//------------------------------// // Storms Gathering // Story: Sunshine and Rainbows // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// Little by little the walls fell away and Celestia was able to truly see her daughter in the pegasus before her. They spent hours together that day, laying in the massive bed, Rainbow cradled in Celestia's hooves as she told another tale of how she had come up with an amazing trick. Celestia listened with a warm smile, nuzzling the pegasus lovingly. "Princess! that tickles!" Rainbow squealed, quickly clearing her throat. "I mean..uh..." she said, quickly putting on her tough pony facade. She couldn't let anypony hear her acting like that, especially Celestia. "Rainbow, you don't have to act this way. Its okay to be a little girly sometimes and...you don't have to call me Princess." Celestia sighed, hoping Rainbow wouldn't close herself off again. "I guess that would be kind of weird when everypony shows up huh? so...Should I call you...mom?" they both lay there for a moment in silence. Rainbow worked her mouth over the word a few times, feeling strangely comfortable with it. "Mom? mommy? mother?" Rainbow tilted her head back to look up at the Alicorn who held her. She was surprised to see tears in her eyes, letting out a quiet 'eep' as Celestia hugged her. "Rainbow...its been so long...I'm so sorry..." she said softly. Rainbow nuzzled the Alicorn's neck and closed her eyes. "Its not your fault. Its not like you could help being busy, you are who you are." Rainbow said, trying to assure her, though the sun goddess would not be swayed. She remained silent however, clinging to Rainbow, repeating to herself that this was real, that this wasn't a dream. A faint knock on the door and the head of a certain Alicorn Princess pulled their attention away from one another. Luna couldn't help but smile at them as she entered the room. "I had thought I would find you here sister, though I thought you would be teaching rather than cuddling. I must admit this is certainly cute but we have work to do." Luna lectured her elder sister. It was hard to stifle a laugh as the two, mother and daughter, rolled their eyes and groaned in unison. Together they stood, Celestia helping Rainbow to slip into her vestments and showing her the proper way to walk, how to hold her wings, how to hold her head and where to keep her eyes. "We never look down on anypony Rainbow, everypony is special to us." Celestia said with a smile. "I know that, I could never look down on anypony!" Rainbow argued. "We know that Rainbow Dash, but it is about appearances. You may recall Nightmare Night when I visited Ponyville. I still had much to learn of how the times have changed and while I held the same poise as you do now I unintentionally cast my eyes down upon the ponies there. I am ashamed of my behavior that night but I am thankful for Twilight Sparkles guidance and everyponies eventual acceptance of me." Luna said from her seat nearby. "The point she is making Rainbow, is that you have to pay attention to anything you might do to cause anypony discomfort or accidentally insult somepony." Celestia explained "oh...I guess I'm gonna need more practice..." she said, thinking on what they had said. Hearing it from both of them and thinking back on their time together she realized they were right. Celestia and Luna were taller than most ponies so it was hard not to look down on them. Though they somehow managed to stay eye to eye with their subjects, putting themselves on the same level of the ponies they protected. They were rulers simply in name. It eased her mind a bit, not much, but a bit. Just outside Canterlot, creatures were gathering, chariots arriving and tensions rising. As it had turned out, the Gryphons weren't the only ones sending their respective leaders earlier than expected. Almost everyone had hoped to catch the others off guard by their early arrival, only managing to surprise themselves upon seeing each other. Of course the first thing they did was bump heads, mainly referring to the Gryphons and Minotaurs.. "Well, it seems even you bunch of idiots managed to get here on time this time around. Whats it been? five decades since you've managed that?" The king of the Gryphons said with a sly grin. To his surprise the Minotaurs had nothing to say back. "Nothing on your mind? Pity, I suppose that's an everyday experience for your kind." "I suppose you've never heard of keeping your mouth shut when you've nothing kind to say." The Minotaur Tribe leader spoke up with a small grin of his own, leaving the Gryphon baffled by his behavior as he made his way to the castle. Little did they know, it was thanks to a certain yellow pegasus that the Minotaurs had learned kindness and to think before they acted. One by one the groups entered Canterlot, followed by their respective others, servants and whatnot. All of which hoped to at least catch Celestia off guard. Many others were curious if the rumors of Luna's return were true. Not many had seen the return of Nightmare Moon, only those within the castle that night and within Ponyville knew it to be fact. The rumors proved to be true as Luna herself welcomed them as they neared the castle "Welcome friends! I do hope that we can still address you as such even on days such as this. We only wish to keep peace and harmony throughout these lands." "Last I heard you wished eternal night upon these lands." the Gryphon king remarked. "It is true I had lost my sight and turned on my own blood. But with the Elements and time, I have learned my lesson and it is not one I will soon forget. But that is old news. We have more important business to attend to, my sister and Niece await you inside." Luna said with a small smile, turning to lead them inside the massive castle, a group of her Night guard following close on all sides. Unlike Celestia's Royal Guard, these guards were prepared to take a life to defend their princess and had trained for decades, even while their Princess remained imprisoned within the moon. Kept alive only by hope, a hope that burned within Celestia's heart as well, that one day their Princess would return as herself. Luna stopped and stepped aside, her Guards keeping a ring formation around her as she allowed the Leaders inside the Throne room where Celestia awaited them. Each took a seat, the Gryphon King the first to speak, an eyebrow raised as he scanned the room "So where is this Daughter of yours you mentioned Celestia? It would be a shame if she were merely made up or a figment of your sad imagination." "It is a pleasure to see you again as well King Niare, please allow me to introduce my daughter. Princess Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty." Rainbow entered from behind Celestia's throne, chin slightly lifted, a small smile on her face as she sat down beside Celestia, Luna taking her place on her own throne. "LIAR!" A voice screamed out. All eyes were cast on the Gryphon Princess as she stepped forward. "I know for a fact that Rainbow Dash is no Princess! She's not even worthy of the title!" the Gryphon spat. "I'll have you know Princess, that Rainbow Dash is in fact my daughter, by blood. At an early age she left the castle to pursue a life of her own and has returned to fulfill her duties as Princess of Equestria." "Don't give me that crap!" she screamed. Rainbow stepped forward. "I understand your hate of me Princess. We were once friends, you and I. But your actions so long ago destroyed that friendship. Now here you stand with a chance to redeem yourself and instead you dare to insult my mother and call her a liar in her own Royal court?!" Rainbow stamped her hoof, staring into the Gryphons eyes. The Gryphon Princess gulped but stared back. "Do you wish to know the truth Princess? I ran from my responsibility before because I did not want it. But now that I am needed I cannot abandon my Mother nor my land. I will stand by my Mother and my Aunt and I will not allow you to get away with insulting her! Now I ask that you return to your seat and allow her to continue before I decide to act." Rainbow raised an eyebrow, waiting for the Gryphon to react. "You won't get away with this Dash, I dunno who you think you are, just cause you can walk and talk like a Princess doesn't mean you are one and I'm going to prove it." the Princess growled in a whisper. "Do your worst." Rainbow gasped as the Gryphon tackled her to the ground.