The Dulling of a Blade

It was over.

That was something Dusk had never thought she would tell herself. It was over.

Tempest was gone. Celestia and Luna were in the process of reclaiming Bellephron so it could be turned over to the control of the Draconies. Tempest’s guards were being tried for violations of basic rights, and currently the Guard was still looking for Tempest himself. As far as the public knew, he had disappeared – and around the same time, mysteriously, journalists were releasing stories about what really went on in Bellephron.

After a few hours of resting, Dusk had reported back to the princesses. Both of them were concerned for her.

Luna immediately opened up as soon as Dusk walked into the throne room. “Dusk!” She stood up quickly, then cleared her throat and allowed her voice to lower. “Are you alright? You hardly said a thing when you came back last night.”

“…” Dusk glanced at Luna, then at Celestia. Something funny stirred in her chest, especially as her eyes met Celestia’s. Though she had a kind look on her face, there was something Dusk didn’t like. Though that might have just been her fears getting to her. “…yeah, I’m fine.” She nodded, respectfully bowing to them, but only half-heartedly.

Both princesses managed a small sigh of relief, and even Celestia smiled. “Good.” The sun princess said with a nod. “Now tell us, what happened out there, Dusk?”

Dusk had known the question was coming. She wouldn’t have come to the throne room if she wasn’t prepared to answer it. “Well.” She cleared her throat, and began to recount the events leading up to Tempest’s demise.

She spoke heavily about the cruelty that Draconies endured as a lead-up to her story, talking about how they were slaves, labourers and, heavens forbid, food. She emphasized that Tempest was a cruel, evil stallion with no remorse for what he had done…and then she told them what she did to him. She watched the sisters’ faces, nearly unchanging but still visibly grimacing as she described how she had eaten him.

Luna was the first to recover from the news. She wasn’t particularly shocked, but she was moreso than she would have been if it were anypony else. “I never took you for a predator, Dusk.” Luna said slowly.

“Normally I’m not. But Tempest deserved it.”

“Well…I can’t disagree.”

Celestia spoke next. “You provided us with his horn. That is all we’ll need when the time comes.”

“Time for what?” Dusk asked.

“When we reveal his death. The public may not know Tempest at all, or even know anything about Bellephron, but the news coming out about him will have them confused, nervous, angry, it is hard to say.” She cleared her throat. “Eventually we will come out with a story about his fate. We obviously can’t say it was an assassination.”

Dusk nodded slowly, taking in what their plan was. “Right. And…me?”

“As for you,” Luna stood up. Dusk felt her muscles tense slightly – she knew why. Tempest’s mention of how the princesses might just see her as a tool to be used and discarded was buried in her mind, and although she didn’t trust that stallion’s words even as much as she could hear them through the muffled walls of her stomach, she felt fear creeping in. “We have plans to keep you safe.”

The Dracony allowed herself to sigh in relief. “Where?” She asked, making eye contact with Luna.

“Well.” Celestia stood up now, stepping down to Dusk. “As you may know, Equestria has had a number of…ahem…villains attack us.”

“Right.”

“And as you also may know, a few of them have renounced their evil ways and been reformed, so to speak. Among them are Discord, Starlight Glimmer and, most recently, Tempest Shadow…or as her real name would argue, Fizzlepop er…” She glanced at Luna.

“Fizzlepop Berrytwist.” Luna finished.

“Right. Yes.” Celestia nodded.

“So…am I considered at their level, or something?”

“Well, not exactly.” Celestia smiled. “You’ve caused nowhere near as much damage as them, and at no point did you make any attempt to rule Equestria. However, you are still in the process of being reformed…”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are.”

“I feel pretty reformed.”

“Well you need more work. Mainly in dealing with ponies. Making friends. Socializing. You also need a place where nopony will know your…past.”

Dusk couldn’t argue with that. “So, where’s this magical villain rehab centre?”

“Ponyville.” Celestia said.

