//------------------------------// // Face to Face // Story: MLP: The Fight for Friendship // by sapiking //------------------------------// “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” Twilight questioned her captor angrily as she fought against her constraints. Her doppelganger simply ignored Twilight's protesting and walked nonchalantly into the darkness; bringing out a strange fizzy drink in a volumetric flask similar to the ones Twilight used in her experiments. The mare held the concoction in her right hoof, swirling the contents around gently like one would do with fine wine. Twilight stared in fascinated horror as the duplicate lifted the flask to her muzzle and downed the contents into her throat with one noisy gulp. Once she had finished her drink, the mare made a sour face as if she had taken particularly bitter medicine. Her features contorted into a grimace, and closed her eyes as if in pain, which did not go unnoticed by Twilight Sparkle. After a moment, the clone relaxed and reopened her eyes to reveal her red pupils glowing eerily, and the same insane grin back on her lips. She tossed the empty flask aside into the shadows causing it to clatter loudly in the darkness. She fixed her gaze on Twilight who had stopped her questioning and struggling for now; instead she was catching her breath, panting angrily as she did so. Twilight met her gaze challengingly even as the duplicate trotted slowly towards her. “Such behavior is so unbecoming a princess, my dear Twilight Sparkle... didn't your precious Celestia teach you any royal etiquette when she decided to crown you as princess? Or was she too busy giving out menial tasks for her little pet dog?” Twilight gritted her teeth at the insult not only to her but to her mentor as well. She wanted dearly to snap back at this imposter but she had to control herself. She knew that this mare, whoever she is, is just trying to bait her into losing her temper. Twilight was not about to give her the satisfaction of seeing her lose control so easily. Plus she would need every advantage she could get if she were to break free from her bonds and save her friends. And her best option now was to keep this imposter talking while she formulated a plan in her head. “You still haven't told me who you are.” “My, my... persistent aren't we? It seems you have more self control than your, predecessor. You should have heard her, squealing and screaming like a little filly... and that was before I started the experiments on her.” “I don't know what you are talking about. Maybe you care to enlighten me? Or are you afraid that I might use it against you?” “Do you really think that I fear you... princess?” “If you weren't afraid of me, you wouldn't have needed to ambush me in my home without a chance for me to defend myself. Nor would you have the need to bound my friends and I so securely. And if I had to guess, you placed a sort of silencing spell on the area... annulling all magic so that nopony could find us through means of scrying spells, and oppose you! If that's not a sign of somepony who is afraid than I don't know what is.” “Hahahahah!!! Oh, you really amuse me princess... so you managed to come up with that conclusion all on your own did you? You must feel really smart, deducing me in a single glance with those condescending eyes of yours.” The mare stepped closer menacingly, her eyes boring through Twilight's own. Twilight did not look away, she had to show this pony that she did not fear her, that she would not be so easily intimidated by some copycat who might just be a changeling in disguise. Yet something in those cold demented eyes told her that this was no changeling. And underneath that familiar exterior, a very sinister persona lies just below the surface, yearning to break free and show it's true colors. Deep down, Twilight knew that this pony was a very dangerous threat. The mare was now right in front of Twilight gazing at her, and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of her head. She prayed that her evil clone had not noticed it. “It is more likely, princess... that you are the one who is afraid...” she hissed smoothly at Twilight. “Your attempts at provoking me, while adorable, will not work. See I know everything about you, every thought, every emotion, every secret, simply because... I am you.” “That's not possible!” “Denial, such a predictable response... just like the last Twilight.” The pony's cryptic speech was starting to annoy Twilight. She tried to figure out what all of this meant. Was this duplicate from the future? If so what could have caused her to become this way? Maybe she accidentally cast some spell that caused all of this. But Twilight couldn't for the life of her imagine what kind of spell would be this malevolent. The imposter seemed to enjoy watching her struggle to unravel the puzzle of her current situation. “Ah... how frustrating it must be for you, not being able to understand your own predicament with that vast intellect you think to possess... It kills you doesn't it? Having your one and only talent for living fail you in your most desperate hour... I wonder, just how many theories and conclusions are running through that brain of yours right now?” Frustration was the right word to describe Twilight's inner thoughts right now. Surely this wasn't somepony disguised as her? Could it be Trixie? She has used the Alicorn amulet before and it drove her mad with power... maybe she found out where it had been kept safe and couldn't resist herself from using it again, thus causing her to completely lose control over it? Or perhaps more likely, something else entirely... Twilight tried to remember the last thing she was doing before waking up to this nightmare. She vaguely recalled confiding in Spike about her insecurities and how she was upset over reading a book called Eternity's End... 