//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Home // Story: Cracking Dawn // by Didily Winkles //------------------------------// Chapter Five Dawn woke up from a very rude alarm clock. Her magic was already ripe to destroy the source of the noise but Dawn caught herself just in time to save the alarm clock from certain destruction. She groaned in bed for a bit only to teleport straight into the shower that was located in the bathroom across the hall. The shower washed away all her muddled thoughts and aches, granting her a cleansed mind and body. Becoming Princess Luna's personal student... that would be one heck of an honor. I would be in the same league as Star Swirl the Bearded. I bet he had an impressive beard to have it added to as a title... I wonder if I'd get a title. Dawn walked out of the bathroom to the dining room to see the mares from yesterday morning. And Princess Luna... Luna was drilling a hole in the wall behind the other two mares with an absent stare. The older couple looked slightly terrified as they met Luna's unfocused gaze with their own. "Uhh good morning..." Dawn said as she approached the three mares. The princess perked up and looked over to Dawn. "Good morning, how did you sleep?" The princess cheered excitedly as her tail swashed across the floor. This caught the older couple off guard. The yellow pegasus flared her wings in a flight or fight response. "Well enough." Dawn sat down in between the couple and Luna, looking expectantly at Luna. "Your sister's sun is really annoying in the morning." The couple gasped in surprise. Luna just gave a light chuckle. "She says that almost every morning as she raises it." "Oh, uhhh... lemme get your breakfast started, what would you like?" The yellow pegasus asked nervously. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble I would love your waffles again, those were really good." "Of... of course. And pri...princess? Ca... Ca... Can I get you anything?" She stumbled over her own words as she backed out of the dining room. "Hmmm? Did you say waffles?" Luna asked Dawn, to receive a nod. "Ooo I'll have some too." "Ummm...Al...alright it will be just a fe...few minutes." The pegasus flew into the kitchen with the blinding speeds of retreat. The pegasus' partner retreated with her after mumbling something of helping with breakfast, leaving Dawn and Luna alone. "So did you give much thought to what I had purposed?" Luna's tail was eagerly swiping the floor for an answer. "Nope." Luna visibly sagged in place. "I... I see." "I need to talk to my family about it. Canterlot is far away from Wingopolis and what not. Plus the party is just a big blur to me, didn't really have the clarity of thought to think properly about it." Luna perked back up like a loaded spring. "I see, yes... You were suffering from severe magic fatigue... Then can I expect your answer after you have talked to your family?" She asked, grasping for straws. "Sounds about right..." Dawn shrugged. Luna was in an unbounded state of excitement as if she never gave up hope. Her tail whipped around even more excitedly and a grin spread across her face. A silence loomed over the room as both mares fell into morning meditations. The only sound was of Luna's tail sweeping along the floor. The silence was only broken with a yellow pegasus carrying two plates one on each wing. She awkwardly walked the long way around the table first dropping a plate of food in front of Dawn and then gentling placing the other plate in front of the princess. "I...I hope it's to your liking." She added, addressing Luna. "Ohh they look delicious." Luna replied. "That they do... That they do..." agreed Dawn. Luna and Dawn ate their waffles in relative silence as the yellow pegasus stood there, half cowering between them. "So Princess..." "Please Dawn, call me Luna." She corrected with her mouth half full with waffles. "Alright. So Luna, you think you could teach me that melting into shadows spell?" "Hmmm?" Luna cocked her head at the question. "Oh, that. You were talking to an image of me. I wasn't really outside with you, just my consciousness merging with yours." Luna swallowed the rest of her waffles she had in her mouth as she explained. A smirk grew on her face as she added, "I can teach you that if you accept my tutelage." She flexed her eye brows in attempts to sweeten the deal. And it worked... "Ha." Dawn dug back into her waffles as she spotted the time. "I need to be on the train in a couple minutes." She mumbled to herself. The brown unicorn walked in and stood by her partner guiding her to finally sit at the table. "So did you watch the night sky last night?" Dawn asked, turning to the couple. They are so cute when they cower together. "Ye...yes we were watching... What was that?" Asked the yellow mare. "It made my horn tingle." The brown mare added. "Wasn't it amazing? A really well done reenactment of the Battle of Ponymopylae! It surely put the annual pegasi reenactments to shame." Luna said excitedly. Luna's outburst was a bit much for the couple. The older pegasus's wings flared out as she squeezed her partner for dear life. The unicorn went limp from lack of blood pressure in the pegasus's arms. Dawn had finished her waffles and Luna was just about done. Once she was, Dawn enchanted the plates away to go clean themselves as she excused herself from the table. "I'll go pack my things and get out of your mane. Thank you for