Sighing, Sunset closed the book that allowed her and Princess Twilight to communicate and glanced around the room to all her friends.
Knowing that Ghost Rider would likely head back to Sunset’s house, the girls had retreated to Sweet Apple Acres after Sunset had grabbed some of her things, notably the book that served as her only form of communication between Earth and Equestria besides the statue. They knew that heading to Applejack’s farm wouldn’t shake the Rider from their trail, but it’d hopefully buy them enough time for their plan.
Currently, Sunset was holed up inside of the farmhouse sitting on the couch watching the Apple gamily’s ancient television.
Applejack had flopped down next to her and stared at the TV for a second before side eyeing Sunset. “So, what’d the Princess have to say?”
Sunset sighed again as she flipped the book back open to see the latest conversation she had with Twilight.
_______________________
"Hey Twilight! Random question; if a guy (pony I guess for you) with a flaming skull for a head started chasing you, telling you he was gonna make you pay for your sins, what do you think you'd do?"
"Oh, hello Sunset! That's a rather unusual question. And oddly specific. Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong! It's just one of those random late night questions, y'know?"
"Oh, I see! Well, I suppose I'd do the obvious thing and try to find the best way out of the situation without anypony getting hurt."
"Right, okay. Well, what if can't be reasoned with. Like, you try to talk to him, but it's like he's just on autopilot to destroy you."
"Well…I suppose I'd try to contain him."
"Hm, okay, but say he's able to break through pretty much anything."
…
"Twilight, you there?"
"I'm thinking."
"Can he break through stone? Like, for example, being sealed in stone like Discord used to?"
"I…don't know. That's a good theory. Alright, thanks Twilight!"
_____________________
As Sunset finished recounting her exchange with Princess Twilight, Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Ah don't get it. Why'd ya lie to her? Wouldn't it be better if she came and helped us?"
"Maybe, but remember, here in the human world, Twilight doesn't have full access to her magic, and we don't know if the rest of it unlocks when she Pony's Up." Sunset explained.
"Ah still feel it'd be better to have as much help as we can get…" Applejack muttered as she glanced at the book.
"Well, there is another reason." Sunset said as she also glanced down at the book and bit her lip. "Knowing Twilight, despite what she said in the book, she'd probably still try to reason with Ghost Rider, and that would likely end in disaster."
"Shucks." Applejack said as she adjusted her hat. "Ah suhpose ya got a point there, sugarcube."
Sunset nodded as she and Applejack sat in silence for a moment.
"Alright, I need to make sure everything is ready." Sunset said as she got up from the couch and put her jacket on. "Are you sure we'll be alone out here?"
"Of course." Applejack replied as she also stood up and put her hand on Sunset's shoulder. "Granny an' Big Mac are out in Vegas on Apple Bloom is with her friends fer the night." She explained.
Sunset looked hesitant for a second, but nodded. "Right. We got this."
"We sure do."
The two girls walked out of the house to make sure everything was prepared.
__________________________
Ghost Rider sped past Sunset's home. He could sense she wasn't there, so he didn't bother stopping.
Though the question of WHERE she disappeared to was still prevalent. The Rider pulled his bike to the side and took a moment to use his senses to find where the girl had gone.
If the Ghost Rider had eyes, imagine they shot open as he picked up on Sunset's location. Revving his bike, he sped off towards the direction.
As he was apart to leave the city and enter the country, he noticed a pair of headlights on a car.
Speeding closer, the Rider saw what appeared to be two men trying to shove a woman into a car.
Ghost Rider decided he could allow himself just a little time before going for Sunset.
It's the little things after all.
___________________________
Sunset rubbed her sleepy eyes as she gave one final look over the farm. Nodding to herself, she glanced up at the roof of the barn. "Everything okay up there, Rarity?" She called.
The girl looked down from her perch as she continued filing her nails. "Yes, everything is fine, darling." Sunset heard her mumble something, but didn’t care enough to ask her to repeat it.
Walking away from the barn, she made her way a bit down the field before hearing a boom and being pelted with sprinkles. "Hiya Sunny!" Pinkie Pie chirped.
Sighing, she glanced at her. "Hello Pinkie. Everything ready?"
"You betcha! That meanface won't know what hit him!" Pinkie replied with a stern look.
