The Journal of Dusk Breakerby silverstreamChaptersChapter One: Discovering Dusk BreakerChapter Two: Dusk Breaker Is A Washout?Chapter Four: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 1)Chapter Five: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 2) The Promise.Chapter Six: The Time Spent AfterChapter Three: Meeting Dusk Breaker!?!?Chapter One: Discovering Dusk BreakerMY JOURNAL Owner: Dusk Breaker To my Journal and all who have stumbled across this journal of mine, How and when to start this, no better spot then the beginning I assume. I was born on April 14, the year 526 C.R. I didn't have much of an interesting childhood. I grew up with my two friends... This was all Scootaloo had an interest to read before closing the old dusty and slightly damaged journal and debated in her mind if she should write her report on this. She had school to worry about and didn't want a boring old dusty tome about Equestria's history. It might be an equivalent her committing suicide if she had to read one, she knew it wouldn't exactly be the best use of her time. She had a future, unlike the stuck-up and forever bitchy Diamond Tiara and her crony Silverspoon. Those two still picked at her and her friends even though they were in high school now, she wondered when they'd grow up but she assumed that would be soon considering how much they are whoring themselves off to whoever will do their homework for them. While Scootaloo would love an easy way to avoid the assignment that was definitely not the way she would go about it. Letting out a light sigh she looked at the journal in her hands and after rolling her eyes she opened it up again and reread to where she left off. ... Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble. Now hold on a moment, she knew those names from somewhere, but from where? Closing the journal again she got up out of her seat and put the book inside her bag. She knew one pony that would know. SweetieBelle, after starting high school she'd been hitting the books really hard and only really did anything on Saturdays with her and AppleBloom. It was fine but she really wanted to see her more, now she has an excuse to see her that relates to learning she can't just say she's too busy studying. It was a short walk from the cafe she was sitting outside to Sweetie's place no more than a few minutes. Giving the door a few sharp knocks it opened showing her friend answering, Rarity must have been busy with a customer due to her not answering the door. "Oh hey Scootaloo, I really can't hang out today I'm finishing my science project for Mr. Verity," Sweetie said stepping aside. "You can stay for a bit if you want though, you'll have to come up to my room. Rarity is really busy, so it's best not to get in her way right now." Scootaloo stepped inside and nodded. She fully understood it's best to be quiet when Rarity was working. She and AppleBloom learned that the hard way over the years getting in trouble for it more than once. After some time though they both got the message. A few minutes later Scootaloo was up in Sweetie's room with her, it's not much different from when they were kids aside from maybe a few new posters and a lot more books. She claims that her room has changed a lot but it's basically the same no matter how many books she collects in there. Making a mini-library in here wouldn't change the memories in here with her best friends plotting different ways to obtain their cutie marks. "So what brings you here today Scoots? I mean it's not like it isn't cool of you to come over just unexpected, we hung out yesterday," Sweetie seeming rather concerned about her friend's sudden wish to see her. "Nothing bad happened did it?" "Nah Sweetie, everything is all good. Just found some names that sounded really familiar and I wanted to know if you knew them. I mean you've got an A in history so if they are important I'm pretty sure you'd know," Scootaloo stated pulling the journal from her bag and opening it to read off the names. "Do you know who... Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble are?" "Scoots this isn't a joke, right? We learned about those two last month, Iron Sprocket was a famous ironworker that was commissioned by Princess Celestia to build the first steam train ever in use in Equestria. Trains, before that, were run on coal and everypony was getting really sick from all the coal they had to burn to make the trains move. The train and all of its cars were built in about a year according to books on the subject. The project happened from year 552 C.R. to 553 C.R. However, since the construction of the steam train many updates and reconstructions to the design over the years leave us with the steam engine trains we use today," Sweetie resighted it as if she just read it out of a history book. "As for Ivy Bramble, her outlook on magic and studies into the subject are nearly as vast as Star Swirl and her theories on the subject are very noteworthy. In 551 C.R. Ivy began studies into using magic to manipulate Lead and other metals into gold and other precious metals. She succeeded according to eyewitness accounts one being Celestia herself. However, her research notes and research journals were lost a long time ago and nopony has ever been able to replicate her work. Said studies lasted nearly 15 years starting from 551 C.R. ending in 566 C.R. nearly 350 years ago." Sweetie finally finished her explanation leaning back on her bed after adjusting a stack of books on her desk to look more neat and orderly. "Wow... I really didn't expect those ponies to be so important," Scootaloo thought out load. "I suppose I should start paying attention during history class huh?" She stated, watching Sweetie Belle relax. "Do you have any information on a pony named Dusk Breaker?" "Dusk Breaker?" Sweetie Belle asked as if she didn't hear her correctly. Scootaloo nodded to reaffirm what she said to be true. "I... don't know. I don't think I've ever heard of Dusk Breaker, why?" Scootaloo handed over the old journal. Looking over the cover a moment she flipped it open and reads the first few sentences. "Well, I can't say I've ever heard of this pony... Maybe try actually reading the whole thing Scootaloo." She thusly closed the journal and gave it back. "I mean it's not like you don't have the time. I mean to read something like this you must be done with your homework already." Scootaloo's heart sunk for a moment as she remembered the rest of her homework that was due tomorrow. She SUCKED at homework and she was completely okay with admitting it. "Help?" Sweetie smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sweetie, you're a lifesaver!" She excitedly hugged her friend after letting her go she pulled her homework from her bag. It was only half finished, normally she'd just fill in half-baked answers just before she turned it in and got a few right if she was lucky. At least with Sweetie's help, she might make off with a B on her homework. All accept her report which is due in a few days. Author's Note C.R. Means Celestia's Reign for those who don't know or can't figure it out. Chapter Two: Dusk Breaker Is A Washout?After leaving Sweetie's house with her homework finished for tomorrow she had less to worry about while flying home. She'd been staying at RainbowDash's place for the past year and a half now due to how much closer it was to the school and it was a dream come true for her. The pony she idolized more than anypony ever, the fastest and the embodiment of awesomeness Rainbow Dash. No matter how many times she'd think about it she still squee-d on the inside. Even if Rainbow wasn't home all the time due to being a Wonderbolt she needed somepony around to take care of Tank while she was gone. Scootaloo was the first to step up to do it. All she had to do according to Flutter Shy was feed Tank twice a day and make sure he moves around. That and take Tank to see the butter pegasus every month for a check up. Opening the door and going inside she jumped onto the cloud couch and snuggled herself in. There was no couch in the world as comfy as a cloud couch and everypony knew it. She was trying to put off reading the journal but she glanced at her bag that was unceremoniously dropped next to the couch. Now normally it would have sunk through the floor but Sweetie put a spell on it for her making it so her bag never fell through the clouds. She didn't even want to think about why Sweetie did it for her in the first place. To save herself from thinking about that day she reached over and pulled the old journal from the bag and looked it over with a critical look. "A pony that not even Sweetie knows about huh? Maybe I should listen to her and actually read it to find out who this Dusk Breaker is..." Heaving a hefty sigh she flipped open the cover starting to read. I honestly don't think I would have stayed sane, without those two in my life. More yet, They've always been more of a success than me. Actually Iron, got his cutie mark way before Ivy and I did. It took Ivy maybe a month of hard work but she got hers