The Queen's most faithful student and his new friends embark on a quest to save the Princess of the Night.
To prepare for the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration, Queen Celestia sends her most faithful student and his number one assistant to Ponyville. There he finds that he wasn’t the only human reborn in Equestria.
Using her own dream magic against her, the eldest defeated her younger sister and banished her nightmares to the Moon, sending the youngest into a thousand-year sleep.
— Excerpt from "The Legend of the Two Sisters"
A golden chariot flew across the countryside, pulled by armored pegasi of the Royal Guard. Inside sat two creatures: a purple baby dragon with green, spiny plates running from head to tail; and an unenthused, blue unicorn. This young stallion had a purple mane with golden tips that almost hid his eyes, and he bore a cutie mark depicting a shooting star on a lunar backdrop.
Unrolling a scroll, Spike the dragon cleared his throat. “My dear Midnight, there is more to a young pony’s life than studying. So I’m sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location, Ponyville. And I have an even more essential task for you to complete — make some friends!”
Midnight Errant sighed. “If only it were that easy…”
“Look on the bright side, big bro! The Queen arranged for you to stay in Auntie’s library. Doesn’t that make you happy?”
Midnight sat up straight. “Yes. Yes, it does. You know why? Because once I finish checking on the preparations, I can get to the library to prepare for our journey to the ancient castle.”
“Then… when will you make friends like the Queen said?”
“She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I’ll do my royal duty, but the fate of the princess does not rest on me making friends.”
Spike frowned. “It’s not like she’s in danger.”
“Well, no, but I always wanted to say that.”
The chariot touched down on a street surrounded by wood-framed cottages with thatched roofs. The few ponies walking by watched as Spike and Midnight climbed out.
“Thank you, guards,” the Queen’s protégé said.
Smiling, the royal guardsponies huffed in response.
“Hey!” Spike said. “Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about.”
A pink earth pony walked by. The mare had a pink, poofy mane, and a trio of balloons for a cutie mark. She stopped then stared at stallion, eyes wide.
Spike nudged him. “Come on, Midnight, just try.”
He turned to the pink pony. “Uh… hello?”
She gasped and dashed away, nearly blowing Midnight’s mane off.
Rolling his eyes, Midnight walked away. “Well, that was interesting, all right.”
Sighing, Spike followed behind.
Walking to the edge of town, Spike and Midnight Errant reached an open gate leading into an enormous apple farm. It comprised of a large barn surrounded by a farm house and a forest of red apple orchards. Above the gate hung a wooden board with an apple-shaped cutout.
“Summer Sun Celebration Official Overseer’s Checklist,” Spike said, scroll in hand. “Number one: banquet preparations at Sweet Apple Acres.”
Entering the farm, the duo spotted a yellow earth pony with a red, braided mane as she headed toward them. The young mare wore a green neckerchief and had a cutie mark of a heart within an apple on a tricolored shield.
“Hi, there~!” she said.
He smiled. “Good afternoon. My name is Midnight Errant and this is—”
The earth pony grabbed his forehoof and shook it vigorously. “Well, howdy do, Mr. Errant. A pleasure makin’ your acquaintance. I’m Apple Bloom. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure do like makin’ new friends.”
Despite her energy, Midnight kept his balance. But only just. “F-friends? Uh, uh, r-really? I, I—”
Letting go of his hoof, Apple Bloom winked at the stallion. “So, what can I do you for?”
Freed from her enthusiasm, Midnight nearly stumbled before Spike steadied him. Ignoring his little brother’s chuckles, he cleared his throat. “Well, I am here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you’re in charge of the food?”
“We sure as sugar are,” she said. “Would you care to sample some?”
“Well, as long as it doesn’t take too—”
“SOUP’S ON, EVERYPONY!”
A stampede swept Spike and Midnight away. As the dust settled, the boys found themselves sitting at a large table surrounded by eager ponies, the trees decorated with awnings overhead.
Apple Bloom popped up beside the duo. “Now, why don’t I introduce y’all to the Apple family?”
“Uh, thanks,” Midnight said, “but we really need to—”
One after another, the ponies began to deposit food onto the table.
“This here’s Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious,” she continued to list off the names of a dozen other apples and apple-based food items, “Big McIntosh, Applejack, and Clover Quartz.” Said pony was shoved forward from the crowd.
Clover was a gray earth pony with a long, red mane bearing a cutie mark of a crystal shield that was covered in clovers. Mouth hanging open, the young stallion stared between the dragon and the unicorn, back and forth, back and forth. “Uh… Wh…? How are you…? How is…?”
“Okay…” Midnight said. “Well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we’ll be on our way.”
“Aren’t you gonna stay for brunch?” a red stallion named Big McIntosh said.
“Sorry, but we have an awful lot to do.”
“Aw…” the entire Apple family said.
Midnight Errant sighed. “Oh, alright…”
Everypony, and dragon, cheered as the Apple family reunion began again in full swing.
After leaving the farm and walking all the way back, Spike and Midnight Errant arrived at the town square: a large, open area located near the river at the edge of Ponyville. At its center stood a round, tall building with a porch at ground level, a balcony above both it and on the conical roof, and topped by a cupola. Around the square were several colorful tents and a fountain containing a sculpture of a rearing earth pony.
“Food’s all taken care of,” Spike said. “Next is the weather.”
