After Midnight

by Nebula Star

Chapter 6: Two More

After Midnight
By Nebula Star

Destiny whimpered as she slowly stretched her wings out while lying on her belly. After two days of traveling on hoof through the desert, her wings weren't in very good shape. The sun was about to set now though, so she stretched her wings out to let the rapidly cooling air blow across them. Reshkirana winced sympathetically seeing how red her wings were. Even if she'd had normal dragon wings, she still wouldn't have had the trouble Destiny was having. Nocturne wings just weren't made to be in direct sunlight.

“Atlas, could you start a fire for us. I'm going to help Destiny with her wings,” Reshkirana said going through her saddlebags and retrieving the aloe she had gathered along the way. Destiny gave her a grateful smile.

“That's not a good idea,” Atlas said shaking his head. “We're in Equestria now; the empress's spies would see a fire from miles away.”

Reshkirana and Destiny both looked up at him surprised. “You haven't heard?” Destiny asked.

“Heard what?”

“We'd assumed you'd already heard,” Reshkirana said appologetically. “Just before we left the zebra lands a pegasus from Equestria came through with the news. The Empress is dead. Equestria is free. Ponies are leaving the forests and starting to rebuild.”

He stared at her a moment stunned, then had to sit down as his legs suddenly felt weak. “She's really gone?”

“It's wonderful isn't it?” Destiny said smiling. “After a thousand years, Equestria finally can begin to rebuild all they've lost.”

“Ponies are moving out of the forests?”

Reshkirana nodded then gestured to the north-east. “There's supposed to be a new town being built just south of where the old capitol was that's supposed to be the largest of the new settlements. That's where we're headed.”

“After so long...” He shook his head, clearly still struggling to grasp what they had told him. “I ran away from Equestria when my family died... I just couldn't live in the forests anymore. I couldn't see an end to the suffering there. I... I never imagined that ponies would be able to leave the forests in my lifetime.”

“Well from what we heard, they are now,” Reshkirana said with a smile then returned her attention to Destiny's wings. Breaking a piece of the aloe in half, she then carefully squeezed out the plant's soothing sap and gently began rubbing it in to Destiny's wings while being careful not to scratch her with her claws. Destiny tensed at first, then let out a sigh as the aloe cooled the burning of her wings. “In any case, we'll see for ourselves in three days or so. Should only take us about that long to walk there.”

“Then we can take a break and rest for a bit, right?” Destiny asked sounding exhausted.

Reshkirana looked over at her sympathetically. “Yes, we'll take a break when we reach this Ponyville,” she assured her then looked back up at Atlas. “So, you want to get a fire started?”

“Oh right.” He grinned. “Well if the empress is really dead, I guess its safe. I'll be right back.”

He got up and walked into the small stand of tree's they'd made their camp near to gather wood while Reshkirana tended to Destiny's wings. She sighed looking at the burns. “Maybe we should have done more of our traveling at night. I don't think I've ever seen your wings this bad.”

“Don't worry, Kira, I'll be fine...”

“Well, maybe I can find something you can put over your wings tomorrow to protect them,” Reshkirana offered.

“So long as it doesn't get too hot.”

“Don't you think it would be worth it, being a little too warm, if it meant keeping your wings from being burned any worse?”

She sighed. “I guess,” she said then shivered slightly as Reshkirana gently slathered more aloe onto her right wing. “That feels good.”

Reshkirana smiled, glad she could ease her friend's pain. “I'll be sure and gather as much aloe as I can find while we're traveling so we'll have plenty. It probably won't be as common once we get further north.”

“Thanks, Kira.”

Reshkirana just smiled and continued to gently coat destiny's wings. Atlas returned a few minutes later with enough wood to make a fire for the night and set to work building it. Finally Destiny's wings were thoroughly coated with aloe, and she gratefully relaxed with her wings stretched out to be cooled by the evening breeze.

“Kira, I've actually been curious about something,” Atlas said once the fire was burning steadily. “When you found me, you said I was chosen and that you needed me to come with you and help save the world. Did you mean that I'm the chosen bearer of one of the element's of harmony?”

Reshkirana looked up at him seeming slightly surprised. She hadn't explained to him what the gems were and only showed him the one that had chosen him when they'd first met. He noticed her surprise.

