Equestrian Diaries

Friday, November 5th
14:22

Brief rustles could be heard to cautious ears as three small figures carefully made their way through the forest. While not as thick as the Everfree, it provided ample cover for adventurous fillies.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle, watch where you're going," Scootaloo whispered as the two bumped into each other.

"You were the one who bumped into me," Sweetie Bell argued, also in a whisper.

"You guys keep quiet or we'll never get our cutie marks," Applebloom interjected, ending the argument.

"Sorry," the other two replied simultaneously.

"Hush, y'all, ah think ah hear somethin'."

The three quietly adjusted themselves into a more hidden position as the whoosh of two fliers landing sounded from a nearby clearing. From her position, Applebloom could just make out that one of them was a griffon, while the other a pegasus.

"So this is where Fluttershy lives?" the pony questioned, having a rough female voice.

The griffon replied, a similarly rough voice, "Just a short distance from here, yeah. Still can't believe a scaredy dweeb like her could manage the first kill. Can we really be sure it's her?"

"Unless the newspaper was fake, Fluttershy, acting in self defense, stopped a murderer right here in Ponyville. Not only was this the day before Harmony brought us in to tell us about the game, but Ponyville isn't exactly known for crimes, just as Fifth said."

"Heh. Well this should be easy. That lame-o is afraid of her own shadow."

"Don't forget what Harmony said. Even though it was probably luck, she escaped from a dead end."

"Maybe Harmony was exaggerating and those sorts of things aren't hard to get out of?"

"I don't know, but we can't just swoop in and kill her. We need a plan."

"Hmm. Maybe we can use one of her friends as bait. I know! Rainbow Dash. I have a score to settle with her, so this'll kill two birds with one stone."

"You have one to settle with her too? That bitch got me kicked out of the Wonderbolt academy!"

"Heh, really? Guess this'll be fun for both of us, then. Let's go."

"Yeah. Seems working with Fifth temporarily is worth it after all."

The two figures flew out of the clearing, leaving the three fillies in near silence. Sweetie Bell's eyes were wide and she was noticeably shaking, Scootaloo's face was scrunched in anger, and Apple Bloom appeared uncertain of what she thought of it all.

"S-so it's just as ah thought. Fluttershy really is a Diary owner," Apple Bloom whispered, audible only to herself.

"They're going to pay for threatening Rainbow Dash like that!" Scootaloo exclaimed, her wings flapping in the process.

"Dash can take care of herself, can't she?"

"Normally I'd agree, Bloom, since she's the coolest pony in town and all, but these are Diary owners like you. Who knows what they can do with knowing the future! Besides, if you get them, you'd be one step closer to winning!"

"But Scoots, ah already told you ah have no interest in this game. Don't you know what it means to kill? It means you end their lives. They'll never get up again."

"I know, Bloom, and maybe you don't want to be a goddess, but can you really stand around while they go after Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy isn't even in town, so Dash's on her own without us! Come on, Bloom, your Crusader Diary is the only defense for awesome here!"

"Ah guess. Ah can't say ah'm comfortable with this, though."

The pair turned towards Sweetie Bell, who by now had tears running down her face. Scootaloo sighed.

"Oh come on, Sweetie Bell. You heard what we said. We can't let Rainbow Dash down."

Sweetie Bell shook her head. "But I have a really bad feeling about this, Scootaloo. I can't shake the feeling something bad is gonna happen."

"It'll all be fine. In fact, I bet this'll get us our cutie marks. Cutie marks as defenders of awesome!"

A weak smile made its way onto Sweetie Bell's face. "I guess. Are you sure this is what you want, Apple Bloom? This is your thing, after all."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Well, ah can't just let other ponies be in danger when ah can do somethin' about it."

Scootaloo grinned, and counted down. "3—2—1—"

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS DEFENDERS OF AWESOME!"

The fillies started running off, only to realize they had no idea how they would accomplish their goal.

"Uh Apple Bloom? Why don't you check your diary?" suggested Scootaloo.

"Hmm"

***
Scootaloo retrieves Rainbow Dash, who listens to us, but goes after the other two Diary owners herself. The Cutie Mark Crusaders go after her, determined to fulfill our duty, only we made the mistake of having no solid plan. Rainbow Dash gets captured, and we—
---DEAD END---
***

"Uh, girls? We're gonna have ta tread carefully on this one. Scootaloo, fetch Rainbow Dash. We're gonna need to do some super future defyin' convincin'."

Scootaloo salutes.
"You can count on me!"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell waited patiently in the clubhouse. They didn't have to wait long, though, as pretty soon, Rainbow Dash flew in followed by a ground entrance from Scootaloo.

