After Midnight

by Nebula Star

Chapter 3: Sallis

After Midnight
By Nebula Star

Buzzing her wings briefly to try and get her blood flowing, Sallis yawned widely as she entered the kitchen of the small home she'd found herself living in.

“Silly, you didn't have to get up so early just because I did!” Surprise said grinning broadly over her breakfast.

How this pony always had so much energy Sallis couldn't begin to guess. She'd lived with them for almost a year now and that mystery still eluded her. “Surprise, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm your body guard. I have to stay with you,” she said though she couldn't help but smile. In all her four thousand years, she'd never met a pony before quite like Surprise.

“Oh, so are we playing tag today? Or is it hide and seek?” She asked with a wide grin.

Sallis just rolled her eyes smiling. “Neither, we have things to do remember? There's another party tonight.”

“Well duh, but that doesn't mean we can't play tag on the way!” Surprise insisted cheerfully. Perhaps a little too cheerfully, even for her. Sallis had lived with them long enough now to recognize this kind of extreme cheerfulness to be Surprise's defense mechanism.

“Is something wrong?”

Surprise's demeanor changed in an instant, her almost manic grin fading and her eyes lowering to the table. “Today is Raindrop and Dewdrop's birthday... But it's also the anniversary of the day their mother died,” Surprise said almost too softly to hear.

Sallis understood then. She stepped over to her friend's side and put a hoof around her shoulders comfortingly.

“I want this party to be perfect... for them...” Surprise said softly, a shimmering of tears coming to her eyes.

Sallis smiled and squeezed her shoulders comfortingly. “Well, if anypony can make the perfect party it's you. But I think there's something else you could do for the twins that would mean even more to them.”

Surprise looked up at her. “Really?” She asked sounding slightly disbelieving. “What?”

“Be here for them,” Sallis told her smiling. “You mean the world to those fillies, Surprise. As much as I'm sure they'll enjoy the party, they'd enjoy spending the day with you even more.”

“You... you think so?”

Sallis smiled and nodded.

“She's right, Surprise,” another voice said from the door to the hall causing them both to look up. Sonata was standing there smiling.

Sallis gave her a quick smile then shook Surprise's shoulders. “We do still need to throw the party though. So come on, let's go get everything ready as quickly as we can and with my help you should be able to get back here with plenty of time to spend with the girls before the party starts.”

Surprise looked up at her a moment, then smiled and nodded.

Sallis gave her shoulders one more squeeze then looked up at Sonata. “Sorry if I woke you; I tried not to disturb you.”

“Sallis, you know very well that I can't sleep without your hooves around me.” She said walking over to her with a smile, and she nuzzled Sallis's neck.

Sallis blushed slightly embarrassed but returned the gesture anyway. She was still getting use to their relationship. She'd had countless relationships before with both mares and stallions; just about all of them intimate. But this was the first time she'd ever been in a relationship with somepony who knew who and what she really was. That knowing made the relationship so much more for the changeling. Just one more of the joys that was a result of her new life in the colony.

They'd started out just sharing a room since Sallis had been assigned as Surprise's bodyguard but Surprise's home didn't have any extra bedrooms. Sallis wasn't sure when exactly her relationship with Sonata had changed to what it was now, but she knew she wouldn't trade it for anything.

“You two go get everything ready for the party. I'll watch the girls until you get back,” Sonata told them then smiled and gave Sallis an affectionate kiss.

Sallis sighed longingly then gave her one last smile before turning to Surprise. “You ready?”

“Yessiroony! Just let me grab my party bag and let's get going.”

Sallis smiled returning the greetings of many of the ponies they passed while Surprise did the same. After living so long in secret, life in the colony was so different from what the changelings were use to. The ponies had been so accepting. Sure they'd been nervous at first, but now, looking around, Sallis saw dozens of her fellow changelings smiling and working side by side with the ponies completely out in the open. None of the ponies thought of them as monsters any more.

Much of their acceptance was due to the gratitude the ponies had for the protection the changelings provided. But just as much was due to the example Surprise had set from the very first day, and all of her efforts since that day. Surprise always tried to make everypony feel welcome, including changelings, even if others would think of them as monsters.

Surprise was the most important ally the changelings had among the ponies. And Sallis had no doubt that the future between changelings and the ponies of Equestria would continue to depend on the party pegasus.

That was why Chrysalis had asked Sallis to protect Surprise with her life.

~ “You wanted to see me?” Sallis asked entering the Queen's chambers within the hive. “I heard you're planning on moving into the colony on a more permanent basis.”

Chrysalis smiled and nodded. “I will be spending more time there than here anyway. We still need to maintain the hive for the time being though. So don't worry, we're not abandoning our home.”