'Spike!' Twilight's thoughts snapped back to her loyal friend, he was not among the rest of the ponies being held prisoner here. Where could he be? An awful thought crept into Twilight's head. “What have you done with Spike?” she questioned the imposter aggressively. “Oh, the precious little assistant? You must be worried sick over the poor baby... after all, you are responsible for his well being. What kind of a guardian, or friend, or sister would leave a child all alone to fend for himself?” “If you've done anything to harm Spike, I swear I'll...” “You'll do WHAT!?!” The psychotic mare reared up on her hind legs and slammed her front hooves against the metal slab on both sides of Twilight's body, bringing her muzzle but a breath away from Twilight's own; shocking the lavender princess into silence. It felt like staring into a twisted reflection of herself. She saw the cunning, the intelligence, the ambition, behind those glinting eyes... but most of all, the dark malevolence that surpassed any evil she could possibly imagine. “Let me make myself perfectly clear to you Twilight Sparkle... you are in no position to be making threats. Without magic and the Elements of Harmony, you and your friends are completely at my mercy. All of you are merely puppets, to be used as pawns in my game of chess, lab rats to be dissected and experimented upon for the benefit of my glorious design! Any plans of escape that you could ever think of is not going to work because I already know every single possible outcome to every single one of them... because I am simply better...” Twilight gritted her teeth as she attempted to challenge her evil self. “At what?” Despite the brave face Twilight attempted to put on, it vanished almost immediately when her evil self leaned in close to her ear and whispered in a low harsh tone. “...everything...” A dead silence followed, Twilight gulped hard as she looked at her clone straight in the eyes. Her words dying in her mouth before she even uttered them, unsure what the proper response was for this confident adversary. The face off was interrupted by the sound of a waking Applejack. “Uh... mah head...” “Ah... I see that one of your friends has decided to join us in the land of the living.” “Wha... what in tarnation?” Applejack was less than thrilled to wake up and finding herself being strapped to a metal slab, she reacted instinctively by fighting against her restrains. She knew instantly that they were too well secured for her to break free. Looking around the room, Applejack saw her friends in the same dire position as she was; and the moment she laid eyes on two Twilights, she put two and two together and realized what was going on. She turned her head the best she could to face Twilight as an unconscious Rarity was in between them. “Ah'm sorry Twilight... Ah tried mah best ta get ere' as fast as Ah could. But it looks like Ah was too late...” “It's not your fault Applejack...” Twilight reassured her friend. “As long as we're all here together, everything's going to be alright...” “Yes, comfort her... lie to her Twilight... tell her that friendship will see you all through.” Twilight's clone moved away from the bound ponies into the shadows with an air of superiority. She did not know what to expect next but Twilight was glad to get a little respite from that pony, even if it was for a short while. Applejack took the opportunity and whispered to her friend. “Twilight, yer got a plan ta get us all out of dis?” “I'm... working on it.” “Dats a relief ta hear...” Applejack heaved a sigh. “But Ah gotta warn ya Twi'... that mare ain't alone.” “You mean ther...” Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of hoof-steps approaching. The foreboding implication of Applejack's last words filled Twilight with dread anticipation. She hoped that her friend's words didn't mean what she thought it meant... Unfortunately her fears were confirmed as not one, but six ponies entered into her sight. All of them were a twisted mirror of Twilight and her own friends. They all had their Element of Harmony necklaces on, but harmony wasn't the word Twilight would describe them now. Each was an ugly version of the Elements that she was familiar with. Beautiful shapes and colors were now replaced with dark, black tones; along with scary imagery of skulls, teeth and ugly jagged shapes. Their bearers, though may look like her friends at first glance, have enough subtle differences for Twilight to identify them to be like her own clone, interlopers. The one that resembled Fluttershy had a maniacal look in her glazed over stare, and it didn't help that she had dark circles around her eyes and seemed to be drooling at the side of her mouth as she gave Twilight a disturbingly hungry gaze. The cyan pony with the signature rainbow mane and tail had