//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Executor of the Moon // Story: Cracking Dawn // by Didily Winkles //------------------------------// Chapter Seven Sleep did find her once she was done with her 'love' letter to April. It was hard writing like that. Words seemed to fall short of describing what she felt or it was the magic fatigue. Either way she was unable to find any of the words to describe this new feeling for April. Dawn just ended up explaining the many properties of the box they were using. She hoped from the bottom of her heart that April would not be disappointed with the response. Dawn only woke up when the train stopped at Ponyville. She watched with sleep laden eyes the two earth ponies she had encountered on this train get off. Applejack was at the station greeting the colt with the heavy accent. The dark pink mare, looking a bit woozy, skipped off the train out of view. A few minutes later the train lurched forward as it started to its last stop before turning around. The train at full speed soon started weaving in and out of tunnels as it climbed to the unicorn city, the capital of Equestria, Canterlot. It was not long until the last bend ended. In contrast to the dark tunnel, Canterlot shined brightly, welcoming the train into its station. The buildings were very old and very ornate. She called her bag and pillow down with her magic and got ready to exit once the train stopped. She balanced the pillow, bag, and her box on her back as she stretched out the kinks that were courtesy of her nap. As she got off the train she noticed something very odd. She was greeted by a large number of ponies bowing low. They were not facing her but a one Princess Luna who was now looking down at Dawn with a grin the size not appropriate for her face. "How was your ride my student." The title sounded new to Dawn as it rolled off the night princesses lips. "You look awful actually. I am going to assume you had something to do with your home town shaking?" Is she smaller? "Err... kinda. I made April a gift." Dawn gestured to the box resting on her back. Luna guided Dawn down the street where a chariot waited. As they both started down the street Luna looked over the box Dawn motioned to. "You shook all of Wingopolis for a box?" She asked curiously. "I spilt the box in two, forcing it to share the space inside with the other half." A chariot? Fancy fancy... The two stepped up on the chariot. Luna picked up the box in question with her magic and brought it close for inspection. "How?" Luna's face began contorting into fierce looking expressions as her magic grew more bold and violent. "It will not open!" Dawn laughed at the moon princess as the chariot started to speed up. "That means the other half of the box is open." Dawn started to recall the events leading up to its creation but drew a blank on the 'How' she had made it. This had never happened before. She knew she wrote down the specifics but... My room was destroyed... "I don't know how I made it..." The shock in Dawn's voice reached Luna's ears. "Uhhh... it is alright I have no use for a trinket like this any ways." Her face contorted once again as she tried to open it up with magic again only to fail. She set down the 'Trinket' on Dawn's back and huffed in the other direction. Why can't I remember... how did I make that... Dawn pondered on this new dilemma until the chariot came to a stop. "Come. I will show you to your room." Luna huffed as if still angry at the box. Dawn finally noticed her surroundings. There before her stood 'The' Castle. It towered up high above, making her feel very small. The center of it all. Dawn's mouth was agape as she attempted to take in the ancient building and all its glory. "Are you coming or are you not?" Luna pouted. "Uhh... Yah sorry." Luna led Dawn in the castle. Every entrance and door way had a pair of guards. Each one keeping a close eye on the princess and a even closer eye on the pink unicorn following her. Luna opened two very large doors revealing Princess Celestia and a couple ponies in fancy cloths kneeling down. They all turned to face the interruption. The ponies on the ground were glaring at Dawn as Princess Celestia glared at Luna. "Luna I have court, What do you want now?" "Such harsh words Celly. I want to introduce you to somepony who's far more interesting than some nobles." Luna stepped aside, revealing in full detail a pink unicorn with orange hair and green eyes. Celly? Princess Celestia looked down at the brightly colored unicorn and gave a gentle smile. "Well hello Dawn. How are you this afternoon." "Fine, a little sore." She said, feeing through her muscles. The ponies on the ground gasped in horror at the unicorn's informal address. Celestia rolled her eyes at the nobles. "I hope that quake didn't startle you or your family much this morning?" "I bet it did since she was the one who caused it." Luna was beaming at her sister now. "Oh?" "I was making a gif..." "She is going to be my student sister." Luna interrupted "She is going to stay in the east tower." Princess Celestia let out a heavy sigh "Alright Luna. Is that all? I really need to finish court." "Is... Is that all...?" Luna stammered as her face grew annoyed. She turned around, picking up Dawn with her magic, and stomped out the door from where they came