Colors flowed in Midnight’s mind again as he waited patiently for them to form Vinyl. He did not expect what came of this however. Vinyl formed as he predicted, but she was also bare as the day she was brought into this world. Midnight couldn't help but run his eyes all over her, hungrily memorizing her body’s details as she walked forward. She leaned up and whispered in his ear, “You like what you see, I know you do. But..." Midnight "felt" cold steel being rammed through his heart and stammered back, grasping at where the base of the knife jutted out from his chest. "... What would make you think that I could ever feel the same about you?" Vinyl asked coldly as she turned and walked off into the darkness.

Midnight fell to his knees as red pulsated out in steady waves as his heart only quickened his bleed out. Once Midnight was sure no more blood could come forward, he fell forward. Once his face made contact with the darkness that was the proverbial ground, he was in new surroundings. Midnight was sitting in a solid gold throne, Celestia in one of diamond and other gems encrusted into the sleek marble. Ahead of him a cobblestone courtyard filled with an angry crowd roaring their uneasiness. A wood executioner’s block stood in the center, the crowd staying 50 or so feet away from it at all angles in front of the thrones. The block was well-stained from years of use, changing the light brown wood to a sickly dark red. A massive executioner stood next to the block, long sword tip resting on the ground between his feet as he awaited the prisoner to be brought forward.

Midnight looked off to his left and saw two royal guards dragging someone between them, he couldn't tell who right now at his current location. As they progressed down the small walkway, Midnight saw that they were dragging Kid Vinyl between them. "Nooo!" Midnight screamed, struggling to stand up but found that he couldn't. He looked down to see rusty iron shackles over each wrist, binding him to his seat. He tested his legs and felt the same resistance, he was effectively immobilized. This didn't stop Midnight from struggling to free himself as Kid Vinyl was dragged slowly to the block. Midnight tried his magic, again to no avail. A soft multi-colored glow emanated from the tip of his horn and he turned to see Celestias horn was the cause.

"Fuck you, let me go! Vinyl!" Midnight yelled out as he continued to struggle against his bindings.

The guards stopped behind the block. "I command you, let her free!" Midnight yelled out.

Kid Vinyl was forced to her knees. "VINYL!!! NNNOOOOOOOOO! STOP THIS NOW!" Midnight yelled.

Kid Vinyl was bent over the block. "DAMNIT, NO!!! VINYL!!!" Midnight cried out.

The executioner raised the long sword. "NOOOOOOOOO!!! LET HER GO!!!" Midnight was hoarse.

The sword fell with a sickening crunch as the crowd cheered at the show of blood.

Midnight let out an inhuman yell of pain and grief, a noise that would shake a man to his very soul. Once the blade had fallen, Midnight's restraints blew away as little more than dust. It was far too late, Midnight fell into his throne as sobs forced their way through him. The guards brought Vinyl's head to him by her electric blue hair, her cutie mark halved and matted with dark red stains. She looked at him with eyes that cried blood tears, “Why did you leave me? I loved you and you ran off to the castle with your mommy. You let me die inside." Midnight could only stare in horror as Kid Vinyl's head spoke to him, sobbing as she began to fade away.

The guards soon faded as well, followed by what remained of Kid Vinyl and the block. The executioner faded in the same fashion followed by the crowd as their cheers became distant, hollow. The courtyard slowly crumbled and fell into nothingness, piece by piece. The last thing to fade away was Celestias face, a hellish grin plastered to her face. Midnight curled up and cried, feeling heartbreak, fear, pain, and defeat. He wasn't falling, but wasn't on the ground. Rather, suspended in the cold unforgiving black. He cried and cried, until his eyes burned and his lungs ached for air.

He felt ground solidify beneath his side and heard footsteps grow closer. They stopped in front of him and he felt himself being lifted up, loving hands holding him close to Luna. He desperately wrapped his arms around her, wanting someone, anyone to hold as he choked on sobs. The two remained this way for what could have been forever, time was of no concern to Midnight right now. After a long, long time, Midnight calmed down long enough to speak to Luna. "Ho-How much di-did you see?" Midnight stuttered between ragged breathes.

"Enough, Nighty. I saw enough." Luna said softly, quietly.

"What caused this nightmare?" Midnight asked quietly, no longer able to cry from sheer exhaustion.

"Only you know the answer to that Nighty." Luna replied in a sad tone.

"It's because I love her, isn't it?" Midnight asked.

"Yes. You must want to be with her so badly." Luna replied.

"I knew you could tell what I was thinking." Midnight said.

"Only so much." Luna simply said.

"What if she doesn’t feel the same? What if it ruins our friendship?" Midnight asked, looking up to Luna.

"Now that, you will have to answer by yourself." Luna said.

Within Vinyl's Mind

Vinyl was surrounded by darkness. It was unending, suffocating, and ruthless. Vinyl began to panic, even if it was just a dream. She ran forward, hoping to find something, anything else than this reached darkness. Her footfalls were heavy, her breaths coming in ragged pants, her legs burned for more air, but she kept running. When Vinyl thought she would pass out from exhaustion, a faint light shone down on a lone figure ahead of her. She rushed forward, glad to be able to find something else than darkness. But it was a blessing in disguise as she approached and saw what it really was.

