> The Story Of Rainbow
>  by thedarktome
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue - The Start Of The Journey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Luna's hoofsteps ricocheted off the stone walls as she walked into the medical wing of the castle in the Everfree Forest, smiling at the whine of a newborn foal bouncing around. Today was a magnificent day. WOULD be a magnificent day if it wasn't kept in secret. A new princess had been born. But she had been born in the midst of a battle. The medical wing wasn't too big to get lost in, just one hallway that had six rooms on both sides. Whenever someone got hurt, this is where they would go. Or in this case, have a foal. Princess Luna gradually grinned when she heard the foal's cries getting louder.

She stopped at a door densely guarded by Royal Guards, and where the cries were coming from, before she lifted a hoof and knocked. "Come forth, Luna." The princess smiled before she pushed the door open to reveal a sight that will be forever sketched in her memory.

Princess Celestia was lying on a pillow, cradling a cyan baby pegasus in her hooves, smiling proudly like any mother would when they see their first child. She looked up from the foal she was nuzzling to face her sister with a smile. "She's been waiting for her aunt," the brand new mother said.

Luna grinned as she walked into the room and settled down in front of Celestia, looking at the newborn foal. The child's eyes were a dark magenta, her mane the colors of the rainbow, the same with her tail. The foal cooed, reached up and pushed her hooves out towards the princess of the night, trying to get to her. Luna smiled as she reached into her sister's arms, pulling the baby out and into hers.

"She looks so much like him," Luna said aloud. "It is like somepony made an exact copy and planted it in thy womb."

Celestia chuckled as she laid still watching the scene of the daughter and aunt. The princess of the night went and nuzzled the foal's belly, making her giggle and wrap her hooves around Luna's muzzle. Luna raised an eyebrow as she tried to pull away but the child just wouldn't let go.

"She loves you already Luna," Celestia said sadly. Luna noticed her tone immediately. She shook her snout and walked over to Celestia, placing the baby back in her arms.

"I am saddened as well, sister," she said, worry written all over her face. "I do not want this either. But it is what we must do. It is your child. And she will be protected, I assure you. This is our last resort. If there was another way we would have taken it."

Celestia sighed when a small tear escaped her eye, falling down her face and off her muzzle. "I wish it did not have to come to this, dear sister," she said. "I really did not think this would happen. All three of us would have been so happy, not afraid. Then she grabbed hold of the amulet and would not let go. Our sister would still be here today...in her normal state and not corrupted." Luna nodded as they looked back down to the foal, seeing her smile on her face. It looks like she was about to go to sleep.

"It is best to do it while they are young," Luna commented. Celestia sighed and nodded before she looked up to Luna with a serious expression.

"Is the proof of the future locked away?"

"It is. In the hidden wall of the castle. It is locked away in the back, where it has always been forbidden to go. Thou servants has moved everything and set it aside for the room in the past before this all came to pass. Now it is blocked by 10 walls of stone, reinforced by runes. No one is ever getting in."

Celestia nodded approvingly, satisfied with her sister's work of hiding the foal's predetermined existence in the royal life. "Have you named her?" Luna inquired

"I have. Rainbow Dash. Because of not only her mane...but because of who she will become." Luna smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Another sight into the future?"

Celestia nodded and nuzzled her foal. "It will forever be in my mind. This day we will never forget." The two sat in silence before an eerie breeze came through the open window slowly getting stronger. "It is time. We must work together."

Luna nodded before helping her sister stand up, feeling a little weak from the agony of childbirth. After they were up Celestia walked out of the room with little Rainbow Dash in her right hoof. When the royal sisters walked out of the room, they were waited on by a select few of the Royal Guard, positioned at the doorway, weapons at the ready.

"We await your command, Princess Celestia. Princess Luna." The princesses nodded at the captain before they gave their orders.

"Have your men positioned by the front of the castle. That is where she shall appear. Is proof of any of her royal status evident around the castle?"

"No, your highness. We took it all down last night during the birth." The princesses nodded before they gave the order.

"Go." The guards all took off towards the front of the castle, spears and crossbows on their backs as they made their way out to meet the threat at the gates while the princesses took the back way out. The two trotted out of the door guarded by two pegasi that followed them once they were out. "Escort your princesses as far as you can," Celestia instructed them. "Let your loyalty hold for the new member of the royal line."

The soldiers nodded as they all took to the air right when a whistle was heard before an explosion at the front of the castle. There was a bright rainbow colored mess of lights permeating from the ground as the being slowly stood up with aan evil grin. She glanced at the frozen guards, all pointing their weapons at her. Some were on top of the walls, walkways, and of course in front of her. "Where is Celestia?" She asked evilly. "She has what I need!"

The guards positioned at the front of of the castle backed up a little bit from her unsettling evil grin. The mare had a very long, ethereal, multi-colored mane with a black coat. Her right eye was a blue orb while the left was red. She had fangs that showed even with her muzzle closed. Her left wing was blue while the right one was red. And her horn was jagged with the color black.

"Where is my sister?" Princess Spectrum sneered again. "I can feel the power nearby, you cannot fool me!" The mad alicorn charged forward before she fired a pulse of magic, spreading it out so it hit an entire row of the guards, knocking them down.

Some other guards fired crossbows at her only for her to teleport in front of the wall, completely missing her. She quickly rotated herself and put her magic into her rear hooves before she bucked the stone structure. The wall began to crumble and fall apart, the guards screaming as they fell to the hard stone below.

"WHERE IS CELESTIA?! I WILL ASK YOU NO MORE!!" The soldiers didn't answer, their loyalty to the Princess of the Sun winning out against the mad princess of earth's demands. "Very well. You have asked for this punishment accordingly." She raised her hooves and flew into the air, igniting her horn before everything came to life.

The vines on the side of the castle shot out and grabbed soldiers, throwing into the cavern in front of the Castle, never to be seen again while the nearby trees began to topple on top of others Their screams sounded like music to her ears as she watched them all fall.

After they were all tossed over, she looked over her shoulder and flew towards the wall of the castle, harmlessly crashing through it as if it were never there. "WHERE ARE YOU CELESTIA?! COME OUT NOW AND HAND ME WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!!" The mad princess hovered quietly, using her enhanced hearing to pick up sounds of breathing, only to hear nothing. "They are not here...they have ESCAPED!!" The princess tore through the roof and looked around, hoping to see a trail of some sort that the princess' would undoubtedly leave behind.

She stopped and grinned when she saw a glimmer coming off of Celestia's chest plate a few miles away thanks to her enhanced vision. "RETURN AT ONCE, CELESTIA!!"



"She is upon us," Luna informed sailing through the air next to Celestia and her foal, followed closely by the best guards they had. "I am afraid this is where we part, dear sister." They paused in the air, hovering as they turned to each other.

"Luna..." Celestia whispered before Luna silenced her by pressing a hoof against her mouth.

"Do not worry about me," Luna said. "I will return in eighteen years. You know of this. Keep the kingdom running, and protect the child." Luna levitated a red gemstone from out of her pouch she had brought with her, holding it in front of Celestia. "You know what to do."

Celestia sighed and nodded before grabbing hold of the gemstone and placing it in the blanket with her foal. She looked back up at her sister, a smile on her face. "I love you, Luna."

"I love you too, Celestia." The two shared a hug before reluctantly letting go upon hearing the sound of air rushing around them. Luna turned around and flew towards the rainbow light trail getting closer to them, the guards right behind her. Celestia watched her go before continuing her flight to the meeting place. Flying through the stray clouds while nuzzling her crying foal.

"Where is Celestia?!" Princess Spectrum shouted to Luna as she approached. "You are hiding something of major importance to me and I want it now!" The two sisters clashed, their horns locking together as one struggled to overpower the other. The guards flew around the pair and fired their crossbows at the evil princess, impaling her slightly, causing her to lose focus.

Luna pushed her back before lifting her back hoofs up and bucking the mismatched princess away. "You will never win, Spectrum! You must not get that power, it will destroy us all! You must let it go!" Luna flew back towards the stunned Princess only to get a face full of hoof as the princess turned around and bucked her in the muzzle. Luna yelped when she was tossed to the side. The evil queen went and grabbed Luna before she stopped flying around and threw her towards a guard who was approaching her, knocking them both to the ground below. They impacted the ground and rolled, both of them rolling into a large tree trunk.

Luna looked back up to see the tree come to life and sharpen its branches before sending its way down to the two of them. Luna rolled out of the way in time, but the guard did not. The branches impaled into his side and neck, killing him instantly. Luna growled in anger before she looked towards the sky, seeing the queen of nature approach. "You will not win, Spectrum!" Luna took off back into the sky swinging her horn angrily at the princess, making her dodge this way and that.

"Take me to Celestia and I shall let you have your freedom for eighteen years," Spectrum sneered, avoiding a jab from Luna's horn.

"NEVER!" Luna yelled, about to jab again.

"Very well." When Luna jabbed again, Spectrum caught her horn and held it, making her struggle against the power of her sister. "I shall punish you." Spectrum grabbed Luna's magic and pulled it out of her horn, making her grow weaker and weaker.

Soon, Luna was sucked dry, her energy completely wasted before Spectrum squeezed the princess of the night's portruding facial feature and bent it, snapping it off. Luna screamed in horror before Spectrum charged her horn, a bright light coming from the tip of it as she held Luna in her magic. "Your freedom has been taken, dear sister! You should have given me the power when you had the chance!"

Luna stopped her horror filled look and just let Spectrum do it. "You....shall not....win, Spectrum," she said weakly in her sister's grasp. "You...will be......stopped." Spectrum growled before she fired the blast at Luna, encasing her body in light for a second before it shot off towards the moon, making the face of a unicorn on its surface. Satisfied, Spectrum turned around and faced the last remaining guard just standing there, distracted by the moon. She bucked him back towards the castle, watching as his body made a crater in the wall, before turning forward again.

"COME, CELESTIA! GIVE ME MY RIGHTFUL PLACE!"



Celestia was almost near her destination, her teary eyes having already witnessed Luna's face on the moon. She did not belong there. If anypony did, it would be Spectrum.

She huffed and flew as fast as she could to the meeting place, located in Cloudsdale, a little ways above and near a small town called Ponyville. The princess held the bundle she was carrying with extreme caution, her face filled with desperation, determined to get it there on time.

Her small alicorn form landed on the nearest cloud before looking behind her, seeing a small rainbow light coming right behind her, following her trail.

"Shoot," she muttered before running forward again. She huffed loudly as she ran through the dark streets of the mobile city made of condensed water vapor that will never fall. Celestia looked down at the bundle in her right hoof as it began to move before looking back up again.

Soon, after mixing her trail, she arrived at the meeting place, where two ponies, a stallion and a mare, were waiting patiently. They were both wearing dark cloaks, concealing their identities.

"She is on my trail," Princess Celestia huffed as she came to a stop in front of them. "You know what you must do." The stallion nodded quickly before she continued. "Same hair color. Make it work for as long as you can, no matter what."

"Of course," he said quickly.

"All you have to do is make sure she is happy," the princess told the mare. "Make sure she lives her life and suspects nothing. I will return when she is ready for the truth of her origin and purpose."

"Yes, your highness," the mare responded. Celestia nodded before hearing the faint roar of her pursuer coming closer. She looked back down and lifted the covers to reveal a small foal asleep, snuggled against the softness of the blanket. She smiled when a tear escaped her eye, proud of her already. She leaned down and kissed the foal's forehead, nuzzling her rainbow colored mane.

"I will return, my daughter. My Rainbow Dash."

She grabbed the pendant and put a spell on it, transferring that energy over to her daughter. The rainbow light gradually came out of the gem and transferred into the foal's forehead, spreading throughout her body undetected. Once it was done, she kissed her one last time before she handed her over to the couple. "I love you, my darling."

Once the couple took the child, Celestia soared back up into the air, and sent out a burst of her energy, signalling her position to her pursuer. The stallion and mare quickly trotted back into the darkness.

"THERE YOU ARE!" Spectrum yelled, tilting up and heading straight for Celestia, who was heading up over the clouds. Once out of sight, the two stopped and stared at each other before Spectrum jabbed forward, trying to get her horn into her sister's body. "GIVE ME THE POWER!" Celestia smirked as she setup the plan. She shifted slightly, forcing the empty gem to slip out of her pocket and fall to the ground below. Spectrum noticed and gasped as she, followed closely by Celestia, attempted to grab it. Celestia purposely let Spectrum grab the gem and shoot her magic at her, stunning Celestia for a second before Spectrum stared greedily at the gem.

"YES! YES, IT IS MINE!" she yelled, before touching her horn to the jewel, expecting to grab hold onto some known energy that she absolutely knew was in there......only to feel nothing. "What?" She looked at the gem confused before trying the motion again, having the same result. "WHERE IS THE POWER?!"

She dropped the gem before turning to Celestia, gasping at what she saw. The Princess of the Sun had taken the time to call upon six very important stones that were rotating around her gathering speed. "The best distraction...is getting what you want...but not being able to have it. You are banished Spectrum!!" The light swirled up into a spiral before gathering at the top into a bright white light, then a rainbow fired out towards the mad queen.

"NOOOOO!" She yelled, trying to fly out of the hold the magic had on her. The light turned white before it shot towards the rising sun in the distance. A bright flash signalled her mission successful.

"You shall not have the power, Spectrum," Celestia muttered, facing the sun. She lightened her horn and raised her hooves, making the sun rise for the beautiful morning that Celestia created. "You shall not have the power. Even when you return, you shall have the same result. The power is gone. And so is she."
> Chapter 1 - Onward To Ponyville
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seventeen Years Later

"Mom, stop! I can do this on my own," the cerulean pegasus said, putting her saddlebag on her back with her wing. "It's not like my wings are broken."

Windy Whistles huffed as she looked at her daughter's scrunched up face. She was way too independent. "Fine. Be that way. I'll be downstairs when you're done packing."

Rainbow Dash huffed as she watched her mother walk out of her room and down the steps of their home in Cloudsdale. "Mom, I just want to do THIS myself. You can....do my hair," she said, muttering the last bit.

Windy Whistles turned around and gasped happily before she ran back into her daughter's room. She pulled Rainbow in front of the mirror before grabbing the brush with her mouth, combing it through her hair.

"You were really excited about this," Rainbow commented as her mother started brushing her front. Windy looked at her incredulously before placing the brush back on the dresser.

"I'm not particularly THRILLED with you leaving the nest," she said. "You're leaving school AND home at the same time. A mother doesn't actually...you know...WANT that."

Rainbow sighed before she turned around, preparing her favorite speech.

"Mom," she said, standing up straight and smiling proudly. "This is the first step...to becoming..."

"Oh no," Windy muttered, facehoofing.

"A WONDERBOLT! I can fly farther than the eye can see and faster than the ear can pick up sound! I'll be on that reserves list, you'll see." Windy tightened her lips and gave her daughter an expectant smile.

"Alright, sweetheart. Just...watch out for Fluttershy. She's already scared to fly, let alone lower herself down to the ground."

"Got it! Love ya', mom!" Rainbow Dash trotted out of her room, down the stairs, and towards the front door before her father popped up in front of her.

"And just where do you think you're going," Bow Hothoof asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow.

"Out.....fortherestofmylifegoodbye," she replied, diving underneath his legs. She took flight right when her father grabbed her tail his teeth.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on," he said through his teeth as he pulled her back inside. "No need to rush, it's only seven!"

"Daaaadd, let me go!" The rainbow maned stallion pulled his head back, tossing rainbow dash into some bookshelves before closing the door and locking it.

He trotted over to Rainbow's still form, her eyes going in circles from that toss. "Now...you're not going anywhere...until you eat breakfast."

"Daaaaad," she whined as she stood back up, banging her hooves on the carpet made of clouds. "I already had chocolate."

"That is definitely not breakfast. Come on." He walked behind her and grabbed her tail again before dragging her towards the kitchen. Windy Whistles just looked down the stairs to try and figure out the commotion, spotting Rainbow Dash laying down and being sluggishly pulled out of view. She could only guess.

"Now take a seat," Bow ordered, pushing Rainbow onto the cloud. She groaned as she sat up straight, looking at the table, figuring she might as well endure this.

Her father placed a stack of hay fries and a daisy sandwich in front of her. "Start eating, Wonderbolt," he ordered. They both stared at each other. One trying to make the other break before Dash huffed and gave a small smirk.

"Fine," she said, saluting.

"That's my girl," he said ruffling her hair, making her gasp.

"I JUST HAD THAT BRUSHED!"



After that embarrassing moment, she finally walked out of the house, breathing in the cool air on a cool day. "Perfect for flying," she whispered to herself. The cerulean pegasus shot off into the air, flying over the city of Cloudsdale. The weather factory in the distance contrasted only slightly with the rest of the mobile city.

After enjoying the sights, Rainbow looked around, spotting one pegasus that she didn't actually expect to see. She smiled and waved as she yelled to her. "Hey, Derpy!"

The funny-eyed mare looked around and finally spotted Rainbow Dash before smiling back and waving. Not being able to see where she was going caused her to fly inside a home made of clouds.

"Hey, get out of here! What are you doing?!"

"I'm am so sorry!" *CRASH* "I'm sorry about that as well."

"Just get out!" Rainbow seethed through her teeth before looking around and flying back the way she was headed before.

"I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything..." She muttered. Soon she was out of cloudsdale, flying over the land below. Rolling hills, green grass, and beautiful pasturez. After a little bit more flying, she spotted her favorite pink maned, yellow coated friend sitting on a cloud, looking below at the ground apprehensively.

"Hey, Fluttershy," she called out. The shy pegasus squeaked before looking around, finally spotting her friend.

"Oh...hey, umm...Rainbow" she greeted timidly, offering her friend a small smile before looking back towards the ground. "Umm....are...are you sure about this? You know I don't really like heights and, well...this is very high up."

"Stay on the cloud," Rainbow ordered. She came up next to Fluttershy and began to push the cloud over to the small town below. "I'll just push you over."

The scaredy pegasus let out a quiet "eep" when the cloud began to slowly edge its way towards the city. "Not...not so fast."

"Flutters, we are going about as fast as as a squirrel can walk," she responded unamused. "So just...bury your face in the cloud or something, you'll be fine."

Fluttershy looked down towards the ground, breathing heavily as she tried to not jump off. "Ok....ok, its just a little height, just a little height, just a little....uhhhh, I CAN'T do it, I can't do it!"

"Flutters, calm down, it's al-"

"No it is not! I am getting off this thing! I will see you below, Rainbow Dash!" Before Rainbow could stop her, she jumped off the cloud, and started flapping her wings. But being an inexperienced flyer really started to show when she started to fall to the ground below.

She screamed quietly as she began her quick descent towards the road below. Rainbow looked between her and the cloud she was pushing before huffing and bucking the cloud into non existence.



A purple mare and a small baby dragon could be seen walking down a dirt road, headed into the small town known as Ponyville. After being ordered by her teacher, Princess Celestia, to go out and make friends, she grabbed her trusty assistant and friend to take her to the small town.

"Ugghh," the mare groaned. "Why do I need friends? Friends just hold me back from my studies."

"C'mon, Twilight," the dragon said, patting her flank. "You're not even at the town yet, let alone seen anypony and you're already complaining. Just give it a shot."

"But I-"

"Give it a shot."

"They just-"

"Twilight."

"I have to-"

"Give it....a stupid....shot." The mare known as Twilight Sparkle looked over in disgruntlement at her assistant before groaning and continuing the trek, facing foward with her head held low.

"Fin, I'll.....do it," she muttered in defeat. Spike smiled while they continued walking before a small high pitched sound reached their ears.

"Hey, do you hear something?" Twilight asked. Spike nodded before looking around for the source.

"I don't see anything though." Twilight looked around until the sound started to get louder. The two looked at each other before they slowly looked up, seeing something yellow falling right towards Twilight.

"Oh.....poop," she muttered, right when the yellow object crashed into her. After the dust cleared, Spike opened his eyes and made out the object to be a yellow pegasus. "What just happened?" Twilight asked in pain. "Ow."

"Well, Twilight....a pegasus fell on you." She huffed before the yellow pegasus started squirming, finally getting off Twilight and walked towards the nearby grass. They watched as she laid down in it, moving her hooves and rolling across it while letting out a relieved sigh.

Twilight and Spike exchanged a glance before redirecting their attention back to the at-peace pegasus as she sat up and looked around smiling.

Finally she spotted the two, making her gasp and run behind the nearest tree and hide. "That's Fluttershy."

The two spectators jumped and turned around to see a rainbow maned mare standing right beside Twilight. "And I'm Rainbow Dash. Seems you already met her."

"I wouldn't actually say 'met'," Twilight responded with a slight chuckle. "Considering she just fell out of the sky, landed on me and still hasn't said a word."

"Yeah, that's Flutters for ya," Rainbow said, walking over to the tree. She stopped and bit down on Fluttershy's tail and pulled her cowering figure out. "Fluttershy! Stop that and say hi, they obviously don't bite."

Fluttershy stopped her shaking and looked at the two sitting there watching her. "Umm......hi, I'm Flluttershy," she whispered.

"Hey, Fluttershy," Twilight greeted. "Are you ok? That was a nasty fall."

Fluttershy pushed her mane in front of her face and looked in another direction while Twilight just smiled at her. It stayed like that for a few more minutes before Rainbow Dash broke the silence.

"Well...uhhh...are you two residents here?" She asked, letting go of Fluttershy's tail. Taking this opportunity, she ran back behind the tree.

"Not yet," Spike answered. "We're on a mission by the princess but we're supposed to move here."

"What about you two," Twilight asked. "I guess you live up in the clouds?"

"LIVED...up in the clouds," Rainbow corrected, grinning. "Past tense. We're moving here. I might find some nearby clouds and set up shop, but flutters is staying on the ground. She doesn't like heights and her thing is animals, so...yeah, you could say we're moving here."

"Oh, alright. Well I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Spike. Wanna walk us into town or something? We might see each other more often."

RInbow Dash smiled and shrugged. "Meh, sure, why not? You comin', Flutters?"

"OH, uhh...I'll ummm stay maybe a mile behind, so...sure." The shy Pegasus stood up and waited around for them.

Soon the group of four began their trek again into town, talking about this and that. Spike himself was proud Twilight finally gave it a shot. The mare herself was also a little happy at this revelation.

"Look out! Runaway cart!" The group stopped and looked towards the left to see a beige cart full of apples headed straight for Twilight, followed by a running orange pony wearing a stetson.

Fluttershy was grabbed by Rainbow Dash who zipped into the air while Spike dove to the side, leaving Twilight standing there. "Not again," she groaned miserably.

The cast hit Twilight and rolled over her.

Spike opened his eyes to see the purple mare trapped underneath the vehicle full of fruit with her eyes spinning and tongue hanging out.

"Uhhh...sorry about that, ma'am," the orange mare said down to her.

"C'mon, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she landed next to the orange pony. "You almost killed the pony! You alright Twilight?"

"Ugghh," she groaned looking around. "First? Fluttershy. Second? A cart full of apples. THAT hurt. I am not looking forward to what happens next. Can you roll this off of me now?"

Applejack  nodded before she walked to the front of the cart and pushed it back, the front wheels rolling over Twilight. "Ahahahaaoooowaahh!" Once the cart was off, she righted herself and turned around...with a giant bruise on her forehead, wheel tracks over her middle, and her hair spread out everywhere.

"Do I look okay?"

"No you have-"

"You look great," Rainbow dash interrupted, putting a hoof over Spike's mouth and grinning.

"Yessir, perfect," Applejack agreed. "I'm Applejack. You're new, aren't ya?"

"Yep. Me and Spike are on an important assignment for Princess Celestia. I'll tell you about it later."

"Alright. We'll give you a tour," Rainbow said, gesturing to herself and Fluttershy. "C'mon, let's go. AJ has to deliver those Apples."

The group continued their way into town while AJ went off on a different path, the two giving the pair a tour.



"So you're living in...the library," Rainbow asked as they walked towards the oak tree.

"Yep. I like it. If I have to do any studying, I don't even have to walk outside! It's perfect!"

"So you're an egghead."

"What?! No, I am Princess Celestia's student. And a scholar."

"That's an egghead, Twilight." Spike snickered from atop the purple mare's back. "A bookworm, an egghead, scholar...same difference." Twilight groaned before they stopped in front of the tree. The mare almost got her hoof on the door, only for somepony to crash into her knocking them both into the ground, and someone to gasp.

"Oh my goodness, darling," the white pony said, unbelievably. "What in Equestria happened to your hair?!"

Twilight's head was swimming while she laid on the ground underneath the surprisingly strong mare above her. "Not again," she groaned.

"No no no, this just won't do," the mare said clicking her tongue. She grabbed Twilight in her magic and carried her along with her to a boutique. "I am going to make you dazzle, dear! Dazzle, I tell you!!" Rainbow Dash just sighed and shook her head.



"No, that won't work...too shiny...too stuck up...tooooo green....oh my goodness, that is just awful....there it is!"

Rarity pushed away the privacy screen to reveal Twilight in some type of blue dress and her hair draped over her face.

"Marvelous! You are simply MARVELOUS, darling!"

Spike was too busy drooling over the white mare to even notice what she was talking about.

"Rarity," Applejack said, walking in. "Let the gal go. Spike, close yer mouth!" The dragon did and wiped away the drool before focusing on what was happening.

"And the egghead of the year award goes to...SPARKLE," Rainbow said from a nearby couch, smiling and stomping her hooves. "For her ability to get pushed around like a bookworm! Does this happen to you often?"

"Only when we go places we've never gone before," Spike answered for her.

"So you ARE new in town, dear," Rarity asked as she did her tail. "Because if you are, then you might want to watch your back." She stopped braiding Twilight's tail with her magic and stepped in front of her. "A particular pink pony is now on the loose ready to give you a heart attack."

"Oh, yeah," Applejack said, trying to dodge Rainbow's attempts to grab the mug of Apple Cider she brought with her. "Pinkie is more than likely going to catch you off guard with a party of some sort. Then stuff a cupcake in your mouth-stop, RD!"

"UGGGHH, fine," Rainbow said, relaxing. "I'm surprised she's not here right now.....why in Equestria did I say that?"

Suddenly something pink crashed through Rarity's window and collided into Twilight, knocking her onto the floor. "Ohmygodanewpony! What's your name? I bet it's Juicy Grape or Purple Dawn! Tell me, tell me, TELL ME ALREADY!"

Twilight just stared at her for a second before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out.

"WAKE UP! DON'T YOU SLEEP! I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME YET!"

Rainbow groaned and shook her head while she stood up and went into the kitchen. She went into the sink and pulled out a bowl, filling it with water before she walked back into the main room with the bowl in her mouth. She stood over Twilight and flipped the bowl over, completely drenching Twilight's face and hair.

"NOOOO!" Rarity screamed in horror at seeing her masterpiece ruined. A fainting couch came out of nowhere, letting her fall on it while Twilight woke up gasping for air. She kept coughing trying to get the water out of her lungs, making Pinkie gasp.

"Oh no! I'll save you!" She ran behind Twiling and bucked her in the back, sending her careening across the room and into the wall. She stared irately from the floor upside down 

"Thanks," she said. "That did NOT help at all."

"Oh, maybe I should do it again."

"NO!" Twilight quickly got up and smiled, trying not to keep coughing. "I'm fine, see? I'm fine! Spike? Let's find this stupid Everfree forest and get this assignment started!"

"EVERFREE FOREST!!!?" Twilight covered her ears, protecting herself from the loud yelling.

"Are you nuts?!" Applejack said. "That forest ain't nothin' but trouble!"

"A lady never goes venturing through those woods! It is too...grotesque," Rarity said, shaking her head and hoof. "Why in Equestria are you going there?"

"We're on an assignment from the princess," Spike answered, beaming at Rarity. "We have to find some remnant from the past."

"It's in the old Everfree Royal Castle," Twilight continued. "She said she'll know it when we see it."

"Well you're not going alone," Rainbow said, standing up. "As the fastest flier in Equestria, I shall escort-"

"We shall escort you," AJ corrected, cutting off Rainbow's gloating. "It's way too dangerous to be goin' off in that there forest by yourself."

"But-"

"Hush up," she responded, placing a hoof in Twilight's mouth. "We're not taking no for an answer." She slowly removed her hoof while the others just stared at Twilight. Eventually, she sighed in defeat.

"Fine. Take me to this castle. Because I have no idea what it looks like anyway."

"Yes! First day out of the house and I'm already about to fly free!" Rainbow yelled while flying circles in the main room of Rarity's boutique.
> Chapter 2 - The Castle Of The Two Pony Sisters
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"THIS...is the Everfree Forest?" Twilight asked timidly. The group of seven, including Spike, were in front of a dank and dark forest covered in mist, dewdrops, weird plants, and large vines. Not to mention strangely shaped trees. "This is a little spooky."

"Are you SURE you're going in there?!" Rainbow dash exclaimed pointing in the woods. "I'm positive that you'll get eaten by something in like two seconds once you walk in." At that moment, a squirrel came running out of the woods and stopped in front of the group.

"Hello, Mr. Squirrel," Fluttershy said softly, approaching the freaked out mammal. "Are you ok?" The squirrel started talking and pointing into the darkened area. "A strange light?" The creature nodded before it took off back towards town, leaving the group standing there confused.

"Okay, if there's a strange light in there, then that's where we're headed," Twilight said. "C'mon, guys. We're moving in." Rainbow groaned catching her attention. "Hey, you offered!"

"And I'm already regretting it. Let's just get this over with." She slowly flew into the woods following Twilight. The others followed after her. The woods were becoming more strange by the second. Each step was careful, each breath quiet. They continued on into the woods as it gradually got darker, causing Rarity and Twilight to light their horns.

"So what does this 'remnant' look like anyway," Applejack asked, looking around the lit up area. "Because that's a pretty vague description."

"Princess Celestia said we just need to see them and then send a message to her," Twilight whispered, pointing her horn upwards. "And that it was very important and life changing...for her and us. I concluded it's a bunch of artifacts, or.....a pony."

"Pony?" Rarity asked, turning her head and pointing her light in Twilight's face.

"Rarity, watch the light!"

"Oh, Sorry," she apologized, facing forward and walking again. "But why would there be a pony here?"

"I read in a book once, back in Canterlot. It was about a fierce battle between the pony siblings. It said they all fought for power and that the loser got banished for sixteen years. So I think we're supposed to find them, the artifacts, or both. Either way, we're already in these woods." The rest of the walk was quiet as they all came to a ledge.

"How do we get down from here,"Pinkie asked. "If we jump off this thing, we are literally gone!"

"Me and Twilight will levitate ourselves down, while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy will get Applejack and Pinkie," Rarity suggested. Twilight nodded, seeing it a good idea. Then she grabbed hold of Rarity in her magic and vice versa. They levitated themselves over to the edge and slowly lowered down. Fluttershy grabbed Pinkie in her hooves while Rainbow Dash grabbed Applejack and flew over the ledge. They landed softly on the bottom floor, the six of them landed quietly before they began walking again.

"HEY!"

Twilight looked back up towards the ledge to see Spike standing there with his hands on his hips, looking down at the six of them unamaused. "I know I'm small, but c'mon. You CANNOT miss the small purple dragon."

"Oh, yes, I forgot Spike was following us." Rarity lit her horn and grabbed Spike in her magic, levitating him down to the edge. Once he was on the ground he ran over and gave Rarity a hug.

"Oh, I knew you'd save me!" Rarity just looked down at him before glancing at Twilight who was just sporting a sly grin.

"I don't know," she said before focusing on her assistant. "Spike! Stop crushing on Rarity!" The purple dragon quickly backed away from the pearly white coat of the mare before clearing his throat.

"Yes...well, let's continue shall we?" He walked past everyone with courage, ignoring the smirks and giggles he was definitely receiving from Rainbow. Twilight rolled her eyes at her assistant before following along after him, along with everyone else.

During the walk, Twilight thought something was up. Especially with the glowing rainbow light from under their hooves popping up every now and then. "Hold on, guys. Something's here."

"What are  you talking about?" Rainbow asked, looking around. "I don't see anything but a bunch of trees."

"Look down." Everyone looked at the ground to see the strands of rainbow light coming from cracks that was getting gradually brighter. Fluttershy squeaked and jumped in the air while Rainbow Dash jumped up and began hovering. Spike jumped on Twilight's back. "Run!" Twilight yelled before she took off, running deeper into the forest with the others right behind her. It got darker until Twilight spotted a bright light up ahead, positioned way above the ground.

"Guys, there's something up there," She huffed, motioning towards the area ahead with her hoof. The others looked up to see the light getting brighter. "I'm guessing that's the castle! We're almost there!" The other ponies began gasping for air before they skidded to a stop.

"Oh no." Right in front of them there was a trench with a broken bridge attached to their side. Rainbow peeked down into it to see skeletons and armor. Royal guards.

"There must've been a huge battle here," she said before turning to the others. "There's skeletons and armor down there. I'm guessing Royal Guards."

"I agree. Look." AJ pointed across from them towards the broken down castle. The entire front wall of it was gone, shattered to pieces by who knows what. The trees that were probably green and lively were now just dead branches and trunks. And there were more skeletons.

"I wonder what in Equestria happened...." Twilight just shook her head before getting back to the task at hand

"We need to cross. This bridge needs to be tied to the other side. Rainbow, think you can do it?" The cerulean pegasus nodded before she flew down into the trench and grabbed the loose bottom of the bridge, pulling it up with her to the other side. She landed on the opposite ledge and tied the bridge as tight as she could to the posts there, making sure it was sturdy enough to hold multiple ponies at the same time.

"Ok!" She yelled back to the other side. "Cross over!" The other ponies and dragon began to trot and walk across the bridge. Soon they walked past Rainbow, making their way towards the castle with her taking up the rear.

They slowly walked past the destruction of the front of the castle, dodging bricks and skeletons of the fallen guards. Upon closer inspection, Twilight discovered something odd about the nature.

"This was magic that killed them," she said, looking down. They all stopped and stared at her, waiting for an explanation. "Look at the branches of the trees. This one-" She pointed at the nearest one next to her. "-has branches that are way too sharp on the ends. And the trunk of it is bent to the point where it should've snapped off. Instead, it was able to bend like rubber all the way over and impale this guard." The others looked at the trunk to see that it was true. That trunk was bent impossibly far. "Someone made these trees attack these guards. And I bet they destroyed the castle as well. Well...most of it anyway."

Twilight began the walk back to the front of the castle, walking through the broken doors and into the main hall with the others right on her tail. The roof of the architecture was gone, exposing the insides to the elements of nature. Suddenly, the light got brighter, making them all look up. It was coming from a tower on the left side of the castle, on the top floor.

"C'mon!" Rainbow yelled, running past the others and turning down the left hall. The others ran after her as she turned a sudden right, bursting through a couple doors that led into a garden before running towards the entrance to the tower. The others caught up with her before she burst through the doors and into the stairwell. They all looked up at the flight of stairs before Rainbow groaned and flew up, leaving them to take the ascending walkway.

While they were taking the stairs, she landed in front of a pair of golden doors, with the Equestrian crest embossed on it. There was a bright light coming through the cracks, signalling that there was definitely something in there. She waited until all the others were behind her before pushing the doors open. They weren't heavy, pretty light enough to actually swing them too hard and make them hit the wall.

"Rainbow," AJ scolded quietly. "Why so hard?"

"I thought it was going to be heavy," she whispered over her shoulder. She turned back around to see Twilight and Spike walking forward, headed towards the light. The others followed, although tentatively, especially Fluttershy, who had to be pulled along by Rainbow Dash. Finally, they stopped in front of the mess of light, confused as to what to do.

"So...what now," Applejack asked. "We came this far, I think we should just see what it is."

"I don't know," Fluttershy said, finally speaking after nearly two hours of silence. "I think we should just leave the nice light alone, and head back to Ponyville...if that's ok with you guys."

"Can't do that," Pinkie said, shaking her head. "I am not walking back through that forest empty handed." While they were arguing, Twilight slowly reached out a hoof and touched the sphere, causing it to get brighter and brighter, blinding everyone to the point where they had to cover their eyes. Soon, after two minutes of the bright light, it gradually dimmed. They all opened their eyes and gasped at what they saw.

There was a dark blue alicorn there with a splotch of black and a crescent moon for a cutie mark on her flank with a broken horn. Surrounding her were five chest plates and a crown with gems on it. Twilight walked forward carefully, the others following her, towards the unconscious alicorn.

"What are you doing?!" Rarity whispered. Twilight didn't answer. Instead she reached out and lightly touched the alicorn, having the desired effect.

The mare's eyes flew open and she moved her legs, nearly hitting Twilight if Rainbow hadn't grabbed her and pulled her back. "Fiend!" she yelled "Where art thou?!" They watched as she stood up and flared her wings and looked around the hall, finally spotting the group of equally frightened mares. She looked at each of them, assessing to see if they were any threat. Finding them harmless, she looked back up to see the destroyed remains of the tower.

"Where am I?" she asked. "What happened here?"

"You're in the old Everfree Castle," Twilight answered stepping forward, catching the Princess' attention. "You were in some ball of light that we got you out of. And I think there was some type of battle." The princess of the night slowly nodded before she looked down at the elements. She ignited her broken horn and lifted one up, the rainbow bolt one, staring at it.

"What is your names?" She asked without taking her eyes off of it.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"Applejack."

"Rarity."

"Pinkie PIIIEEE!"

"Spike."

"Rainbow Dash." Princess Luna gave a gasp and dopped the element on the stone floor loudly before looking back down at the group.

"Who here is named Rainbow Dash?" she asked, approaching the group, hopefulness in her eyes. She scanned them all, finally spotting the rainbow colored mane of the cerulean mare. "Please step forward." The group looked towards Rainbow Dash as she calmly walked towards the Princess. She stopped in front of her, watching as the princess circled her, assessing her. She finally stopped back in front of the mare, tears glistening in her eyes. "So Celestia did it."

Before anyone could ask what she meant another bright light came from the right window, slowly lowering itself down into the hall. Soon, it dissipated, revealing Celestia in all her ethereal glory. "Luna," she said, tears in her eyes.

"Celestia." The two ran to each other and embraced, nuzzling each other.

"I am here, sister," Celestia cooed to her, making the others there look at each other in confusion. Sister?! Soon, their hug and cryfest ended, leaving them standing their admiring each other until Princess Luna became serious.

"She has grown up beautifully," Luna said, turning around to face the other mares standing there. Celestia raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze, making her mouth part slightly as she spotted Rainbow Dash standing there looking confused. The Princess of the Sun walked forward tentatively and knelt down in front of her, staring her in her eyes. Rainbow was getting all types of uncomfortable.

"Look, your highness, I'm not really comfortable to be looked at like this, it's kind of freaking me out," she stammered. Celestia chuckled and smiled.

"Hold still, Rainbow Dash," Celestia lit her horn and placed it on Rainbow's head, making the mare's eyes glow white for a second before turning into different colors dramtically. "It IS her." She stopped the spell and removed her horn before standing up again, tears beginning to brim her eyes as she turned to Luna before speaking again. "It is not time yet, sister. We will know when it is."

"It will show?" Luna asked. Celestia nodded before turning to the rest of the mares and the elements. "What do we do with the elements?"

"We shall hold onto them." She levitated the elements towards her before turning back to the mares watching. The princess walked towards Twilight and pulled the bookworm into a hug. "Thank you, Twilight. You have done a great service for me today. Not only have you brought back my sister. But also a very very very important somepony that I thought I'd never see again." She let go of her protege and stepped back. "I shall teleport us all back to Ponyville. Where you can rest and relax."

The area glowed a bright light before it disappeared, leaving nothing there.
> Chapter 3 - What Just Happened
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A bright light flashed in front of the Ponyville library as the group popped in. Once the light dissipated, everyone from the castle looked around, trying to figure out where they were.

"Oh....we're in front of Twilight's," Rainbow said, annoyed. "At least she gets to go home, I haven't even made my house yet. And neither has Flutters!" Everyone looked towards the shy pegasus to see her scooping around sand with her hoof.

"Um...actually, Rainbow...I already found a house....It's..um...on that hill." She pointed to the top of a hill in the distance where a small cottage sat. "I umm prepared it a few days ago before today. So...I can go there."

"AWW C'MON!" Rainbow exclaimed, throwing her hooves up in the air. Celestia chuckled before turning and raising an eyebrow to Luna who nodded her head in turn.

"I will have a home built for you, Rainbow," Celestia said, walking towards her. "Do you sleep on the clouds?" Rainbow nodded her head slowly. "Then I will have a house made for you out of clouds by my guards. For now, I think you should go with Fluttershy to her cottage. If that is alright with her."

Everyone turned towards the shy pony, making her squeak and run into the library, making a loud "SURPRISE" sound off. She screamed and ran back out, running straight into Rainbow Dash. They fell and skidded along the ground, Rainbow laying on her back.

"Fluttershy...you have to work on that," she groaned out painfully.

"Ok...and yes, you can stay at my cottage tonight." Celestia giggled watching as Rainbow got up rubbing her head.

"Alright. So now that we got that settled....I bet my right hoof Pinkie setup a surprise party for Twilight here that got ruined," Applejack said, pointing inside the house at all the streamers, cake, and alot of ponies. "Now...she's gonna do it again and ruin your day while she's at it. Sorry, Twilight."

"Nuh uhh!" Pinkie protested, looking at the ponies unbelievably. "Everypony loves my parties! That's why they come, duhhhh! Twilight? You're attending my party." Pinkie walked over and pushed a hoof into the purple mare's chest, determination in her eyes. "And I'm not taking no for an answer either!" Twilight looked at the hoof, then at Pinkie, then back at Celestia, who had a smile plastered on her face. Same with Luna.

Finally she huffed in defeat. Again. "Fine. I'll come to your next party...whenever it is."

Pinkie gasped before reaching into her hair, pulling out a party cannon. "Oh no," Applejack muttered. The cannon let off a boom with confetti coming out, scaring Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and Spike.

"The pink one is going to give me a migraine!" Luna exclaimed. "I assure you!"



That night, Rainbow was laying down on Fluttershy's sofa. She had to admit, the cottage was very nice. Too many animals though, but nice nonetheless. She looked up at the ceiling while biting her bottom lip, trying to figure out what the royalty of Equestria was talking about. "'Very very very important somepony?'" she asked herself. "What did she mean by that? She had to be talking about somepony else." She began tapping her hooves together, pondering on the subject while the clock continued ticking in the corner.

"Rainbow?" She shot her head towards the left of the room, spotting her best friend staring at her concerned. How long has she been sitting there? "Something is bothering you."

Rainbow sighed before turning her attention back to the ceiling. "Yeah, you could say that," she replied, folding her hooves behind her head. "It's just what Celestia said. 'A very very very important somepony from my past.' I'm trying to understand what it meant. I'm stumped thinking about it."

"I too have questions about that." Fluttershy walked over and sat down in front of the daredevil. "Luna also said, 'She has grown up beautifully.' Like they've seen you before. They were very much talking about you."

Rainbow shrugged. "They might have seen me before. I don't know. But I have a feeling there's more to it than they let on."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...think about it." Rainbow sat up in the makeshift bed, turning her head to face Fluttershy. "I'm pretty sure the princesses have seen a lot of ponies. Like, A LOT. They're like a thousand something years old. I heard of the story Twilight talked about, there was a fierce fight. Left a lot of soldiers dead. Then the loser was banished for sixteen or something years. I guess that was Luna. And the first thing she said when she returned and saw me was, 'So Celestia did it.' I know it sounds stupid....but that fight was probably deeper than the average 'you stole my necklace' if someone had gotten banished. What if that fight...involved me somehow?"

Fluttershy looked at the ground before looking back up to her friend in worry. "Rainbow," she said, placing a hoof on her friend. "That doesn't sound stupid at all. It sounds completely plausible." Rainbow raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Because I'm just coming up with assumptions."

"No no really. Because there would not have been crying when they saw you. And Celestia wouldn't have scanned you if you weren't involved in something. I think there's something that went on involving you as well."

"Yeah...but what?"

"We'll find that out later on in life...when it gets to that point." Rainbow nodded before getting back underneath the covers, leaving Fluttershy to begin walking out and up the stairs.

"Thanks, Flutters." Fluttershy stopped and looked behind her, giving Dash a smile before heading back upstairs, determined to get some sleep.



Rainbow Dash groaned before tossing the covers over her head, trying to block the sunlight from hitting her face. Unfortunately when she did that, something fell off of her and hit the ground with a thump. She popped her eyes open and threw back the covers before sitting up, looking towards the wooden floor.

There was a white bunny laying there on the ground rubbing it's head before it looked up at Rainbow with a scowl. "Oh, sorry about that, little fella," she apologized, offering a smile. The rabbit smiled back before it picked up a tiny seed laying nearby and threw it at her eye.

"Ow! Why?" There was a lot of stomping coming from the stairs as Fluttershy came pounding down them, hearing the commotion.

"What is it?! What....Angel Bunny! Come here this instant!" The rabbit rolled it's eyes and walked over to Fluttershy, stopping in front of her hooves. "Rainbow Dash is our guest! We do not throw things at our guests or anyone! Am I clear?"

The rabbit tried to argue before she raised a hoof to silence him. "I do NOT want to hear it! We do not throw things at anypony! Do you understand?" The rabbit sighed before nodding its head. "Now go apologize to Rainbow Dash."

The rabbit turned around and walked back over to the pegasus still clutching her eye and extended its paw. Rainbow squinted her good eye at the little rabbit before reaching out and letting him shake her hoof. After that the little demon scampered off to do...whatever it does.

"I'm very sorry about that, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, walking around the couch to stand in front of the pegasus still clutching her eye. "Let me see your eye."

Rainbow Dash dropped her hoof, making Fluttershy gasp. "What? What is it?" Fluttershy quickly grabbed a nearby mirror that she somehow had in the living room and placed it in front of her. Rainbow gasped, watching as her eye repeatedly changed colors. From red to blue to purple to orange to brown and so forth. "Ok...THAT...is freaky," she said pointing at the mirror. "What is this?"

"I don't know," Fluttershy said shaking her head and pointing back at her eye. "But it stopped now." Rainbow looked back at the mirror to see her eye back in its cerise color.

"Huh," Rainbow muttered. "That was......strange." Fluttershy nodded before putting the mirror back in place by the nearby wall. "What do you think it was?"

"I don't know. Maybe Twilight knows. She's the smart one apparently. She was taught by Celestia."

Rainbow nodded before she got off the couch. "Thanks for letting me spend the night here, Flutters," She said, thanking her as they made their way to the kitchen. "I really appreciate it."

"Well...I umm....don't usually have friends over so....well, I prefer having you over anyway." Rainbow Dash stopped and looked at Fluttershy, smirking.

"You enjoy my company? NO ONE enjoys my company."

"Well...you're my friend so...um...I enjoy having you come over." Rainbow smiled before she pulled her into a hug, catching her by surprise.

"Thanks. No one has ever said that to me before," she whispered. Fluttershy was frozen for a second before she sighed and squeezed her back.

"You're welcome, Rainbow." They let go of each other before Rainbow began walking into the kitchen while fluttershy just stared at her, admiring her form. She finally broke out of her trance and walked into the kitchen after her. "What would you like to eat?"

Rainbow sat down on a nearby pillow before responding. "Anything you think would taste good after getting hit in the eye with a seed."

"Does it sting?" Fluttershy asked worriedly, glancing over at her friend only to see her shaking her head.

"Nope. It was like it never happened. I don't feel any throbbing and that pest threw that seed really hard."

"Rainbow..."

"Rabbit. That rabbit threw that seed really hard." Fluttershy smiled while Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "So what do you have?"

"I have a special salad that I usually make for Rarity. It tastes really good. I think you'll love it." Fluttershy went into her cabinets and brought out the ingredients before she started chopping them up. Once done, she placed them in a bowl, put some dressing on it, then walked over to Rainbow, placing it on the table with her mouth in front of her. "Eat Up." 



After they had their breakfast, the two mares walked out of Fluttershy's cottage and over the bridge, heading into town. First they were going to stop at the market to pick up some food and vegetables. Then they were going to stop by Twilight's to see how she was handling things, as well as get Rainbow's eyes looked at.

"So what are we looking for?" Rainbow asked, looking around the market. There were a lot of ponies out today. "I take it we're not looking for a certain farmer, are we?"

"Don't worry, we're not looking for Applejack," Fluttershy replied, chuckling. "We are here for food. That's why it's called a market."

Rainbow slowly nodded while she looked around, observing the area. There were a large number of ponies there, particularly bright colored ones. Farmers, musicians...wait...musicians? Rainbow Dash took a closer look to see her friend Octavia Melody sitting there in the street, playing her Cello with her eyes closed. She had a smile plastered on her face while she stroked the strings, basking in the sound.

She shrugged and abandoned Fluttershy for a moment as she made her way over, dodging the other ponies so she didn't bump into them. She stopped in front of the out-of-this-world earth pony, watching her for a moment before speaking. "Hey, Octavia."

The Celloist stopped her playing before she looked around for the source of the voice. Finally spotting Rainbow Dash, she offered a big toothy grin. "Rainbow! How are you? I haven't seen you in awhile. Did you finally move down here?"

Rainbow took a seat in front of her, preparing her tale. "Well, I've mostly been home in Cloudsdale. And yeah I moved here yesterday, trying to kick it back for awhile before I try out for the Wonderbolts."

"Still going on that, huh?"

"OF COURSE!" Rainbow yelled, throwing her hooves out in desperation. "Who WOULDN'T want to be part of the Wonderbolts?!"

"Me if I was a Pegasus," Octavia answered while chuckling and putting away her Cello. "Because I like the way my life is now. Playing my music, relaxing with Vinyl, doing shows, and providing entertainment. That's what it's all about. If you're just doing it for the bits, then you're not fit for the business."

"Pretty good slice-of-life there, Octavia." The girls looked over to see Vinyl walk over and sit down next to her, facing Rainbow. "Hey, Rainbow. How's your flying? Still doing rainbooms?"

"Duhhhhh. I haven't stopped doing them," she replied with an attitude.

"Mmmmhmmm," Vinyl scratch hummed smirking. "Let's see. The last time I even HEARD your magnificent rainboom was uhhhhh...around three years ago, right?"

"Shut up, DJ." The two lovers chuckled until they focused back on Rainbow. "When's the last time you did a show?"

"Last week. There's this new club that just opened here. Right there actually." Rainbow looked to where Vinyl was pointing to see that there was indeed a new club. It was a black wooden building with a magic sign on it.

"Wooden Ear?" Rainbow asked. "Sounds neat. I'll probably check it out sometime. Maybe come see you host."

The DJ sighed before turning to Octavia. "Actually, you want to see Octavia play. She puts crowds in moods." The Celloist rolled her eyes before looking down at her hooves, blushing slightly.

"Be quiet, Vinyl," she muttered. "Besides you're better."

"Stop being so humble, you know you're great," she said, giving her girl a grin. "And you better believe it. Or else I'm going to keep saying it." The Celloist grinned before leaning in and pecking the DJ.

"Thank you."

"Anytime." Rainbow Dash looked on in envy before a voice called to her from behind.

"There you are!" She looked behind her to see Fluttershy walking over to her briskly. "I was looking all over for you! Don't run off like that!" Rainbow looked at her confusedly. What happened to the shy pegasus bit?

"Hey, Flutters," Octavia greeted. Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind her mane before responding.

"Oh, uhhh...hey, Octavia." Rainbow smiled. There's that shy pegasus.

"Sorry, Fluttershy," she responded. "I spotted Octavia here playing, so I stopped to say hi."

"Oh! Well, tell me next time!" She reached up and grabbed Rainbow's ear with her teeth, pulling her away. "Now, we are leaving and going to Twilight's!"

"Okay, okay, why are you biting my ear?! Ow!" The couple watched while she tugged Rainbow by the ear into the crowd, causing some other ponies to stop and watch.

"Since when did Fluttershy get 'in control?'" Octavia asked. Her marefriend shrugged in response.



The pair walked up to the library door and knocked, waiting for somepony to open it, or for a voice response. They got the latter. "Come in!" Fluttershy pushed the door and walked inside with Rainbow behind her.

Twilight was seen dusting off the shelves and reordering the books to some system she has. Something with 'Sparkle'. They just stared at her for a moment before speaking.

"Twilight...we umm...need your help," Fluttershy said getting her attention. The egghead walked over, throwing the duster out of her magic hold over her shoulder, and hitting the sleeping dragon.

"What is it," she asked, closing the door behind them.

"Well, this morning, Angel Bunny and Rainbow had a little spat."

"I'm guessing Angel Bunny's actually a bunny?" Fluftershy nodded her head, while Rainbow just looked nonchalant. "Ok, go on."

"Angel threw a seed at her eye, and it started changing colors."

"Changing...colors?" Twilight asked looking confused. "What do you mean?"

"The white area of her eye changed colors. Like to red to blue to green...Rainbow, poke yourself." Rainbow groaned before lifting her hoof up and poking her eye.

"OW!" She yelped, slowly removing her hoof to reveal her color switching eye.

"What?!" Twilight bent Rainbow's head down, pulling it close to her face as she got a closer look. "Is this the same eye from earlier?"

"No."

Twilight let go and watched the colors stop changing. Now her eye was white again. "That was strange. Did you eat anything weird?" Rainbow shook her head. "Drink anything weird?" Another shake.

The egghead pulled in her lips before going to her bookshelves. "I'll try to research it. When, or if I don't find something, I'll come and get you to let you know. Should take me around three hours. Should I send a letter to Celestia?"

"Not unless something else weird starts happening," Rainbow requested. "And this stays a secret between you, Fluttershy, Spike if he's awake, and myself. Clear?"

"Crystal."

"Thanks, Twilight," she replied while walking towards the door. "Knew I could count on you. How you adjusting in ponyville?"

"Well, it's not bad. Grand galloping Galla's coming up in a few moons." She walked back over to the kitchen. "You guys want some food? Stay and chat! Spike is asleep so I actually have no one to talk to."

"What ya' wanna do?" Rainbow asked, turning to Fluttershy, who stared back in disbelief. She was asking...for permission?

"Well...umm...let's stay and chat," she replied. Rainbow smiled then nuzzled Fluttershy, making her gasp and blush, before they walked with Twilight into the kitchen.



While Rainbow and Fluttershy were investigating Rainbow's eyes, the Princesses were visiting a certain family up in Cloudsdale. Celestia was looking around the home while Luna was drinking from a mug on the couch. Celestia picked up a family photo of Rainbow Dash, Cookie Crumbles, and Bow Hothoof. Probably when she got her cutie mark. She sighed at the photo, thinking about what it would be like if she got to see that.

"You raised her well. I really wish I could've been there." Princess Celestia set down the photo of the family before turning around and walking back over to her sister. "I missed so much."

"Why couldn't you?" Bow Hothoof asked her confusedly. He sat down on the couch next to his wife. "I know that you put magic in her, but wouldn't it be better for you to-"

"No, it would not have," Luna interrupted, placing down her mug. "Thou sister was defeated, but only for small moons. Lady Spectrum will rise again soon, and her thirst for power will certainly bring followers. If not more than what she had."

"She had...workers?" Windy Whistles asked, across from Celestia, who nodded.

"Indeed. They also wanted that power. And those workers had workers as well. If they discovered I was with child, I would have lost my daughter within a moon. So the only way to protect her was to hide her along with the power. I really did not want to. I wanted to keep my child with me."

They all looked at her in silence, trying to think of other ways that it could've went, until a knock sounded at the door. Windy Whistles got up to go open it while the royals continued drinking. She looked through the peephole and gasped slightly.

"It's Rainbow," she whispered. Celestia nearly choked on her drink before she set it down with her hooves.

"Let her in." Windy opened the door, allowing her.....weird eyed daughter to walk in.

"Hey, mom," she greeted, trotting inside the cloud home. "Can you see what's up with my eyes?" Windy looked at her daughter's constantly changing irises.

"I have no idea what that is, sweetheart," she replied, moving the mare's head around. "Drink any weird potions?"

"No"

"Any weird food?"

"Nope."

"Good. Keep it that way. But I don't see anything that could've caused lt." Celestia and luna looked at each other in confusion. And wonder.

"Well, thanks for trying," Rainbow said turning around and walking towards the living room. "Twilight said she couldn't find anything about it, so-PRINCESS CELESTIA!" The Pegasus planted her face in the clouds when she bowed in front of her.

The Princess of the sun chuckled. "Oh, get up sweet-" Celestia cleared her throat. "Please rise, Rainbow. There are no formalities between us." Rainbow Dash stood up slowly and looked at Celestia, revealing her eyes, which were both changing colors. "Luna? Please assess her."

Princess Luna stood up from the couch and walked around, heading for Rainbow Dash. She lifted her wings, ran her hoof through her tail, and looked through her mane, as well as check her eyes and feel her forehead. After that she backed away and shook her head.

Rainbow Dash just looked confusedly between the two of them. "Aaannnd...what was that?"

"You will learn in due time," Luna said. "But for right now...continue to fly and practice like you usually do."

"Wait...how do you know what I do on my spare time?" Rainbow asked confusedly.

"Your parents," Celestia answered, grimacing a little. "But your home is almost ready. In fact, it should be done by now. There will guards there."

"Wait, guards? Why would there be guards, it's just a house." Celestia smiled as she and Luna walked towards the front door. Celestia stopped and smiled at her over her shoulder.

"Because there's more to you than meets the eye. Thanks for having us over, Bow and Windy."

"Anytime, Celestia," Windy replied, waving as they walked out. Once the door shut, Rainbow looked at her parents confused.

"What was that?!"



"When do you think the mutation will happen," Celestia asked, stopping in front of another home. "Today? That is what I perceived."

Luna nodded. "Her horn will start to grow by tonight. Thou daughter will come home soon, sister." Celestia breathed in relief before walking again.

"Good...good. I miss my daughter."
> Chapter 4 - Realization And Explanation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

That afternoon, after the craziness of her parent's home, Rainbow Dash flew through the sky, heading back towards the small town of Ponyville. In the back of her mind, she was still trying to figure out what was going on. Her eyes were still changing colors, which was kind of freaking her out still. And for some reason her forehead was beginning to hurt.

She reached up, feeling the sore area to realize there was a bump there, particularly large. "This is not good," she muttered.

She tilted down, preparing to land before something jumped into her vision. She gasped and flapped her wings, slowing herself to a stop in front of....a Royal Guard?

"Rainbow Dash?" he asked stoically. She nodded slowly. "Your castle is ready." Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the term "Castle", not understanding what he meant.

"Castle?" she asked. "What do you mean 'Castle'?" The guard shifted through his paperwork, eventually finding what he was looking for. He cleared his throat before reading aloud.

"Celestia herself has decreed that Rainbow Dash shall have a Royal Castle in her name for reasons that will be clarified soon by Celestia herself." The guard handed her the paper so she can read it herself. "Your place of residence shall be on your right a little bit above and away from Ponyville. You will have guards stationed there Twenty-four seven."

Rainbow dash slowly turned her head to the right, her mouth dropping open. There was indeed a castle, sitting their in the sky. But the word complex would've matched it better. It was a very very big set of  five buildings, with towers on the corners of each, raising into the sky. The one in the middle had, evidently, three floors, with neighboring clouds above it shooting rainbows out. It was obviously visible in Ponyville. If not bigger than Ponyville.

"Oh...my...Celstia." The guard pulled out another paper, something Celestia deemed very important.

"You'll also have guards around YOU twenty-four seven."

"What?!"





"What do you think that is?"

"I don't know."

"It's a house."

"Who lives there?"

"Canterlot nobility maybe?"

Everyone down below in Ponyville stopped what they were doing to stare at the huge building that suddenly appeared over their city. Twilight was looking through her telescope relaying what she saw to the ponies down below, anxious to know the cause of the sudden castle in the air.

"Ok...it's definitely a castle. I see Pegasi guards stationed all around it." Everyone looked from her back to the castle, including the mayor. "Ok....ok, someone's coming down. I see a slipstream heading this way.....with eight others."

Everyone looked to see the slipstream starting to get wider as it landed on the outskirts of Ponyville, by sweet apple acres.

"Are you sure Celestia ordered you to build me a castle, as well as be around me...all day," Rainbow asked, freaked out as they walked past sweet apple acres.

"Yes, Ma'am," the guard, who Rainbow now knows as Captain Cloudstorm, answered. "We eight are your official security detail. A full squad."

Rainbow huffed as she stopped on the hill in front of Ponyville spotting all the ponies looking up at the castle. HER castle. That sounded so weird in her mind. "Well, here goes the barrage of questions," she said to them. "We're going to the library. It looks like a tree, you can't miss it...because it's the ONLY tree in the middle of town. Let's go."

She started walking forward, two guards on her left and right, the captain in the front, and two in the back and three more taking up the rear

Twilight was peering through the telescope, spotting six people heading their way. "OK, I SEE EIGHT ROYAL GUARDS AND SOMEONE ELSE HEADING OVER THE HILL AND COMING THIS WAY!" She let go of the telescope and looked around it with her naked eye along with everyone else wanting to know who has a castle in the middle of the sky.

Soon they heard the clanking of metal from the Royal Guards as they came into view. "Everyone move aside!" Captain Cloudstorm ordered. "Move aside, move aside!" The ponies all cleared a path, making a way for the group.  "Shine Heart, hand the Mayor the notice."

One of the guards branched off from the back and trotted over to Mayor Mare, handing her a scroll before heading back to the escort. Soon, they stopped in front of the oak tree doors and knocked.

Spike opened the door and let them walk in, spotting a familiar rainbow colored tail walk in with them. All of the mane 6 was there, looking at them confusedly.

"Can I...help you gentlemen?" Twilight asked, stepping forward. Suddenly a light blue blur shot out from behind them, stopping in front of Twilight.

"YES!" Rainbow exclaimed, placing her hooves on her shoulders, shaking her. The bump on her head was starting to show and protrude more than it was before and her eyes were still changing colors. Her hair was getting more clear and long, having a a slight movement in it. Not too noticeable though. "WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME?!"



"So...Celestia made you a castle?" Twilight asked the mare of the day. Rainbow nodded her head, trying to ignore all the stares she was receiving, drinking a cup of tea.

"Yeah. But I don't get why I need guards, why my mane is getting more...perfect, my tail longer, my wings longer, or why my eyes are doing the crazy color changing thing! I know I asked you to keep it a secret, but now AJ knows. So I'll be preparing for a verbal war later on. And get this...it all happened in one day! And guess what day?" She took a sip of her tea while they tried to figure it out.

"Your birthday?" Fluttershy asked, making Rainbow spit out her tea in surprise.

"You remembered?"

"I could never forget my best friend's birthday." She walked out of the group and towards the pegasus, giving her a hug. "We were going to give you a party in the kitchen, but...you showed up with guards, acting like it was the end of the world, so...it will have to wait."

Rainbow grinned before she nuzzled Fluttershy, making her gasp unnoticeably and blush. "It means alot that you remembered," she told her. "It means the world."

"You're welcome." 

Applejack cleared her throat getting their attention, and making them go red, realizing that they had an audience.

"If you love birds are done," she said. "Then maybe we can get down to the part where Twilight can use that...what is that, anyway?" Everyone directed their attention towards the purple unicorn who somehow managed to get her hands on some giant machine with a chair and some type of head thing dangling from the top, as well as wearing a white lab coat with some glasses.

"This is a scanner...that I borrowed," she answered, wheeling it towards Rainbow before the Captain of the guard stepped in front of her.

"You are not allowed to place Lady Dash in any type of instrument without her permission."

"It's alright," Rainbow said, getting off the couch and walking towards the machine. "I trust her. Now how do I get in this frankenpony looking thing?!"

"Just jump on the seat." Rainbow, following Twilight's instructions, climbed into the chair and turned around, facing forward. Twilight put the cap on Rainbow's head and stepped back going over to the screen on the side.

"I just realized this thing was NOT up here a second ago," Rarity said. "Twilight, dear...where in Equestria did you get that?"

"Pinkie." Everyone, including the guards, turned at the pink pony, confusion written on their faces.

"Whaaaat, I hide all types of stuff in my tail," she said, gleefully pointing to her rear. They all looked from her rear then back to the machine before Rainbow interrupted with a loud groan.

"Can we just get this started?!" She asked. "My head is hurting more!" She pointed to the portruding object on her forehead, which was getting a little larger and sharper. "It's like a horn or something!"

"Ok. Hold still." Twilight pulled the lever, watching as the machine started to glow from the top amd slowly go over Rainbow's body. Once it stopped, she stepped away from the control and towards the printer.

The pony grabbed some sheets and walked over to the patient, reading. "You can get down now." Rainbow jumped off the machine and landed on all four hooves, her eyes still changing colors.

"Well?" She asked. "What does it say?" Twilight looked over the report, reading and muttering to herself while everyone else just watched.

"Uh huh....uh huh.....oooooooo," Twilight muttered, looking up at Rainbow in shock. "Well....it explains the horn, I guess."

"What explains the horn?!"

"Well...you're turning into an Alicorn." Everyone turned their heads to Twilight, including the guards who were positioned by the windows.

"WHAT?!!" Rainbow yelled. "HOW IN CELESTIA'S NAME AM I TURNING INTO AN ALICORN?!" Twilight shrugged in response, a little confused as well.

"I don't know! The only way for you to become an Alicorn is if you've ascended or if you were born from one."

"Well, we definitely know Dash ain't smart enough to ascend," Applejack said, making Rainbow look at her irately. "So she was either born from one or that horn's a fake."

"Yeeaaah," Rainbow said, staring daggers at the farmer. "The pain in my forehead is from something that is NOT real. Yeah, yeah, that's the problem. So it must be my parents then because AJ, no matter how much I hate saying this, is right."

"Told ya.'"

"Shut up. I didn't ascend because there was definitely no light show, no singing-"

"Why would there be singing?"

"Shut up, AJ. There was definitely no singing and this is actually painful. When unicorns, earth ponies, and pegasi ascend, I heard it's painless. OWW!" The watched as the horn on Rainbow's head began to grow slightly longer and sharper. "OWWW! OW OW OW OW....oh.....it stopped." She glanced up and looked at the horn to see it fully formed, complete with rings. "How's the rest of me?"

"Wellll," Twilight said, gesturing to the rest of her body. "Your hair is longer and more full and clear than it was this morning, your eyes have stopped changing and is just like seven colors in each eye, oh your hair is moving too, and...you're taller a little bit."

"Little Rainbow has hit her growth spurt," AJ said chuckling. "Congratulations, Rainbow! The worst part is when your voice starts cracking though, so.."

"SHUT UP, AJ!" Rainbow yelled, actually using the Royal Canterlot voice. She placed her hooves over her mouth, looking at everyone having wide eyes and a blown back mane.

"Alright, jeez," the stetson wearing pony said, picking her hat up off the floor. "No need ta' get angry."

"I'm sorry," Rainbow said, approaching her. "This is just really stressful. I CAN'T CONTROL THIS!!"

Applejack sighed as she bent down to pick up her stetson once again. "You need to TRY to get in control of this. Maybe the princesses can help you."

"Of course we will." All the ponies looked towards the door to see Princess Luna and Princess Celestia walk in. They all, except Rainbow, gasped and bowed to the two of them. "Rise, my little ponies. Especially you, Twilight. I already told you there is no need for that."

"Sorry!" She yelled, giving her teacher a smile.

"No need to apologize, either."

"Sorry!" Everyone looked towards the protege, seeing her sporting a toothy grin at Celestia, before turning back to the princesses. The two took a seat on the pillows nearby while some more guards walked in, one carrying a chest of some sort. What was surprising most of all though was Rainbow Dash's parents walking in behind them. The four of them all took a seat beside the princesses while the guard slid the chest off his back and onto the floor with a small thump.

"Take a seat, everyone. There is a story that must be told." The ponies all lined up in front of Celestia and sat down while the guards closed the blinds and windows. Luna lit the remains of her broken horn, shrounding the place in darkness while Celestia lit up hers, showing a remnant of the past.

"Almost twenty years ago," she started. "There were the pony sisters. So commonly known as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna." The display changed to show an old drawing of the two sisters. "But that was not entirely true. There...was three." The image slid over to the left to display another alicorn on the right. She had a baby blue coat with a darker blue mane and a cutie mark of a rainbow. "Her name was Spectrum. Princess Spectrum. We were destined to rule Equestria together, all three of us. So we did...for centuries. Then one day...we found a special gem." The image shifted to a red ruby that all the three princesses had their hooves on.

"The ruby would give thou infinite power," Luna said, pointing to the display. "It would increase your magic a hundred fold."

"Some say it was what created alicorns," The princess of the sun commented. "We used it to help us win wars." The image showed the three sisters in battle with the Thestrals. "But soon, just like all things....the fight came to us. One night, in the Everfree castle, Spectrum wanted us each to have a piece of the power to ourselves. She wanted us to absorb the magic, giving us MORE power." The image shifted, showing the three princesses in an argument, all three of them trying to talk at once. "I explained to Spectrum that the power will overpower us. Make us corrupted. Unfortunately, she did not listen. One night, back in the Everfree Castle, we were relaxing when Spectrum burst into the room. But this wasn't the Spectrum we knew."

The image shifted once more to display Celestia's memories. They were seen relaxing in the room and drinking some very expensive wine when the door burst open and a pony burst into the room. She had mismatched colors on her wings and in her eyes while her coat was deep black. She had fangs that were baring, snarling at the two princesses.

"Where is the jewel, Celestia?!" Spectrum yelled.

"What in Equestria?!" Luna said, standing up and facing the princess with her sister. "Spectrum! What has happened to thou?!"

"I've gained more power," she sneered, slowly advancing towards the pair. "And I want more. I know you have the jewel, Celestia! Now hand it over!" Spectrum charged towards the pair before they dodged towards the right. She looked behind her to see the princesses on the other side of the room, igniting their horns and firing their magic towards her. Spectrum commanded some trees nearby to throw their branches through the window, distracting them so she could fire her own magic. It hit the two princesses, sending the two through the stone wall.

They landed on the other side, sliding along the floor in the hall to see a gruesome sight. Luna gasped, seeing all the guards and staff.....dead, blood everywhere. "What has thou done, Spectrum?!" Luna yelled, standing up. "Thou has slaughtered all the guards and servants! What has thou done?!!"

"Quiet, Luna!" She sneered. "Give me the jewel and their deaths will not have been in vain! WHERE IS IT?!" She fired her magic at the two. They rolled out of the way and fired their own magic at her. The stone in front of the mad princess rose up into a block in front of her, shielding her from the magic. Once it stopped, she broke off the stone and sent it flying towards them. The princesses stopped the stone and threw it over to the side.

"That fight went on for a couple of hours," Celestia said, stopping the memory. "We eventually drove her away, making her retreat. She didn't return for a couple of years. Seven actually."

"Soon...she came back for a second round...during a very important time in Celestia's life," Luna said, gesturing towards her sister. "When she was....with child." The ponies in there gasped, including Rainbow Dash.

"You had a foal?!" Twilight yelled. "When was this?! How do people not know this?! THIS IS HISTORY!!!" Celestia chuckled. Twilight was always such a scholar.

"A little while after the delivery, we were forced to leave the castle," Luna continued. "Celestia took the child, along with the jewel. This is the part of the story that was commonly known. I gave Celestia a hug and told her to take her and the child with her. I went and fought Spectrum, leaving Celestia to commence with the plan. Spectrum was able to stop me and broke my horn in the process before she banished me, her own sister, to the moon for eighteen years. Why eighteen, I have no clue. But I bought Celestia some time to...save the power and the child."

