//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two: Hatching a Plan 
// Story: Night of The Dragons 
// by Citrus Shine 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight’s friends stared stunned at Spike. After a minute of silence, he coughed and slowly tried to stand.
“What did you- Aah!” He cried, looking at his hooves. Instead of his small dragon body, he was now a young earth pony: with a purple coat and spiky green hair. As he tried to stand on two legs, he fumbled over face first into the ground.
“Spike! Are you ok?” Twilight called, fighting her dragon guard to run to him.
“Let her go, she’s no threat to us anymore” Night Ember called to the guard, and the larger dragon dropped Twilight. She ran over to him, and looked in his giant pony eyes.
“I’m fine Twilight. Are you guys ok?” Spike asked, rubbing his sore head
“Well that was a real nice show of power,” Rarity huffed, “Now that you’ve taken away our identities, crippled the Princess, destroyed the Castle and absolutely ruined my new hat, what were you thinking of next? Oh do please say it’s not the dungeon.”
“No, it’s not the dungeon Rarity. Now that what little power you all had are gone, I have no more need to worry about you saps; you can go back to Ponyville or wherever mud hole you like. Now that you’re dragons you can’t do magic, you can’t use the elements of harmony and you have no more allies. Heck, after a few hundred years I might turn you back into ponies, but it will be far too late to save your precious pony Princess. Guards- let them go.” And with that, the dragons that were holding the once-pony friends dropped them harshly onto the marble floor. While most of them stumbled on their two legs and tried to regain their bearings, Rainbow Dash took to the air and dive-bombed strait towards Night Ember. Unimpressed, Night extended one wing before Rainbow Dash hit, knocking her onto the rug.
“I suggest you six appreciate my great mercy and leave my castle before I change my mind” Night Ember said dryly as she exhaustively slumped to the floor.
“That’s a good idea girls, lets go” Applejack directed "Lets leave this old ham with her new friends." The six dragons and Spike slowly made their way out of the hall and out of the castle. There was an uncomfortable silence as they trodded through the dragon infested halls.
However, the strange silence was broken once they opened the castle's doors onto Canterlot where they were met with a great tumult. Outside Canterlot Castle was sheer panic: nopony outside knew what to do and they could only scream and run in terror of their new oppressors. The group snuck to the outside of an abandoned cafe to plan. The afternoon sky began filling with harsh black smoke.
“Ok everypony, er, everydragon: we need to stop Night Ember and get the elements of harmony before tomorrow at noon or Celestia’s going to be gone forever” Twilight instructed.
“But we can’t use the Elements while we’re dragons, remember? The only one here that could use ‘em is Spike and I doubt he could be all six” Applejack reminded. Twilight stared thoughtfully into space.
“Well then, we’ll just have to figure out a way to turn back into ponies. There could be something like this in one of my books back home, we might as well start there!” Twilight proposed.
“How are we supposed to get home Twilight? This place is pure Chaos!” Rainbow Dash whined.
“Ooo! It looks like the trains are still running!” Pinkie exclaimed, pointing at the nearby station that was boarding.
“Uh-oh, it looks like this is the last train to ponyville though and it’s leavin’ soon! We better get goin’!” Applejack urged.
“Now wait just one second Applejack, how are we supposed to get on the train like this?” Rarity asked, “I doubt they’ll let six dragons on board during a dragon takeover.”
“It’s a drago-pocalypse! It’s arma-dragon!” Pinkie Pie screamed excitedly. Her friends gave her a disappointed look.
“Well, maybe we could hide in some luggage and get on the train that way” Rarity suggested, “There’s a bunch of bags in the lost and found that have been there for ages, I'm sure nopony would mind if we borrowed them.”
“Good idea Rarity,” Twilight encouraged, “But how are we going to get the bags onto the train? They only take bags from passengers, and I doubt any of us are going to fool the conductor.”
“Final emergency train to Ponyville now boarding! This train is leaving the station in five minutes!” The conductor called out. The six friends racked their brain, desperately trying to think of a plan.
“Wait a second, duh!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, “We don’t need to trick the conductor, we have Spike!”
“Wait, what?!” Spike asked nervously
“Of course! Rainbow Dash, you’re a genious! Spike, would you be ok taking us all on board?”
