Sunset was enjoying her day. Sure… her classes were pretty boring that day, but she could still look forward to practice with the others. And after that, they were all getting together with Grimoire for a nice picnic. As the day ended, she made her way to the practice room to find her friends standing outside.
When she walked up, she had to ask, “What’s going on?”
“The door’s locked.” Rainbow lightly kicked the door.
“When did they start locking the door?”
“They didn’t. According to the note, you have the key. And it’s signed by Grimoire.”
“Grimoire? Wait. I don’t have the key. Do I?” She rummaged through her pockets, and found the key in question. “How did he…?” She shook her head and unlocked the door.
Inside was not their music room, but rather a large open field, but not a normal field. The grass was a light grey and the nearby trees were without leaves. The sun was black, but still seemed too bright to gaze at for long. The sky was a dark pink/light red and the clouds that pass by were a deep green.
Grimoire was sitting atop a headstone in the middle of the field. As the group entered, he waved from his perch. “Hello.”
Sunset looked around before zeroing in on Grimoire with a burning glare. “Where’s our practice room?”
“Ooh! Haven’t seen that face in a while. Of course, last time you were a pony. And now that I can compare the two, the pony version isn’t nearly as threatening.”
“Grimoire!”
“Calm down.” He jumped down and the headstone sunk into the ground. “Your practice room is exactly where you left it. I just changed the destination of the portal.”
“Portal?” Fluttershy tilted her head slightly, “What do you mean?”
“A doorway is often considered a portal between two states of location. Inside vs outside. Hallway vs room. Room one vs room two.”
“Oh. That makes sense…”
Sunset snapped her fingers to get their attention. “I hate to cut the lesson short, but we have to practice. So could you put things back to normal, please?”
“I could… but first, hear me out. I got thinking lately, and I came to the realization that I’m not proactive in this whole… friendship thing. Sure, I gave you all the questioners, but I don’t really know any of you. So, I came up with an idea.”
“What idea?”
“A game night!”
The group looked between one another and back to Grimoire. “Seriously?”
“What? Am I not interesting enough for a game night? I’m hurt.”
“Calm down, Grimoire,” Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose for a second before continuing, “You really should have discussed this with us first, rather than springing it on us like this.”
“I was under the impression that surprises were an important part of the friendship process.”
Rainbow chimed in with, “To be fair, we are pretty awesome. I think we can skip one practice.”
The common consensus of the group was that they wanted to see where Grimoire was going with this. Eventually, Sunset had to capitulate. “Alright. What’s the game?”
Grimoire gave a quick laugh before jumping up onto a headstone that rose up to catch him. “The game is a modified version of a game known as Nightmare. In this, you don’t face your fears, rather you draw cards to eventually reach the end of the board. First one to the end, wins.”
“Okay… so where’s the board?”
“You’re standing on it.” At the snap of his fingers, flat stones rose up from the ground, creating a board for them to play. He jumped back down to the others, who were now standing at the starting space. “I’ll go first to demonstrate.” He holds out his hand and a card appears between his index and middle fingers. He brings the card to his face and reads it aloud.
[You got off easy. You won’t be so lucky next time. Move ahead two spaces.]
“The cards appear in your hand and you follow the instructions on the card. The only cards that you don’t read out loud are chance cards, which you are awarded based on the card you pull from the movement deck. Some of the movement cards also have challenges to complete, but those are spelled out. The best way to learn is through experience. Who’s next?”
Rainbow jumped to the front of the pack. “I’ll go! So how do I get the card?” As she asked this, the card appeared in her hand. “Oh! Cool.” [A good stretch is always important before strenuous activity. Maybe next time, you’ll remember to do that before you pull a muscle. Move ahead five spaces, but lose your next turn.] “Huh…” Rainbow moved the requisite spaces, “So, how far to most of these cards send us?”
Grimoire thought a moment. “It depends. Sometimes there are high risk, high reward cards.”
“Well, let’s see what we get.” Rarity drew a card next. [Your designs are selling extremely well. Move ahead three spaces as you make a name for yourself and take a chance card in profits.] “Oh! How lucky!” She moves ahead and takes her chance card.
“My turn! My turn!” Pinkie drew a card and read it aloud with her usual gusto, [All you need is a smile. What else is there, after all? Move ahead three spaces and party!] “OOH! I like this card!”
“Hey, wait a second.” Sunset was up next, but she had to confirm something. “These cards seem kind of weird.”