a gruff outlook and seemed much older than the real Rainbow Dash strapped to her left. Applejack's duplicate had bright orange-red pupils that shone savagely under the light. The pink mare looked exactly the same as Pinkie Pie, and if not for the sinister glint in her eyes Twilight would not be able to tell the two apart. However, the clone with the most obvious differences was Rarity's... the physical scars on her body were alarming enough to raise questions Twilight wasn't sure she wanted answers to. But it was the heart-shaped scar on her chest and the three claw marks across her left eye that really caused Twilight to fear the sanity levels of these ponies. And Twilight couldn't really believe it, but she swore there was a strange doll riding on the back of Rarity's clone. “Oh my...” was all that Applejack could muster as she helplessly lay strapped to her metal slab. “Aw... little Applejack feelin' scared? Don't worry sugarcube... here, I'll wake up yer friends to keep ya'll company!” The orange mare trotted to the slab on Applejack's right, turned around and reared her hind legs into position before giving the metal table a hard kick. The impact shook the slab violently waking up Pinkie Pie who yelped with surprise from the rude awakening she received. She took one look at the scene before her and started panicking immediately as her mind tried to process everything at once. “Where am I? What's going on? Why can't I move? What has happened to everypony?” The pink mare started screaming as she struggled wildly. Rainbow Dash's duplicate laughed cruelly at Pinkie's bewilderment, and the evil Applejack joined in on her glee. “Hahaha! Nice one Applewreck!” The pegasus gave Applewreck a hoof bump to show her approval. “Heheh... Thanks Slashie, Ah thought yer would like dat.” she replied while grinning savagely. Twilight Sparkle and Applejack both tried to calm the distressed Pinkie Pie who was still going on with her incessant screaming. “Pinkie please calm down, you're becoming hysterical.” “Twilight's right sugarcube, yer got ta keep it together, we can all get through dis... somehow...” Pinkie Pie stopped her clamoring almost as abruptly as she started. She faced her friends, giving them a weak grin, but it made them feel relieved nonetheless to see their usually happiest friend smile. “Thank you guys, I'm sorry I lost it for a moment there but I can't help going a little crazy when some meanie kidnaps me in my own home!” The added tone to her last words were emphasized as Pinkie Pie snapped back to glare at the bunch of ponies looking at them from the floor. Her attention focused especially on the one that looked identical to her. She had the same creepy smile on when Pinkie first saw her in Sugarcube Corner, except this time Pinkie Pie was determined not to be scared by this filly who thought she could impersonate the one of a kind Pinkie Pie. “And you! You're the biggest mea...” Pinkie Pie stopped dead in mid sentence and made a sick face as if she was about to throw up. “Pinkie! Are you okay?” Twilight called out in alarm. “Oh Twilight! I don't feel very good...” Pinkie's face turned into unhealthy green color. “It must have been tha... that cupcake... it didn't taste right.” “What's wrong? You don't like my sweet treats?” Pinkie Pie's duplicate hopped over towards her, bouncing cheerily around the metal table Pinkie was strapped to. “Everypony loves my sweets! I baked them all by myself. Yup! Yup! Yup! Pinkamena Cupcake Pie's very own cakes and pastries! I make them way better than Mister and Misses Cake ever did! Especially my cupcakes, I put a very special ingredient in each and everyone of them... but unfortunately I don't have that ingredient here, not yet, that must be why you didn't like the one I gave you earlier! All it had was some boring formula to make you really sleepy. Oh! I can't wait for the chance to start baking my signature cupcakes again!” She hopped right up to Pinkie's side and held her head with both front hooves while pressing both their snouts together. “You should try them, they are simply to die for...” Pinkie Pie couldn't hold it in any longer, and just as she was about to hurl, Pinkamena produced a paper-bag out of nowhere and shoved Pinkie's muzzle down the opening. She threw-up instantly, making sickly noises as she did so while her friends watched helplessly on. It wasn't long before Pinkie was done emptying her stomach, and Pinkamena simply sniffed at the contents of the paper bag before hurling it over her shoulder. “Well, that brought back pleasant memories!” She exclaimed cheerfully as she bounced back to her own group of friends. The sound of groaning was a sign of awakening from the remaining three ponies who started stirring from their slumber, seemingly roused by the commotion going on in the room. “Aughh... I feel like I've been hit by a train...” “Swe...Sweetie Belle?” “Um... (gasp) Oh my!” Being the first among the three to realized their peril, Fluttershy began breathing irregularly. Naturally panicking from the sight of all her friends, including herself, being held captive in such a frightening manner. Both Rainbow Dash and Rarity were quick to piece together the situation. “Such barbaric behavior! This is no way to treat a lady! I demand to be released!” “Let me out of here!” Rainbow Dash thrashed against the