//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: All Good Things End // Story: After Midnight // by Nebula Star //------------------------------// After Midnight By Nebula Star Part 1: The Darkest Night *** Chapter 1: All Good Things End *** Weaving through the trees in almost completely silent flight, a white coated pegasus glanced back the way she'd come to make sure she'd lost the manticore. It hadn't been happy to find her in its territory and the last thing she wanted to do was lead an angry monster back to the colony. She smiled, her wings weren't tingling anymore; she wasn't being pursued. Slowing down now that she was in the clear, she began making her way back toward her home. The bundles on her back making her smile in anticipation. It had been difficult, but she had gotten what she'd been after in the manticore territory; a special type of sugar cane that most ponies, especially young fillies and colts, loved. Such treats were rare, but this was a special occasion. The second bundle she carried was the larger of the two. That one she had gathered before going after the sugar cane, and was simply a variety of flowers and leaf vegetables that could be found in the forest. She'd been foraging most of the day to gather so much; a dangerous amount of time to spend out in the depths of the forest. Of course, the colony was also deep within the forest; but there at least they were protected by a wall and their sturdy homes. Not to mention a day and night guard patrol of volunteers. They had to work together to survive. That was the way of the world. It was better to live hidden in the forest and brave its dangers, than to suffer under Midnight Star's reign. She felt anger rise in her heart as she thought of the Empress. In the past she'd always liked to befriend everypony she met, but anypony that enjoyed causing others to suffer definitely didn't deserve her friendship. Word was that Midnight Star had forced those few ponies that still lived within the old capitol city into being her slaves, and that her own terrifying brand of chaos had gripped the lands surrounding her dark castle. There had even been rumors of attacks on other colonies. Just then her own colony came into view, causing her to smile. It was run down, and not much to look at, but it was home. The ponies of Equestria had learned long ago that if you wanted anything resembling a stable life, then you couldn't live under Discord's rule. The only other options however were trying to escape the tyrant's domain, or live as outlaws, hidden in the depths of the great forests. Very few had escaped during Discord's reign. As a result most ponies had chosen in to flee into the forests. There had been some hope when Discord had been defeated that they would be able to leave the forests, but then word had spread that Midnight Star was even worse than Discord and far more vicious; so they had remained hidden among the trees. But the forests held dangers of their own and life wasn't easy. Large colonies attracted large monsters but at the same time had a better chance of defending themselves. Small colonies had to rely on going unnoticed. Hers was a small colony. As deep as they were in the forest; the settlement was completely hidden by the canopy above and hardly visible through the underbrush of the great forest. A small cliff ran along one side, low enough so it didn't create a break in the forest canopy, but high enough to discourage predators and monsters from getting into the colony that way. Walls surrounded the rest of the colony, built high and sturdy to keep out most of the smaller monsters. It wouldn't stop an ursa or hydra, but luckily there weren't any in their part of the forest. Most the colony was small, sturdy homes, built to keep out most of the flying creatures of the forest. Some homes were built into the trees themselves, and they even had a few caves they used for storage which could also be used as emergency shelters. Though they relied mostly on keeping a low profile, they still kept patrols day and night; if only so they could give warning of any danger. All in all, though, the colony had lasted nearly thirty years now with only a few major incidents. And it had been her home for her entire life. Diving toward the west gate, she landed just outside as nopony was allowed to fly directly into the colony. “Hey, Mason! hows your day been?” She called happily to the guard as she bounced through the gate that was only open far enough for a single pony to pass. “'Bout the same as always, Surprise,” Brick Mason said smiling at her usual cheery manner. “You get what you went out for?” “Yep!” Surprise said turning so he could see the bundles she carried. “I can't wait to see Dewdrop and Raindrop's faces. This will be their best birthday party