Auroram Usque Opacare

Eleven

Dusk stood up, he was completely alone in the room. Looking out the window he saw it must have been the earliest hours of the morning. Leaving the room he walked down the stairs towards the front door of the shop. It was unlocked, somepony left recently because he remembered Mr Cake locking after he arrived in a few hours earlier. He stepped out onto the street, a chill creeping up his spine. He had no idea where they went, but he knew where he wanted to be sure they weren’t.

He sped through the town, trying to retrace his steps from earlier, but it was hard in the dark. He’d lived in the city his whole life, with street lamps lit twenty four seven, he wasn’t used to the dark. But eventually he found himself on the right track and ran towards what he knew to be Sweet Apple Acres.

Arriving at the front gate he found the lock broken, the gate swung wide open. Dread filled him as he saw the lights of the barn were lit. Tentatively he made his way up the lane listening carefully for any hints that his fears were true, but he heard nothing, and as he reached the door of the barn he took a breath preparing himself for what he was about to find inside. He peered in through the open door, and his heart stopped.

The UWF members were all gathered in the centre of the barn, laughing and bantering. And there was Arty… hanging from the rafters. Dusk could still see his hooves twitching and his body occasionally releasing spasms or convulsions. He took this in and once again saw the other members standing around… laughing. Laughing at the fact they’d just murdered a pony. Dusk backed away slowly feeling sick. He turned and rushed off, wanting to put as much distance between himself and what he’d seen as possible.

He reached the shop again, entering only to find Mr and Mrs Cake waiting there. At first they looked suspiciously at him, but then changed to shock when they noticed the sweat and look of horror on his face.

“You have foals?” he stammered, they glanced frightened looks at each other confirming his suspicions, “and they’re not earth ponies are they?”

Nopony said anything; Dusk could see Mr Cake readying himself to fight if he needed to. “Don’t let the others find them,” Dusk begged and they became slack where they stood.

After a short exchange of words he returned to his bed, his hosts leaving to check their young. He didn’t sleep at all that night, unable to rid himself of the image of what he’d seen inside the barn. He heard them return in the early hours of the morning, he pretended to be asleep while they climbed into their camp beds trying not to wake him.

A few hours later they began getting up, and Dusk acted as if he’d just woken up from a long, undisturbed sleep.

“Sleep well?” one of them enquired.

“Like a log.” Dusk lied not meeting their eyes. “We’ll work today, and then we get the train home.”

They seemed pleased about this prospect and went about their morning routines quite cheery. How can you ponies smile, and laugh after what you did.

He recalled what his mother had said before he left, “be careful what you’re getting into.”

At the time he thought she was over reacting. Sure there was violence, Pegasi disrupted the weather to ruin farmers crops, earth ponies rioted in the street, and unicorns set oppressive laws. But this… there was no right side in this war, just monsters and innocent ponies who got in their way. He didn’t know what to do; he just knew he couldn’t be a part of this anymore.

Twelve

April was horrified. She’d been pacing the living room wringing her hooves after she’d discovered Dawn had left. Then she returned… with a unicorn! Dawn quickly told her everything that happened, while she didn’t seem relaxed, she understood.

“And what do you plan to do with her?” she asked glancing nervously out of the window.

“I’ll wait for a day, and then take her to one of the other barricades,” she said, then turning to the filly, “are you sure you can find your family on your own once I get you over the wall?”

She nodded, “I think so, and they’re probably looking for me now.”

April sighed, “Alright, but please be careful, if anypony finds out…”

“They wont, I’m not going to let anything happen to Eve,” Dawn reassured her. She then led Eve to her bedroom. “You need to get some rest,” she said inviting Eve to get into her bed. She accepted gladly and Dawn tucked her in.

“Thank you,” she said, “I didn’t know earth ponies were kind like unicorns.”

Dawn sat down on the bed next her, “the truth is, we’re all the same, some ponies just refuse to see that.”

“I hope my parents are all right, they were visiting a friend when the fire started.”

“I’m sure they’re fine, and worried about you,” Dawn said. Eve glanced at her strangely, “something wrong?”

“When did you get your cutie mark?” she enquired. Dawn looked down at the cherry blossom on her flank.

“Well when I was just a filly, same age as you now, I would get picked on for being… well, a teacher’s pet,” she said smirking. “But when it came to the end of the year and it was time to sit our exams, suddenly they needed my help. I didn’t hold what they’d done against them; I just taught them everything I knew. When they all passed I felt such pride knowing I’d helped them learn, it was like watching flowers blossom. After that I knew my life’s calling was to teach.”

