After Midnight

by Nebula Star

Chapter 8: Secrets

After Midnight
By Nebula Star

It was already getting late in the evening as Destiny flew back into the town square, clutching her precious ritual book in her fore-legs. She'd realized that she'd forgotten her saddle bags with Kira, but she was too excited to show everypony her new ability and decided that she'd just go back for them later, if Kira didn't bring them back for her anyway.

Ponies were already gathering for the party that was soon to begin. She spotted Surprise and the twins setting up some of the decorations while others helped set up makeshift tables and chairs mostly made from building materials that they had in abundance in the under-construction town. She spotted Atlas easily by his hat.

“Hey, Ori!” She called quickly flying over to him. She'd gotten tired of calling him Atlas all the time and Origin wasn't any better, so she'd come up with a nickname for him a few days past. He didn't seem to mind.

A smile spread across his muzzle as she flew over to him. “Hey, Destiny. What are you up to?”

She smiled in her excitement. “I have something amazing I want to show everypony before the party. Can you help me set up?”

He shrugged. “Sure, what do you need help with?”

She held up the ancient text and opened it to the page that showed the array for him to see. “We just need to draw out this circle on the ground somewhere where I can dance!”

“That's an interesting design,” he said looking it over. “But why do you need it? Can't you just dance without it?”

She just grinned. “You'll see. It's amazing though! This book, they're far more than just dances!”

Curious he shrugged. “Alright, There's a clear area over here I bet we can use,” he suggested and together they got to work drawing out the array. Several ponies looked on curiously as they worked, but most were either too busy preparing for the night's party or resting from a hard day's work.

“Whatcha doin'?”

Destiny wasn't startled at all by Surprise's sudden appearance hovering by her shoulder though she saw Atlas jump a bit. “We're setting up for something incredible I want to show everypony!”

“Really? What is it?” Surprise asked.

“You'll see!”

“Is it going to take long?” Surprise asked sounding a little concerned. “Because the party is going to start soon!”

“Don't worry, it won't take long. And I bet it will help everyone enjoy the party even more!”

“Really!? That would be stupendous!” Surprise exclaimed rising higher into the air as she did.

Destiny smiled finishing the part of the pattern she'd been working on then turned back to where they'd left the book sitting out nearby.

“Oh, Queen Chrysalis!” She exclaimed in surprise, seeing the changeling queen standing there examining the book looking stunned.

“Just Chrysalis is fine,” she said absently then held up the book. “Where did you get this? I thought they'd all been lost millennia ago.”

“We found it in the ruins of Saddle Arabia. Ori let me have it because it's all in ancient nocturne and I'm the only one who can translate it.”

“Well, that and because you're a dancer,” Atlas added.

Surprise zipped over to Chrysalis's side looking at the book as well. “What is it?”

Chrysalis returned the book to Destiny so they could continue working. “It is an instruction manual for an ancient art developed by the nocturne, an art that I had believe lost forever. Can you perform them, Destiny?”

“Well, I've only learned one so far, I've only had a few days. But I'd like to learn them all eventually,” Destiny told her.

Chrysalis smiled. “It would be wonderful to see the art revived. I look forward to your performance.”

“But what is it?” Surprise asked again.

“Wait and see!” Destiny told her grinning.

“Oh come on! Can't you just tell me?” She pouted, but Destiny kept silent and Chrysalis just smiled and shook her head. “Atlas?”

Atlas shrugged. “I don't even know what exactly it is. I thought they were just old ritual dances, but it sounds like there's more to it than that.”

Destiny continued to grin as they finished the last section of the array. “Oh, they're much more than just old dances!” After checking the circle one last time, Destiny closed the book and smiled. “Alright, it's ready!”

Looking around, Destiny saw that there were quite a few ponies and changelings watching curiously already, while many more were gathering for the party that was supposed to start soon. It looked like almost everypony was there already.

Jumping up into the air, Destiny hovered high enough for all to see. “Everypony, please, gather around!” She called out to the crowd, getting their attention. “I have something very special I'd like to share with you all before the party.”

Those that already appeared curious quickly moved closer around the circle of the array, stopping outside of it however when they noticed the strange design. The rest seemed hesitant at first, but soon began gathering closer. Destiny stayed hovering in the air so that they could all see her as they gathered closer. When most of them had gathered she smiled warmly and landed in the center of the circle.

