I found myself standing upon a dirt road with a large town nearby. Looking around I wasn’t quite sure where I was but I wasn’t alone. “Excuse me could you please tell me where I am?”

The mare ignored me, I was about to ask again then saw the equal sign on her flank. “What the?”

Following her the crowd started to become dense as we arrived at the center of the large town. The buildings were a dull gray and the roads were made of dirt.

“No longer will ponies have to fear being different. No longer will you have to worry about losing your friends because of a difference like cutie marks or relationships. Let me help you.” I followed Starlight’s voice and was disgusted by what I found an adult Starlight doing.

Not only was she stripping the cutie marks of ponies but cutting off their horns and wings in the name of equality.

“Starlight stop this!” I flared my wings and lit my horn. The entire crowd turned tows me like mindless zombies. ’Our town’ never looked this big.

“Ahh Dawn I see we have our next volunteer.” As she spoke I was somehow transported onto the platform and bound down to it in thick ropes with her standing over me. “This won’t take but a moment.” She smiled with a lit horn and I screamed.

Panting, I woke with a start from the nightmare. Maybe I should... No! “No. Starlight has to face the consequences of how she acted. I can’t just forgive her no matter how bad the nightmare.”

I walked into the bathroom and washed my face with lukewarm water. “Sweet Harmony I wish Luna was still around right now.”

I made my way back into bed and tried to sleep as best I could. I wasn’t very successful.

“Good morning Dawn, you don’t look so good.”

“Oh hey Sunburst. Have you talked with Starlight recently?” I knew it wasn’t his fault but still felt a bit upset with him, especially after last night’s nightmares, so it came out a bit aggressive.

“Um, no. I haven’t really talked with her lately.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“Please do.” I promptly turned to walk towards breakfast.

“Wait why?” He started to follow along.

“Because we broke up. She can tell you why.” I knew he wasn’t following when his hooves stopped but continued on towards food. Staying up all night had made me hungry.

“Dawn wait, what happened?” Sunburst had sat down next to me after grabbing food and put a hoof on my shoulder. It was unusual for him to be quiet that forward.

“You know how you’ve been avoiding Starlight because she asked you out?” He nodded awkwardly. “Yeah, turns out the only reason she asked me out is because you said no and wanted a colt friend. Probably to make you jealous.”

I was assuming the last part myself a bit but it wouldn’t be unheard of.

Sunburst’s eyes went wide. “Wow, I don’t know what to say to that.”

“Alright my little ponies that’s all for today’s class. I will see you all tomorrow.” Celestia’s voice rang out with a smile. She was incredibly happy after Imago’s reveal.

“Dawn will you please remain for a moment.” She had stopped me in the middle of packing up to leave.

“Sure Princess.” I sighed as a few classmates passed us looking curious.

She only spoke once the room was empty. “Dawn you don’t look too good today and you were hardly participating in class. Is everything alright?”

“No, Starlight and I broke up.” It almost felt worse each time I had to say it. “She called me a replacement!” I stomped my hoof and wiped a tear off my cheek.

Why that no good… “Oh my little pony.” She wrapped me in a feathery hug. After sitting for a bit she asked, “feeling better?”

I nodded. “Thanks Tia.”

“Any time. On another note I received a letter that your parents will be in town this weekend to discuss your.” She lightly flapped her wings. “I know it’s ahead of our plans but with half the castle’s staff finding out we can only keep it quiet for so long.”

I nodded. “Right. Will you be announcing Imago as well?”

Celestia’s mask cracked a bit. “Only that I’ve taken a consort not what she is. While not many ponies know what changelings are, they have been seen in a bad light for far too long. There are also the other hives to consider, they would not take kindly to Imago gaining such a position.”

“Right and she doesn’t even have a hive to protect her.” I finished packing up my things with my magic. “Well thanks for the talk Tia, I better get to my next class.”

“Of course. Have a wonderful rest of your day and see you tomorrow. I must return to the castle to begin court.” We shared one last hug before moving on with our days.

Starlight glanced around the lunchroom. When she spotted Dawn she started making her way over then froze when she remembered what happened. “Weeks of avoiding him and now I want to talk with him but I can’t…”

She hung her head and sat on the opposite side of the room.

“Hello Starlight, Trixie noticed you were in distress.” Trixie sat down next to her.

“Trixie am I a bad pony?” The question caught Trixie off guard. She may have been great and powerful but not when it came to the serious questions.

