Rainbow finally returned home after a rough night as Shadowbolt. One of the gangs tried to ambush her. She defeated them, but she was so sore. After a shower and some aspirin, she collapsed on her cloud bed and fell asleep.
She found herself in a large room with two thrones, one gold, the other blue. Banners of the sun and moon hung above them.
“Okay, where the hay am I?” she asked aloud.
“In my dream realm,” a voice said. Rainbow whipped around and saw Princess Luna. “Good evening, Rainbow Dash,” the Night Princess greeted her.
“Hey, Luna,” Rainbow answered back, but then she grew suspicious. “You're not trying your hoof to have me go back to those girls, are you?”
“While that would be a nice thing, I am not here for that. I can more than understand the feeling of betrayal. No, I'm here for you.”
“Me?”
“Indeed. I have been watching you since you left your friends, or former friends, as the case may be. I was seeing if I could do something to help mend this division when I discovered what you have done. You have resurrected by dream for the Shadowbolts.”
“Really?”
“Indeed. The Wonderbolts are actually a pale copy of my idea. My sister and I cannot be everywhere at once. This has always been true. I suggested forming a team of skilled ponies that could either react quickly or stealthily. Part of that team would have been the Shadowbolts. They would be the top pegasi that I felt had the potential to go further than all others, and I would teach them some of the lost or hidden arts I know for pegasi. However, I became Nightmare Moon before I could fully implement the plan. My sister knew of the idea but modified it. While the Wonderbolts can react quickly to a crisis, they are still, at their core, a stunt team. You, Rainbow Dash, you I want to train in those arts.”
“Me?” Rainbow said in shock.
“Indeed. You have performed the Sonic Rainboom. Very few pegasi can accomplish such a feat. In all my life I have seen only three pegasi succeed. You are the fourth. I can train you to perform the Rainboom more easily, and I can train you in combat so that you are not going to bed with as many bruises as you are now. I know you havve had some martial training, but I can extend that. I can teach you techniques that will make you a terror on the battlefield. I can make you a true Shadowbolt. Will you become my apprentice?”
Rainbow thought on that. The girls she thought were her friends didn't respect her. She still hasn't been approached by the Wonderbolts even though she could now do the Sonic Rainboom on command, she won the Young Fliers Competition, and she helped beat both Nightmare Moon and Discord. She hasn't gotten anywhere with her goals. Yet here was a co-ruler, a bucking alicorn wanting to teach her lost pegasus techniques. To make her the greatest pegasus ever.
“Luna, you've got a deal.”
“Huzzah! You shall not regret this, Rainbow Dash.”
“I hope so. I've had enough go wrong recently.”
“Indeed, but we shall change that tonight.”
“You know you say that a lot.”
Luna looked back at her quizzically. “What?” she asked.
“'Indeed'.”
“Oh,” Luna said in shock. “I had not noticed.”
Rainbow put a hoof around Luna's neck. “Stick with me, Princess, and I'll teach you all about the modern times.” Rainbow saw Luna give her a heartfelt smile.
“I will take you on that, Rainbow Dash, and please, call me 'Luna'.”
“Only if you call me 'Rainbow' or 'Dash'.”
“We are in accord. Now, before this night is done, let us begin some training.” With a stomp of her hoof, they were now outside the old castle. “Now Rainbow, current pegasus training is very inefficient. You become exhausted performing the Rainboom, correct?” Rainbow nodded. “Well, when I get done with you, Rainbow, you will be able to perform consecutive Rainbooms before being even remotely tired. Now I want you to stand here, extend your wings, close your eyes, and focus on your wings.” Rainbow did as asked. “I know that we are in the dream realm, but you should still feel the magic in your body.”
“Yeah, I feel it, Luna.”
“Good. When you have time during the day, take this stance. Feel your magic and slowly breathe. When you exhale, send it to your wings and let it build, then direct it downwards. Push against any resistance you feel.” Rainbow did so till her wings felt tired. She stopped and opened her eyes.
Only to see herself in midair.
“AAAAAHHHH!” She screamed till she got her wings back out and glided back to Luna. “How did I do that!?” she asked her new teacher.
