Hi there friends. Let me tell you a little story. In the far distance, there is a place call the magical land of Equestria. And on that country live in harmony the gentle creatures called the ponies. Not all of them were the same. Some could fly. Some could use magic. But they all have something in common. The marks symbolizing their destinies. Cutie marks. Each ponies are born with a talent. Something that only them can do. And they were using their talents to make the world more beautiful. Some are good to make delicious apples. Some can do incredible things with magic. And some have a natural to bring happiness in the hearts of others. Yes. You could say that their talents were more like gifts. Gifts that the ponies were giving to their fellows and their community to tighten the harmony unified them.

However... one pony was special compared to rest of them. One pony was born with a very unique talent and a unique way to bring harmony. A very strange gift to give to others.

Pain.

6.6: Twilight Sparkle trial

Although it was undeniable that all ponies who were watching that diffusion had difficulties taking it, it was also undeniable that those who were taking it the hardest were the ponies of Happy Town.

It was after all the town of happiness and to have the concept they veneer to be attacked like that again and again was all a blow for their particularly innocents and vulnerable hearts. And the fact that it was done by somepony they were all knowing was making that blow more personal. Mel was not just showing them a horrible spectacle, he was stealing the magic of happiness itself by making it fragile. And to make matters worse, he was good at it. So good. His arguments were well-thought and impeccable, the ponies of Happy Town could just not say that what he was telling was wrong. No matter how much they wanted it. And now, they were fearing that what they had the most precious was soiled forever and that they will never get it back like before.

Some were trembling with shivers. Some went into sobbing. There were even some that got a panic attack.

The mayor was no better. He had difficulty standing on his hooves. So some fellow, one of those cheese lover, was kind enough to give him a chair to sit.

‘’Geez mayor Paternal, you look terrible.’’

And that was true. His face was drenched in sweat, a sign that his nerves were failing. He was constantly wiping it with a handkerchief.

‘’Oh. It is that obvious. Ah, what leader that makes me.’’

‘’Don't beat yourself. It is understandable.’’

‘’I suppose you're right. I had never felt that bad since... well forever.’’

‘’You know, you don't have to be here. If it is too painful for you to watch, I think it is alright for you go away.’’

‘’No no, it... will make me feel like a coward and an incompetent mayor. (Even if I already feel like one.) It's alright, it is just... still hard for me to understand that anything of this is real.’’

But he took a look at the clock tower, or more what was left of it, and knew that it was very real. He turned then his gaze at this accursed monitor.

‘’Hey Doc, anything new on that machine?’’

The doctor came from behind that big cube, but he had lost all eager and took off his glass.

‘’I am very sorry mister mayor but I am afraid I just don't know how this machine work. It will be more just to say that I understand nothing of it. Even less how to stop it.’’

‘’I see. I had hoped we might have found clues for... I don't know, something. *sigh* Maybe we will have more chance with our troop. If we can call that a troop. Any news about them?’’

The pegasus clerk of the jewelry flew closer to the mayor. She was rubbing her front hooves and was looking embarrassed.

‘’I was just about that to warn you, they have already come back.’’

‘’Already! But it had been so soon since we send them. (And I should have sent one sooner. Another failure to the list.) What had happened?’’

‘’Well mister mayor, you see, the thing is...’’

In the mine tunnel leading to the ruins, a group of ponies were marching forward. That group of ponies were consisting of the brotherhood of barrel makers, because they were the strongest, and the club of dangerous sports, because they were a daredevil group. They... were the best Happy Town could find for forming a rescue troop.

As they got closer of the white doors, they stopped dead on their track because they heard a noise. The entrance was covered in a pitch blackness. And it was impossible to see beyond. But in the darkness, appeared a pair of blue dots of lights. For those ponies, it was like something alive was looking at them. Something not friendly. Then another pair appeared next to it. Then more and more and more, even on the walls and roof. And as the dark tunnel shaft was filled with those predator’s eyes, they were coming closer to the ponies while making footsteps noise that can in no way coming from something alive.

The ponies went afraid for their lives. Those of the brotherhood were just well fit, they were no warrior at all. As for the club, they were loving danger but this was too alien, too strange for them. So they all ran away. Some even cry with fear.

‘’And that the gist of it mister mayor.’’

‘’*sigh* It's alright, it's not their fault. So there is really nothing we can do? He stops us to get where he is. He makes so we can't bear to watch and not watch at the same time his show. The only thing we could have done was sending urgent letters to the castle and even that is useless because he had made all Equestria in the know anyways and yet we still have no help. Mel had really thought about everything. Well that part doesn't surprise me. Even as a kid he had always been one smart colt.’’