“I- I don’t know. I’ve never been a pony before, I have no clue how I’m supposed to act!”
“Oh Spikey Wikey, it’s much easier than you’re making it out to be; just be yourself dear” Rarity encouraged.
“Now just hold yer hay everypony: how are we supposed to get Spike on that train? Even though it’s an emergency the conductor’s still requirin’ tickets,” Applejack said, “and the booth’s so busy that we’ll never buy a new one in time, I don’t think any of us even have any money no more.”
        “Drat, I lost my ticket and my money at some point when Night Ember took over. Think girls, maybe if-” Twilight started
        “Ooo wait! I think I still have my ticket!” Pinkie Pie offered
        “You do? How’d you manage to hang onto that?” Rainbow Dash asked
        “I always keep super-duper important stuff in my hair so I don’t lose it” Pinkie Pie giggled, reaching into the mess of scales on top of her head. After a bit of digging, she proudly pulled out a crumpled round-trip train ticket.
“Ta-da!” She exclaimed excitedly.
“Perfect!” Twilight affirmed, “Alright girls, lets get to the lost and found, and get on that train!”


“Last call for boarding! Last call for boarding the emergency train to Ponyville!” The conductor called out.
“Wait! Hold that train!” Spike called out, dragging three large bags behind him.
“You’re just in time son, here, let me get those bags for you” The conductor offered, “These’ll have to go in the back, is that alright with you?”
“Uh, is there any way I could have them beside my seat?” Spike asked hopefully.
“Sorry, this train is packed and we gotta go. You’ve got a ticket?”
“Oh, uh, why yes I do!” Spike bumbled, trying to pull out his ticket with his hooves. Once he got it, he quickly lost his grip and started juggling it around, desperately trying to manage his new hands and get the ticket to the conductor.
“Woah son, don’t worry I got it,” The conductor said supportively and grabbed the ticket. However, once he got a good look at it he stared questioningly up at Spike.
“Uh, son? Is this your ticket?” The conductor asked.
“Yes?” Spike answered nervously.
“So you’re trying to tell me that you are Pinkamena Diane Pie?” The conductor suspiciously looked over Spike.
“Well, uh, why yes?” Spike stuttered back nervously. The conductor didn’t break his disapproving stare over Spike. Suddenly, they heard another conductor’s voice from inside the train. 
“Smokey! What are you doing out there, this train has to get out of here stat! A couple more dragons were seen approaching the mountain pass and we gotta get over it before the whole railroad’s in pieces!” the other pony called. The conductor sighed and pulled Spike into the train just before it began moving.
“Ok son, if it wasn’t an emergency we’d have a few questions for you back at the train station, but next time buy your own ticket and don’t use your sister’s old round-trip one, ok?” the conductor lectured as he closed the train door.
“Oh! Yes sir, of course sir” Spike stammered, “Um, you don’t suppose my luggage got on in time do you? I had some really important stuff in there-”
“Oh don’t worry, I’m positive it all got on board. Now you better get to a seat, this area’s for conductors and engineers only.” The conductor ushered Spike to the passenger area, and it was absolutely packed with ponies. Spike managed to find an empty seat in the corner, and he sat down to try and collect his thoughts.

“Ug, Rarity stop pushing!”
“Well Rainbow Dash your wing is right in my face!”
“Rarity you’re taking up the entire suitcase, just move over!”
“Everyone, quiet down! There could still be a worker in this area. And Rarity seriously stop pushing us!” Twilight hushed.
“This is ridiculous, did anypony else’s bag even make it on the train? Are we even on the train?” Rainbow Dash whined, “Hey! Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack, you guys there!?”
“Shhh! Rainbow how hard is it to keep quiet? If anypony finds out we’re here, we’re toast! So we have to stay silent!” Twilight scolded.
“We’re here!” Pinkie Pie yelled from a few bags away, “And I think I heard Applejack not too far away!”
“Pinkie quiet!” Twilight shushed.
“Well this plan is just turning out beautifully” Rarity sighed sarcastically, “Shushing each other in the dark is going to do no good, we’ve got to get a look outside to see if there’s any train workers out there.”
“Can anypony sink their claws into the bag to rip open a hole or something?” Rainbow Dash asked, “I would but Rarity’s sitting on one arm and the other one’s asleep.”
