Chapters Prolouge
"Is it done?" The hissing voice was sent from within the shadows, and it echoed throughout the cavern.
"Yes, milady," came the reply. "The princess is now under our control."
"And the other?"
The cloaked creature shifted it's hooves. "No, milady," it croaked out. "We barely were able to overpower the first princess, we couldn't waste another second or we would have lost her."
"You idiot!" the hissing thing shrieked. The cloaked creature flinched. "My order was to capture both princesses, not just a puny Sun princess!"
The cloaked creature shrank away from the voice. "Y-yes, milady. It will not happen again."
The hissing thing made a snake-like sigh. "It better not. The next time we meet, you will have both princesses under your possession."
The cloaked creature bowed, revealing misshaped wings on it's back. "Of course, milady. Anything for my queen."
"Good. You are dismissed."
And with that, the cloaked creature raced away.
The hissing thing moved among the shadows, settling itself comfortably against the cavern wall.
"Stupid creatures. I brought them back into this world and how do they repay me? They bring me a puny sun princess!" The hissing thing made a series of enraged noises, and when it faded, it was replaced by laughter.
"Ah, but it doesn't matter. They outnumber my enemy."
"Equestria will be MINE!"
Chapter One - Tears and Anger
Horror. Grief. These were my first emotions when the news reached my ears: my dearest sister and best friend, Sunrise, had been taken. But, I had other duties to preform as the new leader of Equestria; I couldn't let my sorrow show. Yet, I'm no leader. the true leader of the two of us was Sunrise. sure, I helped guide my sister along and rose the moon each nght, but I'm a quiet pony. And this is why many think I had done it. In my opinion, the accusation was absolutely ridiculous. I'd proved in the past I love my sister with all my heart. Sadly, the citizens who do not believe in me also think my evidence for being a good pony was just an act. This problem has risen up in my lists of concerns to the point where I believe soon enough the numbers of disbelievers will be so great that they will drive me out of Canterlot itself.
Letting her pen drop slowly to the fold between the pages in her journal, Midnight softly murmured, "I think that's enough for now." At that moment in time, somepony knocked on the bedroom door. After wiping away tears of grief, the alicorn hopped off of her blanketed mattress and stomped to the door. the wooden thing almost flew off it's hinges as it swung open with a magical aura.
"What do you wan-"
Midnight stopped herself from finishing as she realized the unicorn on the other side was friend, not foe.
The lunar princess nearly collapsed with relief. Since the accusation had fallen on her shoulders, royal guards had been knocking on her door to announce the arrival of another angry mob at the castle gates. Right now, when the anger had stalled, was a prefect time for a friendly face to show up, especially Silver's.
Silver Crescent was, as Midnight had stated many times before in her life(which, so far, wasn't very long), the best friend EVER. She was of no high ranking descent, with the exception of her great-great-grandfather, who was Captain of the Royal Guard in his time, which Midnight loved about her, because, around Silver, she was just like any other pony, and defiantly not a princess. The two had gone to magic school together, but, fascinated by Midnight's tales of stars, other planets, and the Moon, Sil had dropped out to study astronomy.
Because of this, Midnight leaned forward and gave the blue unicorn an enormous hug.
"Oh, Sil! It's been an absolute disaster," she cried. "I know, Mid. That's why I came as soon as I heard, Silver replied, hugging back.
After letting go, Midnight launched into a flurry of questions: "How is your sister? Is she here as well? Are you doing well in astronomy school? Do you need help? Tell me, what is the second biggest star within a twenty radius of our planet?"
Silver giggled. "Well, I was hoping we could talk in the castle gardens," she said, gesturing out the window towards the beautiful gardens. "But, I guess we can start with: she's doing just fine; no, Amber is not with me; I currently have an A+ in all my subjects, so that gives the next question a big no, thanks to you; and the second biggest is the Alcor, while the biggest is the Marfik."
~~~
In the castle gardens, the unicorn and the alicorn princess chatted merrily, yet all the peace was about to end, as they had reached the of the gardens and a shortcut the front of the palace, which they took without notice. Unfortunately, an entire pack of angry ponies were waiting for them.
"So let me get this straight: Amber has started her pest control business on the river?"
"Yes, Mid. I've told that five times al-"
Sil trailed off as she spotted the mob rushing towards them, screeching, "There she is! The betrayer!"
"Oh, no. No, no no..." she whispered. "What should we do? Run?"
Midnight took a deep breath and sighed. "No, Silver. we should stay here and see what they want, and answer whatever questions they have truthfully."
Sil nodded.
"I understand."
So, the two mares stood still, waiting for the angry disbelievers to reach them. The mob was lead by a unicorn that Midnight instantly recognized. He had previously been one of the sergeants in the Royal Guard, until he resigned due to an unfortunate accident, which involved hitting his head multiple times on a brick wall. The stallion was completely insane.