Trailing behind, Midnight groaned. “I ate too much pie…”
Spike looked around. “Hmm… There’s supposed to be a pegasus named Featherdew clearing the clouds.”
Midnight looked up and saw clear skies. “Doing a good job, I’d say.”
“Look out below!” An orange pegasus fell from the sky. She had an unruly, reddish-pink mane and a cutie mark of a lightning bolt within a wing on a tricolored shield. The young mare landed and plowed into Spike, knocking him into a mud puddle.
Midnight Errant ran over. “Spike! Are you alright!?”
Covered in mud, the baby dragon groaned in response.
The pegasus followed behind. “Oops! Sorry! I’m not a very strong flier— Oh, wow! A baby dragon!” She turned around. “Hey! You must be Midnight! Sweetie Belle talks about you all the—”
“Scootaloo!”
The three looked up and spotted a white pegasus with a pink mane flying high up in the sky.
“Stop messing with those ponies and get up here! I’m going to be late!”
“Okay, Featherdew!” Scootaloo said. “Sorry, you two. See you later~!”
Midnight glared at the mare as she flew away. “Well, at least that other pony knows what she’s doing.” He turned back to find his little brother trying to wipe the mud off of his scales. He tried not to laugh. “Here— pft! Let, let me help you…”
With his horn glowing gold, Midnight lifted Spike into the air using a telekinesis spell. Then, with a dollop of water from the river and a huff of green fire from his little brother, the Queen‘s protégé wiped off the mud, washed his scales, and dried the baby dragon’s body — all in a single pass.
The boys jumped as a sudden audience applauded their performance.
Midnight blushed. “Uh… S-sorry, we gotta go!”
Spike took a bow in mid-air before being pulled away.
Stepping inside town hall, Spike and Midnight Errant entered an enormous, circular room that was open all the way up to the roof of the building. The boys watched as a team of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies decorated the area: wiping the tall, grand windows that wrapped around the second floor, placing flags and flowers on the balcony railings on the first floor, and adding ribbons around the stage on the far end of the room.
Spike looked at the checklist. “Next is decorations.”
Midnight ducked down to avoid a pegasus flying overhead. “They’re obviously trying to make up for lost time. They haven’t even hung the banners yet.”
A darkish-gray earth pony with a braided, light-gray and gray mane hurried by. The young mare wore a pair of baby-blue glasses and bore a cutie mark of a silver spoon adorned with a heart.
“Excuse me!” Midnight said.
She glanced at him and kept going, but then she stopped and turned back, staring at the stallion with wide eyes. “You… You, you’re…”
Midnight wore his best smile. Oh, great… “Good afternoon. My name is Midnight Errant, and I’m here to check on the decorations. Are you in charge?”
The young mare blushed. Sweet Celestia, he’s talking to me~! “T-that would be Diamond Tiara. Please, wait here…” She turned and ran away.
Mask falling, Midnight sighed.
“Ah, cheer up, big bro!” Spike said. “It wasn’t that bad this time. At least this pony talked to you.”
She returned, pushing a fellow earth pony forward. This other young mare had a pale-magenta coat with a white and violet mane. She wore a shirt collar secured with a frilly ribbon tie, and she had a tiara for a cutie mark.
“I told you, Silver Spoon, I don’t have time to deal with—” Diamond Tiara spotted the young stallion in front of her. Her eyes widened. “E-excuse us…” She dragged Silver Spoon away. “I thought I told you to get the banners!”
“I, I already sent Sweetie Belle to Carousel Boutique, but she hasn’t come back yet.”
“Well, what’s taking her so long!”
As the two continued to bicker, Midnight began to leave. “We’ll be back.”
Spike tried to follow. “Where are we going? What about the decorations? Midnight, wait for me!”
The boys arrived at Carousel Boutique: an ornately-decorated, two-story building resembling an antique carousel, a painting of a galloping pony hanging above the front door. Inside, they both found themselves in a showroom stocked with mirrors, mannequins, and movable screens. In the center of the room was a small display stage surrounded by tall mirrors with a door to a changing room beside it.
“Hello?” Midnight said.
A voice came from upstairs, “In a minute!”
As the two waited, a slender, white pegasus burst into the boutique. The young mare had a flowing, pink mane and bore a glittering feather for a cutie mark.
“Sorry, Sweetie Belle, I know I’m late, but—!” She noticed Midnight. “Oh, hello. How can I—?” She gasped. “I completely forgot about our meeting! I’m so, so sorry.”
“It’s alright, uh, Featherdew? In fact, Spike and I thought you did a wonderful job. Right, Spike?”
Featherdew gave Spike a glance. “Really? That’s great—!” Her eyes widened.
“Wow,” Spike said, “you’re pretty!”
The pretty pony blushed. “How are you—? Wh—? Wait, did you—? What?”
“Spike!” Midnight said.
“What? She is! It just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
A white unicorn climbed downstairs carrying a few rolled-up banners on her back and floating several more in the air using magic. The young mare had a curly, purple and pink mane and had a cutie mark of musical note inside a star on a tricolored shield. “Alright, how can I help,” she recognized Midnight, “y-you?” Blushing, her magic dispelled, and the floating banners began to fall.
Horn aglow, Midnight Errant caught them all. “Are you alright?”
Sweetie Belle watched as the young stallion came closer. “Y-yes! I’m fine!”
“Do you need any help?”
