Rainbow Dash walked with her fellow Wonderbolts through the wide corridors of Canterlot Castle, their hooves echoing rhythmically against the polished marble. The echo of their footsteps mingled with the murmur of conversations, creating a unique symphony that bounced off the walls adorned with historic tapestries and gleaming armor. The golden rays of the celestial sun seemed to chase Rainbow as she advanced, as if to illuminate the secrets she so jealously guarded.

Spitfire, with her characteristic bearing, led the discussion about new routines for the upcoming tour. Her voice, full of enthusiasm and authority - “...And then, right after the spiral spin, Fleetfoot, you'll do a swoop while Thunderlane does spins around you. It will be spectacular, I assure you” - The other Wonderbolts nodded and commented excitedly, but to Rainbow, Spitfire's words sounded distant, as if coming from the bottom of a tunnel.

Her eyes, normally bright and focused, now wandered restlessly down the hallway. Every nook and cranny, every door ajar, every side corridor became a possible escape route.

• “Guys” - she began, trying to make her voice sound light and casual. - “I think I need a moment” - All eyes turned to her, and Rainbow felt the weight of their gazes dig into her fur. She swallowed saliva, forcing a smile that she hoped looked carefree.

• “Is everything all right, Rainbow?” - High Winds asked, her tone somewhere between curious and concerned, as if sensing something wasn't right.

• “Yeah, it's just that I just remembered I left something important in my room” - she continued, the words tumbling out of her mouth. - “I don't want to forget, so I'm going to go get it and catch up with you guys in a little while, okay?” - There was a moment of silence, during which Rainbow felt her heart pounding so hard she feared the others might hear it.

Spitfire nodded, though Dash noticed a glint of concern in her eyes, a glint that did not go unnoticed. - “Sure, Dash” - the captain said, her tone carefully neutral, as if every word was measured so as not to alarm anyone. - “Don't take too long, we need to go over the details of the opening ceremony.”

With a nod, Dash broke away from the team, and as they rounded the corner of the hallway, an awkward silence fell over the group of Wonderbolts. The echoing of her hooves moving away seemed to take with them the joyous atmosphere they had shared moments before.

Spitfire dropped her gaze to the floor, frowning being the first to break the silence, her voice tinged with a concern she rarely showed. - “Has anyone else noticed that Dash has been.... different lately?” - Slowly the team members were nodding, their expression dropping noticeably at the idea.

High Winds moved forward slowly, her eyes still fixed on the spot where Rainbow had disappeared. - “It's like we're talking to a watered down version of herself” - she mentioned, her ears flopping back on her skull.

• “I've tried talking to her,” - Soarin added, his voice laden with frustration and concern. - “But every time I get close, it's like I put up an invisible wall. The Dash we know has never been so... evasive.” - It pained him to admit it, but the truth was undeniable.

• “She's always been able to handle pressure. This seems... different.” - Fleetfoot concluded, watching her companions with a mixture of sadness. - “Something has changed and I can't quite figure out what it is.”

• “What worries me most is that she won't rely on us to help her,” - Surprise said, her tone noticeably subdued, a contrast to her usual energy. - “If she can't count on us, who else?” - A heavy silence followed her words. Each of the Wonderbolts was immersed in their own thoughts, unwilling to think about the answer to that hard question.

It was as if something invisible stood between them and the real Rainbow Dash, and try as they might, they couldn't break through it. It's very hard to help someone who doesn't know how to ask for help, worse when not knowing they need it.

• “Whatever it is” - Spitfire finally said, straightening her shoulders, her posture regaining some of its usual authority - “we must be vigilant. I don't want this to get worse and maybe...” - she paused briefly, as if weighing her words. - “in time, she will open up to us.” - The others nodded, though the concern did not leave their faces. As they resumed their walk again.

When she was sure she was a safe distance away, Rainbow Dash stopped, resting her hooves on the firm ground. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh, clean air, allowing herself a moment of respite. In front of her stretched a landscape she had always loved: the majestic towers of the castle rose skyward, reflecting the sunlight in a display of a thousand vibrant colors, in the center of her view loomed Ponyville. She smiled unconsciously, how she wished she had not left there for that week.

At that moment, the beauty of the panorama felt distant, she knew she had to return to that room, the same room where she had been cared for as Moonflower. The irony was not lost on her; it was strange how a simple spell, a fleeting illusion, had unleashed a whirlwind of emotions that had thrown her into a chaos of difficult decisions and inner conflict.

