//------------------------------// // The Return of A Old Friend // Story: The Bond Of Two Soldiers // by SlayGuy295 //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash sat outside of her house as she’s staring at the clouds. She sighed in disappointment at her failures to defend her friends and herself. She felt that she’s a dead weight to the group, useless. What happened to you, Rainbow Dash? She talked to herself in her head. You used to be the most awesome, daring, strong, unbeatable pony of them all! Now… you’re weak. You let Discord corrupt you and abandon your own friends. You got beaten by a bunch of Changelings. You got captured by a bunch of sissy stallions twice for crying out loud! You failed to defend your friends from those changelings and put them into those cocoons. You kept telling yourself that you can always save your friends no matter what the danger or freaks you faced. But you let them do whatever they want to you and your friends. You lost your mojo, Dash. You lost it. I wished that I could get stronger somehow. She shook her head and took a deep breath. Rainbow Dash spread her wings and flew to Twilight Castle. She landed at the front gates and knock it. The gates opened by Twilight with excitement on her face. “Oh, hi Rainbow,” the princess greeted her friend. “It’s great to see you!” “Wow,” Rainbow Dash weirded by her friend burst of joy. “Twilight, why are you so excited? You’re more hype than Pinkie Pie.” “Just come on! There’s someone you need to see!” “Who is it?” “Just come on!” Rainbow Dash was confused about why her friend was so happy about. The pegasus just played along and follow her to the map room only to found two ponies in the room. Starlight Glimmer was having a delightful conversation with an old friend of theirs. The pegasus gasps from the presence of… Tempest Shadow. “Rainbow,” Twilight grabs her friend attention. “I believe you remember our old friend a couple of months ago. You know… the pony who tried to destroy us,” she laughs nervously. “Tempest Shadow?” “Umm… her name is Fizzlepop Berrytwist. Remember.” “Right right.” The two mares join the others at the table. “Ha, Fizzlepop,” Twilight told the orchid colored mare. “I believe you know my friend here? You both met at Canterlot after you defeated the Storm King.” “Oh yes,” Tempest nodded. “It was… Rainbow Dash, was it? The pegasus who gave out your location by making that big rainbow?” “Yeah,” Rainbow Dash giggle nervously. “I’ll admit that Sonic Rainboom wasn’t very stealthy, but it was super cool!” “Yeah, it was pretty cool. It’s good to see you again.” “It’s good to see you too, Tempest.” “Rainbow Dash,” Twilight shoved her friend in annoyance. “Her name is-” “It’s alright, Twilight,” Tempest calmed her down. “I have gotten used to the name.” “So, where have you been since we’ve last seen you at Canterlot,” Rainbow Dash asked. “I went back to my hometown and spent time with my old friends. We had a great time with them. We spent time telling our stories, we played balls-” “Sounds boring to me.” “Rainbow-” “It’s alright, Twilight,” Tempest calmed Twilight again. “I was getting to the good part. One time we fought a pack of timber wolves without a scratch.” Rainbow Dash eyes burst open when she heard timber wolves. “Really,” she shouted. “How many were there?!” “Oh… about thirty of them.” “That’s awesome!” “Thirty timber wolves,” Starlight shocked. “That’s really dangerous.” “And you fought them without a scratch?!” “That’s what I said.” “That’s so cool!” “Well, it’s all thanks to constant years of military training. Also, thanks to this old girl,” she patted her torn horn. “I know that the Storm King was a total jerk and all, but his military training really got me into shape. I mean I can literally take down any challenges that come my way.” “But you still used to attack Equestria,” the pegasus laughs. “Although, I should have used it to take all of you out first,” she laughs as well. As the two were laughing, Twilight began to laugh nervously at their dangerous jokes. “Anyways,” the princess ended the moment. “What’s bring you to Ponyville, Fizzlepop?” “Well, I was just wondering,” she told Twilight. “From what I’ve heard, all of the princesses have royal guards stationed by their sides… all except one.” “Okay,” Twilight tilts her