Tonight was the day! Celestia looked outside at the darkness of Luna’s Day and beamed. Tonight her sister would be returned to her! A thousand years of work and planning were coming to fruition and there was no joy in her heart brighter than that of the thought of embracing her beloved sister once more.

Tornado Kicker murmured softly in his sleep beside her, nuzzling the back of her neck, but for the first time in a long time Celestia barely noticed his touch. How could she when her Luna was returning to her after all this time?

Celestia let out an unlady-like, joy-filled giggle as her happiness bubbled over and she sprang out of bed, her wings flaring as she ran towards the balcony doors, flinging them open with a casual spell and launching herself into the night air.

Laughter spilled out from between her lips as she ‘touched the moon’ with a wing and soared high above Canterlot before descending with beautiful grace to fly through the rushing waterfall that flowed over the edge of the city.

She marveled in the feeling of the water evaporating off of her fur the moment it touched it and let out another joyous cry as she angled her wings upwards once more, the stars acting as her guides through the night air.

The mare didn’t know how long she’d been in the air when she finally became tired of it, though she was certain that dawn would have come if she’d been raising the sun. With a blush of happiness she returned to the balcony and walked into her chambers, body aglow with joy.

“Well aren’t you looking beautiful this morning?” Tornado asked, the black stallion was in the midst of putting on his armour though he wasn’t done quite yet.

“Am I not looking beautiful every morning?” Celestia asked with a mischievous smile as she closed the distance between them and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “My good stallion, do you mean to say there are times when I am less than radiant?”

“Most mornings actually,” he replied with a smirk, dodging a gentle slap from the alicorn’s hoof. “Until after you take a shower, then you become a shining beacon of radiant beauty.”

Celestia just laughed and beamed at him. “Oh my dear Tornado, you flatter me terribly,” she said overdramatically.

“Are you implying that my flattery is terrible?” Tornado inquired, an insulted look on his face. “I’ll have you know your Majesty that my flattery has won me the heart of the most beautiful mare in the land!”

“And just who might that be?” Celestia asked, eyes narrowing playfully.

“She is beautiful as the dawn, more radiant the the noonday sun, and more brilliant than the most awe-inspiring sunset,” he replied with a smile before whispering. “And she has an obsession with cake to rival that of a baker.”

Celestia stared at him for a moment, holding eye contact before she broke into a joyous laugh and grabbed the stallion with her powerful forelegs, pulling the half armoured pegasus up to her chest.

“Oh how I love thee,” Celestia whispered in his ear, laying a row of kisses down his neck and causing Tornado to blush deeply at the extra attention, not used to Celestia being quite so... spontaneous.

“Yes, well I love you too,” he replied as he reciprocated the kisses with a muzzle to the side of her neck.

Celestia just smiled and hugged him tighter against her chest before looking down at him with a raised eyebrow. “Just what time are we expected in court today?” she asked him.

“Err... two hours,” Tornado replied after thinking of it for a moment. “Plenty of time for... just about anything you had in mind, your Majesty.”

“Oh yes, it is I who have it in mind,” Celestia said as she set the stallion down once more and glanced at him with a wry smile.

“In my defense, you’re incredibly beautiful,” he replied. “Especially when you’re this happy.”

“I suppose you’re right, I can’t fault you for your arousal,” Celestia replied, chuckling. “Now then, shall we?”

“Only after you my dear Tia,” Tornado stated with a grin.

“So; you going to tell her?”

“Shut up.”

“Oh come on, you’ve been at this for years.”

“I said shut up.”

“You kept a picture of her beside your bunk for Luna’s sake!”

“I said shut up Cloud Kicker!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed angrily at her friend and former wingmate as the pair flew towards Canterlot. “I’ve been over this with you a thousand freaking times! I’ll make a move when I’m damn well ready!”

“Fine, jeez, explode like a dragon on me,” Cloud Kicker said, rolling her eyes and blowing a small tuft of her blonde mane out of her face. “I’m just saying that if the two of you would just bang already you’d both be a lot happier. I mean heck, you quit the Bolts to go be her personal guard, do you think she doesn’t know by now?”

“I... err... shut up,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. In all honesty, she wasn’t sure if quitting the Bolts was really the best thing to do... but she’d made her decision yesterday and she was going to stick by it! She was Rainbow Dash, she didn’t make mistakes!

“Seriously Rainbow, just do it,” Cloud Kicker stated yet again as they neared the Castle. “I know that things worked out wayyyy better between me and Blossom after we actually started talking about stuff. That and the banging got incredible!”

“Cloud Kicker... please shut up,” Rainbow Dash nearly begged. “I’ll tell Twilight how I feel when I’m ready okay?”

