Rainbow Dash stretched her limbs in the icy cold morning air surrounding her cloud home. She took a deep breath causing her lungs to be filled with a cold sensation. "I love mornings.." she said as she smiled contently. It was fairly early, even for Rainbow's standards. The moon could just be seen at the edge of the horizon, ready to plunge into the unknown. This was Rainbow's favorite time of the day. Just before the sun rises over the mountains. Just before everypony else wakes up.

She always felt like there was a certain serenity to it. Most ponies would shiver in Luna's slightly darkened icy winter mornings but Rainbow Dash saw a different side to it. To her it was beautiful. A sleeping world. A time of peace in her normally chaotic and energetic life.

She took one deep breath of the cold air and headed for the snowy grass that grew below her solitary home. No one ever took care of the meadow surrounding her sanctum causing the grass to grow to great lengths. Any gardener pony would shriek in terror at the sight, Rainbow thought to herself giggling. But to her it was perfect.

She let her wings hang lifelessly in the air causing her to drop to the ground, softly landing in a patch of grass. The morning dew had made the grass wet, giving the pegasus a refreshing feeling. She allowed herself to lie in the drops of dew for a few minutes. "This is the good life.." she thought.

She gathered her bags and happily trotted towards Twilight's Library. Her friends had decided to gather there to discuss the situation.

Luna sat on the large balcony attatched to her private quarters. She was surrounded by several Statues and the edge of the balcony was adorned with dark crystals. black onyx, sapphire, amethyst. Her favourites. she sat in the center of a silver altar standing in the middle of the balcony. She focused all of her power into her horn causing it to emanate a dark, azure aura around her. She lifted her horn to the skies, her eyes turned black and a spark of powerful magic blasted through the air.

The moon hanging in the sky slowly sank underneath the horizon. Mixed emotions filled her mind. She felt sad that her beautiful moon had to leave her sight but she felt overjoyed at the fact that even after all those years she still had the power to preform such an incredible feat.

She smiled as she saw Celestia's sun rise from the horizon. It's glow warming the lands. Waking their slumbering creations. Enlightening the meadows and mountain sites of equestria. "There is a nice side to the daytime.." she said softly. She lifted herself from the ground and started her journey to Ponyville.

She entered her sister's private quarters and stepped upon the balcony. Celestia was sitting in a similar position as Luna had sat just a few moments ago. Celestia's balcony was filled with golden relics. The edge of the thing was adorned with shining gemstones. emerald, topaz, amber.

"It's beatiful sis.." Luna said as she looked at the sun glowing in the skies.

Celestia turned her head to her younger sister and smiled. "Thank you." Her smiled turned to a frown as she saw that Luna wore her traveling cloak and a pouch. "So.. you're off to Ponyville?" she said softly.

Luna walked over to her sister and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry Cel.. I'll be back.. I promise."

Fluttershy was walking through her home. Making sure she did not forget anything important. Suddenly she felt something she had not felt in quite a while. Peace. Sure, the silence was overflowing in the past few days but peace was something she had missed. It gave her mind some clarity. She finally started to process it all.

Suddenly she heard hoofsteps behind her. She turned her head to see Rarity look at her with sad eyes. "Rarity? Is something wrong?" she asked curiously. Rarity just stood there in silence for a while. She walked over to Fluttershy. Close enough for the pegasus to feel her breathing.

"There is something I have been meaning to tell you.. But with everything going on.." Rarity moved even closer to the pegasus causing her to blush slightly. "Rarity.. Wha-" Before Fluttershy could finish her sentance her mouth got muzzled by Rarity's causing her to whimper softly.

They closed their eyes. for minutes they just stood their listening to eachother's breathing. feeling the rythmic beating of their hearts. Finally Rarity ended the kiss. Fluttershy's head sank downward. Panting heavily. Her face completely red. "Rarity.." she tried to speak but she got cut off by the unicorn.

"I love you, Fluttershy.. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize.. I love you not only because of who you are, but also because of who I am when I am with you.. And do believe me when I say that I did not mean to drag you into this.." she said as she lowered her gaze to the floor.

Fluttershy responded by hugging her tightly. after all, she could never hope to find the words that would be sufficient to express the feelings that filled her at that moment. A few tears of joy unwillingly escaped her eyes. She quickly rubbed her eyes with her hoof.

She was happy. The past few days, no matter how horrible they were, had strengthened their relationship immensely. By staying by her side for all those cold nights Fluttershy had proven to Rarity that she cared about her more than anything else in her life.

