//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Friends and comrades // Story: Shattered Harmony Part 1 - A Fallen Star // by Phazon_Corrupted_Unicorn //------------------------------// The next morning Midnight awoke feeling fuzzy. He felt like he'd had too much sugar before he went to bed and, as he sat up, his head felt light, almost airy. He looked around and found the room empty. Not surprising, as he looked toward the window and saw that it was still early morning. The sky outside was dark blue, but brightening as he watched it. He yawned as the first sliver of the sun peeked over the mountains and shed it's warming light into the valley below Canterlot Castle. He felt something in the back of his mind giving off a faint buzz, but with his head the way that it was, he found it hard to fully focus. He tried to focus on the buzz, feeling it as a telepathic message, but he could only catch snippets of the message. “Princess Cadence.......last night..........Midnight away.......” He eventually gave up, as his head wasn't making it easy for him, and he tossed the covers off him and climbed out of bed. He stood there on the cold, stone floor for a few seconds, then strode forward toward the door, his feet feeling lighter than he remembered them. He gave a short hiccup, then reached inside to grasp some magic. As he did, he brushed by his Emotion Font. His eyes went wide and everything fell into focus around him. He reached out and headed for his Emotion Font again. Perhaps there had been a mistake, but no. As he reached his font, he inwardly gasped at the sheer size of it. His font was several times larger than when he'd last checked it. He estimated that the amount of emotions that he had in there was enough to level the entirety of the castle, and much of the outlying area. He stretched his mind outward, searching for something to explain the large amount of emotion, when he came across something, or somepony, that emitted emotions like a lighthouse. Whoever it was was brimming with the sweet feel of love, washing over him like a tidal wave. He didn't even notice when somepony stepped into the room, so engrossed as he was in watching the emotion-emitting pony stride through the castle. Midnight jumped and gave a yelp when he felt a hoof tap him on his shoulder, snapping him back to the room, and he looked up to see his mother looking down at him with a smile on her face. “Great news!” she said, “I have been informed that Princess Cadence had arrived at the castle late last night. I was unable to meet her, as I had Night Court at that time, but she has asked that both Tia and I have breakfast with her out in the gardens. When I mentioned that I had to wake you up, she also invited you.” Midnight smiled at his mother, then followed her out of the castle and into the gardens where he'd met Fluttershy the day before. There, set up underneath a gazebo, was a low table and three cushions, with a fourth next to the cushion bearing his mother's cutie mark. Two Alicorns were already at the table one, Midnight saw, was Princess Celestia, while the other was one he was not familiar with. Her coat was pink, while her mane was an equal mix of purple, pink, and cream. Her wings were a pink color, but slid to purple at the edges. She bore a small crown behind her horn and she smiled as Princess Luna and Midnight moved toward them, the birds whistling in the morning air. “Princess Luna!” the Alicorn said, standing up and bowing slightly to his mother. Midnight saw that her cutie mark was a crystal heart with cream swirls around it and, as she moved closer to them, he felt that she was the pony emitting all the emotions. “Princess Cadence,” his mother replied, smiling at Cadence, then she gestured to Midnight, “may I introduce my student, Midnight Star.” “Good morning, Princess Cadence,” Midnight said, bowing slightly before taking a place next to his mother. Princess Cadence smiled at him. “How proper,” she said, looking at Princess Luna, “you've taught him well. How old is he? I haven't seen him around in the times that I've visited the castle.” “He's almost six,” Princess Luna replied, “and I keep him mainly in my room. It allows for better watching of him when I'm busy with my duties.” Princess Celestia spoke up as several maids moved through the gardens, carrying platters of sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade. “Now then,” she said as the maids placed the food on the table, “shall we eat?” Midnight nodded quickly, feeling the pains of hunger. He found them duller than usual after waking up, but didn't think much more about them as a sandwich was placed in front of him, accompanied by a glass of lemonade. He smiled at his mother as she rested the food in front of him, her aura vanishing from the objects. He levitated the sandwich to his mouth and took a bite, smiling at the tastes that washed over his tongue. He quickly ate that bite, then took another, before chewing and taking a long drink from his lemonade. “So,” Princess Celestia turned to Princess Cadence, “how is the Crystal Empire holding up?” “Well,” Princess Cadence wiped her mouth with a napkins before continuing, “the Crystal Empire is doing well. We've had some good luck with our army. They're still small, but Shining Armor is working the ones we've got into shape. We'll need all the help we can get if I'm going to hunt down every Changeling in the Empire.” The sudden sharpness of her tone made Midnight look up in shock at her. Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow. “And why are you spending resources hunting down an elusive race?” Princess Celestia asked. “Because,” Princess Cadence slammed a hoof down on the table, “they ruined my wedding! I'm not going to let them ruin anypony's life again!” “Perhaps they had another reason to invade Canterlot?” asked Princess Luna. “And what other reason is there!?” shouted Princess Cadence, “all they do is take the form of somepony you love and feed off your love for them! All they do is take love to feed their selfish desires! They're nothing but parasites, feeding and growing! I'm spending my time eradicating this filth from Equestria!” The waves of anger that pulsed off the Princess caused Midnight to huddle closer to his mother, where he felt the cooling calm radiate from her, soothing his fears. He leaned in closer, pulling on the calm and letting it soothe him. He levitated his sandwich toward him to take another bite. A spike of anger pierced his concentration, causing him to drop the sandwich. He glanced at Princess Cadence and sat there in shock. There, unbridled, anger radiated from her face at him. Her eyes glared daggers of flame, and he tried to look away. “You,” she said, her voice calm but full of anger, “you would let one of them into Canterlot!” Before Midnight could react her horn glowed and a large ax, almost as long as she was, appeared from thin air. She swung it downward, aiming for his head, and all he could do was sit there in shock. A split second before it hit him he squeezed his eyes shut and he heard the shattering of glass and the thud of something heavy hitting the ground in front of him. “Cadence!” roared Princess Luna and Midnight opened his eyes to see the ax embedded into the ground an inch from where he sat and a bubble of dark blue magic surrounding him, “how dare you attack my student!” “He's a Changeling!” Princess Cadence shouted, yanking the magic ax from the ground and sending a shower of dirt down on Midnight, “and you both are obviously under his spell!” She glared at both Princesses, then turned her attention back to Midnight who was protected by Luna's shield. Midnight's mind was running at several miles a second. He was worried about his mother and Princess Celestia, but he felt something well up within him as he watched the furious Alicorn that glared at him from across the table that now lay in half. It made him cold and his joints didn't move as fast as he wanted them. A part of his mind pulled on some of his magic. I need to save mother, he thought, his mind scrambling for options. He finally decided on one and he gathered more magic. He swallowed as he stared back at Princess Cadence, then threw out his magic. To both Cadence's and Luna's surprise, they heard a pop from behind Luna and they stared at where Midnight had been just a second ago. Cadence quickly scanned the surrounding area and caught sight of Midnight running from the garden. Before Luna could react, Cadence had spread her wings and leaped into the air, following Midnight. Midnight glanced behind him and he smiled, seeing the mad Princess chasing him. At least it would give mother some chance to get away, he thought, but his smile was wiped off his face as his hooves fell out from underneath him. He tripped and his muzzle greeted the ground, shoving clumps of dirt into his nose. He stood up and shook his head, blowing out the dirt, when he heard the whistle of a blade barely missing his ears. He stared up at the Alicorn that smiled sinisterly down at him. Cadence swung the ax down again and Midnight pulled on as much magic as he could get in the second as she swung. A shower of magic exploded around them and Midnight was thrown backward, his horn singed slightly on the tip. Cadence recovered with a shake of her head, then flapped higher, before dropping from the sky with her ax above her head. She swung and Midnight closed his eyes, not wanting to see the satisfaction on the angry Princess' face. “Midnight!” he heard his mother's voice cry out and he felt something grab hold of him. The next thing he heard was silence. He slowly opened one eye, then the other when he saw that he was alone. He glanced around and saw nothing but gray. He stood up, feeling packed dirt under his hooves. He looked down in surprise. He had been in the gardens, where he'd been standing on grass, but now he stood on what felt like a road. “Mother?” he shouted, his voice rebounding on him quickly. Wherever he was, he'd never been here before. “Mother!” he shouted, more urgently. He took a step, then another, then another, until he was running down the road. He gasped and tried to stop as his hooves went from packed dirt to wooden planks. He heard below him the sounds of a river gently flowing, and he moved to one side to find a short fence. He looked over it and saw reeds and grass below him, merely a few hooves away from him. He looked back and walked off the bridge, heading away from the river. He followed the road and shortly came to a home. He heard the sounds of several animals within and he gave the door, which was divided into two parts, a hard knock. His ears perked up as he heard a soft squeak from behind the door, then the sound of a lock opening. He watched the top part of the door crack open and a single, blue eye looked out. Something squeaked inside, then the door closed before being flung open. Midnight Star shook his head to clear his eyes as he gasped, seeing Fluttershy standing