Talking about him, made Paternal going back to days of past. He remembers when Mel was so small. Even then he had that sad smile on his face. Paternal had tried everything to cheer him up but although he had never rejected his attempts, Mel had just stayed the same. Still, he was a very kind boy. He had even played to him a solo violin recital just for him. So young yet so talented. The mayor was wondering how can such a sweet pony has become so scary. Well he mean, scary scary after he had already become scary for years.

‘’You know... I been thinking. If we had not been so distant with him... if we had not let him be so isolated... then maybe nothing of that will have happened.’’

‘’What are you saying mayor!’’

A pony came from the crowd quite angrily.

‘’You have nothing to reproach. And neither do we. All the fault of that damn Melancholia. Why he is doing that is simple. He is crazy and unnatural. He has always been an unnatural child. And he was the one that was never able to find any interest in our way of life. And now that he had shown his true colors, it is clear that we should have kicked him out of town because he had always been a parasite to our idyllic life.’’

Many other ponies were agreeing with what he had said. Mayor Paternal, him, was very unsettled by their behavior.

‘’Guys... are you listening to yourselves! You should not talk like that.(Oh Mel. Look at what you are doing to us. Unless... ... could it be... that we have always been like that NOnonono I should not have such depressing thoughts, it is not good. I must be an example of optimism for my people.)’’

‘’Sir! It... it starting again.’’

‘’What! Ooooh, another torture session has come for us. (Such example you turn up to be.)’’

‘’I know but... at least it will be soon over. There is after all only one pony left.’’

‘’There is nothing to rejoice. It is no brainer to know who will be next. Oh sweet Celestia, please protect our poor princess.’’

In the solitude of her cell, was resting the final contestant. The lavender alicorn, Twilight Sparkle, was resting belly-flat on the white marble, her wings lazily and unceremoniously warped around her person like if she had wanted to use them as a make-up comfort blanket. Her hair was a mess and dirty with sweat and she was looking drained. The kind of unrest that makes the inside of your brain sticky.

Since the moment she had been trapped in that poorly lighted prison of emptiness, she was forced to watch the nonsense her friend had been forced to play for then, fighting valiantly. For in the end, not matter at all. And above all else, she was forced to watch the anguish of her friends. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie. All of them. Her dear friends, her precious friends. She was feeling their pains like if it was her own. At each time, it was as painful as if she had received a stab in the heart.

In the past, many bad guys, villains, had tried to hurt her and her friends. It had been to the point where she had kinda get use to it. But this... called it 'a whole new level' won't even be enough to make it justice. Who could have imagined that it was possible for a pony to deliberately hurt in such a meticulous, pain-stalking detailed way that strike you at the very core and that, for the single goal to hurt? And it had worked. Their whole view of life had crumbled, leaving only a bleaker one. Something in her was saying that things would never be the same again.

At first, Twilight was a nervous wreck and a pony drown in sorrow. The first trials were so sad that she could not hold back her tears. But as more and more trials went on, it became numb and number. She was losing her energy to the point she no longer could move. Her previous fear and neurosis was now gone because she was no longer seeing the point. She could not even longer cry because she had already spent all her tears and her heart was becoming dry. Though it still was as painful, each times it was getting stabbed.

But it was then that, without warning, a change happened in her. It was as if a switch went on and made her tired of being tired. She gets back up and looked upwards defiantly.

‘’Mel, saying that I am sick of this hell wouldn't even be one fifth of what I am feeling right now. So don't waste my time in making me wait. It is my turn after all. ... ... You know, it is a little strange to say that but I am almost relieved. Because nothing you will throw at me could be worse than the horrors that you had shown me. I don't know what you have in plan for me but frankly, I do not care one bit. So come here so that we can finish with it quickly. Don't you don't agree, Mel?’’

Slowly, so slowly, she turns her head around to glimpse behind. And with her cold eyes, meet the face of the pony she was now hating the most in the world. Melancholia.

Well except... ... he was not there. That was more what Twilight was sure would have happened. But there was just a blank wall. No holographic screen. Which made the right eye of Twilight twitch.

‘’What... a waste of a badass speech. (Uurrrr how infuriate he is. Usually he always barges in when we expect it the least. He did that to my friends, so why change now? That damn son-of-a...)’’

The dam holding her anger back was starting to break down and in her rage, she was grinding her teeth.

‘’Are you mocking me, Melancholia? I said I am ready to do your damn trial. You should be overjoyed to hear that. So come here at last. I am tired of you. I am tired of that game. I am tired of your points. I AM TIRED OF ALL THAT! COME HERE RIGHT NOW AND PLEASE MAKE THAT NIGHTMARE STOP BECAUSE I AM MORE THAN DONE WITH IT! MEL, ANSWER MEEEEEEE!’’

