//------------------------------// // A Canterlot Breakfast // Story: After the Honeymoon // by Pokey the Unicorn //------------------------------// Twilight and Rainbow Dash flew back to Canterlot Castle in silence. They descended, landing outside the doors without crashing or stumbling. "Hey! A perfect landing!" Twilight exclaimed. "You've learned how to fly pretty quickly." Rainbow noted. "... I still can't believe you have wings now." She felt her face contort into the beginnings of a smile. She rubbed her foreleg, thinking back on that brief moment she and Twilight had shared. "Neither can I." Twilight agreed. "I'm still getting used to them." Rainbow glanced around, shuffling her hooves. "So uh... You said shapeshifting, right? What made you decide on wings?" "Well, the Princesses have always made me a little envious of flying, but the main reason was..." Twilight hesitated briefly, giving Rainbow a shy smile. "Well, the main reason was you." "Me?" Rainbow squawked. "Yes. Last night you told me that you're lonely during your night flights. If I have wings, I can fly too. Now we can go together!" The unicorn exclaimed, wiggling her wingtips at Rainbow. It baffled her, how quickly Twilight had bounced back. It had barely been ten minutes since... it had happened, yet there she stood, cheery as ever. The pegasus turned away, trying to control her blush. "You mean... You mean you did it for me?" Rainbow asked quietly. "I thought it'd make you happy if we could go flying together." Twilight replied. She shuffled a little closer and gave Rainbow a quick winghug, trying to make eye contact. "That's..." Really sweet of you... "That's really cool of you, Twilight..." The pegasus sighed. What she had done to Twilight weighed heavily on her conscience, and she had a feeling that this uncomfortable feeling hanging in the air wouldn't be leaving her any time soon. ... But this was Twilight. If she couldn't forgive Rainbow, nopony could. No, Rainbow knew that the struggle for forgiveness would be waged largely in her own mind. She knew that she'd be vying for Twilight's favor until she felt as though she'd made up for what she'd done. Rainbow suddenly realized that she had spent the last few seconds staring at the ground. She whipped her head up and attempted to think up a reason for her lapse. Twilight's smile faded to a small frown when their eyes met. "Um..." Rainbow stammered, looking away. "I'll wait out here." She took off, seeking refuge on a nearby cloud. Twilight sighed as she watched Rainbow fly off. I should have been more careful... Shaking her head quickly, the mare hollered her reply up to the cloud. "Okay! We won't be long!" Twilight turned to the large double-doors behind her, coughing into her hoof. She stepped inside and closed the doors behind herself with her magic. Once her eyes had adjusted to the lower light, she noticed Rarity sitting with Applejack on their bed. The dressmaker had snuggled up behind her marefriend, and was brushing her blonde mane carefully. She jumped a little when Twilight entered. "Oh good, it's only you, dear. Did you find Rainbow Dash?" "Yeah, she's waiting outside." Twilight replied, looking back at the door. "Are you all ready to go?" "Well, Fluttershy is in the bathroom tending to her mane, and... I think Applejack and I are ready." Rarity declared, examining the brushed mane before her. With a satisfied nod, she nuzzled into it, wrapping her forelegs around AJ. "I just hope you didn't make me look all frou-frouey." Applejack grumbled, looking back. Rarity leaned in and kissed her, giggling. "I think your mane looks beautiful, Applejack." Twilight said, smiling at the pair. "Beautiful?" Rarity protested. "Just beautiful? Why, her mane could be-" "Neat." Applejack shot in, cutting off the dressmaker's gesticulations before they got out of hoof. Rarity shot her back an annoyed frown, then let out a whimsical sigh, holding a hoof to her forehead. Twilight, as witness to all this, couldn't help but giggle to herself. "So, how long have you been marefriends?" Twilight asked. "Since last hearts and hooves day." AJ replied, a touch of boastfulness in her voice. "Rare, wanna tell her?" AJ grinned as Rarity's eyes lit up. "Oh! It was so romantic, Twilight." Rarity swooned, beginning to gesture wildly. "I had thought that I would have to endure another hearts and hooves day alone, but then Applejack came for me, sweeping me off my hooves like a true gentlemare!" The dressmaker swayed a little before collapsing backward onto the bed with a happy whimper. AJ rolled her eyes at Twilight, chuckling. "I sure did. Had the whole thing planned out a few days before, in fact. I took her out for a