The King of Liesby Jade RingChaptersOnce Upon a Nightmare...FluttershyPinkie PieApplejackRarityTwilight Sparkle...Waking Happily Ever AfterRainbow DashOnce Upon a Nightmare...Author's Note This story went through, no kidding, TWELVE revisions. This chapter alone went through every perspective at least once. In the end, this was the only way for this chapter to play out. Once Upon a Nightmare... Once upon a time, six little ponies woke up to a nightmare. Before them stood a stallion who was not a stallion at all. His pitch black body shifted and congealed, his hooves became vicious talons and then became hooves again. He smiled at them with eyes that burned a flickering, fiery red. Hissing and coiling around his bald head was a violently green serpent with a pair of arms, it's scales a malevolent green that matched his master's on his scaled face. He claimed to have many names, but advised them to call him Belial. He told them that he was a being beyond their world, drawn there by the committing of a truly enormous sin. The purity of their world, of the souls of its denizens, made his mouth water. If he wished, he could simply sweep them away and devour them as was his want. But he was a fair cosmic being. He would give their heroes a chance to save them. He proposed a game. Each of them would receive a vision of the possible future. Some would be truth, some would be lies. If all six little ponies guessed correctly, then the souls of the sinners would be the only cuisine Belial would have before moving on to the next world. But if even one failed to see through their tests... then all Equestria would belong to the dark stallion. It went without saying, he added, that upon waking they would remember nothing of their possible futures. Were the terms acceptable? They said nothing. How could they refuse? He asked which would start the cycle. The newly short-maned and sheepish Bearer of Kindness raised a trembling hoof. In a flash, the grinning snake called Sin was about her shoulders. His fangs plunged into her neck... The game began. FluttershyThe pain in her neck faded at the same time as the field of light around her did. She whimpered and tried to hide but could find nothing solid to hide behind. With no other option, she stuck out her chin and made herself ready to see whatever it was she was going to see. The light vanished... ...revealing Sweet Apple Acres on a glorious summer morning. She was standing in the south field being warmed by the sun over her head. She sniffed the air curiously and found it exactly as she had expected to; warm and full of the smell of apples. She smiled. Was this her vision? “Indeed, Fluttershy. You are looking at your test right now.” She shuddered as Belial faded into existence beside her. “I don't understand. This is my home. What am I supposed to be seeing here?” “Wait.” As though in response to his voice, a child's cry came from the fields to her left. Her mothering instincts kicked in as she recognized Scarlet's voice... but she relaxed again when she realized it was a cry of joy, not of fear. Scarlet Apple came bounding over the high grass, Winona's puppy Judd nipping at her hooves as they played. Fluttershy smiled at her daughter... but something was different. “She's... older.” Fluttershy whispered. “And so is Judd. What is this?” “As I said, a vision of your future.” Belial chuckled. “Or perhaps it's a lie. That's for you to decide, isn't it?” Fluttershy watched as her dark red daughter, who appeared to be seven or eight, continued to play with the dog. The pegasus found herself near tears as she saw how graceful the filly was. “She's growing beautifully.” “Yes.” Belial had to agree. “I'm sure her father thinks so too.” As if summoned by the King of Lies, Macintosh Apple's voice rang out from the barn. “Ya'll be careful now, Scarlet. Don't get all dirty now. Ma's gonna have dinner ready soon.” He emerged pulling a whole tree by his collar. It had been years since they'd met, and his muscles and the casual way he used his strength still made her swoon. “Big Bunny...” she cooed lovingly. Belial made a disgusted sound. Something caught Fluttershy's eye. Something about Macintosh's face. “What is...” “You can have a closer look, you know. This is only a vision, after all. They can't see or hear you.” Fluttershy spread her wings and floated over until she was next to the straining stallion. She gasped when she saw his face. “His eye...” She whispered. “What happened to his eye?” Macintosh's right eye was gone, replaced by a leather eye-patch. “Minor war wound.” Belial replied matter-of-factly as he reappeared by her side. “Eaten by Changelings. Or was it Diamond Dogs?” Fluttershy reached out a hoof towards her husband's face. A voice called from the distant farm-house. “Mac! Scarlet! Supper's ready!” That was not her voice. She spun and focused her eyes on the farm-house's open door. The mare she saw there made her heart grow cold. “Cheerilee?” She spun towards Belial. “Why is Cheerilee there?” Belial's smirk tasted delicious on his lips. “Isn't it obvious?” Fluttershy turned and watched as Scarlet, her baby girl, ran up the steps and hugged Ponyville Elementary's teacher as tight as she could. “I'm starvin,' Ma.” “...Ma?” Fluttershy slumped to the ground as Macintosh detached his harness and joined his wife and child on the porch. She felt her heart break as her Big Bunny kissed Cheerilee with the same gentle passion he kissed her with. “H... how?” “You lost the baby.” Fluttershy raised her head slowly and tried to talk, but found her tongue was not willing to move. “Yes, I know you're pregnant. And that's what happens; you lose the foal. Not only that, but the damage to your system is so great that you can never have children ever again.” The thought made Belial smile. “Macintosh always wanted a big family. He's told you that since day one. When his wife was unable to continue... he simply found another.” Fluttershy looked and saw three little foals crawling around the kissing couple's hooves. “As for you, you couldn't handle losing Macintosh like that. And you've always had a problem with rage, haven't you?” He waved his hoof before him and a shadowy image of Scarlet appeared. Now that she was up close, Flutershy could see the burns on the filly's face. She put her hooves to her mouth and gasped in horror. “You did this when you tried to burn the house down. Macintosh was able to save you both, but he had you commited lickety split.” He tapped his hoof and the image vanished. “It took years of therapy, but Scarlet eventually forgot all about you. After all... she has a new mommy. One who won't try to burn her alive.” Fluttershy collapsed entirely and began to weep. “Now now, dear. Save your tears. The game has only just begun after all. So tell me; is this a vision of things yet to be... or am I simply lying through my teeth?” Fluttershy reigned in her sobs, wiped the tears from her face, and looked at Belial defiantly. “Lie.” She whispered. “What was that?” “A lie.” “I'm sorry, I'm a trifle deaf in this ear...” “It's a LIE!” She almost screamed. In response, the vision surrounding them faded into nothingness, leaving them alone in the dark. Belial's hooves became vicious claws and he offered her a polite clap. “A mother always can tell if a child is lying. Well done.” “Is... is it over?” She asked, praying desperately that it was. His hooves returned and he leaned in close, so close that she could feel an impossible cold heat radiating from him. “For you; yes. For them... this is only the beginning.” Pinkie PiePinkie Pie had been expecting some grand vision, some nightmarish thing she could laugh away and show that mean old King of Lies a thing or two about giggling at some ghosties... but there was no vision