After finally making his way out of town, Midnight had arrived after a few minutes of walking, to the edge of Sweet Apple Acre's. As he walked along though, his old home and Braeburn's came into view. It was still early in the day, just after lunch if Midnight could determine the suns actual spot in the sky at that moment. So there was just a couple of hours left before his children would be out of class. Although he would hate to make these next few meetings quick, he could always come back the following day to make amends and spend more time with everypony.

Making his way up to his old house, his ears swiveled forward as he heard some giggling coming from behind the house, then laughter. Of course, being his nosy self he couldn't help but make his way to the far side of the house and peek around the corner to see what foals were making playing back there. As he peeked around the corner, her smiled seeing two little foals playing on a swing set. One a little earth pony and the other a pegasus. The little pegasi was pushing their sibling on the swing before jumping onto the one next to them and using their wings to propel them backwards quickly to gain height before folding them back and squealing loudly as they swung forward.

'This is to cute.' Midnight thought to himself as he watched the duo play. After a minute though he turned, heading back to the front of the house and trotting up onto the porch. Giving the door a quick knock, he listened as a feminine voice announced herself from inside.

"Coming." She spoke out as she opened the front door, gasping upon seeing the Alicorn standing there smiling to her.

"Hey Shy, been a long tiiIIIIIMMMMEE!" He squealed out as he was suddenly wrapped into a hug by a shivering pegasi. He sat down quietly as he let her sob quietly into his chest for a few minutes until she finally pulled away, wiping her cheeks as she went.

"Midnight, when did you......." She gestured to him with her hooves.

"Twilight found a counter spell thingy and freed me this morning. She's at the library right now, while I'm out saying hello to all of my good friends." He said while giving her another hug.

"I should say so, she has been gone for five years, as have you. Have you gone to see the others yet?" Fluttershy stated rather boldly without a hint of shyness in her voice.

"I was just going to go see Pinkie and Braeburn next, unless the big guy is home. I'd like to say hello to him." He chuckled.

"Macintosh is in the fields with his sisters bucking apples as they always do. I am here taking care of the foals. The same as I have since they were born." She giggled but stopped as realization hit her. She turned to see the confused look across Midnight's face before giving a giggle. "Macintosh and I had twins. Come outside and I'll introduce you to them." She beamed with pride as she headed through the house and out the back door, Midnight hot on her heels.

"Kids, we have a very special visitor. Please come and say hello to him." Shy stated loudly to the children as they quickly left the swing set and trotted quickly over to her before stopping as they looked up to the Dark Alicorn in awe.

"Children, This is Midnight Flame, he is a friend that has been away for a long time. He is the one who set your father and I up on our first date." She giggled giving a slight blush.

"He looks really neat." The little colt pegasi stated as he fluttered his wings, flying around him to get a better look.

"He's reeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig!" The little filly earth pony stated while staring up to him. Midnight lowering his head toward the filly and smiling.

"It's very nice to meet you miss.........." He trailed off hoping she would get the hint.

"I'm Honey Luck." The little earth filly smiled brightly.

"And I'm Little Macintosh." The colt stated proudly as he landed next to his sister.

"Well then miss Luck, and Lil'Mac. It's a pleasure to to meet you." Midnight smiled to them causing them to beam back.

"Can we go an play some more?" Honey asked Shy causing her to nod.

"Yes, but just for another twenty minutes, lunch is almost ready." Shy said causing them to nod before running back to the swing set.

Midnight and shy turned, heading back into the house. Chatting along the way.

"Two kids huh? I bet that was a surprise." Midnight chuckled seeing her smile softly.

"It was, especially for Macintosh. It was around a year after you were............. well, it was about a year after that when we had them. Following Apple family tradition, we didn't find out if they were a filly or colt until they were born. Even then we didn't know we were having twins. It was a very big surprise. It was just a good thing that we had already picked out a colt and filly name ahead of time." Fluttershy giggled as they sat down at the kitchen table, looking out the window to see the two still happily playing on the swing set.

"I'm glad they turned out healthy and happy. I bet Big Mac had more pride than any other father in Ponyville when he found out he had two foals instead of just one." Midnight chuckled.

