//------------------------------//
// ...Hey. 
// Story: We're Not Ponies 
// by Total Hound 
//------------------------------//

“Lyra?”
Said unicorn froze solid. Without even turning around, she proceeded to answer the voice from behind. “Who wants to know?”
"Midnight.”
Lyra turned around, only to see, what appeared to be one of the tallest ponies she had ever seen. Maybe a touch shorter than Princess Luna. She thought to herself. “Midnight?”
Midnight struck a heroic pose and smirked. “In the flesh.”
Lyra giggled. I think we’re going to get along fine. Good to finally see you.” She stuck out a hoof, which he hesitated to shake before doing. She cocked a brow at this, but quickly shook it off. She stepped back, allowing herself to get a good view of Midnight.

He wasn’t exactly muscular, but he certainly wasn’t fat either, you could very well see the muscle he had, especially in his legs.  The fat he had gave his body a slightly feminine look to it, mostly in the flanks. He had a two coloured coat. Wow that’s pretty rare. It was a grey red blend, with black splotches all over his body. His eyes were brunette, as well as his mane. He also, Wait, is he missing part of his left ear? A second look confirmed it, his left ear appeared to have half of it bitten off by something. I’ll ask him about it later. But the really defining thing about him was his cutie mark. The best way to describe it would be if you put your hoof over your face to shade your eyes from the sun. Where have I seen that symbol before? Lyra decided to ask him later.

Her moment of thought was cut short by a tail flick and a wing movement, covering up the side of his body that was in front of her. She glanced up seeing his nervous face, ears folded back, for hoof raised as if he had broken it. “Oh, I’m sorry Midnight I just-“
She was cut off by a nod and a gulp. Those big scared eyes, it was clear that earlier spark of enthusiasm had all but burnt out. He said nothing just tilted his head and walked out of the train station. She took the invitation and walked beside him.

After leaving the station Lyra decided to break the silence. “So-so Midnight, what do you do for a living?”
He looked up, “I uh, I sing and play sitar.” He mentally winced, Idiot, don’t tell her that.

She looked at him, shocked. “How in Equestria do you manage to play a unicorn instrument!?”

You see. This is why you think before you talk. “I…honestly don’t know, but I manage somehow.” He avoided her gaze, opting to look down at the ground instead.

Lyra gave him a questioning look, but didn’t press for answers. There was something he wasn’t telling her, but he obviously didn’t want to. “Well, I play the harp and the lyre, it is my special talent.” She took an over-exaggerated glance at his flank, hoping he’d catch it. He did, as a wing was quickly placed over them. “Speaking of special talents, what’s yours Midnight?” She was trying to be friendly, she really was. But he seemed pretty shy, so it wasn’t easy for her. I hope he loosens up once we get to know each other.

I hate it when people ask me that. "It, uh, means that I am very good at the performing arts, underneath is meant to be a spotlight, and it’s covered because it’s a different kind of performing arts, it’s all the backround arts, the ones that aren’t the main attraction.” Well at least this time it makes sense. he thought.

Liar, what are you hiding Midnight? “Oh, well that’s nice, maybe you can show me sometime.”

He hid behind his mane. “I-I guess we could” Why? Why did I say that? I’m such an Idiot. 

Lyra grinned, “Great!” I think I’m finally getting to him. “So in my letter, I asked if you wanted to get a drink. Know any good places?”

“If you want, we could go to my place. It’s not my special talent, but I’m pretty good at brewing. Maybe you would care to sample my drinks?” Atta stallion, already inviting her to your house.”

“Uh, I guess we could do that, there would certainly be less noise.”

Midnight nodded, “I know, I can’t stand loud noises, unless it’s a good song. Then I like it loud.”

“Really? Me to. Maybe we could have a bit of a show and tell for our talents, once we get to your house?”

It couldn’t hurt could it? I do need to try to make some friends anyway. For the first time, Midnight looked her in the eye and smiled. “I’d like that very much Lyra.” His demeanor changed to sadness. “Unfortunately, the ponies here aren’t very excepting of my hobbies, nopony has even tried to talk to me besides Derpy and Zecora, and I’m really only good friends with Zecora, I only know Derpy from the time I let her stay in my house during a storm.” He sighed, “We’re friendly, but not exactly friends, not good ones anyway.”

Makes sense why he’s so withdrawn from everypony, nopony even bothered to try to befriend him. “Wait, doesn’t Pinkie Pie live here?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, from what I’ve heard she loves making friends.”

