Fractured

Dawn woke up and stretched. Outside the tent the sky was still decorated in starlight. She chuckled to herself as she heard a loud snore come from Scootaloo’s side of the tent. She snuck out of the tent and stepped into the chilly nighttime air. Winter was coming fast to the mountain range they now camped on. The Ever Free rebellion had been on the run for what felt like years. They constantly moved from place to place, trying to stay out from under the Queen’s relentless hunting.

Dawn had been moved into a different tent has soon as she had started training with the rest of the militia. She still saw her mother often but now they seemed separated.  Luna had been quickly drafted into a leadership roll almost immediately after arriving, and now ruled the small resistance network.

To her right she noticed a flurry of activity surrounding the medical tent. She crept closer, trying to blend with the shadows as she walked. Outside of the long tent two guards stood watch. Dawn noticed Applebloom pacing back and forth in front of the tent, occasionally trying to get a peek inside, only to be blocked by one of the guards.  She looked to be on the verge of panic.

Dawn stepped from the shadows and rushed to Applebloom’s side.

“What’s wrong ‘bloom?”

Applebloom looked both surprised and grateful to see her. Dawn pulled her close.

“What’s wrong? Something’s obviously bothering you.”

“Thank Celestia you’re here Dawn! Applejack’s getting her back fixed but I’m just so nervous, and the guards won’t let me see her!”

“But Applebloom, that’s great! You should be happy for your sister! She could be walking in no time!”

“I know I should feel happy, but look where we are! I’m just real nervous that they can’t do it right up here. I mean, she should be in a hospital or somethin’! Not some old tent.”

Dawn stepped back and put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

“Applebloom, you know that the doctors are going to do the best they can. They’ll fix her up, you’ll see.”

Applebloom pawed the ground nervously.

“I sure hope so.”

Dawn tapped her hoof thoughtfully before she came up with an idea.

“Come on ‘bloom, I want to show you something.”

Applebloom turned back towards the tent in protest but Dawn scooped her up in her magic and started walking away.

“Don’t worry Applebloom; Applejack will still be there when we get back. Besides, it’s something really cool I found in the back of the caves.”

Applebloom stopped protesting enough that Dawn put her down. They both trotted past the perimeter guards who acknowledged them a silent nod. They quietly entered the dark entrance to the cave system. The excavators said that the caves could go on for miles. They were slowly being converted to accommodate the growing population of rebels.

Dawn lit her horn and approached what looked like a blank wall. She dismissed the illusion and walked into the smaller tunnel. Behind her Applebloom asked

“So what is it?”

Dawn smiled to herself.

“It’s a surprise; I can’t tell you what it is. But, I will tell you that it’ll make a great get-well gift for Applejack.”

They continued to walk in the dim light of her Dawn’s horn until Dawn spotted the intersection she was looking for. She turned to Applebloom.

“For this to be a complete surprise, I have to get rid of the light, okay? I’ll lead you through the tunnel.”

Applebloom looked unsure for a moment then shrugged her shoulders.

“Sure, why not?”

Dawn smiled and let the light on the tip of her horn die. Making sure Applebloom kept up, Dawn led her through the tunnel until she could feel a light breeze on her face.

“You ready?” she asked.

“Well don’t keep me waiting.” Applebloom said impatiently.

Dawn relit her horn, and then expanded the spell until the entire cavern was visible. Applebloom let out a long whistle. She took a few steps forward, neck straining as she tried to take the entire place in.

Crystals lined the walls and the ceiling of the cave. The light spell shined off of dozens of different colors. A clear stream ran through the center of the stone floor, adding a slight bite to the chilly air. Dawn waited with a grin on her face while Applebloom took it all in. Applebloom turned back to Dawn; her eyes reflecting some of the crystals.

“I have to say, this place does look really nice, but do ya think she’ll like it?”

Dawn nodded. “Imagine yourself in her place, you haven’t been able to move for years, but as soon as you can walk you get brought here! I promise, she will love it.”

Applebloom sighed. She plopped down on the floor and took her Stetson off. She held it in her hooves for a moment before looking at Dawn.

“Ah’m sorry, it’s just… How can you be so happy with everything right now?  Between the war, and living out here… How do ya keep so… ah don’t know… innocent?”

Dawn sighed and sat down next to Applebloom. She should have seen this coming.  She leaned back on her hooves and stared at the ceiling.

“Can I tell you a secret Applebloom?”

Applebloom cocked her head and nodded slowly.

“Sure, ya can tell me anything.”

Dawn took a deep breath.

“I know this will sound crazy, but… Every night I’m visited by a dark blue pony. He teaches me to fight, how to develop battle strategies; all sorts of helpful things.”

“Ah don’t see where this is going.”

Dawn sighed again.

“He also gives me advice and tells me all about what’s happening in Canterlot. He gives me details on attacks, where defenses are.”

“Well that sounds really helpful. I don’t see any problem with it if the stuff he’s givin’ you is true.” Applebloom said.

Dawn looked Applebloom in the eyes.

“I think he’s one of the Queen’s guards, alright? I can’t tell if he’s a spy or if he’s trying to break free or what, but I can’t trust him and I don’t know how to keep him away!” Dawn shouted

Applebloom flinched slightly and laid back on the cool cave floor. She thought about it for a second before asking,

“Have ya asked yer mom yet?”

Dawn’s ears flattened and she looked away.

“I don’t want her worrying about me. I can take care of myself.”

“Dawn look, ah know you want to be grown up and help out, but trust me, not lookin’ for help when ya need it ain’t the way to go. Yer mom cares about you, and she doesn’t want ta lose you. Ya shouldn’t push her away. She used ta be a princess fer Celestia’s sake. She’s gonna want ta baby you; its just natural.”

Applebloom sat up and put a hoof on Dawn’s shoulder.

“You’ve grown up a lot in these past couple months, but yer still a little filly in her eyes. If ya want, I’ll come with ya when ya ask fer help. She won’t try and baby you in front of me, so ya got nothin’ ta worry about, okay?”

Dawn snorted lightly.

“How did we go from a present for Applejack to me and my mom?”

Applebloom put her Stetson back on and helped Dawn get to her feet.

“Ah don’t know but it helped me get mah mind off the surgery though.”

Dawn smiled

“Yeah I guess it did.”

Applebloom draped a leg over Dawn’s shoulder.

“C’mon, lets go see if their done yet.”

The pair left the cave behind, the light slowly dying as they moved farther away.