The day after the unbelievable visit to Cumulus Court, Rainbow Dash was reclining on her favorite cloud-stuffed reading cushion in her living room, rereading the newest Daring Do adventure, when there was a knock on the front door. Setting aside her book and taking wing, she flapped down to the first floor.
Her jaw dropped as she beheld her visitor: a massive pegasus stallion with a dark purple-gray coat, eyes the color of steel, and a storm-gray mane and tail shot through with electric blue streaks shaped like jagged lightning bolts.
"Good afternoon, Miss Dash," he said in a rich baritone. "My name is Summer Storm."
"S-S-Summer Storm..." Rainbow took a step back, eyes wide. Shaking her head, she tried to straighten herself up, but the stallion's sheer presence made her feel small. "Um, it's n-nice to meet you, s-sir..."
Summer Storm smiled and laughed gently. "There is no need to be nervous, my little pony," he said. "May I enter?"
"Huh? Oh...y-yes, of course," Rainbow said, gliding away from the door. Summer Storm trotted casually into the foyer. "Can I get you anything? Sir?"
"No thank you," he said. "I wanted to meet you, and have a little talk...now that you know the truth about my daughter."
Rainbow gulped. "O-Okay..."
"I already said you don't need to be nervous," Summer Storm said, rolling his eyes. "Am I really that scary?"
"Hey, I'm not scared of anything!" Rainbow Dash said hotly, her usual confidence trying to reassert itself. She paused, then added, "But...you are a little...intimidating."
Summer Storm laughed. "I hear that quite often." Shaking his head, he paced around the room. "You have quite a nice place here," he said.
"It's nothing compared to yours," Rainbow said.
"True," Summer Storm said. "Sometimes I feel as if I went a bit too far when I built my home." He turned, stopped, and faced her. "First, I want to thank you for taking Sunrise under your wing. She has long lamented not having a sister figure to look up to. One or two of the maids have tried to be that to her, but...well..." He clucked his tongue. "Let us just say there have been...personality clashes."
"You mean how she's really rough around the edges?" Rainbow asked without thinking.
Summer Storm laughed. "Yes, exactly!"
Rainbow shrugged. "I like the squirt. She reminds me of me."
"Considering what I know of you, that honestly worries me," Summer Storm said. "Still..." He sighed. "May I sit down?"
"Of course!" Rainbow led Summer Storm into her living room, where they sat across from each other.
Summer Storm fidgeted nervously for a long moment. At length, he said, "I'm sure you've probably figured this out by now, but...Sunrise...will never be able to fly." He sighed. "We've encouraged her to keep hoping, but...my wife and I have had many private conversations with the finest doctors in Cloudsdale and Canterlot. The truth is, Sunrise was born with underdeveloped wings, and no magic or medicine in Equestria can cure her."
Rainbow sighed. "Yeah...I kinda noticed," she admitted. "I've watched her try to fly, and...her wing muscles are super weak, and the bone structure looks all wrong." She absently stretched out one of her own wings, spreading it wide. "I've told her she might fly one day if she keeps tryin', but..." She shook her head. "I don't really see it ever happening."
"It won't," Summer Storm agreed with a rumbling sigh. "And..." He closed his eyes. "That's...honestly one of the reasons my wife and I have indulged this whole...'Scootaloo' thing. Sunrise would never be truly happy in Cloudsdale." He gave a mirthless snort of laughter. "At least she could actually live in Cloudsdale, unlike our firstborn..."
Rainbow blinked. "Your firstborn?"
Summer Storm gave her a stern look. "Now, this is not to leave this room...at least, not for now," he said. "Morning Dew and I very carefully guarded the secret of our first child. Which...was a mistake, and one I severely regret. There is only one pony in Equestria who knows the identity of our firstborn, and she has been sworn to secrecy."
"Uhh...okay, but...why?"
"Because our firstborn child is a unicorn," Summer Storm said. "Can you imagine the scandal?"
Rainbow frowned. "Yeah, okay, I get how the bigwigs in Cloudsdale and the trashy gossip rags would go nuts, but..."
"Don't misunderstand!" Summer Storm said hastily. "We dearly loved our daughter. We didn't care that she was a unicorn and not a pegasus. I mean, these things happen. Pony genetics can behave quite strangely."
"Tell me about it," Rainbow said. "There's an earth pony couple right here in Ponyville that had twins a couple years back. One's a unicorn and the other's a pegasus."
