Chapter 2: New day, new life
The sun slowly rose and its light reached Ponyville to wake its citizens. Smoke appeared over Sugarcube Corner where a cheerful, pink pony baked the first delicacies of the morning and like every morning a purple unicorn awoke in her library after a night full of studying.
The "closed" sign in the window of the boutique of a white unicorn with purple mane was switched to an "open" sign and at the edge of the Everfree Forest a shy, yellow pegasus pony brought her little animal friends their breakfast.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning and three little fillies with capes left Sweet Apple Acres to find their own cutie marks.
The sweet smell of apples and apple pie was in the air while an orange pony with a hat bucked another apple tree to get enough apples to fill her cart. Just like every Sunday she hoped that she would earn enough money for her family.
However just like her friends she didn't know that this morning would be different. This day was a special day that would change her life and the life of her best friends.
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Rainbow Dash was very pleased. Although she flew with half of her speed, Shiron was still close behind her and he was even able to do the same tricks she did during all her early flying sessions. Most of the pegasus ponies in Ponyville weren't able to fly as fast as Rainbow Dash was able to and even less could do tricks at this speed.
Now the athlete in her was awake and she wondered how good Shiron really was. "Not bad. Are you ready for the true race?" she asked Shiron with a look back at him.
"Sure" he answered with a grin.
Rainbow Dash was surprised because the shy and unconfident pony she had met in the cave was now strong and confident. I wish that flying would have had the same effect on Fluttershy like it had on Shiron, Rainbow Dash thought to herself.
"Awesome! Let's see if you can catch up to me when I fly at full speed" Rainbow said with a challenging grin.
Without wasting more time Rainbow Dash started to fly faster and faster but she still held back her true strength and power. For the moment she didn't want to make it too difficult for Shiron. If he still was able to keep up with her then she would try something special she had in mind for the race.
The wind was flowing trough Rainbow's mane as well as her wings and she loved this feeling. Only when she was flying as fast and as high as she could she actually felt free. Memories of the past, thoughts of the future and everything else left her mind. She was one with the sky and only the here and now was important.
All her life she had dreamed of someone she could share the sky with. In Cloudsdale it had been her best friends, the Junior Speedsters especially Gilda and … Silverwing. After she had left Cloudsdale because of a certain incident she had found in Stormchaser a new best friend and even a big sister. Rainbow had been able to share the sky with her new flying partner but it hadn't last very long.
After Stormchaser had left Ponyville Rainbow Dash had hoped to find a new flying partner but none the pegasi in Ponyville were as skilled as she was and after Gilda's last visit and the disastrous party she had even lost her old best friend and flying partner.
Since this day her flying sessions had been less interesting and weren't near as fun as they use to be. Worst of all, the feeling of freedom had changed into loneliness. Not even her friends in Ponyville have been able to see this change in her feelings and it didn't surprised Rainbow Dash. After the worst day in her life she had become an expert in hiding her feelings. However now it was possible that she finally found a new flying partner and someone to share the sky with.
When she looked back Shiron was missing. Although he was a better flyer than all the other pegasus ponies she knew he wasn't as good as she was. After letting out a sad sigh she was about to slow down and wait for him when she felt that something or better somepony fly past her.
"See you" Shiron said while Rainbow Dash was too surprised to respond.
Finally she thought to herself. She put on her goggles, which she had hid in her mane, and licked her lips. The next moment only a rainbow was left behind where Rainbow Dash had been only some seconds before and another moment later she already caught up with Shiron.
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Pinkie Pie happily bounced through Ponyville humming her favorite melody. It was a clear sky and the pink pony loved the feeling of the sun warming her coat. She also loved to jump into the puddles the storm had left behind. Beautiful little rainbows formed when the sun met the water drops and a big smile filled Pinkie's face.
"Speaking of rainbows" she said to herself "I haven't seen Dashie all day".
She was about to visit her rainbow colored friend at her home when she got three different, little feelings. Her ear starting to flop, following by twitchy knees and at last her eyes started to flutter. Knowing what her Pinkie Sense had told her Pinkie Pie looked at the sky.
Just in time she could see two flying ponies that were heading to Rainbow Dash's training course. Although both ponies were too fast for any other pony to be seen, Pinkie Pie hadn't any problems with it.
"Oh, there's Dashie" she cheerful said "but who is this stallion?" she asked herself aloud.
Although both ponies had only been visible for a second or two seconds Pinkie Pie hadn't any problems to recognize that one pony was her friend Rainbow Dash and that the other pony was an unknown alicorn stallion.