in front of him, worry on her face. “Oh goodness,” she said, looking around, “I'm so glad you found me. Princess Luna would not have been happy if you'd gotten lost in this fog.” She moved aside, pushing open the door wider and gesturing for him to come inside. Midnight stepped inside and gasped at the number of animals within the room. There were squirrels, birds of every kind, and even a bear. Fluttershy moved through the room, animals moving unbidden out of her way as she walked, though Midnight noticed a white bunny that sat on her back, gibbering away at the various animals. He moved through the room with much less grace and agility than Fluttershy until he stood in the middle, next to a table where a scroll bearing his mother's silver moon sat unrolled. He paused to glance at it, but was interrupted by Fluttershy as she came back into the room from what looked like a kitchen. She bore a plate of daisy sandwiches on her back and the white bunny hopped off her with a sandwich in its paws and darted through the room before climbing up the table and pawing the sandwich to Midnight. He blinked in surprise, then smiled at the bunny and wrapped the sandwich in his magic. He levitated it closer to him before taking a bite out of it. He watched Fluttershy move through the room, feeding the different animals, with the white bunny helping out. He took another bite of his sandwich, then noticed a pair of dice roll into the room, then stop next to the table. “Oh Discord,” Fluttershy stated, glancing at the dice, “let's not have any of your antics right now. We have a guest.” “But Fluttershy,” a male voice echoed through the room and the white bunny gave a yelp then dove into Fluttershy's mane, “it's always time for some of my antics.” Midnight looked down at the pair of dice, then gasped as they began rolling up the table leg and onto the top where they stopped in the center. Then they bounced around until they landed with the 1 face toward him. Except where the black dot should be on each die was a single red and yellow eye. They blinked as Midnight watched them, then vanished in a puff of pink smoke. When the smoke cleared, a long, snake-like creature with mismatched parts stood on the table. He held a inside-out yellow umbrella and had a pair of sunglasses on his nose. “Now come now, Fluttershy,” he said, looking at her as she moved around the room, “I need to get ready for the storm of chaos that's about to cover Ponyville. It sure wouldn't be nice to be caught unaware, now would it?” Fluttershy froze, then looked at Discord. “What do you mean, 'storm of chaos'?” she asked him. “Why, a storm of chaos that won't be of my making,” he said, “and when I say 'storm of chaos', what I really mean to say is 'a storm that will throw all you know into chaos'.” He twirled the umbrella over his head, then let it slip out of his claw. It dropped down onto Midnight's head, but before landing it vanished in another puff of pink smoke and was replaced with green and black ribbons of paper that draped all over him. He looked up at Discord and raised an eyebrow. “Oh my,” Discord said, looking down at Midnight, “how interesting. I never would have thought that dear Princess Lulu would have taken a Changeling as a student.” He leaned down and picked up the scroll, then proceeded to read it. He gave a hearty laugh as he finished it, letting it fall from his claws to rest on the table. “And now Princess Heartbutt has discovered the secret!” He fell off the table clutching his sides, except he simply floated in midair, lazily turning in the air. Fluttershy gave a gasp of surprise. “Oh Discord,” she said, “don't tell anypony! Especially not Twilight! You know how she reacted when Changelings tried to ruin her brother's wedding!” “Oh Fluttershy,” Discord said, waving a claw, “you don't have to worry about me. For the sake of our friendship I'll keep this secret safe. By the way,” he asked, looking out the window and at the sun, “shouldn't our little friend be in school?” Fluttershy gave a squeak of surprise and looked at the clock. “Oh my!” she said, turning to the white bunny on her back, “I'm sorry Angel, but could you please finish up feeding the rest of the animals? I've got to get Midnight to school! I don't want him to lose out on his education because of me!” Discord waved a claw again. “Don't worry, Fluttershy,” he said, picking Midnight up and holding him to his chest, “I'll make sure our little Changeling friend here makes it to school alright. You just stay here and tend your animals.” Fluttershy looked up at him, then said, “are you sure?” “Oh of course!” he replied, “how hard is it to walk across town to the schoolhouse? We can't get into any trouble!” Fluttershy nodded. “Alright then,” she said, turning back to the room's occupants who were all trying to get at the food she'd pulled from one corner. Discord waltzed (literally he picked up Midnight and waltzed, Fluttershy smiling and giggling at the sight) over to the door and pulled it open, then walked out and closed it behind him. He glanced around at the thick fog that hung over the town, then snapped his fingers and Midnight found himself and Discord standing on top of the fog bank. Another snap of his fingers and Discord and Midnight both bore ice skates on their hooves, or feet in Discord's case. Midnight stumbled as he tried to get his balance after losing it so suddenly. He stumbled along for several minutes before he fluttered his wings, giving him a chance to