//------------------------------// // Sinister Six // Story: MLP: The Fight for Friendship // by sapiking //------------------------------// There was only darkness, an endless stretch of black that encompassed her. Where she was, what had happened to her, were all unimportant questions. Right now she felt nothing, no pain, no emotions, not a care in the world to bother her usually turbulent mind. She could sense the hooves of oblivion slowly stretching across her body, beseeching her to leave reality behind and join the darkness once and for all. She welcomed it, she embraced it... It was like she had finally found peace, and her wretched existence could finally come to an end. Peace... she did not deserve peace, not after all those bad things she had done. If anything, she deserved to suffer, to continue on living as a punishment of her crimes, her crimes against her fellow ponies, her crimes against her closest friends... No, that was just silly, all she ever did was made every pony happy right? Everypony enjoyed all of the parties she threw for them! Though they were sometimes rude to her when she had worked so hard to make those parties to last as long as possible. Why, if she had not made such special parties for each of her friends, how else could she keep them from leaving her? But they did leave her, they all did eventually. As their life fluids drained from their bodies, she knew that their time with her had come to an end. It was a pity, it was so much fun to hear them scream and sob as she enlightened them to the joys of, harvesting. Even those who were rude and shouted profanities at her soon learned to accept the fun, to enjoy the experience along with her until they had completely tired themselves out, and left her alone with an empty husk of a body. This made her a little mad sometimes, she wished that the majority of her friends could last just a little while longer. But she couldn't stay mad at them, after all they did provide the most vital ingredients for her delicious cupcakes, themselves... But things changed when she figured out a way to keep her friends with her. It all started with her bestest of friends, Rainbow Dash. She was so excited when one of her best friend's number came up, she knew the two of them were going to have a great time together. Sadly, Dashie didn't last very long, but it was alright, she still enjoyed her little party with dear old Rainbow Dash... After she had her fun with Dashie, she figured out a way to always keep the cyan mare by her side; she had stuffed her former friend, sewed back the bits and pieces together and, Ta-Da! She will always have her dear Dashie to keep her company. In fact, she planned to do this with all of her closest friends once their numbers came up. Oh how much fun they would have as one big happy family! And the best part is, they will never ever have to leave her parties ever again. They would be together as the best of friends, forever... The weird thing was, she couldn't remember anything else after she had made Dashie into her personal plaything. Any memories after the event seemed blurry and scattered; she could make out bits and pieces of images but nothing more. Was she captured? Did she kill all of her friends? Or... did she suffer the same fate all of her 'guests' did? That would explain why she was unable to feel anything, and that her mind is slowly fading away. Was this Tartarus... is this where all the bad ponies go to when they die? It can't be that bad, who knows... she might even meet some of her friends here. After all, none of them could have been all that perfect. She allowed the final tendrils of nothingness envelope her last thoughts, the promise of eternal rest just moments away. Then, something stirred inside of her, something that told her not to shrug off the responsibilities. To pull herself up and meet this challenge head on, she needed to get ahead in life again, because the party isn't over... She fought back the darkness, her resolve strengthened by the will to live. Slowly but surely, her consciousness shook itself from the grip of oblivion. Every limb tingled with life as the stream of senses returned to her body, and she started to feel her own breathing vibrating between gulps of air. As she began to become aware of her surroundings, she could hear a voice ringing through her ears. “Pinkie... Oh, Pinkie Pie...” Pinkie's eyelids opened sluggishly, her vision still blurred and hazy. But her her eyes focused on the familiar face that was staring down at her. She recognized that cyan muzzle, that multicolored mane... As her eyes adjusted on the figure, Pinkie could now clearly see who it was, Rainbow Dash. “Get up sleepy head.” the cyan pegasus sniggered at Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie was now fully conscious, and now realized that there was something a little, off about Rainbow Dash. It wasn't the fact that she was alive, but that she looked much older than Pinkie remembered. From her grizzled look, Pinkie guessed she probably had at least a good ten to twenty years added to her age. Discolored patches of fur and hair on her body suggested that she had been in violent fights in the past; which just seemed to accentuate Dashie's matured appearance. Pinkie's eye's wandered off from Rainbow Dash, and noticed the background behind the pegasus; there was no background... only the same endless night that stretched out just like when she was slipping away from life. She turned her head to see the same darkness everywhere, including the ground she was laying on. Pinkie moved a hoof to test the surface, it was solid; even though the descending blackness gave an illusion that there was nothing to stop one from falling all the way down. Pinkie's mind snapped back to Rainbow Dash, it didn't matter if nothing made sense to her in this place, she now had a friend... a friend to keep her company. Pinkie got up to her hooves and gave the pegasus in front of her a wide grin, her pupils reducing to small circles as she placed all of her attention on Rainbow Dash. “Why fancy seeing you here Dashie! I thought I'd never see you alive and well again after the little... party we had last time!” The cyan mare cocked her head to one side, and gave an unimpressed snort as she replied Pinkie. “Hmmph... I haven't seen you, nor any of our friends since...” Rainbow Dash paused and drifted off, her eyes half closed in thought. As if she was searching for a distant memory that did not want to be found. But all that was left in her mind seemed to circle around one thing only, the dreaded Rainbow Factory... She didn't take long though, and looked back at Pinkie Pie, the red irises of her eyes widening as she glared at the pink party pony. “I'll be the one asking the questions here, Freaky Pie,” Rainbow snapped at Pinkie. “I was the one who found your sorry