"You're not angry with me?" Dawnfire asked curiously. He'd expected for the Princess to scold him when she asked to speak privately with him, but instead she stood patiently as he gave an account of his absence from Canterlot. She didn't show any signs of being angry or upset, instead appearing genuinely interested in what he had to say. He also thought he noticed some concern mixed into her expression, which did offer some comfort to him. Standing on the bridge leading to the castle once more, the stallion felt a strange sense of deja vu.
"I'm very thankful for your safe return, as well as the return of your missing townsponies," she responded. "Your actions were brash and reckless, but they did result in an outcome which both me and my guards have been unable to achieve. I feel I must acknowledge your achievements, if nothing else."
Dawnfire gulped at this. Achievements? Sure, he'd found the missing ponies and brought them back safely, but the clanging of metal and the gasps and gurgles was what stayed prominently in his mind.
"Well, thank you," he mumbled to her. "How did your talk with Princess Luna go?"
The Princess stiffened minutely at this and let out a short, silent sigh. "I didn't speak with her," she informed Dawnfire. "My sister wasn't in the castle and I cannot find her anywhere in Canterlot. I am...extremely concerned that your theory may be correct." She spoke in a deflated tone as she told him this.
"But then how will we raise the sun, or even set the moon?" Dawnfire asked anxiously. He didn't want to stay in this state forever; time stood still, and everything was just stagnant. Besides, without the sun, no crops could grow, he realised. That meant that, given enough time, the population of Equestria, and probably the entire world, would run out of food. Dawnfire tried not to think about that.
"I will continue to search for my sister, but right now we have more pressing issues." She regarded Dawnfire with a regretful smile, and the orange stallion tensed up, expecting either some bad news or a taxing proposition. "With Equestria in perpetual night and the rest of the world facing the inevitable effects from the absence of the day/night cycle, other nations are bound to demand answers, or even take action," the white mare continued. "In order to help this crisis along as best as we can, we need all the nations of the world working together cooperatively, not panicking and fighting each other. The best way to achieve this is through open communication and the continuation of diplomacy."
The orange stallion tilted his head in confusion. "Surely that won't be an issue? We just need to talk to the other nations and explain to them what's going on." Celestia nodded slowly and sorrowfully, almost as though she expected Dawnfire's response.
"We have a diplomat who has trained for international relations and emergency summits, and she is ready to take on the role. The one issue we now have is getting her to the nations that she is required to appease, or at least pacify." The Princess let out a small sigh. "We have an army of unknown origin, motives and size somewhere out there who have already attacked and burned your town. Furthermore, there are various dangers across the land which I am not willing to expose a diplomat to."
"What about the town guards your highness? Couldn't they escort her?"
"No. With the emergence of this 'New Lunar Republic', we have to be prepared to defend each and every town and settlement across Equestria. I will not see so much as another hamlet burned to the ground. I can't afford to transfer even a few guards for escort duty; the guards are already stretched thin and we wouldn't have enough to defend any city we transferred them from. Aside from that, a convoy would draw attention and become a target."
"So we can't send this diplomat anywhere?" Dawnfire asked with a gulp. The situation was looking very bad. The orange stallion thought back to when he was glad to arrive at Canterlot, thinking that the ordeal would be over. Ironically, it just made him even more aware of how bad everything actually was, and that his ordeal was just a small part of a much bigger problem.
"Not with how everything is now, no," the Princess answered. She started to look slightly nervous. "I think I may have a solution, but it isn't one that I would have liked to take if I had any other option. Dawnfire, I would like to request that you escort the diplomat."
Dawnfire froze and his eyes shot open. Did he just hear her correctly? Princess Celestia had just asked him to escort a diplomat across the land that she had admitted was packed with dangers. She was giving him a sympathetic look which only marginally managed to assuage his concerns.
"Y-your majesty?"
"I'm sorry to have to ask you at all Dawnfire, I truly am."
"But I'm the worst possible pony to ask!"
"I would say otherwise," she assured him with a benign smile. "You are, I think, the best possible candidate in this situation for the role." Dawnfire gave her an incredulous look, but her confident expression didn't fade at all. "You have wandered into the plains and back again, and returned with more than you left. Twice, if I'm not mistaken. Furthermore, you have experience fighting whatever lies out on those plains, and with some training, I believe that you would be more than capable of escorting the diplomat and yourself safely around Equestria and beyond. With no guards available, I think that you more than anypony else are the best I could ask for."
"I...understand, but even so...." Dawnfire trailed off. He didn't know what else was keeping him back. Her reasoning was sound, especially given the severity of the situation, but he didn't feel that he could do this. When he tried to find why, he couldn't think of an answer. Maybe it was a lack of confidence?
"I understand if you don't wish to accept." The Princess bore a solemn look that exuded empathy and understanding. "I will not force you to take up this position, nor will I encourage you to do this against your will. I ask only that you give it some thought, and that you make your choice on your own merit and consideration. If you decline, I will not think any less of you."
Dawnfire squeezed his eyes shut as tightly as he could. It made perfect sense, and from what Princess Celestia had told him he was most likely the only pony she could approach for the job. If he didn't take it, other ponies would suffer. He had experience, he was being offered training, and the Princess herself trusted him enough to make him the offer in the first place. By all accounts, he should have been honoured, and deep down he did feel the faint pangs of pride being stoked by the situation.
Was he ready for this? He didn't really feel that he was. Just a day ago (or whenever the sun had last set) he had been a farmer harvesting and planting crops in a field alongside the rest of his community, and now he was being presented with the choice to venture out into the unknown in a situation that nopony had any set methods of dealing with. The situation was bad, and he was set to be sent out onto the frontlines. He gritted his teeth in frustration. How could anypony make a choice like this? It was insane!
Hopesmeade. The stallion had no idea why it popped into his head, but he remembered the acrid stench of the smoke as he pushed himself desperately through his house to rescue his mother. He saw the inferno as it devoured his home and the buildings around him, heard the roar of the flames as they licked hungrily at the once proud town. All of that had been caused by a group of ponies who had championed the rise of eternal night, ponies who were still out there. He was being offered a chance to stand against them, to prevent this from happening to other communities, and to sort this whole mess out.
You want responsibility? You want freedom? You've always wanted that, so go out and get it!
The memory of the words shouted by his father as he desperately held the door closed forced its way into his head and echoed about. The very thing that he had been contemplating and even complaining to Mira about on that very same day still rang true. He opened his eyes and looked up to see the Princess waiting patiently for him to come to a conclusion. The orange stallion noted that she hadn't moved nor pushed him since he'd lapsed into thought.
You have wandered into the plains and back again, and returned with more than you left. Twice, if I'm not mistaken.
Dawnfire, the shepherd of the light...
