Nightmare Equestria

The door creaked as the pegasus slowly pushed it shut. She tip-toed through the darkness, trying her best to make no sound, not daring to move her wings for fear of the sound of rustling feathers.
Her eyes soon adjusted to the dim light, and she felt her heart skip as she saw the dirty heap of straw she called a bed. There was a small candle stub slightly to the side along with a single book.

At the sight of her safe haven, she began to pick up her hooves, certain that she would make it, but suddenly she heard a high pitched voice behind her.
"The funny thing, Dashie, is you thought you could get away with that, I mean, did you think I wouldn't notice?" This was followed by a joyful giggle.

Rainbow Dash froze. Her pupils dilated as she stood, one hoof raised, not three hoofsteps from her goal...but what did it matter? The voice was right, this was inevitable and all Dashes fault.
Her ears twitched as she heard the person behind her step forward and move next to her.

There was another pony next to her, a pegasus, holdig a candle. As the two moved, the flame illuminated Rainbows body with a soft glow, revealing many scars and cuts and bruises along the length of her torso.

Rainbows eyes followed the pony, till finally she could see the pink muzzle and blue eyes directly in front of her. Her hair was dark pink and straight, reaching past her shoulders and messy with tangles and knots. Her fur was matted with dried blood and she was scowling.

"So? Where is she?" The pink earth pony demanded.
"Pinkie...I...I can explain!" Dash croaked.
"Please do."
"I...I was going to...to...you know...but...I"
Rainbow stumbled over her words, trying desperatly to speak. But she could not for she was terrified of what she knew was about to happen.

"Where is she, Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie demanded. The blue pegasus remained silent, trembling with fear.
"Why is she not here? At least I presume she isn't, judging by the way you are acting."
There was a breif pause filled only with the sound of Dashes ragged beathing.
Her eyes stared forward and she still had one hoof raised, as she dared not move.
"Explain." Pinkie said simply. Dash stuttered mindlessly, falling over her words in a panicked attempt to explain herself.
Pinkie stpod for a moment, alowing the pegasus to babble, untill she grew tired of it.

She raised a bloodstained hoof, and struck Dash on her cheek, below the eye. This caused Rainbow to stagger back, and she absently touched the bruise, feeling the warm stickiness of blood on her cheek.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, you know what I have to do now."
"Please, Pinkie, I'm so sorry. You don't have to..."
"I'm sorry, Dashie." Pinkie sighed. "But I don't make the rules. Pinkimena does."

She slowly advanced on her cowering friend and raised her hoof again, placing it gently on Rainbows temple. Quick as a flash, she withdrew her hoof and slammed it back into place. The blow knocked out Dash instantly, and she fell to the floor, with Pinkie glaring down at her.

When Dash awoke, found she was strapped to a backless metal frame that felt cold against her skin.
The room was lit with a few old candle stubs, and the walls were decorated with eyeballs and painted skulls. Streamers made from intestines hung from the walls, and as Dash strained her eyes, she felt sure someone had written on the walls, although she couldn't make out the words.

There was also a vast assortment of knives, and Dashes heart pounded as she saw a shelf of boxes, labbled with things like
"Broken glass", "Fish hooks", "Screw Drivers" and, Dash shivered, "Salt."

Rainbow gulped as she saw a movement in the shadows. Pinkie stepped into the light, holding a scalpel between her teeth. She ignored her captive pegasus for a moment, putting the scalpel down on a plain wooden table that was just in front of Rainbow.

When she finally did speak it was in a calm, clear voice, much unlike the fast, high-pitched one she usually spoke with.

"Hello Rainbow. You're awake." The Pink pony said menacingly.
"No. Please. You don't have to do this Pinkie." Rainbow pleaded.
"On the contrary, I do."

Pinkie walked over to the shelves and boxes, trying to decide what to do. She nonchalantley picked up the boxes labelled; Broken glass, Salt and Fish hooks.
Piling them on her back qnd carrying them over to the table.

