Night opened her eyes to find herself in an empty void. There was nothing but white as far as the eye could see. The silence was deafening. "Hello?" Night called out. Not even an echo followed her voice. "Is any pony there?" Night called out again. Nothing.

"What do you expect to find here?"

Night gasped as she whirled around. Standing there with a soft smile on his face was Fire Fly. His body showed no signs of stress or wear. His coat was smooth and red as it was when Night first met him in Canterlot Castle.

"Fire?" Night asked, earning a nod from the Erisumn. "Where are we? What is this place?"

"It's the void between worlds," Fire answered as he stepped forward.

"What do you mean?" Night asked as she looked around.

"This is the end of the road," Fire answered.

"You mean," Night began as she looked at Fire. Fire inclined his head. "But, what about Cora? Blazing? Zuro and the others?" The last thing Night remembered was being face-to-face with Dusk outside of the castle. She gave herself up to him to save Cora's life before a blinding light consumed her.

"They're not here," Fire answered as he began pacing.

"But, if I'm here and they're not, that must mean they're okay, right?" Night asked as she watched Fire pace.

"I don't know, kid," Fire replied as he looked at her. "My mind is foggy, especially after I found Dusk."

Night looked around at the blank void around them. As far as she could tell, she and Fire were the only two here. If this was the place you go before moving on to the next life, where was every pony else? A place like this should be full of others moving on.

"If this is what I think it is," Night began as she looked at Fire, "... why can I see you but no one else?" Fire narrowed his brow at her.

"We're the most recent to come here," he offered a smile. Night furrowed her brow. Something was off about Fire.

"So, what do we do now?" Night asked.

"What else?" Fire asked in reply. "We can either cling to what we left behind, or we can surrender and move on."

Night thought about the words, "Cling to what was left behind". Could that mean becoming some kind of ghost in the real world? Haunting the place they spent the most time? Would that be the wrong choice in this situation? She could stay with Cora for as long as the griffon lived, but what then? When it was Cora's time, would Night be given another opportunity to move on with her? Or would she be trapped in purgatory?

On the other hoof, Fire used the word "Surrender". Surrender what? Why would you need to "surrender" to move on to the next life, if there is such a thing? Why did Fire use that word specifically?

"Take my hoof, Night," Fire said as he extended a hoof to her. Night stared at his hoof for a second before looking at him. "Come on, Night. Take my hoof. Surrender with me." After a few seconds, Night took a step back. "There's nothing for you out there. Just take my hoof." Night continued to back away as she shook her head. Fire grew visibly angry at her actions. "Take my hoof!"

Night could not take the chance of this being true. Cora was still out there and she needed to get back to her, fast. If Night gave up right now, she might never get the chance to be with the griffon she loved her whole life. Cora. The griffon who proposed to Night. The griffon Night wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Night had to get back to Cora.

"Take my hoof!!" Fire growled.

"No!" Night cried out as she turned away. Fire lunged at her with a growl.

~~)oOo(~~

Night sat up as she cried out, "Cora!" Instead of being in that void, Night found herself in a familiar bedroom. The blankets were carefully draped over her body. The curtains were opened enough to show sunlight starting to bleed through the window.

The sound of stomping pulled Night's gaze toward the door at her right just before it swung open to reveal Cora on the other side. "Night?!" Cora huffed as she looked at the mare in the bed.

"Cora?" Night asked softly.

"Oh, thank the stars!" Cora sighed as she rushed in to softly hug Night. Night blinked at the warm embrace she found herself in before smiling and returning the hug.

"What happened?" Night asked as she held her oldest friend close. Cora looked at Night with a single tear sliding down her cheek.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Cora asked.

"I remember being at Canterlot," Night answered as she looked to the window. "Dusk was too powerful for us to stop and-" Night stopped to look at Cora. "He had you. He was going to kill you, so I-" Night stopped to look at her body. Something was different. She felt taller. She reached up with a hoof to feel her forehead. Her gem was where it should be as always, but there was something extra above it. Protruding from her skull toward the roof was a single horn-shaped crystal.