the lovely room." Dawn gave a little bow to the ghostly pale mares and made for her room. Luna followed. Dawn called upon her horn up to throw her comb and tooth brush into her pillow. Luna gave an inquiring look around the room. "So you pay some bits to stay in a stranger's home and eat their food?" "Basically." Dawn answered as she plopped the lumpy pillow on her back and started to make her way out of the bed and breakfast. "What a strange concept and the 'vendors' do they provide any other services?" "Umm, other then offering a homey 'bed' and 'breakfast'? No." Dawn put a heaving emphasis on the bed and breakfast for Luna's benefit. "That sounds like an easy profession." She said, closing the door behind her. "I personally wouldn't want some random pony roaming my home. Not even for a few bits." Dawn started a light trot down the street with Luna matching her pace. I should go say good bye to Twilight. She turned to the Library on the end of the main street. "I always thought the idea of money was a bit funny." Luna admitted. She was in a light skip along Dawn's side. "I mean ponies do all kinds of stuff for the promise of a future service to be rendered but what if bits were useless to the pony they needed services from. Then the bits themselves would become useless." "Yep." Dawn gave a last look of Ponyville, it was simple just like earth pony life styles. "Lucky for us ponies we are greedy." "You think that is all that holds the system in check?" "Of course. What else would there be? Divine intervention?" Dawn gave a scrutinizing look implying Luna's intervention. "That is a scary thought..." Luna said, now trotting around Dawn. "Yep." Dawn was now faced with the poor mutilated and humiliated tree labeled 'Library'. She opened the doors with her magic and trotted in. Spike was stacking books on the opposite wall. Luna closed the doors behind her which gained his attention. After nearly falling in surprise, he walked over to greet them. "Hi princess and ummm..." "Dawn." Luna finished. "Dawn..." Spike repeated in hopes of it sinking in. "Uhh Twilight is still asleep. But I can help you with what ever you need..." Dawn's horn started to glow as her magic felt around the library. It was quickly drawn to Twilight's magic well. Her horn glowed brighter as she teleported Twilight out of bed to in front of her. "GOOD MORNING!" It's always good to be on the other end of a prodding stick. "I just wanted to say good-bye and that I had a wonderful time." Twilight returned a sleep deprived stare as she grunted in response. Some gears started to roll around in her head as she grasped what was said. "Wait your leaving?" She mumbled, dreamily. "That's the plan, my train leaves in ten or so minutes." "Oh... well... Oh... You need to write me and stay in touch. It's a shame I didn't get to finish reading your book." Twilight said, still in a dreamy state. "Ahh, Well." Dawn looked up at Luna who was silently observing. "Chances are, this is not the last you will see of me in this general area." Luna perked up with that news. "So you can hang on to this for a little while." Dawn magically pulled her book to her physical plane of existence and set it on the table in middle of the room. "Wait, you are thinking of coming here more often." Twilight asked, visibly waking up now from the good news. "I'm still on the fence but we will see." "I hope it works out. Not many ponies are around here that I can talk about advance magical theory with." Twilight chuckled to herself. "Our thoughts are alike then." Dawn soon found herself with Twilight wrapped around her in a hug as she nuzzled her neck. Did I miss something? "Well then this isn't 'good-bye' it's 'see you later'." Twilight said as she broke her hug. "I suppose... I'll see you later then." Dawn surveyed the empty library and saw beardless Spike. Her horn lit up to a near blinding intensity as she produced a sharp looking handle bar mustache for Spike. Twilight rolled her eyes at the now very happy Spike. "Sweet, Thanks!" Spike cheered. "Yep." Dawn turned around waving a hoof to Twilight and Spike. "Are you going to get to the train on time?" Luna asked as she closed the door behind them both. Dawn broke into a light skip directed at the train station. "Probably." "Well as long as you are not worried." Luna said, rolling her eyes. The two contrasting colored ponies skipped to the train station where the train waited. Dawn turned around to Luna. "Thanks for seeing me off, Luna." "My pleasure." Luna looked over the train inspecting for grave flaws. "So I can expect your answer tonight?" "Yep..." Dawn said, backing into the train now. I wonder how she expects to receive it. "I look forward to it. I will see you later Dawn." Luna disappeared in a wisp of thick black smoke. Knowing her question would go unanswered until tonight, Dawn boarded the train with a dozen other questions starting to buzz around in her head. She found a seat and threw her pillow on top of storage only to come to a great revaluation. Ahhh pony feathers I have nothing to do for six hours... ----- The train ride was, unfortunately, uneventful despite the thousands of times Dawn wished something would explode or turn to gelatin. Dawn watched the country zoom by with disinterest as she thought of her family, future, Twilight and Luna. As Wingopolis came into view she relished in its beauty and then realized how much she missed it in her sky. Dawn cringed