She gently placed them down and opened them up, allowing Rainbow Dash to get a good look at what was inside. The fish hooks caught the candlelight and her heart jumped.
"You rember your old friend Dawn Feather, don't you?" Pinkie asked. Rainbow was startled, and nearly forgot to answer, till her eyes darted to the salt and she was jolted to reality.
"Y-yes. You send us on raids together quite alot Pinkie Pie."
"Good." Said Pinkie Pie. "Let's begin.

The pink earth mare walked up to rainbow and gingerly brushed the pegasuses mane behind her ear. She trailed her hoof down her cheek and under her chin, pausing at the bruise she had made earlier, circling it.
Her hoof travelled down Dashes neck and down her back, causing Rainbow to whimper.
Pinkie stroked the pegasuses feathered wings, a glint in her eye. Rainbow obedientley unfolded them, unsure weather or not something else played a part in this action.

Pinkie brushed her cheek against the feathers, enjoying the soft, light touch that made her feel so warm. As Pinkie played with her wings, Rainbow squeezed her eyes shut, her ears flicking back and fourth, ready for any pain Pinkie would try to throw subject her to.

After a few minutes, Pinkie stood back, examining the pony in front of her.
It is my pegasus. She thought contentedly. My Rainbow Dash.
She leaned forward and grasped a feather, tearing it away from the wing. Rainbow flinched, but mainly due to shock.
Pinkie picked up her scalpel from the table, and pushed it into Rainbows shoulder. Rainbow gritted her teeth as she felt it being pulled down towards her hoof, then removed and the same done to her other arm. Pinkie cut lines all over her pegasuses body, sometimes barley scraping the skin, other times pushing so deep she nearly scraped bone.

Rainbow violentley shook her head from side to side, trying desperatley npt to cry out.
Pinkie sliced down near the top of Pinkies ear and then back up, slicing off a large chunk of the tip.
"Looks like a gitaur pick..." Pinkie mused. "I can use this later!" She dropped the severed peice of flesh and the bloody scalpel on the table and picked up one of the boxes.
Rainbow forced her eyes open and read the title. Her pupils constricted and her heart skipped.
"This might sting..." Pinkie giggled, and dipped her hoof in the salt.
She began rubbing the salt into the lines that were carved into Dashes skin, and for three seconds Dash felt nothing.
Then, suddenly, a torrent of pain cascaded apon her and she screamed, writhing in agony against the metal frame.

She began to scream.

Her skin felt as if it were on fire and she screamed untill her throat was hoarse, and tears ran down her face.

After a while, Pinkie grew bored. She picked up a wet sponge from the table and began to clean Dashes wounds.
"Now if I were to leave you, you would soon die, Dashie." She whispered to the pegasus, who was panting.
"But of all my slaves, you are my favorite. You are fun to play with, you follow my orders. I have known you for ages,we met long before her Majestys descent into madness, and you were my friend long before you were my slave."
She paused for breath, watching Rainbow Dash with curiosity, who, emotionless, stared straight forward, and she did not blink.

"You remember how it all began yes? With nightmare moon. Remember the gala? The parties? Your obsession with the Wonderbolts? Do you remember Scootaloo?"
A tear escaped Rainbows eye, and it fell to the ground with a soft plink.
"Yes, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They are all disgusting brats, all of them. The second greatest enemy of the Solar Empire. We need to capture them." Her voice became shrill as she became angrier, and she began to shout. "Fluttershy knows where they are. Fluttershy can tell us how to find them. Fluttershy can help us kill them like the Princess wants us too, so the Princess does not kill us." Pinkie stopped, panting for breath.
"But I understand why you can't do this. You love Scootaloo like she really was your younger sister. You love Fluttershy more so, in another way. You do not want any of them hurt. I was stupid to trust you with the task" She said softly.

Pinkie clapped her hooves together and a unicorn stepped forward, lighting up his horn. For a moment, Dash was blinded, and if she wasn't still tied in place, she would have sheilded her eyes.

