The Star and Moon Reunite
Before the group headed into town, Midnight had a thought. “Hold on, we can’t just waltz into town like this.”
“Why not?” Rainbow asked.
“Yes, what is the problem?” Rarity added in.
Midnight began to explain. “If you all recognized my dad with the changes to his appearance, then think of how all of Ponyville will act If they see him. It’ll be impossible to try and convince them all that he isn’t the evil tyrant they know.”
Sombra hung his head in sadness. “Oh, right.”
“Good point there partner, but what are we gonna do, he’s sure ta stick out like a sore hoof.” Applejack pointed out.
“Well…..I guess I could teleport us to the library and send word to the princesses. They’re sure to help.” Twilight suggested.
“It’s the best option we have I’d say.” Midnight agreed. “Thanks Twilight.” He said with a smile.
Twilight smiled back. “Happy to help a friend.”
“Um……excuse me, I’m glad your back and all midnight, and that you’re reunited with your father, but I need to get to my animals and start work now.” Fluttershy said meekly. “If you don’t mind that is.”
“Yeah, I need to get busy too. Got a lot of work to do.” Rainbow pointed out.
“I as well, I have so many dresses to make today. I wish you two the best of luck.” Rarity said with a smile.
“Yeah, sorry sugar cube, we all got jobs we need ta get to. I got a lot of apples ta buck at ma farm. We’ll see ya’ll later.” Applejack said as well.
“And don’t worry, I’ll have a great big party to celebrate your come back later on. See you then.” Pinkie happily cheered before hopping away.
“That’s fine girls, I don’t expect you all to put your lives on hold just for me.” Midnight stated. “I’m glad to be back, and thank you. I’ll see you all around ok?”
They all said their good byes for now and headed out to their jobs, leaving Midnight Star and Sombra with Twilight and Spike. “Now then, shall we teleport to my place?” Twilight offered with a smile.
“Thank you for going through the trouble miss Sparkle.” Sombra said as he bowed his head.
“Please, just Twilight is fine.” Twilight informed. “Now brace yourselves.” She said as she lit up her horn. In a flash of purple magic, the four disappeared from the park and teleported to Twilight’s library.
“Wow, what a rush.” Midnight said. “I’ve never teleported before, that was interesting.”
Twilight faced Spike. “Spike, get ready to take a letter please.”
“Sure thing Twilight.” Spike went to fetch a parchment and quill and returned shortly, ready to write. “Ready when you are.”
Twilight began to dictate. “Dear princess Celestia, I have great news for you today. Midnight Star has been freed from his stone prison, and so has his father. But please do not be alarmed, Sombra has been purified by the elements, he is good now. They are both with me right now. I was hoping you might have some ideas on how to inform and convince the citizens of Ponyville that Sombra is no longer evil. Your faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Ok, ready.” Spike rolled up the letter, opened a window and sent the letter on its way.
A few moments of waiting and there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.” Twilight trotted up to the door and opened it to find the princess of the night there. “Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed happily. She bowed before the lunar princess.
“Princess Luna?” Midnight asked quietly.
Twilight got up from her bow and saw a rather frantic look on her face. “Princess, what is it?”
“Where is he, his statue is gone, where is Midnight Star?!” She asked.
“Princess, what are you….”
Twilight was cut off as Luna continued. “I had some free time this morning and wanted to pay a visit to his statue but it’s gone, you must tell me what happened.”
Midnight quickly trotted up and past Twilight. “LUNA!” He cried happily. He then remembered himself and screeched to a halt just in front of her. “Uh….I mean….hello princess.” He said with a bow. “It is good to see you again.”
At this point, Luna was just stunned to see Midnight before her. She was silent for almost half a minute before speaking. “Midnight….is it really you?”
Midnight smiled up at her. “It is princess, I’ve been freed from my stone prison.”
A single tear rand down Luna’s cheek as she smiled. “MIDNIGHT STAR!” She cried as she scooped him up and hugged him tightly. “I can’t believe it, it’s you, it’s really you. Thank the stars your back.” Luna quickly remembered herself and set Midnight down. “I mean…..I am pleased to see you all right, I was most worried when I did not see your stone form in the park this morning.” She couldn’t help but smile. “Thank the stars you’re here, I missed you so much.”
Midnight smiled back. “It’s good to see you again too princess Luna, I missed you too.”
