//------------------------------// // Laying a Plan // Story: The Legend of Starlight-Book 2: Love at Second Sight // by twow443 //------------------------------// Chapter 6-Laying a Plan Rainbow Dash paced around Twilight's living room. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy were talking about what had happened at the celebration, while Starlight was upstairs healing Twilight. “I'm telling you, there's no way Twilight would have messed that up so bad!” Applejack said. “She's the strongest unicorn in all of Ponyville!” “Yes, but maybe someone messed with the spell?” Rainbow said, flying by her. “Twilight probably sparked it wrong or...” They all stopped talking as Starlight and Spike came downstairs, both looking equally tired. “How is the poor dear?” Rarity asked. Starlight walked over and tiredly shook his head. “I removed all the dark magic from her horn.” he said. He sat down on the enchanted rug that turned him into a alicorn colt, how he would look if his body wasn't cursed. “Don't wake me up unless Nightmare Moon herself walked in here and asks for a cup of tea.” He laid down on the rug and fell asleep, the spell taking effect and transforming him. Spike sat on the rug next to the prince. “What are we gonna do? Somepony really tried to hurt Twilight! We gotta do something!” Rarity said, “Relax Spikey. We'll figure something out.” Rainbow started pacing again. “I don't think that whoever did that was trying to hurt Twilight.” “What are you getting at, Rainbow?” Applejack said. “I asked Twilight what the spell was 2 days before today.” Rainbow said. “She said it was supposed to twist pure magic to create what Starlight really looked like. But the spell created the dark forms of his sisters. I think that the spell was supposed to hurt Starlight.” Fluttershy slowly walked up with the spellbook that Twilight had used at the celebration. “Here. I think this is the book Twilight used.” Rarity levitated the book from Fluttershy and started rifling though it. “Here's the spell that she was using.” “Look!” Pinkie yelped. “There's marks like somepony erased words in here!” “I wonder...” Rainbow said, then she started zipping though the library. “Thought so!” She returned to the room, holding the exact same book. “Twilight has two copies of that book!” “Lets compare them.” Rarity said, taking the book from Rainbow. The white unicorn put the books side-by-side and looked at them carefully. “You're completly right, Rainbow. The words were changed!” Rainbow's eyes flashed. “I thought so!” She landed on the ground. “I'm going to find who did this and tear them apart!” “How do we know it wasn't an accident?” Fluttershy asked. “This was a deliberate change, Shy.” Rainbow said. “Whoever did this knew what they were doing.” “Well, we need a plan to figure out who did this!” Pinkie said, bouncing around. “I know that things have been going wrong since Starlight left for a week,” Applejack said. “But this is the last straw! Let's go find out who did this!” “I'll stay here and make sure Starlight and Twilight sleep well.” Rainbow said. The other ponies made their way out the door, but Applejack stopped and shut the door. “What's wrong, Dash? Usually, you'd be the first to go flying, trying to be the first to find out what's wrong. Spike can watch them.” “Spike is asleep.” Rainbow said, pointing at the sleeping baby dragon. “And I'm a little tired.” Applejack, being the Element of Honesty knew something else was up. “Come on now, spit it out!” she said. Rainbow sighed, “I'll tell you Applejack, just not yet okay?” Applejack nodded, “We'll talk after all this, Sugercube.” She galloped out the door. Rainbow walked over to Starlight and kissed him on the cheek. “I promise to protect you, even if you think that you're supposed to protect me.” She then went upstairs to check on Twilight. … I was walking though the palace, but everypony seemed to be rushing in a panic. Confused, I ran up to the main hall, where my sisters were talking. “Celly! Lu-lu! What's happening?” I yelled, hugging my older sisters with my front legs. Celestia rubbed my head. “He needs to leave, Luna. He's been here too long.” Luna shook her head, “What if we can't find him again?” She looked at me. “You know the prophecy can't be completed if he isn't with us.” “He isn't ready!” Celestia said. She knelt down, so we were at eye level. “Listen Star. You need to go on a trip for a little while. We will come get you when it's over.” “But why?”I cried. “I don't want to leave you two!” Luna rubbed my head, “I know, brother. But if we don't.....” Suddenly the front door to the hall exploded, sending the door flying at us. The three of us sparked our horns and stopped the door. “Well, well. Isn't it polite to open the door for your guests?” “You aren't our guest, Nightmare.” Celestia said, angrily. Then the most evil alicorn I ever saw walked thought the doorway. Luna pushed me behind her, but I could still see what was happening. “I've just come for the newborn prince.” Nightmare said, walking up closer. “Although he's 5 years of age today isn't he?” My sisters didn't say a word, but Nightmare laughed. “That explains everything. Now give him to me and I'll be on my way.” My sisters sparked up their horns. Nightmare said, “Fine, I can just take him also!” She pointed at us and a dark hand came toward me.... … “No!!” I yelled, leaping off the rug and turning back into a human form. Stormtide appeared in my hand as I forced myself to calm down. “Phew, it was just a bad dream. Or was it?” I sat back on the rug, desummoning Stormtide as Rainbow walked in. “Are you alright, Prince?” she asked. “I heard you screaming.” I shook my head. “Just a bad dream, Rainbow.” Rainbow nodded and was about to leave the room when I said,”Would you come sit with me for a little bit? I've been rather lonely this past week.” Rainbow came over and sat next to me. I pulled her closer and kissed her. “Sorry I was gone for so long.” I whispered. She sighed and leaned into me. “How about you tell me next time your gonna just disappear. Everpony wondered why I was flying around like an idiot looking for you.” I just laughed and kissed her again. We sat there for a little bit, not speaking but just enjoying being with each other. Then Rainbow asked, “Star, why did you leave Ponyville for a week?” I sighed, having dreaded this conversation. “After I had met the unicorns from a different part of Equestria in Canterlot, I ran into Gilda on my way back. We flew and talked for a while, but when I stopped to rest for a bit, she tried to kiss me.” I felt Rainbow go stiff in my arms. “What?!” She turned and looked at me. “Why didn't you tell me?” “I didn't want you to think that I had lied to you.” I said. “I meant what I said when I told you I loved you Rainbow Dash. I still love you, and that's why I had to go for a while.” Rainbow turned and was silent. “Gilda never liked it when things didn't go her way.” she said. “That's it!” I know why all this bad stuff has been happening to the town!” We heard hoofsteps from upstairs and knew Twilight was awake. I also knew that our friends were coming back. Rainbow slipped out of my arms. "Still wanna keep your tough image?" I teased her. She play-smacked me in the head. "Are you okay if we don't tell them just yet?" "Sure, but they'll know when we confront Gilda." I said. "Maybe not." Rainbow said. "I have a plan. I nodded as Twilight slowly came downstairs and our friends ran in the door, extremely excited and all talking at once. “So I assume you know what's happening?” I asked. Applejack nodded. “We checked the handwriting and it matched to Gilda. She musta been the one to sabotage the spell.” Twilight came all the way downstairs,” I did leave her down here with the book. She could have easily changed some words around.” Rainbow stood up and held her hoof up as Rarity started to ask a question. “We'll talk about that later, but right now I have a plan to stop her!” Everypony gathered around me as she started to explain her plan.