> Two Roads Diverged In Heaven and Hell > by CookiesOnFridays > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Another Day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Note- I have been planning this for a long time and I will try and make it interactive. I can’t make any promises to your satisfaction but I will try, for the ending will be up to your vote, starting next chapter) Prologue- Twilight crawled like a blooded beast, groaning and growling in pain. Her blood trailed from the entrance of the cave leaving a path of dark red that shined dimly from the chaos outside. The sound of fire roared like a monster about to devour its prey. The screams of death outside pierced her ears, but were quickly dissolved by the rumbles of thunder in the distance. The sky was no longer blue but a sickening shade of light brown. The ground erupted with flowing lava like geysers in a mountain, but Twilight didn’t care. She continued to crawl until she reached the far side of the cave where she placed her shredded back against the cold wet wall. The sounds of water lightly dripping echoed through the cave, blocking any other sound coming from the crumbling world. Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath; she winced as her smoke filled lungs were filled with new air. Never has Twilight ever dreamed of her life ending this way. The sound of hoofs patting echoed softly in the cave. Twilight opened her eyes to see the ‘thing’ that she loathed, but came to understand. Instead of yelling she smiled and gave the monster of chaos an enigmatic look. She wanted to show five different expressions at once, anger, sadness, despair, discomfort. But in all else the expression of happiness crept form the dying pony. “Discord…” Twilight said with a croak. The monster removed itself from the chaos and approached Twilight slowly. As Discord closed in a discourse was exchanged. Looking at each other’s eyes, Twilight nodded and laid her head back, staring at the ceiling. A drop of water landed on her forehead, Discord kneeled down and whipped away the drop with his eagle like hand. “I’m sorry…” He said as he gave a convivial expression. Twilight choked back a sob. Despite her blunders Discord had no regrets that caused him trouble due to her actions. A feeling of compassion pained Twilight’s heart. Why did she have that feeling, Twilight herself didn’t know. But her pain must’ve been conspicuous for Discord let a tear run down his snout like face. “I’m so sorry!” Discord let a stream of tears flow and hit the ground like a down pour. Twilight wanted to say it was alright but death was upon her. She let out a final breath and her final words, “Love and tolerate this new world...” And with that her eyes closed. With the bereavement hanging in the air and with the body of Twilight Sparkle in Discords hands the world was ready for another chance. A better world, a new world. Twilight Sparkle facing the paths of heaven and hell took the one less traveled by. Was Twilight right or wrong of her actions? Even as her consciousness faded away she thought to herself, “What was right?” And every choice could’ve made a difference. Chapter 1- Another Day Twilight opened her eyes and bolted straight up from her downy bed, panting as she blinked her eyes at the verge of tears. “It happened again…” She thought to herself. Twilight closed her hooves around her head, hugging herself as she drew the covers up to her chest; holding it as a life line to her sanity while looking at her piece of the elements of harmony, as it faintly glowed. For weeks Twilight was having the same dream every night of every day. The same dream that seemed to haunt her mysteriously after her encounter with Discord the monster of chaos! All seemed to be at peace. Her friends were good and well, going about their own lives, smiling. The town folk seemed to be even cheerier then before and the little fillies and colts all laughing the day away. Everypony was happy… Except for one… The mare continued to look at the faintly glowing crystal which was the element of magic, her element. Every time she awoke she saw the element glowing rather faintly as if trying to ward off the violent and dark nightmares. Twilight wanted to vomit. The dream seemed so real, the pain, the images, the destruction. Everything looked darker every time she woke up from her maddening slumber. Still panting, Twilight swallowed a breath and got up, holding the bed railings for support as her hooves wobbled against the cold wooden planked floor. As she continued to walk slowly, she drew open the curtains letting the bright sun light draw her in. Instantly her fear melted away, her sanity has returned and the churning feeling in her stomach subdued. She bathed in the sun for a few minutes and thought to herself, “I never want to go in the dark again.” Twilight turned towards the element of magic and opened the glass case. Twilight