Luna couldn’t contain her joy, she quickly leaned down and pressed her lips to his. Midnight was surprised by this as his eyes shot open in surprise. After a two second kiss. Luna pulled back quickly and blushed. “My apologies, I was…..overcome by my emotions, please forgive me.”
Midnight was blushing a little as well. “It’s…..it’s fine princess, I….I don’t mind. You just surprised me is all.”
Luna raised a hoof and cleared her throat. “*Ahem* At any rate, how is it possible you are standing before me now? How did you get free?”
Midnight did his best to explain to Luna what happened, then began to tell of his father being freed with him. “And so here we are, but please don’t be alarmed about Sombra princess, he’s good now, he was purified and freed from the darkness that was controlling him.” Midnight walked back in with Luna close behind.
Sombra saw Luna enter and quickly bowed. “Good morning your highness.” He said as he got as low as he could.
Luna cocked an eyebrow at this. She scowled a bit. “You, you…..”
Midnight cut her off. “Princess, please….please believe me, he isn’t evil anymore, he’s my father and he’s good.”
Luna looked over to Midnight and saw him give her a pleading look. She looked back to Sombra and scrutinized him carefully. After a moment, she sighed. “*Sigh* I suppose you are right. He does look different from the Sombra I am familiar with.”
Midnight smiled. Twilight and Spike, who were watching silently, smiled at the scene as well. Sombra rose from his bow. “Thank you princess, I realize I may have a lot to answer for, and I am willing to do what it takes to make up for my crimes.”
Midnight was about to say something to that effect when there was a blinding flash in the room. Princess Celestia now stood at the center with all eyes on her. She did not look happy. “Sister?” Luna ventured. “What are you doing here?”
“Where is he?” Celestia asked.
Twilight stepped forward. “Princess, what is going on?”
“Where is Sombra?” Celestia asked again.
Sombra answered from Celestia’s side before any pony could answer. “I’m right here your majesty.” He bowed to her in respect. “I take it you’re here to arrest me for my crimes against your country?”
Midnight became panicked at this. “WHAT?!” He ran and placed himself between Celestia and his father. “Princess, please don’t punish him. Remember what I said about him? About how he was so stricken with grief he turned to dark magic to try and bring my mom back but was corrupted by the dark magic? Please don’t take him away from me. We just got back together after so long. I beg of you!”
Sombra took to his son’s side and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Son, it’s all right, we both should have seen this coming. I did terrible things and it is time I answer for them.”
Midnight looked to his father with a few tears in his eyes. “But we just got back together, now we have to say good bye again? It’s not fair! I won’t let her take you away!” Midnight said with angry tears.
Sombra looked his son in the eyes. “Midnight, please try to understand, I’m glad we are together again, but I did terrible things when I was corrupted. I have to answer for them or my conscience will bother me to no end. This is something I have to do. Besides, we don’t know if I will even have to leave. Who knows what the princess has in store for my crimes.”
Midnight frowned. “That’s EXACTLY what I’m worried about! What if she throws you in a dungeon for the rest of your life…..or worse…..seals you away again for another thousand years! Please dad, I don’t want to lose you again.”
Sombra took hold of his son in a hug. “Midnight, it will be ok. You’re a grown stallion, you don’t need your old man around anymore. You’re all grown up and have friends. You don’t need me. You’ll be fine. Besides, we’ll always be together in spirit.”
They broke their embrace as Midnight looked into his father’s eyes. “But….but….” Midnight couldn’t finish his thought.
Sombra gave his son a comforting smile before he stepped closer to Celestia, took a proud stance, and looked her dead in the eye. “Your highness, I am ready to accept whatever punishment I deserve for what I had done. I await judgement.”
Twilight took to Midnight’s side and held him to try and comfort him. Luna decided to speak up. “Sister, do we really have to punish him, this is the same as when I was Nightmare Moon. Surely we can forgive him just as you and every other pony forgave me for my mistakes.”
Celestia thought for a moment, then smiled. She quickly removed it before speaking again. “Sombra, though you have committed crimes against Equestria, I believe you have served your time for your crimes.”
Midnight’s head shot up and looked to Celestia, Sombra looked surprised as well. “Uh….excuse me princess?”
“I think one year sealed in stone is enough punishment. Besides Midnight, if you say he is good and my sister thinks so as well. Then I see no reason to think otherwise myself.” Celestia’s smile returned at the end of her sentence.
