//------------------------------// // 225. The Loss of Faith - Part 8 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Earlier that morning…   Owlowiscious gazed down from his perch with concern at his dear mistress as Twilight was slumped over her writing desk, a few broken quills to one side, a splotchy mess from an overturned inkwell on the other, piles of scrunched or torn up pieces of parchment littering the floor, and a true sign of uncharacteristic behavior signified by the dozens of books haphazardly strewn about in ways that would have made Twilight on a good day flinch at the gall of such irresponsible treatment of books! But then again, it wasn’t a good day nor had it been a good night. After Midnight left, Twilight had stood in her library, still shell-shocked by what she had learned, the proof still lying around on the floor. You’re not as educated as you think you are, Princess… After Midnight said those words and left, Twilight was hesitant but she looked at the dossier papers more. She wished she hadn’t. The dirty details, the shady secrets, and worst of all, her signature. On each file concerning a criminal of the worst sort, labeled ‘eliminated’. Correspondences between her and Midnight. The undeniable proof that the princess she admired, the teacher she trusted, the pony she loved like a second mother, was not the flawless and pristine example she felt all of Equestria should strive to live up to. She’d hardly gotten any sleep last night since she’d tried to pull an all-nighter of studying into various subjects relating to her troubles. Corruption of all kinds, criminal investigation, covert operations, vigilantism, anything she could get her hooves on in an attempt to get into the heads of Midnight and Celestia. She’d made Spike boil her a few cups of coffee, but as her internal clock and the morning light stirred her from her slumbering malaise, she dimly recalled having drank only one cup of coffee, and how it seemed to have some odd taste to it. Her eyes red and baggy, her mane tied back in a messy bun, the ink from her spilled inkwell splotching part of her coat and face, and her back! Ugh… what was I thinking- Oh, that’s right… Twilight stretched out the cricks, groaning from her achy parts, mentally cursing the sun’s irritating rays having the nerve to peek through the windows and shine up the insides of her eyelids. “Hoo.” The sluggish unicorn looked up at Owlowiscious and reached up to stroke his feathers, appreciating his concern, “Morning, Owlowiscious…” “Twilight.” She turned to see Spike, looking at her with concern and crossed arms, with his brows furrowed just a little. “Spike… did you slip something into the coffee I asked for?” Twilight asked but right now she didn’t really care. “A little bit of that sleeping potion I got from Zecora a while back,” Spike admitted, “it was supposed to give you a full night’s sleep, but… I forgot it wears off when the drinker is exposed to morning sunlight.” “Explains how I fell asleep so quickly and…” – Twilight glanced at the clock – “got only few hours of sleep.”  “Twilight, I’m sorry if you’re upset with me, but…” Spike sighed, pressing his fingers against his temple. “I’ve seen you pull maybe hundreds of all-nighters, and I’ve seen how many times you crashed because of them whenever things like… what happened last night happened.” “Spike, I… don’t know what to do, what to think, I…” Twilight looked around at the mess she’d made as a result of another overzealous study binge. “Studying, research, books, it’s always been something for me to lean on, to… to escape into! Whenever something troubled me, I dove into my studies to have something else to focus on, to think about. To get away from the troubles…” She looked at the dossier papers and folders with distant antipathy but sighed as she lit up her horn, the papers all coming together, randomly being placed back into the dossier folder without care whether they were organized. She levitated the folder, thick with information on the worst crimes and criminals imaginable, and the evidence that two ponies she loved dearly were right in the middle of it all. She dropped it unceremoniously on the table in the middle of the library, almost knocking over the wooden horse bust. “Then something I enjoyed with a passion, instead of helping me, it… It-” Twilight gasped a little as fresh tears welled up but she blinked them away. Spike went over threw his arms around Twilight, which she gratefully returned, hugging the little dragon, her constant companion, her number on assistant, the little brother she never had. Even Owlowiscious flapped over, landing on Twilight’s shoulder, and wrapping his wings around her head while Twilight buried her face in Spike’s head spines.      *Knock-knock-knock* The moment ended as Twilight and Spike looked to the door, Owlowiscious returning to his perch. “I got that,” Spike quickly went to answer, ignoring Twilight’s protects. “No- Wait, Spike!” The door swung open and Spike smiled, “Hey everypony! Good morning!” Just what I need… Twilight sighed as their friends came in. “OH! Darling, forgive us, we-” Rarity tried to avoid looking at Twilight and her morning appearance without making it look like she was trying to avoid looking at Twilight and her morning appearance. “Well, uh-” she cleared her throat – “It’s rather rude of us all to arrive before you’ve had a chance to do your morning… freshening up?” “Rarity!” Blueblood whispered to Rarity sharply before saying, “Though she is right, we apologize for dropping in without giving you notice, Twilight.” “Twi, we jus’ wanted to check on how yer doin’, sugarcube,” Applejack had a concerned smile on her face. Thunderlane yawned, “And apparently, some of us couldn’t wait till say noon-ish before- Ow!” Applejack had kicked Thunder’s rear leg with her own when Pinkie and Cheese both popped up, Pinkie carrying a large cardboard container, opening it to reveal a myriad of cupcakes, “Hey Twi! Cheesie and I thought if you were still down in the dumps, we’d bring you one of my most favorite treats so sweeten that sour mood, the Sampler Platter!” “And Auntie Spice wanted me to bring you your favorite pizza pie,” Cheese offered a freshly steaming pizza with Twilight’s favorite toppings, sun-dried tomatoes and dandelion petals. He then lifted a two-liter with his tail, “And ice cold colt cola to wash it all down.” “That’s very nice of you, but-” “Oh! An’ Granny Smith wanted us t’ bring you one of her famous apple cinnamon pies,” Applejack held it out and it looked delicious, causing Twilight’s stomach to rumble since it was practically breakfast time. “That’s very kind of her, AJ, it looks very-” “By the way, Twi,” Rainbow zipped upwards so everypony would look up at her and pay attention, “Thunder and I are getting dragged along next week for some Wonderbolt flight demonstration and we each got Plus-1 permission, wanna come with?” “Everypony, please!” Twilight exasperated as she turned around and groaned as she indifferently rested her forehead on her writing desk. She stood up, took a deep breath through her nostrils, and then faced them all, saying, “I appreciate you all coming to check on me and everything, but…” “I asked them to, Twilight,” Spike stepped forward, “after everything that happened last night, and especially between you and Midnight.” “Spike told us some of what Midnight told you, Twilight,” Fluttershy admitted, everypony else’s eyes suddenly becoming crestfallen and concerned. “And… we just wanted to let you know that… we’re here for you.” Sweet Fluttershy, gentle Big Macintosh, trustworthy Applejack, steadfast Thunderlane, delighting Pinkie Pie, tuneful Cheese Sandwich, reliable Rainbow Dash, inspiring Soarin, artistic Rarity, candid Blueblood, and ever-faithful Spike. Twilight gazed at each of them in turn, her walls of resistance melting away before the warmth they brought, and she smiled and finally let a tear shed, one of joy and appreciation. With a sigh however, knowing what she was about to share with them would be hard, she levitated the folder and said “This… isn’t going to be easy to share.” But she did. While they knew a little of what happened between her and Midnight yesterday evening after the party went wrong, they were all of them shocked and even somewhat horrified as Twilight the picture Twilight painted for them was gory and dirty with details. She showed a few of the files of the dossiers, and was morose to point out that Princess Celestia had sanctioned not just all the cloak & dagger business but the assassinations, the exposures of corrupt politicians, business-ponies, and even authorities, all involved in crime because of bribery, blackmail, or personal gain.      “…He was right,” Twilight sniffled as she put the files back into the dossier folder. “About what, sugarcube?” Applejack came over and put a comforting foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders. “I’m not as-as… as-” Twilight choked up a bit and began to cry as Applejack pulled her into a hug, the rest of the mares converging to comfort their friend. The stallions all shared troubled looks although Blueblood and Soarin weren’t as fazed by these revelations as the rest. "Twilight, I understand all that you’ve just shared with us is… well, a lot to take in,” Blueblood spoke up, “but in order to truly understand this ordeal, you need to hear it from all sides.” “What’re you saying, Blue?” Thunderlane asked, all eyes looking to the unicorn prince. “I’m saying that Twilight heard Midnight’s side, and despite the evidence that my aunt is involved Twilight should hear her side as well,” explained Blueblood. “Even if it means confirming the truth that she’s in the middle of all this.” Seeing the point he’d made, Twilight considered Blueblood’s suggestion, and while it had merit she was afraid to go through with it. Afraid of what else she would learn. “You’re probably right, Blueblood, it’s just…” Twilight stalled as she thought a moment before saying, “I-I want to… check on Twinken! Oh, and Joe! Wait, what about Button Mash?” Some of the friends shared knowing looks, catching on that Twilight was hesitant but Applejack spoke up, “Twinken’s restin’ up over at Ponyville General Hospital.” “An’ Button Mash is home safe n’ sound with his mama,” Big Mac was happy to report. “Doughnut Joe’s at the hospital too,” Rainbow added. “I… I wanna check on them, y’know, before we just rush off to Canterlot,” Twilight chuckled nervously as she made for the door. “But Twilight, what about-” Spike tried to say. “I’ll be back!” Twilight quickly hurried out, causing the rest of her friends to sigh. “Right in here, Princess Twilight,” Nurse Redheart opened the hospital room and Twilight walked in and was confused for a moment to see Twinken crying while holding some kind of medal in his hooves… and smiling! “Twinken? Are-are you alright?” Twilight came over when Twinken sniffled and wiped away his tears yet continued to smile as he looked upon Twilight. “Twilight, it- I- I have a mom and dad! Look!” Twinken held the medal out for Twilight to see it was a locket, opened to reveal a family picture! Of Midnight as a teenage alicorn colt, of Twinken as a sleeping baby held by who could only be Faerie Tail, and behind them all, holding them together had to be Ignitus. Twilight was stunned as she hesitantly held up her hooves to the locket, but then Twinken grabbed her hooves with a wide smile, “Twilight, I-I gotta find Midnight! I have so many questions!” That overjoyed and hopeful smile, those tears of rejoice, Twilight couldn’t bear to remind Twinken what happened last night. She didn’t want to quash Twinken’s spirits by saying she and Midnight had a fight, when- *DING* “Actually, Twinken… you… also have an uncle!” Twilight hesitated, mentally kicking herself in the flank for doing this. "An uncle?! But… this locket just has me, Midnight, and the ponies who’ve just gotta be our mom and dad,” Twinken looked closer at the picture, maybe searching for something he might have missed. “Wwwwwait right here!” Twilight rushed out, leaving a confused Twinken to perplex and keep scrutinizing the locket’s picture. At the front desk in the hospital lobby, Twilight got the information she needed and went where she needed to go. Thankfully, he hadn’t checked out yet. The receptionist said that somepony had stopped by to check on him and was making sure he didn’t try and leave before he was given a clean bill of health. She found the room and knocked, calling, “Joe! It’s Twilight I need to speak with-” But the moment Twilight stepped in the sound of her jaw dropping appeared on a nearby geologist’s Richter scale, as she gaped at the sight before her. Joe and Chili Spice were making out on the former’s hospital bed like a couple of teenagers on a Saturday night. Joe’s deli cook outfit and hat were set neatly on a small table as he was wearing a hospital gown (standard hospital policy) and not caring about the saliva that was staining it as he traded his own with Chili Spice, moaning as she ran her primaries through his mane, their lips locked and loading each other with kisses so passionate- “Ahem!” Joe and Chili Spice both froze to see Twilight, looking awkward but also as though she were in a hurry. They instantly parted, mumbling unintelligibly, Joe sitting back against his hospital bed’s pillows while Chili Spice sat in a chair at his bedside, the both of them flustered and sheepish.  … … … The awkward silence stretched long enough before Chili Spice cleared her throat, “Princess Twilight! Um… I… was just keeping Joe… company! You know, after all the… excitement last night.” “Uh, yeah! Yeah, Chili here?” Joe smiled bashfully, “She was the first friendly face I saw after wakin’ up and I gotta tell ya, heh-heh!” Joe looked at Chili Spice with a flirty blush, “She’s a peach!” “And he’s such a charmer!” Chili Spice giggled like a school filly, “We introduced ourselves, and after finding out we both have our own restaurants, we got to talking about the foods we serve.” “Youse gotta treat me to one o’ your pizza pies,” Joe smirked like a rogue. “If you make batch of your doughnuts for desert!” Chili Spice bargained with a playful rise of her tone. “Deal!” Joe chuckled, causing Chili Spice to laugh as well.  Twilight wasn’t exactly sure to make of what was happening in front of her. On one hoof, she was glad to see Joe in a much better mood compared to the way he acted last night, and obviously he and Auntie Spice had really hit it off. On the other? She really needed to move things along. Clearing her throat, she said, “Um, Joe. I actually have something important to discuss with you, and… Auntie Spice? I’m sorry, but…” “Oh! Not a problem, dear,” Chili Spice waved off Twilight’s concern before reaching into her purse-bag to pull out a pencil and a small notepad to scribble something down. She tore it off and stowed it safely in the front pocket of Joe’s deli chef shirt and saying to him, “The address to my pizzeria. Drop by anytime, handsome.” “Oh I will, sweet stuff,” Joe chuckled, as did Chili Spice before they flirted by rubbing noses, causing Twilight to roll her eyes.      Finally, Chili Spice left, and Twilight was now faced with the dilemma of informing Joe of his family situation. “So Twilight, uh…” Joe rubbed the back of his head, recalling how he’d acted and suddenly feeling ashamed of it. “I… I know a sorry doesn’t exactly make up for my behavior last-” “No, Joe, it does not,” sighed Twilight, deciding to just rip the bandage off and get it over with. “But that’s not what I’m here for. Joe, Faerie Tail is your sister, right?” “Yeah, she is…” Joe sighed morosely as he shared with Twilight how he’d noticed Midnight yesterday morning and for some reason thought there was something about the blue alicorn prince that was familiar. He’d followed Midnight to the hospital where he lost him in the hallways, but Joe stumbled upon Faerie Tail’s room! He’d recognized her for absolute certainty after seeing her cutie-mark, and reading her chart that didn’t really explain why she was in the hospital to begin with, other than her condition being identified as a “magically-induced coma” and the emergency contact was Prince Midnight Blaze. “I still don’ know what t’ make of it, Twilight, I…” Joe was crestfallen as Twilight listened, seeing a stallion confused and uncertain and very sad. “The last time I saw Faerie Tail, it was… so long ago! All of a sudden she and her family moved away, without sayin’ a thing! Wait… her family! She… she has a husband, Ignitus! And… their… son? Their son… !” Realization finally dawned on him as Joe looked up in shock, realizing why Midnight was so familiar, why he was involved somehow with Faerie Tail’s current condition, but… “Joe.” Joe hesitantly looked at Twilight, her face sympathizing as she could relate to discovering mind-blowing secrets. “A lot of things happened, with Midnight and his parents. When he was ten years, Midnight became an alicorn, and due to a myriad of circumstances too long and elaborate to get into right now, Princess Celestia had to hide Midnight’s existence from the rest of Equestria. To insure his secret would be protected… she made everypony in Canterlot except for his parents forget of Midnight’s existence. Including me.” Joe looked at Twilight as though he’d been told his family had been murdered! “In time, Midnight was finally able to come out of hiding. But bad things happened to him. And to his parents…” “What happened to them?” asked Joe, afraid to find out but wanting to all the same. “What happened to my sister and-and her husband, Ignitus?!” “Some unknown assailant attacked the house where Midnight and his parents were living whne he was fifteen,” Twilight went on, her heart heavy. “Ignitus and Midnight fought the intruder… but they cast some kind of curse on Faerie Tail. From what Midnight told me, she’s been like how you saw her in