> Rescue on Diamond Mountain
>  by moguera
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Publicity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1: Publicity

Tension hung thick in the air of Ponyville's public library.  It was the kind of tension that darkly hinted of things to come, of premonitions of brewing storms, of anticipation of approaching battles, of the spark that could ignite a massive conflagration.  The source of all that tension was a single young colt, currently seated at the library's table.  His appearance was mostly considered unremarkable, with a pitch-black coat and silvery mane.  As he was, even his flank lacked the typical sign of distinction that most ponies carried with pride, for this colt had yet to earn his cutie mark.  What did stand out were his eyes, orbs of vivid blue-green color, framing their most unusual feature, a pair of slit-shaped pupils that gave the impression of a cat, a snake, or even a dragon.  It was the resemblance that these eyes held to the eyes of another pony that had been the source of so much of the pain and misfortune that had marked the colt's life until recent months.
Dawn Lightwing had spent most of his life on the run, his peculiar eyes having marked him out as a freak to some ponies and a conniving demon to others.  It was this latter group that had proved the greatest thorn in his side.  The agents of the Cult Solar had hounded him from town to town, pursuing him relentlessly until, in an act of desperation, the colt had been forced to hide within the depths of the Everfree Forest, living a life of privation as he scrounged for edible plants and fought for his life against the monsters that called that forest home.
All that had changed recently.  After a chance encounter, where he managed to save a timid, yellow pegasus by the name of Fluttershy from being killed by a pack of timberwolves, the mare had managed to bring Dawn out of the forest and into her home, later adopting him as her son.
In spite of such a favorable turn of events, Dawn's struggles were not fated to end there, as he struggled with the scars, both physical and emotional, that his previous experiences had left within him.  In spite of that, he persevered and began to thrive in Ponyville.  However, recent events, namely an attempt on his life by a hired assassin, had brought his past with the Cult Solar once again to the fore.
Which was why Dawn found himself seated across the table from a particular chocolate-colored mare, who was regarding him with careful eyes as she set her notebook and quill down on the table in front of her.
"So," said the mare, Limelight, a reporter from the Equestrian Times, "Ready to get this interview started?"
"I suppose," said Dawn, a little bit of nervousness making it into his voice.
"Relax kiddo," said the mare, breaking into a friendly smile, "This is an interview, not an interrogation.  But I suppose we can wait 'til your mom comes over."
Dawn nodded.  Given what he and Twilight Sparkle were about to attempt, Dawn had to admit that he felt infinitely more at ease knowing his mother would be there to support him.  Granted, Fluttershy was not exactly thrilled with their plan, but then, neither was Dawn.  However, it was the most expedient course he could discern to bringing about something resembling a true end to this conflict with the Cult Solar.
"I'm sorry," said Twilight as she took her own seat at the table and set out cups of tea for the three of them, with an additional cup set aside for Fluttershy when she arrived, "This is probably going to be something of a sensation once it gets published."
"I don't know," said Limelight, "It's gonna be pretty tricky to work this into the front page without it sounding like some tabloid-level fabrication, especially now.  Canterlot's all in a tizzy over the disappearance of Viscount Eventide."
"Oh...that's right," said Twilight, blinking as she turned to regard the reporter.  Twilight had read the news, of course.  Somewhere around two weeks ago, Eventide, Viscount of Everhue, had vanished from his estates.  While that would have been sensational enough in its own right, the entirety of his mares at arms had vanished with him.  The question of what could make a member of the Noble Court and some two-score trained soldiers disappear into thin air was on everypony's lips.  Speculation was running rampant.
However, that news was of little consequence to those in Ponyville.  The only reason it had interested Twilight at all was because, as a member of the Noble Court, it was entirely within the realm of possibility that Viscount Eventide had been one of those ponies with his own designs for her and her friends.  In fact, Twilight sometimes found herself wondering if it was the consequence of some such design that had led to the Viscount's disappearance to begin with...although that seemed an unduly paranoid and self-centered way of thinking about it to her.
"But you distribute to all of Equestria, do you not?" Dawn pointed out.
"Yeah, but our offices are in Canterlot and the disappearance of some hotshot noble, especially one as loaded as this guy is bound to dominate the headlines for a while yet," explained Limelight, "After all, there's the matter of the Guard search for him, when or if they'll declare him 'presumed dead,' what's gonna happen to that fortune of his...it's gonna be going on for weeks."
Seeing Dawn's pensive expression, Limelight gave him an encouraging smile.  "That said, there are definitely going to be gaps in between headlines that your story can fill.  I get the feeling that this is gonna push all the right buttons with my bosses; a story of tragedy and triumph, a shady conspiracy by some kind of shady cult, you're gonna be headline news kid...though it sounds as though you're gonna be borrowing a lot of trouble."
"I suppose," admitted Dawn with a shrug as he exchanged glances with Twilight, "But, then again, I believe that was our original intent."
"I think I'll keep that part out of the published story," said Limelight quickly.
"Good idea," said Twilight.
A few seconds later, the door flew open and Fluttershy came stumbling in, gasping.  "I'm here," she said, in between panting breaths, "I hope I'm not late."
"No problem," said Twilight, "Fluttershy, this is Limelight, an investigative reporter for the Equestrian Times.  Limelight, this is Fluttershy, bearer of the Element of Kindness and Dawn's adoptive mother."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Limelight, smiling at Fluttershy.  Twilight and Dawn were impressed that Limelight had softened her tone and reined in her previous enthusiasm, having apparently taken timid mare's measure at first glance and moderating her responses to help Fluttershy feel more at ease.
"Oh thank you," said Fluttershy, sinking behind her mane a bit, out of reflex.  Rather than going to the place Twilight had set for her, Fluttershy instead settled in directly behind Dawn and wrapped her forelegs and wings around him before nuzzling into his mane from above and behind, keeping her eyes tightly closed as she breathed in her son's scent to help her calm down.  Dawn simply closed his eyes as well and leaned back into her embrace.
Limelight's eyes went wide and her magic immediately dropped her quill.  A second later, her camera came up and a flash lit up the library.  "Beautiful!" she squealed, "Oh that picture's gonna be such a hit with the readers-" she stopped when she realized that Fluttershy was now cringing away from her, ducking her head to hide it behind Dawn's.  "Sorry..."
Twisting in Fluttershy's arms, Dawn turned and wedged his head back under Fluttershy's chin, gently levering her face upward until it was once again pointing at the reporter.  Sensing the mild reproof in his motion, Fluttershy pried her eyes open and looked across at Limelight, who still looked rather worried by Fluttershy's behavior.
"Oh!" exclaimed the canary-colored pegasus, "I'm s-sorry...I didn't mean to do that.  It's just...I u-used to model and I h-hated it.  Seeing cameras go off like that gives me f-f-flashb-backs..."
"I'm really sorry about that..." said Limelight.  In truth, she was already aware of Fluttershy's brief stint as a model and had even attended a few of her photo-shoots.  However, seeing Fluttershy's discomfort with the situation and, seeing as it was not related to Limelight's actual reason for being here, the reporter had already decided not to bring the matter up if Fluttershy herself wasn't of any mind to.
"How about we get this over with then," said Limelight, using her magic to slowly slide Fluttershy's teacup from its original place to over in front of Dawn, so that she could drink it without having to abandon her comfortable position.
Letting go of Dawn, Fluttershy reached out and picked up the teacup and lifted it to her lips.  As the motion took the cup directly over Dawn's head, the colt watched it warily, careful not to make any moves that would startle his mother as she drank the cup of hot liquid and set it down.  "Yes," said Fluttershy when she finished, "We should get started."
"Alright then, could we start at the beginning then?" asked Limelight, levitating her quill once again, "How did the two of you end up meeting...?"
From there, the interview dissolved into a fairly mundane recollection of the events that had brought Fluttershy and Dawn together, along with the story of Dawn's slow, and sometimes troubled, integration into Ponyville life.  Twilight piped in frequently to help clarify what details she could, including going into a brief overview of the Eyes of Nightmare, their history, and her theories on their nature.  It was a little tricky for the lavender unicorn, as she had to take care to keep her snippets of information informative, without being out of the grasp of the average laypony.  She also went into a recounting of the Cult Solar's history and happily shared the knowledge she had gained from her audience with Princess Luna.
While they tried their best to be earnest and honest over the course of the interview, Fluttershy and Dawn, by mutual agreement, had decided to keep certain details to themselves.  While they talked briefly about Dawn's conflict with Applejack, they decided not to mention the fact that Applejack had put the colt in the hospital at one point.  They also opted to forgo details on just how severe Dawn's emotional issues had become at one point, as well as opting to gloss over the more-than-a-little-questionable manner in which they had been resolved.
They also spoke of Dawn's involvement in the Cloudsdale affair, which was of great interest to Limelight, as she was looking forward to conducting some interviews with Spitfire and some of the other Wonderbolts in order to corroborate Dawn's story.
From there, the topic moved onto more recent and troubling events, including the assassin Willow's attempt on Dawn's life and its fallout, which included the arrest of Fleetfoot as the pony responsible for giving Dawn's location to the assassin.  Limelight was especially moved by the story of how Scootaloo had gone to great lengths to show Dawn how important he was to the ponies that loved him and earned her cutie mark in the process.
Finally, the conversation arrived to the topic of the most recent events, revolving around the farmhooves that had come to town to help with the harvest and the conflict that had occurred as a result, though they avoided giving names.
Once Dawn and Fluttershy had finished their story, Limelight let her quill fall with a sigh.  The feathery utensil had been moving nonstop throughout the conversation.  "Wow," she said, "This story's gonna be huge."  She grinned at Dawn and Fluttershy.  "I'm not gonna have any trouble at all getting this on the front page."
"Oh..." said Fluttershy, looking less-than-pleased to hear that, "That's...nice..."
"Something wrong?" asked Limelight, raising a curious eyebrow.
"Mom's not exactly happy with my decision to agree to this interview," Dawn explained, "Your story is going to serve as a provocation to the Cult Solar, which will undoubtedly be a source of difficulty to us in the future."
Limelight nodded, glancing down at the notes she had taken from the information that Twilight had provided.  "Yeah, I can see why that would have you worried," she said with a grimace.
"But I am more than capable of protecting myself," said Dawn, before smiling up at his mother, "And I've been taught that I can believe in my friends and family.  With their help, I feel that I can persevere."
"Ooh, I'm gonna have to make a quote out of that," said Limelight, quickly transposing Dawn's words into her notebook.  Looking up, she grinned at the colt and his mother.  "Now then, there's one last thing to do before we finish.  We've talked a lot about your life in Ponyville, but I feel that we're gonna need some more history, such as some details about your life before you went into hiding in the Everfree."
There as a noticeable pause before Dawn nodded.  "Very well," he said.
"Now, you mentioned that you were taken in by a pony, whom you've referred to as your Master.  From what I understand about your martial arts training, your use of that term is in a teacher/student sense, correct."
Dawn nodded.
Chuckling, Limelight jotted some more notes down.  "I thought so.  I just had to make sure, since there are all sorts of ways that ponies could draw the wrong conclusion from the fact that you're using that word to address him.  What was his name?"
"Dark Wing," said Dawn, his words drawing a gasp from both Limelight and Twilight Sparkle.
"You mean the Dark Wing?" exclaimed Twilight, conjuring up a notebook of her own, "The hero of St. Canard!"
"The very same...I guess..." admitted Dawn, "My Master never spoke very extensively about his past exploits.  But I do know that he had been a pony of some note before taking me in."
"Some note...!"  Twilight barely even mouthed the words.  "He's legendary!"
Dawn blinked, stunned for a moment.  "Well, Spitfire told me that she regarded him highly.  However, wherever we went, he was unrecognized."
"Well..." said Limelight, "This was unexpected.  Dark Wing disappeared a few years ago.  He must have gone to ground in order to take care of you...But you left him?"
"Yes," said Dawn, "Because he died."
"Oh..." said Twilight, her mind connecting the dots.  She remembered Dawn saying that his Master had died.  However, she'd briefly forgotten that fact.
"So he's dead," whispered Limelight, her tone shocked.
Dawn nodded.  "I was there for his final moments.  He died of a debilitating illness.  I believe that he may have contracted it even before he found me.  Fortunately, whatever it was, it wasn't contagious.  He assured me of that much."
"I guess that explains why he disappeared," said Limelight, "This is huge!"
"I suppose," admitted Dawn.
Ever the professional, Limelight decided to get their conversation back on course.  "In other words, since you referred to him as your Master and say that he found you, then Dark Wing is not your father."
"That is correct," said Dawn.
"So you were an orphan, even then," said Limelight, "Did something happen to your parents?"
Dawn shrugged.  "Not that I know of.  I don't know who they are.  However, as far as I know, they are still alive."
"Have you made any attempt to find out who they are?"
Dawn shook his head.  "I have not and I have no intention to.  They made it very clear that they did not want me."
A chilling silence descended on the group as Dawn spoke.  The only thing that broke it was a slight whimper from Fluttershy as she tightened her hold on the colt.
"What makes you say that?" asked Limelight, getting the feeling that she was treading on dangerous ground.
However, Dawn's tone remained level, relaxed even, as he spoke.  "I was very young at the time, so I only have the vaguest of memories about that portion of my life.  I can't even recall the appearance of the mare that foaled me."
"Your mother, you mean?" clarified Limelight.
Her blood ran cold as Dawn fixed her with a look that could almost be called a glare.  However, it was too cold to be an outright expression of anger.  But combined with intensity his unique eyes lent the look and the fact that it was the first time Dawn had expressed clear displeasure over the course of the interview, the look was downright terrifying, even to the experienced reporter.
"My mother," said Dawn, putting a very careful emphasis on the second word, "Is the mare currently sitting behind me.  I will not refer to any other pony by that title for so long as I live, least of all that mare."
Limelight gulped.  "I...s-see..."  She shivered and had to set down her quill for a moment.  As she did, Dawn's temper seemed to abate somewhat and he returned to his previous calm.
"I'm sorry about that," he said softly.
"It's fine," replied Limelight, "Everypony has their buttons.  Sometimes you can only find out the hard way if you've been pushing them.  Anyway, you were saying..."
"Yes, as I was saying, I couldn't recall that mare's appearance," said Dawn, "They may have been fairly well off, because I hardly saw either of them.  From what I can remember, my care was passed to others, whom I believe might have been servants.  I know quite clearly that they didn't want me, however."
"How do you know?" asked Fluttershy softly.
"Because, that mare gave me my first flying lesson when I was barely old enough to flap my wings," said Dawn, his relaxed tone somehow more disturbing than his brief bout of anger, "by throwing me out the window of their cloud house some four-thousand feet in the air."
Once again, the room descended into a horrified silence as everypony digested Dawn's words.  The colt continued on without pause.  "That was how my Master found me.  By sheer chance, he had been traveling beneath when he heard screaming and looked up to see a tiny foal plummeting from on high.  He caught me and carried me up.  At the time, I was too hysterical and too young to articulate what had happened to me, so he carried me back up to where he had seen me falling from.
"He told me that he gained entrance into the estate of whatever family that it was and asked if somepony's son had fallen off.  He was greeted by a servant who declared that the lord and lady of the house denied any knowledge of any spawn and was thrown out.  However, as theirs was the only house in the vicinity, my Master came to the conclusion that, because of my eyes, my parents ultimately decided to dispose of me and deny my existence to erase the perceived stain to their name that came from giving birth to me.  He opted to take me with him and raise me himself."
"A-are you sure that that's the case?" asked Fluttershy, looking down at her son.
Dawn shrugged.  "I am not certain, nor was my Master.  But he could say with certainty that the mansion he brought me to was indeed the house I had fallen from.  My own memory of that event is the most clear and vivid memory I have of those years of my life.  And I can say with certainty that the mare that threw me out was indeed the mare who gave birth to me."
"Can you really be certain?" asked Twilight.
Dawn nodded.  "Granted, there is a great deal that I cannot be certain about.  However, I do not intend to waste my time or efforts grasping at shadows."
"Even if you say so," said Limelight, "You realize that, once this story is published, there's a very good chance that those ponies will read this article and recognize you, particularly if your eyes are so distinctive and are the reason they rejected you.  Who knows what they might do."
Dawn shrugged.  "I haven't the faintest idea who they are though," he said, "My Master would only tell me that they lived in a mansion, but never whose mansion it was supposed to be or where it could be found.  He said that I shouldn't bother trying to tie my life to those that threw me away.  I doubt that they would feel threatened by the article, as I cannot recall enough information to identify them and have no real proof otherwise.  I have no intention of pursuing the matter further and will not seek them.
"However, if they choose to act on the knowledge of my continued existence and seek me out, then, much like the Cult Solar, they will know where to find me."  Dawn's voice took on an icy tone that made the three mares in the room shiver.  "And if they come here, I will deal with them appropriately."
Fluttershy hugged Dawn a little bit tighter, drawing her wings even further about him as she unconsciously tried to warm the colt against the chill of his own emotions.  "M-maybe we shouldn't talk about this anymore," she suggested.
"I concur," said Limelight, setting her quill down with a sigh, "Geez, that was tense."
Twilight was the only pony who looked mildly reluctant.  "It's a shame," she said, "If your biological parents are still alive, then that means we could conceivably trace your line of descent and determine whether or not you inherited the Eyes from them."
Dawn shrugged yet again, "Much as I dislike inconveniencing you, I would much prefer to keep them out of my life...whoever they are."
Twilight sighed.  "If you insist," she said.
"Well, I have plenty for a story in any case," said Limelight, closing her notebook and tucking it away into her saddlebags.
"Are you returning to Canterlot then?" asked Dawn.
Limelight grinned and shook her head.  "Nope.  I'm gonna be in town for at least a couple more days.  With a story this big, I need to talk to some other ponies, get some other points of view.  I hope you'll understand if I air the views of ponies who don't think so highly of you by the way."
Dawn nodded. "Miss Cheerilee has taught us about that thing called objectivity."
"Good," said Limelight, "Granted, not all views are of equal value, but I'm trying to get as much of a complete story as I can.
"I'll also be ranging further afield to get some other viewpoints.  I'm gonna do some investigating into the Cult Solar as well and I need to talk to some Cloudsdale ponies to get the point of view on what happened there.  Then there's the actual writing of the article; the drafts, the editing, the formatting, etcetera...
"I'm just saying, don't expect this thing to be in tomorrow's edition.  It could be a week or more before I get this thing out to the press."
"That's understandable," said Twilight with a cheerful nod, "We're all very grateful for your help and cooperation.  I hope this works out well for you."
"P-please be careful," whispered Fluttershy, "Especially when you're investigating the Cult Solar.  Th-they m-might d-do something to you."
"I'll be as careful as I can be," said Limelight, "But I've handled touchy investigations before.  I once did an investigation into organized crime in Manehattan.  Let me tell you, that was no picnic."  She lifted one of her saddlebags off her side, revealing a scar that ran down the length of her barrel that was barely noticeable otherwise.  "That's how I got this baby."
"Oh!" gasped Fluttershy, "How in Equestria did you get that?"
Limelight sighed.  "I thought I was going into an interview with a low-ranking member.  That turned out to be a trap, then the trap turned into a Guard sting.  I ended up with this scar and spent three days cooling my hooves in prison while the Guard verified my credentials as a reporter by contacting my publishers in Canterlot."  She snorted and turned her head away.  "Those jerks still billed me for postage afterwards," she groused.
"Well, we hope that you'll be careful anyway," said Twilight, "I'm not entirely certain of the members of the group as a whole, but some members have clearly proven themselves to be extremely dangerous, even to ponies aside from Dawn, especially if they are under the impression that said ponies might be working against their interests."
"Don't worry," said Limelight, "I will."



Dawn walked out into the waning afternoon to see his friends anxiously waiting for him on the other side of the door.
"Did it go alright?" asked Scootaloo, quickly trotting up to Dawn.
"It went fine," assured Dawn with a chuckle as he exchanged an affectionate nuzzle with his fillyfriend, "It was an interview with a reporter, not something to be terrified of."
"I guess," said Scootaloo.
The door opened behind Dawn and the chocolate-brown unicorn came trotting out.  "So these are your friends," observed Limelight, smiling as she cast her eyes over the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Yes," agreed Dawn, reaching out to drape a wing over Scootaloo's back.
"Oh..."  Limelight raised a hoof to her mouth to cover her growing smirk as she looked from Dawn to Scootaloo, the latter averting her gaze with a blush, "So this is your special somepony?"
"Yes," said Dawn without the slightest trace of hesitation or embarrassment, causing Scootaloo to blush even harder.
Limelight giggled.  "I may have to interview her as well.  This is turning into a very interesting article."
"Oooh!  Does this mean we're going to be in the paper?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"Maybe," said Limelight, flinching back a little at the little unicorn's enthusiasm.
"And this time it won't be 'cause 'o our crusadin'," commented Apple Bloom wryly.
Limelight raised an eyebrow, wondering just what Bloom was talking about.  "Well, since you're all here, why don't I go ahead with your interviews right away."
The group of friends looked to one another.  "Ah think we've got time," said Apple Bloom.



In the end, it was three days before Limelight concluded her work in Ponyville, having talked with a fair number of ponies about Dawn.  Being the insightful mare that she was, she had noted some inconsistencies in different ponies' stories that indicated that Dawn had not told her everything about the less savory occurrences of his integration into Ponyville, but opted to mainly stick to writing the things she did know for sure.  She left Ponyville with the promise to conduct some further investigations before writing and publishing the article in the Equestrian Times.  For Dawn, and those who cared about him, there was nothing left to do but wait.
As the days continued to pass, Dawn and his friends spent more time working at the teahouse, now that they no longer had school to occupy their days.  Dawn and Scootaloo were also able to extend the hours they spent training in the morning and afternoon.  Rumble was also working harder.  When he wasn't working at the teahouse with the others, he was often with Storm Front, learning how to wield the meteor hammer.  With their friends otherwise occupied, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom spent most of their free time together, a large amount of which was spent in Sweetie's room at Rarity's boutique.
Sweetie Belle wouldn't admit it, but she was feeling anxious, especially since, of the three original members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she was the only one left who still hadn't found her own cutie mark, something Apple Bloom's cutecenera had driven home for her.  Sure, Dawn and Rumble still hadn't found theirs either, but the boys seemed strangely untroubled by the fact that they still hadn't yet found their calling in life.  Neither Rumble nor Dawn seemed to be in any particular hurry and were simply taking their time to do the things that appealed to them.  Sweetie wished that she could share their patience.
She was also starting to feel lonely.  Even the free time that she shared with Apple Bloom was beginning to dwindle as Bloom was called upon more and more often to help out at the farm, helping with repairs to the house and barns as the Apple family prepped their home for winter.
Sweetie did what she could to occupy herself in her free time.  She helped out as much as she could with her sister's work at the boutique.  Fortunately, the continuing development of her magic, along with the patience and finesse that working for Arkenstone at the teahouse had fostered, kept her from being a nuisance and enabled her to actually be an asset to Rarity.  But Sweetie had to admit that she no longer yearned to follow in Rarity's hoofsteps, so helping out at the boutique was not exactly the calling that she had been looking for.



"Sweetie Belle, could you set these displays?" asked Rarity gesturing to a trio of ponyquins that she'd outfitted with her latest designs, "Please be careful when you move them."
"Sure," said Sweetie, hefting the first of the three displays with her magic.  Fortunately, the ponyquins were hollow, which made them light and easy to move.  Sweetie's practice in levitating kettles and cups full of boiling water ensured that they would make a smooth trip out into the showroom.  As she worked, Sweetie was singing softly, something she often did when she was alone to make the time go by faster.
She set the first of the ponyquins out in the showroom, setting it gently onto the floor beside a window, carefully orienting to the display to best show off the dress both to somepony coming inside to look and somepony passing by the windows outside.  She was so absorbed in her singing, that Sweetie didn't even notice the soft tinkling of the bell as somepony came into the boutique.  Whoever the visitor was made no sound or protest as Sweetie unwittingly ignored her to return to the back room for the next ponyquin, still singing as she went.
Sweetie returned to the front room and her eyes widened when she realized that a customer had come in.  "Oh!  I'm so sorry," she said abruptly.  Her magic cut out, but Sweetie realized her mistake before the ponyquin and its dress could fall to the floor, managing to catch it and set it down gently.  "I'll go get Rarity right away!"
"That's alright dear," said the pale-yellow pony, smiling cheerfully as she regarded Sweetie with warm, orange eyes, "You have a lovely voice.  Did you know that?"
"O-oh..." said Sweetie, unconsciously shrinking back, "Thank you."  In truth, Sweetie was very self-conscious about her voice.  For some reason, whenever somepony brought it up, she always felt some sort of strange pressure, as though they were suddenly weighing her down with expectations she had no intention of fostering.  She was quite tired of ponies suggesting that she should try singing, especially in front of others.  "I-I'll go get Rarity now..."
Sweetie quickly dashed back into the back room, where Rarity was hard at work on her sowing machine.  No wonder she didn't hear the customer come in.
"Rarity," said Sweetie, waving her hooves to get her sister's attention.
Rarity lifted her gaze up from her work and regarded Sweetie through the lenses of her red-rimmed glasses.  "Yes dear?"
"There's a customer here for you."
"Oh!"  Rarity switched off her machine, "Thank you very much for informing me.  I'll be right out."
Setting her glasses down, Rarity trotted out into the boutique's showroom.  Her eyes widened as she recognized the pony waiting for her.  "Miss Sapphire Shores!  It's a pleasure to see you again."
"Likewise," said Sapphire, flashing Rarity a happy smile.
"I must say," commented Rarity as she moved to adjust one of the displays Sweetie had set out, "I almost didn't recognize you without your outfit."
"Yes," said Sapphire, "Well, it's pretty convenient, in all honesty.  So many ponies only see the outfit that, when you take it off, you're practically invisible; makes it nice for going out without causing a major disturbance."
"I can understand," said Rarity, "I also notice you're not as bombastic as you were last time."
"Yes well..."  Sapphire chuckled.  "When you develop a stage personality, ponies often expect you to act that way, even off stage.  It always seems to throw ponies off when I don't act that way all the time.  I'm actually glad that you're taking this in stride."
"Well," admitted Rarity, "It's easier to talk to you like this.  A stage personality is perfectly fine for the stage, but off the stage, it's easier to deal with a normal pony.  So, what can I do for you?"
"Straight to business," said Sapphire, her eyes glittering, "I like that.  I'm here for another commission for our next tour."  Her eyes roamed over the outfits on display.
"Oh!  That's wonderful!" said Rarity.  Her business had taken a bit of a dip when she'd decided to suspend any business with members of the Noble Court and, while it wasn't in any danger of going under, getting another commission from Sapphire Shores would mean an upswing.  "I'm terribly sorry though.  I don't have anything to show you right now that might work.  I'm afraid I'm a bit low on gemstones at the moment."
"That's perfectly alright," said Sapphire, already giving one of the dresses and admiring look, "While I absolutely love the outfits you provided last time, I'm afraid that the reviews took issue with them."  Sapphire winced.  "So I was hoping that, this time, you might provide something...less 'gaudy.'"
Rarity winced in agreement.  After all, the design had originally been her own, even before Sapphire had looked at it.
"As it is, I felt that this was a wonderful opportunity," said Sapphire with a smile, "I have six wonderfully talented backup singers who require their own outfits.  I thought this would be a good chance for them to come in and do custom fittings so that you can create something for the whole group."
"That sounds lovely!" exclaimed Rarity, clapping her hooves together, "I'll be happy to get started as soon as you are ready."
"Then we have a deal," said Sapphire, "I'll bring my girls in tomorrow and we can get started."  She turned to exit, but paused.  "By the way, that filly from earlier...is she your sister?"
Rarity nodded.  "Sweetie Belle is my younger sister.  She's quite adorable, but frequently a hoofful."
"As younger sisters usually are," replied Sapphire, "But I notice she has a lovely singing voice."
Rarity nodded in agreement.  "Sweetie has a wonderful ear for music and a voice to match.  She's been listening to music since she was just an infant and always trying to imitate what she's heard."  Shaking her head, Rarity flashed a sad smile at Sapphire.  "I know what you're thinking, but Sweetie has absolutely no interest in singing for an audience; the voice of an angel, but a fear of showing it off."
"Talent and temperament in opposition," noted Sapphire, "I suppose that happens sometimes.  It's a shame.  She has the potential to be an amazing singer.  I would have been happy to give her some pointers."
"I'm afraid I'll have to pass, for Sweetie's sake," said Rarity, "I will let her know about your offer though.  Maybe someday she'll be willing to take that step outside her comfort zone and try to use that marvelous talent to try something new...Celestia knows she's certainly tried plenty more reckless things with those friends of hers."
"Alright then," said Sapphire with a chuckle, "I'll see you tomorrow."
As Sapphire Shores left the Carousel Boutique, Rarity cast her eyes back towards the back room, where Sweetie was apparently waiting.  Forlornly, Rarity wondered just what it was Sweetie seemed to have against performing.
Going into the back room, Rarity saw Sweetie quietly playing with Opal, the filly gently prodding a ball of yarn so that it rolled into the cat's grasp.  Opal would roll and tussle about with the ball for a little before sending it rolling back to Sweetie, who would push the ball once again towards the surly cat.
"Sweetie Belle," said Rarity softly.
"Yes sis?" asked Sweetie, looking back up at Rarity.
The alabaster mare settled down next to her younger sister, resting on the floor.  "Can you tell me why it is that you seem so uncomfortable with showing off your talent?  You have such a wonderful voice and you love singing."
"Um...I'm not sure I can," said Sweetie with an uncertain tone, "I've thought about it.  But whenever ponies talk to me about singing in front of an audience...I don't know...It just doesn't feel...right...like it's not like what I really want to do.  I love singing, but I don't really want to be a singer."
Rarity pondered over that for a moment.  "I see..." she said, though she really didn't.  It was apparent that Sweetie Belle was having difficulty finding any direction in her life.  She was, quite honestly, at a bit of a loss.  Simply trying different things at random wasn't going to produce a result.  However, if Sweetie's talent for singing showed no signs of truly drawing her interest, then Rarity wasn't sure what else there was that Sweetie could try.
Rarity was drawn out of her reverie by a sniff.  Looking over, she realized that Sweetie was sniffling, tears running down her face as she stared forlornly at the unmoving ball of yarn in front of her, no longer having the will to send it back to Opal, who had clearly lost interest in any case.  "Sweetie!  What's wrong?"
"It's just..."  Sweetie sniffed again.  "...It's just...I don't know what to do!  Scootaloo and Apple Bloom already have their cutie marks.  They're so happy about it.  But I still have nothing.  I don't even have the slightest idea what I want to do with my life.  I feel like I'm being left behind!"
"What!  Of course not!" exclaimed Rarity, "Your friends aren't leaving you behind.  Besides, what about Dawn and Rumble?  They haven't found their cutie marks either."
"I know," whimpered Sweetie, "But...I can't help it.  I don't know how they're able to be so calm and cool about it.  But I still want to find it...somehow."
"You will," said Rarity, "You will someday.  Don't give up Sweetie."  Rarity pulled her little sister into a hug, not minding that Sweetie's tears were soaking into her coat.
> Headline News
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2: Headline News

A few more uneventful days passed.  While Sweetie Belle was still troubled over the lack of anything that might have led to her finding her cutie mark, she managed to keep her feelings on the matter a secret from her friends.  Otherwise, things remained normal, or as normal as anything ever was in Ponyville.
Twilight's own training under Arkenstone's tutelage was progressing well, to the point where she was no longer required to train as often.  This freed up more time for Twilight to throw herself into researching the growth of the wintersilk appleseeds, a gift she had received from Arcana Lulamoon, one of the seven Celestial Knights and the older brother of Trixie Lulamoon.
The most important thing that Twilight could determine was that the seeds required the ground to be frozen solid in order to sprout.  However, she had yet to figure out what conditions promoted the fullest growth of the seeds.  It was entirely possible that, unlike the Apple Family's zap apple trees, the wintersilk trees would not grow rapidly to maturity.  It seemed to be unlikely that, even if they managed to get the seeds to grow, that there would be a crop of wintersilk apples for the Apple Family this year.
After several days with no progress, it was Arkenstone who, albeit unintentionally, provided the solution.



"Ugh!  I don't get it," groaned Twilight, planting her face into her notebook.  On the table in front of her, the miniature biosphere, the self-contained environment she had constructed to simulate all the different weather conditions the seeds might grow in, loomed like an oversized snow-globe.  In this case, the description was more literal than usual, as there was a very real snowstorm raging on the inside of the biome.  Snowflakes poured down onto a layer that was settled over the frozen dirt below, where the seed was currently resting.  The only sign that anything at all was living in there was a single tiny, blue-white shoot sprouting up and out of the snow, its two leaves unbowed.  At least the plant's healthy.
"Perhaps you may just need to accept that the wintersilk tree won't grow as quickly as the zap apple trees did," suggested Arkenstone, "Plants in wild conditions rarely grow as rapidly as those found in cultivated territories, unless such an attribute was a part of their nature from the beginning."
"But why do plants in cultivated lands grow so quickly then?" asked Twilight.
"Earth pony magic," Arkenstone replied with a shrug, "However, even our magic can't be used to magically accelerate the process of growth beyond a certain extent.  That's why Applejack and her family can't magically grow mundane apple tree saplings to full-growth in an instant."
Twilight pondered that for a moment.  Earth pony magic, from what she had learned in her studies, was normally used to promote the quality and quantity of growth, rather than the speed.  She remembered the story that Applejack had told her about how Granny Smith had found the zap apple trees, including the reason why Granny Smith had ventured into the Everfree Forest in the first place.  Even though the Apple Family had brought seeds with them, they were still threatened with the prospect of starvation because the seeds hadn't instantly grown up into trees, and wouldn't reach their full growth for several years.  It was true that things grew faster on earth pony farms.  But, from what Arkenstone had taught her about Cultivation, it generally took years of continuous tending, sometimes generations worth of years before ponies saw improvement in the rate of growth.  And even then, that was still a long ways away from the explosively instantaneous outgrowth the zap apple trees had demonstrated.
However, something occurred to Twilight.  "Wait, you said that plants in wild territories naturally grow slower than plants in cultivated territories, right?"
Arkenstone nodded uncertainly.  "That is correct."
Twilight thought a little more.  "What if the zap apples are actually slow-growing trees in the wild?  I mean, the only ones that have actually been grown were the ones that Granny Smith brought out of the Everfree.  Nopony has charted their growth in the wild."
"That's reaching a bit," said Arkenstone, "While the land Grany Smith planted the zap apple seeds on was officially considered cultivated territory, it had only just begun to be Cultivated.  The ambient magic of the Apple family hadn't completely suffused the land yet.  There wouldn't have been anywhere near enough to fuel such monstrous growth."
"Hmm," mused Twilight, staring at the biosphere, "I wonder..."  She looked back at her coltfriend.  "Arkenstone?"
"Yes?"
"Is there any earth pony magic in the soil for this biosphere?"
"No, there isn't," said Arkenstone, coming over and resting a hoof against the glass.
"But I had it brought straight from the Apple Family orchards."
Arkenstone shook his head.  "The magic lies within the land itself.  But dirt is still dirt.  Any earth pony magic that was imbued into it remains where you collected it from.  If it were possible to carry our magic in soil along with us, it wouldn't take generations for earth pony farms to establish themselves and Cultivate the land they settle on."
Twilight frowned.  "Is there any way you could start Cultivating this soil here?"
"Hmm..."  Arkenstone tapped the glass.  "Maybe.  The results would be minor at first, and it could be days before there is any noticeable accumulation.  But perhaps..."
Arkenstone leaned his forehead up against the glass and inhaled deeply.  As he exhaled, his breath misted the glass around his nose and mouth.  He remained like that for several minutes, simply breathing deeply and keeping contact with the biosphere.
Then, there was a low rumbling sound.  The biosphere began to vibrate.  His eyes opening in surprise, Arkenstone took a step back from the glass dome, which was shaking harder and harder with each passing second.
Abruptly, the little blue-white shoot poking out from the snow suddenly shot upwards in a burst of explosive motion, thickening, branching, sprouting leaves...It continued to grow until the branches pressed up against the glass, which began to crack, then shattered.
Twilight yelped and threw up a shield spell around herself and Arkenstone.  In addition to the glass, snow flurried through the lab as the carefully constructed weather simulation spell lost its containment.  Twilight quickly disabled the spell before the entire basement could be covered in a layer of snow as the tree continued to grow, its roots piercing through the bottom of the boisphere and reaching down towards the earthen floor for further nutrients.
Then, the whole thing stopped as abruptly as it began.  A fair-sized tree now stood in the center of the basement laboratory, its branches covered in blue-white leaves with a few emerging buds sprouting along their length.
"Why did it stop?" asked Arkenstone.
"Because of the temperature," said Twilight, "It was growing because the temperature inside the biosphere was low enough.  But outside, it's still too warm to promote effective growth."
"I don't understand though," said Arkenstone, "I'd only just started inputting my magic into the soil you had in the biosphere.  That wasn't nearly Cultivated enough to promote even the most basic growth, much less...this..."  He waved a hoof at the now mature tree dominating the basement.
"It's as I thought," said Twilight, "It wasn't ever dependent on the amount of earth pony magic, just its presence.  The earth pony magic in the soil reacted with the natural wild magic in the plant itself, which is what caused that sudden surge of growth.  That's why the zap apple trees grew so quickly too."
"Remarkable," said Arkenstone, pressing his hoof against the trunk, "That means, once the environmental conditions are met, these trees wills grow almost instantly.  The Apples could have their first crop this very winter."
"Not only that," said Twilight, "But the trees will be growing in space that has been Cultivated for generations, that should produce apples of top quality."
"A very good thing indeed," said Arkenstone.
Up above, the door leading to the library swung open as Spike trotted in, a newspaper clutched in his claws.  "Hey Twilight," he shouted irritably, "Could you warn me before your study ses-WHOA!"  His eyes nearly dropped out of his head as he gaped at the tree that had come to dominate the library basement.  "What the hay happened?"
"Well," said Twilight, grinning sheepishly, "Arkenstone and I just figured out how to grow the wintersilk tree.  I guess things got a little out of hoof."
"You can say that again," said Spike, "I guess that explains why the library's a mess again."
"Ack!"  Twilight teleported upstairs where she surveyed the main room of the library.  Books had been knocked off their shelves and now lay piled up around the room, some having landed in potentially damaging positions.  "Oh no!  I guess we shook up the entire building with that."
"Well," said Spike, stepping past her, "I guess we'd better get started on getting things cleaned up."
"No," said Twilight firmly, her voice causing Spike to freeze in place.
"Huh?  Why not?" asked the confused dragon, looking up at his older sister.
"Um...well...what I meant is that not 'we,'" said Twilight, smiling down at her assistant, "I meant 'I.'  This is my mess after all."  Her horn began to glow and Twilight opened the bit-box she kept in her bedroom, calling down a small hoofful of bits that she levitated into Spike's hand.  "Why don't you go and get something from Sugarcube Corner.  Better yet, see if you can treat Apple Bloom to something.  You haven't really gotten to spend any time with her since the festival, right?"
"Really?" asked Spike, looking at the bits in his palm eagerly.
Twilight smiled and nodded.  "Sure, you've been working hard.  You deserve a break."
"Wow!  Thanks!"  Spike began heading towards the door.  However, something caught Twilight's eye.
"Wait!  What are you doing with that newspaper?"
Spike froze and looked down at the newspaper he had tucked under his other arm.  "Oh right!" he said, "I almost forgot."  Turning around, he presented the newspaper to Twilight, "They printed Dawn's story today.  It's on the front page and everything."
Twilight's magic nearly tore the paper as she ripped it from Spike's claws and held it open in front of her face, her eyes scanning over the headline and reading the article.



A NIGHTMARE IN PONYVILLE:
A Young Colt's Unique Condition Leads to Unique Problems:
Article by Limelight of Canterlot;
By most measures of the term, Dawn Lightwing seems to be an ordinary colt.  He lives with his mother, goes to school, works a part-time job, and is currently still looking for his cutie mark.  He even has a fillyfriend.  But in truth, Dawn Lightwing and the life he lives is anything but ordinary.  His mother adopted him after finding him out in the Everfree Forest, he has been forced to fight for his very life multiple times.  But, perhaps most tellingly, Dawn Lightwing's eyes are completely distinct from those of virtually any other pony.
Dawn Lightwing was born with a rare condition known as the Eyes of Nightmare, an obscure affliction that causes a pony's eyes to take on a very inequine form.  Dawn's eyes are turquoise in color, with vertical slit pupils, giving them an appearance much like those of a cat, or a dragon.  The condition is so obscure and rarely documented that many widely-respected scholars have doubted its existence.  That has changed, as Dawn Lightwing is irrefutable proof that the Eyes of Nightmare are very real.
According to Dame Twilight Sparkle; Personal student to Princess Celestia and Bearer of the Element of Magic, who has had the opportunity to study Dawn's condition in detail, has said, "The Eyes of Nightmare are likely an ancestral trait that were passed down through Dawn's bloodline, possibly making it genetic in nature."  Dawn's personal manifestation of the condition is especially unique, as the Eyes are not normally visible, instead looking much like normal pony eyes, unless the pony possessing the trait is under considerable mental duress, while Dawn's eyes are locked in their altered state.  Dame Sparkle is currently researching the condition extensively and has been actively searching for other ponies who might possess the trait.
During the interview, Dawn was willing to discuss his personal history.  He revealed that he was cast away by his biological parents at a very young age.  However, he was found and raised by none other than Dark Wing, whom many ponies know as the Hero of St. Canard and the Terror that Flaps in the Night.  It is Dark Wing who tutored Dawn in the pegasus martial art known as the Gale King style.
The two of them traveled the countryside, staying in various towns.  Unfortunately, Dawn's eyes proved to be a source of conflict, frequently turning ponies against him, leading to him and Dark Wing being driven out of several communities and Dawn having to fend off multiple attempts on his life.  Eventually, Dark Wing passed away from illness, leaving Dawn on his own.  Rather than court further conflict, the colt instead fled into the Everfree Forest, where the skills that his Master (in this case the term being equivocal to "teacher") taught him allowed him to survive in the forest for over a year.  Dawn lived a life of isolation, his existence focused solely upon his continued survival as he foraged for sustenance and fended off attacks from the monsters that called the Everfree Forest home.
This solitary existence came to an abrupt end when Dawn crossed paths with Dame Fluttershy of Ponyville, who is also known as the Bearer of the Element of Kindness.  Dawn intervened and saved her from a pack of timberwolves.  In spite of his unique appearance, Dame Fluttershy was kind enough to convince Dawn to leave the forest and live with her.  She later adopted Dawn as her son and the two of them continue to live together.
Dawn's welcome in Ponyville was substantially different from most other towns he had tried to live in.  Aside from some severe friction with Dame Applejack: The Bearer of Honesty, Dawn was generally accepted into Ponyville life and began to enjoy the life of a normal colt, though the emotional issues of a life of persecution have caused him some difficulties.
In spite of those difficulties, Dawn has become an indispensable member of the Ponyville community, helping with several community events.  He even put his life on the line to help Ponyville's Weather Manager, Dame Rainbow Dash: Bearer of Loyalty, overcome the tribalist stranglehold over Cloudsdale, ending a drought that had been threatening the lives and livelihoods of everypony in Ponyville and the surrounding Cloudsdale Distribution Zone.  Dawn's contributions have been acknowledged and praised by none other than Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, who personally witnessed his participation in the Battle of Cloudsdale.
However, Dawn's problems are not completely behind him.  Mere days after his return from Cloudsdale, Dawn was forced to fend off an assassination attempt.  Dawn has also been the target of other efforts by ponies who object to his very existence.
The primary group behind these attempts on Dawn Lightwing's life is officially known as the Cult Solar.  Their original name for themselves is the Order of Celestial Light, an order built around the veneration and worship of Princess Celestia, its members believing her to be a goddess.  Just as importantly, these ponies have been indoctrinated to believe that Princess Luna, whom they still refer to as Nightmare Moon, is the embodiment of all evil.  According to Dame Sparkle, Princess Luna is affected by the same condition as Dawn.  It was her transformation into Nightmare Moon that led to the Cult Solar coining the term, Eyes of Nightmare, as the name for the condition.
Princess Celestia when asked about the group's actions has repeatedly and vehemently stated that the ponies of the Cult Solar are not acting in accord with her wishes, stating frankly that they "are acting on the basis of delusions of their own making and are according me a status that I neither asked for or wanted."  She has also said, "By saddling my beloved sister with the blame for all the problems in the world, they have hurt me more than any blade or spell possibly could.  I love Luna with all my heart and soul and the notion that she is somehow my evil opposite is beyond absurd."
After the banishment of her sister, it was a similar condemnation from Princess Celestia that resulted in a deterioration of the Cult's power and influence, to the point that they were forgotten by all but the most dedicated scholars.  However, in recent years, the Cult Solar appears to have begun a resurgence, which has been credited to the efforts of a mysterious individual known only as the Supreme Pontiff, who appears to be the Cult's acting leader.  Very little is known about the pony behind this title, which casts doubt on his very existence.
What cannot be doubted, however, is that the Cult Solar's influence is very real has stretched into some surprising places, with such ponies as Valencia Orange, Dame Applejack's father, and even Fleetfoot, who recently made headlines for being arrested and discharged from the Wonderbolts, having been members.  In fact, it was her father's influence that was the source of Dame Applejack's initial conflict with Dawn Lightwing during his initial arrival in Ponyville.  Even more troublingly, it was Fleetfoot who was responsible for the most recent attempt on Dawn's life, having been the one who sent the assassin to Ponyville.
In spite of this, Dawn continues to make the most of his life, having come to find a measure of peace and no shortage of love in Ponyville.  While Dawn fully expects that the Cult Solar will continue to harass and attack him, Ponyville is firmly behind the colt, with several members of the close-knit community expressing their willingness to support Dawn.  He also has the express support of Princess Celestia, who visited the colt shortly after his arrival in Ponyville.
Dame Sparkle continues to study the Eyes of Nightmare and has issued an open request for any ponies who might be affected by the condition to step forward to provide further opportunities for testing.
Thus, Dawn Lightwing's life in Ponyville, as tempestuous as it has been at times, is one of hope and promise.



"It's everything we hoped it would be," she said softly as she continued to read.
"So I take it things are going according to plan," said Arkenstone, coming up behind her.
"For now," said Twilight, "The problem is, while we can guess what the Cult Solar's response will be..."



Morning Star couldn't keep himself from smiling as his eyes scanned over the page.  With each successive line, his smile grew wider and he began to chuckle.  However, he was pulled away from the article by the sound of somepony rapping on the door to his sanctuary.  Schooling his face to a more neutral, albeit optimistic mode, Morning Star set down the paper.  "Enter."
"You called for me Holy Father?" asked Terra Heart as he stepped through the door.
The pink unicorn chuckled lightly, prompting an expression of confusion to cross the dark-brown earth pony's face.  "Is something funny?"
"No, it's just that this is such a rare occasion," said Morning Star, "It's rare that I get the news ahead of you."
"What makes you say that?"
Morning Star tossed his copy of the Equestrian times so that it landed at Terra's hooves, the headline clearly readable and the central image of the page, a photograph of a very familiar colt, clearly visible.  "If you had gotten the news before me, you would have probably smashed my door down to get in here."
Terra sat down so he could pick up the paper and start reading it.  As he did, the air in the sanctuary began to grow thicker and heavier.  With each line that his eyes scanned, Terra's expression grew darker still.  By the time he finished the article, he was in a simmering rage that seemed to make the very walls of the chamber vibrate.
"It would seem that our opponent has stolen a march on us," said Morning Star rather calmly.
"How can this be?" exclaimed Terra, practically throwing the paper away so that it slapped against the room's wall, "Princess Celestia herself could not have possibly been so deceived by this demon."
"Please keep in mind that this is a newspaper article," said Morning Star, calmly picking up the scattered pages of the newspaper, "In the end, it is merely an arrangement of ink on paper that reflects the author's perception of the state of reality...or the perception that the author wishes to impress upon her readers.  That the words are there is not proof that what they say is truth."
"I thought you were going to send somepony to deal with this colt!" snapped Terra, briefly forgetting Morning's position.
"I was," said Morning calmly, "But that is why I said our foe had stolen a march on us.  He must have anticipated Blenheim giving us his location and expected some form of reprisal.  So he preempted us by announcing his existence to all of Equestria, and everypony in the Order as well.  Before today, his location was only known to a select few of my choosing in preparation for his extermination.  But now his presence is known to everypony and, even worse, was announced in an article that carries an outright denunciation of the Order.  It's the worst kind of over-the-top provocation.  He is dragging our conflict out into the open so that ponies who have no true knowledge of the situation can lay judgment on us for the mere appearance of our actions."
"What do you mean?" asked Terra.
"Now that they know his location and now that he has manipulated the press to make such incendiary remarks on his behalf, I fully expect many in the Order to head to Ponyville straight away in an ill-advised effort to destroy this demon."  Morning Star sighed.  "But they lack the scope of view to understand how such a course of action will disrupt the accomplishment of our actual goal.  Worse, I am already expecting to hear that progress on the temples is faltering as ponies abandon their work to go on some crusade against this demon.
"Ponyville is now a flytrap.  The demon has made himself into bait in order to lure out our brethren so that he can amass further sympathy.  To make matters worse, he has the Element Bearers under his thrall.  This vile creature has put himself in a position that threatens everything we have spent the last decade building."
Morning chuckled.  "In all honesty, I'm impressed that he made such a cunning move.  Normally these demons are so obsessed with remaining hidden that the notion of one exposing himself to the world at large seemed an inconceivable move.  And yet, that is exactly what he did and it is now threatening to bring us to our knees."
"Then what do you propose we do?" demanded Terra, "The members of the Order will not be restrained so easily now that the demon has incited their wrath.  How do we keep them in place?"
Morning sighed.  "By doing the one thing I wanted to save as a last resort.  I will keep the Order's wrath restrained by reassuring them."  He gave Terra a solemn look.  "And I shall reassure them by assigning you the task of the demon's extermination."
Terra's eyes widened for a moment, before narrowing again.  Abruptly, the orientation of the room changed drastically.  It was now as though Terra was standing at the bottom of a deep abyss, Morning feeling as though he was simply going to plummet right into the earth pony.
"It shall be done," said Terra, his voice unbending, like solid steel.  He turned and began to step towards the door.
"Wait," said Morning, raising a hoof.  The pink unicorn had somehow managed to retain his calm demeanor in spite of such a terrifying demonstration.  "Do not go yet.  You must wait."
"What?" asked Terra, "Every moment that demon remains at large is a moment for his influence to grow.  I must snuff him out immediately."
"On the contrary," said Morning urgently, "If you act now, you could do irreversible damage!"
"I promise to keep his destruction discreet."
"There is no possible way you could do that," muttered Morning, "What I meant is that you are likely to inflict grievous harm to the Element Bearers if you act rashly."
That actually gave Terra pause.
Morning continued.  "Right now, the demon has ensnared their minds and made them his thralls.  If you destroy him right now, the resulting backlash could completely shatter their psyches and, with the one power guaranteed to bring about her defeat rendered useless, Nightmare Moon would be free to run rampant once more."
"But if I delay, then his influence over the Element Bearers will only grow," Terra pointed out.
Morning shook his head.  "Not necessarily, not if we wait long enough.  I should have seen it sooner, but the colt has been using the seasons to his advantage."
"What do you mean?" asked Terra.
"We are currently in the middle of fall.  In fact, we've already passed the tipping point of the autumnal equinox.  With each passing day, the night grows longer and the demon's power grows."
"All the more reason to deal with him immediately."
"No!  For you see, the growth of his power will not last.  It will peak with the winter solstice before his influence begins to wane once again.  The demon is aware of this, that is why he made such a brazen move to lure us into open conflict with him.  He is aware that his advantage will be temporary at best."
"So you wish for me to deal with him after the solstice then?" asked Terra.
"Not after the solstice," said Morning, "For, so long as the night outlasts the day, his power will be substantial.  It is the vernal equinox you must wait for.  Once he passes the tipping point in the other direction, the colt's hold on the minds of his thralls will be sufficiently weakened that he can be disposed of without the threat of breaking their minds completely."
"But still..." protested Terra, "In the meantime, they must truly suffer under the demon's thrall.  I can't stand to leave them like that.  If we delay, they might break anyway."
Morning rested a comforting hoof on Terra's shoulder.  "Peace, my friend.  Have faith in the Element Bearers.  Though they might be ordinary ponies, within them lies the power to drive back Nightmare Moon herself.  They have been chosen by Her Radiance for this purpose.  Have faith in their strength and their ability to endure."
With a sigh, Terra closed his eyes and nodded.  "I shall bow to your wisdom, Holy Father."
"Good," said Morning Star, "Now, I want you to see that a missive is sent to all branches of the Order and to as many individual members as possible.  Inform them that I have appointed you to personally oversee the demon's destruction and that nopony else is to respond to his provocations.  Make sure that they understand that if anypony tries to take matters into their own hooves, they will only put their sisters and brothers in greater danger and that such actions are inexcusable."
Terra bowed his head.  "Understood.  I will see to it at once."
The dark-brown stallion made his way out of the sanctuary.  Once the door slammed shut, Morning Star let out a sigh of relief and swiped an arm across his forehead.  "Truly," he said, casting a wan glance at the troublesome newspaper, "It is those who have the least idea of the repercussions of their actions that can cause the greatest problems."



