A week had passed since those events in Glacies. The ice had thawed, and the snow had melted. What was left behind was a lustrous nation full of its own natural marvels. Boreas' corrupting influence had been vanquished from the land. Citizens, once known as Caren, began leaving their isolated towns and homes deep in the Glacien landscape and returning to the now nearly empty capital city of Aquila. As it turned out, the Changelings were using the city, and the nation, as their Hive, feeding off of the ponies who lived there. Most of the ponies in Aquila turned out to be Changelings. They all just... disappeared... when the Elements of Harmony removed their presence.
Queen Chrysalis had been transformed into a new pony, or rather as Princess Celestia put it, reverted back to her own form. And as such, the Changeling power had been destroyed. The Changeling drones turned out to be condensed magical energies, so when the Changeling power was dispelled, the Drones disappeared. Queen Nevei was the ruler of Glacies long ago, just after the formation of Equestria in the pre-Celestial times. She was apparently one of the Nightingales who had originally helped to banish Boreas the first time, but something happened. The ice demon had split his magical energies amongst the jewels of the nation. Since Queen Nevei wore a sapphire crown, it was the sapphire that was affected, and thus her mind that was to be corrupted. According to the Queen, she was slowly consumed by her own emotions, particularly that of envy. She envied Equestria, and its lush, unfrozen land; their natural crops and liquid water. The fact that the Glaciens even managed to survive at all in their wasteland environment was astonishing.
Princess Luna had stayed behind when most other ponies left to head home aboard the Aurora and the various other airships. Among the others who stayed were the Nightingales, and Nyx, who lead them; a few airships, some peace-keeping Royal and Night guards, and some of Luna's administrative staff. Since now that Nightingales made up the majority of the Glacien population, Nyx had been elected as the leader of the Glacien Military, essentially second in line to the throne. Although Queen Nevei was now in charge, everypony was leery of her, much as they had been leery of Princess Luna after her reformation. For now, while Glacies was being rebuilt, Equestria would be keeping a keen eye on its newly freed neighbor.
The remaining ponies had since loaded up aboard the airships and headed home. A week after leaving, they arrived in Canterlot. They were welcomed by parades and gathered ponies at the aerial docks, streamers, banners, and confetti. Husbands and wives of the Royal Guard had made their way down the gangplanks to be rejoined by their respective partners and families. Though the mood of the Bearers of Harmony, Spike, Phantom, Stryker, Captain Dash, and Princess Celestia were less enthusiastic about being home.
Phantom, Stryker, Captain Dash, and three other members of the Royal Guard, all dressed in their most formal uniforms, were the first to walk down the gangplank after the Aurora had docked. The six ponies walked on three hooves. With their other hooves, which were covered by white gloves, they held onto a silver, rectangular box. Draped over the watch was the Equestrian flag, it's corners tucked underneath the lid. Phantom held onto the front right portion, with Captain Dash behind him, then another Guard. Stryker had front left corner, with two guards behind him. The six ponies walked down the plank, taking careful and synchronized steps. At first when the Aurora arrived there was a roar of elation. But once those six ponies emerged with the covered casket, there was silence.
On the dock, ponies bowed their head as the small precession past. Princess Celestia, Twilight, and the others followed close behind. The casket was loaded onto a waiting carriage that had been painted black, part of a small caravan. The ponies who had known Archer in his life, boarded them. Phantom, Stryker, and Captain Dash rode with the casket, along with Archer's widow: a mint green mare now veiled in black. The Guard cemetery was just outside of town, on the other side of the mountain, and thus didn't take long to get do.
Friends and family had already gathered at the cemetery when the precession arrived. They were standing in a half-circle around an open grave. Phantom, Stryker, Captain Dash carried the casket over to the awning-covered location. The other ponies had already arrived, and were waiting with bowed heads as the casket neared. Princess Celestia was standing behind the tomb stone, with Captain Armor at her side. In the front row of the crowd, Princess Cadance was standing next to Archer's widow, holding her in her pink alicorn wings.