inwardly at her weakness for familiarity. The train pulled up to Wingopolis's Shadow's station. She saw her parents waiting for the train to stop. Did they miss me? She grabbed her pillow and walked off the train to be greeted with nuzzles and bear hugs from both her parents. "We missed you 'So' much Honey Buns. The house is so quiet without you." I wonder how they will take Luna's offer. They started to walk their way home which was a rare treat for Dawn. "So how was your trip?" Dawn's mother asked excitedly. "Did you meet any pony? Did you have fun?" Dawn's father asked while nudging his daughter's shoulder. "It was interesting..." Her parents withered in the wind briefly, showing their age. Interesting for Dawn, as they knew it, meant something blew up or chaos was being wrought on some poor pony. "...and fun too. I met a lot of nice ponies." Her parents returned to their energetic selves. Dawn met ponies. That is a good thing. "I am So glad to hear it Honey." Dawn's mother hugged her tightly in mid trot. "Umm, we won't be getting any bills from anypony for damages right?" "No. Nothing got hurt..." Dawn said regrettably. "Did you meet the princesses?" Her mother asked in attempts to derail what could be an explanation of what was 'interesting'. They would like to cross that bridge if, or the more likely, when it came to their house. "Yep, actually I have something to tell you about..." "Hold that thought my little pink filly. I don't think we want to know what was 'interesting' if it involves the princesses. Since you are here that means you got away with it so no need to tell us right?" Hmm... What was 'interesting' was the beard explosion and the eventual provoking the princesses to fight. "Fine I wasn't going to tell you that any ways." "You weren't going to tell us?" Her parents asked in a mumbled unison. "Must be something bad." Dawn's father sighed before stopping, forcing Dawn to turn around. "Alright Dawn lets hear what was 'interesting'. It's best you come clean now." "Uhh it really wasn't that big of a deal, can I tell you later I'm kind of hungry." "Uh oh..." Dawn's mother's face grew pale as her imagination ran wild. "Don't try to down play it Dawn, tell us what you did. Did you get away with it? Are we going to have to hire a lawyer?" Dawn's father was looking very big, very stern and very scary now right now. Her mother was nearly crying as her imagination flashed horrible thoughts through her mind. "Okay okay. I am not in trouble. I did nothing bad to the princesses. And as far as I know I am not wanted by the law. I wanted to tell you that Princess Luna wants me to become her personal student which involves moving to Canterlot." "You're not just making up a story so you can keep us ignorant right?" Her mother asked through held back tears. This is ridiculous. Dawn completely deadpanned as she stared her parents down. Words are clearly failing me. She sighed and turned around and started walking home again. I'll just have Luna explain things to them tonight. Dawn was now quite sure of her answer to Luna. She was moving to Canterlot... The rest of the walk home was in silence. Her parents were not quite sure how to approach their daughter. In their mind she either did something absolutely horrific or she was telling the truth. They loved their daughter to bits and they knew she was not a monster by any means, but she is no stranger to destroying property out of boredom, curiosity or just for kicks and giggles. When they got home Dawn didn't bother using the door, she just teleported to her room. Leave it to my parents to see the worst in me. She plopped her lumpy pillow on her bed as she glanced around her room. ...and the best. Her room was lined with hundreds of books of all things magical. Full sets of encyclopedias of magic to textbooks that no young filly had any business reading. She fell into her bed to only roll on her back and stare at the ceiling. She heard knocking at her door. "It's open." She croaked. Her parents walked in and sat down in front of her bed. Dawn straighten out to face them. "We wanted to apologize." Her mother began. "We jumped the saddle a little too early." Her father added. "So we wanted to start over... so why don't you tell us about your trip and about the ponies you met." Dawn's mother's deep brown eyes got her every time. With a heavy sigh, Dawn went over the trip in great detail skipping over the 'interesting' parts. Despite on how much she wanted regale them of her exploits it was for the greater good that they did in fact stay ignorant. She talked about Twilight being so much like her, the Professors of the academy, the invigorating debates she had about magical philosophies and theory, and she finished with Luna's proposition and her decision to accept. "So when will you leave?" "I don't know. I'll find out tonight." Her parents got up and gave her a family hug on the end of her bed. "We love you Honey." Her mother added. They held their hug adding some nuzzles into the mix. "In any case my little Highlighter you won't be that far away for us. We can come and visit you every Canterlot show." "That would be nice." Dawn broke their family moment with some well placed pushes and nudges to remind them it was time to leave. With some last minute nuzzles, they left Dawn in her room with her books. --- Later that night, Dawn had been re-reading her copy of 'Pushing Magical Boundaries' when Luna appeared