"Hey Dawn?"
"Hmm?"  Dawn looked up from the copy of the newspaper he had been reading.
"Are you really gonna be okay with this?" asked Scootaloo, gesturing to her own copy and the article it contained.
When Spike made the short journey from the library to Arkenstone's teahouse in order to invite Apple Bloom to go out and have ice cream with him, the others had ultimately ended up joining in.  While the young dragon had been a bit disappointed that he wasn't going to be able to spend any time alone with his fillyfriend for the moment, he couldn't begrudge his other friends the need to see what the reporter had written about Dawn themselves.  So, with Arkenstone's permission, they had all left the teahouse to go over to Sugarcube Corner, where they helped themselves to a selection of Pinkie Pie's treats (Dawn was delighted to learn that Pinkie was now offering the soup dumplings as a regular menu item, evidently for his benefit.) before sitting down to read the article for themselves.  Pinkie helpfully supplied them each with their own copy of the paper.
Dawn looked back down at the article and the picture of his face.  The picture of him with his eyes open, albeit with a shocked expression resulting from the unexpected camera flash, dominated the center of the front page, giving the readers a clear view of the colt's most distinguishing features.  The article continued on a page further in the paper, where it was paired with the other picture that Limelight had taken, an image of Dawn contentedly resting in Fluttershy's embrace, the two of them enjoying a moment of comfort in the midst of of a stressful interview.
"It's a bit late for doubts now," said Dawn softly, "I was aware of the potential problems when Twilight Sparkle first proposed this plan."
"So do you really think they'll come for you?" asked Rumble.
"I'm fairly certain that they will," said Dawn, "I'm not sure how or when, but they will come."
"What do we do then?" asked Sweetie nervously, scooting closer to Rumble, who obligingly wrapped a wing around her.
Dawn fixed all his friends with a stern gaze.  "Then you will do as I tell you.  If I tell you to leave me, then you need to do so-yes, even you, Scootaloo-"  He fixed his fillyfriend with an even harder gaze as she opened her mouth to protest.  "No heroics, no trying to argue against them on my behalf.  Step aside and let me deal with them."
Scootaloo lowered her eyes and gazed forlornly at the table.  Apple Bloom, seeing her friend's distress, patted Scootaloo's shoulder sympathetically.  "It's fer the best Scoots.  We've all seen what Dawn can do when he starts fightin'.  If we're around gettin' in his way, we're gonna be a bigger problem fer him than those darn nutjobs."
"But I can fight too," protested Scootaloo.
"You can," said Dawn, "But I think you remember why you shouldn't be trying to fight just yet."
Scootaloo's mouth snapped shut with an audible click of teeth as she was besieged by the memory of the last time she had unleashed her power against another pony.  Images of the ruined wall of her home and a broken stallion, lying unmoving in the road flashed before her eyes.  Abruptly, all desire to protest Dawn's instructions died and dissolved into a squirming mass of unease that settled into Scootaloo's gut.
Dawn, realizing how upset he'd made her, leaned over and nuzzled against her.  "I'm sorry," he said, "That was too much."
"No," said Scootaloo, sinking down into her seat, "You're right.  I have a lot more work to do before I'm ready to fight another pony."
"So if the cultists come for him, basically our roll is to get out of the way and let you handle it," observed Spike.
"Or possibly Storm Front and Red River.  If they are in the area, then they may be the ones dealing with the situation." said Dawn, "It depends on the situation."
"But at least the article said some really nice things about you," commented Sweetie Bellle, "I bet a lot of ponies are going to be on your side after reading about this."
"I certainly hope so," said Dawn, feeling a little bit dubious about how well things would turn out.



"Well," said Shining Armor, setting down the paper, "That's that, I guess."
"Are you worried?" asked Cadance, sidling up against her husband to read the paper alongside him.	
"Yeah," admitted Shining, "I've sent word out to all the Guard units to be on the lookout for any signs of unrest in response to the article.  The problem is, if the Guards belong to a town with a heavy Cult Solar presence then..."
"Then it's likely members of that Guard are part of the Cult as well," finished Cadance.
Shining nodded.  "They could deliberately downplay the unrest the article causes or, worse, be a part of it themselves.  I also don't like the idea of mobs of ponies descending on Ponyville because Dawn's there.  Things could get really ugly.
"But Dawn has Storm Front and Red River there to help," Cadance pointed out, "And Arkenstone is there as well.  Between the four of them, they should be able to easily keep things under control."
"True," admitted Shining, "I guess I'm a bit on edge since Twilight gets plenty of mention in the article as well.  I don't like the idea of her becoming a target of the Cult Solar in addition to Dawn."
"Fluttershy's at risk too," Cadance pointed out, turning to the picture of Dawn and Fluttershy together, "If anypony besides Dawn is going to be threatened because of this article, it's going to be her."
"I guess so," admitted Shining, "But we'll have to leave it to them.  I'd love to assign some of the Royal Guard to Ponyville to help keep things under control, but everypony we have right now is either involved in the search for Viscount Eventide or patrolling the city and keeping eye out for Perlin Bluestreak."
"About that," said Princess Celestia, stepping in through the door to Shining's office, "Have you made any progress on either front?"
"With Perlin, we've had a few scattered sightings here and there, but nothing definite and no real leads on his exact location."  Shining flipped through some pages on his desk.  "As for Eventide...mum...  The closest we've gotten to any actual lead was a couple members of his household staff overhearing something about him visiting the Crystal Caverns.  I've had a squad down there looking through the place, but they haven't found anything yet."  He looked up at Celestia.  "How's the Court taking it?"
"Rather well, all things concerned," said Celestia, not sounding too pleased in spite of that, "If I had to guess, Eventide is probably dead and his corpse, as well as the corpses of his mares at arms, disposed of.  This was probably the result of some conflict with another member of the Noble Court.  But they would pitch a fit if we didn't at least make a token effort to find out what happened to him."
Shining nodded.  "It feels weird to not have them screaming down my neck to find out what happened.  The press is making a bigger deal of this than the nobles are."
"Speaking of the press," said Cadance, "Have you seen the article on Dawn?"
Celestia nodded and looked down at the paper.  "I've already received several other inquiries about that article.  A lot of ponies are taking interest in his story."
"In a good way or a bad way?" asked Cadance.
"Both and neither," said Celestia with a shrug, "A lot of ponies have been asking questions about the Cult Solar, which is good.  I'm hoping that they'll help spread the word that I'm not too happy with them right now.  The more pressure we can put on them, the more we can hamper their influence and keep them from harassing Dawn."
"And on the negative side of things...?" prodded Shining.
Celestia sighed and looked down at the article again.  "Unfortunately, Dawn's actions in Cloudsdale, as beneficial as they were, are drawing attention as well, and not the good kind.  I've received some inquiries regarding Fluttershy's suitability as Dawn's guardian, given that she allowed him to participate in something so dangerous."
"From everything I've heard, Dawn can take care of himself just fine," commented Shining.
"That's quite true," agreed Celestia, "The problem is that Dawn is still a foal, especially in the eyes of other ponies, I've made arrangements to grant him certain special privileges and protections due to his impressive skill-set, but such information is not usually widely disseminated.
"What I'm worried about is that somepony will look into Dawn's situation and discover the certain...other conflicts he has been involved in..."
"You mean his fight with Storm Front and Red River?" asked Shining.
"Among other things," said Celestia with a nod, "I trusted their judgment on that matter when Twilight wrote to us about it.  As martial artists, they understand Dawn in a way that few other ponies will.  But most ponies will only see the fact that two grown stallions attacked and nearly murdered a foal.  There's also Dawn's conflict with Applejack, which was mentioned in the article.  We're lucky that the author didn't go into more detail about what happened or Applejack could face serious repercussions.  But if somepony were to take a closer look into the matter..."
"Yeah, that could be bad," agreed Shining.
Celestia shook her head sadly.  "Applejack and Dawn reconciled and have overcome their conflict.  But I doubt that would matter to ponies who don't truly understand what happened."
"It'll be okay," said Cadance, smiling at her husband and aunt, "We just have to trust in Twilight and the others.  Regardless of what struggles come, I'm sure they can pull through."
Celestia let out a soft chuckle.  "I suppose I can agree to that much."



"Now then, does everybody have enough food?  I'm not going to have much time to get any more supplies for you."
A chorus of chittering and other sundry noises greeted Fluttershy's inquiry as she went about distributing feed to her animals.  The past few days had been busy ones for her.  As Ponyville's resident wildlife keeper, she had been checking up on all the animals around town and the surrounding areas, including the park and Whitetail Woods, checking to make sure that all the animals going into hibernation would have enough food to keep them in their dens through the winter.  It was a long and tedious job, but one that the yellow mare was glad to have.  Once everything was settled, she would relax for the season, content in the knowledge that her animal friends would be spending their winters comfortably.
On top of that, this would be the first winter where Fluttershy wouldn't have to spend most of her time alone in an empty, silent cottage.  This year, she would have Dawn, and both of them would be moving into Caramel's house until Winter Wrap-up.  The thought of being able to spend the season with her son and her coltfriend made Fluttershy positively giddy with happiness.
A chill wind whipped through the area, making Fluttershy shiver.  Her animal friends were already scattering, their feeding complete.  Now that the harvest season had officially ended, the Weather Team members were going about the work of further lowering the ambient temperature in preparation for the upcoming snowfall.  While it would still be a few weeks, the first snowstorm not being scheduled until just after Nightmare Night, the pegasi were bringing in some cold winds to help chill the ground over the nights so that Ponyville's first snowfall wouldn't result in a dirty, slushy mess.
However, while the temperature was lowering, there was still plenty to do outdoors.  Autumn was Party Season for Ponyville (or Pinkie Pie Season, as some called it), with a series of three celebrations being held in relatively short order.  First came the Harvest Festival.  Following that, just a few days from now, was the Running of the Leaves.  After that came Nightmare Night, the holiday that truly marked the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
Seeing that her work had been done, Fluttershy looked to the sky and noticed that the afternoon was waning.  Dawn would be returning home before long, possibly from the teahouse, or training in the quarry with Scootaloo.  Deciding that a nice vegetable stew would go over well on a chilly evening like this, Fluttershy stepped inside to get started on dinner.  As she did, her mind turned to the newspaper article, which, even now, was lying on the table in the living room.
The days since the article's release had been surprisingly quiet and free from trouble.  After the article's appearance, Fluttershy had half-expected reporters to swarm down on Ponyville and besiege her home with requests for further interviews, constantly hound her all day with their cameras, and do everything in their power to disrupt her and Dawn's lives.  However, the matter seemed to have been glossed over.  Currently, the Equestrian Times was printing Limelight's interviews with the townsponies, along with her interview with Spitfire, in subsequent editions.  But not even Spitfire's interview had gotten the front page billing the original article had obtained.  It was enough to make Fluttershy wonder if someone else was deliberately keeping the media restrained...or something else was keeping their attention diverted.  Fluttershy supposed that the ongoing search for any evidence behind that noble's disappearance might have been one reason.
After prepping the ingredients and getting them in the pot, Fluttershy set the stew to simmer while she retired to the living room with a book she had borrowed from the library.  There would be little else to do until Dawn was home and dinner was ready.  Settling in, Fluttershy prepared to enjoy the remainder of the quiet afternoon.
However, it appeared that somepony did not care for Fluttershy's peace in the slightest.  She had barely started the first page of her book, when somepony started pounding on her door in a series of sharp raps that made Fluttershy jump with a startled squeak, knocking her book to the floor.
Before she answered the door, Fluttershy picked up the book and smoothed out the bent pages and put it back on the table.  Twilight would have a conniption if one of her books were damaged.  All throughout, the knocking continued without pause.  Nervously, Fluttershy approached the door and put her hoof to the knob, turning it with a click.  Almost immediately, the knocking stopped.  The abrupt cessation of noise was almost as startling as its initial appearance and Fluttershy gulped nervously, sweating slightly.  Just who was on the other side of the door?  For all that she knew, it could be a pony from the Cult Solar, coming after her the way Bedrock had back when she'd dropped Dawn off for his first day of school.
Maybe I should wait until Dawn gets back, thought Fluttershy, taking her hoof back from the doorknob and reaching to turn the lock.
"It's no use hiding in there Miss Fluttershy," snapped a prim and disciplined voice from the other side, "I am not in the mood for games.  You will open your door or you will automatically forfeit your rights as Dawn Lightwing's guardian."
"Eep!" squeaked Fluttershy, reaching for the knob again before freezing in place.  "W-who are you?"
"I am an agent of the Department of Foal Protection under the Equestrian Ministry of Welfare," said the mare sharply, "You may call me Softhoof.  Now, open this door at once."
Hesitantly, Fluttershy turned the knob and opened the door, shrinking back nervously from the hard gaze of the mare before her.  "H-how c-can I h-help you?" stammered Fluttershy.
"I am here for one purpose and one purpose only," said Softhoof, "I am here to judge your suitability as the guardian of Dawn Lightwing.  Should you be deemed unfit, you will lose custody of the colt, effective immediately."
> The Inspection
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3: The Inspection

"I-I'm not sure I understand," said Fluttershy, "I thought Foal Services had a-already approved me."  She shrank back a little further as Softhoof's eyes narrowed.
In spite of her name, almost nothing about Softhoof seemed...well...soft...  Her gray eyes were sharp and piercing, giving Fluttershy the feeling that they were staring right through her.  Aside from that, everything else about the mare could be described as drab.  Her coat was a dark, olive-color, while her immaculately-groomed mane was pitch-black, though Fluttershy's eyes picked out the slightest hint of gray at the roots.  Her tail swished back and forth, occasionally obscuring the view of her cutie mark, a magnifying glass positioned over a sheet of paper covered by dense text.  Though her figure was small, her forehead only barely coming up to the level of Fluttershy's muzzle (not counting the horn, which added to her overall stature a little), the mare remained an imposing sight and she carried herself with absolute confidence and conviction.
"That was the case," admitted Softhoof, though her expression soured as though she personally detested that fact, "When you submitted your initial application, we found nothing objectionable or that warranted further investigation.  However..."  Her magic opened the flap of one of her saddlebags and extracted a copy of the newspaper, the very issue that had been released a few days ago, "...certain new information has come to light that has led several important ponies within our department to reevaluate your suitability."
"I-I see..." said Fluttershy, "Wh-what now?"
"First will be an inspection of your home," said Softhoof, "I will have to look through it in order to determine if you are providing a healthy environment in which to raise a foal.  I must admit, I already have my doubts, given that your home is so far away from rest of the town."
"I-I'm sorry," said Fluttershy, "Please come in."  She stepped away from the door to clear the way for the inspector.
The olive unicorn huffed irritably and put the newspaper back in her saddlebag.  From the opposite bag, she withdrew a notebook and pen, which went into a furious motion, writing down the mare's observations as she moved.  As she stepped over the threshold and entered the cottage's living room, her eyes roved over every scrap of space, observing every detail and missing nothing.
A flurry of movement drew Softhoof's gaze downward.  A small white rabbit now stood poised in front of her.  Angel's expression was almost a perfect mirror of Softhoof's own as he sat with his arms folded and glared up at the invader.  Softhoof raised an eyebrow, which Angel also mirrored, the two of them seemingly trying to stare one another down.  Fluttershy looked back and forth, not sure if she should intervene unless Angel actually got violent.
The staring contest was broken by more movements in Softhoof's peripheral vision.  Her eyes swept across the living room once again.  During her initial sweep, the mare had noted the holes, perches, and other suspicious furnishings.  They were now occupied by a host of animals, from squirrels and hedgehogs to birds of a variety of species.
"Good heavens!" gasped Softhoof, "What in Celestia's name is all this?  What are all these animals doing here?"
"They're all my friends," said Fluttershy, gaining a little confidence with her animal companions there to provide her some comfort.  As if on cue, one of the birds alit on the top of her head, giving a few encouraging tweets.  A young weasel began to twine about her forelegs.
"This is..."  Softhoof struggled for words.  "This is absurd.  You can't possibly think that this is an appropriate environment for a young colt, sharing a house with all these..."  She fought for the right words.  "...These pests!"
Fluttershy rounded on Softhoof almost immediately.  "They are not pests," she said sharply, "They are all my very dear friends and you will not insult them."
As Softhoof backed away from Fluttershy's suddenly aggressive behavior, Fluttershy almost immediately changed her behavior, her ears going back and lying flat against her head as she shrank away from the bureaucrat.  "Oh!  I'm so sorry.  I got carried away there.  It's just...when somepony says bad things about my friends I..."  Fluttershy quickly averted her gaze, afraid to even look the other mare in the eye.
Softhoof stood there, blinking, having been taken off-guard by the sudden shifts in Fluttershy's behavior.  Is this mare unstable? was her first thought.  However, the more she thought about it, the less likely that seemed.  Softhoof had interviewed and examined many prospective parents in the past and had seen a veritable laundry-list of mental concerns and issues.  However, Fluttershy's behavior didn't quite meet any of them.  There had been a steely firmness in her tone when she'd upbraided Softhoof for speaking badly of her animals, but nothing wild or out of control.  It was the sheer contrast between that and Fluttershy's previously submissive behavior that had caught Softhoof off-guard.
At first, Fluttershy's timidness had struck Softhoof as a trait that would make her unfit to be the parent of a colt.  After all, if the parent didn't have the wherewithal to assume a position of authority then the foal would simply walk all over her and grow up without being subjected to any form of discipline.  However, Softhoof was beginning to think that Fluttershy's behavior was nothing more than simple shyness in the face of having to deal with an unfamiliar pony.
Even her home was more than it appeared to be at first glance.  With all the countless holes, burrows and birdhouses, it seemed as though a place so infested with animals would be little more than a cesspit, with every surface covered with molted feathers, shed fur, and excrement as the animals clearly had free run of the place.  However, the interior of the cottage was clean, pristine almost.  Aside from the fact that the animals themselves seemed to be everywhere, there were no other real signs of their inhabitance.  Could it be that they clean up after themselves?
Softhoof hadn't neglected her research before leaving Canterlot.  She well knew that Fluttershy's greatest talent was her ability to communicate and interact with animals and that she was in charge of Ponyville's wildlife management.  However, knowing those facts hadn't prepared Softhoof at all for meeting with the mare herself.  Fluttershy's position wasn't uncommon, particularly in earth pony towns.  However, such a position was rarely held by a pegasus.  Even more off-putting was the way Fluttershy spoke about the animals, as though they were equals.
"What?"  Softhoof suddenly realized that Fluttershy had been addressing her.
"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy, as though she had been the one who hadn't been paying attention, "I was wondering if you would like some tea."
"Oh...um...no thank you.  I think I should continue my inspection."  Softhoof stepped forward and looked around the living room once again.  "I would like to take a look at the colt's room."
"O-oh...I-I'm not sure..." said Fluttershy nervously, "It doesn't feel right doing that while Dawn's not here.  Isn't that invading his privacy."
"It's an important aspect of the inspection," replied Softhoof sharply, her eyes narrowing once again, "A foal's room should be inspected without the possibility of interference.  I need to be absolutely certain that you are providing for his needs in every way and it wouldn't do for him to try and hide anything."
A rustling noise filled the air and Softhoof was suddenly aware that Fluttershy's animals were now watching her very intently.  The olive unicorn shuddered under their collective gaze as she realized that they must have perceived some sort of threat in the way she was speaking and were now waiting to see whether or not they needed to act in defense of their mistress.
"Now none of that," said Fluttershy sternly, sweeping her gaze across the assembled animals, "This mare is simply trying to help Dawn.  You all need to calm down.  Why don't you go outside until we're finished."
As the animals dispersed, Fluttershy returned her gaze to Softhoof, looking contrite.  "I'm sorry, but they are very protective of me sometimes.  They are also very fond of Dawn, so..."
"I-I see," said Softhoof, her own nerves beginning to wear a bit thin, "Let's continue.  The colt's room please."
"Yes...alright..."  Fluttershy led the way down the hallway leading to the room that had once been for storage until she had modified it into a bedroom for Dawn.
It was roomy enough, certainly a decent size for a young colt, and would be even after he had grown larger.  In deference to his preferences, the walls had been painted in soft blues and greens, while the bed was covered by sheets and a blanket of lighter blue.  On the wall at the foot of the bed was a long bookshelf that extended the wall's entire length.  Right now, there were only a few schoolbooks there, but nothing else of note.  In fact, the whole room was clean, not through the neatness of organization, but for a simple lack of anything beyond the absolute essentials.
"This is..."  Softhoof wasn't sure what to say, the state of the room giving her an extremely mixed message about the colt's care.  "Are you sure this is a healthy environment?  Why is there nothing else in here?  Honestly, it seems more like a guest room than your son's."
Fluttershy shrank back.  "Oh...well...Dawn doesn't spend much time in here."
Softhoof's eyes narrowed as she took in the room again.  The walls were empty, devoid of any decoration.  In a normal colt's room, they would have been covered in posters of favorite bands, movies, famous actresses, the kind of things colts typically took an interest in.  But here...nothing.  "And why doesn't he spend much time in here?"
"Because he's usually out with his friends," said Fluttershy, "Or out in the living room with me and the animals, or in the kitchen, helping me with dinner, or out helping me with the chores, or at the teahouse where he works..."  Fluttershy's eyes drifted upward as she continued to try and recall all the myriad places Dawn typically went.  "...To be honest, he only really uses it for sleeping."
Softhoof pursed her lips.  "And why doesn't he have any books, games, or toys?" she asked.  The lack of such things could signify different things.  It could mean that Fluttershy's financial conditions were too dire to allow for such unnecessary things, which seemed to be unlikely, given the the well-maintained state of the house and quality of everything that Fluttershy possessed.  While the yellow mare was clearly not wealthy, it was obvious that she wasn't wanting for bits either.  All of the few items that were in Dawn's room were of high quality as well.  The other possibility was neglect, that Fluttershy maybe thought that the essentials were the only thing she was required to supply her son.
"Oh...well...Dawn doesn't have much of an interest in games or toys," said Fluttershy, "And he always says that he can play the games his friends have instead having them lying around here."
She turned and straightened out the textbooks piled on the shelf, apparently needing something to keep her hooves busy while she talked.  "Dawn likes reading and I've offered to buy him books, but he always turns me down.  He says he's happy checking them out of the library, since he can do it for free and always check them out again if he wants to read them again."
"I see..."  Softhoof tapped her chin as she thought things over.  Fluttershy's explanation made a certain amount of sense, but enough things were off that Softhoof wasn't willing to simply wrap up her inspection here.  It appears that the best way to get an understanding of the situation will be to speak to the colt himself.
Turning she strode back out into the living room.  "I am going to have to interview the colt personally in order to conclude my investigation," she said, "In the meantime, I have some other questions to ask of you."
"O-of course," said Fluttershy, shaking slightly, "W-would you like some tea now?"
"Yes, I suppose that would be nice," said Softhoof.



Scootaloo had to fight back the urge to yawn as she stood almost stock still in her position at the quarry.  Above each of her wings hovered a single rock, each suspended by its own swirling vortex of upward surging air that kept the stones from falling, but sufficiently weak that they weren't launched up into the sky.  It had been like this for several days now, ever since She had sent that cultist stallion crashing through the wall of her living room and tumbling into a broken heap in the road, Dawn had been carefully working with her to help her learn to moderate her power.
The rock exercise had been simple at first.  The objective was to catch a falling rock in an updraft over her wing and then hold in place as steadily and for as long as she could.  However, as she grew more comfortable with the exercise's original form, Dawn had started to add annoying little wrinkles.  First, he'd made Scootaloo work on suspending two rocks of equal size and weight over her wings, meaning she had to be able to do the same thing with both wings at the same time.  Now, Dawn had added a new level of difficulty by forcing Scootaloo to work with two rocks, each with a different size and weight, forcing her to moderate the power of her wings separately, but still at the same time.  In many ways, it was an extension of the more advanced forms that Dawn had been teaching her.
Though Dawn was apparently aware of her frustration, he wasn't exactly in a position to address it at the moment, as he was currently working through his own training.  He and Red River were currently exchanging flurries of blows as Dawn used his wings and wind to parry thrusts and slashes from Red's spear, the two of them dueling back and forth along the ground as Dawn worked to improve his skills at close-in fighting.  When Dawn had originally started working with Red, his only goal had been to get in past Red's spear and land a strike against the azure stallion's body.  However, their training had now advanced to the point where it was nothing less than full-on sparring.
Sometimes, Storm Front joined in on their exercises, teaming up with Red for a two-on-one match with Dawn that reminded Scootaloo uncomfortably of that deadly duel so many months ago that had nearly resulted in Dawn's death at the hooves of those very stallions.  However, their exchanges were never tinged with that same degree of dire seriousness and Dawn seemed to be actively enjoying the challenge of going up against two very skilled and experienced opponents simultaneously.  At this point, it still wasn't anything very serious.  Dawn only used the most basic blows and wind manipulation skills of the Gale King, not yet utilizing his newly acquired control of lightning nor the deadly vacuum blades.  In turn, the two mercenaries kept to relying purely on their skill with their own weapons, not using their own magic for the time being.  Such sparring matches were fascinating to watch, which wasn't exactly doing Scootaloo's focus any favors.
Right now though, it wasn't as bad.  Red was the only pony sparring with Dawn at the moment.  Storm was there at the quarry, but he was there for a different reason.  The dark-gray stallion was currently hovering in the air above them as he watched Rumble carefully swing a knotted rope about, putting Thunderlane's younger brother through a series of exercises designed to teach him how to wield the meteor hammer.  The teaching process wasn't exactly going smoothly as Scootaloo heard the occasional yelp from Rumble as the colt fumbled a technique and accidentally whacked himself with the knot at the end of his rope.  Scootaloo remembered hearing that Rumble had been on the receiving end of some uncomfortable questions from Thunderlane and Cloud Chaser and that Storm had gotten into some hot water with the two of them until Flitter, Storm's fillyfriend and Cloud Chaser's sister, had stepped in to help explain things.  As it was, Storm had ended up requiring a steady supply of magic balm from the hospital to help treat the bruises that Rumble accrued with each practice session.  It seemed that that was becoming less and less of a problem.  However, that didn't stop Rumble of finding the process of learning to master the weapon, quite literally, painfully slow.
Abruptly, the tumult of sound from Dawn's sparring practice with Red came to a stop and the ebony colt backed away from his opponent.  Red lowered a spear, signaling an end to their session so that Dawn could turn his attention back to Scootaloo.  "I'd say we're about done for the day," he said, "You can put the rocks down.  Go through each of your forms once more and that will be enough."
With a sigh of relief, Scootaloo pulled in her wings, letting the rocks drop to the ground.  "Finally," she groaned, earning a chuckle from her teacher/coltfriend.
Though she found it decidedly frustrating at times, Scootaloo was happy that Dawn wasn't easing up on her training because of their newly-established relationship.  When they had first confessed their feelings for each other, Scootaloo had worried that those feelings would make it hard for her and Dawn to work through her training.  However, it actually seemed to make things even easier.  Being in a romantic relationship was confusing at times, frustrating at others.  But out here in the quarry, Dawn and Scootaloo could slip into their old, familiar roles with ease.  Here, they were teacher and student and each knew exactly where the other stood, no confusion to be found.  It was reassuring in a way.
Red chuckled as he stepped up to stand next to Dawn.  The two of them watched as Scootaloo went into the First Form.  "Quite the sight isn't it?" he commented, "You teaching her, me teaching you, Storm teaching Rumble.  For a deserted quarry, it's become rather lively."
"True," agreed Dawn, "It's practically a little school we have here."
"A school hmm...?"  Red stared down at the shaft of his spear.  "That actually sounds rather nice..."
Up above them, Storm Front smiled as he nodded to Rumble.  "I think that's enough for today," he said.
With a sigh of relief, Rumble wound up the cord of his practice weapon and the two of them adjourned to a nearby cloud, where Storm pulled a small jar of balm out from within the confines of his silk shirt and began to dab it gently on Rumble's newly-acquired bruises.  During practice, Storm noticed that Rumble appeared to be distracted, making more mistakes than usual.  "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"Sort of..." said Rumble, his voice trailing off.
"I can understand if you don't want to tell me," said Storm.
"Well, it's not that I don't trust you," said Rumble, "I'm not entirely sure what the problem is.  It's something I can't put my hoof on."
"Does it have to do with anything in particular?"
Rumble frowned.  "It's Sweetie Belle," he said.
"Love issues?" asked Storm, feeling out of his depth.  He was new to the whole relationship thing as well.  Though things were going well between him and Flitter, the stallion wasn't exactly feeling that he was in a position to provide counsel on relationships.
"Not exactly," said Rumble, "I mean, we have a lot of fun together and being with her always makes me happy.  It's just, right now...Sweetie seems..."  Rumble was struggling to find the words to describe the situation.  "...She seems lost somehow...Whenever I go off to train with you, or Scootaloo and Dawn have to leave, or when Apple Bloom has to go and do something at the farm, she always looks sad; not the normal 'I'm sad you're leaving right now' kind of sad, but something else..."
"Have you noticed when this might have started happening?" asked Storm.
Rumble thought the matter over for a moment.  "Well, I don't think it has anything to do with what happened at the Harvest Festival.  She was just fine after that.  Let's see...after that was...Apple Bloom's cuteceñera.  That's the only other important thing that's happened lately...aside from the newspaper article about Dawn."  Rumble thought about it some more.  "Now that I think about it, I think it wasn't that long after Bloom's cuteceñera."
"Perhaps not having a cutie mark has something to do with it," suggested Storm.
"But why would that upset her.  Sure, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have their cutie marks, but Dawn and I don't have ours.  It's not like she's the last one."
"True," agreed Storm, "But, if I recall correctly, she and those other two fillies were the original members of your little group of Crusaders.  Even if you and Dawn have yet to find your cutie mark, she is still the last amongst the original group.  Perhaps that is weighing upon her in some way."
"Maybe," agreed Rumble.
"Perhaps you should try talking to her about it," suggested Storm, "Or, alternatively, offering to listen.  The best thing for her may be to have somepony she can speak earnestly and honestly to."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," said Rumble, "It's worth trying at least."
Down below, Scootaloo was panting as she finished the last of her forms.  As she stepped out of her final stance, she noticed Dawn nodding with approval.
"You're doing quite well," noted Dawn, "Your control has been improving a great deal."
Scootaloo couldn't help but smile and blush at Dawn's praise.  "Thanks."
"We may be able to start sparring practice soon," noted Dawn, "It will help you get used to using your skills against actual opponents and adapting to the situation on the fly."
"You mean fighting...like against you..."  Scootaloo's blush vanished as the blood rushed away from her face, her ears going back to lay flat against her head.  The image of Quicksilver, sprawled unmoving across the road, came unbidden to her mind as she remembered the last time she had used the Gale King against another pony.  Looking down, Scootaloo shivered at the unpleasant memory.
She felt Dawn step forward to stand in front of her.  Extending his wings, Dawn wrapped them around either side of Scootaloo's head, gently tugging until her forehead rested against his, the two of them isolated in their own little world, cocooned within Dawn's feathers.
"You'll be fine," said Dawn, "You won't hurt me.  The entire point of sparring against me is that, even if you do lose control, I can still keep things from getting out of hoof.  It'll be alright."
"Okay..." said Scootaloo.
"We'll leave it for another time," said Dawn, "Let's call it a day."
"Alright."  Scootaloo pulled away slightly and tilted her muzzle back up, Dawn mirroring the motion.  Before he could pull away completely, Scootaloo leaned forward and pecked him lightly on the lips.  "Thank you."
"You're welcome," said Dawn, smiling, "Let's go home."



"Now then," said Softhoof as Fluttershy set a cup of tea in front of her, "I hope you understand that, as Dawn Lightwing's primary caretaker and guardian, you are responsible for ensuring his health and wellbeing."  There had been some delays in the interview, owing to Fluttershy having to attend to the stew she had been fixing before finishing with the tea.
"Yes," said Fluttershy, pausing to take a sip from her own cup to help calm her nerves, "I understand that."
"Good," said Softhoof, "Then perhaps you will oblige me by explaining what he was doing in Cloudsdale during the tribalist conflict.  How is it that Dawn was there that day?"
"It was his own decision," said Fluttershy, "The drought had been causing problems for everypony in Ponyville, especially Rainbow Dash, since she was the one responsible for the town's weather.  After she was nearly arrested for bringing in a wild storm from the Everfree Forest, she decided to go to Cloudsdale to look into it herself.  She..."  Fluttershy paused with a gulp, taking another sip of tea.  She'd known from the moment she'd learned why Softhoof was here that this was going to be the greatest hurdle in the investigation.  What was worse, Fluttershy was nowhere near certain that she could convince Softhoof that her decision had been appropriate.  "She came to see me, asking if she could bring Dawn with her to Cloudsdale."
"Your friend asked you if Dawn Lightwing could go to Cloudsdale with her?" asked Softhoof, aghast at the idea, "What was she thinking?"
"She was afraid," said Fluttershy, "After what happened with the Cloudsdale Guard trying to arrest her, she wanted to have somepony she could count on if things went...badly."
"In other words, your friend decided it would be a good idea to bring a young foal into a hostile situation that could, and did, deteriorate into violence," gasped Softhoof, "And you agreed?"
"I did," said Fluttershy, "I said I would respect Dawn's decision and he decided to go with her."
Softhoof's mouth worked silently as she processed what Fluttershy said.  "You actually gave your approval?"
Fluttershy nodded.  "I trusted Dawn's decision, because I was sure that he would want to do the right thing, even if it meant putting himself at risk."
"What in Equestria is the basis of this trust of yours?" said Softhoof.
"Dawn's strength is very real," said Fluttershy, "When we first met, he was the one saving me.  He saved me by driving off a pack of Timberwolves that had been chasing me through the forest.  The second time we met, he saved me from a stallion that had been attempting to rape me.  Dawn survived in the Everfree Forest, on his own, with nopony else to look after him, for over a year.  I trusted him on the basis of that strength."  For some reason, Fluttershy felt much more secure and assertive when talking about Dawn this way.  The article had downplayed Dawn's strength, most likely to build more sympathy for the harassment he endured.  But Fluttershy knew, perhaps better than anypony aside from the three other martial artists in Ponyville, just how strong Dawn really was.  After all, if he hadn't been very strong, he would never have lasted as long as he did on his own in the first place.
Softhoof wasn't sure what to say to that.  The conviction in Fluttershy's voice was off-putting, to say the least.  "If that's the case," she said, finally finding another angle to approach the situation, "Then why did you feel the need to become Dawn Lightwing's guardian in the first place?"
Fluttershy smile warmly, her eyes drifted shut as she remembered the nights she'd spent with Dawn curled up against her side, sheltered beneath her wing.  She remembered that time in the hospital, where'd she'd sung him to sleep and how he had allowed his barriers to truly fall for the first time and return her embrace.  She remembered the day she had asked Dawn to become her son and truly join her family.  She remembered the relief she'd felt when she'd gotten to hold him after he'd returned from Cloudsdale.  She had her answer.
"Because what Dawn needs isn't protection, not from the harm others can do.  He doesn't even truly need food or shelter, because he's always been able to find or make those for himself.  What Dawn needs is to know that there are ponies who love him, ponies who want him.  What he needs is a place to return to, a home where he can be at ease and rest and prepare for life in the world outside.  I adopted Dawn because I wanted to do all those things for him, because I love him."  Opening her eyes, Fluttershy favored Softhoof with that same smile.
Softhoof's first instinct was to scoff.  When it came to finding homes for foals, love was one of those words tossed around so often that it had virtually no value whatsoever.  Love had no bearing on income, on a parent's ability to provide.  It was immeasurable, unquantifiable, and unprovable.  Wannabe parents threw out the word "love" like it was some secret password that would lead their immediate approval.  "We would never fail to support that colt.  We love him after all."  "All those issues don't matter when it comes to that filly, because we love her."  Softhoof had heard those lines a dozen times or more.  It meant nothing.  It proved nothing.
However, there was something different about the way Fluttershy was saying it.  It was clear that Fluttershy was very sincere when she said that she loved Dawn Lightwing.  But sincerity in and of itself didn't prove anything.  After all, plenty of unfit parents would say they loved their foal with utter sincerity.  Even more frighteningly, some of the absolute worst monsters of equinity could say that with complete conviction.
If Softhoof was forced to describe the difference, she would say it all came down to context.  Fluttershy was clearly well aware of the fact that Dawn Lightwing was radically different from virtually any other foal that she might encounter.  He could, and apparently did, do things that even most adult ponies would find to be impossible.  Her words indicated that she understood what Dawn's needs truly were and that she was confident that she could provide for them.
"That's...interesting," Softhoof finally said, not able to come up with anything else.
Fluttershy's ears twitched and she looked up, her eyes zeroing in on the front door.  "He's back."
The door swung open and Softhoof's eyes fell upon Dawn Lightwing, in the flesh, for the first time.
"I'm home," said Dawn, trotting in after scuffing the dirt off his hooves that the doormat.
"Welcome back," said Fluttershy, scooting over to make room for Dawn over on the couch.  Dawn climbed up next to her and the two of them traded nuzzles as the colt settled comfortably against Fluttershy's side.
Dawn finally turned his eyes to Softhoof.  The olive-unicorn shivered reflexively.  It was one thing to read about the colt's condition and see a simple picture.  It was another thing entirely to be in the room with him and see those unsettling eyes for herself.  Softhoof found herself understanding how some ponies could look at his eyes and conclude that there was something truly unnatural about this colt.
"Am I interrupting?" asked Dawn, his gaze jumping between Fluttershy and Softhoof.
"Oh no," said Fluttershy, "We were waiting for you to get back anyway.  This is Softhoof from Foal Protection Services."
"I see," said Dawn, turning his attention to the other mare, "Hello."
Softhoof coughed awkwardly, a bit thrown off by having been caught staring and behaving a bit unprofessionally.  "Yes...It's a pleasure to meet you.  I am here on behalf of the Equestrian Ministry of Welfare.  Due to the concerns brought up by the recent article in the Equestrian Times, we are in the process of evaluating your situation and are trying to determine whether or not Miss Fluttershy is providing you with a suitable home."
The effect was immediate.  Dawn's eyes narrowed dangerously.  Softhoof's anxiety compounded as the colt fixed her with a gaze that was positively chilling.  "Well then, you can leave now.  I am perfectly happy and comfortable where I am and I am not interested in going anywhere else.  Your job is finished.  Go away."
"Dawn!"  The reproof in Fluttershy's voice brought about a reflexive flinch in the colt as he scooted back away from her, looking up at the yellow mare in confusion as she directed a stern gaze down at him, one that was a match for any of the looks she had given Softhoof earlier.
"What-?"
Dawn was cut off by Fluttershy's reprimand almost immediately.  "You will apologize to Miss Softhoof right now.  That is not appropriate behavior young man."
"But-"
"Now!"  It was Fluttershy's turn to narrow her eyes.
Dawn actually shrank away from her gaze, his ears going flat.  "But she's trying to take me away..."
"Dawn..."  Fluttershy's voice softened a little.  "Miss Softhoof is a good pony who just wants to make sure that you're safe and taken care of.  I understand if you're worried, but you don't have any right to take it out on her."
Dawn was silent for a long moment.  "You said you wouldn't abandon me," he said, his voice nearly a whisper.
"That's right," said Fluttershy, "And I won't."
"You said you would fight for me, you would stop ponies from trying to take me away, from trying to drive me out..."  Dawn turned his eyes up to Fluttershy, who was shocked to see that they were brimming with tears.  "But that mare is right here, in our home, trying to find some excuse to take me away...Why aren't you fighting her?  Why should I apologize when she is trying to drag me away from my home?"
"Dawn!  It's not like that," protested Fluttershy, "Calm down!  If you can't control your temper, then you need to go to your room."
Dawn froze.  His protestations died on his lips as Fluttershy directed a stern, commanding gaze at him.  Silently, the colt slipped off the couch and trotted out of the living room.  A few seconds later, the sound of the door to his room swinging shut echoed through the strangely silent house.
Fluttershy sighed, on the verge of crying herself.  She turned to regard Softhoof, who had an indecipherable expression on her face.  "What now?"
"I think I am finished here," said Softhoof, putting her notes away, "Thank you for your time Miss Fluttershy.  You will receive a letter informing you of the results of my investigation shortly and what further actions, if any, will be taken at that time.  Good evening."
Softhoof left without another word.  Silence descended on the cottage as the animals slowly began to creep out of their homes and look to their caretaker with concerned gazes.  Fluttershy, for her part, was too distressed to notice.  Instead, she got off the couch and headed back to Dawn's room.  Not knocking, she slowly pushed the door opened and looked in at her son.  Dawn was resting on his back on the bed, his eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling.  "Dawn..."
The colt looked over at her.  Fluttershy shivered as his eyes met hers.  The warmth she had grown so used to seeing in his eyes was clouded over, in its place was more than a little of the colt she had first met in the Everfree Forest, one so emotionally worn out that he had almost given up on trying to feel anything at all.  "Can I come in?" she asked softly.
"Yes," said Dawn, rolling over.
Fluttershy trotted into the room and up to the side of the bed.  "Dawn, I'm sorry I snapped at you.  I understand that you're upset but...I would never abandon you.  You know that right?"
"I..."  Dawn looked as though he wanted to agree, but something was stopping him.  "That's what I thought..."
"Thought?"  Fluttershy's stomach churned at Dawn's use of the past tense.
"I thought that, maybe, that this time would be different..." muttered Dawn.
Suddenly, Fluttershy began to put it together.  She remembered Dawn once telling her about having been taken in by other ponies, only to be forced to leave anyway when those ponies decided that the problems that followed him were too much of a burden to endure.  In the end, he had given up and gone into seclusion in the Everfree Forest.
"Dawn?  Is that what you really feel?" asked Fluttershy, horrified, "Are you really thinking that I would do that?"
"But...why was she here then?" asked Dawn, "Why would you leave it up to her as to whether or not I should stay with you?"
"Dawn, Softhoof isn't trying to take you away," said Fluttershy.  Not yet anyway, she added internally.  "She's just a pony trying to make sure that you have the best chance to grow up happy and healthy.  She just wants what's best for you."
"But I don't care about best!" said Dawn sharply, "I don't want to know where might be best for me anymore.  I'd given up on finding such a place a long time ago.  I just want to stay here.  I don't want to go anyplace else.  I'm tired of ponies always saying that I need to go elsewhere."  His voice cracked.  For as long as Fluttershy had known him, this was as close as Dawn had ever gotten to outright shouting.
"I don't want you to go either," said Fluttershy, crawling up onto the bed next to Dawn and pulling him tight against her, "I want you to stay here always.  I want to watch you grow up.  I want to see you get your cutie mark, I want to see you find your place in the world and have a family of your own..."  Her smile gained a slightly impish character.  "...maybe with Scootaloo."
Dawn was not too distressed to blush.
Fluttershy continued.  "But there are certain things we have to do to make sure that we can do that.  I love you and I want you to stay here in Ponyville with me.  But, the best way to do that is to make sure that Softhoof and the ponies above her understand that this is where you should be.  Do you understand?"
Dawn looked up at Fluttershy.  "I'm not sure...I..."
He did something that made Fluttershy's heart freeze in her chest.  He pulled away from her and struggled out of her arms before vaulting over her body and to the floor.  He approached the door to his room and looked over his shoulder.  "I need to think.  I just need some time..."  And then he was gone.  Fluttershy heard the front door open and close.
For a long time, she didn't move.  She simply lay there on Dawn's bed, breathing in his scent, which had settled into the sheets.  Slowly, she pulled herself up and off the mattress and went out into the living room.  Her teary eyes found the door and Fluttershy took a step toward it before halting.  A large part of her wanted to bolt out after Dawn, to keep after him, reassure him of how much she loved him and how much she wanted to keep him with her.  However, the other part of her wanted to honor his desire to be alone with his own thoughts for a little bit.  After the past few occasions, Fluttershy wanted to have faith that he wouldn't run away.  He'd promised her and he'd promised Scootaloo that he wouldn't think like that anymore.  He'll come back, she thought, I have to believe that.
A thought occurred to her and Fluttershy rushed into the kitchen.  However, she was too late.  She'd left the stew unattended for too long.  The vegetables and potatoes had turned to mush.  The whole thing was probably still edible, but too overcooked to be any good.  Between Softhoof's sudden visit and Dawn's unexpected behavior, she'd completely neglected their dinner...not that Dawn was there to share it with her anyway.
The only thing Fluttershy could do was turn off the burner on the stove.  She'd probably be able to salvage the stew, but it wouldn't be done tonight.  Instead, she settled limply and stared out the window into the evening sky, tears running down her cheeks.



