Chapters Introductions
"I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way."
-Carl Sandburg
*Crash*
"Anything broken?"
"Not that I know-"
*crack*
"-of..."
"Cancel that then."
The Cutie Mark Crusaders had tried their skills at zip lining across Ponyville from the town hall to Twilight's castle. They nearly made it too. But, like the Crusader tradition, nothing goes to plan.
"Come on Scoots, we'll get you to the hospital in no time."
Nyx let out a long sigh. "You three are fourteen and yet you haven't gotten your cutie marks yet. It seems sort of trivial, don't you think?"
"Nyx, think about the cutie mark spirit." Sweetie Belle paused. "Though it's true we had to endure half a decade of injuries. We might just run out of luck and get one of us killed one day."
"Fine. We put off a bit of crusading for awhile, but we ain't stopping." Appleblooms interjected. "I don't wanna be a blank flank for mah whole life."
The little group slowly made their way to the hospital. "So, did ja hear about the new student?"
"Other than that she's a girl, nope."
"Well, I sure hope she'll be a crusader too. Everyone in class likes us, but because they have cutie marks, they don't join."
"To be a crusader is to help others, not have a cutie mark." Nyx stated, which got a unanimous agreement from the entire group.
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Dawn sat in the second passenger car of a 16 coach train, tapping a foot, heading to some backwater town all on her own. 'Well, I bought this on my own, anyway. No use complaining.' She thought remorsefully.
When Celestia tried to cuddle her, she pushed her away saying that she was grown up and she didn't need a shoulder to lean on. When Dawn asked if Celestia would come, she dismissed her saying she was a big girl and she would be fine.
At least she had a map.
"Next stop, Ponyville!"
She gathered her backpack and prepared to disembark. Some castle servant would bring her trunks to Twilight's castle, whoever she was.
Dawn hung off the railing, jumping off just before the train stopped completely. She began pushing her way through the crowd of people trying to get on the train. Suddenly, she felt a pressure on her left foot and she fell over onto the stone tiles.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, here let me help you!"
It was a young boy about the age of six or seven. Dawn gave him a glare before she continued on.
"Some nerve..." His mother muttered under her breath.
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"Good morning class." Cherilee singsonged.
"Good morning, Miss Cherilee." The class chorused.
"Today, we're welcoming a new student today."
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all looked at each other giddily.
"Her name is Dawn. Can you please come up?"
There was nothing.
"Is this Dawn a ghost? I don't see anyone in front of me." Diamond Tiara quipped.
Suddenly, the door slammed open and Dawn stepped in. Her hair was disheveled, she was panting heavily, and most definitely not happy.
"I heard that, you know. Next time you try to insult someone, try to say it so that they don't hear it." This got a couple giggles from the class, at Diamond Tiara's cost.
"Dawn, can you explain why you were late?"
"Blame it on the Conductor of Engine 14 of the Union Equestra line. Pulled in five minutes late and I couldn't even tell the difference between houses around here. It took me half the night to figure out where everything was laid out." She gushed.
"What about the other half?"
"Avoiding a pink menace who shall not be named. Where do I sit?"
"Over there."
She quickly trotted over and plunked on her desk.
"So Dawn, tell us about yourself."
"Did I come to the wrong place? I thought this was school."
"That's speaking volumes." Dinky piped up. She was awarded with a silencing glare.
"I take you don't like sharing anything about yourself?"
"No, this is just what we don't do in Canterlot." The alicorn replied. She took the backpack from her back and opened it up. "What's the first subject?"
Everyone gasped. "Your an alicorn too?" Nyx asked with the excitement of a three year old.
A sudden hint of sadness came across her face, but was quickly replaced by anger. "Yes, I'm an alicorn. Is there a problem?" She half-shouted.
Everyone was taken back by the verbal assault. "No, we were only just excited..." Twist muttered "On behalf of my class, I say sorry."
Dawn just grumbled, "Just leave me alone and we will get along just fine..."
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Dawn sat in the shade of the schoolhouse, munching on a flattened peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She notice Nyx getting closer, and prepared herself for the worst.
"Hey, Dawn." Nyx chirped.
