Night of Redemption

by Rated Ponystar

Chapter 2

Night of Redemption

By Rated Ponystar

Edited by Elric of Melnipony and TimeLord_Whooves

With permission from Mayhem Darkshadow

Night Light stared at a despairing Princess Celestia before comprehension finally kicked in. Dying. His daughter was dying. The world seemed to turn blistering cold, and Night Light felt his breath leave him as if it had been ripped out by sharp claws. His mind all but shut down as time itself seemed to come to a grinding halt. For any father, being told that their child is dying was something that nopony should have to experience. He wanted to scream in denial, to tell Celestia to stop lying to him and tell him the truth, but the tears in the princess’s eyes silently confirmed the story.

His little Twilight was dying.

“No... no! No!” denied Night Light, grabbing the surprised princess by her shoulders and, with a shocking display of strength, shaking the much larger pony. “What do you mean she’s dying?! How?! Why?! Why am I only now learning of this?! Damn you, Celestia, what right did you have to keep this from me?!”

A second later, Night Light found himself thrown against the wall by a powerful force, his impact leaving a few cracks in it. He looked up and found himself staring into the eyes of an enraged alicorn who looked ready to vaporize him. “What right?! I had that right the moment you abandoned your daughter and tried to hurt her and my sister! As far as I, or anypony else is concerned, you lost the right to be her father the moment you nearly killed her! You are no father of hers!”

“Yes I am!” shouted Night Light, loud enough to wake some of the patients nearby. Hospital staff started appearing to quiet the commotion, but each one thought better of it upon seeing a foolish and broken-looking stallion ready to pick a fight with the princess. “I don’t care what you, or Velvet, or Shining, or Luna, or anypony else thinks! I am Twilight’s father, past or not, and nothing will change that nor the fact that I still love her! None of you can judge that except Twilight herself, and she’s the reason I’m here, isn’t she?!”  

Night Light’s expression remained furious even as tears started to drip down his face. “You had no right. Separating me from my daughter, never to see her again? I can understand that for all I’ve done, I really can. But to deny me the right to see her when my baby girl, who I raised for nearly half her life, is dying? That is cruel beyond measure, especially for the one they call ‘benevolent ruler’.” Celestia remained passive during all this, despite his raw emotion on display for everypony to see.

Rising to all fours, he spat on the floor and marched up to Celestia, who did nothing but stare at him. When he was inches away, he looked up and glared at her, just as fiercely. It was a sight none of the witnesses could believe. This stranger was challenging Celestia as if he had nothing left to lose; they would have been shocked if only they truly knew. Night Light had always wondered what his next confrontation with Celestia would be like, but he never thought he would have the courage to face her like this. But with Twilight, I’ll fight Tartarus itself if it comes to that.

“I know you hate me, but you don’t know how much I hate myself,” grunted Night Light, biting his lip. “Five years. Five years since that one mistake that cost me everything. Do you want to know what I’ve been doing? Surviving. I’ve been beaten, spat at, cursed, outcast, and forced to live alone in a world that is cold, bitter, and cruel. I have only one friend in this world, and it’s a bottle of alcohol that I drink every night. I only have one dream, the past that I treasure so much, memories of the family that I had loved. Yet I have endless nightmares of all the horrors I brought upon them and myself.” He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “Did you know... that Twilight has been keeping in contact with me?”

Now Celestia’s expression finally changed to that of surprise. Night Light chuckled. “It’s funny. Everypony hates me except the one who should hate me. The one I hurt and betrayed the most. She sends me letters in secret when she can, letting me know what’s going on. I had to learn I was a grandpa from my daughter, instead of my son who hates me with every fiber of his body. I had to bear knowing my daughter was being crowned a princess and I couldn’t go see it. She even told me... that she wants to marry your sister and be your sister-in-law.”

