Phoenix

Years Ago...

"Princess this is the child we were talking about, she's different from the others. As you can see she isn't pony or any other creature or species we've seen before." The orphanage caretaker informed as she showed Dawn to the princess.

Dawn shied away from the caretaker and princess looking to the corner as her hazel brown hair covered her face.

"May I speak to her." Celestia asked

"I'll see if she'd like to speak to anyone." The caretaker approached Dawn and crouched down next her.

"Sweetie the princess I told you about wants talk, would you like to speak to her?" Ms.Cookie Dough asked, Dawn stayed silent and looked towards princess and saw her gentle smile and soft gaze.

"I don't know, will she hurt me like the other ponies?" Dawn asks tears beginning to form as she clutched her hands.

"Don't be silly she won't I promise." Cookie Dough smiled and held Dawn's hand guiding her towards Celestia. Dawn looked down not wanting to stare at the princess, the princess looked at Dawn's attire it looked ragged and dirty as if she was sleeping in it for almost a few weeks.

Her dress was a dull purple with rips and tears near the end and mud on the end of the dress, her shoes were worse as they seemed nonexistent. She had a purple hair band that looked clean and pristine.

"Couldn't you offer the young girl some clothing?" Celestia asked

"Unfortunately we couldn't, the clothing we have doesn't fit her. And we don't have much money to buy her a new set of clothing." Cookie said with a slight sigh.

"If I get new clothing the kids here will get mad at me. They've been really mean to me since I've got here, they call me freak and disgusting. I don't want burden Ms.Dough either." Dawn looked down tears going down her cheeks.

"You're not a burden sweetheart I promise, Princess Celestia wanted to personally see you. She heard you came into the city a few days ago, and she wanted to talk to you." Dawn looked up with gasp and smiled wiping away her tears and letting out a sniffle.

"Um I don't have much to say Princess. I don't remember much about coming to the city, I only remember heard a weird old man voice saying 'I'll be back' and that's all." Princess Celestia frown and brushed Dawn's hair and kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry little one you're safe now." Dawn smiled and nodded.

Hours passed as Celestia left promising to see Dawn once more in the morning. Today Dawn had begun her days in the orphanage, everyone around her gave her looks of judgement which made her afraid, too afraid to even speak up when she wanted to play with the toys that the caretaker had given the children.

"Um excuse me." She says quietly as she approached a blue coated filly with a blue twin colored mane, she turned and smiled her smile was bright and wide.

"Hi!" She happily exclaims making her cringe and back up.

"Oh sorry. My sisters always tell me I'm too loud. I'm Sonata, what's your name?" She happily asks

"Oh I'm um Dawn Luna Knight." Sonata happily and nodded.

"What a cute name! Oh do you wanna play house?!" She asks in return Dawn nodded and smiled.

As the two began Dawn felt happy she felt as if she gained a friend, though the small moment of satisfaction didn't last as two boys approached the girls.

"Hey look at the freak playing with the nut!" One of the colts happily shouted making the other laugh.

"I'm not a nut." Sonata pouts making her frown as the kids began circle around you two.

"Leave her alone you jerks! If you got a problem with me it's fine, but don't call her names. At least she isn't a loser like you." Dawn shouts with anger.

"Haha the freak's protecting the nut!" Dawn stood there and didn't care if they calling her names, she only cares about her first friend, Sonata looked at Dawn with amazement.

"Kids that's enough!" Cookie Dough approached the children.

"Who started this!" She says with anger.

"The freak did!" The boy blamed Dawn, but again she didn't care she only protected Sonata as a friend and someone she'd want to be close towards.

"I find that hard to believe this young girl has only been around for a few days now this is a warning, anyone who tries to make fun of anyone in this orphanage will not get dessert am I clear." Cookie Dough warned

"Yes Ms.Dough." They all said with regret and walked away from the two.

"So your teasing name is nut? Why?" Dawn asks

"Foals around here think I'm too happy and say I'm nutty. You're called freak huh. I wish my sisters weren't sleeping they'd put a hurt on anyone who'd make fun us." Sonata happily making Dawn smile back.

"Cmon we're gonna share a bed, I don't trust other foals to not leave you alone, plus my bed's close to my sisters." Dawn nodded and held Sonata's hand and followed her towards the living areas of the orphanage.