Midnight looked up with a smile as well. Sombra was a little surprised as he spoke. “Really, so….you aren’t going to arrest me or anything?”
“No, I am not. Besides, how could I tear such a loving family apart.”
Almost instantly, Midnight grabbed onto his dad and hugged him tightly. Sombra returned it happily. After a brief moment, Midnight broke the hug and stood before Celestia. “Thank you princes, for not punishing my dad.” He bowed.
Celestia smiled at Midnight. “You are welcome Midnight. And it is good to see you again.”
Luna cut in. “Excuse me Midnight Star.”
Midnight rose from his bow and looked to Luna. “Yes princess?”
Luna smiled. “You can just call me Luna, you need not address me as princess.”
Midnight smiled at her. “As you wish.”
Luna continued. “I believe you still owe me a date.”
Midnight blushed a little. “Oh? Oh, right…..um, that….heh heh…..*AHEM* so when….”
“This Friday night at seven. Will that be good for you?” Luna cut him off.
“Uh…..sure…ok. I’ll be waiting.” Midnight stated.
“Great, I’ll see you then.” Luna said with a smile.
Celestia let out a light chuckle. It was now time for the princesses to go back to the castle. They agreed to set up a meeting with the town to help every citizen of Ponyville know that Sombra was back but not evil. Like what they tried with Midnight when they tried to help him get along with the citizens.
Before disappearing though, Luna had a thought. “Oh, before I forget, Midnight?”
“Yes Luna?” Midnight said as he looked to her.
“I would be more than happy to help you get a house in town if you’d like.”
Midnight waved a hoof. “Thank you for the offer Luna, but I think I can manage.”
Luna cocked an eyebrow at this. “Are you sure? It wouldn’t be a problem at all for me.”
“Thank you, but I’d prefer to do this on my own.”
“Very well, I’ll see you on Friday for our date.” Luna stated with a smile before teleporting away with her sister.
Once the princesses were gone, Midnight began to wonder. “What am I going to do for a house?”
Spike wondered something. “If you don’t know what to do, why didn’t you take Luna up on her offer?”
Midnight turned to Spike to answer. “Because Spike, she’s a princess. I wouldn’t feel right about asking her for a favor, I’d feel like I was taking advantage of her.”
Twilight stepped in. “Midnight, it’s not taking advantage if she offers. She was more than happy to offer help.”
“Maybe, but I still want to try and figure this out without having to ask her for help.” Midnight stated.
Twilight gave up in this. “Well at least take advantage of my hospitality, you and your father are more than welcome to stay here for now.”
Sombra threw in his thoughts. “We might as well take her up on her offer Midnight. We don’t really have much of a choice.”
Midnight caved. “I suppose your right. Ok Twilight. We’ll take you up on your offer. Guess the house I had before isn’t available anymore anyway is it?”
Twilight answered. “Actually, it never got sold. It’s still available.”
Midnight was surprised by this. “Really? Sweet! Maybe I can work out a deal with the mayor to get it back. Come on, let’s head to town hall and see if we can talk to her about it.”
Sombra interrupted. “Hold on son, we can’t just waltz out there.”
“Why not?” spike asked.
“Me.” Sombra simply answered. “Remember the whole reason we teleported here instead of walking in the first place?”
“Oh, right.” Spike said.
Twilight thought for a moment. “Sombra, I think I have an idea. You two wait here for a while. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Before the two could question what she had in mind, Twilight was out the door with her saddle bags on her back. With nothing to do now but wait, the father and son sat with Spike and just chatted a bit to catch up. Almost an hour passed before Twilight returned. “Sorry it took so long. Rarity can be rather insistant on things.”
“You went to Rarity without me? Twilight.” Spike whined.
Twilight just rolled her eyes at him. Midnight then spoke up. “Twilight, why did you go to Rarity’s?”
Twilight used her magic to open her saddle bag and levitated out a grey cloak with black lining. “This is from Rarity. It’ll hide your face so no pony will freak out when they see you Sombra.”
“For me?” Sombra questioned.
“Mmhmm, compliments of Rarity.” Twilight proudly said with a smile. She levitated it for sombra to take in his own grey magic aura.
He looked it over carefully before commenting on it. “Wow, this is very nice, I’ll have to give rarity my thanks next time I see her.” Sombra then dawned the cloak and, just like Twilight said, it was enough to hide his face.
“Twilight, don’t I get one?” Midnight asked.
