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.

Ditzy: (Star) I hope Twilight doesn’t mind the extra leg.

“I'm telling you, there's no way Twilight would have messed that up so bad!” Applejack said.

Doctor: (Applejack) Triple checking everythin’ got to count for somethin’ right?

“She's the strongest unicorn in all of Ponyville!

Ditzy: (Trixie) Pfft. Like that’s an impressive feat.

“Yes, but maybe someone messed with the spell?” Rainbow said, flying by her. “Twilight probably sparked it wrong or...”

Ditzy: (Rainbow) Aliens! They flew over and messed with Twilight’s magic!

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.

Doctor: (Star) She’s rocking back and forth in a fetal position muttering to herself that it’s ‘All her fault’’.

“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.

Ditzy: Awww. He’s so cute.

“Don't wake me up unless Nightmare Moon herself walked in here and asks for a cup of tea.”

Doctor: (Nightmare) Funny you should say that. I was in the neighborhood and was wondering if you could join me for a cup of tea.

He laid down on the rug and fell asleep, the spell taking effect and transforming him.

Doctor: (Spike) Is he suppose to grow tentacles like that?

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.”

Ditzy: (Pinkie) Don’t worry! Detective Pinkie is on the case!

Rainbow started pacing again. “I don't think that whoever did that was trying to hurt Twilight.”

Doctor: Given that the imposters did nothing but attack Starlight, that was rather obvious.

“What are you getting at, Rainbow?” Applejack said.

Ditzy: Oh, come on! Did everypony forget that the bad guys have only gone after Starlight?

“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.

Ditzy: And what? Make him feel bad about the fact he’s cursed?

Doctor: (Twilight) You see everypony, this is what the Prince is suppose to look like until he was twisted into the abomination he is now.

But the spell created the dark forms of his sisters. I think that the spell was supposed to hurt Starlight.”

All: Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

Fluttershy slowly walked up with the spellbook that Twilight had used at the celebration. “Here. I think this is the book Twilight used.”

Ditzy: That’s a coloring book.

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!”

Doctor: And the change of handwriting gives it away.

Ditzy: Don’t you mean hoofwriting?

“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!”

Ditzy: Sometimes Twilight’s OCD does come in handy.

“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!

Doctor: (Rarity) Unbelievable.

DItzy: (Rainbow) Hey! I can be right sometimes!

Rainbow's eyes flashed. “I thought so!” She landed on the ground. “I'm going to find who did this and tear them apart!”

Ditzy: Nopony messes with her hubby.

“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.”

Ditzy: Um, so what was Gilda’s plan exactly? I thought she wanted to steal Star from Rainbow Dash.

“Well, we need a plan to figure out who did this!” Pinkie said, bouncing around.

Ditzy: (Pinkie) Quick! Get me a pojostick and some whipped cream! Don’t ask questions, just do it!

“I know that things have been going wrong since Starlight left for a week,” Applejack said.

Doctor: Droughts! Floods! Plagues! Crops dying! Uncontrollable storms! Copying machines breaking down! Toilet paper rolls running out!

“But this is the last straw! Let's go find out who did this!”

Doctor: (Applejack) I’ll form an angry mob to help us.

“I'll stay here and make sure Starlight and Twilight sleep well.” Rainbow said.

Doctor: (Rainbow) This golf club will make sure that they do.

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.”

Ditzy: Why aren’t you out there recklessly endangering your life?

“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.

Ditzy: That and Rainbow is a horrible liar.

“Come on now, spit it out!” she said.

Ditzy: (Applejack) Talk, or I might need to get nasty with ya’!

Rainbow sighed, “I'll tell you Applejack, just not yet okay?”

Ditzy: (Applejack) I think ah get it. Yur pregnant ain’t ya?

Doctor: (Rainbow) What!? No! Where did you get that idea!?

Applejack nodded, “We'll talk after all this, Sugercube.” She galloped out the door.

Ditzy: Does this mean Applejack is going to die?

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.”

Ditzy: It is a mare’s job to protect their stallion.

Doctor: What an antiquated notion.

She then went upstairs to check on Twilight.

Doctor: (Twilight) I hope I get a kiss too. Hey! Where is she going!?

…

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.”