But alas... there was only silence. The only thing responding that cry charging with both anguish and rage... was silence.

Wait! That was not quite right.

Twilight hears perked up as it seemed to her that she was hearing a faint sound. She tried to concentrate on her sense of audition to confirm if she was correct and indeed, there was a noise.

‘’It's that... music! Violin!’’

It was weak but there was no doubt, it was the tune of a violin. And it seemed to be coming from everywhere. Twilight was wondering what was the meaning of this when the wall before her opened-up. But it was not like with her five friends. This time it was the 'whole' wall that opened-up and as more the opening expanded, a pristine white light came from it and bathed the once dark room, blinding the lavender pony. Once her eyes had the time to adjust, she had difficulty to believe she did not change place. It was like day had come in the middle of the night. All was now as shiny as a field of snow. And the music has now become louder.

Seeing all that as a sign for her to advance, she swallowed her hesitation and walked forward. At a slow pace, she walked in the corridor, though it would be more fitting to call it a hall.

There was so much open space that it was causing a slight anxiety to Twilight. More she was advancing, more the music was becoming louder. The violin rhythm was not quite fast but not quite slow either. And it was quite good to convey a feeling of mystery and anticipation which the alicorn would normally enjoy. But not tonight.

Screens materialized on the walls around her. It was like if she was walking on a art gallery. What they were showing were photos of the citizens of Happy Town doing various activities. Some happily chatting between them. Some happily doing their work. Some happily entertaining other ponies. Some happily playing. All were photos of smiling ponies under the bright sun. If things were different, it would have lifted her mood but with her heart in pieces, those images were powerless.

But more than that... she noticed something odd. Being now so depress, knowing what Mel was thinking of Happy Town and now seeing more clearly their flaws, it was like she could now see a hidden detail.

‘’(I could not quite put my hoof on it but... if I am comparing the happy ponies against the happy ponies of Ponyville that I had seen that morning... I am not sure if I am thinking too much... but it is as if the happiness of the ponies in the photos... the happiness they are having seem... excessive? Or... distorted? I don't know. Maybe I am wrong and anyway, it just doesn't matter. I bet Melancholia want to remember me the raison d'être of his project. As if I care and as if anything could justify his crimes.)’’

Twilight had arrived to the end. A giant double door without handles was blocking her way. She stretched her hoof to try opening it but it was not necessary, the door opened up itself onward at an ominous pace. Twilight saw that as the sign of an invitation. And of arrogance. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to follow him blindly but realized she didn't really have a choice. She hardened her resolve, opened wide her wings and flew forward while the doors closed behind her.

And once inside, she could not help but to feel at awe at the sight before her. If the hall was huge then that room was gigantic. She at first, though she had come back to the dome room where her and Starlight had fought Mel but it was not shaped like a dome but more like a cylinder going so high that she could hardly see the roof. It was enough to give vertigo. But the most important and the thing you could not miss was that huge platform that was occupying the majority of the floor. It had the size of an arena. There was a stairway on its surface that was leading to the top but the alicorn did not bother and instead flew above it.

The top was just not a plain face. On it, incrusted, there was Melancholia cutie mark, the teardrop with the curved lines around it. But it was not all. Inside the very cutie mark was another cutie mark, Twilight one. The six-branched star with the five little stars around it.

‘’He made that! Well of course he can. Mel can change the layout of those ruins as much as he wants. It must be as easily as doing a sliding puzzle. But what is the meaning of this?’’

She landed on the platform. The music was now so loud that she might have believed that she was in an orchestra hall, like the ones in Canterlot that her parents took her when she was a filly. Seeing that nothing was happening, she looked at every direction, and when she looked up above... she could not believe her eyes.

Up there, in the sky, there were these floating blocks dancing in a big circle. No, literally dancing. Each one was in a pair of two, turning around each other while still going in circles. It was like seeing people dancing on a ballroom, something the violin was helping to crystallize that image. There was also one single block that was just standing right at the center of that valse. As they continued their descent, they came closer to the central one and once they were all now at the eyes level of the lavender pony, the blocks made their final spinning steps and broke formation and glided apart like theater curtains to reveal the gray pony Mel sitting on his block. And to the princess, he did a reverence as the violin music reached its final crescendo.

‘’Greeting, princess of friendship, Twilight Sparkle. And also, welcome to great final.’’

‘’Mel! You have come here in person!’’

‘’But of course. Are you surprised? But this is the conclusion of all. This is too important for me not to be here.’’

