Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter One, Celestial Summons

Celestia glides high above the land, even above the cloud layer, surveying her domain as she drifts on thermals. Although she departed Canterlot with little fanfare and elected to travel without escort, she can still detect a fair number of ponies pointing them out and gathering to watch the monarch as she gently flaps her wings. The princess's visage is iconic and distinctive enough that even from a substantial distance, she is quite recognizable.

Celestia smiles imperceptibly, as she thinks about those on the ground, imagining the conversations as they would question whether they had really seen the Princess of the Sun. But as she flies, the sight of Equestrian civilization gives way to the wild, and that smile disappears. Beneath her now is the Everfree forest.

Celestia can't help but gaze northwards to the castle poking out of the immense forest with a twinge of pain. It has been years since she had last seen it, and centuries since she had visited. Patience. Celestia thinks, steeling themself to present the calm and regal princess that her subjects expect. You've waited centuries; you can wait another hoofull of years.

Celestia puts those thoughts from her mind and focuses on the task at hoof. Flapping her wings harder, she picks up speed. For most of her reign, the vicinity of the Everfree Forest has been completely deserted, the subject of dark rumor and superstition. But now, there is a small village on the edge of the Everfree, named Ponyville. A village that, to the princess, is practically brand new. It’s by far the closest anypony has gotten to the monarch's old home since that fateful night nearly a millennium ago.

But that village is not her destination. Rather, a far older and more familiar city is. Floating above Ponyville is the pegasus capital of Cloudsdale, performing its typical weather service for the agrarian settlement below.

Banking in flight, Celestia wheels around the cloud city before gliding down to a landing at trotting speed on a plaza near the Wonderbolts academy. The ponies around show the typical deferential, awed expressions that Celestia is used to seeing, magnified by surprise at the princess’s visit. Folding her wings up, Celestia strides up to the guardpony on duty; the Wonderbolts are technically military personnel after all, so their compound is always under watch.

"Y-y-your highness!" The nervous guardspony gulps and lowers his head in a steep bow.

Celestia takes the panicked reaction in stride and smiles at him reassuringly. "At ease, guardspony. May I know your name?"

"U-um, I'm Blizzard Feather." The pegasus certainly looks the part, with his blue coat and white wingtips. Celestia nods encouragingly.

"Well, Blizzard Feather, it is a pleasure to meet you." Celestia smiles at her subject warmly. Though this is essentially padding to get to the point, she isn’t lying; Any day they are able to leave court at Canterlot and see her subjects going about their daily lives is a good day, as far as Celestia is concerned. "Perhaps you can help me with something. There was recently a magical surge over half of Equestria, I'm sure you must have seen it. It could only have been a sonic rainboom, and I would very much like to see the pegasus who accomplished such a feat. Do you know who it was?" Celestia asks, keeping her tone pleasant and casual.

"I, um, don't know. Your Majesty," the pegasus says, keeping his head bowed.

Celestia cocks her head to the side curiously. "You don't know? Were you not stationed there when it happened?"

Blizzard Feather shakes his head. "No. I mean, yes, I mean... I was stationed here, but the rainboom didn't come from here. It came from the lower levels."

Celestia pauses. They had just assumed that the rainboom must have come from a Wonderbolt—after all, she is the most talented fliers in all of Equestria. But here she is, hearing that it had come from the lower levels. That... makes no sense. The lower levels are largely for cargo containers, shipping, and flight camp. Why would such a talented flier be there?

Nonetheless, it’s a lead to go off of. So, Celestia kicks off the ground once more, and nods her head at Blizzard Feather. "Very well. Thank you for your help, Blizzard Feather. Oh, and give my regards to Windrider. I particularly enjoyed his last performance in Canterlot," Celestia states warmly.

"Y-yes, ma-am! I mean, sir! I mean, princess!" Blizzard Feather salutes as Celestia takes off once more, ascending away from the long airstrip and cloud base that serves as the Wonderbolts headquarters.

[hr]

As she survey the flight camps, a hubbub of attention catches Celestia’s eye. There is a large group of excitable fillies, and one gryphon, all gathered together, cheering. Ah. These must have seen the Rainboom. Celestia thinks to themself before gliding down to join the group.

"Good morning, my little ponies. Can any of you tell me where the wave of light an hour ago came from?" Celestia asks. As the young fliers turn their attention to the newcomer, the lot of them gasp in shock in unison.

"Is that... who I think it is?"
"P-P-Princess Celestia!?"
"I-I'm talking to the princess! T-the princess is talking to me!"

Celestia waits patiently for the awe of the ponies around them to fade, while a lone, cyan-toned filly with a messy prismatic mane struts up to the princess. "It was me!" The filly announces. Unlike the rest, she wasn’t even a little bit nervous or deferential, instead puffing out her chest proudly, standing upright and tall. "I was racing to protect Flutters's honor, an' I made the rainboom happen by going so fast to the finish line!"

Celestia carefully suppresses a giggle as she lowers herself to eye level with the filly. Not only is the filly bold, but she has quite the imagination as well, staring into the alicorns eyes with fierce pride writ upon her features. "Oh? And what is your name?" Celestia asks.

“Rainbow Dash!” The filly announced with all the gravitas she can muster, putting her chin up in the air and flaring her wings out to the side in a heroic pose.

What a feisty little pony. Celestia thinks approvingly. It is a nice change of pace, compared to the normal deference—even fear—her presence usually instills. "Well, Rainbow Dash, are you sure it wasn't somepony else? Maybe one of your instructors had to catch you…?" Celestia asks.

Rainbow Dash looks up at the princess, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "What're you tryna say? You calling me a liar?" The filly stomps her hoof on the cloud belligerently.

Some of the other fillies cower in fear or dive under clouds, as if worried that Celestia will reduce the rebellious filly in front of them to ash on the spot, but the princess just shakes her head. But before she can say anything, another of the ponies works up the nerve to stand up on wobbling knees, giving a surprisingly proper military salute.

"U-um, she's telling the truth, sir!" The pony says in a tone of voice Celestia has heard many times— not that of a frightened filly, but that of a subordinate talking to her commanding officer. Just a moment later, the gryphon of the group also takes a spot by the two fillies.

"Yeah, it's true! I saw the whole thing!" The gryphon pipes up, triggering Celestia to arch her brow in interest. Young gryphons in Cloudsdale are a common sight, ever since they’d been integrated into Equestria following the Relic Wars centuries ago. That being said, it is unusual to see one willing to stand up for a friend like this, and it makes Celestia’s heart glow with a spot of pride.

Celestia turns back to look at Rainbow Dash, appraising the filly in a new light. Could it actually be true? It seems impossible, yet... "May I ask where your instructor is, right now?" She would hold off on any judgments until she had heard from an adult.

Rainbow Dash ponders, then shakes her head. "Nu-uh, no clue. We organized the race ourselves," Rainbow Dash explains.

Well, that sure is convenient... Celestia thinks, still doubtful. "Very well. May I have your permission to perform a quick evaluation?" Celestia asks the filly, who looks up at the alicorn's horn warily.

Rainbow Dash had never been near a unicorn nor alicorn before, but she knows about how powerful they are; suddenly, she feels very aware that if Celestia wills it, she could easily reduce her to ash on the spot. Had she done something wrong? Is the rainboom illegal? Gulping down that anxiety, Rainbow Dash jerkily nods her head. “Um, I mean, I guess.” The filly clenches up, hoping that the ‘evaluation’ will not be painful.

She needn’t have been so worried; all she feels is a slight buzzing sensation as the alicorn’s magic seeps through her body. As she opens her eyes again, she finds Celestia staring down at her in astonishment with a newfound sense of respect. “Starswirl’s beard... You really did it.” The princess mutters. “Rainbow Dash, you have accomplished something today that no other pegasus in history ever has. Your potential is, frankly, unrivaled. It would be my honor if you would come to my school in Canterlot, that we might hone your gifts to their fullest potential."

Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise at the offer. Her...? Being extended a personal offer by the Princess of the Sun themself? She knows she’s awesome, but... that awesome? "But... Everypony knows Celestia's school of magic is for unicorns!" Rainbow Dash blurts out.

Celestia gives the pegasus a sly smile and spreads her wings wide. Wingtip to wingtip, they’re far broader than any pegasus Rainbow Dash has ever seen. "These aren't just for show, you know," Celestia remarks, a playful tone to her voice as she suddenly rocket up into the sky and perform a hairpin midair loop before halting in place. Somehow, her ethereal mane and graceful form look even more elegant, backlit against the bright blue sky, and Rainbow Dash's jaw drops in awe.

"I have had over a millennium to hone my flying skills, and I’ve flown alongside the best fliers in Equestrian history—Flash Magnus, Shadow Kicker, Firefly, Purple Dart, and Fairweather, to name a few. I think I can manage to teach a filly some tricks," Celestia gives an amused smirk as she glides back down from the clouds, lightly booping the fillies nose before turning more serious."But in all honesty, there is far more that I would teach you than simply flight. Harnessing your pegasus magic can do great things, both for yourself and Equestria at large. Such raw talent deserves to be explored."

Rainbow Dash's mind struggles to keep up, but even to a filly, the weight of what is being stated is readily apparent. An offer from the Princess of the Sun themself is no small matter, and it could easily change the course of her entire life. And yet...

Rainbow Dash glances at the other ponies near her, and more generally, at Cloudsdale. It’s home, and it always has been—high in the sky, above the earth, where flight is just a natural part of life. And more importantly, it’s the home of the Wonderbolts. Her dream to join them had only just been formed, and now another option is bludgeoning its way into her life. Seeing Rainbow Dash's hesitation writ plainly on her face, Celestia nods. "You don't need to make a decision right now, my young pegasus. For now, you should think it over. It is, after all, not a decision to be taken lightly.”

"What? Don't tell me you're seriously considering turning them down?" The gryphon asks Rainbow Dash incredulously. "You're always going on about how awesome you are, and now the ruler of all of Equestria shows up to acknowledge it!" They prod Rainbow Dash from the side.

The other pegasus pipes up. "Yeah! It's not like you to hesitate on something like this!" she jeers. "What's the matter? Just take the offer!"

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. "It's not that simple, Cloud Kicker! I'd be leaving Cloudsdale..." she states fiercely, before looking back up at Celestia. "I'd have to talk to my parents, too."

Celestia looks on approvingly. The pegasus before them, though rowdy and rambunctious, also has a surprisingly good head on her shoulders, from what she can tell. "Of course. Regardless of your decision, you've accomplished a great feat here today, and you should be proud. May I meet the parents of such an extraordinary young filly?"

Rainbow Dash beams. Though she isn't sure about changing her whole course in life on a dime like that, it doesn't take a second thought to realize that having the Sun Princess visit her home personally will give her bragging rights for the rest of her life. So, she nods her head enthusiastically. "Uh-huh!"

Celestia lowers her head oddly deferentially, stifling a giggle at the filly's enthusiasm. "Well then, Rainbow Dash, lead the way."

Rainbow Dash turns around to say goodbye to her friends. "I'll be sure to let you both know what I decide. Catch you later, Gilda. Bye, Cloud Kicker." Rainbow Dash hoofbumps each of her friends in turn before wheeling about and taking off.

As Celestia follows, she is able to get her first good look at the filly's flying technique. Though it is... unrefined, it is easy to see the raw talent possessed; she moves with agility, confidence, and grace, though her technique is somewhat sloppy and can use some work. Nothing that a few afternoons with the premier flight trainers in Equestria won’t hammer out, though. Celestia thinks to themself.

Upon reaching the mid-layer of the cloud city where her house is, Rainbow Dash touches down. She could fly straight there, but she wants as many ponies as possible to witness the monarch of all of Equestria following her around.

Slamming the door to her house open, Rainbow Dash struts inside confidently. "Mom! Dad! I'm home! And I brought a visitor. They'd like to talk with you!"

"Oh, sweetie, it's so good to see you're home! How did your day go?" Windy Whistles calls out from the other room as she quickly trots towards the front door to see her daughter. "Did you beat any records toda...y" The pegasus quickly trails off and halts in place at the sight before her, eyes going as wide as saucers.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Princess Celestia greets the slack-jawed pegasus. "To answer your question, your daughter has in fact set a record today. May I come in?"

"B-B-Bow, get in here." Windy stammers out. "C-C-Come right in, P-P-Prin..." She doesn't seem to be able to finish that sentence, but Celestia gets the message and nods her head gratefully.

"Thank you. My, what a cozy home you have here," Celestia remarks as she sits down at the table.

"Dear? What is it?" Bow Hothoof calls out from upstairs, trotting down the stairs, only to find the surreal image of Princess Celestia sitting down at the family dining table, patiently waiting for him.

"Dear Celestia..." Bow prays under his breath. "It's Celestia."

[hr]

It takes some time for Rainbow Dash's parents to pull themselves together enough to string together a coherent statement, and once they do, it’s largely just to start asking if the princess needs anything. It isn't until cups of tea have been made and they all sit down at the table that they stop vibrating in awe long enough to introduce themselves and hear what Celestia has to say.

"This morning, your daughter accomplished an extraordinary feat," Celestia explains. "She became the first pegasus, and second pony, in all of recorded history to have performed a Sonic Rainboom. Even if she were an adult, that would have been an astonishing feat, but as a filly it is doubly impressive."

Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles look at each other, and then back at Celestia. "Our Dashie," Windy starts, "performed a sonic rainboom?" Bow finishes.

Rainbow Dash winces as the living room is overtaken by a cacophony of parental cheering and pride. Somehow, in her eagerness to show off that she had attracted the eye of the princess themself, she neglected to consider how embarrassing her parents could be. Before she can escape the couch, she is overtaken by a massive bear hug between the two of them.

"If any pegasus could do it, it would be our Dashie!" Bow gushes. "She's always been such a phenomenal learner!"

Celestia smiles with warmth and sincerity as shes takes a sip of her tea. It's good to see that she's well loved. "Now, onto business. I have extended your daughter an offer to come to Canterlot as my personal student, that she might learn how to best harness her abilities." Celestia explains. "If she should decide to take me up on my offer, she would learn from the best that Equestria can provide. But as she would be studying so far from home, she would have to live at the palace with me while she was studying."

As if everything else that had been told to them wasn't enough, this latest revelation sent fresh waves of excitement through her parents. "Our Dashie, being mentored by... By Celestia themself?" Windy Whistles utters in astonishment while looking over at her husband. "Where do we sign up!?" Bow asks, elated.

"Not so fast!" Rainbow Dash shouts, prying her muzzle out of her parents' grasp for long enough to speak up. "I haven't made up my mind yet. Princess, I have some questions." The pegasus announces, crawling out from between her parents and standing fiercely on the couch with wings spread out as if she thought she was getting ready for battle.

"Ask away. I wouldn't expect you to make such a large decision without full knowledge first. In fact, I wouldn't permit it." Celestia announces, firmly. Even though she seems calm, there is a certain gravitas to that last statement which makes Rainbow Dash swallow nervously.

"Well, um, first off... What would I be learning? I'm not an egghead, I like flying and speed. And the Wonderbolts academy is here, in Cloudsdale, so if I want to learn from the best, wouldn't I be better off staying there?" Rainbow Dash asks.

Celestia nods. "In some ways, yes. If you wish to only focus on your flight abilities, you would be better served staying in Cloudsdale. But I believe you have far more potential than simply being a racer or stunt pony. To assuage your concerns, the military school in Canterlot has some of the best flight trainers in all of Equestria, perhaps second to the Wonderbolts Academy, perhaps not. But you would also be trained by me, personally. So your flight training would not be lacking. But there is far more that I would teach you. Navigation, leadership, survival skills, harnessing your pegasus magic... And, of course, academics." Celestia adds the last one as if it’s an afterthought.

Rainbow Dash groans. 'Academics.' Just about anything else is preferable over that. But she still has one more major concern. "And... How would this affect my chances of getting into the Wonderbolts?"

Celestia's gaze softens, and she speaks more gently than the previous, more formal answer. "I will be honest, if you take me up on my offer, it is unlikely you will ever become a Wonderbolt. You will likely take on greater responsibilities that will conflict with Wonderbolt training, and would be away from Cloudsdale too often to compete." Rainbow Dash looks like she is going to turn them down on the spot in response to that statement, but Celestia continues. "But I believe your destiny holds greater things for you than being a mere performer. I understand that is your dream, and if you wish to pursue it I will not hinder you. But with your potential, I know you could be so much more."

Celestia's words touch Rainbow's pride just right, leaving her once again uncertain. What Celestia describes is so different from how she imagined life going, such a departure from all the goals and hopes she has for herself. And yet... Rainbow Dash sighs, looking down at the ground. "Can I... Think it over?" She asks, finally, eliciting gasps of shock from both of her parents. Celestia nods gracefully.

"Of course. Having said that, I'm afraid I cannot stay while you do. Duty calls." Celestia offers a hoof bracelet to Rainbow Dash, emblazoned with the royal seal on the front. "If you should choose to take me up on my offer, present this to the guards at the royal palace in Canterlot and they will let you in."

Rainbow Dash takes the signet, turning it over in her hooves. It's strange; She has just accomplished the greatest feat of her life and been told that she has nearly limitless potential, yet all she feels is a strange sense of trepidation. “Alright. I'll think about it." She finally responds.

Celestia nods. "I would expect no less. Take your time to make your decision, it is not one to be made lightly." The Sun Princess states with delicate emphasis, before nodding to each of Rainbow's parents in turn. "It was good to meet you two. Regardless of what choice they make, you should know that you've raised an extraordinary young filly. You should be proud."

And just like that, the alicorn is gone, leaving Rainbow Dash with a confounding storm of warring emotions inside of her head for the rest of the day.

[hr]

Rainbow Dash's eyes shoot open, not knowing where she is, as a flash of light emanates around her. It is only after the resounding boom of thunder passes through her that she realizes the light came from stormclouds hanging overhead. Where am I...? Rainbow Dash wonders in a daze, looking around at the crumbling stonework all around her. She seems to be in a massive, ornamental hall, badly weathered by the ages. The vaunted ceiling stretches up high above her, almost invisible in the darkness until another flash of lightning crashes through the sky above.

Rainbow Dash flinches reflexively, before cursing herself for doing so; she’s not supposed to be so easily scared! But despite telling herself that, she can't help but shiver in a combination of fear and awe. She looks up and around, seeing massive sections of the ceiling that are caved in, the rubble strewn across the floor, while vast stained glass windows on either side let in the dim light from outside.

Suddenly, a booming laughter, as loud as the thunder that was crashing through the hall, resounds. It hits Rainbow with a wave of physical force like a shockwave that blasts her backwards. She desperately flaps her wings in flight to catch her balance before she falls to the ground, landing in a combative stance. "Who's there?" she shouts, her voice filled with bravado that her heart doesn't match.

"Your fate." The voice calls Rainbow from down the hall. "Come and face it, if you dare." The voice continues to resound from all around her, speaking with all of the intensity of the thunderclouds hanging outside.

Rainbow hesitantly glances around. There are no side passages, and the hall just seems to fade into black darkness behind her, so she nervously gulps and begins walking forwards. Chunks of ancient stonework, still grandiose even in their ruined state, jut from the ground around her.

Rainbow Dash isn't sure how long she walks, but at some point, shivering in the cold air, she comes to the end of the hall. There are many such windows lining each side, but the two stained glass panels here are the only two that catch her eye, because she recognizes the ponies depicted within.

On one side... Shadow Kicker, her friend Cloud Kicker’s distant ancestor, armored wing to hoof. An ancient hero from a bygone era.

And on the other, illuminated by a flash of lightning in the thunderstorm raging in the background, is a pony from far more recent history. In fact, one who is still alive. Wind Rider, captain of the Wonderbolts.

Rainbow Dash shakes her head and shields herself from the biting wind with her wings. Though she is technically inside, the numerous cracks and shattered glass in the hall let the storm winds in with little resistance. "What is this? Why are you showing me this?" Rainbow Dash shouts out, looking around in the darkness for her tormentor.

Booming laughter echoes once again, and Rainbow Dash involuntarily cowers under its weight. "You have a choice to make, my young subject. Stay in Cloudsdale if you value your life, for if you follow your fool of a princess, you shall share the fate of those who came before you!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes widen as the scenes in the stained glass seem to come to life. Shadow Kicker, impaled by a dozen spears and laying dying in a pool of her own blood. And Wind Rider, soaring high on the wings of a storm, without a care in the world. Cracks like sparks of lightning crawl across both paintings, from the bottom towards the top, even whilst the figures in them continue moving. Wind Rider ascends up, up, until he’d left the painting entirely, while Shadow Kicker's last, pained breaths cease.

A forked tongue of lightning crashes down from the stormclouds above, piercing each painting and shattering them into pieces along the cracks that had formed. Rainbow screams and jumps back, only for a sudden gust of wind to sweep her through the air. Though the pegasus filly tries to catch herself on the shattered glass where the paintings had once been, she finds herself plummeting down into the darkness before her. Soon enough, she can see nothing, feeling only the biting wind in her fur and her scream fading into the rumbling of the storm beyond.

Chapter Text

Rainbow Dash jolts back awake with a start, bolting up to her hooves on top of her bed. Her heart pounds in her chest, her head darts this way and that as if looking for an unseen enemy, and her lungs pump heaving gulps of air like she’d just flown a race. It's just... my room. Just my room. Nothing is here. Rainbow Dash hisses at herself, irritated by her own reaction. So much for being a brave pony, here she is jumping at her own shadow just because she had a nightmare! "Who am I, Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash mutters to herself sardonically.

It’s dark still, far earlier than she normally wakes up. That’s not too surprising, even outside of the nightmare she’d also gone to bed early last night. That in itself is unusual for the pegasus, typically more likely to head to sleep late at night and compensate with power naps throughout the day.

It's weird, Rainbow thinks to herself, as she lays back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling without the blankets covering her. I'm not normally like this. What am I even doing? She ponders, restlessly rolling over onto her side with her head tucked against the pillow.

Aren't dreams supposed to be something from her own subconscious? That nightmare certainly hadn't felt like something her mind would come up with, even if she was stressed out about something. What would it even mean? It wasn't weird in the way that dreams normally are, either; No sudden scene changes, no inane tangents that didn't go anywhere. It felt more like a message being delivered concisely to her.

Ha! Even if it is, I'm not going to be that easily cowed! Rainbow Dash tells herself, even though, in her heart of hearts, she does in fact feel a tiny bit cowed. Hopping off of her bed, she marches over to the window and looks outside. She isn't entirely sure what time it is, but with adrenaline coursing through her veins, there isn't any chance she is going back to bed. So instead, she quietly slips out of her room and heads downstairs to the vacant living room. If she's stuck awake already, she might as well get breakfast out of the way.

The filly’s cooking skills are not exactly spectacular, but she is at least able to stick a load of pasta in hot water and sandwich it between two halves of a potato. By the time she has finished her starchy sandwich, Rainbow's thoughts have moved on to the big decision ahead of her. Creepy dreams or not, she still has to make up her mind. Her parents won’t stop her either way, she is pretty sure, which means that the decision is ultimately in her hooves.

It isn't that she's upset, exactly. On some level, she is as overjoyed as she should be given the circumstances, but that level is deep inside of her, and on the surface is the unusual pensiveness she’d felt since Celestia’s visit. Thinking problems through slowly and carefully isn't really Rainbow Dash's forte; she's generally more prone to smashing her way through them with brute force. But this isn't like choosing what to do for the day or challenging a filly to a race. In the back of her mind, she is painfully aware that her decision here will change the rest of her life.

A part of her feels humbled that the monarch of Equestria had flown all the way out here just to see her. How could she turn down such an offer? Yet, another part—the spunky, rebellious part—feels almost angry. She had just made her dream, just proven she could do it, and here the princess came in telling her she should do something completely different!

That's ridiculous. Even Rainbow Dash knows that. They have no idea what your dreams are; they're the princess of all Equestria, for heaven's sake. You should feel honored they took the time to come all the way out here just for you.

Her thoughts continue circling that way until, before she knows it, the sun rises and her mother comes downstairs. "Honey? What are you doing up so early?" It is, thankfully, not a flight camp day, and normally Rainbow Dash would have been sleeping in late. The dark circles under the pegasus' eyes give away that she had not gotten a full night of sleep.

"Oh, hey, mom." Rainbow Dash shrugs. "Just felt like it, I guess." Rainbow Dash can hear the warble in her own voice, but hopes it isn't recognizable to her mother.

Windy Whistles walks up by her side and sits down next to her, wrapping a wing around her daughter. "What's going on, Dashie? I would have thought you'd be over the moon, but instead I don't know if I've ever seen you so down. Do you want to talk about it?"

Rainbow Dash hops off the chair she was on and glances back at her mother, shaking her head furiously. The last thing she wants is a mushy heart-to-heart about her feelings. She’ll figure this out on her own, just like everything else. "I'm heading over to my friends," Rainbow Dash announces, trotting towards the door.

"Don't you want breakfast first?" Her mother calls after her, so Rainbow Dash glances back and shakes her head again. "I'm good. I already ate."

[hr]

Rainbow Dash strolls lackadaisically through Cloudsdale, the light from the morning sun still somewhat dim as it peaks over the horizon. Much of the land below is still cloaked in shadow, but the flying city is always first exposed to the sun. The filly shades her eyes with her hoof while looking up towards the upper levels, and in particular the Wonderbolts academy. As every day, the Wonderbolts are already out and about, barely visible against the brightening sky beyond, yet unmistakable as anypony else. After all, who else in cloudsdale would be doing a corkscrew dive at high speeds this early in the morning?

Rainbow Dash closes her eyes and imagines herself up there with them, wearing the blue-and-yellow uniform and leading the aerobatics squad in flight. She knew she could do it, knew she could reach it, it’s so easy to imagine she can practically feel the wind in her fur.

And yet, as she opens her eyes again she finds herself gazing in the other direction. Far to the west, where Canterlot is just barely visible silhouetted against the sky. She’d seen the city from a distance many times of course, as Cloudsdale regularly passes over it as part of the nomadic city’s role in weather management. Yet try as she might, she cannot imagine walking it’s streets nor soaring through it’s skies, let alone living there. It’s a totally unknown world, one beyond her experience; she’s never so much as touched the ground before. Even then, the city is the least of uncertainties that awaits her, being the personal pupil of the Sun Princess both sounds too good to be true, and an utterly terrifying prospect at the same time.

Rainbow Dash snarls to herself. So what if it's unknown? Are you some kind of coward? Rainbow Dash scowls and beats her wings in flight, heading for the training fields, or more accurately, the dormitories. Her friends will be there, since they aren't native to the cloud city. The dormitory isn't active, given that Flight Camp is closed today, but Rainbow Dash feels confident at least Cloud Kicker will be up. The filly came from a military family and had a strict policy of waking up every day at the crack of dawn drilled into her from a young age. Gilda will likely be up too, something about Gryphon's having slightly different sleep patterns.

So it isn't a surprise when Rainbow Dash spots Cloud Kicker in the yard doing wing-ups and Gilda lazing around on a cloud out in front. Gilda looks up at Dash with some surprise as she glides to a halt nearby. "Didn't expect to see you around today. Certainly not this early." Gilda remarks. "Did you really turn down the princess?" She sounds almost incredulous.

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. "No, she just had to go back to Canterlot. She said I can have as much time as I want to think it over. I don't... Know what I'm going to do." Rainbow Dash states, rubbing one of her forelegs with the other.

Cloud Kicker jumps up as she finishes her wing-ups, stretching out sore wings as she trots over to join her two friends. "You know, my family lives in Canterlot. We'd probably see each other more, if you went there."

Meanwhile, Gilda scoffs. "I'm surprised you didn't take them up on the offer already, but if you don't want to go you should just tell the princess to stuff it." Gilda's beak makes a shape that could generously be described as a smirk, though pony expressions didn't really map very well onto gryphons. "I still can't believe you talked to them like that. You're lucky they didn't throw you in jail, if you act like that all the time it's probably safer if you stay far away."

"Who cares about safety? I just dunno what I want to do yet. When they visited yesterday, Celestia said if I went with them I'd probably never become a Wonderbolt."

"Ha, then just don't go! Simple as that. Being a Wonderbolt is your dream, nopony has the right to take that away from you. Isn't that right, Dash?" Gilda advises.

Rainbow Dash is silent for a long moment, but in her mind's eye, she sees the painting of Shadow Kicker lying in a pool of her own blood. But dead or not, the pony is a legend, exceeding the reputation of even the most talented Wonderbolt. Flying is what I do. Should I just stick in my lane? Rainbow Dash wonders, frowning. But... If I can be even more than that, reach even higher pinnacles than I ever dreamt possible... After a long moment, Rainbow Dash sighs and looks up. "Hey, Gilda? Is it alright if I talk to Cloud Kicker alone for a minute?"

The gryphon looks properly miffed at the question, but just rolls her eyes. "Pfft, whatever. Just tell me whenever you've made up your mind." The gryphon stalks off, insulted.

Rainbow Dash walks over to the edge of the cloud and sits down, and Cloud Kicker joins her, sitting beside her with a frown. "What is it, Dash? Why don't you want Gilda here?"

“I had a nightmare last night.” Rainbow Dash confesses. “Not that I was scared! But, there was this voice threatening me, trying to get me to stay in Cloudsdale. And it showed me these two portraits, one of Wind Rider, and the other was... Shadow Kicker, laying bleeding on the ground.” Rainbow Dash explains, shivering.

Cloud Kicker swings her legs idly back and forth as she looks up at the sky with a pensive expression. “We don’t normally tell anypony this, but, my grandfather says that dreams like that come from the new moon.”

"Seriously? It's not just me?" Rainbow Dash asks, incredulously.

Cloud Kicker shakes her head melancholically. “ I'm afraid not. It runs in my family, I’ve had dreams where I saw Shadow Kicker, too. Always hurt or dying. You sure you aren't a kicker, too? Maybe somepony just broke the naming convention at some point."

Rainbow Dash shrugs; genealogy is well outside of her area of expertise. Leaning back onto the fluffy clouds, she stares up into the sky. "I mean, I’ve never even been on the ground before! How am I supposed to..." Rainbow Dash interrupts herself with a sigh. "But from what the princess said the other day, it sounds like she’d want to teach me how to fight and survive. Maybe she thinks I could be a good soldier or something. It feels... It feels like the world is telling me I could be like Shadow Kicker."

Cloud Kicker pauses for a long moment, frowning. "That's what my folks want from me. But is that what you want? I mean, you don't need to live up to anypony's expectations, you're just doing what you want. Right?" She hesitates again. "You know it won't be easy if that's what you want to do. Trust me, I would know."

Rainbow Dash grows distant, staring up into nothing particular. "I just thought I should talk to you about it." Rainbow Dash gives Cloud Kicker a sidelong glance. A part of her wants to thank Cloud Kicker, tell her she's a good friend. But a larger part hates all that mushy stuff, and refuses to say any such thing. So instead, Rainbow Dash clambers up to her hooves and spreads her wings. "Well, I'm going to take a flight around, try to clear my head."

Rainbow doesn't know where she's going, but soon enough finds herself gliding above the mid-layer of clouds, recognizing the houses of other pegasi. Most of these, she isn't on particularly good terms with; Her tendency to get into fights and competitions meant most other pegasi around her had a grudge against her, with the only ones she had formed a positive relationship coming from out of town.

But there is one exception, a pegasus of such non-competitive nature that Dash's string of showing off and challenges hadn't hurt her relationship with them one bit. One who is presently watering the small cloud garden in front of her house, and Rainbow Dash swoops down to join her.

"Eek!" Fluttershy jumps as Rainbow Dash lands on all fours on the clouds in front of her. "Oh! Rainbow!" Fluttershy's voice, though surprised and perhaps scared, is just as soft and quiet as ever.

"Sorry, Flutters, didn't mean to scare ya." Rainbow Dash says. Suddenly remembering what had even triggered the race the other day, Rainbow Dash cocks her head at Fluttershy curiously. "Did those colts give you any more trouble?"

"Oh, no, I haven't seen them around." Fluttershy announces. "Of course, I only got home late last night, so I haven't had much time to."

Rainbow Dash blinks. "Huh? Why were you gone?" Something in the back of her mind clicks, and she furrows her brow. "That's right, I guess I didn't see you around yesterday after the race. What happened?"

"Oh, um, well you see, after you took off I fell off the cloud, but some sweet butterflies caught me before I could hit the ground." Fluttershy explains, and Rainbow Dash blanches.

"What? You almost died?" Rainbow Dash's voice raises an octave, leaving Fluttershy to cringe and cower before the suddenly increased volume, and Rainbow Dash quickly backtracks. "I mean... Are you ok?" The filly tries to keep her voice as mellow as possible to comfort the easily startled pegasus.

"Oh, yes. I met all kinds of adorable little woodland critters, and I even got my cutie mark!" Fluttershy exclaims, or at least, comes as close to exclaiming as the shy yellow pegasus can, turning sideways to show off the three butterflies that now adorn her flank.

Rainbow Dash takes the opportunity to turn her own self sideways and show off the prismatic bolt of lightning and stormcloud on her own. "No way, me too!" She cheers as quietly as she can manage. "That means the two of us are the only ones in our class to have our cutie marks! Lets see 'em try and make fun of us now!" Rainbow Dash proclaims confidently, before her smile fades a little. "Did you hear about what happened after you left?"

Fluttershy shakes her head, and Rainbow Dash explains the events of the previous day-The Sonic Rainboom, how Princess Celestia herself had arrived in Cloudsdale, as Fluttershy looks on in increasing degrees of skepticism.

"Oh my, that certainly is quite the story..." Fluttershy says as Rainbow Dash finishes.

"What are you tryna say? You callin’ me a liar?" Rainbow Dash demands, triggering the already nervous Fluttershy to duck behind some foliage.

"N-no!" She stammers out, in an incredibly quiet tone that Rainbow can barely hear. "Just that you like to exaggerate sometimes, that's all."

Rainbow Dash grunts, offended. How could her longtime friend think she’s lying to her? Sure, the story sounds pretty far-fetched, but Rainbow Dash wouldn't make up stories! She’s way too cool to need to do that, the truth is already plenty awesome without any exaggeration needed.

“Hmph. Well, the point is that I have to decide what I’m gonna do now.” Rainbow Dash shrugs. “They said that if I go I probably won’t ever become a Wonderbolt. I still don’t know what I’m gonna do.”

“Well, if you really were invited to Canterlot, I don’t think I would want to go.” Fluttershy shivers in imagined discomfort. “Too many ponies. All staring at you. Are you sure you’d be able to handle that much pressure? I mean, if it really was the princess asking you, that’s a lot of expectations to handle.”

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, ‘Shy.” Rainbow Dash replies dryly before zipping up into the air and puffing out her chest. “I’m awesome, I can take whatever the world throws at me!” Even if something doesn’t want me to. “Oh, and by the way... Proof!” Rainbow Dash triumphantly shows off the sigil that had been given to her by Princess Celestia.

Fluttershy’s eyes widen in shock. “That’s the royal seal! If you have this, that can only mean y-y-you really did see the princess!” Fluttershy shudders on her hooves, while Rainbow Dash looks on smugly.

“Ha, I told you! ...Um, Flutters, you ok?” Rainbow Dash’s pride is quickly overtaken by concern as Fluttershy wobbles, and the cyan pegasus quickly swoops down to support Fluttershy, as she collapses, fainting on the spot.

[hr]

After making sure Fluttershy is ok—She wakes up just a minute or so after fainting—Rainbow Dash takes off again. She always thinks better when flying, and now is no exception. If she is making such a major decision, she wants to be in the best possible headspace to do so.

As she flies, she keeps thinking of more and more reasons she should stay in Cloudsdale. Not only is this where the Wonderbolts are, but also her parents, and Fluttershy too. Who knows who will be there if she goes to Canterlot? Sure, Cloud Kicker lives there most of the time, but she hasn’t known that pegasus for that long, only having met her a few months ago when flight camp started. Canterlot is a complete unknown to a pegasus who has always lived among the clouds. And to boot, even her dreams warn her away from it.

And yet, despite all of that, the distant city to the west increasingly feels more and more alluring. Maybe it's the fear itself; The want to prove to herself that she isn’t so easily cowed, that she can reach greater heights than she had ever dreamt of. That she’s awesome at everything, not just flight, that she can carve out a new destiny for herself. Just about when she had finished a single lap around the entire city of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash realizes with a start that she had made up her mind without even realizing it.

She had longed to be a wonderbolt, to become the pinnacle of flying athleticism. But now, there is a whole new world opened up to her, a world she’d never even dreamed of before. If she turns her back on it, she’ll spend the rest of her life wondering what she could have been, had she been brave enough to dive into the unknown.

What will it be like? Though Rainbow Dash has asked herself that question many times since the previous night, the meaning is different this time, not a statement of fear and uncertainty but one of eager anticipation. As she accelerates back towards home, the trepidation that has filled her heart since the Princesses visit finally gives way to the excitement of a new horizon ahead of her.

Chapter Text

Rainbow Dash trots in through the door of her home with considerably more enthusiasm than she had left it earlier that day. It's still not that late in the day, and her mother and father are currently having breakfast at the table. But as soon as Rainbow Dash opens the door, they both whirl around, faces lighting up.

"Oh, sweetie, you're back! Did you have fun with your friends?" Windy asks, and Rainbow Dash shrugs.

"Maybe. Not important right now. I've thought it over, and I want to go to Canterlot."

Windy Whistle blinks at Rainbow Dash, surprised. "Just like that? After all that fussing about you did this morning?"

Rainbow Dash nods, and jumps up on one of the chairs to talk to her more directly. "I made up my mind, what more is there to say?" Rainbow Dash bluntly states. "I mean, I gotta go tell my friends I guess."

Bow ruffles his daughter’s mane. "There's the Dashie we know, always eager to run off at a moment's notice! But, in all honesty that might be for the best. Cloudsdale will be heading south soon and the trip will only get longer. I'm afraid you'll probably have to fly there, the train from Ponyville isn't operational yet, and the forest is too dangerous to cross on hoof. That's quite the journey to undertake. I should go with you."

"No!" Rainbow Dash rejects the offer quickly, shaking her head so quickly her mane whips from side to side. "No, no, I can get there on my own just fine.." I do not want my first impression in Canterlot to be getting a noogie from Dad...

"But, honey, it could be dangerous..." Windy protests, but the filly just jumps up onto the counter, striking a bold pose.

"You're always telling me how awesome I am, but you don't think I can fly to Canterlot? I could fly there with one wing tied behind my back!" Rainbow Dash boasts. "Watch me!"

"That won't be necessary!" Windy quickly relents, sighing. "Alright, sweetie, we just worry about you, you know that. If you were any other pony, I wouldn’t even think about it, but... Well, Celestia themeslf showed up and seemed to think you could do it. So, I guess that’s good enough for us.” Windy looks at Bow to confirm, receiving a nervous nod in return. "But, we want you to write to us as soon as you get there! And don't you even think about leaving us out of the loop, young lady, understand?" Windy tries to say firmly, although the impact is lost as she starts tearing up.

Uh-oh. Better get out of here before the waterworks start. "Well, there's no time to waste! I'd better set off now if I wanna get there in time, Cloudsdale is moving tonight!"

"Woah there, Dashie, are you sure you're ready to go, just like that?" Bow asks, reluctantly.

But Rainbow Dash is prepared for such a question. "I can’t keep the princess waiting, can I? What if she changes her mind? And I’m sure they’ll have whatever I need in Canterlot, anyway, so I should only pack the essentials." Rainbow Dash justifies.

Bow and Windy look at eachother, then back at Dash reluctantly. "You... Have a point." Bow admits. "Still, you should at least pack some basic survival equipment. I know you're a good flier, but... Bad things happen to good fliers all the time." He finishes a bit darkly.

Rainbow Dash nods. "Uh, duh, I'm not stupid." ...Even though I wasn't planning to do anything of the sort until you brought it up. In a blitz of speed, she darts around the house to get anything she needs, and in ten second flat she is once again standing in front of her parents, fully packed and tapping her hoof on the cloud impatiently. "There! Can I go now?"

Bow and Windy just sit there with their jaws hanging open in awe for a long moment. "You really are amazing..." Windy eventually breathes out, almost in shock. "We'll come see you in Canterlot as soon as we're able to get time off of work. But you have to remember to write to us! We want to know all about everything you get up to!"

"I... I guess we can't keep you around all day, huh?" Bow replies, frowning and glancing out the window. He would have preferred to think this through more, talk to his daughter for longer. But Rainbow has a point, flying to Canterlot will be much harder if she waits until after the cloud city moves, and it isn't safe to fly at night. Right now is the best time to go. "But be careful, it would kill us if you got hurt!"

Rainbow Dash nods. That’s all the excuse she needs. "Alright Canterlot, here I come!", and with that a prismatic blur bolts out the door.

[hr]

"You're really going, huh? This is... Really happening?" Gilda sounds unusually hesitant, her cool veneer slipping. "You're sure?"

Rainbow Dash nods, confidently. "What’s the point in second guessing myself?"

"Well... Alright. You'll write, right?" Gilda asks, looking unusually anxious. Rainbow didn't think she'd ever seen the griffin like this before.

"Uh, yeah, of course." Rainbow Dash replies. That sure is going to be alot of letters I gotta write... Rainbow Dash groans a little inwardly, trying to keep her reluctance from escaping. Writing is... Not really her strong suite. But if all her friends and parents want her to write, then write she will.

"That's awesome! As soon as flight camp is over, I'll be able to see you again!" Cloudkicker beams at Rainbow Dash excitedly. "Oh, there's so much I'd wanna show you in Canterlot, just like you showed me here in Cloudsdale!”

"You know it." Rainbow Dash winks and hoofbumps the pegasus, then the griffin in turn-even if Gilda is oddly hesitant about it. "Well... I don't think I can wait much longer. I've got to get a move out if I wanna get to Canterlot before evening."

"Yeah, alright." Gilda snorts, the cool veneer sliding back into place. "Cloudkicker and I gotta... Go... Practice our flying, anyways."

Rainbow Dash winces at the coldness of her friends house, but despite that she flaps her wings and lifts off. “Alright, you two. Stay cool, now!" Rainbow Dash salutes the two of them one more time before zipping away.

Despite what she said, there is still one more stop she has to make before she leaves Cloudsdale for real. Returning to her oldest friend Fluttershy's house, she knocks at the door. A faint-looking Fluttershy peaks through the curtains of the window, trying to be stealthy, though Dash sees her immediately. The yellow pegasus then disappears for several moments, before the door slowly opens, with Fluttershy inside looking a little pale. "H-hello? Did you forget something?"

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. "No. I just came to say goodbye." She takes a deep breath and puffs out her chest. "I've decided to go to Canterlot."

"Oh, wow..." Fluttershy pins her ears back. "Sounds scary... I'm glad you're going, and not me. Though it would be nice to see all the animals there. Ah, maybe one day..."

"I should probably get going. I... I’ll miss you, but I’ll come back up and visit when I’m able, alright?" Rainbow Dash promises, before giving her longest lasting friend a quick, awkward hug.

"Please do... I hope you know, I'll miss you alot, Dash. I'll always be grateful for all the ways you've helped me. I wouldn't be nearly this confident if not for your help."

Rainbow Dash resists scoffing at that notion with some effort. "Well... I gotta go, I guess." Rainbow Dash finally says. "Duty calls." Rainbow Dash shoots one more salute Fluttershy's way, before zipping off. As she goes, she can only dimly hear the 'Take care of yourself, now,' that Fluttershy practically whispers on Rainbow's way out.

Goodbye's out of the way, Rainbow Dash lands at the northern edge of Cloudsdale one more time. She still isn't entirely sure how she was able to talk her way out here so quickly, but she can't deny a certain feeling of nervousness looking over the vast distance.

She’s a good flier, an amazing flier even. Even the princess had recognized it. But still, it's a long way to Canterlot, and she has never had to fly that far before. Well... Nothing for it but to go, now. Rainbow Dash's wings buzz to life and she leaps from the edge of the city. It's mostly slightly downwards on the way there, so I should mostly just glide to save energy.

As soon as she catches flight beyond the rim of the city, Rainbow Dash feels her nerves relax. Whatever might await her when she arrives, right now, she is free, soaring through the wild blue skies.

The filly closes her eyes, feeling the wind in her face and running through her feathers. This, right here, is what she lives for. That feeling of pure freedom, the rest of the world just passing by in a blur as she soars through the endless blue yonder. Rainbow Dash opens her eyes, just in time to avoid running head-first into a black stormcloud ahead.

Woah! The filly flaps her wings hard, climbing up over the black cloud. That's right, I'm over the Everfree Forest now! Weather out here is unpredictable, I have to be careful. Rainbow Dash reminds herself, dipping down to the top of the cloud, just enough to dip the tip of her wing in the top. It feels different than the white fluffy clouds she is used to, thrumming with electricity and turbulence. Nopony out here to tell me what to do! Just me and the sky! Rainbow Dash’s grins broadens as she scoops up a chunk of stormcloud in one hoof as she passes over it, watching the dark particles release from it as it dissolves.

"Ow!" It takes Rainbow Dash a second to realize the voice came from herself, as a jolt of electricity stings her hoof. “Stupid cloud...” She mutters, shaking the rest of the storm cloud on her hoof off.

The landscape ahead is vast and untamed, not a pony in sight, as she soars across the expansive forest. The sky is unruly, with an easterly breeze and dozens of clouds scattered at various altitudes. It’s at least one of the most interesting skies that Rainbow Dash had ever seen, and populated with plenty of safe places to rest if she needs them.

It’s only when she glances downwards that Rainbow Dash feels a pang of unease. The forest below her has a grim reputation, and its appearance doesn’t do it any favours either; the canopy seems completely impenetrable, thick with dark needles and leaves. Who knows what kind of things stalk the land in the shadows beneath the treetops? As if the weather moving on its own isn’t bad enough...

Almost right on cue, an unearthly wail echoes from somewhere far below, standing the fur on the filly’s neck on end. Ugh, creepy! Rainbow Dash shakes her head and tries to keep her attention on her destination in the mountains to avoid thinking too hard about what could have made such a noise.

Instead, she focuses on her flight, flapping her wings as hard as she can, trying to imagine like she’s in a race. C’mon, c’mon, Rainboom! Focusing all of her attention, both of her hooves placed perfectly in front of her face t oblock the wind at the cost of visibility, Rainbow Dash dives forwards.

There’s a feeling of weightlessness as she surges through the sky, a familiar rush of exhilaration that reminds her why flying is her joy and passion. She doesn’t even feel the soreness in her wings, long having since trained herself to ignore it and push further. But as she squeezes her eyes to a slit to not be blinded by the wind passing across her face, every fiber of her being straining to go faster... She stops accelerating, capping out.

C’mon, c’mon! Faster! You can do better than this, you know that! Yet despite telling herself that, she can’t seem to squeeze any more force out of her wings, and at long last, she is forced to break off her descent for fear of crashing into the forest, which is now uncomfortably close. From this range, she can actually see through a gap in the canopy, a small creek flowing between two rocky ridges covered in moss and foliage.

As she passes over, she stares at the unfamiliar environment in wonder. She’s never been near the ground before, and now here it is, so close to her. A small part of her urges her to go touch down, explore this whole new world.

But a much larger part is frightened by the harsh growling sounds of a fight breaking out somewhere below her. Uh, that’s my cue to leave, I think! Rainbow Dash beats her wings at the air again, using her momentum to climb back into the sky.

But now, with the rush of exhilarating speed having worn off, Rainbow feels the soreness in her wings once again. “Ah, drat, guess I overdid it again.” The filly groans. She’d used up too much of her energy in that attempt, and now she needs to find someplace to rest.

Powering through the pain, Rainbow Dash soars back up until she feels she is at a comfortable distance from the forest below, landing on a modestly sized stormcloud. It's not an ideal rest point, but she doesn’t particularly care right now.

Compared to your standard wispy or fluffy clouds, storm clouds have more of a physical feel to them. They don’t make as nice of a bed, but the feeling of power inside of them has its own kind of charm. I mean, it's where I belong. Just look at my mark. Rainbow Dash glances back at her flank, smirking to herself. She’d just gotten the thing a day ago and hadn’t really taken the time to look at it much, given everything else that had been going on, but now that she had a moment to actually think about it, she had undeniably gotten the coolest Cutie Mark possible.

By performing... The Sonic Rainboom. An old mares tale, yet she had done it. Yet, though that thought was meant to be encouraging, psyching herself up for when she arrives in Canterlot, a pang of fear enters her heart.

I wasn’t able to do it again. Rainbow Dash bites her lip. Was it just a fluke? What if Celestia asks me to show them what I can do, and I can’t do it? The fear only intensifies as she thinks about it more. The whole reason she wanted me to come was because of what I did, but she didn’t even see it! If I can’t do it again, will she think I’m a fraud? Maybe she’ll send me back to Cloudsdale! Rainbow Dash gulps anxiously.

To turn down the offer would have been one thing. She can just imagine bragging to her friends about how she was so cool that Celestia themself had invited her to Canterlot, and she just turned them down to focus on training. But to get all the way there, only to be rejected as a failure and have to return to Cloudsdale in shame...The thought is almost enough to turn the pegasus around on the spot. Maybe she can still get away with it, say she had changed her mind?

No! The thought cries out in her mind with surprising ferocity. I'm not a coward. Stop doubting yourself, you’re awesome, you know that. Rainbow Dash insists to herself, clambering back up to her hooves as she tries to psych herself up again. Do you really want to wait the rest of your life never knowing if you could have made it?

Of course she doesn’t. The doubt vanishes almost as quickly as it had appeared, resolve quickly returning to her. Her endurance, alas, did not. C’mon, you don’t wanna just wait around all day, do you? Rainbow Dash groans, stretching out her wings. But to her surprise, that sentiment is quite suddenly reinforced when the cloud in front of her opens its eyes, and she realizes suddenly that it isn’t a cloud at all.

“AHHHH!” Rainbow Dash screeches at an inequinely high pitch, silently grateful nopony is around to see her screaming like the little filly she is, as she bolts upwards, adrenaline giving her the strength to move. The “cloud” moves after her, a long sinuous body of stormy gray and silver linings, with limbs stretching out like the wings of a storm.

In a moment, Rainbow Dash realizes what she is staring at; It's a cloud sprite, an aerial predator that makes its home amongst the clouds, with a serpent-like body and wings that blend into the clouds where they wait in ambush. The usual advice upon meeting one is to keep your cool, not act scared, and certainly don’t fly away—They would give chase if you did, but can be frightened away if you stand your ground.

Well, it’s a little late for that. Rainbow can see not just the one flying after her, but two more companions joining it, all circling around her. Their predator instincts have clearly already kicked in, and Rainbow Dash isn’t going to get out of it that easily.

So instead, she tucks her hooves into her body and purposefully stalls flying upwards. It’s a trick she has tried a few times when showing off her agility at obstacle courses; It allows her to reverse her direction extremely quickly, though at the cost of all forward momentum. But she doesn’t have much of that to begin with, and the cloud sprites are swooping in for the kill.

“Ow! Ow! Get away from me!” Rainbow Dash kicks at the winged serpents as she dives through them, little bolts of electricity nipping at her from the stormcloud scales of her pursuers. A particularly strong jolt of electricity pulses through her as one of them bites at her, thankfully just barely missing her flank and getting only a mouthful of prismatic tail-hair for its trouble.

That was way too close! Rainbow Dash glances back, panic building up. She would have to take things up a notch if she wants to lose her pursuers, but as tired as she is, she isn't able to fly at top speed, and she doesn't know how much longer her endurance will last.

As another of the cloud sprites swoop after her, Rainbow Dash commits to a corkscrew dive trying to lose them, her wings batting away the pursuers whilst only sustaining minor electrical burns in the process. This... Isn’t... Good! The canopy is coming up ahead of her, but she can’t afford to pull up. Gulping anxiously, Rainbow Dash dives down below the tree line.

“Woah!” Rainbow Dash screeches as she barely avoids flying directly into a tree trunk. Thankfully, time spent manoeuvring obstacle courses has prepared her for this; having said that, the visibility is far worse here under the canopy, and the obstacle course didn’t typically include random branches placed directly in front of her. Nor did it tend to feature three wild animals chasing you who will eat you alive if they catch you!

Rainbow Dash can’t afford to look backwards, given how hard it already is to dodge the upcoming trees, but she can hear her pursuers behind her, screeching and swooping after her, sometimes even feeling the air from their wingbeats.

I’m slowing down, I can’t keep this up much longer! In desperation, Rainbow slams her wings down with all the remaining force she can muster, making one last attempt to break free. The pegasus filly soars out of the tree canopy below her, with the three cloud sprites hot on her tail. Almost literally, as her tail is currently sizzling from the little bolts of electricity that keep impacting it. If she had been a vain pony (Or at least, even more vain), Rainbow Dash might have feared that her tail won’t grow back after this; as it is, she is far more concerned with survival.

“Augh!” Rainbow Dash can’t help but cry out as one of the cloud sprites gets a small nip of one of her legs, a thin stream of blood sailing through the sky behind her. Ok, if I can’t outfly them... Then that leaves me only one choice. All other options exhausted, Rainbow Dash pitches up once more, stalling in midair even as the cloud serpents swoop in for the kill. Putting all of her small body’s strength into one last desperate move, she flips her body over, reversing her momentum and direction to swing her rear legs down from overhead.

Both hooves land squarely on the serpentine creature’s face, using its own momentum against it. For a split second, Rainbow Dash and the cloud sprite seem to hang in midair, blinded by a vibrant flash of lightning pulsing out in no direction in particular, before the sprite’s limp body falls through the air, smoke trailing from it.

But Rainbow Dash hardly notices, as the jolt of electricity surges through her body, forcing a scream of agony out through her lungs as her muscles all clench up involuntarily. Blinded by pain and the flash of light, Rainbow Dash’s consciousness struggles to reassert control over her body as she falls from the sky.

No! A voice inside her jolts her eyes open once again, even with her vision going dark. Fighting through the pain, Rainbow Dash flaps her wings for dear life, catching herself before she can plummet to her death. Not that it will matter much, if the other two cloud sprites decided to attack.

But her gambit had worked. Intimidated by both the thunderous screech that Rainbow Dash had just let out, and the fate of their erstwhile compatriot, the two remaining Cloud Sprites take off in opposite directions, apparently hoping to find less feisty prey.

Rainbow Dash can barely spare a thought for them, as she desperately struggles to stay aloft. “Uuuagh...” Rainbow Dash moans; that had hurt more than anything else in her life ever had, even that one time she had sprained two ankles at once trying to show off on an obstacle course. But it [i]had[/i] gotten her away with her life—she hopes.

Uneasily, she glances back at the sky to make sure her two opponents aren't wheeling back around, but thankfully they are nowhere to be seen. Not that I’d be able to do anything about it if they did come back. Rainbow Dash thinks to herself ruefully, staring down at her rear two hooves. They are blackened and scorched, the hoof cracked with vein-like structures of blood stretching up her legs. “That... Doesn’t... Look good...” Rainbow Dash groans out. She tenses the muscles experimentally, hissing in agony but also some measure of relief. They aren’t paralyzed, just damaged. Too horribly damaged to use right now, that’s for sure.

Rainbow Dash feels tears of pain leaking down her face, and fights to hold them back. "C'mon, big fillies don't cry, big fillies don't cry..." Rainbow Dash hisses to herself, trying to ignore the shaking in her voice. “You gotta be strong and keep it together, I’m sure somepony can help you when you get to Canterlot. You just have to make it there. You just have to make it there.” Her wings still work, and that's what is most important. She has to reach Canterlot if she wants to get any medical attention.

She shuts her eyes tightly, trying to block out the throbbing pain in her hooves. Her wings are exhausted, but it doesn’t matter; the sun is declining in the sky, and she has to reach her destination by nightfall. Besides, the pain in her wings doesn’t hold a candle to that in her legs, and that pain is going to last no matter what she does, so there’s not much point in waiting.

Canterlot is not too far away now, the mountains loom just ahead of her, close enough that she can make out the individual platforms and towers now, rather than just the palace. “Just a little farther...” Rainbow Dash tries to tell herself, blinking back tears of pain. “Just a little farther.”

Chapter Text

“So then I had to shut the whole place down. It’s crazy what some ponies think they can get away with.” One of the royal guards on duty chatters away to his partner, shaking his head.

But his partner’s attention is elsewhere. “Hey, wait. Windlancer, do you see that?”

Windlancer gapes up at the sky. “Hooves? Is... Is that what I think it is?”

“Lancer, go get a doctor. They look hurt.” Ruby Hooves orders his junior compatriot, prompting Windlancer to salute quickly and then dash inside the palace.

That leaves only Ruby Hooves standing guard as the wounded, cyan pegasus soars down to the landing in front of the palace, landing with a fierce expression somewhere between ‘Agony’ and ‘Bursting with fighting spirit’.

“I’m here to... See... The princess!” The filly hisses out between clenched teeth, presenting, to Ruby's surprise, a royal signet hoofring... Just before promptly collapsing on the spot.

[hr]

“Lemme up! I need to see the princess!” Rainbow Dash shouts from the bed where she is currently restrained. The restraints in question were not there when she arrived—They had been placed afterwards, on account of the pegasid’s persistent attempts to get up despite her injuries.

“You are in no position to go anywhere, much less a royal audience.” The doctor on duty—An odd looking earth pony, with greyish stripes over an ashen coat, named Bonezaw—lectures, harshly. “I have no idea what you’ve been through on your way here, but it’s a miracle you’re in one piece. What did you do, pick a fight with a cloud sprite?”

“Yes.” Rainbow Dash responds bluntly, not recognizing the doctors sarcastic tone. “Three of them. Well, they picked a fight with me, and I was too tired to outfly them, so...”

Bonezaw looks at the filly incredulously. “Why is a filly like you out flying on your own and picking fights with cloud sprites?”

Rainbow Dash just puts her muzzle up in the air. “I’m here to see the princess.”

The doctor shakes his head, groaning. “Well I’m sure the Princess would rather see you properly rested and bandaged than wearing battle wounds like you just got out of a skirmish. So if you’d just sit still and let me patch you up before you do any permanent damage to yourself, I’m sure you’ll see them that much sooner.”

Rainbow Dash reluctantly settles in at that, suppressing the occasional grunts of pain as Bonezaw applies poultices to her wounds. He does not work gently, but efficiently; And though that does mean it hurts more, Rainbow Dash finds herself thankful for that, as it means the experience won’t last as long. “Ok, now. Drink this, and I’ll be out of your mane.”

Rainbow Dash stares warily at the tonic the doctor had offered her. “What is it?”

“Electricity suppressant. It’ll neutralize the Cloud Sprite magic residue and allow your lightning burns to heal easier.” Bonezaw states simply.

Rainbow Dash hesitates but eventually relents to downing its contents. After all, she is inside the palace of the Princess of the Sun themself. If she can’t trust the ponies here, she can’t trust anypony. The tonic is bitter, a bit salty, as it goes down, and Rainbow Dash makes a disgusted face but resists complaining.

