//------------------------------//
// The Faceless Hero 
// Story: Manipulation 
// by Element of Malice 
//------------------------------//

With the roar of an engine, a motorcycle emerged from the dust, flying through the hole. 

Tirek wore a biker helmet with two horns on it, making him look like a bull and a sleeveless long-coat that seemed like a perfect place to store half an armory. 

“If you’re smart, you’ll do as I say.” 

Not even waiting for a response, Tirek got off the bike and reached inside his coat, pulling out a full-auto assault rifle, firing it into the ceiling. Raising his voice, he began to make his demands. 

“Now that I got your attention, I want everyone here to line up against the wall. If I see anything that looks suspicious, you’ll find out how unforgiving I can be.”

Sunset looked up in distress. 

“Note to self, never interrupt Fluttershy when she’s trying to tell you something.”

“Great,” whispered Rainbow, “What are we going to do?”

“Until we can come up with a decent plan,” Twilight stood and held up her hands, “I think we should do what he says.” The others shortly followed, except for Rainbow.

“Fluttershy, you can let me go now…come on, at least…oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!”

Tirek glared down at her, “What’s taking you so long?”

With a nervous chuckle, Rainbow started to explain. “Well, uh, you see, my friend here doesn’t handle stressful situations too well, and currently, she’s passed out and stiff as a board. I’m actually starting to lose feeling to my legs.” 

Tirek put the rifle away and pulled out a shotgun cocking it before pointing it at her. 

“Wait! I have an idea,” Rainbow practically army crawled over to the wall. When she reached her destination, she turned around and sat down, “There, hehe, at least I’m against the wall, right?”

“My patience is wearing thin.”

Panic covered her face as she turned to her two friends that were next to her. 

“Help me up, help me up, help me up!” 

The girls immediately grabbed her arms and pulled, dragging the still frozen Fluttershy up along with her.

The moment she was standing, a shot was fired, and dust fell from a newly formed hole no more than a foot away. 

“That was my only warning shot. Next time I won’t miss.” Tirek started pacing up and down the line, speaking loudly for everyone to hear. “Word on the street says that there’s been some unusual activity going on around here. The term that was used was ‘magic.’ I want to know where I can find the source of these rumors, and if they prove to be accurate, I want to know who can use this ‘magic’ and all of their known weaknesses.”

“FOUND IT!” 

Every head turned toward the speaker. It was a blond-haired grey skin girl with eyes that were facing two different directions.

“Derpy, you dunce,” Rainbow said through clenched teeth as she watched her waving around the cellphone that she just dug out of the trash can. 

The girl’s smile instantly melted away when one of her eyes focused on the inside of the shotgun barrel, pointing at her.

Everybody closed their eyes while trembling, knowing full well what was coming next. 

“It was nice knowing you, Ditsy,” was all Applejack could say before gunfire was heard. When they opened them, they were stunned by what they saw. A crystalline barrier had protected Ditsy from the shot.

“Smart thinking,” Sunset whispered to Rarity, “but now we need to be extra careful.”

“That’s not me.”

Sunset didn’t have time to say anything else before a posh sounding voice was heard.

“How dare you! You beefed up brutish, boneheaded, baboon-brained, barbaric buffoon!! Where were you raised in a cave!?” 

A slim yet sturdy figure stepped forward wearing an exaggerated suit with a top hat, gloves, a cape with an extravagant diamond patchwork design, and a full-face mask with no eye holes. The most noticeable feature of the mask were the seven gems of different colors decorating the face. 

“Pardon my tone, but I simply will not just stand by and let an innocent and lovely bystander be murdered while I can say anything about it, and here’s what I have to say.” 

The stranger quickly grasped the top of his cane, pulled out a sword, and assumed it in a strong fighting stance. 

“En garde.”

There was a momentary silence before Tirek burst into a fit of laughter, “You look absolutely ridiculous. How can you possibly think that you can beat me with that?”