Summer Storm raised an eyebrow. "That must be an...interesting challenge for them." He shook his head. "In any case...for obvious reasons, our unicorn daughter could not live in Cloudsdale. So we...made arrangements." He sighed. "If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have moved to the ground and...and..." He squeezed his eyes shut.
Rainbow shifted uncomfortably. "Uhh...did she die or somethin'?"
"No, she's alive," Summer Storm said. "But...it's complicated." He frowned. "You're a close friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle, are you not?"
Rainbow nodded. "One of her best friends."
"Then perhaps you should join me when I meet with the Princess," Summer Storm said. "I...I have business with her...related to everything I've just said."
Rainbow blinked in confusion, but shrugged. "Sure. I mean, yes. I'd be honored. And...whatever's going on, you can totally trust me."
"Oh, I have no doubt in my mind you are trustworthy," Summer Storm said with a smile. "After all, I know everything there is to know about you."
Rainbow's eyes widened and her jaw fell slack. "Huh?"
Summer Storm laughed. "You're my daughter's favorite pony in all of Equestria, AND you've caught the interest of Captain Spitfire on multiple occasions. Do you really think I haven't investigated you thoroughly?"
"Oh. Uh. Yeah. Heheh."
"Well...if you wouldn't mind, I'd...I'd very much like to visit Princess Twilight Sparkle now."
"Oh! Yeah. Let's go."
* * * * *
The Cutie Mark Crusaders found a surprise waiting for them when they met up at the clubhouse late Sunday morning.
The pegasus maid, April Showers, stood next to a small table draped in crisp linen, upon which sat a silver tea service and three piping hot cups of tea.
Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "What the—?! April, what are YOU doing here?!"
"Now, Young Miss," April chided, "seeing as your little friends now know the truth about you, it is only fitting that in the privacy of this...ah...quaint little playhouse, you observe proper ladylike decorum. And take proper tea with your friends."
"You gotta be kidding me," Scootaloo groaned.
"Hey, sounds good t' me," Apple Bloom said. "Only, it ain't a good idea t' have much fancy stuff here in th' clubhouse."
"Yeah, every now and then we get barged in on by the very last ponies in Ponyville we want finding out about Scootaloo."
April frowned. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon invade your clubhouse?"
"You know those two?" Apple Bloom asked, eyes wide.
"Only by reputation," April said. "The Young Miss has made her dislike of those two fillies quite plain on numerous occasions." She smirked. "In my opinion, the fact that every single holding of both their families wouldn't be enough to buy one of the staircases at Cumulus Court is rather delicious irony."
Scootaloo giggled. "That's true."
"Oh, one other thing," April said, turning to Apple Bloom. "I don't know if she told you this, but the Young Miss has been using a rather out-of-the-way field to come and go from Ponyville each day. Now that you know her secret, would it be possible for Silverbolt to collect her in a less public area of Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Sure, it's fine by me. Umm...does this mean it's okay for my family t' know about all this?"
"As long as they can keep a secret," April said. "That goes for your family too," she added to Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie frowned. "I'm not so sure telling Rarity about Scootaloo's family would be a good idea," she said. "I mean..." Apple Bloom suddenly burst out giggling. Sweetie trailed off and stared at her. "What?"
"Ah just..." Apple Bloom managed to wheeze out between giggles, "Ah just pictured Rarity's reaction t' Scootaloo in that gold dress..." She sobered up, clutching at her ribs. "Ah'm sorry. It's just...y'all know how Rarity is about all that fancy stuff..."
Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yeah, I think I know what you mean." She gave Scootaloo a glance, one eyebrow raised. "What do you think?"
"I think if anypony else from Ponyville sees me all dolled up like that, I'll feed myself to a hydra," Scootaloo said, face scrunched up in the most unladylike expression possible. This just sent her friends into a fresh wave of giggles.
* * * * *
Twilight Sparkle opened the front doors to her castle to find Rainbow Dash and an unfamiliar stallion on her doorstep. "Hi Rainbow. Who's—?"
The stallion stepped forward and knelt. "Your Highness," he rumbled. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Summer Storm."
"This is Scootaloo's dad," Rainbow said.
Twilight's eyes widened. "Oh," she said. "It's...it's a pleasure to meet you. Won't you come in?"
