An Unwelcome Change

by Night Spark


Small Steps

Small Steps:

His eyes slowly opened as the sun shined upon him. Its warmth soothing some of the pain he still felt. In a matter of three days Night Spark had read through over half of the Daring Do series. Each day he woke with the sun and jumped straight into the next chapter. As he sat up he noticed he was not alone.

“Hello brother.”

He turned away from the window to set his eyes upon Night Frost who sat next to his hospital bed. She looked at him seemingly yearning for a reply. He remained silent for a while before speaking to her.

“Hello Night Frost.”

The twins sat together in silence for minutes that felt comparable to lifespans. Night Frost slowly placed a hoof on his. As she spoke her eyes began to flow with tears.

“I am sorry. Brother, I am so sorry for what I have done to you. I am-”

“I forgive you.”

Night Frost looked at him with wide eyes. She shook her head. At the very least she expected him to yell or curse her. Part of her wanted him to yell. Night Spark continued.

“We both nearly perished sister. We both have been so close to death. I don’t want to waste any more time grieving or being angry. I just want to be… a family. When I wake up tomorrow I do not wish to be angry at you or my situation. I want to wake up and wonder how my sister and my friends are faring.”

He frowned a bit before continuing.

“I cannot promise that I will not become frustrated. I cannot promise that I will truly overcome this.”

He looked at his hooves.

“I swear I will try though.”

Night Frost leaned in and nuzzled him.

“You shame me with your kindness. I too shall attempt to make this work. I love you Night Spark and always will though… ponies… will take some time. I shall put forth my best effort to be a good sister but I make no promises about my behavior towards their kind.”

He chuckled and pushed himself up. His treatment had gone surprisingly well. Most of his wounds had healed into dark bruises and light burns. The cuts and gashes had scraped up. His hooves were still in pain but with Twilight’s help they had sealed up. He would have to take it slow but Night Spark was confident he could be mobile again.

“Frost, help me out of this bed.”

She raised an eyebrow at him.

“If we are family we must respect one another, brother.”

She crossed her hooves waiting for him to reply. It took a moment for him to realize what she wanted.

“Frost, help me out of this bed… please.”

She giggled and used her magic to levitate her brother gently out of the bed while he rolled his eyes. She slowly placed him on the ground. His two front hooves trembled as they remembered the pressure of holding up his body. Night Spark carefully took a single and short step. It was slow, it was timid, but it was a step. Night Spark smiled.

“Sister, I am going to introduce to some ponies that I call my friends. I do not have many... some still are unsure about our kind. They fear or hate us, maybe both. So I understand where you are coming from more than any . The most important thing to me is that you approve of those who do show kindness. I am certain that if given a chance these ponies will surprise you.”

She frowned at the aspect of meeting ponies. Night Frost despised them. They were disgusting creatures to her but somehow her brother became fond of them. She sighed.

“Very well, brother. I shall, with great annoyance might I add, meet with these ponies of yours. I warn you though… the slightest insult… the slightest bit of mockery… I will break them.”

“Shut up, Frost. You are what ponies would call a ‘sweetheart’. Granted you are a grumpy one…”

Night Frost’s cheeks warmed up as she followed her brother’s gentle steps out the door. She stay behind to catch her brother should he fall.

“I am not a sweet heart! I am a cold-blooded warrior so powerful that nothing can stop me!”

Night Spark smirked keeping attention to his wobbling legs. He knew he probably looked silly watching his hooves as he walked.

“Yes sister… so powerful… yet here you are… after being beaten…”

Night Frost’s anger grew. The Hospital hallway grew cold. They walked past frozen guards.

“I was beaten by a damn Alicorn! What beat you besides me?!”

Night Spark chuckled.

“I see the guards were friendly.”

She pouted.

“They did not wish for me to see you. So I- do not change the subject!”

Pony doctors shuffled out of the way and cleared the hall. Night Spark spoke over his shoulder.

“You beat me only because I was low on magic. Unlike you I am no longer connected to mother. When I run out I die. Even so… at full strength I would crush you.”

Night Frost pity for her brother’s condition was destroyed the moment he muttered those words.

Crush me?

She grumbled and shot magic at the floor immediately causing a huge ice patch to grow.

“Your words are empty, brother. Of all our siblings I am the most powerful. You have allowed yourself to forget this.”

“Oh please, Frost. Your ice is deadly I will give you that. However, lightning is even more so. It is the pure embodiment of power and energy.”

Doctor and nurse ponies watched as the two changeling siblings bickered on their way out of the hospital. The two continued to bicker as the sun peaked through rain clouds. After they had left the hospital Night Spark had led his sister to the one place he knew she may get some respect as well as good food. As the approached a diner, Night Spark turned to his sister who was still trying to prove her point.

“The ice remains intact Night Spark. If I create a glacier and you strike it with lightning it will indeed be damaged but the glacier remains. The ice is cold, hard, and forever. The ice is-“

“Sister? Thank you for this. For giving this a chance. I have not felt this joy for too long.”

She quit her rant and looked to him.

“You are wrong, Frost. The ice can be cruel and forever hard. Yet I find ice to be supportive, strong, and beautiful.”

She smiled as wide as she could and nuzzled her brother nearly knocking him over in the process. As he struggled to keep his footing he spoke

“Oh and Welcome To The Moon…”

Night Spark stopped as he saw Miss Sprinkle. She was locking the door to the diner and crying. He approached her as quick as his front hooves allowed him.