Celestia gasped, holding a hoof to her mouth as her eyes widened. She began to tremble and slowly looked down the direction they were going, where Night Light assumed his daughter was. He continued, “After all that I’ve done, Twilight still loves me as her father. I don’t deserve it, but she’s the only light in my life now. There is only one pony who can deny me the right to be a father and that’s Twilight, nopony else. Not even you.” He looked up, tears leaking from his eyes. “Don’t deny me this. Put me in jail if you want, but let me see her. If my daughter really is d-dying, I need to see her. Please...”

Celestia stood still, her expression softening as she looked at the pleading pony, the pony who was ready to fight her just to see his daughter. With a heavy sigh, Celestia nodded. “I... apologize for getting rough with you. You’re right, this isn’t about our feelings towards one another. It’s about Twilight and what she wants. I still do not forgive you for your sins, Night Light, but I am willing to put all that aside for my student.”

Seeing that the confrontation was over, the staff quickly rushed to the care of their awakened patients, reassuring them that everything was okay. Night Light was barely standing as the realization of what he had done began to sink in. He had stood up to Princess Celestia, of all ponies, and actually managed to stay alive. The same Celestia who had all but scared the manure out of him, warning him to stay away from Twilight or else he would regret it. Determined to stay calm, he nodded and followed Celestia.

Continuing down the hall, Night Light felt his emotions tangling up. There was excitement in the fact that he was finally seeing his daughter after five years. The last time they had spoken was before he was dragged out of the courtroom, after Celestia announced his exile. She had rushed up to him, crying and hugging him, saying how she still loved him. Those words had, in a small way, helped him move forward. To know that his daughter still loved him, after everything he had done, it was like finding a trickle of water in a desert.

Yet there was a fear in his heart. All parents worried about their children, even after they had grown up. Twilight, no matter how powerful or wise she got, was still his baby filly. She would always be the same foal he had loved, fed, changed, and protected, no matter what. To hear that she was dying triggered a despair that words couldn’t describe. A father, like a mother, wasn’t born until the child was. By all rights, the father’s duty ended with his death and the child still alive. It should not be the other way around. No parent should outlive their child. Especially me, thought Night Light, if anypony deserves to die for any reason, it’s me. Not my Twilight.

“What’s... what’s wrong with Twilight?” asked Night Light, cautiously. Even if Celestia was willing to be ‘peaceful’ it didn’t mean she couldn’t still hold back something.

“Her heart is failing her,” answered Celestia, in a low tone. Even Night Light could tell that she was struggling to stay strong. “It came from nowhere and it just... it just caused her so much pain. I won’t bore you with the details, but Twilight needs a new heart in two weeks, or else...”

She left the obvious out, but it was all clear for Night Light, who found it harder to move forward. Finally, they made it to the end of the hall where two Lunar guards were standing in front of a door. The saluted Princess Celestia before stepping aside. Celestia turned to Night Light and asked, “Are you ready?”

Night Light tried to answer, but his voice was as dry as a desert. This was it. He was going to see his daughter for the first time in five years. And yet, it could also be the last time. Unable to wait any longer, he nodded and Celestia opened the door.

Inside the white room, flanked by machines that had who knows what purpose, was a small bed, surrounded by a sea of flowers, cards, and gifts from family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. In that bed was his daughter, and Night Light felt true joy at long last as he gazed upon her for the first time in five years. She had grown up so much, and the wings were definitely much better to see in person than in a picture. Twilight, his dear baby filly, looked at him with wide yet joyful eyes as she covered her mouth. “Daddy...” she whispered.

That was enough for Night Light to rush forward and embrace his daughter. The two of them cried, neither knowing what to say to the other after such a long separation. Night Light didn’t care about Celestia, or the fact his daughter was currently dying. All that mattered was that he was holding his daughter, who he loved more than anything, once again. All the struggles he had been forced to put up with, all the hatred and regrets he had lived with for five years. It was all worth it just for this one perfect moment.

“I didn’t... I didn’t think I would see you again...” whispered Twilight as she rested her head on her father’s chest.

He stroked her mane, kissed her forehead, nuzzled her cheeks and more. Anything affectionate to let them both know that this wasn’t a dream, and they were reunited at last. “Neither did I. Oh, Twilight, I’m so sorry. I missed you, I missed you so much, my baby.”