dinner date, someplace real nice, then we went for a walk along the river outside Ponyville." A smug grin appeared on the farm pony's face. "I think I did a mighty fine job of wooin' this one." She gestured backward, nodding, then crossed one foreleg over the other. "Mmm, you certainly did, darling." Rarity sat up and stepped off the bed gracefully. She smiled as Applejack joined her, and they both stood there, smiling at Twilight. "You mustn't tell Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy though, dear." Rarity whispered, leaning forward. "You haven't told them?" Twilight tilted her head. Applejack frowned. "We were goin' to make an announcement to y'all." The Earth pony grumbled. "But you kinda ruine-" The bathroom door opened, and Fluttershy stepped out. Everypony went quiet. She looked at her friends, noticed the silence, and wilted. "Oh, I'm sorry... I'm not interrupting am I?" "No, of course not, dear. Are you ready to go?" Rarity asked, walking over. "Yes, but... you all stopped talking when I..." Fluttershy shrunk back, mumbling into the floor. Quickly making her way over to the pegasus, Rarity leaned down and spoke in her carefully cultivated 'reassuring Fluttershy' voice. "Applejack and I have an announcement, but it's a surprise. We were talking to Twilight about it. Nothing to worry about, dear." She tilted Fluttershy's chin up with a gentle hoof and smiled warmly. Rarity's reassurance did little to reassure Fluttershy. The pegasus stood up, hiding behind her mane. She eventually peeked out and returned Rarity's smile wistfully. "Oh, sorry..." She mumbled, tracing circles on the floor with a hoof. "Fluttershy, stop apologizing." Rarity turned and walked back over to the bed. "I'm sorry." She mumbled again, following behind. A second later, she gasped. "Oh no, I'm sorry!" Her eyes widened as she realized that she'd apologized again. "Sor-" Rarity stopped the avalanche of apologies with a well-placed hoof. "It's really alright, dear." She insisted. AJ chuckled. "Heh, only you could apologize for apologizing." She flashed Fluttershy a friendly smile. "... sorry..." "Aww, buck up, girl." Applejack exclaimed, ribbing the pegasus playfully. "Yes, let's all go have breakfast." Rarity agreed. "I take it you're ready, Fluttershy? Your mane looks wonderful." "Um, yes." Fluttershy replied quietly, gazing down at Rarity's hooves. "Alrighty the-" Applejack was interrupted by a particularly loud rumble of her stomach. Rarity gasped in mock disgust. "Honestly!" She admonished, poking AJ's stomach with a hoof. The Earth pony chuckled sheepishly, fiddling with the brim of her hat. "Heh, just a slight hankering." She offered. Her excuse did little to appease the dressmaker, who threw her a sharp glare. Rarity arched an eyebrow when Applejack blew her a raspberry. Twilight giggled. "If y'all are ready, let's go. This ain't gonna fix itself." Applejack gestured toward her own stomach. Both unicorns nodded their agreement, and Fluttershy squeaked as she was herded out the door. Twilight put on her saddlebags and followed, shutting the doors behind herself. As soon as Fluttershy was outside, she groaned, crumpling to the ground. "You alright, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Nnng, it's too bright! Somepony turn it down!" The pegasus wailed. Applejack chuckled, flipping off her stetson. She plonked it onto Fluttershy's head and pulled the brim down over the pegasus's eyes. "How about that?" She asked. "Better?" Fluttershy paused, experimentally cracking open an eye. "Oh, much better." She breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. "Thank you." She mumbled from somewhere beneath the hat, her sheepishly grateful smile only half visible. All set, they departed. Rainbow flew down to the group, remaining aloft. She fiddled with her hooves subtly as they walked along. "Hey guys." She said plainly. "Good morning, Rainbow Dash." Rarity replied. Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Applejack. "Mornin' RD. You were up bright and early." The farm pony remarked. "Yeah, I just felt like going for a morning flight." Dash chuckled. She landed and fell into step alongside the group, hanging back slightly. Twilight huddled close to her as they walked, only to be shooed away by Rainbow's wing. "Not now!" The pegasus mouthed silently, glancing around to make sure none of their friends had noticed. Twilight pouted at her, but obliged. "So uh..." Rainbow began, looking around. "Are we meeting Pinkie there, or what?" Everypony froze. "Oh my." AJ groaned. "Pinkie's not here?!" Twilight squawked. "Please tell me we didn't leave without her!" Rarity cried, turning on the spot and running back to the