The Midnight Zone

“I’m not telling you,” said Lightning Dust.

“Why not?” asked Twilight.

“‘Cuz I don’t like you,” replied Lightning.

“Oh come on!” snapped Rainbow. “It’s the least you could do after–”

“As said formerly, that was not me, it was Midnight Moon.”

Rarity sighed. “Look, you’re in trouble too, if we don’t get rid of Midnight.”

Lightning paused to consider that for a moment, grew frustrated, and slammed her door in their face.

Twilight and her friends were in Cloudsdale. Despite the fact that Pegasus ponies were the only ones who wouldn’t fall through the clouds, Twilight had found a spell that allowed Earth ponies and Unicorns to walk on them too.

“She is not very reasonable!” said Pinkie.

“Not at all,” muttered Spike.

“Do we know anypony else who knows where Midnight is?” asked Applejack.

“No,” said Rainbow. She knocked on Lightning’s door.

Lightning opened it. “Go away.” She slammed it again.

Rainbow knocked on Lightning's door again.

“I’m not telling you!” came Lightning’s muffled voice from through the door. “Stop bothering me!”

“Bothering’ you?” asked Applejack, walking over to the door. “We’re trying to get critical information here!”

“I don’t care.”

Rainbow pounded on her door. Twilight sighed. “Open up!” yelled Rainbow. “Or Twilight will blow your door off!”

Twilight gasped. “Rainbow!”

“Twilight wouldn’t do that,” said Lightning calmly.

“I might, if you don’t start cooperating!”

There was a pause, and then Lightning opened her door. “I opened my door,” she said. “Now leave me alone.” she turned and walked back down into her house.

Twilight gave a frustrated groan. “When will you stop being so annoying?!?”

“I’m not annoying,” said Lightning. “I’m annoyed. That you won’t leave me alone!”

“We’ll leave you alone if you tell us the information!” said Rarity.

Pinkie and Fluttershy had given up, and were playing tic-tac-toe in the cloud.

“No deal,” said Lightning. “I’m not just going to give something away, just to make you stop doing something.”

“Well what do you want then?” asked Twilight irritably.

“For you to go away,” said Lighting. “So that I can keep trying to find a way to get rid of the Wonderbolts.”

Rainbow yelled, and lunged towards Lightning, but Twilight stopped her with a spell.

“You can’t do that,” said Twilight morosely, as if she really did want Rainbow to hit Lightning. “It’s against the law to attack someone without being attacked first.”

“Now who made that law?” asked Applejack.

Rarity sighed, and went over to play tic-tac-toe with Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“Wait–” said Rainbow, “Lightning attacked me first! In the ravine. So she can be arrested!”

Applejack looked hopeful.

“Nope,” said Lightning, “Fuse attacked you first, then you beat up him and Thunder. I attacked at the end, only because you attacked my friends first.”

“Well you told your friends to attack me! I was defending myself!”

“Yeah!” said Applejack. “Whadda have to say about that!”

“87.5, section B,” said Lighting smugly.

Twilight summoned a law book, and flipped to law 87.5, and turned to section B. She frowned.

“Read it,” said Lightning.

Twilight narrowed her eyes at Lightning. “Telling someone else to attack someone else isn’t illegal, since the other person can choose to ignore you.”

“Who made that law?” asked Applejack.

“Excellent,” said Lightning. “Now please leave me alone.”

“So you can dish dirt on the Wonderbolts?” asked Rainbow angrily.

“That’s not really how friends talk to each other.”

“You think I’m your friend?” asked Rainbow, surprised.

“Well you're the only pony who said a few nice things to me.”

“Well,” said Twilight frustratedly, “I’m sure ponies would say nice things to you if you weren't such an–an–an arrogant jerk!”

Lightning recoiled. “I’m not a jerk!” she said, before pausing. “Well not all the time.”

“So you figured it out,” said Applejack. “Finally. It only took you… fifteen minutes!”

“Well thanks for the compliment,” said Lightning coldly.

“Soo…” said Twilight. “Can you tell us where Midnight Moon is?”

Lightning considered it. “No.”

“Come on!” Rainbow pleaded. “What’s the difference to you if you don’t tell us? Please?”

Lightning sighed. “Fine,” she said at last. “If you leave me alone afterwards.”

“Deal” said Rainbow.

“Okay,” said Lighting. “She’s in Canterlot.”

“Wait–” said Twilight. “Luna beat her sister?”

Lightning stared blankly.

“She means, did Midnight Moon beat Celestia?” said Applejack.

“Ah,” said Lightning.

“So?” said Rainbow.

“Are you almost done over there?” asked Pinkie. “We’ve played tic-tac-toe fifty-seven times!”

“Almost!” said Twilight.

“I hope so,” muttered Lightning.

“So?” said Rainbow again.

“No,” said Lightning. “Celestia beat Midnight, who teleported away. After that, Celesta left to check on the Crystal Empire, and Midnight Moon came back to the castle. From what I know Celestia hasn’t come back.”

“How do you know all of this?” asked Applejack suspiciously.

“I felt her thoughts,” said Lightning. “That’s just how mind control works. It’s both ways. I thought you were so good at magic, Twilight.”

“Well,” said Twilight. “Thanks, I guess.”

Lightning snorted. “Any time losers.”