Dash sat with her two guards in her quarters - she had gotten quite close to the two mares, Iron Wing and Blazing Trail, they'd been put in charge of her personal protection and had been with her 24 hours a day, so it made sense to Dash to try and get along with them.

"I don't get why you bother going back down there, everything you need is in Cloudsdale" Iron Wing broke the silence, perching on the end of Dash's bed and picking at one of her white hooves.

Dash turned from her desk and shrugged "I suppose. I just lived there for so long I suppose I like to visit occasionally"

"For someone that is so pro-pegasi I'm surprised you ever left Cloudsdale" Blazing grinned, she was just as cocky as Dash once was, the gift of her youth. She was Spitfire's niece, sharing many of the same features.

Dash scoffed "I hate to break it to you, Blaze, but Cloudsdale isn't some utopia. And I wasn't always so... opinionated. The war did that.... Speaking of which, did either of you fight?"

Iron nodded, but Blazing shook her head. "I was too young, I joined when Spitfire had just negotiated peace"

Iron chuckled "I was there at Canterlot the first time, I even had a turn outside your throne room door"

"Oh?"

She chuckled "Yeah... It wasn't exactly what I'd joined for. I'm proud to say I was always faithful in you though, Dash"

Dash laughed "Why thank you~ Shame about this one though" Dash grinned and looked at Blazing "Little traitor only got her job because of Aunty Spitty"

"Hey!" She growled and stood "I'm not a traitor"

"Sit down. I'm joking..." Dash winked "But have you ever been in a battle?"

"No..." Blazing sighed, sitting back down

Dash grinned and stood "Come on then. Let's get you some experience, shall we? It's not quite a battle, but we'll give you a fight"

"You and Iron against me? I can't hit a cripple" Blazing grinned, patting Dash's head

Dash swiftly swiped her legs away, sending her over onto her back "I'll see you at the dojo. It'd be so embarrassing if this cripple beat you there" Dash laughed, walking out of the room with Iron Wing, both laughing their way to the sparring dojo.

Blazing Trail gritted her teeth, facing Dash and Iron. The two were an intimidating pair, Dash was a legend to her, and Iron a close friend, but she wasn't here to lose. She took a deep breath and eyed the two mares, calculating mentally her plan and form of attack.

"Don't forget to bow. It's respectful" Dash smiled, bowing.

"Oh... Right" She lowered her head in a bow, as soon as she did so feeling a harsh blow to the back of her head, sending her chin straight into the ground.

"We're Pegasi, Mini Spitty. We don't fight fair, remember that" Dash grinned, stepping back alongside Iron. "Take every advantage you can"

Blazing rubbed her head and growled, filled with fury as she got to her feet again. She definitely wasn't going to lose now. "Come get it then"

Dash nodded to Iron, who grinned and stepped forwards "Sorry about this partner" She chuckled, getting closer and closer before throwing a swift hoof towards the other mare.

Blazing used her above average speed to duck the blow, before throwing herself headfirst at Iron and head butting her square in the chest. She opened her eyes to see Iron recoiling, but also noticing a blue blur flying past and behind. The mare instinctively bucked, feeling her hoof connect with something hard, not looking back as she wrapped her hooves around Irons neck and twisting, throwing her to the ground. Taking a sharp breath in, she span quickly with her hooves raised, luckily deflecting a cyan hoof before ducking desperately.

Dash was impressed, her chest throbbing from the buck but not going to let Blazing get away easily. She watched the mare duck, before landing a hoof into the top of Blazing's head, whilst simultaneously swiping a rear hoof through Blazing's legs, sending her sprawling yet again. Dash could feel how bad she'd gotten, her knee screaming with pain and her general abilities eroded slightly.

Blazing's youth was showing, she was quick but was also inexperienced. Sure, she'd fought before, but not against someone with as much experience as Dash, the mare still the quickest about even if she had spent 3 years lying about. She squirmed under Dash, flailing her legs in an effort to get away.

Iron walked slowly over to the pair, Dash holding Blazing down as Iron wrapped her hooves around a leg, bending it painfully back until Blazing eventually tapped out.

Dash took a deep breath and shook her head. "Both of you need to get training, and do so together. Iron, you spent most of the time on the ground and Mini Spitty? That was pretty good, you just need to train yourself better-"

Blazing punched Dash square in the face, before spinning and kicking Iron on the bottom of the muzzle, sending both mares to the floor, grinning with pride "Remember, Dash. Pegasi don't fight fair" She trotted to the corner and wiped her face with her towel, wiping the thin layer of sweat away.

"Very good" Spitfire muttered, approaching Blazing

"Ma'am" Blazing saluted, standing up straight "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there"

She chuckled "Please, Blazing. At ease. You did well, I'm impressed."

"Thank you" She chuckled, blushing slightly as Dash finally came over to join the pair, holding a towel to her bloody nose. "Spitfire..." Dash nodded slightly "How nice of you to join us"

She chuckled "That was quite the show. Please, continue to train with Blazing, you both need the training"

Dash rubbed her nose and grumbled to herself, before smiling at Blazing "Congratulations. You did well, and did it infront of Spitfire too" She patted her back "Dinner's on me" She laughed as Iron joined the group.

