The desolate plain before me was not at all that pleasant. The few trees that were littered around the place probably once stood gracefully, but now, the sheer velocity of the wind and the unrelenting bitter cold of the area had made them wither away with fear. Lightning danced around playfully, jeering at the trees. One of the trees slowly fell into the hell-hole which was the earth bellow. Maggots immediately swarmed around, preparing for the feast. It was dead. Probably about as dead as me.
"Get up!"
A Pegasus yelled at me, but I couldn't. I was a failure. How could I have left my own life behind? I was just a little mixed up after... No. That was the past. I had to get up. Now. My once gleaming hooves had withered over the years like the trees, but my strength had only grown. And it was time to put my physical and mental strength into this moment. I pushed my hooves down. All that fame, all that love, all of my happy memories needed to drown in the filth I was digging into. I pushed up. I had done it. I had been a success. But no.. I had been too certain. I couldn't stay up. I had to fall. And we fall so...
"I said... GET UP! Who are you if you can't do this? Huh? A failure? Yesss... A failure... That is all you ever shall be. A little colt mourning his parents... TRENDERHOOF WAYNE!"
I was confused to hear her say my name. How did she know...
"Trenderhoof? Are you even listening?"
Rarity cocked her head at me, and I was immediately transported back into the present. The fellow ponies at the table gave me a bloodshot glance. I blushed, before improving my posture. To be fair, these board meetings were something to fall asleep at.
I brushed down my mane as Lyra Heartstrings, a unicorn from the government studying Antropology, continued her lecture on improving Equestria by gaining 'hands'. I honestly couldn't be bothered for such things. I had been back in Manehattan for 3 months now, and had already been given back my rightful place as head of Wayne enterprises. Though when I was a colt, I imagined being head of a company would be a lot less... Boring.
To be fair, my Father had always cherished having days off whilst his co-head of Wayne enterprises took hold. Sometimes, if my Father was really sick, the co-head would take me round the building on his back, and I would laugh as he rushed around, skidding in tight corridors and pushing through the ponies who worked there. What was his name again?
Oh, that was it: Cheese Sandwich.
"WAYNE!"
"AAARGHH!!"
I jostled up, to see I had been beginning to doze off. Lyra threw her pen down on the floor, and left in a huff, talking about 'doing it with somepony who actually cared'. Mares these days. Another mare, who I happened to actually care about, was giving me a harsh look. If looks could kill...
"TRENDERHOOF! You just lost one of the best graduates from Canterlot University because you have a sleeping problem!? What is wrong with you!?"
"Nah, I'll just get Bonbon to stop her on the way out to tell her I'm sorry and she can come for another appointment later. BONBON!"
The familiar cream coated Earth Pony rushed upstairs whilst balancing a book on her head.
"BONBON! STOP THAT HAND-LOVING UNICORN AND GET THAT BOOK OFF YOUR HEAD!"
Harsh, I know, but Bonbon can deal with it. She's known me all my life, and has know my parents for all of their lives too. She's REALLY old.
"I regret to inform you sir, but that Unicorn is my niece and she will not listen to me. And you told me to balance this book on my head so I may get smart."
I sighed deeply, before explaining to Bonbon I was joking and it didn't matter that Lyra was her niece. I love bossing Bonbon around. She nodded, and placed the book on the table and rushed back downstairs. I hadn't noticed that all the board members had left, apart from Rarity.
She let out a loud sigh.
"What?
I said, puzzled.
"Honestly... YOU ARE A SON OF A BITCH! Wait, even that doesn't come close to your behaviour. I may not be your childminder, but you're acting like Bonbon is! Grow up you idiot! Remember that recital we had to do every day when we went to school? 'I, a pupil of Red House private school, am to work hard, never give up, be kind and friendly and respect everypony at home and at school'? Oh wait, you've already broken all of those! Ever since... You know... You just cannot seem to stop being immature! You can still try to be that five year-old Colt crying his eyes out outside the theatre, but no, you can't. You have to stop focusing on the past! I doubt Sleek and Cross-Stitch would approve of this."
The door slammed shut as I frowned. As I said, Mares.
I walked up to Wayne manor with a angry, slightly depressed Bonbon. As the big tall gates that used to scare me as a child loomed over me, I asked Bonbon what was wrong. Was it something to do with her nice?
"No! It's just... Though I am your butler, I feel you take charge of me a lot. Your parents never used to do that-"
I immediately butted in.
"BUT I'M NOT MY PARENTS, I'M NOT SOME POSH PIECE OF SHIT NOT ABLE TO FEND FOR MYSELF!"
"But sir-"
"GO AWAY!"
In silence, we both walked up to the front door. I headed upstairs, and I saw a sad Bonbon through the corner of my eye. Maybe she was right. But I would wait until later to find out.
