I didn't have time to fully think as the changelings attacked. With a swing of my wing I blew those closest to me away and took to the air and threw our bolts at any target I could safely aim at. Soon several were down but I soon had to start dodging as bolts whizzed by me. I gave wing bursts in reply. One of these guys got way to close for comfort and I decked him with a hoof. More charged to me only to be it by several magic bolts. A glance had me see Pinkie using Twilight's tail as a crank as magic bolts fired from her horn. AJ was bucking a big into the wall. Rarity as firing off the window shards with her magic and riddling more bugs. Then saw Fluttershy huddling in a corner with a couple of bugs closing in. I dashed over and their heads met my front hooves and then met the wall. Their heads were flat after that . I saw Celestia go down against the queen. I moved to get in the way but a bug got in mine. Before I could make a move I her a blast whine and soon the bug was encased in ice. I looked to the source and saw Misty Freeze in Lunar Armor. She nodded to me and moved to the next target.
The way cleared I charged as the changeling queen foalishly was gloating over the down princess and got slammed into the wall for it. I backed of and threw a lightning bolt at her. She yelled in pain and anger and dodge my next bolt and looked at me with anger. She lit her horn to fire a blast at me. I hit the horn and like a unicorn her spell sputtered. But she decked me with her hoof. I spun and avoided the next one. She pushed her attack and dodged around most of them. But not all. I grunted with the hits. And sent a vacuum blade at her. It grazed her cheek and she screamed in pain. Her horn lifts and when screamed through the pain of doing soon after taking a hit to the horn. I sent a wing blast at her. She tanked it with a grunt and sent out many small blasts. Too many for me to dodge. I grunted more as I felt cuts and burns hit my body. I sent more wing bursts and lightning bolts. They hit as a major blast hits me sending me flying in a rare uncontrolled manner. I hit a wall and slide down it. I was dazed and it was hard to think. Then I saw pink and I passed out.
* * * *
When I came to I ached all over, but was on something comfortable. I groaned as I open my eyes. I was in a room that was elegant. So still in the castle. Twilight appeared in view she had a slight smile on her face and asked how I was feeling.
“I ache all over.” I told her.
“Well you did take on a changeling Queen.” she said. I smirk at her.
“So what happened?”
“Cadance and my brother cast a shield and blew all the changelings out of Canterlot. Luna is running things as Princess Celestia and Cadance recover.”
“So how bad am I?” I admit to being a little fearful of the answer.
“Several cuts, bruised and broken ribs. You will be bed ridden for a few more days and then light work for a couple weeks.” I groaned.
“Tut, tut. Doctor’s orders and Princess Luna's.” Dang that sucked. “Could be worse Rainbow. You took on a creature that can rival an alicorn. You should be dead or crippled. How did you do that?”
“Have to ask Luna. I just used the Gale Wing.”
“Well rest for now. Cadance is postponing the wedding due to the damage.” I nodded and closed my eyes and was out.
The next time I came to I saw Luna beside my bed. She noticed I was up and smiled at me.
“Well done my apprentice. I am very proud of you. You did well considering your current level of training.”
“What?” She gave me a smirk.
“One of the big secrets of the Gale Wing. A fully trained pegasus can defeat an alicorn.” I know I was jaw dropping. Luna chuckled. “Yes, it is one of the secrets of the art. It is meant be a check on an alicorn. I am not the first alicorn to go mad and sadly will not be the last. We need more then my sister and niece. I hope you can be one my dear apprentice. But that is worry for another time. For now rest and recover my apprentice.”
* * * *
It was days later and I was in a dining hall. Having my first lunch outside of my room in the medical wing. I was about to bite into my meal.
“Uh Hey Rainbow.” I look over and saw the girls minus Twilight. I looked at them coldly.
“What do you want?”
“We wanted to see how you her doing?”
“Fine.” I took a bite. They look at each other.
“Look Rainbow. We want to amend things and be friends again.”
“And why should I do that? You apparently didn't learn from what happen with us. You all ABANDONED Twilight!” The flinched at that and I continued. “She had concerns and when she brought them forward you all ditched her. And guess what, she was right. The only she hot wrong was thinking it was Cadenza. That part though is understandable. But for you girls, especially you Fluttershy. You just dropped her for a mare you didn't know. Some empathy, some loyalty. Why should I ever be friends with you?”
