An alarm clock made Midnight jolt awake and slam his hoof onto it.
“Urgh, What the…?”

He groaned as he stretched out his bed aches and looked around, Wait… this isn’t my room!

He’d been here a few times before. Usually when Twilight invited him in to look at something during their magic sessions.

“Mmm…”

Midnight flinched and gaped to see Twilight in bed with him, slowly waking and smiling when she saw him.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

“Uh… good morning, Twilight,” Midnight smiled sheepishly, fearful that this welcoming attitude was but a prelude to the fury she would unleash upon him for trespassing in her home, her bed no less.

Then, to his surprise, she sat up and kissed him on the lips, making him gawk. The look on his face made Twilight giggle, “I take it you had sweet dreams?”

“Uh…” Midnight blushed, unsure of what was going on.

“Mm, would you mind getting breakfast started, I’m not quite ready to get up yet,” Twilight moved her covers off and Midnight almost had a stroke when he saw her belly!

Twilight rubbed her belly lovingly when she said, “Ooh! He kicked me.”

“He?!” Midnight echoed, on the verge of freaking out.

“Call it mother’s intuition, here,” Twilight took Midnight’s hoof and placed it on her stomach, making Midnight feel awkward… until he felt it!

“We…” he looked at Twilight and finally saw the beauty that had stolen his heart, those amethyst eyes sparkling with love as she reached up and held him close, nuzzling him under his chin.

Midnight felt warm, a happiness he’d never known before.

“Mommy, Daddy!”

He jolted as their bedroom door had opened and in ran a little unicorn filly! She had a lighter shade of her mother’s coat and mane but instead of the magenta streak like Twilight had, she had her father’s dark blue, and she’d inherited his turquoise eyes. She ran up and hopped onto the bed, crawling over to her parents and saying, “I’m hungry, can we have waffles for breakfast?”

“Of course we can, sweetie,” Twilight giggled, kissing her little girl before raising her brow at Midnight and somehow he got the idea.

“Okay! I’m going,” he chuckled as he slid out of bed and followed the little filly as she whined at him to hurry up.

But as he made his way out, Midnight saw himself in the mirror and gasped to see… there was something on his flank! A cutie-mark!

But for some reason he could not grasp, Midnight couldn’t see what his cutie-mark was! Every time his mind settled on a conclusion for any detail of the mark, it was as if the mark itself changed into something else entirely.

“Admiring yourself in the mirror again?”

He looked at Twilight, giving him a sneaky look, and he couldn’t help but blush.
“Well, those flanks of yours were a good reason for why I said ‘I do’.”

Midnight felt his heart soar at the meaning behind those words but before he could say anything, “Daddy! Breakfast…!”

“Okay, Okay, I’m coming!” Midnight followed the filly downstairs and as he did, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

She looked so much like her mother but he could easily see himself in her. She hurried over to a table and took a book she had and said, “I’m gonna read while you make breakfast, extra syrup, Daddy?”

“Uh, sure…” Midnight went into the kitchen as he looked around. “Uh… Sweetie? Where’s Spike?”

“Don’t you remember, Daddy?” the filly replied. “Uncle Spike is in Canterlot because Princess Celestia is teaching him to become a diplomat!”

“Diplomat?”

“To the dragons, remember?” the filly clarified. “Can we have apple juice instead of orange?”

“Sure thing,” Midnight decided to just go along with it and reached out with his magic, the ingredients and kitchenware floating out as he got breakfast underway.

In no time at all, Midnight had prepared stacks of waffles, cheesed scrambled eggs, a heap of hay bacon, and had a pitcher of perfectly chilled apple juice ready.
“Uh, baby? Do Daddy a favor and set the table?”

“Okay, Daddy!” the filly came in and looked up at the cupboards.

Midnight watched as she furrowed her little brows and struggled to flare her horn, the cupboards becoming enveloped in a weak turquoise aura as they inched open. Midnight watched proudly as his daughter made some plates float precariously out and the filly began to sweat as he telekinesis made the plates float wobbly towards the table when she grunted and let go. The plates almost fell, only to be caught in Midnight’s own aura.

“My magic stinks!” the filly whined, looking down.

