Chapter 27
“Trials in the Dark Part 2”
Or
“How much do you know me?”
Fluttershy stepped out of the door and into the loving arms of her friends. They all gathered ‘round her, hugging her, asking her if she was all right. Of all of them, they worried about her the most.
“Glad you’re okay Fluttershy,” Rainbow said as they broke the group hug a little.
“Betcha you’re real glad to see her huh Rainbow?” Pinkie teased.
“Pinkie for the last time NO!” Rainbow yelled at the giggling girl.
“One of these days Dashie, one of these days,” Pinkie said, before looking at Fluttershy’s new weapon and quiver. “Ooooh, Trick Arrows!”
“Trick?” Fluttershy said, and reached into her quiver, pulling out one of the arrows, this one sporting a head in a prong like shape.
“Wait… What? Really? Now Fluttershy’s our very own Green Arrow?” Twilight asked, tilting her head. “Or Hawkeye… Whichever you prefer, though I think Green Arrow’s arrows had more… gimmicks.”
“Note to self, make Disco Ball arrow…” Pinkie said to herself.
Celestia then cleared her throat and they all turned to the Principal. “Congratulations Fluttershy, I only hope the others continue our chain of successes.”
“Oh it wasn’t that big of a deal…” Fluttershy said humbly.
“Now comes the time where another must enter.” Luna said, gesturing to the door, “Who will step up?”
“Ha!” Rainbow uttered, stepping up, with a cocky smirk on her face. “If Fluttershy can do it, anybody can do it. I’ll go next, and kick this trial’s ass!”
“Don’t take this so lightly Rainbow,” Celestia tried to warn. “You may not like what you face at all…”
“C’mon Teach, I got this.” Rainbow said, and strutted to the door, her cocky smirk only fading away at the last second as she entered….
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Rainbow found herself in her room, and it was filled to the brim with moving boxes. Most of her stuff had been packed away, already, but there were still a few things that needed to be done. Her posters were down, her few books were stored, her bed was not even there.
“Hey what gives?” Rainbow said, looking around at all the boxes. “Who’s packing up all my stuff?”
“Are you finished yet, kid?”
Rainbow turned around and saw her dad, holding a box containing all of her sports gear, casually tossing it to a pile in the living room.
“Dad! Wait what’s going on!?” Rainbow said, running over to him. “We aren’t moving are we?”
“Oh, I’m not moving, you are, honey.” Prism said in a nonchalant tone.
“WHAT?!” Rainbow said, shocked.
“Don’t you remember? After Firefly and I married and had a kid we thought having two in the house would just be too much,” Prism said, in a happy tone that was in complete contrast to the words he was saying. “So you’re moving out.”
“WHAT?! Where am I going? Where will I live?!”
“Possibly, somewhere, who knows?” Prism said, “Now will you help me get the rest of your junk out? At least before Firefly gets here.”
“No no no no no, this can’t be happening!” Rainbow uttered, diswrought. “Why are they doing this to me?”
“Figured it would be obvious you dork.” Rainbow looked on and saw her doppelganger sitting casually on a box, looking at her maliciously. “It was only a matter of time really, Firefly was bound to take Dad away after she screwed him enough.”
“She seemed so cool,” Rainbow said quietly. “She seemed cool with me…”
“C’mon you didn’t seriously think if given the choice between a kid and a hottie Dad would pick us?” Dark Rainbow snarled, “Truth is he’s probably been wanting this for ages, being stuck with us forever.”
“C’mon! That’s not true! Dad’s always been great with us!”
“Course he is, but only because he’s stuck with us.” Dark Rainbow said back. “He’d totally step on us if he could though.”
“But he can’t!” Rainbow said, “He’s my dad he’d….” Rainbow looked at Dark Rainbow’s pointing finger, and saw the Wonderbolt Calendar...was one for two years in the future.
“You’re 18 in this place, he’s got no reason to keep you around,” Dark Rainbow said maliciously.
“I..he…” Rainbow said, blinking in shock at the realization.