Sallis nodded in agreement. The colony couldn't house all the changelings, or even half of them for that matter, so it was prudent for them to keep the hive going. There were also those among the changelings that felt too exposed living anywhere except within the hive.

“So what did you wish to see me about?”

Chrysalis gestured for her to sit across from her and waited until she did to speak. “Now that we've been aiding the colony for a couple months, I wanted to ask what you've noticed about the pegasus Surprise.”

Sallis thought about it for a moment. “Well, she's completely unpredictable. I don't even know the extent of what she can do, let alone what she will do. She's very accepting and forgiving, though. And she's always cheerful; I've never met anypony so adept at getting others to smile.”

Chrysalis nodded. “Yes; but what about her role in the colony?”

“Well she doesn't hold any official title or authority. But it is clear that the council depends on her a great deal to keep up moral. From what I've heard the last year since Surprise came to the colony has been the happiest many of the ponies can remember.”

“Exactly, and love and happiness are very closely linked.”

Sallis nodded, that went without saying. “What are you getting at, mom?”

“I'm simply pointing out that Surprise is easily the most important pony in the colony for us,” Chrysalis told her. “Both because of the example she sets in being so accepting of us and also because of how much she improves moral in the colony, essentially providing us with the energy we need.”

“I guess that's true,” Sallis said with a shrug. “But why did you call me here?”

“I'm going to ask Surprise to aid more directly in relations between changelings and ponies; to act as a adviser of sorts for me,” Chrysalis explained. “But as for why I called you here, we can't afford to lose such a valuable ally. That is why I am giving you the assignment of being Surprise's bodyguard; I want you to stay with her at all times and protect her however you can, even with your life if necessary.”

Sallis looked up at her surprised. For Chrysalis to give any of the changelings an order to protect a pony with their life was almost unheard of. Being immortal, and not to mention her children, Chrysalis had always placed the lives of changelings above those of ponies. “You really think she's that important?”

She nodded. “I believe Surprise may be key in establishing a lasting relationship between us and the ponies of the colonies, and possibly all the rest of Equestria as well.” ~

“Equestria to Sallis? Anypony home?”

Sallis blinked and looked up to see they had reached the colony's main square and Surprise standing in front of her, party bag still on her back. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

She just grinned. “Okey dokey lokey, but put your daydreams on pause so we can get everything set up,” she said slinging the party bag down off her back and opening it up. Sallis still wondered if there was some kind of magic on that bag. It didn't seem possible for it to hold as much as Surprise somehow carried in it.

Before they could even get started though, Sallis yawned, unable to stop herself.

“Sonata keep you up all night?” Surprise asked knowingly.

Sallis felt her cheeks burning and was just glad that it wouldn't show through her dark hide. “Uh...” She trailed off not sure what to say. She couldn't deny it.

Surprise grinned. “You two were pretty noisy. It's a good thing your room isn't next to the girls'.”

Sallis was certain that her blush would show despite her dark hide. “Sorry...” She couldn't think of anything else to say.

“Ah, don't sweat it,” Surprise said digging out the various decorations and other supplies from the mysterious depths of her bag. “I'm just happy that you two are happy.”

She smiled then, though still somewhat embarrassed. “Thanks,” she said and then stepped in, taking some of the decorations Surprise was getting out and went to put them up. She'd helped often enough by now that she knew just what to do.

“Honestly though, how do you feel about Sonata?” Surprise asked, joining her with more decorations to put up.

Sallis looked at her a little surprised, she and Sonata had been together for a few months and Surprise had never asked her anything like that before. “Why do you ask?”

“Well you told me that you're super old and that you've had lots and lots of relationships before. So is your relationship with her just to pass the time? Have a little fun?” Though she didn't say it, it was clear that Surprise wouldn't approve of Sallis using Sonata like that.

“No, it's nothing like that. I... I love her, I really do. I mean...” She sighed trying to think of how to put it into words. “Sonata's the first pony I've ever been with that knows the real me. Every other relationship I've been in, they never knew who I really was. Even when it was just my name and appearance that were different; they still didn't know me.” There had been so many. So many lovers, husbands, wives, so many over the years. There had been a few that she'd stayed with for their entire lives, using her shape-shifting to give the appearance of aging. She had loved many of them.

She sighed, none had known the truth however, none had ever known the real Sallis. Though she had loved them, they didn't even know her. “But Sonata, she's never known anything but the real me. She knows exactly who I am and what I am and she loves me all the same. I... I've never felt this way about anypony before, even in all my years,” Sallis told her sincerely.

Surprise smiled up at her. “Good, because I can tell she really loves you too, and I wouldn't want her to get hurt.”

Sallis smiled. “I'll never hurt her.”