approaching from the darkness that surrounded her. There was just a single grave marker and a light that shined on it so it could be read. PINKAMENA DIANE “PINKIE” PIE NEVER STOP LAUGHING “I... I don't understand.” “Don't you?” Belial appeared beside her, only visible by his glowing red eyes. “It should be obvious, even to a pony as spastic as you.” She rolled her eyes. “No, I thought this was supposed to be harder. Of course I'm gonna get old and die. Everypony does. That's life.” Belial's eyes moved back and forth as he shook his head. “You misunderstand the vision. This isn't your marker fifty or sixty years from now. This is what will mark your grave in a mere two year's time.” Pinkie felt cold. “What?” “You're dying, Pinkie Pie. Slowly, yes, but still you are dying all the same.” He leaned in close. “I know what you are, Pinkie, even if that alicorn's spell hid that knowledge even from you. And creatures such as yourself cannot live as long as normal ponies. I'm afraid your body is breaking down even now.” Pinkie looked back at the marker and ran her hoof across the stone. “Of course, I could be pulling all of this from my rear. But you tell me; is this truth, or is it a lie?” Pinkie closed her eyes, took a deep breath... and smiled. “It's the truth.” Belial found himself caught off guard. “How did... how did you know?” She shrugged. “Just a feelin.'” She grinned up at him. “Just like I know you're not all bad. Well, you are all bad, but even the worst ponies have a little good in them. I hear King Sombra was a killer piano player.” Hidden by the darkness, Belial's jaw dropped. “You just found out you're dying in less than two years and you're cracking jokes?” Pinkie laughed. “Did you not read my epitaph, silly?” Belial actually had to sit down. The vision faded but the light grew so that the two ponies could see each other clearly. Belial looked at Pinkie and smiled. Not an malicious smile, but a genuine smile. “I misjudged you, Pinkie. You remind me of a rather clever lawyer I once knew.” She sat next to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Tell you what; even if we win this contest, why don't you hang around Equestria. Once, uh, my party has ended, I'll come hang out with you and show you how to throw a real shin-dig.” “I'd like that.” Belial laughed. “But first I have to finish psychologically torturing your friends.” Pinkie nodded. “Do what you've gotta do. I know my friends. I know we'll win.” Something occurred to her. “Can you... do me one little favor?” Belial nodded. “Can you let me remember? There's something I need to do before I go and if you make me forget this, then I probably won't do it unless it's too late.” Noting the apprehension in his eyes, she held up a hoof. “And I Pinkie Promise not to tell a single soul. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Belial considered the request. “Very well.” Pinkie Pie shocked them both by hugging the King of Lies as tightly as she could. “You're the best Belial. Or the worst. Whichever works for you.” She let him go quickly. “Sorry, but your skin is really cold.” Belial laughed and stomped his hoof on the ground. ApplejackShe felt the familiar wood of the farmhouse's front porch beneath her hooves before the vision had even fully formed. Belial's voice in her ear made her shiver. “You country folk always put me on edge. Honest to a fault and all that. One of your kin folk in another world relieved me of a golden fiddle I was quite fond of. Took ages for me to get it back...” The image finally materialized and Applejack found herself on the front porch of the farm-house in which she'd been born. Before her were a pair of elderly mares in a set of slowly moving rocking chairs. Applejack did a double take when she realized the mares were herself and Rainbow Dash. “Lovely, isn't it?” Belial faded into existence beside her. “A picturesque scene at the end of a life filled with love.” He tried to force a disgusted sneer but found the muscles in his mouth unwilling to move. “How... charming.” Applejack stared at the serene picture formed by the hazy magic of the King of Lies. She and Rainbow Dash were rocking in tune with one another, hooves tightly clasped in the grasp of the other. Their eyes and faces told a tale as old as time; trials, tribulations, children, grandchildren, old friends, new friends... The smiles were satisfied at a life well-lived, a life lived to it's fullest. “You are the spitting image of your granny, by the way. I wonder, if this is true...” “...it's a lie.” Belial could not suppress a chuckle. “Believe it or not, that actually took longer than I anticipated, you being the Bearer of Honesty and all.” He looked over at her expecting to see the same grin of victory her lover had worn. Part of him was actually looking forward to it. She was crying. His hoof morphed into a claw once again and he caught one of her tears on one outstretched talon. He brought it to his lips and let his reptilian tongue taste it. Bitter. A tear of anger. “T'ain't fair.” She whispered. “I knew it was fake the second I saw it. Didn't even get the chance to hope that it was real.” “The truth hurts.” She rounded on him as the vision vanished into the blackness. “Well?!” She demanded. “What's gonna happen?” “Happen?” “Do I die? Does Dash? Does she leave me? Do I leave her? WHAT HAPPENS, DAMN YOU?!” Her green eyes blazed into his, their inner fire matching the quite literal flames inside his own head. He did not budge. “What does it matter? You won't recall any of this in the morning.” “So what's the harm in tellin' me?” Belial considered. “If you desire it so much, I shall give you what you want.” He held up the clawed hand. “But everything has a price.” “Price?” “If I tell you what you want to know, you won't remember it in the morning. But for the rest of your life … there will be the shadow of fear in your heart. A lurking despair, knowing but at the same time not knowing what is to come.” The claw shifted into a hoof once more. “And that terrible gift comes with a price.” “...I have to know. Name it. My soul?” Belial smirked. “Tempting, but your soul is beyond my reach, daughter of Jack... descendant of Eden.” “What?” He waved her off. “I'm going to be... going to be...” His lips struggled. “...nice... about this and only take a sinner's soul.” “Just one?” He nodded, his hoof changing into a claw once more. “Surely there's somepony who has wronged you? Wronged your family.” His eyes burned into hers. “Took something dear to you.” When it clicked in her head, Applejack didn't even pause to consider it. “Feather Duster.” Like lighting, Belial's claw shot to his right and ripped a hole in the darkness. As Applejack watched, a tiny figure fell into the outstretched claw. She imagined she heard a tiny scream as the claw closed into a hoof once again, pulling the figure into Belial himself. Belial closed his eyes satisfactorily as the rip in space and time closed. “The offering is accepted.” He smiled at her. “I was going to take him anyway, but souls always taste sweeter when they're given by others.” Applejack tried to feel remorse for what she had done. She remembered her mother's dead eyes and could not. “Well?” She raised an eyebrow. Belial shook his head and closed his eyes. “A deal is a deal.” Applejack watched in amazement as a black tentacle emerged from Belial's chest. It wavered in the air breifly before shooting straight towards her forehead. She prepared to run, but it reached her... As the knowledge of what was to come filled her mind, Applejack's eyes grew wider and wider. Her nose and ears began to run with blood. Her mane and tail turned stark white and stood on end. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. For a moment, Applejack went mad. The tentacle returned to Belial just as quickly as it had emerged. He stamped his hoof and in a flash Applejack was her normal self again. He shook his head sadly as she looked around in terror. “I did warn you...” She stared at him. “There was so much death.” She whispered. “So much suffering...” “Wrought by whom?” He asked. “A king. No... a queen? I'm not sure.” She looked at him. “I saw Dash. I saw her with somepony else.” Belial's eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Indeed? Do you remember who she leaves you for?” Applejack closed her eyes and tried to remember the severe face beneath the heavy crown. She could not. Only the name remained. “She's called... the Terra Queen.” She looked at him again... and tilted her hat in his direction. “Thank you.” “What in the world for?” “You told the truth. You gave me what I asked for.” Belial snorted. “Indeed. This world must be getting to me.” He raised his roof to end the vision. “One last question?” He nodded. “All that death and destruction... is there anything we can do to stop it?” Belial shook his head. “No. A storm is coming, Applejack, and nothing in all the worlds can prevent it.” Before she could say another word, his hoof came crashing down. RarityDarkness surrounded the frightened unicorn. She rubbed at the spot on her neck where the snake had bitten her but found no puncture wound, no mark. She was in her parlor. Sunlight filtered in from an open window accompanied by the smell of a fresh spring breeze. Birds sang their songs just beyond sight. All in all, it appeared to be a lovely morning. Rarity saw herself sitting on the couch, humming softly to a bundle held between her forelegs. She appeared to be only a few years older... and perfectly content with life. She took a step towards her shadow-self. "Is that...?" "You?" Belial materialized beside her. He made a conscious effort to avoid the sunlight pooling on the floor. "Of course it is." "If that's supposed to be me... then why in Equestria am I holding a foal?" She looked to the King of Lies incredulously. "Is my test to see whether or not I'm a foal-sitter in the future?" Belial chuckled. "Why is it so hard to believe the foal could be yours?" Rarity rolled her eyes. She'd been expecting something harder than this. "Because Spike and I cannot have children. Unicorns and dragons cannot breed. I know you're new to this world, darling, but it might have been a good idea to do a little research." She took in the scene again. “At least this dream is more pleasant than the last one you sent me...” "Ah!" Belial's red eyes widened. "But who said the foal was Spike's?" Rarity froze and took in the room as though seeing it for the first time. Her family pictures adorned the walls just as they always did. There was Sweetie Belle, Mother, Father... even various pictures of her friends. Everyone except... "Where are my pictures of Spike?" Belial tilted his head at the lullaby-singing vision before them. "Perhaps the memory of what happened to him is too difficult for you to bear. Or maybe it's shame; shame at the fact that you betrayed him for another." "I would never betray Spike!" she snapped. "Indeed. But then... he hasn't come back into your life yet, has he?" "What are you...?" She was cut off by the sound of the front door opening. She turned to see a stallion she'd never seen before... or had she? There was something vaguely familiar about him. "Who is that?" "The father of your foal, of course." "Who is he?" she demanded, her horn sparking dangerously, "I believe you've seen enough, my lady. The time has come." "Wait! I haven't seen enough. How can I possibly...?" "Look into your heart." The shadowy stallion grinned. "Your heart will tell you; is what you're seeing truth... or is it just a lie?" “This isn't fair! You gave me that damned nightmare and now I'm supposed to just process all this...” “Time is short, and if this contest does not end before the sun rises and you awaken, then I win. Now, is it truth or is it a lie?” “IT'S THE TRUTH.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. “I don't know how or why I know but I know it's the truth.” She advanced on him, her horn pointing dangerously at him. “Now tell me who he is. Tell me what happens to Spike!” “A university man.” Belial chuckled. “He gave you a gift once, and he will again.” “STOP TOYING WITH ME! YOU MADE ME KILL MY LITTLE GIRL, YOU MONSTER!” “Do you know the weakest part of a dragon's body?” Belial laughed at the absurdity of the seamstress ready to gore him and raised his hoof. “His heart.” With a primal scream of rage, Rarity charged the King of Lies. Belial brought his hoof down. Twilight SparkleThere was darkness, a void, around Twilight Sparkle when the snake's bite faded from her neck. Standing before her was Belial, his shape visible by the burning in his eyes. “I'd like to tell you a story.” He intoned before she could say anything. “About someone very much like you.” He closed his eyes as though in remembrance. “There was a young man I knew a million worlds ago. He brought a message of peace in a time of war. And, of course, I couldn't have that, could I? War's my bread and butter, which is why I'm considering hanging out in Equestria a while longer even if I lose. You've got a hell of a war on the way.” She savored the shocked look on her face. “I took the lad to a high mountain and offered him all the treasures and kingdoms of his world. All he had to do was stop. And do you know what he said?” “What?” “He told me no. And then he died. Horribly. And yet most people of that world still revere his teachings. But even more numerous are the people that perverted his message to become one of intolerance and war.” “Why are you telling me this?” “To prove to you that even in defeat, I won. That's what I do. I win, even when folks think I've lost. A lawyer is clever enough to outsmart me? I get his soul in the end. A country bumpkin bests me at a fiddling contest? Eventually, the sin of pride delivers the golden prize back to me... with the bumpkin's soul as an added bonus.” He allowed himself a slight chuckle before peering into Twilight's eyes. “Each of your friends has passed their tests.” Twilight smiled. “I knew they would.” “...so now we enter the temptation part of this little experiment.” “Huh?” A blinding light flooded the ambient abyss so that the two ponies were standing in a field of white. For the first time, Belial's emaciated yet strangely powerful form was revealed to the alicorn princess. “When I come to a world, all of it's knowledge becomes known to me. And I know that this world has long awaited your arrival... the Twilight of the Gods.” Twilight felt an icy dagger in her heart at the phrase that she had never heard before. “Why... why would you call me that?” “I'll do you one better; I'll give you the chance to never be called that.” He stamped a hoof and all of Equestria was spread beneath them. The illusion was so powerful that Twilight had to resist the urge to spread her wings to keep herself afloat. “Look upon this world, at it's beauty and it's majesty. It could all be yours. I will place you on the throne of Equestria for all time.” Twilight gaped at him. “Why would I want that?” “Because on the throne you would be able to avert the war to come.” Twilight screamed as the Equestria beneath her hooves burst into flames. “Stop! Stop doing this!” Belial waved a hoof and the vision disappeared. “I'm not the one who will set Equestria to burn. I would never do something so gaudy. Besides, you confounded ponies have touched something inside me this night. It's rare for me to find a world so pure that it affects even me.” “So stop this. Stop this game.” “But the game is over. All that remains is one final question.” Twilight looked deep into the eyes of the King of Lies and saw the burning, tormented souls of a hundred million worlds. “Ask it.” “Will you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, sit on the throne of Equestria and save it from the horrors to come...” “I...” She started. “...if the only thing standing in your way is the death of she who sits on the throne now?” Belial finished. Twilight's mouth snapped shut and she stared in horror at the cosmic being. “What?” “Will you end the life of Princess Celestia, take her place on the throne, and guide Equestria to a better tomorrow? It's a simple question.” “I... I don't...” “You were all ready to say yes just a moment ago. All you have to do to save the lives of millions of ponies is end the life of one.” Twilight's legs gave out and she slumped to the nonexistant floor. “You can't ask me that.” Belial shrugged. “I just did.” Twilight sighed, steeled herself, stood... and shook her head. “I can't.” Belial lowered his head. “...I'm impressed, Twilight Sparkle. You, and your friends, have impressed me tonight. But I must ask; why? Why condemn all the world in the name of one?” “Because there's always the chance that we can stop it.” One by one, hazy images of Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity appeared by her side. “Princess Celestia brought us together to protect Equestria.” The images solidified as the dream forms of the Bearers of Harmony stared down the King of Lies. Twilight's magic pulled the limp serpant from her neck and cast it at him where it landed about his thin shoulders. “We beat you, and I believe there's a chance we can beat whatever's coming, so long as we have each other.” Belial stroked the now sickly looking Sin's head and offered the ponies a smile. “I will not forget this lesson, Twilight Sparkle. This lesson about faith of all things.” He winked. “I will pay you back for this.” “Just leave.” The other girls voiced their agreement. “Just remember what I told you, Twilight. Even when I lose...” He stamped his hoof. The light of the room flooded their very beings. His last words echoed in their skulls just before all the night's events vanished. “...I win.” ...Waking Happily Ever AfterIn a library that was also a home, a princess awoke in a cold sweat, haunted by knowledge already long gone from her mind. In a quaint farm-house, a mother awoke, checked on her precious child, then returned to bed to snuggle her husband before he left for morning chores. In an apartment in the clouds, an athlete awoke from a nightmare she'd never had before; one in which she'd been falling. In the orchards where she'd passed out the night before, a farmer shook off her sleep and made for home... not noticing the slightest streak of white in her blonde mane. In a bedroom situated above a boutique, a seamstress wrenched off her sleeping mask to find her drake in bed next to her. So relieved was she that she was on him before he'd even awakened fully. And in an apartment over a bakery... ////////////////////////////////////////// ...Pinkie Pie rolled over in bed and nuzzled her special somepony. “Wake up, Caramel.” She whispered. Caramel groaned and tried to roll over. “Five more minutes, Pinkie...” She giggled and kissed his shoulder. “I could always wake you up my special way...” Caramel sat bolt upright. “As fun as that sounds, sugar, we'd be in bed another four hours and we both have work today.” He smiled down at her but frowned at the look of concentration on her face. “What's wrong?” She shook her head. “Nothing.” He kissed her. “You're a terrible liar.” She giggled. “But I'm really good at telling the truth.” Noting the confused look on his face, she waved him off. “Don't worry about it. But... there is something I want to ask you.” Caramel laid back down and looked at her curiously. “Life can do a lot of things, Caramel. It can go up or down or sideways or up and down really fast like a pogo stick and make a boingy noise like I do when we... and I got off track there.” Caramel's gut was shaking. “I dunno, that track seemed pretty funny.” “What I'm trying to say is that we never know what's coming our way. We need to live in the moment and live all our dreams as soon as we can, since we don't know how much time we have left.” He nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. What do you want to do then? Manehatten? Mountain climbing?” Inspiration struck and he gazed at her with wide eyes. “Saddle Arabia?” Pinkie Pie smiled her little smile and looked at him with her big blue eyes. “Let's get married.” Caramel froze. This was... sudden. But the look in her eyes told him it was deadly serious. Her smile faltered. “I knew it was a dumb idea...” He was away from her and already by the door waiting. “We should start the plans now. If we hurry, we can have the whole thing planned for next week.” He cocked his head at her. “Or is that too soon?” With a happy squeal, she bounded from the bed and tackled him to the floor, smothering him with kisses. They stood, checked each other over, and headed out the door to plan their nuptials, their tails happily wrapped around each other's. There was no doubt they were ready for this. That was most definitely the truth. Rainbow DashShe shook off the pain of the snake's bite and looked around in annoyance. “Well?” She demanded of the darkness. “I'm waiting.” The darkness took form and Belial appeared before her. “Such impertinence. You should know how unattractive a feature that is.” “I'm just ready to get this stupid game over with and you on your way out of here.” She offered a savage grin, ready for any challenge. “So... where's my vision?” Belial said nothing. He simply pointed his hoof, once again a claw, directly overhead. Dash followed the direction and gasped at what she saw. It was her... but she looked like she'd been through hell. Her fur was ripped off in huge chunks revealing deep bleeding cuts all over her body. Her eyes were swollen with angry purple bruises. Attached to her hooves were strange gauntlets, each with three folding blades. Her wings... “...Are gone, as you'll notice.” Belial seemed pleased as punch to see her earlier bravado reduced to nothing. “...but... but how?” Dash whispered, staring in disbelief at the ragged stumps where her wings were supposed to be. “That's not important, is it? Here you are, plummeting to your inevitable demise, nopony at all to catch you and save your vastly overrated life.” He smirked. “Or are you?” She tore her gaze away from the plummeting vision of herself and glared at him. “Well, Rainbow Dash? It it truth? Or is it lie?” “It's a l...” She froze. There was an uncertainty in her heart that she was unfamiliar with, the fear that a sudden wrong answer could doom all of Equestria. She looked up again at the still falling image of herself and looked closer. There was something here she wasn't seeing... The image of her future self was only a hundred feet above now. She forced herself to look down... and saw what she needed to see. “It's the truth.” Belial's eyes widened momentarily before resuming their normal steady burn. “How did you know?” Dash offered a devil-may-care smirk, spread her wings, and blasted into the air. She struck the hazy image of her own falling form and felt a supreme sense of satisfaction as it vanished into empty air. “Because I know there's somepony down there who'll be there to catch me no matter what.” Standing where Dash had been standing just moments before, now clearly visible without Dash standing in the same spot, was a hazy image of Applejack. She was tensed, ready and waiting, to catch the falling mare she loved. Belial, impressed despite himself, stamped his hoof to signal the end of the test. Perhaps these ponies would provide a challenge after all.
