Midnight walked into New Sugarcube Corner, and saw Pinkie behind the counter.

"Hi, Midnight," the pink pony greeted him, "what's with the limp?"

He blushed, "Can I just get a chocolate shake."

"Ooohh, Twilight worked you over pretty good, huh?" she smiled, putting a tall glass in front of him.

Midnight started drinking quickly, happy not to have to answer. How Pinkie Pie always seems to know what's going on baffled him. At least he knew she wouldn't tell anypony. he finished his shake and tossed the bit's on the counter.

"Oh, no." Mrs. Cake came in with a pan of muffins, "You rebuilt the place so you don't have to pay for anything, in fact have a muffin, too" she gave him back his money and a fresh hot muffin.

"Thank you Mrs. Cake." he said, "sorry I can't chat, I've got things I have to do."

He ate the muffin as he went down the road, loving every bite. Twilight told him a long time ago she was a terrible cook, and she was right. Of course his cooking was considered attempted murder.

"Hey, Midnight, what's with the limp?" came a voice he recognized as Scootaloo's. He looked back and the three fillies of the CMC were following him

"I pulled a muscle." he said.

"Ya' got time?" asked Applebloom, "We thing we know what yer special talent is."

"Oh, and what's that?" he asked, a little afraid of the coming answer.

"Protecting ponies!!!" they said in unison.

"After your awesome rescue of Twilight, that's gotta be it." said the orange pegasus.

"I'll look in to that sometime, but right now I have some things to do." he said

"Scootaloo!" called Rainbow Dash as she flew up to them, "Oh, hey Midnight, what's with the limp? Never mind. Come on kids, I'm racing some jerk from Manehattan, I need my cheering section."

The four left The blue stallion to the tasks he set out to do.

The flower shop was The first stop on his list. After he bought a dozen lilies he started to his next stop.

"Hey thar, sugar cube, what's with the limp?" Applejack asked. Was everypony going to ask him that?

"Just pulled a muscle." Midnight replied.

"Oh, ok, sorry I can't talk, gotta deliver these here apples. See ya." she said

"Talk to you later." he said

Stop number two was the toy store for a blue stuffed pony, than the candle shop, the corner market for a bottle of wine after that. Finally a secluded spot outside of town under a large tree, where he arranged the flowers, toy, and candle around a single picture printed out of memory with magic. It showed an image of a human woman holding a baby.

"A lot has happened in a year, huh?" he asked the picture, "I got blown up, transported to another world, turned into a pony, and some how I fell in love again. I've come farther this past year than in the three before it, and it's all thanks to Twilight Sparkle, she's nice you'd like her. She taught me to forgive myself."

He spoke for hours about everything that happened in the past year. It was different to be talking so happily on this of all days, the day that haunted him for more than three years. Finally he finished the story of the year.

"I brought Tiffany a toy, it kind of looks like me except no mark on it's forehead, so I knew she'd like it. It's hard to believe she'd be five now. I know three fillies who would be great friends for her." He picked up the picture and kissed it, "Daddy will always love you." he picked the picture, toy, and bottle up putting them in his bags. It was getting late so he stood up and started heading home.

---------

Another six months past and Midnight found him self with a new position in Ponyville, repair pony. He had several golems stashed all over town, so there was always one close by in case of an emergency, and was rarely  seen without his saddle bags. He also finally met the Princesses Celestia and Luna, both of whom promptly threatened him to treat Twilight right. And of course he was finally going to another party, this time confident that if anything goes wrong it won't be him to cause it.

Twilight Sparkle and Midnight Star walked tail in tail towards Sweet Apple Acres, where the party was being held. It was a big one that Pinkie, AJ, and Midnight worked on all day, and the whole town was invited. The two love-struck ponies were the last to arrive.

"That's everypony." Pinkie Pie said, "HIT IT!!!"

Dj-Pon-3 started the music, and instantly the party was underway. Ponies dancing, gossiping, drinking, and playing games filled the field. The only pony not here was Fluttershy, who was tending to an injured deer she found this morning. Midnight promised himself he would make it up to her. The party was going great, everypony laughed when Midnight made one of golems start break dancing.

Midnight asked for some room for Twilight and himself, and raised a small portion of earth, getting everyponies attention.

He started his speech, "I won't take much of your time, I just wanted to everypony for the hospitality you have shown me. I know I'm 'different' from everypony else, but you guys made me feel like I belong here. All of you have shown me so much kindness, especially you, Twilight." he said looking at her, she blushed, "That's why," he pulled her next to him, "I want to do repay you," he reached into his saddle bag, and got on one knee, "Will you, Twilight Sparkle," her heart began racing as she realized what he was doing, "do me the honor," he pulled out a jewel encrusted bracelet with a large diamond on it, "of marrying me?" he finished, holding the beautiful thing up to her.