Midnight put the plates on the table and went over to the filly and gave her a squeeze, saying, “Nah, you just need a little practice. Keep it up and you’ll be a better mage than me and your mom someday!”

“No way, you and Mommy are the best mages in Equestria!” She praised him and he couldn’t help but hug her tighter. “Daddy? …You’re squishing me!”

“Oh, sorry, sweetheart!” Midnight wiped a tear away. “I’m just… really happy right now!”

“I’ll go get Mommy!” the filly hurried upstairs while Midnight set up the table and brought out the food.

“Come on, Mommy!”

He looked to see Twilight carefully walking downstairs, and Midnight couldn’t help but think, She looks so beautiful when she’s fat with foal…!

Twilight cried out in alarm when she almost slipped, and Midnight hurried up, to help her.
“Watch yourself! One step at a time…”

“Oh Midnight, stop your fussing,” Twilight giggled lovingly at her husband. “I’m pregnant, not helpless.”

“You… are never helpless,” Midnight kissed her once they reached the foot of the stairs and he helped her to her seat. “Hope everypony’s hungry!”

As the family ate, Midnight and Twilight’s daughter chattered excitably, as little girls do.
“…and the applications for Star Swirl the Bearded’s Amniomorphic spell, I think, hold much more possibilities than previously considered!”

“You’re just like your mother,” Midnight couldn’t help but laugh happily at the similarities as he reached over and pulled his daughter in for a kiss.
“And besides talking about magic, is there anything you wanna do today with your daddy?”

“Don’t you remember, Daddy? You said you were gonna take me to play with all my cousins!”

Midnight looked in query at Twilight and she smiled and nodded, “We scheduled a playdate at the park with everypony, remember? It’s the first in a while that we all gathered together since Rainbow Dash got back from the Wonderbolts for her vacation!”

“And Uncle Blueblood said he was gonna take us all up on his new airship!” the filly added.

Midnight couldn’t help but hang on every word from Twilight and this filly, his wife, his daughter, his family, that would soon have a new addition once the foal in Twilight’ belly was born, and she’d seemed certain it would be a son.

“Daddy? Why are you crying?”

“Huh?” Midnight reached up and felt tears, Twilight asking, “Is everything okay, love?”

Midnight couldn’t hold it in as he got up, went to stand between his two girls, and hugged them close.
“I’m just feeling like the luckiest stallion alive to have you for my family…!”

Twilight and her daughter smiled lovingly as they held the stallion of their house and just let the love flow. Soon they let go, and Midnight said, “So when do we leave?”

In no time at all, the table was cleared, the dishes washed and stowed, and the family was standing before the door, Midnight putting a shawl on Twilight, their daughter getting fidgety.
“Come on, come on! We’re gonna be late! I wanna get some of Auntie Applejack’s cider before Auntie Pinkie takes it all, the big piggy!”

“Sweetie, don’t talk that way about your aunt,” Twilight gently scolded and she gave her husband a kiss.
“I’m ready, are you?”

“I certainly am,” Midnight smiled as their daughter opened the door and they stepped through.

Midnight was blinded by what he thought was the mid-morning sun, but when the light dimmed, he found himself back in the clouds with the alicorn.
“Wait! Where am I?! Where’s my family?!”

What you saw was not real, Midnight Blaze. Rather, it was a possibility.

“No! Send me back!” Midnight cried. “I-”

A heartbreaking realization crossed his mind as Midnight fell down in sobs, “I didn’t even find out my daughter’s name! Uh-huh-huh…!”

The alicorn stepped over and held the sobbing unicorn close.
You are the Element of Faith. You represent hope, hope for yourself, hope for those around you, and certainly hope for the future. So long as you have faith and keep moving forward, if you can face your dark side and accept him, then perhaps one day you will find the name of your daughter within yourself.

Midnight looked up at the alicorn but now he was no longer the scared and anxious pony he’d been before he’d performed that abominable ritual.

He was a stallion, determination blazing in his heart, his spirit lifted by hope of a family with the mare he loved.

You are ready. Go forth, Midnight Blaze, and go with faith.

“Thank you…” whispered Midnight as was faced the shadow behind him. But as he did so, he couldn’t help but look back at the alicorn and finally noticed something about Her.

