The Muneris Pony

Night Wing and Cora chose to relax by the lake for the day. After their first meeting with Zecora in the Everfree Forest, Night wanted to seize every opportunity should could to talk to Zecora about the Murneris and the lost knowledge she somehow had.

"How do you think Zecora knows so much?" Cora queried as she lay on her back in the sunlight with a set of shades on.

"I don't know," Night answered as she lay on her belly in the grass with her chin on her forelegs. "Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around that rogue Sirenum dzod." Cora blinked as she lowered her shades to look at Night with a raised eyebrow.

"It's not like you to let your tongue slip like that," Cora observed. Night only lay there staring at the grass as she pondered Zecora's words. "Wow! She's really got your head in a twist, hasn't she?"

"Hm?" Night asked as she finally glanced at Cora. "Sorry. I can't stop thinking about Zecora's warning." Cora sat up in place as she watched her oldest friend lay on the ground.

"Muneris are the kindest creatures I know," Cora observed. "What are the chances of any of them being rogue?"

"There's much we don't know about our history," Night observed as she sat up. "Much of what we know is only based on legend. It's only been the last few centuries we started recording our history."

"Even so," Cora interjected, "there's nothing to suggest any of the Muneris have gone rogue before."

"That's one part of it that concerns me," Night piped up. "If past Muneris have gone rogue before and we have no record of it, how will we know how to fight it?" Cora watched Night as the Muneris sat there pondering the whole idea. It was rare to see Night Wing so fixated on an idea, especially one as unlikely as a Muneris being rogue.

"Maybe we can go talk to Zecora some more?" Cora suggested. Night looked at Cora with a soft smile.

"Later," Night answered. "Right now, we're taking the week off, and today is the perfect day for the lake." Night adjusted herself to lay on her back so the sun shined on the black coat of her belly. Cora smiled at the pegasus before a shadow covered the two. Both Night and Cora looked up to see a pink cloud. Night sat up to look at the cloud. "Hold on a second," Night exclaimed. "Clouds aren't pink."

Both night and Cora stood up just as a familiar technicolor pegasus flew it. "It's not supposed to rain until tomorrow!" Night and Cora watched as Rainbow Dash fought with the cloud in vain. The only result was getting covered in cotton candy while the cloud began to rain chocolate milk.

"What the -" Cora shook as the chocolate slashed over her coat. "Clouds don't rain chocolate milk either!" Night stepped out of the rain as she pulled Cora to the side. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Night answered as she looked around. Pink clouds dotted the sky, sprinkling chocolate everywhere. Night spotted another pegasus trying to fight with the clouds. "Excuse me?!" Night called out. The pegasus stopped to look at her. "What's going on with the weather here?"

"I don't know," the pegasus answered. "Nothing like this has ever happened before!" The pegasus resumed fighting with the cloud. "We gotta get this under control!"

"Cora," Night called. The griffon looked at her friend. "Do you think you could help them out since I can't interact with clouds?"

"I'm not leaving your side, Night," Cora stated firmly.

"But, they could use all the help they can get," Night protested.

"Not a chance," Cora countered. "You're my priority, nothing else."

"You're a pain, sometimes," Night observed with a smile.

"Whataya gonna do?" Cora smiled.

Night and Cora flew back into the town just as the cornfields began to pop popcorn. "Hey, Night," Cora called out, "Can you conjure a bucket for a snack?" Night stopped midflight to glare at Cora.

"Seriously?" Night snarled. "Everything's going into chaos and you want me to conjure a popcorn bucket?"

"It's popcorn!" Cora insisted. "That stuff's good!"

"Pinkie Pie's rubbing off on you, Cora," Night observed as she continued flying. Night and Cora noticed Rainbow Dash gathering the clouds as they get lassoed in place by a rope used by the orange earth pony, Apple Jack. Soon after, a bunch of malformed animals rushed towards the clouds.

"What the -?" Cora queried as she watched the animals begin devouring the clouds before a burst of magic flew through the air. Everything returned to normal. "I guess everything's alright, then," Cora observed before the chaos immediately returned.

"Never speak too soon, Cora," Night huffed as she continued to fly around the town.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Cora asked as she followed Night.

"We need to find out what's going on here!" Night answered as she flew through the streets to find the chaos spreading further. The roads became replaced with soap as the sun descended below the horizon in a second before being replaced by the moon.

"Qjyd ngu vex'g?!" Cora exclaimed as she looked up.

"Cora!" Night protested her choice of words.