"I accept your proposition," he informed her in a firm tone. The mare gave a slow nod and a minute smile, and Dawnfire could see the relief evident in her eyes. Despite her composed demeanour, she was clearly pleased with the outcome.
"Thank you, Dawnfire. I appreciate your understanding and I admire your bravery in making this difficult choice."
"It's what needs to be done," he explained. "If I don't, everyone else suffers; me, my family, the Hopesmeade residents, the rest of Equestria, the entirety of the world. I might as well do something, anything, to make this better. And besides, I can't think of a better way to honour my town than to put my skills to use in helping the rest of Equestria."
Celestia smiled at his reasoning. "From the ashes of your town arises its spirit, stronger and purer. I commend your attitude." She glanced upwards at the moon quickly before returning her attention to the stallion in front of her. "If you would like to go and rest, I can arrange your first training session for when you wake up."
The stallion shook his head. "No thank you, your majesty. I'd prefer to start right now, if that's okay." The Princess looked remotely surprised but nodded compliantly.
"Of course, I can arrange that immediately. May I ask why you wish to start so soon?" The mare gave him an inquisitive look and the orange stallion swallowed, distant clangs of metal and the sensation of juddering resistance pressing towards the front of his mind.
"I'd like to prepare as much as possible," he offered in a small voice. "I can't possibly delay something this important." She nodded in understanding.
"Very well. If you follow me to the castle grounds, I will fetch your instructor, and you can begin immediately." The Princess turned and walked towards the entrance into the castle, the orange stallion following close behind. This night was going to be a very long one indeed.
*******************************************************
The training ground for the Canterlot Guard was a cordoned off field right next to the castle itself, nestled comfortably in the gardens next to the maze. Practice dummies were propped up in the centre, along with several targets for archery training. At the moment it was silent, with the guards either in their barracks or out on duty. The only pony here was the orange earth pony shuffling nervously about as he waited for whoever was coming to train him.
The night wasn't too cold thanks to the absence of any breeze. It was mild but perfectly bearable, and probably the best temperature to train in, assuming that he would have to move around a lot. At the moment, though, he moved his weight between each of his legs as he waited anxiously. The soft sound of metal clanking caught his attention and he turned to face the source of the noise.
A guard was trotting towards him, the sound of his armour clanging as he walked growing louder as he drew closer. The armour itself was a vivacious purple with gold trimmings, the moonlight glinting brightly off the smooth metallic plates. His helmet covered his neck and the sides of his head and bore a deep red crest atop it. Clopping to a halt next to Dawnfire, the guard looked him up and down before reaching up and removing his helmet. He wore an impatient scowl and Dawnfire noted that his mane was the same hue as his helmet crest.
"So you're the pony I'm here to train," he growled, placing his helmet down on the ground next to him. Dawnfire wondered if having a deep or gravelly voice was a prerequisite for joining the ranks of the town guard. "The Princess has requested that I train you in basic combat, and I'm not the type of pony to questions orders, especially not from Her. If I'm told to do something, I do it, because I know that She has Her reasons. But I wasn't told to like this, and I don't. From what the sentries have told me, you rocked up here in the middle of the night, demanded that they sent guards to Hopesmeade, and then stole military equipment and ran off to try and sort out the situation yourself. I'm sure you can figure out why I don't trust you, and with that in mind, I'd like your name."
"Dawnfire," the orange stallion answered apprehensively. The guard's violet eyes glared coldly at him for a moment before he gave a disdainful sniff.
"Well Dawnfire, if nothing else, you've got some drive in you. That's the only reason that I think I can teach you anything, although I am really not happy with providing you with any knowledge about fighting. You've caused a fair amount of trouble for us. Still, whilst we're here, we might as well go through the standard procedure. I am Captain Hammerfell, and I am here to train you in the skills you will need for combat situations. You're going to receive the same training regime as all the other recruits, so don't expect any sympathy, don't expect any special consideration, and most importantly, don't screw up so badly that I throw you off the side of the Canterlot mountain. Understood?"
Dawnfire nodded hurriedly at the brusque question. A crimson glow sparked and illuminated the guard's face, highlighting his silvery-grey coat and the firm facial contours. It also made it apparent that said guard was a unicorn, evidenced by the protruding horn that was the source of the crimson glow. Behind the unicorn, three objects emitted the same glow as they were telekinetically unstrapped and brought between the two ponies; two swords and a circular shield.
"Take one," Hammerfell commanded, and Dawnfire complied, reaching through the magical field and grasping at one of the sheathed swords with his teeth. The shield was placed to one side and the unicorn drew the other sword from its scabbard, which was placed beside the shield. "There are two techniques for wielding a sword, and three if you are a unicorn."
"I'm not though," Dawnfire muttered around his own sword. Hammerfell glared at him.
"I'm running through a training programme here, so shut up and listen. The unicorn exclusive choice is to hold the sword with your magic, although this can be taxing for your concentration without proper training. The other two options are the most commonly used, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The first option is to hold the sword in your mouth. Try this now." He looked pointedly at Dawnfire, who clenched at the handle of his sword and drew it from its sheath, discarding the scabbard on the ground next to him.
"This technique is best used for defensive combat, due to the superior grip on the sword and the fact that you retain all of your movement and agility," the unicorn continued. "Your centre of mass is no different to if you were walking around normally, and thus you hold a strong position if you are attacked. I'll demonstrate; I'll swing my sword at you, and you block." The sword arched lazily through the air and the orange stallion strained his neck to the right, feeling and hearing the other sword clang off his. The unicorn brought his blade across from the left, to which Dawnfire twisted his head to the left to protect his side, again feeling the blow reverberate along his weapon.
"As you can see, it is effective against oncoming blades, but without a firm and dexterous set of muscles in both your jaw and your neck, you won't be able to utilise this position much at all. You may also have noticed that it doesn't offer much in terms of offensive capabilities, only allowing you to make quick and hasty strokes and swings. For this reason, holding your weapon this way should be limited to very close quarter and enclosed combat, or when stealth or mobility is needed or preferred. The other option is to hold the sword with your forelegs, which I will demonstrate here."
With a deft motion, Hammerfell loosened his magical grip on his sword and reared up onto his hind legs, catching the sword in his forelegs and clutching it tightly with both front hooves. Dawnfire gaped at his balance and unnerving ability to stand up straight so suddenly. That was unnatural, and seeing somepony balance so effortlessly while wielding a weapon was both awe inspiring and terrifying.
"This position allows for much greater offensive combat, due to your increased attack range and capability," said Hammerfell from his standing position. "From here, you can swing down at your enemies and force them into a defensive position, like so." With a sudden swing, he brought the sword through the air towards Dawnfire, who quickly twisted his own sword in the way. The familiar clang echoed along the metal as he took a step back. "I think you can agree with me on that point. There are, however, several drawbacks to this stance, including your more hindered mobility and balance. It requires a level of practice to be able to fight like this, although it does offer substantial benefits when mastered. Another noticeable drawback is your openness to attack." The guard swept a hoof along his underside in demonstration. "Obviously this disadvantage can be mitigated through the use of armour or a shield."
