A Kings Secret and Last Wish
It was dark in the hallways in the castle of Cloudsdale. All the candles were were dimly lit, not even the light of the morning sun could penetrate the dim halls. All the guards stationed did not have the stoic faces, instead theirs were of sadness. Such mood came from the fact that King Wind Crasher, Ruler of the Pegasus, was soon going to pass away.
Although he was an Alicorn, he was not immortal like the two sisters who ruled Equestria, but he did live longer than the average pony, but being 150 was still only a couple decades longer. His coughs could be heard even in the halls leading to his room, he knew his time was coming, but he still had some things to finish before he died.
That was why he summoned two Pegas from the Pegasus Council. One was an old gray Pegasus. He was the oldest on the council being 85 years old, his dark gray mane and tail felt more like straw than hair, but he was able to style it in a combover to cover up his bald spot. His steely Gray eyes looking forward, his wrinkles giving him an ever present scowl, yet he did not look tired, even his Cutie Mark of a gray quill still looked as good as the day he got it.
Beside him was a much younger stallion, being 24 years. He had light brown fur that shined any light that hit it, it was contrasted with his oak brown mane and tail. The mane styled short so no hair got into his vibrant blue eyes, his Cutie Mark being a parchment with a check on it. Both he and the older stallion were dressed in black robes, as they both just left from a meeting from the Pegasus Council, to discuss who would be the next king or queen, and what to do if they could not find one.
Soon the two came to the door of King Wind Crasher chambers, which had two black furred stallions wearing silver coloured armor, not as polished as the ones in the Crystal Empire, but they had a shine from being polished daily. The guards turned their eyes to the two pegasi, with one of them asking if their business was.
“We have been called to discuss some matters with the king,” the gray pegasus stated, his voice rough from age, but still had a stern tone to it. The guards nodded and opened the door to let the two in, and quickly closed it again; they did not want to see the state of their king.
The room was massive with a bed that could easily fit 5 grown stallions. The walls were adorned with torches with a giant window facing the rising sun. An unlit fireplace was at one end of the wall, while a dresser with mirror was on the opposite side. The floor had a blue matt that had the crest of Pegasus royalty, and pictures of some of the previous rulers adorned the walls.
In the bed was an Alicorn stallion, his blue fur rough and tangled with his gray mane being in the same state. His eyes tired and dull, the once vibrant green now look pale, the wings were a mess; being full of crooked feathers and some parts having no feathers at all. His horn was cracked from using it in a weakened state. Looking at him, one could never imagine that he was once a beloved king of an entire race.
The king turned to see the two Pegasi walk to his bed, giving weak smile.
“Gray Quill, Check List, how have you been?” His voiced rasp and coughed into his hoof after he asked.
“We are fine your Highness, we have sent letters to the royalty in Canterlot, Ponyville, and the Crystal Empire of your health and soon to be passing,” Gray Wing answered, bowing slightly along with Check List.
“And has the council decided the next heir to the throne?”
This time, he was met with silence, as neither of the Pegasi wanted to answer, but the king already knew what it was.
“So, they are still squabbling about which of them shall rule in my place,” he sighed before getting a coughing attack, he grabbed some water on the table next to him with some magic and drank it, giving him temporary release.
“Well sir, it has not been easy, they all believe that they have the right to it, since you do not have an heir after your son..” Check List began, but was stopped when Gray Quill put a wing up, the young stallion hunged his head, it was a touchy subject for all.
“That is not entirely true,”
The two stared at Wind Crasher in shock and confusion.
“What do you mean?”
The Alicorn sighed, he knew it was time to finally tell his most trusted friends.
“I, along with Celestia, and some other ponies, have been keeping a secret from the council and nobility,”
“What would that secret be your highness?” Check List asked, not understanding what was going on.
“There is an Alicorn who has the blood of Spectrum Blitz in her veins,”
The shock that came upon the faces of the two Pegasi was something that did not surprise the king in the least, stared at the two calmly as they began to voice their shock.
“Another Alicorn who can take the throne is alive!? How have we not heard this!?” The shouts from Gray Quill caused Check List to jump in surprise, as he knew that his companion was not the type to shout.
“Because, after she was born, I turned her into a Pegasus, in hopes that she would live a normal life,” Wind Crasher admitted, his head hung low. “I was hoping that by the time I died, my son or a member of the council would take my place, I am foolish to think that would happen.”
