Midnight Changelingby irrationalnumberChaptersChapter 1: The Past and the PresentChapter 2:PonyvilleChapter 3: Old Lies SurfacedChapter 1: The Past and the PresentThe Past It was the evening after the summer sun celebration, Princess Luna remembered something from her time in banishment: One night, during a full moon, no, it was a new moon. A midnight black mare with a flaming red mane had come to visit. This was not the first time but it was the only time the mare had done anything but teach, and lecture her. Her lecture were about the Elements of Harmony, magical artifacts that can be used to defeat even the darkest of foes when wielded by the right pony or ponies. Her teachings lied solely in disguises and shields, which Luna had not a good deal of practice with before then. “This is my last visit, but you will see me again. For a year after you are freed; on the first day after the summer sun celebration, my banishment will be up and I shall once again guard all that exists.” Said this midnight mare “Before you go how will I know whomever you are is you, especially since you refuse to tell me your name?” questioned Luna “You’ll know, before I go I will teach you one last spell, a unique spell of mine, the intentions shield,” She replied. “Of course,” replied Luna. And so the years went on and finally the Nightmare was released from her lunar prison. Only to be defeated by six heroes whom themselves represented the Elements of Harmony. These six ponies led the charge on Discord and then also then later converted him to good, they also helped defeat Queen Chrysalis of the changelings. There was very little these six ponies could not do. Then two days earlier they had saved the tree of Harmony and Equestria from doom by Discord’s nearly forgotten plunder seeds. The Present She was lost in her thoughts until a knock at her door awoke her. “Enter” she barked She thought it was rude of somepony to interrupt her daily activities of getting ready to raise the moon, and was about to send them away to her sister, that was until she realized it was her sister. “Sister, did you perchance to have heard a rather loud screech from the gardens not five minutes ago?” inquired Celestia. “No,” responded Luna, “Although I might have missed it as I was lost in my thoughts at the time.” “Would you mind joining me for a walk through the gardens to investigate, dear sister?” Celestia asked. “Not at all, despite it being close to my time to raise the moon,” replied Luna. As they went on their walk, they wandered through the statues and noticed that despite all of the gardener’s care that one of the statues had shattered, leaving a pile of rocky crumbles behind. “Oh, dear sister,” cried Luna, “that was the statue I gave to you after we defeated Discord.” “Tis’ a shame that such beauty has final fractured,” replied Celestia with a sadness in her eyes that reflected the remembrance of their earlier adventures before they had received royal duties. “I guess now that we know what has caused such a noise tonight, I shall retire to my chambers and you can raise the moon, night Luna.” “Goodnight, and sweet dreams, Sister,” responded Luna as she watched a gardener, one she did not recognize walk into the castle with Celestia. The next day At Canterlot Castle’s Entrance stood a grey pegasi mare with an orange mane, the castle guards had inquired several times what she was doing here. “I told you I seek audience with Celestia,” spouted the mare. “Well what do wish to seek audience with her about?” a guard inquired gruffly. “Tell her an old friend wishes to speak about the elements and tree,” snapped the mare. “Fine, but the Princess is very busy and…” “Just tell her,” interrupted the mare. So the guard left and returned moments later, and told the mare that audience was granted. Asking her subject how she even knew about the Tree of Harmony was something that was first on Celestia’s mind and why did this pony look familiar as from the distant past was the next. “How did you come to know of the Tree of Harmony, which is a secret known only to nine ponies and one Draconequus besides myself?” questioned Celestia. “Celestia, I really am surprised you don’t recognize me,” spouted the mare back avoiding the original question all together. Well since I can’t seem to remember perhaps you would mind taking my memory for a jog?” spurted Celestia back. “Well first let me shake of all this dust that has covered me, then maybe make my horn appear, maybe mention my name is Midnight,” said the mare back, “perhaps that will help thee to recall my image” As soon as the horn appeared Celestia knew that day had finally come back to haunt herself and Luna. “I remember you now, you were the pony that tried to stop me and my sister from getting the Elements from the tree that fateful night, where have you been hiding all these years?” inquired Celestia with a look of shock on her face. “Right in front of you, as the statue Luna gave to you after you defeated Discord,” replied the now alicorn mare. “And why have you returned? To overthrow my sister’s and I’s rule over Equestria? To murder me in my own great hall?” inquired Celestia in her now booming Royal voice, and as she did so she lost control of her magic for one brief moment and fired a small but relatively harmless blast of magic directly at Midnight. But for all that blast could have done it was merely absorbed by a shield surrounding Midnight, whom replied far calmer then Celestia was expecting, “Hardly, now if you would kindly stop acting like a philly unicorn with no control over your magic and listen I will tell you all that I am here for.” “Very well, as I see that it would do me no good to attack you, I will listen and perhaps comment every now and then,” replied Celestia. “You already know the part where you defeated me, so I will skip that part,” began Midnight, “After that I hid myself with a spell and walked away lowering the shield that I had around the tree as I knew against both you and your sister I would have no chance at saving the tree from whatever you were going to do with it. I fled towards my house when the tree warned me to stay out of your way as you now possessed the Elements. It also informed me that I would not be needed for a thousand years or more as it felt you and your sister could do a fine enough job protecting it and the elements. So I found the statue your sister had requested and became it, still able to use some magic, enough to keep in contact with several ponies throughout the kingdom in order to keep up with events. For over a thousand years I waited for my call to life again and three days ago I heard it, the tree was dying and it would still take me days to remove myself from that stony body and once again take flesh and bone as my method of communication. Luckily, your student Twilight Sparkle and her friends once again rushed to the aid of Equestria. However what was done was done, I was leaving my stone body and once again going to perform my duties which before I could not adequately perform.” “Hmmm”, said Celestia as she processed this new info she was gaining. “All I wish to do now is return to my duties as guardian of the Tree of Harmony and all balance that must be maintained.” Stated Midnight as she looked upon Celestia’s crown with full knowledge of what the jewel was. “Very well,” replied Celestia, “However you are going to have to talk to Princess Twilight and her friends about that guarding the whole tree thing, as I did assign that to them only a few days ago. I shall send a letter to them telling of them of your arrival in Ponyville.” “Of course,” responded Midnight, “However I do need to ask one favor of you.” “Yes, Midnight?” Celestia asked with wonder as she looked at the Guardian of the