“Alright, first of all, I wanted to thank you all for welcoming my friends and I so readily into your community. The last few days have been among the happiest I can remember. So thank you.” She smiled looking out over all of them and got several smiles in return. “Now I know some of you are still curious about me and my appearance. Many of you probably had never heard of a pony like me before except maybe in old stories or legends. It's understandable, though we once lived here in Equestria, my people have always been secretive. Then when our beloved princess fell to corruption, my people chose to leave rather than suffer under the rule of the Nightmare.

“We are a tribe of nocturnal pegasi called the Nocturne. My unusual eyes and wings are adapted for life at night. As for my fangs; my people have a great love of many fruits which have thick peals so we have fangs to help pierce the rinds and get to the juices within. Anyway I thought I'd tell you about myself since I've heard a few rather amusing rumors about me.” She grinned and a few ponies in the crowd that she had corrected before laughed remembering their own mistakes.

“Now as I said, my people were very secretive, and much of our history was lost as a result. But recently a piece of that history; a piece of my people's legacy, was recovered, largely in thanks to my friend here: Origin Atlas.” She pointed to the brown unicorn. He waved to the crowd, a little embarrassed at being the center of attention.

“My people have always been fond of dance,” Destiny went on. “And even today we still have rituals that involve special dances that have been passed down for generations. But what has survived I now see was merely a shadow of what the dances once were. They were once so much more. That is what I'd like to share with you now; my people's legacy, all but forgotten for more than a thousand years. And remember, this is far more than just a dance.”

She finished then as they all watched, she carefully took position, moving gracefully into the first pose of the dance. Then she began.

She'd long ago learned to dance to a rhythm in her head, having been on her own for so long and so even without music, she had no trouble keeping time. Focused as she was, Destiny was hardly aware of all the ponies watching her, but as she continued the dance, this time she did become aware of something else. It was subtle at first but before long she began to feel something shifting around her, moving with her. It was like a slight warmth and a feeling of peace that helped to clear her mind, and let her focus on her dancing, flowing through the practiced motions with ease.

The feeling became stronger and stronger as the dance continued until she felt the warmth radiating all around her, flowing with her movements, taking shape in the center of the array. Then she reached the finale and as she struck the final pose. This time she felt the wave of energy erupt outwards from her position.

Many ponies in the crowd gasped as they felt the energy flow through them. Slowly Destiny opened her eyes seeing the shocked expressions as the ponies around her looked to one another nervously. Some seemed to be realizing how much better they felt, but at the same time seemed worried. They were scared, Destiny realized. She began to worry that perhaps she should have warned them what would happen.

Then a stomping applause began from somewhere among the ponies and changelings. Destiny looked toward the sound to find Queen Chrysalis smiling as she continued stomping out an applause for a few moments more. Soon many of the changelings joined in, and eventually a few of the ponies as well. Then Chrysalis stepped forward.

“Well done, Destiny!” She said loud enough for everypony to hear. “It has been nearly two thousand years since I have seen one of the nocturne's ritual dances performed to such effect!” Then she turned to the crowd. “Everypony, there is no need for you to worry. What you felt was the result of an ancient nocturne art in which they used dance to cast powerful magic to the benefit of all present. The one Destiny just performed was the same I had the privilege of witnessing several times in the past. A ritual which has restored to you your strength as if you had just waken from a good night's rest. Do not fear, you have been blessed, not cursed.”

Destiny smiled in silent thanks for Chrysalis's explanation. “Ever since my friends and I arrived, we've tried to help all we can with the work of building the village. But I'm afraid that until now, I haven't been able to help much. But now that I've learned what these rituals can do... I can finally really help out to repay you all for the kindness you've shown. I intend to perform this rejuvenation ritual at least once a day for all that wish to benefit from its restorative power.”

“That would be awesome!” Destiny jumped back, this time letting out a meep in fright as Surprise was suddenly there, almost nose to nose with her. Then she spun toward the gathered crowd. “And I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel stupendous! How bout another round of applause for our magical dancing bat pony!”

