Chapter 1

Night of Redemption

By Rated Ponystar

Edited by Elric of Melnipony and TimeLord_Whooves

***

In a lone, desolate bar on St. Ponysburg Street in Vanhoover, a single unicorn was finishing his eighth glass of the hard liquor that warmed his throat, but not his heart. At such a late time of night, it wasn’t hard to find stallions wanting to drink their troubles away -- some more than others. Everypony in the bar knew the guy; some hated him and said he got what he deserved five years ago. Others pitied him, having made their own mistakes long ago, hence their reasons for ending up drunks like him. The only true friend he had was the bartender, a unicorn who took the empty glass from the the poor drunk and frowned.

“That’s enough, Night Light. You have work tomorrow, and you told me your boss said that if you showed up drunk again at the docks, he was gonna fire your sorry flank,” said the bartender, shaking his head.

“It doesn’t matter. Work is gonna be cancelled all week. One of the big cranes came loose and damaged some of the surrounding area,” said Night Light, trying his best to stay on his seat.

“Ouch, anypony hurt?”

Night Light shook his head. “No, just a couple of bruises and cuts. Safety inspection and insurance is gonna be crawling all over the place so we’re on standby until they leave. Makes me wonder how I’m gonna pay for next month’s rent though...”

The bartender looked at Night Light, wishing his poor friend could have some good luck after five years of misery. He had known who Night Light was from the moment he had first moved into the neighborhood; hay, everypony in Equestria knew. After all, it wasn’t every day that a pony manages to piss off both princesses of Equestria. He previously had Canterlot ponies before in his bar, poor saps who lost their fortunes through one stupid way or another, but never like Night Light.

Like everypony else, he tried to stay away from the guy until he managed to hear Night Light’s side of the story from his own mouth. The guy was clearly feeling guilty for everything he had done, having lost his wife, son, and daughter because of his actions. Yet it was too late to fix everything, no matter how much he wanted to. Ever since then, the bartender had tried to be a good friend to him despite others telling him to not bother.

“Listen, Night,” said the bartender, quickly thinking of a plan to help his friend. “Maybe you can work for me. Those guys down at the docks have been treating you like manure ever since you came to Vanhoover. Low pay, low benefits, not to mention I’ve lost count of how many fights you’ve been in. You need to be treated better.” Night Light looked unconvinced, so he tried another idea. “And my sister, you know Jasmine, right? Well, she’s been interested in ya and maybe the two of you can go out together. I know you love your wife and all, but now that you're single again, maybe you can try to make another fam-”

“Shut up!” screamed Night Light, striking his hoof across the counter, knocking a ketchup bottle to the floor. Everypony went quiet as Night Light looked at the startled bartender straight in the eye. “Don’t... ever... say that again! I only had one wife! One son! And one daughter! And even if they never love me anymore, I will never, ever, replace them!”

The bartender bit his lip. “Night, listen to yourself. I’m trying to help you get your life back together. Don’t you want to be happy? Have a new life?”

“No, I don’t,” muttered Night Light, slowly looking up at the ceiling. A tear dripped down his eye. “My family was my life. And I hurt them all. I hurt my daughter. I broke my little Twilight’s heart because I was so blind and stupid!” He covered his teary eyes with his hooves and began to weep. A few frowning faces softened upon seeing this, but nopony said anything to the crying stallion. “Why didn’t I let her just be happy?! How could I have... my own daughter... oh... Twilight...”

“Night...”

“Stop!” yelled Night Light, slamming his hoof on the counter and turning around, glaring at the other drinkers. They turned away, but their ears were still focused on him. Turning back to his only remaining friend in the world, Night Light said, “I’m grateful that you want to help me, but if you start hiring me, you’ll lose business. I can’t let another pony suffer for my sins. I just can’t...”

Sighing, the bartender rubbed the back of his neck, eyes narrowed in frustration. “Then at least promise me you’ll find a new job. Something better than the docks.”

Night Light chuckled before pulling some bits out of the pockets of his long coat and placing them on the bar. “I doubt anypony wants to hire Night Light, the worst father in the world.”

“You’re not a bad father,” said the bartender, levitating the bits to his cash register. “Ya just made a bad mistake...”

“Yeah, but that mistake cost me everything,” muttered Night Light as he made his way towards the door. Once he left, the entire bar instantly became much more chatty, with friends talking to each other in normal tone rather than the whispers they had been using earlier.

The bartender frowned at this, but knew he had no right to tell his customers what to think -- no matter how much he wanted to tell them to lay off the poor guy. He was about to start cleaning glasses when a young earth pony in winter garb signaled him over. Walking towards the caller, he asked, “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, who was that stallion that just left?” asked the earth pony, motioning his head towards the door. “I’ve seen him a few times, but everypony tells me to stay away from him. Not to mention I was overhearing you two talk and I couldn’t help but be curious. What did he do that got him into such a state?”

Although he felt reluctant to share Night Light’s past, he figured his friend could use another sympathetic soul. “You know Princess Twilight, right? The new alicorn? Element of Magic? Princess Luna’s marefriend?” The young drinker nodded. “That’s her father.”

The earth pony spat out his drink and coughed a bit before staring at the bartender in disbelief. “W-what?! Are you kidding me? What’s a guy like him, the father of a princess, doing here?”

“You haven’t been in Equestria the past few years, have ya?” asked the bartender.

“No, I was raised in Saddle Arabia most of my life. I came to this country a few months ago. Still can’t get use to this cold,” said the earth pony, shivering in his winter clothes.

“Well, Night Light had everything a stallion could want: a home, fortune, a loving family. But then when he learned his daughter was dating a mare, he flipped. Couldn’t stand the thought of his daughter being a fillyfooler,” said the bartender, using that disgusting slur that made his mouth dry up. “Anyway, it started a big fight in his family, and what’s worse, it turns out he hired a gang of bad ponies to cause tension between Princess Luna and his daughter so they could separate. Eventually, he saw the error of his ways, but it was too late. Damage was done.”

“He tried to pay the gang off, to stop them, but they went along and hurt his daughter anyway. There was a trial, but Twilight forgave him and was able to convince Princess Celestia to grant him mercy instead of jail time. So she ordered that he leave Canterlot, never to return, and was to never involve himself in Twilight or her family’s lives ever again.”

The earth pony was shocked again. “She did that? After everything he did to her, the princess just forgave him?”

The bartender shrugged. “I guess she still loved her father. More so than everypony else does. His wife divorced him, he’s dead to his son, and even the princesses only let him off with a light punishment because of Twilight’s pleading. Although rumors say that if he gets out of line one more time, or even breaks the rules set against him, he’s going straight to jail with no chance of a trial. That guy really bucked up and he’s been living with that guilt for five years. Wasting away and getting drunk in regret.”

To his credit, the earth pony frowned and nodded. “That poor guy. I really hope things turn out better for him.”

“You and me both, kiddo.”

***

Ever since he was a colt, Night Light had always loved the night sky. The stars were like a sea of wonder and when he was little, he used to talk to the Mare in the Moon whenever she appeared. His love of the night had helped him discover his special talent in astronomy, and it was during the night that he first confessed to Velvet his feelings. To his disappointment, his wife and his son never expressed much interest in nightly activities, preferring to stay in the sun. However, he finally found somepony to share his love of the dark when his daughter, at only a few months old, pointed at the wallpaper in her room and said her first word.

Star.

