//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: What Lurks In The Depths Part 4 // Story: Danganronpa: In Harmony's Wake // by Dewdrops on the Grass //------------------------------// Chapter Two: What Lurks in the Depths Daily Life Part 4 DING-DONG-BING-BONG As Monoponi’s irritatingly shrill voice blustered over the speakers before the screen winked out, I sat up in bed, groaning. “I’m never going to get used to that,” I mumbled. At least this time my sleep wasn’t plagued by nightmares. Unless you counted Adagio’s very sharp teeth. I checked my Monopad map before getting ready, but everyone was still in their cabins, just like they had been last night. At least it was working again. Dumb piece of crap. Once I finished getting ready, I headed out to the promenade for the breakfast meal. Everyone had a bit more of a bounce in their step this morning. Sleep did us all some good. I made sure to sit down next to Trixie and Apple Bloom once I got my meal. “So what’s the plan today, Trixie?” I asked as I bit into a helping of eggs. “Well,” Trixie said, gesturing with her forkful of pancake. “Trixie is thinking we shouldn’t need too much time for rehearsal. She would like to go over everything with you after we finish eating, but it should be easy. “Ah was thinkin’ about that, and Ah should probably be on stage with y’all,” Apple Bloom replied after swallowing a bite of apple. “Just to help with technical support. Ah know we aren’t usin’ much in the way of tech for this, but Ah should be ready just in case anyhow.” Trixie frowned. “Oh. Trixie was hoping you would run the lights, but she supposes you’re right.” “Did you say you needed someone to help out with the lights?” Flash interjected, leaning over from his table where he sat next to Twilight. “I used to help run them for some of the shows CU’s theater classes put on.” “Oooh, that’s wonderful!” Trixie said, breaking out into a smile. “Trixie would be most pleased to accept your help, Flash.” Flash gave her a thumbs up. “Yeah, you got it, Trixie. I’m looking forward to the show.” “Me too,” Sweetie Belle added from her own seat next to Rarity. “I love magic shows! They always end with a bang! I can’t wait to see how yours ends!” “Hmph. We’ll see if she’s more than talk,” Adagio said, flashing Trixie a simpering smile. Trixie’s face fell, twisting into a sad frown. “Yes, well. Trixie will show you,” she grumbled under her breath. I sighed quietly and massaged my forehead with my thumb and index finger. Adagio, I thought I told you to lay off of Trixie. I don’t understand what your problem is with her. Well, okay, I do a little, but you had problems with her even before our… situation. “Oh, Sunset, I will need your help again this afternoon,” Rarity said, derailing my train of thought. “I’m working as quickly as I can on the dress, but I’ll need you for the finishing touches. You too, Trixie darling. I’ve already got your outfit changes ready, but I want to make a few last-minute adjustments.” I nodded as Trixie said, “Of course, Rarity. Trixie is grateful for your help.” “Oh it’s no trouble at all, I assure you,” Rarity said with a giggle. “I’m just glad to be doing some seamstress work. Relaxing is all well and good, but I wouldn’t want to get out of practice. “Hey, you guys,” Pinkie asked. The girl had mostly recovered from the day before, and while she still didn’t have all the bounce to her curls back, the sparks of energy had returned. “Did anyone else have something funky happen with their Monopads last night?” “Yeah, I did,” I said, scooping up another forkful of eggs into my mouth. “I thought it was just mine.” “Mine also malfunctioned,” Twilight added, holding up her Monopad in one hand. “I think it was a wifi glitch.” “Huh, mine too,” Applejack said. She took a big bite out of her ham steak, swallowed, then added, “Ah guess you must be right, if it were all of ‘em at once. Wonder what happened.” Twilight shrugged. “Could be anything. I saw some lighting on the far horizon last night. Could be we just got too close to a storm.” “That’s no good,” Scootaloo said, shivering. “Last thing we need is a thunderstorm at sea.” “Alright!” Rainbow Dash shouted, standing up and clapping her hands together. “Who’s ready for exercise?” A chorus of groans arose from the group. One thoroughly exhausting exercise session and a shower later, I was embroiled in a rehearsal with Trixie. She led me up on stage in the theater and began pointing to various spots on the floor she’d marked out yesterday with Xs of duct tape. “You’ll want to stand here, here, and here while Trixie is performing,” she said. “You’ll help bring out Trixie’s props as she needs them. They’ll be here.” She pointed to a circle of tape. “Finally, the big finale. You’ll place the origami trick here, and then you’ll stand here for getting in and coming out.” She