[Manehattan, 1/18/2203, Celestia's Solo Reign]
They ROBBED me.
They took Herb, and now they were going to pay.
I’m the smartest mare I know. I can do something to them… I can reap what they sought. But what to do? Idea’s flood my mind to the brim. Will this work? No. What about this?
All I want to happen is see them suffer. I want to see their faces look at me with fear. I want to destroy everything they hold dear. If I can’t have Herb, they can’t have their lives.
I need an idea. Something to really break them.
Magic is too unreliable. I can’t torture them with magic. Magic can be overwritten with more magic, plus I’d need a unicorn who shares my unfathomable lust for murder. Murderers are hard to come by, though.
I need something mechanical. Something only controlled with bare hooves.
I trot by an open barrel. Homeless ponies were throwing logs onto the flame, and sparks grew against the night sky. Perhaps something with fire? What can I do with fire?
Fire is great at burning things. But fire can be put out with magic. But what if I create something with the fire? Like steam? Large amounts of steam? What does steam do to help me achieve my goal?
“Hey, are you alright, miss?”
“Get the buck away from me!” I use my hind-legs to give him a kick, sending him down the street. Ponies are looking at me with shocked faces. I don’t care.
No distractions. I can’t have anything go wrong. I need a workshop. I need money. I’ve been clawing at that objective for years. Money is such a stupid thing. Why do I need to pay when I can take? Take the lives of ponies. I’m going to see Herb again, even if it means sacrificing myself.
Who can I work for? Who has a workshop? Or, who has money to steal?
The conclusion came to me like a brick. I can find a unicorn with murderous intent! Obviously! What a dumb thing to overlook. For the past four years, the Crystal Empire has been plunged into darkness by, what I can only assume is, a tyrannical evil dictator by the name of King Sombra.
Bingo! We both have fantasias of watching Equestria burn, this will be the greatest team to ever exist!
Without a second thought, I started trotting off in a certain direction. Cab drivers have stopped offering rides to the Crystal Empire. I guess I’ll just walk. It’s not a big deal, only a few hundred… miles…
[Ponyville, 5/11/3210, Two Sister’s Reunion]
“All right, my attention is solely yours.” Rarity said, leaning down next to the small dragon. Spike blushed profusely.
“Actually, I’m here to help.”
“Oh, but of course! Spike, could you go grab some velvet silk from upstairs, please?” Rarity asked. Spike’s eyes, I swear, turned to love hearts for a moment. The purple dragon quickly pranced out of sight, seemingly driven by Rarity’s words.
“Now that’s out of the way, why did you want to see me today, Rusty? And why so early after being discharged? If I were you, I’d take my beauty sleep.” Rarity laid on the ground directly across from the me at a respectable distance. I took her words carefully. My mane has returned color, yes, but It was unkempt, and fraying. I could feel Rarity’s eyes diverging to the hairy mass atop my head.
“Rarity, I was wondering if I could use some… help?” The last word was squeaked out. I’m scared of making her upset. What if she decides I’m a monster, like I actually am?
“Ah, help with what? That mane? Let me say, If I were you, I’d-” Rarity kept going. I don’t have the heart to stop her. She seems to be in her element. A stray hoof keeps touching the hair atop my head, making vague symbols. I’m hardly listening, but still enough to keep eye contact.
Eventually, she stops talking, and waits for my response. “Actually, I was wondering if I could have some design help?” I shy’d away from eye contact. I mean, it’s her job, after all. She shouldn’t be that mad. But I am kind of leaning on her for help.
“Design help? Rustee, I just told you how to style your mane.”
“No- I mean, thank you for that- but I- Hmmph.” I struggled to find the proper words. Why was this so difficult? “Here- let me show you?” I proposed it as a question, tilting my head slightly. Rarity looked at me, waiting, before realizing it was a question, then sheepishly nodded her head.
From the saddlebags, I grabbed a roll of parchment, and unraveled it, spreading it with my only hoof against the floor.
There, staring back, was something I worked on while in the hospital. There, was something I’ve not stopped thinking about, laying bare for Rarity to see. With an inquisitive eye, she looked down at the paper.
Spike came downstairs, carrying every piece of purple silk he could possibly find. “I couldn’t find the right one, so I brought them all- woah! Is that a wheelchair?”
[The Crystal Empire, 1/20/2203, Celestia's Solo Reign]
A hoof pushed onto my skull against the cold floor of the castle.
“Let go of me before I buck you up!” I screamed, echoing around the blackened, sickly walls of the hall.
“I recognize your tone, lady.” A voice boomed over the guards. As soon as it came, the guard released my skull from the ground. He immediately got on his knees, bowing to almost kiss the floor. I looked up, unphased by the sound. Just seeing the guard kneel, I could taste the fear in the air. His fear. I gave him a little kick, and his armor jingled.
