Shades of Loyalty

by Equine Speed Runner

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Drama, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Rainbow Dash
Length: 2315

Loyalty isn't as black and white as it seems.

Rainbow Dash and Luna. Two of the most loyal ponies in Equestria. A fool-proof plan to send, when attempting to quench rebellion. After all, loyalty is guaranteed... right? Nay, it is not. Far too many ponies do not realize how grey it is. It is not nearly as black and white as other virtues, elements. Is it truly fool-proof to send the most personal loyalty filled ponies?

Published 2017-06-06 01:50:05 UTC
Last updated 2017-06-06 01:50:05 UTC

Prologue

Rainbow Dash was tired. She had spent quite a while practicing her moves and tricks to impress the Wonderbolts. Flying lazily towards a cloud, she heard a pony call her name.

“Miss Rainbow Dash, I have a message for you!” shouted a stallion down below.

Lazily flapping with her eyes closed she responded, “Well then get on with it! I don’t have all day ya know. This cloud has my name on it!”

“Miss Rainbow Dash if you do not come down, we will bring you down by force. We have a message from Princess Celestia that is absolutely urgent!” Shouted the stallion, slightly annoyed.

Rainbow’s eyes snapped open.

“Wait what? Oh ponyfeathers, I’m heading down.” stated Rainbow Dash, as she flew down.

“Yeah? What is it then?” she asked.

“You have been commanded by Princess Celestia; Diarch of Equestria, Alicorn of the Sun, Most Reverent Princess, Eldest of the Two Princesses; to head to Canterlot Castle immediately to be briefed on a most secret mission. Do not inform any pony of your intentions, and tell the guards, Code: Murmuras de Destruccion. If any pony discovers the intent of your trip other than a guard higher than private you will be arrested on account of treason,” stated the guard with a flat voice, growing rougher at the end, his partner standing perfectly still, but tensed as if prepared to lunge.

“Wait, what?!” exclaimed Rainbow, “Treason?! ooookay, this is serious...ly awesome! Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh, I get to do a mission for the princess! I can’t wait to tell my friends!” She shouted doing loop-de-loops in the sky.

“Except… I can’t tell them,” muttered Rainbow her mood damped, “Hey, I can invite them to come to Canterlot with me. Twilight will especially want to go.”

“Alright that settles it,” she thought, “Yeah, ok, I’ll go to Canterlot soon as possible. I am the fastest pegasus in all of Equestria!” she said with a cocky expression.

____________________________________

Princess Luna had just lowered the moon and was about to go eat something before sleeping. As she ate a salad of mixed leaves and a few flower petals, her sister entered the room.

“Ah, greetings dear sister. What brings thee here during our humble dine?” asked Luna.

“Hello Luna. I simply came here to tell you I require your presence at a meeting later on today.” replied Celestia serenely.

“Oh? What doth require mine own presence at these hours?” wondered Luna, continuing to eat her salad.

“I will tell you when you get there, as there is another pony who will be present. For now Luna, you must learn to be patient.” said Celestia

“Ahhh! Do not patronize me! I do not require your coddling! I am no mere pony!” shouted Luna, her temper flaring.

“Now now, Luna, you need to simply calm down.” replied Celestia calmly.

“Gahhhh! You’re doing it again! When wilt thou learn that PATRONIZING IS NOT SOMETHING MOST PONIES LIKE!” Yelled Luna, slipping into the Royal Canterlot Voice™.

Luna then ran out of the room barely remembering to levitate her delicious salad out with her.

“Well… she has quite more of a temper than I remembered,” stated Celestia flatly.

____________________________________

The Mane 6 had just pulled into Canterlot on the train from Ponyville, and were now exiting the train station.

“Well Dashie, what did ya have to do?” asked Pinkie, bouncing like a rubber ball.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. I just gotta do some stuff, kay? You guys just, I dunno, chill and hang out or something,” Dash replied.

“Well I’m going to the castle. I can’t wait to see my mentor!” proclaimed Twilight.

“Hmmph, I think I shall head to one of the designer shops here, the designs must be fabulous!” squealed Rarity, excited.

“Ah’ll uh… just stick with Pinkie,” muttered Applejack.

“Sooooweet! I can’t wait Applejack! We’re gonna have so much fun! Theres gonna be cakes, I’m gonna throw a party! And… and… and!” said Pinkie, rushing her words from excitement.

“I don’t really like all these loud noises… I hope my animals are okay...” murmured Fluttershy trying desperately to sink into an invisible hole until this was all over.