pointed to the largest X on the ground. “Okay, sounds easy enough,” I said. “Is there, like, a script I need to be following?” “No no, Sunset, you won’t need to speak,” Trixie said, shaking her head vigorously. “Trixie will do all the talking. If Trixie is honest, you won’t have too much to do until the finale, with the origami trick.” She went through the details of it again. “You see? Simple, but elegant!” “I hope it fools everyone,” I replied with a smile. “Because if it works as well as you say it does, you’ll leave Twilight’s head spinning for hours trying to figure it out.” “Naturally.” Trixie posed dramatically, brushing out her cape. “Trixie is well known for blowing minds!” I snorted, then burst out laughing, almost doubling over in the process. “What? What?!” Trixie babbled, making me laugh harder. “What’s wrong with what Trixie said?” “Nevermind…” The clomp of boots preceded Apple Bloom stepping out from backstage. “Hey, Sunset, have ya seen the other power drill? Ah can’t find it.” “I thought I left it on the shelf,” I said. Leaving Trixie to be confused, I followed the younger woman back into the prop shop. We took a quick look around, poking briefly into any spot large enough to hide a power drill, even pulling out the table saw from the wall. “Well, shoot. Guess you’ll just have to use the one and switch out the bits.” “Dang it,” Bloom grunted in annoyance. “That’s gonna slow me down.” “What’re you even drilling, anyway?” I continued, raising an eyebrow. “We finished with the origami prop last night.” Apple Bloom pointed right at a half-assembled steel frame with three slots in it. “Ah wanted to make things a little easier for Trixie. This here’s gonna hold the swords for her when they’re on stage. Help make it look a little better than that box.” She glared down at the power drill in her hands. “But ah need several different bit sizes to get this right. Gonna take forever switchin’ back and forth.” “Hmm.” I peered down at the frame. Apple Bloom had a keen eye for craftsmanship that exceeded my own. Even unfinished and without paint, the frame had a beauty to it, raw and ephemeral in its design. “I didn’t think about that. Do you need any help?” “Nah, Ah got this just fine,” Apple Bloom said with a smile and shaking her head. “Ya got better things to do. Go on, git. Ah’ll finish up with this stuff.” “Okay,” I said, shrugging. But as I turned to go, Apple Bloom spoke up again, “Hey, Sunset, can I ask you somethin’ real quick?” I stopped and faced her again. “What is it?” Apple Bloom set the drill down on a nearby table and sighed. “Ah was just wonderin’ about what you were sayin’, back on the first night we got here. ‘Bout that Ekestia place.” “Equestria,” I corrected automatically. “Yeah, that. Anyhow, you were talkin’ about how it was full of magical ponies and stuff?” Apple Bloom paused, waiting for me to nod. When I did, she continued, “Well, see, Ah got to thinkin’ about what we’ve seen Monoponi do. And how he talks, and walks, and all that. And while Ah know Ah wasn’t sure if Ah believed you about it before… Ah think Ah do now.” “Okay…” I replied hesitantly, shifting my weight onto my right leg and crossing my arms. “I appreciate that, but…” “But why am Ah bringin’ it up?” Apple Bloom asked. “It’s because what Ah don’t understand is how you know about it. Don’t get me wrong.” She held up her hands in a reassuring gesture. “Ah ain’t sayin’ Ah don’t trust you. Ah think you proved you can be trusted from how you acted in the trial.” I tried not to visibly wince when she said that. I remembered how I considered using that very fact to get away with murder. “I’d like to think so,” I said. “Ah know so,” Apple Bloom responded, poking herself in the chest with one thumb. “Ah don’t quite have the sense for people’s honesty that mah sister does, but Ah can still tell someone trustworthy from someone who ain’t. And you’re trustworthy. But you’ve been ready for every twist and turn that’s happened so far.” She held out a hand and started counting on her fingers. “You knew Monoponi was a pony. You knew about the killing game. You knew about the trials, the motive, even the Monoponi File! And Ah get that you know most of that from playin’ those Danganwhatever games. But that doesn't explain the pony stuff.” Sweat beaded up on my brow, my stomach churning. Anxiety swished around like a choppy sea, all wind and thunder. “Well, see, that’s kind of complicated.” A sad smile formed on Apple Bloom’s face. “Oh. Ah see. You’d rather not talk about it. Ah get it.” “No, no, it’s not that,” I said, and immediately cursed myself for not taking the out when she presented it. Nice going, Sunset. “It’s just a little hard to explain.” Apple Bloom held up her hands in confusion, then waved them dismissively. “Nah, it’s okay. Forgot Ah asked. Ah put you on the spot anyway. Just, when