“Because friends forgive each other for mistakes.” Fluttershy stated. “Especially when they admit they were wrong. And we were wrong with Twilight and she has forgiven us for that. And we were wrong in what we did to you. Please, please give us a chance to be friends again.” I was silent as I thought on it. I was getting tired of hating them. But wasn't ready to commit yet.
“Let me talk with Twilight before I decide anything.” They nodded and left knowing to not push further.
I was half way through my meal when I heard another voice. “May I see here?” it was a deep feminine voice with a cold edge to it. I look to see Misty Freeze with a food tray in her magic. I tapped the spot next to me.
“Sure thing Misty. Thanks for the save that night.”
“You owe me nothing. You helped me avenge my wife and Princess Luna has given me purpose. And that would not be without you. So thank you Shadowbolt.” She bowed to me.
“Don't call me Shadowbolt when I am not wearing the outfit.”
“Very well. I heard the tail end of that conversation with those mares. I would suggest trying. At least you have the chance. I will not see my wife till I die. So take the chance. The hadn't cause any deaths so forgive, but don't forget.”
“I'll take that in mind. So you became a guard?”
“Yeah, The princess saw my potential and basically conscripted me into her guard. But at this point I don't mind. She lets me prevent more from suffering my fate. My wife would want that.”
“Good to hear.” From there it went to small talk and we left lunch as friends.
I knocked on the tower Twilight used as her place while here. I had to walk thanks to my injures. Spike answered it and brightened seeing me.
“Rainbow! Come on in.”
“Thanks Spike, is Twilight here?” He opened the door more.
“Yeah, she's here.” Over his shoulder. “TWILIGHT! RAINBOW’S HERE!” I walked in as Twilight came down some stairs.
“Rainbow.” She smiled and came over and hugged me. I hissed in pain and she back off. “Sorry.”
“It's okay. Just no hugs for a bit. So heard you made up with the girls.”
“Yeah, we talk things out. They get this second chance. But that’s all they get. One more and I am done with them. I also got an apology from Princess Celestia. I nearly stopped being her student.” My eyes went wide. That was pretty serious. Twilight saw Celestia was the perfect goddess. “Well I am staying as her student with conditions. Starting over a bit. Maybe you should do the same with the girls.”
“I keep hearing this.”
“Then maybe you should listen.” I chuckled.
“So you are going back to Ponyville?”
“Yeah, its become home to me. I hope one day you could come back.”
“Well I am stuck here for another week. So there is that before anything else.”
“Well I am glad we’re friends again, but not how I wanted it done.”
“Same.”
The next two days we chatted and rebonded. But she had to go back to Ponyville. I was feeling better but Luna called be to her chambers when night fell. The two bat ponies nodded to me and opened the door and I stepped in. I was liking the night theme Luna had.
“DASH!” I look and smiled as Luna came into the room. I smiled at her as she smiled at me. “How are you healing?” I shrugged as I reply.
“About ninety percent.”
“Good, before you head home I have something for you. Follow me.” She turned around and I followed and she lead me into a small room and she moved to the side and my jaw dropped. There, on a ponikin was a Shadowbolt suit. The one I was wearing during the battle was shredded.
“I had planned to show you this after the wedding, but we both know what happened.”
“Why?”
“Because what you had before was just a flight suit. As Shadowbolt you need more protection then it can provide. And Gale Wing is an attack and evasion art, not defense. This this new suit is made of mythril. A light but durable material. Perfect for pegasi.” I inspected the suit. It was a near perfect copy of her old suit. It was thicker, not much but clearly thicker. Go ahead. Try it on.” I raced over and put it on. It fit like a glove and though heavier it was not by much. This was not going to affect my flying and fighting abilities. I looked Luna beaming.
“This feels great Luna. Thanks!”
“No problem my apprentice. It was worth the bits.” I raised an eyebrow.
“How much did this cost you?”
“Quite a bit on bits but I also have a lot. A thousand years of not spending any and sister did not revoke my stipend leads to quite a bit on bits. Bit seeing you enjoy the suit gives me greater joy then those bits ever could.” I smiled at her.
“Well thanks Luna.”
“Any time my dear friend.” Things were looking bright as Luna's stars.