Ever After (Hiatus)

1

King Shining Armour charged straight ahead, storming through his castle followed by two of his servants and his wife Queen Cadence.

 "Shining, can't we wait till the sun rises?"

 "No, that boy has kept me awake for days. If I can't sleep neither will he."

 "But Shining. Soarin doesn't love the Princess of Spane. You haven't let him try to find love."

 "Cadence, if he is to become ruler he needs a wife to inherit the thrown. And I am close to my retirement years."

 "Soarin is only twenty-one, and your age is only forty-eight."

 "Well, that doesn't matter; Soarin is to be wed before his next birthday."

Shining Armour stormed into his son's room, only to find it completely empty of any life but himself.

 "Oh dear," Cadence muttered when she saw the window wide open. "Not again."

Outside was a light blue pegaus, flying as far away from his home as possible.

 Rainbow Dash awoke by the fire place, clutching her Daring Do book, the last thing her father gave to her. She opened her eyes, revealing a pure magenta colour. She ground when she heard the endless commands coming from her stepmother Trixie and Diamond Tiara. She got up and hid her book under a floor board.

 "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming." She then began boiling three eggs and slicing bread.

 "Rainbow Dash?" Trixie called harshly.

 "Alright. Alright. They're here." Rainbow muttered not wanting the unicorn to hear her. She placed three perfect looking plates down; each had a knife, fork and spoon placed prissily in their places. Trixie eyed her stepdaughter.

 "Rainbow Dash?" she called before the pegasus could leave.

The cyan mare stared back at Trixie with innocent eyes, a trick Fluttershy used if she was in trouble (well at least Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie called it a trick, it was most likely Fluttershy was just scared.)

 "I have a feeling that your work is lacking, tell me girl, how lazy do you think you are?"

 "I am sorry if I displease you madame, but I really do try. I always try to think how I could improve and how I should act around you." Of course not all of this was true.

Trixie's look softened.

 "Darling, I have tried to be a good mother to you, I have given you shelter." Which was partly true but it was Rainbow's home before hoof. "I have fed you." Once a week. "I have bathed you." That wasn't true unless a mud bath with pigs counted. "And have given you clothes." Rainbow Dash only had one item of clothing, her apron for cooking, which she rarely used.

 "Tell me dear, what can I do to make you work harder?"

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and stopped her trick.

 "Well, maybe I can work harder if Cheese Sandwich returned."

Trixie looked harshly.

 "That thief will not return until he has worked off the debt he owes."

 "Cheese Sandwich is not a thief! You just gave him away because you couldn't pay taxes!"

Trixie slapped Rainbow's face.

 "Do not use that tone young lady."

Rainbow Dash clutched her cheek. Fluttershy quietly entered the room and helped the eighteen year-old pegasus away. Trixie simply glared at her daughter Diamond Tiara with pride.