you’re ready, Ah’d like to hear more.” I nodded back, a relieved smile forming on my face. “Sure. How about tonight, after the show?” “You got it.” With that, I left, and continued to practice a bit with Trixie until I got the routine down. Once finished, I took some time to check my Monopad, and wrote down the locations. “11:00 AM,” I muttered to myself as I wrote down. Apple Bloom, Trixie, myself in the theater, Rainbow, Scootaloo, and Applejack in the game corner, Twilight and Flash in the library naturally, and Sweetie Belle was in the bakery kitchen. Rarity was in her cabin, Pinkie Pie and Tiara on the bridge deck, and Adagio out by the lounge. Nothing unusual. I decided I’d get Rarity’s request out of the way next, and stopped by the lounge first, finding Adagio sunning herself on a lounger, her shades firmly in place. “Hey,” she greeted. I sat next to her on an empty lounger. “Hey yourself. Do you have a few minutes?” Adagio reached up to her shades and brought them down just enough to look at me over them. “Yes,” she said after a moment. “What is it?” I glanced at both entryways into the lounge, but no one was coming. “Apple Bloom asked me about Equestria,” I said bluntly. That got her attention. Adagio sat up immediately, whisking the glasses off her face. She grimaced, her teeth baring. “Should we really be discussing this here?” she hissed. I held up my Monopad and showed her the map. “I’m keeping an eye out.” With a snort, Adagio rolled her eyes. “What did you tell her?” “Nothing,” I answered. “I just said it was complicated.” Adagio rested a hand on her head and sighed, closing her eyes. “Good. At least you didn’t do anything stupid.” Smiling sheepishly, I then continued, “I might’ve promised to talk to her about it after the show, though.” “You what?” Adagio’s grip tightened on her glasses until she set them down. “Why would you do that?” “I don’t know, it seemed like the right thing to do!” I blurted, throwing my hands up in the air. “She kept talking about how trustworthy I was.” “Of course she did,” Adagio groaned. She laid back down on her lounger in a huff. “She’s probably just trying to manipulate you.” “And you’re not?” I said before I realized what was coming out of my mouth. My hands shot up to cover as my eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. Adagio froze, then calmly, slowly, sat up, shifted her legs off the lounger till she was facing me in a sitting position, the cold winter’s fury once again roiling. “Excuse me?” she growled, her hands curling into claws. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that way,” I stammered, unleashing a torrent of barely understandable words. “I-I was just scared after the motive, and I--” Adagio held up a hand for silence. The blizzard blowing in her eyes faded down into a gentle flurry, though the anger was still visible, as was hurt. “Don’t be stupid, Shimmer,” she said. “If I wanted to manipulate you, I wouldn’t waste time sleeping with you.” “I…” My face fell into my hands. “I’m sorry, I just... “ Blowing out a sigh, I set my hands down, and looked her in the eye, trying not to shrivel in fear under that predatory glare. “When Monoponi presented the motive, I was watching you. You didn’t react. Everyone else was afraid, but you didn’t move. You didn’t even blink.” Narrowing her eyes, one side of her mouth twisting in confusion, Adagio replied, “And that scared you.” “Yes!” I answered. “Yes, it did. And that got me thinking about the motive, and the traitor, and how you and I are the only ones who know about Equestria, and Monoponi’s from Equestria, and I know I’m not the traitor so--” Adagio closed the distance between us with a sudden lunge. Her lips met mine as she grabbed for me, hungrily kissing, her tongue forcing its way into my mouth and mingling with mine. The sheer suddenness of it overwhelmed me, my whole body overflowing with rising heat as I moaned, falling back and letting her take me. Holding my shirt roughly with one hand, the other cupping my breast, Adagio released the kiss and nipped at my neck, just hard enough to leave marks before withdrawing. “Still worried?” she rumbled in that husky voice that drove me wild. “Like I said, I wouldn’t sleep with you if I was just trying to manipulate you. I have more subtle tools than that.” She released me and sat back on her lounger. The missing warmth was like a splash of cold water, and my body burned with desire. “N-n-no, I guess you wouldn’t,” I said, panting. My hand drifted up to my neck, feeling for the marks, and came away with just the slightest little droplets of blood. The sight sent my heart racing even faster. “B-but can you blame me?” Adagio let out a low, sensual laugh, all chocolate, no bitter. “No. And before you ask, I don’t think you’re the traitor either. If I did, well…” Her lips peeled back to show off