too. I felt left behind for about a year there, and I got picked on for being a quote on quote 'Blank Flank'. Yeah real original that phrase will probably die off in a few decades. But honestly enough about that, I suppose I should right wright more about myself even if that is a little egotistical. Oh right, I didn't even say that I was a Pegasus. Well I'm jet black with grey eyes and my mane is usually all over the place, don't really care much about styling it. Yeah, yeah your probably thinking but how are you going to impress any mares like that? That's actually a pretty good point, as of right now I'm not looking. I suppose i should actually start telling about what actually happened today. Date: August 23 543 C.R. Today was a... bad horrible alright day all things considered. You'd think being kicked out of school would be the worst thing in the world right? WRONG. Today actually felt great, I didn't have any worries today. At least until I got home. My father went ballistic for maybe all of an hour but then settled down after mom got home and told him to shut up. She'd asked me what had happened with school. I told her that I didn't think they could teach me anything I REALLY needed to know to be what I wanted to be. Sure there was some things I'd need to research myself and yeah it would be harder without a degree but I got my heart set and I wasn't going to change my mind. Now you'd probably think she'd be pretty upset right? Nope, she started laughing. Yeah laughing! after a minute or so she stopped and said I reminded her of when she was young and did the same thing. She washed out of school and now she's got a management position at the weather factory. She wasn't all too upset and she told dad to lay off me and in the long run they'd have more money now that they didn't have to pay for me to go to my last year of school. Dad really perked up at that. Oh, I should probably take a note of my parents names in here, My mothers name is Harmony Stream, and my father's is Titus Valann. Just in case someone other than me was interested in looking them up in the future although thinking about that seems kind of stupid. Like anypony would be interested in me or my parents that'd be a monumental waste of time. Scootaloo slammed the journal shut in her hands and sighed, she was bored outta her mind! She needed something to eat. Speaking of food, feeding Tank and making sure that she got him moving around for at least a little bit before she tried to pick up the journal again. A few hours pasted before Scootaloo looked over at the journal again. There it was, resting right where she left it. Only it was wide open and not on the page she left off on either. It had to be near the middle. It was a little creepy that it was open now. She looked around the room then realized she left the window open when she left the house this morning and went over and closed it. "Geez, Scoots you are getting really jumpy for no reason. There is no way some book opened on its own that's impossible." She turned around and her eyes got wider than dinner plates as the pages flipped on their own. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not going near the journal. Nooooo way in tartarus was she gunna go near that couch again. She was tired that's it! Yeah. She's by no means a crazy pony! She was going straight to bed and she'd just return the book to Twilight in the morning and tell her that she wasn't interested in reading it anymore. Yeah that's the plan. Chapter Four: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 1)"Alright," Dusk sighed seeming to have all three of the mare's full attention. "Scootaloo already knows this but, I had two friends. Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble. They weren't only my best friends they were my only friends. As I'm thinking back I could have been a way better friend to the both of them." He sighed once more his eyes closing and his face contorting into one of concentration his horn sparked. After a minute his horn was surrounded by gray magic, so was his journal. "Better yet, I'll show you." A loud pop was heard and they all appeared in a clearing just outside of a small town. "Welcome to New Yoke." The three mares stared at the small town. There was no way this was New Yoke! It was so small! New Yoke rivaled Canterlot in size how was it this small unless... "More like, welcome to New Yoke in 543 C.R. Oh, and no pony can see you... or touch you for that matter, all of us are like ghosts right now." Scootaloo and her friends stared at was once was New Yoke in silence for a good while before Sweetie spoke up. "Dusk Breaker? Is this really what New Yoke looked like 466 years ago?" Dusk got a pained look on his face and nodded. "Wow, I wonder what everywhere else looked like." "Sweetie we really don't have time for that," AppleBloom who'd been quite quiet till now turned to Dusk, "You said you'd show us what happened to ya right?" Dusk nodded in response. "Well show away. Color me interested." Dusk shook his head and took a few steps forward followed by the three friends Scootaloo taking a bunch of notes about the surrounding area determined to get her paper done. After a walk through part of New Yoke they stopped in front of a school, "This was my school. I wasn't there today, I'm over there..." He looks to a pegasus that is the spitting image of him without the horn and Alicorn size. "I was waiting for Ivy and Iron to get out of school to tell them what I was going to do starting today. Now watch my story begins right here." The bell rung Dusk looked up from the ground that he was finding so interesting. Stretching his wings out a bit he waited for his friends to come out of the school. He walked towards it as he saw Iron, a heavily built earth pony with a rust colored fur, brick red eyes, and a dusty brown mane. A light green unicorn with light brown eyes and a two toned dark green and mint colored mane was next to him, Ivy. They were holding hands. This caused Dusk to stop in his tracks. "Why did he stop where he was?" The motion of time seemed to stop as Dusk looked away from the scene in front of him and to Sweetie. "What was so wrong with that?" "Sweetie, I'd been out of school for about a month at this point. Just keep watching... I think you'll figure it out." Dusk looked back at the scene and it began to play again. Looking down Dusk sighed and shook his head. He had turned around to leave when Ivy called his name. "Dusk, what brings you here?" He didn't turn around and just started walking. "Hey bro where ya goin'?" Iron and Ivy followed after him and caught up with relative ease. It wasn't like Dusk was trying to get away from them he just needed a little time to collect what he had to say. "Dusk, you alright?" Dusk turned around, "Yeah I'm fine... What's new with you two?" Ivy and Iron gave one another a glance at how depressed he sounded. "Look, it's fine. You two can get as close as you want..." "Dusk," Ivy began trying to think of something to say clearly trying to make her friend feel better. "We weren't trying to keep it a secret... We just didn't know when would be a good time to tell you." "Yeah," Iron replied weakly not really having anything else to say. Dusk looked at him more angry at him than at Ivy. "Ivy, uhhh... why don't you go on ahead me and Dusk gotta talk about some stuff." Ivy sighed but nodded, this wasn't the first time they wanted to talk alone. It had to do with guy stuff and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, just hurry you don't wanna be late for dinner at my place." Dusk glared at the ground after that was said but refused to say anything as Ivy walked off. "I suppose I owe you an explanation..." Iron started, "Look I didn't mean for it to happen it just did." "Of course it did... You couldn't wait for me to be out of the way huh?" Dusk said rather quietly but Iron could hear him it was clear by the flick of his ears. "Just wait till Dusk screws up or even better wait till he's not around to make your move right? You broke the promise we built our friendship on." Dusk blinked back tears as Iron spoke up, "Hey I didn't break it, you left. What other choice did I have? Ivy thought that you left cause of something she said to you. She thought you hated her." "Where the BUCK did she get that idea? From you? Honestly I wouldn't be surprised..." Dusk shook his head opening his wings and launching himself off the ground above Iron by a few feet. "Well, enjoy the spoils of a broken promise and friendship!" He flew off leaving Iron standing there and the memory faded to black. "Wait let me get this straight..." Scootaloo said looking up from her notes. "You and your best friend since forever both liked Ivy Bramble?" Dusk nodded remaining quiet. "Your friendship was built on a promise what was it?" Dusk closed his eyes shivering a bit clearly trying to hold in his emotions. "It was, a simple promise... We'd help one another learn more about Ivy, and when the day came that one of us would ask Ivy out we'd tell the other first. At least that's the