Chapter One
Celestia's sun slowly drifted up through the sky to eventually buffet a young mare in the face with its light. This was not met with kindest of greetings as the mare retreated under her covers, cursing the sun in hopes that it would be banished from the sky.
Despite the young mare's feeling towards the sun, it did mark a most momentous day. With a groan and a kick the covers bunched up at the end of the bed, freeing the mare to worm herself to the ground. Some more mumbled curses at the rude awaking flowed from the pink unicorn's mouth as she stumbled to the bathroom to start her day.
Freshly rejuvenated and followed by billows of steam, the mare trotted out of the bathroom to be greeted by the smell of stale coffee her parents had made hours ago which woke her up further. The pavlovian response had nothing to do with taste as she absolutely hated the bitter brew but she did come to appreciate the sweet aroma.
Walking into the kitchen her magic was willed into action as a box of cereal, milk, bowl, and spoon came flying out of their perspective spots around the kitchen to gather at the table she had sat down at. The cereal and milk were just about to start their job of pouring her breakfast into a bowl when they were greeted with the brightest of all the greetings she has had this morning.
"Good Morning Dawn!" Cheered an all black mare who was hovering just outside an open window.
Dawn winced at the loud noise before turning to greet her mother at the open window. She gave a grimaced smirk to acknowledge her before she flew away going about her business in the sky, leaving Dawn alone to calculate her cereal to milk ratio.
Now that her spoon was on autopilot bringing sustenance to her mouth, it freed up her mind to wander in thought. Her mind always spiraled around from thinking things like how magnets worked to her plot in life.
She was a unique unicorn. There was little doubt about that just by her appearance. Her coat was a light pink and her mane was bright orange and purple. It was no wonder why her parents named her the way they did.
Her parents on the other hoof, really her entire family, were pegasi. Dark coated pegasi with dark manes and even darker eyes, making her stick out at all the family functions and really bringing a ever persistent doubt that she wasn't adopted at some point in her life or at least stolen away by those she calls her parents. Any doubt she may have had was always quickly snuffed out when she recalled pictures of her birth and two happy parents in the hospital she had found when she was a small filly.
Dawn shook her head to free her mind's eye of the pictures. "One too many revealing pictures of my mother I have in there..." She mumbled to the empty kitchen. Refilling her now empty bowl with more cereal she let her mind drift again.
It was very likely that there was some matter of drama on the day of her birth when her father saw his 'daughter' very much pink and very much not a pegasus. Dawn chuckled at the thought. Her mother of course never did such a scandalous act and despite whatever freak genetics that were at work, she was their daughter.
If it wasn't for their flair for recessive genes their cutie marks would make them a strange family as well. They were all very nonsensical. That is except for her brother's, the true deviant of the family. He had a staff of notes flowing like a flag in the wind for a cutie mark. He was a singer of sorts... If you can call his 'singing' singing or for that matter 'music' music...
Her parent's cutie marks made as much sense as hers did though. Her mother's cutie mark is of two blades or swords crossing behind an eyeball with a green iris much like Dawn's real eyes. It was a strange cutie mark for a retired Wonderbolt and even stranger one for a weather captain. Her mother often said to Dawn growing up that it meant she had an invisible eye on the back of her head 'all the better to watch my daughter with.'
Her father's wasn't weird as much as it made no sense. It's a silver shield much like how his name betrayed, Sturdy Shield or Stu to friends. His cutie mark would be fine if he was a guard or something, but no. He was a coach for the Wonderbolts. He has trained the best of the best athletes and performers all of Dawn's life.
Then there was her... Her cutie mark was of a solar eclipse which hasn't happened for over one thousand years. Dawn only recognized it because of a book she had read weeks before getting it. She had no idea what it meant or what it could mean relating to what she could only guess was her 'special talent'.
"Hmmm..." Dawn hummed as her thoughts continued without her. Her spoon was hitting the bottom of the bowl scooping up air to her mouth.
"Uhh... Dawn? You are kind of freaking me out..." Said a voice just beyond the focus of Dawn's eyes.
