//------------------------------// // Dawn is a Feeling // Story: Shellstrings // by shortskirtsandexplosions //------------------------------// Outskirts of Trottingham – That Same Evening With a muffled groan, the fake stump on the edge of the Sherwhinny Forest opened wide. Several bodies shuffled out, among which was Bon Bon. The mare stared down at the grass as her hooves padded forward, one after another. The "stump" closed behind her, and she sensed the figures of her fellow agents shuffling off in random directions. "I've got a lot to set in order," Sharp Quill could be heard saying. "I wouldn't tell this to anyone else—but I'm getting kind of sick and tired of Griffonstone anyways." "It'll be daytime soon," Haze muttered. "I could use the rest." "You're... coming back, though, right, Haze?" Sharp Quill asked. Haze exhaled past his fangs. "You'd better believe it." He drew the hood over his head and took off for the sky. "Sure as Hell beats wasting away in Las Pegasus." Fwoooosh! Betsy shuffled past Bon Bon. "It's a good thing Trottingham ain't so far away from Ponyville." Silence. She came to a stop and looked back. "Eh, girl?" "... ... ..." Bon Bon looked up. "Hmmm?" "Fortunate..." The rhinoceros' eyes narrowed. "...isn't it?" Bon Bon blinked. "I'm in, Betsy," she said firmly. "You don't need to doubt that." "Should Horizons?" Bon Bon's jaws clenched. "Yeah, I get it." Betsy disappeared amidst the dim trees. "'Bon Bon' has left the building. Secretive Sweetie Drops is back. Personally... I much prefer it." Bon Bon was alone. With a sullen sigh, she trotted southwest. In the middle of her shuffle, she closed her eyes... and thought of a goofy unicorn and her not-so-goofy eyes... Crystal Empire – Crystal Palace – Balcony – Dawn of the Following Morning A crisp morning sun rose over the frozen tundra. Its golden rays shone over the thawed earthscape surrounding the Crystal Heart in an immaculate circle. Buildings, streets, and structures glinted in the light of a new dawn. Captain Shining Armor stared out, blinking blearily. Restless, the Prince rubbed his stubbled muzzle, sighed, and shuffled back inside the immaculately preserved ancient chambers. Crystal Empire – Crystal Palace – Royal Nursery With stealthy telekinesis, Shining Armor opened the door to his infant daughter's room. The stallion shuffled in through the dimness, squinting at the shutters lining the window on the far end. He pivoted them—shutting out the rays of the morning sun and casting the room into shadow. He then turned to face the crib in the center of the chamber. Princess Flurry Heart lay under several pastel sheets, slumbering away in peace. A tired smile crossed Shining Armor's face. He shuffled over, then leaned in to nuzzle his daughter. The Captain remained there, gazing contemplatively at his offspring as he gently stroked her bangs and face. With a deadpan expression, he backtrotted and stood still... gazing... thinking. "... ... ...she takes after me, y'know." "!!!" Shining Armor spun around. He instantly relaxed with an exhale. His wife, Princess Cadance, sat on a plush set of pillows positioned along the far end of the nursery. She blinked tiredly, but bore a placid smile "A heavy sleeper... at least this time of the day." The alicorn stifled a yawn. "I suppose the two of us should be thankful... but it could be a sign of troublesome habits to come." Shining Armor shuffled over. It wasn't until he reclined at her side that he whispered back: "I have countless years of experience in drilling recruits." He nuzzled her. "I'll make sure she has a good waking regiment... unlike her mother." "Hmmmm..." Cadance nuzzled him back. "I foaled her months ago, Shining. I thought you'd be done with restlessly wandering the halls in the early morning." "I suppose it's just... ingrained in my being," Shining Armor murmured, gazing at the crib from afar. "All those early morning runs for pickles and ice cream... in a frozen land where no crystal pony has ever seen or heard of a 'pickle.'" Cadance stifled a breathy giggle. "Maybe we can open a new economic trade with the city of Torontrot." "Not unless we're expecting twins now." Just as Shining said that, his expression blanched into something pale. He gaped at Cadance. Cadance tried not to laugh too loud. She nuzzled him again. "Relax... relax... we're a party of three." He sighed. "What's keeping my wife up?" "Just want to get an early start on adoring our little princess," she said. Her expression turned sympathetic. "I'm also wondering why my husband's become an insomniac." Shining Armor sighed. "Some things... just can't be solved by shining the Crystal Heart." Silence. "You're worried about him, aren't you?" Shining Armor cleared his throat, gazing across the dim