There are consequences to every action, but we can't always predict what they will be. I stay up at night wondering what I could have done differently, but I've already paid the price for my actions.
There are consequences to every action, but we can't always predict what they will be. I stay up at night wondering what I could have done differently, but I've already paid the price for my actions. All I can do now is deal with the consequences, and I've got several great friends to help me do it.
I groaned as I woke up feeling a painfully tight muscle in my back. This kind of soreness must have meant I slept on it wrong, or possibly slept on a jagged rock. Flexing my wings made the pain worse so I gave up on making any kind of progress in sitting up. Still, it did offer a distraction from the sudden headache coming on.
There was a sense of deja vu, and I cracked my eyes open to try and see. The white light washed all color out and I had to close my eyes to hide them from the harshly lit room. I reached out with a hoof to shield my eyes, but seemed to be stuck in that state between awake and asleep where my body didn’t respond normally.
More than anything I just wanted to remember why I was so sore, and if I was this sore why Dash hadn’t done something to help with the pain. I moved my foreleg to the left trying to feel for her in bed, but hit the frame instead. There was a stinging in my arm, as if I wasn’t in enough pain already, and I tried to call out to Dash. I felt like I had a mouth full of cotton and wasn’t able to say anything.
Earlier that week…
I had gotten home after an interview with the police station in Ponyville. Once Shining Armor had put in a good word for me, I was almost handed a job there. The police chief was more old fashioned though, eager to meet any pony that planned on working in his station.
This was such a quiet town that the police force didn’t need more than a few officers, and that was mostly to cover each other’s holidays. My main task had been to sell my skills at tracking ponies for search and rescue. Sure, the police could look for a missing pony, but as I pointed out my talent was finding and rescuing them.
I’d gotten the job and now that I was home, I went upstairs to take a shower and get cleaned up. Dash had been getting ready for winter and working late, so I usually went to her house to see my marefriend.
Tonight as I entered my bedroom and took off my saddlebags I saw a note on the nightstand.
Dawn,
I’ve got something special planned for tonight that’s gonna be totally awesome! It’s a surprise… just leave the balcony door cracked when you go to bed and I’ll do the rest, you’ll love it!
XOXO, Dash
Smiling, I left the note there and headed into the bathroom to get cleaned up. Dash had a wild streak and it’d become something of a game to roleplay the dominant and submissive in the bedroom. If she’d left me a note like that, I could only guess she planned to pounce me while I slept and use me as her little stallion toy.
This would be a good night indeed.
I woke up coughing and felt like I was going to hack out a lung. My mind immediately resumed the headache from earlier, the coughing causing the pressure to build ever higher until I could feel the pain throughout my forehead and sinuses.
As my eyes opened and watered from the harsh light, I found it wasn’t so painful that I had to close them. Slowly, my eyes adjusted as I continued to cough, my dry throat and mouth doing little to aid the intense scratching at the back of my throat that had triggered this whole thing.
There was usually a glass of water on the bed stand for when I woke up with a dry mouth, so I reached out towards it. I felt a pair of hooves take my foreleg and hold it. Dash must have been in bed with me after all, and I managed to whisper hoarsely “water.”
A moment later I felt the cup being put to my lips and slowly tilted back. I tried to drink it faster by nudging it up, but what water did make it into my mouth was coughed right back out. After a couple more attempts I’d managed to get some water down, and my eyes had adjusted enough to realize it was not Dash giving me the drink.
“Fluttershy?” I blinked and rubbed my eyes, looking again to be sure. Behind her were white walls stained grey from years of being weathered. Bland tan curtains hung from the ceiling, rustling slightly from wind coming through an open window. The smell of lime disinfectant was the final hint to my addled brain that I was most definitely not at my house.
Applejack stepped forward, taking her hat off and setting it down. She looked at Fluttershy and spoke, though I couldn’t catch any of the words as I struggled to wake up.
I rubbed my ears with my hooves, feeling the tape holding the IV in tug at my skin. As my hooves eased the pressure I tried to sit up. My back and neck immediately protested and I collapsed back onto the pillow. The only thing I could control was stretching my wings out to regain some feeling in them from sleeping on them funny. “Fuck,” I muttered before coughing a couple more times.
“Dawn, you’re going to be okay, we’re here for you,” Fluttershy said.
“What?” I blinked, turning to face her and Applejack. “Where am I?” A moment before they answered I recalled the white walls, curtains, and sickly smell of disinfectant. It was a hospital.
“You’re at Ponyville Hospital, Dawn. Ya got in a bit of an… accident. Do ya remember?” Applejack asked.
I shook my head, eliciting a sharp pain in my skull as my headache reminded me that my brain would rather not be moved or used for critical thinking right now. Another pony entered the room and came over to me. White fur and a pink mane. I knew this pony, but it was stuck on the tip of my tongue.
“Dawn’s in pain, just look.” Applejack pointed to my face, and the nurse nodded.
“Visiting time is over,” the nurse said. She pulled out a syringe from her scrubs pocket. Despite my current dazed and confused state, I’d worked in a hospital long enough to know it was a painkiller to put me back to sleep.
“No,” I whimpered. I didn’t want to go back to sleep, I wanted to figure out what was going on. What had happened to me? Why was I here?
My vision blurred and I yawned as the medicine hit my system. I gave Fluttershy one last pleading look for help, and saw tears rolling down her face.
I had woken up with a horrible pain in my jaw, and my head bouncing along the ground. It had hit several rocks and the increasing pain was starting to piss me off. As I regained consciousness I began to struggle, realizing rather quickly I was in a thick burlap sack.
My mind raced for answers, and I called out for help. A thick, sweaty cloth had been shoved in my mouth and another cloth tied around my head far too tight, muffling my calls for help. The ropes on my legs had been hastily tied and slipped off easily, and I tried to untie the gag. Giving up on the knot, I instead tried to force my way out of the burlap sack.
I recalled getting showered and going to bed, and I recalled the note from Dash. She had something kinky planned, but would she really go this far for sex? It didn’t seem like her.
As I began to struggle harder and groan out more loudly in protest, I felt a sudden blow to my side, knocking the wind out of me. I did my best to growl in the gag, though being unable to breathe really hindered the effort. I had found the exit to the bag, tied shut tightly by a rope. I tried to loosen it to no avail.
The final reward for my efforts to escape was a second blow, this one connecting with my upper neck and knocking me out cold.
I was a bit more prepared when I woke up this time, caught in a haze of memories from both before and during whatever had happened to me. The image was becoming clearer, but my battered body was still sluggish to piece it all together.
I looked over for my cup of water and instead of Fluttershy, I saw Twilight. “Water?”
She looked up from the book she had been reading and gasped. “Dawn!” Twilight ran over and levitated the water up to my lips, using her magic to carefully control the flow into my mouth.
I finished off the entire glass this time, and it was wonderful. Next I rubbed my temples as I waited for the damned headache to end. Much to my relief, I felt the tingle of magic as Twilight removed the headache for me.
She leaned in and winked. “Our little secret, I’m not supposed to use magic on patients.”
Nodding, I asked her what I really wanted to know. “What the hell happened?”
Twilight frowned, looking around as if to see if she was really the one who had to tell me. Still, we were the only two in this forsaken white and tan room so far as I could see. “Dawn… you don’t remember? Do you remember any of it?”
I groaned and shook my head. “Would I ask if I did? I feel like I was hit by a bus.”
She squeezed my hoof and offered a small smile. “Well, you’re fine now, he won’t hurt you anymore, but I really think you might need more time before I tell you—”
“Just tell me, Twilight! I’m a large, semi-muscular stallion, I can take it!” I felt a sharp pain in my back as I tried to sit up and glare at her, reminding me once again that perhaps I couldn’t take it all head on.
“Dawn, you were—”
“Dawn’s awake?!” The tan curtains parted instantly as a pegasi shot through them, hovering in the air above me.
I was so excited to see Dash again that I couldn’t help but smile and try to sit up again, using my legs to try and push past the pain and reach her.
“I’m so glad you’re okay!” She landed on the bed, careful not to step on my sore body, and nuzzled my neck. “Just rest, Dawn. Get better and I’m here for you. I woulda come sooner but we were tracking that sick bastard down with the police.”
My heart began to beat faster as her words stirred memories. Dash being close to me, the stallion who attacked me, the kidnapping… The vital signs machine attached to me started emitting several beeps, some fast, some slow, as my heart-rate spiked.
“Soarin…” I felt a renewed surge of hatred and anger pulsing through my veins, and soon there was a cacophony of beeping sounds from the machine monitoring my health.
Dash panicked, worried she had caused all of this, and flew up into the air over me. “Twilight, get the doctor!”
“I’m already here,” Doctor Stable shouted as he ran into the room, followed by Nurse Redheart.
“I didn’t mean to, I just nuzzled him and told him we caught Soarin!”
Twilight flew up to Dash and started to herd her out of the room, as the two medical ponies began to open drawers and check the machine attached to me. “What’s going on? Where is he?”
“Please, calm down, Dawn,” Stable said. “You need to take it slow, easy, you’ll hurt yourself.”
“I’ll destroy him! Where is he?!” I screamed.
Stable just had to look at Nurse Redheart, and that one unspoken command was all it took. I felt a wave of drowsiness hit me as a sedative flowed through the IV and into my veins. Despite wanting to remain angry and to shout and scream, I felt my body slump to the bed defeated.
Sleep overcame me quickly, but it was an uneasy one filled with memories I would sooner forget.
I had woken up in a rather grimy stone cell with my face flat against the slimy moss. When I tried to stand myself up, I found my forelegs had been tied harshly behind my back, rendering me unable to fly properly, or walk.
The cell itself was only a few feet wider than I was, and as I tried to push my way towards the open door I felt something yank on my hind leg. It felt metal and heavy, and a chain clanked on the ground as I shook my leg.
Groaning, I tried to think of some way out of this. It was clear now I was kidnapped, because if this was part of Dash’s “sex game” we’d be having a very long discussion on boundaries. Before I could worry about any of the implements or tools on the wall, my captor walked in.
“Well, what have we here?” I immediately recognized the voice as Soarin. “One body-snatching alien, minion of Discord, and stupid enough to fall for my trap!” He dropped the note from Dash onto the ground in front of me. “Of course, you’re also the foul beast who stole my girlfriend from me!”
I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and began to grind my teeth. As my mind came up with a rational response, my mouth blurted out the first thing I could think of. “Dash left you because you’re a fucking psycho!”
Soarin yelled as he stepped forward and carried his momentum into a kick which hit me right below the ribs. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that! I see you for what you really are, a monster, an abomination to Equestria!”
The sharp pain as my muscles spasmed made it hard to breathe. Gulping for air, I looked up at him from my spot on the floor. “The only monster here is you.”
He kicked me again, hitting my ribs this time. I felt an intensesharp pain and faintly heard the rib crack. I screamed in pain, which caused my ribs to contract and an even worse pain as the broken rib rubbed against the surrounding tissue.
“Keep talking, Dawn! You open your mouth one more time when I’m not asking you a question and I’ll break more than ribs!” Soarin shouted. He paced around the room as I whimpered in pain, as if gathering his thoughts. “Just admit you’re in league with Discord, and maybe I’ll turn you over to the police. I think once Dash finds out you were working with him all along I can get her back.”
I chuckled until the pain in my chest forced me to stop. “In league with Discord? He’s probably the only being in existence whose ass I want to kick more than yours right now!”
Soarin glared daggers at me and I hardly saw his hoof as it flew through the air, connecting with my jaw and cutting my lip open. “If you won’t admit it and fix all the things you fucked up, I’ve got a plan in motion to make sure you spend the rest of your life miserable and alone!”
I bit my tongue this time so as to not provoke him into kicking me again. A bit of blood started to drool out of my mouth as well and I wondered where it was coming from, perhaps a broken tooth? A cut in my cheek?
“Now, Dawn. Tell me why you really took over Dash’s body. Tell me why you mocked our courtship by sleeping with me. Tell me why you had to go and steal her from me!”
Soarin stomped a hoof in front of my face when I didn’t respond at first. Sighing, knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer, I gave it to him anyway. “I woke up in her body, I did everything I could to get out of it. I slept with you because I wanted Dash to be happy and I wanted you two to be together. Turns out, you were too big of an asshole for even me to try and fix!”
He snorted and reared up on his hind legs, towering above me. As his forelegs came down I flinched, knowing it was going to hurt like hell. Luckily, the intense pain knocked me out in mere seconds.
This time I awoke to find myself crying in my sleep. It had been full of nightmares as I relived several sessions of interrogation and torture over and over. Soarin had truly gone off the deep end, somehow convincing himself I was the next villain threatening Equestria.
A pink hoof quickly wiped away my tears and I saw one of the widest, most comforting smiles in Ponyville. “Hi, Dawn, I baked you a get well cupcake! The doctor said it was okay to eat it too!”
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at her. “Thanks, Pinkie. Who else is here?”
“Just me, darling, I came by to make sure you were okay. I couldn’t believe what I heard happened.” Rarity glanced me over from head to hoof, lingering on my lower body. “Had to see it to believe it, honestly.”
I groaned and glanced over at the cupcake. This time I was able to reach it on my own, taking a small bite and then swallowing. “How long has it been?” I began to eat the rest of the cupcake.
“A week recovering, and you were with him for a few days…” Rarity used her magic to levitate a napkin over and clean the frosting off my face.
“Ugh, days? Did nopony notice me missing?” I asked.
Rarity frowned. “Actually, we didn’t. A prisoner escaped Tartarus and nearly conquered Equestria. Chrysalis helped him drain the magic from everypony, we only barely defeated him... and then we couldn’t find you in the aftermath. It’s a miracle you were found at all.”
“Yeah, and that organizer thingy you got Twilight turned into the last super-secret key we needed to beat him!” Pinkie began to pantomime a fight between what I assume was Twilight and the villain. “But we didn’t figure it out until it was almost too late, and then Twilight went all kick-ass on him and blasted him through a mountain!”
I reached over and took a drink of the water. “Yeah, Pinkie, I’m sure that’s exactly what happened.” Now that I was recalling the recent events more clearly it was a struggle to keep myself calm. I knew if I got upset they’d just knock me out again, and that helped me keep my emotions in check.
“Dash… Dash said they caught Soarin?” I asked.
“Yep! In the deepest, darkest prison in Equestria awaiting trial,” Pinkie explained. “I think he’s never gonna taste a cupcake or see daylight again.”
“Good, the more I remember about what happened the better and better that’s sounding.”
“Indeed, we’ve been taking turns staying with you twenty-four hours a day, Dawn. And since you woke up while I’m here I just want you to know I’ll be glad to make you new clothes.”
I sighed and waved a hoof dismissively “Sure thing.” Fashion seemed all she could think about but I could care less about a winter wardrobe. I rolled over to get comfortable on my pillow and yawned loudly. “Night, girls.”
By then I’d lost track of how long I’d been in the cell. Soarin was determined to force a confession from me. After being repeatedly kicked, punched, and drenched in icy water so I couldn’t sleep, I was very tempted to just give it to him. Even if it was a lie.
This time as I woke up I smelled something most unusual. Next to me there was a bowl of soup. My stomach growled and my parched throat rejoiced at the prospect. I knew that Soarin had no reason to feed me, except to keep me alive for more torture. If I had not eaten it,maybe I’d have died off before he tortured me more, but that would have been the coward’s way out.
I inched my way to the bowl and strained my neck to get my mouth over the soup. It was cold, and I could see vegetables and broth in it. With a sigh of defeat, I began to eat. I had to keep what strength I could. Soarin would slip up eventually, or my friends would find me. Either way, his day would come.
Once I’d licked the bowl clean I felt my stomach begin to cramp. “Damn it!” I shouted as I felt the soup upsetting my stomach. I should have known he’d resort to poison like the coward he was.
As the world went black I had fully expected to never wake up again.
This time I woke up and the light didn’t hurt my eyes. It didn’t trigger a headache, either, and I was able to stretch and yawn without my back screaming out in pain. It was a huge improvement, and I began to look around for my friends.
Though I couldn’t see her, I could hear Dash snoring. There was the sound of hooves on the floor, and a distant machine beeping. As I focused, I could even make out some hushed conversations.
Once again I found some water next to the bed and drank it, realizing for the first time that I was starving. It felt like I hadn’t eaten in days which was likely true, having been kept on an IV instead.
The curtain was pulled back and I caught sight of both Dash and Fluttershy sleeping on a couch in my hospital room. It would have been cute in any other situation to see them passed out, sleeping on each other.
Doctor Stable walked in quietly, smiling. “Well you’re up late, though that may be good so we can talk privately.”
I nodded. “Sure, about what?”
“Well, you’re both in good health, but before you leave I’d like to do one last exam. I’d also like to hear exactly what happened again.”