Caramel did his best to keep from yawning as he made his way back home.  He'd just said his goodbyes to Bon Bon and Lyra as they finished closing up the shop.  There'd been an upswing in sales lately.  But that was to be expected.  Nightmare Night was coming soon and a lot of ponies were placing advance orders for candy and treats that they would hoof out to the foals.  Bon Bon had been busy placing orders for ingredients and making arrangements for the tumultuous days leading up to the biggest holiday of the year for candy makers.
The tan stallion was beat.  At that moment, he was thinking of nothing more than a light dinner before settling in for a warm bath, maybe spending the rest of the evening curled up with a good book in front of the fireplace.  Anything else was too much work to be worth bothering over after a night like this.
However, it seemed that his night wasn't about to conclude so peacefully.  Caramel's ears twitched as they picked up the sound of somepony sniffling.  Turning, Caramel tried to orient on the sound and pick out its source.  To his surprise, he noticed somepony wandering aimlessly along the street, and the absolute last pony he ever expected to see in such a state.
"Dawn?"
> A Loving Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4: A Loving Home

"What the hay kid?" asked Caramel as he trotted up to the ebony colt, "What are you doing out this late?  Your mom won't be happy."
Dawn, who had, up until that time, been wandering somewhat aimlessly, trying to put his mind into some semblance of order turned to look up at the tan stallion approaching him.  Caramel's question made Dawn shudder.  "I..."
Caramel's expression softened as his eyes took in the state that Dawn was in.  He hadn't seen the colt looking this lost and forlorn since that time after the incident with Willow.  "Come on Dawn," said Caramel, "Let's go to my place."  So much for a quiet evening to myself, thought Caramel ruefully.
Caramel led Dawn back to his house and unlocked the door, leading the two of them in.  After depositing his saddlebags in the entryway, Caramel led the colt into the kitchen, directing Dawn to a seat whilst Caramel rummaged about in his pantry for a moment.  Coming back, he got water boiling prepared the cups.  A few seconds later, Caramel set a cup of steaming liquid directly in front of Dawn's nostrils.  Dawn took a speculative sniff and was caught off-guard by the intense fragrance of menthol rising from the drink.
"What is this?"
"Spearmint tea," said Caramel, "Technically, it's not actually tea as there's no real tea in it.  It's just an herbal infusion.  A growing colt like you shouldn't be having caffeine this late in the evening."
Dawn nodded and took a slow sip of the drink.  The fumes surged up from the back of his mouth, helping to clear his sinuses, which had been a bit clogged as a result of his earlier weeping.
"It helps relax your nasal passages," Caramel continued, "Makes it easier to breathe, which is why it's a good thing to take before bed."  He took a mouthful from his own cup and took a second to enjoy the minty flavor before swallowing.  "Now then, can you explain what has you out wandering looking like a lost puppy somepony kicked?"
Dawn nodded and began to lay out the situation, explaining how he had come home to find Softhoof in the house with Fluttershy, his fight with Fluttershy, and his flight from Fluttershy.  By the time Dawn had finished, Caramel had drained his cup, refilled it and drained it for the second time.
"Geez," he said, "You know, you make it real easy to forget just how young you are sometimes."
"I don't understand," said Dawn.
Before Caramel could answer, the room echoed with a low growl that had both ponies looking down at their stomachs.  "Uh...I'm guessing you didn't get anything to eat before you left your mom's, right?"
Dawn winced visibly at Caramel's continued insistence at referring to Fluttershy as his mother.  Dawn wasn't feeling very much like a son to her at that moment.  Faint traces of shame, tinged with guilt and mixed with anger and a feeling of betrayal that Dawn wasn't certain he was right to feel all wormed together, making it impossible for the colt to truly articulate how he felt about the situation.  All he could say for certain was that it wasn't a positive feeling.
"What to do then," said Caramel, who was already rummaging in his pantry, trying to come up with something quick that he could whip up to satisfy both their appetites.  He'd originally planned nothing more than a simple salad from some greens he was keeping in the icebox.  But that had been a meal for one.  He suspected that, after the emotional evening he'd just been through, Dawn would need something more substantial.  Naturally, the onion soup that Dawn loved so much would be the perfect choice, but that took a lot of time...not exactly the kind of meal that could be cooked on the fly.
As it was, Caramel's quest for sustenance was interrupted by the sound of knocking on his door.  "What now?" he mumbled as he withdrew from the pantry.  "Uh...hold on for a sec," he said to Dawn as he made his way back to the entryway and opened the door.  Is it Fluttershy?
It wasn't.  Instead, Caramel was caught staring as he realized just who was waiting for him on the other side.  "M-Mayweather?"
"Uh...hi," said the bright-yellow mare, the fading light of the evening being just enough that Caramel was barely able to make out the green, blue, and magenta streaks of her mane.  Even though her boss, Blenheim, as well as her remaining coworker had departed from Ponyville to return to Appleloosa, Mayweather had opted to stay in town.  She was currently living in the bunkhouse at Sweet Apple Acres, but had been spending more and more time in Sugarcube Corner, to the point where the Cakes had hired her on as an additional staff member to help handle the fall load.
Caramel wasn't sure what to think.  While he and Fluttershy had spent an afternoon showing Mayweather around, they couldn't be called especially close.  The fact that two of her coworkers had tried to attack Scootaloo and were now in Guard custody (with one of them still in a full-body cast) didn't help matters.  "What are you doing here?" asked Caramel, more confused than hostile.
"Um...Pinkie Pie sent me," said Mayweather, turning so that Caramel could see that her back was weight down by something being carried in an insulated bag, "She said her Pinkie Sense told her that you were going to need some comfort food and sent me to deliver this.  She said it's on the house."
Curious to see what Mayweather was talking about, Caramel trotted up and opened the bag.  He lifted out a multi-tiered tower made from bamboo slats, steam still wafting out from within.  He didn't even have to lift off the lid to know what was inside.  "Dumplings?"
Mayweather nodded, already taking the bag off her back and hoofing it over to Caramel as well.
"I see..." said Caramel, looking dazedly at the steamer, "When you get back, could you give her my thanks?"
"Sure," said Mayweather, already turning to take her leave.
"Wait!"  Caramel raised a hoof to stop Mayweather before she could leave completely, "Could you do another favor for me?"
"Sure," said Mayweather, "What is it?"
Caramel explained what he wanted and Mayweather agreed, though she was a bit miffed about having to go so far out of her way.  But she obliged him nonetheless.  After thanking her, Caramel turned and went back inside, taking the bamboo basket and its savory contents in with him.  As he closed the door, he shook his head slowly, his mind drifting back to the image of a particularly pink pony.  I swear, that mare gives me the willies sometimes.  But she really came through for us tonight.
Dawn was still waiting in the kitchen when Caramel returned.  His ears perked up as his eyes found what the tan stallion was carrying in.
"Looks like Pinkie was thoughtful enough for the both of us," said Caramel as he set the basket on the table and lifted up the lid.  Picking up the stacked tiers of the basket, he set one out for the colt and one for himself.
Caramel watched as Dawn used his primaries to lift out one of the dumplings and bring it to his mouth.  The colt bit down and hummed at the familiar sweet and savory flavor of caramelized onions and melted cheese.  His body visibly relaxed, all the tension that had been there previously bleeding swiftly away.  Caramel hid a grin as he took a bite of his own food.  You're a miracle-worker Pinkie.
"What were you saying earlier?" asked Dawn, as he finished his second dumpling.
"I was saying that it's easy to forget that you're still a colt," said Caramel, "You've been through a lot and you can do a lot on your own.  But you still don't really understand the world in the same way we adults do."
"What are you talking about?"
Caramel sighed.  "Listen, I can understand why you're upset.  I can even understand why you're upset with your mom.  You thought that this Softhoof mare was trying to take you away and Fluttershy wasn't doing anything to stop it."
Dawn nodded slowly and Caramel shook his head.  "But that's not it at all.  Your mom is trying to her best to be able to keep you and she's trying to do it the best way she can.  This Softhoof mare; your mom was just trying to convince her that where you are now is the best place for you to be."
"But she shouldn't have to," said Dawn, "That mare shouldn't have even been there.  There was no need for her to ask in the first place."
"You say that and you know that, but Softhoof doesn't," said Caramel, "Softhoof and the ponies that she's working for are just trying to make sure that you're in a safe place.  They're trying to help you too Dawn, in their own way."
"I don't need their help," said Dawn acidly.
Caramel sighed.  "You're right," he said, "But they don't know that.  They don't know you.  They haven't lived with you.  They haven't watched you fend off grown ponies or trained assassins.  As far as they know, you're just a foal with a funny eye-condition.  That's why Softhoof was talking to Fluttershy.  Because your mom knows you better than anypony, she's the one who can convince Softhoof that this is the best place for you."
"But..."  Dawn's voice trailed off as he tried to object, but couldn't find a reason that sounded anything other than petty to his mind.
"The problem is," said Caramel, "Is that you're trying to look at Softhoof as an enemy, like Willow, or Quicksilver and Garnet.  But she's not trying to hurt you.  She's not trying to wrench you away from Fluttershy because she believes you don't deserve to live in a happy home with a loving mother.  She just wants to be sure that you really are going to be happy there.  She has good intentions."
Seeing that Dawn was less than convinced, Caramel saw he needed to explain a little further.  As he was about to speak, he'd noticed that Dawn had already polished off his own tray of dumplings.  However, there were still three more baskets stacked in the tower that Mayweather had brought.  So Caramel unstacked another one and set it in front of Dawn.  As the colt picked up another dumpling and bit down on it, Caramel started speaking again.
"There's an old phrase that says 'The road to Tartarus is paved with good intentions.'  Have you heard that one?"
Dawn nodded slowly.
Caramel continued.  "Do you understand what that means?"
Dawn looked like he was about to nod, but hesitated.
"Some of the worst things ponies do to one another they do because they think they're doing the right thing," said Caramel, "Ponies will go to any lengths and do the worst things imaginable if they think that it's the right thing to do.  You're probably familiar with that saying because it practically describes what the Cult Solar has been doing to you.  They think they're doing the right thing, that they're saving ponies, or Equestria itself, by bumping you off.  That's the most obvious example of what the phrase means.  The problem with that phrase is that ponies use it as a generalization and spout it off whenever someone with genuine good intentions is trying to do something they don't like or find inconvenient.
"Softhoof isn't like the Cult Solar.  She isn't trying to hurt you and then justify it, she's trying to help you.  It's just that the way she's trying to help you isn't the way you want to be helped, so her good intentions are hurting you in a way."
Caramel chuckled, giving Dawn a wry grin.  "The problem is, good intentions are all that we have.  They're what drive us to help one another in the first place.  Sometimes, they just don't match up.  Do you remember when Storm Front and Red River put you in the hospital?"
Dawn nodded slowly.
"I can tell you that Fluttershy was livid," said Caramel, "She was absolutely furious about how they had hurt you, even said that they were going to kill you, making you think that you were going to your own execution."
Again, Dawn nodded, his own memories going back to the incident in question.  He remembered his mother's anger quite clearly.
"But Storm and Red were helping you weren't they," Caramel pointed out, prompting Dawn to signal his agreement again, "But they were helping you in a way that Fluttershy and the girls didn't understand because they have no idea about how all that martial arts stuff works.  They had good intentions, but those good intentions didn't make sense to Fluttershy and the others, so all they saw was that Red and Storm had hurt you badly."
"That's true," said Dawn softly, remembering Fluttershy's initial confusion about how Dawn's near death at the hooves of the two mercenary stallions had helped him over the emotional hurdle he'd been stymied by.
"Fluttershy was also pretty upset that she couldn't help you with your issues then," Caramel added, "She had good intentions too, but hers weren't able to do for you what those two stallions did.
"It's the same thing with Softhoof.  Softhoof had good intentions and was trying to help you.  She just doesn't understand that the kind of help she's offering isn't the kind of help you need.  That's what Fluttershy was trying to show her.  And you didn't really understand Fluttershy's good intentions because you didn't realize how hard she was fighting for you."
"Mom was fighting..." said Dawn, his expression going blank, "...for me?"
"She was," said Caramel, "But she was doing it her way.  She can't fight the same way you can and Softhoof isn't somepony to be fought the same way the Cult Solar is."
Dawn opened his mouth to say something, but Caramel fixed him with a stern look.  "Look, Fluttershy told you that she'd stay with you no matter what, right?"  Dawn nodded.  "And she said that she'd even be willing to go on the run with you if that was what needed to happen, right?"  Another nod.  "But I think you'll agree that you'd be the happiest if you and her got to stay together and the two of you got to stay here in Ponyville.  Isn't that the case?"  Dawn gave another nod.
"That's what Fluttershy was fighting for," said Caramel, "She needs to convince Softhoof that her home is the best place for you and that you belong here in Ponyville.  I'm guessing your life here wouldn't be so much fun if you had to fight off Equestria's government just to stick around, right?"  In all likelihood, given the connections that certain friends of Fluttershy's had, that kind of conflict wasn't likely to occur, even in the worst-case scenario, but it was still the best way to explain it to Dawn.  The colt apparently agreed, because he was nodding once again.
"That's why Fluttershy was talking to Softhoof.  Neither of them wanted to hurt you and both of them wanted to help you.  Fluttershy was just showing Softhoof that the best way to help you was to let you stay here."  When Caramel finished, he saw that Dawn was tearing up once again.
"I'm such an idiot," muttered the colt.
"You're not," said Caramel, coming around the table so that he could ruffle Dawn's mane.  Reaching out, the stallion pulled the colt into a hug.  "You're just a kid who's been through a lot, especially for somepony your age.  You were afraid that Fluttershy had changed her mind about you 'cause that's happened before, right?"  Caramel remembered hearing something about that from Fluttershy, though Dawn hadn't told her the particulars.
He felt, rather than saw, Dawn nod this time.  "When you've had something bad happen to you, it's pretty darn scary when it suddenly looks like it's happening again," said Caramel, "You were afraid and you let that fear get away from you."
Dawn slumped against Caramel's chest.  He'd thought he'd made peace with his emotions and his past.  It seems I haven't come as far as I'd hoped.
Caramel chuckled and gently rubbed Dawn's back.  "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.  No matter how strong you are, you're just a kid after all.  You know, it's okay to depend on adults sometimes.  You're lucky since you can depend on one of the best ponies in all of Equestria."
As though summoned by Caramel's voice, there was a soft knocking from the front door.  Letting go of Dawn, Caramel headed to the door and opened it, the colt following along behind.  A panting Fluttershy was waiting on the other side, tears streaking her cheeks as her eyes darted around the entryway to Caramel's house, only seeing Dawn when the tan stallion stepped aside to give her a clear view.
"Dawn!"
"Mom..."
Dawn hesitated, his guilt weighing him down.  Fluttershy didn't.  She rushed forward, nearly knocking her coltfriend over in the process and threw her arms around Dawn, pulling him tight against her.  After a few seconds, Dawn returned the gesture, the two of them hugging each other tightly while Caramel shut the door.
"I'm sorry," said Dawn.
"It's alright," whispered Fluttershy.
"I love you."
"And I love you."  Fluttershy kissed her son on the forehead and continued to hold him close, the two of them crying as they let go of the emotional turmoil the past few hours had put them through.
Caramel joined them, hugging them from the side as he traded nuzzles with Fluttershy.  "Thank you," she whispered in a voice for his ears alone.  Caramel simply held her and Dawn tighter.
It was a few minutes before the three of them felt comfortable enough to disengage from the embrace.  When they did, Caramel led them back into the kitchen, where he sat back and let Fluttershy and Dawn polish off the last of the dumplings.  Looking at the clock, he noted how late it was.  The moon would be high in the sky.  Night had fallen over Ponyville.
"Hey," said Caramel, drawing Dawn and Fluttershy's attention, "It's getting late.  You two should spend the night here."
"Oh...um...I don't want to impose," said Fluttershy, blushing and hiding behind her mane slightly.
"It's no problem," said Caramel, "I'll get the guest bedroom ready."
He left them in the kitchen and went upstairs to the guest bedroom, where he started laying out sheets.  It was the work of a few minutes and Caramel was soon back downstairs.  When he arrived, he was surprised to see that Fluttershy and Dawn were no longer in the kitchen.  Looking for them, he wandered into the living room to see that the two of them had laid out on his couch and curled up together.  His surprise was compounded when he saw that, in the short time he had been gone, they had apparently fallen asleep.  Dawn was tucked tightly beneath Fluttershy's wing, his head nestled comfortably under hers, their breathing in synch as they slumbered peacefully.
"It's been a rough evening for them, I guess," said Caramel, smiling wryly.  He headed back up to the guest bedroom and took the blanket he'd laid out for them.  Bringing it back downstairs, he draped it over Fluttershy and Dawn, tucking them in.
Fetching some wood, Caramel lit a fire in the fireplace.  After making himself another pot of spearmint tea, he retired to the armchair that was adjacent to the couch and nursed his beverage as he worked his way through an adventure story he'd been reading.  Every once and a while, he stole glances at Fluttershy and Dawn, feeling a glowing warmth over how peaceful they looked.  Not a bad way to spend the evening.



Softhoof yawned and stretched, blinking blearily as she tried her level best to will some alacrity into her manner.  Normally, with the conclusions she'd drawn from her investigation, she would have felt content taking a day to rest so that she could be at her best when reporting to her superior.  However, the Dawn Lightwing case had been accorded the highest priority and Softhoof had been instructed, in no uncertain terms, to report back with her findings as promptly as possible.  So, after concluding her investigation and wrapping up her interview with Fluttershy, Softhoof had caught the last train out of Ponyville, the overnight to Canterlot.  While she'd been able to catch some sleep on the train, her bench wasn't exactly the most comfortable place to rest.  She dearly wished she'd thought to use the money she'd ended up not spending on a room at the local inn to get a private compartment with an actual bed.
But wishes were pointless, especially in the past tense.  Softhoof accepted that and continued to work to build up her energy for the meeting.  As her spine offered one final pop, the door to the office swung open and its occupant trotted past her to assume his place at the desk at the front of the room.  The grim-faced stallion looked at Softhoof across the expanse of wood, his expression betraying nothing.  However, Softhoof couldn't quite fight the foreboding feeling at the look on her boss's face.
"Welcome back Miss Softhoof," said the stallion, "Given how quickly you returned, I assume that the Dawn Lightwing case is an open-and-shut one."
"More or less," said Softhoof with a shrug, levitating out the file of forms she had filed out and setting it on the desk in front of the stallion, "I trust that you will find everything in order."
"Before that, I would like to hear your own conclusions from your own mouth," said the stallion, giving Softhoof a small smile.  That reassured her.  This was Grayblood's usual approach to their post-investigation meetings.
The pale-gray stallion had overseen the Foal Investigations section of the Ministry of Welfare for as long as Softhoof had been working there.  Grayblood came from a long line of social workers, who had done stellar, even groundbreaking work, in several departments across the Equestrian government.  It was rumored that one of Grayblood's ancestors had been the ones to help Princess Celestia found the Ministry of Welfare in the first place.  His family was also rumored to be related, somewhat tenuously, to the family of Duke Prince Blueblood of Paradise Estate, which may have accounted for Grayblood's mother's choice of name.
"As you wish sir," said Softhoof before clearing her throat, "After conducting my investigation into the premises, including conducting an interview with Dame Fluttershy, I came to the determination that there was no need for further investigation."
"Which explains why you returned to us so quickly," observed Grayblood.
Softhoof nodded.  "And so, after conducting said investigation, I have come to the conclusion that there is no need to remove Dawn Lightwing from the care of Dame Fluttershy.  I have determined that she is providing a suitably stable and healthy environment for the foal and shows all indications of genuine affection for him.  In addition, she also clearly commands his respect and deference, even though Dawn Lightwing is decidedly more independent and self-reliant than most ponies twice his age."
"Is that so?"  There was something about Grayblood's tone that set Softhoof's nerves on edge.
"Yes," said Softhoof.
"I see..."  Grayblood tapped his hoof on the table, as though he was trying to think of what to say.  "Softhoof, you are one of the best ponies I have in my employ.  So it is with a great deal of sorrow that I have to say that you have disappointed me."
"What?" gasped Softhoof, "What's the matter?"
"The problem is that you have bungled this investigation in a way I didn't believe possible.  You are telling me that, after a simple interview with the prospective mother and inspection of her house, you were able to come to a definitive conclusion with so little information."
"I came to the conclusion that no further investigation was necessary," said Softhoof, "All the indicators showed that Dame Fluttershy is able and willing to provide for Dawn Lightwing's needs."
"And what about the colt himself?" asked Grayblood, "You mean to say that you didn't interview him."
"Well...no..."  Softhoof looked down.  "Not really.  He was hostile towards me when I met him because he thought that I was there to try and remove him from Dame Fluttershy's care.  It was Dame Fluttershy who calmed him down and told him to behave himself, though it upset him at the time."
"And none of this bothered you?" asked Grayblood.
"It did at first," admitted Softhoof, "But, actually, that was what made me come to the conclusion that there was no need to remove the colt from Dame Fluttershy's custody.  Dawn Lightwing's hostility was such that I actually feared for my safety for a moment.  That Dame Fluttershy still had such control over him, even though he was in such agitated state, was a clear sign that she could be trusted as his mother and caretaker."
Grayblood sighed.  "And yet, this is nowhere near enough.  This is the first major slip-up I've had from you Softhoof.  I know you can do better than this."
"I don't understand," said Softhoof.  Certainly, there were other avenues she could have investigated.  However, she saw no need to look further, as it was clear that Fluttershy was more than capable of meeting Dawn Lightwing's unique needs and understood those needs far better than Softhoof or anypony else in Foal Protection did.
"You need to investigate this matter thoroughly," said Grayblood, "The irregularities are piled up too high to ignore.  Inspect every aspect of Dame Fluttershy.  Leave no stone unturned, no nook or cranny un-searched.  Find out everything you can and make sure that you determine, with absolute certainty, where Dawn Lightwing belongs."
"But sir, Dawn Lightwing has stated-"
"He is a foal!" snapped Grayblood, slamming his hooves on the desk, "Since when do foals know what is best for themselves?"
"Sir, I can't, in good conscience, conduct any further investigation into the matter without reason," said Softhoof.
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Grayblood, "It seems that I will have to have somepony else look into the matter.  If that is your opinion, then perhaps you are no longer suited to working in this department."
"What?" cried Softhoof, "What's going on here?  Something's not right!"
"What's not right is that you are refusing to do your job and do it right," snapped Grayblood, "Some very important ponies are showing a great deal of interest in this colt, in spite of his deformity.  Such a half-flanked investigation will not satisfy them."
Alarm bells were ringing in Softhoof's head as she began to put the pieces of the puzzle together.  Grayblood was definitely agitated about something that was not the results of her investigation, at least, not directly.
"Now," said Grayblood, leaning forward over the desk, "I ask you again; will you return to Ponyville and conduct your investigation properly this time?"



Dawn and Fluttershy awoke to the sizzle of eggs and the smell of potato pancakes as Caramel went through the process of making breakfast.  Mother and son slipped out from under the blanket.  Fluttershy set to folding it while Dawn wandered into the kitchen, his nose twitching at the savory smells emanating from the stove as Caramel worked.
"Hey there," said Caramel, turning to smile at Dawn before returning to his work, "Breakfast's almost ready, so have a seat."
Dawn did as he was told and Fluttershy soon joined him.  Caramel brought the food to the table and the three of them started eating.  The pancakes were delicious, especially to Dawn, seasoned with onions and chives and topped with sour cream.  While he'd had plenty of dumplings the night before, the little bite-sized treats had amounted to little more than a snack.  As such, Dawn practically inhaled the pancakes that Caramel had set out for him before turning to decimate his portion of scrambled eggs, his enthusiasm drawing a chuckle from the tan stallion.
After breakfast, Fluttershy offered to take care of the dishes, an offer that she didn't let Caramel refuse.  As she worked at the sink, Caramel sat next to Dawn.
"Feel better?" the stallion asked.
Dawn nodded.  "Yes.  I think I understand better now.  I regret that I was not thinking clearly last night."
"It happens," said Caramel, honestly enough, "My door is always open to you, no matter what.  I want you to remember that."
To Caramel's surprise, Dawn leaned against him.  "Thank you," said the colt softly.
"No problem," said Caramel, smiling fondly as he wrapped an arm around Dawn's shoulders and hugged him close, "Anypony would by lucky to have you for a son."
"Even you?" asked Dawn.
"Especially me," said Caramel.
From her position at the sink, Fluttershy watched her son and her coltfriend over her shoulder, a happy smile on her lips.  Stifling a giggle, she turned back to the dishes before either of them could catch her watching.



"Now arriving in Ponyville.  Please remember to have your luggage ready before you disembark."
The voice of the conductor jolted Chickpea out of his reverie, the taupe-colored unicorn had been absorbed in his own thoughts for the last few hours.  After all this time, he's shown up again.  The stallion's mouth tightened into a grim line as he looked back down at the knife he had been examining.  After a couple more seconds, he tucked the weapon away, casting a furtive look around the car to make sure that nopony else was watching him.  He's not gonna get away this time.
Chickpea had been there when Dawn Lightwing had come to the town of Haytenview.  The colt had wandered about, asking for food and shelter, promising whatever services he could provide in exchange.  However, Chickpea and the rest of the townsponies knew better.  The Order of Celestial Light had warned them about demons like Dawn Lightwing.  Chickpea had suggested luring the colt into a trap so that they could ensure his extermination.  However, the demon's instincts had been sharper than he'd thought.  Dawn escaped and disappeared into the wilderness.
Chickpea had allowed himself to hope that the demon had died out there somewhere.  But then, the colt resurfaced in Ponyville of all places, brazenly seeking shelter with the Element Bearers themselves.  He was even influencing the press to spread such blasphemies as the idea that Princess Celestia sided with him against the Order.  The preposterous insinuations made Chickpea's blood boil and, as soon as he'd read the article, he made plans to pay a visit to the colt and finish what he'd started when Dawn had first come to Haytenview.
As the train slowly shuddered to a halt, Chickpea got to his hooves and levitated his saddlebags, the only luggage he had, onto his back.  As the doors opened, he was already taking his first step down and onto the platform of the Ponyville station.  After walking through and emerging into the open, Chickpea took a second to appreciate the picturesque tableau the town presented.  It was larger, louder, and busier than Haytenview, but it still carried that cheerful small town ambience that the stallion so loved.
However, he wasn't here to admire the scenery.  He couldn't afford to dally.  If he was fortunate, he could finish things before the day was out and be on his way back to Haytenview before the sun set.  Chickpea set off through the town, sweeping his gaze over everything, trying his best to spot his target.  It was now that the stallion realized that he hadn't really thought about how he would find the demon.  Ponyville was a relatively small town, but it wasn't the kind of place that a single stallion could hope to search in a day.
If I were the demon, where would I hide? wondered Chickpea as he ambled through the market district, his eyes sliding across the stalls and the ponies running them without even glancing at what they had to offer.  As he pressed on, he noticed a building that was substantially different from the others in Ponyville.  Instead of the white walls and thatched roofs, this one had walls of a brown color, with a roof that had been decorated to look like frosting and candy, making the whole building take on the appearance of a gingerbread house.  The sign over the door provided the identity of this place.
Sugarcube Corner, mused Chickpea as he eyed the place up.  It was a bakery.  Even out here in the streets, the tantalizing odors of sugar and spices taunted Chickpea's senses, causing him to unconsciously lick his lips.  It occurred to him that he hadn't even had breakfast yet.  He'd been so set on his quest, he hadn't given a thought to food.  Lodging was only an extra to consider if his search dragged on, but food was a more immediate concern.
And it's a bakery, he realized, Even if he is a demon, the creature is still wearing the skin of a foal.  Foals generally can't resist places like this.  He'll come here at some point, even if it's only to keep up appearances.
With that the taupe stallion pushed through the door and into the bakery.  The morning was still fairly young, which meant that the place was relatively empty.  There were a few ponies sitting at tables here and there.  However, there was an absence of colts and fillies that was not all that surprising, given the earliness of the hour.  But Chickpea was sure that they would come sooner or later.
Wandering up to the counter, Chickpea began to survey the offerings available, also taking in the options on the menu posted behind the counter to try and see what he might like for his morning meal.  There was no shortage to the variety of sweets and treats on offer.  However, something caught Chickpea's eye as he looked at the menu.  Onion soup dumplings...what on earth are those?  Shrugging it off, Chickpea decided to opt for something more mundane.
"Hi!"  When the voice went off in his ear, Chickpea yelped and jumped half his height into the air.  Landing, he whirled around to see a cheerful pink pony grinning at him over the counter.
"I'm Pinkie Pie," she said, "What can I get for you?"
"I'll uh..."  Chickpea's voice trailed off as the mare narrowed her eyes suspiciously.  He wondered if she somehow knew that he was here for the demon.  He realized that there was every possibility that several ponies in the town could be under the fiend's thrall.  What if this pony was one of them?
"I haven't seen you before," said Pinkie, "Are you new here?"
"Uh..." said Chickpea, leaning back away from the intense scrutiny, "Yes."
Then, like a flash of lightning, the mare's suspicious gaze was gone and she was beaming at him once again.  "I knew it!  You're new in town!  When I saw you I realized I didn't know you but I know everypony in Ponyville but I didn't know you which means you're new in town!"
"Uh...yes..."  Chickpea could hardly even follow the rapid-fire delivery of the mare's speech.
"Goody!" squealed Pinkie, clapping her hooves together, "Are you just visiting here on business moving in or passing through?"
"Um...visiting..." said Chickpea, "I don't intend to stay longer than a day or so.  Really I'll probably be leaving before the day is up."
Pinkie seemed to visibly deflate at this revelation.  "Aww...If you're not stayng here very long, then I won't be able to throw you my Welcome to Ponyville Party."
"That is a pity," said Chickpea, "But thank you for the wonderful greeting anyway.  May I order?"
His words seemed to pep Pinkie Pie back up even as they clued her back into his original reason for being here.  "Oh right!  What can I get for you?"
Chickpea ordered a raspberry tart and some coffee and took a seat at the table.  Pinkie was there in about two minutes with his order.  The stallion munched contentedly as he continued to look about the place, trying figure out what excuse he might use to hang around the place to see if the demon showed up.
The jingle of the bell instantly drew Chickpea's eyes to the door.  However, the newcomer wasn't a colt, just a regular tan stallion with a trio of horseshoes for a cutie mark.  Chickpea sighed in disappointment and turned back to his meal.  From his position, he couldn't help but pick up the sound of the newcomer stallion as he approached the counter.
"Hey Caramel!  How are you?"
"I'm fine Pinkie.  I came by to thank you for last night.  You're a lifesaver."
"Aww, it was nothing.  My Pinkie Sense told me everything.  Did Dawn like the dumplings?"
Chickpea's ears perked up.  His entire body went rigid to such a degree that he nearly dropped the cup of coffee that he'd been tilting towards his lips.  Dawn!  Could it be him?  That was the name the demon had been using as cover.
"Yeah.  You know he loves them.  Give my thanks to Mayweather for going to get Fluttershy."
"Of course!  Are they still at your place?"
"Nah.  Fluttershy had to get back home to take care of her animals and Dawn is over at the teahouse with the other kids.  Speaking of which, I've gotta go to my job.  Bon Bon'll have my hide if I'm late."
"Okey dokey.  You want something to take with you?"
"Sure..."
Chickpea tuned out the rest of the conversation and turned his thoughts inward.  The demon had to be the colt these two were talking about.  Just as he had feared, the creature apparently already had several ponies under his thrall, although the newspaper article had made it more than apparent.  The teahouse...
Chickpea quickly finished his food and coffee before turning to the door.  He was barely conscious of Pinkie Pie saying goodbye to him as he left, his mind set on his mission.



It took a Chickpea a little while to figure out where the teahouse was.  He'd been so set on his work that he'd completely forgotten to ask for directions.  As such, he'd wandered from one end of the town to the other before he'd finally found the building, which was situated near Ponyville's public library.  Chickpea stopped in front of the door and stared intently at the sign hanging over it, as though doing so would cause the building to reveal whatever secrets it contained.
Finally, Chickpea stepped forward and pushed open the door, stepping into the warm, comfortable confines of the teahouse.  There were already quite a few ponies settled at tables, sipping from steaming mugs.  The fragrance of tea and countless herbs and spices filled the air, the scent drawing the taupe stallion in, much how he had been drawn into the Sugarcube Corner.
Chickpea was surprised to note that the servers in the establishment were all foals, all of them working with surprising calm and efficiency.  His eyes wandered from one to the next, taking in a gray pegasus colt, a white unicorn filly, a yellow earth pony filly, and an orange pegasus filly.  As he looked over the last one, somepony else came out into the main room, an ebony colt balancing trays on his outstretched wings as he trotted towards a table occupied by waiting ponies.  Chickpea could only stare in shock at the sight.  There was no mistaking those insidious, catlike eyes.
His entire body locked up as he stared at the colt, his eyes wide.  The taupe stallion briefly forgot his surroundings as he focused the entirety of his attention on the colt, who wandered about the establishment like it was perfectly normal to do so.  Already, Chickpea's horn was lit and his magic was slowly drawing out the knife.  However, at the last moment, he thought better of it.  In this place, there were too many ponies the demon could use as shields to protect himself.  The stallion would have to bide his time and wait for the right moment to strike.
"We have an open table if you want to sit down."
Once again, Chickpea yelped, the half-drawn knife nearly slipping out of the saddlebag as he jumped at the unexpected voice.  Whirling about, his eyes came to rest on a beige earth pony stallion who was facing him.  Chickpea would have thought the stallion was staring at him, but for the fact that the stallion's eyes were closed.
"Sorry to startle you," said the stallion, "You seemed distracted.  As I was saying, there is an open table you can sit at."
"Th-thank you..." stammered Chickpea, feeling put off-balance.  There was something about the stallion that troubled him.  It must be that demon's influence.
Nonetheless, Chickpea took his seat and the stallion produced a menu of tea selections to browse, though Chickpea barely looked at it, trying his hardest to keep his eyes on the colt with the demon's eyes.  Chickpea watched as the colt flitted from table to table, performing various tasks, occasionally returning to the back room in order to fetch more tea and returning to the customers, often receiving smiling welcomes and indications of familiarity from the various patrons of the establishment.  It infuriated the taupe stallion that this colt had dared ingratiate himself with these ponies, that he was wandering about this shop as though he belonged here.
Chickpea ground his teeth together, his mouth set in a thin line as he continued to watch the colt.  The menu lay forgotten on the table as Cickpea's focus narrowed down to his target.  It would only take a second, he thought.  Back in Haytenview, Chickpea had always placed first in the annual knife-throwing competitions, being able to put a knife through a target at a hundred paces, often with enough force that the blade had to be cut out.  Here, in the confines of the teahouse, the colt was well within a hundred paces.  It would be the work of an instant, a swift draw, then using his magic to propel the blade straight through the demon's head, possibly right between those abhorrent eyes.
Chickpea's eyes narrowed as he waited for the right opportunity.  If the colt saw the attack coming, then he could hide behind one of the other ponies present.  The attack would have to catch him off-guard.  Slowly, Chickpea's forehoof reached back into his saddlebag, his fetlock curling around the handle of his knife.
The colt had just finished setting out a tray for another trio of guests.  He turned towards the back door, not even noticing Chickpea.  His back was to the taupe stallion now and Chickpea was free to drive the blade straight through the back of the demon's head.  Now!
In an instant, Chickpea had leapt away from his seat, withdrawing the knife in a single, smooth motion that he'd practiced for years.  At the same time, he lit his horn, coating the knife with the aura of his magic, lifting it out of his grip before launching it in a silvery blur, straight at the colt's head.  Dawn Lightwing did not react to the projectile as it approached.  Chickpea's aim was true.  The demon was about to die.
Then, at the last second, one of the wings on the colt's back blurred into motion.  The knife that had been about to punch through his skull from behind changed trajectory abruptly, turning sharply upward, where it embedded itself into the wooden ceiling.  Chickpea's eyes widened in surprise.  It was impossible.  The colt couldn't have seen the knife coming and yet, somehow, had blocked the attack; how, Chickpea couldn't say.
However, before his mind could even fully register the shock of his failure, the colt vanished from sight.  Chickpea's ears picked up a rush of wind and, suddenly, Dawn Lightwing was right next to him.  The colt's wing extended out, the tip of his leading primary just barely brushing against the taupe unicorn's shoulder.  A snap echoed through the shop, accompanied by a bright spark that jumped from Dawn's feather to Chickpea's shoulder.
Chickpea felt as though he had been bucked in the ribs.  His legs spasmed ferociously, kicking themselves out from under him and dumping the confused stallion on his side.  There he lay, continuing to twitch and gasp for breath.  His limbs refused to heed his brain's commands, instead jolting randomly.  Darkness began to crawl in from the edges of his vision as he stared upwards.  Dawn was standing over him, gazing down dispassionately with those disgusting eyes of his.  A few seconds later, he was joined by the beige earth pony.
"Well done," said the earth pony stallion, his words growing faint in Chickpea's ears, "It looks like you managed to scramble his nerves quite thoroughly with that technique."
"I suppose there's no better way to test a technique like this," said Dawn as he idly examined his feathers, "It looks like, so long as I avoid the heart, I don't have to worry about killing anypony."  He turned his attention back down to Chickpea.  "In any case, this would be my first contender."
Any further conversation became incomprehensible to Chickpea as his senses faded away, darkness claiming him completely.
> Returning and Running
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5: Returning and Running

A frightened silence had fallen over the main room of the teahouse as Dawn and Arkenstone stood over the prone form of the stallion that had just tried to kill Dawn.  Luckily, none of the other Crusaders were carrying anything at the moment, having been between runs to serve customers.
Scootaloo rushed over from the table where she'd been serving Carrot Top.  She rushed up to Dawn's side, her eyes wide and her heart beating rapidly.  "Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," said Dawn, turning his head so that he could nuzzle Scootaloo's cheek, "He didn't even touch me."  The colt tilted his head to better see the knife that was embedded up to its handle in the ceiling.  "Though not for lack of trying..."
"Who is this guy?" asked Scootaloo, looking down at the unconscious stallion lying on the floor.
"No idea," said Dawn.
"Well, he's not from around here," said Red River as he stepped into the shop, "He's from out of town, I presume."
"You saw him?" asked Dawn.
"It was kind of hard to miss," replied Red as he leaned down to examine the unconscious unicorn, "He came straight through the market with a pretty grim expression, the look of a stallion on a mission.  From the moment I saw him, it was clear he was looking for somepony and, given recent events, it wasn't hard to guess exactly who he was looking for."
"So now what?" asked Scootaloo, "What do we do with this jerk?"
"We turn him over to Guard custody," said Red, "We'll need to process him through the system fairly quickly so that we can get him shipped up to Canterlot for trial at the earliest opportunity."
"Why the rush?" asked Rumble, also coming over to check on the situation.
"Because this fool is probably just the first of many," said Red in a dour tone, "Unfortunately, the Ponyville Guard station is only fitted with two holding cells.  If these ponies start coming in any kind of numbers, those cells are going to get really crowded really quickly."
Red reached into his sash and pulled out a coiled cord, which he used to bind the unmoving stallion's hooves.  Dipping his head, Red heaved the stallion up onto his shoulders with a grunt.  "Well, I'll be off now."  A few seconds later, he was out the door and it was like he'd never even been there.
Everyone looked at the door before turning to one another.  It was Arkenstone who broke the silence.  "Well, back to work, I suppose..."



"Oh my," gasped Rarity as she allowed the steam from the sauna to seep into the pores of her skin beneath her coat, "It sounds as though things are going wonderfully for you.  It's so nice to know that Caramel and Dawn are getting along so well."
Fluttershy nodded.  She was glad that she had a spa appointment with Rarity today.  After the events of the previous night, it felt good to release all that extra tension and accept a little pampering.  However..."I'm still worried.  What if Miss Softhoof tries to take Dawn away?"
"We shall cross that bridge if we come to it," said Rarity, "May I remind you that she said nothing that suggested she had decided against you as Dawn's mother."
"Yes, but...she didn't seem very happy about my home," said Fluttershy, thinking back on all the little things that the mare from Foal Protection had pointed out.  "I don't think she really understands what Dawn's needs are since she left before she got to interview him."
"I think it will be fine," said Rarity, "I very much doubt that somepony from the Ministry of Welfare would be so incompetent as to fail to note that you are a fine mother.  Above all else, Dawn is quite happy living with you.  I think that would be an assurance in and of itself.
"Besides, we're all standing behind you.  If that mare or the ponies she works for decide to truly make an issue out of this, you can bet that we won't let them have their way.  And you know that, if push comes to shove, Dawn certainly won't let himself be taken away from you."
Fluttershy nodded slowly.  "You're right," she agreed.  Privately, she desperately hoped that things didn't go that far.  From what she knew, there were scant few ponies who could make Dawn do something he didn't want to do.  Luckily, most of them were on Dawn's side.  However, she really wanted to avoid picking a fight with the government if she could help it.
"Don't worry about a thing darling," said Rarity, giving Fluttershy her most encouraging smile, "Everything will turn out alright."
Fluttershy winced at the obvious tempting of fate.  I certainly hope so...



Two days later, Fluttershy got a response in the mail.  They had been a somewhat tense pair of days.  The horror of finding out that somepony had already come to Ponyville and made an attempt on Dawn's life completely undid all the time that Fluttershy had spent at the spa and it had taken a great deal of reassuring from Dawn to calm her back down.  Part of Fluttershy desperately wanted to barricade herself and her son in their home and simply wait things out.  But the better part of her knew that was no solution and that the best thing to do was to trust Dawn to handle himself.  To help combat her anxiety, Fluttershy threw herself fully into making the final preparations for her animal friends' hibernations and migrations as Ponyville braced itself for winter.
As it was, she was in the middle of sweeping out the cottage when she saw Ditzy landing at her mailbox and fishing out a few envelopes.  Fluttershy quickly trotted out to greet the cheerful mailmare.
"Good afternoon Ditzy, is everything going well?"
The gray mare beamed at Fluttershy, her mismatched eyes wobbling unsteadily.  "Everything's going great.  I'm ahead of schedule for all my deliveries and the boss is considering giving me a raise."
"That's wonderful," said Fluttershy, "You certainly deserve one."
Ditzy giggled.  "I guess so.  I mean, I did get a pretty big bonus when I had to take over Cirrus' route-"  She cut herself off at the mention of Scootaloo's father.  His arrest and subsequent banishment from Ponyville was still something of a sore point.  Shaking her head to rid herself of the unpleasant feelings, Ditzy soldiered on.  "But it's not like I really need one, especially after-"  She cut herself off again, this time her cheeks flared bright red as she looked away bashfully, though still smiling brightly.
"What happened?" asked Fluttershy, leaning forward, eager to hear what had her friend so excited and happy.
"Well..."  Ditzy scuffed her hoof against the ground nervously, "It's just that I might not need to work so much for me and Dinky anymore."
"Why not?" asked Fluttershy.
"Because...because Big Macintosh...he..."  Ditzy's face was almost completely red by this point.
Fluttershy gasped, her hooves going to her mouth.  "Big Macintosh!  Oh my!  Did he...?"
"He did," said Ditzy, no longer able to contain her glee, "He proposed!"
"When?" demanded Fluttershy, eager to know all the details.
"During the Harvest Festival," said Ditzy, "He was talking to me when the Wonderbolts were showing off and he showed me the necklace and asked just as Rainbow did her Sonic Rainboom!"
"Oh!  How romantic!" gasped Fluttershy, "I'm so happy for you.  Dinky must be really excited."
Ditzy nodded fervently.  "She's so happy, she's been calling Macintosh 'papa' ever since.  I'm glad she likes him so much.  She was a bit upset when she found out that Dawn and Scootaloo had become a couple."
Fluttershy couldn't help but giggle at that.  She wondered how exactly Dawn would react to the fact that Dinky had apparently had a crush on him.  As far as she knew Dawn was completely clueless about it.  "When's the wedding?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Ditzy with a noncommittal shrug, "We haven't really decided on a date yet.  Macintosh is still worried about how some of the other mares in town will react when they find out we're engaged."
"Don't you worry about that," said Fluttershy, leaning forward to nuzzle Ditzy, "Me and the girls are all behind you.  I know a lot of other ponies will be happy for you too."
"Thanks," said Ditzy.  She hoofed over Fluttershy's mail and took to the air.  "I've gotta go.  It's been nice talking to you 'Shy."
Fluttershy waved as Ditzy flew away.  She found herself marveling at how much more at ease Ditzy seemed in the air now.  It seemed that learning to sense her surroundings through the wind had done a great deal to correct her flight problems.  Fluttershy couldn't recall hearing anything about Ditzy crashing into anything recently.
Humming cheerfully, Fluttershy trotted back into the cottage to inspect her mail.  Talking to Ditzy had done wonders for her temper as she found it easier to not worry so much about Dawn's wellbeing at the moment.  However, any good feelings that her recent conversation had stirred quickly died when she saw the envelope at the top of the pile.  It was from the Foal Protection.
For a moment, Fluttershy simply stared dumbly at the envelope, trembling fiercely.  She was almost too afraid to open it, terrified of what it might say.  However, simply ignoring it would not make the problem go away.  So, with a deep breath, Fluttershy peeled back the flap and withdrew the letter.



To Dame Fluttershy of Ponyville;

After reviewing the evidence and evaluations provided by Agent Softhoof regarding your suitability as acting mother to Dawn Lightwing, the Department of Foal Protection has determined that the preliminary findings to be too inconclusive to reach an effective decision.  As such, it has been decided that Agent Softhoof will conduct a thorough and complete investigation to fully evaluate your qualifications to serve as mother to Dawn Lightwing.
Agent Softhoof will contact you when she returns to Ponyville.  Your full cooperation and that of any individuals or agencies that Agent Softhoof chooses to contact will be expected.  Any lack of cooperation may lead to the decision that you are not a suitable parent to Dawn Lightwing and could result in his removal from your custody and care.  It is imperative that you provide Agent Softhoof with everything she needs to perform a comprehensive investigation so that there may be no doubt in our verdict.

Sincerely;
Grayblood, Departmental Director



Fluttershy set the letter down and took a long minute to gather her thoughts.  Part of her was genuinely relieved that the letter hadn't been an outright rejection of her qualifications to be Dawn's mother.  However, apprehension weighed down on her soul.  There was clearly sufficient doubt that they were going to take a much closer and harder look at her and Dawn's life in order to determine just how fit to be a parent she really was.
Fluttershy cast another glance at the letter.  What do I do now?
The answer came to her almost immediately.  After all, she wasn't alone.  She had Dawn, she had Caramel, and she had her friends.  Once she realized that, Fluttershy had a good idea of where to begin.



"Hmm..."  Twilight Sparkle's eyes wandered over the text of the letter again, "Well, it's definitely not the worst news," she said.  Like the others, she'd heard about Softhoof's original visit.  In all honesty, from what she'd heard about Foal Services investigations, Twilight was rather surprised to hear that Softhoof had wrapped up her initial investigation so quickly.  Depending on the circumstances, that was either a very good or a very bad sign.
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Fluttershy nervously.
Twilight shook her head.  "There isn't much," she said, "This kind of investigation is very thorough.  If you try to put on any kind of front, you can bet that this Softhoof mare will see right through it.  Most likely, she's going to analyze quite a few factors in your life.  She'll probably look at everything from psychological evaluations of you and Dawn to your financial records to determine your fitness for parenthood and your compatibility with Dawn."  She glanced towards the door to the library, outside of which sat Arkenstone's teahouse, where Dawn was currently working.
"The best thing to do is to get all the information we think Softhoof might need and have it together for easy access.  You and Dawn should probably visit the hospital and get a full medical checkup.  You can schedule a psyche evaluation too.  Then you'll need to go to request your financial records from Town Hall.  It could take a few days to get everything organized."  Twilight turned her attention back to Fluttershy.  "Do you know when Softhoof will be back?"
"No," said Fluttershy, "There's no indication when she'll be back in town."
"Then we should probably hurry," said Twilight, "Foal Protection doesn't like to drag their hooves on this sort of thing.  Spike!"
"What is it?" asked the young dragon as he came into the main room of the library from the kitchen.
"I need you to run to the teahouse and call Dawn over here," said Twilight.
The dragon nodded and rushed out to do as he was bid.
Fluttershy began to tremble nervously.  "Oh my...I hope Dawn takes this alright.  He was very upset when he first found out what Miss Softhoof was here for."
"But you and Caramel managed to make him see sense," Twilight pointed out, "I think he'll cooperate just fine."
"Alright," said Fluttershy uncertainly, tapping her hooves together, "If you say so."



When Spike returned with Dawn, Fluttershy and Twilight explained the situation to him.  Much to Fluttershy's relief, Dawn was willing to cooperate and do his part to ensure that everything went well.  Twilight immediately set aside her other projects to help prepare Fluttershy for the inspection.  She sent Spike to Town Hall to request Fluttershy's financial records from Mayor Mare, while Fluttershy and Dawn went to the hospital to take care of the rest.  Twilight went through the process of putting together a file of all the information she thought would be relevant to the investigation.  When Spike returned with the requested information, Twilight went through the painstaking process of sorting and organizing it.  She was in the middle of this when Arkenstone came in, having finished closing the teahouse for the evening.
"How are things going?" asked the stallion as he leaned forward, laying his head over Twilight's shoulder so that his cheek was gently resting agains hers, as though he was trying to read over her shoulder.
"They're going alright," said Twilight, "Fluttershy's finances are solid.  She gets a pretty good wage from the town for her services to the local wildlife.  It's more than enough to support her and Dawn, especially considering that they aren't ones for a lot of material goods.  She's got no outstanding debts, no worrying expenditures, nothing that should raise any red flags."
"That's good," said Arkenstone, "And you might want to note that, if her relationship with Caramel continues to develop, then his income will become further support for Dawn in the future."
"Good idea," agreed Twilight, "Though I don't think we'll need to dig up Caramel's financial records right away.  Fluttershy's alone are good enough, since she's already more than able to support Dawn on her own."
"Is there anything worrying?" asked Arkenstone, still hearing a note of concern in Twilight's voice.
"Well..." said Twilight, "Fluttershy's usually dependable and trustworthy, but she's had her moments.  There was what happened at the Grand Galloping Gala, and then there was that time she took assertiveness lessons from Iron Will."
"One or two isolated incidents won't be enough to disqualify her," said Arkenstone, "Particularly since nopony was hurt by them."
"There's something else that bothers me," said Twilight, "There's Dawn's hospital records to worry about.  He's been there three times since he's come to Ponyville, twice for serious injuries.  I'm not so worried about the records from when Fluttershy took him there after the visit to Cloudsdale, but the other two times..."
The first time Dawn had visited Ponyville's hospital, it was because Applejack had bucked him, breaking a wing and cracking his ribs.  It had taken the colt over a week, with the aid of healing magic, to recover from the injury.  The second time had been after his duel with Storm Front and Red River, the injuries he received from that encounter taking a full month to fade completely.  If Softhoof read those records, it might be enough for her to declare Ponyville to be an unsuitable environment for Dawn, and could lead to severe repercussions for Applejack and the two mercenary stallions, though the latter two had been trying to help Dawn at the time, in a rather roundabout way.
"I anticipated that possibility when I first came here," mentioned Arkenstone, "I was the one who recommended those two to Shining Armor for this job in the first place.  I used some of my authority to have those records sealed."
"You can do that?" asked Twilight.
"Well yes," replied Arkenstone, "The process is a little roundabout so that it can be done without us having to reveal our identities, but the seal on those files can only be rescinded by Princess Celestia herself.  Given the circumstances, I find it highly unlikely that she will do so."
"That's a relief," said Twilight, though her fears weren't completely allayed.  After all, the fact that those medical records had been sealed at all would probably come off as suspicious to Softhoof.  Still, as long as Softhoof wasn't able to actually see them, then they couldn't be used against Fluttershy and Dawn.
"What else are you doing?" asked Arkenstone.
"Well, I'm going to make arrangements with Rarity and Rainbow Dash to serve as character witnesses for Fluttershy.  I'm afraid that she's going to have to contact her own family in Cloudsdale if Softhoof needs to interview them.  There isn't much else we can do at this point."
Twilight sighed and Arkenstone gently rubbed his cheek against hers, reassuring her.  "We'll be fine," said Arkenstone, "I think we can have faith in your friends."



Fluttershy and Dawn returned with the report from Dawn's checkup.  Aside from the tiny signs of previously healed injuries, the colt was in the pink of health as far as the doctor was concerned, even better, if that was at all possible.  Dawn's build, a result of his constant martial arts training, was nearly comparable to that of a professional athlete, like Rainbow Dash.
The psyche evalutations for both Dawn and Fluttershy had been scheduled, but it was likely that they wouldn't be completed before Softhoof arrived.  Still, all the signs so far were positive and nopony had any doubt that the investigation would result in Foal ruling in Fluttershy's favor.



Softhoof looked out the window as she watched the town of Ponyville slowly crawl back into view.  From the train, it was an idyllic little hamlet, the kind of place that parents who didn't obsess over big cities like Canterlot and Manehattan would love to raise their children in.  Softhoof could attest from personal experience that a closer look had only added to the town's charm.  The ponies were friendly and engaging, with a strong sense of community that only served to add to the list of ponies who might be acting as unofficial support for Dawn.
All that had been included in her original report, of course.  But, for some reason, Grayblood had still rejected her conclusion.  But the way he'd done so had disturbed Softhoof more than the decision itself.  She had to admit that there were quite a few oddities with Dawn and his situation.  However, most of the signs she had seen during her initial investigation had seemed positive.  And there was also the fact that Princess Celestia herself had apparently looked into Dawn's situation and was satisfied with his current arrangements.
And yet, Grayblood still insisted that Softhoof investigate more thoroughly.  More importantly, the way he had phrased it put her on edge.  It almost sounded as though he wanted Softhoof to find something wrong with the situation, whatever pretense it might be, and use that to declare Fluttershy unfit to be Dawn's mother.  He'd made it sound that if she simply ended up affirming her previous verdict, he would simply take her off the case and send in somepony who would give him what he seemed to want.
But why? she wondered.  For as long as she had worked under him, which was the entirety of her career, Softhoof had never known Grayblood to pull something like this, to be so adamant that she come to a particular decision in an investigation.  He was almost as heavily invested in the welfare of the foals they investigated as she was.  He was a stallion who took his job very seriously and thought of the foals first.
Her mind drifted back to what Grayblood had told her.  "Some very important ponies are showing a great deal of interest in this colt..."  She wondered just who those important ponies could be.  Her mind drifted to the article that had been written about Dawn, which had included the threats he had been dealing with.  Was Grayblood, perhaps, involved with the Cult Solar?  It seemed preposterous to Softhoof.  She hadn't even heard of the group before reading the article about Dawn.  There was no way that her longtime boss was a member of such an organization...was there?
The shrill squeal of brakes and the jolt of the train's deceleration broke Softhoof away from her train of thought.  She was back in Ponyville.  As she stepped off the train, her eyes took in the station and the surrounding countryside, pausing to appreciate the riot of colors that decorated the trees, now that autumn was in full swing.  Here and there, she could see ponies putting up streamers and decorations for some kind of festival or party.
The first thing Softhoof decided to do was head for the inn and book herself a room.  She had no idea how long she would be in Ponyville this time.  However, it was clear that she was in for the long haul.