How could something so ephemeral alter reality so much? I wonder if I could ever regain the clarity I had lost.

But she couldn't waste any more time, she couldn't keep running away from what she really felt. But, for a moment longer, she allowed herself to enjoy the view, the freedom that the present moment offered her, clinging to the hope that, perhaps, she would find her way back to herself.

With a quick glance to make sure she was alone, Dash spread her wings and soared gently. She flew glued to the castle walls, taking advantage of shadows and architectural protrusions to hide.

As she flew, her mind frantically went over what she was going to say, because yes, she didn't have the slightest idea what or how she was going to say it, she wasn't even sure why she was the one who summoned them in the first place, but what's done is done, and it's best to pull the weeds out by the roots.

Since the accident, she had been thinking a lot about her decisions. Nearly losing her life had given her a different perspective, one she was still trying to understand. As she flew still close to the castle wall, the events began to replay in her mind.

Finally, she reached the window of the room where she had been treated as Moonflower the day before after the fight in the central plaza, she felt anxiety tighten in her chest. She knew she had to be careful, that she had to measure her words, as she didn't want to cause any more trouble, but she couldn't let things be misinterpreted any further either. With a last glance at the sky and cautiously, she slipped inside, landing softly on the marble floor.

The room was empty, illuminated by the light filtering through the semi-transparent curtains, creating a soft golden glow that danced across the walls. Dash approached the closet, which was half-open, revealing a clutter of garments and accessories, one that she had caused the night before by searching for a garment that would hide her in plain sight, a soft, comfortable garment that had brought her strange comfort, though also a brief discussion with Soarin that morning.

She closed the closet and was surprised to see herself in front of it. A mirror...which adorned the spacious closet, she stepped back and closed her eyes for some reason. A few knocks on the door caused them to open instantly, Moonflower looked back at her from the mirror before Dash turned in the direction of the door.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the blood pressure vibrating in her veins. Opening it, she came face to face with Blooming Rose and Shining Marigold. The sisters passed, their hooves echoing softly against the marble floor.

Blooming Rose was the first to break the silence. - "We were surprised by your call, you know"-she took a moment to observe Rainbow Dash before speaking. - "I guess it must be important."

Dash moved forward, closing the door behind her. - "Yeah, something like that. I think it's time we cleared some things up" -she said in a serious but calm tone.

Shining Marigold arched an eyebrow. - "You mean explain where you went after your outburst, or why you came to my room late at night yesterday?" - Blooming glanced sideways at her sister at her last question.

Rainbow felt a twinge of irritation, but tried her best to remain calm - "I'm aware that my attitude with you hasn't been the best, and do you want the truth, I wasn't even trying hard to make it so" - she looked at them and took a breath - "I wanted you to get tired of me and be convinced that I'm not the one to solve your curse, because sometimes it seemed like even you don't know if I'm the right one for this."

• "No one forced you to accept this role" - interrupted Shining Marigold, her voice seriously dry - "and if we've had doubts it's because we mainly don't know you at all and you haven't done the easiest job either."

• "I don't know you guys at all either and yet I agreed to help your kingdom" - Dash answered still keeping her composure - "And I don't regret having agreed to help, that's not the point, it really is a delicate situation in which there are ponies suffering, and they are just the reason why I'm still in this" - Shinning opened her eyes, surprised by Dash's frankness.

Finally, Blooming Rose spoke up, her voice softer but still cautious - "We appreciate your willingness in spite of everything Rainbow. But we need to know if we can count on you. The tour is about to start, and we can't afford any more... incidents or arguments over anything."

Dash hesitated - "I know. And that's why I wanted to talk to you" - the two sisters looked at her - "I need you to understand that, although I am committed to this mission, I also need some space to be myself, to be heard and to take my opinion into account before your decisions."

Shining Marigold frowned, her eyes scrutinizing Rainbow Dash's face - "What exactly do you mean by 'be yourself'? Haven't we allowed you control of Moonflower the last few hours?"

• "Yes...but agh" - Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, searching for the best way to tell them what she thought. It was clear she wasn't very good at resolving conflict through dialogue - "What I mean is...being Moonflower, constantly keeping up this facade, is affecting me more than I thought it would. I still don't know how to be her without a part of me feeling... lost" - she averted her gaze, surprising herself as the honesty of her words had shown more than she had planned to show - "I'll make a mistake sooner or later if it continues like this."

