Canterlot's Darkest Days

by lyrabetes3939

Rating: teen
Tags: Equestria Girls, Violence, Tragedy, Sunset Shimmer, Main 7 (EqG), Dazzlings, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Sad, Adagio Dazzle
Length: 3943

A dark approach to the Equestria Girls series.

NOTE: This story is not intended to be canon to the Equestria Girls series in any way.
Please read with discretion.
So far, all of the Equestria Girls movies and TV specials have involved a villain who uses
Equestrian magic to manipulate the students of Canterlot High. Although the final
battle scenes are quite intense, the Mane 7 always ultimately defeat the villain, and there
is a happy ending where the villain often gets redeemed. But what if things didn’t
happen that way? What if, even when the villain is defeated, irreparable damage is done
to the protagonists and to Canterlot itself? This story explores this alternate route, this
not-so-happy ending. While reading this, you will likely feel saddened, angered,
offended, disturbed, or possibly all four combined. Read ahead with discretion.

Based on Sodor: The Dark Times.

Published 2018-09-01 00:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2018-09-01 00:50:02 UTC

Episode I: The First Attack

Author's Note

I already had this story published on MLP Forums, so I decided to publish it here as well.

Episode I: The First Attack

It all started on the evening of August 27, about a week before Sunset Shimmer and her friends were due to start their senior year of high school. On this particular Tuesday evening, it was quite warm and sunny outside, despite being fairly late. So the Rainbooms got together in Twilight’s garage to practice. They were having a great time, until one of the strings on Applejack’s bass guitar snapped.

“Aw, shucks!” she exclaimed. “Stop the music!”

Fluttershy turned off the amp. “What happened?” she asked.

“One a’ the strings on mah guitar snapped, an’ ah left mah spares at home. Ah’ll just be headin’ home to fix this thing up. Be right back.” Applejack took her broken guitar, got into her jalopy and drove off toward Sweet Apple Acres.

About an hour later, Applejack had not yet returned. The remaining six girls were getting tired of waiting for her.

“Where the hell is Applejack?!” Rainbow Dash groaned. “She was supposed to be back here ages ago!”

“Well, maybe fixing her guitar took longer than she thought.” said Rarity.

“Have any of you considered just calling her?” Sunset asked. She pulled out her phone and speed-dialed Applejack. As soon as she did, she was immediately redirected to voicemail.

Okay, that’s weird, Sunset thought to herself. She spoke into her phone. “Hey, Applejack, where are you? It’s been a whole hour.” Sunset put her phone down and she and the other girls waited for a reply. But after another 15 minutes, there was no response.

“All right, something strange is going on.” said Sunset to her friends. “Why has Applejack disappeared all of a sudden?”

“C’mon, you know Applejack wouldn’t ditch us like that!” Pinkie Pie laughed. “She’s probably just pranking us!”

“If she is, then it’s not a very good prank.” said Twilight. She turned to Sunset. “We’d better go look for her. Come on!” Twilight and Sunset climbed into Sunset’s car and the two of them drove off.

In a short while, they could see Sweet Apple Acres in the distance. They were almost there when they saw something very strange in front of them. In the middle of the road was a pile of what looked like bright green ashes. Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith were standing next to it, tears in their eyes.

Sunset stopped the car and she and Twilight got out. “What is this?” Sunset asked, confused.

Apple Bloom tried to fight back her tears. “Just — just look!” the red-haired girl cried.

Sunset and Twilight looked and saw a terrible sight. Sitting atop of the pile of green ashes was Applejack’s geode. Twilight picked it up. “What’s this doing here?” she asked.

Although he was generally a man of few words, Big Mac couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Don’t ya see what’s happened?” he snapped, tears flowing from his eyes. “Applejack was just drivin’ along when some green fireball came outta nowhere ‘n’ hit her!” He pointed a finger at the ashes. “That’s all that’s left of her and her car! She’s — she’s dead! Ah saw her die! We all did!”

“Ah can’t believe she’s really gone.” Granny Smith said quietly. “Come on, let’s go inside ‘n’... let her rest in peace.” She, Big Mac and Apple Bloom turned and went back in the house.

Sunset and Twilight felt emotions take over their bodies. Their vision blurred and they blinked furiously. They hugged each other and cried, and all they could think about was the fact that Applejack was gone… forever.