flank on the, uh... floor! And judging from the look on your miserable muzzle just seconds ago, you owe me for saving you from slipping off to Luna-land for good. Now, I want to know is how the heck I ended up in this Celestia forsaken place with you! And for that matter, where the buck 'here' even is!” “My, my... you're just as rude as ever Dashie!” Pinkie shook her head in disappointment. “I thought our last party together taught you to be more polite. I guess I'll just have to teach you how to be a good mannered filly all over again.” “I don't know what you're rambling about... but I swear, you even try something stupid I'll rip you apart quicker than a stray cloud!” Rainbow Dash hissed at Pinkie as the crazy mare just continued smiling at her maniacally. “Hahah! Oh, Dashie, I was only teasing you because you looked soooooo grumpy! Besides, take a look around you, I don't think we're anywhere. In fact it all feels like some sort of weird dream, it's like when you've eaten so much candy and your head just want's to light up in an awesome display of fireworks! Speaking of fireworks, this place could really use some of it right about now. Why, even the color is depressing. Just plain boring old black, at least the sky had stars shining at night! This place needs a little professional decorating. Now, if only I had my party cannon...” As Pinkie explored the thought of how her weapon of mass decoration could improve their current ambiance, she felt something in her hoof she had not realized before. Looking down, she saw that her hoof was holding the handle of a fine-toothed hacksaw, a smile crept it's way onto Pinkie's mouth. Memories of the times she had used the tool on her 'party' guests flooded her head, especially images of Rainbow Dash's wings... Pinkie Pie turned her grinning visage towards Rainbow while holding up the hacksaw. “Say Dash, I never really got to know why they call this a hacksaw... hacking is done with a knife and this, is a saw.” Pinkie brought up her other hoof to her chin, tapping it shrewdly. “I wonder, if this place is like a dream... does that mean we won't actually be affected by whatever we do here?” With the smile never leaving her face, she took a step forward while juggling the hacksaw between both front hooves. “I want to be smart like Twilight and find out! Would you mind volunteering to be a good test subject Dashie? There's no harm in giving it a try... after all, you can't really hurt somepony when they're in a dream, right?” Rainbow Dash lowered her torso into a crouching position, her flank in the air, poised and ready to strike. The fur raised on the back of her neck like an angry animal. She growled ferociously at the pink mare, but on her lips was a smile of anticipation; she relished at the thought of conflict. “Bring it on, diaper rash!” “Um... excuse me. It this a private party or can anypony join?” Both ponies turned to face the newcomer emerging from the shadows. The darkness slowly melting away from her body as she stepped into their view. It was Fluttershy, their usually meek and docile friend. However now, her bloodshot eyes were wide opened and surrounded by dark circles; she had a glazed look over them that made her seem deranged. The slight sliver of drool dripping from the side of her mouth betray the deceivingly welcoming smile on her muzzle. And despite her voice sounding just as serene as before, somehow it just added to the creepiness of Fluttershy's entire demeanor. “Oh, I do hope I'm not interrupting anything personal going on between the both of you.” “Hee-hee... not at all Fluttershy!” chuckled Pinkie Pie. “The more the merrier! Why don't you come closer to your aunt Pinkie, and let her take a good look at you?” “Stay out of this Clutzershy, if you know what's good for you...” growled Rainbow Dash. “But if you feel like throwing your life away, be my guest!” “Oh my, such hostility! I'm not looking for any trouble, honest... I'm just feeling a little peckish and was kind of hoping that you girls could do me a favor...” Fluttershy reached behind and pulled out something neither Rainbow nor Pinkie noticed earlier, a dangerous looking chainsaw. The yellow pegasus stood on her hind legs and held up the weapon in the air; her eyes wide with fervor and grinning with psychotic glee. Saliva dribbled off her tongue as she spoke ecstatically. “...and let me eat your brains!!!” Pinkie beamed even wider at the sight of Fluttershy's new demented persona. It seemed almost ironic that while she had done things to her friends that most ponies would consider monstrous, she ends up in a strange place with her friends who seemed to have become just as terrible as she was. Maybe this was Tartarus after all... The three ponies stood but a few hooves from each other, the tension in the air was palpable as excruciating seconds passed while they each waited for the other to make the first move. Fluttershy revved up the chainsaw and it came to life, whirring with a loud buzzing noise. “Rainbow Dash...” Fluttershy turned towards the cyan mare who was growling like a rabid dog, barring her teeth while her eyes darted between Pinkie and Fluttershy. “If you don't mind... I think I'd like to start with you...” “Hey, no fair! I had dibs on her first!” Pinkie Pie pouted while Rainbow Dash snarled aggressively. “I don't care what the buck is going on here anymore, but if you two feather-brained fillies think you can just have your way with this pony you're sorely mistaken! If you want to do this the hard way... we'll do this the hard way!” “Girls, girls... now this is no way for ladies to act...” There was no mistaking that melodious voice, it was Rarity. Once again the darkness peeled back to reveal a light-grayish-white unicorn with an extravagant indigo-colored mane and tail. Though she was easily recognized by the three ponies, the scars on her face and body was something new to them. Notably the claw marks across her left eye and the heart shaped carving on her chest. And emerging from the shadows right beside her was another unicorn, the dark sapphire blue mane and tail with streaks of violet and rose contrasted with her lavender coat; the symbol of a purple six pointed star surrounded by five smaller white ones represented her cutie mark. It was Twilight Sparkle. Rarity trotted gracefully towards the little group with Twilight casually following her. “...besides, we are all friends here aren't we?” Rarity batted her eyelashes at the other ponies, a wickedly playful smile on her lips. “Uh, hi Rarity... hi Twilight...” Fluttershy lowered her chainsaw, the sound of it's grinding teeth slowly dying off. Her initial psychotic disposition somewhat calmer, but the insane glint never left the bloodshot eyes of hers. She faced the two ponies whom she had threatened to eat their brains just moments ago. “I'm sorry about that, it's