//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Dark Matter // by moguera //------------------------------// Chapter 37: Epilogue Dawn stretched his wings, feeling the joints where they met his shoulders pop as he strained to spread his feathers out as far as he could. He reveled in the warmth of the late afternoon sun as it seeped into them. After a decent training session with Scootaloo, just basking in the sun helped relax his body and muscles. Even the cloud he was lying on felt blissfully warm. He only wished Scootaloo could be there to share it with him. But she seemed to have something she needed to take care of and had left as soon as they finished their training session. Since Twilight's coronation, everypony had returned to Ponyville. The days had taken on a peaceful, regular pattern. Dawn attended school with his friends, trained with Scootaloo in the morning and afternoon, worked at the tea shop on the weekends, spent the evening with his mother and father. Scootaloo's birthday, then her friends' came and went, Dawn enjoying them thoroughly. Though he maintained his awareness and kept a watch for any sign of danger, there had been no problems from the remnants of the Cult Solar or anypony affiliated with the Noble Court. Even having a new Princess living in Ponyville hadn't changed things much. Aside from sporting a pair of wings, Twilight lived much the same way as she always had, though Arkenstone now lived in the library with her and Spike. These quiet and peaceful days were a welcome change from the past year of trials Dawn had gone through, to say nothing of the years before it. That year he had spent in the Everfree Forest and the years before, when he'd been on the run, moving from town to town to escape ponies hunting him, all seemed so much like distant dreams. The memories had a strange, unreal quality that unnerved him at times. It's amazing to think that things have changed so much...that I've changed so much. Dawn smiled at the thought. If things were radically different from how they were before, then he was grateful for the change. He was happy now. Though Scootaloo and the others still bothered him about crusading for his cutie mark, Dawn didn't feel any rush to fill the space on his flank just yet. Such things would come in their own time and he was content to wait until then. Arkenstone had already promised him a full-time position at the teahouse when he graduated from school, though such an occasion was still a couple of years away. Checking the position of the sun, Dawn decided that, even though it was still early, he might as well head home. Normally, he and Scootaloo would hang out with their friends and fellow Crusaders after school before parting ways for the day. But, for some reason, everypony had had something they needed to do or take care of right away. So he and Scootaloo had skipped straight to their training before she had needed to go off and do something as well. Even taking his time, Dawn still reached his home fairly early. He took a brief moment to look down on it from above as he circled in for a landing. Already, he could see the shadows of ponies and animals moving through the windows. Strange...it looks like there's more than just Mom and Dad. Are we having company over for dinner? Looking at the house next door, where the griffon mercenaries who had previously been Fluttershy's bodyguards lived, he noted that the windows were dark and there was no sign of anything going on in there. Skan and Zhan might not have been employed to protect Fluttershy any longer (now that Flash Spark was no longer an issue), but they had settled in Ponyville, explaining that they planned on starting a family of their own, even signing on to the Weather Team. Zhan had recovered well from the injuries she'd received during her fight with Flash Spark. However, the arm that had been injured in that battle would be stiff and unresponsive for the rest of her life, not that she would allow it to slow her down all that much. That there were no signs of activity in their home wasn't an ominous omen of any kind, but it did strike Dawn as odd. Landing in front of the door to the cottage, Dawn perked up his ears, listening for what was going on inside. The sounds coming through the door seemed quieter than they should have been, as though the ponies behind it were doing their best to avoid making any noise. Relaxing and calming his mind, Dawn allowed his awareness to seep out through the air around him, spreading and moving through the cracks around the door, letting him get a feel for what was going on inside the house. To his surprise, he sensed several ponies on the other side of the door. Once upon a time, the realization would have alarmed him and Dawn's first thought would have been to expect an attack. However, he realized that the sensations of these ponies were familiar to him. His friends were in there, as well as Fluttershy, Caramel, along with other ponies from all over town. He hadn't thought the cottage had room for so many ponies. Curious as to why so many ponies were visiting, Dawn pushed open the door. "SURPRISE!!!" shouted several voices at once, the sensation washing over him like a tangible force. Again, the past Dawn might have retreated several meters to assess the situation and prepare for an attack. But Dawn, as he was now, had already sensed a complete absence of hostility and the only force the collective shout carried was the weight of the overwhelming enthusiasm of the ponies doing the shouting. He could see them now, assembled in the living room so that all of them had a clear view of the door, all of them with happy grins on their faces. Something fluttering caught Dawn's eye and he looked up to see a banner strung along the wall above them. His eyes widened as he read out the message spelled out in letters, painted the same turquoise as his eyes. "Happy birthday, Dawn!" shouted Scootaloo as she bounded forward to hug him tightly. Dawn was too floored to return the embrace, staring blankly up at the banner. "But..." he said quietly, looking from one pony to another, "...it's not my birthday. At least...I don't think