A feeling of dread overcame me and I quickly shook my head. “No…”
“Relax, you’re safe here. We’ve never had a case like yours and it’s important I know what really happened in those last few hours.”
My heart began to race and I became paralyzed in fear. I didn’t remember what happened, I didn’t want to remember. I just stared at Stable as if he were the devil incarnate, come to toss me into a lake of molten brimstone.
“Dawn? Dawn, can you hear me?”
I felt myself getting dizzy as I breathed rapidly. “No, no, I don’t want to…” I couldn’t stop now, my whole body panicking as I felt adrenaline flooding into my veins. As I looked around in panic I noticed I’d woken the sleeping pegasi up, and they were now watching the doctor anxiously.
“Dawn?”
I laid down and stared up at the ceiling, feeling a worse and worse pressure in my chest. I couldn’t breathe, I could barely see, my heart was pounding in my ears, and all for one reason.
I had woken up on a thick wooden table. My forelegs were over-extended by ropes and I thought they might pop out of my shoulders. Both hindlegs were strapped so tight to the legs of the table I couldn’t feel my hooves. The edge of the table dug into my stomach and pressed against my hips. The last thing I tried to move was my wings, which had been compressed with ropes and tied down to my chest.As I tried to call out for mercy, a muffled whimper came out. Once again I’d been gagged, but this time with a much thicker plastic bit that made me unable to utter a single word.
“I’m glad you’re awake, Dawn. I’m afraid our time is up and since you won’t come clean, I’m going to have to dispose of you.”
Hearing those words and realizing my demise was imminent, I began to thrash against the ropes, straining several muscles and getting deep rope burns in the process.
“Relax, relax… killing you, while fun, isn’t what I have in mind. No, I need to make sure you’re never found.” Soarin walked around in front of the table and stared at me with a smirk on his face.
I wanted to kill him at this point. It’d gone past hatred and anger, past anything Discord had done. This stallion was the definition of a sociopath.
“You see, Dawn, I drugged that soup with a very special cocktail. After our last session today, you’ll be drugged again and wake up at a mental hospital.”
The gag prevented me from insulting him, or even spitting in his self-righteous face. If I could have, I’d have complained about his cliche villain speech. I didn’t give a shit what he was going to do, at this point I just wanted it to be over with. Death, torture, banishment—if he had some worse fate up his sleeve he needed to spit it out already.
Soarin continued. “A well placed bribe and you’re now Swift Breeze, a pathological liar and patient of Broadhoof Asylum. You’ll be taken care of, in a manner of speaking. Padded rooms, straight jackets, the whole works… after all, when I’m done mutilating your cutie marks they won’t let you within ten feet of a pointy object.”
He chuckled and walked back around me. “Tell me, Dawn, do you notice anything different? I have one last gift to give you to make sure you never forget me.”
I tried to look back at him to see what he meant, when I felt him roughly grope my backside. My eyes went wide in panic as I looked at my forelegs.
Instead of blue fur, it was pink.
“Oh yes, Dawn. I know all about you and poison joke. Zecora probably didn’t even notice the break in… a little bit of that, a little fertility potion, and a stabilizer to prevent it being reversed… after all, who knows what orderly you might beg and plead to for an abortion? I wouldn’t put it past an animal like you. But I want you to have the full eleven months, pregnant, in a padded room to remember what you took from me: you took me and Dash’s foal away. And now, as a mental patient, your foal will be taken away.”
I struggled and began to scream as he climbed onto the table.
When I awoke next, I felt a little loopy. Whatever medicine they had used to end my panic attack was still in my system. Nurse Redheart was even here, checking in on me.
I remembered now what had happened in crystal clear detail. I looked to her, already feeling tears welling up. “I don’t want to remember, please, help me.”
Her lips slowly curled into a frown and Redheart gently stroked my head. “Shh, darling, it’s okay. You’ll be okay. Do you want something to help you sleep?”
“Yes, please, I don’t want to remember anymore!”
I clutched the foreleg she had been using to stroke my mane until she pulled back. Redheart got out a sleep aid and pushed it into the IV, giving me a brief respite from the horrifying images.
I had not believed my ears when Soarin screamed in pain. The sound of him tumbling on the floor with a broken shoulder was more beautiful than any concert symphony I’d ever heard in my life; the sight of Dash tackling him more treasured than Picasso or Rembrandt.
Soarin was whimpering like a foal with a scraped knee, begging for mercy in the corner. He had appeared too weak to get up.
Dash rushed over to me as my hind legs ached in immense pain. She tried to wipe the tears from my face but they had already dried, clumping up the wet fur and staining my cheeks.
“Dawn, what did he do to you?” Dash shot Soarin a spiteful glance to make sure he hadn’t tried to go anywhere.
“Dash! You have to help me!” I pleaded.
“It’s okay, I’m here and the rest of our friends are right behind me!” Dash walked around to my backside to begin untying me and I heard her wail in disbelief. She had a first hand view to what Soarin had done to my now female body, and for a moment I thought she might have died in shock.
“Dawn… that son of a bitch raped you!” Dash began to stomp back over towards Soarin.
“Dash…” I saw her spin to face me, already a plan forming in my head. “Please, I can’t have his baby, I won’t!”
“I don’t know how to fix this!” Dash responded. She came back over to try and comfort me. “What am I supposed to do? This is more of a Twilight problem!”
I had a plan forming in my head, it was a Hail Mary play but it was all I had. There was the sound of a door closing and I looked around for Soarin. I didn’t see him, and I needed to explain my plan to Dash. “I have a—”
Another door was thrown open and Fluttershy ran into the room, panting. “Dash…”
“What?” She spun to face Fluttershy, adrenaline still pounding through her veins.
“It’s Soarin, we saw him sneak out a side exit and fly off! The girls are chasing after him but they need you.”
Dash growled and spun around, vanishing out of the building in mere seconds.
“Dash! no!” I turned to Fluttershy, knowing she was my only remaining hope. “I have to ask you a big favor, Fluttershy, and you have to trust me on this!
Fluttershy walked over, looking at how I was tied and what had been done to me. “Oh, my… I… what?”
“He gave me a fertility potion, but there’s still some potion on the floor over there, near the workbench. It’s a… purple potion, glass bottle. I think that’ll change you into a stallion! Please, Fluttershy, I need you to use it and mount m—”
“What?!” It clicked in her mind what I was asking her and her pupils went wide in shock. “But I don’t like stallions, I… I can’t.”
“Please! You have to try, trust me! It’s the only chance I have at not having Soarin’s bastard!”
It was finally time for me to be discharged from the hospital. Dash and Fluttershy were both by my side, as well as Doctor Stable who was filling out my discharge paperwork. It was good to see them again and to be able to sit up without any help. Just having another pony here that wasn’t hospital staff made the room so much more lively.
“Dash, can you step outside?” Stable asked. “There’s one last thing to cover.”
“Of course, Doctor. I’ll be right outside, Dawn.” Dash left the room, glancing back once to smile at me.
“Now, we’ve never had a case like this before so I’m not sure what you two did will work,” Stable stated.
“Not work?” Fluttershy asked. “But Dawn talked me into it, I only did it because I cared about her so much.”
“Look, biologically Dawn’s reasoning was sound,” Stable replied. “Stallion anatomy was designed so that when a mare had multiple mates, each following stallion would scoop out their rival’s sperm. This gave the last one to mate the highest chance of producing offspring.”
Stable handed Fluttershy a piece of paper to sign. “We’ll run a DNA test, but I don’t want you getting your hopes up. Zebra potions aren’t studied in Equestrian Medicine. I don’t know why Twilight could change your gender back but not Dawn. It probably has to do with Dawn being pregnant. None of it makes sense, and until I meet with Zecora personally, there’s not much more we can do for Dawn here.”
Fluttershy looked up from the paper and folded it under one of her wings to carry it. “This is the discharge slip, we’re free to go?”
I pushed the blankets off, relieved that I was finally getting out of here. My pink fur was still a bit of a shock, having only recently pieced together that I was female, and that I would be for quite some time. “Yeah, let’s get out of here. The food sucks.”
Stable laughed and pulled back the curtain for us. “Take care, Dawn. We’ll see you in a couple months for a follow up.” He turned to the door and raised his voice. “You can come back in now, Dash.”
I got out of bed and felt a little soreness, but it was more like the day after exercise than a near-death experience. Most of all I just wanted to be anywhere but here. I’d had nothing but bed rest and nightmares since getting here, and having healed I hoped never to see a hospital again. I had only found out from a Nurse after the fact that I’d been missing a week and spent another ten days recovering in the hospital.
“Come on.” Dash nodded and I walked over to her. She draped her wing over my back, and I brought my wing under hers and over her back. It was the pegasi equivalent of a hug or holding hooves, and we walked out of the room like that.
“Fluttershy, the doc ask about you and Dawn?” Dash asked.
“Yeah,” she answered. “We’ll have to wait for a DNA test.”
We followed Fluttershy out of the room and let her lead us towards the exit. The long hallways would have easily gotten me lost but luckily Fluttershy knew where she was going. In fact, they’d all visited so often they probably knew the place better than some of the staff did. She led us out of the hospital and once we were outside, she turned to face me and Dash.
“You’re staying at my house again tonight, Dawn,” Fluttershy stated matter of factly.
I knew better than to tell her or Dash I wanted to be alone. They both cared for me a great deal and would both likely want to be by my side for quite a while—even if I just wanted to curl up someplace dark and pretend the last few weeks were a bad dream.
“Alright. You got plans for dinner? It feels like I’ve been on an awful diet.”
“Applejack’s dropping off supper, she said that Granny really whipped up something special for you.”
“I’m so sorry, Dawn,” Dash said. She hadn’t spoke since we left my hospital room. “If I could have just gotten there sooner, if I hadn’t been off trying to divert some stupid crisis—”
“Hey,” I interrupted. “At least you got there when you did, or who knows where I’d be right now.” I knew Dash well enough to know it was eating her up inside. She was the fastest pony in Equestria, yet when it had mattered most she felt she had not been fast enough.
Dash and I began to walk towards Fluttershy’s cottage. “When did you become the rational one?” Dash asked. “Don’t you want to bash his head in?”
I smirked and recalled a few choice things I’d thought of doing to Soarin. Most of them involved garden shears or a stove top. “Sure, but he just got caught raping a mare and assaulting you. Don’t you think Celestia and Luna owe both of us enough to see to it he never sees the light of day? He’ll get punished and everypony will know what he did at the trial, and that’s worse than anything you or I could do to him.”
In fact, I thought to myself, given Celestia’s track record, the light of day might be the last thing Soarin sees before being incinerated.
“I guess,” she muttered, “still doesn’t mean I like it.” Dash pulled me in a little closer for warmth. It was winter time and if not for the recent events, the weather team would have already had a foot of snow on the ground. As is, it was only about fifty degrees out which was quite cold for the normally sunny town.
“I’m sorta looking forward to the snow. It’ll be a nice change of pace, we can just stay home by the warm fire and spend time together,” I said.
“It’ll still be a week before we get any,” Dash replied.
“Awww.” I gave Dash a squeeze. “Couldn’t you go back to work and make it snow for me? Just because I got hurt doesn’t mean you have to stop your whole life. Fluttershy will spend plenty of time with me.” I glanced back at the mare, still following a few feet behind us, and whispered to Dash. “Besides, she’s been super maternal in the hospital. I don’t think I’ve been out of her sight more than five minutes since I got admitted.”
Dash looked up at the sun as it set over the horizon, to be replaced soon by Luna’s moon. She seemed to be thinking it over but in the end I knew she’d come around. “I guess I could get the team together and rally some snow by tomorrow night.”
“Thanks, Dash.” I turned my head to kiss her on the cheek, causing her to blush.
“Heh, would have never pegged you for a romantic. I guess it helps now that you can’t think with your dick,” she joked.
“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy scolded. “There’s no need to be making jokes like that after what poor Dawn—”
“It’s fine, Fluttershy, really. I just want ponies to treat me normal, jokes and all,” I replied.
“Sorry, Shy,” Dash said. “Just trying to cheer him… well, her up.”
I chuckled and it soon turned into a deep-bellied laugh. Once I’d stopped I looked at her. “Now I’m sorry, I was just thinking how odd it was we both end up pregnant mares. Just when I get used to my life it got flipped, turned upside-down.”
“We’re here,” Fluttershy said. Looking up, we saw her standing on her doorstep and grabbing the door knob. Inside the lights were all on and we saw Applejack carrying another plate to the table.
Animals scattered to get out of our way, but one approached us meowing excitedly.
As Dash and I walked inside I heard Fluttershy close the door and a deadbolt lock into place. It wasn’t like any of us to keep our doors locked in Ponyville, but Fluttershy seemed to be thinking very cautiously.
I kneeled down as Bagheera reached me and began to pet him. “Hey, you missed me?” He meowed loudly in response and began to lick my foreleg. “Thanks, Fluttershy, for looking after him.”
“He was in the window every night looking for you,” Fluttershy explained. “I almost never see a pet so worried for their owner. You’re very lucky, Dawn”
I smiled widely and got up, eager to eat dinner. I headed over towards Applejack and the meal she had prepared.
“Ah didn’t have much to go on,” Applejack explained, “but we did our best. Ain’t gonna be servin’ bacon, but we did whip up macaroni ‘n cheese, mashed potatoes, cheese pizza, and apple pie. Even got ya some of our non-alcoholic cider.”
“Thanks, Applejack!” I cheered, releasing Dash to quickly go over and hug her. She still smelt like apples from helping bake the pie.
“Shucks, don’t mention it. And ah best be goin’ then,” Applejack said.
“No way, you’re staying for dinner,” I replied.
Applejack adjusted her hat as she released me from our hug. “Y’all probably want to spend time together.”
“Yes I do, with all my friends.” I went to my chair at the table and sat down, looking over the meal they’d prepared. Given the differences between Earth and Equestria, not all these dishes were that common here, but they’d prepared an amazing meal. My stomach was more than glad for it.
Fluttershy pulled a chair out for Applejack, then took a seat. Dash sat down shortly afterwards and we began to pass out the food to everypony. As the plates were passed around I saw that she’d also made some biscuits, and I soon had a heap of food on my plate.
“You sure you can eat all that?” Dash asked.
“Is that a challenge?” I smirked and looked across at her. “I can eat at least twice as much food as you.”
Dash rolled her eyes and Applejack laughed loudly. “Looks like Ah ain’t the only one that’s gonna be beatin’ you in contests anymore.”
“Come on, I always beat you most of the time…” Dash smirked as we all chuckled.
The table got pretty quiet as we ate. With so much delicious food to taste, it eventually started to turn towards an awkward silence.
Not really knowing what to say, I looked around instead. Angel was sleeping on his back on the sofa, leg twitching as he had some dream. There were a few blue jays perched around the room near the ceiling. The faint smell of hay and animals was drowned out by the food, and more than one of them had come out of hiding to look on with envy. A beaver in particular had been sitting there the whole time looking at me.
I finally broke down and tossed him a biscuit. This earned me a glare from Fluttershy, who had once told me not to feed the animals table scraps. I shrugged and offered her an innocent smile.
The beaver quickly ran off with his prize, and even stopped to give a few small pieces to a couple other animals.
“Oh, AJ, I’m gonna see about getting the weather back on track and get some snow tomorrow,” Dash said.
Having broken the silence, Applejack was quick to respond. “We’ve had our provisions for winter stored for a week now, no need to worry on our account. Apple trees are all set too. Even brought Fluttershy here some extra firewood.”
“Ahuh,” Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you, it was very thoughtful.”
A slice of pie was cut out by Dash, who saw me looking at her and surrendered her piece of the pie to me, then cut herself another one. As I bit into my portion of the apple pie, I was blown away by how moist and delicious the apples were, even when they were out of season.
“Your family recipe is amazing,” I said. Before she could reply I had already taken another large bite, savoring it in my mouth.
“We’re glad to help anyway we can, just say the word. And, ah sent word to all the Apples lettin’ ‘em know you’re good as family now, Dawn. Doesn’t matter where ya go, there’ll be an Apple there if ya need anything,” Applejack stated.
I smiled and nodded. “Thanks, that means a lot.” I looked down at my now empty plate, and the also empty pie tin. “Oh, looks like that’s it for dinner.” Leaning back I began to pat my swollen belly. With all the bland, empty food I’d been eating at the hospital I was looking forward to fattening up a bit. After all, if we weren’t meant to get fat the food wouldn’t taste so good.
“Y’all get some sleep and let me and Fluttershy take care o’ the dishes.” Applejack began to gather them up and carry them into the kitchen.
“I’ll be up in a bit,” Fluttershy said.