The guard lit his horn up again as the shield rose from the ground beside him, ensconced in crimson magic. Floating it across, Hammerfell slipped his left foreleg into the straps and let his magic fade away. He moved the shield to cover his underbelly.
"Now I have an adequate defense against frontal attacks, which strengthens my stance significantly. If you throw some attacks at me, I can demonstrate."
Dawnfire hesitated at the request, glancing at the guard uncertainly. Taking a nervous step forward, he took a small swing which clanged harmlessly against the shield.
"Again," Hammerfell commanded. The earth pony swung the blade again with the same result. The shield jerked forwards and shoved him backwards, stunning the orange pony. He blinked and looked at the guard in confusion, who looked back levelly at him.
"The shield has more use than merely blocking, as it can be used to shove your opponents back to create room for yourself, or even be used as a weapon in itself. For now though, we'll stick to its defensive purpose. If you stand up on your hind legs, I want you to practice holding the sword with your forehooves."
"I'm not sure I'm capable of that," Dawnfire told him. Hammerfell narrowed his eyes.
"That wasn't a suggestion, that was a command. Do it." The cold authority in those words made the orange pony swallow nervously, and he shifted his weight to his back and rose his forelegs off the ground, wobbling as he tried to straighten up. Reaching up to his maw, he extracted the sword from his teeth and clutched it tightly between his hooves.
"Now try curling one hoof around it," Hammerfell suggested. Dawnfire complied, taking one hoof away and gripping the handle of the sword tightly in his remaining hoof. Surprisingly, it fit relatively comfortably, remaining nestled into his grip with little effort. "Let's see how well you can use it."
"What?" The prompt caught the orange stallion off guard, and the other stallion sighed impatiently.
"Attack, go."
Less uncertain than before, but still apprehensive, he swung the sword around, only for it to smack harmlessly into Hammerfell's shield. His second strike was blocked with just as much ease, as was his third and forth and fifth. Attempting to gain some advantage, he pulled back from his sixth attack and tried to strike again, the rapid movement forwards unbalancing him and sending him into the cold metal shield. A rough shove from Hammerfell sent him sprawling onto his back.
The earth pony sighed internally from his place on the ground, cursing himself for being so brash. He could walk on his hind legs with a little wobbling, but he'd never tried combat from a bipedal position before. Was he seriously so desperate to prove himself that he was willing to swing his weapon wildly about? He shifted forwards to try and stand up again, only to stop in shock. Hammerfell was standing over him, pointing his sword at the orange pony's chest.
The image a of pony jumping up to attack him flashed through Dawnfire's mind, the cruel glint of the blade sending a sharp chill through him.
The stallion swept his sword in front of him, smacking his opponent's weapon to the side. As quickly as he was able, he brought his blade back to strike at the now exposed right side of his attacker, expecting the metal to cut into flesh. Instead, there was a metallic clang as Hammerfell raised his sword hurriedly, deflecting the blow. Before the guard could react further, Dawnfire kicked low with both of his hind legs, sweeping the guard's legs and sending him tumbling to the right and onto his back. Dawnfire made to swing with his sword again.
"Stop!"
The voice cut into into the orange stallion's consciousness and his eyes widened. He was aware of where he was and who was with him once again, and the thought of what he was about to do made him blanch. He felt his sword being tugged firmly from his hoof and relinquished it gladly. The unicorn heaved himself onto his hooves and placed the weaponry to one side before turning to face Dawnfire.
"I should throw you off the walls for that," Hammerfell growled. The orange stallion slowly rolled onto his front and rose onto his hooves, reluctantly looking the guard in the eye. "At least you show more aptitude for combat that I thought you would. That means I don't have to teach you as much." He gave a quick look over his shoulder at the shield. "I think you know the basics of sword play, now we can move onto armour."
"Could I stop for now?" the orange stallion asked quietly. The unicorn glared hard at him and for a moment Dawnfire was sure that he'd receive a lecture for giving up. Instead, the unicorn gave an uninterested shrug.
"Fine, it's your choice. I'm not going to stay around if you can't be bothered. Come and find me if you want to start learning again, but don't expect me to come running at your command." Without any more words, the guard picked up his helmet, fastened it onto his head, levitated the two swords and the shield and trotted back towards the castle, leaving Dawnfire alone in the field. After a brief moment, the orange stallion trudged slowly across the field and headed towards the city.
*******************************************************
It was on the street leading towards the refugee encampment that Dawnfire came across her. She came trotting towards him as he approached the camp, calling his name. The orange stallion shook his thoughts away and looked up, managing a marginal smile at the sight of her. He tried to banish his morose memories to the back of his mind.
"There you are," Mira smiled shyly at him. "I was just about to come and look for you, but I guess you've saved me the effort."
"Yeah, I was just coming back to..." Back to do what? Go to sleep? Find somepony to talk to? What did he want? Company? Rest? Peace of mind? Luckily, Mira didn't seem to need a reason for his sudden appearance.
"Do you think we can talk privately?" she asked with a weak smile, and Dawnfire caught the subtle pleading look in her eyes. He nodded his assent readily.
"Of course. Where do you want to go?"
"Follow me." She walked past him and started up the street he'd just come down, giving a quick look over her shoulder to check that he was following. A short distance up the street, she turned right and into an alleyway. The two of them emerged a minute later into a square, and Dawnfire noticed the bulk of Canterlot Castle through an archway to his left. Looking around the square, he recognised the shops he'd seen several hours early on his way out of Canterlot when he'd passed through here.
Mira guided him towards the stone bench and climbed onto it, laying down as Dawnfire took his place on the cold stone facing her. His body temperature soon adjusted to the sudden change, and he looked across to Mira. She glanced at him timidly before shifting her gaze to the bakery, the lights and the noises from within showing that the ponies of the city had woken up at long last, although the streets remained empty.
"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Dawnfire asked after Mira showed no signs of breaking her observing the scenery. She gave a sigh and looked round at him, and he was taken aback at the discomfort in her face.
"I was thinking whilst you were away," she told him, her eyes flicking rapidly downwards every time she met his eyes. "You were gone for a few hours, and I had no way to contact you, and neither did your parents or anypony else in the city. Not long after I saw you off, the guards started shouting to each other, and I realised just what I'd done; I'd sent you away to with no food, no protection, nothing. I did nothing to stop you from leaving, and I even encouraged you. You said you were going to try and help them, and I thought of my father, and..." she suddenly heaved a massive breath and gazed down at the floor. Dawnfire listened with concern as she continued. "I didn't think about your safety, or how unlikely it was that you'd succeed, or anything like that. I was so selfish, and I could have lost you forever, as well as my father. Not only that, but your family could have lost you."