"Miss Sprinkle, what is disturbing you? Why are you closing the diner?"

She turned and saw Night Spark. A brief smile appeared on her sad face.

"Night Spark? Princess Twilight told me you were going to be in the hospital for a few more days. Same for your... sister?"

She looked at Night Frost with her tear filled eyes. The Changeling watched every movement Miss Sprinkle made. She was ready to strike out should the pony try anything.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Sugar Sprinkle and a friend of your brother’s."

Night Frost continued to watched her. Her mistrusting eyes analyzing weak points. The analysis was interrupted by a small static shock which caused her to jump. She turned and Night Spark was glaring at her. Frost grumbled.

"Hello. Missssss Sprinkle... I am Night Frost..."

There would have been an awkward silence but there was no time for it. Miss Sprinkle approached Night Spark.

"Night Spark, I am happy to see you on your hooves again. This war has taken so much from all of us... I'm making my way to the memorial service. I wish I could keep the diner open but I can't let them bury my best friend without me being present. I miss her already... she would have liked you Night Spark. Violet was different. She-"

Night Spark furrowed his brow. He immediately recognized the name.

"Excuse Miss Sprinkle... Violet as in Violet Midnight?"

Miss Sprinkle nodded and Night Sparks mood soured.

"I met her. It was for a short time, however. She was a dedicated and brave pony whom I was proud to fight along side with. She and her squad treated me well. I am truly sorry for her death.”

“She was a dreamer you know? She wanted to make sure that every pony knew bat ponies were capable of great things. Her mind was always stuck between politics and military. While I never doubted she would go far in politics I always knew she was her father’s daughter. I didn't know you knew her, but I'm glad that you did. I am attending the memorial alone but wouldn't mind some company. You two could follow me if you want."

Night Frost placed a hoof on her brother. He faced her to find she was frowning at him.

“Spark, I understand that you wish to pay respects to this ‘Violet’. Though I do not think that we will be a welcome sight at this memorial. Our presence will disturb others and while I typically would not care about the feelings of ponies... I understand the fragile state of creatures who have lost ones they care for. So perhaps... we should not attend.

It was not Night Spark, but Ms.Sprinkle who spoke.

“Sweetie, listen to me. I know full well that changelings killed Violet. Your kind took away my best friend of many years. I also know that your brother stood up for me when others just watched me get harassed. I know that he helped save the ponies from Ponyville. The point is changeling are like ponies. Some good and some bad. You and your brother shouldn't have to worry about being accepted. I accept you two and will back you up if anypony gives you attitude."

Night Frost merely nodded. She would not need back up if she received attitude. She could handle herself. Yet the determination that Miss Sprinkle had to get them to come with her was new. She had never met a pony who wanted to be in the presence of changelings so badly. She began to wonder if ponies could truly surprise as Night Spark had said.

"Very well, Sprinkle. Lead on and I will join you."

Night Spark gave a small smile at his sisters first willing steps towards interacting kindly with ponies. The smile faded as he remembered where they were going.


Celestia's room:

The balcony door was open. Celestia stared out into the vast land before her; her thoughts as varied as the pitter patter of the falling rain. Of all the things on her mind only one stood out. Her sister had willed Nightmare Moon once more. She had willingly brought back a foe more powerful than anything, but the elements of harmony. Worst of all she had brought back a foe that had no issue with killing her.

Why Luna? What could possibly have made you think SHE was the answer…

Celestia knew her sister was very emotional. The death of one of her friends was the trigger for this. Even so it did not ease Celestia's mind. She sat and stared until her sister had finally entered the room. Luna slowly approached Celestia and sat by her side. The two sisters shared silence as they watched the rain. Only a small distance separated them.

"Tia? Please end this."

Celestia spoke while still observing the rain.

"End what Luna?"

"This tension between us... I... it reminds me of the... first time..."

"I wish I could Luna but, I am still trying to fully collect myself. You went to her. You. She didn't seep in or... it was you. I know because I felt it. I felt it when I was miles away and I knew."

More silence.

"Tia they killed her. They killed a pony who was dear to my heart. After she died I could not bear to see any more. Not when there was an alternative."

"What of Twilight? What of Cadence and Shining? What of your pet changeling? How would Nightmare Moon treat them? What would their fates have been? What of me Luna? Can't you recall the last time? Don't you remembe-"

Luna squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.

"Of course I remember Tia! How can I not recall being myself yet having an urge to slaughter my subjects and murder my sister?! How can I erase the sight of you using more power than anypony had ever used so to hurl me towards my moon and make my favorite creation, my gift to our subjects, the cold dismal hell of a thousands years?! I remember every waking second sister. Every single day wanting nothing more than to be in your embrace and to end you. I spent lifetimes alone with a twisted mine so rooted in evil I could no longer tell which thoughts were my own and which were hers. Was it my desire to break you wings off or hers? Was it my desire to watch the crops die and ponies starve? Was it my idea to enslave the Griffons and Dragons? I could not know then! I was broken Tia! So broken that the scars will remain long after the entire world is void of life and we have to begin anew. I remember..."

Luna’s body shuddered. Her quiet sobs stealing her breath.