from the shadows of her room. "Good evening, how are you doing tonight?" "Well enough...." Dawn closed her book to face Luna properly. They were only illuminated by the candle that was lighting Dawn's reading. Dawn could not tell if she was real or not by her looks alone. "Do you have an answer for me?" Luna's tail looked impatient but her face had a very ancient calm about her. Luna started to look around the room she had appeared in. "Is this your room?" "Yes, yes and to your future question yes." She let her answers sink in. "I have some logistical questions of course." Luna jumped up and embraced her in a hardy hug rivaling that of her mothers. For a projection of conciseness she feels real enough to me. "I am very happy to hear that. You had me worrying there for a bit." Luna said as she set Dawn down. "Now what are the questions you want answered?" "Well for starters, are you really here? When can I move in and how? But... before that could you do me a favor and set my parents minds at ease? A couple of hours ago they were convinced that I was a wanted mare and I was lying to them." Luna raised an eye brown in alarm. "Why in Equestria would they think that?" "Uhh... I guess they have very active imaginations." Dawn said with her best poker face on. "You wouldn't happen to be stretching the truth a little would you?" Dawn straightened her face more and looked into Luna's eyes. "I could be but it becomes irrelevant to the large scheme of things." A smirk grew across Luna's face. "I see, well I am sure we can shed light on this. Where are your parents?" "Downstairs." She relinquished with a heavy sigh. "I'll introduce you." Dawn said before she disappeared with a flash of her horn. She was down stairs with her parents and brother. They were all sitting around the radio listening to the hoof ball match. "Hey Sweetie." Dawn's mother greeted. "Mom, Dad. Luna is here if you have any questions for her. I thought I would put to rest your doubts." The room grew quiet as the three pegasi looked around for the goddess of the night and co-ruler of Equestria. Dawn turned to a dark shadow in a corner of the house. "Luna this is my family Ever Watch, Sturdy Shield, and Metal." She said, gesturing with a hoof to each pony accordingly. Luna walked out of the corner as if she'd been there the entire time. "It is so lovely to meet you all. My sister spoke very highly of you two." She said, giving a modest bow to Dawn's Parents. Her family scrambled in place to give a proper bow to their Princess. "My princess..." Dawn's parents muttered. "Please rise my little ponies. I would prefer to talk to you as equals as I am stealing your daughter away from you." "Uhh... She... she isn't in trouble is she?" Dawn's mother asked with pleading eyes. Dawn's father's eyes were darting to all the escape routes in the house while his mind was working on an escape plan involving Dawn and Metal on his back and breaking the sonic barrier. "No. Not in the slightest. But I am curious why you would think she would be. She seems like, while incredibly brilliant and cunning..." Luna gave a sly smile to Dawn. "...a very nice young mare. You should be proud." "Oh, uhh..." Dawn's father started. "It probably has to do with her crashing entire streets of Wingopolis to the ground or destroying the fire station down the road. Or maybe the cherries..." Metal stopped purely out respect to the two hooves, which belonged to his parents, lodged in his mouth. Luna burst into a fit of giggles. "It's a wonder my sister didn't discover you earlier." She said, smirking over to Dawn. "Yes well..." Her parents stammered. "You did those on purpose or on accident? Or on principle?" Luna questioned, still giggling nearly every other syllable. "Well the fire station was from sleep casting... and the streets were poorly put together..." Dawn's parents did a much practiced face hoof as they heard the familiar excuses. "You will have to regale me with all your triumphs of destruction later. Do you have any other questions that I can answer before I leave you?" The night princess was looking down at the large stallion and the streamline mare. "No your highness, this is Dawn's choice. We are proud of her. This was bound to have happened one way or the other." Dawn's father answered giving, a loving look over to his all grown up daughter. "I will see you back in your room then." Luna said to Dawn before walking back to the shadow from once she came. Dawn lit up her horn to bring her back to her room only to be interrupted by her parent's hugs. She hugged back, acknowledging their unspoken apology. When they did break their embrace, Dawn's parents stepped back to let her teleport back to her room. Dawn found Luna exploring the many crevices of her room. "You parents seem nice..." "They are... Too nice for their own good sometimes. So are you really here? I think this spell is different than the one you used at the party." Luna smiled. "I guess that's one of the reasons why I want you to be my student." Luna paused, teasing the question. "Yes, I am really here. I will teach you this kind of magic and more I promise." She added, anticipating the future inquisition. Luna later filled her in on all the logistical details of moving in the castle. Like what she could bring, when she would be moving in, and how everything she could possibly want would be provided to her. Luna wanted to pack her things right now to move in as