~ Friends? ~
"... I cannot believe that I'm walking on the path that leads towards the Abyss itself. I'm terrified and excited at the same time. Whisper seems to enjoy the sight seeing. Probably because It's her homeland. Although her temper seems to be out of control. Her usual aggressive behavior turned into something more enjoyable. She is still aggressive, but she was making fun of things. Commenting on everything she saw, or I wrote down. When she was teaching me how to defend myself. She kicked my flank so fast, that she made a funny comment, that I made an academy record about being the fastest one to be defeated in the history. There most be something wrong with me. When she and Lady Everblaze fought, for me it looked like they were sisters. We are so different from each other, yet I feel we attract each other in a different way. The more days we spend together, the more I think of them as my sisters. Is it a weird thing to consider them as family?... "
Rosemary - The Grand Expedition: A journey around the world
The once proud city of Canterlot had been under a state of emergency. A monster living as a pony infiltrated the city. Even the moon hid itself under a blanket made out of clouds.
" Ahahahahaha! " A wicked laugh echoed through Canterlot. The guards were on full alert. An amethyst unicorn filly ran towards a guard. She was crying. " Please, mister help me! Something horrible is in the alley way. The monster took my mother. " Her voice was innocent, and filled with fear. The guard followed her to the dark alley way.
" Don't worry. Where is this horrible monster you speak of? " He looked around, but found nothing, that could prove the filly's claim.
" Right behind you. " Travesty said with a wicked smile. The guard only had enough time to look behind himself. What he saw is horrified him completely. The once innocent looking filly, were laughing maniacally. Blood lust in her eyes. Her horn flared, with indigo color. She was draining his life force. He wanted to run, but his legs didn't move. He tried to resist, but in the end. The stallion collapsed. He a lifeless husk. With a smirk Travesty kicked the dead body.
Her ears perked up, when she heard voices nearby. When the first guard showed up, she quickly sent a magic beam against him. The guard was slammed into the wall, by such force, that it broke his spine.
" It's the demon! Sound the alarm! " The guards gathered around her. She licked her lips.
" Mmmmmm. So much juicy life force. It will be my pleasure to kill you all, but first let us play a game. " Her dark laughter echoed through the alley.
" You won't get away from us, Travesty. " A pony with dark grey mane stepped forward. " Give up now, while you still can. End this madness. "
" Look who we got here. " Travesty gave him a seductive smile. " Commander Hammerhead, you came here because of me? I'm flattered. " She blew him a kiss.
" Enough! Don't play games with me. " He stomped with his hooves. He was ready to charge at her. " Give up! Now! "
" Ahahahahahahaha! Only if you can catch me. " When the guards jumped at her, she summoned her magical power to teleport herself above the city. While falling to her demise, she transformed into a winged demon. Like a monstrosity from Tartarus itself appeared. Hammerhead just smirked. It looks like he prepared for something like this.
" Midnight! Taker her down from the sky! " He shouted. Pegasi guards quickly took off. Travesty was surrounded. Spears aimed at her. They flew in a formation that she couldn't brake without hurting herself.
" Well..well..well.. It looks like I walked straight into a trap. Or in this case I flew straight into it. " While stalling the inevitable she scanned for an escape route.
" I will blow you out of the sky, Travesty. Hammerhead might tried to reason with you, but I see who you are. You are a monster. I will see to it, that you will die as one. " Midnight gritted his teeth. He tried to hold the formation. If he charge forward foolishly, she could escape.
" Oh? Is that so? Tell me, captain. How is your wife, and filly? Have you dug their grave, yet? " Travesty knew this will tick him off.
" You bitch! I will avenge them! " Midnight charged forward breaking the formation. With a dramatic pirouette she flew aside. The stallion's attack missed her completely.
" Thank you captain. You are very kind of letting me go. " She used this opportunity, to break through the formation. Two guard died as she flew past them. Travesty incinerated them with magic. She was free at last, even though the guards chased after her.
" I will burn down Canterlot, because you let me do it! " She yelled while setting the city ablaze. Mares, stallions, even foals couldn't escape from her blazing fury.