Blooming Rose exchanged a worried glance with her sister before turning to Dash, noting the fragility with which she had spoken. - "I understand that this has been difficult to deal with in such a short time Dash. And perhaps we have made mistakes in our handling of things" - she admitted, her voice lower and reflective - "but you must understand that the success of this mission depends on keeping your identity a secret. We can't risk anyone discovering the truth."

Shining Marigold, though still visibly tense, let out a sigh and nodded as well - "Perhaps we have been too controlling in our concern for the kingdom and, whether you want to believe it or not, for you as well." - her tone softened - "We want you to be a part of this because we believe you can make a difference, and don't go upsetting, but don't think we chose you without first making sure we knew who you were."

Rainbow Dash felt a lump in her throat and pricked up her ears "had she been investigated? 'At what point'?". She shook her head - "the point here is, I can't do this if I feel constantly watched and questioned. I need to be seen as an ally, not a tool or a potential threat." - she said, her voice softer now, less defensive - "I won't stab at your trust, I give you my word, besides, I've saved Equestria more times than I can count, and while this is different, I think my experience could be valuable."

Shining Marigold sighed, her expression softening slightly. Blooming resumed speaking - "I suppose we've all made mistakes in how we've handled this situation" - The sisters exchanged another look before nodding slowly - "We'll try to be more transparent with you. We only ask that you give us the same chance and trust us as well."

Dash took a deep breath, feeling a small part of her tension begin to dissipate. - "Okay. Let's give it a try" - she finally agreed. The sisters exchanged understanding-laden glances, sensing that, despite the difficulties, they were ready to forge a new chapter in their relationship.

After a moment of reflection, Blooming Rose frowned, as if something had clicked in her mind. - "Rainbow"-she began, choosing her words carefully-"you mentioned that you're worried that you might not be able to be Moonflower one hundred percent. That you might make a mistake, right?".

Rainbow Dash, surprised by the unexpected turn of the conversation, arched an eyebrow. Her rainbow mane shook slightly as she tilted her head, intrigued. - "Eeehhhh, yeah, I said so" - she replied, her tone a mixture of confusion. She paused, searching for the right words. - "I mean, I can fake it to some extent, but I'm an athletic pegasus, not a refined mare."

Shining Marigold exchanged a glance with her sister before speaking. - "Maybe" - she began, her voice soft but firm - "we could help you with that. We've been expecting you to simply adapt without recommending the guidance you need. That's been a mistake on our part."

Blooming Rose eagerly moved forward, a broad smile lighting up her face. - "Exactly! We could do a little training!" she suggested, her voice charged with excitement. - "Before the trip, we could help you refine some aspects, to be more elegant and feminine, like Moonflower."

• "Training?" - she repeated, as if the word was a foreign concept. - "How exactly?" - One part of her, the competitive part to be exact, was always up for a challenge. But another part, the part that valued her identity and her lifestyle, felt uneasy. It wasn't exactly what she'd had in mind when she'd asked for more control over the situation.

• "Let's start with the basics. The art of walking gracefully is fundamental for a lady" - Blooming explained, her eyes sparkling with determination. - "If you want to convince everyone that you're Moonflower, you'll have to walk like her. Every step must be a statement of elegance and refinement."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, clearly wary. - "Walk?" - She repeated, a hint of arrogance coloring her voice. - "It's no big deal. I'm a Wonderbolt, remember? I walk and fly all the time."

Shining Marigold exchanged an amused glance with her sister before letting out a soft laugh. - "Well, let's see if you're still thinking the same thing when you're wearing this."

Before Rainbow could process what was happening, Blooming Rose approached with something she had pulled out of the closet. In her hooves rested a dress of a light green, with intricate embroidery that glittered like stars in the sunlight. The fabric seemed fluid as water, promising a softness and lightness that contrasted with its obvious elegance.

But what really caught Rainbow's attention were the accessories that accompanied the dress. Blooming, with a smile that mixed amusement and anticipation, showed her a pair of shoes that looked like something out of another world. They were high heels, black as night, with a toe so thin it seemed to defy physics. The surface shimmered almost hypnotically, reflecting the sunlight.

Rainbow Dash looked at the garments, her eyes moving from the dress to the heels and back again. For a moment, it seemed the words had left her.

