The five ponies entered the lobby of the building next to where everything happened. This was the hotel that Soren, the Doctor, and their companions were staying in. Soren, with a slight limp, walked behind them. In the center of the lobby, the five of them sat in a circle.
"What happened to you" Sunny asked Soren.
"Let's see...I had a dream thanks to Rarity in which I saw Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow die in front of me. Then I woke up by falling onto the floor, only to be kept there by evil Applejack who put that enchanted necklace on me. That's when I painfully became a changeling. Then Sunny somehow figured out that I was me then I painfully reverted back to normal. Anything else?"
"The Evil Ones said they would each put you through trials to break you," Bastian said. "You survived two, but I can assure you that those were the easiest."
"I don't doubt it. There's no turning back though."
"You're a tougher colt than I first thought," Sunny commented. "What's next?"
"Uhh, I don't know. I'd rather get this over with, but so far all of them have come to me. I probably couldn't find them even if I wanted to."
"You should take this opportunity to rest," the Doctor intervened. "These mares aren't messing around, Soren. They want to destroy you then they will most likely target us."
"They're just scared that two Time Lords are in town. They obviously know we can stop them. Why else would they want to break us?"
"Soren," Bastian started, "did you forget that you are not their first victim?" Soren's confidence fell. "There have been countless others before you. All vanished or were killed by one trial each. However, they didn't have the help that you do now. You beat two of them; there are four more."
"I'm not looking forward to fighting Twilight."
"Well Twilight is looking forward to fighting you." Everyone but Soren looked at the front double doors. He remained facing away.
"I know that voice." He turned around and saw a slightly grayer version of Fluttershy. "Hello, Fluttershy—"
"Be quiet." Soren flinched back a bit.
"Woah. Not the nicest pony in the—"
"I said be QUIET!" The other ponies flinched away now. "You know why I'm here. Are you going to be a nice pet, or am I going to have to drag you with a leash?"
Geez. My Fluttershy won't believe I met this version of her.
"Well?" The five of them just realized that Fluttershy now had a leash.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. It's a good thing I didn't have to come find you all." Fluttershy silenced Soren by putting the leash on him. Now this is just cruel.
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No pony explores the outskirts of Appaloosa; you just don't, not with the Evil Ones around. It's scary enough walking through town alone when no one is around. That's when they choose you; the next to be played with. Appaloosa is surrounded by a great plain that takes twenty minutes just to run across. On the north side of the field are acres of trees. Within these trees hides a small cave that everypony knows to avoid, less you have a death wish.
Fluttershy led her 'pet,' Soren, into the cave; she said this is where the next trial was. The mouth of the cave can be clearly seen by just walking past it. Inside was a small area that was a few yards in diameter. Fluttershy led Soren to the center and sat him down. She took the leash off, backed up a few steps, then simply looked at him.
"Are you ready?"
"Why not?"
"Then close your eyes."
"No." Fluttershy growled at him. "How do I know you aren't simply going to kill me when I do?"
"Because you would have been dead before you walked into town." She walked up to him.
"So Rainbow was instructed not to—Oof!" Fluttershy knocked Soren unconscious.
--------------
It's dark.
I can't see anything.
Are my eyes even open?
Am I...Am I even awake?
All Soren saw was black. He couldn't tell if he was looking up, down, left, or right. He saw himself just fine; everything else...not at all. Even a basic illumination wasn't working.
"Fluttershy?" he called. Soren really wanted something to happen; it would be better than sitting in the boring darkness. "Is anyone here?!"
"That's the question I always ask."
"What is it with ponies randomly showing up?" Soren turned around for the umpteenth time.
He was very surprised by what he saw. Soren was standing face to face with...him. However, he had tattered black hair, an insane smile and look in his eyes, and was blood-stained around most of his coat. Soren couldn't help but look at his doppelgänger's cutie mark; blood covered the entire thing.
"So...I have to deal with myself?" Soren asked.
"Every day of my life!" his clone said. Just the voice alone made Soren feel like something bad was about to happen.