room. She burst inside, biting her lip as she began searching. Fluttershy was all too happy to fly back inside, away from both the harsh sunlight and Rainbow Dash. The yellow pegasus quickly spotted Pinkie from her high vantage point - she was lying on her bed. ... Or rather, she had sunken into her bed. The party mare lay sprawled flat, hidden by the bedding around her. Her colors were dull and muted, and her mane as flat as a sheet of fabric. Fluttershy was by her side instantly, shooting down and landing on the bed. "Pinkie?" Rarity called. She sounded mortified. Pinkie raised her head. "Oh no..." Rainbow gasped, holding a hoof over her mouth. What are you still doing here?" Applejack cried. "Why aren't you comin' to breakfast?" Pinkie blinked. "Come to breakfast?" She repeated, genuinely confused. "Why would you want me to come to breakfast?" "Because we invited you, sugarcube?" Applejack leaned forward. Pinkie sagged, lowering her head back down to the sheets. "But..." She whimpered. Twilight thought she had heard the pink pony stifle a sob. "But I'm not a good friend. And I'm bad company today... and gloomy... Why would you want me to come?" Fluttershy shuffled closer and draped a wing over her pink friend, a guilty frown on her face. "Of course we want you to come." Fluttershy spoke in her softest, kindest, most earnest voice. Pinkie finally made eye contact. "Even if I'm not going to be laughing, or smiling?" "Yes." Fluttershy nodded. "Pinkie..." Twilight stepped in. "We're not going to turn our backs on you just because you're sad, or you made a mistake. We're your friends. Remember what I said about sticking together?" Pinkie looked around at all of her friends' faces. They nodded. She slowly pulled herself off the bed and stood there, trembling. Her subdued posture and flat mane made her look tiny. "Would you like to come to breakfast with us, Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy asked, extending a hoof. The pink mare stood there for a few seconds. Then, without warning, she ran forward and threw her forelegs around Fluttershy, burying her face in the pegasus's chest. Prompted by a quiet sob, Fluttershy returned the hug. "Oh my..." She murmured, stroking Pinkie's mane gently. The sound of the perpetually bubbly mare sobbing so openly and severely made her friends want to cry too. When Pinkie pulled away, there were tears streaming down her face. "Please." Pinkie cried, staring at the floor. "Please give me another chance, Fluttershy. You're such an amazing friend, and I don't wanna lose you..." "Another chance at what?" Fluttershy squeaked, hovering somewhere between confused and mortified. "At being your friend! I know I broke your trust last night, but-" Fluttershy cut her off with a sharp glare. "Pinkie Pie! How could you even think that? Of course we're still friends!" "... we are?" "Yes." Fluttershy replied, nodding her head. "I'd never do that to you." She wrapped a wing around Pinkie, and pulled her into a hug. The Earth pony leaned in, closed her eyes, and released a ragged sigh of relief. "You're the best, Fluttershy..." Rarity noticed a few strands of her pink mane beginning to curl. -------------------------------- "Ah good, there's a free table." Rarity gushed, galloping over to stake her claim. Her friends followed, taking a seat around the big round table. "And outside, too! Who would want to sit inside on such a beautiful day?" The dressmaker mused to nopony in particular. "It certainly looks nice." Twilight commented, glancing around. "Yes, I came here almost every day during my last visit to Canterlot." Rarity explained. "It really is quite a charming little place. Such wonderful decor..." She trailed off, craning her neck every which way as she admired the stylized facade. "We've gotta get some menus." Applejack looked around, rubbing her grumbling stomach. "The breakfast menu is here." Rarity picked up a little menu card sitting in the middle of the table and levitated it to AJ. They both leaned into each other as they read. "Oh!" Applejack perused the menu with Rarity, commenting on some of the choices. "Yes, it's quite delicious." "Wow, they have that here?" "Indeed. It's simply divine!" "Look at the price of this one though! Land sakes!" Rarity giggled, waving a hoof. After passing the menu around, she turned to Pinkie with a bubbly smile on her face. "I think that Pinkie Pie should have the largest stack of pancakes they have." She suggested, grinning playfully. Pinkie glanced up at her, biting her lip. "Well, I do like pancakes..." "With blueberry jam, perhaps? And lashings of whipped cream? Ooh, and maple syrup! Perhaps we could share them, darling?" Rarity prodded Pinkie