“Now, if you could just explain-“ Before Bonezaw can finish his sentence, he is interrupted by the door being bucked open by a thunderous kick.

“Where is she?” An imperious voice demands from the other side of the room, and the doctor's belligerent tone instantly disappears as he slams down to the ground and lowers his head.

“P-Princess! She’s right over here!” The doctor stammers out, momentarily taken aback before regaining his cool. “She’s been asking to see you ever since she got here.”

Rainbow Dash tries to force a weak smile as the Princess of the Sun wheels around the curtain beside her, but Celestia does not seem ready to focus on her just yet. “What is her condition? Is she safe?” Celestia demands, a certain ferocity entering her voice which Rainbow Dash had not heard at all when the princess had visited her in Cloudsdale.

“I’ve patched her up as well as able. She had electricity burns but her pegasus magic was able to keep them from damaging her nervous system, so she should make a full recovery, other than some scars. Some of her veins popped and there is severe swelling as well as cracked skin, so I gave her a poultice and electricity neutralizer to prevent further damage. She's in rough shape, but I’ve seen much worse.”

Celestia breathes a sigh of relief. “Good. Leave us, I wish to speak with her alone.” The medic nods affirmative and quickly leaves the room. The princesses gaze softens as she looks back over Rainbow Dash, sitting by the bedside.

Great, the first time they see me in Canterlot, and I’m bandaged up and bedridden. What a great second impression. Rainbow Dash winces, but before she can say anything, Celestia speaks.

“I’m surprised to see you so soon, my little pony. What happened?” All the fervor of mere moments ago has completely left Celestia’s voice, leaving it so gentle and reassuring that Rainbow could swear that just the sound of it eases the pain in her legs. As Celestia speaks, her horn lights up with a gentle glow, and a thin thread of golden magic siphons from the horn before swirling into Rainbow Dash's legs. There is an odd buzzing sensation as it courses through her veins, and the pain in her legs fades away.

“What did you do?” Rainbow Dash can’t help but gasping in relief. She hadn’t even truly realized just how much pain she had been in until it was suddenly taken away.

When Celestia opens her eyes, they appear tired, but still caring. “I just lent you some of my magic to aid your body in repairing itself, as well as shutting down some of your pain receptors. It would still be best if you don’t move too much, as you might injure yourself without realizing it. But at least you can be comfortable while you recover, and speed up your recovery as much as possible. Now, you answer my question. What happened? And how did you get here so quickly?”

Rainbow Dash winces, hoping nothing she had gotten up to would get her in trouble. “Well, um, I decided this morning I wanted to take you up on your offer. Now, Cloudsdale was going to move south tomorrow, so I didn’t have a lot of time to leave, so after I told everypony, I flew here.”

“You... Flew across the Everfree, by yourself?” Celestia touches a hoof to her head in shock as Rainbow Dash hesitantly nods her head. “I... Expected you would wait until Cloudsdale was over a railway, then your parents would bring you here. I never thought that you would just come here directly.” Celestia transfixes Rainbow Dash in a vice-like, steely gaze. “Do your parents know where you are?”

Rainbow Dash nods again, and Celestia breathes out another sigh of relief. “They must have a lot of faith in you to allow you to make the journey on your own. But how did you get hurt?” Celestia’s voice is gentle again, and Rainbow Dash sighs in relief-At least for the moment, it seems she is in the clear.

“Uh, while I was flying over the forest, I landed on a cloud to rest for a bit.” Rainbow Dash starts, conveniently leaving out the detail of what had exhausted her. “But it turns out it was a cloud sprite nest. I tried to escape, but I was too tired to outfly them, so I was forced to fight... And this happened.” Rainbow Dash motions at her legs.

Celestia’s hoof goes up to her mouth as she blinks in shock. “My goodness...” It’s obvious that the filly is tremendously talented, but this... This is just unprecedented. “I’m relieved that you are alright. Or at least, relatively alright. I simply couldn’t conscience it if something were to happen to you because of my offer.” And with that, Rainbow Dash suddenly finds herself wrapped up in an unexpected embrace from the most powerful pony on Equus.

“H-huh? Am I not in trouble?”

“What? In trouble? Heavens, no! I’m just thankful that you’re alright.” Celestia steps back, raising back up to her full height towering above Rainbow Dash. “But in all seriousness, please do not try anything so reckless again. It did not even occur to me that you would come to Canterlot the same way I did. And at such a young age, too. I’m astonished you were able to make the journey in just one day.” The monarch clears her throat, returning to a more stoic and serious tone of voice and expression. “So, you’ve chosen to take me up on my offer, then..?” She asks, showing an odd degree of hesitation.

Rainbow Dash nods yet again. Should I tell her that I wasn’t able to perform the rainboom again..? No... No, she can’t know. The thought of disappointing the regal pony before her is just too much.

“Well. It shall be my honor to teach you all that I can, my little pony.” Celestia bows her head before Rainbow Dash, causing the small pegasus filly’s cheeks to warm up. The princess of all Equestria, and here she is, showing her deference. What is up with that? Is she dreaming? It's just too surreal. “I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here, for now. At least until you recover enough to walk. We don’t want to aggravate your injuries any further, after all. But once you are healed, we shall see about getting you a proper room in the palace, near my own quarters.” Celestia dictates in the benign, tender way they do.

“A-Alright.” Rainbow Dash stammers, taken aback by the care being shown for her. But while she is getting that attention, there are a couple more things she needs, she remembers suddenly. “Oh! Can I have a quill and a few scrolls? My folks back at home would want to know I’m ok, so I need to send them letters.” Rainbow Dash asks, followed by her stomach gurgling hungrily. Blushing slightly, she rubs her mane—Or at least what is left of it, given how much of it had burnt away to smoke earlier that day. “...um, and maybe something to eat? I’m starving.”

Celestia smiles at the pegasus, and nods her head. “Of course, Rainbow Dash. I'll have it right in.”

As Celestia stands up and strides out of the room, all Rainbow Dash can think about is the bizarre course her life has suddenly taken. If I’m dreaming... Please don’t wake me up yet.

[hr]

Much to Rainbow Dash’s shock, the food and quill she'd requested is not delivered by a servant or chef or nurse or anything of the sort, but by Celestia herself. By the time she’d finished her meal, it is well past sundown and the sky outside of the window is pitch black. Given her struggles through that entire day, and how early she'd gotten up that morning, Rainbow Dash feels absolutely exhausted, but despite that, she can’t quite allow herself to sleep just yet. There is still one last thing she has to do.

The filly stares down at the scroll in front of her, wondering what to write. She is not a very wordy pony in the first place, and the exhaustion of that day’s events don’t help that, but she feels she needs to at least write something to tell her parents she is ok.

Hey mom, hey dad.

Rainbow Dash briefly considers writing about her injury, but quickly decides against it. Her parents don’t need to be given reasons to worry about her. But, that doesn’t mean she can’t brag about the fight.

Some cloud sprites bugged me on the way here, but I gave them what-for and they left me alone after that. Now I’m here in Canterlot, in the palace. I got here at around sundown, and I already got to see the princess!

They tell me I’ll be getting my own room in the palace, and the food here is to die for. Don’t know yet when I’m going to start lessons, though. I’ll keep ya posted.

From, Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash reviews the letter she had just written, only to be interrupted by another pony’s voice. “You ready for lights out?” Bonezaw asks. “Celestia didn’t tell me when you were supposed to go to sleep, but I imagine they want you well rested for tomorrow.”

Rainbow Dash stretches out the scroll she had just written with barely-legible hoofwriting. “Um, sure, but could you drop this off at the mail office? It needs to go to Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof in Cloudsdale.”

The doctor just gives her a dull, unimpressed stare. “Really, kid? I’m a doctor, not a...” Bonezaw sighs, remembering the gentle way Celestia had treated the filly, and reluctantly reaches out his hoof. “Alright, just give it here, I’ll make sure it gets to them.”

Rainbow Dash gives the stallion a grateful smile as he takes the letter, before shutting the lights off and closing the door behind him. Done with her letter, and in surprisingly good comfort following Celestia’s spell, Rainbow Dash closes her eyes and allows herself to get some rest.

[hr]

The next few days are dreadfully boring for the young pegasus. At one point, another pony is also hospitalized in the same room—A unicorn guardspony, with a dappled blue coat with white spots and bright white mane. But other than that, Rainbow Dash is largely left alone while she rests and waits for her hooves to heal enough. Although they don’t hurt, courtesy of Celestia, that doesn’t mean she’s free to get up; apparently, she could hurt herself more if she put weight on her hooves too early.

It’s on the fourth day when Bonezaw comes in for a routine bandage change and examination. Rainbow Dash heavily considers just bolting out of there as soon as her bandages come off. But before she can make any admittedly stupid decisions, the doctor’s words cut through her distraction. “Well, it looks like you’re healing well. I think it’s about time we got you on your hooves.”

“H-huh? I can go?” Rainbow Dash had barely gotten the words out before the medic shakes his head firmly.

“No. I said you can stand. If you are doing ok, then you can slowly start trying to move around, and we can see about getting you out of here. Normally you would have been in here for a while longer, but you seem to be healing remarkably quickly.” Doctor Bonezaw transfixes Rainbow Dash in a steely, somber gaze. “You should thank Celestia for that.”

It takes Rainbow Dash a minute to realize that he means that statement literally, and not just as a saying. “Why? What did they do exactly? It took the pain away, but it didn’t stitch up my wounds or anything.”

Bonezaw shakes his head. “No, it wouldn’t, that is my job. Not to say it would be impossible to stitch up wounds with magic, just... Exceedingly, and unnecessarily, exhausting. It's like... Hm, how would I explain...” The doctor pauses for a moment, thoughtfully. “So everypony has magical reserves- yes, even earth ponies- that fight to keep us healthy. They protect us from harm, and help us recover when we are hurt. The princess just reinforced yours with her own to bolster your natural healing processes. Thats why you don’t have any scar tissue, otherwise you’d likely have some ugly lightning-shaped scars crisscrossing your hooves the rest of your life.” The doctor’s tone shifts from instructive to more grim and somber. “The Princess does not do that for just anypony, they don’t have the endurance to do so willy-nilly. Even Companions usually only get the treatment if their wounds are life-threatening. You should feel extremely grateful.”

Rainbow Dash is taken aback. The princess did that just for her..? But why? She can’t understand why the monarch of the nation has taken such a keen interest in her, even if she is awesome. A sinking feeling emerges in her gut as she remembers that she hadn’t been able to repeat the Sonic Rainboom. Will the princess be angry, learning that she had come here under false pretenses and wasted her time? She can't keep up the ruse forever, sooner or later the princess will want to see her perform the feat again.

That sense of fear is almost enough to counteract Rainbow’s excitement at being able to stand up. Almost. “Alright, well, I can get up now, then?”

“Slowly.” Bonezaw cautions. “No tough filly acts, now. You’re likely to feel faint after being stuck in bed for this long. If you need somepony to lean on you had best tell me right away.”

As Rainbow Dash slowly slides out of bed and places her hooves on the ground, she is tempted to ignore the warning and just run; she feels fine, after all. But reluctantly, she admits to herself that taking the time to jump through the doctors hoops will probably serve her far better in the long run.

And it’s good that she did, because she almost immediately starts shaking on her legs, her vision turning dark and hearing hazy. “Are you alright?” Bonezaw asks brusquely, steadying the trembling pegasus although Rainbow Dash can barely feel it.

“Y-yeah, I’m okay. Just... Woozy.” Rainbow Dash reports, shaking her head to try and clear the confusion as her vision clears, although the pins and needles sensation throughout her entire body has not.

“That’s normal. Your body is used to lying down, so it doesn’t know how to keep getting enough blood to your head. You’ll just need to take it slow for a bit, you should feel better soon enough.” Rainbow Dash nods in response to the instructions and starts unsurely placing one hoof in front of the other.

It’s not just her circulation messing with her; the ground itself is far different than anything she’d ever touched before. Not even stormclouds are anywhere near as solid feeling as the solid, sturdy surface of the rock floor here. The feeling gives the filly a small shock. She is here, for real. Somehow, in all the time she had been laying in bed, it hadn’t really set in. She’d flown all the way to Canterlot, by herself!

After Rainbow Dash has successfully crossed the room a couple times, the strength quickly returning to her legs once her body is able to get used to it, the medic signs off on his clipboard. “Well, you seem alright. I’ll walk you out to your quarters, but you will have to check back in here in a week to make sure you are healing properly. If anything happens that aggravates your injury, you will have to come back here again. Consider that a threat.” Bonezaw smirks. “So take it easy unless you want to spend another night in bed.”

Rainbow Dash gulps. That point certainly cuts right to the heart of it, so she nods. “Y-yeah, you got it.”

Chapter Text

After being shown to her quarters, Rainbow Dash is left alone in the cozy chamber, on the mid-floor of some tower or another. Clearly, somepony had been in here to make the room a little more comfortable, familiar, for the pegasus; the ground has been covered in a cloud carpet, and the furnishings are all vaguely reminiscent of Cloudsdale, though there is still a certain air of Canterlotian sophistication.

This is at least three times as big as my room back home. Rainbow Dash thinks to herself, diving onto the bed which is presently far larger than she actually needs, flopping over onto her back and staring up at the ceiling. Instead of familiar fluffy clouds, fine marble stonework hangs over Rainbow Dash.

The bed is soft and comfortable enough that Rainbow Dash is a little tempted to stay in it, but instead she forces herself up to her hooves and heads for the window. On the way in, she had been too distracted to really take in the sights.

Wow, everything is so fancy... Rainbow Dash gapes. It's not quite as different from Cloudsdale as she might have expected, it at least looks more similar to the architecture back home than a lot of the villages or towns they floated over do. She has to imagine that it's much harder to build, though, buildings built out of solid rock and glass rather than clouds. That will definitely take some getting used to.

I'm free to go now, right? That means nopony will stop me from going out for a walk. Rainbow Dash reasons to herself, heading over to the door. She can get settled in later, right now, she is sick of laying still and just wants to get moving. Even if she has to take it easy, any movement is better than nothing, and she can get a feel for the layout of the palace. Despite those self justifications, Rainbow Dash still looks from side to side cautiously as she reaches the hallway, as if worried somepony will stop her.

As she starts aimlessly wandering the palace, no clear direction in sight, she finds herself distracted by the echoing clip-clop sound her hooves make with every step, every bit as unfamiliar as the sights around her. Just as she comes to the end of a hallway, she practically walks directly into a guardspony.

At least, that's what she assumes he is, given that he is wearing armor, but he looks like no guardspony she's ever seen; A unicorn with a dazzling white mane, pale blue coat, and bright golden eyes, wearing a silver breastplate with scale armor underneath. But the main confusing factors are his slouched, casual posture and age. By Rainbow Dash's reckoning, he looks only a hooful of years older than her, in the tall-but-lanky stage most ponies went through.

"Woah, there! And just how did you get in here, huh little filly?" The guardspony asks, cocking his head at her curiously. "The palace isn't open for visitors to just walk around, ya know." Despite that statement, his smile dismisses any worries that Rainbow Dash is in trouble.

"Uh, I'm supposed to be here!" Rainbow Dash proclaims, standing upright. "I'm just um... Looking for the princess, right now."

The guardspony raises a brow, skeptically, but only for a moment before a look of understanding dawns on his face. "Ah, you must be Rainbow Dash! I remember 'Lestia talking about you. So you got released from the hospital ward, huh? I think my brother is still in there." He chuckles. "I'll take you to the princess, they'll wanna see you." The unicorn smiles warmly and jerks back with his head.

Rainbow Dash hurries along after. "Thanks! Sir, uh..." Rainbow Dash trails off, realizing that she hadn't gotten the young stallions name.

"Mooncrescent!" The stallion flashes a smile back at her, revealing a pair of sharp snaggleteeth. "I'm part of the Royal Companions! Lemme tell ya, Celestia took off right quick after you did that Rainboom. Didn't even have time to say goodbye to us." Mooncrescent giggles, trotting along down a long hallway lined with doors and large arched windows, oblivious to Rainbow Dash lagging behind as the filly looks all around in wonder. A handful of other soldiers pass by, giving Rainbow Dash confused looks, but since she is with Mooncrescent she doesn't get bothered.

Mooncrescent reaches a particular door that seems to be his destination, an ornate door with intricate patterns in gold leaf running down it. Mooncrescent raises a hoof to kick the door open, only for it to magically swing open with the aura of Celestia's magic around it, leaving the Princess of the Sun standing on the other side staring down at Mooncrescent perplexed.

"I believe I told you to stop opening my door that way." Celestia states, tone somewhere between irritation and amusement. "Were you going to kick me...?"

"Heh, sorry, Princess." Mooncrescent gives a quick, impromptu bow of his head but quickly straightens out again. "Somepony here wanted to see you." Mooncrescent steps aside, revealing Rainbow Dash standing behind him.

Celestia arches one brow. "My, are you supposed to be up?"

Rainbow Dash nods. "Mhm! The doctor said I was free to get up now, I just had to check back in later."

“And he didn't send for me? I'm going to have to have some words with him, later." Celestia turns to Mooncrescent and narrows her eyes. "Incidentally, aren't you supposed to be off training about now..?" The Princess asks pointedly.

Mooncrescent nods. "I was on my way when I stumbled on this little explorer here. I'll get back to it now." He smiles while saluting before trotting off, a bounce in his step as he goes.

The Princess shakes her head in amusement, before kneeling down to speak to Rainbow Dash at more-or-less eye level. "I was just on my way to lunch, and there is somepony I should like very much like you to meet. Would you care to join me?"

Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise. There is something decidedly uncanny about the way Celestia talks to her; Like she is talking to an equal, and not a princess speaking to a filly commoner. Even most regular adults didn't bother to do that, let alone ones that are royalty to boot. "Um, of course!" Rainbow Dash responds, trying to hide her sense of bewilderment.

Celestia beckons with a wing, making sure Rainbow Dash is following before heading off. Rainbow Dash scampers after them, looking around in a daze. "Princess Celestia?" She asks, unsurely but trying to keep the foibles in her voice to a minimum.

Celestia glances down at the filly with interest. "Hmm? Is something the matter?"

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. "No, no. It's just... When I was in the medical ward, the doctor told me that the magic you used on me was really difficult, and you normally don't even use it on guards. So... I was just wondering, why did you do that for me?"

Celestia clucks her tongue in a playful display of annoyance. "My, Bonezaw tattled on me, huh?" The princess giggles- A sound Rainbow Dash never thought she would hear. The monarch of all of Equestria, and here she is giggling like a schoolfilly. "I asked you to come down here personally, without thinking of how you would get here. I made assumptions that resulted in you getting hurt, and I simply couldn't conscience if such a brave young filly like you had to bear scars of that error of judgment her whole life." Celestia explains. "Besides, since your body is smaller, it didn't require as much magic as it would have for an older pony."

Rainbow Dash falls silent as Celestia leads her up the same spiral staircase that lead to her room, stopping on the floor below at a landing Rainbow Dash had not paid any attention to when she passed by earlier that day. "Now, before we enter, try not to startle the pony inside. She is quite nervous, and does not need anything more to worry about. Do you think you can handle that?"

Only once Rainbow Dash nods affirmation does Celestia opens the large doors before them. Inside is a surprisingly cozy room, complete with a crescent shaped table and intricate fireplace within which dances pale violet flames. A large window on one side of the room showcases a view of the lower parts of the palace. And sitting at the table, to Rainbow Dash's surprise, is a purple unicorn filly of about the same age as her, sitting with an anxious, bolt-upright posture, eyes wide with dark bags underneath them.

"My apologies for the delay, Twilight Sparkle, I was held up. Do you mind if Rainbow Dash here joins us for lunch as well?" Celestia asks in the characteristically warm manner they seem to ask everything.

"O-of course not, Princess!" Twilight nods her head sporadically.

Celestia just smiles and strides into the room. "Go ahead and take a seat, Rainbow. Perhaps you can make friends with Twilight here, while I get lunch ready for us."

Rainbow Dash sits down at the opposite end of the table from the unicorn, but despite herself can't seem to focus on anything other than the princess. This is not going at all how she had expected it to, seeing the solar princess personally taking a pan of soup off the fire and dishing up bowls for each of them is utterly surreal. She'd expected chefs, servants scurrying to and fro, but instead it’s just the three of them. The same confusion is present on Twilight's face; actually, considerably more, as Twilight is currently staring at Celestia as if she is a sleep paralysis demon. Her eyes flick between the other filly and the princess, barely contained panic screaming behind them.

Thankfully, Rainbow Dash has some experience dealing with anxious fillies. "Hey, so, you're name's Twilight, right? You doing ok?" She asks in what she hopes is a reassuring and empathetic voice.

The reaction she gets is not what she had expected. "I'M NOT NERVOUS." Twilight's eyelid twitches spasmodically, her breath coming in short gasps as Rainbow Dash recoils in surprise at the volume. "NOPE. I'M FINE. NO PROBLEM." The purple unicorn's face curves upwards in a rictus grin.

"O-kaaaay..." Rainbow Dash leans back and away. Thankfully, Celestia arrives at the table just then, levitating three bowls of soup before themself and both fillies, along with large soup spoons to eat it with.

The dish before them looks positively delicious, two halves of a hard boiled egg floating in a dark broth filled with noodles, potatoes, carrots, and some other vegetables not even Twilight recognizes. "My apologies if it's not to your tastes, I'm afraid I didn't have time to ask you two what kinds of food you like. I hope it is palatable, regardless." Celestia apologizes preemptively, and takes a bite, making a delighted "Mhm!" sound as they swallow.

"D-Did you make this yourself!?" Twilight gapes in astonishment at the monarch.

Celestia winks at the filly. "Of course. You'd be amazed at all the things you pick up over more than a thousand years. Cooking is one of the simple pleasures of life."

Twilight stares down at the dish, mouth agape. "Is it not to your liking? I can always try to make something else, if you'd prefer." Celestia prods gently, resting a hoof on Twilight's, triggering the unicorn filly to look back up with shock.

"N-No, It looks delicious! See!?" She quickly starts digging into the food, simultaneously trying to do so in the most polite and formal manner possible while also showing suitable gusto for eating.

Rainbow Dash just stares blankly at the shenanigans unfolding before her, then back down at her own soup. Shrugging, she takes the spoon with her wing and lifts it to her mouth.

Rainbow Dash is not a pegasus with very exacting tastes. Her usual idea of a good meal is slamming as many types of carbohydrates as possible together and stuffing the resulting concoction into her mouth. But even she can tell the instant that she places the spoon in her mouth that this is something truly special; every flavour perfectly balanced and complementary to each-other, with only the finest ingredients and subtle but fulfilling taste. She can't even count how many distinct components she can make out in the dish, savoury and salty and sweet and a little bit spicy all at the same time.

"This ish really good!" Rainbow Dash shouts out, mouth partially full. Twilight stares at her aghast, as if she had just committed a capital offence on the spot.

But Celestia just gives a genuine smile. "Well, I'm glad you both like it. Now that we're all settled in, allow me to introduce you two properly. Rainbow Dash, this is my other student, Twilight Sparkle. She performed a great magical feat by hatching a dragon egg, empowered by your Rainboom. And Twilight Sparkle, this is Rainbow Dash, also my student. She was the source of the Sonic Rainboom that enabled you to hatch Spike."

Both ponies stare at each other as if seeing the other pony for the first time. After a long pause, it is Twilight who ends up breaking the silence. "You're the pegasus who performed the Sonic Rainboom? But... But... Your wing loading is way too high to exceed the speed of sound!" Twilight stammers out incredulously. "You'd have to flap your wings at least a hundred times a second!"

Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes at Twilight. "What, are you calling me a liar too? Why doesn't anypony believe me?" Rainbow Dash growls. Just please don't ask me to prove it, I really don't think I can...

"Hold on, you two. Twilight, I flew to Cloudsdale personally to investigate, and confirmed that Rainbow Dash was indeed the source. She has a well of talent and magical power unmatched by any her age save perhaps yourself. And Rainbow Dash, there is no need to get defensive, I believe Twilight was simply surprised." Celestia chides.

Twilight freezes up again, then nods her head, drooping slightly. "I... Yes, of course Princess, I'm sorry for doubting you." Twilight apologizes.

"Not at all, Twilight. You are my student, and as any student it is right to question your teachers. And even princesses have been known to make mistakes, from time to time." A flicker of a shadow passes across Celestia's face, and she finishes the statement with a darkly muttered "Perhaps graver mistakes than most."

But Twilight doesn't seem to notice the mood of the last statement, and furrows her brow in confusion and wonder. "Just, if she really did it... Could I see? I'm not meaning to doubt, I just don't understand how it's possible."

Rainbow Dash cringes. Here it comes. The moment I've been waiting for. Do I admit I can't do it? Do I try to make excuses? The possibilities whirl through her mind as she hesitates, slowly opening her mouth to respond.

But before she can, Celestia cuts in. "Rainbow Dash was injured on the flight here. She is still recovering, and I'm sure she isn't ready to perform at full strength again yet. Even after she heals, she may need some time to get back into shape as well."

Twilight wilts in disappointment, but nods her head. "Yes, Princess, I understand."

There’s a long moment of silence, which Rainbow Dash uses to slide the chair around the table closer to Twilight and nudge her in the side with a foreleg. "Sooo... You hatched a dragon, huh? That's pretty awesome, I gotta say." She's never seen a dragon before, but she would certainly like to.

The question seems to raise Twilight out of her stupor. "Oh, yes! His name is Spike!" Twilight beams, and looks over at Celestia. "Can we... Can we go see him?" She asks, a pleading look in her eyes.

Celestia nods her head. "Of course, my dear student. Shall we head out?”

Chapter Text

"Coming!" A voice calls out from behind the thick oaken door opposite the landing from Rainbow Dash’s own room. The pegasus had not realized it when she’d tucked in earlier, but the room is in the same tower as Celestia’s own residence, just a floor above, with the homey parlor they’d enjoyed lunch in just below it.

There is only a moment of waiting before the door swings open to reveal a pastel pink pony with a long mane, curled upwards at the end-and more to the point, in possession of both wings and a horn. Other than Celestia, every pony present does a double take in surprise at the ponies greeting them, but before Rainbow Dash can get a word in edgewise she is cut off by both the strange older pony and Twilight in unison.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves, and do a little shake!" Twilight chants together with the older pony in a singsong voice, performing a little dance on the spot.

Glancing back up at Celestia, Rainbow Dash finds her own surprise mirrored on the Princesses face. "You two... know each other?" Celestia asks, raising a brow.

The unfamiliar alicorn turns to Celestia with a broad grin plastered on her face. "Of course! Do you remember when you had me foalsit for Canterlot nobles? Twilight was one of the fillies I foalsat for!" She beams at the purple unicorn filly, who is grinning ear to ear in turn.

“There’s another alicorn? How come I’ve never heard of you? What’s going on here?" Rainbow Dash finally blurts out in confusion, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Something about this new pony doesnt feel quite right, compared to the majestic visage of Celestia she is somehow lacking. She doesn’t have the same sense of gravitas nor air of casual grace that Celestia has, looking more like a unicorn who just happened to also have wings.

Twilight wants to scream at the cyan pegasus to quit being so abrasive before she gets thrown in the dungeon, but Celestia simply regards her with a patient gaze. "Cadance was transformed under... Less than ideal circumstances." Celestia states, delicately. "I don't believe I am at liberty to say more, for Cadance's sake. But suffice it to say, she is not yet well known outside of Canterlot circles." Cadence shudders at the mention, and shakes her head.

"I would rather we don't discuss that right now, if it's alright." Cadance says quickly. "So, why are you all here? And, just who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

Celestia drapes a wing over each of her two new students. "This here is Rainbow Dash, a pegasus from Cloudsdale. She not only performed a Sonic Rainboom, but also managed to fly all the way to Canterlot from Cloudsdale in a single day. I extended her an offer to take her in as my personal student." Rainbow Dash puffs out her chest and flares out her wings at the glowing praise, basking in the attention. "And of course, if you have met Twilight, you should not be surprised I have also taken her in as well."

Cadance frowns, looking at each filly in turn. "Celestia... Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean... After what happened with Sunset Shimmer..." Twilight blinks and looks up at the two alicorns, wondering what they are talking about.

Celestia bites her lip in discomfort. "I... Have learned much from my mistakes, and will not make the same ones again. Twilight has immense magical potential that should not be squandered because of my own personal failings. She was able to hatch the egg from the Canterlot entrance exam, while empowered by Rainbow Dash's Rainboom."

Cadance blinks in surprise, and looks down at Twilight with both newfound respect, and a sense of apprehension. "She did what!? But... That egg is..."

Celestia just nods. "Yes, that egg is simply a rock." That simple statement, so innocuous in tone, completely shatters Twilight's world, her own jaw dropping open.

"Wait, what? But... I... I hatched it!" Twilight blurts out, brain scrambling in confusion.

Celestia quietly giggles, and leans down to speak to her more directly. "That test is usually made to see how unicorns deal with failure, and how much effort they are willing to put in to make something impossible work. When you hatched that egg, you did not simply heat up a dragon egg, but transformed a painted rock into life on the spot. I was going to tell you later, but, well, now is as good a time as any." Celestia shrugs, seemingly in good spirits once more.

Cadance bows her head to each of the two fillies in turn, lightly. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet both of you." A light suddenly seems to flick on in Cadance's head as she connects the dots. "Ah, then this must be your new room! I was wondering why Celestia asked to have Spike put here, next to Sunset Shimmer's old room.”

Celestia nods. "Very astute, Cadance. I am just now giving these two fillies a tour of the palace so that they can find their way around. But first things first, Twilight wanted to see Spike. She hasn't gotten to see them since the entrance exam, you understand."

Cadance gives a soft smile and steps aside, inviting everypony in. "Of course, come right in! He's sleeping in the crib right now. Just be quiet, the noise suppression spell I cast only blocks noise from outside the room."

The ponies are allowed in, the alicorn duo hanging back to allow Rainbow Dash and Twilight to stand close to the crib where the baby dragon is sitting. "That's the dragon?" Rainbow Dash sounds disappointed, reaching out a hoof to poke the baby dragon in the cheek. "They're, uh... A lot wimpier than I expected."

"Well, why don't you try conjuring life up out of nothing." Twilight states defensively. "Maybe we should just be happy they're alive at all."

While the two fillies continue their inane discussion, Cadance looks on uneasily."Are you sure about this, Celestia? This... Dragon was born without parents or love. We don't know how that will affect him. He could be dangerous." Cadance questions quietly.

Celestia's brow raises. "And what would you suggest we do, Cadance? Kill an infant?"

Cadance frowns, looking deeply uncomfortable. "I-I mean, he's not natural. He doesn't behave like any infant I've ever seen. I thought it was just because he's a dragon, but... Does such a creature even have a soul?"

Celestia sighs, and turns back to gaze at the dragon, who has now woken up and is curiously staring up at the two fillies over him. Its behaviour is rather unusual for a baby, that much is true; it looks at the world with an uncharacteristic degree of calm and understanding. "Spike was born from the magic of harmony, Cadance, in the form that Twilight found most fitting. Twilight is a good natured pony, no?" Cadance nods hesitantly in response. "Then I'm sure her creation is equally as good natured. Spike is indeed an unusual entity, but I see nothing to suggest they are dangerous. In a way, they are most similar to ourselves, in the sense that we were also formed from the magic of Harmony."

Cadance looks down, darkly. "I don't think I would describe that cabal's magic as 'harmony'..."

Celestia offers Cadance a sympathetic look, and places one hoof reassuringly on her shoulder. "Perhaps not, but Harmony is the magic that made you into this rather than what they intended. Have patience, Spike will turn out just fine."

Cadance watches as Twilight picks it up and places it on her back, a feeling of dread stinging her heart. "Or be the doom of us all..."

[hr]

"Hey, Princess? Not for nothing, but I'm getting pretty tired on my hooves. Could I dip into my room and settle in..?" Rainbow Dash asks, as the group leaves Twilight’s residence.

"Oh goodness, you're still recovering, aren't you? And here I am, dragging you all around the castle." Celestia tuts to herself. “Of course, our tour can wait. Go on ahead.”

Rainbow Dash offers a weak smile, shuffling in place. Her hooves are in fact still quite sore, and the lightning-patterned veins of red lines crawling up her leg had yet to dissipate, leaving her crisscrossed in swollen crimson marks. "Eheh... I'll be fine, promise. I just think I'd like to relax for now, that's all." The pegasus takes off and lazily floats through the air back into her room; flight is easier on her hooves after all.

That leaves just Twilight with Celestia again. Well, Twilight and Spike, as she is reminded by the feeling of the small dragon on her back tugging on her mane.

Celestia warmly appraises the unicorn filly, Twilight's heart pounding just a bit harder in her chest now that the monarch's attention is once more on her, specifically. "And how about you, Twilight? Do you also feel the need to rest?"

Twilight shakes her head. "No! I'm ready to start!" She isn't sure exactly what she is ready to start; Her lessons, she guesses?

Celestia giggles softly. "While I admire your eagerness, I'm afraid it is not yet time. I haven't had time to clear my schedule for this week to begin lessons, so I am afraid my duties call. Classes will begin next week."

Twilight stares at Celestia aghast. "Next Week?" She can't help but let her impatience through in her voice; She wants to learn magic now!

Celestia offers the young filly an endearing smile. "Now there, Twilight. What do you say we find you some books in the library in the meantime? Your brother tells me you love to read, and you now have plenty of time to do so."

Twilight immediately perks up in surprise. "Huh? Shiny? You've talked to shiny?"

Celestia nods. "Of course. I've spoken to every prospective palace guard." For just a second as she says that, the princess looks entirely too exhausted. But she quickly pulls herself back together again. "And as soon as I learned one of the cadets was my new student's older brother, I of course went to go and visit him. I enjoy learning about the personal lives of those near me."

Twilight's eyes shine with eagerness. Although she knew her brother was a royal guard cadet, it somehow had not occurred to her that meant he would be here, in the palace where she would be spending time. Hopping in place excitedly, Twilight beams up at Celestia. "Can we go and visit him!?"

Celestia hesitates. It would likely not be a good idea to distract the guard with his little sister. Then again, it might help remind him what he was protecting, and the princess is keen to give those that serve them a chance for warmth and happiness. As they are all too familiar with, such opportunities, once squandered, may never return. So, Celestia nods. "Of course. But we should hurry, I do not have much more time."

[hr]

The guard compound lies on the other side of a courtyard towards the front of the palace complex, a tower on one side and a half-dome on the other which Twilight guesses is probably the dormitory. And in-between those two structures is the training yard, currently filled with a variety of unicorn cadets in the midst of a team-based magical training exercise.

On one side is a group of unicorns bombarding the other side with concerted volleys of magic from their horns. And on the other is a mostly exhausted band of unicorns, most of whom are struggling to even stand, seemingly totally exhausted from their defence. Only one pony is standing strong, looking just as gallant as ever-Twilight’s very own B.B.B.F.F., single-hoofedly absorbing the entire enemy team’s bombardment with his shield.

"Wooh! Go Shiny!" Twilight cheers, hopping in place to Celestia's surprise. This is certainly the most excited the princess has seen her since they'd met.

Shining Armor flinches at the sound. "Huh? Twilie?" The sudden distraction weakens his shield enough for it to shatter under the sustained magic bombardment, pelting him in a few stinging bolts.

The drill sergeant's whistle blows. "Everypony, at attention! Their majesty is with us!" Every guard in the line snaps into a rigid, upright position, even the ones who a moment ago had been too tired to stand.

"At ease, guardsponies. May I borrow one Shining Armor for a moment?" Celestia asks cordially, her tone of voice seemingly suggesting that 'no' is a possible answer despite the fact that nopony would dare refuse the Princess.

"Of course. Shining Armor, please escort the princess! Everypony else, you may take a five minute break." The Drill sergeant orders, and Shining Armor glances back and forth in confusion before trotting over to Celestia.

"Your majesty, what have I done to deserve the honor of your company?" Shining Armor asks in his best formal tone, bowing his head so low that he doesn't even notice Twilight standing right beside the alicorn.

"Oh, I'm afraid you've done nothing, Shining Armor." Celestia's voice betrays a slight amusement. "However, I have it on good authority that my companion here would dearly like to see you."

Shining Armor raises his head in confusion, just in time to see the purple filly as she throws her hooves around his neck, squeezing him tightly. "I just realized we'll both be staying at the palace during the week, now! Isn't that amazing?" Twilight announces, grinning ear to ear.

Shining Armor blushes. "U-Um, Twilie, couldn't this wait until we get home..?"

"Huh? Do you not want to see me?" Twilight squeaks out, frowning.

"It's not that... It's just... They're... Right there." Shining Armor hisses out between clenched teeth, glancing Celestia’s way.

"Oh? I suppose I could take a few steps back if that would be more comfortable for you." Celestia suggests. "Or to the side. Or even forwards, if that would help?"

"Th-That won't be necessary!" Shining Armor quickly stammers out, his voice cracking.

Twilight shrugs. After seeing all the things that Rainbow Dash had gotten away with near Celestia, it’s a little hard to feel as intimidated as she normally might have been. Besides, she has somecreature to show her brother! Lifting Spike with her levitation, she promptly places the dragon down right in front of her, waking the baby dragon who had fallen asleep on her back some time ago.

"Uooh?" Comes the curious sound from the purple-scaled wonder themself, blinking open wide green eyes as they look up at Shining Armor.

"Spike, say hello to Shiny, my Big Brother Best Friend Forever! And Shiny, say hello to Spike!" Twilight beams up at Shining Armor, who takes a step back, quite literally taken aback.

"Uhm? And who is this little fella?" Shining Armor asks uncertainly.

His response comes not from Twilight, but Celestia. "Your sister pulled off a phenomenal magical feat during her magical exam, and hatched Spike here from a chunk of inanimate rock."

Shining Armor's jaw drops wide open. "Twilie did [size=1.5em]WHAT?[/size]”

Celestia giggles at his reaction. "You didn't think I took in students lightly, did you? Your sister has an extraordinary gift for magic, you should be proud."

Shining Armor doesn't hesitate any longer to throw his hooves around both Twilight and the dragon in front of her, triggering a giggle from both Spike and Twilight. "I am proud of her! As proud as a brother can be!" A faint warble can be heard in Shining Armor's voice.

"I can see that talent runs in the family, as well." Celestia states, approvingly. "Your performance in drills just now was exemplary, Shining Armor. I hope you know that I expect great things from you."

Shining Armor salutes with one hoof, while the other remains tightly wrapped around Twilight, sandwiching a presently very happy Spike in between the two ponies as it coos gently. "Yes, Princess! It's an honor to serve!"

Celestia's smile slips a little, and she sighs. "Well, you three, it's been a pleasure. It is good to see my little ponies in such good spirits, but I'm afraid that's all the time I have today. Duty calls. Shining Armor, could you please escort your sister here to the library? She seems to be in need of some recreation to fill the time until her classes start."

Shining Armor releases Twilight and Spike from his grasp and bows low before the solar monarch. "Of course, Princess, it would be my honor." Shining Armor holds the pose until Celestia lifts off and flies off, before turning his attention back to his younger sister. "Well, somepony has been busy, huh hotshot? Look at you, making inroads with royalty and conjuring new life on the spot. I wonder what other surprises you've got in store for me?"

Twilight blushes at the praise, looking away. "I wasn't able to just do it on my own, you know... I only passed the exam because of Rainbow Dash's Rainboom."

As Shining Armor begins leading Twilight down the halls, he glances back at her and raises a brow. "Whose whatnow?"

"Rainbow Dash! She's Celestia's other new student. She's a pegasus from Cloudsdale. Do you remember the huge rainbow from the day of my exam? That was her doing, and that's what gave me the magic necessary to hatch Spike." Twilight explains, glancing back to see Spike presently absently munching on a bit of her mane. "Ow, Spike, stop it!" Twilight protests, as the little dragon tugs.

"Rainbow Dash, huh? From Cloudsdale?" Shining Armor snorts. "Oh, the other nobles are gonna have a field day with this..." He mutters under his breath.

Twilight cocks her head looking at her brother. "Huh? Why?"

Shining Armor just shakes his head. "Nevermind that. You're gonna love the Canterlot palace library, sis. I don't think I can let you into all the rooms just yet, but some of the rarest magical texts in Equestria are stored here." Shining Armor casts a look over at Spike, who has presently nestled themself down against Twilight's neck. "And maybe you can find something on taking care of that little fella while you're here, too."

Twilight perks up. "That's a good idea, I'm sure they have something on dragon physiology around here!" She pauses, frowning. "...Dragon's don't produce milk, do they? I have no idea where I would get dragon milk..."

Shining Armor shrugs. "I think you'd know that better than me, Twilie. Anyways, we're here!" Shining Armor stops before a gated room, rows and rows of books concealed just out of range. With a poof, Shining Armor manifests a key out of seemingly nowhere, sliding it into the lock and opening the gate.

Twilight stumbles forward in an awed daze, eyes growing large. It isn't that the library is immense in size, but rather that the books are incredible to look at. Many appear ancient, but all are in excellent condition, gilded within elaborate tomes bound in leather (a rarity in Equestria), gold, silver, and even... Are those gemstones studded into some of the books?

"Be careful now, Twilie." Shining Armor cautions. "Stick only to what isn't locked up. Some of these books can be dangerous." Though he could technically leave now to get back to practice, Shining Armor figures that Celestia probably would want him to watch the unicorn filly to make sure she doesn't get herself into any trouble. Plus, if another guard comes by, they might think she had broken in; Having Shining Armor there ensures she won't be bothered.

So, Shining Armor settles in, scanning the bookshelves himself to find something for himself to read. Ooh, unicorn combat tactics seventh edition. I didn't know they came out with this. Shining Armor thinks to himself, approvingly, as he draws a book from the shelf. One of many works that is only available to the royal legions, and for good reason; It would not do to let any old insurrectionist be able to read all about the combat techniques of the royal guard.

Meanwhile, Twilight is running from bookshelf to bookshelf in a flurry of activity, eyes scanning and rapidly grabbing books with her magic as she went. "I don't know if I've ever seen any of these books before, Shiny!" She whisper-shouts. "How should I start!? Should I read them in alphabetic order? Or maybe by author? Or-"

Twilight's flurry of questions is halted by Shining Armor levering a pointed look at her. "Don't you think you should start with dragon physiology? I don't know if anypony actually knows what you need to do to take care of your... Um, creation."

Twilight halts in place, ceasing her ecstatic bouncing for a moment. "You're right, Shiny. You always know what's best." Twilight offers her older brother an endearing smile which almost makes his heart explode from his chest at the sheer wholesomeness of it, before quickly scanning the archives. "Let's see... Rare and unusual creatures volumes one through four, that might have something... A treatise on Equestria's neighbors, no, that looks more like it's about politics... Ah, here we are! The Compendium of Known Dragon Lore, by famed explorer Rope Trotter!" Twilight announces eagerly as she accumulates a small stack of books to read, curling up beside her brother and starting with the last of the books acquired.

Shining Armor hides a smile as he glances over at the small form of Twilight Sparkle, now sandwiched neatly between him and the wall. She'd just naturally taken up that position without even thinking about it, perhaps feeling safer close to her brother, or at least more comfortable. In turn, Spike curls up between Twilight's hooves, leaving the three of them close together in the corner of the room. Honestly, you're so precious. I can't even be upset about being taken away from training for this.

Sighing, Shining Armor turns another page in his book. He has a feeling he's going to be stuck here for a nice long time, indeed, judging from the size of Twilight's stack of books…

Chapter Text

Shining Armor is, indeed, stuck there for quite some time. But sooner or later, with the sun declining below the horizon, Shining Armor is able to convince the young filly to head out; With how close their family estate is to the palace, the siblings can head home over the weekends.

On her way out, Twilight catches sight of Rainbow Dash flying around over the castle. I feel a little bad for her. She doesn't get to see home at all. But one more thought of the library in the castle dispels that feeling of sympathy; Maybe she should envy the pegasus, instead, given she'd have the opportunity to be surrounded by those glorious books every single weekend.

As soon as the two ponies open the gate, they are greeted with a flood of pony faces; there's no particular event, but the castle itself is practically always the recipient of tourists hoping to catch a view of the Princess of the Sun. But apparently, the Princesses new student also catches a decent amount of attention, because as soon as they catch sight of her, a number of ponies point their hooves and chatter excitedly to one another or snap photos of Twilight and the little dragon on her back.

Twilight flinches in surprise. Somehow, it had never occurred to her that her new status would make her a local celebrity. She doesn't have time to think about it much, though, as a couple of newsponies quickly cram themselves into the fillies face. "Twilight Sparkle! As the princesses new student, many Equestrians are curious about life in the royal palace! Would you care for an interview?" The first pony asks, microphone in hoof.

"I-I... Um..." Twilight stammers out, starting to shake as her gaze darts this way and that at the throng of ponies.

Stomping a hoof on the ground, Shining Armor growls as he stands up to his full height, levering a derisive glare the newscasters way. "As a Royal Guard, I speak with the authority of the princess when I say... Back off. Twilight Sparkle is not to be harassed or harangued on her way home." That buys the pair of siblings a little more room as the newcasters are momentarily taken aback, enough for Shining Armor to shoulder his way through the crowd, dragging Twilight along with him.

"Hey, Shiny? Aren't you just a cadet...? I don't think you actually have the authority to say any of that..." Twilight asks, doubtfully, as the pair quickly trot their way past the touristy crow near the front.

Shining Armor just glances back at Twilight and winks. "Sure, but they don't need to know that." He smirks playfully, before raising a hoof and knocking on the door of their home. It isn't far from the castle, as the traditional estates of the nobility are on the upper platforms of Canterlot, separate from the riff-raff.

The families estate is modest by the standards of nobility; Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a few hundred square meters. But what is there is still much more well maintained and crafted than average equestrian architecture, even for Canterlot. The front door, an arched specimen made of seasoned oak wood with patterns carved into its surface, swings open revealing the siblings' father, Night Light.

"You're back! So, how did your first couple days as the princesses newest student go?" Night Light asks, stepping aside to let the two ponies enter the room.

"Actually, I'm not their newest student anymore." Twilight states, not considering the implications of that statement. Shining Armor strolls in and flops down on the couch, stretching out, while Night Light looks taken aback.

“What?” Night Light quickly exchanges a look with Twilight Velvet behind him, alarmed. “Surely they wouldn’t just drop you for no reason? What happened?”

"Huh?" Twilight looks confused, before the filly connects the dots of how her father had misunderstood her. "Oh, no! I didn't mean that I'm not their student anymore. I just meant that they got another new student after me."

Night Light raises his brow in confusion. "What? Really? They took in another unicorn?" He only remembers Celestia ever taking in another student once before, and that was years ago. But now there are two in the space of a week?

Twilight shakes her head, hopping up to the kitchen table. "Oh, no. She's a pegasus from Cloudsdale, named Rainbow Dash. Do you remember the rainbow surge that gave me the power to hatch Spike?" Twilight asks, absently stroking the little dragon's spines while she speaks. "That was her, apparently! Oh, I'd love to study how she did that... I'll need to get her to do it again, sometime."

Night Light exchanges a worried look with Shining Armor, lowering his voice. "You mean... Celestia's new student not only isn't a unicorn, but is a commoner?"

Twilight blinks at him, cocking her head to the side. "Um, I guess so. What does that have to do with anything, though?"

"It sets a worrying precedent. I'm sure that there will be push-back from the other noble families, too." Night Light frowns, shaking his head. "Just what could the princess be thinking..."

"...But, that's enough of that, right now," Twilight Velvet interjects. A couple platters of food are carried with her, levitated in her magic. "Tell us how life at the palace is! We want to hear all about it."

"Well, there isn't too much to say." Twilight Sparkle says as she pulls up a seat and sits at the table with her mother, Shining Armor also sliding off the couch and trotting over to join them. "My classes sadly don’t start until next week. But I was able to go to the palace library, it's not as big as the Canterlot library, but it has lots of really rare books I've never seen before! Really fancy ones, too." The filly’s voice gets more excited as she goes.

"That's great, honey." Velvet replies, smiling dotingly at her daughter. "What kind of books? Any good stories?"

Twilight shakes her head. “No, not yet anyways. I've been reading all about dragon physiology for our new friend here. Oh! That reminds me, do we have any gemstones? Apparently, that's the favorite food of a dragon. He seems to be doing alright so far on a diet of rocks and milk so far, but I'm sure his diet could use some more variety. Apparently, dragons mostly need minerals for developing their bones and scales, with other food being used mostly for energy..."

Twilight seems ready to go on a two hour long diatribe about dragon physiology that would certainly go over everypony else's head, so her mother quickly interjects, "How about the crown? Did either of you do anything that warranted more points while at the palace? No making things up either now, both of you play fair now."

Twilight blinks, re-orienting her mind to the new topic. Pretty quickly, something does in fact pop into her mind. "Um, Shiny took time out of his schedule to help me find the library and stayed with me while I was reading! I think he deserves a point for that!"

Shining Armor narrows his eyes, looking almost competitive as he leans forward and points a hoof at his sister. "Well, Twilie created life. I think that's worth more than a point." He points out, triggering confused looks from both Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Remembering that his parents weren't privy to the conversation with Celestia, the colt explains, "The 'egg' she hatched Spike from wasn't even an egg, it was just a rock! She literally created Spike from nothing!"

The two siblings' parents sputtering in shock is utterly lost on Twilight, who places her forelegs up on the table in a display of shockingly bad table manners as, not to be undone, she announces more of her brother's accomplishments. "Yeah? Well, you were so amazing at your drill when I got there that even the princess was impressed! You matched the entire enemy team with your shield spell!"

The white colt blushes a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, you saw that, huh?" He asks, flustered, struggling to think of something. "W-well, you... Uh..." Shining Armor scrambles to think of more things, but honestly he hadn't seen too much of Twilight except for that one evening which she had spent reading, and considering who they are talking about that isn’t really anything worth writing home about.

"And not only that, but Shiny shooed away some nosy ponies to let us walk home in peace!" Twilight continues her offensive, smugly.

“Well, I guess it might take us a while to tally up the points, huh Night?” Twilight Velvet shrugs. “For now, you two should really eat up. I’m sure you can use the energy after all that training... and reading.”

[hr]

"What if I miss something!?" Twilight frets to Shining Armor, wearing out a circle on the floor where she is pacing back and forth. "What if there's a pop quiz on the first day and I fail it and get expelled or thrown in the dungeon or banished to space!?" Twilight continues rattling off increasingly more and more paranoid suppositions, while Shining Armor just stares nonplussed into the mirror where he is currently brushing his teeth.

"Did you try making a list?" Shining Armor suggests, after gargling and spitting out the toothpaste in the sink. "That's what dad always does when he's trying to make sure he doesn't forget anything. Maybe you'd feel more at ease if you did."

Twilight perks up. "That's a great idea, Shiny!" The filly zooms away into her room, leaving Shining Armor to stare tiredly into the mirror and try to psych himself up. From now on, whenever he went to cadet school at the palace at the start of each week, he would be walking Twilight to school as well, and walking her back every weekend. While his parents had told him it was to keep Twilight company, he knew better; He'd heard them talking worriedly, late at night, when they thought he was asleep.

Twilight being Celestia's pupil now paints a target on her back. Shining Armor reminds himself, taking a deep breath. If anypony targets her on her way to or from school, it will be up to him to protect her. At least she'll be safe when she's at the palace. None of the noble houses would dare send an assassin or foalnapper there. With that in mind, Shining Armor levitates his armor over to himself and hastily pulls all the straps tight. Twenty-seven seconds. Pretty fast. Shining Armor notes to himself approvingly.

"I ran out of room on the scroll..." Twilight pops back into the room, trailing an egregiously long scroll behind. "But it's a good thing I made the list, I almost forgot my backup-backup-backup quill! That would have been a disaster!"

Shining Armor chuckles and shakes his head. "Yeah, alright, Twilie. There's still quite a while before it's time to go. I'll let you in the bath first, so just try and relax, alright? I'm sure it'll all be fine." He tries to reassure his younger sister. Celestia knows she can use the relaxation, or else she’ll be too high-strung to actually absorb any lessons.

Shining Armor trots out of the bathroom and shuts the door behind him, hearing it lock a second later. He smiles a little wistfully at the reminder that his little sister is growing up; just last year, they had still taken baths together, but now she is independent enough to take them by herself.

The rest of the morning largely consists of trying to reassure the filly that no, Celestia will not in fact eject her from the planet if she happened to get a question wrong. Twilight had gotten up, and gotten Shining Armor up by extension, at a painfully early hour of the morning, so it is quite some time before they are supposed to leave; As a result, there is more than enough time to eat breakfast, take a long relaxing shower, and even take a short nap.

But soon enough it is time for Shining Armor and his little sister to head back uptown toward the palace. Although the palace is a familiar sight, Twilight still gulps anxiously as its imposing spires come into view. Thankfully, her brother is there with her, and far more comfortable entering the palace. Nodding his head to each of the guards at the entrance, Shining Armor smiles and shows off his insignia.

The pegasus on duty only glances at the insignia as a formality before stepping aside. "Hey, Shining. Heard you caught the princesses eye the other day. And for better reasons than me and Hooves, ha."

Shining Armor shakes his head. "Just because Twilight here wanted to see me. Got called up right in the middle of practice. Um, not that there's anything wrong with that!" Shining Armor hastily adds the last part as he glances down at Twilight in alarm, noticing the purple unicorn filly shrinking back between his legs in embarrassment.

"Ah, right, your kid sister here's Celestia's new student, isn't she?" The guard looks down at Twilight in interest, making the filly withdraw even further back. "Well, go on in. Wouldn't want to keep the princess waiting." He motions back with his head, leaving the way open for Twilight and Shining Armor to enter the palace proper.

"If I'm not mistaken, Celestia should be raising the sun about now." Shining Armor states. "Which means... It should be this way." His hoof points the way, as he leads Twilight onward. He technically doesn’t have to report in for a while longer; he'd gotten here early to make sure Twilight can find her way. Well, partially for that reason, partially because she was so anxious that he thought the sooner she got here the sooner she could relax.

Just as they reach the base of the central spire, Shining Armor snaps to attention as the princess is already descending the stairwell, and he offers a quick salute. "Princess. I was just bringing Twilight for her lessons."

"At ease, Shining Armor." The familiar melodious voice of Princess Celestia calls out, before turning their attention to Twilight. "Perfect timing, my new student. Rainbow Dash and I were just heading out. Would you care to join us?" Celestia's eyes flick back, drawing Twilight's attention to the filly behind the princess. Rainbow Dash has prominent dark circles under her eyes, but whatever tiredness she might have had from being woken up so early seems to be counterbalanced by an undercurrent of excitement for her first classes.

The same can be said for Twilight, who bobs her head up and down like a raft in turbulent waters. "Uh, yes! Yes, of course! Princess!"

Her brother chuckles and pats Twilight on the back. "Well, it seems like you're in good hooves. I'd better go and check in with my CO."

Shining Armor and Twilight share an affectionate hug, as Rainbow Dash looks on enviously from the side. Making me wish that I wasn’t an only child, here. Rainbow Dash frowns slightly and pointedly looks away, trying to act casual until Shining Armor finally leaves and stops subjecting her to decidedly uncool emotions.

"So, Twilight." Twilight winces at the pegasid’s words. Oh great, she want's to talk. Couldn't she just keep the silence? But despite Twilight's silent pleas, Rainbow Dash seems intent on continuing her line of thought. "What're you here to learn? The princess promised me that I'd learn a lot of survival skills, flying tricks, fighting moves... Stuff like that. But you don't look like you'd be interested in all that."

Twilight blinks at her in confusion. "Flying..? Survival...? I mean, that all sounds interesting and all." Twilight wonders if she should pout out her distinct lack of the wings required to engage in flight. Like that would have squashed her innate curiosity, anyways. "But I'm here to study magic. And academics. And anything else I can. Actually, recently, I was studying the foundations of Equestria and-"

"Woah, there, I was just asking. I get it, 100% certified egghead over here." Rainbow Dash cuts Twilight off flippantly. "Guess that makes sense, you don't look like you'd be much good in a fight."

You were the one who asked... Twilight gives Rainbow Dash an irritated glare. "Hey! My brothers a royal guard, you know, I could learn how to fight." Why was this musclehead taken in as Celestia's student anyways?

When there is no response, Twilight glances back at the pegasus filly, having expected some kind of snarky response. But Rainbow Dash has stopped in her tracks, staring up at one of the towering stained glass windows in the grand hall they are walking through.

Because before her, in all its glory, practically glowing with the rays of sunlight cast through it, is the likeness of a pony she is quite well aware of. Shadow Kicker, on her deathbed, spear through her chest.

"Rainbow Dash?" Celestia's prodding voice snaps Rainbow Dash out of the trance she had been caught in, and she jumps into the air, startled.

"Ah! I mean, sorry, I got... Distracted." Rainbow Dash nervously smiles, trying to play off the screech of surprise she had just given off. Gah, stupid, stupid!

Celestia's eyes are drawn to the portrait that Rainbow Dash had paused in front of, and walks up beside the young filly. "Ah. Shadow Kicker." Celestia frowns, gaze becoming downcast and melancholy. "A tragedy, what happened to her. She was a true hero, in her time."

Rainbow Dash hesitates, frowning, and glancing up at Celestia. "How... How did she die?" Rainbow Dash asks. "I mean. I've heard stories, but... None of them seem to agree. Cloud Kicker says one thing, school says another."

Celestia clenches up uneasily, as Twilight glances over in curiosity and joins the two of them as well. “It... Was my fault." Celestia eventually states, a long-buried undercurrent of pain in her voice. "A dear friend betrayed Equestria, and I could not bring myself to hurt them. Shadow Kicker wouldn't let it be. It was only after her death that I was able to bring myself to act. And my mistake was sealed in glass, for all eternity."

Rainbow Dash hesitates, seeing Celestia’s expression; in the short time she had known the princess, this was the most upset she had seen her. "O-oh." Rainbow Dash's gaze lowers, and she takes a deep breath. "I... I've seen this portrait before. In a dream, the night after you visited me in Cloudsdale."

Celestia gives a bittersweet smile, as her gaze drifts over to Rainbow Dash. Despite the filly's claim, the princess does not appear the least bit surprised. A small chuckle escapes her lips, as she stand back up. "Oh, dearest sister, playing games again, are we?" Celestia muses to herself. "And yet, you've never graced my dreams, not once. Perhaps you know that is the worst nightmare of all."

"P-Princess?" Twilight stammers out. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing that should burden young minds such as your own, my little ponies. Come, we have a lesson to begin." With that, Celestia begins trotting down the hallway once again.

Rainbow Dash hesitates for a long moment, staring up at the portrait. Then that proves it... That dream really was a warning. Cloud Kicker was right. As Rainbow Dash hurries to catch up with Celestia, she can't quite dispel the feeling of dread which infiltrates her heart.