“Your magic. Now this really did not do anything, but when you have time in the waking world perform this exercise. Every time you feel tired, glide back to the ground and, when ready, do it again. Your magic is like a muscle. It needs to be used to get stronger. Current pegasus training does not exercise it enough. Just enough for basic flight and some tricks. The Wonderbolts get a little further than average, but not much. You manage to go further on your own. This is why the Rainboom is so rare. Most pegasi do not have the muscles in their magic to pull it off.”
“Awesome. I'll do that. Hey, Luna, who came up with all of this?”
Luna smirked at her. “Commander Gale Wing, a successor to Commander Hurricane, before Discord's reign. Because of his training, my sister and I survived our first battle with Discord to find the elements.”
“You mean he actually kills?” Rainbow asked.
“What do you think happened to the other alicorns? There used to be quite a few of us, but our combined might could easily threaten him, so over the eons he had killed us off. The Hearth's Warming was needed because the alicorns used to help mediate disagreement between the tribes. My mother and father were the last to try and died from it. Starswirl the Bearded kept me and my sister safe until we were old enough to be on our own. His arrogance has always been his weakness. That and his need for fun allowed us the chance to use the Elements then. When he confronted you and your fellow bearers. he already had the Elements, and he always thought of the mortal ponies more as toys than threats until, again, it was too late.”
“So why did he take over Equestira if he's been around so long?”
“I think it was because he never did it before and came to like it. Well, the day has begun and you have a job to go to. I bid you a good day, Rainbow. Work on those exercises.” A bright light appeared and engulfed the world around Rainbow. When she could see again, she was on her bed with the sun glaring down at her. She rubbed her eyes and checked the time. Enough time for breakfast before work. Awesome.
* * * * * *
A week and a half later, Luna wanted to meet in the real world, not her dream realm. Rainbow did a quick check of the town, but crime was dropping since she became Shadowbolt. With Mareapolis safe, she flew out and, when far enough, Rainboomed to the location. She spotted Luna in an old quarry, and she dove in for a landing. A cloud of dust billowed from her landing. Luna smirked at the sight.
“Impressive entrance and landing, Rainbow. Do you feel at all winded from that Rainboom?”
“Nah, I'm good.”
“Excellent. We can most certainly move to the next level of training.” Luna started to turn away before she looked back at the pegasus. “Any reason for wearing your uniform?”
“Did a patrol before coming here.”
“Very well. Now watch that boulder,” Luna said, pointing to a large boulder nearby. Rainbow did, and when Luna saw that her student was watching, she folded her wings before whipping out the right wing. Rainbow saw a distortion emitted from the wing in a small wave. It hit the boulder and blew it apart.
“That. Was. AWESOME! How did you do that?” Rainbow asked, giddy from the sight. Luna looked back at her with a smirk on her face.
“That was the Wind Burst, the next step in the Gale Wing art. That was highly focused air. Imagine the wind from a tornado, but in a smaller area, yet retaining that same force or stronger. Thus, we have that.” She gestured with a wing to the pebbles that were once the boulder.
“Whoa,” Rainbow said in awe at the implications of the technique, “And I can learn that?” Luna nodded. “So awesome,” Rainbow squeaked, earning a chuckle from Luna.
“Rainbow, shall we begin?” Rainbow gave her several quick nods. “Good. Now, focus you magic like you did for the exercises, but contain it and focus it on your wing tips.” Rainbow did so. She didn't even need to close her eyes to do it anymore; it's become instinctive to her. “Now sweep the wing of your choice out and release the magic at the midpoint of your arc.” Rainbow swept her left wing out, but she didn't see the distortion of air. Just Luna's mane and tail softly fluttering behind her.
“Nice try, but you need to focus more on the release.” Rainbow got back into position and tried again.
It took Rainbow an hour before she got anything resembling what Luna did. “I think that is enough for tonight. Find a safe place for yourself and keep practicing. That is for later, though. I am in the mood for some flying. Let us see if you can keep up with me.”
“Oh, you're on, Luna!” Over the next hour, the two flew throughout the sky doing barrel rolls, loop-de-loops and many other basic tricks and stunts before the two called it a night and went their separate ways.
