Auroram Usque Opacare

Twenty-two

Dusk was deafened by the explosion. He and dawn let each other go, joining all the other ponies in the room in looking all around in bewilderment. The music cut off and the silence cut through the room like a knife. Dusk tapped Dawn on the shoulder to get her attention.

“We should go, what ever that was about we should get to cover.” She opened her mouth about to respond when the ceiling exploded over their heads, debris showering down.

Dusk threw his hooves over Dawn covering her head from falling material.

“We have to get out of here,” he shouted over the screams and ringing left after the second explosion. Dawn didn’t argue, so they quickly rushed for the doors where ponies were already clotting to get out. As they squeezed through the door another explosion close by caused the windows in the room to shatter, letting the chaos outside flood in.

Charging through the reception they reached the main doors, smoke was pouring into the building and Dusk knew there was a fire somewhere near by. As they stepped onto the street it was as if they’d entered another world. All around the street was lined with bodies, either unconscious or dead, buildings crumbled and burst into flames. Looking up dusk saw the sky; it was heavy with clouds, dyed crimson in the light of the fires all over Manehattan.

Lightning streaked down splitting the sky into fragments and meteors showered down; these were the cause of the explosions. As Dusk watched he saw specks darting around the sky, shifting the clouds so the lightening targeted specific areas. What were pegasi doing launching an attack like this. As they ran, staying close to each other they saw the streets filled with ponies fighting, not just Earth ponies, but unicorns too.

They continued to run, not sure where they were running to, but as they did they passed the barricades the unicorn and pegasi territories, which both looked just as ravaged and destroyed as this one. Stopping briefly under some cover they tried to focus.

“How far is your house from here?” Dawn asked breathless.

“A few blocks, but would it be safe?” he said scanning the street, everypony seemed occupied with either surviving or fighting the ‘invaders’.

“From the look of things, it’s just as safe as every other building in Manehattan,” Dawn replied.

They continued forward staying low to the ground so they wouldn’t be noticed by passing groups of thugs, whether they were earth ponies or unicorns. As they turned the last corner they found their path blocked. An entire block of flats had collapsed over the street. They would have to go the long way, past his old factory. Setting off once again they saw yet more carnage, ponies rushing out of burning buildings screaming as flames enveloped them, other trapped under rubble.

Every so often they’d see a pony struck by lightening or hit by a ball of magic fired from a passing unicorn. Suddenly Dawn stopped, Dusk pulled by trying to drag her along but her eyes were fixed on something. Following her gaze he saw the body of a filly lying in the gutter, its neck broken. He grabbed Dawn’s head and turned her to face him.

“There’s nothing we can do for them, we have to keep going,” Dusk said. She conceded and continued running, Dusk keeping one eye on her in case she should stop again.

As they reached the factory the doors were blasted off their hinges and two unicorns came charging out fighting off three work colts including the soot covered horse who opened the door. While they struggled with each other a Pegasus swooped down landing a kick into the side of one of the unicorn’s heads, causing him to fall to the ground and blood to pool from a wound behind his ear. Luckily they were so focused with each other that Dawn and Dusk were able to sneak around them and carry on to the house.

When at last they arrived on the street, Dusk let out a sigh of relief. The line of houses he lived in was so far undamaged. Not hesitating they sped down the last several paces bursting through the front door. Dawn ran and crouched under kitchen table while Dusk re barricaded the door. Once he was done he pulled on his workers jacket and ran to the kitchen were he began kicking one of the corner tiles.

“What are you doing?” Dawn asked in a hushed tone, Dusk wasn’t sure why she was whispering, who was going to hear them over the noise outside.

Removing the tile he revealed a manhole which he began unscrewing.

“This house was built over a sewer entrance, if something goes wrong, we’ll need a way out,” he said, she accepted this and let him carry on. When he had the last screw removed he shifted the metal cover and looked down the hole. It would be wide enough for Dawn to climb down; he could probably squeeze in if he tried. He couldn’t see how far it went down so he dropped one of the tile fragments and listened carefully.

He was pleased to hear a splash fairly quickly, that meant it wasn’t too deep, just dark.

“Hopefully we won’t have to resort to that.” He said joining Dawn under the table.

“What’s going on?” she asked, not hiding her fear.

“I don’t know, Claxon’s planned civil war wasn’t until they presented the bill in Canterlot later this week,” he responded. Maybe the tension was so high; the war came about without Claxon’s push.