“Here, let me try” Twilight offered. She took one finger and carefully poked a small hole into the bag. She spied into it, looking for any workers outside.
“Looks like the coast is clear, but we probably would have been thrown out already anyways if there was anypony within earshot” Twilight reported.
“Does that mean that we can get out of here?” Rainbow Dash asked, “I can’t take any more of this stupid bag.”
“Too risky. Just because nopony’s here now doesn’t mean we’re going to be alone the entire trip. Anyways, I think it’s impossible to open up these bags from the inside without tearing them to pieces.” All of a sudden, the group inside heard a small click and their bag split open. After regaining her bearings, Twilight looked up and saw Pinkie Pie standing over them next to the bag’s lock.
“Pinkie! How did you get out of your bag?! We need those to get out of the train, remember?” Twilight asked, stunned.
“Oh it was easy-peasy! There was already a little hole in the top if you sat just right, and Fluttershy climbed out and unlocked the bag!” Pinkie explained. Twilight looked up and saw tiny Fluttershy buzzing above their heads. 
“Wow, good thinking Fluttershy! Rainbow Dash: go see if you can lock the door into this room so nopony walks in on us.” With that, Rainbow nodded and dashed to the door with her mission.
“How are you doing Fluttershy? You haven’t said much at all this trip, are you ok?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded.
“Yes, just a little-- startled” she replied quietly. 
“The door was locked when I got there, I don’t think this is a popular place on the train” Rainbow Dash reported as she glided down to where everybody else was standing.
“Wait, where’s Applejack?” Twilight asked.
“I’m over here everypony!” they heard Applejack yell under a large pile of luggage.
        “Oh great, how are we supposed to get her out of that?” Rainbow whined.
“Fluttershy: get down there and see if you can unlock her suitcase. Everyone else let’s try and dig her out” Twilight directed. The dragons scampered to where they heard the yell while Fluttershy hesitantly crawled into the caverns of mixed luggage. 
“Ug, why is everything so heavy!” Rainbow Dash complained as she tried to lift a medium floral bag.
“Well remember we don’t have our size anymore, and I’m not sure how strong the average baby dragon is” Twilight reminded, “We’ll just have to do our best, and the worst that could happen is Applejack will just have to wait until we arrive in Ponyville to get out.” 
“I unlocked her bag,” Fluttershy said as she climbed out between the cracks of two large bags, “but I’m not sure-” 
Suddenly, the bags exploded out of the way and the group was covered in luggage. All that was left in the baggage crater was Applejack and her split-open suitcase.
“Heh, sorry everypony” Applejack apologized as she uncovered her friends, “Ah guess I don’t know my own strength there.”
“Well I suppose not all baby dragons are created equal when it comes to strength” Twilight muttered, rubbing her head as Applejack removed a large trunk that was on top of her, “Is everypony, uh, everyone ok?”
“Yeah, we’re good” Rainbow Dash mumbled as she dusted herself off.
“Wait a second, where’s Fluttershy?” Rarity asked in horror. The group gasped and began flipping over bags to search for their tiny friend.
“Mmmphmhm mmmph!” Pinkie garbled, obviously with something crammed in her mouth.
“Pinkie what is it?” Twilight asked, annoyed
“Mhmm mph, blaaa-” Pinkie Pie started again, then spit whatever was in her mouth out. Lo and behold, out came a very slimy and dazed Fluttershy.
“My word dear are you alright?” Rarity asked.
“Oh, yes” Fluttershy answered, “Just a little- sticky...”
“I’m so sorry Fluttershy! When that bag hit me you just flew right in!” Pinkie Pie apologised.
“Oh no, it’s actually quite roomy in there.”
“Alright girls” Twilight began, trying to regain the focus in the room, “So here’s the plan: Rarity, keep your eyes out the window and tell us the second that we’re out of the mountains so we have lots of time to get back into our bags; then we’ll do our little escape attempt backwards. We’ll pack Applejack back up as best as we can, Pinkie and Fluttershy will help Rarity, Rainbow and I get into our suitcase, then they’ll slip back into their bag, understood?”
“Right!” Rainbow Dash affirmed as she saluted.
