Pain and Payment

by Cr@zyJ3ll0

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Sad, Adventure
Length: 1103

Twilight finds a spell that views another world. What is found will completely shock her.

Twilight found an old book left on a bench which nopony seems to claim. She finds a new spell in it after just flipping through it. A spell that lets ponies view another world. She and her friends are transported to an entirely new world, one that is unforgiving and hopeless. Will the Mane Six be able to fix this shattered land? Or is it broken beyond repair?

(Original vector by SnowflamePony on deviantart))

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-21 03:08:14 UTC

Prologue

Twilight Sparkle was reading an old, weathered book she had found lying on a bench. She had asked whether anypony had left it earlier that day, but no one seemed to recognize it. Taking it back to the library was the only option until somepony claimed it. She flipped through it, glancing at the pages. What she really wanted to do was finish her new astronomy book Spike had given her. The purple dragon was curled up in his bed, asleep. The lavender unicorn was half asleep when something caught her eye. Twilight flipped back a few pages and started reading the page, getting more and more excited.

“Spike!” She called, standing up and floating the book in front of her.

“What?” Spike mumbled, turning over onto his side.

“I found a new spell! One that lets ponies look into another world!” Twilight exclaimed, beaming.

“Great.” Spike yawned and went back to sleep.

“I’ll have to get everything and make sure I’m prepared for anything mishaps.” She said to herself, snatching up a paper and quill as she looked over what she need for the spell.

The next morning, Twilight ran around town and got everything that she needed to repeat the spell several times. She opened the door to the library and put down the bags. Spike had just finished organizing all the books and was dusting the shelves when he heard the door open.

“Hi Twilight!” he called, waving the hand with the duster. He nearly fell off the ladder, but he quickly regained his balance.

“I’ve got everything I need, and some extra supplies in case I mess up.” Twilight announced proudly.

“That’s great!” Spike commented, climbing down the ladder. Twilight spread out the ingredients on the table, looking at each eagerly. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy walked into the library.

“Twilight, darling, it seems you’ve cluttered up your table.” She remarked, using her magic to sort through the stuff on the table.

“Hey Twi, what’s up?” Rainbow Dash asked, flying over to the table. Rarity walked over to the table. Suddenly, a pink blur bounded into the room and nearly knocked over Spike.

“Hey guys! Whatcha doing Twi?!” Pinkie asked, bouncing around the table. “Are you making a cake? ‘Cause that’s not how you make a cake silly!”

“Ugh, Pinkie!” Twilight groaned, using her magic to pull the hyper pink pony away from the table.  “I’m preparing a spell. Please don’t knock anything over.”

“What kind of spell?” Rarity inquired, carefully putting down a jar.

“One that lets us look into another world.” Twilight explained, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes. She picked up the containers and started mixing them carefully. Soon, Twilight was finished, the mixture now a powdery substance. She slowly took the mixture to make a pentagram inside a rectangle on a large space of empty wall. It glowed a soft purple. Twilight floated the book over in front of her, opening to the page. Twilight began chanting.

“Mirror mirror, on the wall, stories you will tell us all. We are whole, and stick side by side, tell us the wonders that you hide.”

As she started the first words, a slow breeze started in the library. It circled around the group of friends, getting faster and faster.

“Twilight! There’s a tornado startin’ in here!” Applejack yelled, trying to warn the book worm. The wind howled, drowning out Applejack and everypony else that tried to warn Twilight. The lines grew brighter until it was blinding to just glance at it. The spaces were filled in sluggishly, as if being cautiously poured into a mold. The light bathed the wind blasted ponies in grey, illuminating the whole tree. Ponies walking around Ponyville stopped and stared at the library as it lit up at a slug’s pace. What’s going on? Ponies murmured to one another, the amazement of what was happening glued onto their faces. A few ponies stepped a little closer to the library, but hesitated, unsure. They didn’t want to find out if the light would be painful to the touch if they did go up and knock on the door. The herd of ponies milled a little closer, curious and frightened at the same time. The tree was glaring to look at. It was shaking as if it was in the middle of its own private earthquake. A horrible, echoing howling came from the tree, almost like it was shrieking in anguish. The ponies inside were trying to hold onto whatever heavy object their hooves could find. Spike had grabbed onto the bookcase he just cleaned. All of them, excluding Twilight, had been lifted off the floor by the extreme winds. Twilight was the only pony whose hooves stayed on the floor as she brandished her horn towards the light. She had no idea what was happening behind her, and the hurricane in the tree felt like a breeze from a window that somepony left open. She had closed her eyes tightly shut, feeling the magic course through her. Twilight could feel the sweat roll down her face. On the edges of her mind, she was aware of the pain from the casting of this spell. Her focus kept her from feeling it, but she knew it would hit her as soon as the spell ended. “Is it just me, or is the room getting blurry?” Rainbow Dash asked, her hooves locked onto the staircase. “What’s wrong with my eyesight?!” exclaimed Rarity, waving a hoof in front of her face. Her hoof was blurry as well. The room tilted upwards, simulating the tree being knocked over. Papers that flew around the room gave paper cuts when they got close to the victims. “Look you guys! I’m becoming a ghost! Isn’t that super duper awesome?!” Pinkie yelled, the only one smiling and not the least bit concerned. “Yer not the only one, Pinkie.” Applejack grumbled, watching herself and everypony else fade before her. The room melted away, and all seven were whisked away to another world.

One stallion finally got the courage to walk straight up to the library door and knock. He got no answer. He opened the door and was pushed over onto his back by the screaming winds that fled from the library. The curious group rushed over to him to make sure he was okay. The light drained from the tree as the winds died down. Papers were scattered all over the floor and broken jars sat on the ground. The excitement died down, and the ponies wandered away. Nopony knew where Twilight and her friends were all day.