They remained still and silent for thirty minutes before the noise began to die down. There was still the rare bang in the distance, but whatever fighting that was still taking place had moved away from where they were. Dusk sighed with relief, then they crawled out from under the table, and Dusk peered out of a tiny gap in the window barricades. The street looked deserted, but it was unrecognisable.

“You should try and get some rest,” he said facing Dawn, “I’ll stay up and keep watch.”

She nodded, the adrenaline must be running out, and as a result she was looking extremely tired. She lay down on the same sofa she slept on the first night she came here, and after about ten minutes her steady, rhythmic breathing indicated she was asleep. Dusk stood up from where he sat and draped a blanket over her, tucking it in as best as he could.

Sitting back down he tried to remain focused on the door, expecting at any minute it would burst open and they’d be set upon, but it never did. Every few minutes he’d glance over at Dawn, watching her shoulders rise and fall with her breathing. Each time he’d reluctantly tear his eyes away. Never before had he met a pony who cared the way she did, who risked her very life for a filly she was supposed to be enemies with.

He’d never let anything happen to her, he’d do whatever it took to make sure she could live the life she deserved. His thoughts drifted back to the moment in the hotel, before the first bomb hit. The moment where their lips moved closer, holding onto each other as the music flooded through their bodies. But the moment was shattered, they pulled back as they heard the explosion, and he wondered if they’d ever have another opportunity, or was that their only chance…extinguished?

Twenty-three

Dawn’s eyes opened, and for a moment she had to think about where she was. Then turning she saw Dusk half asleep on an arm chair, and the events of the previous night came flooding back. She groggily pulled herself off the sofa; Dusk was roused by her sudden activity.

“What’s the time?” she asked rubbing her eyes with her hoof.

“Just after nine,” he replied hazily.

She walked over to the window and glanced out the same space Dusk had looked through before she went to sleep. It didn’t look any better in the light of day. She could make out all the graphic details, the sprawled bodies looked almost peaceful, barely a scratch on some of them. They probably received head injuries from falling debris.

“Is it over?” she said facing Dusk again.

“Nothing happened all night after you fell asleep, I reckon its finished for the mean time.” She nodded in response to this.

Dusk began clearing the blockage from the door, Dawn offered to help but he said he could manage it. She was just relieved they didn’t have to go through the sewers. When at last the door was cleared they stood briefly looking at each other, mentally preparing themselves for what they were about to see.

As they stepped out onto the street the full impact of what had taken place the night before hit them. There was hardly anything left. Whatever buildings weren’t lying in ruins or stood as burnt out husks had been ransacked. Their windows either smashed in or boarded up in an attempt to protect its residents. They walked down the route they followed on their way to the house. The shear number of bodies was horrific, most were earth ponies but here and there they could see unicorns with their horns sawn off and pegasi with their wings stripped.

“Somepony must have come through here after it was all over, and disgraced their bodies intentionally,” Dusk said his voice quivering. Dawn held back her tears. When they reached the factory they were forced to climb over it, as it lay in heaps across the road. Dawn struggled a little but whenever she slid or stumbled, Dusk was always there to catch her. Even with all the destruction she couldn’t help smiling knowing they were together.

As they continued on they could hear a commotion around the bend. They were approaching the town hall and it sounded like every living pony was gathered outside it. When they arrived in view they discovered this was more or less true. Well every living earth pony seemed to be there. As they approached the crowd they could make out Claxon standing a top the steps waiting to address the crowd.

Raising his hooves for silence, the crowd reduced their shouts to an annoyed murmur.

“Listen everypony, I understand your anger,” he called, his voice carrying over the heads all the way to the back row where Dawn and Dusk stood. “This was a despicable attack upon defenceless earth pony citizens, and we will not tolerate this monstrosity.”

Dawn looked over at Dusk hoping to catch his eye, but he was focused on what Claxon was saying.

“In just four days we will present our demands at Canterlot to the Neigh Sayers, and we want every pony there to show the arrogant unicorns and pegasi that we will not take their oppression lying down.” The crowd cheered in response to this.

“Maybe this was the catalyst, set up an attack on your own territory to get everypony riled up.” Dawn said looking to dusk again.

“Maybe…” but he didn’t sound sure, she wondered what he was thinking.

Claxon continued to shout the usually discriminatory comments associated with the UWF until they decided everything of value had been said, and broke away from the crowd.

“Don’t you think so?” she asked once they were somewhere they could hear each other.