He snorted, “Yeah, she TRIED to, with a surprise party.” He looked down, “I understand the gesture was for good intentions, but something went wrong and it landed me in the hospital. When I left the hospital, I just went home, I want to talk to Pinkie, I really do. But I’m scared she might be upset, because I haven’t talked to her since before the accident, and that was four years ago, I avoided her throughout all of high-school.”

I guess I could understand that. “Out of curiosity, what do you for a living?”

“I help out Zecora, that’s pretty much it. She bought me the house, and pretty much supplies me.”

“That’s it?”

He nodded. “That’s it.” His wings at that moment decided that they were sore from being held so tightly in place. Taking a reluctant stretch of his wings, they stretched to full length. Lyra gaped at them. Midnight noticed this.

“What, do I have something on my wings?” He asked as casually as possible. 
Lyra shook her head. I THOUGHT they looked different. “N-Nothing, I just didn’t realize how big your wings were, they’re like…CELESTIA sized!”

“M-My parents were both imperial pegasi. So my wing span would be larger than your average Pegasus.” 

Now it makes sense. Imperial pegasi were a distant relative to today’s modern Pegasus. They had MUCH larger wing spans, most often covering their cutie marks. The way he had his wings placed makes me think he wants to hide that fact, because I could clearly see his cutie mark earlier.

He looked to her nervously, “Why do you ask?”

She looked taken aback by the statement. “N-No reason. They just looked different. I’ve never seen wings that big before.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Well miss ‘They’re so big’. You have a large horn.” He stuck out his tongue, “So there!” 

She flinched at the statement. He panicked a bit, Oh, crap I’ve ruined it. “Lyra, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”

Lyra looked at him, “It’s okay, you didn’t know, I never mentioned it in any of our letters. I was bullied a lot in school for my horn size of all things, and it really got to me.” She sighed, “I guess it’s made me a bit self-conscious as well.”

An awkward silence followed shortly after Lyra’s little explanation. Midnight decided to break it. “So-so why is your horn bigger than average?” he asked.

“Well, my parents are both imperials, so I guess I got it from them.”

“You’re imperial too?” He asked.

She shrugged, “I never thought of it that big a deal. Why?”

He looked shocked, How could she not know? “Imperials are royal, especially pure ones like us.”

Lyra blinked, “Really?”

“Yes really. That’s why I was so surprised that you took the news of me being imperial so easily. Most ponies around here who know my backround are scared of it. One of the reasons I have no friends here.” He sighed.

“Oh…I didn’t know. And it explains a few things about my childhood as well. One of them being how I was pampered at home. Hmmm.” Lyra drifted off into thought.

Midnight gave a slight cough, causing her to break out of her trance. “So anyways,” he started, “my house is about another five minutes away. Anything else you want to talk about?”

Lyra grinned, “Not without a glass of wine.”

Midnight chuckled. “I can arrange that, come on.” He led the way out of town down a small dirt road.

“How far exactly are you from town?”

Midnight looked back, “Hmm? Oh, about three minutes out.”

“Really? That’s awfully close to the forest.” She said as she eyed its dark outline in the near distance.

He shrugged, “Well, keep in mind that I DO work in the forest, so it would make sense that I live near it. Plus it’s has some nice places to relax if you know the forest and its dangers. Really the forest isn’t that dangerous for somepony like me who works in it.”

Lyra processed what had been given to her, “I guess that makes sense.” She looked at the forest again. “Still…”

It had been about two minutes after they left town and Midnights house could easily be seen from where they were. Nothing special about it really, it looked like Fluttershy’s cottage, it even had a small natural bridge leading over a stream, probably the same stream Fluttershy had in her front yard. The only big difference was no animals or animal feeders. 

Cozy. Lyra thought to herself. And continued her walk.


They had just arrived at Midnights house. And the owner, who was currently bouncing like a certain pink mare for currently unknown reasons, was bounding towards it with his less enthusiastic follower following closely behind him. Upon entering his front yard however, Lyra became quite bouncy as well, why? She couldn’t tell, but it just felt right. 

Midnight spoke up once he reached the front door, “You’ll have to excuse that little bounce we just had, I’ve been working with various jumping beans, they’re cousins to poison joke. And well, I think the name tells you what just happened.” He chuckled. 

Lyra giggled, “I have a few guesses. How long do the effects last?”

“Normally about five minutes after initial contact, but I’ve got an enchantment on the fence around the place and my house. So it’ll wear off when you enter the house, or go past the main gate.”

“Okay.”

He grinned, “Great!” he unlocked the door to his house and pushed the door open. “Please forgive the slight mess, I haven’t had time to clean up. Oh and uh…” he paused, “Please don’t be too loud, my pets are sleeping. Or at least a few of them are.” He stepped inside and then moved over to allow her room to enter. “You may enter.”