head. “And I have military training and know how to take down enemies, so….” “So, you want to… borrow some books about the royal guard?” “What? No. I want to become your royal guard, Twilight.” They were all surprised when she said that. “You wanted to be my royal guard,” the alicorn confused. “Why not being Princess Celestia royal guard?” “I think she got enough guards that she needs. Also, I want to serve the princess who changed and saved my life. I want to repay you by serving and defending you from any danger.” “I really appreciate it, Fizzlepop, but I have never been in any danger ever since I have this castle.” “Except for that time when that Smooze, Discord bring to the gala, almost ate us,” Rainbow Dash mentioned. “And the times I almost destroy her,” Starlight laughs nervously as she rubbed the back of her head. “And also that time we almost got frozen by that snowstorm at the Crystal Empire.” “And that time when the Changelings captures her and the other princesses and places them into cocoons.” “Also, that time we had to fight that Pony of Shadow.” “Also, when a little filly traps them in Tartarus as she tried to rule Equestria for herself.” “Also, when we were being attacked by a winterzilla and was about to be flooded by unstable puddling.” “Are you two finished,” Twilight told them with an annoyed look. They were quiet, until Rainbow Dash mention, “And that time we fought that bugbear-” Twilight turns angrily at her friend. “And that was it.” “Sounds like you were really safe when I wasn’t around,” Tempest said sarcastically, causing the princess to laugh nervously. “Twilight, please. Let me be your royal guard. I will always protect you from any danger that comes your way. I’ll swear that I will lay down my life for you.” The princess of friendship was quiet for a while as she was thinking about this decision. She responded to her, “As long as you don’t risk your life for mine, then yes. I hereby declare you, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, as my royal guard!” “Thank you, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” she bows to her. “You can just call me Twilight. If you want, you could live here with us.” “I don’t know. I don’t wanna be a bother.” “Nonsense, you’re more than welcome to live here, Fizzlepop. We have plenty of rooms for you.” “But we should probably give you a tour around the castle because we let you settle in,” Starlight told her. “Because we have a bunch of rooms.” “Thank you, Twilight,” Tempest giggle. “I really appreciate this.” “You’re welcome,” Twilight nodded. As the rest of them were talking, Rainbow just spring up an awesome idea. Wait a second, she talked to herself in her head. Tempest was the Storm King number one general… she has a ton of fighting experience… she fought a pack of timberwolves… she’s going to be Twilight royal guard… I SHOULD ASK HER TO TRAIN ME TO BECOME JUST LIKE HER!!! IT'S PERFECT!! Her training will definitely put me into shape! I will be able to protect my friends and beat up any bad guys that came in my way! No weaker and pathetic Rainbow Dash! No more being the damsel in distress! Just awesome and stronger Rainbow Dash! YEAH!! The two ponies were having a conversation, until Rainbow Dash interrupts them and talked to Tempest acting cool, “Ha Tempest, old buddy old pal! Is there any chance that I could talk to you privately?” “Rainbow,” Twilight told her best friend, “you’re being rude! Me and Fizzlepop were just-“ “It’s okay, Twilight,” Tempest calmed the princess. “You could give me the tour around your castle in a couple of minutes. Just let me have a chat with your friend.” “Oh! Okay then. Just let me know when you’re ready.” Twilight and Starlight exit the room, leaving the two ponies alone. “So,” Rainbow Dash asked as she rubbed the back of her head nervously, “umm… can you uh… train me to become just like you?!” “I’m sorry what,” Tempest is both surprise and confusion. “Can you umm… please train me to become a soldier like you?!” “You want me to train you to become just like me?” Rainbow Dash eyes widen as she’s smiling widen as well. “No.” The rainbow pegasus immediately frowns from the rejection. “No! But-But why?!” “Because you don’t have what it take. The training I have been through was hard, challenging, difficult, and very dangerous! A