Twin moon

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 2: Trials of the Sun
Chapter 3: Daughter of the Moon
Chapter 4: First Impressions
Chapter 5: The Cutiemark Crusaders (Part 1)
Chapter 5: The Cutiemark Crusaders (Part 2)
Chapter 6
Chapter 1: Innocence

Prologue

Twin moon

Luna looked to darkening sky, as she had done many times before.
She closed her eyes and felt for the familiar source of energy. The moon’s power, its arcane presence as powerful as the sun and yet more subtle. This was a notion that only she and her sister knew.
As she felt the moon, it embraced her once again. She flapped her wings and took the skies once more, carrying her moon with her, its glory reaching the skies and bathing the evening with the pale luminescent glow.

She smiled. It was good to be back, to experience the vividness of the world. Though she had initially been feared everywhere she walked, the ponies were once again warming toward her, thanks to the efforts of her sister and the Royal staff. Despite the original disapproval of the population, her reputation grew; especially after word of her antics during the nightmare night celebrations. That particular night had reminded everypony that Luna was no longer Nightmare moon. For that she was eternally grateful to Twilight Sparkle, her sister's protegee.

Not only did the purple prodigy saved her from her madness, but she had also begun Luna's path to redemption in the eyes of the equestrian population and herself. She had to admit, she was glad that night went well.

“Do you believe that the ponies will ever love you with your sister around?! “a dark and very familiar whisper rang inside her head, one she had thought rid for good. It's dark presence filling the room once more.

"No", Luna thought in denial to herself, "you... but we... they... you... you shouldn't be here! They destroyed you!" Luna stammered.

The Voice chuckled harshly, "My my Luna, you never change, do you? So weak, so naive... Did you really think that the elements can destroy me? Foolish. They failed to rid of me once, now they have failed again." The Nightmare laughed. Looking at the surroundings, she noticed a photo of Celestia and Luna smiling together.

"Do you truly believe that your cancerous sister truly wanted you home, to share her power in harmony? No, she will betray you the moment you turn your back" The nightmare hissed the last word.

"SILENCE YOUR LIES DEMON" Luna screamed at her tormentor.

"Oh luna, luna, luna, you will never forget about us" the creature taunted. "After all we are one, you created me after all."

Luna lowered her head.

"No..." she mentally berated herself over and over again, as painful memories were slowly forcing their way into her head. Tears threatened to come, but she continued defiant of the monster. "Never again nightmare. Fly back to whatever hell spawned thee and leave this realm," Luna asserted as she flared her horn, seeking the source of the evil. "The elements may have failed to destroy thee, but i will have no such mercy. SHOW THYSELF COWARD!" Luna screamed in fury at her tormentor, her voice amplified by unrestrained energy and her eyes glowing. The room darkened and raw arcane powers were summoned while she searched for the evil.

The nightmare laughed, “how predictable. I see that you are too blind and knaive to see the truth. I will have to find another if you don’t want to rule along me. But no matter, Equestria will be mine, princess of the night. Mark my words, I will return for you and you shall be ours once more. We shall bring eternal night, even if you have longs since given up the notion” With the sentence dictated, the voice faded away once more. She slumped to the ground, exhausted. Slowly the room regained its normal appearance, showing a thoughtful alicorn.

It had been almost 11 months since she had returned from her millenia long imprisonment. She remembered very little of the times precluding it. However, the last night before her madness was ever present on her mind. She had been angry at her sister, convinced that Celestia had turned their beloved subjects against her and her night. She remembered her dishevelled mane and tiredness from days without sleep. She had been crying.

There had been a voice, a power thirsty spirit, who praised the glory of her night; who painted a world with its words, of a reality without the restraints of the Sun where she could unleash her potential. It told her of the weakness of her sister. It told her how easily she could overcome the treacherous Sun as the voice came to say, "She is turning Thy precious subjects against thy beautiful night, the little ones will never love thy work. All their love, leads to Thy sister."

At first she resisted the voices, making up arguments to discourage herself.
But from one moment to another, she relented. It happened, in that fateful night...

*knock, knock*

the sudden banging on the door broke her contemplation.

"Luna?, are you alright? I heard you shouting," her Sister's melodious voice rang through the door.

Silence.

"Hello? Sister?” she waited for an answer before pushing forward. ”Alright I’m coming in, excuse me but something is wrong."

Luna quickly straightened up and quickly wiped her eyes mustering a forced smile as the door creaked open gently with the aid of glowing magic to reveal a very concerned Celestia. "Sister! what a pleasant surprise, we did not expect thee to be up this late tonight. Yes we are fine, please allow us to return to... our... duties" Luna paused for a moment and looked guiltily at her older sister, whom simply raised her eyebrow.

"Sister, I am tired of you ushering me away every time something troubles you. There is no need to hide your afflictions and pretend life is going fine. I thought your last experiences would hep you to overcome that. I know you don’t want to talk, but you should know that I am always here for you."

Luna slumped, not daring to look at her sibling. "I can be said we are not precisely fine... We are not quite sure if we can bear the problem by ourselves, but neither if we can speak about it," she said hesitantly.

"Please dear sister, whatever it is on your mind, let me ease it!" Celestia answered tenderly, walking to her sister and nuzzling her gently.

Luna looked to her sister and sighed "Celly, you promise to see me the same way you have been seeing me the last months?”, she asked, ”despite all that had occurred, for that we thank and trust you."

Celestia remained quiet. Her calm face expressed concern.

Luna continued, “the nightmare just tried to return to us, reliving the dreadful emotions we felt long time ago. Thankfully it was evident to both that she could not win then, so it fled, avoiding its defeat. However it warned me before departing. It said it will make its return soon, and that Equestria will fall, as well as me." Luna shuddered, uncomfortable of remembering the creature's words.

"Then we shall be ready," Celestia said, sparkling confidence. "We shall have the royal guard on alert and have the elements of harmony ready. I have lost you once sister, and I am determined never to lose you again."

Luna was perplexed. Her sister made look washing away her fears a trivial task. She herself looked at her sister in respect, for as she had spoken, Luna again had found a spark of hope. "You are with me now. That is all that matters. Nothing will ever make me despise you dear sister, no nightmare is ever going to take you again especially when we are once again together. The power of love shines over the faults we have made."

Despite the holes she could poke on her sister’s assurance in the outcome, Luna was moved by the trust and affection Celestia had for her. Lost for words, she embraced her sister.

Never again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was going to die. There was no denying it.
I felt my flank press back against the back of the cave as the dragon's eyes bored into mine.
It walked ever closer, each step trembling with power that shook the very earth itself.
Nowhere was left to run.

Here I was, an newly graduated archaeologist from Canterlot university, a scholar, on a field trip which went wrong. I was about to become a hearth's warming meal for an very angry dragon. I knew I had shattered the dragon's prized gem, but how was I supposed to know it would react negatively to a simple levitation spell?

I knew crying was useless, but what would you expect me to do? Though I might have excelled in the magic academy, I was not even near powerful to teleport to safety, let alone fight the dragon.

What would Daring Do do?, the thought roamed through my head, almost certain of my destiny.
At least the rest of my team made it,l I guess this is the end for me.
I closed my eyes and braced for the end. The shaking of the ground had stopped. The air grew hotter as the dragon's exhaling increased the temperature. My heart was pounding fast.

Tears and sweat flow mingled down. I really hope my mother and father can cope the loss,This is no way to die, especially on Hearth's Warming Eve! I hope they remember to feed spotty, I rambled out of nervousness.

“It doesn't have to end like this, you know.”

Huh? Where did that voice come from?
I looked up. There was nothing but the dragon.

“I can make you great, as powerful as the moon itself.”

I was shocked. “Wait, What!?”

“Submit to me and your name shall pass down the legends,” the voice lied.

" I just want to see my family again, I don't want to die!" I cried out.

“Oh you shall. However you must answer a few questions. Do you want to live?”

"Y-yes of course..."

“Do you wish to have the power to grasp the Stars and moon.”

"Yes... If you say it."

“Do you wish to become the Ruler of Equestria?”

"I don't care, I just don't want to die!"

The voice paused.

“In exchange for your life, do you submit to me?

"Oh for Pete’s sake, just save me! I say YES!" I screamed out to the voice.

I felt something foul enter the base of my head. I screamed as my head felt like it was on fire. Pain inflamed my entire body as I it grew. Surprised, I felt something tore free from my sides. My brain drowned in to numbness. Before I blacked out I felt the voice speak once more.

Good choice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dragon looked at the little pony in confusion. It had been talking to itself before screaming, before suddenly growing quiet . It had grown wings and it's bright brown coat had turned pitch black. It also growing in size. How quaint. Now it stood back up and looked as though it was going to fight. "All the more fun" the dragon thought in anticipation.

It gave the small dark creature a toothy grin and lunged forward, it's meal long overdue, only to have it's jaw gripped by an unseen force, as cold as the void.

Unbreakable.

The dragon felt something it hadn’t felt in a long time.

Fear.

The tiny creature began to laugh, eyes glowing, and the dragon felt something plunge into his chest, tearing life out of him, his legs and wings buckled, crumpling into a heap, it's flesh dissolving to reveal a skeleton behind.

The nightmare let out a long and harsh laugh as the dragon's soul flowed into it, adding to it's already tremendous powers and walked toward the cave entrance. The moon greeted It. Wings expanding to their full glory, the creature flew off towards it's next destination. It sensed her weakness.She is angry with her sister once more, this will be simple, the nightmare smiled to itself.

Time to reclaim what should have been mine. One thousand years ago. , the creature thought to itself happily before taking off into the snowing sky.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today was Heart’s Warming Day. Ponies filled the auditorium, reunited to celebrate this holiday again. A play was being performed by the renowned ponies who freed Luna and trapped once more Discord. It was on the final act.

"...and soon this new land came to be known as EQUESTRIA!" The entire auditorium hall burst into applause. They began to sing the ancient carol of the past, re-igniting the passion and magic which had originally brought the three tribes together. Little did they realize that when such unity and harmony is brought together, ancient energies of harmony, as powerful as the elements of harmony themselves ignite the air. The heart of friendship, imperceptible to most ponies, warmed the air and created an barrier against hatred, pain and evil.

As tonight was once such night, such power rejected the darkness of nightmare which was quickly approaching.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Nightmare approached her destination, certain of her forthcoming victory.This was too easy for the Nightmare, she would had stopped to think if she didn’t knew Luna’s mind. She was too predictable for her own good.

Snow was falling on Canterlot while the nightmare floated there, searching for Luna. Discerning between hundreds of ponies, she It felt her in the Canterlot Theatre building. She flew to the ceiling, prepared to launch the attack.

No.

It wasn't possible, nothing should be strong enough to do that except.
It's eyes widened, remembering what this night signified. This was the night it should have avoided.

"Celestia, you slime!!" The nightmare screamed in rage. "I'LL GET YOU, I’M GOING TO TEAR YOUR HEART FROM IT'S ROTTEN SHELL, I'll...“ The nightmare paused, sensing power coming near. It was strong, it burned. How was the Nightmare cheated so easily?

No... NO!!!!
It watched in horror as a purple flaming heart filled with the energies of friendship advanced.

It cursed it's luck before screaming in hopelessness and frustration as the giant flaming heart engulfed it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun princess levitated a cup of peppermint tea.
She detected a familiar presence approach then. So subtle at first, but it became stronger and stronger as it drew near. That is, until it stopped.

Celestia smiled smugly to herself. "Just as planned." She felt the presence struggle and vanish progressively.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The nightmare screamed kicking it's hooves in frustration.”I shall take my revenge!”

It's death screams echoed eerily, as it's essence was ripped from the body, though no one could hear it, it's pain drowned out by the carols of friendship.
All across the Equestria that night, not a single pony could explain the sudden feeling of euphoria and release. It's screams were silenced.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna levitated her abacus as she worked on the nation's new salt tax.

"Current nation 's GDP is around 1.12 trillion bits with an income distribution of around 0.54..."

Luna adjusted her red secretarial glasses and rubbed her eyes.

"...if we insert this tax, not only will it lower cases of drunkenness, but it will raise the nation's income by-"

Luna paused. She felt a terrifying aura approach. It remained there for a minute, and then disappeared mysteriously.

Alarmed, she straightened up, preparing to teleport to Celestia's room. She pictured her sister’s room in her mind and watched it materialize into her view.

"Celly, I suspect the nightmare is back! we-"

"No dear sister, it's gone now " Celestia said, casually lifting a teacup to her lips and sipping.

"B-but how??"

Celestia put the cup down. "That night when you told me of the nightmare's return, I knew that it would ensnare an unlucky pony to use as an avatar, before coming for you to drain you of your powers and possibly reclaim your body. If it had succeeded, I would have been powerless to stop it."

"However, it had forgotten that there are magics as strong as the power of the elements themselves, ones which only appear when there is great harmony amongst all creatures, one within nights as tonight: Hearth's warming eve."

"But dear sister how in our father's name did it not detect the magic of friendship in the air?" Luna asked.

Celestia smiled smugly to herself "That was easy, all I had to do was to hide the magic permeating in the air by amplifying negative emotions felt by ponies waiting in queues for this hallowed eves infamous shopping night specials."

Luna could not believe it, her worst enemy had just fallen into the oldest trick in the book. However it still didn't answer all her questions.

Then again she did remember her irritation at the crowds in Canterlot's retail district, one pony had even complained to her being in line for eight hours.

"Praytell dear sister, did you directed Nightmare Moon into the heart of friendship!?"

Celestia smiled smugly and answered, “yes, I did, little sister. It was a simple case of creating another illusion. I simply replaced the heart with an illusion of you crying, and the nightmare went straight for you. The amplified stress made it believe you were upset with me again, and It thought it had sensed an opening in your heart, much like when you had turned back then. As a result it had sensed this opportunity and gone straight for you."

Luna winced at that memory, however she pushed it back in "So is it gone now?"

"Yes dear sister, it will never hurt you-"

A shockwave of dark power exploded nearby, shattering glass and cracking the wall of the room.

The two royal sisters looked at each other, gasping at the magnitude of such power and at once galloped and flew off for the source.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight sparkle lifted her cup of hot chocolate and took a deep drink. She smiled giddily. Tonight's performance was such a success, everypony loved it, she giggled, remembering the glory of the crowd's ovation, the success leading them top celebrate in Pony Joe's, a favorite and private place for the elements of harmony to relax whilst being in Canterlot.

She looked over the table; Pinkie pie, Applejack and Rainbow dash were locked in PonyJoe's donut castle plate challenge. It determined who could devour the most donuts and stack up the plates without them collapsing. Pinkie, unsurprisingly, was winning, her uncanny ability to devour whole plates of donuts in a single gulps easily beating the two.

Rarity and Fluttershy were conversing as usual,Twilight didn't really care what they were saying.

"As I was saying Fluttershy, those Crowds adored us tonight, I mean, we simply were smashing!"

Fluttershy simply smiled and nodded in agreement to the fashionista whilst sipping into her jasmine tea.

A snore drew Twilight's attention to the ground. Spike, her draconic assistant lay asleep with his paws around an half-eaten donut. Oh Spike you have been up all night again, Twilight thought to herself and she looked tenderly at the baby dragon. You were an amazing narrator tonight little brother. Sleep tight.

The night was nearly over, but there was one thing left to do. Twilight's horn glowed and a parchment, quill and ink materialised.

"Ahem. Dear princess Celestia", Twilight said out loud as the quill began to trace her words. "Today i learnt that lessons learned thousands of years ago, can be applied to everypony today. This is especially true today as-"

Suddenly a dark and impossibly strong wave of pure magic passed over Twilight, causing her to lose her concentration. Ink jar shattering on the floor.

Rarity, whom seemed to notice nothing, raised an eyebrow. "Twilight, is everything alright?" However twilight didn’t answer and simply bolted through the door. The elements gave each other confused looks before galloping off after her.

Pony Joe watched as the six dashed off and shook his head. He added the fare of the Donuts to Twilight Sparkle's Tab and proceeded to clean up the dishes. A snore from under the table drew his attention. He sighed and went to grab a blanket. "Kids will be kids", thought Pony Joe as he cleaned around the sleeping dragon.

Chapter 2: Trials of the Sun

Thank you to Mrminimii and Kaddence whom edited this chapter
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am floating in darkness once again, images and voices flashed before me.

The night will last forever.... a cackling voice fills the silence, I realize it came from me.

The darkness fades, I’m in a stone room laughing, corpses littered the floor around my feet, when suddenly The Shining One bursts in through the door.

Luna! What have you become? The Shining One gasps in horror.

The scene changes again. I am in a classroom full off colourful ponies, an elderly cream mare with white hair points a blackboard.

Now, who can tell me what happens when magic comes in contact with an Null gem?
Anyone know the answer?
No-one?
She looks to me.
What about you?

The Walls of the classroom begin to peel, to reveal the stone walls of a cave.

A Dragon looms over me from where the teacher was. Broken crystalline fragments lay in front of me.

“What have you Done!?”, its voice thunders

The Dragon roars in fury.
I try run for my life, but to my horror, I am still on the same spot.
My legs were moving, but I was not.

The dragon looks at me before lunging forward, It’s pointed teeth engulfing me.

I scream

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH”
I bolt upright, feeling the cold sweat on my face. I look around, I was in a large four-poster bed in a room with walls of stone and an large golden door. Sunlight was streaming in from ornate windows, and I could see a beautiful winter garden with a huge snow covered maze beyond it. I stretch before slumping back down on the bed in relief.

It had been a dream after all.

The Door creaks and the shining one walks in, again my gut feeling tells me to hide.

“Good morning little one, how are you feeling?”

I ‘eep’ and quickly dive under the bed covers.

The voice sighs.

"Little one, I'm not going to hurt you, please come out of those covers"

"No."

"Please, it's already midday and oversleeping is no good for a filly."

"Hmph, I don't care, I don’t like you." I pout.

The voice gives another exasperated sigh. "You've been sleeping all morning, aren't you hungry little one?"

"NO!!" I shout. However, as soon as the word leaves my mouth my stomach rumbles. I feel myself blush.

"Tsk. Tsk, my little pony, it's not good to lie, especially to yourself."

I jump from the sheets, "HEY!! Who said I was lie-woahh."
An invisible force lifted me from the bed and left me floating in midair.

"Hey! Put me down!" I yell,l but she chuckles and walks out of the door, along with me floating-struggling- indignantly behind her.

"...and here we are, the royal dining room." she continues as she opens the door.

"Hmph, whatever," I reply sulkily, my forelegs folded and eyes glaring daggers at the one whom dragged me across the castle. Curious eyes had followed us everywhere we walked; even the ones in armour, which I presume to be the guard, glanced when the Princess had her back turned. (That was obvious, now that she was one, as everyone addressed her that way.)

"Oh you’re so adorable when you’re angry," she laughs, adding to my frustration, as she places me down on a seat with an extra cushion. Even then only my eyes reached the side of the table.
The Princess calls out to two ponies in dresses. "Silver Platter! Caramel Cake! Please see to it that this filly gets a royal breakfast, Ponyville style... and an extra cushion... maybe two."

With that the two ponies gasp with excitement and dash off. I scratch my head in puzzlement, "What's a Ponyville style?" I ask. The Princess, smiling, simply points to the door and says "Look!"

My eyes widen as a cake taller than myself was wheeled in. “So much Frosting!”, my eyes tell my mind.
“As you ordered your majesty, a Quadruple Bypass, Ponyville Style.” Silver Platter bowed and backed towards the door.

“Please enjoy your breakfast.”

The Princess looks to me. “Well what are you waiting for my little pony?”

Celestia smiled herself as the little Alicorn leaped into the cake. "Test one completed Filly has shown non-reliance in Magic at this stage for basic matters such as eating.”

Celestia winced as a piece of cake flew by her head and splattered onto a painting of a duke, the Filly was flapping her wings inside the cake in excitement.

“and note to self, teach table manners.”
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

It was pure heaven.

I had eaten a hole through the base of the cake and the top had collapsed on me, but I didn’t care. The Mousse and foam of the cake was delicious, filling my mouth with melting pleasure with each bite.
The Chocolaty Goodness covered me. I giggled as I found my way through the cake, its chocolate walls parting.
Realising I was completely covered in cake, I shook, spraying icing and cake in every direction. Said Icing flew everywhere and splattered over walls, the furniture and the Princess, who gives me an annoyed look.

The Princess isn’t so scary anymore, in fact I'm starting to like her.

“Well my little pony, it seems we have made a fine mess of the dining room haven’t we?” She closes her eyes and her body flashes for a moment, all the cake which had been splattered on her vanishes.

I am levitated again. “HEY... I mean, your majesty, where are we going?” I ask as she once again carries me as she trots through the door.

“Bath. Now.” She says sternly to me as whipped cream drips down my wings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caramel Cake and Silver Platter bowed as the Princess left the room with a protesting and rather sticky alicorn floating behind her. As they enter the dining room, their eyes widen in horror. There was cake.
Everywhere.

Even on the chandeliers and ceiling. But worst of all, the Painting of Prince Blueblood.

The two maids look at each other before giving a sigh of resignation and trotting off to find a bucket, cloth, and a lot of soap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Splash*

I went bottom first into the bath, my wet mane covered my eyes. “Did I really need a bath, your Majesty?” I grumble. With that, I shook my head to clear the wet hair from my eyes.

“Please little one, just call me Celestia. Of course you do, you were dripping icing all over the palace, and that’s no way for a filly to be around in a castle.”

My eyes widen at the mention of her name. “Where have I heard that name before?” I think to myself, but my thoughts are interrupted as a thick flowery liquid was poured onto my head.

“Mr Dettol, see to it that this filly is clean and ready in twenty minutes. I plan to take her to the my school for gifted unicorns, for a little test. She will have to be presentable. I must attend to a few duties in the meantime.” With that Celestia leaves the washroom.

“This isn’t so bad,” I think to myself as Dettol begins his work
Then the scrubbing began. The Servant doing so, a stallion named Dettol, was doing a very good job of making me bald by his hooves.

“Ow.” I wince as I feel another hair pluck from my head. “Mr Dettol, um... could you please be a little gentler?” I plead as he begins to massage my scalp.
To my dismay, he shakes his head. “Sorry, Princess’s orders.” He continues with renewed vigour.