in. She slammed the door behind her. Letting out a heavy sigh, she set down Dawn and her things. Luna closed her eyes and gathered her thoughts then perked up as if nothing happened. "This way." She sang as she turned around and skipped down a hallway. Am I just supposed to ignore that? Dawn picked up her things and balanced them back on her back. She trotted quickly to catch up and keep pace with Luna. "So... How exactly will this student thing work? Are you going to give me homework?" "Do you want homework?" She asked in a chirpy voice. "Not particularly." "Good, because I do not want to give you any." She cheered. "Alright..." "I will set goals for you to reach. I have high expectations for you. Celly has reservations about teaching ponies the magic I'll be teaching you so don't compare yourself to Twilight." Her bounce in her skip grew in magnitude as she said this. "But we can fuss over that later." "And about Canterlot University?" "My, my, you do like pulling strings to get what you want." She said, mockingly. "What good are strings if they can't be pulled?" "My thoughts exactly! We can go down there tonight." Luna was swimming in her own happiness. "OH!" She suddenly stopped. "I would love to read you tome. The one you had at the party. You know so I can judge where your first goals should be set." She looked at Dawn expectantly. "Ahh, that's with Twilight." Luna's face wilted to of a sad, alone, somber pony. The contrast was startling. "I see...I forgot about that..." What just happened? "She wants to give it back to me I just need to go pick it up... Then it is all yours." Luna sprung back like a loaded spring. "Oh good! Lets go there when we are out!" She started to skip again turning around the corner leading up a spiral stair case. They went up this stair case for a good while. How far up are we going to go? Dawn's muscles ached as she climbed up the stairs. She glanced at an upcoming window and nearly fainted at the sight of being so high. All of Equestria seemed to be below her. "Is there no rooms closer to the ground?" She asked half dazed. "Celly refused to let me refit Twilight's old tower. And the other available tower is just as high." Luna replied. They finally reached a door on the end of the stair case which flew open according to Luna's will. "Here we are!" She walked to the center of the room only to turn around and beam down at Dawn with a smile encompassing her face. Dawn looked around in awe. It was a simple room at first glance but it was a lot bigger than it seemed. The circular room had two levels with a stair case along the wall meeting a wooden rail that over looked the lower half of the room. To the direct left of the entrance was an opening leading to the bathroom and to the right was a balcony over looking most of Equestria. She felt dizzy looking at the latter. Across the room was the largest bed she had ever seen. It could easily sleep seven maybe even eight ponies comfortably, not that it would ever see such use while she was using it. The walls were lined with empty wooden bookshelves that stretched up to the ceiling while the floor had polished white marble. "I know it looks bare now but in time you will be looking for more room, I am sure of it. You can talk to the royal carpenters to get some proper furniture like desks, chairs, etcetera, etcetera." Luna was flying about the room, excitedly pointing at invisible desks, chairs and etceteras. "This is all for me?" "All for you, though..." Luna pondered in mid air for a second. "Hmm... It all works out because you are able to use it now!" Dawn slowly walked in nearly flinching at the echo of her hooves meeting the marble floor. This is style... She bucked off her belongings onto the bed. "Huh." Luna landed next to the pink unicorn. "So I start night court at nine at night obviously. So every day... except on the new moon... I am all yours, not that I intend to hang over your shoulder... I will just be available. " Luna said, nervously, stammering about. "Why not on the new moon?" Dawn asked, cocking her head to the side in wonder. "Well everything has their cycles and mine renders me useless on the new moon..." She adopted a voice of teaching authority. "You will see and understand I am sure." She glanced around quickly surveying the room. "I will let you get settled. I also shall be back with in the hour or so then we can have dinner together." Luna gave her widest grin to Dawn then disappeared in a puff of black smoke. "Okay see you then..." Dawn called out to the room. She was unsure if Luna heard her. Dawn turned around to look around the room again. This room was bigger than her parent's house... She walked over to the bed that had her stuff laying on it. She picked up her box with her magic and sat at the beds base with it. She was once again overjoyed to find that there was another letter for her in the box. She quickly unfolded the letter to read. Dear Dawn, You must be settling in to the castle by now. What's it like? You won't forget us simple ponies will you? I met with the consolers at my school after I wrote to you to figure out what I need to do to get in to CU. After a couple minutes of my insistence on going there they finally laid out of what I need to do and all the things that will help get the school's attention to my application. I have