Chapter One. A Broken Wing that can Sing... with Pain.
The young filly was stuck in a morphing phase, between Pegasus and Unicorn. Her wing was burning with pain, the other was gone, for it had disappeared. Her horn was stuck, half growing, and the body parts kept tugging on her body. The firey sensation had never felt so bad.
"Rainbow Swirl? Are you okay?" A caring Princess Luna walked over.
"My wing."
"Let me see." Luna ran a hoof over the inside of the wing, making Rainbow Swirl yelp in pain. Luna looked nervous. "It's broken. You have to wake up now."
Rainbow Swirl nodded sadly, as she felt the dream slipping away.
Two ponies stood over Rainbow Dash as she woke up. Glancing around, she was in a white room, and an uncomfortable cast was on her wing. Groggily, she looked at the two faces.
"Princess Luna! Princess Celestia! Sorry for bumping into your chariot.
"It's okay." Princess Celestia soothed. "We were just bumped somewhat. Are you okay?"
"Yes."
The two Princesses exchanged uncomfortable glances, then Luna spoke up.
"Rainbow Dash, you have potential. I know you as Rainbow Swirl."
"Wait, what? That was actually you?" Rainbow's eyes widened. She felt like she was going to faint.
"While you were dreaming, you became half unicorn, half pegasus to the watching pony. I know, because I stood here, while Luna entered your dream. This has never happened before." Princess Celestia spoke up.
"Celestia is saying that you have the spirit of the unicorn, a body of a pegasus. "
"Because of the tumble, you showed us what Ponyville really is. Fliers and unicorns and Earth ponies, everything was laid back and casual, unlike the other towns. True Ponyville. Everybody was friendly and having fun. There were a few gifts to us, but nothing out of the ordinary. Ponyville will be the location of the Summer Sun celebration, because of you." Celestia smiled.
"Oh, and Rainbow Dash?" Luna asked.
"Yes, Princess?"
"Would you like to call me Teacher? I would like you to be my protege, and we can harness the unicorn inside."
Out of all the things that happened today, Dash did not expect this. "Yes, Pri- Miss Luna."
"Thank you. I'll see you outside once you get situated."
~~~~~
"What did they say?" Pinkie Pie bounced around Dash, after the Princesses left.
"I think I might be on the cover of Equestria Daily."
"Sugarcube, why?"
"Because Luna is taking me as her student."
Confused looks echoed between the quartet of friends, and Rainbow Dash stood up.
"Sorry, sugarcube, but I don't think it's possible."
"Yes it is. They said I ha-" Rainbow Dash remembered the promise she had made. "I can't tell you. Government secrets. Lets just say, I'm the first pony for this to happen to me."
"I- I think it's awesome... if it's okay with you." Fluttershy whispered. She only seemed herself around Dash, and only Rainbow Dash.
"Will you have to leave for Canterlot?" Rarity looked nervous.
"Yes, tomorrow morning."
"What?!" Pinkie Pie said, incredulously. "Then we need a party!"
"Pinkie, I can't be hung over when I go to Canterlot."
Pinkie nodded, respectfully.
Rainbow Dash already had a lot on her mind, and as she walked out, she answered with a simple yes or no to their questions, and they eventually just had small talk. The train would come tomorrow, and Rainbow Dash wouldn't see her friends for a few months, and thats when she broke down in tears.
"Can you come, guys? Please? I'll be all alone for months and..." She choked on a sob.
"I'll come if I can open a boutique." Rarity grinned. "Sweetie Belle will have to come, but..."
"I can take Scootaloo and Apple Bloom." Applejack shrugged. "I'm sure Big Mac can handle the farm for a few months by himself."
"I'll come! As long as there are parties and candy!" Pinkie bounced around.
Everybody turned toward the yellow pegasus, who seemed to have a hard time deciding. She crouched down when all eyes hit her.
"I-I-I can come, if it's okay with you." All the ponies cheered.
"We're going to Canterlot!"
~~~~
Applejack had tearful goodbyes, and Fluttershy had hired another pony to watch the animals in the nick of time. The Cutie Mark Crusaders said bye to all their friends.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders, we might get our Cutie Marks!" Apple Bloom whispered. They squealed excitedly. Maybe something fun would happen to Dash for once.
