Everypony LOVES Rainbow

PART ONE: ROYALLY SCREWED

"Of course," Rainbow muttered to herself.
"Of bucking course!"

Scootaloo stared at her adopted older sister as she began to tremble and swear to herself. Despite asking more questions about Dash's situation, Scootaloo was still a bit confused. Mostly because she wasn't sure how ponies could love somepony THAT much just because they were wearing a pretty necklace. It just didn't make sense to her.

After Dash had calmed down, Scootaloo stuck her head out of the bush they were hiding in to look at the scene they were faced with again. Canterlot, itself, was busy with more ponies trotting about than she had ever seen in one place. The castle was simply overflowing with activity and various types of ponies and creatures alike. Creatures that Scootaloo had never seen before or even knew existed.

Dash vaguely remembered Twilight mentioning that Celestia was planning to invite a delegate from every major city in Equestria, along with any other race that wanted to attend, to venture to Canterlot to meet and discuss a number of different things. Dash began to tune Twilight out at this point, as she normally did whenever a political rant came up, as she didn't think any of it would affect her.

Now, standing between herself and her last idea for help, was a myriad of hoofed animals, each surrounded by quite a few guards. In fact, it almost appeared that there were more guards than citizens around the castle, not even including Celestia's personal ones.

"What kind of ponies are those?" Scootaloo asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Dash snapped back to reality, she had apparently zoned out from the sheer magnitude of the situation.
"What ponies?"

Scootaloo was pointing to a creature that looked similar to a pegasus. It had wings and hooves, roughly about the same size, but the group of them were all light brown with some white markings. They had short stubby tails and manes that matched their brown fur.

"No way! A Peryton! I can't believe I'm getting to see one in real life! I heard they can go faster than pegasi!"

Dash began to grin at the prospect of meeting some fellow flying enthusiasts. Ever since Twilight had told Dash about their race, the creatures that resemble deer but with wings, she had wanted to meet one. Seeing them was incredibly rare, as they were a quiet and private race that kept to themselves. Twilight had also mentioned something about how they followed a very strict religion which kept them purposely away from any other races. The fact that Princess Celestia had managed to convince some of them to come out to Canterlot to mingle with others and discuss becoming allies was a tremendous feat.

Rainbow was about to leap out of the bush and introduce herself, and by "introduce herself" she meant performing a particularly impressive sonic rainboom to catch their attention. However, the memory of her necklace and the unique consequences of what that action would bring was about to stop her dead in her tracks if somepony else didn't first.

"Identify yourselves!" A rough voice boomed from behind them.

Scootaloo looked to Rainbow Dash, worried they were in trouble, although she didn't quite know what they were doing wrong, besides the fact that hiding in a bush and watching the elite socialites did look rather suspicious.

Afraid to face whoever it was, Rainbow Dash sacrificed the little filly for the greater good. She told herself to remember to buy her an ice cream cone later for her valiant bravery.

Scootaloo wasn't sure which was more shocking, the fact that she had been metaphorically tossed into the lion's den by her idol, or the large stallion towering before her. This wasn't one of Celestia's guards at all.

He looked down at her with his bright red eyes, extending his large wings out in surprise, he had not expected a little filly to be what he had been worried about and felt a little sheepish about it. He had a black coat with a white and blue mane that stood up all on it's own, without the help of a helmet. He could've easily appeared quite large to any regular sized pony, so to Scootaloo he appeared exceptionally big and scary.

"Oh! Just a little girl..." He said to himself, then quickly pulling himself back into his soldier demeanor.
"I mean, this is not the place for foals. Canterlot Castle is under lockdown. I'm sure seeing all these new beings is exciting, but somepony else may have thought you were an enemy threat and attacked you by accident. Luckily, I am a far more skilled stallion than my colleagues and noticed you were of no danger to the Princess and her guests, so I came to warn you and send you on your way."

Nice Save, he thought to himself smugly.

Scootaloo cocked her eyebrow at the stallion, but not wanting to spend anymore time with this behemoth than necessary, she nodded to him and went on her way. But, not before letting Rainbow Dash know.

"It's okay, Rainbow Dash! We're not in trouble, we just gotta move!"

As soon as she heard her name, Dash froze up and her eyes pinned. The guard, suddenly realizing the filly wasn't alone, decided to take a look to see who this 'Rainbow Dash' was. After all, it was probably just another foal and he didn't want to feel silly again. But, then again, it might not be.

In one swift movement, he craftily slashed the bush in a way that made most of the branches instantly snap and fall away, but never harming the unknown pony inside. Dash locked eyes with the guard instantly, shocked at just how fast it all just happened.

"Oh!" The guard said, looking the blue pegasus up and down.
"You are just...so..." He stared at her in a dreamy sort of way.

Then, he suddenly snapped back and shook his head.

"Uh, Oh! I mean, I am sorry miss, but you'll have to take your daughter somewhe-"

"She's my SISTER!"
"I'm her SISTER!" Both Scootaloo and Dash said in unison.

"Er- right, your sister. My apologies. Regardless, this is no place for either of you. You may be attacked, accidentally mistaken for an enemy..."
Suddenly, his eyes glazed over and changed from bright red to a soft orange.

"But, uh, if you'd like to accompany me, I can surely give you an exclusive tour. Where you'd be safe...in my hooves..." He leaned in, then backed up suddenly, only to lean back in.