Lyra smiled, “Thank you” As she entered, a thought crossed through her mind. Wow, it’s dark in here.

As if reading her mind, Midnight responded, “I do hope you’ll forgive how dark it is. But you’re a unicorn, just make a small orb of magic, to illuminate the place. Just remember,” his tone turned serious, “no brighter than a candle at any time.”
Lyra blinked, “O…kay?” Then she lit a magical orb, about as bright as a candle. She quickly realized why he asked to keep the light low. Bats. And we’re not talking tiny bats that always make roosts in old buildings, well okay there were a few of those. But what really caught her attention was the big one. 

Ears flat against her head, Lyra’s thoughts were wild. That thing’s HUGE, I mean it’s gotta be at least three feet long! How can he call that thing a pet?! That’s not a pet it’s a mutation gone wrong. She quickly shook her head. Get ahold of yourself, this thing is-is-is not a monster…m-maybe it’s his mother, a-and she has a really bad skin condition. Y-yeah that’s it! THEN WHY IS SHE HANGING UPSIDE DOWN FROM THE CEILING?! She didn’t realize it but she had started to hyperventilate.

Midnight facehooved, “I was afraid if this,” he prodded the gaint bat beside him that was causing Lyra a panic attack at the moment, who looked to him curiously. “Lumina could you get me the calming herbs from the back room please?” The bat shrugged its shoulders, “Use your best judgement.” It nodded and flew off from its upside down perch to the back of the house. In the meantime, Midnight had to calm down a certain somepony.

“Lyra? She’s gone, you can calm down now. She’s not gonna hurt you.” He slowly eased his way over to her side and sat her down.

Lyra looked to him with scared eyes, “W-What was t-that?”

Midnight sighed, “That is one of the other reasons that I have no friends, I do take care of animals, but not the kind that Fluttershy takes care of.” He looked at the other slumbering bats. “I take care of the animals that nopony wants, a lot of them have magical properties and should be cared for just like your average day kitten.” He sighed, “Sadly, nopony seems to think about them the way I do, so I’ve become their caretaker in a way. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you in our letters, it’s a new thing that happened shortly after 11th grade so. I just never thought of it worth mentioning other than maybe saying, I take care of animals.”

His little talk had managed to bring Lyra off the side of her mental bridge and back onto the solid surface of said proverbial bridge. Allowing her to think a bit more clearly. Okay Lyra think, if he’s not running and screaming, then it’s probably NOT a problem, so just calm down. And maybe apologize for freaking out. Lyra took a breath, “It’s okay, just startled me is all, I wasn’t expecting something like that when I walked in. I’m sorry for freaking out like that.”

Midnight smiled, “That’s okay, Lumina can be a little scary, even for me at times. Speaking of Lumina, she should be back right about-” A quiet thud was heard from directly behind Midnight. “now.” He got up and turned around. The bat was currently holding a basket in its mouth, containing various herbs and spices. Lyra looked confused. 

Midnight looks to her, “You were having a major panic attack, and these are herbs that are known to calm the mind.” He then looked back in the basket, then to the bat holding it. Said bat appeared to be quite nervous. 

“You put in a few herbs that are much too strong for the occasion, other than that you have chosen excellently Lumina.” Lyra wasn’t sure but she could’ve sworn she saw the bat smile. “Now, our guest has stopped panicking so we don’t need these anymore, could you be a dear and put them back for me?” The bat nodded its head and began to take off again before Midnights voice stopped her mid-flap. “Perhaps you could get some special herbs from my personal cabinet? I think tonight warrants them.” The bat nodded. He opened a wing and pulled out a silver key, “Here’s the key.” The bat looked at him and shrugged. “Surprise me.” She nodded, took the key and flew off into the back room for a few moments, before flying up the stairs.

Lyra decided now was a perfect time to ask him a question, “What are, special herbs, Midnight?”

Midnight looked to her, “Well, they’re not really special, I just call them that. My special herbs are all the really high-strength ones. Not drugs mind you. But strong nonetheless, some are just extremely powerful, ones that should only be used in certain situations. While others are like catnip to a cat, not bad for you, yet highly addictive. So I keep them locked up. Lumina’s unable to smell so she isn’t affected by them as much.”

Lyra nodded, “I see. So these special herbs, what are we using tonight?”

