My Little Pony:

Darker Days Arc

Warning: Dark
((Need I say more?))

My Little Pony:

Broken Insanity

Written & Edited by: Cor200

“Crush the Queen. Free our dream. Let the light gleam. Princess, we're more than we seam. You're weak. You're bleak. You'll freak. Princess, you're rule won't last another week!” Pinkamena hummed to herself as she gathered the necessary things for the travel.

“Shall we travel to Canterlot now?” Twilight asked impatiently, ruffling her newly found wings.

“Calm down Antsy Stance,” Pinkamena said.

“How can I calm down? You know what we're about to do, right?” Twilight started walking in circles.

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, bringing her to a halt, “It's not like you're doing this alone; we're with you too. We can do this, but only together.” Rainbow Dash paused before adding, “Plus Twilight, have you forgotten how powerful you are?”

Twilight blushed at the compliment. “You're right, I'm getting worked up over nothing.” Even though Twilight said that, she kept pacing.

“Okay,” Rainbow Dash sighed. She had finished packing as well and had to admit she was starting to get bored. “When I want to forget about things, I race myself. How about me and you have a little race while we wait for the others to get ready?”

“But I've only just gotten my wings, I don't know if I...” Twilight trailed off.

“Okay, I'll go easy on you. Ready?” Dash asked.

“As ready as I'll ever be,” Twilight answered nervously.

“Then, on your marks... three-” Rainbow Dash started.

“Twoonego!” Twilight hastily said, cutting off Dash and flying off at an unimaginable speed; Twilight left in a bolt of black and purple.

“That little bitch,” Dash grinned. She then took off in a bolt of rainbow, catching up to the bolt of black and purple.

“Dash sure seems to be enjoying the fact that Twilight has wings now...” Fluttershy said, slightly jealous.

If only she were a good flyer, she thought.

“I think it's great that they're getting along!” Pinkamena said before going inside to get her weapons.

A streak of darkness and a streak of rainbow passed by.

“This is dangerous just standing here...” Rarity muttered.

The two streaks were returning once more, and when they arrived, they skidded to a halt. Dust rose.

Rarity held back a comment about being covered in dust and instead said, “We're all ready.”

“That's not important! Who won?” Twilight and Rainbow Dash said together.

“Um... Dash?” Fluttershy asked.

“No, I think it was Twilight,” Rarity said.

“But, um... I think...” Fluttershy tried to say.

“I'd say it was a tie,” Scootaloo said as she approached the group.

“Scootaloo, you're up already?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I don't want to stay here; I want to go with you and Pinkie!” Scootaloo complained.

“Scootaloo, you can't do that.” Rainbow Dash sighed.

“But it's no fair!” Scootaloo whined

“Okay!” Pinkamena came out of the house, “all set.”

“You four go ahead and I'll catch up.” Dash said, “I just need to talk with Scootaloo for a moment.”

The other four took their saddlebags and headed off. Rainbow Dash walked Scootaloo inside and sat down.

“Scootaloo, how many times must I tell you not to come?” Rainbow Dash sighed.

Scootaloo collapsed at Dash's hooves, “Please!” she begged, “Please take me with you!”

“Scootaloo, it's too dangerous.” Dash shook her head.

“I don't care! It's not fair!” Scootaloo whined.

“Okay Scootaloo, I've already told you why you're staying, but...” Rainbow Dash sighed, “Scootaloo, I need you here for another reason.”

“You don't need me here, you just don't want me to go because you're worried about me," Scootaloo proclaimed.

“Actually, no, I'm putting a lot of responsibility and trust in you as well," Rainbow Dash said.

“You-” Scootaloo started to argue, then she realized what Dash had just said. “Wait, what responsibilities?”

“There are two important tasks that must be handled while we're away. One of them is Applejack,” Dash stated.

“... Applejack? Please, if I wanted an apple, then I'd go with Applebloom.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

“No, I didn't mean it like that. Applejack is still being a goody-four-hooves. Though this task isn't majorly important, I want to see if you can somewhat get to her. This is not an easy task since she is 'honest AJ' and all. So let's see if you can shatter that honesty...” Dash paused, then grinned, “or exploit it.”

“And what's the second one?” Scootaloo asked.

“Follow me,” Dash said. She then walked off, leading Scootaloo to the attic of the house.

“What is this...?" Scootaloo's eyes sparkled. "It's so beautiful.”

In front of the two ponies was a dragon claw pedestal with a floating purple orb above it. The orb glowed lightly and sparkled in a way that could catch any eye. The orb's beauty itself was enough to obtain anypony's undivided attention.

