Twilight’s POV (2 hours after last chapter’s end)
I looked over at Cadence and Rainbow Dash to see if they had any ideas, but they both shook their heads. It looked like we might have to try to find the unicorn another time.
It had looked like she had committed suicide when she jumped, but this was a unicorn with serious power, and she blinked away like a shooting star. We had spent an hour looking for her to make sure we were safe.
Celestia and Luna were discussing who it could have been, but I and the others had been brainstorming what she could want.
“I hear that Rainbow Dash is training a princess and I see her battling tornadoes! Where is that little overgrown filly!”
I hadn’t heard someone come into the palace lobby where we were waiting, but we all jumped at the noise. I saw a Pegasus with a coat and mane as black as night come into the building. I looked at Rainbow to see her face look puzzled at who this man was.
He stomped over to us, “I have never in all my years seen such a reckless, overbearing, and totally horrible display of flight by an alicorn in all my life!” he looked at Rainbow, “And I couldn’t be more happy to see my old student teaching this train wreck with wings.” He said with a chuckle.
Rainbow’s face lit up with a joy I had previously thought was the sole property of the Wonderbolts. I watched as she embraced the colt and took him into the sky almost colliding with the ceiling.
“Shadow Wing!” she cried, “I haven’t seen you since that fiasco at the Wonderbolts derby a few years ago! What’s an old horse like you doing here?”
He chuckled, “I just had to see what my favorite student was doing. Plus I had to make sure you weren’t planning a repeat of that little incident with that poor colt at flight camp.”
She stopped dead and they fell back to the earth. I looked at her to see a blood red blush covering her face, “You swore never to mention that again! It wasn’t my fault that someone spiked the punch! I barely even remember that night!”
He let out another chuckle, “Same old Rainbow Dash. Nice to see at least some things never change.” He looked over and saw me and Cadence watching, “Oh! My apologies ladies! I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I simply couldn’t wait to see my old student again.”
I looked at Cadence and we shared a look. We didn’t know him, but experience said Rainbow always was a good judge of people (minus the whole Gilda incident) and she seemed to trust him.
Rainbow looked at us and seemed to realize that she hadn’t done introductions properly, “Oh my bad guys! This is Shadow Wing! He was my trainer at flight camp when I was a filly. He’s been my best friend for my entire life!”
He walked over to us and took my hoof, “Princess Twilight I presume?” he kissed the back of my hoof, and then did the same for Cadence. He then looked over at Rainbow and asked, “Would you have a moment to walk with me Rainbow? I have some matters I have been meaning to ask you about.”
“Oh sure Shadow! That is… if it’s okay with Twilight?” She looked at me with the question on her face.
I felt my eye getting ready to twitch. This was the one thing I hated about being a princess. Ever since my coronation my friends seemed to need my permission to leave my side for anything; family, friends, even their jobs. I hated the fact that they felt they needed to put me before themselves.
“Sure Rainbow. You don’t have to ask.” She smiled and they took off out into Canterlot.
She wouldn’t remember not to ask. None of my friends did.
Rainbow’s POV
Shadow Wing took us to a small café near the center of the city. I had to bite my cheek to keep a squeal from coming out. Shadow Wing! Here! I hadn’t seen him in so long, and he never gave out any address or mail place to contact him.
I could still feel the strain of his exercises when he was my instructor. He had been ruthless, cold, and the most demanding person I had ever met.
And I loved every second he had trained me.
He ordered us both teas, a favorite of his. He and I shared our drink while I thought about what he could possibly want of me. He wasn’t the kind to ask favors, and he never had needed help. I could only assume that he wanted to tell me something important.
He looked over at me and started to talk, “I’ll be honest Dash, that much you deserve. I’m retiring from training, and am moving to the country.”
I felt my jaw drop. Shadow had been training pegasi for over twenty years. Every single current Wonderbolt had trained under him, and he had a whole wall of awards. I couldn’t imagine why he would retire.
“Why?!”
He sighed, “I’m not as young as people seem to think I am kid. I feel like I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and I need a change of pace. I just wanted to see you and ask you something before I make it official.”
What could he need my permission for? “What do you need?”
“Can I move into Ponyville?”
I felt my jaw hit the floor.
Crescent’s POV
I looked around the ruins of the Castle of the Sisters and began to begin a repair spell. I needed a place to be safe, and a place Luna would be able to find. I could only imagine the thoughts going through her head.
Soon we would see just how strong a mother’s love for her child truly is.