" Dammit, Midnight! Lead her to the castle! " The rest of the guard were fighting against the flames. The stallions tried to save as many civilian as they could. Hammerhead galloped to the castle. Twilight Sparkle was there.
" Commander! How bad is the situation? " She saw the flames. Even though it was night, the flames light up the whole city.
" The casualties will be too high. The whole city will burn down if we don't stop her now. I hope your plan will work. " Hammerhead was angry, because he couldn't do anything.
" I-I.. never imagined that she will be completely out of her mind. If I knew I would have never taught her magic. " Her tears flowed freely.
" Hold together! Canterlot, and Equestria depends on it. " The white stallion scanned the sky. He was looking for something.
" Ahahahaahaha! Do you want to join your beloved wife and filly in death? " Travesty taunted him. The filly loved torturing ponies. Midnight tried to collide with her, but she was much more agile than he thought. Some might argue, that it wasn't a good idea, to involve Midnight in the plan to capture Travesty, because she could easily get under his skin. They were counting on it.
Travesty could never say no to play a game. While Midnight served as a distraction, he intentionally led her near the castle. Hammerhead waited for the right moment, then pulled a lever. A catapult launched a ball into the air. It blew up in mid air with a white flash. Disorientating, and blinding everypony who looked at it.
" Aaarrrrgghhh..! What did you do to me? " Travesty couldn't see anything. She was flying in circles. Midnight Impact waited for this opportunity. Living up to his namesakes he collided with her in mid air. Both of them fell from the sky. Although Travesty hit the ground hard. She already tried to stand up. She looked up just to see a net was thrown over her. The filly charged up her horn to blast away the net, but as soon her magic touched the net, it started to tighten around her. The more magic she used, the tighter it got. Her eyes widened.
" Shadowsilk! " Travesty gritted her teeth while saying that.
" The game is over for you, Travesty. " Hammerhead said, while helping Midnight up.
" The game is only over when I lay dead. " She spit towards his direction.
" Travesty... " Her eyes widened again. She knew this voice. It was Twilight. The mare walked next to her. " I'm sorry. It was my fault... "
" Don't you dare to pity me. I warned you. You didn't listened to me. Now you pay for this lesson in sweet-sweet blood. " Travesty spit in her face. Twilight wasn't bothered by it. She was just sad. Her heart completely broken.
" I'm sorry. I... have to... " Twilight winced it was just so hard for her to say something like that to her own apprentice.
" Just get over it! " The filly yelled at her, while struggling against the net.
" For your crimes against Equestria. I have to banish you.. to Tartarus. " Twilight looked into her eyes.
" You... you.. " Travesty was about to explode. " You can't do that! I would rather die, than to be banished! "
" Travesty, please... forgive me for this. " Twilight charged her horn up.
" Nooooo! " Travesty wasn't going to just give up. She summoned all her magic that she could. The shadowsilk net reacted accordingly. It tightened around her. It cut into her flesh. She started suffocating as the rope tightened around her throat. She smiled when the world gone dark around her. The last thing she saw was Twilight. The lavender unicorn was crying and pleading to her to stop. She hugged the filly, when she slowly left the living world.
" Noooooooo! " Travesty got up. She was hyperventilating. " No! No! No! No! " The filly was shaking, and sweating heavily. She started screaming until she had no voice anymore. She ran to the bathroom, then grabbed a bucket.
" Uggghrrr.." She emptied the content of her stomach into the bucket.
Travesty was panting heavily. She looked at herself in her mirror. The filly was so occupied with herself, the she didn't saw, that the cracks in the mirror started to spread and grow.
" Nightmares two consecutive day. It didn't happen before. What is happening to me? " She was demanding answer from her own reflection. " Stupid reflection. Why don't you have answers for me? Useless junk. " She walked out the bathroom. She wanted to lay down and sleep a little more, but she had to go to school.
" This is going to be a long day. " She sighed, then packed her school supplies.
" What should we do for the talent show? " Sweetie Belle asked from her fellow crusaders as they walked out of the schoolhouse.
" We should do something totally awesome. Like a stunt show. I will jump through flaming circles. Then Rainbow Dash will say I'm totally awesome. It will be the best day ever. " Scootaloo was daydreaming.