Midnights answer was a shrug, “I asked her to surprise me.”
Another soft thud behind Midnight could be heard as Lumina landed. “Time to find out what are lovely connoisseur has brought us tonight.” Midnight said as he took the basket from the large bat, and set it down on the table. “Let’s see, Oh my! A handful of vintage 1280’s red vine leaves, with an 1160’s original sugarplum vine.” He looked to the bat in amazement. “You’re very good. Excellent choice Lumina, in fact you can leave early if you wish.” Lumina looked as she was about to fly without her wings. Suddenly she opened her wings and embraced Midnight in a hug, before shooting out the front door.

Once she was out of sight Midnight sighed, and walked over to the door, “I just wish she didn’t go so far back in time to get the ingredients.” He closed the door, and looked back to Lyra with a smile, “Oh well, we’re in for a treat tonight.”

Lyra cocked her head, “Why’s that?”

Midnight looked at her confused, “Do you still want a drink? ‘Cause these are the ingredients.”

Lyra looked at him funny, “When you said brewing I thought you meant wine or beer or something like that.”

Midnight laughed, “This IS something like that.”

“Explain yourself” Lyra demanded, this was getting annoying.

“For starters, the vintage red vine leaves secrete alcohol when boiled, and so do the sugarplum vines. They create a wine of sorts. You grew up in Canterlot correct?”

“Yes.”

“Well, did your parents ever drink something from a gold tinted bottle, and they said it was really expensive and that’s why you couldn’t have any, even though you were above legal drinking age?”

“Yes actually they did, at pretty much every party they had they served that stuff.”

Midnight put on a smug look, “Well guess what? This is how they make that stuff, and this batch is gonna be good.”

Lyra was shocked at hearing this. She always thought her parents had some sort of vintage wine. Not fancy tea! “H-How do you know how to make this?”

Midnight shrugged, “My dad owns the only place that makes it. So I picked up a few things. Plus that, and the fact that my job requires me to boil thing in pots all the time.”

Lyra went slack jawed, she just remembered where she had seen his cutie mark. Oh. My. Goddesses. “Eclipse brand! That’s where I’ve seen your cutie-mark! On the bottle!”

“Yeah, it used to be a different name, but dad changed it when I was born, he said I have to take over the business when he retires.” He sighed, “Truth be old though I don’t want to. But, what are you gonna do?” He walked over to the stove where a pot of boiling water had already been placed on the stove. Midnight sniffed it then chuckled. “You’ve been planning this for a while now haven’t you Lumina? This pot’s been boiling since this morning.” He sighed as he dropped the herbs into the pot and closed the lid. He then walked back over to the couch and sat down beside Lyra. “We’ve got a few minutes for the herbs to steep, do you want me to show you where everything is in the house?”

Lyra thought for a moment before nodding, “Yes, I’d like that thanks.”

Midnight grinned, “No problem. Okay, now obviously this is the main room where I do most of my…well, everything. If you’ll follow me up the stairs I’ll show you you’re room so you can set your saddlebags down…”


“…and that’s pretty much all there is in my house.” Midnight finished just as a loud shriek reminded him of something. “And just in time, the Wine’s done cooking.” He turned to Lyra, “Would you like to see how we make it?”

Lyra nodded, “Sure, why not. I am a little excited to finally try the one thing my parents let me try.”
Midnight smiled, “Alright then, here we go.” He said as he pulled a lever on the side of the wall, which brought up a large, steaming cauldron. That was covered in, frost?

Lyra gave him a questioning look, to which he answered, “The Wine needs to be flash cooled.” He pointed a hoof to the cauldron, “This cauldron, is so cold that it steams.” He then flew up and over to the stove and picked up three chains. One linked to the bottom of the cauldron while the other two connected at the top. Carefully, Midnight lifted the lid back and hoisted the pot into the air, directly over the cauldron, he then yanked the bottom chain, causing the pot to tip upside down, which allowed its contents to spill into the freezing cauldron below. Quickly after this, he set the pot down on the stove again, and rushed over to the switch, flipping it so it was in the center. The cauldron lowered to the point where the top of it was at level with the floor.

“Well that was eventful.” Lyra pointed out.

Midnight panted, “And tiring.”

“Well I could’ve helped, but you never asked.”

“There was a reason for that. This Wine, nopony knows why, but when you expose it to magic, it tastes very horrible and vile. That’s why only dad makes it anymore, it requires the strength of imperial pegasi to do, and most of them are too lazy and uptight. And magic makes it taste horrible. Earth ponies would burn themselves if they tried to. But it’s all worth it.”

“I see.”

“Hey, could you grab me that ladle on the wall there?” He asked as he pointed to said ladle. “No magic.”

Lyra smiled, “I can do that.”

