//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: Couldn't think of a name. // Story: A Dash Of Life. // by Unarmed Pony //------------------------------// Once we were both cleaned up, we headed into different bedrooms to get ready. She wouldn't let us do it in the same room because she had a surprise for me. Since we were going somewhere fancy, I just got into a cliche, black and white tuxedo with a bow tie. I combed my mane to the right and back. I looked in the mirror and couldn't help doing a pose or two. To see if I looked half decent. Satisfied that I did, I exited the room and walked down the stairs and waited by the front door. "I'm almost finished!" Rainbow Dash called out from her bedroom upstairs. "Take your time!" I called back. After waiting about five more minutes, I heard a door open. I heard the small sound of hoofsteps on clouds. Then, I saw this beautiful figure descending the stairs. She had the green, blue and purple part of her mane put in a ball at the back, whilst the front red, orange and yellow colours flowed and curled at the end. She had glistening white pearls decorating her front legs, and more on the dress, hair, wings and one as an ear ring on her left ear. The dress was a sky blue with white feathers decorating the bottom rim. She had a shining silver necklace with a glowing sapphire sitting majestically in the slot in the middle. I just stood there with my mouth agape. Looking like an idiot I bet. But I couldn't really think straight with the picture perfect beauty standing in front of me. "Do you like it?" She asked, with a small grin on her face. I snapped out of my trance and managed to nod. She giggled at me. "You're funny. Come on, let's go." "Right." ____________________________ We arrived at the preselected restaurant and sat down at a table. A waiter immediately walked toward the table and laid two menus in the center. "Today's special is the Lemon Salad with optional Hay Fries." He said with a french accent. After a quick glance through the menu, I decided I would just have the special. Rainbow ordered the same. "Very good choice." He said and then walked off. "So," Rainbow Dash begun. "I'm amazed you learned how to fly so quickly." "I'm a fast learner. I learned how to play the piano when I was human in just about a week." "I am lucky to be with someone so talented." "I'm lucky to be with someone so beautiful. Did Rarity make that dress?" "Yeah. When you got turned into a pony, the first thing I did was go to Rarity and ask her to make me a dress. She was shocked at first, but it gave her an excuse to turn a picture into a dress. Apparently, she intended it to be my gala dress but decided on something more colourful." "And it is definitely some of my best work." We both jumped at the sound of Rarity sitting on a table behind us. "Rarity? Were you listening to our conversation?" "Not intentionally Rainbow. Although, now I know why you wanted the dress in the first place." Rainbow blushed slightly. "I didn't tell you because you gossip. If I had told you, then he would have known about this before I had even brought it up." "Oh Rainbow Dash. Have some faith. You know if you had told me to keep it secret I would have." "Well, keep it secret." Rainbow said and turned back to me. The waiter came back and laid our meals in front of us. We both started to dig in happily. ____________________________ After our meals, we headed home. along the way, we ran into Spike. "Hey guys." "Hey Spike" We both say in unison. "Twilight wanted me to invite you to a picnic tomorrow." Spike says, pulling out the invitations. "What time?" Rainbow asks. "Noon" "We'll be there." "Bye guys." Spike called out as he left. We continued on our journey home. When we got there, we both kicked off our shoes and laid down on the couch together. We both quietly lay there for about ten minutes. Then we heard a noise from upstairs. I lifted my head and looked toward the stairs. "Did you hear that?" I ask. "Yeah. Should we go check it out?" "No. You stay here. I'll check." "Be careful." She said as a stand up. I walk toward the stairs and ascend them slowly. I heard another noise coming from the master bedroom. As the door came into sight, I saw a green flash come from underneath. I pushed it open as slow as death and peeked in. As soon as I saw what was inside, I closed the door and gasped at the same time. Changelings! I heard a scream from downstairs and before I knew it, I was running toward the scream. As soon as I entered the living room, I saw two Rainbow Dash's. One passed out on the couch and one standing over her. She turned her head and saw me. "Stupid Changelings." She said and started to walk toward me. She leaned in for a kiss but I put my hoof against her chest to stop any further advancement. She felt different. "What's wrong?" "You're not the real Rainbow Dash." I looked back to the one passed out on the couch. "What have you done to her?" I asked in an angry tone. "I'm standing right in front of you!" "Wrong answer." I pushed her against the wall and saw her disguise falter. She recovered quickly but not quick enough. I had already seen her true form. And she knew. She dropped her disguise and used her rear legs to buck off of her and across the room. By the time I had recovered, it was already gone. I turned my attention to the real Rainbow Dash. She was breathing, but she didn't look so good. I tore off our wing constricting clothes and hauled her onto my back. I made sure she was secure and dove out of the window and took flight toward Twilight's library. _______________________ I charged through the door. "Twilight!" A groggy and tired Twilight descended the stairs. "What?" "Something's happened to Rainbow Dash. Changelings invaded her home." "Changelings?!" Twilight instantly awakened as if she had a shot of caffeine. She used her magic to bring forth a table, medical equipment and Dash. She laid her down on the table and started checking her over. After a physical check, she used her magic to scan for anything. Her face fell and the magic stopped. "She's been poisoned." "Poisoned?" I repeated in disbelief. "I'm afraid so. Changelings use a special poison to their victims fall in love with them. With no changeling to fall in love with, the poison eats away at the vital organs. Forcing them to love the Changelings. Once there is little love, they use a spell conjured from the depths of the darkest magic to make them fall in love completely." "Please tell me there is a cure." "Good news and bad on that front. There is a cure, but the magic required to cast the spell is stronger than the power of the Elements. This is where the saying 'love conquers all' came from. The magic of true love is barely enough to cure the poison." "But how? How do I do that?" "Celestia can help with that. She can wake her up long enough for true love to flourish." I grabbed Rainbow Dash, flung her on my back and charged out the door and took flight. Toward Canterlot. _________________________________ As soon as I reached the gates, I collapsed to the floor out of exhaustion. Almost immediately, half a dozen guards came to help me. Or so I thought. What they actually did was more like seize me. However they recognized Rainbow Dash - Element of Loyalty. "Let me go! I need to get Rainbow Dash to Princess Celestia!" "What is the meaning of this?" All the guards snapped to attention at the royal voice coming from above. "Princess Luna!" I called. "Princess, you have to help me. Rainbow Dash could die at any minute, I need to get her to Princess Celestia." "Release him." She ordered. The guards released me and I instantly ran toward Rainbow. I hauled her onto my back for the third time today and walked toward the Princess. "She's been poisoned by Changelings." "Come. We must get her to my sister immediately." Luna took flight and I followed We flew a short while to one of the largest towers in the castle. Princess Luna landed first and I landed after. At the moment of spotting Celestia, I ran toward her and called her. She whipped her head around and saw the unconscious Rainbow Dash on my back. "What happened to Rainbow Dash?" "She's been poisoned by Changelings. I need you to wake her up." "I can do it, but it will take some time. Leave her here. I will call for you when she is ready." I put Rainbow Dash down on the floor and left so Celestia could concentrate. Before I took flight, I turned around to see Celestia knelt down beside Rainbow with her horn glowing yellow. I turned back and took flight toward Ponyville.