After Midnight

by Nebula Star

Chapter 11: The Heart of Magic

After Midnight
By Nebula Star

“Where are they!? Where did they go!?” Destiny screamed, her voice echoing through the cave. Atlas wrapped his hooves around her trying to calm her while Surprise put a wing around her as well.

Kira however, turned to Chrysalis. “Are they...?”

“They're alive,” she assured them, clearly focusing on the links she had with her missing children. “But they're unconscious. There's no telling where they are.”

“Hear that, they're still alive,” Atlas told Destiny who was trembling in his embrace.

“That thing took them!” She screamed back, not comforted in the least.

“But it hasn't hurt them...”

“IT TOOK THEM!”

With a growl, Kira turned to them and with her fore-claws, pulled Destiny from Atlas's embrace and turned the nocturne to face her. “PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!” She shouted, their snouts inches apart, shocking Destiny into silence. Having her complete and fearful attention, Kira went on; “Once we finish our mission, we'll do what we can to save them. But if we don't hold it together and do what we came here for, then EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DIE!”

Destiny shrank back from the dragon-pony, shocked and a little frightened at her intensity.

Kira took a deep breath and her expression softened. “I know your scared. And I know, I promised I'd protect everyone... I'm sorry... I couldn't. I failed. But we can't fail... because everything, everyone depends on this. On us.

“We'll try to save them, to get them back, but only once we've completed our mission. They wouldn't want us to risk everything for them.”

“Kira is right,” Chrysalis agreed. “As worried as I am about my children, we can't afford to spend time searching for them now. They know how important our mission is; they would want us to continue on without them.”

Destiny looked at her tears falling from her eyes, then slowly lowered her eyes and nodded, letting out a small whimper.

Kira watched her for a moment more then turned to the others and pointed toward where she had sensed the heart of magic. “Atlas, find me the largest branch off this chamber in that direction.”

He nodded and activated his spell as Kira went on. “We're going to have to move quickly as we can. Everypony stay close. I don't know if we can really lose this thing, but if we stick together, we should be able to withstand anything it throws at us. If it attacks again, I'll do what I can to shield us.”

“As will I.” Chrysalis added.

Kira nodded. “But if it keeps coming, we may have to use the elements.”

“Why didn't my shield work?” Destiny asked so softly that Kira wasn't sure what she'd said.

“What?”

“My shield? Why didn't it protect them?” Destiny asked, clearly distraught that her contribution to their protection hadn't seemed to help.

Kira thought about it a moment; the protective spells Destiny's ritual dance had placed on them all earlier were still in place, and as she noticed before, they were all very strong. She shook her head. “I'm not sure... Perhaps your shields only block harmful magic, so the spells used against them didn't trigger your shields. I think they must have simply been put to sleep and carried off, maybe even teleported; but because none of those things would cause them direct harm...”

Destiny sniffed. “I guess that makes sense...”

Kira put her claws on Destiny's shoulders. “Don't worry, if I'm right, your shields are still in place on them and will protect them if the shadow does try to do them harm.”

She nodded, finally seeming to have moved past panic to grim determination.

“We'll make it through this,” Kira reassured her once more then turned to the others.

“Atlas? That passage?”

“I found one that seems promising, it seems to extend a good ways deeper into the mountain,” he told her, his horn still glowing.

“Then let's go. Atlas, you're at my side; Surprise and Destiny, stay close behind us; Chrysalis, watch our backs.” A whisper of movement in the shadows behind them, and Kira knew they were running out of time before the shadow struck again. “Move!” She shouted and they took off through the cave, her and Atlas taking the lead with Atlas guiding her, his horn glowing. She heard Surprise and Destiny galloping just behind, and the longer strides of Chrysalis bringing up the rear as they followed the open path along the ancient mine cart rails between the enormous crystal formations the lined the cave walls.

As they ran, Kira reached out with her senses, trying to find their pursuer. Every living thing had magic within it, so she should have been able to sense the shadow creature; but try as she might, she couldn't sense anything nearby but her four friends, and she knew the shadow creature hadn't left them.

“This way!” Atlas shouted turning down a path that led into one of the deeper parts of the main chamber they'd found themselves in.

