Chapter I: The Grand Scheme
“You…You ruined my wonderful dream” said Lightning Dust to herself with hateful spite.
Staring at the biggest poster in her room, a Wonderbolts poster, shedding one last tear, she continued on contemplating. A scheme to get back at a former friend for her own suffering.
“You boast that you’re the best flier in all of Equestria, well that will change soon, just like how you demoralized me and stripped me of all my confidence, dignity and happiness, the same will happen to you.” Said Lightning Dust with the slightest tears.
She vowed terrible revenge, and would stop at nothing to execute her plan. After being kicked out of the Wonderbolts academy for the incident, she finally, after a long time of solitude and misery, began to gather everything needed for the plan.
“You took something away from me Rainbow… now I’ll take something really precious to you…and I know exactly the way to do it ” snickered Dust malevolently.
“You might not lose something that is yours, but it will hurt you far more than if I did” Smiled Dust.
Lightning Dust set out to seek a friend she knows from long ago. A pony specialized in black magic and alchemy. Arriving at a village not far from Cloudsdale, Lightning Dust enters a shady, old black shed.
There she finds a light green unicorn in the middle of the room fixing up a potion brewed from a large black cauldron.
“Lightning Dust! What brings you here old friend” happily said Glinda.
“I need a special favor from you… can you still brew a potion that will increase anger moods?” questioned Dust.
“An aggression potion? What for?” asked Glinda.
“I have a great plan and it involves a set up… but I don't think her friends would punish her hard enough” sneered Dust.
“What do you have in mind Dust and who exactly?” questioned the lost pony.
“Remember when I left to the Wonderbolts academy.” said Dust.
“Well Rainbow Dash stole and snatched my only dream away from my hooves… and got kicked out because of her, told never to comeback by the Wonderbolts team leader Spitfire.” disappointingly said Dust.
“So I plan to hurt a friend she holds most dear and it will leave a significant scar on her…Pinkie Pie” said Dust.
"Plus i bought all the colors of manespray i can get my hooves on" added Dust
“I will use the manespray to cover my coat, mane, tail, buy me some magenta contacts, make me a waterproof cutie mark sticker and ill look exactly like Rainbow Dash.” confidently said Dust.
“Don’t you think you’re taking this a little too fa-““NO IM NOT!!!” screamed dust but then regretted it.
“Sorry Glinda… I didn't mean to scream at you, just I'm very up-set.” apologetically said Dust.
“It’s ok but think this through…Pinkie Pie did nothing to you and everybody practically likes her presence…and if you get caught in the act, who knows what punishment you’ll be facing” worriedly said Glinda.
“Don’t worry about it” said Dust.
“Don’t say i didn’t warn you Dust… very well, I will brew you an aggression potion… now keep in mind, this stuff is very powerfu-.”,
“I get it Glinda” interrupted Dust. “One drop of this stuff is enough to provoke even the most docile of ponies… this will intensify mood swings, anger episodes, and-“
“Just please Glinda, I'm really excited for this” interrupted Dust.
“Fine…Ill be right back” said Glinda.
“Oh boy, I can’t wait to see the tears that will fall out of her eyes when I'm done with it…that’ll teach ya not to mess with Lighting Dust!” snickered Dust.
5 minutes later,
“Here” giving a triangle shaped flask of blood red liquid to Lightning Dust and then putting it in a satchel she brought. “How do i apply this?” asked Lightning Dust.
“You add a drop into their food or beverage, it will take a couple of hours to kick in…but again be careful this stuff can make anypony dangerous.” explained Glinda.
“Just one drop… anymore and it can cause dangerous mood swings” said Glinda with serious demeanor.
“Thanks Glinda, you’re the best a pony could have.” said Dust.
“Aww… Thanks Lightning, no problem, are you absolutely sure your gonna do this? Is this really worth it?” worriedly said Glinda.
“I wanted to become a Wonderbolt my whole life since I was a little filly, you think after what she has caused, the humiliation, the pain and suffering I went through a long time, knowing I can never be a Wonderbolt ever again in my life, I will forgive her?” lightly scolded Dust.
