"Um...Twilight? Are you sure this is a good idea? She might not be very...well...receptive to it."
Starlight's concern was similarly shared by Spike as the two walked just a few steps behind their royal friend. But Twilight, being Twilight, maintained a far more positive outlook on the whole matter, trotting along the hallways of her palace with a gleeful smile. And when she heard her friend's worries, she looked over her shoulder and spoke to them in a cheery and upbeat tone.
"Don't worry, Starlight. I've got it all figured out!"
Lighting up her horn, the young Princess levitated the parchment she'd been carrying with her, looking over the schedule she'd written out.
"I spent all night coming up with a proper list of activities we can share with Midnight today. It's all properly thought out, and I don't think any of it will come across to her as being intrusive or irritating. She might find it a welcome change from just being cooped up in her room all day."
Spike scratched the back of his head nervously.
"I don't know, Twilight. She might not like being volunteered for a day like that."
But Twilight merely rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Spike, you worry too much! True, trying to get her to connect with our friends didn't exactly work out that well..."
"That's an understatement," Starlight mumbled under her breath.
"...but with persistence and a friendly attitude, I know we can get her to come out of her shell!"
Spike and Starlight glanced to one another, clearly not as convinced as Twilight was about this plan. But for now, they maintained their silence, watching as their more cheery friend walked ahead. It wasn't long before she finally reached the door of Midnight's bedroom, and as her smile widened, she also began to light up her horn again. This time, it was to turn the knob of the door, and within moments, the Princess of Friendship soon opened it, allowing her entry into the room of her dark clone.
"Good morning, Midnight! I just came by to...to...to..."
Her words had become slower and less peppy with each passing moment, and as a result, Spike and Starlight rushed to her side to see what had caused this reaction. When they did see it, they too were similarly stunned. Midnight was there, standing at the foot of her bed, looking down to, of all things, an open saddle-bag, which rested upon that aforementioned end. From the looks of things, it appeared as though she were in the middle of filling it with a few essentials, like some clothing items for cold weather, as well as other assorted items. Naturally, she wasn't all that happy about being interrupted like this, but, in an uncharacteristic display, she suppressed her irritation, keeping her tone to one of diplomacy, albeit tinted with a hint of annoyance.
"Princess. How can I help you?"
Twilight, looking to the scene before her, blinked a couple of times, then asked the truly obvious question.
"What...what are you doing?"
Midnight, briefly glancing down to her bag, looked back to her host with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, in case it isn't obvious...I'm packing."
That much was indeed obvious, and as Twilight and her two friends entered Midnight's room in earnest, Twilight looked to her double with increasing distress.
"Are...are you going somewhere?"
Midnight, having finally finished packing, closed up her saddle-bags before letting out a deep sigh.
"Yes, Princess. I am going somewhere."
Now, the intent behind those words would have been obvious for anyone, and they may have been so for Twilight as well. Yet the Princess nevertheless seemed like she wanted to deny the very clear and easily-recognised path Midnight was taking here, putting on a somewhat forced smile.
"Oh! Are you going on a vacation? Maybe visiting a friend?"
Midnight looked to her, with nothing but seriousness in her expression.
"Twilight...you know what this is."
Twilight did indeed know, but it brought her no joy to say it.
"You're...leaving?"
Slowly Midnight nodded, and an utter silence followed. Starlight and Spike both looked between the two near-identical mares, but never said anything. Whatever was happening, it was between the two of them. And speaking of whom, Twilight herself, after taking a while to try and regain her mental footing with this new revelation, asked the only suitable question under such circumstances.
"...Why?"
Midnight, for her part, tried to avoid looking at her, at least for a little while. But there eventually came a point when she could no longer do this, and so, after placing her saddle-bags on her back, walked right up to her now-former host.
"Twilight...when I first came here, it was for my own protection. I sought sanctuary, a means of sheltering myself. But in the days that came after that, I began to understand something. Survival was the only thing I'd been working for. There was nothing else in my life. That..."
She winced quickly.
"...that is no life. It is simply...existence."