gently, maintaining her encouraging smile. "Um, actually..." Fluttershy spoke up. "I think I'll have the pancakes too." She paused, then grinned at Rarity sheepishly. "You just made them sound really good..." She said, before turning to Pinkie. "Would you like to share them with me?" A tiny smile graced Pinkie's lips. "I'd love to share some pancakes..." Rarity let out a sudden "Ooh!" as she remembered something. "Beverages!" She chirped. "The latte here is simply to die for! Would any of you like to have one? I know I certainly will." "Nah, I'll have an apple juice." Applejack shook her head. Rarity frowned. "Apple juice? Again? It's always apples with you!" She ranted, whacking Applejack's shoulder with a hoof. "Have something else!" "Nah." The Earth pony replied cheekily. "I feel like something refreshing. Besides, I always try the apple juice when we go out." "Exactly my point! I'm surprised you don't look like an apple by now!" Rarity grumbled, crossing her forelegs. "Why, I'd say that you never try anything else!" Applejack grinned slyly, leaning in close. "Well I have been eatin' a lot of cherry recently..." She whispered. "That doesn't count?" Rarity turned bright red. "Well... Um, yes alright. I suppose apple juice will be fine." She cast her gaze downward, mumbling. "...I just think you'd like the latte." AJ considered for a moment. "It's that good, huh? Okay then, latte it is!" She declared, nodding. "I guess it can't be too bad if my-if you like it. I mean, it can't hurt to try it." "I think I'd like a latte." Fluttershy said slowly, looking back and forth between the two. "I think I'm going to have a hot chocolate." Pinkie mused to herself, licking her lips. "I think I'll have a hot chocolate as well." Twilight said, placing her hooves on the table neatly. "Rainbow?" The pegasus sighed. "Yeah... A hot chocolate would be really good." She turned a salt shaker idly, preoccupied with her thoughts. "Oh!" Applejack exclaimed, turning to Rarity. "If Pinkie and Flutters are sharing pancakes, we can go halves in the blueberry pie!" Rarity nodded. "Alright, but only if you leave some pie for me." She said, flashing a cheeky grin at the farm pony. "Hmm..." Twilight muttered. " I feel like blueberries, but I don't want pie or pancakes..." "I could go for something with blueberries." Rainbow agreed. Rarity glanced down at her menu, then grinned at the pair. "The two of you should share a kiss." She suggested. Twilight's ears pricked up. "Huh?" Rainbow had to suppress the urge to shoot out of her seat. "The blueberry kiss." Rarity declared, levitating the menu over. "It's a pastry, similar to a croissant, but big enough for two. They fill it with blueberries and drizzle warm ice cream over the top." She bat her eyelids seductively as she watched their reactions. "Ooh..." Twilight reeled in her seat. "That sounds amazing." She turned to look at Rainbow with a playful smile on her face. "What do you think? Wanna share a kiss?" "Uh, yeah. It sounds good to me!" Dash replied loudly, chuckling. After finally forcing the lump in her throat back down, the pegasus resumed her idle turning of the salt shaker. Across the table, Rarity noticed Rainbow's downtrodden expression. She studied the pegasus carefully, glancing at Twilight. Applejack tapped her shoulder, then leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Rarity smiled at her and nodded. AJ cleared her throat. "Girls, if I could-" She was cut short as one of the waitresses approached the table, levitating a pencil and pad along with her. "Okay, are you girls ready to order anything?" The waitress paused, grinning as she noticed Rainbow Dash. "Oh wow, hello again." She purred, leaning over her. "Rainbow Dash, was it? We meet again." Rainbow's four friends shared confused glances as she sunk into her seat, groaning. "And these must be your friends!" The waitress observed. She then leaned in, whispering to Dash almost secretively. "The offer is still open, you know..." The waitress hadn't noticed Twilight sitting right there in front of her. She also hadn't noticed that Twilight was scowling at her. Wings and horn flaring, Twilight yanked the waitress's head down to her eye level, fixing her with a dangerous glare. "I told you to leave her alone." If the waitress's eyes had bugged out any harder, they'd have shot out of their sockets. "Oh clop, your marefriend is a princess?!" She squeaked, looking back and forth between Twilight and Rainbow. She pointed a shaking hoof at Twilight, spluttering. "B-but you were just a normal unicorn last night! You didn't even have wings!" She cried, struggling frantically. Twilight blinked, disengaging her magic. The waitress scrambled