“This?” Dash grinned. “This is something Twilight made herself just last night. This was based off of the Crystal Heart. I call it a 'Black Soul' because that name makes this thing 20% cooler.”

“Wow, she must be unstoppable!” Scootaloo admired the orb.

“This is your other task, make sure this stays safe and untouched while we're gone. I worry Spike may try something, or if another pony comes while we're out..." Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo with a grin, "So do you still think I can allow you to come?”

“I'll stay,” Scootaloo sighed. “As much as I want to go, I now know that it wouldn't be good to leave this place unguarded.”

“Enjoy yourself kid.” Dash ruffed up Scootaloo's hair with her hoof.

Scootaloo followed Rainbow Dash back downstairs.

“I'll go get started with Applejack then,” Scootaloo smiled, vanishing into the basement.

Dash laughed to herself; she was so happy she didn't kill Scootaloo that day... The thought of that day made her eye twitch, but the thought left as soon as it came. Dash put her saddlebags on and was off after the others.

“Hey Applejack!” Scootaloo smiled, “I haven't seen you for quite some time. How are you?”

Applejack was chained to the walls of her cell; the chains were cuffed to each hoof and attached in the four corners of the cell. Applejack looked up weakly.

“S- Scootaloo?” Applejack coughed. “That you?”

“How's Applebloom been? I've not been allowed to see her for a while you know.” Scootaloo took out some cupcakes.

“Ah'm glad you're safe Scootaloo. Ah'm sure the others in ya little group will be too.” Applejack managed to say, but it seemed every word was a struggle.

“Yeah, I can't wait to be able to go visit them again.” Scootaloo said eagerly.

“How about you get these chains and bonds off me and we can go see them together?” Applejack offered.

“Nah,” Scootaloo selected a cupcake and popped it in her mouth. “Reinbow Desh shed not to lechu go.”

After a short silence, Scootaloo swallowed the cupcake and added, “I promised her I wouldn't.”

“Scootaloo, you really need to let me go.” Applejack said, now a little concerned.

“Do I?” Scootaloo mocked.

“Yes, what Rainbow Dash and Pinkamena are doing is wrong,” Applejack said.

“You truly are as naive as Rainbow Dash said!” Scootaloo laughed.

“Scootaloo?” Applejack asked, now concerned.

“You're blinded Applejack! You think you can see, but in reality, you can't.” Scootaloo grabbed another cupcake and offered it to Applejack, “What a cupcake? They're super delicious!”

“We're off to see the Princess for there's something we must address. She's lost her touch; the pressure's a little too much. To Canterlot! To Canterlot! Here we come, ready or not! To Canterlot! To Canterlot! Here we come ready or not!” Pinkamena hummed. Pinkamena was merrily hopping along.

The five reached the edge of the forcefield trapping Ponyville. Twilight opened up a hole that they could all fit through.

Once they all got through, it closed once again.

“So what's the battle plan again Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked.

“They're will probably be forcefield around Canterlot, like at the wedding, but it's nothing Twilight can't handle. We will take the thrown and give it to the proper princess; it doesn't matter how it's done.” Dash replied.

They had been walking for only a short while when Rainbow Dash stated, “two o'clock.”

“Got it.” A knife flew from Fluttershy and inserted itself into the throat of a guard that was lurking in the bushes.

“Wow Fluttershy!” Pinkamena said, “I didn't know you could do that!”

“It's nothing much really...” Fluttershy murmured, blushing at the complement.

“She used it all the time back in the Factory when she wanted to have some fun.” Rainbow Dash said, bragging for Fluttershy since Fluttershy wouldn't. “It's one of her top skills.”

Fluttershy smiled; she was happy to hear Rainbow Dash praise her, in a way.

Spike watched as the five left the forcefield; immediately he wrote to Princess Celestia.

The return scroll came back quite quickly.

Dear Spike,
My sources from the outside are still telling me that the forcefield is being supplied from within. There must be a power source from the inside. I know the idea sounds impossible, but these past few weeks have taught us otherwise, so please find and destroy this power source.
Princess Celestia

Spike walked off. He knew that this would be his biggest chance to help Twilight, yet something was bothering him; he didn't know what, though.

Spike stopped at the door to Twilight's relocated home. He had time to think, but it only made him less willing. Whatever it was, he pushed it aside for the time being and opened the door.

He walked in, shutting the door behind him.

There were hoofsteps.

Spike looked and saw Scootaloo enter the room from the basement. She was talking to herself and shaking her head. She looked up to see Spike standing there.