“You have to understand my suffering Glinda; would you forgive someone that took the only thing that defined you? Huh?! I sure wouldn’t and she will regret ever doing that to me, I'm going to end this terrible misery once and for all, why did it have to be me!!” Dust broke in tears again
“I understand, and I wouldn't either, just make sure you to follow what your conscious says, if your conscious says its right, that’s you but be aware that not all decisions are rational” Sincerely said Glinda.
“Look after yourself Lightning, be careful what you do Lightning Dust, because that mistake might travel with you for the rest of your life.” said Glinda.
“I know Glinda, I got ya!” said Dust
“Make sure to heed my warnings Lightning! That is potion is not a toy, you can put your life in danger” worriedly said Glinda
“Sure thing, Glinda, thanks again, we’ll be seeing each other soon” said Dust with a smile leaving the shed.
“Ill befriend the Mane 6, and find out where they’re going today… that’s when ill put my plan in action” brainstormed Dust.
“ With this potion, ill have Rainbow Dash suffer at the hands of her own friends…I've waited for this for a very long agonizing 2 weeks,” Dust giving a wicked grin
“Where’s a good to start looking for them? Hmm… ah! Let’s try Sugarcube corner, I'm sure they’re having a party like usual.” snickered Dust.
“Time to ruin her life” said Dust with malicious demeanor.
Chapter II: Descent into Darkness
“Wow!!! These cupcakes are great Pinkie…probably the best recipe yet” said Rainbow Dash.
“Thanks Dashie, if you want more, feel free to grab some more!” exclaimed Pinkie.
“Twilight, ready to go to the new mall?!” asked Rarity with excitement.
“Hey Twilight, where are you girls going to today?” asked Dash.
“Well, we haven't visited Manehattan in a long while, so were gonna be on vacation for about 2-3 days plus Rarity is been begging to go because they built a brand new mall over there and you know how much she loves shopping…wanna come Rainbow?” asked Twilight.
“Unfortunately I can’t, got stuff to do over the weekend” said Dash with subtle disappointment.
“You too? That’s no fun, but that’s fine, a pony has to tend to his/her needs.” Exclaimed Pinkie Pie
“I’ll see you later girls” said Dash
Just as they are about to leave, Lightning Dust arrives.
“Oh hey guys!” Said Lightning Dust with a friendly, benevolent tone.
“Lightning Dust?” said Dash with confusion and suspicion.
Lightning Dust tried not look angry or upset and acted like she got over it.
“What brings you to Sugarcube corner?” asked Dash.
After Dash spoke, Lightning Dust felt like kicking Dash’s teeth in but sucked it up and responded with a friendly tone.
“I’m here to just to see how you girls are doing; after all, I was a jerk to you guys.” Dust said faking a sad impression.
“Listen Lightning Dust, I’m greatly sorry you got kicked out of the academy, but I had to save my friends… When you made that tornado I thought I would lose my friends…I didn’t expect Spitfire to be that harsh to you.” sincerely said Dash.
Dash then walked forward and unexpectedly hugged Lightning Dust. At that moment, the anger inside Dust’s mind began to increase exponentially each second.
In her thoughts, she just wanted to just beat up Rainbow Dash until she was covered in bruises and blood, but to proceed with the grand scheme, she obliged, she returned the hug, confirming a makeshift friendship with the pegasus.
“I knew you’d understand Lightning” smiled Dash.
“Hey Lightning Dust, wanna come with us to Manehattan, since Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy have to stay to do some things?” asked Twilight.
At that moment, Dust simply smiled, knowing everything is going according to plan.
“Gladly!!!” exclaimed Lightning Dust.
“See ya Rainbow Dash” said Dust.
“Enjoy your vacation with the girls” happily said Dash.
“Hey, Twi, why are you bringing all those books for?” questioned Applejack.
“I need to catch up on learning new spells” answered Twilight putting several books in a parcel she carrying.
“Alright girls lets go to Manehattan!” eagerly responded Twilight.
Sometime later.
“We have arrived girls” said Twilight.
“Let’s get a hotel…I’m kinda thirsty and I kinda don't wanna bring all this stuff with me to the mall” said Twilight.
They arrive in a hotel and get a room.