“I personally think he looks quite charming in that outfit,” Rarity said, fascinated by the stunningly intricate design of his attire. “In fact, that rather lavish … no, that can’t possibly be what I think it is.”

“Maybe if you planned to make me die laughing, then it almost worked,” Tirek said, collecting himself and putting the shotgun away. “Unfortunately, this stunt is going to cost you.” 

He immediately lifted his machine gun and pointed it towards Rarity.

In a blur, the stranger closed the distance between him and Tirek. The tip of the sword up against his throat. 

“That would be unwise.” He said as the gun fell to the floor in three perfectly sliced pieces.

With a look of half surprise and half wonder and amusement, Tirek slowly backed up. 

“I clearly underestimated your abilities,” he said with a smirk, raising his hands to his head. In one solid motion, Tirek swung the bat he grabbed with all his strength. However, all the stranger had to do was lift one arm. Doing so caused the bat to splinter on impact, then casually returned to his original position as if it never happened. 

Now, with a look of confusion and a hint of worry, Tirek asked the question that was now on everyone’s mind, “Who are you?”

As though it had been rehearsed, he changed his stance to a slight but proper bow that only seemed fitting for a royal introduction. 

“My name is Sir E, and I’ll be your waiter this afternoon.” 

Straightening from his bow, it almost seemed like he was smiling under his mask. 

“Today’s special, Justice, will be served once it’s ready. But for now, how about an appetizer. I would suggest the cold cut steel combo,” he lifted his sword to emphasize what he meant. 

“But judging by your appearance, you look like you would be more interested in a knuckle sandwich.” He discarded the sword and raised his fists, “It comes with a punch I’ve been told that tastes like defeat, but I always find it to be victory flavored.”

At this point, it started to feel less stressful to everyone and slightly more amusing as if they were watching the final showdown on TV or in a video game happening right in front of them. There were even a few groups that actually started to place bets on who might have a better chance. 

The low murmuring allowed Sunset and the others a chance to talk a little more openly without the fear of Tirek overhearing. 

“Is it just me, or does it look like he’s using our magic,” she asked as the skirmish continued.

“My speed, Applejack’s strength, Rarity’s crystal shields, not to mention our geodes on his face, come on what kind of question is that!” Rainbow Dash said, struggling to free herself from Fluttershy’s grip, “I’m surprised Tirek has lasted this long against him.”

“The cape looks authentic, but I would have to take a closer look at his gloves and shoes. That hat also seems too perfect a fit to not be tailored.”

“Uh, Rarity?” asked Applejack just as an active grenade was turned into confetti in Sir E’s hand, “What are you going on about?”

“Hm? Oh! That attire Sir E is wearing. Very few people in the fashion world could tell you that that is not just any one-of-a-kind vintage masterpiece, but a legendary impossibility. It’s too unique to be anything else but too pristine to be an original.”

An incendiary bullet blew up a pillar. Sir E held it up with his strength and used the crystals to push away anyone that could have gotten hurt and stopped falling debris. Yet the girls were currently more focused on Rarity’s rather vested interest in his attire.

“So he’s wearing some really fancy clothes. What exactly does that have to do with anything?” Rainbow asked, still struggling to stand with her friend stuck on her like a leech. 

“Please allow me to explain. If it’s what I think it is, that outfit is a Baroque slash renaissance-styled Victorian-era work of genius whose blueprints and cutouts were lost and destroyed centuries ago. Not only that, but any remnant found of its once magnificent yet brief period in the world are not full sets and considered priceless relics. Back then, owning one meant that you had deep pockets even among the richest of the high society. And that didn’t include the cape, which is why there were so few of them made.”

As Sunset watched the fight, Sir E’s fighting style seemed elegant and fluent, but it also had a familiar kind of motion, but she wasn’t sure why. 