Dawn snapped back from her thoughts to the kitchen noticing her spoon working on an imaginary cereal and her brother Metal sitting across the table from her, milling over his own bowl of dry cereal. Her spoon dropped from the air into the empty bow.
Dawn assumed a grin that would send shivers up most ponies' spines as she grabbed the milk with her magic. "Would you like some milk with that Mr. Gobbles?"
"Ha ha. That never gets old..." He said with honest disgust.
Dawn laughed. It was she who had told Metal where milk came from when he was younger. He has been disgusted by it ever since. Of course she might have embellished on 'How' they acquired it from the cows, just a little bit.
Dawn brought the milk bottle up to her mouth for display as she took a heavy gulp earning a dry gag from her brother.
"Too funny." Dawn laughed as she enchanted her dishes to clean themselves and levitated the milk back into the refrigerator.
"Don't you have a place to be or something? You're disgusting and I want to be rid of you for the weekend." He huffed half sarcastically.
"Train leaves at noon." Dawn answered before sticking her tongue out of spite.
"So... in fifteen minutes?" Metal asked, pointing to the clock with a free hoof.
Dawn glanced over to the clock he was pointing at. "Crap" was the only curse Metal could have heard before Dawn teleported up to her room to quickly pack for her trip.
What in Sam's hill do I need? "Toothbrush!" she cried out, summoning said object from the bathroom down the hall. What else... "Comb! Alright Dawn what else do I need?" Two things... it feels like I need more... "Spell book!"
She shoved her things into her pillow case before darting out of her room with her lumpy pillow in a magically levitated tow. She ran out of the front door her brother held open for her and started to make her way down the street towards the train station.
"Thanks!" She yelled back to her brother, not bothering to look back.
"Good riddance!" He yelled back after her.
Sprinting down the street with a pillow flying in her wake, her mother swooped down next to her and joined her in the run to the train station.
"Mom..." Dawn said with more annoyance than she meant to reveal. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
"You just looked so peaceful..." She cooed. "...I didn't want to wake you." She replied before chuckling at the recent memory. Dawn's mother flapped her wings taking flight beyond Dawn's peripheral vision.
Dawn pushed hard down the street cursing her stupidity, inability to own an alarm clock, and inability to teleport three miles away. Dawn felt a strong down draft approaching her just before two strong legs worked themselves around her chest lifting her into the air. Her mothers forelegs tightened as her wings flapped harder taking them to the sky.
"Mom sto..." It was too late. She was in the air. Dawn shut her eyes in hopes she would be on the ground soon.
Dawn's fear of heights was, of course, well known by her parents but never quite understood. She started to shiver from the pure uncut fear that was flowing through her. They were going really fast judging from the wind that beat her mane and coat, but she was not about to check.
Sooner than later her hooves did find the grace of solid ground. She was in the right mind set to start kissing it for its solid and unmoving nature but she managed to control herself as she regained her poise from the harrowing experience. She turned around to see her mother was waiting with Dawn's lumpy pillow in her mouth.
Dropping the pillow for Dawn to pick up with her magic she ducked her head in shame. "I hope you can forgive me for picking you up like that... without asking." Her mother looked up and around, avoiding eye contact. "I just didn't want you to be late." Her mother's gaze found the grace of the stations clock tower. "But look! I got you here with five minutes to spare!" She added, taking a pose with her wings flared out to frame her triumph.
"It is fine mom. I have a six hour train ride to get over it... Thanks to you." Dawn said shakily. Her heart beat was still pounding away at the inner walls of her chest. Dawn nuzzled her mother good-bye before turning to the train that was waiting for her.
"You have fun my little Dawn." Her mother said nervously, returning every bit of affection she could manage.
It is the first time I will leave home for more than a day. Perhaps I should not take this so lightly...
"Ever Watch? Ever Watch! It has been 'Too' long!" said an older looking stallion with a pale yellow coat and bright red mane. Dawn's mother cringed at the voice behind her.
It was rare for Dawn's mother to have any distaste for anypony which peaked Dawn's interest. He must simply be horrid or some fan... He could even be Dawn's long lost father judging by his colorful mane. Dawn shook her head free of those thoughts before nuzzling her mother again and quickly teleporting to her seat on the train.
