Chapter six
The darkened streets of the Crystal Empire give much cover to the estranged colt in the dark as Midnight tolls around town at the time he is named after. Many years of running in, and out of towns has taught him a thing, or two about stealth. From either being chased out, or even choosing to leave, so as not to harm others while there. Now Midnight only chooses to enter any sort of established place of happiness, or dwelling for that matter on the down low. Just enough to feel like he has some where to belong, but far enough to stay safe.
At most times.
‘Can we please just go in somewhere this time? I mean it has been over three hundred years,’ the dark voice resonates in the back of his mind, ‘No pony would be alive from that time, to remember what you did the last time while we were here.’
“No, what you did Shard, You,” the Midnight steps in, and corrects as he lands on top of a roof top. Looking about to make sure no other is out at this time before landing in the ally below.
‘Okay. Everything is my fault,’ Shard says in a tuff.
“It is.”
‘Oh just shut it. If you aren’t going to go anywhere in town why do you even come back?’
Hanging his head down low, while peeking out the corners of the ally. Midnight just has to shake his head at the question that he is posed with by his constant companion, “Maybe it’s because I’d like to be around ponies.”
‘Even when you hurt them?’
“You’re the one that hurts them!” he snaps back, before holding his tongue to make sure no pony could have heard him, as he slowly walks down the dimly lit streets of the empire, “Magic is just a tool to be used by us. It doesn’t make us who we are, but how we use it, does…” Midnight recites the words in the back of his head. He picked them up when he was younger, but he can never remember who they came from.
‘Grow up, I use the magic in you for bad,’ Shard starts to chuckle inside of the colt’s head, ‘I’m what makes you who you are, ergo, you are bad as well.’
“You are the incarnation of a fowl creature on my shoulder, which wishes me to do evil,” he growls at the creature in his head. However, as much as Midnight may hate to admit it, Shard still does make a point.
“Though all that said… I do miss some of the fun,” Midnight tries to get a view of any place that may be open at this point of night.
Only one would likely be, and although it is the last place he would want to attend, given the effects that the primary beverage sold there can have on some. He finds himself going there more often than not. Before he knows it, the colt is standing in front of a tavern at the corner of a street, as he looks up at the sign on display.
“Lights still on, and it closes at four in the morning,” A light smile finds its way on his face. Though as he is about to step in he stops, looking over his back side. No cloak… Midnight pauses for a second, extending his wings around his frame so that they cover his sides and back. The large black leathery appendages acting like a temporary shawl, a little trick he learned after many years of practicing and needing to blend in, ‘So long as they remain still, no one will even notice.’
‘How many times have you said that?’
“Shut it.” Midnight calmly takes a step forward, and pushes open the door with his hoof.
Stepping inside the few faces of the crystal ponies that are there pay little attention to the new comer. Either because of no interest, or inebriation. Midnight takes his time making his way to the bar, glad to see such a small crowd, and takes a seat on a rickety bar stool that barely supports him. While the shimmering Pegasus mare at the bar does her best to wipe out a few glasses before attending to her new customer. Rather short for her age, the mare is graced with a flask on her coffee colored hind (much to suit her profession). While a vanilla colored mane falls evenly down her neck, as it parts on either side of her shoulders. Long eye lashes, capping the sweetly toned pony off, as they lead up to her radiant violet eyes.
“Top of the evening to ya!” she says with a cheery smile. Despite the sleep deprivation that clearly is all over her face, in the form of baggy eyes that remain blood shot, “Or is it morning?”
“I think this would fall in to the morning category, ma’am,” He finishes off with a wink. Trying to maintain the composure level in his mind, and tone of voice.
‘Awe… Such the gentlecolt,’ Shard teases him while he sits at the counter.
A slight grin stretches from either side of Midnight’s mouth, as he mentally kicks his counterpart. Snickering even more now, because he can hear the slight yelp coming from him. Though as far as the mare is concerned, the colt before her is just grinning at her fumble, like she is, “However, would it be possible to get any sort of food from the grill? Or is it closed, miss?”