• “This has to be a joke” - she finally muttered, her voice a mixture of disbelief and a hint of fear. She picked up the garments and looked at them as if they were pieces from another plane. But at the sisters' expectant looks, she had no choice, and with a sigh of resignation that sounded more like a grunt, she began to put on the outfit.

Rainbow Dash, sheathed in the elegant dress, teetered on the high black heels. Her usual confidence was gone, replaced by intense concentration and mounting frustration.

Blooming Rose, standing a few feet away, watched with a mixture of amusement and empathy. - “Remember, Rainbow” - she instructed, her voice soft but firm - “the key is to keep your back straight and your chin up. Imagine there's an invisible thread pulling your head skyward.”

Rainbow Dash frowned, trying to process the instructions as she struggled to keep her balance. She took a step forward, then another, her paws shaking slightly. For a moment, it looked like she had succeeded, but as she took the third step, her ankle buckled and she fell sideways onto the suit carpet.

• “Yuck!” - Rainbow growled, blowing a lock of her rainbow mane out of her face. - “How is anyone supposed to walk around with these things, who created this torture in the first place?”

• “You have to stop thinking like Rainbow Dash” - said Shinning - “You have to feel like Moonflower. Every step, every move. It's a matter of getting used to it.”

Blooming couldn't hold back a giggle, which she tried to disguise with a cough. - “Come on, Rainbow” - she encouraged her, extending a hoof to help her up. - “No one is born knowing. We stumbled many times in the beginning, too.”

Rainbow Dash took the offered hoof, getting up with a frustrated sigh. - “Easy for you to say” - she muttered, but there was a spark of rivalry in her eyes. She wasn't about to let a pair of simple shoes knock her down that easily.

As Rainbow prepared for another attempt, Blooming Rose began to walk in circles around her. She had put on similar heels so she could demonstrate the correct technique to Dash. - “Watch how I move my hips” - she explained. - “It's a subtle movement, but it makes all the difference. Think of it as a slow, graceful dance, don't think about what you're wearing, think about how it makes an impact.”

Rainbow Dash watches closely and tries to imitate it. She managed to take three steps without stumbling, a small victory considering she hadn't gone more than two since they had been practicing for about 30 minutes.

• “That's it!” - Blooming exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically. - “You're following it. Now, try to turn slowly, the other way.”

Rainbow attempted the turn slowly to avoid stumbling. Blomming in her enthusiasm for the demonstration and in order to grab Dash in case she stumbled again, she moved closer to her, perhaps too close. Her front paw got tangled in the long tail of the pegasus's dress and with a muffled yelp, she fell backwards, landing with a soft thud on the ground. Dash staggered a little at the movement that shook her slightly, but she kept her balance.

At that moment, Shinning, came over laughing, wanting to help his sister. However, in her attempt to get closer, she lost control and fell, dragging Dash with her. The three mares fell to the ground in a whirlwind of laughter and tangled paws.

• “This definitely wasn't in the plan!” -Blooming managed to say with a chuckle, shaking her head as she rose gracefully to her feet.

• “I guess we need... more practice” - Dash said with a chuckle, looking at Blooming.

• “And on less rigorous ground” - Shinning mentioned, wiping away some tears that gathered in the corners of her eyes caused by the moment.

Rainbow Dash, still laughing, nodded to herself. - “At least now I know I'm not the only one who can make a fool of myself in these shoes” - she joked.

When the laughter finally subsided and both mares stood up and took a break. Shining Marigold approached with an enigmatic smile, in her hooves she carried an elegant briefcase which, when opened, revealed an impressive assortment of cosmetics and face accessories.

• “Well, Rainbow” - began Shining, her voice soft but determined - “it's time to move on to the next lesson: personal presentation.”

Rainbow Dash looked at the briefcase with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. - “Uh, are you sure we need all that stuff?”- I look at her with some nervousness at her idea of making her up - “I mean, a shower is enough for me to be ready so...”

Shinning laughed softly. - “Oh dear, the appearance of someone in Moonflower's position must be flawless. But don't worry, we'll start with something simple.”

• “Define ‘simple’” - Dash muttered, looking with growing unease at the amount of products in front of her.

Shining began working on Rainbow's face, her hooves moving with expert precision as she applied different products. She began by applying foundation, then eyeliner, blush, and lipstick. - “The secret...” - she explained as she worked around the pegasus - “is in enhancing your natural features, not transforming you into someone completely different” - Dash, uncomfortably, felt herself being transformed, having no idea what was happening.