There was no need for her to think, she knew what she wanted, "Yes!," she said, struggling to keep from jumping all over the place, as put the bracelet on her hoof.

Cheers of congratulations came from the crowd. Rarity was crying, as was Rainbow Dash (though she was claiming allergies). Pinkie hit a button and a big banner popped up saying 'congratulations Twilight and Midnight', which got Twilight's attention.

"Wait, Pinkie, you knew he was going to propose?" She asked the pink pony.

Pinkie rolled her eye's, "Well duh, what do you thing this party's for. It's a Proposal party."

"That's right, sugarcube," said Applejack joining the conversation, "Midnight 'ere had the idea to throw this big ol' party just to pop the question."

Twilight looked back at her new fiance, "Well then, excuse me girls, I have to thank him properly." she said and guided him to the barn and shut the door.

The party lasted about another hour, before ponies started to leave, and barn door finally opened. Twilight pranced out while Midnight came limping after, with a dreamy smile on his face.

Rainbow dash saw the sight and started laughing. "So, that's why you're always limping after big projects."

AJ giggled as well, "Yea, she put a smile face, though," the two mares fell over laughing.

He didn't even hear them, he just followed the lavender unicorn back toward town

------

"The sun set sure is beautiful," Midnight said looking at the orange on the horizon, wait what? "what time is it?"

"About eleven," Twilight said, realizing why he was nervous.

A loud roar broke the night, and the two ponies ran toward town seeing the edge of the Everfree forest burning. That, however, paled in comparison to the massive dragon that rose out of the trees.

"Celestia help us, it's an elder dragon." Twilight gasped, growing pale.

Midnight looked down at the cottage at the edge of the forest, a small yellow mass was collapsed in front of it. "FLUTTERSHY!!!" he yelled, "Twilight, teleport her to the clinic, I'll lure it away from town!"

"WHAT!!!" she yelled, "there's no way you can handle and elder dragon on your own! I'm helping."

"No, Fluttershy comes first. I can handle the dragon." he lied, "My magic was made for fighting remember." he was trying to convince himself as much as Twilight.

Twilight was in tears now, "Promise me you'll be ok,"

"Get Fluttershy, now!" he said as he launched bolts of energy at the lizard, quickly getting it's attention.

Twilight wasted no time. She ran to the yellow pegasus's side. She looked like she just fainted. With a pop the two mares vanished.

Midnight, seeing this, activated the rune he placed on Twilight. If he was going to die he wasn't going to drag the mare he loved with him.Sorry, Twi, he thought, I don't expect you to forgive me. He leaped at the beast only to be swatted away like a fly.

Twilight felt the magic strike her. She tried going back but the spell never held, and she appeared in the same place. the little mare looked at her back and saw a glowing rune. She realized then, he was planning in dieing.

"No," was all she said as she ran out the door of the clinic, heading strait for the battle.

He was being pummeled, but that didn't matter. Midnight only cared about keeping the dragon away. The way things were going though, he was going to fail at that. Maybe he'll at least buy everypony else time to get away. He was hit with massive strike from the beasts tail as Twilight came back into view. "Stubborn girl." he thought as everything went black.

---------

"They had to, David." That voice is familiar "No one knows what that magic you have does. It's safer to lock it away." How does he know my human name.

"It's a tiny power, how can it be dangerous?" That's my voice "So what if it's an unknown energy signature. I don't like my mind being tampered with." This is a memory

"Small or not it could be dangerous. Do you want to put your friends in danger, or Sarah?" I remember this, "I've seen the way you look at her, you like her." That's Jason, he was killed a month after this

"No I don't." why am I remembering this? "If I did I would just break the seal, I know how."

"Release the seal, David."

What? Who's that?

"Now is the time to release that power you thought was useless."

Sarah? Is that you.

"Yes, my love. Now you must do what I say."

There's so much I want to say.

"There's no need, I heard you every year when you spoke to me."

I miss you so much

"I know you do, but now your Twilight needs you."

Twilight?

"Yes, she's coming to save you."

Are you mad at me for finding another?

"No, in fact you were right, I do like her. Now go, and remember, your always in our thoughts."

With that he faced the seal in his mind and shattered it. Next Chapter: Chapter 4: Another Kind of Element Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes