//------------------------------// // W1 Mortal Enemies - Joint Venture by Undome Tinwe (Sci-Fi, Thriller, EqG) // Story: RariTwi Extravaganza // by RariTwi Squad //------------------------------// For the prompt MORTAL ENEMIES... Joint Venture by Undome Tinwe It was a pleasure to burn. Rarity took a moment to appreciate the swirling tapestry of color before her as the pages of the book warped and faded from parchment brown to black to nothing as tongues of verdant fire lapped at its edges. Perhaps she would design a new fashion based on this spectacle once she got out of here. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door bursting open as the last of the makeshift barricade she had erected in front of it gave way, revealing a small squad of mercenaries. They were clad in full body armor, the undulating sheets of quicksilver mithril plating gleaming in the dim lamplight as they hid the network of wires and tubes that channeled the various biological, cybernetic, and magical enhancement into their wearers. Each one of them held a glowing pulse rifle, and from the bright purple lights on their tips, they had all been set to maximum power. Above the guards, a small swarm of drones spread out to cover the perimeter of the small storage room Rarity had held herself up in, the silent, metallic insects searching for any surprises she might have set up. For most people, this would've been considered severe overkill, and a waste of valuable resources. Rarity was not most people. "Right on time!" She smiled as she spoke, her eyes locked onto the scrying crystal of the largest drone. "You always did have a knack with punctuality." She released her grip on the hilt of her conjured blade, allowing it to clatter to the floor before it dematerialized. A robotic, filtered voice spoke from the drone in perfect monotone. "Resistance is futile. Comply or lethal force will be employed." "Don't worry, darling." Rarity raised her hands, palms open and facing the drone. "I know when I've been outmatched. Do tell your goons to be careful with my ensemble when they take me into custody, please. This dress is hand-stitched and took hours of work to create." There was a moment of silence before the lead mercenary walked towards Rarity. With the helmet and opaque visor covering their face, Rarity was unable to ascertain their emotional state, but their hand looked steady as they extended it towards her, a glowing orb in resting on the palm of the exoskeleton. With a polite curtsy, Rarity took the proffered hand. A moment later, the world disappeared in a flash of white light, blinding her for several seconds before her eyes adjusted. When her sight returned, Rarity found herself standing in a large boardroom. A long table designed to sit several dozen sat in the center of the room, plush velvet chairs surrounding it. One wall was composed entirely of glass provided a breathtaking view of Canterlot, the skyline glowing with artificial light against the night sky. "A very wise man once said that those who burn books will one day burn people." A chill coursed down Rarity's spine as she turned towards the woman who had spoken. "Burning people is more your cup of tea, if I recall." She fought to keep her tone calm despite the knowledge that she'd been teleported right into the lion's den. And the lion looked very, very hungry. "I must say, when I got the news that someone had broken into Jet Set Enterprise's headquarters, I didn't expect you girls to be the ones behind the heist." Twilight Sparkle's lips curled upwards as she strode over towards her captive audience. "I'll admit, losing Star Swirl's Grimoire right when we were about the finalize its purchase is an unfortunate setback. "You have no idea how it pained me to watch as you burned it to ashes." A small twitch in her right eye was the only indication of Twilight's anger. "Still, better to lose it entirely than to see it in the clutches of Equinox Labs. And capturing you, my dear, has turned this development form a zero-sum outcome to a resounding victory for Zenitech and myself." "I am quite the catch, if I say so myself." Rarity refused to let herself be cowed, meeting Twilight's vicious gaze with her own. "But we live in modern, civilized times. It's going to take much more than simply kidnapping me and bringing me to your lair to win me over. A lady needs to be courted." "Of course." Twilight snapped her fingers, and a door on the other side of the room opened. "Leave us," she said, turning to the mercenaries that had brought Rarity in. Without a word, they walked out of the room, leaving Rarity alone with Twilight. Oddly enough, the absence of the heavily-armed guards only served to heighten Rarity's fear. "Are you sure it's a good idea to shoo away your attack dogs?" Rarity said, summoning every ounce of bravado she didn't have. "Anything might happen without them to protect you." Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're going to threaten me?" "I've been practicing since our last rendezvous," Rarity replied. "You won't find me such easy prey this time." "Be that as it may, we both know that no matter how much your skill has improved, your power still pales in comparison to mine." Twilight raised her hand, and a soft purple light surrounded it. "I could crush you like an insect if I wanted." "But you don't want to do that, or I wouldn't be here." Rarity conjured a small dagger in her right hand, an instinctive reaction to the arcane might that Twilight held in her own hands. "Clever as always." Twilight smiled, showing far too many teeth for Rarity's liking. "You're much more valuable to me alive than dead. As part of Sunset's inner circle, you have all the knowledge I need to bring Equinox Labs to its knees." Rarity shrugged. "I'm just a simple fashion designer. It's true I have the ear of many of the crème de la crème of the city, but that hardly makes me privy to their darkest secrets." Twilight rolled her eyes in response. "Please, don't insult my intelligence. I know all about your less-legal activities. And I will learn everything I need from you. After all, I said you were valuable to me alive — whole and sane is a separate, less mission-critical consideration." Rarity froze stock still as Twilight raised a hand to cup her chin, her breath frozen in her lungs. "But it would be a shame to ruin such a pretty face. Especially when there's so much more you could offer me." "I'm flattered, dear." Rarity's breathing was shallow, her words nearly gasped out as her composure faltered. "But I'm afraid you're just not my type." "I think you're wrong about that." Twilight pulled back from Rarity, much to her relief. "That's why I was so happy when you were separated from the rest of your friends. I've wanted to talk to you for a while now." "Most people would have just made an appointment with my assistant." "I'm not most people." Twilight dispelled the glow around her hand as she sat down on one of the chairs, her posture looking deceptively relaxed. "And neither are you. I've watched you over the years, seen your rise from nothing to one of the Canterlot Elite." Twilight gestured towards one of the chairs, and Rarity sat down, but kept her body tensed and ready for any surprises. "I've seen your hand in the currents of this city, how you've made and broken those who thought themselves much more powerful than you with a well-timed lunch meeting or angel investment." Twilight smirked. "And I know that you've been the one stymying my acquisition attempts of Pants Industries, among others. You've fought me to a standstill in the political sphere, a feat that's no one else has accomplished." "I had help from my friends," Rarity said with a flippant wave of her hand. Twilight snorted. "Please, none of the others bar Sunset could command even a tenth of the influence you hold over the movers and shakers in this city. Even Rainbow Dash's status as a Wonderbolt would only grant her admittance into a few choice events at best. It's time you rid yourself of those shackles, to move beyond what was holding you back. You could be so much greater if you allowed yourself to be." "Like you?" "Like me." Twilight leaned forward, her piercing gaze boring into Rarity's heart. "Have you ever thought about what we could achieve together?" "The same things I've managed to do with Sunset, I would imagine," Rarity couldn't help but reply. "And without needing to compromise my morals, which is a distinct advantage over a partnership with you." "I'm disappointed." Twilight shook her head condescendingly. "I thought someone as worldly as yourself wouldn't be that naive. It's not as if you haven't destroyed the lives of some perfectly upstanding individuals in our battle for this city." "I've made mistakes, it's true," Rarity said quietly. "But I regretted every single one of them, and Sunset and I worked hard to make sure we learned from those mistakes. We didn't just dismiss them as collateral damage." "Sunset and you." Twilight let out a dark chuckled. "That's rich. As if she somehow saw you as an equal and not another tool to use in her fight against me." "Really." Rarity gave Twilight a flat look. "Is that really your plan of attack? Do you think a simple conversation can break the faith I have in my friends?" "Maybe not, but I hope I can at least convince you that I'm not some