Phantom guided the casket over the hole. The six ponies guided one rope each through the hoofholes on the side sos that the silver box was suspended in mid-air. Phantom and Stryker stood on either long end of the flag, and took it off of the hood. They kept it unfurled as they stepped off to the side with it. While Stryker held taught onto his ends, Phantom started folding it down from his. By the time Phantom reached the unicorn with the flag, it had been folded into a small triangle, the Equestrian emblem showing predominately on the front. Holding it in his white-gloved hoof, Phantom walked the folded flag over to Archer's widow. With a bow he handed it to her, then stood at her opposite side as Princess Cadance while the elegy began.
Princess Celestia spoke first. She gave praise to his years of dedication and service to the crown and ponies of Equestria. The Princess also announced that for his actions that led to the Changelings being stopped, he would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor. Her elegy was short, so Phantom half expected her to leave to tend to other duties left in the wake of recent events, or to tend to other funeral.s But surprisingly, she didn't leave.
Captain Armor was next, endorsing what Princess Celestia said and seconding her announcement of his award. He was followed up by Captain Dash, who not being Archer's commanding officer, didn't have much to say aside from praise for his excellent conduct and leadership aboard his vessel. Stryker went next. He talked about all the good memories he shared with the late stallion, how they always had each other's backs, and how even though Archer always lost every game that they played against one another, he never gave up. Phantom went up and expressed what he could about his subordinate. Though he quickly ran out of things, and went on to express his regret in not getting to know Archer better. Surprisingly, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle went up to attest to the white stallion's wonderful character. The former said that he was one of the most competitive ponies she had ever met, white the latter expressed her thanks in him helping to save her own life when the events began to unfold in Ponyville.
In all, the sermon lasted several chilly hours. Over that time, various other friends and members of Archer's family had spoken about his character. In the end it was concluded with a three volleys of seven arrows that were lit ablaze and fired over the cliff edge. The ponies who had carried Archer's casket over stepped back up to their positions and grabbed hold of the white ropes suspending the box in the air. While taps were played on snare drums, the six ponies used the ropes to carefully lower the casket into the ground.
The silver casket disappeared below the surface. Two nearby earth ponies of the Royal Guard began filling the hole with white shovels. Ponies who had attended the funeral were shuffling out, paying their respects to Archer's family as they left. In time, the only ones left were Stryker, Phantom, Rainbow Dash, and Princess Celestia.
"Thank you," Princess Celestia said, stepping up to the three ponies dressed in blue, "for everything. You have done an exceptional service to both Equestria, and the world."
"So what's next, your highness?" Stryker asked after a brief moment of silence.
"I am holding a press conference at the castle in an hour to address the media on recent events. It would also double as a small awards ceremony; I would like you three to attend."
Rainbow Dash picked up on a wary glance that that Stryker shot to Phantom. The pegasus stallion's gaze drifted down further as he sighed. Wonder what that was about... she thought.
"We're be there."
A smile grew on the corner of Princess Celestia's mouth. "I'm sure you will," she said, looking specifically at Phantom. But the smile was short lived. The ponies who were filling in Archer's grave dropped in the last scoops of dirt, and the hole was completely filled.
"I must take my leave and prepare for the conference," Princess Celestia said, turning and taking a few steps away before stopping and craning her neck back towards the ponies. "Would any of you like to join me for tea?"
"Why not?" Stryker moved towards Princess Celestia.
Rainbow Dash hesitated for a moment before hesitating and following the pair, "I guess."
The three started to walk back towards the castle. After a moment or so, Rainbow Dash stopped, realizing that they were missing someone. She turned and saw that Phantom was still standing where he was, staring at Archer's marble tomb stone. She was just about to speak when a hoof was placed on her shoulder.
"Don't," Stryker shook his head, "he needs his time."
"Has he done this before?"
Stryker sighed. "Unfortunately... It'll take a bit for him to come out of this. I've found it's best to leave him alone."
"If you say so..." With that, she and Stryker rejoined Princess Celestia i her walk through the beautiful mountain side on their way back to Canterlot.
Phantom sat down next to the fresh grave. He reached into a pocket on the side of his uniform and pulled out a small black velvet bag. From with in it, he retrieved a perfectly intact cherry blossom. He set the pink flower down at the base of the tomb stone.
"So..." he said. "We didn't get to know each other much... You were really more of Stryker's friend than mine but, better late than never, right?"