"Say 'Hi' to the Princesses for me." Dawn's mother hollered to the train, ignoring the stallion talking to her.
It completely slipped Dawn's mind 'The' Princesses are going to be there at the convention. I wonder if they are as tall as every pony says. Dawn looked around the car she teleported into. She was surrounded with unfamiliar ponies staring at her. It was uncommon to see a unicorn teleport even more uncommon to see one use it so casually. Dawn took her seat smiling and feeling pretty proud of herself for being so impressive.
The noon bells rang off in the distance beckoning the train to start to lurch into action. The train cars groaned as the indomitable steam engine pulled them along the tracks to slowly gain speed. The station started to disappear out of view as the train gained speed. Pretty soon all she could see of her home was the cloud city Wingopolis and Mount Hoover looming over it.
The magic convention was being held in some mystery plain Jane town called Ponyville. It was being held by a mare who Dawn had heard of through the grape vine, one Twilight Sparkle the only student to Princess Celestia. Dawn could not wait to meet her. She really wanted to see how she held up to stock with a pony who studied magic just like her. She was also excited to show off her magic for once. Being in a town mainly occupied by earth ponies and pegasi kind of made it hard to get the praise she so rightfully deserved.
The train was at full speed now and the landscape seemed to fly by in a blur. "Damn, damn, damnity, damn, damn." She whispered to herself, sliding down her seat as she came to the realization she had six hours of boredom to look forward too. She sighed deeper into her new position.
She was in mid-thought of how she could make this train ride interesting when a cute, grey, earth pony with a flowing charcoal mane walked in the car. She was apparently looking for a seat. Dawn quick to recover whisked away her pillow, which was occupying the seat across from her, and straitened up all for the hopes of some nondestructive and less illegal entertainment.
"This seat isn't taken if you want to join me?" Dawn said with the most kind and welcoming smile she could muster at the moment.
"Oh, umm... Thank you." The grey mare said, glancing behind her before sitting down across from Dawn.
"So, where are you coming from and going to?" Dawn asked trying to be the conversationalist she wasn't.
"Oh, umm... Manehattan is where I am coming from... and I am going to Ponyville." She answered slowly, turning around in her seat to look back from where she came again.
"I'm getting off at Ponyville too." Dawn said, smiling to the distracted mare across from her. "So are you traveling with some one?"
"Err yes."
"I couldn't help to notice you are looking back of the train expecting it to explode or something." Dawn pondered the possibility. It would be the entertainment she desperately wanted. "I think it would happen in front of us though." Dawn said, finishing her thoughts. We would also be stranded.
"What? Explode? The train?" The grey mare questioned, looking very confused at Dawn.
"Why not? We don't have earth ponies pulling us along. We have a real steam engine." Dawn said excitedly.
The mare turned around from Dawn to look at the back of the train again. Clearly she wasn't hoping for an explosion like Dawn was. Dawn spotted a magenta treble mark on the mare's flank. Must be another musician. This mare could easily pass as Metal's sister or my replace'e... maybe we were switched at birth! Wait... she does not have wings... so close.
Dawn came out of her thoughts to see the pony across of her staring back at her. "So who are you traveling with?" Dawn asked, sounding interested.
"My fillyfriend." She answered as she turned around again to check the car. "The very pony I'm trying to avoid for the moment." She reluctantly gave up while awkwardly smiling back. "So what brings you to our little Ponyville?"
Well there goes the entertainment. Dawn huffed at her displeasure before answering. "A magic convention. It should be fun." She winced at the fact that she was now socially obligated to continue talking. "So you live there?"
"Mmhmmm... me and my fillyfriend moved there about a year ago".
"Fun place?" She asked, donning a mask of some pony that cares. This is dull. How am I going to make it six hours without dying of boredom? I could... No, best not get in trouble with the train authorities I need a ride back home.
"Yes and No..." The earth pony answered after some consideration only to be cut short.
"Oh, I see how it is! You get mad at Me for no reason..." A cream colored unicorn walked up to the table Dawn was sitting at, pointing an accusing hoof at the mare across of her. "...and you go hit up some random mare on the train just to get back at 'Me?" She asked, raising her voice to fit the accusations.
