The Princesses, guards, scholar, and secret marefriend all rode in silence on the way to the mountainside, holding the city of Canterlot. Rainbow couldn't hardly wait to look at Celestia's castle. Being only able to see it from the bottom of the mountain, miles away, wasn't good enough.
"You know," Rainbow said, catching the girl's attention. "I still can't believe all of this is happening. I was living in the clouds before, but now I'm living in a castle. A CASTLE, Twilight! You don't know what it's like to live there."
"Uhhh huuhhh. Well, at least we know there's so much more to you than meets the eye. You're Celestia's lost daughter! That's history!! But you have to stay lost or else more ponies die. It's history that has to stay lost."
"It's a very bad story if you ask me," Fluttershy said timidly.
"You know," the princess started, pointing an accusing hoof at the mare. "Out of all of us here, you're the only one not dressed down. What's with that?"
Fluttershy looked down at herself to see she was indeed not wearing anything.
"Oh no," she muttered. "What am I going to do, I need a dress! Stop the chariot I need a dress!"
"Calm down, Flutters," Rainbow cooed, wrapping a wing around the distraught Pegasus. "I'm sure mom has one somewhere in the castle."
"You're getting used to the fact that she's your mother pretty quickly," Twilight commented as they neared the streets of downtown.
"Yeah. I mean, at first I was like 'no way, this pony is nuts'. But now? I actually see it. Now when I saw my father really did it in. He had the same hair, nearly the same coat. And then I nearly have mom's eyes. Her eyes are a little brighter, but still."
The two girls looked forward to see them landing in the street of downtown Canterlot. "No more mom stuff," Rainbow ordered. "These people can't know my true origin."
The girls nodded as they touched down into the street, behind more carriages in some type of jam.
"We'll be going on foot from here," Sweetie Drops said as she touched down from the carriage. "This jam is not moving." Twilight nodded as the door was opened letting them all get out, Rainbow Dash being the last. Once they were all out of the carriage, they immediately began getting stares and pointed hooves.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Rainbow asked, feeling her face. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and poked her, catching her attention.
"It's because you're wearing a crown, Rainbow. And your chariot has your sign." Rainbow grinned and nodded, enjoying this treatment before they walked towards Princess Luna's carriage, the Princess already stepping out.
"So Fluttershy needs a dress," she said. "Does Celestia have any extras? You know....in case I was....you know?" Luna looked at her strangely, trying to figure out what she meant until it clicked.
"OH! Of course she does, you're wearing one of them." She turned around as they began their trek towards the castle in the distance. They were guarded by a few Royal Guards, the pedestrians backing away and making room for the royals.
"Why didn't we just fly," Rainbow asked. "The only one who can't is Twilight and Sweetie Drops."
"She is the reason we are not flying," Luna answered as they were guided around a corner. "Sweetie Drops performs far better on the ground because she is an Earth Pony. If she were a Pegasus, then yes, we would fly, Princess Dash."
They continued their walk towards the castles, the guests in the back trying to keep up. Soon, they made it to Celestia's large castle, the gates blocked by the Royal Guard. Once seeing the royals and guests, they turned and pushed open the gates, letting the group through before shutting them again. Soon, the guards opened the doors into the giant castle, showing the grand hall and different rooms on the sides. There was a few media in there, doing some report and taking pictures of the building, holding magical voice recorders and notepads to the staff.
"Stay calm and let me handle this," Luna whispered as the reporters turned their heads to the bright light in the hall.
"Princess Luna!" All the journalists stopped what they were doing and went towards the two Royals while the guards tried to hold them back a little. "We've been hearing rumors about a new Princess of Equestria!"
The royals continued walking towards the stairs in front of them while the journalists continued taking pictures of them. "Yes, there is a new Princess of Equestria. Princess Dash." The reporters all turned their cameras and eyes towards Rainbow and soon started taking photos and asking questions.
"Where did you come from?"
"No comment."
"Are you a past member of the Royal Family?"
"No comment."
"What is your relationship with Canterlot and Equestria in general?"
"No comment!" The guards pushed the journalists to the side as the royals and guests made their way down the hall.
"I thought you were going to handle that!" Dash yelled, making her aunt chuckle.
"I did. I said you were a new Princess. You give the press what they slightly want and you're golden."