He was waiting for a reply from Twilight. But hearing nothing, he opened his eyes and saw the alicorn burning with a silent hate.

‘’Ooooh ohoho, so scary. You hate me that much?’’

‘’If I could still use my magic, I will blast you right now. What you have done, I... I could never forgive you. Ever. You have hurt... so many. And for what? For nonsense. Nonsense that will haunt me for the rest of my life.’’

‘’Huuum! Nonsense and haunt in the same sentence! If it is really nonsense then why wouldn't it leave your head?’’

Twilight grunted in frustration. She tried to go toward her enemy but before she put her hoof down, a little block flew like a throwing rock and bounce at one inch of her hoof which made her back off in fright.

Mel raised his hoof full of cyan luminous light and like a faithful pet, the block flew to the top of it and twirled at a slow pace.

‘’Easy easy my little pony. One thing at a time.’’

‘’Mel. I am too tired to play your sick game. I, am, leaving you one, last, chance to use the little neurons that you have and to finally see reason. Stop that madness and free my friends before I use violence.’’

‘’Your friends! But they are right here.’’

He stomped his hoof on the ground with such a strength that the sound echoed in all the vast expansion. Which from it, came down five other blocks. But those were much bigger than the usual ones and when they end their descent, but were still at a good height from the ponies, Twilight could see those blocks had glass panels, showing the cubes were hollow inside.

No, not quite hollow. Because inside, there were

‘’Girls! Girls it's you!’’

To her surprise, they were there. Trapped like prisoners in jail. Rainbow Dash. Applejack. Rarity. Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie. And they all look like they had seen better days. Twilight, feeling moved to see her friends in real and not through a projection, used the tips of her wings to cover her mouth while she was crying. And her friends saw her too. They lunge at the glass, pressed themselves against it and said silent words that conveyed relief and fear at the same time. Silent words because no sound was coming from their mouths.

‘’Sorry princess, but I am afraid that those compartments are soundproof from their sides. But instead, they can hear everything we are saying.’’

‘’FREE THEM, NOW.’’

‘’Hummm, no, don't want to. They will stay trap in their cages forever.’’

‘’Youuu//

‘’Stop. Do you realize what I truly mean? What 'I will keep them in their cages forever' intend? Tell me, if I never open them, then how they will receive food?’’

‘’!!! ... ... No... how cou... my friends... they had enough...’’

‘’I had promised that no bloodshed will fall on them and I always follow my words. I had heard that malnutrition and dehydration is a painful way to die. Very slow. Very anguishing. To the point of making you delirious. Oh! Wait. They will die of suffocation well before that.’’

In a cry of rage, she flew toward her friends but the cubes circling the arena, aggressively blocked her path. With a wave of his hoof, Mel sends other ones toward Twilight. She had just barely dodged the first two but the third one had hit her wing, making her plummet down. She tried to get back up with difficulty and a sore shoulder while the gray pony walked slowly toward her, blocks hovering with him.

‘’You care so much about your friends, much more than yourself. It is easy to see they are the center of your universe. So please, so me how much they really matter to you.’’

He did a pirouette on his back legs like a dancer and cubes lunged toward Twilight. Flying in a circle around the arena was all she could do to avoid the blocks that Mel was constantly sending like cannonballs toward her. They were always darting right behind her and the sudden movement of air was making a nerve-wrecking sound each time while Mel was still sending blocks and dancing around with perkiness.

‘’You were once one pony that was not interested in friendship. You were a analytical one, a cerebral, one pony with little interest in the matter of the heart. Those kinds of people are generally the less prone to seek bonds. But you are the living proof that anypony, no matter how hard it is for them, can find the hard to define spark that fill the world and the heart with magic.’’

‘’Enough!’’

Irritate at his endless rambling, she decided to take a chance and to lunge in mid-air toward Mel. But at the last moment, four blocks reunite themselves to form in front of Mel a wall to which Twilight crashed into it. The wall flew fast away from Mel, bringing the alicorn with them, then exploded back into individual blocks. Twilight was knocked back to the ground, the air leaving her lungs. And looking high-up, there was Melancholia, floating in the air within a surreal sea of cubes under a blinding light.

‘’Having difficulty? Then allow me to offer you a little help.’’

He had claps his hooves twice and then, Twilight could not understand how but she could feel her strengths coming back into her horn.

‘’What did you do?’’

‘’I had reduced the magic dampener, giving you back a fraction of your power.’’

‘’Big mistake.’’

She sends him a magic bolt but the block he was sitting easily glided down and other blocks turned around him at a deadly speed.

He continued to speak like if nothing had happened.

