The Past Returns
Chapter 5: Life is Complete
It’s been a month now since the incident with Discord, at the celebration that was held to honor Nightshade and the mane six, Nightshade did put in a request to princess Celestia to get some help to get his house hooked up with indoor plumbing and electricity. Celestia contacted the best construction workers of Ponyville to get the job done. It only took them a few days for their task to be complete, they even installed a sprinkler system in his green house for him. Nightshade also managed to start up a potion shop in Ponyville so he could start earning bits and make a living. At the same time he finally got to meet Zecora and they ran the shop together. Nightshade was also kind enough to share some of his herbal remedy knowledge with the town’s hospital which they gladly paid him for.
Nightshade was finally able to make a living for himself in his new home in Ponyville. He was finally getting back a new life after losing his old one so long ago. But there was still one more thing he would need before he felt his life was complete again. Tonight was going to be very special, he and Twilight were going on another date tonight and Nightshade had something special planned. First thing he did was ask Spike to send a letter to Luna in secret so Twilight wouldn’t know. He asked Luna if she could make tonight look extra special.
He then went to Rarity to get her help in looking his best. “Rarity I would really appreciate any assistance you could give me so I can look good tonight, I’ll even wear that suit you made me.”
Rarity was very pleased and more than happy to assist. “Why Nightshade, I would be glad to, I take it you have something special planned for tonight?”
Nightshade smiled at her. “You could say that, I just want to look my best for Twilight for our date tonight. And since I’m still new to this whole relationship thing, I would be most grateful for any help.”
Rarity’s smile never left her face. “Nightshade, dear, when I’m done with you, you’ll be the talk of the town.”
When Nightshade was done at Rarity’s, his coat, mane, and tail had been thoroughly shampooed and cleaned. His mane was combed and slicked back, looking very stylish. He was standing in his room wearing the suit he got from Rarity and was admiring himself in a mirror he bought some time ago. The suit was the same shade of blue as his coat. It had two baby blue sapphire rubies embedded in both lapels, and gold cufflinks also with baby blue sapphire rubies at the end of his sleeves. He planned a romantic nighttime picnic in the park for his date. Feeling ready and eager, but also nervous, he made his way out of his house to Twilights to pick her up. The sun had gone down and it was night out.
The moon was full tonight, the stars filled the sky, and not a single cloud could be seen. It was a beautiful warm night tonight, perfect for what he had planned. He knocked on the door to Twilight’s home and Spike opened it to greet him. “Hey Nightshade, Twilight will be down in a minute.”
Nightshade looked down at Spike with a smile. “Thanks Spike.” He and Spike have really grown close as friends. Nightshade even started to see him as a kind of little brother as well.
Spike just had to ask. “So what’s this special thing you have planned with Twilight tonight.”
“Sorry Spike, but it’s a surprise. I’m sure you’ll hear about it later, as well as everypony else tomorrow.”
The door to Twilight’s room soon opened and Twilight made her appearance. Nightshade was left speechless at how beautiful she looked. She was wearing a white dress with fancy swirls and flowers all over it, it seemed to sparkle with each movement she made. “What do you think, this is the dress Rarity was inspired to make thanks to your lunar lily.”
Nightshade was silent for a moment before he spoke. “Wow,….you look amazing. Rarity was inspired to make that just from a flower? She is good.”
Twilight chuckled a little at his amazement, then noticed how Nightshade looked. “You don’t look too bad yourself Nightshade, I take it that’s the suit Rarity made you.”
“Yea, I wanted to look my best for you tonight for the evening I had planned. Shall we.” Nightshade raised his right foreleg as an invite to Twilight to take it so he could walk her out. She walked down the steps and took his foreleg in her own and they made their way out.
“Have a good time you two!” Spike called out to the couple as they left.
Twilight’s curiosity was getting to her and she just had to ask. “So what’s this surprise you have for me tonight Nightshade?”
Nightshade just smiled at her. “Sorry, but it’s a surprise, you’ll just have to wait until later for it. However, I did ask princess Luna to make tonight look extra special.”
“Why?”
“I figured it would suit the mood for the surprise.” They continued their walk through Ponyville to the park for their picnic. They arrived and found the picnic already set up on a hill under a tree. From there, they had a clear view of the night sky that Luna made. A red and white checkerboard pattern blanket was set up with a brown picnic basket and two candles on either side of it.
Twilight was impressed with the romantic setting. “Wow, Nightshade, this looks wonderful. You really know how to show a mare a good time.” They made their way up the hill and sat on the blanket to begin their date. Within the basket was a bowl of some salad and two daffodil and daisy sandwhiches. They ate and talked, enjoying each other’s company as the evening waned on.
As the evening was coming to a close, Nightshade thought now would be the time to reveal his surprise to Twilight. “Twilight, theres…..something I want to tell you.”
Twilight looked upon her coltfriend with a smile on her muzzle. “What is it Nightshade?”
