//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: New Dawn // Story: The Frost Chronicles: Book 1: Veil of Night // by steelwingx //------------------------------// CHAPTER 11 New Dawn A pony I one knew, told me that when a pony dies, they go up into the heavens to be with their loved ones, my mother told us that we would one day see our father again, but I never truly understood what she was really saying, because I was very young, and if it weren't for the pictures we owned of him, Misty would have never even known what her father looked like. One can never imagine the pain of having to tell your younger more innocent sibling, the fact that your mother was never coming back. Ever since out father’s death, my mother told me to be strong, strong for her, and strong for Misty. But even as I told her the truth, I could see the confusion and pain in her eyes, and it only broke my heart more. ________________________________________ That night had come with more death than any of us could have imagined, many ponies had been killed in the general’s madness, which only added to the pain many of the ponies of Ashen felt, since the big mine collapse. The ponies of Ashen are a strong community of ponies, having endured much over the decades, but a pony can only survive so many lashes that was this cruel life. Not only was I forced to tell my younger sister, that our mother was not around anymore, but I also had to tell River that her father died. As the sadness and fear filled her eyes, I knew we were both on the same page, we had both lost our parents to tragic accidents, or malicious intent. I could tell that part of her was angry…with me, that she wanted to hold me accountable for her father’s death, and I knew I couldn't blame her. She made me promise that I would find him and save him, just as I promised I would come back for my mother. But I had failed both of them. ________________________________________ After the remaining royal troops had fled the city, were left to clean up the mess they left behind. So many homes had been burned down, lives destroyed, generations of family memories and tradition…all destroyed in one night. Then it came to the task of burying the dead. One can’t imagine the pain of burying one’s kin, I was young when my mother buried my father, so I had no concept of death, I simply knew I would never see him again, and the following years were just a slow descent into depression for my mother. But the casualties were not entirely of the town, some of the brave Night Rangers who had led the charge on the soldiers, had fallen in the battle, and now it came time to give them their proper respects. The bodies of those who died, were gathered and taken to the town’s cemetery, especially those of the town, as Iron Star lead the procession, fresh graves were dug for them, despite the hard work, it was only fair that these ponies were given a proper burial. Gravestones were crafted from the unused logs from the lumber mill, and placed above each grave, and after saying their goodbyes, each pony began to leave the grounds, until I was the last one. I sat there in front of my mother’s grave, tear stains littered my cheek, as I ran out of tears hours ago, my head hung low, one hoof holding the golden medallion in it. A full day had almost past, as the sun began to set in the horizons, but the question remained on every ponies mind? What happens now? As the night grew closer, I heard a set of hooves walk up behind me and stop a few feet away, but I had a feeling as to who it was. “Dust I told you, I need…some time” I said as I lifted my head up, putting the medallion in my coat, but to my surprise, a different voice answered. “I didn't come here to watch you weep over the dead” said a familiar relaxing voice, one that made my muscle’s tense up. I slowly turned around to see none other than Midnight Star, standing a few feet away, a calm yet sorrowful look on his face. My mind swarmed with questions, but I knew I could only form one at a time. Midnight Star? What are you doing here? How did you get past Iron Star’s guards?” I asked, no turning to him halfway, as a small smile graced his lips. “You would be surprised at what I can do” he said as he frowned again, we both remained silent for a moment, before he spoke up again. “listen Frost, I came here to give you my condolence’s, I’m sorry for your loss, I truly am, but I don’t think it’s wise to stay up here and wallow in your grief, you have friends who are there for you” he said in a calm yet sorrowful tone. I chuckled lightly to myself as I turned back to the grave, “what would you know about grief? If only I had been here sooner, I…I could have saved her” I said as I lowered my head. I could here Midnight take a step closer, but he remained silent for a moment, but he eventually spoke up, “you cannot blame yourself for something you had no power over…for something you were not meant to stop” he said. My ears perked up and I rose my head, and looked back at him, “wait…what do you