Rainbow Dash stood within one of the corners of the restored Castle of the Two Sisters. Efforts to restore the castle had only begun what Rainbow had guessed eight months ago; ending its thousand-year abandonment at the behest of the Empress, already it had begun to cause ponies to look at it in awe. However, it was hard to tell how long it had been with the eternal night.
“Rainbow Dash, you here? I’ve got something to tell you,” Rainbow heard somepony call out.
“Ugh, Lighting Dust, just the pony I was trying to avoid,” Rainbow muttered. She turned and saw Lighting Dust do a swift landing next to her.
“IF you came to tell me about your promotion in the Shadowbolts, I KNOW because everypony won’t stop talking about it.” Rainbow barked.
“Everypony in there, BE QUIET!” yelled a voice from outside the room. They both recognized the voice as being from one of the more experienced mistresses of the castle; Rarity. They were silent until they heard the sound of hooves trotting away.
“It was more than just a small promotion, The Empress herself told me that Cloudsdale had proven its loyalty and…” Lighting Dust trailed off. The mentioning of Cloudsdale, her home, triggered memories that began calming Rainbow.
“And what?” Rainbow asked curiously after a few seconds.
“I was told to be its governor.” Lighting Dust finished.
Rainbow looked at Lighting Dust with a neutral expression, In the last year since Nightmare Moon’s return and takeover of Equestria, she had always stood out to Rainbow, as she seemed to be the only Shadowbolt that showed passion in training which had caused them to become friends. But now it would all end, she would be promoted and become governor of Cloudsdale.
“Well there’s one other thing too,” Lighting Dust added, “The Empress told me she wanted to talk to you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re getting promoted too, we are the best of the Shadowbolts,”.
“I am pretty awesome,” Rainbow beamed, “That HAS to be it,”.
“Well, Good luck with the Empress, not that you’ll need it. I have to return to Cloudsdale,” Lighting Dust stated before trotting away.
I guess I should speak with the Empress now, she really doesn’t like waiting on things, Rainbow thought.
***
As Rainbow traversed through the halls of the castle she sincerely began to regret never memorizing the castle's layout but eventually reached the throne room where the Empress; Nightmare Moon, sat on the dark blue throne.
As Rainbow approached the large dark alicorn she felt the confidence she had built up waver.
“Don’t you know why I summoned you here?” the Empress questioned.
“I-I was told you wanted to speak with me,” Rainbow replied nervously.
“Indeed. It is this very night, a year ago that marked my glorious return after a thousand years of banishment to the moon, and triumph over my sister, and whilst I have enjoyed seeing my beloved subjects again, I do not feel the feeling is mutual; If it were there would not be a large number of ponies defying my rule,”.
“How does that have to do with me?” Rainbow abruptly asked.
“Oh, but it has everything to do with you,” the Empress stated, “ From this night forward, this date will be remembered as my victory and will be accompanied by a celebration of my triumph over my sister in the original location of my glorious return; Ponyvile and you will be the pony organizing it.” the Empress stared into Rainbow’s eyes, searching for her reaction.
“I’m not organizing a celebration, anypony could do that and it’s not awesome or cool, Just have somepony else do it.” Rainbow stomped a hoof angrily.
“You will, few ponies there accept my rule, and I couldn’t let just anypony organize the celebrations, Most ponies would leap at the opportunity to betray me but I feel you would not. Am I wrong in my assumptions?”.
Rainbow fell silent. “Let it be known, I will not tolerate insubordination within my realm, If you continue your path, your actions will have consequences,” the Empress glared at Rainbow before sighing and regaining her composure. “Tell me, why else would you have been one of the first to join me in my glorious return only to betray me with this treachery?”
“I didn’t have anything to lose and much to gain,” Rainbow muttered.
“Ah, an opportunistic, tell me would there be much opportunity for you with your and Clousdale’s demise,” the Empress snarked “Did you forget that is my generosity that allows unicorns to provide artificial food with the failure of crops and how I could easily let Equeria starved if I so desired?”. Rainbow felt her heart beating but didn’t let on. After another few extended periods of silence, the Empress gave her an amused look and told her “Very well, may you prove your loyalty in Ponyvile then.”
***
As Rainbow soared through the sky heading toward Ponyville, she felt uneasy. Besides the lack of sight due to the everlasting night making her worry if she was going to crash, the thought of Lighting Dust returning to Cloudsdale still plagued her mind. Though she never would admit it, the only friend she had prior to Lightning Dust was when she was nine and met a shy filly at flight camp named Fluttershy, she remembered talking to the pegasus and quickly becoming friends but then two colts bullied her so then she demanded a race she didn’t quite remember what happened as nine years had passed since then but about three days after Fluttershy’s parents moved from Cloudsdale due to the bullying.
***
Rainbow’s eyes began to concentrate as she spotted what appeared to be the town square and she flew towards the center and slowly landed. As she did, ponies from around town began to gather around her. As Rainbow wondered what to say, she recalled that the empress had never asked her how to organize the celebration. Well, that makes this a lot easier, Rainbow thought.