She kept still, though her expression oscillated between curiosity and nervousness - “Are you sure you're not turning me into an abstract painting, because you're taking too long and I don't want to look like a clown.”

Shining laughed, appreciating Rainbow's humor. - “You just trust the process. Makeup is like magic: subtle but powerful when used correctly.”

As Shining worked, Bloomiing noticed the tension in Rainbow's shoulders and announced herself - “You know” - she began, her voice soft and relaxed - “this isn't about changing who you are. It's about giving you tools to express yourself in different ways depending on the situation, that's what Moonflower does.”

Rainbow seemed to relax a little at these words, a little - “I guess that makes sense.”

Shining, in a delicate motion, applied a light foundation that blended with Rainbow's natural skin tone, creating an even surface. - “For a natural finish, look for a foundation that matches your skin tone and isn't too heavy” - she explained, with a touch of translucent powder to set the foundation and prevent shine. - “Translucent powder is like a magic veil that keeps your makeup in place all day.”

Then, with a black eyeliner, she outlined Rainbow's eyes, creating a more defined look. - “Eyeliner is like the frame of a painting, it defines your eyes and gives them depth or intensity to the look, it depends on what you want to achieve. If you want a softer look, you can use a lighter eyeliner or even an eyeliner pencil.” - she explained, with a touch of dark shadow in the crease of the eyelid to give depth to the look. - “Dark shadow in the crease is like a touch of mystery that enhances the natural beauty of your eyes, especially if they're big and light, like yours.”

With a touch of pink blush on Rainbow's cheeks, Shining gave her face a pop of color. - “Blush always brings life to your face. Apply it on the apples of the cheeks for a natural look. You can use different shades depending on your skin tone.” - she explained, then applying a touch of highlighter on the cheekbones and cupid's bow for a subtle glow. - “The highlighter is like a touch of light that seals the look on the face. You can apply it on the cheekbones, cupid's bow and bridge of the nose for a more luminous look, even on the eyelids alongside shadows.” - Dash stood attentive to everything Shining told her, not saying a word. Though she couldn't help but think it was too much, and it was scary to see what her face was looking like right now.

Finally, with a cherry red pencil and lipstick in the same shade, Shining completed Rainbow's look. - “Red lipstick will give you confidence. You can wear a lighter shade for a more natural look or a darker shade for a more intense look.” - She explained, with a touch of gloss in the center of the lips for a more voluminous effect. - “The gloss in the center and the contour of the pencil allow you to create an effect that makes your lips look bigger and more voluptuous.”

When she finally turned Dash toward the mirror, the colorful pegasus was speechless. Her reflection showed a more feminine version of herself, extremely feminine: her eyes were highlighted in a subtle but striking way with dark, shimmering shadows, her cheekbones were outlined in a darker shade while a translucent cherry red decorated her cheeks and nose tip, which was also contoured and had some highlighter, as did the tear trough of her eyes, and her lips, enhanced in a shade too red for her taste, didn't look like the ones she knew.

And while she had to admit that Shinning had done a very good job of taking her time, she couldn't help but be horrified. She looked like a parody version of herself, a caricature of what she considered feminine. She screamed, the sound of her own voice echoing in the space of the room.

• “What is this?” - exclaimed Rainbow, incredulous and shocked, she had expected a less exaggerated result.

Shining laughed, her laughter light and infectious. - “It's the picture of female perfection... according to me.”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow in disbelief, slowly turning to Shinning - “According to you?”- Rainbow, with a quick motion, picked up a makeup brush as a mischievous glint crossed her gaze. - “You're going to pay for this!”

Without a second thought, Rainbow lunged towards Shinning, brandishing the brush as if it were a sword. Shinning, despite her surprise, reacted quickly and began running around the room, laughing loudly as Dash chased after her. Every time Dash was about to catch up to her, Shinning managed to escape with a teleportation spell.

They both ran around the room, dodging furniture, laughing as if they were two little foals again. The situation had an absurd air about it, but Dash felt relaxed, as if, for a moment, the worries about the curse and her role in all this would vanish.

Finally, they both stopped, breathing hard with the effort, and Dash, still in exaggerated makeup, plopped down in a chair, laughing loudly.

• “Okay, okay. I admit, it was funny,” said Dash, wiping away a few tears of laughter - ”But please take this off before someone sees me like this.”

Shinning, still smiling broadly, nodded as she began to remove Dash's makeup. Gently, she slid the damp cloth across her face, removing the overdone paint she had applied moments before.