"Here we are!" Sonata happily proclaims as she presents three beds that looked separate pushed together, the blankets and sheets had a color of pink and black both of which Dawn enjoyed seeing.

"My sisters and I sleep here and since the bed next to our huge bed is empty." Sonata began dragging the bed to right of her and pushing it next to the three. Her smile was widen making her increasingly excited as she sat and laid on the bed, Sonata did the same with the bed next to Dawn. "You sleep with us."

"If anyone kicks you out of that bed you can always share my bed." Sonata giggles making her smile and nod getting closer to her and hugged her, Dawn cried into her shoulder as she did the same. Her hug was soft as was everything that was meant to her. She earned a friend and by chance earned two sisters who'd be there for Dawn no matter what. Dawn noticed the older fillies waking up she presumed they were Sonata's sisters.

"What's with Sonny and why is she hugging that filly?" The purple coated filly asked

"I dunno maybe it's a new friend." The yellow coated mare informed smiling.

Later...

Dawn slept close to Sonata hugging her as she felt her warm body on hers. Dawn's dreams were always different since she first came to Equestria she'd be having odd dreams visualizing a scary dark coated stallion laughing manically everything about it was frightening. Her body wouldn't move as the dark coated stallion got closer and closer to her. Every time the stallion even got remotely close into touching her she'd wake up screaming and crying, but for some reason when the stallion got close to Dawn that night she only looked at her tilting her head in silence as he laughed.

"W-who are you?" She asks scared out of her wits.

"A nightmare my dear, a nightmare." He begins dissipating and appearing faraway.

"You have no idea why you are here? Living with that awful stallion before he told you to wait in the cave. I know him he's a rather mysterious being able to leave his prison every few years when ponies become too curious. Do you know his name? He is someone close to you, you'll meet him later in your journey." Dawn was scared and didn't want to hear anymore, she began crying and closed her eyes begging to let free of the dark dream she was having.

"Scrambling in fear is the right response my dear, I love it when young ones are too fearful to move an inch. The beauty of nightmares." With a snap of his fingers Dawn's dream began to dissipate.

Dawn gasped as she woke up her breathing heavy as she felt sweat drip from her forehead, wiping the sweat from her she looked around to see that it was late at night and the moon full. Getting out of bed she walked closer to the window and looked at the moon, it's glow illuminating the night sky. Looking around once more she went back to bed and laid there. Her mind on her nightmare and what it meant, with everything changing so fast Dawn couldn't just not do anything about it. She had to do something and quick, feeling a little weight on her chest she looked over to Sonata seeing her bring Dawn closer smiling as she did. With a sigh she laid closer to Dawn and with that Dawn began feeling much more comfortable.

Present...

Dawn let out a loud and unladylike yawn as she stretched looking towards the balcony windows Dawn chuckled and rose from bed, her pink PJ's felt warm against her skin as her feet touched the cold floor she let out a short eep. Before placing her feet back on the warm comfy bed.

"Stupid marble floors!" She shouted in anger.

Looking around for her slippers she saw that they were all the way near her doorway, puffing up her cheeks slightly she began to think and threw her covers on the ground and shuffled her way towards her probably icy cool slippers.

"Buck up or shut up Dawn. Mom's gonna kill me if I don't hurry shuffle faster stupid feet!" She said to her feet.

"But we just woke up!" Dawn replied in a dopey voice.

"I'll place you on the cold floor if you don't move dorks!"

"Yes ma'am."

Getting closer to her slippers, her feet began to get tied up only for her to fall to the ground avoiding an injury she out placed her hands to break her fall.

"Ouch!" She said aloud

"You betrayed me once more feet! I will have my revenge!" She says shaking her fist in the air as her face was planted on the cold marble floor. Just then the door opened as two lavender colored hooves entered.

"Dawn are you awa- why are you on the floor?" Dusk Shine asked glancing at the fallen girl, her brown hair splayed out not even neatly brushed.

"My feet have betrayed me once more! And I was just wondering in ways to punish them!" Lifting her brow slightly she sighed and shook her head.

"You're an idiot Dawn get up Princess Celestia says you're late for breakfast again."

"And I will! Once I gain feeling in my face once more." Dusk let out a sigh and used his magic to lift up the girl and place her on the floor.