"What do you mean there are no rooms?" demanded Softhoof, trying her hardest not to glare at the beleaguered mare behind the desk.
"I'm sorry ma'am.  But the Running of the Leaves is just a day away and a lot of ponies are here for it," said the mare apologetically, "All of our rooms are booked.  But there are ponies in town who sometimes have rooms to offer.  If you ask around, I'm sure you'll find something.  You might check with Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner, she always has information about that sort of thing."
Letting out a depressed sigh, Softhoof turned and walked out of the inn.  I have the worst timing, she thought.  Still, she figured she could at least follow the receptionist's advice and visit this Sugarcube Corner place.  Who knows, she thought, Maybe rooming in somepony's house will actually cost me less than staying at the inn.
Walking through town, she eventually spied the structure, shaped like a gingerbread house.  Her eyes took in the sign on the front and she realized this was her destination.  Gingerly, Softhoof eased open the door, wincing at the sound of the bell ringing above her.  Stepping into the room, she looked around, her eyes taking in the sight of ponies seated at tables, enjoying various baked treats.
"Hi there!" exclaimed a pony, who popped out from behind the counter with all the suddenness of a haunted house specter, "What can I do for you?"
"Um...are you Pinkie Pie?" asked Softhoof, taking a guess based on the mare's coloration.
The pink mare froze, her eyes going wide.  "Wow!  That's a really good guess!  How'd you know!  I mean, I know everypony in town and everypony in town knows me so it's obvious that they'd know who I was but I don't know you which means you aren't from town which happens a lot because I like meeting ponies from out of town but you already know me which never happens."
"Um..."  Softhoof wasn't even sure what the manic mare had said, much less how to respond to it.
"Oh right!  Where were we?"  Pinkie tapped her chin for a second.  "That's right, I'm Pinkie Pie.  How can I help you?"
Shaking her head to clear it, Softhoof tried to keep her composure.  You've got a job to do.  "Well, I'm in Ponyville for work, but all the rooms at the inn are booked."
Pinkie nodded rapidly.  "That's right.  Ponyville's Running of the Leaves is really famous and everypony loves it.  So we get a lot of ponies from out of town who want to watch or run in it."
Softhoof nodded, not appreciating having to sit through the same explanation a second time.  "The point is, the receptionist at the inn said that some ponies in town rent out their rooms to visitors.  She said you might know who I could ask."
Once again, Pinkie's head blurred up and down as she nodded.  "Yep, I know all sorts of ponies who have rooms for rent.  What are you in town for?"
"It's government business," said Softhoof, "I'm with the Department of Foal Protection."
"Oh!  You're the mare who talked to Fluttershy about Dawn!" exclaimed Pinkie.
"You know her?" asked Softhoof, her heartbeat quickening.  She gulped and carefully eyed the exit.
"Yep, sure do," replied Pinkie cheerfully, "Fluttershy's one of my best friends after all.  She was all worried because she'd heard you're coming back."
Softhoof gulped, trying gauge Pinkie's attitude towards her.  Ponies were close in small towns like this and ponies often didn't like it when an agent of the government was poking around in a close friend's business, no matter how justified said poking might have been.  It wouldn't have been the first time that a friend of object of her investigation had tried to "dissuade" her from carrying an investigation out.
Pinkie Pie, however, seemed completely unaware of Softhoof's discomfort, instead seeming to be lost in thought.  "Hmm...now what's the best choice?"  Suddenly, her eyelids shot up.  "Oh!  I know!  You could ask Caramel.  He has a nice house and he rents out his extra rooms all the time."
A bit surprised that Pinkie didn't seem to mind the fact that Softhoof was investigating Fluttershy at all, Softhoof could only nod.  "Thank you for your suggestion.  Where can I talk to this Caramel pony?"
"Caramel works at Bon Bon's candy shop," said Pinkie, pointing towards the door, "It's just a little ways down Saddle Street with a big sign saying Bon Bon's Bon Bons.  You can't miss it!  Now, can I get you anything?"
Stepping away slightly from the still grinning mare, Softhoof edged towards the exit.  "No thank you, Miss Pie.  However, your assistance and cooperation is appreciated."
"Okey dokey lokey," said Pinkie, "Have a nice day."
Softhoof had to fight to keep herself from bolting as she stepped out the door.  The pink mare unnerved her, but she was even more surprised that Pinkie hadn't objected to Softhoof's presence in the slightest.  Following Pinkie's directions, Softhoof trotted down Saddle Street until her eyes found the shop in question.  Stepping in, her nose was flooded by the scent of sugar.  Her eyes wandered over the selection of candies and confections on sale, a riot of color to draw the eye, even as the scents in the air appealed to her palate.
Behind the counter waited a tan-colored stallion, who smiled politely at her as she stepped in.  Softheart's eyes took in his neatly combed mane and tail, along with the three-horseshoe cutie mark on his flank before meeting his light-blue eyes.
"Hi," said the stallion, "Welcome to Bon Bon's Bon Bons, what can I get for you?"
"Are you Caramel?" asked Softhoof, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Uh...yes..."
"I'm Agent Softhoof from the Department of Foal Protection.  I heard that you sometimes rent out your spare rooms to visitors from out of town.  I would like to do that, if you don't mind."  Softhoof was starting to get agitated from the continuous runaround she was getting, making her more curt than she would normally like.
"So you're the mare Fluttershy was going on about," said Caramel, his smile fading.
"You know her?" asked Softhoof, getting the impression that this had been a deliberate move on Pinkie Pie's part.
"She's actually my fillyfriend," said Caramel matter-of-factly.
"Oh..."
"So you need a room," continued the stallion, oblivious to Softhoof's surprise, "I don't have any problem with that.  If you don't mind waiting 'til I finish for the day, I can take you to my place and you can get settled in."
"I-what?"  Softhoof was caught completely off-guard by Caramel's words.  He'll rent me a room, just like that...Even though I'm here to investigate his fillyfriend?
"If you don't mind hanging about, it'll be about an hour before I get off," said Caramel, "I'd give you directions, but all the houses here look the same, so it's better if I just show you where it is."  He gestured to a door leading into the back of the store, presumably where all the confections were made.  "You can wait in there if you want.  I think there's still some coffee leftover from this morning if you want something to drink...or there might be something in the icebox, but most of it is either Bon Bon's or Lyra's, so I'd say it's probably better not to touch anything."
Softhoof stepped into the back, looking around and taking in the sight of the shop's kitchen, which also apparently doubled as the kitchen for the owners, complete with a dining table and a door leading to the living quarters in the back and upstairs.  With a sigh, Softhoof settled into her seat and dug a book out of her stuffed saddlebags and waited.
She lost herself in the book until the next thing she knew was Caramel shaking her shoulder.  "Okay, time for us to go," he said, leading the olive-colored mare out of the shop.  As they headed out through the front, Softhoof spotted the owner, who was now running the counter in Caramel's place.  She gave Softhoof a polite smile and an incline of her head.
"I have to say," said Softhoof as she followed Caramel along the street, "I wasn't expecting you to be so helpful."
"Well, I can't say I'm too happy that you've suddenly decided that my fillyfriend might be unfit to be a mother after she's been looking after Dawn for a few months now," said Caramel, "But you're just doing your job and you're doing it out of concern for his wellbeing, so I can't really hold it against you.  Besides, I'd think getting in your way and trying to stop you from doing your investigation probably wouldn't help 'Shy's case."
Softhoof nodded.  After all, she'd experienced such interference in past investigations, ponies seeming not to realize that the most surefire way to announce that you had something to hide was to try and interfere with the one doing the investigating.  Even so, she was impressed by this stallion's willingness to support her by providing her with a place to stay while she worked.
Caramel led her down the street to his house, which he unlocked.  Going in quickly, he got her an extra key and hoofed it over.  "Your room is at the top of the stairs, first door on the left," he said, "You can go ahead and drop off your stuff.  I'll lay out some fresh linens."
"If you don't mind," said Softhoof, "I would like to begin my investigation as soon as possible.  Would it be possible to start by interviewing you?  Character witnesses are important."
"I guess," said Caramel, "I'm surprised you'd ask me.  Wouldn't anything I say be considered biased?"
"Of course," said Softhoof, "But I've found that there's no such thing as an objective character witness.  Besides, for good or for ill, the best way to find out about a pony is to ask those who know her best, which usually means asking her friends."
Caramel nodded.  "Go and drop off your stuff and I'll meet you in the kitchen."
A few minutes later saw Softhoof and Caramel in the kitchen.  Softhoof's questions were fairly basic to begin with, starting with Caramel's relationship to Fluttershy, particularly its current status.  She was especially interested in how Dawn was involved in their relationship.
"Well, I won't say it's been a simple thing," said Caramel, in response to the question, "If Fluttershy and I got together in a more permanent fashion, that would technically make me Dawn's 'dad' I guess.  But that would be a kind of awkward way to describe it."
"How so?" asked Softhoof.
"Well, Dawn's pretty self-reliant for a colt his age.  Heck, he's more self-sufficient than some adults I know.  He's lived on his own for an extended period of time.  He could do it for longer, if he wanted.  He's got a job now, even a fillyfriend and he doesn't even have his cutie mark yet."
"Tell me more about his job," said Softhoof.  Fluttershy had mentioned it in an early interview, but Softhoof hadn't thought to press for more details before she'd left.  It had been a minor matter before.  But every detail mattered now.
"He works at the teahouse next to the library," explained Caramel, "He usually serves the customers and helps with preparing the tea sometimes.  His friends actually work with him there."
"Is this a common practice here?" asked Softhoof.
"Somewhat," said Caramel, "The school goes on half-day schedules during the harvest season so that the kids from farms can go help their families.  Those that aren't from farming families usually take some sort of job in the afternoon to earn bits for themselves to spend on treats over the winter break.  Usually, the younger kids get jobs running smalltime errands, but the older ones, like Dawn, get something closer to real jobs.  Some kids, like Dawn, take a liking to their job and keep at it even after school ends for the year."
Softhoof nodded.  She'd figured as much.  It wasn't an uncommon arrangement for most agricultural towns, like Ponyville.  It was generally a good sign, since it meant that the foal was getting some sense of independence and direction in their life.  It was also something that foals sometimes used to help find their purpose in life, along with their cutie marks, particularly if they were late bloomers.  Still, hearing it from Caramel helped Softhoof get a feel for the stallion who might be an important part of Dawn's life and just how much he knew about the colt he might be a parent for one day.
"So Dawn Lightwing enjoys this work then?" she asked.
Caramel nodded vigorously.  "He loves it.  Since he'd gotten used to foraging and eating food raw, he doesn't have a lot experience with cooking and other preparations.  So he's kinda fascinated by all of it.  I once took him to the candy shop with me so he could see how I work.  He really enjoyed himself, but he's not one for sweets.  Since he likes tea and Arkenstone was opening a teashop, I figured he might enjoy working there and learning more about making different kinds of tea.  I guess I was right, since he loves it there."
"That's good to hear," said Softhoof, "It sounds as though you have a very good relationship with Dawn Lightwing."
"I'd say we get along pretty well," said Caramel, "He doesn't mind me dating his mom and he enjoys hanging out.  Sometimes the three of us get together and do stuff as a family.  He and Fluttershy are even going to move in with me for the winter."
"Why is that?" asked Softhoof.  It certainly wasn't an arrangement she was familiar with.
"Well, once Fluttershy's animals either migrate out or go into hibernation for the season, her cottage gets pretty lonely during the season.  On top of that, it becomes a pretty hard trip to get into town once the snow starts falling.  I figured it might be a nice thing to try, so that the three of us could all get used to living together."
Softhoof thought things over.  It wasn't an arrangement she had ever heard of before, but that wasn't overly surprising in and of itself.  One of the most important things she had learned from her job was that, no matter how long you worked, you never saw everything.  Ponies could still find a way to surprise you, no matter how experienced you were.  On the whole, it didn't seem like a bad idea, given the unique nature of the situation.
It was clear that Caramel had developed a strong understanding of the colt, making it unlikely that his and Fluttershy's relationship was going to be detrimental to Dawn.  If anything, given the experiences Dawn had been through, Softhoof thought that Caramel would be an excellent father figure to such a colt, albeit differently from how most stallions envisaged fathers being.
From there, the interview covered familiar ground, with Softhoof asking for more specific details about Fluttershy and her character.  Caramel did his best to provide honest answers, impressing the olive unicorn with his willingness to be open about somepony so close to him.
"Thank you for your cooperation," said Softhoof after she wrapped up her questions.
"Sure," said Caramel, "If you're gonna continue your investigation, Twilight Sparkle's been getting a file together with all the information you should need for your investigation.  She said she doesn't have everything yet, but most of it should be ready by now."
Softhoof nodded, humming in appreciation.  Things were looking more and more positive with each passing minute.  Fluttershy definitely had her faults as a pony, Caramel had been willing (barely) to point that out.  However, she had the support of good friends who were willing to help her prepare for Softhoof's investigation; and not "preparing" in the sense that most ponies who were about to be investigated by Foal Protection Services did, by trying to deceive the investigator in some way, but by ensuring that Softhoof had everything she needed to perform a thorough and accurate assessment of Fluttershy's maternal capabilities.  It spoke volumes of their confidence in Fluttershy's character, which spoke volumes for Fluttershy herself.
And yet, Softhoof couldn't shake the foreboding feeling sinking into the pit of her stomach.  Given how things were looking, it was virtually impossible that she would have any justification to judge Fluttershy unsuitable to be Dawn Lightwing's mother.  But...what if that wasn't good enough for Grayblood?
Frowning, Softhoof shook the irritating thought out of her head.  I'll just have to do the best I can and hope that it all works out.



As Softhoof expected, the investigation proved to be a fruitful one.  It took her a full five days to wrap it up.  During that time, she got to watch Ponyville's famous Running of the Leaves, which proved to be an unexpected bonus of her extended stay in the town.  The sight of leaves falling en-mass, in the wake of the runners was a sight to behold, as were the bonfires where the leaves were collected and burned.  All told, the event provided a welcome respite to Softhoof, as it constituted a town holiday, where government workers (even those who weren't technically part of the town's government) were given the day off so that they could enjoy the festivities.  The sole exception was Mayor Mare and her only governmental role was to act as master of ceremonies when presenting the medals to the top-placers; Rainbow Dash taking the gold, Applejack the silver, and an unexpected showing by Twilight Sparkle, who managed to snag the bronze this year.
As she expected, all the information she examined seemed to show that Fluttershy would be excellent in a position of motherhood.  She was financially sound.  The psyche evaluations Fluttershy and Dawn had gotten showed no signs that the two of them were at risk by staying together.
Softhoof had even been able to interview Dawn himself.  The colt was apologetic for how he had behaved towards her the first time they'd met, if still a little guarded.  However, it was very clear that he wanted to stay with Fluttershy and that he was very happy exactly where he was.
She also interviewed Rainbow Dash and Rarity, two of Fluttershy's closest friends, as further character witnesses.  The interview with Dash had been...harrowing was the word Softhoof would use to describe it.  Rainbow had not been very happy with her, the cerulean mare looking as though she wanted to chase Softhoof out of town for even daring to suggest that Fluttershy might be unfit to be Dawn's mother.  She was especially irritated that her taking Dawn to Cloudsdale appeared to be the whole impetus behind the sudden reevaluation of Fluttershy's status.  In spite of that, she managed to keep herself under control, having apparently been counseled by Twilight that cooperating with Softhoof's investigation was in Fluttershy's best interests.
Rarity, on the other hoof, had been an entirely different experience.  In the first place, the alabaster mare had insisted on holding the interview at the spa, all while paying for Softhoof to enjoy every one of the most luxurious services the place had to offer, which were exceptional to be sure.  However, Softhoof was fully aware that Rarity was essentially trying to butter her up with the pampering to try and influence her verdict.  The fashionista could also be infuriatingly evasive with her answers when she wanted to be, always trying to dance around the issue whenever there was a chance that the discussion could end up highlighting some of Fluttershy's faults.  Still, much of the information Softhoof had gained from Rarity was pertinent and coincided with what Fluttershy's other character witnesses had told her.
The only point of contention were Dawn's medical records.  While his most recent checkup had showed the colt to be perfectly healthy, what had caught Softhoof's eye was the fact that Dawn had been to the hospital for emergency treatments on two occasions over a troublingly short period of time.  Those incidents had occurred very early on during the period of Dawn's stay in Ponyville, the first actually happening before Dawn had been officially adopted by Fluttershy.  But what truly raised Softhoof's eyebrows was that the files were completely beyond her reach.



"I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed to discuss those incidents with you," said Redheart as she put Dawn's file (or at least the part of it that was unclassified) back in its drawer, "The files pertaining to those events have been sealed by a governmental order."
"Was it Twilight Sparkle?" asked Softhoof.  Twilight Sparkle was Princess Celestia's personal student.  She might have pulled strings to get those files sealed to try and protect Fluttershy.
"Honestly, I shouldn't be answering any of your questions regarding that," said Redheart, "But no, it wasn't Twilight Sparkle.  She's a civilian.  While technically a ranking noble, she's only a knight and has no governmental authority."
"But-"
"And if you're suggesting that maybe she asked Princess Celestia to seal the files on her behalf, that would be incorrect," interjected Redheart, "The seal didn't come from the Princess.  In fact, we don't know who it came from."
"How is that possible?" demanded Softhoof, "You can't restrict information at that level and not hide your identity."
Redheart merely shrugged.  "I don't know how it's possible either.  But Doctor Stable contacted Canterlot and confirmed it.  The order sealing those reports is legitimate and can only be rescinded by the order of Princess Celestia or Princess Luna.  You'll have to talk to them if you want to peruse that report for yourself."
Softhoof frowned.  It was clear that somepony was trying to hide something.  However, those reports constituted the only real wrinkle in her investigation.  It certainly wasn't enough for her to revise her opinion.  Softhoof decided to include a note about the sealed files and leave it at that.  This would prove to be the final part of her investigation.



"So when can we expect a verdict?" asked Caramel as he set out a bowl of daisy oatmeal for Softhoof on the morning of the sixth day.
"Soon," said Softhoof, "I expect a response of some sort within the next couple of days, allowing time for delivery."  She took a bite, enjoying the flavor of her breakfast before washing it down with a sip of coffee.
"But why didn't you deliver it in pony, like you did last time?" asked Caramel.
"Procedure," answered Softhoof, "If an extended investigation is ordered, then the investigator has to remain on-site in case my boss doesn't think I've gotten enough information."  Which shouldn't happen this time, she thought to herself.  "It's mostly to cut down on the expense of shuttling the agent back and forth between Canterlot and wherever they're working."
"Makes sense I guess," said Caramel, "Is it possible to get an idea of what the answer's gonna be."
"Well, I obviously can't speak for my department head," said Softhoof, "But he's never rejected my recommendation before."  Except for this most recent one, she thought with a wince, "Given all the information I've reviewed, I see no reason why Fluttershy can't remain Dawn Lightwing's legal guardian and official mother."
"That's good to hear," said Caramel.
Softhoof smiled and nodded.  She was looking forward to wrapping up this investigation.  Maybe, if things worked out, she could simply send in an application for some vacation time once she got Grayblood's response back.  Though she didn't want to admit it out loud, Ponyville was really starting to grow on her.
However, there was a nagging notion in the back of her mind.  It was true that Grayblood had always trusted her judgment in the past.  There should have been no reason for him to reject her assessment.  But she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was seriously wrong.



True to Softhoof's expectations, Ditzy arrived with a reply from Grayblood the very next day.  The turnaround was actually faster than she'd thought it would be.  However, when she read the response, Softhoof's blood turned to ice in her veins.
An hour later, she was at the library with Twilight.  Caramel had fetched both Dawn and Fluttershy.  The distressed urgency of Softhoof's request to see all of them had left the stallion on edge as he and the others waited for what she had to say.
But Softhoof had nothing to say for herself.  Instead, she presented the letter she had received from her superior.



To Agent Softhoof of Foal Protection Services;
It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that your decision on the case of Dawn Lightwing has been deemed invalid.  Your investigation was found to be insufficient and a new investigation has been ordered.  Dawn Lightwing and Dame Fluttershy are to be reevaluated.
Furthermore, as you have failed to act appropriately in this matter, this case has been removed from your jurisdiction and will be reassigned to somepony capable of carrying out the investigation properly.  Report to Canterlot immediately to receive your new assignment.

Sincerely;
Grayblood: Deparmental Director


> Dangerous Liaisons
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6: Dangerous Liaisons

"What the hay is this?" demanded Caramel.
"I don't know," admitted Softhoof, "This has never happened before.  This makes the second time that Grayblood's rejected my recommendations."
"So you actually approved of Fluttershy the first time?" asked Twilight, surprised.
Softhoof nodded.  "While I had some areas of concern, there was nothing serious that stood out to me.  What I did see indicated that she's a fine mother and more than able to handle Dawn's unique needs."
Fluttershy blushed and sank down slightly.
Softhoof continued. "But, for some reason, Grayblood decided that my investigation was insufficient and demanded that I come back to Ponyville and conduct it in more detail.  I did and this is the result."  She gestured towards the letter with his response.
"But why would he do that?" asked Fluttershy, gently clinging to Dawn.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out," growled Softhoof, "This is completely unlike him.  He's never acted like this before.  I'm gonna go back to Canterlot and have some words with that stallion.  And if he's really dead set on this, I'll take it before the Princess if I have to."
"I hope it doesn't come to that," said Twilight, "If you do take it before the Princess, this whole thing takes on the risk of becoming a public spectacle.  The article was enough.  We shouldn't need to keep dragging Dawn and Fluttershy into the spotlight."
"Hopefully I won't need to," said Softhoof, gathering her things and heading out the door.
"There she goes," observed Caramel, "I feel sorry for this Grayblood character, making a mare like that angry."
"I'm more worried about why he's doing it," muttered Twilight, "If what she's told us before, it seems that his willingness to disregard the evidence she's presented is completely out of character for him.  Why would he do it in this case?
"Could...could he be with the Cult Solar?" asked Fluttershy, shivering at the thought.
"I hope not," said Twilight, "But it's definitely looking like a possibility."  From what Mayweather had told them, the members of the Cult Solar clearly held the Element Bearers in high regard.  If Dawn was considered a demon by their ilk, then the fact that he was staying with Fluttershy made him a threat to the Element Bearers, if only in their own minds.  This could be a ploy by the Cult to separate Dawn from Fluttershy and, by extension, the rest of the girls in order to "protect" them from his "demonic influence."  If they determined that force was not working then they might be trying a more subtle approach.
If Grayblood were a member of the Cult Solar, the implications would be quite serious.  Until now, it seemed that the group's influence was mostly confined to the rural and outlying regions of Equestria, with only light infiltration into larger population centers, areas where communication with anypony who could report their actions to Princess Celestia herself was difficult to maintain, where they could spread their message and draw in other ponies before someone had enough of an idea of what they were about to try and bring the matter to Celestia's attention.  But, if Grayblood was a member, it would mean that the group had support in the upper echelons of Equestria's government, which changed the scope of the problem drastically.
"So he's going to try and send somepony else to do the investigation instead of Softhoof," said Caramel.
"Yes, because an investigation isn't what Grayblood really wants," reasoned Twilight, "What he wants is a pretense, an excuse to declare Fluttershy unsuited to being Dawn's mother.  He'll keep sending somepony to look into it until he finds one that's basically willing to lie through their teeth to give him the verdict that he wants."
"But what good will that do?" asked Caramel, "If Softhoof's right about how solid a case we have, then any reason anypony could come up with would be so flimsy that we could easily appeal it and have the decision overturned."
"I don't know," admitted Twilight, "But doing that means bringing the case to the courts, which means bringing it out under the public eye.  Given the fact that Dawn just had an article about him on the front page of one of Equestria's premier newspapers means that it would automatically become big news.  The whole thing would turn into a media circus.  Reporters would come to Ponyville like flies."
Fluttershy shuddered and pressed herself rightly against Caramel, who wrapped a hoof around her back and held her close, tucking Fluttershy's head under his chin as he tried to keep her calm.  "That probably wouldn't be a good thing," he admitted.
Twilight sighed before turning to look at Dawn.  The colt had been strangely quiet, not even making a sound after Softhoof showed them the letter.  His expression revealed nothing.  However, Twilight noticed certain aspects about him that betrayed his true mood.  There was a tautness to his muscles that suggested incredible tension, as though he were heavily restraining himself...though to what end she couldn't imagine.
"Dawn," she said, "Are you alright?"
Dawn looked at her, his eyes hard and cold, sending a shiver of genuine terror down Twilight's spine.  It was there, cold as ice, a pure and absolute rage.  When he saw her shrink back from him, Dawn closed his eyes and took a deep breath.  The tightness in his body faded away and he seemed to calm himself down.  Looking at Twilight again, she saw that his anger had faded, but only to just beneath the surface, to keep it from being directed at her or the ponies that cared about him.
"I don't know," said Dawn cautiously, "I need to think about this...or perhaps not think...Excuse me."
Standing up, the colt left.
"Dawn!" cried Fluttershy, reaching out for him.
On the verge of walking out the door, Dawn froze.  After a second, he turned around and walked to his mother and Caramel.  He gave Fluttershy a hug, which she didn't hesitate to return as Caramel wrapped the both of them up in his own embrace so that Dawn was safely tucked between him and Fluttershy.
"I'm not upset with you," said Dawn, "And I won't run away.  But I can't keep this inside of me much longer.  I just want to let my frustration out where it won't hurt anypony."
"Alright," said Fluttershy, "Please don't stay out too long."
Dawn nodded and broke away from them.  He departed, leaving an uneasy silence to all over the library.
"Geez, he was about ready to explode there," said Caramel, sagging tiredly against the table, "I guess it's kinda callous for me to think this, but I'd thought he'd gotten used to stuff like this."
"Well, not quite like this," countered Twilight, "Dawn's perfectly fine with ponies who want to attack or kill him physically.  He can protect himself just fine from those kind of enemies.  The Gale King is perfect for those kind of situations.  But this is a completely different case.
"Right now, the ponies who are trying to do the most harm are doing so by manipulating his situation, using proxies, and not getting involved themselves.  Dawn's frustrated because this isn't the kind of opponent you can deal with by using force.  What makes it worse is that this enemy is using other ponies’ good intentions, even their good intentions toward Dawn himself, to hurt him.  That's probably what's driving him up the wall."
Twilight let out a sad sigh.  I can certainly sympathize, she thought glumly.  After all, her own situation wasn't all that different.  She'd gotten lucky the last time she'd been to Canterlot.  Steel Flint had at least been direct and open in his attempts to take control of her.  But other nobles would learn from his mistakes and try to win her over indirectly, possibly by using even her own friends as tools in their games.  In fact, the entire situation with the Noble Court felt similar to Dawn's predicament.  Just as the colt was probably longing for an enemy he could at least beat down face to face, Twilight was wishing that the Noble Court were just some unambiguous evil that she and her friends could blast with the Elements of Harmony and be done with it.
"I think he'll be fine," said Twilight, "He's not upset with you, or even Softhoof.  He just needs some time to cool down and then he'll be back.  When he gets back, why don't you just spend some time with him.  I think Dawn's had enough frustration for today.  We'll figure out what to do about this tomorrow."
Fluttershy and Caramel nodded, both trying to think of what they could do to help Dawn cheer up.



Softhoof tapped her hoof impatiently as she waited for the next train to Canterlot.  Her frustrations had been building with each passing moment.  Right now, it didn't matter that it might cost her her career.  She was fully prepared to march right into Grayblood's office and give him a piece of her mind.  She hoped that the lengthy trip up the mountain would give her some time for her blood to cool to keep from performing such a rash action.  Still, she fully intended to get to the bottom of this matter, no matter what it cost her.  A colt's happiness and wellbeing was on the line after all.  Softhoof would never be able to live with herself if she failed now.
Thus, it was a relief when the train finally rolled into the station with one last whistle.  The olive mare quickly trotted aboard and made her way to her compartment, a first-class one at that.  If she was returning to Canterlot under circumstances such as these, she fully intended to make the most of it and make sure that her department footed the bill.
With a sigh, Softhoof settled into the luxuriously soft cushions of the bed that the compartment had been furnished with and laid her head down, trying to relax so that she could properly sort out her thoughts and come up with a plan of action.  However, she succeeded in relaxing a little too well and ended up falling asleep before the train even left the station.  As such, she failed to notice that, as the train followed the tracks up the mountain towards Canterlot, it passed another train on its way down.
And, even if she had been awake, it was highly doubtful that she would have noticed a pony on the caboose of the descending train spreading his wings so that he was swept up into the air like a kite, the sun glinting off of silvery feathers.  Of course, nopony else noticed either as the colt circled slowly, his black cloak billowing out behind him as he flew, spiraling down towards Ponyville.



Lightning cracked, a bolt of energy lancing out and blowing a large rock to smithereens.  Dawn spun about, wheeling his wings, gathering energy until the air around him was filled with crackling blue and white streamers before sweeping them out, sending a rippling wave of electricity washing across the ground.  Dawn drew his wings back, retracting an arc of electricity and curling it about his wings before whipping around and launching it out in a manner not unlike that of Storm Front when wielding his meteor hammer.  In fact, it had been watching Storm Front and Rumble train with the exotic weapon that had given Dawn the impetus to wield lightning in a similar way.
Finally, Dawn let the last few sparks trail away into the air before letting out a breath.  It would normally seem foolish for the colt to practice with lightning when he was in such an agitated state.  Dawn's anger and frustration had been on the verge of boiling over.  However, Dawn had learned that mastery of lightning came not from voiding his heart and mind of emotion, but instead by accepting his emotions and understanding them.  Practicing with his lightning allowed Dawn to feed his anger into his techniques and safely drain it away.
Snapping his wings out once more, Dawn relaxed his mind to its furthest limits, almost abandoning conscious thought in its entirety.  To his consciousness, it created a feeling almost akin to watching his body from without as he tested one of his newer innovations when it came to practicing lightning, the one he had first begun to conceive when he had faced Willow in the depths of her fog.
His feathers began agitating the air around his wings, producing a charge.  Instead of simply channeling it until it was powerful enough to launch, Dawn instead began to confine the circulation of energy into a smaller and smaller space, until it was all circulating at the tip of his furthest primary.  More and more energy gathered with each passing instant.  The energy began to change the quality of the air itself until a glowing orb was hovering beside him.  The energy within it continued to circulate, building more and more.  Thanks to Dawn's control, none of it escaped its confinement.  Otherwise, his entire wing would have been reduced to cinders in less than a second.
Plasma.  That was what Twilight had called it.  It was the stuff of the sun itself.  According to Twilight, lightning too, was a form of plasma.  But what Dawn now wielded was infinitely more powerful.  With a flick of his wing, Dawn launched the orb away from him.  The blazing sphere of power slammed into the ridge that Dawn used to separate himself from Scootaloo when he was working with lightning.  The orb slammed into the face of rock and melted a channel through it, all the way to the other side, leaving a glowing tunnel in its wake.
"Wow!  That was something else.  I don't think even my wings could stop that."
Dawn's eyes widened as the voice reached his ears, which immediately swiveled as he sought out its location.  Already his mind was reeling.  He knew this voice, recognized it instantly.  After what had happened in Cloudsdale, there was no way he could ever forget.  How did he get so close without me noticing?
Dawn spun about, his wings spreading and his body sinking into a crouch.  Sunlight flashed off of wings forged from silvery mithril, as a familiar, cream-colored colt touched down in front of Dawn, a black coat trailing out behind him, spreading over his haunches as its hem was held clear of his wings.  Perlin Bluestreak smiled as his yellow, hawklike eyes zeroed in on Dawn.
"Yo.  It's been awhile."



Scootaloo blinked as she stepped out into the afternoon sunlight after finishing her shift at the teahouse.  Much to her disappointment, Dawn hadn't reappeared after he'd been summoned by Spike to the library, where he was apparently meeting with the mare from Foal Protection Services.  Even thinking about Softhoof made Scootaloo grit her teeth.  Softhoof had actually come over to her house one evening to talk about Dawn.  Though there hadn't been anything really offensive or irritating about her methods, the agent's entire manner grated on Scootaloo.  Softhoof was cold, professional, and distant.  Her entire personality seemed as sterile as a surgical instrument in an operating room.  It made Scootaloo want to push her buttons just to see if she could get a rise out of the olive-colored unicorn.
"Hey there Scoots, what'cha doin?" asked Apple Bloom as she came out of the teahouse behind the orange filly.
"Just thinking," said Scootaloo glumly, not sure what else to say, "Dawn didn't come back."
"Ah guess not," agreed Bloom, before turning to nuzzle Spike, "But it was mighty nice of ya to help out in his place sugarcube."
"It's no problem," said Spike, grinning, "I used to make tea for Twilight all the time.  Plus, Arkenstone's been giving me pointers."
In fact, Spike had been joining the Crusaders at the teahouse every now and then, helping them with their work.  With his dragonfire, he could easily heat the water in a matter of seconds.  With Arkenstone's help and guidance, Spike even learned how to heat the water precisely to the right temperature for a particular tea.  Different teas released their best flavors at different temperatures.  If one tried to steep green tea at the same temperature as black tea, the result was a bitter, unpleasant brew.  Fortunately, years of practice in using his fire for cooking had made Spike a quick study when it came to the finer aspects of making tea, making him a useful addition to the shop and significantly speeding up the service on days where he helped out.  It was getting so that Apple Bloom would run and fetch him whenever there was a serious rush.
"Maybe Dawn's still at the library," said Spike, turning his attention to Scootaloo, "Whatever they wanted to talk to him about sounded important."
His statement caused butterflies to start fluttering in Scootaloo's stomach.  If it was something that had kept Dawn away for this long, then it must have been really important.  She could only hope that it didn't mean trouble.
"Let's go check," said Apple Bloom, trotting off towards the library.  Spike and Scootaloo quickly moved to follow her.
Looking back over her shoulder, Scootaloo saw Rumble leaving with Sweetie Belle.  However, instead of following the rest of the group, the gray pegasus and white unicorn turned and went their own way.  Sweetie turned and gave Scootaloo a small smile, but one that looked distinctly troubled on her face.  She waved goodbye.  Scootaloo waved back and watched as Rumble trotted up to nuzzle her cheek.  Sweetie returned the gesture and the two of them walked off together.
"What's gotten into them?" she wondered aloud.  Recently, Sweetie and Rumble had started going off by themselves.  Since the Crusaders didn't actually do much actual crusading anymore, it wasn't that much of a problem.  But part of her was starting to seriously worry about Sweetie.  Recently, Sweetie had started acting more depressed, like she was deeply saddened about something, but was hesitant to talk about it.
"Probably going off to do lovey-dovey stuff," said Spike, somewhat dismissively, "But I'd guess Sweetie's upset that she's the only one of you three that still hasn't found her cutie mark and Rumble is trying to cheer her up."
"Ya really think so?" asked Apple Bloom, blinking in surprise, "But why would that make her sad?"
"Maybe she feels like we're leaving her behind," said Scootaloo, her ears drooping at the thought, "Ever since we've gotten our cutie marks, we've all started doing our own things.  Even though Dawn and Rumble don't have theirs yet either, they're still training, so they at least have an idea of what they want to do.  But maybe Sweetie's feeling sad now that we don't really have any more reasons to go crusading."
"Ya might be right," agreed Apple Bloom, her own face falling, "Ah guess we should talk to her 'bout it sometime."
"Probably a good idea," said Scootaloo, "But let's find out what's up with Dawn first."
"Right," said Bloom with a sharp nod.
The trio made their way over to the library and stepped through the door.  Scootaloo blinked in surprise when she saw Twilight, who was leafing through some thick text.  However, the lavender mare was alone in the library, with nopony else to be seen.
"What the hay happened?" asked Scootaloo, "Where's Dawn?"
Twilight yelped, her head snapping around to look at Scootaloo, causing the orange filly to roll her eyes in frustration at how easily Twilight got wrapped up in whatever she was studying.
"Sorry," said Twilight, "I forgot about the time."
"Never mind that," said Scootaloo, "Where's Dawn?"
"I don't know," replied Twilight, turning fully away from the table to face Scootaloo, "He took off earlier, but he was really upset about what happened."
"What happened?" demanded Scootaloo, her frustration getting the better of her.  Her worst fears were starting to feel confirmed.
Twilight sighed.  "Things didn't go very well.  Softhoof got a response from her superior.  She'd decided that, based on the evidence she'd gathered, there was no reason Dawn shouldn't stay with Fluttershy.  But her superior apparently decided otherwise.  So he ordered her back to Canterlot and is apparently going to send somepony else to do the investigation over again."
"What?" snapped Scootaloo, "Why?"
Twilight frowned, not really wanting to go over the same ground again.  However, as Dawn's fillyfriend, Scootaloo probably deserved to know what was happening with the colt.  So she gave Scootaloo as brief a summary as she could about the situation.
Scootaloo listened as patiently as she could.  However, with each passing moment, her mind was urging her to go find Dawn and do whatever she could to make him feel better.  She just wished she knew where he'd gone.
Scootaloo tried to think of where Dawn would go when he was upset about something.  Normally, it made sense to him to fly to Fluttershy, or maybe Caramel, but they had both been with him when he'd run out, which made it clear that he probably wasn't with them, unless he'd managed to calm himself down in the meantime.  If he was still working out his frustrations, then he had to be somewhere else.  But where? she wondered.
It suddenly occurred to her, causing Scootaloo's ears to snap straight up as the realization hit her.  Of course, the quarry!  That's where he is!  She turned and bolted to the door.
"Scoots!  Where are ya goin?" shouted Apple Bloom.
"To find Dawn," replied Scootaloo over her shoulder as she knocked the door out of her way and took to the air, winging her way to the quarry.  As she approached, her ears picked out the roar of wind and the crackle of lightning.  Immediately, she picked up that something was wrong.  This wasn't the rhythmic, evenly-paced tempo that usually accompanied Dawn's practice sessions, this was frenetic and fevered.  Dawn was fighting someone.
Oh no!  Scootaloo beat her wings harder and used the force of her magic to launch herself forward as quickly as she dared.



Perlin opened his mouth again, apparently with the intent of speaking some more.  However, it quickly became apparent that Dawn was in no mood for banter as the ebony colt surged forward, his wings gathering the air around him and sending the atmosphere careening at Perlin like cannon blasts.
Perlin tilted his body as he sidestepped, catching the blast of air on his wing before rolling, shifting his axis so that the blast rolled away harmlessly without even jarring him.  Pivoting, Perlin's wing was now in a position to swing straight down at Dawn's head.  However, before Perlin was able to even begin moving to attack, Dawn's hooves had already left the ground and the younger colt was sweeping one of his forward extended wings around, putting the force of his entire body behind the motion.  The sky roared as the resulting twister swept Perlin away.
Because of the speed with which he had been forced to act, Dawn hadn't been able to put as much force behind the tornado as he had with the one he had used during his first fight with Perlin.  It was smaller and less powerful, but that didn't make it any less dangerous, especially considering that having the funnel so close to the ground created an entirely different hazard for Perlin to contend with.  Tornado swept up debris, small stones and larger boulders, twirling and hurling about, accelerating their speed until they would smash virtually anything they came into contact with.  As they spun about, they collided with each other, fragmenting and filling the funnel with a whirling cloud of flechettes.
However, Perlin was not as unprepared as he had been the last time.  His body moved in cooperation with the air currents, allowing him to use his wings as shields to ward off the spray of stone and earth that would pulverize his flesh at the first opportunity.  Righting himself, he managed to get clear of the tornado as it began to quickly dissipate.  Perlin was half-expecting a retread of his original fight with Dawn, anticipating seeing the colt off in the distance, preparing to bombard Perlin with blasts of air.
So it was much to his surprise that when he came clear of the storm of dust that the tornado had kicked up, that Perlin found himself face-to-face with Dawn, their eyes meeting briefly just as Dawn thrust forward with his leading primaries, sending a bolt of lightning arcing straight for Perlin's chest.
Though he'd been surprised by the development, Perlin wasn't caught so off-guard that he wasn't able to defend himself.  He easily managed to interpose a wing between him and Dawn, the bolt of lightning dissipating harmlessly against the mithril feathers in a shower of impotent sparks.  Perlin’s movement actually caused him to lurch away from Dawn, which was just fine with him as Perlin detached one of his wired feathers from his other wing and rotated about, sending it lancing out like a dart, aiming straight between Dawn's eyes.
Dawn didn't even blink, instead swinging around his own wing, the feathers slashing through the air like blades.  With a grunt of anger, Perlin pulled back, retracting the feather before the crescent shaped vacuum could slice through the wire holding it.  In the face of Perlin's retreat, Dawn actually pressed forward, his wings blurring as he gathered the air around them, compressing it.  But, rather than launching the air like a projectile as he did before, Dawn simply directed it into currents, moving them like extensions of his wings themselves.
Seeking to regain the initiative, Perlin used his own wings to deflect the attacks, rotating his body and shifting his axis so he rolled them across and away from his body, rather than trying to ablate them head-on.  As he did, Perlin lashed out with his own wings, trying to find an opening between Dawn's strikes.  However, the ebony colt's hooves kicked out against the air and he seemed to vanish from in front of Perlin, instead now diving down at the cream-colored colt from directly above, trying to attack from the same side as the wing that Perlin had slashed at him with, hoping to hit him while he was still out of position.
However, Perlin detached one of his wired feathers from the opposite wing, extending the wire and using his own back as a fulcrum to tighten the arc of the weapon's swing.  Flying so fast that it was practically invisible to the naked eye, the razor-edged feather threatened to split Dawn's head in two.  Dawn beat his wings and kicked off again, the feather cleaving through his afterimage as he backtracked outside the arc of its swing.  Perlin wasted no time in going on the offensive, extending all ten of his wired feathers, twirling and spinning the wires so that the weapons closed in on Dawn from almost every conceivable angle.
Dawn responded with lightning, unleashing another bolt, sending electricity lancing straight for Perlin, almost completely ignoring the detached feathers.  Rather than try and block with his wings, Perlin instead altered the course of his wired weapons, spinning them about so that the lightning caught on the wires instead, using the feathers as shields before immediately swinging them back at Dawn, who simply responded with another barrage of lightning even as he dove straight toward Perlin and those deadly wings of his, charging between the swiftly-flying feathers.  Perlin used half of the ten deadly weapons to keep Dawn's lightning at bay, while he attacked with the other five.  Dawn dodged around Perlin's swings and launching yet more lightning as he continued to move closer.
Finally coming within reach of Perlin's wings, Dawn seemed to make a crucial mistake, as Perlin merely swung a wing at him, aiming to decapitate the other colt.  However, Dawn's response was just as frightfully fast, swinging out his own wing in what seemed to be an imitation of Perlin's own attack.  However, Perlin realized what was wrong almost immediately.  Dawn's vacuum blades were sharper than any physical edge could possibly hope to match.  Even Perlin's own mithril feathers had been easily been cut by them in the past.  More importantly, the blades were swift, requiring nowhere near as much time or energy to build up, making them much more difficult to dodge than simple concussive blasts of air.  At this range, escape was almost impossible...almost.
Perlin altered the arc of his swing until it was almost perfectly parallel to Dawn's own, lifting his wing slightly so that Dawn's slash passed harmlessly beneath it.  His limb clear of danger, Perlin altered the course of his swing again, still aiming for Dawn's head.  However, Dawn tilted the feathers of his attacking wing upwards, sending a wave of air straight up against the laid out feathers of Perlin's wing, forcing it up just enough that Perlin's slash passed harmlessly over Dawn's head.
The two of them came apart, both going into flat spins as they put distance between each other.  Orienting on his target once more, Dawn launched several of his crescent-shaped vacuum blades at the older colt.  Perlin spun and swooped about, darting in between the dangerously lethal strikes as he strove to once again bring Dawn within the range of his flying feathers.  Even as he attacked, Dawn closed in as well.  Just as Perlin launched his feathers, Dawn ceased his own attacks, continuing forward.  At the same moment, he began to implement the same technique he'd been practicing only moments earlier.
Channeling the charge down his wing, Dawn kept it circulating through the smallest possible area, until the energy was focused on the tip of his furthest primary.  The air being drawn in became charged and began to change its nature, circulating and building more and more energy.
As Dawn slipped between two of the razor-edged feathers, Perlin saw what the younger colt had been preparing.  Dawn lunged forward, launching an orb of energy that looked almost like miniature sun.  As he did so, Perlin took drastic action.  Rather than trying to dodge, Perlin snapped one wing back, causing the wired feathers that Dawn had dodged earlier to come back, approaching Dawn from behind and threatening to slice into his back.
Dawn ducked and dodged, slipping sideways, forced to abandon his attack.  The sphere of plasma was sent whirling off in a random direction.  As Dawn spiraled away, Perlin retracted his wires and then snapped his wings out in an extremely sharp motion, causing the flats of the metal feathers to slam into one another.  The sound was a loud ring, not unlike that as a bell.  Dawn recognized the technique as one based on the principles of pegasus magic.  Using air as a medium, the sound was transmitted directly into the target's inner ear, where it completely disrupted their balance.  Dawn actually remembered Storm Front once doing something similar with his meteor hammer.
That moment of recognition wasn't enough to save Dawn from Perlin's attack.  The wave of sound swept over the colt before he could respond.  Dawn cried out, but couldn't even hear his own voice over the ringing in his head.  His vision swam and his insides churned as he tried to fight off the waves of nausea that threatened to overwhelm him.  He was barely even able to perceive Perlin's approach through his wind-sense.  Only years of constant training and practice saved Dawn's life as he barely managed to lurch out of the way of Perlin's next slash, feeling the razor-edged feathers shave off a tiny portion of his mane.  Desperate to buy time to reorient himself, Dawn folded his wings and allowed himself to drop like a stone.  Up above, he could feel Perlin following him down, the young stallion probably aiming to bring this battle to its ultimate end.



Scootaloo watched from a distance with wide eyes.  She'd never seen the colt that Dawn was fighting with before.  However, given the way his wings looked and how he fought, she realized that this must have been Perlin Bluestreak, whom Dawn had once fought in Cloudsdale.  Now they were fighting once again, over what, she couldn't tell.  What Scootaloo did know was that there was no way for her to interfere.  The battle was a blizzard of concussive blasts of air, bolts of lightning and whistling vacuum blades.  Perlin's wired feathers glinted as they caught the light of the sun, the only indicators that allowed Scootaloo to follow their motion.  If she tried jumping in during this fight, she'd be cut to pieces before either of the combatants could realize she was there.
At least it wasn't the desperate struggle that Dawn's fight with Storm Front and Red River had been.  Back then, Dawn had been at a disadvantage for the whole fight, merely struggling to survive.  This battle was completely different.  It was a rapidly shifting back-and-forth between Dawn and the other colt that had neither securing the advantage nor remaining at a disadvantage.  The two of them seemed evenly matched, both of them taking crazy risks in an attempt to secure victory, only escaping death by the skin of their teeth.
Scootaloo sighed, resigned to simply waiting back and watching.  However much she wanted to help Dawn, there was no place for her in this battle.  If anything, she could be a distraction that cost Dawn his life.  There was no way she could accept that.
Her ears picked up a hissing sound and Scootaloo yelped, dodging to the side as a glowing orb of energy hurtled past her.  Shifting her gaze, Scootaloo charted its course and watched as it slammed into the ground, filling the air with glowing splatters of molten rock as it gouged a smoking crater in the landscape.
Pain was the next thing Scootaloo felt as her ears were slammed by a bell-like ring that made her teeth rattle.  Biting back the urge to scream, Scootaloo whirled back towards the battle.  Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Dawn dropping out of the sky with Perlin in swift pursuit.



Dawn landed hard, his legs buckling as he fought to remain standing.  He felt Perlin descending from above and sensed the erratic beat of the older colt's wings that signaled the launching of those damned wired feathers.  Rather than feeling the feathers themselves, Dawn felt the movements of Perlins wings that the young stallion used to direct their movements.  Pumping his wings and kicking off the ground as hard as he could, Dawn just barely managed to throw himself clear as the feathers plunged into the ground where he had been standing like hurled darts.  However, due to his disorientation from Perlin's sonic attack, Dawn's movement was clumsy and he overbalanced, sending him into a rolling tumble that left him sprawled across the ground.
Dawn both felt and heard Perlin's hooves smack into the ground as the older colt landed a short distance away.  Dawn struggled to get back onto his hooves, but had barely managed to get his legs beneath him before he felt a the edge of one of Perlin's feathers hovering at his throat.  Dawn looked up, expecting to see Perlin grinning triumphantly.  However, Perlin's expression, as it finally swam into focus, could only be called amused, as if he had been enjoying their battle immensely, which he probably had, laced with slight disappointment that it was over so soon.
Even so, Dawn expected Perlin to end it there, which made it even more surprising when Perlin withdrew his wing and instead offered Dawn a helping hoof.  Wary and confused, Dawn nonetheless allowed Perlin to pull him to his feet.  After that, Perlin took a few steps back and the two of them eyed one another.
Dawn was the first to speak.  "Why did you stop?"
"Well," said Perlin, "This has been fun, but it isn't exactly the reason I'm here."
"What do you mean?" asked Dawn.
Before Perlin could answer, both colts turned their heads at the sound of more hooves smacking into the ground as Scootaloo landed a short distance away.  She quickly trotted over to Dawn's side, eyeing Perlin warily.  The cream-colored colt raised his eyebrows at the sight of the filly.  "Who's this now?" he asked, a wry grin finding its way onto his face, "Your fillyfriend?"
"And my student," added Dawn with a nod.
"Wow, not bad," said Perlin, grinning.
"So," said Dawn, returning to the original purpose of their conversation, "If it is not to fight, then why are you here?"
"Wait!" interjected Scootaloo, once again cutting off Perlin before he could answer, "You mean he's not here to fight?"  She looked questioningly at Dawn.
Perlin huffed, wondering if he was going to be cut off again.  "Naw, I'm not here to fight you."
"Then why were you fighting him?" demanded Scootaloo.
"Technically, he's the one who attacked first," Perlin pointed out, pointing a mithril feather at Dawn, "I started fighting purely out of self-defense."
Scootaloo gave the older colt a flat look.  "And the rest of that fight...?"
Perlin shrugged.  "Ah, I had so much fun I kinda forgot why I was here for a little bit."
"You what?" gasped the orange filly, glaring daggers at Perlin, who simply seemed to ignore her.
"Anyway," Perlin was saying, "I'm not actually here to fight you Dawn.  That just kinda happened.  It was fun though."
"Then why are you here?" asked Dawn, sighing tiredly, "I have a lot to deal with now.  I don't really have time for your antics."
Perlin chuckled.  "Yeah, I heard about your little 'problem' with Foal Protection Services.  They wanna take you away from your mom right?"  He smirked.  "Believe it or not, that little problem of yours is the reason I'm here."
"How's that?" asked Scootaloo.
Perlin's smirk became a grin.  "I came here on behalf of somepony else.  You see, I think I actually happen to know a bit more about your problem than you do."
"What do you mean?" asked Dawn.
"Let me see if I can guess what had you so angry earlier," said Perlin, "I'm guessing that the agent who was investigating your home life didn't find anything objectionable enough to warrant taking you away from your mom, right?"  At Dawn's nod, he chuckled.  "But, for some reason, the pony higher up the chain has decided that wasn't good enough and rejected that decision."
"That's correct," replied Dawn.
"Then your problem is simple," said Perlin, "The truth of the matter is that, no matter how idyllic and healthy you manage to make your current situation, it doesn't matter, 'cause the guy in charge is simply gonna keep at it until he gets the result he wants.
"Now," said Perlin, quickly jumping ahead before Dawn could say anything in response, "That means that there's nothing you can do here in Ponyville to affect your situation.  That's because the real problem isn't in Ponyville, it's with the pony in charge, who happens to be up in Canterlot, right?"
Dawn hesitated, but nodded slowly.  "I suppose," he said, "But what are you getting at?"
"I'm just saying that, if you want to stay where you are, you need to address the real problem," said Perlin, "And I can help with that."
"And why would you do that?" asked Dawn.
"It's my job," replied Perlin cryptically, with an indifferent shrug, "I have orders concerning your situation.  It's a bit complicated to explain..."
"Please try your best," said Dawn.
Perlin nodded.  "Let me put it this way then.  It's sorta like chess..."  He paused for a moment.  "You do know about chess, right?"
"Enough, I think, if you're going to simply be using it as a metaphor," said Dawn.  He'd played chess a few times with his Master, but had never developed much of an affinity for the game.
"It's a funny thing when you think about it," said Perlin, "When you're playing the game, you know where all the pieces are, what their value is, everything.  But when you're on our level, when you're one of the pieces, things get a little trickier.  You don't know where the other pieces might be and, more importantly, you may not even be aware of what piece you actually are.
"Let me use your predicament with that Cult Solar group as an example.  I read that article about you by the way.  If you and your friends are on one side of the board and the Cult Solar on the other, when you factor in what they want, it's clear that you're the king."
"If I recall, the king is technically the weakest piece in the game," said Dawn.
Perlin shrugged.  "It's not a perfect metaphor.  Your power isn't important, 'cause that's not what decides what piece you are.  The point is that the king is the objective.  The other side wants to capture or, in your case, eliminate the king in order to win.  You are the king, their objective.
"The funny thing is, depending on who you're up against, you won't always be the king.  Perhaps you're just a pawn, or a bishop, or maybe a knight if you're lucky.  I won't go into particulars, because those aren't needed to make my point.  My point is that this time, against this opponent, you aren't the king.  You aren't their actual objective.  This whole ploy with Foal Protection isn't because your opponent actually gives a damn about you.  To them, you're a lesser piece and this whole ploy is to maneuver you into a particular position in order to open a path to the real king, that is, their objective in this game."
"In other words, my current plight is merely part of something larger," said Dawn, trying his hardest to keep up.
"Exactly," said Perlin with an excited grin, "Right now, they are manipulating you in an attempt to get a particular reaction from a different pony."
"And who are they hoping to get a reaction from?" asked Dawn.
"Ah, that's not all that important," said Perlin, "'Cause I've come here to offer you a solution to your little problem."  He grinned eagerly at Dawn.  "What do you say to a little team-up?"



Fluttershy looked up from where she lay on the couch in Caramel's living room, glancing anxiously at the clock on the wall, trying to mark the time since she had last looked.  It hadn't been more than a couple of minutes.  The smells of caramelized onions emanating from the kitchen tickled her nose, making her stomach growl.  Caramel had finished the soup, Dawn's favorite, a little while ago, having decided to make it for the colt after the rough day Dawn had been through.  He was keeping it warm for now, waiting to go through the final steps when Dawn actually came through the door.
But there was still no sign of Dawn.  Fluttershy looked up at the clock yet again, her heart beating erratically as she realized how late he was out.  Is he really that upset? she wondered.  After what had happened after Softhoof's first visit, Fluttershy had hoped that Dawn wouldn't be putting her through this anxiety again.  She hoped Dawn came back soon.
There was a knocking at the door, prompting Fluttershy to shoot to her hooves and rush out to open it.  Even as she did so, part of her realized that Dawn wouldn't knock.  He was just as welcome at Caramel's house as he was at hers.  He had no need to knock when he could simply walk through the door.  If that was the case, then it wasn't Dawn.
Even so, Fluttershy threw open the door, hoping against hope that whoever was on the other side had some scrap of information about her son.  Looking out, Fluttershy was surprised by who was waiting for her.
"Scootaloo?"
The orange filly looked troubled and worried.  She shifted her weight anxiously from one side to the other as she looked up at Fluttershy's face, clearly not happy about whatever they were about to talk about.
"Are you here about Dawn?" asked Fluttershy.
Scootaloo nodded slowly.  "Yeah, I just saw him a little bit ago," she said before gulping nervously.
"Where did you last see him?" asked Fluttershy.
Scootaloo shivered, really not happy with what she was about to say.  "At the train station...Dawn had to go."
> To the Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7: To the Rescue

"Are you really sure about this?" asked Scootaloo, looking at Dawn with worried eyes as they stood on the platform.  Perlin stood a respectful distance away, his eyes focused elsewhere, making it clear that the cream-colored colt was doing his best to give the two of them their privacy.  It seemed a strange consideration from a pony who had been in a life-and-death battle with Dawn less than an hour ago.
"I'm not sure of anything," said Dawn, "But, if Perlin's right, then I need to do this or those ponies won't ever leave mom and I alone."
Scootaloo frowned.  "But...why can't I come with you?"
Dawn leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers, even as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close against him, folding his wings across Scootaloo's back and holding her tightly.  "You aren't ready yet," he said softly, "You will be...one day, just not today."
"But-"
"Besides," said Dawn, cutting her off, "I have something I need you to do here, while I'm away.  You need to tell mom what's happening.  If she thinks I've run off, there's no telling what she might do.  You need to make sure she knows that I'll be coming back.  I'm not running away.  And..."
Dawn pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes more easily, "I need you to look after her for me.  She gets wrapped up in her anxiety too easily.  Will you do that for me?"
Scootaloo's eyes looked away and she nodded, albeit reluctantly.
Dawn smiled and used a hoof to tilt her face back so her eyes were looking at his again.  "Thank you," he said, before leaning in and kissing her.  It wasn't a quick peck, as Dawn kept his lips pressed against hers for several long seconds before finally pulling away so that he could go back to resting his forehead against hers.
"Promise me you're coming back," said Scootaloo, a plaintive note in your voice, "Whatever else, don't leave me and Fluttershy behind."
"I won't," promised Dawn, "I'll be back soon."
"Okay."  The two of them stayed together, until a faint whistle prompted Perlin to look up.
"That looks like our train," he said, "Time for us to go."
"Are you sure that I don't need to bring any money?" asked Dawn, looking away from Scootaloo, though not letting go of her just yet.
"Nah, I've got money taken care of," said Perlin, smirking.
Dawn sighed and looked back at Scootaloo, shrugging.  They continued to hold onto each other until the train pulled into the platform.  Only then did Dawn let go and step away.
"Be careful!" shouted Scootaloo as he got onto the train.
Dawn nodded over his shoulder and followed Perlin.  As the last of the few other passengers got onto the vehicle, the train let out one last whistle before sliding out of the station.  Scootaloo watched it go forlornly, not taking her eyes off of it until it disappeared from sight.