"Alright, alright, I'm here," said Rainbow Dash, irritated. "Now, what in the hay is going on here?"

"Rainbow Dash." Apple Bloom looked seriously at Rainbow Dash, the latter suddenly very confused and very concerned. "If ya don't listen very carefully to me, and hear me out, ah'm gonna die and you're gonna be a hostage."

"Wait wait wait," Rainbow Dash replied. "Is this another harebrained scheme of earning your cutie marks? Acting is nice and all, but maybe for once you should look into thing you're actually good at—"

"RAINBOW DASH!" Apple Bloom shouted, catching the pegasus off guard. "Listen ta me very closely. This ain't a filly game here. Ah'm very serious right now. And if ya don't want Fluttershy getting hurt cuz you didn't listen ta us—"

"Whoa whoa whoa, what's Flutters have to do with this?"

"Shut up an let me finish!"

Rainbow Dash shut her mouth and looked at the filly seriously. The CMCs were known for their trouble making, but she's never heard them yell the way they did. Not to mention, the voice carried real anger and a very subtle hint of fear.

"Alright. Talk quickly."

Apple Bloom nodded, then sighed.

"First off, some deity claimin' ta be the Goddess of Space and Time has round up twelve ponies, well maybe some of them ain't ponies, but anyways, we all pretty much got these things called Future Diaries that give us entries from the future, that we can change if we carry out actions that we wouldn't do otherwise. Apparently, she's dying, and wants us to kill each other, and she'll pass on her title to the last pony standing.

"Now, you adults have kept it hidden from us fillies, but ah'm not a dumb filly like ya might think. Ah found a newspaper and connected two and two from what Harmony said with one of the contestants dying from First, a clearly meek pony like Fluttershy, and how the newspaper mentioned Fluttershy actin' in self defense. Then, some pony and a griffon landed in a near clearing and talked about how they were gonna kidnap you to get to Fluttershy, which confirmed it."

"Don't you find it strange that a town with no murders in its recorded history suddenly dealt with an attempted one, with the to be murderer killed in self defense? This is why ah want you to listen very carefully to me. Rainbow Dash, you—"

"Now wait a minute," Rainbow Dash interjected. "Are you really expecting me to believe that crazy story?"

"Rainbow Dash, please! Fluttershy is in danger! Don't you care?"

"Of course I care!" Rainbow Dash half shouted, anger clearly in her voice. "If there's even the possibility that Flutters is in danger—well, just in case this isn't from your crazy active imagination, I'm going to go right up to them, and if they try to capture me, I'll just kick their flanks. Do you really think they'd be able to take me hostage?"

"Yes. Yes I do. In fact, it's already set in your future."

Before Rainbow Dash could respond, Apple Bloom picked up her diary and shoved it towards Rainbow. Hesitantly, she looked over at the entry.

"This is, uh, must be some kind of prank. Do you really think this is enough to make me believe this crazy story of yours? And what's that dead end thing supposed to mean?"

Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo gasped.

"Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo gave Apple Bloom a frightened look. "Why didn't you tell us—"

"Cuz it ain't gonna happen, that's what, so long as we convince Rainbow here to listen to us."

"Now wait a minute. Even if I believe you, do you really expect me to stand back and let three little fillies commit murder? Do you even know what death means?"

"My parents graves can attest to the fact that ah know very well what death is."

Rainbow Dash closed her mouth and just stared in silence for a while. During the duration of the silence, Apple Bloom never once slipped in her stance towards Rainbow Dash.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but—I'll help you and do what needs doing. On one condition. We're going to capture them, and not hurt them in any way. That way, they can't hurt Flutters if they really are going to, and if I'm mistaken in believing you three, we can pass this all as some prank."

Apple Bloom nodded. "Ah prefer that anyways. We can just hand them off to the authorities and keep their Diaries so they can't use them no more."

"So, do you actually have a plan?"

"Gimme a sec. Might take a bit."

"That's insane!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "If this griffon really is out for blood, you could just as easily get killed! And even if not, you could still get hurt."

"It's the only way. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo. You know what to do."

The pair nodded, Sweetie Belle hesitantly so, and rushed off before Rainbow Dash could reply.

"Now wait a minute—"

"Dash, please. You're the fastest pegasus in Ponyville if not Equestria. If anypony could ensure none of us are hurt and pull this off, it's you."

"I-I guess you're right. I am pretty awesome. But—"

"Dash, only ah can do this. Just trust me."

"Argh, fine. Again, I can't believe I'm agreeing to all this, but—"

Rainbow Dash paused, her ears perking up. Apple Bloom's did as well.

"The bitch has gotta be around here somewhere. Thought for sure she'd be taking a nap," sounded a voice from outside.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened. "Gilda," she whispered.

