//------------------------------//
// Chapter 20 
// Story: Waning and Waxing 
// by Calliope Pony 
//------------------------------//

The ponies are almost at the castle now. I fly ahead to plan out some way of stopping them once and for all.

There are different paths to the castle. This one that they are on leads to a small bridge spanning the chasm which hides the Tree of Harmony. The bridge doesn’t look very steady. I consider sabotaging it so that it will give way underneath them. No, causing a fall at the cliff didn’t work. The pegasi would just help the others as they did before.

What if I just destroy the bridge now? None of the other entrances are accessible from this path, and they would get hopelessly lost in the forest if they left the path. No, again, the pegasi would be able to simply fly across the chasm. That blue pegasus in particular is strong enough to carry the other ponies across. The yellow one isn’t; she had trouble carrying the unicorn even with help. If I could separate Rainbow from the others, though, they wouldn’t have any way of getting across.

Persuade her to betray them.

Instead of destroying the bridge I untie one side so that it hangs limply into the chasm. If my guess is right, one of the pegasi will fly it across to tie it up. The unicorns could probably lift the bridge, but in this fog they wouldn’t be able to see well enough to fasten it on the other side. If Rainbow is the one to separate from the group then I can lure her off, and the others will be left helpless to enter the castle.

I have only a few minutes to wait before the ponies emerge from the trees. As they see the castle they run forward. In her excitement the purple unicorn nearly spills right over the edge where the bridge dangles. For a moment it looks like the threat will end right there, but Rainbow catches her and hauls her back.

“What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Rainbow quips.

If falling is a common habit with this unicorn then perhaps she would be better off as a winged pony.

I watch carefully from the fog. Just as I predicted, Rainbow flies down into the chasm and lifts the hanging bridge up to fasten at the far end.

When they were walking through the forest before, she spoke of wanting to join a great flying team. I can use this against her. I transform myself to look like three pegasi in flight uniforms.

“Rainbow... Rainbow...”

Instantly she lets go of the rope and rears up defensively. “Who’s there? I ain’t scared of you! Show yourself!”

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flier in Equestria.”

“Who?”

“Why, you of course.”

“Really? I mean, oh yeah, me! Hey, uh, you wouldn’t mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? ‘Cause I’ve been trying to get into that group for, like, ever.”

“No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us, the Shadowbolts.”

I emerge from the fog. “We’re the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria. But first, we need a captain.”

For a moment she looks confused, but then her face lights up in a bright, expectant smile.

“The most magnificent...”

“Yep.”

“...swiftest...”

“Yes.”

“... bravest flier in all the land.”

“Yes, it’s all true.”

I saw before that she was boastful, and such ponies always respond well to ego-stroking.

“We need... you.”

“Woo hoo, sign me up! Just let me tie this bridge real quick, and then we have a deal.”

“No! It’s them or us.”

The ponies on the other side must be getting anxious about the wait, and they begin calling across to her. With my magic, I roll even thicker banks of fog across the chasm, hiding them from sight and muffling the sound of their voices.

“Well?”

Rainbow looks indecisive for a moment before saying, “You...”

Yes! I’ve got her!

“Thank you, for the offer, I mean. But I’m afraid I have to say no.”

What!? Without another word she ties off the bridge and launches herself into the fog. I snarl in frustration as I shed my disguise. I was so close!