ever!” He smiled. “They certainly deserve it. Whatever would we do without you Surprise?” “I don't know, because I'm here and I really don't want to go away just to find out,” she said then bounced away as the guard laughed saying something about a rhetorical question not needing to be answered. She always thought that was silly; why ask a question if you didn't want an answer? As small as the colony was, it didn't take her long to reach her destination; one of the many small, sturdy homes. This one in particular was the home of a dear friend, Evening Rain, and her twin daughters. Going to the door, Surprise knocked and waited with her best grin. Life was hard enough in the colony; everypony needed a little cheer. The door was opened a moment later by Evening Rain. An earth pony, she was in her mid thirties and had a blue-gray coat and teal mane and tail. “Surprise!” Cried two filly voices excitedly from further in the house when the saw who was at the door and a moment later they were bouncing up and down in front of her, happy to see her. “Silly fillies! Your the birthday girls, not me!” Surprise joked with a wide grin. Evening Rain smiled as her daughters laughed, glad of whatever happiness they could find. “Come on in, Surprise.” Carefully, so as not to trip over the two excited fillies, Surprise stepped inside and smiled down at the twins. “Guess what! I've got a special treat for you two!” She said with a wide grin. Their sapphire eyes widened in anticipation and unable to wait another moment, Surprise reached into the smaller of her bundles and pulled out one of the pieces of sugar cane for them to see. They gasped in delight and she wasted no time in breaking the piece in two and presenting them each with half. They eagerly took the rare treat and stuck them in their mouths, chewing on the exceptionally sweet plant. “What do you say girls?” Evening Rain prompted her daughters. “Sthank you, Ssurprisse,” they both said around their mouthfuls of sugary stem plant. “You're very welcome, birthday girls,” Surprise said cheerfully. “Now you'd better go get ready, your friends will be here before you know it!” The twins looked at each other excited and then ran off to their bedroom as two green and blue blurs. “It's good to see them so happy,” Evening Rain said softly when they were gone. “When their father disappeared, I was afraid they'd never smile again...” She sniffed softly sounding near tears. Surprise looked over at her and gave her a comforting smile. “Well I got everything I needed. So with your help, I think we can make this a birthday party they'll never forget,” she said with confidence. Evening Rain looked at her and smiled thankfully, tears filling her eyes. “What would we ever do without you, Surprise?” She grinned. “You're the second pony to ask me that today!” Evening Rain laughed softly. “You're such a wonderful pony.” “Nah, I just try to make life a little easier for everypony.” She just shook her head at Surprise's humility and put one hoof around her, embracing her. Surprise didn't hesitate to embrace her back then smiled and pat her friend's shoulder. “We'd better start getting ready for the party,” she said with her best encouraging smile. ~~~ Hours later Surprise bounced around the small home cleaning up. Even she had to agree, it had been one of her best parties in years. Evening Rain was sitting in the living-room resting after the long day, watching over her daughters who had fallen asleep curled up together on the couch. “I can never thank you enough for all you've done for us,” she said softly as Surprise gathered up the last of the decorations, packing them back into her party bag. Surprise smiled, going over to join her friend. “You don't have to thank me, silly,” she said soft enough so that she wouldn't disturb the sleeping fillies. Evening looked up at her and smiled. “Yes I do. Everypony in this colony has a lot they need to thank you for. You give so much of yourself, when was the last time you did something just for you?” She smiled looking back at Dewdrop and Raindrop, watching as they snuggled closer together in their sleep. “Life is hard, but it's not worth it if we don't have time to be happy. Everypony deserves a little happiness. And seeing others happy makes me happy, that's why I do all I can to bring joy to others. That's why I do what I do.” She looked back up at Evening Rain and smiled. “A laugh and a smile is all the thanks I need.” Evening just shook her head, tears in her eyes as she smiled. She couldn't believe such a soul could have come from such a world as theirs. “No, we owe you far more than that. I don't think we could even go on without you, Surprise. You're what keeps this colony going.” “But I don't need more. So you can keep the rest.” Surprise smiled putting a