After the allotted time had passed, the ponies of Canterlot began to convene at the castle courtyard. Princess Celestia's press conference was set to start soon. Already the media had positioned itself in front of a second story balcony, from which the royal mare would be giving her address. It was a rather large and square balcony that could fit a decent number of ponies. Some of which who were up there waiting on the princess were the Bearers of Harmony, Stryker, Captain Dash, Captain Armor, and a few other members of the Royal and Night Guard who had apparently done their own actions worth of award.
Rainbow Dash looked around. She scanned the crowd, checked the balcony, examined the castle walls, watched the skies. The conference was already running ten minutes late and there was still no sigh of Phantom anywhere. She would have said something about it if Princess Celestia hadn't stepped out.
Instantly the noisy murmurs from the crowd died down. Everypony shuffled in their spots so that they could get comfortable. Camera ponies, reporters, journalists, and writers alike readied themselves to write down her words.
"Fillies and Gentlecolts of Equestria," Princess Celestia began, her voice booming out with a magical boost. "Some of you may have heard about the events that have taken place over the past several weeks. The purpose of this conference is to clarify those events.
"Several weeks ago, Changeling forces entered Equestria and hid out in the Everfree Forest. Under the direction of Queen Chrysalis, they began operations to secure the Elements of Harmony, so that their bearers would not be able to use them against them." At this, Rainbow Dash bowed her head slightly, still feeling some blame for this incidents. "Thankfully they were defeated, but unfortunately managed to escape to where we now know was the nation of Glacies."
"At about the same time, a fair was to be held in Ponyville to formally congratulate my student in becoming a princess, and an alicorn. One of the performances that was to be scheduled, was by that of the Wonderbolts. In preparation for that event, the second in command of the Wonderbolts, Soarin' Skies, was tasked with the preparations. He was too help Rainbow Dash. And with her trust that he had gained, Soarin' Skies attempted to take the life of Rainbow Dash. If not for the actions of one of my guards, Phantom Knight, whom I had assigned as a precautionary guard in the event something would happen, then Soarin' may have very well succeeded.
"After which, the Element of Honesty, Applejack, was ponynapped, and her barn burned down. We have reason to believe that Soarin', along with Cloud Maker, and a previously thought-to-be-deceased by the name of Sky Streak, were behind these events, and the events that proceeded them. With careful investigation on the parts of both Phantom, and Rainbow Dash, were able to locate, and rescue, Applejack. During the rescue, evidence was gather that suggested that the Changelings may have had a factor in the incidents. Though they escaped, warrants for the arrest of Sky, Cloud Maker, and Soarin' were issued throughout Equestria.
"Several engagements occurred in the the days following, in which their plan was discovered, and the connection to Glacies was revealed. After contacting the Glacien government and gaining permission, I ordered my best ponies to board an airship and head to the ice nation. There they were dragged into a civil war on the side of the Glaciens, against a force of local ponies known as Nightingales.
"Unfortunately, the Glacies betrayed them. The Glaciens had planned to release a demon god of ice known as Boreas, who was destined to turn the world to ice. With the help of Princess Twilight, Phantom and his team was able to stop him, freeing the land of his curse. Afterwards they began operations in conjunction with the Nightingales to bring down the corrupt Glacien government. As it turned out, the Glacien government was controlled by Changelings, and the capital city, Aquila, was their primary Hive. Upon receiving word of these developments, I sent reinforcements into the country in an attempt to stop the Changelings once and for all.
"When I arrived, I found that the Elements of Harmony had been used, and that the Changelings were destroyed." Princess Celestia waited as the applause and cheers died down. "Queen Chrysalis was transformed into the pony she once was: Queen Nevei, the original ruler of Glacies. We are currently watching over her carefully, helping her to return the newly freed Glacies to a self-sustainable point. I am sure that Glacies will become an excellent friend in the future. Does anypony from the media have any questions?"
"What of the Nightingales, your highness?" a pegasus asked, using his wings so that he could hover a bit over the crowd and be more noticeable by her. "Will they become apart of the Equestrian Royal Guard?"
"No. The Nightingales are an entity comprised of Glacien citizens, in the nation of Glacies. Seeing as how Glacies now lacks its own unified defensive force, it's likely that the Nightingales will become that force. We do, however, plan on keeping close relations with both the Nightingales, and the Glaciens."
"What about the Wonderbolts?" an earth pony raised his hoof. "What'll happen to them?"
