"Twilight! Cadence! Thou art needed in the throne room immeaditly!"
Twilight ran over to the throne room. If Luna is calling us over, it must be important. Last time Celestia was too busy to call s over, it turned into a rescue mission for her. Twilight thought.
Twilight and Cadence entered the grand throne room, and took a few hoofsteps up the steps to Celestia's throne. This was their place, as they were not yet full princesses.
"My sister will arrive soon," Luna informed the two mares.
"Is she in trouble?" Cadence quickly asked. She had nearly broken down when she found Celestia missing a few years ago, Twilight recalled. If she was hurt or killed, Cadence might enter a nervous breakdown....
"All is well," Luna replied calmly. "She just needs to sort some things out before the big announcement."
Announcement, huh? This must be a big change them, if she's taking so long to sort things out...
Twilight was only half done with her thought when Celestia emerged. Her eyes were dropped over, and her magical mane had begun to lose some of its color. She just hasn't looked the same since my Coronation. But she can't be aging....she's immortal! According to all my books about the immortal, she can't possibly look or feel a day older at this point!
And yet....she does.
"Twilight Sparkle," Celestia began. "You have been a princess for nearly a hundred and fifty moons now. Cadence, you have been one since your very first day. You have both learned much about leading ponies, and have brought Equestria from dark times to what is arguably our "Golden Age." Cadence, you have lead the rich and populous Crystal Empire, while Twilight, you have brought once poor and sick lands to what could even be considered the standard of Canterlot living. You are young, talented, and both have a great future ahead of you."
Celestia turned to Luna, exchanged a glance, and then nodded, as if they were passing a baton filled with this speech.
"Celestia and I have been ruling for over a thousand years, and while we are immortal, raising objects such as the sun and moon take a toll on one's body. And that is why we feel the need to pass our rule down to thee, as the next princesses of all Equestria."
Both mares' jaws dropped. "WHAT?"
"You're THE princesses...."
"You can't just..."
"But..."
Celestia closed her eyes and raised her forehoof to silence them. "You will do just fine. You have proven you are worthy rulers, and together you can do this."
Twilight stepped forward. "Celestia, I understand that I have to do this but...what about the Elements? If I become ruler of All, then..."
Boom. Crack! Hiss!
"What was that?" Cadence asked.
Luna and Celestia turned toward each other.
"Celestia, if that was what I think it was rising from the ground..."
Celestia's gaze narrowed. "It was, my sister." She turned to face Twilight. "Twilight, quickly! Get Spike and find the other Elements, and then bring them back here! You six have one final mission, now!"
Final mission? Twilight thought.
"Celestia, I haven't seen them in moons! We've all gone our separate ways, how in Equestria will I....."
Celestia stared Twilight down, with her stare that said "this is an emergency," and, "do as I say."
"Twilight," she started. "You are a gifted unicorn. Your magic and bond between them should allow you to find them all! Now go!"
Twilight flapped her wings and flew how Rainbow Dash had taught her to; fly fast. She could her ponies begin to scream outside, and something deep inside her that this was only the beginning.
"Spike!" Twilight called. Spike, now a full grown dragon, could fly on his own and was nearly half the size of the castle. He flew up a few feet to meet Twilight's eyes.
"Yes, Twilight?" He asked in a low, deep, almost growling voice.
"We need to go find the rest of the gang. Go get Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity." Spike perked up at the sound of Rarity's name. Even though it had been years since he had last seen her, he still had a crush larger than himself for her. "i've got Fluttershy and Dash. Meet back here as soon as you find them!"
With that, Twilight raced to the sky, not turning back for Spike, "The Threat," or anything. If Celestia said this was urgent, Twilight knew from all the years of her studying that this was urgent.
Tilt right. Tilt left. Barrel-roll. Dive bomb. Stick the landing.
Rainbow Dash looked up toward Captain Spitfire to see if she approved.
I HAD to have passed that time! I couldn't feel any flaws, I was going at plenty fast enough...I did what everypony who's passed has done!
"Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire finally called.
"Yes Ma'am!" Rainbow shouted, snapping to attention.
"You were not flying anywhere close to full speed during that exercise! Please line up to try again!"
Rainbow called back up, "With all due respect, Ma'am, I'm not supposed to go full speed. Besides, that was my 6th attempt, I think I...."
"Silence!" Spitfire boomed, anger flashing in her eyes. "You still have four more tries to do this right or else...."
"The punishment, I know!" Rainbow Dash mumbled.
"Do not interrupt me! With that attitude, I don't know how you even made the team!"
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to protest, but Spitfire continued. "Now go join your teammates back up at the top!"
Rainbow Dash reluctantly flew back up to the top, where two of her teammates waited in line to try again. Thunder Runner, one of the rookies, like herself, was up next. After him was Soarin.
"She's just giving you a hard time," Soarin whispered.
"She's always giving me a hard time. I wish she could just let it go. Forgive and forget, you know?"
Soarin shook his head in disagreement. "It's my fault. I should have known she would be like this after I broke up with her."
"Well, when she's like this, it's no wonder you broke up with her!"
Soarin looked down. "She didn't used to be like this. She used to be funny and kind, and fun to be around. I made her like this."
"Don't say that!" Dash protested.
