Midnight

"What's with the staring, anyway? "

"What?"

Midnight can't help but smirk at the dumbfounded response and expression she receives from Kenneth as the three of us walk back toward the front gate. "You've been gawking at me like my presence is something completely foreign to you. I'm not mad, it's just... confusing."

Kenneth's face turns red at Midnight explanation, realizing she's not wrong. "Sorry. It's— I know John said earlier you are a completely different pony from what I would have remembered, and its true. I would have never expected it, no offense."

I'm hardly surprised by his shock regarding Midnight – I saw the moment that surprise happened. Midnight could not have seen Kenneth's reaction to her damn near tackling me in a celebratory hug upon finding out the boogeyman in the shadows no longer exists.

Freedom at last.

Granted, Midnight can't go gallivanting about proclaiming her biological nature to everyone and anyone – but that's no issue. It's the fact she no longer has to keep a wary eye on everyone around doing her at every second of a public outing. She's given me some strong hugs in the past, but I swear she was gonna squeeze me to death.

"It's been a long journey for her, but Midnight's got a much better outlook on life," I add. "It's not been easy, it's been slow sometimes – but as you've seen, it's been worth it."

Midnight turns her head away from Kenneth and I – no doubt trying to hide her bashful reaction to my words.

"I can honestly say I've never seen her... happy. Mind you, that's for good reason," Kenneth chimes in.

"To be fair, I think I got dumped in the one place in the world owned by the one person in the world willing to put up with my attitude and give me a chance to prove myself," Midnight responds, willing to turn and focus on us again. It's a surprise move even for me – not just because of her candid words, but the blush on her face she still hasn't managed to tone down.

Just to reiterate her point, Midnight playfully bumps into my side, leaving Kenneth to stare for just a moment at the little sign of affection.

It's none of his business anyway, but I don't think the poor guy could handle how close Midnight and I truly are. Not tonight anyway – though whether we'll even stay in touch beyond tonight... that's best left up to Midnight.

"So what's next for you then, Johnson? Trying to find another secret experimental lab that will hire you?" Midnight's saccharine tone contrasts wildly with her suggestion, and Kenneth about trips over himself while walking.

"No— No way. Never again," he blurts in hardened conviction. "I'm not doing anything with ponies period after this."

"I figured as much – but the best way to get an honest answer is to keep someone on his own her toes. I'm satisfied," Midnight hums.

"Tonight – this whole thing has been surreal. It's a one in a million chance," Kenneth continues. "I'm moving east within a month or two, which was the other big reason I wanted to pick up the parts. There's just not a lot of career opportunities around here right now with my degree in mind. I've got somewhere to stay, just waiting on finalizing the job I have lined up."

"So this is it, then?"

Kenneth nods at my inquiry. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see Midnight made it, but... I really want to leave that part of my past behind, too."

Reaching his Civic, Kenneth gets ready to set his box of parts on the roof, rather than try to juggle it while popping open the driver's side rear door. He doesn't get that far, for the latch pops open on its own and the door eases itself ajar. Startled at first, Kenneth turns to see Midnight's eyes glowing just a bit more luminous than normal. She offers him a slight nod of acknowledgement before he relaxes and sets his purchase in the back.

When he closes the door, Kenneth sighs and turns back around to face Midnight proper. "I'm sorry for... well, I still helped with everything that happened to you," he admits, hanging his head and kicking at the sand under his feet.

"You did it for money – no more and no less," Midnight affirms, her voice emotionless and level. "It's hard for me to acknowledge that and say I understand. But I can thank you for what you did to give me a chance at something other than death."

Midnight raises one of her hooves toward Kenneth, who takes a moment to understand the gesture. But meeting her gaze again, Kenneth gladly takes her up on an amicable hand-hoofshake.

"And thanks for the parts," Kenneth adds, shifting his focus to me. "I better get on my way and leave you two to close up for the night."

"Safe travels – you ever need any more parts, you know the site," I say, offering my own handshake with a chuckle. "We ship everywhere and anywhere, and I hope this is the last time I have to replace stuff that disappears en-route."

"I guess that's just how fate worked it out," he replies, shaking my hand. "Take care you two – probably be the first and last time we meet, and I'm okay with that."

With little fanfare other than waves exchanged between the pair of us and Kenneth, he climbs into his Civic and starts up the car. Crawling up toward the road, he rolls down the window for one last wave and takes off, accelerating toward the horizon.

It was an anxious night to be sure, but we all got some answers. Overall, I'd say it was a positive night, but ultimately, I'm curious to how Midnight views it all now that the evening has come to a close.

She's come off her high on the news, regaining a more even-keeled demeanor. I follow her back through the gate and pass by while she holds it open for me, ready to close it and lock it behind. I wait for her to finish that task and face me before I start my questioning.

"I suppose that went pretty well, all things considered," I start for an icebreaker. "What did you think?"

Midnight snorts in amusement, cracking a smile. "Wow, that's all you had? I was expecting something much more dramatic and exciting, since tonight was very much a net positive."

