//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 - A New Dawn 
// Story: Night Fall - Conclusion 
// by Yosh-E-O 
//------------------------------//

	Pint was woke abruptly by a very cold breeze blowing against his coat.
“Wha…?” he asked as he attempted to gather his bearings.  

“Pint,” whispered a voice.  “Come here.”

Pint gasped as he realized he wasn’t in his own home.  He then thought he was at Bucky’s house before recalling he and Bucky were at the orphanage with Fall.

FWOO
Pint shivered as another gust of mid-autumn wind blew across his coat.

“Pint…?” asked Fall.  “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” whispered Pint as he moved alongside Fall as she laid facing out the window.

“It’s coming,” she said.

“What’s coming?” asked Pint.

A pause ensued until Fall gestured outward and said, “The sun.”

Pint was confused.
“Where?” he asked.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” asked Fall with a smile.

All Pint could see was shades of purple, blue, and orange.  The moon was nowhere to be seen and the stars were beginning to fade into the growing light of the sky.

Fall sighed as the growing light brought the barren trees into view along with the browning grass.

“What’s wrong?” asked Pint.

“She’ll be coming soon,” she said.

“Who?” asked Pint.  “Who’s coming?”

“…,” Fall sighed.  “Ms. Powder Puff.”

The smile that was once on Fall’s face had now turned into a frown.  Her head drooped and her tiny wings sagged as she fell into her pillow and blanket nest she had made in front of the window.

Pint didn’t know what to say.  

“What’s it like?” asked Fall.  “What’s it like to wake up to a family?”

Pint paused before answering.  He didn’t want to say anything that might make Fall more sad than what she already was.
“It’s..,” he said.  “Nice.”

“Do you ever wish you could sleep forever?” she asked.

Pint was again speechless.  Both he and Bucky never liked to sleep.  Unless, of course, it was the morning.  They did like to sleep in until breakfast was ready.  But, even then, there were days they’d be so excited to get into mischief before their parents got up that they’d still get up early.
“No…,” stated Pint.  “Why?”

Fall sighed and closed her eyes.
“Because…,” she said sadly.  “I love to dream.”

“What do you dream about?” asked Pint.

Fall looked towards Pint and said, “You.  You and Bucky.  That day we had in the town.  The games we played.  It all…  It all made me so… happy.”

“I’m saving up bits so we can do it again,” stated Pint.

Fall smiled.
“Since meeting you and Bucky,” she said.  “I’ve felt something.  Something I’ve never felt before.”

“What’s that?” asked Pint.

Fall looked into Bucky’s eyes as she replied, “Hope.”

Pint smiled and put his hoof on Fall.
“I’m glad,” he said.  “You make me feel special, too.”

“…,” blinked Fall.  “Me?”

“Yes,” said Pint as he pulled Fall in for a hug.  “You’ve taught me to appreciate life and how important kindness and generosity really are.”

“Kindness?” asked Fall.  “Generosity?”

“They are two parts of what are known as ‘The Elements of Harmony’,” he stated.  “I never knew how important they were until I met you.”

Fall looked down at Bucky who was still fast asleep.  His head resting on the balled-up, scratchy comforter he had swapped with Pint in exchange for Fall to have her pillow back.
“What about Bucky?” she asked.

Pint chuckled lightly as he stated, “He’d be ‘The Element of Laughter’.”

“Laughter?” asked Fall.

“There are six elements in all,” stated Pint.  “Kindness, Laughter, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Loyalty, and Magic.”

Fall thought on what Pint was sharing.
“Magic sounds like only something a Unicorn can have,” she stated.

“No way!” announced Pint.  “Bucky and I believe every pony has the elements inside them.  And they say the ‘Element of Magic’ is one that is created through friendship.”

“Friendship?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Pint.  “When Bucky and I met you, I feel you helped us to gain ‘The Element of Magic’ in which only comes through friendship.”

“Friendship…?” asked Fall.  “Magic?”

“Exactly,” stated Pint.  “Our friendship is magic.”

Fall smiled and gave Pint a very gentle kiss on his muzzle.
“Thank you,” she said as tears welled up in her eyes.

Pint held Fall close as he asked, “For what?”

“For showing me the magic of friendship,” she said.