picked it up with a hoof and clinched it tightly, closing her eyes as she did trying to ease her mind, trying to find the flow of power. There was a knock on her door. Twilight placed the element back into the case and closed it. Just as Twilight turned around a small purple dragon popped out from behind the door. “Uh Twilight, what are you doing?” The purple mare looked at the purple dragon and dashed toward him, giving the dragon a hug with her soft purple coat, “It’s nothing Spike… It’s absolutely nothing…” ------------------------ “Don’t be too late Spike we have dinner with the Princess today!” Twilight said as she called after him. It was in the middle of the day and like always Spike had to go on errands. Grocery’s needed to be bought and an order of inks and quills needed to be picked up from the postal office. Of course as always, Twilight Sparkle was studying, day in and day out, practicing magic and reading to her heart’s content. Outside the birds chirped, the squirrels played, and the skies were cloudless and blue. Twilight went back to her study standing in front of her desk using her magic to lift up a book and quill which was then dipped in black ink. She opened to a certain page of the book which was titled “The Pony History” and started to read and take notes. The element started to glow and flash light faintly. Time passed, seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and before she knew it the world became dark. Her vision was blurry and burned like a film. She was on top of the Apple Family Orchard where everything that was once bright and green, now burned with orange and red by fire. The once bright red apples were falling down like rocks as they burned with the trees. The grass caught on fire and the thick fumes of smoke were everywhere. “Just like my dream…” Twilight said to herself. A piercing yell shot through the chaos of fire from the household of the Apple Family. Twilight gasped, “Applejack!” Twilight turned around and rushed forward, the grass was ablaze with the trees turning to ash. Burning branches fell in front of Twilight’s path and tore apart like twigs. The fire stung her legs and smoke filled her lungs but the yells became closer and closer. As Twilight came to a halt she watched in horror as the house erupted into flames with the groans and creeks from the weakening structure. Twilight rushed inside, knocking down the burning door down with all her might creating a shower of burning splinters that scratched Twilight’s hooves. The yells became wilder and the voice of Applejack penetrated the smoke, “Please, stop this! You- You’ve already taken everything from me!” Twilight hurried upstairs, the creek of the weakening staircase groaned beneath her. She came to the second floor where the corridor was filled with flames and debris. Twilight pushed forward, avoiding any spots of burning fire as she trudged through. “Applejack where are you-“ Twilight halted as she felt her hooves come into contact with a liquid substance and something rather large. As she looked down, Twilight gasped in horror and realized what was going on. The body of Big Mac was lying on the ground with a dagger running straight through his stomach with his blood still pouring. Twilight looked at the corridor once more and saw that there weren’t just flames, but there was blood. The crimson red dripped down the burning walls as Twilight saw more bodies laid upon the red filled floor. There was Granny Smith, Applebloom, and Scootaloo. All holding each other tight as they were consumed by flames. Their lifeless bodies now being chard by the trailing fire that crept upon them as they laid there, unmoving. Twilight gasped in horror. Screaming, she galloped with all her might down the corridor. “Please…” Applejack cried, her voice trembling. The corridor seemed to go on forever, an endless tunnel of fire that wanted to consume her. Not giving up, Twilight pushed forward once more with all her might, breaking through the gypsy and appearing at the entrance of the door. “I’m here! What’s going on-“ The entire world seemed to freeze at that split second. The fire seemed to be colder then ice, the air seemed to become cold like a deep dark winter. Applejack looked different, her eyes didn’t have the same emerald like shine and her once orange coat was now stained with red. She had light orange armor that covered her chest, forehooves, and legs which were mostly torn apart. A shield that seemed like it was once decorated with crystals laid broken and dented next to Applejack. A figure towered over Applejack, with a dark scythe in one hoof and a crystal in the other. Dark armor covered its chest which had faint dark yellow lining at the edges, and silver platting at the necks opening with dark dragon like wings on its back. On the forehooves there were two spikes near the elbow with dark plating with its hooves glowing with light purple