“Now my followers, hear my call! Do as I command and bring friendship to a downfall! Hahahahaha!” Nightmare Moon released another spell and pushed the few under her spell to do her bidding and spread hatred while she stayed hidden from her powerful sister Celestia and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. A crack of lightning and there came another pony in view. But this was not a usual looking Pegasus. He was a hybrid. He was large like a Clydesdale with furry hooves and clawed wings. He had horns on his head like a ram and had the magical ability to transform into a large crow which was also his cutie mark, as well as any other animal. His name was Diaval. He was very loyal to Nightmare Moon and obeyed her every will. Thunderlane and Lightning Dust also appeared and bowed to her.
“I am here my Princess. What is thy bidding?” he asked in the old tongue as he bowed while in flight hovering at eye level to Nightmare Moon. The other two snickered and licked their lips at each other, engulfed in the lust of her poison spell.
“I want you to fetch me the blue Pegasus, Rainbow Dash. Separate her from the Element of Loyalty and of her friends and she shall be yours. Then the Elements of Harmony cannot be used against us. I can deal with Celestia myself. Now go.” She commanded of her follower.
“As you wish my Princess.”
Thunderlane and Lightning Dust left the dark princess and fled for Ponyville to try and drive the other bearers of harmony apart. They began to cause mischief in Ponyville little by little. But Rainbow Dash was still in the hospital in Maretropolis and her friends had no clue. And Twilight was about to find out. For her friend had been gone for three days now with no contact and that was not like her.
Twilight sat at her large Map table and scoured over it trying to think of a spell to reveal Rainbow Dash’s location. Thunderlane was not making any sense to her. All he did was laugh at her and wrap his wings around Lightning Dust and flew away, his eyes glowing. Very strange behavior even for him. She sighed with aggravation. Somepony must know where she was!
“Aha! Find Rainbow Dash through Equestria and beyond, I now cast this spell without the wave of a wand. Oh please find her.” She mumbled after the spell and awaited for her cutie mark to show up on the map. Then like magic it appeared. Her cutie mark flashed in Maretropolis.
“Gotchya Rainbow! I’m on my way!” she said to herself and let Spike know where she was going. She opened her wings and began her flight to find her friend. Spike went to let the other four know of her travels.
In Maretropolis Hospital…
“Ohh, my head.” Soarin moaned. He flicked his eyes open as he saw his Captain and co flyer looking at him with worried eyes.
“Ah yes, he is alive!” Fleetfoot screeched. As she punched him playfully in the shoulder.
“Ow, hey! Now come on Fleetfoot, I was just in a crash and…hey what really happened Spitfire? I…I don’t remember.” He said rubbing his shoulder. Spitfire looked at the two young ponies and shook her head. She looked over at Rainbow Dash who had fallen asleep crying over Thunderlane.
“See that brave mare over there?” she motioned for him to look to his right. He did and nodded then returned to her gaze. She recalled the whole thing in her mind. “She was faster than both of us and saved your life, Soarin. You owe her. And I think…she is a little taken with you to tell you the truth and the stallion she was with just dumped her for another mare.” She said sympathetically. She thought her and Soarin would be a nice pair and also knew that Soarin deserved a nice mare like her.
“Poor girl.” He said sadly as Rainbow Dash moved to get comfortable in her bed. She pulled the covers over her head. She had awoke and heard them. So she played it off and listened with her head under the covers. ‘Soarin is awake?’ Rainbow Dash thought to herself. Should she reveal herself or not yet? She waited for the chatter to die down and Spitfire and Fleetfoot to leave, but began to doze off. Then she felt a nudge on her back and it made her jump. Her back leg knocking Soarin in the jaw.
“Oouch! What was that for?” he yelled rubbing his mouth.
Rainbow Dash covered her mouth and snickered muffling a laugh and started to apologize to him.
“Oh Soarin, I am so sorry. I…I, you scared me and I, well I was not scared but you made me jump and I, well. It was an accident.” She stammered still stifling a laugh as the celebrity Wonderbolt began to laugh as well.
“Well, it did not hurt as bad as that crash. Which would have hurt a lot more if it were not for you. Umm, what I am trying to uh, say is…Thank you. Thank you Rainbow Dash, for uh, saving me! That is um you are super brave for a mare. No that’s not what I meant either, I meant…” Soarin was tripping over his words and messing up his gratitude speech. Rainbow got his jest and was trying not to laugh at him. But a smile was inevitable. She decided it was time to make the first move. She leaned close to him and with Soarin being close enough to her and not paying attention, she kissed him on the lips.
Soarin blushed red and stepped back with awe. Rainbow Dash turned red with embarrassment. Did she go too far?
“Uh Soarin…I can explain…”was all she got out before Soarin retuned the kiss with his own. The two shared the first kiss as an unexpected guest appeared behind them while their eyes were closed.
“Well I see your doing okay Rainbow Dash. That is good.” Said a familiar voice. The two stopped and stared at the entrance at the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle. She had found her friend at last. “We were all so worried about you Rainbow! We had no idea where Thunderlane took you. And boy is he acting strange and Lightning Dust is all over him now! And I see you and Soarin are umm…together?” Twilight bombarded the poor pegasi with information as Dash rolled her eyes and sighed as she told Twilight all about the date Thunderlane took her on. Soarin sat back and listened intently.
The sun set on Maretropolis and the three talked into the night. A dark figure floated outside the window and spied on them unseen though. It was Diaval. He had arrived and was ready to try and break apart the friendship of Rainbow Dash and Twilight…through Soarin. Diaval’s eyes glowed as he called upon dark powers to transform himself into a normal Pegasus pony to avoid recognition as an outsider.