Featherdew smirked. “Actually—”
Sweetie Belle grabbed all the banners and shoved some of them onto her feathered friend. “N-no, no! T-that’s why she’s here!”
“Are you sure—?”
“No! I mean, yes, thank you!” She cringed. “Sorry! I-it was nice meeting you! Goodbye!” Pushing a snickering Featherdew, Sweetie Belle and her friend left the boutique, leaving two bewildered boys behind.
Crossing a small bridge, Spike and Midnight Errant arrived at a park near the boutique. The park had a water fountain with a statue of a flag-bearing pony, and it had a few benches strewn about.
“We should be about done, right?” Midnight said.
Spike checked the checklist. “Yep! Music — it’s the last one.”
The boys stopped as they heard fanfare being whistled from somewhere up ahead. They both poked their heads through some bushes and spotted a yellow pegasus conducting a choir of birds, the flock singing within the branches of a large tree. The mare had a gentle, pink mane that draped down the side of her face, and she bore a cutie mark consisting of three butterflies.
“Hey!” Spike said. “They’re really good!”
Midnight stared at the mare, his mouth hanging open. Wow, she’ pretty.
“Uh… Midnight?” Spike waved a hand in front of his brother’s face. “Hello?”
Hovering in the air with a flutter of her wings, the pegasus noticed that one of the birds was whistling out of tune. “Oh my. Um, stop, please, everyone. Um…” She flew up to the bad singer. “Excuse me, sir. I mean no offense, but your rhythm is just a teeny tiny bit off.”
Midnight walked out of the bushes and onward toward the pretty pony. “Uh, excuse me?”
“Oh! H-hello.” She landed in front of him. “Can I help you?”
“My name is Midnight Errant. I’m just here to check up on the music, and it sounded beautiful.”
“Oh, um, thank you. My name is Fluttershy. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
The conversation then died and was buried in a watery silence.
“So,” Midnight said, “um, I guess everything’s in order. Keep up the good work.”
Spike stood there as his big brother came back. “Real smooth, Midnight.”
“Oh, shut up.”
Fluttershy gasped. “A baby dragon!” She flew over, nearly knocking Midnight aside. “Oh, I’ve never seen a baby dragon before! He’s so cute.”
Spike sent Midnight a smirk. “Well, well, well!”
Midnight groaned. “Oh no…”
“Oh my,” she said, fluttering in the air, “he talks! I didn’t know dragons could talk. That’s just so incredibly wonderful. I, I just don’t even know what to say!”
Midnight grabbed Spike with his magic and hoisted his little brother onto his back. “Well, in that case, we’d better be going.”
“Oh, wait! Wait!” Exchanging farewells with the birds, Fluttershy hurried after and began to walk alongside the baby dragon. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Spike!”
“Hi, Spike. I’m Fluttershy. Wow, a talking dragon! And what do dragons talk about?”
“Well, what do you want to know?”
“Absolutely everything.”
Midnight rolled his eyes. “Here we go…”
“Well, I started out as a cute little dragon egg…”
As the day came to a close, Spike, Fluttershy, and Midnight Errant arrived at the Golden Oaks Library: a huge, gnarled tree whose trunk and foliage were set with many windows, one of which hung a antique lantern. The library had a sign outside depicting an open book, a lit candle painted on the front door, and it had a balcony on the second floor.
“And that’s the story of my whole entire life,” Spike said. “Well, up until today. Do you want to hear about today?”
Fluttershy moved closer. “Oh, yes, please!”
Entering the pitch black interior of the library, Midnight removed Spike off his back. “I’m going to go eat something. Now, where’s the light?”
The lights came on, revealing a large, circular room whose walls were lined with bookshelves; other volumes were scattered around lofts set into the walls above them. This reading room was filled with pretty streamers, party balloons, and ponies, many of whom began blowing on noisemakers.
“SURPRISE!”
“Oh my stars!” Midnight said, confetti raining down on the group.
“Suuurprise!” a pink earth pony said, her pink, poofy mane bouncing as she hopped her way across the room. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you~! Were you surprised? Were ya, were ya; huh, huh, huh?”
Midnight chuckled. “Very surprised. It looks like you invited the entire town.”
Pinkie Pie giggled. “Well, that’s silly. What kind of welcome party would this be if I hadn’t invited the entire town? I mean, duh! Boooring!
“Y’see, I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were all, ‘Hello,’ and I was all,” she gasped, “remember? Y’see, I never saw you before, and if I never saw you before, that means you’re new ’cause I know every pony, and I mean every pony in Ponyville!
“And if you’re new, it meant you hadn’t met anyone yet; and if you haven’t met anyone yet, you must not have any friends; and if you don’t have any friends, then you must be lonely — and that made me so sad — and I had an idea, and that’s why I went,” she gasped again, “‘I should throw a great big ginormous super-duper spectacular welcome party and invite everyone in Ponyville!’ See? And now you have lots and lots of friends!”
Midnight burst out laughing. “You’re just too much, Pinkie Pie.”
“Hey, big bro,” Spike said. “I know we have to ‘save the princess’ and all, but it has been a really long day. Maybe we could have some fun for a little while?”
With Spike and Pinkie Pie giving him the sad eyes, Midnight sighed. “Well, the Queen did say to make some friends—”
“Alright!” The pair began dragging him off to party.
“But just for a little while! Then, it’s off to the castle!”