I trotted behind the Princess. Everywhere we had walked, ponies had bowed down to her, though as soon as she walked past, their curious eyes would stare at me. Though I didn't mind at first, it was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

I felt a chill as we exited the castle. Snow was covering the landscape.

“Your Majesty?,” I call to the Princess, “You said I was going to do a test. I was wondering what kind of test is it going to be”

“Oh it will be very easy for you, don’t worry.” she answers.

"Oh. Okay. But what are you testing me on?"

"Magic."

She stops mid track and looks at me. “Little one, do you remember your name?”
I seek in my mind for an answer, but nothing comes. “No,” I say whilst looking down at my hooves in embarrassment.
She looks at me with concern. “We can’t have you walking around nameless...hmm. Oh I know! how about we call you...Red Eye!”

I raise my eyebrow. “That sounds like a disease,” I answer, not amused.

Her eyes go to her head in thought. “Hmm. what about Cake Dancer?”

“....” “Is she for real?” , I think to myself.

“No. That sounds silly."

“Blue stars?”

“No...

“Red Moony?”

“NO, all these names sound ridiculous, your just making fun of me!” I pout.

She pauses again, eyes closed in thought.
After a long while she opens them and says “Dawn.”

“....I guess that’s okay”, I say. Well it did sound nice to me.

She smiles “Oh this name suits you perfectly.”

“How come?” I ask her, perplexed.

Unfortunately, she answers cryptically, “Oh you will find out my little pony, all will be revealed later.” I simply stare at her in confusion as we trot along.

With that, we approach a grand tower where a hooded figure stood waiting for us. As soon as the princess drew close he bowed, His spectacles hanging from his sagging ears. “Your majesty, please follow me. The test has been prepared.”
Upon noticing me he bows. “Ah! Princess Luna! I did not expect you to be awake at this time of the day, I see the shrink spell worked rather well?.”
I give him a confused look. “Princess Luna?”
He examines me, and something clicks in his mind. He gasps and turns to the princess. The princess walks up to him, leans down, and whispers something in his ear.

I can’t hear what they say. The hooded one looks shocked.

“So she is the one from last-?”
“Yes”

He bows once more, “I understand your highness, please follow me. Come along little one, Dawn, if i am correct."

I am staring at an round golden metallic egg. “So let me get this straight, I have to make it hatch. How the hay do i do that?” I ask the princess.

She replies “Try to focus and observe through your horn and sense a aura within the egg, then mentally grasp it. You would then need to imagine it growing, breaking from it’s shell.”

“Observe through my horn?”
“Close your eyes and watch for the colours around you.”

“Well that doesn’t seem so hard, here I go!” I think to myself.

I close my eyes and focus my mind around the egg. There it was an dark space around the egg, though i could see the aura. There was magic flowing everywhere around me, the Hooded pony displayed a faint glow, whilst the Princess was a blinding light. I gasp at my discovery, maybe this Magic thing is pretty cool after all. The egg emanates a green glow and there is something within it.

“There. Now I need to grasp it...” I think to myself and mentally reach out to the aura and grab it.

FsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssCRUNCH!!!

I open my eyes again, “What just happened?” I ask, my ears searching for the source of the sound.
The robed figure looks at me in awe. “Sweet Celestia,” he mutters, shaking his head, his eyes showed disbelief.

I glance to the Egg, it had been completely crushed, violet smoke exiting from it’s inner shell. Inside, many gizmo's and springs were poking out from the crushed sides, and what seemed to be crystalline fragments were smouldering a pink mist.
“Oops.”
I turn to Celestia, she is giving me a strange look, though her facial expressions quickly revert back to her usual smile. “It’s quite alright, you aren’t’ the first to do that.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celestia suddenly notices Dawn’s red eyes on her, examining her. Celestia quickly realises that she must have been staring at the crushed remains of the egg, and quickly smiles.

Celestia hated lying. But Dawn must not know how special she really is.

She hated especially doing it towards this new filly, whose trust she had just gained. Though this filly, Dawn, had just shown beforehand that she hadn’t relied on magic before, the way she had grasped it’s concepts and ‘completed’ this test was simply astonishing. There was no question that she lacked the finesse and mastery which Luna, her Student and she possessed, but the raw power she had just demonstrated was staggering.

The Egg itself, not only did she see right through the Null field which the egg emanated to the aura inside, but completely crushed what was suppose to be anti-magic material as if it didn’t exist. It was a feat only She, her sister and Starswirl the Bearded had achieved, and she was sure that Twilight, her own personal student wouldn’t be able to do that for at least another few years. Dawn had done this so casually at her age was concerning.

This egg had been made specially at her own request the night before. Any unicorn at Dawn’s age would have been disorientated by the Null field, let alone see through the field and crush it. Any unicorn whose even had a chance of seeing past the field must have at least mastered teleportation, and in Equestria, a skill only the most learned or powerful can even hope to achieve.

“Test two completed. ‘Dawn’, has shown immense power and potential in terms of magic, though she lacks visible control over it. To her it is a concept which is completely new, and yet she had grasped it so naturally after one attempt displays that she is an extremely fast learner. Hmm.. definitely No magic kindergarten for this one, she would be a danger to everypony around her.”

“What just happened?” Dawn asks, her eyes filling with worry. Upon noticing the ruined mess of the egg, she hangs her head guiltily. “Oops.”

Celestia forces herself to smile. “It’s quite alright, you aren’t’ the first to do that.” She looks to her examiner.

Starry Quill, her chief examiner was simply staring at the remains of the egg in shock, and she knew he would remain as such for a long time.
Dawn trots up to the examiner and gives him a slight poke with her hoof.
He is unresponsive.

“Is he going to be okay?” Dawn asks with concern. Celestia Nods, “Don’t worry my little pony, Starry Quill here has been like that for many years, he’ll snap out of it soon.” She walks to the door.

“Come Dawn, this test was a little too simple for you but I must say, I’ve only ever seen someone with your raw abilities at your age once.”

“So I did pass right?” the little alicorn asked, hopeful.
Celestia smiled “Oh Dawn, you passed with distinction.”
Dawn beamed at this compliment.
“In fact, you did so well, I believe you deserve a treat!”
Dawn’s ears perked at the word treat and began to bounce behind Celestia

With that, they make their way back down the tower.

“Well at least she didn’t break the roof.” Celestia thought to herself as she trotted down the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as the footsteps became quiet, Starry Quills broke out of his catatonic stupor. He looks around, realising that the two were already gone.
"Fascinating...", he breathed, “There has been nothing like this since her majesty’s protege had caused a baby dragon crash though the tower’s roof."
"I do not care what the princess said," he says to himself. "That filly is definitely related to Luna herself. It's the only explanation for their shared appearance and her vast powers. Ooh the others are going to love this!" He chuckled darkly. “Time to call in the mob, they are going to pay handsomely for this piece of dirt.”
Starry Quills proceeded to clean up the mess, all the while, he pictured the all the bits piling up on his desk. Maybe his trip to Stalliongrad would be possible after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hum tunelessly as I bounce behind the princess. “Today was amazing! First I wake up and get to meet the princess, then there was cake, she gives me a name, then I had passed that test with Distinction!”

I giggle to myself happily.

What’s more she gave me this awesome purple ribbon as my treat!

Said ribbon was now tied to my mane.

“I wonder what will happen next” I wonder to myself as I bounce along behind the Princess. We were once again approaching the royal gardens. Snow was falling ever so gently.

The Sun was beginning to set, its light was casting a reddish glow over the castle. The lights further away in the city were beginning to come to life, the first signs of the night.

“Princess Celestia?”

“Yes Dawn?”

“Your my favourite Princess Ever!!”

She smiles at this compliment.

“Oh come on now, my little pony, I want you to meet someone.”
I stop bouncing. “Who?” I asked curiously.

“The other Princess, my sister. If you would excuse me Dawn, I need to lower the sun. Just stay here for the moment.”

With that she unfolds her wings and her horn began to glow.

It was a magnificent sight. With her wings spread in their full glory, she effortlessly took to the skies until she reached the top of the sun. There, her horn flashed and she began to descend gracefully, the sun followed her silhouette as she descended. As she touched the ground in front of me, the sun had completely set.

“Wow.” I breath. “That was amazing princess!”

However she simply points her hoof to the sky once more and says “Look!”
My eyes follow the direction and I see a figure take to the air. The figure glows and the round form of the moon takes off with it. It flies higher and higher, the moon arcs with it. When finally I see a shape, similar to the princess herself though slightly smaller.
The figure descends.

The Sun Princess looks up and greets the figure. “Good evening Little Sister.”
The Lunar Princess returns the gesture. “Good evening Big Sister.”
My eyes widened at the sight of the Lunar Princess.

It was her.

“Mommy....”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 3: Daughter of the Moon

Luna, wings spread looked intently at the filly beside her sister. “She looks exactly like me, save
the eyes.” Luna thought to herself.
The filly seemed very excited to see her, her red pupils wide and full of love, seemed to bore into Luna.

“Mommy...” The Filly whispered.

Luna whom had not quite heard her said “Pardon little one?”

“MOMMY!!!”

The dark blue filly launched herself at Luna and before she could react, had wrapped her hooves around her neck. Luna shocked, was unsure what to do. She looked to her sister, whom simply nodded, her magenta eyes informing Luna what to do next. She looked down at the filly hugging her, felt her heart soften and returned the gesture.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was her!
As I embraced her, I felt her neck stiffen, then loosen. I feel her nuzzle me.

"Little one, what is your name?, I look up into her light blue eyes.

“Dawn.”
She lowers her neck and I hop off. “Dawn, We wish to ask you something.”

“Yes mommy?”

She sighs, and sadness enters her eyes. However she immediately straightens her posture. “Dawn, what do you remember before today?”

I was surprised by her sudden question. Doesn’t she know me?

“I..I’m, not sure...” I strain to access these memories.
Nothing comes at first. However, like someone whom had opened a floodgate, they began pouring into my mind.

I’m on a lonely star-filled wasteland. The other one is crying.
I am furious at her. I take over.

Princess Celestia is flying with me. We take many loops and rolls through the air when suddenly she is engulfed by a ball of fire. My eyes trace to the source. A strange creature is laughing, it echoes in my mind.

I am standing over Celestia. Gone is her magical chromatic mane, it has reverted to an unhealthy looking pink. She is lying unconscious, covered in cuts and burns. Tears stream down my eyes as I yell in defiance at the Insane embodiment of chaos. Before I can react, he grabs my horn, ever laughing. My world grows black as something cold enters my mind.
I Hate Him...
He Will Pay For What He Has Done To Her...

“-awn? Are you alright? Dawn? Dawn! Wake up!” Celestia yells

I blink in confusion. Suddenly I feel an urge to protect the princess. “NO, HE WILL NOT HURT YOU!” I yell, much to her surprise.

“Who is trying to hurt me little one?” Celestia asks in surprise.

“Him! The one who won’t stop laughing. That weird dragon guy!”

Suddenly, she is very quiet, “And what was he doing Dawn?”

“He..he threw a giant fireball at you and then you fell from the sky and then he was going to hurt you even more and I wouldn’t let him!”

Luna, whom was quiet the whole time asked. “Dawn, did you feel hate for him?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer. “Well..umm...I kinda wanted to hurt him real bad...”

Luna looks to me and smiles, “Don’t worry Dawn, that evil monster is long gone.”

I feel myself relax a little. “How? he was so strong he hurt you!”

With that, the two princesses look to another once again.
“Dawn, we will show you what has become of the monster tomorrow. The Sun has set, it is scheduled to snow for another 5 days, and we don’t want you catching a cold at night.”

I protest, desperate for this link to my memories. “but-”

“No buts little filly, come let us have something to eat. It’s getting late.”
With that I humph in dissatisfaction, and begin to follow the Princesses back towards the castle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celestia was deep in thought on the way back. “Little sister, this little filly has attained some of our most earliest and darkest memories. Is this when her conscious had begun it’s infancy?”
Celestia mentally spoke to her sister.

“Dearest sister, when the mad creature Discord had wounded you so badly, I had never felt the compulsion to protect someone so much. Just looking at your wounded form made me want to hurt him back tenfold, and I refused to leave your side the entire time. However when he had touched my horn, I felt another presence form in my mind.” Luna replied.

“Luna... I believe that this Entity was born out of retribution, and love. It had evolved into the Nightmare after I had dejected you. However, I think the events of yesterday night have reverted it back to it’s original form.”

Celestia reached her conclusion.

“Sister, this Filly truly is your daughter. Before it was nothing more than a dangerous doppelganger of your darker side, bent on eternal night. Now, she is drawn to you, innocent and carefree. Alicorns are beings of living magic, and such magic can be formed with extreme emotions by beings of extraordinary power. She was part of you, now independent from you. It’s the only way to explain her shared memories and her attachment to you.”

Celestia paused for a moment.

“We must be careful not to repeat the mistakes of our past, lest we cause another millennium of grief and regret. She is powerful, but she is now no more than a child. We must treat her as such and provide her with a proper and loving childhood.”

Luna looked back towards the filly.
Dawn was sulking quietly, however upon noticing Luna looking at her, she smiled.
Luna smiled back and mentally replied to her sister once more. “I guess you’re right, but how do we tell the our subjects of Dawn?”

Celestia smiled at her sister.

“Leave that to me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are again sitting in the royal dining room. This time though, the servants Silver Platter and Caramel Cake are giving me strange looks.

I look to the princesses excitedly, “Ooh! What’s it going to be this time? More cake?”

I giggle as large trays with shining covers were pushed in. They are placed in front of us.

My eyes widen in glee as the covers are lifted....

Only to see a single olive in the middle of the trays.
I slump down, enthusiasm levels dropping to non existence. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
I ask the Princesses.
Luna giggles whilst Celestia shakes her head. “Dawn, do you remember what had happened at lunch time today?”

I scratch my head. “We had awesome cake?” I answer in confusion

“No little filly,” Celestia says, her tone suddenly becoming terse, “Today you had successfully managed to splatter cake all over this room. Not only did you manage to get it over the walls but onto the ceiling and paintings which decorate this room. It is not fair to the servants whom had to clean up after you.”

“But isn’t that their job?” I ask

“It is little filly, but one must be more considerate for others, otherwise nopony would care about anypony else apart from themselves,” she answers. “If that were to happen, we would live in a very cold and unfriendly world.

My face blushes as I realise that Silver Platter and Caramel Cake were glaring at me. T
“That’s why now little filly, I want you to eat this olive, without using your hooves,” Celestia continues.

I stare intently at her and suddenly realise what she wanted me to do. “Umm.. You want me to use magic to eat that.”

“Yes.”

I look at the lone olive before me in it’s over-sized platter.

I mentally reach out to the olive, and grasp.

It explodes, spraying the juice all over the table.

I hear the two servants sigh and exit the room. They return with more trays, this time with an assortment of fruits.
I look in dismay at what had just happened. “I didn’t mean to do that... please don’t be mad at me!!” I cover my eyes with my hooves.

My fears, however, were quickly brushed aside by the sound of laughing.
Luna was rolling on the floor laughing. “Ooh she is just so adorable, you made her believe that making a mess whilst eating is a serious offence!”

Celestia shot her an annoyed look. “Luna, please at least try to act responsible.”

Luna sat back up onto her seat and noogied me. “Oh don’t worry Dawn,” she said in amusement, “You just need to learn to use the appropriate amount of force when using magic.”

“The appropriate amount of force?” I ask in curiosity.

“Yes Dawn. Now try to pick up this lemon softly....”

My left eye began to twitch, my mouth was contorted into a grimace. My patience, completely gone. “So I have to grasp it gently... then...”

The grape flattens mid-air, juices spray everywhere.

“AAAARGH!!!! FORGET THIS!!! I’m not even hungry!!” I yell out of frustration.

Before me, the table was covered in the crushed remains of over 15 types of berries and fruits. The Princesses simply levitated their cutlery around their food with expert ease, much to my dismay.

“Oh my she is an angry little one,” Luna remarks with amusement.

“Indeed she is little sister,” Celestia says whilst sipping a cup of tea, “but so were you when you were just a little filly. I remember that I had to force you to eat alfalfa when you were around her age”

Luna shot her an annoyed look. “But that’s because you never ate it yourself, and it tastes horrible!” she retorted.

With that Celestia grins and levitates the green leafy vegetable her mouth and begins chewing.

Luna’s eyes widen. “Don’t do it Tia.”

Celestia turns to me.

“Bleeeurgh ALFALFA MONSTER” she says, pulling the silliest face she can. I giggle at the silliness coming from a normally sensible princess.

Luna facehoofs.

“Really Tia? After one thousand years, you’re still doing that?!”

I grin as I pick off a stray piece of the same green vegetable with my mouth. I chew and wince at it’s bitter taste. However I see Celestia wink to me and I understood what needed to be done.

We both turn to Luna at the same time, “BLEEURGH ALFALFA MONSTER!!” we shout in unison whilst pulling the silliest faces we could.

Luna, overcome by the silliness of the situation starts laughing. “ Eeeeeew no! Oh Dawn, not you too!”
We all laugh together.

Celestia however stops laughing and says. “Dawn, you still need learn to use magic to eat properly.”

“But It’s just SO hard,” I complain, “all those berries and fruits keep exploding as soon as i grab them with magic!”

Celestia thought for a moment.

“Hmm Dawn, how about you try to picture this apple as a cute little bunny and you need to gently lift it?

A red apple floats in front of me. I mentally reach out for it.

I gently hold it this time. It doesn’t explode much to my joy.
Now to bring it to my mouth.

“Okay. Cute little bunny... Cute..Little..”

The Apple catches fire.

It’s ashes fall to the table, leaving gray streaks.
Silver Platter and Caramel Cake just shake their heads.

“WHAT??!!” I yell in outrage, “How was that even possible?”

Luna falls of her seat laughing again.

Celestia gives me an odd look. “Bunnies made you think of fire!?” she asks incredulously

“No..I..what...I don’t even know that happened.” I look glumly at the ashes. “Oh forget this, I’m never going to be able to eat properly with magic.”
With that, I plant my face on the table in defeat.

“Hmm. Dawn, pick up this fork.” Celestia says. A Gold inlaid fork floats up near me.

“What’s the point, I’ll probably melt it or something,” I say glumly.

“Oh Dawn *gasp* don’t give up so easily *gasp* everypony is like that on their first *gasp* go!” Luna says on the floor, out of breath.
I raised my eyebrow. “Really?”

Celestia nodded, “Oh yes my little pony, the first time I attempted to use magic to eat, I ended up burning down half a forest...”, Celestia says with a hint of embarrassment.

“Now please my little pony try to lift the fork with your mind.”

I do so. The fork now levitates in my grasp. “Now try to pick up something you like with the fork.”
I move the fork towards a slice of pineapple and push in, though it goes a little too far, the tip of the fork screeches against the platters.

Everyone winces at the sharp, irritating noise.

Celestia gives me a pained look and says, “Now levitate it in front of your mouth.”

I gulp. The fork begins to move slowly toward my face.

“Just a little closer..”

The pineapple slice stops in front of my face. Not trusting myself anymore, I lean towards the pineapple, close my eyes and took a bite.

It felt great.

The sensation of victory flowed through me as I savoured the taste of the fruit. The Sweet sweet taste of victory. It was awesome, so good I just felt like jumping for joy.

“Yeeees!!!” I cry out in joy and begin flapping my wings in excitement.

“yesyesyesyesYEEES!!”

“Dawn stop!!” Luna suddenly yells from underneath me.

I open my eyes and see a chandelier.

I realise I was very high up. I gulp.
I look down, fear overtakes me.

My wings lock.

I fall.

“AAAAUUUU-ooof!” something breaks my fall as I realise that I was being levitated once more slowly back to the ground. “Oh little Filly, we cannot stop watching you for a moment!” Luna chuckles, “Come on now Dawn, now that you can eat properly, let us enjoy a proper meal together.”

She Claps her hooves and a large garden salad is brought in.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Meanwhile near Canterlot University

Starry Quills hobbled towards the banging on his front door. “I’m Coming...I’m Coming..” He says with a tone of annoyance. “Who in Equestria could it be at this time?” He thought to himself. Whoever it was better have had a good reason for disturbing him.

“Who is it?” he called out to the door.

“Professor Quills? It’s me, Iron Hoof,” a low baritone voice called through the door.

Starry Quills opened the door. “Ah! Mr Hoof, please enter my humble abode, I didn’t expect you at this time of night. Please come in.”

The armour plated stallion walked in.

Starry Quills rubbed his hooves together. “So...tell me what you have seen”

The stallion took off his helmet and reported.

“Sir, The Princess’s have indeed brought in a filly, one which like them is blessed with a horn and wings, though she lacks mastery over either. This filly, several times throughout the night, had called Her Majesty Luna as ‘mommy’. Though I cannot say for sure if she is truly Luna’s daughter, the way they treat her and the way she acts around them is as though they are family. However as you had said sir, she bears an uncanny resemblance to Princess Luna except in their eyes.”

Starry Quills adjusted his glasses in delight.
“Please continue Mr Hoof.”

“As I was saying sir. Yes this Filly has potential to become once of the most powerful beings in Equestria, in both politics and magic, a possible third princess. It is possible that her Majesty will plan to raise her.” Iron Hoof stated.

Starry Quills materialised a bag of bits to the soldier. “Thank you for this Mr Hoof. As I promised. Three hundred bits, I’ll pay you another three hundred for your next report in two weeks.” The spy bowed and left the room.

Starry smiled to himself. “So we have a new piece on the board eh? Let’s see if we can make this piece move to our advantage.”

He moves to his work desk and continues his letter.

“-and that’s why, I believe that this new being ‘Dawn’, will be instrumental in our research and prove to be a boost to our funds. We have approached the gates many times, however that accursed three headed dog has driven us back after every attempt. We have tried everything on that dog, from magical bolts, tranquilisers, mercenaries, but nothing seems to harm it. We had find places to dump the mangled remains of the mercenaries, and worse, there was an inquiry into their disappearance which lead the detectives right to us. It was only through a memory replacement which prevented the detectives from exposing us, and those are extremely hard to come by.
Legends say ‘only the call of an immortal will the guardian of the lost submit’. The Other Immortals, the Princesses vehemently rejected our last request to enter the gates. However with her, I believe we can finally unlock the mystery of the Alicorn and the key to immortality and godhood.

