Prologue

11 Years After War Nexus

Dawn, the daughter of Starflare and Shadow is a kind, loving, and caring soul. Her smooth orange coat was always well-groomed by herself and her long shaded yellow mane and tail was soft. Her eyes lost their light, the light that brought happiness to her few friends that rarely saw her. Bags under her eyes made Dawn appear much older than she actually was.

The RAK, Royal Airborne Knights, was disbanded shortly after War Nexus ended. Ex-Knight Black Soul did not want to continue to fight so instead she resigned and went off to live the rest of her life as peacefully as she could and forget the short years that felt like the longest. Seng and the other former Knights also resigned and most of them left Lalifong to live, like Black Soul.

Lacoden, the mass-murderer, the Hooded-One. Her shaded yellow coat was rough compared to Dawn's. She cared little for grooming, that's why she cut her violet mane that almost reached her knees to a short cut that barely passed the bottom of her ears. She would now be considered one of the most deadly unicorns in all of Equestria, but harmless in the eyes of Dawn. Having saved Lacoden from the grasp of her despair and anger, Rex, Dawn knew Lacoden couldn't hurt another soul. Dawn tried everything she could to convince the Princesses, the Peacekeepers, and the Thorned Cloak that Lacoden was safe. Nothing convinced them.

Lacoden was exiled to an island far off the east coast of Equestria, this island was special. The ocean close to the island were violent, the island was not inhabited by other ponies, and most importantly magic did not work on the island. There would be no safe way for Lacoden to escape the island. Dawn argued that Lacoden was supposed to be punished not killed. The others still insisted. Lacoden knew what she had done, or rather what Rex had done, and owned up to it. She accepted her fate and was more relaxed about it than Dawn was. She spent as much time as she could before Lacoden was exiled. Her sentence was 25 years in exile.

Lord Excaelum, the great Gravity Dragon was never seen ever since Dawn had last seen him 11 years ago shortly after having returned to Equestria from Fallen Star. Only rumors kept Dawn informed about Excaelum, in fact the dragons in all. Dragons were now rarely seen, not like before where one would see a dragon about once every moon. Now it seemed that dragons never existed. Dawn tried to communicate with Excaelum often with her power, Love. Every attempt was useless. Dawn felt alone. She felt alone. Her friends were far away and the ponies she once called her friends were now strangers.

Chapter 1 - Rain

Dawn was in the royal courtyard, she spent most of her day there when she wasn't busy, which was most of the time. The sky was filled with gray clouds and she smiled at them. She had set up a green blanket near the edge of the garden, the edge overlooked Lalifong. She lied on her side and rested her always tired body. This was her pass time. She hated how often she got to lie there in peace. It didn't feel as special as it once did when she first started doing this. A good hour passed before she heard hoofsteps approaching.

"Good morning, Dawn" The pony said.

"Good morning, Cloudfire." She replied with a yawn.

"Dali wants to interview you. Says its for the paper she's starting." Cloudfire said. Cloudfire, once considered a coward by a few of his friends, was now in command of Thorned Cloak, personal guard of the princesses. Thorned Cloak was formed on the journey back to Equestria from Fallen Star and is meant to be only for the most loyal fighters.

Dawn brought her head up and stretched her legs, "Sorry, I wasn't listening. Can you repeat it please?"

Cloudfire sighed, "Dali wants to interview you. Listen that time?"

Dawn laughed quietly, "I heard you the first time. I was just joking." Dawn turned to Cloudfire and stood up.

Cloudfire coat was covered by the tan colored cloak he wore. It was worn out with a few small, but noticeable holes in it. And his mane was buzzed short, he says it makes him look more professional. "I'll have her sent here right away." He bowed, "Ah." He exclaimed.

"Yes?"

"The ball is tomorrow night. Just thought I'd remind you."

"Oh, damn. I forgot about it. Thank you, Cloudfire."

"Well, good thing I'm here." He smiled, "You don't catch a cold either, Dawn. It's gonna rain soon." As Cloudfire pivoted to trot back inside Dawn folded the green blanket into a near square. Cloudfire stopped and saw that Dawn was coming with him.

"I don't want my blanket getting wet." She held it by her magic, "Shall we?" They trotted back together inside the castle, "I see it more proper to be interrogated inside. Don't you agree?"

Cloudfire rolled his eyes, "Yes, Dawn. And after I need to talk to you about a few things. Our citizens aren't so happy with their leaders. Alright?" He said in a firm voice. "It's very serious."

They entered the glass door and Dawn placed the blanket on a guard standing watch by it, "Thank you." She said to the guard, he nodded, "I know."

"We all understand that it's difficult to run a nation. That's why we are here to help. Accept it." Dali came trotting to them from a painting halfway down the hall, "It'll relax you to talk to some pony who isn't in uniform for once. Guard, let's give these two some privacy." Cloudfire and the guard both bowed and disappeared.