“Didn't think I'd recognized that gem as one of the elements did you?” He asked with a slight grin.

She shrugged. “Not particularly, no.”

“I'm a historian remember. I know more than most about the Elements of Harmony.” He sat back, getting comfortable. “One of the first things I studied was the history of Equestria before Discord's reign and especially the princesses, Celestia and Luna. I spent months exploring the ancient castle – not the Canterlot castle, mind you, It was still under construction when the princesses fell – I mean the original castle of the royal sisters that's now practically lost in the depths of the forest. I've seen where the Elements were once stored, and found a fair amount of information on them.

“I know they choose ponies that exemplify the virtue each represents to be their bearers, and that together they can allow a group of ponies to wield the greatest magical force known to pony kind. I know that the last chosen bearers were the royal sister's themselves.” He leaned forward and his gaze suddenly became more intense. “I also know that about four years before the fall of the Royal sisters, the Elements of Harmony were stolen from the castle vault. Some have speculated that if Celestia still had possession of the elements when Luna became corrupted and Discord appeared, that she would not have fallen.” He gestured toward her saddlebags. “So how is it you came to have the Elements of Harmony when they've been missing for over a millennium?”

Reshkirana didn't miss the almost accusatory tone in his voice. Her eyes narrowed. “Twenty years before Princess Luna's corruption, a dragon seer foretold the fall of the princesses. It was inevitable; whether she had the Elements of Harmony or not didn't matter, Celestia was doomed to fail. Discord would have taken and hidden the elements before she could ever get to them no matter what enchantments she placed to protect them. But at the same time she foresaw that if the Elements of Harmony were lost, that the would would be doomed to die.

“The seer tried to warn Celestia, she begged the solar princess to leave the elements in her care, but Celestia refused; she would not believe that her sister would ever turn against her, nor was she willing to trust the seer with the elements. With no other choice; the elements were... acquired.”

“You mean stolen,” Atlas corrected.

“Acquired,” Reshkirana repeated coldly. “Celestia could not be allowed to doom this world because she wasn't willing to give her trust to the dragon seer.”

“If this dragon seer foresaw Luna's corruption and Discord's appearance then why didn't the dragons try to prevent it?” He asked. Destiny glanced at Reshkirana seeming curious as well.

Reshkirana's right eye twitched. “The seer, my mentor, unfortunately was an outcast from dragon society. She did try to gain their aid, but they wouldn't listen to her and by herself she couldn't do anything.”

“She was your mentor?” Destiny asked softly.

Reshkirana nodded looking away thoughtfully. “Anyway, ever since I dedicated myself to this cause, the Elements of Harmony have been in my keeping,” she told them then looked Atlas in the eye. “The elements had to be kept safe; if... my mentor had not taken the elements, they would have been lost and very soon we would all die. She did what had to be done. Don't you dare insinuate that Discord's rule was her fault. It was inevitable!”

“Alright, alright!” Atlas said holding up his fore-hooves defensively. “It doesn't really matter what might have happened anyway; no point in dwelling on what-ifs.”

Still Reshkirana glared at him a moment longer. “Forgive me if I get a little hostile when someone questions my mentor's actions. I have dedicated my life to this work; and for my sacrifice, I too have been an outcast for longer than you've lived.”

“There's nothing to forgive; I'm sorry I questioned your mentor's actions,” Atlas said sincerely.

She watched him a moment more then finally nodded. “It's alright.”

“Wait, Kira how old are you?” Destiny asked suddenly.

Reshkirana raised a brow at the nocturne. “You know it's considered rude to ask a lady's age,” she said somewhat bemused by the sudden change of topic.

“But I want to know,” she insisted. “You said you've been an outcast longer than Atlas has lived but you look younger than he is!”

“Hey, I'm not that old. I'm not even thirty yet,” Atlas objected. “But she does have a point; you really don't look all that old Kira.”

Reshkirana hesitated a moment, then sighed. “I'm eighty-seven,” she told them finally.

“Eighty-seven!?” Atlas exclaimed. “I would have thought a dragon would be a lot bigger by the time they were eighty-seven!”