We need to redirect our focuses to this alicorn. She is the key to the Gates of Tartarus.

Your Humble Colleague

Starry Quills

P.S: We need another shipment of Null Gems and Iridium. The last shipment was...crushed.
P.P.S: Call in the press. The story will fund our little vacation to Stalliongrad.

P.P.P.S: Message will self destruct in ten seconds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna floated the protesting filly towards her bedchambers. “Awww but mommy *yawn* I’m not even tired yet!”
Luna smiled. “Come on now Dawn, a young filly needs to sleep to grow up into a beautiful princess!”

Dawn’s red eyes widened for a moment. “Really? I can be a Princess too?”

Luna answered. “Of course you can, but first, you need a good night’s rest.”

Dawn was struggling to keep her eyelids open.

“But I want to be with you when you run...your...night...whatsit called again?” Dawn stifled a yawn.

“Night Court dear. Night Court is only for big ponies like me and Princess Celestia. It’s where we talk big Pony talk, and you are still too young for that.

Dawn protests sleepily. “..But..I am..a big..Pony..”

Luna chuckled as she opened the Filly’s bedroom door and tucked the filly into the bed.
“One day Dawn, one day. Now be a good pony and go to sleep.”

However there is no reply from Dawn, rather the slow rhythmic rising and falling of her chest.

Luna smiles. “Good night my little pony.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Celestia and I stand before a grotesque looking statue in the centre of the garden maze. It’s facial features were distorted in fear, and it’s back bent in an unnatural shape.
I gulp, despite it being a statue, it’s features seemed to stare at me.

“Ummm Princess Celestia, why isn’t mommy here?” I ask her nervously

“My sister needed to rest, Dawn. We should just be taking a quick look and getting out. It’s not safe even though he has been turned to stone also I need to go back to my day court very soon. I can’t afford to spend anymore time with you after this. I’m very sorry my little pony, but royal duty calls.”

My ears lower in disappointment. “Its..okay Princess, I understand.” I reply, downtrodden.

I walk up to the statue. “It looks silly,” I remark.

Suddenly a voice spoke, seemingly out of thin air and echoed around. “Good Morning my dear Celestia.”

I am startled and run behind Celestia. She stands firm, her expression hostile toward the statue. “Discord,” she says through gritted teeth. I cringe at his voice, his laugh still haunting me. I hug Celestia’s back leg in fear.

“Oh my, it looks like I scared the little filly there. Don’t be so shy, little one. I can’t hurt you. My, it’s so boring being stuck in stone all day, you’ve really outdone yourself this time Celestia, always giving me the harshest treatment. Why don’t you banish me to the moon like you did to your precious sister? At least then it won’t be quite as dreary as now.”

Celestia continued to glare at the statue. “I cannot allow you to roam freely, nor can I banish you to the moon, we both know you are too powerful and slippery for that. Also You left me no choice in the past Discord.”

The voice chuckles. “Oh Celestia, ever predictable. How boring,” he emphasised on the last word with distaste. “All I wanted was a little fun and a little chaos, but you use your elements to turn me to stone.”

Celestia turned to me. “Come on now Dawn, lets head back to the castle, I believe you have seen enough.” She lifted me onto her back and began to beat her wings.

Discord’s voice echoed out after us, full of spite. “Oh little Dawn, I pity your existence. She will abandon you the moment she can’t use you anymore. After all, she has been doing it for thousands of years! When that happens, oh little one, it will be hilarious Hahahahahaha!!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I grip her tightly as his laugh and words haunts me. We sail through the air, gradually getting higher as his voice slowly fades. The castle looms ahead and she banks gently, descending, the wind rushes though my mane. She lands gracefully on a balcony leading to a large bedroom. I walk slowly behind her as she enters.

“Princess Celestia?”

“Yes my little pony?”

“You're never going to abandon me right?”

She gasps at that question. “No Dawn, I will never abandon you, nor will my sister.” She nuzzles me gently. “Now forget that monster Discord ever existed. He cannot hurt anypony anymore. He was a liar and trickster. Never believe his words completely, after all, he is the evil spirit of chaos. He enjoys causing pain in others, that’s why he is imprisoned in stone.”

I break from her embrace though another question appeared in my mind. “So what are the elements?” I ask with curiosity.

“The elements of harmony my dear, they are the ponies who saved my sister and equestria from Discord” she replied.

“Who are the elements of harmony? They sound like awesome ponies! I wanna meet them!” I say, though more questions begin piling up.

Celestia smiled, “Come my little pony, I’ll tell you everything on the way to the Day Court. I want you next to me as I to announce you to Equestria.”

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, please stand for our co-ruler Princess Celestia!”

The large golden doors opened as Celestia walked in with a smaller Alicorn following closely behind. The Crowd immediately stopped bickering amongst itself and the room became dead silent as the princess made her way towards the throne.Though Celestia walked with her usual royal grace, the little filly was intimidated by the hundreds of curious eyes staring at her. She was trotting as close to the princess as possible, avoiding any direct eye contact.
The Curious dark blue alicorn continued to shy away from the staring eyes and eventually made herself by Celestia’s side. She looks to Celestia and whispers something to the Solar princess, whom looks back to the little pony and whispers something back. The little alicorn is quiet once more and sits by her silently.

The Princess stands and nods to a guard, whom walks in front of the throne and announces.

“Let the day court Begin!” With that, he stands aside in attention.

An Grey Stallion in a suit and tophat stands. “Your Majesty, who is this Filly?” Celestia recalled his name to be Money Jar, manager of the Equestrian Agricultural bank.

Almost at once many different ponies begin shouting to be heard, before Celestia could even open her mouth to answer. However the entire room began shouting with the exception of her guards. She looked to Dawn and says “Cover your ears”, the Filly acknowledges this and does so.

“MY LOYAL SUBJECTS, PLEASE WAIT YOUR TURNS AND ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS THIS GENTLECOLT’S QUESTION!” Celestia’s voice boomed.

Instantly, the shouting stopped. Whoever had worn a hat that day, had them blown off by the force of her shout. Several Ponies in the front rows had fallen over their seats by the sheer volume of her voice.

“Now that I have your attention,” Celestia continued, “Mr Jar, this little alicorn here is Dawn, and yes she is my Sister’s daughter.”

With that, murmuring within the crowds had begun once more.

“Who is the father?!” a voice rang out.
“Shoot!” Celestia thought to herself, she knew that question would have come, but so soon? She turned her head to Dawn, who was tense, trying to act as calm as possible. She was getting very scared by the noise. “Dawn, go to your mother’s room and wait for me there, this could get ugly.”

Dawn nodded and galloped off as fast as her little legs could carry her, and two armoured guards followed behind. The eyes and murmurs stopped followed her out of the room.

I pace around Luna’s room restlessly. She is there filling out a pile of paperwork. “
She will abandon you the moment she can’t use you anymore.”
Despite Celestia’s assurance, I still can’t help feel troubled by the monster’s words. “She has been doing it for thousands of years..”

“Dawn, what is troubling you?” Luna says to me, looking up from her desk.

“I don’t know mommy, that monster in the garden said that Celestia won’t care about me when I’m not useful anymore. I just don’t know if that’s true!” I respond heavily. Luna stands, she walks up to me and picks me up suddenly.

“Ummm.. mommy? What are you doing?” I ask with a hint of surprise.

I float toward her and she gives me a hug. “Oh Dawn, I can’t believe you let that monster get to your mind. My Sister has never abandoned anypony before in her life, she has simply had to act out of necessity, many times in her life.”

“What do you mean?” I ask

“You see Dawn, thousands of years ago, My sister and I have had to make many decisions for the good of Equestria. For example, there was a time when the Pegasi tribe had tried to take over Equestria by making it storm for two years straight. They had attempted to drown everypony whom could not fly.”

“What happened next?”

“We had to choose whether to save the Unicorns or the Earth tribe. In the end, we took a gamble to defeat the Pegasi General, and leave the two tribes to fend for themselves. It was a gamble which had thankfully worked, otherwise there would be no Earthpony or Unicorn left today.”

“But you and Celestia had saved everypony, what has this got to do with abandoning anypony?”

Luna looked at me sadly. “Even though we had saved everyone, both the unicorns and earth tribe were furious at us. They felt as though we had abandoned them for the sake of our own personal glory. It took nearly a hundred years of amendments by us before they even acknowledged our good intentions.”

“What about Discord, what did he mean that when he said that Princess Celestia has been doing so for thousands of years .”

Luna paused, and her eyes became distant.

“When my sister and I had cornered Discord with the elements of harmony, we could not use them against him. He had completely transformed the old capital city of Tartarus into his own personal hell and playground. There Discord was nigh unstoppable. When all seemed lost, one of the greatest and most powerful unicorns to have ever existed came to our rescue. It took the sacrifice of this pony Starswirl the bearded, whom sacrificed himself by using his own life force to cancel out the Chaos of Discord, thus weakening him.This provide us with a brief moment to channel the elements. As the life left Starswirl, we managed to trap him in stone, but Starswirl was past saving. His soul was devoured by the magics around him, and there was nothing we could have done.”

My eyes widen in understanding.

“Discord was defeated, but at great cost. Not only did we lose one of the greatest unicorns In existence, but we were forced to seal off the city. Everypony whom had once lived there were reduced to nothing more than mindless and sadistic creatures. We were forced to abandon them, for the good of all. Even now, after nearly two thousand years, the foul creatures are still trapped in there, writhing in pain and hatred. They are so dangerous, that we had to summon a beast of the Abyss, the Cerberus to ward off anypony foolish enough to enter from outside.”

“So you see why my little pony, why we had to do the things we had done?”

My heart felt as though a weight had been lifted. “I understand now mommy. I’m sorry for ever thinking this way.”

We embrace one another. “That’s okay Dawn, I would be thinking the same way if i was in your hooves.”

She looks down.

“There now Dawn, do you feel better?” I smile at her.

“I..I..Guess.”

“Now come Luna, go play by yourself, Mommy’s got a lot of work to do.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luna looked up from the latest report on the agricultural sector and smiled. The little filly was there immersing herself in her imagination with her old toys.

“Grrr I won’t let you take the cupcake kingdom if it was the last thing I do!” the filly said as she impersonated the voice of a dragon doll. “Very well you big meany, I will have to use the elements of harmony on you!!” she replied with the plush doll of Celestia.

Suddenly, the door to Luna’s room opened and a very distressed looking Celestia walked in. “Luna, I must speak with you for a moment. This is very important.” Upon seeing Dawn, her expression softens, she walks up to her and gives her a noogie. “Good evening little one, did you have fun today?”

The little filly quickly blushed as she realised that Celestia had seen her trying to impersonate her. “Yeaah.....fun!” Dawn replies nervously.

With that Luna walks up to Celestia, she whispers something in her ear, and they walk out of the room, shutting the door, leaving the curious filly behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as they had some privacy to themselves, Luna looked to her sister in concern. “What’s the matter sister, why do you look as distressed as though someone had turned your coat pink?”

Celestia sighed. “Have you forgotten little sister, the centennial dragon migration will occur in a few weeks, and this time the number of adolescent dragons present in this generation are absolutely staggering. Almost triple the previous century’s. We need to negotiate with their elders to control and teach these adolescents the value of harmony, and to stay away from Pony towns and forests. Otherwise we could be having an imminent state of emergency from their antics.”
Luna pictured towns and cities burning in her mind as unrestrained and impulsive adolescent dragons reigned free.

She replies. “I understand sister, but why do you need me?”

Celestia sighed “Last time I went alone to see the elder dragons, I almost didn’t make it back. I need your powers in case that the old ‘One Eye’ decides to treat us like a joke again.” Celestia shuddered at the memory.

“The Day and Night Court will be postponed for three days as we make this trip. Also as incompetent as the pony royalty is, I believe they would be capable of running the kingdom for three days without society collapsing on itself. “

Luna thought for a moment. “What of Dawn, we can’t simply leave her alone with the palace staff. Lately I’ve been hearing talk of someone within our castle whom wishes to test Dawn’s powers, and I am taking no chances lest they harm her, or she ends up destroying half the castle.”

Celestia thought for a moment when suddenly an idea ticked in her head. “We could send Dawn to live with my student for a few days in Ponyville! I’m sure they would love to see her, as we had whisked them away before they even saw had the chance to know her!”

Luna scratched her chin in thought, gasped then beamed at her sister. “Celestia you’er a genius! Not only will Dawn be in one of the most friendly towns in equestria, but the Elements of Harmony would be there to protect her! On top of that, she will be able to make some friends there instead of being trapped in a castle all the time! I’m sure your student will help her fit in as she did for me during Nightmare Night!”

Celestia smiled, “So it is settled then, dear sister, we shall send Dawn to Ponyville for three days.”

Luna smiled back. “This is probably for the best”

“Very well then Luna, let us tell Dawn of the good news”

They both return, but as they open the door, Luna’s eyes widen in horror. “My..room...”

Her desk was overturned, her carpet covered was covered in spilt ink. All her books were stacked into the shape of forts and several torn pages littered the floor. Luna’s stuffed toys were all over the place.

But worst of all, her abacus lay broken, its beads scattered all over the room.

“What happened to my abacus?” Luna asked in horror

Only one certain filly could have done such an atrocity.

“DAWN!!” Luna yelled, “Come out this instant!”

One of the book forts shifted and fell apart. The ink covered filly gave a nervous smile. “Umm..Mommy..hehe..this isn’t what it looks like.

Luna crossed her hooves and gave the filly a very harsh stare.

Dawn gulped. “uh oh.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ow! Mr Dettol, Can you please be *ugh* gentler” I wince as I feel another strand of hair pull free.
The Servant looks at me sternly. “I would, if ink wasn’t so hard to wash out of hair!” he replies.

I look to Luna, who looks at me sternly. “Mommy, please tell him to be softer, I’m sorry I messed up your room, please let me go with you on your trip.”
“No little filly, as a punishment for completely destroying my room and Abby, you will go to Ponyville where the Elements of Harmony are going to teach you lessons on how to be a good filly!”

Despite all the pain I was in, I manage to raise an eyebrow,

“Whose Abby?”

Luna suddenly blushes. “Anyway, so that’s why we have to clean you up now, so when you go tomorrow, you’ll be presentable.”

A towel scrubs forcefully across my head, followed by a full body blow dry. “All done your highness!” Dettol says with a bow to Luna and leaves the bathroom.

I am levitated once more. “Umm mommy, I know where my room is, I can walk there myself.”

Luna grins and continues to float me through the air.

“Hey! Are you even listening to me?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celestia chuckled softly as she watched as her sister carry off the struggling filly to her room.

She yawned, it had been two days since she had any proper sleep.
However there was one more thing to be done before she could allow herself the luxury of rest.

She closed her eyes and her horn glowed. Quill and ink materialised.

She floated a piece of paper and began to write.

To my faithful Student Twilight Sparkle,

As you know, the Centennial dragon migration is upon us, and the latest generation has a number of their young are tripled that of last century’s. As a result, Luna and I will need to take a visit to the elder dragons around Equestria to keep this new generation in line, lest they ‘accidentally’ burn down a few towns and rekindle a century of hatred between our races. Just read the old tome of “The War of Flames” and you will know what I am talking about.

I write this letter to you in regards of a much needed favour Twilight. The alicorn we had found together during Hearth’s Warming Day will be sent to your library for the duration of our trip. She needs someone responsible and well versed in magic to watch over her. Someone like you.

She is no longer evil, however be wary of her powers. Though she lacks finesse, she would have as much raw power as Luna or I. Keep in mind that she is not Nightmare Moon, and do not refer to her as such. She is now Dawn, a child who is still innocent and carefree, treat her as such.

However I have heard rumours circulating the palace that someone is out for Dawn, therefore, I will need the elements to be on their guard. It will be safer leaving her with you than the royal staff within Canterlot, for I trust you with my life.

Therefore I, Princess Celestia, put her in your care for three days whilst we begin negotiations with the dragons. See to it that this filly makes some friends and that she enjoys her time here in Ponyville, and that she masters her powers a little better. In addition, I would like her to attend classes for one day in Ponyville Junior school.

Yours Truly, Princess Celestia

P.S: She loves chocolate cake, perhaps your friend Pinkie Pie could indulge her there.

P.P.S: Though she has wings, she is afraid of heights. Make sure if that if your friend Rainbow Dash decides to teach her how to fly, that they go very slowly and easy at first

Chapter 4: First Impressions

Twilight Sparkle was livid. Her mane was wild, hairs sticking out of places, but her eyes had not begun twitching just yet. A sign which everypony in Ponyville was grateful for. Usually when that rare phenomenon occurred, the student of Celestia herself would do something drastic which affected everypony within a five kilometre radius.

“Oh Princess Celestia, why did you have to be so sudden?” Twilight thought to herself

Twilight had fallen asleep during her studies, and it wasn’t until the morning when she had received her letter. She galloped as fast as she could towards the Town Square.

Ponies were milling about their daily eyes, but their attention was soon drawn to the purple unicorn galloping towards a heap of used cider kegs.

Curious eyes followed her as she climbed on top of a barrel.

“*Ahem*! Everypony Listen up!” She shouted at the top of her voice.
The residents all stopped their activities and looked towards her.

“I had just received a letter from the princess informing us that a very important pony will be coming to stay here in Ponyville for three days.”

The Crowd murmured to themselves. What was the hurry? They always tidied the Town to royalty before, so why was she so distressed?

Twilight Continued.

“Therefore, the Princess’ V.I.P will be arriving in one hour, and I repeat, ONE HOUR!! So everypony will need to work with triple the effort to spruce up the Town! Well...? What is everypony waiting for?? GET TO IT!!”

With that, the entire town was exploded into action. Everypony rushed to either tidy up their appearance, their homes or rushed to find some sort of decoration to beautify the town. Mr Cake, whom was buying sugar from a local vendor cantered as fast as he could towards Sugar Cube Corner, he had a large order to fill, and Mrs Cake was still hospital, awaiting the arrival of their children, he really had no time to lose.

Rarity, drawn out of her boutique by the commotion, walked up to Twilight. “Oh Twilight!” She called out in her sing song voice. “Please do tell me what in Celestia’s name going on?”

Twilight did not seem to notice her.

“Oh Equestria to Twilight!”

Suddenly Twilight spun around, displaying a large and creepy smile on her face.

“Oh Rarity! I didn’t see you there! Everything is fine! the princess just told me that she has a very important filly coming to Ponyville and she will be here within the hour and I’m to watch over her! I’m going to make it right because I’m a responsible student and Oh hey Rarity! Did I ever say that I was a responsible student?!” With that she begins to hyperventilate.

Rarity facehoofed. Twilight was having another of her ‘panic attacks’. She sighed and laid a hoof and Twilight’s shoulder and looked into her crazed eyes. “Twilight, look at me deary.”

Twilight continued to hyperventilate.
Rarity pokes her. When that triggered no response, Rarity decided to forsake her manners for a very good, but troubled friend.

“TWILIGHT WAKE UP! “ Rarity yelled and shook the purple unicorn.

With that, some sense seemed to return into Twilight’s eyes. She blinked out of her stupor, however her eyes still remained panicky.

“Oh my gosh Rarity! What time is it now? Has the filly come? Is the town ready?”

Rarity shook Twilight. “Twi, you must really stop fretting over every little detail! It’s going to drive you crazy! Besides, apart from the parasprite incident, since when has Ponyville failed to greet royalty?”

Twilight’s breathing slowed. “I guess you're right Rarity, I’m sorry I got worked up like that. It’s just that I want to make an good impression for this Very Important Filly who is coming.”

Rarity raised her eyebrow, “Very Imp- Oh my Twilight, do you mean that filly we found in that crater during Hearths warming day?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, and her name is-”

Rarity ran off muttering, “Ooh less than an hour, and I do not have a gift for this filly, I’m a terrible Element of Generosity.” She disappeared back into her boutique.

Twilight viewed the activity around her. She had to credit the Ponyvillians.
In less than 10 minutes, ribbons had been put up, the aromas from baking for floating in the air. Rose was fixing the rose bushes, that strange hour glass cutie marked stallion was helping several earth ponies drag out a welcome sign.

However she needed to find a certain rainbow pegasus to clear the few clouds from the sunny sky. She sighed and looked to the sun.

“Around 45 minutes left. I can do this!” She thought in determination.

“Oh reminds me, I have to send a letter back to the princess as soon as Spike wakes up.”

Twilight hurried her way to sugarcube corner. “Mrs Cake is child rearing, so I’ll check up on Mr Cake and Pinkie to see if they need an extra hoof.”

Suddenly a Pink blur sped past, leaving a trail of flour behind and spinning Twilight around.

“Wooah~~” Twilight said dizzily as her perception slowly eased back to normal.

The Pink Pony sped back, a two bags of flour hung by her side, along with a bag of chocolate chips on her back.
“Oh hey Twilight! I heard you just announced that a very important filly was coming to town and I knew that we were going to be super duper busy today so I grabbed some flour to make chocolate cake! My Pinkie Senses told me that whoever is coming here loves chocolate cake, so I got some extra flour and chocolate. *Gasp* look at the time!, I gotta get makin, so I can start Baking!”

Twilight watched speechlessly as Pinkie Pie disappeared into the cake shop. It was often best to let Pinkie Pie do whatever it is she does.

“Oh...kay that leaves me Rainbow Dash...” Twilight thought to herself, as she squinted at the sky, looking to the clouds for the shape of that familiar rainbow pegasus who was probably still asleep.

She grumbled to herself as she began to look for the next pony of interest on her list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I grip Luna tightly around the neck in fear as the chariot soars through the sky.

“Dawn? Could you please stop hugging me so tightly? I know you’re scared, but you're choking me.”

I open my eyes and I see clouds parting and reform before the chariot, to reveal a forest and mountain before covering them up once again.. “Wow.” I breath in respect to the magnificence of the sight. I loosen my grip. “Huh, this isn’t so scary after all” I think to myself.

Suddenly, there is no more cloud the cloud parts once more, not to reveal another mountain, instead, a huge drop between us and the ground.
There is a colourful town in distance which was rapidly growing in size.

Upon seeing how high we were, my eyes widen in fear, and I tighten my grip once more and bury my face into her mane.

Luna sighs in annoyance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Phew! And that’s it! All done, well done everypony!” Twilight said as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

She watched as a golden chariot appeared from the cloud.

