//------------------------------// // I Choose You // Story: Chrysbloom // by SwiperTheFox //------------------------------// "Put me down!" Applebloom squealed, kicking helplessly. She felt herself getting picked up and placed somewhere. She could hardly see a thing, eyes so used to the darkness of the cave. She blinked. "Oh, Celestia, no!" She found herself locked in a crate with real rabbits, the poor fluffy things jumping up around her back and nudging their cute noses onto her hooves, with a latch clanking right on top of her. She felt around the tight bars, letting out a low moan. Seriously? Now, this? She saw fashion ponies strutting around once more, with her trapped back on another upper class boat. She did a double-take as he looked down at where she had climbed up, seeing that hole now leading to a small storeroom crammed full of champagne. Does time and space mean anything anymore in this stupid world? She heard a low electronic hum, and she looked out to see the same blasted screen that had followed her around flashing back into place. She jiggled the bars, bunnies climbing up atop her shoulders. She grit her teeth. You: Hungry like the wolf Partner: Hungry like the wolf You: Hungry like the wolf "Hungry like the wolf," she slowly sang, seeing her familiar mic pop up from in between her rabbit suit ears. She kicked and kicked against the walls of the crate to no avail. I can't believe it! I have to get out of here before that monster shows up! Think! "Hungry like the wolf," sang Rio, walking somewhere from way off in the distance. Ugh! She stared at her microphone. Wait a minute... how am I using this again? Earth pony magic, or so that monster said. But I don't have magic. She leaned forwards and sang. She saw the mic lighting up with a red glow. "Hungry like the wolf!" Of course, this freaky world outside of time and space from normal Equestria doesn't have the same rules. It's like playing a game. You get special abilities as a character. I got magic! As a bubby electronic solo began, she stuck her face against the bars and glared at the outside latch. She immediately saw a red aura coming over it. Yes! She panted, trying to concentrate. It just seemed to give her a headache. Meanwhile, those horribly obnoxious fashion ponies cavorted around the deck of the ship, tossing big beach balls to each other while they poured and drank champagne. Applebloom tried reaching up with her hoof, using it to focus her concretation. She stared at it for a few seconds, and then her eyes flashed right on the latch. The metal claws wiggled and finally swung to the sides. "Yeah!" *Splash!* Applebloom saw Rio bursting out of the water besides the boat, hooves curling around the side railings. Applebloom leaped straight upwards and grabbed onto a rope drooping down from atop the boat's mast. She watched as Rio shook, the mare's eyes turning into narrow, black slits. "Burning the ground! I break from the crowd!" Rio sang, putting a lot of emotion into every last word. "I'm on the hunt! I'm after you!" Applebloom scurried up the rope. She suddenly slipped a little, throwing herself back onto the cold, hard roof atop the captain's room. "I smell like I sound," she sang, speeding over the side to another rope, this one abruptly swinging over to the side. She found herself flung over the cold water, holding on tight. "I'm lost and I'm found!" No! I can't swim in the bunny suit-- I'll just get soaked and quick! I can't get the mic wet either! She hurled through the air over to a large slab of metal next to another flag, looking something like a crow's nest. I have to time this! She gasped as she let go. She swung over besides the slab, kicking over a bucket onto the deck and pissing off some of the fashion ponies, and she gripped the sides, panting hard. "And I'm hungry like the wolf!" Applebloom screamed. Her hind hooves, kicking helplessly for a split-second, fumbled into a ladder nearby. She made her way up atop the metal slab, leaning back against the flag behind her and feeling ill at how high up she had gotten. "Strut on a line. It's discord and rhyme," sang Rio from well-beneath her. Applebloom peeked out, seeing the tall mare climbing up the ladder and heading right for her. "I'm on the hunt. I'm after you." How long is this bucking song? It feels like an eternity! Rio made it right below the slab, sticking out a hoof and stabbing it over in Applebloom's direction. Applebloom shivered. No! I have to be strong! I have to make it out of this song-- for Scootaloo! She felt a sudden wave of strength, standing up with a fierce look on her face. Rio's hoof brushed up against Applebloom's behind. She spun around and pounced on Rio's hoof. She bit down. Hard. "Aaaaaaaah!" Rio called out, trying to get out of