“But how does Princess Celestia know this?” Check List asked, confused as to how one of the Royal Sisters knew of the Alicorn.
“The Alicorns father had a brother who was part of her personal guard, he knew and told her. She then went to the family and confirmed that that the foal was an Alicorn. After that, she told me.” Wind Crasher said, remembering the day when the princess came to him and told him the news.
“Was the foal born before all this?” asked the gray Pegasus.
“She was, her parents were so scared after she was born, afraid that the hospital would inform me of her birth, but thankfully, they managed to tell their doctor to keep it a secret so they could inform Celestia,”
“How did the parents react when you came to them?”
“Afraid,” the king answered, “very afraid.” He thought back to the day when he came to their home, the foal's mother grasping her daughter tightly in her fore-hooves, and the father looking ready to attack. He did manage to calm them down and tell them that he did not come to take the foal away, but that he came to make sure she would live a normal life. He brought his horn to the baby Alicorn and summoned a spell, changing the Alicorn into a Pegasus, and telling the family to raise her like she has always been a Pegasus.
“Do you want us to inform the guards to find her?” Check List asked, still shocked to hear this news.
“No, sending guards would just cause confusion and panic, that is why I want you two to go and find her.”
“Us? Why us? We are just your advisors and council members, why not anypony else?” Check List asked once again, getting a chuckle from the Alicorn.
“It is because you to are my most trusted friends, if I were to send anypony else, they would either lie, take her to the dungeon, or worse,” Wind Crasher shuddered at the thought at what the others would do to the Alicorn turned Pegasus.
“When you do find her, tell her to come here, but do not force her to take the position of Queen, it will be for her to decide,” Wind Crasher ordered, he used his magic to open up a dresser and took out a hooflet with the Royal Pegasus crest on it.
“Also have her wear this, it will stop the pain,”
“Pain? What pain?” Gray Quill asked.
“While her body is now that of a Pegasus, it was not an illusion spell, I transformed her body, but being an Alicorn, the magic in her would begin to resist the spell and try to turn her body back, so I have been keeping the spell up with my magic, but in my weakened state, I am afraid that her body will begin to change, but it will be painful since her physical body is accustomed to that of a Pegasus,” the king pointed towards the hooflet, “That hooflet was made to negate her Alicorn magic, so the changing of her body will stop.”
“Understood your highness,” Gray Quill took the hooflet and put it under his wing until he could find a satchel to hold it later. “But who is this mare?”
Wind Crasher gained a huge smile after being asked that question, “She is a beautiful blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane, she has helped save Equestria 5 times, the only living Pegasus who can do a Sonic Rainboom, is a member of the Wonderbolts, and is friends with all four princesses,”
“W-wait, you mean the maybe future queen is…?” Check List started, until Wind Crasher stopped him.
“Rainbow Dash.”
In the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle was getting ready to go to Cloudsdale with her friends to see Rainbow Dash perform in the Wonderbolts show, but not all her friends were coming.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Twilight asked, turning to her friend/student, Starlight Glimmer.
“I am sure Twilight, besides, I promised Trixie to spend the day with her,” Starlight reassured. She walked up to the purple Alicorn, and gave her a smile. “Plus I am sure that she would be happy if her best friends came and saw the show.”
“Okay Starlight, but if you change your mind, just remember that I will have seats open up for both you and Trixie,” Twilight said, picking up her VIP ticket and putting it in her pouch that was on the desk.
“That is one advantage of being friends with a princess, no matter what happens, a seat is always available,” the light purple Unicorn laughed, Twilight laughing with her.
“Well, I better get going, don’t want to be…” the Alicorn princess started, but heard a knock on the castle door.
“Huh? Who could that be?”
Twilight walked out of the room, Starlight following close behind. The two got to the door and opened it, to see black Pegasus wearing silver armour, he bowed to her and spoke. “Princess Twilight, I have a letter of the utmost importance for you.”
“Oh? What could be so important from King Wind Crasher?” Twilight asked, the Pegasus guard took out a scroll that was stamped with the seal of Pegasus Royalty. The alicorn grabbed it with her magic and opened it to read it, what she read caused her to sadden.
“Twilight? What’s wrong?” Starlight asked, seeing her friends sad expression.
“King Wind Crasher has fallen ill and is expected to pass very soon,” Twilight rolled up the scroll and looked back at the guard. “Thank you, and may Spectrum Blitz guide you.”