Applejack’s funeral was held that Friday. The remaining six Rainbooms, along with nearly the entire Apple family, attended it. No amount of solace was had, for there were just too many unknowns regarding Applejack’s death. After the funeral, Sunset’s grief turned to extreme frustration as she asked herself the obvious question: Where had that green fireball come from? She sat down, opened her notebook and wrote a letter to Princess Twilight in Equestria.

Dear Princess Twilight,
It is with great sadness that I must tell you that my friend Applejack died Tuesday night. According to Big Mac, she was driving home when a green fireball came out of nowhere and hit her. All that remained of her and her car was a pile of green ashes. But her geode remained intact somehow. My friends and I are extremely sad and extremely confused by this. I just thought you should know.
Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer

As soon as she finished writing that letter, a brief reply appeared right below it. Sunset read it and was shocked.

I read your message. You need to come to Equestria immediately!
-Princess Twilight

Episode II: The Incineration Stone

Author's Note

FYI: Sky Scraper is my OC, whom I ship with Fluttershy. I'm hoping to write a romance story about them (not in the same universe as this story, obviously).

Episode II: The Incineration Stone

“First and foremost, I’m so sorry about Applejack.” said Princess Twilight as she and Sunset, who was now in her pony form, entered the Canterlot library.

“It’s all right, Twilight.” Sunset replied. “I just need to find out what killed her. I know her death wasn’t natural, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

“You’re correct in saying it wasn’t natural.” said Princess Twilight gravely. “That green fireball was definitely Equestrian magic. And I’m pretty sure I know where it came from.”

Princess Twilight led Sunset to a shelf near the back of the library. The purple alicorn scanned the shelves until she found the thick black book that she was looking for. The cover read, “The Equestrian Encyclopedia of Weapons and Tools of Destruction”.

“Okay, that title doesn’t sound good.” Sunset remarked.

Twilight flipped through the encyclopedia until she reached the letter I. On that page was an illustration of a round stone with a giant X scratched into it.

“The Incineration Stone.” Twilight explained. “Long ago, an evil and mentally disturbed unicorn used this stone to terrorize various communities in Western Equestria. The green fireballs that this stone emitted decimated entire towns and killed close to five hundred ponies. This unicorn was so powerful that it took five great sorcerers, led by Starswirl the Bearded, to defeat him in battle. The evil unicorn was ultimately killed, and Starswirl took the stone and hid it somewhere far away. But Starswirl never said where, and its fate remains unknown.”

Sunset gasped. “That stone must have ended up in my world!”

“Most likely, yes. That’s the only logical explanation.” Twilight replied.

“And someone found it and used it to kill Applejack!” Sunset exclaimed. “But who? I’d better get back to my world. This is big, really big!”

When Sunset returned to the human world, it was getting dark. The clock in front of the town hall declared that it was nearly ten o’ clock. Sunset figured she had better get some sleep, so she hurried home, changed into her pajamas, and crashed on her bed. She stayed awake for some time, pondering what Princess Twilight had told her, but eventually she drifted off and fell asleep.

Adagio Dazzle crouched in the bushes near Sweet Apple Acres, making sure she wasn’t seen. Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk crouched right beside her.

“Well, girls, we’re finally back in this piece of shit town.” she said to her sisters. “Now to get our revenge and assert our superiority once and for all!”

“But how?” Sonata asked, confused. “Our pendants were destroyed, like, a long time ago.”

Aria sighed. “Just shut the fuck up for once in your life, Sonata.”

From her pocket, Adagio pulled out a stone with a giant X scratched into it. “This.” she said. “This stone shoots out green fire that can destroy anyone and anything. With it, I’ll devastate this town, and we three will take over.”

Just then, Applejack came into view, driving home in her jalopy. Adagio sneered. “Well, well, well. It looks like we have our first victim. Goodbye, Applejack.” She held the stone, took aim, and fired.

“Oh God, not them!!!” Sunset jolted awake, very disturbed and angered by the dream she’d just had. She would get no more sleep that night, and the next day she told her friends about the Incineration Stone, and the dream.

“Oh, goodness!” Fluttershy remarked. “You don’t think the Dazzlings are back, do you?”

“It could just be a nightmare.” said Sunset thoughtfully. “On the other hand, my empathy power could be starting to manifest itself in my dreams as well.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Let’s find the Dazzlings or whoever has this thing and bring them to justice!”