“Course...there’s always another way…” Dark Rainbow said, lounging back.
“Another… way?” Rainbow asked.
“Just have a little taste of this…” She said, her hand glowing that sickly green. “And Dad won’t leave us, he’ll dump Firefly and we don’t have to worry about him ever wanting to leave us again.”
“... But then Dad won’t be Dad would he?” Rainbow asked.
“You’re seriously going to give up a guarantee for him to stay with us?” Dark Rainbow rebutted.
“Look. You don’t force loyalty. Sure it’s a risk if when loyalty goes south, but that doesn’t mean we should force people to be loyalty. That’s just slavery!” Rainbow retorted. “I won’t force my Dad to stay with me! In fact, I know he and Firefly aren’t going to kick me out? And you know why? Because I believe in Loyalty! And nothing’s gonna change that!”
Soon, everything faded away, and Rainbow was standing in a black area. She looked up as her griffon came for a landing in front of her. She loved her Guardian beast, how powerful it looked and how awesome it was! She then watched as her own twin blades appeared in her hands. Her Griffon reached into its wings and plucked out two feathers, dropping one on each of the blades. The blades transformed, becoming lighter, sharper, and more ornate. Rainbow grinned at them, how right it felt to wield such fine weapons. She picked them up, trying them out, and sheathing them. “Thanks, big girl,” Rainbow said with a grin.
“...Just stay strong my little Rainbow, and I’ll always be there for you…”
“What? Wait you’re…?” Rainbow said but then everything faded to white.
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“Oh I hope Rainbow is okay…” Fluttershy said as she paced in front of the door.
The door opened, and Rainbow came out, smiling at everyone. The Guardians went to her, congratulating her on her success.
“So, you kicked the trial’s butt, huh?” Sunset teased.
“Not… exactly… Hey, could you all give me a minute?” Rainbow asked, before moving away, and like several others before her, making a phone call.
“Whatever happens in there sure has a few of us teary eyed,” Private observed as Rainbow stepped away.
“We’re… facing both our greatest fears and our darker selves. The parts of ourselves that would do anything to have what they want,” Twilight observed. “Maybe even change things so they turn out the way we wanted them, but might not be best for all involved… There’s temptation in our darker halves, the temptation to take for ourselves and not care about the consequences.”
“Now I suppose it is time for another of us to enter.” Rarity said, and collected herself. “I suppose it is I who should be next.”
“Wait!” Spike said, and came up beside Rarity. “You can’t go without me! I’m your Guardian Beast remember?”
“Is that right?” Rarity asked, turning to Celestia and Luna. “Should Spikey go with me?”
“Like either of us could convince him to not go.” Celestia said, giving a small smile. “Go on Spike, your Guardian has need of you after all.”
“Yes Ma’am!” Spike said, saluting.
Rarity stepped toward the door, taking a deep breath as she opened it…
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She found herself in a flurry of activity; racks of clothes being pushed hither and yon, models being fitted with what looked like her designs, and a stage manager nearby looking harried. What was she doing at a fashion show? Wait. This wasn’t just any fashion show. This was Fashion Week in Manehatten! Rarity looked down at herself, finding that she was dressed to the nines, and looking beautifully mature. If Spike were here, he’d say she’s got legs for days.
“Miss Rarity, your line is up next,” The stage manager said to her. “I’m sure you will wow us, as you always have.”
“I’ll be but a moment darling,” Rarity said, almost as if she was playing a part in a play, the words just coming to her. She then turned to her fabulous line of dresses, yet another year of glorious fashion for the world!
Her thoughts were interrupted however when she heard a commotion outside. She peeked out and saw a rather cute looking young girl about her age with teal blue hair, a cream colored shirt with a cute sailor collar and fuchsia bow, with matching fuchsia skirt and a wine colored carnation in her hair. She was pacing whilst talking on the phone, “Yes...oh really? If it doesn’t, oh Ma’am I’m so sorry. I don’t think there’s a chance I’ll win, see Rarity is taking part this year and...yes yes...I’ll file a two week notice…” The girl said, and then hung up, and started weeping. “All those years in fashion school, only to lose my job and my chances at a future in the Fashion world…”
Rarity’s heart went out to this girl. She needed this more than she did. Here she was, an established fashionista, when out there was a new rising star. Somebody who probably has new vision and talent that the Fashion World has not seen yet...