Chapter Text

By the time that the group has reached its destination, the somber mood has largely dissipated as Twilight and Rainbow take a look around. It seems like the high mountainside platform behind the palace serves as some kind of garden or nature reserve, as while there is still some traditional Canterlot architecture and the landscape still seems carefully cultivated for artistic purposes, it is overall mostly covered in flora that more resembles the mountain slopes below than the grass, flowers, and planted trees that line the main causeways of Canterlot proper.

"What are we gonna do first, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asks, waggling her body side to side like she was getting ready to leap. "You said you were gonna teach me flying tricks, right? Ooh! Or maybe some fighting tips?"

Twilight furrows her brow, looking ruefully over at Rainbow Dash. "I feel I should point out some of us don't have wings. We should really start with something more practical. Like... Calculus!" Twilight suggests, equally as eagerly as Rainbow Dash.

"Please, my little ponies, there is no need for fighting. You will both have your chances to learn what it is you seek." Celestia chides. "But for today, I thought it would be best to get a handle on what you are both capable of. Though you have both already proven yourselves tremendously talented, I have yet to see much of what you can do under less strenuous circumstances."

At this, a flicker of doubt crosses Rainbow Dash's face, a slight recoil from Celestia's words. The change goes unnoticed by Twilight, but Celestia picks up on it right away. "Do not worry Rainbow Dash, I am aware you are not yet at full strength again. I would not ask you to strain yourself, I simply wish to have a chance to see your techniques in motion."

Rainbow Dash puffs out her chest indignantly. "H-ha, who said anything about being worried? I could beat anypony in a race hooves down, even now!" She sputters with bravado so painfully obvious even Twilight notices it, triggering Celestia to roll her eyes in response.

"Be that as it may, I must request that you take it easy, Rainbow Dash." Celestia chides. "I would not see you injured again, and I do not believe it is necessary for you to exert yourself overtly for me to get an idea of your techniques and form. We can always test the limits of your endurance later."

Rainbow Dash looks relieved, but keeps the face of false confidence up, waving Celestia off. "I mean, I guess I can take it easy. Wouldn't wanna embarrass my teachers by out-flying them on the first day, after all." Twilight winces at the obnoxious brashness of the pegasus, while Celestia merely giggles lightly in amusement.

"Twilight, why don't you go first?" Celestia asks. "I had some chance to see Rainbow Dash perform at Cloudsdale, but I only caught sight of you performing magic while under the effects of the Rainboom. I should dearly like to witness your talents at work under more idyllic circumstances." Celestia lays down on her barrel, looking awfully relaxed as she stretches out her wings under the sun. "Feel free to show me whatever you are most proud of."

“Of course, Princess." Twilight bows her head.

Rainbow Dash groans and rolls over onto her back. "Really? You're gonna let her go first? Why do I even need to be here for this? Can I just go back to sleep and have you wake me up when she's done?"

Celestia frowns, transfixing Rainbow Dash in a disapproving gaze. "Rainbow Dash, show some respect and pay attention. You may learn something as well."

Rainbow Dash stares blankly up at Celestia. "...Eh? Exactly how would I learn anything? She's a unicorn, I'm a pegasus." As if to demonstrate this point, Rainbow Dash flares out her wings beneath her. "I don't exactly think I'm gonna be learning any new flying tricks from her, if you catch my drift."

“You would be surprised how much you can learn from studying how other ponies perform their unique talents, my young pegasus." Celestia states in a reserved and level tone. "Even pegasus and unicorn magic have much in common. And should you ever find yourself locked in battle with a unicorn, it would serve you well to have an understanding of their capabilities."

Rainbow Dash grumbles, but reluctantly flops back over onto her front. "Alright, fine." She puffs out one cheek while watching Twilight.

What a stuck-up brat. Twilight thinks to herself indignantly. Why would the princess bring somepony like that here? At any rate, now Twilight has double the motivation to perform well here. But what can she do without the help of the rainboom that will impress all present? It’s a bit of a long shot, and she isn't entirely certain she can do it, but... "I'll need a little help for this demonstration." Twilight announces after a moment. Celestia raises a brow, while Rainbow Dash scoffs.

"Seriously? You can't even do magic on your own?" Rainbow Dash asks derisively.

Setting her jaw stoically, Twilight shakes her head. "I can do it just fine on my own, thank you very much! I just need somepony to help show its effects." Giving a sly smile, Twilight looks over at Rainbow Dash and beckons her with a jerk of her neck. "Here, why don't you help me? All I need is for somepony to try and attack me."

Rainbow Dash gives Twilight a skeptical look, then looks up at Celestia uncertainly. Celestia just leans over to whisper something in Rainbow’s ear. Whatever she says, it seems enough for Rainbow Dash, as she crosses out in front of Twilight. "Alright, tell me when you're ready." Rainbow Dash actually sounds somewhat interested now. Probably just because she's involved now. Twilight thinks dismissively.

Sparks of magic blaze out into the air as Twilight feels her horn conducting the reservoir of magic held deep down inside of her. "Alright, Rainbow, I'm ready!" Twilight announces, her eyes flickering open again as she looks up at the pegasus before her. Under her breathe, Twilight breathes out the words of a simple spell, giving shape and focus to the magic she wields. "Light within me, protect me without!"

Just as Rainbow Dash dives down at her, swooping with one wing at her, a flickering barrier of magical light pulses into existance where Rainbow Dash’s wing contacts it. The barrier fades just as quickly as it appeared, but Rainbow Dash has already been repulsed, hissing as a smidge of magical energy stings the leading edge of her wing where it impacted the shield.

"Ouch! So maybe you can fight, huh? Where'd you learn how to do that?" Rainbow Dash asks. That's impressive, right? Or is that something any unicorn can do? Rainbow doesn't actually know, glancing between Twilight and Celestia to try and ascertain what her reaction should be. Based on Celestia's expression, she guesses she should be at least a bit impressed..? But maybe not too much. But... Alright, that’s too much thinking for her, that spell is pretty awesome as far as she is concerned!

Twilight looks taken aback by the enthused response. "Uh, my brother taught me that spell! Shield spells are his specialty." She finds herself explaining. What gives? She was completely checked out just a moment ago.

"Why did you tense up so much when casting it? Does it take physical effort, or were you just flinching in case I hit you?" Rainbow Dash asks, circling around Twilight with a curious gaze.

Twilight shifts, suddenly self conscious. "Um, the former. Casting spells is tiring work. It's because a ponies magic is tied to their physical form, so exhausting one exhausts the other in turn."

Rainbow Dash looks surprisingly interested given the previous attitude the pegasus had shown. "Huh. I guess your unicorn magic does have something in common with pegasi after all."

Celestia chuckles. "I believe I said as much, Rainbow. I believe you and Twilight stand to learn much from each other as well as me."

"Pfft, yeah, whatever. Let's not get carried away, now." Rainbow Dash replies. "So, what else can ya do?"

"Um?" Is all Twilight says at first, but after a moment of thought, she nods her head and stands back up. She’s still showing off her talents to Rainbow and Celestia after all, so a little more diverse display seems warranted. "Sure. Yeah, I can show you.”

What follows is a routine display of the breadth and depth of Twilight's magical talents under Celestia's watchful eye. Levitation, beam spells, magical sparks, even a transfiguration spell. When all is said and done, Twilight is panting exhausted in front of the two watching ponies, legs wobbling under the strain. Forcing a nervous smile out, Twilight tries to control her breathing. "So... How did I... Do?" Twilight pants out.

Celestia claps her hooves together in a show of applause, offering a sunny smile to Twilight. "Most excellently, my young pupil. And to think, at your age most unicorns can only manage basic levitation. There are some flaws to be worked on for sure, but you can rest easy knowing that you are quite the talented little filly. Now..." Celestia's gaze shifts from Twilight to Rainbow Dash. "I believe it is your turn to showcase what you can do?"

Rainbow Dash grins and flaps her wings, bolting up into the air. "Aw, yeah! It's about time! Now stand back and watch something truly awesome!" Twilight groans and rolls her eyes in response, but quickly turns back to attention. Unlike Rainbow Dash, it takes absolutely no chiding to get Twilight to pay attention; Annoying or not, a chance to study the flight motions of a skilled Pegasus's flight routine is an enticing opportunity.

Happy to have a captive audience, Rainbow Dash takes off. The princess isn't expecting you to perform at full strength, so you don't have to do the rainboom. Just show off your agility and techniques, that should be enough. Rainbow Dash tells herself, clenching her jaw as she flies almost straight up before falling over backwards to enter into a spinning corkscrew.

Twilight clenches up in fear seeing the pegasus getting so close to the ground, only to have Rainbow pull up at the last moment.

Hearing the gasp of concern from the bystander on the ground only emboldens Rainbow Dash more, who laughs and grins broadly as she commits to a daring race through the canopy of the trees. Glancing back to see the reactions from the two ponies watching, Rainbow self-confidently mentally pats herself on the back. There, every bit as impressive if not more than that unicorn. Rainbow Dash returns her attention to her flight path...

Just in time to see, but not dodge, an oncoming tree branch. Though the pegasus filly desperately tries to swerve to avoid it, all she manages to do is impact the branch with her belly instead of her face, the high-speed impact knocking the air clean from her lungs, as her insides do all kinds of motions they probably aren’t supposed to. The pegasus can't even cry out in surprise, shock, or pain, just falling limply like a brick.

She plummets through the air towards a jagged boulder directly underneath her, but just before it can spear through the pegasus she is caught just in time in the gentle golden glow of Celestia’s telekinesis. "Rainbow Dash! Are you ok?" Even in her currently dazed and wounded state, Rainbow Dash registers a slight feeling of surprise to hear the sound of genuine worry in Twilight's voice.

"Stay still and don't move, I'm going to make sure there's no serious damage." Celestia's voice is calm, measured, authoritative. Rainbow Dash finds herself gently levitated down into a gentle hold within Celestia's wings. A golden glow quickly passes over Rainbow Dash, as Celestia's magic sweeps through her to scan for injuries. Rainbow Dash tries to reply through the thudding pain in her ribs, but she still can't seem to inflate her lungs, this awful feeling of suction holding them shut inside her chest.

An utterly bizarre sensation fills her lungs as she feels her diaphragm gripped by Celestia's magic, relaxing it by force and causing her to involuntarily suck in a huge gulp of air. A groan escapes her lips as she breathes in and out, each breath painful. But, at least it's better than that feeling of suffocating suction from before. Rainbow Dash looks up, blearily making out the visage of Celestia, highlighted against the sun behind them, wings gently cradling Rainbow Dash's form. "How do you feel? Can you speak? If it hurts too much, then shake your head." Celestia instructs.

"I'm... Ha... Fine. Takes more than that to... Keep me down!" Rainbow Dash weakly smiles up at the monarch, cringing internally. Far worse than the bruising and pain in her chest is the injury to her pride.

Celestia breathes a sigh of relief, and much to Rainbow Dash's surprise, wraps her hooves around the pegasus filly. "Thank goodness..." Celestia releases Rainbow Dash, and sets the filly gently onto the ground. "You don't seem to have broken any ribs. You're a very lucky pegasus." Celestia stands up to her full height, towering over Rainbow Dash, and frowns with a more stern expression. "Everypony knows you're a talented flier already, Rainbow Dash. You would not be here if you were not. You must focus less on showboating and more on safety and technique."

Rainbow Dash snorts, averting her gaze. "p-pfft, yeah right, it was just a fluke..." She mumbles, cringing. Stupid, stupid!

Rainbow Dash's blustering is immediately put to an end when transfixed in Celestia's cold, steely gaze. "Your safety will always take the highest priority to me, Rainbow Dash. If I cannot trust that you will fly safely, then I am afraid I can't in good conscience allow you to perform at all. If you are to be my student, I must know that you take this seriously. Today a mistake might cost you only a bruised ego, but if you make an error when attempting more advanced maneuvers, you may well cost yourself or somepony else their life. Am I understood?" The warmth in Celestia's voice has utterly disappeared, leaving only a cold and authoritative tone.

"Y-yes, Princess.” Rainbow Dash stammers out, bowing her head. “I-I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"Good. I understand your drive to prove yourself, but I know from personal experience that such drive can lead to terrible consequences. You must learn to temper your ambition with caution and think carefully about your actions." Celestia advises, her tone steadily returning to its more usual melodious nature. "Your recklessness has affected your flight style, as well. I've noticed that you keep your wings in an anhedral position even when flying in a straight line. Such a position reduces your stability, which does allow for faster maneuvers, but is only an unnecessary danger when flying normally. You should train yourself to keep your wings spread evenly at all times that you aren't trying to perform a rapid turn."

Rainbow Dash blinks up at the princess. "Um, an-heed-whatnow?"

"Anhedral! it means that you had your wings at a downward angle from your body!" Twilight pipes up.

Celestia smiles in response. "Very good, Twilight." The princess spreads her wings out, showcasing the different angles they could be held at. "If you are trying to glide as fast as possible in a straight line, around this position is the most effective." Celestia instructs, holding her wings angled slightly forwards and upwards. "An ideal balance between low drag, and stability.”

Rainbow Dash paces in front of Celestia, frowning as she looks at the princesses stance. “Are... Are you sure? That’s not how they taught me to fly at flight camp.” She asks, doubtfully.

“The techniques taught at flight camp are indeed ideal for the average pegasus. At the speed that you are capable of flying at, however, the equation changes.” Celestia explains patiently, before turning her attention to Twilight. “Now, I believe it is time I provide you with instruction. Your grasp of the fundamentals of spell-casting is formidable, but you seem to have too much focus only on the academic aspects of spell-craft. You must work on your form, your stance. Allow me to demonstrate..."

Chapter Text

Celestia hums as she trots down the hallways towards her throne room. She’d almost forgotten how much she enjoys tutoring ponies, seeing the smiles on their faces as they discovered their own unique talents, helping to guide them through their challenges. She’d set aside as much time as she could for her two students, but royal duties still call, and she cannot put them off any more. Rainbow Dash and Twilight have been escorted to their general classes, and now it’s time for Celestia to perform her own function.

"Your highness!" The first of the guards on duty quickly salutes the princess, falling in lockstep beside her. "Sir Platinum Legacy is in the waiting chamber, he arrived around an hour ago and has been petitioning to see you ever since."

Celestia takes a deep breath and steels herself to present the regal, authoritative figure that ponykind expects. “Very well. Send him in. Oh, and I’m sure he’ll want to see his sons as well, so please fetch them.” The guardspony salutes before turning and striding off to fulfill their orders.

When the gates open and Platinum Legacy is allowed into the chamber, he does not even spare a glance at either of the guardsponies before him, striding up to the center of the chamber and slightly dipping his head in a token display of fealty. "Your majesty." The stallion raises his head back up to look Celestia in the eyes.

“Greetings and welcome to my court, Sir Legacy. I trust this is no casual visit? What brings such a busy stallion as yourself before me?’ Celestia asks, choosing each word carefully. The aristocrat before her is a well respected scion of an old house, and a veteran of the royal guard to boot. She would have to be careful with how she dealt with him.

“Of course, I would not waste your time on anything less. I have been speaking with the other noble families on the matter of some of your recent decisions, and I believe I speak for many of my fellow nobles when I say... The aristocracy would appreciate some clarification regarding your reasoning." The stallion clears his throat before continuing. "It seems like an odd decision to embark on such an ambitious set of military reforms now of all times, considering the long period of peace we are presently having. Replacing the equipment of the entire guard alone will take up twice their annual budget. Wasn't the expansion of the Royal Legions sufficient?”

Celestia suppresses a grimace with some effort. “So you propose we continue training soldiers to throw spears and hold shield walls? I don’t seem to recall those tactics being particularly effective the last time the dragons led an incursion.” Celestia retorts dryly.

Platinum Legacy motions at a small stack of papers he had brought with him. “But many of these technologies aren’t well established. I’ve caught sight of some of these folding claws, R&D is still having trouble making the hinge mechanism strong enough to survive impact. The continued development costs are eating away at Equestria’s economy. My associates and I are concerned that the increased tax burden will negatively affect Equestria's competitiveness in the upcoming trade season. Surely you are aware that prench goods are already out-competing many of the sellers in our domestic market?"

Celestia is, in fact, quite well aware of that fact; The general lack of worker safety laws in prance and its poorly-paid underclass of earth pony labourers practically assures it. "If that is the case, then surely you must also be aware that the changes to the tax codes should not negatively impact the parts of the economy involved in trade with Prance. In fact, part of the new regulations includes tariffs on imports from Prance, so if that is your concern, I must assure you it is unfounded.”

“Perhaps. But these new tax regulations set a… Worrying precedent. If reforms of the Royal Legions are truly necessary—and I am sure that you know best if that is necessary, your highness—Then why not simply take out a levy? A restructuring of the royal legions is surely expensive, but given that you have not expanded their ranks, the cost should not be more than a single time expense.” Platinum Legacy motions with a hoof. “Or even better, perhaps simply take money out of less… Vital projects. Like this infrastructure development project in Somnambula. I cannot fathom why some distant backwater warrants such an investment.”

“Nonsense. That railway project is of critical strategic and economic importance for our relations with Zebrica. It is necessary to allow us to project power into southern Equestria. Particularly necessary, since the zebra’s have been disputing our borders as of late.”

Platinum Legacy nods, relenting on that note at least. “Very well. Still, my first suggestion stands. Why not take out a levy? It would be less of a burden than these tax reforms. There is sure to be difficulty with their implementation, considering how different they are from our existing tax codes. This new ‘land value tax’ alone will require a detailed survey of all properties in Equestria to determine values, and nopony knows exactly what the results will be. Such uncertainty is not healthy for the economy. And doubly so, if these increased funds are required, why would you abolish the poll tax?”

Celestia shakes her head. “It is true that increased funds are necessary to reform our military and expand our infrastructure, but that is not the primary cause of these reforms. The old system of collecting a fixed sum from everypony disproportionately affects those already in poverty, it may have functioned well enough back when Equestria was made up of rural settlements of farmers, but we have urbanized now and the codes must be updated to reflect that.”

“Some would argue that introducing a wealth tax breaks faith with many of the old families.” Platinum Legacy states gravely. “These ‘updates’ as you say threaten the livelihoods and estates of many of Equestria’s oldest and most ardent supporters. Doubly so, because those you rely upon to enact your will, who serve you faithfully, were not consulted on these decisions.”

And they reached the crux of the matter. Of course, Platinum is not truly concerned about the state of the Equestrian economy; that is all just for show. But he is not entirely incorrect; Celestia does rely upon the aristocrats to maintain the realm’s peace. For the sake of her little ponies, she would have to entreat him carefully.

“It is not anticipated that these changes will greatly impact the traditional estates of the nobility.” Celestia states carefully. “The combination of land value, luxury, and income taxes are likely to affect urban centers far more than rural territories where land value is comparatively low and many of the locals have very little income, simply living off of their own yields. As long as the nobles' territories remain productive, they should have no issues maintaining their usual lifestyle.” Neglecting the fact, of course, that many aristocratic houses had shifted their wealth into those very same urban centers over the intervening centuries.

“This is all very speculative, Princess. I can only hope you are correct.” Platinum states icily. “These changes are very dramatic and sudden. I would have to advise you delay these changes, take them into council. Even if some must be pushed through, surely it is best to take things more slowly to avoid any disruption of society?”

And allow the aristocracy to stall for another decade? Not likely. “I have laid down my edict, and as with all edicts, it is final. We cannot afford to simply wait, when larger threats are breathing down our necks.”

"And what larger threats might those be?" Platinum inquires, his eyes narrowing ever-so-slightly. "I must say, considering your recent move to take in a commoner as a new student—and a pegasus, no less—some are concerned you are seeking to curry favor before launching some manner of unpopular initiative. The buildup of military assets only heightens those fears, I'm afraid. I'm sure these rumors are baseless, but perhaps if you can explain your intentions more clearly, I could help calm the nerves of my associates?"

And here we come to the crux of the matter. Reading between the lines is not difficult, knowing Platinum. As ever, the aristocracy has one primary concern even above holding onto their wealth; preserving their status at the top of Equestrian society. "You are well aware of the imminent return of Nightmare Moon, Platinum, and the new warlord upstart in the Badlands is growing increasingly powerful as well. There are other dangers, as well, of which several are classified."

Platinum can't help scoff at this latest suggestion. "Please. Princess, I should hope you have more respect for my intelligence than to try and scare me with bogeyponies from ancient legends." The stallion's expression quickly regains its usual, more stoic composure. "And I hardly believe some southern barbarian poses a threat to our esteemed royal guard."

Celestia raises a brow questioningly. "Are you so confident? Equestrian intelligence has revealed a frightening degree of technological sophistication among our potential enemies. The guard cannot remain complacent in the face of these new threats." No matter how much you aristocrats want to keep us in the past.

"Even so." Platinum Legacy motions with a hoof. "That would still not explain your decision to take in this pegasus from Cloudsdale. It's concerning enough that your unicorn student is from a cadet branch of a minor family, but now this. Surely one of the scions of a major dynasty would be more suitable. Take my son, for instance, you are well aware he is a prodigy in magical combat..."

Celestia fights a rising internal tide of irritation. "And your sons are indeed well regarded members of the Royal Companions. You should be proud. But that is neither here nor there, as I do not believe either of them are in critical need of guidance. This 'commoner' as you say is a proud pegasus, reckless yet possessed of remarkable ability which I believe needs to be further honed, for the good of both her and Equestria. I would be shirking in my duties if I did not endeavor to support her in any way possible."

Platinum Legacy's stoic expression slips for just a fraction of a second as he grimaces. "Please. What could a commoner like that do that is so impressive? Talent is in ready supply here in Canterlot, it flows in the veins of all the old families. There is no need to go scraping the bottom of the barrel abroad."

"Oh? I was not aware that anypony in Canterlot had performed a sonic rainboom. That must have been quite the feat, considering how difficult it is for a unicorn to fly." Celestia replies, dryly.

Platinum blanches in response. "A sonic rainboom? I suppose you must be claiming this Pegasus filly, was responsible for the magical shockwave which swept across Equestria?" The stallion can't help but sneer at the notion. "With all due respect, Princess, I simply cannot fathom how you expect anypony to believe one of low blood could have done such a thing. The only logical explanation is..." Platinum trails off as he is firmly transfixed in Celestia's icy glare.

"Are you calling me a liar, sir Legacy?"

Quickly realizing that he had overstepped his bounds, Platinum abruptly bows his head. "O-of course not, your majesty. Forgive my intrusion."

Celestia's disapproving gaze eyes the stallion for a long moment before replying. "And that 'pegasus filly', as you keep referring to her as, has a name. Rainbow Dash. You will treat her with the respect her accomplishment deserves."

The Stallion's carefully measured expression does not betray any hint of the contempt that must surely be boiling inside of his veins. "Of course, your highness. Perhaps I may see this pegasus in person, that I might apologize directly?" The question lingers in the air.

Still trying to get more information, I see. You don't know when to quit, do you? Celestia settles back into her throne and takes on a more relaxed tone when responding, not wanting to be seen as overtly hostile. "There is no need. It would be best if she was not distracted from her studies."

If Platinum Legacy is disappointed, his expression does not reveal it, as he simply bows his head. "Yes, of course. I suppose that concludes my business here, as I would not wish to waste any more of your precious time. However, while I am here, may I have your permission to speak with my sons? While I am very proud of them, you know that I do not get to see them very often, as diligent as they are in their duties they rarely come to visit..."

If nothing else, being given permission to go to the barracks would give Legacy a chance to snoop around the palace. Fortunately, Celestia had expected this. "Of course. You will find them in the waiting chamber, I sent for them before our meeting. I hope your reunion is pleasant."

The aristocrat bows his head. "Thank-you, your majesty. You are as thoughtful as ever."

[hr]

As the doors to the throne room ease open once again, Mooncrescent perks up from where he had been lying in wait. "Hey, Blazey! I think 'Lestia is done holding court, maybe we can go find out why they called us… up." Mooncrescent's enthusiastic tone and expression falters upon seeing who actually struts out of the throne room, and the momentarily ago optimistic tone of the colt gives way to a groan of dismay.

"Mooncrescent. Starblaze. Follow." Platinum Legacy instructs authoritatively, not so much as giving a glance back to make sure his sons are doing as he asked, while he makes his way to the palace gardens; likely the only place on palace grounds where a conversation can achieve anything resembling privacy.

Mooncrescent and Starblaze exchange unsure glances before trotting along after their father. As usual, it is quite impossible to estimate his mood while he is making any effort to conceal it. But as soon as the group of them reach the gardens, Platinum Legacy wheels on the two of them with irritation no longer hidden. "What, precisely, have you two been doing since you came here?"

"Uh, training?" Mooncrescent starts responding, before Starblaze steps in front of him, protectively.

"My apologies, Father." Starblaze lowers his head deferentially. "I received an injury a few days ago, which confined me to the hospital for some time. Is there something I may have neglected to do while I was there?"

Platinum Legacy snorts. "Quite! Two of my own sons right here in Celestia's court, and yet I didn't hear of these tax code changes any sooner than the rest of the nobility. This could have been a prime opportunity to exploit if either of you were doing your jobs."

"Hey! Blazey and I have been working really hard, alright?" Mooncrescent protests, stamping a hoof indignantly.

"At what? Parading around in uniform? Combat drills?" Platinum's voice is drenched in sarcasm. "I fail to see what could possibly be so important as to warrant missing out on what could be vital intelligence for our family."

"My apologies, father. I will endeavor to keep my ear closer to the ground in the future." Starblaze promises, head bowed.

"See that you do. While you're at it, I believe you two are near Celestia, correct? See if you can't dissuade the princess from these ludicrous new tax laws. I will need to act quickly to ensure our family's position is not threatened by this. All of our holdings are going to need to be re-evaluated... Heavens, it's going to be such a hassle." The stallion's attention snaps back to his two sons once again, evaluating them with an icy stare. "I've allowed you to pursue this calling only because our family needed a presence in Celestia's court. If you continue to shirk in your duties, then I will have no choice but to recall you and assign somepony with more diligence to this task."

Starblaze glances back at his younger brother, noticing the characteristic look of fuming that usually precipitates a heated debate. Before Mooncrescent can say anything to aggravate the situation, Starblaze holds him back with one leg. "Of course, Father, we understand."

Platinum Legacy stares at Starblaze for a long moment, before eventually stepping back. "Good. I had best get back to our estate and run some damage control, try to figure out how these new laws will affect our position. Keep me informed, and you won't have to see as much of me."

Mooncrescent glares at the retreating figure of his father as Platinum Legacy departs back for the aristocratic dwellings on the upper terraces of Canterlot. "You know, for as much as he talks about family, he sure doesn't ask us how we've been doing."

Starblaze turns to Mooncrescent, letting out a deep breath. "I know, Crescy. But you really need to let me do the talking when he comes around, you don't want us to get recalled back home."

Mooncrescent looks away, twitching in irritation. "Hmph. Celestia wouldn't let him take us back just like that. She likes us."

"Do you really want to risk it?" Starblaze pleads. "You know how father can be when he wants his way about something."

Mooncrescent gaze goes down to the ground, grumbling. "I know, I'm sorry. I'll try and reign it in better, next time." Mooncrescent promises. quirking his mouth in frustration. "I just... He acts like what we're doing has no value! Equestria still needs defenders, right?" Mooncrescent pleads, looking up at Starblaze as if seeking confirmation.

Starblaze nods. "Of course, Crescy. Don't let him get to you. He's just the same as he's always been." Starblaze's lip curls into a derisive grimace for a moment, before he turns back to Mooncrescent. "C'mon, let's go get a bite to eat, then we can get back to training." Starblaze offers, jerking back with his head.

Mooncrescent nods, looking a little glum, and the pair trot off to the palace kitchens.

Chapter Text

When Mooncrescent and Starblaze reach the mess hall, the place is already crowded. Most of the soldiers eating there are palace guards, rather than Royal Companions like the brothers, although for cadets the actual difference is rather minor as both organizations attend the Royal Legion Academy.

"Your old stallion give you much trouble?" Shining Armor asks the pair of brothers as they sit down, propping up his head on one hoof leaning over the table.

Starblaze just groans in response, leaving Mooncrescent to answer. "He's just bugging us about not getting him enough information again, and threatening to pull us out of cadet school if we don't work on it."

"You might want to keep that down. If Blueblood hears you say that out loud, he'll probably try to blackmail you with it." Shining Armor hisses out. After all, if their father discovers how loose the two colts are with their supposed 'mission', it would not go well for them.

"It's fine. He's over there harassing some poor soul." Mooncrescent justifies, jerking a hoof over to the center of the room.

"Wait, isn't that...?" Shining Armor starts, raising a brow, watching as the young prince stalks around his quarry, a rather out-of-place looking, prismatically-maned pegasus filly, currently trying to put on a brave face.

"What a sad state of affairs." Blueblood is saying, wrinkling his nose at the filly as if she smelled bad. "To think, they'll let just anypony into the royal guard these days. Even unwashed commoners without any sense of proper etiquette like yourself."

Rainbow Dash flares out her wings, taking up a defensive posture with an expression to match. "I performed a sonic Rainboom and was invited here by Princess Celestia themself! I'm not 'just anypony'!" She postures, while Blueblood simply rolls his eyes.

"Oh, please, I'm sure you did. Celestia is just showboating, picking some gutter rat up and elevating them to our esteemed organization to look good for the presses. I'm sure once she's done milking you for all the good publicity you're worth, you'll be dropped back off in... Whatever backwater dump they fished you out of." Blueblood replies dismissively. "In the meantime, know your place, commoner. And heavens, try to show some class when you make your mane in the morning!"

Rainbow Dash growls and stretches upright. "I earned my place here, I wouldn't be here otherwise! And I come from a perfectly nice city, Cloudsdale doesnt even need gutters! Now you take that back before I make you!"

Blueblood smirks in response. "Oh my, well if you'd care to defend the supposed honor of whatever nameless family you come from, you could always challenge me to a duel. Of course, a lowborn like you wouldn't stand a chance against my talents."

Rainbow Dash looks ready to commit the admittedly foolish decision of taking up Blueblood on his offer when the conversation is interrupted. "That's enough, Blueblood!" Starblaze calls out, marching over to the older aristocrat. "If you keep this up, I'll be the one you're dueling, and I don't know if your family could bear the shame of losing yet another bout. Don't you have better things to be doing than harassing the princesses new student?"

Blueblood stiffens at the sound of Starblaze's voice, eyeing up the unicorn with easily discerned loathing. "Princesses new student or not, she'll never be more than a wretched commoner as far I care. I suppose I have no need to waste more of my precious time on such a lowlife." Blueblood announces, stalking off with as much of his dignity intact as he can.

Rainbow Dash puffs out a cheek, pouting. "I coulda taken care of him myself..." She protests, mumbling under her breath. It’s hardly the first time she had to deal with bullies, although, granted, this bully in particular has a noteworthy size advantage over her.

Starblaze just chuckles. That attitude was one he was well acquainted with, from dealing with Mooncrescent. "Course you could've, but then you'd have gotten in trouble with your teacher. C'mon, sit with us, we'll make sure nopony else bugs you." Starblaze trots over back to where Mooncrescent and Shining Armor are sitting without glancing back to see if Rainbow Dash followed. The pegasus filly frowns, glances this way and that, and being met with only hostile gazes from the rest of the aristocrats present, reluctantly follows after Starblaze.

"Hey there, Rainbow!" Mooncrescent greets the filly with a sunny smile as she sits down beside him. "Celestia already put you in cadet school huh? I guess that means we'll be seeing more of each other from now on."

"Hey, uh... um..." Rainbow scratches the back of her head with her hoof, wincing as she tries to remember the guardsponies name.

"Mooncrescent." Shining Armor fills in the gap from Rainbow Dash's other side. "And his brother is Starblaze."

Rainbow Dash's gaze drifts over to the pony who had rescued her, eyes lighting up with recognition. "Oh, I remember you! You were the unicorn who was in the infirmary with me! So, you two are brothers? I guess I can see the resemblance." Rainbow Dash notes, observing the duo's white mane's and bluish coats, though Starblaze's is a deep dark blue dappled with white spots while Mooncrescents is a far paler blue, almost white. Both of the colts do, however, have the same golden eyes.

Starblaze nods, sitting on the far side from Mooncrescent. "Yup! Do you have any family back home? I know you flew out here alone, after Celestia scouted you out."

"Um, my mom and dad are back in Cloudsdale. I have an uncle too, though I don't really know him.” Rainbow Dash frowns melancholically. “That’s all, though. I’m an only child.” She hadn’t ever really regretted that much before, especially given how her only friend in Cloudsdale had Zephyr Breeze of all ponies as an older sibling. But seeing Shining Armor around Twilight had made her start wondering what she was missing out on.

Starblaze’s wistful expression matches Rainbow Dash’s introspection. “That's a shame. Do you get along with your parents at least?"

“Yeah. They can be a bit much, but they’re very supportive.” Rainbow Dash nods.

"Well you got that over us, at least. Father's a pain, and mother's been dead for years." Mooncrescent groans. "How about you, Shining? C'mon, tell the academies latest member about your family!"

Shining Armor leans in at the prompting. "Huh? Oh, I'm the only son of House Twilight. You've met my little sis, Twilight Sparkle. The first daughter of every generation in our family is named Twilight."

Rainbow Dash grimaces. "Yeah, I have. Is she... Always that neurotic?" The pegasus filly asks.

Shining Armor cracks a smile at Rainbow Dash. "Try and cut her some slack, she's really nervous after getting to be Celestia's new student. She's really a great filly, once you get to know her. I promise."

Rainbow Dash shrugs. "I guess I'll try to keep that in mind." The pegasus cocks her head to the side curiously. "What did you hear about me from her?"

Shining Armor gains a coy smirk. "Mostly that you're an insufferable braggart who won't stop talking about how cool she is."

Rainbow Dash's cheeks heat up to bright cherry red. "Hey! I didn't brag that much, and I am awesome!"

Shining Armor shrugs. "I'll tell ya what. You promise to give Twilight a chance, and I'll get Twilight to promise to give you a chance, too. Deal?" Shining Armor asks, extending a hoof.

Rainbow Dash hoofbumps the older colt and nods. "Alright, deal. I'll show her just how cool I am, just you wait." The pegasus puffs out her chest pointedly, swelling up to her full height.

Mooncrescent giggles on the other side. "I'm sure we're all looking forward to seeing what you're capable of. If you caught Celestia's eye, you must really be something special. They are, after all, a very busy pony." He playfully bumps Rainbow Dash from the side. "Looking forward to training with ya. How's the academy treating you so far?"

The edges of Rainbow Dash's mouth tilt just slightly downwards. "I dunno. Everypony keeps looking at me. I don't think it's because of my flying or fighting, though. I get the feeling a lot of them don't like me."

Starblaze nods. "I wouldn't think anything of it. Most of us aristocrats are snobby dastards." Starblaze growls and shakes his head, sighing. "The Princess invited you here, so you belong here every bit as much as any of us. I'm sure you'll meet somepony you get along with soon enough." Starblaze gives Rainbow Dash what he hopes is an encouraging smile.

Rainbow Dash nods. "Yeah, you know it! I'm sure somepony around here will start to appreciate how awesome I am." The filly rears her head up proudly.

Mooncrescent giggles in response and ruffles the fillies mane. "Easy there, little filly. For now, why don't you try and get some food in your system before you get to start training again." Mooncrescent suggests, gaze drifting over to Rainbow Dash's meal. "Your... Uhm... Alright, what exactly is that abomination?"

The 'abomination' in question is, of course, none other than Rainbow Dash's chosen lunch; A heaping plate of pasta and sourdough bread with a decided lack of what Mooncrescent would consider appropriate seasoning.

"Free energy is what it is!" Rainbow Dash announces, before chomping down on the concoction. The three companions of the filly stare on in something resembling awe and horror at the same time.

"That's even harder to watch than a guardsponies first meal in the Everfree..." Shining Armor utters. Rainbow Dash looks up at the older colt, cocking her head to the side curiously.

"Huh? What’s that mean?" Rainbow Dash's brow furrows inquisitively.

Shining Armor just smirks, and shakes his head. "Ha, you'll learn in good time. For now, just eat up. Lunchtime's almost over."

[hr]

Before long the bell signals the cadets to proceed to the training field rings, and Rainbow Dash follows the small crowd out to the courtyard, a particular undercurrent of excitement thrumming inside her chest. The classes of earlier that day had largely been introductions and, even worse, academic tests to see where she placed. But now she gets to meet her military drill instructor, responsible for her combat and flight training! The unicorn nobles who form most of the palace guard file off to their own training exercises, leaving only the other fliers with Rainbow Dash.

'Fliers' has to be specified, because to Rainbow Dash's surprise, that category does not exclusively mean pegasi, as there are also a hooful of bat-winged chiropterans and even a solitary gryphon present.

Stepping up in front of the group is a prim and reserved chiropteran with vibrant blue eyes and pristine white mane. "Greetings, cadets. I am Captain Silent Serpent, and I have been assigned as your drill instructor by Celestia themself." The mare’s voice is not at all what Rainbow Dash had expected, possessing none of the bluster of a Wonderbolt’s captain, instead speaking in a calm, clear tone which nonetheless has a particular steely bite to it. “To begin, all of you drop and give me twenty-five wingups. Then, we will fly a dozen laps around the palace. On my mark, begin." There is only a brief pause before a whistle sounds. "Mark!"

[hr]

Rainbow Dash struggles to keep up with the pack of older fliers, wings burning from exertion as she strains to squeeze more energy from them. She is a fast flier, that much is for sure, but her endurance does not hold up in comparison, and dozens of laps around Canterlot has the effect of pushing her energy reserves to their uttermost limit.

And so it is, that when Captain Silent Serpent finally whistles and calls a halt to the laps, Rainbow Dash is relieved to touch down in the field, cheeks flushing with shame at being the second to last pony to finish, ahead of only one other pegasus.

Not really what I expected... Rainbow Dash sighs, breathing heavily, and flops onto the ground. Most of the other cadets are collected in small groups, clearly already knowing eachother, leaving Rainbow Dash as the odd one out.

Well, not the only odd one out; The gryphon is also alone. No surprise there, if she's anything like Gilda, she's probably having a hard time fitting in. Making up her mind, Rainbow Dash pulls herself over to the gryphon cadet and collapses next to her to rest her tired wings.

"Good... Flying out there." Rainbow Dash gets out between breaths. The gryphon looks at the pegasus filly, surprised to be spoken to, and nods.

"Thanks. You, too. I'm surprised to see a pegasus as young as you at cadet school. You from a military family?" The gryphon asks, eliciting a shake of the head from Rainbow Dash.

"Nah. Actually, Celestia herself came all the way to Cloudsdale to ask me to be her student, after I did the sonic rainboom!" Rainbow Dash brags. That's never going to get old, ha. "But I'm just as surprised as you. I didn't think there were any gryphons in the palace guard."

The gryphon stiffens for a moment, but visibly relaxes once she notices that Rainbow Dash's statement is made out of only curiosity and not malice. "Hrm. You must be Rainbow Dash, then. Explains the mane. I'm Glyndwr, I was raised outside of Gryphonstone so I'm a bit of an outlier anywhere I go." The gryphon winces "I don't think the Canterlot types like having me around."

'Glyndwr', huh? Mare, gryphon names are something else. Rainbow Dash thinks, smiling and bumping the gryphon's shoulder with her hoof. "Ha, me neither. I think they're jealous that a pegasus from Cloudsdale got picked up by the princess instead of them." Rainbow Dash gives a cocky grin. "What do you say we stick around eachother, watch eachother's backs?"

Glyndwr makes a face with her beak which Rainbow Dash knows from experience with Gilda is the closest that a gryphon gets to smiling. "Hm, I think you've got yourself a deal." The beaked face of the gryphon appraises Rainbow Dash curiously. "You sure are casual. Most ponies think I'm going to try to eat them when I see them."

Rainbow Dash shrugs. "I had a gryphon friend, back in Cloudsdale, so it's nothing new to me." Rainbow Dash's eyes flash further open in alarm. "Oh, shoot! I just realized, I got here like a week ago and I haven't written her once! Grah..." Her hoof finds its way up to her forehead, groaning.

"Breaks up. Everypony, at attention." The captain's voice cuts through the chatter eerily well considering how relatively soft it is. "To start with, we're going to learn the basics of flying in formation. Get those wings ready."

Rainbow Dash groans, stretching out her still-sore wings, and stands up, exchanging a glance with Glyndwr before falling in line with the rest of the fliers present

Chapter Text

In the weeks to come, Rainbow Dash and Twilight both settle into their respective new routines. Normal classes at the Canterlot Cadet Academy or Celestia's School of Magic, together with tutoring from Celestia whenever the princess can make time; usually, early in the mornings. Twilight gets to go home on the weekends, while Rainbow Dash simply has to stay at the palace full time.

That is not to say that studying is all they do, of course. Even if Twilight may have preferred it that way, circumstances had come to grant the unicorn certain responsibilities; most of her free time ends up being spent on taking care of Spike and researching as much as she can about dragons.

For Rainbow Dash's part, the combination of Silent Serpent's exercises and Celestia's flight lessons work her to a point of exhaustion that she almost doesn't mind the distinctly civil nature of all of her classes. Almost. But even as tired as Rainbow Dash is from the much harsher training regimen than she is used to, the memory of a promise to teach her survival and fighting skills remains at the forefront of her mind.

Despite attending classes at a military school, Rainbow Dash finds to her great disappointment that it really is not that different from normal school, most of the time. Celestia even has her attend some classes at the School of Magic, as apparently the academics there are second to none even outside of the schools primary focus.

Rainbow Dash groans in dismay, staring down at the worksheet before her and wondering, not for the first time, if she had made a mistake coming here. I got here for my flight skills, not my test taking abilities! What gives? Rainbow Dash rubs her face, groaning. To be fair, it isn't like she can learn new flying techniques much faster than she already is, without risking athletic injury. But shouldn't she be able to just rest and chillax, then?

"Can you keep it down over there? You'll wake up Spike." Twilight complains from the other side of the table, not even glancing up at Rainbow Dash as her eyes remain glued to the manuscript below her, her body tightly coiled around the young dragon. Rainbow Dash just blinks at her incredulously; the unicorn filly had finished all of her homework in about twenty minutes, and then went right back into studying. Meanwhile, Rainbow can barely bear to stay still long enough to even read the worksheets. All the words just seem to float around in her jumbled mess of a brain, she can't even parse what it is talking about.

Before Rainbow can reply to the unicorn with something suitably snarky, the doors to the library open with a faint clicking sound. The two students generally have the space to themselves, which is good because if she went back to her own room, Rainbow Dash knows she would just start napping instead of studying almost immediately. So if somepony is entering, then it's most likely...

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight hastily gets up to her hooves and bows her head, while Rainbow Dash instead makes a move to cover her worksheets in embarrassment.

"Greetings, my two students. I had a moment to spare, so I thought I would check up on you. How go your studies?" Celestia asks in an egregiously casual tone as she ducks her head to enter the chamber.

"E-excellent, your highness! Better than excellent!" Twilight blusters. "The palace's archives are simply fascinating!" The anxiousness of the unicorn's voice quickly gives way once she starts talking about her studies, and she opens her book to show Celestia. "For instance, did you know that tuatara have a sort of third eye on their forehead? Its a photoreceptor used to discern day-night cycles, but it can't actually form images, its located under the skin, and its called a 'parietal' eye!"

Rainbow Dash groans and smacks a hoof into her face. "Precisely why would anypony need to know that?" Rainbow Dash asks, pointedly.

Twilight bristles in response, looking offended. "Knowledge is valuable for its own sake!" She protests, looking up to Celestia as if for confirmation.

Celestia nods. "Of course, Twilight Sparkle. I assume you completed your assigned work, before you began reading up on reptilian biology?"

Twilight nods again. "Of course! I just thought that maybe information on reptiles could help me understand how to help this little guy." Twilight squeezes the sleeping dragon curled up between her legs. "But the more I learn, the less it seems like dragons have anything in common with reptiles. I think they're actually closer to birds, despite appearances."

Celestia smiles. "Quite the dutiful caretaker you are, Twilight. And how is your young charge faring?"

"I... Think they're doing well." Twilight offers, cautiously. "They sure sleep alot. But whenever they're awake, they're very well behaved. We've been feeding them a diet of gemstones and carnivore feedstock." Twilight winces, trying not to think too much about what exactly went into carnivore feed. The little dragon is, after all, not the only meat-eater that ponies kept as pets. "It seems to be working, they shed their scales for the first time a few days ago and the new coat is really shiny and healthy looking."

Rainbow Dash sighs, mind blanking out again. She guesses she can't give Twilight too much of a bad time for that, taking care of a little dragon is a big responsibility and learning all she can about it does seem warranted. Just as she is ready to completely mentally check out, however, Celestia turns to her. "And how about you, Rainbow Dash? You look troubled."

"Uh, Troubled? I guess you could say that." Rainbow Dash motions at her worksheets in consternation. "I thought I came out here to learn how to fly, fight, and navigate with the best of them! Not learn math!"

"I know you may not be interested in these subjects, but I promise you, having a wider breadth of knowledge will open up many doors to you in the future.” Celestia states, choosing her words carefully. “You may find yourself thankful you learned these things, one day."

"Doors, schmoors! What does an awesome flier like me need with all this carp?" Rainbow Dash blusters, triggering a gasp of horror from Twilight at the outright insubordination of the other filly. "I should be out there giving threats to Equestria what-for and inspiring ponies with my flight skills!"

"Oh? So what you're saying is, you believe that you are too good for studying?" Celestia gives Rainbow Dash a sly smile. "I'll tell you what. If you can prove that you're as awesome as you say, then I will allow you to focus only on your athletics. Shouldn't be a problem for a pony of your talents, I'm sure?"

Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise, not expecting to actually get her way. Hopping up out of her chair, she looks up at Celestia, suspiciously. "And, what exactly do I have to do to prove it?" She questions.

Celestia's smirk only grows. "Just land a single hit on me. If you can do that, then I will relent, and acknowledge that such a brave warrior has no need for academics." Twilight shoots Celestia a horrified look at that suggestion, while Rainbow Dash just grins, cracking her front hooves.

"That's all? Oh, this'll be too easy! Just you watch!" Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes. I'm the fastest pony there is, all I have to do is strike at full speed and she won't know what hit her!

"Not in here!" Twilight shouts, startling Spike awake and Rainbow Dash out of her focused stance, as Twilight dives to cover her precious books as well as possible. "If you're really going to do this, go do it somewhere that won't destroy all the books!"

Celestia giggles, horn lighting up. "Relax, Twilight. I will shield the books from harm. Well, Rainbow Dash?" She offers to the pegasus.

Rainbow Dash makes a concerted effort to relax her muscles, appearing as though she isn't going to make a go at it, before diving full bodily through the air at Celestia, bolting from the ground with every single ounce of speed she can muster. Much to her surprise, she ends up flying straight through an empty space before colliding with the dim yellow pulse of a shield over the books. She hadn't even seen Celestia move, and she certainly hadn't teleported; Rainbow Dash would have heard it.

Thinking quickly on her hooves, Rainbow Dash sprinboards from the shield spell-it somewhat reminds her of how clouds feel, slightly spongey and elastic-back towards Celestia's new position. The alicorn princess simply yawns and shifts the bare minimum amount required to not be clipped by Rainbow Dash's wing, the alicorn's own broad white wing stretching out casually above the hurtling pegasus. Rainbow Dash growls in frustration and twists in midair, bringing her hoof down from above, only for Celestia to lean back out of reach.

Twilight just watches from the sidelines, wincing and tensing up every time it seems like Rainbow Dash might land a blow on either Celestia or the books around her. Celestia's casual show of making every blow just barely miss is interrupted when Rainbow Dash launches a flying kick right after feinting with her right forehoof, forcing Celestia to spring sidewards with remarkable agility, landing on her hooves. Finally, as Rainbow Dash surges forwards once again, swinging her left wing down towards Celestia, the alicorn catches the pegasus's wing and, ducking beneath it, hurls Rainbow Dash all the way across the room, swiftly catching her in their magic before she can get hurt, and lightly setting the exhausted pegasus down on the ground.

"Well, I am suitably impressed." Celestia admits. "You made me actually dodge. Still, a deal is a deal, and I don't believe you managed to land a strike on me."

"Figures..." Rainbow Dash complains, in between panting breaths. "Nopony has... Given me any... Combat lessons... Yet."

Celestia cocks her head to the side, appraising the young pegasus. "You wish to learn how to fight already? Hrm. I was planning to wait until you were older but, if you are so eager, perhaps we can see about starting lessons." Celestia gives the pegasus a pointed look. "After you finish your existing work. If we are to begin combat training, I will be certain it won't impede your civil classes first."

Rainbow Dash bolts up eagerly. "Really? You mean it? When can we start?" Seemingly the pegasus had not heard anything past 'starting lessons'. Celestia holds up a hoof, patiently.

"We may start once you have completed your schoolwork. Today, if you are able to manage it by then. But only once I am satisfied that you understand it." Celestia instructs, firmly.

Rainbow Dash wilts, glancing back at the worksheet. "Might as well be a year from now, then..." Rainbow Dash mumbles. The pegasid's stupor is interrupted by the feeling of a wing draped over her, and she looks up in surprise to see that Celestia has sat down next to her, smiling encouragingly.

"I believe that, given proper motivation and guidance, you may surprise yourself. From what I have seen, you possess a remarkably detailed memory, you just lack focus. Allow me to see if I may remedy that." Celestia delicately brushes Rainbow Dash's hooves from the mostly empty worksheet, revealing the various doodles and scribbles which had filled the margins.

Other than a smirk of amusement, Celestia resists reacting to the haphazard 'artwork', and focuses only on the pegasid's unfinished work. "And if you ever need help focusing when I am not around, I am sure Twilight would be eager to assist. But, since I can see that you are struggling, I shall see about giving you more tutoring time. Now, if you look at this problem here…"

"I still don't understand why I'm here." Twilight complains, disgruntled. Much to her great dismay, just before Celestia had left the library to return to her duties, the princess had informed her that she would be joining Rainbow Dash for combat lessons.

"I thought you liked learning new things, what gives?" Rainbow Dash asks, flicking a glance backwards at Twilight as she leads the way towards the barracks. She had assured Celestia that she could find the way there herself, so Celestia had left ahead of them to arrange for a tutor to meet them.

"I do! And I was perfectly content learning things in my nice, cozy library." Twilight grumbles.

"C'mon, you gotta be more adventurous than that! We're going to learn how to fight!" Rainbow Dash grins broadly, stopping before the door leading out to the barracks, turning back to wink at Twilight before prancing on outside. Thankfully, her hooves are all healed now, such that one would not be able to tell they were ever injured at all, so she is able to move to her full capability once again.

The faces of their tutors are, to Rainbow Dash, unexpectedly familiar. Mooncrescent and his brother, Starblaze, are busy preparing the clearing set aside for the princesses two students, placing out training dummies, weapon racks, and more. Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise at the two colts only a few years older than herself. "H-huh? What are you two doing here?"

Mooncrescent waves cheerfully at Rainbow Dash and smiles. "Celestia told us you were getting antsy with your studies, and asked us to help give you a break with some combat training! I hope you're ready."

Rainbow Dash shakes her head in consternation. "I... No, why would she assign you two? You're still cadets yourselves! Not to mention, you're not even pegasi. Where's Silent Serpent?" Rainbow Dash asks, notwithstanding the fact that Silent Serpent is also not technically a pegasus.

Mooncrescent shakes his head. "Celestia asked us, not her." He states, firmly. "Most of the old guard were trained in the old ways of combat from before the recent reforms. We're the star pupils of our generation, so nopony else has mastered the new styles as well as us! Trust me, you're in good hooves." The colts disarming smile makes it hard to doubt him.

"And, I think you forgot that your friend here isn't a pegasus either." Starblaze points out behind his brother. "I'm sure Celestia will ask the captain to show you flying combat techniques eventually, but everyponies gotta start with the basics. No matter if they're an earth pony, unicorn, pegasus, chiropteran, or whatever else."

Rainbow Dash quirks her mouth, feeling perhaps a little unsatisfied. But she can't complain too much; she is getting her way, after all. "Alright, then. So, can we get this show on the road?" Rainbow Dash asks impatiently.

"Hold on!" Twilight interjects. Rainbow Dash glances over at the filly and groans; She has the face she gets whenever her curiosity is piqued, meaning she is probably in for a dramatic delay to actually getting started. "What do you mean by 'old ways' and 'new styles', precisely?" And why haven't I heard about this from Shining Armor, for that matter? Twilight silently adds the last part to herself.

Starblaze smiles at the filly while he sits to explain. "Until recently, most of the guard was equipped almost exclusively with spears and shields, despite centuries of development in technology and military tactics since the last major conflict. But Equestrian Intelligence shed some details on foreign weapons development and trends in recent conflicts in Prance and Skyterra which spooked Celestia right and proper, and lead them to adopt a series of military reforms. Most of them are still getting pushed through, since outside of Canterlot its much more difficult for Celestia to rapidly change things around. Drill sergeants need to get rotated around, equipment needs to be swapped out or mothballed... But here in the palace, at least the Royal Companions are already equipped in the new style."

While Starblaze explains, Mooncrescent went to the armory to fetch equipment, and he is now returning with a veritable mountain of odd-looking weapons the likes of which Rainbow Dash has never seen before held in his magic. "Here, put these on! Watch me, I'll show you how." Mooncrescent demonstrates, sliding a vambrace with a mechanical assembly onto his hooves before tightening the straps. Two blades protrude from the vambrace, one on either side of his hoof, but they are currently folded back to rest parallel to his leg, meaning they don't obstruct his freedom of movement.

With a flick of his hoof, Mooncrescent demonstrates the mechanism, the folding assembly snapping down to place the two blade parallel to the hooves where they curve slightly like a predators claws. And then, equally as quickly, Mooncrescent presses the blades against the ground and twists his hoof at an angle, resulting in the blades folding back up against his leg once more. "They're not as well suited for formation combat as the old spear and shield lines, but these weapons allow much more mobility and better individual combat capability, things which Celestia emphasizes are more important in modern warfare."

Rainbow Dash tries to imitate Mooncrescent, with some difficulty fitting her hoof into the vambrace before flailing it around trying to get the blades to extend. Her tutor giggles and pulls her aside. "No, see, like this. The motion has to be pretty fast or it won't get past the springs in order to snap into place." He explains to the struggling pegasus.

"What about the rest of these? What are they all for?" Twilight asks, motioning towards the variety of other bits and bobs Mooncrescent had brought out. A couple are obvious enough; Bows and hornblades. But others resemble nothing so much as long blades with oddly sinuous curving lines and no apparent grips or straps.

Lifting one in his own levitation, Starblaze twirls a long, double-edged, S-shaped blade embedded with diamonds into the air. "This is a spellblade, its a weapon for unicorns. Once attuned to its wielder, it becomes remarkably easy to control with levitation for you, and very hard for anypony else. I'm personally something of an expert in its use, while my brother generally prefers the use of hoofclaws and hornblades."

Starblaze nods at Mooncrescent, before setting down the blade and picking up some others, which appear similar but are notably shorter, with one side blunted and attached to some kind of harness. "And this is for our resident pegasus. Wingblades. I don't think I need to explain how they work?" Starblaze scratches the back of his head. "...Although, I don't know if I can actually show you how to put them on. We'll just focus on other weapons for now, I guess."

Twilight's disinterest seems to have evaporated in the face of all this new information, and she carefully leans over the spellblade with keen interest. "Attuned to the wielder? How does that work?" She asks, reading the old ponish runes engraved on the blade. "Mooncrescent"... But I thought Starblaze said that he was the one who used the spellblade?

"Ah, noticed the engravings I see." Starblaze lifts the blade again, spinning it around over his head, showing remarkable control over the blade as he sweeps it around his body, between his legs, over the back of his tail, all without the shining silver metal touching him a single time. "We pick out gemstones and resonate with them so that their magic matches our own, making them easier to affect. Then, we engrave runes that hold emotional meaning to ourselves, because magic responds to emotion. So the more deeply the engravings resonate with us, the easier it is for us to wield."

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes as Twilight continues on the conversation with Starblaze, and focuses her own attention on Mooncrescent, trying to imitate the unicorn's technique to snap the blades out. Eventually, she manages to kick her leg hard enough to snap the blades down, embedding them in the soft soil when she puts her hoof back down again. "Hey, I got it!" She grins. "I'll be a natural at this, just you watch! So what now? We gonna spar?" Rainbow Dash asks, overeagerly.

Mooncrescent just raises a brow in return. With a sudden movement, he sweeps out a leg and kicks out Rainbow Dash's from under her, resulting in the pegasus falling flat onto her face , unable to move her legs to correct her balance with the blades buried in the soil. Standing over the pegasus with a taunting grin on his face, Mooncrescent offers a hoof. "I think you're going to need to learn how to wear the things first before you worry about fighting with them. C'mon, we'll familiarize you with all the different options you have. Then we'll focus on footing, stance, and avoidance. Attacking comes last. Won't be winning any fights if you don't survive, first."

Rainbow Dash grumbles. That's twice in one day now that she'd gone for a fight only to be instantly disabled. Alright, maybe I'm not quite that awesome. Yet. Rainbow Dash's expression turns fierce and determined, and she nods her head. If she wants to stop embarrassing herself, she needs to learn. "Alright, fine." Rainbow Dash replies, pulling herself back up to her hooves by herself.

What follows is about an hour of Mooncrescent simply demonstrating to Rainbow Dash how to move and what stance's work with each of the different kinds of weapons, how to carry them without inhibiting her mobility while still being able to strike at a moments notice. Bows, Hoofclaws, Caestus, long hooked blades which extend perpendicularly to the hooves, and more.

And of course, Twilight analyzing each weapon in detail. Its a constant uphill battle for Starblaze trying to get his pupil to focus on learning how to use the things, instead of just trying to study their inner workings. "These are amazing! I had no idea that Equestria had things like this." Twilight states, enchanted, as she twirls an amethyst-studded spellblade around. It’s a training model, not specifically attuned to her, but by matching the gemstones to her magical aura she can feel how easy it is to move.

"Oh, you've seen nothing, yet. You should see what some of the colts in R&D are cooking up." Mooncrescent pipes up. "I've seen some of what they're working on. Full automatons powered by magic engines, prosthetic limbs, mechanized artillery..." The colt shakes his head. "I swear, Equestria is on the verge of some kind of technological revolution."

Twilight's eyes widen in wonder. She’ll have to ask Celestia to let her see some of that for sure! This is an entire new world of things to study for her. She opens her mouth to ask another question, only to be interrupted by Starblaze loudly clearing his throat to draw her attention back to the matter at hoof.

Rainbow Dash tunes out the conversation, trying to focus on her stance. She's back to using the hoofclaws; out of all the weapons she'd tried, they feel the best to her. "So like this?" She asks, widening her front legs and hunching over.

Mooncrescent shakes his head. "No, your weight is too far forwards. Gonna make it hard to move back quickly if you need to. Try and balance your weight a bit more. And keep your legs bent slightly, that way its easier to spring at a moments notice." The colt demonstrates, taking up a wide stance, carefully balanced, looking a little bit like a panther getting ready to pounce.