Tree of Harmony. “Will you please get me a train ticket?” replied Midnight, “I, uh… seem to have forgotten… uh” “How to fly,” finished Celestia with a hint of a smile creeping up on her face, “I understand, despite being one the most powerful of beings you can’t remember how to fly, perhaps Twilight can give you a few pointers when you get to Ponyville.” “Of course, although I think Rainbow Dash will be the first to say anything,” replied Midnight “A flightless pony with wings does not go unnoticed around her” Author's Note First Fanfic ever, so always open to suggestions and mistake finds. The idea came into my head one night finally got around to placing it in text. Chapter 2:Ponyville“Letter from Princess Celestia for you Twilight,” Spike announced as he sprinted into SugarCube Corner where Twilight and her friends were having a party. “What is it this time, parasprites invading Manehattan perhaps, need Pinkie Pie to lead them out of town?” replied Rarity sarcastically. “Actually no, surprisingly she just wants us to greet an old Alicorn friend of hers at the train station at three thirty-five. Since it is three twenty-one I guess we should head over there now,” said Twilight "But do we have to cut AJ's birthday party short?" cried Pinkie Pie. "Unfortunately, yes," replied Twilight "Hold on a minute," exclaimed Rainbow Dash, "aren't alicorns supposed to be rare, I mean Celestia, Luna, and Cadence was plenty, then you became on Twilight and now another one just shows up in Canterlot and now we have to go give her the royal Ponyville welcome. Who is this Alicorn anyway?" "The message doesn't say," replied Twilight, "besides it is not like were losing our duties as guardians of the tree." "Um, shouldn't we be going?" muttered Fluttershy. "Fluttershy is right," Rarity chimed in, "we should be going, besides we need to make a good appearance for the old, new Princess." So the seven friends abandoned the party and headed for the train station. When they arrived they realized they did not realize what this newcomer looked like much less what bags she would have with her. "Oh, no," said Twilight worried. "Wait," replied Rainbow Dash, "we are her to welcome a Princess, wouldn't that mean she should be the only Alicorn to get off the train?" So the friends waited, until all but onepony was left on the train and as she got off Twilight exclaimed, "There she is!" "Sugarcube, I don't mean to be rude or nothin', but that is just a regular old earth pony." "Don't be silly Applejack," replied Rainbow Dash, "that is clearly a pegasi." "I don't know what you're all talking about that is definitely a unicorn," Rarity chimed in. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle, my name is Princess Midnight, what is the argument about amongst your friends?" said Midnight. "Uh, I believe they are arguing over what kind of pony you are, even though you are clearly an Alicorn," replied Twilight. "Oh dear, maybe you should, you know, interrupt," said Midnight. "Girls!" shouted Twilight, "stop arguing and greet our alicorn guest," "How can we do that when she is a pegasi?" "Earth pony!" "Unicorn!" "She clearly is a unicorn," chimed Spike. "Stop arguing all seven of you!" shouted Midnight, "Now tell me Applejack and Pinkie Pie what kind of pony am I?" "Duh, an earth pony, how could you forget silly!" replied Pinkie "Earth pony, despite everypony's efforts to convince me otherwise," replied Applejack. "And Rarity what kind of pony am I?" asked Midnight. "As Spike and I said you are clearly a unicorn," replied Rarity. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, what do I look like to you?" asked Midnight one last time. "Pegasus, as you actually are, right?" boasted Rainbow Dash "Um...well actually," replied Fluttershy weakly. "Oh dear, I thought that old spell would have worn off years ago. To clarify, I am an alicorn but before Celestia took rule I was guarding the Tree and had to find a way to be excepted amongst all races of ponies so I cast a spell that would disguise my appearance to match that of the viewer, I thought the spell would have worn off but alas it seems I was wrong and I don't currently remember how to remove it. Twilight in a few days time I will ask you to remove the spell if I cannot remove it myself by then," explained Midnight. "Very well," responded Twilight, "Now to the current matters, what is your task here in Ponyville and where do plan on staying?" "I plan to stay in my old house in the Everfree forest and my duties were to guard the tree and all magical artifacts, which was over a thousand years ago,” answered Midnight, “Although I understand if you don't want to give your new duties as guardian of the Tree." "We'll have to think about it, and besides why do you need us to escort you their when you can just fly there," responded Twilight somewhat angrily. "Well you see being stuck with no physical form for over a thousand years, you tend to forget how to a do certain things, in my case fly and how to do several spells. So, yeah, I kinda need to review before I start performing sonic rainbooms or start traveling through time," said Midnight with a look of embarrassment. "Wait you can perform a sonic rainboom?" asked Rainbow Dash with a look of horror on her face, seeing as how she was the only known pony to successfully perform a sonic rainboom. "No, but your great, great, great, great grandfather did." replied Midnight with a remembering sigh that brought a look of pure wonder to all who had gathered. "Please, you can't be that old," remarked Twilight. "Ah but I can, as being frozen for over a thousand years puts me at, hmm, carry the three and place the one there, at 1457 years old, the oldest known pony in Equestria alongside Celestia," replied Midnight. "Well then now that we have settled age and have a flightless, magic-less alicorn who needs to get home for the first time since being unfrozen, we should get moving, since it will be getting dark soon," said Spike with a longing to be in bed right now. "Who said anything about me not being able to perform magic?" replied Midnight. "Let’s just get going we do not want to be stuck in the Everfree forest past dark," said Applejack with a look of determination to stop any arguments before they began. The seven ponies and one dragon proceeded to the Everfree forest where upon arriving at a tree with many a decoration, did anyone speak. "Great, looks like somepony moved in while I was away," said Midnight flatly. "I am going to assume you are talking about Zecora, and that this tree is your old house," replied Twilight. "Zecora, zebra, good with potions. Let’s have a talk with her," answered Midnight and then a few strides knocked on the door before anypony could stop her. "Might who you be, to come knocking on my tree?” asked Zecora. "I Princess Midnight, previous owner of this house, eh, tree, have come to get my things from the basemen,." replied Midnight ever so politely. "This tree has no such basement, and based on your accent..." replied Zecora before getting cut off. "Ah but it does, has no one ever bothered to scan the floor with magic?" replied Midnight confidently, "May I enter, one of black and white?" "Sure, I suppose," replied Zecora with a hint of surprise that her home was being invaded by someone who was not being entirely truthful, but she knew this home did not have a basement. Then as simply as Midnight walked in, Midnight descended through the floor into a basement. "But, I've walked over that spot several hundred times and not once have I fallen into the basement." "Ah, you see if I choose I can merely walk over it as if it wasn't there at all, it detects your intent to go to the basement and removes the physical floor while leaving the illusion intact. I'm