//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Sinister Plans // Story: Midnight Star // by Nebula Star //------------------------------// Midnight Star By Nebula Star Chapter 3: Sinister Plans *** Twilight did in fact start on some research to see if there was a way she could recreate Midnight's body that same day. But it didn't take very long before she began to realize that her library home didn't contain any books on what would be a very advanced form of magic. Such knowledge could possibly be dangerous, and so was likely kept safe in the royal library in Canterlot. She could of course send a request to Celestia for materials on the subject but she was nervous about doing so as Celestia would likely ask why she wanted to learn such a thing and she wasn't ready to admit to her mentor that she may have killed another pony and trapped their soul within herself. In the end she decided to wait until she had a reason to go to Canterlot herself. She had complete access to all of the royal library, she was a princess after all. Midnight didn't seem to mind; in fact she rarely spoke at all. Though Twilight could feel her thoughts in contact with her own from time to time. She had found that she could see through Twilight early on and Twilight had learned to recognize when she was doing so, but it wasn't often despite Twilight's assurances that it was alright. Midnight seemed content keeping to her own thoughts. So until she had a chance to go to Canterlot and the Royal Library, Twilight went on with life as normal. She did, however, make a point of talking to Midnight when she could, though the other mare wasn't very talkative. She did ask a few questions on certain subjects, particularly the Princesses Celestia and Luna. She'd asked what they were like, and even asked about how powerful they were. Twilight could understand why she'd be curious. She'd only known Luna as Nightmare Moon, and Celestia she'd only heard of in the legends of her world. She'd never even heard of Princess Cadence until Twilight had mentioned her when telling Equestria's history when they first met. For the most part though Midnight kept to herself, and at times Twilight almost forgot she was there. So when she suddenly asked, 'how did you become an alicorn?' while Twilight was flying with Rainbow Dash two weeks later, it startled her so much she dropped several feet before she recovered leveling off again. 'Uh. I'll tell you later tonight when I'm not flying.' She thought back quickly and Midnight seemed to accept the promise. “Don't tell me you're tired already!?” Rainbow called back to her having noticed her falter. “No, I just thought of something that's all,” Twilight told her hurrying to catch up. ~~~ Later that night, Twilight, after making sure Spike wouldn't interrupt, sent her mind and Midnight's into the Astral Plane once more. “So, you asked me how I became an alicorn?” Midnight nodded. “I saw the picture on your desk. You were just a unicorn then.” Twilight nodded. “Yes, I only became an alicorn about a year ago, just before my coronation. That's actually why I go flying with Rainbow Dash every week. She's helped me learn to fly and strengthen my wings.” “So how did you become an alicorn?” Twilight thought back, trying to decide how to answer. “Well it was partially because of all I've learned as Celestia's student. But what actually caused the transformation was the understanding I came to that helped me create a new spell...” She told the story of how she'd accidentally switched her friends cutie marks by casting the original, incomplete spell. How she'd managed to fix her mistake. And finally how she'd then realized how to fix the spell, the result of course being her transformation. “So it was the power of these 'Elements of Harmony' that transformed you when you corrected the spell?” Twilight nodded. “At least they started it. The Elements activated when I finished the spell and all blasted me with magic. The next thing I knew I was here. My friends later told me that I'd just disappeared in a flash of light that left a scorch mark on the library floor. Anyway, Celestia then came and found me here and she told me it was time for me to fulfill my destiny. I was then surrounded by magic that came from within me, it lifted me up swirling around me and the next thing I knew I was standing out in the road in Ponyville with all my friends and I was an alicorn.” “Has anypony else even been transformed into an alicorn by the Elements?” “No, not that I know of. I think Celestia would have told me if there had been.” Midnight seemed to consider that, then looked up at Twilight. “So then, are you immortal now?” Twilight felt her heart clench up and she took a deep breath before nodding. “Yes... I am.” “You say that like it's a bad thing,” Midnight said, raising a brow. She smiled weakly. “There are some good things about being immortal... but it also means that I'll have to watch as everypony around me, everypony I care about, all grow old and eventually die... It means I'll have to live on through the ages long after all my friends except Celestia and Luna are gone. We don't even know if Cadence is immortal since she's only a partial blood alicorn.” “Can't you just make new friends?” Midnight asked as if it weren't a big deal. “Good friends can never be replaced,” Twilight told her softly. “I could make more friends yes, but they could never replace the friends I have now, and eventually I'd lose them as well.” She sighed heavily. “Celestia says it is the price we pay for the countless years we can live, and all the good things in life we can enjoy. Still, it's not something I'm looking forward to.” Midnight snorted. “You're too attached to your friends.” Twilight looked up at her surprised. “Midnight, haven't you ever cared about anypony? Haven't you ever had anypony you didn't want to lose?” “I lost them,” Midnight replied simply then stood and walked away fading as she returned to the real world on her own, leaving Twilight staring after her with tears in her eyes for the pain she'd sensed behind those words. “Midnight...” Midnight didn't