stand up straight. He then focused all his attention on not moving a muscle while his wings pushed him forward, on top of the fog. He glanced around, trying to see Discord, and finally saw him skating sideways through the air. Discord did a circle around him , causing him to shake his head at the amount of entropy occurring around him. Then a thought came to him and he reached out a hoof to grab the skating Draconequus. He managed to grab a hold of Discord's lion paw, but that was about it as it popped off and the rest of Discord kept skating around. “Discord!” Midnight cried, getting Discord's attention and causing him to shrink down to the size of an apple then start skating on Midnight's wings. “Yes, my Changeling friend?” Discord asked. “How old are you?” Midnight asked, looking straight ahead and trying not to fall over. “Me?” though Midnight couldn't turn his head to see Discord, he suspected that the God of Chaos had a surprised look on his face, “why, I'm several thousand years old.” “Older than Princess Celestia?” Midnight asked and Discord gave a chuckle. “Why of course!” he said, skating up and over Midnight's head until he stopped on his muzzle, “I'm much older than anypony alive! I was created before Celestia was a twinkle in her several times great-grandmother's eye.” “Created?” Midnight raised an eyebrow. “Of course,” Discord replied, “you don't happen to know of any other Draconequus around here, do you?” Midnight thought for a second. Out of all the places he'd been to, he'd never seen a creature like Discord. “No,” he said, shaking his head, “I don't. But who created you? Surely you know?” Discord's face grew angry for a second. “I know,” he said, his voice serious, “and he's looking for us again.” He sat down on Midnight's nose and crossed his legs. “He is the one responsible for my creation, as well as the shattering of Unity. When he broke the Shard, I was born. Alone, scared, and wielding more power than every Unicorn alive today, I had to find a way to fit in. I struggled, but to no avail. Then I chose to feed the natural chaos of this world, adding my own. Years later, after Celestia and Luna found the pieces of Unity and called them Harmony, I was imprisoned in stone to stop the chaos.” Midnight had stopped skating as he listened to Discord's tale. He felt sadness and worry flow from the small Draconequus and a grin grew on his face. He flicked his head upward, sending Discord flying into the air, yelping in surprise. Midnight spread his wings and, thrusting them downward, he took off into the sky before turning around and snatching Discord in a large hug. He laughed as he carried the small God toward a red, pointed roof that was jutting above the fog. It bore a large, brass bell in the center of the tower and a weather vane on top of the point. He landed on top of the weather vane, standing on two hooves as he let Discord go and watched as he drifted away for a few feet. Discord stared at the laughing Changeling Prince for a second, then shook his head and dived down into the fog. Midnight gave a chuckle, then leaped off the weather vane and dipped below the fog, his only trace a small ripple in the surface. Midnight kicked his legs behind him, swimming through the fog like murky water. He saw a large, dark gray shape stand out from the ever-present light gray background and he tilted his wings to guide him around it. He rose up through the fog and erupted from the surface, flapping his wings to stay aloft. He glanced around and saw Discord laughing riotously. “That,” Discord said amidst his laughter, “was the craziest thing I've seen anypony do!” “Well,” Midnight said, smiling, “I've never had the chance to swim through fog before.” Discord chuckled, then looked at Midnight. “Well, I've never had anypony trust me so readily,” he said. It was about that time that the bell rang and Discord and Midnight heard the door to the schoolhouse open and the thundering of dozens of hooves on the wooden floor. Midnight hurriedly stepped out of the way and Discord leaped into the air to avoid the dozen ponies running out of the schoolhouse. “Oh man! The fog hasn't gone away yet?” a familiar voice said from the doorway. Midnight pushed through the fog until he arrived at the steps of the building. He caught sight of a familiar, orange coat and purple mane as Scootaloo flapped her wings hard as she tried to clear out some of the fog. Midnight heard Discord snicker above him, then the snap of fingers and the fog vanished in an instant. He blinked in the sudden brightness of the day, covering his eyes with a wing. “Midnight!” Sweetie Belle's voice cried and he moved his wing to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing on the porch to the schoolhouse. “Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!” he cried, rushing forward and hugging each of them. He felt the familiar wisps of love flow off each one as they slowly hugged him back. He pulled away and smiled at them, each one bearing a blush on her cheeks. “When did you get here?” Sweetie Belle asked, “we just saw you yesterday!” “I got here just this morning,” Midnight said, sorrow showing on his face, “it was under less than agreeable circumstances.