//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 - Consequences of Betrayal // Story: Solar Eclipse // by hattafan2593 //------------------------------// Rainbow stepped out of the stall and walked over to the sink. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. Get a grip, Dash. She scolded herself as she splashed water on her face. You've got to find Rarity and the kids before she does. No need to add anything else to my "List of Things I Completely Effed Up." Suddenly the lights cut out, and Rainbow was in complete darkness. She quickly picked up her bat, trying to even out her breathing. Her eyes darted about in the darkness as she slowly, cautiously, took a step forward. Something hit her in the face and she flew backwards. The bat fell from her hand and clattered off somewhere. Rainbow struggled to stand, when she was struck again, this time sending her into one of the sinks. "It hurts, doesn't it." Rainbow's eyes widened at the sudden voice, making her forget about the welt forming on her temple. "Being trapped. Cornered with nowhere to run." "W-Wai-" Rainbow was slammed against the wall, and she struggled to breathe as an ice-cold hand wrapped around her throat. The lights flickered back on, and Rainbow found herself staring into golden, hate-filled eyes. "S-Su-AACK!" The grip on her throat tightened. She was lifted off the ground and her legs kicked out uselessly. "Not being allowed to explain yourself." Sunset hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Having to live with the knowledge that someone you trusted - someone who you thought was your friend - tried to have you killed." Rainbow shook her head vigorously - as much as she could anyway - as she choked out, "Sunset...I-I swear...I-I didn't-" "Don't you even!" Sunset snarled, her fangs bared, as she got in Rainbow's face. "Don't you even feed me that bullshit! Gilda is a sociopath. She made me look like a saint in comparison - at least the shit I pulled was with a goal in mind; she did it for laughs. The only reason she's not in juvie right now is because I kept her in line. You knew this, Dash. You knew what kind of person she is. And you set her and 29 other students on me like a pack of wolves! What, exactly, did you think was going to happen?! Please, tell me! I legitimately want to know!" Rainbow opened and closed her mouth several times, before whispering the only thing she could say. "...I'm sorry." Sunset's face twisted in disgust, before dropping Rainbow to the floor. "Not yet you're not." She hissed, and then snapped her fingers. Bright green flames erupted behind her, and then vanished to reveal Scootaloo, still manacled, looking about in confusion and fright. Sunset stalked towards the girl, who looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Hello..... Anon-A-Miss." Scootaloo crawled away until her back hit the wall, her face a mask of fright. "P-Please...d-don't hurt me! I-I'm sorry!" Sunset was unmoved by her tears. "I'm sure you are." She opened her palm and a whip appeared in her hand. "A pity I don't care." "Wait!" Rainbow cried out, still catching her breath from being nearly strangled. "I....I get it...y-you're pissed at her, but....y-you're not seriously gonna whip her, are you?" "Of course not." Rainbow let out a sigh of relief. "You are." Rainbow froze. "W-wha...?" She cried out as she was grabbed by the arm and yanked to her feet. The force left her stumbling slightly. "You heard me." Sunset replied, her expression completely blank as she held out the whip. "Ten lashes. Right now." Rainbow took a step back, shaking her head. She knew by the look on Sunset's face that she was dead serious. "Y...you're insane." Sunset merely shrugged. "Have it your way." She snapped her fingers again, and the manacles around Scootaloo's wrists transformed into a giant snake. It wrapped itself around her neck before she could even scream, and started to squeeze. "No!" Rainbow tried to run to Scootaloo's rescue, but a sharp pain ran up her arm and she found she was rooted to the spot. She stared in horror as Scootaloo's face began to turn purple. "Sunset, please!" Rainbow begged, her nails digging into her arm as she stared imploringly at her former friend. "For God's sake, she's just a kid!" "And that makes it all okay, doesn't it." Sunset uttered coldly. "She betrayed you, Dash. She knew what posting those pictures would do to your reputation, and she did it anyway." Her eyes narrowed in resentment. "You weren't nearly as lenient when you thought it was me." Rainbow had to lean back as Sunset leaned in, their noses almost touching. "But Gilda isn't here to do your dirty work this time. Is she?" Sunset thrust the handle of the whip out. "Punish her. Or I will." "Rn....bw....Dsh......." Rainbow stared from the whip in Sunset's blackened hand, to Scootaloo, whose struggles were starting to lessen. Then with an eerie calm, she took the whip. Sunset snapped her fingers, and the snake once more became a pair of manacles, this time chaining her to one of the sinks, leaving Scootaloo shaking and panting on the floor. Scootaloo didn't resist as Sunset nudged her with her foot, making her turn around. Sunset grabbed the back of her hooded shirt and pulled, tearing the fabric and exposing Scootaloo's bare back. "Ten lashes." Sunset said softly. "And don't even think about holding back. If I suspect you're going easy on her, I'll make you start again." Rainbow's expression was hidden behind her bangs as she slowly walked towards Scootaloo. She gripped the handle tightly in her fist and straightened the length of the whip, preparing the first strike. Scootaloo dared a glance behind her. "....Rainbow Dash....?" She screamed as the whip came down on her back. Five agonizing minutes passed, and the screams eventually stopped. Scootaloo simply hung from her manacles, not having the strentgh to hold herself up. Her eyes were glazed over with pain and shock, her face wet from crying. Her back was a bloody mess, the marks raw and bright red. They would no doubt leave scars. Rainbow was on her knees in the middle of the floor. A single tear had made it's way down her blank face as she stared at the whip laying limply in her palms. A single word was burned into her arm, but she simply couldn't bring herself to care: Coward All the while, Sunset had looked on with the same stoic expression. But as the black veins crawled up her neck and towards her eye, she couldn't help the slight twitch that passed over her face. She vanished, leaving the two other girls to their misery. So....that's it. ....Now what? Sunset's head snapped up as she felt something....familiar.... No.....she couldn't have.... She did. A slightly deranged smile stretched Sunset's lips as the left side of her face turned completely black. Oh well...I've gone this far. Might as well go all the way.