quickly as possible but Dawn got her to settle on Tuesday, giving her a whole day to settle her affairs in town. She decided that her books were fine just where they were and aside from a few choice pictures of her family, she figured she did not need much of anything from her room. Dawn would leave by train in the morning and be in Canterlot by the afternoon. Luna eventually left through the same means by which she came, leaving Dawn behind sated of all questions for now. ---- The sun broke through Dawn's thick curtains in her room. It was a new day. I hope Canterlot is a night town. Dawn groaned as she stretched her legs free of her bed sheets. Maybe I can sleep in the dungeon. I wonder if it has a dungeon... She rolled off the mattress and made her way to the bathroom to start this, likely interesting, new day. Dawn eventually found herself staring at the empty cupboards that were supposed to have colorful boxes filled with cereal. "I guess I get to eat out for Lunch..." She said to the empty kitchen. Her parents were likely at work and her brother was one to sleep in even after her. A short trot later Dawn was in the main square of Wingopolis's Shadow looking for the least likely place to spit in her food. "Dawn! Where have you been? I've been looking for you for days." Said in a disapproving voice from up above. Dawn recognized the voice as the pony she had been dating for the past couple weeks. Her name was April Showers. She was a sky blue Pegasus that had a long white mane and a small daisy being rained on for a cutie mark. "April? I didn't tell you I was leaving?" She asked in a disbelieving tone. Oops I 'didn't' tell her. "Ahh, well. I wanted to find you any how. You want to join me for lunch?" She asked as the sky blue pegasus landed in front of her to nuzzle her snout. "I would love to." April said, finishing her nuzzle with a kiss. "Why not the 'Daisy Café'? The ponies there know me so..." "As long as they got milkshakes." She said, offering a smile to the mare as they trotted side by side to the cafe. They sat down outside by a table intended for two. Like a band-aid, it would be better for her. Her train of thought was interrupted by the eager mare next to her. "So where did you go?" "Uhh... Ponyville, for a magic convention." She giggled at the word 'convention'. "More like a get-together. Maybe a grouping? wait...NO, a gathering... perhaps a forum... perhaps..." The light blue pegasus watched her partner ponder about semantics as a waiter approached them. "Can I take your order?" He interrupted Dawn. He looked slightly frightened on the approach. "Yes. I would love a strawberry-daisy salad." April said, looking at the now distraught Dawn. "...Maybe an assembly?" Dawn purposed, nodding to herself. April rolled her eyes. "Dawn he's taking our order now." She said as she gave an apologetic smile at the waiter. Dawn blinked away her thoughts and glared at the waiter. He visibly shrunk in fear. "Yes of course. Umm, I'll have a Chocolate milkshake and some deep fried daisies." The waiter perked up at the order. "Err...Right away ladies." Dawn turned back to April to meet her gaze. April had a hoof rested on the table to prop up her head. "So you were telling me about this magic get-together?" "Assembly." Corrected Dawn. "Yah it was fun." Like a band-aid... wait. She just ordered... damn. "I got to meet the princesses." She said, plainly, as she delved into her own thoughts. I guess after... "You got to meet 'The' Princesses? What were they like?" April asked quickly, her wings flared up in her excitement. The outburst gained the attention of some the other patrons around them. April's eyes were beaming towards Dawn un-phased by the affect her outburst had. "Immortal goddesses..." Dawn answered, waving a hoof around nonchalantly. "...That's not what I meant! Tell me everything." "Well princess Celestia ate more cake than I could ever think of eating in one sitting..." "Eww... No, ugh. Dawn, what were they like? Did you talk them?" "Yep, talked to them quite a bit. They liked my Battle of Ponymopylae..." Her sentence's energy seeped into her own thoughts again. Should I just tell her now spite of her just ordering? April gave a knowing nod to Dawn. The entire town knew what Dawn could do to the sky and for once the entire town had grown to enjoy Dawn's magic, as long as it stayed in the sky that is. "And?" "And?" "What else? Were they as tall as everypony says?" "Yep, and crazy hair." Dawn said excitedly, anticipating her next question. "Is that Dawn?" "IT IS!" said an angry mares voice. Well crap. April looked around for the source. Dawn shrunk into her spot hoping to get lost in the grass below her. Two earth ponies both a cream colored with bright yellow manes highlighted in different colors were walking in from the town square towards them. "AND SHE'S WITH SOME POOR MARE!" yelled the other earth pony gaining the attention of all the nearby ponies. The pair walked over to Dawn and April. Dawn straightened up to meet the two sisters' angry glares hoping to direct their wrath at herself and not at April. "Still sore about me breaking up with you two are we?" Dawn deadpanned. This was far from what I need right now. "You break up with us? NO! WE broke up with YOU." One of the mares corrected. "Fine... However you took it, doesn't change the result now does it?" Dawn said calmly, she was trying her hardest not to beard them both before teleporting