The orange stallion reached forward with a hoof and gently lifted her head up. "Hey, what's all this?" he asked as soothingly as he could. "I chose to run off, and it was my own stupid idea. And you are most definitely not selfish."
Her face hardened into a mask of guilt. "It was. After telling you how stupid it was, I just gave in and let you run after my father on a whim. I endangered you and everypony that loved you, and you already did so much for us. You ran across the plains to get us help, and then I asked you to run across the plains to help my father without even considering you or your health."
"You did try to stop me, Mira. You did everything you could-"
"I didn't do enough." The last word came out as a sob, and she turned her head away from his hoof and rested it on her forelegs, looking forlornly down at the paved ground. "I let you go ahead with your plan, I encouraged you, and I spent the next few hours hating myself for it. I know that it was stupid and selfish of me, and I want to appologise, even if it doesn't make up for how I ignored your needs. I'm so sorry, Dawnfire, and I really want you to know how much I appreciate you."
Despite the morose nature of the conversation, the stallion couldn't help it as a minute smile tugged at his mouth. He reached forward and started stroking Mira's back. "You really are a silly pony, Mira," he chuckled lightly. She raised her head slightly in confusion. "Why are you sorry?"
"I've just told you why-"
"I know, but that's no reason to tear yourself apart. You were scared for your father's life, and I was offering an option to retrieve him for you. I was the one too stubborn to listen to you when you tried to dissuade me, and it was my choice to leave. You have no reason to feel bad. Besides, I returned safely, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did," Mira conceded with a flicker of a smile, and lifted her face up some more to look him in the eyes. Her expression had softened from immense guilt to slight regret. "You did, and you brought my father and the towsponies back with you. I want to thank you for that, and let you know that I really appreciate you. We all do."
The orange pony waved his hoof dismissively and looked to the side with an embarrassed chuckle. "It wasn't a big deal. I just did what anypony would have done."
"Except nopony else did. You did, and that's what makes you a hero." Her voice had lost its emotional tremor and regained its usual strength. "You're our hero, and you're especially my hero."
The orange pony blushed. "Well, thank you, but I don't deserve that sort of praise."
"Horseapples!" she almost shouted at him. "You are an amazing pony, and you deserve all the praise you get. I won't let you say otherwise." She shimmied closer to him across the bench. "Just...can you forgive me?"
"You haven't done anything that I need to forgive, but whatever you feel you've done wrong is forgiven, don't worry about that."
"Thank you," she beamed at him as she nuzzled his neck affectionately. He smiled, and wrapped her into a hug, enjoying having her close once again. This was a situation he would appreciate having more often, and something he'd trade sleep for any day. "I guess....I also have a sort of gift for you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, just something I feel I should give you."
"Why's that?"
"Because you've done so much and been through so much, and I want you to have this." She wriggled out of his grip and leaned back to look at him. "We, uh, we are still...you do want to...I'm still your fillyfriend, right?"
"Of course! If you want to be."
Mira smiled graciously. "I do. With that in mind, here's your gift." Without another word, the mare leaned towards him and pressed her lips to his.
Dawnfire's eyes widened at the contact. Her suddenness surprised him, but the action wasn't unwelcome. Warmth spread to him from her contact, and he felt himself easing into a lethargic trance. This day had been far too long, and now all he wanted was to stay here and enjoy whatever life decided to dish out. He let his eyes slide close.
A viscous pair of eyes burning with venomous malice glared at him. Those eyes continued to drill into him even as the pony they belonged to shuddered and gasped as a sword was plunged again and again into his chest, warm, sticky fluid dribbling and flecking out the wounds.
"Dawn? Dawnfire? Are you okay?" The concerned voice ushered him away from the daunting images. He opened his eyes to the sight of the cream mare looking down at him, holding his face between her hooves. "You're trembling."
The orange stallion gulped. "I-I saw...something I didn't want to see." He shuddered. "I can't get it out of my head. It keeps coming back and I don't want it to, but it keeps coming back..." His shaking increased, and he turned his head down and grit his teeth. "Whenever I close my eyes or stop for long enough, I see that image and I can't force it out, no matter what I do! It just comes back again and again! It comes back every time, whenever I close my eyes or try to force it away, it comes back!"
Mira pulled him closer to her and grasped him tightly in her forelegs. He continued to shake, her touch doing little to quell his shivering.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked him softly. He swallowed and slumped in her grasp.
"I don't know. I just want it to stop!"
"Why don't you try talking about it? If you share whatever you're feeling, it might help."
"I don't know, I-"
"Dawn, please. Just try it."
"I-I don't want to say something t-that will make you think less of me."
The cream mare gently pulled his head up with a hoof. "You know I care for you," she reminded him tenderly. "I've known you for my entire life and I've never once thought less of you in that time. If there's something bothering you, I want you to tell me. After all you've done for me, I could never think less of you."
The orange stallion remained silent for a few seconds, and then took a slow, deep breath. "I-I killed somepony, Mira." The mare became still. Her expression widened remotely in surprise, and the stallion lowered his head in shame. "I didn't want to, but when I tried to get him to let the townsponies go free, he drew his sword, and then we grappled, and...and..."
Mira pulled Dawnfire close to her and allowed him to sob into her chest, holding his heaving body as he wept. He was a quiet stallion who preferred to keep to himself and liked to be alone with his thoughts. He favoured solitude over congregation. Most of all, he didn't burden others with his worries and problems; they were his to deal with and nopony else needed to concern themselves with his issues. The one exception to this rule was Mira, who had been a constant friend, confidant and companion throughout his life, and somepony who could always coax more information out of him than he was willing to give.
The mare sat still on the stone bench, cradling the orange stallion as he let all of his hurt pour out of him in jerky spasms, his tears beginning to wet her coat. This was without a doubt the worst she had ever seen him. He'd never openly cried in front of her before- when they were foals, he'd find some excuse to slip away and lament his problems.
At the age of twenty, Dawnfire, the placid, fully grown earth pony stallion, shook in grief in front of his life long friend.
It took several minutes for the shudders to subside. The sobs quietened and faded away, leaving silence in its wake. Mira waited as the orange stallion kept his head down in shame. She waited for him to speak, but he remained quiet and motionless, and the mare wondered if he'd succumbed to exhaustion.
"He was an earth pony," Dawnfire mumbled into her chest. Mira closed her eyes and lowered her head to his. The stallion sucked in a shallow breath. "He wasn't as strong as me, but he was definitely an earth pony. I think he was brown, or grey, or a similar colour, I'm not sure. I don't even know what colour he was. I just pulled out my sword and killed him, and I didn't even really know what he looked like! He could have been a father or something, looking out for his family, and I just took away his life and that of those who loved him!" The stallion's voice grew louder and more anguished as he went on, stress snaking its way into his words, his voice cracking.
