//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Harmony, Insanity and Freaks // by Sputnikmann //------------------------------// Both sets of Elements were sitting in Golden Oaks Library. Brutalight and Twilight were combining their powers to try and get a reading on the last alternate Element, whom Brutalight called Rarifruit. The only absent “mainstream” Element was Rainbow Dash, who was visiting her parents in Cloudsdale. The other Elements were talking with each other, discussing different topics. All of them were asking personal questions except for Pinkie, who was planning the alternate Elements’ “Welcome to Ponyville” Party with Pinkis. A few minutes of concentration later, Brutalight groaned. “For buck’s sakes!” she exclaimed. “Why is it we can’t find that damned unicorn?” Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” She said with a warm smile. Brutalight could feel memories of her lost past flow through her head, but something pushed them back. Focus mate, a voice inside her said. Now is not the time for your flashbacks. Remember why you’re gathering the Elements. Suddenly, Brutalight grabbed her head, which was really hurting; and started rolling on the floor. NO! Said a female voice in the back of her head. These are my friends! I will not hurt them! Brutalight screamed as the pain in her head grew immensely. Bloody show-ponies! Said a different voice in her head. You are not her! They are not your friends! Just let them go! The mainstream Elements were gathering around Brutalight. I am Twilight Sparkle! Said the female voice. You are Brutalight Sparcake! Said the other two voices at the same time. And you will submit to us! Brutalight’s head stopped pounding and she fell unconscious on the floor. Both sets of Elements carefully laid her on Twilight’s bed. “What in tarnation just happened?” asked Applejack. “Brutalight has a bad habit of having mental arguments with herself,” replied Fluttershout. “When they happen to go overboard, she gets terrible migraines.” “Let’s just leave her be,” said Twilight. “We can discuss this further when she comes to.” Earning nods from everypony, she left, both sets of Elements following her shortly after. Meanwhile, in Cloudsdale… Rainbow Dash was getting ready to go back to Ponyville. According to Derpy, who had just delivered a message to her in the middle of lunch; Brutalight had a meltdown. Seeing Twilight having a meltdown was funny, but seeing Twilight from an alternate dimension was going to be even funnier, especially with two Rainbow Dashes to laugh at it. Her train of thought was cut when she slammed into another Pegasus. Both of them plummeted towards the ground. Luckily, they were relatively close to the ground by Pegasus standards; so neither of them were hurt. After shaking off her confusion, she examined the Pegasus she ran into. He was a stallion. He had a black coat and a red mane and tail, with red eyes to match. On his flank was his cutie mark; which seemed to be a strange cyan blue design. It was a swirled line with spikes sticking out. On his head he wore a red top hat of some sort. “Heh, sorry,” said Rainbow Dash. “Didn't see you there.” “No,” said the stallion. “It was my fault, I’m… new around here. I’m The Inver… Uh… Shadow Rush, ya.” Shrugging of Shadow Rush’s neglect of the first ‘name’, Rainbow introduced herself. “I’m Rainbow Dash, but you probably already knew that.” She said proudly. “That’s… not… possible!” Shadow Rush exclaimed before rushing (no pun intended) away. Rainbow Dash is gone! He thought to himself. “That doesn't make sense… unless…” “Unless what?” said a voice in front of him. Shadow looked forward and saw Rainbow flying backwards close to his face. “You aren't one of those brainy types are you? You’re a little fast to be one.” She paused for a second to turn around. “By the way, you might want to fly up now.” Without saying another word, Rainbow flew upwards. The dumbstruck stallion slammed into the wall of Golden Oaks Library shortly after. "Told ya'" said Rainbow Dash, who had just landed beside him. "Here, let me help you." After giving Shadow a second to gather his senses, Rainbow spoke up. "Why were you so scarred back there? You acted as if it was impossible for me to be here." "That topic might want to wait until we can meet Twilight Sparkle." he said. "She is here right?" Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Are you going to ask every time you bring one of my friends up?" she asked. His black coat didn't help to hide his embarrassed blush. "Anyway, we're at the egghead's library, so if you want to meet her; you're at the right place." She took his hoof, which caused his blush to deepen. "Come on!" she said, not noticing. "I'll introduce you to the others." Inside the Library, Brutalight was just waking up. She jerked her head up, and looked around frantically. Damn, she thought. It wasn't a bad dream. Oh well. Sighing discontentedly, Brutalight headed down the stairs. She was greeted by smirks and smiles by the respective sets of Elements. Everypony was there, all except for... "HI!" exclaimed Pinkie and Pinkis, who had appeared behind her; almost scarring her into another coma. "WHAT THE BUCK IS YOUR PROBLEMS?!" yelled Brutalight, easily pissed in her tired state. "NEXT TIME YOU DO THAT, I'M GONNA..." her gaze turned to the mainstream Elements, who were shocked by Brutalight's sudden outburst. She smiled meekly and finished her sentence. "Tell your parents?" Although Pinkis giggled a little, Pinkie Pie was freaking out. "Please, please, PLEASE!" she cried, her mane flattening out. "Please don't tell on me to mother Cloudy Quartz, last time she was cross with me, I wasn't allowed to throw a party for a week!" Satisfied, Brutalight smirked. "Fine," she said in her echoing voice, holding back the urge to laugh. "But if you do that again, I'm definitely telling!" Suddenly, out of no-where, a voice started echoing through the Library. "Honestly Pinkie," said the voice. "I had forgotten how quickly your attitude changed." "Rarifruit?" exclaimed Rainbine. "Where are you?" "Right here," Rarifruit said. Looking beside her, Rainbine's wings instinctively activated and she flew into the ceiling, getting her head stuck into the top floor. "By the way, Rainbine? I think this belongs to you." Her horn started glowing cyan and a orange pegasus filly with a purple mane appeared beside her. On the filly's flank was a ying-yang symbol with several spikes poking out of it. The filly saw Rainbine stuck in the ceiling and flew up to her, helping to pull her free. After a few minutes, the filly, Rainbine, Brutalight, Fluttershout and Fluttershy were able to yank her free. Rainbine quickly noticed the orange filly latched onto her leg. "Uh... Karateloo?" "Yes Rainbine?" Karateloo asked. "I know I'm your Idle and everything," she said. "But can you let me go?" "OK Rainbine." Karateloo unlatched from Rainbine's leg and trotted beside her idle. Taking the opportunity, the group of mainstream Elements examined Rarifruit. She looked near-identical to Rarity, but all purple that was present on Rarity was replaced by violet.On her right fore-hoof was a metal gauntlet of sorts, holding a single violet gem near the base of her hoof. At that moment, the door to the library opened and Rainbow Dash and a black stallion entered. When the stallion saw the alternate Elements, his eyes widened. "Oh no..." he said. Rarifruit's eyes started twitching when she saw the Stallion's hat. For some reason she snorted before exclaiming "MINE!" and lunging at him, only to be held back by Twilight's magic. That's it she thought. "What is going on?" she asked. "I can understand the Element of Kindness and Magic having a temper. I can understand the Element of Loyalty being full of herself. Sure, the Element of Honesty being addicted to Painkillers is weird; but the Element of Generosity cannot; I repeat; CANNOT be Greedy! So I'll ask again... What is going on." The stallion Rainbow Dash entered with stared at her. "Twilight, there aren't the Elements of Harmony; not anymore." "Then who the Buck are they?" snapped Rainbow Dash. "Shadow!" "They're the... the..." Stuttered Shadow Rush. Finally, Rarity snapped. "Darling, I'm sorry I had to say this, but could you stop acting like a baby and spit it out already?" Shadow Rush swallowed. "Like them, I'm from another world. In my world, their known as..." he swallowed again. "The Elements of Insanity"