wing around Evening Rain as they watched over the exhausted fillies. They'd need to take the twins to their bed soon, but neither Evening Rain nor Surprise wanted to wake them just yet. So for a time, they just let the fillies sleep. The first sign that something was wrong was a low rumble, like thunder in the distance. Surprise's ears perked up, curious what the sound may be. Then it came again, a little louder. Evening Rain, who had been dozing, started and looked toward the window. “There a storm coming?” She asked tiredly. Surprise shook her head. “I always get an itchy shoulder when it's going to rain.” Evening Rain didn't argue with that. Everypony knew not to question Surprise's sixth sense. The sound came again, even louder, and this time it was accompanied by a flicker of light from the window. “What was that?” “I don't know,” Surprise said getting to her hooves. “I'm going to go check it out.” Suddenly light flared from the window and the entire house shook with the sound of an explosion. Screams sounded outside as inside the two fillies were waking. Evening threw Surprise a worried look then quickly gathered her daughters. “Stay inside. I'll be right back,” Surprise told her then opened the door to the sound of screaming and panicking ponies. She dashed outside, closing the door behind her. “What's going on?” She asked taking wing after one of the running ponies. “The colony is being attacked!” He responded not even pausing. Surprised turned back the other way as another flash of light lit up the area and saw a pillar of flame reaching up into the sky from the far end of the colony. Eyes wide, Surprise sped off toward the explosion worried that some of her friends could have been hurt. What is going on? Who could be doing this? She thought as she passed over all the panicked ponies running from the flames. There was another explosion and ponies screamed as a fireball rose into the sky. Surprise wasn't far now and felt the shock-wave and the heat from those flames. She saw her then; a unicorn calmly trotting up the road, her horn glowing brightly. A unicorn with a purple coat and a cutie mark made up of one large black star surrounded by five blood red stars. The door of the next house along the unicorn's path opened and, screaming in terror, a mare carrying a young foal ran down the road. As soon as they were clear, the unicorn's horn glowed brighter and a bolt of energy shot into the house which then exploded into another column of flames. Behind the unicorn was nothing but destruction. Without thinking, Surprised dove down in front of her. “What are you doing!? Stop this! Please stop!” She cried, tears in her eyes. Life was hard enough in the colonies, how could anypony want to cause more suffering. The unicorn looked up at her with a sneer. The next instant Surprise felt herself slammed into the ground on her back, driving the air from her lungs. She gasped for breath, and her vision dimming for a moment. Her vision cleared a moment later to see the unicorn standing over her, glaring down at her with a terrifying glint in her burning red eyes. “You should know better than to oppose your empress,” she said, her voice filled with contempt. Surprise's eyes widened as she realized who this was. “Midnight Star,” she gasped, terror filling her. There had been rumors of attacks on other colonies... Midnight Star sneered seeing that Surprise hadn't known who she was, then grinned down at her wickedly as she laughed. There was no sanity in that laugh. Surprise felt tears filling her eyes. She couldn't move; the empress's magic was holding her in place. Unable to escape she looked up at the insane unicorn. “Why...? Why are you doing this? Why do you want everypony to suffer!?” Midnight leaned down close to her, their snouts inches apart. “All good things end.” With that, Surprise felt herself lifted into the air and then propelled at terrible speed away from the colony. She had no control, even once Midnight Star's magic released her she had no hope of stopping herself as she flew threw the trees. She felt branches whipping past her, some breaking against her back. Then she hit something that didn't give before her weight. The air was driven from her lungs and she tasted blood as the shock of the impact coursed through her body. She knew darkness before she even fell to the ground. ~~~ I'm close. The small golden dragoness, Reshkirana, thought as she landed in a small mountain valley. Late though it was, the moon provided plenty of light for her to land safely. She'd been searching the high mountains south of the zebra lands for nearly a month already, but finally she was closing in on her quarry. The resonance of one of the elements had led her to this valley; its bearer wasn't far now. It had proven far more difficult