“That’s a nice story,” Eve said smiling brightly, do you teach here then?”

“Umm, no,” she hesitated, “I was supposed to, but something came up.”

Eve didn’t question that, she just yawned and closed her eyes. Dawn stood up and quietly left the room gently shutting the door behind her. April was still fretting in the living room when she came out.

“What was I supposed to do? Leave her to die?” she asked outraged at April’s seeming lack of appreciation for what she’d done.

“Ponies die every day, we don’t like it, we just can’t do anything or we’ll be next,” said April. She sighed and returned to her own bedroom. Dawn couldn’t rest now; she was less tired now than she had been before she left. And besides, someone had to keep watch; it wouldn’t do to have anypony discovering Eve was here.

Dawn waited patiently that day. Eve barely left the room, except for meals and to use the bathroom. She planned their next moves with military precision, using April’s knowledge of the city to help her. She couldn’t take Eve to the barricade she brought her through; it would most likely be heavily guarded while it was repaired. They figured their best bet was to go around a few blocks and find the next nearest barricade. With any luck they’d be able to cross it without too much trouble.

When the sun was dipped low in the sky they began preparing. She made up a small food bundle for Eve just in case she couldn’t find her parents, and provided her with a casual hat so her horn wouldn’t be visible. They waited at the door way, not wanting to leave until it was sufficiently dark. Dawn believed it was time, but April insisted she wait another while to be completely safe.

When at last they did leave, they moved with haste in the direction April had set out for her. It required going well out of their way, but it achieved the desired effect that they didn’t run into any ponies on the way. Poking her head out of an alleyway Dawn could see the barricade, the familiar words scrawled over the face of it. There didn’t seem to be anypony around, so far so good.

They crept towards the wall, and once at the edge, Dawn began trying to figure out how they were going to do this. She might be able to use the recesses in gaps in the wall to climb up. Once high enough she could rise Eve over, who would then be able to jump down to the other side. She leaned down to relay this to Eve when they heard the clattering of hooves. She could see torch light spilling out of a side street and knew they had seconds to hide. Picking up Eve she turned and walked straight into a colt standing directly behind her.

Thirteen

Dusk sat alone on the train back to Manehattan, the other members didn’t seem to mind. It had been a wasted day, Ponyville wanted nothing to do with the UWF and he knew trying to convince them otherwise was a waste of time. But he figured if he didn’t look like he was trying, the others would report him to Claxon. The sun was low in the sky as the train approached Manehattan, it had only been a week but he fully expected things to have escalated in the city even more than they already had.

When the train pulled into the station the first thing he noticed was the distinct lack of ponies waiting on the platform. Then he saw the armed guards. Probably to avoid another situation like the one that got him involved with Claxon in the first place. Stepping off the train he excused himself from the group, they were supposed to report back to Claxon as soon as they arrived but he said he’d do it in the morning.

As he walked through the streets he took in the fresh wallpaper of propaganda. He had no intention of going home, not yet anyway. It was dark as he walked along the streets, no real destination in mind. Occasionally he’d see a huddled group of colts standing around shop windows acting like they weren’t up to anything so long as he was in eyesight. Checking a road sign to get his bearings, he read ‘Kent Estate’. That meant he was close to one of the barricades, he wasn’t sure why but he had the sudden desire to take a walk in that direction.

He continued down the street and was surprised to see two ponies standing next to the barricade. Curious he approached them; walking up to just a few paces behind them he also heard the approaching hooves and saw the light. They panicked and turned running right into him. It only took him a second to recognise the mare who’d almost been sent to Pegasi territory and in her arms was a filly. A filly whose hat had fallen off when they walked into him, and whose horn was clearly visible.

Time seemed to stand still as they looked at each other; she seemed resigned that they were caught. The decision was instantaneous; he barely had to think about it. Picking up the hat he placed it on the filly’s head, and then ran around them towards the approaching ponies. As he entered the street he ran into four colts, all discretely armed. They stopped him asking what he was doing.

“Quickly, before he gets away,” Dusk said, “did you not see the Pegasus run through here?” they immediately went on full alert.

“He must have flown right over us,” one said furiously.

“He must be heading back to the barricade,” said another. They turned and began running the way they came, Dusk following but slowing down gradually and stopping when he was satisfied they’d forgotten about him.

Dusk went back the way he came in time to see the mare climbing down from the wall, the filly now safely on the other side.