Rainbow Dash does her best to follow suit, not quite knowing what to do with her wings as Mooncrescents example didn't exactly have to worry about that. Eventually, she decides to flare them out a ways, to help with her balance. Mooncrescent smiles at her, encouragingly. "Good! Now you're getting it. Now we can start working on some defensive techniques."

Mooncrescent has Rainbow Dash take up position on the opposite side of a small arena from him. The training hoofclaws they are both equipped in are dulled for safety, but even so Mooncrescent places a foam block over the top of his own to ensure no harm comes to his charge. "Should I get one of those too..?" Rainbow Dash asks, cautiously.

Mooncrescent just shakes his head. "Ha, no need. I've gotten hit by much worse than a filly’s blunted training claws before, I'll be just fine. Alright, come on and take a swing at me so I can demonstrate." Rainbow Dash nods, and hesitantly swings one of the two hoofclaws at Mooncrescent, who just ducks out of the way, giving the filly an amused glance. "Faster than that, I'm not going to be able to showcase anything special if you're moving at the speed of a breezy."

Rainbow Dash huffs. Did this pony just call her slow? Alright then, buster, its your funeral. Rainbow dash pounces and swipes a flurry of blows, no longer holding back; claws swinging left, then down in an arc, then up in an uppercut. Mooncrescent leans left, then right, then hops over a swipe, before stomping down with his hoof and pinning Rainbow Dash's hoofclaw in place. Still, the colt seems more enthused than before. "Thats the spirit! Now, did you see how I moved when you went for me? I always dodge just the least amount possible, though it'll take you some practice to get a good enough sense of space to figure out where that is. For now, you should just try to avoid getting hit and learn spacing later. Now, you try."

After making sure the filly is ready, Mooncrescent lunges for her, moving fast enough to be a threat but telegraphing his swings enough to give the filly a reasonable chance to react. Rainbow Dash dives to the side, avoiding the first swipe, only for the other hoof to come down and strike her on the muzzle. Thankfully, the foam pads cushion the blow, leaving the only injury to her pride.

"Too predictable. You need to get in your opponents head, move in ways they don't expect so they can't counteract you. And you need to plan ahead." Mooncrescent advises, backing up. "If your first dodge is too extreme, you'll throw yourself off balance and won't be ready for the next hit. Over-correcting can be just as dangerous as under-correcting."

"Yeah, ok, that makes sense." Rainbow Dash confirms, standing back up and getting into stance. Just like with flying. Dodge one obstacle too fast and you'll careen into the next. It makes intuitive sense; now it's just time to put it into practice.

Satisfied that Rainbow Dash is ready, Mooncrescent beckons the filly, standing upright and ready. "Again!"

"Hey, wait up!" Rainbow Dash calls out from behind Twilight, cantering to catch up with the unicorn who is currently reading a book as she walks. Rainbow Dash had prolonged the lessons as much as possible, resulting in Twilight leaving earlier than her when the allotted time slot was over. Athletics simply is not her forte, even if the mechanisms of the weapons are interesting.

Twilight doesn't bother looking up from her book, instead grouchily replying "What do you want?". As if it isn't bad enough that Rainbow Dash had gotten her pulled away from her studies, now she is trying to talk to her even outside of class?

Rainbow Dash remembers Shining Armor's words from the first day of classes, and swallows her pride to ignore the tone in Twilight's voice, falling in line beside the purple unicorn. "I, um, need your help with something." She admits hesitantly.

Twilight now glances over at her quizzically, raising a brow. It isn't like the pegasus to ask for help with anything, even if she is struggling; her studies showcase that readily enough. Even when Twilight had tried to offer help, Rainbow Dash did her best to brush her off. "Well, that's new." Twilight admits, sliding a placeholder into her book and shutting it before tucking it into a saddlebag. "What with?"

"Well... You're good with words, right? It's just, I've been here for a long while now, and I've barely written home at all. My friends asked me to write to them but, I can't figure out what to write about." Rainbow Dash admits, sheepishly.

Twilight blinks. That is surprisingly sentimental for the pegasus. Glancing back at her saddlebags where her precious books are, Twilight sighs. "I guess I can spare a little while." Twilight reluctantly acquiesces. "But we're going to have to pick up Spike first, and we need to go to my room while we work on it." Twilight states, firmly.

"That's fine by me." Rainbow Dash replies flippantly, carefully hiding the warm gratitude she feels behind a callous demeanor. "So uh, where is Spike?"

"They're at the nursery." Twilight replies. "Celestia said I could leave them there while I'm at class."

"Why does the palace even have a nursery? I mean it's not like anypony who lives here has foals."

"Apparently, ponies who stay at the palace for various reasons sometimes bring their children. Some royal guards use the nursery when they have foals but still have duties to attend to." Twilight shrugs. "I spent a few days there as a foal myself, when my father was working and my mother had to run errands."

Rainbow dash glances over at Twilight with interest. "Really? Your father worked at the palace?"

Twilight nods. "Uh-huh. He still does, actually. He's a member of the royal guard, just like my brother. But I guess he spends more days on patrol or out in the field, I haven't actually seen him around much. But he goes home on the weekends, just like most aristocrats, since our estate isn't too far from the palace." Wheeling around, Twilight stops before a colorful door. "Alright, here we are!"

"I'll, uh, wait out here." Rainbow Dash remarks gruffly, sitting outside the door. Just a glimpse into the room reveals that it is garishly cutesy in decoration, scattered with dozens of toys. A kindly-looking older mare is present watching over the inhabitants, which presently consists of Spike and some other unicorn foal. As soon as Twilight steps through the passageway, Spike looks up at her, and stands up on wobbling legs, taking a step or two forwards before falling forward onto their front claws and strutting over in quadrupedal mode like a pony.

"Tw... Twig... Twlai!" Spike burbles out, struggling to pronounce the fillies name. Twilight smiles down at the baby dragon dotingly and lays down, allowing it to climb up onto her back. The baby dragon is still physically almost the same as when it had first been born, but its mental development seems extremely rapid by pony standards, and its coordination had improved at least to the point that it could reach Twilight's back all on its own. Twilight makes a mental note to record her findings; precious little is known about dragon development after all, so this is a research opportunity that few ponies get!

"That's right, Spikey, Twilight's back." Twilight chuckles, before bowing her head to the mare in charge of the nursery. "Thank you for looking after them, Mrs. Watchful."

The mare smiles back benevolently and shakes her head. "It's no problem at all, dear. Spike here is remarkably well behaved for his age. Take care, now."

Twilight shuts the door behind her as she rejoins Rainbow Dash. "Well... Let's be off, then?"

Rainbow Dash glances around Twilight's room as she follows the purple unicorn inside. Although the layout is very similar to her own room, the filly has already acquired a monumental number of books, stacked in neat towers as the bookshelves had run out of space some time ago. The décor is also conventional Canterlot fair, rather than the Cloudsdale-reminiscent furnishings Celestia had provided the pegasus with.

Twilight levitates Spike from her back, and turns to Rainbow Dash. "Alright, so just who is it you're writing a letter to?"

"My friends from Cloudsdale. Cloud Kicker, Fluttershy, and Gilda. And, my parents, too." She admits the last one a little sheepishly.

Twilight raises a brow. "Kicker? Like, one of the-"

Rainbow Dash holds up a hoof to interrupt Twilight, and nods her head. "Yep, like one of the Kicker clan that Shadow Kicker and Rock Kicker were from. Not like she'll ever let me forget about it. She was in Cloudsdale for flight training, I should actually see her around here once flight camp is over."

"And Gilda... That's a gryphon name, isn't it?" Twilight asks curiously. "You have interesting friends. Alright, pull up a chair."

Twilight sits up at her desk and motions for Rainbow Dash to follow. "Alright, let's get started. ...Where's my quill, I could swear I left it here..." Twilight squints as she looks through the drawers of her desk.

"Um, is that it?" Rainbow Dash draws Twilight's attention over to the fledgling dragon, who is currently scribbling something on the walls with the quill in question. Twilight groans and hastily levitates the quill out of the dragon's reach, who burbles in protest.

"Hey! No, you're making a mess!" Twilight protests, hopping out of the chair and racing over to the dragon. "Ugh, we gotta get this cleaned up before the ink dries! Help me out!"

Rainbow Dash raises a brow. "Uhm, what do you think I am, some kind of maid? Get one of the palace servants to help-" Rainbow Dash is cut off by a baleful glare from Twilight, and she hastily corrects herself, "uhm, on second thought, I guess it would only be fair since you're helping me..."

"That's more like it." Twilight replies in a scolding tone that reminds Rainbow Dash that the unicorn filly is her senior by both age and time spent as Celestia's student, even if only by a little in both.

Only after the mess is fully cleaned up and Spike has been delivered into their crib beside Twilight's bed, do the two get to sit down and get to work, with a very neat hooful of small scrolls lined up on their ends on one corner while the inkwell and quill sit on the corner of the desk. "So, who would you like to start with?" Twilight asks.

Rainbow Dash purses her lips. She'd written to her parents soon after arriving, and besides of which the two of them have plenty else going on. But Gilda had seemed... Distraught when she'd left. "Gilda, I think. Only, I don't really know what to write about. She wouldn't be interested in what I'm studying." Plus, there's no way I want to focus on that, I'd look like a total dweeb.

Twilight nods. As incomprehensible as that idea is to her, it also is not exactly surprising after having spent as much time near Rainbow Dash as she has, now. "You must have gotten up to some other stuff since you got here. Maybe talk about your impressions of the city? Have you had a chance to look around?"

Rainbow Dash frowns, shaking her head. "Not really. I was in the infirmary for the first little while, and since then Celestia's been keeping me real busy with studying." Rainbow Dash yawns.

Twilight gives Rainbow Dash a look of pity. Not that studying is bad, but to not have seen any of Canterlot after being here for this long is a real shame when there is so much history to see just walking around the city. “Well, why not start with that? That's part of telling how you've been doing since you got here, wouldn't you say?"

Rainbow Dash shrugs. "I guess so. I never really thought of it that way. Alright, so, help me figure out how to word this."

"Whew! Thanks a million, Twi." Rainbow Dash rolls her shoulders, relieved. Twilight just gives her an incredulous look at the overly familiar nickname she had apparently been assigned. With Twilight's assistance, Rainbow Dash had been able to complete not only her letter to Gilda, but one to Cloud Kicker, Fluttershy, and her parents as well. The post office is already closed, however, and so the pegasus is forced to just head for her room.

At least, that was the plan, but as she opens the door out of twilight’s room, she finds Princess Celestia ascending the stairs. The princess pauses momentarily, the edges of her mouth tilting upwards slightly. “My, I see you are getting along. I'm glad to see it. Pray tell, what triggered this change in attitude?"

“I-I just needed some help with something.” Rainbow Dash quickly explains. “I was just heading back to my room with some letters, I need to get up early enough to send them before classes tomorrow.”

“Hold on just a moment, my little pony.” Celestia requests. “While I have you here, there is something I should tell you. I’m afraid our classes are going to have to be cancelled for the next few days. Something came up on the outskirts, and I am going to have to be away from Canterlot for some time. Your other classes will continue as normal, but I will have to resume tutoring you upon my return. I have asked the royal chefs to make you breakfast during my absence, so you need not worry about that."

Rainbow Dash blinks and exchanges a confused glance with Twilight. “Oh. Um, alright.” She says unsurely. Well, she supposes that will make it easier to send her letter at any rate.

Chapter Text

"Everypony, at attention! The Princess is with us!" Captain Silent Serpent calls out as Celestia descends into the courtyard. Perhaps a dozen ponies are present, though as Celestia scans the crowd she quickly realizes the entourage is not entirely what she had expected.

"What is this? Where are Morning Vigil and Diamond Lance?" There are more missing than just that, but listing them all seems pointless; all told, about half of the guardsponies present are swapped from what she’d expected.

"We were not able to locate several guard members on such short notice, they seem to be on long patrol. As for the others, it seems that a sickness has swept through the barracks, and they were not fit for duty." Silent Serpent reports, impassively.

Celestia frowns. Canterlot is already going to be deprived of several of its best soldiers to accompany her, and now this? Still, a full escort is necessary, she will want to display as much royal authority as possible where she is going. So, Celestia nods, albeit reluctantly. “Very well. Bring me the up to date guard schedules. Everypony else, load up. We’ll set out as soon as the captain returns.”

Silent Serpent quickly salutes. “Of course, your majesty.” Without wasting further time, he takes off at a fast trot while Celestia performs a mental tally of who is present.

Silent Serpent has seemingly arranged for other guardsponies to fill in for the entourage, bringing the total back up to twelve. Most are pegasi, to pull the chariots, but as there are two chariots to fill, a hooful of unicorns and earth ponies are present as well. Mooncrescent and Starblaze sit opposite from Celestia, and as soon as Silent Serpent has returned with the requested documentation, the entourage sets off.

"Excuse me, Princess?" Starblaze speaks up, raising a hoof to keep the wind out of his face.

Celestia glances up at the unicorn, barely noting his presence. "Mhm?"

"Forgive my intrusion, but may I ask... Why are we heading to the outskirts? The captain didn't say, he just got us out of bed early this morning and told us we were needed to fill in for your entourage." Starblaze asks, hoping he isn’t overstepping his bounds.

The kind of question Father would want us asking... Mooncrescent makes a face at the thought, looking off the side of the carriage. Flying is a rare pleasure, though he too would like to know why they are traveling on such short notice.

Celestia sighs in apparent irritation, though it is not directed at the brothers. "House Ivy in the eastern forest is causing trouble. Apparently, they've claimed that they received no word of the new tax codes, and multiple royal messengers have gone missing in the vicinity. Not to mention, all manner of interference and insubordination in regards to my latest royal decrees. They've clearly gotten overconfident in my absence, so I felt that a surprise visit in the flesh was necessary to set them straight. Or, if absolutely necessary... Replace them."

"Does that mean there's a chance there'll be fighting?" Mooncrescent asks, his tone altogether far too chipper for that question. Celestia frowns pointedly at the unicorn colt; she trusts in his good nature and doubly in his talent for combat, but that sense of bloodlust he dislays is more than a little concerning.

"You should not be so eager. All of the ponies in Equestria are precious to me, and the thought of battle between them is a somber one indeed. Your purpose here is simply a show of force. See if you can't enjoy the trip and put this from your mind." Celestia’s tone turns more serious. "Just be ready for anything. I hope it will not come to that, but the possibility is always there."

The carriage ride descends into silence, while Celestia returns to focusing on the documentation before her. Something just doesn't add up. When did Ruby Hooves get assigned to patrol? I distinctly recall him being on guard duty. Celestia's brow furrows, as she flips through more and more pages. The differences are subtle; An extended leave there, a different route here. but Celestia had spent long hours planning out Canterlots defenses, and the further she reads the more certain she is; somepony has tampered with the schedules. But how? And more importantly, for what purpose?

Celestia closes her eyes, envisioning a mental map of Canterlot. Considering where the guards schedules will bring them, what parts of the palace are guarded when. Do the altered schedules leave the treasury unguarded? No, none of the guards there have been moved. So what could...

Celestia's eyes snap open again in sudden alarm as she stands bolt upright, every muscle tense.

"Turn the chariots around, now! And pray that we are not too late!”

Earlier that morning, at Canterlot Palace...

Rainbow Dash groans and sits up in bed. She'd thought that, given the lack of the normal morning tutoring lessons that Celestia usually gave her, she'd get a chance to sleep in a bit. Yet despite that fact, the steady rapping of a hoof knocking at her door does not dissipate. Scowling, Rainbow Dash stalks over to the door and throws it open, to be met with a bright-eyed and energetic looking Twilight, Spike in tow. "Whaddya want?" Rainbow Dash slurs out groggily.

"Last night, you mentioned that you haven't been around Canterlot. Correct?" Twilight starts, in a cadence and tone that makes it clear she had rehearsed this speech. Rainbow Dash just stares at her, waiting for her to get on with it, and the unicorn filly eventually clears her throat awkwardly. "Well, um, that seemed like a real shame. And since you need to drop your letters off anyways, I thought it would be a good time to explore! So I mad ea list of things you have to see in the city." Twilight explains, unfurling a scroll which goes down to the ground, and then some.

Rainbow Dash heavily considers slamming the door in her classmates face and going straight back to bed, but reluctantly sighs. Now that she is already up, it isn't like she’s going to be getting back to sleep, not with dawn's light just starting to stream in through the window. So instead, she just dryly states, “I thought you’d be studying.” That is the one thing this filly seems to do, after all.

"And I would dearly like to be!" Twilight proclaims. "You should be grateful I'm willing to take a break." She self consciously rubs the back of her neck, glancing backwards.

"Are you feeling alright?" Rainbow Dash asks, cocking her head to the side. "If you have a fever, I'm sure Celestia wouldn't mind if you took a day off..."

Twilight stares blankly at Rainbow Dash for a moment before slumping and groaning. "Ugh, why does this have to be so hard... Dealing with other ponies is such a pain..." Rainbow Dash just crosses her hooves in response. Twilight is not doing a great job selling her on this plan, so far. After a moment, Twilight adopts a more serious posture and looks Rainbow Dash in the eye.

"Alright, look, here's the deal. My brother's been insisting I spend more time with other ponies." Twilight eventually admits. "And he also mentioned having met you. And just..." Twilight sighs. "Look, you haven't gotten to see any of Canterlot, and both Celestia and Shining have been on my case to spend more time with other ponies. It'd be two birds with one stone. What do you say? Then once we're done I can go back to studying, and you can go back to doing... Whatever it is you do."

Rainbow Dash shrugs. “Well, I guess I don’t have anything else to do.” A twinge of curiosity settles into her brain, and she cocks her head to the side. "Are you going to bring Spike along?"

Twilight nods. “Well, of course. I can’t exactly just leave him alone all day.”

Rainbow Dash hesitates, peering over at the little dragon currently absently chewing on a lock of Twilight’s perfectly neat mane. “How’s the little guy doing? He spends all his time with you, how’s he, um, developing?”

Twilight blinks, surprised at the line of questioning. "Huh? I mean, they’re mostly pretty well behaved, though they can be kind of a pain sometimes. They seem pretty interested in interacting with whatever I'm doing, so they can get in the way when i'm trying to study, sometimes.” She hesitates, tilting her head to the side curiously. “How do you know Spike’s a ‘him’? I haven't found any books that told me how to sex a dragon.”

Rainbow Dash just rolls her eyes. “Oh, whatever, are you just going to call him ‘it’ all day? I’ll change it if you ever find out something different. It just feels more natural to say.” The pegasus spouts off dismissively.

Twilight glances back at the dragon, who had begun absently playing with her mane. “You have a point... Alright, I guess that’s that, then.” The filly fondly runs one hoof over Spike’s frills, causing the dragon to giggle and beam happily. “Why do you ask?”

"Well, it's just... I dunno, the magic from my rainboom was used to create them, right?" Rainbow Dash asks, reaching out to poke the dragon's cheek, eliciting a squeal from the baby as its claws feebly grasp at the filly’s hoof. "I guess I just feel like we're connected somehow. Maybe that’s silly. You made them, after all."

Twilight nods, strolling up to Rainbow dash's side. "I don't think its silly. Honestly, though, I'm surprised Celestia trusts me to look after him as much as I do. I guess he doesn’t have any other family though, and growing up as a dragon in a pony orphanage..." Twilight winces at the thought. "The other ponies in my class already act afraid of him, I can’t imagine how rough it would be if he didn’t have me. So I guess it makes some degree of sense when I think about it that way, but I still feel pretty out of my depth though, even with Cadance helping as much as she does."

The two sit in silence for a moment, while Spike stares up at them. After a moment, Spike tugs on Rainbow Dash's hoof. "R... Rgh... Aybrr... D- as!" Spike blurbles out, as if it was an exclamation.

Rainbow Dash blinks in surprise. "Is... Is he trying to say my name?" She asks, in a hushed tone.

Twilight giggles. "I guess Spike feels a connection too, huh?" Twilight smiles softly. "He tries to say my name sometimes too. He’s barely any different physically from when he first hatched, but he’s been developing mentally faster than foals do. I think he’ll learn how to talk within a year, if my projections are accurate."

"Wow..." Rainbow Dash murmurs. “Smart little guy, huh?”

Twilight beams. "I know, right? You can really tell he understands more than he’s able to say. He even tries to help tidy up the place, sometimes." The unicorn giggles softly. "Though, I think he usually cause more of a mess than they clean in the process."

“Well, let me go get ready and we can go.” Gathering up the letters they'd written, Rainbow Dash folds them down under her wing, before to her great surprise feeling a weight suddenly placed upon her back. Glancing back, she is surprised to find the wide eyes of a baby dragon staring into her own, tiny claws grasping at her mane.

Twilight giggles off to the side. "You wanted to see Spike, right? Well, I think he could use some variety in who he gets a ride from."

Rainbow Dash blushes and rolls her eyes. How did I end up giving a ride to a baby? This is decidedly less than cool. But at the same time, she can't help but feel a tad honored. Shaking her head, she simply mumbles "Whatever, let's just get going.”

The way down through the palace seems unusually quiet and empty, especially since it’s a slightly later time of day than the duo’s first classes normally were. “Where are all the guards?” Rainbow Dash idly wonders, looking around.

Twilight shrugs. "I guess the Princess must have taken alot of them wherever they went. Does make the place feel kinda lonely though, doesn't it?"

Rainbow Dash nods in response, feeling self-conscious about the echoing sound of hoofsteps on the palace tile. She'd gotten used to how the environment differed from Cloudsdale, but the empty halls of the palace make it feel more grand, somehow, bringing her awareness back to its splendor as her eyes leave the ground and search the towering arches above.

The two of them take a side passage out of the palace hoping to avoid crowds, given how camera shy Twilight is, although Rainbow Dash privately thinks that a bit of press attention would hardly be the worst thing in the world. The post office is thankfully not far at all from the palace, being a governmental building as it is, and the two fillies are able to make their delivery in no time at all.

"So, where are we off to now, major egghead?" Rainbow Dash asks. "I assume some dusty old museum or boring historical site?"

"Although that does sound positively delightful, there's a place much closer to the palace I'd like to visit first." Twilight replies. "If you've never been to Donut Joe's then I gotta tell you, you're in for a treat."

That... Is not what Rainbow Dash had expected to hear. But the thought of donuts good enough to get even this bookworm out of the palace is enough incentive for her. "I assume you brought the bits?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, of course." Twilight levitates a stack of bits out of her saddlebag. "I never leave home without them."

Rainbow Dash gawks at the amount she’s carrying; that’s as much as her own life savings, she is pretty sure, possibly considerably more. Looking around hurriedly, she hisses to Twilight "Put that away! What if somepony sees how much your carrying and decides to rob us?"

Twilight just stares at her, innocently. "You really think somepony would do that? Just rob us in broad daylight?" She asks, shocked.

"I mean bullies back home used to jump me and Fluttershy as soon as we got out of class. I'm sure that actual criminals aren't less daring than that." Rainbow Dash retorts.

“Just what kind of environment did you grow up in?” Twilight sounds astonished somehow. Her companion doesn’t have a chance to answer, though, as the duo had finished the walk to the donut shop. It really is shockingly close to the palace, considering. They must be really successful to be able to afford rent around here... Twilight ponders internally. Swinging open the door with her magic, the bell inside chimes. "It feels awfully empty in here too, doesn't it?"

"Does it? Its probably just not a busy day." Rainbow Dash replies.

Twilight frowns. "It’d normally be full of off-duty guards, though. It's a great place for them to get snacks between shifts since the wait isn't as long as the restaurants you can normally find around here. Just how many did Celestia take with her?"

Rainbow Dash just shrugs, glancing backwards. The path the duo took was a less traveled one, so it isn't surprising that they'd only run into a few ponies. The plaza outside is mostly empty save for a single Palace Guard standing underneath a terrace, standing watch with spear and shield in hand, and a hoofull of other ponies; some tourists, one pony whom Rainbow Dash can't get a good look at underneath their cloak, and a couple aristocrats galloping through on their way to some meeting or another. Kind of overdressed for the weather, aren't they?

"Rainbow Dash! Equestria to Rainbow Dash!" Twilight was saying, and Rainbow Dash turns back around, startled, realizing she had spaced out. Twilight sighs. "Finally. C'mon, what kind of donuts do you want? Joe is waiting on ya."

Rainbow Dash blinks. "O-oh, uh, maple bars sounds good." She reports, unceremoniously. She can't help it, something is bugging her today. Distracted as she is, the rest of the short visit to the donut shop passes without leaving much of a mark on Rainbow Dash, as the filly is lost in her thoughts. Still, the alert mind of an active flyer is never still, and as she follows Twilight out into the plaza with treats in hoof, snippets of conversation around her find their way into her consciousness.

"...So I told him he was being ridiculous..."
"...I don't care what the new going interest rate is, our deal was already settled!"
"...Target acquired. Requesting permission to engage, over."

Rainbow Dash blinks. Wait, what? Faster than her conscious mind even catches up with her perception, the training she'd gotten so far rushes to the forefront of her mind, and the filly dives to the ground, just in time for the blade hurtling through the air to whoosh through her mane, chopping a lock of prismatic hair to the ground instead of killing her outright.

The filly wants to freeze up in shock, but a commanding voice inside her mind takes over. Dodge unpredictably, but don’t overcorrect! Springing from her crouched position into motion, Rainbow Dash jolts into the air as the unknown assailant lunges through the space she was a moment ago. A scream pierces the air as the ponies around notice what is happening. For a moment, Rainbow Dash considers simply flying up and away, but a glance at Twilight's terrified face quickly silences that thought. Dorky nerd or not, she’s not about to leave her fellow student in the hooves of... Whoever their assailants are.

The pony in the cloak, long lightly curved dagger held tightly in the space behind their teeth, is already charging towards her. In that moment, she gets a brief look at her assailant; Underneath the plain but finely made cloak, she is clearly an earth pony, with a scar over one eye and strangely impassive expression for somepony currently attempting murder.

Rainbow Dash tumbles over in midair before landing on her hooves in some kind of delayed, wing-assisted frontal summersalt. Feinting to the left, she immediately jolts to the right, watching the attacker stab into where she had projected going. Despite the terror she should be feeling, the emotion hasn't had time to catch up with her yet, instead leaving her with a cocky sense of satisfaction at applying her training. Only after whirling around to face the cloaked pony, does she feel the warm wetness on her flank, and realize that she had not been totally successful in her evasive maneuvers.

That'll smart later... Assuming she gets out of this alive, that is. Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she can't feel the pain nor fear that really ought to be present. Meanwhile, the world around her is catching up, as the guard manages to recover from his shock and lever his spear at the assailant. "Step away from the filly, now! This is your only warning!" He stamps his hoof on the ground, preparing to charge.

The earth pony assailant spits on the ground, flicking a dismissive glance over towards the guard as a dark figure materializes from the shadows behind him. Rainbow Dash's eyes widen in alarm. "Look out!"

The warning comes too late, and to the filly’s visceral sense of horror, a keen silvery blade matching the other attackers' erupts from the guards throat as his eyes bulge from his skull in shock, and another pair of cloaked ponies emerge from the alleys behind him, knives in hoof with more besides strapped to belts going around their barrels. The distraction to Rainbow Dash leaves her vulnerable, and the first assailant jerks with her neck, the long knife hurtling towards Rainbow Dash's throat.

Rainbow Dash tenses up in fear and anticipation of swiftly approaching death, before a brick held in a purple aura slams into the attackers head from the side before the attack can be carried home. The scar-eyed pony staggers in place, not letting out a sound but still clearly dazed, as Rainbow Dash turns her head to see Twilight, standing up on trembling legs with her horn lit up.

"Stay away from her!" Twilight screams out hoarsely, eyes wide and voice trembling.

Whirling around, Rainbow Dash plants a kick on the assailants face before she can fully recover from the telekinetically thrown brick, and without looking if it worked, bolts for Twilight and Spike before the other cloaked ponies can get any closer. There isn’t time to think, only to get out of there.

Throwing all four limbs around Twilight’s barrel and hoping that Spike has a secure grip even as the baby dragon begins filling the air with an earsplitting wail, Rainbow Dash surges across the ground, flapping her wings as hard as she can trying to take off while Twilight’s hooves race to keep up with the half-aloft pegasid’s speed until she manages to leave the ground.

"Woah!" Is all Rainbow Dash manages to say as she swoops up into the air in a half-loop before snapping back as quickly as she can at the sight of yet another attacker, a pegasus swooping down right after her. She does not quite move fast enough to completely avoid injury-the very tip of her ear is clipped by the attackers wing-blade, slicing it clean off with a thin trail of blood. But far worse than that is in store for her as she watches the other wing of the pony arcing up and around, aiming straight down the length of her torso.

In desperation, Rainbow Dash folds her wings shut and drops like a rock, hurtling to the ground as quickly as she can, colliding with the stone as she does her best to cushion Twilight and Spike from the impact. A burst of pain surges through her, even the haze of adrenaline unable to blot out the visceral crack of her ribs snapping against stone.

I can't... breathe! Rainbow Dash's mind races, as she struggles and fails to stand, agony surging through her as she tries to lift her head to see what's going on. Desperation pulses through her, the fear that had been suppressed while her body was still able to act and try to escape. C-Celestia, I'm going to die! I'm really going to die!

Rainbow Dash frantically claws at the stones, struggling to pull herself up to her hooves. But just as she has almost managed it, getting her wobbling front legs under her, another assailant reaches her, and with one simple blow knocks her over onto the ground and onto her back. Her vision goes blurry as the back of her head hits the stone, unable to breathe with a hoof pressing down against her throat.

Rainbow Dash lets out a thin whimper, the only sound that can make it through her crushed windpipe, tears leaking from the edges of her eyes. Despite the circumstance, she can't help but think an utterly ridiculous thought; Is this really how you want to die? Crying like a foal? She would have laughed at the surreality of it, if she could breathe. But instead, all she can do is barely make out the gleaming edge of a blade, lifted skywards in preparation to end her far-too-short life.

Chapter Text

Light fills Rainbow Dash's eyes.

Her first thought, an oddly tranquil, even calming thought, is that it must be the light a pony supposedly sees when they die. But that thought is dashed aside in only a moment. One would expect a light like that to be serene, calming, calling you to a peaceful afterlife.

This light is no such thing. It rages, with an incandescent force hotter than an erupting volcano. It burns with an intensity which tells Rainbow Dash that she is, indeed, alive. Its magic bleeds into the air, a distant sense of gentleness buried beneath a mountain of crimson rage. All Rainbow Dash can do is cower in place, the agony of her cracked ribs all but forgotten, taking in the sight as her eyes steadily strain to make out the scene before her.

What had moments ago been a cloaked pony bearing down on her, knife in hoof, is now... Nothing, not even a wet spot on the ground. In fact, even the ground they had been standing on is missing, replaced by a smoldering crater still glowing a dull red from the heat of impact. And within that crater...

Rainbow Dash's heart catches in her throat as her eyes are drawn hypnotically to the source of the blinding light, unable to shut them despite how it stings, like staring into the sun. Standing there is a... Thing, which can only be described as equine in the vaguest of terms. White coat blazing with heavenly fire, mane and tail glowing a bright amber like the fiercest of flames, and wings of pure light spread wide. Indeed, it resembles less a pony, and more a living star in the vague shape of a pony, the magic within unable to be constrained within the boundaries of its form. As though its body is merely a vessel, a container, for a being far more than mere flesh residing within.

Even to a pegasus largely unschooled in the ways of magic, its easy to feel the weight of the entities presence. It feels like light itself, like the sun in a desert sky, like pain and sorrow and anger and fear all congealed into one, great and terrible in equal measure. She feels it with her whole being, in every fiber and cell of her body, enveloping her very soul in supernatural dread and reverence. Yet for all the weight of the things presence, Rainbow Dash finds to her immense relief that it is not fixated on her but rather on the remaining assassins.

The earth pony assassin leaps at Rainbow Dash in a last ditch effort, face every bit as dispassionate as she’d started. Moving with preternatural speed, the wings of the Entity above Rainbow Dash swing in a great arc, and like a white-hot blade slicing through butter the attacker is bisected right down the middle, smiting their body to ash and smoke with an earth-shattering sound like thunder.

Is that... Celestia? Rainbow Dash’s jaw hangs open in disbelief, fear, and awe. It’s almost impossible to recognize that living embodiment of the sun’s fury as she is now.

Of the remaining assassins, the one nearest the alley bolts for it, while another bites down on something, falling to the ground almost intantly. The former does not make it far; A searing ray of golden flame sweeps across the plaza, cutting a deep rift in the cobblestone and up the side of the wall with altogether unnecessary force, scourging the flesh of the unfortunate pony from the bone.

That leaves only one remaining, the pegasus who had attempted to cut Rainbow dash down the middle. With the ability to fly, it had taken him a fraction of a second to decide whether to chomp down on his pill of attempt an escape. That fraction of a second was too long. As he tries to bite down on the pill to end his life, Celestia's gaze falls upon him, the alicorn's horn lighting up with a deep amber light. Even as his jaw struggles to close, the overwhelming telekinetic might of an alicorn's raw magic envelops it and yanks it open, far wider than it was ever meant to, snapping the jawbone like a twig. A moan of agony erupts from the pegasus, as the telekinetic aura envelops his entire frame, dragging him to the ground and pinning him in place as blood drips from his mouth.

"YOU COME TO MY HOME AND ATTACK MY PRIZED PUPILS, BLAMELESS AND INNOCENT FILLIES BOTH, AND EXPECT TO ESCAPE THAT EASILY? YOU MAY DIE WHEN I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO DIE."

The words resound with a force far more than physical, sweeping through the rock and thundering through the trees, every syllable steeped in divine might. Even Rainbow Dash can feel the innate magic echoing in the words, the very fabric of reality shuddering with each syllable. And yet, for all the power and force within it, the voice is still undeniably that of Celestia, elegant and regal even in this moment of twisted fury.

Beside Rainbow Dash, Twilight falls down to her haunches, eyes wide, tears beginning to fill the fillies eyes. Even Rainbow Dash, for all her bravado, cannot help but cower and whimper in terror, covering her face with both her forehooves.

The sound of the filly's terror reaches Celestia through the haze of retributive bloodlust, and as the vibrant form of the alicorn turns her head back to her two students, badly bruised and beaten both by their ordeal, Celestia's rationality begins to return. The anger that fills the surrounding air begins to subside, giving way to sorrow and remorse, as the light shining unbound from within the alicorn princess retreats back inside the flesh that serves as its vessel. Her mane glows like cinders dwindling, as it fades slowly back to the soft pastel colors of the rainbow, until at last the sight before the two fillies returns to the Celestia they know.

"I am sorry you had to see me like that, my dear students." There is a certain sorrowful huskiness in Celestia's voice that even the well-practice political poker face she has learned over the centuries cannot restrain. "But do not fear, no harm will come to you. I promise. Just close your eyes."

Despite Celestia's request, Rainbow Dash can't help but keep her eyes wide open, the scene before her engraving into her memories where it will surely never leave her. A foal wails over the corpse of the dead guardspony, begging it to wake. Deep scorch marks run through the cobblestone, and the remains of would-be assassins are scorched unrecognizably into the very stones where they had been standing, whilst the sole survivor struggles against the telekinetic bonds pinning him to the cobblestone. And Celestia, laying there low before her, almost unimaginably gentle seeming for a being which had mere moments ago been practically exploding with uncontained strength.

Rainbow Dash tries to speak, but all that comes out is a gasp of pain through her shattered ribs, and she rolls over onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut as tears begin leaking from them. Even then, she can't block out the residual heat still in the air, the ashen smell of charred death soaking into her fur.

The clatter of hooves on cobble announces the arrival of Celestia's entourage, panting heavily as they catch back up with the solar monarch, surveying the scene with equal parts fascination and horror. "I am sorry, my little ponies, but I am afraid I must attend to my troops and catch those responsible for this travesty." Celestia states, sadly. "I shall be with you soon." Rising up to her hooves, Celestia turns to address the guards.

"Mooncrescent, Starblaze, I want you to perform a full sweep around the palace grounds. Pearl Glow, I want the palace guard on high alert. Lion's Pride, take this prisoner to a cell, and make sure he’s kept under watch. The rest of you, get every guardspony—on duty, off duty, in training, I don't care—in Canterlot out here, I want the entire palace district on lockdown, stat. And bring me cadets Glyndwr and Shining Armor!" Celestia rattles off the series of orders swiftly, the disciplined guards behind her saluting and scurrying off to fulfill each one in turn.

"Twilight! Oh dear Celestia, are you ok?" Twilight forces her eyes open. She recognizes that voice, isn't it...

Any further thought was disrupted by suddenly being wrapped up in two very strong, very protective white forelimbs. Craning her neck up to see the face of her captor revealed the very worried face of Shining Armor. "Sh-Shiny?" She mumbles out in shock.

Shining Armor just nods his head and closes his eyes, squeezing Twilight as if he thinks she’ll dissipate into the air if he lets go. "I came as fast as I could once I heard what happened. Are you ok? You're not hurt, are you? The doctors let you get up, right?" His voice sounds almost as anxious as her own.

"I-I'm okay." Twilight's voice sounded meek and scared, even to herself. "I didn't get hurt too badly." The same could not be said for the others in the plaza... Shutting her eyes tightly, the scene replays in her head again, the horrible cracking sound of Rainbow Dash hitting the stone below her, the sudden loss of air as the guards throat was slit... The horrible, infernal heat as Celestia had made their entrance. Despite herself, she can’t help but shudder and instinctively bury her face down into her brothers white fur, hyperventilation mixing with ragged sobs.

"Thank goodness..." Shining Armor breathes out, gently stroking her mane. Slowly, ever so slowly, Twilight's shaking subsides, though she does not stop clinging to her brother any.

"H-how are the other ponies?" Twilight sniffles out, pulling her head back just the bare minimum amount needed to see Shining Armor's face. "I-Is Rainbow Dash okay?"

Shining Armor frowns, wishing he could console her but not being able to. "I don't know. As soon as I got word of what happened I came straight here. But I'm sure-"

Before Shining Armor can finish that statement the door bursts open again and another pair of familiar faces rush into the room at a full gallop. Twilight Velvet and Night Light both take up their positions close by Shining Armor's side, throwing their forelimbs around Twilight as well.

"You're okay! Thank Celestia you're okay! I swear, if I ever learn who was responsible for this..." Night Light bristles with rage at the suggestion.

'Thank Celestia'. Twilight can't help but ponder on that thought. Thank the Princess, indeed, for saving her. And yet, whatever gratitude she might feel, she can’t help but feel it laced with fear. Never before had she borne witness to such unrelenting ferocity... And if she has her way, she prays she never would again.

"My darling! What kind of monster could want to hurt my baby?" Twilight Velvet wails, smothering the younger Twilight in an embrace so tight it was difficult to breathe.

Even Spike got in on the action, standing up on wobbling legs and adding his own wailing to the mix, stubby arms struggling to curl around the blob of ponies.

Eventually, everypony had gotten enough, and slowly untangled from the mass of limbs and body heat, leaving Twilight sitting there in the middle of the family, Spike still draped across one of her hind legs refusing to let go.

"Did you catch a look at whoever your attackers were? Did they say anything?" Night Light questions her, but before she can respond Twilight Velvet interjects.

"Nighty! Don't ask the poor thing something like that, can't you see she's still terrified? I'm sure she'll have to endure enough questioning from the guards." Twilight Velvet turns back to her daughter apologetically. "Don't you worry about things like that right now, sweetie. Right now, we're just happy that you're safe."

"Shining Armor! The Princess would have a word with you." A voice from the doorway calls, a royal guard standing upright and at attention, not a hint of emotion showing.

Shining Armor sighs and reluctantly steps back. "Well, you hear him, sis. Duty calls. I'll be back as soon as I can, alright?" He promises, earning a nod of acknowledgement from Twilight. Uncertainly, Shining Armor turns to leave, following the guardspony who had called for him.

When Shining Armor reaches the throne room, he is not alone-Mooncrescent, Starblaze, Glyndwr, and even the guard captain Silent Serpent are all there as well.

And of course, sitting upon her throne with heavy eyelids, is the Princess of the Sun herself. Quickly saluting, Shining Armor falls in with the other guards. Just what could have been so important as to call him away from Twilight’s side..?

"I'm sure all of you understand that this attack is far more than a mere assassination attempt." Celestia breaks the silence. "A multitude of assassins were able to not only infiltrate the palace district fully armed, but go so far as to change guard schedules around within the most heavily fortified complex in Equestria. The magnitude of this breach of security cannot be overstated. We are dealing with a traitor, or possibly many traitors, in our midst, and our response must be methodical, swift, and well reasoned."

Celestia carefully watches the guards reactions. Of those she had called in, two are outliers. Captain Silent Serpent is not only one of the only ponies with access to the guard schedules, but also quite capable of deception behind his mask of soft-spoken demeanor and discipline. Worse, he was directly involved in Celestia’s journey out east, all things which make him one of the primary suspects.

Shining Armor was also one of the prime suspects, as much as Celestia hated to admit it; the assassins had seemed to be at the very least primarily targetting Rainbow Dash, and House Twilight has the most obvious motive for wanting the pegasus out of the picture, with Celestia’s attention split between the pegasus and their own scion.

But Celestia keeps those thoughts carefully concealed, instead simply continuing. "Captain Silent Serpent, I am assigning you to dealing with House Ivy. Not only are you to bring them in line with current tax codes, but you are to evaluate their possible involvement in this plot post haste. The severity of this assignment has been escalated by current events; you are to take a full battalion with you. Should the Ivy's prove resistant to your investigations, you may feel free to exert force directly." Not that there is any chance that the Ivy’s were not involved, the timing was simply too convenient. But if Silent Serpent is disloyal, then he will surely attempt to deflect blame from the Ivy’s.

With a mask of perfect calm keeping his feelings as enigmatic as ever, Silent Serpent crosses one hoof over his chest and bows his head. "At once, your majesty. Shall I head out immediately, or was there more you needed from me?"

Celestia shakes her head. "No, that will be all from you. You may set out tomorrow; until that point, you are to assist with the palace district lockdown. I don't want to remove any guards-ponies from the premises until we can be certain no more intruders are present within upper Canterlot, you understand." Silent Serpent nods at the last order, wheels around and confidently struts towards the gates to depart. Celestia's gaze follows him until he has fully left the throne chamber, the doors shutting behind him.

“Then, what did you need us for? Have we done something wrong?” Glyndwr asks with some confusion as she reaches up and scratches the back of her head.

The edges of Celestia's mouth twitch upwards in a very slight smile. The cadets before her might not have the stoic discipline of older guardsponies, but all four have phenomenal performance in combat trials. And at the moment, that lack of discipline is actually something more of a merit than disadvantage.

"With a traitor someplace in our midst, I am afraid there are few ponies I can trust absolutely." Celestia begins. "Glyndwr, as a gryphon with little, if any, contact with either Gryphonstone nor ponish high society, you are one of a very small number of guardsponies I can reliably rule out of being a conspirator. You simply have no possible motive nor connection which could result in you being amongst the conspirators, and an in-depth audit proved unable to discern any evidence of bribery when I evaluated your finances and quarters. As for Shining Armor, considering your connection with your sister, it seems improbable that you would be involved in a conspiracy against her well being.” Celestia remains silent on the matter that his trustworthiness around Rainbow Dash on the other hoof was still entirely up in the air.

Turning to Starblaze and Mooncrescent, Celestia nods with a hint of a playful smirk. "As for you two, I am quite well aware you are fundamentally incapable of holding such a secret from me, given how frequently I find you openly bemoaning your father's attempts to get you to spy on me." Starblaze gapes at the casualness of that statement, glancing this way and that in frantic concern that his 'secret' was apparently out, as Celestia just raises a hoof. "At ease, guardspony. It would be a rare family indeed who didn’t seek to take advantage of their children's placement in my guard in some capacity, and I am hardly concerned by the pair of you who have made no effort whatsoever to gather information on his behalf. On the contrary, it is specifically for that reason that I feel I can trust the two of you, something I find is a rare commodity at the moment.”

Mooncrescent’s eyes shine as he smiles boldly. “Aye aye! What would you like us to do?”

On a better day, Celestia might have giggled at that; today, she just smiles faintly. “Glyndwr and Shining Armor, I am assigning you as Rainbow Dash and Twilight’s personal guards respectively. As mere cadets, I cannot trust my students safety solely to the pair of you, so I have made arrangements for some additional equipment to be allocated to you. Please report to requisitions for your outfitting.” With that out of the way, Celestia turns her attention to the remaining two colts, of whom Starblaze is still looking evidently embarrassed about his 'secret' being out, and Mooncrescent is eagerly bouncing from hoof to hoof.

"As far as you two, I am assigning the pair of you to investigate the incident in Canterlot more directly. You are to report directly to me, and nopony else. You will have the aid of the guards’ many specialists of course; I don’t expect you to spontaneously develop a calling in forensics, after all. But nopony else is to know what your investigation entails precisely. If anypony gives you any trouble, speak to my secretary and she will have it dealt with. In case a matter is too urgent to wait for the admittedly glacial pace of administration, I shall give you both my signet ring so in dire circumstance you may reveal you are acting under my authority. Having said that, you shall not reveal these if not absolutely necessary, as I wish this investigation to occur quietly.”

Mooncrescent grins broadly, showcasing the snaggletooth canines carved into his upper teeth. "You got it, 'Lestia!" The colt salutes, practically beaming at the chance of increased autonomy, action, and responsibility, while his brother beside him winces in uncertainty. Mooncrescent tilts his head to the side. “Where should we start?”

Celestia nods, satisfied at the guardsponies eagerness. His empathy for the situation at hoof is certainly lacking, but at least Celestia can confidently rely upon him to investigate with characteristic gusto. “You may start by interrogating the prisoner; I have already sent word to the dungeons that you will be coming. After that, you may meet up with the forensics team at the crime scene.”

Mooncrescent salutes, practically beaming, and Celestia nods. “Very well. You have your orders, you may proceed to carry them out.” Celestia almost mumbles the last part, blinking away tiredness to the best of her ability. Normally, she is able to put on a quite convincing show of attentiveness even after multiple days without sleeping. But ‘normally’ isn’t a day of flying back to Canterlot at transonic speeds, incinerating a squad of assassins, and even performing spells from the nearly lost school of healing magic as well; and that isn’t even to mention the emotional toll, nor the upcoming effort of raising the moon and setting the sun. “I am afraid I have a few more pieces of business to attend to this evening. You should all begin your new duties in the morning, so be sure to be properly rested.”

The cadets all salute to Celestia as the solar monarch strides down the long carpet leading from the throne past them. "Aye-Aye!" "Yes, Sir!" "At once, your majesty!" the diversity of different replies sounds out, as Celestia makes their way towards the infirmary. One more duty awaits her before she can get any rest.

Chapter Text

By the time the Princess comes to see Twilight, her parents have departed, leaving the filly to her own devices. She is not quite ready to be discharged yet; apparently the medical techs are waiting for scans to come back to make sure it’s safe. Twilight suspects there is more to it than that, but that's all she is told, at least.

So it is that when Celestia appears through the doorway, Twilight is an anxious mess pacing around the room. Immediately upon seeing the princess, Twilight perks up and charges over to her, bowing her head deeply. "P-princess!" As the filly looks back up, Celestia can't help but notice the purple unicorn cringing backwards in remembered fear. For just a moment, Twilight does not see the benevolent, kind princess she knew above her; she sees the terrifying force of infernal strength, blazing like the surface of the sun, as living bodies were reduced to ash.

And then she blinks, and the visage is broken. In its place... Is a pony. A pony who doesn't look like she remembers Celestia ever looking before. The wave of her mane is subdued, dark circles underneath her eyes. The princess smiles softly at Twilight as she looks to them, but the look in her eyes is haunting, and Twilight can't help but shiver under the gaze. "How are you feeling, my young pupil?" Celestia asks, laying down on her haunches to bring herself to eye level with the filly.

"I-I'm okay. Rainbow Dash protected me." Twiliight starts, before looking back up at Celestia with some alarm. "Wh-where is she? Is she okay? The doctors didn't seem to know."

Celestia nods. "She'll be alright. I was just with her, but she isn't ready for visitors just yet. She had broken some ribs and a wing, and needed surgery. I lent my magic to her to help her recover, but even so she needs rest. Right now, she is asleep; the enchantment I cast upon her should last at least until tomorrow morning. Perhaps then you could see her, if you so wish."

Twilight breathes out a sigh of relief. A broken wing is a big deal of course, and surgery is too, but it sounds like Celestia has done everything necessary to make sure she'd have a full recovery. That would explain where Celestia had been this entire time, too. "Do... Do you know why they..." Twilight starts, before her voice breaks, thinking back to the traumatic events of earlier that day. Somepony had tried to kill them. She still can't seem to wrap her head around that concept.

“Not yet, no. I was on my way to the outskirts when I noticed a discrepancy in the schedule of the guard. As soon as I discovered it, I doubled back as quickly as I could fly. I’m afraid that’s all we know yet.”

Twilight nods slowly. She remembers quite well the events after that. The way the light radiated out of Celestia, the strength of her presence bleeding into the air, flaring like a star. How can that be the same flesh and blood now pony before her? Try as she might, she cannot perceive any hint of that divine light from Celestia's frame, although the Alicorn before her still radiates a quiet regality.

Celestia's knowing gaze seems to follow Twilights thoughts. "The light you saw was me. When I saw those fiends attacking my students, I'm afraid I lost control. I let the mask slip. What you saw was... My true nature, underneath this skin and bone."

"Does that mean... Is that body just a puppet?" Twilight asks, cautiously. That seems like the logical conclusion to draw, yet, to even ask it was terrifying. Not only because she is questioning the Princess of the Sun, but because of the implication; is the being before her even a pony at all?

But to Twilight's immense relief, Celestia shakes her head. "No, it is every bit as much a part of me as my magic or my mind. It simply is not the whole of me. The body of an Alicorn is akin to a manifestation of our will and magic. Upon ascension, a ponys’ original body is reduced to ashes, and only those who can create a new form through will alone will survive the transformation." Celestia stretches her wings out, looking at them as though they are novel to her, despite having received them over a millennia ago. "But deep within this body is the core of my being. Closer to a star than equine-kind. That is what you saw, unleashed."

Celestia gives Twilight a remorseful look, frowning. "...But rest assured, I am still a pony at heart. And by that token I should apologize. I never should have let this happen. I should have seen the error sooner, I should have been there, I..." Celestia's breath catches in their throat, and she takes a deep breathe, rehearsing herself before finishing. "...I'm sorry you ever had to see me like that."

Then... That horrible burning smell, those living bodies reduced to ashes... That had all been the princess. Somehow, Twilight hadn't been able to truly believe that until just now. Just how many ponies has she killed, over the years? Twilight can't help but wonder, staring into the ageless face of the alicorn before her. The princess has, after all, presided over many wars in the last millenia. Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? All burnt to cinders or torn to shreds by the very same tender-hearted alicorn across from her. Twilight can't help but shiver at the thought.

Celestia nods, seeing the unicorns discomfort, making no attempt to dissuade her. "If you would prefer to talk to somepony else, I would understand." Celestia states delicately. "And I know this must be difficult for you. But I am afraid I am going to need to ask you to try and remember everything you can about the attack. We still haven't identified the conspirators behind it, and can use any advantage we can get."

Twilight bites her lip, uncomfortably, but nods. "No, it's alright. I'll do whatever I can to help." She affirms, trying to process her confused memories and taking a deep breathe. Logically. She has to view the events logically. "I... It all happened so fast. We noticed that the palace was strangely empty while we were leaving... I guess maybe that's what had Rainbow Dash on guard. I didn't get a good look at any of the attackers, they were all wearing cloaks and using knives." Twilight shuts her eyes tightly, wanting to block out the memories but knowing she needs to keep going. "They went straight for Rainbow Dash. I don't think any of them even noticed me until I threw a brick at one of their heads." Twilight opens her eyes again, looking over at Celestia with a haunted stare. "Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to notice that though. Instead of flying off as soon as she could, she grabbed Spike and I before trying to make a getaway. Then... You know the rest."

Celestia steps back, contemplating with a subtle frown. "I see. Thank you, Twilight. I will do my best to ensure those responsible are brought to justice." The princess nods in acknowledgement.

Twilight nervously swallows before asking the next question. “Did... Anypony else get hurt?"

Celestia views the filly with a sympathetic gaze. As much as she might want to, she would not lie to shelter the filly; her student deserves to know the truth. "A guardspony was slain, as were all but one of the attackers. A passing tourist was also critically injured in the scuffle, though last I heard they were still alive and receiving the necessary medical attention. Only time will tell if he will pull through, or not."

Twilight stares downwards, looking sickened, and Celestia lays what she hopes is a comforting hoof upon Twilight's shoulder. "Let us be thankful that you are alright, at the least. Things could have been much worse.” Celestia states, softly, rising from their repose. "I should expect you need some time to recover before we discuss these events in more detail. Until then, all that matters is that you are safe and comfortable. You should be able to leave the hospital now, your brother will escort you home."

Just as the princess is leaving, Twilight calls out, "Wait!" The alicorn turns back, giving an expectant look towards Twilight. "I just..." Twilight bunches up the sheets under her hooves. "Thankyou. For everything."

Celestia watches Twilight for a long moment, before finally turning back towards the door. "You have nothing to thank me for. After all, I am the only reason you were in danger to begin with." Without any further ado, the princess steps out into the hall, and Twilight is left alone with her thoughts.

Mooncrescent bobbles back and forth as he jauntily trots down the familiar palace halls alongside his brother. “Isn’t this exciting!? Celestia gave us a secret mission! Us! Oh, father’s gonna eat his words… Though, I guess it’s a secret mission, so we can’t tell him…” Mooncrescent scrunches up his face at that, disappointed as he outwits himself.

“You should take this more seriously.” Starblaze responds bluntly, fixating his gaze upon the approaching, dark threshold of the palace dungeons. “Do you not understand how important this is? We’ve somehow been placed in the center of the greatest breach of Equestrian security in the last century. And it’s up to us to solve it. The eyes of history are on us.”

Mooncrescent rolls his eyes. “Oh, whatever! Hopefully that means there’ll be fighting. Though I guess Celly would be upset if we jumped to that too quickly…” He scrunches up his muzzle again. “Oh well, it’ll still be fun!”

Starblaze groans and hangs his head, as he begins trotting down the stairs into the dungeons. Getting through to Mooncrescent the gravity of the situation is just impossible.

It had been a while since he’d last been down here; The chamber is dark, rocky, a tad moist. Privately, Starblaze wonders if the latter is intentional, to really sell the feeling of ‘you are in a dungeon now.’

“Hmph. You two must be cadets Starblaze and Mooncrescent.” An earth pony guard, perhaps in her late thirties or early fourties, appraises the two brothers with a subtle but very real disdain behind her professional expression. “I still cannot fathom what I need you two for, but I suppose we will be working together. I am Serjeant Heartwhisper, resident jailor, and interrogator. I suppose I am technically also the resident executioner, not that I’ve ever needed to perform that particular service.” The pony in question nods to the two colts. “The prisoner is right this way. I will tolerate your presence as ordered, but please do not interfere with my methods, interrogation is a delicate science.”

“You don’t need to worry. We are here to observe, no more.” Starblaze asserts; it is true, at least, as long as everything went according to plan. I suppose that it can’t be helped that she doesn’t like us, I certainly wouldn’t like it either if some fresh recruit was suddenly placed in charge of me for no apparent reason. Starblaze ponders sympathetically. Still, he has to remain aware; the possibility that this pony is part of the conspiracy is all too real, and he is here to ensure the interrogation is performing its true purpose.

With that in mind, he stays on guard as he follows the mare to a sealed cell with four guards, two on the inside and two on the outside. The prisoner inside is heavily restrained, both rear and forelegs cuffed to the floor and a table respectively, a steel mask sealing his muzzle. As the door clicks shut behind her, Heartwhisper nods and motions to the pony in question. “Unmuzzle him.”

On cue, the guardsponies on either side seize the prisoner, slam him down against the table with wholly unnecessary heavy-hoofedness, before inserting a key into either side of the masks mechanism which removes the jawpiece from the top half, allowing it to be removed. Though the guardsponies are mostly stoic in operation, the sheer severity of their demeanor radiates an aura of hostility, and Starblaze rather gets the impression that they wish they could simply snap the prisoner's neck and dump him in a shallow grave.

The prisoner makes no sound, although he cannot help but work his sore jaw from side to side, as Serjeant Heartwhisper sits before him, every bit as silent as her prey. The pegasid’s jaw had been set in place by a brace, but it's still readily apparent that it is in very poor shape and behind his lifeless expression Mooncrescent can make out a whisper of pain struggling to get out.

Seconds pass by in agonizing silence. Eventually, unable to take it anymore, Mooncrescent leans over to Starblaze, hissing out “Why isn’t anypony saying anything?” between his teeth.

Starblaze shoots a look Mooncrescent’s way before pulling him to the side. “Keep it down, it’s a standard interrogation tactic. Most ponies can only take the tension for so long before snapping. Just watch for now, alright?”

Mooncrescent scrunches up his muzzle, but nods. So far, this is less fun than hoped, but it is still just starting.

Serjeant Heartwhisper, meanwhile, is toying with a curved double-sided blade with apparently detached curiosity, as if the interrogation isn’t even on her mind. “Hmph. Nice enough blade. Blued steel, huh? But clearly made with precision craftswork. Think I see lathe lines in there, too.” She muses, not apparently addressing her thoughts to anypony present, before abruptly slamming the dagger down into the table without warning, eliciting a loud cracking noise and causing everypony in the room to flinch; no less the prisoner, who then promptly groans in pain as the sudden movement had caused him to move his broken jaw.

Serjeant Heartwhisper grins at the reaction and leans forward, towering over the unfortunate pegasus who instinctively cowers away despite remaining stubbornly silent, as she pries the blade out from the table once more. “You and your buddies-oh, sorry, you and those piles of ash that somepony is sweeping into the garbage-were all carrying these. Now, just how could you have gotten your hooves on something like this, hrm? You certainly don’t seem like high society, but those cloaks of yours and the worksponyship on these daggers are both a little too standardized and a little too well crafted to be something you put together or bought yourselves.”

Flippantly, the interrogator tosses the dagger in the air and catches it again, not even paying attention to the prisoner. “So it's obvious enough that you have a well-off sponsor. Probably somepony in Canterlot, even.” She flicks her eyes to the pony in question. He’s eyeing the blade uneasily, with a spot of confusion behind his eyes. At the least, the current line of questioning does concern him, but he doesn’t show either relief nor anxiety at the suggestion of where his employers had come from.

Heartwhisper’s response is, as usual, carefully calculated. A self confident smirk, before slouching back into the chair. The trick is to look like you already have everything figured out; the more desperate a captive is to keep their secrets, the more likely they are to accidentally let something spill.

Mooncrescent watches with blank confusion. He glances up at Starblaze, who gives him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. She’s working her magic.” He whispers to his brother.