As thumping dance music continued to play down below, Midnight Errant ran upstairs to a small apartment on the second floor of the Golden Oaks Library. The apartment was divided in two: a living space on the floor-level with a balcony attached to it, and a bedroom tucked into a loft above.
Searching the living room, Midnight found a chest filled with his belongings and began ransacking its contents.
Wearing a lampshade on his head, Spike entered the room. “Hey, Midnight! Pinkie Pie’s starting ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’! Wanna play?”
“No! Do you know what time it is?!”
“But everypony has to stay up, or they’ll miss the Queen raise the sun. You really should lighten up, Midnight. It’s a party—!” Spike spotted a gray earth pony with a long, red mane as he climbed into the balcony past a glass door. “Uh, Midnight?”
“Not now, Spike. I’m trying to find—” Upon hearing a knocking, Midnight looked up and noticed the young stallion outside. “What the hay!?” He let the earth pony inside. “Clover Quartz? How did you get up here? It’s the second floor!”
Clover stood there, gasping for breath. “I’ve been… tryin’ to… talk to you… about somethin’…”
“What was so important that you had to climb up a tree? What was wrong with the stairs?”
“You’re Her Majesty’s student, right?”
“Yeah?”
“I can’t believe she’s a queen…” Clover pointed at the baby dragon. “A-and you hatched his egg, right?”
“Common knowledge — and?”
“And his name is Spike, right?!”
Midnight leaned back, eyeing him. “What are you getting at?”
“T-then that means that you’re the Twilight!”
“The what?! You’re not making any sense—!”
“It makes perfect sense—!” Clover gasped. “Does that mean that I’m one of the Elements? Holy Mother Mare…”
“Okay, that’s enough…” Midnight started pushing him toward the stairs. “Out you go, you crazy pony.”
“No, wait! You don’t understand—!”
A slender, white pegasus with a flowing, pink mane flew in from downstairs. “Midnight Errant?” Featherdew said. “I would like to speak with you regarding—” She spotted Spike — and her eyes widened. “Sweet sun and seasons, he’s wearing the lampshade… I knew it! It’s happening! It’s happening!”
Clover gasped. “I used to wonder what friendship could be…”
Featherdew looked at him, eyes wide. “Until you all shared it’s magic with me!”
The crazy ponies began to hop around, up and down, here and there. “Friendship is Magic! Friendship is Magic! Friendship is Magic!”
“ENOUGH.”
In a burst of bright light, Featherdew and Clover Quartz were frozen under a stasis spell.
“Now,” Midnight said, “I’m going to let you two go, and one of you is going to explain to me what’s going on. Alright?”
Released from his spell, the two ponies looked at each other.
“Do you think he‘s…?”
“He didn’t react to the song, so…”
“Well?”
“Okay,” Featherdew said, “weird question: were you always a pony, or were you something else before?”
Midnight’s eyes widened. “What did you say—?”
“Does that mean that you used to be monkeys, too?” Spike said.
Clover gasped. “Sweet salt lick! Spike is a—!” He frowned as he tried to find the right word. “Wait, what? Monkeys?”
Rolling his eyes, Midnight turned around and started rummaging through his belongings again. “There’s no word in the Ponish language that means ‘hairless ape’. And no, Spike isn’t the monkey, I am.”
“You a—! Hold on, what are you doin’?”
“Ah-ha!” Midnight grabbed a small, gemstone pendant. “Come on, Spike.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s late, and I want to keep partying.” Spike began heading downstairs. “Besides, you heard what the Queen said, so why don’t you take them with you?”
“Ugh, fine…” Midnight turned to Clover. “Do you have any Guard experience?
He blinked. “Uh, well, I’m actually a part-time deputy here in—”
Midnight tossed the gemstone necklace to Featherdew and went outside. “Wear that and let’s go.”
Putting it on, Featherdew followed after. “What does it—?”
Midnight jumped off the balcony.
“Whoa!” She took to the air to catch him, but watched as the Queen‘s protégé floated down to the ground using a feather-fall spell.
“Uh… Feather?” Clover said, still on the balcony. “Can you get me down? Please?”
“How did you even get up here before me?” Featherdew said, grabbing him. “Did you climb up the tree?”
Midnight watched as the two flew down. “It’s obvious that you both know something that I don’t, but we’ll talk about that on the way over. Now, let get going.”
Featherdew and Clover Quartz followed behind.
“Was Twilight always like this?”
“Well, it’s no wonder she didn’t have any friends.”
By the light of the mare in the moon, Midnight Errant, Featherdew, and Clover Quartz traveled along a dirt road on the outskirts of Ponyville.
“Let me get this straight:” Midnight said, ”we’re inside a cartoon where a group of ponies — using the power of friendship — defeated a ancient, dark alicorn. And they did all this in one day.”
“Hey!” Clover said. “Anythin’ can sound stupid when you say it like that.”
“Yeah!” Featherdew said, hovering overhead. “But still — that’s why we need the Elements of Harmony! How else are we going to stop Nightmare Moon from bringing about eternal night?”
Midnight rolled his eyes. “Princess Luna isn’t possessed by some manner of dark magic. That was just something added later on to make the story more interesting. Besides, that kind of dream magic doesn’t even last a day, much less a millennium.”
“And the Elements of Harmony?”
“As far as I know, they don’t exist.”
“Well,” Clover said, “maybe things are different in this Equestria, but you sure know what’s goin’ on, don’t you Midnight?”