The stallion, whose name was Broken Blade, charged forward and came to a stop in front of the pair.
"Princess! Explain your sister's disappearance!"
Midnight nearly snorted in disgust. "I've already told you all I know, Broken Blade. But if you wish, I shall repeat myself. I was heading to the throne room during the time Sunrise was setting the sun. I was watching the sunset through one of the windows in the hallway when, suddenly, the sun just... well, stopped going down. I knew something was wrong, so I ran to the throne room as fast as my wings and hooves could carry me. when I got there, the room was empty. All that was in there was one orange and red feather. I didn't know where she had gone, but soon I learned that she wasn't anywhere in the palace, so I knew she had been taken. It's not like Sunrise to just... stop in the middle of a sunset."
"Lies!" shrieked the stallion.
Silver began to speak before Midnight could reply. "How are you sure, Broken Blade? Did your little friend tell you that? Oh, wait, he doesn't exist," Silver spat.
Broken Blade turned to the young astronomer and snapped, "She's had plenty of time to think of a cover up, you idiot! Use that brain of yours, if it's even in there!"
"Someone needs to put you in a mental hospital, Blade. I'm thinking they haven't yet because they pity you. Well, fine. If you want to be so ignorant, I'll just show you the truth."
And with that, an image tinged with an purple magic aura appeared before Midnight, Silver, and Broken Blade. The image played the memory of Midnight's discovery of her sister's disappearance, just as she had described.
After the image had finished playing, Broken Blade looked just as unconvinced and disgusted as he had before, perhaps even more. He spat on the ground on front of the alicorn.
"Hmph! It seems you're so desperate to hold on the lies you tell us, you don't care that it's obvious you did it! Why did you do it, Princess ? If you tell me the truth, I might pity you before I throw you in jail."
Midnight stood her ground, as did Silver. "You don't have that kind of power over me, Broken Blade. And I'm telling you, I didn't do it. You know I love my sister too much to do that to her."
Broken Blade sighed. "Oh, well. I guess we're just going to have to do this the old fashioned way." He gestured his mob towards them, and they surrounded both Midnight and Silver.
"Sil," the lunar princess said slowly and quietly. "Grab onto my waist."
Sil cocked an eyebrow. "What?! No!"
"Just do it!"
"Fine, fine," Silver growled, and did what she was told.
"Goodbye, Broken," Midnight said tauntingly. "Take care of the palace for me!"
And the princess took off into the air with one mighty beat of her wings.
Chapter Two - Cool Mountain Air
The air was cool, and the breeze that quietly brushed the two mares manes' was gentle, and those two mares clung onto each other with fright the blue unicorn might fall to her doom. Eventually, though, they relaxed as the black alicorn rode the winds, defying gravity itself.
They were quiet for what seemed like days, hours, as if sorting through what just had happened. And suddenly, Silver Crescent quietly said,"I thought Broken Blade was already in the mental hospital."
Midnight had pondered the same question, and after a moment of silence, with exception of the wind shifting the feathers in her wings, whispered,"I did, too. He must have been released."
Silver shook her head. "No, no, he can't have. I visited him Saturday, and, trust me, he was a mess. I felt bad for the guy, so I dug up some flowers, put 'em in a vase and gave them to him."
Midnight cocked an eyebrow. "Okay, two things: First, if he was in that bad shape, why is he out and about? Second, you dug up flowers from a mental hospital garden?!"
Silver laughed nervously, not only because she didn't like talking about her experience at the mental hospital(she had been screamed at by the gardener who was tending to the lawn at the time), but also because she was consciously aware that she was slowly slipping out of Midnight's grip. Midnight saw this shortly and held on tighter.
Midnight then realized, after stifling a yawn, that soon it would be time to lower the sun and rise the moon. Thinking fast, she looked down, and saw just what she needed: a shack beside a flowing river far below. Without a moment's hesitation, she suddenly swooped down, eyes narrowed in determination. She blocked out the sounds of Silver's sudden screech, the wind whooshing her ears, the sound of her feathers rustling as she folded her wings against her side.
And, just as she expected, the ground soared to meet them. They were going to crash.
Yet, at the last second, Midnight's wings opened, and briefly she soared over the ground before letting Silver go and lighting down.
Midnight smiled, adrenaline pumping in her veins, while Silver panted where Midnight had left her, scared half to death after the dive from sky to ground. The black alicorn began to trot around Silver, excited. "Who's the best flier in Equestria? Midnight, Princess of the Night." Midnight praised herself like this several times, all the while stretching and flapping her wings. Silver groaned, then said in mock surprise,"O, fair and mighty princess, it is an absolute mystery why you didn't earn your cutie mark for scaring ponies half to death."