“May he guide you as well,” the guard said, he turned, spread his wings and took off, leaving Twilight to close the door and to put the scroll on the Friendship Table.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but who is King Wind Crasher?” Starlight asked, getting a confused look from Twilight, but shook her head in realization.
“Sorry, I forgot that not everypony knows him or Pegasus Royalty. He is King of the Pegasi,”
“Wait? King of the Pegasi? I thought Celestia and Luna ruled over,” Starlight asked confused.
“They do, it is just that King Wind Crasher still has some rule over the Pegasus, and he speaks for the Pegasus if a conflict with another country happens, or if a law is introduced that effects Pegasi the most,” Twilight explained, sitting down at the table, with Starlight following suit.
“He would be right in the middle of Canterlot Nobles and the Princesses, he has more power than Canterlot Nobles, but is below Celestia and Luna, and is one of the only family that has an Alicorn as King or Queen since the first king, King Spectrum Blitz.”
“So, he is an Alicorn, he must be almost 500 years old,” Starlight said in amazement.
“Actually, the average for the family is 150, the oldest living till 177, they do not have the same lifespan as Celestia and Luna,” Twilight said “Also they can only have one Alicorn heir, the others born after are all regular ponies, put place by a spell cast by Spectrum Blitz to stop the successors from fighting each other.”
“Wow, that is something, do you know who is going to be the next King or Queen?”
“There won’t be one, he had a son, but he is gone, so now nopony knows who will rule after his death,” Twilight admitted. “Hopefully the Pegasus Council can elect a new ruler, but knowing them, it will take 100 years decide,”
Twilight face contorted into annoyance after mentioning the Pegasus Council. She has only met them once, and that one visit made her want to go to Prince Blue Blood and apologize for all the things she said behind his back. At least the council had Check List and Gray Quill, two members she became friends with as they were kind and polite; to her, they were the only hope for the council to get anything done.
“They're that bad huh?” Starlight asked, seeing the Alicorn's face with the expression, but the sudden question did lesson the expression a bit.
“Let me just say that Blue Blood warned me about them before I left,”
Twilight came to a sudden realization, causing her eyes to widen, “Oh no, I was so caught up with talking to you that I forgot that I still need to go to the show, I’m going to be late!” The purple Alicorn ran back upstairs to and grabbed the pouch and ran right back down.
“Sorry Starlight, I wish I could tell you more, but I need to go now!” With that, Twilight ran out the front door. Starlight staring at the now closed doors, “She still has an hours though.”
____________________________________________________________________________
At the Wonderbolt Stadium in Cloudsdale, the Wonderbolts were getting ready for the show, Soarin was drying himself off after his shower, Fleetfoot was still in the shower, Spitfire had her uniform on, and Rainbow Dash was taking some pills for her headache.
“Are you sure you are okay?” Spitfire asked, concerned about Rainbow. For the past few days, the blue Pegasus was feeling pain in her legs, wing, and head. While the Wonderbolt Captain did order her to see a doctor, the doctor said that he found nothing that wrong and prescribed some pain medication, which did help a bit.
“No worries Captain, I am ready to do this show,” Rainbow said, putting the bottle back into her locker.
“I hope you are, because King Wind Crasher is coming to see the show,” Soarin said walking into the locker room, opening his locker and getting his uniform.
“I know, and I am excited, it has been a long time since I last seen him!” Rainbow smiled wide.
“Heh, you know, I do feel slightly jealous that you are friends with him, that is an honour any Pegasis dream to have,” Spitfire chuckled, seeing the gleam in the rookies eye. At first, she met that King the most, then Rainbow Dash showed up talking all about the times she talked to him, and even became friends, something that not even the Wonderbolt Captain could do.
“Hey, it’s not my fault that the King thinks I’m awesome,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed proudly, sticking out her chest holding her head high, getting a chuckle from Fleetfoot who just came out of the shower.
“There you go again captain, you fed her ego,”
“Fleetfoot, shut it,” the orange mare said, glaring at the white maned pegasus, who just gave an innocent smile in return.
Some hoofsteps interrupted them as a black male pegasus wearing silver armour came through.
“May I ask why you are hear and not King Wind Crasher himself?” Spitfire asked, confused about the sudden appearance of the King’s Guard.
“I am here to say that his majesty, King Wind Crasher, will not be able to attend the performance today,” the guard spoke with a rough tone, showing no emotion in his voice.