pony like you wouldn’t last a second!” “Please. I can handle anything that throws at me. I mean do you even know who you’re talking to? The one and only Rainbow Dash! I am the fastest pony in the entire Equestria! Also, a proud member of the Wonderbolts!” “Who are they?” “What?! First, Starlight and now you! The Wonderbolts are the best flyers ever! They’re literally the best flyers of all of Equestria!” “The Wonderbolts? Oh yes! Now, I remember them!” “You do,” Rainbow smiles with excitement. “Yes… they were those group of pegasus that I easily beat at Canterlot.” The pegasus mouth drops when she heard Tempest defeated the Wonderbolts. “You have beaten the Wonderbolts all by yourself?! But-But they can fly!” “And I easily took all of them down with my electrokinesis. Can the Wonderbolts use electrokinesis?” Rainbow Dash didn’t respond because she already knew the answer. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” “Well… I am the fastest! I have also fought a bunch of evil changelings… a bugbear… I also fought a bunch of dragons… and I know karate!” “Aw, that’s cute. I, however, fought challenges much worse than those, so those were basically for fillies.” “Just give me a chance! I just wanna become stronger! That’s all I swear!” “Why do you even want to be stronger anyways?! Just explain to me why and I may reconsider it.” The rainbow pony took a deep breath as she’s nervous to tell her the truth. “Okay…” She pauses for a while before resuming. “The reason why I wanna become stronger is that… I want to protect my friends from danger. I lost my mojo. I got beaten by a chaos freak, changelings, and I got kidnapped by stallions… they were earth ponies… they didn’t have weapons… they just kidnap me… twice. “I just wanna show my friends that they can rely on me to protect them from any sort of danger. But how can I defend them if I get beaten so easily? That’s why I am so glad that you’re here. I need you-no! I beg you to train me to become just like you! I mean look at you! You’re so awesome and a total badass! So… can you please train me?” Tempest remain silent for a while as she’s taking it all in. “No,” she responded as the pegasus is shocked. “I will not train you to become like me.” Rainbow Dash lowered her head in disappointment, until the unicorn lifted her head towards hers. “I’ll train you to become an elite soldier.” “Really,” the pegasus smiles. “I will. I’ll make sure that you’re strong enough to protect your friends from any threat. You have my word.” Rainbow Dash began to shed tears of joy as she was trying to calm down. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” “No problem,” Tempest told her as she places her hoof on her shoulder, calming the rainbow pony. “Your training will start tomorrow. Make sure you're wearing some training equipment and make sure you get plenty of rest.” “Roger,” she nodded as she saluted to her new trainer. “Meet me outside of the castle at o eight hundred.” “Huh?” The orchid pony rolled her eyes and told her, “eight a.m.” “Oh! Got ya. Alright, I’ll make sure I’ll get plenty of rest and everything ready for tomorrow. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.” “As I said, it wasn’t a problem. You won’t mind if Twilight gonna give me the tour around her castle?” “Naa. I’ll better go and get things ready for tomorrow. I’m so looking forward to going to your training!” “It isn’t going to be easy.” “Please. I’m Rainbow Dash! I can handle anything!” “Alright hotshot. Just make sure you get plenty of rest. Cause you’re really in for it tomorrow morning.” “Like I said, I’m Rainbow Dash! I can handle anything!” “We shall see tomorrow morning. Just don’t let that ego of yours get over your head.” “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Rainbow Dash was about to exit the room, until she asked Tempest a quick favor, “Ha, can you please not tell Twilight about this? I don’t want her to worry about this.” “It’s alright. I won’t let Twilight know anything about your training. You have my word.” “Alright. Thanks!” Finally, the rainbow pegasus exits the castle and awaits the upcoming training. Tempest left the room as well and search for Twilight Sparkle, so she can be given the tour of the castle. “I’ll give her a minute when the training begins,” she said to herself.