Twilight Sparkle groaned and rested her face against her hooves, resting her elbows on the table as she tried her hardest not to burst into flame.  "Of all the times..."
Upon hearing what Dawn had done, Fluttershy and Caramel had rushed back to the library, where they'd been only a few hours later, Scootaloo in tow.  There, the poor filly was forced to retell the story of what had happened between Dawn and Perlin after Twilight and Spike managed to call everyone together.
"Is he out of his mind?" demanded Rainbow Dash, smacking her hooves against the table, "That Perlin guy is bad news."
"What Ah want to know is how he got into Ponyville in the first place," said Applejack, "Ah thought Twilight's brother was lookin' fer 'im up in Canterlot."
"He was," said Twilight, "If I had to guess, he probably snuck onto one of the trains down and then abandoned it before it reached town."
"That's what we were thinking," said Storm Front, sharing a look with Red River, "By the time we even realized that Perlin was here, he was already gone."
Red nodded in agreement.  "I know Storm here saw those flashes of lightning over at the quarry.  We just assumed that Dawn was training extra hard to work out his frustrations."
"Um, perhaps it may be a bit foolish to think this," said Rarity, looking around nervously at the group of assembled friends, "But perhaps we shouldn't worry too much.  All things considered, it appears that Perlin is on our side, at least for the time being.  Whatever he has in mind, it appears that he intends for it to help Dawn."
"But he might just be lying to get Dawn to let his guard down," protested Twilight.
"I don't think so," said Scootaloo, drawing everypony's attention, "When he showed up, he and Dawn started fighting right away, even though Perlin wasn't even really supposed to be fighting Dawn this time.  He does it because it's fun.  It wouldn't be any fun for him if he won because of a dirty trick."
Red and Storm both nodded in agreement.  "That is the kind of pony that Perlin Bluestreak seems to be," Storm admitted.
"Hey everypony," said Pinkie Pie, speaking for the first time since the meeting started, "What about the ponies who are trying to take Dawn away from Fluttershy?"
Twilight's eyes snapped wide open.  "Horseapples!  If whoever they send to replace Softhoof comes down and find that Dawn's run off, it won't matter what his reasons are, that'll give that Grayblood guy all the reason he needs to get the verdict he wants.  We've gotta bring Dawn back before that happens."
"Actually," said Arkenstone, his voice immediately calming Twilight a little, "If what Perlin told Dawn is indeed true, then it may very well being that Grayblood's insistence on a certain verdict may indeed be the very problem that Dawn and Perlin are going to address.  If that is the case, then it won't matter what the new inspector finds or what conclusions she draws."
"I hope that's the case," muttered Twilight, still not liking the idea at all.  Turning, she looked at Fluttershy, who was leaning silently against Caramel, neither of them saying a word.  "Are you okay with this?"
Fluttershy looked up at them.  Even though she was trying her best to put on a brave face, it was clear that she was close to tears.  Even Caramel's foreleg around her shoulder was only barely keeping her from breaking down.  "I-I...I trust Dawn. I'm worried about him.  But, if he thinks that this is what he has to do, then I'll believe in him."
Feeling somepony nuzzling up against her, Fluttershy looked down to see Scootaloo pressing against her side.  "Dawn told me to look after you," said Scootaloo, "So I'll stay with you, okay."
Fluttershy nodded and lowered her head to rest her muzzle in the filly's fuchsia mane.
"I guess we'll have to wait then," said Twilight unhappily.



At first, Dawn thought the train was taking them to Canterlot.  He could see the tracks leading up the mountain the white city perched upon it.  However, just before the train would have begun its real ascent past the foothills, it changed tracks at a juncture, following a level path that ran parallel to the contours of the mountain itself, carrying the train along the rest of the range.
"You still haven't told me exactly where we are going," he commented, turning to his traveling companion.
Perlin yawned and stretched his wings with a metallic rattle, before turning to smirk at Dawn.  "You're right, I haven't."
"If we're going to be working together, I would appreciate it if you would stop being so coy and cryptic," muttered Dawn.
"Aw, you're no fun when we aren't trying to kill each other," lamented Perlin, "And here I thought you were like me, seeing as you don't care for chess either."
Dawn raised an eyebrow, recognizing a distraction when he saw one.  However, he opted to not press the issue.  He would find out soon enough, he was sure.  "I don't see how one or two similarities make us that alike.  I never got to play chess all that much, so it could be that I never learned to like it.  Why don't you enjoy it?"
That earned a chuckle from the cream-colored colt.  "Isn't it obvious?" he said, "A game with only two sides is no fun at all."
Dawn snorted in derision.  "I suppose your amusement is the only thing that really matters to you."
"More or less," replied Perlin, "That's how I got this job after all.  You should meet my boss.  I've worked for quite a few ponies, but he's the first employer that I actually like."
"I'll take your word for it, thank you very much," said Dawn curtly.
Seeing no reason to keep the conversation going,  Dawn chose not to say anything else.  His training, in an effort to work out his frustrations, along with the fight he'd had with Perlin, were leaving him tired and sleepy.  The ebony colt opted to lower his head and take a nap as he waited to find out where they were going.  Dawn closed his eyes and allowed the rhythmic clacking of the train lull him into a doze.
Perlin watched the other colt fall asleep with a small degree of bemusement.  It's pretty surprising that he'd feel comfortable enough to sleep with me right here with him.  Perlin's left wing began to twitch, slowly extending in Dawn's direction.
The result was immediate.  Dawn's right wing snapped out and up, spreading his feathers in clear preparation for a sideways strike.  Perlin quickly retracted his own wing, almost gaping in amazement as Dawn's wing lowered back down in response.  He reacted without even waking up.  Given how little Perlin had actually moved, Dawn had most likely responded purely to Perlin's intent.
With a snort, Perlin turned his attention back to the window, gazing outside, a wry smile on his face.  This is gonna be fun.



"Are you okay with this, mom?" asked Scootaloo as Melon loaded up her saddlebags with a few necessities.
"I understand," said Melon Cream, smiling kindly at her daughter, "I'm actually very proud of you for doing this.  I'm sure that Fluttershy appreciates you keeping her company while Dawn's away."
Scootaloo nodded.  "She's really worried this time."  With what's happened, I don't blame her.
"There," said Melon, sliding a toothbrush into the bag before closing it, "That should be everything you need.  How long do you think you'll be over there?"
Scootaloo shrugged.  "I wish I knew.  I don't know how long Dawn's going to be away, or even what he'll be doing while he's out."
"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Melon, "He'll come back soon.  We don't want him missing his first Nightmare Night after all."
Scootaloo nodded.  Melon gave her one last kiss goodbye and watched as the orange filly started out for Fluttershy's cottage.  Melon too, hoped that Dawn would return safely, if only so that anxiety would fade from Scootaloo's face.



The trip out to Fluttershy's cottage had become so familiar that Scootaloo could do it in her sleep.  After coming out on a nearly daily basis for her lessons with Dawn, Scootaloo knew the route by heart, which wasn't that difficult, since she was coming by air.  As she came in for a landing, she managed to pick out the figure of Fluttershy as she moved amongst her animals, carefully tending their needs before calling it a night.  All her preparations for winter had been seen to.  All that was left was to simply wait until her friends were either hibernating or migrating away.
"Hi," said Scootaloo as she came in for a landing.
"Oh, hello," said Fluttershy, smiling at the bright-orange filly, "Why don't you go set your things inside.  I'll be in shortly.  Did you have dinner?"
"Yeah, I ate already," said Scootaloo.  She'd had dinner with her own mother before packing to come to Fluttershy's house.
Scootaloo went inside and set her saddlebags on the living room table.  A few minutes later, Fluttershy came in, pausing to shut the door behind her.  After a few more minutes of work, she had the fireplace lit, the bright blaze warming the living room as cold night began to set in.
Scootaloo crawled up onto the couch and settled in.  Before long, Fluttershy joined her, gently draping a wing over Scootaloo and pulling the filly tight against her side.  The two of them lay there, simply cuddling, basking in the fire's warmth as they passed the night silently.
"Scootaloo?"
"Yes."  Scootaloo lifted her head and met Fluttershy's eyes.
"You were with Dawn when he left.  Do you think he'll be alright?"
Scootaloo gulped, thinking back to the moment of Dawn's departure.  He had been hesitant, somewhat uncertain about his plan of action.  But that was only to be expected, given that said plan consisted of something along the lines of "help with whatever it was that Perlin was planning."  Scootaloo turned to gaze into the fire.  "I'm not sure.  I don't trust that Perlin Bluestreak.  He's a creep."
"What's he like?" asked Fluttershy.  She had heard a bit from both Dawn and Rainbow, but wanted to see if Scootaloo could offer any other insight.
However, that didn't seem to be in the cards as Scootaloo waved her forelegs.  "Creepy...I guess," she said as helpfully as she could manage.
Fluttershy sighed and dipped her head.
"It'll be okay," said Scootalo quickly, trying her best to keep Fluttershy's spirits up, "Dawn can take him.  I'm sure of it."  She nuzzled in under Fluttershy's neck, rubbing up against the yellow mare's chin.
Fluttershy smiled.  "Thank you," she said as she turned to press her muzzle into Scootaloo's mane.
The two of them rested on the couch and watched the fire as it burned down to embers.  When the last glowing lights extinguished, Fluttershy made sure that there was no threat of a spark catching something, before ushering Scootaloo up to bed.  The two of them curled together under a heavy comforter, Fluttershy once again tucking the filly beneath her wing.
Comforted by the warm feeling of Scootaloo cuddled up against her, Fluttershy relaxed and began to drift off to sleep.  However, she was roused by a soft sniffling sound coming from Scootaloo.  Lifting her head, Fluttershy looked at the filly through the darkness and realized that Scootaloo was crying.  "Scootaloo, what's wrong?"
"I...I'm scared," admitted Scootaloo finally.  She had been trying to put on a brave front for Fluttershy's sake, in order to help Dawn's mother stay positive while they waited for him to come back from Celestia knows where.  But, in the end, she was the one who needed comforting.  "Wha-what if Dawn doesn't come back?  Why does this feel so different from last time?"
"Oh Scootaloo," said Fluttershy, nuzzling her cheek, "It's okay.  I know you're worried, especially now that you and Dawn are together.  It's alright to be afraid."
"I know," said Scootaloo, "I just want him to come back soon."
"And he will," replied Fluttershy, "He'll come back to us.  So let's do our best and be strong, so that when he comes home, we can welcome him back with a smile.  Okay?"
Scootaloo sniffed one last time then wiped her nose.  "Okay."
Fluttershy rolled over on her side so that she could wrap her forelegs around Scootaloo and pull the filly tightly against her.  Scootaloo returned the embrace and Fluttershy enfolded the filly in her wings.  Finally, both of them drifted off to sleep.



"This is ridiculous!" shouted Softhoof, "What in Equestria do you think you're doing?"
"My job," retorted Grayblood, glaring back at his subordinate, "Which is apparently more than I can expect from you."
"You have a lot of gall saying that," hissed Softhoof, "I'd think you were a mushroom farmer with how much manure you're shoveling.  Where in the hay do you get off calling my investigation insufficient, huh?  I've turned over every rock, looked in every closet, searched every cavity and you're still not happy.  Why don't you just tell me exactly what you want?"
"What I want is a proper review by somepony who's actually dedicated to finding out the truth of the situation," snarled Grayblood, "Not somepony who's going to allow herself to be led astray by honeyed words of sentiment by a naive mare who doesn't know the first thing about proper childcare."
Softhoof's teeth bared.  "I've heard enough of you talking out of your plot.  Why don't you stop mincing words and say it straight out.  You want to take that colt out of his current home, no matter what the reason might be.  You don't actually give a damn about truth or any of that crap.  What I want to know is why."
"It's not your place to ask those questions," snarled Grayblood, clearly at the limits of his own patience, "If you can't maintain a professional demeanor, you can get out and see yourself out of this department."
"I'm behaving plenty professionally by the standard you're setting," retorted Softhoof, "I've never seen such a baldfaced attempt to force out a specific verdict in all my life.  I have no intention of being part of this insanity any longer.  You can take this as my resignation and a forewarning that I'm going over your head to the upper ministry staff about this."
"You wouldn't dare," growled Grayblood, his eyes narrowing, "You have nothing to support your assertions-"
"Nothing?" shouted Softhoof, cutting the stallion off, "I have twelve years of support!  Twelve! Years!  That's twelve years of investigating the home lives of foals, looking into their support network, checking their families, their communities, reviewing finances, checking psyche profiles, exploring every avenue available to ensure that a foal is living in a safe, secure environment that will enable her to grow up healthy and happy, along with following up later to make absolutely sure that I made the right decision.  I have twelve years of practice and experience to base my decisions on, compared to an ass like you who can't manage anything better than vague mumbling about truth and thoroughness.  I think your superiors will be very interested to hear just how thorough you've been."  Softhoof spun about sharply and marched directly for the door leading out of the office.
"Wait!" cried Grayblood, "You can't go to my superiors!"
"Watch me," said Softhoof over her shoulders.
"Please!  Stop!"
Softhoof paused on the verge of pushing the door open and leaving.  "Why should I?" she asked, her tone dangerously low, "You'd better give me a better explanation than what you've said so far or I'm out of here.  Now tell me exactly why you won't accept my decision to rule in Dame Fluttershy's favor."
"I can't!" cried Grayblood, "I can't let you rule in her favor.  They won't let me!"
Softhoof turned back around so that she was facing her (possibly former) boss once again.  "Who are 'they' and what do you mean that they won't let you?"
Grayblood let out a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a sob.  "I told you once before, didn't I?  Some very important ponies have taken an interest in this colt's case.  They want a very specific outcome."
"I still haven't exactly heard where that means you just cave to their desires," said Sotfhoof, her eyes narrowing.  After all, it wasn't as though she and Grayblood had gone up against important ponies before.  They'd faced down rich merchants who adopted children solely for tax reductions, politicians taking in foals solely to improve their image, and even convicted criminals who tried to indoctrinate their foals in the "family business."  Over the course of her career, Softhoof had been faced with threats of physical violence, attempts at blackmail and extortion, as had Grayblood.  But they had never backed down even once.
Grayblood groaned, resting his elbows on the desk so that he could rub his eyes.  "Things are different this time..."



"Come on, time to wake up."
Perlin's voice prompted Dawn to open his eyes and lift his head.  After spending so much time in the presence of a pony that he regarded as an enemy, regardless of the fact they were supposed to be allies now, old habits had reasserted and reinforced themselves, ensuring that Dawn could come fully awake at the slightest prompting.  Looking over, he eyed Perlin speculatively.  The older colt responded by tilting his head towards the window, indicating that Dawn should look outside.
Dawn did and his eyes widened at the vista that greeted him.  Their journey had lasted through the night and the whole previous day, with another night passing before Perlin had just roused Dawn in the morning.  Now, Dawn looked out to see that the terrain had changed completely.  Rolling hills had risen up into craggy mountains that seemed to close in from every direction.  Wherever Dawn looked, all he could see were sheer cliffs and jagged peaks.  The train was now winding its way through a pass between two sets of such peaks.  In the process, as it came around a curve hugging the side of one mountain, it afforded Dawn a perfect view of their intended destination.
Out the window was another mountain, a bit taller than the other peaks around it.  From their position, Dawn could see the winding tracks that ran along to it.  However, what drew Dawn's eye was not the mountain itself, but what was on it.
In a way, it reminded him of the sight of Canterlot, which was easily visible from Ponyville.  This too was a city on the side of the mountain.  However, that was where the similarities ended.  Canterlot was a city of shining white marble, perched on the mountainside much like a bird's nest set on a branch.  The city that they were approaching now was a dark-gray color, possibly granite.  Rather than being built on the side of the mountain, it looked as though the entire city, along with the palatial estate that overlooked it, had been carved from the bedrock of the mountain itself.  From tip of the highest tower, down to the houses, streets and boulevards that ran through the settlement, it looked as though workers had simply carved away the spaces of the mountain in between the buildings and sculpted the city itself from the mountainside.  It was beautiful and artful in a different way from Canterlot.
"Where are we?" asked Dawn.
"This is Diamond Mountain," said Perlin, "We are presently along a section of the border that we share with the griffon lands.  This city is an important trading hub with a number of the more friendly griffon aires in the former empire.  As such, it actually utilizes griffon architecture, which, as you can see, involves building into the land rather than building on it."
"It's certainly different from anything I've ever seen," noted Dawn, "Perhaps you'd like to tell me why we're all the way out here and how coming out here will help with my own problems."
Perlin chuckled.  "All business, aren't you.  It's not that hard.  This settlement, everything on the mountain and under it, used to be a viscounty.  Like many other noble territories, the family that used to rule it ended up losing control over most of the territory.  However, the majority of that estate on the uppermost level of the city still belongs to the original rulers and owners of this settlement.  Currently, the title is held by one Sweet Water, the official Viscountess of Diamond Mountain and a member of the Noble Court."
"Once again," said Dawn, "I ask you to explain what this has to do with me."
"Fine," huffed Perlin, "No sense of suspense.  We still have at least two hours before we arrive.  I just woke you up so that you could get a good view of our destination.  This is the most scenic view we're gonna get."
"Still," said Dawn, "After everything you've already put me through, I'd appreciate it if you got to the point."
The older colt heaved a disappointed sigh.  "Fine."  Turning his head, he snorted.  "Killjoy."
Turning back to Dawn, Perlin began to explain.  "As I said, the central estate of Diamond Mountain is still under the rule of Viscountess Sweet Water.  Right now, her ponies are entertaining a rather important guest there, a mare by the name of Hope Spot.  She's a perfectly normal mare, a nurse, studying to be a doctor, I'm told."
"And..." prompted Dawn.
"This mare also happens to be the younger sister to one Grayblood, who happens to be the department head of Foal Protection," continued Perlin with a smirk.
"A hostage," observed Dawn.
"Sort of," replied Perlin, "You see, if she were just a plain hostage, Grayblood wouldn't be in such a rush to force a specific verdict out of your case and would be going about it so ham-hoovedly.  However, it just so happens that Ms. Hope Spot happens to hold a few debts.  She was in the midst of paying off those debts when our friend, the good Viscountess, arranged for her incarceration.  Now, if Hope Spot defaults on those debts because she isn't allowed to pay them off, her current career path could end up severely derailed.  Even if she tries to fight it, it'll simply devolve into a messy legal affair that could draw things out for years.  The resulting litigation would strain her and her family's finances and, after all of that, the debt would still be there, along with interest.  All of that could bring an end to Hope Spot's dream of becoming a doctor."
"So, if Sweet Water is holding this mare hostage, it must be to keep her from making the next payments on her debt," supposed Dawn, "Which means that the situation is time-sensitive for Grayblood, hence his hurry to find some pretense to disqualify my mother as my caretaker."
Perlin nodded.  "Exactly.  You're starting to figure things out."
"But what does this Sweet Water want with me?" asked Dawn.
"It isn't you so much as it is somepony you know," said Perlin, "She's a member of the Noble Court.  Now which of your friends are they especially interested in?"
"Twilight Sparkle," whispered Dawn.
"Correct," agreed Perlin, "If Grayblood succeeds in finding a pretense to declare that Fluttershy mare unfit to be your mother, then the questionable circumstances under which it happened will lead to your friends challenging the decision, particularly Twilight Sparkle, as she's the one who knows the legal systems that they'll need to use to appeal.  That will inevitably lead to a public spectacle, especially after your little article in the Equestrian Times.  The press will flock to Ponyville to find out more about the situation.  The increased scrutiny would make your life and the lives of your friends Tartarus.
"Enter Sweet Water, who, as the mare with the keys to the whole situation, offers to resolve everything behind the scenes, nice and quietly, in exchange for certain favors and 'services' from Twilight Sparkle."  Perlin smirked.  "Though rather roundabout, it's a simplistic plan at heart.  Unfortunately, those are the ones that tend to work out for the best.  Fortunately, it is also rather easy for us to reverse the situation."
"So I'm guessing the plan is to enter the estate and free Miss Hope Spot," said Dawn.  His outward voice was calm, but his blood was boiling.  He had never met this Sweet Water mare, never exchanged words, never even seen her.  And yet, he now hated her with a passion that he hadn't believed was possible.  Not only had she seen fit to attack him in the most underhooved manner possible, threatening to take his home and his mother away from him.  Not only was she doing it simply as a means of gaining leverage over Twilight Sparkle, rather than out of any actual animosity towards him.  Those things were frustrating.  But that wasn't what truly enraged Dawn.  Even though they had tried to kill him over nothing more than the appearance of his eyes, at least the Cult Solar had always dealt with Dawn directly.  But this Sweet Water had taken an innocent mare, threatened her safety and her future, and all to make Hope Spot a pawn in the Viscountess' scheme for selfish gain.  An innocent mare was suffering and imprisoned because of the labyrinthine machinations involving ponies she rightly had nothing to do with.  Yes, Dawn despised Sweet Water now.
Perlin nodded.  "Once we get her out and back to safety, Hope Spot will be free to continue settling her debt.  Sweet Water isn't an idiot who'd try the same thing twice.  So she'll be in the clear."
"It sounds fairly simple," said Dawn.  The city was no longer in view from the window as the line of the track had shifted so that the train was now heading right for it.
"It is," replied Perlin, "Sweet Water is so confident in her clever maneuvering that she'd never conceive of somepony basically breaking into her estate to free a prisoner that they shouldn't know about."
"Could there be any wrinkles that might complicate this?" asked Dawn.
"Maybe," admitted Perlin, "I have no idea what their security is like.  However, I doubt it's anything substantial.  Sweet Water would never send her mares-at-arms away from her home in Canterlot, so the worst we can expect is a few hired hooves, or possibly hired claws."
"Griffons?" asked Dawn.
Perlin shrugged.  "This is a trading settlement with several griffon aires.  Griffon mercenaries are more convenient to acquire, seeing as most griffon principalities don't ascribe as much of a negative connotation to them as we ponies do.  I wouldn't worry about it though.  Griffons are tough, with plenty of sharp bits, but griffon magic can't hold a candle to pony magic."
Dawn nodded, remembering the story that Twilight had told him about how three practitioners of the Three Pillars had once routed a massive griffon army.  Soarin' had briefly mentioned that Spitfire had done something similar, successfully seeing off an attempted invasion of the Crystal Empire with no one but the twenty ponies of the Wonderbolts to support her.  Griffons apparently had something similar to pegasus magic, being able to walk on clouds and even manipulate them to an extent.  But that seemed to be their limit.  Weather ran wild in the griffon lands, indicating a complete lack of a concerted effort to enforce any sort of control over it.
"Do the griffons have anything we should worry about?" asked Dawn, turning his attention back to Perlin.
"It's doubtful," said Perlin, "The only thing griffons are really known for is their armor and weapons, which are supposed to be pretty advanced.  Most of our metals, including rare metals like mithril and orichalcum come from griffon lands."
"I thought Equestria had plenty of mines," said Dawn.
"Those are crystal mines," said Perlin, "Unicorns obsess over crystal and gemstone mines, since quite a few have uses for particular kinds of magic.  It's an abundance of gemstones that drew the unicorn refugees to settle in Equestria to begin with.  In fact, it was a large deposit of diamonds that convinced Sweet Water's ancestor to build out here, hence the name, Diamond Mountain."
Perlin opened the window to their compartment and leaned out to get a better look at the city and gauge how far they were from it.  "It looks like we've got more than an hour before we actually arrive," he said, pulling his head back in and closing the window, "Let's hit up the dining car and get a good meal.  We'll need to fortify ourselves for the work ahead."
Dawn's stomach growled ominously, and not just because he was hungry.  This being the colt's first real experience with mass transit had acquainted him with the knowledge that the food offered on the train was not very agreeable to his constitution.  "If it's all the same, I'll wait until we arrive and perhaps sample the local cuisine."
Perlin laughed.  "A few minutes ago, you were so eager to get started on this little venture.  But now you want to play tourist?"
Dawn sniffed disdainfully.  "As it so happens, I doubt I will be much help if I have to stop in the middle of battle to throw up or search for a toilet.  Indigestion doesn't do much for one's readiness."
Perlin simply laughed and pulled on his cloak.  "Fine then.  A little sightseeing never hurt anypony."



Dawn readily admitted that he agreed with that last statement.  Though its coloration could be described as rather drab, especially when he held it up against the lovely pastoral coloring of Ponyville, Dawn couldn't help but find Diamond Mountain to be a fascinating city from a purely architectural standpoint.  Buildings had entire walls composed of the same piece of rock, having been carved carefully from the bedrock of the mountain itself.  Stone bricks and mortar were used sparingly, only to fill in places where natural fissures in the rock had created gaps or weaknesses.  The city was built in tiers that naturally grew smaller and smaller as they rose higher towards the mountain's peak, or the building where the peak had once been.
As one might expect, the higher tiers were occupied by ponies from the higher classes, while the lower ones were occupied by by laborers, those ponies who either worked for the ones above, or labored in the mines further down still.  In fact, the entrances to said mines opened up directly into the lowest levels of the city.  While it certainly made things more organized, the heavily stratified structure of the city made the disparity between the working classes and the wealthy all too clear in a way that grated heavily on Dawn's nerves.
The train itself had pulled into the station, which had been built on one of the lower mid-level tiers of the city.  From there, Perlin and Dawn slowly made their way up, winding their way through sloping streets that often became full stairways, impediments that made Dawn wonder how heavier goods were moved up and down the city.
Apparently divining the reason for his curiosity, Perlin smiled and pointed ahead toward the heart of the mountain.  "There are elevators that run between the tiers.  Those are used to move large and unwieldy items up and down the mountain.  It's a pretty convenient system for the ponies who live at the top.  But then again, any system usually is."
Dawn nodded and kept his gaze moving, looking for any sort of eatery that might offer something that would appeal to his appetite.  As he looked, his eyes spotted a sleek form of feathers and fur.  Up ahead, a full-grown griffon was walking, or rather, prowling along the street.  It was the first time Dawn had seen one of these creatures in the flesh, though he'd seen plenty of pictures in books.  However, none of that prepared him for his first view of such a creature in real life.
The fact that both species were quadrupeds was perhaps the only thing that griffons and ponies truly had in common.  Where ponies walked, trotted, and cantered, griffons prowled or stalked along their way, betraying their predatory nature with the smooth, almost liquid ease with which they moved.
Dawn watched the griffon in front of him with a look of fascination, his attention completely absorbed by the natural grace with which the creature moved, a grace that Dawn could achieve, but only because of his years of practice.  In comparison, the griffon in front of him was relaxed, like he was out for an afternoon stroll, but still moving with the grace and poise of a pony that had trained for most of their life.
Perlin's eyes also found the griffon and he chuckled.  "Geez, you couldn't look more like a tourist," he said, looking at Dawn, "Quit gawping like an idiot or you'll start attracting the wrong kind of attention."  Still, Perlin turned his eyes back to the griffon, following him along his path as the creature ducked into a small shop on the side of the street.  "But, on the other hoof, I think we've found a spot for lunch."
"A place where griffons eat?" asked Dawn.
"Yeah," said Perlin, "Griffons are omnivorous, but they prefer meat.  Of course, the ones that come across the border to Equestria generally honor our customs and dietary preferences, so most of their meats aren't an option here.  However, it just so happens that one of the griffons' preferred foods is one they happen to share with pegasi."
"Fish?" said Dawn.
"Fish," agreed Perlin, "Why don't we go in and see what they have to offer.  Being this close to the griffon territories, I can tell you that fish is much cheaper here than it would be in a place like Ponyville."
Dawn shrugged, not having seen any better options.  Perhaps griffon cuisine would suit his palate better than anything else they might find in this town for now.
> Infiltration
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8: Infiltration

As it turned out, eating at the griffon establishment had proven to be a very good decision.  Dawn quickly learned that griffons were not ones to heavily emphasize seasonings or overly-fancy cooking methods with rich foods that were likely to make him sick.  Instead, the trout he tasted was cooked simply and flavored very lightly, with just a hint of parsley and lemon, all with the intent of allowing the flavor of the fish itself to shine through.  His episodes of overwhelming guilt aside, Dawn never did nor ever would regret coming to live in Ponyville.  However, he couldn't help but regret Ponyville's location, finding himself wishing that it could have been placed somewhere with better access to foods like this.
Still, as long as he had Caramel's onion soup to look forward to when he came home, Dawn couldn't really complain.  But he resolved to enjoy this unexpected treat as much as possible while he had the option to.
If there was one thing that Dawn regretted by stopping to eat, it was the fact that he was suddenly aware of all the attention he was drawing.  The inhabitants of Ponyville had, by and large, ceased to pay any extra attention to Dawn simply because of the unique appearance of his eyes after growing used to him.  But, ever since arriving at Diamond Mountain, Dawn was conscious that he was beginning to draw quite a few stares.  Even here, in this restaurant, where griffons and ponies (mostly pegasi) mingled freely, Dawn realized that he was a true oddity.
Several occupants of neighboring tables had paused both their meals and conversations to stare at the pegasus with strangely draconic eyes.  Dawn was careful, trying to avoid making eye-contact with anypony or anygriffon, but also trying to avoid looking like he was doing so.  Instead, he kept his posture relaxed and his attention focused on his food and Perlin, as though he was thinking of nothing else but his meal and his dining companion.
Perlin, of course, was completely nonchalant about Dawn's situation.  "Looks like you're a bit of a novelty," commented the older colt as he maneuvered another bite of his smallmouth bass towards his mouth.
"I suppose," said Dawn.
Perlin chuckled around a mouthful of his fish before swallowing it down.  "I wouldn't be surprised if you were recognized.  After all, you've been featured in a paper that's distributed throughout the entire nation.  Ponies from one side of Equestria to the other know your face now."
The realization made Dawn nervous and more keenly aware of his surroundings.  There was no sense of hostility from any of the creatures watching him, but that could change in a mere moment's time.  This far, tucked away in a rather isolated settlement on the border of Equestria, the Cult Solar could have a very strong presence.
"If you're worried about that Cult Solar bunch, I wouldn't," said Perlin, "We're not here for long.  I doubt word could spread quickly enough for them to get anything together before we get out."
"If you say so," said Dawn, wondering just how true that could be, "You don't suppose that people recognizing me could cause problems relating to our reason for being here?"
Perlin shrugged.  "I doubt it.  I'm willing to bet that almost nopony knows that Hope Spot is even here or, if they do, exactly why she is here.  They certainly wouldn't have enough information to connect it to your presence, seeing as Sweet Water would want to keep that little chain of cause and effect as hidden as possible.  If Hope Spot is being held under guard, then the ones doing the guarding most likely have no idea as to the reason they are guarding an ordinary mare on the Viscountess' orders.
"Besides, even if they decided your presence here was of interest to Sweet Water, by the time any missives made it to Canterlot and any orders came back in reply, we'd be long gone."
Dawn frowned, still not liking the connotations of the situation at all.  However, he had little choice but to continue on.  Perlin was the one running this little show of theirs, so it was his call to make.  Dawn could only hope things worked out that well.
"Well," said Perlin, dabbing at his lips with a napkin, "There's no reason to dilly-dally.  Now that we're fed and watered, we should go ahead and make our move."
"Are you sure we should try anything in the middle of the afternoon?" asked Dawn.
"Of course not," replied Perlin, "Which is why we won't go in during the afternoon.  The best time to strike would be around the dinner hour, while the sun's setting.  We'll break in, bust out Hope Spot, rush back down to the station and catch the final evening train out.  I've already checked and we'll have to make a transfer later on down the line.  But once we're out of here, finding a train back to Canterlot'll be a cakewalk for us."
"If you say so," said Dawn, wondering if things would go even remotely that smoothly.
"Relax," said Perlin, smirking over his hooves, which he had pressed together, his elbows resting on the table so that he could rest his chin on his hooves, "The last train leaves at ten this evening.  Even if we end up in a pretty serious scrap, we'll still have time to make it down.  It's not as though Sweet Water would invest any money in serious protection when, by all rights, nopony should even know that she's holding Hope Spot out here."
"But you know," Dawn pointed out, "I don't know how, but don't you think she might have prepared for the possibility."
"But," Perlin countered, "The only pony who should know is Grayblood.  And he doesn't have the resources to pull anything like we're about to.  The Viscountess has no reason to worry."
Dawn nodded, hoping that Perlin was right about this.  However, he couldn't shake the feeling that things wouldn't go as nicely as the cream-colored colt suggested.  Plans rarely worked out exactly as they were envisioned after all.
Something strange occurred to him.  "You expect very little trouble, correct?" he asked Perlin.
"Yeah," replied the young stallion, nodding with a confused look on his face, "I thought I'd just finished explaining that."
"Then it seems that this would easily be something that you could settle yourself," said Dawn, "Why then, did you come to me?"
Perlin's confusion disolved and a smirk replaced it.  "That is the question," he admitted, "There are a few reasons, some related to my job and some not.  My general orders were to get Hope Spot out of Diamond Mountain, one way or another.  However, the overarching plan is to stop Sweet Water's plan in its tracks, which means ensuring Hope Spot's safety."  He chuckled.  "While Sweet Water shouldn't be such an idiot that she would try the exact same trick twice, there's always the chance she could come after Hope Spot again, if only to keep her from talking about what happened.  That means that ensuring Hope Spot's safety requires delivering her into the charge of ponies who can protect her."
"The authorities, you mean," said Dawn.
Perlin nodded.  "Yes.  Of course, there's a bit of a problem with that.  I'm a wanted pony you see.  If I tried to escort Hope Spot into the custody of the Royal Guard, well...there'd be trouble and I daresay Shining Armor wouldn't like a repeat of the last time he tried to bar my way."
Dawn's eyes narrowed.  "That makes sense.  But is that all?  Why me?"
"Well, because you're not uninvolved in this," said Perlin, "It is your future on the line after all.  But, more importantly, it's fun."
Dawn blinked.  "That's it?  What is fun about this?"
The older colt grinned.  "The first time we met, we tried to kill each other.  Now we're working together, allies with a common goal.  But, one day, we'll be enemies again.  The more time I spend with you, the more I learn about you, the more I learn about you, the more exciting it gets, the more I look forward to our final altercation."
"Why?" asked Dawn.
"Because fighting someone you don't know at all isn't nearly as satisfying," explained Perlin, "Fighting is different from every other form of competition.  Ponies compete for prizes, for pride, for fame.  But in battle, the stakes are no more or less than our very lives.  I want to stake my life in battle against you, just as I want you to stake yours.  In battle, the boundaries between us fall and we see everything that we are, meeting each other in a way that can't be matched by mere words, the two of us dancing in that space between life and death.
"The more I know about you, the more I learn about who you are, how you fight, what moves you, the better I can match it, the further I can push myself, the greater the limits we can reach as we clash and put our very lives on the line.  Someday, you and I will bare our souls to one another.  We will seek to devour one another.  I want to savor the experience to its fullest.  In order to do so, I need to know you as I've known no one else."
"I...see..." said Dawn, shivering.  Perlin's words had struck a chord within him.  Dawn had no love of bloodshed.  However, he couldn't deny feeling a certain feeling of exhilaration in the heat of battle.  He recalled it well enough during his fight with Storm Front and Red River, and his first battle with Perlin.  There was an excitement that came with pushing his limits, living at the edge, where everything else drained away and Dawn could fully immerse himself in the fight and nothing else.  Perhaps Perlin had sensed that in him.  Perhaps that was why Perlin had extended a helping hoof to Dawn in his time of need.  The older colt seemed to have marked Dawn as a kindred spirit, even if Perlin took his desire to satisfy his need for excitement farther than Dawn ever would.
It was almost as though Perlin was reaching out in order to become his friend...
And that thought disturbed Dawn more than anything else.



There were ten of them, a mixed group of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi.  They were a motley bunch, having apparently come from a variety of different locations.  In spite of their disparate origins, they moved with a singular unity of purpose as they stepped off the train and onto the platform which, along with the grim looks on their faces, caused the ponies around them to give them a wide berth.  They carried hardly any luggage among them.  However, more than a few bore pickaxes, hatchets, large knives, and crudely fashioned chunks of wood that were poorly-disguised cudgels.  It was obvious to anypony looking on that this group was looking for trouble.
The group paused briefly to examine a map of the town before pressing on, heading away from the station and wandering along the road through the center of town.  As they moved, their heads turned back and forth, surveying everything, their expressions morphing from grim determination to disdain, as though everything they saw within the pastoral village disgusted them.  Though it was obvious this small herd was up to no good, nopony made an effort to stop them as they made their way deliberately through town.  They took no interest in any of the market stalls they passed, nor did they eye any of the stores.  They continued straight on through, never deviating from their path as they made their way along the road leading to the outskirts of town and the path that led to a single cottage, perched near the edge of the Everfree Forest.
Once they had left the last few houses behind, a single unicorn stepped out in front of the group and turned to address the rest of the group.  "Alright, is everypony ready?"
The others nodded, their eyes glinting.
The unicorn coughed self-importantly.  "Now, I know that the official word is to standby and wait for the Cardinal to take care of the demon.  But I don't think that any of us care to wait until the spring just to know that he's been dealt with."
The group had already been meeting in Hoofington, gathering together in order to put just this plan into action when word had come from higher up in the Order that they were to not make any attempt on Dawn Lightwing's life.  Over half of the ponies that had arrived up to that point had returned to their homes immediately, leaving only this small group who had decided to press on, in spite of instructions to the contrary.
"Now, show no mercy to the abomination.  We will kill it and burn its corpse and this will be over."
A pegasus near the back raised a hoof.  "What if the Bearer of Kindness interferes?"
"There is no need to worry," replied the leader in a calm and reassuring tone, "The Element Bearers have been corrupted by the fiend.  Corruption must be cleansed.  If she tries to intervene, we will do what is necessary."
"That's a rather ominous statement."
The unicorn whirled about to find the source of the voice.  There, standing on the path, between them and the way to Fluttershy's cottage outside of town, was a single dark-blue earth pony with a crimson mane.
Red River graced the assembled group of ponies with a thin-lipped smile.  "I have to say, this is rather foolish of you.  The last fellow to try this at least attempted to be subtle.  He failed miserably, but still, it's the effort that counts."
"What do you want?" asked the leader of the mob, his eyes narrowing.
"Firstly, I wanted to inform you that your quarry is not here right now," replied Red, "He had to leave on an errand, though he should be back soon.  Secondly, as a designated representative of the Guard, I am here to inform you that you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder."
An angry growl slowly crawled forth from the unicorn's throat.  "Just who do you think you are, trying to obstruct our efforts to bring justice?"
Red simply chuckled.  "That's rather simple," said Red, "I am one who is obstructing you by serving justice."
The unicorn lowered his horn, pointing the tip towards the azure earth pony.  "I hope you've made peace with your life.  We will not suffer your mockery any longer."  Behind him came a flurry of rustling noises as the other members of the group began to draw their improvised weapons, all of them leveling angry glares at the stallion in their way.
Red merely shrugged and reached up over his shoulder, curling his fetlock over the handle of his own weapon.  In a single swift motion, he drew, swinging out in an arc so that the shaft of the spear fully extended as Red sank into a crouch, his weapon angled downwards and to the side.  "This is about what I expected," he said, "What do you think, Storm?"
From the behind the group came the flapping of wings, causing them to turn to regard the pegasus that was descending towards them, his purplish-gray body and red silk shirt standing out against the brilliant blue of the skies.  Storm Front's meteor hammer was already out, its cord being wrapped tightly over Storm's shoulders, held taught by his hoof, which was pressed against the weight.
"I think," said Storm, "We're gonna need a bigger jail."
"Get them!" snapped the mob's leader.
However, just as the words left his mouth, he was conscious of a series of rapid impacts against the ground as something rushed by him before he could even react.  Four members of the mob immediately cried out, dropping their weapons and then sinking to the ground, cradling forelegs that had been so precisely cut that barely any blood was shed.  Red was suddenly standing on the other side of the group, his spear resting casually over his shoulder as he glanced back at his handiwork.  One of the remaining members, a unicorn turned and leveled his horn at Red, only to be stopped with a loud crack as Red simply swung the spear, slamming the shaft directly into the unicorn's horn.  With a cry of agony, the attacker dropped, glittering motes being the only remnant of the spell he'd been about to try and use on Red.
The three pegasi of the group had taken to the air in an effort to challenge Storm.  However, their flight was quickly cut short as Storm simply dropped right into their midst.  Letting go of the weight, Storm swung the cord, inscribing a circle in the air around him, the weight quickly clipping the heads of all three of the other pegasi and dropping them before they'd risen any further than a meter.  A single pony, the only one left over from Red's swift passage through the group, rushed at Storm, swinging a wooden cudgel at his legs from below.  Storm simply turned the direction of his swing so that the weight swung up behind him.  Storm caught the cord with his shoulder, using to adjust the arc of the swing so that the weight now came hurtling down before arcing so that it struck the remaining mare in the back of the head.  She too dropped without any further ceremony.
Storm Front settled onto the ground as Red River stepped up to stand beside him.  Together, the two of them faced the final member of the mob, their self-appointed leader, who could only stare dumbly at his nine comrades, all sprawled out on the ground.  Red grinned and leveled his spear directly at the leader's head.  "So, ready to give your life for your sacred cause?"
The leader gulped nervously before settling onto his haunches and raising his hooves.  "I surrender."
Red snorted derisively.  "Well, that was anticlimactic."



The sun was setting as Dawn and Perlin made their way towards Sweet Water's ancestral estate.  The air was growing cold, so much so that Dawn could see his breath condensing in the air.  They were at a higher altitude than Ponyville, and much further north.  Here, he could already see the first signs of the oncoming winter, as opposed to his home, which was still in the midst of fall.
Finally, their path ended at a gate, set into a solid stone wall that loomed over them.  Behind the wall, Dawn could see the uppermost towers of the estate.  The highest tower was especially distinct.  Instead of the smooth, conical roofs of its cousins, the highest tower sported an uneven roof that was a single, solid piece of stone that had been left unworked.  Dawn realized that this must have been the mountain's original peak, which had been left intact and unworked as the original inhabitants carved their home out from beneath it.
"Do we know where Hope Spot is supposed to be kept?" asked Dawn, glancing sidelong at Perlin.
Perlin shrugged.  "Well, whatever passes for a dungeon in this place would probably be my first guess.  It depends on Sweet Water's attitude towards Hope Spot and whether she's going with the straightforward prisoner/hostage piece or if she's pushing the classic 'honored guest' schtick.  If it's the latter, then Hope Spot might be in one of the guest bedrooms.  It's not as though they'd repurpose a room to serve as a prison cell if they already have a room that works just as fine for that."
"Well, I'd suppose you'd know," said Dawn with an indifferent shrug.  He eyed the wall in  front of them.  "Now how shall we approach this?  It won't be difficult to get over the wall.  But we may want to wait until it's darker if we want to avoid causing a ruckus"
Looking over at Perlin, Dawn suddenly got a sickening feeling at the downright mischievous smile on the older colt's face.  Oh no...No no no no no!  He wouldn't...
"Hey Dawn," said Perlin, "I should let you know that, for me, the value of a job comes from the satisfaction I derive from carrying it out."
Dawn sagged.  He would...  "I have one thing to say then."
"And what is that?" asked Perlin, turning to regard Dawn once again.
"If we do things your way, then the only concession I will demand is that there is no killing unless it is absolutely necessary."  Dawn narrowed his eyes at Perlin, who did the same.  "Do you understand?  No killing for killing's sake.  If you do, then you will be fighting me as well."
For the moment, the tension between the two colts was a palpable, tangible force, actually making the air pop as their respective intents clashed against one another, neither yielding.  Dawn raised his wing the faintest fraction, to which Perlin responded by raising the hem of his cloak, slightly baring the mithril feathers of his wing.
Finally, Perlin's face broke out into a sly smile.  "Fine then.  I would much rather settle our conflict on our own terms than like this."  He hardly seemed troubled by the concession Dawn had forced out of him.  Instead, Perlin seemed amused and excited.  "I won't kill if I can avoid it."
Dawn frowned.  It almost felt too easy to make Perlin give up.  It was almost as though Perlin didn't have any specific intent to kill in the first place.  I may have misjudged him somewhat.  I can't ever seem to figure him out.
"Now then, since we've agreed to that, we can do the rest of this my way."  Stepping forward, Perlin drew back the hems of his cloak fully in order to spread his wings.  He broke into a gallop, flapping downwards to push off the ground.  As he approached the gate in the wall, both of Perlin's wings beat erratically, detaching his wired feathers, which slashed outward in shining arcs with such speed that Dawn's eyes couldn't keep up with them.
The razor-sharp edges of those feathers cleaved cleanly through the wood of the gate.  Less than a second later, Perlin reached it with his body, spinning about so that he could buck the doors, smashing through them easily and sending the pieces flying.  With a sigh, Dawn followed behind the older colt at a trot, content to watch as Perlin stepped over the remains of the entrance to Sweet Water's estate, looking very satisfied with the dramatic nature of his arrival.
"I hope that this place can provide me with some form of entertainment," said Perlin with a wry smirk, "I'd hate for this job to be boring."
"At least being boring would mean that it was going without a hitch," muttered Dawn as he stepped through the gate, taking in the estate beyond the walls.
It stood somewhere between a manor-house and a castle, it's sloping, shingled roofs resembling the former, while the solid stone walls and multiple towers resembled the latter.  Given what Perlin had told him about the mountain's architectural origins, Dawn supposed that this was perhaps the result of some compromise between griffon and unicorn architecture that produced the peculiar building in front of them, which gave the impression of house-shaped blocks stacked up atop one another, from which towers sprouted at irregular intervals, including the tallest.
At first, Dawn's body tensed as he anticipated the response to Perlin's loud and sudden entry.  However, as seconds became minutes, the two colts continued to stand just inside the gate as nopony came out to greet them.  Dawn's gaze wandered over the windows decorating the building.  Several were lit and Dawn's sharp eyes were able to pick out the occasional figure looking out of one or the other before ducking down.  He supposed those might have been servants or members of the household staff who had been charged with maintaining the place.  But where are the guards?
Perlin, on the other hoof, was distinctly dissatisfied with the results.  "Well, this is boring," he said, "If nopony's gonna come out and meet us, we might as well get this over with so that I can find something better to do with my time."  He glanced sidelong and smirked hungrily at Dawn, making the younger colt swallow nervously.
The two of them began the short trek across the courtyard towards the main entrance to the manor itself, where Perlin no doubt intended to repeat his previous dynamic entry to see if that elicited a response.  However, before they were halfway along the path that divided the masterfully-trimmed lawn, the doors to the manor swung open of their own accord, making both colts pause in their advance as they took a second to see who was greeting them from within.
A pair of griffons stood just inside the doorway.  One was an especially large specimen for his kind (if only by the view of Dawn's limited experience).  The feathers of the griffon's forequarters and the fur of his hindquarters were a uniform black color, not unlike Dawn's coat, which served to make the yellow colors of his forepaws, beak, and eyes stand out all the more vividly.  His body had been fitted with dull-black armor, consisting of plates that rested across his chest, back, and haunches.  His shoulders were bare, but his forelegs were enclosed with ridged gauntlets.  As he eyed them, the griffon's lips, just behind his beak, curled up in an amused smile.
The other griffon was a female, as different from her companion as night was from day.  She actually seemed to be small by the standards of their species.  However, that small frame consisted of lithe, powerful musculature that was clearly visible as she, unlike her companion, wore no armor.  Her coloring was less uniform than her companions, the brindled brown and gold color of the plumage and fur along her back, wings, and hindquarters fading to a lighter, white color along her underside.  The only armor she wore was a pair of gauntlets that extended all the way down over the tops of her forepaws.  Dawn noted that her claws were shorter and blunter, as opposed to the large, sickle-shaped talons of the male, though the fingers of her forepaws appeared to be more flexible and dextrous.  Her expression was more serious and composed than her companion's, her eyes narrowing as she regarded the unexpected arrivals.
From the way they held themselves, their bodies completely relaxed in spite of this strange and troubling situation, Dawn could tell they were experienced and skilled fighters.  Their eyes swept over Dawn and Perlin, studying the two colts just as intently as Dawn had been studying them.  From the look on their faces, it was clear that these griffons would not be underestimating their opponents.
"Well now," said the black griffon with a chuckle, "We weren't expecting visitors.  To think that we'd get two in one night and that both of them would be celebrities."
"Skan..." said the female in a warning tone.
"I know Zhan," said the black griffon, smiling fondly at the female, "We'll have to be careful."  He turned his attention back to Dawn and Perlin.  "These two aren't pushovers after all."
Dawn stepped forward.  "We've heard that a mare named Hope Spot is being kept here.  We would like to take custody of her, if you please.  I would rather not fight if we don't have to."
Skan smiled wryly and glanced sidelong at Zhan, whose body tensed at the mention of Hope Spot's name.  "It looks like our dear employer was mistaken when she said there shouldn't be any trouble over that mare."  He looked back at Dawn and Perlin, flexing his claws, which began to gouge out the stone floor beneath him.  "I'm afraid we can't give her over to your care.  We have been charged with ensuring that she remains under our lady's protection, so we can't simply let her go just like that."
"In other words," said Zhan coldly, "To get to her, you're going to have to go through us."
Perlin smirked and laughed.  "You're making it sound like we're the bad guys when you're the ones holding her prisoner."  He lowered himself into a crouch and spread his mithril-feathered wings.  "Let's not waste any more time then.  We have a train to catch after all."
With a sigh, Dawn bent his legs and half-spread his wings, eyeing their opponents carefully.  A shiver went down his spine as he saw them sink into similar crouches, their eyes focusing on him and Perlin.  Immediately, Dawn noticed some troubling cues; the way their breath was in synch and how they moved into positions meant to support each other.  These two griffons were very accustomed to fighting as a team.  It reminded Dawn of how formidable Red River and Storm Front could be when they were working together.  Their best bet then, was to confront them one-on-one.
"What do you think?" asked Perlin, "That one in the armor's probably a pretty tough customer.  I think I'll take him."
Dawn frowned, but nodded in agreement.  "I'll take the smaller one then.  She seems to be very quick, so it'll be better if I fight her."
The two colts tensed, then leapt forward in unison.  However, the pair of griffons didn't rush forward to meet their charge.  Instead, with a beat of their wings, the griffons launched themselves backwards into the manor, clearing the way, as though they were inviting the colts inside.  The reason was immediately apparent.  Out in the open, with the sky above, the pegasi would be able to fight to the fullest extent of their abilities.  However, in the enclosed conditions of the mansion's interior, the griffons, with their claws and beaks, would have the advantage.
Nonetheless, Dawn and Perlin did not falter and instead charged straight through the doors, trying to corner their opponents before they could seize any further advantages.  However, as Dawn and Perlin barreled through the doorway, the griffons suddenly switched positions and dodged to the side to come at the two colts from opposite angles.  To Dawn's surprise and confusion, the large, black griffon came rushing at him like an out-of-control locomotive.  Perlin, on the other hoof, was barely able to react in time as the agile, brindled female came shooting at him like an arrow.
Dawn kicked out with his legs, bringing his advance to an immediate halt.  Beating his wings straight down and pushing off with his hooves, he launched himself upward in a blink, just as the black griffon rushed through the space he had been occupying, swinging those deadly talons through the space where Dawn's head had been an instant before.  The flow of air being displaced by the swing told Dawn just how much power was behind that blow.  A second later, the griffon's claws made contact with the wall immediately behind where Dawn had been.  Though the tips of his talons barely scraped against the stone, they still managed to cut a massive gash straight through the wall.
Dawn's eyes widened in shock.  The sheer power of the blow beggared description.  Even so much as a glancing impact would probably eviscerate him on the spot.  If he so much as touches me with one of those swings, I'm dead.  He barely even noticed the metallic ring that signaled that Zhan had begun fighting with Perlin.  However, Dawn couldn't spare a thought for the other battle, as his own promised to be extremely difficult.
Though his attack had missed, Skan didn't even hesitate.  Instead, he sank his hind claws into the rock floor of the room and used them as anchors to completely halt his momentum, allowing him to turn on the spot orient on Dawn's new position.  His wings spread in preparation for takeoff.
Dawn's reaction was immediate, using both his wings to grab as much of the available air as possible and send it slamming down towards his opponent.  A roar filled the room as twin blasts of compressed air merged together into a single powerful hammer-blow.  Skan immediately abandoned his efforts to takeoff and instead crossed his gauntleted forelimbs above him, ducking his head beneath them.  The gauntlets took the full force of the blow, even as the griffon's hind legs, which had been extended in his attempt to kick off the ground, bent back down, helping abate the force of the attack.  Still, the strike drove Skan all the way back down to the floor, forcing him onto his haunches.  The remainder of the blast of wind cracked and crushed the rock beneath and around Skan's feet.  However, the black griffon did not buckle beneath the assault and, the instant Dawn's attack abated, he launched himself straight off the floor at the colt, once again leading with an overwhelmingly powerful swing of his claws.
Skan's charge was so abrupt that Dawn had no time to attack with another blast of wind.  He tried to deflect Skan's attack with a barrier of compressed air.  But Skan's claws easily ripped through it as though it hadn't even been there.  Falling back, Dawn dodged desperately as the attack barely brushed against the hair-tips of his mane, the brief contact sending a stinging sensation down the colt's neck as several of his mane hairs were torn right out.  Beating his wings, Dawn continued to retreat away from the assault as Skan closed in.
The large, heavy griffon used his body like a battering ram, closing off the space in front of Dawn as he swung inwards from the outside with his claws, keeping the colt from fully escaping to either flank.  Dawn tried numerous efforts to deflect and parry Skan's slashes.  But each swing had so much power behind it that they simply tore through the swirling eddies of wind as though they weren't there.  On several occasions, Dawn tried to take back the offensive by launching blasts of wind straight into Skan's chest.  However, the bursts of air simply scattered against the griffon's armor.
Not seeing much in the way of options, Dawn decided to start changing tactics.  It took him less than a second to build up a charge within his feathers.  As he dodged back from another of Skan's powerful slashes, Dawn swung his wing up, a blue-white arc of lightning launching off his primaries.  Skan hardly reacted at all, twisting the foreleg he'd just slashed with so that the gauntlet caught the the burst of electricity, which, to Dawn's shock, seemed to get sucked down along the griffon's arm and burst out from his back, where it blasted molten chunks from the rock wall on the far side of the mansion's foyer.
There was no time to be surprised.  Dawn's wind-sense told him that he was running out of room.  This had been what Skan was leading him towards.  The black griffon was fully aware of the threat that Dawn's greater mobility represented.  If he let up for even an instant, Dawn would quickly escape and attack from a more advantageous angle, which Skan would be hard-pressed to defend against.  As such, his intent was to pin Dawn against the wall and box him in to close off his options.  Then, Dawn would be crushed between a rock and a very hard griffon.
However, Dawn's wind-sense also presented him with an option to avoid that fate.  He could feel the flow of air coming from a small portion of the wall, indicating an entry that led to what was probably a hallway.  However, reaching that doorway meant breaking from his original line of retreat, which Skan would not allow.  Even now, the black griffon was rearing up and slashing inwards with his foreclaws, from both directions.
Though Dawn could duck under those slashes, the position would make it awkward and difficult to dodge towards the passage off to the side.  If he tried, Skan would easily catch him with the backswing from his claws.  For all his size and bulk, the ebony griffon was deceptively fast, especially with his forelegs.  Simply ducking and falling back was not an option now, as the wall was rapidly looming up behind Dawn.
With the power of the Gale King, it would be foal's play to break through that wall.  But Dawn had no idea what was one the other side, which might only lead him into an even more disadvantageous situation.  On top of that, he didn't have the time he needed to muster up that kind of power.  While his close-combat training with Red River was definitely paying off, Dawn still couldn't muster up a great deal of power on such short notice.
I have to deflect it, he realized.  Skan's overwhelming power had torn effortlessly through any attempt at defense, even when Dawn tried to intercept his attacks at oblique angles to try and divert the force.  If Dawn wanted to deflect Skan's overwhelming strength, he would have to apply all his own.
Without even thinking, Dawn's wings were already dipping down, his magic drawing and warping the atmosphere around them with as much force as he could muster.  Almost immediately, he could tell it wasn't going to be enough.  Even using his fullest strength to drive the compressed air upwards, Dawn realized he couldn't possibly compete with Skan's raw power.  The impact would only succeed in repelling his own body and slamming it down into the floor.
In that instant, inspiration struck in a flash as Dawn's mind recalled one of the most mundane images he could remember, that of Applejack slamming her front hooves into the ground as she turned to buck at him.  His eyes widened, fully aware that he'd never even thought once about what he was about to attempt.  But there was no time for thinking.  He would simply have to act and hope he could do it right.
Dawn slammed his forehooves into the ground.  In that same motion, he swept his wings upward, slamming the blasts of compressed air that the appendages were driving straight into Skan's forelegs from below at an angle nearly perpendicular to their movement.  Dawn felt and heard the stone crack beneath his hooves as the impact jolted up his legs.  Rather than try to endure it, Dawn instead directed that jolting feeling, funneling every ounce of force from his hooves meeting the ground into his wings.
Finally, Dawn felt Skan's unyielding arms respond to the impact as his desperate parry forced both limbs upwards, throwing them over Skan's head.  The griffon reacted almost immediately, lunging forward, trying to simply crush Dawn with his armored chest, even as he interlaced his fingers over his head, bringing his forepaws together before swinging them back down in a hammer-blow.
However, he was already too late.  Dawn had his opening and took it.  Kicking off both the floor below and the wall behind, Dawn used one wing to dodge sharply to the side.  His body seemed to vanish from Skan's view, skipping over in front of the hallway before using his other wing and a kick from his forelegs to leap backwards down the hall, quickly bringing his other wing back into play to get as much distance as possible.  Skimming backwards, Dawn retreated as far down the hall as he could.  His ears picked up the sound of rock splintering as Skan's overhead blow slammed into the floor where he'd been standing.  The force was such that Dawn could feel the rock around him shuddering from it, even though he was already a fair distance away.
Behind him, he felt the hall turn sharply to the right.  He supposed that he could simply continue his retreat, even toying with the possibility of abandoning the fight so that he could start searching for Hope Spot.  However, his instincts told him that was a foolish idea.  This mansion was completely unfamiliar territory to him.  There was no way he could search it and keep away from Skan at the same time.  The black griffon's natural hunter's senses would probably allow him to track Dawn down in mere seconds, given that he knew the layout of mansion much better.  More importantly, even if Dawn did succeed in disengaging and managed to find Hope Spot without anymore conflict with Skan, the black griffon would remain an obstacle and would undoubtedly waylay their departure, which would lead to Hope Spot being put at risk if she got caught up in the fight herself.
I need to face him here and win, concluded Dawn grimly as he settled back onto the floor, steadying himself and his resolve.  There was also the matter of Perlin's fight with Zhan.  While Dawn had difficulty imagining the older colt losing, he couldn't exactly take it for granted that Perlin would win either.  In either case, he had to be prepared for the possibility of fighting Zhan as well before Hope Spot could be rescued.
Dawn braced himself and prepared for the battle to come.