her sharp teeth. “I’d start biting a lot harder.” Somehow that made me flush even more with need. Sunset, you’re so masochistic sometimes, I thought. I looked down at the ground and poked my two index fingers together. “Can… can we go back to my room?” A sultry smile spread across her face. “Is anyone watching?” I glanced at my Monopad, but no one had moved. “No.” Adagio slipped off the lounger and sauntered away, swaying her hips. After a moment, she turned to look over her shoulder. “You coming?” I was on my feet and with her before she could even blink. ~*~ After some fun, and another shower, I went on to see Rarity like I originally intended. She let me in, fussing over me. “I wish I had more space in here,” she said as she brushed aside some of her sewing tools from the bed to let me have a place to sit. The dress was on a makeshift mannequin stand in one corner, covered by a sheet. “These cabins are lovely to stay in, but they’re so cramped.” “Sorry we didn’t have room for you to sew in the prop shop,” I said apologetically as I carefully placed my rump down on the bed, watching out for needles. “But Trixie insisted no one else see us building her props.” “Oh it’s alright, darling. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of chances in the future.” She held a hand to her mouth and cleared her throat with a dainty cough. With a flourish she pulled the sheet off the mannequin. “Ta-da! What do you think?” I’d be the first to admit I didn’t know much about clothes. I liked practical things, like leather, denim. Pants. Sure, I’d wear the occasional dress, for formal occasions, but I usually preferred function over form. This dress made me reconsider every thought I’d ever had about dresses. The stitching, the way the silk flowed down from every angle, the elegant yet sexy arms hanging just off the shoulder to bare the flesh, the cut of the train, complete with a slit down one leg to accentuate my features… ooh yeah. I was gonna love wearing this. “It looks amazing,” I breathed. “Can I try it on?” “Yes, please, by all means!” Rarity replied with a happy smile. “Just don’t wear it over your other clothes. It’s not made for that. And do watch the pins. There’s still a few last stitches I’ll need to make once you’re wearing it.” “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said as I ducked into the bathroom with the dress, quickly stripping down to my bra and panties. Then, ever so carefully, I donned the dress, careful not to pull at any pins or rip any seams. I shouldn’t have worried. It slipped on like a second skin, and fit perfectly. I admired myself in Rarity’s mirror, fluffing my hair, spinning on my feet so I could see myself from as many angles as possible. I stepped out of the bathroom and struck a pose. “Hey there, pretty lady,” I said in a deliberately cheesy tone. As I hoped, Rarity busted out laughing, quick little high pitched giggles that she swiftly stifled with a hand to her mouth. “Oh my, how romantic you are, Sunset,” she said, her words coated with amused sarcasm. “I feel entranced already.” I laughed right along with her. “But for real, I love this dress, Rarity. You did an amazing job.” “Why thank you. I’m not quite finished yet, but I do feel proud of this one,” she answered. Moving towards the bed, she scooped up her sewing kit and got to work on the remaining stitches. “Now just hold still, darling. This shouldn’t take long.” True to her word, Rarity worked swiftly, and was just finishing up the final stitch when a knock came at the door. “Come in!” she called. The door opened, and Trixie rushed inside, closing it behind her. Her eyes fell upon me and promptly bugged out as she threw up her hands in shock. “Wow,” she said. “That dress is incredible.” “Isn’t it though?” I said with a happy little squeal. “I’m gonna be turning some heads tonight.” Rarity gestured with a nudge of her shoulder to a second mannequin I hadn’t noticed in the opposite corner. “Trixie, your outfit is over there.” Trixie went to fetch it and disappeared into the bathroom, emerging after a moment wearing a blue silk top hat, a dark blue business overshirt plus business skirt, and a shorter cape, still clasped with a fake blue sapphire, but ending in shorter coattails, accentuating her features. All in all the outfit certainly resembled her favorite hat and cloak, but with more taste. And it was also reminiscent of something else, as if I’d seen a similar outfit before. Not on Trixie, but on some other magic-inclined girl. Maybe in a video game. “Lookin’ good, Trixie,” I said, flashing her a thumbs up. “Yes, it is quite fetching, if I do say so myself,” Rarity added, all smiles. “Hmm…” Trixie took off the hat and spun it in her hands a few times, then placed it back on her head. “Trixie quite likes it as well, thank you.” A frown formed on her face, her eyes