“Why would you need one Midnight?” Twilight responded looking at him with confusion.
“Well, don’t you remember how the other ponies here acted when they knew I was the son of Sombra? I didn’t exactly get a warm welcome.” Midnight stated sadly. He then turned to his dad. “No offense dad. But the ponies here see you as….well…”
Sombra cut him off by placing a hoof on Midnight’s shoulder. “I know son, I know. It’s because of the terrible things I did that you were pretty much shunned by others. I am very sorry.”
Midnight gave a smile as he shook his head. “It’s fine dad, you have nothing to apologize for to me. I’m just glad we’re back together.”
Twilight cut in. “Don’t worry Midnight. After what you did when your father was controlling you, the princesses made sure every pony knew of the good deed you did. They’ll actually be glad to see you.”
“They will? Gosh, ok then, so let’s go. You ready dad?” Midnight asked as he turned to his father.
“Ready as I’ll ever be son. Let’s go to the mayor and see about getting your house back.” Sombra stated with a smile.
Twilight and Spike led the two through town. Needless to say, Midnight was getting lots of looks. Most of which were of shock. He just smiled sheepishly as he waved and continued on. Sombra just looked around him nervously.
Eventually, Midnight was confronted by a familiar face. A grey Pegasus with a blonde mane and tail and bubbles for a cutie mark flew down from the sky and landed in front of the group. “Midnight? Is that you?” She asked as her crossed eyes looked Midnight over.
“Hi Derpy, long time no see. It’s good to see you again.” Midnight said with a smile.
“Midnight….but…..how….I saw you frozen in stone just yesterday at the park, how are you here now?” Derpy asked with surprise.
“I’m not exactly sure myself, but here I am, I’m free now and I can live my life.”Midnight stated.
Derpy smiled big in return. “Midnight, it’s good to see you again!” She said as she took Midnight Star in a bone crushing hug.
Twilight and Spike couldn’t help but laugh at the scene. Sombra smiled a little as well.
“You….too….Derpy.” Midnight said with a strained smile. “Could you…..let go now please.”
“OH, sorry.” Derpy quickly released him. “I’m glad to see you Midnight.”
Midnight was surprised by this. “Really? We didn’t really get much of a chance to hang out or anything.”
“I know, but after hearing what you did, I felt bad about that. So I’m just really glad we get the chance to now. So what do ya say, you wanna get together some time?”
Midnight smiled at her. “Sure, sounds good. But right now, I’m on my way to town hall to see the mayor about getting a house.”
“Really? Ok then. Good luck with that, I need to get back to delivering the mail. I’ll see you later Midnight Star.”
“Bye Derpy, it’s good to see you again too.”
Twilight came up next to him. “You see Midnight, ponies will be happy to see you.”
Midnight smiled as he looked at her. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Later on, in Mayor Mare’s office, Midnight was with the mayor now speaking with her. “Midnight Star, I don’t believe it.” The mayor gasped out.
“Yeah, I’ve been getting that a lot lately.” Midnight joked.
“How is this possible?” The mayor asked.
“I’m not sure, all I know is that I’m here now, and I’m free. I understand the house I had before is still available.”
“It is….but given your track record with that…you can understand my hesitance to sell it to you.” The mayor said with a straight face.
Midnight gave a sheepish laugh as he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “Heh heh, yeah, sorry about that. Things just kept coming up.” He dropped the sheepish look and gave a smile. “But I promise, this time I’m here for good. No running off, no disappearing without a word. I promise this time, I’m here to stay, so what do you say, can I have it back?” Midnight grinned with a squee.
The mayor rolled her eyes. She sighed out. “*Sigh* All right, you do realize this will be a bit of a paper work nightmare for me right?”
“I’m really sorry mayor. Once I start earning bits, I’ll start making payments for the house. And as a thank you for your trouble, how about I treat you to something from Sugar Cube Corner?
“That won’t be necessary. Just sign these papers and you can start making payments at the beginning of the next month.”
Mayor Mar slid some papers on her desk closer to Midnight. “Thank you very much miss mayor. I really appreciate it.”
“As long as you don’t go disappearing again for the third time, it’s fine.”
Midnight took hold of a quill in his magic aura and signed the papers the mayor provided. “Thank you again miss mayor, I am very grateful to you.”
“Don’t mention it.” The mayor said with a smile.
So for the third time, Midnight Star had a house again. Hopefully this time, for good.