a lot of work to do and so little time to do it. I'm scared that I might not be able to do it and excited that I will be able to. Love, April Dawn sighed at the letter. She is defiantly better at this stuff than me. Should I tell her not to worry about getting in or should I keep it a surprise? or do I let her work for it? Should I get her admitted behind her back? She put down the letter by the box before getting up to look over the room from her new perspective on the ground. "This is really... hard." She admitted to the empty room. She walked up the stairs to look around the second floor. This area had a glass ceiling that met with a glass wall over looking the eastern sky. She slowly walked over to glass wall, half expecting the glass to explode and suck her to the depths of the scenery. She managed to calm herself down enough to enjoy the vast expanse in front of her that was Equestria. "Getting settled in?" "HOLY TAP DANICNG CELESTIA!" Dawn jumped high enough to impress a pegasus. She spun around to face the assaulting voice. There stood was Princess Celestia. "Oh! I didn't mean to scare you... I've never tried tap dancing..." The sun princess pondered this revelation. Dawn backed away from the window to only land on her quarters near the princess. "Afraid of heights?" "Unicorn raised by pegasi. Really any wingless pony would be." Princess gave a dainty chuckle at Dawn's expense. "Yes well... So you are Luna's new 'student'? I must congratulate you she often sees a certain potential that eludes me... if that is indeed what she sees." "Well that's good to hear, when I met Twilight and saw her perfect spells I really felt I wasn't up to stock." Why in the Sam Hill did I just admit that? The Princess raised an eye brow at Dawn then looked up in thought. "Yes well Twilight Sparkle has learned much from me." The Sun Princess stood tall, contemplating her next words. "Tell me my little pony, what do you think you will gain from Luna?" Fame? No that's silly... Money! Wait... that's silly too. "I'm not really sure... Knowledge?" The Princess gently smiled down at Dawn. Her smile mimicked the sun she controlled, spurring a life nurturing warmth deep inside her. "And what do you think you offer my sister in return?" Hmm...I haven't a clue what I could offer her. Princess Celestia laughed at the pondering mare beside her. "I will tell you. While I am sure my sister has an idea what she wants from you and fully intends to teach you. You will be doing her a great favor." The princess stopped to ponder her own words to come. "My sister is lost out of time as I am sure you may have noticed by now. She has been slow to adopt today's customs and mannerisms. I finally got her to stop talking in an ancient canterlotian dialect." She chuckled at the recollection of her sister. "While Twilight and her friends have been a great source of inspiration for my sister she needs not another lackey, servant or follower but a friend to call her own." Every one wants to be my friend these days... "I will of course not force you into a friendship but I would like you to know how fragile my sister is. I would have you know meeting her was fated but I do not want her to be harmed in any way through you. Do you understand me?" "I would never hurt anypony." Dawn paused to think of her pranks that got out of hoof. "Not on purpose anyways..." "I know you would not do such a thing my little pony but I would just like you to be aware of what is resting on your shoulders. Be careful with your life, you are far more precious than you might think." "I see..." "I'll leave you to your thoughts." The Princess said before teleporting out of sight with a flash of light and a pop. Whatever... Dawn gave one last look around the upper level. It was simple as the first floor with an enclosure hidden from the first floor. Dawn did not see right away. I might want to move the bed up here... Dawn was soon deep in thought with feng shui now to consider. After having a pretty good idea of what she wanted to do with the room, she summoned her ink and quill, and pulled the letter from April to her. She laid the paper face down and stared at the back side. She groaned at the blank sheet of paper and fell over to her side embracing the cold marble floor. What do I tell her? April, The castle is much larger than I imagined. Either because I imagined less or it was far more then I could have imagined. I am excited for you I've never been to a college so I really don't know what is in store for you or what hardships you will be facing. Would you like me to ask one of the princesses to pull some strings for you? Dawn Dawn groaned as she finished it. "I don't know what I'm doing!" She yelled to the empty room. It echoed back softly. She rolled back to lie on her back and to stare at ceiling. She wiggled on the floor like a fish out of water, releasing some tension as she did so. She levitated the letter and folded it. "I guess I'll work it out later". She flung the letter into the open wooden box and closed the lid. What's done is done. She walked over to the balcony and sat down a good distance from the edge to watch the horizon. Even though the sun was behind her she knew it was approaching sunset. --- Luna as promised came to get Dawn. She found the pink unicorn looking lazily out over the