The night sky glittered beautifully over the city of Canterlot, the city finally calm after the commotion at the Starlight Festival. Ponies were still cleaning up, but their spirit was high, and ponies enjoyed themselves, and there was still music being played and laughter in the streets, even at this time.
In a room, at one of the hotels, the mood was different. The fireplace crackled, and the few candles that had been lit made the shadows on the wall move.
"Fffffudge..." A stallion winced.
"Stop whining, it's your fault." The raspy voice of Rainbow Dash replied. She sat on the bed right behind a grey and black stallion. He had small wounds certain places on his body, and Rainbow did her best to clean and patch him up, a task she had done a few times before. "If you had told me where you were going, I could have helped. Now stop acting like a foal." Grinning slightly, she pecked him on the cheek. "There, something to take the pain."
Shadow smiled, then groaned a little. His body was exhausted and sore, still, it was all over and he could finally relax. "Well, you know, couldn't have you take all my glory."
Rainbow snorted out a laugh. "I would have shared it of course, telling how you lend me a hoof and all."
"Right.." Shadow chuckled, then turned to her. "I love you.."
Rainbow froze, then looked him in the eyes. "I.." She smiled, moved her lips close to his, and kissed him softly. "I love you too.." Their lips met again, this time the kiss was deeper. Their hearts beat faster, and their embrace became tighter, that was at least until Shadow broke off, wincing, and with a painful expression.
"Ow ow, my ribs.."
Rainbow chuckled. "Sorry, sorry.. But hey, it's over now.. We can relax and enjoy ourselves until you recover." She chuckled, leaning in and licked and nibbled on his ear.
Shadow closed his eyes. "Oh.. Fffffudge..." He groaned as his smile grew. He turned, kissed her again, but before she could get to much into it, Shadow moved. "Rainbow.. M-maybe it's to early but.. Uhm.."
Rainbow smirked. "What? The tough vigilante is nervous? Come on dude, spit it out."
Rolling his eyes, he took her hoof in his. "Rainbow.. Now that all of this is over, now that I no longer need to wear a mask and go out, risking my neck.. I... I wanna ask you something.." It was then Rainbow's expression changed from loving teasing, to realization, nervousness, and expectation. Taking a deep breath, Shadow looked her in the eyes. "Rainbow, I love you, and I want to spend my life with you.. So, Rainbow Dash, would you-."
Their moment was spoiled as the door was kicked in. Both of them turned to see several royal guards storm in. Shadow tried to move, but his injuries made him wince, giving the guards enough time to take him. "Argh!"
Rainbow glared. "Hey! what are you doing!?"
"Hold him down! Chain him, hurry!" One of them ordered as the guards secured the black stallion's wings to his sides, and cuffed his hooves.
"Hey!" Rainbow stormed forward, knocking two guards down. "Leave him alone! He's hurt! Oufh!" She was quickly grabbed and held down to the floor.
Shadow tried to get up. "Rainbow!"
"Hold still!" The guards ordered and pushed him down.
"Let go!" Rainbow growled, trying to get up, but the guards held her in place.
After they had fully restrained shadow, a guard looked to his officer. "Suspect's secure, what do we do about her?"
The officer tilted his head. "Let her go, we came here for him."
Rainbow glared. "Let him go you bastards!"
"Rainbow!" Shadow called, and she looked at him. He sent her a calm smile. "It's okay.. I'm going to be okay.."
Rainbow felt tears in her eyes as she shook her head. "No! Don't.. Don't do this.."
"It's okay Rainbow.." Shadow assured her. "I love you.."
She felt her strength vanish, and the guards let her go. "Take him away.." The officer said, and the guards left, dragging Shadow with them.
Rainbow wiped away some of her tears, flew out the window to see him off, or plead one last time. The guards were putting him in a wagon, to the spectacle to confused Canterlot ponies. It was too late, Shadow just managed to send her a brave smile before the door closed and the wagon left.
Rainbow stood there, confused, angry, destroyed. Everypony else left, moving on with their business, but Rainbow, she was like frozen in place. She couldn't understand, why had they come for him? How did they know where he was staying, or that he was the vigilante known as Ranger? It didn't make sense! After all, the only ponies who knew about his identity was herself, and, her.. Friends...