I nodded and began to walk upstairs alongside Dash. At the top of the stairs was Fluttershy’s room and we headed inside. Dash climbed into the bed first and slid under the covers on the far side. I got in next and laid beside her.
She waited for me to curl up and get comfortable, then she relaxed her wings and spread one over me. It was her way of sheltering me from the world and letting me know things would be okay. I breathed in her scent, always of fresh rain, as she held me close to her chest.
“Fluttershy only has the one bed, it’s okay for her to join us, right?” Dash asked.
“Of course.”
Dash tightened her grip around me a little and adjusted the blanket to cover most of our bodies.
“Good night, Dash, I love you,” I said.
“Night, Dawn, love you too.”
As I began to fall asleep I felt Fluttershy turn off the light and climb into bed. A few moments later she cuddled against my back and draped her wing over me too. I took a deep breath and exhaled, stretching to get comfortable.
And I was very comfortable, safe in bed with two mares that loved me. No matter what happened, I knew they’d always be there for me.
I rolled over and found myself trapped in the bed sheets. Somepony was there with me, rubbing my back, at least until I entangled myself further.
“Dawn, wake up.”
My eyes scrunched closed and I tried to go back to sleep. It was uncomfortable, but sleep seemed the easiest option for myself.
“Dawn, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah, let me go back to sleep,” I answered.
“You were shouting in your sleep, rather loudly…” She tugged at some of the blankets in an attempt to untangle me from the mess I’d made of her bed.
“No, I don’t remember that, I just want some more sleep.” I let out a loud yawn and tried to slither my way deeper into the blankets hoping she’d leave me alone. I knew that I hadn’t slept well; I kept waking up and going back to sleep, but I certainly would have remembered if I’d been yelling.
“Dawn, I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be, go bug Dash and let me sleep.”
Fluttershy sighed, getting off the bed and standing next to it. “She’s not here, you asked her to make it snow for you, remember? I’m making breakfast, why don’t we spend some time together today?”
I knew she meant well, and finally gave in. “Alright, but we’re not gonna talk about it, not at all.” A few tears rolled down my cheek and I quickly pressed my face against the comforter to hide them.
“Okay, Dawn, come down when you’re ready.
After she left, things quieted down. While I waited to fall asleep, I recalled how alone I had felt when I arrived in Equestria, and how badly I wanted not to be alone. Now that all the ponies had made me part of their community, alone was the only thing I wanted to be. I slowly felt myself slipping back to sleep and into that peaceful void where nopony could hurt me.
I stretched out on a park bench and watched some birds fly by. High in the air there was a plane leaving a long contrail. It took me a moment to recall what it was, having been so long since I saw one.
I sat up and looked for another pony, spotting one walking nearby. “Hey, do you see that?” I pointed up in the air at the plane. We both looked up to where it had been, but saw nothing there.
When I looked back for the other pony they were gone, and I got the feeling I was being watched. I spun around and saw Mayor Mare standing there with two police officers. “Dawn, we need you to come in for questioning…”
I tilted my head as I heard police sirens in the distance, drawing ever closer. “What? Why?”
“Take it easy, Dawn.” The Mayor signaled the police who started to creep forward. “We just need to make sure you’re not a threat.”
“Of course I’m not a threat! There are worse ponies out there than me!”
“Are there, Dawn?” Lyra asked.
I turned back around, no longer on the park bench, but instead at the police station. On the other side of the table I saw Lyra and one of the police ponies from earlier. “Why are you doing this to me? I did nothing wrong!”
“Then why do you look so guilty?” Lyra shook her head and turned to the police officer. “The guilty ones never admit when they do something wrong.”
“Damn it!” I slammed my hooves on the table. “I told you I’ve got nothing to be guilty about! You should be out there beating the shit out of Soarin, not hounding me!”
“Toss him into lock up,” Lyra ordered.
The police pony walked around the table, levitating a pair of hoofcuffs. “No!” I turned and ran to the door and tried to open it. It was locked. Through the small window in the door I saw Iris standing there, one of my personality fragments that often haunted my dreams. “Iris! Help me! Open the door!”
She turned to look at me, her frown slowly turning into a wide grin that showcased venomous fangs. A deep laugh reverberated through the air as she turned and walked away.
I felt the police pony grab me, forcing one hoof into the cuffs. “Let go!” I kicked a leg out, hitting him in the chest. As I turned to face him I saw the wooden table with ropes, stolen potions, and the small cell…
Instead of the police officer, it was Soarin staring at me now. “Be a good girl, Dawn. You know you want me to mount you again.”
This time as I woke up I could hear myself screaming, and felt Fluttershy trying to hold me down. “You’re okay, Dawn! You’re okay!” She had a look of fear on her face I’d rarely seen. Her eyes had gone wide and her lips seemed to quiver. Fluttershy could be brave when a villain threatened her, but it shook her to the core to see her friends suffer.
“Fluttershy?” I felt my heart racing, the pulse pounding in my neck. Both forelegs were wrapped in the blanket and I slowly began to pull them out. “You’re crying?”
She quickly glanced away, wiping the evidence away with her hoof. “Are you okay, Dawn?”
“I’m fine… I remember screaming, but I don’t remember why. I was in the park with Lyra, and there was an airplane…” I fought the foggy haze as the dream slipped away, offering only fleeting glimpses of what had gotten me so upset.
Fluttershy nodded. “And you don’t wanna talk about it?”
“There’s still no need to talk about this stuff right now okay? If I start talking to you, soon everypony else will want to talk. It’s bad enough to say what happened once, I don’t want to have to tell it over and over again.”
Fluttershy nodded and released me from the hug. “Okay, but you owe it to me and Dash to be honest.”
I sighed, this just didn’t seem like a battle I was going to win. They wanted me to talk about it, but I could at least delay it. “Fine, but not today. Maybe if the nightmares continue, but trust me when I say I can’t deal with it right now. It’s best if we just pretend it’s a normal day so I can unwind.”
She sniffed the air. “Oh, that smells like the toast burning.” Fluttershy got up and walked towards the door. “I think I’ll have to start breakfast over.”
“That’s fine, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
I rolled over and pulled the covers to my chin, shivering even though it wasn’t cold in the room. Memories of my nightmare were creeping back to me. I tried to think of anything but Soarin. First I tried to think about baseball. I’d never been much of a fan, so I tried thinking of a fishing trip I took once in the Atlantic instead.
The more I thought about Earth, the more I realized how little I could remember of it. Worse yet, the nightmare became the elephant in the room. The harder I tried not to think about it, the longer my mind lingered on it. As upset as I now was, it wasn’t possible I’d be falling back asleep anytime soon.
Groaning in defeat, I pushed the covers away and rolled onto my back, looking down at my belly. At least with some time alone and without hospital wires and needles stuck all over me, I could examine myself.
I’d only spent a day or two as a female before the kidnapping. It was still surreal to think I was stuck this way until I’d delivered the foal. Doctor Stable had to figure out what drugs or potions I’d been given. He’d asked if I’d like to be part of a study, and said it’d only take an extra week. Luckily Fluttershy and Dash had pushed for my discharge from the hospital.
Figuring it’d cheer me up to think positive, I tried to list some benefits of my new body. It was a bit smaller and lighter, with fewer parts to get in my way. My hair was now mostly blue, and the pink fur was growing on me as well. My eyes didn’t linger long on my stomach as I imagined what might be growing in there. If it was Soarin’s foal I’d be well within my rights to terminate the pregnancy, but the very thought scared me and shook me to the core.
What would the ponies think? Did they even allow that here? Would terminating the pregnancy just prove what Soarin said was true, that I’m a monster who doesn’t value life?
I shook my head and quickly got out of bed and went downstairs for breakfast. I didn’t want to linger on any of those thoughts right now. There were surely better ways to use my time than playing “what if”. Also, if I could just make it a week or two until things settled down I’d never have to think about it again. Everything would go back to normal, Soarin would rot in a dungeon, and I’d have a family and friends.
Once I got to the dinner table, I saw toast and eggs on the plate. Fluttershy was pouring the orange juice to go with it. “Feeling better, Dawn?”
“I guess.” There was a chair with its back to the wall and I went and sat in it, pulling my plate over. I felt a bit safer when I knew nopony could be standing behind me. Even here with Fluttershy, some part of me didn’t want to trust anypony at all.
“Well, Twilight wants to come over to see if you’re okay. Everypony does, actually, and I’ve already turned Pinkie and Rarity away this morning… I thought you wouldn’t want to wake up and find us all hovering over you like at the hospital. They’ll be back soon though, you slept in late.”
The toast was buttered and crunchy, but still tasted good to my hungry stomach. “Thanks for that.” I looked at her, chewing a mouth-full of food. “Oh… you think Dash will get the snow going?”
She nodded and swallowed her food. “If anypony can get it done in a single day, it’s her.”
We sat and ate in silence, and I quickly devoured most of what she had prepared. I hadn’t had someone to cook for me before so most of my meals came from a can. Now that I was a pony, most of them came from apple trees. Perhaps it’s good that I’ve found something other than fresh fruit to eat.
“That breakfast was delicious.” I leaned back and patted my full belly.
Fluttershy gave me a curious look, her eyes focused on my belly. “You’re not feeling nauseous?”
“Huh, why?”
“Usually in the first couple months mares can get morning sickness.”
A light switch flicked on in my head and I looked down, remembering with a small shudder what she was talking about. With a foal growing inside me I’d likely be noticing several changes coming on soon, and not all of them were good. “Oh… None yet.”
“I’ve got a plant for nausea so if it does happen just let me know, okay?”
She got up and started grabbing dishes. I would have gotten up and offered to help, but something outside caught my eye. Once I was close enough to get a better view outside, I saw powdered snow falling to the ground. It was so fine that it was hard to see, but it was definitely the first snow of winter in Ponyville.
I quickly went outside and stood on the stone path in front of her cottage. The stones were still warm from the sunlight and hadn’t been covered in the thin layer of snow yet. Looking upward I saw the white overcast sky from whence all of this weather was coming. A few shapes darted around, and I recognized one of them as Thunderlane.
The fur and feathers kept me comfortably warm, though I could tell from my quickly freezing nose that it was in fact quite cold outside. Still, it beat wearing layer upon layer of clothing, and just being here in the snow brought back memories. Making snow angels, snowball fights, or the time my friend and I thought it’d be a good idea to sled down a hill towards a thicket of trees.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” The voice came to me like a whisper on the wind. I turned to face the source and jumped back in surprise.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Dash was grinning ear to ear and I gave her a playful push away as my heart pounded in my chest. I felt myself let out a soft laugh and then reached over and hugged her.
“You okay, Dawn? You’re crying.”
“Thanks, Dash. For the snow, for being here, everything… I’m…” I felt tears well up as I looked into the eyes of the mare who had committed to seeing me through this whole ordeal. As she wrapped her forelegs around me protectively, I could smell her scent digging deep into my nostrils. I inhaled, closing my eyes and willing the stress, memories, and nightmares all to dissipate. I felt safe. As long as Dash had me in her embrace, I would be just fine.
The sound of Pinkie laughing and ponies chatting rose over the far hill. Shapes began to come into view as our friends approached from the distance. I reached a leg up and waved towards them, then gave Dash a kiss before sitting down on the ground next to her.
“You’ve got horrible bed feathers, and yet your mane looks fine…” Dash shook her head and let out a chuckle. “Well, I can fix the feathers, but are you going to be okay with… everything else?” Her voice was soft and motherly, comforting and calm. As she straightened a few hairs away from one of my wings, she began to preen it.
“Yeah I’ll be fine, I’ve got the two hottest mares in Equestria sharing a bed with me. I think I can manage.” I laughed, earning a light punch in my side.
“You’re unbelievable, you know that?” Dash was making quick work on my wings as I watched the snow fall. “Just let me know the second anything’s not okay, deal? Because next time you kick me out of bed, I might kick back.” She stuck her tongue out at me.
I shrugged my shoulders. “All is fair in sleep and war.”
“Come on, let’s get inside and make sure the fire is lit. I had a talk with them, so hopefully things don’t get too awkward, just some mares having hot cocoa and talking about winter.”
Dash turned and walked towards the door, keeping an eye on me until she reached it and went inside.
My mind wandered from that one simple phrase she had said. I was a mare now, and a pregnant one at that. If someone had told me I’d be like this I wouldn’t have believed them. I’d probably have thought they were insane and hurried across the street before they robbed me.
Now, things were different, far more serious and difficult to deflect. I shuddered as the memories came back, and struggled to force them out. Trying to not think of something is far harder than thinking of something. I began to focus again on the positives, that despite everything that had happened, I had a loving family. I’d been accepted in the community and had several close friends.
Soarin may have broken me, even if I won’t admit it, but with my friends’ help, I’d piece my life back together one step at a time.
Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie.
I looked around at my six close friends as I sat on the sofa. They’d come to visit me and we had already been talking for hours and enjoying the warmth of the fireplace. Outside, snow was still falling. We had all warmed our bellies with spiced cider and s’mores. Twilight and Rarity were able to easily roast the marshmallows to perfection in the fire.
“Dawn, have you thought of my offer to come work for me?” Rarity asked.
“Oh.” I recalled Fluttershy mentioning it in passing. “I’ll consider it, but Fluttershy has plenty of chores right now for Dash and me.”
“Should you two be working so hard with buns in the oven?” Pinkie asked. “Mrs. Cake took time off work—maternity leave. It’s good for the foals.”
“Yeah, Dash, when are ya gonna stop pushin’ yourself and take a break from weather duty?” Applejack asked.
“I’m a little exhausted, but it’s easy, AJ. It’s just snow,” Dash stated. She looked brave, but from where I was sitting, I noticed her wing twitch, a subtle tell I’d learned. Anytime she got nervous she had trouble sitting still. “I could probably handle the wrap-up by myself if I wanted to. Being pregnant is a piece of cake.”
“Ah was thinkin’ how you shouldn’t be workin’ so hard. Ah figure when you two are ready Ah can help ya deliver the foals,” Applejack said.
“Huh?” I looked at her with my head tilted. “You’re trained to deliver foals?”
“Well, Ah helped deliver Apple Bloom.”
Her sister did seem to turn out alright, but for some reason all I could picture was Applejack shouting at me to breathe, and Big Mac saying “eeyup”. I shook my head and tried not to chuckle. “No, I mean, it’s too soon to think about and all…” The conversation so far had managed to avoid sensitive subjects, which I was immensely grateful for, but thinking about the foal wasn’t something I was quite ready to do.
“Well, Ah’ll be helpin’ Dash deliver her’s first. Seems to think she can deliver it in ten seconds flat.”
“Ha, I bet I can do it on my own. How hard can it be?” Dash asked. “Can’t be any harder than a sonic rainboom.”
“Let’s hear ya say that a few hours into labor.” Applejack chuckled and I had to join in, knowing from past experience that women in labor experienced great pain. I stopped laughing and became sober after realizing I would also be going through it too.
“Oh, I thought I’d help, it’d be much easier on Dash and the foal,” Fluttershy stated.
“We’re going to have a doctor there too, right? It’s not as easy or as pleasant as you make it sound…” I trailed off, skirting the edge of the subject. We didn’t know yet whose foal I’d be delivering.
I sighed and looked around, eager to join in on a different conversation. Twilight mentioned something about a discovery and I latched onto it. “What discovery, Twilight?”
She turned from Rarity to face me. “Oh, I was bored and did some organizing and came across a book on quantum mechanics. I did some light reading before bed and have hypothesized a new super-heavy element that hasn’t been discovered yet.”
Rarity smiled at me and shrugged, it was clear this conversation was already headed over our heads. Even if I didn’t understand it, I knew enough to know it’d be interesting and probably involve cool machines. “So, you’re going to build a particle accelerator and prove the existence of it?”
Twilight blinked and took a second to reply, perhaps a bit shocked somepony had a response other than asking her to repeat it in Equestrian. “Yeah… something like that. The magic needed is complex and would take at least a dozen unicorns, but I’ll have plenty of time to plan it out this winter.”
“I thought winter was the time to relax from work and enjoy yourself.”
“Oh, I am having fun. This is just my hobby.” Twilight blushed as she looked around at the others. “I’m still Princess of Friendship after all, and while you were out I sorta got a castle and all…”
I nodded, recalling something to that effect. “Must have been quite the undertaking, castles don’t grow on trees.”
Rarity chuckled. “They did this time. I’ve been busy every week trying to decorate the place and there are still rooms I haven’t gotten to.”
“Yeah, Ah had to find Granny Smith when she got lost in that darn castle. If her hearin’ weren’t so bad she mighta heard me calling for her.” Applejack chuckled as she shook her head.
“I’ll have to check it out sometime, maybe teach you how to build a moat full of alligators.” I gestured to Fluttershy. “I bet she’s got plenty of them looking for a home.”