straps that held her secured on to the metal slab. “You think you're all so tough keeping us tied-up like this? I'm not afraid of you cheap ripoffs!” Rainbow glared angrily at the gloating ponies, she snorted especially loudly at the sight of the one with the same multicolored mane as hers. “Come on! Cut me loose, I dare you! I'm ready for round t... Ow!!!” Rainbow Dash yelled out loud, her face wincing in agony. She strained her neck downwards to look at the root of her affliction, her wild thrashing had caused her wings to slam against the metal table. She had completely forgotten about the condition her wings were in, and it was bad. They sprawled awkwardly across her sides, and each time she shifted her body to ease her discomfort, a jolt of pain would hit her like lightning from the back. Rainbow bit her lip, pushing back the tears that were threatening to flow out for everypony to see. Despite all that however, Rainbow didn't withhold her challenging gaze at the group, her stare lingering on the pegasus Applewreck referred to as Slashie. The mare returned Rainbow's gesture with a snarl, not fooled by her covering up the fact she was hurting from a pair of damaged wings. “What's the matter runt? Can't take a little pain? Maybe I should go over there and fix those wings for you eh? If somepony doesn't attend to those wings soon, you'll never fly the skies again...” The rest of Rainbow Dash's friends were shocked at Rainbow Slash's alarming words. “Rainbow, wat is she sayin'? Are yer hurt?” “Darling, if there's something wrong, do tell us!” “Oh no Dashie, did those meanies do something to your wings?” “I'm fine guys, don't worry about me. That crazy pony is just trying to psych us out! I just got into a little rough aerial race with her that's all.” “A race which I won!” Rainbow Slash snapped. “That's because you took the fight to Cloudsdale, and destroyed half of the Weather Factory up there! Do you know how long it's going to take to fix all that damage?” Loud gasps of horror broke out among the other ponies, shocked by the sudden news they just heard from Rainbow Dash. “The Weather Factory got WHAT?!?” “That is simply awful! How could such a horrendous disaster occur?” “But, but the weather changes... it's goin' ta affect mah crops, it'll affect all of Equestria! There ain't gonna be enough food ta go around!” “Oh no... the factory, those poor ponies! How terrifying it must have been to be there. Oh Rainbow Dash, was anypony... hurt?” “I... I'm not sure Fluttershy, I did my best to help most of them escape. No thanks to her... Those ponies could have been killed you maniac!” “They knew the risk of their jobs! You should have been more concerned with your own hide.” “They needed my help! I couldn't just let them die!” “If you ever had any hopes of beating me you would have stayed focus and kept your head in the game... but your soft heart has made you weak! If I had known the Wonderbolts would accept a pathetic loser like you I would never have dreamt of becoming one...” “I don't know who you think you are, but the Wonderbolts would never allow a crazy reckless mare like you with no regards for her fellow ponies to enter their ranks!” “Ah think she just insulted ya Slashie. Looks like somepony needs ta be taught a lesson. And Ah know just the type of lesson she needs.” As Applewreck took a step forward eager to administer her brand of discipline, Rainbow Slash blocked her path with a hoof to her chest; growling menacingly while shaking her head. “No, you had your fun the last time. This one is mine...” Slash turned her head to face Rainbow Dash and gave her a venomous glare. “It's personal...” “Now, now Rainbow Slash... you'll have your fun later, business before pleasure remember. Than everypony can do what they do best...” “Boy, oh-boy, Oh-Boy! I can't wait to show off my new dress!” “Yessss... more brains...” “Ah've always wondered what it'll be like to beat up my own goody-two-horseshoe side... Now Ah'm gonna get that chance...” “What are you saying? Who the hay are you ponies? Will somepony tell me what is going on!” Rainbow Dash shouted in anger and frustration. “They are us...” Twilight Sparkle said with a quiet certainty in her voice. The others picked up on her tone and faced her the best they could with their constraints, expecting some revelation from their diligent friend. “Like the alternate world I went to, they come from a different dimension. One similar to ours, yet with obvious differences. They came here because they want to conquer our world... And judging from their vague speeches, this isn't the first time they have done something of this nature, isn't that right... Twilight? Or do you go by a different name as well?” Twilight's clone clapped her two front hooves together slowly, a smirk of mock approval on her muzzle. The pony that resembled Rarity, who had been observing everything in silence, gave the lavender mare beside her a suggestive nudge. “She's very good darling, I suppose that's why she's a princess here in this... Alpha Equestria.” “Hmmph... being turned into royalty does not mean competence Lil' Miss Rarity dear, I would like to see how far she can deduce her way into my plans without my aid.” “This is all just a game to you isn't it? You just want to see us squirm under your hoof so you can show off your superiority. That makes you nothing more than a bully!” “Oh Princess Twilight... you'll soon learn that's the least of your worries...” “'Sniff' ...this... 