Rainbow Dash was shocked by this and couldn’t contain herself, “What do you mean he can’t come? Everypony here is excited to see him.”
At that point the guard brought his head own in sadness, causing some worry from the four Wonderbolts members.
“His Majesty has fallen ill and it is not known when he will pass on,”
The silence in the room that followed was only rivaled by the shock that was on all the faces. Nopony could, or wanted, to believe that came from the guard in front of them, it was only broken when Spitfire spoke. “I-I see, thank you for telling us. May Spectrum Blitz guide you.”
The guard nodded and left, leaving the four by themselves, the three senior members turned to Rainbow Dash, who still was still shocked. In her head the memories suddenly sprung forth.
The day she helped to defeat Nightmare Moon, where the King gave her a medal for her bravery and congratulating her. Personally giving her the trophy for Best Young Flyer, and even invited her and her friends to the castle for dinner, and congratulating her for performing the legendary Sonic Rainboom. When the king wanted to knight her for defending Canterlot from the Changelings, which she ended up refusing. When the king sent her a book about the entire history of the Wonderbolts for her birthday. Finally, giving her the Hurricane Cross, a medal of the highest honour, for helping to defeat Tirek.
Rainbow felt a hoof on her shoulder, and turned to see that it was Spitfire, giving her a sympathetic look. “I know that this news has hit you the hardest, so if you want to not do the show, it is okay. We can get another Wonderbolt to do it.”
“Thanks Spitfire, but I want to do this, just can I ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“Can I do just one Sonic Rainboom, just for him.”
Spitfire gave a warm smile, knowing exactly what the rainbow maned Pegasus was planning.
“Of course, it will be our finale.”
Rainbow gave a quiet thank you before going to put on her uniform. When she left the Wonderbolt captain sighed.
“Spitfire, are you sure that she will be okay?” Soarin asked with concern for the new Wonderbolt.
“No, but she needs this.”
____________________________________________________________________________
In the VIP booth, Twilight was talking to her friends about the news she got.
“Oh my, Rainbow will feel terrible once she hears it,” Fluttershy was shocked to hear the news, while she was not as friendly to Wind Crasher as her friend was, but she did hear all the stuff about him from Rainbow Dash, and also got some medals for saving Equestria like her friend.
“I think there is already the chance that she has already heard, King Wind Crasher was meant to come. He probably sent a guard to tell the Wonderbolts that it is no longer possible,” Twilight could only imagine how Rainbow Dash would feel when she gets the news.
“Do you think everypony else will know, since he was suppose to come?” Applejack asked, her voice quieter as she did not want the any of the ponies around to hear.
Twilight shook her head, “The public would go into hysteria, demanding to know when it began, it is best for the news to come the day he passes,”
“He was such a good king, it is such a shame to know that he will pass soon,” Rarity said, downtrodden. When she said that, two gasps were heard, causing the six mares to turn to see Rainbow’s parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistle, staring at them with mouths agape.
“Y-you heard that huh?” Twilight stammered, giving off a nervous smile.
“W-we heard, and this is so sudden, why didn’t he tell us?” Bow said, turning to his wife who agreed with him. The purple Alicorn stared at the two complexed and asked, “Why would he tell you?”
“He meant ‘us’ as in everypony, such news should be public,” Windy answered quickly, both her and her husband giving off nervous smiles.
“O-okay, that make sense,” truth be told, Twilight was skeptical about it, but she did not want to pressure them with it right, and went back to talking her her friend. The two adult Pegasi sat down and looked at each other worried.
“Do you think he is going to make our daughter the next Queen?” Windy whispered, making sure that nopony heard.
“Of course not, he promised us that our little Dashie would live a normal life,” Bow reassured, but was not so certain himself, he couldn’t help but feel that something was about to happen.
“Fillies and gentlecolts, introducing the greatest flight team in Equestria! The Wonderbolts!”
Cheers filled the crowd as four Pegasi flew out, making the Wonderbolt symbol out of smoke, the four soon flew in front of the symbol, ready to perform.
____________________________________________________________________________
Check List and Gray Quill landed in front of Twilight’s Castle, the two not wearing their robes as to make sure none of the Pegasi in the town knew where they were from.
“A castle made of crystal in the shape similar to a tree, I will admit, I did not believe the Princess when she told me this is where she live,” Check List checked the castle out some more, but noticed something.
“Where are the guards?”