Ever since then, he took Twilight out to see the stars whenever he had the time. It was their own little thing together. She picked up his love of astronomy and began to learn just as quickly as he did growing up. Even after she had left his home to become Celestia’s student, she never stopped looking up at the stars; she would even sneak home to watch them with him.

Night Light felt a tear fall down his cheek. Now he would never have those experiences again with his beloved daughter. His little star. His Twilight. Rising up from his haunches, he pushed off the wall he was leaning on, ready to head back to his dump of an apartment. He then cursed, feeling a rising tension in his bladder. Knowing he couldn’t hold it very long, he quickly looked around on the street to see if anypony was nearby. With the coast clear, he turned to the wall and began to relieve himself.

So this what I have been reduced to? A stallion, hated by all, who now has to pee on a wall like some hobo instead of his own toilet, thought Night Light, shaking his head. No, this is just. I deserve this and so much more.

He only hoped that nopony would spot him and alert the authorities of his crime of ‘public urination’ or ‘indecent exposure’. It wasn’t a secret that he knew the authorities of Vanhoover were watching him, waiting to arrest him the moment he did something wrong. Princess Celestia had made it very clear after his trial, in private, that if he did anything wrong -- even littering -- she would throw him, without a second thought, in jail for all the eight years he should have been serving.

Night Light had done his best to keep his hooves on the right side of the law, although more than once, he had been accused of crimes and then released when it was proven he wasn’t guilty of them. And while he was relieved that he wasn’t in jail, he couldn't help but feel that his punishment wasn’t enough to make up for his mistake. Nopony, outside of Twilight, had been able to forgive him of his crime. Not even himself.

With the last of his urine released, Night Light sighed in relief and prepared to return home when he suddenly heard screaming. He paused in his step, waiting to see if it was just his imagination. When he heard another scream, Night Light cursed and rushed down the alley. He turned the corner only to freeze at what he saw. Three stallions, two earth ponies and one pegasus, were beating up another earth pony who was covered with bruises all over his white coat. His red mane had been torn up and both eyes had big shiners on them.

Night Light was curious as to why he was getting beaten up until one of the earth pony assaulters said, “Yeah, keep screaming like a filly, fag! Scream like when your coltfriend bucks you in your plothole!”

“Bucking colt cuddlers! You're all pathetic and messed up! Society is better off without you faggots!” screamed the pegasus, smashing his hoof against the downed stallion’s face.

“P-please! I didn’t d-do anything! Augh!” cried the teary-eyed stallion as he got kicked in the gut.

“Shut up! I think this guy was looking at my crotch, boys. Why don’t we smash his own genitals so badly, his cocksucking friends will have to use a spoon to get some!” shouted the other earth pony, grinning maliciously.

Suddenly, Night Light began to see things differently. Those three were replaced with the same stallions that he had once hired long ago in Canterlot. The crying colt cuddler was replaced with his daughter, Twilight, who was looking up at him and begged. “Help me... Daddy...”

Roaring like a beast, Night Light charged forward, scaring everypony in the alley. With rage fueling him, Night Light spun and kicked the first earth pony in the jaw, sending him flying into the wall and knocking him out instantly. The other earth pony tried to fight back, but Night Light hoofed him in the stomach before slamming his head against the bastard’s muzzle, breaking it. He finished the thug off by grabbing his throat with his magic and hurling him into a dumpster before closing the cover on his head.

The pegasus, seeing his buddies down for the count, took his chances and began to fly. Night Light, not wanting him to get away, grabbed a trash can with his telekinesis and hurled it at the pegasus. Nailed in the head, the pegasus was distracted enough to fly into a wall and soon crash-landed. Night Light quickly got on top of him and began to slam his front hooves into his opponent’s face.

“You! Will! Never! Hurt! Another! Pony! Ever! Again! You! Mother! Bucker!” screamed Night Light, his hooves going down faster with each word.

“Sir! Sir! Stop! You’re going to kill him!” cried the wounded earth pony, dragging Night Light by the tail despite his struggles. “Sir! It’s over! They can’t hurt me anymore! You won!”

Night Light slowly began to take deep breaths as his anger began to fade. He looked at the pegasus in horror, barely able to make out his face with all the blood covering him. The only signs that he was still alive were the rising of his chest and whimpers from his mouth. Night Light felt like he was going to be sick. The earth pony, helping Night Light up to his hooves, dragged him out of the alley. “Come on, we better get out of here.”

“Wait,” said Night Light before lighting up his horn and shooting a red flare out into the sky. “Now somepony will come find them and give them medical attention.”

The earth pony nodded and the two proceeded to quickly escape the area. When they were a few blocks away, they slowly began to relax and sat down at a nearby street bench. The earth pony, turning to his savior, reached out his hoof and said, “I’m Whisper Keeper. You?”

“Night Light,” he said, shaking the hoof. “Why were they beating you up?”

Whisper Keeper winced and looked at the floor in shame. “I... I was coming out of a bar not too far from where you found me. It’s... it’s a bar for stallions trying to find other... stallions.” He started to tear up. “You heard them, didn’t you? Calling me fag and coltcuddler? Like I’m some kind of... freak!”

“Don’t call yourself that,” muttered Night Light, shamefully trying to fight back his own memories of his outrage upon learning of his daughter’s sexuality. “There is... nothing wrong with you wanting to be happy.”

“But I’ve only just accepted this! How can...” said Whisper Keeper, shaking his head. “How can I keep doing this if ponies like that are gonna keep saying such awful things or keep beating me up!”

“.... there is always gonna be horrible ponies; ignorant ones who will never understand,” said Night Light looking up into the sky, the stars shining down upon him. “But there are those who will accept you for who you are, and want what’s best for you.” He looked at the pony he rescued and asked, “What about your friends and family? Do they support you?”

Whisper Keeper shifted in his seat. “I don’t really have friends. That’s kinda why I went to that bar today. Some of them were really cool. As for my folks? They divorced when I was little and I haven’t seen my mom in years. My dad, Shadow Whisper, he’s confused on how to feel and doesn’t like talking much about my... interests.”

Night Light stared at the sullen teen for a long time before finally making up his mind. He nudged Whisper Keeper. “Show me to your house. We’re gonna have a talk with your father.”

***

After some reluctance, Whisper Keeper agreed to show Night Light his home, which wasn’t far from where they were sitting. Nervously, Whisper Keeper knocked on his front door with Night Light right beside him. It soon opened, revealing a black-coated earth pony with a red mane similar to Whisper Keeper’s. Immediately, Shadow Whisper gasped and grasped his son in a hug, looking at his injuries in horror. “Oh, Celestia! Son, what happened to you?!”

“Well...” whispered Whisper Keeper, struggling to find the right words.

Night Light decided to step in. “He was attacked by three ponies, but I stepped in and helped him out. He just needs some rest and he’ll be as good as normal.”

Shadow looked at Night Light with a confused look before nodding in thanks. “Thank you, but... why did they attack my son?”

“They... saw me coming out of the bar, Dad...” muttered Whisper, sounding ashamed of his actions like he had done something criminal.

“Oh,” said Shadow, looking at the ground for a second before sighing.

Seeing this made Whisper tear up. “Dad, I know this is hard for you but-”

“Stop.” Shadow Whisper held his hoof up and covered his son’s mouth with it. “I know... I know I haven’t been that easy to deal with. You have to understand, this is... this is still shocking to me.” He slowly put his hoof down and began to smile. “But you're my son. I love you. If you want to find a stallion to love instead of a mare... then I accept it and will support you all the way.”