"Oh my gosh. A new pony comes to Ponyville and he's even a pony like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Maybe he's even related with our Princesses but that would mean that they would also come to Ponyville. I wonder if this will be a surprise but I'm sure they would be sad if no pony would be prepared but maybe they are planning a surprise party but a party without a cake isn't a party but if they're planning a surprise party I would already know that because I love parties and can feel when anypony is planning a party except the time when I forgot my own birthday and I had been so sad when I thought that my friends didn't like my parties and didn't want to be my friends anymore because they made up excuses to not come to Gummy's after birthday party but then I was happy again when I realized that they had planned a surprise party for me but now I can't feel a party coming anytime soon that means the Princesses aren't planning a party and they won't come to Ponyville what means that this alicorn will come to Ponyville without a party and that would make him so sad but I know what I have to do I will make a surprise party for him so he can meet everypony in Ponyville and he'll have lots and lots of friend just like Twilight when she was new in Ponyville" Pinkie Pie said without taking breath.
Forgetting the fact that she already had a party yesterday she happily bounced back to Sugarcube Corner to plan a party for this alicorn stallion she had seen.
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Rainbow Dash flew under Shiron. While she was flying she was lying on her back with her front hooves crossed behind her head. Shiron was still too surprised to see her flying in this position at this speed like it was still a warm-up for her.
Rainbow Dash on the other hoof began to love this race more and more. With a grin she just said "Later" before she overtake Shiron
Soon both ponies reached their maximum speed while they were heading to one of Rainbow Dash's practicing courses. Rainbow Dash was the first who reached the course and she began to fly in slalom through the trees of the course
Shiron was still close behind her but unlike Rainbow Dash he had to slow down while he was following her through the tree course. When he finally finished the course Rainbow Dash had already headed back to the sky in the direction of some clouds. Shiron was summoning all his strength to catch up with his new friend and step-by-step he came closer although he couldn't avoid the feeling that Rainbow Dash was waiting for him.
The next course was much bigger than the tree course and it consists of different clouds. Over the whole course were annular clouds distributed and by watching Rainbow Dash who was flying through them Shiron realize that this must been the route through the course. Without wasting time he passed the first circle as soon as he reached it.
Although the course started very easy it soon became much more difficult. Many clouds of different size where distributed all over the route. Shiron had some problems to follow the route and avoiding the other clouds without touching them with his wings or loosing speed. It looked like the clouds were randomly distributed and the circles didn't make it easier because Shiron realized that they became smaller after ten circles of the same size
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Rainbow Dash had already reached the second part of her course. After she had won the Best Young Flyer Competition, she had started to create a bigger and better training course. The first part was similar to the tree course which she had used to practice flying in slalom but unlike the tree curse there were much more obstacles to avoid. Moreover along the whole course were circles distributed to mark the way through the whole course.
It had taken her more than a month of planning but it was worth it. The first part was now much more difficult because she had to fly in different ways and not only slalom. Even Rainbow Dash had had some problems to finish the whole course without losing speed or touching clouds but now she was an expert and each time she used this training course she tried to break her own record.
The second part of her course consists of six clouds each of them in different sizes. The goal was to fly around the clouds to make them spin just like she had trained for in the Best Young Flyer Competition. At first she had arranged the clouds from the smallest to the biggest cloud but after some time she had rearranged them. Now the clouds were arbitrary distributed and it was more difficult to make them spin because of the arbitrary size of the clouds.
When she looked back, Rainbow Dash could see that Shiron was leaving the first part of her course and he was flying in the direction of the second part. She couldn't hide a happy grin because soon she would be able to see if he was able to finish the fourth and last part.
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After he finally finished the first part of Rainbow Dash's course, Shiron was able to see the second part. It consists of six clouds and he could see Rainbow Dash flying around the last one. At first Shiron was confused because flying around a cloud didn't seem as difficult as the last part but then the cloud began to spin.
Shiron almost forgot to flap his wings because of the surprise but after he quickly shook his head, to get his focus back, he headed for the first cloud.
It was much more difficult than it looked like and Shiron needed several circumnavigations until he figured out how to make the cloud start to spin. After half of the clouds were spinning, Shiron was able to concentrate on his speed and height to make the last three clouds spinning but he still wasn't as good as Rainbow Dash who had almost finished the third part of the course. With all his remaining strength Shiron tried to catch up with her.
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It's now or never Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She had the perfect speed and Ponyville was in save distance. The momentum she got from the third part of her course, the looping part, was perfect and she saw that Shiron almost finished the third part.
After her last flying session with Stormchaser, Rainbow Dash had never felt this good not even during the Best Young Flyers Competition. All her thoughts were focused and she flew as fast as she could. A vortex formed in front of her as she headed to the second last circle.
