//------------------------------// // CH2: Okay, that didn't work. How about this? // Story: Mutual Interests // by Spirit Shift //------------------------------// Finally, I did it! The crown is mine, I can feel its power coursing through me even as it sits in my hands. “Finally, more power than I can ever imagine!” I say. I relish in the defeated face of Twilight as I put the crown on. The moment I placed the crown on my head, I felt the immense power it contained. It’s just so much to take in. So much... Too much... It hurts. It burns! Why does it burn? Is this what having power feels like? I thought it would be the best feeling ever... So why does it hurt so much?! I feel like I’m going to explode. Bright light fills my vision, and I can feel my feet leave the ground. But I ignore it when the pain grows even worse. I can feel something strange happening to my body… like... it's transforming into something that isn't me. Something is taking over. This wasn't what I wanted. “But, Sunset, this was exactly what you wanted, wasn't it?” All at once, the pain stops, and the light fades. I open my eyes, but all I see is darkness. Where is that voice coming from? I yell out for the voice to identify itself. “I’m what you desire most. I am what you succeeded in becoming.” Eventually, the dark begins to fade revealing a bright orange color. A silhouette manages to bring itself into my vision. I can’t make out many details, except that it’s a woman, much taller than I. “I am the power that you have craved so badly.” I can make out even more details as she brings herself into my vision. I can see her flaming red-yellow hair, literally blazing like fire. I flinch when I attempt to look her in the eye, there’s nothing there. Completely black and lifeless. Pulling myself back together, I demand, once more, for the creature to name itself. “Haven't you figured it out yet…? Or is it that you only wanted my power to make yourself seem smarter?” The figure is now fully visible. Something clicks in my mind, something I have been trying to deny... but I fail. Even so, I can’t accept what I see in front of me. That's… this... this demon… is me. “Ahh, finally, took you long enough. Yes, I am you, and you are me. I am what you have become with all of this power. Do you like?” she asked, twirling in the air and showing off her dark red skin. I don’t care, I refuse to believe that this is me, I would never have become something like this. I wanted power, not madness. “Foolish child! This IS what you wanted. You are now all powerful, even more powerful than Celestia herself. And certainly more powerful than that wannabe princess, Twilight Sparkle. So now, watch as I fulfill our goals. I will destroy Twilight and her friends, and I will take Equestria from that foolish princess who denied us the power we deserve! Enjoy the show, it’s to die for,” she says, laughing as everything fades back into nothingness. "No!" I scream for her to stop, but it’s too late. That wasn't what I wanted. I just wanted to prove that I could handle it, that I was worthy of this power. Tears began to flow down my cheeks as I realize that this might actually be what I meant by that. Suddenly, a large screen appears. A window to the outside. I can see Twilight and the others’ faces. They look so scared, so afraid. Why? I don’t understand. The screen pans down to look at the flaming skirt and dark red claws. A voice giggles in glee as she looks over her own figure, and I realize that they are looking at me. They are afraid of me, of what I've become. I try to move, only to realize that I don’t even have control of my own body anymore. This isn't what I wanted, this isn't what I wanted at all! I watch helplessly as she turns Snips and Snails into beings like her. I can’t bear to watch. They shouldn't have been dragged into this. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault! The demon, the me outside, forces me to watch as the body I cannot control destroys the school and brainwashes all of the students. I watch myself as I laugh at Twilight and threaten to use them to take over all of Equestria. I wish that I could make it stop, I try to take back control of my body, but I’m powerless inside my own mind. I can’t do anything to stop her. No, what is she doing? Twilight... Twilight run! Get away! TWILIGHT! I break down at this point. Tears flow freely as I watch myself blast Twilight and the others into dust. It’s all my fault. She was right, this is what I wanted. I wanted power at all costs… ...even if Twilight and her friends were my payment. Sunset Shimmer woke up in alarm, sweat and tears dripping down her face in abundance as she gasped for air. Her eyes began quickly darting around her room, her heart pounding faster than it had the right to be. Eventually, she managed to calm down enough to realize what had happened. “It was that dream again,” she sighed, wiping her face. “Well… as much as a memory could be called a dream.” Unable to return to sleep out of fear, Sunset Shimmer curled up on her bed, legs against her chest, and let the rest of her tears flow freely. ~~~ “So, I take it that animal therapy didn't work?” Fluttershy shook her head sadly. “If anything, I think that I may have made her sadder.” “That’s not good,” said Rarity, sitting down in front of the group. “So, what now? Do we send in the big guns?” asked Rainbow, pointing across the table to the pink haired girl, who was currently downing an extra large double chocolate banana creme strawberry cimicherrychonga surprise milkshake sundae. “No. Not yet. I want to try something first. Applejack, would you like some help on the farm?” she said, turning and giving her friend a bright smile. Applejack backed away a bit before answering. “Rarity? Where’re ya goin' with this?” Rarity only scooted closer to the reluctant farmgirl. “I’m only saying, that such a hard worker could use her hard work to take someone's mind off troubling events,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes. Applejack leaned back and crossed her arms defiantly. “That don’t make no sense, Ah hope you know that.” Rarity put her and together and gave her stubborn friend a pleading look. “Be