They passed a few more adjacent hallways before reaching a staircase. The group trotted up the ascending walkway before the guards there opened it, revealing the throne room where Celestia was seen standing in front of the throne talking to two more ponies. A bright pink Alicorn and a white coated blue maned unicorn.
"Shiny!" They all looked towards the door to see a certain purple mare trotting over to the group.
"Twilight?" Shining asked worriedly. "Uhhh....what are you doing here?" Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow towards her sister and daughter to see them eating popcorn and smiling wildly at the scene that was definitely about to happen.
"Princess Dash is having some type of breakfast this morning with Princess Celestia and Luna. Hi! Do you know my brother?" She asked the pink Alicorn standing next to him.
The Alicorn and Shining Armor glanced at each other before she turned back to Twilight. "I'm his fiancee."
Rainbow and Luna grinned hard. "WHAT?! Shining Armor! When were you going to tell me you had a marefriend, let alone were getting married?!" Rainbow started laughing, nearly choking on her popcorn while Luna just snorted and laughed along with her. The two other Alicorns tried to stifle their giggles at the siblings conversation.
"Uhhhh....uhhhh.....," Shining Armor muttered as he looked around trying to find a way out. His fiancee found it for him.
"Twilight, it's me. Your old foalsitter? Cadance?" Twilight looked at her for a moment before she gasped loudly. The two got into their position before they did their little song and dance.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Rainbow Dash and Luna stopped crunching on their popcorn and slowly turned to each other in confusion.
"What was that?" Rainbow asked as she set down her popcorn and walked towards Celestia. "Hello, Princess Celestia."
"Hello, Princess Dash." The two bowed at each other before standing up straight again. "I see you like my 'welcome' present."
"Yes! It's so awesome!" She said before jumping up and flying in a circle. She stopped and hovered in place. "Seriously! How many ponies can say they get to wear this-" She pointed to her crown. "-everyday? Rarity doesn't count, Twilight." Twilight closed her mouth and put down her hoof. "Oh! Fluttershy needs a dress. We couldn't stop by her cottage. Luna said you have more?"
Celestia looked towards Fluttershy only to see her not there. "Where is she?" Rainbow looked around as she landed back down from her hovering. She saw a light pink tail coming out from behind a red curtain, making her groan and walk towards the decorative item. She poked her head in from the other side and used her royal canterlot voice. "HEY!"
Fluettershy yelped and jumped out of the curtain. "Rainbow Dash," she scolded. "How many times are you going to do that?"
The Alicorn shrugged before wrapping a wing around her marefriend's shoulder, ushering her towards Celestia. "Until it gets old. Here she is. She was hiding behind a curtain."
"So we heard," Twilight said blandly. "Cadance, Shining Armor, meet Princess Dash. She was not a Princess when she moved to Ponyville, but she became one yesterday, so....she's having fun with it."
"It's great to meet you Princess Dash," Cadance said, bowing with Shining Armor.
"It's great to meet you too, Princess Cadance," Rainbow said, bowing with her. "Where do you rule?"
"The Crystal Empire," she replied, all three royals rising. "It's north of Canterlot. I take it Aunt Celestia and Luna have never told you of my origin." Rainbow shook her head before her eyes widened.
"WAIT! You're my-"
"She is my adopted niece," Celestia said as she stepped forward diffusing the conversation before the secret came out. "I adopted her when she was very young from an orphanage many moons ago. Sorry I forgot to mention that." Rainbow waved it off.
"Oh pshhaww, it's alright. Is the Crystal Empire...crystal?"
Cadance giggled. "Yes, everything over there is pure crystal...except the food."
"Rainbow," Celestia said, guiding Rainbow over to the side. "We must speak on your guards and your armor during the breakfast."
"And where is it being held?" she asked, walking over to her mother.
"We were thinking the dining hall...but considering Twilight's...hyperactivity..." Dash looked towards where Celestia was motioning to see the purple mare running in a circle around Cadance, talking at the same time. "We'll have to do it outside. I have already informed the chefs of our new location. By the way,Cadance doesn't know and neither does Shining armor or any other royal or citizen in Canterlot or any other city or town. Your guards, Luna, your friends, and I are the only ones."
Rainbow nodded before she nuzzled her mother. "You stuck to your promise," she whispered.
"Of course. I wouldn't see my lost daughter for only one day and then leave. That is definitely not me. Nor you." The two stopped their nuzzling and started making their way towards the scene of Twilight still circling Cadance. "Twilight? Leave your foal-sitter alone and come have breakfast. We're leaving now, you can swing around outside."
