//------------------------------// // Sunday- 2 days until Day: 1 // Story: The Equestrian Royal Guard // by Elusive Phoenix //------------------------------// 2 days until Day: 1 “Your leg isn’t fully healed, but should be okay by tomorrow morning, and your wing is perfectly fine!” Fluttershy said smiling, glad to have successfully helped me, “It feels good to know that I’ve helped somepony in need!” “I’m glad you feel that way!” I said, “And thank you for your help! I don’t think any other pony could have repaired me as well as you did!” Fluttershy blushed. “Finally! Get out of my house! You are so annoying!” Twilight said sarcastically. At least I think it was sarcasm. “Alright! Will I see you guys at the party?” I said as I used my wings to lift me, and hovered in the library. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Twilight said, smiling genuinely. “Of course! Although, the world might come first. If-if that’s okay with you…” I laughed at her innocence. “Of course, Flutters! I’ll probably see you in the guard once and a while!” “Alright! Everyone okay? Good! Now get out of my house.” THAT was not sarcasm. Fluttershy and I flew out the door, and Twilight closed it behind us. Fluttershy and I glanced at each other, and simply nodded, then flew separate directions. I sat on my bed and stared out the window, watching the sun rise. I normally never took the time to just… look at stuff. But since the walk with Fluttershy, I’ve really started to notice my surroundings, and how beautiful everything really is. The violet sky, the orange sun peeking over the mountains. It was a perfect sight. As the sun reached over the mountains, and the sky became blue, I climbed off of my bed and trotted across the soft cloud floor to my front door, and opened it. I stood there, staring out at Ponyville in the distance. I could see the town slowly waking up and going about their daily errands. I stepped back inside and headed for my shower. Why not look clean on my last day in Ponyville? I pushed the shower button, but only a few drops came. ‘Out already?’ I flew outside and grabbed a nearby rain cloud. I pushed it carefully into my house, and positioned it in my shower, and pressed the shower button. A spray came from the rain cloud above, dropping water onto my back, giving me a soothing sensation. The magical enchantments of my shower room allowed any cloud with large amounts of water inside to rain slowly, and instead of cold rainwater, it heated it to a warm temperature. *Pitter patter*, the water droplets splattered against my hide and coat, and I let my mane fall and soak in the water. After allowing my coat to be soaked, I grabbed some soap off of a shelf in the shower, and began to rub it around my body, getting every small stain or piece of dirt out of my coat. After soaping myself, I grabbed some shampoo. Funny word, isn’t it? SHAMPOO. I hoofed some through my mane, getting other small things out of it. Mainly dirt. I need to stop crashing so hard. After my mane was done I dumped a bunch onto my tail, and swished it around to get it in and on my tail, to get dirt out. I simply stood there for a few more minutes, soaking up the warmth and soothing feeling. But all things must come to an end, and I pressed the shower button once more, and the cloud stopped its small barrage of droplets. I stepped out and shook myself, then grabbed a towel and rubbed it across my body. When I finished, I brushed my mane into its usual position. When I exited the bathroom, I headed over to my coat hanger and grabbed a newer, adult size, Wonderbolts baseball cap and slipped it onto my head. I opened my front door and flew off to do whatever I felt like until three, when the party started… I flew down to Sugarcube Corner and stood at the door, hearing the bustling of party setup. I glanced at the clocktower, recently installed in the town square. 2:58. ‘Two minutes early isn’t bad. She should be ready by now!’ I pushed the door open and entered the building. There was no sign of Pinkie in the main room. In fact, there wasn’t any trace of party setup. Just Sugarcube Corner. I headed to the front desk and rang the bell. Pinkie came down the stairs pushing a party cannon, “Oh, hi Dashie! You’re early!” “By one minute? That’s hardly early!” “But it’s still early!” She reached the bottom of the stairs, “Oh and Dashie!” “What?” “Duck.” She slammed her hoof onto the ‘fire’ button. Due to my reflexes, exercised from ‘Think Fast’, I ducked under the barrage of party decorations and confetti, which set themselves up around the room, covering tables, placing balloons, plates on the tables, a cider barrel, a game of ‘pin the tail on the pony’. I had just witnessed the magic of WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT. ‘You know what? I don’t even want to know. I’m afraid my brain would melt.’ “Well, that happened.” Was all I could say as I looked around the completely re-modeled room. “Of course it did! Otherwise, it wouldn’t have! And then I’d have to set up the party by hoof, which takes SO LONG, and it makes me feel less excited, because I’d know what would come out! With the party cannon, it’s always a new surprise!” She dragged the cannon back upstairs using her teeth. I sat there in awe of the ‘instantly party ready’ room. Just as I began to remember that reality was a thing, Fluttershy entered the room. “Hi Dash! How’s your wing doing? I fixed it alright, right? Did I mess up? Oh, I messed up didn’t I? I’m so sorry! I did what-” “I’m fine Fluttershy! You did good! My wing and leg are fine.” I reassured her. She sighed, “Oh, good, I thought I didn’t do it well enough.” Pinkie re-entered the room. “Alright! Let’s PARTY!!!” I had originally thought it would be just me, my friends, and maybe a few others at the party. ALMOST HALF THE TOWN SHOWED UP. Only naming a few: Derpy, Scootaloo, Colgate, Carrot Top, and ‘The Doctor’, as he calls himself, and Lyra. Rarity was back in town. I was sad I couldn’t do anything relaxing with her. Even though all she’d say is, “Make a dress!”, or “Go to the spa!”. I chatted with each of my friends, all congratulating me and giving farewells. A song played in the background, and I felt like I’d heard it before, but this was a different version. Every few minutes, one or two ponies would wish me luck in the military. I was a bit freaked out because I caught The Doctor staring at me from across the room multiple times. I eventually decided I’d go see what he was doing, but was stopped by Lyra, wishing me luck. She kept blocking my line of sight of The Doctor, and by the time she left, he was gone. I glanced around the room, searching for him, but he seemingly disappeared. I finally decided he was just looking at me… really awkwardly… The party continued normally. We played games, drank cider, ate cake, etc. Pinkie and I stood at the front door and thanked ponies for coming as they left Sugarcube Corner when the party ended. The music had stopped As Scootaloo walked toward the exit, she looked at me sadly, and said, “I’ll miss you Rainbow Dash.” I hooked my leg around her and gave her a noogie, “I’ll miss you too, Squirt!” I let her go and she left the building. Appljack approached me, “I’ll see ya soon! Good luck, and see if you can put mah buckin’ tips to use!” She winked at me. I returned it, “Of course.” And she trotted out the door. Rarity trotted up, “Try not to get too violent while you’re there, will you? I hate violent ponies!” “I’ll do my best, Rare. See you soon!” She smiled at me. *Click*. Picture taken. Next, Twilight hugged me, and I returned it, “I’ll see you soon, Rainbow! If something important happens, I can make the princess pull you back!” “Don’t plan on it Twi! I’m there to save lives, not chicken out!” We broke the embrace, and Twilight opened the door with her magic, and trotted out, slightly teary. Fluttershy flew toward me, “I- um, guess I’ll see you soon then, if that’s okay with you…” “It’s perfect! See you soon, Flutters!” She flew out the door slowly. I looked at Pinkie on the opposite side of the door, “Thanks for the party Pinkie! I enjoyed it!” Pinkie nodded, tearing up, but still smiling. Then her tears burst out, and she hugged me to a point I could barely breath, “I’ll miss you Dashie! I’ll miss the days we’d prank our friends, and the days I would throw a party, and you were always the first one there, and the days I made too much cake, and you would eat it with me, and the days whee-aaaaaaAAAAHHHHHH!!! I’m going to miss you so mu-huh-huuuch!!!” Her tears were beginning to flood the floor, and I still couldn’t breath, “Pinkie!” I said with a raspy voice, “I’m still coming back, and we can still do those things! It will only be a long break for you!” Her grip loosened, and I could breath again. “Alright Dashie,” She said, still frowning in sadness, “But you better come back!” “It’s not like I’m abandoning you!” I smiled at her. She smiled back, tears sliding down her face, “I’ll see you in a few months!” I hugged her, and she hugged back, softer this time, allowing me to breath. We separated, and said our final goodbyes, and I left Sugarcube Corner for the last time for seven months… I sat on the side of my bed, staring out the window once more, watching the sun set. The sky was more beautiful than I’d ever seen it. Purple clouds dotted the orange abyss, and eventually, the abyss turned to darkness, and bits of light began sprouting inside of it. I climbed under my bed sheets, and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be the day I leave Ponyville…