“Tia, my heart is heavy with grief and sorrow. My actions, while foolish, were done to finish this damn war. I can only defend them by asking you how you would act if our roles were switched. What if you found the still body of Twilight Sparkle in the battlefield? How would you proceed after seeing her…”

Celestia lowered her head. Her eyes closed as she humored her sister. Even a brief mental image of Twilight dead in some battle field made her angry. She could relate to her sisters feelings and in the end that was the only reason she thought that she could forgive Luna.

She extended her large wing and pulled Luna close to her. The princess of the night sniffled as her face buried itself in Celestia’s coat. Celestia squeezed her sister tighter and nuzzled the top of her head. Sniffles became sobs and Celestia found herself crying as well.

“I will fix this little sister. I will fix it…”

Celestia’s tearful gaze burned with love and determination. She loved her sister more than anypony and could not bear to lose her again. They may both have been immortal beings but that did not mean they could not be harmed. Celestia knew this too well.

“I am your big sister and I have let you down in the past Luna. Never again… I will bend harmony itself if that is what it takes. Nothing will ever separate us again. Nightmares are often the most terrifying things ponies experience. The important thing is that we always wake up. We overcome them. I promise you Luna… I swear on the fate of Equestria itself that I will be by your side and we shall overcome this together. Nightmare Moon has tormented us for too long. Fate has been cruel to you… unfair. No more. From now and until every star in the sky fades away we will control our fate. I promise Luna. I love you to much and to even think of losing you again…”

Luna held on to her sister as she used to thousands of years ago. Back when she held little power over dreams and nightmares. Celestia would hold her tighter than the sun holds the planets. Her warmth and love would alleviate the pain. It helped her grow into the goddess that she was now. Celestia was the light that allowed her to eventually overcome the nightmares that tortured her. Luna learned to master dreams and became a queen of a realm that no one could see. She ruled everything in her domain except for a nightmare that never went away.

“I… love you too Tia. I am sorry for my nearsightedness. Once again, I nearly destroyed all who love me. You said it yourself Tia… tis unfair. Even when my intentions are pure… even when I try to protect those I love… I… I…. fail as I always have. I gave the command to Violet and she died. I killed her and I was going to kill them all for my error. I was going to become a blackness they could not comprehend and punish everything for my arrogance. I fail sister. For thousands of years I have looked to you and aspired to shine. With more effort than I care to admit I strived to be as you are and always, always, I fail. Like the moon I am nothing more than a pitiful, scared reflection of the sun… Why can’t I be good? Why can’t for once in my lifetime can I be the one to look towards? Must everything I do be dark? Be a mistake that our subjects can teach to their young. ‘See what the Lunar Princess did little filly? So selfish was she that she abandoned all who loved her. So arrogant was she that she could not see the love that every pony gave her. Do not be jealous or envious young filly or you too will fall as she once did.’ Sometimes I think to myself that everything functions to trick me. That all the stars in the sky are merely an illusion that hide the intent of some cruel joke. ‘Luna, master of stars and dreams! Prisoner of the blackest Nightmare and the coldest moon!’ I am tired of it Tia… so tired.”

Hearing Luna had broken her heart. Her sister was indeed in a dark place. Celestia wanted to tell her that she was overreacting. That she was just looking at it the wrong way. Though when she thought about everything that Luna had gone through. From Nightmare Moon to the nightmares that tortured her even before the stars populated the sky. Luna had always suffered and Celestia did not know why.

“Luna I know you do not want my pity… even so my heart breaks for you. I wish I could lie to you… tell you that you are wrong and that everything is not as grim as it seems. But I can’t. I have watched you suffer our whole lives and I do not know why. What I do know is that I will be here. For you to cry on, to love, and to hate if necessary…”

Luna looked up at her sister as tears streamed down her face.

“Let the universe hate you. If anything it envies that you will outlast it. It envies that I love you more than its entirety and even more than our subjects. So hold on. Hold on to me, hold on to our friendship, and hold on to the truth that deep down Luna you are my sister. You are a good hearted pony who has been thrown into the jaws of cruel and unseen forces. Just know that I will love you no matter what happens. Now I need you to be strong like you always have been. We both have to lay thousands of ponies to rest including Violet. Be strong for her sake Luna. Ok?”

Luna nodded into her sisters coat. They both held each other for a short time before proceeding into the rain. Its kindness would hide their tears and conceal their pain. The ponies of the world looked to them and they had to be strong.

Canterlot Fields:

The rain poured gently on the soil. Thunder in the distance echoed throughout the land. All four princesses stood together on a small platform. Before them lay one of the fields at the base of the mountains that held Canterlot. It was speckled with thousands of graves both marked and unmarked. Nearly the entire Equestrian military was present along with hundreds of refugees and family. It was Celestia who spoke first. Her presence normally eased the pain of ponies however today she was in as much pain as they were.

“My little ponies… My brave and wonderful ponies… today is a day you will never forget. It will be etched into the souls of each and every one of you. Today we honor and thank the thousands of ponies who have died. Brave soldiers, loving parents, ambitious children… the war has stole them from us. Their loss pains me like a burning fire in my chest. You have all lost something and nothing can replace them. We gather here at the base of this mountain to honor their sacrifice… their loss. If you look around you will no doubt see the thousands who have died in times past. There is a reason I chose to bury these ponies at the base of the mountain atop which the pinnacle of our civilization sits. I did so because these soldiers are our foundation. Their actions in life are selfless and their silence in death is humbling. They are with us always. At the end of the darkest day, at the end of every conflict, it is the brave ponies who serve us all that hold us together. So my ponies, we bury them here. We bury them next to their brothers and sisters in arms. I will not tell you to cheer up. I will not tell you that you should not feel the deep sorrow that we are all feeling now. No, I want you to feel that pain my friends. I want you to feel that terrible sense of loss and remember just how valuable your friends and family really are. If there is anything you should do on this day it would be to go and hold your loved ones as you have never held them.”