“Im not sure, it would make sense, but it just doesn’t sit right with me,” he said looking deep in thought. This still didn’t explain how the changeling tied in, could it be the two are completely unrelated.

“One things for sure,” he said at last, “Canterlot is where we need to be. That’s where everything will go down.”

“Yeah, but how will we get there? After everything we’ve done I don’t think we can just hop on a train from here to Canterlot,” she said looking around to make sure nopony was approaching them.

“You’re right there, but luckily we have four days, and I know more than one way off this island.” He said confidence rising in his voice.

They returned to the house while Dusk filled her in. It was good for her that Dusk had lived in Manehattan his whole life. Once they got back through the front door they didn’t bother re-baring it as they wouldn’t be staying long. Dusk set about collecting food that wasn’t growing mould, while Dawn stayed on look out. Once he’d gathered anything worth taking he came and stood beside her at the door.

He looked back one last time at his house.

“I’m sorry you have to leave your home because of me,” she said, he turned and looked at her.

“This was never my home,” he responded, “and you have nothing to be sorry for, if I’d known speaking up for you meant leaving my old life behind, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

They smiled at each other, she wondered if they had time t spare, but deciding not to waste any more they left the house, and began moving for the harbour.

Twenty-four

Ironically enough it was dusk by the time they arrived at the edge of the city. They looked out at the stretch of ocean lapping in front of them. Dusk scanned the harbour, he knew the UWF would be focusing on the trains, but he still expected to see a few posted here, and he wasn’t disappointed. He counted three but there could easily be more. He ran back to where Dawn waited for him and relayed his information.

“Alright, the boat is due to leave in just under an hour, but they’re loading it now.” He’d already stated this a number of times but they couldn’t risk getting this wrong.

“Dusk I can handle the distraction if you want,” she said, but Dusk just shook his head.

“No I’ll deal with that, you get to the destination when the distraction begins and ill meet you there,” he replied. She sighed, clearly not happy but willing to give in.

Dawn carried on in her own direction; the one Dusk had laid out for her. While she did that he doubled back and moved into the city again. Running he searched for the right streets and estates that he knew would lead him to the other end of the dock. Once he was sure he was on the right path he sprinted the last yards. Hiding under a stack of crates he scanned his surroundings. The colts were still in sight.

Then he saw the bell tower, he was lucky it was still standing after the attack. He ran forward, staying low hoping they wouldn’t look his way. Reaching the bell tower he began climbing the ladder. As he did he thought back to when he was just a foal and was carried here on his father’s back, he remembered what his father had said that day.

“Do you see that bell son? They ring that to indicate when its time for ships to leave the port. Of course experienced sailors don’t need it to keep them right, and frankly I wouldn’t rely on that bell. I did work on it a while back and I can tell you, apply to much pressure on that thing and it’ll fall right out of the tower.”

Dusk had been here a number of times since, each time his father’s words returned to him. He wasn’t sure why a bell seemed important to him then, but as he ascended the tower he wondered if a part of him had known what he would need to do one day. Reaching the top he examined the bell, it was held in place with a familiar mechanism he’d worked on many times before. It allowed it to be activated remotely so somepony only had to come up here when the bell needed fixing.

He quickly identified the problem with it his father had spoke about. Bringing out his dad’s multi tool, one of the things he took from the house before they left, he began fiddling with it, loosening bolts and plates. Satisfied he stood back preparing himself. He charged forward rearing up and driving his front hooves into the bell with all the force he could muster.

It gave way instantly, falling to the floor he stood on before rolling off and falling the whole way to ground level. The resulting noise was deafening, and it stayed ringing in Dusk’s ears even as he quickly climbed back down the ladder and rushed to a safe distance. As predicted the UWF members came over to see what the commotion was about. They gathered around the bell, perplexed at what caused it to fall. That was when Dusk made his move.

Darting behind them he made his way to where the crates were being loaded onto the waiting boat. He weaved in and around the stacks catching sight of Dawn quickly.

“No problems?” she asked smiling at his return.

“Not yet,” he responded. She had already opened the crate she was standing next to, and had some of the contents cleared out so there was enough room for them both to fit inside. He didn’t ask where she disposed of the original content.

They clambered into the open crate, Dusk pulling the box closed behind him, quickly making a makeshift bracket to hold the crate closed, it was a credit to his father’s teaching that he could do this in the dark. They waited patiently, and after a few minutes they heard the sound of the crane swinging over and hooking the crate and tugging it into the air. Neither of them said anything while they waited for the crate to touch solid ground again.