“Fine, fine,” Cloud Kicker said as she glided lightly on the ‘night’ breeze. “I’m just trying to help you Rainbow. It’s what wingmates do.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes, if Cloud Kicker was to be believed then she should tackle Twilight to the ground and make sweet love to her the second she saw her. Obviously, that wasn’t an option open to Rainbow Dash.

“Thanks for the advice then, wingmate,” Rainbow said, doing her best to keep the sarcasm from dripping too heavily into her voice. Cloud Kicker just chuckled.

“Anytime, Dashie,” the mare said with a smirk. “Anyways, I’m going to branch off here and go through the ‘official’ soldier’s landing area. You’re free to go through whatever door will take you to Twilight fastest.”

“Thanks,” Dash said dryly before adding. “And have a good time out on the town Cloud.”

“Will do, Blossom and I have big plans,” Cloud Kicker replied before angling her wings downwards towards the ‘soldier’s’ landing zone.

Rainbow simply shook her head at her friend’s retreating form and tucked her wings against her side, her feathers directing her towards the official Guard’s Entrance. This was to be the first time that the mare had ever entered through this point of the Castle, but she doubted anything would give her much trouble.

She landed elegantly in front of the entrenched position, casually ignoring the six sets of crossbows that had been eying her since she’d began her descent. It may have been the ‘guard’ entrance but Celestia’s Guard took just as many efforts to defend their own entrance as they did the Queen’s. The Pegasus gave the officer on duty a smile as she stepped forwards.

“Identification,” the dark furred guard sergeant ordered in an authoritative voice despite the fact that he knew exactly who she was.

“Rainbow Dash, Ex-Wonderbolt, honorably discharged and transferred directly to personal defense unit 42, Sir,” Rainbow Dash replied, giving him a swift salute.

“Oh, so that’s who you are,” the Sergeant replied with a wry smile. “Here I thought the circus was on town,” he added as he glanced at her prismatic mane and filled out a form.

“Hardy har har, Sir,” Rainbow Dash stated as she watched him fill out the paper. “Anything I should know?”

“Yes, you’re to report directly to Captain Shining Armor for your duty assignment, you’re going to be guarding his sister after all,” the sergeant replied as he finished with the form and passed it over to her. Rainbow Dash put it in her saddlebag and waited for him to continue. “You can find him in his office, I believe you know the way to the CO’s quarters.”

“Aye Sir,” Rainbow replied, giving him a swift salute.

“Dismissed then,” the Sergeant stated, waving a wing at her.

Rainbow Dash nodded and started down the corridor, happy to have left the watchful crossbows behind. The mare let out a long sigh as a slight smile appeared on her face, she was looking forward to seeing Shining again after... four years? Five maybe? Tartarus, it would be nice to see everypony in general. Being on deployment for that long with your only leave being in the closest town meant that she honestly hadn’t seen anypony other than her father, who had flown out to see her once a year, in quite some time.

The mare’s small smile got even bigger as she caught sight of a familiar white stallion walking down the hall that intersected with her own.

“Blue!” Rainbow exclaimed as she propelled herself forwards with her wings and landed before the blonde stallion, a smile firmly affixed on her face.

Blueblood blinked twice in surprise before a smile of his own split his noble face, its only detraction coming from a rather noticeable scar running the length of his right cheek.

“Rainbow Dash, I haven’t seen you in years!” the Prince said with a grin as he pulled the mare into a hug. Rainbow was fairly surprised at the sudden contact but accepted and returned it.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” she stated as they released each other. “You’re looking good, even for a Prince.”

“Yes, well I must do my best to uphold the Crown’s image, even if it means that I have to look excellent at all times,” Blueblood replied wryly. “Though don’t ever let the reporters catch me in the morning before my coffee, if they did then they might begin to say the most awful things.”

Rainbow Dash snickered. “Oh, trust me, I think if anypony is caught before then they look like death warmed over, no one would hold it against you,” she told him, happy with how easily the conversation was going. One of her major worries had always been that she’d grow too distant from her friends.

“Oh I doubt that, some of those newspaper ponies are truly vile creatures,” Blueblood stated as the pair began to walk towards Shining Armor’s office. “At any rate, you aren’t looking too bad yourself Miss Ex-Wonderbolt.”

“Well yeah, did you think that the Bolts would let me get all fat?” Rainbow asked with a smirk. “I think Captain Spitfire would tan my hide if she saw an inch of flab on it.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Blueblood agreed with a small chuckle. “Oh, and that reminds me for whatever reason; thanks for your intervention back on the front.”

“You’re welcome... but which part of it?” Rainbow asked with a frown, she and the Bolts had been traveling up and down the borders of Equestria for years now lending a hoof to the various bandit, rogue diamond dog, and stray dragon units.

“Do you remember two years ago when that rather brutish black dragon tried to make off with that village’s only virgin mare?” the stallion asked.