-“You know” - Shinning said as she worked - “you don't look so bad after all, Dash. Just... too girly to be you.”

Rainbow Dash snorted, but there was something about the way Shinning had said it that made her think. - “Are you kidding, it was like seeing someone else, even Moonflower doesn't look like that” - She watched her reflection in the mirror as Shinning removed the last traces of makeup.

The unicorn seemed completely absorbed in the task - “It's not being someone else, Rainbow. It's learning to be versatile. You're not losing who you are, you're just... expanding who you can be.” - Shinning continued, in a softer, almost thoughtful voice.

• “Exactly, it's adapting to the different forms you already have in your being,” - Blooming said, smiling as she passed more wet wipes to her sister. - “You, as Rainbow Dash, are amazing, but Moonflower is the one who can save us.”

Dash looked at her, unsure if that was a compliment or a warning. -“I guess I'm starting to get it” - she finally replied, not fully committing to the idea.

When Shinning finished, they both stared at the mirror. The reflection was more familiar now, but something still felt.... foreign.

-“Much better” - Dash muttered, more to herself than to Shinning.

Shinning smiled, satisfied. - “That's all we ask, Dash. And if you need help, we'll always be here to guide you.”

Blooming Rose, who had been watching Rainbow's transformation, decided it was the perfect time for the next lesson - “well, we've had plenty of time for transformations already” - she said, with an authoritative tone contrasting with the amused expression on her face - “It's time for you to practice your confidence affirmations”.

Rainbow frowned slightly. - “Confidence? That's no problem. I'm Rainbow Dash, after all, I have confidence to spare.”

Blooming enthused, appreciating the pegasus' attitude. - “True, but the confidence of a fancy lady is... different.” - Dash looked at her curiously - “In order to project confidence, you must first feel it. And sometimes, that requires you to say it out loud. Repeating it, until it becomes part of you.”

Dash raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. - “What are you talking about?” -she asked, almost scoffing at the idea.

Blooming stood her ground. - “Let's do an exercise. I want you to repeat a few phrases that will help you connect with the most elegant and confident version of yourself.”

• “Elegant and confident?” -Dash almost let out a laugh. - “I'm the coolest pony in all of Equestria. I don't need to repeat phrases to feel confident.”

Shinning smiled slightly, noticing the tension in Dash's shoulders. - “Precisely. We know, but Moonflower...” -she said with emphasis- “...has to project more than cool. She has to be the picture of royalty, a commanding yet serene presence.”

• “Okay...” - Dash sighed - “What do I have to do?”

Blooming took a step forward, his face calm and confident. - “Just repeat after me. And say it with conviction.” - Dash looked at her with her classic determination - “I am beauty and grace.”

Dash's eyes widened, determination dropping in seconds. - “Excuse me?” -she asked incredulously.

• “I am beauty and grace” - repeated Blooming, firmer this time. Urging her to repeat.

Rainbow Dash pursed her lips, almost feeling her pride screaming in protest, but she let it out. -“I am beauty and grace” - she muttered under her breath, not believing it for a second, like a scold. She bit her cheeks.

Shinning, watching from the side, shook her head. - “No, Dash. You have to feel it. Don't say it like you're teasing.”

Dash rolled her eyes and grunted, but decided to try again. This time, with a little more force - “I am beauty and grace.”

• “Much better!” -Blooming exclaimed, giving her an encouraging smile - “Let's move on: I am worthy of admiration and attention.”

The sentences kept coming, each one more ridiculous than the last in Rainbow Dash's eyes. - “I am worthy of admiration and attention” - she repeated, though her sarcastic tone was barely restrained.

• “My brilliance surpasses the stars because I am the image of royalty” - shouted Blooming with intensity, waiting for Rainbow Dash to repeat, as if she were a captain of the guard or commander, something similar to Sítfire, Dash thought.

Dash took a deep breath. This was pathetic. But she did it, because she knew she had to go through with the plan. -”My brilliance surpasses the stars because I am the image of royalty" - she said with conviction, though a mixture of annoyance and resignation were hidden in her tone of voice.

-"I am Moonflower, the definition of perfection” - Blooming finished, smiling with great satisfaction.

Dash, however, paused for a second. That last sentence made her feel strangely uncomfortable. -“I'm Moonflower...the definition of perfection" - she repeated in a somewhat muffled voice.