Heartwhisper reaches for a notebook held by one of the guards and casually flips through the pages, back to ignoring the prisoner all over again, who is in fact beginning to look rather skittish. “Dontcha worry, I’m sure our experts will get these all sorted out and we’ll have no further need of you in no time. Then we can go ahead and dispose of you, like the trash you are.”

The conversation proceeds that way for a while longer. The prisoner still appears skittish, but not to the statements Starblaze would expect. Nothing regarding his personal well-being gets any reaction, only some of the remarks about probable origins and the like. “This isn’t normal. Even the best trained soldiers generally show some interest in what happens to themselves.” Starblaze mutters. “There’s something wrong with this pony.” Turning to one of the guards outside the door, Starblaze jerks his head towards it. “Let me in.”

The guard blinks and hesitates. “I’m not supposed to let anypony in when an interrogation is in progress…”

Starblaze snorts derisively and stands up as tall as he can, almost reaching eye level with the guard. “I’m on a direct, personal mission from the solar throne. If you want to stand in my way, then by all means, but I will require your name and rank so that I can recommend you for immediate reassignment.” He threatens, pushing his muzzle right up in the other ponies face.

That shut him up fast enough. The prisoner and interrogator both look over at the sound of the unlocking door in surprise, right before Starblaze bucks it open and strolls in like he owns the place, while Mooncrescent watches from the other side with wide curious eyes. Trotting right up to the table, Starblaze hops up onto it nonchalantly, completely ignoring the derisive look from the interrogator and the confused blinking of the prisoner.

“Heya, bud. Don’t have your name, so all I can call ya is bud, I hope that’s alright.” Starblaze states, adopting the most casual tone in his repertoire. “Thought I’d run this show for a bit.” He proceeds to shrug noncommittally, feigning as though it’s an entirely arbitrary decision.

Heartwhisper stares at him aghast, standing up to her hooves. “What is the meaning of this? I had this well in hoof! I’d almost-”

“Hush. Personal mission from the crown, recall?” Starblaze retorts, casually shoving her to the side without looking and sitting himself down in her seat, propping his hind legs up onto the table. “And my, ‘Lestia wants this taken care of quickly. Think they don’t want to have to go through the bother of disposing of ashen remains twice in a week, and would rather get this buster over here torched sooner rather than later.”

The sheer audacity of the remark seems to shut up Heartwhisper if nothing else, but the prisoner remains entirely calm. Something is definitely off, even the best trained soldiers would have a reaction to that, especially on the same day as being confronted by Celestia’s full fury; it would be impossible for that to not leave an impression. And so, increasingly confident, Starblaze continues. “Of course, that's assuming you're actually responsible.”

As hoped for, everypony in the room looks bewildered at that statement, and Heartwhisper seems to get her bearings together, leaning over and hissing. “What in Tartarus’s name are you going on about, of course he’s responsible, Celestia herself saw the whole thing go down!”

Starblaze waves her off. “Oh, don’t worry about her, she’s the least of your worries right now.” The colt forces a yawn as he crosses his hooves on his barrel. The prisoner’s reactions are just as odd as he’d thought; theres no sense of either fear, hope, nor determination, almost resembling blank apathy more than anything. In fact, he doesn’t even seem that well reserved, given how he winces when his jaw hurts and is relatively easily startled. This isn’t just discipline keeping him from speaking; something else is going on here.

Casting a cursory glance Heartwhisper’s way, Starblaze continues, “She wasn’t even there during the fight-well, more of a massacre, really. I was, but I betcha don’t remember me, do ya, you silly colt?” Starblaze ruffles the prisoner's mane despite the pony quite obviously being older than him; the prisoner in question just stares at him in disbelief. Good. I’ve got him off guard. Now it’s time to strike. “‘Course, if you weren’t exactly in your right mind, I imagine our beloved princess might go a tad easier on ya.” Starblaze shrugs. “Ya know the works… Chemical indoctrination, drug use… Magical alteration.”

A flash lights up in the prisoner's eyes as he jolts upright at the last one. Bingo. Starblaze grins broader as he hops back down to his hooves, shrugging. “Nothing to say for yourself? Oh well, what a shame. I guess my hunch was wrong.” As if. The royal companion casually walks back to the door, carefully maintaining the casual facade as he glances back to the prisoner. “In that case, anypony I should know about to give your regards to? Heartfelt last words? Family, friends, lovers? Dear old ‘Lestia mightn’t give ‘em the time of day, but I’m feeling charitable.”

There is no reaction from the prisoner, no sign the words even mean anything to him. Not discipline; emptiness. No thinking, no trying to send them on a wild goose chose, no resisting the urge; he doesn’t even have an inkling of accepting the offer. That tells Starblaze all he needs, as he shrugs and waves backwards without looking. “Well, so much for that. Adios!”

Starblaze droops with apparent exhaustion the exact moment he isn’t in view anymore, falling down onto his barrel, promptly being joined by Mooncrescent. “That was pretty wild, Blazey! I don’t think I’ve seen you ever act like that before.”

Starblaze shudders and nods his head. “Well, it worked out well enough. Let’s watch the rest of this interrogation.” It takes quite a while for Heartwhisper to regain her composure fully and reassert control over the interrogation, and little more is learned for the time being. Eventually, the interrogator is finished, the prisoner is locked back into his mask, and the door opens.

Serjeant Heartwhisper steps heavily as she steps back out of the room, turning to face Starblaze with a mixture of both irritation and begrudging respect. “Hrmph. I see what you were doing there, but next time you should at least tell me the plan before you start it.”

Starblaze scratches the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. “Eheh.. Sorry, but there wasn’t really an opportunity there. My instincts were bugging me, and I knew there was more than met the eye.”

Heartwhisper nods. “Well, despite how untalkative our buddy there is, we got at least a little bit out of him. I’ll write up a report for you to review, and continue our efforts. We’ll crack him sooner or later.”

Starblaze salutes and nods. “For now, I think we’d best check in with the forensics team. Leave the report with Celestia’s secretary, we’ll get it from her.”

Mooncrescent, who had been rolling around on the ground like a wet dog, flops back over onto his barrel. “Ugh, finally.” He bounces up to his hooves, smirking at Starblaze. “Least we’ll get to stretch our legs with this next part…”

“You’re going to have to be patient with a lot of this, you know.” Starblaze admonishes his overeager younger sibling. “Even if you don’t recognize how important this task is, you’ve got to at least know how much faith Celestia is putting in us.”

Mooncrescent looks actually somewhat miffed by that statement, an unusual touch of seriousness entering his face as he follows his brother up the stairs. “I do know how important it is, Blazey. Just ‘cause I’m looking forward to action doesn’t mean I’m going to compromise the operation.” He bumps into Starblaze. “I did technically get the same training as you, ya know.”

Starblaze glances back, mildly surprised. Even having known him all his life, his brother can still surprise him from time to time, it seems. At the least, it sets him at ease sufficiently to relax and stop haranguing him for the timespan it takes to leave the palace and head to the crime scene, which is conveniently almost immediately outside of the palace gates.

Mare, Celestia wasn’t kidding, to be bold enough to attack this close to the palace in broad daylight… Starblaze shakes his head in dismay. The palace district is thankfully empty save for a number of guardsponies, many of whom Starblaze doesn’t even recognize; Reserve troops, militia, veterans. They’ll keep the media out, at least for the time being.

The investigation team is already there, of course, though Starblaze has to wonder what exactly they could be looking for that they wouldn't have already found. Not members of the palace guard, but rather the local gendarmerie. Perhaps Celestia thought that would reduce the odds of them being conspirators?

“Mooncrescent and Starblaze, right? I was told you’d be coming.” The stallion in charge looks around the operation. “Not sure what you’re expecting, though. We’re just about done here already, anyways.”

Mooncrescent salutes; less a gesture of respect and more just for the aesthetic. “Roger that, but we will need to hear your full report! What were you able to find out?” Mooncrescent tilts his head.

The stallion hesitates before answering. “I can’t really say. Labs will take around a day to get results back from, and the forensics teams are going to have to look at… Whatever is left of these.” The stallion makes a face as he vaguely gestures at the gruesome, ashen remains of the local assassins, which are presently being carted off.

Starblaze casts a look over at the cart inquisitively; a duo of ponies is drawing it, both palace guards. Looking back, he jerks his head towards them. “I’ll go with them, you feel free to finish up here, Crescy.” Without waiting for a response, Mooncrescent’s older brother trots off towards the cart. Mooncrescent just shrugs and turns back to the lead investigator.

“What about the plants?” Mooncrescent asks, without any apparent rationale. The investigator can only blink at him in bewilderment, prompting him to continue. “Ya know, the plants!” Mooncrescent trots over to an utterly innocuous seeming burr, halfway scorched beyond recognition, seared into the blackened flesh of what had once been a pony. “These aren’t native to Canterlot, they can’t grow at this altitude. Besides, it’s unlikely you’d step through a stickler plant like this in an urban area, which suggests the attackers were someplace else not long ago!” Mooncrescent looks from side to side in consternation. “...Did nopony look at them at all?”

The stallion frowns. “I doubt the forensics lab would know much about that. It’d be better to take that to a botanist, I imagine. Are there any more?”

Mooncrescent shrugs. “Probably were, I saw them right after Celestia showed up! But I don’t think most of them survived the fight…” Delicately, Mooncrescent leans over and attempts to clear the flesh caked into the stonework, with little success.

“Here, let me.” The gendarmerie interrupts Mooncrescents attempts, digging into the ashen ground with his hooves with little difficulty, enabling Mooncrescent to delicately pry the burr from the ground without any further damage, hopefully maintaining some of its recognizability. The earth pony salutes once more. “Is there anything else you needed?”

Mooncrescent pauses, pondering. “No, I don’t think so. Well, while Blazey’s away, I guess I might as well go try and find somepony who can take a look at this. Thanks, mister!”

Chapter Text

Rainbow Dash has been here before; she knows she has. Not just in her waking hours, but she’d seen this hall just as it is now, strutting down the empty corridors, her only company the shattered panes of stained glass and the howling gale in the shadows beyond. At the end of the hall will be the two animated panes of Wind Rider and Shadow Kicker… Assuming they aren’t still shattered, anyhow. But she has no intention of walking down to the end of that hall.

What’s going on? Why am I here? She’s in a dream, that much is clear, but that observation itself is disconcerting. She does not usually have lucid dreams, so how is it she is so aware? How is it she remembers being here before so clearly? The moon. Rainbow Dash remembers what Cloud Kicker had told her in Cloudsdale, and her gaze climbs up to the dark shape in the sky. The very fact she can see it is proof this isn’t real, as there is no light radiating from the dark, ominous body hanging far above.

“What do you want!?” Rainbow shouts, standing with her legs widened in a combative stance. Her ribs don’t ache, not here, and in fact she feels as strong as ever. “I know you’re out there!”

“My, Somepony is feeling adventurous tonight.”

The voice feels deafening, striking Rainbow Dash like a sledgehammer, forcing her down to the ground. A burst of pain surges through her, as the voice gives way to amused cackling.

“Our subject remembrest us! Yet they did not heed our warning. Thou hast tasted only a hint of what is to come.”

Before Rainbow Dash’s very eyes, the moon seems to grow, its shape morphing and shifting until it descends to the very earth before her. The pegasus wants to bolt into the air, to try and fly away despite how stupid that would be in the raging stormwinds that bellow all around, but she finds herself firmly rooted in place, beholding the nebulous cloud of darkness and stars before her as it takes on the regal form of an Alicorn, every bit as majestic, and every bit as horrific, as Celestia had been.

The eyes of the being before her slowly open to appraise the pegasus. Deep blue eyes, serpentine in their gaze, lock onto Rainbow Dash’s, long fangs forming a vicious grin like shards of shattered glass only somewhat locking together. Rainbow Dash opens her mouth as if to speak, but chokes on her breath, no words able to spill forth. The air all around her feels frigid, her every muscle taut yet unable to follow her orders to bolt away, do anything to escape from the creature before her.

Yet for all the similarities, there is a distinct difference between it and Celestia. This Thing, this walking darkness in ponish shape, is poised, precise, controlled in a way that Celestia’s fury had not been. Wings spread wide, the Alicorn lifts from the ground without flapping, the full silhouette of the terror becoming visible from the flash of lightning in the forest beyond.

Rainbow Dash instinctively covers her eyes with a hoof, blinded by the intensity of the light. When it fades once more, there is a quite familiar scene playing out. The shadowy entity before her seems… Somehow distracted, barely even paying attention to the pegasus she is supposedly haunting the dreams of.

Craters, red hot, mark the ground. Standing within it is… Celestia, but not Celestia as she is, but only as Rainbow Dash remembers her. Blazing with supernatural intensity, a living embodiment of rage and hatred given substance. That dreaded laughter fills the air once more.

“Ha! I see the accursed Sun has not lost its touch. Good, mine victory over them would be sour should they become feeble.”

Rainbow Dash yelps, scurrying backwards and diving off the edge of the rubble pile, whatever rationality she possessed replaced by a pure animal instinct of simply getting away from that thing. The Nightmare simply chuckles and ignites its horn, and the scene around them vanishes into a miasma of star-studded darkness flowing and flickering like nebulous flames.

“BE STILL, Disciple of the Sun. I would have words with you.”

Rainbow Dash is frozen in place, as the alicorn approaches, closing the gap with every deliberate step. This close, Rainbow Dash marks out more of the entity than just the blob of stars and negative space it had seemed to be. Its form is slender, athletic, almost predatorial in disposition, layer in ancient yet finely forged armor in an unfamiliar style, curved and bladed in forms just as elegant as they are cruel. Swallowing and doing her best to put on a defiant face, Rainbow Dash finally manages to work up the nerve to shakily stand up and speak. “Wh-what do you want!? Why are you showing me this?”

“Why am I showing you? Why, Rainbow Dash, surely you must have realized, that it is you who are showing us what you have seen.”

A hoof reaches out, raising Rainbow Dash's muzzle even as she cringes away, forcing her to look into the alicorn's eyes, so close now. The constricted serpentine pupils hypnotically hold her enraptured, unable to break free.

“You were warned, Disciple of the Sun, but you were foolish enough not to listen. Did you think you could take our place by the Sun’s side so readily, without suffering the consequences?”

Through the mystic power and majesty that saturates each word, Rainbow Dash can just barely hear a twinge of mortal emotion through it; venom, bitterness, envy… and perhaps even a smidge of regret?

“First blood has been drawn, my young subject, but it shall not be last. Soon, Equestria shall be awash in it. You should have run when you had the chance.”

The alicorn rears up once more, its form highlighted against the blackness beyond, bloodcurdling laughter echoing from its muzzle. Rainbow Dash gulps, and with all her will, shouts back once more. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

“‘Who are we’? My, has our exile been for so long that our beloved subjects do not remember us?”

A hoof places itself upon Rainbow Dash’s shoulder, who remains stock rigid as much as she might have liked to bat it away.

“I am the darkness that blots out the sun. I am the stars you have shunned. I am the princess of night eternal. I am Nightmare Moon, and soon I shall return to reclaim my throne.”

A rush, a nauseating blur, and the scene around the pony and vaguely pony-like entity shifts once more. The black storm clouds dissipate, and it seems as though the hall around them rushes past, leaving the pair of them in a courtyard surrounded by dark trees and the silhouettes of distant mountains. Looming towers encircle them from all around, midnight blue streamers fluttering in the breeze.

“Look upon it, my subject, and see our rightful place. See the glory that should have been mine, and soon, shall be!”

Rainbow Dash’s finds her gaze pulled to the steps leading up from the courtyard, upon which sits a single, elegant throne of carved obsidian, sitting upon the rubble of some manner of fine woodwork.

“Our exile has been long, but soon the traitorous usurper will be destroyed, and you shall all learn to fear the glory of the Night.”

Rainbow Dash rounds on the dark Alicorn, stance widening as she growls at them. “Are you the one behind the attack!? Just to get at my… Teacher?” Rainbow Dash hesitates before the last word. Should she have said ‘Princess’? ‘Monarch’? Anything else more formal?

The aura around the alicorn, which had almost been oddly amiable a moment ago, turns cold. Nightmare Moon steps before her, spreading her wings and staring deeply into her eyes, the sheer force of her presence forcing Rainbow Dash to fall back onto her haunches, whimpering involuntarily. But before she says anything, the simmering rage in the alicorns eyes dissipates and is replaced with only a vicious smirk.

“You will learn your loyalties are misplaced in good time. For now you should learn well from that traitor, for I shall have need of such servants upon my return.”

Rainbow Dash shuts her eyes tightly, takes in a deep breath, and commits to what is quite possibly the stupidest thing she had done since flying to Canterlot alone. “You’re wrong!” Her voice sounds out of place, weak, frail, compared to the living embodiment of Night before her, but she won’t relent. Images flash through her head, both of the gentle, regal, sometimes oddly casual Celestia she’d known for the past couple of months, and the infernal being of unending rage from yesterday. “Celestia… Wouldn’t betray anypony! I don’t know how you knew them, and I don’t know what you are, but Celestia isn’t a traitor, and you won’t defeat her!”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes narrow, looking down upon the fledgeling pegasus with an aura of spite and malice. But rather than react with fury, the alicorn's response is merely somewhat bemused, measured.

“You’ve seen their true form, and still deny the truth? Do you even understand what we are? You are more foolish than I had thought. Very well then, if you have such faith in your dear Sun, ask them yourself, whatever became of your rightful ruler. You will learn, in time.”

Apparently uninterested in any further discourse, the alicorn folds in upon themself, like space had just closed around the starbound shape leaving only blank space where it had been, leaving Rainbow Dash alone.

Gazing off towards the dark horizons, she blinks, slightly startled. She recognizes the shapes of the mountains in the distance, but not from Canterlot. It’s the Canterhorn mountains as viewed from the east, the same view she’d had while flying to Celestia’s court to begin her lessons. Slowly, bit by bit, the world around seems to give way, disappearing fragment by fragment, until all that is left is an infinite expanse basked in an endless Twilight.

When Rainbow Dash awakens, she is still surrounded by Twilight. Off to her left is the dim twilight of early morning, the sun still lingering below the horizon; on her right, of course, is the lavender unicorn commonly known as ‘Twilight’, gazing down at the ground despondently, with a purple dragon clinging tightly to her side.

“Hey.” It’s a very simple statement, about all Rainbow Dash can put together at first with her raspy voice as she is still recovering from her dream, but it’s enough to startle the pony and dragon close to her hospital bed.

Before Twilight can respond, Spike butts in first, hopping up on the bed with tears in his eyes as he wraps his stubby arms as far around Rainbow Dash’s barrel as possible. “R-Raynbuhw D-as!” The tiny dragon blubbers, wailing with the wholly unreserved emotiveness of an infant.

“Woah, hey there, squirt. I think that’s the closest you’ve gotten to saying my name.” Rainbow Dash can’t help but smile softly as one hoof runs over the dragons frills gently. “Sorry if I worried you... Ow.” The last bit cuts in as the simple result of the movement putting some extra weight onto her left side.

It’s about then that Twilight manages to get a word in edgewise. “Rainbow! Are you okay? How badly did you get hurt? The guards didn’t know and the doctor just waved me off!”

“Heh, I’m... ow... Fine. Mostly. Really, I am!” Rainbow Dash manages a weak smile and the last part at the unconvinced look that Twilight gives her. “You know me, no way a couple shattered ribs are gonna keep me down. I’ll be up and at’em faster than you can blink.”

Twilight’s frown deepens. “No, you won’t! Aggravating an injury like this could lead to sepsis or jostle the ribs back out of position, worst case scenario you could puncture a lung or collapse your thoracic cavity and-“

The purple unicorn is cut off by Rainbow Dash rolling her eyes, waving her hooves, and giving the most exasperated sigh she can presently manage. “Woah, okay, I get it, I’ll take it easy. What are you doing here so early?”

Twilight’s gaze falters, and she looks down. “What do you mean why am I here, I was worried about you,” she eventually states, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I didn’t see what happened to you, the last thing I knew was you dropping like a brick and...” Twilight’s voice catches in her throat and she shuts her eyes tightly to keep the tears from flowing, yesterday’s experience still far too fresh in the young filly’s mind.

“Well, it seems like you got off without being hurt too badly, at least.” Rainbow Dash interjects, hoping to take the other filly’s mind off of her injuries. “You feeling alright?”

Twilight’s expression softens, and she sits on her haunches, laying her forelimbs on the bedside. “I’m fine, nothing worse than a little bruising. Thanks to you.” She uncomfortably clears her throat. “I was up a lot earlier than you, yesterday, so my family visited me already. They want me to come home for a while but, I didn’t want to go without thanking you for...” Twilight trails off.

Rainbow Dash offers a weak smile. “Hey now, don’t sell yourself short, if it wasn’t for your brick-lobbing talents I’d be a pega-shishkebab about now.”

Twilight jerkily nods her head. “Y-yeah, I guess so. I should go tell the doc that you’re awake, he’ll want to know.” The filly reluctantly stands up. “Come on, Spike.”

The dragon turns his head to look at Twilight fiercely and shakes it, clinging firmly to Rainbow Dash’s barrel. The pegasus freezes up in a little surprise, before chuckling lightly. An action that is highly inadvisable, considering the pain it sends surging through her body. “It’s fine, he can stay here with me.” Rainbow Dash says.

Twilight nods hesitantly. “Y-yeah. Thanks again, Rainbow Dash. You’re… You’re a really brave pony.” And with that, the unicorn filly takes off to track down Doctor Bonezaw, and presumably, to head home afterwards.

A battery of quick tests and a series of medical questions later, as well as a mouthful of medications swallowed, and the medical staff once again step out of the chamber. It’s only then, when Rainbow Dash is alone save for the sleeping form of Spike clinging tightly to her barrel, that Princess Celestia steps into the room, dark circles under her eyes from obvious exhaustion.

Without even meaning to, Rainbow Dash shrinks away as a flash of memory of overwhelming power flashes through her, before immediately mentally berating herself for doing so. This is the pony that had saved her, not a threat. Even so, at the mere sight of Celestia, Rainbow can swear she smells it once again. The ashen scent, of bloody vapor and burning flesh.

“How do you feel?” Although it's the second time since she had awoken that she’d heard those words, the feeling behind them is entirely different, none of the detached clinical attitude of the doctor, and Rainbow Dash knows that the alicorn is not merely asking about her injuries.

“Not great.” Rainbow dash eventually admits, all her usual bluster beaten out of her. Taking a deep breath, and wincing in pain as she does, Rainbow Dash gives Celestia a hard stare. “I-I need to know. What happened while I was out? Did the other ponies…” Rainbow Dash hesitates, biting her lip, almost wishing she could simply not bother asking. But that isn't something she can do; she has to know the answer. “Did anypony else die?”

Celestia gazes sympathetically at Rainbow Dash as she sits by her bedside. “Unfortunately, other than the assassins, two other ponies were hurt. The guardspony, I’m afraid, was pronounced dead at the scene.” Celestia enunciates each word clearly; Rainbow Dash gets the unfortunate feeling that the alicorn has far too much practice breaking bad news. “The other victim was a tourist. Last I heard, he was in emergency care, it's too early to say if he will pull through or not.”

Rainbow Dash sags visibly, staring listlessly at the wall across from her. “I see.” Somepony had died, because assassins were after her. Uncertainly, Rainbow Dash looks back up to Celestia. “Princess? Why did this happen?” Rainbow Dash looks down at shaking hooves. “Some… Somepony wanted to kill me. Did I… Did I do something wrong? Why would anypony want to hurt me?”

Celestia sets her jaw and shakes her head firmly. “No, of course not. Truthfully, I doubt whoever is behind this even knows your name. You were a target because you were my student, and for no other reason.” The alicorn’s gaze falters. “You’ve scarcely been in my care for a month, and yet you’ve already been so badly hurt twice. I’ve made a terrible mistake bringing you here, and endangered the life of a filly. I should make reservations for you to return to Cloudsdale immediately-"

Rainbow Dash surges to an upright sitting position, ignoring the pain that strikes in her flank, tears in her youthful eyes. "No!" She shouts out, with enough force to give Celestia pause. "I... A pony died, trying to protect me, today! More ponies died trying to kill me! I can't... how could I live with myself if I just went back to Cloudsdale and tried to become some stunt flier?" Her voice cracks, but the filly doesn't let up. "I have to see this through... Because if I didn't, what kind of pony would I be? I need to learn how to fight, so I can protect Equestria in the stead of... Of a pony who can't anymore!"

There is a vivid sorrow in Celestia’s eyes as she calmly responds. "Rainbow Dash, what happened yesterday was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done, and you should feel proud you managed to protect your fellow student. I shudder to think what could have happened if you weren't both there for eachother."

Rainbow Dash jams a hoof into the much-taller alicorn's chest, even though the act requires her to lean to the absolute limit of her restraints. "If it wasn't my fault, it wasn't yours either, so stop trying to make up for it!" Rainbow Dash’s voice echoes in the hospital chamber, loud enough to hurt her own ears. “I came here on my own, you didn’t make me. Whatever happens because of that… Is at least as much the consequence of my actions as yours.”

There is a long moment of silence, as a bittersweet smile finds the edges of Celestia’s mouth, a glimmer of recognition or admiration coming out from beneath the sorrow and guilt. “You are a truly remarkable pony, Rainbow Dash, I hope you realize that.” Celestia takes a deep breath, standing to survey the city beyond outside the window. “The guards are working exhaustively to make sure whoever is behind this is brought to justice. For now, it's best if you just lay low. Palace security has been tightened, whatever may come I will ensure your safety.”

Rainbow Dash shivers at the last statement, the steely, merciless edge in Celestia’s voice. Though Celestia is gazing out over Canterlot, it seems as though she recognizes Rainbow’s reaction, as Rainbow Dash can feel the release of tension in the air as the alicorn forcibly calms themself. “So does that mean I can stay?”

Celestia frowns and presses one hoof to her forehead. “For now, at least. I suppose we cannot be certain you would not still be in danger if you returned. It is unlikely the perpetrators will be so brazen as to try an attack again so soon, but we shall be on our guard nonetheless. The guard has already been dispatched to investigate, and the palace district is on lockdown. With luck, we should have some answers soon.”

Rainbow Dash fidgets unsurely, frowning. Something is bugging her, but she doesn’t know if she should ask. The need to decide disappears quickly enough, because as perceptive as ever, Celestia notices. “What troubles you, my pupil?” Celestia asks, as gently as can be.

“I-it’s just…” Rainbow Dash hesitates again, wanting to swallow her words, but the knowing gaze of the alicorn above her seems to draw them out of her. Rainbow Dash bites her lip, before shaking her head suddenly as if exasperated by herself. “You’ve lived for centuries, you’ve fought in all sorts of wars… You must have seen countless ponies die in your time. Taken on plenty of students over the centuries. Why do you care so much about what happens to me?” She finally blurts out.

“It is true. I have ordered thousands of ponies to their deaths for the sake of Equestria, and have seen countless generations come and go. But you are wrong about one thing, Rainbow Dash.” Celestia takes a deep breath. “I have not taken on ‘plenty of students’ as you suggest. In all my years, I have only ever taken on three. Yourself, Twilight, and… Dear Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia flinches at that last one. “I have to wonder if it was a wise decision, to involve myself so directly in the life of a mortal pony. I have much cause for regret, Rainbow Dash. But in you and Twilight, I see the future of Equestria. If I may help you along in any way, I feel… privileged to do so.”

Rainbow Dash blinks, not expecting that answer. Three students, in however-long Celestia had been around? With how Twilight had been taken in as a student so near Rainbow Dash, the pegasus had assumed it must just be a common occurrence for the alicorn. And that isn’t even to speculate on the weight of the words, ‘future of Equestria’.

Raising from her repose, Celestia nods to Rainbow Dash. “I am afraid I must go. It is time to raise the sun, and I will need to read reports. Not to mention…” Despite her best intentions, Celestia finds herself yawning, blinking away exhaustion. The alicorn allows a small giggle at that. “Well, I suppose that just about tells you all you need to know, hrm? I shall be sure to return once able. Please, do your best to rest, and put recent events from your mind.” Celestia bows her head.

Rainbow Dash hesitates before putting on a determined face and nodding. If nothing else, she can make sure she isn’t giving the ruler of Equestria even more things to worry about. Besides, she has plenty to think about; far more than the admittedly rather muscle headed pegasus is either used to, or prefers.

Rainbow Dash’s head hits the pillow, staring up towards the ceiling, listening to the click-clack of Celestia’s hoofsteps as she slowly trots away.

Chapter Text

Mooncrescent yawns, trotting along the cobblestone on the way to the forensics lab for the third time in the past week. “How long do we wait before we just decide they’re traitors?” Mooncrescent asks idly. “It sure seems like it's taking a long time for results to come back.”

Starblaze shakes his head. “Forensic science isn't that fast, Crescy. Besides, we have a couple other leads to follow up on, if there’s nothing to find here this time we’ll just have to set off for the Everfree and see what we can find.” According to the experts they had brought in, the burr’s found at the scene of the crime were only native to the Everfree forest east of Canterlot. The only reason the two of them hadn’t already set out, is because the train ride to the nearest settlement is a full day’s journey away and they want to be sure they had followed up on every lead in Canterlot first.

Nopony stops the duo, probably on account of their guard uniforms; Starblaze notes this with a distinct feeling of unease. Would it be so easy for anypony in a guard outfit to get back here? Ponies trusting nature can be a fairly major detriment at times.

At least the body is still there in the lab; Starblaze was half expecting somepony to have snuck in and removed it. “Oy!” Mooncrescent shouts, waving a hoof to get someponies attention. “Royal Guards Mooncrescent and Starblaze, here! We’re here to check on your progress!”

A frazzled looking, sleepy eyed mare with a double helix cutie mark looks up from her work over some manner of arcane machinery, practically jumping in her seat before rushing over to attend the two of them, bowing her head deeply. “M-my apologies, I was too focused to see you come in. What can I help you with?”

“It's been almost a week.” Starblaze states, grimly. “I’m going to need whatever information you’ve been able to dig up about our ‘friends’ over there, it can’t wait any longer.”

“Oh! Yes, right, of course. Actually you came at a perfect time, I was just recording some of the results. Right this way.” The mare pushes up her glasses and sits back down, rifling through some of the papers she had been working on as well as the oddly shaped device complete with eyepieces and some manner of holding mechanism in the center. “We strung together the most complete segments of DNA we could find from the corpses and cross-checked them with our records, but we can’t find a single match. Now missing one or two matches is typical but, this many separate instances of no matching records in our systems seems implausible. For those who still had teeth, there were no matches for dental records, either, so that’s what really set me off.” The forensic scientist start explaining.

Starblaze blinks and scrunches up his muzzle, somewhat struggling to follow along. He had heard something about the discovery of something called ‘DNA’ at some point, but he can’t really recall its meaning. At least Mooncrescent seems to be paying rapt attention, as the scientist removes a couple of folders and flips through them.

“Anyways, since nothing else was coming up, I delved a bit deeper looking for partial matches. We were actually able to find a few this time. They could be siblings or parents, maybe an avuncular relationship but it’s unlikely they’d be similar enough unless it was a case of inbreeding.” The scientist continues, removing a hooffull of papers and placing them on the table. “You can take a look here. I imagine the pattern should stick out to you.”

Starblaze takes the stack of papers and hoofs through them. Cherry blossom, born thirty seven years ago. Died fifteen years ago from unspecified causes, two years after having a foal. Snake Eyes, born thirty-eight, shanked in an alleyway after winning it big in gambling. Velvet Carpet, forty four years ago. Had a colt three years before disappearing mysteriously.

It isn’t exactly hard to figure out the connecting thread. Starblaze drops the papers on the table. “Yeah, lot’s of would-be parents of orphans. Why haven’t you come forward with this yet?”

The mare scrunches up her muzzle. “Well, I was going to, I was just running over the papers one more time to make sure I’d looked through them all thoroughly enough. But there’s more than that, they’re all around the same age range, thirty-five to forty-five. All of them are from eastern Equestria or Canterlot, lower class origins, or at least were lower class until right before their death in Snake Eyes’s case. Deaths all in the same time period, too.” The mare moves the papers around and presents one to the brothers. “This is the only one who didn’t show up in any obituaries. I can’t confirm that he’s still alive, but at least there’s no reason to think he’s dead, other than the general trends.”

Starblaze flips open the file. Collar Blue, 37 years old. Canterlot undercity district, works on and off at the railway depot. There’s a sizable selection of notes below; Starblaze looks up at the scientist with a raised brow, flicking his eyes down at the folder. “There’s a lot more in here than the rest. What gives?”

The scientist nods, eagerly. “Mhm, well, since he was the only apparently-living example, I thought the investigative team would want to know more. So I had my colleagues run a full background check and audit. Some very interesting tidbits came up.” She nods her head along eagerly, seemingly rather self-assured with her progress on the case.

Starblaze pauses before nodding. “Noted. Turn the full report into the palace when it's done, we’ll see if we can pick up on some of these loose threads.”

The tip of Starblaze’s tongue pokes from his mouth while he peruses the files, riding in the back of a carriage heading downcity. The area around him has blurred to nothing as he focuses, counting on Mooncrescent to tell him if there is anything of interest.

No criminal record, but in the right demographic where it wouldn’t be surprising. Says he spends every night drinking out, married but his wife isn’t working. Surprising he can afford that on his salary. Starblaze is interrupted from his pondering when Mooncrescent taps him on his shoulder.

“Look, we’re coming up on the undercity now! Wow, it’s been a while since we were down here, huh Blazey?” Mooncrescent points a hoof forwards as the sprawl of sometimes-technically-legal structures built underneath the grand terraces of Canterlot proper comes into view.

The Undercity District is, strictly speaking, not supposed to be there. It had started as a result of nobles getting inventive with property law as a way to advertise more and more ‘Downtown Canterlot Residential Buildings’, which in reality were underneath the city. An exploitation of property laws which only considered the land’s latitude and longitude, not its altitude. The law had been amended and a crackdown on the practice had been implemented, but it was too late; A sizable chunk of apartment buildings or condominiums had already been constructed, shortly thereafter followed up by suburbia the likes of which you’d find in other less affluent cities, and then by slums populated by short-sighted dream seekers who’d moved to Canterlot without the wealth required to actually get a piece of the pie there.

Well, dream seekers and those off the straight-and-narrow. It’s little secret that the guard rarely shows up down here; Partially a consequence of security measures designed before the Undercity had cropped up, partially because it’s a decidedly unglamorous and unpopular assignment amongst an organization largely consisting of spoiled aristocrats quite capable of forcing their way into glamorous and popular assignments.

“Guards aren’t popular around here, Crescy.” Starblaze murmurs to his brother. “Best to keep that to ourselves if we don’t want everypony to seal their muzzles shut. We don’t really have jurisdiction to go around interrogating every random civilian, so we’re going to need some discretion if we want information.”

Mooncrescent rolls his eyes in an all-too-deliberate manner, making his dismissal patently obvious. “Don’t you have any faith in me? You know I know that.” Mooncrescent cracks a grin towards Starblaze.

“And here we are! That will be ten bits if you please.” The carriage stops and the driver glances back at the two. Starblaze sighs, pays the obviously exorbitant fee, and hops off into the street as the carriage gallops back up towards Canterlot.

“Let’s see... Looking for...” Starblaze scrunches up his muzzle as he looks down at a map of the district in one hoof and his folder in the other. After a moment, he sighs, slumping noticeably. “...Would it have killed whoever built this place to have some kind of organization? I can’t find any rhyme or reason to these.”

When he glances up, Mooncrescent is already conspicuously absent. Bolting upright and stuffing the papers into his saddlebags, Starblaze looks around in alarm for his younger brother, only to find him bounding up to somepony on the streets.

“Excuse me, mister! Do you know where I can find a pony named Collar Blue? He lost something important at the depot!” Mooncrescent cheerily asks the first random stranger he’d found.

“Never heard of ‘im. Keep your distance.” The stallion replies, keeping a close hoof on his own saddlebag, walking at an uncomfortably fast pace to get away from there. Undeterred, Mooncrescent simply turns to the next closest pony and repeats the same line of questioning. Sighing, Starblaze shakes his head and trots along after him.

As it just so happens Mooncrescent’s attempts are not in vain; Not that he finds out where the stallion in question lives, but rather an obviously drunk mare slurs out that he’s a common drinking buddy and is probably still at the bar, coupled with intensely confused and largely inconsistent directions towards it.

The pair take quite some time patrolling the area the mare had vaguely pointed them towards, coupled with questioning quite a few random passers-by, until finally coming across one ‘Sunshade Bar & Inn’.

“Think this is the place?” Starblaze asks his brother, uncertainly. It isn’t much to look at, though by the standards of foreign cities it is still quite nice. Even in the undercity, buildings have to obey Canterlot city ordnance, after all. Not altogether unpleasant for what is, admittedly, a low point in the city in more ways than one.

Mooncrescent shrugs. “Maybe! Only one way to find out. Though, I suppose even if it is he might just not be here.” He glances out towards the horizon; it’s prime drinking hour about now, and based on what the mare had said, his quarry comes here just about every day.

But before Mooncrescent can make his way inside, Starblaze holds him back with one hoof. “Hold on. Remember, we don’t have any authority to go and interrogate the pony without any real evidence of wrongdoing. Try and let me do the talking.”

Mooncrescent scowls and rounds on his brother, planting one hoof down and putting on his legendary pouting face. “Blazey, stop talking down at me! I know how to do my job, just watch me.” With a huff, the younger colt whirls about and storms off inside, leaving Starblaze with a sinking feeling in his gut.

Oh colt, this isn’t going to go well, is it?

Mooncrescent struts into the pub with a typical bounce in his step as the barkeep pauses what he’s doing to look at the colt uncertainty.

“We’ll have two beers, please and thankyou!” Mooncrescent beams at the barkeep as he pulls up a stool, drumming his hooves on the wood before him as he glances around. The establishment is littered with working class ponies looking rather moody, although a few in one corner are instead loudly singing a bawdy song which Mooncrescent feels rather fortunate he can’t understand most of the words to.

“We don’t serve minors.” The barkeep replies gruffly. “Get out of here before I have to throw you out myself.”

Mooncrescent just gives him that habitual overeager grin that makes most ponies want to punch him in the face. “Nah, I don’t think so. Imma make myself nice and cozy here, if’n ya don’t mind. I know you usually only get riff-raff looking to drink away their sorry excuses for lives, but I reckon you could use some more dignified clientele from time to time.” Mooncrescent announces, flipping his mane back self-assuredly.

“Crescy! What in Tartarus’s name do you think you’re doing?” Starblaze hisses out, trying to pull his brother off the barstool. Already the aristocrat has attracted the attention of half the house, who are now glowering over at him. Before the barkeep has a chance to respond, Mooncrescent hops down from the barstool and approaches one of them seemingly at random, a ruddy stallion whose coat is fringed with grey and flakes of dirt, except for a thick band of deep blue around his neck.

“I mean, look at ‘em! He doesn’t look like he’s washed himself in a century! I know you lowlives have no sense of aesthetics, but would it kill you to dunk yourself in a river from time to time to get rid of that awful stench? I guess it can’t be helped, what with you drinking away what sorry excuse for brain matter you have in that noggin of yours.” Mooncrescent baps the stallion on the side of the head. “Anypony home in that vacant stare of yours?”

Starblaze freezes stiff in dismay. Just where had this come out of!? The only reason he hadn’t been attacked yet is because the other ponies in the room are too in shock at the suddenness of his jibes! “Sorry, everypony, I think my brother’s just a bit too drunk! We were just on our way out-“ Starblaze laughs awkwardly, still doing his best to drag Mooncrescent from his spot, but the pale blue colt is not moving.

“No, he’s not. Maybe you uptowners think we’re all a bunch of morons, but I know a drunk pony when I see one, and thats not one.” The stallion in question growls. “Now, you’d best get out of here before-“

“Ooh, is that a threat?” Mooncrescent cuts him off, eyes wide with excitement. “Please tell me that's a threat! I love threats!”

That just about did it. After just a moment of staring at Mooncrescent aghast, the drunk stallion finally grabs the nearest barstool and swings it as hard as he can at Mooncrescent’s head.

The exact moment the chair legs nears him, Mooncrescent’s previously lax aristocratic demeanor gives way to the carefully measured movements of a trained guardspony, as he expertly shifts underneath the chair, pivoting to sweep his hind legs beneath the stallion, easily sweeping the uncoordinated drunk’s hind legs out from underneath him.

Celestia damnit... Alright, looks like we’re doing this. Starblaze sighs, as the entire bar around him bursts into frenetic motion, quickly ducking underneath some manner of thrown projectile he hadn’t quite gotten a look at and leaping into position right behind his brother, who is presently jumping up on one of the tables and cackling like some kind of villain in a play.

“C’mon then, ye dastards! I haven’t had this much fun in ages!” Mooncrescent cheers, bucking backwards to throw one of the worker ponies behind him down to the ground before leaping into a charging stallion, the two rolling over across the floor.

Starblaze has no time to pay any attention, as the two drinking buddies of the pony Mooncrescent had mocked are both out for blood. An earth pony and pegasus, coming at him from below and above simultaneously. Fast as lightning, Starblaze leaps into the air right between the two, leaving the pegasus to simply collide with the earth pony underneath him instead, as Starblaze wheels about; he isn’t sure exactly which ponies hoof is currently flying towards his face, but he barely manages to drop fast enough for it to sail over his head.

Bolting back upwards in an instant, Starblaze headbutts upwards into the pony above him while being careful not to stab into him with his horn, the well-trained muscles of an elite guardspony still just about sufficient on their own to lift the adult stallion clean over his back, smacking into the floorboards with a groan.

With just a moment to look around, Starblaze catches sight of Mooncrescent, currently standing on top of the bar, practically dancing out of the way of the myriad bottles being hurled at him, before telekinetically seizing the lot of them out of the air and throwing them back.

“Is that all you’ve got!? C’mon, my granny can fight better than you lot!” Mooncrescent shouts out, the tone of his voice making it readily apparent that the colt is presently having the time of his life as he lands a roundhouse kick squarely on the jaw of the barkeep, who had been attempting to sneak up on him.

I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied that at least he didn’t break out his hoofclaws... Starblaze winces. The bladed weapons are poking out of his saddlebags, which had been set down on the counter. Speaking of that saddlebag, the first pony Mooncrescent had been insulting is currently digging through them. Starblaze’s eyes widen as he slams his latest attackers head into the ground with both forelimbs and then kicks him off to the side. “Crescy! Look out!”

Two gleaming white talons, usually fit to Mooncrescent’s hoof, streak through the air towards the colt’s throat. At least, right up until with expert precision, Mooncrescent’s hoof deflects the encroaching limb just below the bladed weapon, seizes the joint and the ponies throat, and tosses him over his shoulder to pin him on his back against the bar.

Just as suddenly as it had started, the fighting is over, the rest of the ponies either laying around dazed on the ground or having run off already. “Mooncrescent! What in tartarus’s name were you thinking? Half the patrons have run off and nopony is going to want to talk to us now! How are we going to find Collar Blue?” Starblaze scowls as he leaps up onto the bar next to Mooncrescent, every bit as aggressive as their enemies had been mere moments ago.

Mooncrescent simply raises his head to smile at him. “No need! I’ve got him right here!” Smiling earnestly down at the pinned earth pony, Mooncrescent levitates his identification up into the air. “I’m afraid you just attempted equicide against a member of the Royal Guard, and the heir apparent of a major noble house to boot! That’s a class A felony!”

The pony below him pales in response, as Mooncrescent leers over him. “Though, given the inconsistencies in your financial audit, I’d wager you’ve done more than just that, haven’t ya? I’m afraid we’re gonna have ta take you in.” Mooncrescent turns to the barkeep, who is currently pulling himself up by the counter, looking around in both confusion and fear. Sliding a small sack of ten-bit coins over to the stallion, Mooncrescent nods. “Apologies for besmirching your fine establishment, sir! This should pay for the damages, I hope.”

Starblaze just stares at his brother, stunned at the sheer audacity. Mooncrescent levers a conceited smirk his way. “Told ya I could handle it!”

The light flicks on in the interrogation room, back up in Canterlot Palace, where an extremely nervous looking earth pony stallion is now hoofcuffed to a table across from Serjeant Heartwhisper, while Mooncrescent and Starblaze watch from the side.

“We don’t even know if they had anything to do with this, Mooncrescent. Aren’t you concerned at all that you might have just arrested an innocent pony? This has got to be terrifying for him.” Starblaze asks quietly.

Mooncrescent snorts dismissively. “You worry too much, Blazey. Celestia said this is a matter of state security, right?” He bumps into Starblaze from the side, winking. “That means we gotta capitalize on any leads we can as quickly as possible! Besides, didn’t you look at the financial audits? All sorts of things don’t add up, and the timing of things is rather suspect too. No way he’s not involved in some kinda fishy business.”

Starblaze’s frown deepens, but Collar Blue had already been captured; he supposes he’ll just have to wait and see where this trail leads.

“Assaulting a military officer on duty, attempted equicide, and an ongoing investigation into just where you got all that drinking coin. You’ve sure landed yourself in hot water.” Serjeant Heartwhisper slaps a folder full of papers onto the table before leaning forwards. Evidently, she didn’t feel the need to mention that the two guardsponies are actually just cadets, nor that the circumstances of the ‘crime’ would probably allow him to get off scot-free. “None of that interests me, however. What I want to know, is why you’re the closest living genetic match to a number of high profile insurgents who launched a brazen attack in the palace district just a week ago.”

Collar Blue, already looking nervous, noticeably pales at that latest accusation, and waves his hooves disarmingly. “L-look, I don’t know anything about that, and I didn’t know who those two were! Please, I just want to go back home, I promise I don’t know anything!”

Heartwhisper rolls her eyes. “And that, of course, is why your heart rate just about doubled the moment I mentioned the incident, hrm?” The guardspony stands up and struts around the table. “I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Blue. I couldn’t care less about a couple of snot-nosed noble brats’ problems with you. If you cooperate with me, I’ll make sure those charges against you don’t go anywhere. But, if I find you are withholding information vital to national security, then I promise you that those charges will be the least of your issues.” There is a malevolent locution to Heartwhispers voice, a precisely crafted tone that flicks from reassuring to threatening in a heartbeat, honed over years of training and application.

“I already said, I don’t know anything about that!” Collar Blue shouts out, slamming his hooves against the desk, looking almost nauseous. “Look, I… I made a deal a long while back with somepony, but I swear on my life I don’t know anything about them or what they were up to. I-I needed the cash!” he begins stammering out, incoherently.

“Looks like Heartwhisper’s getting off easy today.” Mooncrescent remarks to Starblaze. “Not quite so tough a cookie as the assassin, huh Blazey?”

Heartwhisper narrows her eyes at Collar Blue for a long moment, leaning forwards. “What kind of deal? Don’t leave out any details, if you want this to end well for you.”

Collar Blue cringes away from her. “I-I can’t remember a lot of the details, it was a long time ago. But I’d got myself into gambling debt and somepony offered to pay them all off. I just had to…” He pauses, glancing back up at Heartwhisper fearfully like a cornered animal. “I just had to hand over my foal. L-look, you have to understand, I didn’t have another choice, if I ended up broke and homeless I wouldn’t have been able to take care of him anyways, okay?”

For just a moment, the professionally crafted demeanor of Serjeant Heartwhisper slips, revealing keen disgust underneath. “You sold your own child to pay off gambling debts?” Her voice is incredulous. “What about the mother? Did she have any say in this?”

Collar Blue nods, almost too eagerly. “It was her idea in the first place! She said… The buyers looked well off, that he’d probably just be brought up as a servant or something and have a better life than we could give him.”

Heartwhisper narrows her eyes, leaning forwards. “The buyers looked ‘well off’, hrm? Just what gave that away?” She pauses for just a moment, tilting her head. “Tell me everything about how the deal went down. Spare no details, if you don’t want to be locked up the rest of your life.”

Collar Blue glances this way and that, fearfully; at this point, he’s little more than putty in Heartwhisper’s hooves, and knows it. “They wore dark silk cloaks with embroidered trim, you could just tell by looking that they weren’t something somepony poor could afford. Plus, I mean, the fee they were offering was generous enough! How couldn’t they be rich!?” He babbles. “I-I don’t really remember much more about the ponies, but they told us to take the kid to some town out east for the exchange… I think it was called ‘Ponyville’, but I haven't been back there since. I remember the pony we met wasn’t the same one who approached us at first. He had white fur and orange eyes, I don’t remember much more, but he gave me the creeps.”

Mooncrescent whistles from outside the room, while Heartwhisper continued the interrogation. “Well, guess it’s good we hung around here instead of heading straight down, huh Blazey?”

“Maybe. I’m not so sure. That’s another lead towards the Everfree Forest, Ponyville’s the closest town to the forest in all of Equestria.” Starblaze turns to Mooncrescent. “We’ll pick up the transcript of the interrogation, then we should be off. We can leave any more leads in Canterlot to Heartwhisper, I doubt she’s one of the traitors from her work.” He pauses, looking down towards the ground. “Unless this is somehow all a wild goose chase she’s setting us on. But that seems unlikely, since your own investigation with the botanist also suggested activity in the Everfree.”

Mooncrescent nods. “Roger that! We should probably go report to Celestia first, though, right?”

“Yeah, good call. You go on ahead and do that, I’ll stay here to catch up with Heartwhisper after the fact, see if she picked up on any more than you or I can gather from this.” Starblaze motions with his head in a direction vaguely towards the city proper. “I’ll meet you at the train depot in a couple hours.”

Mooncrescent grins broadly and gives a surprisingly proper salute. “Aye-aye, roger that!” With that, the younger of the two brothers scampers off to find the princess, and Starblaze turns his attention back to whatever is left of the interrogation.

Chapter Text

“You know, when I agreed to watch each others’ back at the academy, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” Rainbow Dash notes, watching the gryphon on the other side of the room looking, appropriately enough, hawkishly towards the doorway for any sign of intrusion.

“Hey, orders are orders.” Glyndwr retorts defensively without taking her eyes off the door nor talons off her weapon. “Besides, would you really rather be stuck here all alone?”

“I wouldn’t be alone!” Rainbow Dash responds, glancing over at the small crib adjacent to her bed. Any attempt at removing the infant dragon from her bedside had resulted in such a fuss that eventually, the doctor had caved and arranged to have his crib placed beside the hospital bed. Resigned to her fate, Rainbow Dash had resorted to trying to teach the dragon how to say some particularly important words, such as "Rainbow", "Dash", "is", and "awesome" to pass the time. But right now, the dragon is sound asleep, curled up into a torus in his crib like an armadillo.

“Does it really count as 'not alone' if your companion isn’t old enough to speak?” Glyndwr points out.

Rainbow Dash sighs reluctantly, but has to concede the point. That isn’t the real reason for her belligerence anyways, that has more to do with not wanting anycreature to witness the torment she’s about to subject herself to. “Hey, Glyndwr?” Rainbow Dash finally speaks up. “Could you hand me the book on that table there?”

The gryphon sprouts up from where she’d been planted and wanders over to the aforementioned book, picking it up and dusting off the cover. “Fundamentals of pan-racial magic theory’..?” The gryphon’s incredulous tone asks the question for her.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s the one.” Rainbow Dash grumbles, taking the proffered tome and wincing slightly in pain as she scoots her way back up the bed into a sitting position. “Twilight left it with me ‘so I don’t fall behind’.” The pegasid’s voice takes on a high pitched, almost mocking tone as she imitates Twilight’s speech.

Glyndwr watches the pegasus with a hint of curiosity for a long moment before shaking her head. “You’re trying too hard.”

Rainbow Dash blinks up from the book, which she had just flipped through the pages of to find her place. “What?”

“To feign disinterest or reluctance. Twilight isn’t here right now, if you really don’t want to study you don’t have to.”

Rainbow Dash clenches her jaw in frustration. “Look, I don’t have anything else to do, okay?” She retorts after a long moment. She tries to turn her focus on the book, but despite her best efforts she can feel her cheeks turning red; not only is it embarrassing for such an awesome pegasus as herself to be caught studying of all things, but doubly so considering that the text is some three or four years behind Twilight’s level. If there is one thing worse than being an egghead, it's being an egghead that is not even competitive within the category of being an egghead. Furtively, Rainbow Dash glances back up at Glyndwr, halfway hiding her face behind the tome in her hooves. “Just, don’t tell anypony, okay? I have a reputation to maintain you know.”

Glyndwr disarmingly shrugs. “Look, it’s no feathers off my chest, right? Do whatever you need, just pretend like I’m not here.”

But before Rainbow Dash can return to her attempt at studying, a noise from her other side garners her attention; the bundle of purple and green scales by her side has awoken, stretching his claws into the air and yawning loudly. With a quick glance around, as if to make sure he hasn’t been removed from Rainbow Dash’s side once again, Spike wastes no time in pulling himself up onto Rainbow Dash’s bed and curling up by the pegasid’s side, right between her wing and shoulder, prompting a groan of further embarrassment from the pegasus.

A quick glance at Glyndwr reveals the gryphon is making quite the show of looking away, whistling idly in a tune only a gryphon, or possibly a hippogryph, could make. “Ow! Be careful with those things, they’re sharp.” Rainbow Dash mutters to Spike, “Okay, okay, you can stay, just quit squirming so much so I can read.”

Glyndwr averts her gaze, settling back into guarded, pensive silence, falling into thought about the sudden turn her life had taken. She’d joined up with the guard to try and learn some new skills; the opportunity for career or social advancement had crossed her mind, of course, but it had never been her main priority. Even after she’d found herself at the royal guard academy in Canterlot of all places, she had taken it as a stroke of good fortune but assumed that would be the end of it.

But things are different now. Sure, her new duties don’t come with any change in rank or status, but she’d been called before the princess herself and told, more or less, that she’s one of the most trustworthy cadets in Canterlot. For once in her life, her 'proud' gryphon heritage had actually come in handy.

That train of thought is promptly derailed at the sound of approaching hoofsteps, and Glyndwr immediately jumps back to attention. Grah, pay attention! This is your job! Glyndwr internally berates herself even though there’s no external sign there had been any lapse. As she pokes her head out into the hallway, the guards outside are already greeting the intruders.

“My niece here was friends with the princesses’ protege back in Cloudsdale. She says she came straight to Canterlot when she heard about the attack.” Nimbus Kicker, a higher-ranking member of the Royal Companions, is explaining. Behind her, a small gaggle of fillies follows along; a lavender pegasus with blonde mane who somewhat resembles the older guardspony, a timid buttery-yellow filly with a pink mane hiding behind her friends, and to Glyndwr’s great surprise, another gryphon.

The other gryphon and Glyndwr stare distrustingly at eachother even as the guards out front allow the fillies through. Glyndwr hesitates, backing up into the room; The explanation sounds believable enough, sure, but it could just as easily be a ploy to get somepony in the room with Rainbow Dash for an attack. Granted, the fillies hardly look the part, unarmed pegasi (and gryphon) as they are, but it could just as easily be the case that the assassins are counting on just such a ploy. Momentarily, Glyndwr ponders if she should call for reinforcements with the magical artifact strapped around her ankle, just in case.

Before she can make up her mind, the gryphon of the encroaching group speaks up. “What are you doing here?” The incredulity in her voice is palpable, as she looks Glyndwr up and down. “You’re barely older than I am! What, were you too good for Gryphonstone? Just who did your parents bribe to get you positioned in Canterlot?”

Oh great, a proper Gryphonstonian. Glyndwr suppresses an internal groan. She had only met with gryphons of the more ‘mainstream’ gryphon culture a talonful of times, and each one had been… Taxing, to say the least. In a way, it’s somewhat surreal, seeing how ponies probably see her most of the time. Turning her head to look the other gryphon in the eye, Glyndwr appraises her icily with severe distrust. “I’ve never been to Gryphonstone. Now, if you want to see Rainbow Dash, you’re going to have to-”

Before Glyndwr can continue, the cumulative group is distracted by an interjection from a particular bedridden, prismatically maned pegasus behind her. “Gilda!? Is that you?” Rainbow Dash calls out, hastily removing Spike from her shoulder and hiding the textbook underneath her mattress.

The till-now spooked silent yellow pegasus surges forwards at the sound of the voice. “H-How is she doing? Um, I mean, i-is she going to be okay?” The worried voice of the yellow filly asks Glyndwr, trying to peek around the corner.

Glyndwr glances back to Rainbow Dash unsurely. Of course, she did mention she had a gryphon friend back in Cloudsdale. Obviously Rainbow Dash recognizes them, but even so, she needs confirmation before she can just let them through; she wouldn't be much of a guardsgryph otherwise, would she? “Are these your friends?”

Only after Rainbow Dash nods affirmation, does Glyndwr sigh and back up, leaving just enough space to let the ponies in one by one. The yellow one flies in first, taking up position next to Rainbow Dash’s bed and immediately starting to fret over her. Before the others can rush in, Glyndwr places herself firmly in the way.

“Alright, listen up! I’ll let you see your friend but only one of you can be close to the bed at a time! Got it?” Friends or not, any unknown pony is still a potential threat. Any one, Glyndwr is confident she can take, and if she needs to call for backup it will arrive nearly instantly courtesy of unicorn teleportation. So as long as the ponies keep their distance, it should be safe enough…

Gilda glares at Glyndwr, cramming her face close to the other gryphon. “And why should I do what you say? The guards already let us in.” Gilda hisses out, narrowing her eyes. “Are you even a real guard? What kind of gryphon works in Canterlot? Maybe you’re the one we should be suspicious of.”

Glyndwr grimaces, places one talon firmly on Gilda’s chest and shoves her back, planting herself between her and the injured pegasus behind. “Keep your distance.” Glyndwr dictates icily. “Regardless of your feelings about it, I am still considered a guardspony within these palace walls, and my word goes.”

“Gilda! Glyndwr! Stop fighting!” Rainbow Dash calls out from the bedside, partially sitting up. “Look, you’re both my friends okay? Gilda, she’s just trying to keep me safe. And Glyndwr, Gilda’s my friend, she’s not going to hurt me.”

Glyndwr clenches her beak tightly for a long moment, the air remaining tense as both gryphons seem as though they are ready to fight, until eventually Glyndwr sighs and relents. “...Fine. But I’m keeping my eye on you.” Stalking over to the corner of the room, Glyndwr sits down and watches the proceedings with readily apparent distrust.

“How are all three of you here?” Rainbow Dash asks, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. “I mean, I get that you were almost done at flight camp anyways, but, Gilda and... Fluttershy...?” Rainbow Dash trails off, looking over to the buttery pegasus who is presently cowering in the far corner of the room as far away from Glyndwr’s baleful stares as possible.

“Your parents actually chipped in.” Cloud Kicker explains. “They were... I mean, you know how they are. Your mom was practically inconsolable. They really wanted to come themselves, they even booked a place to stay and everything, but a weather emergency came up in eastern Equestria and they couldn’t leave Cloudsdale. So they arranged for Gilda and Flutters here to come in their stead, since they didn’t want to leave you alone. They also asked me to bring...” The pegasus filly lifts up a bag stuffed full of letters and places it on the bedside. “This!”