mean ‘not meant to stop’?” I asked him, he sighed and looked down for a moment, removing his glasses and looking at me. “Remember the first time we met? I told you that there was a storm coming for you, I told you that things would never be the same again…this is what I meant” he said gesturing to the mass amount of graves. I fully turned to face him now, a look of confusion and growing anger on my face, “you…you knew this was going to happen, didn't you?” I asked him as I took a step forward. I could see the slightest of grimace’s form on his face, but he nodded his head. I felt my heart rate increase, as my anger began to boil up, “your mother…it was her time, just like we all face ours eventually” he said, his voice still remaining perfectly calm. I felt my eyes began to narrow as the anger boiled over. “You bastard!” I shouted as I broke into a complete sprint, and jumped into the air, murder intent in my eyes, but much to my surprise, Midnight disappeared into a flash of black smoke, which faded into the ground, which only meant I was met with a mouthful of snow. I coughed up the snow and looked around, I looked back to see Midnight staring calmly at me, only there was a smug smile on his face. Panic and fear quickly replaced that anger as I scrambled backwards until I bumped up against a stump, I watched as Midnight took a step closer. “nice trick isn't?” he said with a smile, I continued to try and back up, but fear held me still, only one question was on my mind in that moment. “What…what in Celestia’s name are you?” I asked with wide eyes, he simply chuckled lightly, “there’s nothing to fear Frost, and I’m not going to hurt you. As for what I am…something beyond your understanding, but you will come to understand it in time” he said as he turned away from me, “there are many things in this world that you don’t understand” he said with his back turned. As I slowly scrambled to my hooves, the other question on my mind finally surfaced, “why? Why didn't you tell me? I could have saved her!” I shouted, but he merely turned to face me, his smile gone from his face. “I wish I could have, I really do, but it was not meant to be, you’ll find out why someday, but for now, I have another message for you, if you think things are bad now, they are only going to get worse” he said with a mysterious tone. I stood up straight, as the fear faded, and was once again replaced by anger, but not the kind of anger that would make me charge again, this was a more subtle anger. I reached into my coat and brought out the medallion, I glared up at him, and saw the confused look on his face, “get worse huh? Well then…you can take this damn thing back, I don’t want it anymore, it’s caused me nothing but trouble…and grief” I said as I threw the medallion at him, but he made no move to catch it as it landed in the snow. He looked from me to the medallion. The smile appeared on his face again as he levitated the medallion off the ground and wiped it clean, and slowly walked over to me. I felt my muscle’s tense up again as he stood a foot in front of me. “you don’t’ get it, do you? You’re a part of something bigger now, something that will decide the fate of Equestria for generations to come. I know you've come to see this medallion as a curse, but you’ll soon find it to be a sign of something greater. I know you have many questions, but they will be answered, and you’ll get them from the leader of the Night Ranger’s, he will have the answers you seek. It is time we part ways for now Frost, but we shall meet again” he said as he the medallion in my hooves, and turned away. I calmly looked down at the medallion and sighed before putting it back in my coat. I looked up to say something, but much to my surprise again, he was gone, no sign he was even here, not even hoof prints in the snow. I looked around in all directions, but saw no sign of him, my only greeting was the chilly night air, as the moon begun it’s ascension into the sky. I shuddered slightly and made my way back to the square. ________________________________________ After the attack from the royal soldiers, many of those who had lost their homes to the fires, had been placed in tents brought by Iron Star, and the other Ranger’s. I walked up to one of the many fire pits, and saw all my friends gathered around them, I cleared my throat and they turned to look at me. I did my best to give them a warming smile, and I was thankful that they gave me warming smiles as well, as Dust cleared a spot next to him. I sighed as I sat down on the mat, and warmed my front hooves with the fire, but I could tell they were both staring at me, “so…how you holding up?” Dust asked with a calming tone, I knew he was simply trying to be a good friend. “I don’t know…it’s going to take some time, but…I have to be strong, for Misty…and you guys” I said turning to them with a smile, as they turned back to the fire. But there was one pony among my circle of friends, whom I didn't see by the fire. “Hey, where’s River?” I asked them, but