"I brought her and the gem over to a place that would not be damaged beyond repair...and I transferred the power into her body. I then told her I loved her and left her with some trusted contacts I knew would take care of her until it was time for me to return. I then fought Spectrum when she found me. I setup the trap by letting the empty jewel drop where she could see it. She chased after and caught it, focusing all her attention on it. I then gathered the Elements of Harmony and banished her to the sun for twenty years. So we were able to have peace for the years to come. But......I was not able to have my foal back."

"WHAT?! WHY?!" Rainbow yelled, stepping forward a little upset. "Would the contacts not let you have her?!" Rainbow's parents and the princesses chuckled at that.

"Quite the contrary," Luna said, stifling down her giggling. "Spectrum has some underground sources who were working with her. Very powerful sources. More powerful than the nobility. They also wanted the power, for what we do not know. So we hid her in safety until we know she is ready to protect herself. She will make herself known in the most dramatic way possible when she is...Rainbow Dash."

"What was the foal's name?" Twilight asked.

"You tell me, Twilight. You have already met her. Actually, you all have." The ponies took on a confused look before Celestia popped open the chest in front of her using her magic. Taking out a couple of photos, she displayed them on the floor in front of the ponies, side by side. The seven of them, including Spike walked forward, staring at the photos.

They were shots of Celestia with a foal in her hooves, nuzzling her. But the foal had a rainbow mane and a cerulean coat, and cerise colored eyes. Everyone looked at the photo closely, trying to figure out who it was until Rainbow let out a loud gasp.

"No....no no no no no," she muttered, walking around the room in circles. "Nonononono you CANNOT be my mom! Look, dad has my hair!" She pointed towards Bow Hothoof's mane before Luna grinned and pulled out a spray bottle, pointing it at him.

"Dont' you-" Bow was silenced as Luna started squeezing the trigger with her magic, spraying his hair with water. The ponies watched as his hair went from the rainbow to a deep black, the dye dripping all over his face. "LUNA!"

"What other way would there have been if not the bottle? A hose, perhaps?"

"Nope bottle's fine," he surrendered holding his hooves up.

"NO!" They all turned towards Rainbow Dash to see her running out the front door, scaring some of the ponies outside waiting before she flapped her alicorn wings and soared into the air, heading towards the newly developed castle. Celestia ran out the door, calling for her, trying to get her to stop.

"Rainbow! Rainbow, wait!" She flapped her wings and flew up after her, the other ponies wondering what's going on. Luna walked out with everyone else before turning around to face the group.

"You must not tell anyone of what you have learned. It is very dangerous to everyone. At least not yet. Guards, follow Celestia and Rainbow Dash." The guards Saluted before taking flight after the royals.



Rainbow Dash landed on the housing building's lawn, running through the two doors of the building in the middle before sliding to a stop in the hall. She looked in front of her, trying to figure out where to go. Maybe she could ask for help. But she left her guards behind.

"Lady Dash!" Or maybe not. Rainbow turned around slowly to see Captain Cloudstorm standing there behind her with the rest of the security team. "You mustn't run off like that, it is not very safe." Rainbow groaned before looking up to see Celestia walk towards her.

"Rainbow-"

"Why?" Rainbow asked her, stepping around the security and towards the princess. "If you're my mother, why haven't you at least told me before? Why wait eighteen years to finally tell me?!"

"Would you have believed me?" Celestia asked her, smirking. "I look nothing like you. Yes, you got my attitude, but you obtained everything else from your father."

Rainbow sighed and turned around in response. She was right. She definitely would not believe her. Maybe even crack a joke in the process. "Ok. Let's say I do believe you," she replied, turning back around. "Why wait until now to tell me? What made it so important to even tell me? Why would you have to lie to me?"

Celestia sighed and trotted closer to rainbow before ordering the guards to leave them be.

"Walk with me, Rainbow," she said. She opened extended a wing and offered a small smile towards her daughter. Rainbow pulled in her lips before sighing and walking underneath Celestia's wing, which was surprisingly comfortable and felt...familiar. The two slowly walked towards the stairs in front of them.

"When fillies are born Rainbow," she said, catching her attention. "They do not keep everything to themselves. And....well....I have a gift...I am a seer."

The new royal looked towards her mother. "What? You can see into the future?" Celestia nodded before they walked up the steps in front of them.

"There is a reason I named you Rainbow Dash. I saw you complete the sonic rainboom a couple times after you were born before you actually did them. I  named you Rainbow because of your mane. And Dash, because you were able to dash past the competition."

"That was so cheesy." Celestia rolled her eyes and chuckled

"I'll work on it. Anyway, if I told you about any of those things at the time, you would not have kept them to yourself. You were bullied in flight camp, along with Fluttershy. Would you have kept it to yourself if someone were to offend you or your friend in any way? Would you not have said something like 'I am a princess and I will have you thrown you in a dungeon?'" The two stopped in front of two doors guarded by two guards that had a rainbow lightning bolt on it. Dash's cutie mark.

"You're right," she finally responded as she looked over the door with her insignia. "I most likely wouldn't have." Celestia tried to withdraw her wing, only for Rainbow Dash to stop her. "Could you....could you keep that there? I...like it." Celestia smiled and put it back over her, pulling the mare close to her.

Rainbow Dash nodded towards the two guards. They nodded back, turned around and pushed the huge doors open. The princess looked at her daughter proudly before they walked through the doors, entering into a large bedroom. There was a very big bed in the middle of the room facing the door that could hold two or even three Alicorns, a bathroom on the left, and some type of lounge on the left through a doorway with a balcony, showing the land and Equestria.

"There was a lot I had to give up to keep you safe," Celestia continued as they walked into the room. "I had to give up my happiness. You were my pride and joy, Rainbow." The two of them walked into the lounge and onto the balcony, peering out over the town below. Rainbow placed her hooves on the stone barrier, looking down at the magnificent ground below. "I had to give up Luna, who was banished during the whole time you were maturing. And I had to give up my sister, Spectrum. Who was corrupted by the jewel that we called...the Jewel of Rainbow. Because it was the cause of your life, and how you had to live it. Without me in it."

Rainbow looked back to her mother with sadness in her eyes. "Well...thank you for your sacrifices." Celestia smiled and gave her nearly tall daughter a nuzzle before looking back over the town, spotting a carriage coming up to the castle.

"Luna is bringing more guards for your castle. Also, your Sonic Rainboom...was actually given to you by the power of the Jewel of Rainbow." Rainbow looked over at Celestia, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"You are able to do the Sonic Rainboom because of the power that gem gave you. Whenever you leave this castle, try not to use it. It will bring powerful enemies after you....and those you love." Rainbow watched the chariots below land on the clouds in front of the metal gates before they were given clearance to enter.

"I won't. I promise." Celestia leaned over and nuzzled her daughter again, but this time, she got one in return.
> Chapter 5 - The Castle and Feelings Returned
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The group of six friends all piled into the carriage after walking out of the library, ignoring the other ponies asking them what's going on. Those in front of the carriage all cleared a path as the carriage was pulled forward by pegasi guards and soared into the air, headed towards the castle made of clouds.

"So...ummm...how do you think she's doing," Fluttershy asked them after they leveled out, landing on the loop "I mean...she was really freaked out...do you think this is a good idea to see her right now?"

"Nothing's better than a big hug from your group of friends to cheer you up after finding out your mom's a real queen!" Pinkie Pie yelled, jumping up in the carriage. "DUUUHHH! Besides, moonie said it's better for her if her friends were around." The other's laughed as they all turned back forward to see a group of guards waiting at the gate.

"I just realized  something," Twilight said. "Only one of us here are pegasi. How else are we going to get on this cloud without plummeting down?"

"No need to worry about that ma'am." They all turned towards the right to see a royal guard standing outside of the carriage looking at them through a pair of shades. "The cloud is made to hold any kind of pony. SA Sweetie Drops, who's an Earth Pony, is standing just fine on this property." The guard was pointing towards the left at an Earth Pony with pink and dark blue hair, a scar over her left eye. She jumped up and down to show how fine the cloud was. "It's ok to step out."

Twilight shrugged and jumped out of the Carriage landing perfectly on the cloud. Then tested it with her hoof just to make sure. The others followed her example and landed on the surface. Then were guided by Special Agent Sweetie Drops towards the gate after they all got comfortable. The guards pushed it open to reveal a...landscape? The cloud had grass, flowers and a pond in the front. The group looked around, seeing the sky with a few clouds dispersing rainbows onto the ground.

"This is so grandeur!" Rarity squealed, loudly. "It is positively beautiful here! If Rainbow passes this up, then that is definitely not her!"

"It is really nice here," Twilight agreed as they walked between two tall buildings, heading for a more house-like structure. It was still big, but not as big as the others. You could tell it was for someone to live in. "I guess that's where rainbow's quarter's are?" Twilight asked Sweetie Drops. She didn't answer and continued walking with her head facing the upcoming doors. Twilight looked behind her and shrugged and shrugged at the others, who did the exact same.

The guards at the two doors pushed them open, allowing the group to walk into a lobby of some sort. There was a grand stairwell in front of them, leading up to a second floor and to a pair of golden doors  with Rainbow Dash's cutie mark on it. Sweetie drops raised a hoof, stopping them, before she trotted up the stairs alone, leaving the guests to watch her. She knocked on the doors, waiting for an answer.

"Yes?" Celestia's voice said through the doors.

"The guests are here," Sweetie Drops answered loudly, finally speaking.



"Would you like your friends to come in?" Celestia asked her daughter. The two were snuggled on the bed, talking about some other things. Rainbow nodded her head, still staring at a visual of her father. Celestia turned to the door and yelled, "Bring them in! As I was saying, your father was an exceptional stallion. He would bring roses to me on my bad days, and even more on my good days. I made him my adviser, since he was always good at making decisions. He was the happiest I have ever seen when I told him I was pregnant. He wouldn't stop flying in circles!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled before the doors opened, revealing the group of seven. The two princesses on the bed didn't pay attention to them They walked in while Celestia was still talking, taking a seat at the door before Sweetie Drops closed it back. "Shortly afterwards, he was gone," she said sadly. "He went with everypony else inside that castle. He was one of the bodies that was found in that hallway." Celestia closed her eyes, letting a few silent tears escape. "Then...I had you. Luna said you look exactly like him. That was true." Celestia turned her head to her daughter, who turned her head to look up at her in return.

"Don't ever change, Rainbow. Don't do anything to your hair, don't dye your coat, nothing. You are your father's daughter. Be proud of it." The new royal smile before sitting up from her laying position and nuzzled Celestia.

"Of course," she responded. They stayed like that for a moment until Celestia stood up and jumped off the bed.

"I have to head back to Canterlot," she explained while stretching her wings.

Rainbow gasped in surprise and asked in disbelief, "What? Why?" She stood up and trotted over to stand beside her, nearly falling on her face. She was two-thirds as tall as Celestia now. "You can't stay? Why can't you stay, I was just enjoying this!" Celestia chuckled before she pulled Rainbow in with her left wing.

"I have to return and get things ready for your future coronation. I won't be telling them you're my daughter, but I will have to make up a story of your origin. For your protection. The Captain of the Guard, Twilight's brother—"

"Wait, Shiny's the Captain now?!" Twilight interrupted from behind.

"—Is there waiting for me to get the information to him. As well as assign your servants, chefs, and others that will be here at the castle. You'll see me again soon, I promise, sweetheart."

"Fine," Rainbow grumbled, crossing her hooves. The princess of the sun chuckled.

"Don't be like your father and catch an attitude. I'll stick Luna on you." Celestia nuzzled her daughter one more time before walking towards the two doors. She stopped after seeing the group sitting there on the floor waiting patiently. "Thank you for waiting. Don't change for Rainbow Dash, either. Especially you, Applejack. She could use the competition."

"MOOOOM!"

Celestia chuckled before she opened the doors and walked out, leaving Rainbow with her friends. They all stared at each other in silence before Twilight tried to cheer things up a bit. "Sooo...nice castle you have-"

"PERFECT FOR A PARTY!" Pinkie screamed in dash's face. Rainbow shrieked in surprise and accidentally fired off her horn, sending the pink menace flying back into the marble wall.

Everyone looked from Pinkie then back to Dash."Well...someone's got a knack for surprise," AJ said, walking up to the cerulean alicorn. She pulled on her wings and stared at her while Dash just stood there looking stoic.

"Can you use your magic...at will yet?" Twilight asked, walking up to her. "Because if you're going to be introduced as one of the new princesses, they're going to want to see your power."

"Uh huh," Spike agreed, nodding his head. "Big time. They'll want to see what you can do. WITHOUT a rainboom. Twilight will probably-"

"I'll help you do your magic!"

"-train you," Spike finished. Rarity took a  look around the bland room, going out unto the balcony as she tried to find the beauty in the place.

"Uggghhh. This room is so droll. Rainbow? Be a dear and get me some cotton, would you? I must get to work this instant!"

Rainbow looked at Rarity irately before she got a smirk. "Why don't we use your dress instead? It's way too big on you anyway." Everyone snickered as they checked out Rarity's outerwear. It was a white dress that was way too big, trailing along the floor like she was the bride at a wedding.

"Do not laugh! This is perfection I am wearing!" Rarity replied, sticking her nose in the air as she walked out of the room made of stone with marble flooring.

"Whatever you say, Rares." Rainbow shook her extended wings and give them small flaps as she tried to get a sense of her weight. "Wow, I'm heavier then I was before...don't say it, AJ!" Applejack slowly closed her mouth, but kept the smirk. "How are you doing over there flutters?"

Fluttershy was busy trying to pull Pinkie out of the wall, having no luck. "Well...I can't actually get her out from the stone."

"Wait...I realized that earlier," Twilight said looking at Rainbow strangely. "These structures are made out of stone, but this is a cloud. It should've fallen through, but instead it's just sitting on the cloud like it's the ground. How is that possible?"

Rainbow shrugged in response. "I don't know, but I really like it here. Hey, let's go find the kitchen." Rainbow dash walked forward and grabbed Pinkie's foot with her mouth and yanked her out. She dropped her onto the ground before walking over to the doors. "Try not to cause any parties when you come here ok? This is a bedroom. Not a ballroom, throne room..." Rainbow let out a gasp before she threw open the doors.

She walked out of the doors and onto the stairwell looking for the guards. "Guard!" She shouted.

"Yes, your highness?" a guard said from behind her. She turned around to see two guards dressed in night armor at the top of the stairs in front of the girls.

"We would like a tour of the castle, please." The guards nodded before they walked down the steps towards her.

"Of course. Just follow me." The girls came out of the room following the two guards as they made their way towards Rainbow Dash. They turned left down a hallway with three doors on each side. "These are the guest rooms. They are just rooms with a bathroom, a desk, and probably more." They continued their trek, turning down another hall on the left before walking straight again. "At the end of this hall is the dining room."

They stopped at two large doors before they pulled them open, revealing a long and wide dining table with around twenty chairs on the left and right side. "It's actually the grand dining hall. There are more spread out around the facility. They're not actually finished yet." Rainbow Dash nodded before they were led back out through the hallways and to the front of the building. There was another hallway across from them that they took.

"This is the way...to your throne room, Princess Dash." The Alicorn's friends all turned to look at Rainbow to see her sporting a toothy grin. Applejack facehoofed while Rarity shared Dash's expression. Soon they turned another corner to the right before going to the left again to see a pair of golden doors, as big as Dash's bedroom doors. The guards there opened the doors to offer a stupendous sight.

There was a blue carpet that led the way up to a throne with her cutie mark on the back. A rainbow colored lightning bolt. The throne itself was completely gold. "There are no guards stationed in here yet. Princess Celestia will be getting them for you as well as your own official armor."

"Official armor?" Rainbow asked him. "What do you mean?"

"All the guards will be wearing a certain type of armor that lets others know who they represent." Rainbow nodded her head before she walked into the throne room, admiring the stained glass and carpet. "It'll look far better by the coronation."

Rainbow walked up to the throne and felt along it's surface before turning around and took a seat, taking on a regal posture. "It looks great, Rainbow," Fluttershy said, walking up to the throne. "Princess Dash."

"There ase no formalities between us, Lady Fluttershy," Rainbow said. "Especially since you made that awesome soup this morning." Fluttershy giggled and walked closer to Rainbow's seat. The alicorn scooted over, making room for her best friend as she took a seat, looking out at the room. "This is a beautiful view."

"Yeah...it's almost time for you guys to head home." Fluttershy got a sad look on her face as she lowered her head, getting Rainbow's attention. "Hey." Fluttershy looked up at the alicorn. "I was talking to the others."

Fluttershy looked towards where she was pointing to see the group bowing in front of her. "Get outta here!" she commanded playfully. "Or I'll use my royal canterlot voice on you!"

"No way, Rainy!" Pinkie said, hopping forward. "You'll have to make us!" Rainbow smirked before focusing all her energy into her horn and blast it outwards. It didn't have the desired effect.

Big globs of water appeared out of nowhere and started firing towards the ponies.

"Rainbow!" Applejack cried out as she ran around with the others. "What in tarnation?!"

""EVERYONE OUT," she ordered, pointing towards the doors. "I'll send for you guys tomorrow...if I can. Royal duties and all that."

"Yeah, yeah, sure," Twilight said, running out of the room with everyone else. "See ya', Princess!" All that remained were Fluttershy, Princess Dash, and two guards who got dismissed.

"Leave us please," Dash ordered. The guards bowed before they walked out of the room and closed the doors. The only light source, being the moonlight coming in through the window.

"Now what is it you wanted to talk about?" Rainbow asked Fluttershy, following her mother's example and draping a wing around her.

"Ummm...what do you mean?" she replied, looking into her eyes. "I don't..." She was silenced when Rainbow started nuzzling her muzzle...which she liked. She smiled and began nuzzling back, making Rainbow smile harder. Eventually, after a minute of this, Rainbow pulled away.

"Now...tell me." Fluttershy smiled before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.

"Ok...I'm just gonna blurt it out."

"Blurt it out? Who are you and what have you done with cute, little fluttershy?"

"I love you, Rainbow!" Rainbow widened her eyes and looked at her confused.

"What...what do you mean?"

"I love you! I don't know what I would do without you. Yes you're my friend! My BEST friend! But I have feelings for you, Dashie!"

Rainbow Dash was taken aback, looking at Fluttershy wide-eyed.

"You don't like me back." Rainbow dash shook her head and blinked her eyes rapidly before offering her a smile.

"It's not that at all," she replied picking up Fluttershy's hoof. "I was just really surprised at your bluntness. I applaud you for that. But about your feelings....I already returned them moons ago."

Fluttershy gasped before Rainbow grabbed her other hoof and pulled her closer. "I love you too, Flutters." She pressed her forehead against the pegasus before she continued talking. "I agree. We've been friends for a very long time. A few years in fact. I think we both want this to go farther though."

Fluttershy grinned and closed her eyes before Rainbow asked her next question. "Will you do me the honor of being my marefriend?"

"Yes. Yes I would. I love you, Rainbow."

"I love you too, Fluttershy." They both lifted their mouths before giving each other a kiss to seal their love.



The cerulean princess opened her eyes the next morning to give sight to a bunch of pink hair in her face and a sleeping Fluttershy. Rainbow decided that the Pegasus should sleep in her bed last night, to make Fluttershy feel at home.

She slowly withdrew her wing from over her marefriend and sat up, making sure not to disturb her, before jumping out the bed, landing on the carpet. She stretched and twisted her back. It cracked, making her flinch a little.

"That hurt a little," she muttered. After getting out the bugs in her body, she looked around the room, trying to find the washroom. Seeing a door by her side of the bed, she walked over and opened it, finding the area.

She used her magic to adjust the water temperature before stepping in, sighing in relief as the water washed all over her body.

Fluttershy moaned and moved her foreleg, the shower disturbing her sleep. She opened her eyes, realizing that Rainbow wasn't there, before she sat up, looking around. "Rainbow?" She asked quietly.

She got out of the bed and looked around finally spotting the bathroom and hearing the water running. "Rainbow? Are you in there?"

"Yeah! I'm taking a shower! Be out in a minute!" Fluttershy nodded before she took a look around the room. Too busy trying to get Pinkie out of the wall yesterday, she actually never got a look around. Looking at the floor, it was marble along with the walls. There were vases and flowers, not to mention a small waterfall in the lounge.

The pegasus walked into the room, looking at the small clouds depositing rainbows around the department. There were a bunch of books in the corner by a couch, and a massive crystal of some sort on the other facing it.

She looked towards the left to see a little bit of Ponyville below with some other kingdom very far away in the distance. It was a magnificent sight.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Fluttershy looked behind her to see Rainbow start nuzzling her cheek. "Good Morning, Flutters."

"Good morning, Dashie." She kissed her before she walked the rest of the way into the balcony. "Where's your Royal Gear?"

"My what?"

"You know. The chest plate and shoes. You need to look official. Like the great princess I know you'll become. Your mother has them and so does Luna." Dash looked over to respond until someone knocked on her door.

"Come in!" The door opened up quietly, revealing Princess Luna holding some type of box in a spell. She set the box on the bed before looking around, trying to find her.

"There's my favorite niece," she said, trotting over and pulling the small alicorn into a small hug. "How did thou sleep? Extravagantly?"

Rainbow wiggled out of Luna's grip before she looked up to her and answered. "I slept wonderful. Now what is that?" She asked, pointing at the box on her bed.

"Go and find out for yourself."

Rainbow briskly walked back through the lounge before she lit her horn, opening the box. Upon reaching the bed, she looked down into the box and gasped.

She lit her horn again and pulled out a multi colored dress, a golden chest plate with her cutie mark in the center, metal hoofshoes that were rainbow colored, and a small tiara. It had multiple colored diamonds in it, mainly red, yellow, and blue.

"Is this my real crown," she asked, looking at her aunt.

"Yes. You shall have two. One for before your coronation and one after. It's beautiful, isn't it?" Rainbow slowly nodded her head before placing the crown on her head the wrong way. Grinning, she turned to her audience.

"Well?....How do I look?"

"Well....you would look better if the crown was on right," Fluttershy said, grinning. Luna chuckled before grabbing the crown in her magic and lifted it up, turned it around, and set it correctly back down on her head.

"There you go, my niece," she said. She turned to the box and pulled out the chest plate. Fluttershy watched as Rainbow went through her transformation from normal alicorn into a princess alicorn.

"You look beautiful, Rainbow," she commented walking closer. Rainbow was wearing the multi colored dress with the chest plate on top. She was wearing her hoof shoes, having multiple colors on each one.

"Thanks," she said, walking into the bathroom to check herself out.

"We are going to Canterlot today," Luna said as she walked back out. "We will be having the Royal Breakfast with your mother, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor."

"Twilight's brother?" Rainbow asked, walking out the bathroom. "Why is he there?"

"He is marrying Princess Cadance."

"Twilight doesn't know, does she?"

Luna laughed. "No. No, she does not."

"Well, I want to see her have an aneurysm. Let's bring her. Flutters? Are you coming?"

"Umm...if I can," she replied looking at Luna.

"I am sure Celestia would not mind her daughter bringing friends over."

The three of them walked out of the room, signalling the guards to follow along as they walked down the steps and through the front doors of the building, where there were more guards waiting, her official security detail.

"Good morning, Lady Dash," Seargent Cloudstorm greeted.

"Good morning, Sergeant. You will be coming with me?" They walked down the walkway that went between two buildings before the gates were opened.

"Yes we will be your official security everywhere in large settings. In small settings, you will be accompanied by Sweetie Drops."

Rainbow nodded before they walked through the gate, and towards a rainbow colored chariot. Sweetie Drops walked forward and opened the door for Rainbow dash, who stopped and let Fluttershy walk in first.

After she did, Rainbow followed after and the door was closed. "Are you excited about this?" The pegasus asked her.

Rainbow nodded rapidly. "Of course!"

"You're hungry?"

"Of course!"

"You just want to show off, huh?"

"Of. Course." Luna's chariot in front began to move forward, making theirs move as well. They drove through the loop, before they flew off the edge and through the air, headed towards Ponyville.



"Are you sure you saw Rainbow yesterday...as an alicorn?"

"A new alicorn?"

"Is there a new princess?" There was so much talk going around Ponyville about a possibly new alicorn with a rainbow colored mane and tail, and a cerulean color.

The sound of yells made everyone look up to see two chariots coming down from the sky, about to land in the center of town.

"Everyone clear out! Move, move!" The ponies all moved to the side as the chariots landed on the ground, rolling to a stop.

Sweetie Drops opened the door for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, watching as they got out before they closed it. Princess Luna was waiting for them as they made their way towards the Ponyville library.

Twilight was in her bed, covered by a bunch of books with her right hooves hanging off the bed. Spike was sleeping in his basket nearby, both sleeping peacefully when a series of loud bangs and a very loud Canterlot voice woke them up.

"TWILIGHT!! WAKE UP AND GET OUT HERE!"

The two peacefully sleeping residents were jolted awake, with Twilight falling off the bed, buried under a lot of books, and Spike jumping out of his basket and hitting his head on the ceiling.

A moment later, the front door opened revealing a very upset Twilight with a book on her head, making the two royals and Fluttershy chuckle.

"What....do you want....your highness?" she said through gritted teeth and a wide smile.

"We want you to see your brother," Princess Dash said, pointing at her. "We're going to Canterlot for breakfast and your brother's going to be there."

"Oh," Twilight said, knocking her book off her head, changing her entire attitude. "Ok, let me get ready. Come in." Everyone outside watched as the four, including Sweetie Drops, walked into the tree.

"Now, why is Shiny coming?" Twilight asked, walking up the stairs and into the washroom.

"He's bringing a very important guest," Luna said, browsing through the books. "You will know them very well."

"Ok." A few minutes later, Twilight came trotting back down the steps in a dress. "I'm ready. Let's go!"

"No Spike?" Fluttershy asked her.

"No Spike."

Rainbow nodded before they all got up and made their way towards the door Sweetie Drops just opened. They walked out, being guided back to their chariots.

"It is Rainbow Dash!"

"What did she do to get Royal?"

Rainbow Dash grinned at all the attention before hopping in the chariot with Twilight and Fluttershy, the door being shut behind her.

The people parted before they made their way around the tree and towards the road behind it. They took off into the air before turning around, heading towards the mountainside. Towards the city of Canterlot.
> Chapter 6 - Royal Breakfast And A Tour
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Princesses, guards, scholar, and secret marefriend all rode in silence on the way to the mountainside, holding the city of Canterlot. Rainbow couldn't hardly wait to look at Celestia's castle. Being only able to see it from the bottom of the mountain, miles away, wasn't good enough.

"You know," Rainbow said, catching the girl's attention. "I still can't believe all of this is happening. I was living in the clouds before, but now I'm living in a castle. A CASTLE, Twilight! You don't know what it's like to live there."

"Uhhh huuhhh. Well, at least we know there's so much more to you than meets the eye. You're Celestia's lost daughter! That's history!! But you have to stay lost or else more ponies die. It's history that has to stay lost."

"It's a very bad story if you ask me," Fluttershy said timidly.

"You know," the princess started, pointing an accusing hoof at the mare. "Out of all of us here, you're the only one not dressed down. What's with that?"

Fluttershy looked down at herself to see she was indeed not wearing anything.

"Oh no," she muttered. "What am I going to do, I need a dress! Stop the chariot I need a dress!"

"Calm down, Flutters," Rainbow cooed, wrapping a wing around the distraught Pegasus. "I'm sure mom has one somewhere in the castle."

"You're getting used to the fact that she's your mother pretty quickly," Twilight commented as they neared the streets of downtown.

"Yeah. I mean, at first I was like 'no way, this pony is nuts'. But now? I actually see it. Now when I saw my father really did it in. He had the same hair, nearly the same coat. And then I nearly have mom's eyes. Her eyes are a little brighter, but still."

The two girls looked forward to see them landing in the street of downtown Canterlot. "No more mom stuff," Rainbow ordered. "These people can't know my true origin."

The girls nodded as they touched down into the street, behind more carriages in some type of jam.

"We'll be going on foot from here," Sweetie Drops said as she touched down from the carriage. "This jam is not moving." Twilight nodded as the door was opened letting them all get out, Rainbow Dash being the last. Once they were all out of the carriage, they immediately began getting stares and pointed hooves.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Rainbow asked, feeling her face. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and poked her, catching her attention.

"It's because you're wearing a crown, Rainbow. And your chariot has your sign." Rainbow grinned and nodded, enjoying this treatment before they walked towards Princess Luna's carriage, the Princess already stepping out.

"So Fluttershy needs a dress," she said. "Does Celestia have any extras? You know....in case I was....you know?" Luna looked at her strangely, trying to figure out what she meant until it clicked.

"OH! Of course she does, you're wearing one of them." She turned around as they began their trek towards the castle in the distance. They were guarded by a few Royal Guards, the pedestrians backing away and making room for the royals.

"Why didn't we just fly," Rainbow asked. "The only one who can't is Twilight and Sweetie Drops."

"She is the reason we are not flying," Luna answered as they were guided around a corner. "Sweetie Drops performs far better on the ground because she is an Earth Pony. If she were a Pegasus, then yes, we would fly, Princess Dash."

They continued their walk towards the castles, the guests in the back trying to keep up. Soon, they made it to Celestia's large castle, the gates blocked by the Royal Guard. Once seeing the royals and guests, they turned and pushed open the gates, letting the group through before shutting them again. Soon, the guards opened the doors into the giant castle, showing the grand hall and different rooms on the sides. There was a few media in there, doing some report and taking pictures of the building, holding magical voice recorders and notepads to the staff.

"Stay calm and let me handle this," Luna whispered as the reporters turned their heads to the bright light in the hall.

"Princess Luna!" All the journalists stopped what they were doing and went towards the two Royals while the guards tried to hold them back a little. "We've been hearing rumors about a new Princess of Equestria!"

The royals continued walking towards the stairs in front of them while the journalists continued taking pictures of them. "Yes, there is a new Princess of Equestria. Princess Dash." The reporters all turned their cameras and eyes towards Rainbow and soon started taking photos and asking questions.

"Where did you come from?"

"No comment."

"Are you a past member of the Royal Family?"

"No comment."

"What is your relationship with Canterlot and Equestria in general?"

"No comment!" The guards pushed the journalists to the side as the royals and guests made their way down the hall.

"I thought you were going to handle that!" Dash yelled, making her aunt chuckle.

"I did. I said you were a new Princess. You give the press what they slightly want and you're golden."

They passed a few more adjacent hallways before reaching a staircase. The group trotted up the ascending walkway before the guards there opened it, revealing the throne room where Celestia was seen standing in front of the throne talking to two more ponies. A bright pink Alicorn and a white coated blue maned unicorn.

"Shiny!" They all looked towards the door to see a certain purple mare trotting over to the group.

"Twilight?" Shining asked worriedly. "Uhhh....what are you doing here?" Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow towards her sister and daughter to see them eating popcorn and smiling wildly at the scene that was definitely about to happen.

"Princess Dash is having some type of breakfast this morning with Princess Celestia and Luna. Hi! Do you know my brother?" She asked the pink Alicorn standing next to him.

The Alicorn and Shining Armor glanced at each other before she turned back to Twilight. "I'm his fiancee."

Rainbow and Luna grinned hard. "WHAT?! Shining Armor! When were you going to tell me you had a marefriend, let alone were getting married?!" Rainbow started laughing, nearly choking on her popcorn while Luna just snorted and laughed along with her. The two other Alicorns tried to stifle their giggles at the siblings conversation.

"Uhhhh....uhhhh.....," Shining Armor muttered as he looked around trying to find a way out. His fiancee found it for him.

"Twilight, it's me. Your old foalsitter? Cadance?" Twilight looked at her for a moment before she gasped loudly. The two got into their position before they did their little song and dance.

"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" Rainbow Dash and Luna stopped crunching on their popcorn and slowly turned to each other in confusion.

"What was that?" Rainbow asked as she set down her popcorn and walked towards Celestia. "Hello, Princess Celestia."

"Hello, Princess Dash." The two bowed at each other before standing up straight again. "I see you like my 'welcome' present."

"Yes! It's so awesome!" She said before jumping up and flying in a circle. She stopped and hovered in place. "Seriously! How many ponies can say they get to wear this-" She pointed to her crown. "-everyday? Rarity doesn't count, Twilight." Twilight closed her mouth and put down her hoof. "Oh! Fluttershy needs a dress. We couldn't stop by her cottage. Luna said you have more?"

Celestia looked towards Fluttershy only to see her not there. "Where is she?" Rainbow looked around as she landed back down from her hovering. She saw a light pink tail coming out from behind a red curtain, making her groan and walk towards the decorative item. She poked her head in from the other side and used her royal canterlot voice. "HEY!"

Fluettershy yelped and jumped out of the curtain. "Rainbow Dash," she scolded. "How many times are you going to do that?"

The Alicorn shrugged before wrapping a wing around her marefriend's shoulder, ushering her towards Celestia. "Until it gets old. Here she is. She was hiding behind a curtain."

"So we heard," Twilight said blandly. "Cadance, Shining Armor, meet Princess Dash. She was not a Princess when she moved to Ponyville, but she became one yesterday, so....she's having fun with it."

"It's great to meet you Princess Dash," Cadance said, bowing with Shining Armor.

"It's great to meet you too, Princess Cadance," Rainbow said, bowing with her. "Where do you rule?"

"The Crystal Empire," she replied, all three royals rising. "It's north of Canterlot. I take it Aunt Celestia and Luna have never told you of my origin." Rainbow shook her head before her eyes widened.

"WAIT! You're my-"

"She is my adopted niece," Celestia said as she stepped forward diffusing the conversation before the secret came out. "I adopted her when she was very young from an orphanage many moons ago. Sorry I forgot to mention that." Rainbow waved it off.

"Oh pshhaww, it's alright. Is the Crystal Empire...crystal?"

Cadance giggled. "Yes, everything over there is pure crystal...except the food."

"Rainbow," Celestia said, guiding Rainbow over to the side. "We must speak on your guards and your armor during the breakfast."

"And where is it being held?" she asked, walking over to her mother.

"We were thinking the dining hall...but considering Twilight's...hyperactivity..." Dash looked towards where Celestia was motioning to see the purple mare running in a circle around Cadance, talking at the same time. "We'll have to do it outside. I have already informed the chefs of our new location. By the way,Cadance doesn't know and neither does Shining armor or any other royal or citizen in Canterlot or any other city or town. Your guards, Luna, your friends, and I are the only ones."

Rainbow nodded before she nuzzled her mother. "You stuck to your promise," she whispered.

"Of course. I wouldn't see my lost daughter for only one day and then leave. That is definitely not me. Nor you." The two stopped their nuzzling and started making their way towards the scene of Twilight still circling Cadance. "Twilight? Leave your foal-sitter alone and come have breakfast. We're leaving now, you can swing around outside."

The purple unicorn nodded before making her way to the door while Celestia teleported an extra dress from her personal closet upstairs in her room to her where she put it on Fluttershy.

"There. Do you like it?"
Fluttershy looked at the dress before smiling at the Princess.

"It's beautiful. Thank you, Princess."



The group made their way out the door to see A LOT of cameras at the bottom of the staircases. "Is the media always this excited when there is a royal event?" Rainbow whispered to Celestia.

The mother nodded as they descended the staircase. "It's very common. We usually let them do it because...if they don't do it now, they'll stick around and won't leave us alone." The two continued walking down the stairs as the cameras got closer, zooming in on Dash.

"Princess Dash! Where'd you come from?"

"I already said no comment!"

"Are you a real Princess or a representative!"

"Princess!"

"Can we get a picture-"

"You're already taking one! Leave me alone before I buck ya'!"

When they finally got out of the group of reporters, they turned a left going down a hall with two large doors at the end. "So what exactly are you thinking for the armor, Princess of Nature?" Celestia asked her. Rainbow looked at her for a moment.

"That's my title? And just my cutie mark. Nothing else. Keep it golden, too."

"Alright. The Jewel of Rainbow controlled every aspect of nature. Luna told me that the guards at your castle saw you use your water magic on your friends."

"I actually wanted to grab them all and throw them out. But....that worked out ok." The guards opened the doors, leading out into a garden with a table and food.

"Why?"

"It was time for them to leave!" The pony sisters laughed as they walked towards the table. Celestia took a seat on a pillow that had her cutie mark on it, same with Luna on the other end. Twilight, Cadance, and Shining Armor took a seat on one side, Princess Dash and Fluttershy on the other. "Pinkie said I had to make them. So I did!"

"By tossing around waterballs?" Twilight asked, chuckling. "Rarity nearly had a heart attack when a little bit of the water got on her dress."

"Really? Great, I'm doing it again then when we get back...when I figure out how in Equestria I did it." The group laughed before the food was brought out. It was mostly soup, daisy sandwiches with very expensive and tasty sauces, and tea. Not to mention waffles, pancakes, and syrup.

"So how old are you, Lady Dash?" Cadance asked her as she ate her soup. "You seem very young."

"I'm eighteen." Cadance stop slurping her soup and looked towards Celestia.

"Most Princesses begin their rule at age twenty one or twenty."

"Eh. I'm a special case." Rainbow took a bite out of her sandwich, eyes widening at the taste. "This is REALLY good. Not better than Flutters soup but still."

"Flutters?" Rainbow pointed to her right, showing Cadance to the shy Pegasus.

"Umm....hi," she said timidly. "I'm Fluttershy."

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you." Fluttershy said her name again, only for it to come out even more incoherent.

"Her name is Fluttershy," Twilight answered for her, setting down her sandwich. "She's...well...shy. VERY shy. The only one who could get her out of her shell is Princess Dash."

"We have a very long history," Rainbow said, finishing her sandwich and wrapping a wing around her secret marefriend. "We went to flight camp, got bullied in flight camp, caused trouble at flight camp, then bailed on flight camp to live in Ponyville."

"Where she fell on me," Twilight inserted. "Me and Spike were coming there by order of Princess Celestia to find some artifacts...but we found Luna instead."

"Yes, the artifacts were not found unfortunately," Celestia said. "We are still looking for them."

"Weren't the Elements of Harmony the artifacts?" Shining asked her. "You brought them back, so I figured..."

"No," Celestia responded shaking her head. "The Elements I sent to Luna when she was away for protection. So she brought them back when Twilight found her."

"I guess that explains your broken horn. Where'd you go?" Cadance asked her. Luna shrugged and continued eating. "You're hiding secrets, Aunt Celestia. Where did-"

"Oh look,the cake is here," Celestia interrupted, pointing towards the cart that was being rolled out towards the table. There was a large vanilla cake sitting on it that both Rainbow and Celestia were grinning widely at.

"You like cake?" Shining asked.

"I LOVE CAKE," the two Princesses said in their Canterlot voice.

Celestia levitated the cake onto the table and cut herself and her daughter a large slice before sliding it towards her. Rainbows eyes started changing colors again before she picked up a fork.

Everyone watched as the two royals went to town on the cake. Crumbs started flying everywhere before half of the desert was gone from the table, crumbs and icing left behind.

Mother and daughter sat back and let out a sigh of relief before lifting one of their hoofs, did a pump, then let it fall to their stomachs.

"Can I please have some cakes delivered to the Cloudsdale Castle?" Rainbow requested. "During the coronation, there will more than likely be more delegates who would want some."

"Sure, Princess Dash," Celestia answered. "I'll send out a royal letter."

Everyone else just stared in shock at the scene of the cake massacre. Cadance was the first to speak.

"What....what just happened?"



"So...what are you going to do now, Princess Dash?" Celestia asked the Alicorn. "I assume you've never been here before?"

"Nope!" She said, shaking her head. Sweetied Drops  was walking alongside her as they made their way to the gates. "So I'm going to take a tour. A WALK tour. I like to take it slow even though I'm fast. Fluttershy wants to stay here for awhile, so it's just gonna be me and the guards."

"Are you sure that is wise? I could send a diplomat or a tour guide with you." Rainbow looked around before turning to Celestia.

"I'll be fine, mom," she whispered, smiling. "If there's any trouble, I have magic, fast flying, and I know how to fight. And I think Sweetie Drops knows how too."

"You bet," The agent whispered, smirking. "Haven't lost a battle yet." They stopped near the gates where the rest of the security team was waiting before Celestia sighed. She was eighteen. She might as well let her live like she wanted.

"Alright. Sweetie Drops?" The agent saluted. "Keep an eye on her. She might eat that cake that she snuck away from the table that she has hidden in her tail. She'll get really hyper. Make sure she doesn't break anything, although I do not think that will be a problem with the managers even if she does."

"I'll keep an eye on your daughter, ma'am," she whispered. The princess of the sun nodded before she nuzzled Rainbow.

"Be safe, don't do anything foolish, and listen to your guards." Rainbow nodded as she pulled away before turning and walking towards the gates, agent Sweetie right next to her before she reached into her tail and pulled out the slice of cake with her magic, casting a glance back at her mother to see her shaking her head, laughing.

The guards opened the gates for her, pausing the ponies walking as they thought a carriage was coming through. Instead they saw Rainbow Dash walking outside with eight guards accompanying her as they turned right, walking on the sidewalk openly.

"So where are we headed first?" Rainbow asked the main guard. "This is a pretty big city."

"Well," Captain Cloudstorm answered from beside her. "We'll see the big sights first. Then the smaller businesses. So like doughnut shops, barbershops....shops, you know, the average store."

The princess nodded, figuring out the whole sketch of things for the day. When they finally reached the city, they turned the corner onto the main street, showing all the businesses and such. "That over there is the Library of Magic." The captain pointed to a large building that had stone columns, a dome, and statues of ponies on it.

"I'm guessing Twilight came here often," Rainbow muttered. "Let's check it out." The guard nodded as he led the group up to the steps of the building. Ponies sitting there reading gasped before they bowed to her as she walked past. The guards opened the grand doors to the building with a creak. The Princess walked inside looking at all the decor and smelling the funky smells of books.

"THIS is what Twilight is eager to do?" She said aloud. She shrugged and walked inside, figuring she'd give it a shot. She went to the desk and rung the bell, waiting for whoever tends to this place. She waited a little while, but nobody came.

"Maybe we should ask one of the people over there, sitting at the tables," Slip Stream, the medic, recommended. Rainbow looked over to where she was pointing. There was a group of definite college students sitting at a table discussing something, probably a project of some sort.

"Yeah, let's try that," Dash agreed before stepping away from the counter, trotting over to the group. She stopped at the table, the ponies not even noticing she was there, and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me," She said, catching their attention. They turned around and gasped before bowing. "That was DEFINITELY not the reaction I was expecting. Uhhh........get up?" The ponies sat up and looked at the alicorn.

"H-How can we help you, your highness?" A mare said timidly.

"I'm trying to find a book on basic unicorn magic. Where would I get it?" The mare pointed towards the back.

"That's basic Unicorn Magic, Earth Pony Magic, and Pegasi Magic." She pointed behind Rainbow. "And for some reason, Alicorn magic is way over there on that side."

"Oh. Ok, thanks." Rainbow turned around and headed for the section on Alicorn magic, her guards standing in front of the exits of the section to cut anyone off trying to get by. She browsed through the books, searching for anything that she could use. Eventually, she found something on nature magic. She levitated the book out of it's spot and opened it in front of her, impressed at her own skill so far. She figured she could do better though.

The princess read through a chapter that specified how to make water out of the hydrogen in the air, fire from molecules, make leaves and plants grow stronger, and so much more. She smiled, figuring this is a good book to check out. She tucked it under her wing, and began to walk out of the aisle, the guards parting for her as she made her way to the desk.

The nature princess placed the book on the counter and rang the bell again. Finally after a couple seconds later, a unicorn mare wearing glasses finally came out from the back. "Yes, how may I......oh," she said, taken by surprise that there was a princess in the library. She curtsied instead of bowing. "Sorry I cannot bow in front of you, Princess. I'm afraid it's not very spacious back here."

"Don't apologize," Rainbow said chuckling. "It's getting kind of annoying anyway. I expect it, but I don't prefer it. I'd like to check out this book. My library hasn't been setup yet so..."

The librarian nodded before she took the book in her magic and scanned it before doing some more advanced magic in some type of crystal behind the counter. "And who am I making this out to?"

"Princess Dash...or Rainbow Dash, I take either one." The librarian looked at her strangely before ringing up the book.

"You're a new Princess?" She asked her, watching her nod.

"Yes, I actually ascended yesterday. The Princess of Nature."

"Are you new to Equestria?" She handed the book back to Princess Dash before she answered. "I think I would've heard of you."

"I am not new, but nobody has heard of me," she replied, taking and tucking the book back under her wing. "My coronation is coming soon, though. Maybe in the next few moons, I don't know. Whenever my parents wish to schedule it."

"Who are your parents?" Rainbow smiled before she turned around making her way towards the doors.

"Have a great day," she said, ignoring her question. The librarian watched as she walked through the doors with her guards, leaving her confused.

"Would you like to continue on with the tour, Princess?" Captain Cloudstorm asked her. Rainbow shook her head before she retrieved her book from under her wing.

"No thank you. Let's head back to the castle. Hopefully without bumping into media." The captain nodded before the team began to make their way back towards the Castle. After a lot of twists, turns, and a lot of annoying bows, they made it back to the castle gates, which was unfortunately crowded with paparazzi and guards holding them back.

"UGGGHHH!" Rainbow groaned. "How many times today have I seen lights, cameras, and action?"

"Three times, your highness," Sweetie Drops said chuckling. "I wonder what they're here for." The gates opened, showing Princess Cadance, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna.

"There you are, Rainbow!" Luna said, running over and pulling the mare into a hug. "We have missed you so!"

"That's great, Luna, but-" Rainbow wiggled out of her hold to her chest. "-what's with the hugging and the paparazzi? Is it Cadance's birthday or something?"

"Oh no," Cadance said laughing as they walked over to her. The cameras were still snapping, taking pictures while they talked. "If it was my birthday, for some odd reason, there'd be a parade in every city. They're excited for your coronation."

"So it's been decided then?!" Rainbow asked excitedly.

"Yes it has," Princess Celestia stated. "All the rulers of every kingdom is going to be there...except the dragons they still hold a grudge towards the ponies."

"So when is it?"

"Next week! You'll be an official Princess next week." Rainbow gasped before she jumped in the air, flying in a small circle in happiness, her body becoming a rainbow blur.




Back in Ponyville, near the edge of the Everfree forest, there was a certain filly running away from a pack of Timberwolves, her exhaustion catching up to her as her vision began to get blurry, her hooves becoming tired.

The Pegasus with the abnormally small wings burst through the edge of the forest, nearly hitting a tree branch before she slid across the ground. The young mare turned around to see the Timberwolves stopping at the edge, snarling and baring their fangs at her, upset that they couldn't get to their meal.

She watched as they turned around to finish the two adult ponies, a mare and a stallion, that went in looking for her, leaving the filly alone with two necklaces the mare gave her before she distracted the wolves.

"Mom!" She cried out, standing up weakly. "Mom, please come out!" She listened for any type of noise. All she got in return was satisfied howls. She closed and let a few silent tears fall, the saltiness of the liquid hitting the cut on her cheek, making her wince.

She looked down at the two necklaces, one a blue pearl and another a yellow diamond, knowing she'll never see them on the original wearers again. She put the necklace around her hoof, making sure it was tight enough before she kissed them.

"I love you mom, dad." She turned around and walked back into Ponyville, leaving her past behind to start a new life.
> Chapter 7 - Are You Ready?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So...what are you going to do now, your highness?" Fluttershy asked, teasing her marefriend as they flew over Ponyville. "Your coronation is coming up and you have absolutely no speech prepared."

"I'm sure Celestia will help me," Rainbow replied, looking over the chariot at the town below. "I want to move the castle closer to Cloudsdale. Attach it to the city. Because It looks...so alone over here in the sky. See?"

Fluttershy looked towards where Rainbow was pointing to see that it was indeed very lonely. There was nothing but blue skies around the castle. "If I wanted to go for a walk, I'd have to do it on my grounds! And I wouldn't want that. Because it's so boring, and TOTALLY not awesome! And I'm awesome, so I have to act the part."

"Sure, Princess," Twilight said. The ponies looked behind them in surprise, seeing the unicorn still sitting there like she's been there the whole time.

"How long have you been there?" Rainbow asked her unbelievably. "I'm positive we dropped you off!"

"Uhhh....no, you actually flew right over my library. You might as well let me stay the night."

"Twilight?"

"Yeah?"

"Get out of my chariot." The purple mare groaned and looked around before raising an eyebrow at the princess of nature.

"And just how am I supposed to do that?"

"Stop the chariot!" The ponies pulling the chariot stopped it in midflight while Rainbow Dash turned to a page in her book, finding what she was looking for. "Ah ha!" She peered over the edge, closed her eyes and lit her horn, making water out of the hydrogen in the air and shaped it into a slide, that went all the way down to the ground, stopping in front of her library door. "Hop on, egghead! This is your ride!"

Twilight looked down at the slide before shaking her head. "Rainbow this is definitely not SAAAAAAAFFFFEEEE!" Rainbow pushed Twilight off the chariot and down the slide, watching as she slid down for a few seconds and crashed through her door into the library, definitely making a mess. Rainbow giggled while Fluttershy just had her mouth gaping open at the cerulean Alicorn.

"Before you start Fluttershy, I am NOT turning this chariot around for her. I have a lot of things to do today. Let's go guys!" The chariot started up again, leading them towards the castle while fluttershy shook her head.

"Well...that was a grand entrance," Applejack said, looking at the soaked librarian. "Get caught by another one of Rainbow's water bombs?"

"Worse. A water slide." Twilight shook off the water while everyone just made an "oh" with their mouth. "She passed over my library on the way back from Canterlot. She forgot I was in there and made me get out by pushing me down the slide."

"Well that's Rainbow for ya'," Rarity said, mopping the floor. "How was Canterlot, darling?"

"Well, I learned my brother is getting married to my old foal-sitter. And Rainbow's having her coronation next week. She also wants to move her castle over to Cloudsdale."

"I still can't believe that crazy pony is Celestia's daughter!" Pinkie said, coming out of the kitchen with a large cake on her back. "So Celly got hitched and had a daughter, almost lost her completely to her sister, missed eighteen years with her only to not be able to tell anyone about it. How cookoo is that?!" Pinkie slid the cake off her back and onto the table in the middle of the library, making everyone stare confusedly.

"Pinkie......why did you bake a cake?" Spike asked. "Is it someone's birthday again?"

"Nope! I just wanted to bake a cake for gummy!" She reached into her hair and pulled out the toothless crocodylinae. "Here's your cake gummy! Eat up!" She placed him by the desert, watching as he just stood there, not doing anything. "Oooooo, he's so HAPPY!"

"Yep, he's bouncin' out of his shoes, Pinkie," AJ said, chuckling and shaking her head. "I hope Rainbow doesn't do anything to abuse her power. Or reveal her true-self for that matter."

"Really, darling, that mare will probably endorse a bunch of competitions. I'm more concerned about her funds."

"What are you talking about Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"She will want to rule a kingdom, therefore will have to have money. But she definitely doesn't have a trillion bits like her mother!"

"Oh, she'll find somethin'," AJ said, biting into an apple. "She'll probably go out after a legend or something, grab some hidden treasure, and sell it. And keep doing it. She can definitely do it now."



"We need bits," Rainbow said, sitting in her thrown room. "I need to go on a treasure hunt, search for some very expensive jewels, artifacts, anything with monetary value. And I also need to get some people to give me advice. What are they called again? Advo......advay...."

"Advisors?"

"Yes, yes, that's it," Rainbow said triumphantly, until she looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. "Who said that, I'm supposed to be in here alone."

"Me, my niece," Luna said walking out of a shadow behind the throne. "Your thrown room is looking excellent! The flags are wonderful." The flags in between the stained glass windows were rainbow-colored with with white patches imitating clouds. Behind the throne was a flag with her cutie mark on it.

"Yep! The designer did an awesome job on them! My room is looking the same! Rainbow themed. Aunt Luna? Is it possible to move this castle over to Cloudsdale?"

The pony sister thought for a moment. "It can although it will take a while. Maybe a day or two. Besides, Cloudsdale is  a moving city. If you attach your castle to it, where they go, you'll be forced to go too."

"I'm sure I can live with that. Besides, does Cloudsdale even have a top pony there?"

"I do not believe so. They have always been under your mother."

"I want to rule it, govern the city. It would make more sense, wouldn't it?"

"I guess so, Dash. But either Celestia herself must place you there, or the ponies will have to vote you in. And when ponies don't exactly know who you are, they might not take it very well. I prefer you stay ruling over Equestria with your mother. That includes Cloudsdale, Ponyvile, Baltimare, Appleloosa, Manehattan, and so forth."

Rainbow slowly nodded her head before a knock sounded at the door. "Enter!" A pony she has never seen before walked into the room, accompanied by two guards. "What is your name?"

"I am Great Sound, your highness," the colt said, bowing. "I am the manager of Songbird Serenade. We would like to do a performance at your coronation."

"Word's already gotten out?" The alicorn asked Luna. "It's only been three hours!"

"When me and Celestia became rulers, word spread within one. We checked. Get used to it, Rainbow." The alicorn in question huffed before redirecting her attention back to the guest.

"How'd you get up here AND get clearance?"

"Princess Celestia, your highness," he answered, rising to his hooves. "She said, and I quote, 'Rainbow better know who this mare is or so help me I am going to crush her.'"

"That sounds like something she'd say," Luna chuckled while nodding her head. She turned to Rainbow, grinning. "Do you know who Songbird Serenade is, Princess Dash?"

"Yeaahhh, no. I have absolutely no idea who that is."

"WHAT?!" Everyone looked towards the back to see Fluttershy walking in with Angel Bunny on her back. "Rainbow Dash. How do you not know who that wonderful sounding mare is? I thought you listen to music!"

"If it does not involve awesome like pyrotechnics or fireworks, fluttershy, I am NOT into it. That includes music. But...since you know her, I'll give her a shot. Where do I sign? Guard bring me the scroll, please." The manager reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a scroll and handed it over to the guard, who brought it up to the throne. Rainbow grabbed it in her magic before opening and reading over it.

She squinted her eyes, making sure she was reading this correctly, Princess Luna taking on the same glare. "Soooo...she's very successful apparently. Alright, I'll trust her not to let down my coronation." She dipped a pen into an inkwell on her throne before signing it as "Princess Rainbow Dash of Equestria". Afterwards she handed the scroll back to the guard who grabbed it in his magic and walked towards the manager, handing it back to him.

"Thank you, Princess Dash. You will not regret this."

"I hope not. Have a great day, pony." The manager bowed once more before turning around being led out through the gates. Once the throne room doors closed, Rainbow groaned loudly before planting her face in her hooves.

"I really hope I don't regret this," she mumbled. "I need to tell mom I don't need a bunch of singers at my coronation."

"Oh psshaw, Rainbow," Luna said as she turned to the young princess. "Mother always knows best. Trust her instincts, she is never wrong."



The young pegasus walked into the market square, looking around for food. Her home was starting to get pretty void of it. Too bad she didn't have any money. She ducked underneath an apple stand, hiding in the shadows as she watched the vendor, too busy focused on a conversation with a customer to notice her grabbing a bag of apples and carrots from his stash. She pulled it along the ground with her teeth, until somebody screamed out.

"Hey! That filly stole my merchandise!" She glanced behind her, spotting the vendor chasing after her. She gasped as she continued running through the stands and the ponies trying to lose him. "Get back her! Give me back my sale!" She continued running, not even caring what he would do if she did get caught. She got her parents killed anyway.

She ducked around a corner into an alley, hiding behind the darkness of a dumpster with the bag of food before the vendor came running through, totally missing her position. After a few more seconds of hearing the hoofsteps disappeared, she darted out of her hiding spot and out of the alley, heading back towards the house.

The young pegasus kept running, nearly bumping into two fillies, one with a red bow, another with a light purple and pink mane, as she made it back to her empty home.

"What was that?" One of the fillies asked. The red bowed one shrugged.

"I don't know," she said in a southern accent. "She seemed kind of in a hurry, though." The fillies continued on their trek towards the square, not even noticing the filly peeking out of her doorway, her eyebrows narrowed. After a moment of watching, she closed her door lightly, collapsing against it as she tried to catch her breath. After relaxing as much as she could, she grabbed the bundle of fruit with her teeth, pulling it towards the back room and closing that door. She ripped the bag open to display twelve apples and seven carrots.

"I'll have something to eat for two weeks," she muttered, a small tear going down her cheek. "Good job.......good job."



The next couple of days went by quickly for Princess Dash. Waking up, going out for breakfast, and eventually having a date with fluttershy. That was what she was looking forward to the most. The night of the date, she dressed herself up in the most elegant of dresses, finished with her rainbow crown and hoof shoes, before walking out of her room. Fluttershy wanted to have it at her house, something about making new memories at older locations. Rainbow agreed, saying that that was a good idea.

Two guards stationed outside of her door curtsied at her before she walked down the steps that led to her room. She walked out of the residential building and onto the path that led up to the gates, where her chariot sat ready. "Lady Dash," Sweetie Drops greeted, bowing to her. "You're heading to your secret date?" She whispered.

"Of course," she whispered back. "Does the rest of the team know?"

"Nope. Just you, I, and Fluttershy, your highness. I'll be your escort tonight. They'll just be dropping us off and heading off into town, waiting until it's over." Rainbow nodded as she hopped inside the chariot with Sweetie Drops. "By the way, just call me Bon-Bon."

"Bon-Bon?" Rainbow asked chuckling. "Why?" The chariot began its movement flying off the ledge of the castle building and towards the darkened ground below.

"Because...all my friends do?"

Rainbow laughed, holding her side before she regained her composure. "Alright, Bon-Bon. But when we're in public, I'll call you Sweetie Drops."

"Yes ma'am."

"And don't call me ma'am, I'm only eighteen. Nowhere near the age of my mother." They soared low over the town of Ponyville, nearly touching the rooftops.

"Yes, Celestia is centuries older than you. You may be 'awesome', but she is the smart one in the family."

"Hey I'm smart too!"

"Never said you weren't!" Sweetie Drops said, holding up her hoofs. "Never said you weren't! She just has more experience!"

Rainbow pouted at her for a second before shrugging and sitting back down. "Eh, that's true enough." Sweetie Drops laughed as they touched down on the lawn of Fluttershy's cottage. The two hopped out of the chariot and walked towards the door of the cottage.

"I'll be stationed outside, your majesty," Sweetie Drops said. Rainbow nodded as she walked up to the door and knocked lightly.

A quiet "eep" sounded off, making the princess chuckle before the door opened up, revealing Fluttershy in a nice pink dress that accentuated her hair perfectly. "Good evening, Princess Rainbow."

"Good evening, Fluttershy," she replied, leaning in and nuzzling fluttershy on the cheek. "When I come over, don't call me princess. Just Dash, Dashie, Rainbow, Rainbow Dashie even. But never Princess. You're my marefriend, not a subject." Fluttershy blushed and opened the door wider for her.

"Ok, Dashie." Rainbow walked into the cottage, seeing multiple candles laid out around the place, giving it a romantic look. "We're setup in the living room." Dash walked forward into the area where a table was setup with two candles on top of it. There were plates of soup there and some type of drink.

"This looks great, Fluttershy," Rainbow complimented, taking a seat at the far end of the table. Fluttershy came in and took a seat across from her. "It's small, just how I like it."

"Thank you," the pegasus commented. "I made your favorite soup. I know you like it a lot, so..."

"Fluttershy? I love whatever you make." She smiled at her before she started on her soup.

"So how was your week?" The timid mare asked, diving into her own soup.

"Uggh," Rainbow groaned. "I have been trying to learn how to manage a city, get funds, and trade. Mom's been teaching me whenever she can. In secret of course. Even the guards don't know when she's there in my throne room. Our throne room, our throne room."

"Rainbow? That is YOUR castle, not mine."

"As long as you're around, that castle is yours as well. You have complete clearance to it whenever you want and the guards greet you with 'Lady Fluttershy'."

The pegasus smirked and rolled her eyes. "Well if you insist."

"You know you want to come and live there, but I know you don't want to leave your animal friends. If it makes you feel better I'll try and have the castle put on the ground with a garden in it. It would look good for me and you, and the animals would have a nice place to live."

Fluttershy gasped. "Would you really?! That'd be wonderful, Dashie!"

"I can't make any promises, but I will try. Your happiness is important to me, Flutters." Fluttershy grinned before she got up and trotted around the table, giving Rainbow a big hug and a long kiss.

"Promise me you'll try."

"I promise."

Outside on the roof of a certain home, the filly was seen gazing at the stars, thinking of everything that has happened that day so far. Her parents dying, her scavenging for food, and more...all in one day. How much more must she go like this. She sighed, thinking of the hard trials that are definitely coming her way. And on top of all that, she still had school. Her parents always told her school was important, so she believed it. She really didn't want to go, but her parents would want her to.

A noise captured her attention nearby, making her look behind her to see two mares, one of them definitely royalty and another definitely just a Pegasus. She watched the mare hop on the royal's back before she took off into the air, a rainbow trail following behind her. The filly gasped at the amazing light show that she performed, making symbols and signs and a really big loop. "I wanna do that," the filly muttered. She looked down at her own wings, buzzing them, trying to get off the ground. She sighed, having absolutely no success before she turned to look back up at the lightshow.

They were flying for a few more minutes before landing back in front of the yellow mare's house. They nuzzled before the Princess walked away, a single guard walking alongside her. The filly sighed in sadness before getting a face of determination. "I'm going to lean how to flap these wings. And I'll be flying. I promise, mom and dad."



"So you want to have the coronation in Ponyville?" Celestia asked her daughter inside her office in Canterlot. "Are the nobles going to like that?"

"I don't care what the nobles want. Yes they have power, but they aren't smart with it. I have so much dirt on every last one of them, mostly of Prince Blueblood. He's such a pompous-"

"Dash..."

"Prince. A pompous Prince...with absolutely no respect for himself. Did you know he has a crush on Twilight? It's bizarre. Twilight is so small and this guy is......as big as AJ's brother!"

"I am aware," Celestia said, chuckling. "So you want to hold it in Ponyville and have the castle sat down on the ground? I can authorize that. It will take a few hours but we can have it moved. Do you want it there permanently?" Rainbow nodded eagerly. "Where?"

"A little ways by Sweet Apple Acres. There is plenty of flat land there and it's quiet. If someone wanted to break into the castle they'll have a very very VERY hard time not being seen. Also, it serves as a great ground for entertainment. A stage and more stuff. You know, for Songbird."

"So you approved of her?" Her mother asked excitedly.

"Yeah, but why am I getting a vibe from you that's saying it's more for your enjoyment?" Rainbow asked chuckling. She stood up and trotted behind her mother's desk. "If you just wanted to have her perform, why didn't you just ask?"

"What? Can't I live my fantasies through my daughter? One thousand years ago, Luna and I were forced to listen to opera. It was fine...for awhile. But since it was the only genre, it became very old, very fast. Now, there are so many. Your friend, DJ Pon-3 is also performing at the party."

"Really?"

"Yes," she replied, nodding as she placed a wing around her daughter's back. "She was in disbelief when I told her you became a princess. She kept asking why and how?"

"What did you say?"

"I said that there is more to Rainbow Dash than meets the eye." Rainbow shrugged, figuring that to be true. Like her eyes for example, and the fact that she can make fire out of...wait a second.

"Mom, I wanna show you something," she said, walking in front of the desk. She turned around and faced her mother before activating the spell, catching her body on fire. Celestia raised her eyebrows as she walked around in a rainbow colored inferno, nothing she touched catching to the flames. "I figured out how to catch my body on fire...without it hurting me."

"Impressive," Celestia replied, picking up a glass of wine, taking a sip. "Perhaps you can do something with it to impress the royals at the coronation."

Rainbow turned off the spell before taking a seat back in front of Celestia. "Eh, maybe. I'm really thinking about the moving water slide thing though."

"The moving water slide?"

"Yep! It's a slide that I used on Twilight when I kicked her out of my chariot."

"Why'd you-"

"When I kicked her out, we were nearly at the castle. So I made a slide that went from the chariot all the way down to her library door. She slid all the way down and crashed into her library." Celestia gave her daughter a smirk.

"She is going to want revenge on you, you know."

"I'll take it in stride." The two royals laughed before they continued with more conversations.



The next day, Monday, the filly was getting ready for school, having already gotten up and taken a bath hours before after waking up from nightmares about losing her parents. The day before, she had managed to get her hands on a scooter she found while walking through the whitetail woods. She was able to propel herself without using her hoofs by flapping her small wings, moving her forward faster than she thought she could.

After packing her lunch from the fruit and vegetables she had stolen from the vendor, she grabbed her scooter and walked out the house, making sure the door was closed and the food inside hidden and locked away in a bunch of ice. The small Pegasus hopped on the scooter and propelled herself towards the Ponyville schoolhouse. She dodged a bunch of other ponies already out and about, especially a certain party planner that was asking if she wanted cake.

Eventually, the filly made it to the red schoolhouse, folding up her scooter and trotting inside with the rest of the foals. She walked into the classroom, taking a seat in the back row. The cut on her face was sadly growing into a small scar, making it evident that she got into a little scuffle. Two more fillies walked in, taking seats on both sides of her, the same fillies she ran past the other day when she stole that food.

"Cool scooter!" The one with a bow, way too large for her, complimented. "Where'd you get it?"

"Found it."

"No way," the one on her left asked. She had a purple and pink mane and tail. A unicorn. "That is way too awesome!"

"Really," the earth pony on the left commented. "Can you do tricks on it yet?"

"I'm working on it," she replied blandly. "I don't usually have time for things like that."

"What? Why? Don't you have fun?"

"There's no time for fun. Only survival." The two ponies looked at her strangely before they faced the board when miss Cherilee walked in, starting the lesson.

Soon after recess started, letting the foals get some outdoor, and snack time. The filly walked to a deserted section of the playground, trying to avoid any ponies socializing with her. She sat and leaned against a tree and pulled out her snack, two apples and started eating, ignoring the gazes that she was probably receiving from the table full of students. Soon, someone decided to mess with her.

"Hey." She darted her eyes to the left to see a filly with a tiara walking towards her, with another filly walking next to her. "Is that all you have to eat? What, you can't afford anything better?" The filly stared at her for a second before turning around and going back to her apple. "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Because all I'm hearing is a whole bunch of pathetic whining. Pretty sad."

The filly got a horrified look on her face before she started walking towards the filly. "You can't talk to me like that! I'm Diamond Tiara! My father will have your family thrown out of their house."

The filly snorted. "Good luck. You'll just end up at a dead end."

"Then we'll take all your bits!"

"From what bank?" The filly chuckled as she continued to eat her apple, watching as the earth pony got more frustrated. At that moment the bell sounded, making all the kids pack up their things.

"That was pretty amazing," the one with the bow said. "Nobody ever stands up to Diamond Tiara like that."

"I know right?" the pink and purple-haired one said. "Pretty brave."

After school let out, the orange pegasus filly got on her scooter and flew off, headed back home, unaware of two other foals watching her drive away.

"So what do we do, Diamond Tiara?" Silver Spoon asked her friend. "Do we follow after her?"

"Of course." The two fillies watched as the bullies ran down the walkway, leaving them feeling uneasy.

"They're goin' ta' cause trouble for that mare!" the one with the red mane shouted. "C'mon, Sweetie Belle!" The two fillies followed after the group, hoping to make it there on time.

The filly walked into her house, making sure to lock the door and bolt it shut from the floor. After that, she walked into her room, placing the scooter in the corner, with the rest of the things she could find that could actually be useful for her. She walked out of the room, and closed all the blinds she could reach before walking back into her room, closing thedoor and jumping into her bed, going to sleep.

"So this is where she lives," Diamond Tiara said, rubbing her hooves together. "This is going to be fun. Come on, Silver Spoon!" The two fillies ran back to rich filly's two story grand home. They walked inside and went into the living, bearing phony frowns on their faces.

"Daddy, daddy!" Diamond Tiara said. "This mean girl said her family's going to makes us bankrupt!"

"What?!" Filthy Rich said, looking up from his work. "Who?! What family?!"

"This filly named Scootaloo!" The father got up and went into his records, searching for a pony named Scootaloo. Eventually, he found her...and her address.

The filly was snoring away, her left hooves off the bedside while she slept what she could only to have it interrupted by a series of knocks on the door. She jumped and fell off the bed before righting herself. "Who could be knocking like this at...whatever time it is?"

She opened her room door and walked out heading towards the entrance. The knocking continued, sounding more angry than it was a few seconds ago. "OPEN UP! RIGHT NOW, THIS IS YOUR LANDLORD!"

Scootaloo pulled down the cord that would twist the door open and cracked it. "What do you want?" she asked, looking up at Filthy Rich.

"Where are your parents, kid? I need to talk to them right now." Scootaloo looked at him for a second before darting her eyes to the area behind him, spotting those two fillies snickering at the scene. She looked back up at the pony before responding.

"Goodbye." She shut the door in his face and walked back towards her room, leaving the pony and two fillies there speechless.

"Ok, then. I'll have the police come and evict you. You have to pay your rent by the end of this month or you're out on the streets!" The pony walked away with the other two fillies following along after him.

"I'm already out on the streets," Scootaloo said, looking up to the sky at the castle on the clouds. "I wish I could fly up there. I really do."
> Chapter 8 - Coronation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"GET UP, PRINCESS!"

Rainbow yelped and jumped out the bed at hearing Twilight's voice yelling in her ear. She landed on the floor before groaning, throwing her hooves in the air. Still on the marble flooring, the princess levitated her blankets and pillow down to the floor before falling asleep again.

"Seriously, Dash?" Applejack said, walking out of the bathroom. "You have...rubber ducks in the tub with you?"

"Put those back, AJ," Rainbow muttered in her sleep. "Or I'll ban you from my castle for as long as you live."

"Oh, stop getting such a crooked horn," Twilight said as she walked into the bathroom. "It's nice in here." 

Rainbow groaned as she reluctantly threw the blankets off and got up, walking into the bathroom. "Fine, I'm up! I'm up! Twilight, get out so I can take my shower."

"You can ask nicely," she replied, looking to the right, sticking her nose in the air. Rainbow rolled her eyes and gave a smirk, lighting her horn.

A second later, Twilight came flying out of the bathroom, landing and sliding along the floor by her chin before Rainbow shut the bathroom door to take her shower.

"You still could've asked, your highness."

After that was done, she opened her bathroom door, prepared to get dressed only to see...Rarity? "Ok," Rainbow said, placing her hooves on her face. "How exactly are you guys getting in?"

"Your mother wants us to help," she replied, holding a shade of color by the Alicorn's head. She looked at it for a moment before shaking her head and walking back. "Why move your castle down from the air, darling? Too cold up there for ya'?"

"It's actually too lonely for-OW! Too lonely for me."

Rarity removed the needle from the dress and looked at her work. "Excellent! You look grandeur, darling! Your crown will top it all off today!"

Rainbow started walking forward, feeling the white dress with a single rainbow pattern on the back trail along the floor behind her.

"Looks great, feels great!" She commented over her shoulder. "Thanks, Rarity!"

"You're welcome, darling!"

At that moment, the front door opened up to reveal Fluttershy walking towards her with a clipboard. Rainbow smiled before she stopped beside her, showing her the agenda.

"Ok, Rainbow. First there's going to be song that is sung by Songbird Serenade. Then there's going to be a speech by Princess Celestia, and then a....ummmm....uhhhh...." The timid pegasus trailed off as she felt a tongue glide repeatedly along her muzzle.

She looked to the right to see her marefriend constantly licking her, making everyone watching confused.

"Rainbow, we have guests," Fluttershy muttered, blushing. Rainbow dejectedly let go and put on her best pout that she knew Fluttershy just couldn't resist. The timid mare looked at her marefriend sadly before smiling and offering her muzzle back to her.

The Alicorn grinned before going back to showing her affection towards the pegasus with her tongue.