surprised Twilight hasn't performed one yet to certain other places that should be hidden,." replied Midnight as she removed a large bag from the basement. "I certain would have, if I even knew how to perform that spell," replied Twilight angrily. "You obviously haven't spent much time taking magic lessons from Luna, otherwise there would be a wide variety of other shield spells in your arsenal," responded Midnight as she left with the seven friends in tow. As they wandered deeper into the Everfree, Rarity piped in that since Zecora had moved into Midnight's house she had nowhere to stay. "Silly Rarity, I never said that was my only house, that was just the last one I stayed in, my other is right here," Midnight replied as they arrived at the base of a mountain. "Here, Darling," questioned Rarity, "Here we have trees, trees and a cliff wall, so unless you have another hidden door in those trees, I think you have the wrong spot." "Not the trees my dear Rarity," replied Midnight as she started walking towards the cliff face. Than as all seven tried to stop walked right through, then popped her head out as they all stood there stunned and said, "You guys can go back now." "I'm sorry dear but it is customary to invite those whom walked you home inside, before dismissing them," Rarity responded despite looking revolted at the spider now crawling over Midnight left eye. "Well other than the fact my house is a mess from the last time I was here, I still need time to clean out the spiders, you know little ones," as she pulled out a fresh carcass and plopped it down, even Rainbow Dash screamed at the sight of Spike sized spider carcass, and so that idea ended as quickly as it had started. Chapter 3: Old Lies SurfacedFive days later "Look who it is, if it isn't Princess Midnight, now appearing as an alicorn, out of her cave from spider slaying and dust removing," spouted Pinkie Pie. "Why do say slaying Pinkie?" asked Mr. Cake. "Why because they were Spike sized spiders of course." replied Pinkie Pie. "Spike... Sized... Spp-ppiders." Mrs. Cake mumbled "Yep" responded Pinkie cheerful as ever. "Pinkie, since I am new to the town, I could use some help and I could not think of anypony better to help me host a party of sorts." interrupted Midnight. "Certainly, however I must ask what kind of party is this." asked Pinkie “Well I need to. Entertain three Phillies for about an hour and enough to entertain three alicorns, two pegasi, one unicorn, two earth ponies and a dragon for about the same time, oh, and a zebra. This somewhat of a truth revealed party, in about five days, Twilight will give you the invitation." responded Midnight quickly. "You know what I got this, just finish the rest of your stuff you need in Ponyville” replied Pinkie. “Thanks Pinkie” responded Midnight, she then left. At the Golden Oak Library, Twilight was beginning to worry that there was no recorded history of a Princess other Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and herself. Then suddenly there was a knock at the door and Spike was there before Twilight even had the chance to turn around. “Oh, hi Princess Midnight. The library is closed right now. Now if you excuse me, I need to get ready to move to the castle.” said Twilight nervous that the princess might discover that she was looking through the history right around the time she lived. “I’m just here to check out a few books, unless it is closed to Princesses in need of some knowledge. Especially since you technically no longer live here. Oh and if you’re looking for me in the history books, good luck, I don’t think I am in more than the trading manifests of the Rich family, and even then I think they burned down the old house of Filthy’s grandfather. I am just here for a copy of “Changelings: a Guide to Recognizing them Amongst Friends” and a copy of “Supernaturals”” responded Midnight ignoring the fact the library was closed. “Fine, I guess,” responded Twilight, “Here you go, anything else?” “As a matter of fact, yes,” replied Midnight, “This is for you and your friends, this one is to be sent to Celestia, and this one is to be given to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The letters are all the same just with different names at the top.” “Fine, but why the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” asked Twilight curious at why three little Phillies would be invited to a party in the middle of the Everfree Forest. “All will be explained there, whether a few of you like it or not,” responded Midnight. Another five days later, outside Princess Midnight’s Cave House “Thank you for coming early Zecora and Pinkie Pie, I greatly appreciate your help, I know I could not do this alone.” “No problem” they replied in Unison. “However, why did you request I bring all these ingredients?” asked Zecora. “All in time, all in time.” responded Midnight. “Whoa, what is with these Crystals, they glow, you know Rarity will have a heyday if she sees one.” “Yes, I know but even I could not remove those crystals, a thousand years ago so I guess she have to learn her lesson that those don’t move or shatter or snap or stop glowing for that matter,” replied Midnight. “Ah, here we are my ballroom, please set up, a sink is in the room just over there.” Said Midnight as she pointed to the far wall, “If you need anything just ask the air in front of you I’ll her yah.” So Pinkie and Zecora got to work setting up not only party decorations, but a cauldron set of Zecora’s and started a fire under it. “Very well the rest should be arriving soon.” Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and Fluttershy arrived not moments later and were led into the ballroom. Not shortly after that AJ and Applebloom with Rarity and Sweetie Bell in tow by their tails as neither of them wanted to go in showed up. Rarity nearly flattened Applejack when she spotted the glowing crystals. She tried removing them with magic, then asked Applejack to buck it. That went over with a heck of a bruise. That was until Midnight convinced them it was basically impossible. The one time she did manage to break one an explosion blasted a small crater in her living room. Then before long Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo showed up riding scooters, something that had taken Scootaloo a long time to convince Rainbow to try. The party went on like a usual Pinkie Pie party went until Midnight finally stopped the music and asked Zecora to start a brew. “I can make this but I must ask before this goes amiss, how might I procure a scale of changeling for the last step of this potion.” asked Zecora. “Scale of what?” questioned Rarity. “Changeling” replied Zecora. “That was rhetorical question.” responded Rarity disgusted. “A good question, and one I shall answer now. If you could all step back, this takes some doing.” replied Midnight. All watched in awe as before their eyes the guardian of the tree of Harmony went from alicorn to a Changeling. Then all hell broke loose as Celestia and Twilight began sending blasts of magic at Midnight, AJ and Rainbow Dash charged forward and Rarity screamed and took the CMC and hid them. Only Fluttershy, Zecora and Luna stood there, although for three different reasons. All these attacks were in vain as Midnight’s special magic was in shield spells. Luna had seen the Princess before and she knew why, she also realized nothing was getting through the shield, unless… “Fluttershy, you would usually be screaming in fright or hiding behind the nearest curtain now but why aren’t you?” asked Luna. “It is because I knew the whole time, and see no reason to fear her or get mad at her especially since that shield is holding despite the beating it is taking.” responded Fluttershy. “Would you mind coming with me to inside