly with his face being mushed together.

"Yes! Something evil is here, it attacked me! LOOK!!!" Midnight hugged Terra close with one foreleg while pointing the other towards some stairs he'd just come up from.

...

...

...

Nothing happened.

Terra looked at Midnight, who was still tense and nervous before clearing his throat, "Um, Midnight... maybe you-"

"I did NOT imagine it, Terra!" Midnight snapped, looking wound up. "Something cold, something scary, something with glowing yellow eyes scared me so bad I damn-near pissed my hooves!"

Terra could tell Midngiht was sincerely afraid and then remembered the ghostly pony he'd seen earlier that had led him to the library where he'd found the book on magic metallurgy. Very wisely, he decided not to bring it up and said, "L-Look Midnight, forget what you saw and look at this!"

He held up the book to Midnight's face, saying, "I found this while exploring and I think after we translate it, we can finish sprucing up the shield Netitus, like we planned! Maybe even improve it."

Midnight was annoyed that Terra was changing the subject, but taking a look at the book, he saw exactly what the big smith pony was talking about.
"This... this book details the processes of forging magical metals that aren't even used anymore! Th- Terra! This book could bring back magical metals that were lost ages ago!"

"Right?! Fixing up Netitus will only be the start!" Terra agreed, "So why don't we head back to Ponyville and look into this further?"

Terra took the book and started going down the way he'd come from earlier and Midnight paused for a moment as he looked back at the stairs from where he'd had his terrifying experience. A slight chill in his spine spurred him to follow Terra and quit this place forthwith.

It was a great relief to finally emerge from the Everfree Forest and see Ponyville just ahead, cast in the soft brilliance of the sun as it was going down. Now that Midngiht was fully assured that all was well, he sighed, "So, I guess we'll be able to fully repair Netitus with that book providing some helpful tips."

"Yeah but there is a problem," Terra was troubled as he leafed through the fragile pages of the book very carefully, "This book is old and I'm really scared that if we handle it too much it'll fall apart. Not only that, it's written in Old Equish; I can read it a little but most of it is lost on me."

"Hmm, I studied some languages when I was a colt, but I'm afraid my Old Equish is rusty as well," Midnight considered, "A Translation Spell could help, but I'd need to study the spell before I try casting it."

"What about that Twilight Sparkle you mentioned earlier?" suggested Terra, "You said she's kind of a brainiac and would probably jump at a chance to translate an old book like this."

"Maybe..." Midnight agreed albeit reluctantly so that Terra easily noticed.

"Say Midnight, if you've been a traveler for a long time, how come you're still sticking around Ponyville?" asked Terra, just barely hiding a knowing smirk. "You said you've been here longer than you intended, right?"

"Yeah..." Midnight nodded, looking at the ground as they kept walking.

"It's Twilight, huh?" Midnight looked at Terra and though now the big earth pony was smirking, it was kind and understanding.

Taking a deep breath, Midnight said, "Yes. It is. Ponyville was supposed to be just another stop for a rest, Terra. A place to take a short break, restock on supplies, and then move along. But then I saw Twilight. I was so nervous and surprised that I honestly tried to avoid seeing her, but one of her friends Pinkie Pie took the decision out of my hooves, and I wound up catching up with Twilight and... I've been here in Ponyville ever since. But I only stayed after I made Twilight promise me not to reveal to Princess Celestia that I'm here in Ponyville."

"Midnight... Do you still want to leave Ponyville, eventually?" asked Terra all of a sudden, that Midnight gave him a perplexed look. "Because it sounds to me that you don't actually have any inclination to leave. You talk about how you didn't expect to stay so long and that its because of Twilight. But you never talk about leaving."

"That's... true, "Midnight conceded.

"Not only that, but even though you've avoided her for so long," Terra continued, "deep down you know that at some point you're gonna have to face the princess and talk. I know it won't be easy, and both of you probably still have issues with the other, but it's not fair to her or to yourself to continue this avoiding Princess Celestia."

"Mmm..." Midnight didn't respond but he knew Terra was right.

"Not only that, but it's clear Twilight is something special to you," Terra pointed out, Midnight trying to hide his blush as the big yellow earth pony added, "You said it yourself, that she's the reason you're still here. So Midnight, you've got to stop making excuses and come to a decision. And if things don't work out with her as you might hope, you're always welcome in my forge if you need a shoulder to lean on."

Midnight looked to Terra again and noticed the earth pony give him a wink, and it caused Midnight to blush even more but it also made him smile a little.
"You're right, Terra, thanks for the talk."

"Anytime, my friend," Terra replied as he gave Midnight a friendly shoulder-shove and the two stallions laughed before Terra offered the book, "Why don't you take this to Twilight and ask her to help you translate it? I'm sure the two of you would enjoy doing that together."

"Alright, I will," Midnight accepted the book and saw that Terra's house and forge were ahead, "You mind if I leave Netitus with you?"

"I'll keep it safe and secure in my forge," Terra assured, before chuckling to himself. "We got so carried away with this whole thing that I totally forgot you came to me just for it to be spruced up! I'll see what I can do tonight and hopefully I'll have it looking as good as new by tomorrow morning! Albeit, not as sturdy and fireproof as legends say. See you then?"

"Definitely," Midnight agreed as he turned the other way, "Later, Terra, and thanks for today!"

"Bye!" Terra waved Midnight off and once the sapphire blue unicorn was out of earshot, Terra sighed, "Aw well, guess his barn door doesn't swing my way. Still, I'd say I've made a pretty cool friend and it's only my first day here in Ponyville."

Author's Note

Terra is an OC Belonging to Secretly Yordle