“That’s easier said than done.” Sunset replied. “Literally anyone could be a suspect, not just those three.”

“Well then, I suppose we’ll just have to question everyone.” said Rarity.

And that’s just what they did. For the last week of summer until school started, the six girls questioned various people in the town. But everyone’s response was the same — they were sorry about what happened to Applejack, but had no clues to this mystery. The girls also kept an eye out for the Dazzlings, but never saw them. All this caused Sunset to lose sleep, and once the school year started, that impacted her grades as well. She stayed up later and later trying to catch up on missed assignments. Her friends helped her, but that didn’t reduce the amount of stress that was piling on Sunset.

One Thursday night, Sunset was still lying awake in bed at two in the morning. She was feeling restless, so she decided to go for a walk around town. She didn’t bother to change out of her pajamas, merely throwing on a jacket. The night air did manage to clear her head somewhat, and she made it all the way to the outskirts of Canterlot. She reached the edge of the forest and was just about to head home when she heard an all-too-familiar voice behind her. She turned to see three girls standing in the forest. Just from the shape of their hair, she knew who they were: Adagio, Aria and Sonata.

“It’s been nearly a month since Applejack’s, hmm… unfortunate death.” Adagio whispered slowly.

“What are you, gonna launch another attack already?” Aria growled.

“Not yet.” Adagio replied. “I haven’t decided when or how I’m going to take out the rest of those girls. I say we leave this town now, and return when the time is right.”

“Fine.” Aria sighed. She and Adagio turned and headed further into the forest. Sonata, who had remained silent the whole time, waited a moment before following her sisters.

Sunset was horrified at what she’d just heard. Her nightmare had to have been true! She hurried back home and crashed down on her bed. Once again, she didn’t fall asleep, but she was too terrified of what could happen to her and her friends to be tired. When she and her friends met up at school the following morning, she hurriedly told them what she had seen. Fluttershy promptly went into full panic mode and had to be calmed down by Rainbow Dash, and the other three were extremely shocked as well.

“Oh, shit!” Twilight cried. “What are we gonna do?”

“I don’t know.” said Sunset. “But we need to keep an eye out for them. If you see one of them, let me know and we’ll figure something out.”

Sunset’s five friends solemnly agreed.

Over the next couple of weeks, things gradually returned to normal in Canterlot, and before long, it was time for the Fall Formal. That night, the girls were getting ready at Rarity’s house. Rarity had made five gorgeous dresses for herself, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, and they were all very excited for the dance. Fluttershy was especially excited about going with her boyfriend, Sky Scraper. Sunset, however, had decided not to attend this year, as she was still feeling a bit put out.

“Darling, are you sure you don’t want to go?” asked Rarity. “I made a fabulous dress for you too.”

“That’s okay.” Sunset replied. “I just don’t feel like it.”

“Well then, I… guess we’ll be off.” said Twilight. “Bye, Sunset.” She and the other girls piled into a limousine parked outside, and they set off for the school.

Shortly after her friends left, Sunset was getting ready to go home when the doorbell suddenly started ringing furiously. Sunset opened it and saw Sonata Dusk looking terrified. “What the hell are YOU doing here!?!” Sunset cried out. “I bet you’re trying to kill me!!!”

“No, no, no!!!” Sonata shouted. “I’m trying to stop Adagio!”

“Wait, what?”

Sonata sighed. “Adagio ditched me and Aria. I don’t know where Aria’s gone off to, but Adagio’s about to blow up your school with this magic fire stone that she found! She’s on her way over there right now! I tried to talk her out of it, but she threatened to kill me if I got in her way again!”

“Holy shit, we have to get there before she does!” Sunset exclaimed. “Get into my car, we’ll stop her!” Sunset and Sonata climbed into Sunset’s car, and they sped off as fast as they possibly could.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie entered the school, followed by Fluttershy and Sky Scraper holding hands. Multiple other students were heading into the auditorium as well.

Adagio was approaching the school, the Incineration Stone in her right hand. “Just another minute or so, and my revenge will be completed!” she cackled to herself.

Sunset’s car screeched like a bat out of hell toward the school. She was going about 80 miles an hour, and Sonata was terrified that they would crash, but Sunset continued to accelerate.