Whisper Keeper’s eyes widened before he hugged his dad, tears streaming down his face as he smiled with joy. “Oh Dad... thank you... thank you... I love you so much!”

“I know, Son. I’m just sorry it took so long for me to accept you,” said Shadow, hugging his son and kissing him on the cheek.

Night Light stood there with his own smile, but it soon faded when he asked himself, Why couldn’t I be like that for Twilight? Why did I have to push her away and cause her so much pain? This father... he’s better than me.

Whisper Keeper was told by his father to get inside and take a bath, but before he did, he turned to Night Light and bowed. “Thank you, Mr. Night Light. I will never forget your kindness.”

Although he smiled, Night Light quickly saw the shocked look in Shadow Whisper’s face. He knows who I am.

Once Whisper was inside, Shadow Whisper and Night Light stared at each other. One in shock, the other impassive. Finally, Shadow asked, “Are you... really the Night Light? The one who...”

“Yes,” muttered Night Light, deciding there was no point in lying.

“But then,” said Shadow Whisper, scratching his head, “why did you help my son? After what you did to your daughter...”

Night Light closed his eyes and tried to fight back the tears that threatened to spill. “Because... I’ve learned from my mistakes... I just learned them too late...”

“I see...” whispered Shadow, who placed his hoof on Night Light’s shoulder. “Regardless, I owe you for saving my son. If there is anything you need, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“Thank you, good night,” said Night Light, hurrying off the porch and back into the street. Walking towards his home, body weary from the night’s events, he began to imagine Shadow and his son, happy at home together, and soon replaced them with him and Twilight.

***

Night Light opened the door to his apartment and shut it before fumbling for the light switch. When it was turned on, he quickly looked at his small, messy apartment and resolved to clean it tomorrow. Since there would be no work for a while, it gave him something to do. Not bothering to take off his long coat, he walked over to his kitchen, took a beer out of his fridge, and opened it. He sat down at his desk and stared at the three only photos he had left of his life in Canterlot before his exile.

The first was his wedding picture with him and his now ex-wife, Twilight Velvet. The second was during his son’s wedding with all of his family, his new daughter-in-law, Twilight’s friends, and the princesses all smiling together on the happy day. The final one was his most treasured, a picture of his little daughter reading her first book. Tears dripped down his face as he took the photo and gently caressed it, remembering how she asked him to read it to her. She soon memorized it word for word and found the joy in reading, a trait she got from her mother.

It was all he had left of the world he had once treasured, a world he destroyed with his own hooves. Almost all of his friends and family hated him, and wanted him out of their lives for his mistake. All but one at least.

He slowly reached for the right side drawer and opened it, revealing a series of papers that were carefully laid out and sorted by order of date. Levitating one to his face, he slowly read it...

Dear Daddy,
Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve! I tried again, asking Celestia and my family to let you come down to Canterlot or at least for me to visit you, but they said no, just like last year. They keep telling me to forget about you, but I can’t. You’re my dad, and despite what they think, I know there is still some good in you. I know you feel sorry for what you’ve done. I just wish we could be a family again, but Mom says that we are still a family. Just... one short...
Luna and I are doing well, she’s been helping me adjust to my wings and alicorn magic since the coronation. She’s even planning on taking us to the Wintra Resort in the Griffin Kingdom for a vacation. I’ve been thinking a lot about our relationship for the past five years. It’s been quite a journey and I can’t believe how far we’ve gotten. I love her so much, Dad... I... I want to marry her. I haven’t told anypony about this, Dad, not even Spike, but I think she’s the one.
I’ve thought about doing it this Hearth’s Warming Eve, but I chickened out. I’m afraid to ask Mom how you proposed to her, because she doesn’t like talking about you that much. (And Shining Armor and Cadance are too busy taking care of the Crystal Empire while handling their new daughter.). And I’d ask you, but it’s hard enough sending you these messages in secret. I don’t want to risk getting you into more trouble.
I wish I could give you a gift, but it’s too risky. If Celestia or anypony finds out I’ve been sending you these messages... I don’t want to think about it. I just wish they’d forgive you already. I forgive you, and I should be the one most angry.
But when you tried to save me, how you tried to make things up, and even when you apologized during your trial, I knew that you still loved me. Maybe you made the wrong choices, but I know you're sorry and if there was a way I could prove that to everypony, I would do so.
I just hope you’re safe and not feeling too lonely.
With Love,
Twilight Sparkle

Covering his eyes, Night Light wept as he read more of the letters his sweet daughter sent him. It only made him question himself over and over again. How could I have done this to her? Why did I have to harm my baby filly?

The words of his darling daughter were the only bright light he had in his life. She had sent letters to him, under careful notice, to let him know that while everypony else had given up on him, she didn’t. She still loved him. He was still her father in her eyes. Of all ponies in the world that should have hated him, Twilight had forgiven him long ago.

She never gives up. She keeps pushing to let them welcome me back, and despite their resistance she never gives up on me, thought Night Light, looking up into the ceiling. Oh, Twilight. If I could take back everything, I would do it in a heartbeat. Anything to have you, Velvet and Shining back in my life again.

He read the last letter again. His daughter wanted to marry Princess Luna. He had long ago dreamed of being the father of the bride, to walk his daughter down the aisle. It would have been the greatest moment of his life as a father and now he would never get to see that happen. Twilight would try. She would try her hardest, but if she failed to convince her family and the princesses to let him come to her coronation, and his granddaughter’s birth, then chances were that it wouldn’t happen.

And Luna. For a while, he had cursed her and was willing to blame her for everything, but he realized he was only fooling himself. Luna had done nothing bad to his daughter, only given her love and comfort. If he had to be honest, he had been worried when Twilight started hanging around more and more with the Night Princesses. She had many political enemies who still saw her as Nightmare Moon, or were against her policies. He was afraid that Twilight would be a target, more so than she already was, but still respected his daughter's wishes to befriend Luna.

But when Twilight announced she was dating the princess-- his thoughts quickly turned to Whisper Keeper and how he was nearly beaten to death. That was what he feared most for his daughter. That was why he had wanted to break them up. That was why he was willing to do anything to see his daughter safe and sound. And yet it took losing everything, including the love and respect of his entire family, to realize he had done it wrong. He had become those ponies who were beating up Whisper Keeper. He had become what he feared.

A knock on the door nearly made him fall out of his chair. The pony behind it shouted, “Open up! Now!”

“J-just a second!” shouted Night Light as he shakily put the letters away, just as they were before.

He soon opened the door, but his heart sank when he saw who it was: three royal guards. One of them, a pegasus, stepped forward, “Night Light? Princess Celestia has ordered us to bring you to Canterlot at once. Please come with us.”

“... am I under arrest?” whispered Night Light, trembling at the thought of the jail cell he had been forced to occupy for days before his trial.

“Just come with us, please,” ordered the guard again, his expression never changing.

Night Light slowly nodded and looked at his apartment one more time before closing it. He wondered if it was the last time he would ever see it again.

***

Throughout the entire chariot ride to Canterlot, Night Light couldn’t help but sweat in fear. He gazed at the guards, hoping to find some hint as to what they were planning to do with him, but they showed no emotion. When he spotted the coming lights of his once home city, Night Light closed his eyes and silently wept. He was going to jail. The only reason Celestia would be calling him back was to deliver her promise to him.

