//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Running on Ice // Story: SuShi's Bizarre Adventure: Fantasy Friendship // by Jojoleopard //------------------------------// “Come on, Jojo, come on!” Applejack yelled. She was seated at the safe house’s table, one arm on the table clasping Jojo’s other arm, with both of them straining against the other, trying to beat the other. The muscles on their arms throbbed and glistened with sweat, as their arms fought to overcome the other. “No way I’ll be losing to you,” Jojo grunted, his teeth clenched together. “Check out my muscles.” “Oh yeah?” Applejack chuckled. “Highwayman!” Her Stand’s arm pushed alongside hers and instantly, Jojo’s arm went down and the man flipped over the table and landed on the floor. “Close match, AJ.” Jojo dusted his jacket and got up. “Close?” Applejack blew a raspberry. “Keep dreamin’. Ya ain’t got nothin’ on these guns.” “Well, uh now that all that is done.” Sunset Shimmer tapped a pencil on her clipboard to get their attention. “We still need to find out where Rainbow Dash will be.” “Ah yes, that’s right.” Jojo removed his cap and slicked back his hair with one hand. With Rarity being rescued from the mind control of their mysterious enemy, Rainbow Dash was the only one of the group of friends that the enemy still had control over. Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity had decided it would be in their best interest to get her back before doing anything else. Sunset didn’t disagree with them. Perhaps if she had a friend that was being manipulated by someone else, she’d try to save them too. “Well, Rainbow frequents sports places other than school.” Rarity pointed out. “But like me, I am sure she will be looking for you to stop you. It should only be a matter of going out there as bait. I’m sure she’ll come.” “I know a good place,” Fluttershy said from a little corner where a few laptops sat. From the tip of her fingers of her left hand came spectral wires that disappeared into the sides of the computers. The screens had screens after screen of code and videos popping up, showing various cameras across the city of different attractions. She had explained her Stand, Florence, to Sunset the night before. Florence was a series of wires that could extend from her hand to control any kind of electronics, and that meant getting into the security systems across the city through the wi-fi and internet. “The Canterlot Stadium.” Fluttershy pointed at the laptop screens with her free hand. “It has enough space for a fight and Rainbow loved that place. She should find us easily if we go there.” “Sounds like a plan.” Applejack placed one hand on the brim of her hat, then the other crossed over her chest and ended with the palm facing up. “If we wait in the tunnels, we could surprise her, while someone acts as a decoy in the center.” “That’s a good idea, but what happened to always fighting the enemy one on one?” Sunset asked. She was indeed curious. “Plans don’t always survive the battle.” Jojo put his cap back on and flexed one arm. “We’ll make do with what we have.” “Uh… what does that mean?” “Means, Sushi girl, we’ll see how it goes.” Jojo turned around and pointed a thumb behind himself. “Let’s get ready to go. Your friend will be waiting.” “I’ll be bait,” Sunset volunteered. “The rest of you are more experienced at all this Stand stuff, so when Rainbow does show up, you can take her on.” “Brave of you, Sushi. I like your fighting spirit.” Jojo gave her a pat on the back. “Let’s head out. We want to give her enough time to come find us.” “Shouldn’t be too long. Rainbow’s a sharp one. She’ll be there.” Applejack pulled her hat lower. “We’ll get her back.” The journey to the stadium was fast and without incident. Yet. Sunset sat on the back of White Buffalo again, while the others followed behind in a small red car that looked like it couldn’t fit even two people, yet the four of them had squeezed in there just fine. Fluttershy’s Stand had taken control of it from the street and Sunset hoped the owner wouldn’t be too pissed about their car not being there the next time they came to get it. “Okay, everyone on alert.” Jojo waved to the others, then pointed to his eyes. “Stay frosty. Don’t wanna get caught off guard now, do we? For all we know, she’s already here.” They had parked right in front of the stadium, along some railings and vending machines, where posters of baseball and soccer