> The Midnight is Here > by Midnight Glimmer 1213 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 1: The Beginning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Bye, Mom!" Twilight Sparkle called out as she headed out the door. Twilight Velvet (a.k.a. Velvet) smiled. Her 6 year old filly was always in a rush to get out the door. She to go with her daughter to school, but Velvet had to stay and watch the new foal. It was a girl, and, of course, a unicorn like the rest of the family. She looked more like Twilight Sparkle than anyone else in the family, so she decided to give a corresponding name. Twilight... A time right around Dusk... No, not girly enough... It starts and ends the night... Right before Dawn! No, not that. Way too common... Aha! She is a slightly darker purple... Yes, I think I'll do Midnight. Now. Sparkle, Sparkle... Sparkle... Glitter? No. Shimmer? NO. NO no no no. Too much like that student Celestia told me she once taught... So... Glimmer? No. Maybe--WAIT. Yes, Glimmer. Midnight Glimmer. Perfect. *** > School with a Princess > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midnight loved school. That is, this school. She had applied when she was three, and two years later, she was ahead of even Twilight. Yes, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns was the place to be. And now she had memorized almost every spell they taught. Celestia was now giving her personal lessons. *** "Now, lift it up... higher... slowly, now... STEADY...careful, careful..." Celestia, after teaching Midnight every other spell she knew, had finally agreed to teach the latter how to raise the sun, moon, and move the stars. "Like... this?" Midnight asked, raising the sun almost perfectly once it was in the sky where she could see it. She hadn't done too well with it beneath the horizon, but seeing the sun made it easier. Celestia stared open mouthed. "Y-yes, actually."She was completely struck with shock and surprise. "What is it? What's wrong?" "N-nothing. It's just... have you ever done this before?" After receiving a shake of the head from Midnight, she continued. "B-but then- Then how- You shouldn't-" "Tia, I mean Princess Celestia, it was actually easy." She hesitated, then added, " Can I call you Tia? I mean, I'm only wondering." *** > 6 years later > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midnight looked out at the sky. "Tonight's the night," she whispered out into the night air. She looked down from the cloud she had teleported onto. Of course, she had to use the cloudwalking spell, but that didn't matter. Her cloud was the only one in the sky, so she had made sure it was a purplish-blue color, but ponies could still see it. So she quickly ducked above the cloud before Twilight could see her. "It's time. For they said, 'On the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars shall aid in her escape.' Guess what? The stars are now doing their job." And with that, Midnight's horn lit up. " I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old mare's tale..." Twilight said worriedly, watching four stars touch the moon and the picture of a unicorn head disappear. "I'm sorry, Twilight," Midnight whispered. "But Luna must come back. We cannot wait any longer. You must use the elements to free her from the nightmare. We cannot wait any longer." "What did you do with our Princess?!" Rainbow's voice came out firmly from where the new group which would later be called the Mane 6, AJ trying to hold her back. Nightmare Moon answered back, a little annoyed that those ponies preferred her sister to her. "Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?" "Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty!" Some ponies turned to look at Pinkie as she spoke, clearly out of hand, (hoof?) and she quickly was cut off. Nightmare Moon spoke again. "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?" Twilight spoke up, now."I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!" She tried to hide the fear she had, which she was successful with at first. "Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here." Nightmare moon spoke with pride. "You're here to... to... " Twilight Knew why, but she couldn't hide her fear any longer. "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!" > Lunar Lessons > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midnight looked up at Luna. "So, what do you want to teach me tonight?" Luna stared at Midnight, who had just successfully recited the basic constellations and major stars. But... their first lesson was just yesterday! "Well, I couldst teach thou how thou couldst make the moon riseth, but that would have to be postponed until tomorrow's night." Luna suggested, but disappointed that it would have to wait. "Besides, I'm pretty sure it's not to different from raising the sun." This made Luna stare in shock. "I have a way of doing that, don't I?" Midnight said, remembering that exact look from Celestia. "Y-yes," Luna managed. "Thou dost." Suddenly Midnight thought of something. "Hey, how about I give you lessons on modern Equestria in exchange for lessons on the night? Yes! We start tomorrow!" Luna only had time to blink as Midnight teleported away to get ready. *** "Ready?" Luna asked eagerly. She wanted Midnight to learn everything. Actually, she just wanted to teach everything. But still... "Luna, I haven't taught you my stuff, yet!" The smile dropped off of Luna's face. The more she thought about it, the more boring lessons about modern Equestria sounded. She didn't know why she agreed in the first place. Then again, she hadn't. "So, first off, we don't use the traditional Royal Canterlot Voice. It's... gonna take a while to get used to that. And we say 'you', not 'thou'. 