As the two griffons parted, Zhan had darted off to the side before turning sharply to come at Perlin like an arrow.  The cream-colored colt had reacted instantly, swinging one of his wings up, preparing to slash her to pieces with his razor-edged feathers.  However, as she approached, Zhan curled her fingers slightly, triggering some sort of mechanism within her gauntlets, as sickle-shaped claws of metal slid out from hidden grooves and over her fingers, taking the place of her smaller, blunter, natural claws.  Lashing out she struck at Perlin's wing with those claws.
Metal met metal with a loud ringing sound.  Perlin's wing easily parried Zhan's attack before he swung around with the other wing, which Zhan simply countered with her other hand.  The two of them quickly settled into a rapid exchange of blows as metal met metal repeatedly, sparks striking off as claw met feather.  Perlin's natural instinct was to go on the offensive.  However, he was instead finding himself being driven back from the sheer speed with which Zhan struck, finding himself spending more time and effort fending off her strikes than trying to land a blow of his own.  In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the larger area covered by his wings enabled him to position them to defend himself without having to move them too much from a previous position, Zhan would have gutted him and torn his throat out within the first five seconds of their battle.
What perplexed Perlin even more was that Zhan was matching his attacks, blow for blow, and yet there was no sign that her fighting claws were about to break.  Perlin's mithril feathers would have sheared through ordinary steel without the slightest difficulty.  However, the griffoness's weapons showed no signs of even the slightest dent.  Given their slightly matte coloring, he doubted that her claws were mithril as well.  An alloy perhaps, he wondered.  He sincerely doubted that her claws were orichalcum.  If that were the case, he would be the one in trouble.  Fortunately, while orichalcum was stronger than mithril, it was also denser and heaver, making it a poor choice for most weapons, particularly those that depended on speed and precision over power.
However, the time for such thought quickly passed as Zhan abruptly shifted strategies.  Instead of continuing to batter at his defenses from the front, she beat her wings and flashed upwards before shifting to come at Perlin from behind and above with a suddenness that would have matched Dawn's skill at rapid movement.  Perlin's wings, still shifted forward to protect from the original frontal assault, were now out of position and his entire back was open to Zhan's claws...
...Or so it seemed.  Perlin barely moved his wings, flicking them backward.  At the same instant, he detached two of his wired feathers, launching them like darts, straight for Zhan's head.  Backwinging quickly, Zhan raised her forelimbs and batted the feathers away with the gauntlets mounted on them.  Taking advantage of her sudden halt, Perlin swept his wings backward, closing them over his back like pair of scissors, nearly catching Zhan between them.  However, the brindled griffoness managed to escape by leaning backwards and diving downwards at the same moment, Perlin's wings closing with a grating noise mere centimeters away from her beak.
Not wanting to lose the initiative, Perlin whipped his entire body around, swinging his wing out, launching a wired feather once again, this one slightly out to the side.  The arc of his swing sent the wing itself towards Zhan's neck, while a slight tug on the wire had the feather slicing toward her from behind.
Zhan's eyes tracked the wired feather effortlessly, even as she caught the swing of his wing with an upraised hand, the impact knocking her away.  She managed to dodge under the feather as well, but was forced to dart out of the way as Perlin launched a feather off his other wing.
She can see them, he thought, Impressive.  Being able to actually see his feathers was no mean feat  Not even Dawn, with the superior visual acuity and motion sensitivity that his unique eyes afforded him, had been able to track the wired feathers with his sight.  And yet, Zhan's eyes were following the lightning-fast weapons with shocking ease.
However, even if she could see them in motion, Zhan still had difficulties keeping up with them physically.  The wired feathers not only extended the reach of Perlin's attacks.  They also allowed him to strike from unexpected directions, enabling him to flank Zhan even when he was right in front of her.  Even as she tried to defend against his wings, the detached feathers hemmed her in and hindered her movements.
Seeing no reason to continue withholding anything, Perlin unleashed all ten of his feathers as Zhan backpedalled away from him, launching them straight for her like a volley of arrows.  Zhan responded by shooting directly upward, a movement that Perlin mirrored as he took to the air, his feathers trailing behind him on their wires like streamers.  The two of them charged along parallel paths before Perlin pulled up beside Zhan and slashed at her with a wing.  She parried with her claws, allowing the force of his blow to knock her back slightly and gain some distance.  At that same instant, both fighters flipped upside down so that they landed on the ceiling of the room, hooves and claws smacking down as though they'd been falling upwards.  Perlin drew in the wires of his feathers to keep them from going slack, rotating his wings so that they now swung upwards (or was it downwards) at Zhan.
The griffoness responded by throwing herself forward along the ceiling, charging straight for Perlin, who swept his wings in front of him so that his feathers extended out in front of his body like a wall of spears.  Zhan twisted her body frantically trying to slip over (or under, rather) his wings and strike at his head.  However, Perlin ducked beneath his own wings and swept them outward in arcing slashes that cut into Zhan's path of evasion.  She caught the feathers of his wings with her gauntlets, being forced back by the strength of the blow as Perlin used the ceiling to brace his legs and add to the attack's power.
Even as Perlin knocked Zhan back with his counter, he fully retracted the wires on his feathers.  When he'd originally swung his wings out in front of him, he'd changed the feathers' downward arcs into sidways arcs, swinging their wires across his body.  When he swung the wings back out and retracted the feathers, the resulting motion pulled the feathers back towards the wings, causing them to come slicing at Zhan from behind at separate angles.
Zhan lashed out with her hind paw, kicking off the ceiling as hard as she could, using both the power of her kick, her wings, and gravity itself to speed her movement.  At the same time, she twisted her spine, moving with all the skill of an acrobat, barely managing to twist her body out of the way of Perlin's attack, which snipped a few hairs from the tuft on the end of her tail.
Perlin's feathers settled back onto his wings as he too kicked off the ceiling, moving to match Zhan's course, pressing the offensive.  To his surprise, the griffoness didn't try counterattack, but instead focused on dodging as Perlin lashed at her with his wings and launched the wired feathers once more.  Zhan swooped and dodged, darting around the feathers as they slashed and stabbed at her.  Abruptly, she changed her course and dodged for a corridor, one opposite the hallway Dawn and Skan had gone down.  Perlin followed the griffoness in pursuit, drawing his feathers back in to avoid tangling them in the narrow opening.



Dawn took a deep breath and slowly let it out, trying to relax his body.  Already, Skan's shadow was blocking out the light from the end of the corridor as the griffon came through the entry, his pace positively sedate compared to his previous charge earlier.  From the look in his eyes, it was clear that he was fully aware of Dawn's intentions.  Skan came strolling down the hallway, stopping several meters short of where Dawn waited.
The lips behind Skan's beak curled up in a smile.  "I'm impressed, little cub.  For someone so young, you have incredible strength and skill."
"To hear that from someone with your strength, that is high praise indeed," said Dawn, glad to feed the conversation if it gave him more time to ready himself.  He tilted his head as a thought occurred to him.  "How is it that you ended up working here?  I very much doubt that Viscountess Sweet Water anticipated this much trouble when she arranged for Hope Spot's abduction."
Skan simply chuckled and shook his head.  "I doubt she thinks as highly of us as you do.  The pittance she offered for this work probably speaks her opinion of our skills."
"Or perhaps how little trouble she expected you to encounter," Dawn pointed out, "If she pays you so poorly, then why are you so determined to remain an obstacle?  Is it wise to risk your life for so little pay?"
Skan simply shrugged.  "We had no other offers at the time.  We have to provide for ourselves after all.  Given what the job entailed, we figured the pay was sufficient.
"However, even if it's true that we weren't paid for the possibility of fighting someone at your level, we still have our pride and reputation as professionals.  Professionals don't leave jobs half-done."
Dawn bowed his head slightly.  "I see.  Please forgive me for my impertinence."
That earned a laugh from Skan.  "Worry not!  Cubs will make mistakes.  This job will be worth it for the chance to see your mettle alone."
"Then I shall try not to disappoint you," said Dawn.
"I certainly hope you won't," said Skan, sinking into a crouch as the muscles in his body tightened like winding springs, "Otherwise, you'll die an instant from now.  You are definitely have a great deal of skill in manipulating the air.  This must be the Gale King I read about.  But it seems you're at a disadvantage, surrounded by all this stone."
"You needn't trouble yourself," said Dawn as he began to wheel his wings, "The walls, floor, and ceiling...all sides may be stone.  But everything in between is air.  And all of that..."  He turned sideways, inscribing circular arcs with his wings.  "...is under my control."
Dawn abruptly twisted to the other side and lashed straight out with his wing, putting the full force of his body behind the attack.  A swirling whirlwind rushed down the corridor, straight for Skan.  The stone on all sides was ground into gravel by its passing and swept along in a deadly hail of minuscule bullets that would tear through flesh and perforate bone, bearing down on Skan with blinding speed.
Skan did not flinch at the oncoming blast of wind.  Instead, he opened his beak and let out a sound halfway between an eagle's screech and a lion's roar.  Surging forward, he stood on his hind legs, pushing off his floor with his paws and beating fiercely with his wings at the same time, moving forward just in time to meet the whirlwind charging down the hall.  In the same smooth motion, Skan thrust forward with one forepaw, extended so that the palm of his clawed hand would slam straight into the spinning wall of air.
The two attacks met with a thunderous crash.  Its force stymied like water in a plugged hose, the whirling gale exploded outward, completely shattering the rock on all sides, solid stone being more fragile and yielding than the strength of the black griffon.  The stone of the wall on one side exploded outwards into the open air outside the manor as the corridor was all but gutted by the meeting of the two opposing forces.  In less than a second, an entire section of the mansion wall had been ripped open.  The two warriors faced each other through the storm of dust, pausing only for a second before lunging forward to join battle once more.
> Two Fronts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9: Two Fronts

In the city down below, ponies and griffons looked up from their business to see clouds of dust rising from the mansion perched at the peak of Diamond Mountain, no one but the completely deaf missing the deafening roar of wind or the low crunching sound of stone being smashed to pieces.  Some earth ponies noticed that the mountain itself seemed to shudder from the force of impact.  A few seconds later, a veritable cacophony of noise, roars, howling winds, and even booming thunder, echoed from the mansion above.  Those in the town it loomed over trembled and began to move away, descending down into the lower tiers of the settlement to escape whatever forces were raging above.  No one knew what it was...and no one wanted to find out either.



Hope Spot squeaked and dove beneath the covers of her bed, pulling them up and over to completely cover her sea-green mane.  She curled up there, shivering as her room shuddered.  The master bedroom at the top of the estate's central tower might have been the finest room in the entire manor, but being at the top of the mansion also meant that Hope Spot could feel every tremor coming from below, which were naturally amplified by the tower's structure as they traveled upward from the lower floors, making the room shudder violently.  If the mansion began to collapse, then the tower was likely to tumble, taking Hope Spot down with it to her untimely demise.
Trembling, the teal mare slowly inched out from under the covers, slowly making her way towards the window to see what was happening down below.  The window was her only means of knowing what was going on in the outside world.  The door had been locked to ensure that she couldn't escape and, sadly, Hope Spot's skill with magic wasn't at a level where she could hope to manage teleportation.
Inching her head up to the sill, Hope Spot carefully turned to look downward, letting her dark-green eyes sweep over the manor below.  From her position, she could see a cloud of dust rising from one wall of the house, billowing outward over the courtyard and the wall beyond.  What's going on? she wondered, Is somepony attacking?  Is someone here to help me?  But nopony should even know I'm here...
Nopony that is, except for Sweet Water and the ones working directly for her, certainly not anypony who would give away her location to potential rescuers, not that her brother had the means to send ponies to her rescue.  Whatever it is, she thought glumly, I hope I don't get killed because of it.
She turned her head to look at the door once more, wishing there was some way she could get it open.  However, some form of spellwork had been inlaid in the door itself, preventing her magic from working on it.  She suspected that the ward's original purpose had been keeping intruders out of the room, but it now did a fine job of keeping her in.
At least she was comfortable.  Ironically, this prison was more luxurious than her own home.  The bed was soft with silken sheets that made her sigh when she relaxed in them.  There was a shelf full of books, ensuring that she wouldn't be bored while she waited.  The bathroom was equally elaborate, with a large marble tub with inlaid enchantments to maintain the water at the perfect temperature for a long soak and a selection of soaps, shampoos, and bath salts.  The meals that they brought her were more than decent.  Her captors had been especially considerate when they found out she didn't care for fish, a local specialty.  Had it not been for the circumstances of her arrival and the fact she couldn't leave her room, Hope Spot would have thought she was on vacation.
But she wasn't.  And the present circumstances made that abundantly clear.  For all she knew the whole manor might collapse out from under her.  But nopony would help her.  They would probably leave her up here to die in this gilded cage.
Slowly, Hope Spot slumped down and leaned back against the wall, curling up into a ball, she began to sob into her arms, praying fervently that she would live to see her family again.



Dawn's wings beat once, sending a wind to clear the dust away as he launched himself out through the broken wall and out into the open air.  Skan followed, his larger, broader wings easily beating the dust away with each stroke as the ebony griffon launched into pursuit.
Dawn immediately doubled back, now charging for the black griffon.  Just as he was about to come within reach of Skan's claws, Dawn kicked out his hooves, pushing off against the air to suddenly halt his approach.  At the same time, he allowed his forward momentum to flow into his wings, adding the force of his whole body behind it, sweeping both wings forward in one of the very first techniques he had once taught Scootaloo, throwing his hindquarters back so he could kick out with his hind legs, throwing as much of his power, both physical and magical, as he could into the attack.
The blast of compressed air slammed straight into Skan like a battering ram.  He managed to raise his gauntleted forelimbs to block his head, taking the force of the blow with the armor on his arms and chest.  However, even with the prodigious strength of his wings, his own forward momentum wasn't enough to overcome the full power of the Forward Wing Strike.  Dawn's attack drove him back, though Skan's strength kept him from being slammed into the manor wall.
Skan lowered his arms, only to find that Dawn was now pressing the offensive with incredible ferocity.  The colt was once again charging him.  As he did so, the colt lunged forward with one wing before sweeping it back in an arc, using his spine to put the full strength of his body into the pivoting motion.  The wind was swept into a roaring twister that pulled Skan in, even as it plowed into the wall of the mansion, smashing the solid rock into pieces and pulling them into itself.  The black griffon could barely spare a thought to keeping his orientation as he fought off the debris that now swirled about the funnel with him, threatening to crush him into a bloody pulp.
Eventually, the winds began to slacken and the tornado started to abate.  Skan realized that Dawn would probably press the attack as soon as the tornado dissipated and decided to prepare himself.  Reaching out, he snagged one of the passing boulders, sinking his claws into it. and holding on.  The dust swept up by the tornado was beginning to clear, giving Skan a view of his surroundings.  His sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on the black shape of the colt as Dawn began to charge once again.
With another roaring shriek, Skan hurled the boulder at Dawn, twisting his hips and using his wings as a fulcrum to put all his strength into the motion.  The rock, about the same size as Dawn himself, was sent hurtling like a bolt from a crossbow.  Dawn swept a wing forward, the feathers slashing through the air like knives.  Suddenly, the rock was cleanly sliced in two.  Dawn dived between the halves and continued his charge.  Skan beat his wings and surged outwards and upwards to meet the colt's charge head on.
Dawn spread his wings out behind him, agitating the air as he fell through it.  A crackling charge began to build up between his primaries.  As he closed with the charging Griffon, Dawn snapped his wings ahead of him, launching twin bolts of lightning straight for Skan's head.  However, the griffon raised his forelimbs, once again catching the lightning with the gauntlets.  As it had the last time Dawn had tried to use lightning, the electrical discharge seemed to be sucked into the gauntlets before suddenly bursting out of Skan's armor near the base of his tail.  Dawn's eyes narrowed as he continued on his course, fully aware that doing so put him in danger of being subjected to the griffon's overwhelming strength.
As their paths brought them together, Dawn's eyes finally picked out an important piece of the griffon's protection.  They were narrow lines of cloth, nearly invisible against the griffon's black plumage that ran up his forelimbs before joining with the armor at his shoulders.  Wires! Dawn realized.  Within those lines must have been wires of some highly-conductive metal.  The metal was carrying the charge of his lightning from Skan's gauntlets up to his armor before being discharged out the back, protecting the griffon from electricity by redirecting that electricity around him rather than allowing it to pass through him.
As Skan slashed at Dawn with his claws once again, Dawn dodged upwards, darting up and slipping behind Skan.  The griffon quickly pivoted about, his eyes not losing track of the colt, regardless of how fast he was moving.
"You're remarkably well-prepared," commented Dawn as he hung back, rather than continue to press the attack, "I find it hard to believe that you were prepared to fight somepony who could use lightning."
"Ha!" said Skan with a laugh, hovering in place as well, "That's not exactly the case.  Griffon weather isn't like pony weather after all.  We don't have tame, scheduled, manufactured storms.  All of our weather is wild.  We always have to be prepared for the possibility of going through a lightning storm."  He smirked at Dawn.  "But certainly seems especially useful against someone like you."
"I can't argue with that," said Dawn with a shrug.  He was, indeed, feeling a bit troubled by the situation.  Skan was simply too powerful and too durable.  He'd borne the brunt of Dawn's air strikes while hardly flinching, easily weathering some of the colt's strongest blows.  His armor kept lightning from reaching his body.  That ruled out most of the attacks Dawn was comfortable using against a living adversary.  Both his wind blades and the powerful plasma blasts were tactics that were far more lethal than the ones Dawn had used thus far.  Or perhaps not, he thought as he eyed his opponent, Maybe I can employ them non-lethally if I'm extremely careful how I use them.
It wouldn't be easy.  He could aim to use the edges of vacuum blades to cut his opponent, possibly hitting certain muscles or tendons to disable him.  However, the slightest miscalculation could result in a sliced artery or even a severed limb, leading to Skan dying from the resulting blood-loss.  Dawn realized that he had no detailed knowledge of griffon anatomy, nothing that could direct his aim to avoid hitting vital spots.  He once again eyed the griffon's armor, his eyes narrowing as he thought about it.  Maybe I don't have to slice Skan himself.  If he could cut through the wires that ran through the griffon's armor, disrupting the pathways that directed electricity away from Skan's body, Dawn would be able to use his lightning to land a decisive blow.
It wouldn't be an easy task though.  Thinking about it made Dawn realized that he'd neglected something in his training.  Even before figuring out how to wield lightning, Dawn hadn't really put much thought into polishing his skills in using the vacuum blade technique.  Because he'd always thought of it as a skill of last resort, and because he wanted to avoid relying on it whenever possible, Dawn had neglected to pursue any further mastery of the technique.  If he'd mastered it further, he might have been able to control the motion, and even the shape of the super-sharp wind blades.  As it was, he could only launch them in crescent-shaped arcs in a straight line.  Once he'd learned how to wield lightning, Dawn had thrown all his work and concentration into mastering that, neglecting exploring the vacuum blade technique any further.  From this distance, trying something as precise as stripping Skan of his armor without cutting the griffon himself was out of the question...
....Which meant that Dawn had to get close.  The only other way the colt knew how to wield the blades of wind was to project them along the line of his feathers, wielding them like an extension of his own wings in a technique that was reminiscent of the cutting attack he'd seen the Wonderbolts use.  But doing so meant getting close to Skan...dangerously close.  Just as importantly, his attacks had to be precise to the finest degree or he wouldn't stop at slicing off the griffon's armor and would slice apart the griffon himself.	
A quiet huff forced its way out Dawn's nose.  In the end, it's no different from where I was before.  Just as with Willow, just as with what Red River had been teaching him, Dawn had to shoulder the risk of entering into the place where his enemy was strongest in order to strike a decisive blow and end the battle.  There was no use in dwelling on or thinking too much about it.
Instead, Dawn relaxed both his body and mind, letting his awareness bleed out through the whole of his form and out into the air around him.  He was no longer centered in his own thoughts, but in that curious place in the transition between thought and action.  He knew what he needed to do and he knew how to do it.  All his training and experience had built his understanding to make this possible.
Skan's eyes narrowed as he watched the jet-black colt with those strange eyes.  Something about Dawn Lightwing was changing.  It was as though his form was blurring, becoming indistinct, and bleeding out into the sky itself.  Thus, even though Dawn was right in front of him, Skan had trouble seeing the colt.  Skan's gaze seem to pass across Dawn without even acknowledging him and it took every bit of the griffon's focus to keep track of where Dawn was, even though the colt hadn't moved in the slightest.
Dawn moved.  His body seemed to vanish and then he was directly before Skan's eyes.  Immediately, Skan raised a clawed hand, ready to swipe at the colt with a vicious, devastating strike that would carve apart Dawn's flesh.  However, the colt's form almost seemed to melt before the griffon's eyes as Dawn practically flowed around Skan's slash, slipping past and to the side.  At the same moment, Dawn swept his wing forward, holding it flat so that the feathers splayed out, swinging the appendage like it was a large, broad blade.
Skan's ears picked up a faint whistling noise and something stirred the fur and feathers beneath his armored plates, as though a faint wind had leaked through.  Skan twisted to try and catch Dawn, but Dawn somehow slipped over his back and around to the other side, moving so fluidly that the griffon simply couldn't track it.  Once again, Skan heard a faint whistling noise and felt a breeze stir beneath his armor.  Skan whipped back around to the other side in an attempt to catch him, but it was suddenly like hunting a shadow as Dawn slipped away again.
And then, Skan felt lighter.  A second later, he realized why.  His armor was falling away, plate by plate.  Looking down, the griffon was shocked to see that Dawn had somehow cut the straps that held the armor plates to his body.  In less than a few seconds, his gauntlets were the only armor he had left.  Eyes wide with shock, Skan shifted his gaze up to where Dawn was now waiting, wings extended.  The griffon gulped nervously when he saw the sparks beginning to spit from the colt's wings.
Skan began to fold his wings in preparation for a dive, but the speed of light was far too fast for him to evade.  On reflex, the griffon threw out a gauntlet, which intercepted the burst of electricity.  But without the rest of his armor to conduct it out to a safe exit point, the lightning instead flowed through the embedded wires and then played out across Skan's form, causing the black griffon to scream and spasm as arcs of energy played across his body, burning feathers and making fur smolder.  Skan barely had the presence of mind to keep his wings spread, turning his fall into a glide that carried him back into the hallway that he and Dawn had vacated only moments earlier.
The griffon hit the floor, stumbling and disoriented, his limbs not fully responding to the commands his brain sent them.  He barely had the sense to turn and look back the way he had come, where he could see Dawn approaching.  Already, the colt was trailing blue and white sparks behind one wing as he dived in.  Forcing himself to move, Skan reared up into his hind legs with a defiant shriek.  Raising his claws to strike.  However, with the blow he had taken, he was far too slow to keep up with Dawn now.
The ebony colt moved with almost contemptuous ease, ducking underneath Skan's swiping claws and charging straight for the black griffon's underbelly.  As he did so, Dawn thrust forward with his wing, molding air with the electricity he had gathered and charging it.  Rather than allowing the power to concentrate fully into plasma, Dawn simply slammed Skan with a hammer of electrically charged air that sent shockwaves of lightning rippling across the griffon's body, even as the force of the blow slammed him back through the remains of the wall on the other side of the hallway.
Skan tumbled to a stop on the floor of an empty room, his body unable to move.  The griffon was barely conscious of Dawn's approach and coughed harshly as he tried to get up.  However, that wasn't possible.  It was as though his body had separated from his mind.  Skan could barely even feel his own limbs anymore and what he did feel felt distant.
As he stood over his foe, Dawn took a moment to calm his breathing, getting his body to relax after the incredibly tense battle.  His front legs ached fiercely and his shoulders were especially sore.  His wings burned from the exertion and his coat was matted with sweat.  It took a moment, but Dawn managed to relax his body somewhat.
"W-well done...little cub," coughed Skan from his position on the floor, surprised that he was still able to even speak, "Are you going to finish me?"
"That was never my intention," said Dawn, "If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have bothered to take such risks."
Skan laughed...or tried to as his laughter dissolved into a flurry of hacking coughs.  "In other words, you never faced me with your full strength to begin with."
"It's hard to describe," said Dawn, "But I never wanted to kill you, or anyone if I could avoid it.  It is more a problem of finding a way to fight with my full strength that doesn't endanger my enemy's life."
Again, the griffon coughed in a vain attempt to laugh at the colt's words.  "That's a difficult path to walk, little cub.  It is a far simpler thing to kill your enemy and be done with it."
"Maybe so," said Dawn, lowering his head as he thought of the ponies closest to him, of his mother and his fillyfriend, of their happy smiles and the warmth of their embrace, "But I feel that there are those I would lose if I do not follow this path.  I owe it to them to do my best not to spill blood needlessly."
"That is a sentiment I will probably never fully understand," commented Skan, "Killing comes far more easily to us griffons.  Maybe we could stand to learn from you a little more."
"I suppose," conceded Dawn, with a nod of his head, "But I am afraid I will have to cut this discussion short.  Please tell me where I may find Hope Spot."
"You'll find her in the master suite," replied Skan, "At the top of the highest tower."
"Thank you for your cooperation," said Dawn, bowing and spreading his wings to the griffon, "I hope that we can meet again...as something other than enemies."  Turning, Dawn walked out of the room and spread his wings to fly back down the hallway he had come from, heading across the foyer from where he and Perlin had first entered the mansion, heading towards the sounds of battle still emanating from down the hallway on the other side.



Perlin and Zhan raced down the corridor, their momentum resulting in them actually running along the walls as they beat their wings to speed their rush.  Zhan was out in front, her pointed wings allowing her to zip down the hallway with incredible speed.  As he followed in her wake, trying to catch up so he could attack, Perlin couldn't help but admire the griffoness' profile.  It was very different from most of the other griffons he had seen.  She was smaller, lighter, and much faster.  Strangely, the avian portion of her body seemed more like that of a falcon than that of an eagle.  I wonder if that means that there are divisions among the griffons, not unlike our pony tribes, Perlin thought idly as he continued to pursue her, wondering where Zhan was heading.
All things considered, Perlin could have simply abandoned the chase and gone after Hope Spot.  However, he didn't want to leave Zhan to come at them at a more inopportune time.  She struck Perlin as the more dangerously pragmatic of the pair and one willing to take advantage of a situation where they had Hope Spot to look after to attack.
Besides, this fight was simply too much fun to abandon now.  Wherever Zhan intended to run to, Perlin was sure that it would make things more interesting than they already were, which would be an impressive feat.
The hallway took a sharp turn before opening up into another room.  This one Perlin took to be a ballroom of some sort.  It was a large, open space, lined with ornamental pillars on either side, with an arched ceiling, where sections had been carved out to make room for skylights, half of which were streaming gold and rose-hued light from one side as the last rays of the setting sun reached the glass and refracted down through it, creating even more pillars, these ones of enchanting radiance, that stood at angles throughout the room.  All in all, Perlin couldn't imagine a more picturesque place to do battle.
Zhan immediately took to the open air in the high-ceilinged room, beating her wings and accelerating towards the arches above.  Perlin couldn't keep up with her raw speed, but he followed behind nonetheless, curious as to just what the griffoness was planning.
He found out quite quickly.  On the verge of slamming beak-first into one of the ceiling arches, Zhan flipped her body around and planted her hind paws against the stone.  Perlin's eyes could see already taut muscles tightening, winding like powerful springs as Zhan's own momentum pressed her into a crouch against the ceiling, her entire body seeming to coil like a serpent preparing to strike.
And then she vanished.  The only sign she had been there at all was a web of cracks spreading from where Zhan's hind claws had pierced into the stone with incredible force.  Perlin's only warning was a feeling of rushing air, not dissimilar from the non-visual cues that Dawn's attacks gave off.  Fortunately, it was all the warning he needed.  Twisting his body, Perlin swept his wing out in front of him as fast as he could, barely managing to make it in time before metal claws raked against his feathers, drawing out a stream of sparks as they raked across the wing's width.  In an instant, the feeling was gone.  Perlin's ears picked up a shuddering crunch of stone being crushed behind him and spun about to see a similar series of cracks spreading across the surface of one of the pillars down below him.  However, there was no other sign of Zhan.  Instead, Perlin's ears picked up another crunch, followed by that feeling of rushing air once again.  He twisted his body to intercept the attack, but was too late.
The sting of claws raking across his barrel told Perlin that Zhan's attack had found its mark.  However, his effort to respond to her by twisting and sweeping his wing out had forced her to take a shallower angle of approach, so her claws barely cut deeper than his skin.  But this was an unfavorable situation, to say the least.  With her wings alone, Zhan had already been an opponent whose dexterity was on par with Dawn's, able to perform the same feat of seeming to teleport from one place to another.
But now she wasn't just relying on her wings.  Perlin now realized why she had led him to this room.  She was now combining her incredible flight speed with her body's brute strength, using the pillars and arches around the room as platforms to push off of and accelerate even further beyond what she had been capable of with her wings alone.  The pillars afforded Zhan with numerous places to push off from, broadening her tactical options immensely.  Perlin realized that he had seriously underestimated the griffon and he hadn't even thought her a pushover to begin with.
His mistake had been to view his opponent as, more or less, a pegasus with extra-sharp bits, that her attacks and skills would rely primarily on her ability to fly.  However, griffons were only half-bird in form.  The other half was a lion's, a creature of the earth.  She used her avian aspect to move swiftly through the air, while her terrestrial aspect allowed her to draw out extra strength with support from the earth.  Rather than fighting like a pegasus, her nature was closer to that of a pegasus combined with an earth pony.  I should be extremely glad she doesn't have magic as well.
Even as Perlin was thinking about this, Zhan had already attacked a half-dozen more times, ricocheting off pillars and arches like an out-of-control pinball, her body completely invisible to Perlin's eyes, save for the fleeting afterimages he managed to spot whenever she happened to slam feet-first into her chosen platform within the range of his vision.  Of the six strikes, he managed to fully block half of them.  The other half had gotten through his defenses, but were shallow, thanks to the fact that his wings still managed to keep her from striking full on.  However, at this rate, blood loss would eventually weaken the cream-colored colt and dull his reflexes to the point he wouldn't be able to defend himself at all.  Then she would strike the finishing blow.
I need to do something about her situation, thought Perlin as he twisted about, barely managing to twist about and catch Zhan's claws with the flat of one wing, She has too many points to push off of.  The obvious approach would be to cut away the pillars.  If he managed to remove them, he could limit Zhan's options to the ceiling and the walls, which would cut down on the number of architectural features she could use as platforms.  Moving at such speeds meant she was limited almost completely to straight lines, able to only make minor corrections to her trajectory.
A slow smile spread across Perlin's space.  Yes, he could try to take away the advantage this room afforded to her.  But I have a better idea.
Once again feeling the shift in the air signaling Zhan's aproach, Perlin twisted about to intercept her, once again lashing out with a wing.  However, instead of simply slashing with the wing alone, he launched three of his wired feathers at varied angles.  Zhan's claws didn't even make contact with Perlin's wing as the griffoness was forced to make the most radical adjustment to her trajectory she possibly could to avoid the deadly wired blades.  Feeling the breeze of her passing, Perlin smiled and twisted to fling a pair of feathers from his opposite wing, aiming for his estimation of her landing point.  Of course, it was far too slow and Zhan was already gone from the pillar Perlin had been aiming for.
Even as he struck out, Perlin allowed himself to lose altitude.  He retracted the two feathers he'd launched in his second attempt, but not the first three he'd sent out.  As he sensed Zhan's approach once again, Perlin tugged hard on the wires themselves.  He could almost feel the griffoness's surprise when he was suddenly no longer where he was supposed to be.
The first three feathers Perlin had launched had lanced out like darts.  A subtle motion of his wing had sent them swinging in arcs so that the wires wrapped around a trio of pillars on one side of the ballroom.  Now Perlin pulled on those wires, successfully tugging himself out of the line of attack.  Letting the wires go slack released the pillars and Perlin glided to a stop between them.  As he did so, his ears picked up a rapid series of impacts as Zhan's paws slammed home against several pillars, walls, and arches in succession, the path of impacts taking her from the ceiling, to the other side of the room, to the wall behind Perlin, and to the pillars on either side of him.  When she hit the pillars by him, Perlin launched his wired feathers, all ten of them this time, out to either side of him, swinging the wires in arcs, Perlin swung them directly against the pillars, abruptly changing the angle of their swings so that the feathers were now suddenly sweeping directly towards him, moving with speed that even he couldn't track with his eyes, possibly even matching Zhan's speed.
Just as he had anticipated, he'd managed to pull off the tactic just as Zhan was making another run at him.  He could feel the change in the motion of the air caused by her passing as she desperately twisted to avoid ten razor-sharp blades coming at her from different angles, abandoning her attack to escape injury.  However, Perlin wasn't done yet.  The angles of the wired feathers' motion sent them swinging into one another's paths as well, the wires twisting, seeming to tangle together, altering the direction of their motion yet again before they crossed with the other wires at different angles, quickly wrapping together in complex, almost indecipherable motions.
Then Perlin leapt into action, surging forward just as his ears picked up the impact of Zhan against the wall directly behind him, just where he'd expected her last attack to take her.  It was all a question of speed now.
In front of Perlin, all ten wires had crossed and he snatched them in a single bundle into his mouth, halting any further tangling.  He continued his flight, spinning about as he did so, drawing the wires taut.  Just as he'd anticipated, Zhan was hurtling straight for him.  He must have looked so foolish to her, tangling his most formidable weapons so severely.  However, as Perlin drew the wires taut, the true nature of his intent became clear to the griffoness.  She desperately tried to twist and turn, but it was too late.  Her speed, her most deadly weapon, had now become her greatest weakness.  When Perlin drew the wires tight, what had seemed only to be a complicated tangle, a snarl born of Perlin's foolishness, now took its true form, a web...a trap.
As Zhan hit the wire snare, she went into a tumble, pulling at the wires.  Perlin strained at both ends of the wires.  His wings felt as though they were about to be pulled from their sockets.  His teeth seemed to be on the verge of being ripped out at the roots.  The force behind Zhan's charge was immense.  However, Perlin hung grimly on, waiting, feeling for the right time.  As the wires caught Zhan and halted her charge, her momentum and energy was channeled into them.  Perlin was waiting for the moment when that transfer was perfectly balanced between Zhan and his wires.  It would come in an instant.
When it did come, Perlin released the sections of wire he'd gripped in his mouth, causing the whole web to go slack.  The inertia that Zhan's collision caused them to whip and twist about, even as her own remaining momentum sent her tumbling further, both factors causing the wires to wrap around her body.  With a snap of his wings, Perlin drew the wires taut once more, now looking at the griffon he'd handily snared in his hastily-constructed net.
Zhan was in a poor position.  Her tumble had resulted in her limbs being tangled up at random.  One foreleg was leveraged behind her back, while a wing splayed out almost directly behind her.  Her remaining foreleg was stretched out in front of her, as though she was still reaching for Perlin, despite having been brought to a complete halt.  Her remaining wing was bound tightly against her side by wires wrapping across her whole body.  Finally, her hind legs had been pulled apart, being stretched in separate directions.
"I have you now," said Perlin with a slight smile, "You certainly made me work for this."  Not bad for a trick I made up on the spot, though I should talk to the doctor about mithril fillings for my teeth if I'm going to try something like that again.
Zhan's eyes narrowed and she glared at him.  "Now what?"
"Now, we finish it," replied Perlin.  He allowed some slack into the wires, causing their hold on Zhan to loosen.  In the next instant, he whipped his entire body around, turning to face away from Zhan, sweeping his wings about him with the motion.  He also started retracting the wires immediately.  Instead of tightening back around Zhan, they were pulled back towards their point of origin.  The feathers on the end of those wires followed, slicing through anything that impeded them, including the stone pillars and griffon flesh.  Zhan shrieked as she was sliced from several directions at once.  The feathers also sliced the stone pillars on either side of the griffoness into several pieces.
Perlin's feathers returned, snapping back into their proper places.  Zhan dropped limply towards the ground, having been cut in several critical places.  Perlin watched as the griffoness plummeted towards the unforgiving stone floor below...
...Only to be caught on a cushion of wind as an ebony blur streaked out of the same hallway Perlin and Zhan had come from.  As Zhan's fall slowed to a gentle stop, Dawn swept a wing across his body, a burst of wind blasting aside the chunks of pillar that threatened to smash Zhan beneath them.  After making sure that they were no longer being threatened by debris, Dawn turned his attention back down to Zhan as he examined her wounds.  His wings blurred, seeming to flick sharply over the gauntlets around Zhan's forelegs.  The strange alloy, which had withstood repeated blows from Perlin's wings, fell away with no fuss.  Dawn kicked the savage weapons away and continued his examination.
As Perlin slowly dropped to the floor, Dawn turned to glare at him.  "I thought I told you, no killing for killing's sake."
"You also told me once that mercy is a luxury that one can only afford when one has the power to hold their enemy's life in their hooves," replied Perlin, turning to display the collection of cuts he had gained as a consequence of the battle, "It was a close-run thing.  The slightest error and you would be there, staring at my severed head."
Perlin turned his attention to Zhan, who was, somehow, still conscious.  Her eyes were glazed, a sign that the injuries were takin their toll.  Like Dawn, Perlin examined the extent of her injuries.  The fight had been every bit as close as he had claimed.  In all honesty, Perlin was a bit surprised by the trick he'd ended up using.  Never before had he seriously considered using the wires themselves as a part of his weapon.  He had always viewed them as merely the tethers that connected the feathers to his wings, but not as weapons in and of themselves.  His web had worked out quite well.  But, given its novelty, he hadn't been able to be as precise with it as he would have liked.
As a consequence, Zhan's condition could be best described as...messy.  Perlin's feathers had sliced through muscle and tendon without discrimination.  Fortunately, his attacks seemed to have missed any major arteries, but Zhan was still in very real danger of bleeding out.  However, there didn't seem to be much that either him or Dawn could do.  Neither of them had brought any medical supplies and Perlin didn't rate his ability to treat another pony, much less a creature of a different species altogether, beyond basic first aid, which was slightly less than what was called for here.
"I'm not sure what we can do," Perlin said after a moment.  He turned to look speculatively at Dawn.  "Where's her comrade?"
"The other one is incapacitated right now," replied Dawn as he wondered what to do.
At that moment, the two of them heard a click of stone bouncing off stone.  Both colts whirled to see a unicorn slowly slinking into the room from the entrance that they had both come from.  From the uniform the stallion was wearing, it was clear that he was a member of the household staff.
"Ah!" exclaimed Perlin, his wings spreading in his excitement, "Perfect!"
Dawn's eyes narrowed at he looked at the servant.  The unicorn looked as though he had been about to bolt.  After all, he had simply been poking his head into the room to see if the battle was truly over.  However, Dawn's fierce draconic gaze, pinned the stallion in place like an insect in a hobbyist's collection.  "Is there anypony among the staff here capable of healing magic?" asked Dawn.
"Th-there is," stammered the stallion, having to force words out from between his chattering teeth, "The head maid is a proficient healer."
"Then please summon her here so that this griffon can get the treatment she needs," said Dawn.
"B-but th-the Viscountess wouldn't approve," protested the servant, clearly nervous at the possible outcome, "She'll be livid if we aided a guard that failed her so badly."
Dawn's eyes narrowed into a glare that froze the stallion's blood in his veins.  The sheer force of his will behind it was intimidating enough, but its influence was only magnified by the intensity his unique eyes lent it.  The psychological affect on the stallion was profound as his entire body began to shake beneath the force of Dawn's glare (1).
"I have more than had my fill of hearing what this Viscountess wants," growled Dawn, "Perhaps it is just as well that she receives a severe lesson that things will not always go her way.  Go and fetch your head maid...now!"
The stallion didn't even bother nodding, instead turning to flee back the way he come.  Dawn continued to glare down the hallway until the sound of the servant's hoofsteps could no longer be heard.
Turning his attention back to Perlin and Zhan, Dawn could see the older colt smirking at him in amusement.  "My, aren't you testy."
Dawn snorted.  "Finding out some idiot noble has been keeping an innocent mare imprisoned so that she can threaten my family just so she can manipulate one of my friends tends to have an adverse effect on my temper.  I'm halfway tempted to go to Canterlot and give her a piece of my mind in pony."
Perlin let out a barking laugh.  "I wouldn't mind that myself."
Dawn could see that Zhan was still bleeding.  There were too many wounds to staunch and they were all across her body, meaning that simply tilting her one way or another wouldn't help matters.  He could only hope that the head maid made it in time to actually administer treatment.  Fortunately, none of Zhan's cuts were across important arteries and veins.  As he continued to watch the griffoness, Dawn's ears picked up a faint dripping and he looked over to see that it was blood dripping from Perlin's own lacerations.  A faint flicker of guilt flashed through Dawn as he remembered that Perlin had shown him the wounds earlier.  But Dawn, in his anger, had scarcely acknowledged them as anything more than proof that Perlin had been serious about how difficult his fight had been.  "I suppose we should have her see to your wounds while we're at it."
Perlin shrugged, as though he didn't even realize that he'd been hurt at all.  "Ah, it's not so bad."  He looked down and lifted a wing, as he did, Perlin realized that his flesh hadn't been the only casualty of the battle.  His cloak, the one Rarity had made for him, had several tears in it from where Zhan's claws had cut through the fabric to reach his barrel.  "Oh bother..."



