Trial

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.