The mare across him, sizes up the colt before her. Interested in the fact that he is far more polite than many of the other colts that come in here. Though curious as to why he has a pair of fangs that remind her so much of the Lunar guards, that would sometimes come in. When he clearly isn’t one to begin with, given his rather abnormal size when compared to most stallions she’s seen, and the coat that he is adorned with not matching theirs either.
“Well technically it is closed, actually, about ten minutes ago,” the smile on the colt’s face starts to wither, though as he is about to say something. The mare cuts him off, “however, it’s still hot so I think I can make an exception. Anything you fancy, my dear?” She flutters her long eye lashes at him for a moment.
Thankful for the tone of the coat he was born with. Midnight manages to hide the slightly flushed face underneath, while the mare seemingly does some light philandering of her own towards the colt.
“Hmm, surprise me?” He watches her pop up at the request, and with a jolly nod, trots off to get something for him.
‘Well she seems rather cute, stud.’
“Not the time for trying to bed with another,” He scorns the darkness while whispering under his breath.
‘Forget how long it’s been sense you came to the empire. How long has it been sense you had the sweet warm sensation around your colthood, of a mare’s tight-’
Another swift mental kick from his mind, hits only what Midnight can assume is Shard’s own colthood, as he doubles over in pain with a faint gasp. Resulting in silence for the next couple minutes. Leaving Midnight to bite down on his own tongue to keep his laughter under control.
“Why do I keep forgetting I can do that to you?”
‘Probably because. You’re the. Gentlecolt,’ Shard manages between gasps of the breath he can’t even take for himself.
“Why is it that you seem to come by for a visit more often than not these days?” Midnight questions, “Before it was only when I would use my magic heavily. Now it just seems to be whenever you want.”
‘Have you ever thought that maybe it’s because I am seeping in to the seams of your frail mind?’ Shard deadpans, leaving the colt to only imagine his expression within, ‘after all it has been a while sense you pushed it to your max, and hit that proverbial ‘reset switch’.’
Midnight looks over to the mare at the grill, trying to get a guess of how long he has to wait. While at the same time pondering Shard’s own incite, “You’re right, I really haven’t been doing that lately,” he recalls the experience years ago, resulting in his shadow being down and out for a few days, “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
‘You wouldn’t dare. After all you know very well it could kill you.’
“Don’t try me then,” Midnight grins within, “besides, if it means that I get you in a coma for even the slightest amount of time. I will take that chance, should the need arise,” He finishes with the conversation, knowing the consequences should he go too far, and break whatever is left of his mind.
The joyous mare comes back with a plate of grilled asparagus and other vegetables, over steamed rice. On the side, a bowl of noodle soup. Fills his nose, and mind with an appetite that he has seemed to forgotten about, sense his feeding in the woods earlier.
“Sorry it isn’t much, sir. I managed with what I had, not the usual pup food,” the mare adverts her gaze to the side, and pays attention to a rather dull salt shaker. While she tries to abstain from eye contact with the colt.
“Oh don’t worry about it, miss,” She looks back up to see the jubilant smile of the colt, as he drops a few bits on to the counter. Midnight even being sure to tip a little extra for her effort, “It will hit the spot just as well as anything else, I’m sure.”
“Well then my good sir,” She good humoredly holds a hoof to her chest while a slight increase in blood goes to her face, “Is there anything else I can get-?”
The sound of a door slamming in to the wall that holds it up fills the room. While the two at the counter, and pretty much every other pony in the room, snap their attention to a fuming earth pony colt in the doorway. Near puffs of smoke come out of the crystal stallion’s nostrils as he glares about the room. Soon locking eyes with the coffee colored mare at the counter while pointing an accusing hoof at her, as he marches his way further in to the establishment.
“Cream Mead! You were supposed to be back home an hour ago!” He yells across to her. All the while Cream’s face growing ever redder, and redder at his very presence.