just... sometimes I can get really, really, really, really, hungry...” Fluttershy licked her lips, saliva moistening her muzzle. “...and a pony has to do something about her cravings right? I hope we're still friends...” She smiled innocently, but her glazed stare and maniacal expression only made her look more disturbing. “That's okay Fluttershy, I forgive you!” Pinkie giggled, tossing the hacksaw behind her. “I think I'm starting to like all of you even more than before!” She than noticed that Rarity had something riding on her back, it looked like a doll. She zipped towards the unicorn and inspected the inanimate creature. It had a greyish pink coat that was sewed in patches; it's sickly flattened mane reminded Pinkie of herself when her own puffy hair would deflate during her depressed moments. But it was the black button-like eyes wide smile that had the pink mare mesmerized. “Oh... she's really pretty!” “You like?” Rarity smiled proudly as Pinkie admired the doll on her back. “She is my precious baby... I named her, Pinkamena.” “You named your baby after me?” Pinkie gasped with exaggerated joy. “I'm an aunt? Wee!!! I'm so happy I could literally die!” “yay...” Fluttershy moaned eerily. She was now sitting down on her rump, her head bobbing slightly with her eyes staring out at nothing. Occasionally, she would mumble inaudible words and giggle to herself amusingly. Rainbow Dash had relaxed her aggressive stance a little, but still eyed the rest of the group with suspicion. “This is all really sweet and touching... but it still does not explain what the hay are we doing in this place! Is anypony here not interested in the slightest at knowing where in Equestria are we? ” Twilight, who had been silent throughout the entire spectacle, stepped forward to the middle of the group. “Allow me to enlighten all of you, my little ponies...” Twilight's horn sparkled with mystic energies, she closed her eyes to concentrate as the the glow around her head grew brighter. Suddenly, her eyes shot open and flared with a radiant red light. A beam of magical power shot upwards from her horn and lit up the darkness around them. Bright lights filled the once endless black space, forming into the shapes of individual rectangular screens that flattened out and circulated around the ponies. Soon, the group was surrounded by countless bright projections; each with what seemed like moving pictures playing on them while slowly rotating in a ring. The ponies realized that on these hovering sheets were displayed scenes from places they recognized from all over Equestria; more specifically, scenes of them living their lives. But they noticed as well there were some screens that showed events that were unfamiliar to them, situations and memories that they do not remember having. One showed Equestria in a desolate wasteland where a female unicorn was trudging through it's barren wastes. Another showed the denizens of Equestria interacting with strange two-legged beasts from another universe, and these were but a few of the many different worlds that the bright floating projections displayed. Twilight stood with a smug expression on her muzzle, drinking in the gasps of wonderment from the awe-filled ponies who were gazing at the magnificent display around them. She found it amusing how a group of sociopaths and mentally unstable ponies, were still able to appreciate a little magical demonstration long enough without succumbing to the urge to go for each others throat's. “Oh... sparkly...” Pinkie Pie reached out trying to touch one of the screens. “Beautiful... isn't it?” Twilight cooed almost reverently. “The windows to our very existence, every one of them tells a different tale of what has been, what could have been, and what is to come. No two are exactly the same, there is always some variable no matter how insignificant, that divides and determines the outcome of each individual continuity. The theoretical concept alone answers so many questions about our actions and purpose for existence, yet raises so many more...” Twilight did not hide her growing enthusiasm explaining the reason for existence of these moving pictures. Rainbow Dash however, did not look satisfied with Twilight's answer. She impatiently stomped her hooves and snorted. “Would you mind repeating that again? And this time, Egghead, take the fancy talk down a notch...” Twilight turned to her rainbow mane friend with a wide mad grin on her face. The iris of her eyes still glowing a faint red. She could hardly contain herself as she answered Rainbow Dash in exhilaration. “Alternate dimensions! Entire worlds spanning hundreds upon thousands of universes... Each with their own history and events, yet still connected on some basic level. You saw for yourself how some worlds, Equestria looks almost exactly the same while others are entirely different...” “For example... This one, Equestria was never founded and the three tribes of ponies remain separate and at odds. Over here, The dragons and wild monsters roam the lands and no civilization was ever started. While this one, Celestia is a tyrannical ruler where-else Luna is the head of a rebel force. Here, Discord rules over the land... and ponykind live under his reign of Chaos. In this one, our parents never met and thus we were never born...” Twilight stopped to faced her little congregation, pausing long enough for the right dramatic effect. “And likewise, all of us here come from separate worlds. Alternate versions of Equestria where each of our lives play out similarly. We all had each other for friends, had the same beginnings to our lives and experienced the same script of a generic existence that we so blissfully followed. Until a single shift in our respective realities caused a chain reaction that rippled throughout the cosmos... bringing us to this inescapable conclusion...” “Huh? Uh... I don't get it.” “You lost me there Egghead...” “Tee-hee... brains...” Rarity did not respond, instead she was holding the Pinkamena doll in her front hooves, caressing it's mane while smiling deceptively. She already had an idea to what Twilight was going to do. The displayed screens around them started to move, Twilight shifted them away and brought forth five others. One for the lives of each pony present. “Though we may have been separated by the gulf of time and space, we all share one thing in common, the heinous acts and monstrosities we have committed...” The ponies gazed at the luminous displays before them, each one recognizing their own story being exhibited for their friends to see, and the horrors they had subjected upon one another in their sepearate worlds. Pinkie jumped in glee as she saw Rainbow Dash being strapped to a backless frame, her wings and cutie marks were missing. Pinkie witness herself reaching for a can that contained burning hot coals, and on