“Actually, I do,” Fluttershy said. “Maybe we can talk about that later, Twilight.”
“Dawn, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask, and Applejack’s comment reminded me of it.” Twilight wasn’t smiling and wasn’t making eye contact.
I had a feeling it might not be something good and took a deep breath. “What’s on your mind?”
“There’s something coming up that you need to know about and I haven’t been sure how to tell you. Soarin’s hearing—”
A pit rose from my stomach and I glared at her. “No.” It was all I could muster as a swarm of emotions rose up inside me, all wanting to be acknowledged. My heart raced as I tried to keep a level head. “There was only one thing I didn’t want you asking about today, one thing!”
“Dawn,” Fluttershy said. Her voice was drowned out as Twilight tried to explain herself.
“They need somepony to testify why his bail should be denied, somepony like you,” Twilight stated. “If you don’t go, it’ll likely be approved.”
The emotions coalesced into anger as my memories firmly planted themselves back in the cell, my body being beaten and broken. “Celestia damn it! Have her banish him, what the fuck do they need me for?!”
Dash got up and approached me, likely the only one not afraid to lay a hoof on me to restrain me from doing something stupid. “Calm down, Dawn.”
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said anything yet, but it’s this weekend.” Twilight frowned, looking around at the others for some sort of support. “There’s no time to waste.”
I pushed Dash’s hooves away from me. I could feel the sharp pains in my ribs, despite them having healed. I could feel my sore muscles and flanks, despite the bruises vanishing. I tried not to think of the horrible things that happened but it was a losing battle, all because Twilight couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
“I won’t do it! Get out!” I yelled. I jumped up and flew to the stairs, running up to the bedroom and slamming the door.
I made my way to the far corner of the room behind the bed and dresser. I sat there and held my knees, curling up in a ball as I began to cry loudly. Never in my life had I been prepared to face emotions this strong, this uncontrollable.
The worst emotion, the one I was least willing to face right now, was my guilt. Deep down I knew this was all my fault, that I’d brought it upon myself, and I just couldn’t face this fact. I had to bury it, to deny it, to find some proof that it wasn’t true... but I couldn’t. Not yet. I couldn’t face it or beat it. I had to ignore it. I had to be stronger.
I hid my face between my hind legs as the door slowly creaked open. Whoever it was, I didn’t want them seeing me like this, the one time savior of Equestria now a sobbing, broken mare. It would have been preferable for me to have a deep hole to crawl into away from the prying eyes of my friends.
A hoof began gently stroking my back, and instead of speaking, the pony just began to hum a lullaby. I recognized the voice, though she was the last pony I expected to catch singing or humming.
Dash continued to comfort me without a word spoken, letting her hoof caressing my back speak volumes. She continued to hum, until at last I felt calm enough to uncurl myself.
The first thing I did was latch onto her, wrapping my forelegs around her and hugging her tightly. I breathed in the familiar and comforting scent, the one I had known so well. We had shared so much, I knew she understood, I knew she would keep me safe.
I don’t know how long I sat there, but the humming never stopped. It took all my effort to repress the emotions, to push back everything I felt I just wasn’t ready to deal with yet. It was tiring work, but eventually I succeeded.
Dash gave me a simple smile as I looked up at her, waiting for me to speak.
“I’m… I’ll be fine.” I offered a weak smile, barely raising a single corner of my mouth, but it was all I could muster. I didn’t even believe those words myself right now.
“Your friends are all worried, you know. Twilight’s sorry she brought it up,” Dash explained. “She was gonna come up herself but she didn’t have a helmet.”
I chuckled and felt a little of the tension dissipate. “I don’t recall the last time I tried to hit her working out too well.”
“Huh, I don’t remember that.”
“Didn’t we take a swing at her when she kidnapped us to exorcise the demon from you?” I asked.
“Oh.” Dash chuckled, recalling the event. We’d been whisked away to her basement for experiments in a rather suspicious manner. “Heh, I guess you’re right.”
“You probably expect me to open up to you now, huh?”
Dash squeezed me more firmly into her embrace. “No, Dawn, I expect you to open up when you’re ready… but I won’t lie, you worry me, Dawn. Not wanting to talk about it for a little while is healthy, but when you get that upset at just mentioning it… it makes me think something much worse is wrong that you don’t trust me with.”
I nodded, turning my head until I could hear Dash’s heartbeat with my ear. “I trust you, I just can’t control it.”
“The temper?”
“The emotions, the guilt. It comes on too fast, that’s why… Dash, I can’t, not yet.”
Dash nodded and let me go, helping me to sit up straight with her forelegs. “That’s fine, Dawn. I don’t care if it’s me or Fluttershy or Pound Cake, but when you’re ready, you have to open up to somepony. Not a day goes by we don’t worry.”
“I know, I know… please, just make somepony else go to the hearing, I don’t care who, I just can’t face him yet.”
“Come downstairs, I’ll tell Twilight later and see if she can go in your place. We’ve got guests and you need to say goodbye before they go home.” Dash lifted my chin up to make eye contact and smile.
“I look horrible.” I gestured to my face, which was stained with tears.
Dash glanced around for a moment for a solution, then got up and grabbed the glass of water from the nightstand. She poured it onto her face. “There, now I look horrible too.”
I began to chuckle and it quickly turned to full blown laughter. “You look like you fell face-first in the shower!” Her attempt to make me feel better worked, perhaps better than she hoped as I fell back laughing, stress and worry evaporating with each passing second.
By the time I had settled down, Dash had come back with a more practical solution, a slightly damp towel. She had already cleaned her face and I got up so she could clean mine.
“Thanks, Dash. I needed that.”
“We’re in this together Dawn. I’ll always be there for you, no matter what.” It didn’t take her long to clean me up and toss the towel into the laundry bin.
She draped her wing over me and led me back downstairs. As we entered the living room, I saw all my friends looking at me to see if I was okay. I gave them my best smile as I walked down the final steps of the staircase.
I swallowed the pit in my throat. “I’m fine… the, um, hearing… later okay? It’s been a long day.” I finally reached the couch and fell onto it, scooting forward to rest my head on Fluttershy’s lap.
She blushed and began to fix my mane, which had gotten ruffled while I was upstairs. “Thanks for coming, girls, I think Dawn needs some rest.” Fluttershy looked at Dash. “Can you get the door?”
“Sure thing,” Dash said.
“We’re all very glad you’re okay, Dawn,” Rarity offered. She headed towards the door speaking in hushed tones with Pinkie and Applejack.
Twilight was the last to get up to leave. “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry, Dawn.” Already, she must have thought the same thing I had. I just nodded to her once as she left.
Once the door had closed, I heard Dash walking back over to the larger sofa on which Fluttershy sat and I had laid. “I’m proud of you, Dawn. Everypony was so happy to come see you were okay and… and it’s okay to let your emotions out, we’ll never be mad at you,” Fluttershy stated.
Dash sat down by my flanks and helped tuck my hind legs up onto the sofa, against her side. She then leaned over and began to preen my wings, leaving me safely positioned between the two mares who had taken to watching over me.
“Thanks. You’re both so amazing to me…” I let out a loud yawn as I stretched and got comfortable between them.
I was quickly falling asleep and was truly exhausted from the long day. I could hear Dash and Fluttershy talking, but I wasn’t registering their words. It was like a gentle background noise, heard but without meaning, as I slowly drifted to sleep.
“Was she okay, Dash?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah, just still struggling to come to terms with what happened,” She replied. “I wish there was something to do, but maybe she’s right. Dawn’s different than us, maybe we do just need to give her space.”
“We can’t let her ignore it forever, but I can’t bear to see her in pain.” Fluttershy sighed and continued to gently stroke my mane.
Dash continued her gentle preening in the places she could reach, the sensations helping push me closer to sleep. “She’ll get there, and when she’s ready to talk, we’ll both be here for her.”
My mind began to wander until my body finally switched off for the night and I fell asleep. The gentle background noise of that ongoing conversation lulled me deeper and deeper until I reached a blissful, dreamless sleep.
The skies were a lovely shade of gray as snow slowly fell to the ground. Not many ponies were out in the snow, though I’m not sure why. With all this fur I could hardly tell it’s cold, and I suppose I may have a bit of fat to thank for that as well. Laying in the snow was almost like laying on a cloud.
There was a bit of a snow angel where I had laid down, and my fur was starting to get wet as the snow melted. It made me feel a bit younger to play in the snow. I had lost track of how long I’d been out since this morning when I decided to get out of the cottage and wander around town for a day. One of the good things about unemployment was being lazy while other ponies head off to work.
Finally I stood up and began to stretch, noticing that my mane looked like a wet burlap sack. Perhaps the snow hadn’t felt cold but it was still wet. I considered going to the spa for a quick bath but could feel the twinge of hunger in my stomach. There was soon only one thing on my mind: chocolate.
I began the journey towards Bon Bon’s confectionary in the center of town. As I crossed the bridge over a frozen river I heard laughter, and looked to my left. Several of the fillies and colts had built a trench in the snow and were huddled down behind it. I recognized three of them right off the bat, and given their disposition for trouble made a mental note to see how they were doing some other time. Going near what I can only assume was a frozen battlefield wouldn’t end well for anypony involved.
Sure enough, as I neared the relative safety of nearby buildings half a dozen ponies charged towards the frozen trench. To no surprise, Diamond Tiara was using an overturned wagon and some snow as her headquarters while she drank hot chocolate. I assume, like any good general, she was letting others do her dirty work, and couldn’t help but notice the lip of the roof over her head.
Smiling ear to ear I took off lightly and landed on the chimney of the house she was using as a base. I looked around to make sure nopony was watching, after all I wouldn’t want to appear childish. With the coast clear I jumped down onto the roof and with a loud thump, all the snow shook loose. I nearly lost my hoofing and fell off the roof but quickly flew back into the air.
There were screams from below as the entire shelf of snow on the roof created a miniature avalanche, clearly burying more than just Diamond in the snow. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing and ducked behind the chimney on the roof. Glancing as the young hooves beginning to dig themselves free of the snow, I saw Scootaloo leading a counterattack. She glanced up and noticed me, giving me a quick salute with her wing.
I took off before the snowball fight escalated any further, wanting to make it to the store to eat a pound or three of chocolate to satisfy my craving. If the fillies were out of school then Dash and Fluttershy would probably be finishing up their work soon and heading home. They’d be worried if I wasn’t there when they got back.
The confectionary was nicely decorated for winter this year. There were long icicle lights hanging from the eaves, shining a combination of pink and mint green. Small drops of light seemed to drip from them, vanishing into thin air a few feet above the ground. The windows were lined with tinsel and lightly frosted.
The path to the house was relatively clear, with the large cobblestones kept free of snow by what little foot traffic must have come through that day. I pushed the door open with the side of my head, ringing a bell that hung above it. By the time the door had closed behind me, Bon Bon had popped out of the kitchen and come over to the counter.
“Dawn! It’s great to see you again,” Bon Bon said.
“Thanks, it’s nice to see you too.” I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the scent of delicious treats. “Mmm, that smells delicious.”
She smiled and got a plate out for me. “Came by for a snack then?”
“Yeah.” I walked along the glass case, glancing at the many flavors of chocolate inside. “Hmm, I’ll take some bon bons, chocolate covered cherries, dark chocolate nougat, that one with the sprinkles, four of those dark chocolate ones, and two of—wait is that coconut?”
Bon Bon grabbed the last set of candy and put it on the plate, then put down the small spatula that was in her mouth. “Yeah, it is.”
“Ah then forget those, just give me a dozen more bon bons.” I watched as she piled everything onto the plate for me.
“Someone sure has a sweet tooth today,” she observed.
“I can’t remember the last time I had chocolate, and it’s not like I have to watch my weight,” I quipped.
She smiled but didn’t say anything until she got to the register. “Well then, twenty bits should cover it.”
I reached back for my saddlebag and realized I’d left it at home. “Uh, do you take I.O.U.’s?”
Bon Bon chuckled, “Sure, Dawn, you can pay me back next time you’re in town.”
“Thanks, you’re a life saver.”
I took the plate in my mouth and walked over to one of the small tables in the front of the shop. The smell was making me start to drool onto the plate, and finally I sat down and was able to grab a hoof-full of chocolate and toss it in my mouth.
As good as I recall candy and treats tasting, they didn’t compare to the ones in my mouth now. Bon Bon could teach confectionaires on Earth a thing or two. It was so sweet I could feel my teeth tingling and even after I swallowed the wonderful taste remained.
I’d eaten just over half of them when Lyra came downstairs and saw me. She headed over to my table. I looked at my hooves to make sure they were clean, and wiped my face. I’d gotten chocolate all around my lips and had just smeared it onto the tip of my nose. “Ugh,” I sighed and reached for a napkin from the center of the table.
“Hey, Dawn.” Lyra sat down at the table, leaning back in her chair almost like a human would sit. At least, that’s where my mind went before I reminded myself not to think about it since thinking of Earth always lead to a feeling of loss.
“Lyra, how’s it going?”
“It’s cold enough upstairs to store bon bons on my floor and they wouldn’t melt. Bon Bon doesn’t want to waste too much firewood heating the place since sales for her have been slow.”
I finished chewing a caramel candy that had made it onto the plate. “Hmm? Doesn’t your fur keep you warm?”
She shrugged. “Warm enough, I guess. Unicorns don’t have the specialized fur or feathers you do. I know a couple spells to keep warm but I may have sorta lit some bedsheets on fire the other night when I was… well, let’s just say I was excited.”
The image of Lyra running around the room screaming as flaming sheets flew around entered my mind. I began to chuckle, “I take it Bon Bon wasn’t pleased?”
“Yeah, added the cost to next month’s rent. So how’ve Dash and Fluttershy been?”
I finished the rest of the chocolate off my plate while thinking about it. “Good, I guess. They’ve been nice and all.”
Lyra took the empty plate in her magic and floated it over to the counter, glancing around and then loading it up with more chocolate while Bon Bon wasn’t looking. She then brought it back, helping herself to a couple of the chocolates. “I mean, they’ve been through a lot and I haven’t seen them. You, on the other hoof, I can’t stop running into. It makes me wonder if you’re still trying to get into my saddle.”
“Pfft!” I shook my head and ate a couple of the new treats. “Well, they’re fine they haven’t been through anything. I’m the one who...“ I grimaced and began to grind my teeth a little. “Things are normal now.”
“Hmm…” She paused to eat another of the candies.
“If you ask me ‘how does that make you feel’ you’ll be eating the rest of this candy out of your mane.”
Lyra stuck her tongue out. “Come on, seriously, how are they? You’ve asked them, right?”
I was beginning to get a bit frustrated. “They’re fine, Dash made it snow for me, Fluttershy makes me breakfast, there is tons of spooning, canoodling, and other ‘ings in our bedroom.”
She began to laugh quietly. “Oh, Dawn, after all you’ve been through you’re still a male at heart. When we ended things you didn’t want to talk about it, just assumed things were okay. Now we’ve got Dash, who for all you know blames herself for not being fast enough to save you, and Fluttershy who… well, she’s too quiet to make heads or tails of. What I’m saying is you should take care of your marefriends as much as they take care of you.”
I shook my head. “They’re fine, and if I wanted to feel judged I’d go to church.” I got up and offered her a smile. “Thanks for the treats, but I think I’ll be going now.”
Lyra nodded, “Come visit again when you realize I’m right. I’m sure there’s a lot you want to talk about.”
The door opened up in a green glow and I nodded. “Yeah, sure.” I trotted outside and felt a stiff breeze blow past. Several more clouds were gathering in the air, likely to start snowing more heavily over the town.
A silhouette flew past me and a shadow followed, causing me to flinch and lean against the wall of the house. I stood and looked up, seeing a weather-pony pushing a cloud along. It took a moment for my heart to stop racing and I resumed my walk towards the cottage. Lately the speed with which these pegasi could fly by had been bothering me, they should slow down and walk once in a while.
Now that I was on alert, the rest of the pegasi darting to and fro didn’t bother me as much. I saw one of them seemed to be eavesdropping on something. They were hiding, rather poorly, behind a gray cloud. I decided to see what was up and slipped into an alleyway between two buildings.
When I reached the end of the alleyway I peeked my head out and heard a familiar voice.
“—captain of the weather team and if I say it’s time for snow, it’s time for snow.”
“And I’m the captain of Trotsdale’s weather team, you know, the town suffering from the cold front you’ve created? We’re working overtime to stick to the schedule. Fall lasts three more weeks before first snow,” the stranger said.
“Hmmph, not my problem.”
The stranger stomped a hoof. “You can’t just make it snow for no reason! If you won’t explain it to me you’ll be explaining it to the regional weather captain!” There was a gust of wind that hit me from the force with which the upset visitor flew away.