"Dawn, listen to me," Mira cooed to him. "I know you, and I know that no matter what happened, you only acted as was necessary. If you harmed somepony, I know that what they did or were going to do more than justified your actions. You brought my father, the mayor and the rest of the townsponies back here to safety, and back to us. Nopony else did, and nopony judges what you've done. Nopony in their right mind could judge you for what you've done. You're a hero to us and I'm sure that even the Princess admires your bravery. This pony, do you think he would have worried about killing you?"
Dawnfire paused in thought, running the scenario over in his head. "I....don't think so, but that doesn't make what I've done any better, does it?"
"Okay then, did he offer you food or drink, or generally act hospitable?"
"Well, no." Dawnfire thought back to the encounter. "He drew his sword when he first saw me, and again when I demanded that he let the townsponies go free."
The mare's eyes widened. "He attacked you because you wanted him to let ponies go?"
Dawnfire drew his head away from Mira and nodded. "He'd shackled them together and wanted me to pay for them, and then attacked me when I told him to release them." Mira's mouth fell open and she gawked at him.
"How could you do that to anypony?" she questioned herself quietly. Dawnfire shook his head in response, and Mira's mouth condensed into a thin, firm line. "He shackled my father? That monster. That absolute monster!"
"He's dead now, don't worry," the earth pony stallion reminded her morosely as she squinted disgustedly at the floor. Her expression promptly returned to that of shock before fading into a consoling one.
"Do you still think you were in the wrong?" she asked. The stallion raised his head and looked at her again.
"I guess I'm not," he replied slowly, the frown on his face lifting marginally. "But I don't feel any better about what I've done. I might not have done anything wrong, but it doesn't make me feel good either."
"I don't think you will feel good about it," Mira told him. "But that just means that you're a good pony. Nopony who can kill and enjoy it can be sane, or safe, or good." She turned and looked at one of the buildings in contemplative silence. Dawnfire sighed.
"I should probably let you know, seeing as everypony will find out sooner or later." Mira looked around in confusion, and he sighed again. "I've been requisitioned by Princess Celestia herself to escort a diplomat across Equestria. I'll be leaving in a day or two."
Mira gasped. "She ordered you to help?"
"No, she gave me the choice, but she sounded pretty desperate for me to take the offer," the orange stallion clarified. "I said yes, and I'm being trained."
"But you're not a soldier! You can't do this Dawn, it's not fair on you!"
"Mira, I've already been over this with the Princess. It's not ideal, but it's pretty much the only thing we can do."
"Why not get somepony else? A guard?"
"Misuse of resources and deployment. She talked me through it, and she had very good reasons."
"So, you'll be leaving us again."
"I'm so sorry, Mira. I really am, but I'm doing this for you. When I had to make the choice, I thought about you and your family, and mine, and the townsponies. I thought about what happened to Hopesmeade, and what could happen if nopony actually did anything."
"Is this vengeance?"
"No, its not, it's nothing to do-"
"Is it redemption? I've already told you that you shouldn't feel bad for what happened, and you really don't need to prove yourself to us. You've already done more than anypony should ever have to do."
"It's because I care about you, Mira, and everypony else! I've already lost Hopesmeade, but I've got my family and your family and nearly 900 other ponies that are still here, and can still be lost! There are hundreds of villages, towns and cities, and hundreds of thousands of ponies still vulnerable. I will not sit by and see all that destroyed, because we've lost too much already!"
The stallion slumped after his brief rant, and was immediately scooped into a hug by the cream mare. She didn't say anything else, and after a while, Dawnfire wiggled out of her grip, slipped off the bench and stood up.
"I should probably get some sleep now."
She nodded and rose to her hooves too, following Dawnfire as he headed back towards the small camp. They managed to make it to the alleyway before he broke the silence again.
"Mira, I'm sorry. I'm just so scared. I don't want to lose anything else. It feels like I'm in a nightmare and that I'm going to wake up soon, back in my bed at Hopesmeade, then just get up and work the fields."
"It's fine, I understand. It's been tough on all of us, but particularly you. I can't imagine how you're feeling right now."
The stallion thought about it as he walked, the clip-clopping of his and Mira's hooves amplified into heavier sounds in the small space before ending abruptly. "I'm feeling sad, and tired....but also hopeful," he confessed with a small smile. Mira looked at him and then began to smile too. "I'm hoping that I can make a difference, and that this whole mess will be sorted out. I also have the motivation to want to make a difference, and she's walking next to me, looking as beautiful as ever in this moonlight."
Her smile grew at his words. "Have you always been this sweet or have you been taking lessons?"
"I guess your beauty brings out my inner poet."
"More like your inner adolescent colt." They shared a giggle and moved closer together, emerging from the alleyway and heading towards the outskirts of the city.
"Can I ask a favour?" Dawnfire asked.
"Of course," Mira smiled back.
"Would you mind if I slept next to you tonight?"
Mira gave him a glance and flashed him a mischievous smirk. "What is it with colts these days? You tell me I look pretty in the moonlight and then expect me to hop into bed with you."
The orange stallion rolled his eyes and shook his head whilst smirking slightly. "Seriously, I was thinking it might help in case I start.....seeing him again." He swallowed nervously, and Mira's eyes widened in understanding.
"Oh, right. Yes, of course, anything to help you."
"Thanks."
The two soon found themselves among the townsponies, many of them sleeping and the rest laying down quietly to avoid disturbing those who were. The two newcomers trotted as quietly as they could through the throng, finding their impromptu allotment and settling down. Dawnfire looked over to Mira as she curled up a few meters away and gave him a comforting smile. Feeling more at ease than he did when Mira had led him to the square, he closed his eyes and lay down his head, the peace of sleep rushing in to claim him as though welcoming back an old friend.
*******************************************************
The thudding impact on the ground was only marginally assuaged by the armour, and the stallion grunted as he swung himself into a standing position again. He dropped into a combat stance once more, his hooves spread out wide to give him a solid balance, his weight more evenly distributed, and bore his sword shakily between his teeth. The pony opposite him stared back apathetically.
"Your mistake last time was rushing in and placing your legs close together," Hammerfell informed him in a perfunctory tone. "Spread them out more this time, and you might not just end up on your back again."
Dawnfire sighed. After waking up, he'd sought out Captain Hammerfell once again and asked to continue his training. The silver unicorn had agreed unenthusiastically and had met Dawnfire in the field where, for the last hour or so, he had been instructing the earth pony in the use of armour. The captain preferred a practical approach to training, and so it was for the fifth time in as many minutes that the earth pony stallion found himself reacquainted with the grass.