She held a sorrowful look and bowed before the new graves. Cadence looked up at her aunt. Celestia’s demeanor was no longer one of a proud princess. Instead she looked like a grief stricken mother. Cadence walked to the edge of the platform as Celestia stepped back, and remained silent. Her eyes gazed upon the ponies before her. Very few were her crystal ponies.

“We will rebuild.”

Her words lingered as the rain fell. Its cool touch did little to soothe the grief of the crowd.

“I have not been a princess for long when compared to my Aunts. I do not have the experience that they do. I do not have their foresight or wisdom. All I had and still have is love. Love for each and every pony that I have the privilege of taking care of. To all ponies I want to say that we will rebuild and we will endure. Though it may not seem like much our love and friendship is a light that our enemies can never extinguish. To my beautiful crystal ponies I want you to hold your heads high. Hold them high and show the world that you will outshine any shadow that dares to come. We lost you once to Sombra and you survived. Now we have lost our home and our families to the Changelings. Yet here we stand together, defiant in the face of evil. With so few of you remaining it will take time but we shall rebuild what was lost. I promise you that at the end of this storm is a golden light. Not the light of my Auntie’s sun, but the light of hope. So long as each and every one of you still see that light than our kind will push through. Stay vigilant and true to yourselves, my friends. Most of all keep that light in your hearts.”

Cadence bowed as Celestia did and started to cry. She knew that she had to remain strong for the others but she could no longer hold back the emotions bottled up from the attack. Her home and her subjects had been brutally and systematical killed. She felt a wing pull her in for a hug. Twilight had held her for a moment and whispered words of encouragement to her. Cadence was grateful for having her as a sister in law.

As Twilight approached the edge of the platform she held her head low. Thunder rumbled out and shook the hearts of all present.

“You are not perfect. Not a single pony here is. Sometimes we think that we are but… that is just our natural instinct to self glorify ourselves. We hurt others and say things we don’t mean. We steal, we fight, we pollute, and we… kill. None of us are perfect friends, not even us princesses. This war… it caused me to do things that…”

Her jaw quivered as she spoke. Her tears could not be seen however Twilight looked as if she had seen the deaths of her friends. Her ears fell to her face and she was visibly shaking.

“As somepony who is meant to represent an Element of Harmony I failed you all. I killed. Enemy or not… they are living creatures as ponies are… and I killed them. I was supposed to teach friendship and Harmony. I was supposed to bring magic into all of your lives and I will. You see, even though I failed, it does not mean I should not still try to do my job. I owe it to every pony that has died in this war. As you owe them to continue on too. What is perfection? I have tried to obtain the answer my whole life. I have drowned in more books than I can count. I have looked at old theories and formed new ones. Yet for all my research I was to foolish to see the perfection before me. The thing about perfection is that it's unknowable. It's impossible, but it's also right in front of us all the time. Perfection is the struggle to be the best you can be. It’s your desire to be a better stallion or better mare. It’s your willingness to go out of your way for something or some pony you love. It is the drive that keeps us going when we make our mistakes. It is the bonds we make as we journey through life. Those bonds will have their ups and their downs but there is nothing more important. Strive for perfection. As Cadence said always look towards that golden light because it’s that very pursuit which helps to sculpt us in to who we are.”

Twilight bowed low before the dead and remained low for sometime. Deep inside part of her wondered if she could have saved them or if something could have been done to reduce the casualties. As she stepped back Princess Luna stepped forward. She stood tall and proud. Her presence alone instilled hope. She took in a sharp breath before continuing.

“The greatest honor was to fight by their side. I love each and every one of you… I wish to every star in the sky that I had one more chance to tell them. To tell them that I am proud. Many of these ponies served under my command mere days after… Nightmare Moon had returned. Yet they were among the first to bless me with a second chance. They blessed me with a mercy I do not deserve. To say that I am grateful is not enough. I wish I could do more. For us, the storm has calmed... the war is not yet over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure; sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight... our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to prepare, this field will remain, a memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten. The words my sister said have never been more true. Go home and hold on to those you love and be thankful for every second you have with them. Go and cry for those you have lost and cry for those who have survived... both are equally dead. I say this because I believe a part of us died along with these ponies. The light is not gone my friends but it is certainly dimmer. Though the future seems dark do not despair as I can tell you it will only lead to more darkness… Instead look forward and decide how you shall contribute to making our world a better place. A friend of mine had once asked me what her purpose was. I move the moon and stars however even I do not know what time hold for us. What I do know is that your purpose should be to become a star. When this storm clears and you are in the still of night look up. Look to the stars. Every single start you see is from the past. Some may no longer exist. However their light is so lasting that it illuminates our lives even years after it is truly gone.”

