The next morning...

I called out to Starlight in the Castle of Friendship, "Yo Starlight. Twilight decided to have your friendship lessons with me while she has something planned with Princess Celestia or Luna or who knows what. I dunno. Anyways, I give you my blessing to walk on clouds for the next 24 hours."

Starlight yawned, brushing her hair, "Sure. I suppose that different perspectives, such as from a Pegasus view could be a good stance for learning."

"You're eating breakfast there too. Twilight asked me to show you some of the culture too and I don't feel like disappointing her." Without her permission, I used my magic to teleport both of us in front of my castle. My head spun but I felt Starlight's reassuring leg on me and the dizziness eventually faded away. The guards stood there with spears pointed at Starlight, probably thinking that she had drugged me.

I shook my head, "Stay down. This is Starlight, the student of friendship. She will be allowed in my castle." As the doors opened, a blur of orange barreled towards me before giving me a huge hug.

"Rainbow!" Scootaloo said excited, "I just had the best time with the Crusaders. We went to the gem tunnels that Rarity had shown us a few weeks ago.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow, her expression confused, “What about the Dia-“

I interrupted, “That’s awesome! I’m sorry Scoots but I have to do some boring princess business with Starlight over here. Can we talk some other time?”

The Pegasus sighed but nodded, “Fine. I’ve gotta go to this meeting anyways. Ooh! Maybe we’ll discover how to fight a manticore this time! Or help Fluttershy!” Before I could say anything, the speedy pony zoomed off.

I said to Starlight, "It was Maud's place. Perfectly safe. Anyways, Applejack is waiting for us in the room. Perhaps we can go in?"

The unicorn nodded, "Sure, I don't want to keep anypony waiting." She trotted into the dining room and I followed her, closing the door with my magic. I levitated the plates to the right ponies, hearing the sizzling pancakes. There was a small kitchen on the side of the table and chairs.

Applejack nodded at us, "Howdy Starlight and Rainbow. Enjoy your breakfast."

Starlight ate some of hers while I doused mine with syrup, "Don't mind if we do."

The earth pony chuckled as she turned the fire off, "Ah don't mind. Don't worry. Ah know how hungry RD could be so Ah made a bit more than I usually do."

I said with a faint amount of humor mixed in with a light teasing, “Not my fault that you make so much anyways.”

Applejack chuckled, “Ya know ya love it. What do you think, Starlight?”

Starlight gave her a smile, “I might have Dash’s appetite today. More?” Applejack refilled both of our plates and we quickly ate.

Starlight asked, “So what royal duties do you have today?”

Luckily, Moondancer came in and she sat down, “Hi Prin-Rainbow. And you are...?”

Starlight gave her a quick smile, “I’m Starlight Glimmer.”

Moondancer arched an eyebrow, “I didn’t know that you were coming here. Did I miss something on the schedule?” Immediately, she used her telekinesis to levitate a scroll up and scanned it.

Starlight shook her head, “No, Rainbow asked me to help her with some princess duties and Twilight thought that it would be good for me to check out what a princess does, after that cutie map trip I took and all.”

I nodded, “Yeah, she’ll be with me. So, what’s the first thing on the list?”

Moondancer said, “A quick trip to the Wonderbolts. Princess Celestia had personally requested it.” I sighed but nodded, knowing that Celestia would not allow me to skip the Wonderbolts forever, even though I didn’t really like them anymore.

Starlight patted my back, “Don’t worry Dash, I’ll blast them if they try to hurt you.”

Applejack shook her head, “Now now, Starlight, you know that you shouldn’t go to your magic so quickly. Let Dash handle. It and if definitely needed, go in.” Starlight sighed but nodded, knowing that trying to fight against Applejack was useless.

I asked, “Anything specific with them?”

Moondancer said, “Well, Princess Celestia said something about an upcoming fight and wanted you to help them with a plan since you’re pretty good with flying techniques and the best way to survive in midair.” I smiled when I thought of when I had to push Twilight from a helicopter. Now that was definitely a close one for sure, even though it was too close for my liking and definitely way too close for Twilight’s.

I nodded, “Okay, that’ll be easy enough. Is it a private audience?”

“Yes,” she affirmed, “With only Captain Spitfire.”

I asked, “What’s after that?”

“You need to check on the hospital that you helped create. All of the nurses and doctors have been trained per your orders but as a princess, you need to check the largest hospitals from time to time.”