She looked similar to Celestia. Her coat was heavenly white while Her mane and tail were a gentle red like love, and Her cutie-mark was a quill pen and maroon inkwell.

”Wait!”

The alicorn looked to him and he asked, “Is this real? Or is it all in my head?”

Of course it’s all in your head, Midnight, the alicorn giggled as She gave him the look a of a proud mother. But why should that mean it is not real?

Midnight could not help but smile a little at that comment, but the alicorn still saw some confusion in the unicorn’s face.
You have come far, Midnight Blaze. But that path you walk lies ever on. This is but the first of many trials you will face. You are an oddity, in and of itself, a wrinkle in the grand scheme of things that not even fate could have foreseen. Fate, Midnight, is a peculiar thing. It is a force beyond even divine comprehension – It works unhindered by conscious thought or deliberate intent, and it is for that very simple reason why fate is unpredictable, why it is said that fate works in mysterious ways. But in many ways, it and the common storyteller are very much the same. For what is a story teller but an omniscience presiding over the story which one tells?

Midnight looked at the alicorn, furrowing his brows as he digested all that She had just said to him.

And as I said, Midnight, as far as you feel you’ve come, your journey has only begun. There will be times you are pushed to your limits, you will reach an understanding that makes you an impossible miracle, you will often find yourself alone and unsure. But so long as you have faith that you will have the family you just spent time with, you will find the will to keep moving forward.

Midnight nodded in understanding.

And almost at once, he found himself lying on a cold stone floor, feeling fresh as a daisy.

It’s time to put this wretch out of his misery, Terror!

The Whisperer… Midnight thought but he played dead.

Finish him, and we will rule Equestria as one!

Terror leered down at his ungrateful half and moved to bring the final blow. He reared up, prepared to crush this traitor’s head beneath his hooves when there was a pulse of blue light that sent Terror flying back.

“RRGGH!!” Terror scrambled to his hooves to see Midnight glaring back unflinching. “Why don’t you just die?!”

“I am going to talk and you are going to listen,” Midnight answered in an even tone and for some reason Terror felt obliged to listen.

What’re you waiting for, kill him! the Whisperer shouted only for Terror to yell, “Shut up!”

He looked to Midnight and waited.

Taking a deep breath Midnight began.
“Now I understand… Before, I didn’t realize how important you are, how vital you are as part of me, and you are a part of me. You are me every bit as I am you. You are the rage that emboldens me, the skepticism that keeps me grounded, the envy that drives me to improve. I was so afraid of what that thing behind you was doing to me, that I made all the wrong decisions, and others paid for my mistakes, you especially.

"Even though you are the side of me that isn’t always morally right, I need you as much as I need to breathe, to keep me balanced and whole. And it was my fear that blinded me to that, and while I know it can hardly mean much, I... am sorry.”

Midnight had shed tears, much to Terror’s bewilderment. He’d been expecting some kind self-righteous lecture, an accusation, maybe even hate and a wish for him to go away. But in his other half, he saw none of that! He saw shame, a sincere apology, a wish to make things right.

Don’t listen to him! Kill him and we will rule Equestria! Everything you could ever want will be yours for the taking! Everypony will bow to you, serve your every whim! Just kill him!!!

A rage inflamed him as Terror hunched, ignited his horn… and lunged, spearing it through Midnight!!

The Whisperer sneered in malicious satisfaction, at long last, its final obstacle snuffed out!

But wait, where were the screams? The dying agony? The spill of blood?!

It gawked, unable to understand why Midnight wasn’t bleeding!

Midnight and Terror- Nay, Dark Midnight stood there, Dark Midnight’s horn still piercing Midnight’s barrel, from which there was no bleeding. But then Dark Midnight reverted from his Terror form, his oily black coat brightening to the color of molten gold, his flaming mane quenching into a white mane with streaks of harsh sunray yellow. His eyes were still red but they were passionate and the sclera had turned white as they should be..
“You didn’t try to dodge.”

“Because there was no need to,” Midnight replied as he embraced his darkness, Dark Midnight beginning to shed tears.
“Come back to me, and we can be whole again… Stand with me as one, as we should be, and let us defeat this monster together.”

