Chapter 13

Rainbow Dash carefully watched as the four Royal Guards circled her slowly, the rotunda where she had been reunited with Twilight would be where she made her stand. She stood in a fighting stance, her sword held at the ready, her head cocked sideways to track the two behind her. Their armor rattling, allowing her to anticipate their movements. The guard to her left twitched slightly, distracting her.

The other saw his chance and lunged forward with his halberd, attempting to impale her. Rainbow Dash had expected this. She quickly spun to her left, narrowly dodging the thrust, and brought her sword down, cleaving the head from the shaft.
The guard, unable to stop his forward momentum. Found himself directly next to Rainbow Dash just as she turned her blade and swung it back up, separating his face from his skull. Without pausing, Rainbow continued with the upward swing, pushing off with her hooves to neatly back-flip over another guard just as he moved to cut her legs out from underneath her.

Landing lightly, Rainbow ducked another swing and with a quick twist of her head, thrust her crimson blade up through the jaw and skull of the guard. Rainbow removed the blade as he collapsed, gurgling to the ground.

The two remaining guards kept their distance. Neither eager to meet the same fate as their comrades. Tensing her back legs, Rainbow suddenly launched herself into the air, angling her sword forward and applying a forward spin, becoming a spinning disk of death. One which was head directly towards the surprised guards. They both moved to dodge but one was slightly slower.

Rainbow landed several feet behind the two guards in a crouched stance. One spun around to face her, halberd at the ready. The other however remained where he was. She rose to her full height and turned to face her opponents just as the former guard began to quiver slightly. His comrade cast a look of horror as his body separated, having been neatly cleaved in two by Rainbows attack.

Removing his eyes from the grisly sight, the last guard let out a loud war cry and charged towards Rainbow Dash. Readying herself, Rainbow met him head on. The guard swung his halberd in a downward arc, Rainbow easily parried with her sword, throwing him off balance and followed up by ramming the pommel of her sword into his face, further staggering him. A quick pirouette took Rainbow Dash out of his reach as he struggled to regain his senses.

The guard viciously shook his head and spat out a large glob of blood and sneered, showing off bloodstained teeth.

“Traitor!” he shouted accusingly. “You shame your country and tarnish your status as Element of Loyalty!”

Rainbow matched his sneer, but said nothing. Simply repositioning her sword and readying to charge. He spat once more, this time a tooth, before doing the same. Both combatants staring the other down, neither wanting to be the first to move.

Simultaneously, they both rushed towards one another. Passing within inches, they swung their weapons. Rainbow her sword, the guard his halberd. They both landed equal distance apart, neither appeared hurt. The guard glanced backwards and snickered quietly to himself as a large gash opened along his right side, spilling blood and intestines at his feet. His snickering gave way to quiet coughs as he collapsed to the floor.

Rainbow Dash deftly spun her sword, easily removing all the blood from the blade before sheathing it. Taking a calming breath, Rainbow relaxed her stance and absently observed the carnage around her as the bodies and blood dissolved into shadows.

“Well done, Shadowbolt.”

Rainbow Dash didn't turn around as Sombra materialized from the shadows behind her. Noticing a pain in her right cheek for the first time, she reached a hoof up and found a light cut from the guard’s halberd.

Sombra came to a stop next to her. “You fight with the grace and ferocity of a true Pegasus.”

Rainbow Dash lowered her hoof and turned to face Sombra. “I didn't have much choice. You never said I’d be fighting live ponies who wanted to kill me!” she said angrily.

Sombra merely smirked. “Not quite. I informed you that you’d be face ‘Equiparvi’, artificial ponies. Capable of free thought but possessing no soul.”

Rainbow looked away in a huff. “Like I knew what that was.”

“In any case.” Sombra continued. “You are a natural with a blade, better than I’ve ever seen in my longs years as king.”

Rainbow lifted her head as pride swelled in her chest. Sombra opened his mouth to say something more when, suddenly the doors to the rotunda exploded inward in a furious burst of magic. Rainbow Dash had her sword out and ready in an instant, whirling to face the shattered door with a snarl. Sombra remained where he was, watching with a smirk.

When the dust cleared, Rainbow Dash found a red faced Twilight standing amidst the debris.

“Oops.” She said in embarrassment.