“Dad, it’s okay,” muttered Twilight. “It’s not your fault, none of this is. I just... I just got a bad break.”

Night Light shook his head and looked at his daughter. She was much paler and looked thinner, her eyes were a bit bloodshot, and if the tube in her nostrils was any indication, she was having breathing problems. His daughter felt so light, almost as if she was wasting away. How long has she been in pain?

“Twilight, you don’t deserve this,” muttered Night Light, nuzzling his daughter’s cheek. “You're too young to be suffering something like this.”

“It’s okay, Dad,” assured Twilight who then had a series of coughs. Princess Celestia was quick to grab a glass of water nearby and levitate it over to Twilight, who thanked her. Night Light took a quick look to see what Princess Celestia’s expression was and, to his surprise, it was sympathetic. For him or Twilight or both of them, he wasn’t sure. After drinking her water, Twilight took a few deep breaths before saying, “I’m really glad you're here, Dad. I’ve... I’ve been wanting to see you, at least one more time... If I don’t live through this.”

“Don’t say that!” shouted Night Light, grabbing his daughter by the shoulders. “Don’t ever say that, Twilight! You’re going to live! I swear, I don’t know how, but I’ll find some way to help you! I don’t want...” Night Light closed his eyes and began to sob, “I don’t want to lose my daughter again, this time forever!”

“Oh, Daddy,” said Twilight, holding her father and gently clearing his tears with her wings. She smiled at him. “Daddy, I’ve always been in danger with my life. It’s my duty as an Element of Harmony to face evil like Nightmare Moon and Discord. If I don’t live through this... I’ll be happy with the life I’ve had.”

Night Light could see the acceptance of death in Twilight’s eyes. She might have been ready to accept it, but Night Light couldn’t. No father should have to outlive his children.

“Twilight, your father is right,” said Celestia, speaking for the first time since they entered. “Don’t you want to live longer? Be with your friends? My sister, who you love so much? What about the rest of your family or even me?”

Twilight didn’t answer at first; she looked at her covers with a teary-eyed face. “It’s not that I don’t want to live, but we’ve tried every donor possible, and still no match. I’m scared, who wouldn’t be? But I’m not going to die in fear, I’ll die happy and surrounded by all of you.”

“Twilight...” said Night Light before a yawn came from Twilight’s mouth. “Look... you’re tired and not thinking straight. Get some rest and we’ll talk again.”

“Will you be here in the morning, Daddy?” asked Twilight as she lowered herself onto her pillow, eyes slowly closing.

“Of course, Twilight, I will.” Night Light didn’t even bother turning to Celestia for confirmation. And quite frankly, he didn’t care. Nothing was going to stop him from seeing Twilight, not while she was like this. Not when she needed him.

“Daddy... can you sing that song you always sang to me when I went to bed?” asked Twilight, a peaceful smile appearing on her muzzle.

Night Light chuckled, remembering all the times he had tucked Twilight into her bed. The song he sung that always put her to sleep, even as she got older. Clearing this throat, he began to sing:

Twilight had faded away into sleep halfway through the song, but Night Light sung the whole thing anyway. It brought back memories of the happy times he had once had with his family, of his little daughter who had always tried to reach for the star in her playpen. He had given it to Twilight as a means to make her feel that a light was always with her in the scary darkness, a means of protection. Now she was vulnerable in a way that Night Light couldn’t help her with.

He felt Princess Celestia’s wing rest upon his back as she spoke, with actual serenity in her voice. “Come, we should let her sleep.”

Night Light kissed his daughter on the forehead before following Celestia out the door. When they had finally exited the room, Night Light collapsed to the floor and cried. He didn’t care if he was weeping in front of two guards and the princess, he just wanted to let it all out. The reality of his littlest one, his darling star, who was dying and nothing could be done was too much for him to handle. He had lost her once in his life, by his own hoof, and now he was going to lose her forever by the cruel threads of fate.

