At one next day at their Introduction to Practical Magical class, the twins, along with Silver Wind, were surprised when Professor Knotgrass announced that class was going to be a lecture about the basics of elemental manipulation. All the students got excited, as that was a intermedium level kind of magic that they normally learned how to work in forward years.
Knotgrass told them about each of the six natures and how they interact with each other. She also talked about how they can combine and create new natures, mentioning some of them to the students.
“Okay, now, I have something very special for you” Knotgrass said.
With a wave of her wand, she made pieces of paper appear and delivered them through her students.
“These pieces of paper are able to absorb your energy when applied on it and, depending on your nature, it will react diffently” Knotgrass explained, waving her wand and making some writing appear on the blackboard. “The specifics of the procedure are on the board. Come on, you can try it.”
And so the students started to infuse their energies, with their respective papers, with them reacting in many ways. It was then that Sunny said:
“Professor, mine reacted in a strange way.”
Knotgrass approached her and asked:
“What do you mean, my dear?”
Sunny showed her the paper which had one half wet and the other half turning into dust.
“Oh my…” Knotgrass said, surprised. “My dear, that means you both have a natural affinity for both water and earth natures.”
“Really?” Sunny asked. “That’s amazing! Wait, does that mean I have also a combined nature?”
“Of course” the fairy replied. “And yours is quite rare. You possess wood nature.”
“You mean the same one Leaf Mane has?” the Light Twin asked. “Amazing! That means I will be able to grow plants and control them. I have to ask Leaf Mane for some tips on the subject.”
“Professor Knotgrass, I think I also have a double nature affinity” Midnight said.
“Oh, really?” she asked. “Well, this is a first. It’s unusual to find two students with double natures in the same class. But you two are twins, so it is not that of a surprise. Let’s see those natures, my dear.”
Knotgrass went to check on Midnight’s paper and, once she took a peek, she got caught by surprised for what she saw.
“Oh my…” she said, jumping a little.
The paper was winkling on one of the halves, suggesting light nature, but the other half was dark, suggesting darkness nature.
“What is it, professor?” Midnight asked.
Knotgrass recovered from her reaction and then said:
“My dear… You have a… dark light nature.”
Some of the students present hold their breath when they heard that. Midnight was a little confused and then asked:
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Well… not necessarily… but you see…”
“It’s a villain nature” a student said.
“Yeah, only bad guys use it” another added.
Hearing that, Midnight got a little depressed.
“Come on, now, children, don’t be like that” Knotgrass said. “The blacklight nature is not a nature of bad guys. Now, let us all give a closer look to the six elements of elemental manipulation.”
And she continued her lecture about elemental manipulation, but Midnight ended not listening the rest of it, as her thought was on how the others had reacted before her double nature. Both Sunny and Silver Wind looked at her with worry.
After the class, they were walking through the halls of the academy, with Silver Wind looking at her piece of paper (which she was holding with her magic) that had winkled.
“I can’t believe my nature it’s light” she said. “I can’t wait to tell my dad so he can teach me those light-natured spells he knows and uses on his pony-wolf form.”
“I also have light nature… but mine is paired with darkness which apparently makes up a rather villainous one” Midnight said.
“Come on, Midnight, don’t say that” Sunny told her twin. “You heard what Professor Knotgrass. Blacklight nature is not an evil nature. There is no nature that is evil. And she is one of the great fairies, so no worries.”
Hearing her sister saying that caused Midnight to become much more relieved. However, that didn’t last long.
“Hey, guys, look, is the princess with a villain nature” a voice said.
That voice belonged to Atlanta, who was accompanied by her friends. Her statement caused some students to watch.
“What do you want, Atlanta?” Sunny asked, in an annoyed way.
“I just wanted to see how our evil colleague is doing” Atlanta replied.
Hearing her saying caused Midnight to get affected.
“Hey, don’t say that!” Silver Wind exclaimed. “Midnight is not evil!”
“Oh, please, she has a nature that only villains have” Atlanta said.