top were several large nails. The Pinkie Pie in the screen approached the sobbing pegasus and the focus zoomed in on Rainbow's fear filled eyes as she screamed in panic when the pink mare grabbed a hammer and one of the nails, preparing to perform a very painful act on the frightened pony. “Wow... this is my favorite part! No, wait... the harvesting is my favorite part! But this is a close second. Or was it the electrocution? Oh well... either way, those cupcakes were delicious Dashie! I never got the chance to thank you for you generous contribution!” If Rainbow Dash was in any way disturbed by the events on the screen or by Pinkie's unsettling cheerfulness about the ordeal, she did not show it. Instead choosing to ignore Pinkie's question and continue watching along with the rest. “Oh my... you make cupcakes out of ponies? That sounds... delicious.” Pinkie Pie hopped besides Fluttershy who was staring at the scene with a dripping mouth; she plopped herself down dangerously on top of the chainsaw and stretched an hoof around Fluttershy's neck. “Of course silly! You are what you eat right? Hee-hee! I promise if I ever get a chance to make some again, you'll be my first customer!” She winked at Fluttershy who was still gazing at the image of Pinkie cutting up something that looked like flesh. “I must say Pinkie, I'm loving your sense of style. That dress you wore with the cutie marks and pegasus wings, I assume it's hoof-made?” “Why thank you for noticing Rarity! I've always wanted to show it to you but oh... I thought it would be better to make you a part of it, but I never got the chance to do that...” “I'm flattered dear that you would think of me that way... what?” Rarity cocked her head slightly towards the doll in her hooves. “Yes baby, mommy's listening... of course I'll tell her. Pinkie dear, baby wants you to know she loves what you've done with the dress as well.” “Thank you Pinkamena! You are too kind.” “Mmm... yummy...” The ponies turned to see what Fluttershy was moaning about. They behold the sight of the yellow pegasus on one of the projections in what seems to be a small morbidly decorated hut filled with animal corpses. At the center was a chair with a scared looking Rainbow Dash strapped to it. Right behind her was a crazed Fluttershy singing a strange song about brains while holding her chainsaw just above Rainbow's mane. The jagged metal teeth of the weapon hovered dangerously close to her head, the chainsaw activated and the whirring noised drowned out the frightened shrieks coming from the cyan pegasus as her demise was at hoof... Pinkie Pie burst out laughing hysterically. “Hahahah! Hey Dashie! Looks like everypony wants to taste the rainbow! I think Twilight should find a spell to make more of you to go around! Won't that be super duper fantastically awesometacular? Say... Fluttershy, why did you have Rainbow Dash strapped into a chair anyway?” “Well, because she went into my shed... um, that's my reason, I guess...” she answered with a sickly grin. Pinkie continued laughing as Rainbow Dash looked on, a small upturn curve on her lips. She was not the least bit disturbed by the images she saw. In fact, she enjoyed the violent and bloodthirsty nature her friends reveled in; or more accurately, her new friends. Since everypony here most likely came from a different reality than the other. Either way it didn't matter, she couldn't remember her original friends all that well anyway. Decades working at the Rainbow Factory had hardened her heart and fractured her psyche. Outwardly, she still manages to maintain a facade of her old self. But there was no telling when she could snap at any moment and allow her violent nature to take over completely, turning her into a berserk wild beast. Her gaze wandered to her own life story being displayed and her smile widened. “Hey guys, want to see something way cooler than your lame attempts at being brutal?” Rainbow Dash pointed to a projection that showed a scene of her inside a factory. She was standing on a scaffolding and witnessing a light brown pegasus being stretched by chains atop a huge machine. The colt screamed in agony as the shackles twisted in opposite directions, breaking bones and warping tissue. Until finally, the mangled body of the colt was released and dropped into the gaping maw of the device below. His body slowly disappearing from view and only the sound of the great machine at work could be heard. The great vats of green and red that were connected to the device started spewing forth brilliant colors, the magical spectrum extracted from the pegasus... “I don't know about the Equestria you guys come from but back at my place, that's how rainbows are made...” She gave them a fearsome smile, her eyes glinting with evil glee. Pinkie gasped in delight at the sight of the carnage. “So that's how you make rainbows? It's so... Awesometacular!” “Pinkie darling, you do realize that's not a real word... in any case, I do appreciate that all my friends are so enthusiastic about the art of causing pain... even if you are a little, uncouth in the execution.” “What? Uncouth? Just in case you haven't noticed, we're a bunch of psychopathic ponies from different dimensions who butcher others for amusement trapped in some Celestia forsaken realm, and you're concerned about being uncouth? Seriously Rarity, why am I not surprised...” “It's, Lil' Miss Rarity thank you very much. But yes, even inflicting pain requires a certain... finesse. Allow me to demonstrate.” Rarity used her own magic to summon one of the moving pictures closer for them to see. It showed multiple scenes of Rarity indulging in the carving of her own skin, savoring every stroke and cut. Like an artist she applied the knife with precision and grace, never going too far as to cause any permanent damage to a limb or sever any important blood vessels. Then they were shown what Rarity did with her friends. She introduced them to her dark little hobby, sharing her pleasure for masochism and sadism. But the worst of it, was that she had involved her own sister... Sweetie Belle... “Voi-la! The art of the flesh!” “Huh, never thought you had it in you Rarity. I guess we're all monsters here after all.” “Yes... Rainbow Dash, in our respective realms, each of us would be treated as an anomaly, a freak... unfit to dwell amidst the normal members of Equestrian society. But here, among each other... we are equally, monsters.” Twilight snuggled up to Rarity's mane as she delivered her monologue, giving the unicorn a lick on the cheeks that surprised, but did not displease her. “Mmm... I miss having the taste of you on my tongue, Miss Rarity...” “My, my... if only the Twilight from my world was more like you, darling. What delightful deed did you commit in your world? It must have been something simply, to die for...” Rarity's voice was like