Another voice sounded, "Say, once we've killed Fluttershy, how do you want to deal with Rainbow Dash?"

"Lightning Dust?" Rainbow Dash asked rhetorically, a little more than a whisper.

"Not sure, Dust. But with our Diaries, we can safely take all the time we need with her."

Apple Bloom looked towards Rainbow and whispered, "Do ya believe me now?"

Rainbow Dash wordlessly leaped out of a side window, immediately shooting off into the sky.

"Hey, Dust, look out!"

Apple Bloom ran outside as Rainbow Dash, after a brief ascent, spiraled in a descent around where Lighting Dust was hovering. A tornado formed around Lightning Dust.

Lightning Dust laughed. "Ha, like this could keep me? Don't you know who you're messing with?"

Rainbow Dash then proceeded to grab a nearby cloud and launch it using the tornado, letting it shoot out at a high speed. Lightning Dust, seemingly oblivious, followed the cloud.

Rainbow turned towards Gilda "Hey, Gilda! Bet ya can't catch me!"

Rainbow proceeded to bolt past Gilda, the latter roaring in anger before following in pursuit. Before long, however, Rainbow Dash stopped and turned around, prompting Gilda to stop in front of her.

"Bombs away!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell shouted as a water balloon shot from a nearby catapult. It hit Gilda straight in the face, enraging her further.

"That's it! I'm not letting you dweebs pull another one on me."

Gilda pulled out her diary and continued. "Oh, like that's going to work. But really, Dash, tossing a filly at me?"

As Gilda taunted them, Rainbow Dash scooped up Apple Bloom and tossed her towards Gilda. Apple Bloom held her diary in front of her as she sped towards Gilda, freezing the griffon up a little.

"Why, you—I'm not going to let you change the future!"

Gilda caught Apple Bloom and scraped her claws against the diary, shredding papers and binding. With a single stroke, the diary was rendered utterly useless. Gilda laughed.

"Yeah, that's right! Thought you could—"

Gilda never finished her sentence as Apple Bloom bucked the sensitive spot Gilda had between her wings. Gilda looked towards at the grinning filly in surprise as she fell to the ground. Apple Bloom leaped off her to be caught by Rainbow Dash. A cage awaited to catch Gilda as she descended, too close to the ground to re-open her wings in time. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo closed and locked the cage before Gilda could break out.

Instead of raging, the griffon could only look at Apple Bloom with shock and surprise. "B-but—"

"Here's the thing." Apple Bloom smirked. "Once Lightning Dust was out of the way, it was just a matter of following the entry. When ah held my 'diary' when flyin' over to ya, that wasn't really my diary. Ya see, Gilda, knowing what the future is gonna be doesn't mean ya know how to change it."

"B-but, you don't even know what my Diary does, or Dusts' Diary!"

"Yer right, it was a mighty gamble. A gamble that sure as hay paid off."

Rainbow Dash walked past Apple Bloom, intent on talking to Gilda herself. "Were you really gonna ponynap me and kill Flutters, Gilda? Why? I know we weren't on the best of terms, but the Gilda I know would never steep to those levels."

"You're pathetic, Dash, so it's pretty obvious you wouldn't understand. Killing Fluttershy would've just brought me one step closer to becoming something even more powerful than Celestia. How could I resist?" Gilda glared furiously at Apple Bloom. "But it looks like I've been out-smarted by a freaking filly. So when are you going to kill me, then?"

"Ah'm not."

Gilda laughed again. "Pathetic. Truly, utterly pathetic. Ponies really are the inferior race."

"Is that how you really feel, Gilda?" Lightning Dust asked, suddenly appearing above the cage. Rainbow glared at Lightning Dust, the former's wings twitching.

"Li-Lightning Dust! Finally! Break me out of here, and let's show these dweebs—"

"No thanks. I think I'll just let these guys take care of you and go off and go back to Fifth without you."

Gilda roared. Lightning Dust chuckled and continued. "I'll have my payback someday for getting me kicked out of the Wonderbolts and onto the streets again, Rainbow Dash. Just sit tight for now. I got bigger flowers to fry."

"Lightning Dust! I—" Rainbow Dash started to shout, before Dust became nothing more than a dot in the distance. "Ugh, this is a lot to take in."

"Tell me about it," Scootaloo agreed. "I'm still getting used to this whole thing. But Apple Bloom, wow. Maybe we should let you plan everything from now on."

"Me? Ah dunno, Scoots. The Diary did most of the work."

Scootaloo turned her flank towards Apple Bloom. "Do you see anything?"

"Nope, sorry Scoots."