that shield?” asked Luna. “Sure, I guess.” replied Fluttershy. So the two ponies sent walking around their rampaging friends and to the back side of the shield where they merely walked on through. “Wait, stop firing for a bit,” shouted Rainbow Dash, “I think Fluttershy and Luna are in the shield with her.” So the firing stopped. “Fluttershy, my dear, and sister how in my name did you get in there?” asked Celestia. “We walked in, Sister.” replied Luna, “I recognized this shield spell as an intention shield, plus since this spell was cast by my shield spell mentor, I am going to assume that it also gets stronger the more you blast and kick it.” “Shield spell mentor?” asked Celestia. “Yes, every new moon at around your midnight during my banishment, I was visited by an image of a black alicorn with a flame for a mane and a tail. She taught me how to disguise myself and cast a variety of different shields.” “And how come I never heard of these stories and never had a visit?” “I didn’t think it was worth sharing and I don’t know why she never shared the knowledge with you.” “I am just in here at the request of Luna,” piped Fluttershy, “besides none of you even gave Midnight a chance to explain herself before you just attacked.” “Fine, but I recommend she keeps that shield up if she doesn’t want to get knocked into next week.” replied Celestia. “Where shall I start, maybe the beginning. I was just a small changeling, slightly smaller than Sweetie Bell…” began Midnight. “Leave my sister out of this!” screamed Rarity. “Anyway, I had just witnessed a fight between a changeling horde and a lone farmer. The changelings won of course, but not without injuries, they took the farmer’s recent harvest and left him bleeding. As they disappeared I notice one changeling had broken a wing and leg, so being kind I escorted him to a cave and began to start healing him. After he left, I went to the farmer as an alicorn philly and went to healing him as well, but when I was halfway done the changeling I had just healed came back to kill the farmer. I felt an obligation to protect life, all life. I cast my first shield spell and prevented that farmer from dying that day. However when I arrived at my home I was rejected and before long my mother came and found me in my room… “Mother?” asked Fluttershy. “Not in the same way as you would define mother but, it was the closest word. Most changelings are male, I was the first female ever born, my “mother”, Queen Chrysalis, banished me after seeing my flank bearing a shield, a cutie mark, not something found in changelings. Pinkie, can I get some punch, my throat is getting dry from all this talking.” “I suppose, just as long you don’t disguise yourself as somepony I love.” responded Pinkie. After receiving a cup and taking a swig, Midnight continued, “Pinkie, I may be able to disguise myself but as I no longer forcefully feed on love and have a hard time changing anyway, it would do me no good, not to mention you know I am a changeling. I was taken in by the farmer I cared for, of course, I was disguised, and he was the first pony who loved me. A few months later, a larger changeling swarm invaded and I was unable to protect him, he told me to run and sacrificed himself to let me escape. I ran and ran stopping only to drink. Then I arrived in the wildest forest I had ever come across and just ran right into it. Finding a tree growing in a cave wasn’t the craziest thing I had seen but it was fairly small. Some form of insect was swarming it and I felt that I had to protect it. So casting a shield around it I began squashing these pests who swarmed the tree, turns out they were baby Draconeqi. Suddenly the tree grew now to about half its current height. So I expanded my shield spell to encompass the whole tree. I began to feel something take root in my mind. After seven years of guarding it from all matter of creatures. I heard what some may call a voice in my head. It told me to remove the shield and let the tree protect itself. So I did. It modified my cutie mark as I was now connected to the Elements of Harmony and was my duty to protect them from all who know of them. Celestia knows the rest.” “You still have yet to tell of Luna’s lessons.” said Celestia. “So I haven't. My power waxes and wanes with the cycles of the moon being strongest around the new moon and being at its apex at midnight of a new moon. I contacted her on the moon to teach her about the Elements, and about shields and disguises. This was Luna and not Nightmare Moon, because she reverted to her normal form while banished, out of sorrow.” Responded Midnight. “I don’t mean to be rude but what was the potion for?” asked Zecora. “And what was the point of bring our sisters here.” asked Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack simultaneously. “How do you think I know so much about all of you? I had to find a way to see into the current times without touching the wielders of the Elements directly. The CMC offered that opportunity, what I didn’t realize until recently that my magic had some unforeseen affects. Mainly being they are unable to get their cutie marks, which is the changeling part showing through. That potion is designed to cure that magical ailment.” replied Midnight. “So are you telling us that the whole reason we don’t have our cutie marks, is because you were spying on my sis’s friends through us?” questioned Applebloom. “Yes, although I didn’t know it until 6 days ago, when I was browsing through how to recognize a changeling.” replied Midnight, “Sorry.” “So can ya’ll forgive me for hiding my true self from you? I was still living in the past where I would have been killed on sight, which kinda did just happen.” asked Midnight. “I don’t think the CMC will forgive you, but I guess, you were just hiding for discriminatory actions against you. I think with such a rejection filled past, you kinda predict that something was bound to happen.” replied Applejack. “How could we not forgive her, for all we know here magical influence may have created the CMC by delaying our cutie marks for so long,” cut in Scootaloo. “I guess I understand, but why did you not reveal the changeling part in the first place?” asked Celestia. Midnight just sat there dumbstruck that Celestia would even ask such a thing. Twilight cut in, “Uh, Princess might it be because of exactly what we did when she first revealed she was a changeling?” “Sorry, I must dozed for a while at that last part,” replied Celestia. “Sorry, but I am missing the final ingredient for this potion.” Zecora stated as she was stirring the potion she had been brewing for the last few minutes. “Of course.” Said Midnight before turning her neck and ripping out a scale on her right side, “Here you go.” “Thank you, it is done, but question, what is it supposed to smell like?” said Zecora. “Same thing it tastes like.” Replied Midnight. “Which is?” asked Zecora. “Whatever the drinker wants it to be,” replied Midnight laughing “that’s the beauty of it containing scale of changeling.” “Apple Pie” “Chocolate Milkshake” “Waffles” “Does this potion reveal their cutie marks or just remove the magic blocking them from being revealed?” questioned Twilight, curious for knowledge as always. “It merely removes the magic.” replied Midnight. “Does that mean the party is over?” asked Pinkie Pie “Yep, but I’ll defiantly attend any you invite me to Pinkie.” replied Midnight. “Speaking of parties, the Gala is coming up and I want all adults here to attend. Sorry CMC, maybe in a few years. You, Midnight shall attend as a changeling. Whether you or my subjects like it or not.” “Does this include me, Princess?” asked Zecora. “Yes, you shall, I shall send tickets in a few days. I guess that means you’ll need to prepare clothing and transport but I shall leave that to you.” replied Celestia.