"Cold! Cold! Cold!" She shouts in complete surprise as she jumps into his arms.

Dawn smiled and booped Dusk's muzzle only to roll him eyes as he carried her towards her bed and tossing her on, walking over to her closet she removed a red flannel short sleeve shirt along with a white T-Shirt, proceeding towards her drawers he removed a black bra and pair of panties throwing them to her and reaching once more in the drawer threw her a pair of skinny black jeans.

"Hurry up and get dressed!" He shouts as he exits her room.

"Rude." She pouts

Rising from her bed she proceed towards the shower getting ready for a day of fun.

A few minutes later...

Exiting her room she had button up four buttons on her short sleeved flannel shirt leaving plenty of room for slight bust to show, it was covered by her shirt so her cleavage never really showed.

Tapping the front of her black high top shoes on floor she proceed down towards the dining room.

A majority of Dawn's time was spent being a general nuisance to others, everyone always told Dawn to grow up that she wasn't a little girl anymore. Of course she'd always wave them off just because she was a young adult didn't mean she couldn't have fun.

Dusk Shine feared for his friend always thinking the worst could happen if she never grew up stating that the citizens of Equestria wouldn't tolerate a queen who thought nothing serious.

Dawn continued to skip through the castle humming as she passed by many butlers and maids who serviced her and her mother. Being the only child of a goddess she usually messed around with a few butlers and chefs in particular.

Walking downstairs and arriving to the dining room, she saw the massive plates of food. Either with fruits, pancakes, eggs, and something only she'd be able to keep down bacon and sausages. Running towards the dining room she took her seat and placed three flapjacks on her plate and neatly placed a few blueberries, strawberries and bananas on the pancakes. Taking the syrup she drizzled it on top covering the breakfast stuff in a incredibly sweet plate of food, and grabbed the massive tray of bacon and sausages next to her other plate.

"Time to eat!" She happily announces cutting into her pancakes with ease and wolfing down the delicious food.

"Glad to see you up and about." Turning her head she spotted a brother like figure to her, Shining Armor. Dusk's older brother and her mother's captain of the guard, often Shining would joke about Dawn's appetite and appearance that was less then ladylike.

"Oh hey Shining you hungry?" Dawn asks her mouth dripping with syrup as she swallows the rest of her food

"I wouldn't want to eat with you, if I even reach for a plate of food you'd bite my arm off." He says chuckling making Dawn blush slightly.

"Shining?! Was that a compliment? You wouldn't think of hitting me? Ugh a stallion of your attitude would stay loyal to his marefriend, but I wouldn't mind it." Dawn says giggling making Shining roll his eyes.

"You always liked messing with me." The two began laughing and filled the dining room with laughter. Dawn enjoyed times like these since she was still young, joking around was something she did often.

"In all seriousness have you hung out with Dusk at all? He's been locked up in his room for most of the week, honestly have no idea what he's up to."

"Oh he woke me up half an hour ago, I noticed he looked like he was in a hurry. Want me to check up on him?" She asks

"You'd do that? That'll be awesome." He happily admits with a smile

"Hey what's a little sister suppose to do? Just sit around and let her shut in friend not go out in the sun every once in awhile." Shining smiled and nodded letting Dawn continue shoving food into her mouth.

After breakfast Dawn walked over to Dusk's home outside of the castle and near the library of Canterlot where he'd constantly hanged out at, after knocking on the door a few times the door opened revealing Barb as she happily waved to her.

"Oh hey Dawn what's up?" She asks smiling as she stepped aside letting Dawn inside.

"Nothin' much I'm wondering what Dusk's up to? Shining asked me to check up on him." Barb nodded closing the door behind her, and walking upstairs with Dawn.

"Uh well that's kinda hard to say, he's been reading nonstop and only stopped when he went to wake you up. I guess that was a short break or something." Dawn only look at the room upstairs and proceeded up peering into the room to see Dusk quietly staring into a massive book, his eyes scrolling down the words of the book and taking in whatever info it had to offer.

"He looks so into that book, I wonder if he can hear us." She whispers to Barb who shrugs.

"I dunno, honestly I think his head's deep into that book to notice us." Dawn nods and approaches Dusk only for her to hit a pink bubble like shield surrounded him and his massive piles of books.