Eventually her eyes ajusted to the bright light, and straight away wished they hadn't. In front of her, were two ponies strapped to metal tables that were slightly tilted back. The pair were just beginning to wake up, groggily shaking their heads. One was a grey unicorn that had messy brown hair and green eyes. The other was a white pegasus that had golden hair and a single orange streak running through it. Her eyes were blue.

"Dawn Feather?" Dash gasped.

"Rainbow Dash? What's going on?" Dawn asked, and her eyes widened as she looked around. She suddenly recognised what room she was in, and she stared at the pink pony in front of her in horror, her mouth open, trying to speak but completely unable to make a sound. The grey ponys reaction was much the same. The four ponies stared eachother down for a moment, the three that were tied up too shocked to speak, and Pinkie was simply enjoying the moment. Finally, Rainbow Dash spoke up.
"Pinkie, I don't understand what's going on. Why are these two here?"
Pinkie giggled hystericly.
"We're going to play a little game; one lives, one dies. It's up to you, Rainbow Dash, to decide which. So tell me RD, who dies? "
Dawn and Rainbow stared at eachother in horror, completely dumbfounded. Rainbow couldn't imagine killing Dawn Feather, who was her best friend.
The grey unicorn simply stared forward, not meeting the eyes of her captor. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath, exhaling slow;y.
"Sis?" She said.
Dawn looked at her sister worridly.
"Yes, Star Shine?" She asked hesitntley.
"I love you, ok?"
Dawn nodded.
"I love you too."
Stars eyes snapped open.
"Rainbow Dash. Pick me" She demanded. "It makes sense, right. I'm not as much your friend as Dawn is. I'm not half as good a slave as either of you two are, so I'm bound to die sooner anyway. Pick me. Kill me."
Rainbow looked at Star Shine, horrified. Her throat went dry, and she tried to argue, but once again her words failed her, and she was unable to speak. She looked from pony to pony completley at loss of what to say or do, because as much as she hated to admit any of it, Star was right. Before she even had a chance to reply, however, Dawn had already stepped in.
"Star…no. No, I won't let you!" She cried, struggling against her restraints.
Star Shine reacted calmly, looking her sister in the eye and adressing her calmly but firmly.
"You know, I promised Mum and Dad something when we were taken from them. They begged me, "Keep little Dawn safe". I promised them I would do everything within my power to keep you alive, and to keep the two of us together. What sort of daughter would I be if I broke that promise? What sort of sister would I be if I let you die? You're not a filly anymore. You don't need me. But I love you. Never forget that Dawn."
Dawn smiled and shook her head.
"I'll always need you" She whispered, tears streaming from her eyes.

Pinkie began to laugh hysterically, rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter, tears of joy staining the floor. The captive ponies looked on in confusion, glancing at eachother uncertainly. Pinkie eventually calmed down. Shakily she stood up and wiped her eyes, still chuckling softly to herself. She grinned at Star Shine and her sister.
"Oh, that was just wonderful. So…heartwarming. So…beautiful. So… hilarious." She giggled again then turned to Rainbow Dash, her gaze stern and cold.
"So have we come to a decision."
Rainbow nodded.
"Do I even have to ask?"
"No" Rainbow whispered.
"Who am I killing Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie insisted. Dawn and Star both looked at Rainbow, each hoping their sister would be spared.
Rainbow Dash sighed, and looked at Star.
"I'm sorry." She rasped, a lump forming in her throat. The grey unicorn smiled, tears in her eyes, and she looked at her sister, neither of them saying a word.
"Pinkie Pie. I choose to save Dawn Feather. Kill Star Shine." Rainbow choked, not beliveing she was the one saying those words. Both she and her saved friend hung their heads, allowing their last few tears to roll down their cheeks.
"So be it." Murmered Pinkie Pie.