Soarin turned to talk, until Spitfire flew down to meet them. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the two lovers who can't be away from each other for a second. No wonder you two have been preforming bad lately. Be a shame if one of you got kicked off the team."
"It's not like that," Dash growled.
"Oh, nice try. But you can't resist Soarin, and he can't resist you, even if he's with another mare." She replied, death-glaring the pair.
"This isn't the time, Spitfire." Soarin responded. He stepped up to the starting platform. "If you'll excuse me, I still have one more try."
Spitfire chuckled. "You'll fail."
Yeah, because you're the judge, Rainbow Dash thought.
Soarin thrust himself at full wingpower, maneuvering through the obstacles to what appeared to be flawless.
There's no way Spitfire can say he failed, not even with her grudge. She still has to be a honest captain...
Soarin stuck the landing, and looked up.
"Soarin!"
Soarin responded by saluting and snapping to attention. "Yes, Ma'am!"
"You have failed and used up your tenth attempt. You must now face "The Punishment;" A 24-hour silent guard duty every other day throughout the next week."
Soarin's eyes grew wide in sadness, and he flew away slowly, his head hanging down.
"Objection!"
Spitfire snapped around. "What?"
Rainbow Dash began to fly up toward Spitfire, but somepony caught her hindleg first.
"Let go!" She yelled.
She turned around to see Thunder Runner holding onto her hoof. "Don't do it, or you'll face worse consequences!"
Her eyes narrowed. "Thunder Runner, you're a good colt. You always follow the rules, because the rules are always right."
"Exactly! You...."
Rainbow Dash silenced him. "Spitfire isn't following the rules. And I'm loyal to the Wonderbolts, and their rules. Not. Her. Now let go."
Thunder Runner let go reluctantly. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings in a big, slow motion. She stared Spitfire down in the eyes and came up to meet her.
"I said, I object. Soarin passed. You just let a stupid grudge over nothing fail him. You just want his life to be miserable."
"Soarin is a bad flyer. So he failed the exercise."
Rainbow Dash shoved Spitfire with her forehooves, with a good portion of her strength. "He's a fine flyer. Better than you will be. And a fine pony, too."
Spitfire shoved back, harder than dash had. "You listen here, "Element of Loyalty." Soarin is not loyal. Not to you, not to the Wonderbolts, and certaintly not to a mare who loves him. He's a horrible flyer, and an even worse pony. Your just stupid enough to fall for his lies!"
Rainbow growled. "Stop....holding...a stupid....GRUDGE!"
She bucked Spitfire in the stomach, sending her flying through the training grounds. Rainbow's ears drooped as she watched Spitfire soar and eventually smash into the dorms.
"Oh no." Rainbow Dash muttered.
She watched as a trail of fire shot up and fly full speed at her. Spitfire was literally on fire. Dash braced herself for the burning impact, but nothing came.
"DASH!" Spitfire screamed. "YOU WILL STAND GUARD WITH SOARIN EVERYDAY AND ON YOUR OWN EVERYDAY IMBETWEEN! AND ADD ANOTHER 3 WEEKS TO YOUR SERVICE!"
Dash dipped her head. "Fine. You win. Hope you're happy."
She flew off to meet Soarin, but didn't say a word.For the next three weeks, I'm not allowed to say a word. Nor can I train, or talk to anypony else. Thanks a lot, Spitfire.
Soarin sat down on the Watching Cloud, and Dash took her place next to him. She sat and watched as the sun sank below the clouds, and day turned to night.
She was just about finished pouting in her mind when she saw somepony flying off in the distance.
And that somepony was flying toward them.
Rainbow Dash jumped up and spread her wings, and Soarin quickly joined her. He nudged her shoulder and point off in the other direction. A second one!
Dash turned Soarin, looked him in the eye, and nodded. We can take them.
She put her weight on her hind legs, ready to spring into action.
3...2....1...
"Rainbow Dash! It's you! Oh my gosh, I...I haven't seen you in ages!" A soft voice called.
Rainbow Dash cocked her head to the side. It can't be...she got a huge job offering on the other side of the Everfree. How...
Dash looked to Soarin as if to ask for permission to talk. After all, he was of higher rank.
Soarin nodded as the second pony came closer.
"I've got the other one. You talk," Soarin whispered.
Dash smiled, and nodded back. "Thanks for letting me do this."
"You deserve a break for once." Soarin replied. He then turned around and continued to keep guard.
Dash turned to face the pegasus that they had spotted. "Fluttershy? What are you doing here? I though you were working on the other side of Equestria, to...."
"Help perserve the animals, I know. But, well, honestly, I don't know what we're doing here. Twilight said that we needed to find you, and..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Dash stammered. "Twilight's here? No way. Ever since she came back from that other world,.she's been too busy for any of us. She wouldn't come up here just for me."
"Yeah she would. I mean, she's your...."
"No, no, NO!" Dash interuptted. "Twilight was my friend. Now all I am is a part of the Elements; I'm no more than a shield to her. That's why she's here, isn't it? We're needed."
Fluttershy looked taken aback. "I don't know. Twilight didn't...."
Fluttershy was cut off as another familiar voice began. "Equestria is in major trouble. We need the old gang together." The new mare smiled. "Sorry, I forgot to greet you. Hello, Rainbow Dash. Long time, no see."
Rainbow Dash grumbled. "Hello, Twilight Sparkle."