horizon. "Hungry?" "Starving." Dawn's stomach was annoyed with her choice of food for today and it growled accordingly. "Good, but first..." Luna shuffled in place behind Dawn. "I want to introduce you to a little of my magic. Are you familiar with the dualities of magic?" Dawn turned around to face Luna who was walking in the tower for her first lesson. "Light and Dark?" "Yes, back before I was banished dark magic was just as common as light magic. The stigma of dark magic only arose out of fear of me..." Luna cleared her throat. "Suffice it to say due to fear and my thousand year absence unicorns typically only use light magic now." "Huh, I was always taught that it was evil..." Luna grimaced at her last word. "Yes well I have already set many scholars straight about that. Light and dark have nothing to do with evil. Both can be used for great good and great bad equally. So this is my challenge, teleport to the dining room using dark magic." "But I've never been there..." Dawn stopped as she thought. Luna had never been to my house... "Ahh you already found one of the great advantages of this spell. You do not have to picture it to teleport there. In darkness eyes are useless." Luna flared up her magic to close all the curtains in the room. Only small bits of light seeped through the western sky. "I want you to feel the dining room down in the castle. I want you to not picture the food but to smell it. Not picture my sister but hear her." Dawn closed her eyes as she attempted to 'feel' the dining room. "The only drawback to this spell is you need darkness to walk through. Search out that darkness. It may be a corner of a room, a shadow of some tapestry, anything." Dawn let her consciousness drift with Luna's words. She still had her eyes closed but she had an overwhelming feeling of where she wanted to go. Food. Dawn didn't flare up her magic. Rather it felt like magic was being pulled out like it had a will of its own. She took a couple steps forward only to bump her head. "Ow." She opened her eyes to find she was under a table that had long table sheets. "HA, found her! You caught on to that fast as I knew you would." Luna was holding up the table sheet looking under, oozing with pride. Dawn stepped out from under the table to find herself in a dining room. "Huh." She looked around to find an amused Princess Celestia sitting at the end of the table eating some cake. "Took a lot less magic than the other way." She wanted to say the regular way but she thought that would slightly annoy Luna. Dawn doubted she would've been able to teleport the other way any how. Luna gave a vigorous nod. "Dark magic is notoriously magic efficient." "Neat." Dawn briefly considered deviling deep into the dark arts. "Is there a max distance?" Luna pondered for a second. "Not for me... but normal ponies can only feel so far I think." She scratched her chin at her own words. "Teleporting is a rather recent magical feat. Star Swirl the Bearded was the first to do it with dark magic. Come sit let's eat." Luna pulled out a chair for Dawn with her magic as she made her way to the other side of the table. "Thanks." Dawn sat at the table with the rulers of Equestria half expecting food to teleport into existence. Nothing of the sort happened much to her disappointment. A chef bounded out of a door behind Luna, he gave a short bow to his highness. "What can I make you tonight Princess?" "Oh, I don't know... Dawn what do you want?" "Umm... Spaghetti." "Spaghetti? That's the stringy dish right?" "I guess so?" "YES! Two of those then!" Luna decreed. Princess Celestia rolled her eyes as she finished the rest of her cake. "And for you your highness?" The chef asked Princess Celestia. "A 'big' salad." she answered with hooves out stretched holding an invisible bowl. "Right away my princess." The chef ran out of the room his orders. "So, after this we will head to the university then to Twilight's." Luna said before she delved into a quick thought. "We should probably take the chariot to Twilight's, don't want you getting lost in the void..." "The void?" asked Dawn. "Why are you going to the university?" Princess Celestia asked, now turned to her sister. "Dawn wants her... fillyfriend?" Luna turned to Dawn for an answer. "Fillyfriend is a correct term for a long term romantic relationship between two mares sister." Celestia answered without skipping a beat. "Ahh... very good. Dawn wants her fillyfriend to attend the university here in Canterlot." "Oh?" The sun goddess turned to Dawn with scrutinizing eyes. "Uhh..." Dawn started to reply. "It is of little matter of consequence sister nothing to fuss over. Who am I to disrupt young love?" "Does this young mare know you are going to use your pull to decide her fate?" Princess Celestia asked, still piercing Dawn with her eyes. "If I have my way she would think she worked for it..." Dawn replied hoping that the sun goddess' eyes would point some where else. "Oh good, so subterfuge is still used in relationships. I always enjoyed employing such techniques." Luna cheered. Dawn shrunk under the Sun princess' stare only to find reprieve as she turned to her sister. Dawn internally grimaced at the thought of Luna's past relationships, thrones and all... "Sister, it is looked down upon to be dishonest with the ponies you love." "It is?" Luna and Dawn