“Blacklight nature is elemental magic” Sunny told. “It’s neutral magic.”
“Say that to that villain griffon that attacked our school last summer” Atlanta replied. “He surely took good use of his blacklight nature to cause some damages to the academy. I think it’s a shame that somepony like her is even related to the great hero that saved us from the Lord of Chaos…”
But it was then that Sunny, who approached while Atlanta was talking, slapped her, causing the students who were watching to gasp.
“Don’t you dare talk to Midnight like that!” she exclaimed. “Despite everything she’s and will always be a better pony than you are!”
Midnight was left astonished by her twin’s words about her.
“Sunny…” she said.
Atlanta took her hoof to the place Sunny had slapped her, irritated for what she had done. However, she retained her posture and then said:
“Those are the words that I expected that the sister of a freak like her would say.”
It was then that, after seeing Sunny defending her and hearing Atlanta insulting both of them like that, Midnight’s shame turned into rage. Without even noticing, her horn started to gather magic, being it a mix of light and darkness that combined into a dark light that she then pointed at Atlanta. Sunny noticed that and, realizing what was about to happen exclaimed:
“Midnight, no!”
But it was too late, as Midnight launched an obscure light against Atlanta. She got caught by surprise and fear came soon to replace it. However, the obscure light didn’t come to hit her, as Sunny placed herself in the way. The spell hit her and Sunny started to feel an immense pain through her body. It was those screams that made Midnight realize what was happening and her magic stopped, as well the Pain Inducing Spell she had casted accidently on her sister.
“Sunny!” Midnight exclaimed, not believing that she had just hurt her own twin.
“See, looks like she already is using her magic to do evil things” Atlanta said.
Midnight could feel every look on her, starring on her, judging her. She could feel the pressure just immobilizing her. She just wanted to get out of there, to go to a place where she could find peace and escape from that situation. It was then that, without even she realize it, her magic activated and Midnight teleported away.
Seconds after that, Star landed there and asked:
“But what is happening here?! Why is everyone doing all this commotion?”
He then noticed Sunny still enduring the side effects of the Pain Inducing Spell and being tended by Silver Wind.
“Sunny!” he called, approaching her twin. “What happened?”
“It was Midnight” Silver Wind told. “She got… a little out of control.”
“What she means is that Midnight went evil crazy” Atlanta said.
That comment of her lent her a harsh look from Star that intimidated Atlanta. The alicorn prince turned to her sister and started to use a spell to mitigate the side effects. While he did that, Sunny said:
“Star, please… It’s not Midnight’s fault. It was Atlanta… She…”
“Yeah, you don’t have to tell me that” Star said, starting to apply a healing spell on Midnight that quickly cleared the aftereffects of the Pain Inducing Spell. “Please, Silver Wind, take care of Sunny. I’m going after Midnight.”
Having said that, he took flight, looking for Midnight. A few seconds later, he found Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle walking in a hurried step.
“Star…” Apple Bloom said, while the young alicorn landed. “Could ya tell us what happen’d? We heard some commotion.”
“Is everything okay?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Well… I would say everything’s okay” Star said. “But I really need to find Midnight. She’s in trouble and I need to help her.”
Before any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders could answer, they start to experience a dream vision. They could see Midnight, crying on her hideout somewhere in the woods around the academy. However, this dream vision seemed different than the others. It was like something bad was about to happen to her.
The dream vision ended and Star, noticing the empty look the Crusaders had while having their dream visions, asked:
“You just had a dream vision, didn’t you?”
“What?!” Scootaloo asked, nervously trying to hide it. “Of course not! What’s even a dream vision?”
“Yeah, we definitely didn’t have one of those” Sweetie Belle added.
Apple Bloom then made an awkward look and said:
“Gals… Ah forgot tah tell yall, but… Star knows ‘bout our dream cloaks.”
“What?!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle asked at the same time. “You told him?!”