“Can’t she be saved?! Please tell me she can be saved!” begged Night Light, as Celestia looked at him with her own saddened eyes.

“Do you not think I’ve tried? All of us? Velvet, Shining, Cadance, Luna, her friends, and myself. All of us have tested our hearts to see if it can save Twilight, but none of them are capable! Do you think I like knowing that my student, one of the most important ponies in my life, is dying before me and there is nothing I can do? Do you know how much I’ve had to hold it in just to be strong for all of us? My sister’s wails can be heard every night, to the point where I can no longer soothe them. Shining Armor has gotten drunk more than once in his bitterness to protect his sister. Ponyville has lost all it’s charm and happiness as we all wait for that final breath to come!” shouted Celestia, now crying her own tears. “We’ve tried everypony we can think of, but none of us can save her.”

Night Light stopped his crying and froze. He slowly got up and looked at Princess Celestia with the most serious expression he could muster. “Have you tried mine? Have you tested me?”

What’s taking them so long? thought Night Light as he stared into the window in the waiting room. They had done the test almost immediately and now they were waiting for the results. He stroked his mane and bit his lip at the thought that his heart would not be good enough. If even his son and former wife didn’t have the right qualifications, did that mean he didn’t either?

No, she is your daughter. Half of her is you, he tried reassuring himself.

Yet he couldn’t help but have a sense of fear inside him as well. If his heart was suitable to replace Twilight’s, then didn’t that mean that he would have to die? It seemed as if all the air in his lungs left him at the idea. He would die. Twilight’s life depended on whether or not he was willing to die, if his heart was indeed suitable. He closed his eyes, and his fears faded the moment he remembered who it was that needed the heart. Between his own death or Twilight’s death, the answer was simple. Twilight will live. She’s more important than anything in this world.

It was not just his duty as a father to save his daughter from her own death, but also perhaps a chance to redeem himself. He knew almost nothing could earn the forgiveness of the sins he had committed in his attempt to separate Luna and Twilight from each other, but now this was a chance. A chance to right all the wrongs he had done. Maybe it would earn him the forgiveness of those he wronged or maybe it wouldn’t, but to him it would be enough just to do something right at last.

“What the hay are you doing here?!”

The shout nearly made Night Light leap up in fright, but he soon froze as he recognized the voice. The same voice that once was proud to be called his son, but then cursed him and said that he was all but ‘dead’ to him. Gulping, he slowly turned his eyes to see the four ponies who hated him more than anything in the world.

Shining Armor, his son, who he had been proud of since day one, and who had once seen his father as a hero. Youngest Captain of the Guards and now Prince of the Crystal Empire. Not long ago he had once toasted Night Light, saying that everything he was now was in thanks to him. Then five years ago, the day he hurt his sister, Shining Armor no longer called him father. The father he had loved and worshiped had betrayed him and all but died in his heart. He could still see the rage in his eyes that made Night Light worry for his own life.

His wife, Cadance, who he had known for years and treated as family, was looking at him with confusion, but also disgust. The Princess of the Crystal Empire, the alicorn of love, who had once called him father, yet she held no more pity than the rest of them.

Princess Luna, his daughter's marefriend, who looked at him with such wrath that it served as a reminder to the fact that this was once Nightmare Moon. For a good while, he had hated her. Hated how she had taken his Twilight from him, but now he knew that he was wrong. Twilight's love for the Princess of the Night was as pure as his and Velvet’s once was. He remembered every letter that Twilight gave him, talking about Luna as if she was her own personal goddess. Each letter helped him understand the younger princess more, and soon he began to see how wrong he was to quickly judge her. She had protected Twilight from those who sought to harm her, for being a fillyfooler, or for being associated with royalty. She had loved Twilight, being there for her in all the times both good and bad. She had loved her when he had betrayed her.