honey coated venom, sweet and subtle as sin. “Take a look for yourselves...” Twilight nodded her head towards her own personal history show. The location was in a cavern underneath the Golden Oak Library, it was a gloomy place with only the lanterns embedded in the walls for light. Machinery of all kinds decorated the walls and ceiling of the room with tree roots sticking out at odd angles. The lavender unicorn, while wearing a white surgeon's apron, was performing horrifying experiments on her five friends who were bound to steel tilted tables. Twilight's eyes gleamed red with dark pleasure as she relived the experience of subjecting her closest friends to the greatest test their friendship had ever demanded of them... and they did not disappoint. “Awww... I didn't even last that long.” Pinkie pouted after seeing her alternate self passing from the living, her lifeless husk hanging on the metallic table. “Hmmph... I bet I would be much better at lasting longer than she did! But you were marvelous Twilight! Couldn't have done it better myself. I especially enjoyed the part with the alcohol and the organs. And look at the rest of them, shouting at you so rudely, you'd think they would be grateful that you invited them to the party at all!” “Hee-hee, brains...” “Mmm... such sweet mental torment you have bestowed upon your friends Twilight, forcing them to watch as you kill them one by one in front of each other. Why it's almost as delectable as the physical pain itself. Though I must ask, what was the purpose of this experiment of yours again Twilly dear?” “To better understand the elements of harmony each of us represented!” Twilight replied fervently. “To see just how far our beliefs and talents can be pushed before submitting to the cold, unbiased truths of the universe! Pinkie learned that giggling at the ghosties does not always make the monsters disappear; Applejack discovered that honesty is but another lie in grand scheme of existence; Rainbow Dash's loyalty got her nowhere but her own demise; and dear Fluttershy, even her kindness had it's limits in the end. But you, Rarity, your generosity provided me with your own body for the ultimate sacrifice... the expansion of my Looktrogon in the name of science!” Twilight's entire frame was shivering with excitement, her voice breaking in several places during her intense speech. She seemed to be suffering some sort of withdrawal, and couldn't stop shaking and grinning wildly for a while. Twilight shut her eyes tightly and tried to control her hard breathing and compose herself. When she seemed more stable, the unicorn opened her eyes and realized everypony was looking at her. Rainbow Dash had a bored expression on her muzzle, and was the first to address Twilight. “Look egghead, I'm glad we had this trip down memory lane with you and all but I'm still not getting any answers.” “Patience Rainbow Dash! Can't you see dear Twilight's just getting started?” “Thank you Rarity... as I mentioned, each one of yo... them, provided me with so much insight and revelation from those experiments. And all of it, was to aid me in my conquest of Equestria...” She dramatically opened her front hooves wide in gesture to the new scenario being played out on screen as Twilight explained to her audience the imagery that was before them. “You see, unknown to anypony, I had constructed a massive laboratory beneath my library with the aid of enslaved Diamond Dogs and Parasprites. Not quite as hard as one might have thought, though I won't go into detail on how just yet... The glorious experiments I conducted there was to prepare an army of genetically modified Alicorns and mutants that would obey my every command. I was even prepared to subject myself to, improvement... both genetically and magically so that my power and wisdom would surpass even that of Princess Celestia, Luna, and the Elements of Harmony combined! Not even Discord or Chrysalis would be able to stand in my way! And with this new found power I would commence a glorious take over of Equestria. I will destroy The Elements of Harmony and wipe out all who resist me from existence... Then, I shall immortalize myself as the supreme ruler over all of Equestria for eternity!” The image on the screen faded into nothingness, the brilliant light on Twilight's horn slowly dimmed as the ecstatic unicorn calmed herself down after exhibiting her deepest, darkest desires. One of her hoof instinctively clutched her chest without her knowledge, the withdrawal was taking a toll on Twilight's body despite her ignoring it. “Darling! Such inspiring vision... I really admire your ambitiousness for such an undertaking.” “So... you did all of this?” Pinkie Pie inquired curiously as she waved a hoof in a circle indicating the strange environment they were in. Twilight didn't answer immediately. She wasn't even sure if all she had just explained had occurred or was just a fragment of her imagination, some residue of broken memories lingered in her mind. Twilight couldn't remember if she had been successful in her conquest, or that she failed. Did Celestia and Luna managed to stop her? Did she lose the war before the battle ever started? Was everything she had done in vain? She hesitated for a bit, a look of confusion glossed over her face for a split second before she regained her usual visage of madness. “No.” she replied regrettably. “No, this place was not my doing. Like the rest of you I found myself in this realm without prior memory as to how or when I got here. All I know is that I was the first to arrive, before I figured out that I could command these floating images that surrounded me with my magic. I used them to study the various different worlds depicted on them. And eventually, came across all of yours. But even though I had excess to all these worlds, I could not will anything from them into this place. The fact that I met up with Rarity first was not orchestrated by me, though I have my suspicion on the amount of influence one is able to exercise on these other-worldly windows... However, I did take the time to study magical qualities of this surreal realm. And my theory is that this place serves as a nexus for all the alternate worlds; a limbo between realities if you will... this is both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. As to how we all got to be here, I have concluded that a certain phenomenon involving the constellations aligning at just the precise moment, and as the flow of cosmic magic had reached a peak in the energy spectrum, followed by a collision of opposing... Ahem, what I am trying to say is, this meeting of ours was... Destined...” “Gee, Twilight believing in something she can't measure and control with magic or science? Now I know you've really gone crazy!” Pinkie Pie did a twirl with her hoof next to her head while rolling her eyes