Oh good a show. Dawn made herself comfortable in her seat to watch the ensuing drama unfold.
"I have done no such thing." The grey mare protested, raising her voice well above her unicorn counterpart.
The new cream colored unicorn with a lightning blue mane gave a knowingly arrogant stare at the earth pony across from Dawn.
The earth pony returned a menacing glare at the cream colored pony. "Excuse me." She said, getting up and pushing the creamed colored unicorn out of the way before strutting down to the back of the train from once she came.
Perhaps I should act like a decent pony and declare her innocence. "So... Uhh... if she was hitting on me you should really teach her some better moves." Dawn said plainly. That came out wrong. Dawn shuffled in her seat.
The cream colored pony with purple glasses nearly fell backwards writhing in laughter at Dawn's comment.
Dawn gave out a defeated sigh at the unicorn on the ground before sinking back into her seat.
The mare with the glasses regained her faculties and revealed her eyes to Dawn. "What's your name?" The red eyed mare asked, giggling in between each word.
"Dawn, a pleasure I'm sure." Dawn mumbled, extending a practiced hoof, stretching a welcoming smile, and meeting eye contact with the rare crimson eyes. "And what may I call you?" She asked with feigned politeness.
"Vinyl Scratch is what you can 'call' Me." She replied in a mocking tone. "I need a drinking buddy now." She said, looking down the train where the earth pony took her exit. "Let's go the bar car."
There's an idea. "Let's."
----
Sitting at the bar for the first couple hours of the train ride had done a number on Dawn's rump. She could not get comfortable. Dawn stopped shuffling on her stool before giving a small groan in defeat. It was well worth the effort. The drunken mare next to Dawn was a great source of entertainment, if not the only source of entertainment.
The bar was empty aside from Dawn, Vinyl, and the bartender an older unicorn. He remained mostly just an observer of the heavily inebriated unicorn and her partner who had mostly just laughed at the unicorn's expense.
"You've barely drunk anything at all. Let me get you something more fun." Vinyl said, eyeballing a bottle of clear liquid labeled 'Eternally clear' in bold font. "Mister Bar...keep... man... tender..." Vinyl stopped to think how to address the pony behind the counter only to give up. "I want some shots of that for my friend here." She said, pointing at the poison.
Dawn grimaced at the thought of drinking that straight.
"Miss... do you want shots of 'That'?" he asked in a tone mocking the very drunk mare.
"No." Dawn said with finality.
"I thought I would find you here trying to pour some horrid swill down some poor pony's throat." The earth pony from earlier said as she walked in, glaring at the cream colored unicorn. "I do hope Vinyl has not been too much trouble for you miss..."
"Dawn and no. She has been 'The' only distraction on this train. She has plenty of stories about you Miss Octavia." Dawn said with a laugh. They weren't the most flattering stories.
The grey mare shifted awkwardly against the moving train. "Ahh... I am sure..." she said plainly, darting her eyes back and forth between Vinyl and Dawn.
"Why don't you join us?" Dawn suggested, patting the stool on her other side across from Vinyl. "Three's a party right?"
"NO! She's...." Vinyl was about object, but she turned around, opening the train car window with her magic to duck her head out.
Fun, fun... fun. I didn't think she drank That much. Dawn turned around quickly enough to see the disgusted face of the grey mare. She had turned slightly green by the show behind Dawn.
"So you ponies are musicians?" Dawn asked nonchalantly, not minding the last bits of heaving sounds behind her.
"Yep." Vinyl answered as a freshly revitalized mare. She turned around after closing the window she just used to rejoin Dawn at the counter. "I make some totally cool music for parties and junk and she..."
"I play for the CSO, that's 'the' Canterlot Symphonic Orchestra." Octavia said, cutting off her partner. She took up the other seat next to Dawn.
"Well ain't that the tops..." Dawn said indifferently.
"It is indeed the tops." The earth pony cheered. "It's been my dream since I was a little filly."