Had they found out about Twilight’s letter? Or was it the fact he beat up three ponies? Maybe he could get Whisper Keeper and his father to vouch for him, if he could get in contact with them before they slammed him into a cell. He could only imagine the devastation that Twilight would feel when she heard her father was in the prison he deserved to be in, not to mention the satisfaction of Luna and those who hated him.

The carriage began to get lower and lower, making Night Light squirm in his seat. He closed his eyes, waiting to land. When they finally did, he opened one of his eyes to see his new dark home for the next eight years… only to blink in surprise at what he really saw. It wasn’t Canterlot Prison. It was Canterlot General Hospital.

Before Night Light could ask questions, the guards ordered him to get off and follow them inside. Now curious, he complied and entered the main lobby with them. It was late at night; barely anypony was around except for a few workers in the night shift. But one pony stood out above them all and nearly made Night Light shiver in fear: an emotionless Princess Celestia.

Night Light stood there in terror as the guards saluted their princess. Celestia nodded. “You may go. I’ll take care of this.”

They nodded and retreated back to the carriage outside. For a long time, Night Light and Celestia stared at each other. He could tell, from the glimmer in her eyes, that she didn’t want him here, that he was the last pony on earth that she wanted to speak to. If that’s so, then why am I here?

“Follow me,” said Celestia, almost like an order. Night Light, not wanting to piss off the sun princess, followed. They pushed through the double doors at the back of the lobby and entered the main hallway of the hospital. It was so creepy to hear such silence, broken only by the occasional moan from a nearby patient. Once in awhile, a nurse or doctor would pass them, quickly bowing to Celestia while paying Night Light no heed.

Then, out of nowhere, Celestia stopped and Night Light barely managed to stop himself from slamming into her flank. Turning around, Celestia looked at him, but now a hint of sorrow could be seen in those eyes. It was almost as if she was showing her age. “Do you know why you are here?”

“N-no,” answered Night Light, shaking his head.

Celestia closed her eyes and huffed. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t be letting you near her. But she requested this... and at her stage... not even I can deny this right.” She glared at him. “You have no right to be her father, but she still calls you such, which is beyond my understanding. Nevertheless, I will respect Princess Twilight’s wishes...”

Night Light’s worries soon redirected itself from him to his daughter the moment he heard her name. Fear in his tone, he asked, “What’s going on? What’s wrong with Twilight! Tell me!”

Celestia said nothing and just looked at the ground in silence.

Growling, Night Light stomped his hoof and demanded, “Dammit, Celestia! Tell me what’s going on!” He didn’t care if he was acting rude to her. Twilight was in trouble and he would take on all of Canterlot’s army before he let anything happen to her.

Finally, Celestia asked, “Have you been keeping up with the news?”

Night Light shook his head. “No, ever since that article about me... and my crime... I’ve been kicked out of every newspaper store in my neighborhood. Most of what I get is just second-hoof rumor stuff from listening at work or at a bar I go to.”

Celestia closed her eyes, her lips trembling. This only made Night Light worry more as he waited with halted breath.

“... Twilight is dying.”

Chapter 2

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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:

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

how I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

when the nothing shines upon,

then you show your little light,

twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,

thanks you for your tiny spark,

he could not see which way to go,

if you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,

and often through my curtains peep,

for you never shut your eye,

'till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,

lights the traveller in the dark.

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

how I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

How I wonder what you are.”

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.”

Chapter 3

View Online

Night of Redemption

By Rated Ponystar

Edited by Elric of Melnipony and TimeLord_Whooves and ugugg93

With permission from Mayhem Darkshadow

***

The single sentence silenced everypony in the room. Night Light was fairly certain that nopony was even breathing. Then at long last, Night Light let out a sigh of relief as his tears silently fell from his eyes. He could save Twilight. He could save his baby girl. No more pain. No more being on the edge of death. She would live and be happy again.

Realization then hit him like a blow to the head about what this meant. If his heart was compatible with Twilight then that meant his life was all but forfeit. Most ponies would be scared of being told they had to sacrifice their life, but how many of those ponies were fathers? How many of them had been waiting everyday, praying every hour, for a chance to fix all the wrongs they had committed. A chance to finally do something right once again.

A chance at redemption.

Looking up, he saw the shocked faces of those that had been cursing at him only seconds ago and were ready to toss his sorry flank into a cell. If he had the strength, Night Light would have chuckled at the sudden turnaround. He watched as his former wife, jaw open and wide eyed, slowly turned from Princess Celestia to himself. In those eyes, he saw hope slowly rising, past the sorrow and despair that had to have been there for who knows how long. He could only imagine what Velvet had been going through all this time. If his feelings earlier were of any indication, then Velvet’s were just as bad, if not worse. This was the life she had brought into the world from her own womb. To see it slowly die, unable to have the power to save it, there was only one sense of feeling a mother could have. And now? Here was the pony who had wounded her and her family, torn them up because of his mistakes, who forced her to split and divorced from him with but merely an ounce of hesitation, and who was the only one that could end that suffering she had been forced to go through day in and day out.

The others were of similar expressions., but the one that caught his attention the most was his son. Shining Armor just sat there, still as a statue, completely zoned out as his entire world had just been rocked over. It had to have been pretty world-shattering to find that the one pony you once called Dad, the one who you swore was dead to you and wanted nothing more to do with, was now the one pony you had to rely on. Night Light knew his son had always held a grudge to ponies—it was a bad trait he always had. If you hurt somepony close to him, in his mind, you were an enemy for life. He was like that with the bullies Twilight had to deal with growing up or the changelings that had invaded on his wedding day. Even after it had been revealed only a single hive had been responsible, his son didn’t trust any of the shapeshifters, innocent or not.

That’s why Night Light knew, out of all the ponies he hurt, his son hated him the most. He was the one who Shining Armor had looked up to growing up. He could still remember Shining’s toast to him at the wedding reception, saying that everything he was, he owed it to his father. And then his own father had betrayed him by hurting his little sister, shattering the image he held of him. Night Light knew he had every right to be hated by his son. He could still feel the blows of his son’s hooves as he wondered what was going through Shining’s head. He set his entire life to hate me. And now? I’’m the one thing that can save his sister.

Finally, Luna broke the silence by asking, “Sister, are you... are you speaking the truth?”

Celestia nodded her head. “We confirmed it. Night Light’s heart has the right conditions that none of us have. If he gives up his heart, it will save Twilight.”

Night Light could feel every single one of their eyes on him. Each was looking at him with mixed emotions, but each commonly held desperation and worry. And he knew why.

They’re afraid I’ll say no. They’re afraid that I’ll just do it to get back at them.... do they really have so little faith in me? Even knowing how much they despised him, it still hurt to know how low he was in their eyes. It doesn’t matter what they think. Twilight is all that matters.

“This... this has to be a joke,” muttered Shining Armor, biting his lip. “You mean to tell me that... that guy is the only one who can save Twilight?”

Celestia grimly nodded. "Indeed."

"And we're just going to accept that!?"

Again, Celestia nodded. "Indeed."

“After everything he’s done?!”

“Dear, does it matter? This is something we’ve all be waiting for, a chance to save Twilight,” urged Cadence, trying to sooth her shaking husband.

“But why him?!” shouted Shining as he glared at Night Light. “Why is it have to always be you?! She’s always talking about you! Always mentioning you! Always begging us to forgive you! Why can’t she just stop talking about you?! Why out of all the ponies in the world does it have to be you?!”

