//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Trapped // Story: Dawnation: An Oral History of Our Bloodstained Civilization // by Harmonator //------------------------------// MOON DANCER INTERVIEW (SESSION #1) The Dawnation Public Library is just another name for the community's official archives. Built upon the ruins of the Yester Year's Canterlot Library of Magic, it is sad to say that the building's resources of reading material severely lack in comparison to its previous counterpart. You won't find much fiction on the bookshelves of this library, only long-forgotten records describing the ancient history of a by-gone world called "Equestria." Not many ponies in Dawnation ever really bother to visit these archives. They find it better to stay focused on the future, rather than to dwell upon the past of a civilization gone to rubble. There are some who even question whether Dawnation even needs these records at all, complaining that the building could be put to a much more valuable use. However, no matter how many of Dawnation's citizens may grumble about the misuse of a perfectly good structure, they know deep down that it cannot be helped. Because the royal adviser to the Princess would not stand for it if the library was to be repurposed. And it just so happens, that this such pony is my next interviewee. As I enter the small, but quaint, library, I prepare myself for any possible hard looks that I might receive from any Earth or Pegasus occupants, however, I am surprised, albeit relieved, to find that the archives are empty of any such ponies. As I pass by row after row of practically empty shelves, I finally catch sight of my interviewee. Moon Dancer, the royal adviser to the Princess, is sitting all by herself at a small desk in a corner of the room, deeply entranced in the book that she is reading. I approach quickly, but quietly, so as not to disturb her too much. After a moment or two of awkward silence, waiting for her to notice my presence, I finally clear my throat, as a signal to let Moon Dancer know that there is indeed another pony in the room. However, she does not respond to my desperate plea to gain her attention. I finally dare to open my mouth. "Ms. Moon Dancer, my name is Luster Dawn, the writer you spoke to. You sent me a letter saying that we could meet today." She finally looks up from her book, and stares into my face. A little dumbfounded at first, but then she quickly remembers and responds. "Oh, yes. That's right. I forgot." She closes the book that she was reading, and places it off to the side. With a movement of her hoof, she gestures for me to sit in the chair in front of the desk she is sitting behind. I gladly do so, and begin setting up my recording equipment. I open up with my usual ice breakers. "How are you doing today, Ms. Moon Dancer?" "Fine." When we had first met face-to-face a few weeks ago, I found out very quickly that Moon Dancer is the type of pony who is very blunt and to-the-point. With a sort of "no nonsense" presence to her. Not a very big surprise, seeing as how a lot of ponies nowadays have adopted that same mentality, but it appeared to me that Moon Dancer was just naturally like that. "If you don't mind me asking, what was the book you were reading?" "The Undiscovered Philosophy of Equestrian Economics by Pampered Pearl." "Oh, wow. You...have an interest in that sort of thing?" "I suppose..." I decide to move on, seeing as how Moon Dancer is not exactly the chatty type. As soon as I finish setting up my recording equipment, I turn to face her and ask if she is ready to proceed. With a nod of approval from her, I begin the interview. ~ Could you state your name, please? Moon Dancer. Your occupation? Currently, I am the royal adviser to the Princess, and the sole librarian of the Dawnation Public Library. How long have you been a citizen of Dawnation? [She lets out a quiet little scoff of exasperation and sighs deeply. She shifts in her chair before responding.] Let's just say I've been here ever since its foundation. So, 35 years? If you say that's how long it's been. Could you please tell me how you knew the Great Princess Twilight Sparkle? I knew her before "The Great Crisis," actually. I even knew her before she became a Princess. She was my friend, during the Yester Years that is. After Equestria had fallen, and Dawnation had been founded, we met again after I had escaped. Escaped? Yes. Did you want me to talk more about that? Well...don't worry. We can go over the details about that later. Could you tell me how you knew Trixie Lulamoon? [Moon Dancer becomes deathly silent, and it seems as if that question alone resurfaces some hidden dark feelings from within her. I allow her time to compose herself before she finally responds.] I was one of her..."Knights." [She