As the last of the students filed into the auditorium, Adagio reached the school. She pointed the stone at the auditorium, and a green glow emerged from it. Twilight, Fluttershy and Sky Scraper were a safe distance away. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie weren’t so lucky.

Sunset could see the school in the distance when an entire part of it was turned into a massive green explosion that shook the entire town. Her face went pale and she lifted her foot off the gas. She slumped in the driver’s seat and burst into tears. “NO!!! GOD, NO!!!”

Episode III: The Final Fate of Adagio Dazzle

Author's Note

FYI: Sherbert Music-Guard is my friend's OC. His OC's name is also his username on Fimfiction and MLP Forums.

Episode III: The Final Fate of Adagio Dazzle

Sunset slowly got out of her car and walked toward her partially destroyed school. Half of the auditorium had been reduced to nothing but burning green ashes. Atop the ashes were the geodes belonging to Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Sky Scraper was trying to comfort Fluttershy, while Twilight was being consoled by her boyfriend, Sherbert Music-Guard. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were hugging each other and crying loudly. Several other students also appeared to be traumatized by what had just happened.

Sunset kneeled before what used to be the auditorium and let the tears flow down her cheeks. She felt nothing but extreme guilt, sadness and rage.

The next morning, Principal Celestia stood at a podium in front of the mass of green ashes. Portraits of the students who had perished in the explosion were hanging on the walls.

Principal Celestia began her speech. “Fifteen students were killed at the Fall Formal last night when the auditorium was blown up by an unknown attacker. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Flash Sentry, Scootaloo, Sweetie Drops, Roseluck, Octavia Melody, Bulk Biceps, Sandalwood, Snips, Snails, Norman, Pixel Pizzaz and Indigo Wreath will be remembered fondly by all of us. They were amazing students and people, and were truly a credit to our school. Let us have a minute’s silence in their honor.”

For the next minute, Sunset, Twilight, Fluttershy, Sky Scraper, Sherbert Music-Guard, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Maud Pie, Lyra Heartstrings, Vinyl Scratch, Photo Finish, Violet Blurr and the rest of the CHS students, along with many grieving families, remained solemnly silent. Then Vice Principal Luna stepped up to the podium.

“It has been brought to our attention by Sunset Shimmer that this heartless attack was most likely carried out by Adagio Dazzle, a former student here at Canterlot High.” said Luna. “As a result, school will be canceled today. We think it would be best for you all to stay home, given the circumstances.”

Fluttershy put a hand on Sunset’s shoulder. “Sunset, you did your best. There was nothing more that could have been asked of you.”

Sunset sighed. “I know, but I can’t help but feel somewhat guilty for this. I just can’t believe Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie are gone.”

“I know. I feel just as horrible as you do.” said Twilight. “I have a sinking feeling things can only get worse from now on.”

Canterlot, a normally happy town, suddenly seemed gray and dull. Lyra missed her best friend and girlfriend very badly, and remembered all the fun times they’d had together. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle promised themselves that they would never forget Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle also pined for her big sister. Photo Finish and Violet Blurr felt empty without Pixel Pizzaz alongside them. Vinyl grieved for her best friend Octavia. Even Maud Pie was overcome by her emotions when remembering Pinkie. Sonata was horrified and immensely saddened by the atrocity her sister had committed. But no one was more miserable than Sunset. First she had vowed to avenge Applejack. Now she was determined to avenge Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and the others who’d lost their lives.

“Well, Adagio, I hope you’re happy.” snapped Aria.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Adagio snickered. “I got my revenge. Canterlot High School has crumbled, and those Rainbooms are gone for good.”

Aria finally lost it. “First of all, you only got half of them!” she shouted. “The remaining three are looking for you right now. And second, you killed twelve innocents! I thought you wanted to get rid of the Rainbooms, not murder innocent people just for the fun of it! You know what, I’m done following you around. I’m calling the police, and they’re going to destroy that fucking stupid stone and put an end to you once and for all!”

Adagio grinned. She pulled the Incineration Stone out of her pocket, and pointed it straight at Aria.

Sunset slowly walked through the downtown area, guilt still hanging over her head. In the distance, she could see Fluttershy and Twilight standing together, looking shocked. Sunset immediately ran up. “What is it?!” she asked, worried for her friends.