“Even though I am over all my fears of being around others, there is still one more fear I have, a fear that only you can help me with.”
Twilight looked at Nightshade with a bit of confusion. “What is it Nightshade?”
“Twilight, I don’t ever want to lose you, when Discord threatened you, a fear of losing you grew within me. I don’t ever want to take a chance of losing the mare I love.”
Twilight looked at him with a smile. “Nightshade, you’re never going to lose me. I’ll always be here.”
Nightshade gazed back at her, nervousness welling up inside him at what he was about to say. “I don’t want to take any chances Twilight, that’s why,” He paused, he took out a small black hinged box from the pocket in his suit. He levitated it in front of her and opened it. Inside was a big diamond hoof ring. “I am asking you this question, Twilight Sparkle,….will you marry me and make me the luckiest stallion in the world.”
Twilight gazed upon the hoof ring as her eyes welled up with tears of joy, she place her hoof over her mouth as she gasped at what she was hearing. Finally she looked back at him and answered. “YES Nightshade, I will! I will marry you!” She then lunged forward and kissed Nightshade fiercly as she hugged him and started to cry with joy.
Nightshade returned the favor gladly as he kissed her back and hugged her. After a minute, the two finally broke their embrace, Nightshade levitated the ring out of its box, took Twilights right hoof in his own, and placed the ring on her, all the while both of them smiling a big smile. “Twilight, I can’t tell you how happy you’ve made me.”
Twilight responded back. “I feel the same way Nightshade.” The two shared another kiss under the star filled, moon lit sky. Nightshades life would soon finally feel complete.
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“C’mon dad hurry up, you’re taking forever!”
“All right Shadow Knight all right, hold on.”
Five years have gone by since Nightshade and Twilight got married. They now had a son of their own. Shadow Night was a little pony with wings and horns like his father. He had a black coat with a dark blue mane and tail with a pink streak through them. His eyes were normal, like a regular ponies, and were colored light blue. Twilight and Spike moved in with Nightshade after the wedding. Nightshade let Spike have the room he used and created a new room on the second floor for their son when they learned they were going to have a baby. Twilight and Nightshade used his library room. Nightshade and Twilight were taking their son to finally see the ruins of Nightshade’s old home. He had told his son about the shadow walker clan that he was descended from and was very anxious to see the ruins. “C’mon dad, I wanna go, the way you talked about the place makes it sound so cool. I can’t wait to see it.”
Twilight was amused at Shadow Knight’s impatience. “Now Shadow Knight, what have I told you about being patient.” Twilight scolded her son.
“Sorry mom, but I just can’t wait, I’ve never been anywhere outside Ponyville, and Blackwood forest sounds so amazing.”
They were going to make a picnic out of this trip to the ruins and Nightshade was busy packing the food in his saddle bag. “Alright, I think that’s everything, does anypony need to go to the bathroom before we go.”
“No, I’m good. Can we go now, PLLEEEEEAAAASSE!” Shadow Knight was giving his father that same dreaded look that made him cringe. Shadow Knight’s eyes went wide as dinner plates, his lips were pouting with the bottom one quivering, and once again, Nightshade heard a whimpering dog.
“Shadow Knight, what have I told you about using THAT look on me, I hate that look! We’re ready to go so you can stop with the pleading.”
“ALL RIIGGGHHTT! This is gonna be so much fun!”
“Now remember Shadow, once you know what the place is like, you’ll be able to get there yourself, but I don’t want you going there without me. Even though the creatures of Blackwood never go near the ruins, it’s still dangerous, alright. I want you to promise that you won’t go there without me.”
Shadow Knight had been showing signs of his abilities as a shadow walker. He was able to teleport himself to school in the mornings when he thought he would be late. “OK, I promise, can we go now.”
“Alright, here we go.” Nightshade used his shadow flight spell to transport himself and his family to the ruins of his old home. It was midday at the time and the sun was shining beautifully. The family reemerged at the ruins and Shadow Knight was as happy as he could be to finally get to see his father’s old home.
“WOW! This place is amazing, it looks so cool. I wish I could have seen it before it was ruined though.”
Twilight then spoke to her son. “Now Shadow Knight, don’t go running off, you stay close to us ok.”
“Ok.”
Nightshade led his family to the old castle where his parent’s graves were to show Shadow Knight the resting place of his grandparents. “Well, this is it, the old castle of the shadow walker clan. What do you think son.”
“Wow, it sure is big, is that where grandma and grandpa are?” He pointed his hoof in the direction of the three stone thrones as they entered the castle.
“It is son. You know you were named after your grandpa right?” Nightshade informed his son.
“Yeah, I know, you told me before. What’s with those pink flowers around their graves though?”
Nightshade responded with a smile on his face. “Those are called iron root flowers, it was thanks to one that your mother and I met.”
Shadow Knight grew curious at that statement. “How is a flower responsible for you and mom meeting.”
Nightshade kept a smile on his face as he looked over to his wife, then back to his son. “Well, it all started five years ago……”
THE END