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Shiron had just finished the third part of the course when he headed to the last part. The circles of the third part had been positioned to create different kinds of loops each of them more difficult than the last and more than once Shiron had touched the cloud circles. However now he entered the fourth and last part of Rainbow Dash's training course.
When he entered the first circle of the last part Shiron could only see two more circles and the last one was marked with a finish line. Shiron scanned the course and he realized that the three circles had been positioned to create a "V". The first and the last circle of the fourth part were positioned almost at the same high while the second circle was close to the ground.
For Shiron it looked like the fourth part of the course was a challenge to decide who the faster pony was. Rainbow Dash was already heading to the ground faster than ever and once again Shiron summoned all his remaining energy to catch up with her but nothing had been able to prepare him for what happened next.
When Rainbow Dash reached the second last circle Shiron was too surprised to concentrate anymore and he was even forgetting the race. All he could do was to watch in awe as a loud explosion broke the silence before a big rainbow colored circle was formed. Just like waves the rainbow was spreading in all four cardinal directions.
Out of the middle of the rainbow circle Rainbow Dash flew with unbelievable speed to the finish line a big beautiful and glittering rainbow behind her.
Suddenly Shiron's mind traveled back to the day when he had seen a similar rainbow. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and while he had watched the rainbow he had wished that someone would save him from his loneliness.
Shiron couldn't believe that, from all creatures in all of Equestria, he had saved this special pony that was able to create this rainbow. Was it coincidence or was it maybe even fate?
Shiron didn't know it when he watched the beauty of Rainbow Dash and the rainbow she had created.
It took him some time until Shiron was able to move again and although it wasn't necessary anymore Shiron decided to finish the race. However although he flew as fast as he could he wasn't able to create a vortex in front of him
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Rainbow Dash watched Shiron while she was waiting on a cloud next to the finish line. She was surprised and even a bit impressed that Shiron was still finishing the course. She had thought that after seeing her amazing Sonic Rainboom he would just fly to her ignoring the second last circle. However instead of doing this Shiron was finishing the race like a true athlete.
He's even better than I hoped but he still needs more training to be as good as me she thought with a happy smile but I finally found a new flying partner.
After Shiron passed the finish line both ponies headed back to the ground. Rainbow Dash was the first who landed followed by an exhausted Shiron who was out of breath. Rainbow Dash waited some time until Shiron recovered a bit before she broke the silence.
"You're good. I only have a few other friends who are able to fly like this but sadly none of them living in Ponyville" she said with a warm smile. With a hoof-pump she added, "That was the best flying session I had in years."
"Same here" Shiron responded. "You're amazing and you're last trick was awesome."
"That was my Sonic Rainboom and I'm the only pony that's able to do it" Rainbow Dash said with a proud face. However she was hiding the fact that she still didn't master the Sonic Rainboom. In all her life she had only done three Sonic Rainbooms and she didn't know why she had been able to do one today.
"I'm sure you never saw something like this,” she added quickly when she realized that she had been lost in her thoughts for a few seconds.
"Well, actually I had seen something similar some months ago. When I had been in my cave I had heard a loud explosion before I had seen a rainbow colored wave that had been filling the sky over the Everfree Forest.
Until this day I had never seen something as beautiful as that and today you showed me its true beauty" Shiron said to a surprised Rainbow Dash.
"You looked amazing with the rainbow behind you" he added before Shiron realized that he had said the last part aloud. I hope she didn't hear the last part Shiron thought to himself hiding a soft blush.
A Sonic Rainboom some months ago Rainbow Dash thought to herself. "Oh, that must be the Sonic Rainboom I had done during the Best Young Flyer Competition" she proudly stated. "…And thank you" she added while she was also hiding a blush.
For some time both ponies just stood there blushing and trying to avoid eye contact.
"Let's go see Twilight" Rainbow Dash broke the silence after a few more moments. "I'm sure you can't wait to meet the Princesses"
Shiron just nodded and together the two friends started to walk to Twilight's library.
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Rainbow Dash and Shiron were about half way there and in the distance Twilight's tree was already visible. However Shiron hadn't any time to focus on the way before him because of all the other ponies. No matter where Shiron looked he could see ponies that watched him and he could even hear them whispering.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave my cave without my cloak Shiron nervously thought to himself when he suddenly felt a wing on his shoulder. When he looked to his side he could see Rainbow Dash with a warm smile.
"Don't worry,” she said with a soft voice as if she was able to read is mind. "It's just very rare that an alicorn pony comes to Ponyville and it's the first time that this alicorn is not Princess Celestia or her sister."