it is. I don't know when it is." "That's okay," squealed Pinkie as she bounced over to them, an ear-to-ear grin on her face, "Just because you don't know when your birthday is doesn't mean you can't have one. Everypony needs a birthday because that's when we all get to tell you how happy we are that you're here." "Pinkie's right," said Fluttershy, also walking up. Scootaloo still hadn't let go of Dawn, but she did shift over a little to give Fluttershy enough room to hug him as well. Leaning down, she spoke softly into Dawn's ear. "I always tell you I love you, but I want a special day to show you just how important you are to everypony, just how glad we all are that you were born into this world. This is a special day for us and you." For a moment, Dawn said nothing. Then, finally, he tilted his head so that he could return Fluttershy's tender nuzzle. "Thank you," he said, "I really am glad that I was born, that I got to meet all of you." Fluttershy kissed Dawn's cheek and he turned to look at Scootaloo just in time to catch the filly's kiss on his lips. Dawn flinched in surprise, then simply leaned into the kiss and returned it as best he could Finally, Scootaloo let go and backed up. Dawn's eyes swept across his assembled friends. Aside from Fluttershy, Caramel and Pinkie Pie; Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight Sparkle were all there. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Spike, and Rumble were there too, along with Rumble's family. Red River and Storm Front stood off to one side, along with Skan and Zhan. Arkenstone pressed himself up against Twilight as his muzzle pointed vaguely in Dawn's direction. Ditzy and Dinky stood next to Big Macintosh, who was wearing one of the largest smiles that Dawn had ever seen on the red stallion's normally impassive face. Lyra and Bon Bon were there, wearing identical grins. Ms. Cheerilee, was there too. Suddenly, Dawn had an idea as to why she hadn't assigned any homework tonight, even though it was a school night. All of them were looking at Dawn with warm smiles and happy expressions. The entire room seemed filled with their affection. "Do you know what today is?" asked Fluttershy, looking down expectantly at her son. Dawn's ears flicked as he rolled his eyes upward, searching for an answer. "...Wednesday?" A wave of giggles and chortles washed around the room, his mother joining in freely. "Actually, I meant something else," she said, "It's been a full year to the day since we first met back in the forest. Do you remember?" "I do," said Dawn, his eyes widening. "I'll never forget that day for as long as I live," said Fluttershy, pulling Dawn close and hugging him against her, "That was the day we first met, the first time I ever laid eyes on you. We might not know your actual birthday; but, for me, that was the day that you were born to me. So I decided, if you're going to have a birthday, it would be today." "Thank you," said Dawn again, tears leaking out of his eyes, "Thank you so much. I love you, Mom." "I love you too," said Fluttershy, wrapping Dawn in the cocoon of her wings, "Happy birthday." As mother and son cuddled together, the surrounding ponies broke into raucous cheers. The party lasted well into the evening. After Dawn's arrival, Pinkie and Fluttershy brought out blankets and set up for dinner in the yard outside the house. Caramel, with some help, produced a hefty dinner to feed everypony. Naturally, Pinkie Pie brought the birthday cake, of which, Dawn had a small piece. The sun was down and the moon well into the sky by the time Scootaloo and Melon, the last guests to leave, headed for home. Dawn helped Fluttershy and Caramel to fold the blankets and bring in the dishes for washing. Fortunately, they had the foresight to use paper plates for most of the food, so there was minimal washing that needed to be done. Dawn helped with what he could and was stifling yawns by the time they finished. Despite the relatively late hour, his eyes seemed to want to stay open. So he instead curled up on the couch between Fluttershy and Caramel, content to snuggle with them until he finally fell asleep. "Did you have fun?" asked Fluttershy as she wrapped a wing around him and drew the colt tight against her side. "I did," said Dawn, giving her a small, but genuine smile. "It sounds like you enjoyed all the presents," Caramel pointed out. Dawn had received presents from almost everypony. Many of them were small things, things that he appreciated all the same. Arkenstone, working with Twilight and Spike, had created a new blend of tea for him. Coco and Rarity had collaborated to produce a scarf and sweater that Dawn could wear during the fall and winter months. Bon Bon and Caramel had worked to invent new candies that Dawn could enjoy without feeling too woozy. Scootaloo had given Dawn another picture to put up in his room, a picture of the two of them standing together during Twilight's coronation, both proudly wearing the medals that Princess Celestia had bestowed on them. Strangely, though Dawn had only really noticed it in a peripheral sense, the one pony he had not received a present from was the one currently cuddling against his side. He didn't really feel that he needed any kind of present from his mother. Her words affirming their affection for one another and explaining the reason she had picked this day as his birthday had seemed like more than enough of a present for him. "Dawn," said Fluttershy, almost as though she'd read his thoughts, "I haven't given you my present yet." "I don't need one," said Dawn, resting his head on her forelegs. "I know," she said, "But it's a very special present, one that I've been wanting to tell you about for a while now." "What is it?" asked Dawn, blinking and looking up at her. Her choice of words confused him a little. "Well...I hope you'll see it as a present," said Fluttershy, her cheeks turning pink, "I think you will." Dawn remained silent, waiting for Fluttershy to explain. She blushed a little bit harder and seemed to dither for a moment before finally speaking. "Dawn...?" "Yes?" "How do you feel about being a big brother?" To Be Concluded...