the hospital ever since!” The look on Joe’s face was heartbreaking as he slumped back in bed, staring up at the ceiling, shocked as tears began to well up in his eyes. “Joe, I… I don’t know how to make you feel better, but-” “What about Midnight?” Joe suddenly asked, blinking the tears away as he forced himself back upright in bed. “And his dad, Ignitus! Where’s he?!” Taking another deep breath, Twilight explained, “From what I was told, after what happened and Faerie Tail was cast into enchanted sleep, Ignitus called Princess Celestia. She secretly brought the family back to Canterlot where her best team of doctors and mages examined Faerie Tail but even they couldn’t figure out how to break the spell!” “Why not?!” Joe’s eyes were pleading. “The best docs, the best wizards, even Princess Celestia can’t wake her up?!” “Whatever magic was used on Faerie Tail is completely foreign to all magical knowledge Princess Celestia has access to,” Twilight elaborated. “Part of undoing a spell on something is knowing as much as you can about the spell, otherwise forcing the spell to break could have unforeseeable consequences!” “Like what?” Joe looked at Twilight with skeptic raise of his brow. “Like with what happened to the San Palomino Grasslands,” Twilight pointed out. Joe looked at Twilight like she’d just stuck her hoof in her mouth and responded, “Don’t you mean the San Palomino Desert?” “Sure, now…” Twilight said cryptically while folding her forelegs. Clearing her throat, she went on, “Anyway, the point is… unless we have a sufficient understanding of the magic that keeps Faerie Tail in her current condition it’s just too great a risk to even attempt a counterspell! “Whatever counterspell we use could have a negative reaction to the magic on Faerie Tail and Faust knows what could happen!” “Okay, okay, …” Joe sighed glumly but then remembered his earlier question, “Wait, you still haven’t told me where Ignitus is!” “Well… when Princess Celestia couldn’t find a solution to Faerie Tail’s condition,” Twilight was sad to explain, “Ignitus decided to go out and find the assailant who’d cursed his wife, and drag them back to Canterlot and force them to undo the spell. “So, he left his sons with Princess Celestia while he went off to find the culprit.” “Sons…?” Joe echoed in confusion. “Wait… Did Ignitus and Faerie Tail have another colt?!” “That was… his birthday party you… walked into, last night,” Twilight awkwardly informed him. The doughnut chef suddenly felt like a louse as he began to realize what Twilight was saying. “Y-You mean… I- Did I mess up a colt’s birthday and it turns out he’s my nephew?!” “Well, I wouldn’t say you messed it up,” Twilight raised and lowered her forehooves as though she were balancing things out like a scale. “More like… contributed to what messed it up.” “Oh boy…!” Joe grimaced uncomfortably only for Twilight to raise a hoof. “But… you can still patch things up,” Twilight stood up and beckoned Joe to follow her. In his hospital bed, Twinken was enjoying the box of treats Pinkie had left him among the cards and presents he’d woken up to. He hadn’t gotten around to opening them yet in light of the locket revealing the parents he never knew. He couldn’t stop looking at them! Mom… she’s… so pretty! And Dad… he looks… kinda awesome! Twinken thought with a chuckle. The young colt couldn’t help but wonder what they were like, what their names were, what kind of jobs they have, what kind of stuff do they like to do. But then one thought crossed his mind that scared him. Are they… are they still alive? Finding out that Midnight was his brother for real was surprising enough, seeing this locket and the family picture inside mind-blowing… but the idea that this would be the closest thing he’d ever have to knowing them- *Knock-knock-knock* “Twinken! It’s me, Twilight!” “Come in!” Twinken called back, actually thankful for a distraction, and as Twilight stepped in, she stayed in the doorway and appeared to whisper to somepony Twinken couldn’t see before she looked at him.  “Hey, Twinken? Um… I know it’s still… sinking in about your parents, but um,” Twilight rubbed the back of her head before taking a deep breath. “I have somepony here who really wants to meet you.” “…Okay,” Twinken shrugged. Twilight stepped aside from the doorway and in walked Joe, hesitant and nervous. He looked at Twinken with a confusion of emotions and Twinken looked back, recalling what Twilight said earlier, and so asked, “Are you… my uncle?” “Uh…!” Joe looked at Twilight for help but she just waved him onward with a small but encouraging smile. Gulping, Joe looked back to Twinken and walked into the room, sitting by Twinken’s bedside as he regarded the young colt with an uncertain fascination before taking a deep breath. “I am. My name is Joe, I… I own and run a doughnut shop in Canterlot.” “Hold on, Joe? Doughnuts…” Twinken looked past Joe at Twilight and then smiled as he remembered! “Twilight’s told me about you. She says you make the yummiest doughnuts, even better than the ones at Sugarcube Corner!” The way Twinken smiled at Joe made him feel a kind of warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time, and his unease settled as he smiled back and even began to shed a tear of joy. Remember what I said. Tell him about his parents but not of their current statuses… The words invaded his mind so suddenly, Joe flinched as he looked back towards Twilight, but only glimpsed her tail as she left. She walked through Ponyville with no real destination in mind, taking in the familiar morning rituals of ponies getting up and ready for another day. She could see Ditzy already on her mail route, Daisy, Lily Valley, and Roseluck setting up their flower stall, Flitter and Cloud Chaser pushing some clouds out of the way to make room for a sunshiny day. Her friends had suggested she get the whole story straight from the Princess’s mouth but instead of heeding the wisdom of that advice she’d taken off to check on Twinken and Joe. While happy she’d reunited an uncle with a nephew he never knew he had, Twilight was back to square one. It’d been a welcome distraction, an excuse. Something to take her mind off things, and for the first time in her life, to her incredulous belief, Twilight was procrastinating. Now that it was over and done with, confirming they were okay and now they had this opportunity to get to know one another, Twilight envied Twinken and Joe. Before she’d allowed him into Twinken’s hospital room, Twilight had explicitly forbidden Joe from telling Twinken what she’d told the doughnut maker. He was permitted to tell Twinken about Faerie Tail and Ignitus, like what kind of ponies they are, their likes and dislikes, any funny stories about them, how they met, things like that. Questions like, where are they now, or anything else that could relate to their current statuses (of Faerie Tail in an enchanted sleep and Ignitus being missing for over a decade) were off-limits. Joe had been hesitant to agree until Twilight had made it clear that Midnight owed those answers to Twinken.  She envied how they both must feel right now, a little confused and awkward, but happy to get to know a part of their family that they were meeting for the first time. Because now? Twilight was starting to think she didn’t know her teacher or her special somepony at all. The age-old question echoed in her mind: Why? By nature, Twilight was a deeply curious and inquisitive pony, a seeker of answers with a healthy (if not, occasionally ravenous) hunger for knowledge. Since foalhood, learning had been her deepest joy, her bread and butter, her proud passion. But she was hesitant to ask these questions even though in a corner of her mind she knew. She knew she had to learn why. Why is Midnight spying and killing for Celestia? Why is Celestia at the center of all this? Why did they keep all of this secret from her? Even after she was crowned royalty? She was given the rank and title and burden and responsibility of a Princess and yet she was kept out of the loop. Who else knows of all this? And what else are they not telling her? Taking a deep breath, Twilight made her decision. “…that time when we met Daring Do and helped her stop Ahuizotl from using the Rings of Schorcherro? You remember that, Soarin?” “Yeah! He spoke with Daring Do in private. They talked but we couldn’t understand the language they were speaking!” “Come to think of it, back during that fiasco with my company Midnight mentioned some odd connections he reached out to when we were investigating why the board had locked me out.” “An’ Big Mac? Din’t we see Midnight sneak out into th’ orchard tha’ one time an’ he was talkin’ wit’ some strange pegasus?” “Eeyup.” “There was also that time he snuck away after we came home from the Trader’s Exchange and he showed up at the library, kinda cranky.” “Granted, Midnight has kept a substantial amount of secrets,” Blueblood spoke up, “and apparently, so has my