" Hmmm. I'm not sure about the flaming circles. It sounds dangerous. Applejack would never allow me to do it. " Apple Bloom objected.
" It doesn't matter what you do. You will fail spectacularly. " Diamond Tiara appeared suddenly next to them. " You can show whole Ponyville that you aren't special. Blank Flanks! " The cutie mark crusaders were about to remark something, when a cold voice interrupted them.
" Leave them alone. " Travesty walked slowly next to them. Everypony except the crusaders backed away slowly. The other foals gave fearful looks to her.
" Oh? It's you. Another blank flank. I think your cutie mark must be tied to disasters. Don't you agree...Tragedy? " Diamond Tiara never saw what was coming. Travesty hit her hard, then pinned her to the ground. The unicorn filly whispered into her ears.
" I've got my name from my mother. Never ever dare to call me in a different name. If I see you trying to bully somepony. I will skin you alive. You got this, mudpony? " Diamond Tiara just winced. She was horrified by her. Travesty slapped her again. " You got it? "
" Y-y.. yes.. please, let me go. " She was about to cry, when Travesty let her go. The filly ran away with her friend Silver Spoon. The crusaders were dumbstruck.
" What did you do to her? " Apple Bloom demanded answer.
" I just remind her who is the alpha in the pack. " Travesty was back to her old unenthusiastic self.
" Alpha in the pack? What does it mean? " Scootaloo scratched her head.
" She means she is the leader. " Sweetie Belle lectured her fellow crusader.
" Oooooh. I get it now. Does this mean you are the lead bully now? " The crusaders stood right next Travesty. The amethyst filly looked at them.
" I am not a bully. I just had to step up against her. She was annoying me. " The crusaders cheered when she said that.
" Finally somepony, who think like us. Crusaders! " Scootaloo grabbed her friends. They spoke privately, while glancing back at Travesty a few times.
" I don't know if it's a good a idea, to ask her to be a crusader. She isn't the type who will go around doing stuff like what we do. " Apple Bloom objected. Mostly because she knew that the farm was almost burned down by accident. Applejack told her that a certain amethyst filly was involved. Although she didn't know how.
" She is the smartest filly in town. She even surpassed Sweetie Belle. Maybe she has different ideas about crusading. Ideas, that not involves tree sap. " Scootaloo counter-remarked. They looked at Sweetie Belle. Her vote should decide the debacle.
" Maybe we should know her better first. Like go out with her, and then we could decide if she is a crusader material or not. " All of them nod in agreement.
" Say, Travesty. Do you have something important to do? " They all give her a big smile.
" No. I have a lots of time, but later I have to go to the library. " Travesty knew something was odd, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it.
" Maybe you could come with us to Sugarcube Corner? We could eat something together. " Scootaloo was the one to speak.
" I'm not allowed to enter Sugarcube Corner. " She said in her monotone voice.
" W-what? " They all jumped at her. " Why? "
" I'm a bad omen. A living disaster. If I were to buy something from them, I will curse them, or something like that. No merchant, or shop in Ponyville allows me to buy from them. "
" That's so sad. It makes sense now, that's why we never saw you in Ponyville. Where do you buy school supplies, or food? " Sweetie Belle was touched by her hardship.
" I get everything from the black market. " The crusaders looked at each other. They never knew that she was struggling so hard in life.
" Come with us. They will let you in, if you are with us. " They grabbed her.
" No. " Travesty said quietly, while putting her hoof down, so they couldn't just drag her there.
" Awwwwwww... pretty please? " They all used their puppy eyes on Travesty.
" Uuuugh... Fine. " The amethyst unicorn put her hooves on her ears, when the crusaders all yelled in unison.
" YAAAAAAAY! "
" I cannot believe you pulled me into one of your crazy antics. It almost turned into a disaster. " Travesty scowled at them. " I don't want to see tree sap ever again. " She murmured the last sentence under her breath.
" Almost. " Sweetie Belle said, then giggled. " Let's go and eat something! " They all went inside Sugarcube Corner.
" Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! " Said the hyperactive pink party pony. When she saw Travesty, she quickly dashed to her side, putting a party hat on her, then gave her a powerful hug. " Travesty, how can I help you? It's good to see you finally coming here. " The amethyst filly was about to explode.