Midnight flicked her tail at her. "Ha, ha, very funny. It's time to get moving; you need shelter and I need to be alone."
Silver cocked her head. "Why...?" She then looked up at the sky and let out an understanding,"Ohhhhhh..."
Midnight nodded, then gestured to the shack with her head. "Let's get you inside, shall we?"
~~~
The house was small, yet large enough to house a pony and her canine companion, Azteco.
And that pony was Amber Spider.
The pest control unicorn welcomed her sister and the black alicorn with kindness, and after explaining to her that Midnight needed to be alone, Amber gave Midnight a cloak so she wouldn't be recognized, and showed Silver to a place she could sleep.
Midnight, grateful of Amber's gift, quickly stepped outside. There was a duty to be done.
A sensation of cool, mountain air swept over her, and her job began.
Midnight's horn glowed with a purple magical aura as she lowered the sun. She weaved in the golds, rosy pinks, light oranges, and purples necessary to create a proper sunset. Now for the hard part: raising the moon.
Midnight stretched her wings, and took flight, her hooves straight up in the air while she flew higher. In the process, Midnight's hood fell off, revealing her horn glowing in the new night. Once the moon was up, Midnight dropped down on the ground again, and looked upon the moon's grace.
The black alicorn heard hoofsteps slowly approaching her, and she whirled around to face the newcomer. In front of her stood a handsome earth pony stallion, recoiled in surprise. Midnight relaxed seeing that the stallion wasn't a threat, and before she could speak, the stallion questioned curiously, "What's a unicorn like yourself doing here at this time?"
Midnight's head whirled in thought: He doesn't know who I really am! Quickly, she replied, "Why not? It's a beautiful night out, and I'm fully capable of defending myself."
The stallion chuckled. "Well, I still don't think pretty mares should go wandering 'round the Everfree without a proper escort."
The cloaked mare blushed, which is something you don't see a princess of the night do everyday(or... everynight).
"I'm assuming you don't have anywhere to stay?"
Midnight's thoughts shot to Amber's shack on the riverside, but she cast it away. She wanted to learn more about this stallion.
"No, no I don't."
Chapter Three - An Ally Awaits
"Are you sure it's okay to go in here?"
"Positive."
The black 'unicorn' and red earth pony took a steady trot into a woodland.
A woodland known as the Everfree Forest.
Midnight sighed.
"If you say so."
The stallion cocked his head. "Say, I never quite caught your name. What is it?"
Midnight's eyes widened as she endured a little moment of panic. He can't know who I really am! He'd absolutely freak, then spread the word to his friends that I'm out and about!
"Erm," she blurted out quickly. "What's your name? You tell me first."
The stallion raised an eyebrow, then replied, "My name is Blaze."
Blaze stopped.
"We're here!"
And with that, he reached his hooves and covered the princess' eyes.
Midnight let out a hrmph. "Great. Now I can't see where I'm going."
Blaze chuckled. "Don't go a' worrin', I'm here to guide ya."
The stallion was quick to comfort the cloaked pony, which made Midnight smile.
Awkwardly, the two ponies, walked ahead slowly. Yet, of course, Midnight just happened to crash into something wooden.
"Ow."
Blaze laughed. "Sorry, let's just scoot a nudge to the right and... there!"
The earth pony sidestepped and stretched his left hoof to cover both of Midnight's eyes while the other pushed something. In result, there was a soft creak , and Blaze let Midnight see again. The black alicorn looked around, expecting something amazing to meet her eyes, but all she saw was-
"A blacksmith's workshop? Why would you take me here?"
The red earth pony laughed again. "Because I" - he stepped into the workshop-"am the blacksmith."
That's when it clicked. "Oh. I see," she chuckled as she trotted inside. "My apologies."
"So, where you from?" Blaze asked curiously.
"Canterlot."
It was true; Midnight and her sister had both had been born and raised in Canterlot by their parents.
The blacksmith didn't respond, he just smiled and began leading the way to a side room. "This is the only bedroom in my workshop; the rest of the room are used for supplies, and weapons and other things I make. So, if you want, we can either share the bed, or I can sleep on the floor."
Now, normally Midnight would've told the stallion who she really was, and tell him he could keep his bed, while she used her magic to make her own. Yet, after leading her(safely) through a dangerous forest full of unknown and unwanted horrors, without showing any signs of betrayal(and after scanning him with a trust spell) she trusted him completely. So, the answer was obvious:
"Let's share."
~~~
After both hopping in the bed, the two tried not to get too comfy, which was hard, as the bed was a small one. Eventually, they gave up trying not to make the experience awkward and began to cuddle like they were siblings.
Sleepily, Blaze murmured, "Who.. are you?"