simplified version." "Well I for one want to see this promise!" AppleBloom stated stomping the ground underneath her. "I want to see just how bad Iron broke his promise or if he even did at all!" "What do you mean AppleBloom?" Sweetie questioned her friend, "You don't believe Dusk Breaker's story? While I admit it is only one side of the story there clearly was a promise because Iron didn't at all try to say there wasn't. He had his mouth closed when Dusk was talking... wait that's it! Dusk this is your memory of the events right?" Dusk nodded to answer her question. "Then if this is your memory then what if Iron was saying something and you were so upset you don't remember him saying anything after that!" Dusk looked down and seemed to have a look of thought for a few moments and huffed out of his nose. "Your right... Iron wasn't the type to ever stay quiet like that. Maybe he was saying something but I was too angry with him to listen. I suppose that I'll have to show you the promise then..." Chapter Five: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 2) The Promise.Author's Note this song tune is what he's whistling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjGE7obmM2o Chapter Five: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 2) The Promise. Dusk's horn lit up and with a flash of light they stood quite a distance from New Yoke near a wooded area. "I wonder if the place is still there after nearly 500 years... I'd have to go look one day..." Dusk said aloud walking into the trees followed by the three curious crusaders. he whistled a soft sad melody sounding similar to a tune that would come from a music box taking a left at a certain point that seemed to be marked somehow but the crusaders hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. A minute or two more of walking and they were pretty deep in now as the sound of rushing water reached their ears. Walking towards the sound he suddenly jumped up and then disappeared into the ground causing the three mares to rush over to where he was and look around. "Dusk where in tarnation did ya go?" AB asked looking around Dusk popped his head out from under the ground, "Boo!" two of the young mares screamed and jumped back only to get upset looks while scootaloo was too interested in the notes she was currently writing. "What in the HAY made you think that was a good idea." Sweetie yelped. "Y-Yeah! What the HAY was that fer?" AB asked trying to calm herself. "Oh relax, I was just having a bit of fun, and we're here... you'll have to come inside." Dusk said his head popping back into the ground. Sweetie inspected the ground testing how solid it was right where Dusk's head just was and her hoof went right through. Looking to AppleBloom, who was doing the same they smiled. The smiles on the two mares only grew as they both looked at Scootaloo. WIth exchanged nods and sneaking around her they both shoved her forward. "What's the big d-deal you guy-" She began to say as Scootaloo fell down the hole. Dusk who was already down in the hole just smiled watching Scootaloo slide down and land unceremoniously on her tush with a resounding 'Oof.' Caused him to chuckle at the pegasus mare as her two friends followed her down can crashed right into her. "Well glad to see the three of you are having fun." He said between his smile and chuckles. "You three are quite a wonder in yourselves. Such lively crew you have following you around in this adventure in my mind Scootaloo." The little hide away was much bigger underneath the ground it was actually big enough to warrant shocked looks from the crusaders. The ceiling was just high enough to not be a problem for Dusk himself to stand so long as he was careful of his horn in certain spots. Very ancient and outdated Wonder Bolt memorabilia and some other things are decorating the walls even a Celestia propaganda poster was plastered on the wall. "Sure, it's a little smaller than later on in life but..." He sighed as a tear rolled down from his right eye without his knowledge. The three mares took notice, Sweetie was going to say something but Scootaloo touched her shoulder and shook her head. With a deep breath and a shiver his horn lit up and the memory began to play. There Dusk sat still a young colt his flanks still as blank as ever smiling a crayon in hand drawing a picture of another. He was doing quite a good job, or at least he thought he was. "Oh my gosh, that's you?" Sweetie said freezing the memory making Dusk look at her and nod. "You were adorable!" Dusk blushed a tad bit embarrassed at the compliment from her. "J-Just watch the memory will ya. We aren't here so you can see what I looked like. Ya are here ta hear the promise nothing more." The scene resumed immediately after he stopped talking. "Whhhoooaaa!" Dusk looked up from his drawing to see a colt from his class had fallen into his hideaway. What was his name again? "I-Iron Sprocket? What are you doing here and how did you find my place?" The young Dusk asked his little wings puffed up making himself look bigger and trying to be intimidating. Although it seemed rather redundant considering Iron was already a fourth of a pony bigger than him. Iron looked up from the ground that his face had impacted contorted in confusion. "Your place huh?" He looked around from his spot on the ground before sitting up and sitting back and getting a better look around. "You got a good place down here..." His voice trailed off for a moment when he looked at what Dusk had drawn. "What ya drawin'?" Dusk picked it up and put it behind his back. "N-Nuthin'... Nuthin' that's any a ya beeswax..." He said blushing. "Aww come on lemme see! It looked really good!" Iron said excited scooting closer to Dusk. "Okay but ya have to promise not ta laugh..." Iron did a crossing of his heart motion with his finger across his chest wordlessly. Sighing Dusk handed over the picture he was drawing. "Is this Ivy Bramble from class? It's actually pretty good... but why draw her?" Iron said looking up from the picture. "Wait don't tell me, ya like her too?" Dusk's face went to on surprise, as Iron continued. "She's one of a kind, I know cause I like her too!" "Well, uhhh... this is a bit awkward..." "Yeah... so uhhh... we both like the same girl." "Yup..." "Oh, I know. Let's make a vow!" "A vow?" "Well my dad said that if you promise something you have to honor it no matter what! He says that a honoring a vow is the thing that makes you a great Stallion when you are older!" "Huh... so a vow is like a promise, oookay then... I guess that makes sense but how do we start a vow anyway?" "Oh, that's easy! We have to tell one other what we vow as we raise our right hands and we put our left on something we both treasure. So... maybe your picture will work?" "Uhhh... sure.." Dusk scooted closer putting his picture between them. "Okay." Iron put his left hand on the right side of the paper and raising his right hand. Dusk mirrored him his wings twitching nervously. "So how does it go from here?" "We should promise that if either of us is ever going to ask Ivy out we should tell the other first! That way we wont be mad at one another." Dusk's face scrunched a bit in thought but nodded, "Okay." "Okay, now follow my words. I Iron Sprocket here by vow, that I will tell Dusk Breaker when and if I ever decide to ask Ivy Bramble out. Okay your turn." Dusk nodded. "I, Dusk Breaker here by vow, that I will tell Iron Sprocket when and if I ever decide to ask Ivy Bramble out." Iron nodded. "Oh, since we are like this anyway.... I also vow that if I so happen to learn anything new about Ivy Bramble that Dusk doesn't already know I will tell him so as to not be unfair." "I vow to do the same, and tell Iron any information about Ivy Bramble that he doesn't already know as to not be unfair." They both smile and drop their raised hands and remove their other ones from the picture smiling like a couple of idiots. "Sooo.... Friends?" "Yeah, Friends." The memory fades as the Crusaders were completely silent. "There you have it, the vow that we made..." Dusk said as the area around him turned a dark grey but keeping the image of his childhood hideaway. "Wow, he was the one who even proposed it! That's a pretty scummy thing ta do ta ya." AB said walking over and gently resting her hand on Dusk's shoulder. "Uhhh, I'd hate to ask but was this ever in your journal?" Scootaloo asked getting a nod from Dusk Breaker, "Okay, and I'm really sorry for making you relive this..." "Scootaloo, all three of us are at fault here. It's something we wanted to see, and he was gracious enough to show us." Sweetie said looking at Dusk with sympathy. "We're all sorry about this. No one should ever break a vow, especially one made by two friends." "it's quite alright you three, I've come to terms with what happened... I wouldn't be showing you if I hadn't." Dusk remaining seated his horn flashed a bright light that blinded the three mares returning them to the Crusader's tree-house. Chapter Six: The Time Spent AfterSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Three: Meeting Dusk Breaker!?!?Morning, yup it was morning already. Scootaloo didn't get a wink of sleep. She was still freaking out on the inside. She couldn't have been going crazy, could she? Sure she had her moments but if something was off wouldn't Sweetie have noticed and asked if I was okay when I was over at her place yesterday? After that deduction she sighed pulling herself out of bed. Stretching, she thought to herself that it was going to be a long day at school, or at least it would be if she got caught sleeping in class again. Shaking her head she sighed, it was time to get ready for school, she'd figure out what to do about the book when she got home. If she didn't hurry she was going to be late. After leaving some lettuce and water for Tank when he woke up she poked her head into the main room of the cloud house seeing the book still laying there on the puffy cloud couch. Shivering she hesitantly walked over and snagged her bag walking quickly out the front door locking it behind her. "So creepy..." School today actually wasn't that bad, she actually stayed up during class even if it was Monday, the WORST day ever. It was a surprise even to her how she managed to stay awake today. Well that wasn't entirely true. She needed to talk to SweetieBelle or AppleBloom about the book. "Hey AB," She said just after the final bell as they were leaving class to get her yellow friends attention. "I need to talk to ya bout something. Mind if we meet at the old club house in about an hour?" They only ever went there when there anymore when there was something really important going on that was to be kept in the utmost secrecy. "This ain't gunna be you askin' to copy mah homework again is it?" Scootaloo shook her head no. Okay the last few times she did call her there for that but this time it was really important. AppleBloom sighed, "Alright I'll meet ya there." She walked off adjusting her backpack. That could have gone a bit better, but after a few times of calling in an emergency was just her needing some help with her homework and AB and Sweetie had every right to be a little frustrated thinking there was a emergency and it turned out all she needed was school related. This time it was something really important at least it was creepy enough to be important. Upon reaching the house made of clouds she shivered. How was she going to get the book to the clubhouse? Wait what was she thinking?! She's got to be fearless! Rainbow Dash would probably laugh at her if she saw her being scared of a dusty old book! She huffed and went inside shaking her head only to drop her key and all the color left her face as she stared at a Jet black Alicorn standing in Rainbow Dash's house, she screamed. When she started screaming the Alicorn jumped completely shock an began yelling startled yelling, "HOLY BUCK!" He held his chest. "You scared the BUCK outta me!" He shook his head. "Hey, calm down! Relax would ya! I'm not gunna hurt ya. I'm just as freaked out as ya are." Scootaloo did stop screaming but picked up an umbrella keeping it close to use as a weapon if need be. "W-What are you doing in Rainbow Dash's house?" "Ah so that's the name of the pony who made this house? She's rather full of herself if ya ask me." He responded walking over to the couch but stopping when he looked at the journal and hummed. "So that's how it is... What's your name?" "You didn't answer my question, you are trespassing." Scootaloo wasn't gunna answer this random pony even if he was an Alicorn... Wait an ALICORN?! "J-just who are you?" "I thought it'd be pretty apparent who I was... I'm Dusk Breaker," He replied looking at the umbrella in her hands smirking. "And this," He picked up the Journal. "Is my Journal. Now, ya know who I am. Who are you?" "M-My name is Scootaloo," She said looking at him critically. "Y-You can't really be Dusk Breaker can you? I mean it says in the journal that Dusk Breaker is a pegasus." Dusk Breaker just blew air out of his nose. "Yeah, I was. Sometimes unexpected and unexplained things happen, I mean the Everfree forest is a pretty good example. That place is absolutely nuts..." He walked past Scootaloo not at all intimidated about her carrying the umbrella around. "Now, Scootaloo what year is it?" "Uhhh, it's year 1009 C.R." Scootaloo responded following him to the kitchen as he's looking through cabinets seeming to completely ignore the fridge like he's never seen one before and is choosing to ignore it. He whistled, "I've been gone a lonnnng time." He shook his head putting his hands on the counter and sighed staring down at it. "I guess I really did underestimate that spell, I should have listened to Ivy... She really did know what she was talking about. I guess I'll never see her again if it truly has been that long." Scootaloo looked at him try to blink back tears and shake his head once more. "W-well," his voice wavered. "I suppose I'll just have to get along without Iron and Ivy... Scootaloo, do you know of anywhere quiet I could stay for a while? At least until I figure out what to do?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing, she had living proof that Dusk Breaker exists! That and he knows his journal better than anypony! He can help me with my paper! I mean he IS my assignment! "I'll help you, if you help me. Look I know your in a crisis right now but you appeared in here and nearly scared me half to death so... I have a book report due tomorrow, on your journal. There is no way that I'll be able to finish it and the paper in one night. So if you promise to help me finish it I'll help you. Deal?" Dusk Breakers face shifted from depression to surprise into some form of look like he seemed to be weighing his options. "You are doing a book report on me... What was my life such a legendary screw up they have it in the history books?" He laughs at his own expense shaking his head. "Given I don't have any other options I suppose that I have no other choice." Scootaloo looked at the clock and swore under her breath, "Ponyfeathers," She dropped the umbrella into the holder by the door and opened it. "Okay grab your journal and come with me." Dusk Breaker just looked at her and sighed doing as she asks. "Try to keep up and not to attract too much attention okay?" The statement just causes him to roll his eyes as he follows her out the door. Flying it was always something Dusk Breaker enjoyed more than anything. Feeling the wind in his face the breeze through his feathers. He felt at home in the clear sky. Following Scootaloo was rather boring but he honestly had no idea where he was. After flying for about 10 minutes she descended down near a apple farm that looked strangely familiar for some reason. He shook off the feeling and landed next to a treehouse that had Cutie Mark Crusaders HQ written on the sign nailed to the tree next to the latter going up. "Cutie Mark Crusaders? Care to explain?" He asked looking at Scootaloo who was busy climbing the latter already. "Later just hurry up I'm already late." Scootaloo said huffing as she pulled herself up on the walk way and put her hand on the doorknob. Dusk sighed and flapped his wings pushing himself up off the ground and onto the walk way. "Show off." Dusk cocked his head not really sure what she was meaning by that. When she opened the door all of Tartarus broke loose, "Scootaloo, your laaaaaaaaa..." the yellow mare began but she got quiet and she reached a few times to the white pony next to her who was reading a book grabbing one side of it and closing it causing the white one to look up with a similar look of surprise. "Who the hay is that Scoots?" Sweetie asked in the place of AppleBloom who is still too shocked to say anything. Scootaloo entered the room and gestured for Dusk to follow her. To which he had responded with rolling his eyes and coming inside it was a bit cramped for him. He had do sit down on the floor to be able to be in the room without craning his neck so his horn wouldn't got through the ceiling. "H-Holy horseapples he's an Alicorn! Doesn't that make him royalty!?" "Royalty? yeah right more like a royal screw up." Scootaloo and Sweetie stopped talking and looked at him joined by AppleBloom whose eyes never left him. "What? I'm no prince, I'd be surprised if Princess Celestia even knows I exist." The three stare at one another for a few minutes saying nothing. Like they were talking in their heads to one another just by looks and slight movements. "Okay Scootaloo," That cut her out of the seemingly heated mental conversation and she looked at him. "Why in the blazes did you bring me to this old treehouse?" "Just sit there for a minute okay?" Dusk opened his mouth to say something but just closed it again huffing. "Alright girls I've got quite the situation and it's evolved since I asked you two here. I was going to initially ask you two if you've ever heard of possessed books." She looked at them and got mixed results Sweetie nodded her head yes, while AppleBloom shook her head no. "Well that's no longer an issue, he is. He showed up in Rainbow's house and I don't know how he got there!" "I can probably answer that..." Dusk said the three mares looking at him curiously. "It might take a while, and Scootaloo if you want that report done I suggest you take notes."