Sunset chuckled and ruffled Pinkie's puffy hair. "I'm sure."
Passing by apple tree's, she saw Applejack tending to Rainbow Dash.
By tending, she was tying the girl to the tree.
"AJ, c'mon! This isn't fair!" She yelled as she struggled against the binds, but it was for naught.
Applejack snickered as she watched her friend try her hardest to break free. "We both know ya wouldn't stay down, sugarcube. Ya can't be on that leg."
"Yeah, but once we pony up, it'll heal itself!"
Applejack paused for a moment and stared down at the girl. “Well, that is true…” She mumbled while scratching her chin.
“See?! Now lemme go!”
Applejack contemplated it for a minute before Sunset stepped in.
"That may be true, but that's the last step in our plan." Twilight explained.
Rainbrow growled as she threw her head against the tree behind her and then recoiled with a hiss of pain.
Chuckling to herself, Sunset gave one more passing glance at the surrounding area.
"Hey, where's Fluttershy?"
"She's inside with Winona. Ah figured this ain't her fight. She got mighty shaken up last time we tried taken this fella on." Applejack explained.
Sunset frowned. "We'll need everyone out here so we can pony up."
"Yeah, that's why Ah told her when she hears somethin' blow up, that's her cue to come runnin'."
Sunset nodded, but kept the frown on her face.
The girls all sat for a moment in silence, but they were snapped out of their stupor but the familiar hum of a motorcycle.
"Aw heck." Applejack muttered.
Twilight started to run her fingers through her hair. "Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh…"
Sunset took a deep breath and looked at her friends.
"This is it you guys."
_____________________
Ghost Rider drew closer to his prey as dirt kicked up under the flaming wheels of his hellcycle.
Ghost Rider sped straight into the farm as as he looked around the open fields of the farm, he started to drive in circles around the plantation.
"Don't you know open areas are where I work best?!" He shouted as he burned the soil beneath him.
As he finished shouting, a diamond appeared right in front of his bike, prompting him to swerve to the side. He can break through them with his strength, but just driving into one would be a bad idea.
As he continued to drive, multiple diamonds appeared sporadically, causing him to drive around like a maniac.
"I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this going!" Rarity shouted.
"Just keep it up a bit longer!" Sunset shouted.
Rarity continued to summon diamonds as her energy was drained more and more.
BOOM
Just as she was about to give out, the diamonds had led Ghost Rider straight into Pinkie's cannons.
While they didn't harm him directly, they did cause him to go flying off his bike.
After crash landing and getting his bearings, Ghost Rider glanced up in time to see Applejack walk up to his motorcycle.
"Nice wheels." She said as she picked up the bike and tossed it off into the night sky.
Ghost Rider watched as his bike flew away and looked back at Applejack as she grabbed his chain.
"Why do you insist so badly on protecting her soul?" Ghost Rider asked as he spun his chain.
"Cause Ah know she's a good person. And yer not takin' her." She replied.
"Heard that before." Ghost Rider stated as he swung his chain at Applejack.
However the girl didn't even flinch as his chain was once again enveloped in purple light as he glanced at where Twilight was standing with a smug smirk.
"Not too bright are ya?"
The chain once again wrapped itself around Ghost Rider, while the loose end was directed toward Applejack, who grabbed it, swung it around a few times, and threw Ghost Rider through a few trees until he violently crashed into the wall of the barn.
Rarity quickly summoned a diamond around Ghost Rider for extra measure against him moving while Fluttershy ran out of the house.
The girls all ran over to where the Rider was trapped and locked their hands with each other.
"Your terror ends here, Ghost Rider!" Sunset shouted. "Allow the Magic of Friendship help you!"
"The magic of what?"
The girls all stared at him with smirks for a second while Ghost Rider stared back.
"Um, why isn't anything happening?" Fluttershy nervously asked as she looked at her friends who all had equally nervous looks on their face.
"Hey! Forgetting someone, you jerks?!" They all heard the raspy voice of their friend call out.
"Rainbow Dash!" Sunset shouted as she turned and saw their friend still tied to a tree.
"Shoot! Ah forgot to undo her knot, and nothing breaks an Apple Family knot!" Applejack shouted.
"Why'd you even tie her up in the first place?!" Rarity yelled at the girl.
"Ah thought it'd be funny…?" Applejack nervously shrugged.