The purple unicorn nodded before making her way to the door while Celestia teleported an extra dress from her personal closet upstairs in her room to her where she put it on Fluttershy.
"There. Do you like it?"
Fluttershy looked at the dress before smiling at the Princess.
"It's beautiful. Thank you, Princess."
The group made their way out the door to see A LOT of cameras at the bottom of the staircases. "Is the media always this excited when there is a royal event?" Rainbow whispered to Celestia.
The mother nodded as they descended the staircase. "It's very common. We usually let them do it because...if they don't do it now, they'll stick around and won't leave us alone." The two continued walking down the stairs as the cameras got closer, zooming in on Dash.
"Princess Dash! Where'd you come from?"
"I already said no comment!"
"Are you a real Princess or a representative!"
"Princess!"
"Can we get a picture-"
"You're already taking one! Leave me alone before I buck ya'!"
When they finally got out of the group of reporters, they turned a left going down a hall with two large doors at the end. "So what exactly are you thinking for the armor, Princess of Nature?" Celestia asked her. Rainbow looked at her for a moment.
"That's my title? And just my cutie mark. Nothing else. Keep it golden, too."
"Alright. The Jewel of Rainbow controlled every aspect of nature. Luna told me that the guards at your castle saw you use your water magic on your friends."
"I actually wanted to grab them all and throw them out. But....that worked out ok." The guards opened the doors, leading out into a garden with a table and food.
"Why?"
"It was time for them to leave!" The pony sisters laughed as they walked towards the table. Celestia took a seat on a pillow that had her cutie mark on it, same with Luna on the other end. Twilight, Cadance, and Shining Armor took a seat on one side, Princess Dash and Fluttershy on the other. "Pinkie said I had to make them. So I did!"
"By tossing around waterballs?" Twilight asked, chuckling. "Rarity nearly had a heart attack when a little bit of the water got on her dress."
"Really? Great, I'm doing it again then when we get back...when I figure out how in Equestria I did it." The group laughed before the food was brought out. It was mostly soup, daisy sandwiches with very expensive and tasty sauces, and tea. Not to mention waffles, pancakes, and syrup.
"So how old are you, Lady Dash?" Cadance asked her as she ate her soup. "You seem very young."
"I'm eighteen." Cadance stop slurping her soup and looked towards Celestia.
"Most Princesses begin their rule at age twenty one or twenty."
"Eh. I'm a special case." Rainbow took a bite out of her sandwich, eyes widening at the taste. "This is REALLY good. Not better than Flutters soup but still."
"Flutters?" Rainbow pointed to her right, showing Cadance to the shy Pegasus.
"Umm....hi," she said timidly. "I'm Fluttershy."
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you." Fluttershy said her name again, only for it to come out even more incoherent.
"Her name is Fluttershy," Twilight answered for her, setting down her sandwich. "She's...well...shy. VERY shy. The only one who could get her out of her shell is Princess Dash."
"We have a very long history," Rainbow said, finishing her sandwich and wrapping a wing around her secret marefriend. "We went to flight camp, got bullied in flight camp, caused trouble at flight camp, then bailed on flight camp to live in Ponyville."
"Where she fell on me," Twilight inserted. "Me and Spike were coming there by order of Princess Celestia to find some artifacts...but we found Luna instead."
"Yes, the artifacts were not found unfortunately," Celestia said. "We are still looking for them."
"Weren't the Elements of Harmony the artifacts?" Shining asked her. "You brought them back, so I figured..."
"No," Celestia responded shaking her head. "The Elements I sent to Luna when she was away for protection. So she brought them back when Twilight found her."
"I guess that explains your broken horn. Where'd you go?" Cadance asked her. Luna shrugged and continued eating. "You're hiding secrets, Aunt Celestia. Where did-"
"Oh look,the cake is here," Celestia interrupted, pointing towards the cart that was being rolled out towards the table. There was a large vanilla cake sitting on it that both Rainbow and Celestia were grinning widely at.
"You like cake?" Shining asked.
"I LOVE CAKE," the two Princesses said in their Canterlot voice.
Celestia levitated the cake onto the table and cut herself and her daughter a large slice before sliding it towards her. Rainbows eyes started changing colors again before she picked up a fork.
Everyone watched as the two royals went to town on the cake. Crumbs started flying everywhere before half of the desert was gone from the table, crumbs and icing left behind.