Chapter One: Discovering Dusk BreakerMY JOURNAL Owner: Dusk Breaker To my Journal and all who have stumbled across this journal of mine, How and when to start this, no better spot then the beginning I assume. I was born on April 14, the year 526 C.R. I didn't have much of an interesting childhood. I grew up with my two friends... This was all Scootaloo had an interest to read before closing the old dusty and slightly damaged journal and debated in her mind if she should write her report on this. She had school to worry about and didn't want a boring old dusty tome about Equestria's history. It might be an equivalent her committing suicide if she had to read one, she knew it wouldn't exactly be the best use of her time. She had a future, unlike the stuck-up and forever bitchy Diamond Tiara and her crony Silverspoon. Those two still picked at her and her friends even though they were in high school now, she wondered when they'd grow up but she assumed that would be soon considering how much they are whoring themselves off to whoever will do their homework for them. While Scootaloo would love an easy way to avoid the assignment that was definitely not the way she would go about it. Letting out a light sigh she looked at the journal in her hands and after rolling her eyes she opened it up again and reread to where she left off. ... Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble. Now hold on a moment, she knew those names from somewhere, but from where? Closing the journal again she got up out of her seat and put the book inside her bag. She knew one pony that would know. SweetieBelle, after starting high school she'd been hitting the books really hard and only really did anything on Saturdays with her and AppleBloom. It was fine but she really wanted to see her more, now she has an excuse to see her that relates to learning she can't just say she's too busy studying. It was a short walk from the cafe she was sitting outside to Sweetie's place no more than a few minutes. Giving the door a few sharp knocks it opened showing her friend answering, Rarity must have been busy with a customer due to her not answering the door. "Oh hey Scootaloo, I really can't hang out today I'm finishing my science project for Mr. Verity," Sweetie said stepping aside. "You can stay for a bit if you want though, you'll have to come up to my room. Rarity is really busy, so it's best not to get in her way right now." Scootaloo stepped inside and nodded. She fully understood it's best to be quiet when Rarity was working. She and AppleBloom learned that the hard way over the years getting in trouble for it more than once. After some time though they both got the message. A few minutes later Scootaloo was up in Sweetie's room with her, it's not much different from when they were kids aside from maybe a few new posters and a lot more books. She claims that her room has changed a lot but it's basically the same no matter how many books she collects in there. Making a mini-library in here wouldn't change the memories in here with her best friends plotting different ways to obtain their cutie marks. "So what brings you here today Scoots? I mean it's not like it isn't cool of you to come over just unexpected, we hung out yesterday," Sweetie seeming rather concerned about her friend's sudden wish to see her. "Nothing bad happened did it?" "Nah Sweetie, everything is all good. Just found some names that sounded really familiar and I wanted to know if you knew them. I mean you've got an A in history so if they are important I'm pretty sure you'd know," Scootaloo stated pulling the journal from her bag and opening it to read off the names. "Do you know who... Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble are?" "Scoots this isn't a joke, right? We learned about those two last month, Iron Sprocket was a famous ironworker that was commissioned by Princess Celestia to build the first steam train ever in use in Equestria. Trains, before that, were run on coal and everypony was getting really sick from all the coal they had to burn to make the trains move. The train and all of its cars were built in about a year according to books on the subject. The project happened from year 552 C.R. to 553 C.R. However, since the construction of the steam train many updates and reconstructions to the design over the years leave us with the steam engine trains we use today," Sweetie resighted it as if she just read it out of a history book. "As for Ivy Bramble, her outlook on magic and studies into the subject are nearly as vast as Star Swirl and her theories on the subject are very noteworthy. In 551 C.R. Ivy began studies into using magic to manipulate Lead and other metals into gold and other precious metals. She succeeded according to eyewitness accounts one being Celestia herself. However, her research notes and research journals were lost a long time ago and nopony has ever been able to replicate her work. Said studies lasted nearly 15 years starting from 551 C.R. ending in 566 C.R. nearly 350 years ago." Sweetie finally finished her explanation leaning back on her bed after adjusting a stack of books on her desk to look more neat and orderly. "Wow... I really didn't expect those ponies to be so important," Scootaloo thought out load. "I suppose I should start paying attention during history class huh?" She stated, watching Sweetie Belle relax. "Do you have any information on a pony named Dusk Breaker?" "Dusk Breaker?" Sweetie Belle asked as if she didn't hear her correctly. Scootaloo nodded to reaffirm what she said to be true. "I... don't know. I don't think I've ever heard of Dusk Breaker, why?" Scootaloo handed over the old journal. Looking over the cover a moment she flipped it open and reads the first few sentences. "Well, I can't say I've ever heard of this pony... Maybe try actually reading the whole thing Scootaloo." She thusly closed the journal and gave it back. "I mean it's not like you don't have the time. I mean to read something like this you must be done with your homework already." Scootaloo's heart sunk for a moment as she remembered the rest of her homework that was due tomorrow. She SUCKED at homework and she was completely okay with admitting it. "Help?" Sweetie smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sweetie, you're a lifesaver!" She excitedly hugged her friend after letting her go she pulled her homework from her bag. It was only half finished, normally she'd just fill in half-baked answers just before she turned it in and got a few right if she was lucky. At least with Sweetie's help, she might make off with a B on her homework. All accept her report which is due in a few days. Author's Note C.R. Means Celestia's Reign for those who don't know or can't figure it out.
Chapter Two: Dusk Breaker Is A Washout?After leaving Sweetie's house with her homework finished for tomorrow she had less to worry about while flying home. She'd been staying at RainbowDash's place for the past year and a half now due to how much closer it was to the school and it was a dream come true for her. The pony she idolized more than anypony ever, the fastest and the embodiment of awesomeness Rainbow Dash. No matter how many times she'd think about it she still squee-d on the inside. Even if Rainbow wasn't home all the time due to being a Wonderbolt she needed somepony around to take care of Tank while she was gone. Scootaloo was the first to step up to do it. All she had to do according to Flutter Shy was feed Tank twice a day and make sure he moves around. That and take Tank to see the butter pegasus every month for a check up. Opening the door and going inside she jumped onto the cloud couch and snuggled herself in. There was no couch in the world as comfy as a cloud couch and everypony knew it. She was trying to put off reading the journal but she glanced at her bag that was unceremoniously dropped next to the couch. Now normally it would have sunk through the floor but Sweetie put a spell on it for her making it so her bag never fell through the clouds. She didn't even want to think about why Sweetie did it for her in the first place. To save herself from thinking about that day she reached over and pulled the old journal from the bag and looked it over with a critical look. "A pony that not even Sweetie knows about huh? Maybe I should listen to her and actually read it to find out who this Dusk Breaker is..." Heaving a hefty sigh she flipped open the cover starting to read. I honestly don't think I would have stayed sane, without those two in my life. More yet, They've always been more of a success than me. Actually Iron, got his cutie mark way before Ivy and I did. It took Ivy maybe a month of hard work but she got hers too. I felt left behind for about a year there, and I got picked on for being a quote on quote 'Blank Flank'. Yeah real original that