“Pony…wha?”

“Ponyville.” She repeated, then continued. “Home of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the other Elements of Harmony. The town is secluded, and while it has gotten more popular as of late, it still knows very little about you or who you were.”

“…so…I’m going to some hick town in the countryside?” Dusk asked slowly.

“That’s…one way to put it.” Celestia nodded.

“Huh.” Dusk rubbed her chin with a hoof. “That uh…doesn’t sound too bad, actually. Uh…about the names you mentioned. Did you say Starlight Glimmer…?”

“Yes. A reformed pony who once attempted to-“ Celestia began, but was cut off.

“Yeah, I think…I think I know her.” Dusk glanced at the floor. “Her name is…really familiar actually. And…Tempest Shadow?”

“Formerly the commander of the Storm King’s army. She assisted in the invasion of Canterlot several months ago.”

Dusk nodded. “Deep.”

Luna snickered and stepped forward. “Now, do you have any questions?”

“Just one.” Dusk now looked between them both, her voice dropping its snarky tone. “Are you sure I’ll be normal there?”

“Normal?” Luna tilted her head. “Everypony in Ponyville is always eager to meet new arrivals, but you won’t be seen as that different. After all, Discord and Tempest- er…Fizzle…are enough of an attraction already.”

“Yeah, but, you’re sure none of them know me?”

“Princess Twilight does not even know. Trust us. It will be fine.” Luna leaned herself down slightly so she was at eye level with Dusk. “You will be fine. Twilight Sparkle has simply been told you are a pony who has been sent to learn about friendship with her, who has done wrong in the past. She knows nothing, and neither does anypony else.”

The small Dracony nervously bit her lip. “Yeah…alright.”

“You seem skeptical.” Celestia spoke up.

“I’m just…I dunno. I feel like you’re just buttering me up.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“Like you’re trying to get something out of me. Giving me a life that I’ll probably be happy with just so you can get me to like…I dunno…work for you again.”

Celestia smiled warmly. “While it is true we may possibly find ourselves in need of your help again, you are under no obligation. Your life is your own, now. We just recommend that you stay in Ponyville for a few months. Once Draconies begin to move into Equestrian society more, and the public forgets about the mare you once were…then you’ll be truly safe.”

Dusk took a deep breath. “Alright…well…” She exhaled, glancing briefly at the stone floor before turning her gaze back up at the two monarchs. A gentle smile crossed her lips. “When do I leave?”

Dusk didn’t get the answer to her question for another three days. Those three days were spent mainly in her room. While she had a feeling she wouldn’t need to keep herself combat-ready, she still worked out, particularly to work off the extra plumpness that Tempest’s body had added to her hips. She wanted to make sure she was always in shape.

At the end of that three day waiting period though, she was told it was time to pack up her things. She was given the night to do it, and was told to be ready in the morning.

That night, her mind was racing. Her dreams weren’t coherent. She wasn’t in her normal, horribly confused dreamscape, but she wasn’t in anything else either. Her emotions roiled with anxiety, fear, hope, happiness, sadness and all sorts of other feelings mashed into one seething mass of confusion that she couldn’t break herself out of, and Luna didn’t show up to assist her this time. She was on her own, and all night she was tossing and turning.

The next morning however, none of those emotions were shown. Her mind was still churning, her fears and thoughts forming into a painful cloud of red mist that jabbed her in the back of the head whenever she tried to think of something wholly positive. Even as she loaded her bags…or…her one bag…into the carriage, she had no idea what to think or how to think it.

“Dusk.”

The voice was like music to the confused Dracony’s ears. Dusk turned to see Luna and Celestia standing there, with wide smiles on their faces. “So, this is it…?” Dusk asked.

“It would seem so.” Luna nodded slowly. “This is the end of your life of running and hiding.”

“Even though I’m…still kinda hiding. And running.”