“That was close,” he said announcing himself. She turned around happy to see him.

“Thank you, I didn’t think any pony here would help me… let alone twice,” she said giving him a smile.

“So it was you,” he said, he hadn’t been completely sure she was the one from before until she said that. What was her name again?

Reading his mind she introduced herself, “I’m Dawn.”

“Dusk,” he replied shaking her extended hoof, “it’s not wise to be on the streets for much longer, they might realise I was lying and come after me.”

“I don’t live too far from here, you can stay there if you need to,” she offered turning to walk the way she’d come.

“it’s ok ill find my own way home,” he hesitated briefly, “but ill walk you back, make sure you get home safely.”

They didn’t speak as they navigated the streets, to set on getting to safety for idle chit chat. Dusk wanted to say something, but nothing appropriate came to mind. Why had he risked his own neck for a second time, and all for this mare he didn’t know? He didn’t regret it, just found it odd that for a pony who never spoke out for anything or anypony, that he should do this not once but twice.

“Its right around the corner, thanks so much for your…” but she stopped talking as they walked around the corner. Dusk knew by the way the colour drained from her face, that it was her house… that was on fire. From a distance Dusk could make out the words ‘unicorn lover’ sprayed on the pavement. Dawn stood frozen on the spot, once again Dusk made a snap decision, pulling her away and leading her in the direction of his own house.

“No, my aunts in there, we have to help her,” she begged, but dusk knew there was no hope.

“You can’t head back there, they might still be around,” he said, She looked like she was going to argue, but then reluctantly she put one hoof in front of the other and began following him, blinking back tears.

Fourteen

Dawn was in a trance, half walking, half being pulled by Dusk. He didn’t say where they were going but after everything he’d done she knew he could be trusted. It didn’t take long, or maybe it did and she was just losing track of time. Dusk knocked repeatedly on the door and she could hear it unlocking from the other side. It opened and a mare stood there looking dishevelled.

Upon seeing them she embraced Dusk and hurried them in. Dusk left her on a sofa while he talked to the mare in the next room. She stared into space, the room spinning in front of her, the noises of a clock ticking and Dusk talking merging into one causing her head to swim. She didn’t even realise she’d passed out until she woke back up.

The mare was leaning over her. As she blinked herself awake the mare shouted something into the next room, she was still too disorientated to make her out. She left and dusk came and sat in her place offering her a cup of tea. She drank it with difficulty, though he offered a hoof to steady her. He didn’t say anything, just waited for her to finish. When she did she looked up feeling noticeably better.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” he said sounding relieved.

“Thanks for looking after me,” Dawn replied.

“Actually it was my mum who did that,” he said nodding towards the next room. So they were at his house. Looking over her shoulder she saw his mother was elderly, she must rely on her son to survive.

“Does your dad also live here?” she asked without thinking, regretting it immediately when she saw the pained look on his face.

“He passed away a few days ago, I… wasn’t here.”

“I’m sorry,” she said in a hushed tone.

He shook his head, “you have nothing to be sorry for, I was sent away and the factory I worked for couldn’t afford to pay my salary. They had nothing to live on.”

There was a moment of silence before he looked up again, “you did an exceptional ting helping that filly, and how did you come to be in that situation anyway?”

Dawn didn’t mind telling him, they may have only met but he seemed to be the only pony who was on her side. She told him how she came to be in Manehattan, though he already knew most of the details. She then explained the thing she’d seen, like the factory worker getting attacked and the riot at the school; though she was sure he’d seen his fair share of this in his time here.

Finally she told him about the events beyond the wall, and she could see the shock in his face, as well as what looked like admiration. She finished her story by explaining what happened after he distracted the ponies.

“I climbed up the wall with Eve on my back, when I was as high as I could get I reached her on to the top of the wall where she climbed down. She called out she made it safely and she would make her own way.” Of course there had also been a rather teary goodbye on the wall, but she didn’t think Dusk needed to hear that part.

“What about you?” she asked after nopony spoke for a moment.

“Well,” he hesitated, “don’t jump to conclusions, but officially, I’m a member of the UWF.”

Dawn was taken aback by this, but at the same time it made sense, he had after all convinced Claxon to let her stay.

“After I helped you Claxon sent me to get support from the rural ponies for the next bill he plans to present to the Neigh Sayers.”

Dawn thought about this, it was difficult to sympathise with Claxon’s cause after everything she’d seen earth ponies do, but maybe if they were successful at getting what they wanted, things might get better.

