//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Halfling Chronicles: Book 1 // by theultimatebrony //------------------------------// Twilight "Fine. Here it is," Midnight said as he transformed. Midnight's transformation was nothing like a Changeling's. It moved slowly and Twilight saw every stage. First, insectoid wings burst from his back. Then, black chitin grew over his fur and his cutie mark appeared where it normally was. Midnight grew fangs and his horn turned blood red. Twilight felt tears come to her eyes as she ran to her room. She could here Midnight yell for her but she ignored it, she just needed someplace to think. Midnight had seemed like a nice enough stallion, but was that just an act. And what about the feelings she felt for him? She didn't know exactly what they were but was he just harvesting them. A few minutes later Twilight heard a knock at her door. "Who is it?" Twilight asked through her her tears. "It's Midnight," a voice said, "Could I-?" "Go away!" Twilight didn't want to yell, but Midnight was one of two stallions she didn't want to talk to. Some time later there was another knock on the door and a voice said, "Twilight, can I talk to you?" The voice sounded like Cadence but Twilight couldn't be sure. Midnight could probably mimic voices and Twilight wasn't able to focus. "If you're Cadence," Twilight said, "tell me something that only she would know." "When you were eight you broke your mother's favorite lamp to practice spells to fix it. And when you failed you tried to by a new one." Twilight gasped. She didn't let anypony know that, not even Shining Armor. "Come in!" Twilight practically drug Cadence into the room. "Twilight," Cadence said in a serious tone, "I want to talk about Midnight." "Well I don't. He was one of them." "Twilight, he is not like the Changelings. Applejack would have told us if he was lieing." "True," Twilight thought, "If he lied Applejack would have seen through it." "Also, Shining probably wouldn't have reacted like that if he wasn't so on edge." "Why would he be on edge?" Twilight asked. "Well..." Twilight noticed Cadence's belly bulging slightly, "I'm going to have a foal." "Really!" Twilight couldn't believe it. She was going to be an aunt, "Wait. When were you going to tell me this?" "Tonight, but the little thing with Midnight happened." "Maybe I should explain to Midnight that Shining was on edge and apologize for running off." "Actually, that's what I was wanting to talk about. I saw Midnight run towards the entrance to the caverns." "We should see if he left anything in his room to explain himself." Twilight and Cadence went over to Midnight's room and looked inside. Twilight saw the note on Midnight's bed and picked it up. It read; Twilight, I'm sorry that you had to find out about me this way. I never wanted you or anypony to know about what or who I was for specifically the way your brother acted. Also, I have no need to feed on love. The spell I used to drain your power actually works the opposite, it only works on the one I love. It is because I love you that I am going to the caverns under the city. I have a spell that should destroy Darkness, so maybe his destruction will end the curse of the Changeling race. Wish me luck. Midnight Shadow P.S. Restrain Derpy or she might eat Shining Armor. Twilight set down the note and thought, "Even if he does have a spell to defeat that thing, the energy needed for it would destroy him as well." She showed the note to Cadence and said, "He really loves me?" Cadence nodded, "I could tell this from the first moment I saw him with you. I also saw that you have feelings for him." "Thank you Cadence. Now I have to go keep Midnight from getting killed." "I'll go get some backup in case you need it." Twilight nodded and teleported to the entrance to the caverns. Her focus on finding Midnight was strong enough that she saw straight through the illusions he placed around crystal arrows. Eventually, she made it to a large, round room. In the room, Midnight was talking to a large, black cocoon. Twilight couldn't hear what was being said, but Midnight looked mad. Twilight felt a surge of energy come from the cocoon and yelled, "Midnight!" Midnight turned around and was hit by a tendril that spontaneously sprouted from the cocoon. Twilight pulled Midnight into the hall out side of the room and asked, "Are you alright?" Midnight sat up and grunted, "I'll live." "You don't have to do this." "Yes, I do. If I don't, then Darkness will continue to spread its influence." "Then let me help. If you do this alone, then the energy requirments will kill you." Midnight stood up, "No, even if you help with the spell, there will be a shockwave that will kill anyone at ground zero. My shell should be strong enough to at least keep it from turning my body into a pile of dust." "Then at least allow me to give you some energy to keep you from dieing from the lack of it." "No," Twilight could see a tear run down Midnight's cheek, "I still have no idea of the full after effects of the spell and I care too much about you to risk your wellbeing." Midnight turned and about to enter the chamber when Twilight grasped him with magic. "What?" he asked. "I just want you to know, I love you," Twilight said, tears now coming to her eyes. Midnight smiled and walked into the chamber. His horn began to glow brightly as he prepared the spell. Darkness wrapped his tendrils around Midnight and Twilight tried to run to save him when a energy field closed off the doorway. Twilight turned and saw her friends with Shining Armor and Cadence and Celestia. "How did you get here?" Twilight aske. "I could feel the conflicting light and dark energies and when Cadence explained what was going on, I teleported everypony to the source," Celestia replied, "Now what is going on?" "He- he's going to destroy that thing with a spell," Twilight choked. "Does he know the risks?" "Yes." "Now," Darkness said, "I will destroy you." Twilight turned around and saw Midnight suspended in front of Darkness. "No," Midnight said, a large smile spreading on his face, "It's time for you to see the light." A blinding flash of light filled the room. When Twilight's vision returned, she could see Midnight's steaming body on the ground. "No!" Twilight cried as she galloped to Midnight. She felt all over Midnight's body, hoping to find a pulse. When she found none, Twilight sat on her rump and let loose all her emotions in a flood of tears. Midnight Midnight opened his eyes a crack and saw Twilight crying. He tried to open his mouth to say something, but didn't have the strength. Midnight could see darkness overtaking his vision and thought his only emotion. "I love you, Twilight Sparkle."