“But information on them is so scarce that they have practically been forgotten, even though they are still considered as the greatest design ever created. No one has ever figured out how to accurately replicate them. But it seems like what he’s wearing is the full package, and it’s tailored perfectly to his form. However, after what I said, that can’t be true, and the cost. HA! Referring to it as incalculable would be absurd! The only way to obtain it now would be to inherit what’s left of one.”

Twilight spoke up, “Uh, sorry, I still don’t see how that fits in with what’s going on.”

“He’s wearing something that shouldn’t exist, he’s fighting an armed criminal with his bare hands and winning.” 

They turned to see him ‘dish out’ a helping of ‘spaghetti meatballs.’ He elbowed Tirek in the gut, grabbed his shotgun, and performed an uppercut on his skull before firing the gun in a safe direction. Sir E used the kickback to deliver the final blow, causing most males to go weak-kneed, and everyone else to cringe.

“Not to mention, he’s using our magic! This means he’s not just any normal person. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was from a different planet.” 

Sunset instantly realized where she had seen those movements and knew where he was from, but before she could speak up a noise sounding like a mix between an explosion, zap, and a pop followed by a shatter drew their focus back to the fight.

“Oh boy,” Rainbow stated, only being one leg away from freedom.

“Ah don’t like the way things are goin,” Applejack expressed with worry.

Sir E had thrown up a shield, but that proved useless against the weapon, a small pistol-like device, Tirek now held. 

“This isn’t good.” Sir E said, fear creeping into his once calm voice, his hand covering his exposed face. His mask now at his feet, strap burnt, and white surface blackened from the impact of the blast.

With shaky legs and a satisfied grin, Tirek chuckled as he looked over the weapon, “Why didn’t I use this earlier?”

“That weapon,” said a new deep voice that seemed to vibrate the building. The speaker, a tall, dark and aggressive looking man was large enough to make Bulk Biceps look like a puffy marshmallow. 

Where Sir E, in his expensive white suit, had a kind, warm, and comforting glow, this man, wearing an old worn black trench coat, rose up every red flashing flag that screamed danger. 

His emotionless face looked like it was set in cold hard steel. Still, his gaze was easily on par with Fluttershy’s stare, like how an enraged parent would be to a spoiled, disobedient, and selfish child. 

He began to walk towards Tirek, prosthetic legs echoing with every step. 

“It negated the magic being used, didn’t it?”

Sir E slid his foot in a circular motion to push his mask behind him. With a flick of the wrist, it flew into Rarity’s hands. 

“Fix that strap this instant, woman!” He said in an unexpectedly harsh manner before Tirek shot the newcomer in the chest, much to the shock of all those present.

The smell of decay wafted through the air shortly followed by burnt flesh. 

“Your intention was to kill, wasn’t it?” He said unperturbed by the injury he just inquired as he continued to walk closer. 

It now felt to everyone watching as if a blazing bonfire was engulfing their soul and amplifying in temperature the longer this behemoth newcomer was active. 

Tirek, now petrified, looked fearful as he started panicking, firing two more close-range shots. 

“You planned to hunt down whoever was using magic one by one and murder them right!?” 

With one swift motion, he grabbed the gun and delivered a substantial blow to the jaw. Tirek was immediately launched into the third floor, going through a balcony and a few walls along the way. 

The slow-moving giant followed right behind his newly found punching bag. He made an impossibly sluggish leap that looked more like an act of levitation than it did a jump.

With shaky hands, Rarity began to rummage through her bag, looking for a ribbon necessary to make the repairs. 

“Um, I need…”

“Seven and a half inches across, nine and three eights vertically. It doesn’t have to look pretty, it just has to hold, now start working on it!” each word Sir E spoke, became harsher than the last one.

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash said, finally free from Fluttershy’s grip, “What gives you the right to talk to my friend like that.”

With his hand still covering his face, Sir E hissed and increased his volume with every word, “I am more rational when I’m focused. I am more focused when I’m calm. I am more calm when I’m composed, and I am more composed when I’m wearing that mask! Now, if you don’t like the way I’m acting, you will hurry it up!! NOW DO AS I SAY!!!!” he said, ending with an outraged near unearthly roar.