“O — over there!” Fluttershy pointed to her right. Sunset looked and saw Sky and Sherbert kneeling before a small pile of green ash.

Sky walked back to the girls. “It’s that purple siren girl, Aria Blaze. She got incinerated.”

“Probably by Adagio to cover her tracks!” said Sunset. “Does anyone know where she went after killing Aria?”

“A think she went that wey.” said Sherbert, pointing north. “That’d be taeward Heichwey Nineteh-five.”

“Okay, then.” Sunset turned to Fluttershy and Twilight. “Are you girls up for going after her?”

“If it means avenging our friends, then yes!” said Twilight firmly. Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

Fluttershy’s and Twilight’s boyfriends hugged and kissed them goodbye and wished them luck. Then the three girls hurried back to Sunset’s house, got into her car, and raced off toward the highway.

The girls listened to music as they sped towards the highway. But as they merged onto Highway 95, the music stopped. Moments later came the voice of a news reporter. “This just in.” the reporter announced. “There has just been a bombing at Camp Everfree. The camp’s counselors, Timber Spruce and Gloriosa Daisy, were both killed, and the perpetrator of this attack, a teenage girl named Adagio Dazzle, is believed to now be approaching Manebridge. We will elaborate on this story when we have more details.”

“Holy shit, Manebridge is almost at the northern border!” cried Twilight. “We won’t get there before dusk!”

“We can if we take Highway 3.” Sunset replied with a smile.

“You’re right!” said Twilight. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

At the exit to Highway 3, Sunset swerved onto the northbound ramp. “Speaking of which, why would Adagio go after Camp Everfree of all places?” Fluttershy asked.

“I saw her in the forest that night.” said Sunset. “Maybe Timber or Gloriosa saw her and she wants to destroy any places that could connect her to the explosion at the school. In any event, we’re onto her and if we keep going to exit 47, we’ll be in Manebridge before dusk!”

As Sunset, Twilight and Fluttershy approached exit 47, the first exit for Manebridge, a loud explosion sounded out. “Shit!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “Did you girls feel that?”

“Yes.” said Sunset. “Adagio is close by.”

As Sunset was exiting the highway, Adagio finally stopped her car at a local diner. She went in, ordered a sandwich, and sat down in the back of the building. As she ate her dinner, she thought to herself, This is ridiculous. How could my plan have backfired so badly?

Adagio finished the sandwich and walked out of the diner. But just as she pulled the Incineration Stone out of her pocket and aimed it at the diner, Sunset, Twilight and Fluttershy arrived on the scene. Sunset ran into the diner. “Everyone get out! This place is about to be blown up!”

Like magic, everyone poured out of the diner. Adagio turned to face the three girls, pointing the stone at them. “Well, I guess it’s time to say goodbye to you three. Thank you very much for ruining my plans.”

Sunset ran forward. “Oh no, it isn’t! Just for you — and me!!!” Sunset tackled Adagio and slammed her through the door. The Incineration Stone went flying through the air.

“What?!? NO!!!” Adagio cried. The stone fired off one last time, and the entire diner was destroyed by a massive green explosion.

“SUNSET, NO!!!” Twilight and Fluttershy cried out. They both sagged to the ground and burst into tears, just as Sonata, Lyra and Wallflower Blush arrived.

Sonata was visibly very upset. “I’m so sorry.” she said. “I — I was too late.”

“Sunset’s a hero.” said Wallflower through tears.

“Yep.” Lyra agreed. “She killed the murderer herself.”

“I — I can’t believe it!” Twilight whimpered. “Now Fluttershy and I are the… only ones left.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” said Wallflower thoughtfully. “You’ve still got us. You Rainbooms have taught me so much about friendship, and helped me to open up.”

“Sunset believed me when no one else would.” said Sonata. “I tried warning others about Adagio, but they all ignored me because they assumed I was still on her side.”

“You avenged your best friends, and mine.” said Lyra. “We’ll help you through this. It’s the least we can do.”

Years later, a large portrait would stand in the main hallway of Canterlot High. It depicts Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack during their band’s, and the town’s, heyday. Below it, the plaque reads, “The Rainbooms — Six Brave, Strong and Kind Girls Who Discovered Friendship Few Ever Know”.

Right next to it stands another portrait. It is of Sunset Shimmer, and its plaque reads, “Sunset Shimmer, the Heroine of Canterlot”.