Dawn's new day.

Celestia trotted with poise and purpose down the castle halls as she made her way to the guard house. She had already been having a thermal of a day thanks to one young colt. What should have been the relaxing and straight forward first, of many, classes between her and her personal student Twilight had become something else. She had almost called the young colt by her former students name and then wrapped her wing around him without thought. The colt had then teased her as if she was family, something she lost after Sunsets disappearance. Now she was dealing with packs of Timberwolves and the aftermath from an unplanned storm.

"He show's me nothing but care yet treats me like a normal pony, perhaps..." Celestia shook her head just outside the guard house and strode inside.

"Report captain," Her current captain of the guard along with her fellow guards' mares all stood to attention, "at ease gentle mares."

"Well Princess, we are just getting reports of the dozens of Timberwolves that were roaming the roads last night in the storm not to mention the storm damage itself. There have been quite a few attacks, some leading to casualties including the attack upon the successor of the noble Apple clan. Brush fires caused by lightning as well as the property damage from high winds."

"The Report mentioned Pear Butter made it, what of the rest of their direct family?" Celestia said with concern, she knew that one of them had a part to play in the future and she personally liked the farming clan, The current matriarch had once been a good drinking buddy.

"All the rest are alive, the successor's family remained on their farm and have yet to be informed of the full incident report. Pear Butter was rescued by a local Weather Captain by the name of," He re-read the recently updated report, "One, Forest Breeze who was out trying to help quell the storm."

"The name rings a bell but I can't remember from where. What is Ms. Butter's condition?" She asked while also giving orders to secure all the roads and clean up any remaining wolves while helping with the repairs as she asked her question.

"She is stable. According to Mrs. Breeze who reported and was involved in the attack, her wife 'Morning Dew' treated the injuries and they are both currently hosting Ms. Butter and plan to take her home."

"Well that is some good news at least, I already sent a small squad to try and recover her husbands body along with any of her belongings however I fear we will be too late if the attack occurred last night." Celestia rubbed her temples with her hooves.

"You are most likely correct princess. Even though in this case I wish you were wrong." The guard captain said with a few others nodding.

"So do I captain," She finished with a snap of her tail while heading back out towards the castle proper. "So do I."

"Ok that leg of yours should be well enough now to make it to the train station, how about we get you up and moving?" Morning Dew or 'Dewy' as her wife called her, asked Pear Butter after preforming her latest magical scan.

"Ok, I can do this," she gingerly took a few steps forward from the couch and sucked in air between her teeth. The combination of pain and memories from last night brought tears to her eyes. "I just Can't any more, I just cant." Pear gave in to gravity becoming a weeping pile on the floor as it all became to much for her.

"Yes you can, if not for yourself then for your foals. We're going to help you get home to Ponyville but you have to get up first." Forest Breeze, 'Breezy' to her wife, encouraged.

Pear wiped her tears and slowly stood back up while nodding, "You're right, I need to get home to them and tell them what happened. It's just to the train." She wobbled a bit on her next step but was quickly flanked by her two new friends. How could she not consider them that after they saved her life.

As the three walked through the now storm damaged town towards the train station Dewy broke the silence, "I still can't believe one storm caused all this."

"It's a good thing you warded the house, it took us hours to get it under control last night even with the reservists called into action," snorted Breezy. "I keep telling the higher ups we need more full time and fully trained weather pegasi but nooo they just want to save Bits."

Dewy gave her wife a look after noticing the depressed look on Pear's face, "Now isn't the time sweetie."

Breezy gave an apologetic look, "sorry, It was a long night." Traveling towards the train station, they stopped to wave or talk to a few of the other towns ponies along the way a few of their closer friends giving Pear condolences after hearing about the incident.

Once onboard, "I think i'll go back to napping now," Pear choked out.

The Overnight Train ride to Ponyville had been uneventful though there was a noticeable increase in guards on board for safety. It wasn't until they disembarked did they learn it was due to a train getting attacked by Timberwolves during the previous night’s storm. The passengers, just making it to the next town without injuries, had still been rattled and the train ruined beyond repair.