It was as if he was unsure of himself, or what he was trying to do. Dash raised an eyebrow and watched him curiously, but had her wings raised in case she needed to bolt. However, it looked like she wouldn't have to as his eyes flashed back to red and he shook his head again, this time harder.

"What am I doing? What is going on here..." He said, suddenly suspicious about his own feelings.

Dash's eyes widened. Could it be? Could he be sensing the spell and... trying to fight it? Maybe it's getting weaker! She was about to silently cheer when she noticed the guard once again leaning in towards her, as if he were trying to go in for a kiss.

Dash jerked away before the stallion could finally decide to do it or not and threw Scootaloo on her back.

"I do appreciate the offer, but we were actually just leaving. We didn't mean to disturb her highness, we'll just be going."

"Oh, no you won't!" The guard growled, leaping in front of her.
"Just what are you trying to pull here? I'm extremely skilled in avoiding magic spells, they never even get a chance to work on me because I can normally sense them. But, clearly you are using some mind magic here and it's good! I can't even detect the magic! And how exactly are you doing it, pegasus?"

The guard looked angry, his eyes back to red, and Dash began backing up. She opened her wings, preparing to fly away, when he reciprocated her action, indicating that he would give chase if she were to try it.

"Look, this is all just a misunderstanding..." She squealed.

As the guard grew nearer, she noticed the change in his eyes again. His anger melted away, replaced by the dreamy look he had sported when he first laid eyes on her.

"I'm sure it is," he whispered.
"I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. A beautiful mare such as yourself would never try to manipulate me, right?"

He closed his eyes and, more determined than before, leaned in for the kiss he had been trying for several times now. Seeing this as her chance to flee, she feigned going in for the kiss as well, only to take off.

"Hold on, Scoot!" She warned before a circle of colors exploded where she had just been, then a rainbow streak began to stretch over the sky.

When the wind died down, the guard blinked a few times, regaining his composure. He swore to himself, feeling quite embarrassed for being unable to fully overthrow a magic spell being placed on his mind. He wasn't sure what that rainbow maned pony was up to, but it wasn't good. Angry and hoping to get revenge for having his mind tinkered with, he set off back toward Canterlot Castle to make a few announcements to his fellow guards.

Dash, however, was not getting off as well as she had hoped. Her escape had gone perfectly, but she didn't think about what her destination would be. The guard hadn't been lying when he said that the castle was undergoing lockdown. It seemed the entire city was following suit now that all the guests had arrived safely at the castle. While most of the citizens and tourists had their own activities and social events going on in the town, there was no getting in or out for the day.

She had landed behind a few shops, thinking the alleyway was deserted. Or at least she had thought it was an alleyway, but it turned out to be just a narrow street ponies used as a short cut. Before Dash had a second to catch her breath, two white unicorns came walking down the cobble stone road. The stallion had blue hair and was sporting a monocle of all things. Next to him was a very tall mare with a long pink mane.

"Well, well, darling! What do we have here?"

"Tourists, I suspect!"

"Indeed, but would you look at the colors she's wearing? Lovely palette choice, dear! However did you come up with that?"

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped slightly, before she realized they were seriously asking.

"Uh, I was born with it?"

"Simply smashing! 'born with it' she says!" He chuckled.

"Or maybe it's Neigh-beline!" His partner chimed in.

"It IS her natural mane!" Scootaloo piped up, coming to her defense.

"Of course it is, little one, I never doubted it! Say, would you two like to join us for a day out? I just adore being the one to find the new 'it' pony in Canterlot, you simply have to meet our friends! Isn't that right, Fleur?"

"Oh, yes!" She replied.
"And after, you can come back to our place where the three of us can get more...how you say...? Comfortable. After we put the little one to bed, of course."

"Of course." He nodded.

Rainbow's eye began to twitch.

"As... lovely... as that sounds, I just don't have the time! Loads and loads of important things to do, like uh, like... Oh, gee, would'ja LOOK at the time! I'm already late to do all the things I just mentioned."

"But, you didn't mention anything, my dear."

"There isn't any time to! Come on, Scoot!" She turned to run off when Fancy Pants stopped her.

"Wait! Now I remember you! I couldn't quite place it before, but aren't you friends with Miss Rarity? Oh, and the newest princess, Twilight Sparkle?"

"Uh, yeah, that's me. Glad we're introduced, gotta run!"

"Hang on, you just can't leave!" Fleur shouted.
"You must come to our dinner party later, at least! It's at five o'clock at West Lynn Avenue it's the villa with the..."

But Dash had already took to the air again. Scootaloo was beginning to wonder just what was up with her sister today. That sounded like a lot of fun! Why didn't she want to go? Ponies were inviting her to fun things all day and all she kept doing was flying away!

Dash, however, was starting to think she should hide out until tomorrow. There was no way she would be able to get into the castle today, let alone anywhere near Princess Celestia. Maybe she could get a letter to her and request an emergency meeting with her tomorrow. For the time being, she was going to have Scootaloo book a room for them at one of the fancy Canterlot Hotels for the night. She felt bad dragging the little filly into all of this, so the least she could do was spend some sisterly time with her in a cushy room.

And ice cream. Not just for Scoot, but she needed some as well. Lots and lots of ice cream.