As all the ponies boarded the train, Celestia had given them a private car, and it was filled with chatter. The Cutie Mark Crusaders dominated one half, shooting questions at Rainbow Dash like mini-bullets.
"Where are you going to stay?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Are you still going to fly?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Why did she recruit you if you-" Scootaloo was interrupted by Rarity.
"Girls, leave Rainbow Dash alone. She'll need her sanity for later."
Rainbow Dash sighed, and stared out the window, silently. Rolling hills passed by, and the train quickly sped past small clusters of trees. Rainbow Dash could go three times faster than the train, but she needed the support of her friends. The serenity of going slower, why hadn't Dash discovered that? As more thoughts crowded her brain, she felt herself getting sleepy. She forced her eyes to stay awake, as she looked in her bag for something, and pulled out a can of Discord, a highly caffeinated drink that a lot of the teen Pegasi her age chugged down, regularly. Making sure Applejack wasn't looking, she chugged down the drink. And another. And when she was on her third, Applejack glared at her.
"RAINBOW DASH." She growled. The rainbow-maned pony's eyes widened. "What have I told you about drinking that? It's as bad as alcohol."
"Calm down, AJ." Rainbow chucked an empty can at the Earth pony. "This is my day. " Applejack just had to sit there, while Rainbow Dash finished chugging the third.Discord. An electric green D was on the can, making it obvious to any pony that she was drinking it. Rainbow was highly sensitive to caffeine. Three cups of coffee could keep her going for a full 24 hours, and Tartarus knows how long it would keep the new student up. With a refreshing sigh, Rainbow slumped back into her chair, and stared out the window with wide eyes, until they made it to Canterlot.
"Welcome, Lady Rainbow Dash." A handsome pony knelt and kissed Rainbow Dash's hoof, making a red tint appear on her face, before going away when the pony stood up. "I am Golden Copper." The stallion had a dark golden mane, and a copper pelt. "I have been assigned to escort you and your company to the Princesses."
Rarity let out a foal-like giggle. Three basic stallions picked up their bags, and walked away.
"Your bags are being taken to where you are staying, you'll get there soon enough. Now, if you follow me." He had an official Canterlot voice, and Rarity was obviously captivated. So was Rainbow Dash.
He's mine, sister. She thought, as he turned around and guided them to the Princesses. He walked by Rainbow Dash, and talked to her, in a friendly, polite way.
"Lady Rainbow, may I ask you a question? You might be offended."
"Go ahead and ask."
"Does Luna intend on making you an alicorn? You do not seem to have a horn."
"It's a really long story."
"Well, Lady Rainbow Dash, maybe you can stop by my place and tell me sometime?" Golden Copper asked, as they approached the castle. Scootaloo let out a low wolf whistle, as the student's face went red. Scootaloo got a glare from Applejack.
"Maybe I'd can. Sounds nice." Rainbow Dash smiled, and she had a beautiful smile. Just then and there, she wished she had bothered to put up her hair, heck, even straighten it, so she'd look nicer in front of the stallion.
"I have to let you go here, but farewell, my dear Lady." As he knelt down, Rainbow lifted up her hoof, and he kissed it once more, then headed off.
"I like Canterlot." She said in a dreamy voice, once they got inside the castle.
"Lady Rainbow Dash!" Princess Luna trotted up to her newest, and first, student.
"Princess, why does everybody call me Lady?"
"Well, your my very first student, which makes you deserve a name of royalty. Do you like Golden Copper? He's quite the charmer. I thought he would pick up on Rarity, but I guess you got lucky!" Luna smiled, and it was a kind smile. "You'll be staying across the street in the Canterlot Condominiums, which are luxury. You have full access to the library any time you want. Studies start tomorrow at eight, and will run to three. Some days will be independent studies. For the oncoming months, Sweetie Belle, you have been enrolled in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, you will also be studying there, but with a private teacher, so you can learn the history of Equestria and other things. You two will be the only non-unicorns there. This is a big responsibility, and I hope you understand that." Luna talked to them with a kind and gentle voice, but she wasn't condescending like most adults when it came to the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Applejack, you, if you don't mind, will work with the chefs to help prepare delicious apple treats, and Rarity, I got you a job at Hoity Toity, the fanciest boutique in Canterlot. Pinkie Pie, you will work at the bakery down the street, and Fluttershy, you can help train the animals at the Canterlot Zoo."
