It was a beautiful sunny day. The towns ponies were out and about, exchanging conversation. Young and old were going about their daily activities, and just all around enjoying the day for what it was.
All was right in the land of Equestria...until it wasn't.
An unwelcome commotion broke the utopian tranquility, as a group of ponies entered the scene, bringing with them a barred cage, inside which, was a yellow unicorn with a fiery red and yellow mane. But the horrifying part was that she had blood splatters on her coat.
Four magical chains extended from the four corners of the cage, reaching the unicorn in the middle and holding her down, the magic in the chains rendering the unicorn powerless.
Ponies gasped at the sight, recognizing who it was. They expected her to put up a fight, even though it would be pointless in her situation. That was just the kind of pony this unicorn was; a fighter who didn’t know when to give up.
But instead of struggling, she remained quiet inside the enclosure, not uttering a word.
Two ponies among the others looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
“What’s going on?”
Whatever it is, it’s causing quite a scene…lets go check it out!” The two pushed their way through the crowd, until finally reaching the front.
Upon seeing the group that was by the cage, Lily, one of the two ponies, thought she might pass out…It was her idols, those she had heard so much about…the bearers of the elements of harmony. Or five of them at least… Princess Twilight Sparkle did not seem to be anywhere.
One of the five…Rainbow Dash, stepped in front of the others, addressing the crowd.
“You all are probably wondering what is going on, so I’ll get right to it.” She gestured with a hoof to the mare in the cage.
“This Sunset Shimmer” She spoke her name with venom. “Killed Princess Twilight!!” There were shocked gasps all around. Inside the cage, Sunset winced at the accusation coming from someone she would otherwise call her friend in a different world. This Rainbow Dash may have had the same name, same personality, and same hair as her friend…But she really knew nothing about her, other than her past life.
One pony found the courage to speak up.
“P-Princess Twilight-”
“Is dead.” Rainbow finished, gesturing again to the cage.
“By HER hooves…” She looked at Sunset. “Or, whatever you call them in that other world.”
“I didn’t…” She tried saying quietly.
“Don’t even try and defend yourself! Her blood is on you…LITERALLY!” She looked out at the crowd.
“We took a sample of the blood splatters on her, and had them tested. It IS Princess Twilight’s blood.” There were more gasps.
“If you would just let me explain…”
“Explain what?? The process you took in killing her? How you left all other evidence behind in the other world when you sealed closed the portal?”
“I did not seal the portal, nor did I kill Twilight.” Sunset looked Dash straight in the eye, before looking out at the crowd.
“It was a trio of monsters I’m sure you have all heard of at least once in your lives; the creatures known as the sirens.” More gasps were heard.
“We…we were trying to stop them from taking over that world, and we failed. They….They killed Twilight as we were made to watch….They put the blood on me before throwing me back through the portal….They must have destroyed the base of the portal after doing so….I don’t know what became of that world after that…”
Everypony was silent after hearing this.
Applejack stepped forward next.
“I’m sorry Sunset, but without any proof whatsoever, we really have no choice but to take this as merely a story of defense on your part. The blood was found on you, and unless it can be proven otherwise that it wasn’t you, we have no choice but to lock you up.”
Applejack went off to the side with Dash, speaking quietly.
“This is a matter for Princess Celestia to deal with.”
“Why wait?? Like you said, it could very well be a mere story to save her flank!”
“And it may also very well be true Dash!” Applejack scolded.
“Well, what way is there to prove it either way? The portal’s broken.”
“Which is exactly why ah’m saying we keep her locked up until further notice. Celestia can decide her fate.”
Dash reluctantly agreed.
"Fine...But I don't buy her story."
"Well, that much was already clear..."
The not too distant past....
“You’re never gonna bring me down, you’re never gonna break this part of me. My friends are here to bring me round, not singing just for-PHHFF!!” But before she could finish the sentence, she was knocked flat to the ground by Adagio’s mer-pony form. The three creatures had reached them and went on the attack.
Aria’s form started attacking Twilight and the others, while Sonata crashed into Vinyl’s car, rendering her sound system useless.
Back on the stage, Adagio’s voice boomed out.
“Restrain them you fools!!” As the group was busy trying to fight off the merpony forms, Sunset saw the crowd of students moving towards them, as were the dazzlings, as they flew forward over the crowd of students.
“We gotta get out of here!” Sunset shouted, but it was no use. There was no escaping this.
Soon enough, the students had reached them. They forced the group to the ground, pinning their arms and legs down, Rainbow cursing all the while.
Adagio approached the struggling group, and stood over Sunset.
“So, I’m never going to bring you down am I?...” She said smugly. Sunset glared daggers at her.
“Not going to break you?..” A small evil smile formed slowly on her face.