I groaned, “I can’t tell anything. Is there like some magic scanner?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Starlight and Moondancer, “Can you two take care of that then? Like double check or something? I don’t want any pony dying.”

Starlight nodded, “You can count on us!”

“Awesome! I’ll be there as soon as I can then for stamps of approval or whatever.”

Moondancer nodded, “Okay. Don’t forget to wear your crown for the duties.” I levitated my crown and put it on my head.

I turned to Moondancer again, “I’ll be heading off but grab like two hundred to three hundred bits and give it to the hospital. For this one time, the funding will come from here just to keep it running.”

“Yes Rainbow.” Then, i stretched my wings and flew to the dreaded place.

Wonderbolt’s Academy

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE RECRUITS,” the familiar bossy voice screamed at the terrified ponies who wanted to get in the Wonderbolts, “DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES OR NOT?! You know that the Wonderbolts don’t accept ANYPONY or we would all be feather brains.” I landed next to Spitfire and nodded to her. The trainees started whispering to one another, no doubt wanting to talk to me.

Spitfire shouted and I quickly covered my ears with my wings, “NOW GIVE ME ONE THOUSAND LAPS.” Spitfire and I walked to her office. The captain closed off everything and double checked before sitting across from me.

I asked, “Why did you call me here?”

“Princess, the Wonderbolts are the backup plan to the Elements of Harmony. We must have a formation plan and seeing how you know the tricks that Pegasi can do, there is no doubt that we will defeat the Rebellion.” My personal Pegasus army was already training on its own so I wasn’t exactly that worried.

I nodded, “What do you have so far?”

“Usually, we become a distraction and dodge. Then, the Elements finish it.”

“I thought you were the backup plan for the Elements.”

“We are.”

“So you wait on your hooves for the Elements to get back on? What type of plan is that?”

“The one Princess Celestia gave us, since she believes in second chances.”

I sighed, “Could the waiting list fight as well?”

“No.”

“Fine. The best thing Wonderbolts are... are the speed and agility. Nothing else. You guys are also pretty lucky with some of the tricks that broke down in the past years. Yes, I read a book. I think that the best thing would be a sneak attack. What weapons do you use?”

Spitfire hesitated, “...None...”

I sighed, “What kind of army are you?” Spitfire, noticing that it was a rhetorical question, didn’t reply to my answer.

I ordered, “Fine. If you’re so use to just distracting, I want you to at least throw knives at the ponies. Not every problem would work with a hoof of friendship but Twilight would never accept that.”

“Yes Princess.” I flew away, deciding to not go with the Wonderbolts. Besides, I had an army to rally up and I was not going to stop doing so.

Moondancer intercepted me after I told the captain of my guards what to do, “Pr-Rainbow, may I speak to you?”

“You don’t need to ask for permission,” I replied, stifling a sigh.

Moondancer nodded, “Sorry, habit. Anyways, why is Starlight Glimmer here? I don’t believe you when you should that she’s going to help you.”

I sighed but didn’t tell Moondancer the truth, since in all the Daring Do books I read, something always happened when the pony told another one their plans, “Twilight wanted her here for something. I’m not sure what so I just decided for her to be on duty.”

“Okay. By the way, the hospital needs you to sign this.” I used my shaky levitation magic to zap my signature on it. I had learned the spell using one of Twilight’s books. Even though my signature looked choppy, it seemed legible.

Moondancer nodded, teleporting the scroll somewhere else, “Twilight says that she’s taking Starlight for a while right after you left, by the way. She says that you can join if you want.”

I ordered, “I’ll go. Moondancer, rile up my personal guards. Apple Watch is to protect the Apple family just in case. I don’t want Applejack to die and she’s pretty stubborn anyways. My other personal guard will make sure that nopony around here is hurt.”

“Yes Prin-Rainbow.” She teleported away and I flew to Twilight’s castle. The air rushed through my mane as I soared. I was almost at Rainboom speeds but slowed myself in time. I wasn’t exactly sure what would happen to the castle if I did a Rainboom on it but I was pretty sure that Twilight wouldn’t be happy. Hey, it’s not my fault that my physics teacher wasn’t interesting.

Twilight was waiting there, looking worried, “Rainbow, Starlight is not on our side. And the other side didn’t accept our hoof in friendship after I’ve been considerate. This hasn’t really happened before...”

I sighed, “Twilight, why did you tell the pony in charge about Starlight?”