turning hesitant. “Um, will Trixie owe you money for this when we get out of here?” Oh crap. Of course. Money. I hadn’t even thought of that. A dress like the one I was wearing would probably cost a good thousand dollars or more, maybe two, since it was made by a personal tailor. “Oh, pfft, no,” Rarity said, scoffing and letting one hand wave forward dismissively. “I wouldn’t dream of charging you for this. Just think of it as a gift.” Trixie’s hand shot up to fondle the edge of her hat, the other running down her shirt. “Trixie has never been given such a gift before,” she said, her tone full of awe. Gratitude reflecting in her eyes, she added, “Thank you, Rarity! Trixie will be sure to treasure it!” “It’s very generous of you,” I added, gratitude welling up inside me, like a soothing fire. Rarity beamed under the praise, throwing up one hand behind her head as she stuck her nose high up in the air, as if swooning. “It’s just a part of who I am, that’s all.” She dropped her pose, smiling once more. “And if you ever need any repairs, please, come to me, and I’ll take care of it, free of charge. I consider the two of you to be friends, after all, and I don’t make my friends pay me for work.” “Friends, huh?” I said, holding a hand to my breast and feeling the warmth the word filled me up with. A solitary tear dribbled down my cheek. “Thank you, Rarity. It makes me happy to hear that.” Trixie practically shape shifted into a faucet as she sobbed in happiness. “Trixie is so blessed to have such good friends!” she babbled. It took us a bit to get poor Trixie cleaned up after that, but Rarity didn’t say a word against her in judgement. That was the difference between Rarity and Diamond Tiara. They were both posh, elite type rich folk, all about class and style, but where Tiara was cruel, power hungry, and abused her position, Rarity… didn’t. She was just like any other person, and cared just like any other person, as if all her money hadn’t affected her one bit. Generosity. In Equestria, it was one of the Elements of Harmony, a vital force of magic for ponies. Rarity… if she were a pony, I felt like she would exemplify the Element. Maybe in Equestria there’s a Rarity who does just that. Who knows? The rest of the day passed without much fanfare, until about 5:30, when Trixie rushed Apple Bloom and myself through dinner and told Tiara we’d be in the theater, setting up for the show. As soon as we finished eating, we escorted Trixie to her room so she could pick up the box with the swords. She unlocked it just long enough to be sure all three were there before locking it again for the trip. “So Trixie, Ah was makin’ a stand for you, for holdin’ your swords while on stage,” Apple Bloom said as we walked past everyone sitting at the food court. “Ah spray-painted it black, so it matched the table and frame for the mirror. Was that alright?” “More than alright, Apple Bloom,” Trixie said, panting heavily as she carted the crate of swords. I stayed close by to help. We were both back in our regular outfits. I was carrying our show wear on my arm, on hangers, so they weren’t damaged by walking around. The flats I’d picked out were in my backpack. “Trixie is glad you thought to include a sword stand.” She looked back and forth real quick, then leaned in towards us and added in a whisper, “It helps with the illusion.” “Ah kinda figured,” Apple Bloom replied, grinning. “And like Ah said before, Ah’ll be waiting backstage just outta view in case ya run into any trouble.” We reached the prop shop, where Trixie promptly dropped the crate with a slam onto the closest table, huffing and puff. “Whew. Perhaps Trixie should join the rest of you for workouts. That was harder than Trixie expected,” she said. “It wouldn’t hurt,” I agreed as I gently set down our costumes. Then I assisted Trixie in rolling out the table onstage for her initial set of acts. A variety of props ranging from cards to handkerchiefs and others were on the table, the usual magician’s fare. The table for the origami trick was placed just offstage, with the mirror required next to it. I offered to set it on the trick table’s frame so it was easier to move, but Trixie insisted we put it on once the table was on stage, as it added to the effect. The sword stand was placed right next to it. Apple Bloom had thoughtfully included small rolling wheels with little breaks on the bottom of the stand, making it easy to move. Trixie handed me the key so I could unlock the sword box. The swords were inside, just as we confirmed at her cabin, completely untouched. I carefully withdrew them from the box and placed them one at a time on the sword stand. That finished, the two of us quickly went to the dressing rooms and got dressed up in our costumes. Both of us had picked out a set of flats to complete our outfits, mine in scarlet, hers in dark