Hammerfell let out an impatient sigh. "You are going about this completely the wrong way," he commented irately, lazily twirling his sword above his head with his magic. "You're too hasty to try and attack me and you leave yourself open, which, in a real combat situation, could get you killed. I've swept your legs seven times in this session, which is seven times that you're on the ground, unable to defend yourself."
"Isn't t that why we have armour?" Dawnfire asked as he hauled himself back onto his hooves. The guard glowered at him.
"The armour is to help protect you, not to be used as compensation for poor combat skills," the unicorn growled sternly. "If you have any ideas of it making you invincible, of granting you fighting skills and allowing you to run ahead and play hero, get them out of your head now. A set of armour does not make a soldier; a soldier earns the apparel that they wear. Understood?"
The orange stallion nodded, wary of answering the unicorn back. The guard dropped his glare after a few seconds and motioned for Dawnfire to attack again. The earth pony complied, stepping forward cautiously, keeping his eyes on the unicorn, who stared back unwaveringly. He halted, hesitant to move any closer to the unmoving guard.
The floating sword cut through the air suddenly, forcing the orange stallion to duck hurriedly beneath its arc and step quickly to the side, turning the face the blade as it righted itself in the air and hovered in the air with a faint hum. He strafed the sword, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on the hovering blade, giving small, quick steps sideways to keep ahead of it. Giving a fleeting glance at the unicorn, Dawnfire sought some indication of Hammerfell's next move as he paced in a slow circle. The captain's expression didn't change, his gaze remaining fixed and unfaltering.
A sudden swish from the floating sword caused Dawnfire to jump back slightly even as he stretched to block the oncoming blade. With a familiar clang, the levitated sword rebounded from the earth pony's blade but quickly recovered and swung in from the opposite side. Dawnfire grunted from the effort of deflecting the attacks. Stepping towards Hammerfell, he gripped his sword tightly in his teeth and pushed the blade forcefully back as it rounded on him again, using the brief moment of respite to move closer to the unicorn guard, who had started to backpedal. Jumping forward to catch up, the orange stallion swung his blade in an arc, narrowly missing the captain, who ducked under the attack and slashed at the earth pony's back with his own sword, the metal weapon pinging off the armour.
Crouching slightly to avoid the attacks, Dawnfire cantered forward, forcing the unicorn to bring his weapon to bear in front of him in defense. Without a threat from behind, the earth pony continued forwards, stepping left to avoid a downwards swing and then ducking to dodge the diagonal swipe upwards again. Standing up rapidly, he shifted his weight to his hind legs, desperately seeking balance as his forehooves left the ground. Reaching to the left, he fumbled with the floating sword before wrapping his foreleg around it and tugging it out of the magical aura. Slackening his jaw slightly, he took his sword into his right foreleg and approached the now defenseless unicorn, wobbling on his two legs.
Drawing drew back the first sword, Dawnfire swung it downwards at his target, who dodged deftly to the side. Hoping to catch him with the second strike, the earth pony swiped the second sword at the unicorn, but he jumped the other way and dashed forwards. Stumbling from delivering two rapid strikes, Dawnfire struggled to regain his balance, unable to react as the unicorn captain turned, placed a rear leg behind Dawnfire's own, and pushed against him, tripping the earth pony.
Falling backwards, Dawnfire managed to retain his grip on both the swords even as he thumped onto the ground. Hammerfell clambered around him, allaying the grounded pony's attempt to raise the swords with his magic, forcing them back down. The earth pony tried to push himself up to give himself leverage, an action which had little effect except to bring his face to inches within that of Hammerfell's. The two ponies grimaced as they strained against each other, the blades slowly but irrevocably moving back down towards Dawnfire's throat. The orange earth pony considered distractedly how stoic the unicorn looked through his helmet, as though the clenched jaw were just as much a facade that he put on when driving swords into grounded enemies. Grunting with effort, the blades nearly touching his throat, Dawnfire, tried to maneuver his hind leg to push the unicorn away from him. Hammerfell quickly caught on, and shifted his left hind leg to block the orange pony's efforts. With nothing else left to try, Dawnfire stared with reluctant acceptance at his opponent, who stared stoically back.
"I must say, I find your progress impressive, Dawnfire."
The voice distracted the duo, and they looked back to see who had addressed them. Princess Celestia stood calmly a few meters away, observing with a mild look of interest. Hammerfell let his magic fade away and scrambled onto his hooves, standing rigidly at attention as quickly as he could. Dawnfire hauled himself to his hooves and stood beside the motionless captain.
"Do you have any comments to make, Captain Hammerfell?" she asked. Maybe it was the darkness of the night, or perhaps it was just how she always appeared, but the Princess seemed to exude brightness. It seemed to ooze out of her body, filling the air around her with pure, white light, pushing away the encompassing dark around it. Despite this, it wasn't painful to look directly at her; the light didn't hurt Dawnfire's eyes as he watched her, but instead seemed to sooth him. Even his muscles seemed to relax and loosen in her presence.
"Nothing of particular importance, your highness," the unicorn answered. "I've taught him everything he would be taught upon entering the Canterlot guard, albeit at a much more accelerated pace."
Celestia nodded understandingly. "Of course. I appreciate that you cannot train anypony to the same degree as would be expected of a guard within a much smaller time frame. You have faithfully carried out my instruction, captain. Thank you." She looked at the orange pony with a placid smile. "How do you feel your training is wearing on you, Dawnfire?"
"Perfectly fine, your highness."
"It isn't too onerous?"
"No, your majesty." This wasn't a lie; her mere presence seemed to rejuvenate him and replenish his dinted stamina. Hammerfell gave a slight sniff but remained motionless.
"Do you feel that you would be ready to embark on your journey currently?"
Dawnfire hesitated a moment before answering, "Yes, your highness." The white mare looked back to the unicorn.
"Do you feel that he is ready, Captain Hammerfell?"
The unicorn guard paused and didn't move. From his next words, Dawnfire could tell that he had chosen them very carefully, and judging from his marginally strained tone, he didn't particularly like what he had to say.
"I think that I have taught him everything that he will need for his assignment, and that I have instructed him on how to apply his knowledge and training. I believe that he should be sufficiently able to carry out whatever mission has been given to him." Apparently, Dawnfire determined, he found difficulty in praising or otherwise complementing the orange stallion, a conclusion which was reinforced by the clenched jaw under the guard's helmet.
The Princess gave a thoughtful nod to the captain and addressed Dawnfire. "If this is so, would you accompany me to the castle? I think it is time for you to meet your companion." With a reassuring smile, she began to make her way across the grounds. Dawnfire made to follow, only for a foreleg to reach across and bar his way.