"Owwww that hurt!" Dawn mentions rubbing her nose as she shakes her head and begins knocking on the bubble trying to get Dusk's attention. Which was harder then it looked.

"Hey Barb can you hand me one of those Daring Do books." She looked at Dawn before shaking her head.

"No you're not going to." She only nodded as Barb's arms shook slightly as she hands her the book. Taking out her special zippo lighter slowly placing it near the flaming body closer and closer to the book, before the fire touched the paper Dusked closed the top of the lighter and glared daggers at Dawn.

"What do you think you're doing?" His glare was something Dawn saw not too often, the only thing that stopped her was the death glare he'd send her.

"Um I was uh-" She was only quieted when he hit her with a piece of rolled up paper on the nose, as if she was dog being disciplined.

"Owwww why is my nose being punished today!" She complains

"I'll be okay dearest Dawn, I have the strength of a bull." Dawn carcasses her nose as she gave her nose a rather manly sounding voice to it.

"Can you stop talking to yourself and tell me what you want? I'm a little busy at the moment." He asks letting out an annoyed sigh and looking towards Dawn with slight anger.

"Shining wanted me to check up on you, ya know to make sure you're okay and aren't passed out, hunched over your desk drooling like a brainless husk."

"As you can clearly see I'm fine and just dandy you don't have to worry about me, so are you done if so please leave." Dawn looked at Barb who shrugs and looks back at him.

"Fine I'll go. Just don't drool on yourself if you do go brain dead."

"Noted now if you don't mind." Dusk conjures a bit of magic and begins to forcefully remove Dawn from his room and placed her downstairs.

Dawn sighs and walks out of Dusk's home and began her way back to the castle, nothing much would happen as it was early morning. Deciding there wasn't much to do Dawn walks over to the park and have a short catnap.

"Might as well nothing's gonna happen today." Dawn sighs and closes her eyes letting the sun's rays lull her to sleep.

Later...

Dawn had woken up an hour later, her mind refreshed and her arms aching. Returning to the castle she ran upstairs towards the northern tower near her mother's room and entered her own private room, unbuttoning the long sleeve plaided shirt she removed both white T-shirt and black bra, walking over to the bathroom she stared at herself and breasts out and about.

Dawn's breasts weren't too big but they weren't small either, they were average to herself, but they do become a nuisance from time to time, opening the medicine cabinet she removed a large roll of gauze and began to strap it around her chest, pushing her breasts against herself as her chest slowly became smaller until she only felt the flat and rough surface of the gauze. She exited her bathroom and walked over to her closet and began rummaging in it until she removed the combat uniform she kept in the closet of her room, which was leather top that protected her chest and leather leggings that made it better to move around in. Grabbing her hair she tied it into a ponytail wrapping it around with a black scrunchie. Her arms were bare until she put on leather wrist armor.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, she looked cute and deadly her girly attitude not showing as she looked more like a fighter.

"You're going to join the men in sparring practice aren't you?" Shining asked as he entered the room.

"Yeah, I feel a lot better looking like this. It's eerily natural like I was meant to fight." Shining chuckles and crosses his arms.

"You're a mystery Dawn, Cadence always talks about how you're extremely girly and yet when I see you, you're nothing like she describes its odd but it's refreshing to know you're like that. Able to handle everything that a guy would have trouble with, hell you know exactly how to use naginata's without hitting your own leg not like most guys in squad." He says chuckling

"Naginata's have longer reach and with the bladed edge make it more than just a blunt weapon." She points out as she removes a imitation naginata its blade fake and plastic but its handle wooden and hard, from her closet begins to show him a few delicate moves showing how even a delicate fighter like her can pack a punch and by swing it hard down to the ground with perfect ease, before readjusting her hands and slashing it upwards as swoosh was heard near Shining. Her left knee was on the ground as the right leg was planted perfectly. The naginata was over her shoulder as rose from the ground smiling holding the weapon close to her chest in a cutesy style.

"Even when you fight you still find a way to make it adorable." Dawn blushed and looked down as she enjoyed the praise she got.

"We have time for one sparring practice, Celestia asked me to get you she said it was important." Dawn nods and holds her weapon with her right hand as she skipped alongside Shining.

Training grounds...