Once Upon a Nightmare...Author's Note This story went through, no kidding, TWELVE revisions. This chapter alone went through every perspective at least once. In the end, this was the only way for this chapter to play out. Once Upon a Nightmare... Once upon a time, six little ponies woke up to a nightmare. Before them stood a stallion who was not a stallion at all. His pitch black body shifted and congealed, his hooves became vicious talons and then became hooves again. He smiled at them with eyes that burned a flickering, fiery red. Hissing and coiling around his bald head was a violently green serpent with a pair of arms, it's scales a malevolent green that matched his master's on his scaled face. He claimed to have many names, but advised them to call him Belial. He told them that he was a being beyond their world, drawn there by the committing of a truly enormous sin. The purity of their world, of the souls of its denizens, made his mouth water. If he wished, he could simply sweep them away and devour them as was his want. But he was a fair cosmic being. He would give their heroes a chance to save them. He proposed a game. Each of them would receive a vision of the possible future. Some would be truth, some would be lies. If all six little ponies guessed correctly, then the souls of the sinners would be the only cuisine Belial would have before moving on to the next world. But if even one failed to see through their tests... then all Equestria would belong to the dark stallion. It went without saying, he added, that upon waking they would remember nothing of their possible futures. Were the terms acceptable? They said nothing. How could they refuse? He asked which would start the cycle. The newly short-maned and sheepish Bearer of Kindness raised a trembling hoof. In a flash, the grinning snake called Sin was about her shoulders. His fangs plunged into her neck... The game began.
FluttershyThe pain in her neck faded at the same time as the field of light around her did. She whimpered and tried to hide but could find nothing solid to hide behind. With no other option, she stuck out her chin and made herself ready to see whatever it was she was going to see. The light vanished... ...revealing Sweet Apple Acres on a glorious summer morning. She was standing in the south field being warmed by the sun over her head. She sniffed the air curiously and found it exactly as she had expected to; warm and full of the smell of apples. She smiled. Was this her vision? “Indeed, Fluttershy. You are looking at your test right now.” She shuddered as Belial faded into existence beside her. “I don't understand. This is my home. What am I supposed to be seeing here?” “Wait.” As though in response to his voice, a child's cry came from the fields to her left. Her mothering instincts kicked in as she recognized Scarlet's voice... but she relaxed again when she realized it was a cry of joy, not of fear. Scarlet Apple came bounding over the high grass, Winona's puppy Judd nipping at her hooves as they played. Fluttershy smiled at her daughter... but something was different. “She's... older.” Fluttershy whispered. “And so is Judd. What is this?” “As I said, a vision of your future.” Belial chuckled. “Or perhaps it's a lie. That's for you to decide, isn't it?” Fluttershy watched as her dark red daughter, who appeared to be seven or eight, continued to play with the dog. The pegasus found herself near tears as she saw how graceful the filly was. “She's growing beautifully.” “Yes.” Belial had to agree. “I'm sure her father thinks so too.” As if summoned by the King of Lies, Macintosh Apple's voice rang out from the barn. “Ya'll be careful now, Scarlet. Don't get all dirty now. Ma's gonna have dinner ready soon.” He emerged pulling a whole tree by his collar. It had been years since they'd met, and his muscles and the casual way he used his strength still made her swoon. “Big Bunny...” she cooed lovingly. Belial made a disgusted sound. Something caught Fluttershy's eye. Something about Macintosh's face. “What is...” “You can have a closer look, you know. This is only a vision, after all. They can't see or hear you.” Fluttershy spread her wings and floated over until she was next to the straining stallion. She gasped when she saw his face. “His eye...” She whispered. “What happened to his eye?” Macintosh's right eye was gone, replaced by a leather eye-patch. “Minor war wound.” Belial replied matter-of-factly as he reappeared by her side. “Eaten by Changelings. Or was it Diamond Dogs?” Fluttershy reached out a hoof towards her husband's face. A voice called from the distant farm-house. “Mac! Scarlet! Supper's ready!” That was not her voice. She spun and focused her eyes on the farm-house's open door. The mare she saw there made her heart grow cold. “Cheerilee?” She spun towards Belial. “Why is Cheerilee there?” Belial's smirk tasted delicious on his lips. “Isn't it obvious?” Fluttershy turned and watched as Scarlet, her baby girl, ran up the steps and hugged Ponyville Elementary's teacher as tight as she could. “I'm starvin,' Ma.” “...Ma?” Fluttershy slumped to the ground as Macintosh detached his harness and joined his wife and child on the porch. She felt her heart break as her Big Bunny kissed Cheerilee with the same gentle passion he kissed her with. “H... how?” “You lost the baby.” Fluttershy raised her head slowly and tried to talk, but found her tongue was not willing to move. “Yes, I know you're pregnant. And that's what happens; you lose the foal. Not only that, but the damage to your system is so great that you can never have children ever again.” The thought made Belial smile. “Macintosh always wanted a big family. He's told you that since day one. When his wife was unable to continue... he simply found another.” Fluttershy looked and saw three little foals crawling around the kissing couple's hooves. “As for you, you couldn't handle losing Macintosh like that. And you've always had a problem with rage, haven't you?” He waved his hoof before him and a shadowy image of Scarlet appeared. Now that she was up close, Flutershy could see the burns on the filly's face. She put her hooves to her mouth and gasped in horror. “You did this when you tried to burn the house down. Macintosh was able to save you both, but he had you commited lickety split.” He tapped his hoof and the image vanished. “It took years of therapy, but Scarlet eventually forgot all about you. After all... she has a new mommy. One who won't try to burn her alive.” Fluttershy collapsed entirely and began to weep. “Now now, dear. Save your tears. The game has only just begun after all. So tell me; is this a vision of things yet to be... or am I simply lying through my teeth?” Fluttershy reigned in her sobs, wiped the tears from her face, and looked at Belial defiantly. “Lie.” She whispered. “What was that?” “A lie.” “I'm sorry, I'm a trifle deaf in this ear...” “It's a LIE!” She almost screamed. In response, the vision surrounding them faded into nothingness, leaving them alone in the dark. Belial's hooves became vicious claws and he offered her a polite clap. “A mother always can tell if a child is lying. Well done.” “Is... is it over?” She asked, praying desperately that it was. His hooves returned and he leaned in close, so close that she could feel an impossible cold heat radiating from him. “For you; yes. For them... this is only the beginning.”