“Hand it over,” Rainbow said, speeding over to Rarity. Within seconds, the strap was haphazardly repaired. However, she was quick to remove the gemstones before tossing it back to Sir E, thankfully, she found the task simple. And conveniently enough, the gems were still attached to their respective necklaces. 

“You said it didn’t have to look pretty, so this should work.”

“Terribly sorry,” said Sir E. His friendlier tone thankfully returned as he put his mask back on. “Please excuse my rashness, but I’m not myself without my mask on.”

“Uh, yeah, we noticed,” Twilight said, wanting to say more but got cut off when Sir E lifted his hand.

“I know you have a lot of questions, but would you mind waiting until after I prevent someone from being killed?”

“Ya mean yer friend, right? That sounds like a good idea.” Applejack agreed, “I reckon that whatever them bullets that Tirek used caused a lot a damage, consideren that it blasted through yer barrier the way it did.”

“I was actually referring to Tirek himself. If we don’t hurry, Riot is going to murder him slowly.”

Meanwhile, just before Riot jumped to the third floor, Tirek stirred from where he landed in unbearable pain and coughing up unknown fluids. 

If I don’t think of something soon, He thought rummaging through his coat wincing from every move, this guy is going to kill me! 

Thankfully, he found what he was looking for, five syringes. He remembered being told to use them only if it was crucial and in limited amounts. In the middle of deciding how much to use, Riot seemingly materialized from the dust still falling from the walls. With that, he injected all of it into himself.

The reaction was instantaneous. Every injury Tirek obtained began to heal, and his fatigue vanished as his energy rapidly increased. 

Feeling stronger and more confident than he ever had in his entire life, he stood laughing with anticipation and faced his opponent. What he saw shattered every ounce of confidence he just acquired and was quickly replaced with the feeling of absolute certainty that he was going to die.

It’s said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, Tirek can say that was true due to the number of times he has seen life leave them whenever he left a new victim behind. He also knew that everyone had something to fear, and not that he would tell you what they were. He had a few fears of his own, and the number one fear Tirek now had, was facing this creature that had no fear and no soul. 

The burning image of a psychopath grinning with a look of nightmarish pleasure and excitement was shadowing the reality of an expressionless face that had the eyes of an empty, lifeless void.

Even the most powerful weapons ever built are ineffective if they are used in the wrong hands, that also applies to lashing out in panic. This was something even Tirek agreed with about his own actions, yet couldn’t stop his body from reacting as it did. 

First, Tirek threw a particle grenade that was backhanded so hard by Riot he heard it break the sound barrier next to his ear. Next, he pulled out a single shot rocket launcher. After it hit Riot in the mouth, it ended up getting swallowed, much to the shock, horror, and amazement of all those present. 

Riot put a hand on his stomach and hunched over. After a spontaneous act of excessive vomiting, Sir E and seven girls stood at the entrance of the medium-sized room. They watched him get up and wipe away a little puke and blood with the back of his hand from his mouth. 

“Is that your best shot?” said Riot before continuing forward.

However, Applejack apparently had enough and ran into the closing gap between Riot and Tirek, “Now just hold it right there!”

“Out of my way.” Riot ordered as he lifted one arm straight up.

Sir E grabbed Twilight’s necklace and outstretched his own hand. Applejack held her arms up to block the blow but saw Rarity’s crystal barrier surround her as she was tugged away through telepathic force. Riot’s downward thrust broke straight through the shield and biffed Applejack’s elbow before being thrown back to the group.

Sir E caught her in his arms as she tightly hugged her injury. 

“Ah… ah think he… he broke my arm.” Applejack grunted through clenched teeth, right arm shaking uncontrollably, a dark purple bruise started to form on a bend in her arm that was just past her elbow.