Applebloom's grip-- with the filly still sinking her teeth inside. Applebloom spun to the side and looked upon the massive flag behind her. I got it! This is my one chance! As the music built up, Applebloom concentrated. She jumped straight up, feeling the flag come off of its clasps and fly over to her. She gripped the sides, holding it up magically like a parachute, and she kicked off into the air. She sailed past Rio as the tall mare reached out. Rio just missed her by a matter of inches. Applebloom stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry as she sailed down. She spotted a pier somewhat off in the distance and aimed straight for it. She focused, seeing that familiar electronic screen floating up in the air above her. She made out some more lyrics. "And I'm hungry like the wolf!" Applebloom triumphantly sang. Suddenly, a gigantic eruption of cheers and applause rained out from all around her. She blinked, feeling herself flying about in the air. She heard Rio chuckling somewhere far below her. *Ka-boom!* Applebloom couldn't help but let go. Jitters ran through the air as enermous explosions of fireworks went up. Streams of electric-looking energy curled all around her. She screamed. She blinked, kicking against the air. She felt hooves going around her once again, and she turned over in that direction. She couldn't see a think, light sparkling all around, but she bucked with full force. She heard an 'oof', and she slid backwards across something. Applebloom stood straight upwards. She found herself back around that same familiar stage, surrounded by a massive crowd. Fab Factory laid down way off on the other side of the stage, screaming at some of the ponies in the band's corner. Applebloom took in the scene, and she threw her head back. "Sweet victory!" She pumped a hoof into the air. She saw a ton of griffons, dragons, ponies, and other creatures in the audience doing the same. She smiled as she threw some sweat off of her brow. She didn't see the bunny suit around, yet several rabbits danced about the stage several years behind her, oddly enough. She then saw the electronic screen coming over from behind the animals. Song Complete! Congratulations! Vocal Ability: B+ Stage Appeal: A Energy: A+ Overall: A "Alright!" She moved over to the edge of the stage, staring out and hunting for Scootaloo. You're just about ready for the encore! You now have the ability to pick a friend from the audience to help you sing! Are you ready! "Scootaloo!" Applebloom screamed. She thought that she had never called out in such a loud voice in all her life. "I choose you!" The crowd had gotten really pumped. Ponies thrust their bodies into the air, hooves jolting upwards as they shouted. They had to have an encore. They didn't just demanded it. They needed it. Scootaloo, eyes still flashing with that horrible green magic but still looking really happy and excited, found herself grabbed by a pack of tall, fat griffons and getting crowd-surfed over to the stage. Applebloom laid down, trying to concentrate. As Scootaloo came closer, waving her hooves and giggling with her wings fully jutted out, Applebloom felt a tingling going all around her body. She focused her eye as Scootaloo got close. She coughed, feeling a weight getting dropped right onto her back. In just a split-second, a red magical sort of gust of wind had smacked into Scootaloo and drove her right onto the stage. Applebloom smiled for a second until she realized that Scootaloo was coming right for her. She gasped and tried to step to the side. You and your friend are now ready to select your encore song! Pay close attention! Scootaloo smashed onto Applebloom, knocking her right over. The two fillies scrambled up. Applebloom felt totally estatic. She reached over and hugged her friend with full strength, letting out a happy sigh. "I'm so happy to see you again!" "Oh, hey, hold it!" Scootaloo retorted, moving her hooves around and pushing Applebloom off of her. "I'm super happy that you invited me to the next number. I'm a huge fan of Fab and all of his bandmates. No need to get all touchy-feely." "Wait..." Applebloom felt an awful, cold cloud going up around her heart. "But, what do you mean 'see you again'? Do I know you?" Scootaloo asked, making a totally confused facial expression with ears drooping. No! No! NO! You know me! You bucking know me! What has this awful monster of a pony done to you? Did he scramble your brains just like he did to Gilda? Applebloom shuddered. She opened her mouth to respond, but she suddenly felt Fab's breath pouring out of his mouth onto the back of her head. She heard Fab's hooves dig into the stage, and she steeled herself. She turned around, eyes glaring at the fancy-dressing stallion. To Be Continued...