“And not a moment too soon,” she smiled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I feel a jolt as the chariot hits the ground, followed by vibrations caused by the the wheels along the ground.

“Dawn, you can open your eyes now, we are on the ground.” Luna says.

I cautiously creep my eyes open and notice that we had stopped in front of a bridge to a very colourful looking town. There was a large crowd before us, all whom had bowed down to us. However, it is the purple pony with the pink streak in her hair which catches my attention. Rather than bowing, unlike the rest of the crowd, she had walked up to the front end of the bridge.

“She has a very strong aura” , I think to myself, “Just like Mommy and Auntie Celestia, but she has no wings...”

Luna steps off the chariot imperiously and approaches the Unicorn. I trot closely behind, wary of this purple pony.

Luna however doesn’t seem to notice this as she closes the distance on the bridge beams. “Ah! Twilight Sparkle, tis a pleasure to meet you again!”

With that, the purple unicorn bows. “The pleasure is mine and Ponyville’s, Princess.”

She turns to me. “Hello! What’s your name?” she asks.

However, still wary of her, I shy behind Luna’s leg.

Luna looks back to me. “Dawn, you don’t have to be afraid of her, she is Twilight Sparkle, Auntie Celestia’s personal student!”

However I just end up glaring this ‘Twilight Sparkle.’

“I don’t like her.” I say, my body all tense.
Twilight shifts on her hooves uncomfortably, avoiding my eyes.

Luna, however gives me a very stern look.

I cringe under her gaze.

“Young Filly, Twilight Sparkle is the element of magic! She has been kind enough to let you stay here in Ponyville whilst My sister and I go on a mission! You will show her the respect that you show us, or so help me Dawn, when I come back, I’ll make you clean up the castle by yourself!”

I eep and look toward Twilight. “I-....I’m sorry” I say sheepishly with my head down.
Luna smiles again. “I’m terribly sorry about that Twilight Sparkle, but Dawn here needs to learn how to greet somepony properly. She isn’t this cold towards other ponies, but I think she was just a little scared from flying.”

Twilight bows. “It’s quite alright princess, I understand.”

I look around, many of the ponies in the crowd were looking at me with curiosity, however their eyes did not make me feel nervous as did the crowd in the day court. Rather, their gaze was welcoming.

Suddenly a Pink Pony appears out of the crowd. “Well what is everypony waiting for?!! LETS PARTY!!!”

With that, party streamers and balloons seemed to materialise out of nowhere. Balloons floated out of bushes, streamers seemingly fell from the clouds.

Suddenly appears beside me and startles me with a Party blower.

“Oh hey there, you must be that very important filly that Twilight was talking about but, Duh! You must have been an very important filly in the first place because you have both Wings and a Horn! So when I heard you were coming I was like *GASP* a very important filly needs a very important party so everyone can get to know you.......”

She continues to ramble on, whilst I look at her in surprise.

Luna laughs. “Oh Dawn, that is the Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie, don’t be startled or confused by her behaviour, she is like that all the time.”

However she looks to me once more, her expression sad. “Dawn, I have to go now, Auntie Celestia is expecting me, and I cannot keep her waiting for too long.”
“But Mommy-”

“No buts little filly, you're a big pony now and we told you why we must leave you here. Try and make some friends whilst you are here.”

She walks up to me and gives me a nuzzle. “Be good, and listen to Twilight Sparkle, I’ll be back in a few days, I promise.”

With that I slump onto my haunches as she walks back towards the chariot, tears form around my eyes.
As they take off she waves to me.

They soon disappear over the horizon.

I feel empty, and alone.

Discord’s voice comes back into my head, followed by the echo of Luna’s promise. “She will abandon you when she can’t use you anymore! Aahahahahahhaha!!!”

“I’ll be back in a few days, I promise....”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Commander Iron Hoof, Lieutenant Storm Weaver, and Captain Cloud Breaker surveyed the dark blue alicorn from the edge of the Everfree forest.

Iron Hoof, took off his helmet and armour.

“Celestia’s orders are clear gents. Remain hidden, lookout for any potential threats to the elements or her majesty’s daughter. If found, any measures necessary must be taken to ensure the safety of her majesty. “

Storm Reaver opened his eyes as his horn stopped glowing. “No suspicious aura detected within the town’s vicinity sir.”

Cloud Breaker flew down from a nearby tree. “Sir! Filly is on the move, she is staying in the residence of Twilight Sparkle, that large tree house in the middle of the town.”

Iron hoof cracked his neck. “Alright fellas, you know the drill. Storm will keep watch during the night. Cloud Breaker is to keep overwatch during the day, and I’ll be in the town in disguise. HQ will be set up here, in this spot and a beacon will be set up here. Should any drastic measures be required, one touch of the beacon, and we’ll have an entire regiment of the elite Royal Guard backing us up.

He turned towards the two officers. “I shall be heading into town now, rendezvous in 20:30 here.”

The two officers saluted and went off to complete their duties.

Iron Hoof smiled to himself as he approached the town. This job as a spy was almost too easy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight looked at the little alicorn and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She had simply sat on her haunches and stared into the space where Princess Luna had disappeared over the horizon, her ribboned mane flowing gently in the morning breeze.

“Ummm.. Dawn?” Twilight asked carefully. There were tears streaming down the filly’s face.

The crowd remained dead silent at the scene before them.

The little filly began wailing. “Mommy...” she cried in anguish. Pinkie Pie had stopped talking and had a worried look on her eyes.
“Uh oh” she said in a matter-of fact, before dashing off.

Twilight walked up to the little filly. “Don’t worry, she’ll come back for you.”

The red-eyed alicorn sniffled and looked at her hopefully. “Really? you think so?”
Twilight smiled warmly
“Of course! Princess Celestia and Luna have always kept their promises, well... I know Celestia has, but I’m sure your mommy does as well!”

The alicorn stopped crying, and answered unsurely “I...I guess your right.”

Twilight smiled.

“Okay step one complete, let the foal know everything is A-okay”

“Step two: introduce self in a positive manner”

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, what’s your name?” Twilight looks at the filly warmly.

“D-Dawn.” The filly says through sniffles. Her red eyes still downcast and sad.

“Well Dawn, someone like you shouldn’t be sad, look how many ponies have come to welcome you!”
The filly looks up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hundreds of faces are smiling at me, welcoming, and causes a warm feeling inside me. I wipe the tears from my eyes and I smile sheepishly back.

“There, see? Do you feel better now?” The lavender unicorn Twilight Sparkle says to me.

“I-I guess”

Suddenly a rather extravagant and classy voice calls out. “Oh excuse me please! Please make way! Yoo Hoo, lookout! You nearly made me drop my gift!”

A white unicorn with a lavish purple mane steps out of the crowd.

“Ah! There you are, aren’t you the cutest little thing!” She exclaims, whilst walking towards me at an excited pace.

I shy away from her sudden outburst and hide behind Twilight.

Twilight steps aside and says “Come on now, look what Rarity brought for you!”

I look up and see the white unicorn holding up a purple ribbon. Her expression drops.
“Aw drat! I didn’t realise you already had one deary, I’ll be right back!!”

She turns and melts back into the crowd.

Twilight looks at me again. “....how about I show you around. By the way, do you like chocolate cake?”

At the mention of that word, my eyes lit up. “Really? You have cake here?” I burst out excitedly, only to blush in embarrassment “I mean. Yes I do.” I smile sheepishly.

Twilight chuckles. “Well we have the best cake here in all of Equestria, and Pinkie Pie, has prepared something just for you!”

My eyes widen in anticipation “Really?”

Twilight smiles. “Party At Sugarcube Corner Everypony!!” She announces, followed by cheering and stamping from the crowd.

She looks back to me, “Follow me Dawn, I know you’re just gonna love this!” As I follow her, I realise that all the Ponies were following closely behind.

We walk towards what seemed to me a life sized gingerbread house.
It looks so tasty...

“So the party is in there?” I asked Twilight.

“Oh yes my little pony.”

“That house looks cool! I kinda want to eat it though.” At that, my stomach gurgles out loud.
I blush in embarrassment. “Not again,” I groan in frustration.

Twilight however chuckled in amusement. “Come on, we’re nearly there.”

Suddenly I hear voices behind the door.
“....-hhh she’s coming!”
“everypony get into position!”

I roll my eyes. What kind of surprise is it if I can hear them?
Twilight, however, didn’t seem to notice.

“Here we are,” She says with a warm smile as she pushes open the door.

The room is dark, but I can see every movement in the room.. “and here we go” I think to myself.

As predicted,
“SUPRISE!!” Around a dozen or so odd ponies jump up in party hats and some with party blowers. Twilight falls back in surprise.

I just stand there, not amused.

Some of them begin to speak quietly amongst themselves.
“Darn it. She don’t look too pleased with the surprise”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to startle her.” A gentle voice replies.

Suddenly a Pink Pony jumps from down from the ceiling in front of my face, startling me. “SURPRISE!!!”

I fall backwards onto my back in shock.

“Hey there Dawn, Dawn isn’t it? Anyway I just saw you all sad, and I thought nopony should be sad, so I decided to throw you a party! So do you like it? Do you Do you????

“Umm...Yeah... It’s....Great!” I say nervously.

Twilight glares at Pinkie Pie, and she is carried away with magic.
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie protests as she is carried away.

She turns to the others. “Everypony, meet Dawn!”

A wall of faces greet me. Also, Cake. My eyes widen in happiness.

However before I can move, an orange pony with a hat walks in front of me.

“Hey there sugarcube, ah’m Applejack, Ah run sweet apple acres!” an orange pony with a hat walks up. “How ya likin Ponyville?” She asks warmly.

“Colourful!” I reply “Also everypony doesn’t look at me weird like they do in the castle.”
“That's nice,” she replies, “Also feel free to stop by mah farm at sweet apple acres, we got the best apples in all of Equestria here!”

A cream coloured Pegasi flies around me. “Oh my... she looks just like Princess Luna, except she’s sooo cute!” My eyes widen at the sight of her. I have seen her before.. but when?

Another voice cut in.

“Well, Duh! She’s Princess Luna’s Daughter, of course she looks like her. Hmm I wonder if she is now royalty.

I look up and see a rainbow maned pegasus. She winks at me.
“Hey there pipsqueak, name’s Rainbow Dash! Fastest flyer in all of Equestria!”

“Really?” My ears perch in excitement. “That’s awesome!”

At this compliment, her chest seems to rise in pride. “Got that bit right! You’re a laugh there Pipsqueak, I’d love to show you some moves sometime!”

I raise my eyebrow in annoyance. “My name isn’t Pipsqueak, Its Dawn.”

“Yeah, whatever Pipsqueak, enjoy the party, gotta dash!” With that, she speeds out the door in a rainbow trail, blowing back my mane and leaving me stunned.
Twilight giggled. “Come on now Dawn, let’s party!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celestia waited irritatedly on a cloud above Canterlot. “Where is that foal of a sister?” she thought to herself in impatience.

Suddenly her Sister’s head popped up from the bottom of the cloud. “Sister, forgive me for my lateness.”

“The guards have been returned to the castle?” Celestia asked, not wasting any time.

“Yes big sister, though they insisted they come with us.”

Celestia gave her an impatient look. “Yes little sister, come, we are behind schedule already. I plan to see at least four elder dragons before the end of this day, and at this rate, we will only meet two.”

Luna sighed. “I know sister, it’s just that... I wanted Dawn to know everything will be fine. She’s just a filly after all.”

Celestia smiled. “Of course, and I’m glad that you care about her now. You almost killed her a few days ago.”

Luna hung her head. “I know, it’s just a few days ago I saw her as nothing more than a weakened Nightmare Moon, trying a pathetic last attempt to deceive us. But, these last two days, Dawn has shown me otherwise. In fact today when I left her in Ponyville, I..I..felt something in my heart break,” Luna stammered.

Celestia however replied in a comforting manner. “I understand little sister. You want to be with her, to protect and watch over her, but please understand Luna, I need you for this, and also I have utmost faith in the Elements and Commander Hoof to keep her safe for three days.”

Luna gave her sister a tired look. “I wish I shared your confidence in our subjects Tia, but let’s hurry and get this over with. I don’t want to keep Dawn waiting any longer than she has to.”

Celestia nodded in agreement. “Then let us make haste.”
They spread their wings and took off into the horizon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Come on Dawn! You can do it!” Applejack cheered me on as I struggled to balance the apples on my head.

“Steady..Steady....” Pinkie Pie says in concentration whilst attempting to place another apple on top, “aaaaaand Done! 6, that’s a new record! This calls for a celebration!” She cheers in excitement along with nearly half the town whom stamp their hooves on the ground.

I beam in success as the fruits fall off my head. “YAY!”

The door swings open to reveal the white unicorn from earlier.

“Hello everypony! Have you seen- Ah! There you are!” She says upon noticing me.

“ummm.. Hi!” I say, unsure how to greet her.

“Oh darling, I have made the most magnificent dress for you, you simply must try it on!” With that, an extravagant and lacy dress floats towards me.

“Thanks..?”

“In fact, you should come by my Boutique now so you can try it on!” She says happily, whilst her horn glows.

Suddenly I feel the familiar sensation of being levitated. “Hey!”

With that, I suddenly fall back to the ground. “I have legs you know!!” I say indignantly.
“Oh I’m terribly sorry your majesty, I was a little carried away in my excitement.” she backs away slowly.

“Huh? Your majesty?” I say in confusion, “But everypony calls Mommy and Auntie Celestia that..”

She giggles to the ponies around her. “Oh, she doesn’t know!”

“Don’t know what?!” I ask in annoyance.

She looks at me again. “Little filly, if your mommy is a princess, what do you think that makes you?”

“I...”

Suddenly I realise what she meant. “But I’m not a big pony like them yet!” I rebuke.
She grins. “It’s official! Princess Celestia announced it in her Day court yesterday!”
With that, she floats an newspaper article to my face. My eyes notice a picture of Celestia and I whilst she points to the words.

“Ummm.. I can’t...read..” I admit in embarrassment.

Twilight gasps, then frowns. “That will not do! Little Filly you’re coming with me right now. Sorry Rarity, but your dress will have to wait!”

Rarity gives a hurt look. “But Twiligh-”

“No buts Rarity! I will not let a Princess be illiterate whilst she is under my watch! Princess Celestia has told me to teach her magic, but I will not stand for Luna’s daughter being unable to read!”

Pinkie Pie, from across the room, dashes over. “But the party isn’t over yet..” She gives a sad look towards Twilight.

“Well there will be plenty of time to party later. Sorry everypony, but this filly is going to the Library now! She needs a crash course, and stat!”

With that, everypony in the Sweet shop goes “awww” and begins slowly exiting,

Twilight felt a pang of guilt.
“But I promise I’ll make up for it as soon as she can read!”

Pinkie Pie gasps. “Ohmygosh! that means I’m gonna have to start preparing now!” With that she disappears upstairs.

“Come now Dawn, we should get started as soon as we can.”Twilight says to me as she heads to the door.

I look desperately towards Applejack, who shakes her head. “Come on now sugarcube, It’s for yer own good.”

“But-” Luna’s voice rings in my mind.

I gulp.

“Fine...” I say in exasperation, and trot after her in defeat.
“I didn’t even get to touch the cake” I think to myself glumly as I exit the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“......and again!” Twilight says in an authoritative manner.

“A....B...C...D...E...F...G....H...I.....That’s all I remember.” I slump down in hopelessness on the wooden floor.

It was soooo boring. I look out the window, the sun’s angle has arced again. .

Twilight sighs. “Come on now Dawn, that was only your second try and you already got to I. Don’t give up!”
“This is boring, can I do something else?” I ask hopefully

Twilight gives me a stern look. “No Dawn, not until you can do the entire alphabet!”
I return her look with one of determination. “Fine, here goes.”
I straighten my posture.

“*Ahem* ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ- Can I go now?” I ask innocently.

Twilight gives me a stunned look. “umm....I guess...”
However that was all the permission I needed. “Alright thanks bye!!!” I say as I dash for the door.
Twilight snaps out of her stupor. “Wait-a-minute.. Dawn come back here this instant!”

But it was too late, I laugh as I exit the door. “Phew, Finally!!” I think happily to myself.

“Come back here, or I’m telling your mother on you!!” her voice follows me, but I gallop as fast as I can towards SugarCube Corner.

“Nearly there...” I think to myself as the building looms larger. I was so close, I could hear Pinkie Pie’s voice singing some random melody from the top floor. “Chocolate cake here I come!!”

Suddenly there is a purple flash and a very annoyed looking Twilight appears in front of me. “Dawn, that’s far enough!”

I dig my hooves into the ground to avoid colliding into her.
“So Close!!” I think sadly to myself.

“Dawn, I am very disappointed with you, I expected you to listen to your mother.” She gives me a very harsh look. However I wasn’t scared nor worried. Instead, I was angry.

“Go away, I don’t like you!” I say to her in defiance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight Sparkle was nervous. It had been less than 3 hours, and already she was losing the little alicorn.

Dawn glared at her, her red eyes boring into hers. “Go away, I don’t like you!” Dawn replies aggressively.
Twilight shifted uncomfortably. “Oooh, what do I do...”

However, to her relief, a fashionista's voice rang out. “Twilight dear, I see you have finished with the reading lessons with Dawn yes?”
An idea popped into Twilight’s head. “Yes! we finished! Dawn was just coming to try on that dress you made her!”

Rarity gave a gasp of happiness. There was a gleam in her eyes.

Dawn’s glare became a look of confusion. “huh?” The diminutive filly managed to utter before she was lifted up by magic and carried off.

“Heeeeey-!” her voice rang out, across Ponyville in protest as the excited fashionista carried her off towards the Boutique.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Help” I think to myself, as Rarity pulls at another strap, tightening the purple dress again. I feel the fabric crush against my ribs. “I...Can’t.....Breathe!!” Her cat seemed to be smirking at my discomfort, whilst resting upon a pile of fabrics.

Rarity lets go of the strap, much to my relief, and turns me around to face a panel of mirrors. “There! Now what do you think?”

I looked very nice, the dress suited me perfectly, though a little too tight. However I couldn’t speak, rather just gasp for breath.

“Aww, you like it so much you’re lost for words! Oooh, you should try out some of the other dress designs I made for fillies, I just know you’re going to love them!”

My eyes widen in horror.

“Just wait a moment dear, I’ll be right back!” She turns to another few outfits, whilst chattering excitedly to herself.

“Must....escape!!” I think in desperation. I turn my head to one of the straps on the back and pull, instantly loosening the dress, and filling my grateful lungs with fresh air.
I gallop for the door. As I leave the Boutique her voice follows me.

“Oh Dawn, you simply must try... Dawn?”

But it was too late, I had already escaped and was not planning to look back. I open my wings and give it a few flaps. It felt good to stretch them after having them crushed between the wing holes of the dress.

I sigh in relief as some feeling returns back into the wings. I look around and realise that many eyes were looking at me in curiosity.

A green unicorn walks up to me. “...Are you okay your majesty?”
However before I can reply, the classy voice of Rarity makes me cringe in fear. "Dawn? Oh Dawn? Where are you? We still have several dresses to try out!"

I eep and continue my escape, galloping down a dirt track..

“Everypony in this town is CRAZY!” I think to myself as I dash toward a road leading to what seemed like a orchard.

I Lean against a tree in an attempt to catch my breath. My eyes dart around for the white fashionista. She was nowhere to be seen.

I give a sigh of relief and look around my surroundings. There were apple trees everywhere. With a barnhouse and corn fields in the distance.

“I must be at that place Applejack told me about,” I think to myself, “I wonder if she is here.”

I walk along the dirt path, towards the barn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Applejack gave a grunt as she bucked another tree. As usual, the apples fell neatly into the baskets placed carefully around the tree. She slid under the baskets, lifted them and poured their contents onto a cart.
“Hoowhee! Well ah’m plumtuckered.” She said in a matter of fact as she wiped sweat from her brow. She adjusted her hat and looked toward her barn, noticing the dark blue alicorn walking toward it.

“What the hay is she doing here right now?”

With that she began to trot back to the barn, leaving the cart of apples unattended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I reach the front door and knock. “ummm, hello? Applejack? It’s me Dawn, I just need somewhere to stay away from Twilight and Rarity.”

There was no reply.

I sigh, It was worth a try.

As I turn to walk away however, I hear hoofsteps ring closer.
Suddenly the door swings open. An elderly green earth pony “Well hello there young un! What can ah do fer ya?

“I’m here to see Applejack!” I tell her.

However she scratches her ears and holds her hoof to her ear. “You wanna bee a squack?!”

“ummm, I’m here to see Applejack?” I repeat myself.

“Yer here to slack? That doesn’t make any sense young filly!”

I feel reserves of patience drain away.

“I’M HERE TO SEE APPLEJACK!!” I yell in frustration.

With that the strange old lady laughs and points.
“Aww why deary, she’s right behind ya!”

I turn around to see the orange farm pony walking toward me. “I hear you were lookin’ fer me yer highness, besides shouldn’t ya be with Twilight?”

I stammer my reply. “uhh..Yes! and um please stop calling me ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Your Highness’, I really don’t think I’m a princess just yet.” I answer quickly.

“Fine then, How can ah help ya Dawn?”
I look at her with pleading eyes. “Mommy told me to stay with Twilight Sparkle, but she’s mean and I don’t want to be with her! She’s trying to make me learn the alphabet and then she chases me to Rarity who's trying to kill me with her dresses! Please, just let me stay here!” I beg.

Applejack looks surprised, then starts laughing, “Oh those two! Yer a laugh Dawn. Why, of course you can stay here for awhile. Here, let me talk to those two fer ya okay, while yer here, why not go find mah lil sister Applebloom, I’m sure she’d love to meet ya. Her classes should have just finished, just wait fer a few minutes she should be back any moment now.”

I thank for stars for this turn of good luck. “Thank you, Thank you!” I hug her front hooves.

She back away nervously “There there now princess, you shouldn’t bow down to me like that, Ah’ll be off now, have fun!”

With that, she bows and heads to the road to Ponyville.

The old mare smiles “Come on in little filly! mah eyes an’ ears ain’t as good as they use ta be. Make yerself at home.”
“Thanks!” With that, I trot inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight was in a state of panic. “What do you mean she just left?!”