blue, both sets sparkling with rhinestones. By the time we finished dressing up, people were filing into the theater, taking seats right up front. Flash joined us on stage, and Trixie helped direct him to the lights operating room. It turned out it was upstairs on the third “floor” of the theater, in a little room off of one of the balconies. It was small and empty save for a wooden chair and the operating console. The door was lockable, so after familiarizing himself with the controls, and taking down the instructions Trixie gave him, Flash locked the door. We met up with Diamond Tiara right at the foot of the stage, just before 7:00. I noted with interest that she was carrying a first aid kit, of the same design as Adagio's. “Is everyone here?” I asked her. “No one missing?” She did a quick headcount, then nodded. “Yup. I see everyone there,” she said, pointing out the crowd. Rarity and Sweetie Belle were dead center, with Twilight and Scootaloo on either side of them. Applejack sat to one end, closest to the aisle, while Tiara went to assume the identical seat on the other side. The rest were scattered in between. Pinkie somehow had a massive tub of popcorn in her hands and was stuffing it in her mouth, chewing and making a big mess, while Rainbow Dash shook her head in disgust. Fluttershy politely flicked stray pieces off her clothes without saying a word. Adagio, I saw, was right next to Applejack, arms crossed, legs folded, he expression full of doubt, though when she saw my dress I saw her briefly gasp. Right at 7:00 PM, the lights in the theater turned down low, and Flash activated the spotlights. The beams of light danced around the stage before settling on the two of us. I stood back from Trixie, arms at my sides, weight resting on the leg poking out of the slit in the dress, just as she requested. “Greetings, ladies and gentlemen!” Trixie announced, her voice echoing through the speaker system via the mike clipped to her lapel. She held up her arms, swinging them about and making motions with her fingers. “Welcome to The Great and Powerful Trrrrrrrriiiiixie’s Magnificent Magical Show!” A few in the audience clapped politely, Rarity among them. Trixie preened under even this meager applause until it died down. “Thank you, thank you! Trixie will be bringing you dazzling delights, spectacular spells, devilish deceptions, illustrious illusions, all for your viewing pleasure. Before I begin, allow me to introduce my lovely assistant for the evening, Sunset Shimmer!” As she’d requested, I did a slow curtsy before swiftly rising back up. I received a lot more applause than she did, complete with Rainbow Dash whistling and throwing cat calls. Trixie’s expression briefly switched to one of harsh, furious jealousy before shifting back to her presenter’s smile. Sorry, Trixie, I’m not trying to steal the show, I promise. “She is quite beautiful, isn’t she?” Trixie announced, recovering smoothly. I noticed Adagio’s left eye twitch as Trixie spoke. “So. For Trixie’s first trick, behold!” Trixie began her routine, and everyone once in a while I sauntered forward, brought her the next prop, and then retreated back. As she performed each new feat, the applause she received grew and grew, until it sounded like a crowd of twenty or thirty more so than ten. Trixie basked in the appreciation, her confidence ever growing. Every once in a while I glanced up at Flash, up in the booth, and at Apple Bloom over on stage left, just behind the curtains, but every time both just flashed me a thumbs up. Everything was going well, and the show was proving to be a big hit. “Now then!” Trixie announced, bringing my attention back to her. “For our finale event, I wish to present a fascinating demonstration for you. Sunset, if you would please? Taking that as my cue, I pushed the table of other tricks aside, then went backstage and brought out the origami trick table and mirror, setting it in front of the big X like I was directed to. “As you can see,” Trixie said, “this appears to be an ordinary box. My lovely assistant is placing this mirror here,” she indicated the mirror in my hands that I was attaching to the back of the trick table, “so you can see the back of the box at all times. Nothing will be hidden, Trixie assures you!” I went off stage again and retrieved the sword stand, rolling it into place. “Perfect. Now,” Trixie said as she started opening up the box to reveal it as being much larger than it originally appeared, “as you can see, Trixie could fit herself inside the box if she wants to! But Sunset will fulfill that role for me instead, just to be safe.” A few people laughed at that. At Trixie’s gesturing, I walked up and slowly, with her assistance, climbed inside the box, and settled down just the way she instructed. “Now that Sunset is inside, watch as Trixie closes the box!” I