“Imagine what would’ve happened if I hadn’t pulled you out,” said Sir E.

Amidst the brief distraction, Tirek fumbled, pulling out a foot-long blade that extended to three feet in length, glowed green, and hummed with energy.

“Okay, hold it, pause, timeout, stop the fanfic here! Why did you have to hurt my friend like that? Forget Tirek having a lightsaber… even if that is pretty cool, I want to know why Applejack had to get hurt so bad, I demand to know an answer!”

*Uh, how did…? Oh, right, I forgot you were able to do this. Listen, Pinkie, I’m just narrating this, I didn’t actually write it myself.*

“That doesn’t answer my question. Besides, I thought this was a fandom based on a kid-friendly tv series. Also, who are these guys, and how come they’re so strong? Why does Tirek have such dangerous weapons, somebody’s going to get killed. Why couldn’t you change it so Applejack doesn’t get hurt so bad? And what about what’s going on in the other…?”

*Okay, how about I make you a deal.*

“What kiiiiinnndd of deeeaal?”

*Well, first of all, please understand that I’m just the narrator. As long as I like the story, I read whatever’s given to me. Second, even though you can break the fourth wall, I doubt even you can alter the time stream.*

“That’s why you change the story before you...”

*I was getting to that, now please let me finish. I can’t undo what I said, and I know that even you don’t have the time to go to all of the versions of this story and change it because you would have to make the readers, listeners, watchers, the audience in general, forget what they just heard or saw or whatever.*

“I see your point aaaannnnnd?”

*Well, to answer two questions at once, this is an alternate-universe fanfiction, where two dimensions crossover with one another. The guys you’re up against come from a world where this kind of behavior is tolerated and common but is strongly opposed. It will be explained in a moment, but I don’t want to spoil it any more for the audience. Although I’ll at least tell you some vital information regarding Applejack. Listen carefully, once I tell you, will you pinkie promise not to interrupt again.*

“Oki Doki Loki, but that only depends on what you have to tell me. Now, let your lips loose.”

*Tirek used five syringes to heal himself, and there are seven of you.*

“Oooh, so you’re telling me that there are more medicine thingies I can use to help heal up Applejack. Okay, that’s good enough for me, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye, I promise to not but interrupt again. Alrighty, I’m going to leave now and let you get back to your job.”

*Phew, glad that’s settled, but now I have to build the suspense again, alright bear with me here.*

Applejack ran into the closing gap between Riot and Tirek. 

“Now just hold it right there!”

“Out of my way.” Riot ordered as he lifted one arm straight up.

Sir E grabbed Twilight’s necklace and outstretched his own hand. Applejack held her arms up to block the blow but saw Rarity’s crystal barrier surround her as she was tugged away through telepathic force. Riot’s downward thrust broke straight through the shield and biffed Applejack’s elbow before being thrown back to the group.

Sir E caught her in his arms as she tightly hugged her injury. 

“Ah… ah think he… he broke my arm.” Applejack grunted through clenched teeth, right arm shaking uncontrollably, a dark purple bruise started to form on a bend in her arm that was just past her elbow.

“Imagine what would’ve happened if I hadn’t pulled you out,” said Sir E.

Amidst the brief distraction, Tirek fumbled, pulling out a foot-long blade that extended to three feet in length, glowed green, and hummed with energy. 

With one swing, it sliced through several items, either burning or melting them to get through, but somehow it came to a stop in Riot’s hand.

“He’s very unstable when he’s angry like this,” Sir E said while Riot ripped the blade from Tirek’s hand and smashed the handle back into his head. The destroyed blade shattered into pieces flying throughout the room. Tirek’s injury healed quickly, but he knew the effects were wearing off.

Sir E’s head turned toward the group. 

“We need to come up with a plan and not do anything…”

Rainbow Dash activated her magic and took one step… Okay, I’m just going in, grabbing Tirek, and getting out. Two steps…, he may be larger than Bulk Biceps and strong enough to overpower Applejack. Something seemed off by her third step… but that also means that he’s… looking… at… me.