"Yes, he was, and still is. Your son and daughter have come over quite often to play with them as well. I just feel awful though that they had to be without you for so long though." Shy sighed looking to the ground.

"Hey, it's all in the past. I have a long future ahead of me though to make up for it, so don't think for a second that I would neglect them anymore than I already have." Midnight chuckled as he pulled the yellow pegasus into a gentle hug.

"I'm glad that you havent' changed Midnight." She giggled. "Now go, say hello to Pinkie for me. I have some lunch to prepare for my babies." She smiled to him as he gave a nod in return. Taking his leave he wave goodbye to the foals and quickly trotted across the road to Braeburn's home. Just as he was about to knock on the door however, he was bowled over by a couple of ponies. One he recognized immediately as Pinkie Pie. The other being young colt with a golden coat with a bright red mane and tail.

"OH MY GOSH! Midnight! You're back!?!?!?!" Pinkie shouted as she hugged the Alicorn tightly around the neck making him squeak out.

"Nice to GCK see you again Pinkie." He managed just before she let go ad sat down on his chest while smiling down to him.

"Now Pinkie, ah toldya teh stop pouncing visitors an'all. Ya'll er gonna scare'm off at this rate." Braeburn's voice carried on from inside the house. He stopped at the doorway as he noticed the large Alicorn laying on his back beneath the hyper pink pony. "Holy............. MIDNIGHT!? Is that really you?!" He shouted in shock as he shooed Pinkie and the young colt from atop of him.

Midnight turned over giving a laugh as he pulled himself upright, then sweeping the three into a big hug. "Yes it is, and I have missed that Pinkie hug terribly." He chuckled before setting them down.

"Momma? Is this the pony you told me about?" The little colt asked as he beamed between Pinkie and Midnight.

"Momma?! So I take it you and Braeburn........" Midnight smirked to the two causing them both to blush.

"Married once we found out she was with this'n." Braeburn chuckled as he pulled the colt into a noogie hug, only to make him giggle loudly and pull free before tackling the stallion to the floor.

"Yep. Golden Ginger is our little bundle of joy." Pinkie giggled as the colt bolted to her side giving a bright smile, Braeburn right behind him.

"I'm very happy for you two. I take it my son and daughter come by to play with him as well as Fluttershy's foals?" He asked while cocking a brow down to the young colt.

"Yep, we have all kinds of adventures!" Golden beamed.

"OH! Have you met the others yet?" Pinkie asked as she looked out the door and around at seemingly nothing.

"All that's left is Applejack, Big Macintosh, Applebloom, Granny Smith, and Scootaloo, among other friends." Midnight smiled but stopped as he noticed the sad expression on Pinkie's face.

"Um....... Midnight........" Pinkie trailed off as her mane and tail began to deflate slightly. Braeburn placing a hoof onto her should and giving her a nod toward the kitchen.

"Ah'll tell'em sugar. You go on inside." The yellowish stallion said before stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind them.

"Braeburn?" Midnight began but stopped as he watched the saddened expression spread across Braeburn's face.

The two took a seat on the porch for a minute before the earth pony began.

"Night, Granny Smith passed a couple years back." He spoke in a low tone causing Midnight to visibly stare in disbelief. "Ah'm sorry, but she caught a nasty cold a couple winters back. It got worse an she refused any magical medical treatment. All apples'er stubborn like that. She passed in her sleep though, so she didn't suffer none. AJ, AB, and Big Mac took it purty hard though. After loosing their parent's and having their granny teh take care of'em for so long. It was a hard hit for'em. When ya go over there teh suprise'm, don't mention Granny Smith none awright?"

The Alicorn gave a heavy sigh as a tear streamed down his cheek. Looking up to the earth pony he gave a saddened smile before speaking.

"Thanks fer letting me know. At least I can do something to help them ease through it all. Now that I'm back an'all." He smiled softly. "Guess I had better get over to the farm and say hi. Not long now before I have to go pick up the kids from class., but I'll be back in a day or so. I have a lot of catching up to do."

"Thanks fer stopping by Night. Tell cuz ah said hi." Braeburn shouted as the Alicorn trotted quickly from the porch and toward the farmhouse within Sweet Apple Acres.