//------------------------------// // Celebration // Story: Shadow of Loyalty // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// Dash was nearing the end of her nightly patrol of the city. Things had calmed down over the past few months, as far as crime was concerned. Being Shadowbolt and Luna's apprentice made her leagues above others, and most gangs had disbanded or moved to other cities. She was making a difference, and that brought a smile to her face. An alarm going off interrupted her thoughts, and after judging its location, she sped toward the sound. The building that was broken into was easy to spot, with giant tree roots coming out of the ground and rammed through the front of a building. ‘That something you don't see every day,’ Rainbow thought. ‘Not even when I still lived in Ponyville.’ She landed next to the opening just as the alarm was silenced. She peeked in and saw a disaster area. It looked worse than one of Twilight's experiments gone wrong. Everything was destroyed or damaged in some fashion. She entered the building with caution, wings halfway spread and wing senses at full. Halfway into the lobby, she felt something coming at her from the left. She twirled away as a plant root struck the spot she had just left. "Shadowbolt? My quarrel is not with you. Leave this place," a sexy, feminine voice demanded. "Sorry, but you're breaking the law," Dash replied, “so my ‘quarrel’ is with you.” "If you side with Wood Fall, Inc., then you are my enemy." Several things rushed at her from her right. She swept a wing blade at them. A few nicked her, but no direct hits, thanks to her quick reactions. She heard a shout of rage and instinctively launched a lightning ball in its direction. Finally, she saw her target, a mare with green fur and a purple mane and tail that moved and waved like tentacles. 'Whoa, a real-life Mane-iac.' She launched several wing blades at the mare. The villain screamed in rage as more of her mane was cut before a massive tree root blocked Rainbow’s aim. She moved to get around as her wing sense told her something was approaching. She launched another wing blade, hitting the object dead-on. The thing exploded, spreading dust everywhere. Rainbow coughed and whirled to find her enemy, only for her eyelids to get heavier as the world spun around her. She collapsed to the ground, and sleep overtook her. She found herself in a moonlit plain, no city in sight. Where in Tartarus was she? She bolted to her hooves, looking around and trying to get her bearings. No dice; the place was not familiar at all. "Dash?" Rainbow turned to the voice and found Princess Luna. "Princess? What are you doing here?” Rainbow asked. “Where is here?" "We are in my dreamscape, my loyal apprentice. I come here to rest and recharge before continuing my duties. The real question is how you got here.” "Don't know. I was fighting a mare that looked like a bootleg Mane-iac when she threw something at me. I shot it with a wing blade, but it covered me with something. Everything got all spinny, and then, I find myself here." Luna looked pensive before replying, "Must have been a sleeping agent of some sort, and the fact you are here and not dead means she just knocked you out and completed whatever task she set out to do." "Gee, that's a ray of sunshine," Dash said sarcastically. Luna smirked at her. "Well, the plus side of this is that I can tell you about something,” she said. “I require your presence during the coming night. Please arrive in your Shadowbolt gear. Look for the balcony on the north side of the castle." "Sure, but what you need me for?" “No emergency, my dear friend. Just something I think my apprentice should be present for." "Okay, I'll be there, Luna," Dash said with a smile. Luna beamed at her. "Huzzah!" Luna was about to say something more, but suddenly, Rainbow’s world went white. ************************* With a moan, Dash woke up, seeing a wrecked lobby and a cop in front of her. "You okay, Shadowbolt?" he asked. "Yeah. She just gassed me, I guess." Rainbow wobbled a bit as she stood. "Better let the EMTs looked at you, and you can tell us what you know of all of this." "Fine," Rainbow said with a sigh, following him to a carriage with a red cross. As she was looked over, she related what she encountered. The officer wrote it down and bid her a good night. She nodded at him and took off for home. She had enough for tonight. She went straight through the cloud wall leading to her bedroom and stripped off her Shadowbolt gear. In minutes, she was just Dash again. Heading over to the bed, lit only by the lamp she left on, she saw Tank was awake. With an eyebrow raised, she put her head down to his level. "You still up waiting for me, Tank?" Tank nodded with a small smile. Dash smiled back and muzzled him. "You silly tortoise." She laid on her bed and petted his shell until she fell asleep. ************************* The morning came, and Dash woke with a cute yawn, not that she’d let anyone tell her it was cute. A perk she had ever since she became Luna’s apprentice was very restful sleep, so even if she only got four hours of sleep, it would feel like a full eight. She petted Tank before getting his food and placing it on his plate. As the tortoise began eating, Dash took her costume and tossed it in the washer and went to make her breakfast: some oatmeal, toast, and milk. She ate in peace and quiet. And she hated