//------------------------------// // The Fifth Trial: Generosity // Story: Tormented Dreams // by Kingsley //------------------------------// Chapter 6: The Fifth Trial: Generosity "What happened exactly Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked, as her and the others released their grip. Rainbow Dash veered in Fluttershy's direction for a few seconds and shivered. "You guys really want to know?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yes!" They all said simultaneously. "Well alright then." Rainbow Dash said. "It was weird at first, I started out in a sunny forest and Astaroth pretty much gave me what I needed right at the start of it." "That doesn't make any sense." Twilight said. "That's what I thought to, but after I picked it up...that's where everything took a turn for the worse." Rainbow Dash said. "It became completely dark and I had to find my way out before...you caught me." "Huh? Me!?" Fluttershy said. "W-Why me?" "It's like I said before, he makes me go up against you guys...but in a twisted and insane form." Rainbow Dash said. "You were...different from the others though Fluttershy." "Really?" Fluttershy said. "H-How so?" "Well for starters you were normal sized and weren't as crazy as the others." Rainbow Dash said. "But...you kept on crying the whole time...and repeating the same phrases over and over again." "What was I saying?" Fluttershy said. "Please! Don't leave me! or Why would you do this to us!" Rainbow Dash said, not mentioning the other phrases. "It was just weird y'know?" "Well..." Twilight said. "What are you going to do now?" "I'm going to go back in of course." Rainbow Dash said. "Seriously Rainbow?" Twilight said. "Why won't you let us help you get of this!? We can go research this! Ask Princess Celestia to try something!" "Twilight, I'm only one night away from putting Astaroth in his place! Of course I'm going to go back in." Rainbow Dash said. "Besides, what could you research? There's nothing documented on this place because no ones ever survived it!" "Rainbow..." Twilight said. "I'm sorry Twilight, but my mind is made up." Rainbow Dash said. "I really appreciate what you're trying to do for me, I really do...but this is something that I want to finish on my own!" Well it looks like there's no way I can change your mind." Twilight said. "So I guess the only thing I can do at this point...is wish you the best of luck!" "Thanks Twilight." Rainbow Dash said. "I mean there's only one more trial right? The only one he hasn't done out of all you guys is Rarity, and let's face it...it shouldn't be hard at all." "Excuse me?" Rarity said. "Come on Rarity, let's face it...you're not scary in the least." Rainbow Dash, snickering. "Well then!" Rarity said, a little hurt as she walked out of the room. "Let her go." Twilight said. "Guess the only thing to do now is wait till nightfall once more." "Got that right." Rainbow Dash said. ____________________________________________________ Later that evening... ____________________________________________________ "Alright Rainbow Dash." Twilight said. "Are you ready for this?" "Definitely!" Rainbow Dash said. "This should be over in no time!" "Come back to us in one piece alright sugarcube?" Applejack said. "Please be safe." Fluttershy said. "Show that Astaroth who's boss!" Pinkie said. "I have the utmost faith in you." Rarity said. "Thanks guys...I really...appreciate it..." Rainbow Dash said, her eyes becoming very heavy all of a sudden. "Good luck Rainbow! You can do it!" Twilight said. Twilight's words echoed as Rainbow Dash fell asleep once more. _______________________________________________ Nightmare - 6th Day _______________________________________________ "Rise and shine!" Astaroth said. Rainbow Dash shook her head and stood up. "You're awfully cheery today aren't you?" Rainbow Dash said. "Yes actually, after seeing your performance in The Forest Nightmare, I know exactly what to do to for you in the future..." Astaroth said, laughing hysterically. "I'm so scared!" Rainbow Dash said. "Just bring out the next trial already why don't you!?" "Yes of course!" Astaroth said. The environment changed once again, but what it was struck Rainbow Dash as unsettling. It was simply an enclosed circular area, with the surroundings made of solid rock. "What is this?" Rainbow Dash said. Two elements floated in front of Rainbow Dash in a circular motion. "Welcome to The Arena!" Astaroth said. "This will probably be the most challenging of all the trials you've faced so far!" Both elements vanished and Rainbow Dash started to hear rumbling from beneath the ground. "Wait a second! Isn't Rarity the last trial? She's the last of my friends after all!" Rainbow Dash said. "Who else is there?" "Seriously?" Astaroth said. "You've been here for like what? Six nights? And you haven't figured that out yet? Guess this'll be interesting when the time comes!" Rainbow Dash turned around and noticed bloody white hooves emerging from the ground. "But right now let's focus on the task at hand shall we?" Astaroth said. "Your Fifth Trial... Generosity." Rarity pulled herself up from the ground and stared at Rainbow Dash. She was normal sized and bared the same features as Fluttershy, except for the neck brace. "So I actually have to fight?" Rainbow Dash said. "But, where's the element?" Rainbow Dash looked closely at Rarity and noticed that she was wearing the element on her neck. "Figures, she would be the only one out of all of us to flaunt it like that." Rainbow Dash said. "Rainbow DASH!" Rarity yelled, charging towards Rainbow Dash. "Guess I have no choice." Rainbow Dash, getting into position. "Come on Rarity! Show me what you can do!" Rarity surprised Rainbow Dash by side stepping to her right as she got close enough, turning around quickly and kicking Rainbow Dash with her back hooves, sending her sliding back. Not giving Rainbow Dash a chance to recover, she followed up by quickly running towards her and picking her up by her neck and throwing her against the wall. "Ugh...come on Rainbow...pull yourself together!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash flew up into the air, already bruised and bleeding in some spots. She looked down at Rarity and dove down at her, biting her tail and flying back up with her. Rainbow Dash spun Rarity around and threw her down to the ground, causing Rarity to cough up blood on impact and leaving her vulnerable. "Now's my chance!" Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash flew towards Rarity and tried to rip the amulet of her neck, but it wouldn't budge. "What the?" Rainbow Dash said. Rarity recovered and grabbed Rainbow Dash, landing a solid punch in her gut. Rainbow Dash fell over in pain and Rarity walked over to her body. She placed her hoof on Rainbow Dash's back and grabbed both of her wings. Rainbow Dash knew what she was going to do, and she struggled as much as she possibly could, but she couldn't escape Rarity's grasp. Rarity pulled back on her wings, bones popping and blood spewing out as her wings were being ripped from her body. Rainbow Dash screamed and cried in agony as Rarity ripped them out. She then tossed them aside and picked Rainbow Dash up again by her neck, blood rushing down her back. "How does it feel Rainbow Dash?" Rarity said. "W-What are you talking about?" Rainbow Dash said. "This is because you left her, because you left us!" Rarity said, tightening her grip. "Rarity what are you talking about!?" Rainbow Dash cried. "YOU ABANDONED YOUR FRIENDS AND LEFT THEM FOR DEAD!" Rarity screamed. "...why did you do it Rainbow Dash?" Rainbow Dash looked at Rarity and noticed blood rushing down from her eyes, most likely...she was crying. "Rarity! You know I would never abandon you guys...I care about all of you too much!" Rainbow Dash said. "I'd never do such a thing! What ever I did I'm sorry!" "It's too late for apologies now Rainbow Dash...we're already dead thanks to you..." Rarity said. "Now you pay the price." Rarity tightened her grip to the point where Rainbow couldn't breathe. She struggled as she was being suffocated to death by her friend. "No...no no NO!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Rainbow Dash lifted her back hooves and kicked Rarity away from her, falling to ground and gasping for air. "I don't know what you're talking about Rarity...but I would never leave my friends behind in a life or death situation." Rainbow Dash said. "But if there's anyone here who needs to be put out of their misery! It's you Rarity!" Rarity became infuriated and she sprinted towards Rainbow Dash, blinded by anger. "I'm sorry Rarity..." Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash sprinted towards Rarity and avoided her punch, She lifted her hoof and drove it through Rarity's chest. The combined amount of pressure from both mares running towards each other made piercing her chest easy. Rainbow Dash removed her hoof from Rarity's body and she fell to the ground, the amulet sliding off her neck. Rainbow Dash walked over to Rarity's body and looked at her for a bit before picking up the element. "Rarity..." Rainbow Dash said. The red velvet door appeared shortly after Rarity's defeat and Rainbow Dash slowly walked towards it. She set the element in the indentation to unlock it and proceeded to open it. But before she did, she heard moaning behind her. "I thought she might still be alive..." Rainbow Dash said. Rainbow Dash turned around, expecting her to be completely healed and ready for round two. Instead...she saw Rarity lying there in a pool of her own blood. "Rainbow Dash..." Rarity said, tears running down her face as she crawled towards Rainbow Dash. "Don't leave us again..." Rainbow Dash started to tear up as Rarity slowly crawled towards her, leaving a trail of blood behind her. "Sometimes...I forget this is all fake..." Rainbow Dash said, sniffling. "It just feels so real though sometimes..." Rainbow Dash turned around and pushed open the door, revealing the white rays of light. They pierced Rarity's contorted body and she cried out to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash! Please help me!" Rarity said. "Don't let me die again!" Rainbow Dash continued to walk through the door, tears running down her face as Rarity's cries for help faded. "Rainbow Dash!" Rarity cried, as the door closed. Rainbow Dash has returned to the Distorted Ponyville and started to wipe her face. "How do you feel?' Astaroth said. "I'm...I'm fine." Rainbow Dash said. "Just get your stupid Confessional out here so we can wrap this up..." "Fine fine." Astaroth said. The Confessional rose up from the ground and Rainbow Dash took a seat inside of it. "Are you ready?" Astaroth said. "This is the last question you have to answer." "Yes let's just get this over with..." Rainbow Dash said. _____________________________________________ Final Question: Is it easier to love, or be loved? Blue Rope: To be loved Red Rope: To love _____________________________________________ Rainbow Dash pulled down on the red rope, providing no explanation as to why this time. "Interesting..." Astaroth said. "Well Rainbow Dash, you certainly are different from those I've encountered before." "I've answered your dumb questions so now answer my last one Astaroth." Rainbow Dash said. 'Why are you here?" "I guess I do owe you an explanation after making it this far...I was the very first victim to succumb to the World of Nightmares." Astaroth said. "You were...the first?" Rainbow Dash said. "Yes, and because of that my soul has been bounded to this place for all eternity. I can do nothing to escape this place...so over the course of the years I've been here, I've just grown...used to it I should say." Astaroth said. "I've...changed from who I was and now I oversee the victims who have been chosen." Rainbow Dash was quiet and she started to feel a little sorry for Astaroth. "Hey now, you're not actually feeling sorry for me are you?" Astaroth said. "I've grown accustomed to everything and this is simply my fate." Rainbow Dash remained silent. "Yep...you definitely are an odd one." Astaroth said, snickering. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow Rainbow Dash...for your final trial." Rainbow Dash's eyes became heavy and she blacked out once again. ______________________________________ Reality ______________________________________ Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and slowly sat up. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight and the others yelled. "You did it! You won right!?" Rainbow Dash looked up at her friends. "Heh...sorry guys." Rainbow Dash said. "But it looks like I'm not done yet."