Looking up to the Princess, she frowned.
"I don't want to simply exist anymore. I want more than that."
Twilight, who found herself being far more upset by this than she expected herself to be, fumbled her words for a time.
"But...but...but...you can still have that here, Midnight! You can find belonging and friendship and...!"
But she was kept from speaking further when Midnight raised a hoof.
"Princess, with respect...no. What I need, more than anything, is not others...but myself."
Twilight tilted her head, showing confusion over those words, which was something even Starlight and Spike seemed to feel also. Midnight, who quietly tried to get her thoughts in order, attempted to explain herself.
"Right now, I don't seek others...I seek to learn more about who I am. My mind has been filled with your memories, and I have been living in your home, meeting your friends and family. What, in my time in this world, has there been that was only me?"
She frowned.
"Nothing, that's what! And that needs to change!"
Twilight looked to her, still not really sure of how to take all of this.
"So...you're leaving...as some sort of quest for self-discovery?"
Hearing that, Midnight unleashed a dry and empty chuckle.
"A bit of a cheesy thing to say, but yes, that just about covers it."
Whatever smile she might have had faded soon after, and she took the time that followed to glance around the room she'd been staying in over the last few months.
"When I came here...I made it into a sanctuary. But, knowingly or not...I had turned it into a prison for myself. A place that kept me separate from everyone and everything."
Her eyes narrowed.
"That can no longer be allowed to continue."
She turned, again looking to Twilight.
"I cannot discover who I am and what I want by remaining here."
Taking a few steps, she walked right past Twilight and towards the door, with Spike and Starlight stepping aside for her. But then, Midnight halted, looking over her shoulder to Twilight again.
"I need to go. This is my journey. And..."
Slowly, a look that seemed to be borderline amusement came to her.
"...I need to be the one to make that first step."
And so it was that Twilight's mirror image vacated the room, and she was simply left there, completely speechless over what had just happened. Starlight and Spike watched her, wanting to comfort her or offer her some kind of reassurance over this, but they simply couldn't find the right words for it. After a while, the Princess regained her senses, and immediately spun around in place, before darting off after her double. Her other two friends followed her, and together the three of them raced down hallways, swiftly going around corners and heading straight for the front door. There, Midnight was just about to step outside, and it was here that Twilight finally called out to her.
"Midnight! Wait!"
The clone stopped, looking back to see the exhausted Princess come after her. She waited patiently as Twilight and the others caught their breaths, and when they had finally done so, Twilight looked to her.
"I just...this is all so sudden!"
Slowly, Midnight shook her head.
"No...this has been coming for a very long time."
Twilight maintained her air of confusion, but Midnight merely sighed.
"I stayed here out of fear...and I have become acutely aware of just how much that bothers me. I will not fear what is out there, or what might happen to me. I will not let the prospect of some chance encounter with Chrysalis keep me here, keep me paralysed."
Her expression softened as she looked back to Twilight.
"To walk the path of darkness would, sooner or later, just lead to my own destruction...and as a pony like you? One who sought friendship and all of that? In that, I would have been miserable."
She looked away, out to Ponyville, and to what might lay beyond.
"I don't know who I am. Not really. And I know the answer will not come to me if I stay here. One can only learn so much by remaining in one spot after all."
A pause, and then, she turned to look right into Twilight's eyes.
"How much would you have learned...if you had stayed in Canterlot your whole life?"
It was a fair question, that much could not be argued, yet Twilight struggled with it all the same. Though she clearly still had some reservations about all this, she soon looked a great deal calmer than she did before, letting out a deep sigh before addressing Midnight in a more reserved tone.
"I cannot say I fully understand your reasons for doing this, Midnight. Nor can I say I completely approve of you just doing this out of the blue."
Midnight looked to her, eyebrow raised, then watched as Twilight developed a small smile.
"But I trust you to make your own choice. If you feel that this is something you have to do...you have my blessing for it."
Midnight was taken aback, but she was grateful all the same, giving a slight bow of her head. Then, in complete silence, she turned her gaze over to Spike and Starlight, giving them a similar nod. The latter two smiled back to her, giving her a friendly wave, after which, Twilight spoke again.