"Is now really the time to worry about my language?!" Cora countered. "It's high noon! It's too early for it to be dark!" Just as she finished her sentence, the sun rose again. "What's going on?!"

"Come on!" Night called out. "Maybe Zecora knows what's going on." Night began to fly toward the forest before a cloud blocked her path. Night tried to fly through it only to get covered in cotton candy and chocolate milk. "As much as I enjoy sweets, this is not cool!" Night protested as she tried shaking off the candy.

"Hey!" a familiar male voice called out. Both Night and Cora looked up to find blazing flying in from the clouds above. He helped get the candy off Night by brushing his wings against her form. "I wouldn't bother trying the Everfree," Blazing explained as he finished brushing Night off. "I've already tried getting in there. The clouds block me every time."

"So, how are we supposed to stop this stuff?" Cora asked as she looked around and the growing chaos.

"Twilight and the others are headed for Cansterlot right now," Blazing explained. "I think the princess summoned them so they could help get this all under control. Though, I don't know how since Twilight's magic already failed."

"Wait," Night interjected. "That was Twilight's magic earlier?"

"It was," Blazing inclined his head. "She had some kinda failsafe spell that failed."

"Twilight's the best magic wielder I've ever seen!" Cora observed. "If her magic didn't work, how can anything stop this?!"

"There is no stopping it," a disembodied voice chuckled in the air. Blazing, Cora, and Night all looked around in a panic.

"Who's there?!" Cora called out as she held up her claws as if ready for a fight. Only defiant laughter filled the air in response.

"That voice sounds familiar," Night observed. Blazing and Cora looked at Night.

"What?" Cora queried.

"There's something about that voice," Night answered as she looked left and right for the source of the voice. "As if I've heard it before, but I don't know from where or when."

"Maybe someone you met as a filly?" Blazing observed.

"If that thing is the source of this chaos, Night would have nothing to do with it!" Cora countered. The chuckles filled the air again, making the three look around with concern.

"And what would a griffon know about the affairs of a Muneris?" the voice queried. Night blinked at the mention of her race. Cora snarled as she resumed a battle-ready stance. Blazing splayed his wings out as he readied himself for the worst.

"How do you know about the Muneris?" Night asked.

"How could I not know about you?" the voice asked as a tall, slender creature with the head of a pony and the body of all kinds of creatures appeared before them. "After all, the Muneris are almost as old as I am!"

"Who are you?!" Cora barked as she held up her closed claws as if ready for a fight.

"Down, kitty!" the creature snorted as he snapped the claws of his eagle-leg limb. In a flash, Cora was transformed into a full lioness. Every aspect of her eagle half was gone. Night stared at Cora with wide eyes as Cora cried out in horror.

"Qjyd ngu vex'g?!" Cora screamed out. "Opu roim!"

As Cora panicked at her new form, Blazing and Night stared at her in sheer shock. This strange creature used transformation magic to make a griffon into a full lion without even breaking a sweat. Night looked at the creature with a furrowed brow as she realized if this creature could cause so much chaotic magic with ease, transforming other creatures would be as easy as flipping a coin for him.

"Change her back!" Blazing barked as he jumped at the creature. The creature snapped the claws of his eagle limb and Blazing's wings vanished. With practiced agility, Blazing managed to land on his hooves. "My wings!"

"Now, we don't want you starting a fire, do we?" the creature observed.

Night Wing watched in awe at the way this new creature dispatched Blazing and Cora with effortless ease. This entity was no ordinary magical creature. His power rivals that of the alicorns. What chance did any of them have against something so powerful?

"Who are you?" Night asked calmly and confidently.

The creature placed a lion paw over his chest as he stretched his eagle claw out to the side and lowered his head in an elegant yet crude bow. "Why, I'm Discord! The Spirit of Disharmony!" He smiled at Night. "And it's quite the pleasure to see not one, but two Muneris in Equestria so soon after being trapped in stone for so long."

"Wait, stone prison?" Blazing asked as he blinked. "You look just like a statue back in Canterlot. The statue of chaos."

"Well, aren't you the bright one," Discord observed as he suddenly appeared behind Blazing, picking him up and giving him a noogie. "Not surprising, given your talent of fire." Blazing kicked his way out of Discord's grip in vain before Discord finally dropped him to the ground with a thud.

"What do you want?!" Cora hissed at the draconaquus.

"Me?" Discord queried as he placed his paw over his chest. "Want something? Now, why would I want anything when such wonderful chaos is all around us?!" Discord spread his arms out to the sky as more of the chaotic magic changed the area. Some of the buildings became cardboard cutouts. The roads became soap. More cotton candy clouds filled the sky.