“Princess Twilight does not get as much ponies coming to her for help as you think she does, as such, she never needed guards,” Gray Quill explained, going to the door with the younger Pegasus just behind him. There he knocked at the door, and was surprised to see a azure coloured Unicorn opening the door, while eating a cupcake that she was holding with her magic.
“Can I help you?” the Unicorn asked, taking another bite of the cupcake.
The Check List lifted an eyebrow at just what he was witnessing, while Gray Quill smiled.
“Ah you must be Trixie, such a pleasure to meet another friend of Princess Twilight,”
“Well, Trixie is not close friends with her, but may I ask why you are here?” Trixie asked, finishing the cupcake off.
“Well, my friend and I were wondering where a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash lived?”
“Rainbow Dash? Trixie doesn’t know, but I think Starlight knows, one sec,”
Trixie left the two stallions at the door as she left. The younger brown Pegasus looked at his older friend with confusion. “She seems… nice,”
“I remember Princess Twilight telling me she can be quite the hoofful, but Starlight is helping her to… ease up,” The gray Pegasus explained, searching for the right words to help explain what Starlight was doing with Trixie. Soon Trixie came back with Starlight.
“Hello? Trixie told me that you needed some help?”
“Yes, we were wondering where Rainbow Dash lives?”
“She lives in a cloud house to the north, but she isn’t there right now,”
“Then where is she?” Check List asked.
“She is performing with the Wonderbolts in Cloudsdale,” Trixie answered. Check List just stared at the unicorn with disbelief.
“Why you just tell us that?”
“You asked where she lives, not where she was,” Trixie pointed out, causing the brown Pegasus to stare at his friend with disbelief, who just chuckled at the situation.
“Thank you for the information, we shall be going now,” Gray Quill turned around, with Check List in tow, when Starlight stopped them.
“Wait! If you need to get to Cloudsdale, I can just teleport us there,”
“Are you sure? We do not want to bother you,” The gray Pegasus said.
“It is no problem, I just need to cast a cloud walking spell for Trixie and I and we will be on our way,”
“Thank you, that is very kind,” Gray Quill smiled warmly as Starlight powered up her spell for herself and Trixie.
____________________________________________________________________________
Rainbow Dash was smiling as she continued the performance, to be working with her heroes still had her giddy, but it was about to come to an end, and the finale will soon be here. As she made a sharp left, and intense pain hit her right wing and she almost crashed into Soarin, but was able to stabilize herself before it happened. She grimaced as the pain was far worse than before, in fact during the entire show, parts of her body would be ract with intense pain, but she was much to stubborn to stop, she made a promise, and she was going to keep it.
Soon she stopped along with the other members and heard the crowd cheer, she knew what was next, and she was ready.
“And now instead of of our regular finale, Rainbow Dash will perform the legendary Sonic Rainboom!” The announcer shouted, the cheers growing louder as she sped up to the sky, she would need some distance for this, once she got high enough she stopped. Below her was the stadium, but her attentions were focused to what was in the distance to her east, Cloudsdale Castle, she gave a long look at it.
“This is for you Wind Crasher.”
Back at the stadium, a flash appeared and Starlight, Trixie, Gray Quill, and Check List were now on the stairs, the two Pegasi looking queasy.
“Sorry, I guess I should have warned you that the first time can be dizzying,” Starlight apologized.
“I-’urp’-it is okay, we should be okay soon,” Check List reassured, but still couldn’t help but vomit in his mouth, he never knew why Unicorns would do that, he looked at his friend, and noticed that he was looking better, “Done this before?”
“Only a couple times, but I wonder what everypony is looking at?” the gray Pegasus asked, seeing all the ponies look up. The four looked up to see a small blue dot, Starlight knowing what it was.
“It’s Rainbow Dash, but why is she up there?” Starlight squinted her eyes to see what the blue Pegasus was planning. She got an idea when she saw her friend suddenly dive-bomb.
“It looks like she is going to the Sonic Rainboom, that explains her altitude, and the speed she is going at,” Gray Quill watched as the Pegasus gained speed, he slowly began to wonder what would happen the moment she did it, will it interrupt the king's magic, or would it not do anything. His body became tense, he would know soon enough.
Back with Rainbow Dash, she was gaining speed fast, a cone was already starting to form around her, she smiled as the ground grew closer, the cone growing ever bigger, she was nearly there, she just needed one last push.