‘’Such a talent at magic. But although you may be the element of Magic, it is clear to me that it is not referring to actual magic. What would be the sense in that? No, it's about a virtue that is hard to explain in words. The power to deliberate put to things a divine beauty that is beyond logic and comprehension. You may call it a kind of faith. Just like how you all consider friendship a concept that is above all. Yes, you Twilight Sparkle had understood that this special spark was necessary, otherwise the world would be plagued by a disenchantment and would become quite bleak.’’

The lavender pony flew once again toward Melancholia but this time, she put a barrier in front of her who enter in collision with the rotating ring of blocks. It was like a rock hitting a chainsaw, making a rain of sparkles. The raging face of Twilight was so close of the serene one of the mad artist.

‘’Then what could be wrong with that? Tell me Mel, what fault can you possibly find in that?’’

‘’The fault! The fault is if you're taking it too far, if that spark is too pure and bright then it makes you blind and naive. And blindness and naivety are two elements that can rotten any magic into a sick disgusting repulsive obscene wicked curse. And you and your friends are guilty to have propagated that danger around all Equestria.’’

‘’Liar! That not what we represent//

‘’But even without your helps, the citizens our dear country are already very close to become sickening fools. Just like my HATEFUL LITTLE TOWN.’’

In his anger, he explodes his ring of blocks, shattering the lavender barrier. Twilight was pushed back but managed to land on her feet. While Mel was creepily giggling like a broken disc. Twilight was thinking that she should find that disturbing but was surprised to found out that she did not give a damn. The alicorn was now panting heavily.

‘’I *pant* don't care of *pant* what you think of me or your reasons. Give, me, back, my friends.’’

‘’Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha... ... ah yes, your friends. You want to save them no matter the cost. If you really want to save them, there is one way and only one way do it.’’

‘’WHAT?’’

All was now plunged into a complete silence. And anypony, not even the five trapped, were moving. They were all as stiff as statues. And then... Mel did a soft smile. Slowly, very slowly, he lifts his hoof. And then... still slowly... made a slicing gesture across his throat.

Twilight... she... she was not expected that... din't know how to react... din't know how even think... her vision was becoming blur…

‘’You!!! ... You really would go that far!!!’’

‘’That right Twilight. If you want to save, no, if you want to end that nightmare, you have to eliminate the gamemaster. I swear on my life that I will never open those cages no matter how much pain or torture you inflict me. You know I am crazy enough to do that. Convincing me is useless. Making me unconscious is useless. Only when the master of those ruins took his last breath that all the machines will shut-down. So princess, this is your trial. Prove me that you will do anything for the center of your universe. Kill me, AND SHOW TO THE WORLD HOW FAR THE MAGIC OF FRIENDSHIP CAN GO.’’

Twilight Sparkle trial
All in the name of friendship

At the outside, in the forest, the two brothers Dirt and Dust were still there, completely lost about what to do. Dirt was away, knowing he was not welcome to be near his little bro but also because he did not want to see that accursed diffusion. Even though he could not help but to constantly take a peek. Dust him, had his eyes glued to the little screen. Never darting his eyes. And with so much guilt that he didn't know what to do with it.

The blanket of clouds in the sky was now moving two times faster. It was like an angry sea. Fitting for the mood of those two dogs.

Dirt was turning his back to Dust. It was too hard for him to look at his bro. He tried to hold them back, well more like he had tried for the whole night, but he was at his limit and tears poured from his yellow eyes and he went into a sob. In silence.

‘’Dust. We... cannot stay here forever. I know you want to stay... *sniff* to atone a little but... face it. There is nothing we can do. We can't go back in time and fix ours mistake. ... ... ... Why are you saying nothing! You still blame me! You want me to say I was wrong! THEN FINE. I WAS WRONG. I never should accept the jobs of that madpony and I never should bring you in this mess. I never thought it will turn like... that. Who could have imagined. ... ... ... Oh okay, fine, it's a stupid excuse. I knew well that what we were doing was wrong. But we were in so much need of help. I thought, I really had thought I would be capable of not having any guilt but I see now it was stupid. I feel so bad. I'm sincere bro, I felt bad since the beginning and now it is unbearable.’’

In a mix of sorrow and anger, he hit the ground with his fist.

‘’And now I know that like you I would never be able to profit from that money because of all that damn guilt. Are you happy now, because thanks to you we have done all those crimes for nothing. Why? Why you had to watch that stupid show?’’

The sobbing now went to uncontrollable crying.

‘’There is nothing we can do to fix this. All we can do is run away. Please Dust, will you at least tell me you still want to be with me? I... I could not bear all that guilt alone. It's too painful. ... ... ... Dust, will you at last talk to me! I... Dust!!!’’