Dawn's jaw fell slack. "You know, I wouldn't have expected you to be this nice after, you know, my attitude."
"Mum said that the best way to deal with mean people is to be nice to them."
"Yes you're gonna love and tolerate the shit out of me."
"Can't you tell me why you're always so worked up?"
The flash of sadness again. "No." She stated bluntly. "That is only for me and my mother to know."
"But who is your mother?"
"...Luna..." She whispered softly.
"Nightmare Moon, wasn't it?" Nyx replied, equally soft.
Dawn looked at the ground, vision blurred by tears. 'No crying...no crying....crap'
Nyx handed her a handkerchief, which she greatly accepted.
"So, are you ready to tell me?"
"It's a long story, so pay attention. I'm not repeating anything."
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"So, that's why you're always so cranky."
"I guess..."
Nyx rose from her spot. "Can I tell Miss Cherilee?"
"Do what you must. My life is full of fuck I can't sort out."
Nyx nodded. She was on the verge of tears too after hearing her story. "Thank you for telling me. We'll get you some hope in no time."
"I hope so. I really do."
Nitor, the Amazing Talking Bow
Salvum me fac ex Inferno
"We are all here on Earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for, I don't know."
- W. H. Auden
*Briiiiiiiiing*
"Class dismissed! Dawn, can you stay back?"
The alicorn shoved her books in her backpack and walked to Cherilee's desk and braced herself.
"Nyx told you everything, didn't she?"
Cherilee nodded. "Well, yes. I'm letting you off the hook this time, but that doesn't mean you can do this full time."
Dawn nodded solemnly. "Crystal clear."
"Dismissed."
She opened the door and stepped out into the afternoon sunlight.
"So, how did it go?" Nyx questioned.
"I'm off the hook, but I personally think even she doesn't know what to do."
"Hey, where are you staying?"
"At Twilight's castle."
Nyx's eyes went as wide as saucers. "That's where I live! Oh, praise the lord, my prayers have been answered!"
She threw both her arms around Dawn and gave her a bear hug. "Easy now, Nyx. You're an alicorn too."
"Oh, sorry." Nyx said sheepishly. "I just always wanted a sister."
"We're not sisters. I just so happen to be staying with you."
"Awww...."
"Get used to the attitude. I think I'm going to be around for awhile."
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"Okay...shirts here....pants here..."
*knock knock knock*
"Dawn, can I come in?"
"...fine"
Nyx stepped into the room.
"I'm going to a crusader meeting. Wanna come?"
"What?"
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders. You know the three blank flanks from school?"
"Sort of...?"
"They're trying to find their special talent. Maybe you can help?"
Dawn closed her eyes. "Well, I'm a blank flank too."
"Oh."
"I'll be along in a moment."
Nyx nodded and backpedalled out of the room. "Seeya then."
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"Hey, what's taking Nyx long?" Scootaloo impatiently tapped her foot.
"I'm here!"
"We were going to leave you, looks like you caught the train!"
"Dawn too."
She slowly shuffled in, left hand holding her right elbow from behind her back, and she had a profound interest in the wooden boards on the ground.
"What is she doing here?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Git her out! Out!"
"Girls." Nyx sighed. "Can you just try to accept her? She's been through crap you could only dream of."
Dawn said nothing.
"Go on. Tell them."
*sigh* "Fine....
"Fifteen years before Luna had a thousand year tour of the moon, she met an earth pony stallion from the royal guard. His name was Sombra."
The three original crusaders gasped.
"His cutie mark was for stairs, and after several months of dating, the couple made love.
"Then, he turned on Luna.
"He accidentally stumbled on an ancient spell that turned him into a unicorn, and corrupted his mind. He quickly overpowered the Crystal Empire, and ruled if with an iron fist, as you already know.
"Celestia and Luna sent his ass ahead for a thousand years, and, as you know, it was the first time the Elements of Harmony were used.
"But, alas, the damage was done. Seeds of doubt were planted in Luna's mind.
"At this point, I was born. I was the anchor that stalled her from becoming the nightmare she was later, but she finally succumbed to the evil forces residing in her when I told her that I wished she wasn't my mother."