heard the sounds of the box closing, plunging me into darkness. I could still hear gasps of awe from the crowd as Trixie successfully shrank the box down to something far smaller than should’ve been possible with me in it. “And now! You will see!” I heard the sching of a sword being removed swiftly from its sheath. “As Trixie plunges the sword into the box!” “Holy crap!” I heard Rainbow Dash cry out as the first sword sank in. “But that, of course, is insufficient for the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie cried as another sword was drawn out and promptly shoved into the box at a different angle. “Oh no!” someone moaned. I couldn’t tell who. “One more, for good measure!” Trixie said, withdrawing the final sword and shoving it into the box from the top on down. “Now, Trixie knows what you're thinking. She's behind the table, right? Allow Trixie to show you how wrong you are!" The table spun just as she said, with more gasps of shock and surprise. “And now, Trixie will remove the swords.” Three quick sounds of swords being removed later, and I heard Trixie shout, “Trixie will now open the box!” True to her word, the box opened right back up, light filling my eyes once more. As she finished opening it, I slowly sat up, blinking spots away. Trixie held out a hand for me to take as she assisted me in getting out of the box, right back out onto the big X of tape. As I came out, Flash moved a couple of spotlights to circle around and focus on me. “What the…” I heard Apple Bloom mutter from just off stage. “And as you see, Sunset is unharmed!” Trixie said, raising up both our arms as she took a deep bow to the sound of brilliant applause. The claps and cheers echoed throughout the theater, and from what I could see of the crowd, even Adagio looked impressed now, one lip curled up in appreciation as she nodded several times. We rose up, Trixie’s face split from ear to ear with her smile as she took a second to glance at me, letting out a quiet squealing noise, before we took another bow. But right as we did, I heard something… odd. Like something snapped. Then a whistle of something falling. Then a furious clomping of boots on the stage as Apple Bloom screamed “Look out!” right before we were both body checked to the ground. Trixie fell over off the front of the stage while I skidded on my shoulders most of the way to the other side, friction burning all down every bit of exposed flesh, the sound of crashing metal in our ears. SCHLUNK! The sound of metal slicing through flesh rung in my ears, and the harsh metallic tang of spilled blood filled my nostrils. I looked up in horror to see Apple Bloom bent over backwards, eyes bulging as open as they could be in shock, her pupils dilated, her arms thrown up. The shaft and bloodied tip of a massive spear protruded out of her chest! Even as I watched she slid down the spear shaft further and further till she was propped up by it like some kind of messed up doll on display, right above the big X of tape. “APPLE BLOOM!” Applejack bellowed at a deafening volume as she sped forward faster than lightning, taking the stairs up the stage five at a time. In a flash she was up and next to her sister, cradling her in her arms, blood spilling everywhere and soaking her clothes. “Oh my god!” she screeched as she held her, tears streaming down her face in whole rivers of salt water. “Someone get a first aid kit! NOW!” I struggled back to my feet even as Tiara and Adagio both surged forward, first aid kits already withdrawn and ready. I closed the distance, trying not to crowd Applejack and Apple Bloom. They both popped open their kits and pulled out huge rolls of bandages, but there was no chance. No hope of success. Not with a wound that big, bleeding that fast. “Apple… Applejack…” I heard Apple Bloom say in a weak voice. “Now now, Apple Bloom, don’t you fret now, you’re gonna be okay! Ah ain’t gonna let you die!” Applejack babbled as she sobbed fiercely, hugging her sister to her chest despite all the blood. “It’s… it’s okay… Ah’m g-gonna see Mom and Dad again…” “Nonononononono, don’t talk like that sugarcube,” Applejack cried, shaking her head like a ragdoll. “Don’t talk like that, please! Please! Ah can’t lose you too!” “Ah… Ah’ll give ‘em your love, AJ. Ah… Ah loo...oo...v...ee….y...o...u…” Apple Bloom’s head slumped, and what little light was left in her eyes faded. Applejack reared her head back and screamed, sobbing louder than I’d ever heard someone cry before. It was a scream of sorrow, of rage, of hopeless. The same feelings surged through the rest of us as we all beheld the weeping farmer. I wanted to cry right with her, but just like before, the emptiness gnawed at me until all I could feel was nothing. I couldn’t speak, or cry, or console her. All I could do was stare. Stare at the cold, lifeless body of Apple Bloom.