//------------------------------// // Enter the NIGHTMARE // Story: E.S.D.E: The Exam // by Chaotic Flier //------------------------------// In the timber wolf pen stood a dark shadowy figure who was smiling at the growling timber wolves. She let out a laugh and began reciting an incantation: Night time is the shroud of evil, the harbinger of sleep, comest, to test the hearts of the chosen, ARISE NIGHTMARE!* As she finished the incantation, a purple light flooded the room, & the timber wolves began howling. The cloaked figure chuckled to herself and left the pen and headed toward the arena to not draw suspicion. *** In the locker room sat Scootaloo in full panic mode. "Scootaloo, how could you forget your weapon at home, you feather brain! Now you have to go through the exam without one!" Scoots scolded herself in her mind. Sweetie took notice of Scootaloo's panicked state and asked, "What's the matter, Scoots?" Scootaloo put on an imitation of Rainbow's confident smile, "N-Nothing's wrong, I'm pumped to get this exam started!" Scootaloo let out a fake confident laugh to which Sweetie raised an eyebrow. "Okay, if you say so." Sweetie said to Scootaloo's odd behavior then walked away to put her armor on. After she left Scoots walked over to the armor sets that the school provided: Heavy knight armor, and light leather armor. Knowing the knight armor would hinder her speed and movements she grabbed the leather armor but also grabbed a set of knight armor gloves. "Since you don't have a weapon, You'll have to use your hands to fight off the timber wolves," Scoots thought as she walked into the dressing area and saw the others were already in their armor taking note that everyone but Twist brought their own armor. Apple Bloom wore what looked like a hand me down suit of armor possibly from Applejack. It was a faded gold color with the Apple Family crest on it's breastplate, which is three apples on a shield. Unlike Apple Bloom, Sweetie wore a shiny white dress with a silver chest piece and long gem studded gloves. It was definitely Rarity's handiwork. Scootaloo had to turn to get a clear look at Diamond Tiara's clearly expensive custom armor with it's solid diamond chest piece, gold plated boots, and leather gloves with diamond studded knuckles. "You didn't have to show off how rich you were when wearing armor, did you?" Apple Bloom asked sarcastically. "Oh, it's not for show. I wanted an extremely tough armor so I looked up the strongest stones and found diamonds were at the top of the list so I made my armor out of them," said Diamond. Scoots turned and took a good look at Silver's armor. It was a large dark silver knight armor that looked extremely heavy. Unlike the others she was holding her weapon which was a giant hammer with what looks like a turbine on one side of it. "What are you looking at?" Silver Spoon asked Scootaloo with a "I will kill you if you keep looking at me," look on her face. Scoots turned away from her. She looked at Twist who was wearing the standard leather armor, Scoots saw a white bow and a quiver of red arrows on her back. Scoots turned to her friends to see what weapons they would be using. Apple Bloom had a basic sword and shield, and Sweetie had a strange looking sword that looked like it was made of tiny blades. Scoots then looked at Diamond to see what weapon she would have but was surprise to see Diamond holding a rusted rapier. "Diamond why do you have a rusted sword? That's not what I expected you to have." Scootaloo asked Diamond. "You'll just have to wait and see." Diamond answered with a smirk that reminded Scootaloo of the Diamond who used to bully her. Scoots was about to ask her what she meant but was cut off by Applejack entering the locker room. "I hope ya'll are ready because the exam is starting now! The door behind you is the entrance to the arena." Applejack says as she enters the room. Upon hearing this Scootaloo realized she didn't put on her armor. "Today is just not my day," she thought as she grabbed the knight gloves and put them on then reached for the rest but was stopped by Applejack who was rushing everyone out the door. Once in the arena the group looked around them taking in their surroundings. the arena was a small forest area surrounded by thirty foot tall walls. "Wow!" Twist said in awe. *** In a classroom sat Pinkie Pie who was doing extremely boring paper work. She was wearing a pink long sleeved sweat shirt with three balloons on it, blue jeans, and a pair of googles she got from Rainbow Dash atop her head. "Why do I have to do paper work, I'm not even a teacher, so why did Twilight want me to do paper work instead of helping with the exam?" She said to herself as she looked at what was left of the paperwork. "UGH! Why is there so much, anyway? It's all just random questions! What does thi-" She was suddenly cut off as a shiver ran up her spine. "Uh oh, that's not good!" Pinkie said as she leaped up from the desk she was sitting at and ran out of the classroom toward the arena. *** "Alright, the test begins now." Twilight said as she used her magic to open the timber wolf pen. But instead of timber wolves a woman walked out who was dressed in revealing black armor. Her hair was blue fire that raised toward the heavens, her eyes were completely white & on her back stood a pair of large bat wings. "Who in the hay are you and where are the timber wolves!?" Applejack yelled at the woman drawing her sword and jumping into the arena. the woman looked at Applejack and laughed as Applejack collapsed onto the ground unconscious. Then her gaze landed on Scootaloo and the others and she smiled. "The chosen shall be tested," The woman said with an evil laugh.