phrase will probably die off in a few decades. But honestly enough about that, I suppose I should right wright more about myself even if that is a little egotistical. Oh right, I didn't even say that I was a Pegasus. Well I'm jet black with grey eyes and my mane is usually all over the place, don't really care much about styling it. Yeah, yeah your probably thinking but how are you going to impress any mares like that? That's actually a pretty good point, as of right now I'm not looking. I suppose i should actually start telling about what actually happened today. Date: August 23 543 C.R. Today was a... bad horrible alright day all things considered. You'd think being kicked out of school would be the worst thing in the world right? WRONG. Today actually felt great, I didn't have any worries today. At least until I got home. My father went ballistic for maybe all of an hour but then settled down after mom got home and told him to shut up. She'd asked me what had happened with school. I told her that I didn't think they could teach me anything I REALLY needed to know to be what I wanted to be. Sure there was some things I'd need to research myself and yeah it would be harder without a degree but I got my heart set and I wasn't going to change my mind. Now you'd probably think she'd be pretty upset right? Nope, she started laughing. Yeah laughing! after a minute or so she stopped and said I reminded her of when she was young and did the same thing. She washed out of school and now she's got a management position at the weather factory. She wasn't all too upset and she told dad to lay off me and in the long run they'd have more money now that they didn't have to pay for me to go to my last year of school. Dad really perked up at that. Oh, I should probably take a note of my parents names in here, My mothers name is Harmony Stream, and my father's is Titus Valann. Just in case someone other than me was interested in looking them up in the future although thinking about that seems kind of stupid. Like anypony would be interested in me or my parents that'd be a monumental waste of time. Scootaloo slammed the journal shut in her hands and sighed, she was bored outta her mind! She needed something to eat. Speaking of food, feeding Tank and making sure that she got him moving around for at least a little bit before she tried to pick up the journal again. A few hours pasted before Scootaloo looked over at the journal again. There it was, resting right where she left it. Only it was wide open and not on the page she left off on either. It had to be near the middle. It was a little creepy that it was open now. She looked around the room then realized she left the window open when she left the house this morning and went over and closed it. "Geez, Scoots you are getting really jumpy for no reason. There is no way some book opened on its own that's impossible." She turned around and her eyes got wider than dinner plates as the pages flipped on their own. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Not going near the journal. Nooooo way in tartarus was she gunna go near that couch again. She was tired that's it! Yeah. She's by no means a crazy pony! She was going straight to bed and she'd just return the book to Twilight in the morning and tell her that she wasn't interested in reading it anymore. Yeah that's the plan.
Chapter Four: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 1)"Alright," Dusk sighed seeming to have all three of the mare's full attention. "Scootaloo already knows this but, I had two friends. Iron Sprocket and Ivy Bramble. They weren't only my best friends they were my only friends. As I'm thinking back I could have been a way better friend to the both of them." He sighed once more his eyes closing and his face contorting into one of concentration his horn sparked. After a minute his horn was surrounded by gray magic, so was his journal. "Better yet, I'll show you." A loud pop was heard and they all appeared in a clearing just outside of a small town. "Welcome to New Yoke." The three mares stared at the small town. There was no way this was New Yoke! It was so small! New Yoke rivaled Canterlot in size how was it this small unless... "More like, welcome to New Yoke in 543 C.R. Oh, and no pony can see you... or touch you for that matter, all of us are like ghosts right now." Scootaloo and her friends stared at was once was New Yoke in silence for a good while before Sweetie spoke up. "Dusk Breaker? Is this really what New Yoke looked like 466 years ago?" Dusk got a pained look on his face and nodded. "Wow, I wonder what everywhere else looked like." "Sweetie we really don't have time for that," AppleBloom who'd been quite quiet till now turned to Dusk, "You said you'd show us what happened to ya right?" Dusk nodded in response. "Well show away. Color me interested." Dusk shook his head and took a few steps forward followed by the three friends Scootaloo taking a bunch of notes about the surrounding area determined to get her paper done. After a walk through part of New Yoke they stopped in front of a school, "This was my school. I wasn't there today, I'm over there..." He looks to a pegasus that is the spitting image of him without the horn and Alicorn size. "I was waiting for Ivy and Iron to get out of school to tell them what I was going to do starting today. Now watch my story begins right here." The bell rung Dusk looked up from the ground that he was finding so interesting. Stretching his wings out a bit he waited for his friends to come out of the school. He walked towards it as he saw Iron, a heavily built earth pony with a rust colored fur, brick red eyes, and a dusty brown mane. A light green unicorn with light brown eyes and a two toned dark green and mint colored mane was next to him, Ivy. They were holding hands. This caused Dusk to stop in his tracks. "Why did he stop where he was?" The motion of time seemed to stop as Dusk looked away from the scene in front of him and to Sweetie. "What was so wrong with that?" "Sweetie, I'd been out of school for about a month at this point. Just keep watching... I think you'll figure it out." Dusk looked back at the scene and it began to play again. Looking down Dusk sighed and shook his head. He had turned around to leave when Ivy called his name. "Dusk, what brings you here?" He didn't turn around and just started walking. "Hey bro where ya goin'?" Iron and Ivy followed after him and caught up with relative ease. It wasn't like Dusk was trying to get away from them he just needed a little time to collect what he had to say. "Dusk, you alright?" Dusk turned around, "Yeah I'm fine... What's new with you two?" Ivy and Iron gave one another a glance at how depressed he sounded. "Look, it's fine. You two can get as close as you want..." "Dusk," Ivy began trying to think of something to say clearly trying to make her friend feel better. "We weren't trying to keep it a secret... We just didn't know when would be a good time to tell you." "Yeah," Iron replied weakly not really having anything else to say. Dusk looked at him more angry at him than at Ivy. "Ivy, uhhh... why don't you go on ahead me and Dusk gotta talk about some stuff." Ivy sighed but nodded, this wasn't the first time they wanted to talk alone. It had to do with guy stuff and she rolled her eyes. "Okay, just hurry you don't wanna be late for dinner at my place." Dusk glared at the ground after that was said but refused to say anything as Ivy walked off. "I suppose I owe you an explanation..." Iron started, "Look I didn't mean for it to happen it just did." "Of course it did... You couldn't wait for me to be out of the way huh?" Dusk said rather quietly but Iron could hear him it was clear by the flick of his ears. "Just wait till Dusk screws up or even better wait till he's not around to make your move right? You broke the promise we built our friendship on." Dusk blinked back tears as Iron spoke up, "Hey I didn't break it, you left. What other choice did I have? Ivy thought that you left cause of something she said to you. She thought you hated her." "Where the BUCK did she get that idea? From you? Honestly I wouldn't be surprised..." Dusk shook his head opening his wings and launching himself off the ground above Iron by a few feet. "Well, enjoy the spoils of a broken promise and friendship!" He flew off leaving Iron standing there and the memory faded to black. "Wait let me get this straight..." Scootaloo said looking up from her notes. "You and your best friend since forever both liked Ivy Bramble?" Dusk nodded remaining quiet. "Your friendship was built on a promise what was it?" Dusk closed his eyes shivering a bit clearly trying to hold in his emotions. "It was, a simple promise... We'd help one another learn more about Ivy, and when the day came that one of us would ask Ivy out we'd tell the other first. At least that's the simplified version." "Well I for one want to see this promise!" AppleBloom stated stomping the ground underneath her. "I want to see just how bad Iron broke his promise or if he even did at all!" "What do you mean AppleBloom?" Sweetie questioned her friend, "You don't believe Dusk Breaker's story? While I admit it is only one side of the story there clearly was a promise because Iron didn't at all try to say there wasn't. He had his mouth closed when Dusk was talking... wait that's it! Dusk this is your memory of the events right?" Dusk nodded to answer her question. "Then if this is your memory then what if Iron was saying something and you were so upset you don't remember him saying anything after that!" Dusk looked down and seemed to have a look of thought for a few moments and huffed out of his nose. "Your right... Iron wasn't the type to ever stay quiet like that. Maybe he was saying something but I was too angry with him to listen. I suppose that I'll have to show you the promise then..."