Chapter 1: The Past and the PresentThe Past It was the evening after the summer sun celebration, Princess Luna remembered something from her time in banishment: One night, during a full moon, no, it was a new moon. A midnight black mare with a flaming red mane had come to visit. This was not the first time but it was the only time the mare had done anything but teach, and lecture her. Her lecture were about the Elements of Harmony, magical artifacts that can be used to defeat even the darkest of foes when wielded by the right pony or ponies. Her teachings lied solely in disguises and shields, which Luna had not a good deal of practice with before then. “This is my last visit, but you will see me again. For a year after you are freed; on the first day after the summer sun celebration, my banishment will be up and I shall once again guard all that exists.” Said this midnight mare “Before you go how will I know whomever you are is you, especially since you refuse to tell me your name?” questioned Luna “You’ll know, before I go I will teach you one last spell, a unique spell of mine, the intentions shield,” She replied. “Of course,” replied Luna. And so the years went on and finally the Nightmare was released from her lunar prison. Only to be defeated by six heroes whom themselves represented the Elements of Harmony. These six ponies led the charge on Discord and then also then later converted him to good, they also helped defeat Queen Chrysalis of the changelings. There was very little these six ponies could not do. Then two days earlier they had saved the tree of Harmony and Equestria from doom by Discord’s nearly forgotten plunder seeds. The Present She was lost in her thoughts until a knock at her door awoke her. “Enter” she barked She thought it was rude of somepony to interrupt her daily activities of getting ready to raise the moon, and was about to send them away to her sister, that was until she realized it was her sister. “Sister, did you perchance to have heard a rather loud screech from the gardens not five minutes ago?” inquired Celestia. “No,” responded Luna, “Although I might have missed it as I was lost in my thoughts at the time.” “Would you mind joining me for a walk through the gardens to investigate, dear sister?” Celestia asked. “Not at all, despite it being close to my time to raise the moon,” replied Luna. As they went on their walk, they wandered through the statues and noticed that despite all of the gardener’s care that one of the statues had shattered, leaving a pile of rocky crumbles behind. “Oh, dear sister,” cried Luna, “that was the statue I gave to you after we defeated Discord.” “Tis’ a shame that such beauty has final fractured,” replied Celestia with a sadness in her eyes that reflected the remembrance of their earlier adventures before they had received royal duties. “I guess now that we know what has caused such a noise tonight, I shall retire to my chambers and you can raise the moon, night Luna.” “Goodnight, and sweet dreams, Sister,” responded Luna as she watched a gardener, one she did not recognize walk into the castle with Celestia. The next day At Canterlot Castle’s Entrance stood a grey pegasi mare with an orange mane, the castle guards had inquired several times what she was doing here. “I told you I seek audience with Celestia,” spouted the mare. “Well what do wish to seek audience with her about?” a guard inquired gruffly. “Tell her an old friend wishes to speak about the elements and tree,” snapped the mare. “Fine, but the Princess is very busy and…” “Just tell her,” interrupted the mare. So the guard left and returned moments later, and told the mare that audience was granted. Asking her subject how she even knew about the Tree of Harmony was something that was first on Celestia’s mind and why did this pony look familiar as from the distant past was the next. “How did you come to know of the Tree of Harmony, which is a secret known only to nine ponies and one Draconequus besides myself?” questioned Celestia. “Celestia, I really am surprised you don’t recognize me,” spouted the mare back avoiding the original question all together. Well since I can’t seem to remember perhaps you would mind taking my memory for a jog?” spurted Celestia back. “Well first let me shake of all this dust that has covered me, then maybe make my horn appear, maybe mention my name is Midnight,” said the mare back, “perhaps that will help thee to recall my image” As soon as the horn appeared Celestia knew that day had finally come back to haunt herself and Luna. “I remember you now, you were the pony that tried to stop me and my sister from getting the Elements from the tree that fateful night, where have you been hiding all these years?” inquired Celestia with a look of shock on her face. “Right in front of you, as the statue Luna gave to you after you defeated Discord,” replied the now alicorn mare. “And why have you returned? To overthrow my sister’s and I’s rule over Equestria? To murder me in my own great hall?” inquired Celestia in her now booming Royal voice, and as she did so she lost control of her magic for one brief moment and fired a small but relatively harmless blast of magic directly at Midnight. But for all that blast could have done it was merely absorbed by a shield surrounding Midnight, whom replied far calmer then Celestia was expecting, “Hardly, now if you would kindly stop acting like a philly unicorn with no control over your magic and listen I will tell you all that I am here for.” “Very well, as I see that it would do me no good to attack you, I will listen and perhaps comment every now and then,” replied Celestia. “You already know the part where you defeated me, so I will skip that part,” began Midnight, “After that I hid myself with a spell and walked away lowering the shield that I had around the tree as I knew against both you and your sister I would have no chance at saving the tree from whatever you were going to do with it. I fled towards my house when the tree warned me to stay out of your way as you now possessed the Elements. It also informed me that I would not be needed for a thousand years or more as it felt you and your sister could do a fine enough job protecting it and the elements. So I found the statue your sister had requested and became it, still able to use some magic, enough to keep in contact with several ponies throughout the kingdom in order to keep up with events. For over a thousand years I waited for my call to life again and three days ago I heard it, the tree was dying and it would still take me days to remove myself from that stony body and once again take flesh and bone as my method of communication. Luckily, your student Twilight Sparkle and her friends once again rushed to the aid of Equestria. However what was done was done, I was leaving my stone body and once again going to perform my duties which before I could not adequately perform.” “Hmmm”, said Celestia as she processed this new info she was gaining. “All I wish to do now is return to my duties as guardian of the Tree of Harmony and all balance that must be maintained.” Stated Midnight as she looked upon Celestia’s crown with full knowledge of what the jewel was. “Very well,” replied Celestia, “However you are going to have to talk to Princess Twilight and her friends about that guarding the whole tree thing, as I did assign that to them only a few days ago. I shall send a letter to them telling of them of your arrival in Ponyville.” “Of course,” responded Midnight, “However I do need to ask one favor of you.” “Yes, Midnight?” Celestia asked with wonder as she looked at the Guardian of the Tree of Harmony. “Will you please get me a train ticket?” replied Midnight, “I, uh… seem to have forgotten… uh” “How to fly,” finished Celestia with a hint of a smile creeping up on her face, “I understand, despite being one the most powerful of beings you can’t remember how to fly, perhaps Twilight can give you a few pointers when you get to Ponyville.” “Of course, although I think Rainbow Dash will be the first to say anything,” replied Midnight “A flightless pony with wings does not go unnoticed around her” Author's Note First Fanfic ever, so always open to suggestions and mistake finds. The idea came into my head one night finally got around to placing it in text.