“I told you I wanted to take an extra shift,” She grinds her teeth at him after having to remind him for the umpteenth time, “It’s not like it is a big deal after all. You usually come home, and pass out at this time anyway. Now you are embarrassing me at work!”
The colt almost shoves the rather intimidating form of Midnight to the side without even paying him any heed at first, “Embarrassing you? I got off early, and went to bed. Then woke up, and expected to see my loving marefriend there by his side. Now who are you embarrassed in front of? Hmmm? Are you flirting with another customer again? I saw the rosy cheeks on your face before I even walked in. Now I find you with a colt in front of you with the same expression!” he motions to Midnight finally acknowledging his presence. Even if it is a failure to realize that the color of his face, matches the rest of his body to begin with.
After having up to about the normal flying level she maintains with her wings, with the over bearing colt she said yes to go out with. Cream has had enough with him, and slams a hoof on the ground below her. Almost even chipping her hoof in the process as she goes off. Much to Midnight’s surprise, as he sits back for a moment, and lets the two go at it with one another.
“I wouldn’t even have to make conversation, or as you call it flirting, with the colts that come in here. If you could just take a few lessons from them, and were at least somewhat compassionate, and had a hint of caring in your voice!” She screams at the top of her lungs. Enough to even make the colt that just murdered a pony out in the woods, lean back in his stool, “At least then I would be happy, instead of disgusted with the sad excuse I have for a coltfriend!!!”
Those were the final words she spoke on that matter, as a heavy hoof of the one she beds with comes across the counter, and slams in to her gentle face. The impact being enough to bring her own hooves off the counter as Cream stumbles in to the back wall, struggling to realize just what happened to her. The lump forming in only a few seconds, as her eyes stay wide with fear from the enraged colt on the other side as he still remains in the same stance he had when he delivered the punch. Though having an assault charge, or battery, on his record is the last thing he has to worry about, considering who is next to him still.
Midnight was content letting the troubled couple hash it out in the bar while he stood at the sidelines. Knowing full well that if the colt had turned his accusing hoof towards him, and tried to make anything of it in a brawl. Than it wouldn’t take much to either beat his hind, or more than likely subdue him. Though the moment the colt turns his words in to violence, and strikes the virtuous mare with a hoof. Midnight’s vision narrows down to the colt next to him who threw the hit. A pinch in the back of his head suddenly tripping a nerve that only really rears its head when one so innocent is hurt. All of it, fills him with an anger that he seldom feels, but when he does.
Bad things tend to follow.
‘Well here. We. Go,’ the familiar voice puts in his two cents.
In one go Midnight extends out his leathery wings from his side, breaking their use as a cover. Revealing them to the other patrons. More so towards the stricken colt that turns his head and freezes in place from just fear alone of what this nightmarish creature is going to do. Though he doesn’t have to wait long, as his answer comes in the form of a solid right hook. Sending him losing contact with the ground, as he finds himself meeting a table head on. The force causing the legs to crumple underneath as it collapse to the ground.
“How dare you!” The Midnight bellows as he strides in one flap of his powerful wings, over top his prey. Landing with a head butt as the abusive one tries to sit up, only to be knocked back to the ground, “Violence is a disgrace, and only brings about misery!” Midnight brings a hoof up in to the colt’s jaw, and sends him back flipping across the room once more.
‘Oh this is such rich irony,’ Shard starts to laugh, not even breaking the stride of the colt that is enraged by the violence in the matter.
The mare at one time, or another, would have wanted to see her coltfriend treated like this. Though right now she is more terrified for his safety than anything, as the brute of a gentlecolt lifts him up an over his head. Tossing him in to the window that runs to the outside. A loud crash, halting her advance to try and at least see if he is okay. Leaving the enraged stallion to leap through the window after him.