Dark Midnight pulled his horn from Midnight’s barrel, and there was no wound at all! He looked into his better half’s turquoise eyes and found only love, like one has for a brother.

AAAAAAAUUUUGGGHHHH

They looked to the Whisperer, as it glared at them with eyes of soulless white.
You pathetic piece of filth!! How can you possibly want that blight on your soul back?! He and I drove you to make the wrong choices, provoked you against your friends, isolated you and left you with naught but a desperate measure!!

“You just admitted to being the root of my misfortunes,” Midnight countered, “My darker half has always been there but he was not the real one responsible for influencing my morals. The world is not so black and white as you’re trying to make it sound. True strength comes from embracing differences and using them to support the other where they fall short, and from that unity become stronger.”

The Whisperer growled before leering at Dark Midnight.
You can’t possibly want to go back to this hypocrite! He betrayed you, cut you loose, saw you as an infection to be purged! You go back to him now, he will cage you like a rabid animal!

“I won’t deny I haven’t really liked my other half’s choices as of late,” Dark Midnight admitted, “but he’s right. I can’t live without him any more than he can without me. Being merged with you was nothing but pain, hate, anger, and even darkness isn’t always about the negative. It’s about secrets and discretion, and secrets can be shared when the keeper is ready or is willing to trust. I trust in my other half, for whom without I wouldn’t even be my own self. I would be nothing more than a piece of you, a flawed product of the misguided minds of many.”

The two halves shared a determined look and nodded as they spoke as one, “So we choose to be our self!”

A light shined between them that made the Whisperer snarl and shy away, and when it dimmed, it saw a single Midnight Blaze!

The two remade one, with the only indication of them being previously split was his eyes. The right remained turquoise blue while the left was red but now it was the red of fiery courage.
“You will haunt me no more! Your evil will be vanquished and never again will anypony suffer because of your hate!”

NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!! the Whisperer lunged at Midnight, transforming into a demonic shadowy creature but the moment before its claws could gouge out those miserable eyes…!

A pulse of radiance spread from Midnight’s horn, and the Whisperer shrieked in excruciating torture as it was blown away, the fractured mindscape remade whole as everything was restored.

Midnight smiled as he felt his soul find balance, the red eye reverting to turquoise blue, and the last thing he saw before he woke up was a fond memory of himself with Twilight and Twinken, laughing and enjoying a magic lesson together.

In the waking world, everypony watched anxiously, and were rejoicing!

Midnight’s coat and mane had returned to their real colors, his body now looked healthy and whole, and instead of tossing and turning as though he were having a nightmare, now he looked like he was sleeping peacefully.

“Do you- Do you think he’s done it?” Blueblood asked Sombra.

“Oh I’m certain of it!” Sombra smiled and gasped, “He’s waking up.”

Midnight groaned as he stirred, Twilight at his side, everypony surrounding the bed as Sombra removed the conduit from Midnight’s horn. All eyes were on Midnight’s as they began to flitter open, Twilight whispering hopefully, “Midnight…?”

*BRAAAAAAAAPPPHHH*

“UGH!”
“GROSS!”
“NASTY!”
“PEEYUU!”

“Oooohhh!” Midnight sat up, clutching his stomach, “I feel horrible!”

“You smell horrible, dude!” snapped Thunderlane as he and Soarin flapped the stink away with their wings.
“By the Pale One! Where the buckin’ hay did that come from? ULP!” Soarin gagged.

“ERRGH!” Midnight doubled over, in real pain!

“Midnight, what’s wrong?!” Twilight asked anxiously.

“It’s the Whisperer still inside his body,” Sombra explained, “Back away! Midnight, put your mouth over this bowl!”

Twilight and Big Mac helped Midnight as he did as Sombra asked, a disgusting gurgle coming from his stomach as he groaned, “Make it sto-ha-hop!”

“And now the moment of truth…” Sombra said ominously, his horn flaring a crystalline red radiance.

Midnight was engulfed in Sombra’s power as he felt whatever was making him sick suddenly make him heave and HURK, and before everypony knew it, Midnight vomited a black tar-like goop into the bowl, groaning as he coughed and hacked it all out.

Once they were satisfied it had completely left his body, they all peered at the evil ooze in the bowl. It was like tar, it puckered and popped, simmered and rank.