"But why?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"You won't understand the hell it is to be royalty. Anyway, she became Nightmare Moon, put me in a coma, and was given the boot to the moon.
"Then I wake up, find my ass in a completely different world, and sent to some random town I never heard of. Tell me, wouldn't you be a bit put off?"
The three girls nodded.
"So, where we off this time?"
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Nyx lay snug under her covers, looking out the window. Introductions with the Elements had gone smoothly enough, but no one had gotten their cutie marks.
Suddenly, a figure dressed completely in black jumped on her balcony, then jumped off. Nyx quickly got out of bed, and ran to the edge, to see the figure retreating into the Everfree Forest.
Grabbing some sneakers, she lowered herself onto the ground and went into the forest. Finding the figure at the edge of a clearing, Nyx noticed that the person had a bow and a quiver, and seemed to be waiting for something.
Five Timberwolves soon entered the clearing, but they were quickly downed but five arrows. The figure rose, and Nyx gasped. It was Dawn.
She quickly retreated back with the intent of telling Twilight, but she stepped on a twig.
*snap*
The sound resounded throughout the clearing, and Dawn quickly reached to the noise. Swiftly walking towards the sound she found nothing, and moved on.
Nyx let out breath she didn't know she was holding. The footsteps receded, and she quickly sprung up to stalk Dawn again.
They soon arrived at the castle of the Royal Sisters. Dawn rapidly jogged across the bridge, then disappeared into the main building. Nyx followed her into the hole in the wall, and saw her disappear around a corner. She kept of following her in a winding path, until she saw candlelight come from a room.
Sneaky as a cat, she crept up to the edge of the door and poked her head in.
Dawn was holding a small picture frame with both hands, and one leg tucked in. There was a deep melancholy in her eyes, as if she wished she was somewhere else but couldn't be there.
Suddenly she looked up. "About time you got here, Nyx."
Nyx's jaw dropped. "You knew?"
Dawn let out a soft laugh, and said. " You sounded like a train wreck. I knew you were following me since the beginning. Oh, and while we're on that topic, I think you won't have a problem with getting a boyfriend."
Nyx's face burned. "So you saw me?"
"More than enough." Dawn giggled.
"Let's not talk about that, okay? Now you have a lot of explaining to do." Nyx motioned her hand at the bow.
"Oh, this? I was taught combat arts since I was five."
Nyx's eyes were wide as saucers. "But who tutored you?"
"A certain elite Night Guard lieutenant called Swift. He was the best marksman at the time, and, to me, was a second father. A day guard called Switchblade taught me the art of sword fighting, and a recon Pegasus called Misty Mapper taught me the art of stealth."
"You know what my cutie mark means?"
"What?"
"It means I protect the innocent and hunt the guilty. I just don't have the skills, so can you teach me?"
"I'm sorry, but no. This path, it leads to pain and misery."
View Online
And I Thought People Don't Ask "Why" Anymore
Forward to the Past
"Point at enemy."
-Directions on the barrel of a Self Propelled Gernade
Dawn sat in her usual area under the shade of the schoolhouse, munching on a PB and J sandwich. Everything was normal, except the Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting with her.
"So, you're like a hired assassin?" Scootaloo asked giddily.
"I guess...?"
"So. Awesome!" The orange pegasus cheered, but quickly broke into a "coughing fit". "Well, not as much as Rainbow Dash, of course. But still, it's awesome!"
Suddenly, two very UNwelcome figures walked over. "Heyyy, how's the new blank flank doing?" Diamond teased.
"Probably just getting herself worked up, as usual." Silver Spoon joined in. Nyx looked over at Dawn. A vein was literally throbbing on her forehead. "Oh, and I saw you living at Twilight's house yesterday night. What kind of royalty is she, the princess of adoption?"
Nyx's blood pressure hit 240 over 160.
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"Now, girls, I'm sure you have a reason for beating the living daylights out of Diamond and Silver here." Cherilee's questioned.
"She was insulting royalty."
"Aggravating Dawn."
"Tryin' to provoke a reaction."
"Nearly gave Nyx a HEART ATTACK."
Cherilee buried her face in her hands. "But that's not liable to give them the thumping you gave them."