Chapter Five: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 2) The Promise.Author's Note this song tune is what he's whistling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjGE7obmM2o Chapter Five: Dusk Breaker's Story (Part 2) The Promise. Dusk's horn lit up and with a flash of light they stood quite a distance from New Yoke near a wooded area. "I wonder if the place is still there after nearly 500 years... I'd have to go look one day..." Dusk said aloud walking into the trees followed by the three curious crusaders. he whistled a soft sad melody sounding similar to a tune that would come from a music box taking a left at a certain point that seemed to be marked somehow but the crusaders hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. A minute or two more of walking and they were pretty deep in now as the sound of rushing water reached their ears. Walking towards the sound he suddenly jumped up and then disappeared into the ground causing the three mares to rush over to where he was and look around. "Dusk where in tarnation did ya go?" AB asked looking around Dusk popped his head out from under the ground, "Boo!" two of the young mares screamed and jumped back only to get upset looks while scootaloo was too interested in the notes she was currently writing. "What in the HAY made you think that was a good idea." Sweetie yelped. "Y-Yeah! What the HAY was that fer?" AB asked trying to calm herself. "Oh relax, I was just having a bit of fun, and we're here... you'll have to come inside." Dusk said his head popping back into the ground. Sweetie inspected the ground testing how solid it was right where Dusk's head just was and her hoof went right through. Looking to AppleBloom, who was doing the same they smiled. The smiles on the two mares only grew as they both looked at Scootaloo. WIth exchanged nods and sneaking around her they both shoved her forward. "What's the big d-deal you guy-" She began to say as Scootaloo fell down the hole. Dusk who was already down in the hole just smiled watching Scootaloo slide down and land unceremoniously on her tush with a resounding 'Oof.' Caused him to chuckle at the pegasus mare as her two friends followed her down can crashed right into her. "Well glad to see the three of you are having fun." He said between his smile and chuckles. "You three are quite a wonder in yourselves. Such lively crew you have following you around in this adventure in my mind Scootaloo." The little hide away was much bigger underneath the ground it was actually big enough to warrant shocked looks from the crusaders. The ceiling was just high enough to not be a problem for Dusk himself to stand so long as he was careful of his horn in certain spots. Very ancient and outdated Wonder Bolt memorabilia and some other things are decorating the walls even a Celestia propaganda poster was plastered on the wall. "Sure, it's a little smaller than later on in life but..." He sighed as a tear rolled down from his right eye without his knowledge. The three mares took notice, Sweetie was going to say something but Scootaloo touched her shoulder and shook her head. With a deep breath and a shiver his horn lit up and the memory began to play. There Dusk sat still a young colt his flanks still as blank as ever smiling a crayon in hand drawing a picture of another. He was doing quite a good job, or at least he thought he was. "Oh my gosh, that's you?" Sweetie said freezing the memory making Dusk look at her and nod. "You were adorable!" Dusk blushed a tad bit embarrassed at the compliment from her. "J-Just watch the memory will ya. We aren't here so you can see what I looked like. Ya are here ta hear the promise nothing more." The scene resumed immediately after he stopped talking. "Whhhoooaaa!" Dusk looked up from his drawing to see a colt from his class had fallen into his hideaway. What was his name again? "I-Iron Sprocket? What are you doing here and how did you find my place?" The young Dusk asked his little wings puffed up making himself look bigger and trying to be intimidating. Although it seemed rather redundant considering Iron was already a fourth of a pony bigger than him. Iron looked up from the ground that his face had impacted contorted in confusion. "Your place huh?" He looked around from his spot on the ground before sitting up and sitting back and getting a better look around. "You got a good place down here..." His voice trailed off for a moment when he looked at what Dusk had drawn. "What ya drawin'?" Dusk picked it up and put it behind his back. "N-Nuthin'... Nuthin' that's any a ya beeswax..." He said blushing. "Aww come on lemme see! It looked really good!" Iron said excited scooting closer to Dusk. "Okay but ya have to promise not ta laugh..." Iron did a crossing of his heart motion with his finger across his chest wordlessly. Sighing Dusk handed over the picture he was drawing. "Is this Ivy Bramble from class? It's actually pretty good... but why draw her?" Iron said looking up from the picture. "Wait don't tell me, ya like her too?" Dusk's face went to on surprise, as Iron continued. "She's one of a kind, I know cause I like her too!" "Well, uhhh... this is a bit awkward..." "Yeah... so uhhh... we both like the same girl." "Yup..." "Oh, I know. Let's make a vow!" "A vow?" "Well my dad said that if you promise something you have to honor it no matter what! He says that a honoring a vow is the thing that makes you a great Stallion when you are older!" "Huh... so a vow is like a promise, oookay then... I guess that makes sense but how do we start a vow anyway?" "Oh, that's easy! We have to tell one other what we vow as we raise our right hands and we put our left on something we both treasure. So... maybe your picture will work?" "Uhhh... sure.." Dusk scooted closer putting his picture between them. "Okay." Iron put his left hand on the right side of the paper and raising his right hand. Dusk mirrored him his wings twitching nervously. "So how does it go from here?" "We should promise that if either of us is ever going to ask Ivy out we should tell the other first! That way we wont be mad at one another." Dusk's face scrunched a bit in thought but nodded, "Okay." "Okay, now follow my words. I Iron Sprocket here by vow, that I will tell Dusk Breaker when and if I ever decide to ask Ivy Bramble out. Okay your turn." Dusk nodded. "I, Dusk Breaker here by vow, that I will tell Iron Sprocket when and if I ever decide to ask Ivy Bramble out." Iron nodded. "Oh, since we are like this anyway.... I also vow that if I so happen to learn anything new about Ivy Bramble that Dusk doesn't already know I will tell him so as to not be unfair." "I vow to do the same, and tell Iron any information about Ivy Bramble that he doesn't already know as to not be unfair." They both smile and drop their raised hands and remove their other ones from the picture smiling like a couple of idiots. "Sooo.... Friends?" "Yeah, Friends." The memory fades as the Crusaders were completely silent. "There you have it, the vow that we made..." Dusk said as the area around him turned a dark grey but keeping the image of his childhood hideaway. "Wow, he was the one who even proposed it! That's a pretty scummy thing ta do ta ya." AB said walking over and gently resting her hand on Dusk's shoulder. "Uhhh, I'd hate to ask but was this ever in your journal?" Scootaloo asked getting a nod from Dusk Breaker, "Okay, and I'm really sorry for making you relive this..." "Scootaloo, all three of us are at fault here. It's something we wanted to see, and he was gracious enough to show us." Sweetie said looking at Dusk with sympathy. "We're all sorry about this. No one should ever break a vow, especially one made by two friends." "it's quite alright you three, I've come to terms with what happened... I wouldn't be showing you if I hadn't." Dusk remaining seated his horn flashed a bright light that blinded the three mares returning them to the Crusader's tree-house.