The room had a large round wooden table in the middle, a couch to the left and a couple of beds on the right. In the back was a large window showing the wide view of the city. Next to the window was the bathroom and finally a microwave was sitting on a table next to the couch.
“By the way, I should have asked this earlier, what’s in that plastic bag?” asked Twilight.
“I brought some water bottles, a pitcher, a small metal bowl and ingredients to make some cupcakes and fruit punch just in case we go camping around here!” enthusiastically said Pinkie Pie.
“You do realize we are in an urban city” jokingly said Twilight
“This calls for a party!!!” excitedly said Pinkie.
“I’ll make us some delicious fruit punch and some cupcakes” happily said Pinkie.
“But Pinkie…I don’t think they have ovens in here… and plus this is a hotel.” said Twilight
“No but they do have a microwave” Smiled Pinkie pointing at one just a few feet away.
“Well, good thing I brought the ingredients to make the fruit punch, I knew this would come in handy” said Pinkie reaching for her plastic bag she brought with her.
“Hey Lightning Dust…wanna help me make the fruit punch?” asked Pinkie.
“Sure thing!” said Dust.
Pinkie grabbed some lemons out of her bag along with some sugar and red powder to create the fruit punch.
She set the Lemons on the table, and reached for the tall glass pitcher in her bag.
Then, both Lightning and Pinkie sat at the round table and began making the beverage.
“Pass me the lemons” asked Pinkie before Dust handed them to her.
Lightning Dust then eyed at her potion in her bag, deciding when the best time to taint the drink with the liquid.
Pinkie pie added water after squeezing some lemon juice into the pitcher, poured the sugar then the powder.
“Almost done, just a little more stirring” added Pinkie.
That’s when Lightning found the opportunity and without thought, while Pinkie went to get more lemons, she pulled out the flask.
She then opened the bottle, pulling out the cork and gently tried to form a drop of the stuff on the lip of the flask, pouring a drop like Glinda instructed.
Pinkie was coming back with lemons not looking where she’s going, while talking with Twilight. Just as the drop was going to fall, Pinkie bumped Dust.
At that moment Dust lost a hold of the flask, trying to catch it again in midair, finally catching it but not before spilling half the bottle’s contents into the drink.
“Oh! I’m sorry for not looking where I was going” apologized Pinkie.
“Wait, what is that red triangle thingy in your hooves?” asked Pinkie.
Looking for answers in her head as quickly as possible she responded,
“Oh it’s uhhhh… uhhhh…cherry extract!”Nervously said Dust with a smile.
“Oooooo…that would be nice to add to the drink, yummy! Let me see” smiled Pinkie
That’s when Lightning Dust realized her plan is in jeopardy now, but simply obliged to avoid being found out.
“Hmm…how much did you spill in the drink?” asked Pinkie with some curiosity.
“H-half the bottle” said Dust being more nervous than ever.
Lightning Dust began to sweat, not knowing wether the potion itself tasted bitter or different. Hoping for the best she simply stared at Pinkie pie as she grabbed a spoon to taste the fruit punch.
“Let me have a taste of the fruit punch…hmm… needs more sugar but overall great!” enthusiastically said Pinkie.
Lightning Dust calmed down with a sliver of relief then ignored what just happened recently and proceeded with the plan as if nothing wrong has happened yet.
35 minutes later.
“There!” said Pinkie Pie after waiting for the microwave to “bake” the cupcakes.
“The cupcakes are done!” excitedly shouted Pinkie.
Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie sat down at the table in the middle of the room alongside Lightning Dust.
Pinkie Pie walked over the table with a plate of 10 cupcakes and some plastic cups.
“Wow Darling, this looks magnificent, I can’t wait to treat my palette to this wonderful desert” eagerly said Rarity.
“Let’s eat” eagerly Twilight.
Lightning Dust simply gave out a nervous chuckle and looked around.
The 4 ponies gorged on the cupcakes then drank a cup of the fruit punch.
“Delicious! May I add” said Rarity congratulating Pinkie and Lightning Dust for their efforts.