"While I personally do not believe the rest of the Wonderbolts to be an issue, they are to remain under suspension pending further investigation.
"Your Highness," a pegasus stepped forward from the front row, "what'll happen to the Glacien citizens who aren't Nightingales, and turned out to not be Changelings?"
"Again, that is for Queen Nevei to decide. It is likely that Glacien Citizens who are unaffiliated with Changelings will remain just that: Glacien Citizens."
"Another question about the Wonderbolts, your highness," a unicorn from within the crowd used his magic to amplify his voice. "Will they be looking for a replacement now that Soarin's spot is vacant?"
"That is by Captain Spitfire's discretion. Although the Wonderbolts are under suspension, that only prevents them from preforming and leaving their barracks pending investigation. Once the suspension is over, they are free to resume their usual activities, including recruitment."
At this point, Princess Celestia went on to talk about how brave the ponies where that she sent in, and speaking praise about the success of the adventures. Rainbow Dash began to tune her out, not really feeling the need to hear things multiple times over. To occupy her time, she continued to look around in search of a certain midnight-blue pegasus. With no luck. He wasn't in the crowd, he wasn't on the balcony, he wasn't in the skies, along the castle walls. He wasn't anywhere.
"Something wrong?" Stryker whispered to her, sensing her tension.
"Why isn't Phantom here?" Rainbow Dash whispered back. But before Stryker could reply, Princess Celestia's address became inclusive to them once again.
"For their exceptional acts of bravery, with the endorsements from both Captain Shining Armor and Captain Spectrum Dash, I would like to present these," she held up three medals in her magic for all to see, "Medals of Valor to the members of Phantom's team. Rainbow Dash?" As commanded, Rainbow Dash stepped up next to the princess so that she was completely visible to everypony in the courtyard. She bowed her head as Princess Celestia slipped the medal around her neck. "For extraordinary bravery and acts of courage beyond what the situation called of you, I award you this Medal of Valor in the hopes that you may remain a pinnacle of the standards held to you, and so that others may be inspired by you."
Rainbow Dash gave Princess Celestia a formal bow, which was respectfully returned. She left the edge of the balcony and returned to her spot next to Stryker just as he was called up by the Princess. She said to him the same scripted words as she said to Rainbow Dash. In just a few minutes he was back in his original spot.
"So where's Phantom?" Rainbow Dash asked him again upon his return.
"Dunno," he replied.
"You don't know? Weh—Well why isn't he here then?"
"He's got this... thing... against awards ceremonies. It's something you'd have to ask him about; I have no idea. But he's never once showed up for an awards ceremony."
"Phantom Knight?" Princess Celestia called out.
"Even if it was his own...." Stryker sighed, making his way towards Princess Celestia. Something about the way he was handling it told Rainbow Dash that he had done this several times before. She also got the same impression from the Princess, who looked back and nodded at the approaching stallion.
"Accepting for Phatom Knight, with the promise to deliver it to him: Stryker." There was a short applause as Stryker stepped up and took the medal, which had been placed inside a blue velvet case, and walked back to his spot with it suspended in his magic.
"So where is he?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Stryker shrugged. "Rumor in the barracks says that he goes for walks, or flights, more than likely the latter, around the city. Nopony really knows exactly where to. But, I have a few ideas."
"Like?"
Instead of replying verbally, Stryker looked up and nodded towards the top of the Canterlot mountain; it's peak hanging high over the city like a watchful protector.
"He's up there? Why? Isn't that completely off limits to ponies?"
Again, Stryker shrugged. "Can't say for sure why he goes up there, or even if that's where he goes. I guess there's some connection up there that allows him to clear his mind? Hard to say with him, honestly." There was a pregnant pause. "Take this with you," he said, using his magic to hold the medal's case in front of Rainbow Dash without looking away from the mountain peak.
"Huh?"
"You're going up there, aren't you? Take this with you and give it to him."
"But how are you even sure that he's up there?"
"Oh, he will be," Princess Celestia intruded on their conversation as she stepped up to the two ponies. "I'm the one who granted him permission to go up there in the first place."
"But why? What's up there for him?"
"Why don't you go find out?"
Rainbow Dash looked down at the medal that was still being suspended in front of her. Casting a quick glance at the mountain peak, she took the velvet case in her hooves and spread her wings. With a few flaps, she took to the air, circling up towards the top of the mountain.