“Because she still loves him,” whispered Celestia, lowering her head. Everypony looked at her as she raised her eyes to him, and shook her head. “Because she’s the only pony in the world that I know will forgive others so easily and still hold them close to her heart, even if they hurt her. No matter how hard we tried... I tried, we couldn’t stop her from loving him.”

“But he’s... he...” Shining tried to say something, but Cadance held him by the shoulder and shook her head. He frowned before turning away as he muttered to himself.

“Night Light,” stated Celestia, getting his attention. “I know this is not an easy decision to make, considering the consequences. But unless you are willing to—”

“Celestia, cut the horse apples. I’m willing to give my heart to my daughter,” interrupted Night Light.

Again they stared at him in shock, Velvet even gasping. “But... Night Light, don’t you understand what will happen?”

“Yeah. I’ll die. So what?” answered Night Light.

“So what?! How can you be so dismissive of this?! This is your life we’re talking about!”

“No, this is Twilight’s life we’re talking about! Our daughter!” shouted Night Light. “Would any of you hesitate to do the same if you were in my position?!”

Nopony answered.

“I have been given a chance to finally do something right for my daughter, don't’ take this away from me,” muttered Night Light. “I am her father, whether you all acknowledge that anymore or not, it doesn’t change the fact that Twilight needs me, and I will not let her down again.”

“You truly hold no fear of death?” asked Luna, looking no longer at him with anger, but with pity.

Night Light lowered his head in shame before he slowly used his magic to unbutton his jacket and tossing it away. Gasps and cries of horror came from the others as they all looked at the his body. All over his body, from his hooves to right above his heart, and even close to his neck, were lacerations. Scars from knives, razors, broken bottles of glass, and anything else sharp he could find. He looked at his body in shame, knowing the conclusion of what he had done was as clear as the sun in the sky. Five years. Five years of regrets. Five years of just self-inflicted punishment for himself over and over again.

“W-why?” muttered Luna.

“Because I thought, you know, it may be was better this way,” whispered Night Light, closing his eyes. “If I was gone, then you could go ahead and forget about me for real. Just bury me, spit at my grave, and forget I ever existed. Maybe the guilt of knowing what I had done to all the ponies I ever loved in my life would finally fade away and I’d know peace in death.” A tear dripped down his eye. “Only one thing ever kept me from finishing it.”

“Twilight,” muttered Celestia.

Night Light nodded. “I kept thinking... that maybe, just maybe... I would have a chance to redeem myself. A small hope in the world was knowing that my daughter loved me and that I hadn’t lost everything. Her love was all I needed to survive… and now I have that chance to save her. If I have to die to do it, then I’m fine with it.”

A sense of relief waved over Night Light, having said what he wanted to tell somepony for years. Keeping his eyes closed, he continued. “How long until you can prepare the surgery?”

“Now? Don’t you want time to prepare anything before you...”

“The sooner we do this, the sooner we can save Twilight,” muttered Night Light as he turned toward the door and made his way outside. “I’m going to enjoy the fresh air one last time... not gonna need it where I’m going.”

“Do you really wish to die this badly, Night Light?” asked Luna, her eyes slowly misting.

Night Light paused in his step. “No. I want to be a good father.”

With that said, he left.

***

When he walked out the door, he noticed the two guards who were ready to take him away look at him nervously. It didn’t take a genius to guess they overheard everything. All was silent until Night Light couldn’t take the starring anymore and he asked to be alone. They nodded in reply, but not before one of them handed him a carton of cigarettes. Although he had never smoked before, Night Light figured he might as well, seeing as it wasn’t gonna kill him.

No, something else was.

A single knife was gonna carve up his body, take his heart, and put it in his daughter. Funny enough, the thought of it didn’t scare him. He didn’t know why. Maybe it was because he had put the knife to himself so many times, coming close to just giving up, that the fear of death was nothing to him anymore. Maybe he was taking comfort in the fact that he was finally going to get a chance to right all the wrongs he had done.

Or maybe because he was a father and this is what a father does for a child he loves.

“Night Light?”

He closed his eyes, finishing the stick in his mouth before he spat it onto the snow and turned around, looking at the one mare in the world he loved liked no other. He couldn’t remember the last time Twilight Velvet looked at him with worry; for the past five years all he could remember was the bitter hatred and the sorrowful question of why. Why had he done this? Why had he hurt her? Why had he ruined their family?

He gave his reasons, told his fears, and begged for her to forgive him. Then at court, before he left for exile, she uttered that the papers for their divorce would be in his new home when he arrived. Now, here they were, five years later with their daughter dying and him ready to give his life away to prevent that.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” muttered Night Light. “You’ll catch a cold.”

“I wanted to speak to you, before you...” Velvet tried, choking up halfway through.

Night Light chuckled as he finished for her. “Die? I didn’t think you would care, seeing as you hate me.”

“Oh come on!” shouted Velvet, stomping up to his face. “Do you really think I would hate you that much to see you dead! I don’t want to see anypony dead! Not Twilight, not you, not anypony! I just... just...”

Night Light nuzzled her tears that started to come down her cheeks. “Hey, hey. I’m sorry. Please, Velvet. Just... I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry,” she whispered as she slowly raised a hoof and touched his scarred body. She whimpered upon feeling every cut that spoke a thousand words each. “Did you... did you really suffer this much?”

Night Light closed his eyes. “If I told you even half of the horror’s I’ve been though, you wouldn’t sleep for days.” He shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter. I deserved it and it’s all in the past.”

“You did not deserve these!” shouted Velvet, gesturing at the cuts. “Nopony deserves to go through this! How can you say that?!”

“Because what else can I say?! Or do?! What else did I have to go through for what I’ve done, Velvet?! Do you know how many times I wished I could take everything back?! How many times I’ve hated myself?! Cursed myself?! Let myself get trash talked, beaten in some alley, or mistreated because I deep down knew that what I did was the most horrible thing a father could ever do?! None of that mattered because I had to live with the shame that I hurt you and our family! I didn’t even...” Night wiped a tear from his eyes, “... I didn’t even deserve Twilight’s forgiveness. I should have gone to jail and rot, but she... she...”

Suddenly, two warm forearms wrapped around him as he felt the embrace of his ex-wife once more. A feeling he had almost forgotten after five years sleeping alone in an uncomfortable bed. He didn’t hold back. He hugged her as tight as he could and cried. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“I know... I know...” Velvet, whispered, stroking his mane. “I even knew it back then that you were sorry, but I couldn’t help but hate you. I just wanted you away from my baby. I wanted to think that the stallion I fell in love with was still there, but after what those horrible ponies did to her, I lost all hope. I thought you were gone, all I could see was a monster, trying to trick me into thinking that all he wanted was a second chance.”

She slowly looked into his eyes, eyes that still loved her even if they no longer held any for themselves. “I wasted five years trying to forget you, to make Twilight forget she had a father, but she never once stopped trying to get us to forgive you. She said that you were sorry for everything, that you were still good. Never once did she ever stop showing how much she loved you. We fought sometimes, me and Shining against her. Sometimes we didn’t speak to each other for days. I wanted her to forget, so I could forget and the pain could go away.”

A smile slowly grew on her lips as she held and nuzzled him. “But she was right. All along, you did love her. You were sorry. I never would have... that you would do this...”

“I’m her father, Velvet,” Night Light firmly said. “I love her with everything that I am. Her, you, Shining and everyone else I love.”