“That fruit punch was pretty darn good, more than the apple cider my family makes usually” added Applejack
“Why aren’t you eating?” asked Twilight
“Who me? Nah, I’m not that hungry…actually maybe the cupcakes but I’m not thirsty” confidently said Dust.
After eating the cupcake, Lightning Dust thought of initiating the next step to the plan.
Waiting patiently, unexpectedly, finding out the side effects of the potion. Twilight, Applejack and Rarity became drowsy and sleepy.
Giving out a loud yawn, “Rarity, let’s go to the mall in an hour” answered Twilight.
“I do agree, my body is asking for rest” added Rarity.
“Thanks for the cupcakes!” said Twilight.
Pinkie Pie seems to be somewhat immune to the effects of the potion, since she only drank half a cup.
All 3 but Pinkie Pie lay on the beds and began sleeping.
“Pinkie Pie, I’ll be back, I'm gonna fly around here looking for some things” Said Dust.
“Ok” simply answered Pinkie.
Lightning Dust left the hotel and flew as fast as her wings can take her to Cloudsdale.
Arriving at Cloudsdale faster than anticipated, she stopped by Glinda’s shed.
“Hey Glinda!” said Dust.
“Could you help me with applying the manespray?” asked Dust.
“Sure” said Glinda with a skeptical feeling
Lightning Dust took out cyan colored manespray along with other colors. Lightning Dust then took off her satchel and stood still. Glinda uses her magic carefully to spray Dust’s entire body minus the mane and tail.
“There! Your body is done…now the mane and tail” happily said Glinda.
After careful application using a picture of Rainbow Dash with Lightning Dust, Lightning Dust had as reference, Glinda coated Dust’s mane and tail with almost perfect precision.
“Now just the contacts” said Dust
Keeping her eyes open with magic, Glinda careful placed the contacts.
Then Dust looked herself in the mirror.
“Wow! I look just like her” excitedly Dust said
“Now what do I do about my voice?” Dust asked
“Well I can fix that, using a spell to manipulate your vocal cords” answered Glinda.
“There, you can speak now…this will last about a good 3 hours” said Glinda
Mimicking Rainbow Dash’s real voice Lightning Dust began being really excited and jumped at Glinda giving her a hug.
“You sure how Rainbow Dash acts and talks?” questioned Glinda
“I know her personality, I'm fine” answered Dust.
“Thanks Glinda, I couldn’t do this without you!” cheerfully said Dust.
“Oh wait, forgot something” said Dust before reaching into her bag
“I got the Waterproof cutie mark sticker and i got 2 just in case” said Dust
“How did you get this made and who made it?” questioned Glinda.
“I know somepony that can replicate cutie marks ” confidently said Dust.
“That is fascinating and terrifying at the same time” answered Glinda inspecting the sticker itself.
“Hold still” Glinda said as she was applying the cutie mark.
“Oh one more question, if I need to take all this manespray off in an emergency what should I do?” asked Dust.
“I have the solution, here” Glinda giving Lightning Dust a medium sized cylindrical vial of colorless oily liquid.
“What’s this?” questioned Dust
“This will take off the chemical coating that makes it waterproof and makes it now really easy to take off” explained Glinda.
“Wow, it’s been only 30 minutes! I gotta go, wish me good luck!” eagerly said Dust
She put on the Satchel and opened the door.
“See ya Glinda” said Dust, departing from Glinda's Shed.
As she was flying she notices her trail whenever she flies fast, is the same as before, she slows down to prevent from being identified by anypony. She then arrives in Manehattan.
To her surprise, she spots Pinkie pie just outside the hotel chilling on a bench.
That’s when she realized she forgot something important to her plan.
“Oh Crap, I forgot to change my hair!” desperately said Dust looking everywhere for a hiding place.
“There! Ill use that cloud as cover” she thought to herself.
She then undid her hair making it somewhat disheveled.
“Calm down, Lightning Dust…just act like Rainbow Dash” Dust thought to herself.
“I know I forgot my hair but act natural.” Thinking to herself a second time.
She took a deep breath and proceeded.
She landed on the ground and greeted Pinkie Pie.
“Oh Dashie! I missed you already!” excitedly said Pinkie giving Dust the tightest hug she has ever experienced.