If it hadn’t been for the sound of the glass breaking. Then the small group of guards passing by may have completely walked past the scene unfolding as they catch only the after end of the brawl. From their perspective it doesn’t look all too well for Midnight. The only thing they see is a rather large, and pissed off stallion standing over top of another, while beating his face to a pulp with a blood covered hoof.
“You there! Halt!” The further most guard calls after Midnight, as his head snaps back too, for a moment to realize what he’s doing.
‘This is where you lose it, and I come out to play!’
“Ugh! I bucking hate you!” Midnight yells out to Shard, all the while back peddling to dodge the first guard trying to tackle him.
After avoiding the first attack. The colt brings up a wing, whipping another sparkling guard in the face with enough force to send him head over hooves. Though as Midnight has been toying with those two, two others made their way to either side him. Now charging head long in to the assailant. Midnight uses his powerful wings once more to lift himself in to the air in a moment’s notice as he watches the two guards below smash their heads together, and hit the ground in a daze.
‘Well it won’t be long now,’ he hears the distant sound of Shard cracking his neck, ‘After all the more you tire yourself out, the easier it is for me take over. Even when you don’t use your gift.’
“Now’s not the time!” He lands, and leans back to avoid a magic bolt from one of the guards that sends the shot at him. Narrowly missing it, as the bolt of pure energy takes a chuck out of a stone wall in the background.
‘Oh it’s never the time with you,’ The darkness inside can feel him taking hold more, and more, as it adopts a mare’s tone to further annoy him, ‘We never have time to ourselves. You always go out party with your friends, and leave me at home alone with the kids.’
Midnight rears back one of his powerful hind legs, bucking it up in to a guard’s chest plate as it crumples under the blow. Leaving the guard winded and out of the fight, but still alive. Thankfully for the sentries, the colt they are dealing with is just trying to wound them, and not outright kill them. Just enough to put them down for the count, and give him an opening to get out. As he is about to break in to a full sprint for an immediate take off, Midnight finds himself getting brought down by one lucky guard from behind. As much as the colt would love to give the guard props for holding on with all his might. The guilt-ridden stallion really can’t be staying much longer, hiking his leg between the guard’s hind legs as his eyes go wide and the injured colt tumbles off to the side in agony from the assault.
‘Cheap shot…’
“Oh in Celestia’s name, you are pissing me off!” He yells back at the voice.
The clanking of armor against one another, and the fighting in general, attracts the attention of several more guards in the area. Leaving Midnight now looking down at the faces of many angered crystal ponies headed right towards him.
‘Well this is just great,’ Midnight mumbles in his mind, knowing full well that the unicorns in the group would probably be able to hit him easily during takeoff.
‘I know isn’t it?! When I take over, I’ll have all of them to play with,’ the psychotic laughter of Shard bounces off his ears.
“I can’t let that happen,” He tries to look for an out of any sort, while finding nothing in his wake, “I just can’t,” The light bulb finally goes off in the colt’s mind at what was talked about earlier in the bar, giving him a simple plan that may just save the lives of those around him.
‘Oh now I hate you,’ Shard’s cold voice comes in from the side of his ear, as the plan is laid out in Midnight’s mind for the counterpart to see as clear as day.
“It’s annoying when the shoe is on the other hoof isn’t it!” He yells while drawing out all the magic he can muster in one go.
All four hooves on the ground plant themselves firmly, as Midnight conjures what he can of a protection spell. The eerie black glow in his hooves giving off the tell tail sign to him that it’s working while he watches the new incoming guards all lock their horns in his direction and charge up their own spells. In an instant, he erupts the spell around him. Listening to the sound of the soldiers own enchantments hitting his own but doing no damage. The only result being the rounds ricocheting off, and threatening to bounce back and hit the very guards that fired them.
“Sorry fellas,” Midnight mutters before he releases the final go, and sends the shield outwards.
Throwing all the crystal guards to the side, and to a safe distance so he can hash it out on his own. Pounding his hooves together to summon a magical build up in them. His fore legs shroud themselves in a familiar envious green barrier while the shield around him dissipates. Leaving his hooves to glow brighter as sparks shoot off from the power increasing with every second that passes.