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders glanced at each other, then back at Midnight. They decided not to press the subject, but changed topics. “Hey!” Applebloom piped up, smiling, “since you're in Ponyville, how about comin' to the clubhouse? We could make you an official Cutie Mark Crusader!” Midnight smiled as he saw the smiles of the three mares in front of him. Then Discord gave a cough and landed next to Midnight. He was watching the pathway up to the school and he smiled. Midnight and the Cutie Mark Crusaders turned to see three foals, a colt and two fillies, walking toward the school. The colt was a blue coated Pegasus with dark brown hair and walking a few hooves ahead of the other two, while the fillies were laughing together. One, an Earth Pony, had a butter yellow coat with puffy, pink mane. She was giggling at a joke that the other filly had told. The second filly, a Unicorn, had a silver coat, with a spiky, black mane with a strip of dark blue down the middle. Midnight watched as the three foals drew closer, eventually stopping in front of the schoolhouse as they caught sight of Discord, Midnight and the three Crusaders. The butter yellow filly shrank behind the silver filly while the Pegasus smirked at Midnight, then he stepped around the group, the fillies following him as he moved into the schoolhouse. Midnight glanced at the Crusaders, then at Discord who shrugged and smiled. He walked into the schoolhouse and into one of the few classrooms inside. He stopped just inside the door as a fuchsia coated mare with a light pink mane looked up from her notes to smile at him. He noted that the three foals that he'd seen outside were sitting at three of the four desks in the center of the classroom, leaving the back right desk empty. “Ah, Ms. Cheerilee!” Discord smiled at the mare, who raised an eyebrow and frowned at the God of Chaos. “Hello, Discord,” the mare, Ms. Cheerilee, said, her voice carrying a sliver of anger. “Oh come now, my dear! You're still not mad about the time I turned you into a squirrel during one of your lectures now are you?” Discord asked, receiving his answer in the form of a glare that could curl milk. Ms. Cheerilee cleared her throat, then looked back at Midnight. “We have a new student?” she asked. “Yes, Ms. Cheerilee,” Midnight said, bowing slightly, “my name is Midnight Star. I am visiting from Canterlot for a time, until my mother comes for me again. I am staying with Lady Fluttershy for the time being.” “Are you sure that this is the right class for him?” Ms. Cheerilee asked, glancing at Discord, “I have another class in the afternoon that might be more, um, comfortable to be in, if he's interested.” “I assure you,” Discord said, “His Highness will be quite comfortable in this class.” “Very well,” Ms. Cheerilee said, then she gestured to the open desk, “Midnight, you may take that seat next to Fleeting Moment.” Midnight moved away from Discord and took his seat next to the Pegasus, Fleeting Moment, who smirked at him. The two fillies turned around and smiled at him. “My name's Sugar Sweet,” the butter yellow filly said softly, almost too low for him to hear. “I'm Golden Strings,” the other filly said, smiling at Midnight, then pointed a hoof at Fleeting Moment, “and he's Fleeting Moment.” Fleeting Moment just nodded at Midnight. “Wonderful,” Ms. Cheerilee said, “now that we all know each other, I would like to introduce a special guest. Today, as you know, we will be learning about the Changeling Empire and it's government. As I don't know too much more than the average pony, I am pleased to introduce our special guest, a queen from the Changeling Hive, Queen Shrapnel!” The four foals turned to the door as a flash of green light shone just outside their view and a tall Changeling strode into the room. She stood half a hoof taller than Princess Luna and her chitin was clean and smooth, glistening in the light of the classroom. Her wings, almost clear as glass, scattered the light into hundreds of little rainbows as they buzzed slightly at her sides. Her horn was long and pointed, with grooves running in a screw pattern from the base to the tip. She bore two, black-gray saddlebags on her back, her mane and tail tracing neon green afterimages in Midnight's eyes as they reflected and scattered the light. Her eyes were a dark blue, almost black, as they scanned the room. They rested on Midnight for a brief second and he saw a spark of joy in those eyes before Queen Shrapnel stopped a few hooves from Ms. Cheerilee's desk and sat down on the floor, then cleared her throat. “Changelings,” she began as her horn alighted and her saddlebags flipped open, a large, obsidian crystal levitating up to her shoulder, “are much different from Equestrians. They can sustain their bodies in two ways: one, by the traditional way of eating food, and two by tapping into their Emotion font. This is important when you know where and under what conditions the Changelings find themselves.” A jet of green magic shot from her horn and connected with the crystal, which glowed for a second then flashed. The four foals and Ms. Cheerilee gasped as the room vanished, being replaced with a massive expanse of sand and dunes. The view glided one direction for several minutes, east if the direction of the sun was anything to go by, Midnight thought, until they rose up and over a mountain range. As they crested the mountaintops the four foals gasped at the view. There, stretched out in front of them and centered around a large, green lake, were hundred of thousands of buildings, each one shimmering in the sun's light. Midnight looked down and saw the sand blowing across the mountaintops, toward the lake. He blinked, realizing that he didn't, he couldn't feel the wind. Only