//------------------------------// // Dawn // Story: Farachan // by QTXAdsy //------------------------------// Chapter 13 Dawn From that night onwards throughout the war, Blue Arrow never saw Shadow again. Neither did anyone of the elite Equestria force in Farachan. At the crack of dawn the morning after the duel, Shadow was escorted from the Red Hooves' HQ and onto an awaiting passenger ship to take him back home to Equestria. Many rumored it later on that Shadow looked completely battered and bruised and nopony could understand how he had managed them, only one certain blue stallion knew the truth. Speaking of which, Blue Arrow had during the night after the duel had gone over to a small river stream to wash all the blood from his face in a attempt to try and look normal as possible, though the black eye and the various red marks across his face were still there to be seen. This didn't help the following day as when Blue Arrow woke up in his dorm along with his fellow friends, Blue Arrow had to lie to them about his suspicious marks and say that he was flying to fast and hit a brick wall during last night. The others only just bought it, but the rumors of Shadow looking beat up did make them think otherwise. When Shadow did finally leave Farachan's shores, many Red Hooves had all sorts of things to say about the shamed Red Hoof troop. 'Good Riddance!' some said 'A bastard son who should never had been a Red Hoof!' others said while a surprisingly large amount did hold a small amount of sympathy for him, most notably about what his fate might be lying the hooves of Princess Celestia herself. 'Celestia please forgive that kid' would be the words lingering on the minds of those Red Hooves. A week followed onwards and despite the Red Hooves being a secret service, neither of them, not even the highest-ranking commanders there, heard any more about Shadow. It was then a hazard guessed by many that he had been given a frightful punishment that no one dare to even talk about it, of course many were still skeptical, but the mystery over the black stallion deepened overtime. During that time as well, winter eventually rolled in spring and now everyone seemed certain that the war was soon at an end and the surrender terms would arrive from Alaccan any day soon. Too bad Blue Arrow didn't feel the same way… XXX An early morning sun lit up the Farachan docks during an early morning round with about eight Red Hooves patrolling around the Coltfast. Among the pack, Blue Arrow and Dynamo were both grouped to scan the docks looking out for any signs of suspicious activity. It may have seemed rather redundant to do this sort thing considering how the Alaccans hadn't attack in ages, but they could never be too careful. Blue Arrow, dressed in full armor with his new sword by his side, walked along one of the wooden piers of the dock before taking a second to stop and look up at the morning sun. "Bonny morning it is ya majesty," Blue Arrow muttered in admiration of how the sun's beams lit up the rather grubby and damp docks. "Always lookin' out ta' make us feel better durin' oor work I see." It was then while looking at the sunrise that it made him feel like that this was the dawn of something new. No it wasn't about the Red Hooves and their main purpose which everypony seem to go on about, but something that Blue Arrow felt had yet to be discovered... He was admiring the sunshine quite a bit that he didn't notice Dynamo trotted up beside him. "Indeed it is my good sir," He replied calmly. "Oh! Er…I bet ye kinda heard me talk to myself on there, right?" Blue Arrow rambled on embarrassed. The brown stallion smiled warmly. "Only just a bit, though I do agree with it being such a nice morning." Blue Arrow's head then lowered while pondering. "Aye…that's true, just don't feel good today, that's all?" "What's the matter then?" Dynamo inquired. "Who'd you think?" Blue Arrow remarked. "That stallion that everyone says he-who-must-not-be-named." "Ah yes," Dynamo sighed sadly. Ever since Shadow had been deported, Blue Arrow had been one of the few Red Hooves who felt quite sorry for him, not surprisingly that he was the one who not only tracked him down and beaten him in a dangerous duel, but seemed to be the only one who could've helped him somehow. And even though those wounds he had received from the duel were starting to heal up, the memory that they brought from the fight made Blue Arrow feel uncomfortable, it didn't help even that he hadn't told Dynamo or the others about the true nature of his wounds. Sometimes, he felt quite a cruel person for having to lie about the wounds. "…Anyway then," Blue Arrow said quickly in order to try and change the subject. "It's quite somthin' ta' think that oor home is over those waters." He pointed out to sea that in the distance they could just make out a faint bit of land…Equestria. "And that's what we're also fighting for," Dynamo added. "Well, for me personally it's a bit different…" Blue Arrow notice the brown Pegasus' head droop down, and Blue Arrow only knew too well of what was going on through the mind of his close friend. "Hey, don't worry, we're both still alive and well. She and the foals will be just dandy when we get back." Dynamo's face briefly lit up at his friend's words of encouragement. "Thank you, speaking of which, I received another letter from her regarding the foals." Blue Arrow raised an eyebrow. "Oh aye? What'd she say?" Dynamo briefly chuckled at the thought of it. "As you know, both of my daughters are unicorns, and little Water Heart performed her first magic trick." "Hey, no' bad, the wee lassie is growing up already!" Blue Arrow said with praise. "That's also the bad news…" Dynamo added with some regret. "W-what happened?" Blue Arrow asked. Dynamo drew in a deep breath. "Her first magic spell was merely a electric shock to act in a manner of defensive…to bad it had to be on her grandfather…" Blue Arrow let out a hearty laugh at the thought of it all. "Oh gods that's just classic, she hates that stallion much like you hate him, haha!" The laughing stallion eventually died down, but was surprised to see Dynamo looking not amused. "Oh…sorry mate, didn't perceive ye still have a troubled relationship with Star Burst's parents." "No it's alright dear chap," Dynamo said calmly. "It's quite a thorny subject to talk about them, even after the war is over and trying to win over her parents will be quite difficult." Dynamo looked quite rejected from thinking about the thought and Blue Arrow felt sorry for all the trouble Dynamo had been getting along with himself personally, much like with his relationship with Shadow. "Don't you worry," Blue Arrow then said placing his forehoof on Dynamo's shoulders. "Ye are my best friend and old Dad would always say that everythin' always works oot in the end. And I'll gladly be the best stallion at your wedding if ye needed it." Dynamo smiled back in response. "Thank you, Blue Arrow." And with that, the two friends left that pier to continued on with their patrol, with them not knowing that the war was far from over… The End