* * * * * * *
Days later, Rainbow had wanted to keep her end of the deal and further help Luna adjust to the modern world. So, instead of training, they were going to spend the night hanging out. At about nine, she saw Luna on the horizon, and within minutes, the Lunar Princess was next to her.
“Good evening, Rainbow.”
“Heya, Luna.”
“So, what do you have planned for us, my dear friend?”
“Unlike Ponyville, this place has a nightclub. I figured you haven't been to one, since I doubt your aides or the nobles would ever let you near one.”
“What happens in these nightclubs?”
“Ponies dance, drink, and have fun.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Rainbow smirked. “I though you might like it. So, you wanna go as yourself or in disguise?” Luna raised her head with a determined look.
“As myself. I want my subjects to see me as me.”
“Hey, just had to give a fair warning. I wouldn't be surprised if some paper got a picture of you there and tried to paint it some way.”
Luna put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. “Your concern for me is touching, my dear friend. I care not what the nobles say. It has been a long time since they have properly lived up to the title and an even longer time since we have seen eye-to-eye. I have more in common with the 'common' pony than I ever have with them. Why do you think I like Ponyville so much? Once we got past the difficulties, they treated me like everypony else. Now, the night is young, and I want to see this nightclub of yours.” Rainbow smirked at that and took to the air with Luna right behind.
Minutes later, the two landed near a building covered with neon lights that had a sign that read, 'Neon Glow Club'. There was a line of ponies, but it immediately parted as Luna walked to the doors. An earth pony stallion the size of Big Mac saw them coming and bowed to Luna.
“Princess, you honor us with your presence.”
“Thank you. Now, my friend and I would like to see this establishment.”
“Of course. Enjoy your time here, Princess,” he replied, moving the rope out of the way. Luna and Rainbow passed by and into the club. Rainbow soon noticed Luna staring in awe of what she saw. The main floor had two bars paralleling each other with a few couches near both. The center held a dance floor, which was made of lights that changed in sequence to the song playing. They both saw several ponies there either dancing alone or in pairs. On the other side of the floor from them was the DJ booth. There, they saw a unicorn mare nodding to the beat that she messed with the lights and effects. Rainbow elbowed Luna.
“Come on, Luna. Time to have some fun and let loose.” Luna nodded and a smile graced her lips. And they immediately went to the dance floor.
* * * * * *
Luna had THE BIGGEST GRIN when they finally left the club.
“OH, SO JOYOUS A NIGHT! Thank you, my good friend. I, indeed, had fun.” Rainbow gave a tired smile. Luna had a wild streak that she had hidden before now. She really cut loose on the dance floor, and many ponies cheered her on. She hasn't seen Luna this happy since Nightmare Night.
“I'm glad ya liked it,” Rainbow replied, yawning as she spoke. Luna took a good look at her, and before Rainbow could react, a blue light flashed. The next thing Rainbow knew was that she was in her bedroom. She felt herself be lifted into the air and placed on her bed.
“Sleep, my dear friend. Be rested for my sister's day.” Unbeknownst to Rainbow, Luna used her magic to make Rainbow fall into a good, deep sleep so that she wouldn't suffer the next day. Luna set Rainbow's alarm clock and left her dear friend's home for the night.
* * * * * *
As Rainbow predicted, the story of Luna's visit did get out. The nobles made a bit of a fuss on how improper it was for a Princess to visit such a common venue. Luna just ignored them and paid attention to the average pony. Most seemed neutral, but it seemed many thought it made the Night Princess more relatable. The next few nights saw an increase of petitions to the Night Court. Celestia was happy to see her sister's image improve among their ponies. While she was still worried that Equestria's best line of defense was not usable, at least the situation has helping her sister. Celestia looked up from a letter from Twilight. Twilight still sent the friendship reports, but it seemed her heart wasn't as into them as it used to be. Both sides have been affected by the fallout of Mare Do Well. Twilight occasionally asked how Rainbow was doing since she learned that Luna had taken the pegasus on as an apprentice. Celestia shared what she knew with Twilight, but some things Luna kept from her. As annoying as that was, Celestia trusted her sister. She hoped she would succeed somehow where she failed and restore harmony.