"Are you insane perchance?"
"What was your first clue? Of course I am! I'm you! The only difference is...I'm going to mop up my mistakes." The dark tone that he developed made Soren take a few steps back. Taking out a bloody blade with a huge smile, the clone walked towards Soren.
Have fun with Neros. He's your future self, Fluttershy's voice said from nowhere.
"That's a weird name to pronounce."
"Shut up and let's begin!" Neros illuminated his horn. A neon green circle appeared on the blackness near them. Three skeletal ponies slowly rose out of the ground, each holding instruments. There was a guitar, drum, and bass.
"I see my talent never goes away," Sane-Soren commented. The skeletons soon began playing their instruments in a rock-like fashion.
Hello me, meet the real me
And my misfits way of life
A dark black past is my
Most valued possession
Hindsight is always 20-20
Neros stops creeping up to Soren and turns his back on him.
But looking back it's still a bit fuzzy
He then turns his head 180 degrees without moving his body.
Speak of mutually assured destruction?
Nice story, tell it to pony's digest
Soren runs away, hoping to escape his insane counterpart.
Feeling paranoid
True enemy or false friend?
Anxiety's attacking me and
My air is getting thin
Soren feels his throat close on him. As a result, he halts to try to breathe.
I'm in trouble for the things
I haven't got to yet
I'm chomping at the bit and my
hooves are getting wet
Sweating bullets!
Neros teleports in front of Soren and grabs Soren's head.
Hello me, it's me again
You can subdue, but never tame me
Neros headbutts Soren. Soren falls to the ground, groaning and holding his head.
It gives me a migraine headache
Thinking down to your level
Soren gets up and starts backing away from Neros.
Yeah, just keep on thinking it's my fault
And stay an inch or two outta kicking distance
Neros hovers with his wings as he attempts to kick Soren.
Ponykind has got to know
Their limitations
Soren decided to bolt away again and Neros continues to throw obstacles at him.
Feeling claustrophobic
Like the walls are closing in
Blood stains on my hooves
And I don't know where I've been
Soren becomes surrounded with four giants walls. Two walls rush towards him. He curls on the ground, but the walls disappear before impact. He gets up and runs.
I'm in trouble for the things
I haven't got to yet
I'm sharpening the ax and my
Hooves are getting wet, sweating bullets
A giant axe is swung in front of Soren's path, penetrating the ground in front of him. The next minute is spent by Soren running, Neros teleporting in front him and swinging the blade every time, and the skeletal guitarist playing a solo. After the solo finished, Neros teleported in front of Soren yet again and advanced on him.
Well, me, it's nice talking to myself
A credit to dementia
Some day you too will know my pain
And smile it's black tooth grin
He smiled, showing Soren his disgusting, blackened teeth.
If the war inside my head
Won't take a day off I'll be dead
Neros blows up into particles. He quickly appears in front of Soren. Neros now has ice claws that look like talons attached to his hooves.
My icy hooves claw your back
Here I come again
He teleports behind Soren and claws his back, leaving three red lines on Soren's white coat. Soren continues run.
Feeling paranoid
True enemy or false friend?
Anxiety's attacking me
And my air is getting thin
Feeling claustrophobic
Like the walls are closing in
Blood stains on my hooves and
I don't know where I've been
Soren couldn't get far, for four walls once again enclosed him. He looked up and saw Neros flying above the walls and him. The insane pony used magic to ignite the top of each wall in green flames, which slowly traveled down the walls.
Once you committed me
Now you've acquitted me
Claiming validity
For your stupidity
The flames were close to Soren now. He could feel the intense hear coming from them.
I'm chomping at the bit
I'm sharpening the ax
Oh, here I come again, whoa
Sweating bullets!
Just as Soren felt the fire touch his hooves, he woke up with a scream. Sweating, he stared at the wooden ceiling as he calmed down. Where was he? Looking around the room, he found himself in his hotel room surrounded by Sunny, Derpy, and the Doc.