Twilight's Kingdom

Flash Sentry stood.

"One more thing." he said. "I would like to ask Miss Rainbow Dash if she would like to join Princess Twilight's honor guard."

Rainbow flew into the air above her seat. "Yes! That would be awesome!"

"Excellent! If I may, I would like to introduce Rainbow to the two other members of the guard." He looked at Princess Celestia for permission, who nodded. He rose from the table. "This way."

Rainbow headed after him.

Rainbow Dash's POV

They headed down a hallway lined with portrait frames, with the pictures of famous Royal Guard captains. including Shining Armor and Flash Sentry.

"So, who else is in the guard?" Rainbow asked as they turned into a room.

"A stallion named Shadow," he pointed to a dark gray pegasus with a scruffy mane and tail, who nodded, "And this young mare says she knows you!"

He was pointing to no other than Lightning Dust.

She looked no different in appearance, but the tentativeness about her made Rainbow stop and look at her a minute. Their eyes met, and the cyan mare saw genuine hurt and self-doubt in them, not the boyish playfulness and silent dares of the Lightning Dust who was her Wonderbolt Academy partner.

Lightning glanced at Flash Sentry, but didn't make eye contact when she spoke in an almost Fluttershy-esque way. "Could I speak with Rainbow Dash in private, please-sir?" She was practically pleading with him.

"That would be fine, Lightning." Flash answered. "But make it quick-you have to get your uniforms on ASAP if we're going to be on time." They headed into a small closet. Lightning closed the door, and the two looked at each other in awkward silence.

"I wish I could take it all back." Lighting whispered. "I really do. And not just because I can kiss being a Wonderbolt goodbye. I'm sorry for everything I did. I don't deserve to live."

"Don't say that." Rainbow's cerise eyes blazed with intensity. "You're a great pegasus, and you still are. You just made some bad decisions. I still believe in you, and so does Flash."

Lightning's eyes sparked. "Really? You forgive me?"

"Absolutely." Rainbow nodded. "Now let's get our uniforms on."

Silence's POV

"This is so exciting!" she whisper-shouted. She, along with Starlight Shadow and Lulamoon, were going to be ambassadors for the Starlight Empire when the princess came!

Starlight's violet eyes were cold when she spoke. "Don't get too happy." she snapped. "You're only here because we needed a bat pony representative. If I had my way, you wouldn't be here at all."

"Ah, lighten up, Star." Lulamoon fluttered her wings. "There were dozens of other bat ponies that could have been picked, and she's so young! She has every right to be excited."

Silence flashed her a grateful smile, which Lula returned. Starlight just looked angry.

"Starlight, I have a beautiful shade of dark purple for you, so if you'd hold still-"

A cream-colored unicorn took out a few pins, along with a swatch of fabric. They were also getting dresses made. Silence had always thought of dresses as luxuries for unicorns and pegasi, not for ponies like her. Soon, she would be important, noticed, admired. She would make Nightwing and Crescent proud.