Balancing the Scales: NightReign

Viewpoint NightReign.

NightReign wanders down the path toward Ponyville where his mother resided and had returned to after the unfortunate incident that took her away when he was only two years old. “Celestia and Luna just had to go sticking their pompous muzzles in where they weren't wanted.” NightReign grumbles.

“What are you going to do about it then?” An incorporeal Sombra asks from beside him.

“I'm going to demand answers after I find mother. What else would I do? They blasted you into shadows two years ago so I wander. I know you're still here though.” NightReign replies.

“And what will you do about your food issue?” Sombra asks. “You can't keep hiding and thieving off of ponies from the shadows forever.”

“I know father. I've been thinking about that. After I see mother I am going to the badlands where a unique race of beings is said to dwell. They should have the answers I seek.” NightReign answers. “From what I hear they feed off of love like I feed on harmony. They should have a way to help me.”

“Be wary of them. They are distrustful of strangers and may view you as food.” Sombra warns.

“Father I can handle it. If it comes down to it I'll eat their harmony before they can get my love.” NightReign says with a dismissive wave of his hoof. “I just hope it doesn't come down to that.”

“You think you can reason with them?” Sombra asks.

“I think I have to try. I am a wondrous negotiator. I did learn from the best after all.” NightReign says.

“You flatter this old stallion.” Sombra says. “But I can't take all the credit. Your mother did have a certain way with the civilians that was...well...divine.”

“I wish I could have seen it.” NightReign sighs. “All I have are the stories you and Uncle Discord told me of how wonderful she was. But if my plan works I'll get to see her for myself.”

“Can you bring the Midnight out of her?” Sombra asks.

“If I have to but I'd rather not. I want Twilight to understand who I am and that she can't run from what she did or blame
Midnight all the time.” NightReign replies.

“Well here's your chance.” Sombra says. “Here she comes.” NightReign had to duck to avoid a charging Twilight before smirking.

“Here we go.” He says as Sombra vanishes.

“SOMBRA!! HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE OF ALL PLACES?!” Twilight screams and summons the Rainbow Power. “Well if you think the elements were bad you're gonna hate this!” She lets loose a blast from her Rainbow Powered horn and NightReign laughs and opens his mouth. The beam enters it and he begins absorbing the energy.

“Thanks for the meal mother. I needed the pick-me-up I was getting hungry again.” NightReign replies and walks over to Twilight. “I'm not Sombra. Or did you not notice the streak in my mane and tail and the heterochromic eyes?”

“Illusions!” She screams and throws up a barrier. “I'll finish you off for good this time!”

NightReign simply sighs and walks off. “I don't have time to play combat with you mother. I'm going to see Chrysalis.” He walks off as Twilight fires another beam. NightReign simply turns his head and eats the new beam as well before wandering off toward the Badlands.

“Well. That went about as well as I expected it would.” A voice says before a face appears on a nearby tree. This face had bright yellow eyes with red dots for pupils one of which is larger than the other, a white antler on the right side of his head, a blue goat horn on the left and one longer fang that sticks out of the right side of his mouth. “Did you honestly think Twilight would even listen to you let alone recognize you weren't your father?”

NightReign brightens up considerably upon seeing this face and smiles. “Hey there Uncle Discord. No I expected she'd behave like that but not try to outright attack me. I calculated about a 1.2% chance of that.”

Discord laughs before emerging from the tree and picking NightReign up in his magick before hugging him. “You and your silly calculations. You are just like her sometimes. You know it's a good thing you have me to help keep you insane.”

NightReign laughs as well before hopping down out of Discord's magick. “Yes. You always did enjoy pulling pranks on me but I did get you back plenty of times.”

“Oh yes. Yes you did. Like the pie in the present trick? I was not expecting that from you.” Discord says as they walk (or float in Discord's case) toward the Badlands.

“What? It was your birthday. How could I not give you your birthday pie? Though I did hide the real present under the pie.” NightReign laughs.

“I remember. I did enjoy that present and the pie.” Discord says. “Chocolate Crème was always my favorite.”

“That's why I put it in there. But you did get me back on my birthday with the exploding cake routine.” NightReign says and smiles. “Oh we are quite the pair.”

“That we are Nighty.” Discord replies. “So we're off to see the queen of the bugs eh?”

“Yep.” NightReign responds. “She should be able to help me with my harmony issue. Though if I can eat the Rainbow Powthat defeated Tirek I think I might just keep the issue. I'm quite satiated.”

“I never expected you'd be able to do that.” Sombra says appearing once again.

“If I had known 18 years ago I could have saved mother.” NightReign sighs.

“NightReign you were two years old. You couldn't have known.” Sombra replies.

“I know. That's just misplaced guilt I don't understand but I promise you I will have her back. One way or another.” NightReign says determinedly.