it. She like hearing the voices of others. Admittedly, most of those voices she enjoyed simply repeated how awesome she was, but any talk would be nice. But it wasn't to be, so she just finished her meal and headed out for work. After arriving, she checked the schedule and assigned the duties before heading out for her own section. After lunch, she had a small nap before finishing her work and grabbing her Shadowbolt uniform and heading for Canterlot. In a couple hours, she came upon the city and headed straight for Luna's tower. She saw her mentor walk to the balcony and smile as she spotted Dash. As Dash landed, the lunar princess spread her wings and cheered, "Huzzah! Welcome, My Loyal Dash." "Hey, Luna," Dash responded as the alicorn hugged her. It took a moment for Dash to hug back. Luna kept her smile as she separated and lit her horn, and both mares watched as the sun set and the moon rose. As Luna released her hold on it, Rainbow said, "Is that what you wanted me to see? It was…beautiful. Much better than sunsets in Ponyville." Luna's smile grew brighter. "Thank you, my friend, but that is not what I wanted to show you. Come." Luna led Dash into her tower, and Dash looked around, noting first the heavy drapes that likely blocked the sun during the day. The rest of the place was in colors of blue, light blue, purple and silver in a clear night motif. The furnishings—couches, chairs, tables, and desks—were surprisingly simple but personal. Finally, Luna led Dash to a room with engravings on the floor. Luna pointed to one such engraved area. "Stand there please, Dash." Dash did so, and soon, there was a flash of light, and she found herself in a carved cavern with teal-colored flames lighting the place. "Where are we, Luna?" Dash asked. "Follow me, and you will find out." Luna led her out of the chamber and into a room done up similarly to Luna's chambers. Soon, Dash was led to the balcony. "Rainbow Dash, I welcome you to the Night Realm!" With a flourish, Luna opened the balcony doors to reveal a massive city under a rocky ceiling, bat-winged ponies everywhere. "Woah!” Dash said, marveling. “Why haven't I heard of this place?" "For security. After my banishment, my thestrals feared they’d be hunted down despite their playing no part in my plans that night. So, they spent the last thousand years making this place. They showed it to me not long after my return. As for why you’re here, tonight is the anniversary of my reunion with them, and I wanted you to be here for the celebration. Now, follow me to the auditorium." Luna took to the air, and Dash followed. The place was like Mareapolis but bigger and enclosed; not a spot of sky was above them, only rocks. In minutes, Dash saw a sizable stadium ahead of them, with tiers upon tiers of seats, each tier slightly behind the one below it. and Luna swung and dove, with Dash following. Soon, they landed by a side door, where a guard stood. "Greetings, Sovereign. Your timing is spot on, as usual," the guard said. "I could never be late for this event," Luna replied. "And the mare behind you?" the guard inquired. "She is my guest." Her look said she would brook no argument. "Ah, apologies, Sovereign." The guard opened the door for them, and Luna lead them through the doorway. They walked through the hallways until they arrived backstage, where Luna spoke again. "Wait until I introduce you, Dash." Dash nodded, and Luna entered the stage as cheers erupted from the crowd. "SUBJECTS! I am very pleased to greet you tonight!" She smiled at the crowd as they cheered again. "Tonight, we celebrate our reunion and return to Equestria. I thank you all for supporting me still, despite my mistakes." Hooves thundered. "It is also with great pride that I introduce you all to a special mare, one who has become my apprentice and who has taken on the mantle of a dream I thought lost. I present to you...SHADOWBOLT!" Dash stepped out to the deafening roar of the crowd. Dash glanced at Luna, who was beaming in delight. "Hey, everypony,” Dash said, basking in their praise. “I’m honored to be here tonight, and I’m even more honored that Luna chose me as her apprentice and taught me some awesome moves. She’s been there for me in my darkest hour when everypony else left me. I owe her my loyalty. LET'S HEAR FOR PRINCESS LUNA!" The crowd roared once more as Dash felt Luna get closer. "Why don't you show them what my apprentice can do?" Luna asked. Dash gave her a knowing smirk, which Luna returned. Dash headed for the orchestral pit and exchanged words with the conductor. She then returned to the stage as Luna backed off to let her apprentice show her stuff. Soon, music styles from Mexicolt began, and Dash moved with its rhythm, using the forms of the Gale Wing as dance moves. Dash flew over the stage, putting enough power to produce a gust of wind but not enough to cause any damage. She summoned a pair of lighting balls, juggling them around her body as she danced. As the music reached its climax, she twirled and hit the balls with her wings, where they exploded into streaks of lightning. She struck a pose on the last, drawn-out note of the music. Dash found herself panting, but it couldn't be heard over the deafening cheer of the crowd. She felt Luna run over and hug her, and though she tried to fight it, she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. Here, she was appreciated. Here... SHE WAS LOVED.