//------------------------------// // Chapter [2] Making a decision // Story: Starting A Flame // by Star_Shade //------------------------------// “Listen, Dasher, ah wish ah could help you, but ah have the family business to take care of and don’t have time,” said Applejack Moon, bucking an apple tree. “I know that, and I am not asking you to join me or anything. I just need to get in touch with the uh…” Dasher leaned closer to the orange mare, whispering, “...resistance. And you are the only pony I know who was in contact with them.” The pegasus pulled back, shifting nervously from one hoof to another. “Fine, but listen to me. These ponies don’t mess around. If you want to join them, you better be serious. Come back in ten hours or so, and ah will try to arrange a meeting,” said Applejack Moon, wiping sweat from her brow.  Hours later, Dasher sat waiting in front of the Sweet Apple Acres barn. The wind sweeped around the trees, carrying the smell of apples on it. A cold chill bit into Dasher’s back, keeping her awake. She was not sure what to expect, so she did her best to stay watchful for anything out of the ordinary. Every creak and noise pushed her nerves on edge. Shaking her head in defeat, Dasher was just about to give up, when an audible snap came from the edge of the treeline. Twisting around to face the noise, she called out, “Who goes there!”  A hood fell over her head, obscuring her senses. Dasher attempted to fight off her perpetrators, but she was quickly restrained. “Hold still, and relax,” whispered a gruff voice. Breathing in deeply, Dasher smelled the sweet scent of chloroform, and fell unconscious.   Gasping into the waking world, Dasher frantically looked around her surroundings. It seemed that she was in an alleyway, blocked on one side by a far brick wall. Calming herself down, Dasher noticed that she had been dressed in robe-like clothes. Running a hoof across the fabric, she saw that it blended quite well into the background. Intrigued by the craft, Dasher wondered if it had been made by Moon Sparkle.     Getting up, Dasher took a better stock of what was around her. Listening to the night, Dasher could hear the bustle of a city. Moving to the brick wall, she put her ear to the side of it. Straining to pick up conversations, the word ‘Canterlot’ was thrown around from time to time. Shoving herself from the wall, Dasher fell on her flank. She was in Canterlot city!  She wasn’t supposed to be here! If she was caught, she… she didn’t want to think about what would happen. “Oh good, you are up,” came a male voice. Jumping again, Dasher spinned to face him. It was a pony wearing the same clothes that she was, a hood obscuring his face. “Based on your reaction, you apparently recognize where you are.  Follow me.” Gulping, Dasher did as she was told, which turned out to be easier said than done. Stepping into the street, Dasher pulled the hood over her rainbow mane, and did her best to keep pace with her mysterious guide.  She lost him twice in the crowded streets, but couldn't help but gaze around at what has become the city. Canterlot had changed since the last time she had been there,. Banners no longer decorated the city, and figurines of Celestia and her beauty had been torn down. Instead of golden swirls that had been inlaid on walls, there were darker metals added over them.  Many different enchantments had been placed over buildings, making them sparkle and shine in the moonlight. She rubbed her eyes as a glinting facade momentarily blinded her. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of her guide’s hood disappearing round a corner. She trotted forward, trying to not draw any attention. Eventually, she finally caught up with him. He was standing at the entrance of a nondescript building. Seeing her, ducked inside.  Dasher came a few steps closer, but hesitated. Hoof raised over the threshold, she wondered if she could get out of the city undetected. She took a tentative step back, looking back to the street. The same male voice spoke. “If you are thinking of leaving, don’t. Odds are you would be caught pretty quickly with the upgraded security. You could make it, if you were fast enough, but that’s what they all think.” Turning back to the doorway, Dasher saw that her guide was patiently waiting for her to follow. Coming to a decision, Dasher stepped forward, crossing the threshold. Dasher looked around as they moved through the building. Trotting down the darkened corridor, she noticed a few hooks and a faded outline of what used to be a sign above an open door. Her guide passed through the door, Dasher on his heels. Noticing a bar, Dasher reasoned this place probably used to be a tavern.  A trio of ponies was sitting at a round table next to the bar, whispering over a map. She slowed down a little, her ears perking. Academy, construction, purpose, foals, were some of the words she picked up before the trio noticed her passing by, and halted their conversation. “Come Dasher, follow me,” her hooded guide called, tapping his hoof impatiently.  