Rainbow Dash smiled at Shiron before she removed her wing from his shoulder and both ponies continued their way to Twilight. Thanks to Rainbow's word Shiron felt much calmer and as long as she was by his side he also felt safe.
Trying to ignore the glances of the other ponies and their whispering Shiron began to scan the village. Ponyville was a beautiful and peaceful looking village. Each house had little gardens with flowers or other plants. There were also many other houses like a spa, a boutique, a hospital and even a big building that looked like a candy shop or a bakery.
In the distance he could see some bigger clouds that didn’t looked like weather clouds. Shiron assumed that these clouds could be the homes of pegasus ponies but he wasn't sure. He had already seen a very big cloud castle when he had followed Rainbow Dash to the training course and he still wondered what kind of building it was and who might be living there.
Shiron looked back to the street and he could see several ponies with carts selling strawberries, flowers, pears, apples and all kinds of food a pony's heart could wish for. Most of these carts were in the center of the town and Shiron thought that this could be something like a marketplace he had seen in other towns and villages.
When Shiron looked back to Rainbow Dash he realized that she was heading to an earth pony with orange coat, a blond mane and tail and who was wearing a cowboy hat while she was selling apples.
"Hey Applejack" Rainbow Dash friendly said to the orange pony.
Shiron remembered that Rainbow Dash had mentioned this name before. Applejack was one of Rainbow Dash's best friends and once again Shiron became nervous. How would she reacting and would she really like him like Rainbow Dash had promised him?
"Howdy, Sugarcube" the farm pony was happily greeting her friend. "Whatcha ya' doin' and who's ya friend? "
"That's my new friend Shiron. He saved me when I crashed into the Everfree Forest" Rainbow Dash answered.
Applejack lowered her voice and while she was friendly nudging Rainbow Dash she whispered, "Ah didn't know ya had such a cute coltfriend Sugarcube,” pointing at a confused Shiron.
Rainbow Dash heavily blushed "W-what? No he isn't…" she tried to correct her friend but Applejack had already turned to Shiron shaking his hoof.
"Howdy partner. I'm Applejack and all friends of Rainbow Dash are my friends, too" Applejack said still shaking Shiron's hoof.
A nervous "uh Hello? Nice to meet you" was the only respond while Shiron helpless looked at Rainbow Dash who already recovered from the shock Applejack had given her.
There he is again Rainbow Dash thought with a sigh and was putting a hoof to her face when she saw that Shiron had turned again into the shy pony she had met in the cave. Looks like I also have to teach him to be as cool as I am.
"Hey AJ. Do you know if Twilight is still in her library?" she tried to get Applejack's attention.
"Ah think so. She studied all night and I'm sure she has to clean up the library again. Why do ya ask?" Applejack asked after she let go of Shiron's hoof.
"It's a very long story. I just need to ask her for a favor" the pegasus pony answered. She hadn't all day and she didn't want to let Shiron wait any longer. One year of waiting and loneliness was already too long. Shiron deserved to get some answers and Rainbow Dash was determined to help him to find these answers as fast as possible.
Rainbow Dash was about to leave Applejack and continue the way to Twilight's tree library but once again Applejack was next to her whispering, "Ya don't have to bother Twilight with it Sugarcube. If ya two need some time alone I know the perfect place. It's a quiet and romantic spot at Sweet Apple Acres and …"
Applejack couldn't finish her sentence because Rainbow Dash gave her a very annoyed look. Once again Applejack was friendly nudging Rainbow Dash. "I'm just kiddin’,” she said with a wink.
"Let's go" Rainbow Dash said with an almost commanding voice to Shiron who didn't know what just had happened.
With a giggle Applejack shouted, "Have fun ya two."
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Some minutes afterwards Rainbow Dash and Shiron had left Applejack who tried to get her concentration back to sell more apples. She couldn't hide a giggle when she thought about Rainbow Dash's reaction when Applejack called Shiron Rainbow's coltfriend.
Applejack was sure that her old friend knew that she had been joking.
It was almost the same conversation the two friends had already had some years ago. Coconut, an old school friend of Applejack, had moved back to Ponyville after he had lived for some years in Fillydelphia with his family. Applejack had introduced him to Rainbow Dash and she had made several jokes of him being Applejack's coltfriend.
However unlike Applejack Rainbow Dash had said the jokes aloud and she had made the colt feel very uncomfortable. For almost a whole week Rainbow Dash had made similar jokes but luckily she had apologized to him before the whole situation had been able to become an even bigger disaster.
