El Turnia: Becoming Fire *DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 31: An Important Message From General Dawn

As we started the descent of the great staircase to the guard training ring, I tried to keep my head high. My guilt still clung to me like dew to a flower. But unlike dew, it wouldn't go away. The whole trip down the stairs seemed to last eons as I relived my father's last moments. Timberwood didn't talk as I restrained my flow of tears.
My life seemed more horrible and lonely in the trip down the stairs than it had in weeks. When at last we came to the bottom and Timberwood opened the double wood doors I was relieved to feel the cold crisp winter air.
The guard training ring was an open, circular, arena inclosed by a great large stone wall. On the edges were racks of armor, weapons, and shields. A few recruits were practice fighting in the middle with the occasional guidance of a captain in golden armor. As I looked around I immediately spotted General Dawn. She was clearly the strongest and oldest pony here. Dawn was an Earth Pony with white hair and faded orange coat. Her armor was battle scared and black, the sign of a general, and her face was creased as she looked down at her fellow guards. An air of power and anger surrounded her like a mist.
"Wow," I whispered.
"I know right, I've never seen her any different than this!" Timberwood whispered back.
I shook out my wings and trotted forward.
"Ahem," I cleared my throat. "General Dawn?"
There was silence. Then slowly she turned her head slightly to glance at me, then she turned back.
"Yes?" She rasped.
"Um, you had a message for me?" I asked calmly.
More silence. Then a hoarse reply.
"Yes."
"And that iiiisss?" I pushed.
Silence. The wind hissed between the few frost covered leaves of the only tree in the arena. The clink of armor against armor sounded from the tussling recruits.
"A few nights ago," General Dawn began out of nowhere.
I started in surprise and had to calm myself as she continued.
"Two of my best guards were on patrol when they saw something," she paused. "It scared them."
I shivered. The words didn't frighten me, it was the way she said it.
"What did they see?" I asked, keeping my voice steady and calm.
"Death," Dawn replied.
Her words echoed through the air like waves. A gust of wind rustled through my mane and blew up clouds of dust. A cloud passed over the faint sun, darkening the world. The two fighting guards seemed to slow to a stop and I felt as though roots were crawling up my spine, trapping me forever. But still, somehow I managed to say one word,
"What?"
"That's what they told me," Dawn continued though the silence. "I don't know if that's what it is or not, but I don't doubt it."
"Are you sure they weren't mad?" I asked, my voice sounded high-pitched with worry. "I mean, death? Really?"
Dawn sighed, a slow raspy release.
"No, I'm not," she admitted. "But after everything that's happened, I'm not going to ignore it."
Memories of death and blood filled my mind.
"It's like no one even noticed," I said out of nowhere and totally off track. "It's as if they all just moved on, rebuilt and forgot."
"Yes," Dawn agreed. "It's because they're scared, the remember and they don't want to. I've seen them Gloria, they put on fake smiles and hide their pain, it's depressing to say the least."
I shook my head it an attempt to clear the cobwebs that hung to the edges of my mind blocking my thoughts.
"Alright," I said, coming to an instant and clear conclusion.
Dawn looked at me.
"I'll talk to Christilia, I'll try to defend us from possibly nothing," I said. "I still have my doubts but you're right, I can't just ignore it."
Dawn nodded. She watched Timberwood walk over to the captain watching the two recruits, bow respectfully, and go off to polish a spear by the tree.
"You remind me off Sunny," she said, then catching herself said, "I mean, Queen Sunbeam!"
I tilted my head to the side, curious.
"Did you know her?" I asked.
Dawn laughed and smiled. "I knew her well, I— well, let's just say you weren't the only princess to have a girlfriend. Good luck, your highness."
The she trotted away. I stood in shock and amazement. My grandmother and General Dawn? Then I smiled it made total sense they were perfect for each other. Then I slapped myself, I was getting completely off track.
I should go find Christilia, I thought solemnly.
Usually the thought of seeing Christilia made me want to fly up and dance with happiness in the clouds ( sort of ), but now... now I felt like avoiding her and her anger and sharp stares and general cruelty.
Everything's different know.
And it was. It really, really was.

I had avoided talking to Christilia all night and she had avoided being around me. I didn't see her when I got back and her chair was empty at dinner. I assumed she was hiding somewhere talking to the voice in her head.
It was late evening that I finally found her, she was in her room ( a place I had pointedly ignored ) sitting on the floor, in the dark. As I watched she uttered a strange noise, one I hadn't heard from her in a long time, Christilia, the now emotionless cold queen of El Turnia, was crying.