Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5

243. The Loss of Faith - Part 24

The hospital door opened, Midnight stepping in and whispering back, “Remember what I told you, because this isn’t going to be easy.”

He opened the door all the way, stepped aside, and in walked Twinken, hesitant as he looked upon the mare in the hospital bed, his brother saying softly, “Twinken, meet our mom, Faerie Tail.”

The little colt slowly approached the bed as Midnight levitated over a chair to its side for Twinken to hop up onto and get a better look at her. His bright red eyes widened with a woeful wonder at the mare who looked as though she were sleeping peacefully. It really was her!

He looked at the picture in the locket his brother had given him, and this mare was the genuine article. The same soft silver coat, the same mane of azure with a brandeis blue highlight that matched his own mane. Midnight had told Twinken so much about their mom, how Faerie Tail had been the Royal Librarian, an author of foals’ books, an avid bookworm with a love for storytelling since her fillyhood it was symbolized by a storybook with a blue star on the cover and a golden ribbon bookmark as her cutie-mark.

She was Joe’s older sister, their parents came from the east coast, a beach town around Horseshoe Bay, and moved their family to Canterlot to give Faerie Tail and Joe more opportunities. As a filly she’d met the colt who would grow up to be her husband, Ignitus Enflame, the heir and scion of House Obsidian. He proposed to her after she graduated with a degree in foal development and published her first foal novel. She’d encouraged her brother Joe to embrace his love of baking doughnuts and pastries, attend baking school, and open his own doughnut shop, which she’d sponsored.

Although he’d been hesitant, Midnight had also told Twinken the best memories he shared with their mother, all the encouragement, the nurturing, the warm and devoted love that only a mother could express.

Then Midnight told Twinken the long and complicated truth about himself (as best and to-the-point as he could to a colt Twinken’s age), how he became an alicorn, and how their family moved to a country estate… where one night when Twinken was only two an assailant attacked their family. The villain had cursed Faerie Tail into this dreamless slumber and she had remained this way ever since.

All efforts to awaken Faerie Tail failed, all leads and research into her condition led to nowhere, she was transferred here to Canterlot General, and then Ignitus left his sons with Celestia to hunt down the wretch who had hurt his family. He had not been seen or heard from ever since.

To Midnight’s deepest shame, he explained how circumstances forced him to entrust baby Twinken to the Ponyville Orphanage while he began training and preparing for the future.

It had been way too much for Twinken to absorb, and now, gazing down at his mother’s unconscious body, no longer could he hold back the floodgates. At first it was a teary sniffle, as he reached over and touched her cheek, whispering, “M… Mommy?”

“Twinken?” Midnight sensed his brother’s heartache as his own worsened as Twinken began to sob. “Twinken, I…”

The unicorn colt let it out and ran out of the room, sobbing turning to bawling, Midnight hurrying after him, “Twinken!”

He found Twinken slumped against the hallway wall, weeping his little heart out, and Midnight came over, sitting down on his haunches as he shed tears of his own, “Little brother, I’m sorry… I am so sorry!”

He hesitantly pulled Twinken into a hug, the colt neither resisting nor reciprocating, “I didn’t want to upset you, I- …I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“No!” Twinken shook his head and the brothers shared a tearful gaze as the colt looked up at Midnight and said with a shaky-sobby voice, “I-I’m- I’m glad y-you did!”

Then Twinken returned Midnight’s hug, and the two stayed that way in the hall for a long time, crying into each other, sharing their sorrow when…

A cleared throat sounded, and they both calmed down a bit and looked to see Luna approaching, hesitant and looking sad herself.

“I see you visited your mother,” she brought up.

Standing up and setting Twinken down, Midnight nodded, wiping away both their tears.

“Yes, we…” Midnight didn’t know what to say, but Twinken did.

“Can she wake up? Is there some way?” the colt looked up with tearful hope at the princess of the night.

Luna sighed regrettably and knelt down into a pony loaf position, where all her legs were tucked underneath her, so she would be closer to eye-level with Twinken.

“That which has a beginning must have an end, and by that simple truth it dictates that there must be a way to end your mother’s slumber. Alas, the method to do so is unknown to any knowledge we have relating to the theories surrounding the magic that keeps her this way.

