In the Hooves of Rainbow Dash

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.