Kira hoped the branch of the cave he'd sensed wasn't much further. They needed to get out of the open. Once they were in a more narrow passage, there would only be two directions for the shadow to attack them from, possibly only one if the tunnel didn't have any other passages that connected to it.

The shadow struck. The only warning was a slight darkening of the air above them as the reflected light from the crystals lining the ceiling were blocked from view. It was enough though, and both Kira and Chrysalis threw up shields just in time to deflect the shadow's fury while Destiny let out a frightened scream, though she didn't stop.

They continued galloping, following Atlas's lead, hardly even slowed by the shadow's attack. Kira knew it was holding back though. After she'd stopped it's first attack, it seemed the shadow wanted to test her strength.

“Down here!” Atlas shouted and jumped off a small ledge without even looking first. Kira followed, opening her wings to slow her fall. The others did the same and together they galloped into the tunnel Atlas had been leading them to.

With the only directions they needed to watch reduced to in front of them and behind; Kira let out a sigh of relief and let herself relax, just a tiny bit. They didn't slow however and continued to gallop through the darkness, only their spells providing them with light. The sound of their hoofsteps and Kira's claws echoed through the tunnels as they all hoped the path they had chosen would lead them closer to their goal.

“Split up ahead. Left or right?” Atlas asked.

Kira focused her senses again on sensing the heart. It was nearly strait ahead. “Left,” Kira told him, hoping beyond hope that it was the right choice.

Atlas took the left tunnel, the others close on his tail. It was a narrower tunnel than the one they'd been in, sometimes narrow enough that they had to slow or risk a bloody encounter with a protruding crystal. If they hadn't been running for their lives, Kira may have wondered about the profuse amount of crystals and gemstones that lined the caves around them, but such thoughts were far from her mind.

After a ways, the tunnel branched again, but this time the choice was easier as taking the left branch again would take them too far off course. The tunnel then widened again, becoming a broad path that they had no trouble traversing.

Deeper and deeper into the mountain they ran as fast as their hooves and claws could carry them. They past several more junctions, each time Kira chose the one that seemed to be leading closer to the heart and hoped it was the right choice; that it wouldn't lead them to a dead end.

“Any sign of the shadow?” Kira called over her shoulder as they continued.

“No, but I doubt it's given up.” Chrysalis called back, sounding slightly winded.

Paying attention to the sound of the others' breathing, Kira realized they were all starting to tire. They wouldn't be able to keep up this pace much longer.

“I think there's another large chamber ahead. With a fair number of branches leading off of it...” Atlas said sounding just as winded as Chrysalis.

Kira frowned. She'd expected the caves to be a maze, but she hadn't expected to have a vicious shadow creature pursuing them as they tried to find their way. “I think we better stop for a moment there to catch our breath and get our bearings.”

“Yes, we can't go much longer like this.” Chrysalis agreed.

The chamber Atlas had sensed soon opened up in front of them. It was fairly large, though the ceiling wasn't much higher than the tunnel they'd come from. Kira brightened her light spell to illuminate the chamber. There were at least a half dozen tunnels leading off of the chamber from what she could see. That wasn't good.

“Atlas. Scan all the tunnels as far out as your spell can reach. Find one that goes as close to that direction as possible.” She said pointing directly at the heart. “Chrysalis, watch the tunnel we came from. I'll watch the rest as best I can. Destiny, Surprise, catch your breath, but keep your eyes open as well.”

They nodded, both lying down. Neither one of them were used to galloping so hard for so long. Both of them would usually fly if they needed to travel quickly.

Kira stayed on he feet, pacing around them, trying to watch all the tunnels at once, wondering where the shadow had gotten to. By its nature, Kira doubted it would need light to see, so there would be no warning. Not until it entered the range of their own light spells. She had no doubt that it would attack again.

Could they afford to continue on with that thing snapping at their tails? She shook her head. They'd have to deal with it somehow.

“Kira, I don't think there's much point in us continuing on until we find a way to deal with this shadow creature,” Chrysalis said, echoing Kira's own thoughts.

She nodded. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Even if we reached the heart, it would probably just attack us as soon as we're distracted.”

