//------------------------------// // Epilogue: Returning Sun // Story: After Midnight // by Nebula Star //------------------------------// After Midnight By Nebula Star Epilogue: Returning Sun *** Looking out over the thriving town of Ponyville, Kira sighed, contently. Eleven years. She smiled, thinking about it. It was hard to believe at times that it had already been eleven years since she'd first come to Ponyville with Destiny and Atlas. Though at other times it was hard to believe that only eleven years had passed. So much had happened. Ponyville had grown a great deal. Being the unofficial capital of the reborn Equestria, ponies from all over had flocked to the town on the edge of the forest. Despite how quickly it had grown, however, they had worked hard to make the town look friendly and welcoming. Even though it was barely over a decade old, to outward appearances, it looked almost as if it had always been there. It helped that, despite the rapid growth, Ponyville wasn't near the size that Canterlot had once been. None of the new settlements were anywhere near that size. There just weren't enough ponies left to populate such massive cities. Even New Cloudsdale wasn't even a quarter of the size the ancient pegasus city had been. Of course, if things continued as they had for the past decade, it wouldn't be long before such large cities were needed. Even from where she was, Kira could see that the foals in ponyville outnumbered the adults. It was almost to the point of becoming a problem. In fact, if it weren't for the changelings, it likely would have been already. The changeling's adored foals, and there was hardly a family in Ponyville that didn't have a changeling friend living with them to help care for the little ones. Even many of the teachers in the schools they'd built were changelings. Kira understood that though changelings other than Chrysalis were incapable of having foals of their own, that didn't keep the changeling mares from having maternal instincts. And so, with the population exploding, and so many foals being born, nearly all the changelings, mares especially, were doing all they could to help raise the next generation. The next generation. It was on everyone's mind now days. Even Kira's. Movement at her side caused Kira to look over, finding a young filly digging through her saddle bags. Kira almost laughed as nearly half the filly was disappearing into the bag as she searched, her little wings flaring for balance. With a pink coat and a soft violet mane, the filly would have appeared to be just a normal pegasus filly, if it weren't for her dragon-like tail, claws and eyes. “Hey, you!” Kira said playfully, reaching back and grabbing her daughter, pulling her forward. She giggled and tried to escape, but soon found herself pinned down by her mother's claw. “What are you looking for, Firebloom?” Kira asked smiling. “A snack,” Firebloom answered trying to look innocent. “A snack huh? You were looking for some gems, weren't you?” She continued to look up at her mother trying to look innocent. Kira smirked. “Weren't you?” Kira repeated, tickling her daughter mercilessly. Firebloom shrieked with laughter, unable to keep up her innocent act under the onslaught. Finally Kira relented and Firebloom looked up at her with a hopeful smile. Unfortunately for Kira, it was just too darn cute. Using her magic, she unerringly levitated two gems out of her saddle bags and held them up for her daughter to see. Firebloom gasped in excitement and sat up, eagerly holding out her claws for the gems. “No, not both,” Kira admonished. “One now, one later.” The little dragon-pony immediately put on a pout, but Kira just smiled. “Which one do you want now?” “Ruby!” Firebloom exclaimed, her expression turning back to eager excitement in an instant. Kira smiled down at her and levitated the red gem into her daughter's waiting claws. She took it and immediately took a big bite, happily crunching away at the gemstone. Kira watched her daughter enjoying her snack, a familiar warm feeling filling her, as if she'd never stop smiling. The oldest of her three foal's, Firebloom had been the biggest surprise of her life. After her transformation, she hadn't believed that she could ever have children of her own, not that she'd been opposed to trying. So when she'd first realized that she was pregnant, it had been quite a shock. But a very welcome one. Again, Kira found herself wondering about the future of her kind. Would her descendents have less and less dragon in them with each