Rainbow Dash sighs in both consternation and relief. She loves her parents, but they can be a bit much; a selfish, cynical part of her is privately glad they can’t be here to fuss all over her the entire time she is recovering. She’ll have to deal with that sooner or later, but she’s more than happy to kick that can down the road. “That’s great. So, did you get my letters? I sent one as soon as I got the chance.”

Gilda scoffs, flipping her head back. “Pfft, you mean those little cards with the flowery writing? I did, but I almost threw them in the trash before I read who they were from. Since when did you start writing like that? I guess being the princesses' little protege has gotten the better of you.”

Rainbow Dash turns beet red, and mumbles under her breath something about getting somepony else to write for her. To her surprise, Fluttershy of all ponies speaks up in her defense. “Um, I thought they were really nicely written..” The demure filly self-consciously rubs one of her forelimbs, before climbing up onto the bedside. “How do you feel? I mean, um, I hope you’re healing well.”

Rainbow Dash does her best to put on a more traditional face for her, that of the devil-may-care aviator her friends know and (presumably) love. “Ha, as if a little something like this is enough to keep me down. I’m just here until the doctors finally let me out, then I’ll be out there giving would-be assassins what-for before you know it.” She grins, but it’s readily apparent the grin is hollow. Despite her best intentions, the thought that there is still somepony out there who wants her dead stills her heart, and everycreature present can hear the subtle but very real quaking in her voice.

Gilda begins stalking back and forth on the hospital floor before Rainbow Dash’s bed, grumbling fiercely. “When I get my talons on whoever did this to you, they’ll be sorry they were ever born!” The gryphon fumes. “What kind of pony would-”

“Ow!” The gryphon is cut off by the high-pitched squeal of Fluttershy, jumping back into the air in surprise and fear. “RainbowDashIDon’tKnowIfYouNoticedButThere’sAMonsterRightNextToYou!” Fluttershy stammers out as quickly as she can speak, just as Spike’s head pops out from the blankets behind which he’d been hiding from the new and unfamiliar ponies.

Rainbow Dash blinks, startled in turn as all three of her friends freeze up or recoil. “No, guys, don’t worry! It’s just Spike. Um, I think I mentioned him in my letters?” Rainbow Dash lifts Spike and places him before herself. The little baby dragon clings to Rainbow Dash’s fur and glares suspiciously out at the newcomers. “Uh, right. Friends, meet Spike. Spike, meet Gilda, Cloud Kicker, and Fluttershy, these are my friends from Cloudsdale.” Rainbow Dash hastily, and a little too late, introduces everycreature to one another. “Spike was hatched by Celestia’s other student. He’s um, staying with me for a little while, until Twilight comes and gets him. He can’t quite talk yet but he’s learning. Here, Spike, try saying my name.”

Spike hesitantly stands up on all fours, surveying the three other creatures with wariness, before pointing one clawed digit towards Rainbow Dash. “Raynbuhw d-as... Isz... Awe-zum!” The little dragon warbles out in an unsteady voice, just as taught, holding his head high in pride.

Fluttershy hesitantly approaches the bedside to see the little dragon closer up, and stares at him with wonder readily apparent on her features. “Oh my goodness, I’d completely forgot all about him! When your letter mentioned a dragon egg was hatched I didn’t realize he was with you. Dear Celestia, I didn’t know a dragon could be so cute!” The little filly gushes out in awe, while the little dragon reaches out one claw and places it on her muzzle.

Rainbow Dash grins and prods Spike softly. “Here, Spike, this is Fluttershy. Fluh-tur-shy. You try it.”

“F-Fwutahshah!” Spike proclaims, the effort inciting a fit of giggles from both Fluttershy and Cloud Kicker, while Gilda only rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, well, you three have fun with your baby dragon.” Gilda scoffs. “I’m going to go back to the room. I’ll catch you later when you’re feeling a bit more dignified, Dash.” The gryphon turns and marches out of the room.

“Gilda!” Rainbow Dash reaches out, but the gryphon is already gone. Rainbow Dash’s forelimb goes limp as she huffs out a frustrated sigh. On one hoof, she can somewhat understand; showing off a baby of all things is not something that is typically on her ‘cool’ list. But on the other, Spike is a literal dragon! How can Gilda not be interested in that? Doesn’t being a dragon automatically put him on the cool list?

Cloud Kicker just waves off the retreating gryphon, sighing. “Don’t mind her, she’ll be back. You know Gilda.” Cloud Kicker wanders over by the dragon, crouching down and letting a slight smile onto her face. “Alright, then, try me next. I’m Cloud Kicker. Cl-oud Kick-er. Try it.”

Spike pauses for a moment, as if thinking, before placing one claw onto Cloud Kicker’s muzzle and announcing with as much gravitas as the tiny draconian can muster, “Kul-loud Kih-kur!”

While Fluttershy applauds the dragon, enthralled, Cloud Kicker looks up to Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “I think he got closer to mine than yours. And on his first try, too.”

Rainbow Dash crosses her hooves and playfully glares over at Cloud Kicker. “Oh, as if! Besides, your name is just easy to say!” Her words do little to dispel the smug aura around the pegasus, though.

The trio spend a little while just playing with the little dragon and trying to teach him how to say various things (None more so than Rainbow Dash), under the watchful gaze of Glyndwr in the corner of the room, until Cloud Kicker finally offers a change of topic.

“So, how is cadet school treating you?” Cloud Kicker asks. “Your letter from before the attack said that the Princess had already started you on fighting lessons, right?”

Rainbow Dash nods. “Yeah. Though I didn’t get too far before... This all happened.” She grimaces, motioning to her bed. “I swear I’m good to go, but I’m still not allowed to leave. Some nonsense about needing to make sure my ribs aren’t going to pierce an organ.” The pegasus sticks her tongue out, grimacing to make it clear what she thought about being stuck there.

“I’m sure the doctors are just trying to do their best.” Fluttershy tries to reassure Rainbow Dash. “You sure do seem to be healing quickly, though. We were really scared when we heard what happened, I’m so relieved that you seem to be doing okay.”

It’s true, Rainbow Dash is healing much faster than she should be. Celestia must have used her magic. Again. A pang of guilt stabs at Rainbow Dash’s heart, remembering Bonezaw’s speech about how exhausting that was for the alicorn. “Guess my defensive maneuvers were too good to get hurt that badly.” Rainbow Dash blusters, shoving her insecurities aside. “You should have seen me, they were coming at me from every angle but I just dodged this way and that. I only got clipped by them the one time.” Even as she boasts, she feels the bandaged stump that is her ear start to sting the moment she thinks about it. Another part of you, gone forever.

But her friends don’t need to worry about that. Her friends don’t need to hear about the dreams she’d had, either. She’s worrying them enough as it is, especially Fluttershy. How had that timid filly managed to come all the way to Canterlot, anyways? Even the thought of touching down on the ground had once terrified her, yet here she is, in the flesh. Fluttershy is being brave enough. Rainbow Dash can handle the rest. She has to.

The visit goes on for some time, as Rainbow Dash begins telling the duo stories about her time in Canterlot. At some length, the doctor visits to check up on Rainbow Dash, and her friends are ushered back out into the hall. The sun sets and moon rises, and just like that, Rainbow Dash is one day further away from the attack, one day closer to full recovery.

But even so, the fear doesn’t go away.

Chapter Text

Shining Armor frowns as he sits outside of the bathroom, waiting for Twilight to get ready. He glances over at the clock once again; normally, Twilight would have been ready to head out the door hours ago. Instead, she’s still in there, hours after she should have been at the palace. Not that Shining Armor can fault her for that, but the fact remains that he is determined she will go. He knows, perhaps better than anypony, just how much potential his little sister has, and he is not about to let that potential be squandered by a single traumatizing experience.

So, reluctantly, the young stallion raises a hoof and knocks on the door to the bathroom, clearing his throat noisily to hopefully get Twilight’s attention inside. “Anypony alive in there?” He calls out, before instantaneously regretting his exact choice of phrasing.

“I-I’ll be right out.” comes the reply. “Sorry for making you wait…” Shining Armor sighs, already feeling guilty for rushing her even to that extent, and lays down on his haunches. It’s fine if the two of them are late today; nopony will scold him for being late, and certainly nopony will dare be upset at Twilight. What is most important is that Twilight feels ready to go back.

Eventually, the door slides open, and the unicorn filly slips from the bathroom directly into Shining Armor’s shadow, standing so close to him that he can feel her muscles jittering, staring down at the ground. He’d never seen her like this before; oh, he’s been there for more than a few anxious meltdowns or panic attacks, but never before had he seen her this… Timid.

Pointing that out to her could only have a negative effect, so instead Shining Armor puffs out his chest and pulls Twilight in close, hoping to provide some semblance of security. “Come on, let’s get breakfast, we have a big day ahead of us.” He offers his best attempt at a reassuring smile before setting off down the hall at the highest possible speed that Twilight will follow at; or in other words, barely faster than a snail’s pace.

Unlike usual, the duo arrive to the breakfast table some time later than their parents. “Good morning, sweetie. We made your favorite, hayburgers and daisy fries.” Twilight Velvet smiles to her daughter, but there’s an obvious undercurrent of nervousness in her eyes, of worry for the filly.

The same can be said for just about everypony else, Shining Armor just hopes his little sister won’t notice. Lethargically, the filly deposits herself in her chair and scoots up to the table, eyes flicking this way and that as if seeking possible threats before she allows herself to begin eating.

It’s not a typical school day to have that many ponies at the table in House Twilight, even Night Light is there; Shining Armor can’t remember the last time all four of them had been present for breakfast on a weekday, since normally he and Night Light would both be at the palace by now. Instead, by the time the guard cadet and his young charge depart for the palace, it’s already 10:30 or so; any other day, Twilight Sparkle would have been practically foaming at the mouth in horror at the suggestion of being this late. Today? It doesn’t seem to be anywhere on her mind. Instead, her gaze darts between each and every shadow as though terrified something will jump out of one of them.

Shining Armor leans in closer to his little sister protectively. “Here, will this help?” He asks as he projects a shield around the two of them. “See? As long as I’m here, you’re safe.”

His younger sister looks up at him unsurely and gives a quick, curt nod. “Y-yeah. Thanks, Shiny.”

Shining Armor smiles warmly back. “Of course. I won’t let any harm come to my little sister.” With a brief, affectionate nuzzle, the two start walking towards the palace; slower than usual perhaps, but, as they go, Twilight seems to regain at least some measure of confidence. Thankfully, there isn’t anything in the way of media today. Perhaps the experience of simply being shoved aside by Shining Armor’s shield when they tried to get in his way had been enough to deter them? Or perhaps they simply didn’t expect Twilight to be leaving just now.

One way or the other, it's 11:00 by the time the two get to the school of magic; Twilight turns to Shining Armor, fretting as they get closer. “Where are you going to be while I’m in there? Wh-what if…”

Before Twilight can voice her fears, Shining Armor reassuringly squeezes the filly against his flank. “I’m going to be right there with you. My little sister’s so talented that she’s already at my level, and I figured I shouldn’t let you get too far ahead of me, huh? I’m already the best in my generation at shielding, so I thought I would take a break from combat magic. I talked with Celestia about it, we’ll be going to the academy together every other day, and going to the cadet school the other half.”

Normally, Shining Armor might have been concerned about the filly only going to standard magic classes every other day, but with her prodigal rate of study it’s more likely that will help keep her from getting too far ahead. Shining Armor on the other hoof is going to have quite a bit of difficulty with essentially double the class workload, but if it will keep Twilight safe, he will endure it.

Twilight blinks in surprise, before a smile, the most sincere and endearing smile she had given since the attack, one that makes Shining Armor’s heart skip a beat, breaks out over her face, and she throws herself into Shining Armor’s fur. “Oh, thankyou thankyou thankyou! I’m going to get to study with my BBBFF, oh, this is the best day ever!” She squeals, her fear momentarily forgotten as she prances about in a circle on the tips of her hooves, beaming.

Shining Armor knew Twilight was usually excited to spend time with him, but the severity of that excitement hadn’t really set in until he saw what a drastic change it could have on her mood even in bleak seeming days like these. “Don’t let me distract you now. It’s around time we headed to class, but we might make a bit of a splash.” Shining Armor jokes. Oh well; he isn’t really counting on learning anything today, just getting Twilight back into the swing of things.

Shining Armor may not have been counting on learning anything that day, but Twilight apparently had different plans.

As soon as it became apparent there was a single aspect of the day’s lecture that he hadn’t understood, the filly had sat him down with perhaps half a dozen books and drilled him until he could get it just right. And so it is that when almost every pony in the building has gone home or checked into the dormitories, Twilight and Shining Armor are still in the library. Twilight, her nose in a book as usual, hadn’t noticed, but other than the librarian there is still one other pony there.

At first, Shining Armor had presumed he was cramming for some kind of test, but a surreptitious glance at his book catalogue-a list of tomes so esoteric that he’d sooner have guessed it was Twilight’s reading list-dispels that notion, and Shining Armor nudges Twilight. The filly blinks up at him in surprise at being interrupted from her reading session with one ‘Compendium of Breezy Anatomy’. Thankfully, he had gotten her before she managed to get too far in the book, or else it would have been impossible to pry her away from it. “Huh?”

“Who is that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him around before, and he’s reading books just as advanced as yours.”

“Huh? Oh, that’s Sunburst, he stays in the library late every day.” Twilight replies flippantly.

Shining Armor turns to appraise her, raising one brow. “There’s another pony who reads as much as you do, and you’ve never so much as mentioned him to me?”

Twilight shrugs. “I dunno, I’ve never really spoken to him before. We only share like a couple classes.” Shining Armor pauses, pondering… ‘Sunburst’, hadn’t he heard that name before? He could swear that he had.

In realization, he suddenly slaps one hoof down onto the table. “Wait, Sunburst!” His outburst finally draws the amber-coated colt’s attention, who looks up from his book both startled and confused, hastily adjusting his glasses.

“Oh, uhm, yes? Can I help you somehow?” The colt asks as Shining Armor trots up to the colt with a nod of his head.

“Cadet school’s been getting letters addressed to you for ages, but nopony knew what to do with them since nopony could figure out who ‘Sunburst’ was! They must have been addressed to the wrong school!” Shining Armor exclaims.

Sunburst blinks at him in surprise, slowly letting his book sink down onto the table. “Really? To… Me? Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure, unless you know of another Sunburst. I’ll have to see if I can find where all the letters have been stashed in the meantime and see if I can get them to you.”

Sunburst frowns, glancing back down at his book. “Do you know who they were from?” He asks, stroking a little tuft of fur on his chin.

Shining Armor just shakes his head in response. “Dunno, sorry.” That’s about all he has for that subject, without the letters before him; he has to capture the opportunity to see if he can get Twilight into the conversation. “I didn’t know Twilie had a competitor in terms of reading level. Judging from the size of that stack of books, I’d say you’re almost neck and neck with her.” Shining Armor jokes, nudging Twilight from the side; the filly just blinks up at him in confusion, not understanding what he’s trying to do.

Sunburst on the other hoof looks crestfallen, and glances out the window. “Oh, I mean, I don’t know about that. I’m hardly the princesses' star pupil after all.”

But thankfully for Shining Armor’s perhaps blunt methods of getting Twilight to try talking to the colt, the mention of his stack of books had seemed to get her attention. “But you are reading Applied Gryphon Ritual Arts!” She points out. “Even I haven’t gotten to that, it's still quite a ways down my reading list.”

Sunburst blushes and covers up the title of his book hastily. “Why don’t you two ever study together?” Shining Armor suggests. “If you’re both staying in the library so late and reading such advanced materials, I feel like you’d be a natural fit.” He can only hope having more ponies to interact with will help keep Twilight’s nerves on the back hoof.

The colt hesitates, drawing away. “I, um, don’t think I’d be of much-” He begins, before suddenly being interrupted by Twilight, who had somehow popped up right by his side to investigate the colt’s reading list.

“Wow, Shiny wasn’t joking! Wait, so you’re the one who checked out ‘Recent Discoveries in Ancient Pegasid Archaeology, A Field Study’! Ooh, lucky, I was so looking forward to reading that. Can I take a peek?” Twilight asks with big excited eyes.

Shining Armor smirks to himself and leans back. Mission Accomplished. Get Twilight talking about books and there’s no way she was ever going to shut up.

…Now he’d just better make sure he’s keeping up with his studies, or he’ll get a scolding from his little sister later. Gulping nervously, Shining Armor turns his attention back to his own study material while Twilight and Sunburst start discussing the evolution of ancient pegasid architecture.

When the three unicorns finally leave after a two-hour-long discussion on topics ranging from the relative benefits and drawbacks of Gryphonian ritual arts, to the fusion of ancient pegasid architecture with modern construction techniques, the sun has long since set. Sunburst says goodbye to Twilight and heads for the dormitories, leaving Shining Armor and Twilight to locate their new residence. Privately, Shining Armor has to question the logic; isn’t there a spare room on the floor Twilight was already staying? And for that matter, wouldn’t it be safer to be closer to Celestia?

That question will have to remain a mystery, as the two of them are coming up on the building now. It’s in the palace square, but not part of the actual palace building like the last place; Instead, the structure seems to be some old, mothballed observatory, complete with wide sweeping windows, evidently having seen some period of disuse.

“Wow…!” Twilight remarks, enthralled, as she steps up to the main entrance reverently. Other than that entryway and maybe the broad sweeping window above, there don’t seem to be any other potential entrances. The building is stoutly built, too, enough that it would take quite the powerful earth pony or unicorn to force their way in. Undoubtedly, one of the reasons that Celestia had selected the abode for the two of them. “The princess really said we had this whole building to ourselves?” Twilight asks as she whirls about to face Shining Armor. ‘To themselves’ is perhaps a slight exaggeration, as there are two guardsponies standing guard some distance from the entrance, positioned for overlapping fields of view.

Shining Armor shrugs. “I guess so. C’mon, we’d better get settled in quickly, or you’re not going to get any sleep before breakfast tomorrow.”

Twilight hesitates for just a second before nodding and squeezing her way through the door. The cavernous main chamber of the observatory is seemingly made even larger by the darkness hugging around its opposite wall, giving it the impression of a never ending abyss. Twilight shivers and glances nervously backwards as Shining Armor makes his way in. A spark of magic later and the room is lit up; to Twilight’s immense relief, the back wall is not actually nonexistent but rather layered in shelves of cozy, beautiful books. Somepony had clearly been in here to prepare it for her moving in.

The filly’s eyes light up and she immediately bounds over to the opposite wall, before Shining armor gets her attention by very-deliberately clearing his throat. “I know you’re always eager to see new books, but it’s already getting late, Twi. It’s your first day of a new class tomorrow, do you really want to be exhausted for it?”

Twilight hesitates, scrunches up her muzzle, then hangs her head sheepishly. “No…” She murmurs, but quickly perks up again as she races up to Shining Armor’s side. “What kind of things will we be studying?”

Shining armor shrugs indeterminately. “I’m not entirely certain. Celestia made the accommodations just the other day, and I don’t think it’s just going to be my normal guard training. If I was to guess, we’ll probably have a specialized tutor to focus on self defense magic.” That is after all the main purpose of the change; to help ensure Twilight can protect herself, if worst came to worst and she was attacked again. Shining Armor continuing his guard training is just a convenient addendum.

Twilight scrunches up her face. “You don’t know? You mean you didn’t ask?” The thought is almost inconceivable to the filly, given how thoroughly prepared she needed to be for any possible eventuality. Of course, she hadn’t asked either; she’d had more pressing things on her mind, such as whether any given shadow was going to end up being somepony lying in wait to kill her.

Shining Armor just chuckles. “Guess you have something to look forward to tomorrow then, huh?” He remarks as he halts in his bedroom, which was also the only way to reach Twilight’s bedroom. A basic security precaution of course, it wouldn’t do if somepony could get to Twilight without going through her bodyguard first. “Alright Twi, I’ll see you in the morning.” He hugs his little sister, but shortly finds he is quite incapable of letting go, as the form of the nervous purple filly in his forelimbs is positively glued to him.

“...Do I have to go?” Twilight finally responds in a shaky, high-pitched voice. “I-I don’t want to be alone.”

Shining Armor frowns. “Twi, nopony is going to hurt you here. The night guards have already deployed inside the library while we went upstairs, there's no way for anypony to get in here. You’re safe, you know that, don’t you?”

Twilight looks up at him with a forlorn expression and hesitantly nods. “I-I know. But I still don’t want to be alone.”

Shining Armor sighs. Even had he been inclined to, there is precisely zero chance he could say no to those insecure, pleading eyes. “...Alright, Twi. Let’s go in your room, then, I think the bed is bigger there.” Ironic, considering their relative sizes compared to each other, but he supposes that being the princesses protege comes with certain perks.

Twilight nods jerkily and scampers off, glancing back furtively to make sure her brother is following, piercing Shining Armor’s heart with a devastating ray of pure cuteness. What kind of monster would I have to be to say no when she’s being this cute? Clicking his tongue, Shining Armor just shakes his head and trots along after her, hopping up onto the bed and pulling up the covers.

As soon as he’d gotten under them, Twilight leaps directly into Shining Armor’s waiting hooves all the way from the floor, landing snugly against his chest with a pronounced oomph. Shining Armor has to readjust to make sure her horn doesn’t stab him, instead letting it rest sideways against his neck while he curls two of his legs under Twilight. He can feel her quivering, whether in fear or from being cold he doesn’t know, but one thing is for certain; she is clinging to him something fierce, her face nestled down directly into the fur on his chest and hooves wrapped as far around his barrel as her somewhat diminutive size allows.

Protectively, Shining Armor curls around the vulnerable filly, sighing heavily. Just what else is a big brother to do with such a precious treasure as Twilight? “There, there, it’s okay… Nopony is going to hurt you, not while I’m here. And I’ll always be here.” Shining Armor reassures, absently stroking Twilight’s mane in a comforting gesture.

Twilight nods her head slowly against Shining Armor’s neck. “I-I know.” she stammers out. “...Thanks, Shiny. I always feel safer when you’re around…” Steadily, the quivering diminishes, the filly’s eyes slowly shutting, nestled in the warmth of Shining Armor’s fur and the blankets.

Shining Armor lies there for quite some time, unsure whether Twilight is asleep or not. All he can tell for sure is the unicorn is still and silent, held closely in all four of his limbs as he gently runs one hoof through the straight, soft locks of her mane. Eventually, Shining armor nods, and closes his eyes. “Goodnight, Twilie.” The only reply is a soft murmur suggesting agreement, and a slow, gentle descent into slumber.

Chapter Text

For the first time since the incident, when Twilight awakes the following morning it is with a hint of a hopeful smile on her face. She lingers in the intermediate space between wakefulness and dreaming for what seems like ages, soaking in the comfort of her present position, before finally pulling her head out of the dense mass of white fur before her to look around. The sun has yet to rise, and her brother is still sleeping, she can feel the rising and falling of his chest with each breath he takes. It’s a comforting rhythm, something that grounds her in the moment.

With a yawn, Twilight climbs up Shining Armor’s frame and lightly touches the tip of her horn to his. There’s a familiar electric sensation that passes through her horn as the two ponies’ magic contact one another, stirring Shining Armor from his sleep. It’s an intimate gesture between unicorns, because of how much you can tell about a pony by feeling the magic inside of them; the protective warmth of Shining Armor’s, and the curious intensity of Twilight’s.

Shining Armor yawns and affectionately nuzzles his little sister before rolling over onto his back, one each of fore and hind legs still curled around Twilight from underneath while she halfway rests on his barrel. “What time is it?”

Twilight cranes her head over and squints as she struggles to make out the hands of the clock in the dark. “Uhm, 5:27…. I can’t quite make out the second hand. Thirty or so, I think.” She reports, frustrated at her own inability to be any more precise.

Shining Armor nods and rests his head back against the pillow again. “That's good, we still have a while before the sun rises. I think Celestia wanted to see you for breakfast today.”

Twilight stiffens at the mention of Celestia, but she nods her head. “R-right. Okay.” Meekly, she buries her face down into the space between Shining Armor’s shoulder and chest.

Shining Armor frowns. That anxiety isn’t going away that easily, seemingly. He just hopes that Princess Celestia knows what they are doing, and can help his little sister.

The two lay there for perhaps another fifteen minutes, before Twilight shakily retracts her limbs, and rolls away. “Okay, I’ll take the first shower. I need to make sure I’m ready.” Twilight announces, standing up.

Shining Armor nods. “Go ahead, I’ll tidy up out here.” It would make it easier on his sister if he personally makes sure she has everything on her exhaustive and wholly unnecessarily long list packed.

Just in case.

Shining Armor nods to the three palace guards stationed downstairs as he passes by them. The bat-winged chiropterans are obviously tired, and seem relieved that their shift is over, with the sun rising. Chiropterans are always in high demand in the guard, owing to their natural talents as night watchponies.

The short walk towards the palace is somewhat awkward, for the simple reason that the chiropterans and siblings are walking in the same direction at about the same pace. As a result, Shining Armor is thankful when they reach the palace and are finally able to go separate ways. There is trepidation in every one of Twilight’s steps, growing ever more as they near Celestia’s tower.

Greeting the two right at the bottom landing of the stairwell that encircles the tower, a gryphon descends the steps. Yelping with fear, Twilight dives behind Shining Armor and peeks out from behind him, but Shining Armor just cradles Twilight’s shivering frame next to him while smiling. “Fancy meeting you here, Glyndwr!” That meant Rainbow Dash had already been deposited with Celestia. Shining Armor ponders internally why Celestia had chosen that gryphon as Rainbow Dash’s guard, it seems like an odd choice.

“Well, you know how it is, just running an errand.” The gryphon’s eyes flick towards Twilight, gaze softening. “I’m headed to mess now.”

Shining Armor nods. “I’m sure I’ll see you there, after my own ‘errand’.” The guardspony feels the edges of his mouth twitch upwards. As the gryphon steps around the pair of siblings, Twilight bumps into Shining Armor, cueing the older pony to glance back at her. “Something the matter, Twi?”

“Um… You’re going to the barracks for breakfast after you drop me off?” Twilight asks, brow furrowed in concern.

Shining Armor shrugs. “I mean, I would assume so. The breakfast is for Celestia’s students, and it’s not like you’re going to need my protection while you’re with them.” As he reaches the door, Shining Armor barely has time to knock a single time before it's telekinetically pulled open. The alicorn is looking far better than the last time Twilight saw her, her composure relaxed, face gentle and reassuring; it’s hard to believe it really is the same pony from that fateful day.

Rainbow Dash is there, too; her ribs are wrapped in bandages and braced to make sure she doesn’t move too recklessly, but she otherwise looks relatively alright, sipping from a cup of apple cider. Spike is sitting right beside her, lightly draped under one wing. As soon as Twilight enters the room, both the pegasus and baby dragon beam over at her, waving excitedly.

“I’m glad to see you, my student.” Celestia nods to Twilight with a wispy smile; Though she is trying to put on a casual atmosphere for the two fillies, there is still a ghost of worry behind her eyes. “It’s been too long since we met like this. I’m dearly sorry for my absence, but there were certain matters I could not put off attending to. But now, with luck, things can begin to go back to normal.” Celestia gestures at one of the seats, and Twilight takes it, but hesitates before responding.

“...Um, Princess, would it be okay if Shiny… Ehrm, I mean, my bodyguard, could stay while we eat?” Twilight asks.

Celestia carefully controls her expression-any sign of disapproval would be counterproductive-but can’t help feeling a twinge of dismay. Whatever progress she’d made with helping the filly come out of her shell had seemingly been totally reversed, with how stiffly formal she’d returned to being. Nodding, Celestia smiles warmly at Shining Armor. “Of course, your brother is more than welcome.”

Shining Armor glances back at the door, before hesitantly taking his seat. Guess I’m not going to see Glyndwr at the mess hall after all, then. Oh well, it isn’t a big deal. “Thank you, Princess. It is an honor.”

“If you’ll excuse me, though, if I’m going to have another guest, I had best make another plate of pancakes” Even as the Princess flutters up from the table, Spike pries himself away from Rainbow Dash’s side, and the little dragon awkwardly runs over to Twilight on all four warbly, unsteady legs.

“Tw-Twai Layt!” Spike exclaims excitedly, both of his stubby forelimbs wrapping around Twilight’s leg.

“Oh, Spike, I missed you too.” Twilight hugs the little dragon close to her chest. “How was he? Was he well behaved?” Even as Twilight asks, she lowers her neck, allowing the little dragon to clamber up onto her back.

Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes. “’Well behaved?’ You sound like a mom.” The pegasus teases. “He was fine. Better than fine, he kept me company when I needed it. Though I hear he threw a huge fit every time he had to leave to go potty or when the doctor was giving me a checkup.”

Twilight cranes her neck around to look at the little dragon. “Spike, you know better than that.” She scolds, though her stern countenance doesn’t last long against Spike’s gleeful hugs around her barrel. With an indulgent shake of her head, the filly fondly runs one hoof over Spike’s frills, causing the dragon to giggle and beam happily.

“You sure have taken to your charge quickly.” Shining Armor observes, leaning over closer to his sister. “I think someone missed you.”

Twilight nods. “Mhm. Well, he is my responsibility, the Princess said so. I… Oh, what was I thinking leaving him here, I should have…”

“It’s no concern, Twilight.” She is cut off by the reassuring voice of Princess Celestia returning to the conversation, now with five plates of pancakes, setting them down before each and every creature present. “You were in need of time to yourself, and Spike was quite attached to your peer here. Though, in the future it would be best if you told me before needing time off to yourself, but it must be obvious to everypony present that there were extenuating circumstances.” Clapping both hooves together with a modest smile, the princess surveys the gathered ponies. “Well! It’s been too long since we were all gathered like this in one place. I am glad to see both of you seem to be recovering well from your ordeal.”

“I mean, I guess I’m able to walk around again.” Rainbow Dash replies with a healthy dose of ingratitude as she waves her one good wing. “I don’t like being stuck on the ground like this, though. Especially not with who-knows-who still out there.”

Shining Armor frowns and leans over just past Twilight to evaluate the pegasid’s condition. She’s noticeably limping, weaker on one side with that wing bandaged over and the opposite ear bound in a mound of gauze. Still, she seems possessed of an appropriate degree of spunk, restlessly tapping her better hoof on the tile beneath her.

Celestia simply nods in acknowledgement, taking a long sip of tea. “Yes, I imagine it must be difficult for somepony such as yourself to remain grounded. But Bonezaw tells me that you are healing well, and at your age the body recovers quickly. I’m sure you’ll be flying again in no time.”

Rainbow Dash puffs out her chest proudly and throws up a salute. “Ha! You know it. Some proper flight fuel doesn’t hurt, either.” The pegasus licks her chops, staring down at her pancakes hungrily. “The infirmary food honestly isn’t half bad, but it’s nothing next to this.”

Celestia raises one hoof to her mouth, suppressing a short giggle. “It’s good to know the centuries of practice have paid off. Well, don’t stand by on my account, dig in! You too, Shining Armor, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for you before.”

Shining Armor sits bolt upright, throwing one hoof up in salute. “No, sir! But I am sure it will be delicious!” Levitating a fork up into the air, he parts the perfectly fluffy stack of pancakes into a bite sized chunk before delivering it into his mouth. Eyes lighting up, he salutes again in a faux formal gesture, taking the time to chew and swallow before continuing. “...Can confirm! It is every bit as delicious as Twilight said!”

The noise of hungry, and slowly relaxing ponies fills the cozy space of the room, the flippant behavior of Rainbow Dash and casual tone of Celestia doing a wonder to relax the anxiety of Twilight and excessive formality of Shining Armor. In good time, the mind of the former moves back to more familiar pursuits; that of knowledge.

“Princess?” Twilight’s voice is hesitant, and she only continues once Celestia turns her full attention to the filly, nodding for her to continue. “So, if things are going back to normal… Does that mean we can resume lessons?”

Celestia pauses, her eyes flicking back to Rainbow Dash for a moment (Who is presently in the process of trying to fit a stack of ten pancakes into her mouth at once), before nodding. “If that is what you wish. Though I believe it would be best if we focused on magical theory for the time being, so that your peer does not miss anything.”

Rainbow Dash, her good ear swiveling over towards the princess at hearing herself mentioned, pauses her decidedly barbaric display of consumption, taking the time to swallow the current tuft of fluffy syrup-drowned pancakes she’d already ripped off from the mound on her plate. “What do you mean miss anything? Why would I be missing something?”

“I would not ask you to return to your studies while you were still recovering. Especially since you are not in fit condition to practice any of the skills you are more at home with.” Celestia explains, gently. “I was simply thinking that Twilight and I might focus on more academic subjects for the time being, just until-”

Twilight is struggling to suppress a growing grin at the thought of having her tutor all to herself when Celestia is interrupted by Rainbow Dash slamming her one good hoof on the table and shaking her head firmly. “Nu-uh, no way. I’m not going to just sit around waiting to feel better.” The pegasid’s cheeks heat up as she continues, fighting through her instincts. “B-besides, if I’m grounded right now anyways, it’ll give me time to… catch up on some of the subjects I struggle with.”

Everypony is silent for a long moment, until Shining Armor’s incredulous voice breaks the silence. “...Are you saying you want to study?”

Rainbow Dash flashes Shining Armor a look of reluctant mortification. “I… It’s not like I want to, I just…” The pegasus shuts her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath and turning to Celestia. “Look. You thought it was important for me to learn about magic and other dull stuff like that, right?”

Celestia frowns hesitantly before slowly nodding. “I… Yes, it is my opinion that a more well rounded skill-set will give you many more opportunities in life and help refine your capabilities in a more holistic manner than mere flight training alone could accomplish. However, given recent events, I don’t think anypony could blame you if you wanted to-”

“So there we have it. If Celestia thinks I should learn more, then I guess I should.” Rainbow Dash cuts the alicorn off again, eliciting a gawk of dismay from Twilight at the sheer audacity of the pegasus. “And if I can’t fly, then I should be doing something useful with my time.”

“Rainbow Dash.” Celestia’s voice takes on a more authoritative tone, perhaps warning the pegasus not to interrupt her again. “I am happy that you are taking your studies seriously, but you needn’t push yourself so hard.”

Rainbow Dash takes a shaky breath, before shooting a brazen look up at Celestia, jabbing a hoof forwards. “Why shouldn’t I? You are pushing yourself that hard, aren’t you? You took the time to visit me in the hospital every day even though you already have your hooves full, not only running Equestria, but organizing the investigation too! And I haven’t seen you take a break once!”

Celestia stiffens in place, surprised, while Twilight gawks in silence. “I… That is not…” For once, Celestia seems at a loss for words. “It’s not the same, Rainbow Dash. I have a duty to all of Equestria as well as to the students I took in of my own volition. You are still just a filly, you shouldn’t be burdened by responsibility.”

“Not the same? I came here ‘of my own volition’ too, you know!” Rainbow Dash declares, growing more excitable as she speaks. “And because I did, I… Somepony…” The filly’s voice breaks, and she looks down towards the ground.

Celestia extends one of her brilliant white wings to gently pull Rainbow Dash closer, drawing the filly’s gaze up to her own sorrowful eyes. “Rainbow Dash, what happened was not your fault. You cannot blame yourself for things beyond your control.”

Rainbow Dash sets her jaw, looking almost sickened, but her eyes burn with a fierce determination. “Look, I, I just need to do this. Okay? Please don’t make me fight for it… I-I’ll focus and I’ll study and do whatever else I need to, so please just…” The filly trails off.

One could easily hear a pin drop in the silence that follows, not a pony touching their food, until Celestia finally lets out a reluctant sigh. “Very well, Rainbow Dash, if that is truly what you wish. For now, though, please do your best to relax and enjoy yourself. I think I am within my rights to ask at least that much of you, am I not?”

Rainbow Dash sits back on her haunches, and slowly nods her head. “...Yeah. I can do that.” Granted, working up an appetite again after that outburst might be challenging.

Then again… If there is any food in Equestria that could manage to reel her back in, Rainbow Dash ponders with a wolfish grin as she surveys the half-eaten plate before her, it would definitely have to be Celestia’s pancakes.

While on one hoof it is true that Rainbow Dash is quite serious about her intentions to study, it is equally true that getting even a motivated Rainbow Dash to focus is a bit like herding cats.

Every time Celestia and Twilight aren’t actively addressing the pegasus directly, her eyes glaze over and she suddenly finds the whistling of a bird outside extraordinarily fascinating for whatever reason. She is trying-really, she is!-but hearing the pair discussing magical theory just has the effect of causing her brain to shut down.

The sudden thwapping sound of a book shutting suddenly startles Rainbow Dash from her reverie, and she looks over at Celestia just in time to see the alicorn frowning over at her. Before the alicorn can say anything, Rainbow Dash is apologetically wincing in shame. “I’m sorry! I’m trying to focus, it just-”

“There is no need to apologize, Rainbow Dash. I just was pondering what to do about it.” Celestia affirms, rising from her repose. “Clearly, this is not the ideal environment for you to learn in. But I did not bring you all the way to Canterlot for nothing, we have options. Perhaps seeing some of the applications of the lesson would help engender some interest in you, hm?”

Rainbow Dash blinks, then nods her head vigorously. “Uh, yeah! That sounds way cooler than just reading some dusty old tome!”

Twilight hugs her textbook close to her chest and glares reproachfully at Rainbow Dash. “I happen to like my dusty old tomes, thankyou very much!”

“Hm. This may be something of an issue. I had thought that with a mere two students I would easily be able to attend to both of your needs, but it seems that the gulf in learning style is greater than I’d anticipated between you. In the future, I may need to schedule these lessons one-on-one instead.” Celestia muses, more to herself than anything.

“No, no, I can learn other ways too!” Twilight quickly proclaims, placing her book down and standing up to her full height. “I mean, not that I’d complain about having more one on one time either, but, I don’t want to miss any lessons just because you’re teaching them in some other way!”

Celestia shrugs noncomitally. “We shall see. In the meantime, why don’t we take a walk around the grounds? I suspect the fresh air might assist your focus, Rainbow Dash.”

The pegasus filly bites her lip as she glances at Twilight guiltily. Here she is, intruding on the unicorns' lessons and derailing them just because she herself can’t keep her head straight. Silently, the pegasus wonders if she should even be here, in Canterlot, at all; she hadn’t even been able to repeat the rainboom after all, and yet here she is taking advantage of the Princesses good graces regardless.

“Rainbow Dash, it is nothing to be ashamed of.” Celestia addresses the filly, perhaps seeing the conflict on her face. “I must confess, this is a learning opportunity for me as well; I haven’t had the pleasure of teaching a student like you before either, and I am still needing to re-evaluate my approach from time to time. We are all learning together. So please, do not hesitate to speak up if something is not working for you. Okay?”

Rainbow Dash finally nods her head. “Y-yeah, alright. If you say so.” With a worried glance over Twilight’s way, the pegasus takes a deep breath and pulls herself up to her full height, flapping her one good wing restlessly. “Well, let’s get out there, then.”

“Let’s go over what you did absorb from the lesson. Recalling information after you’ve learned it is a good way to cement it in your mind. Rainbow, you first.” Celestia instructs, as the three ponies lightly trot down the path outside in the Canterlot gardens. As cultivated and artificial as the surroundings are, it’s still a far different feel from the other terraces, lined with elaborate, pompous structures and ponies matching the same description.

Rainbow Dash furrows her brow as she struggles to think back and recall anything she can. “Um... Well, you were talking about magic, and how everypony has some... And how we use it during plenty of everyday tasks without thinking about it.” She starts, unsurely. “Um... And... uh...” The pegasus winces, struggling to recall anything of more substance than that, but it seems like a lost cause. Finally, she hangs her head in defeat. “Why did you want me to learn this kind of thing, anyways? I mean, I’m sure you have a good reason, but it just seems kind of pointless. I’m not a unicorn, I can’t just do magic on a whim like them. Even if I do have some magic inside of me, what’s the point in learning about it?”

A faint smile finds Celestia’s face. “Ah, but that is where I will have to correct you, Rainbow Dash. While it is true, unicorns do have the easiest time with active magic, it is not the case that they are the only ponies capable of using it. Twilight?”

Twilight beams at the opportunity to express her studies, and canters up in front of Celestia so she can talk to Rainbow Dash more directly. “Actually, all types of ponies can use magic on demand! I mean, you do it every time you fly, but that's just the simplest and most instinctive form of pegasus magic. A skilled pegasus can learn how to manipulate the air currents around them and even control clouds without even touching them!”

Celestia nods. “Very good, Twilight. Sadly, it is something of a lost art modern day, and very few pegasi ever had the aptitude to begin with. But I believe you may just have the talent required, Rainbow Dash, and further I suspect that talent is how you were able to pull off the Sonic Rainboom. But with more training, you may be able to focus your magic in a more controlled manner.”

Rainbow Dash blinks, stopping in her tracks. “Hold up. Are you saying I’d be able to cast spells like a unicorn?” The pegasus asks, incredulously.

Celestia pauses, before shaking her head. “Not... Like a unicorn, exactly. Earth pony and pegasus magic are considerably less intellectual than that, more physical in nature, and certainly unicorns have you beat in terms of variety of magic they can achieve. Even so, it is true that some of the skillset overlaps. Perhaps a demonstration is in order?” Celestia gently lifts off the ground, signalling for the two ponies to halt.

Whatever inattention Rainbow Dash might have suffered from before is completely gone now; the pegasus halts in place, watching Celestia with a keen interest that might even outstrip Twilight’s intellectual curiosity.

Something of a bittersweet smile finds Celestia’s face; it had been a truly long time since she’d actively shown off for anypony, even if just for the sake of tutoring. Both wings spread wide, she flaps with a series of powerful wingbeats, ascending into the sky where she captures a stray cloud floating lazily overhead. Delicately, like a potter spinning clay, Celestia focuses her attention; first, simply shaping the cloud like any talented pegasus might, threading it down into a long spindle-shaped form. But then, as she works, the cloud seems to start shrinking.

No, Rainbow Dash realizes, not shrinking; compacting. All the way down until the once fluffy piece of sky has become a dark, hardened lance, like a black thundercloud given physical form. So physical, in fact, that Celestia holds the cloud out-not to Rainbow, but to Twilight. “Go on, grab hold.”

Twilight blinks in confusion, but tentatively reaches out a hoof, finding to her shock that the condensed thundercloud is so firm that even she, a unicorn, can hold it. Rainbow Dash sputters in shock from the other side and glances over at Celestia.

“I... But... How did you do that? You really didn’t use your horn at all?” The pegasus scampers from side to side, as if thinking the illusion will be shattered by simply changing her perspective. Twilight seems equally speechless, prodding the ground with the thorn-like mass which had altogether stopped resembling a cloud in the first place.

“I have something of an advantage, I must confess.” Celestia affirms. “It’s easier for me to learn how to give form to my magic, given the practice using my horn gives me. It is fairly difficult for a pegasus or earth pony to learn, since it requires direct conscious control of an action that is typically reflexive. But it is a skill which I believe you can learn.”

Rainbow Dash can’t help but halt in place, the possibilities flashing through her mind. Suddenly, Twilight’s extreme bookishness makes more sense to her; well, at least when it comes to applied magic, anyways. “How would I even start to learn that kind of thing?” She asks, simultaneously hopeful and doubtful. “I mean, you said I had to have some kind of talent, to be able to pull off the Sonic Rainboom, right?”

Celestia nods her head. “Yes, very much so. While I have no doubt you are a ferociously athletic and talented flier, pulling off a feat such as that requires a degree of focus and direction to your magic beyond simple aeronautics. Frankly, I had not thought it possible for an ordinary pegasus to perform such a feat. I have some ideas in mind regarding how best to tease out your talents, but only time will tell.”

Rainbow Dash blinks, tilting her head in some confusion. “But I mean, somepony must have done it before, or else we wouldn’t have had stories about it... Right?”

A sly tilt of the edges of Celestia’s mouth gives the alicorn a certain playful tone, as the princess suppresses a giggle. “Hmm. I wonder, who that isn’t an ordinary pegasus might have had cause at some point in their lifespan to travel as fast as equinely possible. Might it perhaps be somepony you know?”

Rainbow Dash and Twilight exchange confused glances, before realization clicks and, as one, they choke up in sudden recognition. “Y-You!?”

The measured smile on Celestia’s face gives way to one which can only be described as ‘smug’. “Like I said when we met, Rainbow Dash. I do have a millennium of flight experience under me. I think I can teach a young pegasus a thing or two about flying.” Playfully, the alicorn baps the befuddled pegasus on the snout, before turning back around and giggling to herself. “Well, don’t stand there dawdling all day! We still have some time to begin practice.”

Twilight trots up to catch up with Celestia as they begin setting the pace through the gardens once again, the scenery around them largely forgotten in the rush. “Practice? What are we going to be practicing? I thought we were studying pan-racial magic theory today.”

Celestia nods, leading the way back towards the palace proper. “And so we are. However, I believe a spot of hooves-on approach might be greatly beneficial to our friend here.” Celestia nods to Rainbow Dash with that statement, triggering the pegasus to look away in guilt at diverting the lesson once again. “I had thought that grasping the fundamentals first would make the practice easier and less frustrating; but I can see now I’ve been going about this all wrong. It will be easier for Rainbow Dash to understand the importance of the lesson once she sees the kinds of applications it has.”

“In order to get a sense for your own magic, we are going to start with something you are more familiar with.” Celestia instructs Rainbow Dash. The pegasus has taken up position in the center of the room while Twilight watches from the sidelines; whatever irritation she might have had from the lesson being derailed by the pegasus is more than compensated for by her curiosity about a field of magic she’d never even considered. “Having said that, I understand the instructions may be… Confusing, for you. You are going to need to try to fly, without flapping your wings.”

Rainbow Dash blinks at Celestia. “Uh. Say whatnow?” The pegasus can’t help but look at the alicorn as if she’d just sprouted a fifth leg, third wing, and second horn for good measure. Surely there is some logic or rationale behind the request, but that doesn’t change how patently absurd it sounds at first.

Thankfully, Celestia is nothing if not patient and had been expecting that response. Holding up a hoof to signal the pegasus to wait, Celestia explains, “It’s impossible, naturally, to actually fly in that manner. Pegasus magic is channeled as much through physical action as through intent, after all. But in the attempt, I hope you might learn to differentiate between the muscles used and the magic wielded in the same stroke. Pegasi by nature use their magic instinctively, and while that is a strength of pegasus magic, it is also a great hindrance to learning how to tap into it more consciously.”

Rainbow Dash hesitantly nods, doing her best to absorb what had been said although it is rather difficult to comprehend for the filly. Shutting her eyes, she tries to imagine flying, soaring up into the air, willing herself to leave the ground, without actually budging an inch. Her eyes squeeze shut, straining her mind trying to focus until she gets a mild headache. All she gets for her trouble is a feeling of lightheadedness and nausea.

As such, it is to her surprise that when she opens her eyes, she sees Celestia clapping in approval, nodding her head sagely. “An excellent first attempt, my young pupil. I imagine it might take many such attempts before you can firmly pin down the part of you that is active without your body moving in tandem, but practice makes perfect.”

“Huh? But, I didn’t do anything, I just started feeling…”

“A little lightheaded? Perhaps slightly faint?” Celestia presses, nodding her head. “Never fear, that is well within the realm of expectation. For a pegasus, attempting flight is to shield oneself from natural forces of gravity and air drag. In actual flight, you are aware of this and subconsciously compensate, but in a circumstance like this when you are well aware that you are still on the ground, you are confusing your biology, and so it sends signals to your brain that something is off. It should go away with some practice.” The alicorn explains, before glancing at the clock and sighing.

“Sadly, that is all the time we have for today. I am afraid I have a pre-existing appointment at ten, and I cannot afford to put it off. I will escort the two of you back to your respective guards to ensure your safety, of course. And Rainbow Dash, while you are still grounded, it may not be a bad idea to try and practice this some more, should you find yourself with time and nothing to do. Just be careful not to overdo it, you are still recovering after all.”

That evening, Celestia sits on her balcony, gazing off at the sun on the western horizon. The day had been draining, perhaps even more than usual, after the welcome break that tutoring the pair of gifted young fillies had granted her. And yet, through that entire taxing day, something about those lessons had stayed with Celestia in the back of her mind. Only being given the the time of day to ponder it, when she is at long last alone once more, away from the prying eyes of her subjects and responsibilities.

It had been a long time-a truly, astoundingly, unfathomably long time-since the princess had shown off like that morning. Despite herself, despite all of her best intentions and self assurances, the lesson had been more than simple tutoring. The smug self-assurance, the playful teasing, the joy she felt watching a pony realize their potential, realize they could be more than they’d ever suspected before.

That isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Celestia is there to perform a service; no, a sacred duty. To leave her subjects lives better than she’d found them. And that’s all she is there to do. And yet, something had touched a cord with the alicorn, a glimmer of emotion like a long-lost memory.

Once, many long ages ago, when the alicorn was newly ascended, there had been another pony who had looked up to her like that. A filly who had seen the things she could do and was amazed, who had wanted to be just like her.

As Celestia ignites her horn, she removes her gaze from the west, from the sight of her beloved sun setting, and instead gazes eastwards. Wielding a power at once foreign and familiar, the alicorn concentrates, and over the everfree forest the moon ascends above the horizon.

“I haven’t forgotten you.” The words are spoken aloud to an empty room, with nopony else present to hear the guilt laden within them. The guilt for daring to walk the same paths that had led her here in the first place, and worse yet, the guilt for daring to enjoy herself for even a moment.

The sands of time are running out. Closing her eyes as she lies down again, Celestia braces herself for yet another dreamless night.

Chapter Text

“Now, raise your forelimbs. Slowly.” Doctor Bonezaw instructs Rainbow Dash, as the filly rolls her eyes but complies.

“You know, I didn’t think I’d be getting so familiar with the doctor when I came out here.” Rainbow Dash huffs out. It isn’t Bonezaw’s fault of course, but the run of bad luck she’d had over the past couple months have her feeling a little grouchy. Guess all the good fortune from getting here in the first place had to be paid back somehow.

“Yeah, and I didn’t think my most frequent visitor as a military doctor would be a little overeager filly either.” Bonezaw retorts, as he hands the pegasus a small flask of swirling fluid. “Here. Drink up.”

Rainbow Dash eyes the concoction distrustfully, as she finishes her stretches and stands back up, stretching out her stiff wings which had finally been unbound. “What’s in it?” She asks, staring into the opening with one eye.

“Bluwort, Roc egg, and spring water from the Appleloosan mountains.” Bonezaw rattles off. “It’s normally used by strongponies, but it will help your muscles recover from injury and underuse. Just so long as you don’t take it all the time.”

Only one of the ingredients was familiar to Rainbow Dash, but the doc was trusted by Celestia to minister the soldiers of Canterlot, so he presumably knows his stuff. Reluctantly, Rainbow Dash downs the tonic in one go. It honestly didn’t taste as bad as she was fearing given its appearance, though it's still rather odd for a beverage.

Smacking her lips, Rainbow Dash tilts her head to the side looking at Bonezaw. “Where did you learn how to make things like this? I remember you gave me something for electricity when I first got to Canterlot, too. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a doctor prescribing potions before.”

“Spread your wings for me.” Bonezaw instructs, inspecting the pegasus while he answers. “I would be surprised if you had heard of it, since I picked it up from my father’s side of the family, and he wasn’t from Equestria.”

Rainbow Dash furrows her brow. “What, like, you’re from Prance or something? Ow…” She recoils as Bonezaw prods the shoulder joint and examines how the musculature is recovering.

Bonezaw takes a step back as he finishes his examination, picking up a clipboard and jotting something down while he shakes his head. “Wrong direction. He came from south of Equestria, met my mother down in a village in Tenochtitlan Basin. It’s real isolated down there, and there aren’t a lot of proper doctors, so the ponies were willing to swallow their pride and accept a foreigner's treatment. I guess Celestia must have seen something to the art, since she picked me up while on campaign in the south. Never thought I’d end up in Canterlot of all places, but here I am.”

Rainbow Dash furrows her brow. To the best of her knowledge, there aren’t any ponies south of Equestria, but then again she is hardly a geography buff. “Wait. So where did your father learn his skills, then? Where…” Rainbow Dash squints as she tries to piece the puzzle together. After a moment, Bonezaw just sighs.

“Look. See the stripes? They’re not just for show.” Bonezaw motions vaguely and emphatically at his own side. “He was an adventurer from Zebrica.”

Rainbow Dash blinks several times rapidly in surprise. “Wait. Wait. What? You’re not even a pony? But… You have a cutie mark!” She blurts out without thinking.

Bonezaw just rolls his eyes with the tired huff of somecreature whose had this conversation a million times. “I’m still half pony, on my mothers side, but yes. You wouldn’t be the first one surprised I’m here in Canterlot, but I suppose the Princess has more important things to worry about.”

Rainbow Dash gulps anxiously. “Ehrm, right, sorry.”

Bonezaw steps back and claps his hooves together. “Well, at any rate, your wing seems to be healing well, I think you can start flying again, just take it easy and don’t stay airborne for more than a half hour at a time.”

Rainbow Dash grins broadly, stretching out her wings with a smirk on her face. “Ah, finally! I feel like I’ve been grounded for a year.” The pegasus flaps her wings and lifts into the air for just a second before settling back down; there isn’t much room to fly in the hospital ward after all.

“Well, you’re clear to go. You had somewhere else you wanted to be, right?” Bonezaw announces, finishing one more note on his clipboard before placing it onto the table next to him.

Rainbow Dash nods quickly. “Uh-huh, I wanted to go and see my friends. You know, the ones who visited from-”

Bonezaw holds up one hoof with the most uninterested expression Rainbow Dash thinks she’s ever seen. “I didn’t ask for your whole life story. Just go on and get, I have other patients to see.” The fringes of the doctor’s mouth tug downwards in a frown. “Been a lot of injuries in the guard corps lately. A lot.”

As Rainbow Dash trots out of the room, the voice of Glyndwr standing sentinel right by the door reminds Rainbow Dash of her bodyguard’s presence right before she could zip off on her own. “Everything go alright in there?”

The pegasus nods and flaps her wings. “Alright? Better than alright, I’m cleared for flight again! Finally! Oh how I’ve missed you!” Rainbow Dash says to her wings as if they’re sapient entities in their own right, kissing each one in turn. “C’mon, let’s get going! I’ve got some friends to catch up with!”

“You got all of them, right? Every last one? You don't need to go back and check?” Twilight asks as she glances up at the mountain of letters currently held in a shield bubble above her brothers’ head.

“Yes, Twilight, I’m sure.” Shining armor drolls out in a dry tone. “We only checked seven times. If there’s any more, we’re not going to find them.”

“We did find one on the sixth time we checked, so it’s not that far outside the pale to think there could still be more.” Twilight shoots back. “Or, well, Spike did at least.” The filly exchanges a brief affectionate nuzzle with the scaly creature on her back, who giggles in response.

“Let-tur!” The little dragon announces proudly, looking immensely smug, while Shining Armor gives him a look out of the corner of his eye.

“I’m still surprised you’re allowed to keep your pet with you in classes. Especially during drill.” Shining Armor remarks. “Guess being Celestia’s protege has its perks, huh?”

Twilight stiffens and gives Shining Armor the most indignant expression he’d ever seen paint her face. “Spike isn’t a pet.” She scoffs. “He’s… I mean… Alright, I don’t know what he is, but he’s not a pet! He’s more like… My assistant. Yeah, that’s it, he’s my assistant.”

Shining Armor rolls his eyes as he holds open the door going into the library. “Oh, really? He is, is he? Just what does he assist you with?”

“...Well, he assisted us in finding all the letters!” Twilight proclaims after a moment of thought. “Didn’t you, little buddy?” Spike lets out a cheer and pumps a fist into the air at that, grinning eagerly.

“Guess I can’t argue with that.” Shining Armor grunts, before quickly hushing himself as they enter the library. There, just like every evening, Sunburst is sitting alone at the long table surrounded by esoteric texts. Well, that isn’t entirely true, he does occasionally have company; but his presence is consistent, if nothing else.

The orange colt doesn’t pay the newcomers any heed until the trio sit down directly across from him and deposit the neatly-ordered stack of letters in front of him. Sunburst blinks and hastily adjusts his glasses, as he recognizes his visitors with some measure of surprise.

“Uhm? Right, you said there were letters for me, didn’t you?” The colt half-murmurs, eyes still tracing the height of the letter stack with awe. “Oh Celestia, there sure are a ton of them. Are you sure these are all for me? I don’t think it’s been that long since I wrote home…”

“One and all of them!” Twilight announces in a chipper tone. “All one-hundred and seventy-two! Two that just say ‘from Mom’, and one-hundred and seventy from somepony named Starlight Glimmer! …I counted.” Twilight tacks on the last bit with an unmistakable aura of smugness.

Sunburst stares at Twilight aghast, his hoof rapidly striking his forehead in frustration. “Starlight!? Shoot! I can’t believe I forgot!” The colt blanches, as he shuffles through the cards, instantly laying to waste Twilight’s grand plans of studious organization without a second thought nor glance at the filly’s dismay. “Oh Celestia, she’s been writing me for years! Even as far back as…” The colt’s voice breaks off, and he recoils backwards upon seeing some of the dates.

Shining Armor raises a brow. “As far back as?..” He asks, leading on with his hoof in idle curiosity.

Sunburst doesn’t respond immediately, and for a moment Shining Armor thinks he didn’t hear. Just before Shining Armor can repeat the question, though, he finishes the statement, albeit at a lower and quieter tone than he’d started. “...Before Sunset left.”

Twilight perks up at the name; hadn’t she heard it before? But before she can capitalize on the opportunity to ask what he meant, Sunburst just shakes his head and shuffles through the cards. “Well, whatever, there’s no use dwelling on that now. When was the most recent card?”

“Well maybe I’d be able to show you, if you hadn’t just ruined my meticulous organization…” Twilight mumbles under her breath, as she points to the part of the pile where it should have been.

Sunburst scans through the cards in rapid succession, discarding them one by one until he uncovers the most recent, dated to several months ago. “Oh, no…” He mutters, frowning. With so many letters he’d hoped maybe some were more recent, that he wouldn't be too late for them. Instead, after years of no replies, his friend must have eventually given up on him.

Hurriedly, he begins tearing open the most recent envelope and unfolds the long-dormant message inside. Shutting out the other three individuals sitting at the table with him, he starts scanning the contents of the letter, written hastily by an unsteady hoof.

Dear Sunburst

I don’t know if you’ve gotten any of my letters, but you’re the closest pony to anypony with real power I can think of. PLEASE, even if you don’t want to be my friend anymore, read this letter!!! It’s really important!!!

Something’s been happening at home, and I don’t know who I can tell. I’m taking a big risk even sending this letter, but I don’t know what else to do. Foals have been going missing; the mayor tried to tell everypony that it’s just some wild animals, but I know better!

