Rainbooms and Royalty

In the Tyrant's Lair

The Shadowbolt captain, having failed to cow them into submission, fled back to the palace of the royal pony sisters where her two subordinates had brought Shining Armor.

Back in the Everfree Forest, a stone’s throw away from said palace, Rainbow Dash pawed the ground angrily, bucking the air as the ponies licked their wounds. “Darn it! We just rescued Shining Armor and now we have to do it again?!”

“You okay Twi?” Applejack asked her as she helped the unicorn up.

She nodded weakly. “Y-yeah. Fine. I’m fine.” Her eyes betrayed her as she followed the path the Shadowbolts had taken out of sight straight to the palace. Pinkie hugged her from behind.

“Don’t you worry none, we’ll get ‘im back.” AJ assured her.

Rainbow Dash pounded her front hooves together. “Hay yeah we’re getting him back! We are going to march right in there and—”

“You will do nothing of the sort.” Six startled ponies turned to look at Zecora who wore a stern visage and steely eyes that would brook no argument. “Their action was a lure to a trap, to use him as bait for their sport. Nightmare Moon will be waiting for you when you arrive. Without the Elements of Harmony, there is no hope you can derive.”

Rainbow flew up and got right in Zecora’s face. “No way!”

“We are not abandoning my brother!” Twilight protested as the others nodded in support of her and Dash.

Zecora sighed. “This I know. I would not ask you to stoop to such a low. This is the purpose of mine for which I was prepared. I shall go to the throne room where Nightmare Moon lairs. There I shall rescue the captive and draw her attention away from the rest of you, so you can find the Elements of Harmony and do what you need to do.”

“Are you nuts?” Rainbow Dash shouted. “You want to face Nightmare Moon by yourself? How come when I said that you told me I was nuts but now it’s okay for you to try it?”

“I never said my plan was completely sound. But of all our options, this is the best around. Stopping Nightmare Moon is not my goal. But stalling and diverting her gaze, that I can do while you take your secret stroll. Away from the throne room, in an ancient tower chamber, there you will find the gems we seek. Now go, make way without a peep!” She raised her hood and turned away. “All Equestria is at stake, so you must succeed, whatever it may take!”

Rainbow Dash shook her head. “But—”

Zecora gently placed her hoof over Dash’s lips. “This is how it must be. Now please, one last time, trust in me.” Rainbow looked Zecora in her almond-shaped sky blue eyes and knew there was no more yield in her than there was in Rainbow Dash herself. She sighed, dipping her head in surrender. The zebra smiled. “I must go, I have no more time in which to talk. May Celestia stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.”

Zecora turned and galloped away, heading straight for the ancient palace. Behind her six ponies watched her silently go until she was out of sight. For a long time nopony said anything. Then Twilight Sparkle whispered, more to herself than anypony in particular, “What do we do now?”

Rainbow Dash took a step forward, facing away from the others. Everypony turned and waited. The only thing they saw a small sparkle as starlight refracted off a bit of moisture that fell from her muzzle, despite the lack of rain. The pegasus straightened herself up and turned around. Grim determination was etched on her brow. “I have an idea.”

& & &

In the ruined throne room of the ancient Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters, Nightmare Moon brooded. The marble was cracked and broken everywhere, giving the once regal room the feeling of a recently opened tomb.