Luna bowed and turned to join the other princesses. All four of them bowed one last time before the newly buried ponies. The entire crowd bowed as well. Far out in the back of the crowd was Night Spark, his sister, and Ms. Sprinkle. Night Spark and Night Frost remained silent. Ms. Sprinkle left them to walk towards Violet’s grave. Once alone Frost shifted into the form of a random mare.

“Normally I would damn the ponies. Yet to see so many dead… I may hate them in life but all who die on the battlefield deserve my respect. I suggest you change too brother. I do not wish to cause any stress to the families of these warriors.”

Night Spark shook his head.

“No. I did not kill a single pony here and I will not conceal my self as if I were guilty. You however…”

He frowned.

“You were one of the leaders of the assault. Not only are you supposed to be in captivity but I suppose you were responsible for many deaths. I understand if you conceal yourself.”

Frost looked at him with a hurt expression.

“A-are you wishing for me to be a captive?”

Night Spark sighed. He wanted to hug her but was uncertain if he could do so with his hooves the way they were. He instead nuzzled her and spoke.

“I love you, sister. I would not wish you to be captive… I am simply saying that… it was not two weeks ago where you had desired to kill me and all ponykind. In my heart I know that you are changed however these ponies do not. They will see you as a murderous cretin. For your safety I hope you conceal yourself well. At least until I can think of something. Now then… I must speak to my princess… never have I seen her so upset.”

Frost raised an eyebrow.

“Your princess? You bow to them to? Do not expect me to do so as well.”

“Luna understands more about us and our situation then you realize, sister. If anypony were to give you a chance it would be her. She could have smeared me into pieces and instead granted me her protection. I own her my life.”

Frost grumble under her breath.

“Very well, Spark. I shall pay my respects. Let us not linger in this place for too long. I do not enjoy being reminded…”

With that Night Spark began his slow trek through the crowd of mourning ponies. While Luna was a short distance away he was still getting to walk on weak hooves. What hurt him more than his front two hooves was the glares being shot at him. Mothers with sad pleading eyes wondering whether or not he was real or a haunting nightmare of their children's killer. Brothers and sisters whose eyes burned with the fires of hate and pain. The only reason ponies did not out right assault him was because no pony wanted to be the one who started a bloody and savage beating on a day of memorial. Night Spark held his head low. He felt as if he had been thrusted back to square one. Sure he had his sister and few friends but the hatred of pony kind had grown to a new level.

When he reached the wooden platform the four princesses were speaking to one another. They all noticed him and had mixed emotions. Celestia’s face was stern. She glared at him as if he had killed every pony being buried today. Cadence held a similar expression but showed more anger. Unlike Celestia she did not have as many centuries of practice in concealing her feelings. Luna was surprised to see him. The last time she saw him was in Ponyville.

“What are you doing here?!”

Twilight was nearly in his face. She appeared to be more angry than any of them.

“I specifically told them not to release you until I had checked up on you! You shouldn’t be standing yet! You could make things worse!”

Night Spark tried his best to bow before speaking. His knees had a strange tension that felt like a tightening and numb pain. He pushed through the simple task and spoke.

“Princesses, I came to pay respect to the fallen. I left the hospital-“

He was going to mention Night Frost but, he did not know what they intended to do with her.

“…and then I went to visit my friend Ms. Sprinkle. She informed me of this service.”

Celestia approached and nudged Twilight over so that she towered over the changeling. Her presence was intimidating. Even ponies far out into the crowd who looked on with curiosity knew that Celestia was not pleased with his presence. She lowered her head and spoke with nothing but pure venom.

“By all means I should hold you accountable for this. The first changeling that we capture claims to have a ‘change of heart’. Ponies are kind and trusting. That is what we did. We trusted you.”

Night Spark look up to her with tear filled eyes. Everything she was saying was true. Suddenly Night Frost’s situation did not seem so grim. Celestia continued.

“The result of that trust was Ponyville being defenseless, our armies being sent to the wrong city, and an entire empire lost. Thousands of innocent and good hearted ponies butchered by the trust we blindly gave to you. So what in your mind thought that you would be welcome here?”

The other princesses were shocked to see Celestia tear into him like she did. While it may have been excessive Cadance was feeling the same way. She knew Night Spark fought along her ponies side, but she did not know that he had some role in the delay of reinforcements to her people. Luna was lost in a mixture of emotions. She was shocked to see that her changeling friend was still alive and yet deep inside part of her was angry when she looked at him. He was their kind and while she knew that he was not truly guilty she had trouble speaking her mind. Twilight was wondering just how much hid behind Celestia smile which had now been gone. The eyes of her mentor for the first time truly looked like the eyes of an angry goddess.

“I-I deserve to be here among the presence of the dead just as much as-"

Celestia cocked her head with a visceral and questioning look and she cut him off.

“I am sorry, you deserve? It was changelings who killed these ponies. Look around and see the thousands being buried here… that is just the soldiers. The rest? They are still awaiting burial in their home. The entire Crystal empire is littered with the bodies of ponies. You don’t deserve to be in their presence… not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”

Night Spark gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. When he escaped her wrathful glare his mind thought back to everything he had seen and been through.

I am deserving of being in their presence?

He opened his eyes and matched her glare. There was a whole city alive just because of his efforts. Violet and her friends had fought along his side to save every pony in Ponyville. He had fought for them and for Miss Doo and Dinky. He matched the venom in her voice.