I saw them taking them. It was late at night, and I didn’t see their face, but they were leading a group of foals into the woods. It looked like they were wearing armor, but it was too dark for me to tell for sure. I don't know if you just don’t like me anymore or what, but you have to believe me! You’re in Canterlot at the fancy school, surely you can tell the Princess or something. Right?

I tried going to the mayor but she just put me off and spun the same old yarn. I’m scared they’re going to do something to me if I keep talking. Please, you have to believe me, I promise I wouldn't lie about something like this! Well, I wouldn’t lie to you about anything but that’s besides the point!

Your ex-best-friend, Starlight Glimmer.

Sunburst leans back in his chair, eyes wide and not quite sure how to react. Shining Armor at least can see from his expression that the text is something heavy that requires a moment to process. Twilight, on the other hoof, takes no such social cues. “Are you reading them in reverse order? Why’d you start with the last one? Also, wouldn’t it make more sense to start with…” The unicorn filly trails off as Sunburst’s eyes shoot daggers her way.

Sunburst takes a deep breath, not quite knowing what to say, keeping Twilight fixed in his gaze sharply. “Hey. You’re the princess's protege, right?” He starts, eventually. “I think they should see this.”

“Why? What is it?” Shining Armor asks, furrowing his brow in concern. Sunburst gives him a long look, frowning slightly, debating whether or not to trust him. Eventually, he sighs and relents, sliding the paper over to the stallion who takes it in his hooves and scans over its contents. The casual demeanor he held while with his sister steadily vanishes, replaced with a cold and grim professionalism.

“And this letter was from half a year ago.” He simply states, matter of factly. “Keep reading through the letters, tell us if anything else is important in any of the older ones. Twilight and I will get this to the princess, post-haste.”

“Why? What’s the big rush? What does it say?” Twilight squeaks, frustrated.

Even her normally indulgent brother barely spares her a glance as he stands up to leave. “Abductions. I’ll tell you the details on the way. Come on.”

To Shining Armor’s surprise, the trio do not find Celestia in their tower, nor in the throne room. Instead, based on reports from the guards watching over those places, he gathers that the princess has gone out into the city in a rush upon receiving some report.

Twilight had gone silent and somewhat pale upon hearing Shining Armor’s explanation of where they are going and why, and that only grows more true when they finally find Princess Celestia in the city proper, just outside of an upscale hotel in the commercial district.

They aren’t alone; a number of guardsponies are also present, following barked orders from the princess, cleaning up a series of scorch marks on the ground and escorting a number of injured ponies away.

Shining Armor skids to a halt in front of the princess, and throws up a hasty salute. “Princess Celestia! We were looking for you!” None of the casual demeanor from yesterday’s visit is in his voice, only steely professionalism. “What happened here?”

Celestia quickly scans the newcomers to be sure they are unhurt before responding. “Another attack. Even more brazen this time, it was carried out in broad daylight even though Rainbow Dash was being watched by several guards.” The princesses eyes motion over to where the pegasus filly is currently standing. It doesn’t seem like Rainbow Dash is hurt, as she simply stands stock-still and rigid with her jaw tightly clenched, looking out over the scene.

Behind the pegasus filly are another set of creatures, only two of whom Shining Armor recognizes; fellow guards Nimbus Kicker and Glyndwr. Other than them, there is another gryphon, stalking side to side in front of the entrance to the building behind with a scowl on her face, and two pegasi, one of whom is shaking in a corner behind Rainbow Dash while the other is talking to Nimbus Kicker; the two of them look extremely similar, probably another member of the Kicker’s.

Shining Armor pauses. Now doesn’t seem like the best time to give his report, but it is important; Should he wait?

In the end, the decision is taken out of his hooves when Twilight spills the beans for him. “We got a letter from a filly in eastern Equestria, who said she witnessed a string of abductions there!”

Celestia turns to look at Twilight, a frown tugging on her mouth but kept masked by an icy expression of determination and military rigor. “Eastern Equestria, you say? It would appear that all the signs would seem to point to trouble in that region.” The alicorn states, in a voice which betrays absolutely no emotion. “Allow me to finish up here, and I will hear your report. Guardsponies!”

The guard present, at least the ones not already carrying out some other task, stand at attention and file up in front of Celestia. With a spare moment to herself, Twilight falls in by Rainbow Dash. The pegasus looks fine, on the surface, but that doesn’t mean she couldn't have gotten hurt in less obvious ways.

Before Twilight can ask the question, Rainbow Dash pre-empts it with the answer. “I’m fine. Cloudkicker’s aunt saw the attackers before they could strike, and Glyndwr got in their way and called for reinforcements.” Rainbow Dash reports, voice every bit as cold and hard as her instructor’s had been.

Twilight glances over at Nimbus Kicker and Glyndwr in turn; Nimbus Kicker seems fine, but Glyndwr has a long shallow gash along one of her shoulders. Still, she is alert and seemingly combat ready, not dropping her guard even with plenty of other guardsponies present. Seeing the filly looking her way, Glyndwr just nods acknowledgement. “Just doing my job. That’s what I’m here for, after all.”

“It wasn’t like the first attack.” Rainbow Dash continues, a fiery look of burning anger in her eyes speaking for the emotion that is withheld from her voice. “They were equipped with magical equipment like a guardspony. I’m not sure if they were even going for me, and they vanished as soon as Glyndwr called for reinforcements. It almost seemed like they-”

Rainbow Dash is interrupted by another guardspony rapidly limp-trotting into the plaza from somewhere else. “Medic! I need a medic!”

Nimbus Kicker snaps to attention and rushes in front of the intruding guardspony, levering a suspicious glare. “What for? You barely look hurt. Can’t you see that we’re in the middle of a larger operation?”

“Not for me!” The intruding guardspony retorts, motioning back with one forelimb. “I was accosted by a group of hooded ponies along with Ruby Hoof, I fended them off but Hooves took a knife to the side!” the guardspony announces desperately. “Please, he needs a medic!”

Celestia glances back and forth, irately. “It seems I will have to hear your report later, Shining Armor. For now, help with the evacuation here. I will secure Ruby Hoof myself.” Shining Armor salutes the princess, and rushes off to fulfill his duty.

Chapter Text

“Name and rank, for the record.” The guard at the front of the residence greets a presently fuming Nimbus Kicker as the pegasus lands with a powerful impact in front of him.

“Cut the horseapples, you know who I am.” Nimbus Kicker growls out, stamping the ground and flaring her wings out. “Get out of my way. I’m here to speak with your master.”

The guard-stallion recoils slightly and glances at the sharp blades on either of the pegasid’s wings. She is fully equipped for combat, having come straight here after getting off duty. Still, nervous or not, the guard holds his ground. “And you’re certain nopony saw you approach?” The Legacy estate behind him is thankfully in a somewhat obscure part of Canterlot, nestled between two of the mountains the city was built into the side of, and thus largely shielded from the cities prying eyes.

Nimbus Kicker narrows her eyes and seems about to resort to drastic action when a voice behind the stallion calls off the guard. “Nimbus Kicker! Welcome, welcome. At ease, guardsponies. Let her in. We have much to discuss.” Sir Platinum Legacy greets the pegasus warrior graciously.

“About time…” Nimbus Kicker mutters sullenly, trotting inside and following the head stallion of the house on the familiar route in silence. As important as the matter at hoof is, there is still some level of proper protocol to follow, the only thing that keeps them comfortably hidden away from prying eyes. With only the most surreptitious glances to be sure no servants, courtiers, or rogue family members are watching, the noble leads the way into the archives.

Numerous coffers and chests line the halls, but Platinum Legacy ignores all of them to seek out one in particular, an ordinary-seeming wooden chest in the restricted section. Opening the coffer, the stallion touches the cerulean orb inside and instantly vanishes in a flash of light, momentarily later followed by Nimbus Kicker doing the same.

The pegasus blinks and shakes her head, eyes straining to adjust to the darker conditions of the crystal caverns underneath Canterlot. No matter how many times she is teleported by one of the cabal’s artefacts, she was not able to get used to it.

But that is neither here nor there; ignoring the other four ponies in the chamber, Nimbus Kicker rounds on Platinum Legacy as soon as she gets her bearings, snarling. “What was that? My niece was right in the line of fire, if I hadn’t stepped in something could have happened to her!”

“And because you stepped in, we had to cut the day's operation short.” Growls out the form of Pluto Critical, another core member of the noble cabal, from his seat in the chamber.

The ponies are in an ornate, if somewhat dim and under-furnished chamber deep in the caverns below the Canterlot undercity. Three of the cabal’s members are present in the flesh; another two are present in spirit at the least, utilizing calling stones to project their minds and voices where their bodies cannot reach. The ringleader, Platinum Legacy, holds up a hoof. “That’s quite enough, you two. The day’s operation was still a partial success, after all.”

Nimbus Kicker snarls at the older stallion. “Like hell it is! I’m here to make sure my clan has a future, whatever the cost. You will keep my niece, and any other Kicker for that matter, strictly out of danger. Period.”

Platinum Legacy narrows his eyes. “Is that a threat I detect, Nimbus? Need I remind you the position that you are in?”

Whatever sinister tone the unicorn had tried to impart is evidently lost, as the pegasus simply laughs him off. “Oh, please. You know perfectly well what will happen if you touch a hair on my mane. You don’t scare me, Legacy. My clan are more than capable of bringing your whole enterprise crashing like a house of cards if you start trying to bump us off. You need us, and don’t you forget it.” Nimbus Kicker jabs the stallion in the chest with one hoof. “Who else is going to reshuffle the guard schedules when you need it, hrm? I have understood and tolerated the need for hostile actions against those still loyal to Celestia, but placing my kin in danger firmly crosses my line. Am I clear?”

“Enough, already. I tire of your foalish theatrics.” The bored voice of a pony entering the chamber causes Nimbus Kicker to stiffen in surprise, the pegasus craning her neck around to see the newcomer.

The Chiropteran is slinking into the room, head held high and fully equipped with jet black, baroque armor of archaic design. Bat wings neatly folded onto his sides, the glistening dark metal of wingblades providing a contrasting parallel to Nimbus Kicker’s own. She didn’t think she’d ever seen the bat-winged mare not fully equipped for combat, even though there is no possible threat other than her erstwhile aristocratic allies.

“What is she doing here? You showed her the way in?” Nimbus Kicker hisses out, infuriated, to Platinum Legacy.

The ringleader’s mouth twitches up in the slightest hint of amusement. “Nimbus, please. We have been allied for long enough, it is high time we brought our brethren up to speed.”

“Are you out of your mind? They’re not even of noble blood!” Nimbus Kicker retorts. “Whatever happened to preserving our bloodlines rights?”

“It is true, we are not of Celestia’s nobility.” The Chiropteran states. “But we are all to be the chosen kindred of our true Monarch upon their return to this mortal plane, are we not? Best you keep that in mind before you speak, next time.”

Nimbus Kicker’s expression hardens, shooting daggers with her eyes towards Platinum Legacy, who is visibly, if silently, gloating. Of course he doesn’t see any problem with this; to him, the cult’s beliefs are simply an easy excuse for allegiance against Celestia’s reign. To him, when Celestia falls and Nightmare Moon fails to return to Equestria, it’ll be open season for the nobility to take their rightful place.

But Nimbus Kicker knows better. She’d seen the face of the fallen alicorn in her dreams, knew quite well that should the cabal succeed, it will mean Nightmare Moon’s return. Idly, she casts a look at the Chiropteran. Does he know that most of his allies don’t truly believe in his deity? She can’t be sure, his face totally dispassionate as always.

The Chiropteran tilts her head very slightly to Nimbus Kicker, observing her reaction. “You need not be so concerned, scion of the Kicker clan.” Is her voice mocking, or is she actually trying to be reassuring? It’s impossible to tell. “Our illustrious monarch is willing to forgive your predecessors' missteps. Your allegiance in this hour of need is more than enough to gain Their favor. So long as you remain true to the cause, you need not fear. After all, were it not for your beloved Shadow Kicker, your kindred would not have your connection to our liege. Truthfully, I must confess a certain degree of envy.” A thin-lipped smile finds the Chiropterans face.

Nimbus Kicker hardens her gaze and looks away. Clearly, she’d already shown too much. “I can only pray that is true.” Is all she hisses out. Pray to whom, exactly? A sardonic voice in the back of her mind ponders.

“Enough of this squabbling, already!” Chancellor Ivy proclaims from his throne; or more accurately, the dim silhouette formed of magical light in the shape of Chancellor Ivy proclaims, with the actual pony still being away at his manor in eastern Equestria. “We have more pressing issues to consider. Canterlot is still breathing down our necks for that diversion stunt you had us pull. Not only did your assassination attempt fail, but Celestia’s new tax policies are being pushed through regardless.”

“We are quite well aware of your predicament, Ivy.” Platinum Legacy states. “I had hoped that keeping a low profile, perhaps throwing up a couple false leads, would be sufficient to divert Celestia’s attention. But it would appear that the Princess has more care for that… snivelling commoner than I’d have thought possible. I had hoped it would not come to this, that with the proper… encouragement, Celestia would see reason. But at this point, it seems practically confirmed to me that she is fixated upon ousting the very families who founded Equestria, and upending the natural social order. As such, I have made overtures to our allies to begin preparations for a more extreme solution.” The aristocrat nods to the Chiropteran.

“I could have told you that.” The bat-winged pony retorts. “We have wasted ample time with your hesitancy. I am glad to see that you have finally realized where your loyalties truly lie. The usurper betrays all who are loyal to them, in time.”

Platinum Legacy simply nods, continuing on where he had left off. “Yes, quite. At any rate, our efforts up to this point have placed us in an excellent position to begin scaling up our operations. I have taken a look at House Ivy’s latest prototypes, and they are truly something to marvel at. The Cadance project from a decade ago may have failed, but we have made great strides in progress since then. We merely need to keep Celestia occupied until the Project can come to fruition.”

Pluto Critical snorts derisively from his position on the opposite side of Platinum Legacy from Nimbus Kicker. “‘Great strides’? Your servants failed to kill a single, unprotected filly. Their incompetence, frankly, is staggering. At least they could be trusted not to spill their guts at interrogation, I suppose.”

Chancellor Ivy glares from his position across the chamber. “As I tried to tell you at the time, the next generation was not ready yet! Your overzealousness forced our hoof early. Such delicate creations require ample time to come to fruition.”

“You will have your time, Chancellor Ivy.” Platinum Legacy reassures. “I have routed reinforcements to your position in eastern Equestria. Having said that, I am unsure if I can ensure your safety in your family's estates. Perhaps if you retreated somewhere safer…”

“Out of the question. My house agreed to this pact to protect our interests and holdings, not to be relegated to some backwoods facility while you sit cozily in Canterlot. Our position has placed us at more risk than any of your houses. We expect to reap proportionate rewards for our work.” Ivy snaps.

“How confident are we regarding Celestia’s position? Do we have any reasonable degree of confidence that they are not already onto us? It has been quite some time since your intelligence reports have included any information beyond what is readily accessible to anypony at court. Didn’t you have agents embedded within the Royal Companions?” The last pony present, or at least her luminous silhouette, questions from the far side.

Nimbus Kicker has to confess a slight sense of satisfaction at seeing the spasm of discomfort crossing Platinum Legacy’s face. “Unfortunately not. Regrettably, my sons seem more interested in showboating and throwing their weight around as guards than they do in their duties to the house. Frankly, I’d have long ago retracted them from the guard for disciplining if I were not trying to keep Celestia’s attention at bay. As it is, their frivolity has seemed to ease Celestia’s natural distrust, if nothing else.” He reports, distastefully.

“That is not a good position to be in, Legacy. Our greatest advantages in this war are secrecy and knowledge.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Platinum Legacy snaps, before sitting back in the chair. “I’ve tried replacing them, but getting an agent in the Royal Companions on demand is… Difficult. For now the best we have is Nimbus Kicker’s placement in the palace guard.” The stallion looks frustrated as he glances over at Nimbus Kicker, who can’t help a cocky grin spread over her face.

Ha, just as expected. For all his bluster, he still needs me and he knows it. “I am only too eager to be of service.” Nimbus Kicker reports. Still, her gaze does draw to the Chiropteran with a semblance of doubt.

It is true that Celestia has increasingly diminished the old house's authority and power over time. And, it is true that Nimbus Kicker had joined the pact with the intention to preserve her household's name. But now, it seems that preserving that name comes down to betraying the very action that had brought them such prestige to begin with. One day, will the Kicker’s be known not for their role in defeating Nightmare Moon, but rather in paving the way for their return?

As the conversation turns to specific strategic interests and responses to Celestia’s policies, Nimbus Kicker finds her mind wandering back to an earlier memory, the first time the Mare in the Moon had breached her dreams and shown her visions of their return.

Despite what the other members of the cabal believe-truthfully, despite what even the moon’s loyalist Chiropterans believe-Nimbus Kicker knows that Nightmare Moon’s return is inevitable. And in that vein, she supposes it doesn’t even really matter what her intentions are.

She is, after all, a winning pony. And a winning pony can only side with the victor.

“Enter.” The imperious voice of Celestia booms out from the throne room, as the dual gates are pushed open by a pair of palace guards on either side. Slowly, shuffling forward with glances in either direction, Sunburst enters the chamber. It had been some time since the two of them had met; it hadn’t necessarily been a conscious effort, but on some level, Celestia realizes she’d been avoiding him.

After all, Sunset Shimmer wasn’t the first sister Celestia had ever chased out of Equestria.

Forcing a smile, Celestia nods. “Sunburst. It’s been too long. I’m sorry that us meeting again had to be under such circumstances.”

“U-um, r-r-right.” Sunburst stammers out, eyes darting this way and that as if seeking escape. “Y-you wished to see me, your m-majesty?”

Celestia nods, rising from her throne and strutting down the center of the hall to stand beside Sunburst rather than looking down from on high. “Yes, I’m afraid so. Come, walk with me, I would rather have this conversation under more casual circumstances.” Mentally, Celestia marks out a path through the palace they can take whilst avoiding as many prying eyes as possible; the last thing she needs is for the aristocracy to think she is taking on yet another student, and place Sunburst in any danger.

Sunburst gives an unsteady, wobbly nod of his head as he rushes to keep up with Celestia, who is of course limiting the speed of her gait to not get ahead of him. “I was surprised to hear that you know my students.” Celestia begins. “Twilight had not struck me as the sociable sort, so I was glad to hear that she’d made a friend. Especially a pony I already knew.”

“I-I mean…” Sunburst starts, quickly glancing up at Celestia’s stature towering over his before he slinks further into her shadow. “I-I don’t know if I’d say we’re friends. I’ve only ever talked to her twice.”

“Oh? Well, perhaps the two of you could study together. I know Twilight…” Celestia trails off as Sunburst stops in place, standing in the middle of the hallway, frowning. Celestia halts as well just a few strides later. “Sunburst? What’s the matter?”

“N-nothing.” Sunburst deflects, staring intently down at his hooves. He raises his gaze towards Celestia, only to flinch away once he sees the alicorn watching him intently. “Just… Why are you wasting your time on me of all ponies? I know you have more important things on your mind. Don’t you want to ask me about… the letters I received?”

Celestia pauses for a long moment, before sighing. “...I had just thought that it had been too long since I’d checked in with you. You haven’t been out of the library ever since Sunset…” Both ponies wince at the reminder, an uncharacteristic hesitation from the Princess of the Sun.

“You don’t need to do that, Princess.” Sunburst eventually responds. “I’m just the brother of an exile, nopony special. Just ask me what you want to know.”

Celestia lingers for but a moment longer, before finally nodding their head. “...Very well, if that is what you wish. What can you tell me about this Starlight Glimmer? Do you trust her?”

Celestia waits patiently as Sunburst broods, considering. “Maybe. I dunno. I’ts been years since I last saw her, but she was my best friend before I got accepted to the school. She could be really over-dramatic, and she was definitely the type to seek attention.” The colt shrugs noncommittally. “But… She sounded scared in her last letter. If she was just making up a story to get my attention, I don’t think she’d sound like that. And, if she was trying to get my attention, I don't think she’d have given up there, she was always more stubborn than that. So… I have to imagine that something must have seriously spooked her to feel unsafe sending letters anymore.” Sunburst finally reports in the same tone of voice one might give a presentation at school.

Even so, when he looks up at Celestia, the circumstances finally having overcome whatever enmity or anxiety he holds, Celestia can readily see the worry in his eyes. The colt really is too young to be worrying about things like this, and yet here they both are. “...She was my only friend, back in Sire’s Hollow. I-I don’t know what I'd do if something happened to her. I-I know it’s not my place to ask, but… Please, try to make sure she’s okay.”

Celestia nods graciously. “Of course. You will be the first to know if anything should turn up. I have agents in eastern Equestria as we speak.” Even while she says that, Celestia is all too aware that things won’t be quite that easy. Silent Serpent is in the area, but his loyalties are still suspect. Mooncrescent and Starblaze could potentially be diverted, but that would halt the investigations in Ponyville.

Still, she would need to take some action. A filly in danger is a matter of utmost importance, even one whom Celestia had never met. And besides… Celestia’s folly had already cost Sunburst one pony, and she could not bear to tell him she’d lost another.

Chapter Text

Captain Silent Serpent struts up to the entrance gates to the Ivy manor, flanked on either side by a pair of Royal Companions. The guards on duty at the estate quickly cross paths with the intruders to block their way, holding spears to bar passage into the estate. “Halt! State your name and-”

“I’m here on Celestia’s behalf, and speak with their authority.” Captain Silent Serpent interrupts, flashing the royal insignia. “You will stand aside and let us through. Now.” Despite the implicit threat, the chiropteran's voice remains perfectly smooth and steady, her face serene.

Surprise flashes in the guards eyes, and he quickly bows his head. “My apologies, we were not expecting you, sir. Please, sit and wait, I will go and see if the Chancellor can make time-”

For the second time in as many attempts to speak, the guard is interrupted. “You will allow us in immediately, and we will speak with the chancellor now. We have been authorized to wield deadly force if necessary, so if you wish to bar our passage, you should be prepared to face the consequence.” Silent Serpent states icily, holding out one extended hoofclaw towards the guard. “You will tell us where we may find the chancellor, and you shall not warn him of our arrival. Any deviation from that order will be treated as an act of high treason against the authority of the Princess.”

The guard scoots back and blanches, quickly glancing at his partner who just shrugs in response. “R-right, of course, your excellency.” He stammers out after a second. “The Chancellor should be holding court right now, you should be able to find him just inside the palace.”

Silent Serpent folds his hoofclaws back with a measured swipe of his hoof, and nods. “Companions! With me.”

The Ivy estate is maybe half the size of the Canterlot palace complex, far larger than most castles in Equestria, but decidedly lacking in the kind of archaic elegance that edifice displays. A relatively recent noble family in the historically underpopulated regions east of Canterlot, the Ivy’s castle is a modern creation, built with modern power tools and modern concrete in pallid imitation of the magic-wrought stonework of older and more refined families, without a hint of originality save for the ubiquitous creeping ivy piled upon every external wall.

Not that Silent Serpent takes the time to take that in, as she blitzes across the short courtyard before bucking open the gates to the throne room just as Chancellor Ivy is galloping to reach the throne and sit upon it, looking less-then-regal in his rush. “Guards, what is the meaning of this? I was not made aware of any visitors!”

Captain Silent Serpent steps up to the throne and showcases her insignia. “We are here on the authority of Princess Celestia themself. I am afraid you are under investigation for tax evasion.” And grand conspiracy, treason, even suspicion of assaulting a royal messenger…

Chancellor Ivy doesn’t react at all, most likely having already pieced that together, as he shakes his head. “We told you already, there was a kink in the mail service and we received the updated codes late! We couldn’t very well put them into service without having all the paperwork on hoof.”

Silent Serpent nods. “But of course. Still, given recent events, you understand the need to verify the truthfulness of your claims. We will be performing an audit of all of your transactions over the past year, to ensure that you pay the full amount owed. Until such a time, we will be taking up residence here.” Silent Serpent announces, complete with a thin-lipped smile.

Chancellor Ivy stares at the chiropteran for a long moment, before sighing. “If that is what it will take to regain Celestia’s trust, then very well. We will make room.”

Not that that should be particularly difficult. Silent Serpent ponders, glancing around. The castle is transparently larger than it needs to be, given the relatively small population. “We’ll begin today. Take me to the treasury.” It isn’t likely that will show much evidence of what Silent Serpent is actually looking for, but it's as good a place to start as any.

That’s business expenditures all straightened out. Seems awfully high compared to revenue, but they could always just be incompetent… Silent Serpent ponders, poring over pages and pages of paperwork. It is remarkably airtight, most of the time for organizations on this scale there’s at least some minor errors. Most likely, the Ivy’s have been particularly meticulous, knowing that an auditor was likely to show after their previous stunt. The tax money is all there, loaded into carriages and ready to be delivered to Canterlot as soon as Silent Serpent gives it the green light.

Of course, were she to do that, her main justification for remaining present would vanish. Already, she finds herself feeling suspicious of the results; how had the Ivy’s gotten the new land value taxes together so quickly? If they are telling the truth about receiving the tax codes late, then they should have been scrambling to piece together their evaluations; instead, they are all here, clear as crystal. Even some of the nobles near Canterlot who’d received the changes on time are still struggling to adapt.

“Are you just about done? It’s already past midnight...” Golden Ivy, one of the chancellor's daughters, asks from where she is watching over Silent Serpent’s work. Supposedly to help the auditor with anything he might need.

Silent Serpent twists over to look at the aristocrat, the dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. The captain can only let the slightest smirk tug at the edges of her mouth. “Chiropteran, recall? It won’t be time for me to sleep for another few hours. Go on, get some sleep if you need it. I will be here.”

Golden ivy shakes her head. “No, I can’t do that. Father wanted me to make sure somepony was here at all times.” She yawns, rubbing her tired eyes. “I’m stuck here till somepony else wakes up… Ugh, I hope that they don’t want me doing anything tomorrow.”

Silent Serpent barely heeds the sleepy eyed aristocrat, instead stalking over to the cart laden with tax money. Something is still bugging her, but she can’t quite place a hoof on it. What was the purpose of putting off taxes like this, if the family was just going to pay them all later anyways? Could they have been telling the truth about not receiving the codes? No, that wouldn’t explain how they were able to collect these taxes so quickly. They are lying about something, but for what purpose she isn’t sure. When she picks up the sacks of coins in the cart they feel appropriately weighty at least.

Could they be lying about the amount of wealth they have in the treasury, perhaps shortcutting some of the wealth taxes? Their coffers are certainly full, more than she might expect given the high recent expenses on the ledger. The hoard is as much a status symbol as an actual source of wealth for the family, a sign of their family’s meteoric rise to prominence over the relatively newly-settled east of Equestria over the last century. Picking up a bag to count the number of bits in it to then quickly try to make a rough estimation of the amount in the treasury, Silent Serpent thinks that the amount is about right. No, it doesn’t seem like they are shortchanging Canterlot any, the cart full of tax money is quite heavily endowed.

Quite heavily indeed. Wait… Silent Serpent frowns slightly, glancing over to Golden Ivy behind him. The mare is blinking, sleepy-eyed, doing her best to keep on guard but clearly slipping. Good. Silent Serpent lifts one of the coffers from the treasury as if to inspect it, surreptitiously pocketing a single coin in her saddlebags before moving back to the tax cart to do the same.

Like she thought; the containers are about the same size, yet the tax money is noticeably heavier. In fact, if she inspects in more detail, there’s more; the bits for the tax money appear older, more weathered, compared to the pristine golden gleam of the treasury. Why? Putting her suspicions to the back of her head for the time being, Silent Serpent steps away from the hoard. “That will do for now. I will need to do a full tally once my guard are mostly awake.”

“Oh thank Celestia.” Golden Ivy breathes out a sigh of relief while the chiropteran keeps a carefully placid face as she heads out. She has a call to make.

“Sorry to say, but you’re right. Whoever you got this from swindled you, half the gold’s been replaced.” The unicorn mare behind the desk at a jewelry appraisal shop reports to Silent Serpent. “It’s a pretty convincing forgery, replacing the alloy with just such a combination of copper, aluminum, and lead to mimic the shine and relative softness of natural gold. But it’s a forgery nonetheless.”

Silent Serpent nods, having expected that result. “And the other coin? The, reference as I said?”

“Just a normal fifty-bit coin. Pretty fancy, you don’t see a lot of those around, but nothing new.” The clerk reports with a shrug.

Silent Serpent nods thoughtfully. “Thankyou for the assistance. You’ve been a great help.” After having paid for the service, the chiropteran leaves the shop, complete with the bracelet she’d purchased around one hoof, and making a pointed note of feigned ignorance to the tail whose been following her since she’d left the estate grounds.

The sky is a dull silver, the sun almost on the eastern horizon over the sea but not quite there yet. Locating the little shop nestled away on the second floor of a commercial building in Sire’s Hollow had taken most of the night, and the chiropteran is now blinking tiredly at the encroachment of daylight. Still, a restless curiosity keeps the cogs of her mind turning as she trots down the suburban streets. Debasing currency is not an altogether surprising tactic for tax evasion; rather, what is confusing to her is the choice of which currency to debase. The shipment sent to Canterlot is all real, solid-golden bits, and the hoard left in the Ivy’s treasury is the one with fakes.

But why? Inflating the wealth in their treasury would only increase the tax the family is expected to pay, both from income and wealth tax. The only remaining explanation Silent Serpent can think of is that the family isn’t trying to skimp on paying taxes, but rather trying to hide their expenses for some reason, keep the balance sheets balanced with their above-board transactions.

Silent Serpent’s internal thought process is interrupted as she almost runs into a unicorn filly turning around the corner. The filly almost leaps into the air, her lilac coat turning white as a sheet as her eyes immediately fixate on Silent Serpent’s bat-like wings. But it's nothing the chiropteran captain isn’t used to. “Don’t worry, I don't bite. It sure is early for a little filly like you to be out, isn’t it?” Silent Serpent asks gently, with what she hopes is a reassuring smile.

The unicorn filly’s eyes dart side to side shiftily as she takes in Silent Serpent’s getup. “Are you… one of the royal companions?” She squeaks out in a tone that could either be awe or fear.

Silent Serpent blinks in slight surprise, tilting her head. It's an unusual filly who can recognize the distinctions between the custom-forged armor of a Companion and the mass-produced munition plate of a legionary. Doubly so, outside of Canterlot where the Companions spend most of their time. With a note of suspicion, Silent Serpent nods her head slowly. “Aye, here on assignment from the Princess. Nothing to fear. Is everything alright?”

The filly pauses for a long moment, before swiftly and jerkily nodding her head, taking off running back down the alley she’d come from. Silent Serpent frowns as she watches her leave, momentarily considering taking flight to pursue but quickly deciding that a grown chiropteran chasing a filly down in the quiet hours before sunrise is probably a bad look. Instead, she picks up the pace back towards the Ivy’s palace. There is work still to be done.

Chapter Text

Investigations really would be easier if one wasn’t constantly being watched.

So long as Silent Serpent pretends that she’s buying the Ivy’s story, they remain quite docile, since any hostile action against the guard captain would give Canterlot all the justification it needs to strike. But that also means she has to keep up the act at all times, given the hooful of agents the Ivy’s have watching her every moment of every day. She’d even sent false reports to Canterlot claiming that there was no sign of foul play, confident that the letters would be intercepted by the Ivy’s agents.

Even now, laying in her chambers pretending to sleep, she can hear an agent breathing shallowly, though she had not been able to determine precisely where he is located. Still, she does have options, options that hopefully an ordinary intelligencer would be unaware of. Bit by bit, she’d been shifting around like a sleeping pony naturally tossing and turning, taking advantage of those movements to bunch the blankets up behind her until it had cut off the view of her body.

It had been quite some time since Silent Serpent had needed to use her particular magical talents, but as she focuses deep down inside of herself she feels the memory returning to her. Slowly, her physical form melts away, leaving in its place an only vaguely ponish form of shadow-smoke.

The world around becomes difficult to perceive, all sense of feeling and hearing vanishing into the blurry greyish monochrome seen through shadowform. Thankfully, though, she doesn’t need to move far like this, simply slinking from the covers down into a corner of the room where she can access her saddlebags and reforming into her normal flesh-and-blood self.

Now she just needs to find a route of escape; the bathroom window seems like the obvious option. Slinking into the chamber, Silent Serpent quickly cracks open the window and squeezes through, making sure to nearly fully shut it behind her; she only needs a small crack for her return so that she can seep through in shadow-form. With only a quick glance around to try and be sure nopony is watching, Silent Serpent takes off into the woods, flying below the tree-line so as to evade detection.

Only once the estate behind is completely out of sight does Silent Serpent alight on the ground. Quickly digging through her saddlebags, she removes a small, circuldar disk of polished silver. A talented wizard could probably have detected the faint magic inside, but to anypony else it looks like little more than a hoof mirror, an odd accessory for a guard captain but not beyond the realm of reason.

Silent Serpent rests against a tree and waves her hoof over the surface of the mirror, and then waits. The difficulty of telling if the artifact was working it’s magic or if she’d done something wrong is a recurring frustration with the item.

Still, in due time the surface of the mirror ripples as Silent Serpent’s own ashen face disappears, to be replaced with one every pony in equestria knows; the regal visage of Princess Celestia. Silent Serpent immediately dips her head in a show of respect. “Your majesty.”

“Do not stand on ceremony now, Serpent. It has been a taxing day.” Celestia states from the other side of the mirror. The chiropteran frowns slightly; the princesses disdain for formality when it isn’t absolutely necessary is certainly nothing new, but there is definitively something deeper wrong here. The white coat of the alicorn is somehow looking even paler than usual, dark circles in her orbits and the slightest twitch in her right eye breaking her usually-flawless poker face.

“Of course. The investigation has been proceeding apace, the Ivy’s have been exceptionally compliant regarding tax law and seem almost eager to pay the full sum. However, they have also been watching me at all times. It was difficult to evade their detection in order to have this meeting, in fact.” Silent Serpent reports. “They are most certainly hiding something, but as of yet I am uncertain as to what. They had debased the currency in their own treasury, but not the tax money owed to Canterlot; I can only assume they are trying to cover up some expense even at the consequence of having to pay more. Further, I observed some geometric inconsistencies with the estate grounds. The floor plans don’t quite add up, most of the rooms are slightly smaller than suggested. I will need more time to determine where, but I have a suspicion that there is a hidden chamber somewhere inside the castle.”

Celestia nods. “I see. Well, it is good to know that you remain as shrewd as ever. How about guard forces in the area? If they begin to suspect you are onto them, do you expect to be able to handle them? I’ve pulled some of the reserves back to Canterlot, so if necessary I could requisition additional troops in the east.”

Silent Serpent nods quickly. “Verily. Actually, I find that somewhat suspicious as well; there seems to be an unusually small contingent of guards and servants. My own battalion outnumbers them two to one. That may be the reason they have yet to attempt any hostile actions towards me.” Silent Serpent is silent for but a moment longer, debating internally. But something in Celestia’s eyes unnerves her, and soon enough she finds her question drawn forth. “How is the situation in Canterlot?”

Celestia’s listless gaze hardens. “There have been seven more attacks since you left, mostly on guardsponies on patrol or in isolated parts of the city. Despite our best attempts, we have yet to capture any of the assailants alive, and each strike seems more competent than the last.”

Silent Serpent remains true to her name for a long moment, contemplating. “And I assume there have been many injuries in the guard corps?”

Celestia narrows her eyes just the slightest amount; her emotions are seeping through far more than usual, and Silent Serpent realizes that the princess is suspicious of her. “And for what reason would you assume that, Captain?”

“Princess, please. It’s readily apparent to see that you have been exhausting yourself. I know of nothing that could wear you down as much as you seem to be, save for aiding in the recovery of injured ponies.” The captains normally stoic expression softens. It’s unlikely anypony who now lives truly knows the princess; they are too ancient, too reserved, too elevated above mortal ponykind for that. Still, Silent Serpent has been in her service for over two decades now, and thinks she has a reasonable claim to knowing her better than most. “You can't protect them all, your majesty. If you keep driving yourself like this, our enemies will exploit it."

"And what would you have me do?" Celestia retorts sharply. "Leave the ponies who have served me loyally to die?"

"Trust in the doctors work. They have their role, and you have yours." Silent Serpent advises. “Equestria needs you at your full strength.”

“You know perfectly well there are limits to medical science, Serpent.” Celestia responds brusquely.

“And I also know there are limits to even your strength, Princess. Please, have faith in those who serve you. No conflict was won without some casualties. Right now, our best hope of avoiding further damage is to locate the source of the threat and cut it out, as expeditiously as possible.”

Celestia stares at Silent Serpent for a long moment from the other side of the mirror, a visible strain on her features. “Quite right. Then you have your work cut out for you; Find proof of Ivy’s involvement, and evidence of any of their allies, and report back. I won’t take up any more of your time.” Abruptly, the connection is severed, and the murky surface of the mirror returns back to Silent Serpent’s face.

The chiropteran sighs and places the mirror back in her saddlebags. Things must be quite dire in canterlot, she didn’t think she’d ever seen the monarch that stressed before, not even on campaign. Or, perhaps it’s those students of hers they she’s worried about.

It doesn’t matter. The best way to help the princess, and Equestria by extension, is to focus on her job. So fixated on that thought is Silent Serpent, that she almost doesn’t notice the crumpled up note inside of her saddlebags. Furrowing her brow, Silent Serpent retrieves the carefully folded piece of paper with a message scrawled in a less-than-professional hoof. Just where had this come from…?

‘We can’t speak in public, I’m being watched.

I have information pertinent to your investigation. Meet me at midnight by the gazebo at Lake Mustang. Make sure you aren’t followed!

I’m trusting you.’

Silent Serpent narrows her eyes. She’d already been away for some time; surely the Ivy’s would discover she was missing if she wasn't back before midnight. But she’d finally slipped her pursuers; who could have given her this note?

The filly, this morning. Of course; but how had she… It doesn’t matter. Folding the letter up and putting it away, Silent Serpent lifts from the ground to above the treeline. The dim light of the moon will guide the way to her destination, and with any luck, to answers.

Just as expected, the filly is there; Dimly silhouetted by moonlight, glancing this way and that every moment with wide, anxiety ridden eyes, every muscle tensed. It had been almost ten minutes, and the filly is backpedalling as though considering just retreating when Silent Serpent finally decides to reveal herself. It had taken more than a moment to creep around the meeting ground, make sure nopony is waiting in hiding and it really is just the filly. Then, she’d doubled back to the entrance to the clearing, as the unicorn filly doesn’t look like she needs the additional scare of the captain appearing from an unexpected direction.

“You’re late!” The unicorn snaps out as soon as she sees the encroaching guard captain. “Didn’t you see my letter? I said to meet at midnight, sharp! I could have already ran away by now! Or, somepony might have seen!” She gnashes her teeth, glancing this way and that like a cornered animal. “Nopony saw you coming, right? Do they know where you are?”

Poor thing. She looks like she’s on the verge of a heart attack. Silent Serpent offers a glibly disarming smile, keeping a respectable distance. “My apologies. I did not find your letter until recently.” She states, sitting back on her haunches to hold as nonthreatening a posture as possible. “The Ivy’s haven’t seen me in hours. Nopony but you knows where I am, not even my own retinue.”

The unicorn filly stares intently at the chiropteran, before she finally gives a quick, jerky nod of her head. “Good. Good. I don’t know how much longer I have. I’m… My name is Starlight. Starlight Glimmer.” Starlight bites her lip, muscles tensed. “Don’t… Don’t come any closer. Can I… Can I trust you?”

Silent Serpent watches the filly sadly for a moment, before finally sighing, removing her weapons and making a show of pushing them to the side. “I’m not going to hurt you. And I’m not with the Ivy’s, if that’s what you mean.” She finally states, setting aside the authority in her tone for gentleness. “You don’t have anything to fear. Even if you run right now, I won’t chase you.”

Starlight Glimmer hesitates, and then suddenly bolts, making it halfway to the tree-line before looking back and stopping. “Okay. Okay. Good. So you’re not lying.” She mutters, sounding more like she’s trying to convince herself than anypony else, as Silent Serpent sits watching. The filly starts to pace back and forth, walking in circles. “It’s… I don’t know how long I have. They’re going to come for me, I know they will. I keep… Seeing them. Out of the corner of my eye. They know I’m onto them. I know they do!” With manic eyes, the filly looks up at Silent Serpent with sudden intensity. “So? Are you going to tell me I’m crazy, like everypony else!? Well? Huh? Are you!?”

“That remains to be seen.” Silent Serpent allows her tone to regain the normal icy edge it had, as she motions for the filly to continue. “Please. Start from the beginning. I was sent here by Princess Celestia themself to investigate, anything you might be able to tell me would be invaluable.”

Starlight Glimmer clenches her jaw, looking for all the world like she’s about to run off again, when finally her head droops, the manic energy replaced with dread resignation. “I… Okay, fine. I did ask you here, after all… But I’m not trusting you, not by a long shot! I just don’t know what else to do!”

Silent Serpent can’t help but let a slight twitch of amusement tug at the fringe of her mouth, but it is readily overshadowed by the haunting and very-real fear in the filly's eyes. “Of course.”

Starlight Glimmer takes a deep breath as she composes herself. “It was… It was almost two years ago, now. Well, I mean, the first time I saw them. There were these ponies, armored like guards, but with all the insignia removed. They were talking with the Sugar’s, out in the woods where nopony normally goes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. But Sugar Belle was missing the next day.”

Silent Serpent frowns. “Is that all, then? No more proof than just hearsay?”

Starlight Glimmer snaps at the air like a feral dog, grimacing. “No! You didn’t let me finish!” The filly takes a deep breath, rehearsing herself before continuing. “Nopony believed me, so I started looking around myself. There weren’t too many foals missing, but there were a few other things I found; Sightings of armored ponies in the Everfree, monsters on the loose where there shouldn't be any! Well, I found out that most of them were near the forest around the Ivy estate, so I started poking around there at night…”

“Do your parents know?” Silent Serpent interrupts, furrowing her brow in concern. Such a young filly shouldn’t be devoting so much of herself to this, to doing Silent Serpent’s job for her. If she is telling the truth, then how is it that the guard has never found out?

Starlight’s scowl somehow reaches a new level of disdain. “Of course not. Weren’t you listening to me? Sugar Belle’s parents, they were in on it. How would I know my dad isn’t also? It’s not like he ever pay’s much attention to what I’m doing.” The bitterness in her tone is palpable, as she shakes her head firmly. “No. I don’t trust anypony else. I don’t trust you, either, but I just… I can’t sit here and do nothing. It took a few months of stakeouts but, I finally found something.”

Starlight braces her jaw, twitchily glancing this way and that before leaning in and continuing with a shaky, fear-stricken voice. “At midnight, a couple weeks ago now, a convoy set out from the estate grounds. Four or five adults in armor, leading a chain of fillies and colts into the forest. All chained up in a line. I-I wanted to do something, but I… I didn’t know what. So I just hid and watched. None of them spoke a word. I stayed there all night, most of the next day too; they never came back. I had to go home sooner or later, I don’t know if they ever went back.” The filly seems to relax somewhat as she sighs, flicking her gaze to the side irritably. “...I got grounded for two weeks after that, so I wasn’t able to follow up at all. But you can. I don’t know what they’re up to out there but you have to find out!”

Silent Serpent nods, her face a grim mask of professionalism. “Aye. It was very brave of you to seek me out. On behalf of the royal companions, I apologize that we have let down Equestria by allowing such rot to fester at the heart of it, and I vow to see House Ivy brought to justice.” The chiropteran promises. “But for now, you should come with me. You said they’ve been watching you, correct? …The conspirators have already shown a willingness to attack fillies in broad daylight even in the central district of Canterlot, if you’re in their sights then I am sad to say it’s only a matter of time until they strike. I can’t guarantee your safety, but at least if you stay by me we can do our best to watch after you.”

“...I couldn’t do that. I-I mean… My father would…”

“You said it yourself, you can’t be certain of his loyalties either.” Silent Serpent points out. “And if you’re being watched… They’ll have realized I’m gone by now. If they realize you’re gone at the same time, as much as I hate to say it, it’s not at all unreasonable to suspect they would realize you spoke with me.”

Starlight Glimmer scowls, clearly frustrated with herself for not realizing that sooner. “Damn it… But, how do I know you’re not with them? You could just be leading me into-”

In an ashen streak, Silent Serpent is suddenly on her, wings locked in two crescent arcs around her throat. The filly chokes on her fear, freezing up in panic, before Silent Serpent promptly retracts both wings and disengages once again. “If I wanted to capture you, I would do so. If I wished to kill you, I would do so. There is nothing you can do to stop me. I have nothing to gain from lying to you. You may not be able to trust any other pony in Equestria right now. But you can trust me.”

Starlight takes a second to stop hyperventilating as she shuts her eyes tightly. “O-okay, fine! But don’t ever do that again!” She clenches her jaw as she stands up as tall and proudly as she is able. “...It’s high time I paid those bastards back, anyway. Mark my words, they will rue the day that they crossed Starlight Glimmer!”

Somehow, despite the fact that statement is being said by a seemingly near-defenseless filly, Silent Serpent can’t help but believe her implicitly.

Chapter Text

Eight hours later, Silent Serpent and the regiment of Royal Legionnaires and Companions he’d set out with are on a train heading back to Canterlot, plus one obviously anxiety ridden filly.

“Are you sure this is the best option?” Starlight Glimmer hisses out as she glances around at the various ponies in armor with obvious distrust.

“It’s the best way to get the enemy to reveal their hoof. They’re going to be suspicious of what I was up to regardless, and if they saw you, that would go doubly. They’ll likely assume I’m on my way to Canterlot to give a report to Celestia in person.” Silent Serpent explains, moving his lips as little as possible to make it harder to read and keeping his expression impassive.

The two of them had met up on the train, and as far as the guards knew, Starlight Glimmer was just another civilian. Until now, Silent Serpent had done his best to avoid being spotted in contact with the filly, but after the train had left the station he had settled down nearby her. There are surely some intelligencers from Ivy keeping tabs on them even now, but they wouldn’t get the chance to report their findings.

“You’re giving them a chance to escape.” Starlight Glimmer hisses back. “You could have just gone straight for the kill.”

Silent Serpent appraises the filly out of the corner of her eye. There is no fury in her voice or face, just cold spite. That one truly is an unusual filly for her age; he would have to keep an eye on her. “Even now, I will need some kind of evidence. At any rate, I believe it’s just about time.” The chiropteran stands up to her hooves and takes a deep breath. The guards scattered throughout all the train carriages are sleepy-eyed and mildly grouchy; they’d been ordered to the train station early in the morning without ceremony.

Strutting down the center of the train towards the back, Silent Serpent motions for each of her guards to get up and follow him in turn, quickly becoming an entourage of confused guards exchanging glances with one another as they go to follow, attracting all manner of curious looks from the civilians taking the train.

“Captain? What is this? What’s going on?” One of the royal legionnaires eventually pipes up as they reach the back of the train.

“My apologies for the deception, but we are not heading to Canterlot just yet.” Silent Serpent announces, rounding on the regiment. “We will be disembarking… Here.” With a flap of her wings, the chiropteran takes off the back end of the rearmost carriage. The legionnaires and Companions assigned to him have a diverse array of reactions; some immediately burst into movement to follow, mostly pegasi leaping out of windows or off the back and a hooffull of unicorns teleporting their way down. Others, mostly the earth ponies, seem flabbergasted for a moment before hastily trying to catch up with the rest.

Soon, the regiment of soldiers is at least mostly assembled, with some stragglers racing to catch up where they had hesitated to leave the train. A hooffull were rubbing their sides or legs which were sore from the impact of hitting the ground at the substantial speed of a locomotive, but ponies in general are made of sterner stuff than that so they shake it off.

“Are you insane?” One of the companions huffs out, as he bristles in irritation. “What in Celestia’s name is going on here?” Even as he asks that his gaze strays down to Starlight Glimmer, who creeps deeper into Silent Serpent’s shadow where she is presently standing, trembling slightly but with nothing more than a mask of grim resentment on her face.

Silent Serpent just stretches and rolls his neck, scooping Starlight up and placing her on his back; the filly scowls and looks like she has half a mind to say something, but ends up staying silent in the face of the regiment of soldiers currently eyeing her warily. “We have some six kilometers to march. Get in formation, and keep your eyes and ears peeled. Stealth protocol.” Silent Serpent announces curtly, before turning on his hind hoof. “I’ll explain when we arrive.”

The guards exchange worried glances at the obvious distrust on display, but reluctantly follow their orders, as Silent Serpent begins marching back up the train tracks.

“This is the place.” Starlight Glimmer announces as she hops down from Silent Serpent’s back, from where she had spent the last couple hours in near silence save for the occasional directions. She’d been skeptical of why Silent Serpent had scooped her up like that, but had soon found cause to appreciate the move; she was not fit to keep pace with the rapid movement of the royal legionnaires through the rough wilderness terrain of eastern Equestria.

Silent Serpent halts in place and casts his gaze around. The group is on the shore of a river, where an old oak bridge spans the rushing rapids below- the only sign that civilization has ever even been here, this close to where the White Tail Woods gives way to the Everfree Forest.

Wheeling about, Silent Serpent does a quick mental tally of his troops, who are standing there in rigid formation, breathing heavily and looking relieved to be done moving although a hooffull are still looking suspiciously at the filly with him. There’s something wrong; three of them are missing. There’s no chance they’d fallen behind on their own, he’d have noticed, and besides of which his troops are too well trained for that. They must have slipped away intentionally-to warn the Ivy’s, perhaps?

“Forgive my intrusion, sir. But can you tell us what we’re doing out here yet?” One of the Companions in the chiropterans retinue speaks up, stepping forwards. “I thought we were on our way back to Canterlot.”

A different captain would probably have reprimanded the soldier for speaking out of turn, but Silent Serpent simply shakes his head. But even as he opens his mouth to give an explanation, one of the pair of forward scouts he’d sent out comes galloping back to the regiment.

“A couple dozen ponies are on their way here, four-o’clock! They were all fully armed, only a couple kilometers out!” The scout pants out, as he skids to a halt in front of Silent Serpent.

The guard captain narrows his eyes furtively; already? This was much faster than anticipated, it’s still in broad daylight, why would the Ivy’s risk moving now? “Were you seen?”

“I don’t think so, sir!” There is curiosity and questions in the Companions eyes, but its apparent he understands there isn’t time for that.

Silent Serpent turns back to the gathered soldiers. “Quickly, scatter into the woods and surround the bridge. Archers, nock arrows and wait for my signal. You’ll all have your answers soon.” Turning to the filly by his side, Silent Serpent motions back with his neck. “Whatever happens, stay by my side. I’ll keep you safe.”

Starlight Glimmer clenches her jaw and nods with a determined look, before melting away with Silent Serpent as the rest of the regiment quickly scatters behind bushes and trees; thankfully, the thick foliage of the scene is easy enough to hide in, and Starlight quickly loses track of the rest of the soldiers. Even Silent Serpent is a little hard to keep track of with the way he seems to blend into the darkness beneath the uprooted stump of a great tree, and he’s scarcely a meter away from her.

The rustle of foliage as ponies hastily hid themselves had only just barely settled down when the sound of voices carries across the dull rush of water nearby.

“...Are you sure the way ahead is clear? I think I heard something just now.” A nervous voice was saying, as the sound of encroaching hoofsteps grows closer.

“We can’t delay any longer. The guard should be arriving in Canterlot any minute now, for all we know they just went to get reinforcements.” An older voice quickly follows up, as the front pony of an entourage steps onto the bridge.

“I still say we should just slit their throats and dump them in the woods... Maybe dress them up like a wild animal got them. Don’t they already have enough down at the compound?” The first voice asks as he follows across the bridge.

The elder pony, a fully armored unicorn with a black surcoat where their houses noble insignia should be, turns to glare at the other pony. “We are not here to make chit-chat, little brother. Hold your tongue and save your energy, it’s still a long ways, and this cargo is quite valuable. One last haul before we have to hush up for good.”

Starlight tenses up without meaning to as the cargo in question comes into view; a chain of fillies and colts stumbling forwards in a blind stupor, bound in chains. Just like before. Starlight Glimmer glances towards Silent Serpent, as if seeking some vindication or reaction that her word had proven true, but finds nothing, his face just as serene as usual.

A sound breaks the silence, a pony coughing from further down; the pair of knights at the head of the convoy freeze up, hooves quickly finding their weapons, even as Silent Serpent snarls and resumes his full posture. “Archers, fire!”

Pegasi leap up into the air with recurve bows held in their hooves, while earth ponies laying on their backs draw back the heavy longbows they are known for with their rear hooves braced against the bow shaft. Steel-tipped arrows sail from every direction, heavy javelin-like projectiles from the forest line together with the lighter pegasus-feathered arrows from above raining down onto hastily conjured shields.

The shell of solid light splinters and cracks as it absorbs the punishment, one or two arrows managing to pierce through but, with their energy spent, they simply fall limp to the ground. Silent Serpent growls under his breath, standing stock still and rigid as he motions forwards. “Volley! Legionaries, charge!”

“What are you doing? Why are we just standing around?” Starlight demands, as Silent Serpent simply watches as the soldiers under her command burst into frenetic motion. The row of fillies and colts all seem to try to bolt in opposite directions at once, swiftly getting all tangled up in their chains and tripping over themselves, while the black-armored unicorn guards of the convoy fall back into well-rehearsed defensive positions.

Older-fashioned soldiers equipped with shields and spears, but no less trained, swiftly find themselves surrounded by unicorns wielding spellblades and pegasi sweeping down from above with gleaming steel on each wing. But Silent Serpent’s gaze is not fixated on the action, but those few lagging behind.

“This, Starlight Glimmer, is what we call a mole hunt.” Silent Serpent replies grimly. There hadn’t been time to formulate a more complex attack strategy, given how little notice the regiment had before their ambush target had reached them, but the disorganized clash plays well to the strengths of his regiment. Just when Starlight is sure that the chiropteran is planning to simply stand back and watch the entire battle unfold, she suddenly finds herself scooped up onto the captain’s back without warning. “Wild Bolt, Whiplash! With me!” The captain’s voice, normally soft and siballant, sharply rises to be heard over the din of melee and arrows whistling through the air, now able to penetrate the enemies distracted defenses.

It takes Starlight Glimmer only a moment to see what it was that had caught the Chiropteran’s attention as she is unexpectedly whisked through the air at breakneck speeds; The rear of the enemy convoy, still on the bridge and as such spared from immediate danger, were dragging the train of captive abductees as they tried to make a break for the woods behind them.

“Stay away! Or the little ones get it! I’m warning you!” One of the unicorns in question shouts out, holding a hoofring-fixed sword up to one of the filly’s throats; there is no cruelty or malice in his voice, only raw desperation. Silent Serpent narrows his eyes as the two pegasi he’d called up fall in behind him. There wasn’t time to think, who knew what fates the filly’s and colts might suffer if they got away with them? Surely they’d just be killed and dumped in the forest, to avoid slowing down the fleeing hostage-takers. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can save you all… Silent Serpent dives down at the unicorns without hesitation, though she cringes internally as the sword is thrust through the filly’s chest.

At least, that’s what she expected to happen. But instead, even as the terrified guardspony swings his blade, a pulse of magical light from Silent Serpent’s back pierces through his black surcoat, with a rumbling thunderclap right by Silent Serpent’s ear. The chiropteran is only able to keep flying straight and not jolt away in surprise through practiced discipline, as he swiftly bears down onto the pony in question before he can recover from his shock, staggering backwards as he grasps at the hissing wound Starlight had given him. Twin wingblades flash across the ponies throat, cutting his life short, although not as short as he’d tried to make his helpless prisoner.

On either side of Silent Serpent, her pegasi companions quickly slam into their own opponents. A quick glance backwards reveals that the other side of the bridge is largely already a won contest, with the last few holdouts standing their ground on the bridge. “Warriors, hold!” At the barked command as Silent Serpent ascends into the air, her soldiers pull back, standing bare feet away from the enemy. “Servants of House Ivy! You have been surrounded and cut off from any support. Lay down your arms, and you will have the chance to plead your cases. Any who attempt to take hostages will be slain without mercy!”

Wounded warriors, surrounded and terrified, look around their surroundings to take in the masses of hostile ponies around them, weapons poised to strike at a moments notice. Slowly, one at a time to begin with before quickly being followed by more, the defeated force sheds their weapons. “We are… At your mercy.”

Chapter Text

Princess Celestia stands stock-still and rigid, doing her best to suppress the nagging twitch of her right eyelid as she stares into the mirror of her chambers. She had gotten immense use out of the artifact in the centuries since she had constructed it, but she sometimes has to question if it was wise to construct it in such a form; while waiting for the link to be established, it leaves the princess to do nothing but stare intently into her own reflection. A reflection which has certainly seen better days, judging from those cavernous dark circles underneath her eyes, and the dull, desaturated pink tone of her mane barely flowing at all. Even the ancient scars covering the inner side of her forelimbs are stinging, faint red lines just barely visible to attentive eyes; it’s been years since she’d last seen them.

Such thoughts and memories are, thankfully, interrupted when the surface of the mirror ripples and Celestia’ reflection blurs into the face of Silent Serpent. “Your Majesty.” The subtlest nod of the chiropteran’s head. Without even waiting for Celestia to acknowledge him, the chiropteran launches into his report; something the solar princess rather appreciates. “House Ivy has been dismantled, the late Chancellors daughters are all in custody along with a number of mercenaries and household troops. With the help of a local filly, we uncovered irrefutable proof of a large-scale foal smuggling operation in the Everfree forest, which was seemingly being funded by House Ivy’s treasury. However, there was a problem during interrogations; the chancellor was found dead shortly after being captured, along with multiple of his lieutenants. I have my suspicions as to who is responsible, I observed multiple soldiers hesitating during the battle and one in particular gave away our position early. Efforts to ascertain where the captives were being sent are still underway.”

Celestia pauses while she parses that flood of information. ‘A local filly’… Could it be..? But given the chancellor’s untimely death, it’s still risky to bring up the pony in question. Even if Silent Serpent can be trusted, which is still not absolutely certain, there is a possibility that another pony might be listening in; it’s difficult to tell, over the connection. “Very well. I wish I could say I was surprised, but that fits neatly into what we know of the present circumstance. Keep a contingent occupying the manor there, but I want you to meet up with Mooncrescent and Starblaze to fill the two of them in on recent events. You remember where they are?” Silent Serpent nods succinctly and wordlessly. Good. Then we understand eachother. This constant lack of ponies Celestia can trust is truly starting to wear thin.

“Of course your majesty. I will send one of my most trusted guards to Canterlot with a more detailed report as soon as interrogations are complete, and then head there straightaway.” Silent Serpent responds, even as a loud hoofknock sounds on the door to Celestia’s chambers.

“Very well. It would appear I am needed elsewhere, and you have your orders.” After all, the guards wouldn’t have let a pony up here unless it was truly important. “You’ve done good work, captain, but it’s not over yet.”