an illusion. Midnight felt familiar touch of Shimmer Scales' conscience on his and he looked around, trying to see her. He caught the slightest of looks from Queen Shrapnel as he did and he blinked in surprise. But, as he looked more intently at her, he realized that it must have been a trick of the light. He turned his attention back to the expanse of buildings before him as Her Highness continued her lesson. “The Changeling Empire is divided up into sixteen, separate Hives, designated by a number,” she said and sixteen numbers, each one hovering over a part of the Empire before them, glowed into existence, “and ruled by a King or Queen. In turn, each King or Queen is part of the Council, the main head of the Changeling Empire. This Council seats seventeen Changelings, and is the governing body for the Empire. Each hive governs itself, making it's own decisions and maintaining it's food and water, as well as love. But if a threat extends beyond the hold of one hive, the Council becomes involved. For the sake of the Empire, each hive leader has a voice in any decision that would effect the entire Empire.” “Um,” Sugar Sweet said, her voice quiet, “you said seventeen Changelings, but there are only sixteen hives. Who sits in the seventeenth seat?” Queen Shrapnel smiled at her. “That's quite an interesting question. The seventeenth seat is filled by the Element of Love, or rather the Changeling that Mother has deemed as the bearer of the Element. As of right now, that seat has remained empty for the past five years.” “But I thought there was only six Elements of Harmony,” Midnight said, his eyes curious, “and in all my studies I've never run across a seventh Element.” “That's because Equestrians only know of six,” the Queen stated, “but Changelings are much older than many of the ponies that wrote the history books. We know of two additional Elements, the Element of Love and the Element of Tolerance. The Element of Love was used in our creation and held by our Creator. The Element of Tolerance is held by the Betrayer.” “Wait,” Midnight turned to look at the Queen, “you mean to say that the Element of Love is held by my mother?” “Indeed,” Queen Shrapnel stated, smiling at him, “she used the Element of Love, along with Mother, to create us.” Sugar Sweet peered over the edge and out toward the Changeling Empire, then she turned back to the Queen. “Um, excuse me,” she said, hiding behind her puffy mane as the rest of the class looked at her, “but is this real time? I mean, is this a current map of the Empire?” The Queen nodded, and she continued, “then where is the Seventh Hive?” The class stared down at the dark gray homes and buildings, scanning the area, until they all noticed a less populated area where the number 7 had hovered. There seemed to be only a small fraction of Changelings throughout the area. “A good question, your Highness,” the Queen stated, “the Seventh Hive, my hive, chose the same punishment as the Creator, banishment to the moon, over submission. Though there was needed several hundred Changelings to remain in the Empire to maintain our hold on our lands.” A bell sounded in the distance and the Queen smiled. Her horn flashed and the view from the mountain blurred and dimmed until they were surrounded by blackness, then the classroom faded into view and they found themselves sitting at their desks. Midnight looked up at the clock and saw that school was over. Ms. Cheerilee sat over in her chair, watching them and occasionally glancing at Queen Shrapnel. As they began to look around, she got up and walked around her desk. “Thank you, your Highness,” she said, bowing to the Queen before turning back to look at the four ponies, “remember! Her Highness will be returning tomorrow to teach us more about the Changeling Empire. So I want all of you to read those books that you've been given and be ready to ask questions! Class dismissed!” With that, the four ponies gathered up their things, placing them into their saddlebags then slinging them onto their backs, before heading out the door and into the afternoon air. Midnight hesitated for a second, staring at the Queen, who was sitting in the front of the room with her head held high. She saw him out of the corner of her eye and smiled a fanged smile at him. “See you later, your Highness,” she said, her wings buzzing slightly. “See you, your Highness,” Midnight replied, before heading out the door and into the school yard. He glanced around, spying Scootaloo over by a tree, surrounded by Applebloom and Sweetie Belle on either side of her. He walked over to them, noticing that the three mares were laying on the ground. He could feel sadness push out from Scootaloo, as well as empathy and comfort from Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. He came closer, the three mares unaware of his presence until he stepped on a twig, snapping it. The three mares looked up, Scootaloo with a look of fear on her face and Midnight could see the streams of tears that had leaked out her eyes. “Oh,” Scootaloo said, her voice sad, but with a twinge of joy, “it's you, Midnight.” “Who else would it be? And what's the matter, Scootaloo?” he asked, moving closer and placing a hoof around her shoulder. She smiled at him as peace mixed with sorrow. “Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” Sweetie Belle answered. “Who are they?” he asked. “They're the resident bullies for anypony that doesn't have their cutie mark,” Applebloom said, showing him her