“Every spell has a counterspell and although some more simple spells can be broken forcefully, magic as powerful and intricate as this promises too great a risk to even attempt to undo the magic without the proper knowledge.”

“Then… the one who did this to her, that person is the only one who could wake her up?” Twinken realized, hope beginning to fade.

“Not necessarily, little one,” Luna assured him, “Any knowledge unknown to us simply awaits our discovery, if we are determined enough to find it. For now, in this dreamless slumber your mother shall remain.

“But as to why I am here, while I understand this might not be the best time, I have come to make the offer I previously spoke to you about, Twinken, the one I promised to make once the threat was passed.”

Twinken and Midnight shared a look and both gazed at Luna, as she declared, “Twinken, son of House Obsidian, I, Princess Luna, wish to take you under my wing as my pupil.”

Both the brothers’ jaws dropped, as Luna continued.

“You are now a lunar pony, Twinken, but even more, you are a Dream Walker. That is a great power and with it an even greater responsibility. Even among the lunar ponies of the Shetland Isles, the power of Dream Walking is very rare, and every lunar pony who is discovered to possess it must be trained to respect it and wield it only to protect their fellow pony’s resting minds from nightmares that trouble them, or worse...

“There are other magicks and disciplines I would teach you but the choice is yours. You have an adequate ability to use this new power and your heart is pure so that I would have no misgivings leaving you to your own devices.”

The little colt was excited but felt hesitant, looking up to his brother and Midnight knelt down to be eye-level with him, “I would gladly teach you in magic, Twinken, but… I’m not a Dream Walker. I can’t teach you how to master this power, and… You’re eleven now, still got plenty of growing up to do, but old enough to make up your own mind with choices like this.”

“But… I don’t want to leave Ponyville!” Twinken fretted, feeling the pressure of obligation and responsibility as these two alicorns looked at him expectantly. “It’s my home, where all my friends and family are- Well, except for Mom, but-”

“Twinken, child, hush,” Luna said gently, placing her hoof on Twinken’s withers, “you don’t have to leave Ponyville. I can teach you to master Dream Walking in your dreams!”

“Ohhh… right,” Twinken suddenly felt a little silly… and the realization that an alicorn princess was offering to make him her student finally hit home as the excitement riled up inside the colt and he gave Luna big smile.

“OK! I’ll be your student, and I promise to work hard!”

Luna and Midnight chuckled at the colt’s starry eyes before Luna asked, “Then why don’t we head back to the castle and have lunch. We can discuss more between the two of us… my pupil.”

“Okay, let’s go!” Twinken hurried down the hall, ignoring his brother and teacher to settle down, and they both sighed…

Until Luna felt a slight shiver in her feathers and felt Midnight looking at the back of her head, “I have no objections to you mentoring my brother, Luna. I would teach him myself but I know there are things I can’t teach him that only you can, and being his brother I might not be the teacher he really needs. But I will say this only once.

“If Twinken ever gets hurt on your account…”

The fact that Midnight didn’t finish that sentence really sank in to Luna as she nodded and responded, “I would expect nothing less.”

And then she calmly walked down the hall after Twinken, leaving Midnight standing outside his mother’s hospital room alone. He looked in to gaze at her one more time, and then took his leave.

Had he looked for but a moment longer, he might have noticed the tear trailing down Faerie Tail’s face from the corner of her eye.

The view was breathtaking, and as Twilight took it all in, she slowly turned around to marvel at the wonder and glory that was the vast and beautiful nation of Equestria, surrounding them as she and Midnight stood atop the summit of Mount Canterhorn.

Earlier, after resolving things with Twinken, Midnight decided to have his mother relocated to Ponyville Hospital so that Twinken could visit Faerie Tail whenever he wished. Afterwards, he’d gone to Twilight so he could finally ‘lay all the cards on the table’.

Now here they stood, on the summit of Mount Canterhorn, the axis mundi of Equestria where rested the nation’s seat of power. Surprisingly, the summit was a small plateau crowned by the overgrowth of unusual flora kept hidden by the misty altitude. It wasn’t even quite the end of summer and yet the plants were all of them enwrapped in the protective embrace of frost, staying the cold and keeping the warmth they received from the soil within.

