Oracle opened her eyes and looked around. Everything was black, but then a single light appeared in the darkness. Some dimly lit trees appeared as well as a river. However the river was not moving. Oracle looked at the beautiful landscape even though it was dark. She noticed a figure on the small cliff and headed towards it. She couldn't see very far, so she walked into the small cliff. As she approached, the crunching of the grass underneath her hooves started to mute. Oracle gasped at the sight she saw.

On the cliff was a pony, a pony that looked like her. This pony appeared to be much older, her body being more lean and feminine. Her mane kept down and it dropped past her hooves. Her peacock tail was longer and more defined. But a few things troubled Oracle. This older-version of herself had blood all over her hooves, flank, and tail. Her eyes were glowing a faint blue, no pupils showed. All of her bright colors were dark and evil. Oracle stopped when the older version moved slightly. She turned completely around, facing Oracle.

"It is good to see you" she said in a soothing voice. "I remember when I was that small and kind." Oracle was about to say something, but her older version of herself spoke before, "I will assure you Oracle, I am indeed you. And before you ask, I can read minds."

"Who…who are you…?" she managed to slip out. However Oracle's voice seemed very faint, almost inaudible.

"I am Wicked Oracle…that is what I call myself. I am essentially your dark side…"

"My…dark…side…!"

"Everypony has a dark side…you must know that of all ponies…" Wicked Oracle smiled as she focused more of her gaze at her younger self. "Our love…Midnight…he has a dark side. Our daughter…Cirria…has proven already that she has one. And now you, you see me…you have a dark side…" Wicked Oracle's tail began to slowly open, each tail feather managing to reveal itself. Oracle gasped, and Wicked Oracle smiled. "You like my tail…I must say age has its advantages…although becoming like me is more difficult than you think."

"Wh-What do you mean…?" asked Oracle.

"As the rest of me grew more powerful, my eyesight grew weak. I am blind, I cannot see." Her tail opened to a greater extent, "And now, you shall take your first step into becoming me…"

Wicked Oracle's tail swung, and several feathers shot out. They all did not hit her, but one sliced a bit off of Oracle's mane. They all stuck into the trunk of a tree that stood behind her. Oracle wanted to scream, but nothing escaped her lips. She wanted to run, but something prevented her legs from moving. Wicked Oracle approached her with a smile, "Enjoy your first steps…" Wicked Oracle's tail feathers swung at her at once, aiming for her eyes.

---

Oracle rose out of her bed screaming in pain. She steadied her breathing, trying grasp hold of her nightmare.

I…I have a dark side…why was I covered in blood…? Am I…am I really going to turn into her? But what troubles me more is her attack on me…what did she mean by my first steps…?

Oracle tried to look around her room, but everything appeared to be black. She looked around, with her eyes and her head, but all she saw was black. Oracle's new eyes started to form tears as she came to her realization, she was now blind.

Midnight woke up with a jolt. He did not have a nightmare, but he heard somepony scream. And it wasn't just any pony, it was Oracle. However this wasn't a regular scream, it was one of complete horror and pain. He slowly walked to the small bed that Cirria laid in. "Cirria…" he softly said, "Cirria, I will be back…" Cirria rolled in her sleep and mumbled, "Okay daddy…"

Midnight gently opened and closed the door once he left. His wings quickly opened and he took off with great speed. Midnight never bothered to land, he flew in through her door and looked around with his spike illuminating her home. "Oracle…Oracle! ORACLE! Where are you?!"

"Midnight?!" shouted a voice. Midnight took no time in flying towards the voice. He flew into a room where there were a few discarded candles. He lit them as he placed them back up. Oracle was on a bed, crying large and heavy tears. Midnight walked up behind her and placed his claw on her back. She gasped and turned to him. Her hooves began to feel his body and face, but then she hugged him tightly. "Midnight, I am so glad you're here!" she shouted. "I had this horrible nightmare and then…and then…" Midnight could feel tears beginning to fall on his back. He broke the hug and pushed her away to look into her eyes. Her eyes looked different, they seemed paler. "Oracle…what's wrong…?" asked Midnight.

Oracle's tears were very great, "Midnight…I'm blind…"

Midnight's heart sank and Oracle returned the hug and cried. Midnight was surprised she said that. He hugged her tightly, hoping this was a cruel prank or a bad dream, but it wasn't. The morning sun soon came and Midnight started to walk Oracle to the hospital.