Rarity looked like she was about to faint with excitement. "Hoity Toity?" She squeaked. The fashion critic had opened up his own place, and it skyrocketed.
"Lady Rainbow, since you're my new student, I would like you to read up on the basic spells. Here is a spell book." The Princess handed a book to Rainbow Dash, and Rarity looked at her.
"May I carry that for you, Lady?" She said, in a light-hearted tone, and they all laughed.
"Yes you can." Rainbow Dash said to the unicorn, which took her by surprise, and they all started laughing again.
Rainbow Dash walked through the busy streets of Canterlot alone. She had asked her friends for some alone time, and they had agreed to it. She carried a small pouch full of silver bits, for she had decided do a little shopping for herself. Maybe get something for Scoots.
"Lady Rainbow!" A friendly face of Golden Copper appeared.
"Oh, hey, Golden Copper." Rainbow Dash smiled. "You don't have to call me Lady Rainbow Dash. It's just Rainbow Dash."
"I must insist! You are Luna's first, prized student, are you not?"
Rainbow Dash felt a small blush appear on her face.
"Care to come to my place to tell me the long story?"
Rainbow Dash smiled. "Of course." And she walked by the stallion into the night.
Prologue. Just an Average Day, with the Chaos Quota Filled.
A cyan unicorn stands in the middle of a field. "C'mon, Princess! Let me show you a new trick!"
Princess Luna flies down, looking at the eager pony. "Calm down, Rainbow Swirl. We have the night."
"But I'm eager to show you!"
Despite what the dreamholder thought, Princess Luna had been wandering in the Pegasus's dreams for the past few weeks, being the idol she expected. Luna wished she could take on the Wonderbolt as a protege, but not until she somehow grew a horn, and would be able to do magic with it. It was impossible. Luna had to keep from sighing. The unicorn in the dreams seemed so interested in magic.
"What do we have in store today, then?"
The cyan unicorn concentrates. Instantly, a bouquet of flowers appear in front of the Princess.
"They're for you!" The unicorn chirped.
"Thank you. They smell beautiful." The alicorn levitates the flowers to her snout, and sniffs them. The Soleil d'Ors are unique and pretty. "I shall treasure them forever."
The unicorn's eyes widen. "Really?"
Luna nods. "Really."
The unicorn squeals, and runs up to her mentor, giving her a hug. The hug takes the Night Princess by surprise.
"Thank you Princess." Rainbow Swirl breathes.
Already, the small filly is starting to grow taller, and her horn starting to dissipate, and wings begin to bud. The night is gone. Usually, they are longer, but some nights are short. Her voice is gaining maturity.
"See you tomorrow, Princess?"
"As always, Rainbow Da-" She paused. "Swirl. Goodbye for now."
"Bye Princess."
~~~
Rainbow Dash woke up, alert. Looking around her cloudy room, she half expected the field. Glancing at her alarm clock, she groaned and rolled off the bed. She had to get up. Unwillingly, her wings forced her into the air, gliding her out to the local Moonbucks, where the cashiers looked just as tired.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash. You're early." One sighed. A pillow was their Cutie Mark.
"Hey, Snoozy." Rainbow Dash equally matched the bored, monotone voice.
"The usual?"
"Yeah, peppermint mocha?"
"As always." The pony, lacking in effort, managed to turn around at somewhat shout the order.
"Got the paper?"
"Equestria Daily? Always." Snoozy slid a paper towards her.
"Thanks."
"Table 15. Your order will be out soon."
Rainbow Dash walked over to a table, and put the 15 down on it. Looking at the front of the paper, a side column interested her.
Celestia's Official Student Sent to Study?
Twillight Sparkle, a common unicorn from Canterlot, is Celestia's official student. She has been sent to study at Ponyvale for the Princess thinks her student needs to focus on the power of friendship. "Twilight will be coming back to Canterlot in a year.", says Celestia."She'll be graduating by then." We checked up on Sparkle a week ago.
"My friends are really nice. Three pegasi, an earth pony, and a unicorn hang out with me all the time. Oh, uh, what are their names? Cloudlight, Windspeed, those are the two Pegasi twins. Current is the other Pegasus. Toola Roola is the Earth pony, and Starsong is the unicorn." Continued page A8.
