//------------------------------// // Mind Games and Salvation // Story: The Day Of Red Sky // by Spell Bound //------------------------------// Fluttershy was doing the typical Fluttershy thing. Hiding. She was currently cowering underneath a table. She knew she had to get to the castle, but she decided it wouldn't hurt to wait for the rock hail-storm to stop. Just then the table started moving. With a cowardly Meep she ran out from out of the table and didn't stop. She got over halfway down her path towards the castle until she came to a plaza and stopped in surprise. The tables from restaurants were walking about and seemed to be talking to doors, and tea-pots were flying about with tea-plate wings. Fluttershy's mouth dropped down in shock. She didn't even notice the green fog spread across the area and manifest into a mare Pegasus behind her that looked like herself, but her hair was green instead of pink and her fur was a pale grey. "Well well well, if it isn't little Fluttercry." Fluttershy jumped and whipped around to look at the stranger. "Aw is poor little Fluttercry scared? You are pathetic aren't you. And don't try to see the good side. You know why? Cause I am you. I know all your dirty little secrets." The mare began to circle round her. "Do you not feel ashamed? Your ancestors are some of the bravest Pegasi in Equestria, and here you are afraid of your own shadow. Now some fears are understandable, Filly-fooler." The mare smirked as Fluttershy cringed and started to curl up. "How long do you think you can hide it. Maybe the others will accept you, but what will Rarity say? You may not have a crush on her, but she certainty wont want to go on your Spa-dates anymore. Most will probably see you as a disgusting abomination against nature." The stranger stopped long enough to hear quiet sobs from the shy mare. An evil grin overtook her face. "You can't even stand up against a rabbit. You really are a weak pathetic excuse of a pony." The stranger lifted up her front two hooves as if to strike Fluttershy, and she cringed and curled up into a tight little ball sobbing. The stranger smiled and took to the sky and watched Fluttershy cry while tables walked all around her. Once more the Draconequus cancelled the illusion turning back into himself. "The end game approaches. First to finish the mind games, and then the real fun can begin." He turned his gaze over to Applejack's path. "It's your turn dear Applejack." ======================================================= Applejack was further upon her path than any of her companions. She rushed through her path to avoid and physical harm coming to her. She wasn't worried for her own safety, but rather the safety of her unborn foal. She entered the last leg of her path, though she didn't know this. It was built up like a barn, and the walls where on fire. AJ stopped for a minute to take a look around, and that was he down fall. The green fog the filled the area manifested into an apparition of a red stallion of similar build to her brother, Big Mac. "APPLEJACK! HOW COULD YOU!" Applejack whirled around to face the apparition. She opened her mouth to speak but the stallion continued. "YOU LET OUR BARN BURN! OUR FARM IS GONE! HOW COULD YOU? YOU SAID YOU'D ALWAYS LOOK AFTER THE FARM FOR MA AND PA. AH'M DISAPPOINTED IN YA LITTLE SIS!" AJ cowered slightly at the raging stallion, and it changed form into that of a filly similar to Apple Bloom. "Why didn ya help us big sis? Where were ya? Our home is gone. Everythin. And....gr...granny smith.....she's gone. WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP US!" AJ broke down crying. In the back of her mind she knew that these ponies weren't her family, but they looked just like them, and it hurt her deeply. What if the farm was gone. What if Granny Smith really was gone. The fog left the barn to let AJ to wallow in her sorrow for a little bit. The fog came together at the end point of all the paths and took the form of a pale unicorn mare, her bright blue mane tied up in a bun. He cutie mark was three love hearts. The mare smiled to herself. "The mind games have ended. Let their salvation arrive." She began trotting down Rarity's path, smiling to herself all the way looking at the chaos that surrounded her. ========================= Rarity was aimlessly wandering around the part of Canterlot that was available to her. Her head was down cast. Her very being had been insulted. Everything seemed pointless now. She new she had to go to Canterlot Castle so she could save Equestria, but she didn't feel up to it. She sat down in the middle of the road. Looking around she saw the irony of her location. She was right in the heart of the fashion district of Canterlot, and everything was ablaze. She laughed humorlessly at this. The shops were going up in flame, like her dreams were doing. She lied down and closed her eyes. She was content to let the fires of this nightmare consume her. End her sorrow. Nothing she did seem to have any point. Just then some of the rubble started to move. She lifted her head to take a look, and she was shocked at what she saw. A large blast blew back a chunk of rubble and a cute unicorn mare trotted from where the rubble used to stand. The mare looked over to Rarity. "What are you doing? Get of the ground and come over here. There are others that need saving!" Rarity didn't even bother arguing. She got up on to her hooves and trotted over to the stranger. "Who are you?" "My name is Sweet Heart. Now please follow me. The other bearers of harmony needs our help." Rarity's eyes widened. Her friends needed help? They must have been visited by their own nightmares. She nodded to Sweet Heart and followed her as she lead her through the winding streets to shortcuts that lead to the other paths her friends had to take. ========================================================= Twilight hadn't moved in ages. She just lay on the floor, hooves covering her head. In her mind she could still hear the school fillies laughing at her. She kept whispering to herself over and over again saying "No....It can't be.....I don't want to go to magic kindergarten again..." As time passed the whispers became softer and softer. She was on the verge of passing out when she felt a hoof on her shoulder. She looked up and saw a strange unicorn mare looking down at her, with Rarity at her shoulder. Twilight stood up and embraced her friend, Sweet Heart stepping aside for the two, before leading them to their next friend who needed help. ========================================================= Pinkie covered her ears with her hooves. Screams echoed around her, ponies crying out in pain, or crying out at the sight of a loved one lost. And Pinkie could do nothing to help them. Her place of taunting looked like the rock farm where she grew up. This wasn't lost on her, and depressed her even more. After all, the stallion was right. She had ignored her parents. She hadn't seen her family in years. She wasn't even sure if they were still on the same farm. She didn't even notice Twilight walk up to her until she tapped her on the shoulder. Pinkie turned round with tears in her eyes, and was greeted by a soft smile from Twilight holding out her hooves for a hug. Pinkie embraced her friend, finally able to ignore the screams around her. She didn't even notice that they had stopped. ============================================== Fluttershy also hadn't moved. She was still wrapped up tight in her ball of comfort. She barely noticed as a hoof began to stroke her hair. A soft comforting song reached her ears and she saw Rarity stroking her hair, and pinkie and a strange mare in the background sings the song she heard. Fluttershy smiled and got up to her hooves, ready to continue her mission. ========================================================= Applejack Had left he barn and was leaning against a fountain. She remained in the barn crying for a little while, before steeling herself and continuing her journey. Now she was resting at the connecting points of all the paths. She only had to wait for her friends to arrive now. Needless to say she was surprised to see them all emerge from the path she had taken being lead by a unicorn mare who had a look of confusion on her face. ""Applejack!" Her friends called and they all ran towards her and embraced her in a hug. "Are you ok?" Twilight asked, inferring with her eyes that she meant both Applejack and the foal in her stomach. "Yes Twi, Ah'm ok. Who's this?" "Let me introduce myself. My name is Sweet Heart. I work at Canterlot Castle. I was sent by the princess to get all of you. Now lets go. Time is of the essence." Sweet Heart began running towards the castle, followed by the others. A smile consumed her face. "I'm so close. So close to my retribution I can taste it" she thought to herself. A/N oh damn! We are reaching the Endgame soon. Just a couple more chapters me thinks. I was expecting this to be darker. Maybe later I'll go through it, but i don't think so. Don't need to go deep into the death of ponies. Enjoy!