“Don't get so worked up about it; so we lost a few months. At least we earned our keep, and now we're on our way again...” Destiny tried to comfort her scaled friend as they prepared for the day.

Reshkirana wasn't about to be comforted however. It had been her own fault after all; another botched spell that had ended up setting fire to a small lumber mill. Without anything of real value save the elements, which she definitely could not give up, she'd had to work to pay for the damages. They mill's owners had been nice enough about it, and Reshkirana's own sense of honor had demanded that she repay them, so it hadn't been an unpleasant experience. But it had still cost them time.

What was worse was that they were now certain that none of the bearers were in the western lands either. Which meant that the only place left to look was the lands to the north, between the two seas; Equestria and the Crystal Empire.

“We'll continue east to the Zebra lands and resupply and rest there for a week or two, then head north from there. The badlands are supposed to be easier to cross than the desert if only because they're not full of sand,” she said simply then occupied herself cleaning up their small fire pit, making sure the coals were smothered. They were still in the arid lands south of the abandoned nation of Saddle Arabia, and it often got cold at night.

“Kira,” Destiny said softly stepping up to the dragoness's side and putting her bat wing around Reshkirana's fur covered shoulders. “Try to cheer up, okay.”

“It's been over two years!” Reshkirana objected though already she felt some of the tension leaving her.

“I know,” Destiny comforted as she gently nuzzled Reshkirana's neck. “But we know where to look now; we'll find them, and we'll save the world.”

Reshkirana sighed wondering why she'd had to find the bearer of kindness first; she just couldn't brood properly with Destiny around. At least, not since Destiny had come to know her well enough to know how to calm her down.

“You should go find something to eat. I'll just finish cleaning up the camp.”

Destiny smiled. “Okay, fire-starter,” she said playfully then flew off toward one of the few stands of trees in the area that they had found were growing around a small stream.

There were dangerous animals in the region, but Reshkirana wasn't worried. They'd avoid her simply because she was a dragon. As for Destiny; Reshkirana had put plenty of protective spells on the young nocturne, spells that nothing short of a hydra could possibly break.

So she simply continued preparing to leave for when Destiny returned. Though they'd encountered one frustrating delay after another; Reshkirana had to admit, she'd enjoyed the last two years traveling with Destiny.

“So are we almost done?” Sallis asked having put up the last of the decorations.

“Just about,” Surprise answered cheerfully.

Sallis nodded and waved back to another changeling passing by. Surprise saw and waved as well. She knew all the changelings that had permanently moved to the colony by now and could recognize them in both their pony form and changeling form.

“Hey Sallis, I've been wondering. Why don't you ever use a pony form? Do you not have one?”

She blinked and looked up at the pegasus. “I just don't feel like it.”

“Do you have one though?”

Sallis rolled her eyes. “Of course I have a pony form. We can take any form we want!”

“But the other changelings always take the same pony forms when they transform,” Surprise said sounding a little confused as she dropped down to the ground having finished with the decorations.

“I know, that... that's part of our promise to you Equestrian ponies. We will never take another pony's form without their permission and we will never use a pony form to deceive you. Remember?”

“Well that doesn't mean you can't take different pony forms so long as we know it's you,” Surprise said pointing out the loophole.

Sallis gave a small nod. “That's true, but... it's like this. The first thing every changeling does when learning to transform is come up with a pony form for themselves. A completely unique appearance. It's an exercise to help them develop an attention to detail that is vital in designing a pony persona. It's a lot easier to copy somepony you see than to design a look on your own. But we've promised not to do that without your permission so most of us will just use that original pony form we designed for ourselves.”

“But you never do.”

Sallis shrugged. “Like I said, I just don't feel like it. I do have one of course, but after thousands of years of hiding my true self it's kind of nice to be able to be myself out in the open like this,” she said then blushed as she went on. “And to have somepony love me despite what I am.”

Surprise smiled knowingly. “So what do you look like as a pony?”

“You want to see?”

“Yeah, that would be super duper!”

Sallis smiled at her enthusiasm. “Well alright,” she said then green flames erupted around her, engulfing her for a brief moment. When they cleared instead of Sallis there was a young earth pony mare with a golden brown coat and a reddish brown mane and tail, both long and in an elegantly flowing style. “So what do you think?” She asked, her green eyes contrasting with the reddish hue of her mane.

Surprise grinned. “That looks nothing like you!”

Sallis just stared at her a moment; that hadn't been the reaction she was expecting. Finally she laughed, realizing Surprise was joking. “Well you'd probably understand better if you knew what my father had looked like.”

“You should totally stay in that form until we get home! See how long it takes Nata and the girls to realize it's you!”

She smiled but transformed back. “I'm pretty sure Sonata is clever enough to realize that if I'm not with you then the unknown pony that is must be me.”