“Oh... hey Spike,” Scootaloo said, slightly surprised.

Spike was not expecting this. He had known Scootaloo had gone missing, but he'd expected her to be dead.

“Why are you here?” Scootaloo asked.

“Some side duties,” Spike said.

“And betray Twilight's trust?” Scootaloo said.

“I'm not betraying her trust.” Spike found this a ridiculous thought.

“Then why are you here?” Scootaloo asked again.

“To save Twilight,” Spike said, with surety.

“Save her from what?” Scootaloo inquired.

“Twilight's changed; this isn't like her.” Spike looked at Scootaloo as if she should understand.

“If it was never a part of her, then wouldn't have come out in the first place,” Scootaloo stated.

“Twilight wouldn't like things the way they are,” Spike said.

“Isn't it Twilight who sustaining it this way though?” Scootaloo asked.

“Well..." Spike paused to think. "Twilight needs me to...”

“So you're going to change Twilight from who she is so that you're happy instead of her? Isn't that a bit greedy?” Scootaloo interrupted Spike's thoughts.

“No, I'm helping her.” Spike tried to defend his case.

“She didn't forget about you, you know," Scootaloo informed Spike, "She's putting a lot of trust into you and believes you can and willl except who she is."

She waited a moment to let that sink in before asking, "Are you going to use that faith?”

“Help... it's help...” Spike muttered, more to himself than Scootaloo.

“If your going to betray her, be my guest.” Scootaloo shrugged, walking into the kitchen.

“I'm going to... use Twilight...” Spike muttered.

“It's in the attic, the Black Soul. Did you know Twilight made it herself? She's very proud of it.” Scootaloo called over her shoulder as she rummaged though the pantry.

Spike went up to the attic. The statement, “I'm going to use Twilight,” ringing through his head.

He looked at the orb. The words, “She made it herself,” replaced the other statement in his head.

He touched it. Equestria's fate was in his reach; all he had to do was push it and it'd shatter on the ground. With it shattered, Twilight would become weaker for quite a while, giving enough time to stop the insane ponies.

“She's very proud of it...” and “Use Twilight...” went through Spike's head once last.

Spike removed his claw from the orb and took a step back.

“If I destroy this, I'd destroy Twilight's creation, ruin her pride, and hurt her. I would be destroying her. I can't do that!” Spike then ran out of the house.

“That worked better than I thought it would.” Scootaloo was just started heading back downstairs as Spike ran passed her and out the door. She was relieved; there was one less problem to worry about and no great anticipation for Spike's arrival.

Rainbow Dash had been teaching Scootaloo how to determine outcomes using mental games. Scootaloo still had a lot to learn, but it seemed what she'd learned so far was still quite useful.

“Imagine what things I could do if I were at Rainbow Dash's skill level...” Scootaloo muttered to herself in awe. “The possibilities are endless...”

Scootaloo thought back to the lesson that Dash had taught her just last week.

“This week we will be learning about... attachment,” Rainbow Dash had said. “For example: Spike is attached to Twilight and Rarity, Rarity's attached to Pinkamena, Fluttershy's attached to me, Pinkamena and I are attached to each other, you're attached to me and Pinkamena, Twilight's attached to her friends, and so on. These are all attachments and they can be used to one's advantage easily. Also, by knowing how to use attachment, one can also prevent being used by it.”
Scootaloo nodded.
“For today I will be teaching you some of the basic methods to manipulate them,” Dash continued. “You ready to begin?”
Scootaloo nodded eagerly.

Now that Scootaloo was thinking about it, an idea came to her of a way to crack Applejack.

It was night when the five arrived at Canterlot.

“We're here. We're here. Canterlot, it's time to fear. We're here. We're here. Princess, your end is near.” Pinkamena hummed.

“Pinkie, keep it down. We need to be quiet.” Rainbow Dash hissed.

“Sorry Dashie,” Pinkamena pouted.

“Don't pout at me; you're going to make me feel guilty,” Rainbow Dash said.

Fluttershy and Rarity blushed and glared.

“We're not even in Canterlot yet,” Twilight said, looking at the forcefield that surrounded the city.

“We all have faith in you Twilight; we know you can do it.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Let me think for a moment...” Twilight walked in a circle, thinking up a spell to use.

“Kur o jaban vondure. Taki te vondure vuna adun.” Twilight's horn lit up with a dark purple glow before exploding forwards, towards Canterlot.

“Whoa! Cool! What was that?!” Pinkamena asked.

“A magic-disabling curse,” Twilight said. “We should have a fair battlefield now as well, but I don't know how long it will last for.”

“That's still quite impressive,” Rarity encouraged, “And you still think your weak. How humble.”

Twilight blushed, “You flatter me.” Behind Twilight, the forcefield had turned purple and started to disintegrate.

The city was filled with fear for they knew what had come; the Princess of Darkness had arrived.

"And so she arrives, my ex-faithful student..." Celestia looked at the disintegrating forcefield. "It's time we fight back the Insanity!"

Guards flooded out of the castle to face the five.

"The battle strategy?" Fluttershy asked again.

The five of them were standing on Mane Street. They could see the blade-armed royal guards running down the street. It would only be a few minutes, if not sooner, before they reached the five.

"Fight and win," Rainbow Dash smirked, then decided to add, "And have fun."

"Three, two, one, split up!" Twilight called.

All but Fluttershy jumped to the allies off to their sides, splitting up into groups. Pinkamena and Rainbow Dash jumped into the left alley, while Twilight and Rarity jumped into the right alley. Fluttershy, on the other hoof, covered her head and shook.

When the guard ponies arrived to where the five had been standing, all they saw was a helpless, scared pony.

“Okay. Let's split up, half go left and half go left. A few spread out to stand guard in other areas.” the captain of the guards said.

Around one fifth of the guards stayed behind the split up.

“Are you okay Ma'am?” one guard pony asked.

Fluttershy opened one eye to look at the ponies surrounding her. It was only a handful that surrounded her- may ten or eleven.

Fluttershy grinned, “the question is, are you?”

Before any of the guards could give a response, knifes penetrated their bodies from all around. They let out loud cries, which gained the attention of the other guards that were heading back with the captain. What they saw was a pony covered in shadows surrounded by the dozen guard ponies who were penetrated by multiple knives.

Fluttershy looked up; her left eye gleamed like a demon's, the other covered by her hair.

“Who's next?” she asked.

At first the other guards took a few steps back, but halted at the captain's voice.

“What do you think you're doing? You are the royal guards! Does it take only one pony to scare you? She just used deception; they were unaware and you are not!” The captain walked off leaving the remaining guards to their fate.

Meanwhile, Pinkamena was hopping on top of the housing with Rainbow Dash flying next to her. They came to a stop in a plaza. Dash landed in the center, “This is a good enough spot.”

“As good as any.” Pinkamena stopped at a booth that had sold deserts.

“Pinkie, we need to focus,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Having a snack or two won't hurt.” Pinkamena takes a bite of a pie.

The plaza's edges flooded with guards.

“We have you surrounded and outnumbered. Surrender now.” A microphone blared.

“We have a psychotic pink pony and a rainbow. You are overpowered.” Rainbow Dash mocked. She then looked at Pinkie, who was still snacking away with the pastries.

“Pinkie,” She hissed, “could you get a bit more serious?”

“But dis stuff is soooo gud,” Pinkie said with a mouthful of cake. Rainbow Dash facehoofed and shook her head.

“You give us no choice,” the speaker said. The guards started to fill the plaza.

“Did you know...” Rainbow Dash said, stretching her legs. “To achieve a Sonic Rain-boom one must break the sound barrier.” She flutters her wings a few times. “Do you realize the danger of that kind of speed?”

The guards were nearly in range to use their blades. Rainbow Dash took off, becoming a streak of rainbow and greeting the charging guards. The five that so foolishly charged at her front found themselves blinded by the rainbow and ended up getting head butted; their heads were smashed in.

Rainbow Dash started bouncing around, picking up more and more speed.

Pinkamena watched the guards collapse and shook her head. “Bwads are dengeris.” Her mouth was filled with some more pastries. From behind her lunged two guards with their blades drawn. She swallowed, “shall I give you some lessons?”

The guards' blades were a hair's width away when suddenly Pinkamena's hair straightened. The two guard's weapons were deflected and sent flying out of reach. The two guards stumble past Pinkamena, who was holding two butcher knives behind her head. She had moved faster than anypony could've seen. In the next moment, Pinkamena cross-slashed the backs of the two ponies in front of her.

“Such a waste of perfectly good resources,” Pinkamena sighed, but then grinned, her hair poof-ing back to it's normal fluffy mess, “OK! LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!” She pointed a blade in Rainbow Dash's direction.

Rainbow Dash had reached the needed speed; there was a rainbow explosion that rose above Canterlot, but this one was not one of joy and cheer. The plaza was laid bare and was void of life.