She frowned. “Dragons grow very slowly when their growth isn't spurred by greed. My size is normal for an eighty-seven year old dragon. It takes centuries for a dragon to reach their full growth if they don't give in to their greed.” She got to her feet, tired of the conversation. “I better hunt before we get further into Equestria; I may not get another chance for a while,” she told them and started off into the darkness that had fallen while they had talked.

“Oh, okay...” Destiny said softly, not sure if Reshkirana had heard.

Atlas glanced at her then looked out where Kira had gone. “Hunt? What does she mean hunt?”

Destiny looked down before answering softly. “She's a dragon; she has to eat meat regularly in order to stay healthy.”

His eyes widened. “You mean she's going to...?”

She nodded. “Some animal out there won't live to see the morning,” she said softly.

It took them three more days to make their way from the southern border up into the interior of Equestria. During that time the weather had turned cloudy, much to Destiny's relief as it allowed her wings to begin healing. On the second day of the journey though, Reshkirana began to feel a direction in the resonance from the remaining three elements. By the next day, she could tell that all three were close together and it was likely they were all in the very settlement they were looking for.

Knowing this, Reshkirana was feeling rather impatient having to walk now that they had Atlas with them; but finally they crested a small hill and there it was: Ponyville, spread out across the far side of a small river. Already a large town, many of the buildings were in various stages of construction and the whole place was a bee-hive of activity.

“Would you look at that,” Atlas said softly looking out across the river.

“It's wonderful,” Destiny whispered, knowing well enough what Equestria had suffered from her time time with Reshkirana. The dragon had told her a great deal about the history of the nation her people had fled from all those years ago. To see them now, finally recovering from all they had suffered...

Reshkirana smiled seeing the two ponies' reactions. “Come on you two, we can stay here for a while and help out if you like, but first we need to introduce ourselves and track down the last three bearers.”

“Right,” Atlas said with a grin. “I think I would like to help out with the building.”

“Yeah, I don't know if I'd be any help at construction myself, but I'm sure there's some way I can help,” Destiny agreed smiling.

“Well I'm sure they'll be glad for more help. So let's get going,” Reshkirana told them then started leading the way down the hill toward the river. “Doesn't look like they've gotten around to building any bridges yet; we can probably carry you across, Atlas, unless you have another way.”

“I have a spell,” He assured her.

When they reached the river, Atlas cast the spell he meant. His amber magical aura spread out across the water's surface in front of him. He didn't hesitate to step out onto it and began walking across the river as if on solid ground.

“Interesting,” Reshkirana said watching from where she and Destiny hovered above. “I've never really needed a spell for walking on water. How does it work?”

“It's quite simple really. It's just a modified levitation spell; instead of lifting the water though, it simply holds the water completely still so it acts like a solid surface. I think it might actually be similar to how pegasus magic lets them walk on clouds, but I'm not sure about that.”

Kira nodded watching. “It might be. I'll have to try to see if I can duplicate it sometime. Then I could see if it will work on clouds.”

He glanced up at her. “I could just teach you the spell.”

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “But dragon magic works a little differently; I usually can imitate the magic of other races, but sometimes I have to do things just a little differently.” She hesitated before adding; “and sometimes it's all but impossible to copy another race's magic.”

Once on the other side of the river, Reshkirana and Destiny landed again and they continued toward the town itself. They weren't spotted until they were nearly to the edge of the town, which was surprising in of itself, but what really surprised Reshkirana was what it was that spotted them. With eyes of a solid pale blue, the only way she knew the changeling saw them was the simple fact that it turned it's head to follow them as they walked into the town.

“Hey, what are these black bug-ponies?” Destiny asked softly seeing a few more of the changelings working alongside regular ponies as they drew closer.

“They're changelings,” Reshkirana told her softly. “I didn't expect them to be here. They usually keep to themselves; most ponies didn't even know they existed in the past.”

“DRAGON!” A young mare suddenly screamed nearby and they all looked just in time to see her turn and run down one of the side roads.

Reshkirana snorted in amusement as several other ponies panicked and ran while several of the changelings gathered, seeming ready to fight if Reshkirana tried anything. “It's been a while since I've gotten this kind of reaction.”

“Eh, don't let it get to you, Kira,” Destiny said hugging her neck tightly. “We know your really just a little cuddly dragon.”