The peak of the mountain was slightly arched over the city, most of the reason that it was blocked off to the public. Princess Celestia had engineers go up and reinforce it some years ago in fear that it would collapse and fall to the distant streets below. The thought that Princess Celestia gave Phantom express permission to be up there intrigued the mare all that much more. As she neared she could see that there was a single, pink flowered tree on the peak. When she got closer she easily recognized it as a cherry blossom.
Instead of flying directly up to the peak, she flew a little bit above it to see whether or not Phantom was even there. Laying in the grass was the form of a midnight blue pegasus. He appeared to be sitting in front of two white stones that were of equal size. Curious as to what he was up to, she beat her wings softly and glided towards the cherry blossom tree, landing so softly in it that its branches hardly even moved. Using her forehooves to part open a group of pink flowers, she sat in her perch and watched the stallion.
Phantom laid in front of two equally proportioned and rounded white stones that had writing chiseled into the front of them. He wasn't looking around. His head appeared to be bowed slightly, focusing on the bottoms of the stones.
"Hey, Mom," he said, looking at the center of the stone on his left. His voice was barely audible from Rainbow Dash's position. "Hey, Dad," again, but this time looking at the stone to the right. The two stones had names written on the tops of them. On the left, it was Spirit Knight, and on the right, Spectre Knight. "I did it. Finally saved the world... just like you said I would some day. Honestly, it doesn't feel too great. Yeah I saved a whole bunch of ponies, even found Nyx up there, but I also lost some. Some that shouldn't have been lost in the first place. Too many ponies were put in danger when they shouldn't have. All because I was an idiot and didn't realize what had really happened with Sky sooner."
He sighed.
"Now I'm sure that you guys would say something like 'There's nothing you could have done,' and, 'You did the best you could with the cards you were dealt,' blah blah blah. But in reality I should have known sooner. All those years ago when Sky died the first time, I should have seen the signs of his corruption; his attempts at pushing me away. For some reason he kept wanting to take someone else as his partner when he went on duty as Celestia's body guard. I guess my persistence in being his partner saved her life..."
There was a pause as a few birds in the tree next to Rainbow Dash chirped.
"I know, I know. Forget It and Dig On. F.I.D.O., just like you used to always say, Dad. It's just hard to, ya know? I regret not getting to know Archer better... I didn't even know he had a family! No idea! Worked with him since I got put behind that damned desk and I had no clue in tartarus! Feel bad for Stryker, too. Archer and him were as close as Sky and I... though I'm sure that Archer isn't going to turn out to be alive, the son of a demon bent on the genocide of an entire race, and try to kill Stryk. Do you guys think you could do me a favor and take care of him up there? Thanks.
"I guess this is the part where you two would be interrogating me about the mare that I met. Well, I don't know what all I can say..." Rainbow Dash felt her face start to turn with frustration. Doesn't know what he can say? she thought. I'm the Rainbow Dash! There's loads of thing he could say about me! I'm awesome!. "Frankly, she's incredible. I don't think I've ever met a mare quite like her. I guess this is something I should have been experiencing for the first time in flight school, with support and you help from you two; not for the first time while I'm in the prime of my Royal Guard career, alone..."
You aren't alone... Rainbow Dash thought. Rising to her hooves whilst perched on the branch, se jumped down and used her wings to soften her fall, barely landing on the grass without so much as a sound.
"If you're going to say something, say it," Phantom's voice was much more clear and pronounced even though he was still facing the grave stones, "Dash."
"How did you hear me?" Rainbow Dash asked, calmly stepping up beside the stallion.
"You weren't as quiet as you thought you were when getting into that tree."
"Ah..." she rubbed one hoof in front of the other. "Sorry for eavesdropping."
"It's alright," Phantom stood up, "somepony was bound to find out eventually."
"Find out what, exactly?"
"Why I come up here." Phantom pointed at the two grave stones in front of them. Rainbow Dash looked at them closely. "Now you know."
"To see your parents?"
"Yeah. I've always come up here and talked to them after a major event in my life, or after I complete an assignment. Sometimes both. Like today."
"I see..." There was a slight pause between the two ponies as they continued to look at the grave stones. "Why where they buried up here and not like other pegasi?"