“I know exactly what will break not just you…but your little friends too…” She slowly looked over at Twilight, whose eyes widened when Adagio moved towards her. Twilight frantically struggled against the students, but their hold was firm. Adagio took out a knife as she reached Twilight, Twilight whimpered.
“Normally, I would just liquify your brain with my voice. But I don’t want to kill all of my loyal subjects in the process, nor your friends…not yet at least.”
“Adagio, don’t do this…” Twilight whispered, truly feeling afraid.
“Don’t worry Princess, you won’t feel a thing…for long at least.” She put the knife to her throat.
But before Adagio could do anything else, Spike came charging out from behind a bush where he had been hiding, and bit down as hard as his canine jaws could on Adagio's leg. But being a small dog, it didn't do too much damage.
Adagio cried out in surprise and pain, glaring down at the dog.
"Stupid mutt!" She kicked out, causing Spike to lose his grip, sending him flying.
Adagio looked down at her leg. There were teeth marks and some blood, but nothing major.
As soon as Spike had recovered from the hard landing,he was off once again towards Adagio. But this time, he was grabbed by two students, who held him in a way that he couldn't bite them.
"Throw him in that trash bin over there." Adagio gestured to a large bin with a heavy lid.
"The students did as told, and closed the lid, taking care of the nuisance.
With the problem being taken care of, Adagio turned her attention back to Twilight.
“Stand Miss Shimmer up so she can have a good view…” Sunset felt herself being hoisted to her feet, and was brought in front of Twilight, tears fell from her eyes as she looked away.
“Oh no you don’t.” Adagio said darkly, as a student turned her head towards Twilight.
“If this doesn’t break you, you were never reformed in the first place.” Adagio smiled darkly.
Adagio turned her attention back to Twilight, putting the knife once again to her throat.
“Sunset Shimmer…” She addressed her without taking her eyes off Twilight.
“Let this remind you to NEVER attempt to mock me again!” With a quick motion across Twilight’s throat, it was all over. Screams and shouts
erupted from the others, but Sunset was too stunned to even react in any way.
Adagio looked back at Sunset with a malicious grin on her face.
“Say…I wonder what dear Celestia would do if she were to find her precious protégé’s blood on you…”
Sunset’s eyes widened.
“Adagio, you wouldn’t…”
Without warning, Adagio suddenly lunged at Sunset, grabbing her by the neck.
“Wouldn’t I Sunset?...” Sunset felt something trickling down her neck, and realized Adagio’s hand had blood on it.
Twilight’s blood…which was now on her. Sunset felt sick.
Adagio shoved Sunset down over Twilight’s body.
“Take it and put it on yourself.”
Sunset looked anywhere but at Twilight.
“A-Adagio, you can’t possibly-”
“The fashion freak’s next if you don’t get moving!” Adagio warned.
Aria stood over Rarity with a knife of her own in hand.
Sunset gulped, and willed herself to look back at Twilight’s body, her hand slowly descending down over the red puddle, hovering over it.
“Tick Tock Sunset…” Adagio warned impatiently, as Aria kneeled down over Rarity and put the knife firmly against her throat, causing Rarity to squeak in fear.
Sunset knew she couldn’t put this off any longer. Taking a deep breath, she looked away, and felt her finger touch the liquid.
She felt sick to her stomach, but made herself put her hand in it, before taking it back out and put her hand to her arm, wiping it off on there.
“Are you happy now?...”
“Are you kidding? That’s only beginning. Keep going.”
Sunset was appalled.
“I am not-” But before she could even finish her sentence, Rarity made a small yelp. Aria had made a small cut in her neck.
“Next one’s going clean across.” She warned.
Sunset, resigning herself, put her hand in the puddle again, before wiping it off onto her other arm. She repeated, and put it on her sides. She kept going for what felt like forever, feeling beyond sick.
Despite this though, Adagio rolled her eyes.
“Could you possibly go any slower? You’d think you were trying to handle fire or something” She took a small branch with some leaves on it, soaked it in the blood, and, with it dripping, shook it off over Sunset, splattering her everywhere
“There.” She threw the branch away.
"That should do it." She gestured to two students.
"Now let's get you home, shall we Sunset?" She chuckled.
They got the other five up, and they all began the walk back, and though everyone else was trying desperately to fight back, Sunset didn't even bother struggling against the two that held her.
She didn't have it in her right now. She wasn't in her right mind. She felt disgusted, feeling the dampness on her body from the blood.
They walked until they were back in front of the school, at the portal.
"W-Wait!" Sunset cried as they were about to throw her through.
"What now?" Adagio asked, sounding irritated.
"At least let me say goodbye to them..."
Adagio only scoffed.
"No."
With that, Sunset was pushed through the portal, leaving her friends and life behind.