this time it was Vapor’s turn to talk, “oh her…she’s out at her house, trying to salvage some of the rubble. Much to my surprise that night, the general had ordered the mayor’s house to be burned as well, but since it was one of the more well built houses in town, it took less damage before we put the fire out. I looked away for a minute and then stood up, clearly she had been there for a while, and even though I might be the last pony she would want to see, I still needed to talk to her. “I’m going to go find her” I said as I walked off into that part of town, I could hear my friends move to stop me, but they stopped as I walked on. ________________________________________ Most of the houses on this side of town, had been untouched by the fire, all except for the mayor’s house which was covered with charred wood and pieces of wood that littered the lawn. Part of the roof had caved in on the second floor, I sighed and pulled my coat over as I walked up to the door, seeing it slightly ajar, I reached out and pushed the door open. The front room was littered with more wood, burn marks across the once neatly polished wood floor, pictures had fallen from the wall, as well as shattering across the floor. I listened as I heard light steps across the floor above me, I calmly walked to the stairs, and called up. “River? You here?” I asked up as the steps stopped, I knew it was a stupid question to ask, but it was all I was capable of forming. In a minute she appeared at the top of the stairs, her mane was not as neat and brushed as it usually was, and her eyes filled with sorrow and tiredness, much like the other residents of town, dry tear marks littered her cheeks. “oh…it’s you Frost” she said as she walked down the stairs, a small bag of things floating behind her, I said nothing as she walked past me and into the living room, but I knew she was expecting me to say something, so I went along with it. “Listen River…I know you've probably heard this a thousand times already, but…I’m so sorry. I know how you feel, we both lost both our parents” I said, but she just continued to have her back to me, not saying a word, so I merely continued. “I know I’m probably the last pony you want to talk to right now, but I just want you to know, that I’m here for you, and you have other friends who are willing to stand by you” I said as she slightly turned her head to look at me, but still…she remained silent. I sighed heavily and nodded, and made my way to the door, but not before I looked back at her one last time, “you know…before he died, you father wanted me to tell you, that he loves you…I just thought you would want to know that” I said before I opened the door and walked out into the night. As I walked across the lawn, I heard her call to me, “Frost…wait” she said as I turned to see her trot up to me, she had a concerned look on her face, but she walked up to me and looked into my eyes, her normal blue eyes, now red from crying. “I’m sorry too, I never should have acted the way I did to you, I know you tried your best, and that you were powerless to stop the General, but…I’m just so angry…and sad, that our whole life here is gone, our homes and loved ones, there never coming back” she said as tears began to well up again. But then I did something that I didn't expect to. I hugged her. My hooves wrapped around her shoulders, I could hear her gasp slightly, but much to my surprise she wrapped her hooves around me as well, the wetness of tears falling on to my shoulder, as she wept slightly, while I simply closed my eyes. “I’m sorry for the way I acted to you before you left, it wasn't right. I was just so scared of losing one of my best friends…I couldn't handle it. Now…I lost my father, I…don’t know what to do with myself now” she wailed into my shoulder, soaking my coat in her tears. A few minutes past before she quieted down and finally pushed away, before I smiled and lifted her eyes up to mine, “it’s okay, I know what you’re going through, I know what it feels like to think you've let somepony down, I promised my mother I would come back for her…but I failed her. But she made me promise to be strong…for Misty, and that’s what I’m going to do. We can help make a difference now, with the help of the Night Ranger’s, we can make sure nopony else has to feel this kind of pain” I said as we looked each other in the eyes, and I realized now was my chance to act. “Come with us River…with the Night Ranger’s. They can help us, with them we can help make a difference, we can stop things like this for happening, we can help ponies live better lives, please…I promised your father I would be there for you…please, don’t make me lose somepony else close to my heart” I said with a frown on my face, she stared at me a for a moment, and then looked around. I could tell she was deep in thought, pondering what I asked her, and how could I blame her? I was asking her to leave her old life behind, to tread a more dangerous path, but at least she would have friends. After a few