“Yes. Oh no, was I not supposed to? Maybe Starlight is really on our side.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Twilight figured out the magic behind the magic quickly. It only took two cross references when she had been expecting much, much more. She replicated the magic to teleport herself to the cave with Starlight, Trixie, Sunburst, and Spike.

She had stayed silent and the five of them crept into the cave only to meet a ward that would bind the pony in chains.

Starlight shouted, “Twilight!”

Twilight shouted back, “Starlight!”

Trixie yelled, “Ahhhhh!” Sunburst used some stage magic to get himself out and quickly helped the rest of the ponies out. Trixie got herself out.

Twilight took a deep breath, “Thanks Sunburst.” She had never expected stage magic to be useful even from what Starlight and told her what Trixie had done in the Changeling Hive.

Trixie said, her voice shaky, “Trixie knows that Boss is behind that door.”

Twilight knocked on the door, “Hello?” The door opened quickly and the ponies stepped in. The door closed behind them and a pony stepped out. Starlight gave a small, almost unnoticeable nod. However, Twilight’s analytical eyes had caught her motion.

The princess smiled at the new pony in front of her, “Hello. I’m Twilight, the Princess of Friendship.”

The pony nodded, “Ponies know me as Doomsayer, tyrant.”

“What grudge do you have against Equestria?”

Doomsayer snarled, “Celestia ordered the execution of my parents and tortured them a lot before killing them. I know that history focuses on the good parts of the princesses so you don’t know what happens.”

“I’m sorry she did that... But you two can talk. I’ll can make sure that she doesn’t execute you or anything.”

“Don’t even try to give me the hoof of friendship. Trixie, you have failed me. Friendship doesn’t matter!”

“Aren’t you loyal to something then?”

“I’m loyal to killing, stopping the acts of tyrants, my soldiers, and my own friends. Now get out tyrant. You’re lucky that I’m in a good mood.”

Twilight pleaded, “Can’t you see that friendship around everypony instead of a group is better? Let go of your anger and revenge, Doomsayer. Welcome friendship into your heart.”

Doomsayer turned to Starlight, “What do you think?”

Starlight shrugged, “Friendship didn’t teach me anything besides that ponies are awful.”

Twilight gasped, “Starlight? Y-You didn’t learn anything?”

“I still believe in equality, Twilight, and I’m sorry... I just can’t.”

Twilight sighed, her ears flat, “Starlight, I thought I helped. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Starlight said, “You’re an alicorn Twilight and you had way more strength than I did. I would’ve lost the battle either way...”

Doomsayer said, “Go tyrant or I will kill you.” Twilight gave another glance at Starlight, who was getting ready to fire a spell. Knowing that even she couldn’t win against armies upon armies, she teleported back.

I raised my eyebrow, “Twilight, I know that it’s pretty hard to accept but not everything can be won by friendship. If it was that easy, Celestia and Luna would’ve won every single battle. Okay, fine, maybe not Luna but a Celestia.”

Twilight flapped her wings, “I’m the Princess of Friendship.”

I thought about what Destiny had told me and sighed, “You’re the Alicorn of Friendship just like Cadence is the Alicorn of love. Princess is more of... more of a place. Princess Cadence, Alicorn of Love, of the Crystal Empire. Princess Twilight, Alicorn of Friendship, of... Well, you don’t really have land really. Princess Celestia, Alicorn of the Sun, of Equestria. Princess Luna, Alicorn of the Moon, of Equestria. Destiny told me that I would know who I am and that I became a princess too late.”

Twilight asked, “What are you getting at, Rainbow?”

I sighed, “I must be... Princess Rainbow, Alicorn of War, of the Skies.”

“What?! War is not the answer.”

“Twilight, I’ve always wanted to join the Wonderbolts and you’ve taught me that it’s a small army. I would’ve been in this battle either way. It has to be my destiny to be a princess of war.”

Twilight sighed, “I don’t like it.”

I flew up, “It’s okay Twilight. Alicorns are immortal-“

“Not in war!” Twilight shouted, “We don’t age much but I know that alicorns can die in war. In fact, everything suggests that alicorns can die in war. Otherwise, nothing would be able to penetrate our bodies!”

I sighed, “Twi-“

“No Rainbow! You are not leaving me.”

“Twi-“

“I don’t care what you say. Friendship has to be the key.”

I shouted, “Twilight! There’s a rebellion and there’s war. There’s no other option.”