Shoving the information away for later, Dasher turned from the trio and started moving in step with her guide again. They continued across the old tavern, passing a few doors until they came to the end of a hallway. Opening a door, they moved down to a cellar. Continuing on, Dasher was surprised how huge the establishment was. Lamps along the ceiling helped illuminate their path. Dasher had to hold herself back from peeking in the rooms they passed.   Reaching their destination, her guide showed her into a room with a single candle in it.  Leaving her with a command to sit and wait, he closed the door, and with an audible click, she was alone. Sitting in the room, Dasher quickly grew bored of watching the candle. Looking around, Dasher paced the room, searching for any clues on what was going to happen next. Getting up to check the door again, she found it was indeed locked with no way of being opened from this side. Flexing her wings, Dasher lazily combed through her feathers.  She figured it had to be at least an hour since she had gotten here. Eventually, the candle ran out of wick, and plunged the room in total darkness.   Standing up, Dasher tried to feel for a wall, but only managed to hit her hoof against the candle. Biting back a curse, Dasher did her best to wipe off the hot wax. Stumbling around, she tried to reach a wall for stability. Finding one, she reoriented herself against it. A voice suddenly spoke,  “Dasher, why do you seek us?” The voice was cold, but also roughly familiar, reverberating around the room. “I want to join the rebellion,” said Dasher, projecting her voice to what she thought was the middle of the room. “You wish to join something that you do not know. We have changed since the last time you were here. Now, we are more careful and thoughtful in our actions. Again I ask, why do you seek us?” This stumped Dasher. She tapped her chin. What was her goal here? What could she offer? “I seek revenge for my friend,” she declared finally.    “Yet then? If you get your revenge, what will you do after that? Many want revenge, but it consumes them, clouding their judgement. They become obsessed, turning to animals. Revenge only leads down the path of destruction. We must rise above it. Look inside yourself, and you will find a reason,” continued the voice. This time, Dasher contemplated everything she had done. Was it for pride? For her friends? What drove her? What was her purpose? Was she worth anything to anyone anymore?  “I don’t know! The world is going into chaos, and you all seem to have the answer. I don’t know what I can do, but I can give my all. Even if that is pathetic. I am just broken and need somepony to show me the way,” cried Dasher, lying down and putting her hooves over her head in defeat. “And that is why, even in your brokenness, there is hope. There will always be hope.  Hold onto that hope, until it becomes sight,” said the voice. A soft glow from a horn, and the room was bathed in light. Dasher felt a soft hoof on her back. She looked up, recognizing the pink form of Moon Melody through her blurry eyes. The alicorn bent down, hoof rubbing the sobbing form of Dasher.  “We are all broken, but it takes courage to admit it. Your loyalty, your devotion to your friends defines who you are,” Melody said comfortingly. “I guess you are right. I have just been so lost… and needed somepony to remind me of who I am. But what now?  Why should the rebellion need somepony like me?” sniffled Dasher. “Because we need ponies to remember who they were. Nightmare Moon has pushed us all to be something new, something better. Yet if we lose focus of who we were, we cannot move forward to be who we are. That is why the rebellion needs to defeat Nightmare Moon,” said Moon Melody, moving her mane out of her eyes. “How has it come to this?  So many things are different, it just seems like a bad nightmare. What was the purpose of all this… secrecy?” Dasher asked, wiping away her tears.  “Times have changed and we cannot afford to make mistakes. Housing our initiation this close to the capital is risky, but being in the most powerful city is too big of an opportunity to pass up. Should anypony not have the right intentions, we simply surrender them to the guards for conspiracy,” explained Moon Melody, waving a hoof around. “So is that it? Will you allow me to come back? Even though I left after Flutter Moon’s death?” asked Dasher nervously.  “Of course, sadly we still need many more allies to join our cause. It has proven more difficult to convince ponies to help us, harder for them to even fight for us,” said Moon Melody sadly, shaking her head.  “Well what can I do? I know I am probably not that useful. You probably have much stronger ponies helping you,” Dasher muttered, conflicted. “Trust me, you will be very helpful,” said Moon Melody, smiling at her. “Welcome back to the rebellion.”