Chapter 2:Ponyville“Letter from Princess Celestia for you Twilight,” Spike announced as he sprinted into SugarCube Corner where Twilight and her friends were having a party. “What is it this time, parasprites invading Manehattan perhaps, need Pinkie Pie to lead them out of town?” replied Rarity sarcastically. “Actually no, surprisingly she just wants us to greet an old Alicorn friend of hers at the train station at three thirty-five. Since it is three twenty-one I guess we should head over there now,” said Twilight "But do we have to cut AJ's birthday party short?" cried Pinkie Pie. "Unfortunately, yes," replied Twilight "Hold on a minute," exclaimed Rainbow Dash, "aren't alicorns supposed to be rare, I mean Celestia, Luna, and Cadence was plenty, then you became on Twilight and now another one just shows up in Canterlot and now we have to go give her the royal Ponyville welcome. Who is this Alicorn anyway?" "The message doesn't say," replied Twilight, "besides it is not like were losing our duties as guardians of the tree." "Um, shouldn't we be going?" muttered Fluttershy. "Fluttershy is right," Rarity chimed in, "we should be going, besides we need to make a good appearance for the old, new Princess." So the seven friends abandoned the party and headed for the train station. When they arrived they realized they did not realize what this newcomer looked like much less what bags she would have with her. "Oh, no," said Twilight worried. "Wait," replied Rainbow Dash, "we are her to welcome a Princess, wouldn't that mean she should be the only Alicorn to get off the train?" So the friends waited, until all but onepony was left on the train and as she got off Twilight exclaimed, "There she is!" "Sugarcube, I don't mean to be rude or nothin', but that is just a regular old earth pony." "Don't be silly Applejack," replied Rainbow Dash, "that is clearly a pegasi." "I don't know what you're all talking about that is definitely a unicorn," Rarity chimed in. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle, my name is Princess Midnight, what is the argument about amongst your friends?" said Midnight. "Uh, I believe they are arguing over what kind of pony you are, even though you are clearly an Alicorn," replied Twilight. "Oh dear, maybe you should, you know, interrupt," said Midnight. "Girls!" shouted Twilight, "stop arguing and greet our alicorn guest," "How can we do that when she is a pegasi?" "Earth pony!" "Unicorn!" "She clearly is a unicorn," chimed Spike. "Stop arguing all seven of you!" shouted Midnight, "Now tell me Applejack and Pinkie Pie what kind of pony am I?" "Duh, an earth pony, how could you forget silly!" replied Pinkie "Earth pony, despite everypony's efforts to convince me otherwise," replied Applejack. "And Rarity what kind of pony am I?" asked Midnight. "As Spike and I said you are clearly a unicorn," replied Rarity. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, what do I look like to you?" asked Midnight one last time. "Pegasus, as you actually are, right?" boasted Rainbow Dash "Um...well actually," replied Fluttershy weakly. "Oh dear, I thought that old spell would have worn off years ago. To clarify, I am an alicorn but before Celestia took rule I was guarding the Tree and had to find a way to be excepted amongst all races of ponies so I cast a spell that would disguise my appearance to match that of the viewer, I thought the spell would have worn off but alas it seems I was wrong and I don't currently remember how to remove it. Twilight in a few days time I will ask you to remove the spell if I cannot remove it myself by then," explained Midnight. "Very well," responded Twilight, "Now to the current matters, what is your task here in Ponyville and where do plan on staying?" "I plan to stay in my old house in the Everfree forest and my duties were to guard the tree and all magical artifacts, which was over a thousand years ago,” answered Midnight, “Although I understand if you don't want to give your new duties as guardian of the Tree." "We'll have to think about it, and besides why do you need us to escort you their when you can just fly there," responded Twilight somewhat angrily. "Well you see being stuck with no physical form for over a thousand years, you tend to forget how to a do certain things, in my case fly and how to do several spells. So, yeah, I kinda need to review before I start performing sonic rainbooms or start traveling through time," said Midnight with a look of embarrassment. "Wait you can perform a sonic rainboom?" asked Rainbow Dash with a look of horror on her face, seeing as how she was the only known pony to successfully perform a sonic rainboom. "No, but your great, great, great, great grandfather did." replied Midnight with a remembering sigh that brought a look of pure wonder to all who had gathered. "Please, you can't be that old," remarked Twilight. "Ah but I can, as being frozen for over a thousand years puts me at, hmm, carry the three and place the one there, at 1457 years old, the oldest known pony in Equestria alongside Celestia," replied Midnight. "Well then now that we have settled age and have a flightless, magic-less alicorn who needs to get home for the first time since being unfrozen, we should get moving, since it will be getting dark soon," said Spike with a longing to be in bed right now. "Who said anything about me not being able to perform magic?" replied Midnight. "Let’s just get going we do not want to be stuck in the Everfree forest past dark," said Applejack with a look of determination to stop any arguments before they began. The seven ponies and one dragon proceeded to the Everfree forest where upon arriving at a tree with many a decoration, did anyone speak. "Great, looks like somepony moved in while I was away," said Midnight flatly. "I am going to assume you are talking about Zecora, and that this tree is your old house," replied Twilight. "Zecora, zebra, good with potions. Let’s have a talk with her," answered Midnight and then a few strides knocked on the door before anypony could stop her. "Might who you be, to come knocking on my tree?” asked Zecora. "I Princess Midnight, previous owner of this house, eh, tree, have come to get my things from the basemen,." replied Midnight ever so politely. "This tree has no such basement, and based on your accent..." replied Zecora before getting cut off. "Ah but it does, has no one ever bothered to scan the floor with magic?" replied Midnight confidently, "May I enter, one of black and white?" "Sure, I suppose," replied Zecora with a hint of surprise that her home was being invaded by someone who was not being entirely truthful, but she knew this home did not have a basement. Then as simply as Midnight walked in, Midnight descended through the floor into a basement. "But, I've walked over that spot several hundred times and not once have I fallen into the basement." "Ah, you see if I choose I can merely walk over it as if it wasn't there at all, it detects your intent to go to the basement and removes the physical floor while leaving the illusion intact. I'm surprised Twilight hasn't performed one yet to certain other places