Thinking of Shiron, Applejack thought that he was a nice pony although he seemed too shy. With his white coat and wings, his black mane and tail and his brown eyes he was handsome and Applejack was sure if he wouldn't be that shy he wouldn't have any problems to find a fillyfriend.
Maybe she should introduce him to Fluttershy Applejack thought because she knew Rainbow Dash had locked her heart long ago. After the big disaster many years ago Rainbow Dash had lost any interests in relationships. Many colts including Caramel had tried to ask Rainbow Dash out but in the end all of them had to give up.
Applejack knew all too well how a broken heart felt but she also knew that Rainbow Dash's heart wasn't only broken. Cloudburst, this smug jerk of a colt, had shattered Rainbow's heart into thousand pieces and it hurt Applejack to see that Rainbow's injuries still weren't healed. Applejack became angry when she thought about the jerk and although she hated thoughts like this she wished she could make Cloudburst pay for what he had done to her friend.
With a sigh Applejack knew that not even the magic of Shiron's horn would be strong enough to heal Rainbow Dash's heart.
Suddenly Applejack's eyes widened
His wing AND his horn?! She thought with big eyes.
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"Come on Spike. We have to clean up the library,” said a purple unicorn using her magic to levitate some books to put them back into their bookshelves'.
After a whole night of studying the whole floor was filled with books and the unicorn and her dragon assistant had to clean up for the fourth time this week, not counting the times she had to clean up after Rainbow Dash crashed into her library.
"Why do you always read so many books, Twi?" Spike asked his unicorn friend while he carried a staple of books that was twice as big as he was. During all the years he was spending with Twilight he hadn't any problems to carry things that were bigger or heavier as he was.
"Spike I have to do important studies. Although I'm living in Ponyville I'm still Princess Celestia's student and there are so many things to learn." Twilight said hugging one of her favorite books before she levitated it into a bookshelf.
"Now hurry up Spike. This is a library after all and maybe somepony wants to borrow a book today" Twilight added ignoring Spike who let out a bored sigh.
Only ten minutes later the library was already cleaned up and Spike ate some of the gems Twilight bought him this morning. Both Twilight and Spike thought that it would be just another day without any great surprises. Usually every Sunday was more or less a day without any special happenings but this day was about to be different.
Twilight was still in the kitchen and cleaning up the mess of the breakfast when Spike heard a knock on the door. Spike quickly ran to the door and opened it before Rainbow Dash and a second pony entered the library.
"Who is it Spike?" Twilight asked while she was still in the kitchen. It was still too early for any ponies to borrow books and Applejack already gave her a basket with apples earlier this morning.
"It's Rainbow Dash with another pony." Spike said back to Twilight.
"I'm coming" Twilight said with a surprised voice.
"Morning Spike. How are you" Rainbow Dash asked the baby dragon.
"I'm fine and you? Who is your friend?" Spike asked her before he turned to Shiron. "Hi, I'm Spike and who are you?" Spike said offering a hand.
"My name is Shiron. Nice to meet you." Shiron answered shaking Spike's hand much to Rainbow's surprising that Shiron wasn't as shy as he was when they had seen Applejack. Was it because Spike was also a boy or was it because Shiron was attracted to Applejack? Rainbow Dash quickly banned the thought out of her mind.
Shiron isn't attracted to AJ Rainbow Dash thought. That's not possible, is it? she mentally asked herself.
"Good morning Rainbow Dash" Twilight Sparkle friendly greeting her friend who had been lost in her thoughts again and didn't even hear Twilight enter the room.
After Rainbow Dash had greeted her Twilight turned to the new pony. "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle" she greeted him but before he had any chance to respond something Twilight noticed his wings. When she had entered the room she only saw his horn but now she almost jumped into the air.
"Oh my god you are an alicorn. What's your name and where do you come from? Do you know Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? Are related to them? What can you do with your horn?" Twilight started to ask Shiron one question after another and Shiron hadn't even the chance to answer one of them.
"Are you also immortal? And what about…" Twilight tried to continue in her excitement already levitated a tapeline trying to measure the length of Shiron's horn before Rainbow Dash blocked the way to Shiron with her wing.
"Wait a second" Rainbow Dash said to Twilight who didn't realized that she made Shiron feel very uncomfortable. Twilight wondered if she had said something wrong.
"He has lost his memories and we are here to ask you for a favor" Rainbow Dash continued. "I wanted to ask you to write a letter to Princess Celestia and ask her for a meeting. She's an alicorn pony like Shiron and she's also the most powerful pony in Equestria. If anypony is able help Shiron then she."