aunt. But let’s not forget, everypony, this Midnight? He’s not exactly the same Midnight we’ve known here in Ponyville.” “He’s not?” Cheese Sandwich asked, not understanding, only to get pulled aside by Pinkie tugging his tail. “Come with me, Cheesie.” She took him into the next room, to everypony’s stride, before Blueblood went on. “This Midnight has dealt with a lot of bad, more bad than most ponies alive! I can only imagine why he and my aunt have been colluding with all this undercover business and spying and… and killing. “But I learned a long time ago, sometimes we must make difficult choices for the greater good.” “It still don’ sit right with me, Blueblood,” Applejack sighed with disapproval, “a lie by omission is still a lie. Midnight got a perfect example o’ how lies an’ secrets come back t’ haunt us.” “And the fact that he’s killed ponies, Blueblood!” Rarity shuddered, “Eating meat out of necessity, I can wrap my head around that, but-” “Hold on there, Rarity,” interrupted Soarin. “I don’t like it either, but like Blueblood just said, sometimes we have to make hard choices to protect others, and do you know how many times the Wonderbolts have had to make those kind of choices? “Spitfire’s grandfather, Hellfire. A long while back, before he became Captain of the Wonderbolts, Hellfire had to lead a squad to kill a band of marauding Diamond Dogs because they were attacking Vanhoover, Tall Tale, and Los Pegasus in continuous raids which resulted in casualties almost every time! They tried mediation but these marauders were killers who enjoyed hurting others. And because they hesitated in putting those dogs down for good, ponies died. Including foals!” “Oh my…!” Fluttershy covered her mouth in horror, the very idea of colts and fillies being hurt by such awful creatures who did those kind of things purely because they enjoyed it- Big Mac held his wife close, seeing this talk was bothering her. “The point is, everypony, either there are times for talk and then there times for action,” Soarin sighed, knowing that sounded a little corny. “It’s not ideal! But sometimes… other don’t leave you with other alternatives.”   “WHOA!!!” All eyes turned to see Pinkie and Cheese coming back, the latter looking like a spazzed-out fan-colt. “So Midnight is actually the reincarnation of another Midnight who was sent on a time-travelling journey but didn’t make it back to his proper time because he died and Princess Celestia reincarnated him into a new life and he became an alicorn as a colt, which also restored his memories of his past life, and he had to be hidden from the world until the time was right and-” Somepony stuffed a wedge of cheese into Cheese Sandwich’s mouth, effectively shutting him up as it did whenever somepony stuffed an apple or cupcake into Pinkie’s mouth when she went on a tirade. Cheese however didn’t mind as he chewed the wedge up and gulped it down with a satisfied ‘mmm’. Deciding to move things along, Spike took a deep breath, “Look, everypony… last night was hard. On all of us! And learning what Twilight told us about Midnight and Princess Celestia? I don’t blame you for having doubts an’ all… But Midnight is our friend! No matter what he’s done or why, because he’s always been there, for all of us! “Big Mac, AJ, hasn’t he always been a good brother to you and Apple Bloom? And a hard worker, always helping out and doing his part over at Sweet Apple Acres?” Applejack and Big Mac shared a look, hesitant at first but then both of them smiled a little. “Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash, Midnight’s always encouraged you guys to be the best you could be so that you could become the Wonderbolts we all know you’re meant to be, but he’s also always helped you stay down to earth and not get over your heads! Because he cares!” Spike continued. “And Soarin, don’t forget how he’s stood up for and by you and encouraged you to complete your college courses!” Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash, and Soarin shared a mutual acknowledging smile. “Blueblood, Rarity, Midnight’s not classy or anything, but he respects you both, for your ambitions and passions in your lines of work!” Spike reminded them. Rarity quickly felt guilty, but a nuzzle from Blueblood lifted her spirits a bit. “Fluttershy? I know seeing Midnight the way you did in the Everfree Forest was kinda scary,” Spike noted, causing Fluttershy to tremble a bit at the memory, “but he has always looked out for you like he looks out for all his friends and family! Isn’t that a lot like how you care about your critters over at your cottage?” Seeing the similarity, Fluttershy coyly smiled and Big Mac hugged her close, which she returned warmly. “And Pinkie and Cheese? While you can drive a lot of ponies, especially Midnight, crazy,” Spike chuckled, “he appreciates who you are and what you do as Super Duper Party Ponies! I can’t think of anypony else he would have trusted to throw together his little brother Twinken’s birthday!” “Maybe we should get together when this is all over and throw a Pity Party!” Pinkie cracked only to be met with silence… until Cheese rose up, holding a cricket, which did the iconic chirping purported to exemplify a bad joke. Ironically, it made everypony laugh! “I always make sure to know where to find crickets in case of cricket emergencies,” Cheese chuckled while Pinkie shrugged it off. “Alright everypony,” Spike got their attention again as he stood up on the center table of the library, “when Twilight gets back, we gotta get through to her. We gotta help her work things out with Midnight, and we gotta give Midnight a chance to really explain and hear his side of things! “So the minute Twilight comes back through that door” – he pointed to the library’s door – “we tell Twilight we gotta go to Canterlot!” The door swung open and Twilight came in, looking adamant as she declared, “We have to go to Canterlot! Having his thunder stolen caused Spike to sulk as he got down from the table and everypony looked to Twilight as she elaborated, “Well… I have to go to Canterlot.” She paused and took a deep breath before explain, “Everypony… I still don’t know exactly what to think of this whole mess. But Blueblood, you’re right. I need to hear the whole story before I start making conclusions that could very well make things worse.  Which is why, I have to go to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia… and with Midnight. “Regardless of what I’ve learned already and what I may still yet learn… I love Midnight! I don’t want to lose him, I want to understand him and work things out with him, and- And…!” Twilight choked up a bit as her emotions began to run high, tears welling up in her eyes, that her friends all converged for a big group hug, to her deep appreciation. When they let go, Twilight did the calming technique Cadance taught her to compose herself before saying, “Anyway… I wouldn’t want to inconvenience any of you or get you caught up in whatever other messes there might be-” “Stop right there, Twi!” Rainbow interrupted, “We’re your friends! If it’s important to you, it’s important to us all!” “Uh-huh!” everypony agreed (Big Mac saying his usual ‘eeyup’ instead). Twilight smiled at each of them in turn, grateful to have them, before she stepped towards her writing desk, took a quill and paper, and jotted something down. Instead of scrolling it up and sealing it, she simply folded it carrot-dog style and levitated it to Spike, saying, “Spike, send it.” “Sure thing, Twilight,” Spike flamed the note and its shimmering ashes flew out the window. Twilight looked to her friends again, saying, “If we catch the next train, we should be able to make it to Canterlot by noon at the earliest.” “Enough talk, let’s move!” Thunderlane yelled with a tone one would use to yell ‘CHARGE’. “Oh heavens, no!” Rarity protested, “Not after I swing by the boutique for a few necessities.” “UUUGGGHHHHH….” Everypony knew what that meant.  After Luna had helped her feel better, Celestia had asked for a little time alone to reflect on things as much as inward. It wasn't going to be easy but Celestia knew she had to make things right with all ponies involved, and that meant being straight with Twilight about everything. About Midnight, about the Brotherhood, and about keeping her blissfully unaware of the harsher side of things and how cruel life can really be. For as much Twilight had heard of cruelty, such as the evils of Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, even the Whisperer, it was another thing to see the evils even the common pony is capable of. It was not going to be easy, especially since Midnight had shown Twilight his dossiers, with her signatures on them...    A familiar sound broke her out of her pondering and Celestia noticed not a scroll but simply a folded note. Already the Princess of the Sun felt nervous as she hesitantly levitated the note up and opened it. It read only two words. I'm coming.