“What can we do when we get back to Ponyville?” Applejack asked as she dusted off her hat.
“Well, we can head straight for the library and we can look through all my books for anything about dragons, and especially anything about dragon spells.”
“But Twilight, I’d never seen any spells like that before! Do you think you would have any books about them?” Rarity worriedly asked as she made her way to the window, “And even if you did, how could you perform them as a dragon?” Twilight looked down thoughtfully; there was a long pause as she racked her brain for answers.
“I don’t know” Twilight admitted somberly; a faint pop could be heard in the background, “I really don’t know what we can do.” *pop* “But I do know one thing for certain: no matter what happens, we can’t give up” *pop* “We’ve been through eternal night, dragons, hydras-pretty much every mythical creature in equestria- and we didn’t give up!” *pop* “Horsefeathers, we’ve even had our personalities taken away from us and were still able to defeat Discord! Did it look hopeless then?” *pop* “Of course it did! But did we give up?” *pop-pop* “No! We couldn’t give up because all of Equestria needed us,” *pop* “and now Equestria and Princess Celestia needs us now more than ever!” *pop* *pop-pop* “I know that together, no matter what happens-” *pop-pop-pop* *POP* “Pinkie whatever you are doing could you please cut that out!” Everyone looked over at Pinkie Pie who was now sitting in the corner, in the midst of blowing bubbles.
“Wait, what? Pinkie how are you doing that?” Applejack asked.
“I dunno” Pinkie Pie giggled, “I can just sorta blow bubbles, watch!” Pinkie Pie took in a deep breath, then began blowing large bluish bubbles from her beak. 
“Woah!” Rainbow Dash yelled
“I know! But watch this!” Pinkie took in an even bigger breath and began blowing another bubble. This time it looked as though there was a fire inside of the bubble, and after it straight up and hit the ceiling of the train car, it burst with a loud BANG.
“Pinkie Pie, I’m happy that you can blow bubbles and all, but would you mind not doing so while I’m trying to make a speech?”
“Ooo! No wait wait wait, I think I’m getting the hang of this!” Pinkie shushed. She took in another deep breath, focused hard then began blowing another bubble. The fire in this one was a lot brighter, and when it hit the roof of the train car it exploded with an even louder burst, and sent a shower of sparkles down on the floor. Pinkie Pie giggled excitedly at her new skill.
“The bags!” Twilight yelled out, as she pointed to a bag on the floor that had caught fire from the bubble’s explosion. Applejack quickly ran over and beat the fire out with her tail before it spread to the rest of the car.
“Pinkie, you really have to be more careful,” Twilight warned, “Not only could you have set the train on fire but I’m sure one of the conductors must have heard that. We better get back into our bags and-”
“Um, everypony-” Rarity began
“Calm down Twilight!” Rainbow Dash laughed, “That was totally awesome and the door’s locked anyways.”
“Girls I really think you should see this-” Rarity started again, looking nervously out the window.
“Rainbow Dash that’s not the point!” Twilight lectured
“Twilight there’s something-” Rarity warned again fruitlessly. 
“Wait a minute, do you think that that was how Pinkie Pie breaths fire?” Applejack asked, “That would make sense since Night Ember called her a Bubble Dragon”
“But everypony-” Rarity tried again
 “Awesome! Do you think I can breath fire too?” Rainbow Dash interrupted, then began to wheeze in an attempt to make a flame
“If you could all just please-” Rarity tried to slip in anxiously
“That’s not how you breath fire silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled.
“Um, I think Rarity’s trying to-” Fluttershy began, hoping to help her friend get a word in.
“No! No more fires on the train!” Twilight insisted, “We’re not burning this whole thing down just to do a little experimenting!”
“WOULD EVERYPONY PLEASE JUST SHUT THEIR TRAP FOR JUST ONE SECOND!” Rarity screamed and everyone looked towards her in shock, “There’s something outside the train that you girls desperately need to-” Before Rarity could finish, something large hit against the side of the train and the friends were thrown around the train car.
“What in tarnation was that?” Applejack asked, flustered
“That’s what I was attempting to tell everypony” Rarity groaned, “There was a group of dragons flying towards the tracks, I think they're trying to stop the train!” Sure enough, three small dragons were slamming against the train tracks and others were doing their best to derail the train. The six friends could feel the train charging faster and faster as the dragons batted at it.