"Insulting royalty is enough to get you in the gallows, Miss Cherilee. What we did to them was KIND." Dawn said, trying to keep her anger in check. Considering her record, she was doing quite well.
"Alright, their parents will be informed-"
"Like that ever works." Sweetie Belle snarled. "Every time, and they still bully us."
"Because your a bunch of useless, lazy blank flanks-" *slap*. Diamond had cupped her hands onto her mouth, but it was too late. The damage had been done.
"Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, I am very disappointed. Both of you are staying after class for detention. As for YOU girls...I suggest you go to Fluttershy's. I'm actually surprised that they gave you the thumping they did."
"Diamond was swinging her blasted tiara around..."Applebloom muttered. "But, in section 23, paragraph eight, line 57 of the universal book of laws clearly states: karma's a bitch."
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"Oh, goodness, what happened to you five?"
"It turns out Diamond Tiara knows how to karate chop."
"That annoying little brat?"
The Crusaders all looked at each other.
"You know it's bad when even Fluttershy doesn't like it."
"Can you tell me?" She asked in her soft voice.
"Okay, but Dawn isn't going to leave out any details. Viewer discretion is advised." Nyx muttered.
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Now, dear reader, the author must stop to warn you about what is ahead. If for some fucked reason that you like Diamond and Silver at this point in the story, I suggest that you skip the next scene. The making of it was done solely by stunt doubles, but stunt doubles are generally strong and while they're trained to be able to take hits without getting seriously injured, they are also meant to look realistic.
So, please don't throw up. I just got this hat.
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"What did you say about Twilight?" Nyx asked, voiced dangerously soft.
"I said she's the adoption alicorn-*oof*!"
Applebloom had tackled her and the two of them slugged it out, but Diamond had not been trained in earth magic. Therefore, she was at a terrible disadvantage. With no other options, she took her diamond studded tiara and began to beat Applebloom with it.
Sweetie Belle jumped in to help, and that brought Silver Spoon in. In less than a minute, a single snarky comment turned into a full blown fight. It wasn't long after that when several of the boys noticed this, and crowded around yelling, "Fight, fight, fight!"
As the old saying goes, "Strength in numbers." This was true in this situation, and the fact that the crusaders had two alicorns on their side gave them a huge advantage. Dawn went over and finished her sandwich, then verbally slapped Diamond: "Go fuck yourself with a cactus, you filthy whore."
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"Oh, my...." Fluttershy muttered. "I never thought she was that bad..."
"Well, she is." Sweetie Belle crossed her arms adamantly. "And anyone who dares even lay a finger on one of us will get IT."
"Um, okay. Let me patch you up, then I'll have a talk with Mr. Rich."
"Oh, I have a baaaad feeling about this....."
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*knock knock knock*
"I'll get it, daddy!" After Cherilee had spoke to Filthy Rich, he had gone in a five hour tirade. It made one question his lung capacity, because he hadn't taken a single breath. Not that it was surprising. Being a businessman, he probably had to deal with a lot of negotiators over the phone.
But, back to the point, he had stopped he allowance flow for a whole month. Having destroyed her Tiara (yes, with a capital T) in her skirmish with the Crusaders, she felt unnatural without something on her head. Therefore, a brown lunch bag with "tiara" written on it now resided on her noggin.
"Hello, I'm here to see Filthy Rich...?"
"Oh, hi Fluttershy. I'll get him now."
She ran into the depths of the mansion, yelling, "Daddy, Fluttershy is here to see you!"
A servant came out motioned for her to follow him, and took her through a winding path, until they reached Filthy's office.
"Please, Miss Fluttershy, have a seat."
"Thank you."
A scraping of chairs later, Filthy asked, "This is about my daughter, isn't it?"
"Yes." Fluttershy answered meekly.
"There's a reason for that. You see, I adopted her."
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"Wait wait wait..." Dawn had her right thumb and index finger pressed to her forehead. "You mean she could have been our friend?"
"Can you, um, let me finish, please?"
"Oh, sorry. Do go on."
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Filthy Rich sat across Dirty Wealthy. "So, if we take this worker here off the list, we'll be gaining an extra two percent a year."