“Nice catch.” Grimoire smiled. “Each of us has a separate deck with custom cards. After all, it’s more fun that way.”
Sunset raised an eyebrow but drew a card. [Portals are risky… Move ahead 10 spaces, but take two turns to readjust.] As Sunset stepped forward, she found herself ten spaces ahead. “What?” After re-reading the card, she put it together. “Portals…”
Applejack drew a card next. [The best solutions are often the simplest. You excel at finding the solution, when it isn’t your problem. Move ahead four spaces. If you pass one or more players, draw a chance card. If not, you lose a turn.] “Nice. Great time to get this card.” AJ passed the group, sans Rainbow Dash, and received a chance card.
Fluttershy wasn’t sure what would it was her turn to draw a card. But it was clear a lot of thought went into this, and she didn’t want to seem ungrateful. [Sometimes, it’s just nice to sit back and enjoy the day or go for a walk in the woods. Move ahead one space.] Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief and moved her space.
Now it was Twilight’s turn. [Choice: There’s so much we don’t understand in life. So much that we can’t explain. Care to take a crack at it? If yes, draw another card and follow its instructions. If no, move ahead three spaces.] “Um… what?”
“Oh! Right…” Grimoire clears his throat before explaining, “Some cards are choices. You get to pick what you want to do. So, here, you can either draw a new card or move three spaces. The average move is three spaces, so you could risk moving farther or being slowed.”
Twilight looked back at her card and to the board. “Alright… I’ll draw.” Another card appeared in her hand. [Well… That can’t be good. Your experiment yields unforeseen circumstances. The resulting explosion blasts you forward 7 spaces, but you have to take a turn to rest.] “What?” As if on cue, the space below her erupted, sending her seven spaces forward. “W-what happened?”
Grimoire answered her before the others could panic, “Exactly what the card said would happen. But don’t worry, you can’t really get hurt here. It’s a game board after all.” With that, he drew a new card. [You really need to keep better track of your journal. Move ahead three spaces in your search and take a chance card.] As he moves forward and takes his card, his smile fades. “Son of a… {Activate immediately! You just love to help when you can. But this is a competition. As a result, you gave one of your opponents an advantage. A randomly chosen opponent moves ahead two spaces and takes a free chance card.} “Lovely…”
An arrow appeared over their heads and moved between the other players, finally settling on Rainbow Dash. Dash gave a quick celebration and moved forward. However, since she had to skip her turn, her celebration was short lived.
Rarity reached for a new card and read aloud. [Using gems in your designs are a double-edged sword. Profits are down. Move ahead only 1 space.]
Now it was Pinkie’s turn again. [Rain? Snow? Heat? Doesn’t matter! We’re having a party! Move ahead four spaces.]
“I get the feeling she’s going to get a lot of those.” Applejack took a card as Sunset had to skip her turn. [Apple surplus. Move ahead three spaces. Take 2 chance cards, play one now and save the other for later.] “Not bad.” When she moves her spaces and reviews her cards, she settles on one and plays, {Be more careful next time. Pick one other player, they move back three spaces.} She looks over her competition and points to Rainbow Dash. “Move it back, Rainbow.”
“Oh, come on!” Rainbow moves back, clearly annoyed that she lost her avantage.
Now it was Fluttershy’s turn again. [Stop and smell the flowers. Nothing wrong with that. Move ahead two spaces and enjoy a turn off.]
With Twilight out for the round, it was Grimoire’s turn again. “Okay… Hope I get something that can help me.” He draws his card. [Experimental Success! Move ahead four spaces and take a chance card.] “Excellent.”
Now it was Rainbow’s turn again. [It’s good being the best. Move ahead 3 spaces and take a chance card. Of course, if you want to be really awesome, take 6 spaces but get no chance card.] “Nice! I’m going six spaces!” Rainbow rushed forward in front of the group and took her place in first.
“Oh no you don’t.” Applejack played one of her chance cards. {Tripped at the starting line. Target opponent moves back four spaces.}
“Nice try, Applejack. But I have this.” {Sonic Rainboom! When targeted by an opponent’s chance card, you can play this to negate the effect. The speed sends you forward four spaces.} The sky erupted with said rainboom and Rainbow was pushed ahead four spaces. “Thanks AJ.”
Applejack could only sigh and face-palm. “You’re welcome.”