Pinkie PiePinkie Pie had been expecting some grand vision, some nightmarish thing she could laugh away and show that mean old King of Lies a thing or two about giggling at some ghosties... but there was no vision approaching from the darkness that surrounded her. There was just a single grave marker and a light that shined on it so it could be read. PINKAMENA DIANE “PINKIE” PIE NEVER STOP LAUGHING “I... I don't understand.” “Don't you?” Belial appeared beside her, only visible by his glowing red eyes. “It should be obvious, even to a pony as spastic as you.” She rolled her eyes. “No, I thought this was supposed to be harder. Of course I'm gonna get old and die. Everypony does. That's life.” Belial's eyes moved back and forth as he shook his head. “You misunderstand the vision. This isn't your marker fifty or sixty years from now. This is what will mark your grave in a mere two year's time.” Pinkie felt cold. “What?” “You're dying, Pinkie Pie. Slowly, yes, but still you are dying all the same.” He leaned in close. “I know what you are, Pinkie, even if that alicorn's spell hid that knowledge even from you. And creatures such as yourself cannot live as long as normal ponies. I'm afraid your body is breaking down even now.” Pinkie looked back at the marker and ran her hoof across the stone. “Of course, I could be pulling all of this from my rear. But you tell me; is this truth, or is it a lie?” Pinkie closed her eyes, took a deep breath... and smiled. “It's the truth.” Belial found himself caught off guard. “How did... how did you know?” She shrugged. “Just a feelin.'” She grinned up at him. “Just like I know you're not all bad. Well, you are all bad, but even the worst ponies have a little good in them. I hear King Sombra was a killer piano player.” Hidden by the darkness, Belial's jaw dropped. “You just found out you're dying in less than two years and you're cracking jokes?” Pinkie laughed. “Did you not read my epitaph, silly?” Belial actually had to sit down. The vision faded but the light grew so that the two ponies could see each other clearly. Belial looked at Pinkie and smiled. Not an malicious smile, but a genuine smile. “I misjudged you, Pinkie. You remind me of a rather clever lawyer I once knew.” She sat next to him and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Tell you what; even if we win this contest, why don't you hang around Equestria. Once, uh, my party has ended, I'll come hang out with you and show you how to throw a real shin-dig.” “I'd like that.” Belial laughed. “But first I have to finish psychologically torturing your friends.” Pinkie nodded. “Do what you've gotta do. I know my friends. I know we'll win.” Something occurred to her. “Can you... do me one little favor?” Belial nodded. “Can you let me remember? There's something I need to do before I go and if you make me forget this, then I probably won't do it unless it's too late.” Noting the apprehension in his eyes, she held up a hoof. “And I Pinkie Promise not to tell a single soul. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Belial considered the request. “Very well.” Pinkie Pie shocked them both by hugging the King of Lies as tightly as she could. “You're the best Belial. Or the worst. Whichever works for you.” She let him go quickly. “Sorry, but your skin is really cold.” Belial laughed and stomped his hoof on the ground.
ApplejackShe felt the familiar wood of the farmhouse's front porch beneath her hooves before the vision had even fully formed. Belial's voice in her ear made her shiver. “You country folk always put me on edge. Honest to a fault and all that. One of your kin folk in another world relieved me of a golden fiddle I was quite fond of. Took ages for me to get it back...” The image finally materialized and Applejack found herself on the front porch of the farm-house in which she'd been born. Before her were a pair of elderly mares in a set of slowly moving rocking chairs. Applejack did a double take when she realized the mares were herself and Rainbow Dash. “Lovely, isn't it?” Belial faded into existence beside her. “A picturesque scene at the end of a life filled with love.” He tried to force a disgusted sneer but found the muscles in his mouth unwilling to move. “How... charming.” Applejack stared at the serene picture formed by the hazy magic of the King of Lies. She and Rainbow Dash were rocking in tune with one another, hooves tightly clasped in the grasp of the other. Their eyes and faces told a tale as old as time; trials, tribulations, children, grandchildren, old friends, new friends... The smiles were satisfied at a life well-lived, a life lived to it's fullest. “You are the spitting image of your granny, by the way. I wonder, if this is true...” “...it's a lie.” Belial could not suppress a chuckle. “Believe it or not, that actually took longer than I anticipated, you being the Bearer of Honesty and all.” He looked over at her expecting to see the same grin of victory her lover had worn. Part of him was actually looking forward to it. She was crying. His hoof morphed into a claw once again and he caught one of her tears on one outstretched talon. He brought it to his lips and let his reptilian tongue taste it. Bitter. A tear of anger. “T'ain't fair.” She whispered. “I knew it was fake the second I saw it. Didn't even get the chance to hope that it was real.” “The truth hurts.” She rounded on him as the vision vanished into the blackness. “Well?!” She demanded. “What's gonna happen?” “Happen?” “Do I die? Does Dash? Does she leave me? Do I leave her? WHAT HAPPENS, DAMN YOU?!” Her green eyes blazed into his, their inner fire matching the quite literal flames inside his own head. He did not budge. “What does it matter? You won't recall any of this in the morning.” “So what's the harm in tellin' me?” Belial considered. “If you desire it so much, I shall give you what you want.” He held up the clawed hand. “But everything has a price.” “Price?” “If I tell you what you want to know, you won't remember it in the morning. But for the rest of your life … there will be the shadow of fear in your heart. A lurking despair, knowing but at the same time not knowing what is to come.” The claw shifted into a hoof once more. “And that terrible gift comes with a price.” “...I have to know. Name it. My soul?” Belial smirked. “Tempting, but your soul is beyond my reach, daughter of Jack... descendant of Eden.” “What?” He waved her off. “I'm going to be... going to be...” His lips struggled. “...nice... about this and only take a sinner's soul.” “Just one?” He nodded, his hoof changing into a claw once more. “Surely there's somepony who has wronged you? Wronged your family.” His eyes burned into hers. “Took something dear to you.” When it clicked in her head, Applejack didn't even pause to consider it. “Feather Duster.” Like lighting, Belial's claw shot to his right and ripped a hole in the darkness. As Applejack watched, a tiny figure fell into the outstretched claw. She imagined she heard a tiny scream as the claw closed into a hoof once again, pulling the figure into Belial himself. Belial closed his eyes satisfactorily as the rip in space and time closed. “The offering is accepted.” He smiled at her. “I was going to take him anyway, but souls always taste sweeter when they're given by others.” Applejack tried to feel remorse for what she had done. She remembered her mother's dead eyes and could not. “Well?” She raised an eyebrow. Belial shook his head and closed his eyes. “A deal is a deal.” Applejack watched in amazement as a black tentacle emerged from Belial's chest. It wavered in the air breifly before shooting straight towards her forehead. She prepared to run, but it reached her... As the knowledge of what was to come filled her mind, Applejack's eyes grew wider and wider. Her nose and ears began to run with blood. Her mane and tail turned stark white and stood on end. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. For a moment, Applejack went mad. The tentacle returned to Belial just as quickly as it had emerged. He stamped his hoof and in a flash Applejack was her normal self again. He shook his head sadly as she looked around in terror. “I did warn you...” She stared at him. “There was so much death.” She whispered. “So much suffering...” “Wrought by whom?” He asked. “A king. No... a queen? I'm not sure.” She looked at him. “I saw Dash. I saw her with somepony else.” Belial's eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Indeed? Do you remember who she leaves you for?” Applejack closed her eyes and tried to remember the severe face beneath the heavy crown. She could not. Only the name remained. “She's called... the Terra Queen.” She looked at him again... and tilted her hat in his direction. “Thank you.” “What in the world for?” “You told the truth. You gave me what I asked for.” Belial snorted. “Indeed. This world must be getting to me.” He raised his roof to end the vision. “One last question?” He nodded. “All that death and destruction... is there anything we can do to stop it?” Belial shook his head. “No. A storm is coming, Applejack, and nothing in all the worlds can prevent it.” Before she could say another word, his hoof came crashing down.
