//------------------------------// // The Fourth Trial: Kindness // Story: Tormented Dreams // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 5: The Fourth Trial: Kindness Twilight and her friends wasted no time in heading towards Canterlot as they arrived there at around 4:00 p.m. due to the train ride. They made their way towards the castle, with Rainbow Dash following drearily behind, still shaky and scared about everything. Twilight raced on up ahead inside to the Throne Room to see Princess Celestia. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight yelled. "Oh, why hello Twilight!" Celestia said, surprised at Twilight's visit. "Is there something that you need?" "Yes, Princess! One of my best friends, Rainbow Dash to be specific, has not been able to sleep for the past few days," Twilight said. "This might sound a bit weird, but I think there's something in her mind that's keeping her from sleeping." "Something is keeping her from sleeping correctly?" Celestia asked. "Twilight, I know you are a very intelligent mare and that you are doing all you can to help your friend, but don't you think that sounds a bit far-fetched?" Rainbow Dash finally entered the room with her friends helping her stand up correctly. "Look at her Princess! What other explanation could there be!?" Twilight asked. Princess Celestia looked at Rainbow Dash's bloodshot eyes and her deprived state. "Hmm..." Celestia said. "I actually hooked her up to one of my machines last night so I could document her mind..." Twilight said. "Princess Celestia...you need to hear this." Princess Celestia walked down to join the group and Twilight created a screen. (Like what Trixie did in "Magic Duel") Only static was on the screen, but it was the audio that mattered. After listening to the recording, Celestia and the others were at a loss for words. "What in tarnation was that?" Applejack asked. "Sounded like there was...Someone else inside Rainbow Dash's head." "Yes indeed! I don't know what to make of it exactly," Rarity said. "Now, do you understand the severity of this Princess?" Twilight asked. "I know for a fact that something is going on with Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow Dash started to cringe and move around frantically. "Rainbow Dash? What's wrong?" Pinkie asked. "I...I don't know! My head...Feels like it's going to explode!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy went over to console Rainbow Dash as she panicked. "I believe you are right Twilight; however, there is one more thing I'd like to do to confirm this," Celestia said, looking towards the doors. "Please come inside Luna." "Thank you sister," Luna said. "Princess Luna! What are you doing here?" Twilight asked. "My sister called me here today on account of other matters we have to attend to later on in the day," Luna said. "But it looks like something else has come up." "Yes Luna, I want you to tell me if their friend, Rainbow Dash, has been sleeping soundly lately," Celestia said, pointing at the rainbow mare. Luna's eyes widened. "Oh...That one," Luna said. "Forgive me sister...But I have not told you this yet." "What is it?" Celestia asked. "Well, as you know I can enter the dreams of ponies while they sleep," Luna said. "However...I have not been able to access that one's mind at all recently...It's as if something else has taken over at the time." "AHHHHHHHH!" Rainbow Dash screamed. "MY HEAD! IT HURTS SO MUCH!" "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight yelled, rushing over to help her friend. Rainbow Dash's head started to throb with a searing pain. After hearing the recording of herself and Princess Luna's statement, all the memories that were once locked were now flowing back. After holding her head tightly and cringing on the ground, Rainbow Dash got up. "Rainbow Dash! Are you alright!?" Pinkie asked. "I'm fine Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said. "I...Remember everything now..." "Remember everything?" Twilight asked. "Yes...I'm not afraid anymore...I know what's happening," Rainbow Dash said. "What is it?" Celestia asked. "What is the cause of this?" Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, now calm and completely in control of herself. "Every time I go to sleep I'm thrown into another realm where I have to complete a trial every night," Rainbow Dash said. "If I fail a trial though...I'll die in my sleep." "Die in your sleep!?" Rarity asked. "Yes I'll die...That's not all though. There's this guy who calls himself The Adjudicator...From what he told me, he's the one who oversee's everything and is also the one who creates the trials," Rainbow Dash said. "He recently told me though that his real name is Astaroth." "This is absolutely insane!" Twilight said. "Is there anyway you can be free of this!?" "Actually, he said that's once I complete all the trials, he'll let me go and I'll be free," Rainbow Dash said. Everyone was in complete and utter shock. "You really shouldn't have said anything..." Astaroth said. "You were NEVER supposed to get your memory back!" "Ha! You snooze you lose Astaroth! You shoulda stopped me from talking earlier or something," Rainbow Dash said. Everyone watched, as it looked like Rainbow