“Exactly,” Chrysalis agreed. “I think we need to consider confronting it and using the elements against it.” She glanced over at Kira. “You hold the element of magic, it's supposed to be the focus of the others; do you know how to activate it and channel the powers of the elements?”

She grimaced. “I think so... I mean, I'm pretty certain I know how but... I don't exactly have the best track record when trying new magic for the first time.”

“We probably should have practiced...” Surprise said, remembering the house building spell incident.

“We probably should have,” Kira agreed with a sigh.

“Well it's too late to worry about that now,” Chrysalis told them. “We'll just have to try it and hope...”

Surprise jumped to her hooves, her wings snapping open and ears twitching furiously. “It's coming!” She exclaimed.

Chrysalis turned back to the tunnel she was guarding while Kira spun around, trying to watch all the other passages at once. Nothing happened.

Kira turned from passage to passage, looking for any sign of movement, but there was nothing there. Not even in the tunnel they'd come from.

“Are you sure?” Chrysalis asked, not taking her eyes off the tunnel she was guarding. Kira began to wonder if Surprise had been wrong as well.

Darkness erupted from one of the tunnels Kira was facing. It's appearance was so quick, she barely managed to put a shield around them before the living shadow smashed into the barrier and swirled around it, surrounding them in darkness as it threw all it's power against the shield. Kira cried out, feeling her magic draining away all too quickly. Chrysalis added her own magic to the shield, trying to hold the creature off, but it wouldn't hold for long against such an onslaught.

“Kira! The elements!” Chrysalis shouted over the roar of the shadow's power.

Realizing it was their only chance. Kira reached out to her element of magic, seeking to call upon its power.

As if it knew what they were doing, the shadow strengthened it's assault against them. At first they managed to hold it back, but doing so required all Kira's concentration. Then Chrysalis's magic failed leaving only Kira's to defend them. The strain was too much; she could feel all her magic draining away as she poured it into the shield. With a cry, she felt her magic fail, and everything faded into darkness.

There wasn't much pain. That was the biggest surprise for Kira as she slowly regained consciousness. Her head was aching from straining her magic, but otherwise she didn't seem to be injured. She could not, however, move. She felt as though she were chained up to the wall, her legs all outstretched. Whatever was binding her, it didn't feel like anything solid, so it was likely magic. But she couldn't sense it; she couldn't sense magic at all. Not even her own.

Slowly she opened her eyes. At least she was pretty sure she did; it didn't make a difference though. She blinked a few times to make sure her eyes were indeed open. Wherever she was, it was in complete darkness the likes of which one would only find in deep caves. It made sense, of course, they had been in a cave after all, and without the light spells they'd been casting...

A soft whimper cut off her train of thought like a switch. She'd recognize that whimper anywhere. “Destiny!?”

“KIRA!” She exclaimed sounding relieved. “Are you alright!?”

“Yeah, I'm fine, but I can't move. My legs are all bound somehow.”

“Me too...” Destiny replied softly. Kira could practically hear the tears in her eyes.

“It will be alright, Destiny...” Kira tried and failed to sound confident.

A soft laughter filled the cave, chilling her to the bone. “Finally awake, are we?” a cold feminine voice asked. "We've been waiting for some time..." A dim light suddenly came to life, illuminating all of their friends bound to the walls just as they were, though the walls themselves were hidden behind a darkness that the light couldn't penetrate making it seem as though they were floating in a black void. All but Destiny and Kira also had their mouths bound by what appeared to be solidified darkness.

They all still had their elements on.

“Don't even think about using the elements. If I sense even a stirring of harmony magic, the Nocturne loses her head.” The shadow hissed as if it knew what Kira was thinking.

Kira gasped as Destiny whimpered in fear. She couldn't let the shadow harm any of her friends, least of all Destiny! “Leave her alone!”

“Now why would I do that? She's obviously the most valuable of my hostages.”

Kira's eyes widened. Why would the shadow think Destiny was her most valuable hostage? Unless...

“Oh yes,” the shadow said softly, seeing Kira's expression. “It was so obvious which of your friends was most precious to you. Which would be your greatest weakness. You're oldest, and dearest friend...” Shadows seemed to condense in the middle of the room, taking a vaguely pony form and two draconic eyes appeared, slit pupils focused on her.