asked in near unison. Princess Celestia face hoofed. "Yes. It is." She said giving space to the words so they could sink in. She turned to Dawn from under her hoof. "Do you love this mare?" "Yes." She said with a surprising confidence. "At least I think so." "Do you not have faith in her ability to succeed to come to Canterlot herself?" "I uhhh..." Dawn didn't think of it like that. Am I really robbing her? Either way I really don't know her that well to make that call... "I fail to see her fault sister. If this mare works hard all the same to get to the same place why not have insurances that she will end in the favorable position?" Luna asked. That's a good point... "Love will make ponies do things they would not normally do, for better or for worse." She said, quickly glancing over to Luna only to return back to Dawn. "For instance, did she talk about going to Canterlot before you decided to move here?" Did she? "I'm sure she wants the best like any pony... isn't Canterlot the best?" "No, Canterlot University is held to the same standards as all the other universities I made sure of that. Canterlot is just the hardest to get into because of its location." "Well if they are all the same sister why do you insist this is a bad thing? Clearly real-estate is the only variable in their calculations." Luna said. Princess Celestia gave a heavy sigh. "Do what you want. I will not interfere but you are walking a dangerous line with your lover, I hope it doesn't come back to bite you." Dawn sat in silence as she gave the princesses' words of warning and justification some thought. As they ate their dinner the princesses for the most part left her to her thoughts. Why is this so complicated... She hadn't noticed she was done with whatever she had ordered until her fork searched in vain for more food on her plate. She looked around to see both the Princesses were still eating. Luna was dangling the spaghetti from high above her mouth letting it fall on to her tongue. Princess Celestia was ignoring the sight, occasionally rolling her eyes at the sounds her sister would make. Once Luna was finished she looked to Dawn and asked, "So shall we?" What if she never finds out then everything would be fine. What if she's alright with it? She hopped down from her plush chair. Dawn felt an urge to go under the table again and hide until all things were decided for her. She closed her eyes in mid thought as she walked under the table not to hide but to try out the new spell again. With her eyes closed and her mind blank, she felt for the university in general. There were probably trees maybe even a couple of students walking the grounds. She was two steps under the table when she felt her horn tap against the table's center post. She then felt a cool breeze graze her coat. She was walking out of a large gnarled tree's shadow. Dawn heard giggling behind her. It was Luna. "You are going to be such a good student." Luna was walking out of a shadowy corner of the building next to her. "Thanks..." She said, far more solemnly than she meant to sound. "Do not let my sister's words sway you. Any actions done from the heart will always turn out for the better." Luna said with a calm smile. "Yah, I am sure it turned out well for those manticores..." "Ha! They did live on in memory under my rear for centuries." Luna said with far more grace than needed. "Let us find the officials we need." Luna cheered. "Alright, I guess we can ask some student or something." The space they found themselves in was only populated with the alicorn and herself. Luna skipped off into an opening around the corner in search of some unsuspecting student. Dawn trotted after her, still cycling her recent thoughts through her head. "You! Student! I would like to talk to the officials of this School. Where would I need to go?" Luna asked. "You dare approach me with such a question? I would have you know I am of noble blood. I am not some school directory!" The unsuspecting unicorn answered without looking at the night princess. As Luna processed the response, Dawn erupted into deafening laughter. The unicorn with the flowing gold mane and the ironic cutie mark of a compass turned around to stare down the laughing pink unicorn. "I am Prince Blueblood I will not be laughed at!" He huffed, still not quite registering the night princess yet. The entire quarter they found themselves in became unnaturally still and dark. Dawn paused from laughing. All she could see was a Princess Luna and Prince Blueblood. The Prince was oblivious to the change in light as he glared angrily at Dawn. Luna seemed to grow in size as she yelled in a sundering voice "I AM PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT! EXECUTOR OF THE MOON! RULER OF EQUESTRIA! YOU WILL ANSWER THY QUESTION WORM!" Dawn could see the gears turning in the Prince's head as he slowly saw the error of his ways. Blueblood shrieked in horror at the sight of Princess Luna. Her wings were fully stretched out and she had a menacing look in her eye. Blueblood curled into a small little ball below her, quaking in fear. "Th...The admissions office... that's what you... you want... your highness..." The quickly darkness receded as Luna returned to her normal self. Dawn looked down at the still curled up unicorn. Laughter welled up in her again. This time Luna