“Princess, Goddess, Alicorn… quite frankly I do not give a damn what or who you are. I fought for Ponyville. I bled and burned for those ponies. I watched my own brother strike the two most important ponies in my life out of the sky and then I felt no remorse in watching his body twist and smolder from my own lightning.”

He inched his face closer to hers and even though he could feel the fear in his gut his mind pushed him on.

“I defended the Crystal Castle and the ponies inside. My own sister and me engaged in battle and I fought for your kind… I now stand before you without the ability to walk properly. Yet I walked unchanged through a crowd of ponies who feel that I solely am responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. Simply bowing to you took more effort than I care to admit. I fought for ponies and I’ll not stand here and allow you to take that away from me!”

Celestia’s eyes were furnaces of rage. The more he spoke the stronger her desire to crush him became.

“Go ahead do what you will! I do not care. At the end of the day how you are acting now proves that you are no great role model. You are no loving goddess worthy of my prayers! You are like all ponies. Beautiful and gentle in only appearance! You are a hateful and prejudice goddess! You’ll not hear me now, you did not hear me as a foal… you will never hear me just as you never heard the changelings of old. Just let me suffer until death as you did our kind!You chose who to love and still you stand here and wonder why your ponies have died? They die because the one changeling who your kind did not kill is my monster of a mother. I hate her with all my being but if you are all she had when she watched ponies slaughter her kind than I do not question how she came to be so cruel.”

The claps of thunder rumbled through out the fields and the rain intensified its pouring. Night Spark slowly shook his head.

“I know not why I even speak to you. Compared to the sun goddess I worshiped as a young Canterlot colt you are even more dead than those who surround us. Perhaps, you should ask yourself if you deserve to stand in their-”

A white hoof struck his face. The stinging pain remained on his cheek for some time. Celestia’s eyes dared him to counter her. As he returned his view to her he shook his head slowly and held a calm expression betrayed by falling tears. He spoke to her without meeting her gaze. His own was fixed on the hoof that had slapped him.

“Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the pony who hated, and this is an immutable law.”

He turned around and began to walk away towards Violet’s grave. The Princesses stood still and watched him walk while the gathered themselves. Cadence and Twilight were nearly frozen in shock. They had seen Celestia fight threats to Equestria but they had never seen her speak or hit some pony who was not an enemy. Luna jumped off the platform and galloped to Night Spark. She noticed his hooves as he steadily walked away and pitied him.

“Night Spark wait!”

He just kept walking. As much as he wanted to help cheer Luna up he had had he share of royalty for the day. Luna called out once more.

“Night Spark I said wait!”

He shook his head and kept going. Luna became frustrated. She approached him and tried to turn him around towards her using her wing. As she turned him around his weight shifted and his front legs hurt. He slipped and fell into the mud near her hooves.

“I am sorry my friend I did not mean-“

Night Spark struggled to rise. The pain in his legs was flaring badly and each attempt at rising resulted in him slipping in the mud. He felt Luna’s magical grasp trying to assist him.

“Don’t! Just leave me be!”

He flapped his wings and hovered himself until he could gently land. As he steadied himself he look down at the mud before them. Luna could sense that many things were on his mind.

“Night Spark… I must apologize… and commend you. My sister was… out of line. As your friend I should have spoke on your behalf and yet you presented no trouble in defending yourself. Not even dignitaries or high nobles have spoke to her in such a manner. It was not the most respectful but…”

Night Spark look at her with fierce eyes.

“I meant what I said princess. Every word of it. I mean you no disrespect as you were gracious enough to give me a chance. You showed deep regret for those times long ago. I will never see your sister as anything other than your sister. It infuriates me to think that I one point I saw her as others do. I will no longer continue to speak of her. My intent was to speak with you. Your grief was visible even from the back of this crowd. I wanted to make sure that you were… fine.”

Luna smiled and gently wrapped him in her wings for a hug.

“I am struggling Night Spark though I do believe I will be fine. This war has driven me to making foolish decisions and I am scared of repeating past mistakes. Thank you for your concern, friend. I should be asking how you are. I was not aware you suffered such grave injuries. Other things have been taken their toll on my mind. Darker things that still linger and…”

Night Spark looked up at her. He saw past her small smile and knew there was sadness in her eyes.

“Princess? Take your time to grieve but… be strong. Many look to you and only to you for strength. As I have said before you alone are my princess and though it may not mean much… you should know that it is the possibility of darkness that makes the day seem so bright.”

Her tears fell upon his face. She knew his words were genuine and they lifted away some of her sorrow. No pony had ever praised her in such a manner and raised in her emotions that she had not felt in some time. She released him from her hug.

“Thank you.”

“I must leave now princess. Your sister is not the only pony here who is uncomfortable at my sight and I must pay respect to Violet.”

Night Spark bowed his head and left her. As he walked away he felt more at ease knowing he had lifted her mood. However, anger quickly boiled over him. As he made his way towards the graves he thought of the pain in his cheek. Part of him wishes that he had struck back but he knew what the consequences would have been. He could have obliterated the guards but it would take all but one blast for Celestia to destroy him. His anger towards her flared and he even began to mutter curses under his breath. Her lies and one sided view of things would be how most ponies treat him and his sister. It would never be fair.

As long as I am able to love Miss Doo…

Suddenly he wanted nothing more than to see her and tell her everything. His pace quickened and the gray pegasus took over his thoughts while Celestia became an annoying noise in the back of his mind.

