//------------------------------// // To be Prepared // Story: Sunshine and Rainbows // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// "Now hold still Rainbow" Rarity said, holding a few 'tools' in her magic. "Oh for the love of..." Rainbow held her breath as Rarity went to work, combing out her hair and slowly working out all the knots, another comb struggling to do the same with her tail. "I swear, its as if you haven't done this in ages Rainbow." "Well all I usually need is a cloud or two in the morning..." she mumbled under her breath. Rarity gasped in shock and doubled her efforts, powdering the pegasi's face and taking extra special care of her wings. She had learned quite a bit during her Spa treatments with Fluttershy. Wings were sensitive things and even just the little brush of magic she used to straighten and remove feathers could make Rainbow uncomfortable. Though the pegasus was already far beyond that. She had returned to her old life and she hadn't even accomplished her goal. In her mind she had failed her mother twice. It hurt, more than anything had ever hurt before. The thought brought a tear to her eye, Rarity seeing this thought herself to be at fault. "Oh Rainbow I'm sorry!" She quickly apologized. Rainbow shook her head, wiping away the tear and smudging the make-up Rarity had just finished putting on her. The unicorn held back the urge to scold her. "No..i..it wasn't you. I'm just..." "I understand Rainbow. Well, I suppose I don't, but know that as your friend I am here for you and will do whatever I can to help you through this." Rarity said with her signature smile, making quick work of Rainbows smudged make-up. "Alright, that is all I can do with those dreadful knots in your mane. Now for the finishing touch." Rarity opened a chest with her magic, several items floating out of it and in front of Rainbow who gave an exasperated sigh. Held in Raritys' magic were a golden Tiara with matching shoes and a breastplate emblazoned with a sunset underneath a bright rainbow. Reluctantly the pony let the items be placed on her, slipping her hooves into the shoes and holding her head up to keep the tiara balanced. Rarity had to admit to herself that she was impressed, not only by her work with the Tom-colt, but by the mere fact that Rainbow could be so poised when she wanted to be. Though she could see the pegasus most definitely did not want to. "You look simply marvelous darling. Its all up to Twilight and the Princess now. I don't think I have the talent needed to make you a Princess beyond appearances." she admitted. She prided herself in her abilities to impress the upper-crust of Canterlot, but teaching another pony was beyond her. Especially a pony like Rainbow Dash. The pegasus gave a small nod, careful not to let the Tiara slip as she walked around the unicorn. Experimenting with the added weight and keeping herself poised. The lessons of her foal-hood echoed in the back of her mind. Eyes front, head high, small smile but no teeth. Only teeth when the occasion calls for it. You are a princess after all. One hoof after the other, tail slightly raised but not too high. You are Royalty, not some two-bit pony on the corner of an alley. Only now did she realize what that last part meant. As a foal she just went through the motions. Rainbow smiled a little to herself, Rarity was always boasting about her talents with Nobility, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to upstage the unicorn, even if it was just her and Rarity in the room. "I do apologize for my earlier behavior Miss Rarity. I found myself lost in memories of old and found that I could not hold back my tears. I do hope you do not think any less of me for it." Rainbow fought to hold back her grin as the unicorns mouth fell open in shock. Of course, with her friend in such a state, she couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Hey, I was forced through the same routine everyday Rarity. I can do this, i'm just a bit rusty is all. I've been living my life my way for so long. I just need some time is all..." her smile vanished as she sighed. Rarity put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "You'll do wonderfully dear. I'm sure you'll make Twilight's job easy." She said without a doubt in her mind after seeing Rainbow's display only moments before. "Thats just it Rarity...I know I can do this...thats what scares me...After all of this is said and done i'll be stuck with it for the rest of my life." "Rainbow, i'm sure we can talk to the Princess and..." "No! We can't! You don't understand! If I had stayed, my coronation would have been two years ago! As soon as the reunion is over they are gonna start planning it. theres no way out! I won't get my chance to be a wonderbolt, I won't get my chance to make her proud! I failed!" Rainbow collapsed on the floor in a heap of tears, sobs racking her body and ruining half of Rarity's work. Thats not important right now Rarity, your friend needs you She sat beside the pegasus, scooting close enough for Rainbow to lean against her and let out all of her pain. "There there darling, let it all out." she said softly, forcing herself to ignore the tears and snot staining her white coat from her friends crying. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make to comfort the pegasus. Her entire life had been turned on its head after all. Finally Rainbow managed to calm herself, sitting up and taking a slow breath. "S...Sorry about that Rarity..." "Don't be. You can't keep everything bottled up dear and you've been holding out on us for as long as we've known you, longer than that. You need this and I am glad I could be here for you." Rarity said with a smile. Rainbow chuckled, seeing that it was a little strained. "They've got a bath in pretty much every room in this place. You can use mine while i'm learnin from Twi." Rainbow told her once she noticed her stained coat. To her surprise her wailing had only disturbed some of her makeup and a few strands of hair in her mane which Rarity was quick to fix before taking off for a well needed bath. Rainbow took a slow breath and pushed the doors open, stepping out into the hall where her friends and several guards waited. "Well...how do I look?" Rainbow asked, a little fearful when everypony stared at her in silence. "Ya look..." Applejack began, trying to find the right word. "Amazing..." Twilight finished. Luna gave a small smile. "I agree with Twilight Sparkle. Your friend Rarity truly is talented. Though I do not know how much we must teach you Rainbow Dash." She said stopping in front of her Niece. The Princess had been shocked to discover her sister had never told her about this, but didn't pressure her about it. Rainbow Dash sighed softly and lifted her chin and to Luna's amazement began to walk around them slowly, her hooves making only a small scuffing sound as the shoes ran over the tiled floor. "While I may appear to be the tom-colt among my friends I am not a lost cause. You may try to tell me this is not what was on your minds but I can see it in your eyes my dear friends and I wish you would not worry yourselves so much over me. I admit I am quite rusty and there is still much about Canterlot I must learn, but I can control my behavior with my previous teachings as a filly. There. is that what ya wanted t' hear?" Rainbow said, her voice holding a bit of an edge to it. Luna flinched. "I am sorry Rainbow. I did not mean..." "No...no its fine. I'm just...a bit upset is all..." "Thats understandable sugarcube...yer life just went all topsy-turvey. Anypony'd be on edge." "Thanks Aj...I mean...Applejack...I guess I should keep workin on it..." "You'll do fine Rainbow. But you'll need to learn how to address ponies and gryphons and there are bound to be others there as well if this is about those peace treaties. The Manticores, the Wolves from the Everfree forest and probably even a zebra or two. You've gotta know how to speak to them." "uh...ok...so...how do I talk to em?" Rainbow asked "Well the Gryphons are all about power. You would address the king as 'Your Royal Majesty' and the queen as 'Your Royal Highness.' While you would speak to the Princess as your equal. In the same way she would call you Princess Rainbow you would call her Princess uh..." Twilight paused, somewhat emberassed she didn't know the name of the Gryphon princess. "Do not worry too much about that. I have been made aware that proper introductions will be made the day of the reunion. Fifty years is a long time and this will be my first since my return. You will not be alone in this Rainbow Dash." Luna said with a small smile. Rainbow nodded, still pulling herself together mentally for the task at hoof. "Ok, what about the Manticores?" They worked late into the night and early into the morning hours, drilling Rainbow Dash in keeping her face calm as well as her words. They would struggle at times as Rainbow would transition back to herself in the middle of a sentance when put under stress. "We'll have to work on it more later Dash." Twilight yawned. Their friends had gone to bed hours ago, wishing them luck. Celestia entered the room, relieving her sister and taking a seat. Rainbow gave her a small smile which quickly turned into a loud yawn. "You can't keep yourself awake through the night Rainbow. You need your sleep, as do you Twilight." "I know princess I know. But we've only got six days left. While Rainbow can walk like a Princess and talk like one, she can't do it under pressure." Celestia nodded. "Why don't you get some rest my faithful student? I will take over from here." "Are you sure? I can stay up a bit longer, I've gone a few days without sleep before, I can..." "Twilight, go get some rest." Celestia said putting a hoof on her students shoulder. Twilight looked up into her eyes, a pleading look on the Princess' face. Twilight took it as a hint that Celestia wanted to be alone with Rainbow and nodded. "Alright Princess. I'll leave it to you. Good night Rainbow and good luck." Twilight made her way out of the room, leaving the two alone. Celestia's magic closed the door quietly, leaving the two of them together. Rainbow Dash gulped as Celestia moved over to a nearby table, flipping open a small box, inside rested two rainbow frosted cupcakes. She smiled as she lifted them in her magic, holding one in the air for Rainbow Dash. "Huh? whats this?" "Its a cupcake. That day...I was too late...I tried to bring you one but you had already left...I want to make up for the time we've missed. I want to be the mother you deserve even though I know I never can be..." Celestia watched as Rainbow forced herself to take a smile bite of the cupcake rather than eat the entire thing in one bite. Celestia held back a giggle and took a big bite out of her own, Rainbow staring at her in shock. "Its not all about being prim and proper Rainbow. You recall the Gabby Gums article about me do you not?" She asked the pegasus with a smile as she licked a bit of frosting from her lip. The pegasus nodded. "Yea...sorry about that, we shoulda' figured it out faster and put a stop to it and when we did find out we overreacted..." "Its fine Rainbow. None of it was your fault and those three fillies learned an important lesson on their own. Its not the first time the press has found its way into the castle, and I doubt it will be the last. I want you to be comfortable here...I know you don't want to be here..." Celestia blinked in surprise as the pegasus nuzzled her. "Thats not it at all, well not all of it. Its not that I don't want to be here with you. Its that I don't want this to be my life, to be a princess and have all this responsibility. I'm not cut out for it. This is ALL of Equestria we are talking about. What if I mess up? What if I ruin everything? What if I cause a war?!" The pegasus rambled on, letting her panic show in her voice. Celestia draped a wing around her and gave the pegasus a smile. "I'm going to tell you a secret. I worry about the same things every day. Its a hard job and a hard life, but it has its rewards. In time you will see, but for now, You have a cupcake to finish." the two smiled at one another and in that moment they weren't Princess'; Only a mother and her daughter.