Twilight took a huge breath, “What about the Elements of Harmony?”

“Do you really think that’ll work? Doomsayer said that they have friends and are loyal to the military.”

“Still, it’s worth a shot?”

“Fine but if that doesn’t work...” Twilight and I locked eyes before nodding.

Applejack coughed a little, “Excuse me? If Dash goes to war, then Ah’ll go and fight those rebels off.”

Rarity sighed, “So will I.”

“And I,” Fluttershy said in a bold voice.

“Me! Me! Pick me!” Pinkie squealed.

Twilight nodded, “Of course we will go.” I smiled and nodded.

[now third person]
A trumpet roared and we activated the elements quickly.

Twilight shouted at Doomsayer, “Friendship is the key to everything!” The six shot a rainbow laser at Doomsayer and they weren’t affected at all.

Doomsayer lunged at Rarity, "I have friends! They just happen to not be you." Rarity created a small shield in front of her that was easily penetrated by Doomsayer's next blade of magic. Before the pony could do anything else, Rainbow shouted,

"Plan A!" She wished that she had a better name for a plan but wasn't able to think of one during that time. The other princess were busy going through the other ponies that were fighting. However, those ponies were rather skilled and a couple of them traveled underground to go in their magic shield and attack. If Rainbow wasn't fighting them, she would've been rather impressed with the strategy. But since their strength was on the ground...

Rainbow shouted, "Wonderbolts, bring them to the air!" The Wonderbolts were pretty agile by dodging the weapons but everypony knew that they couldn't last forever. The unicorns levitated the ponies into the air and kept them there as the unicorns and Earth ponies either knocked them out or killed them. After all, it was war and if they didn't do anything, then they would've lost. Twilight was hesitant at first but even her logical brain had to tell her what she had to do.

Fluttershy flew to the sky shakily and glanced for any ponies popping out. She let out a quiet scream as she saw Doomsayer shouting orders.

Doomsayers screamed, "Unicorns attack!" The unicorns quickly began shooting different lasers at the pegasi. Rainbow was pretty high in the air since she was making sure that everypony in the opposing army were being held. When she saw the troops starting to shoot laser beams, she hoped that Twilight would be able to hold a shield. However, some unicorns popped out of the ground and knocked Luna unconscious. Rainbow bit her lip, not sure how to handle this situation. She saw Fluttershy starting to fly upwards and Rainbow opened her mouth to tell Fluttershy that there was a stunning beam going towards her.

Fluttershy was concentrating on getting to Rainbow to tell her about Luna, not knowing that Rainbow already knew. Suddenly, there was an impact on one of her wings and her body was frozen. She tried to let out a scream but couldn't.

Rainbow yelled, "Fluttershy!" Rainbow suddenly remembered Celestia telling her that her Rainbooms were really really dangerous. But hey, it was a war, wasn't it? The Alicorn of War dipped down and began creating an arc, allowing one Rainboom to occur. Pressing hard so Fluttershy would not hit the ground and so they could win the war, Rainbow concentrated on going even faster and focus her barrier of Rainboom more or the opposing side.

And...

And...

And...

Boom! A whoosh of power was created as she finally caught Fluttershy and released the stunned Pegasus next to a group of medics.

But... too fast, too fast. She knew that she couldn't stop soon enough and she couldn't diverge from the ground. Spinning and closing her eyes, she waited for the impact. And finally, it came quickly.

Twilight shouted, "Rainbow!" The alicorn dove after her and found Rainbow unconscious but not dead. However, the wing that was used to put the pressure on Doomsayers was hanging off. The other wing, the one on the left seemed in tact. Twilight didn't really care about that as she levitated her friend up.

[Back to Rainbow's POV]

Beep...

Beep...

"Patient status?" A voice reached my ears.

Another one said, "Wing properly removed. Patient should be waking up any second." I opened my eyes, seeing a hazy view.

Pinkie's voice floated next to my ear, "Eek! You're awake!"

I asked, "What happened?"

Twilight said nervously, "W-We won thanks to you but... Rainbow, your wing... it's gone." The implication was clear. I would never use my wings to fly away.

It was a victory against Doomsayer as well as my own loss.

To sum it up:
Being an alicorn of war absolutely sucked.

Author's Notes:

Yep, the story is over.
I wasn't exactly sure how to end this but I didn't want to drag the long overdue story out... I'm not planning on an epilogue YET but I might do one since alicorn Rainbow without a wing might be an interesting idea.