“Don’t tell me you’re serious,” Rarity turned and saw...her again… The glowing teal eyes, the wild yet beautiful hair, the haughty expression. It was the Nightmare version of herself she had met when she was chosen to be a Guardian.
“You again? Don’t you know how I, to coin a phrase, ‘roll’ by now?” Rarity asked, crossing her arms and glaring at the nightmare vision.
“Yes yes, generous and all that,” Nightmare Rarity said, “But you can’t seriously think you’re going to go out of your way for some loser are you? The only way that girl has a chance of winning is if we pull out of the competition…”
“A competition we’ve won, already, several years in a row. Why not pull out, and give some new talent the spotlight?” Rarity asked.
“Oh? Did I forget to mention one tiny little thing about this competition?” She said, and held a newspaper up to Rarity...Rarity’s eyes widened.
Fashion Frenzy Passed
Sales of Carousel Boutique Clothing Down
Company Near Bankruptcy
“This is what you’re facing now, dear me.” Nightmare Rarity said, cruelly. “If you don’t win, your company and by extension your line, goes kaput.”
“True… But… I can’t just let that girl lose her job. She’s… like me, when I was starting out,” Rarity said, looking out at the weeping girl.
“Oh yes, fine go ahead and save her business, then watch as she’ll never know you pulled out for her. Your business will fail, you’ll be dirt poor and you’ll never have the true happiness you so richly deserve. Don’t worry about that miserable wretch...join with me Rarity, and together we can build an empire the likes of which the fashion world has ever seen. We’ll be eternal, and never have to worry about losing anything again!” Nightmare Rarity said, her hands glowing sickly green…
Rarity looked to Coco, then to Nightmare...then...smiled, and looked at herself in the mirror...and at the wedding ring on her finger. “I would lose Spike,” Rarity said simply. “As for your ‘true happiness’, it’s a lie. I already have my true happiness, being married to Spike. Fame is nice, but it’s fleeting. Obviously my time in the spotlight has passed. Time to pass the torch, darling, and let another bask for a while. I have my family, and my loving husband.”
“I can’t believe you! You would give up your chance for glory for a stranger?!” Nightmare Rarity yelled.
“It’s part of being generous,” Rarity said, stomping over to Nightmare Rarity. “Now you begone! Or else I shall be most generous with my boot!”
Everything faded to black again, Rarity saw herself standing in the void, and then looked on as Spike in his dragon form came upon her, his green eyes gazing down lovingly at her, Rarity then watched as her whip came out before him. Spike then unleashed a stream of green flame upon it, the whip soon was formed into a blade. Rarity took it in her hand, then instinctively flicked her wrist, the blade separated into small pieces, all connected by a long chain. Another flick caused it to become whole again.
“Oh dear… I’m not going to hear the end of it from Twilight, aren’t I?” she observed. “But… I love it, Spikey Wikey! Thank you, darling. Just don’t expect me to start DRESSING like...that woman...”
Spike just gave her a small nuzzle, seemingly amused by all of this. When Rarity held Spike however...for a brief moment she saw herself surrounded by dragons...with herself as a pony...in a wedding dress...and her beloved Spike was with her...older...and a prince?
Everything faded to white after that.
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Rarity and Spike came out of the door, hand-in-hand, the sword-whip in Rarity’s hand telling them all she passed.
“A sword whip? Really? First Green Arrow, now Ivy Valentine?” Twilight asked incredulously. “And I swear, Pinkie, if you even SUGGEST she cosplay that, I’ll relocate your cupcake stash!”
“NOOOOOOOO!!!” Pinkie wailed.
“Sorry Spike, guess your dream of seeing Rarity strut her stuff is still a ways away.” Private joked.