“Ponyvillians, I have orders from the empress that you are to organize a celebration to celebrate the rule of the empress or else!” Rainbow shouted using the most authoritative voice she could. After a few moments of silence after her statement, an orange mare with an angry expression on her face within the crowd began trotting towards Rainbow. “Well, if it ain’t one of the empress’s goons threatening Ponyvile, well I assure you we already paid our tribute.” the mare said mockly. “Applejack, surely you don’t mean such words toward our guest from the empress I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding.” a neighboring graying mare said with a nervous grin.
“I meant what I said, mayor, and ya know it ain’t matter if there’s been a mistake, ya know what happened in Trottingham: they paid tribute to the empress to keep their mayor and autonomy like us but that didn’t stop the empress from sending her goons to burn the city a few months later. We have gotta chase them out before we can’t, Join me everypony, fight for Ponyvile, our home, harmony, and Equestria!” Applejack began galloping toward Rainbow with a vengeance. Rainbow’s heart went faster as adrenaline began to kick in. Rainbow began to back away from the crowd. She had never intended this. While Rainbow believed she could subdue the country pony, Rainbow doubted the crowd would just let one of their own be wounded enough not to pose a threat and standby, instead Rainbow wished back to the empress to request dire-needed assistance to quell the locals who had begun giving Rainbow looks of embolden. Rainbow galloped back, and Applejack pursued her. Rainbow’s desperation and sweat grew as she realized within minutes she’d be cornered and her life in danger. I can’t die yet, there are some many things I haven't done, and not here, The court would make fun of me, and if that crazy mare succeeds, I’d be remembered as a traitor. Seeing no other option, Rainbow attempted touse herstrength to her wings only to get no response. In her desperation, she had forgotten what Rarity had told her and the other Shadowbolts after she had finished the latest Shadowbolt uniform a month ago, “...The Manehattanite fabric used in it should make it more comfortable than the previous uniforms but do be warned if you ever exert yourself too much, it may temporarily become stuck causing you not to be able to move and you may trip because of the unbalance, so be mindful.” Rarity had told them. By the time Rainbow realized her mistake it was too late, Within seconds Rainbow fell head first on the grass, and she lost consciousness.
***
My eyes open and memories of that crazy mare and what had happened come back to me. Did my daringness finally get to me and now I’m left only wondering what I could have done better? Probably not, My head hurts and it looks like I’m in some kind of kids' room so I doubt it. Wait, I think I heard hoofsteps, It better not be that crazy mare…
***
Scootaloo’s small wings buzzed with excitement as she heard sounds coming from the clubhouse, her guest must have been awake. Scootaloo galloped up the stairs and opened the door. “Hi, I’m Scootaloo," she beamed as she trotted in.
***
Rainbow searched at where the voice came from and saw a small orange filly near the door. “I’m… Rainbow Dash..” she responded uncertainly.
“Hiya Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo smiled.
“W-where am I and how’d I get here?” Rainbow asked.
“This is me and my friends' clubhouse, I saw you earlier and you looked pretty cool, and when I saw you feel, I got one of my friends’ foalsitter and we brought you here.” Scootaloo smiled sheepishly.
“Where’s my uniform?” Rainbow questioned, suddenly realizing it wasn’t on her.
“It's over here-” Scootaloo pointed to a small pile of dark attire in the left corner on the edge of the room-” Near where I normally sleep-” Scootaloo looked down somberly.
“You live here?” Rainbow asked with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
“Yeah… well it's been better than the streets…” Scootaloo responded. “And somehow… nopony knows... It's not like you’d understand, you must have a family to go home to..my parents died when I was four...” Scootaloo’s voice cracked near the end of her sentence.
“I don’t actually…not since I was fourteen anyway… I understand..” Rainbow confessed, causing a look of empathy from Scootaloo. Rainbow approached her only for her to be stopped and Scootaloo to say “But… It's fine… I mean, who needs home or family, ya know…” Scootaloo laughed nervously…Rainbow found herself frowning at the statement, everything the filly had said hit too close to home. You’re like me when I was fourteen, thinking I could get rid of my annoying parents and live without a family… I regret that decision every day, I couldn’t live without them.. I’d be behind bars right now if not for the empress’s return. I won’t let you make the same mistake I did. Rainbow wrapped a protective wing around Scootaloo, before releasing it. “I have to finish the celebration, after I’ll take you home, kid, How does that sound?” Rainbow asked to which Scootaloo only nodded.
***
Rainbow had done it. When she returned, the crazy mare and her following were gone. She had met with the mayor, a teacher, and a carrot vendor, and together they organized the celebration from the decor to the music. They had planned it. When Rainbow was finished, she returned to Scootaloo.
***
Rainbow had put on the shadowbolt uniform and proceeded to watch the celebration with Scootaloo. When it was over, Rainbow swept up Scootaloo with her wings and had one thought running through her mind as she prepared to take flight back to the castle. She didn’t care what the court would think. She'd failed to guard Fluttershy, but she’d do anything to protect Scootaloo, her heir, her family, and most importantly, her little sister.