She can't remember her friend's names? Glad she didn't come here. Rainbow Dash scoffed, as she tipped the kind stallion who had brought out her coffee. Drinking the highly-caffeinated beverage, a surprising guest sat down in the other seat at the table.
"Hey, 'Shy." Rainbow Dash glanced up. "What brings you here?"
"Nothing much." Her voice was still quiet, but the yellow Pegasus seemed scared less often, ever since she had found refuge in flying. Most of the animals had grown up and left, and Fluttershy hadn't taken in anymore. She was still the nicest pony anybody could have met.
"What's up?" Rainbow Dash knew something was up, and she leaned forward. Fluttershy rarely came to Cloudsdale anymore.
"Well, PinkietoldmethatCelestiaiscomingtoPonyvillebecausePonyvilleisoneofthechoicesthatwillbefortheSummerSuncelebrationandPinkieneedsmyhelpandyourhelpand...." Fluttershy sighed. Rainbow Dash was now awake.
"Well," She sighed, able to comprehend Fluttershy Speak. "We have to help, Fluttershy. I don't think the Princess wants a huge commotion. She just wants to see how Ponyville really is."
"Hey, what's that?" She pointed to the Twilight Sparkle article. "Is that Twilight Sparkle? I heard rumors that Cadance is marrying her brother. "
"Ugh, because she needs the attention. Read it. She can't even remember her friends names! A ton of ponies deserved that section. I, as a matter of fact, would make it twenty percent cooler. "
Fluttershy managed a small giggle. "We just need to go visit Pinkie. "
"Let's go. " Rainbow Dash finished her nonalcoholic beverage, and threw the plastic cup on away. "Up for speed?"
Fluttershy looked nervous. "Uh... If its good with you..." She whispered.
"I'll just meet you at Sugarcube Corner. "
~~~
Pinkie Pie was bouncing around, happily, when Rainbow Dash had walked in. Rarity and Applejack were seated, looking dull and bored.
"Now we wait for Fluttershy. " Applejack sighed.
"I'm here. " A small voice answered.
"Thank you." Rarity sighed, standing up.
"Let's discuss the party,
"Guys. It's no big deal. Just be natural. " Everybody just stared at Rainbow Dash, jaws dropped.
"Celestia comes today. Around 5:30ish, she'll be here." Applejack broke the silence. "I can set up the apple cart. "
"I can fancy up the down." Rarity spoke. "They'll be refined."
"I can make desserts!" Pinkie squeaked.
"I-I can make a bird chorus."
"If you have any other ideas, find me later. I gotta go check up with the Weather team. Late as it is. " The cyan pony trotted out, and flew through the skies, until she came to a small cloud. Laying on it, she slowly fell asleep, feeling herself sink into the small filly form of the unicorn.
"Princess Luna!" The filly calls. A spell book sits in front of her. Luna will be back later. At the moment, Rainbow Swirl might as well practice. Concentrating, the filly opens her book with levitation.
Which would interest her? Her pink eyes fall to a darkness spell. Grinning, she chants the words. The light simply flickers for a moment. Getting irritated, she tries again. It fails to work. Swirl is starting to get mad.
"Darkness, darkness, there is no fright. Darkness Darkness, let there be no light!" She chants, and everything goes black.
"Princess?" She asks, then lets go of the spell.
"RAIN-"
"-BOW DASH!"
The Pegasus's eyes snapped open.
"What, Scootaloo?" She growled, looking at the small pegasus on her scooter below.
"Can we go practice flying?"
"Don't you have school?"
"School ended two hours ago."
"And I left Pinkie's at 12. Which means I just took a five hour nap. "
"Can we practice flying?"
"Fine." Rainbow Dash spiraled into the air, and with a goofy grin, she looked down at the filly. "If you can catch me." The cyan pegasus soared past little Scootaloo with ease, as she looked back to see the little filly laughing. Flying over Ponyville, she looked down at her screaming fans.
"RAINBOW DASH!" One shrieked, and at the last second, she realized it wasn't with glee.
"RAINBOW DASH!" Applejack yelled. "LOOK OUT."
The blue pony looked up, to see the golden chariot right in front of her face, with a scared Celestia and Luna in it.