generation until it vanishes all together? When Firebloom had been born, she'd wondered if that would be the case since Firebloom appeared to be far more pony than Kira was. But when her second, her son, had been born she'd begun to question that theory. Little Binder was even more dragon than Kira herself. In fact, except for a little patch of fur on his shoulders and back, and the fact that he'd been born in the pony way instead of hatching from an egg, he could easily be mistaken for a true dragon. He even had dragon style webbed wings. This had made Kira wonder if, with her accident, she'd inadvertently made herself into the mother of a new race. That her descendents would vary in how much they were dragon or pony but that they'd always be hybrids. Only time would tell for certain. For now, she was content raising her little family. Kira loved all her children, of course, but Firebloom, being her first, was special to her. Her two youngest were at home with their father today, along with Destiny's two foals, so that she and Firebloom could have some mother-daughter time. Kira smiled, her thoughts turning to her family and how they'd come together. At first she, Destiny, and Atlas, had all moved into a house together simply because there weren't many houses available and none of them had been willing to use their social status as heroes to demand special privileges. It hadn't been long before both Destiny and Kira began to realize they were falling for Atlas. As time went on, they began competing for his affection. This went on for almost a year, both of them giving in to bouts of jealousy that grew worse and worse until it had finally come to a head in a fight between them. It might have even become violent if Atlas hadn't intervened. He'd told them then that he loved both of them and could never choose between them, and if they could not accept that, then none of them could be together. With that ultimatum in mind, Destiny and Kira had made up that night and realized just how silly they were being. Herding was common practice in Equestria, the population being almost four to one mares to stallions. What was more, even among dragons it was fairly common for multiple females to share a mate, and while Destiny's nocturne clan hadn't practiced herding, she'd been around it long enough that she was use to the idea and willing to give it a chance. Especially since she and Kira were already such close friends. They'd both married Atlas in a single ceremony early in their second year in Ponyville. “Mama?” Kira looked down at Firebloom and smiled, seeing her daughter had finished her snack. “What is it, honey?” “Why don't the other foals eat gems?” Firebloom asked curiously. “Because they don't need to,” Kira told her, smiling. “But, couldn't they still eat them? They're so yummy!” “Only to dragon-ponies.” Firebloom looked up at her confused. “What?” “Gems only taste yummy to dragon-ponies like me, you, and your brother and sister,” Kira explained. “To other ponies, gems just taste like regular old rocks.” “Really!?” Firebloom asked, clearly having a hard time believing it. “Mmm hmm. Ask you're Auntie Surprise about it sometime. She tried eating gems once, and even when she transformed herself into a dragon-pony, they still tasted like rocks to her.” “But why do they only taste yummy for us?” “Because we need the magic of gemstones to stay healthy, so they taste good to us so that we know we should eat them,” Kira explained, always glad to teach her daughter. “Oh, okay.” Kira smiled and ruffled her daughter's mane. “You done playing then?” “Yep!” “Okay, well we still have to stop by the market and pick up a few things. You ready to go?” “Yeah!” Kira swung her tail around. “Alright, up you go!” Firebloom didn't hesitate to climb up her mother's tail onto Kira's back. Kira had shaved down the spines on her neck and back so that it would be more comfortable for her children to ride... as well as for certain activities with their father. Her spines would grow back in time, but until her children were all grown, she was keeping them shaved. “All set back there?” Kira asked as she felt her daughter's forelegs wrap around her neck. “Ready!” Firebloom exclaimed. “Alright, hang on, 'cause here we go!” Kira launched herself into the air, paying careful attention to Firebloom's grip on her to make sure she didn't fall, while her daughter simply squealed with delight at flying on her mother's back. It wasn't a long flight to the Ponyville market, but Kira decided to indulge her