The Queen’s protégé sighed. “Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, a prince, born with a shooting star, shall free the princess of the night from her dreadful slumber.”
Clover frowned. “Bein’ born with a shootin’ star makes sense since you got that cutie mark and all, but are you really a—?”
“I am not a prince, but I am the Queen’s protégé and that’s good enough. Even so, these sort of things aren’t meant to be taken literally. We’re way past the thousandth year of Luna’s slumber, after all.”
The trio reached the edge of the Everfree Forest. Upon entering this vast, dark, and untamed wilderness, the gemstone on Featherdew’s necklace began to glow, as did Midnight‘s horn.
Feather flew closer to the group. “Uh, Midnight? What’s this thing for?”
“It’s an amulet of lucidity. It will allow you to safely travel through dreamscapes in the Everfree Forest.”
Clover laughed. “Are you scared, Featherdew?”
“I’m cautious! There are monsters in here!”
Clover turned to Midnight, eyes wide. “Hey, wait! Why does she get the fancy necklace and not me?”
“Pegasi culture strongly encourages their ponies to take some form of basic training, especially if they’re considering a career in weather control. However, Guard training is much more vigorous. So, since I only have one amulet, I’d rather maintain a lucid dream spell on a guardspony than have to worry about a weatherpony flying around.”
“Is that why your horn’s glowin’?” Clover said. “But how’s that supposed to help?”
“Haven’t you two ever been here before?”
Featherdew shuddered. “Heavens, no! Just look at it — it’s dreadful!”
“It isn’t natural either,” Clover said. “Well, natural for this universe, I guess. Folks just say it doesn’t work the same as other places in Equestria.”
The path stopped at a cliff and then curved down into a deep crevice below.
Midnight nodded. “That makes sense. This place is covered in dream magic. Some of the things here aren’t even real. They‘re just nightmares.”
“Isn’t that bad?” Featherdew said.
“You two are trained ponies under a lucid dream spell. If you come across a nightmare, just give it a good hard buck and it’ll disappear. Just don’t wander off afterwards.”
“What about you?” Clover said.
“I am the Queen’s most faithful student. I’ll be fine.”
The path collapsed, taking the stallions with it. The pegasus dived down and grabbed the earth pony, but could only watch as the unicorn continued his descent.
“Featherdew! Stay with—!” Midnight fell over the edge.
“Hold on! We’re comin’!” Wiggling out of her grasp, Clover dropped down onto even ground. “Go, Feather. I’ll catch up.”
“B-but Midnight said—”
“Now you listen here! I can take care of myself. Just go, and I promise I’ll catch up.”
As Feather flew off, Clover climbed down the cliff, leaping from one protruding ledge to another. Darker and darker it became until finally he reached pitch blackness at the bottom.
“Featherdew! Did you find Midnight?! Hello?! Where’ you ponies at?!”
The shadows crept closer. “This way…” it said.
Clover’s eyes widened. “Who’ that?”
From the darkness came a mighty roar that trembled the earth.
“Run, pony…” the whisper said. “It’s gonna eat you…”
Standing still, Clover shook his head. “Nope! Y’all can go to Tartarus. I ain’t movin’. Besides, Y’all aren’t real. My magic pony friend said so.”
“CLOVER! StayThereDon’tMove!” A light pierced the darkness. The shadows fled as it came closer, revealing Featherdew and her glowing amulet.
Clover exhaled. “Oh, thank the Mare… I thought I was gonna get eaten by a—”
Midnight Errant stood in front of a huge, hissing feline with a pair of membranous wings on its back and a segmented tail, curved over its back and ending with a venomous stinger. Growling, the beast lunged, swiping at the pony’s head. On contact with the unicorn’s shield spell, its paw unraveled, the manticore turning back into smoke and shadow.
Feather and Clover hurried over. “Midnight! Are you alright?!”
He gasped for breath. “Come closer… Huddle up… Hurry, come on…!”
Once close enough, the glow on Midnight’s horn dissipated — and the darkness moved in. Only the light of Feather’s amulet kept the shadows at bay.
She wrapped her wings around the other ponies, squeezing them all together. “What in the name of Celestia is happening?”
Midnight sighed, catching his breath. “Lucidity is an area-of-effect spell. I cast it when we arrived, and I’ve been maintaining it at full power ever since. It’s actually a pretty exhausting piece of magic to multicast with, which is why I had to dispel it after I fought off that manticore. I’ll be fine in a bit, don’t worry.”
Feather‘s eyes narrowed. “Hold on… You were planning on bringing Spike here with you!”
Midnight nodded. “That’s what the amulet was for.”
“He’s just a baby! What is wrong with you!?”
“Uh, Feather?” Clover said. “Y’know Spike can breathe fire, right?”
“And I can use draconic pyrokinesis,” Midnight said. “With him and the amulet on my back, we’re practically untouchable in this place.”
Clover’s ears fell. “Eh, maybe me and Feather here should’ve stayed home. I mean, we’re no bother, are we?”
“Well, I sort of roped you two into this. I knew you were going to ask, and I’m sorry if I was a bit rude, but I didn’t have any time to waste. Either way, I appreciate your help. Even if Spike had wanted to come with me, I would’ve sent him back seeing how late it was.”
Reapplying the lucid dream spell, Midnight drove the shadows away. “Alright, if we come across another nightmare, Featherdew will distract it while Clover focuses on attack. I’ll help out where I can. If I can’t maintain Lucidity, stay close together and buy me some time.”