“A tone of great loss. A tone of… despair?” The only light in the entire large hall was the open door behind me, where we had come from. The further down, the more darkness encumbered the room. Despite this, high up, larger than anypony I’ve seen, two pairs of glowing red eyes stared back. Tears of purple flowed out of it’s retinas. Although the sight was ghastly, I merely stared back.
“I sense no fear. Is this a product of the aforementioned despair? Or are you merely stupid.”
“Listen, buddy, I have nothing left to live for. I don’t give a flying shit what happens to me.”
“Loss. I sense loss.”
“If you don’t stop using the word ‘sense,’ I’ll buck the teeth out of your head.” The ghostly figure came forward. I soon realized it was just that, a ghost. A black cloud with eyes.
“So, so fearless. You came to my Empire. Why?”
“I need your help.” I said, bluntly. The black cloud looked at me again, shifting it’s eyes. It must’ve been thinking. I recognize that face anywhere.
“How foalish. My help? I only work alone, filly.” The shadow turned around. Although just a black cloud, it had a shape to it. It did look like a pony, just a tiny bit.
“What if I told you I could create a super-weapon?” The shadow stopped moving away, and instead turned to face me.
A purple haze overtook the shadow, and when the light faded, a Unicorn took its place. His coat was gray, partially covered up with a regal red cape. He wore light armor around his bust and hooves, which looked more like a fashion statement rather than use in battle. He had a mane blacker than the night. An uncommon sight- for me atleast.
It was combed back, held in place with a silver crown. Protruding infront of the crown, a red horn, contrasting from the rest of his body. A two-toned pony?
“Why would I need a super-weapon?” He snarled, showing his teeth. He was now partially facing me.
“I’m the smartest pony you’ll ever meet. I can make you anything.” I could feel a sort of haze take over my eyes. I was pleading my case. If King Sombra didn’t listen, I think I might seriously kill myself. Nopony else is as insane as the one standing in front of me. This was my one-shot.
“I can craft things untouchable by magic. The ponies of Equestria have wronged me so, so many times. All I want to see is them suffer. I want to see Equestria go up in a blaze of fire.” I kept going. King Sombra now had his full attention towards me. He looked… impressed?
“These words you speak- not to convince me, but rather from your heart? I can only feel darkness in your soul.” He smiled a creepy grin. “Interesting. What about this weapon you speak of?”
[Ponyville, 5/11/3210, Two Sister’s Reunion]
“Yes, in a sense, it’s a wheelchair.” I explained, looking towards the adorable dragon. I want to hug him again.
“But- It’s just two circles around a pony?” Rarity looked confused.
“Again, yes. This is why you are here, Rarity. I need your help to make this bad boy look… how do I say this… a little less drab? Give it a spark, would you?” I push the drawing towards her. I can see it. In her eyes, a little imagination starts moving.
“Why yes, dear. I think you could use some copper bars here, for the tire!” Without a second thought, Rarity levitated a large piece of parchment over, laying it overtop the smaller one. It was larger than a pony, with a sketch of a pony already on it. “I use these for sketching dresses.” She explained. Already, a huge array of pencils were laid out infront of her, and she started moving. Spike looked on in awe at her incredible work ethic. I started at her face. I can see the concentration. When ponies are doing what they love- or their ‘special talent,’ they can sometimes go into ‘the zone.’
Rarity looked so focused. It was unbelievable. The last time I was in that zone was when I was creating weapons for Master Sombra-
I almost cried in shock. I made a gagging sound with my mouth. I was disgusted with myself. I had been pushing the memories down, but for the first time, I was thinking about it like I did before. Plainly, and not guiltily.
Rarity stopped drawing. She was half-way through the first wheel. She looked up at me, with a concerned eye. I had my hoof over my mouth, looking towards the ground.
“I-Is it ugly? I could-”
“No- I just had some… thoughts.”
“Oh, Rusty. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I said. A familiar tone crept into my voice. A tone I was so, so familiar with.
“If you want to talk about it-”
“I said- I’m FINE.” I shouted. The mare crawled backwards for a moment, looking into my eyes. I read her emotions for the hundreth time today. Except this time, all I saw was the familiar eyes. I had seen hundreds of ponies give me that look. I had stood right next to the big stallion while it happened. There was no doubt I was the last face they saw before- testing. In Rarity, I saw the face of fear.
Tears started flowing from my eyes. I lowered my head to the ground, and put a hoof over my mane. Tears leaked onto the parchment, giving the tanned paper inky black splotches. What had I done? I’m a monster. I’ve led so many ponies to their death.
I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I hazard a glance upwards, looking at the white unicorn who had comforted me. She pulled me into an embrace.
“Bad memories, huh?”
I could only sniffle, and nod my head against her chest.