“Maybe you'll find the way to get my body back along the way?” Sombra asks.

“That's a given. I haven't been able to touch you in five years.” NightReign replies. “Besides I want my family back and I want, no I demand, answers from Celestia and Luna. They had no right to do what they did. We weren't hurting anyone.”

“It was because of who I am. They can't possibly find it in their hearts to trust me though they went after Midnight first because they couldn't stand the fact that she was dark.” Sombra says angrily.

“It all stems from Nightmare Moon.” Discord comments. “Nightmare Moon was Celestia's greatest failure and thus she couldn't abide anyone else losing themselves to darkness even if Twilight asked for it.”

“Well I don't like it, don't approve and I am going to fix it.” NightReign proclaims with conviction.

“We'll fix it you mean.” Sombra corrects. “We'll all do it.”

“I agree with Sombra. You're not in this alone Nighty.” Discord adds. “We all want Midnight back and we're going to make it happen and with the King of Chaos, Lord of Darkness and Prince of Disharmony together nothing can get in our way.”

“We are an odd bunch but not as odd as the Element Bearers.” NightReign says. “We have Neurotic Magic, Spastic Laughter, Farm hoof Honesty, Lazy Loyalty, Vain Generosity and Timid Tree Kindness.”

“What did you call Fluttershy?” Discord asks.

“A timid tree. She wants to be a tree and let's be serious, the only time that pegasus is brave is when her animals are threatened. Yes Uncle Discord I know you have a soft spot for her but I'm only describing their personalities.” NightReign says.

“Well it's not very polite.” Discord replies.

“I'm blunt Uncle. I always tell it like it is.” NightReign says and throws a pie at Discord.

“Sometimes I regret teaching you chaos magic.” Discord grumbles.

“No you don't.” NightReign laughs.

“You're right. It wouldn't be fair otherwise.” Discord says merrily before a pie throwing war breaks out between the two.

“Sometimes I'm thankful I'm incorporeal.” Sombra sighs and waits for them to finish before they continue on toward the badlands.

Discord snaps his fingers after a bit to clean the pie mess up. “Can't have anyone wondering why there's a mess of pies everywhere.”

“This is true. They'd think you went bonkers. Oh wait...you already did.” NightReign laughs.

“You're not far behind on that front Nighty.” Discord says and grins.

“I blame you.” NightReign says.

“Why thank you.” Discord replies and Sombra simply facehoofs.

The last bit of travel to the badlands was relatively quiet until they hit the border and run into a few disguised changelings. “You're a long way from home pony.” One of them says.

“You sure you don't need any help?” Another asks.

“We could take you to our home if you need a rest.” The third offers.

“We'd actually love that you see I am terribly hungry. I'm not sure if my companion even gets hungry but I sure do and I'm famished.” NightReign replies with a smile. 'Yeah. They're changelings alright.' He thinks to himself. 'I can feel their lack of harmony.'

“Follow us.” The first replies and they lead NightReign and Discord off toward the hive. “We'll be meeting up with a couple friends along the way. Hope you don't mind.”

“Oh we love friends. They're so delightful.” Discord says.

“The more the merrier.” NightReign adds while Sombra stays silent and hidden.

“We agree.” The second replies. “Our mother would also like to meet you. We just know it.” The second says.

“Mother loves guests.” The third adds.

“Mine did too but right now she's not herself.” NightReign replies and after a while they all meet up with a couple other changelings and head to the hive.

Once they all reach the hive the changelings turn to face NightReign and Discord. “We're gonna need to tie you up now.” The first changeling of the group says.

“That won't be necessary. Especially since you changelings are who we came to see.” NightReign replies.

“How did you know what we were?” The third asks incredulously.

“I can sense harmony like you sense love and you five have none.” NightReign replies. “Now you can take us to Chrysalis or you can be unconscious and we can find our own way. Your choice.”

“You? Knock us out?” The second scoffs. “That's a real riot.” The five drop their disguises and charge their horns.

NightReign fires off a polychromatic beam from his horn which knocks the changelings out and he walks up to one. “Chrysalis. I know you can hear me. I am Prince NightReign of The Crystal Kingdoms. I request an audience.” He says.

“You may enter.” Chrysalis says through the unconscious changeling. “You will not be harmed.”

“My thanks. I'd rather not get into a scuffle with the very beings who could possibly help me.” NightReign says. He and Discord enter the hive and make their way through the shifting hallways guided by NightReign's ability to sense harmony and disharmony. After what felt like hours but was probably only a half hour of traveling they make their way into the throne room.

“Oh? You brought Discord as well?” Chrysalis asks from her throne. “What ever for?”

“He is my best friend and uncle for all intents and purposes. He's also the only one who can make me laugh at any time and his conversations are simply fascinating so why wouldn't I bring him?” NightReign says.