talk to her again after that, and though she responded if Twilight asked her something directly, it was clear she had no desire to just talk. Twilight wanted to help her, but aside from trying to find a way to recreate her body she couldn't think of what else she could do. ~~~ “Twilight darling, is everything alright?” Twilight looked up sharply realizing she'd been zoning out. An easy thing to do as she was just standing on a raised platform with pieces of the gown Rarity was making draped over her. Twilight had found out a few months back that, as a princess now, she would need to make an appearance at the Grand Galloping Gala. Something she had not wanted to go through again after her and her friends' experience the first time they'd attended. Upon hearing this however, Rarity had insisted on redesigning her gala dress to go better with her wings. “Oh, it's nothing...” Twilight said but then thought better of it. She needed to talk to somepony, even if she didn't say anything about who Midnight was. She quickly checked to make sure Midnight wasn't watching or listening. When she was sure they weren't being overheard Twilight shook her head. “Actually, it's not nothing. I met somepony recently that has had a really hard life. I want to help her out... but she won't let me.” Rarity looked up at her. “A hard life you say. Is it somepony I know?” Twilight shook her head. “Well, You would know better than anyone how to help somepony in need of a friend. But if you're looking for advice, then the best thing you can do for anypony is be there for them,” Rarity said while taking a quick measurement. Twilight sighed. “That's just the problem, she doesn't want me to be there for her, she doesn't want anypony... I think she's been hurt so many times she's afraid to let somepony get close. She's afraid that if she lets anypony get close, she'll lose them and be left with more pain.” “Really? sounds like she has had a hard life indeed,” Rarity said as she continued to work a few moments in silence and thinking carefully before going on. “Well, in that case, I think all you can do is make sure they know that you're there for them and wait for them to come to you.” Twilight sighed. She wanted to help Midnight. “I know it may be hard to stand by and wait, but sometimes ponies just need space and time to themselves. You're a wonderful friend, Twilight. And I think that if you give this pony a chance to see that from what she feels is a safe distance, she'll start to open up.” “I hope so,” Twilight said softly. “I hate seeing ponies suffer...” Rarity smiled. “That's why you're a princess.” Twilight looked up surprised, then slowly smiled as well. “Thanks, Rarity.” ~~~ Heeding Rarity's advice, Twilight didn't try to talk to Midnight more than she absolutely needed to, but at the same time she told Midnight to feel free to contact her at any time. After another week though Midnight barely talked to her at all. Twilight was beginning to wonder what she was doing with all her time. She seemed to be watching at times. Twilight felt her consciousness contacting hers from time to time, but she never said anything or asked any questions and after a time Twilight would feel her break the contact. She knew Midnight had to be lonely. She had nopony else to talk to, and yet she wouldn't even talk to her, the one pony she did have. It pained Twilight to watch Midnight's reclusive ways and she began to wonder how much more she had suffered that she hadn't told her about already. What other torment had her soul gone through. ~~~ Yawning widely Twilight rolled over and looked at the clock on her nightstand. To her surprise it was late in the morning, well past the time she usually got up. She'd thought she must have woken early by how tired she still felt, but apparently that wasn't the case. 'Must not have slept well,' she thought to herself. She hadn't been up late for once. In fact, if anything she'd gone to bed a bit early. Still, she felt like she hadn't gotten more than an hour or two of sleep at most. Knowing she needed to get up though, she rolled out of bed and, Yawning again, headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up for the day. Something that took a bit longer than it use to thanks to a certain pair of wings. When she was finally all clean, she headed down to the kitchen to get some breakfast; yawning again as she descended the stairs. “Morning Twilight,” Spike said as she entered the kitchen from where he was at the stove making their breakfast. “Morning.” Twilight said and yawned yet again. Seeing Spike had breakfast almost done, she decided to just let him finish and went to sit at the table to wait. Even after eating though, she still felt exhausted. Luckily she didn't have anything planned for the day and so decided just to stay home and do some studying. She was getting a book from the shelves when she happened to glance at the case that held the Elements of Harmony. Or at least should have held the Elements. It was empty. Eyes widening she ran to the case and opened it. Who would take the Elements? Who could? She'd enchanted the case herself so that only she, or one of her friends could open it. And the elements themselves were enchanted by Celestia so they couldn't be teleported magically. Starting to panic Twilight began running and flying around the library searching every nook and cranny she could think of. She continued her panicked search until Spike came into the room. “What's wrong, Twilight?” He asked seeing her zipping back and forth across the Library. “The Elements! Where are they!?” She asked not really expecting him to have an answer. Surprisingly he did. “Weren't you doing something with the elements down in the basement last night?” Twilight looked at him confused. She hadn't been in the basement at all. “I was?” “I saw you take them down there late last night,” Spike told her seeming surprised she would forget. This didn't make sense. She hadn't even been up late; she'd gone to bed early. But then a possible explanation occurred to her; one that made her feel slightly ill. “Oh... right...” She said, not wanting Spike to worry, then headed down into the basement, hoping she was wrong. What she found left her trembling. Scattered around the room were several books, some about the history of Equestria, but a few were texts on powerful magic, and among them was the reference guide to the Elements of Harmony. In the center of the floor was a large circle and five pointed star drawn with a dark red substance that she didn't think she wanted to know what it was. At each of the points of the star was one of the Elements of Harmony, and in the center was her own Element of Magic. There was only one pony who could have done this, that could have taken the Elements from their case. Reaching her thoughts to Midnight's consciousness she forced a contact between them. 