magic. On the figures legs the platting was also dark but with silver plates near the knee and dark gold plates covering its hooves. “Please take it just…” Applejack swallowed hard, “Just leave every other pony alone…” The figure placed the crystal in a pouch and gave Applejack a smirk, “Thanks for your element Applejack… With your help you’re going to make a huge difference in the new world.” Applejack coughed up blood which trickled in the corner of her mouth and she stared at the figure. “You know,” Applejack said faintly as she coughed again, “You… You don’t have to do this… The consequences of creating something a new is huge-“ “I know! Everypony keeps telling me that every single time!” The figure stabbed the scythe right next to Applejack, “I don’t need another pony to tell me again…” The figure raised its scythe once more and arched it back aiming for Applejack, “And lucky for me I don’t need to hear it from you.” Applejack looked at Twilight and pleaded for mercy with her eyes. The figure stared at Applejack and without hesitation, swung the scythe straight into the chest of the poor mare, crushing any remaining armor that shielded her from attack. Like knife to butter, the scythe entered the orange mare. For a second her eyes flew open with panic, pain, and despair. But quickly faded away as her eyes closed and she was no more. The dark figure pulled the scythe out and for a moment stared at the lifeless body. Twilight approached closer, she just couldn’t believe her eyes, what she was seeing. Twilight just stared with her mouth a gap. “This can’t be happening…” Twilight said to herself. Twilight stood there, looking at the dead Applejack and replaying the events of what just happened. But what stunned her even more was the figure, the one who killed Applejack and the one who took her element. “T-that mare…” Twilight stuttered as she watched the monster extend its wings and fly out of a burning window. “That mare was me!” -------------------------------------- Twilight woke up with a scream, panting as she placed her hooves against the sides of her head. “W-why?” she stuttered, “Why would the dream show something like that to me? Twilight shook her head and looked at her element of magic as the stone glowed faintly. “For some reason my dark self-wanted the elements.” Twilight thought to herself, “But it must’ve just been a bad dream…” she said chuckling a little to herself. Twilight rubbed her head with a sluggish motion and looked out of the window. The moon was bright and full, shining its light down upon the room waking up the hidden shadows that slept through the day. The shadows waved their stiff bodies against the walls as they stretched. An enigmatic hand crept up on the spotlight created by the moon and waved as if trying to say hello. Twilight stayed hypnotized by the motion, it waved back and forth with the light wind that blew outside. “The darkness…” Twilight started. There was a knock on the door, Twilight snapped her head to the direction of the knock and watched as the door opened slowly, creeping open in slow motion. She watched as a scaly hand opened the door, claws clinched against the copper door knob. Twilight watched as the creature opened the door, revealing its shape. Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs as she watched Spike open the door. Spike covered his ears with his hands and yelled over Twilight’s voice, “Why are you screaming!?” Twilight stopped screaming and breathed heavily as Spike turned on the lights. Just like that, the shadows withdrew themselves and went back to sleep. Twilight’s hooves trembled as she held onto the chair she sat on, Spike stared at her with concern. “Are you okay Twilight? You don’t look okay-“ “N-Nothing Spike,” said Twilight as she forced her breathing to slow, “It’s really nothing.” Spike looked at her wit one eyebrow raised. Twilight just looked back and gave him a nervous smile. “Well,” says Spike, “You should get ready, we’ve got to get to the diner party right?” “Yeah you’re right Spike!” Twilight said chuckling as she got up and slapped Spike on the back, “Lets’ go! Rarity probably has the dresses ready for us.” Spike turned off the lights and laughed, “You’re probably right! Those dresses look kind of cool! But I’m getting a suit… Right?” As Spike closed the door, the shadows came alive once again with the element blinking violently. The spot light made by the waves of the moon carpeted the room and against the window, a dark figure loomed over opening the window. The figure quickly reached for the glass display and opened it, stealing the element that lied inside. And as it slipped away leaving no trace, the figure chuckled with its deep raspy voice as it looked at the element in its paw. “Yes…” The figure rasped as it hid inside the leaves of the Twilight’s residence. “Finally for the plan to take place!” As the figure clinched the element with its paw