“His conversations? You mean you can understand half the words coming out of his mouth?” She asks incredulously.

“I met Pinkie Pie, the element of laughter, I can understand Discord perfectly fine compared to that nonsense.” NightReign replies.

“I'm easier to understand than Pinkie? Well she might have a mental defect or something.” Discord says.

“Too much time on a rock farm will do that to a pony.” NightReign says. “But that's not why I'm here. I have an issue you may be able to help with. You see, I have a condition similar to your own. Due to being born of the two most disharmonic beings in all of Equestria I cannot generate harmony within myself. Thus I must feed on the harmony of others to survive.”

“It is a similar condition to our own. But from what we have discovered you would need an extremely massive burst of harmony in order to be cured.” Chrysalis replies.

“I did just eat a portion of the Rainbow Power that defeated Tirek.” NightReign says. “I came here thinking I wanted a cure but if I can consume that much power and survive I may not want to be cured. Though I didn't come here wanting information without offering something in return.”

“What could you have to offer that would equal my information?” Chrysalis asks.

“Uncle Discord could you manifest some Amor crystal please?” NightReign asks.

“Of course I can.” Discord replies and manifests the crystal with a snap of his fingers. “What do you need it for?”

“You'll all see.” NightReign replies cryptically. “Please excuse this Chrysalis.” He fires a beam at the tip of her throne to make it into a singular point and another at the ceiling directly above it to create a downward point not unlike the stalactites found in caves before carving the Amor crystal into a heart shape and placing it in between the two points.

“What are you up to NightReign?” Chrysalis asks suspiciously. “That looks like the Crystal Heart.”

“Oh it's the same stuff. Amor crystal has the unique property of storing and generating infinite love energy but it just needs a kick.” NightReign replies and fires nearly every bit of harmony within him at the heart thus sufficiently charging it. “The last time they made or rather remade the Crystal Heart they used the love energy from the Crystalling of Flurry Heart but since we can't do that I figured we'd use the massive burst of harmony stored within me. Now. It just needs one last thing.” He sits down and pants for a moment. “Love.”

“We have enough in our reservoir but we can't just give that out.” Chrysalis says. “I might be able to make an exception but if it fails we'll all starve.”

“Then I starve right along with you. I'm on the verge now. Do it and if it fails I share your fate willingly but if it succeeds you take me to one of your prisoners and let me feed.” NightReign replies.

“Agreed.” Chrysalis says and calls up the love energy from the reservoir before letting it loose at the heart. The energy is then absorbed into the heart and it begins spinning rapidly before emitting a wave of pure love. “It worked? Amazing! I feel better than I have in centuries!” She laughs as the changelings gather in the throne room to feed upon the heart.

“Take as much as you can consume.” NightReign says with a weak smile. “You will never starve again.”

“No we will not and as promised you will feed.” Chrysalis says and calls a cocoon with a pony inside down from the ceiling and opens it up. NightReign smiles and fires a beam of darkness at the head of the pony which begins drawing the harmony out of him. The harmony flows straight into NightReign's mouth and he begins swallowing it. After a bit of time he cuts the flow off and stands. “It's no Rainbow Power but it'll do.” He says.

“So then what will you do with those prisoners since you don't need them anymore Chryssi?” Discord asks.

“That's Chrysalis.” She replies annoyed before answering. “I'll let them go but they'll need a mind wipe. We're going to recede into the shadows and recover for a while.”

“I can cover the mind wipe thing.” NightReign says and fires another beam of darkness. This one is aimed at the ceiling and cocoons and designed to selectively erase anything to do with the changelings from the minds of those inside. “There. That should cover it. They'll have no idea who or what a changeling is.” He says.

“Your mind magick is formidable.” Chrysalis says. “I'm happy we're on good terms.”

“Well when you're the son of King Sombra and Queen Midnight Sparkle you tend to pick up a few things.” NightReign replies.

“Sombra's name I recognize but it's Twilight Sparkle.” Chrysalis attempts to correct.

“Midnight is the dark side of Twilight much like Nightmare Moon is to Luna.” NightReign says.

“Midnight Sparkle was created by Twilight in the human dimension they call Canterlot High.” Discord adds. “That was however created by their world's Twilight not ours and as such Midnight exists in both because what happens to one happens to the other.”

“Interesting.” Chrysalis replies. “Where will you two go now?”

“Canterlot.” NightReign says simply. “I need answers and Discord is dying to see Celestia again.”

“Be careful. She will likely attack you.” Chrysalis warns.

“Her, I can handle. You might have given me trouble since I don't think I can eat disharmony.” NightReign says. “She took my parents away. I'm going to get answers.”

“Well you're always welcome here.” Chrysalis replies. “I don't extend that welcome lightly. But for the savior of our race I am making an exception.”

“My thanks Chrysalis.” NightReign says and he and Discord leave the hive.