When it did and they heard the crane detach itself they let out a sigh of relief. Dusk created a few more air holes and they sat there talking quietly until they felt the boat moving off.

“Alright I think it’s safe to leave now,” he said dismantling his bracket and they tumbled out onto the deck of the boat. A sailor was walking by at the time, but looking down at them he just shrugged and walked on muttering something about Manehattan folk.

They walked to the edge of the boat and watched as Manehattan shrank into the distance, eventually disappearing over the horizon.

“Next stop, Horseshoe Bay, Baltimare,” Dusk said smiling at Dawn, both happy to be leaving the city behind.

Twenty-five

They arrived in Canterlot in good time, stepping off the train from Baltimare they joined the throngs of ponies gathered for the presentation of the UWF’s bill later that day. The boat journey had been easy enough; the sailors didn’t mind having stowaways so long as they kept out of their way. Once they arrived in Baltimare Dawn used the last of the bits she’d found to buy them a room in a hotel and train tickets to Canterlot the next morning.

As soon as they arrived they could feel the tension in the capital. Everywhere groups of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies passed each other swearing under their breath and glaring, but none risking starting a fight with so many potential allies swarming through the city. Dawn and Dusk made their way through the crowds, and as they walked she noticed four spires towering over them. She recognised them from books on magic she read before coming to live in Manehattan.

They would be activated by unicorn magic when the presentation began, and the events that took place that day would be projected all over Equestria so every pony far and wide would witness what unfolded that day. That would play into Claxon’s hoof, while most earth ponies responded to his summons there was still those who couldn’t make it. When the fighting started here, they would be called to arms in their respective towns.

They were stopped in their tracks as the crowd before them ceased moving. Though it turned out they were still moving but so slowly it looked like they’d come to a stand still. The royal palace stood before them, once home to Princess Celestia it now housed the party in power of the time, and for a long time that party was the Neigh Sayers.

“Here we are,” she said.

“This is where it all happens,” Dusk replied. It was only now Dawn questioned what exactly they’d come here to do, how could they pacify every pony in Equestria?

“So now what?” she asked.

“Now… we say goodbye,” he said turning to face her.

“What? Why?” she asked startled. He sighed and looked down before answering.

“Somepony has to take a stand, otherwise this will just keep going until there’s nothing left,” he announced, “but I don’t know what’s going to happen, and if something happens to me, I want you to get as far away from all this as you can. Save yourself, and live your life.”

“We can do it together,” she pleaded.

“No, I won’t let you put yourself in danger anymore,” he replied.

“But why? Why does it have to be you?” she begged tears rising to her eyes. He looked her directly in the eye.

“My whole life I never stood up for anything, I never defended anypony. But that day I met you I found something worth speaking up for, a pony I’d give my life for.” They remained silent staring at each other. “I love you Dawn, but I can’t let you die in there.”

He began to turn away making for the palace when she called out.

“Dusk wait!” she ran up to him as he turned to face her again. And before he could argue she leaned up and locked lips with him.

The moment held still in all time and space as Canterlot, the hordes of ponies and the hatred crumbled away, so all that was left was Dawn and Dusk wrapped in each others loving embrace. When at last they parted, which could have been after a few minutes or an eternity, she stared into his eyes again.

“Be careful,” she said, “I don’t want to lose you.”

Twenty-six

Dusk’s heart was racing as he pushed through the crowd; it was like it was trying to get in a lifetime of beats before he reached the palace gates, which could very well be the place he died. After what happened it hurt him even more to leave Dawn behind, but he meant everything he said, if this did fall apart, he didn’t want her there caught in the middle.

He didn’t acknowledge the shouts of annoyance from the ponies he pushed past, didn’t acknowledge the chants from the legions of supporters, didn’t acknowledge anything, except his destination. When at last he reached the gate he could see a podium erected in the centre of the courtyard. And atop stood Claxon clutching a scroll in his hoof; his lackey’s lined up behind him, and facing him from the other side of the stage, was the president himself.

Marelin stood tall over his entourage of unicorns. He was appropriately named as such for his flamboyant behaviour verging on the feminine. He wore ornate robes, his silver mane swept out behind him, flowing in the wind, and on his forehead his horn shone with a brilliant white light. Dusk knew he was activating the spires, everypony in Equestria was now seeing what he was seeing, the ceremony had begun.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, I the president of Equestria and the chaircolt of the Neigh Sayers stand before you all, to meet with Troy Claxon, president of the United Worker’s Force.” Silence had fallen all over Canterlot, perhaps even over all of Equestria. Dusk didn’t have much time; he began pressing forward trying to reach the stage.