"If you wouldn't mind," Hammerfell said curtly, "I'd like the armour back." Dawnfire hastened to unbuckle the straps holding the metal plates in place around his body and quickly shrugged the apparel off, tossing it into a heap on the ground. The captain sighed discontentedly as he scooped the gear off the ground with his magic. "Try not to die out there," he muttered as Dawnfire hurried after the receding princess.
After catching up with her, Dawnfire asked when he'd be leaving, to which Celestia replied as soon as he was rested and felt able to go. The answer, although not unexpected, sent a cold shiver through the stallion's body. He would be leaving his friends and family again, and at such short notice. He wondered how he would explain it to his parents. His mother, undoubtedly, would take it the hardest, whilst his father would stay silent and offer some last, desperate sentiments. The mere thought made his heart ache, so he shoved the thoughts to the back of his mind and instead focused on the task at hand. What were you meant to say when meeting court officials? Was there a procedure?
Before long the two of them had made their way into the hallways of the castle, trotting along the marble floors towards a destination that Dawnfire didn't know. He was unfamiliar with this part of the castle, having only visited the throne room and the front entrance which was elaborately decorated for important guests and noble visitors. Celestia paused at a door, and, with a quick reassuring smile towards Dawnfire, pushed it open and strode inside, After a brief moment, Dawnfire followed her inside.
The room was relatively small compared to the great elongated rooms that he had seen previously, being perhaps only twenty meters across and more of a cube in shape, but the orange stallion still observed a large square wooden table in the centre with map sprawled across it. A lone pony had been studying the map carefully, but had looked up at their entrance. She was a light pink mare with a chestnut brown mane and tail, both of which were wavy and curled at the ends. Compared to Mira's mane, which fell past her head and ended nearly at her legs, and was smooth and flowing, this mare's mane didn't fall further than her head, the excess hair thrown behind her to clear her eyes, which gave her a delicate flow of hair behind her head. A horn protruded from amongst her mane. Her eyes were a grey-blue, noticeably more dull in colour than Mira's, a detail he noticed as he walked over to greet her.
"Dawnfire, I would like you to meet Grace Bloom, the diplomat you will be escorting." Celestia motioned towards the pink mare as she made the introduction, smiling warmly. "Grace Bloom, this is Dawnfire, your escort and accomplice for your journey."
"Hello," the unicorn offered cordially, extending a hoof and smiling. Dawnfire met it with his own and shook, returning the smile.
"Hello." He couldn't really think what else to say beyond that, so he remained silent. Introductions had never been his strong point.
"Grace knows exactly where you need to go, and she knows exactly what to do when you get there," the Princess assured them, receiving an affirmative nod from the mare in question. "I have complete confidence that you will succeed in your task. When you are ready, I will walk you to the gate, and let you get on your way. Take as much time as you need."
"I'm ready to leave, your highness," Grace announced. Her voice was light and sweet, but had a confident edge to it. Dawnfire understood why she had taken on the role of a diplomat. The Princess looked to him, and he nodded.
"Very well. I have had your bags prepared for you, and Dawnfire's gear is waiting nearby for him. If you feel that you are ready to be on your way, we should allow him time to get ready."
*******************************************************
Dawnfire fastened his saddlebags more firmly to his body, giving them a firm tug to see if they were secured enough for their upcoming journey. Princess Celestia had ordered for food and other supplies to be brought up, and the culinary staff at the castle had hastily prepared two bowls of tomato soup and bread for them and provided a hefty supply of foodstuffs, all of which had been divided between the two ponies and placed into their respective bags; carrots, apples, loaves of bread, a few wedges of cheese, and some leather canteens filled with water. Some blankets and fur-coated clothing had also been packed into the saddlebags, during which Grace and Dawnfire had sat down to eat their soup, Dawnfire a bit more hungrily than his companion. After the wooden bowls had been emptied and the bread was gone, Dawnfire was presented with a suit of armour- studded armour, he was told. Rather than the plate armour used by the Canterlot guards, this armour looked like hide with iron studs crafted into the leather strips that fanned out towards the rear and an iron belt. It offered some light protection, but wouldn't wear him down or tire him out on long trips like the one he was taking. He didn't comment and just wriggled into it, tightening the straps and stretching to check how constricting it was. It fit comfortably.
He was offered his saddlebags, which he secured over the top of the armour, although they kept slipping. Next came his sword. Iron. Simple and easy to handle. It was different from the swords he had used before, which had had a crossguard above the hilt and a straight blade which narrowed swiftly into a point at the very end. The iron sword had a curved guard and a gently inwardly sloping blade which converged at the point. When he asked why it was different, it was explained that swords used by the Canterlot guards were made from steel, and that the iron sword was lighter. After giving it a few swings, Dawnfire found that it was indeed lighter, and quicker too. Content with his equipment, he slipped it back into its scabbard, tied on his left side.
The Princess walked with them to the edge of the city, stopping short of the encampment and motioning for Grace to do the same. She paused and shot a confused glance at the Princess and Dawnfire in quick succession. The Princess gave the orange stallion an encouraging smile.
"Go ahead, Dawnfire. We won't interrupt you. Tell them in your own time."
"But how did you-"
"I have lived for many centuries with the title of 'Princess', and in that time I have learned how to understand what my subjects want and need. You need time to tell them, and you will have it."
The earth pony nodded his thanks and trotted towards the gathering of ponies, many of whom were looking to see who the newcomer was. They began to mutter as he walked past them, moving to where he knew his parents would be waiting. The sickly squirming sensation had returned to his stomach, and his heart started pounding as he realised what just how serious this was. He might never see them again. Never see his family, or the rest of the townsponies, or Mira. He could die out there. It was a huge possibility.
He caught sight of Mira's face, anxious and concerned, and yet still calm. She gave him a reassuring smile and nodded towards where his parents were. He took a deep breath and slowed his roaring heart. He wouldn't die out there. He would come back home. He would see his parents, and Mira, and the rest of the town again.
Both of his parents looked up as he approached, their faces quickly forming confused frowns. With another look at Mira, who trotted over to stand next to him, he began his explanation of what was going on. His mother's reaction was more or less what he had expected, as was his father's; she gasped and begged him not to go, grasping him tightly as though she could hold him in place. His father stood still and closed his eyes, giving a sigh of acceptance. The older stallion told his wife that she couldn't keep her son close by forever, and that he need to go. The mare didn't move for a long while. before collapsing onto her husband and breaking out into sobs. Finally, looking at his son, he offered a final goodbye and, with a sad smile, told him that he was proud of him, and to stay safe. He spent a few more minutes embracing the both of them and Mira. His heart previously pounding heart had slowed to a deep melancholic thump.