Dash looked my way and I thought for sure she’d seen me spying on them. “Thunderlane you might as well come out.”
A shadow passed by causing me to flinch again, and there stood the stallion on the roof next to Dash. “What gave me away?”
“The giant stallion behind a tiny gray cloud? Gee, I wonder.”
“So what are you gonna do?” Thunderlane asked.
Dash rolled her eyes. “Nothing, bureaucrats come bug me every once in a while. Schedule this and schedule that.”
“I did try to warn you, but what you did was really sweet. We’ll all back you up if this goes up to Cloudsdale, it’s not like we froze out their crops or anything. They just don’t know the meaning of an honest days work in Trotsdale.”
I began to slink back, finding my way out of the alley and leaving before anypony noticed I was there. It hadn’t occurred to me that there was more to the weather then just changing it to whatever you’re in the mood for. Dash had made it snow for me, just because I told her I liked watching it fall to the ground, coating the dirt in a layer of white. It was so pure and innocent, covering all the blemishes of the land. I never imagined it might come back to stress Dash out.
Lyra’s words came back to me, about how Dash was doing. It was entirely possible she blamed herself for not being fast enough to get to me before Soarin. A lot of things were possible and this was the first time I really admitted this. For all I know, Dash was just keeping it all inside to try to keep me from worrying.
As I walked aimlessly towards the cottage I found myself in an unfamiliar part of town. I looked up for the sun to get my bearings, and cut between two buildings to get back on track. This time I heard Fluttershy chatting with another pony, Rose I think it was.
“Oh, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to help your cat give birth. I’ve been so busy! Please, if there’s anything I can do—”
“It’s okay, Fluttershy, everypony knows you’re busy. You can’t care for two ponies and every critter in town.” Rose smiled, “why don’t you come back later this week and check on them?”
Fluttershy nodded “Of course! I mean, I think I’ll have time but I don’t have my schedule… usually Angel keeps track for me but he’s been helping critters get ready to hibernate early this year.”
At this point I was starting to feel pretty bad, so I walked back the way I came and then took to the sky. Flying to the cottage was much faster, it just felt a little awkward now that I was gaining weight. It changed my center of balance and added a sort of feeling of falling as my hind end wasn’t the lithe frame of a mare anymore.
The wind was able to dry off my mane at least. When I landed at the cottage I went inside wondering what I could do to thank the mares I cared for. I hadn’t considered anyone but myself, and I also didn’t want to open a can of worms by directly stating I knew they were stressed. At last I decided I could cook dinner, they’d be home in just under an hour.
I went into the kitchen and found rice, vegetables, and teriyaki sauce. It didn’t take long for Angel to smell what I was cooking and come investigate. I tossed him a carrot which seemed to satisfy his curiosity.
The pan began to sizzle as the food inside cooked, and I used a spatula to keep it moving so it wouldn’t get burned. As I added some more cooking oil I wondered what the others were up to. Had Twilight or Pinkie blamed themselves for not sensing where I had been hidden? Did Rarity or Applejack blame themselves for not having seen the signs earlier? Maybe even Luna and Celestia felt a bit guilty for letting one of their charges get hurt so badly. I really had no way to know, nor did I want to know. The guilt of what happened was enough without this realization that Soarin’s actions had affected many more ponies than just myself.
I got some plates out and began to set the table. Angel hopped up and began to help. I smiled, “Sure finish setting up and I’ll find another carrot.” I’m pretty sure Fluttershy doesn’t spoil him like I do, which is why he is wrapped around my hoof. As long as he doesn’t do something crazy like send me out in the snow to get a cherry atop his salad I think we’ll get along fine.
By the time the door opened I had just finished scooping portions onto each plate and pouring some soda Pinkie had gotten when she heard how much I missed it.
They quickly noticed the aroma in the air. Normally Fluttershy would make our dinner as soon as she got home, and Dash would do a bit of cleaning and tending to any mail that came.
“Dawn?” Dash looked puzzled. “I didn’t know you cooked.”
I nodded. “Yeah from time to time. Aside from a salad I made once, it’s always been pretty tasty.”
“It smells wonderful!” Fluttershy exclaimed as she came closer. “I forgot I had brown rice in the pantry.”
I looked down at the plate of stir fry and let out a soft sigh. “Oh, it was white when I started…”
“Stir fry?” Dash observed.
“Yeah, I call it… wait… I had something for this…” I tilted my head as I tried to think of it.
“Stir Friday?” Dash asked. Her stomach was rumbling loud enough to be heard as she sat down at the table. She was further along than me and her belly bulge couldn’t really be hidden any longer. If anypony hadn’t heard by now, they’d clearly see she was pregnant.
“Yeah! That was it… anyway, how were your days?” I asked.
“Oh, everypony was happy to see me and have me tend to their pets,” Fluttershy said.
Dash eyed me as she was waiting for me to sit down to dig into her food. “Yeah, weather team’s doing great.”
“Oh.” I offered a smile as I sat down, and Dash began to eat. “Well I’m glad your days were good,” even if you’re lying, I thought to myself. “I wanted to thank you both for all you’ve done and, you know, any stress or guilt that what happened to me may have given you…”
Dash gave me a rather befuddled look, eyes starting to cross as she panted. For a moment I thought she was having a stroke before she forced a smile and swallowed. “Yum… this is delicious… never had it with beets in it before.”
I looked down at our plates, noticing some teriyaki-soaked potatoes that had been burned to the point of looking almost like a beet.
“Um, yes, it’s… nice,” Fluttershy offered as she nibbled a tiny edge of a clearly burnt carrot.
I broke out laughing and fell back into my chair. They were acting outrageous, it was clear in my distraction I’d horribly burned the food and they were still trying to spare my feelings. I appreciated it, but by now it felt entirely unnecessary.
“Dawn?” Dash had stood up and come over to check on me.
“It’s—fine…” I stopped to catch my breath. “It’s the thought that counts, right?” I continued to chuckle as Dash relaxed and began to giggle herself.
“Sure, but I’d rather order a pizza than eat your thoughts.”
“Oh, I can go pick one up,” I offered.
“Nah,” Dash replied. “You uh… made a unique dinner… I’ll go grab the pizza.”
She turned and started to walk towards the door, still laughing a bit and shaking her head side to side. I had already taken my plate in my mouth and Fluttershy had gathered both of theirs. We headed into the kitchen to clean up the dishes.
“Thanks, Dawn, it was really nice of you to try,” Fluttershy said.
I nodded, turning the sink on and rinsing my plate off. “Of course, I care a lot about you, both of you. I just didn’t realize how hard you two were working to take care of me.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all.”
“Except it is, you’ve done so much for me now I just need to find something to do to repay you, something that’s apparently not cooking.”
Fluttershy was smiling wide and offered a suggestion. “Well, you can help me take care of the animals for a little while. I’m sure we could find a job related to your cutie mark too.”
I hadn’t thought about it in a while, but I did have a talent I could make use of. “Sure, I’d like that. I stepped closer to her and nuzzled her neck, draping a wing over her back. “Thanks for the suggestion. I can think of one other way to repay you two... just move washing the bed sheets from tonight to tomorrow.”
She blushed until her cheeks were a faint orange and her wings twitched. Every action she took seemed gentle and subdued, yet deep inside her was a strength few ponies had. Fluttershy had done the unthinkable to help me and I couldn’t remember ever properly thanking her for that. She was only going to become a bigger part of my life after the foal was born, and I wanted to make sure that Fluttershy knew that.
“I, uh, should start a fire for us.” Fluttershy grinned and slipped out from under my wing, heading into her living room. I soon followed and sat down on the couch, letting out a yawn.
I relaxed on the couch and waited for the pizza to arrive. Fluttershy sat down next to me and leaned against my side so we could keep each other warm while we waited. All in all, it had turned into a pretty good day.
A long whistle sounded as the train pulled into Ponyville station. The doors of the train opened and a flood of ponies got off. I stood still, watching the train and not particularly interested in where it was going.
“Are you doing okay, Dawn?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah. If I’d known you were being literal when you said Dash would drag me here by the tail if she needed to I wouldn’t have taken so long to pack.”
“You’re doing the right thing Dawn,” Twilight assured. “If you didn’t show up to the hearing it’d lend credibility to whatever lies the defense may use to get Soarin out on bail.”
“I still say we let him out on bail so I can pay him a little visit,” Dash said.
“I’m with her, so you go get revenge and I’ll stay here.” I took a step backwards but Applejack was right behind me, blocking the way.
“Now Sugar Cube, you know we can’t let ya run from your problems anymore.” She gave me a gentle nudge forward. “We better get onboard before it leaves.” A double whistle punctuated her sentence as the train was in fact about to depart. Aside from the eight of us, the platform was empty now.
“It won’t be all bad. They’ve got some of the finest day spas and full-body wraps in Equestria at the Canterlot spa. I do hope to have time to visit myself after wrapping up this friendship problem,” Rarity explained.
“And you don’t find it weird your flank just blinks out of nowhere?” I asked.
“No stranger than you,” Dash quipped.
“Well played... “
Spike was dragging one of Rarity’s suitcases onto the train. The luggage did have wheels, but it was so grossly overloaded with her wardrobe that the canvas bag had its own muffin-top spilling out over the wheels onto the ground.
With half the mares already on the train it left me with Dash and Fluttershy to bring up the rear. I took a deep breath and looked towards the distant mountain, where the outline of Canterlot stood out against the side of it like an outcropping of rock.
Another whistle split the air as the train began to slowly inch forward. “You getting on or am I dragging you?” Dash asked.
I sighed. “No need for that.” I walked forward and stepped onto the train followed by the other two mares. We gathered up in a small open area with a few seats and some luggage from other passengers. Down the side of the train were private cabins, each designed with room for two ponies to relax in.
Twilight had a quill and paper out and was going through a list. “—with Pinkie Pie, and me with Spike. Dawn, do you want a cabin with Dash or Fluttershy?”
I gulped and looked at the two of them. It was a simple question, the kind I shouldn’t have given any second thought. I wanted to share with both of them, but at the same time not make a big deal of it. It was as if I’d been asked on the spot to choose which one I loved more. Did I love the possible father of my foal, or the mare I’d inhabited and gotten pregnant more? This was hardly the kind of relationship problem I’d ever planned on encountering.
After a moment I realized I had half a dozen ponies looking at me due to the long and now awkward silence. Applejack caught my eye and I quickly replied, “Applejack. I uh…” I chewed on my lip for a second. “Promised to tell her all about apple varieties back on Earth! I better not put it off or I may forget!”
Applejack raised an eyebrow in confusion, but quickly lowered it when the others looked at her for a confirmation. She smiled and I wondered if she was literally struggling with the choice of covering for a friend versus telling the truth. If I had the inability to lie I’d be a social pariah, so I was glad it was her and not me known for honesty. “Eeyup.”
I smiled and trotted over to her, realizing now why her brother Big Mac won so many poker games. Apparently lying was easier when limited to two syllables. “Sorry Dash, Fluttershy, I’d offer to share a room with you all but it’s not big enough…”
Dash was hard to read but her quick glances around betrayed some confusion. “That’s okay,” Fluttershy said .”I’ll stay with Dash, you two go have fun talking about apples.”
“And oranges!” I added, looking back to AJ. “Some ponies say you can’t compare them but I disagree.”
“Oh,” Dash said as she made eye contact with me and smirked. “If you need a hoof using the little mare’s room let me know.”
Applejack smiled and nodded to the other mares before she walked into the nearest cabin. “Is that so?” She looked back and once I had walked in closed the door.
“Yeah.” I examined the cabin briefly and checked the door was closed. “Whew.”
She climbed up onto one of the padded benches, which could double as a bunk to sleep in when needed. “Ya want to tell me what that was about Sugar Cube?”
“Not really.”
“And you think Dash and Fluttershy aren’t wondering what it’s about?”
I groaned and climbed onto the empty bench. “That’s exactly what it’s about.” I laid down on the pillow and looked out the window as the train lurched forward and picked up speed.
“She was only askin’ ya who to share a cabin with, not to pick favorites.” Applejack slid down the bench so that she could be across from me, next to the window.
“That’s not how they’d see it, and it’s not how I see it.”
“Sometimes a cabin is just a cabin, Dawn.”
I chuckled, “and a cigar is just a cigar?”
She nodded. “Eeyup. I’ve got the feeling you’ve got somethin’ heavy on your mind so when you’re ready to talk, let me know. Ya have a few hours and if I know anything it’s that secrets will eat at ya until ya turn sour.”
Nodding, I let out a deep sigh and curled into a comfortable ball of fur. Having one's blanket built-in was handy for times like this and made it much easier for me to get comfortable. The lingering thoughts of Dash and Fluttershy soon stole that comfort from me.
I had been thinking about it a lot lately, trying to be a neutral party because I didn’t know which one to choose. I had reasons to love each of them and loved them both but every time the three of us were in a room together I started analyzing every word I said so as to not hurt any feelings.
Applejack was right, because the longer the train ride went on, the harder it was for me to relax on the bench cushions. Before long I was grinding my teeth, not because she was just sitting there quietly, true to her word, as I brooded. The more I thought about it the more convinced I was they were one car over debating which one of them I loved more.
“I can’t choose,” I said.
She blinked, possibly for the first time during the train ride. “Hmm? Choose what?”
“Dash or Fluttershy. I love them both but every time the three of us are in a room together I feel like I have to choose which one I love more.” I watched Applejack as she thought it over in her head, completely prepared to jump her if she asked me how that made me feel while tapping her hooves together.
“Why do ya think ya have to choose?”
“Well, they’re gonna know who I spend more time with and I don’t want them to resent each other… or me.”
Applejack got up and sat on the bench next to me, putting a hoof on my side. “Dawn, they’ve been friends a long time and they both love you, right?”
I nodded my head.
“Then they’re not gonna resent you, or think you’re playin’ favorites. It’s not like each time Ah spend time with my brother or sis they think Ah don’t love the other. They’ve each got their own place in my family, just like Dash and Fluttershy do in yours.”
“Yeah, but your family doesn’t have three moms... “ I sighed and looked outside just as we entered a tunnel in the mountain, pitching the car into darkness as the interior lights came on.
“Sometimes ya have to just stop sweating the small stuff and worrying about what can go wrong. Think about what’s goin’ right. You love two mares and you can start a family with both of them. Sure if you were an Earth pony it might be a little unusual to be polygamous, but it wasn’t until recently the Pegasi started leanin’ towards monogamy.”
“I’ve heard the same from Lyra, but I don’t know. If being in one relationship is hard imagine two, I’ll just mess it up like I messed everything up, only I’ll break the hearts of two ponies.”
She smiled warmly and leaned towards me. “Now listen here, Sugar Cube. If Ah’ve learned one thing since ya fell into our lives it's not to underestimate you. From the moment ya got here ya’ve saved Equestria, fallen in love, made friends of a whole town, rescued a Prince… Ah know from experience savin’ the world can seem a bit mundane after a while but think of how everypony else sees it. Dawn, a mare torn away from an old life and saves a land they don’t even know, not ever expectin’ to come back Ah reckon.”
I smiled a bit at that stroke of luck. Looking at it from an outside perspective I had been pretty damn lucky to survive that ordeal, so I suppose that at least one thing had gone right since I got here. “Okay, but saying it’s easy. How am I supposed to show them I love them both the same amount?”
“Actions speak louder than words, and are less prone to lie,” Applejack explained. “Ya’ve got one mare that’ll teach ya everything you ever wanted to know about motherin’ and one that’ll teach ya about loyalty and bravery. Different lovers are just like different apples, they each have their own uses Ah reckon. And just ‘cuz you eat a granny smith apple doesn’t mean you can’t like red delicious too.”
“They taste more like gala and fuji,” I quipped.
Applejack planted a hoof firmly on her forehead as she shook it back and forth. “You’re incorrigible Dawn.”
“Thanks, it’s my favorite kind of courage.” I sat up and stretched for a moment before leaning against Applejack, taking comfort in her warmth. “Thanks, I think I needed a little time to think things through without being afraid of being judged.”
“The only one who can judge you is yourself. And the only one who can make ya feel like a failure is yourself. Even in a place like Equestria ya’ll find plenty of ponies wanting to decide who ya are for ya, but at the end of the day they’re not the one living with the choice ya make whether or not to listen to them.”
I nodded and yawned, finding that the comfort of resolving this problem was making me sleepier than I expected. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then exhaled.
There was a loud whistle that woke me from my nap, causing me to stretch out and nearly fall off the bench I had been on. It was broad daylight out the window and I realized there were tall buildings as far as the eye could see, most of them seeming three to four stories tall. We had arrived in Canterlot and the last thing I remembered was my talk with Applejack before I must have fallen asleep.
“Good mornin’ Sugar Cube,” Applejack said.