A few minutes later, the head maid, another unicorn came trotting in, glaring at the two colts like they were misbehaving children.  "Unbelievable!  Do you brats have any idea what you've done?  The architecture of this estate is nearly two-thousand years old!  The rooms of this mansion were carved from the bedrock of the mountain itself and you've smashed portions of it like cheap china!  How dare you-!"
The mare was cut off as Dawn sharply extended his wing, stretching the leading primary so that it hovered just below the mare's chin, his turquoise eyes glaring back into hers.  "I could care less about this estate.  If you're really so upset, then you should talk to your employer about her questionable business practices if they bring things like this down on her property.  Now, do the job that you were called for and the damaged sections will remain the only damaged sections.  If not, then I will go ahead and level the entire thing."
The maid gulped, at first looking as though she wouldn't back down.  However, after another moment, she sighed and stepped away from Dawn so that she could turn her attention to Zhan.  A shining aura washed over the griffoness.  Her eyes drifted closed as the healing magic took effect and the cuts began to close.
"We're lucky it was nothing more than lacerations," said the maid, now all business, "If she'd broken any bones, we would have to feed her before we could place her under the healing spell."
"Thank you," said Dawn, before jerking his head towards Perlin, "Now, if you would be so kind as to see to his wounds..."
The mare sighed and turned her attention to Perlin.  Once again, her horn lit and the cream-colored colt was bathed with light.  When she finished, the cuts across Perlin's body had scabbed over.  There would be some scarring, but nothing too noticeable once time had passed.
"Well, that's all well and good," said Perlin, before turning about, "Perhaps we should retrieve Ms. Hope Spot and be on our w-whoa!"  He stumbled, almost falling flat on his face, but managed to rally at the last second and remain standing.  However, he was stumbling around drunkenly as his eyelids began drifting downward.
"I didn't think this through as well as I thought," muttered Dawn as he moved to support Perlin from the side.  The healing magic had sapped a good deal of Perlin's energy.  It didn't help that he was also worn from the recent fight.  Perlin was now fighting simply to remain awake long enough to see their mission through.  Dawn was seriously worried that they wouldn't even be able to make it to the station like this, especially if they had another pony in tow.
Perlin's legs stiffened and he forced himself to stand up fully.  His eyes clenched shut and he shook his head vigorously.  When he opened his eyes again, they'd cleared somewhat, but still held that glazed quality of a pony who had been woken up too suddenly from a deep sleep.  "Don't worry," he said, his voice almost as unsteady as his legs had been earlier, "I can make it.  Let's go collect our prize."
With a sigh, Dawn nodded and the two of them began to walk towards the exit of the room.  Perlin seemed at least steady enough on his own.  Dawn, following what Skan had told him, led the way, taking them towards the center of the mansion, where they found a long, spiraling staircase leading up the tower.  The ebony colt glanced dubiously at the stairs, then back at Perlin, who simply nodded at him.
"You go on ahead."
Dawn nodded and frowned.  "If you fall asleep down here, I'm not carrying you out."
Perlin laughed and smirked at him.  "I didn't expect you to be so worried about my health.  I'm touched."
Dawn snorted in response and made his way up the stairs.  Perlin watched him go, a sly smile gracing his face.
> The Journey Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 10: The Journey Home

The rumbling had finally stopped.  Both hopeful and worried, Hope Spot uncurled from her position from the windowsill and dared to look out.  Only a moment ago, the air had been roaring, like the raging call of some massive beast.  A tornado had appeared near the side of the mansion, tearing part of it away and tossing the crumbled pieces of stone aside.  The roaring was accompanied by the occasional boom of thunder.  And then...silence.  When Hope Spot looked out again, the scene hadn't changed much from the last time.  A cloud of dust still rose over the ruined section of the manor.  However, there was no sign that whatever had been happening before was going to resume.
She continued to look out the window, trying to figure out just what was going on.  The young mare had no idea just how long she spent there, staring.  However, she was startled by a sharp knocking sound from the door.
"Miss Hope Spot," called somepony from the other side, "Are you there?"
"Y-yes..." stammered Hope Spot, wondering what was going on.  The voice didn't sound like Skan, Zhan, or any of the other household staff that had spoken to her (rarely).  In fact, it sounded like the voice of a colt.
"If you are standing near the door, I suggest you get back," said the pony from the other side.  A second later, there was a faint whistling noise and the door fell to pieces.  Hope leaned forward, both afraid and eager to get a good look at the pony on the other side.
Her eyes widened when she saw that the pony was indeed a colt.  More importantly, he was a colt with the strangest eyes that she had ever seen, turquoise with vertical, slit-pupils.  They were unsettling to look at, to be sure, but, at the same time, compelling.  In spite of their rather unnatural appearance, Hope couldn't help but find a certain gentleness in the colt's strange eyes that gave her a reassuring feeling.
"Who are you?"
The colt bobbed his head politely.  "My name is Dawn Lightwing.  My...ally and I are here to rescue you."
"Rescue me," whispered Hope Spot, her heart fluttering.  Could it be true?  "Are you really here to help me?"
Dawn nodded and beckoned her towards the door.  "However, we should be on our way quickly.  We need to hurry if we're to catch the last train out of here.  Do you have any belongings that you need to bring with you?"
Hope shook her head and followed Dawn as he quickly led the way down the stairs.  At the bottom of the staircase, a cream-colored colt, looking half-asleep waited for them.  His body was covered with a black cloak with several tears on it.  Through the tears, Hope saw a glint of metal.  Currently, the other colt was in conversation with one of the mansion's servants.  As he heard them approach, the young stallion looked up from his conversation and nodded to them before shooing off the servant.
"And what was that all about?" asked Dawn, his eyes narrowing as he approached Perlin.
"Oh nothing," said Perlin with the most obviously forced-innocent tone he could muster, "I was just giving some employment advice to one of the servants to spread around to the rest of the staff here.  Sweet Water is likely to be quite unhappy when she learns what happened, especially when she finds out how badly the estate was damaged.  I was just suggesting to the servants that they perhaps seek employment elsewhere.  As it so happens, I know a few places where they might be better off than staying here."
"I probably shouldn't be surprised," muttered Dawn as he came the rest of the way down, Hope following in his wake.
"And is this lady Hope Spot?" asked Perlin, eyeing the teal mare, who shivered nervously under his gaze.  However, she managed to nod to Perlin who smiled and bowed.  "A pleasure to meet you.  I'm sure we'd all like to spend some time getting to know each other better.  But it is probably in our best interests to be away from this place as soon as possible."
"Can you even make it to the train station?" asked Dawn, eyeing the older colt warily.
"I should hope so," said Perlin, doing his best to remain steady, "If not, you can always make good on your promise to leave me behind."
"Fine then," said Dawn.
Together, the three of them set out through the mansion, making their way through the hallways towards the entry.  While the manor was unfamiliar to them, it was no maze and it wasn't any harder for the group to find their way to the exit than it was for Dawn and Perlin to make their way to the tower in the first place.  When they reached the large hall leading to the doors out, they found their way blocked by the bulk of Skan as the large griffon waited for them.
"I'm impressed to see you up and about so quickly," said Dawn, though his eyes noted the subtle quivering in the muscles of the griffon's legs.  It was clear that Skan was doing everything in his power to remain standing.  He wouldn't be an impediment to them.
"Well, I am obligated to do everything in my power to see this job through to the end," said Skan, smirking at them.  He turned his gaze to Hope Spot, who, surprisingly, didn't seem all that afraid of the imposing griffon.  "Thus I am obligated to ask that you return to your room."
"I'm sorry," said Hope, smiling up at the griffon, "But I won't.  Thank you for treating me so well, while I was here."
Skan chuckled and bowed to her, nearly pitching over onto his face as his legs threatened to give out.  He turned his attention back to Dawn and Perlin, "Well, there's nothing left to do I guess.  Zhan and I will have to look for work elsewhere.  I doubt the Viscountess will be very happy with us for ruining her precious estate."
"You could always return to the griffon lands," Dawn suggested.
To the jet-black colt's surprise, Skan shook his head slowly.  "That isn't possible for us.  We've been more or less marked for death back there."
"Criminals?" asked Dawn, raising an eyebrow.
The large griffon laughed at that.  "If we were criminals, we could simply flee to a different aerie than the one we were convicted in.  That's the advantage to the political situation there.  But that isn't the problem.
"Zhan and I are good at what we do...too good, you could say.  In the griffon lands, that usually results in making yourself into a priority target."
"Ah, I get it," said Perlin, "I've heard that amongst the griffon aeries, if one of them starts growing too powerful, they are quickly swarmed by their weaker, but far more numerous competitors.  It doesn't surprise me at all that such practices would filter down to the treatment of individual warriors."
Skan nodded.  "So, in the end, Equestria was our best hope to continue living.  We want to have eggs and raise a little flock of our own someday.  And I would much prefer to do that in a place where I can be certain that everybird isn't trying to kill us because we've gotten a little too good at what we do best."  He sighed and slumped.  "But it's hard for griffons like us to make a living in Equestria, especially since our kind don't have the best of reputations here...not that it isn't somewhat deserved, but still..."
"May I make a suggestion," said Dawn, stepping forward, moving closer to Skan so that he could speak without the other two members of his own party overhearing.
"When you and your mate recover, fly to Cloudsdale and go to see Spitfire of the Wonderbolts," whispered Dawn, "Tell her that Dawn Lightwing sent you and she may well be able to do something to help you."
Dawn stepped away from Skan, who nodded to him.  "I will.  Thank you."
"If we are lucky, this won't be the last time we meet," said Dawn as he proceeded past Skan, "And if we do, I would much rather meet you as a friend."
"A sentiment I share," replied Skan as Hope and Perlin also walked past.  Skan turned and watched them go, his eyes following the trio until they were past the gates and on their way down the mountain.



The trip through town was uneventful, thankfully.  Dawn's unique eyes had attracted a lot of attention, but enough ponies and griffons had seen him heading up to Sweet Water's estate on the top of the mountain to put two and two together and realize just who had been behind the disturbance.  Even the members of the town Guard kept their distance, though they shadowed the trio carefully, their black and gray armor blending in nearly perfectly with the natural hues of the stone that the town had been carved from.
Perlin's condition slowed their journey somewhat.  His steps were halting, stumbling, as he fought to keep himself awake while dealing with the drain on his stamina caused by the healing spell.  Dawn wasn't exactly feeling particularly chipper either, having been worn down by the arduous battle with Skan.  However, he trusted his endurance to at least see them through to the train station if any of the Guard tried to object to their leaving.
When they arrived at the station, it was just in time to catch the very last train leaving for the day.  It had taken longer than Dawn and Perlin had wagered, but their erring on the side of caution had paid off.  Perlin once again booked a compartment for the three of them, first-class no less.  Dawn wondered where he kept the bits to pay for it all.  However, he then saw Perlin flash something in front of the ticket-seller's eyes.  The pony behind the counter had nodded and provided Perlin with the three tickets.
Moments later, the train rumbled out of the station.  The first-class compartment was very much the same as the one that Dawn and Perlin had ridden on their way up to Diamond Mountain.  It was furnished with no less than four beds, arranged in bunks.  The side of the wall opposite the door into the compartment was fitted with a large, plush couch, situated up against the wall, just underneath the large window that dominated the rest of the wall.  The floor was covered with thick, soft carpeting that felt positively heavenly beneath Dawn's hooves after their ordeal.  On one side, there was a door that led to an adjoining bathroom, with all the amenities needed to see them through their journey.
Perlin wasted no time in shrugging off his cloak before climbing into one of the lower bunks and laying down, paying no mind to Hope's shocked gasp as he fully revealed his wings for the first time.  His eyes were closed and he was fast asleep by the time his head hit the pillow.
"Is he going to be alright?" asked Hope Spot, looking at the cream-colored colt.
"He'll be fine," said Dawn, rolling his wings in their sockets.  He still felt clammy and grimy.  Dust clung to his coat and feathers, where it had mixed with sweat.  Though he wasn't on the edge of passing out, Dawn wasn't exactly bursting with energy either.
"If you don't mind," he said to Hope, "I'd like to take a little time to clean myself up."
"Go ahead," said Hope, watching the colt as he went into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.  She was having a hard time processing what was going on.  The whole situation felt so surreal to her.  First, she'd never expected to be rescued.  She had always figured either her captors would get what they wanted or she would be held in that room until she defaulted on her debts and lost everything.  She had even entertained the possibility that her captors would simply end her life to maintain her silence.  However, she had been rescued.  And, to make the whole situation stranger, her rescuers were just so...weird.
Dawn was certainly nice enough.  Though he seemed somewhat distant and taciturn at times, there was still a warmth to him, in spite of his strange-looking eyes.  However, Perlin was a different matter.  While the young stallion was polite, Hope didn't like the way he had looked her over at all.  His eyes had been observing her, sizing her up and evaluating her for...something.  Looking at him now, she was also vaguely intimidated by those strange, metal wings of his.
Still, Hope knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.  These two were her best hope for getting home and getting back to living her life, assuming that nopony tried to foalnap her again.  Hope Spot would like to avoid that fate if she could.  She puzzled over this in silence, her ears picking up the sounds of running water from the shower in the other room.
"You look rather thoughtful."
"Eep!" squealed Hope Spot when she suddenly realized that Perlin was looking at her.  I thought he was asleep!
"Well, I plan on sleeping soon enough," said Perlin, smiling at her, seemingly reading her mind.  There was still that glazed look in his eyes.  However, his gaze was still razor-sharp.  Just feeling it on her made Hope feel a hundred times more nervous than when Dawn looked at her with those strange, catlike eyes of his.  The older colt, one who was only just short of being a stallion in age, grinned at her.  "However, I have some business with you to wrap-up."
"W-with me..."  That made Hope Spot nervous.  The ponies who had abducted her from her home had said the something similar after all.  She'd had her fill of ponies who had "business" with her.
"Don't worry, it's nothing like what Sweet Water's goons wanted," said Perlin, "My employer filled me in on your situation before you left.  You have student loans to pay off, not to mention a few other debts as well.  Given your current earnings and adjusting for how much you might make once you finish your education and get a new job, you're still looking at anywhere from fifteen to twenty years of debt if you try to get by paying the bare minimum.  Am I right?"
Hope Spot nodded and Perlin continued.  "Furthermore, if you try to pay extra so that you can get your loans paid off earlier and avoid accruing too much interest, you're still looking at about ten to twelve years, right?"
Again Hope nodded.  Getting through school with her own funds was a challenge after all.  Her work as a nurse managed to provide for room and board for herself, as well as enough to keep meeting the minimum payments.  Once she graduated and, assuming she managed to find work as a doctor, she'd have more money to work with.  But much of that money would still go to the necessities while she'd put as much as possible into paying off the loan.
"I thought so," said Perlin, "Your family could help, but they're all government workers, which means they're not swimming in money either.  This was something you wanted to do yourself as a matter of pride, right?"
Yet again, Hope nodded.
"That's what I thought," said Perlin, "Which means you probably won't care for my initial offer, but I'll lay it out for anyway 'cause my current employer is an annoying jerk who gets worked up if I don't do what he wants.
"Basically, my employer wants to pay off your entire debt in one fell swoop.  In fact, you could say that he would like to sponsor your education, cover for everything; room, board, schooling, the works."
Hope was silent as she mulled it over.  There was, no doubt, a certain tantalizing quality to that offer.  But such generosity never came without strings attached, or so she believed.  "No thank you," she said after a long moment.
To her surprise, Perlin laughed and gave her a smile that was more genuine and less conniving, which made her feel a bit more at ease.  "You're a clever mare.  I think you understand the gist of what he's trying to do.  Rather than wiping away your debts, you'd simply be transferring them to a new holder.  I don't know what my employer wants with you.  It may be just another move to cover his bases, but I can guarantee that you wouldn't get off scot-free."
Perlin slowly extended a metal-feathered wing, gently slipping a single feather beneath the hem of his cloak.  Moving carefully, so that what remained of the garment wouldn't be cut by the razor-sharp edges of his feathers, he slowly lifted it up onto the bed with him.  "That being the case, I have a different offer to make you, one that my employer doesn't know about."
"What's that?" asked Hope, feeling nervous once again.  She wasn't sure she wanted to be in this young stallion's debt either.
"It's not an exchange, but a gift," replied Perlin smoothly.  Ducking his head beneath the cloak, he pulled out what looked like a small note.  "This is a onetime thing, so you'll need to look after it carefully until you use it and then it won't be of any worth to you again."
"What is that?" asked Hope.
"A blank check of sorts," replied Perlin, "Write the amount you need and bring it to any bank in Equestria and the sum will be transferred to your own account.  You could easily choose to take enough to settle your debts in one go plus extra."
"R-really!" exclaimed Hope, "But how could you possibly-?"
"This mercenary work is something I do for enjoyment, rather than the money," replied Perlin, "But I still draw a pretty nice fee, all told.  I also happen to have been born into a lot of money, so what I've earned just happens to be tucked away into my account, gathering dust.  Bleed it dry if you want.  I don't mind."
"B-but why make an offer like this?" asked Hope, "Do you w-want me to do something for you too?"
"Nah," replied Perlin, "But while most ponies aren't stupid enough to try the same thing twice, I've found it can be a pain to underestimate just how stupid ponies can be.  As long as your debt is there and as long as your brother is where he is, you'll be a tempting target for ponies, like Sweet Water, who want to manipulate the situation towards a certain outcome."
"Is that what this is about?" asked Hope, "My brother?"
Perlin nodded.  "Dawn's the one you should ask about that, since he's the one with the stake in what your brother is doing.  Anyway...my point is this.  If we use the metaphor of a game, it would be much better for everyone concerned if the piece you represented was taken off the board, so to speak.  This is my way of doing that.  I have no need of any kind of recompense from you, so consider this a no-strings-attached offer, a gift, if you will."
"But why would you do that?" asked Hope.
"Like I said, I'd much prefer that you were off the board," replied Perlin, "But also, my current employer already stands to gain a great deal from what Dawn and I did on Diamond Mountain.  He's outmaneuvered a rival and humiliated her in the process.  On top of that, he's gained a nice little cadre of trained servants who will soon be looking for greener pastures, lest the Viscountess' wrath fall on their heads.  If you accepted his offer, he'd be getting a doctor and a pony with ties to an important government department and ministry, giving him plenty of inroads.
"But it's no fun to let him get everything he wants."  Perlin's grin became positively chilling.  "He's enough of an annoying ass already, that it's a pain to hear him always crow about how perfectly his plans are going and how he's going to reform the country and so on.  I think it would be fun for him to deal with a wrinkle or two of his own.  Don't you think?"
Sweat beaded on Hope's brow as she listened to Perlin, her body shivering.  There was something about this colt that terrified her.  Now she had some degree of understanding of what he was doing when he was looking at her.  This was like a game to him and she was just a piece of it to him.  He was evaluating her value and decided he didn't want her on the board anymore.  But was that all...?
"Is that all?" she asked.
"It's nothing you need worry about," replied Perlin, all amusement gone from his tone, as though her inquiry had struck some sort of sore spot for him, even though it was far too general for her to puzzle out any of the specifics of his situation.  However, she realized that there was more to this than simply removing her piece from play and spiting his employer.  But what?  I'll probably never know.
"I'll give this to you," said Perlin, gently flicking the note so that it came to rest on her forehooves, "You can decide whether or not to use it and how much to use it for.  I've said what I wanted to.  Now, if you'll excuse me..." he settled his chin back down onto his forehooves, eyes drifting shut once again, "...I've got some real sleeping to do."
A second later, he was slumbering away quietly.  Hope idly stared down at his gift to her and wondered just what to do about it.



A few minutes later, Dawn emerged from the shower, looking distinctly better off than he had before.  Hope had tucked the check Perlin had given her into the hairs of her tail for safekeeping, though she still wasn't certain that she would ever make use of it.  Even with all that Perlin had told her, she had trouble believing that he wouldn't ever come after her, demanding repayment in some form or another.
"Something on your mind?" asked Dawn, apparently noticing her confused and agitated state.
"Well..."  Hope stared down at her forelegs as she sprawled across the bed.  Perlin continued to quietly snore away on the other side.
"I take it that it's about your conversation with him," said Dawn, tilting his head towards Perlin.  Seeing the surprise on Hope's face, he smirked at her in a manner that wasn't all that different from how Perlin did it.  "He isn't very good at feigning sleep.  And it's particularly hard to pretend to be asleep when you're a hair's-breadth from actually being asleep.  I figured he wanted to speak to you about something."
"Do you know what?" asked Hope.
Dawn shook his head.  "No, and I won't ask.  Ironically, though I dislike him to the extreme, I can at least trust him somewhat."
"Why?"
"He's a pony who is very honest about what he wants.  At this point in time, what he wants is me, or rather, the chance to settle our score and fight to the death, or something like that."  Dawn gave Perlin a look that could almost be called pitying.  "It's not the kind of desire I put much stock in.  But he at least has the fortitude to hold himself to it."
"I see..." said Hope Spot, "He mentioned that this had something to do with my brother.  Please tell me what's happening."
Dawn recounted the situation to her, from Softhoof's coming to Ponyville to inspect Fluttershy's fitness for motherhood, to Grayblood's unwillingness to accept the agent's evaluations.
"Why that little..." Hope growled, fury humming in her very bones, "How could he do that to anypony, to a foal no less?"
"I was frustrated before," explained Dawn, "But I can't bring myself to dislike him for what he has done.  My mother is very dear to me, as are all the friends I have gained since coming to live in Ponyville.  I can't rightly say what I wouldn't do for them...even if what I would might be something they couldn't forgive me for.  I hope I never have to make that kind of decision, but I can't fault your brother in his willingness to help you."
"But, he could have ruined your life," protested Hope.
"He wouldn't be the first pony to try," replied Dawn coolly, "And at least he isn't doing so out of some sort of ridiculous superstition.  I can appreciate that much."
"Are you sure?" asked Hope.
"Sure enough," said Dawn, "I have no intention of holding a grudge."  He eyed the clock that hung over the door to the room.  "It's getting late.  We should get some sleep.  It will take time for this train to get...wherever it's going."
"I think the tickets were to Canterlot," said Hope Spot, "The train will be stopping on the way, but I think we should get there the day after tomorrow."
"That's about how long it took us to get to Diamond Mountain," mused Dawn, "If they send word by pegasus courier, Sweet Water could find out what happened and be there waiting for us."
Hope shivered, terrified at the prospect of being taken captive again after just having tasted freedom.  However, she calmed when Dawn smiled at her.
"Whatever might lay ahead, I'll protect you and get you to your family safely," he promised in a solemn tone that filled Hope with warmth and reassurance.
With that, Dawn fluttered up to the bunk above Perlin's bed and settled down.  Hope used her magic to shut off the lights and they joined Perlin in the land of dreams.



The trip to Canterlot was perfectly uneventful.  Both Hope Spot and Perlin helped themselves freely to the train's amenities, including the dining car.  However, Dawn chose to forgo eating for the time being, having had more than enough of train food on his way out from Ponyville.  He'd occasionally gone days between meals during his time in the Everfree.  Ever since coming to live with Fluttershy, Dawn had gotten used to eating regularly, but he would still be able to go a day or more without eating and be fine, so long as he had water.  He figured it would be better to deal with a grumbling, empty stomach than a full one that was very upset with him.
As the sun rose on the morning of their second day of traveling, the company awoke to see the gleaming white city perched on the mountainside out their window.  Hope Spot's heart soared as she looked at the city that, for a little while, she'd been afraid she would never get to see again.  It was there that her family waited.
"Looks like our little trip is almost over," noted Perlin as he too stared at the approaching city.
Dawn, however, was less sanguine about the situation.  After all, depending on how fast the Viscountess' lines of communication with her estate on Diamond Mountain were, she might already know about the situation and be prepared for their arrival.  Of course, he thought, somewhat wryly, I'm willing to bet that Perlin is actually looking forward to that.
Dawn's pessimism towards their chances of finishing their little journey unmolested led him to keep a careful eye on the situation as the train began to slow down on its approach towards the platform.  His mind was already working through probable scenarios.  Obviously, it all depended on the tactics that Sweet Water would employ if she were aware of what had transpired in her domain on Diamond Mountain.  She wouldn't resort to force, especially not out in the open, with dozens of potential witnesses around.  However, he couldn't reason out what other methods the Viscountess might use to try and halt their progress.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that Dawn barely noticed Perlin speaking to him.  "Alas, this is where we part ways," said the cream-colored colt with a cheeky smirk, "It wouldn't do for you to be seen in the company of a wanted criminal, now would it?"
"I suppose not," muttered Dawn, under his breath.  If anything, this was probably a good sign as the only thing he could probably count on from Perlin was to make even more of a scene.
So it was that Perlin Bluestreak practically vanished from sight and mind as the train pulled up to the platform, whether because he had hidden himself to get off later or because he had already disembarked, Dawn couldn't say.  Dawn did find himself wishing that he had made more of an effort to make arrangements with his friends and family before departing.  There might have been the opportunity to arrange a rendezvous that would increase their chances of dissuading Sweet Water from trying anything.  As it was, they would simply have to hope for the best.
"Stay close to me," murmured Dawn as the train slid to a stop with a final, ear-splitting screech, "Don't let your guard down just yet."
Swallowing, Hope Spot nodded and fell in beside the colt, feeling a bit bemused by the fact that the pony who was little more than a foal himself was the one protecting her.  But the quiet assurance in Dawn's tone helped to put her at ease.  He had been the one to lead her out of that lavish prison and bring her back to Canterlot.  She could trust him to see her safely home.
Together, they stepped off the cars and onto the platform.  As he moved out into the open air, Dawn's wings spread ever-so-slightly, not enough to hint at readying for an attack, but more than enough to allow him to spread his awareness across the space around them.  The feathers of his wings twitched as the wind flowed over them, Dawn's magic blending with the flow of the air itself until his awareness spread out in a near perfect radius around him, feeling out the eddies, whorls, and vortices generated by ponies as they milled about, feeling the air flowing across their bodies, mapping their contours, their posture, and their orientation.
It took less than a single second for Dawn to notice the ponies that stood out.  All across the platform, several ponies were standing still, which wasn't distinct in and of itself.  There were plenty of mares and stallions waiting patiently for friends and relatives to disembark while others were waiting for their own opportunity to board the trains.  However, a few ponies were especially apparent to Dawn's senses, for they stood a little too still.  Oh certainly, they fidgeted and shifted their weight and postures, trying to imitate the rest of the mass of equinity around them.  However, even as they tried to imitate the motion of normal ponies, the movement of their heads betrayed the purpose of their eyes as they systematically swept the platform, looking for a specific target.  These ponies were hunters...spotters.  They had been sent to monitor the arriving trains and find out where their target was.  Once they located Dawn and Hope Spot, the hunters would begin to tighten their snare and lead the two fugitives someplace where they could be more easily isolated.
Dawn frowned, his lips tight as he read the situation.  These ponies knew their business.  They had positioned themselves so that their fields of vision overlapped, allowing them to view the same locations from multiple angles, eliminating blind-spots and methods of escape.  Were he by himself Dawn would have been confident of his ability to evade their notice.  His short stature would have made him nearly impossible to see among the press of ponies rushing to and fro across the platform, so bent on their own business that even his distinctive eyes were failing to cause a stir...yet...
But Dawn wasn't alone.  He had a companion, a unicorn mare with no training or experience in the ways of evasion.  And while there was nothing that really set her apart from the rest of the ponies on the platform, the hunters were probably briefed well enough on her appearance that they would be able to spot her easily.
However, Dawn knew that stopping and waiting would only make them stand out even more.  They had to move.  Fortunately, he was able to conceive of a plan.  Stepping forward, he paused only for a few seconds to nudge Hope Spot.  "Follow exactly where I go," he said softly.  He felt, rather than saw her nod and set off through the crowd, closing his eyes and placing all his trust in the wind.
Their best bet was to make use of the fact that the hunters' eyes were constantly on the move, sweeping the platform in an attempt to survey as much as possible.  Since he was able to read their motions, Dawn could tell when a particular pony's eyes were oriented away from them.  Moving carefully, he wove in and out amongst the ponies in the crowd, tracking the gaze of the ponies that were searching for him.  When one was looking away, he slipped, taking Hope with him, to one side of a press of ponies that screened them from the view of another as her gaze shifted in their direction.
It was uneasy, delicate work.  Dawn had to alter his movement on the fly to evade detection, while still moving in-synch with the crowd itself to keep from causing a noticeable disruption.  On top of it all, he had to be mindful of Hope Spot.  She did not share a trace of his polished senses, nor did she have the grace and balance of a trained martial artist.  If he changed his course too abruptly, he could accidentally trip her up and cause a commotion that was certain to give them away.  Also, since she was the one who needed to truly hide, Dawn had to position them carefully to ensure that she was the one who was concealed from roving eyes.
Still, it was going well.  Hope had narrowed her focus on Dawn, trusting him to not lead her to collide with someone.  She followed his movements with careful fidelity, while still trying her best to look just like any other ordinary pony going about her business.  Together, the two of them wove about the crowd, winding their way amongst the throng of ponies, slowly and steadily making their way towards the exit.  If they could reach the exit, then it wouldn't matter if they were spotted, as they would have room to bolt for safety, or at least a more defensible position.
Then it happened.  Dawn had thought that they had moved to a sufficiently obscured position as they passed within view of one of the watchers, closer than they had to any others.  In an instant, Dawn knew he was mistaken as the hunter went still; not the faked, semi-motionless of his previous behavior, but a complete stillness as the observer froze in place, his eyes zeroing in on Hope Spot, barely picking out her tail and flank from his position, perhaps enough for him to recognize Hope's cutie mark.  But it was clearly enough to arouse suspicion.  His behavior reminded Dawn of an occasion where the ebony colt had once hidden himself from a much more dreadful hunter in the Everfree.  When that hunter had picked up his scent upon the forest floor, it had gone still in much the same way.
Dawn did his best to keep them moving as normally as possible.  Even if they had been spotted, it wasn't yet time to let them know that the game was up, that he had spotted them even more surely than they had spotted Dawn and Hope.  Every second the hunter spent confirming his target was a second more Dawn and Hope had to continue moving toward the exit and possible escape.
The feathers of Dawn's wings quivered as they picked up faint, trembling vibrations emerging from a point near the top of the unknown unicorn's head.  Dawn's awareness was such that he could read the intent of spells, including whether or not said spells might be directed at him or anyone near him.  However, there was no sign of this intent from the unicorn hunter.  It must be a signal then, he thought, He's about to let his friends know that he spotted us.
"Hope," said Dawn, his tone sharp, catching her attention immediately.
"Yes?"
"Get ready to run.  When I give the word, you need to run to the exit as fast as possible."
"But what about you?"
"I'll stay with you and match my pace to yours."  Dawn opened his eyes and looked up at her.  "We've been spotted and we need to move fast."
"O-okay," whimpered Hope, that crushing feeling of dread stamping down mercilessly upon the hopes that had been all too briefly enkindled by the sight of Canterlot and its false promise of safety and security.
The watcher that had spotted them was still occupied by his spell, signaling his companions that the prey had been spotted.  However, it wasn't until he abandoned the spell and began to move to pursue them that their moment would come.  That brief moment where he shifted from monitoring and communicating to pursuit would be their window of opportunity, an opening the briefly take him off-guard and buy them a precious few seconds more to make their getaway.
The tingling, itching feeling in the air around the unicorn's horn began to fade.  Slowly, the hunter began to shift from his haunches to an upright position in order to take up the chase...
"Now!"
Dawn's voice was barely a hiss in Hope's ear.  But his sharp, commanding tone set her into motion almost immediately.  The mare rushed forward, bounding into a rapid gallop, nearly careening into an overdressed mare towing a pile of suitcases behind her.  Startled by Hope's sudden passing across her vision prompted the mare to let out a loud yelp and rear back, losing control over her magic in the process.  The pile of luggage dropped to the ground and scattered across the platform, tripping up other ponies going about their business and creating a massive snarl of horseflesh.  The sudden commotion was an unexpected boon to Dawn and Hope's flight, the resulting check on the crowd's motion catching up their immediate pursuer as he was caught in the snarl of ponies.  It also drew the eyes of the other hunters on the platform for a brief instant as they tried to determine if Hope and Dawn were amongst the tangle of tripped ponies distracting their attention away from where Hope and Dawn were actually heading.
The two of them burst out of the train station and onto the streets of Canterlot.  Dawn paused only briefly as his wings spread to their fullest, doing his absolute best to discern the situation around them.  He was relieved to note that there appeared to be no other ponies watching the exits of the station itself, their opponent having apparently expended all of her marepower on monitoring the platform.  However, their respite would be brief, as their pursuers weren't far behind.  The stallion that had spotted them was already extricating himself from the scene of the accident and his companions were converging on the exit as well.
"Where to now?" asked Hope, dancing on her hooves as her head swung back and forth, desperately looking for some sign of safety.
Dawn frowned and berated himself for his own foolishness.  He had been so focused on getting off the platform that he hadn't given a single thought to where they would head after that.  He knew almost nothing about Canterlot; where they could run, where they could hide, where they could find help.  Dawn's eyes swept over the broad avenue, taking everything in as he desperately tried to formulate a plan of action, his indecision eating away precious seconds.  Their location didn't help matters.  The buildings rising on either side of the street cut off their view giving Dawn few places to choose from.
Then his eyes alit on one building that stood out from the rest, that loomed over the city like a motherly bird looming over her chicks.  Given the circumstances of their arrival, the massive building seemed painfully, agonizingly distant from the station.  However, within that building were ponies Dawn knew he could count on to help them.  There were also probably ponies there who would either hinder them or aid their pursuers.  However, given the circumstances, it was the best option Dawn could call to mind at the moment.
"To the palace," said Dawn sharply, looking imploringly at Hope Spot, "As fast as you can!"
Though she didn't know the reasoning behind Dawn's decision, it was clear that Hope trusted him enough not to question it.  Without hesitating any further, she bolted, galloping down the street, trying to reach the Royal Palace and the safety that she desperately hoped would wait for her and her escort there.  Dawn followed along, slightly behind her, doing his best to keep track of the ponies that now burst from the train station in pursuit.
> The Chase is On
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 11: The Chase is On

Hope Spot galloped as fast as she had ever galloped in her life.  The Royal Palace loomed ahead, its size making it seem closer than it actually was.  However, that false sense of closeness seemed to enkindle some hidden reserve of strength within the mare, egging her onwards as she rushed forward, pursuing the promise of safety determinedly.  All around her, ponies walked, trotted, or cantered along the broad boulevard, going in and out of shops, running errands, or simply strolling about.  Several flinched or yelped as the teal mare bolted past them, sometimes missing them by bare inches.  But Hope ignored them as she continued to press onward.
Dawn followed along behind her, matching her pace precisely.  He could have easily taken to the air, but opted not to.  It was what would be expected of a pegasus like him after all.  He wasn't exactly sure if their pursuers were specifically aware of just who was accompanying their target, but the longer Dawn could go without playing his hoof, the better.
The pursuers appeared to all be unicorns.  At first, Dawn put it down to the base tribalism that supposedly informed the attitudes of most of the Noble Court.  However, as the chase went on, he began to think differently.
He could perceive the hunters as clear as day as the group of unicorns ran along behind him.  The air around their horns shivered, a telltale sign that they were releasing their magical energy in the form of some sort of spell.  However, there was no sign of any spell manifesting.  And, whatever it was, Dawn could tell that said spells weren't directed at him and Hope.  Instead, it was rather like watching a light switch on and off, sometimes only for an instant, sometimes for just a little bit longer, alternating between different intervals, almost like some kind of pattern...
That's it! Dawn realized, It's a code.  They're using their magic to signal and communicate with one another.
It was a daunting realization.  Normally, they would be able to hear their pursuers directing one another and respond accordingly.  But Dawn had no hope of deciphering whatever code they were using and didn't have the attention to spare on trying.  It would allow the unicorn hunters to coordinate their efforts effectively without cluing their targets into what they were planning and possibly coordinate with each other over greater distances than regular speech would allow.  Whoever these ponies were, they were exceedingly good.  Dawn's estimation of Sweet Water went up incrementally as he realized how dangerous she must be if she was willing to invest in such skilled ponies for such a seemingly simple task.  That, or she knows that I'm with Hope Spot.
But now wasn't the time to appreciate their foe's cunning.  The number of pursuers behind Dawn and Hope had just dropped by two.  The two that had disappeared hadn't been tripped up or simply stopped and given up.  Rather, Dawn had sensed them veering off to the side, heading down two different alleys that would presumably take them to side-streets that ran parallel to the one Dawn and Hope were currently on.
They must be trying to head us off, thought Dawn.  It wasn't that surprising.  Dawn and Hope had made no secret of their destination and certainly weren't up for trying to vary their path to throw off the pursuers.  Furthermore, while Hope was clearly running as fast as her hooves could carry her, the same couldn't be said for Dawn or the unicorns behind them.  In fact, the hunters weren't even galloping really.  Instead, they moved in long, loping strides that eerily reminded Dawn of the way he had seen timberwolves move while pursuing prey.  It was  a pace that could eat up miles.  They were saving their strength and not closing in.  The two that had peeled off were probably running much faster in order to get ahead of their quarry and intercept them.
Sure enough, Dawn felt them coming up ahead.  As his wind sense extended ahead of them, he felt the surge of air moving out from a pair of alleyways up ahead like the waves that rose ahead of a boat's bow, their positions staggered, but as close as the alley mouths allowed.  They emerged up onto the street, taking up positions on either side.  In almost perfect unison, their horns lit up and their magic went to work.
Dawn sensed a shivering sensation in the air as one of the unicorns converged his energies onto the tip of his own horn, probably readying an attack spell of some kind, possibly to stun or subdue.  The other was working on something more subtle.  A hum of magic began to emanate from a small group of cobblestones in their path, seizing the stones in a grip of telekinesis and beginning to pry them upwards.  The plan became painfully apparent.  The mare intended to use the cobblestones to trip them up while the stallion stunned them after they fell.  It was clever, subtle, something that might be able to be explained away to the dozens of potential witnesses gathered around.
But Dawn wasn't about to let them have their way.  In front of him, he could feel Hope starting to slow down as she realized that their adversaries had gotten ahead of them.  "Keep going!" shouted Dawn behind her, his words enough to galvanize Hope into picking up her pace again.
As he did so, Dawn bounded into the air and spread his wings.  They opened with a snap and he whipped them forward so that the leading primaries thrust out like twin daggers at the unicorns that blocked their way.  Dawn relaxed his mind, drifting out of conscious thought and into that strange clarity that allowed him to perceive his surroundings with unparalleled precision.  He'd been practicing this ever since Willow had attempted to kill him back in Ponyville.  He needed that precision now.
Dual bolts of lightning arced out from the leading feather of each wing, lashing through the air with a whiplike crack.  With perfect accuracy, they honed straight in on the horns of the two impeding unicorns as though said horns were lightning rods.  The bolts were hair-thin, barely visible.  However, the horn of a unicorn in the midst of casting is exceedingly vulnerable to trauma of any kind.  When the lightning bolts struck home, the two attackers immediately cried out and collapsed, their bodies spasming as they dropped to the ground.  Dawn had struck before either of them had been able to finish their specific task, so he and Hope rushed past their stricken forms unimpeded.
The sudden unexpected flash of lightning on a clear, cloudless, Canterlot day had a dramatic effect on the ponies around them.  Several ponies yelled in surprise.  Many ducked their heads, clearly anticipating an onslaught from above.  Others panicked and began to run, scattering in random directions as they rushed to be anywhere else but where they currently were.  A few had seen exactly what had happened, had seen Dawn strike out with lightning, however improbable that may have seemed, and had seen the two unicorns knocked to the ground by the attack.  Calls for the Guard began to sound out as well.
However, the clearest reaction came from the pursuers still behind Dawn and Hope.  They moved deftly to dodge the panic-stricken ponies and continued their pursuit.  However, Dawn could sense a shift in both their attitude and intent.  It was clear that, if they hadn't already known that he was dangerous, they knew it now.  The prey they had thought helpless, being driven easily into their trap, had proved to be more threatening than they realized and they clearly weren't in the mood to take any more chances.  Dawn could sense them leveling their horns in the direction of him and Hope, but him in particular, and that the spells they were readying now were no longer for communication.
Not bothering to touch back down, Dawn spun about so that he was scudding backwards, hovering just above and a little behind Hope as she continued to charge forward.  As he did so, his eyes narrowed.  Already, the street was beginning to clear up as ponies realized what was going on and also realized that the last place they wanted to be was in the way of whatever was happening.  This meant that the unicorns pursuing them now had open lanes of fire for their spells, but so did Dawn.
Immediately, he reared up and snapped his wings across his barrel, sending a volley of lightning at the group of pursuing unicorns.  There were seven in all.  Five were in the lead, moving in a relatively even line up the street, at least as much as the rapidly thinning crowd allowed, while the remaining two trailed slightly behind them.  They had all been readying spells.  However, the moment Dawn attacked, the two bringing up the rear released their spells, the leading five coming to an immediate halt as the bolts of lightning crackled and splashed harmlessly across a sheet of magical energy that sprung up between them and their quarry.
As the shield fell, the other five immediately launched their own spells.  A barrage of bolts of arcane energy flew up the street towards Dawn, whose senses picked up a faint crackling not unlike that of his own lightning.  Most were aimed at him, but at least two were arrowing straight for Hope's vulnerable rear.  Dawn could dodge, but he suspected that Hope could not.  The shots would have to be blocked.
Smirking, Dawn beat his wings, directing the resulting blast of compressed air downwards at the street just behind Hope.  It slammed home with enough force to nearly pulverize the cobblestone, throwing chunks of debris in the air.  The arcane bolts snapped with explosive discharges as their courses were blocked by the resulting impediments, dissipating harmlessly.  Not willing to rest on his laurels and fight a purely defensive battle, Dawn swept a wing across in front of him, sending a wave of wind that caught the airborne chunks of stone and cement and sent them rushing towards their pursuers in a wave of shrapnel.
The two unicorns bringing up the rear once again raised their shield.  However, they'd been caught off-guard by Dawn's unexpected counterattack and couldn't fully solidify it before the colt's salvo struck home.  The magical construct shuddered under the repeated impacts of stone before breaking completely when the hammer of air that had been driving the debris forward smashed into it as well.  However, the shield still managed to abate the force of the blows, successfully keeping Dawn's attack from doing any harm.
However, Dawn wasn't so content to leave it at that.  Instead, he lashed out with another bolt of lightning as he saw the shield falter.  It blasted through the space the barrier had occupied and struck one of the leading unicorns in the middle of the formation, knocking him onto his back, just as he had been trying to launch another offensive spell.  The unicorn yelled out as his horn discharged the spell into the ground directly beneath his head, the stunning bolt bursting and catching its own caster in the blast.  The would-be attacker slumped motionless in the street.  The remaining six ponies faltered in the face of the unexpected loss.
Dawn's initial impulse was to take the battle to them.  He was at a disadvantage right now, flying backwards, hovering just above Hope Spot and exchanging attacks with the pursuing unicorns.  He could easily take advantage of their currently off-balance state to go on the offensive and take them down before they had time to regain their resolve.  However, he opted not to.  His first responsibility was to stay with Hope and keep her safe.  Defeating their pursuers might have helped with that, but Dawn felt that it wasn't worth the risk of abandoning his position near her for even a minute.
Including the pair that had tried to head them off, nine ponies had set out in pursuit of Dawn and Hope.  However, Dawn was fairly certain that a few more than that were required to keep the entire platform under surveillance.  That nine had come after them wasn't a guarantee that there weren't others positioning themselves further down the line, just waiting for Dawn to abandon his position near Hope and swoop in to snatch her up.
So Dawn opted to continue backwinging just above and behind Hope as she rushed headlong up the street, still charging towards the palace as fast as she could go.  He was confident of his ability to win, even in this situation.  The last exchange had showed Dawn that his magic exceeded that of his pursuers in both power and initiative.  They also had to limit the kind of attack spells they used, as they clearly wanted to take Hope alive and uninjured, if possible, and weren't willing to risk something more dangerous as long as Dawn remained near her.
The hunters surged into pursuit once again.  As one of them lit her horn, Dawn lashed out with another bolt of lightning.  The mare's lips curled into a snarl as she and the others stopped so that the two defenders could summon another shield.
However, the lightning bolt had been a ploy to buy Dawn some extra time.  Sweeping one wing around in a circular motion, Dawn began to condense the air around his primaries and charge it with electricity.  In a few seconds, a glowing orb of plasma was cupped gently in the feathers of his wing.  Flicking that wing, Dawn hurtled the glowing ball at the hunters, just as the two defenders of the group brought down their shield, confident in having blocked the lightning bolt.
They immediately tried to bring the shield up again.  However, the orb hit the incomplete shield and burned right through it.  It plunged into the street between the two ponies at the rear of the group, exploding in a burst of electricity that washed over the two like a wave.  The two defenders fell to their ground, their limbs spasming as arcs of energy danced across their bodies.
In an instant, the hunters had been reduced to four.  However, they charged on, now launching lances of eldritch power at Dawn, forgoing any effort to try and attack Hope while he was still protecting her.  Dawn easily danced between the blasts and lashed out with another volley of lightning bolts.  One of the ponies pursuing them managed to raise a shield, but not quickly enough as another of her comrades fell.
Three left, thought Dawn, his eyes narrowing.  Taking a deep breath, he relaxed the whole of his self and allowed his awareness to expand out as far as it could.  While he could easily sense their three remaining pursuers, there were no signs of any other ponies waiting in ambush in the immediate area.  Still, the ebony colt was determined not to let his guard down until they were in the palace and with somepony they could trust.
His eyes widened and he snapped out of his trance when he noticed that the remaining hunters were faltering.  The mare who had barely managed to protect the remaining two members of her group was slowing down, casting her gaze about nervously.  It was as though she was expecting something to happen, but that something wasn't happening.
Dawn wasn't about to let that moment of uncertainty go to waste.  "Stop and wait here!" he snapped at Hope, who skidded to a stop the instant his words reached her ears.
Before she could even turn and try to ask, Dawn was already gone.  To the hunters, it was as though the ebony colt had teleported.  One moment, he had still been hovering protectively over the teal mare.  The next, he was right their in their midst.  The two stallions immediately whirled about, trying to bring their horns in line with him and strike him down.  However, Dawn's wings snapped out before they could finish turning.  Hammer-blows of air slammed into either stallion, launching them in opposite directions so that they slammed into buildings on either side of the street.
The mare, on the other hoof, had obviously decided that attempting to attack Dawn was futile.  Instead, she brought up another shield, pouring as much of her strength into it as she could.  However, as he turned to face her, Dawn's mind recalled his battle with Skan and the technique he'd used to successfully deflect the powerful griffon's strikes.  If I can do the same thing here...  Planting his hooves firmly on the ground, Dawn condensed the air around one of his wings and swept the wing forward, bracing to put the entire force of his body behind the move in the same motion.  The result was a blunt lance of condensed air that slammed into the shield, then punched right through it, smashing into the defending mare and driving her down the street until she came to a rolling stop.
Dawn paused, taking a moment to steady his breath.  He was sweating and panting a little, but still felt more than able to continue fighting.  Hope, on the other hoof, was gasping for air and on the verge of sinking down onto her knees.  Her legs were quivering, barely able to continue holding her weight.
Dawn returned to her side at a steady trot and gently pressed up against her side, helping Hope remain upright.  She smiled thankfully down at the colt.  "Do we need to keep going?" she asked.
"Not anymore," replied Dawn, giving her his most encouraging smile.  A few moments later, his senses picked up the indicators of approaching ponies.
Another unicorn bolted down the street towards them.  Dawn suspected that this was another of the group that had been monitoring the platform, possibly one that had been moving ahead to ambush them.  However, at this moment, he clearly was no longer interested in his objective, his gaze hardly even noting the presence of Dawn or Hope.  Rather, he seemed to be fleeing from something.
A second later, it became apparent just what that something was.  A blur of orange and gold slammed down on the unicorn from above, driving him into the ground.  A faded-orange pegasus stallion, clad in golden armor pinned the unicorn to the ground, his face set in a scowl as he used one hoof to slip an inhibitor ring over the unicorn's horn.
Within a few moments, several more armored pegasi descended from the sky, seeming to dismiss the presence of Dawn and Hope as they quickly moved to restrain the battered remnants of the squad that had pursued the pair from the train station.  Unlike the first one, their coats were all a uniform white underneath their armor.
The orange stallion moved off of his victim and lifted his helmet up to wipe his brow as two more of the other armored ponies moved in to further restrain the one he had subdued.  After craning his head to look around and confirm that all the formerly pursuing unicorns were being rounded up, he turned his attention to Dawn and Hope.
"Are you two alright?" he asked, smiling pleasantly at them.
"More or less," replied Dawn, with a sidelong glance at Hope, who was still trying desperately to catch her breath.
"That's good," said the pegasus, "I'm Lieutenant Flash Sentry of the Royal Guard.  I take it that you two are Dawn Lightwing and Hope Spot."
Dawn and Hope nodded in confused unison, a little surprised that somepony from the Royal Guard had recognized them on sight.  Although, maybe I shouldn't, thought Dawn wryly, Seeing as my face has been displayed for the whole of Equestria to see.  But why would they know about Hope?
"I'm glad we managed to be of some help," observed Flash Sentry, his eyes roaming across the scene of unconscious unicorns being carted away by the other members of the Guard.
"I take it that you dealt with the ones that were lying in ambush up ahead then," remarked Dawn.
His statement seemed to catch the Guardstallion by surprise, prompting a shocked fluttering of his wings.  "How'd you know about that?"
"I'd figured that the ones chasing us probably weren't the only ones," said Dawn, "It made sense that others would have moved further ahead to set up a trap for us while the ones actually chasing us did their best to slow and wear us down."
Dawn's ears twitched, barely picking up the surprised mutter from the orange stallion.  "Sheesh, the Captain's right.  This kid's good."  In spite of himself, Dawn couldn't stop his lips from twitching upwards at the sound of the muttered comment.
"So what now?" asked Dawn.
"That's gonna be up to you and the Captain," replied Flash Sentry with a shrug, "He should be here in just a minute."
True to Flash Sentry's words, a flare of rose-colored energy blossomed in the middle of the street as Shining Armor, fully clad in royal-purple armor with gold highlights, teleported in.  The white stallion surveyed the scene silently for a moment before turning to look at Flash Sentry.
Without needing a prompt from his captain, Flash Sentry's hoof snapped up in a salute.  "Sir!  We've finished apprehending the remaining criminals.  All of them have been accounted for and the civilians are safe."
"Any casualties or injuries?" asked Shining.
Dawn felt a brief flicker of anxiety at the question.  The bystanders had all started scattering the moment he had begun flinging lightning around.  However, he realized that the streets had not been completely clear when he had begun exchanging more...forceful...blows with their pursuers.  Had he hit one or more by accident?  In the heat of the battle, he had completely forgotten to keep track.
"So far, there are no signs of injuries resulting from the confrontation," reported Flash Sentry.
"At ease," said Shining and Flash's hoof fell in response.
"Alright then," said Shining, once again surveying the scene, "Get the prisoners to the castle and get them secured.  Other than that, you're dismissed."
Flash's hoof snapped up in another salute before he dropped it and returned to supervising the rest of the Guards while Shining turned his full attention to Dawn and Hope.  "Well," he said, "It looks like you two had a busy morning."
"You could say that," agreed Dawn laconically.  He opened his mouth to say something more.  However, any other words he had to add were cut off by a soft thud as Hope's body crumpled to the ground, the mare having fainted away where she stood.



"Ugh!  Just where is that letter?  It should have gotten here by now."  Twilight Sparkle paced angrily back and forth across the floor.
"Twilight," said Spike in a flat tone."
"What?"
"You're doing it again."
Twilight froze and realized and realized that Spike was right.  "Sorry, I just get so worked up."
"How many times have we had this conversation now?" asked Spike, folding his arms and directing a stern glare at his older sister.
"Um..."
Spike snorted a stream of fire out of his nostrils.  "You know what, I've had enough of this.  No matter how many times I tell you that pacing around in circles getting all antsy isn't going to make a response come back any quicker, you still do it."
"Uh...Spike..." ventured Apple Bloom, "Ah don't think that's such a big deal."
Spike directed a sidelong glance at his fillyfriend, who was staring at him in quiet bemusement.  "That's easy for you to say," he said, "You don't have to fix the floor after she wears a groove into it every. Single. Time.  This isn't a regular house, it's a hollowed-out tree, do you have any idea how many loopy, quasi-magical procedures I have to use to fix this junk?"
Bloom was beginning to shrink back from her drakefriend's display of temper as Spike turned his attention back to Twilight.  "So here's the deal Twilight.  I'm not fixing the floor for you anymore.  If you decide to keep pacing, fine.  Knock yourself out.  But you're gonna fix it yourself from now on.  And you have to do it the way I do it, no unicorn magic."
"But-"
"No 'buts!'" snapped Spike, leveling a disapproving glare at her.
Twilight continued to try and change his mind with a pleading look.  But when Spike's stare didn't falter for a second, she let out a resigned sigh.  "Fine."  Turning around, she stalked to one side of the library and flopped down on a small pile of cushions.
Nearby, Arkenstone was having difficulty containing his mirth.  "Sometimes it's difficult to tell which of them is the older sibbling," he observed.
Sitting nearby, Softhoof was looking less amused by the situation.  "I just hope that this works," she said, "We're working off of a lot of guesswork here."
"It'll be fine," said Scootaloo, the quiet confidence in her voice making it difficult for Softhoof to believe that the orange filly was nearly as young as she looked, "Dawn's the kinda guy that can make it happen."
"If you say so," said Softhoof with a nervous shrug.  While she'd heard about the colt's exploits in the course of her investigation, she wasn't sure how much she could credit him with.  The fact that he apparently had the esteem of the captain of the Wonderbolts was a sign that his skills hadn't been exaggerated.  However, no matter how much she heard, Softhoof couldn't help but still think of Dawn as a foal.
In spite of this, she felt that she had little other choice but to simply hope that he could pull through.  After all, she had been the one to start off this whole affair.  After finally managing to wrangle the truth from Grayblood about what had happened to his sister, she had returned to Ponyville with all due haste.  Her initial plan had been to go straight to the Guard, but Grayblood had begged her not to, afraid of what Sweet Water might do to Hope if she found out that he had spilled the beans.
So Softhoof had instead decided to go to Ponyville under the pretext of redoing her investigation to Grayblood's satisfaction (which, as far as he knew, was what she actually was doing).  However, Softhoof knew something that would be extremely helpful for rectifying the situation...She knew that Twilight Sparkle, one of Fluttershy's closest friends, happened to be the younger sister of the Guard Captain, Shining Armor.  That Twilight Sparkle also happened to possess a means of passing letters to her brother and others that was both completely impossible to intercept and nigh instantaneous had proven an unexpected boon to their situation.
The only wrinkle had been when Softhoof had arrived to find that Dawn had left for parts unknown, in the company of a wanted criminal no less.  However, between what she had learned from Grayblood and the strange hints that Perlin Bluestreak had dropped in his conversation with Dawn and Scootaloo, they had managed to divine the pair's destination and their goal.
It had then been Twilight, who had suggested that they make arrangements with Shining Armor to ensure Dawn's safe arrival in Canterlot and to prevent any further interference from the Vicountess.  The plan had been relatively simple, all considered.  However, since it hinged entirely on Dawn and Perlin succeeding in their own endeavor, everypony was on edge.  Having calculated the rough travel times needed to complete their mission, Twilight had listed today as the earliest that they could expect Dawn to arrive in Canterlot, if everything had gone correctly on his end.
However, the waiting wasn't doing anything for their nerves.  At the moment, many of the colt's group of close friends and their family had crowded into the library, all of them waiting with varying degrees of patience to get a response from Shining Armor.
To Softhoof's great surprise, the pony taking this whole affair most gracefully was none other than Fluttershy.  Though she wasn't straying far from Caramel, she sat quietly and politely sipped from one of the cups of tea that Spike had politely provided for everypony as they waited.  Though Softhoof could see the signs of worry and anxiety in the yellow mare's eyes, she maintained her composure masterfully.  Softhoof's estimation of the mare went up substantially when she realized how firmly Fluttershy trusted in her son and his ability to fight for himself.
A loud clatter jarred the government agent from her thoughts as Spike dropped the platter he had been carrying to the floor.  Fortunately, nothing broke.  However, that was a secondary concern as Spike's stomach swelled, followed by his cheek's bulging.  A second later, the dragon belched out a burst of green flame that swirled upward before congealing into a scroll.
Before it could even fall to the ground, Twilight's magic snatched the rolled sheet of parchment and yanked it toward her.  The whole thing unrolled with a snap and Twilight's eyes scanned the lines of text frantically before she let the parchment fall to the ground and dropped her head to her hooves with a relieved sigh.
"They made it!"