Dash was arguing with someone. "Who is she talking to?" Applejack asked. "It must be Astaroth," Twilight said. "She's the only one who can hear him since he's in her head after all." "You know...I wasn't going to make your next trial incredibly difficult! But now you've just gone and pissed me off," Astaroth said. "Go ahead! Make your little trial as hard as you want! I'll still pass it no matter what!" Rainbow Dash said. "See you tonight Astaroth! I'll show you what I'm really made of!" "Likewise..." Astaroth said. "Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked. "What should we do now?" "Hmm..." Rainbow Dash said. "Heh, wait until nightfall...I can't keep Astaroth waiting y'know?" "What!? You mean you're actually going back there?" Twilight asked. "We could probably do something more now that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna know about this!" "She's right Rainbow Dash, let us help you!" Celestia and Luna said. "Thank you...I appreciate you guys looking out for me...But now this has become something personal!" Rainbow Dash said. "I'm going to show Astaroth that I'm not some ordinary mare and I will complete the rest of his stupid trials!" "But Rainbow I-" Twilight said, interrupted. "I'm sorry Twilight, but my mind is made up," Rainbow Dash said. "If that really is your decision..." Celestia said. "Then the least I ask of you is to stay here in the castle for the night, all of you." "Princess Celestia! You agree with Rainbow Dash!?" Twilight said. "She clearly has made up her mind, and we have no right to say otherwise," Celestia said. "Please use one of the bedchambers on the upper floor...And please be careful Rainbow Dash." "No problem Princess! I'll show Astaroth that he messed with the wrong pegasus!" Rainbow Dash said, flying away to the upper floors. Twilight and her friends followed and made their way to the bedchamber that Princess Celestia spoke of. "Oh yeah, there's something else I forgot to mention," Rainbow Dash said, sitting on the bed. "What is it?" Twilight asked, shutting the door behind her. "In every trial so far, Astaroth makes me go up against a twisted version of...One of you guys," Rainbow Dash said. "I guess that explains why it sounded like I heard myself in that recording," Twilight said. "This is just sick..." "Are you sure you don't want us to do anything sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Yes Applejack, I'm sorry but this something that I have to do!" Rainbow Dash said. "Well...I guess all we can do now is wait till nightfall," Twilight said. Time passed. Now that Rainbow Dash remembered everything, she wasn't scared, but instead anxious and filled with adrenaline. As night started to arrive, she became sleepier and sleepier. "Get ready Astaroth...You're about to witness my awesomeness..." Rainbow Dash said, fading into sleep. _____________________________________ Nightmare - 5th Day _____________________________________ "Get up!" Astaroth said. Rainbow Dash shook her head and jumped up. "Hey buddy! How's it going?" Rainbow Dash asked. "You're just so funny," Astaroth said. "Let's get started." The environment changed to a surprisingly relaxing scenario. Rainbow Dash was in a field and the sun was shining, flowers were blooming and animals were seen frolicking about and there were trees everywhere. "Umm..." Rainbow Dash said. "Astaroth? Is this some kind of a joke?" Three floating jewels appeared in front of Rainbow Dash and spun in a circle. "Welcome to The Forest," Astaroth said. Two jewels disappeared, leaving only one behind as usual. "Your fourth trial...Kindness," Astaroth said, dropping the element to the ground. "Huh?" Rainbow Dash asked, picking the element up off the ground. "You're just giving it to me!?" Astaroth was silent. "What's the matter? Giving up already? Am I just that amazing!?" Rainbow Dash said, laughing. The shining sky turned to pitch black and the forest became much more dense. Rainbow Dash's wings also vanished from her body. "Figures," Rainbow Dash said. "I knew it was too good to be true." Rainbow Dash was in complete darkness, her only source of illumination was the moon. "Well, I already have the element...Which means all I gotta do is find the door!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash started to sprint cautiously through the woods, since she knew she would not be alone. She searched around frantically until she started hear what sounded like crying in the distance. "What the-?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Who is that?" The sobbing got closer and closer until a yellow mare with a pink mane was revealed. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused since it's usually a colossal demon chasing after her, but Fluttershy was nearly about the same height as her. "Why Rainbow Dash..." Fluttershy said, her head looking down at the ground. "Why did you leave us...I thought you said you'd never abandon us..." "Abandon you? Fluttershy what are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash said. "I'd never aban-" Rainbow Dash backed up away from the crying pegasus. "Woah...Can't forget this is only a nightmare! She isn't real..." Rainbow Dash said. "Rainbow Dash...Please! Don't leave me!" Fluttershy said, lifting her head and moving into the moonlight. Fluttershy's body resembled that of the past demons, only her's was more beaten up and bloody with huge gashes across her body. Chains were wrapped around two of her hooves and she had a spiked ring around her neck. "Stay with me Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy said, leaping towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash jumped out of the way and started to sprint away in the other direction. "Please! Wait! Come back!" The sobbing Fluttershy cried. "I-It's not real! Come on Rainbow you're stronger than this!" Rainbow Dash said. "Just find the door and get out of here!" Rainbow Dash sprinted through the woods, avoiding trees and bushes as best she could. "Gah! Where is this stupid exit!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash looked into the distance and noticed that there was a lake not too far ahead. "Maybe that's where it is! I don't think I have a choice at the momen-" Rainbow Dash said, interrupted as she was tackled to the ground by Fluttershy. "Is that you? Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy cried, while pinning Rainbow Dash down. "Get off of me! Lemme go dang it!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Fluttershy looked down, and with her razor sharp teeth, bit down on Rainbow Dash's right hoof and started to rip her skin off. Rainbow Dash screamed in agony, she struggled harder and harder until she was able to shove Fluttershy off. "GET OFF OF ME!" Rainbow Dash yelled, throwing Fluttershy off her against a tree. Not knowing, Rainbow Dash impaled Fluttershy through a tree branch that was concealed in the shadows. Fluttershy cried even louder as she sat there with a branch piercing her chest. "Rainbow Dash...Why are you doing this...I thought you were our friend!" Fluttershy cried, struggling to break free. Rainbow Dash was bleeding profusely from her wound and blood was running down her body. "I...I just..." Rainbow Dash said. "N-No! I have to get to that lake before it's too late!" Rainbow Dash limped towards the lake as quickly as she could. "Rainbow Dash! Please! Come back!" Fluttershy cried. Upon reaching the lake, the moon's reflection was cast on the surface...But the reflection was a blood red. "This is it?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Could it...Could it be at the bottom of the lake?" Looking behind her, she heard the branch snap and hoofsteps coming much quicker then before. "Guess I don't have a choice!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and jumped into the lake and started to swim downwards. Swimming as fast as she could, she swam deeper and deeper. She heard another splash behind her and noticed that Fluttershy was swimming downwards as well at breakneck speed. "Why do you always leave us!" Fluttershy cried. Rainbow swam faster and faster until she saw the red velvet door at the bottom of the lake. She swam down to it and shoved the jewel in the indentation, releasing the lock. Swinging the door open, the white light shone out and pierced right through Fluttershy's body. Fluttershy was crying and screaming at the same time as her body started to crack. "Why Rainbow Dash! Why are you doing this to us!" Fluttershy said, her body shattering with that last comment. Rainbow Dash turned around and swam on through the door, returning her to the Distorted Ponyville. "So you survived that one too..." Astaroth said. "I thought giving you a false sense of victory would be your downfall...Clearly I was wrong..." "Y-Yeah! No problem! You see I told you I could do it!" Rainbow Dash said. The Confessional rose up from the ground next to her. "Yes I guess you did..." Astaroth said. "Now get inside so we can wrap this up..." Rainbow Dash went inside and sat down on the seat. _______________________________________________ Question 4: Which is harder: Lying or being lied to? Blue Rope: Lying Red Rope: Being lied to _______________________________________________ "I suppose being lied to, since sometimes you're not sure if that pony is lying or not," Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash lifted her hoof and pulled down on the red rope. "I expected as much from you," Astaroth said. "Alright Astaroth, I survived another night now answer another one of my questions!" Rainbow Dash said. "What is the real purpose of this place?" "The World of Nightmares has existed since the beginning of time. There is no history behind it because no one has ever lived to tell about it," Astaroth said. "Unlike what I said before...It chooses those who it thinks has taken life for granted and doesn't deserve the benefits it contains." "What? I don't...Take life for granted..." Rainbow Dash said. "Well...Why are you here?" "Until next time..." Astaroth said. "Rainbow Dash..." Rainbow Dash's eyes became heavy as she blacked out once more. ___________________________________________ Reality ___________________________________________ Rainbow Dash's eyes opened widely and she sprung up from bed. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight and the others yelled, hugging their friend. "Heh...You see guys, I told you I'd be alright," Rainbow Dash said.