" Let. Me. Go. " She gritted her teeth.
" Don't be such a party pooper. We are about to have fun! "
" Pinkie Pie! What did I tell you about fun? Do you remember? " Pinkie Pie started drooling, and her eyes spinning around in a hypnotic way.
- Flashback in Pinkie Pie mind -
" Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! " The hyperactive pony was bouncing in front of the filly. Travesty looked at the mare. Her overly enthusiastic behavior annoyed her. " I threw this surprise party just for you! " She threw confetti over her. " Surprise! Are you surprised?
" I'm surprised. How did you get into my house? " She checked the locks, but everything was in complete order.
" Naturally through the chimney. How else? " Pinkie Pie stated this as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
" I see. It was foolish of me to not think of something that obvious. " Her sarcasm didn't work on the mare.
" Don't be too hard on yourself. This is the time for fun, and happiness. " She put a party hat on Travesty. " Happy birthday! " When those words left Pinkie Pie's mouth something in Travesty awakened. The filly growled.
" Birthday? How dare you speak about fun and happiness on this day! Do you even know what happened? " She started pushing the mare out of her house.
" Well.. duh. This is the day when you were born. " Pinkie Pie just smiled at her. " I know that you don't have friends to celebrate with, but I will be your bestest friend. "
" This day is a memorial for my mother, who died by my hooves. " She pushed the mare outside. " If you dare to speak about fun in front of me one more time. " Travesty put the party hat down in front of her, then stomped over it several times. " You will get the same treatment. Now get lost before I do something I won't regret. " She levitated the cake that Pinkie Pie made for her. She just threw it into the nearest bush, then slammed the door close.
" But... " Pinkie Pie couldn't even finish the sentence when a magic shield appeared around the house. " Awwwww... " Pinkie Pie was sad that she couldn't cheer up the filly, but she was scheming plans to make her happy.
Travesty tried to get out of her hug, but the mare didn't even bulge despite, she was under some kind of hypnosis, and didn't respond to anything at all. Why is this have to happen to me all the time? Finally Pinkie Pie returned from the land of flashbacks.
" Sooooo... What kind of party do you want? I could invite whole Ponyville. You just need to ask. " Pinkie Pie giggled.
" LEAVE ME ALONE! " Travesty shouted. A chill ran through her spine, when she heard a dark whisper in her mind.
"Kill them! They wish to harm you! Defend yourself!" Travesty panicked and lost control of herself. Suddenly she disappeared with a bright indigo flash. The filly appeared next to the cutie mark crusaders. Her mane was burned, and snoot covered her amethyst coat. She was coughing.
" I didn't know that you could teleport. " Sweetie Belle was amazed. Travesty was still dazed from the random teleportation. She could only hear a dark laughter.
" It seems, that we are finally broken beyond repair. Do not fret. Soon the storm will wash away your tears, and fears. Everything will change soon. Very soon... "
" I.. just need a little time alone. See you tomorrow. " She run off not waiting for them to answer. The cutie mark crusaders were shocked, and couldn't even say anything. Pinkie Pie was wearing a tin foil hat.
" Travesty just vanished! What if she was captured by reptilian aliens? Do you hear this Gummy? Maybe she found your cousin. " Everypony sweat dropped from this.
After finally getting rid of the crusaders she was on her way towards the edge of Ponyville. As she got closer and closer, she was getting more nervous with each step. Her nightmare still haunted her. Maybe I shouldn't push my luck. What if it's not a nightmare, but a vision? A warning from the future? I am such a mess. Travesty found out she was sweating heavily. Images flooded her mind. Her nightmare still haunted her. She ran into one of the alley way, and hugged herself, as she was shaking.
" Calm down, you stupid filly! Everything will be fine. Why is this have to happen to me? Why can't I have peace? " She was talking to herself. When no answer came she bit her hoof as hard as she can. Soon the pain took over her senses, and the shaking stopped.
" The Madam will not be pleased if I arrive late. I have to hurry. " Travesty frowned at the thought of hurry. She hated when she had to do things fast. She started running towards the Void Zone.