"Enough!" Blazing barked in protest. Discord chuckled in delight.

"Oh, but chaos is such a wonderful thing!" Discord sang.

"This isn't how things are supposed to be," Night calmly observed as she took a step forward.

"And I suppose a Muneris is an export on such things," Discord scoffed as he folded his arms. "As I recall, it was the ponies who wanted things to change because they hated how things were "supposed to be" and the Muneris were the result of that."

"What do you know about the Muneris?" Night asked.

"The appropriate question is what don't I know about the Muneris," Discord corrected with a smirk. "After all, they wouldn't exist without me."

"What?!" Night blinked.

In that moment, Night's mind was filled with questions about her kind. About her past. What did this creature know about Muneris and how was he involved? So many questions that likely will not be answered now.

"To think, after a thousand years trapped in stone, I encountered not one but two here in Equestria," Discord observed with a smirk as he looked over his claws.

"Two?!" Cora hissed as she rushed to Night's side. "Night's the only Muneris in Equestria!"

"Are you sure about that?" Discord countered. "Equestria's quite a large nation full of all kinds of creatures. For all you know, there could be numerous of all three kinds of Muneris out there. Exploring new worlds. Buying homes. Making families." He paused as he smirked at Night and Cora. "Seeking more power."

"Muneris are peaceful ponies," Night countered.

"Oh, to be so young and so naive," Discord observed as he stretched an arm.

"Don't listen to him, Night," Cora protested. "That thing is only trying to get under your coat!"

"See for yourself," Discord stated as he snapped his claws. In a flash, they were in a completely different area. Traces of chaotic magic scattered all over the area, but not nearly as severe as in Ponyville. From the looks of it, they were by the sea just south of Baltimare.

Blazing, Cora, and Night Wing looked up to find a white stallion with black hair looking around in frustration. Night immediately took notice of his lack of a cutie mark and the red gem on his forehead. The stallion caught sight of Night Wing and smirked.

"Well, well!" he observed as he trotted forward. "I planned on saving you for last, but since you're here." He grabbed Night by the cheeks and pressed his gem against hers. Cora roared out and bucked the stallion in the head, knocking him to the ground. Discord burst out into laughter as the stallion got up with a growl. "Why, you!" the stallion charged only to be stopped short by a cage that appeared around him.

"That's enough out of you," Discord stated as he clapped his paw and claw together as if brushing off dirt with a smile on his face. Night stared in confusion at the Muneris in the cage.

"Who are you?" Night asked.

"Well, that's enough of that," Discord said as he snapped his claws and they all returned to Ponyville without the other pony. "You'll have to find some other time to get together," Discord smirked and chuckled.

"Who was he?!" Night insisted.

"Oh, look at the time!" Discord cheered as he looked at a non-existent watch on his wrist. "I have an appointment with Princess Celestia and her prized pupil!" He smiled at Night and the others. "Do enjoy yourselves in this wonderful chaos!" With that, Discord vanished.

"Wait!" Night called out as she began to fly off.

"Night!" Cora grabbed her friend with her forelegs to keep her on the ground. Both slipped on the soap roads with a wet thud. Blazing rushed up to help them to their paws and hooves.

"Night, calm down," Blazing instructed. "There's nothing we can do about it right now."

"That was a Muneris with no wings!" Night protested.

"And he wasn't friendly!" Cora added in frustration. "What was he trying to do to you?!" Night broke free of her friends and rushed toward the Everfree forest.

"Night, wait!" Blazing called out.

Just as Night got to the edge of the forest, a flood of chocolate milk splashed all over her, knocking her off balance and forcing her to crash on the ground. Blazing and Cora rushed up to help Night off the ground. Night shook her head in disgust. The chocolate splashed off her mane onto Blazing and Cora.

"Are you okay?" Cora asked.

"I'm fine," Night answered as she looked up to find many more clouds ready to prevent any pony from entering the forest. "We gotta think of something!"

"Calm down," Blazing interjected. "We're not gonna figure anything out if we don't keep our heads on straight."

Just as Blazing said that, a bunny with a literal spinning head hopped by them. Blazing, Cora, and Night watched the critter with wide eyes.

"That was a poor choice of words," Blazing observed.

"If we don't figure something out soon, I'm gonna flip!" Cora proclaimed as she looked her black lioness body over. "I don't how much longer I can stand being just a lion!"