Claxon cleared his throat, next to Marelin he looked pathetic, but he spoke confidently none the less.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, I stand before you today to present our president with this bill, demanding he answer for his oppression and tyranny, and that he immediately implement reforms so that we are no longer second class ponies.” There was an immense cheer from all the Earth ponies, while the unicorns and pegasi looked disgruntled at the speech.

Dusk was almost at the stage, but the crowd was thicker now and he was moving slower.

“If he chooses to reject our requests yet again, then it will be clear to everypony here that he is nothing more than a tyrant who wishes to subject us to harsh living conditions while he and his chosen ponies live in luxury,” Claxon exclaimed.  Another cheer erupted, but Marelin’s face remained impassive, but his eyes glinted with amusement.

Claxon began walking slowly and dramatically forward, Marelin stayed where he was, letting Claxon come to him. The crowd watched and held their breath; everything had led up to this moment, and that was when Dusk pushed past the last line and clambered onto the stage between Claxon and Marelin.

“Stop!” Dusk shouted.

All of Equestria froze; the idea of somepony interrupting an event such as this one was pure fantasy. Claxon looked furious, but Marelin merely looked surprised. Dusk’s heart was racing again, he felt every eye in Equestria burning into him, he took a deep breath and began.

“I beg you all to hear me out, this will solve nothing.” There was an outcry of anger from all the ponies gathered, but Marelin raised his hoof to silence them. When they muted Dusk continued, “each and every one of us is standing on a land our ancestors found, one they built on harmony.

“For years we’ve been so caught up in looking out for ourselves, that we’ve come to regard any in a better situation with hostility. The ponies we once embraced as friends we turned against. We fought each other; we hurt and murdered our own neighbours, but not once did we stop to remember we’re all the same, whether we are earth ponies, or pegasi or unicorns, we’re all ponies and we all own this land.

“But instead of talking and sharing, basic principles handed down by our ancestors, we took what we wanted and we let hatred take over. But until we stop all the fighting we’ll never banish that darkness from us. I’ve seen the best and worst of all our numbers, I've seen earth ponies kill a unicorn they didn’t even know, but I’ve also seen an earth pony risk her life to save a defenceless unicorn filly.

“So please, can’t’ we stop this senseless fighting and offer each other peace. Stop looking out for our own interests and do what’s best for everypony. Stop with the hatred ruling our lives, and welcome in a little harmony.” He finished his speech taking gulps of air. Nopony spoke and he was afraid what he said had made no impact, but as he watched something began to change in their expressions.

It was like the something left them, washed away by what he said. Dusk looked at Claxon who was shaking with silent fury, and then to Marelin who stood as still as a statue. Then he opened his mouth, about to say something. And that’s when the assassin leapt onto the stage.

Twenty-seven

Dawn watched Dusk walk into the crowd wiping her tears away. She had nothing but respect for him, the sheer magnitude of facing every pony in Equestria took an immense amount of courage, but still something bothered her, ever since Dusk had said he didn’t believe the attack was the catalyst for Claxon’s civil war, she’d found herself thinking more and more about what it could be, and her mind always strayed back to the changeling.

One thing was for certain, she wasn’t going to stand here to find out if Dusk lived or died, and she wasn’t running and hiding either. She began making her way around the outskirts or Canterlot, avoiding the crowds as much as possible, which was difficult as the number of them meant they were spilling into every nook and cranny. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for but her instincts told her getting inside the palace was her best bet.

However she never made it that far, as she turned down a narrow street something called her name. She looked behind her to see who it was, but there was nopony there. The voice called again, it was like the wind itself was calling out to her. She turned to face back down the street again and gasped. At the end of the street she’d walked into, stood a tall white marble door, which hadn’t been there a few seconds ago.

She cautiously approached it, occasionally glancing behind her to make sure she wasn’t being followed. When she reached the door she glanced around the edge of it, it was just the other side of the street, the door led nowhere. She pressed her ear against it, and she was convinced she heard that airy voice again, calling her. Taking a deep breath she reached her hoof out and pushed the door open.

Something very strange happened next, the door opened to reveal what she thought was just the street, but it was in fact the part of the street she’d walked down to get there. Turning she found she was no longer outside, but within a long metallic grey chamber, there were floor to ceiling windows lining the walls showing not Canterlot outside, but a strange metropolis of identical glass sky scrapers. Taking all this in, she was vaguely aware of the door slamming shut behind her.