than she had imagined tracking down the bearers by the resonance. She had to get relatively close before she could tell anything more than if she was getting closer of further away. Once within a certain range, she could get a general direction from sensing the resonance via a spell she'd designed for that purpose; but that was about it. To make matters worse, the resonance weakened when the chosen bearer was asleep. Or so it seemed, she was beginning to wonder about that. During her search here in the mountains, she had oddly gotten the strongest resonance at night. So either she was wrong and the resonance was stronger when they were asleep... “Or she's a nocturne,” Reshkirana said softly to herself and smiled as she crested a ridge and saw a young bat winged pony standing on a stone out in the center of a shallow mountain pond. With her spell still active to let her sense the resonance, she had no doubt that this was the element's chosen bearer. With a sky blue coat and pale purple mane and tail, she seemed to glow in the moonlight. 'What is she doing in the middle of a pond though?' Reshkirana wondered as she began making her way down from the ridge. She got her answer a moment later. Even as she began descending toward the water's edge the young nocturne flared her wings and threw her head back as if striking a pose; and then, she danced. (Music) Sitting down at the water's edge, Reshkirana watched mesmerized by the young mare's grace and agility as she spun one full rotation on one of her hind hooves. Without missing a beat she leaped and landed on her other hind hoof while letting herself sink down until she was able to just touch the surface of the water with a fore hoof; all the while continuing her rotation. Then she rose out of the spin and stopped taking another pose with her head back and one fore hoof reached toward the sky. She didn't hold the pose for long. As if spurred by music only she was able to hear she leaped from the stone she had stood upon and seemingly walked across the surface of the water. Her wing beats were timed so perfectly that her hind hooves touched the water's surface but did not sink in and instead just created gentle ripples across the otherwise mirror still pond. Then she leaped one last time and landed without a sound on another stone standing above the water; striking another pose before going on with her dance. Reshkirana wasn't sure how long the dance went on as she sat there on the edge of the water. At times she could almost imagine the music the mare seemed to be hearing in her head while she danced under the moonlight. She imagined a gentle, peaceful melody with undertones of mystery. A fitting dance for such a night. Reshkirana was taken in by the beauty of the scene. Never in her life had she witnessed anything so soothing to watch. Finally the mare leaped across the water once more, returning to the stone on which she'd begun. With one last leap she threw herself into a full rotation and landed flawlessly on the stone letting herself flow into a final pose with her head down, eyes closed, and her wings stretched down at her sides. The mare held that pose for several long moments while Reshkirana waited patiently. She found herself regretting that it was over and debated whether she should make herself known or see if the mare would begin dancing again. “Are you hunting?” The mare asked softly as she straitened, her eyes still closed. Reshkirana was honestly surprised that the mare had noticed her, but then she realized that as graceful and skilled as this mare was, she likely didn't need her full concentration to be on her dancing. She smiled knowing exactly what the mare must be thinking. “Yes,” she answered calmly. The mare winced but otherwise seemed to have expected such an answer. “Just make it quick,” She said softly. “It's not that kind of a hunt,” Reshkirana told her with a grin. Finally the mare opened her eyes and looked over at her seeming confused. Unusual for her kind, her eyes were a light purple color. “What do you mean?” In answer Reshkirana levitated out one of the gems she carried, pink in color. She then cast a spell causing the gem to glow and to the young mare's surprise she began to glow as well in resonance with the gem. “You are chosen,” Reshkirana told her gently. “Chosen?” She nodded. “These gems are part of a set, five in all, and each chooses its own bearer.” Deciding that Reshkirana meant her no harm, she jumped and with a few beats of her wings landed on the shore as well. “But what are they?” Reshkirana smiled putting the gem back in her bags. “They are the key to saving the world.” “The world!?” She nodded solemnly. “You're a very important pony...” “Clandestine,” She introduced herself. “But I usually go by Destiny.” Reshkirana grinned. “An