“I know. I just wished it didn’t take you dying to realize that,” whispered Velvet.

“Velvet, I don’t care if I was gonna die or not, just hearing you say that...” he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Her response was to only close her eyes and cry some more. “That’s enough for me.”

“Is… is there anything I can do for you, Night Light? Anything at all?” begged Velvet. “Do you want me to tell you I forgive you, because I do, I really, really do. To kiss you one more time? To make sure that everypony knows you were a good father in the end?”

Night Light knew only one thing he wanted from the mare who he loved with all his heart. “Hold me one more time, Velvet. Just one more time.”

She slowly nodded and the two embraced. Feeling an old spark that neither had felt for five years. A familiar spark that they once swore to hold for each other on the greatest day of their lives that only was rivaled by the day their children were each born. A spark that had created a loving family that neither would give anything else in the world for.

It was this spark, on this last night together, that they treasured once more.

“Excuse me.”

The two quickly separated and turned around to see a blushing Luna, watching them from the entrance. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. Celestia just wanted me to come and tell you that... the operation can begin whenever you're ready, Night Light.”

He nodded before turning to his ex-wife and stroking her cheek once more. “I love you. Velvet. Always will, even if I’m not your husband anymore.”

Velvet remained silent before turning away and walking into the entrance, ignoring Luna all the while. From his place in the cold he could see more tears streaking down Velvet’s cheeks. He turned to look at Luna, the princess who had stolen his daughter’s heart long ago—something he couldn’t accept back then. If he did, if he had just given them a chance, would all of this pain from both ends never have happened?

Still, if I’m gonna die I might as well make up for everything while I’m at it, Night Light thought as he walked up to the princess of the night, whose eyes never left him. Yet they held none of the anger she once held only moments ago. Just sorrow and pity.

“Luna... before I go, I need to ask: did Twilight ever speak about me?” asked Night Light.

Luna closed her eyes and nodded. “Always, or at least whenever she had a chance to bring you up. At first, I tried to get her to forget about you, told her that she was better off trying just forgetting about you for what you did.” She sighed. “We... had a few rough arguments. It was then I realized that I couldn’t get her to forget, so I just stopped getting involved in the fights. Don’t get me wrong, Night Light, what you did to Twilight, my love, was horrible and I would gladly defend her from you again and again for what you did. I held nothing but utter contempt for you.

“I always had a fear that you would try to do anything to see Twilight again, even hurt her if need be, and that is why I objected to you seeing her again. Cadance and my sister even shared the same feelings, but I think we all realized that we could never have Twilight renounce you like we did. It was Shining and Velvet, however, that tried their hardest to force Twilight to forget about you as her father, but still she refused.”

“I didn’t think I was causing so much trouble, even when I wasn’t there,” muttered Night Light.

“There was one time we had to spend Hearth's Warming Eve alone, just her and me, because Twilight stubbornly refused to celebrate it with any of her family unless you were there with them.”

“I know, she wrote about it to me,” whispered Night Light.

“Yes, I’ve seen her letters,” said Luna, shocking the stallion. She smirked. “You didn’t think that after living with Twilight for so long that I didn’t know what she was doing? I suspected it at first, as did my sister at times, but when I saw her once writing a letter, she looked so happy. I couldn’t take that away from her, despite my feelings. Thus I put my own sister’s worries to rest with a few lies.”

“I... thank you,” replied Night Light, bowing. “If I never had those letters, I would have given up long ago.”

“The reason you are here now, ready to save Twilight at the risk of your own life, proves that we were all wrong. That you are willing to go so far to redeem yourself... it makes me ashamed, because I too have done horrible things, yet I was forgiven as well,” muttered Luna, bowing her head. “I love Twilight, but it shames me because I never had faith in her own instincts about you. I just wish that this wasn’t how it came to be.”

“Luna, don’t blame yourself. you had every right to hate me, all of you did,” chided Night Light, looking at the stars that the princess herself moved for this night. “You were protecting Twilight, and I can’t blame you for that. I would have done the same. I was only trying to protect her, but I went about it the wrong way and ended up hurting everyone. Don’t apologize, but do promise me something.”

“Anything.”

He closed his eyes, feeling the sharp, cold wind against his face. He could already imagine what Twilight’s reaction would be when she learned he was gone and it felt like his heart about to be crush by that sorrow alone. She was going to be devastated beyond belief with his death, maybe even end up breaking her. He hated not keeping his promise to her, but in some ways he was. He was going to be right there inside of her for the rest of her life, making sure she was healthy and strong. Not just because his heart was going inside of her, but because he would watch over her the rest of her life above in the stars.

“Twilight is gonna need her loved ones, more than ever after this. I want you to promise me that you will be there for her when she cries, when she falls, and when she gives up. Find someway to make her smile again, because you are the best thing that has happened to my daughter since I can remember. And,” He raised his head up before giving a soft smile, “I think I know how.”

He took her hoof and held it in his own. Looking at her with the most serious of expressions into her stunned eyes, he said, “Princess Luna, I ask that you marry my daughter.”

“W-what?!” screamed Luna, her eyes shooting open.

Despite the mood around then, Night couldn’t help but to chuckle at her reaction. “Not right after I die of course. There must be time for her to grieve.” The smile on Night Light’s face faded as he continued. “But my daughter loves you and believes you are the one for her. I will not let her suffer in misery, so I beg you, when the time is right, please marry my daughter so she can be happy. All I ask is that you love her everyday of her life.”

A sad smile grew on Luna’s muzzle as she hugged her soon to be late father-in-law. “Yes, I will... I will marry her...”

Night Light smiled, knowing that Twilight would be alright in her hooves. They soon separated, and Night Light sighed before looking at the entrance to his final fate. “I’m ready... let’s do this...”

“Are you sure?” asked Luna, biting her lip.

Night Light paused for a moment before slowly nodding. His final decision made, he walked toward the doors, Luna by his side with tears in her eyes, and made his way back inside.

***

When they entered the building again, all eyes were once again upon Night Light, except for Shining Armor, who was still staring at the ground unable to look at his father. Cadance was there, whispering to him and stroking his shoulder, but he was unresponsive. Celestia trotted forward and lowered her head. No longer was she looking at him as a criminal, but once again as one of her little ponies with great sorrow in her gaze. Even Cadence looked like she was sorry for him, all trace of her hatred now gone.

“Night Light, the doctors are ready. Are you?” Celestia asked softly.

He looked at Luna and Velvet, who each put a hoof over his shoulder for comfort. Strangely, he felt more relaxed and happy than he had in a long time, despite knowing that his life was going to be over soon. It was comforting to know that, at long last, he had earned forgiveness in the eyes of those he once held close in his heart. Now he would find it in himself, giving Twilight a chance to be saved.

“I am.”

Night Light turned to Velvet and kissed her on the cheek. “Take care of our daughter. She’s going to need you after I’m gone.”

“Night Light,” said Velvet, taking his cheeks into her hooves and kissing him gently on the lips. “You are a good father. Never forget that.”

“T-thank you,” whispered Night Light, smiling as a tear slipped down his face.

He then turned to Luna and hugged her. “Her heart is now your’s, Luna. I leave her in your hooves.”

“You will always be inside her, Night Light” said Luna, nuzzling his cheek. “Never forget that a part of you will be there for the rest of her life, guiding her and protecting her.” She kissed him on the forehead. “May you find peace, Night Light. A true father.”