them on a roof some where. "Did you know she was dating both of us at the same time?" The other mare said, turning to April trying to invoke a response. Dawn rolled her eyes. "Oh?" April said turning to Dawn with an sly grin. Dawn was face hoofing with her head propped up against the table. Ouch that hurt I shouldn't hit myself like that. "No, you two are just a beak away from being a loons. I broke up with you." Dawn pointed at one mare. "And then I was too drunk after a job and had a one night stand with her." She redirected her accusing hoof to the other. "Now if you would please just go away and get over it." "You best break it up with her now before she cheats on you too..." The other mare said angrily. Well that would work. Miss showers would you do me the honor so I don't have to? "I trust Dawn." April finally said. If sentences were kicks to the chest, April would have three knocked out mares. She trusts me? No pony trusts me... at least not here. The sisters looked as shocked as Dawn. They slowly backed out of April's glare which rivaled a beard provoked Princess Celestia's. This is going to be harder than I thought. Dawn watched as the sisters quietly retreated back into the town square. "Uh, wow." Dawn searched for more words but could not find any. Aside from her parents nopony has ever stood up for her like that. As Dawn turned back to April she found herself in a kiss with said mare. "I do trust you" April said as she broke the kiss. She then scooted closer to Dawn who was wilting with guilt. "I'm sorry..." Dawn muttered. April nuzzled Dawn's neck in hopes of cheering her up. "Sorry for what?" "For something I 'Need' to tell you." Dawn was looking at the ground avoiding eye contact. April straitened herself up, not out of fear of what was to come but to look Dawn in the eyes. She reached out a hoof to lift the pink unicorn's face so she could see the two big green emeralds she called eyes. "You can tell me anything." We've only been dating for a couple of weeks why would she trust me this much? Dawn looked back into the grey eyes that belonged to the only mare that had said she trusted her. Dawn's stomach felt like it wanted to dig itself out of her chest. Like a band-aid... "Princess Luna asked me to become her personal student..." She waited to see some reaction in the sky blue mare but nothing came. "Which would involve me moving to Canterlot..." She waited again. Still nothing. "It's a once in a life time opportunity... I can't simply not go..." Still nothing... "So I'm going to be moving there..." Still no reaction. I underestimated you, I am so sorry. April smiled and hugged Dawn. "I am 'So' happy for you." She said into Dawn's ear before giving snout to snout nuzzle. "This is a really big opportunity for you isn't it." She gave a large smile at the shocked pink unicorn. "You're not mad?" Dawn asked, still looking as sad as can be. April went in for another kiss to answer Dawn's question. "I am happy for you." She said, in between one of her sweet pecks on Dawn's lips. "Ahem. Excuse me ladies, your food." The waiter had already set a bowl and plate down and was now handling a large chocolate shake with his forehoof. The mares straightened up so they could inspect their food. A light pink blush broke out on April's face. Dawn grabbed the chocolate shake from the waiter with her magic. She took a greedy sip of the slurry and looked over to April who was looking over her salad. Dawn didn't know how this was going to work. She had a strong sense of panic wash over her only to be stifled by her creamy shake. April turned to look at Dawn and her food. A large basket of fried disks that were fried daisies. "Frankly I don't know how you keep your figure when you eat so horridly." While still slurping her drink she directed April's attention to her horn with her hoof to answer her query. How was this going to work? Worry started to battle with the waves of panic she was feeling and the conflict showed on her face. "Dawn please don't fret about that now, let's enjoy our food." If not now then when. Dawn looked into the smiling face of the pegasus next to her. She was drowning in her grey eyes. "Okay". Dawn said after setting down her chocolate shake. April scooted closer to Dawn to wrap a wing over her side. The warmth of her body melted Dawn into submission. April grabbed her bowl with a hoof and started to daintily pick apart and eat her salad. Dawn felt waves of calm over power her worries and panic as the warm body next to her beat with a foreign heartbeat. She picked up some deep fried daisies and flung them into her mouth with her magic. Dawn in a tranquil state managed to enjoy her lunch with April. I really did not see this coming. How did I not see this coming? Both mares finished their food and now were both enjoying the silence each other offered. It was nice, at least for Dawn. April was the one to break the silence though. "Canterlot huh?" "Yep." "A lot of unicorns live there." April offered to the conversation, thinking to herself. "Yep." Dawn was getting uncomfortable with the subject matter. She could easily live happily in between this wing and mare. She didn't want to leave. How come I've never felt like this before? "So is this going to be like a job? Are you going to be like a court mage?" "I don't think so... Luna just wants to teach me. To 'bring balance back to magic' whatever that means." She gave her best royal impersonation