appropriate name. My name is Reshkirana,” she said and made a bow. “Like I said though, you're a very important pony and I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask that you come with me. We can take whatever time you need to speak with friends family...” “That won't be necessary,” Destiny said softly, interrupting her. Reshkirana looked at her surprised. “Don't you at least want to tell them where you're going?” She smiled sadly and shook her head. “I've been alone for a few years. My clan moved on, I don't even know where they are now. Most probably think I'm dead already, those that would even spare a thought about a misfit like me.” “Misfit?” She looked down. “Nocturne are creatures of the night. To have a foal with such light colored coat and mane is a shame and a burden to both family and clan. My parents tried to keep me hidden most of my life. Even when I did become known, I was never accepted. That's why I left; if I was going to be alone even among my clan, I might as well be on my own. At least now I'm not a burden to anypony.” Reshkirana gently put a fore-paw on her shoulder and smiled. “You will one day soon be a great hero, and when they find out, your clan will be ashamed that they ever thought of you as a burden.” Destiny smiled. “So, you want me to travel with you?” “Yes,” she said patting her shoulder then gesturing for her to follow as she began walking around the pond while they talked. “Like I said, one of the elements has chosen you, but we still must find the other four bearers who could be anywhere. Then once they are gathered, a sixth element is supposed to appear and we will have to find its bearer as well.” “They could be anywhere?” Reshkirana nodded in answer. “That could take some time...” “Yes. I won't lie to you. I can use the resonance between the elements and their bearers to track them down, but it could still take months, or even years. It took me nearly four months to just find you.” “But you said they were the key to saving the world? That sounds pretty urgent.” “We have several years,” she said with a dismissive gesture. “I don't think that will be a problem.” Destiny looked at her a few moments curiously. “So you want me to travel with you in search of four more 'bearers'. You don't know who or where they are and the search could easily take years. And even once we find them all, there will still be one more to find?” She nodded. “And all to save the world in a few years time?” “That about sums it up.” Destiny stared at her a moment more then broke into a grin. “Okay, sounds fun.” Reshkirana blinked in surprise then smiled. “I'm glad you think so, because I wasn't really going to give you a choice.” ~~~ Surprise came to at the base of one of the great trees of the deep forest. She coughed, tasting fresh blood in her mouth as pain filled her body. Her back was the worst of her pain. Her shoulders especially were badly bruised from her impact with the tree. With a groan she rolled over and coughed again, struggling to push herself to her hooves. There was no telling for certain how long she had been out but she guessed that some hours had passed. The colony! Ignoring the pain, Surprise pushed herself up the rest of the way to her hooves. Her wings miraculously weren't broken, though the bruising across her shoulders would make flying painful. She didn't care though, she opened her wings despite the agony it caused her and took to the air. It wasn't long before the colony came into the view. What was left of it. Not a single home was still standing. Many were still in flames. Smoke and ash filled the air and some of the trees nearby had caught fire as well. Surprise sat there in the road, unable to stand a moment longer as tears filled her eyes at the sight of her home in ruins. She had been born there, grown up there. Lived there her entire life. And now it was gone. “Why? Why did this have to happen?” She whispered. They'd done so well, for so long. Memories flashed through her mind, memories of friends, of family, parties, happy times. Even in the midst of their struggles she had always managed to bring cheer to the colony. But now... There was nothing left. Throwing her head back she let out a cry of anguish from the very depths of her soul, the likes of which she'd never made before. Tears poured from her eyes as her wings fell at her sides. For a time she stared up at the smoke continuing to rise into the cold dark sky. Finally she came to a realization. Homes were just things; they could be rebuilt, they could be replaced. Ponies could not. Standing with with a new-found goal in mind, she opened her wings and took to the air once more. She had to find them, as many of them as she could. Scattered into the forest they wouldn't last long, but if she could find them and