In answer almost everpony and changeling gathered in the square began stomping enthusiastically. Destiny smiled feeling tears coming to her eyes, she'd never felt so much like she belonged before. “Thank you all!” She said sincerely then gave Surprise a wink. “Now...”

“LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!” She and Surprise shouted together.

Destiny continued to look around as she walked about the square. The party had been going for some time already and everypony was enjoying it immensely. Especially since they all had so much more energy. It hadn't been until Destiny had already spent some time dancing – just for fun – that she had noticed that someone was missing.

Spotting Atlas at one of the refreshment tables, she hurried over to him. “Hey, Ori? Have you seen Kira?” She asked, getting a little worried.

He frowned thinking. “No actually, I haven't seen her since this morning.”

Destiny frowned as well. “I can't find her anywhere, why would she not come to the party?”

“I don't know. Maybe she just got doing something that she didn't want to stop in the middle of it? You know she's been really worried about the elements.” He said softly so they wouldn't be overheard.

“Maybe...” Destiny said doubtfully. “I'm going to keep searching.”

He nodded understanding, and Destiny took wing flying back into the center of the square. “Hey, Surprise!” She landed near a table where Surprise, Sonata and the twins were laughing and enjoying some treats.

“Oh, oh! Destiny, are you going to do that magic dance again!” One of the Twins asked before Surprise could even respond. “'Cause if you did, then maybe we could stay up all night!”

Destiny couldn't help but laugh. “Not tonight, but I'll definitely be performing it often to help out the workers,” she told her then looked over at Surprise. “Have any of you seen Kira at all tonight?”

Surprise shook her head. “Nope, I haven't.”

“Is Kira missing?” The other filly, that, Destiny had noticed, usually didn't talk much, asked sounding worried. Her quite nature must have been even more extreme than Destiny was aware however judging by how Surprise's eyes widened and she smiled.

“I don't know, I haven't seen her since I was practicing earlier when we figured out that the ritual dances were magical.” Destiny said frowning. “She seemed fine then. I wonder why she's missing the party?”

“Well I couldn't tell ya, but whatever the reason, it's not good enough! Nopony should miss a party they're invited to, and no dragon either!” Surprise said with conviction.

Destiny nodded in agreement. “I'm going to go find her.”

“Good luck!” Sonata called as Destiny opened her wings. Then she brought them down again launching herself into the sky. She wasn't the strongest flier around to be sure, but she definitely wasn't weak, and in moments she was high above the square in the night sky. For a moment, she let herself enjoy the crisp cool night air, and the exhilaration and freedom of flight. She'd always enjoyed night flights, and often spent hours flying through the dark sparkling skies under the light of the moon. It was a good thing she enjoyed it so much; because otherwise she would have been quite bored those late nights when everypony else was asleep.

Early on in their travels, Kira had tried to help Destiny stay awake during the day to make traveling together easier. Trying to get a nocturnal pony to live by a diurnal schedule had proved far more difficult than just changing when she slept however. In the end Kira had resorted to magic; the side effect being that Destiny not only was awake during the day, but that she hardly slept at all. She only needed a few hours of sleep each night to feel well rested, and after more than two years, there hadn't been any negative side effects.

Kira had felt horrible about it at first when Destiny had told her that she couldn't sleep more than two or three hours; but Destiny had come to like it. Because of it, she could be awake during the day with her friends while still enjoying the beautiful nights she'd always loved.

She would always be a creature of the night, there was no changing that, even if she was awake during the day almost as much as at night now. And as such, her eyes worked better in the dark of night.

She took advantage of it now, searching from high in the sky, scanning over the entire city, searching for her friend. Even in the moonlight Kira's golden scales made her easy to spot and within moments Destiny had found her. She wasn't far; in fact she was just on the south edge of the town, walking along the banks of the small river.

Tucking in her wings, Destiny dove, rapidly gaining speed then slowly opened her wings, pulling up so that her speed would carry her in an easy glide to where Kira was. As she drew closer she noticed Kira was staring off into the distance across the river, clearly deep in thought. Destiny was just about to land when she thought she saw a small sparkle fall to the ground as if... was Kira crying?

Destiny landed and immediately Kira rubbed both her eyes with the back of her fore-claw before looking to see who it was.

“Kira? What are you doing out here?” Destiny asked with gentle concern. “You're missing the party.”