When I arrived inside the safety of my room, I quickly turned my head toward the stethoscope that lay on my bedside table but I could not stare for too long. It pained me to just think about them-which I did pretty much every time I thought. Why? Why me? It never did make any sense. Though I was condemned inside the prison which was my painful thoughts, I knew a way to get out. Sleep. I collapsed onto the bed, and levitated a small glass in which lay a red jewel in the shape of a strike of lightning. Soon, I was too tired to keep it in the air, so I lowered it back onto the table and fell asleep.
2 pairs of hooves-mine and another's-clacked across the wooden planked floor. All I knew about where I was going was that it was time for my final test. As I continued to walk, I saw a black-hooded figure (which wasn't all that strange because we were all wearing black) sitting majestically on it's throne. It, or she, as I now knew, pulled down its hood to reveal a yellow mare with a long,silky mane. I was awed by her beauty that I barely noticed when the Pegasus next to me bowed. Following, I too bowed, yet my longing for her face made me leave my eyes open. She bowed to her student, yet ignored me. But I was not suprised. Of corse, anypony should bow to the brave, loyal Rainbow Dash Ghul.
"Empress Fluttershy, our 'friend' has fulfilled the means of becoming a member of the Shadow Clan. Shall he now perform his final duty?"
The wise Empress nodded slowly, and all the other Shadow Clan members formed some sort of maze. They all wore the identical black suit and the grey balaclava. I had to find Rainbow Dash solely on the colour of the eyes. I stepped into the maze. I walked along the rows of ponies before stopping. A young filly with blue eyes and a white horn sticking out of her balaclava trembled under my wrath. I felt powerful. I sauntered on, before sensing movement in the endless abyss of grey and black. I was close. I rushed ahead, making special effort to barely make a sound as my hooves clopped against the floor. Something-something I had no idea what- made me stop. I looked at the pony on my right. Purple eyes? Check. Rainbow mane sticking out of the balaclava? Check. Wings? Check. I pulled my dagger out of my belt and struck it against the pony's chest.
"Well done, well done, you have found my look-alike. Now to deal with the real thing..."
The real Rainbow Dash hurdled herself at me, sword glistening with blood as it pierced my side. I yelled. Collapsing onto the floor, I felt as if I had lost my power. I couldn't control that filly. I was useless. Rainbow was on top of me. I realised I had failed. I couldn't be part of the clan. But the fight wasn't over yet. I jumped up, and struck my blade into Rainbow's hoof. She too yelled, and the real fight commenced. Blades clashed, but we were both weak. The amount of blood pouring from my side was more than a pint so far, and my breaths became more rapid. Rainbow was not losing much blood, but she limped as she walked, making me no more stronger than her. The fight lasted a good amount of time, yet I barely noticed when all the other ponies walked off. I knew it was time to find out the winner. I enveloped Rainbow in my magic and smashed her onto the cold, hard floor. Her head was bleeding now. I lashed out my sword to her throat. Yet I did not cut it. She, after all, was my friend. And I would not kill her. Empress Fluttershy stepped forward, and congratulated me in a emotional-less voice. I had won.
"As you have defeated Rainbow, I now give you the honour of slaying a criminal scum."
Fluttershy spread out her wings and grabbed a poor unicorn filly by the tail. She dragged her to the front of the room where I stood.
"This filly has snuck into the system. She does not belong here. Show her what true scum like her deserve."
The balaclava was removed, to reveal a purple unicorn with a white horn and the blue eyes he had seen earlier. And I needed to kill her.
Author's Note
I just have no idea what I'm doing.
I shivered as I levitated the blade. It's smooth side glistened in the small amount of light getting through the small window. It had fine craftstallionship, and the tip had clearly been used yet had been wiped fairly well. The scabbard it had originally been held in was decorated with fluorescent patterns, yet what I was about to do was nowhere near as pretty. After my battle, I could hardly stand, yet the pain was not my biggest problem. The many things revolving round my mind I just wanted... I needed to stop. I could do this. The beautiful Empress depended on me. Rainbow Dash, my mentor depended on me. I had to do this. I swung the blade towards the young, delicate filly then... I couldn't. No, I wouldn't. A feeling in my heart stopped me from attacking. Her big, blue, innocent eyes...
Suddenly, I was drawn out from my thoughts. The filly's cute face had been replaced by a smug grin. She bucked over a barrel of Gunpowder, saluted and then ran off. It was too late to run when the fire started.
Heat and flames surrounded me, pushing me into the corner. I could see the Empress flying off, along with all the other non-injured Pegasi. About 2 dozen still lay on the floor, and I knew this would be our downfall. But I could save them. It was my fault, after all. Well, if I ever got my hooves on that filly... Though that wasn't the problem at hoof. The others were. Lifting my scorched neck from the ground, I scanned all around the building, well, I tried to since some of the celing had come down in certain places. Spotting 5 earth ponies in the corner, I stumbled my way over to them, shattered glass slicing through my hooves. I was so close when I screamed with pain. A shard of glass had kept me off guard, and it had pierced my flank. My cutie mark was nothing but a endless stream of blood, oozing with the red liquid. I fell to the ground, breathing heavily, gasping for breath.
But I got up.
It was my only chance of survival.