'Midnight, what is this!?' Twilight demanded angrily forcing her to see what she was looking at. I was doing a few experiments last night with your Elements of Harmony, Midnight answered calmly, not seeming to notice or care how angry Twilight was. In an instant Twilight took hold of Midnight's consciousness and dragged her into the Astral plane so they could talk face to face. “You took control of my body!?” She demanded realizing that was the only explanation. “Yes, it was actually quite easy.” Twilight glared at her. “And just what were you doing!?” “I was seeing if I could use the Elements to give me a body of my own,” Midnight replied calm as ever. That was a possibility Twilight hadn't even considered. But now that she thought of it, the elements were powerful artifacts, they might just be able to give Midnight a body, but still... “Midnight! I told you I would try to find a way to recreate your body for you! If you had an idea of how to do it why didn't you just tell me!? I would have gladly looked into it! Why did you go behind my back like this!?” She cocked her head to one side. “I didn't think you'd like what I want.” Twilight frowned. “What do you mean?” For the first time since they'd met Midnight began to smile, but it wasn't a smile of happiness. The smile that began to touch her lips was one of contempt and arrogance. “You see, I don't want my old body back... I want an alicorn body. An immortal body.” Twilight began to feel uneasy. The way Midnight was looking at her, it made her think of a predator that had outwitted their prey. “Why?” She asked. “Because, Sparkles, I want to rule this world forever.” “What!?” Twilight gasped unable to believe what she'd just heard. “I intend on ruling this world, just as I ruled my own.” She sneered. “There's something I didn't tell you about my world. When I defeated Discord and Nightmare Moon, I took their place. And under my rule the land knew even greater suffering than it had ever known before.” Twilight couldn't help taking a step back in fear. This just couldn't be... after all she'd suffered why would she want to cause more suffering? She laughed at Twilight's disbelief. “You're such a pathetic fool! You assumed that being another version of you that I would share your ideals, your love of Harmony. But I am Midnight Star! In my world ponies trembled at the very sound of my name! It makes me sick to think that there are versions of me so weak as you. “You should have the same potential as me and yet you're blind to your own power. Nightmare Moon should have been nothing to you! Discord a minor annoyance! Yet both would have defeated you easily without the help of your friends and your precious Elements of Harmony!” She smiled again then. “I do have to thank you though for bringing me here. This world does have so much more potential. The ponies here have known nothing but peace and Harmony for so long that their shock alone as that peace is shattered will be exquisite.” “You can't...” “And who's going to stop me!? You?” She laughed manically. “Discord and Nightmare Moon together couldn't stand up to my power! Sombra died in agony when he dared challenge me.” Twilight clenched her jaw glaring at her through the tears that had come to her eyes. How could Midnight be like this? She'd wanted to help her, but now it was clear Midnight didn't want to be helped. And Twilight couldn't let her threaten her Equestria. “You don't have a body! I'll just send you back where you came from!” She laughed again, cocking her head at an odd angle. “You don't even know how!” “I'll figure it out!” She just sneered. “I realized something last night while I was conducting my experiments. You see, I may not have been able to get the Elements to work, but I don't need the Elements to create an alicorn body for me anymore. They've already provided me with one.” She said and a wicked smile spread across her lips. “Yours.” Twilight's eyes widened and she barely reacted in time as Midnight attacked her mentally, bringing all the power of her magic and mind to bear at once. Twilight retreated back into her body as Midnight's power battered at her soul, trying to wrest control from her. Her power was astounding. Twilight felt like a tiny sapling trying to stand up to a hurricane, and for the first time she felt the true nature of Midnight's soul. It was chaos. Her soul was a raging storm of hatred, pain and bitterness the likes of which Twilight couldn't even have imagined until that moment. She couldn't hold out against such power, not for long. Fortunately she knew some spells to defend against such mental attacks. After the incident with the changeling queen at her brother's wedding, Celestia had deemed it prudent to make sure that all unicorn's in important positions be given some basic training in mental defense. Calling on her magic, Twilight desperately cast one of the spells. One that would shield her mind and act as a barrier separating her from Midnight's consciousness. Instantly she felt the attack cease as the spell locked Midnight away from her mind. Midnight wasn't about to give up however. She attacked the Barrier with full force sending a tremor through the spell, but it held, for now. It couldn't hold her forever though, Twilight had to find another way, a way to remove Midnight from her permanently before the barrier gave out.