"Well, that'll make Twily and the others happy," said Shining as his magic touched the scroll, which flared green, instead of the usual rose color of Shining's magic, before vanishing.
"I'm impressed that you managed to arrange things so neatly," commented Dawn.  He squirmed slightly, trying to settle a little more into the cushion he was resting on.
They were currently seated at a table in one of the Royal Palace's guest suites, which were maintained for important visitors.  There had been several areas more appropriate for a meeting.  However, Hope's fainting spell had led Shining to suggest the guest apartment instead, allowing Hope to rest in the adjoining bedroom while he and Dawn talked at the table in the living room.  Shining had even offered lunch, but Dawn had declined, deciding it would be more polite to wait until Hope was able to join them.
"I wish I could take full credit for that," said Shining, "But, while we figured out a lot about what you were doing, we were pretty much still in the dark when it came to what the Viscountess was going to do about it.  I think those unicorn mercenaries she sent after you were going to discreetly knock out any of my Guards nearby so that they could act without getting caught."
"Then how did you manage to intercept their ambush so easily?" asked Dawn.
Shining frowned.  "That's the thing that's bugging me.  This morning I got an anonymous tip, left on my desk no less, saying that you and Hope Spot would be arriving in Canterlot today.  It also laid out mercenaries' plans for catching the two of you.  So I had my Guards positioned accordingly.  We waited for you to spring the trap, then we caught the ponies doing the trapping.  If I were a really suspicious pony, I'd almost think that the Viscountess sold herself out to help us."
"But it wasn't her," said Dawn.
"No," said Shining, "There's been nothing from Sweet Water and I doubt we'll hear anything from her.  The mercenaries are an outfit known as Wolfsbane.  They usually provide security for private individuals or entities and other legitimate work.  But there've been some rumors that they do some less savory stuff under the table."
"I suppose today's incident would be proof of that," said Dawn.
Shining nodded in agreement.  "Pretty much.  Our best guess is that Sweet Water had them on retainer for certain contingencies.  She's pretty canny to have invested in such a skilled group on the mere possibility that something might happen."
"The same could be said of the griffons she'd hired to guard her estate on Diamond Mountain," said Dawn, "They were far more formidable than Perlin and I expected Hope's jailers to be, given that they had no reason to believe that something like this would happen."
After a second's pause, Dawn tilted his head.  "Does this mean that Sweet Water will be arrested?"
"I wish it did," said Shining, "But, even though we're pretty sure, we just don't have evidence.  Wolfsbane is good at what they do.  They've covered their tracks, so there's nothing tracing them back to Sweet Water to show that she hired them."
"True professionals," muttered Dawn, remembering Willow, who had gone so far as to take her own life to avoid compromising her clients.  He wondered if the members of this mercenary group were willing to go to similar lengths.
"Yeah," said Shining, "They get pretty creative when it comes to hiding evidence on who they're working for, so the ones we capture don't actually know anything about who hired them.  It's all dead drops and anonymous instructions and so on..."  He sighed.  "So, while we've got Hope Spot under protection now, we've got nothing implicating the Viscountess."
"What about Diamond Mountain?" asked Dawn, "Hope Spot was unquestionably being held at the Viscountess' estate.  The damage we did during the battle cannot be easily concealed."
"Maybe," mused Shining, "It's worth looking into at any rate.  I'll send a couple of ponies on an express out there and see if they can find us some hard evidence.  But until then, we've got nothing."
Dawn slumped a little.  "At least Hope Spot is safe for now."
"That's the important part," agreed Shining, "And with her safe, Grayblood won't have any excuse to keep putting pressure on you and your mom."
"There's that too," said Dawn, "But I don't doubt that Sweet Water will simply try something else."
Shining could only shrug in response.  "We'll have to just deal with it as it comes.  It's hard, almost impossible even to try and predict what the different Nobles will get up to.  They have the resources to try all kinds of approaches to getting their way."
Dawn nodded and the two continued to wait, occasionally directing glances at the door leading to the bedroom.



Hope Spot's eyes fluttered open and she yawned.  However, as she tried to stretch, she realized that her body had been covered by a sheet and that she was lying on a mattress.  Everything, from the pillow under her head to the comforter she was tucked under, was of the highest quality, making it feel as though she was laying on a cloud...or how she imagined laying on a cloud would feel.
Where am I?  The question was only natural.  The last thing she'd remembered was standing in the street with Dawn, surrounded by ponies of the Royal Guard, their ordeal finally over.  The sense of overwhelming relief that Hope had felt had combined with the exhaustion by her sprint through Canterlot was enough to send her dropping into darkness the instant she relaxed.  And now she woke to a darkened room, lying in a luxurious bed that matched the one she had used on Diamond Mountain in quality.
"Oh!" commented a voice from her bedside, "You're awake."
Hope reflexively shrank back from the voice with a squeak of fear.
"Whoa there!  Take it easy.  Nopony's gonna hurt you."  Something gently stretched out over the sheets and blanket to brush back the strands of her mane that had fallen across her face.  "It's okay.  You're safe now."
Sinking out of her momentary panic, Hope found the presence of mind to look at the pony sitting at her bedside.  Though it was a little bit harder to recognize him in the darkened room, she realized that this was the orange pegasus stallion she and Dawn had met in the street, one of the Guards.  It had been tricky recognizing him without his armor.
"How are you feeling?" asked Flash Sentry as he leaned back from the bed and reached over to a small table, where a pitcher and glass rested.  Flash Sentry carefully poured a glass of water and held it out to her.
Hope took the glass in her magic and sat herself up so that she could sip gratefully.  Her throat still felt dry and raw from all the panting and gasping she'd done while running.  The liquid sent a cool, soothing feeling down her throat and Hope set down the glass with a relieved sigh.
"Thank you," she said, "I feel much better now."
"That's good to hear," said Flash, "Dawn and Shining are waiting for you outside.  We're in the palace by the way."
"Oh..." was all that Hope could manage to say.  She finished the last of her water and floated it back to the table while Flash began to lift the covers so she could get out of bed.
The teal mare wobbled slightly as she set her hooves on the floor, but the stallion was by her side, helping to steady her as they walked toward the door.  Hope blushed and whispered a quiet "Thank you," to the stallion.
Flash nodded and led Hope out into the living room of the suite, where Dawn and Shining Armor were waiting.
"Are you feeling better?" asked Dawn as she came through the door.
"Yes," said Hope, moving to sit down next to the colt.
"Well, now that you're up, we can get some lunch in here," said Shining, using his magic to open the door leading out into one of the palace hallways.  A servant was waiting there.  A single nod from Shining was all that was needed before the servant was off fetching their meals.
"I-I'm sorry for fainting like that," said Hope, dipping her head until her chin almost met the table, concealing her eyes beneath her mane.
"Hey, it's okay," said Shining, smiling amicably at her, "It's understandable that you're not used to this kinda thing."
"And you shouldn't have to be," added Dawn from beside her, "You were dragged into a situation that, by rights, you should have had nothing to do with, because some mare wanted to manipulate that situation towards a particular desired outcome.  This is no fault of yours."
Flash settled down on Hope's other side and extended a wing so that he could gently brush his feathers over her back, doing his best to provide comfort in his own way.  "Everything'll be alright," he said, giving her an encouraging smile.
"Thank you all so much," said Hope, beginning to smile again herself.
"Now then," said Shining as the doors to the suite opened again to admit a line of three servants carrying trays with their meals, "All that's left is to figure out what to do from here on out."  As the first of the platters was laid out on the table, Shining turned his attention to Dawn.  "You are going back to Ponyville the first chance we get.  Your mom and your friends have been worried out of their minds for you."
Dawn nodded without hesitation.  Glancing out the window, he noted the position of the sun.  "I could probably go ahead and fly straight back there.  It wouldn't be any further than the flight to Cloudsdale."
"Not a bad idea," said Shining, "It'd certainly be faster than the train.  Let's get a good meal in you before we send you off."
Dawn nodded and turned his attention to the food.  He was surprised to note that Shining Armor had apparently heard about and taken Dawn's food preferences into consideration.  The ebony colt could eat all he liked.
"Now then, there's the matter regarding you," said Shining, looking at Hope Spot, "I think that the Viscountess isn't going to be stupid enough to pursue things any farther than this.  But it's best not to take any chances.  I'm going to have one of my ponies assigned to you for protection purposes.  Are you going to be okay with that?"
Hope nodded and Shining's smile began to show a few more teeth than usual.  Dawn raised one of his eyebrows slightly.  "Good," said Shining, "Since you two seemed to have hit it off rather well, I'll assign Lieutenant Flash Sentry to you."
Hope's face went completely red while Flash had to choke to keep from spewing a mouthful of water across the table and into the face of his superior.  After a few moments spent trying to clear his throat, Flash finally managed to look up at Shining, who was smirking at the orange stallion with something approaching triumph.
"Sir!  Are you sure about this?"  Though Flash wasn't exactly against it on principle, but this was the sort of thing usually assigned to a lower-ranking soldier on account of the fact that, as Shining's second-in-command, Flash's current duties were already substantial.
"It's fine," said Shining with an almost cavalier attitude of dismissal, "You've got a good head on your shoulders and you know how to keep a low profile.  We need to keep from causing too much of a stir with this business.  So the official report is that you're taking some time on leave while you're on this assignment.  I can keep things running while you're gone."
"I-If you're sure..." said Flash, looking a bit flummoxed by the whole affair.  He glanced sideways at Hope, his eyes meeting hers as she did the same to him.  The two of them blushed fiercely and looked away from each other.
"Good," said Shining, looking inordinately pleased with himself, "Now that that's all sorted out, let's finish lunch."



Lunch went quickly and it was less than an hour before Shining and Dawn stood on the suite's balcony, looking out over Canterlot and the land beyond that stretched out from the foot of the mountain like a hilly green carpet.  Ponyville was visible in the distance, it's white-walled, thatched houses looking distinctly welcoming to Dawn after having been away for so long.
The colt found himself reflecting that this was the longest he had ever been away from his home since the night Fluttershy had taken him under her roof.  He was sure that all the ponies who cared about him were thoroughly anxious to have him back.
"Ready to head out?" asked Shining, standing next to him.  Flash Sentry and Hope Spot had taken their leave, though not before Hope had hugged Dawn tightly, thanking him profusely for coming to her rescue.
Dawn nodded.  He glanced sidelong at the Captain of the Royal Guard and smirked.  "I saw what you did back there."
Shining raised and eyebrow at him.  "Oh...?"
"I know who your wife is.  She's clearly rubbing off on you."
Shining chuckled and rubbed his mane with one hoof.  "You noticed, huh.  I guess that's to be expected.  I'm not as good at being subtle about it as Cadance is.  But I think the two of them would make a cute couple.  They certainly seemed to be getting along really well."
When Hope had fainted in the middle of the street, it had been Flash who had immediately volunteered to carry her the remainder of the way to the Royal Palace and who had insisted on watching over her while she slept.  Even Dawn couldn't help but notice that Shining's second had become quite enamored with Hope.
"There was something else I wanted to talk about," said Dawn, "Do you know who reported the movements of Sweet Water's forces to you?"
"Like I said, it was anonymous," replied Shining, "But I think I have my suspicions."
Dawn frowned and thought about it for a moment.  The only other pony who seemed to know about the situation and who might have known enough would be... "Perlin Bluestreak...or his employer rather."
Shining Armor nodded grimly.  "I'd hazard a guess that it's another of the nobles, though I can't say which one."
"Whoever it is," said Dawn, his eyes narrowing, "He seems to be more dangerous than the norm."
"At least we know it's a stallion," muttered Shining.
Dawn nodded.  Perlin had hinted as much when talking about his employer.
"But what makes you think he's so dangerous?" asked Shining, turning his head to look at Dawn more directly.
"If he's a noble, like you suppose, then his objective would be to obtain some form of control over your sister, correct?" inquired Dawn.  Shining nodded, his expression turning grim.  Dawn continued.  "Then, if we work from that assumption, his entire reason for sending Perlin to me and then us to Diamond Mountain was a act to interfere with Sweet Water's plans and keep her own efforts from succeeding."
Shining nodded again.
"But," said Dawn, "A less canny opponent would have tried to take further advantage of the situation.  He would have tried to approach you discreetly and offer the information in exchange for favors or leverage, something that would help him in his own bid to win control over Twilight Sparkle."
"But he didn't," mused Shining.
"He didn't," agreed Dawn, "And, in such a situation, it would have been ludicrous to do so.  However, this pony knows not to overreach.  He knows when enough is enough.  That's a dangerous skill in almost any application, whether in the martial arts or otherwise.  With those wits and an asset like Perlin, I suspect we will have to be more on our guard in the future."
Shining gulped and nodded.  It was horribly ironic when he considered it.  Though Dawn was the one who stood to lose the most given how things had played out, this whole affair had been orchestrated by Sweet Water in an effort to influence Twilight Sparkle.  An angry unease settled into his gut when he considered how far these ponies were willing to go.  They were willing to jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of innocent ponies simply for the sake of one mare's influence.
Still, we're lucky we have so many capable ponies we can depend on, thought Shining.  Blueblood and Fancy Pants were on their side.  Arkenstone was in Ponyville, watching over Twilight.  There were those two mercenary stallions that they had hired as well.  And there's Dawn, thought Shining, giving the colt a good looking over.  It surprised him in retrospect.  Dawn's bearing was amazingly mature for a colt his age, especially considering the ordeal he had just been through.  Throughout their little meeting, Shining found himself having little difficulty treating the colt as an equal.  The colt was every bit as dependable as any of Shining's subordinates, perhaps even more so.
"I think we'll be able to manage," he said finally, grinning down at Dawn, "If I can count on your help in the future."
Dawn nodded.  "I'll be happy to do whatever I can."
The colt made to take off, but Shining stayed him with a hoof.  "There's one other thing that worries me."
"What is it?" asked Dawn.
"Did you hear about how Perlin got to Canterlot?" asked Shining.
"Yes," said Dawn in a rather petulant tone, "He apparently stopped in Ponyville on the way and nearly ended up in a fight with Red, Storm, and Arkenstone."  What truly irritated Dawn was that he had first found this out from Perlin, who had been happy to relate the story on the train ride over.  Dawn was none too happy to find he'd been kept out of the loop about Perlin's appearance in Ponyville.
"Did he mention the Royal Permit he had?" asked Shining.
"He did," replied Dawn, "What of it?"
"There's an inconsistency in what's happening here," said Shining, "The evidence provided by your experiences suggest that Perlin is working for a member of the Noble Court."
"And the problem is...?"
"The Royal Permits can only be issued by a small number of ponies who work directly for the Princesses.  None of the Noble Court, not even Blueblood, who's a Duke and Minister of the Treasury have the authority to issue one of those."  Shining frowned.  "If Perlin Bluestreak is working for a member of the Noble Court now, then who supplied him with the Royal Permit for travel to Canterlot?"
Dawn's eyes narrowed.  "Do you believe Perlin is working for someone else then?"
Shining blinked.  "No...I...I'm not sure..."  He sighed.  "I need more information.  Perlin didn't tell you anything about who he was working for, did he?"
"Only that he enjoyed working for this pony," replied Dawn, "Other than that, he was not forthcoming on any details."
Shining sighed.  "Well, it was a bit of a long shot anyway.  I won't keep you any longer.  Take care of yourself."
"I will, thank you."  With that, Dawn spread his wings and took off from the balcony.  His flight carried him out past the city limits and the ebony colt began to dip his flight down towards Ponyville.  Shining watched him go, waiting until Dawn was nothing more than a black speck against the blue of the sky.  Then, with a grin and a chuckle to himself, Shining headed back into the palace.
> Happy Homecoming
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 12: Happy Homecoming

The houses of Ponyville grew large in Dawn's vision as he swooped down lower.  To the west, the sun was beginning to set, turning the sky into a riot of colors as the colt's eyes scanned across the houses.  His first impulse was to pass over the town entirely and head straight home, sure that Fluttershy was waiting for him at their cottage.  However, he wasn't entirely certain of that.  She had been spending more and more time with Caramel lately and was inclined to go to him for comfort.  It was entirely possible that she was at the tan stallion's house.
There was also the matter of Scootaloo to think about.  She would certainly want to be among the first to know that Dawn had returned.  Though his mother took precedence, Dawn didn't want to keep his fillyfriend waiting either.  The others could wait a little longer though.
As he swept his gaze over the town, Dawn sensed an onrushing surge of air as somepony swooped down at him from above.  Without even glancing, he rolled easily to the side, allowing the pony coming at him to go barreling past.  As he did, Dawn locked onto the interloper with his eyes, not too surprised to see the easily-recognizable rainbow mane and tail.
"Hello to you too, Rainbow Dash."
"You're back!" exclaimed Rainbow as she pulled out of her dive and now swept in an upward curve towards the colt.
Now that he knew she wasn't a threat, Dawn simply braced himself against the inevitable as Rainbow tackled him and hugged him tightly.
"You had everyone worried about you, you little jerk," she growled through her teeth as she tried to crush Dawn in her grip, "Especially Fluttershy.  She doesn't show it, but I think she was about ready to rush straight to Canterlot."
Dawn successfully braced himself against Rainbow's attempt at squeezing the life out of him.  With a smile, he glanced up at Rainbow.  "I'm sorry to make all of you worry.  Where is mom now?"
"She's over having dinner at Caramel's place," said Rainbow, "Scootaloo and her mom are there too, so you can talk to them all at once."
Dawn nodded.  "So can I go see them or were you planning on wringing me out like a rag first?"
His words brought a smirk to the face of the cerulean mare.  "That doesn't sound like such a bad idea, given how much anxiety you put everypony through.  But Fluttershy probably wouldn't be very happy with me if I did any damage."  She let go of Dawn, forcing the colt to spread his wings again to avoid dropping to the ground.
Dawn began his descent towards Caramel's house, but paused when Rainbow shouted out behind him.  "One more thing!  Softhoof is there too.  She went through a lot of trouble for you, so you'd better thank her for it."
Dawn nodded back at Rainbow and continued his descent.
His hooves touched down on the cool grass just before Caramel's doorstep.  Dawn relished in the feeling, having spent the last few days growing used to the harder floors of the train outside their assigned compartment, as well as the streets of Canterlot and Diamond Mountain.  It's good to be back.
Dawn raised a hoof and gently knocked at the door.  Through the wooden barrier, he could hear faint sounds of conversation pause, followed by the sound of hooves trotting across the floor inside.  The door opened and Dawn found himself looking up at Caramel.
Caramel and Dawn's eyes met and a slight smirk spread across the tan stallion's face.  He turned his head and shouted over his shoulder.  "Fluttershy!  I think it's for you."
"Oh?  Who is it?"  Dawn heard the much fainter sound of Fluttershy's hooves as she too approached the door.  It was at that moment that Caramel stepped aside to give her a full view.
When she saw Dawn, Fluttershy's eyes went wide and began to tear up.  However, the smile on her face could have lit the entire house without aid from lamp or candle.  A second later, an excited squeal pried its way out of her lips and the yellow mare hurtled forward and tackled Dawn, picking him off the floor and hugging him tightly, an embrace the colt did his best to return.
"Welcome home," whispered Fluttershy, "We've been waiting for you."
"I know," said Dawn, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
More hooves came from the kitchen.  When Fluttershy finally let go of Dawn, it was her turn to step aside and let him be seen by the filly who was waiting behind her.
Scootaloo stood there, grinning like Pinkie Pie.  The second Fluttershy backed out of the way, it was her turn to tackle Dawn, throwing the colt onto his back and pinning him to the floor before she pressed her lips against his.  It took a second for Dawn to return the hug as he was stunned from hitting the floor.  However, soon he was holding Scootaloo tightly and kissing her back.  His wings stretched out and wrapped around her back.  When Scootaloo's lips pulled away, the two of them leaned towards each other so that they could rest their foreheads together.
"I missed you," said Scootaloo, not caring who was watching, simply too overcome with relief to see Dawn, to be held by him again.
"And I missed you," replied Dawn, tilting his head so he could plant a small kiss on Scootaloo's muzzle.
"I missed you more!" she said, a competitive light burning in her eyes.
"I can accept that," Dawn conceded.
"Oh come on!  You're supposed to try and one-up me," protested Scootaloo.
"I don't need to one up you," said Dawn, pulling her into another kiss, "I'm fine just like this."
Scootaloo snorted.  "You're no fun.  Still the lamest coltfriend ever."
"But still yours."
"Still mine."
The two of them laughed and Scootaloo finally let Dawn up.  While they had been on the floor, Fluttershy had been snuggled up to Caramel, the sight of the two young ones in love being enough to spark some of their own romantic inclinations.  Melon Cream, Scootaloo's mother, was still waiting, standing in the door that led to the kitchen.  Behind her stood Softhoof.  Both of them had watched the exchange quietly.  The only sound to escape from Melon had been a light sniffle before she wiped her eyes, overcome by the tender moment.  Even Softhoof had a hard time maintaining her professional attitude in the face of so much warmth and affection, the scene working to assuage the last doubts she may have harbored about Fluttershy and Ponyville.
"I take it everything has been taken care of," said Softhoof, stepping forward as Dawn turned his attention to her.
Dawn nodded.  "I believe that your superior won't have any trouble accepting your decision now."
"Probably not," said Softhoof, "It's likely to be his last decision.  He's told me that, regardless of how things turned out, he was resigning from his position.  I think he can't forgive himself for being willing to compromise his principles, no matter what his reasons may have been."
"If it's any consolation," said Dawn, "You could tell him that I have no grudge.  I understand why he did what he did."
"I thought as much," said Softhoof, "He'll probably still want to leave.  Having his sister used against him like that shook him up pretty badly.  So I think he wants to think things over, maybe decide on a new line of work."
"Um...who is going to replace him?" asked Fluttershy nervously, wondering if the new head of the department would simply start the process over and cause more trouble.
"Actually, I will be," said Softhoof, "I've worked under him the longest, so I was the natural choice."
"You don't sound too happy about that," noted Dawn, raising a curious eyebrow.
Softhoof sighed.  "Yeah, I'm not.  I'm too used to working in the field and actually doing the investigating myself.  I know the other ponies in the department are professionals.  Many of them have almost as much experience as I do.  But it's hard to just pull back to an administrative position and leave things to other ponies, especially when you know that the wellbeing of foals hinges on their decisions and yours.  I'm gonna spend a lot of time second-guessing and reconfirming...Probably drive my ponies crazy.  But I guess I'll just have to get used to it."
"I wish you the best of luck," said Dawn, extending his hoof towards her.  Softhoof did the same, the two of them shaking hooves.  "Thank you for everything you've done for us."
That earned a chuckle from the government agent.  "If anything, I should be thanking you.  You did the lion's share after all."
"Well, enough chitchat," said Caramel, "There's dinner to be had and there's room for one more at the table.  Let's welcome Dawn home properly."
Everypony else nodded and they filed into the kitchen to enjoy a meal that had become that much more delicious, now that there was one more pony to share it with.



Perlin shuffled uncomfortably.  He'd dealt with a lot recently.  Sneaking down into Ponyville to discreetly meet with Dawn had been easy, enjoyable even, especially with their brief rematch.  Traveling with Dawn to Diamond Mountain, fighting against Zhan and finding himself genuinely challenged; that had been a true pleasure.  Returning and explaining to the Baron that not everything had gone exactly to plan (which Perlin himself had ensured) had been somewhat irritating, since it meant that Perlin had to spend the better part of an hour trapped in the room with an angry stallion as the Baron ranted about the few things that didn't go his way.  It had been unpleasant to sit there and pretend to listen to Elderflower, but the pleasure Perlin took in the Baron's consternation had helped him bear with it.
Dealing with Coco Pommel, on the other hoof, was proving to be nothing short of harrowing.
Coco had been her usual, terrified self when Perlin had first approached her.  True to his word, Baron Elderflower had found her a position under a local tailor, a Canterlot mare making outfits for the nobility.  The mare had seen a recent upswing in business, what with a certain Rarity of Ponyville suspending all her arrangements with the Canterlot upper-class, and had needed an assistant to help handle her increased workload.  It certainly was lucky that a certain Baron happened to know of a young up-and-coming seamstress to recommend.  She still regarded Perlin with an air of fear, clearly frightened of the young stallion, though he had gone out of his way to not be intimidating.
However, that had evaporated the moment he had held up his cloak for her, hoping that she could affect some repair of it after it had gotten torn in his fight against Zhan.  Coco's eyes had gone wide with horror when she'd seen the state of the garment.  Then she'd whipped it out of Perlin's hooves with breathtaking speed.  Now she was stock still, her eyes moving across the fabric of the cloak, noting every stitch and seem, also noting every tear and cut, muttering quietly enough that Perlin couldn't understand what she was saying.  Although, part of the reason he couldn't understand her was because she was also using terms that almost sounded like a foreign language to him.
An artisan speaks the language of her own trade that others understand not, I suppose, he thought wryly.
"This is terrible!" she said finally, looking up from the cloak and meeting his eyes.  This time there was no fear, only the righteous indignation of a professional at seeing the craft of her trade being mistreated so, even if said craft was not hers specifically.  She was apparently so affronted on behalf of the craftsmare that had produced the cloak that she had forgotten that she was still afraid of Perlin.
"I'm sorry about that," said Perlin nervously, shuffling, "The fight was particularly intense and my opponent landed several blows.  I'm rather lucky that I managed to get my flank repaired."  He turned and showed her the already fading scars, the last marks of the cuts he had received from Zhan.
The anger and indignation faded from Coco's face as she remembered who she was dealing with.  "D-did you kill her?" she asked.
Perlin shook his head.  "No, though it was a close thing.  We were lucky that there was a skilled healer on the scene though."  His heartbeat shuddered for a moment as she once again regarded him with her usual expression of poorly-concealed terror.  There was something...grating...about being feared by her, which Perlin couldn't quite understand.  Given who he was and what he did, he was used to being regarded with fear.  He even found it amusing at times, though he'd never taken any particular pleasure in it, like some sadists did.
What made Coco Pommel so different?
"So...uh...is there anything you can do about that?" asked Perlin, gesturing to the cloak, "I would take it back to Miss Rarity to see if she could mend it.  But I doubt I would be allowed to leave Ponyville so easily if I went there again."
The fear vanished again, that indignation flaring up once more.  "You mean Miss Rarity made this?" exclaimed Coco, her eyes wide, "This is a Rarity product and you went and...Ooh!"
Without another word, she turned and stomped back into the shop, slamming the door shut, leaving a slightly flabbergasted young stallion in her wake.
"Well...that happened..."



"I see," said Arkenstone after listening to Dawn's story.
Neither the beige stallion, nor the ebony colt showed any signs of tiredness of fatigue, in spite of the early hour.  Arkenstone hadn't missed a beat when Dawn had showed up at his door, instead preparing a pot of tea for them to share so that he could listen to Dawn's retelling of his fight with Perlin and then with Skan.
Dawn, for his part, had spent the night in Caramel's other guest room (the first one having been taken by Softhoof), curled up with his mother on one side and Scootaloo on the other.  The two of them had been loathe to let Dawn out of their sight once dinner had ended.  They had retired to the living room while Caramel lit a fire and had listened to Dawn explain what had happened over the course of his journey and his battles.  They talked late into the night, until a time where Caramel had deemed it a bad idea to let Fluttershy and Dawn walk back to their cottage.  So he had offered to let them stay there.  With permission from her mother, Scootaloo joined the sleepover.
However, first thing in the morning, Dawn had carefully extricated himself from his mother and his fillyfriend and left the house.  Not even Caramel had been awake yet, so there was nopony to notice as the colt quietly slipped out and made his way to the teashop situated by the library.  Arkenstone was already up as well, preparing the shop for its customers.  Though there was probably no need for him to rise so early to do the job, the Knight was just as much of a habitual early riser as Dawn was and that suited the colt's purposes quite nicely.
"Perlin is getting stronger," mused Dawn, "He was a much more difficult opponent this time."
"That's to be expected," said Arkenstone, taking a sip from his cup, "His weapons may be odd ones indeed, but he continues to work on mastering them.  He has as much dedication to his craft as any of us Knights.  He could be a serious threat in the future."
"And yet you saw fit to leave him at liberty," Dawn noted, still somewhat irritated about having been kept out of the loop regarding Perlin's secret visit to Ponyville.
Arkenstone nodded.  "It was not a decision made easily.  It may even come at the cost of lives in the future.  To this day, I'm not sure that it was the right one.  However, I also felt that he had an important role to play in the future and that it was for the best to let him be for now."
"I'm not certain I follow your logic," said Dawn, tilting his head to look at the Knight.
"You probably don't care for it much, but do you know how rock candy is made?"
Dawn nodded.  Caramel had once shown him how when letting Dawn watch him work at the candy shop.  "Yes.  You dissolve a large amount of sugar into water and then put a stick into allow it to crystallize into a solid form."
Arkenstone nodded.  "But do you know why the stick is there?"
Dawn paused.  "Um...because you need the stick to hold the candy so you can eat it...?"
"Yes," said the Knight with a throaty chuckle, "But there's a bit more to it than that.  When you have a supersaturated solution like that, the key to forming crystals is to introduce an impurity, a seed of sorts.  It acts as an anchor for the crystal to form around.  Taking the sides of the container itself out of the picture, if there is nothing for the crystals to latch onto and seed, they would never form and the solution would remain a solution."
"How does this apply to Perlin?"
Arkenstone sighed, his ears swiveling in place for a moment.  "Right now, there are forces at work in Canterlot...Forces that go well beyond the machinations of the Noble Court.  With the way things were, it was impossible to see just who and what were behind the things that are happening there.  However, Perlin may change that."
"Ah," said Dawn, "So you think he will act as that seeding device, like a stick in a pot of sugar-water.  He will draw out the hidden influences in Canterlot and cause them to crystalize, which will make them clearly visible."
Arkenstone nodded.  "That's my hope anyway.  It may take a while before we get any real results...and it may come at a very dear price."
"I suppose that too is the kind of burden that the Knights shoulder," mused Dawn.
"Yes," said Arkenstone sadly, "There are lives we can save and lives we can't.  Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here, enjoying myself in my little teashop while ponies may be suffering elsewhere."
"Aren't you here because you are a pony as well?" asked Dawn, "If so, then your suffering is also something to be alleviated."
A slight snort burst from Arkenstone's muzzle.  "I suppose you are right.  Now, about that other thing you told me about..."
"Yes," said Dawn, thinking back to his most recent battles.  During his fight with Skan, he had done something he had never thought about trying before.  He had enhanced the power of his blows by driving his hooves into the ground, seeking support from the earth...fighting like an earth pony.
"That's hardly a surprise," said Arkenstone with a smile, "The magic of each of the three tribes has its own distinct nature.  No, a pegasus could never hope to wield earth pony magic.  However, that does not mean that we cannot learn from one another."
"So you are saying that there is nothing truly odd about it?" asked Dawn.
Arkenstone shook his head.  "Not odd so much as rare.  Few ponies think about looking outside their own tribe when it comes to developing the martial arts.  You didn't draw the power of the earth in through your hooves, but you did strike downwards and then used the recoil and solidity of the stone beneath your hooves to enhance the upward force of your wings.  Applying that technique similarly in your later fight allowed you to smash right through a unicorn's shield."
"And have you done anything of the sort?" asked Dawn.
"Indeed I have," replied Arkenstone, pausing to take another sip of his tea, "In fact, you could say my entire style came about from just such a combination.  When I first began, I was a pure student of the Mountain Root.  However, having spent most of my life in Canterlot, surrounded by unicorns, I began to get an idea of how I might use the principles of their magic to adapt my own.  What resulted was the style I use today."
"Does that mean your style is more powerful than the Mountain Root?" asked Dawn.
Arkenstone laughed loudly at that.  "That's a bit of a tricky question to answer.  I would say my style is more powerful than the Mountain Root I would have wielded, because it suited me better than the Mountain Root did.
"However, it is not such a simple thing.  We call the Three Pillars the strongest arts because they emerged as the furthest exploration of the martial potential of our magic as a race.  However, a weapon's effectiveness is determined by the wielder.  The most peerless blade in the world, in the hooves of a novice, can be defeated by a mere twig in the hooves of a master.  The most important thing you must remember about your technique is that it should not be limited by the artificial constraints of something called a 'style.'  The most important thing that any martial artist can do is to absorb what is useful to them."
"Hmm..."  Dawn rested his chin on the table as he mulled Arkenstone's words over.
The beige stallion reached out and patted the colt's shoulder.  "That is the sum of what you did on Diamond Mountain and in Canterlot.  You applied an earth pony's technique to your own and your success was the result.  There is no need to doubt or question that.  In fact, you may consider exploring the idea further.
"For example, when you feel that you have sufficiently mastered lightning, you may consider trying to apply some of the principles of unicorn magic to it."
"How so?" asked Dawn, raising his head.
"Well, obviously your magic doesn't work like a unicorn's," said Arkenstone, "However, you can use the principle of unicorn magic in the form of applying your intellect to your actions.  The most basic way to accomplish this would be to create an image."
"An image?"
"An image in your mind," clarified Arkenstone, "Lightning is energy that you shape according to your will, once you've mastered it.  The best way to obtain that shape is to have a clear image of what you want that shape to be.  It may vary depending on your situation, but the ability to actively control the shape of your power could be extremely useful.  You learned to use lightning by not thinking about it, but that doesn't mean that there is no place for thought."
Dawn blinked, staring in surprise at Arkenstone.
"Thought can be used to reinforce action.  Take thought, make it become intention, take intention, make it become reality.  While there is a great deal more complexity to it for unicorns themselves, that is the basis for their magic in a nutshell.  That nutshell is something that you can use to further your own art."
"I see..." said Dawn after a moment, "I'll have to try it."
"You'll have to try it...later," said Arkenstone, smiling, "But you should probably not try to bother with training today.  It should be a day of rest after your ordeal.  And, unless I am mistaken, there are two lovely ladies who are waiting for you after you left them to come speak to me."
"Ack!"  Realizing what Arkenstone was saying, Dawn sat bolt upright.  A second later, he frantically gulped down the remnants of his tea before getting up.  He managed to take a second to bow to Arkenstone before rushing out the door, leaving the stallion behind, laughing boisterously.
"Ah...to be that young again..."



"Here!  Make sure you take proper care of it this time," snapped Coco as she thrust the cloak into Perlin's hooves.  She had spent the better part of three hours in the shop, apparently focusing on his cloak the whole time.
Looking the garment over, Perlin had to admit that he was sincerely impressed with Coco's skills.  Even looking closely, he couldn't spot the seams that marked where the cloak had been repaired.  It looked as good as new.
"Thank you very much," said Perlin as he slipped it over his shoulders.  "I had no idea that you were such a fan of Miss Rarity."
"Lady Rarity is only the finest craftsmare in all of Equestria," said Coco, lifting her gaze skyward as she clasped her hooves in front of herself reverently, "Even my new boss acknowledges her skill.  Even back when I was working for Suri, she was the talk of Manehattan.  Her creativity is nothing short of pure genius and her bold designs always take the fashion world by storm."
"My, that is high praise," said Perlin, unable to keep from smiling, now that he was sharing what could be called a normal conversation with the mare in front of him, she being too wrapped up in her hero-worship to be afraid of him at the moment.
"Yes, I can only wish that I might someday have the opportunity to learn from her," said Coco, before sighing sadly, "But I'll probably never even get to meet her."
"Well, I wouldn't be so sure of that," said Perlin, "You may have a better chance than you think.  It is my understanding that your current employer is commissioned to make the costumes for the upcoming Hearth's Warming pageant, correct?"
Coco nodded, her eyes shining.  "Yes.  It's great honor.  Lord Fancy Pants recommended my boss to Princess Celestia herself."
"But did you know that Rarity will be one of the actors performing at the pageant?" asked Perlin, smirking now.
Coco gasped sharply, her hooves going to her mouth.  "Really?"
Perlin nodded.  "Yes.  She and her friends have performed in the Canterlot pageant before.  Their performance was highly regarded."  Though, he thought to himself, That may have been for reasons separate from the actual quality of their performance, as Twilight Sparkle had been taking part as well.
"So you're saying that Lady Rarity will be wearing the costume that I helped make?" asked Coco, beginning to bounce in place.
Perlin nodded.  "It's practically assured."
"Oh wow!" squealed Coco, "That's so wonderful."  Perlin himself apparently forgotten, she turned and quickly waltzed back into the shop, her mind overtaken by fantasies of meeting her idol.
Perlin chuckled at her excitement as he watched the young mare leave.  He wasn't even put off that she had essentially forgotten that he was there at all.
Of course she would get to meet Rarity.  In all likelihood, Coco's skills practically promised that the Ponyville seamstress would take notice of her.  Of course, that had been what Baron Elderflower had been banking on after all.  It was no coincidence that he had chosen to introduce Coco to this particular shop.  The Baron had already known about the deal that Fancy Pants had struck with the Princesses over the costumes.  Coco was merely bait on a hook.  And the fish she would catch would merely be bait for a much bigger fish.
For some reason that he couldn't quite understand, Perlin found that irked him somewhat.  He briefly wondered why knowing these facts would upset him.  Normally, such things didn't concern him at all.
With a shrug, the cream-colored colt decided to worry over those thoughts another time.  His cloak had been repaired and he'd managed a semi-normal conversation with Coco, though he didn't understand why that seemed so important to him either.  He was satisfied for the day.



"I'm sorry," said Dawn for the umpteenth time as Scootaloo glared at him over her bowl of oatmeal.
"You scared me," she said flatly, "Fluttershy and I woke up and you weren't there.  We were both afraid that you coming back had been some nasty dream we'd been pranked with."
"I'm sorry," was all that Dawn could say, as he'd been saying for the past half-hour.  Fluttershy had been understanding enough.  However, Scootaloo had apparently taken it somewhat personally that he'd left without waking either of them.  "I had some things on my mind, so I went to speak to Arkenstone about them."
"And did he help you get your thoughts straight?" asked Fluttershy, slowly brushing Dawn's mane back and forth with her hoof.
Dawn nodded.  "It was informative.  We talked about some interesting things."
Fluttershy looked over and saw that Scootaloo was still rather irritated with him.  "Scootaloo, be nice.  Dawn didn't mean to scare us like that.  You're going to be miserable if you try to go through the day with a sour attitude."
Scootaloo huffed, looking away before letting out a sigh.  "Fine," she said, "I forgive you, Dawn."
"Thank you," said the colt, giving her the warmest smile he could muster, which, from the way her cheeks lit up, was plenty warm.
"So now, we have the entire day to ourselves," said Fluttershy, "What do you two want to do?"
"Well, we need to take Dawn around so that everypony can see that he's back safe and sound," said Scootaloo, "They were all really worried."
"We'll also need to see Softhoof off at the station," Dawn added.  The mare in question was upstairs now, packing her things in preparation for what was, hopefully, her final departure from Ponyville.
"Other than that, we can just relax and have fun," said Scootaloo, smiling widely, "And we need to talk about what Dawn's costume is going to be."
"Costume?" asked Dawn, giving the orange filly a questioning look.
"For Nightmare Night," said Scootaloo, "You know it's right around the corner...right?"
"Nightmare...Night...?"
The complete bafflement in Dawn's voice made Scootaloo's eyes widen.  "Uh...you know what Nightmare Night is...right?  I mean, didn't your Master teach you about it or anything?"
"Uh...not that I recall..." was all that Dawn could say with a slight shrug, "Now that I think about it, I think Twilight Sparkle mentioned it once or twice...something to do with Princess Luna, right?"
"Wow," said Scootaloo, staring at her coltfriend in astonishment, "Did you ever miss out.  Looks like we have some explaining to do.  Right, Fluttershy?"
The yellow mare giggled lightly.  "Oh yes, I suppose we do."
"Well then, let's get this show on the road," said Scootaloo, before digging into her oatmeal with a gusto.  Dawn looked on and wondered just what it was she was getting him into.



"Did you hear about Viscountess Sweet Water?"
"It's a terrible shame..."
"...wrecked her estate you know..."
"...was in pristine condition for two-thousand years..."
"...so humiliating to have it destroyed like that..."
And on it went...and on...and on and on and on...
Sweet Water, the Viscountess of Diamond Mountain seethed behind her mask of cold indifference, as well as her other mask.  The pale-pink mare had heard almost nothing but rumor and speculation regarding the damage to her estate on Diamond Mountain, as well as the endless speculation behind the cause of said damage.  Her plan had been flawless.  Nopony should have had any idea of just how she had manipulated the situation with Dawn Lightwing to suit her ends.  No one should have even guessed at her having a prisoner locked away in her home estates.  The two griffons guarding that otherwise worthless mare were practically overkill.
And yet, in the course of a couple days, everything had fallen apart.  Her prisoner had been liberated and managed to escape recapture in Canterlot.  Her estate, the holdings of her ancestors had been marred, irreparably damaged in the conflict.  Her leverage over the Department of Foal Protections had been lost, meaning that she now had nothing to approach Twilight Sparkle with.  Her plan lay in ruins, as did her manor in Diamond Mountain.
The original stonework had been preserved ever since the estate itself had been carved from the bedrock of the mountain.  To have it sullied like this was an unspeakable insult.
As it was, Sweet Water was extremely lucky that nopony could see her face right now.  If they'd been able to, she would be even more of a laughingstock than she already was, her anger and disappointment being far too much to hide.
Fortunately, now was the season of masks.  Nightmare Night was just as popular in Canterlot as it was in more rural communities and less-refined cities like Manehattan.  Though the ponies of the nobility would never stoop to something as plebeian as costumes, even they could see the appeal of spending an evening hiding your true face behind a mask (not that they didn't do that practically everyday already).  As such, masquerade balls were the entertainment of choice on the nights leading up to Nightmare Night and the night itself.  Everyone, from the attendees to the servants, hid their faces behind elaborate masks, playing a lovely little game of trying to figure out who was who.  Tonight's soirée was taking place in the home of some earl or another, though Sweet Water couldn't rightfully remember which one...Dewhopper probably.
Yes, it was extremely fortunate that Sweet Water's sour expression was currently concealed behind a white domino mask, fringed with long, feathery plumes that draped back over her wine-red mane, the tiny slits cut into it hiding the simmering rage that glittered in her pale-gray eyes as she wandered amongst her peers, too outraged to take pleasure in the glorious beauty of her magnificent violet and crimson dress, the skirt of which spread in her wake, seeming to sweep effortlessly across the floor.  The dress had cost her a small fortune and, along with the mask, served to make her identity nearly impenetrable.
Why? she screamed in the confines of her own head, Why did everything go so wrong?  Why did that damn brat have to meddle?  In her rage, it never occurred to the Viscountess that the foal, whose life and home she had been toying with to serve her own ends, would have every right to object to her machinations.
"My Lady?" queried a voice in her ear.
It took all of Sweet Water's composure and self-control to keep from jumping and yelling at the unexpected sound.  She spun about to regard the speaker, seeing a stallion, similarly masked, though his outfit was considerably less-elaborate than her own.  He was wearing a white plague-mask, which projected out over his muzzle like the beak of some kind of bird, whilst his light-purple body was covered by a jet-black suit.  Aside from that, only his dark-purple mane and tail were otherwise visible.  Sweet Water couldn't recognize him right off the bat, though she doubted she'd recognize him without mask either.  She cared little for her peers, finding them to be insipid company at best, unless they were useful to her in some way.
"Yes?" she asked, keeping up her mask of politeness.  The events of the past few days had already been sufficient humiliation in and of themselves.  There was no need to compound her shame by forgetting herself.
"Forgive me if I am incorrect," said the stallion, pausing to cough somewhat dramatically, "But am I addressing Lady Sweet Water, Viscountess of Diamond Mountain?"
Sweet Water's blood boiled in her veins.  This pony knew who she was and had probably been looking for her.  This stallion was probably seeking to rub her shame in her face in order to improve his own standing.
Still, protocol demanded that she play the game, even though she wanted nothing more than to walk out on him right then and there.  "Certainly, you are correct my dear stallion," she said, keeping her tone playful, "You have me at a disadvantage.  May I ask who you might be?"
"Probably no one of consequence to somepony as illustrious as yourself," said the stallion with a bow, "I am Elderflower, Baron of Dream Valley.  It is an honor to make your acquaintance, My Lady."
Sweet Water giggled with mock amusement.  She'd heard rumors about this baron before.  Apparently he'd been making some very, very subtle movements behind the scenes, though she had no idea what.  "It is a pleasure to meet you," she said, "Did you only seek me out to introduce yourself, or is there something else you had in mind?"  He wouldn't have been the first suitor to approach her, seeing a great deal to gain from the Viscountess's great material wealth, including the historic estate from her home domain.  However, right now seemed a poor choice of timing.  With her current humiliation, she was a less than ideal catch...
...Unless that was the point.  This baron was approaching her when she was at her lowest, probably imagining himself to be some kind of knight in shining armor to her, the kind and compassionate stallion, comforting the maiden during her moment of greatest shame.  How vulnerable she must appear to his eyes.  He'd probably ask her for a dance next.
However, the Baron seemed to be set on surprising her.  "If I could have a moment of your time, My Lady, I would like to discuss an important proposition with you."
"I suppose this proposition would have something to do with my current losses," mused Sweet Water, glaring at the stallion from behind her mask.
"I confess that the matter is not unrelated," said Elderflower, surprisingly amicably, "As the ultimate author of your misfortune, I feel the responsibility to redress it to the best of my ability."
"...What?"  Sweet Water's jaw hung loose as she realize just what this stallion had admitted.  He was the one who had interfered, who had somehow arranged for her plans with Hope Spot and Grayblood to fail.  He was the one who had covertly humiliated her and he had the gall to dare say so to her face.
"Please, retain your composure, My Lady," said Elderflower, his tone devoid of any taunt, but rather carrying a stern remonstration, "You have already suffered a great loss of reputation, any unwise outburst would only serve to make you lose even more face."
Suddenly once again conscious of the fact that the two of them were very much not alone, Sweet Water flashed her gaze around.  She had been studiously avoiding the central areas of this party, staying away from the ballroom or Dewhopper's (at least, she thought it was the Earl's mansion) foyer, instead choosing to wander about the wings of the mansion, contemplating her own suffering.  However, plenty of guests still roamed about, many of them close enough to easily catch any angry outburst on her part.
"Please, let us adjourn to somewhere more private," said Elderflower, smiling politely at her from beneath his mask, "Where you might be able to express yourself more honestly.  I can promise that I won't think any less of you."
Probably more of a case that he couldn't already think less of me, thought Sweet Water venomously.  If he had a low enough opinion of her to meddle in her affairs, then he probably didn't think much of her to begin with.  It was clear that this upstart didn't mind the difference in their ranks one bit and merely paid lip-service to her superior station.  However, she would indeed like the chance to express her true opinions of the pony that had ruined so much for her.
"Very well," she said, "I happen to know of a spot in the gardens that is perfect for such purposes."
"That suits me quite well," said the Baron with a polite nod, "Please, lead on then."
Sweet Water led them through the hallways and out one of the doors in the rear of the mansion.  Though she couldn't properly remember who the place belonged to, she had attended enough functions here to know it fairly well.  Ironically, the homes of the rich and powerful frequently followed the same basic floor-plan, with many such abodes sharing quite a few architectural and landscaping features in common.
Their journey came to an end at a gazebo, situated picturesquely in one of the far corners of the garden, surrounded by blooming flowerbeds that shined with vibrant color, even beneath the fainter light of the stars and moon, in spite of this hardly being the season for flowers to be blooming.  Even though the air outside should have been frigid, given the time of year and Canterlot's higher altitude, it was actually a rather balmy temperature, thanks to the heating spells woven over the garden.  All in all, it was a beautiful location.  However, Sweet Water was in no mood to enjoy such beauty.
Baron Elderflower had removed his mask, dropping any pretense of disguise as he gazed across the gazebo at her with perfect calm and composure.  There was no air of triumph about him, no sign that he was enjoying her humiliation.  Rather, he actually seemed genuinely sympathetic towards her.  That actually irked Sweet Water even more than any taunt or barb.  This upstart had engineered her disgrace and treated it as though it had been nothing to him.
"So, you are the one responsible," she growled, not bothering to remove her own mask.
Elderflower shrugged indifferently.  "I was the one who arranged for Dawn Lightwing to find out about Hope Spot and one of my agents assisted him in recovering her."
"Why?" snapped Sweet Water, "How dare you interfere with me."
"I interfered because your plan was doomed to failure anyway," replied Elderflower, unfazed by her rage, "Twilight Sparkle is not so foolish that she wouldn't have seen through your ruse.
"You intended to stoke the affair in Ponyville until it threatened to become a nation-wide sensation.  Reporters and paparazzi from across Equestria would have been about to descend on that little town in droves.  Twilight Sparkle and her friends would have been at their wits' end.  Their privacy and hope for any kind of peace would have been shot to Tartarus.  But then you would have descended down and kindly offered to make it all go away.  Because of your leverage over Grayblood, it would, of course, go away.  Twilight Sparkle would be indebted to you and you would lay the groundwork for future manipulations.  Am I correct so far?"
Sweet Water didn't say a word or make a single gesture.  However, her silence spoke volumes on its own.
"As I said," continued Elderflower, "Your plan was doomed to failure from the very beginning.  Twilight Sparkle is certainly naive in some respects, but not so much so that she wouldn't be able to see through your ruse and mark you as the author of her and her friends' misfortune.
"And what would stop her from accepting your help at that time, only to reject doing any favors for you later?  You used Hope Spot's debt to make the situation time-sensitive.  But, by the time you had your way, that would probably no longer be a factor.  It would be beyond your ability to manufacture the same scenario over again.  So you would have had to turn to other methods of manipulating the situation, taxing your resources and..."
"Enough!" snapped Sweet Water, "I get your point.  However, I fail to see why Twilight Sparkle would refuse me."
Elderflower sighed.  "You're forgetting something important.  Those of low-birth don't see the world the same way we do.  They don't understand the importance of holding to arrangements, of trading in power.  They are governed by things such as sentimentality, clinging to wasteful, immaterial concepts like friendship.  Twilight Sparkle's decisions are informed by such sentiment.  Rather than seeing reason, she would have simply rejected you out of anger for what you had done to her friends."
"So instead of allowing that to happen, you arrange for my humiliation," growled the Viscountess.
"I arranged for things to come to as neat an end as I could," replied Elderflower calmly, "Admittedly, your marvelous estate was a casualty of my arrangements.  For that, I apologize."
"You also arranged for my servants to desert me," added, Sweet Water, "I'm fortunate that some had at least enough loyalty to see that I was informed about Hope Spot's escape before she got back to Canterlot."
"That was also for your sake," said Elderflower, "It may interest you to know that investigators from the Royal Guard have been sent to your estate.  They are heading there to determine whether or not Hope Spot was being held there on your orders.  How fortunate it is that nopony is there to answer their questions."
Sweet Water clenched her jaw so hard that it hurt, cursing herself for her own lack of foresight.  She hadn't even thought about covering her tracks back on her home turf.  If the Royal Guard had managed to wrangle the fact that Hope Spot's incarceration had been on her orders, then there would have been hay to pay.
All of which simply meant that Baron Elderflower had all that much more leverage over her.  "What is it that you want?" she asked.
"I have a rather simple proposition for you," said Elderflower with a smile, "I am looking for ponies of like mind to myself, so that we can save Equestria from its impending descent into disorder and chaos.  Are you prepared to hear me out?"

To be Continued