"Would you...like to say goodbye to Applejack and the others?"
Midnight chuckled.
"Let's face it, Twilight. Your friends and me were never the closest. I doubt they'd be all that upset with me leaving like this."
Twilight nodded, though she remained uncertain about that. Then, her smile returned.
"So...where are you going to go first?"
Midnight looked away, out towards the green hills beyond Ponyville. She looked deep in thought as she did this, then turned back to Twilight, appearing, to Twilight's confusion, amused all of a sudden.
"You know what? I have no idea. And I think, for the first time...I'm actually okay with that."
Twilight's smile widened, but she did not get the chance to actually say anything. For just then, to her utter shock, she watched as Midnight lunged forward. It was no attack, but rather, to her eternal surprise, a hug. Such an uncharacteristic move on Midnight's part was greeted with the expected gaping jaws of Spike and Starlight, but Twilight, by contrast, managed to get over her initial shock, finally returning the embrace. When the two finally parted, she maintained her smile.
"Not that I'm ungrateful, but...what was that for?"
Midnight, looking to her with genuine softness, gave a shrug of her shoulders.
"For letting me live here...for giving me help...for everything."
Twilight looked to her fondly, before finally raising a hoof and gesturing to the road outside her palace.
"In that case...journey well, Midnight Sparkle."
Midnight nodded silently, then turned to begin walking away. But, after having taken just a few short steps away, she froze, uncertainty coming to her. After a time, she looked over her shoulder, looking back to Twilight with, of all things, longing.
"Goodbye...sister."
Twilight was agape at that, but remained completely quiet as her clone finally carried on with her journey. She didn't even turn to look as Spike and Starlight walked beside her. Together, the three of them kept their eyes on the doppelganger for as long as they could, before she was finally gone from view. There was a long period of time where nobody knew what to say, but after a while, Spike looked up, speaking to his carer with a voice tinted with worry.
"Do...do you think she'll be okay?"
Twilight, having recovered from all of this, took a deep breath, let it all out, then looked to her ward with a smile.
"Yes, Spike...I think she will."
Is there gonna be a chance for a sequel?
meh ending.
Midnight needs to find a way to hide her wings or subtly alter her cutie mark. Otherwise there will be wild tales of Twilight being in two places at once.
The logic is sound. I’d be interested to see a sequel detailing her journey or one that covers her return.
Wait, that's it?! That seemed rather . . . abrupt.
Well shit I did not expect the sister line nice touch
Great story really, I love how you kept the characters true to who they are and didn't try to force anything into a super surgery ending.
Feels like the ending came a little abruptly and out of left field, but I liked it all the same. I mirror Cipher800's sentiment: Will there be a sequel? I could imagine a longer story going with Midnight on this journey of self-discovery, making new friends, going to places we have and have not seen in the show, and forging her identity outside of Twilight. Plus, all of that foreshadowing and build-up about Chrysalis wanting to purge Midnight, but no payoff? The writer in me is pointing quite vehemently at Chekhov's gun on the wall over there.
Beyond that, though, I enjoyed this story. Really makes you think about the differences between being pragmatic and being good, and where those two mentalities can't easily co-exist.
Good riddance.
loved it my only regret is there was no interaction between midnight and discord
She's not wrong. Sometimes self-discovery is needed in order for the individual to grow. Good luck to you Midnight.
Series, series, series, series!
Yeah, leaving was probably for the best. As it was it looked like they were just trying to "reform" her to be just like them rather than accepting her as a friend.
I agree with others. The ending was too abrupt. The right ending I feel but it needed more. Like maybe a talk between Twilight and Midnight where Midnight makes up her mind to go. Now the ending as is is still ok though even a small change like a request from one of them tgat Midnight visit sometime would offer some big improvement.
Curious and open ending, but not a bad one...
This was nice
Would definitely like to see a sequel here.
huh did not see that coming not really but i'm interested in seeing how this develops if theres to be a sequal
Good story overall. The initial conflict/confrontation (Midnight coming to Twilight to ask for help) was pretty interesting.