Dali, a former mail mare, was now an amateur reporter. She's intelligent, but for some reason hasn't found her place yet. A lean gray Pegasus with her white mane parted to the left side of her head. She carried a small satchel and wore a simple metal chain necklace with a leafy flower pendant. She greeted Dawn,"Hello, your-"

"No no no, I'm not much of a fan of formalities." Dawn exclaimed, "We are familiar with each anyways. Friends."

"Ah ok. Well, I thought that since we haven't seen each for a couple of months I start us off on the right hoof." Dali smiled.

"You don't have to." They started to snail their way down the great hallway, "How have you been lately, Dali?"

"Caught a few colds here and there. Met a cute stallion too." Dali blushed. "And you?"

"He's lucky to have a nice mare." They passed a blue banned that had the old RAK insignia stitched on yellow. "The usual. I'm sorry, you must've expected our talk to be more eventful."

"It's fine." Dali chuckled.

"Dali, you're one of the few non-military connections I have. How is everything in Lalifong, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Everything is fine....no, it's not actually." Dawn looked at her with a sad expression, "A bad fever has been spreading, trades with Saddle Arabia, our main trading partner, have pretty much ceased. Prices go up on items that are scarce. Ponies quitting their jobs left and right because managers have to cut their salary to save their business."

It started to sprinkle, the droplets gave the hall a bubbly texture, "Our trades?" The great hall ended, but they continued to trot through the castle.

"It amazes me how the Peacekeepers don't tell you anything. You're their leader, you should be informed. Well, the shipments of food, clothes, etc, have simmered down during the last five years. No pony knows why and when we send ponies to negotiate trade matters they return with bad news or no news at all. Some want war, some want aggressive negotiation."

Dawn scoffed, "What's the difference?"

"None. Now you know what they want."

"I had my share of fighting."

"I know. Want to continue?"

"Best that we do."

"I agree. You're not liked, you do know that?" Dawn didn't reply and look ashamed of herself, "So you do. Well, this is a warning from one friend to another. You have to make them happy. I heard rumors about trying to force you out of power if things don't improve or you step down."

"I'm hated that much, huh?"

"Afraid so."

"I will not step down. I will have to get work. Being cooped up in this castle has made me blind."

"Good to hear it. Princess, I believe my work here is finished for today."

"I'll walk you out." They started to trot down the widest hall, they usually led to the exit. "Dali, I am inviting to the ball. Would you like to attend?"

"I don't know, I have a lot of work to do, and so do you."

"High officials from Saddle Arabia will be attending. You and I can both have a word with them personally. They are spending the night in our guest rooms tonight. Along with officials from the Crystal Empire, Griffons, Bullvaria, Feland, and Reiner."

They arrived at the main gate, "Alright. Sounds like a plan. Until tomorrow then." Dali turned around and bowed to Dawn, Dawn bowed back.

It started to pour, "Dawn, we need to talk." Cloudfire said coming from behind her.

She replied angrily, "Yes, we do. Why wasn't I told about our trades with Saddle Arabia?"

"Dali told you?"

"Doesn't matter if she did or not, Cloudfire. You should've told me yourself."

"I can't argue with that. There's more to it than plummeting trade numbers. We believe Saddle Arabia is actually a victim."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, and remember the serial killer, The Painter? The one I told you about maybe three weeks ago."

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Let's talk somewhere more private." Cloudfire went to the empty great hall and Dawn followed, once Dawn was next to Cloudfire he resumed, "Everything, because The Painter's first victim was Saddle Arabia's trade leader. The next four victims were his replacements. And it seems like The Painter has came to Lalifong. We found two more victims."

"Why haven't you've intercepted him or her?"

"We have reason to believe The Painter is a Peacekeeper. We found a Peacekeeper patch at the scene and it was intentionally sewed onto the victims throat. And of course, the Peacekeepers will be guarding high officials tomorrow. That's not why we are very anxious for tomorrow though."

"What is?"

"The Painter likes to paint symbols of blood from their victims in the ancient Equine language. We've had translators and historians figure out what they've meant ever since the third case. The most recent case had the ancient word "fluravay", which translates to dawn."

"So I'm the bait. Sounds fun."

"That's the idea."

"I'll play along."

"It's not a game, Dawn. Your life is at stake." The rain started to come down hard. "I must go." Cloudfire and Dawn both exchanged bows, then Dawn was left alone in the empty hall.

"What happened to me?" She sighed, and walked out the glass door into the pouring rain. Her coat and mane were getting soaked. Her wet mane felt heavy. She walked over to the spot where she had been
laying down before she went inside. She pointed her muzzle to the sky with her eyes closed. She loved how the rain hit against her. She put her head down and stared at the wet grass below her. A slight frown on her face. "I wish you were here, father."

Author's Note

My writing skills have improved, I think so at least, since the first chapter of Day After War Nexus, to the end of it, then finally to Dance Under Star Kismet. Hope you enjoy this story!