“I... I just wanted to take a walk, to think for a bit before the party. I guess I kind of lost track of time,” Kira said softly then turned and gave her a weak smile.

Destiny wasn't fooled for a moment. “Kira, is something wrong?”

“Nah, I'm alright,” she answered, clearly trying to sound convincing but failing miserably.

“You don't sound alright...” Destiny told her softly, letting her concern show.

“I... I'm just worried about the elements, that's all.”

Destiny watched her for a moment more, she knew that wasn't really what was bothering Kira. Though it was frustrating to the dragon, she knew that the problem with the elements wouldn't make Kira cry. But she could tell just as clearly that whatever it was, Kira didn't want to talk about it. “Kira... if you ever want somepony to talk to; I'll always be glad to listen...”

“It's nothing!” Kira told her more forcefully.

“Okay,” Destiny told her gently. She didn't want to push Kira into telling her. Doing so would likely just make Kira angry. “Won't you come to the party though?” She asked then smiled. “Maybe you could get Atlas to dance with you again.”

Kira sighed heavily, not seeming cheered up at all by the thought of dancing with Atlas, though Destiny knew she had enjoyed it a lot at the last party. “Yeah, let's go...” She said stepping past her and taking off toward the town square. Destiny watched her go for a moment wondering what it was that was bothering Kira, and wishing she knew how to help.

Kira's mood didn't improve as another week passed. Destiny and Atlas tried to get her to tell them what was wrong, but still she refused. Eventually they gave up on finding out what was bothering her and instead tried to simply cheer her up. No matter what they did however, her mood only seemed to worsen.

She became reclusive and grouchy, to the point that even those that had begun to warm up to her became wary of her once more. Helping with the town construction was soon the only time she interacted with anypony besides Destiny and Atlas.

Nopony understood what was bothering her. Even Surprise tried to cheer her up time and again with little success. In fact she was starting to get on Kira's nerves with how much she was trying.

With a sigh, Kira retrieved her bags and left the construction work for the day. She was well aware of the wary looks she received though she kept her eyes on the ground in front of her. She didn't care; once she figured out why the elements wouldn't bind and remedied the problem, she would be gone and they could all forget about her. Like everyone else.

“Hey!”

Kira jumped back and nearly let loose a burst of flame she was so startled by Surprise's appearance. “Dammit, Surprise! One of these times you're going to get roasted, startling me like that!”

“Nah, I know you'd never roast me!” Surprise said with a grin.

“Of course I wouldn't on purpose, but my natural reaction to being startled is breathing fire at whatever startled me!” Kira growled.

“Then I'd get out of the way!” Surprise said like it was no big deal.

Kira snorted. “What do you want, Surprise.” She asked stepping past her, knowing that the pegasus would follow her.

Sure enough, Surprise zipped around her so that she was in front of her again flying backwards as fast as Kira was walking. Kira was slightly impressed. Flying backwards was hard enough, to do so without looking where you were going was even more so. “I was thinking about going and getting a treat for the twins in the forest, you want to come with? It could be fun!”

Kira just shook her head and kept walking.

“You sure? It would be better than just staring at the river being a sad miss mopy pants.” Surprise asked as Kira walked past her again.

Kira turned a glare on her, but Surprise just smiled seeing that she'd gotten Kira's attention. “Come on, Kira, what's it going to take to turn that frown upside down?” She asked and flipped over in the air so she was hovering upside down in front of Kira.

Kira blinked, her own depressing thoughts momentarily forgotten at the sight of impossibility becoming reality. “How are you doing that?”

“What?” Surprise asked.

“That! Hovering upside down like that! It's not physically possible!”

Surprise laughed. “Of course it is, silly, you just flap your wings in reverse.”

“That's not possible! You're wings don't work in reverse! They don't have the right shape, the muscle mass...”

“Something wrong?”

Kira looked behind her to see Destiny fly up.

“How is she doing that!?” Kira asked Destiny gesturing toward Surprise. Surprise just grinned, continuing to hover upside down.

“What? Flying upside down?” Destiny asked confused.

“Yes! It's not physically possible!”

To Kira's disbelief, Destiny answered by flipping over as well and she began hovering upside down right next to Surprise in the air.