“Ok, ok Pinkie…” said Dust
“Your hair looks pretty different Dashie.” said Pinkie raising an eyebrow.
“Well I flew through a storm and my hair got really wet” explained Dust smiling nervously.
“That’s weird; I heard the weatherponies say there wasn’t going to be any rain around Ponyville or Cloudsdale” said Pinkie
Lightning Dust gulped, failed to find an excuse.
“But I might me wrong” shrugged Pinkie.
“Ill be back” said Pinkie bouncing like usual.
With a sign of relief, she then looks at Pinkie.
Oblivious to Dust’s strange behavior, Pinkie Pie proceeded to enter inside the hotel to tell her friends, Dash has arrived.
Dust saw that Pinkie pie was going to attract the attention of the others so she quickly asked her a question to stall.
“Pinkie, want to go on a stroll around town?” asked Dust
“Sure! After all, I do like the fresh air outside…but don’t you want to walk with the others as well…I heard there’s a new mall in town. ” added Pinkie.
“Nah, I just want to walk with you…maybe they’re busy or asleep” said Dust
“Ah! Good point, they are asleep” added Pinkie
Meanwhile in the hotel…
“Ughh…my head hurts” groaned Applejack waking up.
“You too have a headache?” questioned Rarity rubbing her eyes and waking up.
“I think we all have headaches” added Twilight rubbing her head.
“Was it something in the cupcakes?” questioned Rarity
“Why would you think Pinkie Pie did anything wrong?” asked Applejack.
“Girls! Wait, we would never hurt each other intentionally.” answered Twilight.
“This doesn’t explain the pain my head is having right now” said Applejack.
“It’s probably too much bed rest.” Explained Twilight.
“Do you girls want to walk with me outside to the mall?” asked Rarity.
“Sure!” said both Twilight and Applejack
“We haven’t yet seen the inside of the brand new mall.” Added Applejack
“Not to mention that’s the reason we came here in the first place” said Twilight.
“By the way, where’s Pinkie?” asked Applejack
“Also where’s Lightning Dust?”Asked Twilight looking around the room puzzled.
Outside of the hotel…
Meanwhile Dust and Pinkie are walking down the sidewalk; Dust spots a nearby alley on the left.
“ Hey I see something!” Suddenly said Dust
“What do you see?” asked Pinkie.
“Come and I’ll show you” said Dust.
She led Pinkie into the alley and then grabbed Pinkie with both of her hooves against her shoulders against a nearby wall.
“What is this?” worriedly said Pinkie.
“Now… Scream to the top of your lungs” snickered Dust looking at Pinkie with foreboding eyes, pulling out a knife from her satchel.
Lightning Dust immediately thrusted the knife into Pinkie’s right kidney.
Back at the hotel Twilight, Applejack and Rarity can hear the resonance of screaming. They immediately ran out of the hotel, to see where the screaming was coming from and to their horror they guessed who was the one screaming.
“Pinkie Pie?!” Desperately asked Twilight
“C’mon girls! This way” lead Twilight to the general direction of the noise.
Pinkie Pie was Flailing at her attacker who seemed to be Rainbow Dash to her eyes. She took a stab to her right lung then her abdomen. Bleeding profusely, Pinkie was growing weaker as she took more stab wounds.
“Pinkie!!!” Cried Twilight finally finding Her but then froze in disbelief after turning her head towards the cyan pegasus.
“Did you find who was hurting Pink-“ Said Applejack then also was found dumbfounded by the sight she was seeing.
“Twilight! did you….Oh Dear!” Gasped Rarity covering her mouth with both her hooves.
Lightning Dust then turned Pinkie Around, held the knife firmly to her throat pushing her towards Dust’s body, stood on her hind legs with her upper body all covered with blood and stared back at Twilight.
“Don’t you move a muscle!” Snickered Dust looking at Twilight maliciously.
Twilight, Rarity and Applejack surrounded by shocked and worried pedestrians, Lightning Dust backs off a little bit. The crowd behind Twilight gets bigger with the commotion being broadcasted by passerby's.