RarityDarkness surrounded the frightened unicorn. She rubbed at the spot on her neck where the snake had bitten her but found no puncture wound, no mark. She was in her parlor. Sunlight filtered in from an open window accompanied by the smell of a fresh spring breeze. Birds sang their songs just beyond sight. All in all, it appeared to be a lovely morning. Rarity saw herself sitting on the couch, humming softly to a bundle held between her forelegs. She appeared to be only a few years older... and perfectly content with life. She took a step towards her shadow-self. "Is that...?" "You?" Belial materialized beside her. He made a conscious effort to avoid the sunlight pooling on the floor. "Of course it is." "If that's supposed to be me... then why in Equestria am I holding a foal?" She looked to the King of Lies incredulously. "Is my test to see whether or not I'm a foal-sitter in the future?" Belial chuckled. "Why is it so hard to believe the foal could be yours?" Rarity rolled her eyes. She'd been expecting something harder than this. "Because Spike and I cannot have children. Unicorns and dragons cannot breed. I know you're new to this world, darling, but it might have been a good idea to do a little research." She took in the scene again. “At least this dream is more pleasant than the last one you sent me...” "Ah!" Belial's red eyes widened. "But who said the foal was Spike's?" Rarity froze and took in the room as though seeing it for the first time. Her family pictures adorned the walls just as they always did. There was Sweetie Belle, Mother, Father... even various pictures of her friends. Everyone except... "Where are my pictures of Spike?" Belial tilted his head at the lullaby-singing vision before them. "Perhaps the memory of what happened to him is too difficult for you to bear. Or maybe it's shame; shame at the fact that you betrayed him for another." "I would never betray Spike!" she snapped. "Indeed. But then... he hasn't come back into your life yet, has he?" "What are you...?" She was cut off by the sound of the front door opening. She turned to see a stallion she'd never seen before... or had she? There was something vaguely familiar about him. "Who is that?" "The father of your foal, of course." "Who is he?" she demanded, her horn sparking dangerously, "I believe you've seen enough, my lady. The time has come." "Wait! I haven't seen enough. How can I possibly...?" "Look into your heart." The shadowy stallion grinned. "Your heart will tell you; is what you're seeing truth... or is it just a lie?" “This isn't fair! You gave me that damned nightmare and now I'm supposed to just process all this...” “Time is short, and if this contest does not end before the sun rises and you awaken, then I win. Now, is it truth or is it a lie?” “IT'S THE TRUTH.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. “I don't know how or why I know but I know it's the truth.” She advanced on him, her horn pointing dangerously at him. “Now tell me who he is. Tell me what happens to Spike!” “A university man.” Belial chuckled. “He gave you a gift once, and he will again.” “STOP TOYING WITH ME! YOU MADE ME KILL MY LITTLE GIRL, YOU MONSTER!” “Do you know the weakest part of a dragon's body?” Belial laughed at the absurdity of the seamstress ready to gore him and raised his hoof. “His heart.” With a primal scream of rage, Rarity charged the King of Lies. Belial brought his hoof down.
Twilight SparkleThere was darkness, a void, around Twilight Sparkle when the snake's bite faded from her neck. Standing before her was Belial, his shape visible by the burning in his eyes. “I'd like to tell you a story.” He intoned before she could say anything. “About someone very much like you.” He closed his eyes as though in remembrance. “There was a young man I knew a million worlds ago. He brought a message of peace in a time of war. And, of course, I couldn't have that, could I? War's my bread and butter, which is why I'm considering hanging out in Equestria a while longer even if I lose. You've got a hell of a war on the way.” She savored the shocked look on her face. “I took the lad to a high mountain and offered him all the treasures and kingdoms of his world. All he had to do was stop. And do you know what he said?” “What?” “He told me no. And then he died. Horribly. And yet most people of that world still revere his teachings. But even more numerous are the people that perverted his message to become one of intolerance and war.” “Why are you telling me this?” “To prove to you that even in defeat, I won. That's what I do. I win, even when folks think I've lost. A lawyer is clever enough to outsmart me? I get his soul in the end. A country bumpkin bests me at a fiddling contest? Eventually, the sin of pride delivers the golden prize back to me... with the bumpkin's soul as an added bonus.” He allowed himself a slight chuckle before peering into Twilight's eyes. “Each of your friends has passed their tests.” Twilight smiled. “I knew they would.” “...so now we enter the temptation part of this little experiment.” “Huh?” A blinding light flooded the ambient abyss so that the two ponies were standing in a field of white. For the first time, Belial's emaciated yet strangely powerful form was revealed to the alicorn princess. “When I come to a world, all of it's knowledge becomes known to me. And I know that this world has long awaited your arrival... the Twilight of the Gods.” Twilight felt an icy dagger in her heart at the phrase that she had never heard before. “Why... why would you call me that?” “I'll do you one better; I'll give you the chance to never be called that.” He stamped a hoof and all of Equestria was spread beneath them. The illusion was so powerful that Twilight had to resist the urge to spread her wings to keep herself afloat. “Look upon this world, at it's beauty and it's majesty. It could all be yours. I will place you on the throne of Equestria for all time.” Twilight gaped at him. “Why would I want that?” “Because on the throne you would be able to avert the war to come.” Twilight screamed as the Equestria beneath her hooves burst into flames. “Stop! Stop doing this!” Belial waved a hoof and the vision disappeared. “I'm not the one who will set Equestria to burn. I would never do something so gaudy. Besides, you confounded ponies have touched something inside me this night. It's rare for me to find a world so pure that it affects even me.” “So stop this. Stop this game.” “But the game is over. All that remains is one final question.” Twilight looked deep into the eyes of the King of Lies and saw the burning, tormented souls of a hundred million worlds. “Ask it.” “Will you, Princess Twilight Sparkle, sit on the throne of Equestria and save it from the horrors to come...” “I...” She started. “...if the only thing standing in your way is the death of she who sits on the throne now?” Belial finished. Twilight's mouth snapped shut and she stared in horror at the cosmic being. “What?” “Will you end the life of Princess Celestia, take her place on the throne, and guide Equestria to a better tomorrow? It's a simple question.” “I... I don't...” “You were all ready to say yes just a moment ago. All you have to do to save the lives of millions of ponies is end the life of one.” Twilight's legs gave out and she slumped to the nonexistant floor. “You can't ask me that.” Belial shrugged. “I just did.” Twilight sighed, steeled herself, stood... and shook her head. “I can't.” Belial lowered his head. “...I'm impressed, Twilight Sparkle. You, and your friends, have impressed me tonight. But I must ask; why? Why condemn all the world in the name of one?” “Because there's always the chance that we can stop it.” One by one, hazy images of Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity appeared by her side. “Princess Celestia brought us together to protect Equestria.” The images solidified as the dream forms of the Bearers of Harmony stared down the King of Lies. Twilight's magic pulled the limp serpant from her neck and cast it at him where it landed about his thin shoulders. “We beat you, and I believe there's a chance we can beat whatever's coming, so long as we have each other.” Belial stroked the now sickly looking Sin's head and offered the ponies a smile. “I will not forget this lesson, Twilight Sparkle. This lesson about faith of all things.” He winked. “I will pay you back for this.” “Just leave.” The other girls voiced their agreement. “Just remember what I told you, Twilight. Even when I lose...” He stamped his hoof. The light of the room flooded their very beings. His last words echoed in their skulls just before all the night's events vanished. “...I win.”
