Dawn Rising
By DawnRider (Aka Matthew)
“I don’t really want to get up, let me sleep in a little longer” moaned Dawn as he brought the feather pillow over his ear’s.
His mother roughly took the pillow off of him and glared down at him with her deep blue eyes.
“Dawn, get up now please, you need to get on that train today and I’m not allowing you to get there late. So get up now and get your things together please” said Star Fly as she turned and trotted back out of the room.
“Fine, fine I’m up. Give me a few moments to grab my things” Dawn moaned as his mother left the room.
He jumped out of his bed and landed on the floor, and stretched his legs and wings, feeling the pressure build as they stretched to their limits before he could hear them pop in place, letting out a sigh as they did.
He turned his head and looked around his room for a moment, slightly shocked at the mess he had made.
His room had a single wooden bed, a night stand and a cupboard with his saddlebags and some coats stacked neatly among other random bits of things Dawn had collected over his years in Coltsville.
His ground had an assortment of books and random objects from around the house that he had blatantly dropped or knocked over.
Dawn trotted over to his wardrobe and opened it before taking out his red saddlebag and placing it on his back with his mouth, pulling the straps tightly so it wouldn’t fall off. He had packed the saddlebag the other day in preparation for his journey to Ponyville, so that he wouldn’t be late, as his mother had warned him earlier. Inside was an assortment of books and personal items that Dawn had held dear to him. Among them, the letters he wrote to his long distant friend, Rainbow Dash.
Dawn trotted to his door and slipped his favourite goggles onto his head from the wall hanger, snapping them into place just above his eyes as he did every day. The goggles were red painted metal with gold edges and belonged to his late father Skysoar.
He missed him more than anything and it hurt to remember the times they had spent together, flying side by side as his father taught him tricks and technique’s that made him what he was today, the Coltsville weather teams youngest leader.
“Dawn hurry it up, we need to leave now!” shouted his mother from downstairs, obviously annoyed at her son.
“Yeah you better hurry bro” Smiled Amber Rose, Dawn Rider’s sister.
She stood at the door with her cute smile that could melt your heart, as the outside sun shone down on her pink pelt and bright yellow mane.
“Hey there Rose” Smiled back Dawn “I’m heading down stairs now". Dawn loved his sister greatly; he knew he would do anything he possibly could to keep her happy.
Dawn trotted beside his sister as the two made their way downstairs to their mother, who was standing by the door with her yellow coloured coat on.
“About time Dawn, we need to get a move on; otherwise you’re going to miss your train” Star said looking at her son.
“I know mum, come on little sis jump on my back I’ll give you a pony back ride to the train station” Smiled Dawn warmly.
Amber Rose climbed on Dawn’s back and held onto her brother with her front hooves as he trotted out the door and followed his mum into the main street of Coltsville.
Coltsville was a small town of around 300 ponies, nestled amongst rolling hills and large open planes, a perfect place for flying. The buildings that lined the main street were all made of brick and painted in similar shades of Yellow, Deep Greens and some pink.
Coltsville’s town square lay ahead, bustling with local ponies. It was rare to have visitors in the town, most only staying the night if the train breaks down.
“Come on you two hurry up before the train leaves” Star said as she walked ahead quickly.
“Yeah I know mum” Dawn Responded. “Hey Rosey, wanna fly ahead of mum?” Dawn smiled as he asked his sister.
“Yeah, let’s do it!” She yelled out excitedly as she held on to her brother tightly.
Dawn stopped and moved his back left hoof back on the ground behind him, pushing off the ground with great force and taking into the air above his mother and Coltsville. In a few seconds he was flying in circles around Coltsville, his sister shouting with joy as she held onto her brother tight with her hooves.
“Faster Dawn, fly faster!” She yelled as loud as she could. Dawn quickly responded by picking up speed, zipping through the skies faster then anypony in Coltsville could, and he took pride in this greatly.
“Come on now Dawn, get down here before the train leaves!” Shouted out his mother from below.
Dawn looked below to see his mother standing by the train that sat in the station, waiting to depart for Ponyville.
He adjusted course and swiftly came into landing near his mother, with his sister happily giggling.
Amber Rose slipped off his back and trotted to beside her mother.
“Ok mum, looks like we’re here...” He said anxiously before being interrupted by his mother. “I love you too Dawn” She smiled and hugged her son. Dawn’s sister hugged her brother in much the same way while Dawn lifted his hooves around his family. “I love you both” Dawn said smiling.
“Ok, now you better get on that train, otherwise you’re going to have to fly all the way” She laughed, letting go of her son.
His sister let go regretfully as she lowered her head.
“Hey now, it’s ok Rosey. You know I’ll be back in a few weeks” He smiled, hugging his sister once more.
“I know Dawn” She said smiling back.
“Ok guys, I better get on the train before I get in trouble for holding them up” dawn laughed as he trotted towards the train, waving his hoof back to his mother and sister.