Rarity gave Twilight an annoyed look. “That Filly, most uncouth for a royal, simply left in the middle of our fitting session! What’s more she didn’t even say thank you! She ran off the store like she was the princess, what nerve!”

Twilight replied a bored expression. “Umm Rarity? She technically is a princess.”

Rarity sighed in frustration, “I know Twilight, but that fact just makes me more angry! How can one as rude as her be part of the royalty?”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Prince Blueblood?.”

At the mention of that name, Rarity stiffened. “Do.Not.EVER. MENTION THAT NAME AGAIN!” Rarity emphasised.

Twilight put her hoof to her face. “Look, I Rarity, I really need to find Dawn before sunset. Could you at least tell me which direction she went?”

Rarity gave her an apologetic look. “Look Twilight, I would really love to be able to help you, I really do, but no, she had left when I had gone upstairs to retrieve a marvellous gown so I don’t have a clue on her whereabouts.”

Twilight sighed, “Thanks for trying to help.”

She turned and exited the Boutique, “Now where in Ponyville could she have wandered off to?” Twilight thought to herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was SO BORED.

The old mare had fallen asleep in her armchair whilst in the midst of telling me a story of how Ponyville was found.

I look around the house. There really wasn’t much to do and I felt like a snack. I fall back on my haunches. Then again, I could always get an apple from outside..

I stand. “Thats It!”

With that I trot outside. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. After passing through several trees, I notice a particularly enticing looking apple high up the tree. My mouth begins to water.

“Okay.... just grasp it gently and lift it down.”

I mentally focus a tendril of magic around the fruit and give it a light tug. It comes off the tree with a satisfying *pop*. I lift it closely to my face, open my mouth, ready to savour its taste.

“Hey! Whatcha think your doin stealing apples?” a young accented voice calls out to me, causing me to lose concentration and dropping the apple.
I turn to see a yellow filly with a red ribbon my size glaring at me.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to steal, I was just hungry!” I explain nervously as I back against a fence

She continues her glare whilst walking closer. “Well next time you ask!”

I gulp as she walks closer, pressing her face into mine. Her eyes squint as she examines my face closely

Suddenly her expression changes. “Hey! Yer that new Princess that everypony is talking about in town!”

“I guess..”

“Well I’m mighty sorry for scaring you like that yer majesty, Big sis had always told me ta chase away apple stealin’ thieves. By the way Ah’m Applebloom” she smiles and backs away a little.

I relax. “My name’s Dawn!”
She looks at me in excitement. “This is so awesome! A Princess is here at th' Farm! What’s it like to be a Princess yer majesty?”
I sigh. “Look, umm.. Applebloom. I don’t know where everypony is getting the idea that I’m a Princess. I just woke up one day in the Castle, and I meet Auntie Celestia then Mommy. After that Auntie Celestia takes me to this day court thing, where all these ponies stare at me and after that she tells me to go to Mommy’s room. Next thing I know, I mess up Mommy’s office and I’m sent here for three days!”

Suddenly Applebloom asks “Umm sorry ta interrupt yer majesty, but whos yer mommy?”

“Luna!” I answer. “and please stop calling me ‘your majesty’, just call me Dawn.”

“Okay your majesty!” She says with a huge smile.
I place my hoof on my face in annoyance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starry Quills glared at the servant before him. “What do you mean she has gone to Ponyville?”
“I mean sir, the Princesses decided to send her to Ponyville for the duration of their negotiations with the dragons sir!” The servant answered nervously.

“Very well, you may leave.” With that, the servant bows and trots out of the room.

He rubbed his forehead in frustration. “With the filly under the care of the elements, she is damned near impossible to touch. The moment Celestia’s student is involved, this would be all over.”

He walks up to his desk for an important message. .

To Commander Iron Hoof

I know you are stationed now in Ponyville. The fact that our filly of interest is there is a huge disruption to our original plans and schedule.

Read carefully for the next set of instructions as you can only view this message once.......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So how come ya can't read? Ah thought all the princesses were super smart and stuff." Applebloom asked me.

"I don't know," I sigh "Auntie Celestia had only just taught me how to eat properly two days ago. Now she's on a trip with mommy to see some dragons.”

Applebloom’s eyes widen in amazement. “Wow Dragons! The Princesses must be so brave!”
“I know right! Mommy has told me all these stories of the past where they fight all these evil ponies and Dis- I mean, a really bad monster.” I pause, not wanting to remember Discord’s voice.

“You must be the luckiest pony to have a mommy and aunt who are both princesses!” She exclaimed.

I ponder for a moment. “Yeah... I guess I am.”
She glances at my wings when suddenly she gasps. “You don’t have a Cutie Mark?”

I raise my eyebrow. “What’s a cutie mark?”
She looks at me incredulously. “Ya really don’t know?”

I shake my head.

Suddenly she begins pushing me towards the door. “Hey! Where are you taking me?!” I demanded in surprise,
“To get yer Cutie Mark!” She replies as we exit the barn. "Yer gonna meet the Cutie Mark Crusaders!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again to Minimii for proofreading. Check out some of his stories here

Chapter 5: The Cutiemark Crusaders (Part 1)

Iron hoof watched from the bushes, his target was on the move, accompanied by another filly of similar age and size. This one too had a ribbon and like his target, no cutiemark.

He hated stalking ponies, especially children. Every aspect of the new orders from the Professor made him feel revolted. He was a soldier, not some slimy thief or journalist. But orders were orders, and he was a soldier. His honour demanded that he follow them without question. He didn't mind spying and eavesdropping, but he couldn't shake the feeling that stalking this little filly was bordering paedophilia.

He sighed, at least the pay was good.

Suddenly a scroll popped in front of his face, promptly knocking his helmet askew. He cursed silently as his target stiffened and began to look in his direction....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Is somethin’ wrong?" Applebloom asks me curiously as I stare into the hedges intently, trying to look for the source of aura which had suddenly appeared out of thin air, and just as suddenly, disappeared.

After looking for another few moments I shake my head.

"Sorry, just thought I heard something" I tell her.
"Alrighty then!" she replies cheerfully as she leads the way down the the path. I look back to the bushes as I trot behind her.

I couldn't help feeling that somepony is watching me.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the instant the scroll had appeared Iron had, with deft precision and agility, brushed his helmet back on. Without it, he was exposed, and his target would sense him.

He remained perfectly still. The little alicorn’s red eyes scanned his bush. The slightest movement would give his position away. He held his breath and waited.
His heart thudded in what seemed to be an eternity to him as the alicorn showed no sign of relenting her gaze.

Finally, she walked away, shaking her head as the other filly gave her a confused look.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Iron Hoof let out a sigh of relief, before looking angrily at the scroll which had almost compromised his mission. It was marked with the phoenix, a symbol of the royal guard.

He brushed it open with his hoof. Inside was a vial.

To the 13th Battalion:

Word is out that there is a potential spy within the general vicinity of Ponyville, as of such, it is from personal orders from Her Highness Celestia and Luna that Commander Iron Hoof watch over the Subject Dawn personally for the coming three days.

Orders for the 13th. Patrol and keep surveillance of Ponyville, any threat is to be dealt with stealth if possible.

Orders to Commander Iron Hoof. You are to personally follow the subject, remain undetected for as long as possible, however we have acknowledged the need for rest. In this scroll is a vial which contains a rejuvenation tonic. Anytime you feel drowsy, simply take one sip.

However be warned, a sip at most is to be taken. Anymore will result in a state of hyperactivity which ultimately ends in the total exhaustion of one’s body and loss of cognitive function.

Next report will be updated by 1800 the next day. You have your orders.

Supreme Commander Bulwark

Hoof gave a light chuckle and shook his head in disapproval. “Sir yes Sir!” he thought sarcastically to himself and began to follow the tracks left behind by the two fillies, stashing the vial inside his armour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We approach a tree-house deep within the apple orchards. “An’ this is where the Cutie Mark Crusaders meet!” She explains in excitement.

“Umm, you still haven’t told me who the Cutie Mark Crusaders are.” I remind her.

Something ticks in her mind, “Oh yeah!” She exclaims with a smile.

“Jes’, wait ‘ere a second,” She says to me before facing the tree.

“Oh Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, come out! Look who’s here right now!” She calls out towards the little house.

Through the windows, I see two silhouettes scramble to their feet.
The door opens. “Who is it Applebloom?” A purple haired pegasus looks towards us before noticing me and gasping, hopping down next to me. “Princess Luna? Why are you here? How come you aren’t big anymore?” She asks whilst walking to me.

Another voice calls out from the treehouse. “Princess Luna?! Here?!”

A small white unicorn looks out, and like the pegasus, gasps when she sees me.

I begin to feel uncomfortable under their curiosity.

“Oh girls, she ain’t Princess Luna, she’s her daughter; Dawn!” Applebloom answers for me.

“...Hi”, I say nervously.

“Princess Luna has a daughter?” The Pegasus asked confused.

“Didn’t you read the news Scootaloo?” The other filly asks her.

“Girls!” Applebloom calls out, catching their attention, “Dawn here has no cutiemark either, and you know what that means.” She smiles devilishly.

The other two Fillies eyes widen. Applebloom walks to them and turns towards me.

“Dawn, ya said ya wanted to know who are the Cutiemark crusaders?”

I nod cautiously.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof crept closer until he gained a clear view of the alicorn. He viewed his surroundings, there were two more fillies, now probably inviting her to their friendship group. “How cute” he thought to himself.

He listened.

“....ya wanted to know who are the cutiemark crusaders?”

The three fillies all took a deep breath together.

“WE ARE THE CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS!” They yell together in unison, the volume causing him to wince as his ears rang from their shout.

The Filly with the red bow speaks up first. “We are the Cutiemark Crusaders yer Highness!”

The Unicorn pipes up. “Yeah! We go around crusading until we get our cutiemarks!”

The Pegasus continues. “That’s right! and we are going to try everything to get them!”

I look at them blankly. “You still haven’t told me; what’s a Cutiemark..”

Applebloom blushes. “Oh yeah! Cutiemarks are the pictures on a pony’s flank! It shows what they are good at or what kinda personality they got!”

The pegasus Scootaloo continues. “Yep! and getting them means that you’re grown up!”
My eyes widen at this new information. “Really?”

Sweetie Belle answers “Yup! and that’s why we are gonna try everything until we find out what we’re good at!”

I look to my blank flank. “umm... Is it okay if I umm, go crusading with you then? I kinda wanna be big like auntie Celestia!”

At this, they beam at each other. Applebloom speaks for. “Of course Princess, It would be an honour to have you!”

“Just one more thing” I add, “just call me Dawn.”

Scootaloo giggled happily, “Oh my gosh this is so awesome! We have a princess with us! Wait till Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon sees us!”

Sweetie belle joined “I know right?! They’re gonna be so jealous!”

“Great!” I smile widely. “So what is it exactly you guys do?” I ask.

“About that... what should we do first?” Scootaloo asks to nopony in particular.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight kicked open the door to sugar cube corner. “Dawn?! Are you here???! Where are you!!”

Pinkie Pie looked up. “Oh heya Twilight! Here to try out the latest batch? Mr Cake and I came up with a new recipe and I know you’re just gonna-”

Twilight gave her a very worried and impatient look. “Pinkie! You haven’t happened to see Dawn around here have you?
“Nopey Lopey!” Pinkie answers cheerfully.

“Do your Pinkie Senses sense anything?” Twilight asks hopefully.

Pinkie Pie’s expression became very serious for a moment. “Well there is something....”

Twilight smiled. “Yes?”

“My tail’s itchy...”

“Yes?!!”

“That means that there’s going to be a huge explosion this afternoon!”

Twilight gasped and dashed for the door in a hurry. Pinkie Pie called out for her. “Ummm Twilight?! An explosion doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gonna be bad!!”

But it was too late, the purple Unicorn had already vanished out of earshot......

....and rematerialised right in front of a very surprised Applejack.

“Twi! Ah was Lookin’ fer ya!”

However Twilight Sparkle was in no mood for conversation. “Applejack, I really need your help! Dawn has run loose and I need to find her before anything disastrous occurs!” Pinkie Pie’s revelations continuing to play in her mind...huge explosion.

Applejack simply chuckled. “Oh Twi, yer such a laugh! Dawn’s fine, she’s at mah farm right now, she just needs some time alone to get use ta things and all.”

Twilight relaxed at this, “Oh thank Celestia, so who did you leave her with?”

“Why ma little sister of course!” Applejack answered.

Twilight felt her spirits drop. Applejack gave her a perplexed look. “Umm Twi, ya don’t look so good, is everything-”

“NO, everything is not okay!” Twilight exclaims, giving Applejack a very worried look. “Do you have any idea what this means?!” Twilight asks in panic.

Applejack took a step back in shock. “If Dawn meets your sister, She is probably going to take them to the Cutiemark crusaders!”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “What’s so bad about that?”

Twilight replied in frustration. “What’s so bad, is that the Cutiemark crusaders now have an alicorn who is as powerful as Celestia and lacks any functional control over her magic!”

“...And?”

Twilight looked at her oblivious friend incredulously. “That means, whatever shenanigans they come up to next could have disastrous results amplified TENFOLD!” She shouts.

It then dawned on Applejack, her eyes widening in understanding. “Yer mean, they could end up destroying half the town?”

“Yes!”

Applejack whinnied. “Come on then Twi, lets find them before they hurt anypony! Follow me, ah think they would’ve gone to their clubhouse.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright girls! Today’s the day we get our cutie marks in, animal caring!” Scootaloo announces as we approach a comfortable looking cottage.

“So Fluttershy’s agreed to this?” Sweetie belle asks.

“Yup! She said she would love to have us over!”

“Does she know Dawn’s gonna be here too?” Applebloom asks.

Scootaloo paused. “That..I’m not sure..but what’s the worst that could happen?”

Applebloom shrugs and we walk to the front door.

We knock, and to my surprise, a rabbit opens the door.

A gentle voice calls out “Oh hello girls.. I’ll be with you in a moment, please come in!”
We walk inside, however I notice the Rabbit giving me a very strange look before closing the door behind us.

The interior of the cottage was cozy; made of wood, with ointments in glass bottles along with food placed neatly along shelves and tables. There were all manners of creatures scurrying about, paying us no heed.

Applebloom gestures to me, and I follow her into what appears to be the living room. There, a yellow pegasus was applying a bandage to a green coloured bird’s wing. “Now you be careful next time Mr. Song, try not to use the wing too much for a few days. Give it some time and it will be as good as new!”

“Hey Fluttershy!”

The Pegasus jumped in fright, the bird jumps, startled.. “Oh sorry girls, I didn’t hear you walking in.”

I give her a confused look, “but you told us to come in..”

She looks at me in surprise. “...W-what are you doing here?”
“I wanna get my Cutiemark!” I say smiling to her.

“Umm I know, but, aren’t you supposed to be with Twilight?” She asks me cautiously.

I pout. “No! She’s mean, and I don’t like her! That’s why I ran away.”

She gave me a concerned look. “Does she know you’re here?”

I sigh, “No...”

She crosses her arms. “Now there young filly, It’s not right to run away from some pony just because you don’t like her, she’s probably looking for you right now all over Ponyville worried sick!”

“B-but”

“No ‘buts’ little filly, we don’t want Twilight to be sad now do we?”

I sighed in defeat. “I guess not.”

“Look girls, you are going to have to stay here for now while I look for Twilight, we can’t have her running around just for you.”

“Awwww” We all say together.

“But who says you can’t have some fun while I’m gone?” She adds, we all perch up, interested.

“While I’m gone, why don’t you girls try feeding the animals? I’m sure one of you may even her Cutie Mark that way. Just feed the animals who eat grain and fruit, leave the fish eaters to me!” Fluttershy says with a wink.

She flies to the door, “and if you have any trouble, just wait until I come back!”

With that, she leaves.
Applebloom turns to us, “So which animal should we feed first?”
Scootaloo thinks for a moment, “I know, let’s feed the chickens first, after all, I’m sure Elizabeak remembers us!”

“Who’s Elizabeak?” I ask
“Oh she’s a chicken we saved from the Everfree forest!” Sweetie Belle answers
“You mean that scary looking forest over there?” I point my hoof in the direction of the trees.
“Yep! That’s right!”

I raise my eyebrow, “Feeding chickens will get us Cutie Marks?”

Scootaloo answers “well we gotta try everything before we know, Come on!”

We head out to the Chicken coops.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof watched intently from the trees. The fillies had entered the residence of the element of Kindness, and were discussing something with her. Suddenly, she leaves the room in a hurry, followed by the group of fillies approaching her chicken coop with several floating bags of feed.

“What can they possibly be hoping to achieve...” He thought to himself in wonder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright, the note Fluttershy said was to use one third of a bag for the chickens, Dawn, you okay carrying all those bags” Sweetie Belle asks

“Piece of cake!” I say with a smile, whilst levitating the sacks of grain with ease.

We approach a feeding, the chickens look at us in expectancy.

“Alright Dawn, jes one third remember?” Applebloom reminds.

“yeah yeah, anyway here I go!” I saw.

We enter the chicken pens

I close my eyes and focus the threads of magic around the burlap sacks. I tug at the bonds, and to my dismay, every single sack opened at once, and dumped exactly one third of their contents, some landed in the tray.....

Most however buried us.

I shake myself, and look to the group who gives me an annoyed look.
“Oops.” I smile sheepishly.

But the damage was done. The chickens, excited by the sudden excess of food, began to peck everywhere, followed by a multitude of birds.
Including us.

“Argh! Make it stop!” Applebloom cries out between yelps of pain.

“They’re everywhere!” Scootaloo yells

Sweetie Belle runs around blindly squealing.

“Dawn, Do something!”

I look around in panic, there were chickens and birds everywhere pecking wildly. I feel my ribbon tear from my mane.

I stiffen. “Oh no you don’t!” I say through gritted teeth as dozens of beaks continued to pick at me. I focus my mind around all the grain particles, and lift them towards a nearby tree, the birds following suit. the chickens however remained content at picking at the grain on the floor.”

I sigh in relief as the pecking stops.

I open my eyes, all of us looked a total mess, manes dishevelled and covered in small cuts. Also we smelt like chicken feed.

Applebloom looks up hopefully. “Any Cutiemarks yet?” She looks at her flank before giving a sigh of defeat.

“Oh well, looks like we ain’t cut out to be Cutiemark animal feeders.” Applebloom says glumly

“I’m sorry girls, It’s my fault we got into this mess.” I say to the three.
“Aww It’s okay Dawn, you managed to get the chickens and birds away from us, and besides the way you did it was awesome!” Scootaloo says, comforting me.

“Yeah! I’m pretty sure that the only pony who can do that apart from you is Twilight!” Sweetiebelle answers.

“Thinking about it, I think it was kind of rude of me to run away from her like that..” I think glumly to myself. “Mommy did tell me to stay with her and to learn from her...I guess”
“Anyway what should we do next?” Scootaloo asks

“Didn’t Fluttershy tell us to stay here while she goes to find Twilight?” I say.

“Pfft, she’ll find us sooner or later, in that time, we should try find our cutie marks!” Sweetiebelle says.

Applebloom gasps. “I know! Zecora said she needed an extra hoof in making potions, and with the four of us, she gets three extra hooves!”

I paw the ground nervously, “Shouldn’t we leave a note?”

Sweetiebelle looks at me disdainfully. “Fine.” she says rolling her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof gasped in exertion. The damn birds had finally left him alone.
That damn filly nearly inadvertently exposed him. He was chuckling to himself in the tree when suddenly a floating swarm of bird feed fell on him, followed by a swarm of ravenous avians.
He kicked at a red canary which continued to peck his back.

“Damn birds,” he grumbled to himself before pulling himself back up the tree.

“CUTIEMARK CRUSADER POTION MAKERS ARE GO, YAY!!!”

The shout causes him to slip, and land on his head.

He groaned in pain before shaking his head to clear his vision. “Damn Kids..” he mutters before looking up and watching fillies walk into the Everfree.

His eyes widened in horror. “your assignment is to protect the Subject at all costs.” The order repeated itself in his mind.
He sighs, “Celestia Dammit!”
he cursed before reluctantly following their hoofprints as soon as they were out of earshot.

What was supposed to be an easy assignment just became a whole lot harder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“...and that’s why we decided we wanna help you make your potions!” Sweetiebelle finished explaining.

“A gesture most kind, It would be an honour to let you brew my finds!” The Zebra answers.
“You talk funny!” I say to her.

At first she frowns at me, but smiles back. “Young majesty I am not from this land, we do not have your speech, please understand.”

“Of course, sorry if I offended you.” I answer

“From curiosity my little pony, are you of royalty from the castles grand and stony?” She asks me curiously.

I think for the moment, “I think I am...why do you ask?”

“A simple curiosity that struck me so, for one so young, blessed with great powers. The Daughter of the moon you are, an honour to have you in my hut so far, so rare a flower.”
She bows.

“Please don’t bow to me Ms. Zecora,” I say to her, “It’s already annoying enough to have everypony call me that back at the castle, just call me Dawn.”

“Very well oh daughter of the moon, a brewing we should begin soon.” She says grabbing a few plants and spices before placing them all in the pot carefully and slowly.

“How can we help you today Zecora?” Applebloom asks.

The Zebra looks at us whilst scratching her chin with her hoof. “A special brew I would like to make, for bones and joints that like to ache, but the process is much too complex for ones as young as you.”

“So there’s nothing we can do?” I ask, feeling my spirits drop.

She thinks for a moment. “There is one potion one could brew, but the ingredients one must stew, The brew itself is bright as day, and in the dark, it shows the way, but be warned this brew is not to be drunk, for the making of this, is rather explosive.”

We smile. “No problem Zecora, just show us what to do!”

She looks at us sternly. “To make this brew as good as can be, steady hooves and my instructions one needs to learn and see, I shall perform this task to show you fillies, the right and safe way, not silly.”

With that she beckons to us, and begins mixing the herbs, we crowd around the cauldron, mesmerised.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iron Hoof cautiously approached the creepy wooden thatched hut, the tracks of the filly ended there. “What in celestia’s name could they be possibly doing here? Finding their cutiemarks?! That’s just ridiculous!” He thought to himself.

The masks at the front seemed to leer at him. He cursed his fate silently and stood watch in
a nearby brush.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Well, she ain’t here either.” Applejack said in a matter of fact as they opened the interior of the clubhouse..