daughter. As Firebloom cheered in excitement from her back, Kira flew through the town, weaving through the buildings just below rooftops before climbing high into the sky and circling the town, preforming some simple aerial acrobatics that wouldn't put Firebloom in danger of falling off, but still got the little filly's heart racing. Finally, Kira decided she'd indulged Firebloom enough and settled into a gentle glide, heading toward the market. Several pegasi and changelings called out greetings as they flew past, and both Kira and her daughter waved and called out greetings in return. There wasn't a pony in Ponyville that didn't know who Kira was as well as the names of her three foals. Due to their status as heroes, the element bearers – Kira and Chrysalis especially – were looked to for leadership by just about all of Ponyville as well as most of the other nearby settlements as well. Even the New Cloudsdale council was constantly seeking their advice, much to Chrysalis's annoyance. She had no desire to rule over ponies again. The few times she and her changelings had in the past, they'd eventually been driven out when the ponies had grown tired of being ruled over by others that happened to be immortal. And those were the times when they'd ruled over ponies in peace. Kira pushed the thoughts aside. This was no time to be thinking about politics, today, she was spending time with her eldest daughter. They'd almost reached the market when it happened. The sun flared above them, washing out everything in blindingly bright light. Surprised shouts rang out all around as Kira stopped mid air, covering her eyes against the glare. As quickly as it had come, it faded again. But then a beam of light shot down from the sky, faster than anything Kira had ever seen. She watched as the beam streaked through the sky, coming down somewhere in the forest. Then, nothing. Kira watched a few moments more, confused. It had looked like a meteor; but one of that brightness would have caused quite an impact when it landed. “What was that, mama?” Firebloom asked softly. “I don't know, gem,” Kira answered. “It looked like a meteor, but if it was then there should have been an explosion when it landed...” “Meteor?” “A falling star,” Kira clarified, still looking out over the forest. There wasn't even any sign of smoke. As she watched, a group of several pegasi and a few changelings took flight to investigate. After a few more moments, and still no smoke from the direction of the light's impact, Kira glanced over her shoulder at her daughter. “You want to go check it out?” Firebloom grinned and nodded eagerly. “Alright, let's see what's up.” Normally Kira would never take Firebloom, or any of her children with her to investigate such a strange occurrence, but there had been something about that light. It had been almost... comforting, as if she knew it would bring them no harm. Kira was a swift enough flier on her own, but flying with a passenger, especially one as precious as her daughter, slowed her down considerably. So she didn't catch the pegasi and changelings that had flown ahead until they all stopped to hover in the air, staring down at something. As she drew close, she caught glimpses of some ruins beneath them, and realized they were most likely the ruins of the ancient castle that had once been the capital of Equestria. “Any sign what that light was?” Kira asked one of the pegasi, a mare named Windstorm, who she was fairly good friends with. Without a word, Windstorm pointed down at the ruins with one hoof. Curious, Kira looked and saw what had them so shocked. There, standing just in front of what was once the main gate of the ancient castle, was an unusually tall mare with a pure white coat, wings, and the longest horn Kira had ever seen. Her mane and tail were a pastel rainbow of colors and flowed with power. Kira recognized her immediately. “Princess Celestia!” She gasped. All the Pegasi and changelings hovering around her looked at her in surprise. “You mean the princess from legend that was betrayed by Nightmare Moon!?” Kira nodded. “That's her...” “How can you be sure?” Windstorm asked skeptically. She glanced at the pegasus. “Because I've met her before.” “But she was banished over a thousand years ago!” Kira rolled her eyes, grinning. Though she was well known now and didn't try to keep it a secret, there were still a lot of ponies that didn't know how old she was. “And I'm over thirteen hundred years old.” Windstorm's eyes really widened then. “You are!?” “Yep,” she confirmed