Celestia turns away before the mirror even has a chance to sever the connection, and irately opens the door to her chambers to reveal the grim face of Cadance on the other side. “There’s been another attack. The guard’s handled it, but there’s something you need to see for yourself.” Despite her professional demeanor, there is a noticeable undertone of dread in Cadance’s voice.

Celestia grimaces in return; as much as she might have wished she could have been surprised, at this point the news is practically routine. “Very well. Lead the way.”

The general expressions of fear and the way that ponies hastily scurry out of the way as Celestia and Cadance make their way down through central Canterlot has grown to be decidedly too familiar to the solar princess. But even with current events being as they are, the sight that awaits Celestia when they arrive at the outskirts of Canterlot is still disquieting.

“They teleported in without any warning, just started running rampant right away. The guards thought it was just another monster attack at first, until it started talking. Nothing that made any sense of course, just inane gibberish.” Cadance’s voice is soft, restrained, as she stands tensely to the side, allowing Celestia to step up and take in the scene.

There, pierced by numerous arrows and covered in such a number of slashing and stabbing wounds as to render its original form almost imperceivable beneath the coating of dried blood, is something rather like a pony, at least in broad strokes. Four wings, no two matching in either size nor color, sprout from its body, three on one side with one on the other. One of its legs has degenerated into a mass of stringy flesh somewhere between a tentacle and tumor, and it appears both emaciated and overgrown in different ways, its ribcage far too large for the amount of flesh on it's bones. Six eyes are arranged haphazardly and asymmetrically around its face, with a spare nostril intersecting one, a teratomic mass interspersed with half-formed bits of other organs. And on its forehead, an uncannily pristine spiraling white horn juts from the irregular and matted mass of hair which was probably meant to be its mane.

It’s a sight that Celestia had hoped to never see again. “That confirms it then. The conspirators are the same as the cabal responsible for your creation. Not many ponies in Equestria with these kinds of resources.” Celestia turns to Cadance sharply. “How many?” As she asks, she flicks her gaze towards the wounded guards, making the subject of her inquiry clear.

“One confirmed fatality. Five more injured, two in critical condition.” Cadance reports with a sigh, as Celestia steps towards the injured guardsponies. “Please, Celestia… Don’t. You can’t keep running yourself ragged like this. It’s plain to see that you’re exhausted, and you need your energy to deal with the perpetrators. You know what an artificial alicorn means.” Cadance tries to dissuade Celestia, but the princess ignites her horn without heeding her younger companions' words. A thin stream of golden light pulses from the alicorn, who suddenly loses her footing and collapses onto her barrel, but Celestia merely clenches her jaw and redoubles her efforts, pouring more of herself into the spell.

Only once there’s a gasp of sudden relief from the moaning form of the royal legionnaire being hastily treated by an army medic, does Celestia unsteadily stagger back up to her hooves, shaking her head to dispel the feeling of dizziness that follows. “I can, and so I must.” Celestia mutters out. “Come on. Walk with me, it’s about time I found my students.”

Cadance’s frown deepens, but the younger princess lapses into reluctant silence as she falls into lockstep with the reigning monarch.

Twilight just about jumps out of her skin when a loud knock penetrates the walls of her safehouse- a veritable fortress of blankets, pillows, and books entitled, appropriately enough, ‘Fort Book’. The walls promptly crumble in around her at the spontaneity of the unicorn’s movements, leaving her to scramble around in the darkness under the blanket until it is lit up by Shining Armor’s magic and lifted to reveal the skittish unicorn beneath.

“It’s just Celestia checking in for your morning lessons, Twi.” The gentle, albeit tired, voice of Shining Armor tries to reassure his sister. “Please tell me you got at least a little bit of sleep.”

Twilight blinks up at him owlishly, before blushing and rubbing the back of her mane, conspicuously pushing her present reading material, a book on the science of sleep health, off to the side. Shining Armor sighs, that being all the answer he needs. “Do you want me to get the door to make sure it’s okay?” Twilight hesitates before giving a skittish, jerky nod of her head.

Shining Armor gives an indulgent shake of his head as he presses open the door, only to blink in surprise when he is greeted with not one princess, but two. “Oh! Cadance, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

That exclamation gets both Twilight and the momentarily-ago sleeping dragon by her side’s attention, and the filly scurries over to cram herself into the space between Shining Armor and the door, as soon as she’s scooped Spike up onto his customary placement on her back. “Princess Cadance? Why are you here?”

The darkness in Cadance’s eyes seems to relax somewhat as she sees the two ponies, and she nods her head. “Oh, forgive my intrusion. I was just talking with your teacher about something, and thought I’d come with her. I haven’t seen either of you in quite a while, after all. One might almost think we didn’t live in the same palace!” Although the (honorary) princess is doing her best to keep the tone light, even the socially inept Twilight Sparkle can readily see the searching way her eyes scan over the filly, the worry and protectiveness in her every movement.

“Well, I’m glad you did. Twilight could use more friendly visits.” Shining Armor responds, bumping playfully into Twilight from the side before adding on, almost as an afterthought. “...I don’t think I’d mind more friendly visits, either.”

Cadance’s expression softens further as she smirks slightly, coming this close to fully losing that clingy darkness that insists on lingering in her eyes as she enters the room. “Nice place you’ve got here. I think it’s bigger than the room Celestia set aside for me. How is it that a princesses student got a nicer place than an actual princess?” Cadance jokes, glancing back towards Celestia to be sure the jibe is taken in good spirits.

The elder princess forces a smile and shrugs. “I needed to be sure it was somewhere safe. Besides, I figured the books would be good for her.”

Twilight beams at that, stomping her hooves on the ground in that excitable little dance she does, and nods her head eagerly. “Uh, well, you thought right!” She proclaims, as she grabs the book from her crumbling holdfast and presents it to Celestia with a grin. Only a moment later does that grin give way to pensive thought as Celestia reads the title of the book; ‘The Neuroscience of Sleep and Dreams’. “Speaking of which, you look like you haven’t slept in days. Did you know that sleep deprivation doesn’t just make it harder to concentrate, but makes you perform worse on almost all cognitive and physical tasks? It’s really bad for your health, too, and studies have shown ponies get more work done by setting aside time for sleep than staying awake to work longer. And not just enough sleep, either, it’s important that your schedule is consistent! You should really...”

Even the monarch of all of Equestria isn’t immune to one of Twilight’s infamous lectures, huh? Shining Armor stifles a giggle at that thought. Meanwhile, Celestia doesn’t bother, just snickering in amusement and shaking her head while Twilight tilts her head in confusion. “H-huh? Why are you laughing? Was it something I said?”

“Just the pot calling the kettle black, I’m afraid. And just how many nights have you stayed up studying, hrm little Twilight?” Celestia teases.

Twilight blushes and looks away, pointedly out the window where the sun rests just below the horizon. “I-I mean, that’s besides the point!” Twilight protests self-consciously. “...Okay, maybe I need to work on scheduling my sleep more rigorously too… There’s just too much to do in the day!”

Celestia shakes her head and makes a ‘tut-tut’ sound. “Don’t I know it. I’ll tell you what, Twilight Sparkle, I will be sure to get some sleep early tonight, if you promise to do the same. Deal?”

The little purple filly ponders for a moment before finally giving an altogether too determined and serious nod of her head. “If only I knew all I had to do to get you to rest properly was get one of your students to ask you to.” Cadance remarks sarcastically.

The edge of Celestia’s mouth tilts up in amusement, but it is quickly overtaken with a more serious and grim demeanor as she addresses Shining Armor and Twilight both. “As I’m sure you’ve observed, the situation in Canterlot hasn’t been getting any better. I had hoped I could manage both the defense of the city and attend to your training, but it is growing increasingly obvious that I cannot afford to split my attention in this manner.” Celestia gives a reluctant sigh, her gaze growing distant. “Worse, with the number of attacks growing by the day… I believe it is necessary to send the two of you, and Rainbow Dash, away from Canterlot.”

Twilight blanches, already starting to shake at the thought. “A-away from Canterlot!? But… If you’re not around, then… What if they follow us?”

Celestia nods, having expected this. “Please try to understand, Twilight, that this is not my preferred option. But the conspirators' attacks have grown more and more brazen, and I simply cannot be there with you at all times, not whilst also organizing Canterlot defenses. I am afraid that one day I may not be able to arrive in time to protect one of you. There is a town to the east of here, named Ponyville; your combat instructors, Mooncrescent and Starblaze, are there, and soon they will be joined by Rainbow Dash’s flight instructor as well. So not only is it the best place for you to continue your training, but the most well protected you could be as well. Here in Canterlot, I cannot be certain of anypony’s loyalty, but in Ponyville the only guards around you would be those I am all but certain of their allegiance. This is not a decision that I have made lightly, and… I am truly sorry that things have turned out this way. But I believe this course of action is, sadly, necessary.”

Twilight stares down at the ground, intently, leaving Shining Armor to ask. “How would we get there? Where would we stay, and for how long? And why not have my father come, he has far more experience than I do. I don’t know if I’m the best bodyguard available.” Shining Armor reluctantly admits as he tries to keep his professional demeanor and not think too much about how the stress of such a move will wear on Twilight’s already delicate mindstate. Part of him is infuriated at his own weakness; if he can’t even keep his sister safe, what’s the point of even being a guard? But Twilight’s protection takes precedence over that selfish sense of pride.

“I will be frank, Shining Armor; I cannot be certain that your father is a loyalist. Neither, truly, can I be of your own loyalties.” Celestia states delicately.

“Wh-what? Of course Shiny is loyal! How could you even say something like that about him?” Twilight blurts out before Celestia can continue, as Shining Armor winces both at the princesses' distrust and his sister’s overprotectiveness.

“I trust him as much as I am able to trust anypony, Twilight. But in the centuries I have ruled Equestria, I have learned that you can never truly be certain you know somepony, and your family has some of the most obvious motivations to want Rainbow Dash killed, as it would render you my sole student.” Celestia explains sadly. “Based on Shining Armor’s behavior, I don’t believe he would wish any harm upon your peer. But an abundance of caution is necessary in these dire straits, and I am afraid that I must insist that your father not be told the details. A cargo train is heading to ponyville tonight; that should be a quiet way to get you and Rainbow Dash out of Canterlot safely. I am… deeply sorry that my offer of tutelage has placed you in such danger, but I can see no better way to ensure your safety. I cannot be here all the time, as much as I might wish I could.”

Nopony speaks up for a long moment, a distinct tension overcoming the gathering until the silence is broken by a burbling sound from the dragon on Twilight’s back. Spike is clinging to her mane and clenching his jaw, squeezing his eyes shut in distress.

Twilight’s eyes flash open in alarm as she looks back up at Celestia. “Oh, but how will I look after Spike in Ponyville? I won’t be able to find everything he needs, and he’s been having some problems the last few days. Actually, I was going to talk to you about that anyways; I think he isn’t getting all the nutrients he needs or something, his stomach has been bothering him something awful the last few days and he’s all but stopped trying to talk. I’m really worried about him.”

Celestia purses her lips and steps forwards to take a closer look at the little dragon. “Ah, little Spike is having difficulties, is he? Well. I believe I can do something about that myself, and I will make sure there are accommodations for him in Ponyville. You and Shining Armor will need to focus on packing; why don’t I take care of Spike for the time being?”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea Celestia? You already have so much to worry about…” Cadance protests from the side, giving the little dragon a distinctly distrusting, discomforting stare. “Especially on… It.”

“Why would you take care of him?” Twilight asks. “I-I mean, I spent months studying everything I could find about dragons for him, but I still haven’t been able to figure out what’s wrong with him. What if-”

“Twilight, I assure you that little Spike will be just fine.” Celestia interrupts with a reassuring tone as she gently places her hoof under Twilight’s chin to steer her gaze up to Celestia’s face. “I’ve seen this before, it’s something every baby dragon goes through. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it when there is time, but for now it’s best if you leave it to me. It isn’t the first time I’ve taken care of a baby dragon, after all. And Cadance, if anything this will be a bit of a break for me, so please do not worry yourself on my behalf.”

Twilight blinks at Celestia in bewilderment. “You… You’ve taken care of baby dragons before? Why?”

Celestia just chuckles. “You’d be surprised how many skills you pick up when you’ve lived as long as I have, Twilight. For now, just focus on getting everything packed; oh, and if you could tell Rainbow Dash about the new arrangements as well that would be appreciated. I’ll see you again tonight.” Only once Twilight nods affirmation does Celestia turn to leave.

However, she doesn’t get far as Twilight of her own volition suddenly wraps both forelimbs around all of Celestia that she can reach-so, mostly just her legs. Celestia blinks in surprise as Twilight looks up at her teacher with fearful, but sincere eyes. “O-Okay. I know you’re just doing what's best for us. I-I’ll miss you.”

Celestia smiles gently back and lowers herself down to the ground to return the gesture. "I will miss you too, my young student. I promise you, I will not rest for a moment until I can be sure that you are safe and sound.”

Twilight scrunches up her face. “But I thought you promised you’d get sleep tonight!”

Celestia pauses for just a moment before breaking out into a fit of giggles at the overtly literal mind of her student. "Ah, it seems I've been caught!" Celestia shakes her head in amusement and winks at her student playfully. "Allow me to amend my statement; I won’t rest for a moment, except for the sleep I promised you. Well, come along now, Spike. It’s time for Twilight to focus on packing.”

Spike reaches out for Twilight in distress as he is removed from her, struggling to get out a “T-Twilight!” as he is placed upon Celestia’s back. Twilight starts in surprise at how well the baby dragon had said her name, as Celestia turns her head back towards Spike.

“Please, try not to worry about her, my little dragon. You will be reunited soon enough.” As gentle and melodic as Celestia's tone is, there is an understated kind of power inherent to the words. But it is far different than she'd sounded the day she'd struck down the assassins, and it's soothing tone seems to relax the dragon, who reluctantly allows himself to be removed from Twilight, grimacing again as he belches and grasps Celestia’s mane.

The alicorn winces slightly as the dragon pulls on her hair, but otherwise accepts it as she steps from the room. Cadance gives one more unsure, anxious glance back at Twilight and Shining armor before turning to follow Equestria's monarch, finally leaving the siblings alone to pack up and get ready to move for the third time in as many months.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

“We have your word, then, that in exchange for our support you will set Gryphonnia free?” The gryphon representative is saying, as Nimbus Kicker blinks to clear her vision of the disorientation of teleporting down into the caverns where the cabal held their meetings. There are some new faces, and some missing as well; Where the Ivy’s throne had once been now stands a black carved seat of obsidian with the chiropteran representative sitting upright and relaxed. Even the Prench representative is present, a pony whom Nimbus Kicker had only met with twice before.

“Of course. The aristocracy has little stake in Gryphonnia’s fate after Celestia’s reign has been broken.” Platinum Legacy reassures the gryphon. “Truthfully I doubt we could hold onto it even if we wished to. We will have our hooves full combatting the chaos sure to result from Celestia’s fall.”

“Gryphonnia was not part of Equestria during our Liege’s reign.” The Chiropteran follows up, nodding along in agreement. “As such, we have no interest in it. The Reign of Night is for our true Monarch’s chosen, not any foreigners.”

Oh boy. Legacy must be getting nervous, if he’s working together with the ‘lesser races’ at this point. Nimbus Kicker ponders, sitting down at her own throne.

“Well! It has been some time since we have had such a full house. We may feel free to begin.” Platinum Legacy says, surveying the gathering.

“Where is Chancellor Ivy? He should be here.” Pluto Critical asks from his own seat across the chamber, eyeing the gryphon seated in Ivy’s usual seat with distrust.

“The late chancellor will not be joining us any longer.” The Chiropteran proclaims. “House Ivy has fallen. My eyes amongst the guard report it was undone by a traitor from my own people. Whatever he expects to gain following the usurper I know not, but he siezed the Chancellors household with a contingent of Royal Legionnaires.”

“What? Why weren’t we told sooner? We’ve been exposed! It won’t take Celestia’s ponies long to crack that softheaded fool, we should make preparations to go into exile immediately!” Pluto Critical demands, furrowing his brow and stomping his hooves.

“There is no need to be so dramatic.” Platinum Legacy retorts. “Please, continue.” he looks towards the Chiropteran once again, who nods in response.

“Our agents have eliminated all members of the Ivy household who knew the details of our operation. My own people will take over operation of the academy.”

Now it’s Nimbus Kicker’s turn to rear up in anger. “You did what? The Ivy’s were a valued ally, not an asset for you to dispose of at the nearest opportunity!” Nimbus Kicker looks around to see how the other houses were taking the news, being met with nods of agreement and murderous glares cast the Chiropteran’s way, save for the singular exception of Platinum Legacy at the front.

“It is an unfortunate necessity to be sure. But it was a necessity.” Platinum legacy states grimly. “We cannot be stopped, not when we’re so close. When Celestia is deposed, Ivy’s next of kin will be restored and honored for their houses role in our ascendancy, but we simply cannot risk exposure.”

“How long can this stunt really be expected to buy us?” Pluto Critical growls out. “The noose is tightening, even if the exact location of the academy remains secret they’ve surely found the drop-off point if nothing else.”

“Not long at all, as I’m sure you already knew.” Platinum Legacy responds. “Celestia has not been idle in their aggression. But neither have we. At this point, we should be more concerned about accelerating our timetable. How soon can we re-establish operations at the Academy?”

The Chiropteran nods, holding her head high. “We already have. My people were already in the process of taking control of the academy when the Chancellor was discovered, that being why we were able to respond so quickly. I’m sure you’ve already seen the product of our hoofiwork?”

Nimbus Kicker’s muzzle twitches up into something resembling a smile. “Hmph. I guess I should have been able to piece that together, the late Chancellor would never have have deployed an asset that aggressively. How many more do you have in storage?”

“Nearly two dozen. There are many more operatives of course, but they are proving more difficult to establish control over, the infantry were conditioned to follow only an Ivy household’s members orders. We would benefit from some of your magical expertise to regain total control.” The Chiropteran nods to the two unicorns in the chamber.

“Hmph. Noted. I shall depart for the academy with a contingent of my most loyal troops as soon as we are done here.” Pluto Critical announces with a nod, still staring intensely and suspiciously at the chiropteran.

“It is good to see that our product is going to good use.” The prench ambassador remarks. “But transport is proving increasingly difficult. We will need to renegotiate the terms of our agreement if you wish for-”

“That will not be necessary. With Ivy out of commission, our agreement is defunct for the time being.” Platinum Legacy cuts off the ambassador. “There isn’t time to develop any more before the war, anyways. We will negotiate a new contract afterwards.”

The Ambassador fumes, glaring over at Platinum Legacy. “Don’t forget that we-”

“Yes, yes, you have all manner of dirt on us.” Platinum Legacy cuts him off once again, rolling his eyes theatrically. “By all means, go and tell Celestia how you have been selling foals to us, see how that works out for you. You and I both know that it is in your best interests to allow us to proceed with the project, and that our little trade deal is nothing compared to dropping Celestia’s protectionist policies once her reign is over. I can’t imagine your masters will be happy if they learn you sent Equestrian-Prench relations back to the neighponic age just for some petty grudge. Just pull your assets out of Equestria so you don’t get caught in the crossfire, we will speak again in the future.”

Nimbus Kicker coughs to draw attention, standing up to her full height. “If I am to continue supporting your efforts, I require your assurances that my family will be unharmed. No, more than that, I require you to place enough forces at my disposal to allow me to take care of that myself. We must reach an understanding, my family are not disposable, and if I cannot be convinced that you have their best interests at heart, then our collaboration ends here. You have acted on your own too many times, and now you’ve turned on one of our own; how are we supposed to trust that you will keep to your word at this point?”

Pluto Critical stands up in support. “Aye, I have my concerns as well. Legacy, you have operated with a free hoof up until now, but that ends now. We have all placed ourselves in immense danger already, but you have shown far too little concern for our family’s well being. As we progress to the final stages of the operation, we must be sure we can trust eachother.” As he speaks, he glances sharply over to the chiropteran and gryphon.

“I understand your reservations, but please understand that House Ivy was an extreme circumstance. The chancellor placed himself in significant danger, and we had yet to establish control over the academy. If Celestia discovered our position then, we would have been exposed before we could mount any real defense. The situation is different now, we will simply need to spring the trap early if another of our esteemed allies are uncovered.” The chiropteran glibly assures the pair of aristocrats. “We are not Celestia. We will not turn againts our allies so readily. Even now, house Ivy remains in our hearts, and they shall be honored upon our true Monarch’s return.”

Nimbus Kicker scowls. “Just remember this, my clan are not sacrifices to be honored upon our victory. We are spread throughout Equestria and most of us are not involved in this plot. If Celestia uncovers us, my clan will survive, something I cannot say for you. If you act against us, it is well within our capabilities to bury you. Try to remember that.” With a sigh, the pegasus forces herself to relax. “I am no traitor, I am loyal to my clan as always. As long as I remain convinced that continued co-operation is in my clan’s best interests, we remain allies. But I will be sure we understand one another first.”

“You’ve made your point, Nimbus.” Platinum Legacy states gravely. “What is it you want precisely?”

Nimbus Kicker’s scowl gives way to a self confident smirk as she nods to the ringleader. “Better. I have intelligence which should prove quite valuable, but it will place one of my own kin in the firing line once again, so I wish to be certain she is removed from danger before the intelligence is acted on. Further, I am to lead the excursion myself.”

Curiosity seems to have alighted in Platinum Legacy’s eyes now, as he nods in return. “Interesting. Granted. You have my oath that no harm will come to any Kicker from this. Now, tell us, what is this intelligence you seem so proud of?”

Nimbus Kicker watches the gathering for another long moment, evaluating their response and murmurs of agreement. Finally, Nimbus Kicker nods, satisfied; if Platinum Legacy reneges on his word here, it seems unlikely it will go over as smoothly as the Ivy’s dissolution. “My niece has told me the princesses protege’s are both being moved out of Canterlot. The princess believes they are in too much danger there, and they will be safer amongst less compromised guards.” Nimbus Kicker explains.

“What’s your point? That commoner’s position is an insult to us all, yes, but it hardly seems like she matters at this junction. With Celestia’s response being as aggressive as it has been, we’ve been forced into a corner,” Pluto Critical retorts.

Nimbus Kicker shakes her head. “True, as a corpse, my niece’s friend is useless to us. But as a hostage… Celestia seems to care a great deal what happens to the two filly’s. Don’t you remember what happened during our prior attack? All we need to do is place the two of them in danger, and it will draw Celestia out of the relative security of Canterlot.”

“An interesting proposition. The timing of such an attack would need to be precise, but it may maximize our odds of success.” The Chiropteran nods along, smiling towards the Kicker-as always, Nimbus Kicker can’t quite tell if the cultist is being sincere or sarcastic. “Very well, scion of the Kicker clan. We place ourselves at your disposal. Rejoice, for the hated Sun’s defeat draws near. And I promise to you, that your clan’s role in her defeat shall not go unsung.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

“I’m heading out. I’ll be back before nightfall.” The words had barely left Rainbow Dash’s mouth before Glyndwr was right at her side, a severe bearing decorating her features.

“What in tartarus’s name do you mean you’re heading out? You know that we’re here for protection, right? What if somepony saw you and the conspirators caught wind of it?” Glyndwr demands, crossing in front of the door and holding one talon over it.

Rainbow Dash winces; she had expected this but had rather hoped she could get out before any creature could have responded. “I mean, sure, but there’s no way I’m going to just stay cooped up in here for Celestia-knows-how-long.” Rainbow Dash grunts back. That was selfish, she knew, but she’d had to be patient enough on the train ride over.

Glyndwr shakes her head firmly. “Nu-uh, no way, you’re not headed anywhere without me. I was given a job and I very well intend to do it.” The gryphon states stubbornly.

Rainbow Dash groans and rolls her eyes. “Fine then, we’re heading out. Come on already.” Slipping beneath the gryphons talons, Rainbow Dash shoulders the door and glances back. “Well? Don’t you want to get out too?”

“This is inadvisable at best…” The gryphon mutters. But at the same time, it is true that they have no idea how long they will be stuck in Ponyville, and given Rainbow Dash’s temperament it’s unlikely she’ll be able to stay still and studying for long under those conditions, unlike Twilight. So reluctantly, Glyndwr stalks after her. “Just remember, codenames only.”

Rainbow Dash nods her head in affirmation as she takes off for her first destination. Soon enough, she was knocking on the door of a house she’d never seen before, to soon be answered by a sleepy eyed mare she’d also never met before. “Hey! Uh, sorry for the interruption. I’m Prisma Blitz, my friend Cloud Kicker said this is where she’s be staying..?”

The mare blinks at her and a long moment of silence settles in, as she takes in both Rainbow Dash and the imposing form of the gryphon behind her. “O-Oh, of course. Just a minute.” The mare turns back and calls out. “Cloud! Your friends are here!”, before turning back to Rainbow Dash. “Did you want to come in?”

Rainbow Dash nods her head jerkily. “Uh, sure! I’m not interrupting, am I?”

The mare shakes her head, stepping aside to let Rainbow Dash in and uneasily watching Glyndwr as the gryphon follows, doing her best to keep a stoic face. “No, it’s, um, quite alright. I heard about what happened to your family’s farm, Cloud must really care about you to have come all the way out here to stay with little old me of all ponies.” The mare gives a short, nervous sounding laugh. “She was lucky I was here at all, I could have been up in Cloudsdale this time of year, it's a bit too hot in the summer here for me, and it's usually a good time to meet with some other Kicker’s.”

Rainbow Dash tilts her head. “She didn’t even check before she came down?”

The mare shakes her head. “Nope, just showed up without warning. Don’t worry, it’s nothing that strange.” She shrugs. “It’s what being a Kicker is all about, no matter how far apart we are.”

“Dash! Erm, uh, I mean… Blitz.” Cloud Kicker announces as she hurriedly descends the stairs. “I’m surprised to see you here already, I thought you’d be busy.”

Rainbow Dash snorts derisively. “Busy with what?” She asks rhetorically, and motions outside with her head. “It’s a new town, I thought we should familiarize ourselves with the lay of the land a bit. Wanna come with?”

Cloud Kicker glances back towards the mare of the house. “I’m just your aunt, not your guardian. Do what you want, I’m sure if your parents were feeling more fussy about what you got up to they would have kept you in Canterlot.” The mare shrugs noncomitally.

Cloud Kicker nods in response, turning back to Rainbow Dash and Glyndwr. “Uh, sure, sounds good to me.” Flicking her gaze either way before leaning in closer and lowering her voice, she continues just for the two of them “I’m just surprised that the Companions let you out of their sight so quickly is all.”

Now it's Glyndwr’s turn to snort derisively. “Silent Serpent hasn’t arrived yet, and the brothers are out doing some reconnaissance of their own. So it's just the bodyguards. I did tell Rainbow it wasn’t a good idea, but, well, I guess I’m not really in charge of her now am I?” Glyndwr shrugs. “I’m just the security.”

Cloud Kicker snickers and playfully slugs Rainbow Dash in the shoulder. “Uh-huh, that sounds like her alright. How a pony like that is going to cadet school I’ll never know, the first thing drilled into any soldier is to put the mission before personal needs.”

Rainbow Dash grunts as she steps out onto the road. “Oh, lay off it, I’m not a soldier, just the Princess’s student. Cadet school is just to help me get even more awesome than I already am.” Rainbow Dash jerks with her head onwards. “C’mon, let’s get going, I want to check out this pegasus market.” She was, after all, the richest she had been in her entire life with Celestia’s weekly stipend, even if that stipend was a fraction of what Twilight had from her family. 

[hr]

Rainbow Dash’s traipse around town is one destined to end in disappointment.

Perhaps it’s just because the filly is used to the big city; not only Canterlot, but Cloudsdale was quite large as well. To her admittedly spoiled eyes, Ponyville was an incredibly, almost unbearably boring settlement. Rows and rows of boxes with thatched rooves, with only a hoofful of buildings towards the downtown area actually being in any way distinctive. 

At least the treats were as tasty as Mooncrescent had said. Still, as Rainbow Dash walks down the cobblestone paths, she finds herself hanging her head in dismay. “How long are we going to be here again?” 

“Nopony knows. Until this whole mess gets sorted out, at least. It’s probably best to prepare for the worst, it could be years if we’re unlucky.” Glyndwr reports. 

Rainbow Dash groans, loudly, loudly enough to draw some stares from nearby passers-by. “Ugh. I hope the princess can get this under control sooner than that.” It was an odd contradiction, her happiness to be there oscillating back and forth. Oh, the library was pretty cool if she was being honest with herself, and she didn’t mind staying with the ponies she was. But Ponyville itself was just… So… Boring. 

“There’s more than just the town, you know.” Cloud Kicker replies from the side. “If you hate the village that much, you could always try checking out the forest.”

Rainbow Dash blinks. The forest… Right, Ponyville was right on the edge of the Everfree, wasn’t it? She glances over towards Glyndwr; would the gryphon really tolerate that? Just coming out into town was enough of a hassle. Surprisingly, though, the gryphon just shrugs.

“Well, we’d be less exposed to prying eyes if nothing else. I don’t see any problem with it.” Glyndwr shrugs. “It’s just the woods. Sure, it’s dangerous for a civilian but we’re all cadets, right? Besides, I mostly grew up in the forest, I have to imagine we could take care of ourselves.”

Rainbow Dash allows a confident smirk onto her muzzle, a gleam of savage interest in her eye. “Well, that sounds way better than this dump. Let’s go check it out!”

[hr]

Rainbow Dash was now, technically, the second closest she’d ever come to the Everfree Forest.

Standing there, a bare few meters away from the path leading into the shadowy undergrowth, she finds herself hesitating, remembering the unearthly noises she’d heard when passing over that forest back when she’d flown to Canterlot. 

But something as simple as that can’t forestall the pegasus for long, and soon enough ‘second closest’ gives way to ‘closest’, followed swiftly thereafter as ‘First time she’d actually entered’. Somehow, the sinister aura of the forest feels lessened once actually under it's ancient canopy, towering trees on all sides untouched by pony hooves in centuries. 

Well, mostly untouched. “Who do you think made this path?” Rainbow Dash asks idly, looking around. “I mean, don’t the ponies in Ponyville avoid the forest like the plague?”

“Well, they’ve got to come out through here sometimes.” Cloud Kicker replies, “Ponyville got settled in the first place to harvest the Zapple trees that grow on the boundaries. I’m sure there’s plenty more valuable goodies inside, plus it serves as a bit of a waystation for guards heading into the forest for training. Ponyville wouldn’t exist without the forest, so it’s got to remain at least somewhat in touch with it, even if most of the commonfolk would rather be just about anywhere else.”

“I guess that’s fair. I hadn’t thought about that.” Rainbow Dash responds, looking around with idle interest and trying to see how much of the foliage they can recognize; the answer, as it turns out, is ‘virtually none of it’, the forest is like an entirely other world to the rest of Equestria. Every step deeper into the forest, the world seems to grow more alien, trees stretching higher and higher above. The forest canopy is thick, but even so it feels odd how relatively dark it is down here. Gnarled, ancient branches stretching overhead with broad leaves only seem to partially explain the relative groom of the understory. Even so, there is plenty to see, all manner of unfamiliar and exotic plants in a variety of colors almost as varied as Rainbow’s own mane. These she is careful to avoid; who knows what any of those brightly colored berries or flowers might do?

As interesting as the landscape was, Rainbow Dash reluctantly has to admit to herself that it’s also somewhat unnerving. Maybe it’s just the reputation of the forest, dangerous and foreign enough to dissuade any colonization by ponykind even despite the great abundance of natural resources found within. Or more like, maybe it’s those distant chittering sounds that almost sound like laughter echoing off in the distance, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end.

At least it isn’t just her, Cloud Kicker’s eyes are darting this way and that also. The only one who seems truly comfortable is Glyndwr. Oh, she was as vigilant as ever, hawkish gaze sweeping the undergrowth with curious intensity, but there is no sign of anxiety. Granted, it’s normally hard for a pony to read a gryphon’s expressions or body language, so it could have just been that she was good at hiding it; but Rainbow Dash had spent enough time around Gilda to have a pretty good grasp on how to tell if a gryphon was upset or nervous even if they were trying to hide it. 

“You know, I grew up in Cloudsdale, so I’d never even touched the ground until I went to Canterlot.” Rainbow Dash pipes up. If she was being entirely honest with herself, she was mostly just trying to fill the uneasy silence (And better yet, keep the unsettling noises from off the beaten path sequestered; she could swear they were only growing more frequent as they progressed.) “And since I spent all my time in Canterlot in the palace district, I’ve never actually seen a forest up close like this before.”

Glyndwr flicks a glance her way. “Oh? And how is it finding you, then?” Forget being nervous, the gryphon sounds positively chipper. Maybe she’s just glad to be away from public view?

Rainbow Dash shrugs. “It’s interesting, I’ll say that much. Guard cadets really come out here? It feels so different from anyplace else I’ve been.” Even beyond the unusual plants and unearthly noises from deeper in, there’s just something so very strange-feeling about the place, maybe just because in all of Equestria it was one of the only places not reliant upon Pegasi to keep properly irrigated nor earth ponies to manage the ecology.

Glyndwr snorts. “Guard cadets and gryphon hatchlings, yup. That’s how I got involved with the guard, you know; some legionaries in training found me in the woods when I was younger. So it wouldn’t be any exaggeration to say its more familiar to me than the city, even if I have been in training for a couple years now.”

Rainbow Dash nods. That explains why she seems more at ease here, anyways; it’s probably like a homecoming for the gryphon. “Just you? How did you take care of yourself?”

Glyndwr shrugs. “It wasn’t so bad. We gryphons can generally take care of ourselves from a pretty young age, we mature quickly. I definitely struggled a little getting used to ponies, but I grew up near the outskirts of a village off in the Canterhorn hoofhills, so I wasn’t totally isolated. There’s plenty of forage and fish in the spring and summer, and in the winter it was never too hard to find some ponies willing to spare some food.”

Rainbow Dash raises a brow. “Ponies?”

Glyndwr gives a curt nod as she peels aside some of the underbrush and leads the way through, delicately sidestepping a thornbush in the path. “Aye. I don’t really know exactly what happened, my memory from my early years is pretty vague, but I took care of myself for the most part when I was younger. I know that I knew my parents at some point, but by the time I learned to speak they were gone already, and my recollection was already pretty blurry. So I’m not too sure myself what happened to ‘em, but it doesn’t really matter. It took a while to get used to the ponies, but I think that’s probably how I learned to talk, anyways. Everything before then is hazy at best.”

Rainbow Dash nods along, appraising the gryphon in new light. Maybe she should have expected something odd like that- after all, there aren't exactly a ton of gryphons in the royal guard-but given the gryphons nonchalant demeanor most of the time she somehow hadn’t given it much thought. Having to take care of yourself from such a young age... Well, it didn’t seem like the gryphon minded too much. Start as you intend to go on and you’ll never know what you’re missing, she supposes.

“Hey, Dash, check this out.” Cloud Kicker interjects from the side, and Rainbow Dash glances back to see the other pegasus had lagged behind the two of them, seemingly drawn to some plant by the trailside. Rainbow Dash, and Glyndwr tightly in tow behind, double back over to the other filly.

“Yeah? What is it?” Rainbow Dash asks, and Cloud Kicker just points down to an innoccuous-seeming bush, wearing a smug expression while Rainbow Dash arches one brow questioningly.

“Well? Do you know what this is?”Cloud Kicker asks, only for Rainbow Dash to shake her head. “That’s what I thought, even though you’ve been in cadet school you haven’t learned the first thing about survival yet, have you?” Cloud Kicker nods self confidently and quickly starts digging into the dirt with her hooves, uprooting the plant with her teeth to reveal a stringy mass of violet-grey tubers underground. “These are Rinyun roots, edible and tasty. They’re one of the first things I was taught to look out for as forage.” Cloud Kicker explains matter of factly, holding her head up high.

Rainbow Dash peers down at the mass of stringy vegetables skeptically. “Are you... sure? Those don’t look that... edible.” She doesn't know much about plant life, granted, but if there's one thing her parents had made sure she understood, it's that brightly colored plants are usually toxic.

Cloud Kicker snorts. “Yeah I’m sure, what do you think I’ve spent my whole life learning? This isn’t my first time in the Everfree you know. Every Kicker comes through here when we’re foals.” The filly places an odd emphasis on ‘Kicker’; well, actually her entire tone was oddly forceful.

Uncertainly, Rainbow Dash looks over to Glyndwr for confirmation, but the gryphon isn’t paying attention to the two of them, instead staring intently into the darkness of the forest behind them.

“...Something is following us.” Glyndwr growls out. “And it’s stopped chittering, which means its getting closer.”

Cloud Kicker’s demeanor swiftly changes as she stands upright and at attention while Rainbow Dash frowns, backing up. “A pony?” She asks, dreading the answer.

Glyndwr hesitates for a long moment. “I don’t know. Didn’t you notice the sounds stopped? I thought it was just some animal in the distance but...” The gryphon glances back towards the other two. “We’d better start heading back. Try to pretend we haven’t noticed it. No more discussion until we’re back in Ponyville.”

Rainbow Dash hesitantly nods affirmation, glancing into the dusky darkness all around. “R-right. I’ll, um, take point.” At the very leat she’d feel better having somepony watching her back. Part of her screams out against the apparent streak of cowardice nestled in her heart, but most of her suddenly just wants nothing more than to be anywhere other than where she is, at least until she's able to defend herself better, and doesn't have to be afraid anymore.

Chapter Text

If the walk into the woods was disquieting, the walk back was positively unbearable for Rainbow Dash.

Every single snapped twig or surprisingly loud rustle as she moves through the foliage sends a jolt of fear through the filly, leaving her to wonder when she’d become so cowardly.

Well, it would have, if she didn’t already know in her heart of hearts. As her ears strain to pick up the sounds of whatever was supposedly following them, in their minds eye they see the last time somepony had pursued them, the dagger which had come bare centimeters from her neck before Celestia had arrived to banish the threat. The last time her life had come within a hairs breadth of being cut short. The last time she’d soaked in the smell and sight of Death so thick in the air, embedded within her. And with every thought, the shuddering in her steps and the beating of her heart grows ever deeper.

Come on. Come on. You won’t be caught by surprise, not this time. Twilight isn’t here, your bodyguard is, and all three of us can fly. Despite those self assurances, Rainbow Dash feels a surge of guilt as she flicks her gaze over at Cloud Kicker, walking with a grim and serious expression on her face. Even as just a little filly, her heart had already been hardened to the thought of battle, but she was still somepony who wouldn’t even be here if not for Rainbow Dash. Still somepony being placed in danger because of her own selfishness in even asking if she wanted to explore. Glyndwr was one thing, the princess had assigned her to guarding Rainbow Dash, but Cloud Kicker was just her friend, bereft of any such duty.

Idly, she wonders why Glyndwr hadn’t chosen to just take off. All three of them are capable fliers, they’d have good odds of reaching Ponyville before any apparent pursuer could locate them. But, Glyndwr had said not to speak either; presumably she had decided, for whatever cause, that it’s best if they didn’t give away their awareness of the tail.

And so the minutes stretch out like aeons, Rainbow Dash struggling to hear what Glyndwr did. There are occasional noises from off in the forest that place her on edge, sometimes having her wondering if an attacker was about to appear from nowhere in the brush, but nothing she is confident in. She hadn’t realized how relatively far into the woods the group had gotten over the course of their conversation, but it felt far longer as they journey back in grim silence.

At least, until Rainbow Dash finally hears their trailer, stepping lightly through undergrowth as it nears them; with the faintest glance over at Glyndwr, the gryphon gives just the slightest, barely perceptible nod, confirming she’d heard it too.

Come on. Come on. Courage! Be a brave pony! Rainbow Dash tries to psyche herself up as she takes the last few steps. Closer, closer, closer...

Until finally, the rustle of grass just a couple feet behind them finally gives the pegasus the cue to break into frenetic motion, and the peace beneath the forest canopy erupts into sudden violence. Rainbow Dash doesn’t have time to check what her two companions are doing as she whirls about and bolts into a low stable position even as the encroaching attacker’s momentum breaks off with the sudden detection.

Rainbow Dash doesn’t have time to take in what she’s seeing in the gloom, the menacing reptilian eyes nor the scraggly haunting face of a creature vaguely like a pony, as she bolts into the air above a swipe of claws and fangs, twisting about in midair to slam both wings down into the Thing’s back and buy herself some breathing room. A sound somewhere between a yelp and bark echoes out even as Rainbow Dash kicks the attacker away and jets back into the air.

It’s... Not a pony, nor even a sapient creature at all as far as she can tell. She’d never seen something like it before, leering eyes like a coldblooded animal and spiny frills running down its spine, gaping maw of needle-like teeth and scaly coat. Even so, she’d heard enough descriptions to know what she was looking at, even if it was unfamiliar.

Chupacabra.

The sight of a savage, feral predator actively attacking a filly would normally be cause for concern, but Rainbow Dash can’t help feeling a surge of relief. No assassins, no hint that the group had been located; just one of the pony-hunting beasts of the Everfree forest, the type which might prey on an unsuspecting filly that got lost. But Rainbow Dash, Glyndwr, and Cloud Kicker are not a gaggle of unsuspecting fillies, but guard cadets, the very kind that would normally train on fighting just such a feral monster without any need for remorse or fear. Or in this case, an entire pack of the things, drawn by the allure of fresh ponyflesh and blood.

To be entirely honest, the smart thing to do would be to just fly away, now that she knew it wasn’t something which would pose a long term threat; but Rainbow Dash had never considered herself a particularly smart pony, a pack of the fiends this close to Ponyville would spell trouble for somepony, and perhaps most importantly of all Rainbow Dash was in dire need of an outlet for some of the bottled up aggression and helplessness pent up inside for the past few months. So instead, Rainbow Dash dives back down from above with a triumphant whoop and smashes a pouncing Chupacabra out of the air and into the dirt.

Only through the honed reflexes and attentiveness of a skilled flier does Rainbow Dash notice the scowl on Glyndwr’s face as she wheels about to join the fray as well. Rainbow Dash would probably be in for a lecture about her recklessness after this, but that’s nothing she isn’t used to, and for now there are more important things to worry about.

There isn’t time for grappling, with multiple foes to worry about, so Rainbow Dash immediately skips back into a low stance again, wings splayed for balance but kept somewhat curled in towards her body so that they aren’t too vulnerable, immediately having to dart back again and pull her wing up as the dense needle like teeth of another foe snaps at the air where they’d been a moment ago, plucking one flight feather out of the wing before Rainbow Dash retaliates by lunging forwards, snapping her hind legs all the way out to leap in a tackle at the creature. The smaller filly and the reptilian creature tumble across the ground for just a moment as Rainbow Dash slams one hoof down into its face with the kind of unreserved ferocity and strength that could only be managed in a true battle of survival.

A jolt of pain passes through the filly’s leg, but the whimper of pain from the chupacabra clearly shows that it had gotten it much worse, and as Rainbow Dash withdraws the hoof a thin trail of blood stretches up to it from where a needle-like tooth had been knocked out of the beasts mouth. Before Rainbow Dash can do any more, a burst of motion from her side catches her eye and she flinches away to the side, trying to get ready to buck the encroaching offender away with her hind hooves.

As it turns out there is no need, as the Chupacabra is instead pounced on by the half-feral, bloodied mass of feathers that was Glyndwr, raptorial cry sounding out even as her sharpened beak digs deep into reptilian flesh.

The distraction is just what the beast in Rainbow Dash’s hooves needs to writhe its way free of the filly and rake one claw across one of her forelimbs, and Rainbow Dash yelps as she bolts backwards up into the air; the Chupacabra snaps up at her, fangs catching one hoof but failing to do anything to the hardened keratin there as Rainbow Dash thrashes her legs wildly to dislodge it. That’s enough for the Chupacabra seemingly, as it wheels about and makes to dart into the underbrush, clearly hoping for easier prey.

Oh, you’re not getting away that easily! Rainbow Dash grins, ignoring the pain in her forelimb as she dives back down after her wounded opponent. Such a thing having gotten a taste for pony blood could not be allowed to escape; it had to be dealt with right here and now. Diving down from above, Rainbow Dash wraps two limbs around the Chupacabra and, taking advantage of her momentum, yanks the heavier and larger creature up from the ground even as it thrashes wildly, the pegasus surging with all her might towards the canopy of the forest far above. How is it still so far up there, even in flight it seemed like the massive, towering trees on all sides just stretch endlessly up into the aether.

An ordinary pegasus could not bear the weight of a creature larger than them in the first place, let alone one thrashing and clawing vainly at the air seeking to gain purchase upon Rainbow Dash’s limbs, but Rainbow Dash was not an ordinary pegasus. Even as her wings burn from the strain, she pushes even harder, ascending up, up, and up higher into the air, squeezing her limbs tightly around the barrel of the Chupacabra where its thrashing claws could not reach, until finally Rainbow Dash stalls in midair, falling over backwards. Folding her wings tightly, she twists around in midflight and shoves the Chupacabra away. For the briefest of moments the pegasus and monster fall through the air like stones, one in a controlled dive and the other releasing an unearthly yowling scream as it fails to catch any purchase, until finally the pair strike down upon the ground at the same time.

The Chupacabra strikes its back into a boulder right where Rainbow Dash had aimed the thing, at the same time that the filly slams both hind limbs into its chest at the same time, transferring every morsel of energy she can into the cold blooded beast. The thunderous jolt that passes through her entire body as the full force of her impact is channeled through her legs and into the Chupacabra is surely nothing compared to the sickening crack that reverberates through that creature. There is no further sound from the beast, just a last jolt and spasm of motion followed by sudden relaxation, its body bending across the boulder underneath it at an unnatural angle that demonstrates without a shadow of doubt its spine had been cleanly severed.

Rainbow Dash whirls her head around in a manic haze, seeking more targets; only once she finds Glyndwr backstepping towards the two fillies and Cloud Kicker catching her breath without any (living) Chupacabras in sight, does the haze of adrenaline start to dissipate.

Rainbow Dash stumbles backwards, all the motive force from just a moment ago suddenly leaving her as she falls back onto her haunches, the sound of her heart pounding in her head and heavy gasping through aching lungs filling her entire world, as she raises one hoof to her head in shock. The entire encounter had only lasted a couple of minutes, but now that it’s over, and rationality is slowly returning to the pegasus, a sense of disbelief quickly settles over her.

I...I did that. Rainbow Dash stares in flummoxed shock at the corpse before her. Oh, it isn’t the first time she’d fought a wild animal, there was after all that encounter with the cloud sprites on her way to Canterlot. But... Those had survived, or at least, she was pretty sure they had. This thing, on the other hoof...

“Celestia... You really went for blood, Rainbow.” Cloud Kicker mutters from the side as she pokes around the corpse, one of two decorating the clearing. Two wide, shocked eyes find Rainbow Dash’s, mirroring the surprise in that pegasid’s own heart.

“Stay on guard, they could still come back.” Glyndwr swiftly warns, keeping her back to the two fillies as she scans the forest around, but Cloud Kicker just snorts derisively.

“Not after that performance, they won’t. They’re just predators, not suicidal.” Cloud Kicker retorts, her gaze straying down to the shattered bone protruding from the creature’s back with a wince, before her gaze finds Rainbow Dash’s again, painted with both trepidation and respect. “Well? You ready to dig in?”

Rainbow Dash blanches, blinking rapidly. “I... What?” What in Celestia’s name did Cloud Kicker mean by that? If there’s one thing she wasn’t expecting to hear...

Cloud Kicker exchanges a glance with Glyndwr, the hint of a smirk finding her muzzle. “You really don’t know, huh?” It's a rhetorical question, as Cloud Kicker points to the corpse. “There’s a guard tradition started by pegasi centuries ago. Whenever a guard makes a kill, it's up to them to make sure the corpse doesn’t go to waste. It’s a way of respecting the kill and living off the land.”

Rainbow Dash blanches even more, stepping backwards and throwing incredulous looks both Glyndwr and Cloud Kicker’s way. “I… What? You can’t be serious. I’m a pony, we don’t eat meat! ...Right?”

“We’re omnivores, actually. I mean you’ve eaten eggs before, right? It’s not much different than that.” Cloud Kicker presses with a growing smirk. “C’mon, it's tradition.”

Rainbow Dash looks over to Glyndwr bewildered, who shrugs. “It’s up to you. But she isn’t lying, it is tradition, if that’s what you’re wanting to know.”

Rainbow Dash stares back over to the body, blood still pooling out from it. She feels queasy just looking at the thing if she’s being honest, the sense of giddy aggression adrenaline had blessed her with is all but gone. Knowing that she was the one who had done that, had taken a life (even if just that of a monster) with her own four hooves is difficult to wrap her head around.

But… It was a monster, so close to Ponyville. If she hadn’t taken it down, somepony else could easily have been hurt. And… As uncomfortable as the thought is… She can’t ignore a steadily growing curiosity.

Slowly, inexorably, as if drawn forwards, Rainbow Dash steps closer to the body. It’s cold, of course; it wasn’t like it was a warm blooded creature. Hesitantly, sluggishly, the pegasus leans forward, almost hypnotically allured.

“Wait, you can’t just eat it like that!” Cloud Kicker frantically interjects. “You gotta, like, cook it first.”

Rainbow Dash pauses, glancing back at Cloud Kicker and blinking. “Huh? Why?”

Cloud Kicker grimaces. “It’s like, um, eggs, you know? You can get sick if you eat them raw. Here, help me collect some firewood.”

Rainbow Dash frowns, looking back over to Glyndwr. “Is that really okay? Should we stay in here that long?”

Glyndwr just nods affirmation. “Seems fine to me. The threat’s been eliminated, that's the only reason we were heading back anyways. Plenty of time till nightfall, decent lighting conditions. We can handle ourselves, we don’t need to be afraid of the forest.” The gryphon’s gaze surfs the canopy above, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and closes her eyes. “I’m just concerned about the enemy finding us, but there’s nowhere more safe from prying eyes than the woods. Just make sure we stick together, and we’ll be fine.”

Rainbow Dash nods, slowly, growing increasingly more confident. “Y-yeah, right. Right.” Come on, you wanted to be a brave pony didn’t you? You just showed them what-for, now it’s time to take the spoils. Slowly, something more akin to the flippant, self confident attitude that the filly had grown up with starts to return to her admittedly cowed heart.

The forest is scary, that much is true. And as much as she hates to admit it to herself, Rainbow Dash can’t deny that a peculiar feeling of cold blooded terror had stalked her ever since the assassination attempt earlier that year.

But here she is anyway, in the thick of the most wild and savage place in Equestria, and she is every bit its match. Slowly, a grin starts to spread over her features. Oh, there is danger to be had in spades, and all kinds of feral monsters that would hunt a pony given half the chance. But that’s just fine.

After all, Rainbow Dash was a predator, too.

Chapter Text

“Is it really supposed to look like that?” Rainbow Dash asks, skeptically, as she eyes the twitching, clenching piece of meat over the flames. Thankfully for her, her admittedly clumsy efforts to figure out how butchering an animal worked were swiftly interrupted by the far more methodical and generally capable talons and hooves of Glyndwr and Cloud Kicker respectively. In the end Rainbow Dash had mostly just watched, trying to suppress her queasiness as the skin was removed, guts torn out, and viscera discarded

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. Fresh kills still have plenty of nervous energy left in their flesh, so the muscles can still move around a lot until they get used to being dead.” Glyndwr explains. “I know it’s a bit freaky looking, but you’ll get used to it, trust me.”

Rainbow Dash winces, pondering how she’d gotten into this circumstance and wondering if ‘getting used to it’ is really something she wants to do. Then again, she guesses it might be fun to tell Gilda about. It’s worth trying at the very least.

The vast majority of the meat is just left strewn about in the forest, as there is far too much for the lot of them to eat now, and only the choicest bits (based on the local obligate carnivore’s recommendation) were bothered with. A couple of foxes had even shown up, skittishly nipping at the leftovers; Rainbow Dash was perfectly content to let them have it.

And now, the chunk of almost unrecognizable flesh, lightly seared to a reddish-brown outside with the crimson juice dripped out of it, is finally presented to Rainbow Dash. “It’s your kill, so you get first pickings.” Glyndwr announces, though the gryphon is visibly licking her chops, her stomach growling. She hasn’t had anything to eat since she’d entered ponyville, had she? Maybe that’s why she was so willing to stay in the woods while they cooked a meal up, Rainbow Dash ponders.

Finally, with skewered chupacabra heart right between her hooves, it’s time to eat. She can’t deny a powerful sense of trepidation, as she hesitantly opens her mouth and leans forwards. It’s not that weird, right? I mean, plenty of pegasi eat fish. This is kind of like that. Rainbow Dash tries to tell herself, but it isn’t enough to fully reassure herself. It would just go to waste otherwise. I mean, you’re not against hunters existing are you? You’re just placing yourself in that world.

Whatever concern she might feel is steadily eroded away by not only the supportive looks from both her friends, but also the enticing aroma wafting from the piece of meat. Well, to be fair, it also helps that with all the processing done by Glyndwr and Cloud Kicker, it’s noticeably less recognizable as actually a one-time part of an animal.

Finally, at long last, she sinks her teeth in, not knowing what to expect. The flavor is gamey, rich, savory and metallic in equal measures, but more to the point, far tougher and stiffer than she’d expected. Maybe that should have been expected, the flesh of the living creature isn’t that easy to rip into; this was still not quite that strong, weakened as it was by cooking and with the scaley protection removed. But it still takes a surprising amount of force to dig her teeth in, and then rip away a chunk of chewy, bloody, slightly slippery meat.

Whatever she had expected, this isn’t it; well, to be fair, it wasn’t like she’d had any real conceptions whatsoever of what it might have tasted like. At the least she hadn’t expected such a strong flavor from the lean, stringy meat. By the time she’d chewed enough to make the thing palatable enough to swallow, most of her appetite is already gone; it was still hard to get used to the idea.

Despite that, she can’t say she hates the taste. It’s just… Unusual, that was all. Pushing through, she rips off another bite, and then another, until after an egregiously long time the seared heart was finally fully consumed. By that time, Glyndwr had already gorged herself on what would have been three meals for Rainbow Dash, while even Cloud Kicker had put away a few mouthfuls.

“Mare, that's some tough meat…” Cloud Kicker mutters, standing up and nodding to Rainbow Dash. “How’s it feel? Normally that's the last test a cadet gets before joining the Companions, and here you are already.” A little twitch of irritation crosses Cloud Kicker’s face. “Well, not that there was any doubt you’d be able to get into the Companions if you wanted, since you already caught the princesses eye and all…”

“Really? Doesn’t Celestia set up those tests, though?” Rainbow Dash asks, furrowing her brow. What an odd test from Them of all ponies…

Cloud Kicker shrugs. “Dunno. Anyways, you fancy heading back to Ponyville now? You just know that the smell of meat on the wind will draw worse scavengers than those two soon enough.” Cloud Kicker nods towards the pair of foxes skittishly nibbling away at some of the discarded scraps.

Rainbow Dash nods, but hesitates. “Yeah, sure… But one more thing first.” Trotting over to the pile of discarded bones that Glyndwr had done her best to peel away from their flesh, Rainbow Dash gingerly lifts the skull of the slain creature. It’s… Not exactly clean, and even looking at it was uncomfortable, but that can be fixed later.

“What are you doing?” Cloud Kicker asks curiously.

“Just taking a keepsake. Something to remember today by.” Rainbow Dash replies.

A little spark of something lights up in Glyndwr’s eyes, and her face takes on the closest thing a gryphon could get to a smile. “Hmph, good thinking. I wish I’d thought to do that when I made my first kill. Well, lets head back; I’ll hold up the rear again to make sure nothing else sneaks up on us.”

The two ponies (and gryphon) do not make it all the way to the library before being intercepted, by one very cross looking and one very chipper looking unicorn.

“Heyo! Twilight told us that you lot went off around town, but we couldn’t find ya. I was telling Blazey you might’ve gone into the Everfree, but he didn’t believe me.” Mooncrescent smirks, looking more than a little conceited.

Starblaze on the other hoof was quite reserved, save the hint of a frown tugging at his muzzle. “Just what were the lot of you doing in there? We were planning to hold drills, but you just weren’t there. We can’t exactly do much to protect you if you’re not in the treehouse.”

Glyndwr steps forward, wearing a solemn expression. “My apologies. Rainbow Dash insisted on exploring the town, and I felt that it would be safer in the forest where there weren’t so many prying eyes.”

Mooncrescent and Starblaze share uneasy glances before looking back to Glyndwr. “I’m not so sure about that. Most of the evidence thus far has pointed towards the enemy operating from out of the Everfree in some capacity. And that’s not even to mention all the monsters, you’re lucky that you weren’t attacked.”

That seems like Rainbow Dash’s cue to speak up, and lift the chupacabra skull she was carrying for the brothers to see. “Well, um, we did get attacked by a pack of chupacabra’s, actually. But we dealt with it just fine, and I took this as a trophy. I got clawed a bit on one limb, but I’m fine other than that.”

Mooncrescent blinks in surprise, but swiftly thereafter breaks into a grin. “Well, I’ll be! A chupacabra? At your age?” Mooncrescent clucks his tongue and shakes his head in amazement. “Hey now, that’s the spirit! No wonder the princess took ya in, with skills like that. Tartarus, even I didn’t kill a monster till I was thirteen. You’re really something else!”

Starblaze off to the side grimaces and shoots a pointed look Mooncrescent’s way. “You really shouldn’t encourage her, that was reckless and stupid. She’s here for safety and to keep a low profile, not-”

“Oh, whatever.” Mooncrescent cuts his brother off, rolling his eyes aggressively. “She did a great job, and great jobs deserve to be rewarded. I’m sure Lesty would be proud. I mean, she’d have a whole conniption fit about making sure she was safe and all that first… But after that, she’d be proud. Besides, we can’t exactly let monsters just prowl around just a mile or two outside of Ponyville now can we?” Mooncrescent turns his attention to the prismatic filly, leaning over and smiling. “So how’d you find it? Ya have fun?”

Rainbow Dash just stares at Mooncrescent a little bit aghast. ‘Fun’? She’d just killed something for the first time, and then eaten its dead body, and she was being asked if she’d had fun? Rainbow Dash opens her mouth, not knowing exactly how to respond, but the answer comes out on it's own anyways.

“...A little, yeah.” Oh. Whoops, that’s not what she’d been planning to say… “It had a weird texture. Never had anything like it before. Savory and metallic, stringy and squishy and somehow kinda spongey. Kinda reminded me of cauliflower.” Idly, Rainbow Dash can’t help but think she wished she had more; it was already a little hard to remember what it had tasted or felt like.

Mooncrescent nods, muzzle twitching up into a smile. “Yeah, it can take a bit of getting used to. Especially the predators, they’re always a little bit chewy. All that muscle, y’know? Wanna get some ice cream to wash it down with? They make a killer milkshake over at Sugar Cube Corner, ya know.”