that should be hidden,." replied Midnight as she removed a large bag from the basement. "I certain would have, if I even knew how to perform that spell," replied Twilight angrily. "You obviously haven't spent much time taking magic lessons from Luna, otherwise there would be a wide variety of other shield spells in your arsenal," responded Midnight as she left with the seven friends in tow. As they wandered deeper into the Everfree, Rarity piped in that since Zecora had moved into Midnight's house she had nowhere to stay. "Silly Rarity, I never said that was my only house, that was just the last one I stayed in, my other is right here," Midnight replied as they arrived at the base of a mountain. "Here, Darling," questioned Rarity, "Here we have trees, trees and a cliff wall, so unless you have another hidden door in those trees, I think you have the wrong spot." "Not the trees my dear Rarity," replied Midnight as she started walking towards the cliff face. Than as all seven tried to stop walked right through, then popped her head out as they all stood there stunned and said, "You guys can go back now." "I'm sorry dear but it is customary to invite those whom walked you home inside, before dismissing them," Rarity responded despite looking revolted at the spider now crawling over Midnight left eye. "Well other than the fact my house is a mess from the last time I was here, I still need time to clean out the spiders, you know little ones," as she pulled out a fresh carcass and plopped it down, even Rainbow Dash screamed at the sight of Spike sized spider carcass, and so that idea ended as quickly as it had started.
Chapter 3: Old Lies SurfacedFive days later "Look who it is, if it isn't Princess Midnight, now appearing as an alicorn, out of her cave from spider slaying and dust removing," spouted Pinkie Pie. "Why do say slaying Pinkie?" asked Mr. Cake. "Why because they were Spike sized spiders of course." replied Pinkie Pie. "Spike... Sized... Spp-ppiders." Mrs. Cake mumbled "Yep" responded Pinkie cheerful as ever. "Pinkie, since I am new to the town, I could use some help and I could not think of anypony better to help me host a party of sorts." interrupted Midnight. "Certainly, however I must ask what kind of party is this." asked Pinkie “Well I need to. Entertain three Phillies for about an hour and enough to entertain three alicorns, two pegasi, one unicorn, two earth ponies and a dragon for about the same time, oh, and a zebra. This somewhat of a truth revealed party, in about five days, Twilight will give you the invitation." responded Midnight quickly. "You know what I got this, just finish the rest of your stuff you need in Ponyville” replied Pinkie. “Thanks Pinkie” responded Midnight, she then left. At the Golden Oak Library, Twilight was beginning to worry that there was no recorded history of a Princess other Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and herself. Then suddenly there was a knock at the door and Spike was there before Twilight even had the chance to turn around. “Oh, hi Princess Midnight. The library is closed right now. Now if you excuse me, I need to get ready to move to the castle.” said Twilight nervous that the princess might discover that she was looking through the history right around the time she lived. “I’m just here to check out a few books, unless it is closed to Princesses in need of some knowledge. Especially since you technically no longer live here. Oh and if you’re looking for me in the history books, good luck, I don’t think I am in more than the trading manifests of the Rich family, and even then I think they burned down the old house of Filthy’s grandfather. I am just here for a copy of “Changelings: a Guide to Recognizing them Amongst Friends” and a copy of “Supernaturals”” responded Midnight ignoring the fact the library was closed. “Fine, I guess,” responded Twilight, “Here you go, anything else?” “As a matter of fact, yes,” replied Midnight, “This is for you and your friends, this one is to be sent to Celestia, and this one is to be given to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The letters are all the same just with different names at the top.” “Fine, but why the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” asked Twilight curious at why three little Phillies would be invited to a party in the middle of the Everfree Forest. “All will be explained there, whether a few of you like it or not,” responded Midnight. Another five days later, outside Princess Midnight’s Cave House “Thank you for coming early Zecora and Pinkie Pie, I greatly appreciate your help, I know I could not do this alone.” “No problem” they replied in Unison. “However, why did you request I bring all these ingredients?” asked Zecora. “All in time, all in time.” responded Midnight. “Whoa, what is with these Crystals, they glow, you know Rarity will have a heyday if she sees one.” “Yes, I know but even I could not remove those crystals, a thousand years ago so I guess she have to learn her lesson that those don’t move or shatter or snap or stop glowing for that matter,” replied Midnight. “Ah, here we are my ballroom, please set up, a sink is in the room just over there.” Said Midnight as she pointed to the far wall, “If you need anything just ask the air in front of you I’ll her yah.” So Pinkie and Zecora got to work setting up not only party decorations, but a cauldron set of Zecora’s and started a fire under it. “Very well the rest should be arriving soon.” Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and Fluttershy arrived not moments later and were led into the ballroom. Not shortly after that AJ and Applebloom with Rarity and Sweetie Bell in tow by their tails as neither of them wanted to go in showed up. Rarity nearly flattened Applejack when she spotted the glowing crystals. She tried removing them with magic, then asked Applejack to buck it. That went over with a heck of a bruise. That was until Midnight convinced them it was basically impossible. The one time she did manage to break one an explosion blasted a small crater in her living room. Then before long Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo showed up riding scooters, something that had taken Scootaloo a long time to convince Rainbow to try. The party went on like a usual Pinkie Pie party went until Midnight finally stopped the music and asked Zecora to start a brew. “I can make this but I must ask before this goes amiss, how might I procure a scale of changeling for the last step of this potion.” asked Zecora. “Scale of what?” questioned Rarity. “Changeling” replied Zecora. “That was rhetorical question.” responded Rarity disgusted. “A good question, and one I shall answer now. If you could all step back, this takes some doing.” replied Midnight. All watched in awe as before their eyes the guardian of the tree of Harmony went from alicorn to a Changeling. Then all hell broke loose as Celestia and Twilight began sending blasts of magic at Midnight, AJ and Rainbow Dash charged forward and Rarity screamed and took the CMC and hid them. Only Fluttershy, Zecora and Luna stood there, although for three different reasons. All these attacks were in vain as Midnight’s special magic was in shield spells. Luna had seen the Princess before and she knew why, she also realized nothing was getting through the shield, unless… “Fluttershy, you would usually be screaming in fright or hiding behind the nearest curtain now but why aren’t you?” asked Luna. “It is because I knew the whole time, and see no reason to fear her or get mad at her especially since that shield is holding despite the beating it is taking.” responded Fluttershy. “Would you mind coming with me to inside that shield?” asked Luna. “Sure, I guess.” replied Fluttershy. So