Kira's jaw dropped and she let out a strangled sound.

“It's easy!” Destiny told her. “You just flap your wings in reverse!”

“THAT SHOULDN'T WORK!” Kira exclaimed. Destiny and Surprise just grinned and exchanging an amused look. Then Surprise began circling around Kira, still upside down.

“It's really super easy, I bet you could do it too if you try!”

“Yeah, we could teach you.” Destiny added. “It would be fun!”

Kira considered it a moment. It could be fun, though it really really shouldn't be possible. But then, with the size of pony wings, flight really shouldn't be possible either. Perhaps it was their pegasus magic that made upside down flight possible. If that was the case, she had magic of her own that she knew allowed her to fly, perhaps she could learn to do whatever it was they were doing to defy physics.

But that would mean spending more time with them... getting even more attached...

Like a switch had been thrown, Kira's mood darkened once more and she turned away from them. “No thanks,” she said and started to walk away.

Destiny gave Surprise a pained look then quickly followed. “Kira, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to us?”

Kira just kept walking, not even looking up at her.

“Kira?...” Destiny watched her a moment more then in desperation flew ahead and landed in her path. “Kira, please! Just tell us what's wrong! We just want to help!”

“I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!” Kira shouted so fiercely that Destiny recoiled in shock. Almost immediately she seemed to regret the outburst, but then several other emotions crossed her face, revealing her inner turmoil. “Just leave me alone!” She shouted finally then leaped into the air, making a quick retreat.

Destiny just stared after her, tears coming to her eyes.

“What in the world was that all about?” Queen Chrysalis asked having just arrived.

“I don't know.” Destiny whimpered.

Kira didn't know where she was going, nor did she really care. She just had to get away. So she flew. For some time she flew until the town was barely visible in the distance behind her. Finally she spotted a small lake and dove down, landing roughly on its shore.

For a moment she just stood there, staring at the water, trying to organize her thoughts. To calm the turmoil running through her mind. It wasn't working. If only the elements would bind, we could get this over with and I could just leave! But she knew that wasn't really what she wanted. Even so, she took her bags, where the elements were kept, off and tossed them aside.

In frustration Kira let out a roar of pain and fury, a roar expressing the torment of her heart. Then she collapsed near the water's edge.

The tears came. She didn't bother trying to stop them, she knew it was futile. She let them flow. Laying her head down on her fore-paws, looking out across the lake, she cried. Time seemed irrelevant as she lay there crying for the pain in her heart. Again she tried to organize her thoughts, but to no avail. There was simply too much pain, and so she just continued to cry.

She wasn't sure how long she laid there; how long she cried alone, but eventually the tears slowed and her mind began to clear. With a sniff, she looked up over the water and cast a spell. There had been a few other times over the years that she'd needed to organize her thoughts, to talk things through. On those occasions she had often used this spell to help.

It was an illusion, and as she cast it, it took shape in front of her. In a moment another dragon seemed to appear before her, very similar in size and appearance, but at the same time different. The dragon illusion had the same golden scales as Kira, the same amber eyes, the same silver horns and spines. But there the similarities ended. The illusion's body was longer, her legs shorter. Unlike Kira, she had heavier plate scales covering her chest and belly while at the same time she lacked the fur that covered Kira's back. The biggest difference between them however were the wings. While Kira's wings were feathered like a pegasus, the illusion had true dragon wings, webbed with a pale golden membrane that shimmered in the sunlight.

“It's been some time huh...” Kira said as if greeting an old friend. “You know what's going on. What do I do?”

“I can't stay here, they'll never really accept me...” She looked down. “I know they're nice and some of them may accept me eventually, but not everyone. Not when they find out everything... But... I like it here...”

She shook her head. “It would never work. Destiny and Atlas though... I... I don't want to lose them, but I can't ask them to leave with me. I can't expect them to give up a chance to be happy here... for me.” With tears filling her eyes she looked back up at the illusion. “So what do I do?”

The illusion stared back at her, lifelessly and Kira felt her anger rising. “Well!? Do you have an answer!?”

Still the illusion just stared back at her and finally she sighed. “Of course you don't,” she hissed bitterly. “Your dead... I killed you...”

“I thought you looked familiar, Reshkirana.”