Now limping, I drew closer to the earth ponies. They appeared to be conscious, considering their eyes were open, but then I noticed something...
They weren't breathing.
I broke into a limping gallop, putting all my strength into the fact I could try and revive the ponies. I soon arrived, their possibly un-seeing eyes staring into my soul. I attempted to levitate all of them, even though I'd probably fail. Surprisingly, they were very light, allowing me to save some of my energy. I turned around to see if any of the five were alive. I then realised my mistake. These weren't real ponies; these were dummies, the ponies with a hook on the end which you hung up then practiced your fighting skills on. I released the dummies, and collapsed to the boiling floor.
Failure.
Never had that word been so close to me. It spat at me, jeered at me, laughed at all my mistakes.
"SHUT UP!" I yelled out loud in a angry voice, which then echoed through the burning building.
The heat of the situation had really gotten to me. Rainbow had told me that failures were stupid creatures, and that they deserved to die. And she was a great pony.
Better than I ever was.
I woke up, sweat dripping down my face. The memory always ended there. I knew what happened next, yet I could never picture it after that moment. Something made me forget. There must be something I've forgotten...
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Aaaaaaand when I'm onto something, somepony's at the door, obviously! And obviously Bon-Bon's out as well, so I'll have to do all the dirty work. That mare does nothing. I took my time getting up and grabbing my glasses, because honestly, there's no reason to rush at all. In fact, I should just leave the cunt at the door until he fucks off.
"TRENDY, OPEN TH' DOOR NOW!"
I jumped, realising the accusing voice was talking to me, and began to trot a bit faster. On the way down, I began to wonder who it was. And who the fuck would call me Trendy? I opened the door, ready to shout at somepony (probably Rarity), until I heard a feminine voice that calmed me immediately. It was somewhat southern, yet it was graceful and probably was the mare every stallion had their eyes on when she walked in. But obviously, like a total dick, I was staring at the ceiling for some reason.
"Way to go, Trender. You always have to fuck up everything, don't you?"
"If yur' trying to flirt with me, Mr.Wayne, yur' doing a mighty bad job," She spoke, as I still stared at the very interesting ceiling. "And most stallion-folk look a gal in the eye when they talk to her."
I finally tilted my head down to see what she looked like, and I wasn't disappointed. She was a earth pony, who looked fairly strong yet was slender and hot at the same time. Her orange coat glimmered in the dim light of the afternoon, accompanied by her stunning blonde mane the was loose around her shoulders. She held her poise like a true lady, and her emerald eyes shimmered like sapphires... You know, because emeralds obviously look like sapphires now...
And I'm gawking at her. Hooray for me.
"Ah've never been one for accompanying ah' gentlestallion, but I gotta say, Aimin' yur' trap at me is pretty wrong."
Regaining my posture, I introduced myself to the mare, using my posh tone that I used during business affairs. I was still blushing, but the mare had kept her cool, showing no signs that I had been shit to her when we first met. I let her in, inviting her into the living room. She sat down on one of the lounge chairs, leaning back into it like she wanted it to swallow her up. I too sat down, opposite her, and we both stared at each other. It was silence for a few moments, before I spoke up.
"I don't mean to be rude, but may I ask who you are, and how you know me?"
The orange mare lowered her eyebrow, before bursting out laughing. I sat there and watched whilst she tried to stop her laughing fit. Then she asked me a very strange question.
"Do you have a Stetson anywhere?"
I looked blankly at her, before getting up and making my way to the closet on the far side of the room with tons of clothes in. Sure enough, towards the bottom, there was a white cowcolt hat. I levitated it over to her, before she took it off me and put it on her head.
"Now imagine the hat is brown." She stated, trying to hide her snickers.
I blinked once or twice, before remembering. I had seen this mare before, a long time ago in a Town called Ponyville. It was there where I first met Rarity, who used to have a childish crush on me, and I had a childish crush on her friend, who's name, if I recall correctly, was Applejames. That was more than five years ago, and to say the least, Applejames looked very different now. What is my problem with gawking?
"Oh.. *ahem* Applejames, isn't it?"
"Th' name's Applejack. A-P-P-L-E-J-A-C-K."
"I know how to spell." I said with a tone of annoyance, before regretting saying that when she got up and leant over me.
Her emerald eyes now were green embers, fizzling and cracking with fury and angst.
"Nopony disses mah' family name, NOPONY! And we Apples may notta' got ah' clevah' noggin', but we sure as 'ell know when somepony's ah' dick!"
Applejack was furious now, and I was terrified, even though I knew I could easily win her I a fight. She sat back down slowly, taking the moment to cool down.
"Now to why ah'm here."
I was glad we had finally arrived at that topic, considering the last one had got a bit heated. I reached for a pear in the fruit bowl next to me, before passing over a apple to AJ.
"Oh thanks, darlin'! Anyway, I'm here with a message from the mighty Rainbow Dash Al Ghul."
I choked on my pear. This wasn't going to end well.
Author's Note
Yaaaaaaaaaaay!