Unmarked Graves:

Night Frost walked among the unknown dead and wondered just how many she had killed. She could had placed most these ponies here or she could have killed none of them. She didn't know and that bothered her for a reason she did not know.

As she walked through the crowd she would occasionally shift into different ponies. She did not feel comfortably holding the same disguise for too long. Every minute or so she would alter her mane color or make her self a little taller. Eventually she spotted Twilight standing before a grave.

She cautiously approached her. Her emotions varied when seeing her. Frost did not like that she had bested her in combat. The small princess had easily defeated her. While it was shameful she was grateful for her life being spared. She returned the mercy when she had saved Twilight and the other princess from the larger changelings.

By all means I gave them their victory! I alone!

She blushed at her embarrassingly naive thoughts. Her mixture of emotion began to give away her disguise as Twilight felt a sudden drop in temperature. The lavender princess turned sharply at the seeming normal brown pony next to her.

“Night Frost?!”

Damn!

The brown pony shushed Twilight.

“Silence fool! Do you wish to alert the others?”

Twilight pointed at her.

“What are you doing here? You and Night Spark are supposed to be in the hospital!”

Frost held her head high and stood tall.

“I escorted my brother from your hospital and he wished to show me to his friends. We came across such a strange mare. She actually wished for my company to this memorial. I obliged her only because of my brother. Now I am here walking among the dead as every pony is. I am waiting for Night Spark to speak with Luna and than pay respect to a fallen friend. We will leave after wards. So do not attempt to force me to go. I will fight you.”

Frost’s face was determined and Twilight facehoofed.

“Night Frost I am not going to fight-“

Night Frost held up her hoof.

“Though you may have treat my wounds and spared my life I remember every word of what you told me. You will break every rule in your book and destroy me. I will not ignore that promise. I will not ignore that your damn Celestia hit my brother. I will act on these threats.”

Twilight stepped closer to her and sighed. She look Frost in the eyes and spoke from her heart.

“Vows made in storms are forgotten in calm. I am sorry for threatening you as such but Frost you… you put some of these ponies here as I… as I destroyed many of your kind. We both have reasons to not trust each other. We both have done terrible things and we both have done decent things. I spared you and you saved my family. It’s a kindness I can’t repay. I am going to be an auntie because of you! So what I can promise you is that I will do everything I can to help you. That being said… our kinds our at war. The others will want you as a prisoner. They will want to interrogate you and held you in an enchanted cell in the dungeon.”

Night Frost took a single step backwards.

“You… mean to capture me?”
Twilight smiled at her. She fell to her haunches and shook her head.

“Night Frost, I trust you. I understand if you may not like ponies or even if you don’t like me but I still trust you. It would have been easy for you to kill me and help kill Shiny and Cadence. So do yourself a favor and spend time with your brother. Let him show you that… not ever pony will look down on you and hate you. I only hope that in time we too can be friends.”

Night Frost looked at the princess and then checked to see if her brother was nearby. She gulped and spoke in a near whisper.
“I am grateful… for your trust. I promised my brother that I shall strive towards giving your kind a chance. What better place to start than with my greatest enemy?”

Twilight gave her a weird look. Frost smiled shyly.

“Tis a joke. Twilight? As a symbol of our newfound bond would you care to explain something to me?”

Twilight smirked and came closer to Night Frost.

“Of course, Frost. What do you want to know?”

Night Frost pointed a hoof to all the unmarked graves.

“I do not know how many I am responsible for. My best estimate would be around 90 or so. My damn brother brought me here and I… I do not know how I feel. I hate your kind.”

Twilight’s head moved back a bit in shock from such strong words.

“Your kind is savage, dirty, and backstabbing. Monsters. The guards you posted at my were obnoxious beasts. Constantly whining about their orders. I had to freeze them to shut them up. Shush they are alive. For all your faults I wonder why I am feeling remorse.”

She stopped herself and look down. Twilight knew that look of guilt all to well. She gently placed a wing on Night Frost which caused her to jump a bit at the touch of a pony.

“Frost, I think you might be realizing that this was all terrible. From what I know about Night Spark you two didn’t have the nicest mother in the world. From birth you have been expected to fight and kill. Now that you see that there is another option do you still want to fight? I don’t. I wish I never have to fight another changeling. Anyhow it is good that you are feeling this way.”

Frost wiggled out of Twilight’s wing.

“Thank you, Twilight. Please refrain from touching me… I still find you… well… gross.”

Twilight chuckled.

“Ok Frost. I will be your first gross friend. By the way… I wouldn’t notice if you slipped away. After all I only see a simple earth pony before me.”

Night Frost smiled.

“Thank you.”

Twilight watched her new friend disappear into the crowd and vanish. She smiled and began to think of ways to help Frost blend into society.

Violet’s Grave:


As Night Spark approached the grave stone he saw another pony. Upon closer inspection he noticed that the pony was actually a bat pony. Night Spark slowly approached the opposite side of Violet’s resting place. He stood their in silence with the bat pony. The bat pony had on ceremonial armor. His chest plate was a mixture of gold and silver with blue and white accents. The center had half of Celestia’s cutie mark and half of Luna’s. Each of his wings were armed with black wingblades.

“So you are Night Spark. Fate would have us meet here… now.”

Night Spark could not recall the ponies face. He had a stern face with sharp features. Night Spark tilted his head.