Blooming approached, her gaze steady and proud. - “Very good, Dash. You did perfect. Now... repeat it again in your mind, but this time, feel it, until it becomes more and more a part of you.”

• “Precisely Dash, you have what it takes to be better than Moonflower, we could see that.” - Shinning said encouragingly as he approached both mares - “I think that's enough for today, tomorrow we'll teach you some etiquette, speech and charm. I think we can practice a little dancing, after all that you already have, however, we must practice magic.”

• “Magic, how do they expect me to practice magic, I'm a pegasus” - Dash said as if it was obvious, and yes, it is.

• “we are quite aware of that Rainbow, but don't you remember the magic horn we gave you that night we made the deal?” - Blooming asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

Rainbow Dash was silent, her eyes narrowing as she tried to remember the night her deal with the sisters had been sealed. At the time, she hadn't been paying much attention. She was too focused on the urgency of the situation, but now that it was being mentioned, she was beginning to realize that she had overlooked something important.

• “The horn?” - repeated Rainbow, a mixture of curiosity and surprise in her tone. - “Yes, I remember it... but I didn't think I'd have to use it for real.”

Shinning sketched a small smile as she nodded. - “Yes, precisely. The horn isn't just a symbol. It allows you to do basic magic, but we know it doesn't transform your nature as a pegasus.”

• “I can't believe I didn't get more curious that night” - she muttered, mostly to herself. - “I mean, I was given a magic horn and I barely paid attention to it.”

• “I don't blame you, I'll remind you that your fellow pegasus came for you,” - Blooming interjected, with a soft smile - “Don't worry, you won't have to cast complex spells or do anything impossible. It's more about control and knowing how magic works” - said Blooming, with a smile that, although reassuring, had a subtext that made Rainbow uneasy.

• “All right,” -she murmured. - “We'll try tomorrow.”

Blooming and Shinning exchanged a smile, pleased with the progress. As Dash watched them, a mixture of bewilderment and determination came over her. The conversation had reached a lull. Shinning and Blooming seemed satisfied with the day's progress, while Rainbow Dash processed all that she had learned, and what she was yet to learn. Although she found all this training to be someone she wasn't surreal, she found herself, to her surprise, not as reluctant as she would have expected.

-“Well” - Shinning said, rising slowly, straightening up with a posture that seemed to scream elegance - “I think that about wraps it up for today. You need to rest up for what follows tomorrow. We'll meet after breakfast.”

Dash nodded, exhausted but more comfortable than she would have imagined. It had been a day full of discoveries and strange moments, but in the end, she felt like she had accomplished something...though she couldn't say exactly what.

As Blooming got up to follow her sister out the door, she paused as if remembering something. -“Ah, Rainbow” - she said, turning on her heel to look at her with that same soft expression that sometimes puzzled Dash - “We haven't discussed this before, but we think it's important for you to know.” - Dash arched an eyebrow, waiting. - “That about your accommodations.”

• “My accommodations? I thought we'd already decided that.” - Dash looked at them somewhat confused

• “The room you're in now... you know, here where we've been working on your training,”-Shinning gestured sweepingly with hee hoof toward the spacious, elegant room-"will be your accommodations while you're starring in Moonflower. You'll be here, near your fellow Wonderbolts.”

Dash blinked, surprised. - “Really?” - Rainbow asked, a smile forming on her lips. The thought of being close to her friends, even under the Moonflower disguise, filled her with relief - “I thought you said it was risky, I mean, aren't you worried they'll find out something if I'm this close to them?”

Blooming gave her a calm look back, but there was a glint in her eyes that Dash couldn't decipher. - “Don't worry, Rainbow. The unrecognition spell is very powerful. They won't see Rainbow Dash, they'll see Moonflower. So don't worry about that, we've got it under control” - Blooming indicated serenely - ”Just be careful with your Cutie Mark.”

-“Exactly” - confirmed Shining. - “And when you're Rainbow Dash, your room will be the one we indicated at the beginning, the one near our area.”

Rainbow blinked, processing the information. For a moment, she wanted to question the logic of this arrangement. After all, wouldn't it make more sense for “Moonflower” to be near the royal family? But then, a thought crossed her mind. Didn't the sisters realize that this arrangement would allow her to be close to her friends most of the time? A small smile formed on her lips, thinking she had discovered an unexpected advantage in the plan.