“No…” Apple Bloom replied. “He saw me using mine back at Silver Wind’s first full moon transformation. I was going to tell you, but with all the missions we had I ended up forgetting.”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked mad at Apple Bloom, but the formed took a deep breath and said:
“Okay, we’re going to talk about this later. Right now, we have to find Midnight.”
“Wait, it was my sister the one that was in your dream vision?” Star asked.
“Yes, and she looked like she is in serious trouble” Sweetie Belle told.
“I know that she’s really upset for what happened back there, but…” Star started.
“It’s not that kind of trouble” Scootaloo said. “We mean real trouble, like… she’s in danger.”
Hearing that, Star got even worrier than before and then asked:
“Do you know where she is?”
“We could only see that she is somewhere in the woods around the academy” Apple Bloom replied.
“Then it’s up to me to find her exact location” Star told.
He then closed his eyes and, after absorbing some of natural energy, he got in the sage mode. The Cutie Mark Crsuaders got a little curious after seeing that, as they had never been able to see Star in his sage mode. It took only a few moments for Star to locate Midnight. However, he could feel something wrong… something dark.
“I know where she is, but we have to hurry” he said, starting to fly over there.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders followed him.
Midnight was crying on her hideout and, while doing it, she said:
“Why was I cursed with this curse? How could this ever happen to me?”
Suddenly the jewel of her mane clip started glowing for a moment. After that, she heard hoofsteps approaching her. She raised her head and saw…
“Purple Smoke?” Midnight asked, surprised to see the General of Talent before her.
“Hello, little princess” Purple Smoke greeted with a smile. “It would appear that you are in a bit of a pickle. What’s wrong?”
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong, Purple Smoke” she replied, while sobbing. “It’s my magic. It’s evil and dangerous. It had already hurt my sister… twice. First, I turned her into a foal and now… I can’t even say it.”
“Yeah, Mirror Coat told me about that… accident” Purple Smoke said, while sitting beside Midnight. “But if there’s something I know is that you shouldn’t be ashamed of your power.”
“Haven’t you seen what it made me do?” Midnight asked. “How could I not be ashamed of it?”
“Like it or not, that power is part of you” Purple Smoke told her. “Deny it is the same as denying yourself.”
“My nature is blacklight, the same nature that was owned by many villains” Midnight said. “It had already caused so many damages.”
“That… is true” Purple Smoke admitted. “However, you need to have in mind that blacklight nature is a nature just like any other. It may be more unstable and harder to control than the others, but, just because villains have used it to do evil, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it to do good. That’s only up to you. And may I say that, knowing you as I know, you have the potential to do just that.”
The General of Talent’s words were able to sooth her worries and Midnight smiled to him and said:
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, princess” he replied, returning her the smile.
At that moment, however, Purple Smoke felt something approaching. Knowing exactly who that was, he said:
“Princess, stay close to me and keep quiet please.”
“Why?” Midnight asked.
“Please, just do what I asked” Purple Smoke asked again.
The young princess did that and then the General of Talent said to the air:
“You can come out now. Don’t think I can’t feel your presence, because that’s the biggest mistake you can take… Smee.”
And, from behind a nearby tree, Smee appear. Dropping a chuckle, Smee said:
“It looks like you haven’t lost the touch, General of Talent. It was impressive you were able to sense me when I had so much care in not being detected.”
“What’s impressive is that you can go for a walk on your own without having your captain around telling you where to step” Purple Smoke replied.
“I don’t know what you mean with that, but I can ensure you I have no captain” Smee replied.
“Of course…” Purple Smoke replied. “The Queen doesn’t play around when it comes to her underlings.”
“The Queen is not very happy with you, for your information, Purple Smoke” Smee told. “Sealing Neverland like that… That was not very nice. But there’s still a chance. The only thing we need is more talent and that filly will give us enough power.”
It was then that zombie pirates appeared as well. Seeing them, Midnight felt a lot of fear. Those creatures were the same ones that attacked her and her friends when they were camping with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“Oh, so you decided to bring the all crew, hein?” Purple Smoke asked, not impressed. “You all seem very confidence. Haven’t you forgot about anything.”