evil madwoman trying to destroy this city." Twilight stood up and walked towards the window. "Come over here." Rarity rose up from her own seat and headed over towards Twilight. "Tell me what you think I see," Twilight commanded. Rarity glanced out the window. "Canterlot," she replied simply. "Come on, Rarity." Twilight gestured out towards the city skyline once again. "Let's not play such childish games." "Fine." This time, Rarity studied the view before her more closely. "I'd say that you saw a city on a path to greatness. You'd probably point out the stream of flying cars passing just beneath us, those tacky holo-billboards that we've all been forced to use for advertising, or the weather drones clearing out the clouds after today's showers. All created by Zenitech, of course. "Or maybe you'd want to mention the hospital on Meadowbrook Lane over there, using Zenitech's products to cure everything from the common cold to leukemia. Or the power plant on the edge of town using magic to supply clean energy to the region." She refrained from pointing out the signal hub tower in the center of the city, which provided wireless telecommunications coverage to everyone within several hundred miles, or the small greenhouse on next to the park, where genetically modified crops produced more yield than a typical acre of farmland would have twenty years ago. There was no need to antagonize Twilight further by bringing up her rival's achievements. "Well, you'd be wrong," Twilight said. "I see a city that's suffering, one that's crying out in need, in pain, begging for someone to save it." "And I thought we weren't playing games," Rarity muttered. Twilight ignored her comment. "I see a city where crime rates increase every day, despite all the advancements in technology used in law enforcement. A city with neighborhoods where life expectancies are measured in fights survived and even the gangs step lightly — I assume you know all about those, of course, given your nighttime exploits." Rarity chose not to comment on that as Twilight continued speaking, pointing a finger towards the remnants of the burnt-out building. "That used to be a restaurant, until the owners failed to pay the protection racket that had set up in that part of the city, and one of Equinox's Fireball Spells ended up somehow detonating in the kitchen. "And look over there." This time, Twilight brought Rarity's attention towards a drab, gray building, where a long line people waited outside in a line of dots that looked as small as ants from the top of the skyscraper. "Even after midnight, there are those lining up for their daily rations of nutrition pellets. The rich continue to grow fat as the poor become more desperate." "As you said, I'm not exactly blind to the city's suffering. Suffering that you have had a hand in since you founded Zenitch," Rarity remarked. "Just because we can't find any evidence to convict you with, does not mean that you aren't funding many of the gangs who've taken over much of the city. And just how many of those people lining up for handouts lost their livelihoods to Zenitech's scorched earth policy for business dealings?" "It's true, things have not gone as planned," Twilight admitted, "but only because of the sacrifices I've had to make in my fight against Equinox. Sunset thinks she can sit back and play the wise mentor, trusting that the people will make the right choices in how to use her inventions, with little more than a few encouraging words to guide them. You know better. "I know about the work you've done on the streets and in the shadows. You care about the people of this city. You're not content to let history take its course." Twilight's smile was almost warm as she turned to face Rarity. Almost. "Neither am I. I'm proposing a partnership. We can work together to save this city and bring it into a new age of prosperity. "Without Equinox to stop us, we'd easily be able to take over the city. All of the megacorps would have to bow to us. Even if they brought their personal armies to bear, we'd have the power to win a direct fight." "Well, you would have the power to decimate an army. I'm afraid my own magic is, as you said, lacking." "That won't be a problem." Twilight walked over towards one of the wooden panels on the wall and pressed her hand against it. A sliding panel opened up, revealing a small safe. "I'm willing to offer a signing bonus if you agree to ally yourself with me," she said as she opened the safe. Rarity let out a soft gasp as she beheld the familiar necklace that rested within. "Is that…?" Twilight nodded. "I won't apologize for taking it from you. All's fair in love and war, and whatnot. But