The two pegasi followed Twilight into the castle. She led them upstairs to the library, where she invited them to sit at the large reading table. "I hope I'm not being presumptuous in taking up your time, Your Highness, but—"
"Oh, don't worry about it," Twilight said. "I'm just doing a little light reading today. Nothing important." She smiled. "What can I do for you?"
"Well..." Summer Storm took a deep breath, then told Twilight the same things he had told Rainbow: that Sunrise would never be able to fly, that she was actually his second child, and that his firstborn was a unicorn. When he was finished, Twilight looked sad.
"That's...a lot to have happen to a single family," she said.
"But...there is still more, and...I've been told that you are the one pony in Equestria who can help me."
Twilight blinked. "There's more?"
Summer Storm nodded. "You see..." He stood and began to pace. "After I entrusted my first daughter to my friends among the nobility in Canterlot, I learned that she showed an exceptional talent for magic. I was thrilled when I received a letter telling me she had been accepted into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Later still, I received even more wonderful news. I had never been so proud of her...even though I could not visit her and praise her accomplishments. And I so wanted to.
"But then..." Summer Storm's eyes became cloudy and sad. "I started getting letters from Princess Celestia. My daughter had become arrogant, demanding, cruel. She shunned other ponies. She developed a sense of entitlement. She began making more and more unacceptable demands of the Princess.
"And then...one day..." He bowed his head. "I learned that she had done the unthinkable. She had left Equestria. Gone to a place where I could not pursue her." He looked up at Twilight. "Princess Celestia was profusely apologetic. She seemed to believe she was to blame for driving my daughter away...
"By that time, we already had our hooves full with Sunrise, and..." He shook his head and sighed.
Twilight felt a cold pit forming in her stomach. "Summer Storm..." She swallowed heavily.
Summer Storm held up a hoof. "But recently, I was visited by Princess Celestia. She told me that...that after all this time, my daughter had returned, as cruel and wicked as before, and that...that you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, confronted her. That you changed her. That you showed her the error of her ways.
"And again, even more recently, I received word that my eldest daughter is happy, healthy, and has friends...everything I always wanted for her, and that she is once again somepony I can be proud of...but she is still beyond my reach."
Tears gathered in Twilight's eyes. "Oh Celestia," she whispered. "You're talking about Sunset Shimmer, aren't you?"
"I am indeed," Summer Storm said.
Rainbow's eyes widened. "Whoa."
HUUZZAH! New update!
You are one of the few to mention that Rainbow would have to leave Ponyville if she joined the 'Bolts... shame I never got to use that argument when the fandom was complaining about how Twilight would leave Ponyville after her ascension. Dusk Guard? I think I need to start figure out a name for my own Twilight's Own
Okay, I gotta admit, that was a really good way of handling the whole 'Rainbow becomes Wonderbolt or stays with friends' issue. Also, love that Pinkie already knew. Fits too well. And Sweetie's comments about telling Rarity were priceless!
Not sure I think Rainbow dash would be ready for the responsibility and decorum of a guard captain I think she has the potential for sure but I would think she would need a bit of time at a martial academy first also no offense but she loves attention and guard captains don't get much
I'll be the Dusk Guard will be about as useful as the other guard units. Meaning useless.
Okay... that was just awesome. Seriously, I mean that. That was awesome.
Great chapter.
I'm glad the way that Scootaloo's parents act isn't all snobby. That would have been way too annoying.
This is so awesome! I wish we had pictures... and now the Army part of me wants to see the inner workings of the Guard... but we have to focus on Scoots... but... ARGH! TOO MUCH AWESOME!
Quick question: Is "That Spell" a permanent transformation? I would guess that it is from how adamant Twilight was against using it on Rainbow Dash, but I would like some confirmation.
I'm picturing the dust guard saluting and gooing "HUAH!"
3614010 Actually, given that they have Rainbow as their Captain, I'd say they'll be about 20% more useful. (Not much, but better )
*stops in tracks*
Hmm...
*checks tags quickly*
Good, it didn't unexpectedly turn TwiDash on me.
I'm guessing that was Pinkie Pie because a Pinkie Promise was made.
What about before he became captain?
It really sucks that Rainbow had to give up being a Wonderbolt. She has been wanting that seen...forever. I guess, without a doubt, her friends mean that much more. BTW,
Is this an inside joke?
------------------OMAKE------------------
"Hey guys...."
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped trying to make an actual sandwich out of the tiny sandwich's that April Showers had brought and looked over at their friend.
"Hey Sweetie Belle what's wro.....WHOA!!"