Night moved Cora aside so she could get out of bed and rush to the nearest restroom to look at herself in a mirror. Indeed, she was taller. As tall as Princess Celestia herself. A red horn stood from her head above the blue gem. Her fur was still black. In fact, her fur may be more rich than before. However, her fur faded to white as it trailed down her limbs. A tuft of white over her chest. Her eyes were different too. They were still grey, but with a hint of red shining through.

Cora stepped into view as she watched her friend take in every detail of her new features. Night looked at Cora. "What happened?" Night asked.

"When Dusk tried to fuse with you, Twilight and the others used the elements and you came out looking like this," Cora explained. "Then, you passed out just before Crystal showed up."

"I fused with Dusk?" Night asked as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Night," Cora said as she stepped closer. "Do you feel okay?" Night looked at Cora.

"I feel amazing," Night answered without hesitation. It was the truth. Night never felt better in her entire life. The only thing that bothered her was that dream before waking up.

"No negative thoughts or anything like that?" Cora pressed.

"Well," Night began as she looked at the mirror. "I had a dream of Dusk." Cora watched Night closely. "At least, I think it was Dusk. I was in some void and Fire Fly was there. He said something about that place being the void between worlds or something like that." Night looked at Cora. "He tried to attack me, but I wouldn't let him."

"Crystal said something about this," Cora sighed.

"What did she say?" Night asked as she turned to Cora. It was odd seeing the griffon from above without flying for a change.

"She said something about seeing you and Dusk endlessly fighting from here on out," Cora explained as tears began to fall down her cheeks. "It sounded like I could still lose you."

So, that might not have been a dream Night had, but a visualization of an ongoing war within. Dusk was now a part of her and if he remained as determined now as he was a separate being, Night might have more visions like that in the future. Dusk would keep fighting to take control, and if he won it would be disastrous. Night glanced at the mirror again to see the new alicorn before her. Dusk as the Sirenum was dangerous enough as it was, but if he broke free as an alicorn with all that power? Night had her doubts that even the elements could stop him.

The elements! From what Cora said, the elements were used just as Night fused with Dusk. Maybe their magic had a huge role in determining the outcome of the fusion and maybe their magic lingers within. If remnants of the elements still lingered inside, maybe Night could use that to her advantage in the future.

Night looked at Cora, whose cheeks were stained with her tears. Night softly smiled and pulled Cora into a warm hug. "I'm not going anywhere," Night said. Cora trembled as she leaned into Night's embrace. "Cora, something I didn't tell you about my dream." Night lifted her head to smile into Cora's eyes. "The entire time I was in that void, I thought of you." Cora stared into Night's eyes with tear-stained cheeks. "I knew I had to get back to you somehow, someway. I wasn't gonna leave you behind, and I'm not about to start now. No matter what dark spirit tries to possess my body." Cora choked at Night's words before finally breaking and clinging to Night in a tight hug. Night smiled as she held her friend close. "I promise. I'm never going to leave you."

~~)oOo(~~

Night walked with Cora close beside her outside the house to find everything seemed to be continuing without issue. The ponies went on with their daily lives running their shops or hanging out with their friends. Night smiled at everyone around them as she walked into the streets with Cora close beside her. The ponies began to take notice of the new alicorn in their humble town and politely bowed their heads.

"Hey!"

Night looked up to find Rainbow Dash landing sharply in front of them. "It's about time you woke up!"

"Hey, Rainbow Dash," Night warmly greeted.

"Love the new look, Night!" Rainbow chimed as she admired the Muneris. "Guess you're a princess now, huh?" Dash smiled up at Night.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Crystal's voice filled the air and the group looked at the Sirenum as she walked up.

"Crystal," Night smiled. "You're okay!"

"Never mind about me, darling," Crystal raised a hoof at Night. "What about you? How are you feeling?"

"I feel great," Night answered. "Better than ever."

"No feelings of anger, hatred, or maybe something like greed and lust?" Crystal pressed.

"I had a dream about Fire Fly trying to convince me to surrender to the next life, or something like that," Night answered. Crystal watched intently. "When I refused, he got angry and tried to attack me. That's when I woke up."