joined in with a light chuckle. "So much for the 'Noble Prince Blueblood'." Dawn managed to blurt out in between gasps of air. O good Luna, I needed this. Blueblood unrolled himself enough to scowl at the pink unicorn but only shrunk back in tighter when he accidently made eye contact with the night princess. As soon as Dawn caught her breath, they started to make their way to the admissions office towards where the Prince pointed. Giving a casual "Thanks" to the still curled up Blueblood. They both happily skipped in silence to their destination. They found the building they were after. It had lights on so Luna opened the door for Dawn only for the door to snap under her magic. "It was locked." Dawn observed. "Oops..." Luna chuckled. A security guard ran up to the door way yelling, "And what do you think you're doing!" The guard stopped dead in his tracks at the opening where there once was a door. The guard dropped into a low bow. "Forgive me Princess I did not know it was you." The night princess stood tall in the door way with Dawn right beside her. "I am sorry. I did not mean to break your door." Luna replied. "I will make sure the castle pays for the damages. We have come to speak to some of the officials of the school." The guard got up from his bow and stepped to his side "You will find who you need inside my princess." "Thanks." Dawn replied as she trotted inside. Luna followed suit as she dropped the splintered door on the ground behind her. "You are more entertaining than I gave you credit for, Luna." Dawn said as the hallway ended birthing into a large room full of staring eyes. The room shuffled briefly as everypony gave a generous bow. Luna ignored Dawn and addressed the room full of ponies. "Please rise my little ponies I am looking for somepony to help me with an admission to the college." The room rose to greet the princess. "I can help you princess." Said an older looking mare in the back of the room. Dawn and Luna made their way to the older mare. She welcomed the pair into a room behind her, visibly shaken by the royal presence. Once in the room she fumbled over to her desk and beckoned to her guests to take up a cushion. "What can I do for my princess?" She said with impressive smoothness despite her clumsiness. "Dawn?" Luna looked over to Dawn giving her an expectant look. The older mare joined in. "I would like a mare to be admitted through normal channels of the university without her finding out." Might as well be as open as possible. "Ideally I want her to think she got in herself." "I...See..." The older unicorn was taken aback by the request. She fumbled her hooves a little in thought. "Umm... What would this mares name be?" Turning first to the princess only to turn back to Dawn. "April Showers." Dawn answered The older unicorn flared up her horn wielding a quill as she wrote down the name on a blank piece of paper. Luna cleared her throat to direct the attention back to her. "We are employing subterfuge so we would like to know if there are any complications in our plan." The aged mare fumbled her hooves again in thought. Then she walked over to some filing cabinets in the room and started searching. "April Showers." She muttered as she pulled the file free of the cabinet with her magic. The old mare retook her seat on the other side of the desk as she opened the folder. "Well you are in luck she is still in the drawing of the candidates." She said, studying the apparently well connected prospect. "Unfortunately we already sent out a majority of the acceptance letters..." Dawn wilted in place. Her plan was already falling apart. "We still have some late notice letters to send out, they belong to the students that applied and made the cut but were not quite up to par with the other students that were accepted. They fill the spots of the students that decline from coming here. This student is already in that drawing." Perfect. "So that will work right?" Dawn was grinning ear to ear. She was still deceiving her... Her grin broke at the thought. "Yes. I can write her the acceptance letter later and sneak her file into the 'accepted' cabinet." "Ahem." Luna brought the attention back to her again. "When will this letter be sent out? I believe she is trying to win the universities affections right now. We don't want to have the letter sent to early as to give away the whole scheme." "Oh... These sets of letters were going to be sent out in a week or two. uhhh... we really don't notice students activities by this phase." The older mare added. "So it would appear to be random?" "It may..." The older mare shrunk on her answer. It was a gamble... Am I making too much of a fuss over this? Dawn let out an elongated sigh forcing Luna to look over with worried eyes. "Don't you want this?" Luna asked, unsure of herself. "I feel like I just can't think straight when it comes to April... It's kinda a new feeling." Dawn admitted. "Just do it." Luna egged on. Dawn looked into the old mares eyes. "Fine. Go ahead and do it then." "Of... Of course." The elder unicorn lightly stammered. She was caught off guard by an indiscernible look in Dawn's eyes. "Well I'm glad that is settled." Luna got up from her cushion as she looked expectantly at Dawn. "So to Twilight's now?" She asked eagerly. "Yah." Dawn got up and moved towards Luna but than spotted a dark corner unlit by the lamps on the walls. Her curiosity got the better of her. She blanked her mind and pictured nothing but the library. She froze in mid thought. 