//------------------------------// // 5. Truths and Answers // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Midnight found himself surrounded by a glowing mist beneath the night sky. Where am I? But when he stood up, he realized something. My hands! I-I’m human again?! Was all that just… But then, he heard a sobbing sound. Following it, he saw… Jade! It was his sister, Jade, sobbing as she cried beneath a tree, and he recognized it! It was the tree where he once climbed when he and Jade were little, risking breaking his neck, to get his little sister’s kite back. He didn’t break his neck but he did wind up with a broken wrist. But Jade had been happy to get her kite back. Suddenly, he realized, Is this… some kind of dream? Deciding to go with it, he approached his crying sister, gently saying, Jade? She stopped and gaped at him. B-big brother?! I-it can’t be! You died, the accident! Now he knew. He had died from that accident but it seemed Jade had survived. That brought a warmth of relief in his heart, as he knelt down and hugged his sister. It’s okay! Everything will be okay. Jade hugged him tight, making him think she wasn’t gonna let him go. It’s not fair… We both had such big dreams to work towards. How can I keep going, knowing I survived and you’re gone? He gave her a gentle smile, saying, Be strong. Jade, you can’t make the same mistakes I did. I was fed up with life, so many times I wanted to give up! Well… life dealt me exactly what I felt. But I give you my word that I’m okay. But you have to keep going! Life is wonderful, something I didn’t appreciate until it was too late. I want you to live your life, Jade. Keep moving forward, live your life to the fullest, and know that I'm never far away. Just keep me close in your dreams. He kissed her forehead and stood up. As he began to walk away, she called out, Wolven! He looked back, and she gasped to see him as a pony. But somehow she knew it was still him. I love you. Midnight smiled and said, And I love you, little sister. Always and forever. He groaned, shifting and woke up, finding himself in what looked like a hospital room. Looking down, he was happy to see, I’m still a pony! Then the door opened, and he gasped to see Princess Celestia walk in. “Hello Midnight, glad to see you’re well.” “Um, thank you, Your Majesty,” Midnight felt awkward. He’d always admired Princess Celestia from the show but seeing her in person – Alone – felt a little intimidating. “How did I get here?” “You fainted back at the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Celestia explained, “you were just a little overcome with exhaustion. You’ve been sleeping since yesterday.” “So… what happened while I was out?” “Everypony is fine and returned to their lives,” she went on. “Although Twilight has taken on a new objective, to study the Magic of Friendship here in Ponyville, so she can remain close with her newfound friends.” “That’s good to know,” Midnight was silently relieved to know at least that part of the story remained unchanged. “Although…” she gave him an impish smile. “You already knew that, didn’t you… T.G. Wolven!” Midnight gasped and gaped at Celestia, his mind racing! How does she know that!? “Be calm, my little pony,” Celestia laughed. She turned to the door and closed it, saying, “I think it’s time you and I had a little talk.” Celestia took a seat next to Midnight’s bed. For a moment he didn’t know what to say, but went with the obvious. “Do you… know who I really am?” “You go by your pen-name, T.G. Wolven, you were a human from a world known as Earth, who had aspired to write stories. Well it seems you’ve stepped into one even greater.” “How do you know all this, Your Highness? Do you… know how I got here?” “I brought you here!” Celestia answered, Midnight gasping. “You see, my little pony, there exist an infinite number of universes spanning the cosmos! Each a reflection of another, some so similar you could search a lifetime for any distinction. Whereas others…” “Others, like Equestria,” Midnight gathered, “so different, they defy comprehension.” “Indeed,” Celestia said with a satisfied smile. “But all of them share one thing in common – The border that separates them, the Betwixt and Between. That is where I found you.” “What do you mean?” “Midnight, what you remember is the truth,” Celestia said sadly. “In your world, you died.” “But if I died… how did I wind up in Equestria? How did I become a pony?!” “Normally, Midnight, when a life ends, the soul leaves the world into which it was born.” “Where does it go?” Celestia smiled and simply said, “On.” “So… my soul didn’t?” “No, for some reason, your soul was sent astray, and I sensed your wayward soul,” Celestia answered. “Using my magic, I found you and brought you here. However, the process was shaky, and you wound up outside Ponyville instead of Canterlot.” “But how did I become a pony?” Midnight asked. “For that matter… how did I become a pony that I envisioned?” “Perhaps you just answered your own question,” Celestia suggested. “Perhaps, that when you arrived, the magic somehow looked into your heart and gave you a form that reflected your dreams.” “Wow…” Midnight whispered, looking at his hooves. “But then why don’t I have a cutie-mark? I envisioned that!” “Midnight, I think you would know that we don’t choose our cutie-marks, and that they must be earned.” “Figures,” Midnight muttered. “But wait, you said I knew what happened. How did you know that?” “Gee, how would I know that the mysterious pony, who comes from a world that has a show called ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’, would know how the story is supposed to play out?” She gave him a knowing smile. “You know about that?!” Midnight gaped at her. “Midnight, I think you’ll find it interesting to know