Kira's eyes widened hearing her full name from a voice she recognized all too well and leaped to her feet spinning around with a guilt ridden expression to face Chrysalis, dispelling her illusion as she did. It wasn't just Chrysalis standing there however. Surprise and Destiny were there as well, and even Atlas.

Chrysalis looked sad, and slightly confused. “Why didn't you tell me it was you?... my old friend.”

“I... I didn't want...” She took a step back as if hoping to escape but at the same time realizing there would be no avoiding the truth this time.

“Old friend?” Atlas asked sounding surprised. “Did you know Kira from before?”

Chrysalis nodded, her eyes never leaving Kira. “Yes, many years ago, she came to my hive and asked if she could live among us for a time, to study our magic. I was rather impressed by her desire to learn and so I granted her request. She lived with us for a few years, and in time we became good friends,” Chrysalis told them all. “But her appearance back then wasn't what it is now, that illusion you all saw when we arrived, that's what she use to look like when she and I first met. That's why I didn't realize who she was though I knew she looked familiar.

“I'm guessing that whatever it is that caused your change in appearance is also responsible for stunting your growth?”

Lowering her eyes to the ground, Kira reluctantly nodded.

“But Kira told us that she's normal size for a dragon her age,” Atlas objected.

Chrysalis glanced over at him. “How old did she tell you she was?”

Atlas blinked. “She said that she was eighty-seven.”

Chrysalis nodded understanding. “Well then that would be true. If she were actually eighty-seven. But when she and I first met; when she lived among my changelings, was more than twelve hundred years ago.”

Atlas and Destiny both went wide eyed and looked at Kira in surprise. Kira just closed her eyes lowering her head.

“Why did you lie to us?” Destiny asked sounding hurt.

Kira flinched. “I... I didn't want you to wonder why... why I was so small.”

“You didn't want them to find out what you are now, you're ashamed of it, aren't you,” Chrysalis said softly.

Kira tensed but nodded.

“Why? I mean, what are you that you're so ashamed?” Destiny asked.

Kira looked away not wanting to answer.

“We don't care, Kira. We like you for who you are,” Atlas told her taking a step forward, though Kira could tell he was curious as well.

“Yeah, even if you are a little too fuzzy to be a dragon.” Surprise added cheerfully. Still Kira didn't answer.

“Kira?” Destiny inquired gently.

Finally she gave up. “I'M HALF PONY ALRIGHT.”

They all jumped back startled by her sudden outburst. Surprise blinked looking confused. “So, does that mean one of your parents was a pony?”

Kira groaned shaking her head, there was no use hiding from it any longer. “No, it doesn't work that way. I hatched a true dragon; that illusion you saw was me, just like Chrysalis said.”

“Then how'd you become half pony?” Surprise asked with simple curiosity.

She sighed. “I was stupid,” she said bitterly. “The whole reason I wanted to study changeling magic was because I wanted to see if I could duplicate it. Specifically their transformation magic. I thought my spell would work... but my spells never work the first time... Instead of temporarily transforming me into a pony like I had intended, the spell failed halfway through the transformation. What was worse, the changes were permanent. I tried to reverse the spell... for more than a century I tried to find a way to change myself back. But it was no use.”

“So, you're part pony.” Atlas said then shrugged smiling. “What's wrong with that?”

Kira glared at him. “Don't you get it!? I'm a freak! A twisted abomination! I don't belong anywhere! The dragons cast me out! And it's only a matter of time before the ponies here do as well!”

“Nopony's going to cast you out, Kira.” Surprise objected.

“Yes they will! Once they find out what I eat, they won't want me living among them.”

Destiny and Atlas both knew what she meant, Chrysalis probably could guess as well, but Surprise was confused.

“But... I've seen you eating. You eat all the same stuff we do...”

Kira shook her head. “I can eat pony food, but it's not enough. To stay healthy... I have to eat meat regularly.” She said angrily. “You understand!? That means I hunt! I kill! And I feed!”

Surprise seemed shocked by the revelation, but Kira didn't wait for her to respond.

“Now do you really think everypony would accept me once they find out about that!? Do you really think they'd want a predator living among them!? That they'd want me anywhere near their foals!?” She shook her head. “Some may accept me in time, but they'll never be comfortable knowing what I eat. And they will find out; I'm not naïve enough to believe I could keep it hidden forever.”