gather them together; then they'd at least stand a chance. Hopefully some of the others had already started gathering those that made it out. She quickly climbed to just below the tree canopy. There were two things she didn't know however; what direction they all went, and how long she was unconscious. She paused for a moment hovering near the treetops. The nearest neighboring colony was to the northwest, everypony knew several ways through the forest to there as well as paths to the next two closest colonies. Turning northwest, she just hoped she could find them before it was too late. She hadn't gone far when she heard a loud crash of something large moving through the forest. Fearing some ponies from the colony may be in danger, she turned in the direction of the sound to investigate. Then she heard somepony scream, somepony she knew! “Evening Rain!” Surprise cried as she sped towards the sound. The screams of Dewdrop and Raindrop echoed their mother's as Surprise drew closer. She saw them first. Evening Rain had her two daughters clinging to her back and was galloping through the forest as quickly as she could, but her left foreleg was bleeding and she was limping badly. Then Surprise saw what they were fleeing from. Four heads on long serpentine necks and a body the size of a house, the hydra crashed through the trees after the mother and her daughters who were barely staying out of reach of the snapping jaws. One of the heads lunged for them. Surprise didn't have time to think. She dove in at full speed, throwing all her weight into a flying kick that caught the beast in the jaw. Its head was thrown sideways into a nearby tree. Recovering quickly she dove down to Evening Rain's side. “Hurry!” She yelled galloping alongside her for a moment. It was at that moment though Evening Rain stumbled and fell, throwing Dewdrop and Raindrop tumbling across the ground. “Eve!” Surprise cried skidding to a stop using her wings to change direction more quickly. She scooped up Raindrop and Dewdrop with her forelegs, taking wing again. Then continued on toward their mother. “GO!” Evening Rain shouted stalling her as she climbed to her hooves. “Take them and go. I'll be right behind you!” Surprise gave her a worried look, but understood. Evening Rain could run faster if she didn't have to carry her daughters. Turning she flew ahead, leading the way. The hydra crashed threw the forest behind them, drawing ever closer. Ahead though Surprise spotted a dense thicket of some of the forest's great trees. If they could make it there, the trees would probably slow the hydra down long enough for them to get away. “This way!” She called turning toward the thicket. They were almost there. Then Surprise heard Evening Rain stumble once more. “Momma!” Raindrop cried as Surprise spun around. What she saw then, she would never forget. Evening Rain was struggling to get to her hooves, but it was already too late. One of the hydra's heads was lunging at her, jaws agape. She looked up then at Surprise and for a brief moment their eyes met. She knew she was about to die. Fear filled her eyes. Not for herself, the fear in her eyes was for her daughters. She feared what would become of them without their mother. In that last moment her eyes conveyed a message that she didn't have time to say. 'Take care of them.' Then the monster's jaws closed around Evening Rain. “MOMMA!” Dewdrop and Raindrop screamed as one, the pain in their voices making Surprise's heart break. Knowing there was nothing she could do, Surprise turned away and flew off at full speed carrying the two fillies that had seen far too much. As she flew tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision, but she didn't stop. She'd lost friends before, even family. She'd seen others die. But never like this. Never because of somepony else. Midnight Star. If she hadn't attacked the colony, if she hadn't driven them out, then none of this would have happened. Surprise heard the cries of the fillies she carried, felt their tears on her shoulders. To think that only a few hours ago they had been enjoying the best birthday they'd ever had. She could never forgive Midnight Star for doing this to them. Her thoughts of the empress began to be filled with a new emotion. One that Surprise had never felt for anypony before, but one she recognized all the same: Hatred. “Momma...” Raindrop whimpered clinging to Surprise's shoulder as they flew and Surprise felt the filly's sister clutching her neck crying into her shoulder as well. She tightened her hold on the fillies. They were what was important now, she had to focus on that. They would need her and she would be there for them. She would always be there for them. I will take care of them. I promise, Evening Rain. I will take care of your daughters.