And finally there was the one pony that made his still broken heart skip, yet mourn as well: his former wife, Twilight Velvet. Even after five years, she still looked so beautiful. He had sacrificed much for her, did everything to make her feel loved and adored, even fighting his parents for her hoof in marriage. She was the world to him and it all but crushed him the moment she abandoned him, cursed him, and divorced him for his actions against their daugher. There was no love in her eyes anymore, only anger and shame. All of which he deserved.

Before he could say anything, his son was already on him and pushed him into the wall with his magic. He walked up to him, lifting him up by the throat with his telekinesis, and glared. “You have some nerve, breaking into this place. Did you forget the rules?! You were never to set hoof in this town again nor were you allowed to see Twilight!”

“Celestia... she... let me come...” said Night Light.

“Liar!” shouted Luna, now grabbing Night Light from Shining Armor and slamming him onto the ground. He moaned, but was forced to stay down upon gazing at the burning whites of Luna’s eyes. “You would even lie at this point when you are caught red-hoofed, Night Light? You really are a disgusting creature! I shall enjoy it when the guards cuff you and take you to the cell you should have gone to five years ago!”

“Should I go get the guards?” asked Cadance, not even bothering to look at Night Light’s worried face.

“Do so, tell them to just put him in a cell. Nopony will care,” muttered Luna.

“Stop! Listen to me!” Night Light shouted, getting up and looking at them. “I came here to see Twilight! If you let me explain-”

“Explain?!” shouted Shining Armor, “No! We tried hearing you explain your actions and they’re nothing but horse apples! And I will never let you see Twilight again! You don’t deserve her!”

“I’m her father!” shouted Night Light, in fury.

“You lost that right the moment you almost got my baby killed!” shouted Velvet, as she walked up and slapped him.

Night Light held his hoof over his cheek, and slowly turned to his former wife. “Velvet, please, listen to me.”

“Don’t speak to me as if I’m still your wife, Night Light!” screamed Velvet, leaning up to him and growling. “You are no longer Twilight’s father. You’re a monster who only got lucky because we showed you mercy when you deserved none! I will not have you hurt my daughter any more than you have and especially not in her condition! I don’t know how you found out about it, but all I care about is getting you as far away from her as I can!”

Night Light stared at all four pairs of eyes glaring at him, ready to vaporize him with their horns if need be. But then he closed his eyes, stood up, and said, “No.”

Shining Armor blinked, “What? No?! You don’t have a choice in this matter!”

“Yes I do!” shouted Night Light, gritting his teeth. “I am Twilight's father, I will always be her father. You may hate me, but I love her and I will not leave her when she is dying! Nothing will stop me from staying here!”

“Fine! We’ll take you by force then! And to be honest, I wanted it this way!” shouted Shining Armor, who tackled Night Light in an instant. The two stallions rolled on the floor; Night Light tried his best to defend himself but there was a reason why his son was once the captain of the guard. He soon found himself pinned as he felt the raining blows of his son’s hoof slam against his muzzle. “You bastard! I will never! Let! You! Hurt! My! Family! Again!”

Night Light soon found the strength to blast his son off him, but before he could do anything else, a jolt of lightning shocked him from behind and forced him down. He lifted his head and saw Princess Luna, horn glowing, glaring at him with disgust. “What Twilight still saw in you, I will never understand, but I will make sure you never see the light of day again, Night Light. It’s over.”

“Please,” whispered Night Light, but looked in horror as he saw Velvet rushing inside with two Lunar Guards. She pointed at him and the guards nodded, ready to take him away. “You're making... a mistake...”

“The only mistake I ever made was loving you once, Night Light,” whispered Velvet. Such words crushed his heart again. “I only wish things had been different.”

He tried to look for somepony to help him, but Luna wasn’t even bothering to look at him and Cadence was helping her husband up. His son looked ready to charge at him again, nostrils flaring, but his wife was preventing him. “Stop, dear. It’s over. He’ll never harm anypony again, including Twilight.”

“Cadance is right,” said Luna, who pointed to the doors. “Guards, take him to the darkest cell we have and let him rot.”

No. No! NO! I won’t leave her! Not when I can save her! thought Night Light as he struggled against his captors. “Twilight!”

