MLP: The Second Chapter

As Midnight Mare continued her journey of manipulation and deceit in Manehattan, her mother, father, and godmother were growing completely frantic. They had awoken that morning to find that the small foal was gone from her room. They turned the castle upside down in a panicked search for the young pony, but to no avail. Midnight was gone.

As they searched, the same thought popped up in all three of their minds: what if Midnight was fulfilling the prophecy? If that were the case, then Equestria could be underwater or set on fire in a matter of hours. The foal's magic was incredibly powerful for her age, and she had shown the potential capability of controlling the heavens just like Celestia and Luna. Normally, this talent was used in a controlled environment. But if she were out and about in Equestria, then it could be used to bring forth untold devastation.

Flash, Twilight, and Starlight ran amok in the castle for an hour or so, turning over tables and looking into any small area that Midnight might have squeezed into. After this, they all met in the main hall and caught their breath. "OK," Twilight said, "we're going about this all wrong. We can't just run here and there looking in random places, we have to be organized. Now I'm fairly sure we've covered the entire castle, disorganized though we have been. Now, we need to search the grounds and the rest of Ponyville. Flash, you and I will look on the castle property. Starlight, you go around Ponyville and search. Get our friends involved. Leave no stone unturned, and no building unchecked! We will find Midnight!"

After this organizing pep talk from Twilight, the three ponies scattered and went to look in their various areas. Starlight ran through main thoroughfare of town, calling Midnight's name and checking with other ponies to see if they had seen her. What Starlight didn't realize, was that Midnight had used her "Ponita" disguise whenever anypony tried to speak with her. Even if they had seen her, they wouldn't have known about it.

As she ran along, dark thoughts transfixed her mind. She was transported back to her first vision, where she saw screaming foals swept away in a stream and Equestria destroyed by fire and water. What if that's what's happening now? She asked herself, what if we can't find Midnight? Has she gone somewhere to initiate our downfall? She continued running along, but her thoughts were causing her to stumble. Ugh! She yelled at herself, focus, Starlight! We have to find her!

She ran into Sugarcube Corner and met Pinkie Pie. The pink mare stood in her normal spot behind the counter, smiling widely and just generally being her usual happy self. In a flash, Starlight saw the dead Pinkie from her vision. She shook the thought away and walked up to the register. "Hey, Pinkie," she said.

"Hi, Starlight!" Pinkie said cheerfully, "lovely day, isn't it? I tell you, I love summer! Summer, summer, summer! It's the perfect time for a PARTY, don't you think?!"

"Er…yes, Pinkie. But I'm not here to discuss that. Listen, I don't want you to panic, but…we've lost Midnight."

"Midnight?! You mean, Twilight's daughter Midnight?!"

"Yeah," Starlight said, "she's been gone for Celestia knows how long!"

"Oh my!" Pinkie exclaimed, "so I guess you're wondering if I've seen her."

Starlight nodded, "yeah, I am. We're desperate!"

"I can imagine!" Pinkie said, "but I'm sorry to say I haven't seen her. I've been in here all morning. We're making two very important cakes for a couple of special fillies and their birthdays and I haven't been out all day!"

Starlight grimaced and sat on her haunches. Going around town from pony to pony and asking about Midnight was getting her absolutely nowhere. Then, she suddenly stood back up with a start. She realized that Midnight might have gotten on the Friendship Express and gone to anywhere in Equestria!

"Pinkie, if you see Midnight, please get the word to either myself, Twilight, or Flash! We've got to find her! The fate of Equestria might depend on it!"

Pinkie, like Twilight's other friends, was still in the dark about the prophecy looming large in front of them. She had no idea of the bloody horizon that their entire society was unknowingly traversing towards. All she knew was that Twilight's foal was missing. So, she cocked her head in a gesture of confusion.

"I mean, I know that a missing foal is incredibly important, but I don't think that the fate of Equestria depends on it."

Starlight whirled around and grabbed Pinkie. She shook her, "yes, it does, Pinkie! If we don't find her, then the prophecy might come true!"

"What prophecy?"

Starlight realized that Pinkie had no idea what she was talking about, so she sat her down and explained in rapid fire detail the prophecy and its repercussions. Pinkie's eyes grew wide as her mouth fell open. "You mean…I'm gonna die?" She asked as her eyes filled with tears. Her characteristically puffy and chaotic mane suddenly deflated. Starlight had heard about Pinkie's mane doing such a thing when she became sad, and she realized that it was an intensely depressing sight to see.

So, she grabbed Pinkie again. "No! No, Pinkie," Starlight said, trying to reassure the grief stricken mare, "you're going to live! We're gonna stop this horrible thing from taking place! But first, we need to find Midnight!"

"I'll be sure and let you know if I see her," Pinkie said in a deep depression. Her tone, once cheerful and jolly, had gone into a complete despair. Starlight felt like crying to see the happiest pony in Equestria turned into something so deeply miserable. But she needed to continue her search. So she bid Pinkie Pie a comforting farewell and headed out the door.

She tried to remain positive in her efforts, but she realized that the potential for finding the young filly was growing thin. The prophetic words that poured from Zecora's mouth two years before now seemed to blanket the guidance counselor. She worked her way back towards the castle, having searched everywhere in town. She hoped that, when she returned, Midnight would come and leap into her arms as she normally did.

But, when she returned to the castle, all she found was a sobbing Twilight and Flash attempting to comfort her. He had her in a deep embrace as Twilight sobbed and screamed into his shoulder. Her screams were muffled, but Starlight could still make out the anguished cry. "MY FOAL! MY FOAL IS GONE! THE DEATH OF EQUESTRIA IS SEALED!"

Twilight wasn't just weeping because her precious and beloved daughter was missing, but she wept for Equestria. Starlight realized that Twilight's position as one of the four rulers of the land caused her to shoulder a heavy burden. That burden must have felt many thousands of pounds heavier now that Midnight was gone. Luckily, her friends soon arrived to help comfort her. Even Pinkie, who just an hour before was weeping at the prospect of her own death, hopped up and gave Twilight a friendly hug.

Starlight felt helpless. She hated seeing her best friend weep and scream like that. Twilight's cries were met by the air, which carried them around Ponyville. Starlight turned and noticed that ponies were beginning to stare at the distraught princess. They quickly moved forward and formed a friendly circle around the royal couple. Some of them even laid their hooves on the weeping mare. They whispered words of encouragement and consolation in her ear. She acknowledged them with a small nod, but the tears still flowed.

Starlight looked on in surprise. These ponies don't even know Twilight as much as her friends do, Starlight thought, yet, they still come to comfort and help Twilight in her hour of need. The impact she's had on this village is palpable. I swear to Celestia in Canterlot, I will not allow Midnight to do this evil thing! I will find her, and I will bring her to justice!

The sight of Twilight's hysteria was enough to push Starlight over the edge. She shouldered her way through one part of the crowd and into the castle. Once there, she headed for a certain room where she knew that hoof and horn sharpening equipment was kept. She quickly sharpened both of these things and headed for Twilight's library. She grabbed a few books off the shelves and opened them to certain spells. She learned them and mastered them in a matter of minutes before heading to pack her saddlebags.

"I won't give up," she said out loud as she walked along, "I will find Midnight. I just hope that, when I do, she listens to reason and we can subvert this prophecy. If she won't listen to reason and engages me in battle…I might be forced to hurt her to save Equestria. Oh, Celestia, please don't let it come to that."