AN; here we go! As always, thank you to my lovely reviewers and their PM of encouragement and amazing beta.

---

It had taken the work of the entire town but finally, everything was ready. The festival was in full swing, bigger than the previous year and with a special current of excitement as every pony in town knew it was their turn to host the princesses. Music played loudly from every corner of the square, the smells of a hundred different dishes filled the air and ponies lined up to play games.

Everypony was happy, save, of course, for one mare.

Rainbow Dash had taken a seat in Applejack's booth while the other mare worked the cart. She placed her head in her hooves as she thought of any way she could possible save herself from being dragged back to Canterlot.

"Yeah right," she snorted at the very idea of her prim and proper mother even considering the idea of thinking about letting her stay. "Oh, what am I going to do?" she miserably asked Twilight.

"I don't know, Rainbow Dash I honestly don't know," Twilight Sparkle said, "your mother won't be too mad, I think, remember she's worried sick. I'm positive if you just try to explain to her that you're happy here she might let you stay. She isn't unreasonable, you know."

"Sure she will Twilight, she'll be so happy for me. Hey Mom, you know that whole raising me to be a great leader like you are someday thing? Yeah, well, you might want to rethink that." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically.

"She might!" Twilight insisted. "You'll never know if you don't try!" She ran a hoof through her mane. "You royals are all so stubborn."

"Whatever, Twilight, I'm doomed and we all know it. That's why we need to make with the back up plan and fast!" Rainbow said and then sighed, "and call be Bright remember? There are ponies everywhere."

"Well Bright," she emphasized, "the way I can see this is you have two options; either show yourself to your mother or-"

"Yeah let's scratch that right here, I don't think she's going to do me any favors after the party," Rainbow Dash interrupted. "Next!"

"Or you can hide and hope she doesn't find you," finished Twilight, "but I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Maybe not but it the only one I've got," she replied "Mother will be here in who knows how long so maybe I can figure something else out."

She then turned to Twilight.

"You can NOT give her even the slightest hint that I'm here, alright?" Rainbow said.

" Rain-Bright, I can't lie to the Princess! That's treason!" Twilight hissed, afraid to be overheard. Celestia was a kind and fair ruler but got a bit...vicious where her daughter was concerned.

"Alright?!" Rainbow Dash growled.

"Yes!" Twilight squeaked back. "Alright!"

She relaxed. "And really, I doubt Mother is going to ask you about me. She'd never suspect I was here, I mean, you didn't." Her friend shot her an incredulous look and Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "If it makes you feel any better, Twi, I'm the princess, too, if you lie on my orders then it's not a crime, right?" Rainbow Dash soothed.

"Fine, but if I get in trouble-"

"You won't," she said confidently.

"What did I say?! Stubborn!"

"Who's stubborn?" Fluttershy asked, setting down two small plates of cake. "I thought you might be tired of apples."

"Don't let AJ hear you say that," Rainbow Dash snorted, digging in. "Oh, Celestia bless Pinkie Pie," she said. "Strawberry."

Her friends laughed. "Where is Pinkie Pie?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"She has her own booth set up a block or two down, I think it's her and Blue Shine."

"Not actually blue pony? Painting Cutie Mark?" Rainbow Dash asked around a final swallow.

"Mh-hm. I think they're making balloon animals for the fillies."

"Sounds about right," she stood up and flexed her wings. "If that's all, Fluttershy, I think I'm going to go home."
"Home? Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong, it's just been a long day and you know I'm not one for parties."
The yellow mare nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. If you're sure you're fine then I'll see you at home."
Rainbow Dash leaned over and quickly butted her with her chin, smiling fondly. "You have enough bits before I go?"
"Oh, more than enough. I don't want to go too crazy," she said.
Rainbow Dash gave a quick nod and lifted into the sky. She contemplated staying just a bit longer, after all, she worked her hind off for this party just to leave at the beginning, when she heard it.
"The Princess! The Princess!"
She felt the air rush out of her lungs as she dropped to the ground. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called.
She flinched and waited to be mobbed when someone else exclaimed, "is that the Princess Rainbow Dash? On the second carriage?"
Rainbow Dash began a fast walk, knowing their was no way to fly without drawing attention to herself. Ponies began to swarm towards the road, shoving her back.
She felt helpless, squirming against the crowd as her past began to catch up to her.

But like physics predicts even with determination a smaller force will always be moved by a larger , she was now on her way to her doom.