“You give ponies too little credit. They're more accepting than you think, Kira.” Chrysalis told her. “And you shouldn't be ashamed of what you are. Learn to accept it; be proud of how unique you truly are.” She smiled wryly. “Trust me on this, Kira. From one twisted abomination to another.”

Kira looked up confused. “What do you mean; 'from one twisted abomination to another?'”

Chrysalis just smiled. “I wasn't always a changeling, Kira. I was a normal pony once.”

“You were!?” Kira asked surprised.

She nodded. “I learned long ago to accept what I am, and not be ashamed. It' alright to be different, to be unique. It wasn't easy at first; because of our appearance we were feared and treated as monsters.” She grinned. “Even you have a more friendly appearance than my children and I. But in time I learned to accept what I had become. I learned to be happy again.”

“And there's nothing wrong with you being half pony!” Atlas added. “In fact, I bet if everypony knew, they'd be even more accepting of you.”

Kira looked at him a moment considering that. He may be right. It may actually help others be at ease around her knowing that she was half pony. She shook her head though. “Once they find out what I eat, being half pony won't matter to them. And even if all of you tried to convince everypony... tried to defend me... I won't be a burden. I won't stay where I don't belong and I don't belong here!”

She turned away. “Once we've done what we came here to do, I'll leave, and you can all forget about me...”

“But you don't have to, Kira! We want you to stay!” Atlas objected.

She shook her head still with her back turned. “I can't... Ponies will never accept me, not all of them. Even if I eat as little meat as possible. They'll fear me for it.”

“Isn't there another way?” Atlas asked. “Maybe something else you could eat as a substitute for meat?”

Kira sighed heavily. Why couldn't they just accept that she'd never belong here. “There is one way,” she admitted finally. “But it's not really feasible.”

“What do you mean, what is it?”

She shouldn't have even mentioned it, Kira realized. There was no point in giving them false hope, but now they definitely wouldn't leave her alone until she told them. “I can live off of any diet, so long as I consume gemstones regularly as well.”

“Gemstones?” Surprise asked perking up a bit.

Kira nodded. “The magic in the gemstones will allow me to draw the nutrition I need from any source of food. But in order for it to work, I'd have to be eating gemstones two or three times a week and they'd have to be large enough and pure enough. It's kind of an expensive eating habit.”

“But if you had gemstones to eat, you could stay? You wouldn't have to eat meat?” Surprise persisted.

Reluctantly Kira nodded again.

“One sec.” Surprise said and suddenly flew off fast enough that Kira didn't see where.

“Kira, even if you still had to eat meat, I'm sure that ponies here would accept you anyway.” Atlas told her gently. “But if having gemstones will make it easier for you...”

“Will these work!?” Surprise was suddenly in front of Kira holding in her hooves several large, uncut gemstones. Kira's eyes widened in surprise. In truth they were larger than she would even need at one time. A couple of the gems Surprise held would last her a week by themselves.

“Where did you find these!?” She gasped stunned.

“Right over there.” She said nodding to the side. Kira looked in the direction indicated and saw a small recently dug hole.

“They were just there!?” Kira exclaimed, stunned.

“Kira,” Atlas said and Kira turned to him as he touched her shoulder. “I was going to say; one of the reasons the unicorn tribe wanted to settle in this land is because of the abundance of gemstones here. If all of us help, I'm sure we could find all the gems you ever need.”

Kira stared at him for a moment stunned. “...Are you sure?”

He smiled and nodded.

She looked around at all of them. “You would all do that for me?”

“Of course we would!” Destiny told her smiling.

Chrysalis shrugged. “Heck, I could probably ask my changelings just to keep an eye out for gemstones in their daily work and they'd probably find more than enough.”

“You don't have to leave.” Atlas told her smiling. “This can be your home, Kira.”

Home. A place where one belonged, where they were wanted. It had been a long time since anywhere had truly felt like home to Kira. Tears came to her eyes again though as she came to realized that for the first time in centuries she had found such a place. A place where she could belong, a place where she was wanted, where she had friends.

