The Wastelands Sacrifice to be

After recalling all of the night’s events to Miles, he just looked at me and seemed to smile. He just seemed okay with this as his voice held its own nervous edge, “Well at least you are as beautiful as I met you still. We’ll figure this out together. For now we at least know what element you are. Magic. So let’s just pack up and get ready… But uh can you hide your appearance? The darker alicorns out there would love to find you…”

I understood what he meant. I focused my mind once more, changing to the grey bat pony of old. I smiled at him and hugged him quickly, “Thank you for understanding… I was scared you’d have a different reaction. So where to fi-“

A knock came to the door as we looked at each other. We knew that people left going away presents to Miles but we’re about to leave. Who would call upon us now? So he walked to the door and smiled at the sight of the doctor with a festive red-fleece cap that seemed worn out, “Doc, nice to see you before we go. I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for Cryo and I. You really helped us out. But we’ll be heading out soon.”

“Must you leave today? We decided we should celebrate the holidays before you leave. We’re throwing a party today. Join us in one last party please? You too, Cryo Knight!” the doctor pony seemed to be happy and festive. I looked at Miles who seemed eager to go. The doctor pony was hoping one last get together before their beloved sheriff left them to find the elements.

I walked up to him and nudged Miles, “I will and so will he. Couldn’t miss it since you’ve been so kind to me. Do you need help decorating?” I spoke up with a smile of joy. I loved the holidays so much, remembering me and Mech setting up wreaths and other sorts of things. My love for the holidays ran as deep as my love for my past sister. I could celebrate this holiday with them in her honor. So with that the doctor pony took me in hoof and brought me to the center of town.

“We needed to get those wreaths and greens up on the house edges but it takes wings. We also have lights that shine from a power source we got if you could hang those too,” he gave me the list as I took it all to heart thoroughly enjoying the normal feeling of setting up for a holiday. His instructions became more specific as he went rambling on about his plans for this grand celebration.

My mind drifted to a better idea as I looked at the doctor, “I have a better idea to get those up. That’s if you and the town can keep a secret. Sound good?” I spoke thinking to my alicorn side I was hiding. I may not understand the magic but I can put my determination into making it work. This was a purely good reason to use it, to bring joy to the ponies here on this beautiful holiday.

He just watched me curiously. His mind could have wandered or he could have fallen asleep for all I know. He then lifted a hoof and shook mine, “Deal. Do you have any vault tricks they taught you to make this easier? Or do you have some idea with your phoenix friend or something?” He was genuinely coated in curiosity as he was his grey coat. So he was about to be in for a great surprise even though Miles may disapprove.

Letting go of the spell I learned to hide my appearance, I just shown my shining, grey-blue coat with the flowing mane and tail of translucent blue with full blue inside. The wings flowed out and held straight up and my horn glowed as the spell was reversed. I saw the doctor pony just jaw drop as I gave him a smile, “I want to bring hope to these lands once more. So I’ll start with this holiday to honor all of you and my late sister. You all deserve a good party.” I focused my mind and magic flew around me in a struggled effort. Then newly made wreaths and tinsel hung itself on the roof edges. The lights that were supposed to hang were replaced by magical tufts of material that hung off wire.

Saphire aided me in lighting the tufts as they all glowed a brilliant green, blue and red. I smiled there was tinsel hanging of each building and even snow men as a decoration around the town. The town was bright and beautiful as if struck with a light. That’s when the moon shown onto the town for once in a long time. I knew I did well as the rest of the ponies in the town came out astonished and happy. They skipped around and seemed ecstatic about the decorations. This was all I needed to confirm what I needed to do. My ability to spread joy and remind ponies of friendships past joys. Then I saw the pegasus ponies unable to hide the light. I flew up to them as they stopped dead. They bowed as I smiled, “Let’s just let it go for the holiday shall we?”

They simply nodded as I conjured a wreath around each their necks with supplies of their own, “Share the joy. Its time Equestria remembers the happiness that these holidays bring.” I saw them leave as I landed in the town once more. Miles tackled me to the ground after we rolled a few feet. He just seemed to smile, “You’re beautiful.” With that, he just nuzzled me as I returned the gesture. We stood up as people began to look to me not just astonished but full of hope. I knew this wasn’t the end as I used the magic inside of me to form foods of old that I saw visions of. There was tables of cupcakes and treats that many hadn’t see in a long time as well as juices and cider.

Feeling weak was worth the effort after seeing the town’s ponies smiling and enjoying themselves. I walked to Little Mech’s grave and used a bit of magic to create a golden flower that would last time itself with a gravestone saying, ‘Here lies Little Mech, The best sister ever known, Rest in Peace.’ I smiled at my efforts as Miles sat beside me. Speaking up with a tone of joy and happiness known to only the holidays and cheer, “Back home, she did all I just did to make everyone happy. Her goal in life was to spread this magical feeling of joy to everyone. Especially the most down of ponies. I believe that is what it means to be the element of magic. To bring that magic of hope and joy to every pony whenever possible. This will be our start towards the elements by showing tonight joy can be even in this town of ponies that seemed lost.”

“Only spoken truer by you, Princess,” he jested with the end of the sentence as he led me back to the celebrations. Ponies sang songs of holiday cheer and joy throughout the town that night. The voices echoed as I was brought in to sing with them, though poorly on my end. This only just made us laugh and enjoy our time together more. These people were like their own family in one as they enjoyed their time. I was taken aback to see this as I backed away. Miles must have seen me watch from afar as he sat beside me smiling.