emphasizes the word "Knights" with a twinge of disgust in her voice.] I'm sorry, I don't think I quite understand. What do you mean by "Knights?" I was a member of her "Royal Guard." "Knights" was basically just the title we carried. I suppose she figured it made us sound more "official", or whatever... I see...so am I to assume that was the position you held before you escaped? Yes. [I take a brief moment to jot down this new information into my notepad.] Before we discuss any further about your life in Dawnation, I wanted to ask if you could relate to me your experiences during "The Great Crisis." If that's what you wish. [Moon Dancer then closes her eyes and remains silent for a moment or so, as if she is mentally preparing herself for what she is about to relate.] I won't go into details about my life before "The Great Crisis." Let's just say that I mostly kept to myself and my books. I didn't have many friends, only a few here and there in Canterlot. Canterlot? Canterlot was the capitol of Equestria, which was where the Royal Princesses were situated. Did you know the Royal Princesses? Not personally, no. Twilight knew them better than I did. Could you state their names? They were known as the Two Royal Sisters. Princess Celestia was the eldest, while Princess Luna was the youngest. They both ruled Equestria together. Do you know what happened to them? No, and I don't think anypony does. They must have...died or...disappeared some time during the chaos that was unfolding in Canterlot...when the meteor hit. Could you tell me more about that? Fine. At the time, I was at home, reading of course, when everything happened. The funny thing is, I couldn't tell you the date it happened, but I could certainly tell you the time. I looked up at the clock which hung on my wall, and the time stopped at 8:17 AM. All of the clocks stopped at that exact time. I noticed that the hands on it never moved. Time went on, but the clock never moved forward. It struck me as odd, when the earthquake began. It was very intense. I had experienced a few quakes before, and had even read about them in books, but nothing could have prepared me for the one that I experienced on that day. It was a quake that lasted for a solid 4 minutes, I know because I counted the seconds! It seemed to last for an eternity. The entire time I just hid underneath my desk, just hoping that it would all be over soon. Pretty soon, my cottage was in shambles, with furniture turned over and books scattered all over the floor. As I laid there, covering my head, I heard screaming coming from outside. Along with the screams, I heard sounds of structures crumbling and falling like thunder. I thought for sure, that pretty soon my cottage would be caved in by a fallen tower, and that I would surely die by being crushed under the rubble. And as if like clockwork, it happened. What happened? My cottage must have collapsed on its own. I knew that it couldn't have been fallen rubble that brought it down, because I would have surely died if that was the case. All I know is that one moment I was lying there, covering my head, just counting the seconds and waiting for this nightmare to end, when one of the wooden support beams came crashing down on top of me! When it came down, it split the table I was hiding under in two, and I felt the full weight of that heavy beam. It knocked the wind out of me, and I began to cough violently because of the debris that was stirred up from the cottage caving in. Then a terrifying realization hit me when I realized that I couldn't breathe. I was being literally crushed to death by this gigantic beam on top of me, and I knew that I had to get out of there, or I would die. So, how did you get out of there? Well, at first I thought that if I could position myself to where I could lift up the beam with my legs by standing up, I could maybe get out. But, of course, that was easier said than done. Let's just say, that I've never been the most...active individual, I suppose. I was not very strong, in fact, I was just the opposite. There was absolutely NO way I was going to lift up that beam on my own. I was trapped, utterly and truly. I mean, the only way I was able to breathe at all was in desperate gasps for air that made me feel lightheaded. I knew that it wouldn't have been long before I would've eventually passed out and died I'm sure. [Moon Dancer takes a deep sigh, and afterward let's out a small chuckle.] But luckily, I had...a friend...to help me out of that death trap. Was this one of your friends in Canterlot that you mentioned earlier? Yes. Her name was Minuette. She was the only one who came to my rescue...even in all of that chaos that was going on...she still had time during all of that...to think about me... [I notice as Moon Dancer's eyes begin