“Welcome Dawn, you’re just in time.” The voice came from the end of the room; it had a very clipped tone. She turned and saw a mare sitting cross legged in an official looking chair. Dawn walked steadily forward taking in the rest of her appearance. She had a tan coat and grey mane streaked with white. She wore gold rimmed spectacles perched on the end of her nose, and she wore a white collar with a blue cravat. Finally her cutie mark was of a bound scroll.

“Who are you?” she asked completely perplexed with the situation.

“I have had many names,” she said never breaking eye contact with Dawn, “until recently I was a resident in Ponyville, where I was known as Mayor Mare. In actual fact I am the Fateweaver, but you may call me Fate.”

Dawn was getting an eerie feeling from this mare, Fate.

“Why did you call me here?” she asked halting several feet from her.

“Because you’ve played your role my dear, it’s time for you to step down.”

Dawn’s thoughts were racing, what was going on? Played her role, what was that supposed to mean?

“What role? Why should I step down?” she demanded.

“Why, inspiring your darling Dusk to make his speech of course.” Dawn froze, “and as for your second question, well I can’t let you get in the way of what needs to happen.”

Dawn’s heart was racing, she was starting to feel worried, and briefly she glanced behind her at the closed door. It seemed impossible but it looked much further away than she’d walked from it.

“After all, civil war doesn’t just happen of its own accord, it needs a trigger, it needs...”

“A catalyst,” Dawn finished her sentence for her, she smiled.

“Precisely. Soon all of Equestria will see an earth pony offer peace, before being struck down by a unicorn assassin. The fallout will be total war.”

“No!” Dawn screamed.

“Yes, and it’s all because of you, you gave him the strength he needed to fulfil his role,” she said brushing her mane aside with her hoof.

“It’ll never work, no unicorn will murder Dusk in cold blood...” but then the truth sank in, “the changeling.”

“Exactly, trust Claxon to sacrifice his own supporters to further his cause,” she said laughing.

“But why? Why do you care for there to be civil war? What do you stand to gain?” she shouted, her temper rising.

“You think I care about some petty struggle between ponies? You think I care how many lives are lost? This is far greater than mere civil war; it’s just one more piece in the great plan.”

Dawn’s head was spinning with all this new information.

“What do you mean one more piece?”  Dawn asked, Fate just smiled, her eyes narrowing sinisterly.

“Do you believe in free will Dawn?” she asked. Dawn didn’t know what to say so she continued on, “a long time ago, longer than you can imagine, I believed in the foolish concept of free will. But then one day, I discovered my true potential. I learned that by changing one tiny thing, I could alter all of existence around it; it’s called the butterfly effect my dear.

“Everything plays its part, no matter how insignificant or unrelated it may seem. But I can see you’re struggling to understand,” Dawn was indeed wearing a dumbfounded expression, “here’s an example, a few years ago an item entered Ponyville, events began to take place as a result. If I’d left things to their own devices the item would have been destroyed by a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. So I intercepted her, by sending her a false message of distress from Canterlot and a specially enchanted onyx stone to ensure she got out of Ponyville as quickly as possible, as a result events unfolded differently and instead of destroying the item, that unicorn fell to it.”

“Why? Was that another piece of your plan?” Dawn yelled, she knew exactly what she had just heard, the famous massacre in Ponyville, was caused by the mare sitting in front of her.

“But of course, I’ve always been pulling the strings, driving you and Dusk together by sending the UWF goons to your homes,” replied Fate.

Dawn shook with rage, “but why?” she demanded again, “what could you possibly gain from controlling the lives of others, is it just for your own sick pleasure.”

“Oh Dawn, you think so small. I couldn’t care less about the means; it’s all about the end game. Everything I’ve masterminded up to today has been one more step to my ultimate goal; the unification of Equestria, Discord’s rule of chaos, every great event in history, and soon the civil war will bring me one step closer,” Fate said standing up, and Dawn could tell the she was almost finished. “There’s just one thing I have to take care of, you can’t leave here.”

Dawn barely had time to react; her only warning was the distortion of colour drifting in front of her. She leapt to the side as a magical spike drove out of the ceiling right to where Dawn had been standing a second before.

“Please don’t waste either of our times, I know everything that will happen, I know this is where you die.” Fate said lazily. Dawn wasn’t going to let her have her way; she wasn’t going to let Dusk get murdered as part of some plot.