Light flared from Kira's bags that still laid a short ways off where she had thrown them. Everypony looked startled and the five brightly colored and glowing gems leaped from the bags and flew through the air, each to one of them save for Kira. They were all lifted into the air as the gems began circling around each of them, two around Surprise. The orbiting gems moved faster and faster until they were just streaks of color around them all.

Then another flash of light drew Kira's eyes downward and she saw a sixth gem had appeared in front of her. Magenta in color, it was the shape of a six pointed star. A golden necklace appeared around the new gem, holding it and wrapped itself around Kira's neck. Then even as she watched, all the other elements flew inwards to each of their bearer's chests and with a flash, more golden necklaces appeared.

Slowly the others were lowered to the ground as the magic faded and they were all left looking at each other seeming stunned. Each of the gems had taken a new shape, matching the cutie mark of the bearer. Destiny's pink gem was in the shape of a horseshoe, Atlas's purple gem had taken the shape of an eight pointed compass star, while Surprise's had taken the shape of a blue baloon with a red diamond inset in the center.

It was Chrysalis who was the first to speak. “These are the elements of harmony!” She gasped looking down at her own, the orange gem had taken an odd shape with her, it looked almost like a simple vase. “Where did you get these!? They've been missing for centuries!”

Kira was to stunned, looking down at her own element to answer at first. She'd never even suspected that she might be one of the bearers. Finally though she registered Chrysalis's question. “I've kept them safe, for when they'd be needed.”

“Kira told us that...” Atlas trailed off and looked at Kira. “It was really you, wasn't it. Everything you said your 'mentor' did?”

She nodded. “I never had a mentor,” she said softly then decided to explain herself. “I foresaw the fall of the princesses, and so I acquired the elements to keep them safe.”

“You stole the Elements!?” Chrysalis exclaimed. “If Celestia had had these...!”

“She would have fallen all the same!” Kira said firmly. “I foresaw many possibilities, Chrysalis. And in every one of them the princesses fell. Discord's magic was unlike anything the world had ever seen. He wielded chaos magic in ways no other being ever could. Even if Celestia had the elements, he would have just taken them from her with little effort. I tried to warn Celestia, but she wouldn't believe me. She wouldn't believe that her sister would betray her, or that a creature such as Discord could even exist. If she had still had possession of the elements when Discord had appeared, they would have been lost forever.

“But I also foresaw that the elements would be needed again in the future; so I kept them safe until the time came. That's why we came here in the first place. I set out to find the bearers of the elements and bring them all together now that they are needed once more.”

She looked down at the gem around her neck. “I didn't think I'd be the sixth; the bearer of magic. And why did they bind now? I thought they would bind to their bearers as soon as you were all gathered together...”

“You really don't know much about them, do you?” Chrysalis said sounding amused.

Kira looked up at her. “I've been studying them for years! I probably know more than anyone who's ever lived!”

She laughed. “Kira, the elements rely not only on the virtues of the bearers, but also on the friendship between them. They won't bind to bearers that are not friends.”

Kira blinked a couple times as that sunk in. “You mean the elements wouldn't bind because I hadn't accepted you all as friends!?”

Chrysalis nodded.

“SON OF A...” Kira let out a frustrated roar that echoed across the valley.

“Feel better?”

Kira took a deep breath then let it out slowly before finally nodding.

“So, now that they've bonded with us... what now?” Destiny asked. “You've always said they were needed to save the world.”

Kira nodded and looked down at the element of magic again thoughtfully. “There is still time before what needs to be done.” She looked up at Chrysalis. “Is their anything else you know about the elements?”

“Just that their power comes from the strength of the friendship between there bearers. The stronger the bonds of friendship, the more powerful they become.”

Kira looked around at all of them. “I guess, in that case we should spend some more time together. I... I really haven't been much of a friend the last few days.”

“You were being kind of a grouch,” Destiny said smiling.

Kira blushed.

“Can we afford to wait, though? You said the sooner the better,” Atlas asked.

“We still have time, and we'll need the elements as strong as possible. Let's... let's try not to worry about it for now, I'll know when the time comes,” Kira told them all. “Let's just take some time to enjoy ourselves while we can.” She looked up and smiled. “After over a thousand years, I think I could use a bit of a break before we move on to the final stretch.”