After the confrontation with the Griffin king, then hearing his sons first words, Midnight had come to find that he was becoming mentally exhausted from having to deal with his normal everyday tasks. Even reading a simple book or playing some music felt taxing to him during this time. So he did the only thing he could think of.

"WHAT!?" Shouted Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity to Midnight's statement. They were gathered in the library earlier in the day upon his request so that he could explain things in further detail.

"Sorry girls, I'm just tired and need to clear my head for a while. I need this retreat or I'm going to go insane." I can't even play my music without twitching now. Everything just seems so hard right now and I don't know why." He sighed as he tossed a few items into his stash portal.

"But what if we need you darling?" Rarity chimed in giving a pout.

"I've given Twilight the spell to cast on you two to contact me. There is a safe word that you will need to speak in order to activate the spell and open a telepathic link directly to me. However I don't want you girls to contact me unless it's an emergency. I'll be gone for at least a week, if not two at the most. I'm sure you can handle things until I return." He gave a sad smile as the portal closed.

"But why are ya going, can't'cha just have a day at the spa er sumthin?" AJ asked giving a pout as well. Midnight looking to her with a cocked brow.

"I'll let Rarity fill you in on the twins for me. The spa can't take my mind off things, only make them worse. For the time being I am going to fly south to the warmer areas of Equestria. I would like to do some sight seeing and explore some of the unexplored terrain. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a nice quiet spot to relax."

"If yer going south, I'd recommend checking out Appleoosa. Mah cousin Braeburn lives there and kin help show ya around." AJ smiled thinking of her cousin's friendly attitude.

"Sounds nice, what should I look for though, considering the name resembles something from a western in my old world, I would guess it to be the same." Midnight chuckled.

"It's an older town not to far inteh the desert if that helps any."

"Sounds like something I'd like to see. I'll stop by there and check it out. Need me to pass anything along when I arrive?" He asked looking to the stetson wearing pony.

"Sure, I'll write a letter and give it to ya in a bit, stop by the farm afor ya head out." AJ smiled as she gave the Alicorn a hug before making her way out the door toward her farm.

"Isn't there anything we could do to change your mind darling? Even though it is just a couple of weeks at most, what will everypony in town think?" Rarity asked, still trying to sway his decision.

"If they ask, just tell them I went on a vacation to take in the sights. I don't know. You know I've never really worried about what other ponies think about me, yet another reason I'm not royalty." He chuckled only to watch the ivory pony sigh.

"Very well then darling. I guess we shall see you in a week or so." She gave a saddened smile as she trotted up to the Alicorn giving him a kiss before leaving the library as well.

Midnight watched Rarity leave before looking back to Twilight who had her nose burried in a book. He cocked a brow wondering why she wasn't trying to con him into staying as well.

"Twi, ain't ya gonna try and say something to make me stay as well?" He smirked as he trotted over to the librarian before flopping down next to her. She gave a sad smile looking up to the Alicorn before leaning onto him.

"No, you have earned a vacation with all the hard work you've done. As much as I'd wish I could go with you, I know you will need time to yourself and to relax in your own way. Just remember to be careful and come back to us before somepony decides they want an alicorn for themselves." She smirked to him while cocking a brow.

"No worries about that doll." He smiled giving her nose a kiss. "I doubt I could put up with anymore crazy mares in my life." He grinned before getting a punch in his arm from the purple unicorn. "OW! He yelled while falling over playfully rubbing his arm.

"Oh get your flank up and get going you big baby." Twilight giggled before tossing several books at him, he trying to dodge only to fall over himself trying to get up and away from the books sailing toward him.

"Your just so abusive." He chuckled putting on a terribly poor expression of a hurt face.

"I can't be abusive to somepony who likes it." She giggled giving a devious grin.

"True." He laughed before trotting back and giving her another kiss, then turning back to the door as he began to head out. "I'll see you in a couple weeks babe." He smiled before exiting the library and closing the door behind him.

"FINALLY!" Twilight sighed in relief as she tossed her maid outfit off and to the side giving a satisfying shake. "Two weeks of freedom from that stupid costume. She sighed happily but then stopped as she looked to the door. "But also two weeks without him." She sighed giving a slight pout before going back to her book.