Scootaloo and Apple Blooms eyes suddenly grew to the size of dinner plates as they got a good look at their despondent friend.
After several long seconds Apple Bloom spoke up. "Rarity found out?"
From within the all concealing dress that seemed to be made completely out of ruffles, gems and feathers came Sweetie Belle's reply. "How'd you guess?"
April Showers stood completely still as she took in the comical scene 'MUST....NOT....LAUGH! Laughter is the career killer...'.
(Just an odd thought I had that Sweetie Belle didn't tell Rarity in order to protect herself from Rarity forcing her to wear fancy dresses to impress important ponies or such)
Good
Not sure what to feel about this. True Rainbow may be happy now. But what about regrets later? True she would have regrets either way but now her life long dream is looking at a slide down hill over time.
It just feels like the interference from Scoot's dad may lead to dissatisfaction all around eventually. I suppose it could go in the good direction too. However I am not sure this is likely if he will continue to try and make sure everyone else does what benefits his image most no matter the benefits in the short term to all involved.
Whelp. Sorry to be a downer. I hope I am wrong. At least Scoot and Rainbow are happy for now.
Nice. Wait. LUNA RAN OUT OF OREOS!!!!! CALL 911!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd say Rainbow Dash has the Royal Guard Captain persona down quite well so far.
oh Jesus Pinkie, give ponies some privacy would ya?
this is Pinkie we're talking about, shouldn't be THAT surprising
oh the irony of ironies
loved the update and thank you for such as well since you had said you had planned on that first chapter being pretty much a one-shot
oh the horrors, Luna ran out of oreosehh, to a point I CAN kinda understand that
3613943 Really? I'd swear it comes up in at least two of every three Dash shipfics I read.
3613982 I somewhat agree, though technically she did spend some time at the Wonderbolts Academy. Probably not enough, though, hopefully one of the other twelve is a properly experienced NCO who can give her some appropriate guidance.
3614079 imma guessing it is for guards who are doing their duty and twi didnt want rainbow's colours to change
I can see it now, their first drill with Captain Rainbow Dash...
: "Alright! Our first drill is how to be cooler!"
: "Whut?"
: "You heard me, maggot! If you manage to impress me, we'll move on to Awesomeness!"
: "... What have I done with my life?" ; ;
Will the next chapter include Dimond Tiara and Silver Spoon finding out and trying to become friends with Scootaloo/ Sunrise? That sounds good, yet I feel that Scotaloo/ Sunrise will turn them down. That should be the whole plot on your next chapter and how Rainbow Dash is doing being captin of the royal guards.
"My sister ran out of Oreos" - Bwahaha, I know that feeling way to well!
Extremly nice chapter.
3614014
I agree whole-heartedly, my good sir. Awesome indeed.
3614235
I don't read many shipfics with RD, usually thanks to my annoyance with the fandom's need to make everypony gay (especially Rainbow), and it doesn't come up much with other fics I've read.
An entertaining fic, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it continues, but this chapter raises a few fridge-logic questions:
- Telling the Apple family about Scootaloo's identity and relocating pickup there are a great way to have this not stay secret much longer (due to more people involved and a less-remote location). I'm assuming that was deliberate from a story point of view, as part of a slippery slope scenario. The CMCs wouldn't pick up on the added risk of bringing more people in on it, but showing why the adults thought it was a good idea might be helpful.
- Rainbow is brave and loyal, but undisciplined. I'm assuming your version of the guards has officers and rank-and-file drawn from different pools (as with the US military), in which case parachuting her in wouldn't be too far out of line. Ditto if it's a political appointment of someone not expected to have military experience at all (as with the British military prior to the world wars). If officers are instead usually promoted from rank-and-file, though, the soldiers might object to answering to someone who'd have been drummed out herself for discipline issues if she'd entered at the bottom. It might be worth clarifying how this works in-story, especially in light of Frankie2's observation (that Shining would have had the uniform-spell cast on him if he'd been in the guard prior to being captain).
- Rainbow is being put in a position of authority without any on-screen training for how to handle her job (and only ten days of off-screen training). Being a good manager is difficult. Being a good leader is also difficult. If your position is that Rainbow already had experience with this sort of thing from being regional weather manager for the ponyville area, it might be worth adding a line or two of prose making that clear.
In any event, you've definitely kept me interested!
Another great chapter thanks, and please keep em comin.