Coming from anyone else, Reshkirana may have taken offense to being called little, and cuddly; but from Destiny it just made her smile. She turned to Atlas grinning. “Do you think I'm cuddly too?” She asked feigning shyness and batting her eye lashes at him.

He almost choked. “I... well... uh... you are kind of cute...” He blushed furiously then and looked determinedly forward.

Reshkirana was slightly surprised to be called cute as well, but smiled at his embarrassment all the same.

It was then that the changelings that had gathered nearby flew down and landed in front of them. “Halt, what is your business here?” The center changeling asked firmly though not overly harsh.

Reshkirana smiled. “My companions and I have been traveling for some time. We heard there was a new settlement being built here and we came to see if we could perhaps rest from our travels and help out for a time.”

The changeling seemed to consider her words for a moment. “We don't get many dragons in Equestria,” He said then looked over at Destiny. “And nocturne have not been seen in this land in centuries. You must have traveled some distance to get here.”

Reshkirana was about to respond when she spotted a white pegasus walking toward them alongside none other than the changeling queen herself. She froze seeing the alicorn size changeling.

Oh crap... Reshkirana had to fight herself not to turn and run.

The changeling that had been questioning them looked as well and spotted his queen. “Mother, Lady Surprise, these three claim to be travelers seeking a place to rest from their travels for a time; they offered to help as well.”

“Well that's great, we can always use more help!” The pegasus Reshkirana assumed was 'Lady Surprise' said cheerfully while the changeling queen looked them all over appraisingly.

“Well I see no reason to mistrust you, though you are quite an unusual band of travelers. So long as you don't cause trouble and help out, you will be welcome here. I am Chrysalis, Queen of the changelings and I'm directing the construction efforts here.” She said in introduction then gestured to the pegasus. “This is my pony adviser Surprise.”

“Hi!” Surprise said cheerfully.

Reshkirana bowed respectfully, trying to hide her nervousness. “I... I'm Kira,” she said not wanting to give her full name. Then she gestured to the others. “And this is Destiny and Origin Atlas.”

She nodded in greeting then gave Destiny a smile. It's been some time since I've seen a nocturne, I'm glad to see your kind were not wiped out in the dark times.”

Destiny smiled back in thanks. “Thank you, most the nocturne clans live in the southern mountains on the far side of the zebra lands.”

“I'm glad to hear they survived,” she said then turned to Atlas. “And where are you from? You look Equestrian to me.”

He nodded. “I am, but I've been traveling around most my life. I'm a historian and explorer so I often visit the ruins of ancient cities and such. I ran into Kira and Destiny while exploring the ruins of Saddle Arabia.”

“Ah, the desert jewel; it was once such a magnificent city, you should have seen it in its prime.” Chrysalis told him then looked up at Kira again. “There's something familiar about you...” she said softly. “Have we met?”

“Not that I know of,” Kira said trying to keep her nervousness from showing.

“I can't quite place it, but you remind me of someone...” She said but then, to Kira's relief, shook her head. “But I can't say I've ever met a dragon before with feathered wings and fur on her back.”

Kira shrugged. “It's not very common...”

“Perhaps I met a relative of yours once.” She said with a shrug then smiled. “In any case, welcome to Ponyville, all of you. I'm afraid we don't have much as far as accommodations yet – we haven't even finished half of our own homes – but you're welcome to stay in the temporary camp and if you want to help it would be appreciated.”

“We have our own equipment, but just being in the safety of a large camp will be welcome,” Kira told her. “And we'll gladly help however we can.”

“That's great!” Surprise chimed in, jumping up in front of them. “But don't work too hard today; because you don't want to be tired for the New-ponies-and-pony-size-dragon party tonight!”

The next instant there was a blur of movement from the pegasus and Kira soon found a toy horn and stuck in her mouth and a brightly colored cone shaped hat on her head right next to her spines. Chrysalis just laughed in amusement at the sight.

Kira blinked a few times then glanced at Destiny as she began playing a happy tune with her own horn, Surprise joining her after only a few notes. She smiled around the horn in her own mouth, then took it out, levitating it with her magic. “I guess we'll look forward to it, but a few ponies were frightened by me when we first arrived; it would probably be a good idea to warn everyone what I am and assure them that I mean no harm.”