She felt a knot in her stomach, and at that moment, her mind raced. Before she knew it, she was in the air speeding towards the castle, tears in her eyes as she refused to believe any of them would sell out Shadow! Why would they!? They knew what was at stake! Shadow saved their lives, risked his own multiple times while the press printed him as a dangerous vigilante with no regard for the law, or the lives of others!
Finally, she landed on the balcony leading to the room she shared with her friends. She could hear laughter and chatter from inside, which gave her the slightest of hope that maybe they really didn't have anything to do with this. She opened the door to their room, and Pinkie noticed her right away.
"Dashie!" She smiled, bouncing over, but quickly came to a stop when she noticed her friend's expression. She gasped, "Dashie? What's wrong?"
It was at that moment the others noticed something was wrong as well, all of them stood up, concerned for their rainbow maned friend. "Rainbow, darling, whatever is wrong, you look absolutely distraught?" Rarity said in great concern.
Rainbow simply looked down at her hooves in a weak attempt to hide her tears. "S-Shadow's been arrested.."
"WHAT?!" Her friends exclaimed in unison.
"That doesn't make a lick of sense." Applejack exclaimed in confusion. "Why would they even arrest Shadow? They don't know he was The Ranger.."
Rainbow felt her knot loosen up a bit, her friends confusion seemed to be as big as hers. "I don't know, they came out of the blue, even knew which room he was staying in.." Rainbow looked to Twilight. "I have to see princess Celestia!"
Twilight jumped slightly. "Uhm, Rainbow, I don't think.."
"Come on, we're wasting time!" Rainbow insisted, walking towards the door. "He is still hurt, and who knows what they will do to him."
"Rainbow, they are going to take care of him, I promise.." As soon as those words left Twilight's mouth, everything stopped. There was no movement, no sound, no nothing, just the feeling that the room suddenly became much more tense.
Slowly turning, Rainbow looked at Twilight. "What do you mean by that?" She asked, suppressing her rage as her knot returned. "How do you know?"
Twilight looked much more uncomfortable now, she could hardly look her in the eyes. "I uhm, I just don't think that.. Uhm.."
Rainbow felt herself become lighter, she wasn't flying or anything, but it was just, the feeling everything simply wasn't there right now, it was only her, and Twilight. "It, was you.." Rainbow said in disbelief. "You told the guards about his identity.." The others gasped in shock, but Rainbow did not look at them, she only looked at Twilight who still refused to look back at her. "You told them about him, and you even told them where he was.. You wanted him to be arrested..."
Twilight still didn't look up. "It.. It isn't like tha-"
"LOOK AT ME!" Rainbow Dash yelled, tears streaming from her glaring eyes. Twilight looked up, shame and shock written across her face as tears started to flow from her eyes as well. At that moment, Rainbow just wanted to know one thing. "Why...?"
Twilight did not attempt to remove her tears, or look away from her friend, she did not dare. "He.. He broke a lot of laws, he hurt a lot of ponies, and after the battle, I just thought.. Just thought the case should have an official ending, I had no idea they would arrest him!" She spoke faster and faster, hoping Rainbow would understand.
"Bullshit!" Rainbow yelled. "Of course they would arrest him! He has enemies within the guard, he has enemies in prison, and now, he doesn't even have his identity hidden from them! I LOVED HIM, TWILIGHT!"
She was screaming, but no amount of yelling, fighting, or screaming could make Twilight understand, she would never understand, at least that was how Rainbow felt. Turning away, she started to walk towards the balcony, nopony making a move, except for Twilight. "Rainbow, wait, I'll talk to Shining Armor, and-"
"Don't!" Rainbow said, her voice flat and without any energy. "Just don't..." Without saying anything else, she leaped out, flying into the night.
"Rainbow!" All her friends called, but she was already gone out of sight.
There was nothing within Rainbow right now other than rage, and the feeling of being betrayed. While Twilight's intentions might have been good, might even make sense in some ways, it was naive of her to think Shadow would be safe and things would get an easy and neat ending.
Things were never that simple, and now, her happy moment had been ruined, and she was left feeling more alone than she had ever been. She did not want to speak with anypony, she just wanted to see Shadow! After everything that had happened, they deserved their happy ending, but it was stolen from them..
Gritting her teeth, Rainbow knew she had to find a way to get Shadow out, one way, or the other...