Filthy smiled. "These little things make me glad that I work with you, Dirty."
Suddenly, a loud thump and screaming echoed through the house.
"What was that?"
"Err...nothing!"
Filthy wasn't listening. He was too busy running to the source of the ruckus.
"What's going on here?"
A tea green lady was standing above an unconscious little pink baby with gray hair, wearing an expression that looked like a child being caught in a lie.
Filthy quickly grabbed her, and ran to his chariot outside.
"Get us to the hospital, now!"
"Yes, sir."
The driver flicked his whip, driving the two Pegasus horses to go flying into the sky.
"Filthy, I swear to the Lord, I will skin you alive for this!"
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The Cutie Mark Crusaders, save Dawn, had cupped their mouths. "Just like Babs Seed..."
"Am I missing something here?" Dawn asked.
"Babs Seed was Applebloom's cousin." Nyx explained. "She was bullied around in Manehattan, and bullied us in turn to get some stress of her nerves. When we tried to get her back, Applejack told us about the whole fiasco, and we had to push her out of some golden apple parade float, getting us muddy."
"Mud?" Dawn asked confused. "But it's not that bad. Why make such a big deal?"
"First of all, Rarity thinks so. Second of all, that is the least Princessy thing I heard come out of any princess's mouth.
Dawn rolled her eyes. "I'm not a princess. But just continue the story, will you Fluttershy?"
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"She's waking."
"Shh, don't disturb her..."
Diamond opened her eyes. "Are you my daddy?" She asked Filthy.
"I guess you could say that. Yes, I'm your new daddy."
"How come I can't remember anything?"
Filthy chuckled. 'Smart kid' he thought. "You banged your head, and got amnesia."
"I'm sorry that I can't remember you."
"No, no, I completely understand. Now, you really need your rest."
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"Well, that explains a lot."
An awkward silence came over the group.
"Maybe we should help her?"
More silence.
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Rumble and Featherweight watched Nyx from a bush.
"Ah, those times we have together." Rumble sighed. "Everything about her is cute. I really like that nose scrunch when she yawns."
Featherweight groaned, mainly because he was dragged into the whole spy mission with the promise of scotch.
"Well, mate, I guess you get to see that a lot when you're with her."
Prologue: The Sleeping Beauty
"Life doesn't have any hands, but it can sure give you a slap sometimes."
-Anonymous
"Day court adjourned." Celestia ran a hand through her ethereal mane while stifling a yawn. Like always, the nobles were incredibly annoying. She walked from the massive throne room, exchanging greetings with the servants. She suddenly stopped in front of an insignificant door, and looked both ways. Making sure nobody was around, she quickly slipped inside.
It was a normal guest bedroom, nothing too special.
"Hello, dear sister." Luna was waiting inside.
"You called for me, Luna?"
"Yes, she's waking."
Until Luna moved the rug revealing a trapdoor.
The sisters lowered themselves into the room below, which was only lit by several torches. There was nothing in the room save for a single generic bed. It was not the bed that had the princess' interest. It was the teenage alicorn resting on it. She had hair started Crimson orange and slowly faded into a deep purple.
Suddenly, she let out a soft groan, with the sound of a voice not used in over a millennia.
"Dawn."
She suddenly reacted to the voice, shrinking away from it.
"Oh, hello mother. I had a terrible dream that you had turned into a terrible person with a goal of eternal night and the ending of the dream was you giving me an evil smile and-
Celestia and Luna exchanged looks.
"Dawn...that wasn't a dream. It was all real, and I had to banish your mother to the moon for a thousand years."
"But...but...."
"It's all true, Dawn." Luna couldn't look at her. "I let my emotions affect my actions, and this was the result. I do not beg for forgiveness, rather, I beg for understanding."
Dawn sat up in her bed, and looked like she was in deep though.
"Go."
Luna sighed and climbed back out of the room.
"Dawn?"
"I can't believe it. I thought she was an angel. Always so kind, so nice. Then she turns and backstabs everyone she knew." The teenager huffed. "Why is my life so god awful?"
Celestia put a hand on Dawn's shoulder. "You need a friend, don't you?"
Dawn slowly nodded.