'sob' ...this isn't happening...” Fluttershy was breaking down into tears, the reality of being held prisoner awaiting some unknown and surely unpleasant fate took it's toll on her fragile psyche. She could hear her friends trying their best to pacify her. Across the floor from her was Pinkie Pie who was shouting words of encouragement telling her that it was going to be okay; while Rainbow Dash beside her kept telling her to be brave and not let the bad ponies get the satisfaction of seeing any of them scared. But to Fluttershy, their voices were turning into muffled noises between her sobbing and sniffing. She could not help herself, all she could think of was one day she and all of her friends were having a great time in Canterlot, and the next they were bound to metal tables being held like prisoners by evil duplicates of themselves. It was like a horrible nightmare from beyond her darkest dreams, and Fluttershy wished dearly she could wake up from it. She closed her eyes tightly hoping against hope that it was a dream, but she could still feel the pain on her hooves where the straps were biting into her skin due to the tightness. And the ambient noise all around her, along with the shouting from her friends... this was indeed, real. Suddenly, she felt a slight breeze, as if something was flying past her. The familiar sound of flapping wings entered her ears. And though she had her eyes closed, she knew that something was hovering in the air really close to her. Her heart skipped a beat as a hot breath of air descended on her face. Against her better judgment, her eyelids popped wide open. Fluttershy was petrified at the sight of her own blood-shot eyed clone, grinning away with the same creepy smile when she last saw her in that awful shed. Fluttershy was frozen with fear and could not respond until the duplicate took a huge wet lick off of her forehead causing the poor pegasus to shriek in terror. The evil duplicate smacked her lips longingly before she felt a firm tug on her pink tail. “Slaughtershy darling, come now, didn't you hear what Twilight said? You'll get to enjoy your... cuisine dèlicatesse, later once she's good and ready.” Slaughtershy floated down and planted herself beside Miss Rarity and gave her a sheepish look. “I'm sorry, but they taste especially good when their experiencing fear... you know, the brains...” “I know darling, but you really do have to learn to control that ravenous hunger of yours. It's really unladylike... after all, there are more refined ways to indulge in one's desires.” Hearing their conversation did not help the already upset Fluttershy. She started weeping once again, shaking her head in denial and crying out about wantng to go home. Her friends were equally disheartened by her sorrow; and for Rarity, this was the last straw. “You leave Fluttershy alone you... you ruffians! Can't you see you are traumatizing her? You all are really horrid lot for making the nicest, sweetest pony in Ponyville so miserable! And you! Insinuating that you are a lady in the slightest is a terrible notion! No true lady would commit such, such... such atrocities! And especially not on their own bodies!” Her attention piqued by the sudden outburst from her pristine other-self, Miss Rarity trotted gracefully over to the angry unicorn. The ever present strange doll riding on her back silently, yet seemingly watchful... She stood before a fuming Rarity, pouting her lips while batting her eyelashes innocently. The scars on her face and body invoking a mixed feeling of disgust and pity from Rarity, who dreaded to imagine what manner of circumstances could have led her to this point. “Are you claiming moi to be unladylike?” “Spare me your pretentious niceties. Where is Sweetie Belle? What have you done with her!” “So it's straight to business now? And here I was expecting a proper, ladylike introduction was in order. But I suppose this will have to do hmm? Well, first let me begin by assuring you that Sweetie Belle is quite unharmed. In fact, she and her friend Scootaloo dropped by earlier looking for you... it's too bad the library was closed, so the sweet things took off into the night. You should have heard them calling for you though, they could have woken the dead screaming and yelling as they did.” “How do I even know you are telling the truth?” “It's unladylike to lie to oneself, Rarity darling... besides, that entire experience you felt was nothing more than an illusion. A most impressively fabulous one if I might add but an illusion nonetheless...” “You closed my library? Than what about Spike? He must have heard the noise if he was upstairs... what did you do to my friend? Did you put him under a spell too? Tell me!” Twilight counted on the affections she hoped this clone shared with Rarity for Spike. And that her goading would cause her to reveal the truth of what had happened to her faithful assistant, and friend. Rarity reacted exactly the way she predicted. “'Gasp'! Spike? What did you do to my Spikey-Wikey! I swear if you harm one scale on his little head I'll... what is that?” Her evil twin took out something that caught her attention, something familiar, something that was in the shape of a heart, framed