that as it may. I would like it for you to take Sunset Shimmer to your farm, and let her help you.” “How would that help anythin’!?” she spat, an offended tone creeping into her voice. Rarity saighed and looked down sadly. “It’s obvious that she is distracted by the people around her, their attitude towards her is causing her to keep reflecting on what she’s done. So we could probably distract her by having her work hard in a secluded area. Also, trusting her with farm work would show that you trust her as a friend.” “No, way," Applejack denied. She shook her head fiercely. "That still doesn't make any sense, and Ah don’t trust her near mah farm. Ah said that ah’d help, but find another way.” Rarity leaned back to her normal position and crossed her arms. After a few seconds of thinking, she calmly raised her hand and snapped her fingers. “Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie.” The two girls immediately answered her call, faces at the ready. ~~~ “Applejack, why am I here?” asked Sunset as she hopped out of the Apple family truck. “I- uh, Ah could use your help on the farm before the cold weather hits. Ah figured that it would be a good… uh… bonding experience.” Sunset scoffed, “If you were forced to spend time with me you can just say it,” she said turning around. “If you don’t want me here… I’ll just leave, alright?” Applejack, hearing the depression in her voice, quickly responded. “No! Ah mean, it’s ok. Ah want you here, to help, Ah mean… jeez, just come on over here.” Sunset reluctantly followed Applejack to the main section of Sweet Apple Acres. She was surprised at exactly how many trees the apple family owned. Needless to say, counting them all was far beyond her numerical ability. “You have… a lot of trees,” Sunset observed. “Thank you, captain obvious,” Applejack replied instantly. She began to roll her eyes before realizing her mistake and turning back to the girl next to her. “Sorry, Rainbow says the same thing every time she visits. Anyway, Ah might have to get rid of a few.” Sunset turned and looked at her with a blank expression. “Why?” Sunset soon realized that her question seemed to hit a nerve in Applejack when she scowled and clenched her fists. “It’s those gosh darned Flim Flam brothers!” yelled Applejack, stomping her foot on the ground. "They said that they that they would triple our profits at last month's Apple Family bake sale. But all of the food tasted like garbage! Ah can’t even find them anymore, they just up and disappeared. Why, when I get my hand’s on them Ah'll-” Applejack glanced over, and saw her guest cowering some distance away. “Ah’m sorry, ah’m sorry,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s just that they done made a mess of our sale. Mac said somethin about, money issues and excess taxes and refunds. Ah don’t really get it, but it means that we might have to sell a portion of the farm, an that ticks me a mite off.” Sunset hesitantly took a few steps forward, “Well, if it’s financial issues I could probably-” “Hey, what’re you doin here!?” Both Sunset and Applejack turned to see Apple Bloom running up to the from the house. Applejack flinched. She was really hoping tat her sister would be out with her friends today. Apple Bloom stomped right up to Sunset Shimmer and pointed right up at her face. “You’re not welcome here. I won’t let you destroy the farm like you did the school. Put em’ up!” she said, raising her fists and jumping from foot to foot. “I… uh…” Apple Bloom held her hand out to silence her. “Uh uh, nope, your fancy magic words won't work on me! An don’t even think about-” “APPLE BLOOM!” Apple Bloom instantly stiffened as she slowly turned her head to look at the wrath that was her older sister. “Apologize!” “But, sis, she’s gonna cast her magic voodoo, and destroy the farm!” Apple Bloom whined. The farmgirl sighed and sat a hand on her forehead. “Sunset Shimmer is not here to destroy the farm. She’s here to help us work, alright.” The small red headed girl turned and glared at Shimmer before muttering a quick sorry. Afterwards she ran off back toward the house. “Don’t blame me if a giant beanstalk grows, or Mac becomes a frog or somethin’!” she yelled. Applejack sighed before turning back to Sunset. “Ah’m sorry about that, she’s still a little bitter about what happened.” “I-it’s okay, she’s right anyway I deserve it,” she said, her head now lowered and her arms wrapped around herself. If one were to pay close attention, one could see her shaking slightly. “Hey,” she asked, genuinely concerned, “you alright there?” Sunset quickly pulled herself back together. “N-no… I’m fine, what do you want me to do first?” “Umm, sure, go get those buckets over there.” ~~~ “Is that it?” asked Rainbow, leaning back in her usual seat. “Yeah, unfortunately," Applejack muttered, "She did everything I told her, but ah couldn't hold a conversation worth a grain of salt.” Rarity put a finger to her chin in thought. Even though Applejack failed the experience told her what they needed to improve on. “We need an activity where we can actively converse then.” “Is it party time!?” asked Pinkie, jumping and tossing confetti into the air. “Sorry, darling, I’m afraid not” “Awww,” Pinkie groaned as she fell back into her seat. The confetti fluttered to the ground listlessly behind her. “I suppose that this requires a gentler touch." Rarity face lit up in a bright smile as she stood up from the table. "I believe that it’s time to throw my hat into the ring, as the case may be.” “You’re going to spend the day with her?” asked Rainbow with a disbelieving smirk. Rarity faked a look offence and gestured to herself. “Of course, what kind of friend would I be if I only made my friends do all of the work.” “You’d be actin like that one girl with the diamonds on her skirt. Now what was her name again?” answered AJ. She leaned back in her seat with a smug grin. “Please, passive aggressiveness is beyond you, Applejack." Without ceremony Rarity turned away and walked toward the doors of Sugarcube Corner. Just as she opened the door Rarity turned back to her friends and winked slyly. "I would happily help my friends. I only need one thing from her in return?"