//------------------------------// // Return to Canterlot // Story: Shining Dash // by Ianpiersonjdavis //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash’s eyes slowly opened as the rays of Celestia’s morning sun shone through the windows of the passenger seats. Sitting up from leaning against Shining Armor last night, she rubbed the grit out of her eyes with her hooves before letting out a large yawn. “No…it can’t be morning already…” he groaned to himself. “I don’t know about you,” Dash began standing in the aisle as she stretched her wings and legs. “But, I slept like a filly.” She continued, completely oblivious to his lack of sleep and grumpy disposition. “Glad to see that you got a good night’s sleep.” He grumbled. At most is seemed like he had only gotten an hour…maybe an hour and half’s worth of sleep. Looking out the window, he recognized the area they were passing through-it wouldn’t be too much longer before they reached the station in Canterlot. Reluctantly, he decided to slide over to the window and rest his eyes for a few moments…. --- “HEY, WAKE UP!” A raspy voice shouted urgently as he felt someone shaking him. “Hunh…wha?” he muttered as he opened his eyes a crack to see Rainbow Dash standing over him. “We’re in Canterlot, but we have to move before the train pulls out of the station!” she exclaimed. He quickly jumped up and flung his saddlebag back on as he followed Rainbow Dash out onto the platform. “Why did you let fall back asleep?” he asked as the train departed. “You looked like you needed it.” Dash replied. “Besides, I woke you up-didn’t I?” “Yeah,” he sighed. “Thanks…here, I’ll show you the way to the castle.” “Already know it.” Dash replied, confidently before pausing at Shining Armor’s incredulous look. “We all went to the Gala a few months back.” She explained. “Didn’t you talk to Twilight while we were there?” “I was busy detaining a group of…violently inebriated individuals…” he replied, shamefully. “Wait, there was a bar fight at the Gala!?” Dash laughed. “I wish I could’ve seen that, instead of hanging out with the Wonderbolts!” “I thought you liked the Wonderbolts?” Shining asked confused. “I do, but at the Gala they were pretty lame…all they said was ‘oh hey, we know you saved our lives and created the first ever documented Sonic Rainboom, but we have much more important ponies to talk to’.” She elaborated. “That was you?” Shining asked impressed. “I see…I wouldn't be too happy if I met my heroes and they blew me off all evening, either-especially after all that.” “Do you have any heroes?” Dash asked curiously. “Just one; my uncle on my Dad’s side-he actually inspired me to join the royal guard and without him inspiring me-I don’t think I ever would have made it to the rank of Captain.” “So what did he do to inspire you?” “Well, he was a member of the guard since before I was born and he retired when I was a colt…I think it was a month or two before Twily was born that he officially retired.” Shining continued. “I remembered being really excited to be a big brother, but another part of me was afraid that I’d screw it up somehow, but he was there to tell me that he knew what I was going through because it was the exact same way he felt when my grandparents told him that my grandmother was pregnant with Dad-and we became pretty close after that…he always knew just what to say.” “Do you still talk to him?” Dash pressed, noting the usage of past tense. “Not too often anymore.” Shining admitted. “Being promoted to Captain comes with a lot more responsibility and the only authority higher than you is Celestia, so every minor issue you can think that people call the guards for is something I’ve had to deal with at least once…but, he understands-he actually warned me about all of that the day I was promoted.” “So he was Captain, too?” “Yeah, then after he retired there was another guy before me…I can’t remember his name, but he was a real hard-ass, constantly angry, and anytime anyone wanted to speak to him, he only seemed to get angrier…now that I’m Captain, I can’t really blame him after seeing all of the things he must have dealt with, not to mention the incredibly stupid things people will call emergencies.” “Like what?” Dash pressed. “I’ll have to tell you some other time.” Shining replied as they stood before the two large doors leading into the castle with two white stallion guards carrying spears. He recognized them as the two he had delegated the task of flying Twilight to Ponyville in order to ensure her safe arrival. “Captain!” the one of the right exclaimed in disbelief. “It’s unwise to travel such a long way in your condition!” the one on the left added in an alarmed tone. “Relax,” he replied, putting a hoof up. “It’s been taken care of, I’m fine now…there’s something urgent I need to speak with Princess Celestia about.” The two guards exchanged glances. “I’m afraid that will have to wait, sir.” One of them spoke. “What do you mean?” “A Unicorn mare going by the name Sunset Shimmer accompanied by Flash Sentry came earlier and were greeted by Princess Celestia in person.” The guard informed him. “Sunset Shimmer…” Shining murmured. “Is everything okay?” Dash asked, concerned. “Why does that name sound so familiar?” he wondered aloud before returning his attention to the guards. “Let us through.” He ordered. “Sir?” “What I have to tell the princess can’t wait, and if this Sunset Shimmer is who I think she is-then we can’t afford to take any chances with her.” The guards saluted before Rainbow Dash and Shining Armor made their way through the front doors. Upon entering the castle, they were once again greeted with the chessboard-style flooring with a long, red carpet leading from the front entrance all of the way to Celesta’s throne room at the opposite end of the castle through a set of doors. Seemingly every other window adorning the hall was stained glass portraying the caricatures of Luna and Celestia overthrowing one threat or another to Equestria. The ones that filled Shining with the most pride however, were the newer additions, displaying Twilight and her friends exorcising the corruption from Nightmare Moon and returning Discord to his stone imprisonment. On the far end of the room, the doors were shut with Flash Sentry standing next to them, visibly unnerved, but perked up when seeing Shining Armor enter the room. “Captain!” he exclaimed as the two approached him. “What-how did you?” “It’s a long story,” Shining Armor cut him off abruptly. “Well, I’m glad you you’re hear…things haven’t been easy since you were dropped off at Ponyville.” Flash sighed. “And who is this?” “This is-” Shining began before Rainbow Dash cut him off. “I’m Rainbow Dash!” she announced proudly. “Yeah…I ran into her back in Ponyville.” Shining continued. “She’s good friends with my sister-but, what’s the deal with this Sunset Shimmer?” “I ran into her while dealing with a Changeling…she kind of saved me from it.” Flash replied. “She said that she used to be a student for Princess Celestia before your sister and that she escaped from a Changeling hive before coming back to Canterlot.” “And they just let her walk right out?” Shining asked, skeptically. “Actually, she said that she burned it down…along with them inside it.” Flash replied hesitantly. “So your first thought was to bring her straight to the castle, to the Princess?” Shining pressed, exasperated. “Because…why?” “She wanted to speak with Celestia.” Flash continued, defensively. “Flash,” Shining sighed. “I know that you’re new to the position of command, but have you ever once sine I was away, thought about the consequences of your actions before acting on them?” “But, they were Changelings!” Flash protested. “We’re fighting them and she’s actually managed to take down an entire group of them on her own! Besides, she’s a former student of Celestia!” “Yes, ‘former’.” Shining agreed. “Have you ever though about why she might have used the past tense to describe that occupation?” “And if she has even half as much power as Twilight, then she’s a danger to everyone in the city.” Dash cut in. “She’s not!” Flash growled adamantly. “Do you know that for a fact or is that just what you want to believe?” Shining pressed as they glared at each other before Flash averted his gaze. “That’s what I thought, now where is Cadance?” “Upstairs,” Flash grumbled in reply, staring down at the floor. “In her room, the doctors said that she would be fine as long as she stayed in her room and got plenty of rest.” Shining Armor galloped up the stairs, leaving Rainbow Dash with Flash.