Midnight had arrived after an exhausting walk to the depths of the castle. Taking many stairwells further and further down. Upon arriving however the layout of the archives seemed chaotic in nature. The guard that had led Midnight there gave the archivist the scroll Celestia had made out to him. Without looking at it, the older looking pony sat back into his seat as his unfaltering gaze rested onto midnight.

The low light of the magical lamps adorning the walls seemed to brighten slightly as the old stallion leaned back into his seat, the musk of damp air residing through the entire room. Rows of books and scrolls running along the walls of the room. A small glowing lamp at the desk of the archivist sitting behind it. The old pony wore a ragged looking tunic that fell over his flank and tail. The only visible color he had was his crimson red coat and deep grey mane. His face tired and aged, his left eye glazed over instilling darkness into his vision. Midnight stepped closer to him as he opened the scroll. The flickering fire from his mane adding to the already dim light of the room.

"So, Celestia is giving you permission to use one of our ancient texts is she?" The old unicorn looked slowly and shakily from the scroll to Midnight his expression seemingly neutral.

"Give me a moment and I shall bring the book to you." He spoke as he slowly rose from his seat, his speed making even Granny smith seem fast, as he walked over to a shelf. In front of the shelf was a small pedestal with an encased book. All around it were magical locks. The old unicorns horn glowed gently as clicks from the locks could be heard disengaging and letting the glass slowly rise from the book. Midnight walked over to the old unicorn as he looked back to Midnight.

"Do be careful with this book. It is as old as Celestia herself. If not more." He spoke again, a tinge of fear behind his voice.

"There will be no need to even touch the book my friend. It shall remain here, All I need to do is a single spell and its contents will be engraved into my memory." Midnight smiled gently causing the older pony's brows to rise in surprise.

"That spell must be new, I have never heard of it before. It must come in quite handy at times." He smiled as he watched Midnight cast the spell onto the book then release it. The older pony watched as Midnight's face slightly contorted after scanning the book.

"Is something wrong?" He spoke softly watching Midnight.

"N-no, It's just that the contents of this book are............" He trailed off.

"Puzzling? Yes I can understand that. I have read the book countless times attempting to decode all that lies within, I have spent the better part of the last century alone on this book alone. Maybe one day, it's secrets will be revealed. Until then though, one can only hope." The archivist gave a soft chuckle as he placed the glass back onto the case and reengaging the locks.

As the locks were replaced the archivist walked slowly back to his seat. Midnight close behind.

"You said you've spent the better part of the century looking over the text. How old are you exactly?"

The old pony gave a hardy laugh this time surprising Midnight.

"Almost as old as time itself. Celestia herself could not even hold a candle to my age." He gave a small smirk, the wrinkles across his face bending to his smile.

"That is quite a long time. May I ask......" He was cut short as the old pony raised a hoof to stop him.

"I'm afraid that is a story for another time young one. Please do come and see me again, even if it does not involve researching the ancient texts." He smiled waving a hoof from his center to his side slowly, making his chair turn with a loud squeal as it turned with his momentum.

"I will, and thank you for your time." He spoke nodding to the elder as he left the archive, the guard at his side.

After making his way back to the surface and out of the castle, Midnight took flight toward Cloudsdale to arrive at the Cloudisium. Although the flight was short and uneventful, simply looking at the line ahead of him took all of his ambition to stay.

"Good grief at the line." He spoke as he stood behind roughly several hundred Pegasus ponies. As he stood there though, many eyes began to fall on him in question. His attention however was kept to the line ahead of him.

After about an hour standing in line it had diminished by almost half. Midnight was beginning to grow impatient as he continued standing there. 'Just keep it up, This is for Dash's present.' He thought to himself.

After another two hours he finally arrived to the front of the line walking up to the window, a smaller baby blue pegasus with a white mane behind the window.

"How can I help you today sir?" She chirped happily.

"Finally made it, Yes I'd like to get an advance ticket to the Wonderbolt's show next spring, and can you make it the specialty ticket?" He sighed tiredly. The little pony behind the counter cringed slightly.

"I'm sorry sir but this line is for Sapphire Shores tour. Our advance tickets are the next window over." She pointed with her hoof to the vacant line with noone standing there.

Midnight gawked for a moment before looking at her. "You have to be joking. I've been standing in this line for three hours. Please tell me your joking." He groaned rubbing his temples with his hooves.

"No sir, plus there is a special entrance for royalty to pass the line entirely."

Midnight's eye twitched slightly as he stepped over to the next window, another pony with orange hair and vintage style glasses adorning her face.

