//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: The Halfling Chronicles: Book 1 
// by theultimatebrony 
//------------------------------//

           Midnight saw Shining Armor's horn spark with anger.
"I guess I should start from the beginning," Midnight said, "All I remember of my time in the Changeling hive is one story my mother used to tell me. Don't ask me why, that's all I remember, but I probably should tell you it. 
"There was an alicorn queen visiting Equestria. She fell in love with a native prince, but he loved a princess. When the prince gave his love a love potion, the alicorn was filled with anger. She went to a being made of pure dark energy and demanded it to gave her the power to transform into the princess.  Unfortunately the Dark One's spell turned the queen and all her subjects into the first Changelings.
"I wish to find the spell used to create the Changelings in order to reverse engineer it and cure myself. That's why I've been traveling."
"Yer not telling the whole truth," Applejack said.
Midnight sighed, "You are correct. My mother is that original, immortal Changeling. I am the son of Queen Chrysalis."
Shining Armor slammed Midnight against the wall with magic and growled, "How dare you go near my sister!"
"Shining Armor stop! Your hurting him," Twilight cried.
"Why should I care? His mother tried to me and Cadence, tried to hurt you. Give me one reason I shouldn't hurt him."
"I assure you," Midnight choked out, spots appearing in his vision, "the only bond I have with the Changelings is the bond of blood."
"I don't believe you," Shining Armor replied, "How do I know you won't hurt or take advantage of Twilight?"
"Trust me, I've had enough chances."
Shining Armor put Midnight down and said, "Is this your true form?"
Midnight put his head down, "No, but I do not wish to show it so don't ask."
Shining Armor stared at Midnight.
"Fine," Midnight said, "Here it is"
Midnight felt pain all over his body as he transformed. His transformation was different from a Changeling's and he didn't transform often.
Midnight saw tears come to Twilight's eyes and she ran away. This was what Midnight feared.
"Twilight wait, come back!" Midnight yelled after her.
Midnight looked at Shining Armor and said, "This is your fault."
Midnight wouldn't directly hurt anypony so he used his magic to make Shining Armor to look like a giant muffin in Derpy's eyes. Then he took off in the direction Twilight went.
When Midnight got to Twilight's room he knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" he heard Twilight sob.
"It's Midnight. Could I..."
"Go away!"
Midnight returned to his room and looked in the mirror, seeing a face of black chitin staring back.
"Am I just a monster?" he thought.
Midnight shifted back to his unicorn form and wrote a note to Twilight explaining what he was about to do. He knew a spell that could destroy Darkness. Maybe.
Midnight walked down to the entrance of the crystal cavern, surprisingly meeting no resistance. When he entered the caverns he felt a magnetic force pulling him towards the right tunnel. He put some crystals in an arrow shape pointing towards the tunnel and made it invisible in case Twilight wanted to find him. Midnight went through the tunnels, following the magnetic force and marking his path.
Eventually, he found a large iron door. In the center was a hole big enough for a horn to fit into. Midnight put his horn into the door and used a little magic. The door opened inwards to reveal a large room. In the center was a large, black cocoon. 
"Hello Midnight," Darkness' voice echoed throughout the room.
"Cure me of this," Midnight said as he transformed, "and I will make your destruction quick."
The cocoon shook as Darkness laughed, "You may destroy my body my body, but like my brother Discord, I am a primal force and will always exist. Now, I have a counter-proposal. Swear your allegiance to me and I will give you all you desire. This includes curing you and giving you Twilight Sparkle."
Midnight was tempted by the offer. He could become a full pony and have Twilight and a real family. But if he did do this, he would be helping the one responsible for the death and enslavement of thousands, maybe even millions. Midnight may have wanted to be normal, but he was not going to turn evil to achieve his goals.
"Thanks," Midnight replied, "But no thanks. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it myself."
"So be it. I'll just kill you and give your powers to somepony who will join."
"Midnight!" he heard a voice behind him say. He turned around just as a tendril grew from the cocoon and shot at him.