Ch.5: A Scheme of Romance

With a flash of light, Discord and his two minions have appeared within Twilight's library.

"Alright, you two," the demon said to his snakes. "Remember, Twilight said that the book is on a desk. If she was working on the Golden Arrow before we attacked Canterlot, she should have left it open."

"Ssso we need to find a book that isss open to a page with a Golden Arrow in it," Kaa concluded.

"Right," his master stated. "Now move; Twilight and those other Ponies will be here any minute." The trio then set to work on locating a desk with an open book on it. Half a minute later, Discord spotted the book.

"Bingo," he said, floating over to the desk. He then looked into the page and began reading about the Golden Arrow:

"The Golden Arrow of Eros, according to myths, is a magical tool which Eros and his Cupids use to create romance between two lovers. When the Golden Arrow hits a being, whether it be a mortal or a spirit, the target will fall in love with the first being he or she lays eyes on. The spell also becomes permanent when it strikes the target straight in the heart or anywhere in the chest area, making the spell immune to any cure. Even the Lead Arrow of Eros, which makes any target it hits hate the first being he or she lays eyes on, would have no effect on it."

Discord smiled with victory. He recalled the Golden Arrow striking him in the heart before it vanished. And since it struck him there, the Ponies can never cure him. Not even with a Lead Arrow.

"And if my Golden Arrow hits her in the heart or the right side of the chest," he mused out loud, "Celestia will be my girl…permanently." He then turned to the next page and found the recipe to create the Golden Love Arrow.

"Ahh…" he said, ripping the page out and making sure it has all of the instructions. "Perfect. The ingredients should be easy to obtain, and I can follow these instructions easily. I may be a demon of chaos, but even I must make sure my plans go perfectly. Therefore, I have to make sacrifice or two."

"I didn't think you'd give into order that easily, Discord," an all-too-familiar voice behind him said. "Then again, it could be the Arrow's spell talking." Discord turned around to find the Mane Six at the front door, Applejack and Rainbow Dash standing on his struggling minions.

"He caught usss off guard, my lord," Hiss groaned, trying to get out of Applejack's grip.

"You two are lucky that you are loyal to me, you know that?" Discord stated, using his magic to lift the two surprised Ponies off of them. The two snakes then slithered away from the Ponies and stood up at his sides as Discord then dropped them.

"Don't think you're going to get away with this, Discord!" Twilight snapped. "You'll never get to the Princess." Unknown to her, the demon had folded up the page he ripped out and slipped into a pocket in Hiss' cape.

"Sorry to disappoint you, girls," he said to them, "but I'm afraid you cannot cure me of my 'lovesickness'."

"What are talking about?" Rainbow Dash demanded. Using his magic once again, he moved the book over to Twilight.

"Read it and weep," he answered. Twilight did as he advised and was shocked at what she found out.

"Oh, this is not good," she said to the girls. "I can't believe I forgot this part!"

"What is it?" asked the stuttering Fluttershy, not liking the look on her friend's face.

"According to the book," Twilight answered, "the Arrow's spell can never be broken if it strikes its target in the heart or any part of the chest!"

"So?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow," Rarity stated fearfully, "have you forgotten where the Arrow struck him?"

"No, I remember," she answered. "It hit him right smack…in the heart…AWW, DARN IT!" The rainbow Pegasus then smacked her hoof right into her own face.

"Looks like I've disappointed you big time, ladies," Discord said to them. "And pretty soon, Celestia will be mine." With his maniacal laugh, he, Kaa, and Hiss teleported out of the library.

"Ooh, is he planning to propose to her?" asked the excited Pinkie Pie. "I think I can plan an engagement party for them!"

"PINKIE!" the other five ponies yelled.

"What?" she asked, all confused. "Those are romantic!" Rainbow Dash simply pressed her hoof into her forehead with a frustrated sigh.

"Things couldn't possible get any worse," she groaned.

"I think it just did," Twilight said, looking into the book with fear. "The page with the recipe for the Golden Arrow's been torn out. Discord must have taken it!"

"That must be what he's plannin'," Applejack said with fear. "He's gonna make another one 'n' use it on the princess!"

"C'mon, girls," Twilight said, putting the book into her pack. "We have to go warn her!" The six of them then ran out of the library and headed back for Canterlot, not knowing or caring if they'll be too late to even warn Celestia.