"Can I help you?" She spoke with an annoyed tinge to her voice not even looking up.

"I'd like to purchase a couple Special seating Wonderbolt's ticket's please." The irritation in his voice seemingly drowning out hers.

"Thank you sir, that will be seven hundred bits." she said as she waited for the bits to come across the counter.

Midnight groaned hearing the price but forked over the bits. The annoying Pegasus pressing the tickets under the glass, Midnight quickly gathering them up and placing them into his saddlebag. He turned taking flight into the air away from the stadium heading back to Ponyville.

"Ugh! Three down, three to go." He spoke to himself as he started to regret having ever thought of getting his friends any presents.

He arrived back in Ponyville before Dusk. The orange and red fire playing across the sky turning the once white clouds into a bright spectacle to behold. He gave a heavy sigh landing in front of Sugar Cube Corner and making his way inside. Upon entering, he saw Pinkie playing with the foals.

"Hey Pinkie." Midnight smiled as she waved in return, the two foals bouncing on her as if she were a giant pillow.

"Are the Cakes in?" he asked. Pinkie giggled at the two foals pointing to the kitchen looking at Midnight.

He made his way into the kitchen to see the Cakes cleaning up the mess from the day. Mr. Cake noticing him enter the kitchen put down what he was doing and walked up to Midnight.

"Well hey there. I take it your trip to Canterlot was successful?" He smiled.

"Yes sir, I have all the supplies right here in my bags. Let me just get these tickets and your welcome to the bag." Midnight smiled pressing his nose into the bag after placing it on the floor in front of him, quickly pulling to shiny tickets from them.

"Oh my, are those what I think they are?" Mrs. Cake smiled trotting up, forgetting what she was doing as she looked at the tickets.

"Special seating to the Wonderbolt's, I got them for Rainbow Dash for Hearthswarming. I know she really likes them from what I could tell earlier. Figured I'd get them for her." He smiled but gave a loud gasp as a pink blur flashed in front of him making the tickets disappear.

"OMIGOSH! Dashie will be SOOOOOO happy to get these. Oh I can't wait to tell her." She spoke causing the three to gasp.

"Pinky! No!" Midnight began catching her attention, her bouncing halting in mid air as she looked to Midnight.

"You can't tell anyone about those tickets. It's a gift for Hearthswarming. If you tell anyone then Dash will find out and ruin the surprise." Midnight pouted taking the tickets from her grasp with his magic.

"Ok, I won't say anything. I just want to see her face when she finds out though. She might explode from being so happy, and thats something I've always wanted to see." She giggled.

"You want to see a pony explode from being so happy? Is that even possible?" Midnight cocked a brow staring at the pink pony.

"Yea! I do it all the time. OH! What are you getting me for Hearthswarming?" She smiled widely.

"Now Pinky, You will have to wait to get your present as well. Good thing I hid it so you cant find it." Midnight laughed.

"You hid it!?" Pinky gasped.

"Yes, and no you can't look for it either. It's a surprise." He smirked.

"Ok." Pinky smiled then disappeared into the other room with the foals.

Midnight gave a questionable look to the Cakes who only shook their heads giving a soft chuckle.

"I'll get back to you two tomorrow night ok?" Midnight smiled receiving a nod from the Cakes.

It was getting late and Midnight still had three other Ponies to get present's for. Not to mention write a book for Twilight. He headed toward the Library, quietly walking inside to see a small glow coming from behind a large stack of books.

"Twilight? You awake?" he whispered as he neared the books looking around the side to see Twilight asleep, her face resting on an open book. He smiled watching as she tossed slightly turning her head and snuggling the book to her.

"You are something else Twi." He chuckled quietly to himself as he pulled a blanket over her. grabbing a blank journal from the shelf, a quill and inkwell from Twilight's desk and heading into the main room of the library. He sat down pulling a small lantern from nearby and placing the book in front of him as the quill dipped into the inkwell then started to write into the open book.

The night carried on for some time until dawn could be seen from the windows. Midnight gave a large yawn as he finished the book placing the worn quill and near empty inkwell back onto Twilight's desk. The book he pulled with him as he climbed the stairs to his guest bed, quickly laying down, his eyes closing and sleep taking him as he hit the pillow.

Midnight awoke to a crash downstairs. Quickly forgetting the book he leapt from his bed heading downstairs to see several broken shelves and many books littering the floor. To the side sat a stunned purple dragon rubbing his head.

"Spike? You alright?" Midnight asked as he stepped over to the little dragon.