The girls bickering was put to a stop as Ghost Rider's flames burnt brighter. "'Not too bright are ya?'" He mocked as he started breating fire on the diamond, causing it to start cracking.
Sunset's face paled as she glanced at the Rider and back at Rainbow. "Keep him stalled!"
The girls all gave varying sounds of confusion as she ran towards the binded girl.
"Bout time! I'm giving myself rope burn trying to get out of these things!" Rainbow shouted as Sunset started tugging on the rope.
"I know! I know! I'm sorry! Now shut up, so I can get you free!" Sunset yelled back at her.
"Sunset! Yer not getting that knot undone!" Applejack called out as she tried tying another rope around the diamond.
Sunset grunted as she backed away from the rope and glanced at her hands which sported burn marks on them.
Looking around her surroundings, she spotted something.
"Screw it!" She exclaimed as she got up and grabbed a hoe and walked back over to Rainbow.
"WOAH, WOAH, HEY, LET'S NOT BE RASH HERE!" Rainbow shouted as Sunset walked over to her and started swinging her hoe against the rope over and over.
"Darling, I don't mean to rush you or anything…" Rarity called as she tried to patch the diamond that was cracking. "But, perhaps you could hurry up?"
Sunset glanced over and watched as Pinkie was putting bubblegum all over the diamond, Twilight trying her best to use her telekinesis to stop Ghost Rider, and Fluttershy watching scared.
She looked back at the ropes to see that they were almost cut.
"Alright, this is it!" She exclaimed as she wound up one last big swing and brought it down on the rope, which cut, setting Rainbow free.
"Aw yeah!" She shouted as she sprung up, and then instantly regretted as she remembered her foot.
Grabbing her arm, Sunset pulled her towards Ghost Rider and the rest of the girls. "Let's finish this."
Rainbow Dash nodded with a determined smiled as they ran (hopped in Rainbow's case) over to Ghost Rider.
The rest of the Rainbooms meanwhile were on the verge of giving out when Sunset and Rainbow showed up. "Everyone! Now!"
Just as she shouted this, their efforts finally proved to not be enough as Ghost Rider burst free from his trap.
As the Rider prepared himself, he was stopped by a bright glow that took him by surprise.
These girls were proving to be more interesting than he anticipated.
The Rainbooms floated in the air and in a brilliant flash of light, grew pony ears, and some wings.
"As I was saying;" Sunset started. "Ghost Rider! Prepare to feel the Magic of Friendship!"
After she said this, the girls joined hands and with another bright flash, Ghost Rider saw a magic rainbow beam fly straight at him.
Trying his best to defend himself against the blast, he let out a burst of flames from his jaw, but it didn't hold long, as he soon was overpowered and fully blasted with the friendship rainbow.
After a moment, the Rainbooms let up and descended back down to the ground.
"So, he should be depowered now…right?" Fluttershy asked as she looked at the crater Ghost Rider know laid in.
"Yeah, they usually are after we hit them with a rainbow beam." Sunset said.
"Awww yeah! Another awesome victory! And my foot is fixed" Rainbow exclaimed as she pumped a fist and stomped her foot against the ground a few times. "This gives me an idea!" She said as she suddenly zoomed off and came back at the speed of light, now equipped with her guitar.
"Prepare for the sickest riff of your life!" She told her friends as she started going to town on her guitar.
Applejack chuckled and glanced around the farm. "Granny's not gonna be happy when she gets back." She said surveying the damage.
"She won't even notice!" Pinkie Pie said. "We'll have it cleaned up before you can say Awesome Party For Celebrating Defeating Fire Skeleton Man!"
Rarity giggled. "Yes, I suppose a celebration wouldn't be so bad. Besides, it has been dreadfully long since we used these abilities, I forgot how fabulous we all looked!"
Twilight huffed and sat down. "I'm just glad it's over."
However before anyone else could respond, they all noticed the crater where their blast had hit illuminate with an orange glow.
"No…" Sunset mumbled as a gloved hand gripped the ground and pulled the hauntingly familiar flaming skull back for all of them to see.
"You cannot extuingish the fires of vengeance." The Ghost Rider stated as he climbed out of the hole, not a scratch on him and looked at the Rainbooms.
Sunset Shimmer just stared with an empty look in her eyes.
Her soul was damned.