Midnight chuckled, “That’s great, and while you’re at it, maybe you could grab those two wine glasses on the table?”

Lyra looked at him, “No magic?”

Midnight gave her a hammy grin, “Now you’re getting the hang of it.”

Lyra laughed. Then got the desired items and balanced them on her back. 

“It looks like you’ve done this before.” Midnight grinned.

“Ha ha ha. Just hurry up, I wanna try this stuff.”

“Okay, okay, Mrs. Pushy Pants.” He said as he took the ladle in his mouth and brought up a bit of the golden liquid. “Tho gwass.”

“Oh right.” Lyra positioned the glasses on the floor in front of her and took a slight step back. 

Midnight carefully poured the liquid into the glasses, before setting the ladle back on the wall and picking up the two glasses. He then proceeded to walk to the living room. Upon arrival, he immediately set the glasses down on the coffee table. “Well, her you go.” He pushed one of the glasses over to Lyra. Who awkwardly picked it up in her hooves, before taking a hesitant sip of the surprisingly cold liquid. It was HEAVEN, that’s what her first sip tasted like, absolute heaven in a cup, but it was real, Oh so real. The flavours mingled perfectly with each other, creating the perfect blend of bite and sweetness. 

Lyra started to lean back and just enjoy the sensation, when it wore off due to the fact that she only took a sip. 

“So I take it you like?” Midnight asked, clearly having more experience with handling the flavour, but still in a bit of a happy place.

He must’ve taken a bigger drink of it than me. “Yes,” Lyra grinned, “me like very much.”

“I can probably give you what’s left of the batch in some bottles, I’m sure I have a few around here.”

Lyra started to tear up, “You’d do that? For me?”

Midnight shrugged, “Sure why not? I mean I can make the stuff whenever I feel like it, and you are a houseguest. So I guess I could send you off with a bottle when you leave.”

Lyra couldn’t take her feelings anymore, she had to say something to him, all the pressure she was feeling was tearing her apart, he had been so kind to her at a moments notice, she came to get away from it all, and keeping it balled up inside her wasn’t helping her at all. Carefully, she set the glass down.
“Midnight, I feel like I should tell you the real reason why I’m here.”

Midnight glanced up from his glass, “I’m all ears Lyra.”

Lyra took a breath, this wasn’t gonna be easy. “I…left Canterlot, because my landlord kicked me out of my house.”

A gasp came from Midnight.

Lyra continued before he could speak. “It’s not what you think. I went out with my marefriend and she got into a fight, broke a lot of things, some of those things were in the stallion. Anyways he sued, even though he started the fight, and she only fought back I self-defense. And she was charged, I offered to help her with the fine.” She paused, “But it turns out that she was completely out of money, so I ended up paying the whole fine, it set my pay back three weeks, and my paycheck for that month was a week late. I would’ve asked her to pay me back when she could but she…” She trailed off, not knowing how to say it.

“She what? What did she do Lyra?” Midnight asked, fearing the answer was what he assumed.

“She…Took the easy way out.” A tear rolled down her cheek at the scene she remembered. “I walked in her apartment just before she jumped.” She swallowed. “It didn’t work out the way she planned, the rope flexed an-” She couldn’t hold back any longer, she hurled her-self at Midnight. Burying her face into his chest, then the floodgates opened fullforce. 

Midnight, for his credit, was just sitting there with a shocked look on his face. Before realization dawned on him that she wanted -no, NEEDED- a hug, even a calming gesture would do for her right now. Remembering how his sister helped him calm down, he wrapped his large, imperial wings around her, and nuzzled her neck.

An intimate gesture normally, but it gave great comfort for the pony at the receiving end, and he figured it was the best thing he could do for her.

Lyra was still bawling her eyes out, having not yet noticed her friends return of her un-intentioned embrace. “H-How could she DO that to me?! I-I had to watch her die, flailing about from the ceiling by her neck. A-And I could’ve done something, I could’ve stopped her, I could’ve saved her. But I DIDN’T, I just stood there and watched her die. D-Do you know how it feels to have the pony who meant the most to you, die in front of your eyes?!”

Midnight stopped nuzzling Lyra’s neck. And looked at her. “All too well Lyra. All too well.” He continued his nuzzling.

Lyra crying slowed after a little while, slowly fading into light sobs, then finally light snores. She had cried herself to sleep. Midnight sighed. I might as well get some blankets…Or, should I? She’s asleep so she would never know it happened, and I have to use it more often. I’m out of practice.

Finally deciding on his answer, he concentrated hard, and something under his forelock began to glow a dull silver…