minutes of silence passed before she looked up at me again, a small smile gracing her lips, she nodded her head slightly, “okay, but I have to take care of some things here first, I’ll meet you back at camp…and Frost?” she said as she leaned closer in, and much to my surprise, she kissed me on the cheek. I immediately felt my cheeks set on fire with blush, but she simply smiled at me and turned around, but not before looking back at me again, “…thank you, for everything” she said as she headed back into the house. ________________________________________ The next came with a bigger surprise. As every pony was waking up and making their way to breakfast, much too every ponies surprise, Iron Star made his way to the front of the crowd and stood on top of a small box, so that he could see all the ponies, he cleared his voice and spoke up. “Attention Every pony! I have something to say, please gather around me!” he said in a commanding yet calm voice, which indicated his true leadership skills. All the ponies stopped what they were doing and flocked over to him, I merely walked over with my friends followed in suit. As every pony gazed up at him, he cleared his throat once more, and began to speak. “I know many of you have lost your loved ones to this madness, but I believe it is time that we think of moving on. Many of you may not believe it, but those troops will return here, and the King will reign down his own terror on Ashen. Your best hope of survival…is to leave” he said, as many gasps and small conversations broke out over the crowd, but he simply raised his hoof, and they all slowly fell silent. “Many of you may be wondering, where it is you will go in this time of desperation. But I want you all to know, that there will always be a spot for you among the Night Ranger’s. but the choice is completely yours, the path you take now will be your own, you can choose to join with us, and make sure that no more pain like this can befall the ponies of Equestria, or you can move on with your lives in peace and safety” he said in a calm and confident tone. I knew he was only expecting me and my friends to join him after this false quest, but he could have never possibly imagined an entire town of now refugees could possibly join the ranks of the rebellion. At first nopony came up to speak, but slowly a young stallion whom I went to school with, slowly made his way out of the crowd, many of the ponies eyed him suspiciously, but he stopped in the center and looked up at Iron star, a look of determination on his face. “I’ll go with you” Many of the ponies in the crowd gasped, but he held firm, soon many other ponies both mares and stallions stepped forward, some of them entire families, others were slowly coming out. I looked up to see Iron Star’s smile widening as all the new volunteers, and I could have sworn I saw a tear in his eye. But he cleared his throat again, and spoke up, his smile quickly fading. “But…it is only fair to warn you…that this is a very dangerous path you are taking, and that many of you may not live to see the end of our conflict, this is your chance to leave and live a normal life for your families, remember…the choice is fully yours to make. Those of you who still wish to fight, shall come with me, I have signaled an airship to pick us up here. Now is your chance to gather your belongings and to get ready” he said as he stepped off, many of the ponies remained firm, with not a single pony leaving their spot, it was obvious that these ponies wanted to take the fight to the king himself, and they wouldn't be deterred by fear any longer. I felt myself smile as I thought of this as the dawn of a new age in Equestria, the day that would mean the end of fear under the Red Spear Regime, a sign that not all ponies were willing to just sit on the sidelines. ________________________________________ A few hours had passed as many of the ponies who volunteered, which had turned out to be the majority of the town, with only a few who packed up their things and left earlier. After saying goodbye to their loved ones, they all gathered around and given their names and any other information that Iron Star required. After he had finished with his tiring task, I calmly walked up to him, a small smile on my face, he turned to me and shook his head. “You have that look on your face” he said with a smile of his own, I simply shrugged my shoulders, surprisingly this was the first time I was truly smiling on the inside as well. “Well…it’s just that…who knew such an outcome like this would happen. I mean, look at all these new recruits you have. Bet you never saw that coming?” I said with a humorous tone. But before he answered a heavy droning filled the air as a large black shape began to fill the sky, as a it crested over the lumber yard. He looked up and smiled at it, “indeed…I’m a strong believer in the idea, that no matter how bad things may get, something good can always come out of it” he said as the large airship slowly descended towards the town.