Rainbow Dash internally sighed.

“Why did I bring these ponies along?” she wondered, “Oh right, they kinda forced themselves when they found out I was coming here.”

______Flashback_______

Rainbow Dash had been at the train station back in Ponyville, buying the ticket when her friends chanced upon her. They proceeded to ask her what she was doing, where she was going, why she was going, and basically imposing the 5 W’s on her, annoying her to no end.

She was getting pretty annoyed when Twilight spotted her ticket. Twilight began freaking out with excitement and immediately fired off questions like a machine gun to which Rainbow Dash answered vaguely as possible.

Seeing as Rainbow was leaving, and they had nothing better to do -Equestria was saved again last week, they were on break- the other five decided, “Hey why not go with Rainbow Dash to Canterlot?” Thus, they all went with her unfortunately for her mission.

______Present_______

“Erm… Twilight? How bout I go with ya? I’m sure the princess could use seeing such an awesome pony like me.” suggested Rainbow nervously, hiding it with her usual brashness.

“Rainbow! That sounds like a great idea! In fact, I could introduce all my friends to her-” Twilight began to ramble.

“Uhh… not right now. Maybe one at a time? I uh… wouldn’t want my awesomeness to be dampened by other ponies! Yeah, one at a time so we can show off our coolness alone!” Dash frantically suggested.

“Dampen yer awesomeness? Whaddaya mean, Dash? As in, we ain’t lettin’ ya shine or somethin’? We’re better than that,” said Applejack, frowning slightly.

“Actually Rainbow, that’s a pretty good idea, where’d you come up with it?” asked Twilight, attempting to diffuse the situation.

“Well, I’m no egghead but I have pretty radical ideas at times ya know, just pure awesomeness leaking out,” boasted Rainbow, her confidence boosted.

“Alright then! Let’s go Rainbow,” suggested the purple unicorn.

____________________________________

It had been several hours since Celestia told Luna to stay for a meeting. Eight, in fact. At this point she was dead on her feet and practically drunk on sleepiness.

She was standing there, waiting, waiting. Luna entertained herself with anything possible, even starting to talk to herself. Around 8 hours, 1 minute since she was told, Luna simply dropped, completely asleep.

Celestia looked on and decided to leave Luna, sighing.

“I hope Rainbow Dash comes soon, I’m not sure I can stand more of this and the nobles of Day Court,” she said.

____________________________________

Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash approached the gate. Twilight walked up confidently while Dash was quite a bit more nervous, the true meaning of what the princess had said, having hit her.

“Halt!” cried one of the guards, “What business have you here?”

“I am the personal student of princess Celestia, please let my friend Rainbow Dash and me in,” replied Twilight coolly.

“Very well, you may enter. Do not touch anything, do not attempt anything, do not wander off, do not loiter.” replied the guard with a hint of warning in his voice.

“Hey Twilight?” asked Rainbow.

“Yeah?” responded Twilight.

“Do ya mind if I go see some of the guard? They seem pretty awesome, and I don’t want them to think I’m a wimp.” replied Rainbow Dash.

“Sure Rainbow, we can go see my brother.” responded Twilight thinking, “Geeze she’s acting a little weird… nah, it’s probably just her being excited.”

Both mares headed towards the barracks. As they passed by they saw earth ponies training hoof-to-hoof combat, pegasi practicing combat flight maneuvers, and unicorns working on their magic strength and endurance.

“Woah...” breathed Rainbow. This was 20% cooler than she thought it’d be.

They then passed by the barracks, confusing Rainbow slightly as to where they were going. Finally, they arrived at a heavily guarded tower. Nodding at Twilight after she stated who she was, guards led both mares to an office. Slowly, they opened the door.

Inside, was a unicorn stallion, clearly of captain rank if his armor showed it and Rainbow’s knowledge was correct, who was doing paperwork which was stacked all over the room.

He looked up and spotted Twilight.

“Twily!” he exclaimed.

“BBBFF!” responded Twilight, hugging him.

“Who’s your friend?” he asked.

“Oh this is Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash, meet Shining Armor; Captain of the Guard and my brother.” replied Twilight innocently.

Rainbow and Shining’s eyes both widened comically, before resuming a neutral expression extremely quickly.

Shining quickly pushed Twilight out of the room saying he’d like to talk to Rainbow Dash and Twi better go see Celestia before it got too late.

“Rainbow Dash hmm? I don’t suppose you got something to say...” stated Shining Armor coldly.