of last night, earning a small giggle from the mare next to her. "So can you come visit here anytime you want?" April pondered her words after saying them. "Can I come visit you?" April's eyes went wide for Dawn's answer. "Luna said as long as my studies go unhampered she will not care what I do with my free time so I guess 'I' could... and 'You' could... is that what you want to do?" Could something like that work? April tightened her hold on Dawn with her wing as she pondered the question. "Well..." She was choosing her words carefully. "I think..." She looked at Dawn expectantly. "When I couldn't find you this weekend I thought the worst things I'm sorry..." Dawn was about to say something but April beat her to the punch. "I know how forgetful you are. But it got me thinking... How hurt I felt just from your absence..." Words were forming on Dawns lips but no sound came out. "...I think I love you." April studied Dawn as her words sunk in. Whoa... She loves me? "You do?" She asked with a more shocked tone than she cared to reveal. "I know, I know. We've only been dating for four weeks but I have never felt this way before." April's mind was reeling against her will. "When you first kissed me... and the first time we made love was just so incre..." She stammered about as the cherished memories that flashed through her mind conflicted with the thought that she might loose the mare next to her. Dawn watched in disbelief as the sky blue pegasus stammered her last few revelations. Where was I during all this? Why don't I feel the same way...? The pegasus found herself and continued. "I know you probably don't feel the same way about me... but I really want to make this work. Oh Celestia knows I would move with you to Canterlot given the chance but I'm still going to school here. Maybe when I transfer to a university for the last bit of my diploma I can try to get into Canterlot... I did apply there just as a joke to myself..." Her voice was lost in her thoughts again. That's right she wants to become a teacher... I wish I was feeling what she was... Dawn felt April's wing grip tighter around her. A shiver shot up Dawn's spine again as it did so. "If... If this is what 'I' think it is... It will all work out in the end." You are so much more optimistic than me. "You would sit on that train for six hours for me?" "If that is what it takes. Yes." April's resolve was building back up again. "Will you come to visit me?" Will I? Dawn looked deeply into April's eyes trying to figure out all the variables involved. There are no variables... "Yes defiantly." As often as she could. Wait as often as I could? Yes! Dawn couldn't think straight. Too much was cluttering her mind. "I..." She started to say something. The sound of her own voice was broken and just as confused as she was. She broke free of her thoughts for a moment. "I don't know what I feel..." April's wing quivered on Dawn's shoulder all the while April's face was still wearing a smile full of hope. "I'm sorry... I've never been in love or anything like that... I wish I could feel what you were feeling." Dawn said, ducking her head away from that smile. "I... I just don't know. I might be feeling something but I don't know what it is..." She felt little. Little and stupid. Can't even figure out my own emotions damn near pathetic. "I'm sorry." April ducked down to Dawn's moping figure and nuzzled her affectionately, bringing Dawn back to eye level. "That is fine Dawn. I'm relieved you feel anything at all." I don't think I did. This is far newer than you might think. "I quickly found out getting an emotion out of you is like pulling a donkey through a beauty parlor. It's likely very much needed and harder than it has to be." Dawn laughed at the really racist joke. "Just know that you can tell me anything. I bet we can figure things out." She really is a good pony. Dawn perked up, if not for herself but for April's sake. "Let's go have fun celebrating my last day in this one horse town." "Your last day? Your leaving tomorrow? "Oops." April sighed loudly in annoyance then perked up as much as Dawn did. "Let's!" They spent the rest of the day together wondering about the outskirts of town. They mainly just talked which, for once, was totally fine for Dawn. They ended the day watching the sunset on a hill overlooking the town they lived in and the city that cast a shadow over it. They shared a small picnic as they watched the last bits of sunlight succumb to Luna's black night. It was bliss for the both of them. When the night gifted them more privacy, they made love in the thick tall grass that surrounded them. After hours of staring into the sky and Dawn pointing out consolations, Dawn walked April home. "Oh... what time are you leaving again?" April asked, now inside her door way. Dawn cursed the train schedule. "In the morning." She frowned as the answer left her lips. "Ten is when the train leaves." "I'll see off at ten then." She said with a smile, unhampered by Dawn's sorrow. How does she do that so easily? "Alright." Dawn leaned in to kiss April good night. "Good night April." She sounded sadder than she wanted to betray. Why can't I hide my emotions better in front of her? "Good night Dawn." She said with a smile. Dawn turned around and started to trot down April's walkway glancing back only as she reached the street. April was still looking at her with eyes whose beauty rivaled the sky they