"Soooo....I guess they're in a relationship?" Twilight asked. "That would explain why Fluttershy stays over most of the time." Rainbow stopped her licking and stepped back, looking at her marefriend.

"You should lick me now," Rainbow said as she sat down taking on a regal posture. Fluttershy giggled before she set the clipboard in her saddlebag and walked up to the loyal alicorn before she dtarted licking her muzzle. After awhile, Applejack got a little agitated.

"Are you two lovebirds done yet?! The coronation starts in an hour!" Fluttershy giggled before she stopped licking her marefriend's face.

"She's right. We'll finish this later on," she said, starting to laugh at Rainbow's cute pout. "Oh don't be like that. You're becoming a princess, Dashie! And your mother's presiding over it! Be happy!"

Rainbow huffed before she started smiling again. "Fine. Let's go have breakfast. Is the castle on the groud?"

"Yes, it is." She nodded before leading the group towards the bedroom doors where Rainbow Dash swung them open.

"Let's please the masses."



Scootaloo climbed into a nearby tree, watching all the colts, mares, and fillies make their way towards the outskirts of town by Sweet Apple Acres, where the Coronation is being made at the Princess' castle.

"Princess Dash," she whispered, watching from a distance at the castle grounds, piling up with ponies.

"Hey!" She looked below her to see those two fillies who were talking to her about her scooter looking up at her. "What are you doing up in the tree? Why not get a closer look like us?"

"Yeah!" The one known as Sweetie Belle said. "Come down from there and come with us, we don't bite!" Scootaloo pulled in her lips before letting out a annoyed sigh. The Pegasus jumped down from the tree's tall height and belly flopped on the ground, giving out a loud grunt.

"Are you ok?" Apple Bloom asked her. The orphan got up quickly, shaking off the pain.

"I'm fine....I'm fine," she spat out hatefully. "Let's just go to the coronation."

The fillies began to walk down the path with the other ponies in silence for awhile until Apple Bloom broke it.

"We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Apple Bloom!"

"And I'm Sweetie Belle!" The fillies turned to the Pegasus to see her with a nonchalant look.

"Scootaloo."

"Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom asked, confusedly.

"Scootaloo."

"That's totally coincidental!" Sweetie Belle said, jumping up and down. "Because you have a scooter! And your name is Scootaloo! Your parents must be able to see into the future, huh?"

Scootaloo gave off a grunt before responding. "Let's go see how we're going to get a closer look, ok? No more parent stuff."

"Why no more-"

"No. More. Parent. Stuff." The pegasus said through gritted teeth to Apple Bloom. The two friends looked from her then back to each other confusedly. Why is she so aggressive?

Soon, they walked onto the huge cloudy grounds of the castle with the rest of the ponies, eager to see the new Princess of Equestria. The three of them crawled through the hooves of the ponies stationed there, looking at the stand setup there and the balcony of the housing mansion.

"That's a really big building," Scootaloo muttered. The sound of fanfare sounded off, quieting the crowd before the announcer came on the microphone.

"Introducing her royal majesties, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!" The crowd started cheering as the pony sisters walked out of the balcony, smiling and waving their hooves at the huge audience down below. They took a seat on the left side of the doorway that led inside, waiting for the crowd to quiet down.

"Introducing their majesties from Saddle Arabia, Delegates Haakim and Amira!" The crowd started cheering again as the two middle eastern royals made their way out onto the balcony, waving at the crowd below before taking a seat on the right side of the balcony doors. The crowd quieted down, waiting for the announcer's next introduction.

"And introducing her royal majesty, the new Princess Of Nature, Princess Rainbow Dash!" The crowd down below cheered and stomped their hooves louder than before as tubes of water shot out of the door and over the crowd, before rising and changing into Rainbow's cutie mark, complete with color.

"Whoa," Scootaloo muttered before focusing her attention back up to the balcony. Princess Dash was walking out and bowing towards the other delegates and the princesses, who returned the gesture before taking a seat in the middle.

Scootaloo only stared as the Princess started waving at the crowd.



"So many ponies," Rainbow muttered more to herself than to anyone.

"Well they wanted to see the new Princess, Dash," Fluttershy said, walking out from the back and taking a seat beside her ornate chair. "Are the nobles here?"

"Down and to the right." Fluttershy looked down in that direction to see a few Equestrian nobles seated in some chairs. "Let's get this thing started."

"And now, to present her new song, Rainbow, it's Songbird Serenade!" Everyone cheered as the singer walked up and stood in the middle of the stage. She began to sing her song, impressing the royals and the ponies, and especially Rainbow Dash.

"That's....that's actually really good, what song is this?" She asked her assistant.

"Rainbow."

"Seriously?" Rainbow turned around to face Fluttershy a smile on her face. "The name of this song is Rainbow?" The timid Pegasus nodded. "That is too sweet. Either that or ironic and coincidental."

The two directed their attention back to the stage as the song came to a close, making everyone stomp their hooves and scream out as she walked off the stage. The announcer walked back onto the balcony, preparing another announcement.

"And now....we will have words from the delegates and the Princesses about their thoughts on Rainbow Dash!" He stepped back away from the mic, letting the Saddle Arabians come up on the stage.

"Thank you so much for inviting us here, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna," Haakim said to the two Princesses on their right. "When we first heard their was a new Princess in Equestria we had absolutely no idea what they were talking about." The ponies down on the ground laughed, even the fillies except one. "But we had to come out here to see what all the big fuss was about."

"Princess Dash," Amira said, turning around to face her. "We expect great things from you. Do whatever is necessary to help buildup Equestria." Rainbow Dash nodded before the crowd clapped and cheered some more while the delegates went back to their seats.

Next up were the pony sisters, specifically Rainbow's mother, Celestia. "When I first heard Rainbow Dash was still alive after all this time, I was bewildered. I had lost contact with her years ago. It was a hard time for us back then and there will be more struggles up ahead. But now we can face them together, Rainbow Dash. Welcome to the family of Equestria."

"My sister speaks the truth!" Luna yelled. "Rainbow Dash, Princess of Nature! I can see now that you will do great things! Make the rainbow happen!" The crowd cheered some more and stomped their hooves while Princess Luna went back to her seat. Celestia made her way over to the side towards a locked box, where she stuck in her horn, making it pop open.

Inside was a golden crown, made up of several different colored gems. "Rainbow Dash. Please rise." The cerulean Alicorn rose to her feet and faced her mother. "Do you forever swear...to have Equestria, and only Equestria's...best intentions in mind....and to only do what is right for Equestria and it's citizens of this great land?"

"I do."

"Then by the power invested in me, Celestia, Princess of the Sun, you are now formally named Princess Rainbow Dash of Equestria, Princess of Nature." The princess of the sun placed the crown on Rainbow Dash's head, then secretly whispered:

"I'm proud of you sweetheart."

"Thanks, mom," she whispered back. Dash lifted her head and turned to the crowd grinning. The crowd started cheering and stomping their hooves more so than they already were. The princess of nature waved down to the ponies below, locking her eyes with a certain orange Pegasus with a magenta mane who was just staring at her nonchalantly. Rainbow smiled at her only to see her sigh and walk away, back into the crowd. The Princess raised an eyebrow before she redirected her attention back to the crowd, continuing to smile and wave.



"Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom yelled as she and Sweetie caught up to her outside of Sweet Apple Acres. "Why are you leaving? Is everything alright?"

"No," she replied coldly. "It's not but it's none of your concern. Just leave me alone."

"But, we-"

"Just....leave me alone. Please." The two fillies stopped and watched as the angry Pegasus walked back into town, leaving them confused.

"So we're going on the parade and the party now," Sweetie Drops said as she accompanied the princess down the steps with everyone else. "We'll be providing deep protection. Most of your guards are wearing your custom armor too."

"Wait, I didn't get to see the custom armor yet!"

"Well....you see them now," Sweetie Drops replied, pointing in front of her. There was a guard standing there in golden armor, wearing a helmet with a rainbow mane on it, as well as Dash's cutie mark on the sides.

"Oh, OK I like that. It is SO awesome!" The group chuckled before they made their way out the door of the housing building, where there were multiple lines of screaming and chanting ponies, watching as she waved. The princess got into her rainbow tinted chariot and continued to wave as she was pulled towards the loop of the castle grounds. The other princesses and delegates were right behind her, flanking her left and right as they made their way through the mass of the ponies, heading towards the square.

They were followed by the rest of the town's citizens while passing Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity and Applejack spotted their sisters siting on the side underneath a tree, talking about something where Sweetie Belle had to jump up and down, intriguing their curiosity.

"What ya' think they talkin' about?" Applejack asked Rarity who only shrugged in response. "Well let's go find out." The two ponies turned to the right heading towards the tree the fillies were under, raising an eyebrow at the over dramatic movements Sweetie Belle was making with her hooves.

"Sweetie Belle?" Her sister called out, getting their attention. "What's going on? Why are you two over here?"

"Well we were watching the coronation when somepony we tried to make our friend just up and left!" Apple Bloom said.

"We asked her why she left and if everything was okay and she was like 'no, it's not,'" Sweetie belle continued, watching as the crowd walked by. "She must've been having a hard time because she was all dirty and had a scar on her right cheek. We're thinking that she could be doing something dangerous."

"What did this filly look like?" Applejack asked a little concerned.

"She was an orange Pegasus, with very small wings and deep purple hair," Sweetie Belle said, pointing to her mane. "She headed into town."

"Okay, well hop on," Rarity as she kneeled, letting her little sister climb on her back. "We're going into town to talk to this filly."

"You too, Applebloom," Applejack said, repeating the act. Once their sisters were situated the four of them caught up with the parade, heading towards the center of town.

"Stupid ponies," the small-winged Pegasus muttered, kicking a rock out of the way. "All they do is eat and play while I'm out here on..." Scootaloo sighed before she sat down dejectedly in front of her padlocked home. She was able to get her stuff out, which was sitting by the door, including her scooter. But that wouldn't help her find a warm place to rest at for the upcoming winter.

Her ears perked up at the sound of hooves walking by, making her dart her eyes to the right. The parade of soldiers, princesses, and ponies were starting to walk by, making her roll her eyes and get up. She grabbed her scooter and hopped on before buzzing her wings, making her fly straight past the succession and catching Rainbow Dash's eye in the process.

"Who is that?" She muttered. Scootaloo rode into the square and gasped, nearly falling, at seeing all the unattended stands with plenty of food, clothing, and even blankets. She looked behind her, calculating how much time she had to get her hooves all over the goods. Thinking she had enough time, she jumped off her scooter before going up to the closest stand, grabbing two blankets, covering herself before going around with a bag that she retrieved, filling it up with goods that she could use, unaware of four ponies walking into the square.

"She was orange huh?" Applejack asked. "How about her....hey!" Scootaloo turned her head around to see the four ponies staring at her. "That's not yours, put that down!" The Pegasus bared her teeth and got an angry look before going back to the basket, grabbing four more cabbages and throwing them into the bag with the other stuff.

"Scootaloo, what are you doing? That's stealing!" Sweetie Belle yelled out, watching as she got one more item and then ran down an alleyway.

"Oh, no you dont! Hold on Apple Bloom!" The farmer started running towards the alleyway, followed closely by Rarity and Sweetie Belle as they tried to catch the Pagasus with the dirty coat and mane. The filly ducked underneath a stand, coming out on the other side. Her pursuers darted around the stand and came out on the other side, not even wasting a second as she continued her running. The thief turned right, went on for a little while longer before passing in front of the library, where the party was to be held at. Applejack leaped over and landed in front of her, making her skid to a halt.

"Drop the food!" She ordered with Apple Bloom sitting on her back with dizzy eyes. Scootaloo snarled angrily before she turned around spotting Rarity blocking her path.

"Darling, just leave the food behind! Stealing is wrong!"

"I have no choice!" Scootaloo yelled back. "Out of my way! Now!" Rarity lit her horn, trying to pull the bag of food out of her teeth. Scootaloo pulled the food back, struggling to keep the bag in her jaws. Applejack walked forward and grabbed the filly by the back and tried pulling her off, only to find her tough.

"Oh my Celestia! She's a tough one!" Applejack said. The pegasus continued to pull the food, yanking it left and right like a dog as she tried to make them loosen their grasp. They fought for awhile until a voice made them stop.

"What is going on here?" They all turned their heads to see Rainbow Dash staring at them chuckling, along with the rest of the princesses, guards, and the civilians. "AJ getting bested by a filly? Now THIS is a show! But seriously, what's happening?"

"She's stealing food, Rainbow!" Rarity said. "We saw her going through the stands while everyone was coming this way!" Rainbow raised an eyebrow before turning to the aggressive child. Everyone else was crowding around, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Why were you stealing food?" Rainbow asked. Applejack and Rarity let her go, before she responded back.

"Because if I don't, I'm dead!"

"Kid, I'm sure people around here will feed you," Rainbow said. "This is Ponyville! Nice is pretty much its nickname. Now where are your parents? And...you seem a little...rough."

"Actually yeah," Apple Bloom said, jumping off of Applejack's back. "Where are your parents? You wouldn't talk about them when we asked you." Scootaloo wouldn't answer she just stared at the ground, silent tears coming down her face.

"Are you a runaway?" Rarity asked. "That's more understandable if you are." Scootaloo slowly looked up at the princess before answering.

"Dead." The ponies looked at her confused before she continued. "They're gone. These-" She lifted her fight hoof, showing the two necklaces wrapped around it. "-are my parents' last thing they gave to me before they DIED! TRYING TO PROTECT ME FROM A BUNCH OF TIMBERWOLVES! THEY'RE GONE!! GONE AND THERE'S NOTHING I COULD DO!!! I WATCHED AS THE WOLVES WENT BACK INTO THE WOODS TO FINISH MY PARENTS OFF! I HAVE NO HOME! NO FAMILY! I'M ALONE!" She dropped to the ground and buried her head into her hooves, yelling and crying.

The four ponies who chased her stared on in shock, the rest of the crowd looking no better. Rainbow sighed before she raised a hoof and waved it forward without looking away from Scootaloo, making a guard come to her side.

"Yes, your highness?"

"Have a scout group go into the woods. Search for two ponies." The guard nodded before he went back to the others picking out a handful of guards who followed him towards the Everfree forest. "You're coming with me kid." Rainbow reached down and picked up the saddened filly, carrying her back towards the chariot. The crowd parted before she made it to the ride, softly placing her down on the carpeting there before hopping in herself. "ONWARD!"



The guards searched through the wooded area, coming up with conversations on what they heard.

"Do you really think two ponies got killed in here?" One guard asked the commander. "I know this forest is bad, but..."

"I don't know. But there's a reason ponies don't like coming in here. If it's true, I hope this place becomes off-limits. It's already freaky enough without having pony-eating wolves in here." They continued talking, looking this way and that in the deep forest until a guard trotted up to the commander.

"Sir, we found something." The leader nodded as they all followed the messenger towards a more brighter area in the woods. "We first noticed something when there were scratch marks on the bark of this trunk here." They all turned their heads towards the tree to see deep marks, three of them, on the trunk of the weird tree. "Then we found...this." The guard stepped aside to reveal...two limbless ponies. Their bodies were practically ate up, scratches and deep gashes all over them, their limbs gone. One a mare, another a stallion.

"A magenta mare and an orange stallion," a guard said sadly. "The same colors of that filly." The soldiers all looked on in sadness at the scene.

"Tell the princess we've found them," the commander ordered a guard. "A magenta mare and an orange stallion. Go"

Back in ponyville, the ponies were dancing while the Princesses and delegates were converging with Princess Dash on leadership and other things that may have to come into play. Scootaloo was sitting in between her front hooves while they talked, listening every now and then about different situations.

"What's your name, kid?" Rainbow asked looking down at the filly. "You have one right? If you don't I'll have to name you, and you really don't want that. I named Applejack because she started jacking my apples."

"That is a lie!" The princesses laughed at Applejacks declaration before focusing their attention back on the filly.

"Scootaloo," she said sadly.

"So I take it that this-" she levitated a scooter in front of her. "-is yours?"

"Well I found that in the Whitetail Woods."

"Like I said, it's yours. It looks pretty old and beaten. Probably been in there for awhile. So you might as well claim it." She brought the scooter towards Scootaloo watching as she took it in her hooves. The princesses smiled when she looked up at Rainbow Dash, smiling until a guard came up to her, whispering in her ear.

"We found two bodies, your highness. One a mare, colored magenta. Another, a stallion. Orange." Rainbow closed her eyes and glanced at the filly who was looking back down at the ground in sadness.

"State?" she whispered.

"Deceased." Rainbow sighed before nodding to the guard.

"Retrieve the others, bring them back here to relax." The guard nodded and left before she turned to Scootaloo. "Hey, why not go out there and have fun with Applejack and Rarity's sisters? I'm pretty sure they wanted to have some fun with you! See if you can show them some tricks on your scooter. I, personally, would love to see that!"

Scootaloo looked back up at the princess to see her smiling gleefully. She smiled back before grabbing her scooter and hopping on, buzzing off to see those two fillies. Once she was out of earshot, Rainbow dash turned back to the other royals. "They found two bodies in the woods. A magenta mare, and an orange colt."

They all got a sad look before turning back to Scootaloo seeing her intermingle with the other two fillies. "So she is an orphan," Luna said. "Where was she living before?"

"I believe near Sweet Apple Acres," the princess of nature answered. "When we were parading by, I saw her sitting in front of a padlocked home. It looked foreclosed. There were belongings by the door and she was just sitting there before she hopped on her scooter and...scooted off." They all looked back to see the fillies running around until Apple Bloom bumped into a crate, knocking out all of the apples. The three of them looked at the mess before Sweetie Belle shrugged, making them smile and go back to running around. "I have a feeling they're going to be trouble. BIG....trouble."

"Especially if that glass is-" Luna was interrupted as the glass container was suddenly knocked over, falling off the stand, smashing apart on the ground. "If that glass WAS anything to go by. What are you going to do with Scootaloo, Dash?" Dash chuckled, watching as the fillies all crashed into a crate of cabbages, not watching where they were going. Scootaloo poked her head out first, looking around. Spotting Rainbow, she smiled and waved, making her wave back.

"Well....I'll take her under my wing for awhile....literally. No filly deserves to be parentless. I'll have the food returned and have her stay with me at the castle until I find a permanent placement for her. For some odd reason, Equestria has never had a reason for adoption."

"If the parents do not want to take care of their foal," Celestia explained, sitting beside her daughter. "They usually pass them off to a current family member. It is what has always happened in every case. But she...apparently has absolutely no family."

The fillies came trotting back over to the princesses, Rainbow smiling down at them. "What's with all the smashing and crashing, squirt?"

"I'm still trying to get the hang of this stupid scooter!" Scootaloo said, nudging the toy. "I can only ride it so far, not do tricks."

"Eh, it's alright. It takes practice. It took a while for me to know how to fly. Like....a month. It usually takes a week to know how to fly for a normal Pegasus." Scootaloo got a sad look on her face before flinching from the noticeable scar on her cheek.

Rainbow dash leaned forward, tilting up the filly's chin so she can look at the scar. "It's starting to bruise," she said. "Maybe Nurse Redheart has some cream for that. We'll see. Guess what?"

"What?"

"You're staying with me at the castle for awhile."

Scootaloo gasped before buzzing her wings, grinning. "What?! Really?!"

"Yep! Where are the rest of your things? I'll have someone get it for ya' and put it in the castle."

"It's in front of the ONLY house here that's padlocked. This is SO AWESOME!" Celestia looked towards and smiled at her daughter.

"She has your...speech and rebellious attitude, you know."

"I do."

"What about the nobles?" Haakim asked her. "They will try to see to it that the child does not stay with you. They will say it is in violation of 'customs.'"

"And I will ask them to present those customs to me in front of a background checked group of historians. Just to make sure that they're telling the truth. And if it is? I'll tell them to clean out their ears before I yell at them to shove it! I'm smart, not an idiot."

"Yeah right!"

"SHUT UP, AJ!"
> Chapter 9 First Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So when are we leaving?" Fluttershy asked Rainbow as all four of them walked around town that night. Fluttershy, Rainbow, Sweetie Drops, and the newest addition, Scootaloo, who was looking around uncertainly, walking in between Rainbow's front hooves.

"We're just going for a nightly stroll," Rainbow answered before looking down to Scootaloo. "You okay down there? You're squirming."

"I'm f-fine," she lied. "It's just a little dark, nothing that I can't handle." Rainbow rolled her eyes before stopping. She pushed the little filly out between her legs before bending down.

"Get on Scootaloo," she ordered. The filly looked at her back uncertainly before jumping on, settling behind her crown on her neck. "Feeling better? If something comes out of the dark, you have Sweetie Drops, Fluttershy, and myself to protect you, okay?"

"O-okay. But don't tell the others I'm afraid of the dark, got that?" She demanded, pointing and making the adults chuckle.

"I won't speak a word. Now where were we? Oh yeah. We're just going for a stroll to get the music and whatnot out of our system. Scootaloo hasn't been to the castle yet, so we'll stop there and settle in. You okay with that, Squirt?"

"Yup!"

"Good. You're hungry aren't ya?"

"Yup!" The adults laughed again while they continued to trek towards the castle. Soon they made it at the gates, the guards opening them to let the four in, walking towards the castle.

"Tomorrow, we're choosing the advisory committee, and then Rarity wants to do something, I don't know," Rainbow groaned out. "It's gonna be exhausting. What are you doing tomorrow, Scoots?"

"I have no idea," she replied tiredly from atop Rainbow's neck. "Maybe just run around a little." The walked into the housing section, making Scootaloo look around in wonder. "Whoooooooaaaaa."

"I take it you like it. We're going to the dining hall." The princess and Fluttershy turned right into the residential hall before turning left into another bare hall. "This castle needs paint and photographs. I'll have someone work on it."

"It looks fine...I lied, no it doesn't," the orange filly said. "Totally not awesome." Fluttershy snorted, making the two look at her before the guards by the dining hall open the door.

"She sounds so much like you, Dashie," Fluttershy giggled.

"What can I say? I influence the foals." Scootaloo looked at the huge dining hall, taking note of the seven cakes sitting in plastic containers on the table.

"Why is there so much cake?!" She asked unbelievably, jumping down from Rainbow's head.

"Dashie takes after her mother so...she loves her cake," Fluttershy answered. "Let's get you in something higher to sit on."

The timid pegasus looked around the room, seeing absolutely nothing in there. "Let her sit on the table," Dash asked, cutting a slice of cake. "It won't hurt. Or lrt her sit on the demon bunny who just tried throwing a rock at the back of my head."

Fluttershy gasped and looked behind her marefriend to see the white rabbit glaring at Rainbow. "That. Is. IT!"

Angel yelped and turned just in time to see Fluttershy pick him up with her teeth. She trotted away and out of the hall, carrying angel into a small room in the castle.

"Is she always like that?" Scootaloo asked, watching as Rainbow cut her a slice.

"More or less," she responded, releasing the butter knife from her magical grip. "Only when she's upset. Now, I'll have a bed made for you downstairs. I also have-"

"Ummm, Rainbow?" She said carefully, rubbing her hooves together nervously. "I'd...ummmm...Is it okay if...."

"You wanna sleep with us tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Nightmares?" The nervous filly nodded her head. "I actually expected that, little buddy. Of course you can sleep with us. Sweetheart? Scootaloo's sleeping with us tonight!"

"And what about our plans?" Fluttershy asked, sitting across from Scootaloo. "Remember when I told you what was going to happen tonight?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow confusedly, making Fluttershy groan before she started licking her cheek.

"Eeeewwww!" Scootaloo said, covering her eyes. "So you two are dating? I was not expecting that!"

"Yeaaahhh, I fogot to mention that," Rainbow said sheepishly, nuzzling her marefriend. "She likes her Dashie."

"I've noticed." Fluttershy laughed before reaching out and pulling the filly into a hug. "Hey! Hey, let me go!"

"Nope!" Fluttershy said, chuckling and nuzzling the filly. "You need someone to love you and you will get your love. So stop squirming and accept this."

Scootaloo eventually let her coddle him, just basking in her embrace as she nuzzled her cheek every now and then. Rainbow looked on in happiness, smiling at the smiling Pegasus trapped fluttershy's hooves. "I think it's time for little fillies to go to sleep," she said quietly, not wanting to completely ruin the moment.

"Awww, Rainbowwwww," Scootaloo groaned. "I don't wanna-"

"No buts!" Rainbow got up from her seat, levitating the little filly out of Fluttershy's hooves and onto her back. "You have to get a bath and then some sleep. No excuses." The three of them left the dining hall and walked up the stairs leading to the room before opening the doors.

"So they got the room done," Fluttershy announced, noticing the different colors and Rainbows cutie mark glossed on the floor as she made her way over to the bed.

"My cutie mark is on the floor?!" Rainbow yelled. "Now this is too good. What ya' think squirt!"

"Looks awesome!" She replied, throwing her hooves in the air.

"Great! Now time for a bath!"

"No!" Rainbow groaned before grabbing the filly in her magic and bringing her around in front of her.

"You're taking a bath because you're really dirty. Sleeping outside is not good for a filly. Now c'mon!"

Scootaloo crossed her arms as Rainbow carried her into the bathroom, leaving Fluttershy to get the bed situated.

Rainbow set the filly in the tub while she checked the water temperature. "There. Give it three minutes. Play with the duckies right there."

Scootaloo looked to where she was pointing to see five rubber ducks before she turned back to the Princess. "You play with ducks?"

"What a ruler can't play with toys?"

"No!"

"Why not?" Scotaloo took on a disapproving glare.

"Because it's....weird!"

"Oh hush, you're just upset you can't play with it, here!" Rainbow grabbed the bath tows and threw them into the now full tub. She levitated a bottle of soap in front of her and placed some in a cloth. "Let's get you clean! Get your mind on something else while I'm doing this, play with the duckies!"



Fluttershy listened to the constant splashing coming out of the bathroom, wondering just how in the world Rainbow was able to get that filly to take one.

"And we're done!" She heard Rainbow yell triumphantly. "C'mon, let's dry you up and get to bed." A whole bunch of shaking was heard as Scootaloo just shook the water off. "Awwww, come. ON! You got water all over my.....eh, it's alright, they're getting washed anyway." Fluttershy laughed as Rainbow walked out of the bathroom soaking wet, Scootaloo trailing right behind her.

"Alright," Rainbow said, before bursting into flames. The water on her body evaporated before she extinguished it. "Now...it's really time for bed, squirt. Alright?" She helped Scootaloo get on the bed before hopping in herself, settling the filly under the covers.

"Alright," Scootaloo replied. She nuzzled against Fluttershy before closing her eyes, trying to go to sleep. Rainbow used her magic to cut off the lights before getting close to her marefriend, holding Scootaloo in between them both before falling asleep herself, Fluttershy falling right after.

In a dream, Rainbow was seen standing on her balcony, looking at the small town of Ponyville. Watching the birds fly by, the wind carry the leaves onto another area of the town.

"She acts like you." The princess looked behind her to see Princess Luna walking up to her from the doorway.

"Fluttershy said the same. This is a dream?"

"Yes." She stopped beside the princess of nature, looking out at the town with her. "She really does. She has the rebellious spirit, the feisty attitude, and...a love of cake."

"How did you know she likes cake?"

"Fluttershy. I visited her before I stopped here. She's having a nightmare."

"Fluttershy?!" Rainbow asked in alarm.

"Scootaloo."

"Take me there." The princess of the night nodded before lighting her horn, opening a rip in front of them. She walked through it, followed closely by Rainbow Dash. They entered into some unknown area. Dark, moist, and scary. "Where are we?"

"The Everfree. I think we both know where this is going to go." Dash looked around, hoping to hear a sound or something, only to hear nothing.

"Where are we-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" The two Alicorns looked to the area in front of them to see Scootaloo running right past and hiding underneath Rainbow's body, followed closely by Timberwolves. "Rainbow Dash! Help me!"

The princess lit her horn, making fire out of the air before shooting it towards the Timberwolves, burning them. She kept the pace up with the magical flamethrower, watching as the abominations burned to ashes before stopping it. She looked around before looking towards Luna "So what do we..."

Luna wasn't there anymore. "Luna?" She looked around a little more before glancing underneath her legs to see the filly there, looking around frantically. "I think they're gone, Scoots. I'm gonna get you outta this forest."

"How?! I have no idea where I am!" Rainbow Dash grinned before picking up the nervous filly in her magic and placing her on her back.

"Hold on to my neck." Scootaloo grabbed hold right when Rainbow flew upwards, breaking through the dense canopy and out into the air, spotting Ponyville yards away. Scootaloo looked down from the sky, seeing the place she was just in a little feet down. Rainbow tilted downwards, coming to a landing position in front of Fluttershy's cottage. Once she landed, Scootaloo jumped off her back and looked at Rainbow's face before jumping up and grabbing hold of her muzzle.

The princess got a confused look before smiling and letting the orphan hug her. She sat down on her haunches and hugged the filly back. "Thanks, Rainbow."

"Of course, Scootaloo."



Scootaloo woke up first, darting her eyes left and right before closing them again and letting herself get into a more comfortable position in the light blue fur that she was using as a pillow, moaning in comfort. Fluttershy woke up next, smiling at the cute position Rainbow was in, the sun behind them making the scene even more beautiful. A slight movement caught her eye as she watched Scootaloo rub her muzzle against Rainbow's chest and latch onto her neck, making the mare moan and groan.

"No.....no not yet the stupid bills need to be finished, fluttershy." Fluttershy got a questionable look on her face before she jumped out of bed and trotted over to Rainbow's side, nudging her back.

"Rainbow?"

"No. I'm workin'."

"You're not working. You're sleeping and about to crush Scootaloo." The mare's eyes popped open before glancing around at the supposedly empty area. She rose up, unaware of Scootaloo clutching her neck still, and rubbed her eyes.

"Good morning, Fluttershy."

"Good morning, Rainbow," she said, coming around to face her, trying not to giggle at the sleeping Scootaloo still around her neck. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept wonderful, Darling, thank you." The two mares looked towards the bathroom to see Rarity walking out, holding a bunch of skin cleansers. "And can I just say she looks so cute around your neck."

"What are you.." Rainbow looked down, seeing a bunch of magenta mane in front of her. "Scootaloo~" She sung out happily. "Wake up, it's a new day." The three ponies watched as Scootaloo let go of Dash's neck and fell back on the bed, yawning and stretching. "Morning, Scoots."

"Hey, Rainbow!" She got up and shook off the sleep before going to the edge of the bed, jumping off. "I had a strange dream last night."

"I'm aware. I was there."

"You were there and....wait...how did you know you were there?" Rainbow rolled her eyes before jumping off the bed and retrieving her crown from the bedside.

"Luna brought me in there." She picked up Scootaloo and set her down on her back, trotting to the door. "Rarity? How did you get in?"

"The door darling."

"Do you have clearance?"

"No."

"Then the guards are actively searching for you," she sighed out, shaking her head. "It's no wonder pinkie hasn't gotten in yet."

"Oh she has," Rarity said walking towards the door and opening it. "Who do you think did all the decorating?"

"Are you telling me...Pinkie Pie, OUR Pinkie Pie was able to get past all the guards?!" Rainbow yelled out. "I'm putting her in my dungeon....once I find it." The group walked out the door, where the guards stopped her.

"Ma'am there's been a....oh wait she's right there." Rarity waved at the guards, grinning while Rainbow just rolled her eyes.

"Good morning, gentlecolts," she sighed out, walking by them. "Fluttershy, what are we doing today?"

"You have to give Scootaloo clearance into the castle, then we're going shopping with Rarity. You have to return that magical book to the library of Magic in Canterlot, and then lunch with everyone else. During lunch you have to meet your advisory committee." Rainbow nodded before they walked into the dining hall, the cakes still there along with breakfast food.

"Good morning, Princess Dash," a mare said from the side, bowing to her. She was a light brown with yellow hair and yellow eyes with an egg for a cutie mark. "I am the head chef, Healthy Hooves. Today we have pancakes, nectar soup, and a variety of other foods to your heart's disposal."

"Thank you, Healthy Hooves," Rainbow greeted as she walked into the dining hall. She leaned down, letting Scootaloo get on the table like last night before she remembered something. "Healthy Hooves, is there any higher chairs for Scootaloo?"

"Let me go check, your highness," she said before trotting away. Rainbow took a seat in the tall chair before looking at all the food. Fluttershy had already gotten a plate full of pancakes, politely eating. At that moment, Healthy Hooves came back in, pushing a taller chair into the hall.

"We have three of these ma'am. Where should I place it?"

"Right here," Rainbow replied, pointing to her left. The mare trotted around the table, spotting Scootaloo sitting on the table trying to figure out what she wanted. She placed the chair right beside Dash's.

"Is that all, your highness?"

"Yes, thank you." The mare bowed again before trotting back towards the kitchen. "Scootaloo, come take a seat in the chair." The filly trotted towards the chair beside Rainbow, sitting down. "What do you want, squirt?"

"Pancakes!" She yelled. "Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!"

"Ok, ok!" Rainbow chuckled, levitating some pancakes onto Scootaloo's plate. "Geez, you're hungry aren't ya?"

"Yup!" After putting the syrup on the pancakes, Scootaloo dived in. Rainbow and Fluttershy stared in shock, watching as the small filly somehow consumed twice her size in pancakes.

"Why did I put that much food on this mare's plate?" Rainbow asked herself as the filly finished off the pancakes. "Was it good?"

"Yup!" The two adult mares rolled their eyes and smiled at the filly as she drunk her water that Fluttershy filled for her.



"Ok, Scoots, you wanna come with us to Canterlot?" Rainbow asked her as they made their way to the gate. "We're going shopping, then meeting with m-" Rainbow cleared her throat, nearly slipping out the secret. "Then meeting with Celestia, returning a book, then deciding on the advisory committee."

"Nah," Scootaloo responded, waving her hoof. "I'll just go see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle."

"Well Sweetie Belle is actually at Sweet Apple Acres," Rarity said as she hopped in the carriage with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "They're meeting on something, don't know what."

"Stay away from the forest, ok?" Fluttershy said to her. "Rainbow you need to put a restriction on that forest to keep more foals from going in there."

"I will as soon as we get back, trusty assistant. Are you sure you're okay by yourself?"

"I'll be fine, mooooooom," Scootaloo said sarcastically, waving her hoof in their direction. "I won't go around stealing anymore food or anything. I'll stick by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle all day, ok?" Rainbow Dash looked at her concerned but eventually sighed.

"Alright. Have fun. Let's go!" The team of Pegasus ponies trotted out of the loop before taking to the air, leaving Scootaloo to watch as they soared towards Canterlot. Once they were far enough, she turned around and walked off the cloud and onto the ground, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres. During her walk, she started thinking. Why did she call her mom? Rainbow Dash wasn't her mother. But she sure did look up to her like one all of a sudden. Why is that?

"Hey there, little Scootaloo!" The in-thought filly turned her head to the left seeing Applejack pouring in some Apple Cider into an empty barrel. "Where's Rainbow?"

"They went to Canterlot for some day stuff with Rarity."

"Shopping," Applejack sighed, shaking her head. "Rainbow will probably get back to her flying soon and ruin those outfits. Then Rarity's gonna have a conniption. Where you headed off to?"

"Here," she said walking through the gates. "I have to see Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom."

"Oh, well they're in the treehouse out back. Ya' can't miss it. It's the only tree with a house in it."

"Okay! Thanks, Applejack!" The Pegasus increased her speed, coming to a small jog. Soon she spotted the tree, a little ways behind the house. After passing the house where Big Macintosh and Ms. Cherilee stood talking, she...wait, Ms. Cherilee?! Scootaloo skidded to a stop, turning around and trotting back to the front porch. "Ms. Cherilee?" She asked, coming around the corner. "What are you doing here?"

"Scootaloo!" she yelled, nearly hitting her head on the roof above her. "I am so sorry about your-"

"I don't want to talk about it," she said, raising a hoof to stop her. "I REALLY don't wanna talk about it. I'm just here for Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle."

"I'm here for Big Macintosh," she replied, pointing at the big colt standing in front of her. "We're discussing something. Go and play with your friends."

"Well...alright. See ya' at school tomorrow." Scootaloo went back to running towards the treehouse. Eventually, she made it to the treehouse, walking up the steps and trotting inside. "OK! I'm here!"

"Oh, good!" Apple Bloom said, stepping down from the podium. "We wanted to talk to you." Scootaloo looked to the side to see Sweetie Belle sitting there holding a box in her magic. It had a little tag on it that said "Scootaloo".

"We also got you a little somethin'," Apple Bloom continued. "It's not much but we hope it'll make ya' happy." Sweetie Belle nodded her head eagerly. Scootaloo took the box while the two fillies watched as she opened it, revealing a tiny cape with a symbol of a pony on it. "It's a cape. Me and Sweetie Belle have created a secret society called.."

Scootaloo looked up to see the fillies inhaling air before yelling: "THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" The poor filly had to drop the box to cover her ears, trying to stop the ringing.

"What do the cutie mark crusaders do?" she asked, shaking her head to get the ringing to stop.

"We search for our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle said, jumping up and down happily. "We go around and try to figure out what makes us special! To get our cutie marks!"

Scootaloo looked down at the cape before picking it up and tying it around her neck. "Well I'm in! Let's find our cutie marks!" The other two fillies grinned before going over to the filly and pulling her into a hug.



"Ok, Rarity," Rainbow said as they neared the landing of the city. "Where exactly are we going? You said shopping but where?"

"I'm uhhhh...a little curious about that too," Fluttershy said nervously, rubbing her hooves together.

"We're going to my shop, of course!" Rarity said as Sweetie drops touched the ponies down on the streets below, coming to a stop at a crosswalk. "We are going to get you measured and have a new dress designed for you. I think Twilight is here as well, visiting her parents."

"Oh, ok. Well we can stop by there later on and say hi to her family," Rainbow said, waving to some ponies waving to her. "If we're lucky, she might go see Celestia. I don't think I can handle that much bowing in one day. I bet Shining Armor's there too."

"More than likely," Fluttershy inputted. Sweetie Drops came around and opened the door for the mares, letting them step out in front of Canterlot Boutique.

Rainbow's guards stepped forward and opened the door to the building, letting the Princess and her entourage walk through and inside. "Sassy~!" Rarity sung out, trotting towards the back. "I am back! Came to see how the business is coming along!"

"Coming, coming!" A mare said from the back. A second later, a taller thinner pony came trotting out of the back. "I was just finishing up on the..." She trailed off at seeing the princess standing there, looking around the shop.

"This is way too fru-fru for me," Rainbow muttered, nudging a ponikin.

"You wore that dress I made you and that was very 'fru-fru', as you so put it," Rarity said. "Now you are GOING to get measured, and you are GOING to look pretty!"

"UGGGHHHHH," Rainbow groaned. "Hey, have you realized something? I haven't gone for a good flight in a while...by MYSELF, that is. It's always been 'ride in a chariot'. When we get back to the castle I'm going for that flight.....is she STILL frozen?" Everyone looked at Sassy Saddles, her mouth agape and eyes wide.

"Sassy dear, wake up!" Rarity said, sending a tiny shock of magic at the mare. She jolted awake before bowing at the princess.

"Princess Dash! It's great to have you here at our establishment.

"Yeah, wish I could say the same. Your glittery employer forced me to come, you can rise now."

"How can I help you?" She asked, once on her hooves. "Are you looking for something in particular?"

"We need the best blue dress you have, Sassy! Go!" Rarity yelled, pointing towards the back. "I am going to get Rainbow measured." Rarity grabbed the princess in her magic and started dragging her towards the back while she whimpered.
> Chapter 10 - Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Stop squirming!" Rarity demanded, as she fit Rainbow into a dress. "It won't go any faster if you continue to fight it!"

"Hate to disappoint ya', Rarity," Rainbow said as she stepped off the stand, only to be levitated back on. "But I'm KNOWN for fighting against things. Like how I fight wind pressure when I'm soaring through the air." Rainbow created a waterball above the mare in front of her before letting it drop, drenching her pristine coat.

Rarity gasped in horror. "Rainbow Dash! You've ruined my perfect pristine hairrrr!"

Rainbow took that chance to run out of the room, leaving the dress floating down from the air as she zipped out from inside of it. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" She said to everyone in the lobby. They all stood up and followed the princess out the door.

"GET BACK HERE, RAINBOW DASH!!"

They turned to the right running past all the other ponies walking by before slowing to a trot, and eventually a walk. "Well...that was fun," Rainbow said, grinning. "Right, Flutters?"

She looked to her right to see Fluttershy nearly out of breath. "What...ever...you...say," she panted. Rainbow chuckled before looking over her shoulder, making sure they weren't followed.

"I thought we were going shopping, not playing dress up," the princess said as they turned a corner. "Next time it happens, Sweetie Drops is doing it. She needs to get in touch with her inner beauty."

"No I am not, your highness," the scar-eyed pony said, chuckling and shaking her head. "Let Second-In-Command Shine Heart do it."

"Nuh uh," the black coated mare said, said, shaking her pink mane. "Make Spear Head do it. He'd look great in a dress."

"It's true," the golden coated stallion said proudly in his deep voice. "I actually look great, but I'm still not playing dress up with THAT one."

"Well whoever feels giddy enough to try on stupid outfits, be my guest," Rainbow said as they passed a group of bowing ponies. Soon, they arrived at the Library of Magic. The princess looked under her right wing and levitated out her finished book in front of her before walking up the steps and into the building.

After walking in, she got a bewildered look and froze, seeing the place filled more than when she was last here. "Why are we stopping?" Fluttershy asked her before noticing the amount of ponies in the building.

"There were not this many ponies when I came here last," Dash said shaking her head slowly. After getting her mind back, she walked over to the counter before ringing the bell.

"I'd like to drop this off!"

The librarian popped her head up from behind the counter, freaking Dash out with her way too large grin and eyes. "Uhh... are you ok?"

"Absolutely, your highness!" She said as she took the book in her magic. "Is this all for today?"

"Yes."

The librarian nodded before she placed the book into the scanner. "Alright, thank you!" Dash nodded and turned around to face her personal guards.

"Let's get out of here," she ordered frantically, walking towards and out the door, nearly bumping into a very familiar small purple dragon. "Oh sorry...Spike?"

"Hey, Rainbow!" He said smiling before getting a mischievous look on his face. "You go to the library?"

"Uhhhh.....no," Rainbow objected before pulling Fluttershy close to her. "Flutters wanted to check out a book so...we came here."

Spike grinned before turning to the pegasus. "Where's that book, Fluttershy?"

"You know what, Spike?" Rainbow said as she walked forward. "Go get the egghead's book and mind your business, okay?"

"Whatever you say, egghead," Spike said.



The cutie mark crusaders were walking down the dirt road heading into town, thinking of ideas on how to get their cutie marks. Being the last three fillies in class to get them was embarrassing enough to Scootaloo and horrifying to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. But how could they get theirs? Just what in Equestria could they be good at?

"We could be fixer-uppers!" Apple Bloom announced, grabbing their attention. "You know go around town fixing things!"

"Yeah, but fixing what?" Scootaloo asked before gasping. "We can try to fix your Granny's hip!" The other two crusader's just stared blandly at her. "Yeah, you're right. That's...that's probably not the best idea."

"So fixer uppers is probably off the table," Sweetie Belle said. "Ooh! I know! Let's see if we can get our cutie marks in cooking!"

"That's a great idea!" Scootaloo said, jumping up and down. "Let's help Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner!"

The three of them looked at each other before giving a three-handed high five. "Cutie Mark Crusaders Pastry Chefs!! YAY!!"

"So you want to help me make Gummy some pancakes?" Pinkie asked the three fillies from behind the counter.

"Yep!" Scootaloo answered. "We wanna get our cutie marks in baking!"

"So we want to do it with you!" Sweetie Belle continued.

"Hmmmm," Pinkie hummed, squinting her eyes and pouting her lip at the fillies as she thought deeply on the outcomes of this. "Welllllll........alright! I'll let you help me cook!"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Pastry Chefs again!!! YAY!!!"



"Hmmm," Rainbow hummed, stopping by the Canterlot Castle gates.

"What is it, Princess?" Sergeant Cloudstorm asked.

"I feel like...a very very VERY terrible thing is happening in Ponyville right now involving three fillies. I don't know." She shrugged before leading the group through the gates and up to the castle doors. "I might just be paranoid...but my instincts are rarely wrong.

They walked through the castle doors, opened by guards stationed outside of it. It was a little busy inside, for it to be lunchtime. "Shouldn't ponies be eating instead of working?" She asked aloud.

"Yeah," Fluttershy said. "It's strange, it's almost one o'clock." They continued on, the guards walking behind her as she made it to the throne room doors.

"There's a meeting, Princess," one of the guards stationed at the doors said.

"Nobles?" She asked him.

"Nobles," he answered, making her sigh. This could take awhile.

"Princess Celestia, we want to know where did Princess Dash come from," Prince Blueblood spoke. "We've checked her records and there's absolutely nothing about her being involved with royalty."

"I concur," Fancy Pants stated. "She has essentially appeared from nowhere and has taken a royal title! We demand to know who she really is!" He punctuated the last word with a stomp of his hoof, the sound echoing throughout the room.

Celestia and Luna looked at each other from their thrones before turning back to the nobles. "I will not be telling you who she is, and neither will my sister. Shall you try to search any further, I will strip you both of your titles and any other connections you have with royalty. You are dismissed."

"Princess Celestia we-"

"THOU ARE DISMISSED, Prince Blueblood!" Luna yelled. The two ponies bowed before reluctantly walking out of the throne room, nearly bumping into the Princess on the way out.

They stared at her for a moment before walking around her, making her confused before the group walked into the throne room, making sure to close the doors behind them as they walked in.

"What was that about?" She asked her mother and aunt coming off of their thrones. "They just gave me a dirty look like I killed their pets."

"They are becoming suspicious," Luna said giving her niece a hug and a nuzzle, Celestia repeating the action. "I would not be surprised if those two were stalking your every move."

"They were asking where you came from, sweetheart," Celestia said, giving her daughter a kiss on the top of her head, making the mare groan. "Oh stop, you love my kisses."

"That is so sweet," Sweetie Drops cooed, poking Rainbow's muzzle.

"Get-get out of here," Rainbow said as she pushed her hoof away, trying not to blush.

"Awww, it's ok, Dashie," Fluttershy said. "I barely even see my parents. And you visit yours like everyday."

"Yes, Dashie, you'll be fine."

"Don't push it, Twilight. Wait...Twilight?" Rainbow turned around, shocked at seeing Celestia's protege waving to her while her family was bowing behind her. "Please rise. Why are you here?"

The bookworm shrugged. "We're having lunch with you! That and I'm one of your advisers."

"I had Twilight become the Senior Adviser of your cabinet," Celestia said. "Her knowledge of Equestrian law is excellent."

"She knows a lot, your highness," Twilight Velvet said, stepping forward.

"I know," Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. "From what I heard, she creates her own spells."

"I'm rusty but I can still do it," Twilight agreed.

"Well I'm glad to have you onboard," Rainbow said, hitting her with her wing. "Who else do we have on my advisory?"

"Lady Justice, Cherry Berry, Tall Order, and Sir Pony Moore. We made sure to put in a normal pony to represent the possible problems for ponies that are affected by rulings."

"I'm gonna take a very large guess here and say that THAT would be Cherry Berry."

"Yes."

"I meet them all at lunch?"

"Yes."

"Is there cake," Rainbow asked, a child like grin on her face. "PLEASE tell me there's cake!"

"Of course. Do you like fudge? Or Strawberry?" Rainbow gave her a sparkling smile before she responded.

"Strawberry."



"How....did you make....a whole cake?" Pinkie asked unbelievably as she looked at the cake sitting in a pan on top of the stove. She turned to the fillies grinning widely behind her. "We were aiming for pancakes. But somehow, you were able to make a whole cake using a pan and the stove. That makes no sense, even for ME!"

"I don't know," Sweetie Belle said, pointing to a jug beside her. "We used this stuff that says 'mix' on the side of it. So we added that and a whole bunch of other stuff."

"What...other stuff?" The party pony asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"Take a slice an' find out!"

"I don't...I don't think I'm gonna do that." Pinkie grabbed the pan with the cake on it before walking back over to the alligator positioned on top of a table. "Here, Gummy! Somehow, we made a cake for ya! I actually have no idea what is in it though, so...take small bites."

The group watched as the cake was set in front of the reptile, watching the scene, hoping for something good to happen. Suddenly, Gummy tipped over over on his side, his feet sticking out and shocking the owner.

Pinkie gasped, deeply and loudly before turning around. "Oh no! Gummy passed out!"

"But his eyes are still open," Scootaloo pointed out, motioning towards the alligator.

"Thanks for the help, girls, but I uhhhh think I got it from here," Pinkie said before pushing the three fillies out of the shop and closing the door.

"We're never gone get our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom cried, sitting down dejectedly.

"Don't worry, Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo said, walking up to her. "We'll get our cutie marks soon! All we have to do is keep trying! This IS our first try after all. Now, what other things could we do?" The three fillies took on thinking poses, trying to figure out ways they could get their cutie marks.

"I know!" Sweetie Belle yelled out. "Let's see if we can get our cutie marks in sewing! My sister's got all kinds of things for her business! Let's go there!" The other two gasped excitedly, grinning and eyes widening in excitement.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER DESIGNERS! YAY!"

Rainbow Dash stopped suddenly as they made their way to the dining hall, feeling a sense of anxiety. "What is it?" Fluttershy asked her.

"Scootaloo just did something," Rainbow said. "I don't know what, but I have a bad feeling about it. And it has to do with Rarity's boutique."

"I hope not," Twilight said, over her shoulder. "Rarity will tan YOUR flank if she finds out."

"I know, I know. I wonder what they're doing in Ponyville anyway." Fluttershy shrugged before they all arrived in front of the dining hall doors, where the guards opened the doors for the group, led by Celestia. They walked in seeing four ponies converging around some topic, stopping once Celestia walked into the room.

"CELESTIA!" One of them yelled out, jumping out of his chair and bowing. The others followed suit as the rest of the group walked into the room.

"Rise, ponies," Celestia said, letting them all relax. She turned around, gesturing a hoof to those who followed her in. "May I introduce Twilight Sparkle, my personal protege and the senior adviser, her family. Fluttershy, Princess Dash's personal assistant, and The Princess of Nature, Princess Rainbow Dash." They all walked into the room, the last one being Rainbow, who the ponies once again fell on their faces for.

"Rise," she said, stopping in front of them. "As you all know, I am Rainbow Dash, Princess Of Nature and Equestrian Royalty. Not to mention the fastest flyer."

"Oh my god," Twilight mumbled, shaking her head.

"Shut up, Twi'. Now can I have all of your names?"

An earth pony mare stepped forward, wearing only a collar. She had the cutie mark of an hourglass and her coat was a lime green, her mane different shades of orange. "Hello, your highness. I am Lady Justice. I was a judge in Canterlot before I was selected to be one of your advisers."

"Thank you for accepting, Lady Justice," Rainbow said. "I hope our future will be bright with you on board." The judge bowed once again before she went back to her chair. Another pony walked up, this one a little average looking. She had a hot pink coat with a golden mane, and a cutie mark of a pair of Cherries.

"Hello, your higness," she greeted, bowing quickly. "I am Cherry Berry. I was actually working here as Princess Celestia's personal pastry chef here at the castle."

"Wait a second!" Rainbow said, pointing an accusing hoof towards the mare, her eyes narrowed. "Did you...make those cakes? For the royal breakfast?"

"Uhhhh.....y-yes."

Rainbow grinned and pulled the mare into a hug before yelling in the royal Canterlot voice. "IN MY NAME, YOU MUST MAKE THOSE AGAIN!!!"

"S-sure," she squeaked out. Eventually Rainbow let go, allowing her to step aside and for more people to come forward. Before she went back to her seat, she caught the eye of the bookworm, who smiled at her. Cherry blushed and smiled back before walking back to her seat.

There were more introductions before everyone was given a chance to relax and have some food. Rainbow sat down beside her mother while the others sat down around the table. Cherry Berry took this opportunity to sit beside Twilight and learn about her.

"Hi! I'm-'

"Cherry Blossom, I know," Twilight interrupted, turning to her and chuckling. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. I'm a librarian in Ponyville, but I study magic on my off time. You know, Rainbow's going to come after you all night once you come to Ponyville."

"I guessed that from the hug." The two mares chuckled before looking towards the Princess sitting beside Celestia. She was currently eating a bowl of soup like there was no tomorrow, making Celestia raise an eyebrow and chuckle. "Is she always like that?"

"Pretty much. It's funny, she was never like this. She was more..." Twilight waved a hoof around, trying to emphasize her point. "She was more....arrogant. Doing whatever she could to impress people. But now? She's Princess Dash, a Princess Of Equestria. About to do so much more."

"What was she before?"

"Wonderbolt hopeful. I'm surprised she hasn't actually taken the time out to meet them yet, seriously." The two mares giggled before they started on their own plates, downing it before everyone else could finish theirs.

"So what are you going to do now?" Celestia asked her daughter. "I hope taking action now."

"Yep," Rainbow said, wiping her muzzle. "Gonna open court up soon. I'm gonna have a meeting with these guys on it, have some rules and regulations set and sent out in the closest cities. Cloudsdale, Ponyville, Las Pegasus, and Baltimare on problems in nature. You know, possible people who dump there stuff into rivers, into the mountains, pollutants, litterers, Equestria's becoming a little dirty."

"I see. Anything Else?" Luna asked from beside her.

"Raising Scootaloo. Gotta make sure the squirt gets a nice home, even if her real family is gone. I'm not gonna let that kid go."

"What are you saying?" Celestia asked tentatively. Rainbow sighed and put down her daisy sandwich before turning to her mother.

"I want Scoots to be happy. Me and Scootaloo are in the same situation, although mismatched. She had her real parents but lost them. I didn't have my real parents, but I do now...sort of. I want her to be as happy as I am, and so far? I've noticed her getting more attached to me. She was yesterday when we first met, last night, this morning, and more than likely more so this afternoon, when I get back."

"So...you want to give her a great home?" The princess of the sun asked.

"Yeah....yeah I do. But I need to find the right person. How do I do that?"

"You'll know when you do, trust me." Her mother winked at her, confusing the young alicorn before she shrugged and went back to her daisy sandwich.
> Chapter 11 - Maternal Instinct
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ok, we tried Waste management," Sweetie Belle said, counting off their attempts as the crusaders made their way back to the clubhouse. "We ended up collecting all the trash and letting it drop in the middle of the square. We tried pastry chefs and nearly killed gummy. We tried putting shingles on roofs only for them to fall off onto the crowd below. And finally something simple. Rock collecting. That's not even a thing, but somehow, we had managed to break a very important statue's nose off."

"Yeah, we really...really struck out today," Scootaloo said. "But this is only our first day! I'm sure we'll get our cutie marks soon."

"Yeah!" Apple Bloom cheered. "It's not that hard to get a cutie mark! We'll find somethin'!"

They continued on the trek until it was nearly time for dinner. Apple Bloom invited them over but Scootaloo had to respectfully decline. Rainbow would want her back soon, and she was actually desperate to get home.

They all waved to each other, saying they'll see each other at school tomorrow.  Hopefully, Rainbow was home. She really wanted more of that cake!

The guards opened the gates for her as she made her way onto the cloud castle on the ground where a Rainbow colored chariot sat. She continued her trek through the buildings, finally arriving at the large residential building where the guards opened the doors for her.

The filly walked in, seeing a large group of ponies standing in the foyer.

"Hey, Scootaloo," Fluttershy greeted as she walked over and pulled the girl into a hug. Rainbow smiled before she too trotted over.

"How was your day?" Fluttershy asked her.

"It was great!" She replied excitedly. "Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and I went searching for our cutie marks!" She yelped as Rainbow pulled her into a giant hug.

"Ooooo, I missed yooou!" Rainbow cooed before pulling back and looking her over. "Are you okay? I felt you got into some issues today."

"Well...." The filly stammered. "Rarity's not going to like how her shop looks, and Gummy passed out with his eyes open."

"What?" Rainbow said, placing the girl back on the ground. "You tried cooking? And designing for your cutie marks?"

"Yep! I mean...it didn't exactly work, but we had gotten somewhere, right?" Rainbow raised an eyebrow before chuckling and messing with the filly's mane.

"I guess so," she replied. "Let's go, I know you want some cake."

"Can I have some?!" She asked excitedly. The princess placed the filly on her back before heading towards the dining hall.

"We'll both have some. Everyone this is Scootaloo," Rainbow introduced to the others watching from the side. "Scootaloo? This is my Advisory Committee. They'll​ be regular faces around the castle from now on. You're all dismissed until I send for you."

"Yes, your highness," they all said before walking away.

"Where are you staying, Cherry?" Twilight asked as they made their way off the property.

"Ummm....since this whole thing was kind of last notice," the mare said nervously. "I...um...actually have nowhere to go. So I was just going to head back to Canterlot and then come back in the morning."

The librarian clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Nope, that's murder on your bits. You need some place to stay, you can stay with me."

"What?" Cherry asked, unsure. "I don't wanna impose..." They walked into the square and turned towards the library.

"You're not imposing, silly pony. I'm offering!" Twilight clarified before they stopped in front of the tree. "I want you to stay with me!"

Twilight opened the door, revealing the interior. There were a bunch of books on different subjects and a table where there was currently a purple baby dragon sitting and reading a comic book.

"I'm back, Spike!" She yelled, making the dragon jump and look up. "This is Cherry Berry. She'll be staying with us for awhile." Spike smirked and raised an eyebrow at the librarian.

"Hello, Cherry! I'm Spike, Twilight's number one assistant!" He greeted her.

"Hello, Spike," she greeted back as she looked around the library. "So what's your relationship like with Twilight?"

"My whole life. She hatched me, actually," the dragon said, walking towards her. "So I've been around for awhile."

"Oh, so like her son."

"Oh no, not at all!" Twilight said frantically from the kitchen. "More like my charge."

"Yep! No son here, uh-uh, nope!" The baby dragon said, waving his claws around and shaking his head.

"Okay okay!" Cherry Berry said chuckling and raising her hooves. "You're her charge."

"Are you hungry?" Twilight called out. "I have some soup!"

"Yes, please!" The mare walked into the kitchen, finding the area quite nice. There was  a table, a sink, a refrigerator, stove, cabinets, and a pantry. Simple.

"I know it's not much, and you're probably much more used to the high life," Twilight said as she brought the bowls of soup to the table. "But I'm afraid we'll have to get more groceries."

"It's alright," Cherry said, taking a seat. "I'm not actually used to the high life, I just deal with it."

"So what do you really prefer?"

"Eh, anything small. So maybe like a sandwich or fruit. I don't usually go for those expensive meals that everyone in Canterlot is crazy for. I'll even settle down for spaghetti."

"Oh, I love Spaghetti!" Twilight said, giggling. "I like mines with peppers."

"Me too! And a little jalapeno cheese, that really does me in." The two mares laughed before going back to their meal, where Cherry brought up another topic. "So Princess Dash seems really attached to that filly."

"Scootaloo, yeah. They actually only met yesterday, but Rainbow is taking a liking to her."

"How'd they meet?" Both Twilight and Spike from the other room seethed through their teeth, not really wanting to go back down that road. "What? What happened?"

"Wellllll...okay," Twilight got into a position to tell the story. "On the way to the party after Dash's coronation, Applejack and Rarity, two of our friends, were chasing Scootaloo for stealing."

"Stealing?"

"Yeah. So Dash came in like what's going on? Applejack said that she was stealing. Dash was like why are you stealing? Scootaloo said that she had to. Rainbow was like where are your parents? Rarity and Applejack asked the same question and the poor girl just broke into tears."

"I'm afraid to ask, but...where were they?"

"Deceased," Twilight said sadly. "There's a forest over here-" Twilight pointed behind her. "-that nopony ever goes into. It's extremely dangerous. Full of monsters and weird plants. That's where the Royal Sisters used to have their castle until it got destroyed. Well, story is Scootaloo's parents were trying to save her from a pack of Timberwolves. That scar on her cheek is from one of them.

"They helped her escape and held back the wolves until Scootaloo was safely out, but they didn't make it out themselves. The only thing Scootaloo has left to remind her of them are those necklaces wrapped around her hoof."

"So...she's an orphan," Cherry said sadly.

"Yeah, but apparently, she has no family that can take her in. So Rainbow did. She's not her daughter, the princess is just taking her under her wing. But I have a pretty good feeling Rainbow's going to adopt her. That's what it looks like so far."

"Are you hoping Rainbow gets her?" Cherry asked uncertainly.

"Yeah, of course! Rainbow has a deep feeling for her. Even Celestia and Luna could tell. I'm sure Rainbow will ask her next month during the upcoming Grand Galloping Gala. It seems more likely and more 'Rainbow Dash' than anything else." The two mares chuckled again before going back to their soup.



The Cerulean alicorn got up the next morning and shook her head, unaware of the little filly sitting on top.

"WHOA!" Rainbow looked to the side to see Scootaloo sliding across the floor on her stomach, making her raise an eyebrow.

"Were you...sleeping on my head?" She asked chuckling.

"Rainbow....come back to sleep, it's not time to get up yet," Fluttershy mumbled, turning over in the bed. She grabbed the princess forcefully and threw her back down unto the pillow.

"Oh my god, when'd you get so strong, flutters?" Rainbow cried out.

"Shut up and go to sleep," the animal lover replied, tiredly.

"Flutters, I have to get up, let me go." Scootaloo just looked at the scene smiling. "Come on!" Soon, Fluttershy fell back to sleep, allowing Rainbow to sprint out of the bed. "That was....exhausting. I have to take a bath, jeez." Scootaloo chuckled before she left the room, allowing Rainbow to take a shower. After closing the door, she was greeted by the last pony she'd ever expect.

"Hello, Scootaloo," Princess Celestia said to her.

"Ah! Princess!" The little filly bowed to the tall Alicorn just standing casually outside the door.

"There's no need for that Scootaloo," the princess said chuckling, watching the filly stand. "I'm just here to see Rainbow. Is she up?"

"She had to struggle. Fluttershy wouldn't let her wake up." Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"Are Fluttershy and my...Rainbow Dash sleeping together?"

"Yeah," Scootaloo said confusedly. "You didn't know?"

"No. No I did not." Celestia stepped forward and quietly cracked the door open, spotting fluttershy about to fall out of the bed. The princess grinned, thinking about all the fun she was going to have with this. "Dash has a lot to tell me."



The princess of nature walked down the stairs that led up to her room, just now noticing the other doors in the building that she has never been in before. She cocked her head to the side, how long have they been there. She shrugged, figuring she should check them out. Going to the nearest one, she opened it, reveling an office of some sort. Small, not like Celestia's. So it couldn't be hers.

Closing the door, she went to the one next to it. Looking inside, it looked just like the other on. down to the chair and everything. She closed the door before turning around to look at the ones across from them. They all looked alike. Nothing different at all. "These must be for the advisers," Rainbow thought out loud.

"That's right." The princess jumped and lit her horn, preparing for a fight with...her mother?!

"Mo-....Celestia?! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I came by to give you a little something." Celestia lifted her wing, showing an envelope with Rainbow's name on it. She levitated it over to her daughter, watching as she opened it with her magic. Rainbow lifted out eight tickets....to the Grand Galloping Gala.

"Celestia...do I really have time for a dance?" Rainbow asked. "I barely even began anything yet."

"Well this is where you start," the princess. "Each year, most important ponies come to the grand galloping gala to talk. If you come to the grand galloping gala, those ponies can speak with you about the issues that plague your society. The tickets are for your friends and Scootaloo. Your advisers are required to attend to assist you with anything."

Scootaloo peeked around the corner, watching the two princesses while they spoke. Fluttershy was still surprisingly in bed. What's up with that? Even when Scootaloo was down in Ponyville, she was known to always wake up early. She watched as the two princess chatted idly.

"So what do you think about 'the squirt'?" Celestia asked her.

"Well I know we just met...literally. But....I feel a connection to her," Dash explained. "I see a lot of myself in her. Rebellious but careful at the same time. I have goals that I'm trying to set, while trying to maintain my image. I guess that's what she's trying to do with her cutie mark. Didn't we already have this conversation?" Rainbow gasped suddenly. "Speaking of which, she has School! SCOOTALOO!" The filly backed up a little bit before coming out of her hiding spot.

"I know, I know, I have school," she complained. "But I don't wanna go!"

The two royals chuckled before Rainbow levitated the filly onto her back. "Well all little princesses have to go to school," she said making her way back up the stairs. "We have to get your teeth brushed and your coat cleaned. You're been lying on my head all night and I know you're dirty. No buts!"

"I'll be on my way now, Rainbow!" Celestia called to her, making her way to the door. "I shall see you later!"

"Ok, Celestia!" The princess of the sun walked out the doors, leaving dash to wash her surrogate daughter.



"Uggghhhh," Scootaloo groaned from the top of Princess' back. "Why, why, why?"

"Stop having a tantrum," Rainbow said, ignoring Sweetie Drops' chuckling. Since there wasn't a heavy amount of traffic in the town, it was only her. "School is not that bad, Scoots."

"Tell that to Diamond Tiara," the filly retorted as they walked past Sweet Apple Acres. "She always make fun of me and the others. Her father was the one that padlocked my home by making the rent payment come before the end of the month, which was basically the next day. I was OUTSIDE the next day!"

"Wait, what?" Rainbow asked, stopping in front of the bridge leading into the town. Sweetie Drops also looked a little upset. "Diamond Tiara's father, Filthy Rich, had you put out?"

"Yep. The day before he came knocking on my door, screaming for us to open it." Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows before she continued her walk towards the schoolhouse.

"I'll talk to this stallion who put a filly out of their home. What about Diamond Tiara?" They walked through town where multiple ponies began bowing to her.

"Diamond Tiara is so stuck up. Sometimes, I just wanna buck her into a tree like WHAM! But then I would get in trouble. So I take her food instead during lunch and throw it where she'll never find it."

"That's not nice," Rainbow said, although she couldn't help but chuckle. "Next time she's being mean to you or your friends, tell the teacher, alright?"

"Ok," Scootaloo groaned. Soon, they arrived at the school. It hadn't started yet, so the kids were just playing outside.

"Hey, Scootaloo!" The group looked over to the right to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trotting forward. Rarity's sister suddenly gasped and bowed before Apple Bloom did the same, making Rainbow groan and roll her eyes.

"You can rise now, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. I'm friends with your sisters. You're technically family." While they rose, Rainbow bent down so Scootaloo can get off her back to greet her friends.

"Will you be picking me up?" Scootaloo asked her guardian.

"Unless you have something planned I'll be here, Squirt," she replied, ruffling the filly's mane. She lifted her wing and pulled out the bagged lunch, levitating it over to the filly. "Just make sure you let Ms. Cherilee know if you do. She'll send me a letter. Now I have to go setup a meeting with a certain parent about a certain sudden eviction that was not given for thirty days, but one instead. Have a good day at school."

"Ok! By, mom!" Rainbow's eyes widened before they relaxed, watching as Scootaloo went into the school with the other children. She smiled, thinking about that title.

"See ya' this afternoon, Scoots!" Rainbow called out. Once all the students were inside she and Sweetie Drops turned around, walking back into town.

"How do you feel about that?" The agent asked, already knowing what's on Dash's mind. "I'm guessing surprised."

"Yeah, I'm both actually," Rainbow said. "Let's stop at Twilight's for a second. I need to talk to her about this." They went down a different street while Rainbow continued talking. "I'm surprised that she called me mom on her own. She did before, before we went to Canterlot yesterday. But now, I feel like she did it on purpose. Does she possibly....see me as her mother?"

"Maybe," Sweetie drops said, looking down at one of the bowing ponies. The streets were beginning to get a little busy now. "I mean, you're the only one that actually took her in. It's totally understandable if she does see you as a mother figure."

"Yeah, you're right." The Princess knocked on the wooden door, waiting for it to open. A second later, Spike answered it, looking very unamused.

"Rainbow? This is a public library. Keyword public. The opening times are on the door, see?" The reptile pointed to the door, showing a sign with the opening times on it.

"Oh hush, Dragon," Rainbow said as she and Sweetie Drops walked inside. "Is Twilight in?"

"In here!" The two turned towards the left, seeing Twilight and Cherry Berry sitting at the kitchen table.

"Your highness!" Cherry flew out of her chair and planted her muzzle to the ground. Rainbow groaned before getting an idea.

"Hold on, I wanna try this. Rise, my little pony." Cherry got up off the ground while everyone else just shook their head at the princess. "Oh yeah, that felt good. Good morning, Twilight." She walked towards the end of the table and sat down facing both of the mares while Sweetie Drops stood at the doorway.

"Morning, Rainbow," she replied, taking another bite out of her sandwich, noticing Rainbow's confused facial expression. "There's something wrong with you, what is it?"

Rainbow took a deep breath and sighed. "It's about Scootaloo." The two mares at the table turned to her, giving her their full attention. "I took her to school this morning since I knew she didn't wanna go back. Oh, by the way, mom gave me some Grand Galloping Gala tickets." Rainbow lifted her wing and levitated out an envelope. Reaching in she pulled out one for Twilight and handed it to her.

"Oh! Grand Galloping Gala?" Twilight squealed.

"How'd your mom afford a whole envelope of tickets? Is she rich?" Cherry Berry asked.

"Uhhhh she knows ponies," Twilight quickly covered up.

"Yes, now back to the story." Rainbow cleared her throat. "I took her to the school and dropped her off. I told her to have a good day. But before she went inside, she returned with 'Okay, bye mom.'"

"Awwww," Twilight fawned, setting down the ticket.

"No! No 'Awwww'! There should be a 'oooohhhhh.' Come on Twilight! What am I supposed to do about this?" Rainbow planted her chin on the table. "If she really thinks of me as her mother, then what do I do? I mean, I can't just follow through with that unless I'm absolutely sure I want to be a mom!"

"Rainbow, I'm gonna ask you an important question," Cherry Berry said. "Do you want to be her mother?" Rainbow looked up at her adviser before sitting up straight.

"I.....I don't know. Yeah I have feelings for the kid, but I don't know about being her mother. If I don't, I don't wanna hurt her feelings."

"I see," Twilight said. "Well maybe you should ask a parent. I mean, it can't be that hard to make a decision on whether or not you want a child, right? Sometimes ponies just go out and do it."

"Yeah, but what if i go out, do it and it's not what I really wanted? What both of us really wanted?"

"Are you saying you're not a good mother?" Sweetie Drops asked from the doorway. "'Cuz out of what I've seen you're amazing with Scootaloo. And I've seen a lot." The agent pointed to her scarred eye.

"I agree," Twilight inputted. "To be honest, I think you're amazing with Scootaloo. The princesses would think the same. Hey Spike! Ask Celestia if Rainbow's amazing with Scootaloo!"

"On it!"

"Trust me, Rainbow," Cherry said, placing her hoof on Rainbow's arm. I'm pretty sure everything will be okay. Ask some people who actually see you with Scootaloo. Like....I don't know, the dignitaries from Saddle Arabia. I'm positive they'll say the same thing. They were there when you first met Scootaloo, when you picked her up."

"Yeah, I guess so. If I take on this role, I don't wanna be a bad mother. I wanna be the one she looks up to, not the one she fears. If I mess up, then I fail. And I NEVER fail!"

"Then you won't fail," Twilight said. A sudden belch in the next room got their attention before Spike came walking into the kitchen holding a scroll which he handed to Twilight.

She unwrapped it quickly before clearing her throat. "Hello, Rainbow Dash. I have heard that you are doubting yourself in becoming a wonderful mother. From what me and Luna have seen, you will be absolutely amazing. Never doubt yourself, because you have proven yourself more than once. You will be wonderful and Scootaloo will love you LIKE a mother. Your-" Twilight coughed, trying to cover up the word. "Celestia."