Dash looked at herself in the mirror, straightening her armour. Today was the day she would make her speech and she wanted to look good. Secretly she was nervous, but she would never let that show, especially not to the ponies of Equestria. As always she had Iron and Blazing by her side, the pair would be taking the trip down with her - all three were armed just in case.

"You look fine, come on" Iron rolled her eyes and huffed, Blazing leaning against the wall chuckling to herself as the usually careless mare before her perfectly straightened her mane.

"Ok" She grinned "Lets go"

The trio took their time flying to the Castle, arriving early enough and looking impressive and intimidating in their black and gold armour, walking through the large open doors and into the castle, to be greeted by Twilight. She didn't look happy to be there, almost as if she'd been forced into it as it was a special occasion. "Twilight!" Dash grinned, pulling her into a hug, causing the Princesses guards to step forwards with a hoof on their weapons. Pulling away Dash grinned "Are we on edge today, gentlemen?"

Twilight only sighed "Rainbow Dash... Welcome to Canterlot... I trust you know your way around" She said with venom.

This only caused Dash to grin "Oh, I'm sure I'll get around just fine. Let me introduce Iron Wing and Blazing Trail"

The two stepped forwards, Blazing awkwardly bowing before Twilight.

"What... Are you doing?" Dash frowned, tilting her head and looking at her friend "She's nothing to you"

"Right..." Blazing blushed and stepped back, puffing out her chest and trying to look tough, eyeing the four guards with Twilight.

"Are they guards for your protection, or to keep you in check?" Twilight quipped.

"Both" Dash chuckled "I'm sure Iron will spank me if I'm a naughty little filly" She rolled her eyes and stepped forwards, yet again causing the guards to be on edge, only making Dash grin again "My my... You are afraid of me, aren't you?" She jumped forwards quickly, her muzzle almost touching Twilight's, resulting in the four throwing themselves at Dash, who simply hovered upwards and sent the four into a pile below her. "Good to see Equestria still has the finest and brightest guards around" She laughed, landing between Iron and Blazing "If only Shining Armour was around to whip you into shape"

Twi gritted her teeth and shook her head as the four stood and straightened themselves out. "Let's just get this over with..."

Dash walked alongside Twilight, chuckling softly as a guard pushed his way between the two "Don't worry yourself, stallion. I have no intention of killing Twilight, and if I did you wouldn't be able to stop me"

He grunted and just shoved her aside more.

Dash rolled her eyes and let it slide, the last thing she wanted was to get into a fight before this all important speech.

Twilight stopped "I hate to leave you, but I have things to prepare. The guards will escort you to where you need to go. Try to be civil" She grumbled, standing still as the four guards let the trio on, towards a set of doors.

"Its in there" One growled, pointing.

"Aren't you lovely gentlemen coming with us?"

One just grunted and nodded to the door.

"Very well." Dash sighed, opening the door and stepping inside flanked by her guards. Once they were in, the doors slammed shut, the sound of a bolt locking them echoing off the stone walls of the large hall, empty of politicians, only filled with armed guards. "Well shit..." Dash muttered. She had had her suspicions, but nothing like this. She'd fallen straight into their trap, they had her where they wanted her.

"Throw down your arms and surrender!" A stallion in purple armour yelled.

Dash chuckled softly and shook her head, looking at what must be at least 35 guards stood in a semi circle. "You must be the new Captain of the Royal Guard!" She grinned "Oh, I had so much fun gutting the last one... I wonder if you'll cry and bleed as much as he did" She grinned, drawing her sword, copied by Iron and Blazing.

"This is your last warning, Traitor! Throw down your arms!"

"You're making a mistake!" She almost sang "Harm us and you'll be basically declaring war... Trust me, that's my job!"

He glared at her, the room silent for a minute before he nodded "Very well! Get them!"

They had planned the attack well, picking a big room, but also a relatively low ceilinged one that meant even if the three took flight, the guards nets would be able to bring them back to earth. The first line approached, consisting of 6 guards, wielding standard swords. They were no match for the three Pegasi, however, the training and mentality cut down the guards quickly. The second wave, however wasn't as simple. The line of 10 were in pairs, both with shields and spears, hiding behind them as they jabbed with the long blades. The three fought well, but were ultimately overwhelmed as the other guards joined the fight, surrounding the mares and dragging Iron and Blazing behind their line of shields and pinning them.

"Enough!" The captain growled "Surrender or I'll kill your guards"

Dash looked around the room. She was surrounded, and her two friends were on the floor with spears to their necks. Dash was clever, now wasn't the time to be stupid. She knew she'd have the opportunity to get them back, and the backlash of their actions from Cloudsdale would make them regret their decision.

She took a deep breath, and threw her sword at the ground.

Dash stood still as the guards quickly tackled her to the floor, waisting no time in cuffing her hooves and pulling a black bag over her head.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!