As quick as a flash she galloped towards Fate aiming a kick at her face, but she teleported away sending a shower of needles at her. While she avoided most, a few sliced into her back causing her to stumble. Again she heard the familiar sound and rolled to avoid yet more spikes slicing through the air. She ducked behind Fate’s chair in order to catch her breath.

“There’s no point hiding,” Fate mused, “let’s not digress from destiny; just accept it and it will all be over.”

Dawn felt hopelessness wash over her, what was she doing? She was fighting a pony who’d apparently lived for thousands of years manipulating the very course of history. Maybe she should accept defeat, after all what could she hope to accomplish? Standing up she stepped out to face Fate. She smiled as Dawn looked her in the eye.

“Im glad you came to your senses,” she said finally raising her hoof. A long spike rose up behind her swirling in midair. She then thrust her hoof forward the spike shooting straight towards Dawn’s chest.

There was an explosion of light, the spike shattered into a billion crystalline pieces and Fate’s eyes widened in shock.

“Impossible!” she screeched. Dawn opened her eyes feeling something embracing her body. Looking down she saw her lower legs and hooves were encase in golden gauntlets, each embroidered with a different crystal; her back left had a blue balloon, her back right had a pink butterfly, her front left had a purple diamond, and her front right had an orange apple. Looking further up her body she seemed to be wearing a cross between a golden necklace and a chest plate, upon it was a red lightning bolt. And although she couldn’t see it she could feel the crown helmet wrapped around her head, and knew it was adorned with a pink star. They were the Elements of Harmony.

Fate was shaking out of a mixture of anger and fear; she clearly hadn’t seen this coming. Dawn knew without needing to be told what she had to do, she felt the power of the elements flowing through her and she shut her eyes drawing it all together. When her eyes burst open again they shone with the light of suns, which she channelled into a single blast aimed directly at Fate. The entire room was devastated by the bean that shot from Dawn’s whole body, the glass walls shattered and the metal floor and ceiling shredded away. Fate was swallowed up by the blast, her screams fading away.

When all her power drained away Dawn was left standing in an empty world, facing the open door. She ran without hesitation, dashing through the arch way back into the real world. However she didn’t run back out to the street she came in from, instead she found herself in a high ceiling room lined with pillars and tall stained glass windows. She could tell she was somewhere in the palace just from her surroundings.

She didn’t stop to examine the room any further, she just ran for the open doors, desperately looking for a way outside. Running down random corridor after random corridor she felt she was getting nowhere, but somehow she knew the elements were leading her the right way. Then she saw it, daylight at the end of the hall, she galloped forward forgetting her lack of energy or the heavy armour she wore, she focused purely on the opening.

She emerged blinking into the sunlight, onto the balcony of a tower, overlooking the ceremony. The whole crowd was in silence, and there she saw Claxon, Marelin and Dusk standing on the stage, all eyes on them, and from her vantage point she saw the assassin dive through the air straight for Dusk. He looked like a unicorn, but she knew it was really a changeling. She leapt from the tower swooping down, the elements carrying her to her destination as fast as light.

Twenty-eight

Everything happened so fast Dusk barely knew what was going on. For a brief moment he saw the assassin hovering in the air ready to thrust its knife down, then out of nowhere Dawn came shooting into the assassin sending it flying. Rousing himself he dashed over to where Dawn lay in a crumpled heap, and was confused to see her dressed in what appeared to be golden armour, but as he pulled her onto all fours, she tossed around facing the assassin who had quickly regained his composure and was now running at them.

Once again out of nowhere Dawn fired a beam of light catching his attacker square in the chest. Then he and all of Equestria watched as the unicorn skin peeled away to reveal the black insect like changeling. The crowd erupted, guards responding instantly by charging in and tackling the changeling. Everypony was panicking and screaming until a voice tore through the air.

“Silence!” silence fell instantly, all eyes turning to Marelin who had been the one to shout. “Everypony listen to me, we have all heard what this virtuous pony has said, and after what we just saw it is clear to me as it should be to each and every one of us, we must stop fighting each other, we must relight the spirit of harmony that bound us so close together.” Dawn looked at Dusk smiling.

“You did it,” Dawn whispered.

Together they watched as throughout the crowd all the distrust, all the barriers crumbled away and earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns embraced each other like best of friends. Dusk had seen something leave the ponies after his speech, and now he saw something fill the empty space, Harmony had returned in Equestria.