---

Sitting inside the room was Oracle and Midnight. He was currently slumped over with tears falling from his eyes. Oracle had a sad expression on his face, but she could not see Midnight's. Their friends were outside of the room, peeing in.

"How do ya think he's taking it…?" asked Applejack.

"He doesn't seem too well…" said Rarity.

"I don't think a party will fix this at all…" said Pinkie Pie.

The hall doors opened suddenly as Cirria ran through. She ran past the crowd and ran into the room. Oracle heard the hoofsteps and turned to the door. Midnight saw Cirria with tears in her eyes as well. "Mother…?" she asked, "Are you really…?" Oracle nodded her head in sadness. Cirria hugged Oracle and started to cry. Oracle couldn't help but to feel happy that Cirria was here, even if she wasn't her real daughter. Outside, some of the others began to join.

"How long has she lost her sight?" asked Shard.

"According to her story, just this morning" replied Twilight.

"Man…that has to be tough for her" said Sparkplug. "I mean, she's a painter and she lost her sight! I would laugh if it wasn't so horrible."

"I believe Midnight is taking more of this sudden blindness than Oracle is" said Lightning.

"Hey Twilight, can't you just fix Oracle's eyes?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow, magic like that is tricky. If I mess the spell up by even the tiniest amount, something could go wrong with her. And I do not believe Midnight would be happy with that either."

The doctor strolled past them and entered the room. The others crowded around the door as the doctor read over the papers. "Now Oracle, we run some tests, and strangely we couldn't find what caused this sudden blindness" he started. "And unfortunately, we cannot find a way to stop it. I'm sorry to say, but it seems that you are now completely blind."

Midnight's hopes shattered and he stood there motionless. Cirria noticed her father in this state and tried to cheer him up. Oracle managed to face the doctor, "Is there any way for me to get around?"

"We're trying to put something together, but now you should just allow one of your friends to lead you around. And it seems you may need another, because he does not look very well."

Oracle turned to where she could hear Midnight's cries. Cirria was doing her best to comfort her father. Oracle managed to make her way over to where he was, and hug him. "Midnight…everything will be alright…" she said. Midnight hugged her back and Cirria joined in.

Hours later, Midnight walked Oracle back to her house. However, it was more like Cirria walked Oracle and Midnight to her home. Midnight was still in his depressed state after hearing the news on Oracle's blindness. When they stepped inside, light suddenly turned on and a group of ponies was inside. It was like a party, but it was more of a get well soon group. Everypony there was there to see if it was true that Oracle was blind and to wish her luck with her life. Midnight recognized most of these ponies from the meeting of unique ponies. Rubyrumor also revealed to everypony that she could not cause true chaos.

One moment, everypony started to gasp and scream. Midnight turned to see Sparkplug beginning to walk in. He wasn't sure why everypony was behaving like that until he saw a familiar set of eyes from behind him. Sparkplug was walking right beside Sapphire. Cirria hid behind Midnight and Oracle faced him, "Midnight…Midnight what's wrong?"

"Oracle…do you remember that snake pony from before?"

That is all Midnight had to say. Oracle's tail feathers spread out fast, unfortunately a few ponies were knocked over. Sapphire stopped a few feet from where they were standing. Sparkplug was beside Sapphire.

"What do you want Sapphire?!" shouted Oracle. "I may be blind but I will take everything down if I have to!"

"Oracle…I'm sssorry…" Those words were not expected from either Midnight or Oracle. They quickly relaxed, letting her talk. "I jussst came to sssee how you were doing. I'm ssstill mad at you for hurting me…but now I ssse the error I have done. Midnight doesss not love me, ssso I tried to force hisss love. But, after you fought me, I met sssomepony elssse…" Sparkplug smiled as well as Sapphire. Everypony gasped in horror, and Oracle did once Midnight told her who Sapphire was referring to. "Could you ever forgive me…?" Oracle slowly walked up to her until Midnight stopped her. Oracle let out a hoof, and Sapphire shook it. A few small cheers were heard after they stopped.