“You know, I never did get to meet your family. Maybe we should drop in and give them holiday cheer of their own? Got any teleportation spells in that horn of yours,” he spoke with a jovial nature knowing that I had to be missing my family. With his words, he put a hoof around me and nuzzled me once more to show me he really did mean every word. Each word from him was like the song of cheer itself for me, I focused my magic with a tear in my eyes thinking of home. With that, home was just in front of me.

The guard stared at me, ignoring Miles, to just bow, “Princess Lu-“

“Not Luna…” I said smiling as I returned to the bat pony he remembered, “I am still the same pony as before Silver Shine.” He let me pass as he walked in behind us shutting the door. I walked in to the center as there must have been some announcement.

All I heard over the speakers was these simple words, “Our Cryo Knight has returned, everyone, she has come back to us.” About that time, my aunt, Shimmer Sprite, found me and hugged me tightly at a gallop. As I nearly fell over, she just kissed my forehead with joy. That’s when every other pony arrived to find me. They were cheering and happy as they usually seemed on the holidays but that’s when I noticed him, Tiger Shade. He was like a father to me when my parents died. I bowed a head to him as the armor was teleported in front of him, “Tested and approved. A gift to you, Shade. I won’t be needing it anymore.”

Tiger Shade just walked around the armor and hugged me tightly. I was shocked that he just left the armor alone to hug me. I hugged back as he stepped back, “I don’t need it. I just needed my family home. I’m glad you’re safe, my little Knight.” Saying this, it was bringing tears to his eyes he quickly winged away so no one would notice.

“Awe, Tiger is crying… You really did miss her you hard rock,” one pony said as they all smiled.

I just smiled and looked to them with grim news, “Little Mech won’t be coming back. Just know she watches our dreams in joy. In my time outside this vault, I found myself in a way. I want to introduce some pony. Miles come on.” I saw Miles nervously walk up beside me as Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite became skeptical. I smiled, “This is Sheriff Apple Miles from New Appaloosa. He’s the reason I got home safely or stayed safe out there at all.”

Each pony was greeting him as Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite stood beside me. Tiger Shade smiled at me, “I’m glad you finally found your way. We both are.” He looked at Shimmer Sprite smiling as she returned the look with her own joy. That’s when I looked at Tiger Shade and Shimmer Sprite backing away. They both watched me curiously as they seemed both concerned and curious. That’s when every other pony looked in my direction.

With the reversal spell done, I became my alicorn self once more as they stared. I smiled at my Aunt and Father-figure, “This is who I am… I was left a gift from Luna and now I wanted to save the wastes of Equestria with it. For now though, I wanted to start here with the holidays and my family.” I focused magic through my horn as usual as it glowed a different color then before. That was when I saw the vault cover in the luscious greens and lights of the Christmas decorations. The trees were lit and the false skies of the orchard shown a true light of the moon as moon roses grew beneath the trees. I smiled at my efforts as they others cheered.

Returning to my bat pony form, I was greeted with hugs and hoof shakes from them all. The cheer was clear in the air as they began to sing the song we used to honor Luna. That was when I had gotten a book for Miles as he sang along with me. This was only the beginning as Miles was dragged into the banquet halls to eat wondrous moon flower sandwiches with apple cider. I laughed when they tried to give him the hard apple cider and he refused with that sheepish smile of his. I sat beside Shimmer Sprite, “They would be proud of us ya know? All of them. Mom, Dad and even Little Mech. Luna bless us, we have been given a wonderful family. Especially one that brings us together like this.”

“Your father would have loved him. He is determined and loyal just like Moon Knight. He really would have impressed your parents. His loyalty to you really impresses me,” she said with a smile taking me in her hoof, “I approve too. Tiger Shade seems to have taken a liking to him too.” As she said this, we laughed at the site of Tiger Shade trying to give Miles a hard apple cider as he just nervously tried to say no. I hugged her once more until I walked over and took the hard apple cider from Tiger Shade, “I’ll take that.”

With that, the whole room lit up in laughter and cheers. We all have a wonderful night of cheer and joy. Celestia blind me, this is my good luck omen here. This family and Miles… They were all I need to keep going from this point on. I would make Little Mech proud of me when I cleansed Equestria. I joined the celebration after changing forms. I used my magic to make memory crystals of the night and the fun things we did. That was when we all had one last drink and gave out presents to our secret some ponies. That’s when my Aunt gave me the jacket that my father protected this vault in. It was a tasteful flight jacket he kept from our ancestors. She told me it was time to pass it down to me.

I saw Tiger Shade give a gift to Shimmer Sprite that could only be a wedding band. There was a cheer when she said yes and then that’s when Miles approached me. He smiled at me and held his hat to his chest, “I may not have a gift for you but what I offer is my heart. I’ll stay with you forever. Happy Holidays.” He kissed my cheek as I blushed furiously. That’s when everyone rose in cheer once more and the festivities went into the late night, early morning.

Tomorrow will suck waking up but for now, I am enjoying the family I have and the ones I love. Especially my special some pony. Each pony later collapsed in their own rooms as I walked back to mine. I saw a Christmas present with my name labeled on it. It was hidden in my drawer from Little Mech. So I sat on my bed as Miles came in. He looked at it curiously as I pulled at the wrapping paper. I opened it to find a necklace with a locket in it. It held a photo of my parents, Little Mech and me when we were younger. I cried as I was happy, “Thank you, Little Mech.”

With that tied into my mane for safety, I slept beside Miles as usual. I loved tonight for all of its wonders. I had left memory crystals with me and each pony or them with another pony as a gift from me. That was when I slept so peacefully grateful for the family and friends I had now.