I feel like the main problem with the other chapters was that there was nothing close to what we had in the first chapter. While the discussions and confrontations with other ponies were there, it never felt like anything was at risk, it was mainly about a very docile Midnight not wanting to make friends and the others wanting her to make friends. Something you couldve used more was eg the fact that Midnight is a being made from dark magic, does that not have any consequences besides, well, knowing a bit of dark magic?
I enjoyed reading the story nonetheless. I don't think a sequel could really add anything to the story.
A bit of an abrupt ending, to be sure, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I'd definitely be receptive to a sequel.
Oooh a story like this is just asking for a sequel.*nudge nudge hint hint*
I really enjoyed this story. Each chapter was always some interesting moral debate of conflicting Midnight's selfish, pragmatic worldview with that of our pretty pastel ponies'. Was always an interesting show in the comments section for sure.
You could have kept this going for a long time but you decided to end it here. Is this the end of the tale or will there be a series or sequel detailing Midnight's travels in Equestria?
Regardless, well done. Good story. Into the favorites pile it goes.
I'm actually hype for this. Pog fucking champ.
Huh. I feel pretty empty about this. It's not that this is a bad story, but I feel like not enough happened or built up to this ending. As it is, it doesn't really feel like an ending. Not enough changed about Midnight; her overall arc doesn't seem near concluded, and if the story was truly building up to her leaving - then I don't think enough time was spent on the factors that led to that decision. It rests almost entirely on her discussion with Celestia last chapter, and one chapter doesn't a character arc make. Her sense of listlessness and inability to find her own niche weren't expounded upon. She was listless, but she generally didn't treat this as a problem - more of a character trait, something she openly defended when challenged about her attitude. The prior chapters were mostly how she reacted to certain other ponies, and her fear of Chrysalis/the Tree of Harmony. There wasn't very much that showed her attempting to grow or find herself.
I think this might have worked better if Midnight had at all tried to fit in in Ponyville, and those attempts had failed. Even if she tried to meet other ponies, but the specter of the town/Twilight Sparkle cast too heavy a shadow. As it was, she made no effort towards acclimation and only a little more towards self-discovery. She didn't really have relationships with anyone, for better or worse. Her character just... didn't get the journey I was expecting when this began, and there wasn't enough dynamism to conclude her here.
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I actually disagree. The build up has been occurring ever since Midnight arrived. Her standoff-ish behavior derived from not knowing her purpose, her place. It just took Luna to realize it. And once she realized what she needs to do, she left. I think it’s a perfectly natural course of events in terms of Midnight’s character.
However, a sequel is definitely in order, because if this is the story of Midnight finding herself, this is only the beginning.
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I don't think it's unnatural. I just don't think enough happened with her character for this story to feel complete. Again, my issue is dynamism. Things happened, people conversed, but very little actually changed. For a story that focuses on character, the evolution of character is tantamount, and the talks with each princess were the only times I recall where Midnight actually stopped to think about her life or what self actually meant. It was kind of a core facet of her character that she was incredibly difficult to engage - she stonewalled everyone with disapproval and cynicism. Those moments where something cut through to her, those are critical, and I don't feel enough of those happened here to form the primary character arc of a standalone story.
Midnight hugging Twilight and calling her 'sister', reluctantly showing affection and gratitude? Great stuff. But it just intuits to me that, for a character-driven story, not enough happened here. That's just my feedback.
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What if you recontextualized this as the first STAGE of a story? In that this is the first stage of Midnight’s journey?
Hmm. It'd be interesting to see an epilogue (or sequel, although it'd be a different kind of story, I think) where Midnight tries on various different magical disguises, and possibly ends up selecting one to permanently alter herself into (or at least regards coloring and manestyle), as a way of reinventing herself and asserting her individuality. Particularly if it's at least partially based on color schemes or looks that the original Twilight had admired growing up, partially on Twilight's family, and perhaps partially on one or two ponies Midnight meets on her travels. With exceptions, no doubt: I can't see Midnight picking anything out of Cadance's color scheme to emulate. She seems more likely to adopt a shorter manestyle, though.