That last push would not come as her entire body was suddenly encompassed with pain, and this time, there was no ignoring it. It was like her something wanted to escape from the inside, and was tearing at every muscle and nerve to be free. She couldn’t help but curl up and hug her body in a vain attempt to keep it all in.
The crowd watched as the Pegasus came down, but their excitement turned to fear when they began to realize that Rainbow Dash was not changing her course, or slowing down, she was going to go right through the stadium and to the hard ground below.
“W-what is wrong, why isn’t she stopping!?” Pinkie Pie shouted, her face contorted in pure fear as she watched her friend plummet.
“I don’t know Pinkie! But somepony needs to catch her before she goes through the stadium!” Twilight yelled, hoping that somepony would catch her friend. She couldn’t teleport herself or Rainbow Dash as the Pegasus was going to fast, and she couldn’t fly to her for that same reason.
Thankfully Spitfire noticed and flew up, catching her in her front hooves, she looked at her teammate and saw her hugging her body tight, she looked up at Spitfire and spoke in a pained whisper, “Please, make it stop,”
Spitfire nodded and rushed to the stands, where the medical team was, her teammates following her. She laid her body down as the medical team ripped of the uniform and checked her body.
“Please, let us through!” A voice yelled, the crowd disperse revealing Twilight and her friends, as well as Rainbows parents.
“Princess, you have to stay back,” one of the security at the stadium said, stepping in front of the group as the rest of his team continued to work on Rainbow Dash, who kept saying, “make it stop.”
“That is our daughter, we have to see her!” Windy Whistle yelled, trying to get passed security.
“I am sorry, but we can’t let anypony pass through,” the security officer said calmly, holding back Windy Whistle and Bow Hothoof as they tried to get through.
Silently Gray Quill and Check List were going through the crowd, which were being pushed back by security, with Starlight and Trixie behind them, they got to where Twilight and her friends. Bow Hothoof stopped struggling when he saw Gray Quill right beside him, he glared right at the gray Pegasus, knowing that he was one of the members of the Pegasus Coucle.
“What are you doing here?” he growled, his eyes full of rage, looking ready to jump the older Pegasus before him. Gray Quill turned to the stallion and spoke, “saving your daughter.”
Gray Quill turned to the security, his eyes catching Rainbow in intense pain, “let me through.”
“Look, like I told them, we can’t let anypony in,”
“I said let me through,” his patients was growing thin as the mare behind the stallion in front of him starting shake.
“And I said you can’t, what part of that don’t you understand?” the security officer demanded, looking at Gray Quill right in the eyes.
“I Gray Quill, member of the Pegasus Council, current heir to the house Quill, demand that you stand aside!” Gray Quill shouted, his voice going over the stadium as everypony stopped and turned to the old Pegasus, who was now glaring right at the security officer.
The officer visible sweated as he realized that who he shouted at one of the most powerful members of the Pegasus Council. He nervously stepped aside letting Gray Quill get to Rainbow Dash, he turned to one of the medics as he took out the hooflet, “please hold out her arm for me.”
The medic complied, taking the rainbow-maned Pegasus right fore-leg and brought it out, much to the groans of pains from the Pegasus. Gray Quill knelt down and put the hooflet on the female Pegasus, when it came into contact with the fur, all the pain inside Rainbow Dash suddenly disappeared, although she still felt sore.
“How are you feeling?” Gray Quill asked.
“I-I feel better? What did you do, and what happened?” Rainbow Dash got up and looked at the hooflet in confusion, how did this stop her pain, and why was her mom and dad glaring at Gray Quill
“I will explain later, first we should go somewhere private,” he turned his head to Rainbow’s friends and parents “you should all come too,”
“Hey, if you know what is going on with her, we should go too,” Spitfire walked to the gray stallion with suspicion.
“Fair enough, for you might be guarding her soon,” he turned and walked away, leaving a very confused Wonderbolt, who later realized she was being left behind and quickly caught up.
____________________________________________________________________________
In the locker room, Check List finished signing a letter and gave it to the King’s Guard.
“Take this back to the castle and give it to His Majesty, also get an airship ready to pick up our guests,”
The King’s Guard saluted and walked out, Check List going back to Gray Quill’s side, ready for what is to come.
“What I am about to tell you all must never leave this room, do I make myself clear?” Gray Quill asked, getting nods from everypony, and continued glares from two middle aged ponies near the lockers.
“I wish I could be more gentle, but it is better if I just say it to save time,” he sighed and stared right at Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow Dash, King Wind Crasher has asked that you become Queen of the Pegasi when he passes, but only if you want to.”