Wish I had a dream like that... Dawn loved her magic but it had absolutely no use to any pony beyond their craft or entertainment. She couldn't sell the spells she had created and Dawn was not an entertainer. She could hear a conversation going on around her. Her mind was only flung back into the bar car when her name was called. "What did you ask me?" Dawn asked after turning to Vinyl by mistake.
"Oh. I asked what you do for a living, if you don't mind me asking." Octavia said with every bit of grace a high class pony such as her could afford. "I've never seen that symbol before." She pointed to Dawn's flank.
Dawn glanced over to see the black circle in her light pink coat that had solar flares breaching around it. "HA, I don't even know what the heck this thing means. I guess it runs in the family or something..." Dawn trailed off into her own thoughts only to snap back to the conversation "...but I do this for money and fun I guess."
Dawn's horn lit up briefly as a little orb appeared on the tip of her horn. It dropped and bounced on the surface of the bar counter in front of the three mares. They stared at it with closely knit curiosity and then it burst. In a blue flash that flooded the car the orb split into five red ones and then a second later it happened again in a flash of red. Now Twenty five yellow orbs lay in front of the three mares. The barkeep was paying attention now. A second later the twenty-five yellow orbs did what their predecessors did with a flash of yellow only birthing over a hundred green orbs which were all spread around suspended in the air in the car now.
"Neat!" Vinyl exclaimed.
The orbs started to pop like a furious pot of pop corn. Each one popping with a unique flash of color, bursting into a million glittering flares that were cool to the touch, popping after each another giving a show in the bar car. The last of the colorful flares of pure magic disappeared before touching the ground.
If only they weren't so flaccid and tame.
"I must say I was not expecting that. So you do shows like 'The Great and Powerful...."
"Holy Celestia! No. I am nothing like her." Dawn cut off the grey earth pony quickly. Dawn gave an elongated sigh. Future addendum: perhaps my indoor demonstrations could be more flare and less lame. "I do 'firework' shows for parties and festivals. In fact I may do one of my bigger spells at the convention tomorrow."
"Convention? Like a Comic Convention?" Asked Vinyl. "Where are you getting off?"
"She's getting off at our stop Vinyl. Honestly do you ever listen to what a pony says?" Exclaimed Octavia.
"She didn't say anything about where she was going!" Vinyl rebuked.
Can't argue with her there. I didn't tell her dittily.
"Right, then how did I know Vinyl?"
"I don't know!"
Maybe I should move myself around these two so I can get a better view. Dawn looked around the train car for a different seat. The sun light from behind her was reflecting off the many bottles behind the counter causing it to split into a spectrum of light that caught her eye.
Dawn's mind blanked out her surroundings as a new thought occurred to her. It was of a new potentially blinding and deafening spell that would be so exciting to cast. Her mind started to process at full capacity as it figured out the many different runes that would weave the spell and the many other spells that would help reinforce it. I could write in the sky using the differential pressures of the spell's reaction. OH! Sell advertisements! Dawn nodded agreeing with her thoughts.
Snapping out of her thoughtful daze she noticed the two mares still bickering. Wow. Good for them. I should buy a round for my new spell! "Barkeep! Three Bourbons on the rocks please." She said excitedly, pointing at the dark bottle labeled 'Creator's Mark".
The barkeep somewhat surprised by the seemingly random outburst willed three small glasses up from behind the counter with his magic and poured the drinks. The mares next to her, also some what surprised, ceased their fighting from whatever they were bickering over and gave confused looks to the now filled glasses in front of them.
Dawn raised a glass as if to toast. The mares next to her reluctantly did the same unsure what they might be toasting too. "To money to be made!" Dawn toasted before drinking a hefty sip from her glass.
"I like money." Commented Vinyl before she wearily drank a small sip from her glass.
"Umm... Yes money is a good thing." Agreed Octavia. She followed the trend and drank a delicate sip.
Dawn laughed at the confused mares around her. They didn't need to know what was going through her mind. While she didn't care to perform for ponies, she did like to show off and these kinds of spells allowed her to do just that and for money.
"So what's this Ponyville like?" Dawn asked, now looking at the time on the wall behind her. Three hours to go.
"Well..." Octavia started.