I wonder, if pushed on her background, she might say something like "A villain cast a magical spell and everyone I considered family died. I talked to one of the princesses about what I should do with myself, and now I'm just trying to find a place in the world." Technically true, gives her an excuse not to talk about her nonexistent past life, and makes it seem like her quest is princess-approved.
9372388
The wings (or horn, or both, although if she's working off Twilight's memories it seems more likely she'd go unicorn), sure. The mark... Twilight's not the only pony with a starburst mark, and it's generic-looking enough that a unicorn specializing in magic/spells in some form wouldn't raise questions if they had it. If Midnight changed her coloration (and manestyle) enough so that she didn't look like Twilight at first glance, she could probably get away with it. She'd be better off with something on the other side of the color wheel, like a deep yellow or orange, but her personality seems to lend itself to something in a dark blue; something akin to Night Light's mane color. Maybe with a much lighter color for her mane, to flip Twilight's dark-over-light color scheme; Shining Armor's coat color could work.
...of course, that'd make her look like Edgelord Trixie, but you can't have everything.
I want to see a sequel about all of Midnight's travels throughout the world and the ponies she meets! Hehe Imagine he running into Daring Do only to get caught up in an adventure with her, then going on to appear in the next book, which of course Rainbow Dash reads. Could you just SEE RD's reaction? But yeah I would love to see a story about Midnight's adventures in the world
Strong story. The ending could use some work though.
Great job with this story! Despite the fact that it ended so soon, I feel happy for Midnight. I hope you make a sequel to this some time in the future, for you left the opportunity wide open on it.
It's... Over? Huh. I mean, it's a good stopping point, but... really?
Complete huh? That was an awesome ride, and it's something I'm sad I saw coming. Props to you, man.
This was a very enjoyable story, and i'm kinda of sad to see it end. Any chance of a sequel though?
Well, it was a good prequel. I do hope to read the continuing adventures of Midnight Sparkle, eventually.
Was a very enjoyable story, the concept alone was what drove me in I like what you did with this evil clown
I like good stories. This one is a good story.
A very enjoyable read, good work.
This was a great read! I really like stuff that gets a bit introspective like this. I featured your story on episode 248 of my podcast, Pony 411.
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DON'T YOU KNOW IT
I don't know if your vision of this story could really sustain a sequel (if it can, then by all means go for it)—but I think a oneshot after she's been on the road for a while (a letter, a visit, or even woolgathering) would be nice. Assuming you don't intend to leave it completely open-ended as to what happens.
Either way, this was pretty fantastic for what it was. It was short, and felt almost more like a series of interrelated vignettes than a tightly wound story. The emphasis you put into the dialogue gave me "comic book" vibes. But if these were your goals, then mission accomplished.
any chance this will get a Sequel?
This was amazing! I really hope that there's going to be a sequel to this.
Just did a little Book Club discussion of this story over on the official Reddit and I must say that I adored your Midnight Sparkle character and how she comes to realize that she needs to discover just who she is personally. I also adored your depiction of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia (Though I do admit that the latter took until her little talk with Midnight for me to fall in love with how you wrote her). I look forward to what you write in the future.
You know outside of the "On No, They're Goddesses now. . . " which is just a great deal of fun all around.
did you ever (or will you ever) work on a Sequel to this about Midnight's travels?
9710901 I've considered that, but I'm sort of holding out until we know for certain how Chrysalis' character gets resolved in the actual show, because that will have a pretty big impact on what I do with Midnight.
9711716
I see ^_^ I personally kinda hope she, Tirek and Cozy just kinda take off together. not reformed, but also not evil, just wanting to be left alone.
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Let's be honest here : we all tought Chrysalis had some real reason for all her doing.
Nope, she's just an unoriginal evil villain doing evil things for evil reason, she have no backstory, no real motive and it's quite unlikely to be reformed in any way.
Ahh, this ending managed to put a smile on my face.