Experiencing the effects of the potion working at their emotions, Twilight, Rarity and Applejack began breaking down in tears and at the same time become so angry they would kill anyone who provoked them..
Staring at their dying friend, Twilight finally spoke up.
“WHY!!!” said Twilight screamed furiously at what appeared to be Rainbow Dash.
Lightning Dust flinched a little, surprised at how the effects of the potion have affected their mood.
Thinking of what to say, she comes up with an even sinister response. Thinking to herself, “If i just say it, it will kill the fun, after all, Rainbow Dash is the one who is going to talk”.
Lightning Dust simply smiling, skewered Pinkie’s Windpipe, left the knife plunged in her throat, shoved her falling body towards Twilight and flew up quickly in the opposite direction gaining speed.
“Pinkie!!!” Screamed Twilight catching the falling bloody pony.
Applejack and Rarity felt like chasing Rainbow Dash but knew they weren't fast enough, so they instead helped Twilight.
As soon as Dust reached a corner she flew within the city itself to avoid detection in the sky. When she felt like she lost them, she went full throttle across the sky.
Gargling blood, as Pinkie struggled to breathe, looked at Twilight with eyes of fear, she was fading away fast, and slowly losing consciousness.
Twilight using her wings to bolt towards the nearest hospital she carried Pinkie as fast as she possibly could.
Arriving at the Hospital…
She decelerated so quickly she almost tripped and crashed into the hospital, then barged through the main doors.
“HELP ME!!!” Twilight Cried and screamed as loud as possible while holding Pinkie in her arms.
Immediately after an employee saw this he called the doctors. Then a group of emergency medics took Pinkie to the Intensive Care Unit. Running as fast as possible to the room, the medics reach the room in a short amount of time. Pinkie, half-conscious taking really shallow breaths, she slowly bleeds out.
They remove the knife, cover her wounds with linen and put her onto a gurney. They attach an Electrocardiogram Monitor to Pinkie and watch her pulse go flatline.
Twilight then arrives at the door still crying and fearful and stares at the medics trying to resuscitate Pinkie.
“The Defibrillator! Now!” yelled out one of the medics before being handed a defibrillator
“Ready…and Clear!” pressing the defibrillator against Pinkie’s chest and then discharging an electrical shock.
The pulse still remains flatline, they try again.
“Ready…Clear!” Discharging an electrical shock once more.
Having some doubt the medic refuses to give up and tries once more.
“C’mon! Ready…Clear!” Discharging an electrical shock, but to no avail the pulse still doesn't change.
Applejack and Rarity arrive at the hospital and was directed towards the room containing the medics and Pinkie Pie.
But to their worst fears, they see Twilight with her hooves covering her face, wailing a painful cry. Applejack and Rarity hearing the loud monotone beep of an ECG monitor, they enter and their eyes start to let out flows of tears again in desolate silence. Their hearts sank, their hind legs collapse, only using their front legs to keep them up straight, blank stared into the white tiled floor for a while. Tears dropping onto the floor, they look back at Twilight.
Twilight then picked herself up, still crying and approached both Applejack and Rarity. They embraced in a tight caring hug.
“Don’t Worry girls” said Twilight weeping.
“We will make Rainbow Dash pay for everything” said Twilight with great sorrow.
“We will make her suffer more than what Pinkie did” said Twilight before bursting into anger.
“ She will realize the mistake she has made” finally letting go of Applejack and Rarity.
They leave the hospital, leaving Pinkie’s corpse with the hospital, for the coroners to properly examine her once sent.
“ Beneath my Castle, she will be punished for her actions…We will avenge our loving friend Pinkie” commanded Twilight with unimaginable rancor.
Twilight, Rarity and Applejack then set out to Ponyville to plot their revenge.
It’s currently around midnight in Ponyville.
Unbeknownst to Rarity or Applejack, Twilight has a secret chamber beneath the castle originally designed to house them in a dire situation. Currently with the opportunity for vengeance, she’ll execute her punishment without any intervention interfering.
The effects of the aggression potion has now reached it’s peak.
“Here we come Rainbow Dash…you will bleed in anguish…suffer miserably…and die a slow and extremely painful death!” vindictively shouted Twilight.
