//------------------------------// // Act 11: Truth behind Love // Story: Friendship is Failure #27- Love is a Danger Zone // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT ELEVEN The bottle of calming potion sat on the map table. Next to it sat the bottle of Deodorizer, which Twilight had run through the magic scanner; it was indeed tainted with the Demon Aura. Celestia and Luna had returned from their flight, and they were told of the discovery. “The calming potion is responsible for Strings being Danger Zone?” Celestia asked. Twilight and Cadance both nodded shamefully. “We didn’t know the aura was in it.” Twilight explained. The others all shuddered in fear and worry, especially Pinkie, “If Rarity hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve turned evil too!” Luna agreed, “These tainted potions are too dangerous…” and with hat, she used her magic to vanquish both jars. “So much for that.” said Spike. “But what do we do now?” “We go after Danger Zone, that’s what.” insisted Applejack. “But how can we?” asked Rarity “He is Strings after all.” “That doesn’t change things.” insisted Twilight. She took a moment to gather strength for what she was about to say, which pained her, “Strings or not, we can’t let Danger Zone run free and terrorizing Equestria.” Cadance was forced to set aside her personal feelings, “I’m still hoping that we can save him, but if we can’t… if we have to…” she didn’t finish that sentence, and didn’t have to, because everyone could already tell. Just then, there was a knock at the castle doors. Twilight looked out the window, and she could not believe her eyes; there stood the royal guards and with them was, “…Cadance?” She looked back at her sister-in-law, and then back at what was surely an imposter. “We better let them in.” said Celestia. The guards explained how the imposter Cadance was found in Strings suite at the hotel. “She insisted on being brought here, claiming she had important information for Princess Twilight.” The guards then left to get back on patrol. Celestia used her magic to counteract the spell on the imposter. “Sun Rae?” exclaimed Twilight. Sun looked in disgrace and hung her head in shame. “You used a Likeness Potion to disguise yourself as Princess Cadance?” asked Rainbow. “Okay, as cool as that almost looked, that’s not good.” The royal sisters agreed. “Misuse of magic or potions and Impersonating another pony are bad enough felonies.” scolded Celestia. “But to impersonate royalty… I am deeply shocked and confused.” “I know!” cried Sun, “I’m sorry. I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t help myself. I was just so desperate. I just wanted to be the pony of Strings’ dreams!” Cadance was boggled, “What do you mean? How can disguising yourself as me make you--” she stopped there, and suddenly, after all this time, the truth was finally revealing itself. “What?” Twilight’s mouth slowly dropped open. She looked at Cadance, and then asked Sun, “You mean… that…” Sun confessed, “It’s true,” and she looked at Cadance. “It’s you, Princess-- you are the one Strings has feelings for.” All the other friends were overwhelmed at this revelation. “No… it can’t be.” Cadance said. “Strings is in love with… Me?” She thought back to when Strings was her student… all those songs he played were loving and romantic, as if they weren’t just inspired by her, but directed at her. Sun confirmed this, “Every song Strings ever wrote was inspired by his feelings for you. I was the only one to ever figure it out, which really made me feel insecure. It was bad enough the guy I loved wasn’t the least bit into me… but the Princess! How could I ever compete with that? When you became engaged to Shining Armor, I thought there was hope for me… …But Strings was crushed beyond words. It was if a part of him had died that day. He knew that you were now and forever beyond his reach, and he would have to let go of you and let you be happy. He never wished any harm on you, or your husband, but his feelings for you always remained, no matter how hard the facts hit him. Even I tried to tell him.” “She’s going to be married. She loves him, you must respect that.” “I do respect it Sun, and that’s why I’m planning to leave. I’ve already refused her invitation to sing at the wedding because I don’t think I can bear it. She thinks I have another gig and am going on a tour.” “You’re being a fool, Strings! It doesn’t have to be like this.” protested Sun. She calmed down, her voice got tearful. “Why? Why can’t you just forget about Princess Cadance?” Strings didn’t know how to really answer. “It’s too difficult to explain. I don’t understand it myself. I just know that she has my heart, even though I can never have her.” “But why… why can’t you just forget about it? Why can’t you look elsewhere?” she then said it bluntly “…Why can’t you just love me? Why can’t you just try?” “I’m sorry, Sun… I really am…” String paused. He hated to have to hurt her like this “You’ve been a wonderful friend to me, but I’m afraid I just don’t have feelings for you, not even deep down, and there is no magic in this or any world that just put it there. I cannot change the way I feel simply because you want me to. No… Princess Cadance has my heart, and if I cannot have her, then I would rather be alone.” It was at that moment that Sun’s heart was broken in half that day, even more so when Strings sang a song relating to his own issues. “If I can’t Love her.” Back to the present, several of the friends felt tears coming to their eyes by such a moving yet tearful song. Sun wiped her eyes and said, “He said he’d rather die alone than give love another chance. He never got over his feelings, just as I never got over him.” She didn’t need to say much else, the entire picture was clear now, and Cadance still could not believe this. “He was trying to avoid me. That’s why he didn’t contact me or respond to my letters, and he didn’t tell me about his feelings because he didn’t want me to feel disturbed or worried.” Twilight shook her head, “That’s why he said no one could help him, and that’s why he feels it’s hopeless too.” Fluttershy sniffled, “Oh, Poor Strings…” Pinkie was sobbing miserably. “Anyone got a cupcake?” Rarity raised a hankie to her eyes, “I can’t stand such