Night Light smiled, before walking to Cadance and Shining Armor, the later once again looking away. He turned to his daughter-in-law and smiled. “You were always like another daughter to me, Cadance. Thank you for everything. I just wish I had a chance to see my grandson.”

Cadance, wiping the tears from her eyes, hugged him and whispered, “I’ll make sure he knows that he had the bravest grandfather I ever knew.”

All that was left was Shining Armor, who looked confused and conflicted. He knew there was only one thing to do for his son, and that was to hug him as tight as he could. He closed his eyes, remembering all the great times they had growing up, father and son. How he taught his Shining how to impress a girl, watching sports together. He even chuckled back then when he snuck his son his old copies of Playcolt. He would never have a chance to feel that same bond they once had, but knowing that he made him such a strong stallion who defended his family from a monster, namly himself, was worth knowing that he raised him right.

Shining Armor stood still, not even breathing as Night Light told him. “I know you hate me, and I deserve it, but remember this: I am proud of everything you have done to protect your sister and mother. You’re the stallion of the family now, and I know you will continue to make me proud, because even if you hate me, I love you son. I always have.”

“Dad...” whispered Shining as he hugged his father, saying the word he swore never to utter again. Night Light could feel the warm tears from his son dampen his coat, but he still held on. Never saying anything else, because there was nothing else to be said. He didn’t know how long he held onto his son or who let go first, but at long last they separated, allowing Night Light to follow Celestia out of the room to his final fate. The sad and torn ponies who had once come to hate him, now mourning for him, were left behind.

Silence reigned between Celestia and Night Light until the former said, “I will make sure your sacrifice is known throughout all of Equestria. I will make sure your good name is restored.”

“Celestia, I don’t care about my good name. I’m not doing this for my good name,” Night Light said with a sigh, “I’m doing this for Twilight.”

“I know, I know.” Celestia then stopped and her horn glowed. Paper and quill appeared as she handed them to Night Light. “Is there anything you want to write? A last will or letter?”

Night Light took both objects in his magic and thought long and hard about what he wanted to write. His final words. The last deed he would do before he was gone. He knew that Twilight needed to hear this. She of all ponies needed to know why he was doing this. He only prayed that she would forgive him for this.

Celestia patiently waited for him to finish writing until he rolled it up and gave it to her. “Give this to Twilight when she wakes up.”

“I will,” promised Celestia as the two of them continued until they stopped at a door with the word ‘Surgery’ underneath.

Night Light felt his knees shivering. This was it. He wasn’t even on the table and already he could see his life flashing before his eyes. His colthood, his time at school, meeting Velvet, their marriage, the birth of his children, raising them, loving them and caring for them. He could remember meeting Cadence, his daughter being accepted as Celestia’s student, his son’s graduation from military school, his rise to captain, Twilight hailed as a hero, Velvet kissing him on their anniversary while and saying they were the proudest parents in their lives, seeing his son become a married man with everypony in his family and friends happy and full of life.

And finally, seeing his little Twilight, in her hospital room, sleeping without a care of the world. Just like when she was a foal.

I’ve lived a good life, even with all my regrets, thought Night Light as he took a deep breath and looked at Celestia with a calm smile.

“I’m ready.”

***

Twilight could feel her consciousness returning. For some reason, she felt like she had been asleep longer than usual. She tried to remember last night as a moan escaped her lips, suddenly she felt a small smile return to her lips. Her Daddy had come to see her. After five long years she had finally seen her father again and she prayed it wasn’t for the last time. She knew she didn’t have long left, and she wanted to make the days she had remaining as wonderful as possible before it was over.

“Everypony! She’s waking up!” shouted a voice that Twilight quickly recognized as her lover, Luna. A tear dripped down Twilight’s eye. She was proud of Luna for being so strong in all this, but she knew that, deep down, the love of her life would be devastated watching her fade away. If there was any regret she had, it was leaving Luna to live the rest of her near immortal life without her, left to linger in so much pain and sorrow. She only prayed that she would find somepony else to love in the future, one that loved her just as much as Twilight did.

Opening her eyes, Twilight was greeted with the joyful and teary-eyed expressions of her family, minus her dad, and the princesses who were looking at her with such warmth and love that she hadn’t seen from them for quite a while. Another thing she noticed was that she seemed to be in less... pain. Like during her early days back in the hospital when her condition was starting. She hadn’t felt so good in months. Must be a sign things are gonna be good today.

As soon as she raised herself, everypony gently hugged her and started speaking at once that it made it hard to comprehend anything. “Quiet! Enough! I can’t understand you all.”

Luna was the one who stepped forward and proclaimed. “Twilight... we found it. We found a heart... and... it worked!.”

Twilight’s eyes widened in shock, her hoof slowly heading towards her chest where she could feel the both a patch of bare skin that had been shaved and stitches, clear evidence of a surgery. “This... this is real... you found a donor? A real heart for me?!”

“Yes, Twily,” whispered Shining Armor, wiping tears away from his eyes without a care of who saw them. “The surgery was days ago. You’re... you’re going to live!”

Live.

She was going to live.

She was going to live!

She had given up all hope, readied herself for death, but she was going to live!

Tears of joy cascaded down Twilight’s cheeks as she looked at her family, who were all beaming, Celestia was crying, and Luna was already nuzzling her neck. Twilight looked into those beautiful eyes that shined like the stars she controlled and kissed her with Luna returning the favor. Their kiss was already bringing new life to Twilight as she felt herself melt under the lips of the night princess.

Ending the kiss, Twilight looked around with a smile on her face. “I can’t believe this! I can’t wait to tell Spike and the girls! And daddy! I need to tell daddy!”

All of a sudden the atmosphere in the room turned from joy to despair as everypony lowered their heads and grew quiet at the mentioning of her Night Light. Instantly, Twilight knew something was wrong—horrifically wrong—as she felt her spine shiver. They were sad about her dad, her mom and brother even breaking into tears suddenly. Not once had any of them in the five years she had begged and pleaded, cried or show any emotion for her father other than disgust. Now, they were torn apart in a split second. Celestia looked away from her, her face showing nothing but shame in herself. Shining was actually crying the hardest, looking ready to fall apart if not for Cadence here to hug him. Her mother, was holding her hoof and looking at her with big, teary eyes while Luna lowered her head.

“Twilight, your father...” whispered Luna, but couldn’t find the strength to continue.

“What happened... where is my daddy? He promised he would be here to see me.” whispered Twilight. She got no answer which only fueled her worries. “Tell me!”

“Twilight... dad... he..” muttered Shining Armor, but this only made Twilight’s worries increase.

“You... you called him... dad...” whispered Twilight, slowly moving back from her brother who reached out to hug her, but she declined. “You haven’t called him that in five years. Why now?! Where is my dad?! Answer me!”

“Twilight,” Celestia said, taking a deep breath. “Your father... did the one thing none of us could do.”

It took only a second for Twilight to realize what she meant and quickly felt the scar on her chest. “No... no.. NOOOOOOO!”

“Twilight!” shouted Luna who tried to grab her but Twilight’s magic sprang up, blasting beams of light everywhere as she continued to scream.

“No! Not like this! Give me back my daddy!” Twilight shouted in the Royal Canterlot Voice. Her family and Luna soon held her down, hugging her and begging her to calm down. “He’s not dead! He can’t be dead! I want to see him! I want to see him!”