“Let them go!” Kira growled, her anger overriding her fear.

A tendril of shadow lashed out at her like a whip, catching her in the lower jaw with enough force to knock her head back, painfully, against the wall. “You're not in a position to be making demands, little dragon.”

“Dragon-pony.” Kira corrected her in a growl.

“It does not matter.” The shadowy pony said softly as she stepped closer to Kira. “You know very well that you are at my mercy, little lizard.” Kira glared at her for the insult but she went on. “Now; why have you come here?”

Kira glared at the shadow pony. “Why should I tell you?” she hissed angrily.

Destiny let out a yelp and Kira looked to see her head was tilted back and a tendril of shadow was wrapped around her neck. The terror in her eyes almost made Kira's heart stop.

“I've already given you plenty of incentive to cooperate. Do not make me remind you again,” the shadow pony warned, her voice cold as ice. “And I'm not a fool; I know very well what you're after. So allow me to rephrase my question. Why do you seek the heart?”

Kira glared at her a moment more in silence, trying to think of a way out. Nothing that came to mind seemed likely to work, however. She glanced past the shadow pony to Destiny and froze. The young nocturne was looking back at her, her eyes pleading Kira not to anger the shadow more. It was then that it sank in to her just how helpless they were. Her anger vanished completely as she knew that if she did anything rash it would only get Destiny and the rest of her friends killed.

Instead her mind latched on to something else. Something she should have seen earlier. The shadow pony wanted to talk; she knew they were searching for the heart of magic, but she wanted to know their reason for seeking it. Almost as if... as if she wanted to see if they had a good reason. Or perhaps...

It was worth a try.

“The heart is failing.” Kira told her finally. “And if it dies, then everything in this world will die as well; including you.”

“I am aware of the heart's plight,” she said and Kira's hopes sank; she didn't seem too concerned about it. “What do you think you can do about it? If it's this world's fate to die, who are you to think you can stop it?”

“We're the bearers of the elements of harmony; with their aid, we can channel the excess harmony magic out of the heart, relieve the pressure! Give the heart a chance to heal!” Kira told her, letting go of her pride and letting her desperation show. “It will work, I know it will! Please, just let us save the heart. Then we'll leave, just like you want!”

The shadow pony stepped closer, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “What makes you think you know what I want!?”

“I don't,” Kira admitted, tears coming to her eyes as she begged. “Please; just let us save the heart... let us save this world. Please... Just let us try... Then I'll do whatever you want; I'll serve you the rest of my life, I'll be your servant if that's what you want! I'll do anything!"

Kira was very aware of her friends watching her with stunned expressions, but she didn't care. Their mission was far more important than her pride... than her. She'd dedicated almost her entire life to this cause; she couldn't let anything stop them now. If the shadow pony still held them prisoner after, then so be it. At least the world would live on.

But only if the shadow pony let them try...

Kira looked up at the shadowy figure with pleading eyes, trying to convey how important their mission was. Hoping that, at the very least, the shadow pony's sense of self preservation would at least allow them to complete their mission.

The shadow pony was still. The only movement to be seen, a subtle flowing of her dark form that almost completely faded into the darkness that surrounded them. Her eyes gave away none of her thoughts. Was she considering it?

“Please.” Kira begged with all the humility she could muster.

Still the shadow pony did not move. Her eyes bored into Kira, almost as if seeking to catch her in some lie. Kira just looked back with pleading eyes.

Something touched her hind feet and Kira realized she was being lowered to the unseen ground, a glance around showed the same of all her friends, their expressions showing their surprise, and in the case of Chrysalis, suspicion.

“Very well.” Kira looked back to the shadow pony as her fore-claws touched the ground and she felt the bindings vanish. “You may try to save the heart. Should you succeed, then you will leave this place and never return. I care not for your life.”

Kira could hardly believe what she was hearing. Grateful tears filled her eyes as she nodded, accepting the shadow's conditions. “Thank you,” she said, her sincerity clear.

The shadow simply regarded her with an icy stare. “You'd best hope that you succeed.”

“We will.” Kira told her with confidence.