I'm willing to give you back the geode as a token of our newfound partnership. "I know power itself doesn't interest you, but with your generous heart and keen mind, I don't doubt that you'll be able to use this to help better the city and provide aid to those in need." Rarity's mouth felt dry as she stared at the jewel that had once given her abilities beyond imagination. "What's the catch?" she asked, her voice shaking. "There isn't one," Twilight replied. "I'm putting all my cards on the table. Give me the information I need to take down Sunset and her cronies, and stand with me as we build an empire that will stand the test of time. You don't even after to go after Equinox yourself — just refuse to interfere when I act on your intel. In return, I can give you the power you need to fulfill your destiny." "I—" Rarity hesitated, her eyes drawn to the necklace. "They're my friends." "Are they? Has Sunset ever done something that she wasn't already going to do without your input? Do the others even appreciate what you've given up, what you've given of yourself to them? Or are they just using you for your connections and money and influence, the social climber who made it to the top and can be exploited because she's a shallow, weak-willed socialite?" Twilight looked Rarity dead in the eye. "Face it, your friends stopped being such a long time ago. It's time to move on and make something of yourself." For the longest time, neither woman spoke. Then, Rarity bowed her head, though the fire didn't leave her voice. "If it comes to pass that I discover you truly do not care for Canterlot, I will destroy you." Twilight didn't even flinch at the deadly promise. "So be it. Now, do you want to take the geode for a test drive?" "With pleasure." Rarity sauntered up to the safe, and with shaking hands, grabbed hold of the necklace. As she made contact with the artifact, she felt power begin to flow through her, and calling upon years of muscle memory, she drew all the of the magic within the stone and channeled it into the physical world. A blade of pure force flew towards Twilight's heart, tearing the air apart with blinding speed. Less than a millisecond later, it disintegrated into nothing as it struck an invisible barrier. Twilight shook her head with a soft "tsk." Her hand glowed with energy as Rarity suddenly found herself flying across the room and being pinned against the wall. "I'm disappointed in you, Rarity," she said, her words cold as ice. "For a moment, I thought we had a real connection. Good thing I put a dampening spell on the geode before I gave it to you." "Oh, and here I thought you were going to trust me," Rarity gasped out, struggling to recover her wits from this sudden turnaround. "'Trust but verify' is an adage I've taken to heart," Twilight replied. "Such a shame, too. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this the hard way." Rarity felt the bonds holding her grow tighter, invisible cords digging painfully into her skin. Twilight slowly walked towards her. "You're still going to give me all the intel I need, even if I have to rip it out of your screaming mind. And then, once I've reduced your psyche to ashes, I'm going to rebuild it in my image, and then I'll be able to have dominion over two geodes." "Do your worst, Midnight," Rarity spat, glaring at the woman before her. A slight tingling flowed across her skin, the telltale sign of a spell being cast on her. "Oh, I shall. And don't think that nickname has any effect on me." Twilight smiled. "I've long since made peace with the fact that she and I were always one and same. There is no Midnight without Twilight, and no Twilight without Midnight." "You mean you lost the battle against her in your mind," Rarity replied. "The Twilight I knew would never torture her friend for her own ends, no matter what she believed." The tingling intensified, and it took Rarity a moment to realize that it wasn't coming from any spell Twilight had cast. "The Twilight you knew was a fool!" Twilight's eyes flashed purple as she snarled. "A weak-willed coward who was nothing until she embraced her darker side. And now, you're going to witness what that strength that was given to her can accomplish." Rarity smiled as comforting warmth washed over her. "Actually, I won't. You see, I've been stalling for time by indulging your little monologues. I knew I never had a real chance to defeat you, even after you gave me the geode. I just needed to buy a few minutes." Twilight scoffed. "This building is the most heavily secured location in the country. The number of magical, technological, and human safeguards I've put into place would stop an army from getting