crushing stories.” Applejack and Rainbow shook their heads in dismay, agreeing that Strings certainly was a sick pony, but at least not in a very bad way. Sun concluded by saying that, “I’m sorry I had to reveal all this to you, but I just couldn’t keep it in anymore.” Celestia took some pity on Sun, “I understand your loyalty to the promise you made, but Sun, don’t you realize what you’ve done to yourself?” Sun looked up. “Your plan would never have worked.” said Luna. “True, you would have looked like Princess Cadance, but that would not have made Strings change his mind and develop feelings for you. He knew that Cadance was beyond his reach, and he would never have made any such attempt to go near her.” Cadance hated to, but she agreed. “It’s like I taught you long ago, Sun… Love isn’t something you can make happen or just control.” Sun held her head low, burying her face in her hooves. “I’m never going to have Strings… am I?” she sobbed. Everyone felt just hurt for her. Twilight then remembered about Danger Zone, and how he drained energy from his victims, but he never killed them even though he had every chance to. “It’s Strings’ good nature holding him back.” she muttered to herself. “Strings may have violent or nasty thoughts like everyone else does, but he would never succumb to actually pull them off. Danger Zone doesn’t kill because Strings won’t kill.” “Uh, hate to break it to you…” said Rainbow, “But when he transformed, he didn’t look like he was able to hold the creep back.” “That isn’t a good sign.” said Celestia. “It means that the evil is growing stronger.” “I understand you, sister,” agreed Luna. “Sooner or later, the evil may take complete control of Strings, and he will be lost to his own dark side.” Everyone gasped at such a horrible thought. “We must help him!” cried Rarity. “Yeah, but how?” asked Applejack. “We know he’s Strings, we know what he wants too.” “We’ll just have to stick to our original plans.” suggested Cadance, and she referred to the heart amulets she had given the gang. “No…” said Twilight “I have an even better idea.” She looked at Princess Luna, “I think we can do for Strings what we did for you.” “For me?” Luna asked, and she suddenly caught on-- back to when she was Nightmare Moon, and the ponies used the Elements of Harmony. “Uh… what are you getting at?” asked Spike. “Don’t you see?” explained Twilight. “Danger Zone is like an outgrowth of Strings; it’s his anger, misery, or darkness gone while. Strings always managed to suppress his hurt feelings, and he didn’t bother to take out his frustrations or envy on anyone. When Cadance and I gave him the Calming Potion, the Demon Aura obviously affected him-- it gave life to his years of holding it down. Thus: You have Strings, and you have Danger Zone. Two ponies-- one body.” “Ah! I get it…” Pinkie boasted. Then she whispered, “…I don’t really get it.” Twilight continued to explain, “The Elements of Harmony. We can use them the way we did to help Princess Luna beat the evil controlling her.” Luna and Celestia thought it over, knowing that this situation was slightly different than Luna’s former problem. “It just may work...” said Celestia. She and her sister then agreed to fetch the Elements from the Tree of Harmony. “They should be fully energized,” said Luna. “And if all goes smoothly, we will have the elements returned.” Suddenly, there was a loud sinister laugh heard from outside. “Danger Zone!” cried Twilight “I’d know that voice anywhere.” Everyone rushed to the windows and looked outside, and a very large image of Danger Zone appeared in the sky. He was about the size of all Ponyville. “Now hear this, Twilight Sparkle…” he hissed, “Princess Cadance, wherever you’re hiding her will have to surrender to me.” The ponies were all confused. “Come down and say that… you big bully!” Pinkie roared. Rarity hushed and reminded her, “He can’t hear you, remember. He’s just an image.” Danger Zone issued his ultimatum. “Princess Cadance will meet me in Ponyville Meadows at dawn! If you don’t…” he paused and revealed his prisoner. “Shining Armor!” cried Cadance. Twilight gawked at the sight of her brother all bound and gagged by magical streams. “My brother!” Danger Zone then declared, “As you can see, I’m holding all the cards now. If you don’t show up, your precious hubby will get it, and you’ll never see him again. Sunrise! That’s how long you have, Princess!” His evil laugh echoed all over as the images in the sky faded away. “No!” Cadance cried as tears fell down her face. Twilight stood where she was shaking stiffly. “Bro!” Luna and Celestia were furious. “We must get the elements, now!” said Celestia. Her sister agreed, and they both vanished. Meanwhile, Danger Zone was holding Shining Armor prisoner in an abandoned cave. Somewhere out there… Sunrise was long way off, seeing as it wasn’t even close to midnight yet. Danger Zone gazed at his helpless prisoner and chuckled, “Seeing you struggle like that amuses me.” Shining Armor couldn’t speak due to the magic over his mouth, and his magic was already less than a match for his captor’s, heavily increased power. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll soon see your precious wife again… and then you’ll be together forever when I take over Equestria and rid it of all the love there is!” Through his gag, Shining Armor mumbled, “Why are you doing this?” Danger Zone gave him a stern stare, “Let’s just say that I’m evening things out.” Shining Armor didn’t like the sound of it. Back at the castle, Twilight and Cadance were stressed out of their minds. “He’s got Shining Armor!” cried Cadance. “I can’t let him hurt him. I have to meet with Danger Zone.” “You can’t!” cried Fluttershy. “You know Danger Zone only wants you to come so he can tap your powers.” “And if he does that…” added Pinkie, and then she gasped deeply and hard, “…All of Equestria will be doomed!” “But my brother!” cried Twilight “We just can’t forget about him. You heard the threat.” Despite it being one life against many, Cadance and Twilight just couldn’t ignore any of this. Shining Armor meant too much to them both to just sacrifice him. “Wait!” cried Sun, “Maybe you won’t have to risk it.” Everyone looked her way. “I think I may know a way for you to trick Danger Zone.”