“Perhaps.” Luna giggled and walked forward. “I wish you the best of luck, Dusk.” She reached out and put a hoof on her shoulder. “I truly mean that.”

“As do I.” Celestia said, though without the equivalent gesture.

Dusk let a small laugh out, but it turned into a bit of a choke. “Ha- um…” She cleared her throat. She felt that lump forming in it again, a lump that had been more common lately. “I um…I really appreciate what you’ve both done. For the Draconies. And for me.”

“We could not sit idly by as your species suffered, Dusk.”

“I know, yeah, but…I really didn’t expect all this. I half expected to spent my whole life in that cell.”

“Well…ponies deserve a second chance.” Celestia said. “It’s not like Tempest- er…the other one, Fizzlepop, hasn’t done equal or possibly even worse. You deserve as much of a chance as she does. Perhaps even more.”

Dusk heaved a sigh, looking around her. It was a bright summer’s day. Birds fluttered through the sky above, not a cloud in its vast blue expanse to hide any ounce of Celestia’s sun. “I’m still…fuck it, I can’t work around it. I’m nervous.”

“As any pony would be.” Luna gently rubbed Dusk’s shoulder. “But trust me. Twilight and her friends are the nicest ponies I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

“I feel like that’s an exaggeration, you’re thousands of years old…”

“It isn’t.” Luna shook her head. “You’re right to be nervous. But don’t worry. I’m positive you’ll grow to like it.”

Dusk looked back up at the sky, her mane gently fluttering in the wind. “I guess that’s the best I’m going to get…” She looked up at Luna, then at Celestia. “Thank you. Both of you.” She began to walk towards the carriage.

“Be sure to write.” Celestia said with a warm smile, and Luna nodded in agreement.

The Dracony paused as she put one hoof in the carriage. “…um…” She bit her lip softly, glancing back at both of them. “Yeah. I will.” Slowly she pulled herself into the seat of the carriage, her bag set beside her. The two Pegasus stallions, honour guards once again, began to trot forward, flapping their wings.

She slowly leaned back in the chair as she felt the carriage lift off the ground. As she watched the land grow smaller beneath them, she suppressed a giggle. “I can’t even fucking write…” She laughed into her hoof.

The flight lasted several hours. Dusk kept herself amused by talking to the guards for about ten seconds, but that got boring when they clearly didn’t want to talk to her at all. She ended up sprawling herself out on the seat, letting the gentle breeze and rocking carriage lull her into a state that was something like sleep, but still aware of her surroundings. She couldn’t possibly get to sleep in this state.

She finally felt the carriage start to dip. She felt the rough bumping of the wheels on dirt as the guards came to a halt. They had dropped her just a small distance from the main road to Ponyville. A royal entrance wouldn’t look inconspicuous, but they couldn’t legitimately have her arrive on the train, where there might be ponies who knew her. She hopped out of the carriage, lugging her bag onto her back.

“Thaaaank you, gents.” She smiled up at the two guards, who were only slightly out of breath from their (nearly) non-stop flight. They simply snorted in response, taking off once again and turning back in the direction of Canterlot.

“…geez, not even staying for a rest.” She tried to play off her anxiety with jokes, but in reality, she was terrified. She took a few deep breaths, and slowly started down the road.

The town was quaint. She didn’t know what she had expected, really. Small, but cozy looking houses. Dirt roads that somehow managed to kick up no dust, and felt nice underhoof. The sweet scent of flowers and baked goods wafted through the air…and then she was practically hit in the face with a wall of pink.

“Hi!” A bouncy, boisterous pink earth pony had popped out of nowhere and was now staring at Dusk. Ironically she knew the mare’s name, though only in a dream. “I’m-“

“Pinkie Pie, right?” the Dracony smiled.

“…” Pinkie stopped, staring directly into her eyes. Even she felt a bit intimidated, until the pink ball of candy and fluff bounced into the air with a loud gasp and galloped off down the road.