Dirt turned back around but... Dust was not there. Only the little monitor still turn-on and the wind grazing the grass and making a desolate sound.

‘’Dust? Where he... !!! Oh no! Oh no, it can be true! That idiot, he didn't dare?’’

He got back up and ran like a mad dog across the wood, toward the mountain, his tears of sorrow changed into tears of panic.

‘’Nononononononono.’’

Mel didn't even give time to Twilight to say a word and with a stomp of his front hooves, cubes spiraled in front of him, gathered together to form two snakes like structures and slithered in air toward the lavender pony at a deadly speed.

She shoot lasers at one of them but each time one block was destroyed, the others were filling the void. They rammed into her but she teleported just before the impact and reappeared behind them. From her horn came purple magical ropes which ensnared the bigger one and throw it at Mel. The floor in front of him elevated like a stalagmite and protected from the impact. At the same time, Twilight threw at the little one a salvo of small but numerous rays, pulverized it in a smoke of dust. Mel retaliate, and send all the cubes in his field view toward the cloud. But when they smashed it and dispersed it, Twilight was nowhere to be seen.

‘’!!! Oh. Sneaky little one.’’

With his thoughts, he used the now disassembled blocks to send them flying behind him. Just in time to protect him from a bunch magical spires who deeply pierced the marble. Spires threw by the flying alicorn behind Mel. The light of the spires grew in intensity, which surprised the gray pony, and they exploded. The breath of the explosion pushed back Mel across the arena and he barely landed on his feet and slipped on the floor before coming to a stop. Twilight landed on the floor full of marble dust, panting. Using those spells with her potential reduced was taking a toll on her.

‘’Oho Miss Twilight, that sure was a deadly move. So you really want me dead.’’

‘’I had given you chances to see reason. Many times. But you blatantly refused each time. I have no right to choose you over my friends. No. I do not care about rights or justice. I just want they no longer be your playthings. If I have to kill you to end their hell, so be it. You have forced me to do it.’’

‘’That's good. Very good. This might be the best lesson you will have ever given.’’

‘’I know all are watching me. But for the first time, I just don't care how they will see me. Let them despise me as much as they want. I am no longer worthy of being a princess of friendship. And I just don't care.’’

Twilight charged her horn with so much destructive energy that purple lightning was cracking from it. Mel just smile at her.

‘’Oh! And what about your friends? Do you care about their opinions?’’

The magic went out like a candle and she looked up at her captive friends.

They were all doing the same thing. Hitting the glass like there were no tomorrow, looking at Twilight and shouting none stop. Even if she could not hear them, she could very well guess what they were saying. Their eyes were telling all. ‘’Don't do it’’ ‘’Please Twilight, stop’’ ‘’You must not kill because of us’’ ‘’We could not bear it’’.

Twilight looked away. It was hard for her to watch. Once she raised her head to face Melancholia…

Her face was that of a cold and emotionless determination. And her eyes were as empty as the ones of a certain gray pony.

‘’It’s... fine. I know them well. I know they would not want me to bear that sin. I will do the same for them. But you were right at the end. They can be shocked, afraid, or even hate me. It won't matter. Because they really the center of my universe. I will sacrifice everything for them. For my friends... ’’

She opened her wings wide and lighted her horn.

‘’I won't hesitate to become a demon.’’

And charged forward.

Forward, always forward Dirt was running, not caring about how many branches were scratching his muzzle. When he came at last out of the forest, he could saw the silhouette of his little brother entering the secret entrance. He did not lost time to run after him.

Dust once inside, went straight to the elevator. He went there and with a punch of his fist, hit the button. He turned back and saw his big brother, running toward him, his paw extended for him.

‘’Dust, wait!’’

And also saw the door closing on him at the last second.

Twilight closed the distance between her and Mel and throw him a ray of magic. Which Mel easily avoided with the help of the block he was sitting, serving as a makeshift hovercraft chair. For a time, those two continue to play cat and mouse. Mel, constantly in movement, send cubes to the flying alicorn, who easily avoided them, while she teleported at random places and threw magical blasts at Mel who had no problem to manoeuvring around them.

Of course, he was not seriously trying to attack her. It was just the appearance of it. What he wanted was to lose after all. He was just doing a show as a incentive to force her to deal the killing blow. But after doing the same things over and over again, he felt that something was wrong.

‘’(Still hesitating, but it's close, I can feel it. A little push. Just a little push is all she need. Then...)’’