Now, Rarity’s turn could begin. [Fabulous! Amazing! Awe-inspiring! Your latest line is turning heads. Move ahead three spaces and take a chance card.] Rarity moved next to Pinkie Pie and drew her card. {Play immediately! A shining testament to your vision! Move ahead three spaces and bring one other player to your new location.} “Ooh! What a lovely card.” She moved to her new locale and looked at the board. “You know… I think I’d like to give a boost. Fluttershy, come up here, s’il vous plait.”
The shy girl made her way up to Rarity. She wasn’t sure about the game, but she supposed she was having fun.
Pinkie was next and drew the card, excited to see what happened next. [Did someone say party?! No?! Well, I just did! Move ahead two spaces and take a chance card as a gift.]
It was finally Sunset’s turn again. [Dusk is upon us. As the sun sinks in the horizon, the promise of the future light weighs on the mind. Move ahead four spaces and take a card from inspiration.]
With that, Applejack drew her card for the turn. [Choice! It’s always best to be honest. But what do you when you have to argue against two truths? You can either move ahead seven spaces and lose a turn or move one space and take a chance card.] Applejack barely thought about it. “Seven spaces forward!” This put her alongside Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy had to skip a turn, so it was Twilight’s turn again. [Welcome… to the Twilight Zone! Move ahead three spaces. Any player you pass has to lose a turn.] This took Grimoire, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy out of the round.
Or it would have, if not for Applejack. “How about this? I play my chance card.” {Helping out is just what you do. Any player that lost a turn on the effect of one card ignores the effect and you move forward one space for each player effected.} With that, Applejack moved forward four spaces and the turn order remained normal.
With his turn restored, Grimoire drew a card. [You activated your trap card! Pick one player, they discard a chance card and you move three spaces.] Grimoire grinned, “Nice. Oh, Applejack…”
Applejack had a mini freak out when her card disappeared. It read, {Play when you spend a lost turn: move ahead six spaces if you couldn’t move this turn otherwise.} “Dang it…”
“Nice try, AJ. Can I call you AJ? I’m going to call you AJ…”
Now it was Rainbow Dash’s turn. [Not in first? Let’s fix that. Move ahead four spaces. If you aren’t in first place after that, move another four.] Rainbow was now next to Applejack, at the half-way point, and tied for first. So she had to stop.
Now it was Rarity’s turn again. [Glorious possibilities! Move ahead three spaces.] “I think this is a good time to play this,” {Unbelievable! Move ahead an extra three spaces.} This put Rarity into the lead.
With that, it was Pinkie’s turn again. [Sadly, the party must end. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t ready for the next one. Move ahead five spaces and get ready for the next party.]
Now, it was Sunset’s draw. [You’ve seen through the lies, but there’s something else to which you remain blind. Move ahead two spaces, and take a chance card. However, a random player receives a chance card as well.] After the arrow returned, it landed on Twilight.
Since Applejack lost her ‘get-out-of-lost-turn’ card and Fluttershy still had a turn to wait, it was Twilight’s draw. [The twilight hour approaches. Advance 10 spaces. All other players move forward three.] Putting Twilight in first and only ten spaces from the goal.
Grimoire’s turn. [CHALLENGE! They don’t see what’s before them. You don’t understand what’s coming. Roll a six sided die. If the number comes up less than 5, move back the number of spaces you roll. If you roll a five or six, move forward double your roll.] “Well… Knowing me…” He materializes a die and rolls… a four. “Yep… just short.” He moved back four spaces.
Sunset stopped him to play a card. {Helping out: move another player forward five spaces and take another chance card.} “Get back up here, Grimoire.”
“Aw… you do care.” He made his way back. As he approached, he played his own chance card. “But I’m not going to pull punches.” {When a chance card is used against you, move ahead three spaces and take one chance card from an opponent.} He snapped his fingers and Sunset’s new card flew to his hand. “Thanks, Sunset.” Once he looks it over, he smiles. “I think I’ll play this now. {Sundown Showdown! Move ahead until you reach another player. You and the other player roll a die. The winner moves forward three spaces.}
Grimoire moved next to Pinkie and the two were given dice. Pinkie rolled a 4 while Grimoire squeaked by with 5. This extra boost put Grimoire next to Twilight.
“Okay,” Rainbow drew her next card. [Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. Move forward one space.] Rainbow was clearly annoyed that she didn’t move farther.
Now it was Rarity’s turn again. “Let’s see…” [Life is more fun with friends. Move forward until you reach another player.] She didn’t move far, joining Twilight and Grimoire on space 20.
Now it was Pinkie’s turn. [How? How do you do that? You break reality and move ahead seven spaces without consequence.] Pinkie was in the lead now and only six spaces from the win.