athletes lined the walls, some faded from the seasons, some newer and glossier. A door to Sunset’s left suddenly burst open, frightening her, but she calmed down when she realized it was just Pinkie. “Sorry about that! I just moved this door over from the other side!” She snickered, then pointed inside. “We can go in here, while Sushi goes by the main entrance.” “Swell idea, Pinkie.” Jojo pumped a fist to his other shoulder. “Okay, you know the plan, Sushi. Just look out for anyone who might look like a Stand user.” “Just be careful, Sunset.” Rarity placed a hand on her shoulder. “And Rainbow’s not herself. I was fortunate that you didn’t finish me off. Please do the same for Rainbow if it comes to that.” “Easier said than done.” Sunset trotted ahead while the rest of her group entered the stadium by Pinkie’s door. She’d only faced Jojo as of yet, and he had been going easy on her. She didn’t know if she would be able to get through a real fight like Pinkie had against Rarity. “Only one way to find out.” The halls of the stadium were empty and quiet, allowing Sunset to hear every single step she took, no matter how quiet she tried to walk. There were no games going on today by the looks of it, but it seemed that there wasn’t even any training going on. It was just her and her little group of Stand users, which struck her as weird. The stadium was never this empty. As she emerged back out into the open air, Sunset raised a hand over her eyes as she tried to survey her surroundings. The bleachers were all empty as well and there was no equipment set up in the middle, except for two posts that were probably used for high jumping. “Odd indeed.” Sunset ran a hand over her chin as beads of sweat began to drip down her face from the summer’s sun above. She didn’t know what else to do now but to wait. She was the bait in their grand plan and she just needed to wait and see if Rainbow Dash would show up. The others hadn’t told her what kind of Stand Rainbow used, but if it was anything to go on, Rarity’s Stand was quite the potent one. Rainbow’s would probably be as difficult. Sunset was suddenly startled by the sound of someone clapping slowly. She whipped her body around and spotted someone sitting in the bleachers above the entrance she had come in from. She recognized Rainbow Dash immediately from her flowing rainbow colored hair. She had arm and knee guards on, like she was going to do some rollerblading, and she had a long blue scarf around her neck, which Sunset thought was a little crazy in this weather. “So, Sunset Shimmer, the new girl.” Rainbow stood and planted one foot on the chair in front of her. “I didn’t think you were one of them. I’m actually a little surprised you’re here. Didn’t think much of you, to be honest.” “Rainbow,” Sunset breathed and narrowed her eyes. “Someone’s got to stop your master. This isn’t right.” “What does it matter what is right or not?” Rainbow put one arm in the palm of her other hand and tilted her head to one side. “You know what’s right? Power and awesomeness. And my master has both those qualities. She has all the power in the world to take what she wants.” “So it’s a she, then,” Sunset said. That was a clue she hadn’t asked for, but she welcomed it all the same. “We’ll stop her, Rainbow. And we’ll get you back to your old self. You can count on that.” “What are you going to do? Do you think you can beat me?” Rainbow bent back with laughter. “Whether I am able to or not, the others will stop you. I’m sure of it.” Sunset put one foot forward, then raised a fist to her face, while her other arm crossed behind her back. “The others, huh?” Rainbow prodded her cheek with her pinkie finger. “About that… They won’t be coming to help, Sunset. Let’s just say I’ve already taken care of them backstage. It’s just you and me now.” “What?” Sunset’s bravado immediately faltered. Rainbow knew they were coming and they walked right into her trap. Now she was the only one who could stop her. Wherever the others were, she had to find them, but first, she had to find a way to deal with Rainbow before she would suffer the same fate. “Pegasus Fantasy!” Sunset called, as she ran forward. Her Stand materialized near her and got into a fighting stance with both fists raised. “You’ll find my Running on Ice will be more than you bargained for…” Rainbow twiddled two of her fingers together. She jumped out of the bleachers and at the same time, her Stand appeared under