backward, bolting into the restaurant as though her life depended on it. Princess? "... What the hay just happened?" Applejack wondered aloud, head cocked to one side. "Marefriend?" Fluttershy repeated slowly. "Sorry about that, girls." Twilight sighed. "I guess I should explain. Rainbow and I went to a bar last night, and these two mares were giving us a hard time. Apparently, they don't know how to take no for an answer!" She snapped, thumping a hoof on the table. Rarity and Applejack exchanged glances, grinning. "Did she say marefriend? You two?" They asked, brimming with excitement. "No! No, of course not." Twilight exclaimed, waving a hoof. She didn't notice Rainbow slump, but Rarity did. "We were just pretending to get them off our backs. It was Rainbow's idea." "Here she comes again." Applejack warned. The waitress returned reluctantly, offering a half-smile. "Okay, my boss says I have to serve you, so uh... would you like to start off with some drinks? ... On the house?" She suggested, almost pleading. Rarity looked around the table. "Yes, I believe we're ready to order beverages." -------------------------------- Half an hour later, the breakfast had nearly drawn to a close. Five plates were empty, and five stomachs full. Only Fluttershy was left, a few pancakes remaining in her stack. Applejack downed the last of her latte as she listened to Rarity recount a story about a recent customer at the boutique. When the dressmaker had finished, Twilight stood up, letting out a satisfied sigh as she stretched her legs. "It's my shout, okay girls?" "I'll come with you." Rarity hopped out of her seat and followed Twilight. Once they were both inside the cafe, out of view, Rarity pulled her aside. "Twilight, I... I wish to make a request of you." Rarity muttered, shuffling her hooves. "A request? What kind of request?" Twilight asked. A few moments passed as Rarity hesitated, rubbing her foreleg idly. "Well..." She frowned, shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. "You and I both know that Applejack is a capable fighter. She's the strongest Earthie mare I know, and I feel safe around her most times. We can both handle ourselves in a fight, but... Oh my, there really is no polite way to put this." The dressmaker looked up at Twilight, biting her lip. "She's just an Earth pony." "You mean she can't use magic?" Twilight's tone held no apprehension. Rarity sighed, somewhat relieved. "Indeed. Chrysalis is a powerful foe, and despite whatever strength we may have... I fear that a time may come where I must defend her, or indeed any of our friends, and we'll simply be overpowered. I'm not as strong as you, Twilight. Magic has always been your forte, but I'm sick of being nothing more than a bystander. I want to be able to protect our friends when the time comes." She swallowed. "Could you teach me some combat magic?" "Teach you?!" Twilight's face lit up. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh, yes! I'd be happy to! Of course I can teach you, Rarity!" She cried, hopping up and down. Rarity smiled as she watched Twilight go up and down and up and down. She chuckled. That had gone much smoother than she had expected. "Shall we begin this afternoon?" The dressmaker suggested. "Yes! Yesyesyes." Twilight paused, taking a few seconds to plan. "Hmm, I had nothing planned for the rest of the day, so it should be fine. I'm almost certain that the Canterlot library keeps the same catalog as ours, so I should be able to find copies of the books I have on the subject here." "Excellent, now wait here while I go pay." "Okay!" Twilight nodded, still planning. She took a moment to glance around inside the cafe. The decor was warm and inviting, and the lighting was slightly subdued. It made the place feel somewhat cozy. The scent of coffee was rife in the air. Despite its size, the cafe was bustling with activity. There were ponies everywhere, and Twilight suddenly realized that she didn't know a single one of them. If somepony wanted to spy on her, or hay, even ambush her, she was completely vulnerable. She didn't exactly blend into the crowd, considering her current appearance. Hang on, why did I come in here again...? Twilight gasped. "Rarity!" She galloped over to the counter just as her giggling companion turned around. "Too late, my dear. It's already done." Twilight grumbled. "Okay, thanks." "Well, I did invite all of you." The dressmaker reasoned. "I guess..." Twilight admitted. "Hey, it's a shame about your announcement." Rarity shrugged. "Another time, perhaps." She mused. They returned to the table, sitting down and waiting while Fluttershy finished her pancakes. "I'm sorry for taking so long." Fluttershy