"See?" Cherry said, slapping Rainbow's hoof. "You'll be fine. You will not mess up, because you're Rainbow Dash."

"The one who never fails," Twilight finished.

"And always finds a way," Sweetie Drops said. Rainbow thought for a moment before she let out a huff.

"Fine," she admitted. "I'll THINK on the subject and possibility of adoption, but that's it. I wanna get Fluttershy's opinion on this since she'll be living with us."

"Oh, yeah! How is Fluttershy?" Cherry asked. "Is she out and about?"

"She was still in the bed when I left. I hope she's up now. I have to go to the castle and check. It's making me a little worried since she never sleeps in." She stood up and stretched before making her way to the door. "Thanks for the advice, ladies. I'll see you two when I need you."

"Alright, see ya'!" Twilight yelled after her.
> Chapter 12 - Bullying Issue? Solved
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle trotted into the classroom with the others, heading towards the back to take their seats. Today was a good day for the flightless Pegasus. She woke up great, had a wonderful conversation with Rainbow, and made friends.

She climbed in her seat like the others, facing the front. Her friends sitting beside her gave her a strange glance before Ms. Cherilee walked in, starting class. During the whole time, she kept getting the sensation of being watched. The next sensation, she looked around, spotting Diamond Tiara looking over her shoulder for a quick second before turning back around.

"What was that?" Apple Bloom whispered to her pegasus friend.

"I'm not sure," she whispered back.

During lunch/recess, Scootaloo and the other crusaders sat at a separate table to discuss plans.

"So how exactly will we get our cutie marks this time?" Apple Bloom asked, pulling out some grapes. "Why don't we try teaching?"

"Teaching what?" Scootaloo inquired, chewing on a sandwich. "We can't teach if we don't know anything."

"That's right!"

The three fillies looked across from them to see Diamond Tiara walking over with Silver Spoon, a smug look on her face. "You three definitely don't know anything if you're still blank flanks!" The two girls let out a chuckle, making the other three groan.

"Sort of like you," Scootaloo retorted. "You obviously don't know how to leave us alone, go away!"

"Awww, the homeless blank flank is getting all mad?" Diamond taunted mockingly, walking closer to the table.

"I am not homeless! I have a home!"

"The castle's not your home, you dumb filly! You're just living there until the Princess kicks you out back into the streets-"

"Stop!" Scootaloo yelled out, trying to hold back the tears.

"-where you'll have to steal to survive again. Face it, blank flank. You don't. Have. A. Home. Or a family. You. Are. Nothing." She began laughing as the two bullies turned around and walked away, leaving Scootaloo sobbing and sniffling.

"D-don't listen to her, Scoots!" Apple Bloom said angrily. "She's just saying that because she doesn't have one."

"Yeah, Scootaloo, we're your family!" Sweetie Belle inputted. "Don't listen to that wannabe." Scootaloo's mind drowned out all the other sounds before she jumped out of her seat and away from the school, ignoring the calls of her friends.

She ran through the town, once again ignoring Pinkie's offer for a slice of cake. What was that Party Pony doing anyway? Shaking that out of her mind, she ran out of the town, her tears blurring her vision. Her sobs attracting those around her.

She passed Sweet Apple Acres, heading for the Castle gates. She couldn't stay at school, constantly being taunted about not having a family. She needed comfort and reassurance instead. From someone that she looked up to.



The Princess looked around her grand office, looking at all the brown books on the shelves with no names and roman numerals. There were also scrolls, mostly empty with plenty of feathers and inkquells.

She didn't even know she had an office, let alone doors beside the throne! This mansion was definitely the bees knees. Fluttershy was probably up now, probably getting ready to head back to the cottage to take care of the critters there. Meaning Rainbow can get some investigating and court papers discussed. The cerulean princess was worried about Fluttershy's sleep state. Sleeping in like that was definitely not her.

She finally has a staff, situated in the two buildings in front of the mansion. One for three different things each. She'll have to have a meeting in the throne room with them to talk about the court here. Just how will that work?

A knock sounded at the door making her snap out of her daze and look towards the source of the sound.

"Come in!" She yelled out, her voice echoing a little around the big office. The door opened, revealing a guard wearing her signature armor.

"Your highness," she said, bowing briefly. "Scootaloo wants to see you."

"Scootaloo? Isn't she at school?" Rainbow started making her way towards the guard, confusion on her face.

"She is actively sitting on your throne. When she arrived, she was crying hectically. I'm thinking a bad day at school."

"What?" Rainbow walked quickly past the guard and out into the spacious throne room. "Scootaloo?" She turned left, making her way up the carpeted steps that led up to the throne before spotting Scootaloo, curled up, and crying her eyes out.

"Heyyyyy," the Princess said softly, an apologetic smile on her face. She sat down and slid her hooves underneath the filly's crying form, lifting her up and bringing her towards herself, letting the child cry in her shoulder. "It's okayyyy....it's okayyyy..."

Rainbow patted and rubbed her back, cooing sweet things into her ear, trying to get her to calm down.

"I-I-I m-miss my mom.....and d-dad," she cried.

"I know....I know," Rainbow replied, before turning to the guards lined up along the carpet. "Leave us!" The guards all broke position and walked towards and out the doors, leaving the two mares alone.

Rainbow activated her magic, leaving the filly pinned to her shoulder, while she vlimbed up on the throne and got situated. Once comfortable, she stopped her magic and slowly set the filly down in front of her.

"Wanna talk about what happened?" She asked her softly.

"D-Diamond T-T-Tiara called me a homeless filly with no family a-and that you'll kick me out!" Scootaloo whimpered.

"I'm getting tired of this pompous family," Rainbow muttered to herself. "That isn't true, Scootaloo. You are not homeless and you have a family. You have Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and myself. Not to mention your friends. I promise to never kick you out and that this is your home too."

Rainbow leaned down and nuzzled the saddened filly, making her look up with sad eyes. "I absolutely promise, squirt. Got that?"

Scootaloo grinned before nodding eagerly. "Yes, Rainbow!"

"Good, now has Diamond Tiara been taunting and making fun of you for awhile?"

"Ever since school started."

"Ok. Do you want to go back to school? Be with your friends?" Scootaloo looked down before shaking her head. Rainbow sighed before bending low. "Hop on. I'm taking you to Fluttershy." Scootaloo climbed on her back before Rainbow trotted down the steps, using her magic to open the doors to reveal the guards standing there.

"Two Pegasi! With me!" She trotted past the guard before two ponies followed her through the hallway and out the door of the housing building. "We're going to Fluttershy's cottage," she said over her shoulder. The guards nodded before following the princess into the air.

"Fluttershy's going to watch over you today because I have a meeting and some memos to cover you. So you'll be staying there for awhile, ok?" Scootaloo nodded as Rainbow Dash and the guards landed in front of the peaceful cottage. "Flutters!"

While Scootaloo was getting off of her back, a mare came around the with three brown rabbits on her back. "Hey, Dashie! Hey, Scootaloo, what are you doing out of school?" She gave the filly a quick nuzzle before Rainbow responded.

"Bully problem. Squirt came home crying. Can you watch over her for me? I have to head back to the castle, handle that, and get some more work done."

"Of course I'll watch her! Maybe she'd like to help with the animals." Scootaloo stood beside Fluttershy, looking up at the bunnies on her back, who stared down at her in return.

"Thanks, Flutters," the princess thanked. She went around to Scootaloo and nuzzled her cheek, the filly returning the act with a smile. "I'll see you this afternoon, ok?"

"Ok!"

Rainbow turned to Fluttershy and gave her a quick peck before pulling back and walking towards the guards standing a few feet away. "I'll see you later, Fluttershy! Love ya!"

"Love you, too. Come on, Scootaloo," Fluttershy ordered. "You can help me feed the rabbits." Scootaloo and Fluttershy walked towards the back of the cottage while Rainbow and the guards flew back up into the air. Along the way, Rainbow Dash had her eyes narrowed, thinking about that family. She could either pay a visit now, or have him summoned to her office. Just thinking about that room had Rainbow smiling when they landed back onto the lawn of the castle.

She walked towards the castle, seeing the guard that she wanted to see the most. "Sweetie Drops."

The agent looked from her stoic position before she turned towards the voice, seeing Rainbow Dash approach her. "Yes, Princess?"

"I need you to get Filthy Rich, his wife, and his daughter summoned to my throne room as soon as possible," she ordered, making her way towards the doors. "I suspect you know the name?"

"Yes, I do. I'll inform Sergeant Cloudstorm at once." The Special Agent walked forwards towards the entry gates where her group would be stationed at, making sure to be around whenever Rainbow had to go some where. Sure enough, there they were.

"Sergeant Cloudstorm," she said, stopping and saluting in front of him.

"Yes, Sweetie Drops?" He said, stepping forward from his post.

The special agent lowered her hoof, relaxing before sending the message. "Princess Dash wants to see Filthy Rich, his wife, and his daughter at once in her throne room."

"Alright. Shine Heart! Fire Heart!" Two mares, definitely sisters, stepped forward. One had an orange coat and a red mane while the other had a black coat and a pink mane. They both had blue eyes. "You two are to assist Special Agent Sweetie Drops in escorting the Rich family towards the castle."

"Yes, sir!" Both mares said, saluting.



"Ok!" Twilight said as she and Cherry Berry walked towards the market. "We need, cabbage, green beans, fruit, three of every kind, annnnnnd....." Twilight turned over her list, checking for anything else. "That's it," she said turning to Cherry with a smile. "Do you know how the square works?"

"Well I've actually never been to Ponyville before, so I don't actually know how everything works," Cherry replied, looking at a stand.

"Well it works just like any store...it's just outside. Here's a list-" Twilight handed her an extra scroll and a bag of bits. "And some money. Get some fruits and I'll get the other stuff. We'll meet up again at the library."

"Alright!" The two mares parted ways to get the required items, making sure to spend the money wisely. Don't want to run out of  bits too early. She stopped at a stand and looked at the list, checking to make sure she was at the right stand before a voice caught her attention.

"Cherry?!" The mare turned her head to see another mare having a light aquamarine coat with a harp for a cutie mark.

"Lyra!" She said, going over to give the mare a hug. "I haven't seen you since SMILE! How are you?"

"I'm well," she responded, looking her over. "What are you doing in Ponyville? We're still undercover, by the way."

"Well, I've been assigned by Princess Celestia to be one of Rainbow Dash's advisers. So I had to relocate here."

"Oh! I heard she's starting court soon! There is so much that Ponyville needs done, like.....taping off the Everfree. It's terrible what happened in there."

"So I've heard," Cherry said, looking over at the forest sadly. "Was it really that bad?"

"Well the guards here found the bodies, and from what I heard.." Lyra looked both ways before leaning in whispering. "They were limbless." Cherry leaned back, looking at the mare in shock.

"Seriously?!"

"That's what I heard. It would make more since anyway if they had to bring multiple bags through here and take them to the morgue nearby." Cherry made a sad face before turning to the forest. "But enough doom and gloom. Where are you staying while in Ponyville?"

"At the library with Twilight." She pointed behind her past some stands to show the tree with windows and doors. "It's really comfy in there."

"OOOOooooo, staying with Twilight?" Lyra asked, obviously implying something.

"Shut up, Lyra," Cherry said chuckling and hitting her hoof. "We're just friends."

"We'll see. It was great seeing you again. Have you seen Bon-Bon by any chance? She moved out of Ponyville to Canterlot and I haven't seen her since."

"Sorry, no. But I'll keep a lookout. See ya' later!" The two mares waved at each other before going back to what they were doing.



The three guards made their way through the square, making sure to keep their serious faces on. They attracted some attention, ponies stopping to see what was going. The three guards stopped at a two story home, made out of white stone and had columns, along with a very fancy door. The two sisters stood on the porch while Sweetie Drops walked up to the door. There were clearly some voices being heard inside. She huffed and put on her most authoritative attitude before knocking hard three times.

"Now who is knocking like that?" A mare said from inside. Some hoofsteps were heard before they called out. "WHO IS IT?"

"Royal Guard! Open up!" Some ponies stopped and looked at the scene before the door unlocked and opened up, revealing Spoiled Rich and Filthy Rich.

"Can I help you?" He asked, confused as to why the Royal Guard would want to be knocking on his door.

"You have been summoned by Rainbow Dash on an important matter! You and your whole family are to come with us at once!" The two relatives looked at each other before Diamond Tiara came to the door, peeking out from in between her father's hooves.

"Can I ask why?" Spoiled Rich asked.

"I am not allowed to give out information pertaining to the princesses!"

"Alright," Filthy Rich said. "Let's go."

"I don't wanna go!" Diamond protested, trying to go back into the house.

"That was not a request!" Sweetie Drops yelled, scaring the three relatives.

"Okay, okay!" The filly walked out of the house with her parents, who closed the door before Sweetie Drops turned around, leading the group towards the walkway. They walked past the other two guards who took up the rear of the group. They walked past the gate and towards the center of town, making sure to avoid eye contact with the rest of the ponies there watching.

Soon they made it to Sweet Apple Acres, where Applejack was seen passing by with a bunch of apples, headed towards the square.

"Good Day, Sweetie Drops," she said, tilting her head towards the guard. She responded in kind, continuing the trek to the castle. They arrived at the gates six minutes later, which were opened up for the group. The family looked around the lavish grounds, seeing four fountains on the walkway, leading up to the housing mansion. The guards there opened the doors, leading inside, revealing the inside of the building. Filthy, Spoiled,  gasped. Having not attended the coronation, he didn't know what to expect. Diamond Tiara was no better. There was absolutely no way that all this could be hers. NO way.

They turned left down a hallway before turning onto another adjacent hallway on the right going straight. They turned right again, a pair of golden doors a little feet ahead where a couple of guards were standing, watching them.

"Princess Dash requests the audience of Filthy Rich and his family," Sweetie Drops explained. The guard closest to the door nodded before getting ready to knock on the door.



"So we've decided that the memo should include information on which topics have already been handled," Lady Justice explained. Rainbow Dash was sitting on her throne, the previous judge standing beside her as they reviewed on what to include on the memo. "They can only restrict things to nature, that is all. Anything else must be submitted to either Princess Cadance, Princess Celestia, or Princess Luna."

"Sounds reasonable," Rainbow commented, looking at a copy of the template. After a moment she looked at it again, making sure she didn't skim over anything important. "Okay, we'll us this template. Important notes on the side, main message in the middle, and a rip off on the bottom, letting them submit their registry for the clearance. This is a long process. First we have to get everyone in who wants to get in. That's a lot of ponies."

"I agree."

"And then we have to have them submitted to the office to find a good date for them, in which they'll be placed. There is a total of how many ponies a day?"

"One hundred, your highness," Lady said.

"Alright, so we'll have to up security around the whole property, then. We'll have a meeting with it tomorrow, Tuesday morning. I don't want to hold you guys up from lunch."

Lady Justice bowed and trotted towards the doors before someone knocked on them, catching Rainbow's attention. "Enter!" They were pushed open, revealing the security standing outside the door, Sweetie Drops and the sisters. The special agent walked into the room, the Rich family looking around the hall in amazement.

She stopped in front of the throne before bowing with the other escorts. "We have retrieved the family like you ordered, Princess. Is there anything else?"

"That is all, Sweetie Drops. Thank you. You and your team are dismissed." They bowed again before the security left the family behind with the princess. The doors closing, making a reverberating bang that echoed around the room. A couple seconds after, Rainbow closed her eyes and sighed. "Do you know why I have summoned you here today, Filthy?"

The mares looked towards the only Stallion in the room who was apprehensively shaking his head. "No, I'm afraid not, your highness."

"Well, there are two problems. This morning, I was taking Scootaloo to school. She was telling me a couple things about your family. Things that me AND my escort did not like."

"Your highness, with all due respect, you-"

"I.....am still speaking, pony." The stallion shut his mouth before Princess Dash got up and stalked towards the family. "She was telling me....that you have evicted her out of her home a 'week before the month ended.' But in reality, it was the next day. Can you tell me why that is, Filthy?" She stopped and stood in front of the pony, eyes narrowed, waiting for his repsonse.

"Well....ummmmm..." The other two ponies in the room just stared at him in fear. "Well, my daughter came home and said that the family of that filly were going o make me go bankrupt. So I acted rationally and upped their payment date...and possibly the price." Rainbow pulled in her lips and nodded slowly.

"You do realize that Scootaloo's parents were deceased for two weeks before the day you decided to evict her, correct?" The family looked at each other before turning to Diamond Tiara, who was blinking rapidly. "Her mother and father were found...limbless, I might add....in the Everfree Forest. We have not shown them to Scoots. She is already having nightmares, I don't want her screaming in my face at night. So that is obviously a lie. The truth, Filthy. Now."

"I swear, your highness. That is what my daughter told me when she came home from school, honest." The princess turned her sights to the filly cowering behind her mother.

"Diamond Tiara. Step forward please." Spoiled Rich looked behind her and used her rear leg to pull the filly forward, making the girl shake even more. She took a few tentative steps towards the princess, stopping right in front of her father. "Can you tell me what REALLY happened that day?"

The filly looked up at the princess before looking back down at the ground. "Well....I told Scootaloo something and...ummm..."

"You were bullying her....again, weren't you?" The two parents stared at the girl in shock, while she just stood there and let some silent tears fall. Princess Dash sighed before looking back up at the parents. "Scoots also told me that Diamond Tiara has been bullying her ever since she started attending there. And for proof of that, she came home crying in the middle of the school day, during lunch if my memory serves me correctly. She cried on my throne and told me that your daughter told her that she was homeless, that I'll kick her out and that she has no family."

The two parents stared in anger at the girl before Dash continued. "Also, it seems that she has possibly made up a lie to possibly get back at my Scootaloo, causing you, Filthy Rich, to evict a filly out of her home, and to be out five hundred bits."

"Wait, what?" The stallion said, looking up at the Princess in confusion.

"I am not fining you for the eviction...I am fining you for doing it early." Rainbow turned around and walked back up her throne taking a seat and looking back down at the family. "I have checked the records on that house a little while ago. They already payed the rent for the next month. You just wanted something to make sure they couldn't 'make you go bankrupt.' There was NO rent to pay. That is a federal offense in the Equestrian lawbook. You are being actively fined five hundred bits. You are now being watched closely. If the payment is not...delivered in three months, tops, you will be spending your time working in a clothing store in Canterlot under supervision to make sure you are not trying 'NOT to go bankrupt.' And as for Diamond Tiara.."

They all turned to the filly to see her looking unbelievably at the Princess. "...if I ever hear about you bullying Scootaloo, OR her friends again...that's right. I know about that too....you will be working with the Pie family out in Equestria on the rock farm for two months. Do I make myself clear?"

The family nodded before Rainbow nodded once. "GUARD!" A guard outside of the doors opened them up, running towards the princess and saluting. "Escort this family back home. They will not be a problem again."

"Yes, Princess."

"As for myself, I have to go pickup Scootaloo." She jumped off of the throne, gliding towards the exit, leaving the guards to escort the group of scared family members. "She has spent the day at Fluttershy's since she can make even an animal stop crying. When you make your payments, hand them to a guard outside of these gates." She left the room, making her way towards the front lobby to see Fluttershy trotting towards the stairs with Scootaloo on her back.

"There you are!" Fluttershy said, going over to nuzzle Rainbow Dash which she returned quickly. "How was your meeting?"

"It went well. We just need to have everything written out, reviewed, and then sent to a couple cities nearby. Also, Scootaloo..." The filly jumped off of Fluttershy's back and walked over to Rainbow Dash, who bent down so she could jump on her back. "You won't be having anymore bullying issues. And her father is getting a hefty fine. Everything is nearly okay now." Scootaloo grinned and nuzzled Rainbow, making the princess grin with her.

Fluttershy looked behind her to see the family being led out of the hallway and towards the front door, with Spoiled Rich holding a wide-eyed Diamond Tiara by the tail in her mouth.

"What did you do?" she asked, looking back at Rainbow.

"I fined Filthy five hundred bits like it says in the lawbook, and said if Diamond keeps bullying Scootaloo or her friends gain, I'll have her sent to the Pie family rock farm out in western Equestria. I already spoke to Pinkie about it. I know that filly wouldn't want to get her pretty Tiara dirty, right?" Fluttershy just chuckled at the mare before looking towards Scootaloo, who somehow managed to fall asleep on Rainbow's back.

"What are you going to do with her? I'm sure you've been thinking a lot about it."

Rainbow grinned before looking around. "Well...I actually wanted to talk to you about that. I think it's pretty important and to be considered. I........want to give Scoots a home.....here, with us."
> Chapter 13 - Decision
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two mares put Scootaloo in their bed before they stepped outside on the stairs to talk about Dash's hopeful decision.

"Are you sure about that?" Fluttershy asked quietly, going back to her timid personality. "You'll be more busy in the future and Scootaloo will want attention from her mothers."

"I know," Rainbow said nodding slowly. "But I'll do everything in my power to make sure she gets what she wants, when she needs it. She's been through a lot, and I don't want her going through more of it. She already shivers in her sleep at night."

Fluttershy looked down at the ground before offering the princess, in her mind, a beautiful smile. "Okay," she responded finally, nodding her head. "I trust you on this. I also want to adopt her. But we have to get her paperwork and more, as well as how to propose to her."

"Well, I have a great idea on how to get that done. After all......the event of the year is coming up pretty quick and I'm supposed to give a speech."

Fluttershy looked at her confused. What event was she talking about? Could it be the....oh, THAT event.

"Triple G?"

"Triple G," she confirmed, nodding her head. "I'll ask Twilight tomorrow about the forms after the meeting about the memos."

"You still have to go to those?"

"Well, Equestria needs to tell me their problems so I can act like a princess," Rainbow Dash said, heading down the stairs. "You hungry? I'm pretty sure there's some food cooked up in the hall." Fluttershy smiled, before trotting after her marefriend down the stairs and towards the dining area. "Will Scootaloo get mad that we ate without her?"

"More than likely."

SIX HOURS LATER

"You ate without me?!" The filly cried out, watching the two adults as they walked into the room with a plate of food. She jumped out of bed and walked towards her idol, making sure to put on her best pouting face. "Why didn't you wake me?!"

"Because you looked so adorable, precious face," Fluttershy chuckled. She set the plate down on a nearby table. "We didn't wanna wake you up. But we brought you a plate back instead. See? Complete with a slice of cake."

The Filly hopped back on the bed, too small to actually see what was on the plate or the table. She looked in front of her, seeing a plate full of veggies, something else that smelled good, and slice of cake. A big slice.

"Go easy on the cake though, squirt," Rainbow said, setting a drink down next to the plate. "I want you healthy, not sick of too much sugar." Rainbow pulled in a chair from the kitchen that she brought with her, setting it down in front of the table. Scootaloo hopped onto the chair, settling down before starting to eat the food. The two mares looked on in happiness before Rainbow nuzzled the back of her head, making the filly grin.

"Stop, I'm trying to eat!" She protested, although she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Hey. I need to get some flying in. You wanna join?" The princess asked her. Scootaloo gasped, setting down the slice of cake before turning around to face Rainbow.

"Would I? I'd love too! I remember when you flew Fluttershy that one night at her cottage!" The two mares raised an eyebrow before they shared a glance.

"You saw that?" Fluttershy asked her.

"Yeah! I was on the roof, looking at the stars when I saw your Rainbow trail. It was amazing!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled before motioning towards the cake. "Well, eat up, then we'll go for a flight, alright?" Scootaloo nodded before finishing up her food in record time. Figuring that the best time to get some of the experience of actually being in the air would be now, she quickly devoured the food, not leaving a speck behind to please Fluttershy, who kept reminding her to eat every crumb. Because "It helps fillies grow stronger."

"Done!" She proclaimed jumping out of her chair. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Okay, okay!" Rainbow said chuckling as she bent down, letting the excited filly climb aboard. Once she was settled, Rainbow gave Fluttershy a kiss before she made her way out of the bedroom doors. And down the stairs. They walked towards the front doors, letting Dash open the objects.

The guards watched as she stopped and let the doors close behind her. "I'm going for a flight," she told them. "I'll be back in five minutes."

"Yes your highness." Rainbow dash smiled before lifting her alicorn wings that she's barely used ever since finding out her true origin.

"Hold on, Scoots!" The filly wrapped her hooves around Rainbow's neck before they shot into the air, leaving a rainbow trail behind.

"EEEEEEE!" Scootaloo squealed as they leveled out. She looked down, seeing the ground far below. Rainbow tilted as they circled the town of Ponyville. "This is...amazing."

"Glad you like it, squirt!" Rainbow Das thanked. "It's not my best speed but still great. You can do it too!"

"Umm....." Rainbow looked over her shoulder in confusion.

"CAN you fly?"

Scootaloo looked down in sadness, making Rainbow start to feel a little bad about rubbing her speed skills in the filly's mane.

"Hey, it's alright, kid. We're all late bloomers. Fluttershy doesn't like to fly."

"Really?" Scootaloo looked up.

"Oh yeah. The only time she really does is when she needs to get to the top of something." Rainbow continued her flight with Scootaloo. "I bet you'll be a pretty good flier one day."

"I know!" Scootaloo squealed. "But I'd rather ride on your back. It's more fun!" Rainbow chuckled before they flew around some more then came to a landing at the castle.

"Thanks for the flight Rainbow!" Scootaloo said as she climbed off her back.

"Sure thing, kiddo! Now let's get ready for bed, you have school tomorrow! It's a Tuesday."



The Princess and her advisory committee were finally able to discuss the memos the next morning, eager to get them sent out and read. The team was finally starting Dash's reign as one of the Princesses of Equestria.

"So yay on the memo?" Twilight asked the group of five in front of her. They all said yay, giving permission to get these notes out. "Alright. Any words, Princess?"

"I approve," Dash said. "Where do I sign?" Lady Justice slid over a parchment and a pen, where Dash grabbed it in her magic and looked over the note. Liking what she saw, she signed the paper before sliding it back to Lady Justice. "I take it our next step is making copies of the memos?"

"That would be correct," Cherry Berry confirmed.

"Great! Let's get this done people! Meeting adjourned!" The ponies all stood up and gathered their things before walking out the door of Dash's meeting room. "Twilight, can I speak with you for a moment?" The mare looked over her shoulder before saying something to Cherry about seeing her outside and walking back over to see Dash.

"What is it?" She asked, stopping in front of the Princess.

"So....me and Flutters have decided that...we...want to adopt Scootaloo."

Twilight gasped before giving off a childish squeal and stomping her hooves. "Ohhh, Rainbow, I'm so happy for you! But there's a lot of red tape you have to go through to even have a child in your custody. Have you spoken to your mother about it?"

"I figured you might have a book or a checklist or something."

"I do, I'll have Spike send it to you!"

Thanks, Twilight! I'd REALLY appreciate it." Twilight patted Rainbow's back before making her way out the door, leaving Rainbow alone in her office.

She sighed before she walked behind her desk, eager to review some of the forms that would need signing for the upcoming days. "I'm gonna be one busy princess."



The door to the library burst open, revealing Twilight and Cherry Berry as they walked into the group of friends already setup in there.

"Did she really say that?" Cherry asked her friend, intriguing the interests of Applejack.

"Yep! Told you she was gonna do it! They have a very deep connection!"

"What are y'all talkin' about?" The farmer asked.

"EEEEE!" Twilight squealed, doing a little dance before trotting over. "Dash....is adopting." The ponies in the room stopped what they were doing before Pinkie gasped and zipped over to the librarian.

"Oh my dilly dilly willy filly!" She cheered. "I have to throw a 'You Have A New Family!' party asap! I have to get ready!"

"Who there Pinkie!" Twilight said, grabbing the mare in her magic before she could zip out the door. "She has to fill out the forms and stuff first! That and she has to get approved, so there's no guarantee she'll actually GET Scootaloo."

"Well then, darling, by all means, help her!" Rarity said, walking over. "I'm absolutely sure you have some type of checklist, advice, or something for her."

Twilight released Pinkie and walked towards some more shelves. She scanned through the books and scrolls there, hoping to find that list she saw a week ago.

"Aha!" Twilight grabbed a certain scroll in her magic and pulled it towards her. She opened it, checking to make sure that she had the correct one. "Found it! Spike? Send this to Rainbow, please!" The baby dragon walked forward and took the scroll before blowing fire over it watching as the magic soared out of the library and towards the castle.



Fluttershy walked towards the trees in the back of her cottage, seeing a family of birds in a nest. They must've been having a conversation if their constant chirping was anything to go on.

"Excuse me? Mr. Bird?" She called out. The critter stopped its chirping and looked down at Fluttershy. "I need some advice. Do you have the time?" The bird chirped again before it flew down to land on Fluttershy's hoof. "You do? Oh, thank you. Me and Rainbow Dash are about to start a journey of adopting a child. Do you have any advice?"

The bird chirped for a while, giving the kind mare plenty of advice that she stored away in her mind for good measure. A few minutes later, more like seven, he finished. "Thank you very much, Mr. Bird. That is plenty of help." The bird chirped again before flying back up to the nest to continue its conversation with his family, leaving Fluttershy to head back to the castle. There was definitely going to be an adventure ahead.
> Chapter 14 - Triple G; Grand Proposal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow sat in her office, reading through one of her Daring Do novels, trying to get a reading on what the heck Daring was doing in a pit full of alligators when a bright light flashed in the middle of the room, catching her attention.

"Hello, Rainbow."

The princess of nature smiled as she saw Celestia walk up to her desk. "Hey, mom. Wassup?"

"Well, court just ended so I decided to see my daughter. Only I know exactly what she's up to." Celestia walked around the desk and gave Rainbow a nuzzle, the princess herself reciprocating the act. "I trust you've made a decision on her?"

"Yeah.....we want to adopt her." Rainbow looked up at Celestia to see her expression hadn't changed in the slightest, causing her to sigh. "But you already knew that. You seers."

The princess of the sun sat down and chuckled before grabbing one of the books in her magic behind Rainbow Dash and pulled on it, causing the bookcase to turn, shocking Rainbow. "Of course us seers see a lot of things. There are more of us than you think."

"How'd you do that?!" Rainbow asked, looking at the assortment of wines behind the bookcase, astonishment written all over her face.

"Well, I had this room developed by the same one who did my own office in Canterlot, which has a total of twenty hiding spaces in it. This is just one of many in here...that holds wine." She grabbed a wine bottle and two glasses from the table on the wall before popping it open and pouring her daughter and herself a glass. She passed on over to Rainbow, letting her take hold of it and take a sip.

"Mmmmm, this is actually really good, what is it?"

"It is a very old non-alcoholic from Seaward Shoals." Celestia took a sip from her own wineglass. "It is very expensive and rare. Mostly the only ones who can actually purchase a bottle is the royalty of Equestria. Your cousin, Cadance, has her own bottle in the Crystal Empire. Now, about Scootaloo..." Celestia set down her wine glass. "How are you going to propose?"

"Triple G."

"The Grand Galloping Gala? Interesting."

"Fluttershy thought so too." She set down her glass and looked back to Celestia. "I'm just worried that I'll screw up in the future. She'll indubitably say yes. But what if she regrets-OW!" Celestia retracted her hoof from the top of Rainbow's head, still staring at her unamused.

"Daughter, I thought I made myself clear in that letter. You will be a wonderful parent. All you have to do is believe in yourself. And instead of just acting like a princess over an entire land, act like a princess in her life. Because one? You take after your mother." Rainbow shook her head slowly at Celestia. "Shush. And two? You have Fluttershy to help you, I'm sure. And three? You have loving friends who will be there the whole time, and she has us. Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. The Royal Family who'll make sure she gets the great things in life."

Rainbow took a deep breath and nodded her head. "You're right. It will always work out, no matter what happens."

"That's my daughter." Celestia gave Rainbow another nuzzle before a sliver of magic came into the room and bundled in front of them to form a scroll. Rainbow picked it up and read it. "Looks like a list from Twilight for the area of adoption."

"That's exactly what it is," Rainbow commented. "I have to get these papers." She rolled the scroll back up and tucked it under her wing before she downed the rest of her wine. "I have to go mom and get these papers. Then I have to oversee the delivery of those letters."

"Let Lady Justice oversee the letters," Celestia said, waving her hoof in her direction. "She knows more about tracking things than you do I bet."

Rainbow scoffed.



"AHHHHHHH" The crusaders yelled as they fell into the bush from the hang glider crashing into the tree, piling on top of each other as they landed.

"Definitely not hang gliders," Sweetie Belle groaned from atop Scootaloo, who was on the very bottom of the pile.

"Nor are we skateborders," Scootaloo commented.

"And definitely not miners," Apple Bloom said from the top. She climbed off the pile and dusted herself off, the other two doing the same. "Ugghh, we need better ideas that don't revolve around us hitting each other with tools, hitting other things with tools, and using tools at all."

"But we need tools to get our cutie marks!" Sweetie Belle cried as she looked Scootaloo over, brushing a branch out of her hair. "We need to find something!"

"Well...I'm tuckered out for today," Scootaloo commented. "I'm going home and relaxing."

"Yeah, me too," Apple Bloom said, following along with Sweetie Belle right behind her. "So what's it like living there?"

"It's alright, not too much. I haven't been inside the other buildings. But I did overhear some guards speaking about an underground level than just the two in the mansion part." They walked out of the whitetail woods, seeing the familiar buildings of Ponyville in the distance.

"Do you think you'll be stayin' there?" Scootaloo sighed before answering her question.

"I...don't know. I mean I would really like to. But it's really up to Rainbow. She's the one pulling the strings. I'm still trying to figure out how she got to royalty."

"Everyone is!" Sweetie Belle yelled. "I knew her before and she had absolutely nothing to do with Canterlot. All she talked about was the wonderbolts. Wonderbolts, wonderbolts, wonderbolts. Wonderbolts this, wonderbolts that. I'm starting to think she's secretly doing something to get in, like.......writing her name into the reserves."

"That's be interesting to see," Scootaloo commented, chuckling before stopping and clearing her throat for a scenario. "Rainbow Dash stealthily tip-toes down the hall in the Cloudsdale Coliseum, looking around the area before she rolls across the hall behind another pillar. After hearing no sound, she turned around to pick the lock on the manager's office door, making sure to look around in paranoia and keep an open ear for any intruders or nosy ponies. After the door is unlocked, she pushes it open as silently as she could, a creak the only sound being heard before rushing in, closing it behind her and going behind the desk, digging through the drawers.

"Eventually she finds what she was looking for, the approved reserves list, and places it on the desk before grabbing a nearby pen, taking note of how it was positioned on the desk before. She goes to an open space and inserts her name and information before grinning gleefully and putting everything back where it was. Then she leaves......leaving absolutely no trace behind that she was ever there."

The two fillies stared at her, very impressed with the movement and the storyline that she just put out there.

"Are you sure your cutie mark isn't in storytellin'?" Apple Bloom asked, raising an eyebrow. Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement. "Because that was really good. Like...really REALLY good."

"Eh I doubt it. Come on, I wonder what Pinkie's special is....I hope it's not that cake we baked." The two fillies continued there trek towards Ponyville, making more conversation as they headed for a date with delicious treats.



Rainbow Dash walked into one of the closets in her room, finding the box of Scootaloo's belongings that were in her house before she was kicked out in greed. Each time Rainbow thought about that, she got upset. Now only because it was a filly, but because it was a starving, parentless, desperate-to-survive filly. Her Scootaloo.

She shook her head before getting back down to the task at hand. After grabbing the box, she walked over into the lounge and took a seat before setting the box in front of her. The princess lifted a wing and pulled out the scroll and set it on the side before reading down the list.

"Equestrian ID." She grabbed the small amount of papers in the box before going through the stuff, making sure to read every line on every paper before finding what she was looking for. Turning the checklist over, she wrote down the information and checked it again for another item. This went on for twenty minutes until Rainbow had everything she needed. She smiled and blew her rainbow colored mane out from in front of her face.

"Welcome to the family, Scootaloo," she muttered to herself.

"Whatcha doin?" Fluttershy asked as she walked into the lounge, capturing her marefriend's attention.

"I was getting the information required for Scootaloo's adoption. Now I have to go to Canterlot and get these filled out. I want to fly there, but I want to try out this thing."

"What thing?"

"Teleportation." Rainbow lit her horn before she flashed away into the bedroom. "I can go short distances, but I want to go all the way to Canterlot."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Fluttershy asked timidly. "I'd...umm...feel better if you just flew there. You know...if you want to, that is. It's much safer." Rainbow huffed and smiled before walking over to her marefriend. She kissed her and gave her a soft nuzzle, letting her nuzzle back before speaking.

"I won't do it then if it makes you uncomfortable. I'll just go and be awesome with what I can do already."

Fluttershy smiled and pecked her before going over to the scroll and picked it up. Rainbow raised her wing and let Fluttershy place it there before closing it back. "Go and get a child, Princess Dash." Rainbow smiled before trotting out the door and walking out.



"Come on, Bon Bon. Hop on his back."

Special Agent Sweetie Drops raised her head and shook it, making her hair fly around. "Nope! There is no way you are getting me on Night! He has the deepest voice and if he speaks, and I'm on his back, then there's going to be a fight in midair."

"Aw come on! You know what, just get on my back." Rainbow walked forward and kneeled down, allowing the agent to climb on and put her hoofs around her neck. "There. Was that so hard?"

"Only to think about, your highness." Rainbow rolled her eyes before she took of into the air, the security team right behind her as they headed for the mountain with Canterlot clearly visible.

"Your highness, how exactly are you going to get to the adoption agency without being seen?" Seargent Cloudstorm asked her as they neared the mountain.

"Easy. I'll wear a very large coat from Canterlot Carousel that I know Rarity has hidden away in their somewhere before I walk towards the building. Yes it will look really suspicious, my height ratio and everything. But I'll be completely covered. Even my tail won't be seen. You guys will already be there, I'll be traveling with Sweetie Drops, who will be waiting around the corner of the boutique."

"Roger," Sweetie said from the back of Rainbow.

Soon they landed in the front of the Carousel unseen. The guards went ahead to the adoption facility before Sweetie Drops walked towards the other side of the street acting nonchalant as Rainbow walked inside.

"Welcome to Canterlot Carousel!" Sassy Saddles said as she walked from behind the counter. "Oh! Princess Dash, what a pleasure it is to see you here! How can I help you?"

"I need a cloak that can cover most of my body. Horn to rear hooves. I know Rarity has some around here somewhere that looks very suspicious."

"And yes she does," Sassy replied as she turned around to get the order fulfilled. Dash teleported a bag of bits from off the table from the castle in Ponyville before stepping towards the counter. "May I ask why you need a cloak?"

"I'm going to surprise a little filly."

"Ah, so you're going for the take off the cloak bit and surprise the girl thing?"

"Yeah, sure." Sassy walked out of the back and held out the cloak. It was a dark blue and even had a button on the front of it. "Thanks, Sassy. How much?"

"Don't worry about it, this came out of Rarity's closet."

"Oh, alright. Thank you." She went ahead and put it on before flipping the hood over her head, leaving only a shadow for a face visible in the whole ensemble. "See ya' later." She turned around and walked out the door, spotting Sweetie Drops casually leaning against some light pole before she waved, catching her attention, and began to make her way towards the orphanage. Along the way, she got some looks from the other ponies, unaware that there was a princess just walking around.

"Don't mind me...just walking like the rest of you in a dark blue cloak......in the fall weather," she muttered to herself. "Nothing creepy at all." After a few more minutes, she arrived at the agency, the guards already positioned at the door while Sweetie Drops and Rainbow walked past. "Agent? With me. Everyone else? Stay outside."

The guards nodded before the pony and Alicorn walked inside. Upon entry they were greeted by a unicorn sitting behind a desk doing whatever with some documents. Rainbow reached underneath her wing and pulled out the documents needed as the two of them approached the desk.

"Hello, how may I....help you?" The unicorn asked, the cloaked figure sparking her curiosity.

"I'm here to fill out an adoption form."

"Okay, ummm.....would you take a seat, I'll have the agent in here in a moment." She walked away from behind the desk as the two of them sat down, waiting patiently for the agent who was supposed to help them out. A minute later a gray unicorn stallion walked in with a...pen for a cutie mark.

"Hello, I'm Type Inn. You said you're here for an adoption?"

"Yes." Rainbow answered standing up to her full height.

"Okay, can I have your name please?"

"Once we are in private, I will tell you my name. It's a huge risk being out here right now." The stallion looked at the receptionist who only shrugged before he motioned for the two of them to follow. After a couple of twists and turns, they arrived in an office where the door was shut by Sweetie Drops, who took a seat outside.

"Okay, now what is your name?" He asked again taking a seat behind the desk. Rainbow pulled back her hood with her magic, unbuttoning it and taking it off.

"Rainbow Dash. Princess Rainbow Dash."

The unicorn just sat there with his mouth partly open in surprise as she walked over to a nearby coat rack and placed the cloak on one of the handles.

"Pr...pr....pr...."

"Now," she said, ignoring his stuttering.  She took a seat back down in front of the desk, looking him in his eyes. "Let's get down to it. I have a little filly in my care. Her name is Scootaloo and she lost her parents after they went into a dangerous forest to rescue her. She really looks up to me and I want to give her a home. How do I see to that?"

Type Inn looked at her for a moment before he shook his head, coming back to his senses. "Okay, well first we'll need her identification. Do you have her Equestrian ID?"

"Everything is here on this scroll." She lifted her wing and pulled out the scroll, setting it on the table and unrolled it. It had her Equestrian ID, her past living information, health insurance information, and a school photo.

Type Inn took a minute to input the information and place it in a folder once he was done. Afterwards he went to the back of the office where there was some type of device sitting and input the information into it. After a few seconds, it came back out on the other side. "I just made a copy of the information, Ms. Dash. This is being put into the system. In a day or two, you should get a letter appointing their decision. Everything here is private. Wouldn't wanna ruin the proposal in case right?"

The two shared a laugh before he retrieved the paper. "Alright, we are finished here. Thank you Princess for taking in one of the defenseless foals off the streets."

"What can I say, I move fast." She grabbed her cloak and put it back on before making her way towards the door and stepping out.



"I'm back!" Scootaloo said, walking past the gates. Fluttershy looked up from the fountain she was gazing into before smiling at the approaching filly.

"Hey, Scootaloo," Fluttershy greeted, giving her a nuzzle. "How was your day?"

"It was ok. We're still trying to get our cutie marks by doing a whole bunch of things. Like making statues. But instead of making one, we sort of....cracked on. Then we tried making ice cream......that burned somehow. We tried mining and caused a cave in, skateboarding and broke a board, don't even ask how we got on it. Then we tried hang gliding. We fell in the bushes."

"Aww it's ok. You'll get your cutie mark someday. It took Rainbow to knock me out of the sky before I got mine." Fluttershy waved at a passing employee before heading back towards the housing.

"So what did you do?"

"I let it happen. I didn't chase it because I didn't know what made me special at the time." The guards opened the doors for the two as they made their way inside. "And neither do you. It will happen, I promise."

"Hey, Squirt!" Scootaloo looked from Fluttershy to Rainbow Dash, who was coming down the stairs, smiling gleefully at the filly.

"Hey, Rainbow!" She greeted before running towards her parent figure and jumping up onto her chest, latching on and making Rainbow blush.

"How was your day?" Scootaloo let go of her as she plopped back down onto the marble flooring.

"It WAS going great...until we fell into some bushes. A pain in the flank...literally."

"I bet it was. You know...we have a party to go to next week," Rainbow said, giving the child a little smirk.

"Really? Another one of Pinkie's?"

"Nope! The Grand Galloping Gala and you're going. Hopefully it doesn't end badly or something."

"I'D LOVE TO GO TO THE....wait, why would it end badly?" She asked, looking at the princess suspiciously.

"No reason," she responded quickly. "You hungry? I'm sure Healthy has something cooked up for you in the dining room."

"Yeah!" Rainbow leaned down and let the filly climb up on her back before the three of them made their way towards the dining room.

"How about you Flutters?" She asked, giving her marefriend a nuzzle. "Feeling peachy?"

"Yeah, but Beary is coming down with some sort of bug that I've never seen before. It's really getting to him and he shivers. I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow." They walked through the doors into the dining hall, where there was already a bunch of food set out.

Scotaloo jumped off Rainbow's back and ran towards the table. "Slow down, Scoots! Don't want you to fall." Scootaloo ignored Rainbow, making the Princess roll her eyes before she climbed up into her chair. Fluttershy trotted forward and made her plate and set it in front of her before the two adults made their own.

"So we're going to Celestia's castle?" Scootaloo said after awhile, her mouth full.

"No talking while chewing. Swallow first." Scootaloo followed Rainbow's instructions before she responded. "And yes, it's held in the ballroom. We don't actually have one here although there is word of one being added on. It's going to be a separate building though."

"Ooohhh then we can have parties!"

"Yes, Pinkie. We can have.....PINKIE?!!" They all looked towards the pink party planner who was busy eating a sandwich standing right next to Rainbow's seat.

"Well, hello Ms. Big Shot! I see you've got a very good thing going on here! A grand dining hall with a table filled with foo, a wife, and a-"

Rainbow thrust a hoof into her mouth before she could even finish that sentence. "Don't....you....say it." She withdrew her hoof with a pop.

"Okay, fine............YOUR-"

"GUARDS!" Two armed ponies walked into the room standing to attention. "Get her out of here." They walked over and grabbed the pony and carried her towards the doors.

"Awww, c'mon Rainbow! You can't treat me like this! I'm a party planner!" She protested as she was carried away on one guards back.

"And I'M...a party crasher. You should know this!" The doors to the dining hall shut before all three began laughing.



"So you're going to the Grand Galloping Gala?" Cherry asked Twilight as they were reshelving the books in the library to some system Twilight created.

"Yeah," she replied, placing a reference guard near the bottom of the shelf. "We have to go anyway. Rainbow's doing business, remember? All of her advisers are required to attend."

"Riiight." They continued re-shelving in silence for a while.

"Soooo..." Twilight said, catching her attention. "I was wondering...."

"Yeah?" Cherry looked over her shoulder at the purple prodigy.

"Are you....ummm...nevermind."

"Am I what?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

"Twilight-"

"DON'T!!!...worry about it, I'm fine." Cherry stared at her in shock at her sudden outburt before she sighed and went back to re-shelving. Whatever was bothering her, she'll come out with it soon.



The night right before the Grand Galloping Gala, Rainbow received a letter in the mail from the Adoption agency. Since she was reading a few of them that night in her office, she found this one the most interesting. She ripped it open and pulled out the letter, shaking in anticipation. She unfolded it and read it quietly for a moment before she grinned.

"Dear Rainbow Dash. We have looked into your requirements as a permanent adopter for Scootaloo and have determined that you are the right fit for adopting her. Congratulations! You are now officially Scootaloo's mother! We hope you have the news ready to break!" Rainbow closed her eyes and lowered the letter before letting out a sigh. Tomorrow's the big day. How do we do this?

The next day was a blur. Scootaloo went to school, did some Crusading with her friends and came home. Fluttershy went to Rarity's boutique to get her dress finished. Twilight was busy running around at Celestia's castle to prepare Rainbow's spot for the requests, Cherry Berry was busy trying to figure out what was bothering the mare. Applejack was busy filling out the cart at her stand in Canterlot, having arrived there the day before, Pinkie Pie was setting up the ballroom, and Rainbow Dash was trying to figure out what to wear as well what to say....to her daughter.

Just thinking about it has her smiling in joy. Yeah she was pretty young to have a child, but Scootaloo really looked up to her and she really wanted to have a family now that she knew she was a Princess.

She pulled out the dress that had a reflective golden design with a light Rainbow on both sides. She grabbed her rainbow colored hooveshoes and her multicolored crown before she put it all on. After checking herself out in the mirror, she figure she looked great until she realized something...when in Equestria did she start caring about her appearance?!

"Ugghhh, mom has changed me so much," she muttered. After adjusting her mane, that has gotten so long it reached the floor, she walked out of the room. She was going to fly there while Fluttershy and Scootaloo were taking the chariots.

"Hello, Shine Heart. Fire heart." She greeted the twin sisters as they saluted her. "You're the security for tonight?"

"Yes, your highness," Fire Heart confirmed, her red mane sticking out of her helmet. "We'll be with you then joined by Sweetie Drops when she arrives."

"Good, let's go." She walked down the stairs with the security following right behind her as she made her way towards the doors of the building. Once they came out, they took to the air and turned around, looping towards Canterlot castle.

"So....any news yet?"Shine Heart asked from her right.

"I'm approved."

"You're officially a mother," Fire Heart congratulated. "How's it feel?"

"I don't know...she hasn't exactly accepted yet." They neared the city before they tilted a little, heading for the castle. "I'm actually....asking her tonight."

"Ooohhhh, clever and interesting."

"Very," her sister agreed. "She'll accept. I've seen how you two interact. She'll undoubtedly agree because she looks up to you so much."

"I know." They flew low over the city before landing at the gates and walking. "I just hope I....I won't. I won't let her down."

They walked up to the castle doors, where the guards opened them for her. After crossing in, they were met with a colorful display of balloons, and servants who were walking around getting ready. They continued the trek towards Celestia's chambers that had a golden sun on the doors. They stopped before Rainbow lifted a hoof and knocked, the guards stationed there looking at her confused.

"Who is it?"

"Princess Dash, Celestia."

"Oh! Come in!" Rainbow smiled before she pushed the doors open leaving the four guards outside before closing them back. Celestia was on the balcony, looking down at the garden below where there were a few animals and other ponies setting it up last minute. Rainbow quickly trotted over, grabbing the extra slice of cake that was definitely for her before stopping at her mother's side. "So? What are the results?"

Celestia turned to Rainbow smiling at her as her daughter tried to maintain her grin. "Come on...let out the squeal and do your spin." Rainbow squealed and jumped into the air, doing a rapid circle in happiness before she landed back down. "Congratulations, new mother. All she needs to do is accept, which she will."

"Yeah, I know." She took another bite of cake. "I'm just hoping that she'll accept nicely...and not dramatically."

"Rainbow, all adopted fillies will have a dramatic acceptance. They just got a new family. It happens all the time."

"Yeah, you're right.....what type of cake is this?" Celestia looked over, confused as to what cake she was talking about.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Oh, from the table right there," she replied, pointing her hoof at the table sitting next to the balcony entrance.

"That....was Luna's." Rainbow stopped chewing the last of it before she slowly turned to her mother.

"Sister! I have returned!" Luna said as she walked in with Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. "Hello, Rainbow! How are.." She stopped at the table, noticing her plate was gone. "What happened to my cake?"

Rainbow slowly turned around, her eyes wide with surprise and her cheeks bulging from the vanilla desert. "Uhhhhh...I on't mowe," she mumbled around her mouthful.

Luna slowly shook her head while the two behind her laughed. "Like mother, like daughter," she muttered unheard.



The sun was beginning to set, which meant the arrival of the guests. On the street below, there were a lot of chariots, holding the elite of Canterlot as well as the standard ponies who have purchased tickets to the event.

"Oh this is so grandeur!" Rarity said as she approached the doors to the ballroom with Fluttershy and Scootaloo. "I mean, really. How many times can you say I've attended the Gala?"

"As many times as I'd like," Fluttershy answered with Scootaloo nodding her head on her back. "I get to attend for free as long as I'm with Rainbow."

"Speaking of her, how is you two's relationship? Have you two gotten busy yet?"

Fluttershy stopped along with the guards escorting them in before her face got totally red. "Rarity, we have not had sex yet. Don't ask that around Scootaloo, please."

"Oh! Sorry, Scootaloo, I forgot you were up there." Scootaloo shared the exact same expression as Fluttershy, making Sweetie Drops laugh as she guided the group back towards the entrance.

Twilight looked around as she made her way towards the dining hall that has been made for the princesses to take requests from the attending ponies. They were already there, waiting for the ponies to arrive with the rest of the advisers already situated.

She walked in briskly, carrying the hoofull of scrolls behind her for notes and ink. "Sorry sorry sorry! I had to get more inkquells and pens for everyone!" She sat down on the other side of Rainbow, right next to Cherry before she passed them around, the red mare looking at her worriedly before she got her own scroll and rolled it open in front of her.

After everyone was ready, Celestia sent out the command.

"Send them in!"

The time went by fast, with the ponies going to Celestia, Cadance, Luna, and Rainbow with their problems. There were a lot of ponies that had small businesses going to Celestia and Luna, ponies wanting to move and go to the Crystal Empire for personal matters and asked for information, which was surprisingly hefty, and a lot going to Rainbow.

Most of them were asking to do something about the creatures that would come out at night and try to take their goods, mainly food from their farms. Even Applejack showed up.

"Uhhh....you know you could've just sent me a letter, right Applejack?" Rainbow asked, making Twilight shake her head at the farmer.

"I wanted to try this out and see how professional you were," she replied with a smirk. "Might I say I'm impressed. Thanks for listening. See you at the party!" She turned around and left the room allowing Dash to continue.

Scootaloo hopped off Fluttershy's back and trotted over to the food section, where there were plenty of sweets that Pinkie Pie definitely put there. She grabbed a plate before hopping onto the table and grabbing one from each dish, making sure to ease that sweetooth craving. "This is so good," she said to herself as she jumped off the table and back on Fluttershy.

"Where'd you go?" She asked her. "If you decide to go somewhere, tell either me or Rainbow when she's around, alright?"

"Youth got ith," She acknowledged with a mouthful off sweets. Fluttershy made her way over to her friends beginning a conversation while the party continued and the music got slow.



An hour or maybe so later, it was time for the Princesses to pack up and begin attending the party...which means it was time for Rainbow to make the announcement.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh I'm so nervous!" She said, standing outside the door into the ballroom. She was breathing very heavily while everyone else was just staring at her.

"Annnnd...why are you nervous?" Cadance asked, not getting the memo.

"You'll see," Celestia guaranteed. "Rainbow, if you wanna-"

"You know what? Screw it! I'm going to walk in there and be like 'Yo.....you're mine!' Let's do this thing!" She turned around and made her way into the ballroom while the other princesses just stood there rolling their eyes.

The dancing term of the party was going to start soon, so Rainbow had a minute or two to get it out. She made her way towards the stage, passing her friends and saying hi as she did before stopping at the steps.

The other three princesses caught up to her before she took a deep breath and walked up. Finally, she reached the microphone while the three princesses took a seat in the cutie mark labeled thrones behind her.

She cleared her throat and tapped the receiver, generating feedback and catching everyone's attention.

"Hello everypony, and thank you for coming to the Grand Galloping Gala!" She said enthusiastically. The crowd cheered and stomped their hooves before they quieted down and she continued. "We have read your requests and we will see to it that everything is accomplished. It is my mission to make it happen!"

The crowd erupted into cheers at the princess' declaration before she raised a hoof to silence them. "But tonight......I have one VERY important mission."

The crowd began muttering while Celestia gave a smile. Cadance and Luna looked at her confused before redirecting their attention back to Rainbow Dash.

"During these last few weeks, starting on the day of my coronation, I met somepony. A filly actually." Fluttershy walked towards the front of the group with Scootaloo on her back, who was listening intensely, trying to figure out where she was going with this. "She had lost her parents in a very dangerous area outside of Ponyville that is going to be forbidden to walk into. I am working on that first.

"After I learned what happened, I took her in, gave her a place to stay before someone could adopt her. But....I want her to know something before that happens. Squirt, could you come up here?"

Scootaloo gazed on in sadness as Fluttershy walked up to the stage and stood beside it. Scootaloo let out a sniffle before she walked onto the stage and stopped beside Rainbow on her right. She really liked Rainbow. She wanted her, not somepony else.

The princess turned around and sighed before she spoke, her voice still going through the microphone. "Scootaloo...you know I love you...right?"

"Y-yes," she answered, tears starting to go down her face, her sadness causing her to stutter as she looked down at the floor. Diamond Tiara was right, she thought.

"Good. Then understand why I'm doing this." Rainbow lifted her right wing and pulled out a very familiar scroll. Unrolling it, she placed it in front of her face and cleared her throat before reading it out loud through the microphone.

"'Dear Rainbow Dash. We have looked into your requirements as a permanent adopter for Scootaloo and have determined that you are the right fit for adopting her. Congratulations! You are now officially Scootaloo's mother!'" Scootaloo stopped her crying before her head shot up to look at Rainbow confused. What did that letter just say?!

The crowd below began muttering and looked on in anticipation to see what would happen next. Rainbow laid down on her stomach, getting to Scootaloo's level. "That letter was from the adoption agency here in Canterlot. I went in silence and filled out the forms because this is a surprise. The stallion over there drinking his fourth cup of punch helped me out."

She pointed at Type Inn who smiled and raised his cup towards her in acknowledgement. Scootaloo looked from him back to Rainbow Dash in shock. "But I'm not really your mother until you let me. Scootaloo? Can I have your blessing to have a permanent place in your life?"

It got deathly quiet as everyone leaned forward, hoping that the little filly will say yes.

Scootaloo looked at her before she started shaking and hyperventilating. Her little hooves started going up and down before tiny sobs started to escape her.

"The engine is revving up," Celestia whispered. Scootaloo's crying were going into a gull blown sobfest before she looked around the room for something. She turned around, spotting what she needed sitting on the floor. Everyone watched as she jumped off the stage and trotted over to it, still crying her eyes out...and picked out three roses from the vase.

She turned back around holding the stems in her mouth before walking back, jumping up, and grabbing hold of the stage, struggling to get on it. Rainbow gave her a little lift with her magic so she could successfully get on board before the filly trotted up to Rainbow Dash and held out the flowers. They all fawned over as Rainbow Dash took hold of them in her magic and lifted them up to her face.

"I-I got th-these for you, mom! I-I hope y-y-you like them!" Scootaloo stuttered, still crying and shaking uncontrollably.

Princess Dash grinned before walking forward and pulling the filly into her embrace, letting her cry into her dress.

The ponies cheered, stomping their hooves in celebration as they celebrated the bonding of a new family.
> Chapter 15 - Secrets Of The Castle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rainbow calmly broke the hug, allowing Scootaloo to climb up and nest behind her crown, tears still running down her face in giddy happiness.

"Is this a dream?" She cried in her hair. "I don't wanna wake up if it is!"

"Nope! It's real!" Rainbow said happily. "Now let's get some dancing in, ponies!!"

Everyone on the floor cheered before the musicians began playing the happy music, allowing couples and those who enjoy it to dance.

Rainbow watched for a moment before she backed up into the throne setup for her. Scootaloo got down from her back and settled in between her legs while she sat down, enjoying the show.

"Congratulations!" Cadance said from the other side of the princess row. "At first, when you were in the hallway 'so nervous', I thought you were going to ask out a stallion or something."

"Nope, I was talking about Scoots," Rainbow responded, stroking her filly's mane. Scootaloo grabbed onto of Rainbow's legs, continuing to watch the other ponies dance. "You hungry?"

Scootaloo shook out of her daze and looked up at her mother. "Yes."

Rainbow smiled before picking the filly up in her magic and set her on her back again before trotting off the stage, security detail right behind them.

They made their way over to the snack table, their stomachs grumbling in approval of the snacks there. Rainbow grabbed two plates in her magic, displaying her "Twilight level" in magic, before putting vegetables, protein, and a desert on both.

"Hey, Princess Dash!"

The two looked to the left to see Octavia and DJ PON-3 walking over. "Hey, girls, wassup?" She greeted, walking over to them.

"We just want to say congratulations on your new family," Octavia said as the two of them bowed slightly in respect. "Is Fluttershy involved?" She added with a wink.

Rainbow looked around before nodding.

"We thought so," Vinyl scratch said. "She's been wanting to come over here all night, but too afraid that, you know, ponies will find out." Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. Nopony knew about them dating?

"Yeah, I know. But we cope by giving each other subtle winks." Rainbow looked back up towards the stage where Fluttershy was sitting next to her throne, speaking to Celestia.  "Well she's talking right now, but we'll find something."

"I bet. Hello, Scootaloo!" The filly gave a tiny wave before backing up out of view. "She's so shy."

"Well it was a big night for her."

"For you as well. But we got some news that involve both of you. You more than the other." Scootaloo poked her head back into view in interest while Rainbow listened closely.

"A rumor has been spreading around Canterlot. Prince Blueblood is doing a secret investigation underneath the Princesses' noses, despite them telling him not to."

"They're trying to figure out where you came from and how you ascended to royalty," Octavia whispered. "So far he has some shady contacts, mostly ponies close to Celestia and Luna. Not to mention Cadance as well as Twilight Sparkle."

Rainbow's eyes started changing colors, displaying her upset state before she took on a more professional role. "How have you gotten word of this?"

"Being musicians, we go all over Equestria," Vinyl explained. "But we are usually called to do shows for the Elite and royal. So we hear a lot of things. We figured we should warn you."

"Of course. Thanks for telling me, girls."

"You're welcome. Good night." The two bowed at the mother and daughter before going on their way, back to wherever they came from. Rainbow huffed before grabbing her plate and Scootaloo's, making her way back up to the stage.

"We have a little problem," she announced, grabbing Fluttershy and her mother's attention.

"What is it?" Celestia asked. Rainbow made a slight movement, indicating Scootaloo still on her back. "Scootaloo?"

The filly looked up from poking Rainbow's crown. "Would you like to talk to Luna?"

"What?" Said princess asked. Scootaloo nodded eagerly before jumping off Rainbow's head and over to Luna, ready to start a conversation about cutie marks.

"Fluttershy? Could you make sure Scoots eats her vegetables?" Rainbow asked her. She nodded and grabbed the plate Rainbow was holding out to her before making her way over to the filly, leaving the mother and daughter alone.

"Now what is it?" Celestia asked, giving her daughter her full attention.

"I've just been told that Prince Blueblood is overseeing an underground investigation of my origin," Rainbow whispered, unaware that Cadance's good hearing was listening in. "It could cause a bit of a problem for us in the future."

Celestia grunted before looking out at the dancing ponies, specifically Twilight who was doing some weird thing with Pinkie Pie that was SO bad. "Then we must keep an eye out and watch out for him. Although he is Luna and I's distant nephew, he is a pain. Very hardheaded. Is there any solid evidence of these claims?"

"Not that I heard of. But if there is, I'm sure I'll be told by a few musicians."

"Then we have to wait for some evidence. But that does not mean you are going unattended. If he doesn't get what he wants in at least a month's time, he will try to take it by force through family members."

"What?" Rainbow whispered bewildered. "He would stoop that low?!"

"Yes." Celestia picked up a slice of cake and took a bite while Rainbow took a seat at her throne. "Hopefully he won't try to mess with a royal that is higher then him. But just to be sure, I'll add some security around Ponyville. Your castle in particular."

"Thank you....Celestia," Rainbow said, winking at her mother.

"You're welcome, Rainbow." Cadance stopped listening in. Something fishy was definitely going on but it would cause too much of an issue to bring it up now or even later. Celestia wasn't one to go behind a pony's back and hold secrets, but THIS sounded big. REALLY big. But what was it and exactly HOW big?

"So then we tried hang gliding," Scootaloo said, catching Rainbow's attention. "But that didn't work out so well. Then we tried mining but instead of actually getting rocks OUT, we caused a cave-IN. Next we tried firefighting. But you already know how that turned out. Then......"

"Uggghhhh," Luna groaned, obviously not being able to take it anymore. Rainbow chuckled before going over and picking up the little filly by the tail with her magic, making her stop.

"I think Princess Luna has had enough of your Cutie Mark attempts, ya' awesome filly." She placed her back down in front of her and checked over the food she ate. "I see you ate all the vegetables. Thank you, Flutters."

"I don't like vegetables," Scootaloo groaned in protest. Rainbow laughed, rolling her eyes at how much she reminded her of herself when she was her age.

"Well you got to eat them to grow big and strong squirt. I'm pretty sure that if you eat enough, you'll be flying in no time." Rainbow looked around for a clock. Spotting one, she learned they had around fifteen minutes before it was time to go back home. "Why don't you go teach Twilight how to dance?"

The other Princesses all nodded and spoke in agreement. "Hey!" Twilight said from in front of the stage. "I know how to dance!"

"No you don't. Go help her out, sweetheart." Rainbow gave Scootaloo a little push with her hoof, giving her the courage to go out and give Twilight a dance lesson. She darted onto the dance floor and stopped next to Twilight, giving her a lesson on how "not to look like an idiot on the dance floor."



Finally, after fifteen minutes, the dance came to an end. Princess Celestia told all the ponies how the Princesses greatly enjoyed the party and that they would answer to their demands as soon as they could. Afterwards, the ponies all started filing out and leaving the castle.

"Alright, squirt! Time to go!" Rainbow called out. Fluttershy picked up the filly and placed her on her own back before being joined by Rainbow. When all the ponies were out of view and ear,Rainbow turned back to her mother, and Luna, who was sitting on the side, and gave her a nuzzle.

"Will you stop by again sometime?" She asked. The two stopped their nuzzling before Celestia responded.

"It will have to be two weeks from now since we are all going to be busy. Hopefully not TOO busy, but busy nonetheless. Cadance will be having her wedding in two months and before that, a breakfast two weeks from tomorrow. Saturday. That will be as soon as we can see each other. In the meantime, make sure you get the Everfree roped off. It is highly dangerous and some young adventurers amy try to go see what is so special about those woods. Also.....we will have to keep a lookout for any sign of Spectrum. She is due any day now if she has not returned already."

"Alright. I'll keep a low profile. Love you, mom."

"Love you too, sweetheart." They nuzzled one last time before Rainbow turned away and walked towards the doors, Sweetie Drops right beside her. Celestia curled her lips into a tight line, her eyebrows curving upwards once they were out of sight.

"You're worried, aren't you, sister?" She looked over to see Luna staring at her intently, worry written all over her own face. She sighed before responding back, the answer written all over hers.

"Yes. I am. Right now, we have two enemies. Our foolish nephew, Blueblood. Who is going against our wishes and launching an undercover investigation. And Spectrum, who is to be awoken within the upcoming week, if she has not yet. One of which will spark the other. If Blueblood does slip by our grasp, he will lead Spectrum right to us. And to my daughter specifically. Rainbow is strong and fast. But Spectrum has experience. Speed cannot beat knowledge."

Luna sighed and sat down next to Celestia, taking the cake that was meant for her and eating it. "We will be on high alert. In secret of course so as not to trouble the land. But we both know how this is going to end. Does she know yet?" She popped the last bit of the cake into her mouth.

"Yes. I have told her of different procedures to take and to take them seriously. I instructed her to tell the other ponies, her friends, in any way she sees fit. As long as they know." Celestia reached down to grab her cake, her hoof touching glass plating instead. "Did you just...eat my cake?"

"Your daughter ate mine."



On the way back to Ponyville, Rainbow relayed what was going to happen to Twilight, Cherry Berry, Fluttershy, and Sweetie Drops. Scootaloo was asleep, the night's activities having drained her entirely. Twilight told Rainbow the status of the letters and that they were already receiving answers back from the neighboring cities, most of them coming in from Cloudsdale and Las Pegasus.

"How many so far?" Rainbow asked.

"Two hundred," Cherry answered. "At least so far. There will of course be more by tomorrow afternoon." Rainbow nodded before looking down towards her sleeping daughter. "Twilight did tell me you were more than likely going to propose tonight."

"To be honest, it was on my mind the whole time," Twilight chuckled. "Congratulations, mom. You're officially a......mom. I just hope Pinkie doesn't plan on throwing a party."

"She will, more than likely. I just hope not in the middle of a meeting or something. She has always been random." Scootaloo stirred in her sleep, attracting her mother's attention. She flopped onto her back and moved her legs in the air before going back down onto her side. Rainbow looked around before grabbing a blanket from what she was sitting on putting it over the filly, watching as she grabbed the blanket and pulled it over herself in her sleep, a smile gracing her face.

"Here's to hoping that doesn't happen," Sweetie Drops said. "Because I'll literally throw her in the dungeon." Rainbow chuckled before the guards pulling the chariot landed in front of Twilight's library smoothly. Cherry Berry and the brainy librarian hopped out and over to the front door, waving towards Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy before they took off into the air again, headed towards the castle. Scootaloo stirred again, reaching out with her hooves trying to find whoever was there.

"She's having quite the dream," Fluttershy commented, chuckling lightly.

"Yeah.....I wonder what about." Rainbow reached out with her hoof towards Scootaloo, watching as the Filly grabbed hold of it tightly. "Well.....I guess it's either about me, or us, or Sweetie Drops."

"What? Why me?" The personal guard asked over her shoulder as she looked around for any threats.

"Believe it or not, she likes you too," Fluttershy answered. "She sees you as a sort of....protective godmother." Rainbow tried to pull her hoof back, but Scootaloo readjusted her grip, holding on tighter than before.

"No......don't go," she muttered. Rainbow smiled before leaning down and nuzzling the little filly.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered. Fluttershy smiled before they landed in front of the castle, slowing down before coming to a complete stop. Sweetie Drops opened the door for the two mares while Rainbow Dash slowly flew out of the chariot and landed next to fluttershy, being careful not to move too much considering that Scootaloo is still latched onto her hoof. Goodness that filly has a grip.

"Climb higher and you'll fly," Fluttershy whispered down to her. Whatever she was doing, it worked when Scootaloo smiled and climbed onto Rainbow's back in her sleep. The princess looked at her marefriend impressed. "It works for Mr. Squirrel and his family too. He gave me some advice."

Rainbow chuckled and gave her a kiss as they walked into the house, determined to get some sleep. After they walked into their room, they took off their dresses and Rainbow placed Scootaloo underneath the covers, leaving her moaning and groaning for attention. "I might make her blush in the morning because of that," Rainbow said as they climbed into bed.

"Don't do that....no matter how tempting it may seem," Fluttershy playfully scolded. Fluttershy nuzzled the top of Scootaloo's head, making her coo softly. "She's a darling. Look, she's already cuddling up to you." Rainbow looked down to see the filly scoot towards her and grab hold of her hoof again. "Don't be surprised if you wake up with her on your face."

"I'm actually expecting it. Goodnight, Flutters."

"Goodnight, Rainbow." The two of them fell asleep, cuddling the filly in between their bodies to let her know that she was in safe hooves.



During the night, news about Rainbow's adoption of Scootaloo had spread fast, all the way from the Crystal Empire to Trottingham. Everypony was mulling over it. Having conversations, discussions, even a party for it. Why? Rainbow Dash had no idea. But they did there was a party. And then there were those who did not like it. Like the Canterlot Elite. They were, of course, confused. Not outraged yet, just confused as to why a Princess, who no one knows the origin of, has already adopted a filly like she'll be staying there forever. Which is actually what will be happening.

But they weren't the real problem. The big problem was Blueblood, who will probably have contacts roaming around in Ponyville, according to Rainbow's mother. Celestia advised the Princess of Nature to place some undercover royal guards all over the small town so Rainbow can know if anypony decides to ask any questions, it will be used as evidence on her part. She also told her friends to tell her if anyone is trying to bribe them into releasing the information, to let the undercover guards know immediately. Of course they agreed. But that was it. All she could do now was wait, please the citizens, watch her back, and be a good mother. Speaking of which, shouldn't she be waking up right now? It's Saturday. She setup a doctor's appointment for Scootaloo with her own personal doctor at the town's hospital yesterday for eleven this morning.

Rainbow groaned, her mouth muffled by something covering it. "Ugggghhhh....uhhh....HUH?!" Rainbow reached up with her hooves and felt along her "face", feeling only a small Pegasus body. She groaned and attempted to pull the still sleeping, and slobbering, filly off of her face. She had a tight grip still, so she had to yank her off, making her sit up in the bed. Her grunting woke up her marefriend who took this opportunity to make getting up much harder.

"MMmmmm.....Rainbow, get back in bed," she moaned, grabbing the alicorn and pushing her back down, thus dropping the filly onto her face again.