“Woah-woah-woah , wait. I can’t be Queen, I’m not an Alicorn,” She pointed at her head to emphasize her point.
“I am sorry to say, but you are,”
“Okay, this is not funny, you can clearly see that I am a pega -”
“He is telling the truth,”
Everypony turned to Bow Hothoof, who was holding his wife close, and a look of regret.
“You were born an Alicorn, but after you were born, His Majesty came and turned you into a Pegasus. He told us that you would get to live a normal life, but it looks like he broke his promise,” Bow gritted his teeth in frustration, staring right at the old gray Pegasus.
“This has to be a joke, right? If this is, it is not funny,” Rainbow Dash was starting to panic, ready for the punchline, yet both her parents looked away from her the moment she looked at them, and her friends were equally as confused as she was.
“Y-you’re not joking, t-this can’t be possible. Who else knew?” She asked, her heart beating a mile-a-minute from the news.
“Only His Majesty, Princess Celestia, the doctors who was there when you were born, and us. I guess he also told you two as well?” Windy Whistle turned to the two Pegasus Council members.
“He only told Gray Quill and I yesterday, we never knew that Spectrum Blitz blood ran through other ponies veins,” Check List explained.
“But wait, the spell Spectrum Blitz placed only allowed one Alicorn to be born from his successors, plus Wind Crasher son was still around when she was born!” Twilight exclaimed.
“That is true Princess Twilight, I do not know how Rainbow Dash was born as an Alicorn when our king already had a son. Perhaps it was because she came from a different family line than what has ruled for the last millennium,” While the aging Pegasus himself did not believe that answer, it was the best he could think of.
Everypony was dealing with the shock of their friend being an Alicorn, descendant from the First King, Spectrum Blitz. Although one orange Pegasus was still sceptical about it all.
“I don’t buy it. I mean, when she went to the hospital for her pains, they found no instances of anything to make her an Alicorn. Not even the slightest bump on the head or thicker than normal muscles on her legs,”
Gray Quill gave a quick glance to Spitfire, before focusing his attention back on Rainbow Dash. “Tell me Rainbow Dash, when you starting feeling pain, where was it located at first?”
“Well, it was at the centre of my forehead, my legs, and my wings.” After answering, Qray Quill went back to the Wonderbolt captain, “Now tell me, where do Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns feel the most pain?”
“Well, Pegasi get it in their wings, Earth Ponies in their legs, and Unicorn in… their… horns,” realization drew on Spitfire, as the only species on earth that would have pain affect all three places the same would be Alicorns.
“Now the reason why the doctors did not notice it, was because Wind Crasher transformed her into a Pegasus physically. But her innate Alicorn magic has been been fighting back to change Rainbow Dash’s body back to being an Alicorn, so he has been keeping the magic up for as long as he could, but now he can no longer do it in his weakened state,”
“Well, that explains why it felt like my body was about to burst, but why did it all stop when you put this on me?” Rainbow Dash raised her hoof to show the hooflet, granting Twilight a good view of it, which caused her to gasp.
“That is the hooflet of Queen Lightning Sparks the Mage, the tenth ruler of the Pegasi!” Twilight took a good look at it, as she always wanted to see an item worn by Pegasi Royalty.
“Oh, then you must know why it was made princess,” Gray Quill couldn’t help but smile at seeing how giddy Twilight was.
“Of course, the greatest unicorns minds made it to suppress Alicorn magic as Lightning Sparks was known to have her Alicorn magic become out of control,” Twilight said, her giddiness turned into realization as she became aware at why her friend is wearing it.
“I see you know Princes Twilight, with our Kings weakening power, this hooflet is the only way to make sure the magic does not force her body to change back into her natural form,”
Hoofsteps appeared from outside the locker room where one of the kings guard was standing. “Councillor Gray Quill, Councillor Check List, the airship is here.”
“Very good, come everypony, we must meet the His Majesty quickly,” As everypony began their walk, Gray Quill stopped Rainbow Dash and sighed. “I know that this is not want you wanted, just remember though, you still have a choice. No one will force you to become queen, understand?”
“Yeah, I understand,” the answer was quiet, yet it was enough for Gray Quill as they walked out and followed the rest. Rainbow looked at her hooflet and checked the family crest, knowing that whatever she decided, her life, and entire very government, would never be the same.