Twilight gave her a tired look. “You don’t say.” She looked around her in despair.
Sweet Apple Acres was huge, and the Filly being a quiet one didn’t make matters any better, and to make matters worse, she is probably off goofing around with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“We’ll Ah’m fresh outta ideas,” Applejack says.

Twilight groaned, “Princess Luna is going to be so mad at me, Come on Applejack, let’s check sugarcube corner and the schoolyards, She’s bound to go there sooner or later!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starry Quills looked over the letter one more time, satisfied, he rolled the scroll and dematerialised it. He watched on as the fine mist travelled from his window, towards Ponyville.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Okay, so all we gotta do is to drop a little of the Poison Joke into these little vials? Easy!” Scootaloo says Zecora continued stirring. “Yes my dear Scootaloo, but take care not to touch them too! Take care not to add too much, for even dried they like to joke, and their laughter we would pay for such.”

Zecora, with a ladle in her mouth, scoops the liquid from the cauldron before pouring them into small and neatly stacked vials. She then quickly uses a spoon and adds a drop of the poison joke into the mix. This causes the vial to glow brightly. “This brew in my tongue is called the evening star, for when times are dark and light is scarce, this will be a source for afar.” The CMC’s and I all stand around the creation mesmerised.

“Ooooh” we say in admiration.

“Now remember to imitate my actions, remember the poison joke must only be used a fraction!”

We all take a small spoon each and scoop the dried herb into the glass vials before us. Like the demonstration Zecora had shown, our vials too began to glow.

“At this rate, we’ll get our Cutiemarks fer Sure!” Applebloom said excitedly

“Alright! Let’s keep this up!” Scootaloo adds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof peered intently into the Hut’s window. “interesting..” he thought to himself.

Suddenly a letter materialised in his face, knocking his helmet askew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The presence was there again, behind us and outside the hut, causing me to turn....and accidently bump into sweetiebelle who unloads a whole spoonful of the Poison Joke into her vial. “Hey watch it!” she says annoyed.

Her Vial begins to glow very brightly.

Zecoras eyes widen. She mutters something in another language before picking up the vial running to the door and flinging it into a nearby brush.

We look at her in confusion from her sudden action. Suddenly a huge flash occurs, followed by a loud bang.

She turns and gives us a very stern look. “Looks like my faith today, has been led astray! Though I appreciate your helpful hooves, I believe it is time for you three to move! Go back to Ponyville today, for I must clean the damage done, for such is quite to my dismay.”

Sweetiebelle looks at me annoyed. “Jeez, thanks alot Dawn, we were going good! Why did you bump into me?!”

Panic sets into my chest. “I-I didn’t mean to, please don’t be mad at me!”

“Aww we ain’t mad at you Dawn, we had bigger accidents ourselves!” Applebloom says without any hint of anger.

“Heheh, you should have seen the time we tried to be Cutiemark librarians!” Scootaloo says with a giggle.

“Yeah! I mean Twilight still doesn’t let us touch her books till this day!” Sweetiebelle laughs. “Anyway what should we do next?” she continues.

I scratch my chin. “I feel like chocolate cake..” I think to myself.

“I know! How about we go to sugarcube corner!” I suggest.

The CMC’s look at each other. Suddenly Applebloom perks up. “Actually that’s a great idea! We could all try to be Cutiemark crusader cake bakers!”

Scootaloo raises her eyebrow. “Didn’t we try that last time?”

“Yeah! but last time we didn’t have Dawn, maybe this time we’ll succeed!” Applebloom says excitedly.

Sweetiebelle jumps, “well what are you all waiting for!? Lets go!”

We turn to Zecora.

She looks at us tiredly. “Begone now little foals.”

“See you Zecora!” We say together as we dash off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof groaned in pain again. His whole body was singed, but thankfully that explosion had knocked his helmet back into position. He grumbled incoherently and looked for the letter, and realised that the message had been vaporized, all that was left of it was the seal of the Canterlot tower.

“Uh oh.” He said to himself. “Looks like Starry is gonna be furious again, he’s gonna have to resend that letter.”

“See you Zecora!” The fillies say together and begin dashing back towards Ponyville.

Iron Hoof felt his left lower eye begin to twitch....

Burned, Battered and bruised, however not defeated, he began to grudgingly trudge after them, to whatever antics the little demons had in store next.

“Hell, I’m not getting paid enough for this” He thought to himself morosely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5: The Cutiemark Crusaders (Part 2)

We run cheerfully back towards Ponyville. “This Cutiemark Crusader thing is fun!” I exclaim to the three fillies behind me.

“Of course! It’s fun and we get to try all these new things which might get us Cutiemarks!” Scootaloo replies. “But it can get a little frustrating at times.”

“What do you mean?” I ask

“Well sometimes you are so sure that ya got it, but when you check, ya realise that nothing has changed on yer flank.” Applebloom replies.

“Really?”

“Well, this Cutiemark thing is harder than it looks,” Sweetie Belle adds.

We gallop past the bridge whilst many curious eyes glance in my direction. I slow down, and merge myself between the group as Applebloom takes the lead toward a certain Sugarcube Corner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof trudged slowly as the four fillies disappeared into the sweet shop. He muttered something under his breath as he walked toward the shop.

Suddenly a Pink Pony appeared out of nowhere into his face. “Hi there! I’m Pinkie Pie and I haven’t seen you around before! That means you’re new, and you’re also wearing those shiny helmets that those Royal guards wear that means *GASP* your part of the Royal guard and you work for Celestia!”

Iron Hoof gritted his teeth and continued to trot towards the dessert shop. The Pink Pony however, was not deterred. She continued to bounce alongside him. “What’s it like being in the guard? It must be so super duper cool! Oh my gosh, how much do you get paid? How do we sign up for the guard? Do you get good food there? Is there cake?”

His eye twitched again. This Pink Pony was rapidly turning his headache into an abyss of pain. He turned around violently. “Look, I’m going to have to ask you to leave Ms....”
“Pinkamena Diane Pie! Or you can call me Pinkie Pie, or Pinkie!” She answered cheerfully.

“Wait... I’m forgetting something...” He thought.

Then he remembered. “My orders were to....”

Stay hidden for as long as possible.

He groaned in frustration, a demotion seemed pretty likely at this stage. Today was one of those days where everything seemed to go horribly wrong.

“So what’s your name?” Pinkie asked.

“Go away Ms. Pie, I have something important to do.” He growled at her.
“Like stalking a filly princess who probably already knows somepony is following her?” The Pink Pony answered whilst smiling.

“W-what did you just say?!” Iron Hoof stammered in surprise.
“Nothing!” the Pink Pony replies innocently in a sing-song voice before bouncing along humming a tuneless melody.
“lalalala~~~”

Iron Hoof stared after the Pink Pony as she bounced away, and shook his head, unsure to make of what he just heard.
“All of the Ponies in this town are CRAZY!!” He mutters to himself and walks towards Sugarcube Corner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fluttershy flew gently towards the library. “Twilight is going to be so happy when she finds out that Dawn isn’t mad with her.” She thought happily to herself. “I hope Twilight’s inside...”

She tapped the door softly. There was no reply.

“Oh... Okay then....” she said before turning around. “I’ll try again later.”

As she turned to leave, the door opened. “Oh hey Fluttershy, come on in!” The purple dragon said.
“Hello Spike, is Twilight around? I have a very important message to tell her.” She stated.

Spike shook his head. “Sorry, Twilight went off somewhere before waking me up, I haven’t seen her all day!”

“That’s strange, I thought she was teaching Dawn how to read an hour ago...” Fluttershy said in confusion. Spike scratched his chin tiredly. “Sorry Fluttershy, I just woke up. Twilight had another of her late-night Study sessions last night.”

“I understand. Well...I better be on my way then.” She said.

Spike nodded. “Why do you need her?” He asks.

“Well, it’s a long story...sorry but I really need to go find Twilight first.” Fluttershy replied.
Spike sighed. “I understand.”

With that Fluttershy flew off.

Spike closed the door and returned inside the library. Upon entering the second room, now converted into a classroom of some sort he noticed that the alphabet had been scrawled over the blackboard. “What has Twilight been doing?” He wonders.

Fluttershy took to the skies at her usual graceful speed. “Well she isn’t in the library, let’s try the park....”

As she flew, she noticed a certain four fillies run into Sugarcube Corner. However, what caught her attention particularly was a battered looking royal guard which trudged after them, uncaring of his appearance, or the staring eyes of the residents of ponyville. “Ooh those girls didn’t listen! I told them to stay in my home!.........I hope they didn’t break or scare anything...” She thought morosely to herself.

However, that was not important to her right now. Twilight needed to be told where Dawn was located as soon as possible before she or the little alicorn does anything drastic...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was already late afternoon, and all the students had long since gone to their homes. Cheerilee hummed, as she prepared the lesson for the next day. She glanced at the window and noticed two ponies approach. She sighed tiredly, It had been a long day. She had not been present in Ponyville during arrival of the so-called third alicorn, remaining true to her duties as a teacher during the time.
Twilight and Applejack knocked on the door of Ponyville Junior School.
The magenta school teacher opened the door. “Hello Twilight, hello Applejack, how can I help you today?” Cheerilee asked. Upon noticing Twilight’s frazzled mane and semi crazed expression, she immediately knew something was wrong.
“There’s something wrong isn’t there.” She stated flatly.

“Eeyup.” Applejack replied.
“Of course nothing is wrong, everything is fine, I mean it's going to be fine, I mean it has to be!” Twilight blurted out.
“Here we go again...” Cheerilee thought to herself whilst rolling her eyes.
Applejack turned to her. “Twi? Ya sure ya don’t wanna take this a little easier?”
Cheerilee raised her eyebrow. “How can I help you today...” She repeated herself cautiously.

Twilight jumped in her face. “Why hi there Cheerilee! I was wondering if you have seen a small, dark blue, filly alicorn with the name ‘Dawn’ wandering around by any chance?”

Cheerilee took a step back. “Well, no...bu-”
“WELL! That’s too bad then, and if you do by any chance see her, please contact me as soon as possible!”
“Okay....”
“One must be a little careful around her. Why, she’s only a filly after all! A filly with enough raw magic to level the town along with half the Everfree forest! Please, if you see her, tell her that - I AS A GOOD FRIEND- miss her very much, and I would like to talk to her.” Twilight said crazily pressing her nose into Cheerilee’s. Twilight’s nonsensical eyes seemed to bore into her soul whilst she maintained her crazed grin.
Cheerilee gulped. “I-I’ll keep that in mind!”

Suddenly Twilight was pulled back away from Cheerilee.
Applejack spat out Twilight’s tail. “Ah’m real sorry Ms. Cheerilee, but as you can see, we got a real big problem on ah’re hooves....In fact make it two.” She says whilst glaring at Twilight. “Snap out of it!” She yelled at the Purple Unicorn.

“Huh-wha? Where?” Twilight blurted in confusion as some sense returned into her eyes. Suddenly her eyes began to dart wildly again. “Did we find Dawn? Where are we? Has anything exploded yet?” She asks frantically.
“No sugarcube, now look at me...” Applejack said assertively. Twilight’s panicked eyes met hers. “Now I need you ta trust me when ah say everything is going to be A-OK.” She said slowly and directly.
Twilight’s breathing slowed. “You’re right AJ, I just need to set my head straight and calm down. I will find her, and everything will be alright.”

She turns to Cheerilee. “I’m sorry if I scared you there Cheerilee.” The teacher smiled at her. “It’s quite alright Twilight Sparkle, I can understand the pressure you are under. After all, this is Luna’s child, taking care of her would be a huge responsibility.” Twilight sighed. “Thanks Cheerilee, we should really continue our search, sorry for bothering you.”

Cheerilee replied, “Not at all! Good luck on your search girls!”
With that, Twilight and Applejack waved goodbye and galloped back towards the town.

As soon as they disappeared from sight, Cheerilee’s body relaxed as she gave a sigh of relief. She walked toward her desk and pulled out a blue hardcover book from the bottom drawer. She opened the book’s compartment and took out a silver flask, unstoppered the lid and took a good long swig, feeling the burning apple flavoured liquid slide down her throat, warming her stomach. She felt her body relax. She giggled as the hard cider began to take its intoxicating effect. “Confound these ponies.” She thought to herself before taking another swig. “They drive me to drink.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“.....Are you sure you girls can handle all this work?” Mr Cake asked us as we struggled to get in several aprons. “Your majesty? Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked me as I mentally tie the strings of the apron around my back.

“Of Course Mr Cake! and please don’t call me your majesty, just call me Dawn...” I answer.

He smiles. “Thank you so much for the help girls, with Mrs Cake away, an extra hoof to help is always appreciated.”
He turns around.
Pinkie Pie suddenly dashes in through the door and into the kitchen.I notice an armoured pony follow inside from the corner of my eye.
"Pinkie? Could you watch over the girls while I go to the hospital to check on Mrs Pie?"
"Okie Dokie Lokie! No problemo!" She replies.
“what’s a guard doing here?” I wonder to myself. He takes off his helmet, and I feel a very familiar aura appear. “So he was the one following me all along...”
I turn to the CMC’s whom were mixing various sugary ingredients together with cookie dough. “Be right back girls, I need to do something very quickly.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iron Hoof pulled out the vial from his armour. It was cracked, but thankfully remained watertight. He glanced at the green translucent liquid and gave a sigh. There really wasn't a better time to take it. He finds an empty table and takes a seat. Curious eyes from other patrons in the shop glanced in his direction but he paid no heed.
He opened the vial, breathed deeply as the aroma of the tonic filled his nostrils. He lifted the vial to his mouth and-

“Who are you and why are you following me? Said a blue little alicorn which suddenly appeared in front of his face.
His hoof lifted and he swallowed on reflex. His eyes widened and he began gagging desperately. “Oh my gosh, are you alright?” The alicorn asks.

Take no more than one sip...

He raised the vial to his eyes.
He had to know.
It was nearly empty.
He sighed.

“I don't even care anymore!” He thought to himself in resignation as he felt his body start to twitch uncontrollably as his vision began to blur.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ummm....sir are you okay?” I ask the armoured figure.

He begins to laugh creepily before giving me a very wide grin, his body shuddering. “You are the subject!” He states bluntly.

“Umm...What?!!” I ask incredulously.

“You are the Subject!” He repeats himself excitedly. “And I must follow you!”
“Okay....” I began to take a few steps back, slightly scared from the guard’s behaviour. He rises from his seat and begins to take steps towards me in accordance to my speed, maintaining his ever creepy grin.
I gulp.
“I’m gonna getcha!” He says crazily and lunges towards me.
I turn around and gallop away as fast as I can, and I can hear him in close pursuit.

“Hey! Leave her alone!” I hear Applebloom call out after him. “Come on girls lets save Dawn!!”
“Oooh! Oooh! you girls are playing tag! I wanna play too!” Pinkie Pie’s voice follows

“YOU CAN’T RUN FROM MEEEEE!!!” I hear the creepy guard call out from behind.
I begin to scream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The residents of Ponyville stared in surprise for the second time that day. There was the alicorn, running and screaming, being chased by a guard, followed by the infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders...... and Pinkie Pie bouncing behind them giggling and spouting nonsense excitedly.

Twilight’s ears twitched as she crossed the bridge. “Do you hear that AJ?”
Applejack listened intently. “It sounds like somepony’s in trouble”

“No AJ, It sounds like Dawn screaming! Come on, I think she’s in trouble!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lieutenant cloud breaker scouted around the town. Another uneventful sweep, as usual.

He sighed, after joining the guard, it had been nothing but parades, and the rather annoying task of not blinking in public. Nothing eventful ever happens!
Nothing except-

“YOU CAN’T RUN FROM MEEEEE!!!” A voice suddenly calls from under, and realises that it was from Iron Hoof. He turned around and stared at the spectacle before him.
“Wait...what the hay is Iron Hoof doing?!” He thought to himself in surprise before circling around and descending towards the rather interesting scene. He shot himself toward his normally stoic commander, hoping to stop him before he embarrassed himself and the royal guard any further.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Celestia yelled as she blasted the dragon before her with a solar flare. The green dragon raised his claws to protect his face. The beam scorched the dragon and melted the cave wall behind him.
“Alright! Alright! I’ll make sure they behave, just leave me alone!!” He cried out.
“WILT THOU KEEP THY WORD?” Luna’s voice boomed afterwards.

“YES AND PLEASE STOP YELLING AT ME!” The Elder dragon cried.

The two royal sisters nodded at each other and exited the cavern, their work done.
“Two down, seven more to go...” Luna muttered under her breath as they soared through the air.
“What’s the matter little sister? you seem a little tense..” Celestia asked in concern.
“It’s nothing Tia, I’m just wondering what Dawn is up to at the moment.....”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes dart from cover to cover as I gasp for breath in an alley littered with barrels. Seeing this opportunity, I leap inside one. My Pursuer was nowhere to be seen. As my breathing slows, I calm myself down. Suddenly a Pink Face appears in mine
“HEYA DAWN! Are we playing hide and seek now?” Pinkie Pie asks cheerfully.
“Where? How? Huh?!! How did she even get inside a barrel?” My mind tries to comprehend.
“Shhh! There’s this creepy guy who's trying to get me!” I whisper urgently.
“Oh silly, of course he is! Somepony has to be it in hide and seek!”
I groan inwardly in frustration. “Look, just stay really quiet alright? I don’t want him to find me”
“Okie Dokie Lokie!” She says again in her irritatingly care-free manner.

I detect movement from around the corner. “Shhh somepony’s Coming!!” I whisper through gritted teeth.

I listen carefully. There was the sounds of a scuffle.

“Where is she?! WHERE IS SHE?!! I MUST FIND THE SUBJECT!!”
“Leave her alone you brute!” Scootaloo’s voice calls out.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to calm down” A foreign voice calls.
“Thish onesh a hooffull.” A voice said through gritted teeth. “Give ush an hoof will yer?”
“Dawn? where are you?” Twilight’s voice called out.

“Twilight!” I cry out, happy to hear her voice. I leap out of the barrel.
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie says in annoyance. “It’s no fun if you show them where we are!”

Ignoring her I leap from my cover. “Twilight!” I call for her again.
“Dawn where are you?!” Her voice calls for me.

“In here! In the alley!” I reply. I walk towards the opening and see her walking toward me. I jump and hug her, much to her surprise. “I’m sorry I ran away! I promise I’ll never do it again!”
She blinks in surprise before returning the hug. “It’s alright Dawn, It was wrong of me to force you to do something you didn’t want to do.”
However our moment of reconciliation was short lived.

“Whoa Nelly! Ah can’t. Hold. Him!” Applejack’s voice strains with exertion. “He’s about to break loose!”
“He’s too strong!” Applebloom adds
“Sir Don’t do it!” The Other voice calls out calls out.

“MUST. FIND. AND. FOLLOW. SUBJECT!!!!” The fourth voice yells with imperative, followed by the snapping of rope and a cry of surprise from several voices.
“Lookout! He’s breaking loose!” Sweetie belle cries out in alarm.
“AAAAARGH!” *snap*
I watch in fear as several ponies, one another royal guard, fly in different directions, all with pieces of rope in their mouths.

The crazed stallion appears at the opening of the alleyway and turns in our direction. “Oh I’ve got you now!”
I look at Twilight who’s eyes narrowed, and her expression determined. She stands in front of me. “Close your eyes Dawn.” She instructs and I do so.

“Ready or not! Here I come!” I hear the stallion call out followed by the sound of galloping hooves toward us. I brace for impact, when a crackling sound fills the air. I open my eyes and realise that we were surrounded by a purple energy field, the stallion shaking his head. He raises his hoof and begins pounding on the shield, bursts of energy escaping with each punch.

Twilight gasps for breath, straining uphold the protective barrier, she looked tired, as though as she was about to collapse. “Twilight!” I cry out for her in concern, and watch on in horror as the stallion continued his onslaught. “I’VE GOT YOU!!” He calls out eagerly to me.

With a crash, the barrier collapses, and the magical energies lashed back towards Twilight and I, sending us flying into the alley wall behind us. I feel the air rush out of my lungs as I impact the wall. I shake my head, and see that Twilight was lying still, unmoving.

“Twilight?” I nudge her gently. There was no reaction from her. “Twilight! Please wake up!” I plead desperately.

“He he he...” The sound of laughing draws my attention back to the armoured stallion. Whom was now walking slowly toward me. I walk back slowly, afraid, until my flank touched the wall of the alleyway.
I was trapped, nowhere left to run.

He grins. “I’ve got you now!” He steps over the prone form of Twilight. Pinkie Pie jumps in front of me. “Hey! Leave her alone!” She growls, standing on two hooves, whilst holding up the other two in a comical fighting stance. The stallion laughs and shoves her against a wall. There was a sickening crunch, and she too falls down limp.
His hooves reach out for me. I move away from him in disgust. “GET AWAY FROM ME!” I scream at him, but to no avail. He comes even closer. I close my eyes, unable to watch.
His hoof brushes my face. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”

My whole body recoiled. “GO AWAY!” My mind screamed, and I mentally push at the stallion as hard as I could. I hear several cracking noises and open my eyes. The stallion was nowhere to be seen, and the alley walls surrounding me had split, cracks running alongside the stone walls, the barrels inside the alley, shattered, their splinters and pieces littered the floor. I blink in surprise. “What just happened?” I thought to myself in wonder.

Snapping out of my stupor, I run to the prone forms of Twilight and Pinkie Pie. I shake Twilight desperately. “Ooh, Please wake up!” When that had no discernible effect I shook Pinkie. She Shimmies her head before bursting into a goofy grin. “Oh heya Dawn!”
However I was in a state of panic. “Please, You’ve gotta help Twilight! I think she’s hurt, she isn’t moving!”
I point to the prone purple unicorn. Pinkie’s expression drops. “Oh dear.” She says, her face now worried.

“Twilight Please wake up!” I plead and hug her. “I’m sorry! Please wake up!”

“Sorry about what?” I hear her voice mutter.
I feel a pang of happiness “Twilight you’re alright!” I exclaim before happily hugging her even tighter. Her neck stiffens.
“Dawn. Your. Choking...me!” She gasps.

“Oh..” I quickly loosen my grip, blushing. “Sorry about that.

She smiles to me, and I no longer felt uncomfortable near her. “Where did the stallion go? She asks me.”