reflected. April mouthed words 'I love you' as Dawn turned down the street towards home only to go unnoticed. When Dawn got home she found her family in familiar positions around the radio listening to the night's pegasus' games. She silently went up to her room without them noticing. She flopped onto her bed, taking in a deep breath as her magic lit a candle. "What a day." She smiled at the fresh memories. "You have a good day Dawn?" Luna asked, walking out of the shadow in her room. "Yah. I really did." And if I refused you I could do that any day I choose... How'd she know I was home... Luna isn't a pony to respect privacy... "So I trust all your affairs are in order?" "Yah..." she sighed, rolling over to face to night princess. Luna was once again exploring her room opening drawers and glancing over the contents. "That is good to hear." "Luna? Have you ever been in love?" Dawn asked, not really thinking why. She needed some way to organize her thoughts though. "Love?" Luna turned around from the drawer she was perusing with an inquisitive look about her. "Yah." "Once." Luna's eyes narrowed in an attempt to figure out what Dawn was after. "How did you tell?" "Hmmm..." Luna scratched her chin as she found the words for the answer. "Well I guess it was when he presented me with a throne made of manticore skeleton and a matching cape..." "Gross..." "Hmmm? Ah yes it was a different time back then..." Luna said, reminiscing. "The point is he went and killed a dozens of manticores, no small feat, and spent years making that throne just to prove his love to me." Luna, satisfied with her answer, continued to search through the crevices of Dawn's room. "That did not help me in the least." Dawn sighed loudly. Then an idea sprung to life in her head. "Luna? Do you have any influence with Canterlot University?" Luna popped her head up from a dresser drawer. "Why? Do you want to attend?" "Err... No. I was wondering if you can get my fillyfriend in so she can come live by me when I study under you." "Fillyfriend?" "Mmhmmm." Dawn hummed. "Ahh... I did not know you were of that... persuasion." Dawn gave a short laugh of surprise. "So?" "It just seems..." Luna was sitting on her quarters now looking up in thought. "How would it even work?" She asked, motioning with her hooves. So much for the all knowing visage. "You're joking right?" "I certainly am not." Luna huffed. "But ponies have always had a gender ratio favoring females. Certainly you've seen it before..." Dawn ended up giggling at Luna's ignorance. "Are you making fun of me?" She asked, flaring her wings up in irritation. "No, I really am trying not to but your making it hard." Dawn laughed. "Back before millennia ago, times were rough for ponies. They only paired for the means of procreation." Luna said matter-of-factly. Dawn faced hoofed. "This was also I bet when ponies were polygamist and running around in herds, head butting each other..." "It can't be that off..." Luna said thoughtfully, ignoring Dawn's historically inaccurate comment. "Ahh I did notice my little ponies were pickier about whom they copulated with... Though I fear I will never understand why you little ponies adopted monogamy. It is so... Inefficient." "Probably because ponies are able to afford to now. Equestria hasn't seen a real war in seven hundred years." Dawn said as she attempted to picture a world where that horrific manticore skeleton throne could be thought of a seducing tool. "Huh..." Luna said, deep in thought. "Well in any case will you help me or not?" Dawn asked with a face dressed with stoicism. Luna snapped out of thought. "Yes of course, we can take care of that when you move in." She got up and started for the shadow un-tampered by the candle light. "So I will see you in Canterlot tomorrow afternoon correct?" "You can count on it" "Very good, you have a pleasant night Dawn." Luna said as she disappeared into the corner leaving no trace that she was ever here. I wonder how she knows when I'm home... Dawn stared at the corner absently as ethereal smoke started to flow through Dawn's wall of her room forming a cloud of smoke before her. It started swirling quickly as it condensed. Stopping only when a scroll was produced, dropping onto Dawn's flank. She levitated it over to the lit candle. I never receive letters through magic. She unrolled it letting light shine through. Dear Dawn, I hope this letter finds you well. I thought you would like to know that I have finally finished your book (Tell me how to send this thing back to you). It took me all of yesterday and today to fully wrap my head around some of your spells I even tried some of them. Suffice it to say you did not disappoint, you are every bit of unicorn Professor Scrolls bragged about. I have also broken the spine on a copy of 'Breaking magical boundaries'. I thought you would also like to know that I have been working on a new spell you might find interesting. Stealing your idea of a rudeness/awkward silence alarm (really good idea by the way) I have begun testing the spell on myself. Much to my dismay, it is far more logistically complicated than I had originally thought it would be. Write me back on how you would approach this spell because I fear I have already run into a dead end. Your Friend, Twilight Sparkle "Huh..." That's right she considers me her friend now. Dawn set the letter on her night stand and blew out the candle. "I'll write her back tomorrow."