Continuing down the path, The trio reached a boggy area of the Everfree Forest, the muck sticking to the hooves of the stallions.
Flying overhead, Feather kept a watchful eye on the foreboding forest. “I don’t like this place…”
“Why is that?” Clover said.
“It dreams! What kind of place has dreams?!”
He laughed. “The kind of place that wants to be free, duh! This forest is goin’ places, I tell you what—!”
As Clover’s tail began to twitch, a rancid scent of rotten wood washed over the trio.
“Ugh!” Featherdew said. “What is that?”
Clover gasped. “Timberwolves!”
Midnight’s eyes widened. “Everyone! Run!”
Just as the trio fled, there was a pouncing crash followed by heavy treading that began to chase the ponies. As they all ducked and weaved through bushes and branches, the glow on Featherdew’s pendant and on Midnight’s horn began to fade.
“The necklace! What’s happening!?”
“We’re heading to the end of the dreamscape! Don’t panic!”
Breaking through the forest edge, the trio reached the bank of a raging river.
Clover turned back. “Fly over! I’ll buy y’all some time!”
Before the two took off, Midnight grabbed the amulet from Feather’s neck. “Clover!”
Catching it with his teeth, the guardspony stood his ground as a large pack of growling beasts with glowing green eyes burst out of the forest, their bodies composed of twigs, logs, and leaves.
“Come and get me, you big goons!” Clover began tossing rocks into the air and then bucking each one, the stone missiles smashing some of the wolves to timber.
Above the river, the glow on Midnight’s horn dissipated. “Drop me! I’ll float down!”
Performing a barrel roll, the weatherpony tossed him and then turned back around.
Casting spells, the Queen’s protégé launched Clover into the air before shielding himself from a hard landing.
Featherdew caught a chocking Clover and then flew away from the timberwolves, touching down on the other side of the river.
Coughing, Clover spit out the amulet, the pendant already dark. “Eh… H-here Feather—”
Midnight snatched the filthy thing from his grasp. He then washed off the dirt and the drivel with a dollop of river water before giving it back to Featherdew.
She looked back, the beasts long gone. “Were those things a kind of nightmare, too?”
“No,” Midnight said. “No, they were not.” He turned to the woods on their side of the river. “Come out, you coward! Stop hiding behind your toys and face me!”
Emerging from the trees, a golden-brown deer with a white underbelly gave the unicorn a glare. The young buck wore a collar with a small keg attached to the front, and he wore a wreath of leaves wrapped around his modest antlers.
“Well, well…” Midnight said, going forth. “Prince Bramble, I presume. To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”
“You and yours are not welcome here, Errant! The Hart of the Forest does not—!”
“I highly doubt your father is even aware of this little nighttime excursion. Or do you usually go about assaulting innocent travelers like some common—”
“Innocent?” Bramble huffed. “I am simply defending my homeland from unwanted intruders. You have no right trespassing on—”
“I have every right to travel through Thicket territory,” Midnight said. “Now, since you’re so eager to see us gone, would you kindly escort us to the Castle of the Two Sisters?”
“Why would I?” His eyes narrowed. “And what business do you have at that ancient ruin?”
“Would you prefer that I summon Sir Blackthorn?”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
Featherdew and Clover Quartz stood there, fidgeting as the other two tried staring salt into each other’s eyes.
Bramble turned back. “Fine. But don’t blame me if you can’t keep up.”
After traveling in dead silence for a while; Bramble, Midnight Errant, Featherdew, and Clover Quartz left the forest and spotted the Ancient Castle of the Two Sisters: a crumbling, old ruin beyond a misty abyss.
“There it is! We made it!” Midnight turned around. “Thank you—!”
Bramble had disappeared.
Midnight frowned. “Oh, whatever…”
The trio continued on through some fog.
“How do you know Bramble?” Featherdew said.
“I sometimes have to attend official functions, like diplomatic events and such.”
Clover chuckled. “With the way you two went at it, I’m surprised you didn’t conjure up a dictionary to throw at him.”
Midnight sighed. “Yeah, sorry about that. That tends to happen whenever we meet.”
“What? All that fancy talk?”
“You don’t speak casually to a prince. Although, if he takes offense to my tone of voice, that’s hardly my fault.”
“I’m surprised he even exists,” Featherdew said. “He’s only shown up in the comics, and they aren’t even considered canon to the show.”
“Oh,” Clover said. “I never did get around to readin’ those.”
Midnight sighed. “One of these days, we’re going to have a long talk about what happened in that show. If this is anything like those ‘alternative universe’ stories I’ve read, certain events are going to start repeating themselves, and I don’t want to be taken by—”
Midnight yelped as he fell halfway over the edge of a chasm, his hooves scrabbling at the broken bridge that hung from stone posts.
Featherdew caught him by the tail and dragged him back. “Oh, for heaven’s sake… What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?”
Clover eyed the broad gap. “Now what?”
The weatherpony wiggled her wings. “Um, hello?”
He chuckled. “Oh yeah…”
Featherdew dived down into the foggy void, grabbed the other end of the rope bridge, and pulled it up onto the other side of the chasm where she proceeded to tie it down.
Clover laughed. “Don’t listen to them, Featherdew! You’re not the best flier in all Equestria! It’s all lies, I tell you!”