...Waking Happily Ever AfterIn a library that was also a home, a princess awoke in a cold sweat, haunted by knowledge already long gone from her mind. In a quaint farm-house, a mother awoke, checked on her precious child, then returned to bed to snuggle her husband before he left for morning chores. In an apartment in the clouds, an athlete awoke from a nightmare she'd never had before; one in which she'd been falling. In the orchards where she'd passed out the night before, a farmer shook off her sleep and made for home... not noticing the slightest streak of white in her blonde mane. In a bedroom situated above a boutique, a seamstress wrenched off her sleeping mask to find her drake in bed next to her. So relieved was she that she was on him before he'd even awakened fully. And in an apartment over a bakery... ////////////////////////////////////////// ...Pinkie Pie rolled over in bed and nuzzled her special somepony. “Wake up, Caramel.” She whispered. Caramel groaned and tried to roll over. “Five more minutes, Pinkie...” She giggled and kissed his shoulder. “I could always wake you up my special way...” Caramel sat bolt upright. “As fun as that sounds, sugar, we'd be in bed another four hours and we both have work today.” He smiled down at her but frowned at the look of concentration on her face. “What's wrong?” She shook her head. “Nothing.” He kissed her. “You're a terrible liar.” She giggled. “But I'm really good at telling the truth.” Noting the confused look on his face, she waved him off. “Don't worry about it. But... there is something I want to ask you.” Caramel laid back down and looked at her curiously. “Life can do a lot of things, Caramel. It can go up or down or sideways or up and down really fast like a pogo stick and make a boingy noise like I do when we... and I got off track there.” Caramel's gut was shaking. “I dunno, that track seemed pretty funny.” “What I'm trying to say is that we never know what's coming our way. We need to live in the moment and live all our dreams as soon as we can, since we don't know how much time we have left.” He nodded. “Sounds like a good idea. What do you want to do then? Manehatten? Mountain climbing?” Inspiration struck and he gazed at her with wide eyes. “Saddle Arabia?” Pinkie Pie smiled her little smile and looked at him with her big blue eyes. “Let's get married.” Caramel froze. This was... sudden. But the look in her eyes told him it was deadly serious. Her smile faltered. “I knew it was a dumb idea...” He was away from her and already by the door waiting. “We should start the plans now. If we hurry, we can have the whole thing planned for next week.” He cocked his head at her. “Or is that too soon?” With a happy squeal, she bounded from the bed and tackled him to the floor, smothering him with kisses. They stood, checked each other over, and headed out the door to plan their nuptials, their tails happily wrapped around each other's. There was no doubt they were ready for this. That was most definitely the truth.
Rainbow DashShe shook off the pain of the snake's bite and looked around in annoyance. “Well?” She demanded of the darkness. “I'm waiting.” The darkness took form and Belial appeared before her. “Such impertinence. You should know how unattractive a feature that is.” “I'm just ready to get this stupid game over with and you on your way out of here.” She offered a savage grin, ready for any challenge. “So... where's my vision?” Belial said nothing. He simply pointed his hoof, once again a claw, directly overhead. Dash followed the direction and gasped at what she saw. It was her... but she looked like she'd been through hell. Her fur was ripped off in huge chunks revealing deep bleeding cuts all over her body. Her eyes were swollen with angry purple bruises. Attached to her hooves were strange gauntlets, each with three folding blades. Her wings... “...Are gone, as you'll notice.” Belial seemed pleased as punch to see her earlier bravado reduced to nothing. “...but... but how?” Dash whispered, staring in disbelief at the ragged stumps where her wings were supposed to be. “That's not important, is it? Here you are, plummeting to your inevitable demise, nopony at all to catch you and save your vastly overrated life.” He smirked. “Or are you?” She tore her gaze away from the plummeting vision of herself and glared at him. “Well, Rainbow Dash? It it truth? Or is it lie?” “It's a l...” She froze. There was an uncertainty in her heart that she was unfamiliar with, the fear that a sudden wrong answer could doom all of Equestria. She looked up again at the still falling image of herself and looked closer. There was something here she wasn't seeing... The image of her future self was only a hundred feet above now. She forced herself to look down... and saw what she needed to see. “It's the truth.” Belial's eyes widened momentarily before resuming their normal steady burn. “How did you know?” Dash offered a devil-may-care smirk, spread her wings, and blasted into the air. She struck the hazy image of her own falling form and felt a supreme sense of satisfaction as it vanished into empty air. “Because I know there's somepony down there who'll be there to catch me no matter what.” Standing where Dash had been standing just moments before, now clearly visible without Dash standing in the same spot, was a hazy image of Applejack. She was tensed, ready and waiting, to catch the falling mare she loved. Belial, impressed despite himself, stamped his hoof to signal the end of the test. Perhaps these ponies would provide a challenge after all.