the shining stone started to lose its color, turning from blazing purple to a dark violet. The sound of the front door opening and closing woke the figure from its trance. It looked out from its hiding place in the leaves and stared as Twilight and Spike walked away. The creature sneered and connected its paws together. Just like an ice cube in the hot sun, the figure melted in the shadows and silently watched as Spike and Twilight trotted to their destination. The safe guard of Ponyville, Canterlot… (Authors Note- In the next chapter you will be able to vote on what you want to happen next) > The Train Ride > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (In this chapter you will have to vote between one of the two choices) Chapter 2- The Train Ride “Are we there yet Twilight?” Spike groaned as he dangled on Twilight’s back. “We’re almost there Spike it should take a few more minutes.” Spike grumbled and laid his head down on Twilight’s mane. The two were trotting on the empty streets of Ponyville, it was a cool and relaxing night with a soft wind blowing towards the east. The sky was dotted with millions of stars, portraying the objects and images such as the big dipper and the Milky Way which streaked through the sky. The moon was bright and glowing, pouring its soft gentle beams down upon the Equestrian earth. All around them the houses were silent and there were no rooms with lights ablaze. Even if it was only nine-o-clock, all of Ponyville was asleep, allowing Spike and Twilight to have silence on the stone paved ground. Crickets chirped and owls hooted as they continued along toward the train station. It was a eerie yet calm atmosphere. For a while silence filled the air and the steady rhythm of Twilight continuing to tread echoed through the streets. “So,” Spike said as he tapped his claws together, “I heard you screaming when I was uh... When I was about to wake you up…” Twilight let out a sigh, “It’s nothing Spike really it’s nothing.” For a few seconds an awkward silence followed. Spike took a breath of air and exhaled, “You’ve been having nightmares ever since you and the rest of the girls beat Discord.” Twilight stayed silent. “Sometimes you wake up sweating and panting like you just ran a marathon…” Twilight still didn’t speak. “Just a week ago I came to check up on you, but when I did your breath was… It was really shallow, like you were about to-“ “About to die…” Twilight said stopping. The mare used her magic to lift Spike off her back and gently place him on the ground. “I know Spike, it’s just… It’s only a dream!” Twilight said continued to tread slowly on the stone paved road. Spike followed, “But still! Having nightmares for a few months straight isn’t normal-“ “It’s only a dream!” Twilight yelled as she turned around and stomped her hooves. Spike stopped and avoided his eyes from the frustrated purple mare. It was a miracle that her yelled didn’t wake anypony up. Twilight breathed heavily and let out a brief sigh, “L-Look I’m really sorry Spike, it’s just that…” Spike looked up into Twilight’s eyes and nodded his head. It was a touchy subject and he knew it, but he just wanted to help. “I’m sorry, I-I’m just…” Twilight let the sentence hang in mid-air as she stopped herself. A cold shiver ran down her spine, the air became colder than usual and Twilight watched as the world around her became consumed in a deep black. “Twilight?” Spike said as he poked her leg. Twilight didn’t listen as her eyes became wide and watched as a dark purple void appeared right behind Spike. A boney hand crawled and held the edges of the void. A head slowly popped out and like the hand, it was nothing but dry bones. It smiled and clacked its teeth playfully and its eye sockets deep as a black abyss. The pupils were nothing but small red dots that glowed, and it stared directly at Twilight. The skeleton hissed as it brought another boney hand out, pulling itself from the void. The skeleton took out a knife and aimed it at Spike. “Kak, kak, kak…” The skeleton laughed rattling its’ teeth. It raised the knife above its head and plunged it directly at the baby dragon… ------------------------------------------------- “Twilight wake up!” Spike yelled as he threw a bucket of water over the mare. The freezing water snapped Twilight’s eyes open as she felt cold shivers run down her body. Twilight gasped and bolted straight up, “W-Where am I!?” Twilight looked around and saw that she was in a small room that bobbled back and forth slowly. She looked outside of a small window with figures and shadows rushing past at a blur. “W-Well you uh…” Spike said getting on the bed, “You fainted… A-And I got really worried so I ran all the way to the train station and called the girls!” Spike sat down on Twilight’s lap and looked up in concern, “So then we came for you and brought you here!” Twilight stared at the baby dragon’s eyes and looked down. “I’m sorry