Chapter 25: A Gallant Invitation

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow sighed and flopped over in an attempt to ignore the cries of the pony. She didn't feel like talking to her right now. A second cry erupted, causing Dash to attempt to keep herself hidden behind the cloud she was napping on.

A final cry broke Rainbow, and she returned, "What is it Pinkie?"

Dash slid over the edge of her cloudy bed, and landed with a thud beside Pinkie. The earth pony was her usual happy self.

"Rarity wants you to come to her boutique, and sent me out to find you!" she cried with excitement.

"What does she want now?" Rainbow asked with a sigh.

Rarity was always trying to get her to wear her dresses and act like a 'civil' pony.

"I don't know, one way to find out," Pinkie answered happily, turning and bouncing off.

As she bounced off toward Rarity's store, Pinkie sung happily. Dash shook her head and followed. She really hated going to Rarity's since she always wanted her to try something on. The two ponies arrived within minutes, and Dash half-heartedly entered the store. Within seconds of Dash entering, Rarity was already taking measurements and stuffing Rainbow into various fittings and clothes.

Dash played along, but took no joy in the whole affair. She was only being a good sport for Rarity's benefit, or at least that's what she told herself.

"And done, isn't it absolutely beautiful?" Rarity stated with smile, turning Dash toward the mirror.

Rainbow saw her looking at herself, dressed in a slightly modified version of her dress from last year's Grand Galloping Gala. She smiled slightly, but quickly felt her spirits dampened.

"Thanks Rarity, but I don't think I'm going to the Gala," Dash said, mustering as much politeness as possible.

"Why ever would you miss it?" Rarity asked, blinking her eyes for effect.

"I just don't feel like it… it's…" Dash responded.

She felt herself slipping into a depression again, tears welling slightly in her eyes. It was bad enough that Shadow was gone, but now Spitfire and Soarin' were gone too, and they wouldn't be there at the Gala. Abruptly, Rainbow pulled the dress off and exited the store. She stood outside, regaining her composure.

'Why am I acting like this?' she thought, staring at the ground, 'This isn't me. I'm not an emotional pony.'

She heard hooves approaching from ahead, and looked up. It was Gallant Gallop, approaching slowly.

'Why won't he leave me alone…' Dash noted mentally.

"Rainbow, how are you? Is something wrong?" Gallop asked as he walked slowly toward her.

Rainbow hesitated for a moment, before responding, "No, I'm fine. What do you want?"

Gallant heard the slight snap in her voice, and eased up a little, "Nothing important. What's going on with you?"

Dash and Gallant talked for a few minutes about the various goings on in Ponyville. Gallop was not the most interesting pony, but he was alright as a conversationalist.

Abruptly, Gallant asked, "Are you going to the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Dash recoiled slightly, and answered, "No…"

"Ah," Gallant said, nodding his head, "Okay. I was hoping that you would attend as my date…"

Dash sighed and shook her head. She saw where this was going, and didn't like it.

"No offense Gallant, but I don't like you. Not in that way at least," Dash stated bluntly, her voice cracking slightly at the end of the sentence.

"Oh no no no!" Gallop responded quickly, his voice semi-frantic, "I just wanted someone to attend with. Casually."

Dash lowered her eyebrows. Something was off about this whole situation. He really wanted to go with her, she could tell.

"Fine, I'll attend as your 'casual guest'," Dash answered, her face still semi-frowning.

"Good, we leave tomorrow," responded Gallant.

Unexpectedly, the Colonel bolted off. He was gone within seconds, and out of sight.

'I never should have accepted that invitation, something is off here,' Dash deduced.

"It's done," Gallant stated, as he entered his quarters.

Crystal was awaiting his return as per usual, eating an apple.

She smiled and replied, "Good. I'll set the trap."

As she stood up to exit, she placed her apple gingerly on the table, and straightened her mane.

"Why do I have to do all the legwork here?" Gallant blurted out angrily.

Crystal sighed and answered, "It's all you're good at; I do the planning. Besides, you don't want to spend your time in the company of a beautiful mare such as her?"

Gallop angrily responded, "No. She's annoying, obnoxious, and she just angers me in general."

"Well," Crystal retorted as she exited, "Make it seem like you like her. It's simple really."

Gallant cringed as she exited. This entire plan was on the edge of an abyss, ready to fall apart at the slightest error. It was too late to back out, but it was also so entirely dangerous to continue that Gallop was having his doubts.

As he lay down to sleep, Gallop contemplated and planned the next few days. If all went as planned, Shadow would be captured and killed, and the Wonderbolts would pose no problem. If something went wrong, he could theoretically complete the objective, but it would probably claim his life, and those of his conspirators.

'Conspirators...' Gallant thought, his eyes wide as he stared at the moon, 'Never thought I would refer to anyone I know as that.'

He swallowed heavily, as he had a sudden realization. He had gone into this entire thing without question, thought, or any contemplation on what would happen after. Sure, he was promised land and power, but he had no guarantee. As soon as everything was complete, they could do away with him as easily as one could squish a fly. He was a pawn; an agent, or asset rather, of chaos and destruction that could be extinguished once his use had run out.

He slowly fell asleep, but his heart and mind were still unsettled. He knew in his mind that he could not turn back, and that through death and fire he must continue, but his heart told him otherwise.

As Gallop fell asleep, Rainbow was on the opposite of Ponyville, tossing and turning restlessly. She feared sleep, as she had been plagued with nightmares akin to those she felt around the time of Shadow's leaving for Fillydelphia.

Every time she fell asleep, the same dream would occur, each time being longer and more detailed. It was horrifying, not only to the eye, but to watch someone she cared so much for to be killed over and over again.

Somehow, in her heart, she knew that this dream meant something. What did it mean?

'Shadow is dead,' though Rainbow, her eyes tearing up, 'there's no way he's coming back. You have to accept this Rainbow. You have to...'

Sadness, fatigue and darkness clouded Dash's mind as she drifted into sleep. She never suspected that a chain of events had been started. She would be directly tied to the fate of Equestria, and unknowingly, Lieutenant Storm.