Looking at this secret wonder of a place, Twilight marveled as she said aloud, “I lived in Canterlot practically all my life and I can’t believe I’ve never been up here!”

“Well, aside the fact not many ponies would dare ascend a height above the nation’s seat of power, this is a sacred place,” Midnight said, his tone playful yet ominous, before he turned stone-faced and said, “This way.”

Following, Twilight sensed Midnight was afraid, and that worried her, “Midnight, I… Are you okay?”

“I could say I’m fine, but that wouldn’t exactly be true,” Midnight responded while moving the foliage aside for Twilight to get through.

His answer didn’t ease Twilight’s worries, but she followed regardless. She knew whatever it was Midnight was going to show her, it was important, but…

Why is he so troubled?

Finally, the overgrowth receded and gave way to reveal an extension of rock reaching out from the summit, towards the eastern horizon.

“There…” Midnight pointed to the extension with his wing and Twilight saw some kind of rock.

She looked at Midnight, who solemnly gestured her to go forward. Her every step was hesitant, her every move afraid, as something inside her told Twilight that whatever she was about to find out…!

Nearing the rock on the extension, Twilight saw the part of it facing her had been carved smooth except for some words etched into its face. Her eyes ran them over to see they read:

A shiver ran over her, from the tip of her tail, through her feathers, down to her flanks, as Twilight realized…

This is a grave!

“Midnight, whose grave… is this?!” Twilight dreaded the answer and as she turned to look at Midnight, she startled to see he was standing right beside her. She hadn’t even heard him approach!

She looked at him and saw he was staring hard at the gravestone, his expression unreadable… before he gave Twilight a somber look and his answer shook her world.

“…It’s mine.”

…

…

…

The look on Twilight’s face, “Y-your- You-! But tha-that’s… It’s… impossible!”

“I was reborn, Twilight,” Midnight clarified to her, “ after I died.”

That simple explanation clicked and Twilight realized what Midnight was saying – The pony buried here on top of this mountain was the sapphire blue unicorn she met when she and Spike first arrived in Ponyville. She gazed with shock and awe at Midnight, her pupils dilated to pinpricks, before she slowly looked at the grave again.

With a shudder in her voice, she managed to utter, “…H-h-how?”

Taking a deep breath, Midnight sat down, Twilight absentmindedly doing the same and for a moment he said nothing.

“…Sunset Shimmer cast a dark spell that struck me, or… I guess, my past self, in the heart. I managed to skip a few months using my Time Stone before I wound up in Canterlot Square. I was immediately rushed to the hospital, but there was nothing the doctors could do. Somehow, Princess Celestia caught wind of my condition and immediately came.

“But even she could not undo what had been done. It’s… kinda funny. She had no idea, no inclination as to what would result and how so much depended on my fate… No idea that when she cast the Spell of Reincarnation upon me at that crucial moment that she had begun to secure the future.

“My spirit was spared from death, but not my body. Princess Celestia mourned me and decided to place my body here upon the summit of Mount Canterhorn, a place of honor as well as a place to protect the secret of my existence.”

Twilight looked at Midnight, confused by his words. He shrugged and said, “It would have been confusing to find a grave with my name on it in a Canterlot cemetery. It might even have changed the course of time and who knows what could have unfolded?”

The lavender alicorn nodded in understanding but there was something she did not yet understand, “…Why did you want to show me this?”

Midnight looked ashamed as his gaze fell upon the grave, “The first time Princess Celestia brought me here was right before I became the leader of a new Brotherhood… I guess she thought showing me this grave and telling me about it, it might give me some kind of closure. It didn’t.