Both the Princess and Grace were waiting patiently for him when he returned. He told them that he was ready to leave, and with that they trotted back towards the city gate. Passing the small camp, Dawnfire found that the townsponies had arranged themselves so that they lined both sides of the path leading to the gate, as though he were the centerpiece of a parade. They each bowed their heads as he walked past them, some of them mumbling words of encouragement or praise. He spotted his parents and Mira standing together, his mother's tear-stained face offering him a wan but prideful smile. He took a deep breath in to hold back a sob.
The doors were opened and the drawbridge was lowered, and the two of them turned to face the Princess. She looked them both in the eyes.
"This is where I leave you," she said solemnly. "You have everything you need to embark on this mission, and I have complete faith in both of you." She looked at Dawnfire. "I will look after your townsponies while you are away, and ensure that no harm comes to them. You have my word."
"Thank you, your majesty," the stallion replied, dipping his head slightly.
"The fate of Equestria now rests squarely on your shoulders. Good luck, my little ponies."
They turned and made their way off the drawbridge, hearing it begin to rise not long after. Stealing a quick glance backwards, Dawnfire saw the Princess looking out after them before the bridge rose enough to cut her off. With a clank, the bridge was fully raised and Canterlot was sealed up once again, and silence rushed in to claim its place in the void that was the night outside of the city.
They walked in silence for a long time, the only sounds being their clip-clop of their hooves on the dirt path and the occasional rustle of their saddlebags. Dawnfire's eyes rapidly readjusted to the darkness, drinking in the light from the moon and stars. A cool breeze played gently around them, barely tickling Dawnfire's coat. The air, while only tepid at best, didn't make him cold. It would have been a pleasant nighttime trek had it not been for the context, or if he could have been sure that it was even supposed to be nighttime at all.
"You were a Hopesmeade resident?" Grace asked suddenly. Dawnfire over at her with some surprise at finally hearing her speak.
"Yes, I was," he replied.
"I'm sorry. I heard about your town. I didn't realise that you had just been through all that."
"It's fine," the stallion responded dismissively. "It wasn't your fault it burned down, you have no reason to be sorry."
"I know, but it must have been horrible going through something like that. I can't imagine how you feel."
The stallion considered this, thinking back to how he'd felt at the time. Finally, he said, "It's not so much a feeling as a lack of feeling." Grace looked at him with an intrigued expression. "At first, I panicked, and worried about how my family was," he continued. "I just wanted to know that they were safe. Then came pain, seeing the town and all our hard work consumed in flame, followed by dread whenever I asked about other ponies from the town in case they were injured or missing, or worse. After that, it just started to feel unreal, like it was all a dream or something, and that it just didn't happen or something. Like a nightmare. It's like something has happened that just shouldn't have happened at all. I guess the best way to describe it would be shock."
Grace was looking at him sympathetically, silently observing the earth pony as he recounted his thoughts. She turned to look down the path. "Again, I truly am sorry, and if I can do anything to help, just ask." The orange pony smiled.
"Thanks, but really, it is fine." They walked on soundlessly for a few moments before Dawnfire broke the silence with, "How about you then?"
"Sorry?"
"Your story," Dawnfire clarified. "Have you lived in Canterlot all your life or have you moved here? Anything interesting at all?"
Grace smiled wryly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there is practically no story to tell. I was born in Canterlot, raised there, and haven't really seen anything outside of it. I went to school, did quite well, entered into a law firm, and was lucky enough to catch the eye of the Royal Court. I was trained in diplomacy and mediation, and not long after that, well, I'm approached by the Princess and asked if I can undertake an emergency meeting. I'm sure you know the rest." She shot him a small playful grin. "Anything impressive about your life so far?"
Dawnfire chuckled nervously. "Aside from the past few days, nothing has ever really happened in my life. I was born, moved to Hopesmeade when I was four, and then grew up there. I've more or less spent my entire life farming, just wishing I could be out exploring the world." He paused, then sighed plaintively. "Well, I guess I got what I wished for in the end."
"Where were you born then?" Grace asked. Dawnfire was glad for the sudden conversation change.
"Trottingham."
"Oh." She walked on pensively.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that your accent-"
"Doesn't match up?" Dawnfire finished with an amused smile. She nodded, and he chuckled. "Why, expectin' a bita Trotney?" She grimaced at his change in accents, clearly not fond of the dialect.
"What made you leave?"
"The lack of job opportunities. My father couldn't find any work, so we moved to Hopesmeade. Open community, friendly, suited our needs perfectly. To be honest, I don't remember much about it- I was only four at the time."
"So you had traveled more when you were still a foal than I have in my entire life? That seems pretty interesting to me."
"We're out and travelling now, though."
"Yes, we are. And with company, no less."
They walked onward, stepping into the plains that surrounded the Canterlot Mountain. Grace breathed in deeply as they walked, the grass caressing their legs. Before long, she was pacing ahead of Dawnfire, looking up into the sky and the white orb of the moon, surrounded by stars which seemed to worship it, as though in awe of its brilliance. Looking up himself, Dawnfire couldn't help but admit how beautiful it was. Grace looked back and offered an embarrassed and apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I'm just excited. It's my first time outside like this."
Dawnfire gave her a smile of his own. "I understand. I was overwhelmed the first time I-" ran blindly across at night in a desperate attempt to save my family "-came out here on my own. It's quite different from any settlement, isn't it?"
"Yes," she replied breathlessly, her eyes shining. "It's so quiet and peaceful, and just so beautiful."
"I'm glad you're taking it so well," he chuckled, coming up beside her. "Where do we have to go?"
She looked at him blankly for a moment or two before realisation struck her. "Oh yes, the map." She made to open her saddlebags when a bright orange flash caught her attention. It was followed a second later by the sound of a deep, beastly roar, and a whooshing sound. Dawnfire turned around, trying to find the source of the commotion, when Grace pointed up into the sky.
There weren't many clouds in the sky, except the massive clumps clustered together low in the atmosphere. They shone silver in the moonlight, standing out against the blackness of the night sky. A small section of these clouds glowed bright orange.
"What's going on?" Dawnfire asked, but Grace didn't answer. She was staring transfixed at the sky. "Grace? What's going on?" In response, she pointed with a shaking hoof, and the stallion looked back.
A large shape loomed out from behind the clouds, flapping its wings as it flew around the clouds and silhouetted its form against them. It looked long and reptilian, with a large tail jutting out behind it. It opened its mouth, and another flash of orange erupted from the creature, catching something which then ignited, adding a second dirty orange smear to the clouds.
"That's Cloudsdale," Grace whispered disbelievingly. "The city of the Pegasi."
"Right," Dawnfire answered, swallowing anxiously. "And that big thing that's apparently breathing fire?"
"I think that's a dragon."
"Okay...so what you're saying is-"
"Cloudsdale is being attacked by a dragon!"