Chapter 9: The Matchmaker
Midnight yawned and stretched out his limbs. It had been a long day, but he finally finished the latest batch of cores. His golems had taken off in the past four months. He even had a manufacturer in Canterlot manufacturing most of the parts. Of course, they couldn't put the necessary runes on them, but those weren't too hard for him. Not needing Rarity's forge anymore was good, as the mare refused any kind of rent. It made him feel like he was using her.
More importantly, though, he was recovering well. He had even managed to talk to Fluttershy about his daughter without completely breaking down. He still cried a lot, but it was a sign of healing.
He had only had one more flashback just after his first month in Equestria. A stray storm cloud drifted out from the Everfree and a bolt of lightning struck the lightning rod on the library. Midnight grabbed Twilight and dove under the table holding his hooves over her head, calling her 'Your Grace'. Twilight just let it play out, laying there with him protecting her from an imagined threat.
He stood and headed out of his bedroom. He finally was allowed to move into a small place just behind the library, but he still needed an escort anytime he went out. The place was enchanted to sense his emotional state and release a sleep spell if he were to have another episode, and alert Twilight to what happened.
He went into his kitchen after bathing, and threw together something that only a soldier could call breakfast. The food's taste barely registered through the storm of thoughts swarming through his head. Midnight felt better than he had in years, but a few days ago, he noticed something strange. He felt... empty. He felt like there was something, some part of him, that was missing. It didn't happen all at once, but over time. He didn't know what it was, or when it really appeared, but it was making it hard to put his all into anything. Perhaps he had lived with so much grief that, as it faded, that familiar pain left behind a void. Was he attached to his suffering? Had it become such a regular thing that it was somehow a comfort? Perhaps he would bring it up with his therapist.
Yeah, because that guy is actually helping, He thought sarcastically. I'll talk to Twilight or Fluttershy about it... maybe Rarity. She's good with stuff like that, too.
He finished off his food and went into the living room, taking a seat on his couch. Midnight's forehead glowed faintly, and the metallic sound of Clink walking sounded. Soon, the golem appeared with three books, and placed them on the coffee table. With another spell, a blue light encased his forehooves. Five narrow appendages extended from the aura forming a mage-form hand. It was a spell he developed to aid in fine manipulation since he lacked the ponies’ natural magic needed for grasping with hooves. With his ghost hands, as he named the spell, he was able to read for a few minutes before a knock came from his door.
“It's unlocked!” he called.
The door opened and Rarity walked in. She gave him a smile and said, “Hello, Midnight, I'm just here to check on you. Do you need anything?”
“Thanks,” he said, placing his book down, “I could use someone to talk to.”
“Oh, did you have another nightmare?”
“No, the meds take care of those,” Midnight clarified. “I just... I have a bit of a problem and could use your advice.”
Rarity sat beside him and placed a hoof on his shoulder, “Whatever is the matter?”
“Well...” Midnight tried to think of the best way to put it, “I just feel like the more I recover from my grief, the more I feel like something's missing. It's like I’m losing a part of me.”
“Hmm,” Rarity sat in contemplation. “I have heard of something like this happening before. This... void, isn't forming as your grief fades, it was already there. Your grief was merely filling it. That's what grief is, darling. It's a balm that fills the hole left behind when we lose someone important to us. It hurts, but it allows us to heal.”
“So without my grief, I just have this hole?” Midnight asked, “But it hurts as much as the grief did.”
“Then fill it,” Rarity said cryptically, “Midnight... I think it's time for the next stage of your recovery.”
“Which is?”
Rarity beamed, “You, Midnight, are going on a date.”
Midnight's brain had to restart, “What was that? A date? I... I don't know. I mean... I still love Sarah, whether she's still here or not.”
“And no decent mare would expect any different,” Rarity placed a hoof to Midnight's cheek and turned his head to look at her, “Tell me, was Sarah a kind, loving wife? Did she always want whatever made you happy?”
“Y-yes.”
“Then she would want you to move on. Find another love. Fill that void left by her loss,” The pleading look in her eyes showed her concern for him.
Midnight sighed, “Fine, but I can't say it'll turn out very good.” Midnight looked up at his friend with a suspicious glance. “You came up with that idea rather fast, wouldn't you say?”
Rarity giggled into her hoof, “I knew this would happen. I'm quite well versed in reading what a pony needs. How do you think my dresses always suit my clients so well? Though, I expected a bit more coaxing to get you to agree.”
“It makes sense,” Midnight shrugged, “I'm not one to pass up good advice. Part of me wants to scream at you for suggesting that I betray my wife, but I need to stop thinking about Sarah as if she's just lost in the wood. As much as I hate to think about it, she's gone, and damning myself to a life of misery won't bring her back. I still love her, and always will, though,” Midnight wiped a tear away, and smiled at Rarity, “but like you said, she'd want this. So if nothing else, I'll do it for her.”
“Marvelous! I know just who to ask! I will return in an hour,” Rarity clapped her hooves together and galloped out the door.
Midnight watched as his friend shrank into the distance. The whole time, he could only think about how badly this could fail.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Midnight rinsed out his mouth and spit the minty water into the sink. Giving a smile to the mirror, he checked to ensure he got every last bit of tooth sparkling. Satisfied, he place his toothbrush in its holder and went into the living room to meet his escorts. The pair of pegasi sat on his couch reading the latest Daring Do, a series Midnight actually found rather entertaining, despite it not having space battles.
Scootaloo's ears swiveled, hearing the stallion's hoof steps before Rainbow Dash. She tapped the older pony saying, “Mom, I think Midnight's ready.”
“Alright, Scoots, We'll finish it latter,” Rainbow said, placing her bookmark and putting the book in her saddle bag. “I hope you have a coat, Midnight. We had a snowstorm last night.”