her, clad in a blue jumpsuit and a blue helmet with a big orange arrow on it that ended past its nose. It raised its hands under Rainbow’s feet and ice formed into a slide, allowing Rainbow to make her way down to the ground level, where Sunset was. Sunset closed the distance and Pegasus Fantasy began a flurry of straight punches, trying to hit Rainbow’s Stand. It raised an ice wall between them and the punches did nothing but crack the ice. Rainbow Dash sneered behind it as Running on Ice pushed the wall forward with one hand. It slid straight at Pegasus Fantasy and crashed into its snout. Sunset fell back a step and clutched at her nose as blood began to run down her face. The impact had broken her nose. “Well, I must say, I didn’t think you would lose so quickly. This’ll be much faster than I thought!” Rainbow chuckled and folded her arms behind her head. Sunset grunted and used her Stand to defend herself from a throw of three icicles. Then Pegasus Fantasy flew over the ice wall and dashed down towards Running on Ice faster than she could blink. Running on Ice was ready and it created a copy of itself as it rolled back to safety, followed by another trio of icicles being launched out to it as they materialized in the air from clouds of frost. Pegasus Fantasy smashed them with its fists, then returned to Sunset’s side. Rainbow’s Stand lunged forward and created two daggers in its hands as it began to swing them at Pegasus Fantasy. It blocked with its arms, then grabbed both of Running on Ice’s hands as it tried to attack again. Pegasus Fantasy was stronger in terms of brute strength, but then Running on Ice dissolved into water and escaped the silver Stand’s grip, then formed under it and turned into a cloud of frost. Sunset felt her legs begin to burn from the cold and recalled Pegasus Fantasy to her side as Running on Ice resumed its humanoid form. “Running on Ice can go on forever, but you won’t.” Rainbow slapped her knee and laughed. “The air has moisture and as long as there is any form of water in the air, I can use it however I like. It can also change its state from solid to liquid or to gas. Running on Ice can also model anything to use as a weapon and use anything in the air as a weapon. That would include even the sweat on your face. Watch.” She snapped her fingers and Sunset soon felt a burning sensation on her face, as though it was hardening, drying up and breaking. She screamed and grabbed for her face as ice began to spread across her forehead, cheeks and now her hands. “Your body will be frozen, your blood, your organs…” Rainbow folded her arms and grinned smugly at the freezing Sunset. “Once everything stops working, you will die and all that will remain of you will be the husk of what was once human. It was nice knowing you, Sunset, but I’ve got cool things to do, so just give it up, yeah?” Sunset’s vision began to change color, with the sky turning pink and the red running track under her feet turning green, all the while the ice continued to creep across her body, freezing her from the inside. She found that she could no longer breathe as the ice seeped into her lungs. If she didn’t think of something soon, it was all going to be over. No, she wasn’t going to give up, not here, not now. There was still a chance she had yet to try, but she was going to take it. “I’ve one more secret for you, Rainbow,” Sunset said as she felt the ice creep into her stomach. “And it’s how I’m going to beat you.” “Uh huh, yeah, sure.” Rainbow waved a hand nonchalantly at her. “You believe that.” “Yes. I’ve never used it before, so it doesn’t exactly have a name, but I’m going to call it…” Sunset closed her eyes and pictured her Stand. Pegasus Fantasy floated into the air behind Sunset, then dived down to her and enveloped its body around her. The silver armor began to open and fold over Sunset’s body and soon, she was encased in a silver armor that was once her Stand. With her Stand’s power, Sunset reset the molecules in her body, removing the ice and allowing her to breathe once again. “Fantasy armor,” Sunset named it. “You’re moving again!” Rainbow widened her eyes in disbelief. Sunset pointed a finger at her opponent and put a serious look on her face. “You see, my Stand has the power to reset something to its natural form, and that means removing your ice from inside and outside my body. Now that we have become one, my defenses have gone up and your ice will no longer