“We shall see.” Suddenly the shadows seemed to open up on to one side, revealing a tunnel entrance. “This passage will lead you to the heart's chamber. You had best hurry; the heart's strength already wanes.” Her shadows then continued to recede from the rest of the chamber, revealing it to be the same chamber in which they'd been captured as she turned toward another passage as if to leave. The light began to fade, but even as it did, Kira felt magic return to her senses and reflexively cast a light spell of her own.

“Wait!” Destiny called suddenly. The shadow pony paused and looked over her shoulder. “What about the others? The one's you already took?”

“Should you succeed, they will be released as well.” She answered and Destiny hesitantly smiled.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“You'd best hope that you succeed.” she repeated, and with that last warning, she flowed into the shadows around her and vanished down one of the passages.

Kira looked after the shadow for a few moments after she'd left and slowly smiled. “Thank you,” she echoed Destiny softly enough that no one else would hear.

“I can sense a large chamber on the edge of my range that seems to be at the end of the passage she told us to take, but there's no way of knowing for sure if it's really the heart's chamber,” Atlas told Kira softly.

Kira just continued to smile. “I think we can trust her.”

Atlas looked at her seeming concerned. “You sure?”

Kira nodded confidently. “There was no malice or deception in her voice, just a deep sadness... I think she was almost looking forward to the end.”

“Even after how scared I was... now I almost want to cry for her,” Destiny said softly. “She's suffering... she knows that if we save the world, then her suffering will just continue, but at the same time, she knows she can't just let the world end to stop the pain.”

Atlas looked between Destiny and Kira for a few moments, then reluctantly let the matter go. “Well, then I guess we should get moving.”

Kira nodded again. “Right,” she said then automatically reached out to sense the heart, noticing as she did that a great deal of her own magic had already returned. Dragon magic naturally replenished faster than pony magic, but even so, it was clear some time had passed. “How long was I out for?”

“It's hard to say,” Chrysalis answered. “After we were captured, it held us for some time, keeping us unable to move or even talk, except for Destiny.”

“I was so scared...” Destiny sniffed softly. “I thought I was alone in that darkness...”

Kira put a wing around Destiny comfortingly.

“Guessing, however, I'd say it was at least a couple hours, it's likely after dark.” Chrysalis went on. “I was considering sending orders for a large task force of my changelings to free us when you woke.”

Kira grimaced. “That could have gotten messy. I'm glad it didn't come to that,” she said then gestured toward the tunnel the shadow had indicated. “Let's get going.”

Taking the lead, Kira entered the passage without hesitation or fear.

(Music)
The first sign that they were drawing near their destination was the deep pulsing thrum. Slow and steady, it was more felt than heard. Then came the light, bright and pure as sunlight, the tunnel slowly brightened as they drew nearer and nearer to the chamber until they saw the exit, appearing almost pure white after being in the dark for so long.

Kira let her light spell fade and shielded her eyes as she stepped into the chamber, feeling the thrumming beat of the heart of magic seeming to penetrate her to the depths of her being. When the glare began to fade as her eyes adjusted, Kira finally lowered her claw and beheld the source of all magic for the first time.

Appearing to be composed purely if light, the orb, nearly twenty paces across, floated in the center of the chamber over a deep pit as if it had risen out of the world's core. Around the outer edges the dark swirls of chaos could be seen though it was almost washed away in the pure light of harmony that seemed ready to burst out from the heart even as they watched. Every color of the rainbow could be seen within that light and it was ever flowing, swirling around inside of the heart.

The chamber itself was enormous. The walls, completely lined with crystal, reflected the light to a nearly blinding intensity. Around the pit the heart floated above, there was a wide rim that was nearly flat, and in fact appeared to have been leveled out by magic as it had an almost glass-like polish. To Kira, it was one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen.

Slowly she turned back to her friends, tears coming to her eyes as she realized that they'd finally made it. After over a thousand years of planning and preparation, here they were, about to complete the task she'd set for herself all those years ago.

“Thank you, all of you,” she said softly, “I never could have made it here without you... my life's work... It would have been for nothing had you not accepted me as your friend. So, thank you.”

Understanding better than most the importance of so many years, Chrysalis smiled and put a hoof on Kira's shoulder. “We were all lucky to have you come into our lives. Now let's save the world.”

Kira smiled and nodded firmly. “Yes, let's give it our all!”