"Fluttershy!" She yelled underneath the makeshift facial mask. The two sleeping ponies all woke up, one moreso than the other because of the vibration that went through her underbelly.

"What what huh?" Scootaloo said, doing a little dance on Rainbow's face. "What's going on?"

"Well....you're on my face." She looked down and giggled at the tiny hoofprints all over the Princess' muzzle. Fluttershy came over and nearly guffawed at the display.

"Oh...sorry, Rainbow."

"No, Scoots...it's 'mom' now. Now get off my face." Scootaloo grinned before hopping onto the bed next to Fluttershy, letting the princess sit up and climb out the bed to stretch. "Well.....that was a great wake up call. My daughter on my face and Fluttershy slamming me back into the bed. Who doesn't enjoy it."

"I did that?" She asked unbelievably.

"This is the second time," Rainbow answered, holding up two feathers from her left wing. "The first time, Mo....mmmm Celestia came over and saw us in the bed. I'm pretty sure she knows we're dating. She just hasn't said anything yet. Morning, Scoots!"

"Morning, mom!" Scootaloo greeted, jumping off the bed and onto Rainbow's back. "To the kitchen!"

"What, No! We're taking a bath first." Rainbow turned around and trotted into the bathroom. "And then breakfast, along with taking you to the doctor for a check up, just in case you caught something. After that, you can go with Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle for your super secret Saturday meetings that you think I don't know about."

"Wait! How'd you find out?!" Scootaloo asked incredulously. Rainbow setup the water in the tub before she responded.

"One? I'm the princess. So I know everything. Two? I'm your mother. So I know everything." She put a hoof into the water, finding the temperature soothing. "Hop in and let's get you cleaned up."



After the bath, Fluttershy and Rainbow decided to let Scootaloo have a look around her new home officially. Also per request from her mother for the upcoming storm that will surely come in less than a year. Of course they all knew about the throne room, dining hall, and the bedroom. Not to mention the office buildings. That's it. But Rainbow has been all over it apparently. While they ate their breakfast, she explained all the different parts in the castle, but not in too much detail. Most of it was underground through passages that Rainbow and the guards knew of.

After they ate their breakfast, Rainbow decided to show the room in the castle where Scootaloo would be most interested in. The armory.

"So where is this armory?" Scootaloo asked excitedly. "I wanna see, I wanna see!" She hopped up and down on Rainbow's back.

"Okay, okay!" She laughed. "I'm taking us there now!" The three walked past the staircase that led up to Rainbow's room and towards the hallway that led towards her throne room. They passed the leading hallway and walked towards the end where Rainbow stopped and turned left, facing a door on the end where no one could actually see. She knocked twice before twisting the handle, letting the group in.

"Attennnnntion!" Sergeant Cloudstorm yelled, making Scootaloo cover her ears. All the Royal guards in the room all stood up in respect for the royal.

"At ease. I'm just showing my family the parts in this castle that they don't know about." The guards all relaxed before going back to what they were doing. "This is the guardroom where the Royal Guards that are stationed here stay. It has two levels. Here and down those stairs, which is for those that aren't part of my special security but are still required to be stationed here." She pointed her hoof down a pair of white stone steps, where more soldiers could be heard talking and relaxing.

"And THIS is the armory." She walked over to the door on the right that had her cutie mark on it and opened it. Inside there were swords, crossbows with arrows, spears, and shields. There was also a golden one at the very end hanging on the wall with Rainbow's insignia on it. It had a golden blade with symbols on the edges, along with a rainbow colored handle. The pommel was a lightning bolt. Right next to it was an ornate suit of armor that was golden. It had Rainbow colored hoofshoes as well as leg pads.

"Whoaaaa," Scootaloo muttered in wonder, walking into the room and towards the one at the end. "What is this?"

"That is mine," Rainbow said, shocking her daughter and Fluttershy. She decided to ease them into the news before dropping the whole bomb. "All Princesses must have their own weaponry and armor in case of an attack that calls upon all the Princesses to fight. So I had my own created a few weeks ago. I won't use it unless I have to. I'm not a very violent person, no matter how much it looks like. It also has some of my magic in it as well. Sort of like a bank."

Scootaloo looked from Rainbow back up to the armor and weapon. It was so intricate, having padding, symbols, and so many slots. What was Equestria expecting, a slaughter house?!

"Come on, Scoots. We have more touring to do. There is far more to this castle than you would expect." She took one last look at the armor before running out with Fluttershy. Rainbow started to shut the door before looking back at the armor. She really hoped she wouldn't have to use that suit at all. But with the way things were going, it was inevitable. She sighed sadly before shutting the door back.

They continued the tour, going towards the backside of the building that had a hidden room in it. The throne room. She walked into her room and stood in front of her throne before pressing down on a certain spot on the marble floor. The two mares gasped as a slab of the floor pushed inwards and towards the right, revealing a secret staircase. They walked down into it, going deeper and deeper for around five minutes, lit only by floating blue orbs attached to the walls like bubbles, sometimes floating off and onto a different spot. When they reached the bottom, they were met with another door that was densely covered in magical runes, keeping those who Rainbow didn't want going in out. She put her horn into a hole on the side before flowing her magic into it. The door clicked and unlocked before pulling it back out and pushed the door open, revealing something truly amazing

Inside, there was literally another castle. "This is our retreat should my family ever have to go into hiding," Rainbow explained. The castle was shaped just like one, just in a very big cavern. The building was as big as a football field, WAAYYY bigger than the castle upstairs. "I asked why it was so big. The size is for if I wanted to bring others down with me. Of course I would do that. My guards, my friends, and my family of course. This building is about as big as Ponyville. And only I can open the door into it. So long as I have my horn."

Scootaloo stared open-mouthed at the royal building before Rainbow turned back around and going out the door, fluttershy following close behind. Soon they arrived at the slab again, which was closed. Rainbow lifted a hoof and pushed it up. When it hit the top, it split in half, allowing the group to walk in. "That.....was amazing," Scootaloo muttered as they made their way out, headed towards another room that Rainbow hoped would NEVER be used. Once they made it to the front of the house outside, they stopped at the fountain in the direct middle of the complex. Rainbow put a hoof into the water and pulled on a certain lever. The water stopped running before it drained down. Once it was all out of sight. The fountain rose up and slid to the side, revealing another staircase. The guards behind her all stood stock still, having already been informed of the situation by Celestia herself.

"Awwww another one?" Scootaloo groaned. Rainbow looked up at her before going down the stairs. This one was lit with Rainbow colored orbs and went far deeper than any of the rooms, including the Retreat Castle. After around thirteen minutes of climbing, they arrived at a hallway...that was filled with runes. There had to be at least over a hundred in there. All over the curved ceiling, walls, and everything else down there. There were two stone statues of pony guards stationed against the wall, facing opposite of them that were covered in runes as well. This must be serious place.

"What.....what is this?" Fluttershy asked fearfully, Scootaloo having the exact same question on her mind. Before Rainbow answered, she reached to the left and pulled on a lever. Torches lit the hallway. When she stepped forward, the light in her horn fizzled out, the area diminishing her magic and hers alone. It was time to tell them.

"This....will be a very forbidden place if I lose to a fight that I am destined to be in," Rainbow answered. "Or if I am forced to make a decision that affects everypony critically." She walked deeper down the hall before Scootaloo jumped off Rainbow's back and onto Fluttershy's behind her, a little scared from the environment. If they had to run, Fluttershy was sure to bolt faster than anything.

At the end was a door. A thick, steel door. With locks all over it. They were all unlocked at the moment. Rainbow stood up and used her hooves to push the heavy bar aside, displaying her strength, before gripping the handle that was above the bar.

"Rainbow....what's in there?" Rainbow ignored her marefriend's timid question, only focusing on pulling the door open. Once it was cracked, she stepped around and inside. The other two ponies looked at each other before they tentatively followed after her. Inside were chains, shackles, and levers, definitely to pull whoever was at the end of those chains up to the wall.

All over the room, there were runes, lighting it up like it was daytime. Definitely defensive based on the red coloring of the shapes. "What...is all of this?" Scootaloo asked. "It's so.....cool."

"No....." Rainbow turned around to face them. "It's not. This room was built..............for me."
> Chapter 16 - Reveal of the Plan
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was dead silent down there, the only sound being the flames from the torches as they licked and snapped at the air around them.

"Wh.....what are you talking about?" Fluttershy asked. "Why would there be a prison for you?" Rainbow sighed and looked towards the ground.

"You know my mother is a seer, right?" Fluttershy nodded. "She saw the incoming war that will overtake Ponyville and part of Canterlot. I will be in the center of it because of the Jewel of Rainbow. Spectrum will return...and I have to take her out. But it comes with a price." The two listened intently to Rainbow. Scootaloo had no idea who Spectrum was, or what the heck a Jewel of Rainbow was, but it sounded important. Maybe Rainbow Dash made it. But it was in fact the opposite. It was what made Rainbow Dash.

"Spectrum will hit me with a bit of her magic when I take her out, both at the same time. It will be dark. It will be evil. And it will corrupt me. I will be as bad, if not worse, as her and I will be hurting my own people uncontrollably. When that happens, you have to take me down here, lock me up tight, bolt that door, and activate those runes. Luckily, it won't be too long. I'll only be down here for a year. After that, I will be back to normal." The two ponies looked at her with their mouths open.

"Mom....you sound nuts!" Scootaloo said, jumping off of Fluttershy's back and walking towards her mother. "You think I'm going to let you be locked up in this torture arena?!"

"It's either that or everybody dies, Scootaloo," Rainbow responded sadly. "I don't want this to happen either. But it comes with being me. The Jewel of Rainbow created me. And one of it's creators wants it back for herself. She wants the power to conquer, to invade, and maybe to enslave. And she will kill to get it. I don't want that happening and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't. Even if it means giving my life in the process."

"No! I just got a mother and I'm not losing her!"

"And you won't!" She pulled Scootaloo closer, giving her a hug. "Once it's all over, you will have your mother right here with you the whole time, I promise."

"Promise?"

"I give you my word." The two stayed like that until Fluttershy came over and joined in, giving her family kisses and hugs. After awhile they left. Rainbow set everything back to where it was, turning off the torches and walked back up the stairs. Once reaching the top, she pressed a brick into the side and let the fountain above split open, allowing the three of them to walk through.

"I have to tell the others today too," Rainbow informed them. "I'm just taking them down there and explaining. I'm not gonna show them the whole castle."

"Alright," Fluttershy said. "Now let's get Scootaloo to the doctor." Scootaloo shook out of her sad state before jumping onto Rainbow's back.

"Can we fly there?" She asked. "I wanna fly, I wanna fly!"

"Alright, alright!" The princess chuckled. "Sweetie Drops, my family and I are going solo today. Wait until we get back." The agent at the gates bowed in respect before the three took off into the air, headed towards Ponyville.



During the flight, Rainbow had a lot on her mind. Specifically Scootaloo. Where would she go if her idol was locked away? What would happen to her? All she would have is Fluttershy, her friends, Rainbow's friends, Celestia, Luna, and Cadance once she finds out about her family. When that happens, there will be a lot of words.

Soon they landed in the square, shocking some of the ponies shopping around who bowed in respect as they made their way towards the hospital a few yards away. "Fluttershy? Will you be joining us or are you going to Twilight's?"

"I'll be joining you," she said. "She's my daughter too. I have to be there for her as well." Scootaloo smiled as they walked in, catching the nurse at the desk's attention. Who in the world was that tall cerulean pony?

"Can I-oh my Celestia!" She bowed in front of the royal, shocked from the random appearance.

"At ease," Rainbow said. "I'm just here to give my daughter a check up." The nurse stood back up and wrote some stuff down on the clipboard.

"Alright, Princess. Let me go get the doctor." she trotted out from behind the desk, making her way over to the hallway that led towards the doctor's office. Fluttershy took a seat while Rainbow remained standing, thinking about what she said. If what Rainbow said earlier was true, than that means a war was coming. And she had court on Monday with the other ponies. There was just no telling what in the world would happen. Rainbow will indubitably get hurt. Not to mention possessed by dark magic. But what will happen to her and Scootaloo?

"Hello again, Princess Dash!" Doctor Healthy Light said as he walked in calmly and bowed. He was a light blue earth pony, sincere and sweeter than a ripe grape. "It's great seeing you again."

"It's great to see you too, Healthy Light. Scootaloo, this is your new doctor. Say hi." The filly in question peeked over Rainbow's head and waved before going back down, hiding away from sight.

"Nice meeting you too, Scootaloo," the doctor laughed. "Well, follow me and we'll get started." The doctor turned around and walked down the hallway with the three of them following after. Soon they made it to the room, which was for children in design. The wall was painted in flowers and animals, along with having a soothing color. Baby blue. Something Scootaloo definitely found comforting Rainbow guessed.

"Alright, Scootaloo! Just hop up here on this table!" The doctor set down his clipboard while Rainbow lifted the filly off her back and onto the landing. The doctor rinsed his hooves and dried them off before stepping up to the table, putting his hooves on her face. "Flex your cheeks for me." Scootaloo gave a smile that made her two moms smile and the doctor to laugh.

"That always gets me. Alright." Scootaloo dropped the smile while he looked over the rest of her. "Lift your front hooves." She sat on her haunches and lifted them up before the doctor placed his own on hers. "Try and move them." She moved her hooves around while his hooves were on her own. "Okay." He picked up his clipboard and wrote some stuff down with the pen in his mouth. Once he was finished he set it down.

"This is where fillies and colts start to freak out a bit. Parents, we're gonna need you over here." Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walked over, taking places on both sides of the table next to Scootaloo. "Scootaloo? We're gonna check your privates."



Outside the hospital, if you were walking by, you could hear a little filly scream "YYYYYAAAAAAAHHHHHH". The pony that was walking by stopped and looked towards the hospital doors before looking forward and falling on his face from shock.



"See? That wasn't so bad," Rainbow said, looking down at her daughter. Scootaloo was visibly shaking in her hooves after the prodding that just went down in the area below.

"No one's touching me there again," the filly said. Rainbow gave her a knowing smirk before the doctor continued.

"Now, it's time to check your wings," The doctor said. "How old are you?"

"Seven."

"Okay." He grabbed his ruler and walked over to the royal daughter. "Flex your wings out." She did as asked, letting him take the measurements. Once he was done, he told her to lay down her wings. "Here's what's going on, Princess. Scootaloo's wings are abnormal for her age. VERY abnormal. Pegasi at seven years are usually flying as fast as a bird." Scootaloo's self-esteem dropped a large amount while Rainbow Dash asked the question.

"Any idea on what could've caused this? And is it permanent?"

"Yes and no. It's most likely hereditary. Comes down from her parents. And she will fly in the future. But looking at the size right now, it won't be for awhile. It will more than likely be when she's around......seventeen."

"Ten years?!"

"Unless there's some type of permanent morphing spell out there, yes. Her wings are as small as a foal's. The most she can do is buzz them and create a push." Rainbow sighed before looking down at Scootaloo, who was just staring down at the table she was sitting on.

"Okay. Is that it?" The doctor nodded. "Thanks doc."

He bowed while Rainbow lifted Scootaloo up and placed her on her back. Fluttershy opened the door, letting the alicorn, her daughter, and her secret spouse out the office and soon out the front door of the hospital.

They walked a little in silence, the only sound being the hustle and bustle of the ponies on a sunny saturday. And Scootaloo's snifflinf. "I'll........I'll never be able to fly," the filly muttered. Rainbow sighed in distress, her daughter's current state making her depressed. And she had to fix it. She stopped walking before turning to Fluttershy, motioning to the sky with her head. The marefriend looked at her strangely before understanding.

"Hold on, Scoots!" The filly barely had time to grab hold of Rainbow's neck before all three took off into the air, wind blowing past their manes. Scootaloo yelled as she held on, praying that she doesn't fall to the ground that was so SO far below. Soon they breached the cloud layer, cruising calmly towards Cloudsdale.

Scootaloo looked down, wondering and hoping that she could defy the hands of fate and get to flying. And that Rainbow wouldn't get possessed by whatever the hay a Spectrum was. There was a war coming. Oh my Celestia, there was a war coming and her mother was going to be in the middle of it. Why couldn't it have been someone else?

The wind going through her mane stopped, making her look up to see that they landed on the outside of Cloudsdale.

"Ummm what are we doing here?" She asked in confusion.

"I'm going to show you the inspiration for me. It's what gets me through the tough times when I get down and lose hope." She walked towards the busy pegasi town with Fluttershy right beside her, knowing exactly where she was heading.

They passed some buildings where ponies spotted them and bowed, making sure to show respect for Royalty. Once she passed through the houses, she saw some ponies she thought she'd never see again.

"Wow, you've gotten tall!" She stopped and looked towards the left to see Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles walking up to her from her previous home. "Lay off the protein, you're not supposed to be taller than me."

"Sorry, dad. Comes with the package." They laughed before they shared a hug, relieved to actually see each other again.

"Now where is that filly we heard you adopted yesterday?" Windy said breaking the hug. "Don't try to hide her from us, we know you have her."

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy who grabbed Scootaloo by the midsection and set her down in front of the family.

"Awwww, she's so adorable!" Windy cooed. "Your name's Scootaloo?" The filly nodded, a little too scared to talk right now. "How old are you?"

She didn't answer. Instead she took the opportunity to bolt and hide between Rainbow's legs.

"She's shy like you when you were younger," the only stallion there commented. "Hide between her mother's legs. Like mother like daughter."

"Is that even a thing?"

"It is now! I created it. Make a stallion proud and have it go viral. Now where you mares headed off to? The coliseum?"

"Yeah. Scootaloo has a wing deformity and she's really down about it. She won't be able to fly until she's seventeen."

"Aww you poor dear!" Windy cried, grabbing the filly from out between Rainbow's legs and hugging her. Scootaloo grunted as her cheek was pressed against her......grandmother's?

"So I was going to take her to a certain place I used to go to when I was her age that YOU would have to drag me away from." Windy smiled softly before she finally let Scootaloo go to dart in between Fluttershy's legs, much to the mare's proudness.

"Ohhhh. Okay, sounds good. And how are you, Fluttershy dear? We've been ignoring you this whole time!"

"I'm well, thank you. Rainbow? Don't you think you should tell them about.....ummm......" Rainbow looked at her for a moment, trying to get the jist of what she was talking about.

"Oh! Yes, of course! Umm mom? Dad? Fluttershy and I...."

"Are marefriends?" Bow inferred, giving a sly smirk.

"Yes, we're-wait! How did you know?" Rainbow asked in astonishment.

"We figured you two would get together," Windy clarified. "Fluttershy's been crushing on you for awhile and we were like, 'she's more than likely going to tell her now in case Rainbow has to move to Canterlot  with her mother."

Wait, what? Scootaloo thought, confusion written all over her face. I thought you were her mother!

"It took you awhile to notice," Bow said, rolling his eyes. "Well, in case you ask, it's not our place to approve...anymore. Actually, it wasn't in the first place. We don't judge and it's your life."

"Rainbow?" Fluttershy said, getting her attention. "Make sure you let them know what will happen when things go south...during the...."

Rainbow nodded before turning back to her caretakers. "Guys? I need you to follow me back to the castle when I leave the coliseum. There's......something life-threatening you have to be ahead of. And I don't think you-know-who told you yet."

The two looked at each other before nodding.

"Okay. I'll be back to pick you up." Scootaloo jumped on Fluttershy's hoof before climbing up to her back as the family went on towards the coliseum.



Cherry Berry was looking through a cookbook filled with different deserts that she could bake, sitting in the middle of the library. Of course she could've asked the pink party planner, but she likes to read to learn instead of asking to be taught. It makes her feel independent.

Twilight was out getting some stuff for the place as well as quills for paperwork since they were almost out. Signing those memos were a huge taxing thing since they had to ALL be signed by hand. That took three days for Cherry while it took like an hour for the unicorns and alicorn because of their magic. She would sign ten in a minute while it took three a minute for herself. Either way, they ran out of quills.

Her attention was broken away from her book as the front door creaked open, revealing the purple mage as she walked in, her saddlebags filled with food and the writing tools. But floating above her head was a bouquet of flowers. Must've been from an admirer.

"Hey, Twilight!" She called out, grabbing her attention. But apparently she was not expecting her to be sitting there reading.

"Huh?!" She jumped, causing the roses to fall out of her magical grip and to the floor. She looked around and finally spotted her friend holding a cookbook and stifling her giggles. "How...how long have you been sitting there?"

"Uuhhhmmm...." Cherry looked up at the clock, just to mess with her. "Since you left."

"Oh." Twilight looked down at the roses and gasped before grabbing them and hiding them out of sight.

"And who were those from?"

"Uhm...they were actually for someone." She poked at the floor with her hoof, making circles and such.

"Oh. Is he...or she, I don't judge, cute?" Twilight lifted the roses and smiled.

"Yes. Yes she is."

Cherry gasped. She had to admit she was on the edge of her seat as to who the mare was. "Ooohhhh, what's her name? Tell me tell me!"

Twilight blushed fiercely, her nervousness grabbing hold of her again so much that she couldn't let out the truth directly.

"Well uhm....we both know her. We know her very well."

"Can I have a name?"

"CB."

"C....B?" Cherry asked in confusion. "I don't know anyone by that name."

"Are you sure?" Twilight had to take this slow. If she wanted to confess her feelings, she had to ease it in. She walked forward slowly, making sure not to make it uneasy. "I mean....she's great, nice, cute, and from what I've seen, a bookworm."

Cherry watched her take a seat in front of her, still holding the flowers with eyes filled with hope.

"Hmmmm.." The pastry chef thought hard, trying to figure out who Twilight was referring to. There was that pony Cloud Boom, but they were a stallion. Then Candle Blow, but she lived on the outskirts of Canterlot. Twilight said she doesn't like long distance relationships. So this pony had to be nearby.

"Okay, so it's not Cloud Boom nor Candle Blow. The only other pony I know who has 'CB' for initials would be....Cherry....Berry." Realization dawned on her as she looked up at Twilight who was looking down, biting her lip, and twirling the bouquet around.

Cherry looked at her non chalanty for a moment before a small smile graced her face.

"I know you....think it's weird, strange....foolish even," Twilight tried to explain, unaware of the mare of her dreams standing up and walking around the table towards her. "But I can't deny who I have feelings for. I don't know if you like mares. I never asked because I'm afraid it might make things awkward and it could hurt you or offend you, so I sort of-"

Cherry pressed a hoof against Twilight's mouth, quieting her. She giggled softly before she lowering it and and sitting on her haunches down in front of her. "One thing you should know about me Twilight, is that if a friend asks me a serious question, I'm an open book. I'm attracted to both sexes, and I do like mares. Is this what you've been beating yourself up over for the last few weeks?"

Twilight looked back down and shyly nodded her head. Cherry laughed before grabbing hold of Twilight's hoof. "You silly filly, you could've just talked about it! But it wouldn't really be you if you didn't over think things, now will it?" Twilight blushed.

Cherry reached over and grabbed the bouquet before taking a sniff.

"Do you like them?" Twilight asked hopefully. "I-I took the measurements, counted the petals, and checked the smell to make sure it caused a light pinch of arousal."

"Wait, what?" Someone knocked on the door, grabbing the ponies' attention. Twilight looked over at Cherry and walked towards the door. She pulled it open, revealing a special royal guard in black armor with a mane that only Cherry and Lyra recognize.

"Bon Bon?!" She yelled, placing the roses on the table. "What in Equestria-where have you been?!"

"Formerly under Princess Celestia as her official personal Royal Guard. Now I am under Princess Dash. You two are to come with me. She needs to see those she are close with immediately."

The two mares looked at each other before they followed her out.

On the way towards the castle, they were joined by Pinkie Pie, Rarity,and Applejack.

"Do y'all know what's going on?" Applejack asked. "All I know is that Dash wants ta' see us."

"That's all we know too," Twilight answered as they neared the loop. "Hopefully we'll get some answers."

When they arrived, they were greeted by the rest of the advisory committee, Bow Hothoof, Windy Whistles, and Rainbow Dash herself who had on a serious expression.

"Rainbow, what exactly is going on?" Rarity asked.

The guards all bowed briefly to the Princess before going back to their posts.

"Have any of you seen...hidden rooms in a castle before?" Rainbow asked blandly.

"Celestia showed me two in Canterlot," Twilight answered.

Rainbow sighed before gesturing for the group to follow her. They walked towards the housing and started to pass the fountain until she stopped and faced it. The ponies all looked at her in confusion as she put her hoof in the water and pulled a hidden lever.

The water drained out before the fountain lifted and moved to the side, revealing the hidden staircase.

"What in Equestria?" Lady Justice said.

"Come." Rainbow took the lead, going down the dark stairwell with the group. Once they were all in, the rainbow colored orbs lit up the passage, revealing the stairs that went yards down.

"Rainbow? What is this?" Windy asked, the same Question on everpony else's mind. She didn't get a response, only the sound of footsteps as they continued the journey down.

After eleven more minutes, they arrived in a chamber slash hallway with the stone royal guards and the walls covered with runes, along with the steel door with the locks on the end. Rainbow reached to the side and pulled the lever for the torches, giving it more light

"What in the world?" Twilight said, rushing forward as her adventurous mindset took over. "What is this? This is history! I bet Starswirl built this!" She poked at the walls, getting a feel for it. The other ponies stood at the entrance while Rainbow strode forward and Twilight tried to figure out the sanctuary's creator.

"Come," she said, stopping at the door on the end. The ponies all strode forward as she unlocked the door and cracked it open, allowing her and the others to walk into the prison.

"I am required to tell you this. Or this place would always be kept secret. This is a prison for an alicorn." They all stared open mouthed at all the runes, huge chains, and spears pointing at a certain area on the wall. "Twilight? Can you read some of those runes?" Rainbow asked her as she took a seat in front of them, in the center of the prison.

"Yeah, that's a water diminishing spell, fire dominishing spell.....earth diminishing and air diminishing.....they're repeating."

"That's right. This prison was to hold back an Alicorn that can control nature. Celestia had it built with the castle. Let me tell you a little secret about her that she wants only you to know. She's a seer. Everything she sees in the future actually comes to pass."

"What does that have to do with the Prison, your majesty?" One of the advisers asked.

"In the future she saw....me. In the upcoming battle that will decide the lives of everyone everywhere fighting. We win, but it comes with a price. The alicorn of nature will be hit witha bolt of dark magic that will corrupt her.....and attack her own people.

"The spell will last for a year, in which she will spend here in this prison until it ends. That alicorn.......was me."

"Wha.....what are you talkin' about, Rainbow?" Applejack asked, walking up towards the Princess. "There ain't no way you'd do something like go against your own. You are way too loyal for that."

"I know. That's why it won't actually be me." They looked at her confused. "The dark magic will take over me. It will be apart of the attacker that we defeated. Except they will also be me. In my body and using my resources as they see fit. They will have access to my mind, body, power, memories, speed, everything. I will be evil. Dark and dirty. The dark magic feeds off of destruction and power. And since I'm the the third most powerful after Celestia and Luna, it will be feeding off of me. I will be attacking you all unwillingly. I will be a prisoner in my own mind. It is inevitable, it will happen, and you all need to know what to do when it does." She lifted a hoof towards the door. "Those golems out there will be activated to stop me should I ever escape." She pointed to a lever on the side of the of the door. "That lever will be pulled to pin me to the wall behind me once the chains are attached."

She pointed to the spears on the floor. "These spears will be triggered once the runes on the wall activate them. If my magic hits those runes, they will activate the spears and will impale me. I'll still be alive though, because I'm not really there. A year after I am imprisoned, and the golems out there are able to tell, a burst of my magic will blow out and be sent across Equestria. The runes outside will pulse a steady blue in a wave once I am completely back to normal. The only person who is able to let me back out will be Celestia. Twilight? You know why."

They all looked towards the mare who was nodding her head eagerly. "As much as it pains me to even think about, it has to be done. Or else everypony, and I mean EVERYpony, will be gone. Scootaloo and Fluttershy already know, I told them this morning. Scoots didn't take it well. Because it will happen this year sometime. Maybe in the winter." Rainbow stood back up and motioned for everyone to leave. Now that that's over, she can report to Celestia about that it's been complete. The briefing done, now it all begins.



"They're hiding something, Shining," Cadance told her fiancee. They were in the dining hall in the Princess of Love's castle, discussing things that have been going on in the past when Cadance brought up the strange conversation her aunt and Princess Dash were discussing at the gala last night. "They said something about future issues that involves exposure and danger. As a fellow Princess, I believe I should know. Don't you think so?"

Shining took about out of his food before responding. "If it's a family matter, yes. But Princesses also have a right to secrecy. So they usually don't tell another Princess everything. So if they ARE hiding something, you'll have to coerce it out of them or something."

"Shining, I'm not going to go all military on my aunt. Screaming in her face, slapping her, and demanding that she tell me."

"Or....or you could pull the guilt look card. Do that thing where you talk to them and make that face where they can't even keep the truth from you. Like you do to me when I eat your cereal."

"The 'Love Look?'"

"Yeah, that." He took a sip out of his drink before responding. "Celestia cannot resist that. If she does, then they are hiding something REALLY big. Like 'end of the world' big."

"I just hope it isn't that. I'll talk to her tomorrow during the breakfast. You're coming too, right?" Shining nodded before he grabbed a peace of her cake and chomped it down. "I don't know what it is with royals and cake. First Celestia, then.....wait a second." Shining stopped with his mouth open, the second piece of cake held in mid air in front of him. "Remember during the first royal breakfast when she was revealed, when Rainbow and Celestia were chowing down on the cake...don't you think it was a little odd that they did the exact same thing?" Shining put down the cake and listened closely. "I think....don't quote me on this, but I think they're related."

"What? I mean.....that makes a little sense. But how'd you come to that conclusion?" Shining popped the slice into his mouth.

"Well they nuzzle a lot, as well as will Luna, but not as much as with Celestia. They act the same in a way. Almost like they were part of one puzzle. I think.......Princess Dash might be Celestia's daughter."
> Chapter 17 - A Little Light
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So we could either build a wall to cutoff the forest completely, or we could have guards stationed there at the entrance," Twilight suggested during a meeting about what to do with the Everfree Forest.

They've been throwing ideas out since seven in the morning, hoping to find ways to keep ponies of all kinds from going into that forest. So far, it looks like building something just isn't going to work. Considering that ponies could fly right over anything they put down and land in the forest. It seems like a lot for so little, but Rainbow is practically building this for everyone and using three specific fillies for a reference.

"The wall would not work," the princess shot down, sighing deeply. "Somepony would take the time out to fly over it. Based off the cutie mark crusaders' hang gliding."

"Ahhh, right." The rest of the table murmured in agreement.

"So we don't have a lot of options here," Lady Justice said. "Why don't we have a unicorn led team to create a magical barrier...as well as a pegasi team to scout the air...then Earth Pony guards for a bit of a step inside the forest?"

"I'm not sure about the ponies in the forest," Rainbow said, suddenly smiling. "But everything else I'm down for." Fluttershy, who was standing to the side wrote down the recommendation. "That sounds promising. Very VERY promising."

"I agree," Cherry said, voicing her agreement with everyone else.

"I'll bring this to Celestia's attention. In the meantime, you are all dismissed. Court starts in thirty minutes." The ponies all stood up and grabbed their things while Fluttershy and her really tall marefriend stayed behind. Once they were all out, they focused their attention on each other.

"You're getting tall, Ms. Dash," she teased. "As tall as your mother."

"I know," she whined, going to her "awesome" state of mind as she laid down facing Fluttershy. "And it's aggravating. "If I wanted to have sex, it'd be really difficult. It'd be FUN......but still difficult."

Fluttershy's face was like a tomato as she figured out what Rainbow was insinuating. "Umm...uhhh...Are you sure? Sex?"

"Don't worry, it's just something that will take us to a new level. You and I love each other, it would only make sense to show it, right?" The princess extended a wing and tickled Fluttershy's flank, making the Pegasus' wings shoot out and blush hard. "And it doesn't have to be now. I can wait."

The princess withdrew her wing before leaning forward and kissing her deeply, making Fluttershy do the same. After like a minute, clearly a sign to Rainbow's arousal, the smaller marefriend broke it.

"Aww, I was enjoying that," Rainbow whined.

"I know. But you have court and I have to go see Rarity for our spa day."

Rainbow pouted, trying to woo Fluttershy over with a puppy dog look for more kissing, but that Pegasus of hers was unmoving. Eventually, she gave up.

"Ugggghhhh fine." She stood up and made her way over to the door. "But this definitely isn't over."

"Dashie, don't you know I always win?" Fluttershy teased, knowing exactly what buttons to push. It sure worked.

Rainbow gasped lightly before turning around and trotting towards Fluttershy, who trotted away at the same time. "Get over here, Flutters! The princess demands it!"

"Uh uh uh! You have to work to get what you want!" She teased, as the two faced each other across the table. A standoff that both were determined to win.

"Is that so?" The princess said, a mischievous look on her face that Fluttershy classified as....hungry. "Alright."

The next thing fluttershy knew, she was pinned down after Rainbow had jumped over the table, catching her off guard.

"Now that I worked for it..... where's my pay?" She asked erotically.

"I think you're in heat, Dashie."

"I think so too. But you didn't answer my question." Fluttershy giggled before lifting her head and whispering something in her ear, something Rainbow greatly enjoyed.

She pulled away after lightly licking and biting her ear, sending subliminal messages about what to expect.

"Okay......I'll wait for three seconds before I let it all out," Rainbow released Fluttershy who actually scooted lower and rubbed her rear hoof against Rainbow Dash's "Rainbow", making her gasp, blush, and moan.

"Flu......Fluttershy......y-you know all my......b-best spots," she moaned while giving tiny whimpers that Fluttershy found adorable.

"We're mares, Dashie. We have the same spots." They stayed like until Rainbow found relief, nearly falling on Fluttershy.

"You.....have the best hooves," she said breathlessly. "I'll return the favor when you and I are alone again."

Fluttershy giggled before standing up and pecking Rainbow before walking away, adding a noticeable and inviting sway to her hips. "You better," she said seductively. She opened the door and walked out, letting Rainbow Dash calm herself down before walking out to begin the court sessions.



Scootaloo had been dropped off at school earlier that morning by Fluttershy at seven since Rainbow had to begin the meeting concerning the Everfree Forest. Even though she was a little disappointed, she promised to be the one picking her up. Unless she had a crusader's meeting.

"So we divide eight into groups of four," Ms. Cherilee explained, pointing towards the board that had an equation on it. "The answer is how many groups there ARE. Sometimes, it will be half, a whole, or part of a group as well."

Scootaloo wrote down some notes that she picked up from one of her godparents, Twilight. She had a lot of god parents. But she didn't know her grandparents.

A week and a half ago, Rainbow said she did have a grandmother and a great aunt but that she couldn't meet them yet. Scootaloo had asked why and Rainbow said that it would put everyone in danger. So she let it drop, although she didn't understand.

But inside...she wanted to meet them. Bad.

"Okay, everypony! Lunchtime!" Scootaloo looked up and set down her pencil before grabbing her lunch and walking out with the rest of the foals.

Once outside she sat down and opened her bag, pulling out the lunch Rainbow had made for her before she was joined by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

"So any news yet?" Apple Bloom asked as she unpacked her lunch.

"Nope," Scootaloo said, taking a bit out of her sandwich. "But I will ask her again on Saturday. We have a royal breakfast that consists of all the princesses and their families. So I get to go."

"Awesome!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, taking a bite out of her own sandwich. "What do you think will be on the menu? Sweets?"

"Maybe. The princesses like their cake. Mom has like seven in the dining hall! Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Blueberry and others. And we get another each week!"

"Sounds like the life!"

"Eh, it's alright. I mean it's not like I get to go anywhere else in the building. There's so much more to that place than you think."

"Oh?" Apple Bloom asked, her curiosity intrigued. "Like what?"

"A lot."

"Like...."

"Just a lot. That's all I'm saying." Scootaloo went back to her sandwich, ignoring the strange looks she was receiving from her friends. That little slip-up could've cost Rainbow Dash. What a close call.



Soon, Saturday arrived. And with it, high expectations. Being the daughter of a princess means you have to look the part. But just like mother, you have a just alike daughter.

"I don't wanna dress up!" Princess Rainbow and Scootaloo cried at the same time. Rarity was there getting there clothes together which were just dresses that matched. This time, Fluttershy was going in something as well that matched the rest of her family.

"Ladies, ladies, please!" She insisted. "These dresses are my best work and you don't wanna look raunchy in front of the others do you?"

"And what exactly is raunchy?" The filly asked.

"I appreciate the kind act Rarity," Rainbow Dash said, trying to get off the pedestal she was standing on before Rarity used her magic to place her back on it. "But I was just going to wear what I wore at the Gala."

"Ahh, but Dash.....I didn't make that dress. So you are going to wear what I made for you today."

"Ahhhhhwwwww!" In the next second, Rarity pulled a privacy shield over the two of them and began dressing them while Fluttershy was walking by in her own dress that looked like it was created by a god. It was gold trimmed with flames coming from the bottom on up to the top. She had a simple tiara along with golden hoofshoes, courtesy of Celestia herself.

The privacy shield was pushed back to reveal the mother and daughter with a nonchalant look on their faces. Mostly due to their hairstyles. How Rarity did that was a mystery. They were both set in a Rainbow themed dress with golden hoofshoes that Scootaloo actually liked. Rainbow dash had a crown while her daughter had on a tiara. Simple.

"Okay, even though I didn't enjoy the dressing up, I have to admit this is really good," Scootaloo praised looking down at herself. Rainbow Dash chuckled before pulling her daughter closer to her.

"I told you Rarity could do it."

"No you didn't."

"Well Rarity could do it. See, I just told you but think that I told you a minute ago, okay?"

Scootaloo laughed before going over to her other mother who was busy talking to the guards at the door. "Thanks Rarity!" She yelled over her shoulder.

"You're welcome, Sweetheart. Rainbow Dash? What do we say?" The princess looked at her spitefully before shifting her gaze to the ground and muttering something. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."

"Thank you."

"Speak up darling."

"Rarity, that's as high as I'm going."

The fashionista scoffed playfully before bopping the princess on the forehead. "Your mother spoils you, you know that? I must be on my way now. Have fun at the breakfast." She grabbed her stuff with her magic and walked out the door, heading towards her boutique.

"Yeah we got to get going too, come on!" They all walked out the room while Rainbow Dash led the way towards the front of the building where there were multiple Pegasus guards waiting for her. Scootaloo became a little worried. Were they expecting an attack?

"Why are there so many guards?" Scootaloo asked.

"They're here to protect you," Rainbow answered.

"Yeah I know they're here to protect us, but-"

"No, Scootaloo," Rainbow interrupted. "They're her to protect you. You're the first child to actually attend the Royal Breakfast in centuries. So this is a piece of history. You're making history just by going to breakfast with your mothers."

Scootaloo had her mouth gaped wide open as they walked up to the chariot where Rainbow picked her daughter up and placed her inside before Fluttershy and herself walked in, as well as Agent Sweetie Drops. A few seconds later, the guards took off into the air followed by the Chariot for maximum protection in the front as they turned around, heading for the mountainside that contained the city of Canterlot.

"So......I'm like........Important?" Scootaloo asked.

"Very important, sweetheart," Fluttershy said, pulling her in by the wing. Scootaloo smiled and cuddled up to her, making both of the parents smile and prompting Rainbow Dash to do the same.

Soon, they arrived over the city, making the ponies pulling the chariot to slow down and land on the pavement in front of the gates of the castle. There were plenty of news ponies there, obviously trying to get a view of the one making history today that will be celebrated throughout all of Equestria and it's allies. Scootaloo thought she wasn't that famous. Just a filly who was adopted by the best ponies in the world. That's it. It's not like she saved the world.

"Princess!"

"Princess! Can we get a word?"

"Princess Dash! How are you going to solve the imbalance of Equestria's resources?"

They continued driving through, although really wanted to answer that last one. She had a great plan in place and it involved only her. Once they were through the gates, they were closed again, allowing the royalty to relax as they came to a stop. Sweetie Drops hopped out and pulled open the door for the three of them, allowing them to step out and for the news cameras behind the gates to get a good view of the filly. There were some more inside the castle, although the family didn't know it.

Rainbow picked up her daughter and set her on her back as they made their way towards the royal building's entrance which was guarded by two guards who opened them upon seeing the royal family and their escorts. When they walked inside, they were closed again, allowing them to see what was inside in peace.

"You know......it looks far more peaceful in here than it did during the gala," Scootaloo commented. "Pinkie Pie isn't throwing ponies, or anything else, and it's serene."

"Life of living in a castle as big as this," Rainbow said to her. "Of course you have to work and get things done, but at the end of the day, nothing says relaxation like the peace inside a castle, the mare of your dreams, and the child you can come home to." Fluttershy blushed before she nuzzled her marefriend underneath her chin. Somehow Rainbow's aliconr body can shrink and come to a certain size, confusing Scootaloo. Wasn't she like eight feet tall a minute ago?

They turned a corner for the throne room and were received by more news ponies who rushed at them, trying to get through the guards and get some words. Well they didn't get any, but they'll get some soon at the breakfast. They family walked around them and up the steps to the throne room where the guards pushed the doors open, revealing Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor.

"Hello, Celestia!" Rainbow greeted happily, trotting up to her mother.

"Hello, Rainbow," she greeted back as they nuzzled each other for around ten full seconds. Cadance looked towards her fiancee with a look that said "See what I mean?" Shining armor just shrugged in response.

"It's great seeing you here. And with little Scootaloo no less." She walked around Rainbow Dash and towards the filly who hopped off of her mother and latched onto Celestia's muzzle.

"Hey, Princess Celestia!" She greeted. Within the last week, Celestia had come over multiple times to see the family and had spoken to Scootaloo most of the time, trying to form a relationship with her granddaughter. It apparently had a great impact.

"Hello, Scootaloo! How are you, besides loving my face?"

"I'm okay." Rainbow pulled her daughter off and set her down on the Princess' back. Scootaloo always loved riding on it for some reason. "Onward!" She yelled pointing straight forward.

"Not yet, Squirt," Rainbow chuckled. "We gotta give you the lowdown of how this is going to play out."

"She's right," Luna said, walking over. "First we're all going to say our names and positions in Equestrian royalty before the first bite is taken."

"Firs.....bite?"

"Yep!" Cadance said, joining in on the conversation. "It's when the guest of honor takes the first bite. And since you're the first child in Equestrian Royalty, as well as the guest of honor, this is a huge moment."

"Oh......" Scootaloo said shyly.

"Don't worry, I'll be sitting right there to supervise and Fluttershy will be sitting on the other side of you," Rainbow guaranteed.

"Now, let's go," Celestia said, walking towards the throne room entrance. Scootaloo adjusted her dress while Cadance and her parents walked alongside her. The guards pushed the doors open for them, allowing them to walk into sight of the cameras and ponies standing out on the floor below. There were A LOT more then when Rainbow Dash was here. Way more.

They immediately started asking questions about the breakfast. What they were going to eat, the first bite, and discussions. Of course the discussion bit wasn't actually sent out. But something was.

Scootaloo cleared her throat loudly, getting everyone's attention as she pulled out a sheet of paper from behind her back. "I'd like to say something." All the cameras and eyes were positioned on her now as she started reading. "Go....." She looked back at the paper before positioning her eyes back on them. "Away. Go away. Thank you."

Rainbow Dash snorted while the rest of the group all laughed at her and made their way towards the floor, headed towards the garden outside. The news ponies were allowed to follow as well as the historians, since this was a major thing happening.

The doors were opened, allowing the princesses to walk out and take a seat at the ornate table, Scootaloo being placed beside her mother, who was sitting between Celestia and Luna. On the other side of her was Fluttershy, Cadance, and Shining armor. They all sat on one side, with Scootaloo the center of attention.

"You ready, Squirt?" Rainbow asked her.

"I'm just eating, right?" She asked her nervously. "T-that's it? Just taking a bite out of some food?"

"Yeah, but the catch is to keep it in your mouth," Celestia said. "When me and Luna did it centuries ago, we accidentally spat it out because it tasted so bad." Scootaloo stopped smiling as her eyes got big. The news ponies started snapping photos as they looked towards them, showing a unicorn in a chef's outfit pushing a cart with food on it towards the table. There were more ponies behind him, all of them wearing a chef's uniform.

When the cart stopped, he levitated the food onto the table, most of it consisting of bagels, doughnuts, cereal, and more stuff that Scootaloo has yet to know of. Once it was all set out, those in front positioned their camera's towards her face, getting ready to capture that first bite that hasn't happened in over twenty thousand years.

"Okay, squirt. It's time." Scootaloo looked towards her mother before looking towards the food. "Just pick whatever you want and take a bite out of it."

"Try not to spit it out," Luna teased, making her sister scoff.

The filly looked at the variety of food before pointing her hoof at a chocolate doughnut, which Rainbow picked up and handed to her. She sniffed it first, finding it good to eat. She put the doughnut by her mouth, opened it, pushed it in, and bit down. It was actually really good.

Ponies everywhere, who were somehow watching it, cheered and stomped her hooves, including Royalty. Scootaloo just looked around at all the ponies cheering strangely.

"Yeah, sorry but look, I have to ask," she interrupted. "Why......was that so...important?"

"Well," Rainbow said, clearing her throat to begin a lecture. She stopped suddenly, now just realizing what she was about to do. "Oh my Equestria, I was about to start a lecture. I'm turning into Twilight."

Celestia chuckled at her daughter before she explained to Scootaloo that the reason ponies celebrated the First Bite was because it was a tradition that Princess Platinum created as a trend during the first feast when Equestria was first created. It has been passed down Equestrian royalty ever since. Every child that is the son and daughter of a higher class of royalty, King Queen, or Princess, has taken the first bite to continue that tradition.

"Oh," Scootaloo said. "Thanks, Princess Celestia!" Scootaloo took a bite out of her food before Rainbow nuzzled her, admiring her daughter's innocence before Celestia raised a cup.

"To Equestria." she said.

"To Equestria!" The other Princesses and Prince said, doing the same.

"Yay," Fluttershy cheered quietly.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo said, holding up another doughnut before popping it into her mouth. They all laughed before starting to eat themselves.



After the breakfast, they all went back towards the throne room to relax and recuperate, Scootaloo more than anyone else. Cadance herself decided to ask some things to feed her curiosity. Celestia, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and it looked like even Luna, were hiding something.

Right now Rainbow was sitting next to Celestia and leaning against her side. If she didn't know any better, she'd say they were lovers. But her aunts were into stallions too much. Especially Luna who was seen checking out the random Royal Guard here and there around the castle.

"So what's the next step?" Celestia whispered to her daughter. "Is there any sign yet?"

"None that I can see, or felt for that matter," she responded. "Twilight hasn't felt anything either. And she's as powerful with magic as I am."

"I am aware. You both have learned from the best after all."

"You're so stuck up," Rainbow chuckled.

"And where do you think you get your boasting from?" Celestia whispered. They watched Luna give Scootaloo a flight around the room above them, with the filly holding on and squealing in delight from the speed. "Isn't that a little dangerous?"

"Yeah, I'm worried about that too, Luna!" The princess of the night landed softly on the floor before trotting up to the ponies.

"Yes, my nie-" Celestia plopped a hoof right on her mouth before she let the word out.

"Watch it, Luna," her sister warned, motioning her eyes towards the two other royals in the room. "Let's not get TOO caught up in the moment."

Luna nodded before Celestia lowered her hoof, unbeknownst that Cadance heard everything. "I have to ask them," she whispered to her fiancee, who was looking at her nonchalantly. "I NEED to know."

Shining Armor just sighed. "Well.....I'm interested to see where this goes so....go ahead."

Cadance turned around, walking towards the group. "I have to go to the bathroom," Scootaloo announced. "And I have no idea where it is."

Rainbow sighed before she picked up her daughter and placed her on her back. "Well let's go find it." The two walked towards the door and stepped out, leaving the five other ponies in the room alone.

"Aunt Celestia," the princess of love said, stopping next to the three mares. "I want to ask you something. Don't lie." Celestia and Luna looked at each other before giving Cadance their full attention, while Fluttershy was checking out the stained glass. Who knew it'd be so interesting.

"Okay. Go on." Cadance took a deep breath before asking.

"Is Rainbow Dash.........your daughter?"

The two princesses stared at her widely not moving until Luna dropped the glass cup she was holding, making it shatter against the ground and causing to yelp and dive behind a curtain. Shining Armor walked over eating a doughnut he grabbed from the table outside before they left. He looked at the Princesses shocked expressions.

"Aunt Celestia.....is she your daughter?" Cadance asked again. The two princesses broke out of their surprised looks before turning to each other. Luna motioned towards the area behind them, prompting the two to turn around and have a small discussion that had a lot of whispering

The two left behind glanced at each other before they came back over, worry written all over their faces. Celestia sighed and stopped in front of her niece, ready to admit the truth. "Rainbow Dash.....yes. She is my daughter."

Cadance gasped lightly while Shining Armor choked on his doughnut in surprise. "What?! When? H-how?! WH...wha.....HOW?!" She stuttered.

The doors to the entrance of the room opened up revealing Scootaloo walking in with Rainbow Dash following, capturing their attention..

"The toilets.......were golden," the filly whispered.

"I know, Squirt. You muttered that the whole way back." The princess slowly trotted over, looking at them all quizically. "Hey, guys, what's......what's up, your faces are like completely gone."

Cadance and Shining Armor were staring at the two like they were aliens before Cadance walked up to her. "You......her......daughter....ugghh." She fell to the floor while Rainbow Dash put the pieces together.

"You TOLD THEM?!" she said, walking over and stopping in front of her mother.

"She guessed it," Luna said, pointing to the crazy mare on the floor. "I don't know how, but she did."

"How.....how is this possible?" Cadance said, staggering over to the group "How are you here daughter? You're my cousin?"

"WHAT?!" They all looked down to see Scootaloo looking at them all unbelievably. "YOU'RE MY-" Rainbow put a hoof into her mouth.

"Quiet down there squirt," She said. "We can't let the world know about this. Keep it down." Scootaloo nodded before she removed her hoof.

"You're my grandmother?" Scootaloo asked unbelievably, pointing towards Celestia.

"Yes, Scootaloo. I am your grandma." She walked over and picked up the filly, hugging her to her chest. "And you are my granddaughter." Scootaloo felt limbless in shock, having a silly look on her face while Celestia had a smile on hers.

"But how?" Shining Armor asked quietly. "How are you a mother?"

"Shining Armor. Are you saying I'm not mother material?" Celestia said playfully.

"No....I'm just....who did you date and have sex with?" They all turned towards the only stallion, who quickly backed up. "I mean who did you have relations with that created this beautiful-"

"Oh just stop it," Celestia and Rainbow scolded.

"I had a husband, we got married, had a child who I had to give up, I'll explain later. We are going to the Ponyville castle tonight. You're coming with us to learn the story about the Jewel of Rainbow."
> Chapter 18 - Shipping; Confrontation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia led the group of Royalty out of the throne room and towards the entrance of the castle, making sure to maintain her smiling image although she was screaming inside. How Cadance had guessed that was a mystery even to Rainbow, who was walking right next to her. The Princess of Nature was walking with confidence towards the entrance with her daughter on her back and marefriend by her side. Celestia had been suspecting them of courting but hasn't exactly brought it up yet.

"Rainbow," she said getting her attention. "Are you and Fluttershy.......dating?"

The timid Pegasus squeaked before rushing behind Princess Luna, trying to stay out of sight.

Celestia looked from her and back to Rainbow with a smirk on her face. "Well......yeah, but you already knew that," she answered as they walked through the castle doors.

"I actually did not," her mother said, surprising her. "Seers cannot see everything. Only things that will have a major importance in our lives or a loved one's."

"So can you see my daughter's future?"

"In time, yes. But right now, no. I need to form a special bond with the 'squirt', as you so call her."

The royal chariots were all set to take off including Cadance's and Luna's. Celestia was riding with her daughter to maintain a conversation. That and she hasn't actually been in it before.

The group walked towards their rides and hopped inside while the guards strapped themselves in prepared to take off. Scootaloo was positioned on Fluttershy's head, looking towards the gates in the front while Rainbow Dash and her mother took a seat in the back to have a conversation.

"I call her squirt because I wanted to give her a nickname," Rainbow protested. "And the squirt likes it. Right, squirt?"

"Yeah, mom!"

"See?"

Celestia chuckled before placing her hoof on her back. The chariots started to take off, running across the landing strip of the Castle grounds that were in the front that Rainbow didn't even know she had. They've been landing in the city and driving through the gates when they could've been avoiding all those media ponies by landing BEHIND the gates this whole time?

"Mom, why didn't you tell me we could've been landing behind these gates?"

Celestia looked at her daughter confused before making an "oh" with her mouth. "Uhhhhh.....it spaced my mind. Now there's a special day coming up really soon that you probably forgot about. And how convenient too."

"What are you talking about?" Rainbow asked nonchalantly.

"Come on, new mom," the Princess of the Sun teased. "Don't tell me you've forgotten your daughter's first birthday with her new family."

Rainbow Dash gasped loudly before clamping her hooves over her mouth when her marefriend and daughter turned around to face her.

"What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked.

"Nothing, nothing! I'm fine!" Fluttershy nodded before turning back around. "How could I forget?" Rainbow whispered. "It's her first birthday, I have to do something amazing, I need to HAVE something amazing! We need to have....a party."

"Did someone say Party?!" Everyone turned their heads to see Pinkie Pie dangling outside of Rainbow's chariot, her hooves holding onto the edges.

"Pinkie Pie, wh...what are you DOING, how'd you even get up here?!" Rainbow asked, the question on everyone else's mind.

"Easy! I jumped!"

They all just stared at her while Rainbow pulled her inside. "Pinkie, you are so....you know what? Nevermind. Yes, I said party and I need your help with a surprise one."

Pinkie pulled out a top hat along with some shades and popped them on before pulling out a notepad as well as a quill. "Talk ta' meh."

Rainbow looked towards the front to see her family looking straight ahead again as they approached the town of Ponyville. She waved her hoof towards herself, making Pinkie come closer before she whispered it into her ear.

"Gotcha." Pinkie wrote down some things on the notepad once she pulled away. "I'll have the stuff setup on that day in the castle. You just get the others. Pinkie out!" The party pony threw off the shades and hat before jumping back and out of the Chariot. "Whhhhheeeeeeee....."

Rainbow Dash just stared nonchalantly at the display before sighing and facing forward again. "She is so random," she chuckled.

"The pink one is going to give me a headache!" Luna complained from behind them. "Does she not know that we are thousands of feet in the air....and she has jumped OUT of the chariot?!"

"It's Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow and her daughter yelled at the same time.

Soon, they landed back at Rainbow's castle, stopping in front of the gates that the Royal Guard opened for their arrival. When they stepped out, they all bowed towards them, letting them walk past and into the castle.

"You know....I have never been here before," Cadance said as they made their way past the two buildings in the front. Shining Armor was looking around too at the wonderland that was the Princess of Nature's castle. Especially at the rainbows in the background. "It's very......pretty."

"Thank you," Rainbow said before pointing to Celestia. "Mom had it designed and built within...."

"Three days," she answered.

"Three days?!" Rainbow asked in confusion before shaking her head, getting rid of that news. The guards opened the doors to the housing, revealing the grandeur design inside. "Straight ahead and up those stairs is our room. Scootaloo will eventually get her own, but for now she sleeps with us."

"I don't wanna get my own room!" The filly protested from atop Fluttershy's back.

"Oh.....you'll want to in the future," Rainbow assured her. "Everypony wants to get their own room. And you'll eventually get to big to keep sleeping with us."

They walked up the tall flight of stairs and opened the doors, revealing the room with a lounge and balcony on the left side. Scootaloo jumped off her timid mother's back and took off the dress with a clean movement, the Princess of Nature doing the same. "Ahhhhhh, that's SOOO much better," the filly said, jumping onto the bed face first.

Celestia walked forward and picked her up, looking at her giddy face. "You become way too happy, granddaughter," she chuckled, shaking her head. "Rainbow. I do hope you are not mating while Scootaloo's in the room."

Everyone stopped looking around and turned to Celestia shocked. "M-Mom!" Rainbow scolded. "T-They don't know about that!" She pointed towards her cousin, who was sporting a flashy grin and laughing out loud.

"Rainbow, I'm the Princess of Love," she said proudly. "It's normal if I hear about ponies having sex. As a matter of fact, I usually feel it in the air around the Crystal Empire practically everyday. Even Shining-"

"Okay, let's not get into me," the Prince said, blushing and trying to change the subject. He walked into the lounge looking at everything inside of it. "Oh it's very nice in here. You even have tiny little rainbows coming out of tiny little fountains? That's so cute."

"It's not cute, it's.....help me out here, Scoots."

"Sophisticated."

"What she said, sophisticated. I'm too cool for the sappy." Rainbow jumped on the bed and laid down with Fluttershy, who curled up to her.

Shining Armor walked out with a grin on his face. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yep."

"Positive?"

"Yes?" She said, looking at him suspiciously. He slowly pulled a large stuffed pony out into view that had a little heart on it, making Rainbow gasp.

"Are you absolutely sure that-"

"Put that down!" She yelled, conjuring and splashing him with a bunch of water. He yelped and dropped the teddy bear, trying to get the water out of his eyes. The mares all laughed as he fell down. "Next time it's dirt!"

"Okay, okay!" He stood up once all the water was off his face. "Geez that was a good shot. You hit me directly in the pupil without a second try, ow."

"Don't touch my teddy pony, then."

"Can I touch your teddy pony?" Scootaloo asked, scrambling out of her grandmother's arms. "Can I can I Can I?"

"Sure squirt, JUST DON'T RIP IT! PLEASE!?" She yelled desperately, getting up and making her way over to the plushy and making everyone else in there stare at her.

"She's really attached to that thing," Luna whispered to her sister. "Did you give that too her?"

"Yes, but it was originally from Rainbow Blaze. Her father. He wanted to give it to her when she was born, but he sadly couldn't. So I did for him. She treasures it immensely." They watched as Scootaloo picked up the stuffed pony with Rainbow watching right behind her with nervousness, just waiting for it to rip.

"Celestia....you owe us a story, remember?" Cadance reminded her, taking a seat in front of the bed.

"Of course, everyone in here." Rainbow picked up Scootaloo who was still holding onto the plushy before making her way towards the bed with Fluttershy already laying on it.

Once everyone got settled in, Celestia told the tale of the pony sisters. Including the bit that was erased from the history books.

"You have another sister?!" Cadance shouted. "Why haven't I met her?"

"Sadly, you will soon," Celestia said with despair. We all will....when we fight her again. Remember, she tried to take the Jewel of Rainbow for herself and we defeated her. Even in banishment, one cannot lose a grudge so easily. She will return. And really soon. I don't know when, I don't know how. But I have seen us fighting her. All the alicorns. It will be a very destructive battle. Like a battle of the gods. But only one will take her down."

"Who?" Celestia shifted her sights towards her daughter who was staring intensely at the plushy Scootaloo was curled up against.

"The plush doll is not going to pop," Luna teased her. "And it most certainly is not going to bite....or will it?"

Rainbow gasped and pulled Scootaloo away from it and shaking her awake in the process after she had fallen asleep during the story.

"Luna!" Celestia scolded. "She's already on edge that it's going to rip, don't make it worse." The princess of the night laughed and picked up the doll in her magic, bringing it to herself.

"Alright, fine. Rainbow the doll does not bite. See?" She tapped the mouth of it against Celestia's unamused face. Rainbow was either in her childish state or being an overprotective parent because she walked up to it and looked it straight in its eyes, trying to intimidate a stuffed pony.

Celestia tried so hard not to laugh at her daughter's face before the mare grabbed it and put it back in the lounge. "Nope. No one's touching my pony. No one. Forget it." She walked back towards the bed where Fluttershy was giggling while Scootaloo was straight up guffawing, nearly rolling off the bed in laughter.

"Why was your face so intense?!" She breathed out.

"Anyway," Celestia continued, trying to stifle her own chuckles. "Dash is the one who will become victorious in the fight. Although it comes with a price. She will be hit a with a bit of corrupted dark magic, that will make her current state of mind be pushed down and for Spectrum to takeover. But it will only last a year."

"So....Dash becomes corrupted for a year because of my sadistic aunt?" Cadance asked.

"Yep," Rainbow answered, getting comfortable on the bed before making a overconfident face towards the others. "I'll kick a lot of but though....hopefully. I don't know anything about you seers." Scootaloo climbed onto Rainbow's head, laying down in between her ears, draping her front hooves over her face. "Are you just trying to annoy me?"

"Yeah," Scootaloo answered. "I did it all the time with my...you know." Scootaloo laid her head down in Rainbow's hair, a little saddened still over her parents' death. Celestia sighed and went over to her, nuzzling the top of her head.

"We're here for you Scootaloo," she whispered. "We're your family now. I know you miss them very much. I would too were I in your place. But now....you have a new family. An entire family. You have me, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Dash's adoptive family, Cadance, Shining Armor, Luna, Twilight, and the others. We are your family now. Don't forget that."

Scootaloo looked up at everyone who was offering her a sincere smile. She huffed and smiled with them before jumping up onto her grandmother's muzzle, holding on tightly. Celestia sat down and reached up, rubbing her back. "You're welcome Scootaloo. Rainbow, wake up, it was not that sappy."

The princess snorted and sat up quickly. "Wha....wha-whazat?" Fluttershy rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"So there's no exact date as to when Spectrum will return?" Cadance asked, trying to get everything back on track.

"Nope," Rainbow answered, wiping the drool from her mouth. "We'll only know when she's awake. In the southeast, towards the Badlands and past Ponyville, there'll be a rainbow colored glow. You can't miss it....from here anyway. The Crystal Empire is a whole 'nother story."

"Then what?"

"Then we stay on our toes," Luna answered. "I am lucky enough my horn still works, although it is broken. It's healing because I am an alicorn, but it's still slow." She reached up to the top of her head and felt the broken end of it.

"We all have our armor and we are all prepared for a fight," Celestia said. "Let's just hope that she does not wake too soon. Rainbow still has to get some things done before the year is out and if more ponies find out about her being my daughter, I want her there during the inevitable interviews and all that."

"So let me get this straight." They all turned towards Scootaloo who was coming out of the lounge...painted in all different type of colors.

"You dipped yourself in the fountain in there, didn't you?" Fluttershy asked her, sighing a little.

Scootaloo looked at her for a moment before rubbing the back of her neck. "A little bit. But my great aunt....is evil. She wants the magic that mom has......and will kill over it?"

The princesses all looked over before Celestia nodded. "Yep. Now go get clean. If you don't get it off now, it will be permanent."

Scootaloo screamed before running into the bathroom while Rainbow chuckled and followed after her. "Stop lying to my daughter." The oldest pony in the room shrugged before the princess walked into the bathroom to help out Scootaloo.



Back in Ponyville, Twilight and Cherry Berry were having an intense discussion that Twilight thought was deadly serious. Since she had been interrupted by Sweetie Drops, she wanted to try to ask Cherry out again. A day before, Cherry actually came to her and said that she would love to go out to dinner with Twilight, but the librarian wanted to ask her "properly". First thing Cherry learned about Twilight since they met......she was very picky. But this time....she was going to do it right.

"Twilight, this is silly!" Cherry said, trying not to laugh as she walked over to the mare wearing a black suit that Rarity, for some odd reason, had made for her. The librarian was holding another bouquet of Roses as well as combing her hair with her magic. "You were fine last time."

"But it was interrupted and I hate it when an important moment gets interrupted!" Twilight yelled as she threw a tantrum, jumping up and down in frustration. "This was really important for me!" She gave the red earth pony a pout that Cherry just could not resist.

"Okay, okay, fine! Go ahead and try again, but we both know what my answer will be!"

Twilight gasped happily before jumping around her marefriend in a circle constantly repeating, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Over and over again. Cherry just chuckled and shook her head before grabbing Twilight by the tail, making her stop.

"Do it already before I ask myself out."

Twilight looked at her in mock horror. "What? And make me miss out on my dream?" Cherry snorted before grabbing Twilight's Roses and walking to the window.

"Hi. I'm Cherry Berry," she said to her reflection, smiling gleefully. "I've seen you across the way multiple times but I've been too quiet to actually say anything, but now.......CAN YOU GO ON A DATE WITH ME?!"

"No," Twilight protested as she got jealous of Cherry's reflection. "No, no, she's mine. Give me those flowers." Twilight took the roses out of Cherry's hooves and walked out the door. "Be ready!"

Cherry scoffed walked back to the middle of the room, getting back into the same position she was in a few days ago. Sitting at the table reading a pastry book. After awhile, the door opened letting Twilight in.....with a gleaming smile, making the reader raise an eyebrow in interest, as well as sport her own.

"Where...is...that...mare?" Twilight slowly turned her head and grinned at seeing Cherry Berry looking at her. "There she is. Hello, Ms. Berry. I brought you something."

'Oh my Celestia, this is soooo cheesy,' the pony in question thought, trying to not to laugh. "Oh? And what would that be?"

A burst of magic in front of her caused her to jump a little before realizing that they were the roses....with frost on them. 'Hmmmm....impressive.'

"Why thank you, miss......" Cherry said, pretending not to remember her name.

"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle. Top student at the school of magic, protege of Princess Celestia, librarian of the Ponyville library."

'You sound like a very lame Prince Blueblood,' Cherry thought giggling a little bit. "Yes, yes that's great. How can I help you?"

"Welllllll...." Twilight got real close to the pony's making her curl in her lips, trying not to guffaw at the absurdity of the situation. "I couldn't help but notice you across the way. And I said to myself.....she is so beautiful and she knows it. I want her for myself so I can spoil her.....make her happy......just like her beauty is making her right now."

Cherry blushed heavily, trying to avoid Twilight's hungry gaze. "So....Ms. Berry. Can I take you out to dinner sometime? At a specific place of your choice?"

Cherry chuckled and pretended to think about it, tapping her hoof against her chin and staring at the ceiling. "I......sure. I will take you up on your offer. How about we go to......that club over round the corner there where thou friends scour for the buggars?"

Twilight cocked her head to the side before she pulled in her lips, snorting uncontrollably. "What......what's a buggar?"

The two girls finally broke down with Twilight laughing uncontrollably and Cherry rolling on the floor. Soon, the laughing stopped after two full minutes with Twilight looking down at Cherry before leaning in and softly planting a kiss on her forehead. "You're so beautiful," Twilight whispered.

"And you're so gorgeous," Cherry whispered back before grabbing her by the cheeks and pulling her to her mouth, planting a passionate kiss on her lips and losing themselves in the moment. So much so that they didn't even hear the front door open. Or Rarity and Spike's voice.

"Twilight, darling we need....." Rarity and Spike froze with their eyes popping out of their skulls at the sight of the two mares' passionate filled kissing, making them both blush. "Uh.....we-we'll come back later then." The two carefully backed out of the building and softly closed the door behind them, letting the two mares have their moment.



Celestia and Luna had arrived back at Canterlot Castle to get back to work. The sun Princess had a small day court scheduled and Luna had to oversee some more stuff for the inevitable battle that would be coming for them in the near future. More than likely before this year is over with. Hopefully not too soon.

"You know what to do, Luna," Celestia whispered as they walked through the castle doors. Some guards saluted them as some more ponies bowed as they passed by. "You take the day shift, I will take the night shift. The time is near."

"Of course." The two ponies reached a junction before they went their separate ways to fulfill their task. Of course though....there were going to be problems.

"Aunty Luna!" The night princess groaned before she turned around to face Prince Blueblood approaching with law ponies beside him. Lawyers or something. "I demand an audience," he said while taking a stance of authority and stopping in front of her.

"You have to tell that to Celestia," she responded back before walking away. "This is not my shift to have an audience."

The prince huffed before turning around and heading to the throne room, bumping his way past the ponies who were waiting for the day court and walking right into the throne room. "Princess Celestia."

The princess of the sun looked to him and leaned her head back, groaning towards the ceiling. She was already thinking of different ways to take this so-called prince's title away from him and have him work as a bouncer at a club or something.

"What is it, Blueblood?" She sighed tiredly. "Here for another round of questioning? I have warned you that I would strip you of your title shall you ever pursue it again, did I not?"

"Well you cannot do that, aunty Celestia," he protested. "These two gentlecolts beside me are the top lawyers of the Canterlot area."

"Uh huh."

And they have decreed that it is unlawful to strip me of my title at all because I am of a royal line that is Equivalent of yours. Technically, I am a king."

"The day you are a king of some land will be the day Tartarus freezes over."

"And," he continued, ignoring that little comment. "They have also decreed that royalty is not allowed to keep any secrets from other royals! Now out with it, aunty!" Celestia looked at him unamused before giggling and straight laughing out loud, making the Prince confused.

"Blueblood," she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "Do you really think I don't know the laws of Equestria? I have been the Princess of this great land for over a thousand years, I know the law book."

"Do you know of the one that was just passed this morning?" Celestia stopped laughing before paying her full attention to the pompous prince. "It has been written that royalty is not allowed to keep her subjects of Equestria for such a length of time as of one week." Princess Celestia narrowed her eyes before snarling at the prince.

"And who made this law?" She asked, slowly stalking off her throne and towards the Prince threateningly.

"I had it billed and-"

"YOU WILL NOT, I REPEAT, NOT HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITHOUT MY CONSENT, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR BLUEBLOOD?!" She yelled at him, making him cower down in fear.

"P-Princess Celestia, this is important though," he continued, trying to get some answers. "We must know the truth-"

"YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING ANY ANSWERS, YOU POMPOUS PRINCE! GET OUT OF MY CASTLE!!! NOW!" Princess Celestia used her magic to grab him and the lawyers in her magic and tossing them through the doors of the throne room, making them slide along the marble flooring and hit the wall on the other side. "LEAVE!! NOW!!!"

The three ponies yelped before they made their way out of the castle at a speed so fast, you'd think it was Celestia's secret daughter. Once they were gone, the Princess sighed and made her way up to her throne, taking a seat. "He is getting more bold," she muttered to herself. "This is not a good sign."
> Chapter 19 - Good Morning, Court; Rainbow Lights
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was monday morning. Back to school, back to work. But for some ponies, it still felt like saturday.

"Mom.....Mom, wake up...." The alicorn groaned, but didn't wake up yet. "Mom, get up." The princess shifted and rolled on top of the little filly who was tapping her face repeatedly, making her yelp.

"Ugggghhh......noo, I don't wanna..." Rainbow mumbled.

"MOM, WAKE UP!" Rainbow's eyes flew open and started changing colors at the rude filly alarm clock before she sat up, nearly tossing Fluttershy off of her.

"HUH?! WHAT WHAT....HUH?" She looked around the room before jumping out the bed and over Scootaloo, heading towards the lounge. Upon arrival, she looked out the window. No Rainbow glow in the air. "Nope....not awake yet."

"Mom!" She looked behind her to see the little orange Pegasus walking up to her. "It's ten in the morning! You have court at eleven!" Rainbow looked in her room at the clock on the wall to see that Scootaloo was right. The first day of court was starting in an hour.

"ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" She yelled before running to the bathroom and closing the door behind her, shocking Fluttershy awake. "Thanks, Scoots!"

The filly shook her head while her other mother woke up and looked around, smiling at the little filly, walking back towards the bed. "I take it your mom overslept again. Good morning, Scootaloo. How long have you been up?"

"An hour," she responded, trying to climb back up on the soft sleeping area, failing miserably. The timid Pegasus chuckled and pull her up by her rear using her hoof. "I was watching to see how long mom was going to sleep."

"One thing to know about your mother, she can sleep through a hurricane......that she HERSELF caused. Hopefully she won't fall asleep in the shower."

