//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Double Dare // by Wordplay42 //------------------------------// Chapter 6- The train to Canterlot chugged and lurched its way across the Equestrian landscape, and began to zig and zag its way through the mountains as it began its slow climb towards the great city in the distance. To Twilight, the typical relaxing train ride to Equestria’s capitol city now felt painfully slow and meandering. But she also knew the feelings were misplaced. The book that Rainbow Dash was trapped inside sat closed and was snuggled safely inside her saddle bag, and as long as they didn’t continue reading, there was no danger of pushing Rainbow Dash to the point where the danger really started. However, Twilight also didn’t know whether or not the spell would wear off if they waited too long. It was possible that if they didn’t get help soon enough for Rainbow Dash, she would be trapped inside the world of fiction forever. “Twilight, stop twitching,” Spike scolded her. Twilight started and glanced down at the little dragon. She sighed and looked out the window as the train continued its journey upwards to Canterlot. “Sorry, Spike,” she apologized. “I’m just so nervous.” “We all are, Sugarcube,” Applejack said, coming to stand beside Twilight’s seat. “But the Princess will know what to do. You know that.” Twilight nodded. Fortunately, Princess Celestia had sent a response to the ponies not too long after Spike had sent her the letter, telling them to come quickly to Canterlot and bring the Daring Do book with them. She apologized that she could not come to them: there were delegates in Canterlot who would be staying there for several days that she needed to attend to, but she assured Twilight that she would and could help her save Rainbow Dash. “I’m just nervous about what I’m going to tell the Princess about how this happened,” she admitted to her friends. “This is all my fault. If Princess Celestia can’t figure out how to reverse this – “ “She will,” Fluttershy assured her friend. “If there’s anyone who can help, it’s the Princess.” The others agreed and Applejack touched Twilight’s shoulder with a hoof. “Besides,” the farm pony told the unicorn. “It was an accident. Princess Celestia’ll understand.” “I should have listened to you, Spike,” Twilight said to the dragon. “That spell was too hard. I shouldn’t have tried it. And now Rainbow Dash is paying the price.” Spike frowned and placed a hand on Twilight’s leg as the lilac pony stared back out the window at the mountains rushing passed. They were almost there. ~**~ “Princess Celestia!” Twilight, followed by the other ponies plus Spike, rushed into Princess Celestia’s throne room. Twilight barely noticed the grunts of indignation from the guards as they were practically flattened by a wave of uninvited ponies. Twilight ran at the front, while Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike followed at a similarly fast pace only a short distance behind. Pinkie Pie, however, bounced happily behind the others, her usual bright sunny self despite the situation. The annoyed guards glared after the cotton-candy colored pony. “Twilight Sparkle.” The Princess was seated on her throne, two guard ponies standing on the ground on either side of the platform which elevated the white alicorn above the floor. They, too, were not happy with the sudden intrusion, but they also knew Twilight, so they made no move to protect the Princess. Princess Celestia set a scroll aside which she had been writing on with a quill and stepped off her throne to meet her pupil halfway. Typically, Twilight would greet her mentor by rubbing her head against the great white alicorn’s chest, but the situation didn’t call for this typical sign of affection. Instead, Twilight slid to a halt before her mentor, her eyes wide. “Princess Celestia, something terrible has happened!” she gasped. The Princess, calm and controlled as always, raised a hoof in order to silence her student before she plunged into a lengthy and panicked explanation. “I read your letter,” she said. “From what I gathered, your friend Rainbow Dash has somehow been trapped inside a book. Please, Twilight, tell me what happened.” “It was all my fault!” Twilight cried. “I was trying a new spell that was beyond my level. It was a spell to turn images into real life things, but Rainbow Dash crashed into my window and I accidently released the spell onto her. There was a book nearby, and she got trapped in it. And I don’t know how to bring her back!” She panted, catching her breath after the lengthy explanation she had just given. Princess Celestia did not look flustered, or even concerned. She remained calm and collected as she turned purple eyes to the other ponies before her. “And the rest of you confirm that this was what happened?” she asked. “We weren’t there to see it,” Applejack informed her. “But we did see the book, and it does have Rainbow Dash in it, and on the cover.” “I saw it,” Spike said, waving a hand. “And that’s what happened. She was there one minute, then poof! She was gone.” “Do you have the book that contains the spell you used?” Celestia questioned. Twilight swallowed and nodded. She had fortunately thought to bring the spell book along, and it was tucked into the other half of her saddlebag. She used her magic to levitate it from the bag and towards the Princess, who took it in her own magic and flipped it open to the page that Twilight had marked. She studied the spell for a moment, and then turned purple eyes back to Twilight. “And you also have the book in which your friend is trapped?” she asked calmly. Twilight pulled the Daring Do book from her bag as well and Celestia studied it, her eyebrow slightly raised at the name of the novel and its content. “Rainbow Dash was going to pick it up from me later,” Twilight explained. “It’s part of her favorite series.” “I believe I know what you have done,” the Princess told her student. “And it will not be easy to undo.” Twilight looked down at her hooves. “I was afraid you’d say that,” she said. Celestia continued. “Typically, I would have encouraged you to read through the book in its entirety. Words have power, and the words which make up the world that Rainbow Dash is trapped in would eventually free her if they are