Blocks went flying in the sky to combine and forming giant blocks. Then let themselves be summit to the force of gravity and tumble down. The shockwave pushed Twilight through meters and when she landed, she was hit by a wave of dust. After a fit a coughing and the dust dispelling, she saw that Mel had disappear. But it didn't take long to find him up in the sky again. Cubes were turning behind him, forming an intricate and vertical mandala figure.

‘’You know, now that I think about it, this is not new. You have been put into mortal peril by dangerous people constant times. But in a way you were lucky. No wounds, not even a scratch. The fact that you always went off uncast had made you blissfully unaware of how death was close to get you and your friends. Well, another illusion to break I suppose.’’

Mel spread theatrically his hooves behind him and the cubes all flew away, revealing what was hidden behind them. A pony fixed on a stele like structure. That pony was

‘’STARLIGHT!’’

Was what Twilight was screaming. Her pupils dilated and she galloped toward her dear friend and student to get a closer look at her.

It... she did not want to believe what she was seeing was true but she also could not advert her eyes. Starlight was not in good shape. No, those are words too kind. It was horrific. Her magenta skin was full of bruises in everyplace. Except the face. They were of all kinds of colors. Blue, purple, some even had an inch of red. But the most sickening for Twilight was not them but to imagine how they were made.

Starlight Glimmer open-up her eyes and once she saw Twilight, she did a faint smile.

‘’Oh. Twilight. It is so good to see you're fine. I feel better already.’’

She did not look like she was completely there because she didn't seem to notice the in choc and hyperventilate face of her mentor.

‘’Starlight! Wh, wh, wh, what he, he, what he did to you?!’’

Starlight looked at her own body.

‘’Oh that! Oh it's nothing and it's less worse than it looks like. He made sure they were superficial, there is no inner bleeding. It's... ... Twilight listen. I don't know what he wants to do with you but I can have a good idea. Please Twilight, no matter what you must not fall into his trap. Do not worry about me. Do not let him get under your skin.’’

Mel hovered at the side of the trapped unicorn and caressed her chin.

‘’Are you sure Twilight that you should listen to her. What I did was despicable. I'm sure nopony in Equestria will blame you if you take me down. After all, who will ever forgive me//

He shakes his tail in one whip motion and from it came out an object spinning in the air. And when, with his mouth, he grabbed it by the wooden handle, a silver gleam ran though the tip of the blade.

After THIIIS.’’

And planted the knife into Starlight left arm.

At first... the unicorn didn't quite understand what had happened to her. It felt like he had punched her. But when she looked at the blade stabbed in her flesh, she got scared and it was like her hoof was in fire.

‘’Gyyy... yyaAAAAAAAAAARH!!!’’

Mel took out the knife and with a swift motion, threw a trail of blood on the white floor before Twilight. There was even a droplet that landed on the cheek of the traumatized alicorn. That red stain was spreading its warmth on her skin. The only thing that could wake up her was the noise of the bloody knife hitting the ground.

Mel looked at her like if nothing had happened.

‘’I can tell this is your first time seeing blood being spilled that way. It has quite an effect on new comers. It reminds you of what ponies are truly made of inside. How life is so fragile. And especially how uncaring the world can be to us.’’

‘’AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!’’

‘’Ah. Yes, yes. Now that's the murderous rage I wanted to see.’’

Even though weak and in pain, her dear mentor was still the only thing Starlight could think.

‘’No... Twi... light... don't... sink to his level... because... of... me.’’

‘’Don't interfere Starlight.’’

With a gesture of his hoof, Starlight went away and he went down to the level of Twilight.

She was now hardly recognizable. Her eyes were bloodshot, her teeth clenching and her horn was charging with dangerous electrical arcs. And as they both looked at each other, one with passionate fury, the other with cold detachment, they broke their inertia and charge at each other.

Dust was pushing any buttons at random he could without having a single idea of what they were doing. He had used the elevator to the monitors room. It was a room of modest size where nearly all walls were occupied by big monitors with consoles full of keyboards and buttons. And Dust was on the main one, with the monitor showing the full battle between Melancholia and Twilight.

If the throne was the primary way to control the ruins, then the monitors room could be considered the secondary one. You could do everything that the throne could do with those consoles. But in a more complicate way than simply think about it and above all else, the orders of the throne have always priority and cannot be overruled.

Still, there must surely be something he could do from here, Dust was telling itself. As sweat was forming on his forehead, the doors of the elevator opened-up behind him and from it came his big brother Dirt who was out of breath.

‘’*pant*pant* Dust *pant* you're not doing what I think you think? Are you out of your mind! Mel would want to revenge on us, who know what it will do. Bro, that's madness.’’

‘’No Dirt. I am stopping that madness. Don't you see? It is our chance.’’

‘’What! But what are you talking about!?’’