Spike...” Twilight said as she gently rubbed her hooves on Spikes smooth purple scaled head, “I’m sorry I yelled at you back there.” Spike looked up with a sad smile, “It’s alright Twilight, I understand-“ “No, I think you deserve to know. You’re someone I can trust after all.” “So uh… Will it be like the bed time stories you used to tell me?” Say’s Spike. Twilight used her magic to dry the wet bed and nodded, giving the dragon a smile. “Sure Spike, sure…” Twilight told Spike about her dreams and how they affected her in a way, from the point of crawling from the cave entrance to the point of her death. Twilight also explained how she saw Discord and how he cried as he held her in his hands. She told Spike the details of the fire roaring outside of the cave were like the sun’s surface almost like the fire in hell itself. As she told Spike how the skies turned a shade of brown the dragon looked out the window, it seemed almost impossible for the sky to turn into such color. “Then I said, ‘Love and tolerate this new world’” Both Spike and Twilight stayed silent as the sound of the train chugging along the railroad continued to clank behind them. Spike looked up at Twilight and gave her a hug, embracing her with his small baby dragon arms. Twilight returned the gesture and embraced his head gently. “So you see Spike?” Twilight said pulling away, “It’s just a dream… Or a nightmare actually…” “I didn’t know Twilight I think I’m going to get nightmares too.” “Wait, that’s it!?” Both Spike and Twilight looked at the door, the voice was whispering loudly, or rather the voices were whispering loudly. “Ey Pinkie, quiet down now won’t ya?” “But Applejack, that story was way to short-“ “Why don’t both of you hush!?” “Oh shucks Rainbow just cut off it now why don’t ya? You’re making a huge ruckus!” “I say we all just calm down and talking like civilized ponies! This tense atmosphere is getting my mane all frizzled-“ “I say we have a party!” All at once the four voices started to roar in volume; Twilight rolled her eyes as she and Spike got out of the bed. “Well you’re louder than me!” Applejack hollered pointing at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow shook her head and eyed at Pinkie Pie, “Well I can think of somepony who is as loud as a cannon!” “Now Rainbow Dash,” Rarity started, “you know exactly how Pinkie acts-“ Pinkie cut Rarity in mid-sentence as she took out her cannon, “Did somepony say cannon!?” “No,” Twilight said opening the door, “I said to be QUIET!” she yelled. All the four mares stopped arguing and took a step back from the door, retreating to the windows of the dark corridor in the train. Spike hid behind Twilight as he shyly grabbed her leg. “Look girls, I appreciate your concerns but you don’t need to eaves drop on me.” “We’re sorry Twi.” Applejack said looking at the angry mare in the eyes, “We just came here to let you know we’re almost there.” “You’re supposed to wear your dress now dear.” Rarity said holding Twilight’s hoof and rubbing it like a jewel, “I’ve worked really hard on it dear! You should come see it!” The marshmallow coated mare bent down and smiled at Spike, “And I have something special for my Spikey wikey to wear!” Twilight raised an eyebrow as she looked at Spike who blushed faintly. “Alright then,” Twilight said exiting the door with Spike, “Let’s go.” The girls walked down the corridor in silence. The train clattered, wobbling back and forth at a steady pace. Moon light shimmered through the window creating a pattern of light, and a block of darkness. In the shadows a pony with a red bow in its mane breathed lightly. The pony lied low and proceeded forward, going toward another block of black as it hurriedly avoided the light. “Come on!” The pony whispered. In the shadows, two other ponies appeared out of the dark, hurriedly rushing past the light. One of the ponies had wings like a Pegasus and a skateboard on its back. The other had curly hair and tripped landing face first into the rugged floor, but quickly got back up to reach the rest of the group. “Oh Sweetie Belle not again, I think this is why we always get caught.” The filly with the red bow said. Sweetie Belle quivered, “But… But… Sorry Applebloom, I-I’ll try better next time I swear!” “Can we worry about Sweetie Belle later? We got to get our Cutie Marks remember?” The Pegasus with the skateboard whispered. “Yeah well, I still don’t think sneaking in the train while the other mares were gone was a good idea Scootaloo.” Applebloom replied as she was strapping toilet plungers onto her hooves. “Do you want to get your Cutie Marks or not?” whispered Scootaloo, “We just need to sneak around and not be detected, that way we might earn our special talent in spying!” Applebloom looked at the toilet plungers and shook her head, “I don’t think this is going to work Scootaloo-“ “Trust me it’ll work!” Scootaloo said handing her a radio, “You take information