After a short flight to the farm, Midnight landed just outside the farmhouse taking in a deep breath. "Smell's like Someponies cooking something." He smiled happily as the smell of a freshly baked apple pie filled his nose. He trotted around the side of the house to the kitchen, slowly peeking in to see AJ placing another pan of confectionery treats onto the kitchen table. Just as she was turning back around though he took in a deep breath.

"HEY AJ!" He shouted causing her to give a loud whinny of surprise while jumping several feet into the air. She turned quickly giving a glare at the Alicorn for a moment before he broke out in laughter. She gave an annoyed sigh trotting over to the window and giving a snort.

"Gettin one last prank in afor ya head out huh?" She smirked.

"Yea, sorry, it was the perfect moment. Besides it's your fault." He smirked.

"Mah fault? How?" She asked giving a surprised look.

"Baking all those wonderful smelling items and letting the smell linger through the farm. I'm surprised you haven't pulled quite a few stallions into your grasp with that technique." He chuckled seeing her blush.

"Ah just make the vittles teh sell in the market. Ya'd be surprised how quick they sell." She beamed.

"With your ability in cooking doll I wouldn't doubt it for a second. By the way, have you finished that letter?" He asked before making his way to the back door and coming inside.

"Sure as sugar." AJ smiled pulling the letter from the table between her lips, letting Midnight take it and place it into his stash portal. He turned back seeing her smiling at him which for some reason made him a little uneasy.

"Uh....... yer creeping me out AJ, I have a feeling ya want something else that I may not like." He spoke giving a nervous expression.

"I was wonderin if'n ya wouldn't mind taking a few vittles with ya teh mah cousin Braeburn. He don't often get teh visit Ponyville an love our home cookin. Could ya take him a bit?" She asked while leaning up to him and giving him an inncoent expression. He gave a sigh knowing he was going to regret this.

"Sure babe, what ya got?" He smiled but stopped as AJ walked into the next room then back into the kitchen with a very large picnic basket as she began to fill it with most of the items on the kitchen table. "You little sneak, you planned this didn't you." He chuckled.

"Nah." She grinned before placing the last item into the basket. "Ah knew ya cain't resist mah charm." She winked before giving him a kiss. "That an ah know yer lil portal thingy don't let time pass like it does'ere. So ah figgered Braeburn'd like some fresh vittles from the Apple oven."

Midnight smirked before levitating the picnic basket up and into his stash portal. "You have me pegged don't'cha?" He asked seeing her smirk.

"Maybe a lil." She giggled. "Now get! Ah'll be waitin on yer sorry flank when ya get back." She chuckled.

"Alright doll, see you in a couple weeks." He smiled back before heading out of the farm house and taking flight.

After leveling off at a thousand feet, Midnight took in a deep breath while looking around at the ground below. There was little to no cloud cover so he could see fairly well while flying. Using his magic he pulled a map and compass from his portal to take a look at them. After a slight course adjustment he replaced them into his portal. Using his magic he put on a boost of speed to propel him forward while locking his wings into place. "Time for airplane mode." He laughed as he pulled a pair of goggles from his portal and slipped them on just before his speed began to pick up.

After a minute, his speed had topped out at around 100 miles per hour. A normal train ride to Appleoosa would take an tire day, and the only train that ran to Appleoosa topped out at around 35 MPH, and that was with three large earth stallions pulling several cars and an engine. After a quick number crunch he figured that he would arrive there at around six in the afternoon at his current speed. Normally he would teleport to the location but he would have had to have been there before he could teleport to its location.

After several hours of flying and taking in his surroundings, Midnight was astonished at how beautiful the land was. Thick forests with small well travel roads making a path through them. Fara and wide open lands filled with wildlife and farms of every kind. He even flew by several cloud homes along his route, taking care to slow down to make sure that he wouldn't get surprised by a pegasus flying in the area by running into them.

By the time he had reached the desert however, he could feel the heat radiating from the barren land below. Even though it was now around five in the afternoon, the heat was still intense. In the distance though he could see a small speck of a town as he came closer. After another minute or two he arrived still flying high above the town and releasing his movement spell so that he could glide slowly downward into the town. Another few minutes past as he landed just outside of town and began to trot toward the center of town, pulling out the map AJ had given him so that he could find her cousin's home and see the sights as well.

Being new in town however would pose a slight problem as he began to recieve many stares from everypony as he continued trotting through town toward Braeburns home. Although he lived in town, meeting him might pose a problem if he acted the same way as the rest of the ponies did in town.