-“Okay” - said Rainbow, trying to hide her satisfaction. The sisters smiled pleased with the mare's positive response.

They headed for the door, with Blooming leading the way. Before leaving, Shinning turned one last time to Dash. - “We're so grateful for everything you're doing. We know it's not easy, but we believe that, little by little, you will adjust to your role. You may even feel... more comfortable being Moonflower than you imagine.” - Before leaving completely, the sisters placed the spell of unrecognition on her again.

She did not respond. Instead, she just watched them leave the room, their hooves echoing on the marble floor as they disappeared out the door.

Blooming Rose and Shinning Marigold walked through the wide halls of the castle, their hooves clacking against the marble as they made their way to their rooms. The air was still, almost too still for the burden they carried in their minds.

• “Do you think we're doing the right thing?” -suddenly asked Blooming in a whisper, almost as if she feared the walls might hear her. Her eyes roamed the hallway, as if searching for answers in the silence.

Shinning, calmer than her sister, gave her a quick glance before returning her attention to the front. - “It's what we must do, Blooming. We can't afford to fail now” - Her words were firm, but there was no malice in her voice. Only determination.

Blooming bit her lip, thinking back over the last few hours. The truth was, she had enjoyed her time with Dash. Watching her try to walk in heels, failing awkwardly, and then sharing laughter had been a respite she hadn't experienced in a long time with someone other than Aster or Shinning. Deep down, though, she knew that every step they took with Dash, was one step closer to making her someone else.

• “But...” -Blooming paused, stopping in the middle of the hallway and forcing Shinning to do the same- “Do you think she might suspect something, after all she's still Rainbow Dash. We can't change that, and we shouldn't want to either.”

Shining shook her head. - “No, I think she thinks we don't realize that we're giving her an apparent advantage” - Shinning sighed, her gaze softening slightly - “In time, her companions will get used to ‘Moonflower’, and she.... well, she'll adapt to her new role without even realizing it. It's what we were sent Blooming to do” - Shinning paused, lowering her voice - ”We're not here to destroy Rainbow Dash. But we do need Moonflower to be the one to take her place as we free our kingdom” - she held Blooming's gaze for long seconds - ‘ We just need the Bolts, by spending more time with Moonflower, to forget about Dash, so she'll forget about her too’

Blooming remained silent for a moment, processing her sister's words. She couldn't deny the logic in them. Though she felt they were playing with fire, she also knew they could not afford to hesitate now. The fate of their kingdom was at stake. She nodded slowly, “I know. But at the end of the day, when this is all over, I don't want the only Rainbow Dash left to be a shadow of the real one.”

-” Relax, after this is over, she can have her life back. We should be thankful with our luck” - Shinning continued, resuming her walk with Blooming following her - ”that Dash is willing to trust us enough to let us guide her through this. Even if she doesn't realize it, we're doing it for her sake too. If Moonflower succeeds, Rainbow Dash will too.”

• “But we're doing it without her full knowledge about this” - Blooming whispered, more to herself than to her sister. Shinning heard her, but didn't respond right away. Deep down, they both knew there was a fine line they were crossing, though neither was willing to admit it fully. Blooming stood thoughtfully for a moment, her steps slower than her sister's, a part of her still resistant to the idea of manipulating the loyalty of someone as valuable as Rainbow Dash, even if it was for the greater good.

Shinning paused again, this time turning fully towards her sister - “ Blooming, in the end she'll know that everything we did was to save our kind. And to help her be the best version of herself.” - Shining stated, resuming her walk again, Blooming just stood there, unmoving. - “It's not manipulation, it's...Guidance.” - She finally said before turning the corner and disappearing.

Blooming let out a long, resigned sigh. Although she understood Shinning's logic and the mission given, she couldn't shake the small uneasiness that still lingered in the back of her mind. After all, it wasn't that serious, was it? They were just helping Dash fit into the plan, to make her feel less of an outsider.

She just had to get used to Moonflower and the life destined to be. Maybe, in time, she wouldn't even notice.

Author's Note

finally, I revived, it was a lot of fun to do this chapter, I hope the next one will keep that line, I have some ideas so...

I also appreciate if you have some, you can tell me by comments or by internal, I have no problem with it. The idea is that you enjoy the reading and development of this story, I try to include it somehow as long as it adds value to the plot, as it was in the case of JBlaser with this specific chapter.

Thank you very much as always, it's something that I think I will never get tired of saying, especially for your patience with me.

See u.