Ditzy: (Celestia) He’s been nothing but a nuisance. The servants are threatening to quit!

Doctor: (Star) Bu-but…

Ditzy: (Luna) We concur, he’s been nothing but a bother since his birth.

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.”

All: (Groans)

Ditzy: Not another prophecy.

“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.

Ditzy: Road trip! Whoooooooo!

We will come get you when it's over.”

Doctor: Give or take a few centuries.

“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.

Doctor: (Star) I helped!

“Well, well. Isn't it polite to open the door for your guests?”

Ditzy: Yeah! How rude!

“You aren't our guest, Nightmare.” Celestia said, angrily.

Ditzy: (Celestia) You could have at least brought a casserole.

Then the most evil alicorn I ever saw walked thought the doorway.

Ditzy: Twilight Sparkle!?

Doctor: (Twilight) It’s spelled T-H-R-O-U-G-H! Who taught you how to spell!?!

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.

Ditzy: (Nightmare) I just thought of a funny joke Lettercolt told last night.

“That explains everything.

Ditzy: (Looks at the Doctor)

Doctor: Don’t look at me, I’m just as lost as you are.

Now give him to me and I'll be on my way.”

Doctor: (Nightmare) I still have a water bill I need to pay!

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....

All: A dark hand?

“No!!” I yelled, leaping off the rug and turning back into a human form.

Doctor: And accidently fell down the stairs.

Stormtide appeared in my hand as I forced myself to calm down. “Phew, it was just a bad dream.

Ditzy: Yeah! It completely messes up Luna’s backstory.

Or was it?” I sat back on the rug, desummoning Stormtide as Rainbow walked in.

Ditzy: Huh, I thought Rainbow’s appearance would cause the opposite reaction.

Doctor: Really Ditzy.

Ditzy: Hey! I thought it was funny!

“Are you alright, Prince?” she asked. “I heard you screaming.”

Ditzy: (Rainbow) Something about no wire hangers.

I shook my head. “Just a bad dream, Rainbow.”

Doctor: Luna must be slacking off.

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.”

Ditzy: (Star) And Playcolt can only keep a stallion entertained for so long.

Doctor: (Sighs)

Rainbow came over and sat next to me. I pulled her closer and kissed her. “Sorry I was gone for so long.” I whispered.

Ditzy: (Star) We’ll kiss for two days straight to make up for it.

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.

Doctor: (Star) I love it when you make a fool of yourself.

We sat there for a little bit, not speaking but just enjoying being with each other.

Doctor: A whole three seconds.

Ditzy: (Rainbow) Screw this slow mushy stuff! Let’s have a race!

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.”

Doctor: (Star) The fact she was wiggling her tongue while doing it made it pretty unsettling.

I felt Rainbow go stiff in my arms. “What?!”

Ditzy: (Rainbow) That whorse!

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.

Doctor: (Star)(Coughs) This time.

“I meant what I said when I told  you I loved you Rainbow Dash.

Ditzy: (Star) I got half of my body tattooed to prove it.

I still love you, and that's why I had to go for a while.”

Doctor: I don’t follow. It isn’t like you instigated the kiss.

Rainbow turned and was silent. “Gilda never liked it when things didn't go her way.” she said.

Doctor: She was known to pull arms out of their sockets if she lost.

“That's it!” I know why all this bad stuff has been happening to the town!”

Doctor: Other bad stuff? What are you talking about!?

Ditzy: Did we miss a chapter?

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.

Ditzy: (Rainbow) Buck yeah!

She play-smacked me in the head. "Are you okay if we don't tell them just yet?

Ditzy: Why hide something that is blatantly obvious to anypony with eyes.

"Sure, but they'll know when we confront Gilda." I said.

Doctor: Oh, right. The villainous monologue.

"Maybe not." Rainbow said. "I have a plan.

Doctor: (Surprised) Really?

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

Ditzy: Clawwriting.

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!”

Ditzy: Uh, you could just get the police. You have solid evidence.

Doctor: No! We need a convoluted plan to stop her.

Everypony gathered around me as she started to explain her plan.

Ditzy: Why is Rainbow Dash the one making the plan?

Next Chapter: Episode 12 - Legend of Starlight - Book 2 - Part 7 Estimated time remaining: 21 Hours, 7 Minutes