“I do actually, I think it was um… murmers no murders… no… OH! Code: Murmuras de Destruccion!” replied Rainbow, estatic to remember it.

Shining Armor’s expression softened, “Great! Well then, you must follow me. I heard from Twily how you’re a good friend, so you better act like it. If you ever hurt Twily, you’ll answer to me.”

Shining’s voice hardened for a moment at the end before softening again.

____________________________________

Luna had barely fallen asleep, or so it seemed when she was jolted awake again. She groaned and stood up. There, Captain Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash stood, expressions grim.

Celestia gracefully waltzed into the room, her face calm and the picture of serenity.

All three ponies questioned what she was up to. It was strange that they would be summoned, and all others dismissed.

“Now, you may wonder why I called you here Rainbow Dash and Luna. My request is simple. There has been stirrings in the East, near the Everfree Forest. No, not in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash. These whispers of oblivion, murmuras de destruccion, have become alarming. Rebels attempting to overthrow us have become bolder, their moves less inconspicuous. Soon, innocent ponies shall be drawn into this, which need not affect many.” stated Celestia, her face growing ever graver.

“So… rebel ponies are tryin ta overthrow ya? What for? And what does that have anything to do with us?” commented Dash, slightly confused.

“Yes Tia, why would you call both this mare, and ourself?” asked Luna, in a similar state as Dash.

“You both are the two most loyal ponies in Equestria. Both of you, have wielded the Element of Loyalty, ensuring you do not commit treason. Also, Luna, you have gone evil before. It should be far easier convincing them you have turned your back than Rainbow Dash. That is merely why.” responded Celestia.

Luna wasn’t sure, loyalty was different than most ponies thought it was, but she knew her sister wasn’t one to listen to reason once she formulated a plan.

“But Princess...” started Rainbow Dash

“Are you not of the two most loyal ponies in Equestria?” Princess Celestia demanded.

“Well, yeah but...”

“Are you not the current holder of the Element of Loyalty?”

“Well, yeah but..”

“So are you not loyal to Equestria?”

“O-of course I am!”

“Then prove to me please, Rainbow Dash, by going on this mission,” Celestia finished serenely.

“A-alrighty Princess… you c-can count on me. Yeah!” responded Rainbow Dash, slightly shocked.

“Very well then, as our subject and hopefully soon to be friend has accepted, so shall we sister.” replied Luna coolly, her head held high and regal.

As they left the room they were instructed to leave immediately, alerting nopony, the night after. Luna and Dash barely made it to the room where Luna slept before she crashed. It was 4:00 P.M.

While Luna slept Rainbow Dash mulled over her current situation.

See… I don’t think Princess Celestia understands what loyalty really means. I mean yeah, it means to stand by your friends, and never leave them hanging.

But… it also means protecting them. All of them. I care for all of my friends, and I can’t bear the thought of them getting hurt.

I’m loyal to Equestria, yeah, but most ponies don’t know why. I am loyal, because my friends care and are Equestrians. I don’t care if tomorrow, everypony except myself and my friends die.

Loyalty is a personal thing… there’s national pride, and then there’s loyalty. Gah, I’m thinking like an egghead… but hey, who’s gonna read my thoughts?

See, my biggest fear isn’t infiltrating them. My fear? It’s befriending them. I know that if I get as close as I probably will have to, I’ll see the side of them I can’t to be able to callously kill.

Loyalty isn’t black and white. It’s grey, and there’s multiple shades. If I get close, make friends, I’ll be torn. Torn between a sense of betrayal to both sides. It’ll kill me.

I want to protect, to save, ALL of my friends. Equestria can burn for all I care, but not if my friends are there, burning too.

I cannot become friends with them…

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth.

I cannot become friends with them… I cannot become friends with them… I cannot become friends with them… I cannot become friends with them… I cannot become friends with them…

“I CANNOT BECOME FRIENDS WITH THEM!” She cried in her mind.

Author's Note

____________________________________

Well, I don’t think this Prologue is too bad. I will warn you, that while this is an adventure fic, this is more of a slow-paced Godfather like story. Pay attention, because small details will become important later. No detail is small. Also, pay attention to, sigh I know, politics. I hope you enjoyed it!

On a sidenote, murmuras de destruccion means whipers (or murmurs) of destruction in Spanish. It’s the closest I could get to oblivion.

And yes, there will be heavy duty action in the future.
Speed Runner, dashing out!