Twilight looked up at the rainbow and laughed, “Isn't it lovely Rarity?”

“Darling, are you sure you don't need help?” Rarity asked. All around where they stood were floating, in a purple glow, the bodies of the guards.

“This is hardly even the tip of the Equestrian forces. I feel insulted that this is all they're using against us.” Twilight walked on.

“You're not going to bring these bodies though, right?” Rarity followed Twilight.

“Hm?” Twilight looked behind her and noticed she was bring the guard bodies with them. “Oh. My bad.” The bodies fell to the ground.

Rainbow Dash and Pinkamena arrived in the center of town first and were soon followed by Fluttershy.

“That went better than I'd thought,” Rainbow Dash said. “Their performance was so pathetic. It's like they weren't trying to detain us.”

“They weren't,” Twilight said as she and Rarity joined them. “I don't know their true intensions though.”

“We just needed a distraction,” the captain said. “My name is Silverguard. I've taken Shining Armor's position after he left; I am the current captain of guard in Canterlot.”

“What was the point of that, then? Why not send the entire force of Canterlot upon us?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Simple, this way we have less casualties,” Silverguard said. “We sacrifice maybe five hundred ponies in delaying you, but if we tried to detain you, then we'd have an unmeasurable amount of deaths. We did not underestimate your abilities. I do regret having to trick such decent ponies into their deaths, but it's for the greater good.”

“Blah, blah, blah. No one cares,” Fluttershy said as she took a step forward. “We're here. Surrender.” Then shrank, taking a step back, “I mean, if that's okay with you.”

Dash snickered, “Flutters, really?”

Celestia came out and stood next to Silverguard. “I knew a day like this would come. I wish it didn't have too, but now it gives me no other choice.”

A pedestal rose from the center of the square. On the pedestal was a crystal sun and moon. It looked just like the Crystal Empire's Crystal Heart.

“What you see is the same crystal used to banish King Sombra.” Celestia confirmed.

“And how do you plan to use it? It's not a lot of 'light and love' here right now,” Rarity stated, her eyes sparkling at the sight of the gem.

“During the day, it will be powered by the sun. During the night, it will be powered by the moon,” Celestia explained.

“We were hoping to be able to use it instantly,” Silverguard said. “but unfortunately, it is a new moon tonight.”

“So?” Twilight asked.

“It's Sunrise,” Celestia said, “Not even your magic can delay it.”

The sun began to rise. The crystal began to shine.

“Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkamena Diane Pie, and Fluttershy. I, Princess Celestia, banish you from Equestria!” Celestia declared.

Before any of the five could even react, a light-shield exploded from the crystal. The five were sent flying off towards the horizon.

“Ah can't believe this...” Applejack said. She was sitting on the porch with Scootaloo.

“Yeah, it's such a hard thing to wrap one's mind around at first; I know how you feel.” Scootaloo reassured.

“But Ah'm not into killing and the like,” Applejack said.

“So? You can accept your friends for who they are or you could abandon them.” Scootaloo said. She looked at Applejack and asked, “Would you abandon them all?”

“No... But can't Ah still fix them?” Applejack asked.

“They've sunk way past that point a long time ago. It's who they are now, you can only accept them or reject them as your friends.”

“Ah'm not sure about this Scootaloo...”

The sun rose. Soon after there was an explosion of light. The light soon smashed against the forcefield.

The magic barrier held, fending off the light.

“That can't be good! Not good at all!” Scootaloo said. “I hope they're going to be okay!" Scootaloo looked back at Applejack, "Applejack!?”

Applejack was already standing, ready to run. “Scootaloo is there a way outta this place?”

“There's one bush that goes through the forcefield near the Everfree. All you need to do is crawl through it and you should be out.” Scootaloo said without thinking.

Applejack ran off.

Scootaloo jumped, “Wait, Applejack! Where are you going?”

“My friends need me!” Applejack called back.

Scootaloo sat back down; she wasn't sure if what she did was a good thing or not.

To be continued

Credits

A special thanks to:

Sergeant Sprinkles – Inspiring Pinkamena Diane Pie (with Cupcakes).
Aurora Dawn – Inspiring Rainbow Dash (with the Rainbow Factory).
Lil’ Mizz Jay – Inspiring Rarity (with Lil’ Miss Rarity).
doubleWBrothers – Inspiring Fluttershy's knife throwing skill.

Extra special thanks to:

Mindless Gonzo

Author's Note

The language Twilight uses to speak her curse is my personal language. (I made up my own language, yes. It's still a work in progress though)