in opposite directions. The rest of the ponies giggled and snickered at her mockery of Twilight. But the unicorn showed no signs of being insulted as she paced up and down in front of them, wearing a wild grin on her muzzle. “Think about it girls! The possibility for even two of us crossing paths outside of our respective worlds is less than one percent, the chances for all of us to assemble at this exact point in time is mathematically infeasible! I believe we are united here by a common bond... and that is our antithetical nature to our original Elements of Harmony. In a world where our friends are innocent and gullible like little foals, we stand alone as the anarchists, challenging the established order... it's just perfect! All this while I thought by destroying the Elements of Harmony it would secure my position as the most powerful being in all Equestria... but now I see, only together can we be strong... only as one can we bring true revolution to this universe! That it is our fate to dispense with the old and wretched elements, and take our rightful place as the true elements of power!” Twilight stopped her pacing and pointed at the pink party pony. “Pinkie... instead of bringing laughter, you terrorized your own friends and reveled in their confusion as they spend the last moments of their lives horrified and hopeless... Pinkamena Cupcakes Pie, you represent the element of Fear. Dashie... the citizens of Equestria entrusted you and your pegasus kind with the charge of maintaining the weather and creating beautiful rainbows. Imagine the shock and disbelief when young fliers discovered the truth behind those sky factories in Cloudsdale. Especially Scootaloo, who took you as her own sister, how tragic it must have been that the idol of her fillyhood betrayed everything she believed in... Rainbow Slash, you represent the element of Betrayal. Fluttershy... your unbridled blood-lust cost you all of the animals you hold dear. Eventually they were not enough to satisfy you, and you turned on your own friends, murdering them as they entered your shed... Slaughtershy, you represent the element of Carnage. And Rarity... your selfish desire to satisfy your craving for pain led to the death of Opalescence, and caused misery for all who hold you close to their hearts. You even allowed Sweetie Belle to be corrupted and scarred for life, dragging her along into your dirty little hobby. So deep were you inside this monster of yours that not even the Princess could save you from yourself. Lil' Miss Rarity, you represent the element of Malevolence. As for myself... I have achieved what no pony can even begin to imagine, my intelligence and cunning has already surpassed everypony I know! I represent... I am... I...” “Insanity?” Pinkamena Cupcake Pie suggested with a hint of sarcasm. “Yes! Of course! The only sane way to live in an insane universe... is to be insane! From now on I shall be known as, Twilight Psycho... element of Insanity! Hehehe... Hahahahahahaha!!!” Twilight threw her hooves into the air laughing maniacally. Lightning and flame spewed forth from her horn as it blazed with energy, creating a spectacle that lit up the darkness in the dimension they were in. The other ponies shielded their eyes from the glaring blaze, and waited for Twilight Psycho to finish with her hysteria. Finally she stopped the fireworks display and powered down, panting hard and sweating profusely from her exertions; but that wild grin never left her face. “Not trying to rain on your parade here Twi, but unless forgetting how to count is part of the power package, I think we're missing somepony from the team.” “Yeah... what about Applejack? We can't be the Sinister Six without her!” “Oooh... I like the sound of that Pinkie... heh, hehe... if you don't mind me saying so...” “Neat huh? I just made it up.” “Darling, I'm afraid I have to agree with the rest of our friends, or do you plan only to have those of us gathered here who will bear these new elements?” “Ah... worry not my faithful followers, I haven't forgotten about our honest farm pony.” The floating screens that were slowly hovering around them suddenly scattered and reorganized as Twilight manipulated them like shuffling files in a cabinet. “Oddly enough, it was nigh impossible to find an Applejack that would fit our, sociological requirements. Most of the none prototypical Applejack’s were either depressing drunks, obsessed with apples or bent on being rich. Hardly the stuff of nightmares.. though I supposed I'm not surprise, she was always the most steadfast of us all... Ah-ha! Here it is, this particular Equestria holds an Applejack that seems very promising.” The lavender mare isolated a single screen from the rest and focused the image on an orange pony who was standing in the middle of a shallow pond at night, staring at her own reflection. The image was identical o the workhorse in almost every way... except instead of green, it had orange-red irises in it's eyes, and an evil smirk on it's face. “Observe...” Twilight instructed her friends. "...leave me alone!" “Why should I? Somepony's gotta help ya remember it...” "Shut up! Ah don't wanna remember... " “Why would ya wanna forget how much fun ya had all those years ago?” "Fun? Ya'll thought ah had fun?!?" “Ya sure seemed to be... remember that cute lil' scream fo' help she would make every time ya hit her?” "Shut up!" “...or how ya'll would go and hogtie her whenever she interrupted your apple buckin, and tie her high up on a branch of the closest apple tree, leaving her alone up there for hours on end...” "Ah' said... Shut Up! Ah'm not like that, not anymore!" “...ya'll tortured an' bullied her everyday fo' years... and ya'll enjoyed every minute of it... and ya know what? Ya'll miss it...” "Ah.. p-please, stop it! A-ah can't take it no more! Why can't ya'll just leave me alone?” “...because... you're a monster, Applejack, and ya'll always be one!” "Puh... please, just get the hay away from me!" "Applejack... sis', are ya'll okay?" “Oh look, it's her... Ya'll should really stop talking to yerself... Ya just lucky she don't remember any of it after ya'll gave her that last concussion there a few years ago...” "Wha-what? Apple Bloom, what are ya doin' out ere' so late at night?" "Ah could ask yoo the same thing sis'. Why were ya'll yelling at that pond?" “...if Ah remember correctly, this ere' pond is where ya'll tried to drown the annoying lil' pest...” "Oh, um... Ah guess Ah was just er... sleepwalkin'... er, shoutin'! Dat's all, hehe... hey, why don't we head on back home Apple Bloom. Ah'll read ya a bedtime story." “...tell her the one about how ya'll left her alone in the Everfree Forest... such a shame that dem' Diamond Dogs weren't hungry in the slightest that day...” "Okay! Ah'll race ya to the house! Ready? Three... two..." "Hold on a sec Apple Bloom..." "What