with a grin. “Mama's old, old, old, old, old!” Firebloom giggled. Kira let out a laugh as she looked over at one of the changelings. “Has Chrysalis been told?” He nodded. “I informed her as soon as you identified the princess. She's on her way with a few others as well.” Kira nodded. “Alright,” she said, then looked down at Celestia again. “I'm going to go talk to her.” Windstorm glanced at Firebloom on Kira's back. “Are you sure you want to take Firebloom, it might not be safe...” Kira snorted at that. “Princess Celestia would never hurt anyone without reason. Let alone a filly.” With that, she dove down toward the ruins. “Firebloom, I need you to be quite and let me talk to the princess for a bit, okay.” “Okay, mama,” Firebloom answered obediently and Kira smiled. She landed a short distance behind Celestia, watching the princess as she stood staring at the ruins. Curious what she was doing, Kira quietly approached her. Then she saw a single tear, shimmering in the sunlight as it fell to the ground. Kira understood then. This had once been Celestia's home, but not only that, it had been the home of her sister, and countless other ponies as well. Ponies that she had cared for, that she had sworn to protect... that she had failed. Now, almost nothing remained. “It was abandoned almost seven hundred years ago after it was leveled in the wars.” Kira told her softly. Celestia's ear turning slightly was the only indication she had heard. “Wars?” she asked softly. “Discord and Nightmare Moon each took a part of Equestria and forced them to war with each other. In the end, Nightmare's forces were defeated and she was forced to serve Discord from then on.” “Is she still his slave?” “No... they were both slain a little over fifteen years ago.” Kira answered softly, knowing all too well who Nightmare Moon had been. Celestia's shoulders slumped and her wings hung down at her sides as if she just didn't have the strength to keep them folded any longer. “Is there anypony left?” She asked, almost a whimper. “Yes,” Kira told her, trying to sound reassuring. “The ponies here went through hard times, but they survived. And things have gotten better. Equestria is thriving now, and growing stronger every day.” Celestia took a deep breath and sighed seeming somewhat relieved. Finally she turned to face Kira. Surprise and recognition crossed her face. “I know thee!” Kira nodded. “Reshkirana,” she introduced herself. “But most just call me Kira now.” Celestia's eyes narrowed. “Thou didst come to us and request that the Elements of Harmony be given into thy care.” Kira nodded. “We did deny thy request. Not six months later, the Elements were stolen,” she said accusation clear in her tone. Taking a deep breath, Kira nodded once more. “I'm sorry. I did what I had to, to ensure the future of this world.” Anger flashed through the alicorn's eyes. “If we didst have the elements...” “You would have fallen all the same.” Kira cut her off firmly. “Just like I warned you you would. I'm sorry it had to be that way, but if you still had possession of the Elements when Discord appeared it would have been disastrous for not just Equestria, but the entire world.” “The elements could have...” “Discord would have taken them from you before you ever got a chance to use them, and I know you put enchantments on them to protect them. It wouldn't have mattered. Your spells didn't even stop my dragon magic, they definitely couldn't have stopped Discord's chaos magic.” Kira sighed heavily. “Celestia, I foresaw many possible futures back then, but in all the possibilities I saw, there wasn't a single one where you succeeded. Your fall was inevitable. But if the Elements of Harmony had been lost as well, then this world would now be dead. You would have returned to find a lifeless husk, and then slowly died as well as the magic drained from your body. “I'm sorry you had to fall, but I had to do what I did, in order to to save the world.” Celestia glared at her a few moments more, seeming unwilling to believe that she could not have won even with the elements. But finally, she sighed and her expression softened. “The past is the past. It is clear that thou doth believe that thou did what was right; that thy intentions were good.” Kira nodded and slowly smiled. “Welcome back, Princess Celestia.” Celestia gave a weak smile in return. “I am curious, though. It hath been a thousand years, how is it that thou hast not grown?” “I'm not a true dragon, princess. I'm a dragon-pony, a hybrid.” She raised a brow at that. “I did