“Morning? Looks more like afternoon.”
“Ya slept through most of the train ride, missed an excellent view of rock and more rock, not to mention a spirited discussion in the next cabin between Pinkie and Rarity over if diamonds count as rocks.”
I felt a few stiff joints pop as I finished stretching and got onto my hooves. “Well I’ll be sure to ask how that turned out never.” I chuckled and pulled out my saddlebags and put them on. I’d packed light, or at least light compared to Rarity. “I better go check into a room with Dash and Fluttershy, I feel like we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“If ya need a supportive hoof or got more questions about family ya just let me know, okay?”
“Sure.” I walked over and hugged Applejack. “And thanks.”
The receptionist had given me a key to room 112 at the hotel. It was on a small ring making it suitable to run one of my feathers through and hold onto it while I walked down the hall. The carpet was a deep burgundy and felt an inch thick, which was a first for me. There hadn’t been carpeting in Ponyville as the buildings opted for simpler wood flooring.
Even the walls seemed nicer here than in Ponyville, though that was just a facade made by oriental wallpaper. They must have gotten a lot of visitors from far and wide here to have chosen to decorate it so exoticly.
I had thought about what I wanted to say to Dash and Fluttershy, but I still found myself standing at the door and pausing. A few deep breaths and I willed my doubts aside, flicking my wing out and grabbing the key. I inserted it into the door and turned, pushing it open.
Inside on the bed Dash was bouncing a ball up in the air, counting under her breath. She was around three-hundred something when I caught her eye. The ball came down, hitting her head and rolling across the room towards Fluttershy. She was in a recliner near the window watching something outside.
“Oh, hey Dawn,” Dash said. “Sup?” She rolled over and kneeled on the bed once right-side up.
I had to admire Dash’s attitude, she always seemed so laid back that I suddenly wondered what she’d say if I chose Fluttershy.
“Dash,” I’d say, “I talked to Applejack and realized something. I’m not in love with you anymore, I love Fluttershy.”
“Whatever,” Dash would say. “We’re still cool.”
“Dawn!” Fluttershy got up and walked over towards us. “I’m glad you made it here okay, the hotel is a bit confusing.”
There wasn’t much doubt what Fluttershy would have said if I’d dumped her right there.
“I’m sorry, Fluttershy, I choose Dash.”
“Wha—wha….” Fluttershy would break down in tears and make me feel like the worst pony on the planet. Dash would probably dump me for hurting Fluttershy’s feelings leaving me all alone.
Luckily none of these stray thoughts could be true. I’d chosen not to choose, that I wanted to be with both of them. I pictured that in my head for a moment.
“Welcome home, Dawn,” Fluttershy would say, belly distended from pregnancy. In her lap would be two nursing fillies, one from Dash, one from me.
“Oh, is that dinner I smell?” I’d ask.
“Yep! I cooked something AJ taught me,” Dash would reply. “You better hurry up and eat, it’s not fair Fluttershy gets to have a baby and I’m not pregnant yet!”
“Hey, Dawn,” Dash said. “You there?”
I blinked and looked to her, returning from my fantasies to reality. “Oh, yeah. I was just imagining something. I wanted to chat with you and ‘Shy.” Pulling the nearby chair out, I sat down on it.
“Oh of course, what is it?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well I’ve sorta felt this pressure since we started living together to choose who I wanted to love… I felt so strong about Dash and then you came and helped me out of a bad situation, Fluttershy, and we’re going to have a foal. I didn’t want to decide and I felt like you’d think I was playing favorites if I did…”
I gulped and looked up at them, expecting one or the other to be upset. Perhaps it was just my human inhibitions that I believed having two girlfriends in the room together was recipe for disaster, or a violent T.V. show segment.
“Oh, we wouldn’t make you choose. I’m happy just the way things are with us three living together,” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah,” Dash added. “It’s not like we’re starting a flock or anything…” She smiled and looked between the two of us, probably trying to gauge our reaction to the idea. At least she had said it and not me.
“Heh, yeah,” I replied. My stomach began to growl as I realized I had missed dinner, having some snacks on the train instead.
“The three of us have something special, Dawn, and don’t think it would end over something silly like who you spend the most time with,” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah, what she said,” Dash added. “You’re pretty much mother to both foals so you’re not going anywhere.”
I smiled and felt another rumble from my stomach. “Man I’m hungry, did they have a restaurant here?”
“Hmm, maybe. Try asking the front desk,” Dash said. She stood up and stretched out on the bed, spreading her wings until her primaries nearly touched the ceiling. Since she was higher up than me I got a good view of her belly, which had a noticeable bulge now. It looked out of place on the athletic pony between all four thin legs.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a little bit.” I gave both a smile and turned to walk towards the door. I figured the two of them would want to talk and with the weight off my shoulders I felt much better about it. Fluttershy was right, our relationship was too strong to be broken by something like playing favorites.
As I got out into the hall and started walking towards reception, I ran into Spike. He was coming out of Twilight’s room a door further down the hall. “Hey Spike.”
He turned and walked towards me. “Dawn! Good to see you.” Once he reached me I stopped.
“You too, Spike. I’m just on my way to get some food.”
“Oh? So am I. Mind if I tag along?”
“Not at all.” I started walking down the hallway again, with the dragon in tow. “I think they have a restaurant here.”
Spike nodded. “Hmm they might, but I was thinking of going to Donut Joe’s.”
We passed several ponies in the lobby until we reached the middle and I looked around. There did not appear to be anywhere to eat in the hotel. Part of me was still used to having a Starbucks, McDonald’s, and gift-shop in every commercial building. “Hmm, donuts you say?”
“Yeah, he makes these special gem-dust donuts just for me when I visit.” He licked his lips and looked towards the door. “It’s just a couple blocks.”
“Sure,” I replied. “Let’s go get some food before the sun sets.”
“Great, follow me!” He led the way out the doors onto the sidewalk. The roads were a smooth cobblestone, leaving them quite level, while the sidewalks were concrete. It gave the city a unique appearance as most of the stonework seemed to have been cut out of the mountainside. As more mountain was mined to build the city, there was more room to expand. Looking up towards the peak I marveled at how they literally built one of the largest cities in Equestria into the side of a mountain.
I looked down at Spike, “So, what have you been up to?”
“Well, I just read the new Power Ponies comic. I got into an argument with Scootaloo over whether or not Saddle Rager could pick up Zapp’s necklace. The lightning bolt Mjolnir can only be worn by she who is worthy. Saddle Rager may not be worthy to rule the pegasi or anything, but she’s strong enough to hold up a building that collapsed while the other Power Ponies escaped! Surely she could lift up a silly little necklace.”
I nodded, having gotten lost somewhere around Power Ponies. I was familiar enough with comic books to know that anything other than agreement would lead to an entire night spent debating fictitious characters. “I agree.”
“Thank you! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like Radiance would be lifting it up or anything. Besides, she’s beautiful enough as is.”
“I think I heard Dash mention something about you all getting sucked into a comic book... and you are still reading them?”
Spike nodded. “Yeah, now I know not to read the words on the last page anymore. As long as I don’t do that, nopony will get sucked inside.”
“Good to know. I’d hate to accidentally get sucked into one.”
I felt my ears swivel at some sound I’d heard but not quite registered. We were walking past an alleyway between two buildings when I heard it again, it sounded like a filly whimpering. I felt drawn towards it, deep down wanting to find this lost filly and help her out.
Before I knew it, I’d trot down the alleyway looking around for some sign of trouble. So far I didn’t see anypony. If I’d been paying enough attention, perhaps I’d have realized somepony had seen me.
“Hooves up, and give me all your bits!” a deep masculine voice growled.
I spun around and saw a unicorn about Big Mac’s size standing there, his horn glowing blue. My heart began to race but old habits died hard. “You can have my bits, but first I’ve gotta ask, what makes you want to live this kinda life?”
The stallion blinked and tilted his head. “What?” He thought for a moment as he looked at me, probably trying to decide if I was insane.
“Oh, well I don’t have any bits so I’ll be going now. Ain’t no rest for the wicked and all that, bye!”
I turned and started to trot away, noticing Spike at the end of the alley coming this way. With the dumpster to my side he couldn’t tell there was a unicorn behind it who had threatened me. The street was only twenty or so feet away so I could easily get out into public where this creepy stallion wouldn’t follow me.
As I beat my wings to take off towards the street I felt a sharp pain followed by a rough grip on my wings. I flailed my legs as I hit the ground with a thud, looking back only to see my wings encased in a blue aura. The feathers were ruffled and a few broken, and from behind the dumpster the stallion stepped out.
My breathing became rapid as adrenaline flooded my system. This wasn’t the typical pony with little desire to hurt anypony. He clearly wanted money, or more, from me. I struggled to my feet against the weight of his magic, gritting my teeth.
“Back off, fucker!” I shouted.
The blue unicorn stepped out from behind the dumpster. “Fucker?”
“I don’t have anything to steal, I don’t even have my saddlebags!”
“Well, I’ll find something else of yours to take,” he replied.
“Get away from her!” Spike shouted. I turned to look at him, realizing he’d broken into a sprint and arrived by my side already.
The stallion looked down at him and laughed. “Get lost pipsqueak or you’re next.”
Spike took a deep breath and shot an emerald flame at him, taking out a large chunk of his hair. Whether or not the hair would get teleported to Celestia I didn’t know or care. “I warned you!”
The stallion yelped and looked at the dragon with a fire in his eyes to match that which had just brushed past his neck. “I warned you too!” His horn glowed a bright blue and I felt my wings released. Spike was surrounded by magic, though he seemed to be flailing partly through the aura that was lifting him.
Spike landed in the dumpster and the stallion slammed the lid shut. He turned to look at me and I felt the ice in my veins. “Now, I believe we were discussing payment for the annoyance you caused me by not carrying any bits to steal. Stay quiet and I won’t have to take you by force.”
As he stepped towards me I retreated, feeling the wall against my backside. By now the adrenaline had reached every corner of my body, and the familiar weight of my wings getting held closed returned to me. With one of my two options eliminated, I could only fight. As he loomed over me I had a sudden flash of memory back to dark times, to the last time a stallion had hurt me.
That one flashback was all I needed.
In half a second I had lunged straight for him screaming, one of my hooves connecting with his eye. He fell backwards and I tumbled with him, his magic disrupted and my wings freed. I spread them out as I stood and lunged towards him again before he got up.
With both hooves I aimed for his eyes and horn, not caring much which I hit. There was a loud cracking sound as the horn was hit, and the stallion yelled out in pain.
“You won’t hurt me again!” I yelled. He hadn’t gotten up yet, having received a blow to the horn stunning him. I turned and bucked his stomach with both hind legs, hearing a satisfying thud as he hit the wall across the alley.
“Dawn!” Spike had pushed the lid open and was watching in horror.
I dove again, pummeling his face with my hooves. “You’ll! Never! Hurt! Anyone! Again!” There was a sharp pain as my forehooves cracked from repeatedly pounding into his skull. He wasn’t yelling or trying to get up anymore but I was blinded by my fury and anger. Nopony should ever have to suffer what I went through. With that thought I looked down to his groin and picked up a nearby rock. I’d make sure he never hurt anypony else.
As I brought the rock down I felt the familiar weight and tingling of magic surrounding me. The stone fell to the ground and I turned to look at who was attacking me now.
I was quite a sight, forelegs stained in blood, feathers in disarray, an unconscious stallion laying before me. Without thought I growled at the newcomer before noticing they were clad in golden armor. They must have been cops or military but right now they were cornering me while my only instincts were to fight for survival.
“What’s going on here?” he asked.
Spike jumped out of the trash and walked slowly towards the guard. “It’s okay, that stallion attacked us!”
I heard a groan and turned to see the stallion stirring. I tried to lunge at him again but the guard was much more skilled in his magic, holding me still. “It looks quite the opposite.” He glanced at the singed mane and bloodied pony. “You’ll both be coming back to the station with me.”
My frustration was building as I struggled against the magic to protect myself and my foal. “Let me go!”
The guard seemed to be straining to keep his hold on me but only a second later his horn flashed and caused me to black out.
I awoke to the feeling of pain in my hooves and wings, and a scratchy blanket laying over me. Without thinking I tried to go back to sleep, my mind not yet having fully rebooted. The aches were an annoyance I thought I could make go away.
As I tossed and turned in the bed the pain helped clear the mental fog and I remembered that I had been attacked. Opening both eyes I found myself in a cell with bars blocking any escape. I stood up and examined myself as my heart began to race again. My hooves had been bandaged, and it looked like someone had pulled the damaged feathers for me.
I recalled the guard and the stallion and told myself I was just in prison. The cell seemed awfully small though. I reached out and touched the far wall, realizing it had gotten closer to me. I stepped back and bumped into the wall behind me. As I tried to breathe I began to suffocate.
The anger and fear were back as I fought to get air. The room seemed to spin and the walls seemed to close in further. I moved my legs and wings, trying to prove to myself that they were still there. If I could move them, I still had room. My legs began to hit the walls in the corner of the room with the bed. This began to convince me I was going to be crushed soon as the walls shrank.
I was breathing rapidly and shallow and realized if I wanted fresh air, I had to make it to the bars.
I saw a guard walk up to the cell and his mouth moving but couldn’t hear what he was saying. My vision had also blackened out until all I could see was the guard right in front of me as if through a telescope.
“Let me out!” I screamed and dove for the bars. My forelegs went between them but my head and body hit the bars with a painful thud. “You can’t do this to me!”
The guard jumped back, clearly scared. At the same time I saw the door at the end of the hall open and light flood through.
“I don’t care,” Twilight shoved her way past a guard and began to walk over towards me. “You’re letting her go right now or I’ll personally send your whole precinct to the moon!”
“Help! They’re gonna rape me!” I began slamming at the bars with my hooves trying to open them up. Horrific images of Soarin were flashing through my mind, drowning out any rational thought.
“Celestia help us, look at what you did to her! Dragging an abused mare off and throwing her in a cell for defending herself?” Twilight scolded the guard. “Unlock that door now and bring me the arresting officer!”
The pony in charge caught up with her, clad in his golden armor. “I’ll take this straight to Celestia if you don’t leave the precinct right now!”
“Be my guest, we’ll go there together so you can start the search for a new job!” Twilight shouted.
I shrank back into my cell and found myself under the bed as the two ponies yelled at each other. I fidgeted to stay comfortable, trying to remind myself the walls weren’t closing in. They didn’t notice me and if I stayed quiet they wouldn’t hurt me.
As I watched the shouting match Dash came in with a key in her mouth she had gotten from one of the guards. She walked over and unlocked my cell, dropping the key to the floor.
I felt a sense of relief as she came over to me and laid down, stroking my mane. “It’s okay, Dawn, nopony is going to hurt you. You need to calm down so you can come back with me, we’re very worried about you.”
Nodding, I slid slowly out from under the bed, closer to Dash and her soothing touch.
“That’s it. Just relax and let Twilight handle it. We’ll have you ready for the hearing in no time.”
I suddenly snapped back to reality as if I’d left my brain back in the alleyway until now. The hearing was the day after I’d arrived in Canterlot, and I’d been arrested that night. For all I knew the hearing was in thirty minutes. I wrapped my forelegs around Dash and began to cry as all my stress was relieved. I hardly noticed all my other friends as they surrounded me and walked me back to the hotel. Just having them be there to comfort me was enough to clear my mind of the traumatic experience.
I had calmed down considerably after a hot bath back at the hotel. Dash was finishing up with my mane while Fluttershy gave my wings a quick once-over to ensure I looked presentable at Soarin’s bail hearing.
“There, you look good as new,” Dash said. She put the brush down and stepped back so I could see myself better in the mirror.
My mane had grown longer in the time I had been female and I enjoyed how it looked when freshly combed. The light blue highlights peeked through the yellow hair and I smiled, assured I looked well enough to appear in court.
“Thanks Dash, Fluttershy, it means a lot.” I gave a slight smile that barely lifted the corners of my lips. I was still trying to distance myself from what had happened and think about it in my mind one small piece at a time.
“There’s one other thing…” Dash made eye contact with me before speaking again. “When we get back to Ponyville you should talk to a Doctor about what you’re going through.”
I sighed and nodded. “I guess that’s a good idea, we’ll see how I feel when I get back.” I had avoided professional help so far and had no desire to have someone poking around inside my mind. There was a pretty bad track record to back up my dislike of people knowing my inner thoughts.
“We’re not asking,” Fluttershy said. I turned to look at her but she fell silent, just giving a gentle smile and a pat on my wing as she finished with it.
“If you want to have a deeper relationship with us you need to accept we’re partners in this. You can’t go around deciding what's best for yourself and ignoring everypony else anymore. We love you Dawn, and if you keep what you’re going through to yourself the next unlucky stallion that sets you off might not be so lucky… and if you love us you need to get better to ensure you’re not taken from us and sent off when someone else decides you need help for you,” Dash explained.