"Has she done that before?"

"Plenty of times." They both turned their heads to the bathroom, hearing the water running before it stopped. "Well.....this morning was gracious. What do you want for breakfast?"

"Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!" She yelled happily before she fell off the bed again and made Fluttershy laugh.

"Alright, alright. But you're having fruits with that too." She told her before she got out of bed and walked towards the closet to get Rainbow's clothes ready. "You know, your mother would usually get up extra early to mess with Applejack when she would wake up, and then come tell me what happens when she does." She grabbed a sky blue colored dress with a Rainbow hemline before walking back out with it in her mouth and setting in on the bed.

"What would she do?" The young filly said as she watched Rainbow walk out of the bathroom with a towel in her ethereal hair.

"She would run inside her house, yell in her ear, and make her jump out of bed."

"It was better than it sounded," Rainbow corrected, putting the on the dress, hoofshoes, chestplate, and crown before brushing her hair. "She would jump up, hit her head on the roof, and then say something stupid. Like, 'My apples are sparklin' clean for your pleasure.'"

"Rainbow Dash! Don't talk about things like that around Scootaloo!" Fluttershy scolded, putting her hooves over the filly's ears.

"I don't even know what that means."

"Anyway, I have to go get some breakfast, let's go." Rainbow set the brush back down and opened the doors to the room, immediately regretting it. There was a line of ponies already waiting for a chance to state their problems to her going out the front doors of the building. That was really long, based on the fact that the way to the throne room was approximately forty hooftsteps in the hall leading there alone. Front hooves only.

"Good morning your highness," Sweetie Drops said, walking up the steps to her room. "The line is pretty long, but no ponies are inside the throne room yet."

The princess nodded before looking over her shoulder. "How much time do I have, Flutters?"

The Pegasus turned around and walked back in the room, grabbed a clipboard she almost forgot, and looked at the clock on the wall. "Twenty minutes."

"Alright." She picked up Scootaloo in her magic and placed her on her back before trotting down the stairs with the guards beside them, heading towards the dining room. Along the way, the ponies bowed to her, making sure she got the respect as a royal of Equestria. After walking down the hallway, the door for the room was opened, revealing her advisory committee, already sitting down eating.

The family walked into the room while her guards took a position by the doors, making sure to stay on alert in case of some problem.

"Good morning, Princess," Twilight greeted, smiling at the family. "You sure snore a lot." Rainbow groaned before she walked towards Scootaloo's chair and sat her down while Fluttershy made the filly some breakfast.

"Well......that means....I was hungry. What's up, Healthy Hooves?" She asked the mare as she walked out of the kitchen with some more staff.

"Good morning, Princess. The main course today is pancakes with syrup, pineapples, and eggs. There's more situated on the table."

"Good, because I have to eat this fast," she sighed, taking a seat in her chair. "If it wasn't for Scoots, I would be sleeping still. Not moving at all. Twilight, tell me the agenda."

"That's Fluttershy's job," she replied blandly.

"Fluttershy, tell me the agenda." The mare took out the clipboard she grabbed earlier and looked at it. "You have two hours of court, then a recess at one for an hour. Afterwards, you have to check up with the Ponyville mayor about an appointment she scheduled with you. She will be coming here."

"Alright," she started eating her pancakes, the others doing the same with their breakfast. "Amazing work, Healthy Hooves. Your team is awesome."

"Thank you, your highness," the mare said, bowing to her.

"Now....Twilight." The mare looked over to her. "Do you know what people are really expecting from me, or is it a secret?"

"Nature business, mostly," she said, looking at the notes she brought along with her. "Just like you said at the Grand Galloping Gala."

"Good, now anything else regarding the forest?" She levitated some sliced pineapples into her mouth while they responded.

"We're trying to setup a meeting with Spitfire in regards to Pegasi patrolling the forest from the sky," Cherry Berry answered. "We're just waiting for a letter to be returned."

"Good." The rest of breakfast was quiet, which lasted for five minutes for the group of royal committee. Once they were done, Rainbow gave one last order. "Scootaloo? I need something from you."

The group all stared at her for a moment before focusing their attention on the little filly. "Uhhh.....y-yes m-mom?" The princess put down her pancake before getting up and walking over to her daughter.

"I....need.....a kiss, now come on." Rainbow grinned at the horror written on her daughter's face.

"What? No, kisses are for foals!" Rainbow grabbed her and pulled her to her face. "No! No! Mom, save me!"

Fluttershy chuckled before getting up and approaching the loving scene, staring at Rainbow. "You were going to kiss her without me?"

"What? No, you're supposed to be on my side!" The two laughed before leaning in and pecking the little filly on her cheeks, making her cringe. "EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWUUUUUAAAAH!"

The group all laughed while Rainbow put her back in the chair. "When you're done eating, you can go out and 'crusade' with the others, okay?" She said, picking up the last pancake and putting it in her mouth. "But eat your fruits, they're healthy for little fillies."

"Yes, mom," she mumbled, trying to get the syrup off her cheek. Rainbow conjured a little bit of water and splashed her face with it, getting off the sticky dressing.

The princess smiled at her before grabbing her drink and gulping it down. Once done, she leaned over and nuzzled her daughter. "I love you, Scootaloo."

"I love you too, mom." Twilight smiled in proudness just like everyone else at the mom and daughter bonding.

"Guard!" Rainbow called, making a Royal Guard guarding the entrance walk towards them. "Watch over my daughter, okay? Where are you going after this Scootaloo?"

"School it starts at eleven." Rainbow's eyes popped open, totally forgetting about the schooling.

"Right, guard make sure she gets to school safely." He saluted before Rainbow gave her daughter another nuzzle. "I would take you, but you know. Either I or Fluttershy will pick you up though, okay?" She nodded before Rainbow walked away towards the doors. "Let's go everyone, we have some ponies to listen to." The group all stood up and prepared to leave before Fluttershy leaned in and gave her daughter a warm nuzzle.

"I'll see you later Scootaloo." Scootaloo hugged fluttershy around the muzzle before Fluttershy pulled away, heading to the Throne Room with everyone else, leaving the filly with the guard.

"So.....guard guy," she said, making the pony look down at him. "Wanna eat these fruits?" The pony chuckled and shook his head.

"Sorry, Lady Scootaloo. But you heard your mother. She said you-"

"Have to eat the fruits, yada yada, I know." She sighed before doing just that, trying her hardest not to groan. What a day so far.



The group walked past the line of ponies and turned down the hall leading into the throne room, passing even more of them before stopping at the first pony waiting, which was......Rarity?!

"Rarity?!" Rainbow asked unbelievably, making Twilight and Cherry look at the fashionista.

"God morning, darling! Well, I hope it was good, you snore really loud." Rainbow gave a deadpan expression while Twilight and Cherry snickered.

"It was fine. You're here for court I take it." She waved her hoof, signalling the guards to open the doors for her.

"Yes, I got up at five and came here before everyone else." Rainbow slowly shook her head and chuckled, walking forward through the doors.

"Well, I hope I can help you. We'll start in ten minutes."

"Okay!" The guards closed the doors back while she was waving at the princess. They all trotted up to their spots that the guards had setup for them, where there were tables on the left and right of the throne for the advisory, while Rainbow of course took the throne.

Twilight took a seat next to Cherry while the others took their own, preparing to start the day. "So.....we know Rarity's first," Rainbow commented, getting comfortable. "I swear if she asks something about gems, I am literally kicking her out of this building."

"It's not that......I hope," Twilight responded, rubbing her two hooves together.

"You did this all the time with Celestia, right?"

"I only stuck to the side, watching everything," she responded, looking up at the princess. "And since it was in Canterlot, there were a lot of nobles there. And they were ignorant. But I don't think there will be any nobles coming here. If they are, they will most likely be asking for land."

Before they could continue their conversation, a bright flash in front of Rainbow's throne cut them off, revealing Rainbow's mother. "Good morning, Rainbow," she said, gesturing to the other ponies in there that didn't know about Rainbow being her daughter. The Princess got that.

"Good morning, Celestia. You're bright eyed and bushy-tailed, why is that?" The princess of nature asked, cocking her head to the side with a smile.

"Well.....Shining Armor and Cadance have released the official wedding date. So I'm-" The purple librarian shrieked in happiness catching the two princesses off guard. "Twilight, dear, you have to calm down. The court is about to start and you cannot be off track, okay?"

"I'm calm, I'm, I am calm. You know what? I. Am. Calm." Cherry reached under the table and grabbed Twilight's hoof, giving it a squeeze and making Twilight glance at her. She was giving the mare a stern look, trying to get her message across. "Okay.....I'm calm now. Really. Just don't say wedding day, wedding band, or anything else that has to do with a wedding around me, I might freak out."

"Again," Lady Justice teased from the other side. "Freak out again."

"I know, I know," Twilight said, dismissing it with a wave of her hoof.

"Good. Now Rainbow. The  ponies here can be a little obnoxious. But remember. They are your ponies too. You have to make sure they are happy.....or else they'll do something really dumb and get everypony killed. You understand?" Rainbow Dash just stared in surprise at her mother who switched moods so fast.

"Yeeeeaaaaahhhh....I got it. Thanks for letting me know." Rainbow popped off her throne and walked towards the older alicorn and gave her a hug. "Will I see you later?" She whispered.

"Of course. Keep an eye out, she could wake any time." They pulled away before Celestia disappeared in a flash again, on her way back to wherever she came from while Rainbow flew back up to her throne and settled down.

"Time?"

Special agent Sweetie Drops check her watch. "Ten fifty-nine, your highness."

"Let them in!" The guards by the doors pulled them open, allowing the first pony to walk in. Rarity. "Hello, Rarity."

"Hello, hello, your highness." Rarity bowed slightly before stating her itch. "Recently, my magic has picked up jewels and gems inside Ponyville when they would normally be outside, making it easier for me. I want to be able to dig them up but I need a permit, so I am told."

Rainbow smirked, deciding to mess with her friend a little. "And what do you plan on doing with these gems? Will you be eating them?"

"What? No, your highness," Rarity objected, looking and sounding horrified. Here we go. "Gems are priceless and should not be digested through the body of a pony, or any other creature. They are Equestria's greatest treasure, and.........you tricked me."

"I did," Rainbow chuckled before turning to one of her advisors/assistants. "Assign her, please."

The pony wrote down Rarity's name and other information while Rainbow looked back to the pony. "It will come soon." Rarity bowed again before turning around and walking out, allowing the next pony to walk in. He was a stallion with a green coat and a fuzzy muzzle.

"Hello, Princess Dash," he greeted, bowing low. "I am here concerning the trees that are popping up along the streets in Ponyville. It is very troubling to other ponies and I am hoping you can get rid of them."

"Thank you for letting me know. I will try to find the problem and snuff it out." Lady Justice who records for physical work wrote down the issue while the pony bowed and left, letting in the next pony. This was going to be a long morning.



"What's with all the trees?" Scootaloo asked the guards she was walking between on her way to school. They were just walking past the library before Scootaloo decided to question it, having seen them more than enough already.

"We are not sure, Lady Scootaloo," one of them said, his deep voice speaking louder than the average pony. "We are hoping Princess Dash has some answers for it."

"Or can get rid of them," the other said as neared the school. "They pretty much appeared overnight."

Scootaloo hummed before they dropped her off in front of the school where two more fillies were approaching, obviously friends of Scootaloo who walked out and waved at the two guards.

"Thanks, guard guys.....mares.....colts....dudes...."

"It's ponies," Apple Bloom whispered. "Guard Ponies."

"Thanks, Guard Pony colts." The two fillies facehoofed while the guards smiled and bowed to her before turning around and heading back towards the castle, trying to get THAT out of their minds.

"Scootaloo....you need to up your grammar," Sweetie Belle said, patting her friend on the head. "Guard pony colts? They aren't foals."

"And ESPECIALLY not mares," Apple Bloom agreed.

"I wasn't sure!" She exclaimed, throwing her hooves out. "They wear so much armor, it's hard to tell what they have between their-"

"Oh wow, would ya' look at the time," Apple Bloom interrupted, looking down at a watch that was definitely not on her wrist. "We sure have to get this moving along and into class, come on you two."

She turned around and trotted inside before the other two followed her. Definitely trying to see her itch.



The nutzo prince walked along the streets of Canterlot, headed towards the library of magic with thoughts plaguing his mind. His aunt was hiding something, that much was obvious, no mistake. And Princess Dash was the center of it. But what? What was so important that she had to keep it held back from her nephew? It was outrageous!

He looked up, seeing that he had arrived and walked up the stairs towards the front doors. The Library of Magic is where his beloved Twilight Sparkle goes. "One day she will marry me," he muttered as he opened the doors and headed towards the counter. He rung the bell, waiting for someone to give him assistance.

Of course what he was looking for wouldn't be found in the actual library. He needed to know about a Princess that never existed before. Therefore had to dig deeper. He overheard Princess Luna say Princess Dash is from a past long forgotten, as old as the castle in the Everfree. He should probable check that out if he doesn't find anything here.

"Hi! Can I help you, sir?" The librarian greeted, walking up to the counter with a bounce in her step.

"I need access to the archives, at once," he demanded.

She nodded and walked out of the room and into the library. "Yes sir, follow me." The two walked towards the back, urgency in their steps.

Soon, they stopped at a room with a wooden door and lock on it, obviously to keep out those who could be a threat. She grabbed one of the keys from around her neck with her magic and put it into into the slot, turning and unlocking the door.

She pushed it open, revealing a room with multiple books and scrolls. Some yellow with age, others that seem like they were just put in there. "Thank you," he said, walking inside while she nodded and closed the door back, leaving him with the source of information.

After nearly an hour of searching, he had scanned through all the books, not finding a single word that revolved around the word "Rainbow". Spectrum was in there plenty of times, whatever the heck that meant. But there were a few things in there that struck him as odd.

There was a book from a seer. A very good one it would seem that wrote something on a prophecy.

"'After the Spectrum defeat, she was hidden. Of course her actions were forgiven. The weapon of terror was hidden with her foal, which had come from the Princess' rainbow. They were moved from the scene of the crime, leaving everything else behind, to be lost in time. Until after eighteen years, she would once again be mine.' Eighteen years ago.....what happened eighteen years ago?" He tapped his chin and thought deeply.

He was close to something big, he could tell. They were talking about a princess and her foal apparently from eighteen years ago, around the same time of the battle of the two pony sisters.

He gasped loudly. The battle, of course! Eighteen years ago, there was a battle in the Everfree Forest that destroyed their old castle, forcing them to move to Canterlot.

"It would seem that the scene of the crime is in the Everfree Castle," he muttered. "And that it was lost in time. I now know my next step."

He wrote some more notes and put it in his shirt before putting everything back the way he found it and left the library.

He needed to grab some guards and head to the Everfree. Time for a stop at the barracks.



By the one hundred-fortieth pony, Princess Rainbow was getting a little tired. Is this what the other princesses felt all the time? This was a mess. She could barely understand what the stallion in front of her was saying.

"And I believe the land here should be fertile enough to grow apple trees all over the town," a farmer said, throwing his hoof around the room.

"Sir, you would need to have a permit to grow trees of any kind in Ponyville," the princess said before yawning. Whoo, this was tough. "And even then, the plan you're proposing would not work, considering businesses actually run on selling fruits like apples. Having apple trees show up like that in Ponyville could spell trouble for all of those businesses. Not just the famous Sweet Apple Acres. I'm sorry but that will not be allowed. Next!"

The pony bowed, seeing his time was up and that he had to leave. Rainbow watched him walk out before reaching up and rubbing her eyes.

"Tired, your highness?" The princess looked down to her left to see Tall order staring at her expectantly.

She sighed and looked forward again, watching the next pony walk towards her. "Yes, I am," she answered tiredly. "It is good this only happens once a week. Hello, Pony."

"Hello, Princess Dash," she greeted, bowing. "I am here to talk about the animals coming out of the Everfree."

That got her attention. Rainbow lost her state of drowsiness as she focused on this information. "Animals....coming OUT of the Everfree?"

"Yes, your highness."

"Is there anything else weird about it? How they behave?" Fluttershy asked. The pony looked towards Rainbow, who nodded, giving her permission.

"Well besides the fact that the Timberwolves have LEFT the forest, they were running and hiding as well," she told her.

"What other creatures ran out?"

"From what I have seen, all of them. But they strategically ran around Ponyville, not going anywhere near it. I just happened to be walking outside of Ponyville when I saw them."

"They're scared of something, obviously," Rainbow thought to herself. "Sir Pony Moore, add that as top-priority, please." The pony in question wrote that down on a separate sheet and placed the words top priority on it. "Thank you for letting me know. Next!" The pony bowed again before turning to take her leave.

"That is all your highness," one of the guards at the door said.

"Really? I thought it was two hundred ponies," she said in confusion.

"That was two hundred, your highness," Sweetie Drops said.

"Wow, I'm really stoned, okay." She jumped off her throne and faced the advisory. "Thank you, everypony. You can place the notes in my office in the designated boxes on my desk." The ponies grabbed their stuff and went to do the assigned task while Rainbow called over Fluttershy.

"You look like a mess," Fluttershy chuckled, flipping Rainbow's messed up hair.

"Yeah, yeah, the squirt is easier. Could you go find those animals and see what happened in those woods? It has me a little on edge."

Fluttershy smirked and pretended to think about it, making Rainbow sigh and smile, already seeing where this was going. She actually missed it. "I don't know...... perhaps if you bribe me."

"Okay, fine. How about I take you and Scootaloo out and we have a nice dinner." Fluttershy smiled and nodded before leaning in and pecking her marefriend.

"Sounds great. I'll go do your bidding Princess. And Rainbow?"

"Yes?"

"Don't ever use the word 'stoned' again. That is not going to catch on." Rainbow scoffed and rolled her eyes as her marefriend walked away.

"Fine. Get Sergeant Cloudstorm to give you some guards."

Fluttershy nodded and walked out the doors, leaving Rainbow Dash with everyone else.



After twenty minutes of searching, Fluttershy still hadn't found anything. The animals were said to have gone around Ponyville, but there were definitely some stragglers. A Timberwolf just doesn't leave. They're smarter than that and would need food. And where is to go like Ponyville which is right next door?

Fluttershy stopped in the square and looked around, four guards right behind her, as she thought on where those animals could be. "If I were an animal, where would I be?" She muttered, looking around. While she was looking, a slight whimper caught her ear, making it twitch. She stopped and listened closely, her eyes squinting in focus.

She heard it again, coming from her left in...a dark alley. She turned and walked forward, heading towards the dark area with the guards right next to her.

"Hello?" She said, her voice calm and sweet as she stopped in the middle of the passage. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'm hear to find out why all the animals ran away from the Everfree Forest. Could you help me?"

The pegasus waited for a second before a whimper from her lower left caught her attention. Looking in that direction, she spotted a very large burrow going underneath a building with two glowing eyes staring back at her.

"Hi, Mr. Timberwolf," she greeted, getting down to his level. "Could you please tell me what's going on in the forest?"

The figure crawled out a little , revealing a wooden snout and started whimpering. Fluttershy listened closely, making sure she didn't miss a word.

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Timberwolf. You can return now." He crawled back into the burrow underneath the building while Fluttershy stood back up and walked back out, turning to face the Everfree in the distance.

With her good eyes, she could see what they saw. A rainbow aura surrounded the air over the woods, nearly invisible. It was very light, nearly unnoticeable. But it was still there.

Not a good sign.
> Chapter 20 - Embarrassed; Awakening
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you SURE?!" Rainbow yelled, jumping down from her throne and approaching her marefriend worriedly. "Are you absolutely sure?!"

Fluttershy nodded eagerly. "Oh, yes! Mr. Timberwolf told me the lights were spooking his pack, along with every other animal. So they ran out of the woods for awhile."

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoooooosh!" Rainbow yelled, pacing back and forth in front of Fluttershy. "She's awake she's awake she's awake she's awake she's awake she's-"

"I get it, Rainbow. You'll be fine." Fluttershy placed a hoof on her shoulder, making her stop the pacing and stare into her eyes. The pegasus gave her marefriend a loving smile, causing the princess to take a deep breath and smile back.

"You're right," she sighed, sitting in front of her. "It'll be fine. I'm just a little paranoid. The mad Princess of Earth versus the Princess of Nature is coming. I'll be walking around armed, and you and Scotaloo will have your own guards."

"That won't look good to other ponies," Fluttershy commented, shaking her head. "They'll become paranoid too."

"Then they'll be undercover. Either way, you two are having guards," she ordered playfully, smirking and pointing a hoof at her marefriend.

"Whatever you say, your highness." Rainbow's eyes popped open before walking back towards her marefriend.

"Don't you give me that tone."

"Or?" Fluttershy gave Rainbow a playful smile, making the Princess blush and start to lose her tough side.

"Or you'll regret it," she whispered, giving Fluttershy a half-lidded look.

"Will I?"

"Yes." Fluttershy giggled and brushed her wing across Rainbow's cheek. "Don't tempt me, Flutters, we're out in the open."

"Then teleport us somewhere more private, your highness." Rainbow grinned and lit her horn, teleporting the two back into their empty room. Quiet and peaceful. "This is better."

Fluttershy tried to delay it off by looking around the room, making Rainbow groan and push her on the bed. Fluttershy gave a small "eep" while Rainbow laid on top of her, kissing her deeply. After a few seconds she pulled away and looked into her eyes.

"Are you sure about this, Fluttershy? It's a huge step."

The pegasus placed her hooves on both sides of Rainbow's face, staring into her cerise eyes. "I want us to show how much we mean to each other. How much we love each other before the storm comes. I love you, Rainbow."

"I love you too, Fluttershy." The two kissed again before they began their first time. Making love passionately for the free hour they had.

Eventually their time was nearly up, leaving both of them lying on their backs on the bed gasping for air.

"You're....amazing," Fluttershy said, still trying to catch her breath.

"And YOU'RE great," Princess Dash responded, leaning over and giving her marefriend a kiss. "You've been holding back on me."

"Yeah, well....you have too apparently." The Princess laughed before she got up and headed to the bathroom to get rid of the smell of arousal.

"I have to get YOU off of me. If someone knocks, let them know I'll be out soon." Fluttershy nodded before she got up and walked over to balcony, looking out the open area. So far, the glow hasn't increased. It was there and she could see it, but it hasn't gotten any bigger or more visible. She wasn't entirely awake it would seem. But she was getting to that point. Very closely.

A flash in the room behind her caught her attention, making her turn her head to see Celestia standing there. "Rainbow! Where are you?! We have.......oh my Faust, you two just had sex." Celestia looked over to the left to see Fluttershy just staring like a deer caught in the headlight.

Both of their faces were red as they stared at each other, trying their hardest not to make a sound, or whatever could set the other one off in that situation. Fortunately it was neither of them that did that.

The bathroom door opened, allowing Rainbow to walk out with a towel over her face, still drying herself off. "Fluttershy, you get everywhere, I mean really. I had to scrub......uhhh...." Rainbow froze and looked at the two mares in the room, who were sharing the exact same expression as her. Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, embarrassed. "Hey......mom. Wha....what are you doing....here?"

Celestia cleared her throat trying to cut off the embarrassment while Fluttershy turned around and darted out the balcony, flying away and screaming "EEEEEEE~" at the same time. The two watched her go before Celestia faced her daughter and informed her of her reason.

"I was informed by one of your guards of the Rainbow glow in the sky. So I decided to come over here to put you at ease. If I know you like I know myself, you were thinking about upping security around here." Rainbow nodded before walking over to a chute in the wall, throwing her used towel inside. "Well, she is not fully awake yet. As long as no one disturbs her, we will be fine. The spell I placed on her has one more backup mechanism in it. While she is trying to wake up, it will give us time to get ready for her arrival."

"So...how do we know when she is fully awake?" Rainbow put on her other dress while Celestia answered the question.

"When there is a full Spectrum in the sky. That is the release of all her pent up magic." Celestia walked over and looked at the bed, trying not to laugh. "Her magic runs on something, but we don't know what. So we will have to be careful during the fight. While she was asleep, she was building up her magic and-hold on, I'm sorry, but I have to say this. You and Fluttershy really go at it. I mean there is liquids all over this bed and-"

"MOM!"

"Okay, okay!" Celestia said, tearing her gaze away from the bed sheets and looking towards her daughter, trying not to laugh more. "But....phew, her magic is stronger right now, but it is also contained. When she does wake up, try not to interfere or she will come straight for you. Try to make yourself invisible as much as possible."

Rainbow nodded, before conjuring a bunch of water and dumping it on the bed, soaking the whole thing before heating it up and steaming it, getting rid of any evidence that she had sex with Fluttershy. "Anything else? And how many times have you walked in on a pony while they were having sex?"

Celestia looked up at the ceiling trying to count those instances. "Nothing else. And throughout my one hundred thousand year ruling.....I'd say.......one hundred eighty-six times, one hundred eighty-seven as of today though." Rainbow slowly shook her head and chuckled.

"You really need to learn how to knock. Fluttershy's so lucky that you didn't walk in on us actually HAVING it. We just finished up when you walked in and I was taking my shower. She's probably embarrassed like a foal who just wet themselves."

"I'm sorry, dear. You two are old enough to have your own relations and I didn't know you two were copulating." Celestia nuzzled her daughter before pushing her towards the door. "I'll grab Fluttershy while you finish what's on your agenda, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah." Rainbow fluffed her hair and walked out the room, leaving Celestia to go after her marefriend. She's probably at her cottage hiding under her bed.



Prince Blueblood's chariot soared over the vast expanse of the dense and manipulated forest that was the Everfree, determination on his face to discover what his aunt did at the Everfree castle that was so big she couldn't tell anyone about it. But after the research, he was positive that the answer was in that old structure. Wherever it was.

They've been flying for awhile now, noticing that the area around them was getting more dense with the rainbow glow that was in the air a few miles back, more visible. And it was originating right below them.

"We've arrived, my lord," one of the guards said as the chariot tilted and came to a smooth landing in front of the destroyed structure. The prince walked out and looked up at the destroyed structure that was giving off a noticeable pulse of magic. The six guards around him sensed the same thing, making them uneasy. "Your highness.......I do not think it would be wise-"

"We're going in," he scolded. "No backing out. My aunt is hiding something and I need to know what it is. Now come on." He began trotting up to the ruins, determination on his face to investigate the building and learn the truth. The guards reluctantly followed behind him, hooves quivering in fear of the large amount of magical energy reaching them.

Along the way, they all spotted the plant life.....which was moving on its own, making them all go faster. They also spotted skeletons along the way, evidently impaled by the plants growing there. How was that even possible?

"Princess Luna must've been nuts," Prince Blueblood commented.

"I don't think this was Princess Luna, your highness," one of the guards said as they walked into the destroyed castle and stopped, looking around. "She only has control of the stars, the moon, and the night, not over the plant life. That would be Princess Dash's control."

"So Princess Dash probably killed those guards!" Blueblood yelled. Suddenly the rainbow magic got even stronger, blowing past the group like a wave. "What in Equestria is that?" The prince activated his magic, tracking the source of the energy before following it.

"I do not think-"

"Shut up and follow!" Blueblood interrupted the guard before continuing. The royals guards all looked at each other before reluctantly obeying his command, following down the hall to a different  area of the ruins. After awhile they turned down a hallway with a sign that read, "Birth and Delivery", making the prince raise an eyebrow.

"Why would there be a birth unit in the castle? That makes no sense," Blueblood muttered. "Might need to check that out." He approached one of the rooms that had a door slightly opened, pushing it wider and stepping inside. He lit his horn making the area brighter to get a better view of it. It was a birth unit alright. There were water basins, tools and other things for a mare when they gave birth. "Interesting." He started to turn around until something in the corner caught his attention. A pillow with....Celstia's cutie mark? Pillows are only used in the delivery room for the mother. So why would Celestia have her pillow in the delivery room? Unless.....SHE WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE BIRTH!

"OF COURSE!" Blueblood yelled, trotting over to the area and looking around it for a clue. "Celestia had a child! That's what she's hiding! But why would she hide them? Guards, search this room!"

The guards walked inside and looked all around the area, looking for a clue. They flipped over tables, took out drawers, and looked behind cabinets, doing a thorough search when one of the guards found something stuck within the pillow.

"There's something in here, sir!" Prince Blueblood turned around and walked over, looking expectantly at the guard.

"Rip it open."

"Sir, this is-"

"I said, RIP IT OPEN!" The guard sighed and grabbed a spear from his side. He poked it in the pillow and yanked it to the side, revealing the fluffing and......a slither of paper.

Blueblood took it out with his magic, and flipped it over, revealing a photograph. That told everything. "Oh......my......aunty."

A yell of frustration and the sound of a forced entry down the hallway made everyone grab their weapons and get in position. Blueblood stuffed the photograph within his shirt and ordered some of his guards towards the entrance when a giant burst of magic flew into the room, painting the whole castle and anything within a twenty mile radius in a Rainbow glow.

"What is that?!" Blueblood yelled while the guards took up a defensive position.

"My Celestia how you have fallen," a female voice in the hallway said while tree roots began to grow underneath the hooves of the guards, catching their attention. They instantly began swiping at them, cutting them before loud hoofsteps caught their attention. Loud and slow. They all froze and watched as a black glow began to come past their room, making the guards bring out their weapons.

"Celestia.....you have something that belongs to me...." The being said as they got closer and closer to the door. "And I would like to have it, please." The guards all got quiet as the creature walked past. It was an alicorn with a black coat and a rainbow colored mane with fangs hanging from her mouth, as well as a jagged horn. Like a changeling. Each step she took caused a tremble in the ground where she stepped, as well as it to crack. Her left wing was blue while the right one was red. Her left eye was red while the left was blue. There was just magic pouring off of her, making the fur of the ponies she hasn't spotted rise on end.

"Oh my god," Blueblood whispered as she walked past. "Who...who is that?"

The guard in the front slowly shook his head. "I don't know....but it can't be good. We have to get out of here. But she's headed towards the entrance."

"Then what do we do?" Another asked, his magic holding onto his sword. "Rush her?"

"No way.....we rush PAST her and get the heck out of here," Blueblood whispered back. "We have what we wanted."

"What YOU wanted," a guard corrected. "You dragged us in here, man."

"Quiet," Blueblood scolded. "We need to go now. Let's head out."



"So what do we do now?" Apple Bloom asked as the group walked out of the schoolhouse, making their way towards Ponyville. "Wanna come to the treehouse?"

"I don't know," Sweeite Belle said, looking down at the ground. "What about you Scootaloo?"

The two looked to the orange pegasus to see her turned around and looking at the sky with disbelief written all over her face.

"What? What is it?" Apple Bloom asked before they too turned their heads to see the light Rainbow glow in the air. "What's that?"

"The end of Equestria," Scootaloo muttered before a blast sounded off, catching all the ponies' attention. They looked to the sky as the magic got noticeably more vivid, the glow becoming more solid that you couldn't see the blue sky anymore. "No! No, it wasn't supposed to happen yet!"

The two fillies turned to Scootaloo with alarm on their faces. "Scootaloo, what's going on?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Get home and don't ask questions!" She responded back. "Just get home and hide!" A rush of hoofsteps caught their attention, making the ponies all look towards the front of the square to see Royal guard running towards Scootaloo.

"We have to get you home right now, Lady Scootaloo!" Sweetie Drops explained as they picked her up and ran back towards where they came from.

"Just get home!" Scootaloo yelled over Sweetie Drops shoulder as they left. The ponies all looked at them leave before focusing their attention back on the sky, where the Rainbow glow was getting clearer.

"What do you think it is?" Sweetie Belle asked Apple Bloom in worry. "If the guard ponies came and snatched up Scootaloo, then it must be a huge deal."

"I don't know," she responded, shaking her head as the rainbow glow began waving. "I. Don't. Know."
> Chapter 21 - Punishment
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ever since the spectrum lights had increased in such a dramatic fashion, the town of Ponyville was a little hectic. Especially since they saw the guards grab Scootaloo in an emergency fashion and rush her back to the castle, which was a red flag in itself. Now it was up to the Princess of Nature to calm her people. As well as inform Celestia.

The Princess opened the door to her bedroom and walked down the stairs, letting her guard follow her as she made her way to the last place she wanted to go. She turned a right and walked down the hall, focused and afraid at the same time as she stopped at the barracks.

Opening the doors, she walked in, letting the guards...stand guard outside while she grabbed some things. Looking at the door with her cutie mark on it, she sighed and shook her head, twisted the handle and walked in.

Her armor sat on the far wall staring back at her while the princess approached it carefully, afraid that something might happen at that moment. Considering what's going on, anything could.

She grabbed the band beside the sword, put it around her waist and tightened it before grabbing the sword itself and placing it in the scabbard that was on the band. She took the armor from off the board and left the room, bringing it with her.

The door was closed behind her before leaving the barracks and making her way back to the room where Sweetie Drops was just bringing in Scootaloo, who saw her at that exact moment.

"Mom!" She yelled, jumping off the agent's shoulder and scampered to her mother as fast as her little legs could carry her.

She jumped and latched herself onto her mother's neck, holding on so tight it was starting to hurt. "You can't go! You can't go! It hasn't even been my birthday yet! You can't go!!"

Rainbow sighed before she slowly walked up the steps to her bedroom where Fluttershy was waiting for her, laying down on the bed. The Princess closed the door behind her, setting the armor on the wall and walked over, climbing onto the bed and settling down next to her with Scootaloo still attached to her.

She reached up and plucked her off, setting her on her back on the bed, sadness reaching her heart as she stared in her daughter's hopeless magenta eyes.

"Scoots? Remember when I said I love you?" The orange filly nodded, tears still coming down her face. "Good. Then understand why I'm doing this. I have to because I love you. And because I wanna do more of this in the future."

She leaned down and blew raspberries into her daughter's stomach, making her start laughing and flailing her hooves around, the laughter bringing a smile to Fluttershy's face as they played.

Eventually, after awhile, she stopped and allowed her to catch her breath, staring at her mother before Rainbow leaned in and kissed her daughter on the forehead. "I'm fighting for you, Scootaloo. You, your mother, and Equestria. But mostly for you. I want my daughter to finally live a normal life where no evil can interrupt it. She can go crusading all she wants......to a certain extent."

The filly groaned.

"However...in order to get to point 'C' from point 'A', we have to get through the 'B'. Which in this case would stand for the stupid bi-"

"Rainbow...." Fluttershy warned, making the Princess sigh.

"Which in this case would stand for the bucking crazy alicorn, aunt, and great aunt. She wants the power but I can't let her get it. So I have to fight to keep it. Don't be sad, Scoots. It'll be okay."

Scootaloo turned over and faced her mother in concern before Rainbow pulled her into a hug, letting her bask in her warmth. Fluttershy got up from her spot and crawled over, getting in on the motherly bonding. 

The filly let silent tears drip into her mom's coat before eventually letting go and backing away.

"I have to go see grandma, okay? I'll be back in a little bit." Scootaloo nodded in Fluttershy's embrace before Rainbow teleported away from the castle, leaving the two alone.

They sat in silence while Scootaloo stared at the suit of armor on the wall opposite of her, the glare of the sun bouncing off of it.

"I don't like this," Scootaloo whimpered, catching Fluttershy's attention. "I don't like this at all."

"Neither do I, Scootaloo," the older mare said, nuzzling the top of the child's head. "Neither do I."



Celestia sighed after dismissing another pony, a noble, asking for more land. They were becoming so annoying with the same old questions. She watched them walk out of the room, groaning in defeat from the Princess' rejection.

"Uggghhh," Celestia groaned quietly, letting her drop and shake her head. "What is it with these ponies?"

A set of footsteps caught her attention, making her glance up to see three ponies in suits. Definitely in the law. Great. "How may I help you?"

"Princess Celestia, we have reason to believe you are part of a large conspiracy revolving around Princess Dash," the pony leading the group said loudly. "As per law, you are required to inform the populace of the conspiracy."

"On what grounds?" She asked suspiciously.

"On the grounds of a photograph that was found in the old Everfree Castle," the pony on the right said, watching Princess Celestia's reaction. She squinted at him in confusion, trying to understand what photograph they were talking about.

"What photo do you speak of?"

The pony on the left reached into his pocket and pulled out a plastic bag, containing a photograph that Celestia recognized immediately. Her horn lit up drastically, grabbing the photograph and drawing it towards her.

"WHO FOUND THIS PHOTOGRAPH?!" She bellowed, making them all cower back a little bit.

"P-Prince Blueblood, your-"

"WHERE IS HE?! HE WILL DOOM US ALL!!"

"He-he's out in the hallway..." Celestia jumped off the throne and walked briskly towards the door, making the lawmakers look at each other before following after her.

She slammed the doors open, startling the other ponies out there waiting for her audience who started muttering at the heat of anger coming off of her, her eyes darting this way and that, trying to find the source of the frustration and problems that were coming towards her and her daughter. "PRINCE BLUEBLOOD, SHOW YOURSELF AT ONCE!!!"

The ponies behind her backed away slowly as the pony in question walked in, his head held high and a smile on his muzzle, gloating. "Yes, Aunty Celestia? I hope you have a good-OOF!" Celestia bucked him into the wall behind him, causing him to crash into a statue that was setup.

"Do you realize what you have done?" She asked in mock calmness, slowly stalking towards him as if he were prey. "Do you realize the magnitude of what is truly going on here?"

"Well, besides the fact that you just bucked me into a statue, I suspect there's a little bit of information that you're keeping from the public of Equestria."

"WRONG!!" She yelled, getting into his face and blowing his mane back. The heat in the building got noticeably hotter, catching the attention of Luna and Rainbow Dash, who just arrived in the throne room. "I am keeping Equestria safe from an inevitable threat, long enough that we may be ready to face it. But you, YOU.....wanted to feed your curiosity so much for your own personal gain and respect among the society of Equestria. Well guess what? If Spectrum sees this photograph, it will take less than an hour for her to find the mare that will defeat her and the future will be replaced with something far worse."

"What are you talking about?" He demanded, getting up and dusting off his coat. "Who is Spectrum? Was she that Alicorn me and my guards were running away from while we were at the castle?"

"What?! She's awake?!"

"Yes, Celestia." The princess turned around to see Rainbow walking over briskly in alert, her sword on her waist. "Less than an hour ago.....the sign took over the skies of Ponyville. She's fully awake." Celestia gasped and turned around again to face Blueblood.

"You will tell me the events that happened while you were in that castle, and you will tell me NOW! Do I make myself clear?!"

"Y-Y-Yes!" He stuttered, letting her grab him in her magic and carry him back into the throne room.

"Court is cancelled for the day! Everyone return home and stay with your families! Guard, go fetch my sister."

"Already here," Luna said, sitting on her throne in the room. Once Rainbow Dash, Celestia, and Blueblood were all in the room, the guard closed the door, leaving them to talk.

The angered Princess of the Sun dropped the haughty unicorn down onto the red carpet in the room with a grunt before he looked back up at the three upset Princesses.

"Talk." The prince sighed before he began his tale.

"After I did my research at the Library of Magic in downtown Canterlot, I grabbed five of my guards and quickly rushed towards the Everfree Castle...."



"We've arrived, my lord," one of the guards said as the chariot tilted and came to a smooth landing in front of the destroyed structure. The prince walked out and looked up at the destroyed structure that was giving off a noticeable pulse of magic. The six guards around him sensed the same thing, making them uneasy.

"Your highness.......I do not think it would be wise-"

"We're going in," he scolded. "No backing out. My aunt is hiding something and I need to know what it is. Now come on." He began trotting up to the ruins, determination on his face to investigate the building and learn the truth. The guards reluctantly followed behind him, hooves quivering in fear of the large amount of magical energy reaching them.

Along the way, they all spotted the plant life.....which was moving on its own, making them all go faster. They also spotted skeletons along the way, evidently impaled by the plants growing there. How was that even possible?

"Princess Luna must've been nuts," Prince Blueblood commented.



"Whoa whoa whoa whoa, hold on!" Luna yelled, holding up her hoof and stopping his story. "You thought I killed those guards?"

"Yeah!" He replied, looking at her confusedly. "You were the one who attacked-"

"Enough, continue with the story!" Rainbow yelled, making him snarl and start again.



"I don't think this was Princess Luna, your highness," one of the guards said as they walked into the destroyed castle and stopped, looking around. "She only has control of the stars, the moon, and the night, not over the plant life. That would be Princess Dash's control."

"So Princess Dash probably killed those guards!" Blueblood yelled. Suddenly the rainbow magic got even stronger, blowing past the group like a wave. "What in Equestria is that?" The prince activated his magic, tracking the source of the energy before following it.

"I do not think-'

"Shut up and follow!" Blueblood interrupted the guard before continuing. The royals guards all looked at each other before reluctantly obeying his command, following down the hall to a different area of the ruins. After awhile they turned down a hallway with a sign that read, "Birth and Delivery", making the prince raise an eyebrow.

"Why would there be a birth unit in the castle? That makes no sense," Blueblood muttered. "Might need to check that out." He approached one of the rooms that had a door slightly opened, pushing it wider and stepping inside. He lit his horn making the area brighter to get a better view of it, revealing that It was a birth unit alright. There were water basins, tools and other things for a mare when they gave birth. "Interesting." He started to turn around until something in the corner caught his attention. A pillow with....Celstia's cutie mark? Pillows are only used in the delivery room for the mother. So why would Celestia have her pillow in the delivery room? Unless.....SHE WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE BIRTH!



"After I realized that Celestia gave birth, I searched all over the room for a clue when-"

"so....you deliberately went behind our backs," Celestia interrupted slowly, closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead with a hoof in stress. "After we told you not to, TWICE, and discovered the secret that will save all Equestria from a threat....that could kill or enslave us all?"

"Let him continue, we must know what happened next," Luna said, motioning with her hoof to Blueblood.

"R-right," he stammered, already seeing where this was going and not liking it at all. "While we were searching, one of the guards found something within your birth pillow."



"There's something in here, sir!" Prince Blueblood turned around and walked over, looking expectantly at the guard.

"Rip it open."

"Sir, this is-"

"I said, RIP IT OPEN!" The guard sighed and grabbed an arrow from his side. He poked it in the pillow and yanked it to the side, revealing the fluffing and......a slither of paper.

Blueblood took it out with his magic, and flipped it over, revealing a photograph. That told everything. "Oh......my......aunty."



"Then you went and ripped open an antique pillow, created by the Equestrian society that was meant to give birth to a Princess of Equestria, DO YOU KNOW....you know what?" Celestia held a hoof out to him. "Continue, I already know what I am going to do with you."

Prince Blueblood sighed in defeat before continuing like she asked. "After we found the photograph, we heard a yell down the hallway, along with a forced entry before heavy hoofsteps were walking towards our room. After awhile, it revealed itself to be an evil looking alicorn that was black and mismatched."



"My Celestia how you have fallen," a female voice in the hallway said while tree roots began to grow underneath the hooves of the guards, catching their attention. They instantly began swiping at them, cutting them before loud hoofsteps caught their attention. Loud and slow. They all froze and watched as a black glow began to come past their room, making the guards bring out their weapons.

"Celestia.....you have something that belongs to me...." The being said as they got closer and closer to the door. "And I would like to have it, please." The guards all got quiet as the creature walked past. It was an alicorn with a black coat and a rainbow colored mane with fangs hanging from her mouth, as well as a jagged horn. Like a changeling. Each step she took caused a tremble in the ground where she stepped, as well as it to crack. Her left wing was blue while the right one was red. Her left eye was red while the left was blue. There was just magic pouring off of her, making the fur of the ponies she hasn't spotted rise on end.

"Oh my god," Blueblood whispered as she walked past. "Who...who is that?"

The guard in the front slowly shook his head. "I don't know....but it can't be good. We have to get out of here. But she's headed towards the entrance."

"Then what do we do?" Another asked, his magic holding onto his sword. "Rush her?"

"No way.....we rush PAST her and get the heck out of here," Blueblood whispered back. "We have what we wanted."

"What YOU wanted," a guard corrected. "You dragged us in here, man."

"Quiet," Blueblood scolded. "We need to go now. Let's head out."



"We sort of.... narrowly escaped her. Somehow, she used the trees, grass, and wood to fight us."

"You RAN to her?!" Rainbow said in horror.

"No, my men ran to her and tried-"

"You put your men in danger?!" She walked briskly over to and bucked him, sending him sliding across the floor. "Are you out of your mind, that was totally NOT awesome! What kind of prince are you?!"

"Get off of me, you wannabe," he said, pushing her off his chest. "You are nothing compared to me and-"

*SHING* Rainbow drew her sword with her magic, positioning it right between Blueblood's surprised eyes.

"And what exactly have you done that I don't compare to?" She asked quietly in anger. The prince looked down at the sword before looking back at the wielder.

"Could ya....let me go, please?"

"NO!"

"Let him go, Rainbow," Celestia said calmly. The upset princess squinted at the prince before withdrawing her sword and placing it back in its scabbard, allowing Blueblood to relax.

"Did she ever see the photograph?" Luna asked.

"Well...ummmm...." He tapped his hooves together, trying to avoid their accusing gazes.

"Did...she see...the photo, Blueblood?" She repeated.

"Well, I dropped it where she might have gotten a three second look..."



The strange Alicorn turned towards the foyer of the castle, looking at the darkness that was within, making her smile proudly.

"Oh, Celestia, you must have left the bird's nest," she said calmly, not realizing the six ponies behind her. "No wonder it's so quiet. Where could you have-" She flinched and stopped suddenly from a beam of magic that hit her in the flank, making her raise an eyebrow.

She turned around and looked at the six ponies staring at her, three of them having apears, two holding crossbows, and one of them with a lit horn. Must've been the one who shot at her.

"Ugh, foolish ponies." She changed her eyes to white and lit her horn, summoning the roots to come out of the concrete below.

The guards screamed as the vines grabbed them, throwing them around the hallway while four grabbed Blueblood, hoisting him into air and bringing him towards her.

"And who are you, little pony?" She snarled, her fangs incredibly close to his face.

"I am Prince Blueblood, n-n-nephew of Princess Celestia!" He answered, shaking in fear and causing the picture to drop out his shirt and flutter to the ground.

Spectrum looked down in confusion, using her magic to pick it up and investigate. She looked at it for a few seconds before smiling evily and dropping it back.

"It seems Celestia had a daughter. Good to-AH!" Her magical grip on all the sldiers and Blueblood vanished when an arrow pierced her shoulder. The prince fell with a grunt before grabbing the photo and making a break for it with the guards, ignoring the ponies cries of pain.

"I WILL KILL YOU PONIES!!"



"So she knows. Great." Rainbow turned around and walked back towards her mother. "Have you told anyone about what you saw?"

"Umm...."

"I'll take that as a yes." She sighed and looked up at her mother. "I have to go prepare. I'll see you two later." The two came close and nuzzled their niece and daughter, ignoring Blueblood's annoyed grunts.

"You will know when the battle is on," Luna told her as they let her go. "Be ready."

Rainbow nodded before teleporting back to the castle in Ponyville, leaving them to deal with Blueblood.

"As for your punishment," Celestia said, walking towards him. "You are no longer a prince, royalty, or of a noble house. You were never a real prince to begin with anyway." She used her magic to rip three badges off his shirt, all addressing his status in society.

He gasped in horror, watching as she burned them. "Celestia! That is my right-"

"That has been stripped of you by the REAL royalty of Equestria. You have interrupted the flow of things that I have seen and have created an end result that cannot be predicted. I hope you are satisfied because you may have doomed Equestria during your little search. Get out of the castle and do not return!"

Blueblood turned and walked towards the door with his head held low, the punishment still weighing on his mind.

"And Blueblood?" He turned around, looking into Celestia's dangerous eyes. "If my daughter dies, I will watch you suffer."

He sighed and walked back out, letting the doors shut behind him, the sound resembling a prison cell. That he was held in.
> Chapter 22 - Imminent Action
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the altercation in Canterlot, Celestia contacted Rainbow to have everyone arrive in the castle while she herself contacted Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. Rainbow already knew what she wanted to talk about, having actually been there during the altercation. But she didn't know the jist of it. So she did what she asked.

"Mom.... what's going on?" Scootaloo asked, running ahead of the group being escorted inside, including her advisors, guards, friends, marefriend, adoptive mother and father, and daughter.

She lifted a wing, allowing the filly to get comfortable before lowering it over her in a motherly fashion. "There's a little.......unfortunate inconvenience revolving around the future Celestia informed of us."

"What are you talking about?" Rarity asked carefully. "There's not a problem, is there?"

They sat down in a circle in front of the golden throne the mother and daughter were situated on, giving her their full attention.

"When I arrived at the castle to inform Celestia of Spectrum, I heard a thud and crash in the hall. She wasn't in the room, so I figured she was out there, which she was.......busy shoving Blueblood's snout into a statue. Turns out Prince Blueblood had been secretly investigating my origin after being told not to, twice, by Celestia and Luna, and found a photo he wanted to obviously reveal to the public. Well, Celestia didn't like that, so she bucked him into a stone statue."

"Finally!" Rarity yelled. "I thought nopony was going to give him his just deserts!"

"While they were speaking," Rainbow continued. "We have learned that Spectrum is actively awake." They gasped in worry. "I personally think that Blueblood had awoken her early. He went to the Everfree castle and started digging, and knowing him..."

"Yelling, boasting, and ordering," Twilight sighed.

"Yes. I believe, more than likely, the alicorn woke up when he found the photo. Either way, something's wrong."

"That's an understatement, sweetheart." They all looked towards the left to see Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor trotting forward, all of them in their armor. "It is not just wrong....the cannot be predicted anymore. Before, I knew exactly how everything was going to go, but now......we have to wing it. Bluebood has altered the timeline and the events on it."

"Are you saying that because of Blueblood," Twilight said slowly. "There is absolutely no telling what could happen? That what you told us before doesn't even matter?"

"Correct," Luna replied, glancing at Scootaloo's face of disbelief. "All because Blueblood went and interruped the natural order of things."

"So there is absolutely no telling what could happen," Rainbow interpreted. Celestia sighed and walked up to the throne, pulling her daughter into a hug and nuzzling the top of her head.

"You're scared," she assumed.

"I'm scared for Scoots," she answered. "She just got a full family, she doesn't wanna lose it. Right now she's bawling underneath my wing."

She bent down and lifted her wing, exposing the crying form of her daughter, making her sigh.

"It's okay, little buddy," she whispered, picking her up. "I'll be fine."

Scootaloo only cried harder. "N-n-no! Noooo-o-o!" Rainbow pulled her into her chest, giving her the most tightest and safest hug she could muster, letting her daughter's tears soak her coat.

Celestia came around and nuzzled the back of her granddaughter's head. "It's okay, Scootaloo. Remember what your mother told you."

"I don't want her to go!" She whined, her voice muffled by Rainbow's coat. "I want her to stay here! With me!"

"I do too," Rainbow whispered, rubbing Scootaloo's back. "But remember what I said....I'm fighting for you, not just for Equestria." She pulled her daughter back and looked into her light purple eyes, tears still coming out. "So when I come back, you, I, and Fluttershy are going to Canterlot to celebrate. And you can bring your little friends too. Sound good?"

She nodded, letting Rainbow smile and kiss the top of her forehead.



"Rainbow?" The princess turned around after putting her armor on to see her marefriend looking at her concerned. "I know you have to go, but.......but please be careful. And come home."

The princess sighed and placed her helmet on her head before making her way back to Fluttershy. Stopping in front of her, she captured her lips in her own, giving her a love filled kiss that they both did not want to break.

After awhile, Rainbow parted, a peaceful smile gracing her features. "I love you, Fluttershy," she whispered.

"I love you too, Rainbow Dash." The Princess looked to her right towards the lounge before walking towards it, determined to make one little filly happy.



"Scootaloo?" The child peeked her eyes open, still being cradled in her grandmother's arms on Rainbow's throne. "I know you're upset but I want to give you something."

Rainbow grabbed the stuffed pony from behind her and placed it in her daughter's hooves. "This is a gift to keep you comfortable while I'm away. Take care of her, alright?"

Scootaloo nodded, squeezing the doll tightly before Twilight came over and took over for Celestia. Rainbow turned around focused. "SERGEANT CLOUDSTORM!"

The royal guard ran forward and saluted in front of the throne upon Rainbow's summons. "Please go and retrieve Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. She will need them. Applejack, where are they?"

"More than likely at the clubhouse in Sweet Apple Acres," she responded. "I take it you three are leaving right now?"

"If what I think is about to happen is, we will be there," Celestia said, putting on her helmet. "Any last words, daughter?" The ponies who didn't know widened their eyes, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

"I REAALLLY don't wanna do this......but it's for Equestria," Rainbow said bravely. "Let's go." Celestia lit her horn, letting them disappear in a flash, leaving the others shocked.

"Da-daughter?" Cherry asked tentatively. "Princess Celestia has a daughter?"

"Yep, Rainbow Dash," Twilight answered from behind Scootaloo, who was hugging the stuffed doll tightly. "It's been......a hectic couple of months."

"Wait, you knew about this?!" Lady Justice asked incredulously. "Why didn't you-"

"Because all of this would've happened earlier. Except, from what I gather, far worse."



"How dare she, how DARE she!" Blueblood yelled, scaring the ponies walking along the streets of Canterlot. He kicked a stone, watching as it bounced off a buff pony in front of him. The two stopped, with one looking at the other. "Out of my way, peasant!" The pony's eyes widened before they narrowed, trying to figure out this noodle of a pony's problem.

"What did you just call me?" He asked, stalking towards the offensive jerk.

"You heard me, peasant! I am Prince-"

"Yeah, right." *BAM* Prince Blueblood went sailing into an alleyway crashing into a bunch of silver trashcans before the pony shook his head and moved along. The people watching chuckled at the nameless pony who tried to boast.

Blueblood groaned and threw the trashcan off of his head, already fearing the future. "That Princess doesn't even know what she has done to me."

"And what exactly has she done to you?" A ghostly voice whispered, making him look up into the red and blue eyes of Spectrum. He gasped, preparing to scream before she plunged a hoof onto his mouth.

"Quiet, fool!" She yelled, making him quiver. "You and I have some.....discussing to do." She lit her horn, teleporting the two of them to a different area of the Everfree Castle, making him confused and more scared than he already was.

"Wh-what do you want?" He stammered, trying to get away before four vines sprouted out of the ground and held onto his legs, making him fall back to the ground.

"What was on that photograph that you dropped in the hall when you were here last?" She asked, stalking towards him threateningly. "And do not lie to me, cur!"

"It-it was a photograph of Princess Celestia, I swear! AHH!" One of the vines grew, carrying his left hind hoof, along with the rest of him dangling twenty feet in the air.

"There was more to that photograph, child! NOW WHAT WAS IT, I KNOW THERE WAS MORE!"

"OKAY, OKAY, IT WAS A PHOTO OF PRINCESS CELESTIA AND RAINBOW DASH!" He replied desperately, swinging his hooves around wildly.

"Rainbow Dash?" She asked calmly before moving in closer to his face, her anger radiating off of her and raising his fur on end. "And who is.....Rainbow Dash?"

"I don't know-"

"WHO IS RAINBOW DASH?!!" She yelled in his face.

"I think it's her daughter!" The mad alicorn's eyes snapped open in surprise before narrowing in focus.

"How old is she?"

"Very young, eighteen or nineteen!"

"That means she was born around the time I was imprisoned by my dear sister." She continued staring at Blueblood while she thought. "During the same time the Jewel of Rainbow was powerless.......so either Celestia has it....or her daughter." She yanked Blueblood back into her face with a yelp. "WHERE IS CELESTIA'S CASTLE?!"

"CANTERLOTWEWEREJUSTTHERE!"

"SPEAK NORMAL, PONY!"

"Canterlot, we were just there! It's the biggest structure in the whole city and you can see it from the mountainside!" Spectrum sneered before Blueblood went even higher, following after her as she tried to get a look. Sure enough, in the north, far away in the distance, was a golden colored castle.

"This is going to be too easy.....Thank you, pony. Your work is finished." The vine began loosening it's grip, preparing to let him drop and making Blueblood yelp.

"Wait, wait, wait, I can help you!" He yelled, flailing his hooves.

The vine stopped and retightened before Spectrum looked at him. "Pony I do not need help. I have faced off against my sister's before and clipped one's horn."

"But I know how to hit both of them where it hurts! I can help in the fight and get my title back!"

"Fool, I do not fight for titles, I fight for POWER!" She yelled, getting back in his face. "Nopony.....is able to defeat the might of  the princess of nature."

"Princess Dash is the Princess of nature."

"Oh?" She asked, genuinely curious.

"Y-Yes. She can summon all the elements of it."

"Interesting," she said slowly, rubbing her chin. "That means I was correct, she holds the power of the Jewel of Rainbow. Why do you wish to help me?"

"Because that pony has caused me to lose my title!" He replied in anger. "I want to get her back!"

Spectrum looked deeply into his eyes, trying to see what he wants. Satisfied, she grinned. "There IS something I need you to do. Find a crossbow and get on top of Town Hall in Ponyville. Now begone!"

He screamed while the vine lowered rapidly to the ground and she teleported towards Canterlot. Ready to begin.



"Everypony inside a building now!" A group of Royal Guards yelled as they walked down the streets of Canterlot. Shining Armor ordered the guards to hide the citizens and empty the streets of Canterlot. Hopefully any neighboring cities wouldn't be able to experience the destruction that was to occur.

Those out on the streets quickly walked into a nearby building, leaving the stands, booths, and other things unattended as they made haste.

The princesses were all situated in the middle of the city, waiting for Spectrum to arrive. Celestia figured she would confront them first at where they resided, since she did that twice already.

"My niece," Princess Luna said, catching Rainbow's attention from the middle, next to her mother. "Whatever you do, try to refrain from using your horn in close combat. You may end up like I did."

Before Rainbow could question it a rumbling started to get their attention, making them take up their positions. In front of them, the ground started to crack open, making Celestia and Luna gasp, having already seen this trick.

"Duck!" They all dodged to the side right when large green spikes shot out towards them, jabbing forward and nearly going through Cadance.

"Celestia, why do you have to be such a pain?" The princess of the sun looked beside her, spotting a dark grean beam heading straight for her. She fired her own magic, countering it before a grapvine nearby grew and shot out towards her. It grabbed onto her barrel and lifted her into the air, making her thrash around to try and get free.

Distracted, Spectrum missed the light blue, pink, and cyan blasts going straight towards her, making her yelp as she flew from the impact into a building. The ponies inside moved out of the way as she jumped back up and fired her own magic out.

Rainbow gasped as it split into three, making her jump to the side. Using her own magic, she used the water from a pipe in that building, making it burst and hit the alicorn, having the desired effect.

She yelped from the cold, making her lose focus and release Celestia, who flew and landed back beside the other three. Spectrum growled before she looked at the others, hatred pouring off of her.

All was quiet during the stare down until Celestia groaned. "It's been nearly twenty years Spectrum. It is time to let old things go. My niece has not even had her wedding yet."

"Enough, cur!" She yelled back, slowly stalking towards them. "You know what I want......and I will get it."

"No you will not," Luna said.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because we do not have it." Spectrum groaned in frustration.

"Do you take me for a foal?! The power is right there!" She pointed a hoof at Rainbow Dash making them inhale sharply. "I now know about your transfer, Celestia. Lucky for me........little Rainbow doesn't know how to do it." The branches from a nearby tree suddenly shot out towards them, making them scatter and the branches to grab nothing.

Seeing as the fight officially beginning, Rainbow lit her horn and shot a bolt of fire at her, watching as she countered it with her own spell. Her magic doused the flame before Cadance teleported beside her and bucked her, sending her sliding a few feet away.

She hopped back up and flapped her wings, zipping towards and bucking Cadance into an incoming Luna, leaving Rainbow and Celestia running right towards her.

"A mother and daughter tag team, how sweet," she teased. "Let's take this to new heights, shall we?" She flapped her wings and zoomed straight up, allowing the other four to follow along after her.

Once high enough, she stopped and summoned her spell, allowing the nearby trees to fire the leaves at the group.

"Shields!" Celestia yelled, spotting the incoming onslaught, coming in like bullets. The princesses shielded themselves from the hundreds of leaves reaching them, distracted from Spectrum's next move.

While they were blinded from the onslaught, she zipped over to Rainbow's bubble and grabbed hold of it, making her gasp. "You're coming with me," she sneered before teleporting them both away. Once the massive amount of leaves stopped the Princesses looked around, gasping upon realization.

"No!" They yelled.



The two alicorns crashed into the stone column in the Everfree Castle, rolling around before bouncing back up and facing each other.

"Mommy can't save you, child," Spectrum taunted as they circled each other in the large hallway, an evil grin on her face.

Rainbow grunted as she unsheathed her sword, catching the mare's attention. "Spectrum, we are both at equal odds," she said calmly. "You must forget about the power, it's dangerous!"

"Quiet, child! I know what I want, now give it to me!"

"Never!" Spectrum lunged at Rainbow before she sidestepped, letting her horn pass by harmlessly. She lifted her sword and swiped at her neck before Spectrum teleported beside Rainbow and bucked her, sending her flying into a statue. Grunting from the impact, the princess of nature grabbed hold of her hooves and threw her to the side, making her break a whole nearby desk apart.

Jumping back up, Spectrum fired a bolt when her target teleported, hitting a wall behind the spot she was before. She yelped in surprise when something cut her side, making her grimace. "Give me the power!" Rainbow ducked right when Spectrum swiped at her head from the left of her, totally missing before Rainbow fired another fire spell at her ribs, making the crazy aunt yell from the burn.

"AUGGGH, you foolish child!" She grabbed hold of a statue in her magic and threw it at Rainbow's helmet, making it shatter upon impact. Rainbow grunted before Spectrum lunged and tackled her to the floor, her black form towering over her. "You will give me what I want!"

She jabbed her horn down when Rainbow struck, knocking her head away with the pommel of her sword and making Spectrum's horn sink into the ground beside her head. The princess used her magic to flip Spectrum over and onto her back while she herself got up.

Taking the advantage, she plunged her sword to where the evil pony was, only for her to teleport. Turning around, she unsheathed her sword and faced Spectrum once more, breathing heavily.

"You're good, but lack experience," Spectrum teased as they once again had another stand off. "If you were smart, you'd-" *WHAM* Rainbow zipped forward, using her speed, and bucked Spectrum all the way down the hall, leaving her stunned.

"If you were smart, you'd shut up and fight!" Rainbow zipped forward again, unaware of Spectrum's next move. The Princess froze at the large trembling that was shaking the castle walls.

"As I was saying," Spectrum said calmly, her Rainbow colored mane gradually turning white, along with her eyes. "If you were smart...." She grinned that evil smile at the princess. "Then you would know better than to fight back amongst thousands of my soldiers...the trees."

Hundreds of large branches broke through the stone walls of the building, all heading right towards Rainbow Dash. Sheathing her sword, she used her "Body of Fire" spell she demonstrated to her mother, turning her into a walking inferno. Turning her head, she used her magic and fired a ball of fire at an incoming tree branch, completely engulfing it before another swiped at her. Five more tried to grab her only to come to the same fate.

"Come now, child. Be a good girl and hand over the magic," Spectrum said, watch the alicorn struggle. "There are more coming. This is your only warning."

"Never!" She zipped her head swiftly to the right, sending out a sharp blaze that cut through some of the branches. But more were still coming.

"Suit yourself. Kill her." The branches rushed forward, intent to impale with the sharp edges before she zipped quickly into the air, blasting through the stone roof and flying higher and higher.

Once she was high enough she looked back down and gasped. They were still coming at the same speed she was going. "How is that even possible, they're tree branches!" She yelled in frustration, swiping at one with her sword.

"You forget, Rainbow Dash." She turned around and received a jab to her face from the grinning form of the pony. "I have more experience."

"Well, I have......some experience!" Rainbow lit her horn, freezing the air around her into hundreds of icicles and sending them to the mare while slicing apart the branches.

Spectrum teleported next to her again, but this time Rainbow was prepared. Her sword unsheathed, she swiped and caught her in the chest.

"AUUUGGHH!" She put a hoof over the gash before screaming in anger, flying into Rainbow at her speed and sending them right towards Ponyville.

"You insolent foal!" She reared back her hoof and banged it into Rainbow's helmet, making it dent. The Princess flipped her over and started barraging her face, the grunts like music to her ears.

They flew out over the forest, headed straight for Ponyville and the unsuspecting ponies below.



The ponies of Ponyville were all going about their afternoon, getting the last things they needed before heading back home to have dinner with their families.

Of course things were a little weird with the heavy Royal Guard presence near every building, but they didn't pay it any mind. Until someone yelled.

"Incoming fire, incoming fire!"

"TAKE COVER!" The two alicorns crashed into one of the nearby streets, creating a shockwave, sliding along the ground, creating a groove and creating a large dust cloud. The ponies scattered, heading into buildings where the guards directed them while the two got back up.

"We're not doing this here, Spectrum!" Rainbow yelled, watching as the alicorn jumped and tackled her to the ground, attempting to impale her again. She tried to jab her again and again, missing everytime before the Princess threw her to the side with her magic.

Before she could get up, Rainbow used her magic to create the icicles again, sending them flying right towards her. Seeing the incoming fire, Spectrum teleported back to Rainbow Dash, intent on taking her down, when she was knocked back a few feet, landing beside Applejack's apple booth in the square.

"That's right....keep coming, Rainbow," the alicorn muttered, getting back to her feet. "Is that all you've got?! Celestia has more power!!"

"I am not Celestia," Rainbow responded, as the two ran at each other.

Taking that as his cue, the pony on the roof poised with the crossbow, focusing his eye on the cyan alicorn.

Spectrum and Rainbow ran at each other before Spectrum teleported to the area behind her, making the princess slide to a stop in confusion.

"Bingo." The pony on the roof of the building pulled the trigger, firing the spelled crossbow right at her.

"Why would she-AAAAHHH!" She yelled at the feeling of something going straight through her. She collapsed, holding her chest in pain. Feeling a sharp object, she looked down, seeing an arrow portruding out of her chest. "How.....did I...."

"How's it feel, Rainbow Dash..." Spectrum teased, stalking back to the weakened pony. "To be stabbed in the-wait! Let me rephrase that. To be stabbed THROUGH the back?" She chuckled before bucking the Princess to the ground, making her skid and crash into a stand, yelling in pain from the movement of the arrow.

It had pierced her lung, making her cough up blood and gasp for air. She was drowning.

"You should've just gave me what I want." Spectrum walked forward, stopping right in front of her. Blood was beginning to leak out and pool around her. "And I would not have resulted to the extreme measure. Now...it is mine. Goodbye, Rainbow Dash."

She charged her horn, preparing to touch her horn her horn to hers before an orange beam hit her in the side, knocking her into a tree.

"RAINBOW! Rainbow, sweetheart!" The princess glanced to her right, hacking up more blood. Cadance and Luna engaged Spectrum while Celestia ran to her daughter, horrified. "My child, I need you stay awake, okay?"

She nodded while Cadance and Luna were busy stomping Spectrum to a pulp. She was completely caught off guard, wallowing in victory, thus completely forgetting about the other three alicorns. Her ultimate downfall.

Cadance picked her up and threw her against the brick wall of an occupied building, making her yelp. While she was stunned, Luna took this opportunity to put her horn to her own.

"Goodnight, you creature!" Before she could reply, Spectrum dropped her head, falling into the deepest sleep Luna could give her. The two stared at her for a moment before sighing.

"Go help Celestia, I will get the guard," Luna ordered. Cadance ran back to the two mares while called out, " GUARDS! COME TO ME AT ONCE!"

The doors in all the buildings opened, allowing the Royal Guard watching over the citizens to pour out. Some went to Celestia, Cadance, and Rainbow's dying form. She was gasping for air while Cadance was trying to keep the blood out. "Take her to the dungeon in the Ponyville castle. And we need a doctor for Princess Rainbow, at once! Escort her family to the Ponyville hospital! Go!"



"That was a really big boom," Apple Bloom whispered, drawing attention from the group taking cover inside. "I wonder what it was."

"Maybe it was mom kicking Spectrum's flank," Scootaloo said, hugging the doll tighter.

"I still don't know who Spectrum is," Sweetie Belle said.

"Celestia's second sister."

"What?!" The doors to the throne room burst open, shaking everyone into attacking before realizing it was a royal guard.

He wiped the sweat from his brow before giving everyone a smile. "The threat has been stopped." The ponies in the room sighed in relief before Scootaloo got up.

"Is mom okay? Did she kick Spectrum's butt?"

The guard breathed deeply making everyone look at him strangely. "Princess Luna requests the Presence of Princess Dash's family at Ponyville hos-"

All the ponies in the room rushed past him and out into the hall.

"-pital. Ugghh." He rubbed his face with a hoof.



Fluttershy picked up Scootaloo and placed her on her back as they all ran out the building's doors, taking to the air with two more pegasi beside them.

There was no telling what happened out there. But if the guard asked for the family of Rainbow to come to the hospital, then that meant it couldn't have been good. At all.
> Chapter 23 - Healing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were in the waiting room of the Ponyville hospital, eager to learn the status of their daughter, niece, and cousin. Her wound did not look good outside, and the coughing and choking wasn't doing anyone any favors either.

Celestia looked down at the floor, a small tear going down her face as she thought about the downsides that came with that power. That magic. There was so much at risk. Losing your sister, your husband, now...possibly your daughter. All to protect Equestria. The jewel was meant as a heavy defense against threats. Who knew the threat was your own family?

No one was prepared for this. No one wanted to see another pony be hurt. Killed. Wounded. Possibly injured for life. Let alone your own daughter. That was a little much. And for what? A weapon. A weapon shouldn't cost more than your daughter's life.

Celestia's ears perked up at the sound of the door sliding open, revealing a distraught Fluttershy with an equally distraught Scootaloo on her back. They both trotted up to her worry written all over their faces.

"Where is Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked desperately. "Celestia, where is she?"

"Where's mom?" Scotaloo cried, getting off Fluttershy's back. The grandparent sighed.

"Your mother's in the hospital right now," Luna answered for her. Celestia was probably too worried to even speak. "She was pierced through her back by an arrow that was spelled to go through her armor."

Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth before pulling Scootaloo into an embrace. "Right now, she is in surgery," Cadance continued. "We haven't been informed how bad it is, but....it didn't look very good."

"Oh no," Fluttershy muttered, holding a hoof to her mouth. Scootaloo turned around and buried her face in her coat, trying to hide her tears.

A minute later, everyone else came in, eager to see what all the big fuss was about. After asking what was going, Luna relayed what happened and the outcomes of it, shocking most of the group. The crusaders went over and gave their once again crying friend a hug, telling her sweet things to calm her down while the rest did the same to Fluttershy. All the while, Luna was doing what she could for her sister.

After two more hours, a doctor finally came back in, holding a clipboard. "Uhhh.....Prin-"

"How is she?!" Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Fluttershy all yelled in his face, making the poor pony fall over on his back.

"MMM, wow, okay!" He quickly got back on his hooves. Grabbing his clipboard, he relayed the results. Since he wasn't in a somber mood, she must've survived, Celestia guessed. "Her highness made it through the surgery, I'm proud to say." The group sighed in relief. "But....I'm baffled by her rate of healing. Right now, the wound is healing very very quickly. I understand Alicorns heal quick, but this is really fast."

He looked back up at the group to see the Royal Sisters giving him a deadpan stare. "How could we forget about that?" They both said.

"The Jewel of Rainbow also helps healing," Celestia said, doing a facehoof. "Uggghh....no matter. Is she accepting visitors?"

"Only from family at this moment." Celestia turned around picked up Scootaloo by her teeth before she, Luna, and Cadance all walked down the hall towards what they figured was her room.

"Grandma, I can walk on my own," Scootaloo muttered. Cadance chuckled before using her magic to scan the hallway for Rainbow's magic, eventually finding her at the very end.