 “Why are we goin’ so fast when the train’s so unstable?” Applejack asked
 “They’re probably trying to outrun the dragons” Twilight explained, “They’ve probably put the engines on full, closed all the windows and- oh no!”
“What is it Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked
“Sometimes in emergencies in order to make the train go faster they disconnect the luggage cars!” Twilight blurted. Everyone looked towards the door leading to the rest of the train and they saw one of the engineers loosening the connectors between their cars.
“Noo!” Rainbow Dash screamed as she flew towards the door. She struggled with the lock, and the conductor looked into the car with horror and began pushing down on the disconnect lever more anxiously, slamming his body onto the red switch. Twilight ran to help her friend, but it was too late: they heard a sharp click and could see the train car in front of them speeding ahead. Gradually they felt their own car wobbling and slowing to a halt. The ponies' once hopeful attitude deflated with the slowing of the train car.
“What now? It’ll take us forever to get to Ponyville after that! Lot of good it would have done us anyways. Stupid Night Ember with her stupid dragon spells...” Rainbow Dash trailed off. 
“Wait, that’s it!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Wh- what do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.
“It wouldn’t have done us any good to go to Ponyville, I don’t have any spells about dragons or even books about dragons, but you know who does?” 
 “Night Ember!” Pinkie Pie answered excitedly
“Exactly! If we can make it to Night Ember’s library, I’m sure she’ll have every sort of spell we’ll ever need to defeat her!”
“Yeah! Great thinking Twilight!” Rainbow Dash encouraged, “Now lets get out of this stupid train car!” Rainbow Dash clung to the door and continued frustratedly fiddling with the handle.
“Drat! It’s stuck! Stupid dragon hands with their stupid no strength-” Rainbow Dash mumbled. Applejack crawled up beside her and watched Rainbow Dash struggle for a few more attempts.
“Mind if I give it a go?” Applejack asked, motioning towards the door. Rainbow Dash simply let go of the door and backed up, fed up with the situation. Applejack gave a harsh kick to the lock and the door went shooting off the car; Rainbow Dash just huffed. 
“Wait a minute what about Spike?” Rarity asked, concerned, “He’s still on the train to Ponyville. Little Spikey-Wikey will be all alone, he won’t know what the plan is and he won’t know if we’re safe or not.”
“Hmm, good point Rarity,” Twilight said, stepping off the train car, “I’d hate for him to be all alone; nopony will recognise him now that he’s a pony. What we need is a messenger to tell him that we’re ok and he should just wait it out in the library.”
“How about Rainbow Dash” Applejack offered, “It looks like the trains gonna make it all the way to Ponyville, she could fly there and deliver the message lickity-split”
“Wait a second!” Rainbow Dash argued, “Why do I have to go to Ponyville when you guys get to go to Night Ember’s secret hideout? Fluttershy has wings too you know and I bet any of you could walk there just fine!”
“Rainbow Dash, you’re the fastest one here and we need to move with the utmost speed. You’re the best one out of all of us to get the job done!” Twilight pleaded
“Well, I guess if I’m the best and fastest one here” Rainbow Dash smiled, “But I don’t want to be stuck in boring-old Ponyville while Equestria’s in danger, how do I find you guys once I tell Spike what’s going on?” The ponies pondered for a moment, wondering how they could signal Rainbow Dash. They couldn’t simply meet at Night Ember’s cottage because they were unsure how long it would take them on foot, but they were too small to be seen from the sky. Suddenly, Twilight had an idea.
“Wait a minute! Pinkie: how big, high and bright do you think you could make one of your bubbles go?” Twilight asked. Pinkie positioned herself for the challenge, took in a big gulp of air, then blew one of her biggest bubbles. It floated up into the sky to about 25 feet, then exploded in a blue and yellow firework. 
“Do you think you could see that Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.
“No problem! Just don’t forget to keep blowing those every so often, I do not want to lose you guys. Oh and Twilight, what was that message again?” Rainbow Dash asked. As Twilight and Rainbow Dash discussed what they wanted to tell Spike, the remaining friends oriented themselves and psyched themselves up for a trip into the Smoky Mountains.