Sombra then shooed them away as he then levitated a pure white crystal and gently placed it into the middle of the substance. It sucked in the crystal as though it were alive but then they all heard a disturbing shriek as the crystal shined and then there was a disgusting slurping suction-like sound and they realized that somehow the crystal was absorbing the ooze, turning its beautiful white sheen into an oily black.

It was evil in material form, radiating with hate and anger at everything good and bright in the world.

“What’re you gonna do with that…?” Midnight asked in a raspy voice.

Sombra levitated the abomination to his eye-level before he answered.
“…I’m going to smash it!”

And that’s exactly what he did – Sombra threw the crystal to the ground and reared up, bringing down his hooves onto it, smashing it into smithereens! And from the break did burst a great power!

It was blinding and everypony felt like something big had just happened! They watched as the light rose up into the sky, turning a bright red, before it looked like a giant red crystal in the air and they realized it was Sombra’s cutie-mark!

A cluster of red crystal in three points, and it was indeed a large crystal hovering high in the air, radiating with power! And within they saw a figure begin to move, and the crystal cracked before it burst in a blinding ray of crimson light!!!

Once it all died down, they heard a groan, and looked.
“Sombra? Are you alright?” Midnight called out.

And they gasped to see Sombra stand up as a pair of wings spread from his back!

Sombra had changed into an alicorn, he was even taller than he’d been before! His tail had lengthened into a leonine form, a black tuft with a cobalt blue streak, his eyes still gentle green, his mane the same obsidian with a cobalt streak, but his wings were magnificent! They were primarily dark gray like his coat while the primaries shimmered red, green, and blue, the only odd thing about them were the spikes coming out of the wing-joints.

“Sombra…!” Blueblood marveled, “You’ve become an alicorn!”

“Indeed he has.”

All eyes turned towards the smoggy sky as the haze was banished by a ray of light, by the literal break of dawn! And down did descend Princess Celestia, everypony bowing at her coming.

“Rise everypony, especially you, Sombra,” she regarded him warmly and with pride, Sombra nervously standing up straight and everypony was surprised to see Sombra was even taller than Celestia! Although her horn was still longer than his.
“You have walked a long and terrible path, my old friend. And I’m sorry that my decision drove us apart.”

“N-no, Your Highness, I-” Sombra felt Celestia press her hoof to his lips, shushing him.

“It is time to put the past behind us,” Celestia encouraged him, “too long has circumstances kept us apart, and by your spell has a terrible evil been vanquished forever. I understand there will be challenges further along your road, Sombra. But if you are willing, I would gladly walk it with you.”

Sombra shed tears, of joy, of deepest appreciation, as Celestia asked, “Won’t you please accept my love?”

Sombra hesitated, everypony leaning in as the tension built up, when Sombra answered by wrapping Celestia in his new wings, peering into those pale magenta eyes he had loved for so long, and their lips met in subtle passion.

In Canterlot Hall, many had gathered as the doors opened and in walked Sombra, now adorned with his own royal ware, his hooves in hoofboots, a regalia with a lavender ascot, across his back laid a regal cape colored royal purple hemmed with white faux fur, his mane neatly combed wavy, his wings pressed nervously against his caped back through holes in the cape itself. But his face expressed a calmed poise as he focused upon Celestia, who watched him approach proudly, sided by Luna, who looked a little afraid but welcoming nonetheless.

Shining Armor and Cadance were there too, as well as the Elements of Harmony, the Guardians, and their friends Spike, Blueblood, and Soarin.

Along the red carpet, Royal Guards saluted as Sombra passed them by, until at last he stood before Princess Celestia.
“We are gathered here today in celebration of a momentous occasion! My old friend, Sombra, once lost and has been found again, has saved Equestria through his inventing a new spell powerful and undeniable! By his actions, by the very wings on his back, he has proven himself worthy to be crowned Equestria’s newest prince – Fillies and gentlecolts, may I present, for the very first time, Prince Sombra!”

Everypony cheered as Sombra bowed and Celestia placed the cobalt crown with an amber jewel piece upon his head, and he faced his new subjects with a manner dauntless.
“Say something, Prince!”