“I guess it's officially winter, now, huh?” Midnight chuckled.
Scootaloo jumped off the couch and felt her way to her coat. As Midnight put his on, and Rainbow threw on a scarf, the filly struggled to put hers on.
“Need some help kiddo?” Rainbow asked.
“I can do it!” Scootaloo snapped, but quickly realized what she did, “I... I'm sorry, mom. I just... I gotta learn how to do stuff myself.”
“I get it,” Rainbow said, “But there's no harm in asking for help sometimes.” Scootaloo gave her a deadpanned expression, “Yeah, I know. I should take my own advice sometimes.”
After a couple more seconds, she finally got her coat on. After readjusting her blindfold –she insisted on the 'blind swordspony' look – and grabbing her cane, the trio left the home and headed down the road. Midnight was impressed by the weather team's precision. The roads barely had any snow on them despite not being plowed, but everywhere else was covered in a good four inches, six in the parks.
“So, any idea who this mystery date Rarity's setting me up with is?” Midnight asked.
“Yeah, I know exactly who she is,” RD answered.
“Who?”
Rainbow looked at him with a sultry gaze, “It's me handsome.”
Scootaloo said, “It better not be!”
“Oh?” Rainbow said sarcastically, “And why not? Do you have a crush on him Scootaloo?”
“What!?” cried the filly, “No way! He's old!”
“Oh right, you like that new colt from Canterlot in your class,” Rainbow teased. Scootaloo's cheeks blazed red, “I-I don't know what you're talking about. Colts are gross, and have cooties.”
“Uh-huh, sure they are,” Rainbow said sarcastically, “Well here we are.”
The trio trotted up to the local café and went in. Rainbow lead Midnight to a table in the corner where a minty green unicorn sat alone.
“Midnight, this is Lyra Heartstrings. She's a musician,” Rainbow introduced, “Lyra, this is Midnight Star, he makes those little robots and used to be a human.”
Rainbow left them alone, as Midnight took a seat across from the mare. A waiter quickly appeared to take their orders, then vanished.
“So...” Lyra started, “You used to be a human?”
“Yes,” Midnight replied nervously.
Seeing that she wasn't going to be getting more, she continued, “You know, we have old myths about humans from over three thousand years ago. I've always found them interesting. They had such amazing things despite not having an ounce of magic, even space travel! So, how did you do it?”
Midnight cocked an eyebrow, “Humans have magic, or at least humans from my world do. Perhaps they were from a different world than mine.”
“You mean, there could be other types of humans out there?” the mare's eyes sparkled.
“There are. I know of three documented dimensions with humans, and each is different,” Midnight stated.
“So...” Lyra stared at him with a hungry look that made Midnight very nervous, “Can I see?”
Midnight looked her with a touch of fear, “See what?”
“What you really look like,” Lyra said as if it were obvious, “Turn human.”
“I... I can't. The Elements of Harmony turned me into a pony, and I have no idea how to turn back.”
“Oh,” Lyra said, sounding a little upset, “So... You're not one of our mythical humans, and you can't show me what humans look like?”
Midnight shifted nervously, “Uh... I guess?”
“Okay,” Lyra said.
The mare stood up, walked past Midnight, put on her coat, and walked out the front door. Midnight stared in confusion for a bit before he realized what just happened.
“Your meal, sir,” said the waiter as he placed the food on the table. He looked at the stallion staring after his date and added, “Its on the house.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“And she just... left?” Rarity asked, obviously upset at the way Lyra acted.
Midnight grunted in annoyance, “At least it wasn't me that messed everything up.”
“I am so dumping a storm on her house,” Rainbow huffed.
“I usually don't condone such a thing as revenge, but I believe I'll make an exception,” Rarity was trying to hide her anger, but some still seeped into her voice. “I do hope you are still willing to try.”
Midnight sighed and said, “I suppose... It couldn't be as bad as that, right?”
“That's the spirit, darling,” Rarity grinned, “Oh, perhaps I could even ask the others if they know somepony to set you up with.”
“I know a couple ponies that need some love,” Rainbow said.
“It's decided then,” Rarity stated with finality, “I will find your soulmate!”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“So...” Midnight tried striking up a conversation, “Flowers...”
The mare across from the table just stared at him, wide-eyed. She hadn't budged since he took his seat, and it was starting to really get on his nerves. It was a shame, she was quite attractive, her pink coat, the lily she wore in her blonde mane.
Midnight huffed and said a little harshly, “Could you do something other than stare, please?”
It was at that time she decided to oblige him. An ear piercing scream shattered the peace and quiet, as his “date” suddenly panicked. Everypony in the cafe had their hooves pressed to their ears, trying to drown out the noise. Thankfully, she finally passed out, likely from air deprivation.
Midnight wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood, “Check please.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Do you think you can turn that down?!” Midnight tried to yell over the roaring music, “I'd like to talk!”
His date made no indication that she heard him. She just continued to bob her head to the overly loud music, her wild, electric blue mane bobbing in sync.
With a groan, Midnight stood and left the mare to her music.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“So you really punched Pinkie?” asked Cloud Kicker.
Midnight nodded. He was happy she was actually talking to him, but the subject could have been better.
“Wow... so... Do you wanna hit me?” she asked.
Midnight looked up at her in horror, “What?! No, of course I don't! That was... well... It wasn't-”
“Oh, come on,” she gave him a pleading look, “Let's go back to my place and you beat the snot outta me, please?”
Midnight stared at the psychopath for several seconds... and bolted for the door.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Midnight tapped his hoof on the table as he looked at his date, with bemused expression. The pony's stoic expression was difficult to read, but he could tell there was irritation there as well.
Finally, Midnight spoke, “This has Rainbow Dash written all over it.”
“Eeyup.”