//------------------------------// // The Test // Story: Nightmares and Harmony // by Starpony999 //------------------------------// It wasn't long before the castle was in sight. It stood tall and menacing, but something seemed...off about it. The structure of the building was firm, but the top part - if the light touched it just right - it was almost see through. Twilight frowned as she looked on. She could have sworn this building hadn't been here the last time she did a fly over. Giddy with excitement, Dawn started galloping towards it. Unfortunately, there was still something that had once been a moat in front of them. The pink pony almost ran right off the side of the cliff before her fellow ponies stopped her. "Great. Another obstacle!" Dawn pouted, going so far as to sit down and cross her font legs grumpily. "How are we supposed to get past this one?" "Uh, hello." Twilight waved her hoof to get everypony's attention. Once all eyes were on her, she pointed to her back, where she extended her wings. "Wings. AJ and I can just fly over there and tie the bridge." The purple pegasus pointed to the bridge Dawn had almost fallen over. "Right." The magician returned to a normal sitting position. "Race ya!" Apple Jet declared, leaping into the inky skies. "No fair!" Twilight Swish called, following her friend through the air. "You got a head start!" One would think that a flight over a bridge would span no time at all, yet for some reason, the flight took a few minutes. Clouds began to conceal the vision of the castle and bridge until all Apple Jet could see were the clouds. She couldn't even spot Twilight, who had, despite AJ's head start, been right beside the orange pegasus up until a couple seconds ago. Apple Jet pressed on, sure that her friend wasn't far behind. Or that far ahead, which was equally possible. Everypony knew Apple Jet was the fastest flier in all of Equestria, but Twilight was the smartest. Whenever they would race each other, they could never tell who reached the finish line first. Not even Photo Finish's photo finish could determine who won. So Apple Jet didn't have any reason to worry about her friend. Right? Before AJ even had any time to truly consider being worried, there was a break in the clouds. Well. that's what it looked like at first, at least. A few moments longer and she could see that the clouds had rearranged themselves to resemble a face. The face had a long horn and a crown upon its head, and Apple wasn't sure, but it looked like wings that were spread out majestically behind it. This was definitely an alicorn, so probably a princess. She wasn't the likes of anypony AJ had seen before, but there had been a bushel-load of surprises one this trip already, so the pegaus wasn't too surprised. "Apple Jet" The alicorn spoke, her voice filled with authority despite the sweetness, like a cinnamon kick in a sweet apple pie. "You have a decision to make." "Ah--I do?" The orange pegasus stuttered, her country twang making an appearance. Sure, the shape hadn't surprised her all that much, but since when could clouds talk? Next thing you know, they'll turn pink and rain chocolate milk! Well, actually, apple juice would be a better choice. But still. "Yes." Came the response. A response to a question had to mean it was real, right? Well, at least it wasn't some automated transmission like those 'films' Twilight was always rambling about. "You must choose between your past," Clouds made way on AJ's right to show a golden rope hanging on the cliff edge. She immediately identified it as the lasso her mother had given her before...that last trip. The one she had brought on this trip. It must've fallen out of her saddlebag. "Or your friend." To blonde's left, she could make out another pegasus through the clouds, hanging on for dear life on a cliff. One of her wings were obviously broken, and she didn't have nearly enough strength to hold on much longer, let alone pull herself up. "Twilight...." Her green eyes lit up in recognition. "You must choose Apple Jet." Was it just her, or did that alicorn appear to be crying? "Your future depends on it." The alicorn's voice and figure faded away back into the clouds as quickly as she had appeared. Apple Jet had to make a quick decision. She took off to her left and flew as fast as she could to save Twilight. She carried the lavender pegasus to the other side and dropped her off. Then, in an attempt to save her past as well, she shot off to where she had seen the lasso. Maybe she could still retrieve the rope. She came to the cliff's edge and looked all around. It was gone. She quickly checked her saddlebag. Her lasso wasn't there either. The orange filly turned toward her friend and sighed. As she looked at Twilight who was safe and sound, AJ knew she had made the right decision. A piece of rope wasn't worth her friend's life, no matter how much sentimental value it had. That didn't mean, however, that the hurt wasn't still there though. Shaking her head to rid herself of the sad thoughts, the blonde went to help the indigo-maned pegasus in tying up the bridge. By now, the clouds had cleared away, and the four other mares could easily be seen on the other side. Once the bridge was fixed, they came galloping over. Rainbow Zap was the first one across, and she tackled her sister to the ground. "Are you okay? You scared me! What took you long!?" The rainbow-maned's sister laughed as she got up. "No worries, sis, we're all fine." "Yeah! She even saved me from falling!" Twilight exclaimed happily, not visibly shaken from her near-death experience. The sky blue earth pony just hurumphed in response. She still was not okay with her sister being so reckless all the time. "Look girls!" Dawn exclaimed, pointing straight ahead of them. "The castle! We made it!" And just like that, all six mares took to galloping for the castle entrance.