Four steps… Riot’s head was now turned toward Rainbow Dash. His gaze seemed to tear a gaping hole into her soul. 

She saw him beginning to swing his arm, getting ready to attack. Dash realized that she would get seriously injured if she continued forward, so she started her attempt to retreat.

Her fifth step landed on a slick surface, and time slowed nearly to a dead stop considering that it was already reduced. As she fell, Riot’s hand swept horizontally across barely grazing the tip of her nose. 

THAT WAS WAY TOO CLOSE!! 

Rainbow landed on her back, her momentum still sliding her forward as she began to slip between Riots prosthetics.

He was looking straight down at her now. His other hand began its descent with a force equivalent to the meteor that destroyed the dinosaurs. 

Welp, this was a dumb idea. She didn’t have to be a genius to know she couldn’t move out of the way or even daydream about being stronger than Riot. In conclusion, her recklessness was going to kill her.

Every detailed second of her life flashed before her eyes. 

I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m so going to die.

She felt his fingers passing through her hair and detected the impact of his hand on the ground above her head, making a crater on the floor. 

He missed!? She rolled to her stomach and reached the far wall using her propulsion to rapidly stand up. 

THANK EVERY CELESTIAL BEING THAT EXISTS IN EVERY SINGLE UNIVERSE!!!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT I’M STILL ALIVE!!! 

She was next to Tirek now and ready to act immediately.

Okay, just grab him and run, grab him and run, GRAB HIM... 

With a sudden burst, her hands latched onto his coat with as much strength as she could muster.

AND RUN!!

Riot was already looking her way by the time she took her first step and knew what was about to happen. 

GREAT, I still have to go around him! 

At this point, Rainbow Dash was purely relying on sheer dumb luck, the will to live, the overdose of adrenaline in her veins, along with bubblegum, shoestrings, and wishing stars to get her to safety. But that didn’t stop her from still feeling like she was moving in slow motion.

Come ON, move FASTER!!

Despite having a one to one ratio of blood and adrenaline coursing through her, Tirek’s weight slowed her down just enough for Riot to grab his face. 

ABORT, ABORT!! 

Rainbow let go of the overbearing weight and ran behind Sir E.

“Foolish!” Sir E finished as Rainbow clenched her chest gasped in shock, terror, and relief. She fell to the floor, breathing heavily as she placed her other hand on her head, finally able to somewhat relax after her daring maneuver. Her body trembling from her multiple near-death experiences.

Thankfully for her, it seemed Riot was only after Tirek. Now that he had him, she was in the clear… although even in intense battle, Riot still found the time to be critical with her. 

“You could have been killed!”

“I… *gasp*… will not… *gasp*… doubt that… *gasp*… for as long… *gasp*… as I live!!!” Rainbow wheezed. She turned and pointed, “If it wasn’t for that…” she stopped and sniffed her arm, “Is this vomit!? Whatever it is, it saved my life.”

Riot began to repeatedly slam Tirek’s head into the wall causing it to start cracking. “You can tell us about it later,” Sunset said, watching in horror, “We still need to get him out of there.” She remembered watching Princess Celestia cast powerful magic before, but compared to Riot’s influence and demonstration, those spells were as mighty as a spotlight at high noon on a cloudless day.

“What does it feel like Tirek?! To get the short end of the stick and be on the receiving side?! To face the consequences of your own actions for a change?! To be the VICTIM FOR ONCE?!!”

“This is super duper scary. What happened to make him this angry?” asked Pinkie, afraid to hear the answer.

“Unimaginable pain and suffering,” was all Sir E could mutter out, desperately looking for an opening.

Riot paused from his onslaught and brought Tirek’s bleeding head closer.

“What’s so ironic is that if it weren’t for monsters like you, I wouldn’t have become the demon I am!”