affect me for one minute, because my body will remain in a state before my battle with you, which is how long my armor lasts as well, where Pegasus Fantasy’s power becomes my own. The more I tap into Pegasus Fantasy’s power, the less time I’ll have to use its armor. But I won’t need the whole minute. I’ll end this fight in ten seconds.” “We’ll see about that!” Rainbow hopped back as Running on Ice glided past her, conjuring balls of ice to throw at her. Sunset deflected both of them with her wings and as ice began to seep into her skin, she activated her Stand’s power and nullified the frost. Running on Ice tried using icicles, but Sunset closed the distance and grabbed the Stand around the neck. It reached up and tried to freeze her hands, but Sunset reset the molecules on her arms and the frost disappeared. Sunset cut down on Running on Ice’s elbows, breaking its grip, then raising both fists, she began delivering hit after hit to the enemy Stand’s face. “Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!” She drew one hand down, then with an almighty ‘neigh’, she delivered the finishing blow, her fist rocketing sky high as it connected with Running on Ice’s chin, launching it and Rainbow back, with the latter falling to the ground in a bloody mess. Sunset took one step back, then crossed her arms and placed her legs closely together. Once her Fantasy armor dissipated, she rushed forward and got Pegasus Fantasy to reset Rainbow Dash, healing her wounds and removing the mind control from her. It took a great deal to do, with her heart still pumping from the fight, but with nothing bothering her now, she soon got it done. “That should do it.” She nodded, satisfied with her work. She was really getting the hang of things now. “Now I better go see what she had done to the others.” Sunset found the rest of her group in a locker room in the back, frozen against a row of lockers. With a quick reset, the ice was gone and they were all back to normal, though a little dazed after being inactive for so long. “What happened?” Rarity asked, falling to the ground in a heap. “Sunset? Why are you here?” “She caught us off guard. That was a good one.” Jojo shook himself, then began smoothing out his hair. “Well, uh, I got her.” Sunset forced down a smile as she looked at their surprised faces. “Yeah, she’s out in the field. It was tough, but I managed it.” “Nice one Sushiiiii!” Pinkie Pie tackled her in a hug. “I knew you could do this!” “Yeah, that’s a good job done, Su-Sunset.” Fluttershy gave her a friendly pat. “That indeed.” Jojo flashed her a grin of white teeth, with one sparkling under the ceiling lights. “That’s your whole group back together, Applejack.” “Well, we gotta go get Rainbow back home first. Ah don’t trust leavin’ her out there on her own,” Applejack said. “But mighty fine work, Sunset. Couldn’ta done better maself.” “Come on. You can tell us how you did it on the way.” Jojo gestured to the doorway. “On we go!” The room was dark and musty, smelling something of smoke and old donuts, with nothing more than a single lightbulb illuminating the square space. In the corner, behind a desk, sat a lone figure, her chair turned to face away from the main door. A knock came, followed by the clear of a throat. “Enter,” the figure said. The door was pushed open slowly and a girl with a head full of white hair entered, stopping after only taking a few steps into the room. The door was shut behind her, plunging the room back into its darkened state. “Report,” the figure asked. She cleared her throat again. “Rarity and Rainbow Dash have been taken by them, master. That makes five victories against you, master. Trixie thinks you need a new plan.” Suddenly her head throbbed with pain and she was forced down on her knees as her skin began to peel and bubble. “You will do well not to tell me what to do. I own you now. You are mine to use as I see fit.” The figure twiddled with a phone in her hands. “I’m sending your team out. You will do well to end this threat to my rule, Trixie. I do not tolerate failure.” “I will not fail you, master…!” Trixie planted her hands and forehead down on the floor. “I will eliminate them, my team and I.” “You will see to it. I will not have my grand schemes crumble around me before even a taste of complete control is mine.” She waved her fingers and Trixie’s head returned to normal. “Now go, hunt them down. Ensure my rule will forever be uncontested.”