“I apologize I do not believe we are acquainted. I do not think I have ever met you. Did you know Violet?”

Upon saying her name Night Spark noticed the bat ponies face twitch.

“You have never met me Night Spark but I know you. I knew Violet as well. She was the best soldier Equestria had. Me? I am the world’s first bat pony general. I am in command of over ten thousand ponies with only the word of a princess to supersede me. I am in many way one of the most powerful ponies alive. For all of my accomplishments and for all of my power I could not ensure her safety or the safety of the other ponies. I have succeeded at all things and all tasks except for the most important one keeping my ponies alive."

Night Spark felt terrible for the pony. He moved closer and began to speak.

“You have my sympathy. I can only imagine you pain at a time such as this. Violet fought by my side while Ponyville was under attack. She was a cunning warrior and a brilliant strategist. She-"

“Do not bother wearing your disguise any longer changeling.”

Night Spark tilted his head in confusion. The tone of the bat pony suddenly became threatening.

“I have watched you slither around the castle. Your influence infecting my princesses. Even now Luna blames herself for Violet’s death when the only cause I can see is standing before me now. The death of our kind grew at an incredible rate as soon as we captured you and allowed you to linger like an infection. I am no fool, Night Spark. I have seen war many times and know the game you are playing. However, I did not think that my own princesses would be blind to it.”

Night Spark was growing weary of his accusations.

“I fought for your kind. I bled for you kind. Do not try to instill fear into me. Not just minutes ago I stared into Celestia’s eyes and called her a hypocrite and a liar. I will not be hazed by a goddess nor will I be intimidated by a commanding officer in the military.”

The two stared at each other for a moment. The rain poured on stronger and became percussive against the pony’s armor.

“I am Black Midnight and you are right not to fear a general Night Spark. What you should fear is a father who has lost both his only child, and the very goddesses he worships, to a changeling. A general has morals and a code by which he abides. A father has only his family and his faith. You have stripped me of these things and now I am nothing. Nothing is what should scare you because nothing will not care that you and you sister are happy here. Nothing will not care about your kind lies and fake friendships. Nothing will not sympathize with a sad little pegasus who feels comforted by the enemy.”

Night Spark instantly felt lightning surge all over his body. His eyes flared and the crackling of his magic drowned out the sound of the rain. Black Midnight did not flinch. Instead he moved as close as he could without stepping over his daughter’s grave.

“So while you are enjoying cider at Sugar’s diner or when you are warming up to Miss Doo, I want you to remember that being in their presence only delays your fate. I serve pony kind and I will not allow even the princesses to jeopardize its safety by accepting you. Pay your respects Night Spark while you still can. After all…”

Black Midnight turned and spoke over his shoulder.

“…your time is limited anyway.”

Night Spark watch Violet’s father walk away. His eyes never strayed from their target. Derpy, Ms. Sprinkle, limited magic… the general had somehow knew about everything. The idea that he was being watched from the very beginning sent a shiver down his spine. He regained his focus and his anger. Black Midnight was going to be on his mind until he did something about it. He looked down at Violet’s grave. He barely knew her but respected her immensely.

“I am sorry, friend. You were kind and treated me fairly. I shall never forget that kindness and will be grateful to you always. You were a pony of remarkable skill and bravery that most do not possess. Rest forever in the embrace of time, my friend. I promise I will try to lead by your example. I will speak with my actions as well as my words. You may not like where this leads. Your father threatens all that I cherish and I will not be nothing. My body is not fit to fight but my lightning can still pierce skin. So long as it does so I will protect what I love. Good bye, Violet.”

Night Spark left the grave and proceeded to find his sister. After many minutes spent searching a brown earth pony ran into him. Night Spark fell to the mud again. The earth pony stood over him and kick him gently.

“Damn it Night Spark! You have gotten mud on me! Now I look like a commoner.”

She helped her brother up and they walked together.

“Frost we are already considered lower than commoners. Some still consider us enemies. Come, sister, I will introduce you to Miss Doo. I have to see her and want nothing more for you and her to be good friends.”

Frost sighed.

“Ugh is this the pony you wish to bed? Seriously Night Spark that is disgusting. Then again you have always had a thing for their kind.”

Night Spark shifted his wing to the size of Luna’s and smack her up side the head.

“I do not want to bed her! I am- she is a nice pony and we are very very close friends. I care for her that is all.”

Frost smirked.

“Say what you will. She had better have a nice flank or a prim and proper mane.”

Night Spark growled at her.

“Stop being so rude, Frost!”

Her laughter only infuriated him more.

“I jest with you, brother. I am sure I will get used to her disgustingness. I will have to if we are to live in this plot hole of a city. We will need as many gross friends as possible.”

The two walked side by side together and remained silent for the whole walk back into the city. Frost noticed her brother’s grim face. Something was on his mind and whether it was Celestia or something else she was going to be a good sister. It was time for her to love her brother and treat him as any sister would. She wrapped him in her wing and sighed.

“Night Spark, all jokes and foolishness aside. I would very much like for you to reveal to me the truth. As your sister I have the right to know. I only wish to ensure that you are fairing well in their society. So when I ask this I ask it from my heart brother…”
Night Spark look at his sisters caring eyes. He was so happy to have her in his life. She brought him joy and understood more so than any one the struggles he went through. Her smile grew as she spoke.

“Does she at the very least have a nice plot?”