"The next life?" Crystal asked. Night inclined her head. "And what made you refuse that? Legends of the next life would entice anyone."

"I couldn't leave Cora behind," Night answered sternly as she looked at the griffon. "This griffon has been by my side for most of my life and I couldn't in good conscience leave her behind for any reason."

"Your love of your best friend kept you from giving into temptation?" Crystal observed.

"Friendship is magic."

They all looked to find Twilight walking up with a smile. Night smiled at the lavender unicorn and bowed her head politely.

"Good to see you again, Twilight," Night greeted.

"I'm just glad to see you're okay," Twilight replied. "Spike's the only one I know who'd take a three-week-long nap." Night blinked at Twilight's words.

"Three weeks?" Night asked Cora, who inclined her head.

"Cora never left your side," Rainbow explained. "Ya gotta admire her loyalty."

"I'll say," Applejack walked up. "After ya fused with that Dusk character, y'all collapsed."

"We all rushed up to help, but Cora was insistent," Rarity added as she walked up with a smile.

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walked up with smiles on their faces. Night looked between them all with a warm smile before she noticed a few missing faces. "Where's Blazing, Zuro, and Angel?" Night asked.

"Stripes has been making regular visits to the Everfree ever since we got back from Canterlot after the wedding," Rainbow Dash answered.

"Angel has been locked in her house," Fluttershy meekly added. "We've tried to talk to her, but she's upset about Zuro."

"What happened to Zuro?" Night asked as her heart sank. Was Zuro a casualty in the events?

"He was seen using changeling magic at Canterlot," Twilight answered. "He's standing trial for being a changeling."

"Standing trial?" Night asked. "But, he's our friend."

"If the guy was a changeling the whole time, he might've been spying on us!" Rainbow huffed.

"But, um... he was so nice," Fluttershy observed.

"Crystal, do you see him getting out of this okay?" Night asked. Crystal closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I see a happy family in a house of black and green," Crystal began. "A husband, wife, and child. The husband has his family with him, especially a younger sibling."

"Wait! You mean that creep's coming back with a whole family?!" Rainbow hovered above them all.

"Rainbow, Zuro ain't no creep?" Applejack huffed.

"He's a changeling!" Rainbow countered.

"Suspected changeling," Twilight interjected. "That doesn't make him one."

"I'm going to give him my support," Night stated as she turned to the north.

"There's no need for that, Night," Crystal stated. Night looked at Crystal. "Besides, you only just woke up and you should take things easy for a while."

"But--"

"I agree with Crystal," Twilight chimed in. "After everything that happened, I think we all should take it easy for a while."

"Night," Cora said as she rested a claw on Night's foreleg. Night looked at the griffon, who only looked at her with concern. "Please, don't push yourself." Night smiled at Cora.

"Okay," Night said as she embraced the griffon.

"Hey! We should throw a party for you!" Pinkie piped up as she bounced in place. "A happy-engagement-before-becoming-an-alicorn-and-waking-up party!" Pinkie pulled out a cannon out of her tail before setting it off. An explosion of confetti filled the air and rained down on everyone.

"That's quite the mouthful, Pinkie," Rainbow groaned before blinking. "Wait, engagement?" Rainbow looked at Night and Cora.

"Oh yeah!" Pinkie bounced. "Cora and Night are getting married!"

"Oh, how wonderful!" Twilight beamed.

"Well, Cora did propose," Night said as she lifted her head. Cora watched Night with a single tear staining her cheek. "But, there are laws against interspecies marriage," Night frowned.

"Not in Equestria," Twilight said as she scratched her chin with a hoof.

"Night Wing, if I may," Crystal chimed in. They all looked at the Sirenum. "The laws apply to residents of the Muneris homeland. You've been a resident of Equestria for quite some time, and you're no longer a Muneris." Night looked to the horizon to the east, where Celestia's son shined.

"I think a marriage is a wonderful idea."

Everyone looked up to find Princess Celestia landing on the grass with a warm smile. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight and her friends bowed their heads.