Chrysalis nodded. “Of course, we changelings know what that is like. We'll spread word about you.”

Kira smiled and nodded, satisfied. It would also help their other cause if the chosen bearers didn't run in fear at the sight of her. On an impulse she checked the resonance from the elements. What she found surprised her.

~~~
“Chrysalis and Surprise are the last two we need.” Kira told Destiny and Atlas some time later. They'd set up camp with the rest of the town's and were now all in the tent Kira and Destiny had shared. Kira had placed a sound blocking spell around the inside of the tent so they wouldn't be overheard.

Atlas looked at her confused. “I thought we needed three more?”

Destiny nodded. “Yeah, aren't there five gems total?”

Kira nodded. “I know, it's strange. Two of the elements are both resonating with Surprise. But then the last wielders of the elements, the princesses, each held three; so I guess that's not such a big deal. What's really surprising is which element is resonating with Chrysalis.”

“Which one?” Destiny asked curiously.

“Honesty.”

Destiny and Atlas glanced at each other. “Why is that surprising.”

Kira frowned. “What do you know about changelings?”

Destiny just shook her head.

“Never heard of them until today,” Atlas answered.

“That's not actually surprising,” Kira told him. “I mentioned they keep to themselves; but there's good reason they're called changelings. They're shape shifters. They can take almost any form they want, even change their size and shape to an extent. In the past they've always been disguised as normal ponies whenever they interacted with other nations which is why most ponies didn't even know that they existed. What's more, they need love energy to survive.”

“They need love?”

She nodded. “Strong emotions like love create an aura of magical energy around you. Changelings have to absorb energy from auras of love in order to survive. In order to do so, they've often, in the past, disguised themselves as regular ponies and entered into relationships with other ponies in order to 'harvest' love from them. A few legends even speak of changelings taking another pony's place in order to steal the love that was meant for them. And still others speak of changelings taking the place of a pony who died in order to save the loved ones from grief. In any case, they spend most of their lives pretending to be someone else; so it is surprising that the changeling queen should be the element of honesty...”

Atlas nodded thoughtfully while Destiny frowned. “But they're not in disguise now. And they seemed pretty friendly... Maybe these changelings are different.”

Kira shook her head. “As far as I know, there's only one major changeling hive, and that's Chrysalis's.

“Changeling's are immortal; they don't grow old and die. Chrysalis herself is thousands of years old. I don't know why they've shown themselves now; but I suppose it doesn't matter.” She shrugged. “Don't get me wrong, they're not really all that bad. I lived with them and studied their magic for a time when I was younger; never met the queen myself, but those I worked with were friendly enough. I just think it's surprising that Chrysalis would be the element of Honesty.”

“What about Surprise? What elements is she?” Destiny asked curious.

“Laughter and Loyalty; that's an interesting combination there.” Kira snorted. “When I think of Loyalty I usually think of soldiers, body-guards and the like. Not really something to inspire laughter. I guess we'll find out more about her at this party tonight.”

“Yeah, that sounds like fun!” Destiny said excitedly, but Atlas still looked thoughtful.

“Kira, you said you lived among the changelings for a time. Is that why Chrysalis thought you seemed familiar?”

“No,” Kira said quickly, shaking her head. “I never met her back then. Like I said; she's thousands of years old; for all I know she could have met my grandmother millenia ago.”

Atlas watched Kira a moment longer, then finally shrugged. “I suppose that could be. I'm curious though why you didn't tell them they were bearers when we met.”

“Well I didn't really notice until just before we parted ways, and I was a little surprised by it actually,” Kira told him. “I wasn't expecting the bearers to come to us... not after three years searching.”

He laughed. “Guess that would be a surprise.”

“What do we do now, now that we found them all?” Destiny asked curiously.

Kira frowned. “I... I'm not sure actually. I thought when all five bearers were present that the elements would bond with them and the sixth would appear... but obviously that didn't happen.”

Atlas frowned for a moment thinking. “Well at least we know where they are now; so why don't we go see what we can do to help out until the party, we can worry about more serious things like elements and the changelings later. Heck, maybe we'll even get some answers at the party."

“Yes, I suppose we can afford to take a break from serious matters,” Kira agreed with a smile.