There wasn’t much for me to say and I choked back some tears. They were right and I was lucky to be off the hook this time, perhaps I needed help more than I realized. I definitely didn’t want to get thrown in the looney bin and maybe having someone paid to listen to me complain for a few hours a week would help.
“I’ll do it, I don’t want to lose either of you.” I wrapped a foreleg around each one of them and gave a big group hug. They were quick to return the hug and we waited there a few moments as my mind wandered back to the alley. The part of the whole ordeal that scared me the most wasn’t that I’d been threatened, it was that I lost control and took my anger out on the mugger… and I enjoyed it.
My friends and I met up at the courthouse before heading inside. The bail hearing was a simple affair, as Twilight had kept assuring me. Only a heartless judge would give a violent offender bail in front of the victim of said crimes.
“Okay, Dawn, this is your lawyer. He’s highly recommended by Celestia,” Twilight explained. “Swift Justice, this is Dawn.”
I eyed him from head to hoof, my teeth grinding a little. He was larger than me, as most stallions were now. His coat was brown and his mane black, with a white highlight. The unicorn had the scales of justice as a cutie mark, and if cutie marks were proof of skill, I’d take that over a gavel or book any day. Within a few breaths I had fought back my urge to be distrustful and on-guard.
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hoof quickly and let go.
“Now the hearing will start in five minutes. Once we’re inside, it’s crucial you don’t speak to the judge unless he addresses you. And whatever you do, do not rise to any insults, accusations, or other shenanigans the defense may pull. If they can get a rise out of you to create a little disorder in the court it will distract the judge from the matter at hoof.”
I nodded and caught myself at the end of a long yawn, blushing a little as I looked down. “Sorry, it’s not you… I didn’t get much sleep.”
“Don’t worry about it. I found precedent to have your arrest record sealed and with any luck, the defense won’t be able to find out about it and use it against you.”
“I appreciate the gesture, but since when have I been lucky?” I asked.
“Well there was the time you beat me in a race, or the time you beat Fluttershy at a quiet contest,” Dash stated.
“Oh,” Pinkie added. “Don’t forget the night we played monopony and twister!”
I shook my head and looked down, but let out a giggle anyway. Of all the times to bring up something silly like that, of course Pinkie would do it now when I needed it most. “Thanks, Pinkie.”
“It’s time to go in, we’ll all be sitting in the row behind you but there is an extra seat in the front row for Dash or Fluttershy,” Twilight explained.
I looked at the two of them wondering which to choose. I wasn’t sure if Dash would be holding me back, or I’d be holding her back, from beating the crap out of Soarin. And I wasn’t sure Fluttershy would be strong enough to hold either of us back. Fortunately for Soarin, the lawyer did just tell me not to cause a ruckus in the middle of a courtroom. It didn’t take a genius to know how that would end up.
“It’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “Dash can sit with Dawn.”
“Thanks,” I replied. The lawyer was first into the courtroom and Dash and I followed him in. It was my first time in a courthouse of any kind and this room seemed to be made of polished darkwood. There were three rows of benches on each side of an aisle, as well as some chairs and tables for the defense and prosecution.
The only pony in the room presently was a burly Earth pony in a uniform, who I figured must be the bailiff. He looked like I’d expect a football linebacker to look if one was turned into a pony. My gaze quickly went to the chairs set out for us. I followed Dash and took the middle seat on the right side, with the lawyer sitting between me and the aisle.
The bailiff waited until everyone was seated and turned to the door behind him and walked through. He walked out with a couple ponies following him.
The temperature seemed to drop and my muscles tensed up as I saw Soarin led in by the bailiff. He was wearing an orange prison uniform that seemed to wrap around his torso and wings, appearing more a restraint than a fashion statement.
Before I could look away he glared right at me. I felt pain in my teeth and I bit down and tensed up further, refusing to look away. I didn’t want him to think I was scared of him and given the chance, I felt it was him who should be scared of me. My body however disagreed, wings trembling slightly, as I felt Dash’s hoof on my side.
The tense moment lasted until Soarin reached his seat and sat down, breaking eye contact. I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding and relaxed my muscles, smirking slightly. He hadn’t broken me and now he knew it. More importantly, now I knew it. For one tense moment I had stared him in the eyes and not backed down.
“All rise for the honorable Judge Gavel,” the bailiff shouted.
I got to my hooves and looked to the door opening on the left, seeing one of the oldest ponies I had met since Granny Smith walk in. He had grey fur and white hair, with a gavel cutie mark. The judge was a unicorn, and I had to wonder exactly how old ponies lived to. Without a hint of color left in his mane or fur I was guessing like one hundred fifty or something.
“Take your seats,” The Judge said.
After everypony had sat down, I slid a little closer to Dash and held onto her foreleg. The room was too cold and imposing, making me feel small. Perhaps it was because less than a dozen ponies were in a room meant to seat four times that alongside a jury. Perhaps it was because it was my first time at a court of any kind.
“Let’s keep this brief, mares and gentleponies,” Judge Gavel stated. “The defense has requested that bail of five hundred thousand bits for Soarin be waived and Soarin allowed bail of his own recognizance. Is that correct?”
“Yes, your honor.” My gaze drifted to the defense lawyer who seemed scruffy. His mane, coat, tail, they all just looked slightly frizzled like he’d stuck a hoof in an electric socket, and yet not so ruffled as to look unkempt. He was more like McGruff the crime dog, which caused me to wonder if they had a McGruff the crime pony equivalent in Equestria.
“The prosecution can present its case against waiving bail.”
“Thank you, your honor,” Swift said. He stood up and took a step forward towards the judge. “Our argument is a simple one. The defendant is accused of assault, rape, ponynapping, and is alleged to have been in possession of several schedule one drugs. Releasing him on bail regardless of the amount would present a flight risk and a threat to the safety of my client.”
He waited until the judge finished thinking about the brief statement and nodded. “Take your seat. The defense may present its case.”
“Thank you, your honor.” The grizzly pony stepped forward with a wide and disarming smile, flashing a look my way. “While I agree wholeheartedly with the defense in theory, let us remember these crimes are only alleged. Soarin is an upstanding citizen, member of the Wonderbolts, and a reservist in the armed forces. He has no criminal history, no history of drug or alcohol abuse, and comes from a respected family.”
“We know enough about him to know he poses no threat to others or a flight risk.” The pony took a step back and gestured towards me. “In fact, we know less about her than him. No birth certificate and no records, civil or criminal. It would be unjust to leave him sitting in a jail cell for months awaiting trial when his accuser could be an insane drug addict from Saddle Arabia for all we know.”
I grimaced and tensed up enough that Dash grabbed me with a hoof, though I had not intended to give the defense lawyer the ass-kicking he was cruising towards.
“So your honor, at the very least my client deserves monitored house arrest if not full freedoms allowed a pony on bail.”
The judge seemed to be writing something and finally looked up. “Is that all? Or do you wish to insult the alleged victim some more?”
The defense lawyer was caught off-guard and I had to bite my lip to suppress a chuckle which would have made the awkward silence much worse than it already was. I had a feeling I’d like this judge.
“My apologies for any ill-perceived notions I may have given the court. I’m sure the alleged victim is a fine, upstanding mare whose records were merely lost in a fire. We can save that debate for the trial, but is Soarin’s clean record and lifetime of service not worth bail when the accuser has no such record at all?”
The judge nodded and the defense lawyer took his seat next to Soarin. For several minutes everypony sat there looking around and not making eye contact. The judge finally looked up to address the court. “Upon consideration the court has decided the defendant poses too great a risk for bail, at any amount. He will remain in custody until the trial—”
“Your honor, I object!” the defense lawyer shouted as he jumped to his hooves.
“Quiet! I’m not some lawyer to be argued with. I’ve made my decision based on the evidence at hoof, court is dismissed.” He lifted and banged the gavel before getting up to leave.
“All rise!” the bailiff said.
Everypony got up as the judge left the room. The bailiff escorted Soarin back through the door towards the holding cells. This left the rest of us to start to file out of the room, past the defense lawyer who was waiting in the aisle and staring right at me.
“Dawn, right?” he said. “I’m Saul Creed from Manehatten, you may call me Creed.” He reached out a hoof for me to shake, but I chose to just stand there giving him an unamused stare. “It’s not everyday I get to meet a pony who is claimed to have saved Equestria and holds such friends in high places. I just wanted to let you know before the trial starts that nothing I say should be taken personally, it’s my job as a defense lawyer to ensure my clients receive a fair verdict.”
I looked at his hoof again thinking about whether I should shake it. Part of me bet his fur would be greasy and that if I were to check his saddlebags I’d find snake-oil and miracle tonics. At least now I knew the kind of pony we’d be up against and I was sure a pony like Swift Justice, who knew how to take a shower, would easily win in court.
“Oh, don’t worry.” I smiled and looked him in the eye. “I’m sure ponies stopped taking anything you say personally or seriously years ago.” I walked past him with no further glance or acknowledgement towards Applejack who was holding the door open for me, Dash, and Swift. She was smirking slightly and I was so very tempted to look back and see the stupid look on Creed’s face.
Once out into the hallway and the door closed, Dash gave me a big hug, pinning me against the wall. “You did great, and that was so awesome! This trial is going to be over in ten seconds flat!”
“Thanks, Dash.” I wiggled my way out of the hug to give Fluttershy and then every other pony a hug in turn. When I got to Swift I just offered him a hoof shake. “Thanks for making this painless… I wasn’t sure what to expect but this wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.”
“Don’t celebrate quite yet, the trial won’t be as polite. Enjoy the time from now until the court date and spend time with your friends and family, I’ll keep in touch with Twilight who has volunteered to facilitate communication between us.”
I nodded and turned to the other ponies, yawning widely. “I think we should head back to the hotel.”
“Wait!” Pinkie objected. “There’s a sundae shop just two blocks over! I’ve got it all planned out with the owner, we’re gonna have banana splits for everypony!”
“Ya know I don’t eat bananas,” Applejack said.
“Oh, you’ve got an apple split, don’t be silly! What do you say, Dawn?”
I smiled and licked my lips. “Anything chocolate sounds amazing right now.”
Given all that had happened lately, my friends were a little reluctant to leave me alone again wandering Canterlot. The hearing had finished and more than anything I felt like getting some exercise to feel better. Dash had come with me to the Canterlot Royal Gardens, and agreed to wait for me at the entrance.
This seemed like an excellent place for some reflection and exercise, so I found my way to the statue of Discord and took a seat on a park bench. The bushes here were at least six feet tall and perfectly trimmed. They were all in bloom with an array of orange and red flowers, which I was tempted to taste if not for my past experiences eating unknown flowers.
I shielded my eyes and looked up at Discord, whose head was silhouetted by the setting sun. He had caused me a lot of trouble, but had been taken care of in the end, and now I had to pick up the pieces of my life. I wondered if I’d ever get them all back into place, wishing that somepony else could just fix it all for me.
I got the feeling that I was being watched and looked away from the statue, noticing Celestia standing in the walkway between two of the hedge bushes.
“Hello Dawn, may I ask what you were thinking about?” Celestia asked.
I shrugged and looked back at the statue. “Where to start? But I suppose at this exact moment, wondering why someone couldn’t just magic all my problems away for me. But a thought occurred to me before I noticed you there.”
“Oh, what was it?”
“Well I had my share of problems back on Earth but I never let it stop me. If it hadn’t been for a couple friends with a very high tolerance for pain I’d never have passed my nursing exams for drawing blood.”
Celestia walked over next to the bench and sat down, her head still about twice as high from the ground as mine. “So you’re feeling like it’s somehow different here, and your hard work isn’t enough?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I looked over to see how she looked today, and if there were any outward signs of happiness or anything else to help me gauge her mood. She was as stoic as ever, and the multi-colored mane gently waving in the breeze was the only part of her body that moved as she sized me up.
“Well, Dawn, you have been through a lot here that’s for sure, and you know I love and care for every one of my ponies. You should know I count you among them, which is why I think it proper to tell you that you’re not trying hard enough.”
I continued to stare at her as I pictured and measured my response. Luckily I wasn’t the kind of human who would punch a princess in the face. “Excuse me?”
“I think you’ve taken a rather passive approach, blaming our very alien world and laws and the sheer overwhelming nature of the odds against you as an excuse to not act at all… the only way past inaction is to act, and the only way to stop being overwhelmed is to break your problems down into smaller more easily-handled parts.”
Celestia offered me a smile and nodded to Discord. “I bring more than advice though, anypony could give you that. Perhaps I can help you get your new life in order by offering to solve one of your problems for you?”
I looked to Discord, weathered and covered in a few stains where the bird droppings weren’t washed off in time leaving dark splotches. I returned my gaze to her, a sharp edge still present in my voice. “Oh? And since I can’t handle things myself just what exactly are you going to dive in and help me with after all this time watching from atop your throne?”
She kept her gaze forward on Discord, giving me the sense I were having a clandestine meeting in the park and she didn’t want anypony watching from a distance to think she was talking to me, so much as at the dingy old statue. “Just nod your head and tonight Soarin will vanish from prison. He’ll get no statue or memorial, just a little trip to check on Discord for me.”
While her poker face left no sign of emotion, mine was the kind that’d scream I’ve got a royal flush! at the top of my lungs. My jaw hung open and my eyes were wide, and beginning to water in the harsh sunlight, as I heard her offer. “Did…. did you just offer to make my problem go away?”
“Living for eons can make one very detached, can make it difficult to relate, but let’s say your… circumstances of arriving here got me invested emotionally in a way few ponies can. You could count on your hooves the number of ponies I care about enough to make such an offer to.”
I blinked a few more times as I stared at her, a million thoughts going through my head.
This could be a trick, some kind of test, and even if it wasn’t what if ponies found out what happened to Soarin? He deserves to burn though, or is that better than he deserves? A quick death? Would I rather him be in jail? Do I want to keep looking over my shoulder wondering if every stallion of the right height and build is him sneaking up on me?
“I…. I d-don’t know,” I stuttered. “He certainly deserves it… but how can you ask me that and expect me to just not jump on the opportunity for revenge? It’d solve one problem but create others when I have to explain it to everypony else…”
“Mmhmm,” Celestia smiled slightly. “It is easy to think there is a magic solution to every problem that is quick, painless, and leaves everypony happy. Take it from me, no solution is every quick, painless, nor does it leave everypony happy. The cost of choosing my subjects over my sister led me into centuries of depression. I would still do it again, since the only meaningful solutions are the ones you face and come up with on your own.”
I sighed in relief at the ethical dilemma diverted. A soft handkerchief floated in Celestia’s magic, wiping away some tears I hadn’t felt as I struggled for composure at all the thoughts Soarin’s name had dug up inside me. “I knew it was a test. You said that just to make me realize I need to tackle my problems myself and not expect an easy solution?” I looked away from her, ”that’s actually pretty fucked up.”
“If you can find the strength to resist the instant gratification of watching him burn, you can find the strength to do anything… admit your feelings to Dash and Fluttershy, find a job, raise a foal… you will have a happy life in Equestria, Dawn, and Luna and I will watch over you to prevent any more suffering… but only you can choose to accept and fight for the life you want.”
I nodded passively, still not making eye contact with her. “Does everypony here minor in psychology?”
Celestia chuckled. “Just so you don’t think I’m all tough love, my offer was genuine... though the lesson learned may have varied. Have a nice flight home, Dawn.”
I tilted my head and turned to face Celestia, but she was gone. There was an indent in the grass just off the cobblestone path where she had sat, but that was it.
“There you are!” Dash landed in front of me, causing me to jerk backwards in shock.
“What?!” I gasped.
“We’re gonna miss the train to Ponyville!” She grabbed my foreleg and pulled me forward. “Come on, let’s try to catch it and get away from this creepy statue, I can swear it’s eyes are following me!”
She took off, giving me a firm yank forward and forcing me to flap my wings and take off after her, or find out what the grass tasted like. “Sheesh! I’m coming!” We flew off towards the train station, and I could see the smoke stack from across town as the train left the station.
“Crap,” Dash stopped in mid-air, and I flew up next to her. “Well we can still catch up to it. Fluttershy got our luggage on board.”
“Dash, relax. Let’s go get a bite to eat, then catch the train.”
“Hmm,” her stomach rumbled. “Well I am pretty hungry as long as it doesn’t take to long. Fluttershy’s probably wondering why we missed the train… how did you lose track of time anyway?”
“Oh, Celestia was feeling talkative I guess.” I shrugged, and looked towards a nearby hotel chain I recognized. “And I don’t think Fluttershy will want what I have in mind. Tell me, have you heard of a BLT?”
