//------------------------------//
// #11 Lynn 
// Story: The Rift 
// by Colors 
//------------------------------//



I


“QUESTION 118: DID THE AMBASSADOR OF THE DARK CITADEL DELIVER A CONDITIONAL PEACE OFFERING IN THE YEAR 3723 S M? JUMP TWICE FOR YES.”

“... weak,” Apple Stars said. “I wouldn’t win against you anyway. I know history, but you have to win three challenges, right? You’d win three to one.”

“I’m sorry,” I said uncomfortably. “I didn’t-”

“Not your fault. I’m just... saying. I won’t fight you. If it comes you to it, I’ll surrender. I’d rather die than be responsible f-for...”

“BOTH CORRECT. QUESTION 119: ...” the announcer began, while I tried my best not to listen. Yeah, things had changed quite a lot in the past... hour? It was impossible to say how long it had been.

Apple Stars, far as I could tell from talking to her, was just a regular Ponyvillean mare. Friendlier than I was, for sure. Celestia only  knew why she had acted the way she had. From what she had told me, she had never done anything like this before. She had said that it had just come over her. Like somepony else was controlling her body, every act and every motion. Like she’d been a puppet. Then, once she had dropped in here, everything had gone back to normal.

I believed her, just because nothing else made sense. If she really were out for my life, she’d hardly offer her own to save it, now.

And there was no third way. One of us was going to die here. We could tie for questions indefinitely, but unless someone was going to come and help (and there was no reason why anypony would know we were here), we’d simply starve to death. Or dehydrate, rather.

“BOTH FALSE. QUESTION 120: ...”

“Does it go on forever?” Apple Star asked, in a loud voice so as to talk over the announcer.

“Yeah. Don’t ask how.”

Apple Star had already asked what in Tartarus name this whole thing was. I hadn’t told her. This was a secret I wasn’t sharing with anypony, not even one I was bonding with over... well, over this incredibly stupid situation we were both in.

“BOTH FALSE. QUESTION 121: DID CELESTIA CREATE THE UNIVERSE? WIGGLE YOUR NOSE FOR YES.”



II


“Wiggle your nose?!” Apple Star repeated, disbelievingly. “That’s not even possible!”

She was right. But right now I couldn’t care less. Did Celestia create the universe? That being a question should be just as impossible as wiggling your nose.

We exchanged a look. Then we both said nothing, waiting for the resolution.

“BOTH CORRECT. QUESTION 122: WHY IN THE NAME OF CERBERUS’ BALLS AREN’T YOU DOING ANYTHING? YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS RETARDED? ARE BOTH OF YOU COWARDS WHO WON’T EVEN PLAY IN A GAME FOR YOUR LIFE? YOU KNOW YOU’LL BOTH DIE OF THIRST IF YOU WAIT AROUND ANYWAY, DON’T YOU? SCREW BOTH OF YOU. JUST ONE COSMIC ENTITY’S OPINION. WIGGLE YOUR EARS FOR YES.”

“Uhm,” I made.

“It shouldn’t do that, right?” Apple Star asked carefully.

“No,” I said, “definitely not.”

“BOTH ERROR 18: ELEMENT NOT FOUND. QUESTION 123: IF YOU DON’T GET GOING, MAYBE I WON’T LET EITHER OF YOU OUT? DO YOU THINK I CAN’T DO THAT? HA. HA. HA.” (It wasn’t laughing, it spoke the syllables ‘ha-ha-ha’.) “WELL, MAYBE I CAN’T. OR MAYBE I CAN. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE? IT’S EITHER ONE OF YOU OR BOTH OF YOU THAT WILL BITE THE DUST. MAKE YOUR CHOICE, CELESTIA DAMN IT. WIGGLE YOUR-”

There was a bombastic crash as the ceiling of the hall exploded into a thousand splinters. An angel (at least that’s what she looked like at first) with silver wings descended from heaven (okay, I see how that might be stretching it, but you know it looked pretty damn poetic in that moment, okay? And she saved our lives, jeez!) and landed between us.

“Uhm,” Cyclone said. “I think somepony needs help? Do you two need help? I’m sorry if I’ve done anything wrong.”



III


A trillion miles above Equestria...