"You have lost your memories?" Twilight asked with a quiet voice looking at Shiron who nod with a sad face. When she saw this she suddenly felt bad for all her questions and she didn't know what she should do.
"If it is ok for you I'll tell them the whole story" Rainbow Dash asked Shiron who agreed with another nod.
With this Rainbow Dash began to tell Twilight and Spike how she crashed into the Everfree Forest, the monster and the whole story with Shiron.
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Almost half an hour later the three ponies and Spike were sitting at one of Twilight's tables when Rainbow Dash finished the story. During most of the story Shiron had just answered some questions or nod. He was glad that Rainbow Dash had told the story. It had already taken all his strength to tell Rainbow Dash the story.
After a year of loneliness and isolation he was a bit afraid and nervous around Twilight and Spike and he wasn't sure if he would have found the strength to tell the story himself. However he trusted Rainbow Dash and he was glad that she was by his side since they had left the Everfree Forest.
"I see" Twilight said after Rainbow Dash finished. "I'll write a letter to the Princess. I'm sure when she hears about you she'll enable an audience as quickly as possible"
Without another word Twilight began to dictate a letter to Spike who had already prepared everything. The letter was about Rainbow Dash being saved by Shiron and about Shiron being an alicorn with amnesia. To keep the letter short Twilight only mentioned the most important parts and not the whole story Rainbow Dash had told her.
"What kind of pony is Princess Celestia" Shiron asked Rainbow Dash while Twilight and Spike were still working in the letter.
"Princess Celestia is a beautiful, white alicorn pony with white wings and a magical, rainbow colored mane and tail" Rainbow Dash answered. "She's almost twice as big as I am and her wings and horn are bigger than the wings and horns of any other pony.
She's also the kindest and nicest pony I ever met and she's always there to support her subjects and I'm not talking about ponies alone. Princess Celestia cares about every creature in all of Equestria and she would never hurt anyone. I mean I haven't even seen her get angry or heard that she had ever been angry." Rainbow Dash continued and she meant every word.
She had never met another pony like Princess Celestia and she doubted that there could be ever a better ruler than Celestia. She wasn't like all the other noble or royal ponies that were smug and self-involved like Prince Blueblood. Celestia was more like all the hard working ponies.
She cared for others and helped anypony in need. She protected others and more than once she had fought against evil creatures to save Equestria without killing the villains. Thanks to her magic and the Elements of Harmony she had turned many of the villains into kindhearted creatures.
However the few villains she hadn't been able to turn to kind hearted creatures she had reluctantly banished them by turning them into stone until she would find a way to erase the evilness in their hearts. In Princess Celestia's eyes everypony deserved a second chance and for her there didn't exist a creature that had a pure evil soul.
Princess Celestia also didn't liked boring events like the Grand Galloping Gala although she participated at them for the aristocrat ponies. The Princess preferred parties just like Pinkie Pie's parties but other ponies' sill acted different and sometimes even afraid when Celestia was close to them. Although she tried to relax their mood by harmless pranks or jokes it were most of the time less successful. Rainbow Dash was sure it made Celestia sad when she saw that other ponies were less calm and sometimes even afraid of her although she just wanted to be treated as any other pony when she was participate at a party.
After the disaster at the Grand Galloping Gala Celestia had followed Rainbow Dash and her five friends to Pony Joe's and she wasn't even mad at the friends. She had hoped that the friends would be able to liven things up but because of the stubbornness of the aristocrat ponies it had ended in a disaster.
However after the friends and even Celestia had left the Gala they had spent several hours together. They had laughed, they had told stories and the seven friends had been able to see a different Celestia. For the rest of the night Princess Celestia had been able to enjoy a night with her friends without the title of princess or ruler of all of Equestria and even without the guards that were always by her side although Celestia thought it wasn't necessary.
It had been a wonderful night and by watching Celestia, Rainbow Dash had been able to see that the Princess had enjoyed every second of it. Although the Princess was political and magical the most powerful creature in Equestria it seemed that peaceful meetings like that were very rare for her. However before the night had been over Celestia had asked Pinkie Pie to work out a plan for a new big event similar to the Grand Galloping Gala but less formal, an event like a big party with tons of sweets, laughing foals, games and fun just like Pinkie Pie's parties. At this night the Winter Moon Festival had been born.
Rainbow Dash smiled by the thought that it were only two months to the Winter Moon Festival. She would be able to party all night and the event would be also a great way for Shiron to have fun without thinking about his amnesia. Not to mention all the sweets and the games. Pinkie even promised there would be rollercoaster.
"She sounds like an amazing pony" Shiron said pulling Rainbow out of her thoughts.
"Yeah but soon you'll meet her yourself" she responded with a smile.