The party went on for a few more hours until the dark started to come. Everypony left after saying a final goodbye and a final good luck to Oracle. Midnight and Rubyrumor offered to clean up as Cirria helped with Oracle. Oracle couldn't help but smile as her daughter helped her. She also allowed Cirria to talk about her life at school and such. Even though it has only been about two weeks since Cirria joined them, but Oracle felt like she hasn't been a part of it that much.

"Mother…" asked Cirria, "Can you still paint?"

"Of course I can dear" said Oracle. Could you bring me to a canvas and paint?"

Cirria led Oracle to a canvas and levitated a paint brush and paint to her. Oracle grasped the brush in her mouth and began to paint. Cirria started to giggle but Oracle continued. "Uh…Oracle, what are you doing?" asked Midnight.

"I'm painting…" she managed to say with the brush in her mouth. She changed colors and painted again. Cirria was barely holding in a laugh and Rubyrumor was laughing as well. After she used one more color, the two burst into laughter. Oracle spat the brush out, "What is so funny?!"

"Oracle…your painting me instead…" replied Midnight.

Red flushed onto Oracle's face as she walked towards the sound of his voice. "Oh Midnight…I can't paint, what am I going to do…?"

"Listen, you do not have to worry about it" he said. "I told you before, no matter what you are, you will always be beautiful to me."

Oracle kissed his cheek, causing Rubyrumor to giggle. More hoofsteps were heard and everypony turned to see Zecora. Zecora had her saddle bag and she quickly approached Oracle, "You should have told me before my dear, otherwise you would have put fewer ponies in fear. I have this elixir that will aid as a cure, for your sight will return for sure."

Oracle was given the potion from Zecora's bag and she quickly drank it. Midnight watched as her blurry eyes started to clear up. Her eyes were pale before, but now you could see her pupil. Her eyes went wide when Midnight was across from her, "I can see!" She quickly hugged Midnight and he hugged back. Oracle looked at Midnight's body after she could see again. His face, body, flank, and parts of his wings were coated in several colors of paint. She could help but to giggle and Midnight blushed. Midnight faced Zecora, "Thank you Zecora!"

"I'm afraid you should not thank me yet, for I have to say something that I will soon regret. The potion I made fixed the sense she lost, but this one comes with a cost. You may have regained your sight, but now your eyes will see sooner see no light."

Oracle and Midnight gasped but Rubyrumor and Cirria were confused. Cirria approached Midnight, "Daddy…what does the zebra mean?"

Zecora looked at Cirria strangely at the mentioning of "daddy," but she did not let it get to her. "Cirria, Oracle may have regained her sight, but it means that she will lose her sight even faster than normally."

"Although Oracle's loss is not right, I can teach her to see a different light."

That night was the start for Oracle's training. Zecora said that she could teach Oracle to see auras, the living energy that surrounds almost everything. Of course, Midnight was more than happy to hear this. Oracle, on the other hand, was skeptical. She doubted that Zecora could teach a common Earth pony something magical. But, that did not stop her from getting interested. Midnight found that staying would only be a distraction, so he left. Cirria, however, wanted to stay. She wanted to spend time with her mother. Rubyrumor was exhausted from the party, so she retired to her room. Zecora seemed slightly upset by seeing her out, but she ignored it.

"Alright Zecora, how do we start?" asked Oracle.

Zecora reached into her bag and a pile of gold dust lay on her hoof. She exhaled, making the gold dust fly all across Oracle. Oracle coughed and blew the dust away. Suddenly, her eyes started to glow. "The dust I have blown has a special task" she started. "For the reason you do not need to ask. This dust will allow you to try, and see the world with a whole new eye. For this newfound power to be used and grow, closing your eyes is all you need to know."

Oracle was slightly confused, but it was worth a try. She closed her eyes and focused. At first, all she saw was the all too familiar sight of darkness. She was starting to worry that this would be all that she would see. However, a strange purple energy started to pulse. The ground started to form along with the stacked canvases and other objects on the walls and floor. Soon, Oracle was two purple blobs form in the darkness. The two blobs formed into the two shapes she recognized, Zecora and Cirria. But, their colors started to change. Cirria's took on a gray hue and Zecora's was more of a light green. Oracle reopened her eyes, seeing everything the way it should.

"So my dear, has the magic make you see clear?" asked Zecora.

"I was able to see you and Cirria and the room, but everything was in purple" she replied.