I'm enjoying this story a great deal, but I have to ask: Why is Rainbow Dash the Guard Captain? I mean, yeah, the Wonderbolts academy was kinda like basic training, but it just seems so odd for Summer Storm to immediately promote a pony trained in stunt flying to Captain with no additional training. And if there was (or will be) additional training, why not show it? It'd be nice to see Rainbow's take on it once she leaps in with all four hooves.
Otherwise, I really dig this chapter. I like Scootaloo's continued resistance to the idea of telling the townsfolk about her real life. Nice to see it's not immediately going away
3614010 Yeah, Rainbow Dash was totally the most qualified candidate. The point of a Royal Guard Detachment is to look pretty, and she has the prettiest mane.
I expected her to at least have to, you know, train or something.
3614131
Or, just by the very act of putting on a uniform, she'll be nerfed.
3614131 We know Dash is a Black-belt in at least one style of martial arts from the show, I could see her making what ever style she knows mandatory knowledge in case the guard gets de-armed and/or so that they have some form of actual CQC style...
3614235 She's taking a correspondence course from Shinning Armor
3614336
Once would hope that Scootaloo would politely refuse in such a case, perhaps citing their poor behavior in the past as being singularly inappropriate in ponies she associates with.
I do think that Rainbow Dash really shouldn't have been inducted without proper guard training, or that she ought to be required to spend some time in appropriate training now. Otherwise this whole 'Dusk Guard' thing will seem farcical.
I was unsure about Rainbow Dash giving up the Wonderbolts but as I kept reading the thought processes were very much in character for her and in the end I decided that she would definitely choose to remain in Ponyville if offered an opportunity like this.
Great Job.
Good chapter. I like that you made Rainbow the captain for Twilight's guard. She manages the Ponyville Weather Team, we all know she can fight...besides, she does show promise. Hopefully Scootaloo's secret will go downhill from here .
3614578 alright. Was just giving a suggestion about the next chapter...
3614502 Omg I was having so much difficulty reading your comment because I was laughing so hard at your profile pic. Lets go to the new world! Am I right?
3614079 "That spell" is the Guard Uniform spell, and it's permanent, yes.
3614140 Inside joke? No. Novus Draconis is writing the next chapter.
Explanation for the whole Guard Captain Rainbow Dash thing:
The Dusk Guard is purely ceremonial. Ostensibly they're as important as the Canterlot Guard, but...realistically, only a few situations have ever arisen that Celestia couldn't handle herself or send six completely untrained ponies to handle. And Twilight is more than capable of taking care of herself...and her friends are no slouch either. So the Dusk Guard logically makes about as much sense as a butthole on your elbow, but it's custom.
So the best way to get Twilight to handle the whole thing gracefully without throwing a fit? Make one of her best friends the guard captain.
3614655 Glad I could entertain you :) Probably gonna have to replace it with Luffy's new reaction face from the latest chapter!
3614679 Oh, I see. I honestly didn't think of that :P
3614136
Which is a small shame, but its looking to be a good story nevertheless
3614526 Actually, the technical term is "Worfed"
3614548 Great. Now every Princess is gonna want Rainbow Dash as their captain (Mirror Pool, anypony? )
The jimmies have been rustled.
3614284 "I told you to be 20% cooler, maggot! You're only giving me 17%! Now do it again until I'm satisfied!"
3614679
That... honestly makes it even more disconcerting.
Not only is it a spell that turns them into their uniform, permanently replacing their physical identity with the cookie-cutter appearance of The Guard, but it's for a station that serves no real purpose beyond standing stoically at attention for a princess far more able to protect herself and her charges than they will ever be!
It's like if we made our own armed forces
dyetattoo their skin a single color, then started using costumed superheroes for military actions instead.I'm not telling you how to do your story or anything, but that seems a bit... off from the generally upbeat and carefree tone of the story thus far, especially since it would probably be easier and less one-way to just enchant the armor with a glamor that comes off with the uniform.
3614968 It's my attempt to explain all the identical Royal Guards in a setting where even within families, no two ponies have the same coat and mane colors. :P
And it was deliberately a bit creepy, yes.
3614872
Hopefully the guards in this story aren't nearly as useless as the ones in the show.
I thought that last chapter was going to be the only one. This is a pleasant surprise
3615051
Well it's definitely a new one to me, but the implications kinda shoot it right past creepy and into genuinely frightening "What The F**K?!" territory for me.
3615391 In other words, it worked.