to tear up, as I offer her a tissue. She makes the best effort to compose herself before continuing.] I...uh...heard her calling my name. It was faint but I still managed to pick it up, even while trapped underneath that cursed beam. I wanted to cry out to her, to let her know I was there and that I was alive, but I didn't have the breath nor the strength to do so. I then heard her desperately digging through the tattered remains of my cottage, all the while crying out for me. And then, in the midst of the darkness, a sharp stream of white light broke through, and I knew that she was getting close. Then suddenly all I could see was that blinding light of the surface, as I saw Minuette's silhouette standing above me. Unfortunately, I lost my glasses when the cottage caved in, so I couldn't see very well. Minuette's face was nothing but a blur, but it comforted me to know that she was there. I must've looked like I was in pretty bad shape, because her voice quivered as she spoke. She was rambling about a thousand words a minute. I couldn't tell you what she was saying, but pretty soon she was hollering for others to come and help lift the beam from off of me. After that, I couldn't tell you what happened. They said I passed out as they were trying to get me free. Obviously, they succeeded or else I wouldn't be sitting here. Who's "They?" I'll get to that. The next thing I knew, I found myself lying on a cot, with this doctor standing over me. He had a stethoscope pressed against my chest, checking for a heartbeat I guess, when he saw my eyes open. "Ah, good. She's coming out of it now." He said, as I struggled to sit up. My glasses were gone, so everything was blurry. I didn't know where I was. When I tried to get up, the doctor gently held me down to prevent me from moving. "I'm sorry, my dear, but you'll have to lie still for now. Can't risk you hurting yourself again." He said, politely. "Is she gonna be okay, Doc?" I heard a voice say to the doctor. I then knew that it was Minuette. Knowing that she was there with me, immediately put me at ease and I laid back down. "Oh yes, she'll be fine. She just needs to take it easy for the next couple of days, That beam badly sprained her back, so you watch over her. Make sure she doesn't exert herself too much, alright?" "Yes, of course. Thank you, Doc." She said as the doctor quickly moved on to the next patient. It was at that moment, when I finally began to notice my surroundings. At first, I heard the painful moans of ponies who were severely injured or dying all around me. I thought that maybe I was in a hospital, but that wasn't the case. I was in some sort of underground bunker, and they had taken me to a room where all of the injured were kept. The doctor which had just been beside me, was now tending to another poor soul, who had these severe burns on his face. I began to feel grave as I looked into Minuette's eyes, as she stood beside me. "What happened? What's going on?" I asked desperately, hoping for an answer to the unbelievable undertakings that surrounded me. "It's okay, Moon Dancer. Everything's going to be fine. You're safe now." Minuette said, as she sat down beside me. Her voice was so soft and gentle, like a mother trying to calm her frightened child. And then, I lifted my head and was shocked to see my other two friends who lived in Canterlot sit down beside me on my right. Their names were...Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine... They each came and hugged me tight. They all seemed so worried about me that I almost started crying...and I...I... [Moon Dancer trails off again, as she begins to choke up. I ask if she would like to stop for now, but she insists that she's fine.] I just...I don't think I ever truly realized how much they cared for me. If only I had cherished those precious times I had spent with them. Those three were the best friends a pony could ever ask for. Back then, I was just too jaded to see how important they really were... [Moon Dancer takes a moment to compose her emotions before continuing.] Anyway, Minuette told me that Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine were the ones who came to help lift that beam off of me. That was when I had passed out. They said that all of Canterlot was in shambles. They told me about the death and destruction. They also told me about the meteor. They said...that it looked as if the sun itself was falling from the sky and came crashing down on top of us. After the impact, there was the earthquake, which nearly killed me, and then...and then they told me that there was fire raining down from the sky... All of Canterlot was on fire. Our home...destroyed... [Moon Dancer is silent.] I'm sorry. Can we stop for now? Yes, of course. We'll pick this up another time. (End of session #1)