“Ah, come on, it would be fun.”

“Maybe some other time.”

“Oh, okay,” Surprise said sounding disappointed and picked up her now empty party bag. “Well let me put this in the council building and let's get home!”

Sallis was smiling as she walked alongside Surprise. She hadn't seen the pegasus in this good of mood for a few days, and it wasn't the fake cheerfulness that she'd had earlier. It seemed she had been worrying about making the party perfect for the twins for some time. Now that she knew what the fillies really wanted however, knew what to do to make them happy, she could do so with her usual enthusiasm.

Suddenly Surprise froze mid step, her eyes widening. For a moment she just stood there, then her wings shot open followed by her fore-legs shaking as if she'd seen a ghost. Finally a shiver ran visibly down her back. “Oh no...”

“What, what is it?” Sallis asked, familiar with Surprise's strange sixth sense.

“Something's coming. Something big.”

The ground shook even as she said it. Not much, but enough that they felt it in their hooves.

“What's coming?” Sallis asked, worried as they felt the ground shake again.

“I don't know, last time it was a...” She broke off as a thunderous roar echoed through the colony.

“Ursa major!” One of the volunteer guard shouted galloping into view. “There's an ursa approaching the north wall! Everypony, evacuate to the southern districts!” Then several others of the guard appeared spreading out through the streets of the northern parts of the colony, warning ponies of the danger.

Sallis barely noticed, she focused her mind reaching out through the bond that every changeling had with their mother and queen, Chrysalis. Of all the days for Chrysalis to be at the hive! 'Mother! There's an ursa major headed toward the colony!' She almost shouted mentally.

'Yes, I know, Sallis. I'm bringing a strike team, we'll be there in ten minutes. You just keep Surprise safe!' Chrysalis's reply came back, worry clear in her mental voice.

“Chrysalis is on her way,” Sallis told Surprise. “Come on, let's get somewhere safe.”

With a loud crash one of the trees just beyond the north wall buckled and fell as an enormous celestial bear pushed past it and let out another thunderous roar. Screams filled the streets as the ponies saw the giant beast all too close. The bear looked at the colorful equines galloping for their lives. With a single swipe of its enormous claw, it shattered a section of the wall.

“Surprise, let's go!”

“But they're in danger!” Surprise objected looking at the dozens of ponies galloping down the streets and narrow paths between the colony buildings. The ursa was nearly upon them already. “We have to distract it!” She said and without a moment's hesitation, she took off toward the beast.

Sallis cursed, but she knew Surprise was right. Taking off as well, she pushed herself to catch up to the pegasus. “Surprise! I'll distract it! You get the ponies to safety!” She yelled wanting to keep Surprise as much out of harm's way as she could. Then another scream rang out and Surprise looked down to see a young mare desperately trying to get out of the ursa's reach; galloping for her life, but it was already too late. The ursa raised its paw to strike.

Surprise dove with a sudden burst of speed, picking up the mare just in time and narrowly avoiding the massive claws as she carried her a safe distance away before setting her down. “Run!”

She didn't need more encouragement.

“Surprise, let me handle this!” Sallis tried again, but Surprise paid her no heed. With a determined look on her face she flew up to giant bear's face, so close that the ursa had to cross its eyes to look at her.

“Hey ya big mean meany head! You leave my friends alone!” She shouted, punctuating her shout with a kick between the eyes.

The ursa roared angrily and swiped at her with a massive forepaw, but Surprise was too quick and dodged it, delivering another swift kick to the ursa's ear.

“Dammit, Surprise!” Sallis growled as she dove in to attack as well, following close behind the pegasus. If she forced the ursa to divide its attention between them, maybe they'd be able to hold out until Chrysalis arrived.

She should have known it was too much to hope for.

Surprise delivered another swift kick, this time to the tip of the ursa's nose, but she misjudged her aim and hit the ursa's nostril. Her kick going further than she'd expected, she was thrown off balance and wasn't able to recover quickly enough. Sallis saw the ursa's swipe connect; saw Surprise's wing crumple; saw her friend thrown uncontrollably toward a nearby house. She didn't have time to think. Sallis threw herself in Surprise's path, trying to catch her, to slow her; desperately trying to save her.

Surprise slammed into Sallis with bone breaking force. She reflexively flared her wings trying to slow them, holding onto Surprise as they flew through the air. Then her back smashed into a wall. A wall that shattered around them as they passed through. They may have hit another wall, or perhaps a large piece of furniture, Sallis wasn't sure, before finally coming to a stop in the house as it began to collapse on top of them. Pain erupted through Sallis's body and as it overwhelmed her, her last conscious thought was that it wasn't just the wall that had shattered.