"Yea, I'm fine. Those shelves just up and broke when I was putting books up. Twilight is going to be so mad when she get's back." Spike groaned pulling his face down in worry.

"I'll see if I cant fix them little bro. Just sit back and relax for a bit." Midnight reassured him as his magic went to work on the shelves.

An hour went by before the shelves had been repaired and the books replaced and organized. A very grateful purple dragon giving Midnight a hug as well.

Twilight slowly made her way through the front door, a floating bag of books being floated in behind her.

"Hey Twi, need some help?" Midnight smiled surprising her.

"HEY! Oh no, I'm fine. Just getting these books into the libraries office. They need organized, categorized, and shelferized." She giggled causing Midnight to cock a brow at the terrible joke.

"Come again?" he asked.

"They need to be sorted, stamped and placed on the shelf." Twilight deadpanned.

"Ah, gotcha." Midnight winked.

Twilight sat the books down giving a large yawn. "I think its time for a nap. I don't have anything planned for the day, plus I've been up since early. Time for a little shut eye." She gave a tired smile heading upstairs. Midnight wishing her sweet dreams. After a moment her remembered the book he had written the previous night. He gasped running up the stairs just in time to see Twilight picking up the book with her magic. He leapt over her grabbing the book and crashing across the room into her bed.

"Ouch." He groaned as he fell over sitting upright.

"Midnight?! What in the name of Celestia is wrong with you? Why did you grab that book?" She asked in shock.

"Well....... I............. Uh.................." He trailed off smiling.

"Midnight. What's in that book?" She asked trying to pull it from his grasp with her magic.

"No! Twilight, you can't read this book. It's a surprise!" He shouted holding onto the book as Twilight lifted it and him off the bed.

She immediately stopped, dropping Midnight onto the bed with the book.

"A surprise huh? This wouldn't be a Hearthswarming present would it?" She gave a sly smile causing him to facehoof.

"No.......... Yes................. Maybe?" He grinned sheepishly.

"Well if it is a gift then I won't pursue it. As much as I dislike surprises at times I'm sure that if it's from you then it will be a fantastic gift." She smiled as she jumped into bed pulling the covers over her. Midnight to her bedside.

"Thanks Twi, I hope you like it." He smiled as he got up trotting out of the room back downstairs to see a weird look on Spike's face.

"Oh hey, I have a question for you little bro." Midnight asked coming up to Spike.

"Whatsup?" Spike asked picking up a few books.

"What would you like for Hearthswarming?" Midnight asked making Spike stop to think, placing a claw onto his chin.

"Hmmmmmmm. How about a few giants gemstones? Those are easy to find. You'll need to speak to Rarity or Twilight to get the spell to find them though unless you just want to start digging in random spots." Spike chuckled.

"Well, Twi is taking a nap so the only option I have is Rarity. I'll seeya around little bro." Midnight smiled to Spike as he exited the Library making his way toward the boutique.

Midnight arrived at the boutique within a few minutes of walking from the library. As usual, Rarity was slaving away at the sewing machine.

"Hey princess, you got a minute?" Midnight smirked causing the ivory pony to turn around quickly.

"PRINCESS?! WERE!?" She squeaked looking around the room only to find Midnight.

"Yes Princess, I'm talking to you." He laughed giving Rarity a nuzzle.

"Oh you are so mean to me at times. I'm beginning to think you prefer Twilight's company over mine for as much time as you spend with her." Rarity playfully whined at Midnight.

"Well, I was going to need her help but she is taking a nap. Spike advised me though that you know the same spell to locate gemstones. Can you teach me?" He asked taking a seat next to her.

"Well darling, I'm no good at teaching the spell. However I do have the spell book regarding that specific spell. Your more than welcome to it. Plus if you don't mind, could you bring me some gems back as well? I need all I can get for these next few orders." She smiled as she floated the book from her desk to in front of him.

"Sure thing. Any specific gems you need?"

"Well......" She thought for a moment pulling a hoof to her chin rubbing it gently.. "I'll need plenty of Diamonds, Sapphires and Rubies. But if you can find some Fire Rubies and Emeralds please bring those as well." She smiled giving him a quick kiss.

"Alright. I have one more question." He smirked as Rarity turned to him cocking her head waiting for the question, He just smiled looking up to his horn then back to her. She gave a devious grin tackling him to the ground kissing him passionatly.

After what seemed like an eternity Midnight managed to pull away from the kissing ivory pony, making his way toward the one place he would rather not return to. The Diamond Dog Fields.