His ears flicked at Celestia’s encouragement as he cleared his throat and spread his wings to beckon silence.
“It is with great hesitation and even greater humility that I accept this honor and this responsibility. I have made mistakes, monumental ones… and others suffered for my follies, as some of you have doubtlessly heard since the return of the Crystal Empire. But the mistake I regret most of all was refusing the offer to start over when acquiescing could’ve led to a brighter future and spared a great many innocent from a terrible oppression. I would be a fool to have no doubts in accepting this crown when the one I once claimed was built upon a legacy of blood and bones, but I realize that this time I will not have to bear this burden alone.”

Then Sombra turned to face Celestia, and said, “Long ago, you once offered to rekindle our relationship and I turned you down. I will fully understand if you do the same but still I must make this offer. Celestia, I have loved you ever since that cold night when you saved me, a colt who had no one, lost and alone, and I was a fool to spurn your wish to start over. But now that I have come back to you, that we are reunited, I must ask you a question I have dreamed of asking for so long!”

Sombra lit up his horn, and ribbons of prismatic magic unraveled around it before they all zoomed forward and gathered in front of him. The magic came together in resplendent sparkles as something manifested in a brilliance of color, and everypony gasped!

Floating in front of Sombra... was a beautiful jewel shaped like a rose, with crystalline vines forming the likeness of an armlet. The vines were crystalline blue, the leaves a pale green, while the rose was layers of gorgeous petals of orange, yellow, and pink like the shades of a sunrise!

“Princess Celestia,” Sombra looked up hopefully at her, Celestia’s eyes tearing up as she smiled in overjoyed incredulity at Sombra's next words, “Will you marry me?”

The hall had gone as quiet as a tomb as the moments felt like hours when Celestia smiled and threw herself into Sombra, embracing him, her lips finding his, and everypony cheered!

After a few subtle hints for the just-engaged to break it up as their little ponies were watching, the Prince of Shadow and Princess of the Sun stood up and walked hoof in hoof with each other out the hall, as trumpets sounded, ponies cheered as the news spread quicker than a swarm of hungry parasprites, and they all watched as the happy couple took flight and soared into the sun!

The friends looked on happily for Sombra and Celestia when Midnight asked Twilight for a private moment. She obliged and teleported them to her old tower, where she originally resided before she first moved to Ponyville.

While there, they compared notes, Twilight showed Midnight some of her old books and studies, and he hung on every word. Finally, Twilight and Midnight sat down and Midnight said, “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“Everything,” Midnight’s ears drooped. “I was afraid, Twilight… I was afraid of that evil, how it haunted me, threatened all of friends and family, but what hurt most of all… was that I made you cry.”

“Oh Midnight…” Twilight touched his cheek in understanding. “I can’t imagine what you went through, how afraid and alone you must’ve felt.”

“I was going out of my mind,” Midnight nodded as he pressed Twilight’s hoof to his cheek, finding it comforting.
“And when Terror was merged back into me, it was a nightmare. The Whisperer perverted all the happiest memories I’d made with you, twisted them into ugly lies, and I was so close to giving up… but then, I realized something.”

“What was it?” Twilight and midnight began to move closer.

“There was something I’ve never told you,” Midnight said, “and I would be damned if I left this life without telling you, if only once.”

“And what do you want to tell me…?” Twilight whispered as their lips drew closer.

“Twilight Sparkle, with all my heart and soul, I love you…” Midnight embraced her and met her lips. She did not resist, rather melting into his arms, running her aura through his mane, as they felt a desire as natural as life and death, and decided to take that step together.

This was among my harder arcs and took a lot of brainstorming and I most certainly couldn't have done it without the help of a fellow brony on this site, so I give the warmest thanks to Pontiac56 for all the awesome ideas, suggestions and help!

The opening of this chapter here was a possibility, not the future set in stone, but Midnight has found a new sense of faith, which is what will give him the strength to overcome what I have in store.

As for Midnight and Twilight's daughter, I purposefully left her name unknown as another incentive for him to face the future.

Oh! And for those of you who didn't see the implication, Midnight and Twilight both lost their virginity in this chapter.

The illustrations are yet more of Hoodwink's amazing work!

Here's a close-up of the engagement jewel Sombra proposed to Celestia with for her hoof in marriage: