Dawn

Large bells clanged loudly and rang throughout the monastery. Dawn slowly opened her eyes and rolled over. She fell out of her bed and landed hard on her back. Standing up and grabbing her back, she walked to the window of her small, second story cell and looked outside. Hills of grapevines covered the hills and flooded the rocky soil with green leaves. A small village stood in the distance, surrounded by picturesque mountains, covered with blinding, white snow on top. Dawn turned away from the window and walked to the bottle of deep purple liquid with a small note tied to the neck. She ripped the tiny piece of paper from the neck and read it silently in her head.

“Happy birthday!” it said. She smiled, grabbed the cork in her mouth, and pulled it out. Her horn sparkled a deep blue as she levitated the bottle, grasped her lips around it, and tilted her head back. She took a mouthful of the liquid. The wine was strong, and she recognized it as one of the ones made in the monastery. She removed her white nightgown and grabbed the brown robes folded neatly on the floor. Looking back, she admired her cutie mark. Three books were stacked neatly on her flank with a quill located over them.

“And no matter what you do, know that I will always love you and be proud of you.”

Dawn blinked. As the words lingered in her mind, her eyes filled with tears. Sitting down, she shoved her face into her nightgown and wept. After a few minutes, she pulled her face from the moist robe and used it to wipe the last drops of water from her eyes. She stood up, put on her robes, and walked out of the room.

The large central courtyard of the monastery was filled with small, wooden tables and benches shaded by the tall, maple tree that stood on the edge. Ponies congregated in the early morning light. Small groups sat in the grass on the edges and talked, laughing and enjoying themselves. Other ponies sat at the tables, deep in study. Some were reading, others writing, some were just lost in abstract thought. Dawn walked into the yard and sat down at a table by herself. The leader of the monastery, a stallion with grey hair, walked up and sat down next to her.

“How are you today, my student?” he asked. Dawn smiled and nodded her head.

“Are you still doing your silence of contemplation? I told you a few days ago, I looked at the paper on the topic you reflected on during your silence. It was excellent Dawn, you may speak now.”

Dawn smiled again, let out a depressed sigh, and looked up at the sky. A unicorn from the village outside the monastery ran into the courtyard. His clothes were ripped, his mane uneven and filled with dirt, and his eyes were filled with veins from his lack of sleep. Panting heavily, he fell down onto the ground. The ponies ran over and gathered around him. The leader Dawn walked over and knelt down next to the unicorn. “What is it?” he asked.

He sat up and wiped the sweat from his head. “In the village,” he said through heavy breaths, “We’ve captured one.”

The leader looked into the villager’s eyes. “One of what?” he asked.

The villager pulled the leader’s head closer to his. He whispered into his ears and collapsed.

“I have to go to the village,” he said, “I need some of you to stay here and make sure this villager is okay.” His horn sparkled, and he disappeared as he teleported away. Dawn ran out of the yard and onto the road to the village. The flat dirt path winded through the forest of overgrown grapevines. As she emerged from the road and into the village, a crowd of unicorns was gathering. She ran into the crowd and stretched her neck to look at the center of the crowd.

The monastery leader was bent down over a pole, obscuring what was on it. He walked away, and Dawn looked at the pole, and saw what was causing the commotion. A changeling was tied to the pole. Her face was battered and cut, full of anger and rage.

“I’ll ask you again,” the monastery leader said, “What are you doing here?”

She looked back at him. “It’s hopeless,” she said, in the vile changeling language, “We’re getting nowhere. We can’t communicate, just kill me now!”

The leader sighed. He turned to the mayor of the village, a unicorn that looked not much better than the dirty, tired villagers he presided over.

“Give it up,” he said to the leader, “It’s not going to speak to us. If we leave it out here, it’ll come to its senses and speak to us eventually.”

Dawn pushed through the crowd and ran up to the tied up changeling. She knelt down and looked into the eyes of the tied changeling.

“Who are you?” she asked it, communicating in the language of changelings. Whispers rippled through the crowd, the villagers showing a mix of fear, confusion, and doubt.

The changeling looked back at Dawn. She smiled and slowly licked her lips.

“Well,” she said, “Looks like a member of your shitty species has finally learned to speak in the superior tongue.” She opened her mouth and bared her fangs, hissing at Dawn. Dawn responded by doing the same, hissing in her face. The changeling laughed.

“You’re a fool, Dawn. You can’t hide for your life. Coincidentally enough, that’s exactly what I’m here for.”

Dawn’s face loosened up as confusion set in. “What do you mean?”

“Oh Dawn, have all these years with these stupid, slow ponies dulled your mind? You didn’t honestly think your disappearance would go unnoticed? We’ve been searching for you for years. If only you knew how much you were worth.”

“So, what was your plan for when you captured me? Throw me in another prison?”

The changeling looked Dawn in the eye with a look of malicious intent. “Your punishment has persisted since it was first put on. It is the only thing ponies are useful for.”

“Oh?” Dawn asked. “And what would that be?”

The changeling smiled and cackled. “You would be the sacrifice for the Sliske ritual in the capitol city. Escaping was the stupidest move you have ever done. You were only delaying the inevitable. Not even your father was able to save you.”

Dawn’s eyes filled with hot, angry tears that burned her face. “No one disrespects my father like that.”

“Ah yes,” the changeling replied, her eyes locking with Dawn’s. “I was there for his execution when I was young. Harboring filth such as yourself, the only shame is that he could only die once.”

Anger manifested itself on Dawn’s face. She grabbed the head of the changeling tied the pole. “I hope this was worth it for you.”

Dawn twisted the changeling’s head. A loud snap came from her neck as her head limply fell to her shoulders. The crowd of unicorns recoiled in fear. A pulse of magic grabbed Dawn’s ear as the monastery leader walked up to her.

“What have you done?” he yelled at her.

Tears flooded her eyes. “I…” she choked through her sadness, “I don’t know…”

He stormed off up the path leading to the monastery as Dawn struggled against the pull of magic.

***

Dawn looked out the window of her cell. A blizzard raged, whipping snow around in the violent winds. She levitated the pile of papers that sat on the desk. She began to read the papers, starting with the letter on the top from the monastery leader.

“Dawn, I know you’re trying to distance yourself from me, but I really wish to discuss the changeling incide-“

Dawn quickly threw the letter out the window without finishing the first sentence. She looked at the next piece of paper, an official newsletter from unicorn royalty.

A few nights ago, the king of the Unicorns, King Silver, was murdered in the tower of the royal castle. His one and only heir, Princess Platinum, succeeds him. The crowning ceremony will be held on December the Ninth, with King Silver’s funeral held on December the Eleventh, two days later. King Silver will be missed.

She pulled out the next letter and read it.

Miss Dawn, I am so glad you have agreed to be my mentor as I apply to the monastery! I can’t wait to meet you tonight!

She looked outside at the sky. It was dark as, well, night. She dropped the remaining papers on the floor and dashed out. Swerving and sprinting through the halls, she ran toward the library. Right as the door was coming into view, she slammed into the door and stepped back, cursing under her breath. She grasped her forehead and opened the door to the library. The walls were lined with bookshelves tightly packed with books and scrolls. She walked to a small table where a colt her age was reading a book. She sat down and started breathing heavily while grasping her head. The pony at the other end of the table looked up at Dawn.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Dawn panted heavily for a few minutes before responding. “I’m fine,” she said.

He looked at Dawn and studied her for a few minutes. “I’m sorry, but who are you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said, pushing some hair out of her eyes, “I’m Dawn, and you’re who I’m mentoring, no?”

“Yes,” he said confusedly, “I was just expecting somepony more…”

“Somepony more…?”

“Well, somepony older.”

“Older?” she asked. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re my age, right? You see, most of the ponies that join monasteries begin at our age. It’s just so surreal that you’re already to the point where you’re to the point of mentoring when normally, you’d just be joining.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yeah. How come you joined so early?”

Dawn bit her lip. “I’d rather not say.”

“Oh,” he said. “I see. Well anyways, my name’s Dusk. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Dawn.”

“Nice to meet you, Dusk. As you already know, I’m Dawn.” Dawn smiled. “Well, let’s get to work now!”

Dusk smiled. “Let’s.”

***

Dawn stood outside the door of Dusk’s second-story cell. She knocked loudly. When Dusk came to the door, she reached over and kissed him on the forehead. “Can I talk with you?” she asked.

He pointed to his mouth.

“Yes,” she said, “I know you’re doing your silence. But can I still talk to you?”

He nodded his head and walked into the room. Dawn followed. “When we first met, you asked me why I was such a high rank at such a young age. I’ve known you for months now, do you still want to know?”

He shook his head. “All right,” she said, “Get comfortable, it’s a long story.” They both sat on the floor.

Dawn sighed. “Okay. Well, you’ve heard the rumors that I can speak with changelings, right?” Dusk nodded.

“Well, they’re not rumors. They’re real. I’m an orphan. Well, I think I might be. I have no idea about my parents, really. They could be alive for all I know. Through whatever means, I found myself in a changeling village. It was a nasty, little, dirty, run-down village filled with changelings, but it was my home. I didn’t belong there, and even back then I knew it. Changelings are brutal. The only times I would ever feel welcome would be when I was around my father. Even my mother hated me. She hated me, abused me, and would take out everything on me. One day, she betrayed us and turned us into the king. Harboring a pony is a royal crime in changeling society, but the only one who ever cared about the rule was my mother. My father and I had to run away, but you can’t run forever. We were captured and held for months. But the only punishment for royal crimes is death. My father was executed in the coliseum in the capitol city for the entertainment for everyone to see. I was there, too. After that, they threw me into a dungeon. Left me to die. But there was another pony in the dungeon with me. She was the only reason I didn’t drown myself in the water in our cell or starve myself to death. She gave me what little she could. After a month or so, she changed my life. I found out that the whole time we were in captivity, she had been working to break me out. I wandered for weeks. I got to a pony farm on a dark and stormy night. I hurt myself trying to steal some apples, and they caught me. They turned me over to the authorities. Since I was raised a changeling, I couldn’t protect myself. They sentenced me to death. For some reason, word got to King Silver. He gave an official pardon to my sentence, got somepony to teach me English, and had me put here to become educated. And all of that happened before my cutie mark. I’ve been here ever since, applying myself to something that actually matters.”

By the time she had finished, both their faces were warm, damp, and red from sadness. “Dusk, I-“

He put his hoof over her mouth and smiled. He hugged her and they say on the floor, crying together.

***

“Happy birthday, honey!” Dusk kissed Dawn on the back of the head and sat down next to her on the bench in the courtyard. He pulled a small package out of his robe and put it on the table.

“Go ahead,” he said, pointing at it, “Open it.”

Dawn kissed Dusk on the cheek and looked back at the package on the table. She pulled the paper off and opened the tiny box. She pulled out the small, expertly chiseled stone figurine of a pony. Tears filled her eyes as an expression of joy grew on her face. “Dusk, I…It’s…Beautiful…How did you...?"

Dusk put his hoof over her mouth and wiped a tear from her eye. “You told me about it once when you had a few too many glasses of wine."

She blushed and looked away.

"I know it’s not as special as the one you got for your birthday when you were a little filly, but I hope you still love it.”

Dawn smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

Dusk got up. “I have to go to the library now. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” she replied.

As he walked out of the courtyard, her smile faded as she put her hooves on her stomach and rubbed them up and down, feeling the tiny bump that had been growing on her. She sighed. “I have to tell him sometime,” she whispered to herself, “He will know eventually.”

***

A white envelope sat on the desk. On the front was the word Dawn was written in large, loopy, cursive letters in bright gold ink. The envelope was sealed with a tight, wax stamp bearing the seal of Equestria.

“Who from the government would be sending you letters?” Dusk asked to Dawn.

Dawn studied the envelope with great confusion. “I’m not sure.”

He looked back at her. “Well?” he asked, “Open it! Let’s find out!”

She ripped the intricate seal and opened the envelope. She levitated the letter and read it closely.

“Well?” Dusk asked. “What’s it say?”

Dawn put the letter in front of Dusk’s face. “Read it,” she said, still trying to absorb the shock of what she just read. He began reading.

Dear Miss Dawn,

You have been summoned to the royal court of Equestria in the grand city of Canterlot. The representative of the Unicorns, Princess Platinum, has requested your skills for a matter of importance on the national level. If you choose to accept this mission, please report to the royal castle of Canterlot by June the Fifth.

“See?” Dawn asked. “What could they want me for?”

Dusk studied the letter more. “I don’t know. It looks important, though. Maybe they want you for an administrative position? The three pony kingdoms have just merged, they probably still need ponies to help run it.”

“Are you sure?”

Dusk shook his head. “I don’t know for sure what they want, but it still seems worth a trip.”

“I don’t know, Canterlot’s pretty far away…”

Dusk rubbed Dawn’s hair. “Listen,” he said, looking into her eyes. “Ever since you’ve come to this monastery, you’ve never left the village, right?”

“Well, yeah, so?”

“I think it would be good for you to go out. Going to Canterlot might not be such a bad thing. I’ll even go with you!”

Dawn sighed. “Fine,” she sulked, “If you think we should go, I guess we should.”

Dusk smiled and pat her on the shoulder. “Awesome. Let’s get ready.”

***

Canterlot’s skyline stood barely above the ground. Nestled in the mountains was a small hamlet of tiny wood shacks. Built up against the large mountain was a pristine, large, marble castle overlooking Equestria. Fields of crops moving gently in the breeze created an ocean of colors and movement. Rivers flowed over the land and reflected light, making the Equestrian countryside glow with awe and majesty. Dawn and Dusk walked through the streets of runny mud toward the castle. Stopping and looking at the buildings of wood, a tear filled her eye.

Dusk walked up to her and looked at her worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

Dawn smiled and wiped the tear away. “Nothing,” she replied. “It just reminds me of my home village. Except, with a lot better view.”

She laughed and kept walking. Dusk ran to keep up with her, but his back hoof got stuck in the road. Struggling to get free, he heard a loud squelch as he was ripped free and landed face first into the gritty mud road.

Dawn looked back and ran to him. She picked him up and began laughing uncontrollably. “I’m sorry,” she said, attempting to control herself, “Are you okay?”

Dusk glared at her. “I’m fine,” he said, wiping the mud off his face and laughing. “I guess it’s kind of funny,” he said.

“You know what would be funnier?”

“What?” Dawn asked.

Dusk rubbed his mud-covered hoof all over Dawn’s face, smearing mud all over it. “That,” he chuckled.

“Oh, you’re in for it now!” She tackled him into a puddle of water. She laughed. “How does that feel?”

Dusk pushed her off him, making another splash. He sat up, his mane and clothes dripping muddy water. Stepping out of the puddle, he reached out his hoof out and helped Dawn out. When she stepped out, she grabbed his head, pulled him closer, and kissed him on the lips. He smirked. “Come on,” he said, “We should probably go dry off before we go to the castle.”

Right as they started walking, a Pegasus wearing full battle armor flew down to them. His armor was intricately crafted, his helmet plume pure white and clean, and a shiny, steel sword strapped to his waist. “Would you be the unicorn Dawn that the Unicorn Princess wants to meet?”

Dawn stopped laughing and looked at the Pegasus. “Yes.”

He studied the unicorns in front of him. “Any reason you two are wet?”

“Oh, well about that, we, uhh…”

“We fell in a puddle,” Dusk interrupted.

The Pegasus glared at Dusk. “And who exactly might you be?”

“I’m-“

Dawn walked in front of Dusk and interrupted him. “He’s my husband.”

The Pegasus glared at Dusk, and then back at Dawn again. “Come with me. I will lead you two to the castle.” He set down on the ground and started walking up the street.

Dusk looked at Dawn. “Let’s go.”

***

As Dawn and Dusk walked into the magnificent Canterlot Castle, she looked around. The pristine, polished, white marble floor reflected all light perfectly. The columns rose high into the air, holding the ceiling suspended hundreds of feet into the air.

As they approached the grand staircase in the main hall, two young earth ponies walked up, holding towels on their backs. The Unicorns grabbed them and wiped the water and mud off themselves.

The Pegasus guard walked up the staircase and motioned for Dawn and Dusk to follow him. They walked throughout the castle, until they reached a large, wooden door near the top of the palace. “This is as far as I can take you,” the guard said.

“Thank you,” Dawn said. She looked at Dusk. “You ready?”

He nodded. “Let’s go.”

They opened the doors to the room and walked in. The doors immediately shut behind them. Three large thrones sat at the end of the room. A large, Equestrian flag hung behind the thrones.

On the farthest left throne sat a Pegasus pony wearing decorated body armor. Her helmet was polished steel, laced with gold. On her face was a stern, slightly angry look. “That must be Commander Hurricane, former leader of the Pegasus Tribe,” Dusk said, pointing at the pony.

On the farthest right sat a pony wearing a colorful, silken dress. Her hat held a gelatinous mass of brown pudding. She was absent-mindedly surveying the room, appearing almost as though she was looking for something only she could see. Dusk pointed at her. “That’s Chancellor Puddinghead, former leader of the Earth Pony Tribe.”

On the middle throne, a young, beautiful Unicorn was sitting. Her solid gold crown was covered with large gemstones of every color. She wore a long, purple cape with poofy, white fur on the edges of the cape. Her face was blank and expressionless as she was studying both Dusk and Dawn.

“Who’s that?” Dusk asked as he pointed at her.

“She’s Princess Platinum, King Silver’s heir.” Dawn replied.

Princess Platinum raised her hoof, ordering silence. Dawn and Dusk knelt down.

“All rise,” she ordered. They stood up. The Princess looked at Dawn. “Are you the pony Dawn?”

She bowed her head. “Yes,” she said with courage, “Yes, I am. What do you need of me?”

“Dawn, rumors of your abilities have reached us far and wide. Is it true you have the ability to communicate with changelings?”

“Y-yes,” she stuttered. “That is correct.”

“Dawn, the newly formed empire of Equestria now only has one enemy; the changelings. Myself and my two other leaders of Equestria have gathered our best subjects to make a diplomatic mission to the changeling kingdom. We have brought you here as you are the only pony in the entire empire that is able to speak their language. We need you for this mission. Will you help us and the future generations of Equestria to usher in peace and relations with our neighbors?”

Dawn looked away nervously. Dusk looked back at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Dawn looked into Dusk’s eyes. “Do you remember?” she whispered. “I’m not allowed back into the changeling kingdoms.”

Dusk looked away, then looked at Platinum with an excited look on his face. “She’ll only go if I can go with her.”

“What?” Dawn yelled into his face.

“And whom might you be?” the princess asked Dusk, starting studiously at him.

“My name is Dusk, Princess,” he replied, bowing his head, “And I am her husband.”

Princess Platinum looked away in deep thought. Commander Hurricane rolled her eyes. Dawn grabbed Dusk’s mane and pulled him in close. “What do you think you’re doing?” she loudly whispered.

“Helping you,” he quietly whispered back. “Or maybe I’m helping myself. I don’t know yet.”

She looked him with a perplexed look. “Huh?” she whispered, quietly this time.

“Well, it’s either going to be that this ends up helping you or me. You’re the only pony that can speak in their language, so you’ll have to go, and undoubtedly, that means I’ll be going with you, right?”

“Or she can say no and take me along anyways, stupid.”

Dusk was not amused. “Trust me. I’ll be going with you, whether it’s permitted or not.”

“And that helps us how?”

“I know going back to your home won’t be easy for you. Trust me, it wasn’t for me.”

“What does that mean?”

He waved his hoof in a sweeping motion. “Story for another day. But you’ll want somepony there to help you. That’s how I can end up helping you.”

She nodded her head slightly up and down. “I see, but how could this help you?”

He sighed and he got a serious, emotionless face. “If the mission fails, which is really easily could, it won’t be good. You even said it yourself; you’ve still got a death order on your head. Whether or not that happens is still to be seen. But if something, anything happens to you, I won’t be able to forgive myself knowing that I let you go into somewhere we both knew was dangerous.”

Dawn smiled and a few tiny, clear tears grew in the bottom of her eyes. “I don’t think I can think of anypony I’d rather be married to, Dusk. If something bad happens, at least we’ll be together.” They smiled and stared deeply into each other’s eyes.

“I have decided,” Princess Platinum spoke to the hall.

“Talk about killing the moment,” Chancellor Puddinghead remarked under her breath. Commander Hurricane and her started covering their mouths, trying to choke back laughter. The Princess glared back for a few seconds and faced front, pretending she didn’t hear anything.

“Dusk, you and Dawn shall be sent to the changeling kingdoms as representatives of the Unicorns and of all of Equestria.”

They both smiled, but Commander Hurricane pounded her hoof on the arm of her chair.

“This is an outrage!” she screamed. “The agreement was that all three of us would pick the two best representatives of our former tribes and send them as diplomats! I have chosen my two, Puddinghead has chosen her two, you aren’t allowed to choose three! And besides, we agreed to send out best. You can’t just offer the job to every stallion who comes barging in, wanting to go!”

“Commander!” Platinum roared back.

“I am fully aware of the rules of this mission, I was the one who suggested it, after all! And I am not planning to send three representatives! In case you haven’t noticed, only one Unicorn has shown up for the position so far. Since we have a second volunteer, it seems a council to see anypony else will be unnecessary. He is not just somepony from off the streets; he wears the distinctive blue robes of a master scholar. Both do, in fact. They will both be a beautiful addition to the diplomatic group.”

Commander Hurricane let out an angry breath and sulked back into her throne. “Excellent!” Princess Platinum exclaimed. “You have been dismissed. When you exit, the guards shall escort you to the rest of the group. You may decide with them when to depart. Good luck, you two. The fate of Equestria lies with you.” She bowed her head.

“Come on,” Dusk said, “We should go find the others.” They walked out of the throne room.

As the doors slammed shut, Commander Hurricane looked toward Princess Platinum. “Do you really think the ponies will be successful in their mission?”

She let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the ceiling. “Not in the slightest,” she replied.

Chancellor Puddinghead snapped out of her daze of surveying the room. “Then why send them at all?”

Princess Platinum hung her head and looked at the floor. “We need the changeling problem solved somehow. All we need is the blood of six ponies on changeling hooves. After that, we would have to try for war NOT to break out.”