After a few minutes of walking and taking in the sights of the small town, he arrived at the house in question and proceeded to give a few hard knocks, hearing hoofsteps inside as they came closer to the front door.

"Yes, who is.....it?" Braeburn spoke up but trailed off seeing the dark Alicorn before him.

"Are you Braeburn?" Midnight asked giving a smile.

"Well howdy there partner!" He smiled brightly which surprise the Alicorn. "Ah sure am, ya must be new in town cause ah ain't seen ya before. Why ya asking for me though?" He spoke out happily before giving a questioning look to Midnight.

"Names Midnight Flame, AJ told me you were friendly. Never thought you'd be almost as excited to see a new pony as Pinkie Pie though." He laughed.

"We here in Appleoosa love teh see new folk visiting our little town. It may be a bit out of the way but everpony here loves the place. Ever since the buffalo an us made a peace treaty, things've livened up a bit." He smiled again as he exited his home to sit on the porch, Midnight taking a seat nearby.

"Ya mentioned mah cousin, how is she doing? Ah ain't seen her in quite some time." he asked as he sat back into a rocking chair.

"She's been great as far as I'm aware. She has a hard time fessing up to her problems, but then again she is a bit stubborn." Midnight laughed thinking of all the times AJ came up to ask him something she felt uneasy talking about, only resulting in him getting a chuckle out of the situation.

"She is a might stubborn, but she is ah earth pony after all." He chuckled. "Anyways, how do ya know her?"

"She's my marefriend." Midnight smiled seeing Breeburn smile wide but stopped as he was suddenly encased in a hug.

"Well how'bout that?! That practically makes us family." He laughed before patting the Alicorn roughly on the back. "But why are ya all the way out here without'er? Don't tell me ya'll'er fighting now?" He spoke giving a very concerned look.

"Nah, I'm just on vacation is all. Figured it would be nice to check out the rest of the world since I can do so under my own power." He smirked as his horn lit up and his stash portal opened at his side. "She also asked me to give you a couple things." He said as he pulled the letter out of the portal and floating it to the cowpony.

After a quick flick of a hoof Braeburn had pulled the letter from the envelope and unfolded quickly reading it before giving a huge smile. "Well now that's mighty kind'o her teh have ya bring me some vittles. Ah do miss'er cooking quite a bit. I tell ya, them Apples know a thing'er'three bout cooking some grub."

"Don't I know it, I swear i've put on a lot of weight since becoming her stallion." Midnight laughed causing Braeburn to chuckle.

"Don't worry bout that none, Ah'm sure she has ya working it off in the orchard all the time." He laughed.

"Eeyup." Midnight smirked causing his friend to laugh.

"So where are them vittles, ah'd love teh dig inteh'em after we heat'em up." Braeburn smiled before licking his chops.

"No need to reheat, these are fresh from the oven." Midnight smiled as he pulled the basket from his stash portal and floated it to Braeburn who opened it and inhaled deeply giving a satisfied sigh at the aroma. He turned back to Midnight cocking a brow in question.

"How's it still hot?" He asked.

"My little stash spot here doesn't let time pass like normal. One second in there is like a year here."

"Well ah'll be. That's a might handy ain't it. Bet she loves that lil trick when she needs teh bring things teh the market teh sell." He chuckled as he trotted inside with Midnight to start placing the items onto the table to eat.

"Why don'tcha join me. Don't think ah can eat all these vittles on mah own." He smiled as he hoofed a few plates out.

"It's cool, I don't want to impose, having just met you and all. Besides, I need to head back to the inn and get a room for the night. I can grab a bite to eat there." Midnight smiled as he turned toward the door.

"Non-sense, ah won't have family having teh spend hard earned bits at the inn when they can stay with me, ah mean, it's the least ah could do for ya considerin ya brought me a letter and all these vittles while on yer vacation. Come on now, ah got two extra guest rooms that don't get used and could use another pony to talk to." He smiled.

"Ain't ya got a mare of yer own to keep ya company?" Midnight asked but regretted it seeing Braeburns expression turn a little sad.

"Nah, I've got my eye on a mare but she don't really know ah exist." He sighed.

"Really now? Have you spoken to her?" Midnight asked as they began to fill their plates.

"Well, everytime ah'm in Ponyville ah get to talk to her a little, but she is always zippin'bout and popping outta places that seem impossible from any other ponies point of view." He chuckled.