Rainbow Dash was referring to the traditional pegasi burial. The pony would be placed in a cocoon of clouds, surrounded by the feathers of friends and family, then lifted into a jet stream to be carried away. When the clouds were over the ocean, they would dissolve. Rarely were pegasi buried in the ground like this.
"Your father and mine were pretty good friends. As the story goes, one time while our dads were having drinks together, mine said that he and Mom always wanted to be able to watch over Nyx and I, no matter what. Well, when Mom died, your dad pulled some strings with Princess Celestia and somehow managed to get them buried up here; where she and my dad first met. Then a few years later when my dad died, we came up here to burry him. Now they can watch over me, no matter where I go."
"That's really sweet. I wish I could remember more about them." To show her support, Rainbow Dash draped a wing over the stallion's back. Phantom slid it off of him before wrapping his own wing around her, much to the rising excitement in her cheeks.
"They were great. Those times were great, too, back when our families knew each other. Even after Mom died. Heh, I can remember this one time when we were foals: Firefly, Nyx, and you were in the kitchen getting ready to make cookies and you fell into the bowl and were practically swimming in the dough. You smelled like cookies for a week. I'm sure your dad could tell you more stories than I."
"I think I'll do that sometime." Another quiet pause. "Oh, and you're not alone."
"Huh?"
"What you said earlier? You aren't alone. You've got more friends now than you ever had."
Phantom sighed. "Perhaps, but they won't be going with me..."
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Princess Celestia asked for an experienced volunteers to conduct an investigation for her in the southern deserts."
"And..."
"And... I volunteered. I leave at the end of this week."
"You volunteered? What the hay for? Don't you want to hang around a bit with your new friends? With me?"
"Well I'm not leaving tonight. And I'm not leaving forever. There's still a chance for you and I. Besides, someday Princess Celestia will call you up to save the world for the umpteenth time; the Wonderbolts will come knocking on your door, asking you to join."
"What makes you think that I'm going to join the Wonderbolts after everything that's happened?"
"Because that wasn't the Wonderbolts, it was Soarin'. And with Soarin' gone, Spitfire is going to need somepony to take over in his place. And because the Wonderbolts have been your dream your entire life; nothing is going to be able to take that away."
"I guess you're right... Oh!" Rainbow Dash reached for the velvet box and present it to Phantom. "This is yours. Stryker wanted me to give it to you if I found you up here."
Phantom nodded and took the box in his hooves. Opening it up, he examined it revealed to him the golden medallion, with a blue and gold strap.
"Medal of Valor, eh?" he mused to no pony in particular. "Seems a bit excessive, but it's not really my decision to make."
He took a step forward so that he was standing just before the space between the two stones.Setting the box down, he dug briefly into the dirt. A few inches in and Rainbow Dash could see the glint of brass. A few more inches and she could clearly see that the hole was filled with several other medals, none of them the same as the other. Phantom took his Medal of Valor out of the box, placed it in the freshly dug hole on top of the other medals, then filled it back up wit dirt.
"More medals?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yup. Every medal I've earned." He patted the broken surface a few times so that the dirt was tightly compacted. Phantom then kissed the tops of each stone. "See ya, Mom, Dad."
Phantom stepped past the graves and up to the edge of the cliff. There was just enough room for Rainbow Dash to stand at his side. The two pegasi stared out across the horizon. From this vantage point, they could see everything from the unicorn ranges, to Fillydelpphia; from Ghastly Gorge, all the way to the Neighagra Hills.
"Would you like to have dinner sometime?" Phantom asked suddenly, tilting his head towards Rainbow Dash.
The cyan mare smile and gave Phantom a quick peck on the cheek. "I was wondering when you were going to ask. Yes. Yes I'll have dinner with you. Any idea when?"
"I was thinking tomorrow at seven, maybe? I'm not real big on dates, so you'll have to bear with me."
"Works for me. Just... don't tell Rarity, please? She'll have a cow and go completely overboard."
"Heh, deal." Phantom opened his wings and flapped them so that he was hovering just off of the cliff face. He turned so that he was facing Rainbow Dash, who was still standing on the cliff.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Well I do have a deployment coming up. Figured I'd go get ready to save the world again." A coy smile was growing on his face.
"So you like saving the world? Because by the way you were talking earlier it sounded like you didn't enjoy yourself much."