Sombra began to laugh as Twilights face became even more flushed with embarrassment. Rainbow shook her head and stifled a laugh of her own. Sheathing her sword, she approached her friend.

“Still not used to the new powers yet, huh?” Rainbow said with a smirk.

“Eh…no.” Twilight said softly.

Sombra laughter reduced itself to a chuckle as he approached the pair. “Not to worry my dear, you will become accustomed to it in time.”

“I know it’s just I’m worried that I’ll accidently hurt one of you or…” She trailed of as a faint tremor slightly shook the ground and dislodged small pieces of what was left of the roof. “…That.” Twilight finished.

“Nonsense.” Sombra said reassuringly. “Both Shadowbolt and I have total confidence in your control and as for the state of the Palace, I am working on a solution.”

Twilight was visibly relieved. “You don’t know how much better tha….wait….Shadowbolt?”

“Ah yes. You haven’t heard the good news.” He motioned towards Rainbow Dash. “Allow me to introduce Shadowbolt, newly appointed Captain of the Legendary Legion of the same name.”

Twilight seemed both surprised and confused. “But I thought they were illusions created by Nightmare Moon to tempt Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow chuckled. “I said the exact same thing. Get this, they were the greatest Pegasus to serve the Crystal Empire and the Captain who was the best of the best was just called Shadowbolt!” Rainbow said excitedly. “I even got this!” She flourished her sword, neatly spinning it out of its sheath and grabbing it in midair with her mouth.

“Wow!” Twilight said in amazement. “I didn’t know you could use a sword.”

Rainbow sheathed her sword with a grin. “That’s the best part, I didn’t either. I’m just that awesome!”

Twilight couldn’t hold back the smile spreading over her face. “That you are. So does this mean I should start calling you Shadowbolt to?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head with a smile. “I’ll always be Rainbow Dash to you Twi.”

Twilight’s smile only grew bigger. “Good, Shadowbolt is a pretty cool name but not nearly as cool as Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow had to turn her head slightly to hide the blush quickly forming on her face but stopped short when a gasp came from Twilight.

“Rainbow! You’re bleeding!”

“Oh that.” Rainbow said with a shrug. “It’s not that bad.”

Twilight gave her friend an unamused look. “Yeah I remember you saying that about your last stunt accident.”

Rainbow Dash visibly winced. “Ok but there’s a huge difference between a broken leg and a tiny cut.”

“No buts.” Twilight said stepping closer to Rainbow.” We’ll take care of this now.”

“Ok, fine.” Rainbow said resignedly, turning her head to allow Twilight to heal it.

“Hmmm.” Twilight said as she examined the wound. “There’s traces of dark magic in the cut.” She said as her eyes began to glow red. “Did you hurt her?!” She said, glaring at Sombra.

“Whoa, Twilight calm down.” Rainbow said. “I got this while fighting against some Equper…Equiepa…”

“Equiparvi.” Sombra said.

“Yeah that. Sombra made them so I could train with this bad boy.” She finished, indicating her sword.

Twilights glare did not soften. “You made Equiparvi and made them fight Rainbow?! They could have killed her!” She shouted angrily.

“Now, now. Shadowbolt could have easily handled a dozen. The four she faced were no match for her”

This only increased Twilights anger. “FOUR!!” Her mane and tail began to wave erratically as she stomped towards Sombra, stopping just in front to glare angrily up at him. Her eyes began to pulse with magic as they began to fill with green. “You better make sure she doesn’t get hurt anymore or else I’ll make you regret it.” She said with a snarl.

Sombra casually returned her glare. “I’m merely ensuring that she has the necessary experience and training to survive the trials to come. If you want me to coddle her so be it, but know that in doing so you condemn her to death.” He became completely stoic as his eyes flashed red to match Twilights. “Speaking of regret, how are our guests?”

It was like he flipped a switch. Twilight’s mane and tail ceased all movement and the color fled from her eyes. She no longer could look him in the face. Without a word, she turned and made her way out the shattered doorway.

“Twilight? What’s wrong? Twilight!” Rainbow called out in concern. Receiving no answer she looked to Sombra for an explanation but he merely motioned for her to follow Twilight.

Not fully understanding what had come over her friend, Rainbow rushed from the room in pursuit of Twilight. Seeing Rainbow depart, a small smile crossed Sombra’s face before he faded back into the shadows.