The train pulled into the station, and we were out the doors before they had even opened the entire way. I took the lead, as North was unfamiliar with Ponyville, and we ran. We ran until our legs hurt, and then we ran some more. The buildings whizzed by, and we kicked up a cloud of dust on the dry roads. We passed ponies who waved to me, and ponies who caught glimpses of North's wings under that old grey cloak. We didn't stop for any of them.
We made the trip to Twilight's castle in record time, and practically kicked down the door. Spike was up and about, doing his usual cleaning. I ran to him, knowing he would have the best guess of where Twilight was.
"Spike! Have you seen Twilight come in? We need her."
"Uhh, yeah. She, um, she just went to the Map Room. Who's that?" He pointed at North. We were already on the move, so I shouted the answer over my shoulder.
"Friend of mine. Thanks, Spike!"
The young dragon stared after us, bewildered. He waited another minute after we had turned the corner before shrugging it off, and going back to dusting.
North was taking in as much of the castle as he could, hoping to memorize the way out. I had told him about the countless times I had gotten lost in here, and he aimed to avoid that, if possible. We burst through the doors, and found Twilight sitting in the chair matching her Cutie Mark.
"Ah, glad you two could make it. I was afraid you would miss the show." North and I shared a look, slightly more relaxed now. Midnight hadn't gotten here yet. Thinking fast, I tried to come up with an excuse to make Twilight back down.
"Actually, North was hoping to be the one to take on Midnight, instead. Now that he can better control his... 'ability,' we feel that he is best suited to the task." North cast me a confused glance. I winked, and he nodded, understanding what I was up to.
"Not a chance. North said it, himself. Midnight views me as a threat, and now I'll teach him just how threatening I can be. If you're not here to watch, you can leave." It wasn't an invitation or a request, it was an order. Knowing she was unstable at the moment, I felt it would be best to listen to her, and find a new approach. I turned to leave, but North stuck out his hoof, blocking the way. His eyes told me what his hoof didn't. His turn.
"Twilight, Midnight is too dangerous to face alone. May I at least help you?"
"This is my moment, and nopony else's."
"Then I will be content with watching, if there is nothing else."
I didn't like it, but at least we would be able to stay in the room. So we waited. When Midnight got here, we would have to act fast.
It didn't take long for Midnight to arrive. When he showed up, he made an entrance. One of the windows near the ceiling shattered, and in flew the deep blue stallion, here to destroy the Map. When he landed on the table, he seemed shocked to find Twilight in her chair.
"You?! I thought I got rid of you! No matter, I'll just finish you here."
"There's just one problem with that, Midnight. I won't let you." Twilight growled.
If there was anything that would ever come close to the power of friendship, it would have to be rage, and Twilight had both of them now. Without further warning, both ponies vanished in a purple flash.
"Where'd they go?!" Starlight shouted.
"Twilight must have been on to us. She took them somewhere more private. You're closer to her than I am. Would you know where that might be?"
"Tirek destroyed her old library. Maybe they're where that used to be."
"Take us there."
Starlight flashed us away, and now I was standing in an empty lot. There were two other ponies here, one purple, one blue, and they were having the ultimate showdown. They had taken to the skies, and the fighting raged to life. Midnight threw Twilight to the ground, but she caught herself. Twilight attempted to hit Midnight with a bolt of concentrated magic, but he ducked away from it.
At first, the fighting went nowhere, but they quickly escalated to more violent attacks. It was evident that they were fighting to a stalemate. I needed to intervene, and got my chance when they stalled. They were about forty yards apart, and Twilight was lining up a killing blow. Midnight was recovering from a spinout, and didn't have a way of defending himself, for he was unprepared.
This was the moment I was afraid of. I could let Twilight go, and Midnight would be finished. I could go after Twilight, which would then make it appear as though I had defected to Midnight's side. When I made my decision, it wasn't either of the choices I was presented with. I flew up, just as Twilight let her bolt loose. It struck true, but it didn't hit it's intended target. Then there was darkness.
I watched North spread his wings, but I never could have predicted what he was about to do. If I could have, I would have stopped him. Now, all I could do was watch, as he took the hit. There was a blinding flash of purple, and then North plummeted to the ground, leaving a trail in the dirt, like a pegasus would make after a failed landing. But this was much worse than a crash landing.
"NO!"
I was on my feet, and halfway to North before either of the combatants knew what had happened. When Twilight realized what she had done, she dropped to the ground, and ran after me. Midnight had seen the events unfold, and came running as well. Though I hadn't seen it, his eyes had changed color. Watching his brother take a hit for him gave Midnight the will to break the spell he was under. His eyes went from blood red, to the emerald green his brother shared.
The three of us hovered around North's unmoving body for a moment. Then it clicked with me: the rise and fall of his chest- the same rise and fall that taught us he was alive, down in the frozen caves- had stopped.