not know such a thing was possible. Art thou saying one of thy parents was a pony.” Kira shook her head. “No, I... I wasn't born like this, I'm not natural. I was a true dragon originally. It's a bit of a story, but basically I tried to copy a transformation spell, but got it wrong and got stuck like this.” “Truly?” She nodded. “Yes, not that I'm complaining. It's actually one of the best things that ever happened to me.” It was, of course, at that moment that Firebloom decided to remind her mother of another of the best things that ever happened to her. She was a well behaved filly and usually knew when to let adults talk and not disturb them. But every filly has their limits, and Firebloom had reached hers. Kira's head was suddenly pulled back her eyes going wide as Firebloom bit one of her horns and began tugging on it with all her strength. “Ow ow ow ow! Honey! Not the horn! Ow, Honey, let go of the horn!” Kira exclaimed and finally Firebloom released her grip. Kira twisted around to her giggling daughter. “You rascal!” She growled and nuzzled her. Spotting the filly, Princess Celestia stepped closer, a true smile touching her lips for the first time since they'd arrived. “She's wonderful. One of yours?” Kira smiled proudly and nodded, turning so Celestia could get a better look at her. “Princess, I'd like you to meet my eldest daughter, Firebloom,” she said then looked back at her daughter. “Firebloom, this is Princess Celestia. Firebloom just stared at Celestia for a moment, getting a good look at her for the first time. After a moment she leaned close to Kira's ear. “She's pretty,” she whispered. Celestia's smile blossomed. “Thou art beautiful as well, little one.” Firebloom leaned close to Kira's ear again. “She talks funny.” Kira snorted trying not to laugh while Celestia just smiled good-naturedly. “Tis true, I am likely... behind the times,” she said then looked to Kira. “Are there other's of thy kind then?” Kira shook her head. “Other than me and my children, no.” “Then how canst thou have children if there are no others of thy kind?” “My husband is a Unicorn. I'm apparently pony enough that we're, uh, compatible.” Celestia considered that a moment, then nodded. “I see. I do believe I would like to meet thy family.” Kira smiled. “I'd be glad to introduce you, princess,” she said then hesitated a moment before speaking again. “Princess, your return is going to change a lot...” “Please... do not call me princess, I no longer deserve to be called as such...” Celestia said, some of her previous sadness returning. “I have no right to place myself above thy leaders.” “That's just it... we don't really have any leaders, or any kind of real government yet. My friends and I are looked to by many for advice and as examples, but we're not leaders...” she broke off as they both heard a buzzing sound from above. “Oh, there's Chrysalis now,” she said turning in time to see the changeling queen flying down toward them. She wasn't alone; both Surprise and Destiny were flying alongside her. Celestia's eyes widened slightly seeing the changeling queen. “A friend?” she asked, seeming a little worried. “Yes,” Kira assured her. “Chrysalis and her changelings have been helping the ponies of Equestria recover and rebuild for more than a decade.” She didn't have time to say more, as Chrysalis landed nearby, Surprise by her side while Destiny landed closer to Kira. “Princess Celestia, allow me to introduce Chrysalis, queen of the Changelings, our good friend, Surprise, and my herd sister, Clandestine, though everyone calls her Destiny.” Kira introduced, gesturing to each in turn. Celestia gave a small bow. “It is my pleasure.” Smiling, Chrysalis returned the bow and stepped forward. “Princess Celestia, I am truly pleased to see you again.” “Again?” Celestia repeated, surprised. “We have met before?” Chrysalis nodded, “We have, though I was never in my true form in the past.” She blinked in confusion. “What dost thou mean, 'true form'?” “Changeling's are shape-shifters,” Chrysalis explained, then shifted into a pale green pegasus form to demonstrate. Celestia jumped back eyes widening in shock, though it soon changed to curiosity. “We can take any form we wish...” Kira was distracted from Chrysalis's explanation about her kind as Destiny trotted over. “Mama Destiny!” Firebloom said excitedly, though not loud enough to disturb the others. Destiny smiled and gave the filly a nuzzle. “Hey there, Firebloom.” “Atlas watching the foals?” Kira asked and Destiny nodded leaning close to