‘Oh now you’re just being reckless.’
“Zip it!” Midnight snaps his attention to the guards that now halt their own advance at the sight before them. The strange new comer in to the Empire, utilizing some sort of magic, while he shouldn’t even have the ability to do so.
“What?” The officer out of the bunch asks, before he stops the others around him with a raised hoof. Not knowing exactly how to tackle this one without using more lethal magic of his own, “Alright we may have no choice in this matter, bring him down!” the leader commands the others around to do, as they charge up their own horns with a blackened pulse of energy that reverberates death through the very air they breathe.
Launching the beam out to its intended target. The various spells races towards the colt, ready to impart death in him, and give him a welcome reprieve of this misery he calls life. Just like Midnight had hoped they would. Midnight waits for the right time to bring his own charged hooves up. Using the shields on his hooves to either block, reflect, or absorb the various spells. The green aura around him, breaking down further and further with every spell that is ruined. Leaving the colt being forced to put more energy in to the hoof guards he wears.
‘I can feel it draining, power, failing me,’ the nocturnal pony notes the energy depleting within him at the use of nothing but pure power, as Midnight uses his hooves like a shield to block their attacks, ‘It won’t be long now.’
‘If it doesn’t kill you, that is.’
“Either way, I wouldn’t have to deal with you,” Midnight snaps back at the constant companion.
The final straw that breaks the notorious camel’s back, being one more shot to the fore hooves that they can’t quite handle. Breaking the shield block that he manages, and sending small shards of magic across the ground like glass as they wither away to nothing in a shower of jade sparks and dissipate in to the air. Amidst the failure of his spell at the use of so much of his energy, Midnight stand there as his hooves are afire in pain. Watching the guards closing in, with their horns at the ready. He narrows his eyes down upon them, while he calls upon an old trick from moments ago.
“One. Last. Go,” A blackened glow rises up around his hooves, as the guards let out one last volley at the colt.
The protection spell coming up in time to save him. Though it’s not strong enough to hold against the combined strength of the spells in his weakened state. Soon Midnight is sent clean across the ground as he tumbles about head over hooves. Finding his resting place upon his back as he lays underneath the night sky, only able to catch the glimpses of the stars between consciousness, and unconsciousness. The heavy footsteps of armored hooves running up to his side fills his honed ears. As his eyes start to glass over, and the lids close slowly across them.
‘You just had to go and do that, didn’t you?’ The withering remains of the once strong, and cocky, subconscious mocks him, ‘you couldn’t let me play, couldn’t let me have fun.’
‘You had your fun out in the woods, and however many times before that,’ Midnight speaks to him in his own slightly conscious mind, ‘If anything gets me killed, it will be you. I would sooner have that happen, than continue to allow you to seep in to my head, and taint it more than you already have.’
That final thought exhausts Midnight’s mind to its limits. Pushing the colt in to a sleep filled realm as his eyes close fully, and the guards are left over top of a pony that seemingly survived something that was supposed to kill him. While at the same time they silently admire the skill he showed, for one not even supposed to have access to magic.
The superior taking his place ahead of his colts, just in front of the comatose enemy. Nudging him slightly with a hoof to see if there is any response what so ever. The action gets him nothing, as the chest still rises, and falls with every breath he takes. Letting him know that Midnight isn’t gone completely, just out for the moment.
“You’re an odd one, aren’t you?” The crystal guard notes.
“He doesn’t even have horn,” Another guard takes a closer look to see if what he thought he saw earlier was true, “How? How did he manage to do any of what we saw?”
“That I’m not sure. Though that’s above our pay grade,” The higher up takes a few steps back from the downed adversary. Motioning over to a few other guards to come forth, “Get a stretcher, and take him to the crystal palace’s holding cells. After he is there, I’ll let Princess Cadance, and the Captain know that we have a very… unique, visitor.”