even a single soldier into this room. I'm going to call your bluff on your ridiculously pathetic excuse to intimidate me." "Ah, but the point was never to get anyone in." Rarity felt the spell within her approach completion as she spoke. "When you were watching the video feed, did you notice that the fire I used to burn Star Swirl's Grimoire was green? I didn't destroy the book, I simply sent it to someone who could use its contents with far more proficiency than moi." There were only seconds left. Rarity could feel it, speeding up her speech to ensure she got all her gloating in. "One of the spells is for the remote teleportation of a willing target. And I think Sunset just figured out how to cast it." Twilight's eyes widened in realization as Rarity allowed all the magic building up within her to be released. "This has been a wonderful conversation, darling, but I'm afraid I don't have time to stay and chat anymore. Ta ta for now, Twilight, and do take care of yourself. I can't have my mortal enemy look like she's constantly being overworked now, can I?" The last thing she saw was a look a shocked anger on Twilight's face, and then everything dissolved into darkness. "Rarity! Rarity, can you hear me?" "Sunset?" Rarity struggled to focus her mind on the voice as her vision slowly returned to her, revealing a flame-haired woman standing in some kind command center surrounded by screens flashing out statistics, statuses, and feeds. Her memories returned a moment later. "I take it the plan worked, then?" "Pretty sure sending me a spellbook and the page number for the teleportation spell is less a plan and more praying for a miracle." Sunset smirked. "Lucky for you, I'm good at miracles." "And so modest too," Rarity remarked dryly as she staggered over to one of the chairs in the room and collapsed gratefully onto it. "Are you okay?" Sunset rushed over towards Rarity, concern clearly showing on her expression. "Did Twilight do anything to you?" Rarity waved off her concern. "I'm perfectly peachy, dear. Just a spot of exhaustion from the thrill of the battle wearing out. A nice cup of teas and I'll be right as rain again." "If you say so." Sunset frowned. "I was really worried for you, you know. Please don't do something like that and make me save you. One of these days your luck is going to run out." "It wasn't exactly planned, dear," Rarity replied. "Besides, it worked out much better this way." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her geode. "I had the opportunity to accessorize myself during my little tête-à-tête. What do you think?" she asked as she held it out for Sunset to examine. "Wow, you're good," Sunset said, eyes widening. "Only you could get yourself captured and come back with the second-most powerful artifact in Zenitech's vault." "Admittedly, there was a fair bit of luck involved in retrieving it, but I'd like to think I put on an admirable performance for Miss Sparkle." "I'm sure you did." Sunset paused, looking uncertain. "Did Twilight tell you anything else that might be useful? You don't have to answer if you're not up to it, but if there's anything we can act on that's time-sensitive it'd be good to know." "Nothing urgent, no, though I'll be sure to give you a full debrief once I've recovered my wits." Now it was Rarity's turn to hesitate. "Sunset, do you ever wonder if what we're doing is enough?" Sunset chuckled darkly. "Nope. I know what we're doing isn't enough. But it's all we can do." "About that. Twilight and I had a conversation during my captivity." Rarity held up a hand to forestall any comment from Sunset. "And before you say it, she wasn't just trying to get into my head. I think she truly believed what she was saying, and I think there's some merit to her more, ah, direct methods of operation." "You think so?" Sunset shrugged. "I guess I can see that. You wanna talk about it later?" "I would, yes," Rarity said. "Alright." Sunset stood. "If you don't need me, I'm going to get the Grimoire to a safe place." "Of course. Until we meet again, dear," Rarity tipped her head slightly at Sunset. "See you later." As she headed out of the room, Sunset turned around to face Rarity. "I'm glad you're safe. I don't know what I'd do without you." Before Rarity could answer, she left the room. "I don't know what I'd do without you either, Sunset," Rarity whispered to the empty room. "And I don't ever intend on finding out." Feeling her energy returning, Rarity stood up and exited the control center. The war between Equinox and Zenitech wasn't going to end without her, and Rarity was going to make sure that her friends came out on top, no matter what lengths she had to go to.