while walking on the walls like a spider, and I’ll hide in the dark, trying to sneak into the dressing room where your sis and friends are changing!” Both the fillies high hooved together and smiled, Sweetie Belle on the other hand awkwardly rubbed her hooves against the rug. “But… But what about me?” Sweetie Belle said looking down. Both Scootaloo and Applebloom turned toward Sweetie Belle and started to whisper to each other. “What should we give her? She’s bad at spying, let alone being quiet!” Applebloom said dejectedly. “Yeah well, we need to give her something to do! Or else she’ll cry like a baby girl!” Scootaloo said a bit too loudly. Sweetie Belle flinched, and bowed her head slowly. The fillies didn’t notice as the filly retreated deeper in the corridor. As the train rattled back and forth, both fillies continued to argue. Sweetie Belle felt a tear run down her cheeks as she withdrew herself into the darkness, “I… I don’t cry like a baby…” she said entering a dark room. Sweetie Belle sat in a corner and allowed the tears to drip, “I only want to have fun…” Sweetie Belle tried to remember how her friends have changed, all she could come up with was lately the Cutie Mark Crusaders have been stricter about their adventures. The once free and careless adventurer group has become a social selection where only Scootaloo and Applebloom accepted each other. Both of them knew that Sweetie Belle didn’t have the same stamina as them. And as time went on, the connection of being friends have depleted, causing Sweetie Belle to become nothing but an extra pony in the background. They would always give Sweetie Belle odd jobs such as inspect the floor or confront a rock if it knew anything about their Cutie Marks and as she did that, she could always hear the sounds of Scootaloo and Applebloom laughing. The marshmallow coated filly sobbed quietly, muffling her gasps. Tears streamed down her hooves as she desperately tried to hold them back. She didn’t want them to hear her, let alone see her at this state. Sweetie Belle sniffed and pushed her pink and purple shaded mane way from her puffy eyes, “Well… Maybe their wondering where I am?” Sweetie Belle waited, and waited, and waited. But there were no hoof steps that marched toward her direction. The filly lost hope, and raised her legs toward her chest. “I wish,” Sweetie Belle quivered as she sniffed, “I wish I have somepony to talk to…” “Oh yes… But you do have somepony Sweetie Belle…” Sweetie Belle’s eyes grew wide open and looked around the dark room. “H-Hello?” Sweetie Belle said darting her head back and forth, “Is anypony there?” The voice hissed like a snake, laughing playfully, “Why I’m everywhere Sweetie Belle, you silly crusader!” A dark purple shimmer appeared on the wall, and for the first time Sweetie Belle was able to see where she was. The room was covered with rolled up rugs in wooden boxes. There were chairs stacked nearly together in a corner of the room accompanied by boxes of filled with bubble wrap. A figure with a lean snake like body, its right hand the shape of a lions paw with its left hand being the shape of an eagles claw. Its legs weren’t the same either. Its left taking shape of a horse’s leg, its right resembled the leg of a dragon and its tail looking like one of a dragon. Finally its horns taking shape of an antelope and a goat horn. Sweetie Belle hugged the wall as she recognized the familiar shape of the monster that almost took over all of Equestria. “Disco-“ The shadow came alive and covered Sweetie Belle’s mouth with its shimmering hand, “Shush now Sweetie Belle, can’t you see I’m not here to taking over the world or anything? I just want to have a nice talk with you!” Sweetie Belle shook her head and resisted, trying to take the shimmering paw out of her mouth. The figure snapped its fingers and a small table with glowing bowls filled with cookies and punch appeared before the small filly. “I promise you Sweetie Belle, I just want to have a nice conversation with you.” The figure removed its paw and sat down on the floor, and picked up a cookie, “Why not join me?” At first Sweetie Belle was hesitant and looked toward the door, but thought of Applebloom and Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle looked down and felt her eyes become filled with tears again. “Oh don’t cry Sweetie Belle!” The figure hissed getting up and sitting Sweetie Belle in front of the table, “Have a cookie.” Sweetie Belle took a cookie from one of the bowls and chewed on it slowly. The shimmering figure looked at the filly and watched as she ate the sweets. Sweetie Belle poured herself a cup of punch and took a sip, then placed it down. “What happened my dear friend?” The figure said as it cocked its head, “You look so down!” Sweetie Belle looked down at the table and felt her eyes droop being filled with tears again, “It’s just… My friends…” The shimmering shadow looked at