Mother and daughter sat back and let out a sigh of relief before lifting one of their hoofs, did a pump, then let it fall to their stomachs.
"Can I please have some cakes delivered to the Cloudsdale Castle?" Rainbow requested. "During the coronation, there will more than likely be more delegates who would want some."
"Sure, Princess Dash," Celestia answered. "I'll send out a royal letter."
Everyone else just stared in shock at the scene of the cake massacre. Cadance was the first to speak.
"What....what just happened?"
"So...what are you going to do now, Princess Dash?" Celestia asked the Alicorn. "I assume you've never been here before?"
"Nope!" She said, shaking her head. Sweetied Drops was walking alongside her as they made their way to the gates. "So I'm going to take a tour. A WALK tour. I like to take it slow even though I'm fast. Fluttershy wants to stay here for awhile, so it's just gonna be me and the guards."
"Are you sure that is wise? I could send a diplomat or a tour guide with you." Rainbow looked around before turning to Celestia.
"I'll be fine, mom," she whispered, smiling. "If there's any trouble, I have magic, fast flying, and I know how to fight. And I think Sweetie Drops knows how too."
"You bet," The agent whispered, smirking. "Haven't lost a battle yet." They stopped near the gates where the rest of the security team was waiting before Celestia sighed. She was eighteen. She might as well let her live like she wanted.
"Alright. Sweetie Drops?" The agent saluted. "Keep an eye on her. She might eat that cake that she snuck away from the table that she has hidden in her tail. She'll get really hyper. Make sure she doesn't break anything, although I do not think that will be a problem with the managers even if she does."
"I'll keep an eye on your daughter, ma'am," she whispered. The princess of the sun nodded before she nuzzled Rainbow.
"Be safe, don't do anything foolish, and listen to your guards." Rainbow nodded as she pulled away before turning and walking towards the gates, agent Sweetie right next to her before she reached into her tail and pulled out the slice of cake with her magic, casting a glance back at her mother to see her shaking her head, laughing.
The guards opened the gates for her, pausing the ponies walking as they thought a carriage was coming through. Instead they saw Rainbow Dash walking outside with eight guards accompanying her as they turned right, walking on the sidewalk openly.
"So where are we headed first?" Rainbow asked the main guard. "This is a pretty big city."
"Well," Captain Cloudstorm answered from beside her. "We'll see the big sights first. Then the smaller businesses. So like doughnut shops, barbershops....shops, you know, the average store."
The princess nodded, figuring out the whole sketch of things for the day. When they finally reached the city, they turned the corner onto the main street, showing all the businesses and such. "That over there is the Library of Magic." The captain pointed to a large building that had stone columns, a dome, and statues of ponies on it.
"I'm guessing Twilight came here often," Rainbow muttered. "Let's check it out." The guard nodded as he led the group up to the steps of the building. Ponies sitting there reading gasped before they bowed to her as she walked past. The guards opened the grand doors to the building with a creak. The Princess walked inside looking at all the decor and smelling the funky smells of books.
"THIS is what Twilight is eager to do?" She said aloud. She shrugged and walked inside, figuring she'd give it a shot. She went to the desk and rung the bell, waiting for whoever tends to this place. She waited a little while, but nobody came.
"Maybe we should ask one of the people over there, sitting at the tables," Slip Stream, the medic, recommended. Rainbow looked over to where she was pointing. There was a group of definite college students sitting at a table discussing something, probably a project of some sort.
"Yeah, let's try that," Dash agreed before stepping away from the counter, trotting over to the group. She stopped at the table, the ponies not even noticing she was there, and cleared her throat.
"Excuse me," She said, catching their attention. They turned around and gasped before bowing. "That was DEFINITELY not the reaction I was expecting. Uhhh........get up?" The ponies sat up and looked at the alicorn.
"H-How can we help you, your highness?" A mare said timidly.
"I'm trying to find a book on basic unicorn magic. Where would I get it?" The mare pointed towards the back.
"That's basic Unicorn Magic, Earth Pony Magic, and Pegasi Magic." She pointed behind Rainbow. "And for some reason, Alicorn magic is way over there on that side."
"Oh. Ok, thanks." Rainbow turned around and headed for the section on Alicorn magic, her guards standing in front of the exits of the section to cut anyone off trying to get by. She browsed through the books, searching for anything that she could use. Eventually, she found something on nature magic. She levitated the book out of it's spot and opened it in front of her, impressed at her own skill so far. She figured she could do better though.