in gold... it was the fire ruby Spike had given her on his birthday. And now this duplicate was stroking and turning the gift, admiring it as if it were her own. The fury that gripped Rarity's heart was so intense that she almost choked on her words. “You... took... my... Spikey-Wikey's gift!?!” “Magnificent... isn't it?” Miss Rarity replied dreamily, ignoring Rarity's angry tone. “I can see why you adore it so... and why little Spikey-Wikey would part with it gladly for you. Or should I say... for me now?” She turned her gaze away from the gem and looked at Rarity coyly, letting her words sink in. “What... did you do...” “Remember that illusion spell I just told you? Well, it's amazing what a little extra magic boost from Twilight can do. Oh not you darling, I meant my Twilight... Dear Spikey-Wikey is now living in his ultimate fantasy world where I rule as the most fabulous queen in all of Equestria, with him by my side, as king. Once the night is over the spell would have run it's full affect. Spikey-Wikey would be so enchanted that he will no longer differentiate reality from fantasy, he will follow and obey my every wish... till' death do us part...” With that, Lil' Miss Rarity clasped the fire ruby necklace around her own neck and trotted back to join her own friends; cooing to the strange doll while taking her own sweet time as Rarity screamed after her. “You give that back! It's not yours! Do you hear me? I won't allow you to take it away! You give it back! You give it back!” Rarity hung her head in despair, eyes moistening from raw emotion. The feeling of defeat creeping over her as she continued on in a small still voice. “...you give him back...” The atmosphere changed for the worse for all the captive ponies, the thought of losing Spike was not an encouraging one. Rarity and Fluttershy were both overcome with despair, Rainbow Dash tried struggling again, jerking at the straps longing to break free and kick somepony in the teeth. “Arghh! If only... I could... ow! ...twist a bit more... ow!” “Ya'll won't get away with dis! Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will discover about yer plans, Ah'm sure of it!” “This isn't right! I thought you all were meanies... but I was wrong... you're all super-duper-nasty-basty-stinky grade O' meanies!” Though Twilight was just as upset to hear about Spike, she was at least thankful that they had not... No, no point in thinking of such things, it wouldn't do Spike any good. The important thing is to continue getting information, they'll stand a better chance of getting out and rescuing Spike if she kept a level head at all times. If only she could get under her evil-twin's skin, without provoking her into doing something overly violent. “So what now? We're completely at your mercy... surely there's more to your ingenious plan than to just torture us?” “I suppose you thought a little more coaxing would lead me to reveal more of myself to you? So you can fuel your pointless desire to be free of your bonds? Be careful what you wish for Twilight Sparkle...” She gave Rainbow Slash and Applewreck a nod that both ponies understood as they responded in kind. They cantered into the shadows, after some loud clanging noises, they reappeared with metallic bowls in their hooves that had wires, gems and other devices running through them. They proceeded to attached them to the heads of all the main six, even if some did struggle a bit more, a heavy hoof to the gut usually took care of it. Soon, all of the ponies had their headgear attached, not one of them liking where this was going. Applewreck and Rainbow Slash attached the last headgear to their own Twilight, which had more wires and gadgetry than the rest of them. She received it with her fore-hooves and wings spread out, as if she was receiving a glorious crown. Once attached, Pinkamena gave her a device that looked like a switch, with a green and a red button on it. She dramatically stretched her hooves towards her subjugated audience, preparing herself for a grand speech. “Now the moment you have been dying to know. The revealing of our purpose, and the truth of your future! But instead of simply telling you, I've decided that it would be better if I showed it to you. Once this machine is activated, our minds will meld, then I will be able to share every glorious memory in such detail that you will wished you had not known such horror existed!” “This was your plan all along!” Twilight Sparkle lashed out. “But of course, princess... and it is only the beginning...” “Bring it egg-brains! I'm not afraid!” “'sob' ...I don't want to do this...” “It's alright sugarcube, we'll get through dis... just hang in there Fluttershy.” “I'm not getting a nervousited feeling, I feel nervous, but I don't feel excited... this is bad, this is really, really, really, really bad...” “This is definitely... the worst... possible... thing!” “Darling, do you think it's wise to... join minds with them? They could...” “Do not fret Lil' Miss Rarity, I know what I am doing. This Cerebral Amplifier can handle more than anything their mental capacities are capable of... magic or not, I still have the upper hoof.” She returned her focus back on the hapless ponies and lifted the boxed switch with one hoof in position just above the green button. “Now, shall we begin?” --------------------------