Sweetie Belle and nodded its head, “I know how it feels like my sweet Sweetie Belle, I was always ignored…” The filly looked up at stared at the shimmering shadow, “What? But why, you’re the monster of chaos!” “Ouch,” The figure chuckled with its hissing voice, “Monster is a strong word my dear friend. A model may be more suited.” The filly nodded her head. “Well you see, nobody likes chaos, but chaos is always somewhere. A world is never right with only love and harmony in its path. Without chaos the world can never be alive, there are no challenges. And with no challenges result to no drama! I bet your sister likes that now doesn’t she?” Sweetie Belle smiled and took a sip of punch, “Oh you don’t know the half of it! Sometimes she just takes too much of it! Just last week I overheard a conversation about how Prince Blue Blood was going to get married! I thought Rarity got over him but it seems like she wasn’t. After that things got real nasty.” “Oh really?” “Yeah! Then Rarity went to Canterlot to meet the Prince, it turned out that he wasn’t going to get married and Rarity had a scene in the middle of the streets! It was kind of humiliating since I got dragged into that mess.” The figure hissed with laughter, “Oh yes, that must’ve been my work… But what about your friends?” Sweetie Belle’s smile quickly faded and she shook her head. The shimmering figure got up and turned to Sweetie Belle, “You now you can trust me…” Sweetie Belle looked away from the shadow, “I don’t know… You seem like a really good pony- no you seem like a really good… I don’t really know what you seem really nice.” “But I am nice…” The figure hissed. It rose up from the table and offered Sweetie Belle its hand, “Sweetie Belle I need you to trust me… I know it’s a little hard to believe but the world… It’s going to change forever.” The little filly just laughed and shook her head, “That’s what Snail said the other day, he screamed that it was the end of the world. But we waited and waited, but nothing came! So his little tale was a baloney-” The figure placed a paw close to Sweetie’s mouth and the filly shushed. “Trust me Sweetie… I’m the monster of chaos, and I know what is going to happen. Yes it will partially include me in the changing of the world… But I’m not the only one who is going to change it.” Sweetie Belle shook her head lightly back and forth, “I still don’t believe you-“ With a snap of the shimmering claws the walls of the train started to collapse. All around her the world was on fire and the raging sun burned with its heat. The sky turned light brown and thunder roared across the clouds. Screams filled Sweetie Belle’s ears, the screams of agony and death. Skeletons rose from the ground and clawed at the frantically running ponies, some grabbing their hooves and dragging them into the ground. As more of the dry bag of bones came alive they leaped in front of the remaining living ponies, stabbing their sharp boney hands into their sides making them fall. Gutting them, cutting off their heads, and ripping out their intestines with the addition of their soft beating hearts. The shadow snapped its figures again, and in a split second everything went back to normal. “Do you believe me now?” The shimmering shadow hissed. Sweetie Belle shivered in horror and disgust. The figure sighed, “I’ve sent Twilight Sparkle visions of what is to come… And I’m afraid only the ending of the chaos was able to breach her mind. Her will is strong, but just today I was able to send her another fragment of what is to come…” The filly looked up and stared at the figure. “But chaos leads to a certain path…” “So...” Sweetie Belle said as she started to draw herself toward the figure, “Every choice, every decision somepony or… Or anyone makes creates that…?” The shimmering shadow nodded, “Just know that any choice may lead to the same fate… The order of events can change, but the ending could be the same but in a different way.” Sweetie Belle met the figures eyes as they materialized in a blob of bright yellow. “Join me Sweetie Belle… You and I can change the world together! I will protect you when the end comes… I swear, trust me…” The filly drew deep into the eyes of chaos, she saw images of rich, fame, fortune, and all the good things that will come after the chaos subdued. She saw pictures of her friends being together with her as she protects them through thick and thin, and saw the original Cutie Mark Crusaders becoming one again, all becoming friends again… “The choice is yours Sweetie Belle…” Sweetie Belle drew her breath and closed her eyes, and thought to herself what to decide. After a few seconds the filly looked at the shimmering shadow with unfocused eyes, showing fear, trust, and confusion. “What should I do…?” Sweetie Belle thought to herself. --------------------------------- -Choices- -Reject Discord’s Offer (The Way of Light) -Accept Discord’s Offer (The Way of Chaos)