"Wait, that sounds a lot like a pink earth pony I know." Midnight cocked a brow at the thought but stopped as Braeburn spoke up.

"That would be Pinkie Pie." He smiled giving a contented sigh. "Ah sure wouldn't mind taking her out on the town for a night. Ah just can't get the chance to get her alone to talk though." He sighed as they sat down at the table and began to eat.

"You know, I could put in a good word for you if you want. Since I've arrived here I can teleport back to Ponyville and give her a letter if you want." Midnight smiled seeing his friends face beam.

"Ya would really do that?" He asked while standing up rather excited.

"Sure, what's family for if they can't help each other OUT!?" He squeaked loudly as he was brought into a tight hug.

"Thank ya so much, ah don't know how ah could repay ya." He smiled before releasing the Alicorn.

"Just promise me if you decide not to pursue the relationship with Pinkie that you will let her down gently. I know she is easily excited, but the thought of her having to loose a friend would devastate the poor mare."

"Midnight my friend, I have been after that pony for about three years now and never had a chance to let her know. But I can sure enough give you a letter to give to her that will tell her my feelings. Just don't read it." Braeburn said before giving a stern look.

"It's not in my nature to pry into others relationships. So if you ask me not to read it then I won't." Midnight smirked. "I'm guessing its quite mushy thought from the way yer acting." He continued only to cause the stallion to blush before sheepishly nodding.

"Not a problem, every stallion has a soft spot for the mare they love. So don't worry about me knowing. I know what it's like to have rumors spread about you from being an Alicorn and all." He laughed.

"Alright then, let me get the letter." Braeburn nodded as he made a quick trip into the next room before coming back with the letter in his mouth and giving it to Midnight who placed it into his stash portal.

"I'll deliver it as soon as we're done eating." He smiled causing Braeburn to gawk.

"Ya mean......... ya can deliver it just like that?" He gawked still.

"Yea, teleporting that distance isn't that hard and will only take a few minutes at most." Midnight smirked. "Why, you nervous?" he asked.

"A little, ah sure hope she accepts mah feelings though." He gulped at the thought of being turned down after three years of trying to find the courage to ask Pinkie on a date.

"Don't worry, if she can put up with me then i'm sure she can put up with any pony." Midnight laughed.

"Huh? What ya'll mean by that?" Braeburn asked.

"Well, she and I went out on a date once before but we both agreed that we weren't each others type, but we still remain the best of friends without things getting odd from having gone out before. Nothing happened between us though, and it was just a single date. She is a bit to energetic for me." He chuckled getting the same from Braeburn.

"Yea, thats what ah love about her, all the energy and eagerness to make everypony happy. I bet she would make for a wondering mother." He smiled.

"Dang boy, you got it bad don't ya?" Midnight chuckled seeing him blush.

"Just a little." He smirked back as they finished up their meal.

After a few minutes of convincing the Alicorn to stay with him as a guest, Braeburn watched as Midnight teleported from his home to deliver the letter. After a few minutes he began to worry. Ten minutes later and he was sweating bullets while waiting for Midnight to reappear.

*SNAP FLASH*

"Oh thank Celestia yer back Midnight. How did it go?" He asked as he was literally vibrating in anticipation.

"Well.......... " Midnight trailed off as Pinkie slowly trotted from behind him into view. "She wanted to give you a response in person after reading that letter." Midnight smiled as he watched Braeburn gawk in terror and anticipation as the Pink earth pony slowly walked up to him giving a soft smile. Braeburn was sweating profusely now as he awaited to either be bucked upside the head for the letter he had written, or to be hugged. As Pinkie got closer she gently pulled the stallion into a hug as he tensed up but quickly almost went limp in the embrace as he returned it.

"I wish you had told me a lot sooner." Pinkie gave a soft giggle pulling away.

"I'm sorry......... I tried so many times but could never get the courage up." He sighed looking away in shame.

"Well no need to worry now." Pinkie smiled before turning his face back to her with a hoof before giving him a kiss. After a few moments she broke the kiss smiling. "From what you wrote in that letter, I can tell that you are perfect for Pinkie." She smiled but stopped as she watched Braeburn's eyes roll back into his head and his body going limp in her arms. She gave a giggle looking back to Midnight. "To much?"

"To much." Midnight chuckled as he picked the stallion up and placed him on the couch. "This is going to be a long day." He laughed, taking a seat nearby. Pinkie getting a cold washcloth and playing doctor for her new stallion.