Star and Rose stood waving at their family member as he boarded the train to Ponyville...to train under his much loved friend, Rainbow Dash.
Train Ride Discovery
Dawn stepped hoof onto the train’s passenger car and took a quick look around the carriage for a seat. There seemed to only be a few ponies in this car, with most of them sitting towards the front, giving him plenty of seats to choose from.
Dawn trotted on the hard metal floor to a seat towards the back of the car, and sat down on the dark brown synthetic leather seat, and leaned towards the window starring out at his family and smiling as they wave their hooves at him.
He lifted his hoof and began to wave as the train whistle went off, signalling the departure to Ponyville and other various stops along the way. Dawn settled in as the train pulled away from his home town and unclipped his saddlebag, reaching in and pulling out one of his favourite books, “History of the Ancient Pegasi.”
He clipped his saddlebag back up before flipping open to the first page in his book and began to read intently. Dawn always admired the book for its insights into the lives of the ancient pegasi who lived in Equestria and the way they taught young colts and fillies to fly.
As he began to read the book,getting lost within the words, another pony approached him and took a seat across from Dawn, who almost immediately noticed this and looked up from his book to see a cream coloured unicorn with a cyan blue mane that draped down either sides of her neck sitting across from him.
Dawn found himself starring at her as she smiled to him before speaking in a beautiful foreign accent, that he took for Saddle-Arabian.
“Hello there. My names Cyra Short” She said, and smiled politely at Dawn as he sat across from her starring into her beautiful Emerald eyes.
Dawn quickly realised he was starring after a few awkward seconds and spoke up, blushing slightly.
“Oh, uh sorry the names Dawn Rider” He said, extending his hoof to his new acquaintance.
She gently took his hoof and shook it slightly, smiling at Dawn.
“So where exactly are you heading to Dawn Rider?” She asked in softly, still holding the smile from before.
“I’m heading to Ponyville, Rainbow Dash is helping me train in a few techniques so I can teach my weather team back in my home town Coltsville” He replied with a slight smirk on his face.
He closed his book and undid the clip on his saddlebag, sliding the book back into its home while listening for Cyra’s response.
“Oh, that’s wonderful then; I’m going to Ponyville myself to visit my sister. Perhaps we can sit together until we arrive” She said, almost as if Dawn would prefer anything else.
“Yes! Uh, I mean of course we can” Blushed Dawn as he rubbed his neck with his hoof, realising he came off as rather desperate for company, which in truth, he was.
Cyra blushed and giggled before she answered. “That’s great, I’m sure you and I will be great friends” she smiled.
Dawn returned the smile as his mind wandered to what lay ahead for him. His trip had only recently been planned after Rainbow Dash asked if Dawn would like to visit her and train in a few techniques that would speed up his own weather team’s cloud clearing. How could he turn it down?
“So, tell me about yourself Dawn” Asked Cyra after a few moments of silence.
“Oh, sorry I was lost in my train of thought. Well, you obviously already know my name; I was born in Coltsville and lived there my whole life really. Quite early on I joined the weather team and when the team leader transferred to Stableton, I took over his position. I’ve been leading Coltsville’s weather team ever since” Dawn said proudly.
“That sounds like so much fun actually. Leading an entire team of Pegasi as they change the weather. Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Cyra asked with a questioningly look in her eyes.
“I have a younger sister named Amber Rose, she means alot to me” Dawn smiled as he looked down, thinking of his sister.
Cyra noticed this and she felt warm at her new acquaintances love for his sister.
“You seem like such a caring older brother. My sister means alot to me also, the only difference being that I’m the younger sibling” She smiled as she spoke to Dawn.
“Thank you, that means alot Cyra. What’s your sisters name, If I may ask?” Dawn inquired as he stretched his back hooves out, since they were beginning to get cramped.
“Her names Cosmic Silent.”
“That’s a beautiful name” Dawn remarked looking at Cyra warmly.
"I always thought that too" She agreed before gazing out the window to the trains surroundings.
"Hey, it looks like were almost there" Dawn said, noticing Ponyville coming up in the distance, just around a slight curve in the tracks. Cyra spotted what Dawn was looking at and simply nodded before sitting back in her seat.
Dawn followed suit and leaned back against the wall, waiting for the train to finally reach its destination.
The train, roaring across the tracks began to slow down, matching its speed with that of the signs on the side of the track just outside of Ponyville. It continued to slow until it reached the correct speed to stop just in time to come to a halt in the Ponyville Train Station, which at this time of day was bustling with ponies, both residents of Ponyville itself, and from surrounding towns.
The conductor of the train slid down the break lever gently, allowing the long metal train to slow down further, inching its way to the station which was now only a few feet ahead. The train whistle blew and the train rolled to a gentle stop at the platform, allowing the ticket master to step off.
"Looks like we're here" Said Dawn, preparing himself for the long days ahead.