"I think I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. For me, that was an hour of sitting mostly idle and trying to absorb all the info you two were putting out," I admit.

"Wow, something that has you at a virtual loss for words. I didn't think that was possible," she presses onward with the jokes.

"Alright – how about you?" I propose, turning the tables on her in a calm voice. "Did meeting someone from the inside fulfill your expectations? How do you feel about meeting the man previously only known as 'Johnson'?"

To my surprise, Midnight's amused expression falters. "He didn't do as much as I thought he did. Basically just dropped a paper and then unlocked some doors I never used. But besides that..." Midnight trails off, dropping her gaze to the ground.

Concerned by the sudden shift, I reach over and pet her back, giving her silence to put her thoughts together. Was this not a positive night for her after all?

"I thought it would be different. I thought it would feel different meeting him. A revelation, closure of sorts," she finally speaks. "I guess I do feel that in a certain way – all those experiences, those awful memories, they aren't just made up in my head. They have been validated. But..."

"Everything still just feels the same as it was before, too." I finish, confident in where her thoughts lay.

Midnight nods her head, raising it to look at me with a solemn expression. "Looking back in hindsight, I couldn't tell you why I thought it would change shit for me. Hell, I thought I put this all behind me months ago when I buried my anger and bitterness out back, yet I still get these damn nightmares from time to time. I doubt tonight will have solved that – but at least I don't have to worry about dickheads still on the hunt for me. I will admits that's a nice breath of fresh air to hear."

"That makes two of us."

"Hm. You know, I hadn't given that thought much more than passing consideration once in a while now. But it feels like there was a weight lifted off of my shoulders to hear that tonight. I guess you don't realize the sort of baggage you're carrying until you get relieved of it."

It's a valid point, but I have nothing else to add to that, merely forced to nod my head and flashing a fleeting grin. Silence wins out as Midnight and I begin to trudge back toward the shop.

I figured tonight would not solve much for Midnight. I knew she had hopes, but I didn't quite understand them; it seems she did not have them fully defined for herself, either. While tonight was a good night, I feel bad for her, being left to want like this.

I'd love nothing more than to definitively lock all those nightmares and memories away for her, never to be bothered by them again. Or even to understand why they've begun trickling back, in order to prevent them in the future.

Of course, I think some of it has had to do with Midnight trying to remember Kenneth, inadvertently digging up unpleasantries to get tripped up on later down the line. But I'm sure that theory has popped up in her mind, and I'm unwilling to say it anyway – there's no need for a blame game here, and I'd feel like I were pointing the finger at her.

Fortunately, not one of them has been a full-on night terror sort of thing – just bad dreams. With the book on Johnson now closed, perhaps these instances will finally die away. Either way, it seems talking about it with me in the morning is therapeutic for her – she has yet to have a recurring nightmare, so she may eventually just run out of them, too.

Regardless, Midnight will battle her way through them – she's proven time and time again the heart of a fighter resides in her chest. That flame won't be extinguished if I have anything to say about it.

It's a positive thought for me to land on, and I resort to petting Midnight's mane as we walk. The physical connection draws her to look at me in curiousness.curious news.

"Guess we also have a time table, too. Come a long way in thirteen or fourteen months, huh?" I propose.

I get Midnight to chuckle at that to break her stoic face. "Yeah, that's... hearing it now makes sense and seems right. But to think this has all happened in a relatively short time frame – I didn't expect that. I certainly don't miss the months skulking around back in the yard for places to hide and gamey meals."

"No? Strange, I seem to recall you ready to fight me tooth and hoof to stay living back there," I tease her.

"And thank fuck you twisted my leg until I agreed to stay with you. If it weren't for that, I'd probably be without a home today because you suck at business," Midnight jabs back with a mischievous smirk. "To be fair, I couldn't see any of the perks I have living with you today, either."

Yet again, that glimpse of relief and playfulness falls in time with her smile. "On the other hand, I'm out – but the cycle's gonna continue, by the sounds of it," she laments. "No one in charge has learned anything from my mess, the bastard that headed my project gets a promotion – can I really be celebratory?"

"Yes – you can and you should," I instruct her.

Midnight hadn't anticipated such a terse answer, for her eyes go wide at one. "Alright then – I expected at least some minor discussion about that," she muses.

"Life isn't a movie, Middie. The mean people don't always get their just desserts. It would be nice, but that part of it – I'm hardly surprised," I explain. "But they've moved on and you have no interest in their eyes any longer. Take the small victory as it is."

"I know... but it seems selfish to think that way."

"Sometimes that's what you have to do to keep yourself sane. You won your war – that's something worth celebrating." I put my arm around her neck and gently coax her up next to me, not that I really need to. She gladly sidles up beside me.

"Alright, point taken," she relents, emitting an amused hum. "I better stop before you start getting any sappier than that."

"Aww come on, I was just getting warmed up," I whine.

"I know – that's why I'm putting the brakes on that train before it leaves the station. Suck it."