"Alright everyone! Who wants to help spar with the princess of Equestria!" Shining Armor shouts as he enters the training grounds, the recruits who were training with their trainers stopped and looked at the girl walking downstairs her weapon on hand. Nobody seemed to want to volunteer as they stayed silent and looked at her.

"Dawn front and center!" She walked up and stood there smiling as the recruits looked at her. "Please say a little of yourself as fighter."

"As you all know I'm the princess of Equestria I'm in charge of the night court while my mother works the day court. As a fighter I use a naginata, a bladed staff that has an extremely sharp end able to slice skin and fur with ease, but for training reasons I'll be using a imitation naginata. So who's wants to fight?" The guards looked at one another until a male guard approached.

"What's your name?!" Shining shouts

"Spin Record sir!" He shouts, Dawn focused on him and saw that he had a charcoal gray colored mane with a midnight purple colored coat, his eyes were a dark shade of red. He held what looked like a long sword.

"Enter the circle and prepare for battle!" Dawn and the stallion nod as she faced him and he did the same to her, holding the naginata in a delicate and feminine stance she readied herself and locked eyes with her opponent.

Circling the circle a loud airhorn blew as he sprint forward and slashed downwards, just as his blade was to hit Dawn she brought up her Nagi and blocked the weapon strike. Pushing him back he lost his balance, she stabbed down the ground. He began to scrambled to get back up kicking the weapon though before he could kick Dawn's hand she placed the weapon pole in his way and tossing his leg off her weapon and stabbing his back with the blunt end making groan in pain as the wind was knocked out of him.

He rolled out of the way and got back into a fighting stance, his back hunched over trying to find a weak spot as Dawn returned to her delicate stance, smiling Dawn twirled her weapon and smiled.

Taunting the solider as he hit Dawn's hands making her yelp as one of her hands let go of the weapon before she could recover the solider smacked her sides repeating hitting her ribs luckily the leather absorbed most of the damage.

Readjusting her weapon she ran forward blocked a hit the solider was going to deliver, his sword stopped by her pole. Pushing it forward she used both ends smacking each of his sides deliver one more hit she hit his chest making him cough up the last bit of wind Dawn smiled kneeing the stallions face as he fell down in pain groan as she pumped her fist into the air smiling before looking to the ground to see the hurt guard.

"Oops I think I went too hard." She says as she walks over to the recruit before slapping him a bit as his eyes slowly opened. The recruits who seemed reluctant were even more so, since she did beat up an aspiring guard with girly stances and tactics that most guards would know they didn't seem to want to even try.

"Princess, your mother." Shining informs as she nodded picking up her imitation naginata once more sprinting towards the throne. Passing through the gardens and past the courtyard and entering the main castle building and stopped just near the doors, placing both hands on the doors she let out a mighty shove. Quietly entering she looked forward to see Celestia, her elegant ivory coat that showed off a certain air of nobility of her. Along with her beautiful sparkling mane that flowed through the air like an endless wind. Your mother's ivory dress was rather elegant too, showing of plenty of her bust through a small window of the dress.

"Dawn what on Equestria are you wearing?" Celestia asks her 18 year old daughter.

"It's my training gear duh." She replies as if it was an odd question her mother asked.

"Sometimes I wish you were more like Cadence."

"Mom please, I know you don't like me fighting but it feels natural like its a stress reliever." Celestia sighs and nods.

"I understand you have your hobbies those make you, you. I just wished you would act like a proper lady and come with me to the tea social plenty of available Prince's for you to meet." She mentions with a giggle.

"Mom not this again, look if a prince who doesn't care if I burp in front of him and doesn't care that I like listening to rock rather than classical find me than I'll give 'em a chance. Until then nope." She says smiling. Celestia looked upset only for a second before giggling.

"You really have aged since I adopted you, such a spunky little girl you were, scratch that you are. I'm sure you'll find your Prince Charming."

"Or princess, mom you already know how I swing." Rolling her eyes she nods.

"I understand sweetie I haven't forgotten. Anyway I called for you today, it concerns Dusk Shine. I've noticed that he seems much more tired and less willing to go with you around the city. You two were inseparable, but now it seems like he's distracted."

"You noticed that too huh? Honestly I'm a little worried, he's usually a lot more lecture prone always break out into a lecture when I say or do something wrong. I miss those annoying speeches."