Phantom's smile grew even more. "Not so much saving the world as it is getting the mares."
"Just remember," Rainbow Dash took a few steps forward. Small pebbles fell away from the cliff under her shifting weight. "You're mine now."
Phantom gave her a salute. "Yes, ma'am. See ya at seven." Before she had the chance to reply again, Phantom tucked his wings in and let gravity take over, pulling him towards the city. He leaned back so that he was following head first. Sightly opening his wings allowed him to pick up speed and keep some maneuverability while he was rapidly skimming the edge of the cliff. The last of him that Rainbow Dash saw was him tucking his wings in and disappearing under her line of sight, cutting her line of sight with him. She leaned forward over the edge of the cliff in an effort to see him flying away, but couldn't see him anywhere.
Rainbow Dash began laughing to herself, Phantom's sudden disappearance reminder her of his sudden appearance when they first met all those weeks ago in Ponyville.
The next time Rainbow Dash saw Phantom was when he appeared at her front door the next day with a small collection of roses. Something that would have been relatively difficult to get a hold of considering it was the middle of the winter season.
He took her to a small restaurant in Cloudsdale, just a short flight away for the two pegasi. It wasn't anything too special. The food was fairly simple, with Rainbow Dash ordering a hay burger with a side of fries, and Phantom calling on a lush salad, something the mare didn't expect him to order. Thankfully Rarity didn't hear about the date until it was too late, and thus didn't have time to prepare a dress for her, or a tuxedo for Phantom, and insist on them going to some five-star fancy restaurant.
For most of the time, the two ponies chatted together about what they thought about the previous few weeks' events. About their plans for the future. Phantom managed to convince that the Wonderbolts were worth sticking with, and that odds were Captain Spitfire would be taking interest in her in taking over the vacant spot. When Rainbow Dash asked about his own plans, he said that he didn't really have any. As far as he knew he was going to stay in the Royal Guard; make a career out of it like his father. He didn't know if he was ever going to be able to settle down with some mare, or her. Though that part of his response managed to get him kicked in the shin under the table. Phantom quickly revised his answer to say that he wouldn't be able to do anything until after his upcoming assignment, and that after that he would try his best.
After the meal, the two ponies when for a midnight flight, diverting their path through the unicorn ranges and rainbow falls. Flying beneath Luna's stars, they enjoyed each other's company for what would be the last time in a while.
Rainbow Dash didn't get home until the early morning hours, where she decided to sleep in. Phantom had turned back towards Canterlot after a parting goodnight kiss. Once Rainbow Dash woke up and proceeded to town, her friends swamped her with questions as to where she had been all morning and where she had gone the previous night. Eventually they were able to pry the details out of her. At the Royal Guard barracks in Canterlot, Shining Armor and Stryker were having a similar conversation with Phantom, with similar results.
A few days of relative peace had gone by. Rainbow Dash hadn't heard anything from Phantom, and by his advice, wasn't expecting to. Twilight said that she talked to her brother about it to see if she could get any information, but he regretted to say that it was all classified.
At the end of the week, the doorbell rang. Rainbow Dash had flown down her stairs and to the door in the hopes that it would be Phantom standing outside, a hope that she knew was misplaced. Openining the door revealed Ditzy Hooves standing there, mail bag at her side.
"Hey Rainbow Dash!" she said, handing the cyan pegasus a copy of the daily newspaper and a few letters. "I heard about you and Phantom! How's it going between you two, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, hey Ditz. It's going alright, I guess, he got deployed so I'm probably not going to see him for awhile."
"Sorry to hear that. Hope it goes well between you two. Look, I gotta go deliver the rest of this mail. See ya!"
"Later." Rainbow Dash waved goodbye to the gray mare and shut the door. Walking towards the kitchen table, she shuffled through the letters. Bills... Bills... More bills... Junk... Oh, what's this? One letter caught her eye. The only thing on the front of the blue envelope was a golden lightning bolt with white wings. Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!
She set the rest of her mail on the table and was just about to rip into the envelope when something else caught her eye about her mail. It was the newspaper, specifically, which was odd considering that she rarely ever looked at it. The only thing she usually used it for was as apart of nesting for Tank's home. Looking carefully, she took in every detail of the front page news.
A smile tugged at the corner of Rainbow Dash's mouth.