Once they exited the train Pear heard a familiar filly, "Mom!" She was quickly tackled and nuzzled by the weeping filly, "oh mom you're ok. When the guard told us you were attacked I thought I would never see you again."

"Thank you for bringing my kin back to us," The Apple matriarch said to the newcomers with a small filly on her back.

"Eeyep, thank you kindly." Big Mac said while going over to hug his mother. "But where is Pa?"

Pear froze up.

"Yes where is that son of mine?" Granny Smith looked around.

Forest Breeze and Morning Dew stepped forward to introduce themselves then asked, "did the guard not tell you?"

"Tell us what youngins?" They were about to answer when Pear interjected.

"Granny, Bright Mac didn't make it," She broke down crying again while hugging her foals close as they too froze up, "it was Timberwolves." She then explained exactly what happened before finishing, "and these two nice mares brought me home."

Granny smith looked heartbroken, she was eventually brought out of it by a tiny Apple Bloom pulling on her mane, "I..." she took a deep breath, "Lets Get to the farm and we can talk more there. You two are of course welcome to join, after saving my daughters life you might as well be family."

As the small somber procession made it's way to the Apple family a Pink earth pony with a not so puffy mane rushed off to get to baking. I'm going to need a few pies.

Celestia groaned as she set down another damage report from the storm, she would deny it of course, then took a sip of tea. "Thousands of bits in damage and just under one hundred Ponies missing or dead with more injured from it all. " She spoke to no one but just to vent.

"And it will only get worse for a while in the coming years. Luckily Twilight and Her future friends should be able to stop it all however I wish it did not rest solely on their withers."

She pulled up another stack parchment, one with a set of familiar names.
'CSGU Enrolment form'
'Name: Balanced Dawn'
'Parents: Forest Breeze and Morning Dew'

She had thought the Names from yesterday were familiar and happened to find them when looking into her potential second personal student. "One is a powerful Pegasus while the other is a Powerful unicorn from my school and yet I Couldn't find anything about his Sire not even the Stud Contract. I also find it strange they both live in a small town when they could do so much better in the city with such talent."

Celestia took a bite of Cake, "to top it off they now have a connection with one of the predicted elements. how did I not see any of this." She took another, larger bite and the got up to look out her window overlooking the garden. "I'll have to keep him close."

Dinner at the Apple family farmhouse was a somber affair that night. Pinkie had indeed brought pie and spent the evening comforting her friend. Big Mac spent the evening silently in his room with a small puppy while Granny told stories of her son to the rest, mostly for the two newcomers. Pear, who silently listened spent most of the evening hugging her youngest who, without understanding, reveled in the attention.

As evening turned to night most everyone eventually went to bed, Pinkie staying the night with Applejack so she wasn't alone and the guests in the guest room. Silent crying filling the house and a gentle squeaking of a rocking chair from the front porch were the only sounds once the moon rose. At least until.

"Well you going to just stand there or join me on the porch Celly?" Granny smith called out into the night.

"Hello Granny, I'm surprised you noticed me." Celestia lowered her head as she approached the farmhouse. "my Condolences by the way, I wanted to be the one to tell you but it looks like you already found out."

"Bah, don't go acting that way," She pulled out a jug of cider then motioned for her to sit next to her. "Old friends don't need bother."

Poring two mugs granny passed one to Celestia then drank hers down in one go, the Alicorn matching her pace without worry. Once finished Granny downed another before looking towards the sky, "I can't believe my foal is gone. No Mare should have to go through that."

Celestia joined her for a third, "You're right, no Mare should have to lose a foal before themselves."

"Oh Celly you know I," She was cut off with a shake of Celestias head.

"It's alight, you just lost one and It has been a few years now for myself. It's not like she is dead just missing. My only regret is I am unable to openly morn her since so few knew the truth not even herself." She finished but before the night regained it's silence. "Know that I will be here for your family if you need it."

"Just remember you're a part of it." Granny replied.

The two mares eventually gave each other a nuzzle after a few slower drinks and headed to their respective homes.