flank and blushing, “as as we don't have ours, and have been working for them for several years, we're their favorite punchin' bags.” “That's alright, girls,” Scootaloo said, standing up and pushing the two other mares away, “it'll all be over tomorrow.” Midnight stared at her, not liking the feeling of finality that flowed from the sad mare. “Why?” Applebloom asked, “what ya gonna do?” “I'm going to end this,” Scootaloo said, walking away from the group, “goodbye, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Midnight.” The three ponies watched as she walked away into the sunset, then they looked at each other. “Ah'm worried,” Applebloom said, “she looked dead ta me.” “Let's check on her in the morning,” Sweetie Belle said, “it's getting late and Rarity doesn't like me out past dark.” Midnight just nodded, then the three of them strode off in different directions, heading for their respective homes. When Midnight got back to Fluttershy's cottage, the door opened and Shimmer Scales rushed out to meet him. She guided him inside and, seeing his weary face from worrying about Scootaloo all the way home, then helped him into a cot that had been set up in the front room. She pulled a blanket over him and kissed him on the forehead before leaving him to get some sleep. But as he lay there, sleep would not come for several hours. He would listen to the sounds of the dozens of animals around him settle in for a night's rest and eventually he was lulled to sleep by the sound of the animals' snoring. “Midnight.” The voice made him open his eyes and glance around. He wasn't in the front room of the cottage, but rather he stood on a stone floor, surrounded by darkness. He waited for a bit, as this was sometimes how his mother talked to him while she was away at Night Court, and soon the familiar figure of Princess Luna strode out of the darkness and stopped in front of him. “Midnight,” Princess Luna stated, smiling at him. “Mother!” he said, rushing forward and hugging her. “I'm sorry about the abruptness of your departure from Canterlot, but it was necessary to save your life,” she said, nuzzling his neck with her muzzle, “Princess Cadence has been sated, though she still hunts you. She still believes that we have been tricked by your magic and that you have the true Midnight hidden away somewhere.” “Mother,” Princess Luna stared down at Midnight, shocked by the urgency in his voice, “I need your help with one of my friends. Her name is Scootaloo and I think something might happen to her tonight.” “Scootaloo?” she asked, “yes, I am familiar with the mare. I assisted her in overcoming her fears.” “Good,” Midnight replied, “then you know a bit about her.” He proceeded to tell her everything about what had happened today with his three friends, as well as his concerns about Scootaloo. When he was done, Princess Luna sat back and thought for a second. Then she rose and started to walk away into the darkness. “Let me check on her,” she said and Midnight waited in the darkness as his mother was swallowed up by the darkness. She came back after, what Midnight could figure, fifteen minutes wearing a serious look on her face. “I can not sense her. She must not be asleep.” Midnight felt his sense of urgency rise and he rose to his hooves. “Thank you, mother,” he said, turning and rushing off into the darkness. He awoke in his cot and he glanced around. The room was lit by the soft light of the moon and he saw that many of the animals were sleeping. He tossed off his covers and rushed to the door. If Scootaloo wasn't sleeping, then she was awake, or worse! He flung open the door and ran out into the chilly night air, the full moon shedding light on his surroundings. He tried to sense where Scootaloo was by looking for large feelings of sadness, but his urgency overwhelmed him. He gave up after only a few seconds and ran toward Carousel Boutique. He pounded on the door with his hooves. “Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle!!” he shouted and a light came on in one of the bedrooms. “Hold on, I'm coming!” an irritated voice came from beyond the door. It was too high for it to be Sweetie Belle's but at this point, Midnight didn't care who he talked to. The door swung open and Rarity stood there wearing a nightgown and looking slightly put out. “Midnight Star, what are you doing here?” she asked, but he pushed his way into the room beyond with a quick “I need to talk to Sweetie Belle!” as he raced up the first set of stairs he found. He barely had placed a hoof on the lowest stair before he was hoisted into the air by a light blue aura of magic. He turned around to see Rarity's horn glowing with the same color and she looked at him with an unbelieving look on her face. “Goodness, darling, didn't Princess Luna teach you not to rush into a home without being invited?” she asked as he struggled to break free of the magic. “She did,” he grunted, “but right now etiquette is less important than a friend!” Rarity blinked in surprise, then released him and raced after him up the stairs. “If you need Sweetie Belle's help with a friend, then her room is the second one on the left,” she replied. She pushed open the correct door and flipped on the lights before Midnight could touch the doorhandle. A groan came from inside as Sweetie Belle rolled over to avoid the sudden light, but Midnight didn't give her any time to recover before he jumped onto the bed and stood with his hooves on either side of her curled body. “Sweetie