With another glare and a hallucinative demented smile, he brought his arm back for another blow, but Sir E put his hand on Riot’s elbow.

“RIOT! That’s enough, look at him he’s finished.”

“Well... I’M NOT!” Sir E’s face was immediately met by a hard strike to the jaw, sending him to the ground as Riot’s attention returned to Tirek.

With little effort on his part, Riot slammed Tirek into the wall so hard that he was now suspended over a three-story drop. The only thing visible below being the lights of numerous police below only able to watch the scene unfold before them. 

The chin strap of the mangled helmet broke. Riot alternated hands to clench Tirek’s throat, his airway completely cut off, crushing the helmet like a cheap plastic bucket.

Tirek slipped something into his mouth and bit down on it. He began to cough as air returned to his lungs. 

“Now you’re in for it,” Tirek choked out, not even believing his own words. “I was told that this protective barrier could withstand the force of—”

He quickly found his words cut off due to Riot’s grip shattering the forcefield around his body with one hand.

“If I wanted to get higher than 15,926 psi, I would’ve used both hands.”

Out of desperation, Tirek started punching Riot in the face, but it had no effect. He eventually began to lose consciousness as his punches quickly became weaker with each swing.

“If you let him go, I promise in the state he’s in, his fate will be worse than death.” Sir E proposed.

As if a light switch was turned off, the tension in the air rapidly diminished and then disappeared altogether. 

“This is precisely why you are here,” Riot said quietly, releasing Tirek and letting him fall. He turned away from the hole, showing no change to his facial expression, except now his eyes were colder than ice. “To make sure I don’t overstep my bounds.”

Tirek survived the fall, barely, and was quickly transported to the nearest hospital, with the intent being to put him behind bars once healed.

Pinkie Pie’ somehow’ managed to find a medication to rapidly heal Applejack’s arm. Rarity began inspecting every inch of Sir E’s outfit and was enthralled by the fact that every fiber was spun by hand. She nearly had a heart attack when she saw a tear in the sleeve but passed out when he said he had three more outfits to replace this one.

Sunset slipped away from the group. Riot’s words to Tirek still echoed in her head as she crept closer to him, so she could try to read his mind. 

“If you wish to regret ever being born, you will continue with your idiocy.” He warned, not even turning to face her.

Only slightly surprised that he saw her coming, she walked in front of him. Having read the mind of the EMT treating Applejack, she knew that the injuries he obtained were worse than the ones on Tirek. 

Under the wraps that were applied to his torso, his ribcage was fully exposed, skin and muscle burned away by the weapon used on him, but he wasn’t showing any signs of pain for a second. 

“It doesn’t take a mind reader to notice that you’re troubled, everyone can see it.” 

She reached out to put her hand on his, “If you’d like to talk about…” Riot grabbed her wrist and twisted it painfully, all while avoiding contact with her skin.

“This is your last warning, next time you will beg for death. I know about your ability, and I will not allow anyone to trespass into my memories.” He released her, “Besides, the only relevant thing bothering me is how Tirek got those weapons, but I’m certain it has something to do with Crystalline Perfumes.”

The cosmetics company? After taking a second to process his words, she shook her head then glared as menacingly as she could back at him.

“Okay look, I’ve done some terrible things myself, case in point I became so power-hungry that I attempted to enslave an entire school.”

“How fortunate.”

“The point I’m trying to make is, thanks to the power of friendship, it helped me change, and I’m sure you can too.” 

Once again, she reached out to him, “but only if you just…” 

Sadly, her offer was meant with Riot’s hand around her mouth, raising her up to meet his eyes.

Her eyes lit up as she saw everything. As she experienced every memory Riot had, he whispered three words that would challenge and potentially stretch the unbreakable power of friendship past its limit. 

“Friendship… fix… this.” 

He let her go, and Sunset fell to the floor. She drilled her palms into her skull, threw her head back, and released a bloodcurdling scream as he casually put on sunglasses and walked away.