'Eyes are useless in the dark'. Luna's words echoed in her mind as she closed her eyes. She needed to feel the library. The smell of books, parchment, ink. She thought of Twilight and how she may feel. The sound of a snoring dragon and burning candles. She walked to the corner half hearing "Stop!" from Luna over her shoulder but she was already there. Dawn opened her eyes as she walked out of the shadow into the poor mutilated tree. She found two mares sitting on the couch reading a book. One she recognized as Twilight. "Hi Twilight!" She said excitedly. I can't believe I just teleported from so far away and so easily. The two mares jumped from the couch they were reading on. There eyes wild with fear searched the room to find the pink unicorn. Out from the corner she had just emerged Luna appeared more than a little distraught. "I TOLD YOU WE WOULD BE TAKING THE CHARIOT!" Luna yelled in a scolding tone. Dawn turned around. The night princess was looking down back at her with worried eyes. "I'm sorry I wanted... I couldn't resist trying it more long distance." Luna's face softened. "It is a dangerous spell you could have easily been lost to the void." Luna gave a sigh, relaxing her face still. "I am happy you figured it out so easily." She bent down and gave Dawn a gentle nuzzle. "You just scared me." "Ahem..." Twilight was now standing in a defending position in front of the other mare. "Can I help you? What are you doing here Dawn? How are you here rather? Why are you with Luna?" "Dawn?" asked the light blue pone behind Twilight. She stepped forward to get a better view of the princess and the unicorn. "YOU!" She scrunched up her face as she recognized Dawn. Dawn recognized light blue unicorn with a silver mane as well. "The Great and Powerful Trixie!" Dawn laughed out loud in a mocking tone. "You know each other?" Twilight asked, turning to the mare beside her. "We came for Dawn's tome." Luna said indifferently. "Does Trixie know her? SHE BLEW UP TRIXIE'S STAGE COACH!" She shrilled in anger glaring at Dawn who was on the verge of tears from laughing too hard. "She did?" Asked Twilight and Luna, in a seemingly practiced unison, both ignoring the third person speech for the moment. "Psh." Dawn waved them away with a hoof. "I included it into your act." She said as she settled down. "YOU BLEW IT UP!" Trixie squealed out of frustration. "I made your act more interesting and you still had me replace it for you." Dawn said, deadpanning. She had much more control of her faculties now. "You owe Trixie much more than just a replacement. You humiliated The Great and Powerful Trixie!" Trixie added. "Psh." Dawn waved away the statement again with her hoof. "Interesting is not humiliation. Plus that was a long time ago. Talk about holding a grudge." Forgetting where she was and who she shared a room with, Trixie turned red ready to explode with anger. "Trix." Twilight whispered calmly, walking over and put a hoof on her shoulder. Trixie cooled down a great deal at the touch. She mumbled something intended for Twilight's ears alone and turned around to gather herself. "You came for your book?" Twilight now addressed the Princess and Dawn. Twilight flared up her magic as a familiar looking tome floated out of Twilight's room and down to Dawn. Dawn took control of the book and slipped it into her 'bank'. "Thank you my dear." She said with mock civility. Twilight missed the 'mock' part. "Not a problem. So how did you get here?" Twilight asked, now letting her curiosity take control. Luna, the teacher, stayed quiet as Dawn was looked to her. Following Dawn's lead Twilight did as well looking for an experienced answer. None came so Dawn took charge and answered. "Quid pro quo Twilight. Why is she here?" Dawn asked, pointing at Trixie's backside. "Uhhh." Twilight stumbled in place looking for answers. "That's Private." She finally settled on. "Ahh, well than so is my method of transportation." Dawn quipped back. "Oh for Celestia's sake, she's my fillyfriend." Outburst Trixie turning around to throw scolding eyes at Twilight. Dawn deadpanned. "Ahh, well how nice." "Quid pro quo." Trixie replied in kind with a thick smugness plastered on her face. "Dark magic teleportation." Twilight and Trixie gasped. Trixie was the first to recover, "Figures you would become a dark unicorn." She said with hatred lathering her lips. Twilight gave Trixie a quick look over to shut her up. "Why are you using dark magic? That's dangerous!" She said to Dawn. "It is no more dangerous than light magic Twilight Sparkle. Surely Celestia has taught you better then that!" Luna said with her wings half open out of annoyance. Luna stepped in front of Dawn and towered over the two non-pink unicorns out of frustration. Best chime in. "Luna, they met nothing by it. It will take time for that stigma to go away." Luna relaxed to Dawn's words and pulled back from her offensive posture. "I'm sorry." She mumbled to Dawn as she studied the ground below her. "It's fine." Dawn said to Luna before turning back to Twilight and Trixie. "Twilight you've read my book. You know light magic isn't just for the benefit of pony kind. Surely