"Twilight's in Canterlot right now," Blazing said as he looked toward the capital city on the mountain to the north. "Maybe when she gets back we can ask her if she knows a spell to change you back." Blazing looked at his back to where his wings should be. "And if she knows any way to get my wings back."

"You're pretty chill about all this!" Cora observed with a growl.

"I've encountered a lot of things over the years," Blazing countered. "I may have a soft spot, but I've learned how to keep my cool in tight situations."

"So, what can we do right now?" Night asked as she looked around the town. Everything was engulfed in chaos. The basic structure of the town remained, but outside of that, nothing was recognizable.

"Well, the forest is out of the question, and it seems like only Night can fly," Blazing observed as he looked around. Night spread her wings.

"I'm going to Canterlot!" Night declared. Before either Blazing or Cora could protest, she kicked off the ground and flew directly toward Canterlot.

The flight toward Canterlot was not an easy task with all the chaotic magic in the air. Cotten candy clouds kept flying in Night's path. The night and day cycle came and went in bursts instead of a steady pace. The smell of soap occasionally flooded her nose, throwing her off balance. Night fought through the chaos with pure determination until she arrived at Canterlot Castle.

Despite the chaos, only a small number of guards patrolled the area. Night Wing landed and galloped toward the main gate. "I need to see Princess Celestia!" Night proclaimed. "Ponyville is in chaos!"

"Who are you?!" the guard barked as he stood at the ready for Night's approach. "No pony may enter Canterlot at this time!"

"My name is Night Wing," Night answered. "I was invited by the princess a couple months ago for tea. Ponyville is in desperate need of her help now!"

"I'm afraid the princess has more important matters to attend to at this time," the guard answered as he softened his stance. "The Spirit of Disharmony, Discord, has broken free of his prison and is spreading chaos across Equestria."

"Don't you think I know that?!" Night countered. "His magic has completely overtaken Ponyville! My friends are in trouble, and we need the princess' help!"

"I understand your concern, Miss Wing," the guard calmly countered. "I can assure you, the princess is doing everything she can to get the situation under control."

"What about Twilight Sparkle and her friends?" Night queried. "Aren't they here to help?"

"As I understand it, they left a few minutes ago after Discord showed up," the guard explained as he looked toward the gardens. "I don't know what's going on with them." As he spoke, Night made a blindfold appear over his eyes and she rushed past him into the castle. She ignored any protests she heard coming from the guard as she ran into the castle and through the halls.

"Princess Celestia!" Night called out as she rounded a corner where she crashed into a tall alicorn mare with a dark blue coat and flowing mane that sparkled like the night sky. Night groaned and rubbed a hoof on her head as she looked up to find the Princess of the Night looking down at her.

"Young Night Wing?" Princess Luna observed. "Why are you here?"

"Princess Luna?" Night asked as she looked up at the alicorn. "Please, forgive me!" Night pleaded as she stood up and bowed her head. "I was looking for Princess Celestia."

"My sister is currently in her private quarters," Luna explained. "I have not seen her so determined for over a thousand years."

"I need to see her," Night declared as she stood up.

"It would be best not to disturb her at this time," Night countered as she looked down at the Muneris before her.

"But--" Night began to protest.

"I am well aware of your worries, Night Wing," Luna countered as she held up a hoof. "But, Discord is no easy foe. Not even my sister and I together could stop him without the power of The Elements of Harmony."

"Elements of Harmony?" Night queried as she looked at Luna.

"Ancient and powerful relics that have been used to thwart evil in many forms," Luna explained. "With their magic, my sister and I stopped Discord many moons ago by trapping him in stone." Luna looked out the nearest window. "Somehow, he has broken free of his prison."

"So, use them again!" Night ordered. "You've done it before, you can do it again!"

"The Elements of Harmony are no longer in our possession, Night Wing," Luna countered. "Only Twilight Sparkle and her five friends can use that power."

"So, where are they?" Night asked as she looked around.

"From what my sister told me," Luna began as she looked at Night, "Celestia called Twilight and her friends here to use the Elements against Discord. But, he took the Elements and hid them away. Twilight and her friends are trying to find them right now. We can only hope they make it in time."

"Wait?! What do you mean "in time"?!" Night asked in a bit of a panic.

"I may have chosen the wrong words in that statement," Luna observed with closed eyes. "As long as Twilight Sparkle and her friends remain true to their Elements, they will be able to stop Discord, no matter how far his magic spreads."

"But, what about everyone else?" Night asked.

