The Master Plan

Rainbow Dash zipped through the sky. She shoved clouds out of her way as she flew past them. I have to get to Cloudsdale as soon as possible, she thought. They're in danger - they need me! What if her friends had been taken? Lightning Dust, Snowflake, Derpy? She desperately hoped not. They had to be safe, they just had to!

"Whoa!" Rainbow swerved around a large incoming cloud. Previously the cloud had been blocking her view of the sky ahead of her. Now she saw that a volley of dark, menacing storm clouds were between her and Cloudsdale.

Great, thought Rainbow Dash. Just great. Well, there's nothing else I can do. I'll just go through the storm. She began to pick up speed. I've done like a hundred times before anyway! She reassured herself.

By this time the black clouds were quite close and Rainbow could hear the thunder from them and see the sheets of rain that were pouring down. Wierd... she thought. I thought I controlled the weather in this region too, and I didn't plan for any rain!

But she had no time to reminisce on the subject, as right then she shot through the outer layer of the storm clouds.

Haha, this is the life! she thought as the rain poured over her and adrenaline coursed through her body. Whatcha gonna do, storm? I'm not afraid of you!

Then she got hit by lightning.

The shockwave from it threw her off course and sent her sailing through the black clouds. Hey, no fair! She tried to righten herself but felt a sharp pain in her wings as she did. Slowly it began to fade. But not before she got hit again. And again.

Ow! That really hurts! she grunted in pain. The lightning seemed to be tracking her, striking her again and again no matter what she did! And the thunder sounded vaguely like....laughter?

She dodged another stream of unrelenting voltage, but like a heat-seeking missile, it found her and struck her again! Right then, she knew she couldn't take any more. The pain was too great. Her wings stopped flapping abruptly and she dropped out of the sky. But she never hit the ground. The storm clouds swallowed her just as she began to lose conscienceness. Seconds before she went under, she heard it.

Laughter. There was no mistaking it.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Twilight Sparkle's train slowed to a smooth stop at the Canterlot station. She turned to Spike, who was loaded with her bags.

"Finally! We're here Spike! Ready to see the Princess?" She asked.

"No," Spike replied indignantly. "I was taking a nap, for crying out loud!"

Twilight chuckled. "Well, too bad. Seriously, you get enough sleep at home, while your napping on the job!"

The two stepped out of the train. Canterlot station was very elegant. Groups of sophisticated-looking ponies walked by them as they walked toward Canterlot Castle, not far from their stop.

"Wow! Canterlot never fails to look beautiful on any occasion!" Twilight observed as she stared in awe at the looming castle.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Spike replied. Twilight shook her head, unphased by him. Then she noticed several figures at the castle gates.

"Oh my goodness!" She gushed. "It's Princess Luna and Princess Celestia!" She began to run down the path. "Wait up!" cried Spike. "I'm the one carrying all these suitcases!" He did his best to lug Twilight's gear after her.

"Twilight Sparkle!" Princess Celestia exclaimed in suprise as Twilight came into view. "What are you doing here?"

"Indeed, I could ask the same!" added Princess Luna. "Shouldn't you be at Ponyville?"

"Princess Celestia sent me a letter about the ponynappings in Canterlot and Cloudsdale, and I came as fast as I could!" Twilight explained as a breathless Spike caught up to her. "Is everypony ok?"

"We were just about to come to Ponyville," said Princess Celestia. "Something terrible has happened."

"Oh no!" Twilight's fears were confirmed. "What?"

Princess Luna put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "It's Shining Armor," she said. "They took him."