'Can', not 'canst'. 'Will', not 'wilst'. 'Do', not 'dost'. Lots of things like that. *** > Crusading with Midnight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tree sap. It has to be tree sap. How many times has our crusading ended with tree sap?!?" Scootaloo was angry at the sticky, annoying tree sap; though the other Crusaders didn't know why. It was more than a few seconds before Sweetie Belle, the unicorn of the group, spoke up. "This is only the second time it ended in tree sap, Scootaloo." Again, the silence. The setting sun indicated that they should be heading home; already it was causing the sky to look red-orange. But the fillies just stood there, and a tiny snore could be heard from Scootaloo. "Um... Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle tapped her orange pegasus friend, jolting her awake. "Huh? IWASN'TASLEEP! IWASN'TASLEEP! IWAS- oh. Sorry." Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom, who had almost fallen asleep herself, and was glaring at her because of being too loud. "Ah'm gonna go and get this tree sap off me, now." Apple Bloom started walking away, the other two following. "Yeah, probably a good idea." Scootaloo agreed. "Why didn't we head back sooner?" Sweetie Belle asked, meaning she also agreed. They had only gone a few inches before they heard a voice behind them. "Why go all the way back when you can get cleaned up now?" Midnight questioned, standing in the place the Crusaders had just been. As they turned around, they saw the 11-year-old unicorn with her horn lit. Instantly, the tree sap was gone. Midnight spoke again. "Well, your probably wondering how I got here. Actually, I've been over in those bushes. But I didn't want to make noise coming out, so I just used something I call 'invisible teleportation'. It's the same as teleportation, only without the bright flash. Anyway, as to why I'm here, I was wondering if I could join your group, Cutie Mark Crusaders." It was then they noticed that she was a blank flank, too. "Uh... sure?" Sweetie Belle said, although it was more like a question. "Great! See ya tomorrow!" Midnight said right before she teleported away. *** "So, who's ready for some crusading?" Midnight asked enthusiastically. All three of the original crusaders were. Midnight picked up a scroll and a quill in her magic, ready for the lit of ideas about to come. 1. Cooking 2. Volleyball 3. Swimming 4. Doing Homework 5. Stargazing 6. Eating Cupcakes 7. Animal Caretakers 8. Gardening The Crusaders read over the list. "Are you sure cookin's a good idea?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle. Midnight added, "She's right, I mean, you burnt soup." > Luna Forever > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "That was probably the best crusading trip ever!" Sweetie Belle shouted excitedly. "And I think we have a new crusader to join us! You come up with some good ideas, Midnight!" Midnight Glimmer knew her ideas were better, and safer, than the Crusaders. But she wouldn't rub it in. Her second day with them had been better than the first. Maybe because they weren't always falling asleep. But she had a pretty good idea of what their cutie marks would be. "How about tomorrow we try painting, singing, scooting on scooters, doing cool tricks, things like that?" The response was not what she was expecting. "Yeah, I don't think so..." "Maybe not..." We should do somethin' other than that..." Midnight shrugged. "If you say so. Now, we should all go home now. The sun is setting. And I have someone I need to meet." "Wow..." Midnight was watching a mini meteor shower with Luna. Though it wasn't as great as the big one Twilight and her friends saw, she was still awestruck. "Could you teach me?" Luna smiled. "Must thou lean everything? Thou knowest-" "Luna!" Midnight interrupted. "I mean, Do you need to know everything? You already know most of what I know." Luna quickly tried to correct her speech. "Well, if I am going to rule the night by your side one day, I kinda need to lknow everything about it." " 'Rule by my side'? Who said anything about you ruling by my side?" Luna was stunned. How could Midnight be thinking such things? "I'm just kidding! But seriously, could you please teach me?" Midnight was very good at puppy-dog eyes. "Fine." "Good morning, class!" Ms. Cheerilee started the school day. "Good morning, Ms. Cheerilee!" Not very many of the students said it. Actually, it was the crusaders and Diamond Tiara who said it. All the others were to bored and wanted spring break to last the rest of the year. It was hard to start again the Monday after spring break. "Today I want you to choose somepony in your life who is very special to you. I want you to write a report about what they mean to you, and why. The reports will be due Wednesday." Midnights ears perked up. She knew exactly who she was doing- Luna.