He turned to Dawn, “we did it.” And they embraced tightly, breaking apart only to see Claxon stepping forward and shaking hooves with Marelin. They both sighed with relief, once again turning away from everything taking place around them and Dawn and Dusk joined lips for a second time.

That day had been one of great celebrations all over Equestria, but also one of great mourning where everypony paid their respects to all those who’d lost their lives in the past few years. Dawn filled Dusk in on what took place after he left. Her story made him feel light headed, but he accepted it none the less. After the events outside, Marelin asked them both to come inside to speak with him.

“Firstly I want to thank both of you; together you brought something Equestria was missing back.” Marelin began, “ Secondly we’ve been discussing it we have decided to dissolve the republic.” Dawn and Dusk were both taken aback by this, “and we plan to invite princess Celestia back to her throne. It’s clear now Equestria was better off under her rule.”

“I’m glad you see things that way,” Dusk said, hoping he wasn’t pushing it, “but why are you telling us?”

“Because you have the right to know, none of this would have been possible without you. Again, thank you.” Dusk found himself warming to Marelin, true perhaps if he’d seen what he was doing behind the scenes this whole time he might feel differently, but as it was he decided the ex-president wasn’t too bad.

Before they left Dawn said she had one thing she needed to do, and so together they walked back through the palace to a room lined with pillars and stained glass windows. Together they walked to the end where a purple door stood open, inside an open chest sat on a pedestal. Once inside Dawn removed the elements, placing them in the chest one at a time. When all six were inside she closed the lid and they heard it lock.

They left the room together, the purple doors shutting behind them, sealing shut with magic.

“She’s still out there.” Dawn said at last.

“I thought you finished her off?” Dusk responded, but she just shook her head.

“I definitely broke her power, but I know she’s out there, planning her next move.”

“And when that day comes, we’ll be ready for her... together.” They left the room hoof in hoof.

Epilogue

Princess Cadence was hesitant at first to return to Equestria after so long, and she was devastated to see what had become of it, but she swore she’d fill Celestia’s throne the best she could, as her aunt had passed away shortly after going into exile. Once coroneted she appointed Marelin as an advisor, who filled her in on the details of the last three years.

She was particularly interested when the subject of the Elements of Harmony came up, and she thought back to the day her and Spike destroyed them, knowing one day they would rebind to a new wielder when they were needed again. It was going to take a long time to bring Equestria back to its former glory, but the efforts of Dawn and Dusk had made the task considerably easier.

Dawn and Dusk... though she had never met them, she knew they were important, like the wielders of the elements before them, but she also knew their roles were probably not over. This unknown enemy, Fate. Something told her she was yet to reveal her true potential, and when that day came Dawn and Dusk might just have to rise to the occasion.

~

Dawn and Dusk decided not to return to Manehattan, even if the city wasn’t utterly destroyed, there were too may dark memories there for them. Instead Dusk took them both to a little plot of land in the heart of Equestria, once known as Sweet Apple Acres. While they didn’t have money, they appealed to the Ponyville council to let them move in so that Dusk might take over the repair work its previous owner Arty had done.

While they would not have agreed normally, the owners of the local bakery, Mr and Mrs Cake vouched for them. They were granted the deed and they moved in immediately. While there Dusk kept his word and become the go to pony for repairs in Ponyville. Dawn was quickly noticed by the teacher in the local school, Cheerlie, who had been planning to go on early retirement and offered Dawn the free position.

They worked together for a couple weeks so Dawn could get back into the swing of things, but Cheerlie saw she was a natural and was able to take her retirement knowing the school was in capable hooves. As time went on they were allowed to forget about everything that drove them together, and were able to focus on the future, a future together. The life Dusk knew Dawn deserved, and the life Dawn couldn’t imagine sharing with anypony else.

~

Fate seethed with anger. Everything she’d worked for, ruined. Years, centuries, eons of planning, and it had all fallen apart. Her ultimate goal slipped through her hooves and disappeared into the warp of non-existence. She had lost.

No! She may have lost this battle, but it wasn’t over. She had always had a failsafe just in case her destiny was somehow unravelled. Those fools think they’ve won, but she has one last trick up her sleeve. The greatest secret hidden away by Sullivan, one that would allow her to turn back wheels of time, and she knew exactly where Sullivan locked it away all those years ago.

She squinted her eyes staring through the swirling snow, and then she sliced the air with her hoof, forcing the sky to clear. The blizzard disappeared and her path was un-obscured. Before her a colossal structure rose up, a demonic rock face driven into the ice, the gates of Tartarus.