Rise of the Red Spirit

Chapter seven: My false sins

    Trinity jolted awake and rubbed her bleary eyes, taking a few moments to regain her composure from the nightmare she had. The party after that incident had gone off without another hitch: she met the lord of chaos, befriended most of the villagers –avoiding Goldengrape and his gang, after Twilight warned her of their antics- and learned to tolerate Pinkie Pie’s stranger-than-normal behavior. She couldn’t help but admit that maybe she did have… fun, during her time there, even though her mind kept flashing back to those mysterious neon green eyes. She didn’t know if it was affliction, curiosity, or… something, given the circumstances that caused her mind to go into a frenzy over them.

     She breathed out a shaky sigh and stared up at the ceiling, No, it wasn’t a JUST nightmare. Can't deny that for a second… She thought bitterly, blinking back her tears. Her nightmare started out where she was back in her old classroom, ready to walk out. A figure approached her, blocking her way, baring a glare on her face. Compared by height, her so-called friend was ridiculously shorter than her, but she made up for it in attitude. That girl lived off of bossing her around, and calling her immature names without even realizing it. What’s worse, she even got the click to start doing the same thing. She wasn’t the only girl who was rude to her, taking advantage over the fact that they knew she couldn’t stand up for herself; anybody found a reason to spite her, acting terrified as if she were some sort of rare disease. She wouldn’t dare tell a teacher about them. They even blackmailed her once. However, that was a story for another time.

“You know, you really are an idiot,” She’d say, folding her arms apprehensively. “And a jerk. Ignoring me like that for a whole week? What do you have to say for yourself? I’d like to see you try and come up with an excuse this time.” Someone nearby did something to make the girl laugh, causing Trinity to flinch and look down at her fingers nervously.

     “D-don’t laugh at her.”

     Her ex-friend glared at her even more, if that was possible. “I’m sorry, are you manipulating me now, Trinity? I can’t do what I want anymore?”

     “I-I-if you have anything else to say then tell me. Seriously.” She growled, forcing whatever strength –or even dignity, for that matter- she had left to furrow her eyebrows.

   “Alright then. You’re a backstabbing bitch.”

   “F-fuck you!” She sneered back at her, tears in her eyes, and bolted out of the room as quickly as she can. She was done. Physically, and mentally, done.

     Ever since then she was nothing more than a soulless body. Her parents couldn’t do anything about it for they were always at work –both of them were lawyers- and her councilor didn’t even solve the issue. The girl ended up freaking denying what she had said, claiming that Trinity had been the enemy all along. With false proof, and nobody to vouch for her, the principle got her expelled before she had a say.

       The only thing she could remember what happened next, was storming out into the driveway that following afternoon, only to be blinded by a blinding screech of light. Then everything turned to black, just as her soul was.

    Trinity was sobbing quietly by now for she was too deep in her memory, and blindly walked down the steps to get out of the tree house. She collapsed onto the ground a few blocks away, her hoof kicking a sharp rock on her way down. She cried out as the blood escaped her skin, attacking the scent of a familiar beast. She wasn’t the same mare that had arrived in Ponyville over a week ago—she felt like she was the human who couldn’t face up to a common bully all over again.

    The timberwolf sniffed and roared in excitement, sneakily moving closer to the almost-lifeless body. Blood, it thought, a sinister grin growing on its face. Must feed. Praise my lord..

     Trinity moaned as she didn’t notice it, not bothering to get up from where she was. The seconds ticked by and she closed her eyes. She might as well be dead. What happened next didn’t make her all the more happier, however, when a giant shadow swooped down and shot a beam at the timberwolf, making it screech, and burst into a thousand pieces.

     “We must tell sister to send the Royal Guard to this section of Equestria.” Luna muttered mainly to herself, glaring at the gruesome sight. “Surely, it’ll be wise.” She frowned as Trinity groaned in mid-sleep, walking towards her. “Poor soul… I apologize for not saving you sooner. I have many subjects, and there are many nightmares.”

    Trinity didn’t take too kindly to that answer. “D-don’t care… about me… leave me like she did. L-like they all do. I can’t… there’s something… there’s something wrong… with me… please…” She whimpered as Luna lifted her carefully with her magic, and placed her on her back. The light in the library went on just then, blinding Luna for a few moments, but she managed to take a step forward. Biting her lip to not cry in front of her fellow princess, she recited a poem her mother had repeatedly taught her when she was younger, in an effort to calm the tortured mare. Really, it was herself that needed the calming.

“No one looks the way I do.

I have noticed that it’s true.

No one walks the way I walk.

No one talks the way I talk.

No one plays the games I play.

No one says the things I say.

I am special.

I am me.

There is no one else I’d rather be.”

      She heaved in a sob as Twilight slammed the door open, a rather shocked expression on her face. The alicorn traced her dewy eyes to her friend, placing her hoof in her mouth.

      “Help her… h-help my Ceri.” Luna whispered, bowing her head.

   “You have a lot of explaining to do.” Twilight glowered, but she opened the door wider for the princess of the night.

******

Twilight frowned as she made a cup of coffee ready for Luna, while looking at Trinity from the corner of her eye every now and then. Spike laid next to her, his expression emotionless while he placed a damp cloth on her face. He couldn’t hold back a few tears of his own.

        She cleared her throat and poured the coffee into a mug on the counter, sending over to the princess. She took it and sipped it readily, tears pouring down her cheeks the entire time. What she had witnessed was something that would’ve never crossed her mind. She had heard what bullies do to act superior, but this… this was something worse. This was manipulation.

     “What did you see, Lu?” Twilight asked calmly, sitting down beside her.

     “It was horrible. Worse than I ever imagined,” She sighed, shaking her head.

“She… Trinity was treated differently because people thought it would be funny to pick on a mare with no confidence. She was a late bloomer, on many things, and that was easy to see. They would… leave her out in group activities, Twilight. It was complete idiocy. They would push her around wherever she walked. At first it was only one girl, who claimed to be her friend, but then that one girl started telling rumors about her and got everybody else to do the same thing. She lost her trust in anyone who was trying to help her, console her, but nobody would get through. Her soul was just too far gone.”

     Twilight’s heart ached as she listened to Trinity’s story, and she sniffled every now and then. “So… so that’s why… whenever my friends or I show her affection, she pushes us away.”

       “Yes. But there’s more, Twilight.” She murmured, sending a napkin her way.

      “What more could there possibly be?” Twilight almost shouted, slamming her hooves onto the table. Spike glanced over at her, his eyes flickering with worry.

       “There was false proof to a crime she never did. Her principal believed her, since there was no one to vouch –her parents had too much time on their hands- she… was kicked out.” She sighed. “Oh, my dear, why are you crying?”

      Twilight shook her head as she choked on a sob. “Why would… why would anypony want to treat her like that?

Th-there’s nothing wrong with her! She’s perfectly fine!”  Using her magic, she sent her coffee flying towards the wall, making it smash into little pieces onto the floor. This made Trinity stir, but only slightly, for she closed her eyes once again. “Those girls have no excuse for their behavior.”

        “What you say is all correct, Twilight. Which is why this’ll be your next challenge. Teaching Trinity the true magic of friendship… while she, in turn, will learn many lessons of her own… and later her destiny.”

      “D-do,” The alicorn murmured after a few moments, “Do you really think we can handle her?”

      “Handle, is an inappropriate term,” Luna glared, wiping her eyes with a napkin. “Befriend.”

       Twilight bowed her head in shame, “Yes, Princess Luna.”

      A slight moan escaped Trinity’s lips as she struggled to open her eyes, blinking in bewilderment to get used to her new surroundings. Spike let out a gasp of excitement and waved his claw towards his mother figure in alarm. “Twi- Twilight!”

    “I must go. Mark my words, Twilight Sparkle. She will be the savior to us all.” Princess Luna commanded, standing up as she easily lulled her head to one side. She gave her a small smile.

    “Wait!” She cried out, stumbling in her step. “Before, when you came in, who’s Ceri? Why did you call Trinity that?”

      A pained look spread across her face for a mere second until she looked at the floor, not meeting Twilight’s eyes. She shook her head. “She just reminded me of someone I once loved. But that, my dear, is a story for another time.”

      “L-luna…” Twilight whimpered… but she was met with no response, for the princess of the night had vanished.