"Your Highness," Night offered as she politely bowed her head.

"There's no need for formalities now, Night," Celestia offered after hugging her student. "We are equals."

"With all due respect, I disagree," Night replied as she raised her head.

"You are an alicorn now, are you not?" Celestia asked as she met Night's gaze at eye level. Night Wing was as tall as Celestia now. Looking the princess in the eye was less of a strain on her neck. Night looked herself over to find the new patches of white on her hooves and chest and she could not help but notice the horn coming from her skull.

"Am I an alicorn?" Night asked.

"You got the wings and the horn, so that makes you an alicorn in my book," Rainbow observed as she hovered around Night.

"Perhaps you are an yroxilm?" Cyrstal piped up. "It's Arish for alicorn."

"Ain't that a bit redundant?" Applejack asked. "Callin' her an alicorn in fancy is still callin' her an alicorn, ain't it?"

"Vezut," Cora piped up. They all looked at Cora, whose cheeks were pink as she looked at the ground.

"Um, what's vay-zoot?" Fluttershy softly asked.

"It means 'the fused'," Night answered with a warm smile.

"Night Wing Vezut," Celestia beamed. "I like it." Celestia bowed her head. "Let me be the first to welcome you to Equestria, Night Wing Vesut." The other ponies followed suit and bowed their heads at Night Wing. Crystal smiled at Night before bowing her head too. Night looked at Cora, who took a few steps back and bowed her head until her beak touched the grass.

"Cora, no," Night said as she pulled her friend off the ground. Cora looked at Night Wing. "I would never ask you to bow to me like that."

"But--"

"No," Night interjected sharply. "Not my friend."

"But--"

"Not my lover."

Cora blinked as she looked Night in the eye. They stared into each other's eyes for several long seconds while the group smiled at them.

"Does this mean, you will marry her, Night?" Celestia asked.

"Di jura qong ryqus," Night said. Cora's eyes welled up as she stared into Night's.

"What the hey does that mean?" Rainbow asked with a raised brow.

"To put it lightly, it means that Night Wing doesn't care about the rules," Crystal said with a warm smile.

"Wedding party!" Pinkie screamed out as she swung on a swing hanging from nowhere while flinging party confetti everywhere.

Ignoring the party pony, Cora took Night in a tight embrace. Night smiled as she wrapped her forelegs and wings around the griffon.

"Well, in that case, I would be honored to host the ceremony," Celestia offered as she stepped forward. "I'll begin preparations immediately."

"We can take things slowly, Celestia," Night countered as she let Cora go. Celestia smiled at the use of her name without her title.

"May I suggest some propper accommodations?" Twilight offered as she stepped up. "A humble home in Ponyville doesn't seem appropriate for you now."

"Nonsense," Night retorted. "I'm not royalty."

"You might as well be," Cora stated. "All alicorns are royalty."

"Princess of what?" Night asked. "I have no land of my own. No country to rule."

"That could change with time, Night," Crystal offered as she stepped forward. "This could be the beginning of a new dawn. One where all the Muneris are united again. With you guiding us all to a brighter future." Crystal bowed her head.

"But, I don't want to be a monarch," Night countered.

"Those who seek power are least deserving of it," Celestia said. Night looked at the alicorn. "Those who deserve it don't seek it. You have demonstrated how you are willing to put others before yourself and now you are stronger because of it. I can think of no one better suited to guide your equines to unity." Night looked at the ground. "It is unlikely you will undertake this task alone. Cora has already pledged to be at your side from now on. My sister and I will be more than happy to help in any way we can."

Night looked at the others, who all smiled at her. Could she possibly ever go back to her old life now? She was a new breed of equine separate from the Equestrians and any of the Muneris races. Night looked at Cora, who inclined her head with the same determination as before only with a hint of pride and joy in her face. Night knew she could always count on Cora. Even now, after all that has happened, Cora would still be there.

"Alright," Night said to Celestia. "If this is what I'm meant to do, then I will do it."

Author's Note

I'm calling this chapter of Night Wing's story complete. Until I come up with some more for her story, that's it for now.

Thank you for your interest in reading.