“Oh, shut up and cross already!”
The trio carried on and reached the front entrance of the ancient castle, its walls ruined by time and magic.
Eyes glowing, Midnight scanned the door. “Stand behind me. I need to break the seal.” Once the two were in position, he fired a beam of golden mana at the front door.
Dark tendrils burst out of the entrance and latched on to a bubble shield around the ponies. While Featherdew’s pendant flickered and died, Midnight’s spell cracked under the pressure.
“Too… much…!” Gritting his teeth, the unicorn blasted the other ponies out of the way.
Those two watched as the shadows smashed through the shield and wrapped around his body. “MIDNIGHT!”
“Stay back! And don’t follow me! I’ll handle this!”
The Queen’s protégé was then dragged inside, the doors closing behind him.
Midnight Errant woke up. He looked around and found himself in an empty space devoid of all light. “Hello? Princess?”
“Oh, you poor little foal…”
A set of torches lit up with pale-blue flames, illuminating an imperial chamber. It was decorated, from the stained-glass windows to the hanging tapestries, in a lunar motif. At the end of the room stood a metal throne with wings on either side.
And there, on that throne, sat a tall, black alicorn donning a silver armor adorned with a single crescent moon, a swirling cloud of deep blue vapor serving as her mane and tail.
Nightmare Moon grinned, her fangs glowing in the moonlight. “Did you really just waltz in here, like some sort of pompous Prince Charming, expecting to see a little damsel in distress? Ha! Pathetic.”
Midnight stood there, looking her over.
The alicorn got up and walked toward him. “Oh? Speechless, are we? Or are you so stricken with terror that I’ve left you mute?”
He shook his head. “This isn’t Nightmare Moon.”
She blinked. “What.”
“I mean it is the popular depiction of the infamous Mare in the Moon, but you and Celestia were the only witnesses to the events leading up to The Eclipse, and she’s not the type of pony who would defame her own sister like that. So, obviously, the depictions are incorrect. And yet, here you are.”
Nightmare Moon stared at the stallion. Then, she laughed. “I commend you, little pony. Out of the many who managed to get here, you are the first who could stand in front of this visage and avoid fleeing for their lives.”
“That’s because I understand the nature of nightmares. I can’t be hurt by something that‘s not real.”
“Perhaps, but I am quite real. And despite your attempts to ignore it, the fear is real as well. Now, let us see how much you can bear…”
As the room dissolved, Nightmare Moon began to grow. Her features melted, turning into a huge, amorphous creature of blue starry smoke in the shape of an alicorn. The lids of its eyes split open, revealing glowing white orbs.
Midnight struggled to stay standing as waves of dread and terror washed over him.
“Leave, pony,” the tantabus said, its voice coming from all sides, “and never come back.”
“Make me.”
Its horrid eyes widened. “What did you say?”
“I said make me. But you can’t, can you? Not without hurting me.”
A cascade of despair crashed into him, knocking him down.
“AND THOU THINK’ST WE WOULDN’T.”
“No,” he said, gritting his teeth. “because you are a very caring pony.”
“THOU PRESUME TO KNOW US? DARE THEE, FOAL?”
Midnight sat up despite the pressure. “I know you used to spend your days playing pranks with Princess Velvet before relations with the reindeer turned cold. I know you tried to save Queen Amoré’s daughter from King Sombra, but she disappeared along with the city. I know you encouraged Celestia to become queen even though she wanted to rule with you together. And I know that dreambinding spells don’t last forever, and that the only thing keeping you here is yourself.”
The dreamscape shuddered and grew still.
“Why are you here, little pony? What gives you the strength to withstand my nightmare?”
Midnight stood up. “I’ve been preparing for this day my whole life.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t stand to see my family in pain — neither you, Celestia, nor my mother.”
“Your mother?” she said. “Who are you?”
“I am Midnight Errant: the faithful student of Queen Celestia and the only son of Princess Mi Amoré Cadenza. Your adoptive nephew. I love you, Luna. Please, come home.”
“Midnight? Midnight!?”
Shaken, Midnight Errant woke up. Blinking, he found himself in a dilapidated throne room, the light of dawn streaming in through a cracked window.
Crawling in from downstairs, Clover Quartz gasped for breath. “Oh, good… You’re okay…” He looked behind them. “Whoa!”
Turning around, the ponies saw two thrones at the end of the room. The one with a lunar motif was empty. The other was not. Here sat a sleeping, grayish-blue alicorn in obsidian regalia. The royal mare had a light azure mane and a cutie mark of a crescent moon on a dark backdrop.
“It’s Woona!” Feather squealed. “She’s so cute~!”
“Wow, Midnight,” Clover said. “When you were grabbed like that, I thought Nightmare Moon had done you in. But I reckon you really are the prince of legend.”
“Indeed he is.”
A ray of dawn’s light blazed into the room and settled onto the floor. With one last flare, it vanished, leaving in its place a tall, white alicorn in golden regalia. The royal mare with a cutie mark of a radiant sun had a mane of many colors that flowed in its own wind.
Clover and Featherdew bowed before her.
Midnight hurried over. “Queen Celestia!”
The two gave each other a hug.
“Midnight Errant, my faithful student.” She smiled. “I knew you could do it.”
“What? But you told me that—” His eyes widened. “Ah! You tricked me! Because of you, I had to make friends and go on a daring adventure! How dare you! You and your clever wordplay~!”
