//------------------------------//
// The end, right? 
// Story: Broken Feathers 
// by That Avi Nerd 
//------------------------------//

	"This is everything we found in the cave," Phantom said, indicating at the assembly of artifacts laying atop the conference table. He, Rainbow Dash, Archer, Stryker, Twilight, Princess Celestia and Luna, and Shining Armor were in the Ponyville town hall's meeting room, going over all of the evidence that had been recovered. Celestia and Shining Armor were carefully studying the maps and letters, gathering as much information they could. Phantom continued. "Are we all in agreement that the Changeling Hive is in Glacies?" Everypony nodded. "So what do we know about Glacies, Princess Celestia?" 

"It is a nation identical to Equestria in size, power, and influence. They have major cities like we do, smaller towns and villages, farms and prairies. The only difference is that it is all snow there. The ponies there are very... bleak... in color, much like the Crystal Ponies before balance was restored to the Empire. 

“Glacies is ruled by King Alpha Centauri and Queen Omega Centauri. They have a son, Prince Castor, and a daughter, Princess Andromeda. They are all powerful unicorns, with near alicorn strength. We've worked with the Glacien government before, though King Alpha Centauri was not pleased to do so. I do not know why, but he is not fond of Equestrians. I will probably be able to obtain you access to Glacies, but it will be under the King's circumstances. Should you defy him, it could make things more difficult."

"Understood.” Phantom nodded. “When do we head out?"

"Today. You'll take the train to Canterlot, then board the E.A.S. Aurora, which will take you to Glacies."

"Uh, Princess?" Rainbow Dash asked shyly. "What's the 'E.A.S. Aurora'?"

"It's the Equestrian AirShip Aurora. As it's name states, it is an airship that we use to get to regions not accessible easily by rail or road. Glacies has no rail lines that connect with ours and the roads would take weeks to travel on. The ship will fly you to Glacies, where it will remain and act as a command center until the end of your mission. It will be equipped with anything Task Force 247 may need." The princess looked across the room. "Any questions?" Nopony replied. They each sat silently, consumed by their own thoughts of an unknown future. "Very well then. The train for Canterlot will leave in two hours. You are dismissed." 

Everypony bowed, and waited for the three princesses to leave. Shining Armor followed, then Stryker left, trailed by Archer. As Phantom stepped through the doorway, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Rainbow Dash hadn't moved. She stood in place, staring back and forth between the maps of Equestria and Glacies. He sighed, and continued to leave. 

Phantom awaited for Rainbow Dash outside of the front door to the Ponyville town hall. She emerged a few minutes later, not at all expecting him to be waiting by the wall. 

"Rainbow," he called, startling the mare slightly. She stopped in her hooves and turned to face him. "We need to talk."

"Okay... what about?" she tentatively answered.

Phantom moved down the steps of the town hall, and started to follow a dirt road leading to the train station. Rainbow Dash glided to his side, and having not flown in days, decided to follow at a hover as he continued to wander along. "Are you sure you're up to this?"

"What do ya mean?" 

"This. Abandoning your life-long dream of joining the Wonderbolts, and instead joining the Guard, and leaving your home for a deployment that will likely span over several weeks, if not months. And all of these decisions happening over the course of a day. I need to be absolutely, absolutely sure that you are up for this. This'll be a different experience for you, I need to be sure you'll be able to handle it."

"I will. Don't worry about me. I mean, did you see me blast that unicorn into next week? Even you said it was awesome!" 

He sighed. "Yes, I'll admit, the speed and efficiency at which you kicked his flank was quite impressive. I haven't see a pegasus move like that for some time." 

"Heh, yeah? I'm Rainbow Dash!" The mare threw her forelegs up and proceeded to pull off a quick backflip, stopping to fly upside nonchalantly beside Phantom. "The greatest flyer in all of Equestria!" 

Phantom bowed his head slightly, with an inkling of a smile. "I already know somepony by that title." 

"Oh really? Who are they? I'll show 'em up, easily. I'll challenge them to a race through Ghastly Gorge! No pony can beat me there."

"Hmmhm. Because it went so well the last time you were there."

"Wait, you know about that?" Rainbow turned back upright, and landed in front of Phantom, forcing him to stop his march. "Just how much do you know about me?"

Phantom took a step back with a guilty smile. Rainbow was unamused, taking a step towards him.

"Rainbow Dash!" a pair of young, female voices called. Rainbow's ears instantly perked up, recognizing them as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. She looked around to see the two fillies running from Sugarcube Corner after her. "Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!" 

"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, what's up?" 

"Have you seen Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle asked with puppy-dog eyes.

"We were tryin' to get our cutie marks in dentistry," Apple Bloom continued. "Scoots said she had some stuff we could use and went to go get 'em but hasn't come back yet!" 

"So," Sweetie Belle went on, "we were wondering if you could help us look for her."

"Well yeah?" Rainbow Dash laughed. "I'm Rainbow Dash, remember? If anypony can find my little sister it's me! Let's go, crusaders!" Rainbow lowered one side of her body, extending her wing on that side to the ground as a sort-of ramp. Cheerfully, the two fillies hopped aboard Rainbow's back. The pegasus slowly, and carefully, glided upwards and towards the other side of town. Rolling his eyes, Phantom flew up next to her. 

"Sister?" he ventured in a low enough tone so that the fillies couldn't hear him over the slightly blowing wind. 

"Eh, sort-of. She doesn't have any parents, as far as anypony knows, and she lives in the orphanage. We went on this camping trip awhile back and we bonded so, I decided to take her under my wing, since she looks up to me so much. She needs all the help she can."

"Why's that?"

"She... she has troubles flying..." Rainbow could see the coming question in Phantom's expression. "As in she can't. She can flap her wings, but at best all that happens is she might get a few inches off of the ground. She gets around with a scooter. So, I try to be as supportive as I can." 

"That's incredibly noble of you, Rainbow Dash. It's not easy growing up as an orphan, let alone one with a flight disability."

"What do you know about that?" Phantom thought her voice sounded bitter. 

He let out the air in his lungs, letting the memories of his past come back to him. "I too, was an orphan." Phantom paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, and to let the news sink into Rainbow Dash. "My sister, Nyx” he pronounced her name as nicks, “and I grew up in the streets of Cloudsdale, with barely anything to get by. All we had was an alley by the Cloud Nine we called home, and each other. She also couldn't fly for the longest time." 

Rainbow looked ahead to see that they had arrived at the orphanage. She landed softly by the front door to let the fillies off of her back. Phantom landed beside her, and opened the door. "That... that sounds like an interesting story..." 

The pair headed up a flight of dark wooded stairs, only to stop at the first door on their right. On it were several colorful depictions of Rainbow Dash performing one of her many, usually totally awesome stunts. Flying next to her in all of them was an orange-coated pegasus filly with a purple mane and tail. "For another time, my dear." Phantom rapped thrice on the door. 

It slowly opened without any other influences. Rainbow gasped and rushed in, knocking the door off of its hinges. Phantom stepped in after her, though more calmly. 

The room itself was an absolute wreck. Papers were scattered about, the bed sheets were a mess, and the curtains were knocked off of the windows. Holes lined several places along the walls. An overturned table and chair were piled next to the misaligned bed, which had one of its wooden legs broken. However, it was the center of the room that caught the most of Phantom's and Rainbow's attention. There lay a circular burn mark that seemed to twist around in a small vortex. In the center of it was a single orange feather, and a letter.



	Do not follow me.
-Sky



Rainbow looked out the shattered window, to the calm skies, a fresh look in her eyes. One of anguish, rage, and vexation. "Let's go get this prick..."