"Last room on the right," she said, pointing a hoof ahead of her towards the destination. They walked the short distance before stopping and Celestia placed the groaning foal down onto the floor. Afterward, she slowly pushed the door open, letting the four of them in.

Rainbow was either asleep, or just faking it, because she had a loud snore. It must've been the anesthetic they used, because Rainbow didn't saw logs like this.

Scootaloo covered her ears for a second before walking towards the large hospital bed her mother was in. Jumping onto the sheets, she climbed up and crawled over Rainbow's form to her mouth. She had bandages over her chest that had a little blood on them, not too much that could cause a problem.

After successfully crawling and reaching her face, she lifted the covers and got under them, confusing the three standing at the entrance. After awhile, the snoring stopped and Rainbow turned over, revealing a beautiful sight. Scootaloo had somehow managed to get Rainbow to cuddle with her and stop the snoring. Both of them had a pleased smile on their faces, more than likely from their fears being separated over and done with. Scootaloo was back with her mother, and Rainbow was unknowingly back with her daughter.

"That is a most wondrous sight," Luna said, a smile on her own face. "It was a very dangerous battle that Rainbow, herself, fought through. Although I really want to hear the story, I'd rather not wake this moment."

Celestia smile before walking over and laying a kiss on both of their foreheads. "Let them have this," she whispered. "We will wait a little longer and relay the news to the others." She turned around and made her way out the room, the other two right behind her. The door was then closed, allowing the two to have their sleep. Hopeful, Rainbow would have a great wake up call.



The two were in their bed, sleeping peacefully, until the Princess of nature shifted again. Her smile faltered with a grunt. Who was laying on her like this? It felt.....familiar, but....different at the same time. She groaned and sniffed the air. Maybe she could find out who it was by smell. She was getting really good with that. She took a big long whiff. Then a second one, not being able to tell. This pony took a good bath. She really didn't want to open her eyes to find out the pony who was cuddled up to her. Wait....cuddled? The only ones who could do that was Fluttershy and.....Scootaloo.

She chuckled before leaning down and licking the little filly that she finally figured out was in her arms. After a few more licks, she started squirming and batting away her mother's affection. "Stop....I'm tryna.....tryna sleep," she said tiredly. She repositioned herself in her arms, still not registering who was licking her. Rainbow chuckled and finally opened her eyes, looking around the room. It was night time, six in the morning if that clock across the bed was right.

She sighed and picked the little filly up, placing her lightly on the bed before stretching her muscles. Being tense while wounded was never a good idea. And apparently she slept for a full night. She slowly slinked out of bed, making sure not to make a sound as she trotted to the door. Looking back one more time to make sure her daughter was sleeping, she slipped out and made her way to the waiting room. If the ponies she knew loved her like they did, they would more than likely....yep.

Fluttershy, Cadance, Luna, Celestia, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and her adopted parents were all there sleeping. They had blankets on them, more than likely given from the hospital staff ordered by her mother...or aunt. She could see it now. "Staff! Bring us thou blankets for thou Princesses friends!" Just thinking about that made her chuckle and shake her head.

"They wouldn't leave, your highness." She looked over to the right to see one of the nurses bowing towards her. "So we had to give them blankets. May Celestia help the one positioned right in front of the door." Rainbow raised an eyebrow and looked towards the location, making her snort. Applejack was snoring right in front of it. She'd pay a hundred bits just to see that, really.

"Forgive me, but I would really love to see that happen," she whispered. That definitely didn't miss her mother's ears. Celestia grunted lightly before her eyes slowly fluttered open. Sighing deeply from having her sleep disturbed she looked around and turned towards Rainbow's direction. They stared at each other until Celestia blinked, got up, and walked closer. She's definitely still asleep, because she stepped on Twilight's forehoof, not even registering it was there.

Yelping, the mare in question jolted awake. "Here we go," Rainbow muttered before her mother started sniffing her.

"You need a bath, daughter," she said.

"Well....considering I just woke up with Scootaloo in my arms somehow, I don't think I need one yet." Celestia nodded with half-lidded eyes.

"Okay," she muttered before going back to her spot. Twilight watched in disbelief as she laid back down and tried to go back to sleep. The two stared at her before Celestia groaned and her eyes twitched.

"Is she always like a slow motor?" Rainbow whispered before Twilight finally noticed her.

"Rainbow!" She yelled, waking up the others. The Princess sighed before waving a hoof.

"Yeah, hey. Twilight, I was really hoping to lick Applejack awake. It would've been really funny and I would have laughed my horn off."

"Oh...sorry."

"Rainbow!" The Princess looked up just in time to see Celestia run over and give her a hug, along with licks, kisses, and nuzzles. Looks like the motor started. "I am relieved you are okay!"

"M-Mom! Not in front of Fluttershy!" She cried out, her muzzle mushed into Celestia's overjoyed chest. "It's embarrassing enough to be in bandages, I'd rather not have Fluttershy laughing at me."

"Oh hush, and enjoy the hug," Luna chuckled, trotting over and giving her a hug from behind. "We were really worried about you."

"I can tell," Rainbow said, still in Celestia's chest. "Mom.....I can barely breathe here." Celestia pulled back and let her have her room before she was tackled to the floor by a crazy yellow coated Pegasus. "Ouch."

Fluttershy hugged her and licked her cheek before burying her face in her chest. "Don't...ever...scare me like that again," she cried.

Rainbow smile and wrapped her hooves around her, giving her a nuzzle with her chin. "I promise. Hopefully this will never happen again." She directed her last words to Luna for a clue, giving her a hint as to what she wanted to hear.

"Spectrum is currently in the prison underground, in front of your castle," she answered. "We will be looking for ways to restore her by using different spells to counteract it."

"It hasn't been discussed much, but we believe she was weakened by something during your fight," Cadance told her. "Which, might I add, we all want to hear about."

"Maybe later." Rainbow picked up Fluttershy in her magic and set her to the side before she got up herself. "No more hugging! No...more....hugging, Pinkie." They all looked toward the Pink pony who was somehow frozen in mid air in the midst of flying towards Rainbow Dash.

"Awww!" She whined, getting back to her hooves. "Can I at least throw you a party?"

"Uhhh.......I don't know, maybe? We have more things to worry about. Like the jerk who shot me."

The other three Princesses all looked at her in confusion. "So...it wasn't Spectrum?" Celestia asked, watching Rainbow shake her head in return.

"No. There was absolutely no crossbow near us down there. She setup a trap, but she didn't exactly have the weapon. We were running towards each other when she teleported behind me last minute. I got confused, then got shot, both of them a horrible combination."

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "Where was the location you were shot at?"

"I'd say right in front of Golden Oak Library," she responded, pointing towards where it would be. "I slid and stopped there, I'll show you a replay of what happened later on. Right now, Scootaloo's asleep and she might freak out if I'm not there when she wakes up."

"Then let's go." Rainbow looked at her strangely before Celestia got a non relenting look. "I am not leaving you alone until you're in bed."

Rainbow stared at her and sighed. "Fine....only because Scootaloo likes you." Celestia faked mock horror before Rainbow grinned, making them both chuckle. The two walked back to her room and through the door, making sure to make the least bit of noise as possible as they walked inside.

"She's still asleep," Celestia whispered, motioning towards the bed. But Rainbow knew better. Scootaloo snores and right now she was definitely not snoring. That and her position on the bed was too perfect. She had her rear hooves underneath the blanket while her forehooves were on top, stating at the ceiling and lying on her back.

The Princess walked forward, making enough noise to actually wake her up, shocking Celestia in the process, and stood by her bed. "Squirt, you got five seconds to stop or I'm giving you fifteen seconds of Raspberries." Scootaloo didn't move, making Rainbow shake her head. She was ridiculous. Fluttershy walked in to tell her something, but stopped beside Celestia.

"Fine. One.....Two......Three.....Four....."

"I'm awake, I'm awake!" The filly yelled, her eyes bursting open. She looked up and saw her mother smiling down at her, causing her to gasp and have the most biggest grin. "MOM!" She jumped out of the bed in a way that only Pinkie Pie could do, and latched herself to her muzzle, shocking Rainbow.

"Whoa, Squirt! I know you missed me but jeez!" She protested, chuckling at her daughter's smiling face.

Rainbow walked towards and got back in the bed with her still attached to her. "Are you enjoying yourself on my face?" They listened to her trying to figure out why she didn't say anything until they heard a little sniffle, making Rainbow sigh.

"I'm......just glad you're okay," she whispered, while Rainbow pried her off. Sure enough, she was crying again. Luckily, it wasn't because she was sad.

"I know, sweetie. I can tell you're happy too." She pulled Scootaloo into a hug while Fluttershy came and joined in. Princess Celestia smiled before walking towards the window. Time to raise the sun. It was seven o'clock.

"We will talk again later, Rainbow," she said, focusing her attention on the horizon in the distance, where the sun was currently making a small entrance. "We must discuss your permanent reveal. I have decided to let the world know of your origin."

"Finally!" She yelled, shocking her family. "Do you know how hard it is trying not to say mom to you?! It's exactly like trying not to call Twilight an egghead when she says something smart."

"Rainbow it is not nice to make fun of your subjects," Celestia scolded, backing away from the window and walking towards the bed. Rainbow placed hwr daughter to the side, listening all the while. "We treat our subjects with an equal amount of respect....no matter how annoying they may be. That and I will not tolerate you talking about my student that way."

"Oh, speaking of annoying, did you get Blueblood?" Celestia gave her daughter a deadpan stare.

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Yes. I promise not to hurt Twilight's feelings. Now, can you tell me what happened to him?"

"We stripped him of his title and spread the news all through Equestria. He has been rejected of anything that has anything to do with royalty." The ponies in the room stared at her in shock, before Rainbow shook her head to get focused again.

"So....he's just Blueblood now? No prince or anything?"

"Correct. He has ties to royalty, but they will not help him in this situation. All of this could have been avoided if he didn't walk in the Everfree Castle and start investigating. All he had to be was patient. Now...he is titleless."

"Good riddance." Rainbow fell back into the bed, letting Scootaloo curl up next to her. "I mean, I still feel bad for him but he had it coming. Now, are we starting an investigation into who shot me in the back? They were with Spectrum and I would like to push them into a cage of electrified wires."

"I am leaving that task up to Luna and your cousin. You know, she would really like to see you at her wedding in Canterlot."

"When is it?" Rainbow draped a wing over Scootaloo and Fluttershy, pulling them closer to her.

"It's in a month. November 22nd."

"I'll be there. Now get out, mom, it's family time," she whined. Her mother chuckled before coming over and giving her daughter a nuzzle.

"I'm really glad you're okay," she whispered, letting Rainbow return the heartfelt affection. "I do not know what I would do if I lost you too."

"If I'm anything like dad.....then I'm a fighter."

"So I see. Enjoy your little family time, I have to discuss plans with Luna." She leaned over and gave her granddaughter a nuzzle then Fluttershy, which surprised her. "I'll see you later." She turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her before making her way briskly towards the waiting room, finding her sister and Cadance still there, along with everyone else.

"I take it you want to return to Canterlot, dear sister?" Luna asked, focused on her.

"Yes. We must get our ponies ready for the reveal."

"You're planning to reveal her to Equestria?" Cadance asked, unsure about the decision all in her voice.

"Yes, do not worry. Spectrum now knows, so there is no other issues that we need to worry about. Of course we will have to address the fight as well and tell the ponies who Spectrum is. Since she is no longer an issue."

"Alright. Just be careful. We still don't know the intentions of the pony who shot at Rainbow Dash. They could be targeting the Princesses."

"Maybe, but they still need to know. Luna? Are you staying here?" The princess of the night nodded. "Alright. Be careful, sister." She lit her horn and teleported back to the Canterlot Castle leaving the two alone to investigate. And wonder who would interfere with Rainbow Dash's fight.



Twilight walked back into the library with Cherry Berry and started laughing. "What? What is it?" Her marefriend asked. Twilight just shook her head and pointed to the area in front of her. "Is he...sleepwalking?"

Spike was dusting off some books while snoring, a trail of drool coming out of his mouth and landing on the wooden floor. "He must be so tired right now," Twilight said, walking over and giving him a light push. "SPIKE, WAKE UP!"

"No we don't have that!" He yelled, coming out of his mesmerizing state. He looked around, finally realizing he was standing up. "Wait, wha......what am I doing?"

"Dusting off the books," the cherry colored pony answered, closing the door behind her as she finally walked in. "You were sleepwalking, so Twilight woke you up."

"Oh.......I'm going to bed." He threw the duster over his shoulder and walked up the stairs to the bedroom. "Don't wake me unless there's a fire."

The two mares chuckled as he disappeared before walking into the kitchen.

"I'm just happy Rainbow's alright," Cherry said, going into the refrigerator. "Someone needs to find the pony who shot that arrow."

"Yeah, I'm upset over that too." Twilight came over and nuzzled her neck, making her giggle. "There's that sound I like to hear."

"Whatever Twilight. Do we have eggs? I feel like a omelette this morning."

"That's what I missed!" Twilight yelled, startling Cherry so much she banged her head in the refrigerator. "We needed eggs. I'll be right back!" She teleported out the library, leaving her marefriend groaning and rubbing the bump on her head.



"Princess Celestia!" A noble said, approaching her in the hallway. She was still in her armor, now that she looked down, making her groan. How could she miss that? "We wish to know what the fight in Equestria was about at once!"

The princess just stopped and stared at him unamused. "Pony, I will kick you out of this castle faster than when I kicked out Blueblood if you do not move."

"But Celestia-"

"You will know when I tell you." She walked around him, ignoring his grumbling and headed towards her assistant, Raven, who was walking towards her. "I need to address my ponies as soon as possible. Have a conference setup for three o'clock this afternoon."

"Yes, your highness," she replied, writing down the instructions quickly. "Where would the location be?"

Celestia put her hoof to her chin, trying to think of the most perfect......"Ponyville. The field across from Sweet Apple Acres."

She wrote down some more notes before heading off to fulfill the request. Sighing, the princess of the sun walked into her throne room and immediately regretted it. There were some ponies in there from the press, or whatever, waiting for her.

"Your highness, can you please tell us the events that led up to the fight that reigned terror in Canterlot?"

"You will learn today at three, now please leave the throne room." She trotted past them and up to her throne. The group groaned before turning around and leaving the room while she stripped herself of her armor, releasing her hair and sweat. Man, she needed a bath.

"Peace.....and quiet," she muttered to herself. Lighting her horn, she displayed the hologram of Rainbow's father, a sigh escaping her lips. "If only you were here...if only you were here."
> Chapter 24 - The Reveal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So mom's apparently thinking about telling all of Equestria that I'm her daughter," Rainbow whispered to Fluttershy. Scootaloo was curled up between the two of them, getting some more rest after being disturbed so early. The school was closed today, Princess Dash's orders, because of the damage around ponyville.

Spectrum had control of the wood around the area. As well as rocks, grass, and more that was connected to the ground. But she was still no match for Rainbow Dash. The only thing that technically stopped her was that arrow, which shot her through the back and out of her chest. Whoever that pony was was going to have to answer to Equestrian law once found. More specifically....her mother.

"I know," Fluttershy whispered, looking down at their daughter. She stirred in her sleep, her tiny wings buzzing before she resumed snoring. "She's the sweetest little thing. I just wanna scream." She inhaled some air before letting out a tiny, "EEEEEEEEE."

Rainbow grinned before giving her marefriend a nuzzle and a kiss. "You are too adorable."

"And you are getting soft," she replied, pulling back and giving her a smile. "You've never used the word 'adorable' before that wasn't in a teasing manner."

"Being a princess is making me more mature. And YOU are coming out of your shell more."

"Being a mother is tiring. You know I had to help her with her homework? Math? That was really tiring, she was having trouble with multiplying three digit numbers. And I was too."

"If I'm available, I'll be there to help with the squirt's homework. And when I'm not, call for Twilight, she'll be happy to help. Heck, even Sweetie Drops. Actually....where is she?"

"She's helping get rid of those looming roots and trees that are directly over Ponyville." Fluttershy pointed out the window at the trees and branches from the Everfree forest that had chased after Rainbow while she was fighting Spectrum. "I don't even want to know what happened with that."

"I got chased."

"What did I just say?" Fluttershy said nervously, hiding behind her pink mane. There's that adorable shy pegasuz.

The princess chuckled before wrapping a wing over her and her daughter, allowing the two to relax.

"Get some sleep. You woke up at around the same time as Scoots, I know you're tired."

"No I'm not," she responded before giving out a mighty yawn. "That didn't work, huh?"

"Nope. Now get some sleep before I use a sleeping spell on you." Rainbow gave her a challenging look before Fluttershy grinned and gave her a kiss.

"If it'll make you feel better, your highness." She opened one of her own wings and draped it over Scootaloo before getting down to her level. The filly's wings fluttered for a moment before she adjusted herself, cuddling up to the timid pegasus.

The Princess of Nature smiled at the sweet scene before laying her head on Fluttershy's back, closing her eyes, and falling asleep. With her family.



During the time they were sleeping, the ponies of Equestria were becoming a little agitated from being left out of the loop. They had no idea what had happened nor any idea the reason for all the trees, bushes, and leaves over grown and on the ground in Canterlot. There was even a broken glass window in a nearby store where some witnesses said a black coated alicorn with mismatched wings and a rainbow mane as big as Luna's was thrown through by the four princesses.

For what reason they didn't know, but they were going to find out soon.

"Is my chariot ready?" Princess Celestia asked, walking towards the exit of the castle.

"Yes, your highness," one of her guards answered as they stepped out the doors. The chariot in question was sitting right in front of them. "Ponies from almost all of Equestria have gone to Ponyville to hear your address. Last time we checked."

"Good. And the Princesses?" She stepped into the chariot while the guards strapped themselves in before the door was closed behind her.

"All there, waiting for you."

"Good. That is all. Hop in, you need a lift." Using her magic, she grabbed the surprised guard and set him inside before facing forward again. "Onward!"



The area in front of Princess Dash's castle complex and beyond was full. There were thousands upon thousands of ponies waiting for Celestia's reasoning and national address. Luna and Cadance were already there, sitting in their thrones marked by their cutie marks while Prince Shining Armor was sitting beside Cadance's throne. Dash's was in the middle of the two, where she would sit once she got there. And it looked like that time was now.

Dash's chariot, holding her, Fluttershy, and an extremely drowsy Scootaloo rolled past the ponies in the front row and towards the stage where her aunt and cousin were sitauated. Spotting her, they abandoned their positions to go and meet her.

"Hello, Princess Dash," Luna called out, meeting her before she got out and giving her a nuzzle. "You seem well."

"Just a little sore, Luna," she replied, returning the affection.

Scootaloo jumped out first before walking tiredly up to the stage, barely registering the pink hooves she bumped into that made her fall on her rump.

"And it seems somepony's very tired," Cadance laughed. She sat down and picked up the little filly, who was muttering things.

"Yeah sure I'll kick his flank for ya, Apple Bloom," she said before snoring again.

"I'm having Sweetie Drops tuck her into bed," Rainbow said, picking up Scootaloo and placing her on the Special Agent's back. "After waking up this morning, she kept falling back to sleep. She could barely finish lunch before dropping her face into the plate. I am never waking her up in the midst of sleep again." The two watched the agent trot towards the Castle gates behind the stage before going through the guarded gates.

"Wise choice. How's your body? Are you aching? I know it was very painful having that arrow go through you." She motioned towards the bandage over her cousin's chest.

"Yeah it aches, but I can still move."

"Good to hear," Celestia said, walking over after landing nearly unnoticeably and catching their attention. She gave the three princesses a nuzzle for a few seconds before looking at the large crowd. "So many here. Let's get started."

She walked up to the podium that had the symbol of Equestria on the front while the three princess and spouse took a seat in their designated thrones and areas.

"Hello, my little ponies of Equestria!" She yelled in the royal canterlot voice. Those who were talking became silent as she spoke, giving her their undivided attention. "Thank your coming to hear the most important event in Equestrian history. Years ago, there was a book created. 'The history of Equestria'. It spoke about me and Luna. How the Royal Sisters defeated Discord and rose to power a few thousand years ago.

"Then there was another event in the book that described the Royal Sisters' altercation and how one was banished to the moon for seventeen years. That pony was my dear sister, Princess Luna." She motioned to the Princess of the night on her left behind her.

"But very important details were left out of the book. Luna did not fight AGAINST me. She fought ASIDE me." The thousands of ponies all began muttering before she raised a hoof silencing them.

"Please hold your questions. Yes....there is a third sister. Princess Spectrum who we have kept secret for the safety of Equestria. But sadly, she succumbed to the side of the dark. During the wars that plagued Equestria in the years that have passed, we were looking for a source of magic that could turn the tide in our favor. We found it.

"We gave it a simple name. 'The Natural Weapon' that gave ponies the ability to control nature at their will. And we used it to bring Equestria to victory back to back.

"But our sister, Princess Spectrum, grew power hungry over it, becoming corrupted from the greed the weapon was giving her. So, in a desperate state of mind, she demanded that we hand over the jewel during a very important time in my life......when I was with child."

The ponies, despite Celestia's wishes, got even louder at this shocking news.

"The princess has a foal?!"

"What?!"

"There's another royal of Equestria?!"

"Who and where are they?!!"

Celestia groaned before yelling. "QUIET!!!" The ponies all stopped talking before she continued. "Thank you. Spectrum, our youngest sister, demanded we give her the weapon to make her stronger. Spectrum already had control over anything that grew from the ground. Grass, trees, stone and more. Had she gotten her hooves on that weapon she would've been a conqueror.

"So we denied her access which made her upset. We had a fight, which had took the lives of multiple ponies in the Everfree Castle, but had managed to push her away for months. Months later, hours after I gave birth to my foal, she struck again, in the midst of night. Luckily, we were prepared and came up with a plan. Luna willingly gave herself to Spectrum, fighting her and allowing me to flee with my baby and hand her over to a family that would keep her safe.

"The plan was simple. Have Luna distract her long enough where I could transfer the massive amount of magic and use the empty weapon as a distraction so I could put Spectrum to sleep when we fought. During the time Spectrum was away she became noticeably stronger, successfully able to banish Luna to the Moon for seventeen years. So after I dropped off the child and power, I rushed up and met her in the air.

"We fought until I 'accidentally dropped' the weapon, which had the desired effect. She went after it while I prepared the Elements of Harmony, using it to successfully banish her in the ruins of the Everfree Castle.

"She was successfully held for seventeen years before Luna awoke first, then her second. But before she woke up, I reunited with my beautiful child and introduced myself as their mother. Then recently, Spectrum attacked. Yesterday. But thanks to the Princess of Nature she was weakened to the point where Princess Cadance and Princess Luna were able to apprehend her and take her to a very secure cell while we search for a spell that could cure my sister.

"Princess Dash was wounded during the battle here in Ponyville after a pony who sided with Spectrum shot her with a spelled arrow. Thankfully, she survived.

"That is what has happened in Equestria.....and the story behind the battle that has occured."

The crowd of ponies began asking questions, raising their hooves to try and grab Celestia's attention. Sighing she raised a hoof to silence them. "I believe you all wish to know the name of my child." She nodded to a guard standing next to the stage, giving him permission to come and move the podium, displaying the other three Princesses smiling at their subjects.

They all voiced their agreements, the temptation to just rush up and demand heavy on their minds.

"Here we go," Twilight whispered to her marefriend. "The moment that will be written in the history books."

"That you will read over and over again," Cherry chuckled before becoming worried. "I really hope they accept her."

"My child was a filly," Celestia continued before walking to the right of the stage to give the ponies a clear view. "Now an eighteen year old mare who recently rose to power in Equestria." The ponies all gasped lightly. Could it be..... "My daughter is none other than......Princess Dash. The Princess of Nature."
> Chapter 25 - Speech Of Love
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was utter silence in the crowd of a thousand ponies who were all trying to process the fact that the new Princess who just saved their lives was Celestia's daughter. Including Vinyl Scratch and Octavia, who were one of the first to see her in an Alicorn form and actually speak to her. Rainbow herself was currently hoping they wouldn't rash out and start yelling.

"Rainbow," Luna whispered from her left. She looked over and leaned closer to hear what her aunt had to say. "Maybe you should say something to, you know, calm their nerves. They are in a state of shock."

"Are you sure about that?" She whispered back, glancing at the crowd. "They look like they are about to burst and start a rampage."

"All you have to do is say a few words. Go ahead." Rainbow looked forward before she sighed and stood up, capturing everypony's attention, and walked towards the stage.

"Mom," she whispered. "Let me try and.......get them to wake up or calm down." Celestia nodded and stepped back, allowing her to take the stage, front and center. "Hello, Everypony!" She said, using her Royal Canterlot Voice. "As you all know, I am Princess Rainbow Dash. The daughter of Princess Celestia. The niece of Princess Luna. And the cousin of Princess Cadance. This may seem like a dirty hidden scandal. A scandal that you may think you were cheated out of. But that is not true. This was a scandal to keep you safe. If you had known, unknown ponies living in the shadows would have gotten the weapon and used it on Equestria. Because they know what happened to it and are desperate to get their dirty hooves on it. I was kept secret from you because.....because I was the weapon."

The ponies looked at her strangely, muttering and trying to understand what she just said. "The magic that the weapon possessed was transferred to me and I used it against the pony that threatened to take over Equestria. She was strong, but she wasn't strong enough. I went down because an interloper shot me with an arrow. But before that, she was weakened. And, above all, defeated in the end. We knew she was coming, but we wanted you to live your lives as if nothing was going to happen."

Rainbow decided to be bold, showing no fear as she walked off the stage and down into the crowd, who parted for her while she continued. "The pony who wanted to use your magic against you, my Aunt Spectrum, is currently in holding, so she can be cured of the dark and evil magic coursing through her veins, threatening to spill out and takeover everypony of Equestria to use against her will. To use the elements of nature to cause chaos that even Discord himself could not create. To cause unrest among ponies everywhere and to take over any neighboring nations."

Rainbow walked through some more ponies who were still trying to figure out where she was going with this. And the Princess herself was trying to figure it out too. She was just speaking with her heart. And it sounded good.

"Thankfully, she was stopped after I had weakened her and the other Princesses were able to subdue her. Although I was impacted greatly, and nearly dead, I did it to make sure everypony was safe. To make sure you can go home to your families with a smile on your face. To make sure that fillies and colts could roam free, go to school, have friends, and enjoy a hug from their parents with affection that even the Princess of Love cannot give. To live in the land of Equestria, in the way and reason that Equestria was built on. Harmony. Harmony, love, and....friendship. Lots and lots of friendship.

"Please do not be upset that we did not tell you about my origin, nor the storm that would have came had we lost. Yes, I understand your reasoning. My mother, Princess Celestia, did the same to me and told me AFTER I ascended. But she did it to protect me from ponies under her sister's influence that were out there. And still out there apparently since I was shot by an arrow. My daughter was crying after I was admitted in the hospital, crawled under the sheets with me to make sure I was okay and that she was close to me. But before I went to fight, I told her I just wasn't fighting for all of Equestria. I was fighting for her as well. And that I will stay around to see her take her first flight to the air when her wings grow. And she can be the pony that overcame the struggles of losing her parents who sacrificed themselves to save her, and make them proud by living on like they intended, taking to the air and yelling in happiness. That is what we fought for. That is what we are still fighting for. That is what Equestria was built on! And that is what has made us the empire of Harmony! Do not be upset my little ponies! This is what we do for you! To help you, save you, risk our lives for you! We love you!"

The ponies all started cheering and stomping their hooves, making the other Princesses grin and applaud with them before Celestia's daughter walked back to the stage and the Princess of the Sun herself was embraced her in a tight hug that Luna, then Cadance, joined in.

"I'm so proud of you," Celestia said loud enough so her daughter could hear over the roar of the ponies' stomping and cheering, nuzzling her mane. "Your father would be too." Rainbow grinned and returned the affection before Fluttershy came in and kissed her cheek, making some ponies gasp and cheer even louder. Looks like that secret's out too. How they didn't know before now was a mystery.

They let her go and allowed her to wave while walking off the stage towards the castle with her guards and fluttershy in tow, going to check on her daughter.

"That was wonderful Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said, stopping her for a moment. "You know what would hold a great impact?"

"What?"

"A rainboom." Rainbow's eyes snapped open. "A sonic Rainboom would lock it in." The Princess grinned before turning around and walking back towards the stage. The Princesses were currently getting ready to go while Celestia was currently making a final speech, meaning she had to talk to Luna.

"Aunt Luna," she said, catching her attention. "Is it possible......to do a sonic Rainboom?" The Princess widened her eyes and chuckled, seeing her plan.

"You'll have to ask your mother. She's the one directing everything." Rainbow nodded and walked towards her, right when her speech was coming to a close. She stopped and looked down, getting down to her level so Rainbow could whisper in her ear. After a few seconds she looked back up to the sky and pointed to the blue empty space.

"Can you get it right there?" She asked, watching Rainbow nod. "Then yes. The war on the ponies who want to grab you is coming to a close. It's okay now. Will you grab Scootaloo?"

"Fluttershy? Could you grab Scoots, please?" The mare quickly ran back to the castle to get the filly while Rainbow flapped her wings, shooting off into the air.

"And now!" Celestia yelled, catching all the ponies' attention. "We will now be given a sign on Equestria's legacy by Princess Dash! Look to the sky and you shall see in a few seconds!" The ponies all turned around before Twilight gasped, catching her marefriend's attention.

"What? What is it?" Cherry asked, turning to her in concern.

"She hasn't done this in so long....."

"I agree," Applejack said as the friends all came together, looking up to the sky.

"Mom, why did you wake me up?" Scootaloo said as she was carried on stage by her mother's back.

"Your mother is going to do a special stunt she hasn't done in a while that you will definitely love to see," Fluttershy said, piquing her interest. "Look up." Scootaloo looked up into the sky when a very shrill whistle sounded, growing higher and higher in pitch before it got silent. Then...it happened.

A huge explosion of color, a shockwave of light hues, that spread out in a wave all over Equestria where all Ponies could see it, and gaze in awe while Princess Dash circled back around to come in for a landing amidst all the cheering ponies screaming "Equestria" over and over again.

She landed on stage in front of the fluttering Scootaloo who quickly jumped and latched onto her muzzle, squealing.

"That was so AWESOME!" She yelled, hugging her. "You have to take me with you sometime!"

The princess of nature chuckled before plucking her off her face and setting her down between her and Fluttershy, who was looking down at her lovingly.

"Someday, squirt," she said, ruffling her mane before she and Fluttershy shared a kiss. Yep. The crowd DEFINITELY didn't care. They loved her.
> Chapter 26 - Happy Birthday
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Princess Dash's amazing speech and Sonic Rainboom, the Princess of Nature placed her daughter on her back and walked back to the castle with Fluttershy in tow, amidst all the clapping, not to mention the cheering.

Somehow, Scootaloo had fallen asleep again on Rainbow's back before they even walked through the door.

"Man, I am not waking up Scootaloo in the middle of the night ever again," she commented, shaking her head as they walked inside and up the stairs. "She could sleep through a hurricane. And now her sleep is off balance."

"We are all a little tired," Fluttershy said before yawning. "And Scootaloo was crying."

"Well....I'm fine now, so wipe those tears, Squirt." She walked past the guards and into the room, setting Scootaloo down on the big bed with her magic. She was still in her little circle, snoring so peacefully that it gave Fluttershy a run for her bits.

"You know," Rainbow whispered. "Her birthday is tomorrow." Fluttershy looked up from Scootaloo in shock.

"What?!" She yelled quietly in her mouse-like voice. "Oh my gosh! Wh-why haven't we gotten her anything?! She's turning eight! We need to do something and we need to do it fast!! Oohh, Rainbow! How could you let me forget?!"

Rainbow took on a sad gaze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Wait, hold on," the Pegasus said, stopping her mid-sentence and placing a smirk on her face. "Did you just... apologize? Without someone having to tell you? Wow, you have changed."

Rainbow groaned and pulled Fluttershy out onto the balcony. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. And don't worry about the party. I already have a certain mare on the job."

"Who?"

"Who do you think?"



"Cake?" The pink party planner looked up from her clipboard at the table setup in the kitchen that had the large cake, food, cupcakes, and more in containers set up in the center and smiled, putting down a check mark. "Check! Music?" She ran out of the building at an unimaginable speed and arrived in one of the separate buildings.

She looked at the back of the ballroom, her eyes trained on the DJ set for DJ Pon-3. "Check! Presents?"



"Well... If Pinkie Pie can't plan a party, nopony can," Fluttershy chuckled, looking out from the balcony. "I need to get her a gift, but I don't know what she likes."

"Give her something sentimental," Rainbow suggested, following her gaze. "Believe it or not, she adores that stuff. Like the necklaces from her parents, and the doll I gave her that my father gave to me."

"Hmm...... Well, alright. But what?"

"Something that will capture those purple eyes of hers and make her say, 'This is so awesome.'"

"Yeah, she says that a lot," Fluttershy chuckled. "How about....flight?"

Rainbow sighed and gave her marefriend a sad stare. "Fluttershy...you know-"

"But not with her wings." The Princess looked at her confusedly. What was she talking about? "Her wings aren't strong enough to lift her in the air....but they are strong enough to propel her forward. All she needs is to get up there."

Fluttershy pointed at the clouds in the sky. There were a lot of them today. "Since she's a Pegasus, she can walk on clouds. So I was thinking... Mold a cloud into a scooter, bring her up there, and let her propel herself on said scooter, thus making her fly. What do you think?"

The princess was staring at her with her chin on the floor, mouth wide open. When the hay did she get so smart?!

"Fluttershy," she said after regaining her composure. "I think...you've been hanging around the egghead too much. You even talk like her. But that is a perfect idea. Are you making the scooter?"

"Yes. I'll get started on it during the party tomorrow."

"Perfect. What time is it?" She glanced around the room and spotted the clock. "It's four in the afternoon. I'm going to go and check on Pinkie. See how it's going down in the ballroom. Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine." Rainbow pecked her and walked into the room and out the door, leaving Fluttershy to look after their child. Now that Fluttershy actually thought about it, she hasn't spent nearly as much time with Scootaloo as she has with Rainbow Dash. That was something that she needed to fix.

She walked back into the room and crawled onto the bed to watch over her. She draped a wing over her, making sure to keep her warm. A second later, she felt her shuffle and lean into her, making her smile. Scootaloo was cuddling her. That's so adorable.



"Alright, Pinkie, whatcha got?" Rainbow asked the pony in the middle of the room with a checklist. "I have a feeling it's going to be a big party."

"Yepperooney!" Pinkie said bouncing in place. "You got your DJ, food, sweets, drinks, games, and presents! Do you like it?"

Rainbow looked around the room at the many decorations that had Scootaloo's name on it. Including the one in the direct middle that read, "Happy Eighth Birthday Scootaloo!"

"I don't know how you do it, Pinkie....no seriously, I really don't. No one does. Care to explain?"

"That's a secret, Dash!" Pinkie told her, poking her on the nose. She gave her the checklist and bounced out of the room, leaving Dash to look at everything. There was a list of attendees coming to the castle, which included her new family, the Crusaders, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie herself, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and possibly everypony else in Ponyville. And they all had checks by their names. That means they were coming.

The Princess ran a hoof down her face and looked around the room. Hopefully Scootaloo was going to enjoy this. Hopefully.



Scootaloo woke up the next morning to a round of snoring. Not to mention under the pressure of being squeezed to death. She looked around...well tried to anyway. You can't really move your head when you have two ponies squeezing the life out of you in your sleep.

"Uhh...mother...and mom.....I can't breath," she wheezed.

"No, no, I don't wanna get up," Rainbow groaned tiredly, turning over with Scootaloo in her arms. At least she was out of the squishing predicament. But now she was in a new one. How to get out of Rainbow's iron grip. She wiggled, trying to wake her up. But that definitely didn't work because Rainbow just kept snoring. She groaned in annoyance.

"Mother, let me go!" She called, trying to move her hooves from around her. "Mother!"

"Looks like my niece can't get enough of you." Scootaloo looked up to see Luna walking into the room holding a dress of some sort. "Good morning, Scootaloo. Let me help you out. If she is anything like her mother, this will be a piece of cake. Literally." Luna teleported a slice of vanilla cake into her right hoof and brought it up to Rainbow's nose and held it there A few sniffs later, Rainbow let go of Scootaloo, grabbed the cake, and started eating it in her sleep. The filly walked over to Luna and watched in confusion

"Is...is that normal?" She asked, motioning towards Rainbow stuffing her face.

"She is Celestia's daughter, everything she does is normal." She pulled the filly into a tight hug and gave her a nuzzle. "Happy Birthday, Scootaloo."

"Thanks, Aunt Luna," she responded, giving her a hug. "Is Grandma Celestia here?"

"She is talking with the guards out front about security. Although your mother made that speech yesterday, there are still some ponies out there that do not approve. And have made it obvious this morning with demanding an audience with Celestia, saying that Rainbow is not fit for a princess and should step down."

"What?! That's nuts!!"

"Huh, wha...what-wh-whazzup?" Rainbow stuttered, sitting straight up and looking around the room with cake crumbs on her face. Luna put a hoof to her mouth and stifled her laughter before regaining her composure.

"I was telling your daughter about a few ponies who do not like you," she answered, gaining her attention. "Even though you made that speech, some ponies still don't like the fact that you are a princess. They are saying you have no experience in running any type of business, let alone a civilization."

"Of course I don't, I'm a princess," she replied, surprising her aunt. "I mean...think about it. When you become an Alicorn, it just happens. Everything changes and you are expected to shut up and run a country. Sorry, I'm in a cranky mood. I woke up with crumbs on my face and have no idea why." Scootaloo and Luna shared a knowing smirk before redirecting their attention back to Rainbow Dash who promptly reached out, pulled Scootaloo in with her magic, and gave her the biggest hug she could give her.

"Happy Birthday, Squirt!" Luna chuckled and place the little dress from off her back onto the bed.

"Thanks, mother. You have the tightest hugs," she wheezed.

"Thanks."

"No, seriously, I'm dying here," Scootaloo choked out, her face turning a light blue. Rainbow gasped and quickly let her go before she was once again swept into another much kinder and friendlier hug.

"Good morning, Scootaloo," Fluttershy greeted timidly, giving her daughter a kiss on the top of her head. This is what Scootaloo could deal with. "Happy eighth birthday."

"Thanks, mom," she said, making Fluttershy's heart flutter. No one has ever called her mom before. But...it felt right. Scootaloo let go of her and jumped off the bed, heading to the bathroom to get ready. After she closed the door, they all turned to Rainbow Dash, who was stretching, yawning, and looking around the room tiredly. Once she caught their gazes, she got a confused look on her face.

"What?"

"You know, I just about something," Fluttershy said, getting out of bed. "Does Scootaloo......have her mind on a special somepony?"

"I don't think so, and it's wayyy too early to tell. And for her to try and get one. Not happenin', uh-uh."

"Uh oh, sounds like somepony's becoming a little overprotective," Celestia commented as she walked in the room. "What if somepony comes to her and gives her a rose today for her birthday?"

"I would let THAT slide, but no kissing and......no kissing."

"You already-"

"Good morning, mom," Rainbow quickly jumped out of bed and gave her mother a nuzzle, making her chuckle.

"Good morning, Rainbow. Do you have a gift for Scootaloo?"

"Me and Fluttershy are working on a joint gift," she replied backing up. She looked towards the bathroom to make sure it was still closed before whispering, "Today, we're going to help Scootaloo feel what it's like to fly."

Celestia looked at her wide-eyed before glancing back at the bathroom. "She would love that," she whispered.

"I know. That's why Fluttershy's going to build it." The pegasus in question nodded eagerly before getting up and trotting out the door. "And apparently she's going to do it right now. You know, she's gotten a lot more comfortable talking to ponies."

"I have noticed that as well," Luna commented, walking towards them. "I'm very proud of her. I think we have you and Scootaloo to thank for that. I do not believe she would have gotten out of her shell if you two had not gotten closer. Oh, and Scootaloo called you grandma."

"What?" Celestia asked her sister.

"I know. I love my Fluttershy to bits," Rainbow responded, trying to disperse THAT information and conversation before it even started.

"Enough to pop the question I hope?" Celestia asked, giving her daughter a knowing grin.

"Eh, we'll see." She looked towards the bathroom and raised an eyebrow. "Scootaloo's been in there for a while. Luna could you..." The Princess in question nodded and made her way to the door.

"Scootaloo, are you alright in there?" She asked her.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Rainbow hummed and trotted towards the door. She didn't sound fine. She stuttered. And she only stutters when she's nervous.

"Scoots? Are you sure you're okay in there?" Rainbow pushed the door open, stepped inside, and froze. Was Scootaloo...putting on makeup?

She had a brush and was apparently applying foundation to her face. She already had on some purple eyeliner and a small tinge of blush. She looked towards the door and completely froze like her mother.

"Uhhh........ummmmm......" She stammered. The two stared at each other, both a little embarrassed about what was going on.

"What is taking......uhhhh...." Luna got stuck in the same position as her niece. Eyes wide and mouth wide open. Celestia got curious and poked her head inside and snorted.

"Scootaloo! What are you doing?!" She laughed. That got everyone out of their frozen state of minds. Celestia walked into the bathroom and took Scootaloo down from the counter, trying her hardest not to guffaw, hurt the poor filly's feelings and make her even more embarrassed. Right now, her whole face was red. Either she was about to cry or that makeup was  already running.

"Where did you even get this?" Rainbow asked, looking at the make up kit. Before Scootaloo could answer she raised a hoof, stopping her mid sentence. "Let me take the world's most wildest guess.....Rarity...or Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo looked left and right, trying to find an exit route. "Scootaloo, you're way way waaaaayyyyy too young to be using makeup. Wait until you're fifteen and then we'll TALK about it, okay?" Scootaloo sighed and nodded her head.

"Let's get you washed up, granddaughter," Celestia chuckled before she picked up the little filly in her magic and placed her in the shower.



After that embarrassing moment, the group set out to have breakfast with her friends. Which was good for Rainbow, because she needed to have a word with Rarity revolving around a certain makeup kit that went missing in her stash of makeup kits. She knew  she had to have like twenty of those.

"Happy birthday, Scootaloo!" They all cheered once they walked in. The birthday girl waved from the top of Rainbow Dash's back before she jumped off and landed next to her best friends Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Rainbow was about to go over and tell Rarity about the little thing they found this morning, but decided against it. Scootaloo wanted to enjoy her party. Not have it ruined because of a little facial paint. So she smiled and went with the flow.

"Hello, everypony," the Princess greeted as everyone in the room bowed at the three royals. "I hope you are enjoying yourselves so far. We have a lot of things planned. Like dancing....and eating......and.....dancing."

Princess Celestia chuckled before she nuzzled her daughter, making her groan. "You need to learn how to have fun, Rainbow Dash."

"Hey! I'm a mom now. I have no time for fun."

"Oh really?" Luna teased. Something hit Rainbow in the back of her head making everyone gasp and for Celestia to chuckle. Luna had thrown a pancake right at the back of Rainbow's head.

Rainbow turned around and gave her aunt an evil smile. "So....you wanna play tricks, huh?" Luna shrugged innocently.

"I have no idea what you're-" A cupcake splattered against her face. Rainbow had thrown the chocolate delicacy right on her mouth. Scootaloo busted out in laughter, pointing at her great aunt.

"We have so many cupcakes that everypony might as well take a launch at her!" Rainbow announced, pointing over to the table full of sugary treats. "Everypony! Let Luna have it! Cooks, bakers, guards, everypony! Let her have it! That's an order!"

Twilight chuckled before she  walked away, her girlfriend right on her tail. "I think we'll just sit this one out, dontcha' think?"

Cherry chuckled behind a hoof and nodded as they took cover underneath a table. This was about to get messy.

The second they went underneath the table, Tartarus broke loose. The two listened to the cries of protest and the splats of cupcake and icing against the wall. "Luna probably shouldn't have challenged Celestia's daughter on how to have fun," Cherry commented, leaning onto Twilight. The purple unicorn chuckled in agreement while she nuzzled her mane.

"It's true though. Ever since Rainbow Dash became Princess, she's been less fun."

"I heard that egghead! Where are you? You're gonna get one too, you can't hide!" Twilight's eyes snapped open before she put a hoof over her mouth, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"She's underneath the table!" The two looked to the left to see an icing covered Scootaloo holding three cupcakes, about to throw them. Twilight gasped before she teleported her and Cherry to a corner, right when she threw them.

"Phew! That was-" Cherry received a cupcake in the mouth, making Twilight point and laugh before she too got one on her left cheek.

"That's for bashin' the Princess, Egghead!" Rainbow declared from in front of her. She didn't even have a speck of icing on her! Have these ponies been missing her?! Well that just wasn't going to work. Twilight looked around and, spotting a lot of cupcakes on the floor, scooped them up into her magic and put them all into separate lines, aiming at Rainbow Dash's back.

"Surrender now, Rainbow Dash!" She cheered, making everyone freeze and watch the spectacle. "Or suffer the fate...of Pinkie's icing!"

"Never!" She retorted, positioning her own line of Cupcakes at her. Somepony was going to get hit. The two narrowed their eyes at each other, a standoff of icing and cake......before Twilight shot her cupcakes at her back. Seeing this, Rainbow teleported herself and her cupcakes away just in time, making Twilight gasp.

"OOOOHHHHH!!!" Everyone grimaced as the thirty something cupcakes all hit her, throwing her against the wall. Rainbow appeared back in front of Twilight, pointing a hoof and laughing maniacally at her.

"RAINBOW DASH!!!!" A very familiar voice yelled out, making everypony stop and look towards the door. Fluttershy was fuming at her, smoke coming out of her ears. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO TWILIGHT?!"

"I did nothing! She did that to her-" A barrage of cupcakes started hitting her in the face making her fly back and go into the kitchen, still being impacted by the vanilla cupcakes Fluttershy was flinging at her with her wings. Everyone was staring wide-eyed at her until Twilight cleared her throat.

"Um...Fluttershy?" She said, catching her attention. She stopped the barrage and looked towards the lavender Unicorn. "Rainbow Dash didn't even throw a cupcake at me. She tricked me, but she didn't even throw a cupcake." Fluttershy's eyes popped open before she focused back on the kitchen. She gasped when a barrage of icing flew out and hit her in the barrel.

"It is on, Fluttershy!"

"Bring it, Dashie!" Everyone else stood to the side as the two had their battle. Scootaloo rolled her eyes at her two parents. This was gonna last awhile.



After the entire room had been painted in different colors of icing, the unicorns decided to help clean it up so they could get back to Scootaloo's celebration. "You now know better than to test me, Aunt Luna," Rainbow Dash told her as the sat down at the table, watching Scootaloo chat with the Crusaders and eat breakfast at the same time. The Princesses were having their own as well. "I can be fun, I just have to be serious most of the time."

"Well today, you're going to be fun," Celestia scolded her daughter playfully. "For your daughter and my granddaughter."

"She called you grandma."

"Quiet, Luna."

"As long as it doesn't involve makeup, I'm alright with it," Rainbow responded. "But all jokes aside, what are we going to do about...you know who?"

"Spectrum or the interloper?" Luna whispered.

"Both. Have we gotten any leads?"

"Not yet," Celestia informed her worriedly. "But we are keeping a close out for anypony wishing to cause trouble in the neighborhood." Rainbow raised and eyebrow before her mother chuckled and made a circular motion with her hoof. "Here. We have placed a few spies in Ponyville. Whoever they were wanted you taken out as much as Spectrum. They probably have realized that their mission was unsuccessful and will try again in the near future. I also suggest you place guards around Scootaloo and Fluttershy...your wife to be."

"Mom," Rainbow warned her, causing her to chuckle.

"Oh, calm yourself, 'Dashie'. Even if you do, I approve. And I'm sure your father would as well, were he here. But of course you will put guards around her right?"

"Yes. But for right now we have a few celebrations to tend to. My daughter's birthday...and my cousin's wedding."

"Ah, yes, the marriage of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance," Luna said, nodding her head while she watched the ponies gather around the entrance. "I have heard they are planning a party in the Crystal Empire after the marriage in Canterlot. It looks like your daughter is ready to go to the ballroom." Rainbow looked from her to the group of ponies making their way towards the entrance.

"Yep. Let's go dance." The three princesses got up and made their way to the group. After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at one of the buildings that Rainbow rarely goes into and walked through the doors, stepping into the foyer. It looked nice in there. A lot of pictures of random ponies and guards.

They looked around before a guard approached them to guide them to the ballroom. It was in the back of the building, but it was worth the walk. The floor was clean, the lights were dimmed and the DJ was already waiting for them, starting up the tracks. A few minutes later, everypony was dancing as fast as they could. Raving or something similar. One trying to outdo the other. Rainbow Dash was just bobbing her head in the corner with Fluttershy, who was trying to coax her out of her shell.

"Come on, Dashie," Fluttershy cooed. "I know you want to dance."

"No way, I might be as bad as Twilight," She responded, pointing at the violet unicorn doing some strange dance with all four of her hooves. "I thought Scoots taught her better than that. I'm pretty sure she did." Cherry Berry was looking both ways before she slowly backed away, acting like she had no association with her crazy dancing spouse.

"Mother and mom! Come out here and dance with me!" The two of them looked to the right of them, seeing Scootaloo approach with a party hat on....her chin? She grabbed both of their hooves and started pulling them towards the dance floor, making Rainbow Dash blush.

"Uhh....uhhh," she stammered while everyone stepped back, allowing the family to take to the floor and have their first dance.

"Come on! Shake it like you got it!" Scootaloo started dancing when a bounce track started playing. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy glanced at each other before they started swaying side to side, which eventually turned into bumping flanks and then busting out dance moves. Everyone started stomping their hooves and cheering as the family got down with it. Scootaloo grabbed their hooves and started spinning them around, enjoying the closeness they shared. After a few more minutes of dancing, they stopped. And everypony started cheering, thus making Rainbow Dash blush.

"Well....*cough cough*...hmm....I....ah, what the buck, it was fun. Happy birthday Scootaloo," she stammered, leaning down and nuzzling her daughter. Fluttershy did the same and wrapped a wing around her daughter.

"But now, it is time for presents," she said, guiding her towards the table full of presents. There had to be twenty there. Or more! She quickly climbed up onto the table while the music was turned down a little, clearing the atmosphere.

"Me first, me first!" Apple Bloom yelled, handing her a present wrapped in apple wrapping paper. Scootaloo ripped off the covering and gasped at what was inside.

"You got the new Daring Do?!"

"What?!" Rainbow yelled, peeking over her to take a look at the cover. "Wow squirt! Try not to spoil it for me, alright?" Scootaloo smiled evilly and she opened the book to a random page before Rainbow closed it with her magic. "No, I'm not ready yet. I need my own copy."

"Your mother is more than likely going to read your book when-" Rainbow stuffed a cloud into Twilight's mouth.

"-when I get my own copy," she said to her through clenched teeth and a faux smile. Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

"Mom, I know you're going to read it when I'm at school. So I'm taking it to school with me." Rainbow turned away and crossed her arms playfully, making everyone laugh.

"Okay, my turn!" Sweetie Belle yelled, passing her another present that was the size of a card. This one had, of course, Rarity written all over it. Literally. Her name was all over the wrapping paper in fancy writing. All the ponies raised and eyebrow and looked back towards the fashionista, who was currently looking at her hoof.

"Are you trying to send us a message, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked her innocently. The unicorn looked up and gasped.

"Fluttershy! How dare you accuse me of...yes. Yes, I am. Open up the present, Scootaloo. This is from me and Sweetie Belle."

Scootaloo ripped the wrapping off and looked at the card, reading what it said. "This is a voucher for a free appointment to the spa," she announced.

"Yes. A fair lady such as yourself should be pampered and beautified. And your mane is definitely going to go through my hooves."

Rainbow leaned over to her mother and whispered, "It was definitely her who gave my daughter that makeup kit." Celestia chuckled while scootaloo opened all the other ponies' presents. Most of them were clothing with the odd book from Twilight here, and a recipe book from Pinkie. Finally, the grand piece had arrived.

"Alright, squirt, it's our turn," Rainbow said, catching her attention and looking towards Fluttershy.

"Your present's outside," she said, gesturing for her to jump on her back. She bent down low so Scootaloo can climb on and get situated before the family walked away, with Celestia and Luna right behind them. Everyone else followed right after, intent to see what they had cooked up.

They walked out the building and towards the castle gates, which were promptly pulled open to reveal....a cloud scooter on the runway. Scootaloo cocked her head to the side, trying to figure it out before Celestia tapped her shoulder, gaining her attention. "Your mother and mom decided that since it'll be awhile until you can use your wings in the air, they were going to use a cloud instead."

"The idea squirt," Rainbow started as she levitated her off and onto the ground. "That since you're a pegasus, you can walk on clouds. And clouds can actually move left and right, and up and down. So unlike your normal scooter, this one will be able to get you up." Scootaloo gasped, finally figuring it out.

"You mean I can-"

"We're going to show you what it feels like to feel the breeze in your mane before you use your wings in the future. Hop on!" Scootaloo quickly clambered on and grabbed hold of the handles before Fluttershy gave her some instructions.

"You use it like you would ride your regular scooter. But this time when you tilt up, you will go up." She gestured to the bright blue sky behind her before Scootaloo began to buzz her wings, she took off on the ground with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy right behind her. Celestia and Luna glanced at each other before they too followed after them. Everyone else on the ground, including the guards watched them fly along the ground.

The four who followed her flew on both sides of Scootaloo, making sure she was safe and provide support. "Are you ready, Scootaloo?" Rainbow asked her. The filly nodded her head before she tilted back, giving the cloud the desired effect. I tilted with her and began to rise toward the clouds. Everyone shouted and cheered as she rode up into the air, eventually going above the clouds and surprising a sleeping Derpy who watched her fly and waved a hoof at her.

Scootaloo laughed happily before she went a little faster, doing tricks and such that would put Rainbow Dash to shame. Princess Celestia laughed at her daughter's awestruck face. "Are you jealous or impressed?" She asked her.

"Both!" She responded. "She'll be outflying me before I know it! Looks like I have to create some more tricks, Scoots stole all of mine!" They all laughed before Scootaloo went back down to the ground to soar over Ponyville, loving the sights of the town. The library, the hospital, the homes and neighborhoods, her old home, all of it. And she was so happy she was screaming. "EEEEEEEEE!!" She yelled, flying higher and higher up.

Eventually, after an hour, they came back down to the castle and landed. Once they were all situated, she jumped off and ran up to her mother and mom, giving them both the biggest and strongest hug she could ever manage. "Thank you, thank you so much!" She cried, leaking happy tears. The two pulled her close, nuzzling and kissing her.

"Your welcome, Scootaloo. Happy birthday."
> Chapter 28 - Family Is Where Love Is Pt. 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks after Scootaloo's birthday, things were back to full business for the Princess of Nature. Such as meetings with animal lovers all over Equestria. Including their local kennel, vets, and more. Not to mention, Rainbow had to meet with a few conservatives who were trying to have a region created as an animal reserve. She didn't mention she was already creating one in Ponyville in the land that was unoccupied. It was practically a big hoofball field that was not being used yards away from the Everfree Forest. Just as she promised Fluttershy. Who was currently tending to the animals in her cottage. How she was able to go from the castle to her cottage everyday confuses her. It would make her eyes change color if she had to do that everyday. Literally.

Rainbow sighed and poured another glass of water into her cup. She was cutting down on her wine intake. It didn't do anything to her except bask her taste buds in cool relief. But she just didn't want to get addicted to it. It already didn't look good for the ponies who it actually affected both mentally and physically. Just thinking about that made her shiver. How could her ponies live like that?

She took a sip of the water and set it back down on her desk before going back to reading another report in the "Office of Nature". It was still her same office, she just put a few "Natural Things" inside and on items. On the tall bookcases, there were a bunch of flowers on top of the books. Just a bunch of lillies. On the floor there were roots and pinecones. And in front of her desk, instead of chairs, there were tree stumps. Mostly just to make the person who would visit her uncomfortable for her own amusement. Of course when they'd voice their displeasure she would change it to a pillow. But if they didn't she'd keep it as is. A little to the right of her, there was a birdbath for when Fluttershy would bring a bird or something. As well as for Philomena, her mother's pet, who could actually take a bath and not be subtle about it. Like, she's washing everything. Rainbow would laugh hysterically when the Phoenix and her mother's around. Thus earning a pop on the head. Speaking of Celestia, she hasn't been around as much lately. Due to some heavy traffic in the her own office. Rainbow's is simple compared to hers. OR Luna's. Cadance she doesn't know about. HER wedding's coming up in two weeks, so she should be attending that. Of course she would, it's her cousin's!

The runes outside her door made her look up from the document she was signing before yelling, "Come in!" She went back to her work as it opened and fluttershy walked in with, Rainbow guessed, Mr. Sparrow on her back.

"Hello, Rainbow," she said sweetly, making the Princess look up. Her voice always made her smile. "Mr. Sparrow wanted to say hi."

"Aww, and YOU don't want to?" She teased her girlfriend while the bird landed on Rainbow's mane and settled down. Fluttershy chuckled as she made her way over. She walked behind the desk and captured Rainbow Dash's lips in her own, pulling back a few seconds later.

"That is my hello. Still working?"

"Yep," she responded as the bird flew off her head to go to the fresh water-filled bird bath. "A princess never sleeps." She went back to her work while Fluttershy rolled her eyes.

"Luna, Celestia, and Cadance heavily disagree with that."

"A Princess of NATURE...never sleeps," she corrected.

"Uh huh. You slept in the same bed with me and your daughter last night."

"A Princess of NATURE never sleeps between ten o'clock in the morning and eight o'clock at night. Try to beat that."

"Sure. You stayed up until you had an orgasm that yesterday when Scootaloo had a sleepover at Rarity's until twelve at night." Rainbow lowered her paperwork and looked over at Fluttershy with a smirk.

"Touche, Flutters. Now.....what do you really want? I know that look in your eye. We've known each other forever, you can't hide that."

Fluttershy walked over and gave the princess a little nuzzle. "I've been thinking...."

"Uh huh." The Princess grabbed a stamp with her magic and placed it on the request, leaving a big ol' 'DENIED' on it. Crazy nobles.

"You've been working so hard to keep everypony happy in Ponyville, let alone Equestria."

"Yeah..." She turned her chair around to give Fluttershy her undivided attention.

"And you have not received anything in return. So I want to...."

"...give me sex, a massage, and-"

"No. Actually.... Yeah, no," she replied, shaking her head. "I mean I want to take you on a vacation. Take all of us on a vacation. Scootaloo, you, and myself." rainbow was just staring at her for a moment.

"Uhh...Fluttershy? Babe? I have so much I have to get done here, I can't just up and leave it. I have to talk to the...ugh...nobles about their land disputes, as well as collect the last bit of money from Filthy Rich. He still owes the court, remember?"

"I do, and Celestia can handle that."

"Mom isn't-"

"She already said yes, Rainbow. Come on, your daughter wants to go on a vacation too." Fluttershy reached down and grabbed Rainbow's free hoof while she looked her in the eyes. "Please?"

Rainbow looked at her girlfriend in the eyes before she sighed and bit her bottom lip. After a moment she sighed again and nodded. "Fine. Fine we can go to a beach and relax for awhile or something."

"We're not going far, just Manehattan," Fluttershy told her as she gave her a gentle nuzzle and kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Rainbow."

"Who's going to look after your pets? And how are we going to pay for this?"

"Twilight and Cherry Berry volunteered to look after them with Angel's assistance. They're in good hooves."



Twilight hectically looked through the cabinets in Fluttershy's kitchen in her cottage, trying to find something that would let her know which food goes to which animal.

"How can you tell which goes where?!" She yelled in frustration. "Everything is color coded with stickers! There's not even a legend!" She opened another cabinet and screamed at seeing another row of brown and labeless cereal boxes with a yellow stickers on them.

"I don't know how to control these animals!!" Cherry yelled from the living room. She was covered with animals ranging from birds to rabbits all over her. 

"Angel! Help us!" The rabbit was just sitting back in a beach chair wearing sunglasses underneath a sunlamp. He put his paws behind his head and let out a relieved sigh. Felt good having somepony else handle his troubles for once.



"Yeah, I'm sure Twilight could handle it," Rainbow agreed. "I'm not so sure about Cherry though."

"As long as Twilight's there, she will be fine. Now I'm going to get packed. Are you going to finish up here?"

"Yep," Rainbow sighed. She grabbed another sheet from off the top of the stack of one hundred and put it in front of her. "Celestia goes through two hundred of these a day. I timed myself, five hours for one hundred. That means ten for Celestia on these documents alone. Some of these aren't even requests, they're just summons for meetings with other ponies that hold positions in congress. I have to be present along with a few other Royalty soon. Including a certain few from..." She froze and glanced up at Fluttershy with a smile. "Saddle Arabia."

"Haakim and Amira?"

"The very same." She looked at her current sheet while she continued to speak. "I'll see you in a little while."

"Okay. Just don't stay in too late, Scootaloo's obviously looking forward too this."

"How do you know that?" Before she could respond, the door burst open. The two looked towards it as Scootaloo trotted in briskly with a large bag on her back, filled with dresses and other items. She also had her scooter on the top of it.

"Mom! Mother! Why haven't we left yet, I'm looking forward to this!" She yelled, stopping in front of Dash's desk. Rainbow was just staring wide-eyed while Fluttershy was chuckling on the side.

"THAT'S how I know. Scootaloo, your mother is currently in the middle of paperwork. We'll be leaving in a few hours. Why are you buckled down with things, sweetheart?" Rainbow chuckled and shook her head before getting back to her work. Scootaloo was prepared before she was? What has Equestria come to?



Celestia looked at a stack of papers like it was menacing to her. Just asking her to incinerate it to atoms and quarks. All she had to do was light her horn and fire away. So tempting, so easy. Yet, she sighed and went back to reading and reviewing the one hundred sixty five packets, notes, news, letters, and requests for Equestrian Funding. So many ponies wished to have a piece of Equestrian Government Bits. Not everything is free. If we give you the bits, you must deliver.

"Thinking about destroying the stack of two to three hundred again?"

Celestia glanced up and grinned as her daughter walked into the room. Rainbow walked behind her desk and gave her a hug and a nuzzle. "Hi, mom."

"Hello, sweetheart," she replied, returning the gesture. She pulled back a moment later and looked her over. "You look like your father almost everyday."

"So he had the long hair that moves on its own, too?" She replied, running a hoof through her mane. "Huh. Guess dad had it in him. I certainly can't contain this when I get upset. I mean, it goes everywhere. Like....like....like THAT." she pointed to a set of drapes on the wall that held Celestia's cutie mark on them. "It looks something like that except much more dominant, think of it that way."

Celestia laughed before focusing again. "Why are you here, Rainbow? Are you here to say...." Rainbow just stared at her nonchalantly. "Still too stubborn to say it huh?" Rainbow sighed before she muttered something. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Thank you."

"You have to speak up, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow bit her bottom lip and groaned before turning to her mother.

"I said thank you. Thanks for taking over my workload while me and my family can go on a vacation that I didn't even know about." Celestia chuckled.

"You're welcome, sweetheart. And it won't be only me. It will also be Princess Luna. She offered her own services because you are her favorite niece."

"I'm her only niece," Rainbow commented as she rolled her eyes. "But tell her I give her my thanks. Yoymu know where my stuff is." Rainbow turned around and made her way towards the doors.

"Will do. Have fun. Try not to buck around your daughter." Rainbow turned around and looked at her in disbelief before Celestia's magic closed the door. But before it did, Celestia winked.



"So we're going to a hotel?" Scootaloo asked. She was on her mom's back looking at the buildings of Manehattan. They arrived and landed a few minutes earlier at the outskirts of the city to walk instead. Following  and near death expeience and the height in security, Princess Celestia advised her to bring her personal security detail. Sergeant Cloudstorm and his team, including Special Agent Sweetie Drops, who was leading Scootaloo's personal security. Just three more royal guards and her. Not too much.

"Yep!" Rainbow Dash said as they turned a corner. She and Fluttershy were wearing a relaxing dress. Rainbow was wearing a rainbow colored one that was thin enough to be see through, while Fluttershy was wearing a simple blue on of the same design. Courtesy of Rarity. "It's a fancy hotel. We'll drop our stuff off and look around. I barely come here, so I really don't know what to do."

"I'm pretty sure they have something here that we can do," Fluttershy responded to Scootaloo on her back. "Something simple that we can all enjoy. But more specifically, your mother can enjoy." Rainbow looked over at her while she explained. "You've been working so hard, that we think this vacation should be for you. Not just for us. Scootaloo even agreed. Right, sweetheart?"

"Uh huh!"

Rainbow chuckled while she nuzzled her daughter. "Thanks, squirt. But remember. I...."

"You have nothing for this one, mother."

"Eh. At least I tried."

"You didn't even do that your highness," Sergeant Cloudstorm chuckled from beside her. "You barely attempted."

"Well.....fine." They laughed before they walked into a building that had Manehattan Regional above the doorway in big bold letters made out of metal. A guard walked forward and opened the door for the family, allowing them inside first. The lobby was empty at this moment, so no gawking and whatnot.

A receptionist was sitting at the desk before she spotted them. She gasped and walked out, bowing in front of them. "Your highness!" She greeted. "I was told you were vacationing here."

"You can rise now," Rainbow ordered. The receptioninst quickly did as told while she continued. "And yes, we are vacationing here after Fluttershy insisted." She shot her girlfriend an annoyed glare, making the Pegasus chuckle and poke her cheek.

"You're adorable when you're mad."

"Anyway, do you have our room key?" She said, ignoring Fluttershy's comment. She'd get her back later.

"Yes, ma'am." She walked back behind the desk and towards a board. She grabbed it in her mouth before walking back over and holding it out to her. Rainbow took it in her magic while she explained the location.

"It's on the top floor, in the Princess Suite."

"Thank you very much." She turned and made her way towards the elevator, her guards right behind her.



After they arrived on the floor, Rainbow passed the key to Cloudstorm to unlock it for her. "Fluttershy, you are going to pay." The Pegasus looked at her confused. "You know how I hate looking mushy in public."

"If you look mushy in public with your family it'll earn you some points," she added, giving her a wink. The sergeant opened the door, allowing them in. "Where are you sleeping Sergeant? We never asked you."

"We're sleeping a few doors down, Lady Shy," he responded. The family walked in, or in Scootaloo's case ran in. It was like a little house. Separate bedrooms, bathrooms, and apparently a balcony on the other side that had a great view of the city. Scootaloo ran into the farthest room with her mouth wide open.

"Whooooaaaa!" She gasped, taking in the sight of the chandelier suspended in the air by magic. There were a few bottles of wine by the bedside, a table nearby, and another balcony. The bed was large and colored red. What did Rarity call it? Velvet sheets? Eh.

She tossed her bags on the floor, got on the bed, and started jumping. "Yeah! Whoo! Finally! Awesome!" She'd scream with each jump. Rainbow sighed and shook her head. She was about to tell her to get down before Fluttershy put a hoof on her shoulder, letting her know not to start.

"Fine. Alright, Squirt, ready to head out? There's a pool downstairs."

"Pool? I like pools!"

"Have you ever been in a pool before?" Fluttershy asked. She grabbed Scootaloo's bags and set them in the corner with everyone else's stuff.

"No, but I've seen what they looked like." Rainbow and Fluttershy shared a look before they shrugged. The princess grabbed her daughter in her magic and placed her on her back.

"It's a start. Come on." They walked out of the room and made their way to the front door again where the guards were waiting. After walking through, they walked back to the elevators. Heading to the pool.



When they arrived, Scootaloo immediately ran out screaming, "Cannon Ball!" The other ponies in the pool looked at her right before she made the big splash, soaking them. They laughed before she revealed herself, mane totally soaked, including the rest of her.

Rainbow chuckled while she and Fluttershy made their way to two unoccupied beach chairs. "Sweetie Drops, watch over Scootaloo while in the pool please," Fluttershy ordered. The agent saluted before she settled down by the pool, keeping her eye on the giggling and laughing filly who was chasing around another pony.

Rainbow and Fluttershy relaxed underneath a sunbrella that was over their chair, sighing relief. "Fluttershy? Good call," Rainbow credited.

"You're welcome."

"Now...about dinner..."

"Are you about to duck out on us? Because if you are, I will lock away those other notes you brought with you in my suitcase."

"I'll get them back out."

"Rainbow....." Fluttershy warned, giving her girlfriend the stare. The alicorn held up her hooves in self-defense.

"Whoa there, bear hugger, I meant I'll take it out, and put it back in my stuff." Fluttershy kept her stare going on.

"What I was going to say about dinner was whether we should include Scootaloo or it could just be us two. What do you think?" Fluttershy blinked before she relaxed into her chair once more.

"Well...it seems Scootaloo has made a friend. So she'll probably want to hang out with them for a little while." Rainbow looked towards her right to see a Pegasus filly with a light blue mane and tail along with a silver coat and light blue eyes. The two were talking and mingling in the pool, making Rainbow Dash grin.

"i'm surprised she's made a friend already," she commented as she put on a pair of shades. "She's usually shy around other ponies. Sometimes rude if she gets 'A bad vibe'."

"Well at least she's enjoying herself." Rainbow sighed and nodded, going back to relaxing. Which meant sleep on a bed out in the open.



While her parents were rejuvenating in the sun, Scootaloo was getting to know the young filly in front of her. "My name is Scootaloo!" She introduced.

"I'm Silver Lining!" The other introduced. She waved a hoof, sending water all over Scootaloo. "Where'd you come from?"

"Ponyville! My parents and I are on vacation since school's out for summer break. And mother needed time from her work. So mom and I planned to give her a vacation."

"Oh, cool-wait.....I don't get it. Mom and mother? Aren't those the same ponies?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "Nope! My mom and mother are over there." She pointed a hoof over to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who both had their heads leaned back, sleeping peacefully. Rainbow's mane was still moving though. Not to mention twinkling.

Silver Lining let out a gasp. "Your parents are royalty?" She whispered in disbelief. Scootaloo nodded.

"Yeah, but I like to think I'm not," she responded with a shrug. "I believe I'm-"

"So you're a princess," she interrupted. Scootaloo shrugged.

"I guess. I never asked about it. I'm adopted so I don't know how that works."

"Oh," she said, recoiling back a little. "Do you know where your real parents are?" Scootaloo bit her bottom lip and rubbed the back of her neck. "I take it you don't."

"No I do...I mean....They're not exactly....ponies anymore. They're....gone, if you see what I'm saying." She gave a sad chuckle.

Silver gasped, realizing what she meant. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you sad! Do you need a hug?"

"No, no, I just.....it's just...it's not easy for me to talk about, so....and ponies don't usually ask about my real parents. Since they already know what happened. Well those from Ponyville anyway."

"Well....this just got awkward," Silver said to the side.

"Hey, Squirt! Who's your friend?" The ponies looked over and gasped at Rainbow. Scootaloo looked past her to the beach chair she was just at a few seconds ago.

"Uhhh...mother, how did you get here so fast?"

"Teleport."

"In water?"

"I'm the Princess of Nature, expect the unexpected when I'm around. Now who's your friend with her mouth open? She's gonna catch some mosquitos or something around all this water." Scootaloo looked towards Silver who was staring at her mother with her eyes wide and mouth open.

"Oh! This is Silver Lining! That's all I know. Silver, this is my mother."

"Nice to meet you kid." The filly didn't move until Rainbow splashed her face with a little water. She blinked and shook her head before gasping again.

"P-P-Princess?!!" She said. Rainbow shrugged.