"Oh, I read about auras" said Cirria. "Yours must be purple, since you saw everything in that color. Did me a Zecora look any different?"

"Cirria, you were surrounded by a gray light. And Zecora, you were green. But I couldn't tell the color of anything else. I don't want to see everything in black, but will I be forced to see everything in purple?"

"You should not worry, for this power is new" she said. "Once it develops, good will come to you. But for now I'm afraid it is late, and I better go before a monster ruins my fate."

Zecora left with a goodbye from Cirria and Oracle. Cirria approached Oracle, "Mother, I know you will get that to work." Oracle smiled as she stroked her hoof through her mane. Oracle was starting to warm up to the small filly, daughter or not. However, Oracle realized that she had no bed for Cirria to sleep. Cirria noticed this just as they approached her bed. Cirria moved without Oracle saying anything. She grabbed a large pillow with her mouth and slowly began to drag it to the floor. She stopped a good few feet away and laid down. Oracle felt slightly guilty for not having a bed, but she also felt guilty for watching Cirria act like this. Oracle sighed, "Cirria…would you like to sleep with me?" she asked.

Cirria stepped up from the floor and flew towards Oracle. She tackled Oracle in a bunch of giggles, causing Oracle to laugh as well. Oracle tucked Cirria in as she laid on the covers. Oracle started to close her eyes, attempting to let her exhausted body to put itself to sleep. But Oracle's eyes and mind shot awake once she felt something wrap around her waist. She managed to move her head and saw who was grabbing her. It was Cirria, with her front legs wrapped around and a smile crept across her face. Oracle smiled, "Good night Cirria…" Cirria slightly shuffled, he embrace getting slightly tighter, "Good night mommy…I love you…" A smile formed on Oracle's face, the first time where she smiled after being called mommy. Oracle closed her eyes and then started to drift off to sleep.

---

When the next day came, Oracle found something troubling. Her eyesight was still good, she was not blind. But to her worry, Cirria was not longer beside her. Rubbing whatever was caught in her eye and yawning to relieve herself of any cling to sleep left, she got off the bed and walked around her other rooms. "Cirria…where are you?" Oracle received her answer when some of her blank canvases moved. Oracle gently pushed some away, revealing the weather alicorn hiding amongst them. "Cirria, what is wrong?"

Cirria stayed silent and never moved. Her wings were tight against her side, her tail on the ground, her eyesight resting on the floor. Oracle slowly walked to her, both curious and worried about her abnormal behavior. Cirria's eyes were glossy, meaning she was on the verge of tears. Oracle did the only thing she could do; she gently wrapped her front legs over the smaller filly's body. Cirria returned her hug, but it was not of any equal force.

"Mom…?" asked Cirria.

"What is it Cirria?" replied Oracle.

"Do I have to go to school today?"

"Why wouldn't you…" Oracle stopped herself. She now remembered. Ever since Cirria's "temper tantrum", she has missed school for quite some time. Cheerilee even stopped by Midnight's home for questions. In all of her heart, Cirria did not want to go to school, to face the fillies she knew as friends but to be turned down for being a monster. Oracle only hugged her tighter, "Cirria, I understand your fear. But you must go to school, you have already missed so many days. But I will promise you something, if you feel like you should come back home, I or your father will come to get you. Does that sound fair to you?"

Oracle laughed mentally on how mother-like she has become. She hated to admit it, but she know saw what Cirria saw in her. To Cirria, Oracle was a sense of guidance and wisdom. And with last night, Cirria also saw Oracle as a sign of comfort. Cirria sighed and looked up at Oracle, "You promise…?"

"I will even talk to your teacher about it."

Cirria wiped her almost teary eyes and nodded. Oracle gently allowed the alicorn filly to rest on her back as she walked to the school house. Along the way, they stopped by Sugarcube Corner for something healthy for the morning. Of course they laughed when they saw Midnight wearing yet another pink apron behind the counter. Midnight still wanted a white one, but he couldn't help but to admit that the pink one has grown on him. After their little snack, it wasn't far to get to the school house. As promised, Oracle talked to Cheerilee about Cirria's fear. Of course, being the loving and caring teacher she was, Cheerilee allowed it. Cirria felt a little better about going in, but not so much on everypony's reactions. But she hugged her mother one last time before they departed.