“What?” Smee asked.
Out of nowhere, a supersonic scream casted one of the zombie pirates was casted to the ground. Following it, came a gale nature beam and branches that defeated two other zombie pirates. The other two were defeated when somepony tacked them with a lot of strength that casted them to the ground like they were nothing. That somepony was Star who was with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“What?!” Smee asked, not wanting to believe.
“Star!” Midnight exclaimed, very happy to see her big brother.
“You forgot that I can always count with the Cutie Mark Crusaders to protect any talent you decide to kidnap” Purple Smoke said. “And it would appear Prince Star Knight is with them. Now, Smee, tell me, how is your confidence now?”
Smee could see that his situation was not good. His zombie pirates were defeated and he was facing alone the General of Talent himself, the famous alicorn prince that managed to defeat the Lord of Chaos and the Cutie Mark Crusaders that have been preventing him and many other servants of the Queen from performing her orders effectively. He didn’t had any choice. Despite taking the risk of facing the Queen’s wrath, Smee couldn’t allow the enemy to defeat or capture him and the zombie pirates.
“You mark my words, this was not the last you’ve seen of me” Smee told, while taking out his magic watch.
With those words, Smee crossed the portal, followed by the zombie pirates.
“Wow, this was easy” Apple Bloom said. “Last time we fought those things, it was a lot harder.”
“That’s because we’re getting good on our jobs” Scootaloo replies.
“Or that we had Star helping us, perhaps?” Sweetie Belle suggested.
“Yeah, but I still don’t know who were them and what did they wanted with my sister” Star said.
“I… I say the same” Midnight told. “It’s the second time I saw those… things. What they want with me?!”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders both looked to Purple Smoke, waiting to see if he agreed in telling Star and Midnight the truth. Sighing, he said:
“Well, I guess there’s no point in keeping this a secret any longer.”
And so he and the Crusaders told them about the mission to stop Tinkerbell from abducting talents and rescue the ones who had been already taken.
“I see…” Star said. “That makes a lot of sense now.”
“So, there’s some mean villains after me?” Midnight asked. “But… why?”
“The Queen of Neverland is after all the talents that are blooming or about to bloom” Purple Smoke replied. “I think she senses that you possess a great potential and wants you for that.”
“We’ve been protecting every talent that she might want” Sweetie Belle explained. “We’re not been successful every time, but we were able to protect a hooful of them.”
“I’ve noticed your strange behavior through all year, but I thought it was just my curiosity, so I didn’t give it that much importance. But there’s still something that bugs me a little.”
“And what it is, young prince?” Purple Smoke asked.
“Why did the tree called the Crusaders to the academy when there’s talents being kidnap both in the Pony World and the Enchanted Forest?”
“Ya know, that is a very good question” Apple Bloom admitted.
“Do you think there’s another reason for the Tree of Crisis to send us here?” Scootaloo asked.
“Who knows” Purple Smoke said. “The Tree of Crisis was created with the combination of my magic with Mirror Coat’s. Its ways are still pretty mysterious. I advise you three to watch yourselves out.”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders nodded to that advice. Purple Smoke then turned to Star and Midnight and told them:
“Can I ask you to not tell anyone about this? We can’t have any interference from others.”
Star nodded and said:
“You can count on me for that, Purple Smoke. Right, Midnight?”
“Right…” the little Dark Twin said, a little insecure.
“Okay” Purple Smoke said. “Now I’ll return to the Light Kingdom. I wish both you good luck. Oh, by the way, girls, keep watch on Princess Midnight. I’m not sure that the neverlanders have given up on her.”
“Ya can count on us, Purple Smoke” Apple Bloom said, with the others backing her words out.
“I will also watch over my sister” Star said. “I’ll be more attentive.”
Purple Smoke nodded to them and then disappear with a bust of purple light, secure they would do their best. However, Midnight was still unsure, as she feared she would be kidnapped like how it happened with the other talents that the Queen of Neverland had already taken.