her. “Yep, and he's pretty bummed that he's missing this too.” She grinned. “He said we're both going to have to make it up to him.” Kira smirked at that. “I think we can manage that,” she said then leaned close to whisper. “I'll watch the foals first.” Destiny grinned at that, but then nodded toward the Princess. “So she's really the princess from the legends?” She asked softly enough not to be overheard. “Yeah, that's her,” Kira confirmed. “It's just hard to believe... after a thousand years...” Kira just nodded in agreement. “...did try to find a way to free you, once things started getting better, but so much was lost; we couldn't find anything about the kind of banishment spell that was used,” Chrysalis was saying as Kira and Destiny rejoined the others. “Tis alright,” Celestia assured her. “I did expect to find foes waiting for me upon my return, but Reshkirana hath told me that Discord and... and Nightmare Moon were slain...” The sadness in her voice when she spoke of her fallen sister was all too clear. Chrysalis seemed to understand her pain. “She had suffered a long time under Discord... She's better off, being free of him.” Celestia lowered her eyes and nodded sadly. “It's okay, princess.” Blinking in shock, Celestia looked down at the white coated pegasus, now hugging her around her neck. Neither she nor Chrysalis had seen her move until she spoken. “Surprise, correct? What art thou doing?” “You looked like you needed a hug.” Surprise said simply. Celestia stared a moment more, then a smile slowly spread across her lips. “I believe thou may be correct,” she said then gently returned the hug. “I thank thee.” Surprise smiled back, a smile that soon became a grin. “Hey, you know what this calls for!?” “A party,” everyone but Celestia answered. Even little Firebloom. “Yep! This is going to be the best party ever! The first ever The-Princess-is-Back Party!” Celestia winced hearing that. “Please... I... I'm not a princess; not anymore.” Surprise blinked. “What do you mean you're not a princess!?” She asked confused. Her eyes narrowed. “You're not a changeling playing a joke are you?” Celestia blinked. “What...? No!” “Oh good, because Chryssie doesn't like it when changelings use transformations to play jokes. Believe me, I've tried!” Ignoring Surprise, Chrysalis stepped forward. “What do you mean, Celestia?” She looked down away from all of them. “I do not deserve to be their princess any longer... I failed them; I failed Equestria...” “So you're going to turn your back on them?” Chrysalis asked, letting a little disappointment into her voice. Celestia looked up seeming surprised. “No, of course not! I shall do whatever I can to help, I...” “Equestria has already come a long way towards recovery, but there's still a long ways yet to go. Every settlement is making their own laws, setting up their own ruling councils, and their own guards. There's little unity, and if things continue as they have, it won't be long before the nation splinters. “What Equestria needs is one central leader.” Chrysalis told her. “Right now most look to me and the other bearers for council, but while I've led my changelings for millenia, and have at times ruled over nations; I nor any of the bearers have ever been and will never be the kind of leaders they need. The ponies of this land need you, Celestia. They need your leadership skills, your wisdom.” She reached up and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder. “They need their princess. If you don't think you deserve being their princess any longer, then you just need to think of it as a responsibility. Will you abandon your responsibility to them when they need you most?” Celestia looked back seeming almost shocked. For a few moments she said nothing. Finally though, she gave a weak smile. “No. I shall not abandon Equestria,” she said, resolutely. “I shall be whatever is needed of me.” Then her expression turned more sober. “However, we shall need assistance in adjusting to these times.” “We can definitely help with that,” Kira told her with a smiled. Some time later they all stood on hill beyond the edge of the forest, the prospering town of Ponyville before them. Celestia looked on with a smile and tears in her eyes. It seemed her little ponies were doing far better than she had dared hope. “Welcome home, Princess Celestia,” Destiny said with a kind smile and Celestia knew, though it was not a grand city with a magnificent castle at its heart, that Ponyville would indeed be her home, and she wouldn't have it any other way.