Dusk blinked a few times. “…guess I messed up her script…”

She continued down the road. A few ponies looked at her oddly, seeing as most of them had likely never laid eyes upon a Dracony before. Dusk smiled at them as she trotted past, but it was difficult to mask her nerves. She suddenly realized she had no idea where she was going, and the guards hadn’t told her. She assumed, however, that she should probably head towards the giant gleaming castle that stuck out of the town like a reflective sore hoof.

On the way there, she couldn’t help but notice how calm the town was. It was nothing like Manehatten, or even Canterlot, with their loud streets and constantly busy ponies. Everyone seemed quite laid back, with ponies sitting around chatting, selling things at stalls or just working. There was a level of calmness that one wouldn’t find in other places. Everypony knew everypony here, clearly, and Dusk was the one who stuck out.

Eventually, she found herself near the entrance to the castle. She had gone past town hall, through the square, past a building that almost stuck out more than the castle with its candy-themed façade, and finally she was here. This, she assumed, was where Princess Twilight lived.

She wasn’t sure how do go about getting in. She wasn’t exactly used to knocking on doors, but that was what she settled on. Her light blue hoof gently rapped against its crystalline surface, and she waited.

She heart the pattering of what sounded like two feet on the other side, and the door opened slowly. A creature poked its head out – it looked like a dragon, just…way smaller. “Er…hello.” Dusk spoke first. The reptilian looked up to meet her eyes.

“Oh, hi there! Are you here to see…oh, wait, you must be the pony that Princess Celestia sent the letter about!” He said.

“Oh, uh…yeah, I guess that’d be me.”

“Here, come inside. I’ll take you to Twilight.” He gestured for Dusk to come in, and she did. The interior of the castle was just as…crystal-y as the outside, though she wasn’t sure what she expected.

She was led up a flight of stairs with very minimal conversation. This is a weird design for a castle, she thought to herself. It’s like a tree with the actual castle at the top.

After a bit of walking through a long corridor, a door was pushed open in front of her. She glanced down at the dragon. He motioned for her to go in. Dusk took a deep breath and gulped, then stepped inside. There was another door slightly down the hall, and as she looked back for the dragon that had been helping her, she realized he had shut the door behind her.

“Okay…you’re meeting royalty. Again. You’ve done it before.” She ran a hoof through her mane. “Fuck me…” She breathed in, and out. In, and out. Deep breaths, Dusk. Make a good first impression.

She reached out to push open the door, but it was gripped with a shimmering purple aura and pulled open for her.

Dusk found herself stepping out into an immaculate, and once more extremely crystalline room. It was set up like a meeting room, with a large round table in the center and six chairs set up around it, carved out of…more crystal. She had the feeling that the ponies at the table were going to be made out of crystals too, but they weren’t.

Princess Twilight was sitting in the seat that matched her cutie mark. Dusk noted that she was about the same size as her, but since she was wearing her crown, it still made the Dracony nervous.

Sitting to her left, or on Dusk’s right, was a unicorn that she was fairly certain she hadn’t seen before. Her coat was a very dark purple, and her mane was a lighter shade of pinkish-purple styled up in a mohawk. The most notable thing about her was that her horn was broken, a shattered base being the only thing that even distinguished her as a unicorn. Her body was slender, and a bit taller than the average pony. Dusk wondered if she was from outside Equestria.

On the other side of the purple alicorn, there sat another unicorn. She was pink, a lighter shade of it than Pinkie Pie. Her mane was purple with a blue streak running through it. Dusk recognized her, but only barely. Her name was Starlight Glimmer. Based on that, she assumed that the other mare was Tempest Shadow – or Fizzlepop Berrytwist, whichever one she went by.

“Hello.”

Dusk was shocked out of her thoughts by Princess Twilight’s voice. It was surprisingly soft, and didn’t carry as much authority as the others she had met. “Oh, uh, hi.” She cleared her throat and respectfully bowed her head.

“You must be the Dracony that Celestia told me about. Come sit down!” Twilight had an extremely happy look on her face, which definitely made Dusk feel better. Starlight had a smile as well, and Tempest (which is what Dusk would think of her as, for now) was staring at the table. Her eyes sometimes darted up to whoever was speaking, but for the most part she stayed neutral.

Dusk slowly stepped forward and sat down at the other end of the table, clearing her throat. “Um…yeah, I’m pretty sure there couldn’t be another one.”

“Perfect!” Twilight clapped her hooves happily, sitting all the way up in her chair. “What’s your name? If you’re going to be staying here we need to get that much done right off the bat!”

“Oh, my name? It’s D…” Dusk paused. Did she really want to keep using that name?

“…D…?” Starlight asked, tilting her head.

“I um…” Dusk’s mind started to race. She had gone by Dusk Rider for years – even before she became part of the guard, but it wasn’t her name. She hesitated to say it wasn’t who she is, but that was the truth. She wasn’t Dusk anymore. That was an old Dracony, one who had nearly soured the name of her entire species.

But at the same time, could she really just change her name like that? Surely she would slip up. She’d call herself by her old name and she’d mess everything up. But…still, it would feel so much better if she just went by…

“Lazuli.” She said finally. She felt like she had just put down a three-hundred pound weight. “Lazuli of the Cutter family.”

“That’s an exotic name.” Twilight said with a smile. “Cutter family? What does that mean?”

“Oh, uh, right…” She cleared her throat. “Draconies have a family name, usually. My father’s family name was Cutter, and it’s the name my mother took.”

“Well, I think it’s a great name.” Twilight nodded. “It’s very, very nice to meet you Lazuli.”

Sweet Faust that feels weird… Dusk- no, Lazuli thought to herself. It was a name she hadn’t been referred to with in…almost 20 years, she had to think. Possibly more. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had been called that. “Er, yeah, you too.”

“I understand you must be nervous, but there’s really no need! You’ll be staying right here in the castle. We have plenty of space, and Fizzle here needs a roommate.” Twilight nudged the darker unicorn with her wing, and Tempest – or Fizzlepop – Gods, there are a lot of name problems here already, she thought to herself – slowly lifted her head.

“I…erm…I do?”

“Of course you do!” Twilight smiled brightly. “You’re always so secluded, you need to get better at opening up.”

Dusk glanced at Fizzle, and Fizzle glanced back. The two of them shared an awkward smile.

“Well I’m sure you want to get yourself settled in. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to our castle, Lazuli.” Twilight politely bowed her head, and Dusk did as well.

“Thank you, princess.” She said in a calm voice. “Erm, so…am I literally going to be roommates with her, or…”

“That was the idea!” Twilight smiled. “That won’t be a problem, will it?”

Again, Dusk looked at Fizzle. The not-so-unicorny unicorn just nodded slowly. “…nah, I don’t think it will.” The Dracony said.

“Oh!” Twilight quickly interjected. “I almost forgot. I’d like you to come back here when it’s convenient for you. I’ve never had the chance to meet a Dracony, it would be amazing if you let me interview you.”

Dusk cleared her throat and swallowed. “Erm…I guess I can do that. Yeah.”

“Perfect!” Twilight clapped her hooves again. “Alright, I’ll let Fizzlepop take you to the room you two will be staying in together.”

I wonder if any of them even have the slightest idea who I am…she thought to herself as she stood up from her seat. Fizzlepop stood up too, slowly walking out of the room with Dusk behind her.

“…” Their walk was silent until the doors closed behind them and they had walked a few feet down the hall. “So…Lazuli, huh?” Fizzle spoke.

“Er…yep, that’s me.” She smiled up at the taller unicorn. “And uh…Fizzlepop? Do you mind if I just call you Fizzle? Your name’s kind of…long.”

“And yours isn’t what I remembered.”

Dusk’s face dropped. “…so…you know me then.”

“How could I not?” Fizzle sounded more amused than anything else, a small smile creeping over her lips. “The Storm King hired you a few times for contracts. And don’t think I didn’t notice how some of our armour went missing…”

“What, are you still on his side?” Dusk snickered.

“But, really.” Fizzle sighed. “You can call me Tempest, if you prefer.”

“Well, I prefer what you prefer.”

“Gosh, what happened to you?” Fizzle glanced down, and Dusk just shot her a beaming grin.

“Just got a bit less murder-y, I guess.”

“Well…I suppose I prefer Fizzle.”

“Then that’s your name, Fizzle.”

“Well…alright then.” The unicorn smiled wider, and kept walking down the hall until she reached a door. She pushed it open with her hoof – Dusk imagined that stub of a horn couldn’t do much except taser ponies – and led Dusk inside.

The room was clearly already set up for two, with two beds and a bathroom attached to it. It was simple, but cozy. Way roomier than Dusk’s last room, as well. Better than anything Dusk had slept in, in fact.

“Wow…this is uh…nice.” Dusk whistled, slowly trotting in a circle around the room.

“I like it.” Fizzle nodded. “It’s quiet, cozy, warm…and uh…” She paused. “At least now I have someone to share it with.”

“Ah, don’t get all sappy with me.” Dusk snickered and bumped up against the unicorn. “Where’s that terrifying indifference I remember?” She teased, but it was in jest. “Honestly though, you seemed to hate me whenever I was on your ship.”

Fizzle shrugged. “You were a bit obnoxious.”

“That’s my specialty.”

“And you did beat up three of my men.”

“They attacked me first!”

“Still…” Fizzle sighed and shook her head. “I…really don’t want to keep remembering the time with the Storm King, though.”

“Oh. Right.” Dusk cleared her throat and walked over to her bed, where she put her bags down on the floor. “I guess there’s no harm in you seeing this stuff.” She pulled out her suit, the black fabric unrolling and letting her tail blade clatter to the floor with it.

Her new roommate looked over at the objects being pulled out of the bag. “…huh. Those don’t even look that different from the last time I saw them.” She trotted over, inspecting them as Dusk transferred them to a box nearby. “I guess you’re not going to be using them anymore, hm?”

“Probably not.” Dusk shook her head. “Actually…yeah, definitely not.” She tossed the tail blade into the box, shutting its lid. “These are going in…there’s a closet here, right? Otherwise my emotional point is lost.”

Fizzle rolled her eyes and shoved the box to the side with her hoof, then kicked it right into the wide open closet. The box slid into the corner. “Don’t worry, I did pretty much the same thing to my armour.”

“It looked good on you.” Dusk commented.

“Yeah, well…I don’t think it did.”

“…right. Sorry.”

The two of them fell into an awkward din as Dusk put away her bag. She didn’t have anything else in there.

There was a knock on the door that broke the silence. Fizzle opened it, revealing the same small dragon that had greeted Dusk at the door. He was holding an envelope, and panting slightly. “Got…a letter.” He wheezed. Fizzle took the envelope from him, glancing down at it and frowning.

“Thank you, Spike.” She said, and shut the door.

“Well that was rude.” Dusk snickered. “You just shut it in his face.”

“I said thank you.”

“What’s the letter?”

“It’s uh…for you.”

Dusk’s expression went from amused to confused. “Me?” She reached out and took the envelope. The front read…

To: Cutter, Lazuli

From: Sanctuary.

The Dracony stared at the envelope for several seconds…before she put it down on the beside table. “I’ll read it later.” She said quickly.

“…you okay?” Fizzle asked.

“I’m fine.”

“…alright, well…you want to go and meet everypony? Knowing this town, Pinkie Pie probably has a party ready for you.”

“Oh yeah, you know, I saw her on the way in…” Dusk and Fizzle’s voices got quieter as they walked back out into the hall and the door shut behind them.

The letter remained on the table.

End.

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