“Hmm...” Rainbow frowned but then nodded. “Oh yeah, that ugly guy. I remember him now. Why are you thanking me for it?”

“Because I was there,” Blueblood replied with a shake of his head. “What a mess. My unit was underpowered to be dealing with a beast of that size. Fire was all around us and our casters couldn’t hold out forever with their shields. I must say that I was rather worried. Then out of the smoke there was an explosion of color and I saw your trail a second before you burst through the back of it’s skull. It was rather amazing to be honest.”

“Oh it wasn’t that cool,” Rainbow said with a casual shrug, though she couldn’t help but grin at the compliment. “It was just a simple manipulation of the supersonic air that I was producing formed into the head of a drill and used it to pierce through the eyelid, brain, and skull bone. Nothing that any other Bolt couldn’t do.”

“Right...” Blueblood said doubtfully before he frowned. “Wait, when did you become modest?”

“When Spitfire kicked my flank into enough thunder clouds to knock my inner cocky bastard out of my head,” Rainbow replied with a chuckle. “Anyways, I’ve got a meeting with Captain Armor; want to catch up over a beer later?”

“Sounds wonderful,” Blueblood said with a smile. “I’ll see you later Rainbow Dash,” he said, giving her a hoof bump to the shoulder before walking off in the other direction. Rainbow continued forwards until she reached the door of the office and gave it a quick knock.

“Come in,” Shining’s familiar voice called from the other side.

Rainbow Dash pushed the solid wooden door open and found herself in a sturdy looking office, the walls made of thick stone, covered only by the occasional book case or tapestry. Shining himself sat behind a mahogany desk, his eyes scanning over one of the many documents that covered said desk. Rainbow took a quick second to scan over Shining.

He looked far more handsome then he ever had when he was younger, his muscles stood out like chiseled stone and the stallion’s fur was combed to perfection. The biggest change however was a latticework of white scars that trailed across the side of his neck, Rainbow’s eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of them. Twilight had sent her a letter saying that he’d had a bad run in with a ‘razor net’ spell, but Rainbow hadn’t thought it would be that bad.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Shining spoke up, causing Rainbow Dash to blush as she realized she’d been staring at his wound. “And it’s good to see you Rainbow Dash.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Rainbow said, giving him a salute as she remembered that he was her commanding officer.

“At ease,” Shining said with a small chuckle as he looked her over. “Wow, are you the same scrawny mare who was crushing on my sister all those years ago?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Err... last time I checked,” Rainbow replied, her blue cheeks flushing red once again. “And what do you mean ‘scrawny’?” she added indignantly.

“Exactly what I said,” Shining replied, smirking. “Anyways, I really am glad to see you, Rainbow.”

“Thanks, Shining,” the mare said, smiling. “I’m sure you know why I’m here by now,” she continued as she walked closer to the desk and reached into her saddlebags and pulled out the sheet of paper that the Sergeant had given her.

“I do,” Shining replied as he took the sheet from her and quickly scanned over it. “In light of your commendable service with the Wonder Bolts you’re being given the rank of Sub-Captain in charge of my sister’s protection. All the paperwork is in order, head on down to the armoury and get yourself a suit of armour. Once you’re done that you’re free to find my sister and begin your duties.”

“What are my duties exactly?” Rainbow asked the stallion, she’d given them a quick look over but was still a bit hazy on the specifics.

“Your job is to keep my sister safe by whatever means you deem necessary,” Shining explained. “Stay with her at all times and generally make sure that she’s well protected and happy; all of which I’m sure you can manage.” The stallion frowned for a moment as he thought about something. Then he said. “Oh, and speaking of duties, you’re supposed to be escorting my sister down to the town of Ponyville today.”

“I think I can do all that,” the pegasus agreed with a swift nod. “I have to ask though... do my feelings for her change anything?”

“No,” Shining said with a small shrug. “We follow the Queen’s example among the guard. The ones who love you will fight the hardest to keep you safe. Though you really should tell her about those feelings.”

“I... know,” Rainbow replied, a blush creeping over her again. “Anyways sir, it was good to see you as well.”

Shining just smiled and gave her a nod. “Dismissed.”

Rainbow smiled as she walked out of the office, she was almost to Twilight.

“And you’re sure I’m going to need this artifact?” Twilight asked Celestia as she looked at the golden tiara with the six pointed star on it sitting on the table between them.

“I believe so,” Celestia answered with a small smile as she lifted the tiara up and placed it upon Twilight’s head. The mare shivered as an ancient and powerful magical aura settled over her... it was strangely familiar feeling. “It’s designed to open up your magic channel and allow you to keep up a steady stream of magic until you have finished the spell. I suggest that you wear it for the rest of the day so that you can get used to the aura’s natural feeling.”

“Alright, I think I can do that,” Twilight said, nodding as the tiara’s aura sank deeper into her mind. “Wow... it’s powerful.”