"The letter is finished and on its way" Twilight said watching the green cloud disappearing. "I'm sure we won't have to wait very long for Princess Celestia's answer"
With a proud smile she added "I'm her most faithful student and…" before she was able to continue she was interrupted
*Burp*
Everypony looked at Spike who just let out a green flame, which transformed into a letter. The letter was a parchment with a red ribbon and a golden seal. On the top of the seal was a big "C".
Twilight immediately took Celestia's letter in her hooves and opened it. After she read the letter Twilight turned to the waiting ponies.
"That was fast,” she said. "The Princess is surprised to hear that another alicorn appeared and she wants to meet you as soon as possible" Twilight added with a proud smile.
"See? I told you Twilight could do it" Rainbow said to Shiron who was too surprised to respond anything.
"Oh, if it's ok I would like to come with you." Twilight stopped the two ponies before they were able to leave. "Princess Luna wants to see me and give me some last ideas for the Winter Moon Festival"
"Sure, but I think we should take your hot air balloon" Rainbow responded and together the three ponies left the library.
"Spike, you'll stay here if anypony needs a book" Twilight called back to the library before she closed the door.
"Oki Dokie" he answered and waited until the door was completely closed.
"Finally" Spike said relieved. After a last look out of the window to make sure Twilight and the other ponies were out of sight Spike ran back to his room to do what he always did when he was alone.
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The three friends already reached Twilight's hot air balloon and made their preparations for their journey to Canterlot. It would still take some more time until the hot air balloon was ready and they could leave.
"Oh, silly me" Twilight suddenly looked up and put a hoof to her face. "I totally forgot my notes for Princess Luna. Please wait here. I'll be back before the hot air balloon is ready" she said and left before Shiron or Rainbow had any chance to react.
Seeing her friend running back to the library Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and rolled her eyes.
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Only five minutes later Twilight was back at the library and opened the door. To her surprise Spike still haven't removed the "closed" sign.
"Spike? Where are you?" the purple unicorn called but Spike didn't answered. Without waiting for her assistant to respond Twilight began to search for her notes but she couldn't find them. I'm sure I left them here. Maybe they are in our bedroom she thought.
A strange sound caught Twilight's attention and she scanned the room. When she couldn't find anypony else in the room Twilight closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. Once again she heard the odd sound and she realized that it came from her own room. Was somepony in her room? Maybe Spike?
Carefully not to making any sounds Twilight sneaked through the library and climbed the stairs. Putting an ear on the door she once again heard odd sounds inside the room. Using her magic to open the door Twilight was about to enter when she saw Spike. With gaping mouth she watched the dragon until he turned around and saw her.
"T-twilight!? What are you…?" Spike said blushing. "It's not what it looks like"
Are these Rainbow's sunglasses was everything the blushing unicorn was able to think still with gaping mouth.
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Spike was still too surprised and shocked to say or do anything except of blushing. For more than a month he was able to hide his secret although Rainbow Dash had looked like she knew what Spike was planning when he had borrowed her sunglasses.
He was wearing a white t-shirt, socks and even boxers. In one of his hands he was holding a feather duster while in the background his radio was still playing the CD he had also borrowed from Rainbow Dash some weeks ago. The song was called "Old Times Rock & Roll" and it was one of his favorite songs.
Every time when he was alone he put on his outfit and turned the volume of the radio at its limit. He loved to clean the library with a mix of dancing and cleaning and the socks were perfect to slide through the library. Sometimes like today he was so pored over in the rhythm of the music so that he started to join in singing while he used the feather duster as a microphone or a guitar.
Still looking at Twilight who had already turned off the radio Spike was able to see her typical "Are you serious?" look.
Before Spike was able to say something Twilight broke the awkward silence. "We'll talk about this later…"
She briefly scanned the bedroom before her horn started to glow. Some scrolls where flying in her direction and Twilight quickly put them into her saddlebags. Ready to leave the library to meet Rainbow Dash and Shiron Twilight looked once again back to Spike.
"…Or maybe not" she added unable to hide a giggle leaving a blushing Spike behind her. As soon as she closed the door Spike blushed even harder when he heard that Twilight broke out into laughter.
After he heard the front door was closed Spike was once more alone. He waited some minutes until he shrugged and went back to his favorite music.
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One hour later Rainbow Dash, Shiron and Twilight had already reached Canterlot. Shiron had watched in awe as the hot air balloon had come closer and closer to the castle carved into the side of the mountain. A big waterfall was next to Canterlot and created a beautiful rainbow. Together with some clouds and the light of the sun it was an amazing look although Shiron had to admit it was nothing compared to the Sonic Rainboom he had seen earlier this morning.