you can say dark magic isn't 'all' evil by comparison." "I suppose...." Twilight offered. "My sister only taught you light magic because that is all she knows to such an extent to teach, not because it is dangerous or 'evil'." Luna's voice shook on the last word. "Yes well..." Dawn said with a louder voice than she intended. "We clearly were interrupting your evening so I will see you later." Dawn started to trot to a dark corner. "Bye the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She laughed as she felt for her room in the castle. Empty, Cold, and populated by a box with a letter in it. She walked into the corner of the library and walked out into her room. I am getting the hang of this. She scampered over to the box she left on the floor, at the foot of the bed. Her hooves were echoing in the room which was only illuminated by the waning moon. She sat on her quarters next to the box. The room was soon filled with Luna's cackling as she emerged from another shadow next to Dawn. "You should've seen their faces when you walked through the shadows like you've been doing it all your life. Their jaws nearly hit the floor." Luna said as she sat down next to Dawn and her box. "Aww, I would've liked to have seen that." Dawn's attention was on the box that was levitating over to her. Luna gave a little scowl at the box that wouldn't yield its secrets. It opened with ease to Dawn's magic as she pulled a new letter out. Dawn lit the gas chandelier hanging high above in her room with her horn as she unfolded the letter. Luna levitated the empty box over to her to study it in silence. Dawn lay down on the cool marble as she cast a shadow on her face with the letter to read it. Dawn, It's so weird writing to you this often this box is really neat. It is hard to believe that you couldn't imagine the castle, you can imagine quite a bit so it must be simply massive. I can not wait to see it. I do not want you to worry yourself with me getting into CU that is my problem. You just worry about Dawn for now. April Dawn read the letter a couple times expecting words to appear out of no where. That's it? She put the letter down on her bed and walked over to the balcony. She didn't say not to... That letter was really short. She didn't say she loved me. Dawn took a deep breath of the night air. It felt refreshing in her lungs. A chill crept up her spine leaving a calm in its wake. I am simply over thinking this. Am I? Yes, I really am. I'm searching for meanings that are not there. Dawn nodded to her thoughts as she turned to the source of the moonlight. Luna's night was beautiful as always. It has been a very long day. Dawn felt the soreness from her bout with magic fatigue this morning. Tomorrow I will have a clearer mind. Dawn turned over to Luna. She was still studying the box by opening it and closing it with her magic. Dawn giggled at Luna gaining her attention. "What is so funny?" "You with that 'trinket' you 'had no use for'." She answered in a mocking tone. "Yes, well I did not say it was 'not' interesting." "Luna would you mind if I went to bed I've had a long day." "So early? I figured you for a night pony." Luna sounded and looked very disappointed. "Very well, can I have your book to study while I wait for my night court to start?" "Oh, Sure." Another pony that wants to read my book. She smiled at the thought as she summoned the book out. "All yours." She said, levitating it to Luna for her magic to take hold of it. "Uhh please be careful with it." Luna cackled as she leafed through the pages of the tome. "I will handle it like a new born foal." Luna got up towards the door. "Luna?" Dawn had a question burning on her lips. Luna turned around to look at Dawn. "Yes?" "Is it true Princess Celestia only knows light magic?" "Yes." Luna gazed up to the ceiling in thought. "Fear not though. I am not my sister. Unlike her I had a thousand years to think. Think about philosophy, ethics and magic." She paused in thought. "Also unlike my sister I will teach you magic as a whole not just one side." Luna said with all the seriousness she could muster. "Alright." Dawn chirped excitedly. She quickly calmed herself to normalcy. "Good night Luna." She said, passing Luna on her way to make herself a bath. "Of course it is... I mean... Good night Dawn." Luna shuffled in place briefly. "Dawn I would like you to promise me that you will not try to teleport any where outside this city or beyond Ponyville." "Alright..." Dawn agreed from the bathroom. "Why?" "I will explain in greater detail tomorrow." Luna said before dissolving in a black smoke with Dawn's book. After a very long bath, Dawn got lost in the giant bed's covers. Sleep did not come easily however, as thoughts of April kept her up. To think just the other day I saw her as nothing but something fun and entertaining. A play thing to be out grown... Dawn hated herself for such thoughts but they were so true. "I'm pretty sure this isn't how this kind of stuff works." Dawn had a couple relationships with ponies brave enough to approach her and she made sure their relationship never lasted more then a month or two. What was different about April. She new what was different but didn't see how it came to fruition. Dawn buried her head under her pillow out of annoyance with herself letting sleep take her soon after.