She screamed, she cried, and they cried with her. After fifteen long minutes, fatigue and pain finally set in and she stopped, flopping into her lover's arms and resting in her chest as her family held their silence. In mourning of the stallion who proved to be the better pony in the very end. The one they were all grateful for, but crying for as well.

Twilight, held by Luna, continued to sob openly as she whispered to herself over and over.

“Daddy...don’t leave me... please don’t leave me, Daddy...”

Chapter 4

View Online

Night of Redemption

By Rated Ponystar

Edited by Elric of Melnipony and TimeLord_Whooves and ugugg93

With permission from Mayhem Darkshadow

***

Nightshade had been nervous about going into a graveyard ever since Uncle Spike told him about zombie ponies last Nightmare Night, which earned Uncle Spike a few scoldings from Aunt Rarity and both his mommies. Still, the young alicorn colt wasn’t going to miss a chance to finally see his grandpa, especially with how much Grandma Velvet, Uncle Shining, and both his mommies talked about him. Mommy Luna always said that Grandpa Night Light was watching above in the stars after he died, and so Nightshade sometimes talked to him at his bedside, hoping that he would listen.

He had never visited where his grandpa was laid to rest all those years ago and had been hoping to see him one day. Now he was finally going to meet the stallion who he was named in honor of for the first time. Or at least his grave.

“We’re almost there, sweetie,” his mommy, Princess Twilight, said as she guided him through the fields of the dead. It made him feel a bit uneasy, knowing that underneath him were corpses and bones, but his mommy reassured him they wouldn't go into the the tomb itself.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a bright silver tomb. The crests of the Royal Sisters and Crystal Empire were decorated on top, showing that the pony who rested in this tomb was once a member of the royal family. On the door that sealed the tomb, Nightshade saw what he assumed was his grandpa’s cutie mark on it, along with a dozen other stars on the side. Flowers from old friends and family were lying next to the entrance as Nightshade walked over and read the words on it:

Here lies Night Light

Born 974 C.R - Died 8 S.R

A true father who redeemed himself

in the eyes of his family and friends.

A stallion whose heart still lives in us all.

May he watch over his family in the stars above.

“This is where he is, huh?” asked Nightshade, looking at his mother. She had a sorrowful look in her eyes despite the small smile she gave him.

“Yes... this is where your grandfather sleeps,.” whispered Twilight as she walked over to the tomb and gently laid her hoof on the entrance. She closed her eyes and began to whisper something that Nightshade couldn’t hear. She then turned to him and asked, “Do you want to say something to Grandpa Night Light?”

“Um, what do I say?” asked Nightshade, rubbing his forelegs together.

“Anything you want, sweetie.”

Nightshade nodded and walked over to the tomb, gently touching it and closed his eyes in prayer. However, he noticed a word on the tomb that he turned around and asked his mother, “What does ‘redeemed’ mean, Mommy?”

Twilight frowned a bit but soon sighed and lowered her neck to nuzzle her son. “It means to be forgiven. Daddy... your grandfather, did something very bad. Something that hurt me and the rest of the family.”

“Was he sorry?” asked Nightshade.

“Oh, he was very sorry,” nodded Twilight, who looked back at the writing on the tomb and sighed. “But not everypony believed him, and he was very hurt. So he went away, regretting what he did until he... he came back and did something that made everypony love him again.”

“Mommy Luna says he saved your life,” mentioned Nightshade as he saw tears stream down his mother’s face.

“Yes, he did... he saved me by giving me his heart... his heart which held so much love... and because of that love I got to live... marry Mommy Luna... and have you,” whispered Twilight as she embraced her son in a warm and strong hug. She pressed her son’s ears against her chest. “Can you hear that? That is your grandfather, beating inside me. Each beat I can hear him say the words, ‘I love you’ to me. And now he says the same to you, my son.”

Nightshade closed his eyes, hearing the heart that beated inside. He soon yawned and looked at his mother with a smile. “I hope to be as brave as Grandpa Night Light was, Mommy Twilight.”

Twilight nuzzled her son and whispered, “I know you will be. Now head back to the carriage. I’ll join you soon.”

Twilight watched as her son nodded and began to trot away from the tomb until she was sure he was far enough. Nopony knew she did this, but she had done it every year and she was going to do so now. With a small use of magic, Twilight slowly forced the tomb of her father to open, allowing her access inside.

Inside it was warm with torches that provided an endless flame that would keep it as such for eternity. Small statues of angels were on the walls, lifting their hooves to the heavens as to help guide the soul that had been inside. And there, on the altar, was her father’s coffin. In traditional unicorn style, his dressed up body had been preserved in a magically sealed glass-top coffin. Inside she could see him, looking more relaxed than she had ever seen him in her life. His gentle smile and closed eyes made it look like he was only sleeping on the bed of flowers that hadn’t aged a bit.

“Hello Daddy,” said Twilight as she let a few tears fall from her eyes. She never got over how peaceful he looked, laying there with his hooves folded against his chest. “I’m sorry it’s been so long… I still miss you and...” She rubbed her eyes and placed a hoof on the glass covering. “I just wish... I just wish you were here...”

Slowly, she levitated the letter, the last letter of her father, out of her dress and read it just like she did every year:

My beloved Twilight,
If you are reading this, then I am long gone. No doubt you are torn knowing that just a few moments ago, you saw me for the first time in five years. Seeing you, even in that accursed sick state, was worth all the suffering I’ve had to go though since the day I was exiled. I know you are hurt, angry, and you want to hate me or mother or brother or even yourself. Do not blame them, do not blame yourself. I choose to do this out of my own free will because I love you.
One day, you will become a parent and you will know how I feel right now. All the love I have ever had for you in all the years I have raised you all amounted to this one moment. This moment where I earn my forgiveness for hurting you all those years ago. This one moment to save your life, like any real parent would do for their child. This one moment to be a father once more.
Even though I am going to die, this was the best day I’ve had in a long time. I got to see you and our family once more. They forgive me, Twilight. Even Shining has. I can die with no regrets knowing that you will be safe, alive, and loved by those who surround you, especially Luna. Luna will love and protect you, Twilight, in my place as she has earned it. I only wish that I wasn’t stupid back then to see how amazing she was for you.
I do not know what awaits me on the other side, but know that a part of me will always be with you. I will be there, beating, keeping you alive and well. I will be by your side through the remaining years of your life, both good and bad. I will look down upon you from the stars we use to watch together when you were a little filly. Whenever you look up, I will be looking down and shining in the night sky.
All I ask, Twilight, is that you live a full and happy life. Marry Luna, have children, and go on amazing adventures. I will be there right by you forever. And when we can meet again in the world beyond this mortal plane, I will want to hear it all from your mouth as we spend Eternity together with all of our other loved ones.
Remember, Twilight, I love you. Nothing will ever change that fact. I do this because I love you. Always remember that. I love you. I love you. I love you, my little star.
-Your father,
Night Light

Twilight wiped a tear from her eye as she looked down upon the peaceful face of the stallion who loved her like no other father could. “I love you too, Daddy.”

She kissed his glass covering and as she put away the treasured letter, she pulled something out of her dress. She closed her eyes and lit up her horn, transporting it from outside the casket to the inside, where it lay between his hooves.

Twilight slowly left the tomb, leaving it and the sleeper alone once again. Now with a new decoration added.

In between the folded hooves of the deceased Night Light, lay a picture of his family.

All of them full of happiness.