the two ponies sent walking around their rampaging friends and to the back side of the shield where they merely walked on through. “Wait, stop firing for a bit,” shouted Rainbow Dash, “I think Fluttershy and Luna are in the shield with her.” So the firing stopped. “Fluttershy, my dear, and sister how in my name did you get in there?” asked Celestia. “We walked in, Sister.” replied Luna, “I recognized this shield spell as an intention shield, plus since this spell was cast by my shield spell mentor, I am going to assume that it also gets stronger the more you blast and kick it.” “Shield spell mentor?” asked Celestia. “Yes, every new moon at around your midnight during my banishment, I was visited by an image of a black alicorn with a flame for a mane and a tail. She taught me how to disguise myself and cast a variety of different shields.” “And how come I never heard of these stories and never had a visit?” “I didn’t think it was worth sharing and I don’t know why she never shared the knowledge with you.” “I am just in here at the request of Luna,” piped Fluttershy, “besides none of you even gave Midnight a chance to explain herself before you just attacked.” “Fine, but I recommend she keeps that shield up if she doesn’t want to get knocked into next week.” replied Celestia. “Where shall I start, maybe the beginning. I was just a small changeling, slightly smaller than Sweetie Bell…” began Midnight. “Leave my sister out of this!” screamed Rarity. “Anyway, I had just witnessed a fight between a changeling horde and a lone farmer. The changelings won of course, but not without injuries, they took the farmer’s recent harvest and left him bleeding. As they disappeared I notice one changeling had broken a wing and leg, so being kind I escorted him to a cave and began to start healing him. After he left, I went to the farmer as an alicorn philly and went to healing him as well, but when I was halfway done the changeling I had just healed came back to kill the farmer. I felt an obligation to protect life, all life. I cast my first shield spell and prevented that farmer from dying that day. However when I arrived at my home I was rejected and before long my mother came and found me in my room… “Mother?” asked Fluttershy. “Not in the same way as you would define mother but, it was the closest word. Most changelings are male, I was the first female ever born, my “mother”, Queen Chrysalis, banished me after seeing my flank bearing a shield, a cutie mark, not something found in changelings. Pinkie, can I get some punch, my throat is getting dry from all this talking.” “I suppose, just as long you don’t disguise yourself as somepony I love.” responded Pinkie. After receiving a cup and taking a swig, Midnight continued, “Pinkie, I may be able to disguise myself but as I no longer forcefully feed on love and have a hard time changing anyway, it would do me no good, not to mention you know I am a changeling. I was taken in by the farmer I cared for, of course, I was disguised, and he was the first pony who loved me. A few months later, a larger changeling swarm invaded and I was unable to protect him, he told me to run and sacrificed himself to let me escape. I ran and ran stopping only to drink. Then I arrived in the wildest forest I had ever come across and just ran right into it. Finding a tree growing in a cave wasn’t the craziest thing I had seen but it was fairly small. Some form of insect was swarming it and I felt that I had to protect it. So casting a shield around it I began squashing these pests who swarmed the tree, turns out they were baby Draconeqi. Suddenly the tree grew now to about half its current height. So I expanded my shield spell to encompass the whole tree. I began to feel something take root in my mind. After seven years of guarding it from all matter of creatures. I heard what some may call a voice in my head. It told me to remove the shield and let the tree protect itself. So I did. It modified my cutie mark as I was now connected to the Elements of Harmony and was my duty to protect them from all who know of them. Celestia knows the rest.” “You still have yet to tell of Luna’s lessons.” said Celestia. “So I haven't. My power waxes and wanes with the cycles of the moon being strongest around the new moon and being at its apex at midnight of a new moon. I contacted her on the moon to teach her about the Elements, and about shields and disguises. This was Luna and not Nightmare Moon, because she reverted to her normal form while banished, out of sorrow.” Responded Midnight. “I don’t mean to be rude but what was the potion for?” asked Zecora. “And what was the point of bring our sisters here.” asked Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack simultaneously. “How do you think I know so much about all of you? I had to find a way to see into the current times without touching the wielders of the Elements directly. The CMC offered that opportunity, what I didn’t realize until recently that my magic had some unforeseen affects. Mainly being they are unable to get their cutie marks, which is the changeling part showing through. That potion is designed to cure that magical ailment.” replied Midnight. “So are you telling us that the whole reason we don’t have our cutie marks, is because you were spying on my sis’s friends through us?” questioned Applebloom. “Yes, although I didn’t know it until 6 days ago, when I was browsing through how to recognize a changeling.” replied Midnight, “Sorry.” “So can ya’ll forgive me for hiding my true self from you? I was still living in the past where I would have been killed on sight, which kinda did just happen.” asked Midnight. “I don’t think the CMC will forgive you, but I guess, you were just hiding for discriminatory actions against you. I think with such a rejection filled past, you kinda predict that something was bound to happen.” replied Applejack. “How could we not forgive her, for all we know here magical influence may have created the CMC by delaying our cutie marks for so long,” cut in Scootaloo. “I guess I understand, but why did you not reveal the changeling part in the first place?” asked Celestia. Midnight just sat there dumbstruck that Celestia would even ask such a thing. Twilight cut in, “Uh, Princess might it be because of exactly what we did when she first revealed she was a changeling?” “Sorry, I must dozed for a while at that last part,” replied Celestia. “Sorry, but I am missing the final ingredient for this potion.” Zecora stated as she was stirring the potion she had been brewing for the last few minutes. “Of course.” Said Midnight before turning her neck and ripping out a scale on her right side, “Here you go.” “Thank you, it is done, but question, what is it supposed to smell like?” said Zecora. “Same thing it tastes like.” Replied Midnight. “Which is?” asked Zecora. “Whatever the drinker wants it to be,” replied Midnight laughing “that’s the beauty of it containing scale of changeling.” “Apple Pie” “Chocolate Milkshake” “Waffles” “Does this potion reveal their cutie marks or just remove the magic blocking them from being revealed?” questioned Twilight, curious for knowledge as always. “It merely removes the magic.” replied Midnight. “Does that mean the party is over?” asked Pinkie Pie “Yep, but I’ll defiantly attend any you invite me to Pinkie.” replied Midnight. “Speaking of parties, the Gala is coming up and I want all adults here to attend. Sorry CMC, maybe in a few years. You, Midnight shall attend as a changeling. Whether you or my subjects like it or not.” “Does this include me, Princess?” asked Zecora. “Yes, you shall, I shall send tickets in a few days. I guess that means you’ll need to prepare clothing and transport but I shall leave that to you.” replied Celestia.