“It filled me with doubt, in myself, in my own fate. Was I even my own self or was my very identity decided for me before I was even born? …Was I just a copy? A shadow of somepony Celestia couldn’t let go? I mean… when I became an alicorn and my memories of my past self flooded back, it was confusing but… remembering another life and seeing the proof of it right in front of me” – he gestured to the grave – “I felt so… used! Like, I was just a tool or-or a pawn in someone’s game! I couldn’t face Celestia for days after she first showed me this place…

“But the fact this grave was here haunted me! For months, I couldn’t get it out of my head, and I got so stressed and angry that-that I…”

Midnight scrunched his eyes shut, forcing himself not to cry, but felt a little better when he felt Twilight lean against him. Softly, she asked, “What happened, Midnight?”

Her voice was filled with compassion, understanding, the assurance that she was there and that would listen.

Shaking and unable to look Twilight in the eye, Midnight admitted it.

“I tried to destroy it!”

She couldn’t help it, but Twilight jerked back a little, looking almost appalled at Midnight. He didn’t see it, but her sudden move away from him told him enough, as he buried his face into his hooves, struggling not to cry.

“I hated this grave! I hated feeling like I was some cheap knockoff, and it got to where I just couldn’t stand it! The next time I came here, I literally tried to blow this grave off the side of the mountain!”

He sighed morosely, dropping his hooves, hanging his head, “But… Celestia has this entire summit and everything on it warded with alicorn magic. I didn’t harm so much as a blade of grass, and believe me I tried. When I realized what she’d done, I was furious with Celestia, and I know that anger wasn’t fair, I…”

Midnight didn’t know what more to say, and the cloud of shame over him was so thick Twilight knew she had to say something.

“…Don’t think of it that way, Midnight,” she said, reaching over and placing her hoof on Midnight’s chin to make him look her in the eye. They were full of shame and sadness, like a colt who’d been told he was bad by an abusive parent.

“This grave… Celestia didn’t make it because she couldn’t let go, she buried your old self here so she could let go. She honored the pony you were and did her best with what she had and knew to make you the pony you are today. It wasn’t easy and maybe she didn’t always make the right choices on your part, but I can see now…

“She’s not all-knowing, she’s… not perfect” – Twilight cringed as though the words she’d just spoken had left a bad taste in her mouth – “she’s every bit as equine as any other pony despite who and what she is. That doesn’t mean that she’s ashamed of you or anything. She knew you and you knew her in ways hardly anypony today can relate to! She’s known for a very long time that you’re special, Midnight, and that there is so much good you will do, not just for Equestria but maybe the world.

“She saved you and although I understand all that you’ve gone through has been so very hard and nopony could fault you for giving up, I thank my lucky stars that she did, and I am so very proud of you for making it this far. Maybe you strayed for a little but you found your way back. To the right path, to your family and friends, and… to me!”

As the two held each other’s gaze, they saw their reflections in the other’s eyes, as though they were seeing the best of themselves looking back at them from the pony they loved most. Midnight reached up and gently grasped Twilight’s hoof between both of his, and smiled as he said, “Twilight Sparkle… Since the day I first saw you as a baby, and the day I first saw you arrive in Ponyville, I’ve known in my heart that you mean something truly special to me.

“I accept that the pony I was and the pony I am now are one and the same despite the incredible circumstances of what led me to be here, and yet I am glad to see that since both of the first times I saw you, you have remained the beautiful, brave, clever, kind, and diligent pony that inspired me through every hardship and endeavor I’ve undertaken. I am hardly worthy and yet I must ask you a question I have dreamed of asking you for so long.

“Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?”

Seeing the warmth and hope in his eyes, feeling the love swell in her chest, Twilight couldn’t help but smile and shed a tear as she answered by pulling her stallion close meeting his lips with her own, and he let her have her way. He fell over onto his back, pulling Twilight down with him as she giggled. She ran her hoof over his mane, smiled as he embraced her with his wings, and the look they shared, soft yet intense, gentle yet passionate, and then Twilight teased Midnight by pretending to kiss him only to rub her nose against his, making him chuckle.

“Heh-heh, is… that a yes?” He smiled at her hopefully.

“More like a… ‘What took you so long’,” Twilight gently laid down beside him, and they shared that look again, this time a loving gaze, and held each other’s hoof.

Then Twilight suddenly realized what she’d just said, what she’d just accepted, her neurosis flaring up in response to this big decision to devote herself to this stallion she loved with all her heart.

“AAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!” Twilight bolted up, flapped about, “Uh- Mental note- No, this isn’t something you can just make a mental note of! I-I need a- A checklist! Checklists are good! Checklists are organized, but- No quill! No paper!

 “EEEEEE!! There’s so much to plan, so much to do- Bridesmares, groomstallions! Oh wait, our friends can be the bridesmare and groomstallions- But who will be my mare of honor?! Who will marry us?! When will we get married?!!? I-”

A turquoise aura enveloped her and she YIPED as she was brought over to Midnight and he stopped her mouth from running a thousand miles an hour with a deep and passionate kiss. At first she fussed… but then she gave in, wrapping her forelegs around his neck.

When their lips parted, she caught the amused look in Midnight’s eyes as he asked, “Feel better?”

“…Yeah,” Twilight replied meekly.

“Twily, there’s no rush,” Midnight assured her, “we have all the time in the world to plan this out, and knowing you it will be planned out perfectly.”

“I guess… we should be headed back down so we can tell everypony the good news,” Twilight brought up.

“Sure, but…” Midnight sat down and gazed out from the mountaintop, Twilight joining him, as he then said, “Let’s just… enjoy this a little longer."

Eventually, Midnight and Twilight flew back down to Canterlot, where, during a luncheon with all their friends and family, they made the big announcement!

Of course, Pinkie and Cheese declared they’d throw them a big engagement party, which Midnight actually took them aside to ask them about something while Twilight’s parents, Shining Armor, and Cadance all hugged and kissed her, everypony else offering their congratulations and best wishes.

Twinken was especially happy, as he gave Twilight a hug and called her big sister, which made her kiss the little colt on the cheek, and even Thorax and Elytra expressed their hopes that the two would be happy.

But then important matters were discussed, and it was agreed Aurora Boreala’s trial would take place after the Equestria Games. Fluttershy asked what Thorax and Elytra would do, and Shining Armor and Cadance both invited Thorax and Elytra to the Crystal Empire where they hoped to discover exactly how they’d freed Thorax of the Hive Mind and do the same for Elytra. The both of them accepted.

Eventually however, everypony had to go home. Shining Armor and Cadance were needed back in the Crystal Empire, Applejack and Big Mac had to get home to take care of Sweet Apple Acres, the Party Ponies wanted to get started on Midnight and Twilight’s engagement party, and Rarity and Blueblood had to return to take care of their own businesses.

Instead of an airship, they all opted for a train back to Ponyville, and just before they boarded, Midnight whispered something to Twilight, and at first she looked reluctant but then smiled in agreement.

“Master!” Midnight was glad that Sombra, Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, and Cadance were all seeing them off at the station, and as he approached them, they looked at him curiously when he stepped up to his mentor and asked, “Would you honor Twilight and I by being the officiator of our wedding?”

“Wha- Me?” Sombra was taken aback, looking to the others who all smiled in agreement, and feeling ever so humbled the shadowy prince grinned warmly and replied to his apprentice, “Son, I would be honored.”

“We’ll keep you posted,” promised Twilight and before long they were chuggin’ home on the Friendship Express.

That evening in Ponyville Square, everypony celebrated the engagement of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Midnight Blaze! Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich had gone all out to make this engagement party as spectacularly epic as possible – The Party Cannons shot an orchestra of balloons, fireworks, and confetti skyward, the all-you-can-eat buffet had been stocked with all of Twilight and Midnight’s favorite foods and drinks, everypony wanted to congratulate them, express their best wishes and hopes for their future and happiness, but as it began to grow late, Pinkie and Cheese (at Midnight’s request) directed everypony to a stage where a curtain was raised and a soft musical introduction could be heard from a guitar.

Everypony watched as the curtains pulled back… revealing Midnight was the one playing the guitar. Accompanying him were Blueblood on grand piano, Soarin on a drum set, Cheese Sandwich on his accordion, and Big Mac and Thunderlane both playing backup guitars.

The Mane Six watched their Stallion Six with a warm and growing anticipation as Midnight began.

And as he sang the night away with his friends, Midnight held Twilight’s gaze, the both of them lost in each other, having no doubts that everything was just fine