Suddenly a memory flashed into her head. It was a poem that her father used to read to her mother. “I'm not supposed to love you, I'm not supposed to care, I'm not supposed to live my life wishing you were there. I'm not supposed to wonder where you are or what you do...I'm sorry I can't help myself, I'm in love with you.” she whispered to Rarity.

"Do you know how early in the morning it is Twilight!?" Spike said as he helped Twilight with her final preperations. "Everypony else is asleep!" he yelled.

"And that's why you need to keep your voice down." she snapped at him. "Really Spike, can't you just help me for once without making a big deal about it."

"I would, but I'm missing my daily dose of coffee!" He said in an annoyed tone as he put the last of Twilight's bags in a corner of the room.

"And now we wait." Twilight smiled.

After an hour of answering doors and handing out greetings everypony had gathered at Twilight's library. As usual, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were arguing about one thing or another. Pinkie Pie was practically shaking in her seat from excitement. Rainbow Dash was happy to see her friend returning to her usual demeanor. Fluttershy and Rarity were sitting on the couch standing against the wall of the Library, sneaking kisses whenever they thought nopony was looking to Spike's great dismay.

Twilight could not help but laugh at the dragon's foallike jealousy. He would never dare to say something about it though. In fact, in his mind Rarity was still completely oblivious to his feelings. " I wonder what's taking the princess so long." she thought to herself.

Luna was floating clumsily above the road between Ponyville and Canterlot. Hastily flapping her wings against the sky's currents. Struggling to stay afloat. "Come on Luna! Can't The Great Godess of the Moon fly for a few measly miles!?" she spited herself.

"I hope nopony sees me like this.." she thought. Suddenly a powerful gust blew her out of her position causing her to spiral downwards. She started flinging her limbs all over the place as she tried to stabilize her wings. "Come on! Come on!" The ground was nearing closer and closer.

Finally, just a few feet above the ground, she managed to stabilize herself. "Huzzah!" she exclaimed before hitting a tree with a loud thud. "uugh.. What was that.." she said as got back on her hooves to examine her assailant. "I curse thee tree! How dare thee not move out of the way for thy princess!" she yelled angrily.

"All those years of being trapped on the moon have more than.. reduced my flying skills.. I guess I'll have to walk then.."

After what seemed like hours of walking over Equestria's roads she neared the rural town of Ponyville. Luckily everypony was asleep or she would have to deal with all the prying eyes and endless praises the ponies of Equestria were giving her since her return. It was nice at first but after a while she realized they praised her for what she symbolized.. not for who she actually was..

Suddenly a knock could be heard at the library's door causing the friends to drop whatever conversations they were having. "I'll get it." Rainbow Dash said. She trotted up to the door and opened it to see who was at the other end. She felt a slight tingling feeling in her cheeks as she looked at Luna's face smiling contently at her. "No blush. You're not going to screw me over. Not now." she thought as she forced the feeling away.

"Princess! You made it." She said as she returned the smile. "Come on, we were waiting for you."

"Thank you, miss.." she started blushing with embarrasment. "Come on Luna! This is one of The Elements of Harmony and you don't even know her name! You're doing a great job fitting in!" she thought sarcastically. "I.. I apolagize.. I have not had the pleasure of conversing with you.. Might I ask for your name?" she said as she put up an embarrased smile.

"S-s-sure.. the name's Rainbow Dash." She said stuttering. "Damnit Dash! Stop acting like a filly!"

"So that's the plan." Luna said. "There is a boat that will take us to the northern isles at the edge of Equestria but we will have to cross the everfree forest to get there." she said as she pointed at several locations on Twilight's map. "Do we have any clue to where this plant grows?" she said as she turned her gaze to Twilight Sparkle.

"I'm afraid not.. evern Zecora was unsure about it. But I guess an object as powerfull as that would drastically alter its surroundings." the unicorn said.

"I can use my magic to make us move faster. but.." even she was embarrased at the fact that years of imprisonment had weakened her magic immensely. "I can only do so during the night. It is then that my power is at its peak and it will be alot easyer to stay out of sight."

"That is true." Twilight agreed. " We will wait for the night then."

"Can't ya just raise the moon now?" Applejack asked the princess.

Rarity face-hooved at her friends question. "Your rudeness never ceases to amaze me, my dear Applejack."

"What!? Ah'm just sayin'. It would speed things up." she snapped at the unicorn.

"I'm afraid Celestia would have to lower the sun first to make way for the moon." she said as she smiled at Applejack. "and think of all the ponies and animals that would be driven insane by the sudden change in their daily routines."