that while our worlds are so different, we share a connection through our dreams and imagination. Dreams are often dismissed as whimsical visions that have no meaning, when truly they mean more than we can dare to imagine. There are times when dreams become windows to another realm. I believe that the creators of the show dreamt of this world and found inspiration!” “So…. The show-makers are ripping off your reality,” Midnight gave her a smile. “Hm-hm, that’s one way of looking at it,” Celestia laughed. But then she got serious. “Midnight, now that we’ve had this talk, what are you going to do?” Midnight considered a moment, but looked troubled. “All this time, I’ve been telling everypony I lost my memories… I know it was lying, but… How could I tell them the truth? How could I tell them I know them all from a TV show? They’d think I was crazy!” “Midnight, I think you’re not giving them enough credit,” Celestia gently scolded. “I understand why you chose to tell a fib, but I think Applejack would agree that Honesty is always the best policy.” “…Could you tell them?” Midnight asked hopefully but Celestia shook no. “I think it would be better if the truth came from you.” Midnight’s ears drooped, but Celestia lifted his face up with her hoof to look at her. “But I’ll be there to help you.” Ten minutes later, Twilight, Spike, Applejack, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, had all gathered in Midnight’s hospital room at Celestia’s request. With all eyes on him, Midnight told the truth. Nly a few times did somepony ask a question, and Celestia was there to make it easier and help. Finally, Midnight wrapped it up. “And that’s the story, everypony.” They all looked at him, still trying to wrap their minds around all that they’d heard. Midnight looked down in shame. “I’m sorry, for lying to all of you. Big Mac, Applejack, I understand if you don’t want me around anymore. Twilight, I didn’t mean to mislead you or anything, I just…” He couldn’t help it as a few tears welled up in his eyes, and he looked away. But he felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked to see Twilight. “Midnight, did you really think we’d be so shallow?” “While Ah’m admittedly a bit miffed y’all weren’t straight with us,” Applejack said, “Ah cin understand why. Tha’s some story! “Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed. “We’re famous in another world? Awesome!” Rainbow tossed back her mane, as though she were getting ready for a close-up. “It is kinda cool,” Thunderlane admitted. “Oh my, are we being watched all the time?!” Rarity fretted. “No-no!” Midnight assured her. “Just certain adventures, it’s not like some sick reality show.” “And you were something called a human?” Fluttershy asked. “Not anymore,” Midnight replied. “Now I’m a pony, and I’m here to stay. Even if I have a blank flank.” “This calls for….!” Pinkie started but everypony yelled, “NOT NOW PINKIE!” “So, what’s next for you, Midnight??” Twilight asked. “That’s just it,” Midnight replied, “I don’t know where to go from here.” “Well, sugarcube,” Applejack laughed, “y’know ya gotta home with us at Sweet Apple Acres!” “You mean, you still want me there?” Midnight asked, surprised. “Well, Ah’m gonna work ya hard,” applejack warned. “Yer gonna earn your keep.” “Sounds fair,” Midnight sighed. “Twilight,” Celestia cut in, “I was thinking perhaps Midnight could come to see you now and then, for some lessons in magic.” “Me?! A teacher?” Twilight considered and quickly found the idea appealing. “Oh! This’ll be such an experience! Midnight, I’ll expect you at the library every weekend, we’ll cover all the basics,-” “Uh, Twilight?!” Midnight yelped, “Let’s take things one step at a time please.” “Sorry, got a little ahead of myself,” Twilight replied but she still squealed happily and clapped her hooves. “Excuse me, your Highness.” They looked to see Nurse Redheart. “But I think it’s time for the patient to get some more rest. I must respectfully ask for everyone to leave, you’re already exceeding the allowed number of visitors.” “Of course, Nurse Redheart, come along my little ponies, Midnight needs his rest.” Everypony said bye to Midnight, along with wishes to get better. But just before Celestia left, she shared a private word with Midnight. “Midnight, I must ask something of you.” “What’s that, Your Majesty?” “You have knowledge of the future of this world. Your very presence has already changed history, and while you’ve done well to make sure everything played out as it should, I must ask that you never reveal your knowledge of the future to anypony else.” “I won’t,” Midnight promised. “And I’ll try to make sure everything goes as it should. But Princess, there is something I wanna ask you.” “And that is?” “The Elements of Harmony,” Midnight brought up. “Originally in the story, there were only six! And Faith wasn’t one of them. Not to mention Big Mac and Thunderlane’s presences, along with the tests the three of us overcame to help the girls reach the Castle of the Two Sisters.” “As I’ve already said, Midnight, your arrival here has changed this world’s history, including its past. I cannot give you a definitive answer, but I can tell you this… I am glad that you’re here.” They smiled at each other and Celestia walked to the door. But just before she went through, she asked, “Oh! Midnight, did you happen to have a dream before you woke up?” “I did!” Midnight realized as he remembered it. “It was… nice. Would you like to hear it?” “No thank you,” Celestia declined with a smile. “I heard just what I needed. Sleep well, Midnight Blaze.” Her horn glowed, and Midnight felt sleep come quickly. As he began to snooze, Celestia closed the door behind her, and she saw her sister. “He loved it.” Luna nodded, a tear in her eye. “I’m glad.”