She grinned again, placing a hoof on her forehead, thinking hard. She didn't think the traditional method would be quite spectacular enough for her very-best-friends-best-friends-sister. (She giggled a little thinking that.) Pinkie glared at Star Shine, pondering. Then, an idea struck her.
"Arpeggio" She barked.
The unicorn from earlier perked up his ears, and looked at the pink pony, shaking slightly.
"Y-yes, m'am."
"Teleport us to the arena."
Rainbow Dash and Dawn gasped, then looked at each other in horror. Star looked a little confused, but Rainbow spoke before she could ask anything.
"You said Princess Celestia hadn't permitted you to use that yet.' She exclaimed.
Pinkie laughed again.
"She went back on that order last week. We can now use it however we like. Arpeggio?"
The unicorn followed his mistress' orders without further hesitation.

Rainbow and Dawn found themselves in a large, round, underground room. It had a broad, domed ceiling and a large empty space in the middle. The edges were all seats. There was a hallway over to one side that was dark, and blocked off by a rusty iron gate. This was mirrored on the other side. Rainbow dared not think what was through those long empty hallways. The whole thing looked exactly like the roman colleseum, except made of dirt. Dash and Dawn were then both teleported to the seats where the royalty would have sat, Rainbow in the left seat, Dawn in the middle and they found Pinkie on Dawns right. They also discovered they were tied and gagged, unable to speak properly or even move.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of screaming, accompanied with a loud snap. Howls of pain were echoing from one of the hallways, and Dawn gasped, murmering something to her friend. Rainbow didn't hear her properly, but she didn't need to because she knew. Those screams belonged to Star Shine.
The screaming stopped abruptly, and the grinding of gears could be heard as the iron gate rose. Star stumbled out of the hallway, falling to her feet almost immediately as the gate slammed shut behind her.
She was bruised and bloody. Her horn had been snapped off, and she was limping on one of her legs. Blood matted her coat in numerous places and in some places her beautiful coat had been torn away from the skin completely, revealing pink patches of skin. She was clearly dazed, and one eye was puffy and swollen, beginning to blacken.
The gates at the far end of the arena began to open, and Star backed against the wall. Rainbow gasped as she saw why.

Vicious, snarling tigers began to pad out of the gates, saliva dripping from their open jaws. They wern't just angry, they were hungry. They licked their lips as they closed in on the cowering pony, and Dawn began to sob, terrified for her sister, who didn't stand a chance. By now the tigers had cornered Star against the wall, and sensing she had nowhere to run, the unicorn prepared to fight. One of the smaller tigers leaped at Star Shine, who raised her front hooves and brought them crashing down on his snout. He swiped with his paws, catching her on the side, tearing across her flank. Star screamed, and bucked with her hind quarters, knocking the tiger back. But another, larger tiger replaced him, and swiped at her again, catching her eye. Now nearly completley blinded, Star could not defend herself properly. She panicked and tried to buck the tiger, who saw the attack coming and caught the ponies left leg in her jaw, biting hard. Star screamed and fell to the ground, loosing blood fast. She tried to spring up and balance herself, but felt the tiger grasping her front left leg in its jaws.
"No!!" Star Shine screamed, jerking her leg free, but this caused the tigers teeth to rip along her leg, and she howled in pain. Now unable to stand, she key on the floor gasping, The tigers began to pick her up and play with her, tossing her from paw to paw. Star grew sick and dizzy from loss of blood, and she began to loose consciousness. Finally, one of the tigers caught her in his mouth and bit down with a sickening crunch.

Rainbow Dash and Dawn Feather both sobbed as they looked in horror at the scene as it unfolded beneath them, silently screaming. When the tiger bit down for the last time, Dawn stiffened. There was a pool of tears on the floor below each of them, and Rainbow put her wing around her friend comfortingly. They sat in silence as the tigers were rounded up by some unicorns and taken back to their cages. Pinkie watched them, smiling triumphantly.
"See." She giggled. "Wasn't that fun! Now, Arpeggio. Take them back to their room. I've got some baking to do."