As soon as the hot air balloon had landed, the palace guard had guided the three ponies through into the castle. Twilight had become a living history book and told Shiron and Rainbow everything she knew about Canterlot, its history and of course Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
The three ponies were walking through a long corridor with many colorful windows. This corridor was one of the four corridors that were connected with the big hall, which leaded to the throne room. Twilight told the ponies that the windows were telling many different stories about the past of Equestria.
One of the windows showed a dark mare in front of a red moon. She had the wings and horn of an alicorn but Shiron could feel something odd and somehow … familiar. The following windows showed the same mare until the second last window of this story. It showed six ponies using some kind of magic against the mare.
Shiron was to absent and didn't hear Twilights voice anymore when she told them about Nightmare Moon. Twilight told them how Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had ruled Equestria until something evil had taken control over Luna.
After almost a year the voice in Shiron's reappeared and it was changing the world around him. He was in a big room. It looked like some kind of old throne room but the whole building was nothing more than a ruin.
A blue cloud made of dust and stars. A sun darkens by the moon. The glowing silhouette of a pony darkens the world. A path leading to …
"Shiron? Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked worried Shiron and pulled him out of his thoughts before the voice was finished.
"…Yes "he answered still looking at the window with the six ponies. When he took a closer look at the ponies he saw that one of the six ponies looked like Rainbow Dash. Two other ponies looked like Applejack he had met this morning and a unicorn that looked like Twilight. However Shiron thought it was just a coincidence.
Rainbow Dash followed his look and with a knowing smile she said, "These are the Elements of Harmony. When Nightmare Moon had reappeared, we six had to find the Elements to defeat her. Twilight had just arrived in Ponyville but we had been able to defeat Nightmare Moon nevertheless and turn her back to Princess Luna."
Shiron was speechless but Twilight confirmed what Rainbow had just told him. Shiron already knew that Rainbow Dash was a very special pony especially after he had seen her Sonic Rainboom but he didn't expected that she was also one of the great heroes of Equestria.
Before Shiron and Rainbow Dash were able to say more Twilight showed them the last window of the Nightmare Moon story. In the center it showed both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sitting next to each other on the throne. All kinds of ponies peacefully played together or bowed before both sisters. Above the two sisters the window showed the sun and the moon. Both sisters were smiling because after thousand years they were together again .
The friends continued their way to Princess Celestia and soon they arrived in the big hall. Now the only thing between Princess Celestia and the three ponies was a gigantic door with two royal guards guarding the door. The two guards slowly opened the door and together the three ponies entered the throne room.
It was a big room with a balcony, pictures of many different important ponies or heroes and a big throne. Fresh flowers like roses filled the air with a sweet scent and the light of the sun filled the room in a beautiful light. Above the throne was a big picture with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sitting next to each other with smiling faces. A big white wing was behind Princess Luna and it seemed as if Princess Celestia hugged her sister with her wing.
Shiron looked at the throne and a beautiful, white mare was sitting in it. She had beautiful, big wings and a long horn. Her magical rainbow colored mane and tail seemed as if they were dancing in the air. She was wearing golden shoes, a golden necklace with a purple sapphire and a golden crown with another purple sapphire.
With her magenta eyes and a warm smile she looked at them.
A warm and soft voice filled the air "Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash. I'm glad you were able to come this soon" Then Princess Celestia looked at him. "And you must be Shiron"
After the three ponies bowed before her Shiron looked at Princess Celestia "Yes Princess…uhm your highness" he said vainly trying to hide how nervous he was.
"You don't have to be nervous,” Princess Celestia said sensing his tension. With a sweet giggle she added, "I'm not biting" as a joke hoping to calm him a bit.
"Twilight. My sister is waiting for you in the garden. When she saw your hot air balloon she went there to wait for you." The princess said to her faithful student before she turned to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash. Would you be so kind and wait outside. I would like to talk to Shiron in private."
Princess Celestia had already left her throne and looked back to her two guards before she gave them a nod. Although they seemed unsure what to do and were trying to protest, the guards left the room.
"I'm waiting outside for you" Rainbow Dash said with a smile before she also left the room. Then Shiron was alone with Princess Celestia.
"Twilight wrote me that you had lost your memories" Princess Celestia said to Shiron looking him in the eyes.
"…Yes" he responded even more nervous than before.
"I don't know why you hide the truth before your friends" she said with a warm and understanding voice "but you can tell me the truth" she finished.
"You didn't lose your memories, did you?" she said still looking him in his eyes.
How did she… Shiron thought with a shock.