"I know you do so I arranged that he help at the Summer Sun Celebration taking place in Ponyville, and you're going with him. I understand if you don't want to leave but I'd rather have him protected seeing as you're a great brawler as my guards have said about your skills." Dawn blushed rubbing the back of her head.

"It's kind of a given. I mean the human spirit has no breaking point, but unfortunately the body does."

"I've sent Barb a message to give to Dusk, hopefully he won't get too distracted to read it." Dawn nodded and looked at herself as sweat began to accumulate under her leather armor.

"Well mom if we're finished I'm gonna shower and get ready to leave." Celestia gave her a nod and a wave as Dawn left the room and continued on towards her room.

Later...

Dawn began drying her hair, as she wore a brand new outfit. She wore a black pair of skinny jeans along with black and blue bra with a purple plain t-shirt. Before walking over to her dresser she swiped her zippo from her dirty clothes placing it in her pocket, though as she did her finger cut as blood seeped from her fingertip. Taking out the lighter she turned it on and began burning her finger though she felt no pain as the fire slowly began to heal her small wound. The golden flame dimmed down before kissing the zippo.

"Thank you mom and your holy flames." She says smiling before slipping it into her pocket.

There were three sharp knocks on the door, she began walking towards the door wrapping her hair into a ponytail. Though before she could open the door it burst open showing an annoyed Dusk Shine with an exasperated Barb.

"C'mon Dusk it isn't that bad we're just going to Ponyville for the day and after the celebration we'll be back home no harm no foul." Barb had said smiling towards Dusk but his mood still sour as he turned away from her.

"Can you believe her? I can't just go off to a town I know nothing about, what are we going to do Dawn!" He shouts making her roll her eyes.

"We? What's with this we stuff? You didn't include me on what you're stressing on about."

"It's a we thing since Celestia informed me that you're helping me with the celebration."

"Right, anyway why are you stressing out again. It's only for a day just check things over on a checklist and after that watch my mom's speech then we're all done. You could go home and stress out about whatever you've got going on and I go back to my really really simple life." Dusk let out a sigh and nodded.

"I guess you're right, nothing good could come from complaining about one day lost. I'll tell you what's got me so worried after we're done with the celebration." Dawn smiled and nodded as she had finished getting ready.

"So now." Dusk opens the door and bows. "Princess Knight." Dawn feign a gasp and giggled as she exited the room.

"Oh and Dusk, try not to bring down the mood while we're there at least pretend you care about being in town." Rolling his eyes Dusk nodded as Dawn continued towards the chariots ready for Dusk and Dawn to leave.

Later...

It took half an hour to get to their destination, the trip there was silent with a few conversation from the three. All were related to what the town hosting the celebration would look like, though Dusk hoped whatever he was researching wouldn't go awry.

"Can't you tell me what you're researching, I promise I won't tell...or laugh." Dawn try using her puppy dog eyes trying to guilt Dusk into spilling the beans, but his will to finish whatever was stronger than his feelings for her.

"What I'm researching maybe important in the near future, and I still need more time in order to correctly estimate my theory."

"Uhhhhh." Dusk sighed and face palmed.

"I need more time before I tell anyone so I know it's not anything serious or if it is to properly estimate the reveal of said research point." Dawn smiled and nodded.

"That's actually a good plan, don't want to worry ponies over fake stuff." Dusk sighs and just keeps his mouth shut.

"Princess Dawn we'll be arriving in a few minutes please prepare to depart." The guardspony informed Dawn nodded as she smiles to herself knowing that the town was new gave her a spark of curiosity to her new surrounding. With a gentle touch down Dusk pushed open the chariot's door and exited along with Barb who seemed to be carrying a list. Following from behind Dawn exited and looked around in awe.

The small town surrounding made her smile as she felt the gentle breeze pass by along with the several sights of the small town. Looking towards the town's square she looked at the large statue and ran towards it, her butt sticking out as she seemed more and more enamored by her surroundings. The several small town houses along with the several shops, fewer than back home.

"Princess Dawn, if you need anything please send a message." The guards ponies informed making her giggle and nod.

"Don't worry I can handle myself." With a solid nod the guards ponies took off.

"So what's first on the list?" Dawn asks smiling

"First we find the town's food producer from there we inspect the food, and no we're not eating any of it." Dawn groaned as she nodded walking alongside Dusk.