mumbled through a huge mouthful. "Think nothing of it, dear. Sitting here under the morning sun is rather relaxing, take as long as you need." Rarity said, her friends nodding their agreement. Then, Applejack belched. The sudden expulsion startled even her, escaping before she could even realize, let alone stifle it. Twilight's eyes widened. Rarity gasped. Fluttershy squeaked as she accidentally buried her face in her breakfast. Even a few other patrons turned their heads. "Oop, mighty sorry about that, ladies." The culprit offered apologetically. "Always a sign of a good, hearty meal though, huh?" She attempted, elbowing Rarity, who only stiffened. Rarity was not impressed. Applejack grumbled as she looked around at her friends, settling on Twilight's accusatory glare. The newly-winged pony had the slightest hints of a playful grin on her face. "Hey, I didn't mean to let it out like that." The farm pony protested, her eyes elsewhere. "I didn't—Hey, lookie there, it's your brother!" She blurted mid-sentence, pointing somewhere behind Twilight. Said mare just crossed her lavender hooves over her chest. "Ohh no, you're not getting out of this that easily." She assured, fixing her gaze on her gassy friend, who was still looking over Twilight's shoulder in an attempt to sway attention from herself. "Look at what you've done to Fluttershy!" Twilight waved her hoof at the pegasus, whose nose was now covered in a sticky layer of maple syrup "Certainly not." Rarity agreed, looking back and forth between the two. "That was simply..." She paused. "Simply horrendous, Applej... oh my." She trailed off, her gaze now fixed on that same place over Twilight's shoulder. With a curiously raised brow, Twilight turned to look. Several meters down the street, an irate stallion was yelling obscenities at Shining Armor and another Guard, who were apprehending a mare that looked to be his wife. A small crowd had formed, corralled by curiosity but still keeping to a safe distance. Shining Armor yelled something, and the stallion relented, still glaring. The mare was ushered over to the middle of the circle, and the Guard-Captain lit his horn, scanning over her body. Twilight recognized it as her disguise-revealing spell. Shining Armor nodded sharply, and the mare was released. They continued on, marching down the street in the direction of the cafe. Twilight waved to her big brother as he passed, managing to catch his eye. Her wings burst open as she ran over to greet him. "Twily!" Shining Armor gave her a quick squeeze. "I'm glad you're okay. How did your meeting with the Princess go?" "Not at all how I thought it would." Twilight admitted, frowning. "Princess Celestia is worried. She told me that the Changeling Queen is looking for me." "Yeah, I heard about that. Be careful, okay?" "I will. We have the Elements of Harmony, so we should be safe." Shining Armor nodded slowly, looking her body up and down. "Twilight?" "Yes?" "Why do you have wings?" Twilight's stomach flipped. "Ohmygosh, it's me B.B.B.F.F! I can explain, I'm so stupid, I keep forge-" "Twilight, it's okay." The Guard-Captain smiled reassuringly, then reached down and caressed her cheek with a hoof. "Just explain what happened, I'll listen." Twilight relaxed, then took a breath. "It's a shapeshifting spell the Princess gave me. The wings are just a small part of it. Princess Celestia told me to run if the Queen found me, transform and blend into the crowd." Shining Armor's eyes bugged out. "Wow..." He said. "I know about that spell, and I have to say I'm a little surprised that she'd give it to somepony outside the Royal circle. You know, tradition and all." "So was I." Twilight frowned, then looked up at him. "Wait, you're not doubting my identity?" Shining Armor just smiled. "I know my little sister." He stated. Twilight leaned in and nuzzled him. "Hey, stop that. I am on duty, you know." He whined, grinning. Twilight poked out her tongue. "Anyway, it's a good thing I found you. Princess Luna has requested your presence this time. I'll have my Guard escort you up to the castle when you're ready." "What happened to your regular Guards?" Twilight asked. "Spearshot, Bolt Cracker, and..." "Shinespark. The Changeling Queen attempted to break into the castle. They were all injured when they apprehended her." "Did she get away again?" Twilight asked grimly. "I'm afraid so. She's still on the loose, so keep your guard up." "I will. Let me just tell my friends before I go." Twilight ran over to the table, then returned with Rainbow Dash by her side. "I'll see you later, Twilight." Shining Armor nodded to his pegasus Guard, who saluted. "Sir!" Shining Armor saluted back, then galloped off.