“Yeah! Element's of Harmony are a go!” Surprise cheered, leaping forward, then hesitated, turning back to Kira. “What exactly do we do? We've never used these things before?”

Kira smile. “Just space yourselves out on the rim around the heart. I'll do the rest.”

“You think you can handle it?” Atlas asked.

She nodded. “The element of magic chose me for a reason. Besides, magic is the focusing element, so I'm the only one who can anyway.”

“Alright, well let's do this.” He said and went with the others to take up positions around the heart.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Kira opened her wings and took to the air, flying up above the heart until she was hovering in directly above it's center. Reaching out with her magic, she sensed her element, and through it, the other five.

She took a moment then to look around at her closest friends one last time. “It's worth it,” she whispered to herself. Then she reached further through the elements; feeling their connection to magic, reaching for the source of their power within the heart itself.

“Honesty,” she said softly to herself and light began to flow out of the heart toward Chrysalis, flowing into her element and making the gem glow brightly.

“Generosity.” More light began to flow out of the heart to Atlas's element.

“Laughter and Loyalty.” Surprise's elements were connected to the flow.

Kira smiled softly. “Kindness.” She could almost feel Destiny smiling up at her as her element was connected as well.

“And magic to complete them all.” One by one, beams of light shot up from the other elements, flowing into a powerful aura around Kira. She could feel the unfathomable power the elements had connected to, she need only open the way for that power to burst forth.

Raising her head, she smiled one last time, looking toward the stars she could not see, but knew were there. She knew. This was what she was meant for.

She opened herself fully to the elements, and opened the way.

Light engulfed them all as a torrent of energy roared through the elements. Normally gentle and calming, the sheer amount of energy Kira felt forcing its way out through the elements made it seem like a mountain river at the height of spring runoff. She grabbed hold of it, using every once of her strength and will to guide it, sending the flow up into the mountain. Time lost all meaning as she fought to guide the flow, to ensure that her friends were not harmed by the extraordinary amount of energy that was all but exploding from the heart. She screamed in agony as the unfathomable power tore through her to escape it's confines, but the sound was lost in the roar of the magic she channeled.

Throughout Equestria, those ponies who were still out despite the late hour stopped whatever it was they were doing and turned to stare in the direction of the central mountains as Canterlot mountain began to glow.

Ponies emerged from their homes, feeling something in the air, and joined the rest in watching as an entire mountain lit up as bright as the sun, temporarily banishing the night. Then a wave of multicolored light burst forth from the glowing peak flowing across the land. None panicked; they could sense the power that filled that light, and though most didn't know what it was, they instinctively knew it would not bring them harm.

Then another wave erupted outwards, even brighter than the first. It was soon followed by a third, then a fourth... wave after wave erupted from the glowing mountain, flowing across Equestria and beyond, covering the entire world with the comforting power of harmony.

For more than an hour harmony flooded out into the world.

Kira felt the flow begin to taper off. She had no idea how long it had been since they'd begun. For her, it had seemed an eternity. But it was done; The harmony that remained within the heart was no longer straining to escape.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt the last bits of magic flow through her and her element, then released the connection with the heart. Released from the magic that had held her, it was all she could do to glide down to the rim around the heart and land.

“It's done...” she breathed, then simply collapsed to the ground.

“Kira!” Destiny exclaimed, running to her side, followed quickly by the others.

Destiny fell to her knees by Kira's side, her breathing was weak and only seemed to be growing weaker. “Kira, Kira! Wake up!”

“What's wrong with her!?” Surprise asked, worried when Kira showed no signs of waking.

Chrysalis knelt down next to Kira as well, scanning her with her magic her face fell at what she sensed. “She's completely drained of both her magic and her life force... she's dying.”

“What!?” Destiny gasped.

Kira stirred then and, opening her eyes, she smiled weakly up at them. “It's alright; I knew this would happen,” she breathed, clearly struggling even to speak.

“What do you mean? You knew?”

She looked up at Destiny sadly, the last of her strength fading. “No one can channel that much energy at once... without consequences.” Her eyes drifted closed and she was still.

“Kira!?” Destiny gasped, tears filling her eyes.

“KIRA!!!”