Exhaustion taken over her mind, the alicorn replied softly:
"My name is Midnight."
And then the two slipped off into sleep's bliss.
~~~
When the princess opened her eyes, she did not get what she expected: birds chirping in the distance, light filtering through the window, and the sounds of the world waking. Instead, she was greeted with ultimate quiet, and a shrieking of two familiar voices.
Silver and Amber.
They were yelling for her, worrying about her.
Midnight got out of the bed, attempting to not wake up Blaze, only to find he wasn't there. She quickly trotted to the main room, and saw Blaze looking out windows and pacing frantically. That's when he spotted her.
"Midnight! You're a unicorn! You must know what's going on! Why hasn't the Sun come up yet?"
Midnight shook her head. "I'm not a unicorn."
Blaze tilted his head. "Then... w-what are you?" he asked shakily, fearful of the answer.
Midnight shifted her hooves. "About that, Blaze. It's time I told you who I really am."
And with that, the mare threw off her cloak to reveal wings outstretched in the moonlight.
"Princess! " Blaze exclaimed frantically, then he bowed.
The princess sighed with heartache. "Please, no, Blaze. I'm no different than the mare you met last night; the mare you were willing to give shelter, to comfort."
Blaze stood. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid you would.. well, freak."
The earth pony nodded. "Understandable."
Midnight sighed again, yet this time with joy.
"Thank you. Now, I have a duty to fulfill."
Chapter Four - Difficulties
Midnight raced outside, her horn glowing purple to light the path out of the forest.
As she began to see the river, the black alicorn suddenly tumbled forward. To her surprise, she quickly stopped rolling. Yet, when she looked up, she saw a face tense with anger.
And that face belonged to Silver.
Midnight smiled nervously. "Err... hi?"
Silver looked down at her, not impressed.
"'Hi?' 'Hi?!' That's what you say after scaring me half to death!? Amber and I were worried sick about you when you were nowhere to be found. And what's worse, you didn't lower the moon and raise the sun. We thought something had happened to you! Now Amber is attempting to lower the moon using a levitation spell, and she can't handle an object that big, that far away! And you have the nerve to say 'hi?!'"
Midnight shifted her eyes. "Um... yes?"
Silver rolled her eyes and growled in frustration. She sighed. "Now that that's out of the way, what were you doing in the forest?" she inquired, looking over Midnight's shoulder.
Midnight stood and put a hoof on Silver's chest.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later."
And with that, Midnight charged toward the river side where Amber was attempting to lower the moon.
~~~
The two mares' hooves beat on the ground like thunder as they ran to where Amber stood, her horn sparking with energy, her forehead beaded with sweat, and her face tense with concentration.
Midnight called out to her, yet the gray unicorn didn't appear to have heard.
Silver, whose face was now full of worry, stomped a hoof and cried, "Amber Spider! I found Midnight. You can stop now!"
Yet, Amber seemed to be in a trance, and her only reply was a quiet rasp: "Can't… stop..."
Midnight and Silver cast a worried glance at each other before quickly galloping to the pest control pony. But, they were too late, as Amber was already crumbling to the ground.
Silver stopped suddenly, almost falling to the ground in horror. She opened her mouth to scream, but it never came out.
Midnight continued towards Amber's unconscious body, and levitated it with her magic.
"C'mon, Sil! We gotta get her to the forest! "
This shocked Silver back into reality. "The... forest? But..."
Midnight was already at the tree line. "No time to explain!" the black alicorn yelled. "We just have to get there!"
With a sigh, Silver raced after her friend.
Following the invisible path Blaze had guided her through, the alicorn princess and unicorn astronomer stampeded through the forest in hope it wasn't too late. Luckily, the two came upon the blacksmith's workshop quickly. Midnight attempted to open the door, but it was locked. She tried using magic, but it was no use.
"Blacksmiths and their mechanics," she grumbled, rolling her eyes.
She peered through the door to see if could call out to him. Midnight saw him leaning against one the anvils, brushing a front hoof in the dirt that made up the floor.
"Blaze!" the black alicorn panted, simply to get Blaze's attention. It was successful, as the blacksmith's head shot up and turned towards the door.
"Please, please, PLEASE let us in! I- I mean, we need you!" she pleaded.
The red stallion quickly got up, and trotted towards them. Several whirring noises came from inside before the door swung open and the duo stumbled inside.
Blaze cocked an eyebrow at Silver, but his eyes widened when they met Amber. "What happened to her?" he inquired.
Silver widened her eyes and pleaded, "She was trying to lower the moon. You have to help her!"
Blaze's eyebrow cocked once again and his head tilted. Silver bent her knees in desperation. "Please!"
The blacksmith turned and walked towards one of the side rooms. When nopony followed, he turned back around and said, "Doesn't your friend need help? Follow me ."
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