“Yes, yes it is,” Celestia replied with a slim smile. “It’s very old Twilight Sparkle and I hope that you realize just how much of my trust I’m putting in you by entrusting you with this.”

The unicorn nodded her head and gave Celestia a large smile. “I won’t fail you my Queen!”

“Of that I’m sure,” Celestia replied, giving the mare a nuzzle. Then the Queen’s smile got wider. “Oh and I have a surprise for you Twilight.”

“Oh? What else could you possibly have for me?” Twilight asked, her eyes widening further as her excitement grew. As if an the chance to use and bond with an ancient magical artifact wasn’t enough, the Queen had something else to give her!

“I’m giving you the honor of preparing the site where you and I will be holding the ceremony,” Celestia replied with an easy smile. “It’s a big responsibility, but I believe you’re ready for it.”

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my g-” Twilight cut herself off before she hyperventilated herself into a comma, then blushed a deep scarlet. “Thank you your Majesty, thank you so very much!”

“You’re very welcome,” Celestia replied with a small chuckle at the mare’s antics.

Twilight had shown remarkable growth beneath her own and Sunset’s teachings and even if she hadn’t quite mastered the art of keeping her emotions to herself, it was better then her jumping around in a circle chanting ‘yes yes yes yes yes’. Of course, the Queen didn’t really mind either way.

“So... where are we going to be doing this summoning?” Twilight asked as she went over the spell in her mind, she’d already memorized it and the way it felt when she’d summoned small things from different rooms of the castle so the casting itself was hardly a concern for her. She’d summon Luna and Luna alone and then Celestia would be happy and Equestria would be reunited with its long lost Queen.

“Two miles outside of the town of Ponyville,” Celestia answered with a smile. “Construction of the structure is already complete and I’ve gathered a list of what you’ll need to look for.”

A roll of parchment floated over to Twilight and the mare easily picked it up in her own magical aura. Written in a beautiful flowing script was a list of instructions, each with a checkmark box beside it. Twilight went over each of them, her eyes scanning the entirety of the scroll in a matter of seconds until she got around halfway down it.

“They all repeat halfway down,” the mare said with a small frown. “Why?”

“Because I know how much you like to double check things,” Celestia replied with a small chuckle. “So I thought I’d go ahead and provide you the space for it ahead of time.”

“OH! Thank you my Queen!” Twilight exclaimed, smiling widely at her. “You know me so well.”

“That I do,” Celestia replied with an amused smile. “Now then, I think that’s all we have to discuss and I do believe someone is waiting for you on the other side of my door.”

“Really? Who?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“I think you know her quite well,” Celestia said before turning to the door and opening it with her magic.

Rainbow Dash stood there, foreleg extended as if she was was about to knock. The pegasus was wearing a new set of enchanted full plate, though she’d neglected to put on the helmet. Twilight’s face was overcome by a wide smile as she threw herself at her best friend, though she was careful to cast a cushioning spell in mid air so that she didn’t slam face first into the enchanted steel.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in surprise as she was hit by fit unicorn and almost knocked off of her hooves. Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow’s neck and pulled her into a hug.

“By Luna it’s good to see you Rainbow!” the mare said with a wide smile as Rainbow returned the hug.

“Same to you Twi,” Rainbow agreed, and from her angle Celestia could make out a faint blush on the mare’s cheeks. “Sorry I couldn’t visit you more.”

“It’s fine,” Twilight replied as she released the pegasus and gave her cheek a friendly nuzzle. “We wrote each other enough to almost make up for it.”

“Yeah, we really did,” Rainbow said as she remembered the hundreds of letters she’d got from Twilight.

“Though you didn’t tell me that you were getting here today,” Twilight said as her eyes narrowed slightly. “You just like surprising me don’t you Rainbow?”

“Maybe,” Rainbow replied with a chuckle, then she looked over at Celestia who had a soft smile on her face as she’d watched the reunion. “Hello your Majesty.”

“And hello to you as well Sub-Captain Dash,” Celestia replied. “It’s good to see that you’re doing well.”

“Thank you your Majesty,” Rainbow stated, giving Celestia a bow. “Now then, if you don’t mind, I think Twilight and I need to get going, don’t we?”

“You already knew?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow. “How?”

“By being awesome,” Rainbow replied casually with a grin. “How else?”

Author's Notes:

So... I was originally not going to have this chapter, but I decided that if I was going to do what I really wanted to do then you guys needed to have this one. Of course, I also really enjoyed this chapter, hope you guys did too.

Also, a big thank you goes to SwirlingBlade who has been editing all of the chapters of this story which I’ll be uploading and replacing the others with once I have a free weekend. As usual, my impatience got the better of me and I’m uploading this after he only saw half of it, but I doubt you guys mind too much (Sorry dude).