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// A whole week? pt 3 
// Story: Finding Purpose 
// by Archangel of the Silent 
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	A restful sleep can only go so far. The later the two were up, the faster morning would come. Celestia was fortunately a kind, benevolent princess, and was willing to skip breakfast and have brunch instead, allowing Twilight and Rainbow Dash to sleep in a little. Not that it would help much- it was well after midnight when the ponies had settled down.
As the two awoke from their slumbers, they found Twilight had rolled over in her sleep, now gazing deeply into the magenta eyes of the pegasus she so graciously shared a bed with. The two simply stared for what seemed like an eternity for the both of them, but in all actuality was only about three seconds. Twilight was the first to comment on the situation by saying, "Well this is awkward..."
"Eeyup," replied Dash, trying her best to imitate Big Mac. After about a second, neither could keep a straight face, and began giggling like little school fillies. "This is how we started our week in Canterlot. We are never to speak of this to anypony."
"Agreed." They got out of bed, and Twilight used her magic to remake it. Almost immediately after she had finished, there was a knock at the door. "Enter, guardsman."
The door opened to reveal a light brown pegasus with a near blood-red mane, adorned with jet black armor crested with a magenta-colored six point star- one of Twilight's personal guards. Twilight knew, of course, the other one who had stood post for the night would be just outside, albeit out of sight. "Princess Twilight," he began in a cool headed voice. There was no nervousness in it when he addressed his Princess, his commanding officer. She could discharge or banish him, but his voice never stuttered. Indeed, Shield had been doing this kind of work for a very long time. "Princess Celestia has sent word that they are ready for you two in the dining hall. As I am to understand, Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor are to be joining you," He finished with a small bow of his head. Twilight didn't think she would ever get used to having ponies bow to her whenever they addressed her.
"Thank you, Shield," Twilight began. "We'll be right out." As the alicorn finished making the bed, she gave a questioning look to the guardsman before remembering what Celestia had told her. They'll wait there like a lovesick puppy until you dismiss them. Loyal, but ultimately annoying. "You are dismissed." He bowed again and left the room.
When Twilight left the door, Dash at her side, she noticed the other guard, but didn't recognize him. He had a black coat and a blond mane. When Twilight asked his name, he had replied that it was irrelevant. With a nod from the violet pony, they four began to walk the palace towards the dining hall, with Shield in front and "Irrelevant" in back.
Upon entering the dining hall, Twilight saw that Shield was right- Cadance and Shining Armor had shown up to the city early. As the two ran to greet each other, Dash couldn't help but smile at the little dance the two did whenever those two saw each other.
"I apologize," Celestia's voice rang throughout the room. "For my sister not being able to join us this morning. She said something about last night being hard for her, making a special night for somepony. No matter, though. Let us eat."
Not being any kind of royalty, Dash didn't have much to say during the meal. The three of the royal family in the room mostly just lectured Twilight about what to expect from this council. It was decided that the council would be held on it's scheduled date, although all of the interested parties were in Canterlot already.
When the meal had finished and the plates were taken back to the kitchen, Celestia spoke up. "Rainbow Dash, I need to borrow Twilight. I would presume that's fine" A simple nod from the pegasus was the only response she needed. The two alicorns walked off down another hallway, leaving Dash alone with Cadance and Shining Armor. 
"Hey Cadance," the words came suddenly from Dash's mouth. "Could I talk to you for a little bit?" The thought that this was a bad idea was the running on infinite loop in the mind beneath the technicolor mane. Every fiber of her being was begging her not to do this. There was no telling how Cadance would react. It had been so much easier telling Fluttershy.


"I'm in love, Fluttershy. With Twilight!" Rainbow Dash sat on the floor of the small cottage, her heart racing from the what Fluttershy had told her about this... love. Fluttershy did her own combination of running and flying, trying to feed all the critters who called Fluttershy's home their own. "What's wrong with me? I mean, I'm the coolest pony in Equestria. Sure, Twilight's a princess, but she's such an egghead!" Despite the tone of her voice, Dash was not angry. Not at Twilight for being so damn lovable. Not at herself for never telling anypony. And certainly not at Fluttershy, even if talking to her was too much like talking to herself.
"Nothing's wrong with you, silly," Fluttershy started as she wrapped her cyan friend in what could only be described at her best attempt at a death hug. "I'm just so happy for you!" Her mind flashed back to the childhood the two had together. Growing up together, moving to Ponyville... they had been through so much. Fluttershy loved Rainbow Dash, but like everything about the filly-at-heart, it was a passive love. She wanted nothing more than Rainbow Dash to happy, even if not in her own arms. A pang of regret shot through the cream colored pegasus for not ever telling her, but she was just to shy, and it quickly subsided. She released her grip on Dash and said, ever so softly to her, "So. Twilight?"
"Yeah. Twilight."


"Are you OK?" Cadance's voice rang through Dash's ears.
Suddenly snapping back into reality, Rainbow replied, "Sorry, Princess. I guess I just blanked out."
"Cadance is fine for any friend of Twilight's." She gave a gentle, loving laugh, as though she was just as shocked about being called "Princess" as Twilight was. "Tell me, then. What's on your mind?" The two now stood atop one of the palace's many balconies overlooking the city. The streets weren't as crowded as they normally were, on account of the late morning. At about lunch time, they would become flooded once again by the ponies of the magnificent city.
The word's barely found their way to Rainbow's mouth. Be brave, she thought to herself. For Twilight. The took a deep breath before asking, "Cadance, you're the princess of love, right?"
"I suppose you could say that," the pink colored alicorn replied. She seemed to be mildly taken aback by the implications of that question.
"I need your help," Rainbow said, ever so quietly. She had to tell somepony, somepony who would give her actual advice. "I'm in love with Twilight."
A slight elation escaped Cadance. Quickly addressing the look of anger that had appeared on the face of the pegasus next to her, she simply said, "I know."
Rainbow Dash was shocked. There was no way she could have known- she hadn't told anypony but Fluttershy. "How?"
"Luna told me. It would seem that you dream of her quite often. Besides, as you pointed out, I'm the princess of love- I would've figured it out.
"What do I do?" Dash's voice seemed to be fading quickly- it got quieter with every word she spoke.
"Let's start by not overworking the Princess of the Night again."
A special night for a special pony, Rainbow thought back to the statement Celestia had given at the meal. "You think Luna approves?"
"I think Luna thinks you both deserve to be happy. If that happiness rests in each others hooves, then it is of little consequence." It wasn't Cadance who was speaking now. Dash looked up to see Luna herself floating down to where the other two were standing. As Dash gave a slight bow, Luna finished, "As for your question, child, you should talk to her about how you feel. A bit clichè, but it always works. And before you ask, no, I do not know if she feels the same. This is why you must ask her."
"I know," Dash said, fresh dismay added to her voice. "It's just so damn hard."