Chapter Six: The Time Spent AfterSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Three: Meeting Dusk Breaker!?!?Morning, yup it was morning already. Scootaloo didn't get a wink of sleep. She was still freaking out on the inside. She couldn't have been going crazy, could she? Sure she had her moments but if something was off wouldn't Sweetie have noticed and asked if I was okay when I was over at her place yesterday? After that deduction she sighed pulling herself out of bed. Stretching, she thought to herself that it was going to be a long day at school, or at least it would be if she got caught sleeping in class again. Shaking her head she sighed, it was time to get ready for school, she'd figure out what to do about the book when she got home. If she didn't hurry she was going to be late. After leaving some lettuce and water for Tank when he woke up she poked her head into the main room of the cloud house seeing the book still laying there on the puffy cloud couch. Shivering she hesitantly walked over and snagged her bag walking quickly out the front door locking it behind her. "So creepy..." School today actually wasn't that bad, she actually stayed up during class even if it was Monday, the WORST day ever. It was a surprise even to her how she managed to stay awake today. Well that wasn't entirely true. She needed to talk to SweetieBelle or AppleBloom about the book. "Hey AB," She said just after the final bell as they were leaving class to get her yellow friends attention. "I need to talk to ya bout something. Mind if we meet at the old club house in about an hour?" They only ever went there when there anymore when there was something really important going on that was to be kept in the utmost secrecy. "This ain't gunna be you askin' to copy mah homework again is it?" Scootaloo shook her head no. Okay the last few times she did call her there for that but this time it was really important. AppleBloom sighed, "Alright I'll meet ya there." She walked off adjusting her backpack. That could have gone a bit better, but after a few times of calling in an emergency was just her needing some help with her homework and AB and Sweetie had every right to be a little frustrated thinking there was a emergency and it turned out all she needed was school related. This time it was something really important at least it was creepy enough to be important. Upon reaching the house made of clouds she shivered. How was she going to get the book to the clubhouse? Wait what was she thinking?! She's got to be fearless! Rainbow Dash would probably laugh at her if she saw her being scared of a dusty old book! She huffed and went inside shaking her head only to drop her key and all the color left her face as she stared at a Jet black Alicorn standing in Rainbow Dash's house, she screamed. When she started screaming the Alicorn jumped completely shock an began yelling startled yelling, "HOLY BUCK!" He held his chest. "You scared the BUCK outta me!" He shook his head. "Hey, calm down! Relax would ya! I'm not gunna hurt ya. I'm just as freaked out as ya are." Scootaloo did stop screaming but picked up an umbrella keeping it close to use as a weapon if need be. "W-What are you doing in Rainbow Dash's house?" "Ah so that's the name of the pony who made this house? She's rather full of herself if ya ask me." He responded walking over to the couch but stopping when he looked at the journal and hummed. "So that's how it is... What's your name?" "You didn't answer my question, you are trespassing." Scootaloo wasn't gunna answer this random pony even if he was an Alicorn... Wait an ALICORN?! "J-just who are you?" "I thought it'd be pretty apparent who I was... I'm Dusk Breaker," He replied looking at the umbrella in her hands smirking. "And this," He picked up the Journal. "Is my Journal. Now, ya know who I am. Who are you?" "M-My name is Scootaloo," She said looking at him critically. "Y-You can't really be Dusk Breaker can you? I mean it says in the journal that Dusk Breaker is a pegasus." Dusk Breaker just blew air out of his nose. "Yeah, I was. Sometimes unexpected and unexplained things happen, I mean the Everfree forest is a pretty good example. That place is absolutely nuts..." He walked past Scootaloo not at all intimidated about her carrying the umbrella around. "Now, Scootaloo what year is it?" "Uhhh, it's year 1009 C.R." Scootaloo responded following him to the kitchen as he's looking through cabinets seeming to completely ignore the fridge like he's never seen one before and is choosing to ignore it. He whistled, "I've been gone a lonnnng time." He shook his head putting his hands on the counter and sighed staring down at it. "I guess I really did underestimate that spell, I should have listened to Ivy... She really did know what she was talking about. I guess I'll never see her again if it truly has been that long." Scootaloo looked at him try to blink back tears and shake his head once more. "W-well," his voice wavered. "I suppose I'll just have to get along without Iron and Ivy... Scootaloo, do you know of anywhere quiet I could stay for a while? At least until I figure out what to do?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing, she had living proof that Dusk Breaker exists! That and he knows his journal better than anypony! He can help me with my paper! I mean he IS my assignment! "I'll help you, if you help me. Look I know your in a crisis right now but you appeared in here and nearly scared me half to death so... I have a book report due tomorrow, on your journal. There is no way that I'll be able to finish it and the paper in one night. So if you promise to help me finish it I'll help you. Deal?" Dusk Breakers face shifted from depression to surprise into some form of look like he seemed to be weighing his options. "You are doing a book report on me... What was my life such a legendary screw up they have it in the history books?" He laughs at his own expense shaking his head. "Given I don't have any other options I suppose that I have no other choice." Scootaloo looked at the clock and swore under her breath, "Ponyfeathers," She dropped the umbrella into the holder by the door and opened it. "Okay grab your journal and come with me." Dusk Breaker just looked at her and sighed doing as she asks. "Try to keep up and not to attract too much attention okay?" The statement just causes him to roll his eyes as he follows her out the door. Flying it was always something Dusk Breaker enjoyed more than anything. Feeling the wind in his face the breeze through his feathers. He felt at home in the clear sky. Following Scootaloo was rather boring but he honestly had no idea where he was. After flying for about 10 minutes she descended down near a apple farm that looked strangely familiar for some reason. He shook off the feeling and landed next to a treehouse that had Cutie Mark Crusaders HQ written on the sign nailed to the tree next to the latter going up. "Cutie Mark Crusaders? Care to explain?" He asked looking at Scootaloo who was busy climbing the latter already. "Later just hurry up I'm already late." Scootaloo said huffing as she pulled herself up on the walk way and put her hand on the doorknob. Dusk sighed and flapped his wings pushing himself up off the ground and onto the walk way. "Show off." Dusk cocked his head not really sure what she was meaning by that. When she opened the door all of Tartarus broke loose, "Scootaloo, your laaaaaaaaa..." the yellow mare began but she got quiet and she reached a few times to the white pony next to her who was reading a book grabbing one side of it and closing it causing the white one to look up with a similar look of surprise. "Who the hay is that Scoots?" Sweetie asked in the place of AppleBloom who is still too shocked to say anything. Scootaloo entered the room and gestured for Dusk to follow her. To which he had responded with rolling his eyes and coming inside it was a bit cramped for him. He had do sit down on the floor to be able to be in the room without craning his neck so his horn wouldn't got through the ceiling. "H-Holy horseapples he's an Alicorn! Doesn't that make him royalty!?" "Royalty? yeah right more like a royal screw up." Scootaloo and Sweetie stopped talking and looked at him joined by AppleBloom whose eyes never left him. "What? I'm no prince, I'd be surprised if Princess Celestia even knows I exist." The three stare at one another for a few minutes saying nothing. Like they were talking in their heads to one another just by looks and slight movements. "Okay Scootaloo," That cut her out of the seemingly heated mental conversation and she looked at him. "Why in the blazes did you bring me to this old treehouse?" "Just sit there for a minute okay?" Dusk opened his mouth to say something but just closed it again huffing. "Alright girls I've got quite the situation and it's evolved since I asked you two here. I was going to initially ask you two if you've ever heard of possessed books." She looked at them and got mixed results Sweetie nodded her head yes, while AppleBloom shook her head no. "Well that's no longer an issue, he is. He showed up in Rainbow's house and I don't know how he got there!" "I can probably answer that..." Dusk said the three mares looking at him curiously. "It might take a while, and Scootaloo if you want that report done I suggest you take notes."