Belle!” he shouted at her, causing her to roll over in surprise. The resulting maneuver caused her muzzle to come within an inch of his own and Rarity gasped, then chuckled slyly. Sweetie Belle glanced over at her and gave her a stern look before returning her attention to the colt standing above her in her bed. “Midnight?” she said, blush rising to her cheeks. “Quick!” he said, launching off the bed and heading toward the door, “it's about Scootaloo!” “Scootaloo!?” she asked in surprise before rolling out of bed and onto the floor where she stood up and raced after him. “What's happening?” “I don't know,” he said as he ran down the stairs, “all I know is that she isn't sleeping and that means she could be-” he stopped when Sweetie Belle placed a hoof over his mouth, then turned to look at Rarity. “Rarity, can you go to Sweet Apple Acres and wake Applebloom?” she asked, “then run to Twilight's and see if she can use a locating spell to find Scootaloo?” Rarity froze in the doorway, her hooves still on the staircase. “Why, yes,” she said, a bit taken aback by Sweetie Belle's commands, “I don't think that should be a problem. Anything for Scootaloo.” Midnight and Sweetie Belle nodded their thanks, then ran out the door. Sweetie Belle ran right while he ran left, splitting up to search the entire town. “Scootaloo!” he shouted, running through the streets. His shouting woke up several ponies and lights appeared in many of the homes along the streets. He could hear Sweetie Belle shouting Scootaloo's name as she searched as well. He hoped that Rarity would find Applebloom and the rest of the Elements of Harmony before something horrible happened to Scootaloo. Your Highness! Shimmer Scales' conscience touched his and he sent a telepathic smile back at her. I'm looking for Scootaloo! Can you help? He replied. We've already tracked her to the Ponyville Cemetery, she responded. Then why didn't you let me know sooner!? He complained, if something happens-! She's fine, for now. But you will want to hurry, she replied soothingly, it doesn't look good. Midnight sent a thanks, then pounded toward the cemetery as fast as his hooves could carry him. He saw the wrought iron gate rise out of the darkness and he growled at the obstacle. Not having time to push them open, he pulled on his magic and sent a blast of it at the gates, blowing them open and making them ring as they slammed into the fences on either side. He ran down rows of graves, searching and shouting Scootaloo's name. He finally spied her, sitting on the ground in front of a single grave. Before he could come within several dozen hoofs of her, he was bowled over by a massive wave of emotion. Sorrow, fear, joy, pain, and finality slammed into him and he gasped at the crushing weight of them all. He rolled over and started to crawl toward the defeated mare. “Scootaloo!” he croaked, his voice barely making a sound underneath all the emotions. A glint of metal shimmered in the moonlight and he froze for a second before redoubling his efforts to reach his friend. As he got closer, he saw that Scootaloo held a long bladed knife in her hoof, suspending it above her chest. “No, Scootaloo!” he cried, helplessness flooding his senses. He was barely able to hear her whisper, “I'll see you soon, dad,” before the flash of metal and the sickening thud made him freeze in place as if his entire body had been encased in ice. He watched in slow motion as the orange mare, one of his first friends, fell backward, then blade handle protruding from her chest. “No, no no no nonononono!” he screamed at the top of his lungs before forcing himself off the ground and pushed through the emotions impeding his way. He finally reached the fallen mare and he reached out his hooves, shaking. He placed them on her chest and he winced as warm liquid flowed from around the knife. He could still feel her breathing, but it slowed with every breath she took. He looked at her face to see a vacant and empty look in her eyes and he could hear the ragged breath ebb and flow out of her slightly open mouth. “No, Scootaloo! SCOOTALOO!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, tears running down his cheeks and splashing onto her chest to mix with her blood. “I won't let you die! I won't let one of my first friends die!” he shouted, reaching far inside him and pulling on every ounce of magic he had within his Emotion font. He thrust it outward and down his legs, into the weakening mare. She glowed slightly with green energy as his magic crackled over her coat and into her wound. He pushed more and more magic into her, draining his Emotion Font before moving onto his Elemental one. He felt this one drain much faster than his other, but he didn't care. He would give everything, even his own life, to ensure that she lived. Generosity. A voice whispered in his head as he struggled with the last bits of magic he had. “Come on, Scootaloo!” he cried, “you're not dying on me!” He heard the sound of somepony land behind him and rush forward. He glanced up to see the cerulean coat and rainbow mane of Rainbow Dash flash past him. She took one look at Scootaloo, then picked her up in her forehooves and launched into the sky, then turned and shot off toward the hospital as fast as her wings could carry her and her precious cargo. Midnight turned and flared his wings, leaping into the sky and following Rainbow. “Please be okay, Scootaloo,” he said, his wings flapping as hard as he could as he raced toward the hospital.