“We had mixed successes, but I can’t support them any more,” he said. She could tell from the look on his face he’d seen things too. “Tomorrow I’ll have to report back to Claxon, I should have done it as soon as I got back but…” he trailed off.

Dawn sat quietly for a moment, taking everything in.

“So now what?” she enquired.

“You can stay here if you wish, we’ve already discussed it.” He nodded over to his mother, “I’ll be leaving early to go to town hall. It might be better if you stay here, before you get drawn into more trouble.” Dawn shrugged, she wanted to go with him, but she didn’t want to argue after he’d been so kind to her.

Dusk’s mother fetched her a blanket and fluffed a cushion on the sofa, it was only now Dawn realised how tired she was. She rested her head down and it wasn’t long before she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Fifteen

It was roughly eight in the morning when Dusk left the house, putting on his blue work jacket as always. He took the familiar route to the town hall, trying not to draw attention to himself. While he was sure the colts he ran into the night before wouldn’t be able to identify him, assuming they realised he had tricked them, he still didn’t want to take any chances.

As he neared the old town hall, his mind inevitably came back to the question he’d been asking himself ever since the incident at the barn, what was he here to do? He didn’t believe for a second Claxon would discipline the culprits, if anything he’d probably punish Dusk for arguing with their methods. No, what was done, was done, complaining wouldn’t change anything.

All he could really do was get as far away from the corrupt movement as he could, so he supposed he was here to resign. He wandered how that would go down. No doubt Claxon would weave some story that he’d gone soft on the enemy, he wondered if he’d even leave the building afterwards. As he arrived at the once grand building he shuddered at the banner stretched over the face of it.

He stepped through the main doors, noticing the queue for the front desk he decided not to bother going through the receptionist. He sauntered past everypony trying to make himself look as confident as possible, hopefully they’d assume he was doing what he was supposed to. He wasn’t stopped as he reached the other end of the room, so he guessed any pony looking had assumed he was in his rights.

He tried to retrace the steps he’d taken on his first visit; this building was like a maze with its identical corridors. Eventually he found himself on the right track and made for the door which he knew led to Claxon’s office. As he approached he noticed it was ajar, and peering in he could see Claxon standing with a handful of ponies he knew from sight to be high ranking individuals within the UWF. He was about to knock and make himself known, but stopped when he heard something that caught his attention.

“They got their hooves dirty in Ponyville; it didn’t do us any favours,” Claxon said disgruntled.

“We’ve received confirmation from the branches in Appleloosa and Dodge City that the ponies there will attend the summit,” another pony pitched in.

“Some good news a last,” Claxon said not sounding pleased at all.

“Do you really think it will make any difference having all our supporters present at Canterlot when we present the bill to the Neigh Sayers?” another enquired.

“If you’re asking if the Neigh Sayers will grant it, then the answer is no.” the other ponies glanced at each other slightly confused, “if you’re asking if having al our supporters present that day will help us achieve our goal, then the answer is yes.”

There was a moment of silence, Dusk didn’t dare breath. Then Claxon spoke up again.

“We’ve been playing nice up until now, but no more,” he said. His voice was now brimming with confidence, “the Neigh Sayers will reject the bill, and that will be when we bring an end to the talking.”

“Do you mean… revolution? Civil war?” one pony asked shocked.

“But of course, constitutional means have gained us nothing, its time to take matters into our hooves,” Claxon said thrusting his own into the air. The ponies in the room expressed a mixture of unease, but also consideration.

“But are you sure they’ll rise up?” one asked.

Claxon smiled, “if it was down purely to the bill’s rejection, probably not, but there will be a catalyst, one that will ensure every earth pony joins the cause.”

The other ponies in the room seemed swayed by the confidence in Claxon’s voice, smiling and nodding at each other. Dusk stood frozen at the doorway.

“Thank you for your time gentlecolts, now if you’ll excuse me I have a meeting I must prepare for.” They began shuffling for the door which brought Dusk out of his daze. He moved with haste down the corridor and out of sight. Stopping to catch his breath he tried to formulate his thoughts. He needed to leave the building for a start, he’d get his mother and they’d get as far away from this conflict as was possible, and Dawn… What of her?

He walked swiftly back through the main hall drawing a few eyes, but nopony tried to stop him. Exiting the building he darted down the steps and started walking back towards his house. Then he heard his name being called. He turned, dread rising, but then he calmed down again when he saw it was only Dawn.

“What are you doing here?” he was about to ask but she cut him off.

“Dusk there’s something you have to know.”