It was Kid Midnight, once again holding a blade to his wrist, the emotional free-for-all raging in him for round two. As much as she didn't want to, Vinyl couldn't look away from the scene, almost as if she was bound to her current front-row spot to this dark thought that was playing in the theater of her thoughts and emotions. She looked at his wrist and saw the scars weren’t there yet. She was witnessing the first time all over again. The knife moved from to the ready and almost slipping from his grasp several times as emotions flew across his face. With a deep breath, Midnight readied the knife to do his bidding, and Vinyl felt more tears as Midnight slid the blade over himself.

Vinyl felt a sharp pain on her left wrist and looked down to it to be greeted with a red line opening as Midnight inflicted his own scar. Every one of the three white line formed that night also formed on Vinyl as she cried from a mixture of physical and emotional pain. Once the last had finished dragging itself across their wrists, Kid Midnight suddenly became aware of Vinyl standing there, blood dripping of her fingertips as she watched and cried. Kid Midnight quickly hid his own wounds in an attempt to hide it from his adult baby sister. "What are you doing here?" Kid Midnight asked once Vinyl's cries subsided.

"... I... don't know." Vinyl quietly responded, looking down to the floor in shame.

"I'm not so sure about that. I think you know why you're here." Kid Midnight said, turning to face her more completely. Vinyl looked at him and thought on what he had said.

"I... feel bad. Like this was my fault. Like I could have stopped it. Could have helped you. But I didn't." Vinyl said after a while, realizing the truth of her words as she said them.

Kid Midnight looked up to her, “Why is that? It was my choice, not yours. I wanted this." Vinyl thought that over as well, it's not like she had placed the thought in his mind all those years ago.

"Because... Because you got hurt. I feel like I could have protected you." Vinyl said, red slowly flowing from her wrist, the rhythmic drip-drip-drip of drops falling to a slowly growing puddle.

"Yeah, I got hurt. I hurt for a long time before I did this. You know that, we shared everything with each other. I did this to try to hurt less inside by hurting outside." Kid Midnight explained, motioning Vinyl closer with his right hand. She walked forward and sat down in a chair that had morphed out of the surrounding black. The blood puddle followed her as well, its drips never ceasing.

"I still feel like I could have helped you without you making those scars. Like I could have saved you from yourself." Vinyl said, taking Kid Midnight's right hand in hers.

"Vinyl, you saved me in every way that day we became friends. But I still hurt from mom's abandonment. No matter how hard you tried, I don't think you could have ever helped me with that. I don't know if I'll ever get over it." Kid Midnight said, a sad undertone claiming his voice when he spoke of Celestia.

"But that's where you're wrong. I won't stop until your better. Even if it's the last thing I do. I will help you through this." Vinyl said, giving Kid Midnight's hand a small squeeze.

Kid Midnight looked at her with confusion and gratitude, “Why would you do that?"

Vinyl smiled at Kid Midnight. "Because I love you." She said.

"I know you love me baby sis, but that can't be the only reason." Kid Midnight said, still confused at Vinyl's response.

"No, Nighty. I love you, with all my heart. I've loved you for so long, but you only see me as baby sis." Vinyl said sadly, earning a surprised look from Kid Midnight.

"... I love you too." Kid Midnight said. Vinyl and Kid Midnight looked down to their wrists and saw the red slowly closing itself, one line at a time.

"That's all it's going to take? I just need to tell you that I love you...?" Vinyl asked staring in shock as the last line closed and the blood evaporated.

"I... guess so. I've wanted to hear you say that for so long... It'll be a start at least." Kid Midnight said.

The Apartment

Vinyl rose as she slowly woke from the dream. She eyed the clock, sighing once more. '3:00 a.m. That is NOT gunna become a regular thing, is it?' Vinyl thought to herself as she looked over to Midnight. Midnight was moving slightly in his sleep, head turning from one side to the other, mumbling incoherently. Vinyl ran a hand down his cheek and felt a cold sweat had formed on him.

"No... Vinyl..." Midnight mumbled, moving his head more quickly. Vinyl was confused, to see the least. She knew he must be having a nightmare, but she didn't know if she should wake him or not. "Vinyl... NOO!" Midnight yelled as he shot up with ragged breaths. Midnight looked around for a moment before noticing that Vinyl was right next to him. And awake. Oh, shit, she's awake! 'Okay Midnight, just tell her you had a bad dream and you'll be all good.' Midnight thought to himself. Midnight felt himself grab Vinyl in a massive hug and softly cry into her shoulder. 'Or you can do this. That's cool too.' Midnight mentally kicked himself.

"It's okay Nighty. I'm here." Vinyl softly cooed as she returned his hug and ran her fingers through his hair. They sat like this for a while, neither was keeping an eye on the time. All that mattered was the other, nothing else in the world. Slowly, they both fell back onto the bed, still wrapped tightly in each other’s arms as sleep claimed them once again.

Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestias Bedroom

"Tia! Wake up Tia!" Luna said, rocking her sister back and forth. Celestia slowly opened her eyes and focused them on Luna.

"Luna, the kingdom had better be burning down if you are to wake me at this hour." Celestia said, the aggravation in her voice clear.

"It's the nightmares Tia. He's having them again." Luna said, ignoring her sister's irritation. Celestia quickly rose to sitting position.

"What should we do?" Celestia asked, concern in her groggy voice. Luna stood up fully and turned to the door.

"He will be better soon. We simply need to watch Vinyl heal him." Luna said, opening to door.

"Why did you wake me up if there is no course of action that I should take?" Celestia asked her sister.

"You’re his mother. You should be the first to learn of these things." Luna said as she closed the door. Celestia stared after her.

'Is it true? Is the healing really going to begin?' Celestia thought hopefully.