“I’m...not sure...” I reply

I notice an empty suit of armour on the ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lieutenant Storm Weaver frowned as the alicorn’s aura began to shift once again, from the west of ponyville towards the market place in the South, followed by the familiar aura of Iron Hoof along with that of Twilight Sparkle’s and a few other unknown presences. “She sure is an active one, this filly...” He thought. “Also, what the hay is that foal doing? He’s supposed to remain under cover!” The auras stop moving.

“What the hay is going on?”

Suddenly a overwhelming wave of magic washes over the area, causing him to shudder and gasp for breath. “What was that?!”

Iron Hoofs presence vanished, and Weaver feared the worst. However, as with protocol, he must remain where he was, until further orders are received.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starry Quills watched impassively from the crystal ball on his desk. “There goes my spy..”
The young alicorn had not realised it, but she had killed the soldier, the force of her blast simply obliterating him from existence. Only his magic resistant helmet would remain.
“Such is the might of the Alicorns, that is why, we do not anger the princesses” he noted with muse.
He grinned, “ She is exceeding all expectations...I think I might have to pay her a little visit myself...”

He rose from his desk. “Spicy Mix!” He called to his assistant who quickly entered the room. “Yes sir?”
“Pack our bags, I think we’re going to take a little trip to Ponyville.”
“To study Luna’s daughter sir?”
“Yes, you can put it that way...”

The assistant left the room. Starry walked towards his desk and opens the 2nd drawer. He pulls out a platinum necklace with a dark crystalline gem. “This should make you a little more manageable, my little pony!” He grins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walk gingerly from the alley with Pinkie Pie and Twilight behind me. I notice that the ponies had set up a barricade made of tables and several of the ponies were wearing metal pots and pans on their heads. A net falls over my head, whilst a pie flies onto my knee. I blink in surprise, it was strangely.... humiliating...

“Wait! Hold it, It’s Dawn!” Applebloom cries out, and takes the pan off her head.

“Twilight! I’m so glad to see that yer alright!” Applejack says happily, however seeing Pinkie Pie, her expression became a confused one. “Umm Pinkie? How the hay were you inside the alley?”

A thought suddenly hit me. “Wait” I say out loud before Pinkie could answer. “If we all left Sugarcube corner, who’s watching the oven...”

*BOOOOOOM* A flash of light brightens the afternoon air.

I gulp. “Uh oh.”

Chapter 6

“So what have we learned today Dawn?” Twilight Sparkle asks sternly. I was on a high stool, next to a dinner table, whilst Twilight folded her hooves and gave me a disapproving look. We were back inside her library, Spike the dragon was cooking up something which smells enticingly of apples.

“That I shouldn’t disobey my mother’s wishes, go running off when I don’t like something.....and never to leave an oven unsupervised..” I reply glumly.

“Yes, especially the last part! Do you know how long it is going to take to fix Sugarcube Corner?”
“I said I was sorry....”
“Well sorry doesn’t fix Sugarcube Corner now does it? Because of that, Mr Cake is now living with Rarity, who so generously offered to help, whilst Pinkie Pie is now living with Applejack!”

My stomach rumbled.
Twilight chuckles, “Oh you must be very hungry after today, don’t worry, Spike is nearly done making dinner, I am sure that you will like it very much.”

Pinkie Pie continued to jabber on, much to Applejack’s dismay. “So what do you think we should call Sugarcube Corner after it’s fixed? Pinkie Pie Super Duper Awesome Cake Shop?”

Applejack sighed. “No Pinkie, that sounds ridiculous.”
The Pink Party Pony pondered for a moment...
“...Ooh OOh! I know, how about Candyville?!”
Applejack raised her eyebrow. “That could work, but the cakes are going ta' have ta agree to it first.”
“No silly! It will work! I know Mr Cake is just going to LOVE the new name!” However Pinkie’s gaze then dropped to the table before her, “...... once he forgives me for what happened to Sugarcube Corner...” she looked guiltily at her hooves, her previous excitement suddenly gone.
“Aww Pinkie, Ah’m sure he’ll come round!”
“You really think so?”
“Of course!”

Pinkie’s suddenly returned to her original cheerfulness. “Okie Dokie Lokie then! We have to start planning for the 'sorry-we-accidentally-blew-up-sugarcube-corner-party!'”

Applejack facehoofed.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
“..that’s a good thing right?” I ask Twilight.
“I hope so..” she replies with uncertainty.

Spike walks in with a tray of apple pies and

I look out the window, only to realise the sun was nearly completely set. I walk toward the window, and stare at the moon. It’s bright, round form reminding me of-
I sigh sadly.

“I wish you were here with me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luna relaxed as she felt the familiar energies surround her body once more as she began her daily ritual of raising the moon. Perched nearby on a cloud was Celestia, whom smiled as she watched her sister perform the essential task.
Once again she pulled the moon into its rightful place amongst the stars. As she descended, she heard a wish from somepony she held dear. “I wish you were here with me...” a ghostly voice whispered into her horn. With her duties finished, she once again descended next to her sister.
“Well done little sister.” the solar princess complimented
“Thanks Tia.”
“Though we are a little behind schedule, elders Firestone and Diamondclaw have agreed to keep their younglings in check, after much discussion.”
Luna chuckled. “If by discussion, do you mean beating the dragons into submission? Then yes, I do recall it being a huge success.”
Celestia chuckled along with her sister. “Come sister, let us rest on the clouds, we still have seven elders to visit.”
Luna paused. “Tia...there is one more task we wish to do before resting tonight.”
Celestia nodded. “Of course sister. Go and visit Dawn, just be back on this cloud before sunrise okay? We still have a busy day ahead of us.”
Luna smiled. “Thank you Tia.”
With a flash of her horn, Luna disappeared into the evening sky. Celestia closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come.

Luna smiled as the town of Ponyville materialised before her eyes. “Dawn, I’m here for you!” She thought happily, as she began to descend toward the town library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sit up from the table. Twilight and Spike look up from their meals and eyed me warily. “She’s here.” I say happily.

“Who’s here Dawn? Twilight asks curiously.

“Mommy!”

“What?! Princess Luna is here?!” She asks, body suddenly tense. “We haven’t even made any preparations to-”

“That will be quite alright, Twilight Sparkle,” A familiar voice suddenly says from within the library
“P-princess Luna?” Twilight asked nervously.
The Luna princess revealed herself. She takes a deep breath, absorbing the aroma into her nostrils. “My my, that smells delicious!”

I gasp in happiness. Spike enters from the kitchen, curious at the newcomer before looking at the princess and me, back and forth in wonder.

“That I am. It is good to see you again, Twilight Sparkle, I see you have been taking care of my little Dawn? Everything went well today I presume?”
Twilight faked a smile, “Why yes! Everything today went swimmingly!” she lied.

I look at Luna in the eyes. “I..kinda blew up Sugarcube Corner today... and some creepy guard chased me through town.”

Luna raised her eyebrow. “What did he look like?” She asked with concern.

“I dunno.. he was gray coloured, and he kept calling me ‘The Subject’ which was really weird.”

Luna frowned. There were simply too many guards in the palace to remember by their colour. However, one assigned to the task of watching over her daughter must have been one of fairly high rank and skill, but that matter would be dealt with later, her daughter was all that mattered for the moment.

“Where is he now Dawn?” She asks.

“I’m not sure... he tried to touch me and I so I pushed him away.”
Luna looks at me with concern. “With magic, dear?”
“Yeah..he just disappeared though...” I reply, uncertain as to how she would react.
“I see.” She smiles at me. “Don’t worry Dawn, Auntie Celestia and I have nearly finished dealing with the dragons, I will be with you soon.”
I open my mouth to protest, but I thought better of it.

“Umm sorry to interrupt, Princess Luna, may I talk with you for a moment in private?” Twilight asked.

The Lunar Princess turned to her. “Of course.”
“I’ll be right back, enjoy your meal.” she says to me before walking out the room.
She nuzzles me gently before walking out the room, leaving me alone with Spike.
We look at each other, unsure of what to say, we both smile sheepishly before turning away, unable to look at each other..

After around 40 seconds, I attempt to break the silence “So.....how is it like living here in Ponyville?”

He scratches his head scales. “Well, it’s fairly quiet. Not many ponies here in Ponyville read that much, so the library is often quiet most of the time, unlike in Canterlot.”

I nod, “I thought dragons were big and scary, how come I’m as tall as you?” I ask curiously. He gives a huff of annoyance. “Thats because I haven’t grown up yet, when I grow older, I’ll be bigger!”

“Oh.. okay.”

He smiles awkwardly. “Hey.. umm Dawn can I ask you a question?”

“Sure”

“You know how you met Sweetie Belle today?” He asks nervously
“Yeah, what about it?”
“Well.... I was wondering, if you could, you know... ask her what Rarity thinks of me?” His cheeks began to blush a deep pink.
“Wait what has Sweetie Belle got to do with Rarity?” I ask curiously.
“Well you see, um, she’s her sister!”

My jaw drops. The filly whom I had become friends with today, was sister to the mare whom nearly killed me with her fashion and need for perfection.
But Spike’s expression looked so desperate I could not refuse him.

I realise he was staring at me, I shook my head and smiled.
“Yeah, sure thing. I’m not sure what I am doing tomorrow though”, I tell him
He stammers. “W-well it’s nothing really, just if you want to that is..”

“Really, Its no problem.” I insist
We both chuckle awkwardly before going back to the original silence.

Spike sniffs the air. “Oops, the pies are done, be right back in a moment!” he waddles off into the kitchen in a hurry, leaving me alone on the kitchen table.

I look up and see a book lying on the ground, I channel my horn and lift it towards me. “I wonder what Mommy and Twilight are talking about?” I thought to myself as I opened the book and then realised. “And who am I kidding, I can’t read.”

Then I get a brilliant Idea. “Wait, if I’m in a library, that means there's a lot of books! BOOKFORT! YAY!” I hop from my seat, in search for more books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight led Luna towards up the ladder toward her bedroom before casting a barrier around them both. Luna raised an eyebrow. “Twilight Sparkle, what is the meaning of this secrecy?”

Twilight looks at the Luna sadly. “Umm... Princess? There are a few things I would like to address with you, in regards to Dawn.”

Luna looked at her thoughtfully. “Speak then Twilight.”

“First of all, I believe Dawn should be supervised by somepony with much more power than I, today, I believe she had unwittingly killed a royal guard.”

“What?!” Luna asked, concern beginning to fill her voice. “How could you suggest such a thing?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, I didn’t believe it myself either at the beginning, but its the only plausible explanation for the guard’s mysterious disappearance. “ Twilight explained.

“After I had taken Dawn back into the Library, I went back to the area where Dawn had ‘pushed’ the guard. From what I deduce, the guard’s armour was made of a material known as Iridium, or in a laypony’s term, Star metal. The chemical symbol Ir. This metal is of the atomic number 77. This metal itself can mask a pony’s magical presence from others, and also it can nullify magical effects by up to sixty percent of their original strength. It does so by projecting a miniature null field around a user.” She materialised a small blackboard and began to draw a diagram of this material.

“Used against normal unicorns, it would normally render their magic near useless against the guard. As in the case this afternoon, he overpowered a forcefield I had created to protect Dawn with 4-5 hoof blows, causing a magical backlash, which had knocked me out.”

Luna nodded slowly. “I see.”

Twilight droned on.

“But here is where it gets interesting; after I had awoken, the guard was nowhere to be seen. All that was left is the crushed chest piece and intact helmet. From what I hypothesise, I believe due to Dawn fearing for her safety, she had pushed the guard as hard as she could. The magical burst was so strong, it basically ripped the guard apart, particle by particle-.”

Luna’s mouth was dry. “Dawn has been in ponyville for only one day in Ponyville, and already somepony is dead, but there really isn't anything I can do, Tia needs me, and I do not trust anypony well enough back in Canterlot to protect Dawn. Though asking Cadence is a good idea, I do not believe she can properly defend Dawn if need be.”

“-that is unless of course, she had unwittingly teleported the guard to some unknown place.”

Luna sighed in relief, “Then let us hope that it is the latter.” she stated hopefully.

Twilight nodded. “Should we tell her what had happened?” she asks.
Luna shook her head. “She is still a child, innocent and unknowing of the evils of the world, let her stay so for as long as possible. After all, she will have an eternity of responsibility afterward.”

Twilight bowed. “I understand Princess.”
Luna stood. “With that aside, what other issues would you like to address to me?”

“Well, I was wondering, what would you like Dawn to do tomorrow, she is still here for a few days after all; also, she is illiterate.”
Luna scratched her chin. “Well... It would be nice for Dawn to have greater control over her magic... also, she would need to learn to fly soon. Adding to that, I think she should make some more friends here in Ponyville, it would be terribly hard for her back in Canterlot. She is technically royalty now, and you know how it is once somepony becomes . As for her illiteracy, do not worry about it, I wish to teach her myself.”
Twilight quickly materialised a sheet of paper and scroll, writing her wishes down. “Okay! As you wish princess” she says as soon as she finished.

Luna smiled. “Anything else that I need to know about Twilight Sparkle?”

“Umm, actually yes. About Sugarcube Corner......”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“and one more book here...” I mumble as I continue to stack the ‘castle’. “and Perfect!”

With the fort complete there was but one thing left to do. With the entire library’s collection of books made into this masterpiece, it had all come down to this.
“DEMOLITION!” I cry as I leap into the stacked books, giggling as I am buried under the library’s collection.
“What are you doing?” Luna’s voice suddenly calls to me.

My eyes widened in surprise. “Umm playing Book Fort!” I replied sheepishly.

Twilight walks down and gave a shriek of horror before composing herself. “ugh. Now I’m going to have to reshelve all those books!” she huffs with irritation.
“I-I can explain-”
“Dinner’s Ready!” Spike called out, much to my relief.
Luna chuckles and her horn flashes briefly, all the books simply re-organised themselves into the shelves neatly. “Come on now Twilight Sparkle, would you be so kind as to let me join your meal? Those apple pies smell delicious!” She winks at me.
Twilight gave me a disapproving look before chuckling. “I guess you’re right Princess. Come on everypony, let’s not wait for the food to get cold.”

Dinner was delicious. Spike had cooked up a filling meal, A large apple pie, which we all shared, a bowl of spinach which remained almost untouched, and fried hay strips. Spike was eating a bowl of gems, which at times through mouthfuls mentioned something about the ripeness of the emeralds.
The crumbs of the Pie fell down my face as I took another bite of Apple flavoured goodness. After chewing and gulping down, I burp loudly.
Luna looks at me disapprovingly. “What do we say young Filly?”
“Umm, excuse me?” I replied sheepishly.

Luna gives a authoritative look. “That’s right little filly, and that rule goes double for someone who is going to become a princess when she’s a little older.”
I sigh. “Fiine..but ”
Her expression becomes warm. “How were you today Dawn?”
“Good I guess. I met these awesome ponies today who called themselves Cutiemark Crusaders. And then they invited me to go crusading with them and then it was so much fun!” I recounted excitedly.
Luna chuckled at my excitement. “and praytell; Dawn, what activities were you up to today?”

I begin recounting the events of the day. Luna listened with great interest, whilst Twilight seemed to panic at certain event.

Luna laughed particularly hard when I said I had run away from Twilight’s attempted teaching. “Oh Dawn, you remind me of myself when I was a filly your age. Auntie Celestia had tried to teach me how to write, and I ran away at every opportunity. She use to chase me for hours before I finally tired....then she caught me.” Luna smiled at her memory.
“Dawn, you are to listen and to do whatever Twilight Sparkle tells you to do from now on okay?”

I roll my eyes. “Fiine!” I say again in exasperation.
Luna looks outside at the moon and stands. “I’m sorry for such a short stay, but I must return to Celestia, we still have much to do.”
I jump onto my seat to protest, but instead, I am lifted toward Luna, whom gives me a hug, leaving me speechless. A tear comes to my eye.

She smiles at me once again. “Don’t be sad Dawn, I will visit tomorrow night, I promise.” With that her horn begins to glow a light blue hue, surrounding her body.

“Mommy wait!” I run toward her and leap at her, hoping to stop her, but it was too late. Her body disappeared and I crash face first into a shelf of books. I feel the world spin around me, followed by a sharp pain on my head, along with hundreds of little sharp pains as the shelf dropped its contents over me.

“Ohmygosh! Dawn are you alright?” Twilight’s voice was distorted, and my ears were ringing. I try to look at her, and I see four of her, blurring together as my head swam.

I began to cry, but stop as soon as I feel Twilight’s hoof on my shoulder. I shook my head, and the four Twilight’s became one. “Don’t be sad Dawn, I’m sure you’ll have wonderful time here.”

I yawn. “You think so?” I say tiredly.

“How about I read you a story?” She asks.
I nod my head eagerly. She carries me towards the fireplace and levitates a book toward her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“...and the little filly grew up, big and strong, and the family lived happily ever after.” Twilight closed the book and took off her reading glasses.

A light snore from the ground confirmed her suspicions. She smiled and lifted the sleeping filly gently before walking her up towards a spare bed. She tucked her, placing the quilts over the little form. The Alicorn murmured something before kicking her hooves and turning over.
“Good night my little Pony.”

Twilight stretched and walked toward her study desk. Today had taken much of her time for research, and now was a perfect moment at night to make it up. All she needed to remember was to remind Spike to make coffee in the morning. She placed down the book and walked her way outside. First thing to be done was an apology and a favour to ask of Ponyville’s school teacher, after all, she had knew she wouldn’t be awake until the midday tomorrow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was dreaming once again, however this time, there was something different about the dream. I was floating in pure darkness, around me were the floating ruins of an ancient castle. In the centre of it was a figure sitting on a throne, surrounded by hundreds of statues. I looked around, and realised that that was all there was.
Everything else was nothing but a horizon of darkness, an endless abyss.
I slowly flap my wings and make my way towards the ruins. Around the place was shattered glass. The symbol of the moon was etched upon a bronzium gate, which swung lazily on it’s hinges despite the fact there was no breeze.

Come. A voice echoes around my mind, the figure on the throne beckons me towards it.
Slowly I land on the ruins and approach the throne.

I look at the figure, and realise it was me. “Do you know who you are?” My own voice asked me.
“My name is Dawn” I answer.
My doppelganger snickered. “Wrong answer. That was a name given to you. Not your true name.”
The castle floors began to crack, along with many of the statues. Green light began to appear on the statues.
“Let me ask you again. What is your true name.” The doppelganger asks.
“I- I don’t know!” I stammer
The doppelganger rises from the throne. “Pathetic.” It states bluntly. “You were just like her, weak and Naive. Know your true purpose, Eclipse, know your destiny.”

“My name’s not Eclipse, It’s Dawn!” I retort.
Her face however remained impassive. “ you will see the truth, sooner or later.”

The surrounding statues split open, to reveal hundreds of distorted ponies. Though they were all of different shapes, colour, species and size, they all shared one thing in common.
Their eyes were blood red, like mine. They were all leering at me, some howling in pain, others in laughter.

“Who are you? W-what are you talking about? What do you want from me?” I blurt out whilst taking a few steps back from the throne.

The Doppelganger stands and smiles evilly and began to trot slowly toward me. “Who am I?” It says with a sneer.
It chuckles.
“You will know very soon.” The doppelganger began to grow in size. Dark arcane energies materialised and surrounded her. She rose to the air, mighty and powerful.
“Open your eyes Eclipse, and embrace who you are!” her voice crackled as she flew toward me. I lift my hooves in a vain attempt to protect myself, and the next thing I know, she hugs me. I try to shrug her away, however to my surprise, she is gone....

I feel a sudden pain within my body, the pain creeps slowly from my chest, and towards my head. I cry out in pain and writhe on the ground.
Embrace who you are!
I step onto my hooves and pound at the ground, trembling, in an attempt to rid the pain in my mind. Each hoof blow crackles with mysterious power, sending black bolts of energy in every direction. I could feel her in my mind, writhing.

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” I yell and slam both my hooves down . A shockwave of dark power surrounds my body and expands outwards, engulfing the shambling ponies around me. Exhausted, I slumped onto my stomach, but thankfully the pain was gone.

I groggily look around the ruins of the castle, all the monstrous ponies had reverted back to their original statue forms. I walk slowly toward the throne. There was a black crown. However before I could reach it, the floor beneath me crumbles and I fall.

I landed painfully on a rocky wasteland. I look around, and see nothing but darkness. I brush myself, and realise that something was different about me. My coat was no longer blue, It was purple, and my mane....

It was as dark as the abyss itself, and flowing with an unknown wind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I jolt awake once more, gasping for breath. I squint my eyes as soon as I realise, that the sun was shining on me. I shake my head.
“I really gotta stop having these bad dreams.” I thought tiredly.
I hop from the bed, and smell the air. A wafting aroma of pancakes fill my nostrils, and I eagerly make my way toward the kitchen.

As I made my way down, I realised only Spike was there, cooking. “Morning Spike!” I say cheerfully.
He turns around, displaying a heart emblazoned apron. “Oh hey Dawn, just take a seat, breakfast will be ready in a moment!”
I stretch, releasing my wings and flap them a few times. “Okay. Have you seen Twilight?” I ask.
“She’s still sleeping, she was studying all night, so that’s why I’m letting her sleep in today.” Spike explains as he flips another pancake.
“Oh okay then.” I trot beside him.
“Hey! Can you teach me how to make pancakes? They are absolutely delicious back in Canterlot?” I asked eagerly
He blinks before beaming a smile. “Sure! Come on, I’ll show you how you start making the mixture!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rarity hummed a cheery tune as she approached the library. A gentle aroma wafted and she breathed it in deeply. “Mmm, that smells marvellous! I wonder what my gentledragon has made this time?”

She knocked on the library door, and to her surprise, it was a small alicorn whom answered. She looked at Rarity nervously. “Umm hi..” she meeped.
Rarity was not sure whether she should be annoyed or happy to see the little filly whom had so rudely left her store. However, she decided to give her another chance “Hello Dawn! How nice to see you! Splendid morning isn’t it?”

“Y-yeah!” the Alicorn stammered and tried to avoid eye contact..

“Is Twilight in there by any chance?” She asked, fluttering her eyelashes, “May I talk to her please?”
“Ummm, she’s asleep....” Dawn answered nervously.

Rarity sighed. “Little FIlly, you do not need to be afraid of me, I am your friend!”
Dawn looked at her warily. “You’re not going to make me play dress up again are you?”