As Sunset drew her card, she got her chance card ready. [Acceptance of one’s mistakes makes one stronger, if you actually learn from them. You’ve clearly done more than just learn from them. Move ahead five spaces.] Sunset was now even with Pinkie Pie. She had to admit, she was having fun. And it was clear her friends were too.
Now it was Applejack’s turn. Before she drew her movement card, she played her chance card, {Harvest! Roll a die, move ahead equal to the number you roll.} She rolled her die and claimed an extra six spaces. Now she drew her movement card. [Cider season is great. If only you could make enough for everyone. Move ahead one space.] Applejack was now the lead with only five spaces away.
As Fluttershy drew her card, she wasn’t sure what would happen. [Back of the pack? Not anymore! Sorry, was that too loud? Move ahead until you reach the first place player.] This put Fluttershy next to Applejack.
It was Twilight’s turn now. [Why is it so dark? The midnight hour is here! Move ahead five spaces. Every player you pass is moved back one space as a result.] “Wait… what?” She moved forward and everyone in front of her was knocked back a space. “Sorry.”
Now it was Grimoire’s turn again. [To light a candle, is to cast a shadow. Move ahead three spaces and draw a chance card.] Once he made his way to his new spot, he drew his chance card, and immediately wished he didn’t. {Play immediately! You had to see this coming. Good night sweet prince! The game ends here. Additional quotation! GAME OVER MAN! This game is now over. Any player within three spaces of the goal wins the game. Every player more than four spaces away loses. Sorry.} “… well… shi…”
The board began to glow and erupted into flames. The group was dropped into their practice room, coughing from the smoke. They eventually brushed themselves off, but Grimoire was not so easily raised. As he landed in the room first, he took the brunt of seven humans worth of gravitational force.
He eventually stood up, with a little help from Sunset. “I think I shouldn’t make games anymore…”
“Are you kidding?! That was awesome!” Rainbow smacked Grimoire’s shoulder. “We have to do that again one day.”
As Grimoire strained to hold back tears of pain, he smiled. “Thanks. But I don’t see it happening for a bit. I think I’m going to bed early today…”
\/
While the friends enjoyed a fun, if tiring, competition; a familiar trio were forced to work together. The Dazzlings (now just Adagio, Sonata, and Aria) had to get jobs to support themselves now that they lost their powers. Now forced to work at the local Taco Shack, as it was the only place that would hire them, the sirens were positively miserable. Well… that’s not totally true. Sonata was perfectly fine working at the drive through, but that’s because of her naturally bright personality. The other two were so board that they would have preferred dealing with the students from CHS again. Aria was asleep at her post, nothing new. She hated this job and was trying to find ways to get fired. Adagio, especially, was at her wits end. She wanted something to happen. Anything!
(Careful what you wish for, Dagi…)
The door didn’t open. There was no indication that something had changed. But, suddenly, there was a large man standing in front of Adagio’s register. He was a tall man, nearly 2.5 meters (over 8 feet) in height, and dressed in a strange combination of fur and leather. He had a mask adorned with four antlers and a design making it look like he had four eyes.
She sighed upon realizing he was there, “Hello… welcome to Taco Shack. May I take your order?”
The man just stood there. He was motionless and unnerving. A small groan escaped his throat, but it was indiscernible.
Adagio rolled her eyes. “Sir, if you have an order then say so. If you can’t speak, write it down.” She passed a company notepad toward the man.
The man took the pen and snapped it between his fingers.
“You’ll need to pay for… that…” Adagio noticed that the ink from the now broken pen fell on to the pad and spelled out [CHS]. “Uh… I…” Now the siren noticed that the man had no breath. When this realization hit her, she internally panicked.
“Where… is it?” The man’s voice didn’t help. It was a deep, raspy tone.
“I-if you need directions, I s-suppose I can help…”
The man reached his hand toward her, a red glow surrounding him. After a moment, his hand returned to his side and he turned around. “Thanks…” With that, he was gone.
Adagio was shaking. This was a first for her. What was it? This strange feeling that made her shiver in such a way. Was this fear? No! It couldn’t be! She is Adagio Dazzle! Sure, she might not have her powers, but that doesn’t change that fact that she isn’t afraid of anything. She is to be feared! Not the other way around! Then… why was she shaking? What on Earth was that thing?
Aria woke up and groggily asked, “What happened?” Aria didn’t need an answer. The foreign look on Adagio’s face was enough of an answer. This can’t be good…