read.” “I was right!” Pinkie Pie squealed happily. Twilight and the others looked back at the pink pony, perplexed, wondering how she could have known. But the Princess wasted no time. “However, I know this book,” the white alicorn continued. Twilight’s eyes widened. “You do?” she asked, amazed that the Princess would have read a Daring Do novel. “Of course,” Celestia replied with a light smile, but did not further explain her interests in the adventures of the pony archeologist. She quickly returned to seriousness. “And I know that the companion to the heroine of this novel does not fare well. In which case, to read to the end would mean that Rainbow Dash would become trapped within the world of fiction that this book sets up.” “But, what do we do?” Twilight asked. Celestia lowered the books and gazed down at the ponies below her. “I am afraid there is only one thing you can do,” she said. “I must use the same spell that you accidently made, Twilight, to send you and your other friends into the same world and rescue your friend from the ending of this book.” Twilight almost fell over. “What?” she asked, shocked. “You want us to go into this book and rescue Rainbow Dash? But…how will that work? Won’t the story take us over too?” “You five are not previously mentioned in the storyline,” Celestia explained. “While Rainbow Dash merely took the place of an already established character, you will become rogue elements, which the text of the story has no power over. Your presence into the book will change the outcome of it entirely: which is what must happen. Rainbow Dash wields one of the Elements of Harmony. She cannot become trapped inside this book, or Equestria will unable to rely upon its most important magic. “However,” Celestia continued. “There is one thing which I cannot do. Despite the introduction of you all as rogue elements into the storyline, the story needs to be read to keep the timeline flowing. But I cannot take the time to do so. The delegates staying here are from the Griffon Kingdom, and we have much to discuss. Therefore, one of you must stay behind and read the book so that the others can save Rainbow Dash.” Twilight considered this for a moment, and then looked up at the Princess. “Can you…give us a second?” she asked. Celestia nodded slightly, and Twilight turned to consult with the others. They huddled close together to discuss the situation. “Did you hear that?” Pinkie Pie said excitedly. “We’re going to get to be in a book!” “Yes, but we need someone to stay behind to read the book,” Twilight reminded them. “Or else we won’t get anything done, even if we do get into the book.” “I’ll stay,” Spike offered. Twilight looked down at him, her purple eyes slightly concerned. “Oh, Spike, are you sure?” she asked. The small purple dragon nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure,” he said. “I’ll stay behind and read through the book. I promise.” Twilight pulled him in close and gave him a hug. He smiled, and then pulled away as Twilight turned to address the Princess once more. “Alright,” she said. “We’re ready.” “Good,” Celestia said. She placed the Daring Do book on the floor and the five ponies gathered before it. Spike stood back, out of the line of fire. “Twilight,” Celestia said. The light purple unicorn looked seriously up at her mentor. “You must understand: you have to save your friend. The Elements of Harmony must be protected.” “We won’t fail,” Twilight said bravely. The others gave their consent, and the Princess nodded and smiled. “I know I can count on you. Be careful,” she warned. “The fiction world that has been created is similar to ours, but can be dangerous.” Twilight stood taller as the others gathered close around her, preparing themselves for what was coming next. Celestia herself straightened, her long, spiraling horn pointing high into the air. It began to glow, and Twilight closed her eyes as the light became too bright for her to look at. A flash erupted from it, so bright she could see the light through her lidded eyes, and feel the magic rippling around her like static electricity. Suddenly, she felt like she was falling, and she reached instinctively out to grab hold of her friends. Then, there was nothing. ~**~ When Spike opened his eyes and lowered the arms he had thrown up to cover his face during the flash, he found that the five ponies who had stood before him moments ago were gone. He swallowed hard. “Are they….are they…?” he stammered, unable to find the right words. “They are now inside the world of the book,” Celestia told him. “Now, Spike, it is your job to read the book’s words to keep the timeline moving. Can you do that?” “Of course!” the purple dragon affirmed, and ran forward to snatch the book off the ground. He held it in his claws in front of him and looked at the cover which still had the picture of Daring Do and Rainbow Dash emblazoned across the front. Nothing had changed, but he guessed it was because, like Celestia had said, Twilight and the others were rogue elements, taking up no part in the original text. “Good,” the Princess said. “I must attend to the delegates, but you are welcome to stay here, in the throne room. I will not be bringing the griffons here.” Spike nodded and watched as Celestia turned and strode away, her great, flowing mane swirling behind her in its multitude of color. The two guards stationed at the steps of her throne followed her close behind. As the Princess neared the doors, she paused and looked back over her shoulder. “If you should need anything,” she told him. “Tell one of the guards to fetch me or Princess Luna. We will do whatever we can to help.” Spike nodded, agreeing wordlessly as the Princess once more began to stride towards the doors of the throne room. The guards posted their obediently opened the doors for her, and she walked regally out into the adjoining hallway. Finally, the doors closed once more, leaving Spike alone. Even the stallions at the doors had departed along with the Princess. The little purple dragon padded forward and took a seat on one of the steps leading up to the throne. Carefully, he placed the Daring Do book on his lap and opened to the chapter where they had left off reading in Ponyville. “Okay,” he said. “Here goes nothing.” He took a breath and read on.