is it?" "Ah love ya Applebloom. A-ah just wanted to let ya'll know that... that Ah really am happy to have ya as mah' lil' sis." "Yeah, Ah know ya love me Applejack, and Ah love yoo too. Ya'll the best big sister in all of Equestria! Now c'mon, lets race home together. Three... two... one... Go!!!" “...if only she knew... if only she could remember... just how much of a monster ya'll really are...” Twilight looked at the rest of the ponies with a devilish expression. And they all understood her, because the same thought was going through their minds as well. “Girls, it's time we introduced to the world, the new Elements of Blasphemy... starting with this one. It should be a simple matter of coaxing the monster within our dear Applejack to surface and join us.” “You really think this would work don't cha' egghead... Hmmph, I'm game if you all are. Can't say I'm not curious to see where this little freak-show of ours ends up. Lead on Twi!” “Hooray!!! We're going to be together as one big-happy-crazy-insanely-fun family! Oh, I plan on throwing so many parties to celebrate this occasion! Do you think that the other Pinkie Pies, and Rainbow Dashes, and Twilight Sparkles, and Rarities, and Fluttershies in this world would like my parties? I know! I could follow what Twilight Psycho did and have them all together in one big party! I've never been able to that before... now with you girls, I can start planning on...” “You talk too much Pinkie.. um, that is... you don't have to stop if you don't want to...” Twilight closed her eyes and searched for the magical focal points within the limbo world. She concentrated her own magic to align with the invisible grid of power and focused on the enchantments she needed for her spell to work. Red lightning flickered around the display screen, black tendrils surrounded it and writhe around like snakes as the image twist and contort into a swirling pool. Twilight Psycho had opened a portal into the unsuspecting world. “How did you know that was possible darling? And are you sure that it is... functional?” “Of course it is!” Twilight confidently stated. “Now Miss Rarity, I'll need that doll of yours as an anchor while we travel through the portal. Don't worry, I am not going to consume it for a spell... besides, we both know that thing is no ordinary doll. And I'll need your magic to work with mine as well... now, just follow my instructions...” -------------------------- The Royal Palace in Canterlot... “Ugh...” Princess Celestia struggled to stand on her hooves, pain wrecked her body like a thousand wasp stings. The loud rhythm of her heavy breathing echoed through her ears while she tried to get a little respite. The ambient noise around her muffled, like time itself was slowing down. She felt every thump her heart made as the seconds passed by agonizingly. She was a sorry sight from her once regal pose. Her flowing mane had lost it's glitter, and was now torn and frayed with scorched ends. The large sparkling blue wings on her back hanging awkwardly by her side. Patches of pink hair were missing from her body, replaced by many deep wounds. She could smell the scent of blood as it trickled from her snout and gathered at the tip, before falling to the floor in droplets of crimson red. Through watery eyes, she took in the mournful scene before her. Her throne room was in ruins, signs of battle was evident everywhere. Pillars were toppled, walls were crumbling, dust and debris hovered in heavy clouds around the Princess. Though she could not see far past all the dust, she knew that many members of her royal guard ponies were there, laying on the floor lifeless. She grieved for them in her heart, they had given their very lives to protect their beloved Princess, but it wasn't enough. And she did not need to see the chaos going on outside to know that her precious Canterlot was being laid to waste outside her castle walls. If only she had known sooner, she could have sent word to her Griffon allies to the East... maybe if the army was more well equipped, if they had been better prepared... They were never prepared, not for this... not this... betrayal. From beyond the haze, six shadowy figures slowly trotted through the dust wall in front of Celestia. Six ponies that the Princess herself entrusted with Elements of Harmony to protect their world. The very same elements that were now used to cause death and destruction throughout Equestria. It was a stab through Celestia's heart that hurt more than any mortal wound could accomplish. And the deepest cut of all, was dealt by her own beloved and faithful student... Twilight Sparkle... The lavender unicorn was at the head of the group as they made their way casually to the broken monarch. Her eyes blazed with red and black infernal energies; the six pointed star on her tiara that once represented her element of harmony, was now replaced by a pentagram within a circle. Around her neck was a gray pendant in the shape of a winged unicorn, with a red gem decorating the center of the amulet. She gestured for her entourage to stop a little distance from Celestia, just close enough to make sure that the Princess could see Twilight's gloating countenance. “Well, well... it looks like the student has become the teacher, my Princess...” “You... aghh... are no student... of mine...” Celestia attempted a surprise strike by unleashing a blast of sun-light beam from her horn at Twilight. But the power mad unicorn simply deflected the feeble attack with a swat from her hoof without batting an eyelash. “Tsk... Tsk... such bad behavior cannot go unpunished Princess.” Her eyes, tiara and amulet lit up with dark mystic powers. Twilight let loose a ray of twirling black and red from her horn, returning the favor to Celestia. Her body collapsed to the ground from the force, and she laid there writhing from excruciating pain as the dark energies swirled around her. Twilight stopped the onslaught, laughing with glee while watching trails of smoke rising from the Princess's body. “I must admit, it has been a fun time taking Canterlot from underneath your snout. I doubt I'll ever be this entertained by anything else compared to this achievement. And I truly wish this game could go on for much longer but unfortunately, there is just so much left to do, I think it's best to say our farewells now. But before we do, is there any last words the former ruler of this land would like to say before she retires... permanently?” “Y-ye-yes...” “Oh? This should be good... what would you like to say, pray tell?” Celestia forced herself up despite the grievous wounds she had suffered. She stared straight into her former student's eyes with as much dignity as she could muster. Of all the things she had hoped for Twilight, she never thought that it would come to this tragic end. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the weight of sorrow overwhelmed her feelings. She took a deep, blood-choked breath before uttering a single word. “Why...” “Why? Why, you ask? Wahahahahaha!! Why not? Somepony was eventually going to do it, might as well be me.” Twilight summoned crystal-ball like spheres into the air, and levitated them for Celestia to watch in dismay at the events that was transpiring throughout Equestria. Genetically modified Alicorns were invading the major cities like Cloudsdale and Manehattan, raining down unholy magic from the skies. The normal pegasi and unicorns were no match for their raw power. Many of the smaller towns had mutants of all kinds terrorizing the poor denizens, looting and killing as they went. Many dead ponies were strewn across the streets. The ones who were alive or dying had worse fates in store for them. Celestia could not hide the despair and hopelessness from her face at the sight of the citizens she had sworn to protect call out her name in vain in their last moments of life. Twilight savored every bit of her suffering. “It took months of preparations, but it was all worth it. I used to only dream of such vast untapped power at my hoof-tips to command, and manipulate at my will! And now, it's a reality, and I shall scour the world for any opposition and crush it! None will stand in the way of my glorious ascension to godhood!” “You... will never... argh... be a god...” “Well one can dream right? How about this, you kneel and acknowledge me as your god... and maybe, just maybe... I'll allow you to live as my lobotomized puppet.” “N-n... never... b-b-but know this, ack... you'll always be... my beloved Twilight...” Celestia stood defiantly on shaky legs, she was determined not to beg for her life like a coward. If this is to be her end, she will meet with it on her hooves, not on her knees. Twilight waved her hoof angrily and the spheres disappeared from view. “Enough sentimental talk! It's time to end your millennial reign right now! But first, let me reintroduce you to my friends. That was what you had originally intended for me right? To learn the true meaning of friendship? Well, I have a little report for you... Princess, I've learned that true friendships stretches beyond the limitations of time and space, and that embracing each others inner demons is the only way you can truly learn what it is like to be, the best of friends. After all, none of this would be possible without them. Let's start with... Slaughtershy, element of Carnage. Lil' Miss Rarity, element of Malevolence. Rainbow Slash, element of Betrayal. Pinkamena Cupcakes Pie, element of Fear!” Each pony stepped forward as Twilight announced their names. They all had their Element of Harmony necklace on, but like Twilight's, were all corrupted into twisted new forms. “And the final member of our group... Applewreck, element of Hatred!” Applewreck moved in front of the rest, dragging a cruel looking club in her mouth, with rusty, bloodstained nails jutting out from the head. Her fiery irises and black slit-like pupils staring evilly at Celestia. She spoke through gritted teeth with nasty growl. “Howdy, Princess...” “Hahaha... there you go Celestia, the new and improved element bearers.... The Elements of Blasphemy!!!” Twilight magically conjured iron chains to grow out of the floor and shackled themselves around Celestia's hooves. Their tight grip bruising the pink-colored Princess. “Now, I'll let you get acquainted with one another. She's all yours girls, just do me a favor... save the wings for me...” “Ah just wanna beat her with mah stick... make er' squeal like a hog...” “Well that makes two of us Applewreck. Only difference is all I need are my bare-teeth to get the job done. Too bad we can't save her for the Rainbow Factories, I bet she would've made some really brilliant color spectrum...” “Darlings, the two of you simply must allow me to cut her, so that I may savor the delightful sensations of pain she will experience. My baby, Pinkamena is really looking forward to it too.” “Oooh... since Twilight called dibs on her wings, can I have her horn and cutie mark? Can I? Can I? Can I? It would make the ultimate contribution to my dress! And can we stuff her after we're done? Like you know, put her on display so that she will be with us forever and ever? “Her brain... it will be mine! Mine! Muahaha... Muahahahahaha!!!” As the ponies drew close with murderous intent, Celestia closed her eyes and hoped that perhaps in death... she would be able to see her sister Luna again... -------------------------- Many weeks later... “Twilight darling, what are we doing here in the Crystal Palace? Your subjects are going to offer their sacrifices to us in Canterlot next week, and I hardly have had the time to prepare for the festivities.” “That can wait Miss Rarity, this... is far more important than any celebration of victory.” Twilight Psycho had led her friends into a room where a huge mirror stood in the middle. It was guarded by two of Twilight's monstrous Alicorns. The lavender mare walked up to the mirror and activated it with her magic. “I discovered this mirror during our occupation of the Crystal Empire some weeks ago. Thinking it might prove useful in the future, I had guards stationed here to alert me the moment there was any magical activity from it. And it turns out, there was.” The mirror's surface shimmered and moved and an image of a celebration in Canterlot appeared. “So... what, it's just another portal to another Equestria?” Rainbow Slash hovered above the group, a quizzical look on her face. “At first I thought it was just another gateway to other worlds just like how we arrived to this realm, however I sensed a different aura emitting from it compared to the rest. I suspected this world could be special so I spent some time pouring through old tomes and scrolls for ancient spells that could help me determine whether my theory is correct... and as always, it is. This, my insidious friends... is Alpha Equestria, the source of all our existence.” The mirror zoomed in on the reason for the celebration, the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle. She looked so happy with all her friends and family surrounding her as ponies all around showered their new Princess with adoration and song. “Won't cha' look at dat... she's actually got her own pair of wings...” Applewreck stated bluntly. Twilight Psycho instinctively flapped the pair of shimmering blue wings that were grafted to her own back, a parting gift from her former teacher. She didn't care for Applewreck's blatant comment. Her mind was already racing through nefarious plans upon nefarious plans for a whole new level of possibilities this unexpected opportunity presented. “Girls... clear your schedule for the foreseeable future. We have a date with destiny...” --------------------------