"No pony will be harmed," Luna answered calmly. "Discord only wishes to spread his chaos. He has never driven any to death or permanent harm." Luna looked at Night with a soft smile. "Your friends will be fine." Night let out a sigh of relief at Luna's words. "In the meantime, I suggest you return to Ponyville where you can be with your friends in these hard times."

"But, what about you and Princess Celestia?" Night asked as she looked up at the princess.

"My sister and I will be fine," Luna assured. "After so long without my sister, I refuse to leave her alone again." Night watched Luna as he spoke with such conviction that it gave Night the spirit to keep going. Night smiled at the princess before bowing her head.

"Thank you for your words, Princess Luna," Night respectfully offered before bolting back down the hall. Luna watched Night leave with a warm smile on her face.

"Perhaps my sister is right about you, Night Wing," Luna softly said to herself.

Night ran through the halls of the castle before finding a door out. As soon as she was outside the castle, she kicked off the ground to fly back toward Ponyville to the south. The journey back was even more of a challenge than before with Discord's magic spreading even further. Night Wing managed to find her way back to Ponyville, which was completely engulfed in Discord's chaos. The chaos spread to the ponies too. Some acted like dogs digging at the ground with their forelegs while others floated with the air with derped eyes.

"Cora!" Night called out as she landed on the soap road. She slipped a bit before she regained her hoofing and looked around. "Cora!?" Night called out. Soon after, a black lioness tackled her to the ground. Night looked up to find a wild animal ready to enjoy a new toy. "Cora, snap out of it!" Night cried out as she used a hoof to slap Cora in the face. Cora went wide-eyed for a second before shaking her head.

"Night?" Cora queried in confusion. Cora helped Night back on her hooves. "First off," Cora began before pulling Night into a tight hug, "never fly away from me again!" Cora huffed as she held onto Night closely.

"I'm sorry," Night offered. "I got desperate."

"We really need to work on that," Cora observed as she finally let Night go.

"There you are!" Blazing's voice called out. Night and Cora looked to find him galloping toward them. "I just saw Twilight and the others going to Discord's throne!"

"That thing has a throne?" Cora asked as she raised an eyebrow.

Suddenly, a bright rainbow shot into the air and spread all over Ponyville. The rainbow shined brightly as Discord's voice could be heard in the distance before being silenced and all his magic disappeared. The bright lights faded away and everything in town reverted to normal. The buildings were restored. Ponies no longer acted like animals or aimlessly floated around. All the cotton candy and popcorn was gone.

Blazing's wings were restored as Cora became a full griffon again. Both glanced at each other before they looked at themselves. Blazing smiled as he gave his wings a good flap while Cora sprang into the air with a loud cheer. Night let out a sigh of relief as she saw everything returned to normal.

"Now, that's more like it!" Cora exclaimed as she landed next to Night with a proud smile. "I'm never taking my wings for granted again!"

"I can't say I've never loved my wings more than I do now," Blazing observed before he blinked and took off toward the forest.

"Should we go with him?" Cora asked.

"I want to go check on Twilight," Night answered. "Zecora knows how to handle the forest and Blazing is family." Before Cora could say anything else, Night kicked off the ground and flew toward where the source of the rainbow came from. Cora followed close behind with no intent of letting Night get away from her so easily again.

Night and Cora soon found Twilight and the others with warm smiles on their faces. Twilight wore a gold crown with a gem shaped like her cutie mark while the other five wore necklaces with their individual cutie marks on them.

"Twilight," Night called to get their attention.

"Night, Cora," Twilight smiled at the two. "Thank goodness you're okay."

"What happened?" Cora asked as she looked at the six.

"We kicked some Discord butt!" Rainbow Dash proudly declared as she clapped her forehooves together.

"It weren't easy," Apple Jack added with a blushing smile on her face. "Discord had his magic all over all of us."

"Wait a minute," Cora interjected. "How come Discord's magic didn't affect you?" Cora asked Night as she raised a brow. Twilight and the others looked at Night in confusion.

"It didn't?" they all asked in unison.

"I guess it didn't," Night observed as she looked at herself. "I don't know why."

"You think it has anything to do with what Discord said?" Cora asked.

"We can't trust anything he said," Night countered with a glare. "He was a spirit of chaos. He was only trying to get a response out of us."

"But, what about that other Muneris?" Cora countered.

"Other Muneris?" Twilight piped up as she took a step forward.

"Long story," Night answered. "And, I don't want to talk about it right now." Night looked between them all with a soft smile. "Look, I'm glad everyone's okay."