Dragon Spirit

     Thunder Lane blinked open his eyes. He felt so... contented. Every night he usually had a sandwich or canned soup, but his full-fed belly felt so good even after waking up in the morning.

     He slid his hind legs out from the bed and pulled the blankets away. He yawned, blinking away the sleep, and crept down the hallway. He opened the door to Midnight Fox's room to see her sprawled on her back with one wing stretched in the oddest position, and the other wrapped in cast.

     Thunder held a hoof to his mouth, fending off laughter, and carefully plodded to stand next to the bed.

     "Midnight." He breathed, poking her forehoof which was hanging off of the bed.

     "Midnight!" He whispered more loudly.

     "Huh..?" She curled up in the bed and turned on one side, facing him. Her eyes pulled open and blinked slowly.

     Midnight sat up, rubbing an eye with her hoof.

Thats... Thunder Lane thought, golden eyes widened slightly. "Adorable.." he breathed.

     "Watchya say?" Midnight yawned, blinking at him.

     "N-nothing."

     Midnight shrugged, and hopped down from her bed. "Well, let's go." she said briskly, as if she'd been awake all day.

     "Where?"

     "Where else? We're going to Canterlot." She brushed past him and toward the door.

     "Canterlot!?"

     "Canterlot." Midnight confirmed, exiting the room.

     Thunder Lane watched with wide eyes, then trotted after her. "We can't just saunter on into Canterlot and say; 'Oh, hey Celestia! Train me, wouldya?'"

     "It's not like that."

     "Well, what is it like, then?"

     Midnight spun around, suddenly nose to nose with him. "I don't know, alright?!" She barked, tears brimming in her eyes. "I just.. don't know." She lowered her head, not letting any tears fall by wiping them away.

     Thunder Lane blinked awkwardly, then poked her cheek with his muzzle. "We'll figure it out." He decided with a whisper.

     Midnight nodded solemnly, then looked up with a spark of determination. "Let's get going then." She whipped around and started walking.

     "But you can't fly!"

     "I can't," She looked at her broken wing. "But you can."

     "Wha..?"

     "You'll need to fly for both of us."

     "Oh, horseshoes.." Thunder Lane kicked the ground. "Fine.."

*          *          *

     Wind whipped through Midnight's mane as Thunder Lane sped through the open air toward Canterlot. She tightened her grip on his neck and closed her eyes. Her indigo coat stung with the wind's violent thrashing.

     Canterlot's magnificent buildings towered a ways away. As they arrived, Midnight dropped from her vehicle's back and stared at the castle doors before her.

     As Midnight made her way toward the door, an orange-coated guard and a white one stood in her way. "This is royal property of the princesses. Only with permission from Princess Celestia or Princess Luna may you enter." each said in unison, a routine in their voice.

     Thunder Lane pursed his lips. "Well, that was fun, let's go. Twilight can figure something out later." He put a hoof on her shoulder to get her to move from her statue-still position.

     The orange-coated guard's eyes widened slightly. "Princess.. Twilight?" his voice seemed nostalgic.

     Midnight raised a brow. "Princess? I thought she was just an allicorn."

     "Allicorns are Princesses." Thunder Lane explained. "And there are only four. That's Luna, Celestia, Cadence, and Twilight."

     "Only four, huh? Then explain to me why.." she stopped for a moment, and changed the subject. "Well we know a princess then. Can't they let us in now?"

     "I wish I could," the orange guard explained, clearly softened by the mention of the lavender allicorn. "But for you to get in, you'd have to-"

     "Tell me what it is you need, Midnight Fox."

     Midnight turned with wonder to see the dark colored allicorn named Luna. "I-I need training from-"

     "Need? Do you really need training from my sister, or merely want it?" meanwhile, the guards were agape in astonishment.

     She opened her mouth to reply, and then thought for a minute. "I do need training if I want to avenge my tribe."

     "My sister and I are already aware of your situation." she replied. "Come inside, Midnight Fox. We've been expecting you for a long time."

     She and Thunder Lane followed the princess, the latter of the two astonished at the her appearance.

     The pristine interior of the castle outdid its outside walls. Paintings hung proudly and statues stood tall.

     When they reached the throne room, the three ponies stopped in front of a white allicorn.

     "Princess Celestia." Midnight breathed, bowing. "I request training from you in order to increase my chances of-"

     "Defeating the leader of the timber wolves, I am aware." The princes smiled warmly.

     "But.. but how-"

     The allicorn dismissed the question with a wave of her hoof. "I am aware of your need for training, but I am not the one you seek."

     "Wha-?" Midnight finally rose from her bow. "You are the most powerful allicorn in Equestria.. Who else is more suited?"

     "I will assign you trainers who will be better suited for you than me." Celestia gestured for Midnight to follow her. "Come."

     As Thunder Lane tried to follow, Luna kept him back and shook her head. "Tia and your friend need a private discussion."

*          *          *

     A gloomy, dark room with a few ancient bookshelves closed around the two ponies. "I need you to go to Cloudsdale to meet your combat in flight and maneuver specialist. His name is Copper Feather." She directed the young mare.

     Midnight was disappointed, but she nodded obediently.

     "This will of course be in two months when that wing is healed and your body is in the condition for such intense training."

     This time she gasped. "B-but I'm ready fo-"

     The look Celestia gave her was that of a mother telling a child not to argue.

     After a moment, the princess continued. "After he says that you have completed your training with him, you will come back here and take directions to Star Bright, your unicorn trainer-"

     "I'm not a unicorn! You can quite clearly see the wings on my back, can't you-"

     Celestia reached forward with a hoof and pushed the mare's mane up, out of the way. "You don't have to hide it. I know."

     A pearly white horn revealed itself beneath Midnight's brown mane.