"Eh, I prefer Rainbow, Rainbow Dash, Dash, awesome Dash, the Dashtacular, anything that's a synonym to fast or awesome. But I guess Princess can work this time."

"Should I be bowing?"

"Well....I don't know where, we're in the middle of the pool." She looked around her at the waves and other ponies conversing and drinking on the side.

"I can go underwater!"

"Yeah, let's not do that. Scootaloo, your mom and I were wondering if you'd like to go venturing with your friend for awhile, since you made a new one already. Besides that, we haven't had any us time lately. You know, dating and intimate moments. I barely said hi to anypony and you're already collecting a thrall."

"Well, I don't-"

"Of course we would, your highness!" They looked up to the side where there were two adults wrapped in towels looking at them. One of them was a light yellow unicorn while another was a dark green pegasus. "We would be honored to look after your daughter!" Rainbow teleported out of the pool to right in front of them, looking them over.

Once she was done assessing them, and finding them harmless, she gave them a smile. "And you are?"

"I am Green Grass, Princess Dash," the dark green pegasus said, bowing in front of he.

"And I am Golden Heights, your highness," the light yellow unicorn said to her.

"Rise, ponies," she said softly. "Oh my stars, I sound my mother. Do you live in Manehattan?"

"We actually live in Cloudsdale, but we are on vacation right now," the unicorn explained. "I am Silver Lining's father."

"And I am going to take an obvious guess and say you are her mother," Rainbow guessed pointing to Green Grass.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Alright. Well, I usually don't just leave my daughter with anypony. And Fluttershy doesn't either. But Sweetie Drops kept insisting that she could take care of anypony willing to hurt her, kidnap her, or anything like that. And she is my top guard. SWEETIE DROPS!"

A light yellow pony with a dark blue and pink rose mane, that had a scar on her left eye zipped right over, saluting. "Yes, your majesty?" She said.

"I want you and your team to keep my daughter safe during the tour. Do whatever is necessary if something does happen. understood?"

"Yes, ma'am." Rainbow looked towards the shocked faces of the family while her Scootaloo waved to Sweetie Drops. "Hey, kid. How's the pool?"

"Cold."

"Eh, you get used to it."

"i'm entrusting you with my daughter," Rainbow told the family. "If she returns safe and sound, I will help you with anything you may need at the best of my ability. You have my word. I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on anyway." A splash of water hit her flank, making Rainbow yelp and turn around. Fluttershy was glaring at her in the water.

"No. Paperwork, Rainbow Dash," she scolded. "We are here to relax, not sign, schedule meetings, or argue with nobles. Relax. Now come in the pool." Fluttershy grabbed her ankle and dragged her in, ignoring her protests.

"Is....is this normal?" Silver Lining asked.

"Oh yeah, all the time," Sweetie Drops and Scootaloo responded. They continued watching the royal couple before they eventually ran out of steam and were just floating on the water. "On with the tour?"

"Yep."
> Chapter 29 - Family Is Where love Is Pt. 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

While Rainbow and Fluttershy were sunbathing on the water, Scootaloo grabbed her towel and dried herself off, Silver Lining doing the same. Once the two had their manes dry, they trotted towards the adults to talk.

"So how is it living with a Princess?" Silver Lining asked her as they walked through the lobby of the hotel. Sweetie Drops opened the door for them before she followed behind them in the brisk summer air.

"It's okay," Scootaloo replied. "I mean the one I usually spend time with now is mom. Or Fluttershy. She's really nice and loves animals. Rainbow Dash, my mother, used to be the awesome one. Now it's just me who's the awesome one."

"Don't let her majesty hear you say that," Sweetie Drops commented, attracting the group's attention. "She'll attempt at an obstacle course or something just to 'regain her awesomeness.'"

"Obstacle course?"

"I'm sure she has one setup in the air somewhere. Now where are we headed?"

"Downtown, miss..." Green Grass stuttered.

"Sweetie Drops."

"Sweetie Drops. We're going to the main square. That's where all the main attractions are. Is that alright?"

"Depends on how crowded it is. We'll see." They continued on the tour while the adults pointed out the locations of everything. The family came here all the time for a vacation so they pretty much knew where everything is. How they could do this each year was a mystery to Sweetie Drops. She'd get annoyed if she had to come to the same city every year to relax. She enjoys flexibility, not constant familiarity.

"Here's the square." Golden Heights pointed towards the area in front of him where there were stores, museums, and restaurants that Scootaloo could just smell. She moaned and her mouth watered, amusing her bodyguard. "This is where everything that happens in Manehattan occurs. In the next few days, it's going to be bustling with ponies because of a food festival."

"Food festival?" Scootaloo asked her. "They have food festivals?"

"Yep!" Silver Lining confirmed, catching Scootaloo's attention. "A lot of businesses come over and put their food out for a taste test. And if a pony likes it, they can buy!"

"Sounds fun! But I have to ask if I can go."

"I'm pretty sure Princess Dash and Lady Fluttershy will agree to go," Sweetie Drops said. She turned to the adults. "What's next?"



While they were touring, Rainbow Dash and her girlfriend were basking in the sun once more. The birds were chirping from the trees behind them, as well as on Fluttershy's head, while the Royal Guard was keeping watch nearby. Rainbow sighed in relief from the cool drink she was sipping on, catching Fluttershy's attention. The pegasus sat up and looked closely at Rainbow's face before she let out a small chuckle. "You know.....you're starting to look like your mother," she said suddenly. Rainbow spat out her drink and looked at Fluttershy in shock.

"What?! I do not!" She blatantly denied. She in fact was gaining Celestia's facial expressions and facial features, including that kind smile.

"Yes you do. Guard?" The guard standing next to Fluttershy looked towards her. "Doesn't Rainbow Dash look like Celestia?"

"Do I look like Celestia?" Rainbow repeated. The guard looked between the two while his coworker on the other side was snickering.

"Er...I do not think it is my place to say, your highness," he answered nervously.

"No, no, no. Tell me...if I look like my mom." He bit his bottom lip and glanced towards the other guard who was shaking his head.

"Well......I have to say you do have Princess Celestia's facial features such as her snout, her smiles, the eyes..." Rainbow's eyes were changing colors again. "B-But that's it, your highness. Just her snout, eyes, and smile."

"There is absolutely no way I look like Princess Celestia!" Rainbow said in denial. She flopped back in her chair and slurped from her drink again while Fluttershy just giggled.

"Is that such a bad thing?" She asked.

"Well......I don't know. I mean I try to set myself apart from the rest of my family by being the one that stands out. I can't do that if I look like Celestia."

"Why not?"

"If I look like Celestia, then ponies around will think I act like her too. You know all forgiving, kind, 'Rise, my little pony'...things like that. But that's DEFINITELY not me. I'm more of the fun but serious type." Rainbow put her hoof to her chin in thought.

"Rainbow, you are like your mom." The Princess groaned and turned her back to Fluttershy, which meant she was going to be looking at bushes. "And that is a good thing. It's better than saying you're like your aunt." Rainbow blanched at that. She could not imagine her like Princess Luna.

"Yeah, I guess so," she sighed. "Fine. If I look like her, I look like her. But I am not her. Got it?"

"Whatever you say, dear."

"Good. Now can we please get up now? I'm pretty sure my back looks like a ladder from lying on this bench." Rainbow jumped up and stood on her hooves, stretching. She flexed her wings out and got the kinks out of her joints. "I mean we have to go and look around. Catch up to Scoots and eat." Fluttershy set down her drink and got onto her hooves too. Once the two grabbed their towels and dried off, they made their way back to their rooms to drop them off before one of their guards offered to do it for them. While the guard was going back to their room, the two went out the hotel to look for Scootaloo and the tour group with their guards right behind them. After they were out, they took to the air.

"Where do you think they are?" Rainbow asked aloud. Sergeant Cloudstorm looked at the ground around them and motioned to the square, not too far from the hotel.

"Right there, your highness," he answered, pointing towards the ground. There was a familiar orange filly with a magenta mane and tail, along with a silver coated filly with a light blue mane and tail.

"Dive," Rainbow ordered. The group did as asked before they flapped their wings to come in for a soft landing. "Hey, Squirt!" Scootaloo stopped and looked around before she spotted Rainbow trotting up to her. Once she was close enough, she bent down and nuzzled Scootaloo on the top of her head. "How's the tour?"

"Fun! We saw the square, some restaurants, and other things!" She responded enthusiastically. "They're having a food festival here in manehattan in a few days!" Rainbow froze and looked towards the square.

"Food festival?" The Princess whispered. She looked back towards the filly with bright eyes which were once again changing colors. "Will there be...cake?"

"I hope so," Scootaloo responded. Fluttershy picked her up by her teeth and tossed her onto her back.

"Even if there is cake, you only get a few slices," she informed her. "We don't want you getting a tummy ache. Same goes for you Rainbow."

"Awwww!" They both groaned. While her daughter and girlfriend were talking Rainbow motioned to Sweetie Drops. The agent quickly walked over and saluted.

"Were there any issues?" The princess asked her.

"No, ma'am. Everything was clear on this end."

"Good...good. We are still under the threat of attack until we find that pony who shot me in the back a month and a half ago. We're just having a sip of juice during the battle at this moment. If you see anything suspicious, let Sergeant Cloudstorm know immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

After the briefing and meeting, the ponies once again made their way through Manehattan. Everywhere Rainbow walked, a pony, or group of ponies, took a moment to bow to her.

"Excuse me for asking, Princess," Golden Heights said. "But... doesn't the bowing annoy you after awhile?"

"Very," she responded. "You know how hard it is to NOT be seen when you're Royalty? Extremely! I cannot even step into town without somepony saying 'your highness'. I don't allow my guards to call me by title unless we're in public. I wouldn't allow it by anyone if I had my way about it, but ponies would get too comfortable if that was the case."

"Ah, I understand. Not too close, not too far."

"Right. Now...this museum?"

"It's right in front of us." Rainbow glanced up at the large two-story circular building in front of her that read Equestriam History Museum. "It's one of Manehattan's big attractions."

"Uh oh," Rainbow muttered. Fluttershy looked over at her.

"What is it?" She asked in concern.

"I'm a princess. An Equestrian Princess that has made history going into an Equestrian History Museum. Will that even look right?"

"It's for your daughter, not for you," Fluttershy deadpanned.

"I know, I know. But I don't want to be the center of attention. They're going to expect me to know most of this stuff. Don't get me wrong. Sadly, I know all of it because my office is filled with books on the subject. I became an egghead in three days."

"Is that a bad thing, Rainbow?" One of her guards asked.

"For me? I'm not sure."

"Oh come on, Princess," Sergeant Cloudstorm joked. "You have nothing to worry about. Now let's go inside and see things that are really old and dusty."

Rainbow looked forward and took a big gulp. She was not going to like this.
> Chapter 30 - Family Is Where Love Is Pt. 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scootaloo took the lead first into the museum with Silver Lining, followed closely by two of Rainbow's guards. They pushed the doors open, and slid inside after running on very slippery marble, eventually sliding to a stop in front of a desk that had two unicorns behind it doing something that Scootaloo couldn't see because the two were so small. They took a moment to look around the room at all of the statues, pictures, and items. Like chariots they had in the past behind glass boxes.

"So...," Silver Lining muttered. "Your mom knows about most of this stuff?"

Scootaloo shrugged in response. "Apparently. But we have to get her inside to actually find out."

"Fluttershy, I don't wanna!" The two looked behind them at Fluttershy who was busy pushing Rainbow Dash into the History Museum with her head on her flank. The princess herself trying to turn around and run away with a look of horror on her face.

"You are going to teach our daughter a few things about Equestria!" Fluttershy scolded. "And you are going to enjoy it!"

"But I don't wanna be-"

"Mother! What's that?" Rainbow stopped struggling and turned around immediately when Scootaloo called for her. She glanced where she was pointing, which was towards an apparent chariot that was made out of wood. Rainbow made her way towards the two fillies and began to explain.

"That's a chariot made out of thick birch wood from the Everfree when it wasn't all congested with thick vines, mists, moisture, and creatures. Way before the nightmare moon era, they were used during the wars against...oh my Faust, I just turned into Twilight within ten seconds."

"Amazing, your highness," Sweetie Drops praised as she walked towards the dense glass protecting the chariot. No doubt reinforced with runes. "Do you think Celestia rode in one of these?"

"Either her or Luna," Rainbow replied. Turning to Silver Lining's parents, Rainbow asked, "Is it okay if she tags along with my daughter?"

"Of course!" Golden Heights replied eagerly, quickly trotting over as fast as he could to the taller princess. "As long as we get to tag along as well." Rainbow Dash lit her horn and levitated the two fillies from the ground onto her back, causing Silver Lining to yelp in surprise for a moment before realizing what was going on. Rainbow sat the two fillies down, with Scootaloo grabbing hold of her neck and Silver grabbing hold of her new friend's shoulders.

"Okay. Let's get this tour over with." Rainbow and Fluttershy led the group through the building while the two mares at the front desk were trying to figure out where they came from.



Along the way, Scootaloo and Silver kept gazing and pointing things out that looked interesting to them. It was actually the weapons of what the Guard used in the past. As well as the different types of things sold in Canterlot, pictures of Equestria in the past. And Rainbow's personal favorite...the pictures of the Wonderbolts which she and Scootaloo were ecstatic over.

"Oh, oh! Can we stop here, can we stop here?!" Scootaloo yelled while motioning towards the little mares room.

"Looks like a certain little filly has to use the big mare's room," Rainbow teased.

"What?! I'm a big filly!" Scootaloo retorted while Rainbow levitated her down. Once she was safely on the ground, she trotted into the bathroom muttering something about Princesses being too tall. Fluttershy followed in after her, leaving Rainbow Dash with the rest of the group and Silver Lining. "How are you enjoying the museum, Silver? Did you learn anything?" she asked the filly on her back. The only response she received was deep snoring since Silver was currently taking a nap with her head on Rainbow Dash's neck.

"Yep, she learned to sleep," Green Grass commented while Rainbow levitated her off her own back and onto her mother's.

She sighed and said, "Yeah, I'm definitely turning into Twilight. Is there anyway to get rid of the Egghead syndrome?"

"I suggest you do not try any tricks while flying, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy responded as she walked out of the bathroom with Scootaloo on her back.

"But that's like the only way to get rid of it!" Rainbow complained. "Egghead syndrome is a real disease because Twilight has it really bad."

"No, sweetheart. Now let's continue the tour so we can go to our date. You owe me a dinner."

Rainbow scoffed before she lifted Scootaloo off her back and on to her own, then continued walking. "I thought this vacation was for me."

"So I can't take advantage?"

"No, but I can."

"Selfish."

"I love you too, Flutters." Fluttershy looked over at her while the princess gave her a living nuzzle, letting Fluttershy know she meant it.



They went more into the museum to continue the tour, pointing towards this and that, and explaining that and this. Rainbow was trying desperately not to yell out, "Stop bowing" to everyone she walked past. Now she knew what Celestia had to go through. That and Luna. For thousands of years. The bowing was really annoying at a certain point. Eventually they came to the end and walked out of the museum after having spent nearly a whole day there.

"Yes! Air sweet air!" Rainbow cheered as she flapped her wings and soared into the sunsetting sky and spun around, accidentally lighting her horn and growing the grass, spraying the water, blowing wind, and apparently causing lightning somehow that spooked her enough to yelp and stop. Scootaloo laughed and pointed a hoof at her from the ground, falling on her back and flailing her little hooves about. Rainbow looked back down at her from the sky, listening to her hard laughter.

"Oh you think that's so funny, huh?" She asked with a smirk. She landed next to her giggling daughter then leaned down to her belly, blowing Raspberries. Scootaloo busted out in laughter, trying to push her mother's head away.

"No! Hahahahaha!! Stop! Mercy, mercy!"

"Well that's adorable," one of the guards commented stoically. After the stomach bubbling, Rainbow pulled back and picked Scootaloo up with her hooves, then pulled her into a hug.

"I love you, Squirt," she whispered, nuzzling her cheek.

"I love you too, mom," she replied, returning the gesture.

"Now how about we get out of this loser-fest and hit the hotel, huh?" She placed Scootaloo on her back and made her way down the street towards the hotel, leaving Fluttershy behind before she realized what was going on.

"Hey!" She yelled quietly, trotting after them. "Don't leave me, you crazy mares!" Sweetie Drops rolled her eyes and watched the group as they made their way back before following along with her unit. Rainbow Dash was half of her mother. That was evident. But apparently her father was a goofball. Definitely a goofball. Sweetie shook her head at the thought. She should probably expect some competitions between her and Scootaloo in the future during the Royals' spare time.



Later on that night, Rainbow and Fluttershy were tucking Scootaloo in bed, the filly herself having gotten sleepy after a full day of exercise. Running around, jumping into the pool, swimming, and running some more. Even making Fluttershy and Rainbow wish they were that young again. Especially Fluttershy. She had some thoughts in her mind she wanted to speak to Rainbow Dash about. Very important ones. But that could wait.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Scootaloo asked her parents quietly, gripping the sheets that were tucked up to her neck. Rainbow leaned down and gave her a slow and loving nuzzle.

"Well first, we're going to take a bath," Rainbow added a with chuckle. "Then...we're going to have some fun because I definitely need it. I feel like an Egghead still." Fluttershy smiled and rolled her eyes before she nudged Rainbow with her wing. "Then you and I are going to run around with Fluttershy to see what she wants to do. Because if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy...that's how it goes, right?"

"Yes," Fluttershy confirmed quietly before bending down to Scootaloo's right side. "And then, we're going to make a special lunch for your mother. Just you and I. Okay?"

Scootaloo nodded enthusiastically before the two parents leaned in and nuzzled her cheeks. "Get some rest, kiddo," Rainbow added as her eyes slowly drifted closed. "Princess Luna's going to give you some awesome dreams tonight." They kissed her on the cheeks before Scootaloo was lights out, breathing calmly. They pulled back and stared at her for moment, then turned around and walked towards the doorway, heading out of the room.

After closing the door softly, Rainbow softly placed a wing over Fluttershy's back and guided her towards the kitchen and living area, where the date was setup. "Since I'm a princess," she said quietly. "I get a lot of mega rights wherever I stay. Including in the kitchen.

Aftwr walking out of the kitchen, Fluttershy gasped at the wonderful spread on the kitchen table. There were fruits, vegetables, soup, bread in olive oil, wine, and candles surrounding the area. The lights were dimmed and everything was perfect. "It's beautiful, Rainbow," Fluttershy whispered as the Princess pulled a chair out for her. After Fluttershy got comfortable, Rainbow walked to her own and got settled.

"Yeah, while you were talking to Scoots I grabbed everything from the kitchen and brought it up here."

"No you didn't," Fluttershy deadpanned.

"Yeah you're right, I had our guards do it. I got mushrooms, daisy sandwiches and soups. Not to mention..." Rainbow grabbed a nearby bottle and held it out in front of her, letting her read it. "Very expensive wine. It came out of my stipend. Non alcoholic of course. We're parents."

Fluttershy chuckled and took a bite out of her food. "You get paid?"

"I do."

"But you're a princess."

"Even Princesses have to contribute to the economy. That includes taxes. Yes the bits for our home is still there, as well as the climbing sum of money in my own pocket. But sometimes I like to spend my own money to buy things. Like your present for your upcoming birthday."

"Somepony has great memory, I see."

Rainbow chuckled and took a sip of her wine. "I have never forgotten a thing in my life."

"What about that time when Rarity schesuled you a Spa appointment last week?"

"Er, that's a completely different case." Fluttershy rolled her eyes as she moved onto the soup. Unaware that Rainbow was smirking at her. After taking a sip, Fluttershy gasped a little.

"This...this tastes like my soup," she whispered before glancing up at Rainbow Dash's mischievous grin. "How?"

"Well...I made it in the kitchen here," Rainbow said while smirking at her hoof.

Fluttershy's face of disbelief turned into one of confusion, then admiration. "You...cooked?"

"I dabbled. Your recipe is not easy to make. You know? You should-mmmm!" Fluttershy walked around the table and captured Rainbow's lips in her own, catching her off guard. Eventually she pulled Fluttershy closer into a warm embrace, and returned the kiss in full, giving her all she's got. After a breathless three minutes, Rainbow pulled away, giving her lidded eyes.

"Somepony's frisky," Fluttershy whispered in her ear, then gave it a casual lick.

"I think it's more like you who's frisky," Rainbow whispered back. "I can smell it. It's burning my nose."

Fluttershy chuckled before wagging her tail, sending her scent around. "Well what are you going to do about it?"

Rainbow leaned in close and planted her body with tiny kisses before getting to her ear and whispering, "Get on the couch and you'll find out."
> Chapter 31 - Rude Wake Up Call (Small Respite)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manehattan was excellent in Scootaloo's eyes.  A successful mission. Her mother finally got all the stress and frustration out of her system of being a princess, and she even met a new friend that lives in Cloudsdale, Silver Lining. A fellow pegasus. She was pretty cool in Scootaloo's opinion. Even her parents approved. Of course Fluttershy was overly excited. Literally flying around and screaming oh my gosh, over and over again. Rainbow tried to act all cool about it. She even agreed with Silver Lining's parents that they could visit each other. Either at the castle or in Cloudsdale surrounded with her guards. Scootaloo needed protection. Her entirely family was in danger if they didn't catch who this pony was. Including her friends. But right now, that could wait. The day had finally came. A day of celebration. A day of joy, pleasure, happiness. The day of...

"THE WEDDING, EEEE!" Fluttershy squealed, shocking Rainbow Dash awake, along with Scootaloo who was sleeping on her face again. She sat up and looked around, flinging the poor filly off her a few feet away to land in the middle of the bed with a grunt.

"What?!" Rainbow Dash yelled out. "What's happening, what's goin' on, what....nothing's goin' on, is there?" Scootaloo groaned and slowly made her way back over to push Rainbow Dash back down and sit on her chest, curling into a little ball and falling back to sleep. "Right behind you squirt." Rainbow let her head drop back down on the pillow, soon after sawing logs. Fluttershy looked at the two girls in disbelief. Were they seriously....

"WAKE UP!!" Rainbow Dash yelped and flapped her wings, sending her and scootaloo flying into the air with the comforter. They crashed on the floor and groaned in pain.

"Mom," Scootaloo moaned from underneath the thick blanket. "What's the big deal?" Fluttershy jumped out the bed and made her way towards the blanket, flipping it off the two groaning ponies and shadowing them with the biggest grin she could make.

"There's a wedding going on today, remember?"

Rainbow froze from rubbing her horn, eyes widening and intaking a sharp breath in realization. She looked up and grabbed Fluttershy's hooves in alarm. "CADANCE'S WEDDING!! IT'S TODAY?!!"

"Mother! Not you too!" Scootaloo cried, making her way out the door to find a peaceful place to sleep, crying all the while. "Why can't I get some good sleep around here?! Why?!! I need a couch away from crazy ponies!! Where's Rarity when you need one?!!" Rainbow and Fluttershy watched her walk down the stairs and head towards the one place that Rainbow would definitely find her later. Giving her her space for a moment, Rainbow turned back to Fluttershy with nervousness.

"What do I do? I don't know what to do! Am I supposed to give her the flowers, give her a hug.....give her flowers and a hug?!"

"I am sure you are as more freaked out about the wedding more than the bride right now." They both looked towards the window where Celestia came from, making her way towards the two ponies wearing a warm smile. "It's a good thing you two weren't getting...engaged in anything at this moment. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I accidentally walked in on two of my guards yesterday, and another couple this morning. I believe 'the season' is upon us." Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash shared a glance and then looked back to Celestia. "Anyway, I hope you two are ready?"

"I was just waking Dashie up," Fluttershy answered back enthusiastically, giving her a bright grin. Rainbow Dash just yawned and nodded.

"Yep. Flutters literally yelled at us to wake up. Poor Scoots. I'd better drag her awake with some cake to the face." She trotted towards the door, making her way to the kitchen where a certain filly was definitely sleeping next to a chocolate cake. She sighed and flapped her wings lightly, freeing them of their stiff situation before walking past the guards in front of the dining hall, who saluted to her while remaining in their stoic position. The door was pushed open and she strode silently inside, making her way towards the table where her chef was currently eyeballing an orange filly laying on top of a vanilla cake container, smiling contently and snoring peacefully while curled up in her little ball.

"She has not moved, your highness," the chef whispered in agony. "No matter how many times I poke her with this spatula." He held up a rubber utensil that held a stunning resemblance to the metal one, just...rubber.

"I need a slice of cake," Rainbow instructed. "Chocolate." The chef nodded and made her way over to another container and and popped the lid open, scooping out a slice of precut chocolate cake and hoofing it over to Rainbow. She grabbed it in her magic and slowly hovered it directly underneath Scootaloo's nose, holding it there before the nose started to twitch. Scootaloo unconsciously sniffed at the cake, moving her head around slightly. Then she stuck her tongue out lightly and licked the air. Rainbow chuckled and hovered it into her mouth slightly, allowing her to take a few licks, then tiny bites. As if she were imitating a rabbit. The chef stood beside her and chuckled at the filly's innocence.

"That is too adorable," she whispered as Scootaloo started eating the cake. She was getting chocolate on her face, but that's what made it so sweet. "She is such a sweet little angel."

"Yeah," Rainbow agreed before pulling back the spatula slowly. "My sweet squirt." The chef cast a disgusted look before going back to Scootaloo, whose eyes were beginning to move. They soon fluttered open, and she smacked her lips, glancing around her area before noticing the chocolate cake a few meters away, literally floating in front of her face.

"Uhhhh..." She stammered, eyeballing it up and down. "...can I....can I eat it?" Rainbow Dash chuckled and moved it closer.

"Go ahead squirt," she responded, allowing Scootaloo to take the spatula and eat the cake. "Then we have to get ready for the wedding, okay? Grandma Celestia's here."

"Cool," Scootaloo replied with a mouth full of cake. Rainbow rolled her eyes and grabbed her in her magic, hefting her off the container and onto her back. Then turned around and made her way back towards the doors.

"I'll have somepony bring back your spatula!" She called over her shoulder. The chef rolled her eyes, but nodded nonetheless. That was her most favorite one.



"Hi, Grandma!" Celestia froze her conversation with Fluttershy wearing a twitching eye upon hearing those words. She slowly turned her head to the orange foal walking in with a face full of chocolate, licking her lips and grinning up at Celestia. "How are you?"

"I was fine," she responded before quietly adding, "Before you called me grandma."

"But you are my grandma...right?"

"Yes, but...It just sounds...strange," Celestia clarified, waving her hoof around. "Anypony who addresses me by Grandma is...it just...." Rainbow snorted from the doorway, trying to hold on her laughter at her mother's face. She soon busted out into laughter, falling on her back and rolling around. Celestia grunted and walked over to her to bite down on her wing.

"OW! Mom!"

"No laughing, I do not enjoy being called Grandma."

"Is it because you're like thousands of years old?" Celestia's eye twitched again.
> Chapter 32 - Wedding Time!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After Celestia's realization that she was now going to be called Grandmother, and decided to walk away and shrug it off, the family decided to get ready. Of course not without Rarity's help, who decided to stop by "to see how everything was going." Rainbow sighed when she walked out of her room and spotted Rarity levitating a giant box behind her with her magic. "And just who is that for?" Rainbow asked suspiciously. "Rarity you are not putting me in no frilly dress." She stomped her hoof to emphasize her point.

Rarity scoffed and waved her off with a hoof. "Do not worry darling, this is all for your daughter. Wow I never thought that world would ever come out of my mouth. 'Rainbow Dash's daughter.' Whoo, rolls right off the tongue, don't you think?" She stopped in front of Rainbow Dash, who was blocking the door into the room and eyeing her with obvious trepidation. "This—" Rarity motioned to the box behind her. "—is all for Scootaloo. I give you my word." Rainbow hummed, but stepped to the side to allow her through. Rarity thanked her and quickly trotted past the guards and doorway up to the bed, where Scootaloo was talking to Celestia.

"I like you as a grandma," she told her. She reached up and booped the nonchalant Princess' nose, who cringed the second it touched her. "It makes you more fun."

"I'm not...fun?" Celestia asked in confusion. Scootaloo slowly shook her head while Rarity

"Not really. The most you do is sit in your castle and work all day," Scootaloo responded, then rolled her eyes and continued talking. Rarity silently set down her box and started to unpack the many dresses. The second Rainbow saw one of them, she squeaked and grabbed Fluttershy's attention by waving a hoof desperately in her direction. The calmly resting pegasus looked over from grooming one of her animal friends and raised an eyebrow in confusion. Rainbow bit her lip and motioned with her head towards Rarity, who was holding a dress over Scootaloo, preparing to drop it right on top of her. Fluttershy gasped and quickly trotted towards Rainbow, who immediately covered her ears the second it was dropped on top of her. "You could be a lot more fun if..." Scootaloo looked down at the clothing that somehow got on top of her and started hyperventilating. "What...what am I wearing?"

"Why it's a dress, darling!" Rarity responded happily from behind. Scootaloo turned around and gasped at the twelve dresses lining the wall that Rarity had attached them to for the time being. "I have created thirteen just for you!"

Scootaloo only stared at them for a few seconds before she screamed and ran out of the room at a speed that had impressed Rainbow Dash. "Get it off of me!" She yelled. The guards stationed at the bedroom doors looked at each other before they trotted after her inside one of the offices that a mare was currently inside of, sorting through a few documents and had yelped when Scootaloo fell inside and hid under her desk. "Get it off! Wait...who are you?"

"I'm the Secretary of—"

"Nevermind. Mother!" Rainbow trotted into the room and chuckled at Scootaloo's predicament. She was under the desk with only her little head sticking out, looking up at the guards with fearful eyes. "Rarity tried to stuff me in a dress."

"She did stuff you in a dress," Rainbow corrected her. Then used her magic to pull Scootaloo out from under it and reveal the dark orange dress Rarity had thrown Scootaloo in. The filly in question looked at it apprehensively with disgust. "I don't know squirt. Looks kinda awesome."

Scootaloo gasped and pointed an accusing hoof at her mother's face with squinted eyes. Then exclaimed, "Who are you and what have you done with Rainbow Dash?!" Rainbow rolled her eyes and set her on her back, then trotted out of the room with the guards right behind her.

"Don't give me that," Rainbow playfully scolded. "I'm still your mother, the awesome Rainbow Dash. The fastest flyer in all of Equestria and the loyalest pony of them all. I just..." She stopped on the stairs and waved her hoof around, trying to come up with the right word. "I just matured a little." She continued on her way into the room.

"Blech!" Scootaloo coughed. "Being mature is for old ponies." The mares in the room all gasped and looked at Scootaloo in shock like she said a curse word. She instantly backed down and looked at her mom in trepidation. "Was it something I said?"

Fluttershy reached up and plucked Scootaloo off of her girlfriend's back, then set her back down on the bed so Rarity could take off the dress. "We are not old," Fluttershy corrected sternly. "We are young adults."

"Technically the older version of you," Rarity clarified as she placed another dress on Scootaloo. It was cyan that she immediately took off. "Ughh. What was I thinking making that for you, that is your mother's color. Yuck!" Rarity made an expression of being disgusted then grabbed another dress. This one was red and had a high neckline that reached underneath her chin, adorned with small rubies. She calmly placed it on Scootaloo's body and made a pushing motion with her hoof. Scootaloo stood up and jumped down to the floor, then slowly walked around in it.

Celestia tapped Rainbow's shoulder, getting her attention. Then leaned over and whispered in her ear, "She looks great." Rainbow nodded as Scootaloo walked back over and stood in front of her

"You like it squirt?" Rainbow asked. She leaned down and looked her over. "I have to admit, it looks great on ya'."

Scootaloo looked up from the dress with a smile. "Yeah it's okay." She looked over at Rarity then said, "I uhh...I'll purchase your product."

"Nonsense darling, this is on the house—er...boutique," Rarity reassured with a wave of her hoof. "I made that for you. Now if only your mother—"

Rainbow quickly trotted over and plugged a hoof into her mouth, stopping her immediately. "Nope," she ordered sternly. "We are not putting me in a dress."

Celestia chuckled and pointed at her back.  "Then we are all wearing blankets to the wedding. That could be fun. Right, Scootaloo? I'm fun now, right?" The filly shrugged while Fluttershy was busy brushing her mane. Rainbow looked at her back and spotted a large blue blanket on her back.

"Uhhh...." She flapped one of her wings and sent the blanket to the floor. "Nevermind that. But I am not wearing a dress. I'll go as is."

"Mother, but I want to match!" Scootaloo protested.

"Come on, Rainbow," Fluttershy agreed. She trotted up and gave Rainbow a beautiful smile. "Let's make this a family thing. Please?" Scootaloo jumped off the bed and quickly trotted over to smile beside her mom, trying to convince Rainbow Dash who was trying her hardest not to be.

She sighed after a few more seconds and then said, "Fine! But only because...Scootaloo wants to."

"Yes!"



In Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle was anxiously running back and forth in the library, trying to look for the best outfit to wear for the date she had setup with Cherry Berry after the wedding. But she was having trouble finding it.

"Where is it, where is it, where is it?!" She yelled in frustration. She stopped and summoned her magic to open all the drawers in her room at once. "If I can't find it in here I'm going to go insane!"

Spike poked his head in and commented, "Yeah, if you're not already." Then ducked out before that thrown tome hit the doorway.

"Uggghhh!" Twilight groaned while she ripped out clothes left and right, fully aware that she'd have to pick them up later. "Where's my purple dress?!" Spike sighed and walked back into the room, dragging a long purple dress behind him that he tossed over Twilight's barrel.

"You just threw it out in the hallway," he informed her blandly. Twilight raised an eyebrow and grabbed the purple garment with her magic, pulling it into view. Then gasped excitedly.

"Thanks, Spike!" She turned back around and pulled him into a bone crushing hug, leaving him gasping for air. Then let him fall to the wooden floor and quickly trot out her bedroom door, leaving Spike alone with the hundred something clothes on the floor. He threw up his hands and yelled:

"CRAZY MARES!"

Twilight quickly rushed into the bathroom downstairs to get ready. Cherry was supposed to arrive soon and then they were all going to the Crystal Empire by chariot with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo. Applejack, Rarity, Cherry Berry and herself were riding in a separate chariot. But Twilight wanted to impress her girlfriend and represent Rainbow well. As well as her future sister-in-law. So she prepped and prettied herself as much as possible before she heard the front door open. Cherry walked in wearing a purple dress and a small tiara. She also had her done up in a bun that she hoped looked good on her. She wasn't really into headwear. Then stopped and looked around the building for her girlfriend. "Twilight? Are you here?"

"What happened to knocking?" Twilight asked from the bathroom.

Cherry looked over towards the door and chuckled as she made her way over. "You live in a public library. Am I supposed to knock first when I go to a public restaurant too?"

"Hmmm...touchè."

"Well are you ready?" The door opened up slowly to present Twilight wearing a purple dress and having a know-it-all look on her face, head held high. But Cherry was focused more on something else. "Why are you wearing my dress?" Twilight opened her eyes and gasped at Cherry's wear.

She walked out to promptly look her over, her mouth open in disbelief as she circled around her, trying to figure her out. Then stopped and pointed at the dress. "Where did you get that?!" She exclaimed.

"Oh! Uhh, Rarity made it for me!"

"Rarity made this for me!" They stared at each other for a moment, then at themselves before they smiled, walked closer and shared a kiss. After a few seconds, Twilight pulled back and whispered, "Well...somepony thinks they can out do my style."

Cherry rolled her eyes and chuckled. "We're wearing the exact same style, Twilight."

"Oh yeah?" She teleported out of view for a moment and returned a few seconds later wearing a light blue pearl necklace. "I beg to differ." Cherry slowly shook her head before Twilight stood beside her and intertwined her tail with hers. "Are you ready to go?"

"Do you have your bits?" Twilight lifted an area underneath her dress, revealing two bags of bits. "Had to ask. You're the one treating me out." Twilight chuckled and nodded.

"I know." She turned back to the stairs and yelled, "Spike, we're leaving! Are you joining?"

"I'm sleeping!!"

Twilight and Cherry shared a surprised look for a moment, then laughed as they walked out the door to go and meet up with the others at Rainbow Dash's castle. They stepped out into the fresh air and bright skies, smiles gracing their faces just like the other ponies in Ponyville. It was a beautiful day, just like yesterday. They trotted down the street and into the square, spotting other ponies who waved at Twilight. They were keeping their relationship under wraps right now, which exposed cause some issues among Rainbow Dash's cabinet. So they decided to be "just friends" in public eyes. Except with Spike. And Rarity.

Soon they reached the road that led towards Sweet Apple Acres. The only sound being their beating hooves before their tails curled with each other. Since they were away from any neighboring eyes, they could relax and let their emotions show. "So," Cherry muttered, breaking the silence. "When do you think we should tell them?"

Twilight sighed and kept her eyes ahead of her. "Well...I don't know. I'm afraid of what would happen, I'll admit."

"Yeah, me too. But—" Cherry leaned over and nuzzled Twilight underneath her chin. "I like this relationship. And I don't want this to end. I don't care if we get fired from our jobs, I just want to be with you." Twilight stopped and nuzzle her back.

"I as well. Let's continue and hope that nopony saw that." The two girls chuckled nervously and continued walking while keeping an eye out. Soon, they spotted Princess Dash's complex with many of her multicolored guards outside. Along with some of Equestria's press who were waiting for the royal family to step out. The guards had formed a protective barrier around the castle gates, keeping the Princesses protected. Twilight and Cherry untangled their tails and approached the building, walking up the cloud loop. The guards spotted them and immediately parted to let them through. They knew Twilight Sparkle when they saw her. And Cherry Berry too. The two mares walked past the gates and into the complex, looking around. The water fountains were sitting on the left and right, spraying water into the air, but the one in the middle was the most taunting one. The two mares shared a look. Then moved to the far right, stepping on the grass and walking around it.

"Uhhh...my grass? Hello?" They looked back in front of them at Rainbow Dash's unamused face. It looks like she just walked out with the others, including Special Agent Sweetie Drops. Scootaloo was crawling on her neck to get to her horn so she could peek over. Laying over her head, her hooves landed in front of Rainbow's eyes and she mouthed while Dash talked, imitating her. "You're stepping all over my grass. Get out my grass. Right now."

Twilight snorted and Cherry chuckled. "Yes, your highness," Twilight replied, trying not to laugh at her daughter's playfulness Scootaloo grinned and jumped off of her mother's head and onto the ground.

"What took you guys?" Applejack asked. "We've been waiting forever!"

"Applejack your home is right there." Twilight turned around and pointed towards the farm a little yards down from the castle. "There is absolutely no reason for you to be upset." Then the secret couple darted their eyes towards Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, who were all wearing the exact same color dresses. As well as the design. "Family bonding I take it?" She asked, motioning towards the dresses.

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck and said, "Well—"

"Mother didn't want to wear it," Scootaloo interrupted. Celestia laughed and scooped her up in her hooves.

"You are just the cutest little thing," she cooed. "Wanna go for a ride on your Grandma's back?" Twilight's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Gr...Gr-Gr...Gr-Gr-Gr-Grandma?!" She asked before trotting up to Fluttershy with a serious expression. She grabbed her dress and put her muzzle to muzzle and eye to eye. "Tell. Me. Everything that has transpired here this morning."

Fluttershy squeaked and tapped Rainbow's shoulder without taking her eyes off of Twilight's. "Tell her what happened," she whispered.

Rainbow laughed and gestured for them to start walking towards the gates while she explained. Twilight and Cherry stood directly beside her to listen. "Well, Scootaloo called Celestia 'Grandma' early this morning after Fluttershy screamed at me and Scoots about today being my cousin's wedding. To be honest, that sleep was great and Fluttershy ruined it. Scootaloo totally agrees." Rainbow put out a hoof to Celestia's back and Scootaloo proudly slapped it with her own, causing Fluttershy to scoff and roll her eyes. "See? Anyway, Scootaloo got upset because her sleep was broken so she decided to go to sleep in her favorite room in all of the castle. The dining hall on top of the cakes."

Twilight looked over at Scootaloo who was busy messing with Celestia's mane before Rainbow resumed her story. "So I wake her up—I'm not telling how I did it—and take her back to the room. I may have let the word slip out and said that 'Grandma's here—'"

Celestia shot Rainbow Dash an incredulous look. "You did what?"

"Yada, yada. So Scootaloo walks in and says, 'Hi, Grandma.' Celestia's eyes go all wild and she's all, "Did you just call me Grandma?' Oh I can't wait to tell Great Aunt Luna. Oh! There I go again—OW! Ma!" Celestia pulled her wing back from the top of Rainbow Dash's head when the group walked out the castle gates and towards the chariots.

"You were the one that gave Scootaloo the idea to call me 'Grandma'?" She asked when the family sat in one of the three chariots, ignoring the press that was around them taking photographs.

Rainbow looked around nervously. "Uh...I may have been the cause," she answered slowly.

Celestia shook her head while Fluttershy giggled. "Rainbow apologize to your mother," she instructed before looking down at Scootaloo. Or what she thought was Scootaloo. "What do you...Scootaloo?" She looked around and grabbed Rainbow, looking her in the eyes. "Where's Scootaloo?!" Rainbow Dash looked around at the bottom of the chariot and gasped.

"Scoots!! Sound off!" She yelled to the sky.

"Back here!" They looked behind them at the other chariot where Scootaloo was waving from the top of Rarity's head. "I'm chillin' with the kiddies!" Rainbow and her family looked at each other.

"Uhhh," Rainbow Dash yelled back. "Can you guys make sure Scootaloo doesn't do something unsafe please?"

Applejack waved and yelled back, "You got it!" Rainbow sighed and turned around to face the front of the chariot as they started moving.

"Great," she groaned. "Now I'm scared Scootaloo's going to do something dangerous and I'm going to have to fly out of this chariot to catch her in mid air."

Celestia wrapped a wing around her shoulders and chuckled. "You'll probably do something as a family activity. And leave that to me."

"Mom if you're trying to be fun, stop it, it's not working." Celestia withdrew her wing and gave Rainbow a glare. "Fun just isn't your thing. Luna's more of the fun one. you're all serious and business." Celestia scoffed and turned her head up to look at the sky.

"Well one day, I'm going to take my granddaughter out for a trip and show her just how fun I am," she replied.

"Please don't take her for a flight while reading her the laws of Equestria. She'll more than likely jump off." Celestia's wing caught the back of Rainbow Dash's head again.



After the group had lifted off, enjoying a few minutes of silence, while Rarity was once again combing Scootaloo's hair in the back of the chariot, the quiet mood was lifted once more. Scootaloo poked Applejack in the hip, getting her attention. "Am I a princess?" She asked.

Applejack looked at everyone else, who was staring at her in return. Then back down at Scootaloo once more. She asked dumbfoundedly, "....huh?"

"Am I a princess?" Scootaloo repeated.

"Uhhh....I'm afraid I don't know, sugarcube. You'll have to ask your mother Rainbow Dash about that—that is the most weirdest thing I've said in my life," Applejack interrupted herself. "'Your mother Rainbow Dash.'"

"How about, 'Rainbow Dash's daughter?'" Rarity added. "How does that feel?"

"Now that is just..I don't know!" Twilight agreed. "It's so awkward. Can you imagine going outside and saying, 'Hey, look, It's Princess Dash and her daughter, Scootaloo?' It. Is. So. Strange." The group responded with a lot of nodding and murmurs of agreements.

"I heard that!!" Rainbow Dash shouted from the front. "I can be a mom!! And Fluttershy is practically already one!!"

Rarity pointed towards the pink mane blowing in the wind ahead and commented, "Now I can actually envision Fluttershy being a mother. Rainbow on the other hoof would be a more protective older sister—"

"Now that is a no!!" Rainbow denied. "I can totally be a mom!! I resent what you said!!"

"And I can totally be fun!! See?" Celestia leaned back and let one of her hooves dangle out the side of the chariot, imitating her having a no care attitude. "Is this fun?"

"Mom, no," Rainbow shot down. "No, you're trying too hard. If you want to be fun, crack a few jokes here and there. Play a few games, splash the waters a little. Here." Rainbow reached out and grabbed a cloud, then squeezed it inside of the chariot. Water poured out and hit the floor before Rainbow lit her horn and turned it into a bunch of snowballs. Then passed one to her. Celestia looked at it quizzically. "Now. What is the first thing you want to do with a snowball? By instinct, what do you do when you pick up a snowball? What do you do?"

"I...put it back down. I have no need for snowballs." Celestia set the snowball back down with the rest of them.

"No, see? That's not fun. Well, to you it may be. For some odd reason. What I do with it is totally different. I pick it up..." She grabbed one in her magic. "I pull it back...and I let it go." Rainbow tossed it over head with her magic to fly up in a small arch. Celestia and Fluttershy turned around to watch it fly back and straight into Applejack's face, making the two gasp.

Scootaloo gawked and pointed at her the stetson wearing pony. "Awwwweeesommmeee!!!!!"

Rainbow Dash got a prideful look on her face and held her head up high. "And that's...how it's done." A bunch of snow suddenly hit the back of her head, making her wince and shiver from the cold temperature. Fluttershy held a hoof up to her mouth and silently chuckled at her before Rainbow grabbed another one and threw it over her head. Applejack dodged to the left, so it soared straight past and into the empty air.

Rainbow turned around and pointed an accusing hoof at Applejack, then yelled, "ASSAULT ON A PRINCESS!!"

"You deserved it, your majesty!" Applejack retorted before a bunch of snow hit her in the right cheek. But this one came from her own chariot. Everyone looked down towards Scootaloo who was preparing another ball of snow.

"Don't worry, mom! I got your back!" She yelled.

"You get her Scoots!" Rainbow replied before Fluttershy's wing caught her in the back of her head. "Ow! What is with all the wing slapping today?"

"No, do not go get her! Drop the snowball Scootaloo! Rainbow turn around." The two Princesses pouted and cried, "AWWW!" before they did as asked. Fluttershy pointed a hoof at Rainbow's face. "Set a good example today, Rainbow. Or no more love making from me for a month." Rainbow gasped and nodded eagerly.

"Wow, supermom Fluttershy!" Pinkie cheered from the back of their chariot. The royals jumped and turned around to see Pinkie in a pink dress sporting a giant grin. "You got Rainbow by the long, clear, and funny moving mane!"

Rainbow stared at her in surprise. "Wait, but...you weren't at the castle!—You know what? I'm not even going to ask."

"Alright. Hey! Did you get into Fluttershy yet?!"



After that embarrassing moment, and Celestia's teasing, the city of Canterlot finally came into view along with the many ponies heading towards the land and preparing for the citywide party that was planned. Twilight and the others looked around before Twilight's tail unconsciously intermingled with Cherry's, taking her by surprise. She squeaked and tapped Twilight's shoulder, ripping her attention from the ground down below to her girlfriend. Cherry made a motion with her eyes to their tails that Scootaloo was poking at, making their hearts stop. "Hey. Why's your tail all weird and—"

"It's nothing Scootaloo, they just got crossed," Twilight excused before unwrapping her tail and offering Scootaloo a really fake smile.

"Oh. Okay." Scootaloo crawled back between Applejack's hooves and to the side of the chariot to look over. They were coming in for a landing at the castle, which was where they were going to be meeting with Cadance and Shining Armor before heading to the wedding hall. "I've actually never walked around here before," she informed them.

Twilight laughed and picked Scootaloo up in her magic to set her down between her hooves. "Well then, maybe Princess Celestia or your mother could give you a tour of the castle. They've both been in there and walked around."

"Okay!" The two chariots touched down on the runway on the Castle grounds and rolled to a stop. Sweetie Drops hopped off the front of the chariot and opened the doors for the royalty. Scootaloo just jumped out the back one and started to wave to the crowd at the gates, giving them a show. She clapped her hooves together and shook them while the others were watching and laughing at her. Spotting this, Rainbow came over and picked her up in her magic. Then carried her back to Fluttershy. Then assigned guards to watch over the both of them while she talked to Celestia.

"Should we be expecting any trouble?" She asked her as the group made their way towards the one of the many entrances of the Castle.

Celestia hummed and nodded. "Well, those after your magic could try to make an appearance. Not to mention the pony who is after you that the Royal Guard is still attempting to track down. They could decide to be a visitor and cause a little trouble. More so than your excitable daughter." They both turned around to witness Scootaloo running around trying to get away from Fluttershy and the guard screaming "Freedom" over and over. Rainbow rolled her eyes and lit her horn, freezing Scootaloo in midstep, surrounded by a cyan aura that carried her over to Rainbow Dash's face.

"You. Are in so much trouble." Rainbow turned around and walked into the castle with her posse, carrying Scootaloo in front of her. The halls inside were the same like always. Only after the guards closed the doors did Rainbow let Scootaloo go. She wiggled her little hooves and trotted ahead of the group with her head held high and a grin on her face, ignoring the eyes staring after her. Rainbow slowly shook her head and motioned for her guards to follow after her. "Keep a close eye on her. Actually, Sweetie Drops follow along, please. Have her back at the throne room by two, please."

The Special Agent saluted before she followed after. Celestia watched the group leave and turn a corner before she turned to her daughter and continued walking. The others branched off to do their own thing since the bride and groom were in their rooms getting ready, leaving the princesses to talk. "You should consider giving Special Agent Sweetie Drops some time off. She has done a lot for you," Celestia recommended.

"I've actually been thinking about it," Rainbow responded. "She's been keeping my daughter safe and I do believe she could use that time, considering that she works for most of the day and usually gets around five hours of sleep. Max." They turned a corner and walked towards the large throne room doors. "But we need to find this pony who is after me. I know they're out there, waiting for me to be alone. And possibly go after Scootaloo or Fluttershy. I did suggest for Fluttershy to at least allow me to place some guards by her place, but she was concerned it would scare the animals. So I suggested she stay at the castle and at least allow some overpassing pegasi keep a watch out for her when at her cottage. She at least allowed me that bit."

The Guards stationed at the throne room opened the doors then stepped aside, allowing the royals through. The two walked along the marble floors and made their way towards the throne where Luna was sitting, reading a letter of some sort. "Hey Aunt Luna." Princess Luna glanced up and smiled at the two. Then set down the scroll and made her way down towards them.

"I hope my sister did not walk in on you two having coitus again?" Luna asked before pulling Rainbow into a loving hug.

"No, Scootaloo did that." Luna looked at her in shock before Rainbow grinned.

"You're joking."

"I am." Luna sighed in relief and placed a hoof over hear heart. Rainbow turned around and gave Celestia grin. "And that is another example of how to be fun. I hope you're taking notes, mom." Luna looked up and shot Celestia a look begging for an explanation.

Celestia cleared her throat and trotted up to Luna with a serious face. Which immediately turned desperate. Then she began stumbling over her words. "Scootaloo said I wasn't fun! Luna, be honest with me. Am I not fun?"

"....uhhhh...." She glanced at Rainbow Dash who settled down to the side and then back at Celestia. "Well...you can be a little—okay, yes. You are usually the serious one. An example of this would be my pranks. I usually prank you at least once a week, you at least try to do it once every season."

Celestia whimpered and then trotted over to a nearby guard. "Am I not fun?" She asked him. The guard stared at her with wide eyes, then glanced to his partner adjacent to him. He shrugged before the guard spoken to looked back up into Celestia's eyes.

"Uhhh...Y-Yeahhhh! Yeah, you're pretty fun!" He said slowly.

Celestia leaned in close to him and squinted her eyes. "Tell the truth."

"Well...y-you could use a little spice every now and then."

Celestia nodded and then turn back to Rainbow Dash. She pointed a hoof at her, then at herself. "You are going to teach me how to be fun after the wedding."

Rainbow gasped and flapped her wings to fly in a blurred circle around Celestia's head before she stopped and hovered in front of her. "AWESOME! Now we're talkin'! First thing's first, we need to put you in something awesome for this wedding!"

"Wait, Rainbow I said—" Rainbow Dash lit her horn and teleported the both of them to Celestia's bedroom in the castle. Luna blinked and then turned to the guards, who were both sharing the same surprised expressions before Luna tossed a ball of light at the one Celestia talked to.

He moved to the right just in time and gave Luna a proud look. "You got me the first time, but it didn't work this time, your highness."

Luna chuckled and said, "I was not aiming for you." He blinked and turned around to face the brightly glowing star that was getting brighter and brighter stuck on the part of the throne right behind his head. He sighed before the orb went off, covering him in glitter once again. The guard on the other side chuckled before another one stuck on his horn, he gasped before it went off, covering his entire face in silver glitter. "What, you thought you were not taking part in the festivities?" Luna teased as she walked back up to her throne. "I do this everyday!"



Cadance took in a deep breath and looked in the mirror inside of Celestia's throne room as the seamstress continued fitting her in a white dress with a golden hemline. A trio of white and gold flowers adorned her head, along with a pair of hoof shoes. The dresser pulled on another string and then cut a loose thread. After brushing some pieces of the fabric to the side, she stood back up and looked at Cadance in the mirror. "Alright, Princess! Your dress is officially finished! You can choose to wait here if you'd like to avoid all the—"

"Alright mom, behind the curtain!!" The two mares jumped and looked over to see Rainbow Dash pushing Celestia behind a privacy screen. "Hold still! I got this!" She darted behind the screen and started making a bunch of noise as she dressed her mother.

"Wait Rainbow, what are you doing?! Ow, not there, that hurts! Ow, stop pricking me! Where'd you even get that?! Hold on, not there! Let me go this instant, young lady!" The Privacy screen was pushed away, revealing Celestia in a dark red dress that matched Rainbow's. Celestia stared at it then gave Rainbow a deadpan glare. "Where. Did you get this?"

Rainbow grinned and shrugged. "What Rarity doesn't know...is that I can sew too."

"Can you really?"

Rainbow dropped her hooves and gave Celestia a smile. "Absolutely not! I'm not the type of pony to be sitting behind a sewing machine everyday! I have more important things to do. Now—oh, hey Cadance! Didn't see you there! Wow, you look great!" The two mares that were actually preparing for the wedding were staring at her in shock before the seamstress dropped her face to the ground.

"Your majesties! I was not expecting you to be in here!" She apologized quickly. "W-Were you wishing to get your dresses fixed of some sort?" Rainbow sighed and shook her head.

"Rise, fellow pony. And no, do not worry about it. I am just teaching my mother a lesson. Are you finished with Cadance?"

"Yes, your majesty," she replied quickly.

"Okay. I would like to have a few good luck words with my cousin."

"Oh! Yes, ma'am!" The pegasus quickly grabbed her things and made her way out the door. She closed it behind her, thus leaving the three in privacy.

Cadance looked between the two and then snorted. She motioned a hoof between them and asked, "What's going on, why are you wearing the same dresses?"

Celestia sighed and said, "It's a family thing that I believe Rarity had planned for Rainbow, Scootaloo, and Fluttershy. Scootaloo asked Rainbow to wear one with her and Fluttershy, so here she is trying to get me in one too."

"And did get you in one," Rainbow reminded her. "See? It fits you perfectly! Now all we need to do is get Luna in one. I bet you it will be really fun. I found these dresses in some of Rarity's stuff when she wasn't looking. She. Made. Ten of them. I think she was expecting me to rip them off. Oh, that reminds me! Cadance, we're trying to make Celestia a lot more fun. Scootaloo called her Grandma and said that she's not fun. And Mom's really bummed out about it. So we're trying to get her fun."

"What?" Cadance asked playfully in disbelief. "No! Aunt Celestia's fun in her own special kind of way. Her and Twilight get along great."

"Twilight is more fun," Rainbow deadpanned. "Even when she's like doing her nerd thing, at least some of it makes me laugh, no offense mom. All you have to do is get somepony to laugh and you've just become fun. But you're like...." She leaned in close to Celestia's ear and whispered, "How old are you again?"

Celestia rolled her eyes and answered, "Five thousand twenty four."

"Wait, really?" They both asked.

"Yes. Luna is five thousand twenty. We do not like to celebrate birthdays, so we do not bring it up."

"Even Luna?!" Rainbow asked. "The fun one doesn't celebrate birthdays?!"

"I'll have you know—" Cadance and Rainbow jumped and turned around where Princess Luna was standing firm, glaring at them. "That even though we do not have a birthday party, thy birthday is amazing thanks to what thou give our sister."

Celestia nodded and walked over to the bride. "It's true. Cadance you look fantastic. Shining Armor may want to have foals right after this." Cadance's face went from pride to shock while Rainbow Dash stared in surprise. Then started guffawing.

"C-Celestia! Don't worry about what we'll be doing after the wedding," Cadance responded with a blush.

"Oh, I am not. Because I already know. Lots and lots of—Hey, come back! I am only kidding Cadance, come back here." Cadance quickly walked out the door of the room with a bright red face. She turned a corner and took a deep breath with her eyes closed. Rainbow Dash fell on the floor, laughing her flank off.

"Hiya, Cadance!" Cadance opened her eyes and looked down at Scootaloo who was waving a hoof at her, gracing her with a grin. She was surrounded by five of Rainbow Dash's guards, including the strange one with a scar over one of her eyes who was right beside the filly and looking around cautiously. Scootaloo was wearing a smaller version of the outfits Rainbow and Celestia were wearing. A red dress with small gems around the high neckline.

Cadance smiled back and looked down at Scootaloo. Then greeted, "Hello, Scootaloo. How are you? Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Yep! I've never been around the castle before! I should've brought my scooter. Can you imagine everything I can do in here? So many tricks. Mother won't allow me to ride my scooter inside, she says I have to do it outside."

"Yes, it wouldn't be safe to ride that inside. Do you like my dress?" Cadance turned around and showed it to the group.

"Eh, Too girly," she responded. "But I guess if you like it, I like it too." The guards around her smirked at Cadance and she hummed in return, silently chuckling.

"You're an adorable one. Do you want to help me get Aunt Luna in a dress?"

"Great Aunt Luna? Definitely! Come on, guard guys!" She waved her hoof behind her to the guards before following Cadance back to the closed bedroom door.

"Are you seriously that old?" Rainbow asked Luna. "I thought you were at least a hundred something."

"I am flattered that you think that way of me," Luna deadpanned before the door was thrust open catching all of their attention.

"Alright, Great Aunt Luna!" Scootaloo yelled. "It's dress time! Mother we need to put Great Aunt Luna in a dress! The wedding starts in two hours!"

Rainbow blinked at Scootaloo then turned back to Luna. Looking her up and down, she smiled. "Oh yeah. You're the only one in here without a dress on. Mom? Now you can be fun. Help me put this dress—" Rainbow reached behind one of the privacy screens and pulled out the same style dress as the rest of them. "—on Luna, and you pass the first exam in the How To Be Fun...lesson class." One of the guards shook his head while the others just stared at her. "What, I haven't been to school in years, I don't remember this."

"It's called courses," Celestia clarified.

"Yeah, well you read through education stuff daily I bet. I don't, I read through nature stuff."

"Maybe I should send some your way?"

"A-Alright, Luna! time's up!" Rainbow yelled, successfully dodging Celestia's little threat. "It's time—" She flared the dress out and squinted her eyes at Luna. "—for the dress."

Luna stared back at the group with a nonchalant expression. "There is absolutely no way, you are putting that on me."


Five Minutes Later


Celestia let Luna go from her magical grip. Then the Princesses all stepped back to look at Luna, who was successfully wearing the red dress. Luna was standing frozen with twitching eyes. "I...cannot...believe this," she muttered.

"Yeah, it doesn't do too good with your dark color," Rainbow replied. "We may have to dye you or something."

"No."



Af\ter another hour the ceremony was scheduled to start in another building in Canterlot. There was a route created for the royals of Equestria in a parade-like fashion. With Shining Armor in the front and his family, then the Princesses with Cadance. Shining was in the front so he didn't have to see Cadance in her dress. Everyone else was already there at the wedding hall. Waiting for the groom to arrive. The people of Canterlot and some more parts of Equestria were waiting for them along the sidewalk. Talking, eating drinking, and celebrating. Until some of the guards stationed outside the castle gates blew on horns to announce the departure. Outside the castle and inside the gates, Twilight hopped into the large chariot in the front seat with her brother, giving him a knowing smile. After settling down, he looked over and lost his grin. Twilight was giving him that look again. "...what?" He asked suspiciously.

Twilight pouted and shook her head. "Oh, nothing. Just...be careful with her tonight. Don't hurt yourself."

"What are you talking..." His eyes widened and he gasped, "Twily! That is my business!" He replied with a red face.

"I know, but you don't want to break anything. So be careful on your honeymoon, okay?" She warned, genuinely concerned.

"....yeah, okay." The chariot started to move towards the gates while the parents were in the back laughing. In the chariot behind them were Rainbow Dash and her family, waiting for the go ahead. And behind them were the princess of the hour with Celestia and Luna, present in a chariot that had a clear tent. Celestia and Luna were in the front corners of it while Cadance was under the tent. In the spectrum themed chariot, Rainbow was on the right and Fluttershy was on the left. And Scootaloo was on the top of Rainbow's head, hyperactive as ever. Rainbow Dash really regrets hoofing her some of that cake this morning as a wakeup call.

"Ooohhh, I see the cameras! I see the lights! I see the action!" Scootaloo cheered aloud as she stood on the top of Rainbow's head with her mouth open in a grin. "I'm gonna do a little dance, a little wave here, a little wave there, then another dance..." Fluttershy shared a glance with Rainbow Dash who glanced back and smirked before the cart started moving. Scootaloo lost her balance a little but held on as the chariot came out of the tunnel and through the gates filled with the cheering and picture taking. Sure enough, Scootaloo started doing what she said she would. A little wave here, a little wave there then she stood up on two hooves and did a little dance on Rainbow's head. Rainbow Dash sighed, but kept a sharp lookout. She had a bad feeling. Just like Celestia said earlier, they were exposed in front of a lot of ponies. All of the Royalty's guards were stationed across the city, but there were still openings.

"Oh yeah! Uh huh!" Scootaloo cheered as she danced on the top of Rainbow's head.

"Sweetheart, get down from the top of your mother's head," Fluttershy instructed. Scootaloo grumbled but did as asked and got on her mom's back between her wings. While Fluttershy was talking Rainbow Dash happened to look up in the sky and spot a small dot right over the road. There wasn't supposed to be any ponies over the street, no matter the height. It was just floating there.

"FOR THE POWER!!" Somepony yelled, getting her attention. The royalty looked around in confusion, and the guards got their weapons. Suddenly, a bunch of ponies strode out from the crowd, jumping over the fences and such before they morphed into some black creatures that Rainbow Dash had never seen before. Thinking quickly, Rainbow, lit her horn and threw her hooves to both sides, summoning the spell. The air on both sides of the chariot suddenly turned into giant walls of ice, leading the creatures to slam into it and fall harmlessly to the ground. The innocent ponies started screaming and running around while the guards quickly rushed towards the chariots to create a protective barrier.

Rainbow jumped out the chariot with Luna and Celestia. Then ordered her guards, "Get everyone to the wedding hall and lock it down tight! No one in or out!"

Special Agent Sweetie Drops saluted and ran with the rest of the guards to the wedding hall. Fluttershy grabbed Scootaloo and tucked her between her legs as they quickly cruised along, bouncing along the concrete and cobblestones. Along the way, Scootaloo happened to look down another street to see a horde of those creatures running straight for them. She screamed, grabbing Fluttershy's attention. They jumped at the chariot and a few of them attempted to grab Scootaloo but were swatted away by the guard. And actually bucked in the face by Fluttershy. "STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!!" She yelled, surprising Scootaloo as she got deep underneath Fluttershy's barrel. The chariot did some type of turn, nearly throwing her off before it parked in front of the wedding hall. Fluttershy reached under her and grabbed Scootaloo by the teeth Then tossed her up onto her back before jumping off and making her way quickly towards the wedding hall with Special agent Sweetie Drops and a few other ponies, including the guards.

She quickly rushed inside and was immediately bombarded with a few guards, asking her questions and looking her over while the other guards shut and locked the doors behind her. Ignoring them, she took Scootaloo off her back and started turning her this and that, looking her over. "Are you okay, Scootaloo?! Oh! Oh, I hope those mean bugs didn't bite you! Are you hurting anywhere?!"

"Mom, put me down, I'm dizzy!" Scootaloo replied with swirling eyes. Fluttershy flipped her upside down to look under her dress just in case. Scootaloo gasped and immediately crossed and covered her legs. "MOM!!"

Sighing in relief, Fluttershy softly let Scootaloo down before the filly quickly darted back underneath her legs. Once situated, Fluttershy walked towards the middle of the hall with Rainbow's guards where Cadance was being looked over by a nervous Twilight and citizens alike. Twilight lifted her wings and moved Cadance's head around. "Are you okay?! Did those things hurt you?!"

"Twilight, I am super positive they didn't even notice me," Cadance replied blankly before she turned to the door. "I just hope the others are alright." Everyone else got quiet and turned towards the door, listening to the screams and yelling outside. Sweetie Drops was standing in the middle of a line of guards, all positioned directly in front of the bolt locked doors. Waiting for an intruder.
> Chapter 33 - Fun With Changelings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another one of the black creatures were blasted against the brick wall of a nearby shop, frozen solid in a block of ice on impact. Rainbow backed up into Luna, forming a defensive triangle with her and her mother Celestia amidst the group of creatures that had them surrounded. "So uhhh..." Rainbow stammered before holding out a hoof to hold one of them back, snarling and biting at the air. "Mom. What exactly are these things?"

"Changelings," Celestia responded from behind her before hitting another one in the face. "There's so many."

"I agree," Luna inputted. Before grabbing around twenty in her magic and throwing them into another large group. A horde of even more Changelings quickly flew in from another street, creating a black cloud that was heading down right towards them. The Royal Guard immediately began blasting them down before they too were being shot at with green goo from their horns.

Rainbow made a face of disgust before ducking from one of the green globs. She reared up on her hind legs with outstretched wings and activated her magic, creating a strong breeze that blew all the changelings back down the street, rolling along the ground. Celestia raised an eyebrow and then smiled at Rainbow beside her. "Good job."

Rainbow put a prideful look on her face and grinned. "I know. I'm the best."

"Don't get too cocky," Luna scolded then shook her head. "Just like your father."

"That makes us both awesome," Rainbow concluded before the three got into a defensive line, ready to fight. The Changelings quickly regrouped and formed a large position in front of the wall of guards, who were guarding the princesses. "Now, mom? You're not free of these lessons yet."

"What are you talking about?" Celestia asked.

Rainbow lit her horn and fired a beam towards the Changelings. It stopped just shy of hitting them and formed a tall wave of ice that would cascade over them if it were water. "Your fun lessons!" Rainbow answered enthusiastically. "You're trying to be more fun, right? Now let's turn this into a game. Whoever gets the most Changelings wins. We start when they get over that wall—"

A laugh maniacally pierced through the air, interrupting Rainbow Dash. She groaned and looked up at the roof of a nearby restaurant. A larger version of hose bugs landed on the edge and sneered down at them. A female with longer hooves and those dreaded holes. Rainbow was really tempted to just go up and hold an intervention to tell her those were the real villains. "I am Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings!" She yelled. "And I am after—" She pointed a hole riddled hoof at Rainbow Dash. "—your magic!"

Rainbow threw up her hooves and rolled her eyes. Then retorted, "I know that, bug! You yelled that around the city earlier! Everypony here heard you!"

Chrysalis growled and fired that green goo at Princess Dash that she did not like earlier. Rainbow stepped to the side before it could hit her, instead hitting the ground by her rear hoof. Then fired a spell of her own that was made of flames, spewing right at the Queen. She teleported in a green circle underneath her hooves, confusing Rainbow Dash. Then appeared right next to her, making Rainbow jump. Using another spell, Rainbow turned her body into a bunch of flames before Chrysalis could lay that hoof on her. The queen pulled back quickly when she felt the fire touch her, hissing then growled at Rainbow Dash. "You think those little spells can stop—" She was frozen in ice mid sentence.

Luna and Celestia righted themselves from their defensive positions, and then turned to Rainbow Dash, who was wiping her face and sat down, smiling at the frozen Changeling. Then sighed and said, "Yeahhh....she talks too much. Just fight already."

Celestia rolled her eyes then focused her attention back towards the ruckus down the street. The guards were fighting the changelings with their hooves, taking them down by a storm. Rainbow grimaced each time she heard a punching noise. "Oh! Oh, man! Oh, that had to hurt!"

Celestia shook her head at her daughter's ignorance. Luna was right, she was just like her father. Deciding they had enough, the Changeling's flew up into the air, away from most of the Royal Guard's reach and flew forward, flying over the Princesses to grab Queen Chrysalis' frozen form. They hefted her up, then flew higher in the air, then turned to the left to go back to wherever they came from. The guards and the Princesses watched them fly off towards the sun, looking similar to a large black cloud. Once they were out of sight, Celestia collapsed in a heap, taking Rainbow by surprise. She looked down and quickly poked her. "Mom, you okay?!" She asked worriedly.

"...I...am...tired," she huffed.

Rainbow scoffed and put on a boastful smile. "Well I'm fresh as a clean, freshly washed Apple. Cider. I'm clean as a freshly poured cup of cider." Luna shook her head and laughed while she helped up Celestia. "And our dresses didn't even get ruffled," Rainbow added. The Princesses made their way over to the guards, Shining Armor at the front of them recuperating from the attack. The Princesses stopped in front of him before he saluted up to the three.

"We have not seen, nor heard anymore of those creatures," he reported. "Everything is clear."

"Good job, Captain," Celestia responded.

"Permission to speak freely?"

"Granted."

Shining fell on his flanks and yelled to the sky, "Can I PLEASE get married now?! I didn't even get to see Cadance in her wedding dress!!"

Rainbow laughed and trotted towards him. Then ran a hoof through his hair. "Nope! You can't because now we have to start over!"

"WHAT?!"

"I'm kidding." Rainbow dash removed her hoof then turned to Celestia. "What do you say, mom? Should we get these two married or what?"

Celestia shrugged and trotted over to stand beside her daughter, giving Shining Armor a smile. "Well the investigation is definitely going to happen. But at a later time. I suggest we block your vision with something, because you are still not allowed to see Cadance. Which we are all going to laugh at."

Rainbow grinned and shook her head. "I am definitely going to laugh. Especially with Twilight." Shining Armor groaned before Celestia reached over to grab the hoofkerchief one of the guards was holding, laughing.



Cherry Berry groaned one more time as Twilight anxiously looked her over. Everyone else was standing around, taking note of the eerie silence outside before it was calmed down by some laughter behind the doors. The group of four teleported inside the castle in front of the guards, who immediately parted to allow them through. Rainbow Dash had her hooves on Shining Armor's flank, leading him towards the front of the room where Cadance was waiting. The ponies who were observing moved to the side to allow them through, soon revealing Cadance in her dress. Rainbow placed and turned his body towards the bride, who was trying her hardest no to laugh at the bright blue hoofkerchief placed over his eyes.

Rainbow stepped back and righted herself. "Alright, lover boy," she announced. "Your bride is right in front of you."

Shining gasped and reached out with his hooves to grab her. But instead her grabbed a bunch of air and fell down on his face. Rainbow snorted and helped him back to his hooves while he harrumphed. "Er...s-sorry," she apologized, trying to keep down her giggles. She pushed him forward a few feet and then repeated what she said earlier. Shining reached out and pulled Cadance into a loving hug. "Are you okay, sweetheart?! I thought...wait..." He sniffed her for a moment. "Okay it's you."

Celestia chuckled and said, "Or it could be one of your guards."

"WHAT?!"

Rainbow gasped and pointed an excited hoof at Celestia's face. "Hey! You actually made a joke!" Celestia raised her chin and moved her head to the right, boasting.

"I know," she responded casually. "It's in the family line."

Luna rolled her eyes and poked Celestia. "Yes, in your family line. Starting with you and her father. Now stop joking, we have two ponies who must be married."