The Equestrian Royal Guard.
(Prologue)
… And that is how I saved Ponyville from a Hydra!” Rainbow Dash held her hoof up to her black, captain, chestplate to exaggerate how 'awesome' she was.
All of the fillies and colts clopped their hooves together in the way a human would clap their hands for a performance.
Except…with hooves.
“Thank you Captain Rainbow Dash, for telling us all about your adventures in the Equestrian Royal Guard!” said Cheerilee, the cheerful (thus her name) class teacher.
“No problem, Cheer!" ainbow Dash put her hoof back on the wooden floor of the schoolhouse, "I’m glad to educate any future guards of the dangers of being one of the best! Any questions?” Rainbow Dash turned to the class, smiling. A small, very thin colt raised a hoof excitedly.
“You, Mr. Question!”
“How did you get into the guard?” He said with that little, adorable, colt voice.
“Good question! Before I joined the guard, I wanted to join the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash began to pace in front of the classroom, her eyes scanning the children, "I always had a need for speed (and still do), and wanted my speed to be useful for more than just moving clouds. Some nearby guards saw my wondrous abilities, and figured they could put it to use. They suggested that I join the Equestrian Royal Guard. I thought about it for a while, and eventually, I replied to them." She paused for dramatic affect, and stopped pacing, "Yes." She continued her continuous walk, "A week later I was thrown into training. Training is not fun. For Pegasi, we have wing-push ups and agility courses. For Unicorns, we have weights for magic, and dummies for targets. For Earth ponies, weights and agility. You may think this sounds terrible, but trust me, when training is over, you’ll be glad you did it.
"It’s not just physical training, too. It’s mental training. What is and what isn’t against the law, what and what not to do, how to arrest a pony, how to protect a pony in danger, and how to protect yourself.”
Another hoof shot into the air with enough force to knock Rainbow to her knees..
“Yes, filly with the un-kempt mane!”
“I want to join the Wonderbolts when I grow up, so does that mean I will join the Royal Guard instead?” She asked quetly, worried for her future.
Dash laughed quietly, and closed her eyes, “No. You can still be a Wonderbolt! If you just keep your head straight, and your mind set, you can accomplish anything!” She opened her eyes again, ‘I’m starting to sound like those motivational speakers.’ Dash thought to herself.
Another hoof.
“Yes?"
“What about kids who get sent to military camp?” A very fit filly asked. Dash thought she'd be a good addition to the guard.
“Don’t trust those places," Dash shook her head, "They make kids violent and overwork them to the point that they’re weaker than when they started. The only thing they’re good for is making fat kids thinner.” An overweight colt in the back looked down in shame.
“But I’m going to one next week!” The filly who had asked the question exclaimed.
“Tell your parents that military camps don’t work until the pony is eighteen or older, and that captain of the Royal Guard said this. If that doesn’t change their minds, I can’t help you. If they have a question, send the camp a letter and they’ll deal with it as soon as they can. No promises though.”
Multiple hooves raised.
Rainbow glanced at her “wrist” watch.
“Oh! sorry kids, but I’ve gotta go protect Equestria again.” She said smiling.
Multiple moans of disappointment rang around the classroom.
“If you have more questions, ask a local guard and he (or she) will be sure to answer them! Unless he’s guarding something specific, then he won’t reply, or even move, for that matter.” The children laughed.
‘Was that supposed to be funny?’
“Everypony say thank you to Captain Rainbow Dash for her time!” Cheerilee cheered.
A thunderous “Thank you!” roared inside the classroom.
“You’re quite welcome!” Dash replied, stretching her neck higher, to make herself more appealing, “And remember: The Equestrian Royal Guard needs all the ponies it can to help keep Equestria safe!” Dash had kept her eyes on the children all the time she had been speaking.
“Alright Everypony, class is over! Or, as they say in the guard: dismissed!” Cheerily yelled, making sure the fillies and colts could hear her over their whispers.
The fillies and colts shuffled out of the classroom, yapping to each other about what happened in school, or what they will do next with their friends.
“Thanks again, Rainbow Dash!” Cheerilee said, and turned to Rainbow after the children had left, “I knew they’d enjoy some stories from such an important pony.”
“Anytime, Cheer!" Dash smiled, "But I’d better be off. Captain of the guard has to be the captain!”
“See you again soon Rainbow!”
“See ya later, Cheer!” Rainbow yelled as she trotted to the door, and exited the building.
She looked up at the perfect blue sky, thinking of how peaceful life is in Ponyville.
‘But without us, they’d be like a savage bunch of dragons.’
She stretched her wings, and crouched, ready to take off back to Canterlot. But a voice stopped her.
“Rainbow Dash!" it said.
‘I know that voice.’ “What’s up, squirt?” Rainbow Dash turned her head to face the young face of Scootaloo, though not quite as young as twelve years ago.
Scootaloo, much bigger now than last Dash had seen her, skated over to Rainbow happily. She had earned her cutie mark a few weeks after Rainbow joined the guard. A skateboard with a pony trailing flames was implanted on her flank.
‘Who knew she could ride a skateboard better than Pony Hawk?’ Scootaloo would be going up against the best skater in Equestria in only a week. Rainbow didn’t know, or care, who it was, because she knew Scoots was almost guaranteed to win.
“Hi Rainbow Dash!” Scoots said, “Are you going to be able to come watch me open a can of ‘kick-flank’ on ‘Mr. I can’t skate as good as Scootaloo’ this Friday?”
Rainbow chuckled at the ‘name’ she gave her opponent, “I’ll try, but no promises. I might have to save Equestria again.”
“Hehe, yeah! I don't want to wake up with a freakin' dragon peeking in my window!” She joked.
Rainbow's mood darkened at the memories, but she smiled anyway, “Me too!”
“Well, I've gotta go practice! So, I'll see you later, kay?" Scoots cheered.
“Alright, squirt! See you soon!” Dash said, still smiling.
“Bye Rainbow Dash!” She replied, and skated off to Applebloom and Sweetie Bell, who had also gained their cutie marks. Applebloom had a hammer nailing a wooden plank, and Sweetie had a musical note inside of a heart.
Rainbow watched her roll away. ‘You’re lucky not to know what I’ve seen… or what I’ve done…’ Rainbow spread her wings and slowly flew to Canterlot, now, having spoken about it, was re-living her memories.
Re-living war...
Re-living Hell…