"Aww. Looks like none of us got our cutie marks this time."

Sweetie Bell screamed, "Apple Bloom, look out!"

Apple Bloom turned around, only to see a dagger flying towards her from Gilda. Too late to dodge, Apple Bloom covered her face. When it never came, she cautiously moved her hooves to look, only to see an orange body in front of her.

"SCOOTALOO!"

Apple Bloom could only barely hear Gilda comment. "Well, damn, that was my only dagger and I got the wrong filly."

Rainbow Dash flew over to Scootaloo, who now had a dagger imbedded in her chest. She coughed blood into her hoof, then fell back towards Apple Bloom, who caught her.

Rainbow Dash looked towards Gilda, and then at Scootaloo. "Scoots! Wha-how-why? GILDA!"

Rainbow Dash flew over to the caged grinning griffon, lightning arching around her wings. Rainbow Dash punched the cage with her left fore-hoof, tears now streaming. "How could you do such a thing, Gilda? Just what happened to the Gilda I knew?"

"Hmmph."

Rainbow Dash looked back towards Scootaloo, who was now facing towards Apple Bloom.

"Scootaloo, don't worry. We-we'll take ya to the doctor and they'll patch ya right up." Apple Bloom said.

Sweetie Belle stared at the scene, before forcing herself away and began rushing off towards town, shouting, "Just wait there, I'll get somepony!"

Scootaloo blinked slowly. "It's a pretty nasty wound, isn't it?"

"Scootaloo—"

"Become the Goddess, Apple Bloom."

"Scootaloo?"

"You have to! You, or maybe even Fluttershy, but definitely not some jerk who would let these things happen. Promise me you'll try, Apple Bloom. Promise me you'll make sure at least somepony good wins."

"B-but—"

"It's kinda funny, isn't it? Here I am, giving my last words, and I don't even have my cutie mark."

"Scootaloo, please—"

"It sure was fun, Apple Bloom."

"Scootaloo—you-you aren't gonna die without a cutie mark."

Scootaloo closed her eyes, a smile on her face. Rainbow Dash was keeping herself barely composed, watching both Scootaloo and Gilda.

"Ah've got it, Scootaloo. Ah promise." Apple Bloom said, a finality in her voice. She walked slowly towards the caged Gilda, a conflicted expression showing forth. Rainbow Dash watched the filly cautiously. Apple Bloom then proceeded to take out a match stick.

"What are you doing, Apple Bloom?" Rainbow asked.

Apple Bloom ignored her and lit the match, tossing it onto Gilda's Diary before Rainbow could realize what she was doing.

Gilda chuckled as the space around her swirled into a center focal point. In seconds, the griffon was gone, along with any evidence she was even there beyond the diary.

"Apple Bloom, you—"

"Ah hate this. Ah just really want to cry, but ah promised Scootaloo that ah would make sure somepony good survived to the end."

Rainbow Dash wordlessly glanced over to where Sweetie Belle had ran, who was now rushing towards Scootaloo along with a couple other ponies she recognized from the hospital. Sweetie Belle, pushed away by the professionals now attending to Scootaloo, joined Apple Bloom. Rainbow draped her wings across them for a moment.

"Come on. Little fillies shouldn't be seeing this."

Rainbow guided the fillies away as the sun set.

Sunday, November 7th
15:05

"Hey, Apple Bloom!"

"Don't try to stop me, Rainbow Dash. Ah already had to sneak past Apple Jack, and—"

Rainbow Dash shook her head as she walked over to Apple Bloom's side. The pair were standing inside a train station, a train about to leave for Canterlot waiting beside.

"I'm not. This feels very, very wrong, but at least you're going to Fluttershy and Twilight. You know I would go along, but—"

"—but ya need to keep an eye out in Ponyville, and you're the only one who can do it."

"You hardly even gave yourself time to mourn. How can you be so strong at your age? I'm having a hard time seeing you as a filly now."

"Ah made a promise. Ah intend to carry it out. Action now, crying later."

"And after seeing what happened, I've no right to stop you. I just want to tell you something that's been bugging me about Lightning Dust. I got rid of her too easily. She's a lot of things, but she isn't stupid. I'm thinking she followed that cloud on purpose. Please be on the look out, Apple Bloom. I don't know what I would tell Applejack if she had to lose you after I let you go."

"Ah can't make any promises about what's gonna happen. Ah'm confident ah can reach them in the barracks, though."

"Barracks?"

"Yeah, accordin' to mah Diary, Fluttershy's stayin' in a barracks."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow and started to comment, but the train honked, signaling last minute boarding time. Apple Bloom hopped on.

"Stay safe, Apple Bloom."

Apple Bloom nodded as the doors closed.