Celestia chuckled. “I saw the signs of Luna’s return, and I knew you had enough love in your heart to bring her back. But, I also saw an opportunity to bring true friendship into your life. Now if only another will as well…” She looked away. “Princess Luna.”
The Princess of the Night awoke with a gasp. Sitting up, Luna watched as the Queen of the Sun walked toward her.
“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?”
“It’s happening…”
Midnight sealed his friend’s mouth shut.
Bursting to tears, Luna ran up and embraced Celestia. “I’m so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister…”
Tearing up, Celestia almost laughed as she nuzzled her little sister. “I’ve missed you too…”
At sound of sobbing, everyone turned to the only earth pony in the room.
“S-sorry!” Clover said, sniffling. “It’s just that… You two are together again after bein’ apart for so long and, and…”
Midnight conjured up a small kerchief out of mana and proceeded to wipe the snot off his friend’s nose.
“Uh, Your Majesty?” Featherdew said. “What about the sunrise?”
Wiping tears away, Celestia looked at her sister. “Shall we?”
Luna nodded, smiling.
“Alright, everypony. Gather around…”
Inside Ponyville’s fully decorated town hall, Pinkie Pie and all the other ponies waited in hushed anticipation for their queen to arrive. Spike, however, waited for someone else.
Pinkie turned to her mopey passenger. “Isn’t this exciting? Are you excited? ’Cause I’m excited; I’ve never been so excited—! Well, except for the time that I saw you and your brother walking into town and I went—” she gasped, “but I mean, really, what can top that?”
Spike grumbled. “Watching the sunrise with my brother, for one…”
After a short fanfare performed by Fluttershy and the birds, a spotlight shined on Diamond Tiara as she stepped onstage, her mane tied to a bun.
“Fillies and gentlecolts!” she said. “As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”
Everyone, except Spike, cheered.
“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!”
The little dragon looked up and spotted a shooting star as it crossed over the moon. Eyes widening, he watched as the mare in the moon disappeared.
“And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land. The very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria… Princess Celestia!”
The spotlight ascended to a grand balcony atop the stage. After much fanfare, its curtains parted.
No one was there.
A sense of unease seized the ponies as the confused murmurs of the crowd rose in volume.
Spike jumped off Pinkie Pie’s back. “It’s happening…” He laughed. “It’s really happening!”
“Remain calm, everypony,” the mayor said. “There must be a reasonable explanation.”
Pinkie began jumping in place. “Ooh, ooh! I love guessing games! Is she hiding?”
Sweetie Belle appeared in the balcony. “She’s gone!”
All of the ponies gasped.
“Ooh,” Pinkie said, “she’s good.”
“Wait!” Sweetie Belle grabbed a piece of paper off the floor. “I think I found a letter!”
“Well?!” Diamond Tiara said. “Don’t just stand there! What does it say?”
Sweetie Belle read the letter aloud:
My dear ponies,
I’m off to pick up my sister who has just woken up from a thousand year sleep.
Be back in a jiffy.
— Queen Celestia
With this latest development, the ponies spoke among themselves:
“Her sister?”
“I didn’t even know the Queen had a sister.”
Spike flailed his arms around, drawing the crowd’s attention. “It’s Princess Luna! She’s back!” He pointed at the sky. “See?”
The ponies gasped as they beheld an unblemished moon.
“The Mare in the Moon! It’s gone!”
“So the legend was true…”
“I thought that was just an old ponies’ tale.”
“Hold on,” Diamond Tiara said. “If today is the longest day of the thousandth year, then who’s the prince?”
“Look!”
In a flash of dawn’s light, Celestia, Luna, and the trio appeared in the grand balcony.
“Citizens of Equestria,” Queen Celestia said. “It is no longer with a heavy heart, but with great joy that I raise the summer sun. For this celebration now represents — not the defeat of Nightmare Moon — but the return of my sister, Princess Luna!”
As the crowd cheered, the two sisters took to the air. Circling each other, Luna lowered the twilight moon while Celestia raised the morning sun.
Ooh-ing and aah-ing with the crowd, Spike soon found himself floating up to his big brother.
“Good morning, Spike,” Midnight said.
His little brother smirked. “Good morning, your highness~!”
The son of a princess frowned as he placed the baby dragon on his back. “Quiet, you.” Midnight then walked up to the alicorns as they landed. “Good morning, Princess Luna. I’m glad to finally meet you.”
She smiled. “Good morning to you too, Prince Midnight.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “Here we go…”
“Ah, yeah, about that…” Midnight said. “Technically, I’m not a prince. See, there was this whole rule change a few hundred years ago, and—”
“G-good morning!”
He turned to the blushing young mare behind him. “Oh, good morning. Sweetie Belle, was it?”
She cleared her throat. “Uh, Yes. Yes it is. It’s nice meeting you again.”
He smiled. “Likewise— Whoa!”
The two ponies ducked down as Featherdew flew overhead. “We did it! I can’t believe it!”
“Hey, Cousin Pinkie!” Clover said from the balcony. “Princess Luna hasn’t had a party in over a thousand years! Y’know what that means~?”
The pink party pony gave the biggest gasp of them all. Then, with a small pop, she disappeared.
Everybody laughed, except for one pony.
“How did she do that?” Midnight looked around. “Wait, are we just going to ignore that? Anyone? Hello?”