Dash looked at me and I pointed down to the griffon hotel. She followed my gaze to the hotel, then back to me and we both had smiles slowly spread across our faces.
It had been a hot day and I was glad to get inside. The sun had seemed almost twice as big in the sky, but luckily the cottage had been expanded to accommodate Dash’s foal, and that included adding air conditioning.
I barely made it to the couch before I plopped down and sighed in relief. This baby must have added forty pounds or something to me, at this point I was surprised my belly didn’t drag along the ground. I rubbed my belly as I felt the foal inside kick, ready to make their own debut into the world.
“Welcome home Dawn,” Fluttershy said. She came over to the couch and wasted no time giving me a kiss.
“Hey Butterflanks.” I hugged her and rubbed a hoof on her flank, eliciting a giggle.
Dash called out from a rocking chair across the room where she was nursing her child. “You given up on working yet? They call it maternity leave for a reason, you’re supposed to leave.”
“Says the mare who went into labor because she just had to bust one more cloud before starting her leave?” I replied.
Fluttershy chuckled and looked at my belly, putting a hoof on it. “I don’t think you’ll be much longer, Dawn.”
“Yeah, did I mention how much I love you, Fluttershy?”
“Only every day,” she quipped. “Now why don’t I fry you up some bacon?”
“Mmm, that sounds good…”
I stretched my legs out and rolled over in bed, slowly waking up from a pleasant dream. By the time I got around to waking up each day, Dash and Fluttershy had usually already gotten up to start their days.
According to the clock Fluttershy would have been up half an hour by now so I headed downstairs to see if she’d made breakfast. As always, she seemed to know just when I would be coming downstairs and had some oatmeal and orange juice made for me. I pictured how perfect some bacon would be with the meal, but kept it to myself.
“Morning, Fluttershy,” I said.
“Hi Dawn, I hope you slept well?”
“Yeah, I had a pleasant dream. You?”
Fluttershy smiled and flew over to sit down and chat while I ate. “Oh, I don’t remember my dream. I’m just glad you and Dash caught up with the train or I’d have been up all night waiting for you two to get home.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I just wish we weren’t so exhausted from catching up to the train. I had a chance to talk to Dash, but not to you.”
“Hmm, what about?”
“I’ve decided to be a little more proactive and I realized there’s something I haven’t properly told you yet.” I ate a bite of the oatmeal and took a quick drink of orange juice. “I just want you to know I love you, and I can never repay you for what you did. I thought about it a bit yesterday and I’m not going to get a DNA test… as far as I’m concerned, this is our baby and I want the both of you in my life until the day I die.”
Fluttershy blushed and turned her head, hiding slightly behind her mane. “Oh my… that’s so sweet and unexpected… I love you too, Dawn.”
I took a few more bites of oatmeal and enjoyed watching her squirm and blush, clearly she was excited and I didn’t need to watch her present her wings to know it. “Yeah, you deserved to know it without the whole part where I get overly-emotional over what happened… I don’t know if I’ll be able to just put it all behind me, but somepony told me I should focus on the future instead. I can't think of a kinder, gentler, more loving pony to raise a family with.”
She nodded, face still red from the blushing, and tilted the pitcher of orange juice to pour me some more. “I’d like that. So, you told Dash this too?”
“Well yeah, I don’t really know what the proper customs are but I think we should start a happy family together all three of us and our two foals. I should probably ask Twilight, I bet she has a book titled My Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, and us.”
“Daddy?” Fluttershy asked. “Have you got your eye on Big Mac or something?”
I paused with the spoon halfway into my mouth and then chuckled. “Oh no, my humor is rubbing off on you… I just meant, when I change back. If I change back… but one hoof at a time here.”
Fluttershy nodded and got up to take my bowl, which I’d managed to finish off in record speed. “Do you want some more?”
“No thanks, if I eat too much at breakfast I get queasy, I’ll make up for it at lunch. Besides, I could swear I feel her moving around in there while I eat and it’s just so… odd.”
She cleaned the dish while continuing to talk to me. “Oh, well if that’s odd, you’re in for some more big surprises when you come to term.”
“Don’t remind me, if only they could use a teleportation spell for delivery this would be so much easier, huh?”
Fluttershy nodded and came back to sit down. “I suppose it would. So, you seem to be doing better and I’m really happy, you have no idea how worried we’ve been about you.”
I nodded. “Yeah, maybe a little idea, but I had some trouble focusing on anyone but myself.”
“It’s understandable. You just need a little time without a crisis to get back to normal, which reminds me… the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking for you this morning. Apparently they needed a hoof crusading, I told them I’d pass the message along.”
I finished off my orange juice and set the glass down, wiping my lips with my foreleg. “Hmm, but I’m trying to avoid a crisis not, cause one.”
“They’re trying to get volunteer cutie marks for picking up litter,” Fluttershy explained.
“Oh, why didn’t you say so? I’m sure nothing could possibly go wrong,” I quipped. I turned to look at the clock. “Well there’s a lot to do… I want to ask Applejack about expanding the cottage before the foals get here. Rarity would probably love another visit to the spa to gossip, Pinkie no doubt has a party planned for Soarin’s bail being denied. Twilight could probably use a hoof double-checking her Dewey Decimal System changes. I need to go tell Lyra she was right, again…”
“Oh, you should really write all this down…” Fluttershy offered me a smile.
“Yeah, you can see how it’s easy to get overwhelmed? I have so much to do it’s been easy to procrastinate and ignore problems, like Soarin… I’m really not looking forward to the trial.”
“We will all be there to support you, and there are some things you just can’t get out of. Like it or not, I think his trial is one of them.”
I nodded, “It’d take an act of Celestia to get out of that trial.” I sighed, wondering if it really would have been so bad to give him a one way ticket the sun.
“Any idea what you’ll do first?” she asked.
“Well I suppose I could go pick up some litter.” I smiled and stood up, going over to give her a kiss on the lips and wrap my foreleg around her neck. After a moment her shock passed and she kissed me back. I let go, “oh I could learn to enjoy that.”
“D-Dawn…” Fluttershy blushed and nuzzled against my neck.
“Butterflanks,” I giggled and rubbed her side.
“Oh dear, I hope that nickname doesn’t stick…”
I headed towards the door and grabbed my saddlebag in case I needed any bits today. “Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure butter is non-stick.”
I wasn’t sure if things were going well because I was in a good mood, or if I was only in a good mood because things were going my way today. I shrugged and decided it couldn’t matter. Today felt like a good day, and until something happened to change it, I decided to treat everything that happened after the hearing like chapter one of my new life.
It didn’t take me long to locate the Cutie Mark Crusaders. As part of their bid to get a public service related cutie mark for picking up trash, they had collected some bright orange bags and vests. If the bags had said Canterlot Correctional Institute on the side I would not have been the least bit surprised.
I flew down towards them to offer a hoof and spend a little time with them. The fact that there were no signs of siege weaponry was a definite plus, perhaps a sign that they were running out of truly radical plans and had to resort to the kind of mundane tasks that the rest of us spent our lives doing for a living.
“Hey, squirts,” I shouted as I flew down and landed next to them. I tilted my head to the side as I looked at the large bag of trash Sweetie was dragging along a bit haphazardly with her magic. “Wait, where’d you get so much trash? Now that I think of it, I haven’t really seen a trash problem in Ponyville before.”
“Dawn!” The three fillies smiled and ran over. “Oh,” Scootaloo answered, “it’s mostly cupcake wrappers and spoiled goods from Pinkie’s emergency cupcake stashes around Ponyville.”
“Uh, then shouldn’t Pinkie be out picking them up?” I asked.
“Well, normally she would, but we came up with a plan to help out and get our cutie marks,” Sweetie explained. “Normally the trash pony would go around emptying all the public trash cans placed throughout town and picking up any stray litter, but for this entire week, we’ve been doing it!”
I chuckled and looked around at the street we were on. There was a bit of frost and snow in some of the bushes, but the road itself was in between being dry and muddy. Luckily, my hooves only sank an inch down in it when I landed, as I’d have to clean my hooves off thoroughly before doing pretty much anything now. It was definitely a large plus that, as a pegasus, I didn’t have to land if I wanted to keep my hooves clean, but the window for that had passed. As for the trash, Sweetie was right and I noticed the nearby trash bin, a decorative wrought iron affair, with an empty bin inside.
“It’s looking good girls, good work,” I stated. “I figured I’d come see if you want some help.”
Sweetie breathed a sigh of relief, “I thought you’d never ask! I’ve been lugging these bags around all day. Want to carry this back for me?”
“Uh sure.” I walked over and looked at the bag as she tied it off, picturing this in my head. I couldn’t grip something that heavy with a hoof, there was nothing to get my fetlock around and the frog of my hoof itself was more of a suction cup and less of a proper replacement for an opposable thumb. There was only one way I could pick it up, and I suddenly realized why Sweetie, with her magic, had to do all the lifting. “You want me to lift it with my mouth?”
“Heh, yeah, that’s why we have her on bag duty,” Apple Bloom explained. “That, and we’d have to drag it, we’re not big enough to toss it over our backs.”
I sniffed at the knot on the top of the bag apprehensively. It seemed that unlike trash bags on Earth, these bags were much longer allowing the knot to be further removed from the smell of garbage, and giving something a bit further from the ‘action’ to bite onto. “I wonder if kissing a trash collector is like digging around in a trash bag for food.”
“Huh?” Scootaloo tilted her head.
“Oh, nothing, lead the way.” I bit the knot and twisted, bringing the bag into an uneasy balance on my back. I followed after the crusaders as we headed towards the dumping point for the trash.
“I’m glad this week is almost up, I still haven’t gotten a cutie mark! And you know what that means,” Scootaloo stated.
Apple Bloom and Sweetie sighed, “Yeah, it’s your turn to pick again,” Sweetie responded.
Scootaloo flew up onto a small picket fence in front of a house to our left and started slashing at the air with a hoof. “I’m thinking musketeer cutie marks, we can practice our sword-fighting.”
“I was thinking something that didn’t involve weapons would be a nice change of pace,” Sweetie replied.
That’a girl!
I continued to follow them as we veered left towards the center of town, and listened in.
“Well, we never did advanced potions with Zecora, we could do that, Scootaloo,” Apple Bloom suggested.
“I don’t know, that sounds kinda boring… what about Vinyl? She could teach us to drop the bass,” Scootaloo responded.
“Rarity says she gets enough noise complaints, I doubt she’ll get fewer of them with us helping,” Sweetie answered.
“Ugh, you take the fun out of everything… Well, I was saving it for a special occasion, but we could try our firefighting cutie marks!”
We rounded one last corner to the backside of the day spa, and came across a large metal monstrosity. I dropped the trash bag. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. The metal working alone—how? Why?!”
Sweetie shrugged and levitated the bag into the trash compactor, grunting as it took all her effort to lift the bag fully into the air and shove it into the compactor.
“Oh, we just improved the design, there’s always been a compactor here. It’s powered by geo… geo-magnetic… no…” Apple Bloom paused to think about it.
“Geothermal energy, the day spa is built near some vents!” Sweetie explained. “It was Scootaloo’s idea, with a few minor adjustments, it can compact more trash more densely more often!”
I nodded as I slowly backed away from the Crusaders, until I was peeking out from behind the corner of the day spa. “Ahuh, sounds good.”
Scootaloo looked to her side and noticed I wasn’t there, then looked back at me. “Hah, come on, Dawn, you’re acting like a filly. We’ve been running it all week without a problem!”
“No offense, girls, but the only cutie mark you three are likely to get related to heavy machinery is a demolition cutie mark,” I explained. I pointed to the machine, which was full to the point of overflowing. “Now, since I seem to be the only adult around when you three need supervision and that thing’s full to bursting, I’m going to supervise from back here.”
Apple Bloom nodded and walked up to a control panel on the machine, pressing the green start button. “You know, I heard if a pony got stuck in there it’d flatten ‘em to the size of a pancake.”
“Do you think that’s how Pinkie makes her famous windigo pancakes?” Scootaloo asked.
The machine happily hummed away as the giant metal roof pressed down on the garbage, and soon the side walls started moving, too. “What, you think she sticks windigo in a trash compactor?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No, but, like, she could have a smaller one in her basement or something?” Scootaloo explained.
“Windigo aren’t real anyway, our sisters are just pulling our legs and tryin’ to get us all to watch the Hearth’s Warming pageant,” Apple Bloom countered.
“Oh, I didn’t peg you for a skeptic,” I interjected. The trash compactor was starting to rumble and hiss as it neared the limits of what it could compress.
“Twilight says they’re real and I believe her, Apple Bloom is just convinced that Dash brings the harsh winter snow to help sell some prank,” Sweetie explained. “I don’t think ponies are still that disharmonious that windigos will ever cause another century-long winter, but they’re out there somewhere.”
The trash compactor hissed and came to a full stop, silence filled the air. I waited for a moment and stepped out, approaching the girls. “Wow…” I looked at the machine skeptically, “I was totally expecting that to blow up and cover us all in garbage.”
“We don’t always end up covered in tree sap, it’s just sorta become plan B,” Scootaloo offered.
“Though the time Apple Bloom convinced us to try for a lumberjack cutie mark, we didn’t get a single drop of tree sap on us. Go figure.” Sweetie chuckled and pointed to the machine. “I guess we should open her up and see how big the trash bale is.”
Apple Bloom nodded and pressed the red button on the machine, but nothing happened. She pressed it a few more time. “I think it’s stuck, we better just leave it for the trash pony to figure out.”
I was about to say something when I saw a ripple in a small puddle of muddy water, then it vanished. After a few seconds there was another ripple, followed by a small tremor in the ground. “Uh, girls?”
“That’s not fair to leave it for someone else to clean up,” Sweetie replied.
“Yeah, but last time you had me crawl under it to repair something, I had mud in my mane for days,” Apple Bloom complained.
The ripple crossed the small puddle again. “Girls,” I said more loudly. “There is either a Tyrannosaurus Rex coming to brutally murder us, or something’s wrong with that machine.”
“A tyrasorn—what?” Sweetie asked, but I at least had all three fillies attention now.
There was a hissing sound as steam escaped the trash compactor and the rumbling intensified, followed by a stream of obscenities as I realized exactly where this was going. Though not productive, it certainly felt good. The crusaders were looking at me like I’d just scrubbed their brains out with a brillo pad.
“Run, you fools!”
I am certain I would have made it to safety, but my hoof sank in the mud and I stumbled forward rather slowly. I looked back to see them running towards me too, followed by a loud whistle as a pressure valve on the trash compactor blew open. If I survived this, I was going to have a long talk with whatever pony had decided to let the Crusaders run their machinery for the week.
A moment later, there was a loud pop, followed by the sound of crunching metal. My life flashed before my eyes, a jumbled mess of human and pony images, before I dove on top of the nearest Crusader to shield them from what I could only assume would be a fiery ball of death.
A wave of air hit me, followed by the sound of debris raining down on nearby buildings. I looked down and found that Sweetie had been the one I’d leapt on top of to protect, and she was compressed between me and the mud. Her white fur was caked black, but she was safe.
Then the stench hit.
I don’t know what the ponies in this town were throwing away, but it tested the limits of my imagination to try and figure out exactly what I was smelling. I could only imagine that someone had bathed a rotting carcass thoroughly in skunk extract, wrapped it up in towels soaked in rotten milk, stuffed it into a gym duffle bag that hadn’t been washed out for years, tied it off with the intestines of a cow with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pumped it full of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide, and lit a stick of dynamite inside of it.
To say that the stench could peel paint off the side of a barn would be an understatement. Large blobs of discarded food, diapers, socks, and other detritus landed on and around me. I’m fairly certain that where the trash touched, my hairs started to turn gray prematurely.
With a frustrated sigh, I felt a final piece of trash land on my face and blew it off with a huff. In front of me, a small poster landed in the mud. There was a cartoon drawing of Owlowiscious on it.
Give a Hoot,
Don’t pollute.
INVISIBLE NOTE: You know, I've had blank spaces at the end of my stories forever and I've never hidden a message in them? I don't like when I'm reading a story and I see the "end" coming from a full page away, so I decided to add some empty space at the end of my stories. It seems like an elegant solution, until everyone asks why I do it at least. Maybe, if I hid little messages in it, people would be like "Oh Kaidan you're so cool! It's like A/N for the cool kids only!" But on the other hoof, people on mobile or using night-time friendly color schemes where this message isn't white on white, will be like "What the fuck? I'm trying to mind my own business and enjoy the story and then this huge off-topic rant comes out of nowhere!" So I don't know. I guess we'll see how this goes. Maybe I've already hidden some messages in my other stories, just to reward you for going back and checking. Maybe in the future, all my A/N's will be white on white. I guess you could call these hidden notes... AHHH YEAH!