“What is the meaning of this!”

Everypony stopped and stared at the angry form of Celestia. Night Light was glad to see her, which was an ironic thing, considering. Celestia walked forward and turned to the Night Guards as Luna walked up to her sister and nodded. “Ah, Sister. Good of you to arrive. Night Light here was about to head to jail for breaking his promise.”

“He did not break his promise, Luna. I let him come,” said Celestia, sternly. This made all of Night Light’s attackers stare at Celestia with wide eyes before they turned to Night Light, realizing that he had spoken the truth. Celestia quickly turned to the guards holding Night Light. “Release him at once.”

They looked at Princess Luna, still trying to come to terms with what she had just learned, and waited for her orders. It took her a bit, but Luna slowly nodded, although with great hesitation and uncertainty. The Lunar Guards released Night Light, who got up and limped to the wall, leaning against it as he tried to gain his breath. He looked at the princess with a grateful stare, but sympathy and sorrow filled her own eyes. She was looking at him, not as the one who hurt her student, not as the criminal scum she loathed, but as one of her little ponies again. She was looking at him like a ruler does to a subject she cares about. This only made him realize why she was doing such a thing. He closed his eyes, and leaned his head back, no longer caring about the world around him. He knew already what answer was in the test results. The revelation was enough to make him feel a sudden chill and wish his trench coat was warmer.

“Princess,” began Velvet, still keeping a close eye on her former husband, “why is Night Light here? Why did you invite him? You made it clear that if he attempted to involve himself in Twilight’s life in any way possible, that you would see him punished!”

“I did say that, Twilight Velvet,” said Celestia, nodding her head. “But it was Twilight’s request that she see her father one last time before she...” She didn’t finish the sentence, leaving a somber mood in the atmosphere.

Night Light opened his eyes to see their reactions. Cadance, silently crying, was leaning her head against Shining Armor who was in ‘soldier mode’ and still looked ready to fight, but Night Light knew his son. His so-called perfect stance and emotionless glare was nothing more than an attempt to keep himself from letting out his emotions. He had always denied his softer and fragile side to the point where he called his tears ‘liquid pride’. Velvet looked so lost, so empty, like an abandoned shell washed up on the beach. Hollow were her emotions, and yet she still trembled with fear. Night Light understood; it was his daughter too. He wanted to embrace her, to tell her that everything was okay. Even if she cursed him, spat at him, hit him and screamed for him to let her go, he wouldn’t. They were Twilight's parents, marriage or no marriage; they needed each other.

Princess Luna, however, was the most obvious. She suddenly looked her age and Night Light could see just how old she was. She had lived hundreds of regular lives, seeing horrors and tragedies in her wake. How many loved ones had she lost? How many times had she sat by the bedside of a friend and watched them take their final breaths before she was forced to watch them be buried. All of them doomed to turn to dust while she went on. Now that his daughter was an alicorn, Luna had found a love she could be with forever and now fate was being cruel by taking her away too.

“Why didn’t she tell us?” asked Velvet.

“Because she knew you would all react this way,” Celestia answered, looking at Night Light with shame. “And to be honest, I did too, but this isn’t about our personal feelings, but about Twilight. She deserved to have her request granted.”

“Even if...” said Luna, who put her mask back on and looked at Night Light with fury. It was easier to direct her sorrow and rage at him, obviously, than at the crisis at hoof. “Even if Twilight asked for it, does he really deserve it?”

“I deserved to know that my baby girl was dying,” answered Night Light, shaking his head. “Seeing her like that? All weak and dying because of her failing heart? I’d rather you continue beating me up and drag me into that cell than see that again. My daughter should not be suffering like this...” Night Light made up his mind as he drifted at the thought of his darling daughter in so much pain when he could provide the means to save her. “... and I won’t let her.”

His four haters turned to him in confusion as Celestia lowered her head. “What are you talking about?” asked Cadance.

“Night Light...” said Celestia, getting everypony’s attention. “Night Light asked us to test his heart and the results came back.”

“He can save Twilight.”