"Ah guess.. waiting it is then.."

Waiting.. If there was anything that Rainbow Dash hated it was waiting.. It forced her to think, something she preferred to avoid. *Tik Tok Tik Tok* the clock taunted her from the library's wall. She couldn't stand that noise! *Tik Tok Tik Tok* her arch enemy yelled. "This is why I don't have a clock!" she thought to herself.

She looked around the library to see what everypony else was doing to fight the boredom. She sighed as she saw Fluttershy and Rarity acting all mushy around eachother. "She's always too busy with her marefriend these days! I mean, when was the last time she visited me.." she thought to herself until her conscience decided to say something about it. "Hey! You should be happy for your friend! It's not like she's doing it intentionally.."

She decided that just taking a nap was her best option. She built a small hoofmade bed out of Twilight's pillows and dozed off.

And the winner of the Equestrian Trophy for Flying Excellence is.. Rainbow Dash! The crowd went wild.. Cheering her name.. over and over again.. She bowed for the masses as they threw roses at her hooves.. One of Equestria's Royal Guards seemed to appear from out of nowhere.. "The princess wishes to congratulate you personally Miss Rainbow Dash.." the guard said.."Hell yeah!" she yelled..

Suddenly she was lying on a circular bed covered with azure colored sheets, without a clue of how she got there.. The room was decorated with all sorts of artworks and relics.. Stars were depicted on the walls and ceiling of the place.. "You were quite impressive out there.." A distant voice said in a seductive tone..

"Heh heh, that's what I do! I impress ponies!" she said with an awkward voice. Suddenly Princess Luna entered the room wearing what Dash could only describe as the most suggestive piece of sleeping gear she had ever seen.. "I would like to award you for your achievements Dash.."

"I prefer gold, for my medal that is.." Rainbow said laughingly.. "That is not what I had in mind.." The princess said as she got up on the bed next to Rainbow Dash "W-w-what did you have in mind then.." she said awkwardly as she increased the distance between her and Luna.. The princess neared closer to the pegasus and pinned her into the bed with her legs.

"I'll show you.." she said as she kissed Dash on the mouth.

"Uuhm Dash.. You better wake up quickly.." Fluttershy said as she stood next to her snoozing friend making sure that nopony noticed them.

Dash slowly returned to the waking world. "Fluttershy..? Is that you..?" she said as she opened her eyes to see her friend look at her awkwardly. "Is it time to leave yet?" she said, rubbing her eyes.

"Uuhm Dash.." Fluttershy said with a blush on her face.

"What's up?"

"Y-your.."

"Speak up Fluttershy I can't hear you."

"Wings." was all Fluttershy could utter.

Rainbow Dash noticed that her nocturnal adventure had caused her wings to stand straight up. Her face flushed with embarrasment as she forced them down.

"I thought I'd wake you up before the others noticed.." she said shyly.

"Oh god, I'm sorry Shy. I feel like a damn filly."

"I understand Rainbow. It's ok."

Rainbow walked into the bathroom and splashed some water from the sink into her face. She looked into the mirror with her wet mane. "What the hell is wrong with you.." she said panting.

Luna returned from Twilight's back yard. "The moon has been raised." she said proudly. The six ponies were already prepared to depart. Spike still clinging to Twilight's legs. "I'll be fine Spike.." she said as she gave the dragon a reassuring smile.

The seven ponies ran through the meadows and roads surrounding Ponyville. Their minds set on adventure. They formed an unstoppable force. Luna's horn glowed slightly as she surrounded the group with a faint dark blue aura. Rainbow Dash noticed the magic's influence on her legs. No matter for how long they ran they didn't seem to get tired at all.

Their destination was The Everfree Forest. Dash maintained a reputation as a fearless pony but even she got uneasy thinking about it. It was the darkest place in Equestria after all. She felt the wet grass underneath her hooves as she looked up at the sky.

Luna ran through the shadows with great ease. She often lost control of herself as she happily ran through the night. She felt at home. She felt save. She felt like no one could stop her now. Often enough she found herself far ahead of the group causing her to blush slightly as she lowered her pace.

Rainbow Dash was amazed at Luna's sudden joy and energy. The darkness surrounded her like a cloak. As if she wore it instead of being around it. It was a part of her. She turned her gaze forward as she noticed the forest's entrance draw closer.

Author's message:

Huzzah! The shipping has been doubled! Wow, you're still here, ten chapters later. Wich means you should have a general opinion on my work by now. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of what has happened, where it is going, My writing style or just any input. Any advice is welcome.