nursery. "Sergeant Garnet may be soft-spoken, but he's a stallion of great integrity and perserverence. I've no doubt that whatever task is being given him by the Royal Council of Canterlot, he'll tackle it with great fervor and tenacity. Besides... from what I've been told, he'll be stationed in Ponyville... which means Twily can look over him." Cadance gazed at him. "I wasn't talking about Garnet..." Shining Armor's features sagged. He sighed, frowning slightly. "What's done is done." "Shining, from what I recall, nothing is done. Everything's in limbo." He clenched his jaw. "I've said it before and I'll say it again," Cadance spoke quietly, gently. "He has a chance here in the Crystal Empire. While the rest of Canterlot might have no choice but to recognize his insubordinance, he's a hero in the eyes of the crystal ponies. Just like Spike!" "It's the principal of the matter, Cadance," Shining muttered. "I should have been more watchful over the stallion. Instead, I slacked off... and now he's a borderline sociopath." Cadance giggled lightly. "You don't really think he's that far gone... do you?" Shining Armor sighed. "I know the face of a defeated stallion when I see it." "And when was the last time he's looked you in the eye?" "Precisely." Silence. "Shining..." Cadance rubbed her cheek against his. "I know as well as you do that he's like a little brother to you." She gulped. "After these past few years, you've grown so close to him." "Yeah, well... that was a mistake." His nostrils flared. "I was too easy on him, and now he's taken advantage of that." "I don't think it's quite that bleak." She smiled. "I know for a fact that he values your trust in him just as much as you appreciate his stalward commitment." "If that was true, then he must be devastated over the past week." "Perhaps we both know, then, why you're so restless?" Shining winced... then sighed. "... ... ...I thought that here—in the Frozen North—he could find a way to channel his cavalier spirit... to take an edge off the fire in his soul." He swallowed. "But I underestimated the passion he's had. For all of my tough talk and my strict regimen—I've... not suffered that much, Cadance." "Is there a reason why you should have?" "Well, no, but... I feel like I should have been able to relate to the young stallion. To more properly guide him. But now... with each little glance I have into his tragic past... I realize that I could never relate in the first place." Shining stared melancholically across the room. "And it feels as if it's too late to set him straight. It... it makes me wonder if I'll have as much luck as a parent." His voice wavered slightly. "And if I'll f-fail our daughter as well..." "Shhhhh..." Cadance kissed his ear and held him close. "None of that, now, Shining. You're the best father in all of Equestria. Just like how you're the best big brother anypony could ask for. Twilight can attest to this." She smiled sweetly. "You won't let down Flurry Heart as she grows older. I'm sure of it." "I certainly hope not," Shining Armor murmured. "I want everypony in Equestria to grow old and healthy... and t-to know that I did the best for this world." He took a deep breath. "And Flash needs to believe that about himself... while it's not too late to stay true to his commitments." "And I'm sure that he will," Cadance said. "Just—much like you—he needs some time off to adjust." "Yeah, well... here's hoping." She cocked her head to the side. "Just where did he go, do you think?" "Hmmm?" "Since you gave him a temporary leave of absence... where do you think Flash has gone?" Shining sighed, staring off at the window shutters. "Hopefully... someplace where he can get his head straight... if not his heart..." Neigh York – Bucklyn – Crack of Dawn As the morning sun rose, its golden light glinted off the shiny skyscrapers of Manehattan Island. Across the river, a dew-laden park resided along the shoreline of Bucklyn Heights. Seagulls cawed in the air as distant ship horns echoed over the waters. A miniature cemetery resided in a fenced-off clearing several feet from a thick cluster of buildings. Off to the side, two graves resided next to one another in the shade of an oak tree—looking evidently newer than the rest of the plots. The stones read "Stone Gaze" and "Feather Flight." A set of orange hooves came to a stop, standing before the graves. Flash Sentry laid down a bouquet of lilies. Taking a deep breath, he leaned back and gazed deadpan at the marble surfaces of the stones. "Well, Mom... Dad..." He swallowed a lump down his throat. "...I kept true to one promise, at least." His blue bangs fluttered in the morning breeze. He adjusted the sleeves of a jacket around his athletic fetlocks. "I didn't bury you both in Neigh Jersey."