Rarity gave a hurt look. “So that’s what this her fear of me is all about!” She thought morosely. “No Dawn, we shall not do it, if you do not wish to! My Dear! What ever made you think you were forced to wear dresses! No, they are for one’s appearance and only if they wish to wear them.”

The Filly seemed to relax a little. “So you’re not going to make me wear a dress?” she asked, relief entering her voice. “Although I believe in the fabulosity in all ponies, I cannot and will not force them to do what they do not want to do! Why, all you had to do was tell me to stop and I would have little Filly. Instead you just assumed I was a bad Pony who forces others to wear dresses!”

“You’re not?” Dawn asked curiously, her head tilted to the side.

Rarity felt a blow to her pride. Every part of her body screamed at her to tell this child off, but she gritted her teeth and forced a wide grin “Take a deep breath Rarity, she’s only a child, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about......but by Celestia, is her manners most unfit of royalty!”
“No... of course I’m not!” Rarity mumbled through her fake smile.

“HEY DAWN!” Three notorious voices called out behind her. The alicorn’s eyes widened in excitement. “Sweetie Belle! Applebloom! Scootaloo!” She says excitedly. “What are you doing here?”

Rarity felt a cold down her spine. “ummm..girls? Shouldn’t you be at school right now?”

“Hey Rarity! We’re here to take Dawn to school today!” Sweetie Belle answered.
Rarity gave her a confused look. “Umm, who told you to do so?”

“Why Ms. Cheerilee! After Twilight visited her yesterday night, she thought Dawn oughta try out School! She said something about every filly deserving a good ej-u-cation or something like that” Applebloom said happily.
“Yeah! And she told us to come pick her up!” Scootaloo added. “Well, you ready to go Dawn?”

Dawn smiles eagerly. “You bet!”

Rarity cringes knowing what was going to occur next.

“CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS ARE GO!” They all shout in unison before running off, leaving Rarity in a heap of dust, and her ears rang.
He shook herself before examining her coat. She was covered in dust. She gave a huff of annoyance before shaking herself. She sighed before turning towards the library. After all, she had something to discuss with Celestia’s protege, and after that, most importantly; the spa.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We approach the schoolhouse, which was a single building rectangular building with a bell. It, like most other buildings in Ponyville, was highly colorful, resembling that of a gingerbread house. Its appearance was welcoming as the flag in the yard waved lazily in the morning breeze.

“So um, what’s school like?” I ask curiously.

“ Well sometimes it’s really really fun, but other times, really boring..” Sweetie belle explained.
As we approach the door, I can hear a slight murmuring from inside, coming from many voices.
“We’re here!” Applebloom knocks on the door.

The murmuring stops and several excited gasps are heard. Lone hoofsteps trot towards the door, and it opens, revealing a magenta mare with a sunflower cutie mark whom announces to the ponies in the room “Class, please welcome our royal guest, Dawn!”

“Good morning your majesty!” The class chirruped.
The teacher turns and bows to me. “Welcome, your majesty, to our humble school.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Umm please, stand! and really there is no need to bow to me! I’m not a princess yet, I’m just a filly.”
The teacher laughs. “Oh,your majesty, did you know there are three princesses, now four including you?”
“Huh?”
“You see, your majesty, when somepony is born with both horn and wings, it often means that they have come to Equestria for a special purpose, in regards to harmony. Which means your majesty, you were born a princess.”

I blink. “W-what?” I say in surprise.

She looks at me confused. “Hasn’t your mother, Luna, taught you any of this?”

I laugh nervously, “Well, um, you see, I don’t remember anything until three days ago.”
She looks at me blankly for a moment, before smiling again. “Don’t worry about that then. Oh my, where are my manners? Welcome to our class, your majesty!”
I frown at what she had said, but Scootaloo nudges me from behind, disrupting my thought. “Come on! Let’s get inside!” she urges
Cheerilee steps aside from the door, and I follow Applebloom and Sweetie Belle inside.

As I walk inside, it brings me an uncanny reminder of Celestia’s day court. Once again, a dozen or so eyes stare at me and watch my every movement.
“Umm, Hi!” I say nervously to the class.
Cheerilee clears her throat. “Applebloom? Would you kindly allow Dawn to take your seat here at the front this morning?.”
“Sure thing Ms. Cheerilee!” Applebloom answers. She points to an empty desk on the front row beside two other fillies. One of them was a white maned grey earth pony with a silver spoon on the left, and a pink unicorn with a tiara on her head. The one with the tiara looks at me excitedly.

“ I thought the princesses were supposed to have cutiemarks.” The grey filly whispered, deliberately loud enough to make sure the others heard her, toward the pink one.
“Hey, your majesty?” The pink filly sneered “Why are you hanging out with those blank flank losers?”

“What’s a blank flank?” I ask her curiously.
She giggled nastily. “Well isn’t it a shame! I know more than a princess.”
I look at her blankly.
“Ahem, quiet please, the class has started. If you want to say something, please raise your hoof.” Cheerilee’s friendly voice instructed. I looked around, curious of how school would be like.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starry Quills stepped off the Ponyville express train and took a deep breath. It had been a long time since he had stepped out of the Canterlot tower. Starry cracked his shoulders and began to look for a taxi. Through from what he had heard, Ponyville being a place of simple tastes, he knew that to be untrue. All the six bearers of the elements resided here along with a powerful zebra shaman. He turned around to the train carriage. “Hurry up now Mr Mix, we do not have all day!” He waved to a taxi which began to move in for their pick up.

His assistant trudged out of the carriage slowly, Laden with several bags of luggage. “C-Coming Sir!” He said with great difficulty

He Called to his assistant. “Spicy, do remember what I had told you last night on the train?”
Spicy mumbled some unintelligible nonsense under the strain of his load. Starry rolled his eyes and magically levitated all the luggage with ease.

“*phew* Thank you *gasp* sir!” Spicy Mix said in relief as the heavyweight left his shoulders. Starry remained impassive as he loaded the items into the back of the taxi. “Do you remember my instructions from last night?” Starry asked once again.

“Of course sir! You want me to approach the element of magic and-”
Starry shoved his hoof into his assistant’s mouth. “Hush! not so loud!” He growled quietly,” Celestia’s guards may be eavesdropping.” After looking around a few times and satisfied they were safe, he trotted up to the Taxi driver.
“Where to sir?” The capped Earth Pony asked. Starry smiled. “Take us to Ponyville reservoir lodge, and here’s an extra fifty bits if you get us there within twenty minutes and help carry our luggage.”
The Earth Pony’s eyes gleamed with eagerness at the sack of coins, whinnied and galloped off toward their destination.

“Sir, what will you do whilst I , you know, meet the element of magic?”

Starry did not look at his assistant. “Do not worry what I am going to do Mr Mix, just concentrate on your task.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1: Innocence

Twilight sparkle was galloping as fast as she could towards Canterlot castle. "I hope the princesses are alright", she thought grimly to herself. That wave of magic was far too large and far too dark to have been casted by either of the princesses or to have been caused by an accident.

"Twilight wait up!"

Twilight turned her head around and saw her friends catching up to her.

"Consarn it Twi, why in the hay y'all run off like that all of a sudden" Applejack, asked as she overtook the purple unicorn.
"Yeah, I mean you just dashed out of the after party like the headless horse was after you", the rainbow maned pegasus added.

"Girls I'll expl-"

An elegant voice voice cut her off.

"I mean honestly Twilight that was awfully rude of you to simply bolt off into the night without even telling us why,” Rarity said as classy as possible despite the fact she was galloping as fast as she could in a gala dress. “Also, can we slow down please, this snow is ruining my mane!"

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Look. Girls there has been a-"

"And-then-she-was-like-Swoooosh-and-then-she-was-gone,i-mean-those-ponyjoes-donuts-are-the-BEST so-when-you-ran-off-like-that-i-was-thinking-Are-You-Crazy?”

"Pinkie..."

"Umm Twilight?" a very soft voice from above called down to her. Twilight felt her left eye twitch.
" I was um.. Thinking if it would be alright if you told us why you ran out of the party like that... if you don't mind."

"Girls I-" Twilight was cut again.

"And then I was like we should totally call it chimmycherr-"

Twilight craned her head back to the group and yelled,

"GIIIIIRLS!!"

The group stopped bickering and looked to her.

"Look girls I can explain. There had been an strange surge of power which-"

"TWILIGHT LOOKOUT!!!!"

Twilight groaned being cut-off more than five times already was wearing down her reserves of patience.

"What is so imp-oooof!!"

Twilight felt her breath knocked out of her as she bounced off a very hard object, her world began spinning. She groaned and shook her head looking up in annoyance to whatever she had just hit......only for her eyes to widen in horror as she just realized who she just ran into.

However if the princess of the sun was winded or even hurt, she showed no sign.

"My faithful student there’s really no time to explain, I was looking for you and the elements, but it seems you had found me." The princesses' horn began to glow.

Twilight shook her head, clearing out stars.

"Ugggh....... Princess Celestia what's going o-"

A glowing light engulfed all the elements and rematerialised them next to a smoking crater.

Everypony save the princess felt disorientated. Pony Joe’s special triple layer donuts and extra sprinkles were forcing their way back up their throats.

Rainbow dash wrapped her hooves around her stomach.
" Warn me when your gonna do that time time!", she moaned weakly

Twilight groaned, "that's also the sixth time I got cut-off mid sentence. I swear to my teacher if it happens agai- "

“Twilight sparkle I see Thou hast arrived", another voice rang out.

Twilight felt a few hairs of her mane spring up. Twilight forced a smile and bow politely to the moon princess, though nearby moans reminded her that her friends had not gotten over their 'travel sickness'.
Luna looked at the five retching messes on the ground and quickly flashed a spell.

The five ponies quickly shook off the effects as a wave of energy suddenly coursed through them, though Fluttershy was still feeling queasy.
Celestia nodded to her, and Luna began to explain to the events which had transpired...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So lemme get this straight, whatever is in that crater may be whatever is left of nightmare moon"

Luna nodded to the element of loyalty. "So it seems fair Rainbow Dash"

"And we're here just in case it might still be dangerous," inclined Rarity, her mane and dress again fresh from the spell.

"If that would be the case, yes" Celestia answered.

Twilight opened her mouth, but before she could speak Celestia spoke the answer to her questions. "What is in that crater may or may not be evil, though now the elements are here we can approach it with caution. Those power surges felt by Twilight were not caused by us, rather it was the dark powers being forced out of a body. Weakened as it is, we should be able to stop Nightmare moon once and for all. We shall now proceed, but with great caution.".
With that, Luna lifted the jeweled ornaments and gave them to their corresponding users. Armed and ready they proceeded down the smoking crater.

But nothing could have prepared them for what they saw next.

"What in 'tarnation?!, that filly’s no bigger than Applebloom"
"Is that a...?"
"oh......my......"
"...it looks just as you did dear sister, so long ago..."
"oooh oooh! its so-cute I wanna hug it!"
"That little pipsqueak is Suppose to be nightmare moon?"
"Praytell. What is that?!"
"Princess Luna, could you, maybe, please lower the volume?"

Twilight looked at the unconscious dark blue form. It stirred.

"Look girls it's waking!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I opened my eyes and struggle to my feet, whole body aching and head ringing. There was a lot of noise going around and I see seven ponies arguing about something whilst one stared intently at me. I feel so tired.
One of them, a purple unicorn notices me and tries to notify the others, eventually shouting, and the noise dies down. What she says I don't care anymore, I just want to sleep.

They all approach me and I feel a sense of panic but there's nowhere to run. I shut my eyes as tightly as I can trying not to cry out. I try to flap my wings but I cannot, a sharp pain simply leaves me gasping for air. The hopelessness threatening tears to come pouring out. I close my eyes expecting the worst. There is a pain in my forehead which is stopping me thinking clearly. "It hurts.." i manage to croak, my mouth and throat feeling very dry.

"Shhh, it's okay. Don't be scared" a kind voice says. I don't dare to open my eyes. "We aren't here to hurt you."

"G-go away" I stammer, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.

"Please we just want to help you." I open my eyes and look up into the face of a cream colored pony with pink hair. "We just want to help you" she repeated.
Her voice comforted me, but ones behind her scared me, especially the shining one. They are all vaguely familar, however I can't remember where I had seen them before, though the dark one is giving me strange feelings.

"Do you have a name little one?" a regal, but gentle voice rang out to me. I turn to see that it was the huge white one with a chromatic mane whom had spoken. Though she looked kind, deep inside, my instinct told me to flee from her. I quickly shut my eyes again, terrified.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Celestia had spoken, the filly had curled up into a ball and began whimpering again. Celestia frowned, she hasn't received this kind of reaction from anypony before. She focused her mind around the filly, but could not sense any trace of the nightmare. what is she?, Celestia pondered.
She looked at the little ball before her. It's coat was dark blue, much like Luna herself, yet her mane and body shape looked exactly like she did thousands of years ago as a filly. The only discernible features were the fact that the little alicorn before her had blood red eyes and no cutie mark. Whatever this creature is and was, Celestia knew one thing, it was not evil. The filly before her did not radiate an aura, nor did it have that certain gleam in it’s eye which Nightmare Moon had possessed. Instead what she saw was innocence, one that only a child would have.

She watched impassively as the element of kindness continued to comfort this curious new filly.

Luna on the other hand was livid. She couldn’t bear it anymore. The creature which had caused her a thousand years of suffering lay there, a mockery of her past.

Luna roared, " I shall not be fooled by this monster hiding in the body of an innocent!"

She raised her hooves, ready to smite the creature, despite the protests coming from around.
Fluttershy eeped and flew away, Celestia and Twilight Sparkle shouted for her to stop, whilst the remaining elements were slowly, backing away. Fully aware of Luna's power

Luna's eyes glowed as she raised herself in the air. Ethereal energies enveloped her as she was about to unleash her energies when the creature looked at her and said something which surprised them all and left Luna flapping in the air, all energies summoned dissipating, equally as confused.

"Mommy?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I look at the dark one, the others they had called 'Luna'. I know her, she is very familiar. But from where, I haven't got a clue. She was beautiful, despite the fact she looked angry at me. I know I had seen her from somewhere before. She felt very close to me.
Memories drifted through my head as I was entranced by her.

I was in a room, talking with Luna, she seemed upset.

I was flying with her, all was well until I realized she was crying.
.
...she kissed me on the head before drifting to sleep, I couldn't move my limbs, only watch.

I was on the surface of an empty wasteland, staring at the Earth, hatred and anger growing at the unworthy impostor on my rightful throne, meanwhile she wept for our actions.

I am in a room filled with ponies, they cheer my name as I receive a scroll from an elderly Unicorn ...i think he is a teacher.

I am hiking with a group of familiar looking Ponies, we find a cave.

A dragon looms over me, it’s scales bristling in anger...

There is something about the dark one, i cannot explain it. My heart feels warm and fuzzy, and she seems so very close to me. I can’t help but feel drawn to her

Yet when she looks at me, I see nothing but scorn in her eyes.

She yells something and takes to the air.

"Mommy? The childish word escapes my mouth though I don't know why.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Elements, all stared at the filly, before drawing their attention to Luna, whom shied from their stares.

An awkward silence prevailed for a few moments, before being broken.

“Umm, princess? Ah don’t mean to be rude or nothin’ but how come you never mentioned you hadda daughter?”, queried the element of honesty, “Or even that ya had a lover?”

Luna, simply speechless stayed silent, not sure of what to make of the sudden turn of events.

However her sister spoke for her.

“Nor did she ever dear Applejack. Alicorns are conscious beings of pure magic, they cannot procreate with other living beings. Instead they are created. This filly before us is a remnant of Nightmare Moon, whose essence was created by my sister’s anger.” Celestia paused as an hint of regret entered her voice.

“The first time I used the Elements of Harmony, they had chosen to banish Luna in order to preserve harmony. Back then, she utterly detested me, as I had chosen my duties over her. Her hatred then was too strong. She and the nightmare had truly became one. In addition to this, by using the elements to solve a problem that shouldn’t have occurred in the first place, they deemed me unfit to be their wielder. As a result, I became separated from the elements.”

Luna bowed her head solemnly as her sister continued.

“Consequently I spent the next millenia searching for ways to bring my sister back, as well as searching for the next living embodiments of the elements. For nine hundred years, I was unsuccessful. But when I was on the verge of losing all hope, it happened.”

“A rainbow explosion spread across the sky, the Sonic Rainboom.”

Dash upon hearing this beamed, however her expression dropped as the Princess continued.

“Though it was only believed to have been done by Rainbow Dash, that is only partially true; it was however the loyalty within her which had given her this boost of speed, not her love for winning. The Rainbow stream that trailed behind you was not the result of your mane, rather the magic of loyalty flowing from you. After all, do you not remember how you achieved the rainbooms? The first time, I was told you were defending your friends honour. The second timewas to save your friend Rarity’s life. Which, i may add, was a spectacular feat."

Rarity blushed, remembering her panicked fall from Cloudsdale, whilst Rainbow smirked; she remembered her ‘best day ever’.

“After that immediately I knew the living embodiments of the elements had returned, especially after a Dragon’s head went through the roof of Canterlot Tower. Ever since that day, I kept track of the location of Rainbow Dash, and trained Twilight Sparkle in the art of magic.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened, “Wait a minute you had ponies spying on me?”

Celestia chuckled. “No Rainbow Dash, the rainboom itself was an release of the element power of loyalty. I simply traced it’s aura, I didn’t know you at the time, though I was later told the new weather manager of Ponyville could clear the sky in ten seconds flat. For one to had achieved a sonic rainboom, such a feat could have only been achieved by you."

Rainbow Dash beamed whilst Applejack rolled her eyes.

However Twilight, who had been linking the events inside her head, had a few questions nagging her. “Princess Celestia? How did you know where to send me on the eve of the Summer Sun celebration, and how did you know that we could bring Luna back?”

“That is because, my faithful student, the element’s are inadvertently drawn together. There cannot be true harmony without each part present. After all did you not all gain your cutie marks as a consequence of the rainboom?”

The Elements all looked at one another, and silently agreed.

“Keeping that in mind, Ponyville was the definite location where the Element’s themselves would gather together. Therefore I specifically planned last year’s Summer Sun celebration to be there, as I had also detected my sister’s presence on the moon again after one thousand years.”

“As for bringing Luna back, ” Celestia’s voice became quiet and her expression dropped, “I didn’t know what would have happened.”

Luna and the elements, gave a gasp of shock, though Celestia could not bring herself to meet their gaze.

“I’m sorry I never told you this little sister, but I cannot control what the Element’s would have chosen to do for you. I prayed to the fates that it would bring you back, I prayed that you no longer hated me.”

A lone tear fell from Celestia’s eye.
Luna looked to her sister in understanding and smiled, “You have done more than enough for me dear sister. Though it may have been a gamble, that was the only option which you had, for that, I have more than forgiven you.” With this Luna walked up to her Sister and nuzzled her.

Celestia smiled once more and returned the gesture.

Twilight coughed, and the two sisters broke their embrace and looked at her. “I’m sorry to interrupt your highnesses, but what about her? How did nightmare moon become... her?”, she pointed her Hoof at a now sleeping filly alicorn. “And what do we do with her?”

Celestia opened her mouth, but it was Luna who answered. “When i was imprisoned on the moon, I had immediately regretted my actions and cried for forgiveness. The Nightmare, furious at this, pushed my conscious from my own body and i was floating in the darkness of my own mind. There I remained for what felt like an eternity, and I thought I was going to stay there forever.

Luna paused for a moment, remembering the day she was freed. “Then one day, a rainbow entered my prison and a door of light appeared. The rainbow carried me towards the door, and when I passed through, it was here again... on Equestria . My prayers had been answered.”

“However as I left my prison, the darkness seemed to have fragmented and disappeared in different directions. I believe that darkness was the feelings of sadness, anger, regret, and hatred inside me, and it had formed into an entity of it’s own. During that night, I believe the Element’s had scattered it’s essence rather than destroy it.”

“Why? We do not know, the Elements work in their own mysterious ways. They will always do as seems fit in the name of harmony. That is why the nightmare was able to return.”

Luna’s eyes softened at the sight of the sleeping filly.

“What I do know, however, is that the Magic of friendship, the one which on the other hoof, is one which completely destroys hate and anger within a creature. As you are all familiar with the stories of the windigoes and the magic of friendship during the first Hearth’s Warming eve, I believe all the hatred which hath turned me into Nightmare moon is gone.”

“The question remains is now what is left, and where does one like her belong in Equestria; but we shall ponder that tomorrow, for it is time for us to lower the moon, and for my sister to bring on the day.”

With that Celestia nodded to her sister, whom takes to the air. She then turned to the six.

Fluttershy is curled up and asleep near the filly. Pinkie Pie’s mane was even more frazzled as she continued to bounce around the sleeping forms, blabbering some nonsense about kumquats. Rainbow was already snoozing, her snores emanating gently from her prone form. Twilight Sparkle and Applejack however continued to defy the tempting call of sleep, though the energy spent during the performance was beginning to take it’s toll. Rarity, despite her being generally revolted at the idea of sleeping on the ground, she too had succumbed.

“My Little Ponies, My sister and I are terribly sorry to have made you stay up all night after a lengthy performance, but I will send you all back to Ponyville now.”

Twilight Sparkle answered, “It’s alright princess, I think I should be able to research into this matter. I’ll have a report done to you by tomorrow night.” Celestia shook her head as she chuckled lightly, “Oh Twilight, you are always such a wonderful student, but that won’t be necessary. It’s Hearth’s Warming day now, i believe a young filly such as yourself needs some rest.”

“Princess! I can take care of mysel-Zzzzzzzzzzzzz”

Celestia’s horn glowed and Twilight fell to the ground snoring. Then turned to the element of honesty

Applejack’s eyes widened in horror. “Woah princess, ah really don’t think you..should...ZZzzzzzzz.”

Pinkie simply disappeared stopped bouncing mid-air and tipped over, despite gravity, and fell on her side. Light snoring followed shortly after.

Celestia smiled to the sleeping elements. “Sleep tight my little ponies.”
Her horn flashed again, and the forms disappeared, leaving behind the curious new being.

Celestia pondered to the sleeping filly, “Now... What to do with you?”, as her sister began her descent along with the moon.

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