“I...uh…” Spike said, blushing at the thought of his girlfriend in a rather...well...frankly risque… mostly NOT THERE outfit.
“Spikey, darling… I know where your comics are stashed,” Rarity said warningly.
“Yes dear…” Spike said, gulping.
“That just leaves the three of us…” Sunset said as Rarity walked a little ways off with Spike.
“So… who wants to go through the big scary door first?” Twilight asked, trying to sound cheerful. “It’s… not like… Yeah... Uhm…”
“I’ll do it…” Sunset said, turning towards the door.
“Sunset are you sure?” Private asked worriedly.
“I faced dark magic once…” Sunset said, determined. “I’ll prove I can face it again…” Sunset walked toward the door, determinedly, pulling it open.
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Sunset stepped in and saw to her horror...she was standing inside the old cupboard under the stairs...this was where she would put her whenever she did something bad...whenever she failed...whenever…
“Sunset…” a voice said on the other side of the door. “I know you’re in there…” There was no mistaking it...it was Glory…
“This latest escapade of yours cost me a good deal of face, and a LOT of money. What do you have to say for yourself?!”
“Mom…” Sunset said, stepping back towards the wall, away from the door which grew more and more ominous by the second.
“You’ve done nothing but fail, and generally make make me look bad. You’re worthless. You’re useless, and you’ve done nothing to make it up to me, and make sure you look good, from this ridiculous little venture!”
“No...no please...just…” Sunset said, sliding down to sit down.
“Well well well…” Sunset looks on and sees...her old demon self looking down on her, black eyes, red skin, crazed hair, and a cruel grin. Sunset started having flashbacks to the fall formal, of the destruction she caused...of the pains he wrought... “Oh cut that out. You know what you have to do. You know what you have to become to get her to leave you alone forever, don’t you? You used to have me around to solve your problems don’tcha remember?”Demon Sunset said cruelly.
“You didn’t solve ANYTHING!” Sunset retorted. “You only made things worse, and made me a monster!”
“Only because you screwed up and couldn’t control yourself, but things are different now aren’t they?” Demon Sunset said. “You don’t have a miserable crown to worry, you can learn to control me, to use me, to take out that bitch Glory. To make everybody love and care about you, to force everyone to worship you again!”
“Oh no you don’t. I’m not going down that route again. Nobody worshipped me. They feared me, they resented me, they hated me,” Sunset countered. “I’ve already stood up to Glory, in court, and made her face what she did. I’ve faced the slings and arrows of going back to school, and the hateful glares that they gave me until I proved I wasn’t the monster you made me into. I will not backtrack.”
“Oh like you think a court order is going to stop Glory” Demon Sunset mocked, “The truth is nobody is going to completely accept you! Nobody understands you like I do! You need me to face her Sunset!”
“That’s a lie and you know it!” Sunset declared. “Twilight accepts me… Adagio accepts me.”
“Oh really? And how long before you fall again? Will Twilight save you, will Adagio want anything to do with you...or will she fall again with you? Face it, you need me..you need my power to face what’s out there…”
Sunset looked down...then closed her eyes, and stepped towards the door. “I don’t need you. What I need… is courage.” She grabbed the handle...and opened the door, and everything became a black void again.
That was until her Phoenix came out of the sky, flying down towards Sunset’s sword that appeared suddenly. The ornate one handed sword was engulfed in flame by the phoenix, and when it came out, it was longer, more ornate, and glowed slightly along its blade. The phoenix then came to sit on Sunset’s shoulder, nuzzling her gently.
“Thank you,” she whispered, nuzzling the Phoenix back. “Thank you so much.”
“...I know you’ll shine brightly my dear Sunset...know that you will always be loved...even if I never had the chance to meet you…”
“What…?” Sunset said, “Wait what did you-”
Suddenly everything faded to white…
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Sunset stumbled out of the door, new phoenix sword in hand, looking a bit confused, but for the most part all right. The others gathered around, congratulating her.
“You made it!” Twilight said, hugging her sister tightly.
“Yeah. Yeah I did,” Sunset said, hugging Twilight back.