“Trixie… I do not think you are a bad pony.” She nuzzled her friend. “You did make a mistake though and one not easy to fix.”

Starlight hung her head. “I don’t even know why I said that. I was just so angry with Sunburst recently and I took it out on Dawn.”

“Hey Starlight can we talk.” As if he had heard her Sunburst had walked over to their table.

Starlight panicked but nodded.

“Great.” Sunburst sat down and Trixie stood up.

“Trixie will leave you two alone she has somewhere else to be.” Trixie weaved through the lunchroom to find Dawn.

”Hey Trixie.” I was a bit surprised when she sat at my side. “I figured you’d be with Starlight.” Despite everything that had happened I was glad to see her and smiled a bit.

“She and the Sun colt are finally talking things out.” She huffed. Guess he listened to me.

“Got ya.” I gave her a nuzzle that she happily returned. “Still friends?”

“Trixie wouldn’t have it any other way but perhaps we did rush things a bit in our endeavors to secure our glorious future together.” She brandished her fork in her magic as if making a grand statement.

I laughed. “Probably.” Puppy love never was easy.

Trixie nuzzled up close. “This doesn’t necessarily mean she’s giving up on you though. I know I’m not.”

After lunch and afternoon classes I was feeling much better. Despite being on the outs with a longtime friend I knew others like Trixie, Moon Dancer, and Lyra, we’re around to support me.

Moon Dancer was more of a casual friend but she did love sharing her love of books and talking about things she and Twilight did together recently.

Lyra on the other hoof was practically like another sister at this point. Considering she legally was my herd sister, since Celestia didn’t feel comfortable adopting her after the incident and she needed a legal guardian, we would sometimes laugh about that after school. The rest of the Apple family would actually be meeting her officially on our next fall break.

The two of us were currently outside together enjoying a mild sunny day when she spoke up. “So the parents are coming to town this weekend?”

“Yep they will be meeting with the princess about my lessons and some family stuff. You can probably come along if you want.” I was playing with some stray bits of grass in my magic and weaving them together.

She tilted her head back and forth. “Could I really?”

“You should probably talk with them more considering it’s family. You exchange letters sometimes right?” I finished off the tiny boat I had made and set it adrift in the air with some pegasus magic.

We both watched it float away. “Yeah, your dam likes knowing I’m doing okay and BonBon and I exchange letters constantly. She often talks with them in the market while buying food.”

“Then you should come along.” She gave a noncommittal hum in response.

After a few moments she shifted subjects while looking at a cloud. “Do you ever wonder what it’s like to fly?”

“No why?” I didn’t have to wonder since I could fly.

“What about having hands.” She held up a hoof. “I often think about having human hands.”

“Lyra I already knew that.” I gave her a funny look. Some days I just let her talk but today I reminded her we had this conversation before.

“Right.” There were days she would get philosophical like this and she just had to get it out of her system. Speaking of humans and my current relaxed situation made me get a song stuck in my head and I stated humming “The song of storms” from zelda.

Lyra gave me an interested look then began playing along on her lyre. To my surprise a couple drops of rain began falling after we did a few loops we let the warm summer rain soak our coats but used magic to protect our belongings.

“There wasn’t a storm scheduled for today.” Lyra stuck out her tongue to catch a few drops as other students ran around either playing in the rain or rushing to cover.

I started laughing at the fact a song from a video game would actually have magical effects here in Equestria. “Maybe it was the song. It is called Song of storms for a reason.”

“They do say music is magical.” She started laughing with me as we enjoyed the summer shower.

The rain only lasted a about ten minutes which, judging by the flock of pegasi in the sky, had stumped the local weather team. I had already returned back to the dorms by that point and had shaken myself off at the entrance.

“Hey Dawn can we talk?” It was Sunburst waiting in the usual spot we played board games.

“Sure what’s up?” I tilted my head as he scuffed at the floor.

“I talked with Starlight today as you suggested.” He looked up with his tail tucked back.

“And?” I tried to keep a straight face. The afternoon had been going so well too.

“She felt really bad about what happened and wanted to apologize to you and she apologized to me as well for putting me on the spot.” Sunburst gave a half smile.

I flicked my tail in agitation. “Sunburst I’m glad you talked but I just can’t accept an apology from her right now. Just drop it okay.” I finished a bit quickly when I noticed he had more to say.

He pinned his ears back and nodded in acceptance.

“Anyway I have some homework to do so I’m heading towards my room.” I walked off my mood back to sour.

Author's Note

Song of storms