The princess read through a chapter that specified how to make water out of the hydrogen in the air, fire from molecules, make leaves and plants grow stronger, and so much more. She smiled, figuring this is a good book to check out. She tucked it under her wing, and began to walk out of the aisle, the guards parting for her as she made her way to the desk.
The nature princess placed the book on the counter and rang the bell again. Finally after a couple seconds later, a unicorn mare wearing glasses finally came out from the back. "Yes, how may I......oh," she said, taken by surprise that there was a princess in the library. She curtsied instead of bowing. "Sorry I cannot bow in front of you, Princess. I'm afraid it's not very spacious back here."
"Don't apologize," Rainbow said chuckling. "It's getting kind of annoying anyway. I expect it, but I don't prefer it. I'd like to check out this book. My library hasn't been setup yet so..."
The librarian nodded before she took the book in her magic and scanned it before doing some more advanced magic in some type of crystal behind the counter. "And who am I making this out to?"
"Princess Dash...or Rainbow Dash, I take either one." The librarian looked at her strangely before ringing up the book.
"You're a new Princess?" She asked her, watching her nod.
"Yes, I actually ascended yesterday. The Princess of Nature."
"Are you new to Equestria?" She handed the book back to Princess Dash before she answered. "I think I would've heard of you."
"I am not new, but nobody has heard of me," she replied, taking and tucking the book back under her wing. "My coronation is coming soon, though. Maybe in the next few moons, I don't know. Whenever my parents wish to schedule it."
"Who are your parents?" Rainbow smiled before she turned around making her way towards the doors.
"Have a great day," she said, ignoring her question. The librarian watched as she walked through the doors with her guards, leaving her confused.
"Would you like to continue on with the tour, Princess?" Captain Cloudstorm asked her. Rainbow shook her head before she retrieved her book from under her wing.
"No thank you. Let's head back to the castle. Hopefully without bumping into media." The captain nodded before the team began to make their way back towards the Castle. After a lot of twists, turns, and a lot of annoying bows, they made it back to the castle gates, which was unfortunately crowded with paparazzi and guards holding them back.
"UGGGHHH!" Rainbow groaned. "How many times today have I seen lights, cameras, and action?"
"Three times, your highness," Sweetie Drops said chuckling. "I wonder what they're here for." The gates opened, showing Princess Cadance, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.
"There you are, Rainbow!" Luna said, running over and pulling the mare into a hug. "We have missed you so!"
"That's great, Luna, but-" Rainbow wiggled out of her hold to her chest. "-what's with the hugging and the paparazzi? Is it Cadance's birthday or something?"
"Oh no," Cadance said laughing as they walked over to her. The cameras were still snapping, taking pictures while they talked. "If it was my birthday, for some odd reason, there'd be a parade in every city. They're excited for your coronation."
"So it's been decided then?!" Rainbow asked excitedly.
"Yes it has," Princess Celestia stated. "All the rulers of every kingdom is going to be there...except the dragons they still hold a grudge towards the ponies."
"So when is it?"
"Next week! You'll be an official Princess next week." Rainbow gasped before she jumped in the air, flying in a small circle in happiness, her body becoming a rainbow blur.
Back in Ponyville, near the edge of the Everfree forest, there was a certain filly running away from a pack of Timberwolves, her exhaustion catching up to her as her vision began to get blurry, her hooves becoming tired.
The Pegasus with the abnormally small wings burst through the edge of the forest, nearly hitting a tree branch before she slid across the ground. The young mare turned around to see the Timberwolves stopping at the edge, snarling and baring their fangs at her, upset that they couldn't get to their meal.
She watched as they turned around to finish the two adult ponies, a mare and a stallion, that went in looking for her, leaving the filly alone with two necklaces the mare gave her before she distracted the wolves.
"Mom!" She cried out, standing up weakly. "Mom, please come out!" She listened for any type of noise. All she got in return was satisfied howls. She closed and let a few silent tears fall, the saltiness of the liquid hitting the cut on her cheek, making her wince.
She looked down at the two necklaces, one a blue pearl and another a yellow diamond, knowing she'll never see them on the original wearers again. She put the necklace around her hoof, making sure it was tight enough before she kissed them.
"I love you mom, dad." She turned around and walked back into Ponyville, leaving her past behind to start a new life.