‘’This trial is different. Mel is just not carefully watching. This time he put himself in the heat of the action. That mean he is distracted and he won't notice us using that machinery. We cannot waste that chance.’’

‘’Ooooh you big, dummy. Have you any ideas in the first place of what you want to do?’’

‘’I don't know. Something. Anything that could put a wrench in his plan and help those ponies.’’

‘’He will hurt you or worse. It might be already too late.’’

‘’Well I don't care. I am so disgusted with myself to care. I want to at last do something right. And I know you feel the same. You too you want to correct your mistakes, I'm sure of it.’’

‘’But... there is nothing//

‘’I am tired of hearing that. I never was confident enough to think by myself. But not this time. This time, I have never been so sure of myself. This is something I want just like when I abandoned my pack for you. So I will help those ponies and that's that. If you want to leave, then you can go. I will not blame you.’’

He turned back to his console. But then he heard his brother laughing like he had never laughed. It was like he could not control his hilarity and though his pawn was covering his eyes, Dust could still see tears streaming on the cheeks of Dirt. And, the laugh of Dirt changed into a cry of anger.

‘’WHAAAAA, why by all the gems I have to be stuck with such a stupid softie?’’

He immediately calmed down and readjusted his cap. He then went toward the console and push-away his brother so that he can take his place.

‘’Make room for me please.’’

‘’Dirt!!! You... you serious, you... really want to help me?!’’

‘’Yeah since you just can't stop whining about it. Besides, I know better than you how to operate those thingies. Contrary to you, I did pay attention when I saw the boss using those monitors. It is easier than it looks. Even if you can't read that weird language.’’

‘’For real! You know what to do!’’

‘’What to do! Oh no, not at all. I had just learned the general ideas and there are just too many things to control from here. What more, when Mel will notice us, and he will notice us, we are toast. So I am sure we only have one chance, just one. But what to do? What's the one things that could help them? Dust, I am not sure I could find it.’’

The ferocity and the speed of that fight have reached their paroxysm. Nopony were staying still and no attack was hitting targets. And for the viewers watching this, the tension was so high that they could not breathe. They could tell that, well, all will soon come to an end. One way or the other. Twilight perishing by Mel. Or Mel perishing by Twilight. But the public both simultaneously wish the end to come quickly or to delay. Because both ending were so dreadful they didn't want to imagine then to happen.

Mel knew the tension of all the viewers was at its highest. And so he judged that the playtime was over. As a final move, he gathers a lot a cube around Twilight and order them to crush her. She put a bubble to protect herself, but the blocks keep pushing, creating cracks on the magenta surface. It was a strain on her. Her horn was overheating, it was causing her a headache and her brown was drenched in sweat.

Or so it seems.

She disappeared in a flash of light and all the cubes hit each other instead. Mel looked behind him but there was nothing. Then he looked above, all around but she was nowhere in sight. It was then that his hears heard like what seemed to be the sound of a magical blast charging. And so he understood.

Twilight was lying on her back on the floor, just right below him. Without mercy, she threw her laser at the block where Mel was sitting. It exploded and the gray pony was propelled miles away and landed on the floor quite brutally, each hit on the marble sending to his body waves of numbing pain.

He tried to get back on his hooves, stumbled, and get back up again. Once his vision got back to normal, he saw before him a big cloud of dust made by the explosion. It was thick and he could not see what was hiding inside. But then a purple light shone from it. And it was like an invisible explosion came inside the cloud because the dust runaway meter apart, like in fear, of the alicorn with her wings wide open and her fully charged horn. And her silent hatred for the pony before her.
Mel, knowing it was the end for it, just smile at her and simply said:

‘’End it.’’

Twilight threw a blast at him. It did not know if he was feeling like being punched, burned or electrocuted but the impact pushed him back. And got back up but was hit once again, this time on the face, then on the chest, on his head again, each hit forcing him to make a step back. Another ray made him fall and he was hit once again before he reached the ground and even down he was being hit and hit making him roll on the ground.

He was giggling during the whole ordeal.

Twilight was charging another ray but this time, no magic came out. She had wasted all her reserve. She falls on her knees, panting heavily. Mel, with his thoughts, made a column rise behind him and use it to rest his back on it. He had a taste of blood on his mouth. Yet... smiled at Twilight.

Her anger without name has in no way subsided and the buzzing in her head was making her deaf to all other sounds. She then saw it.

The bloody knife resting before her.

It was automatic for her. She took the handle with her mouth.

Then with difficulty, she got back up on her hooves.

She looked at the monster in front of her. And his breathing chest.

She took a step that took an eternity. Then another one that was as hard.

But the next step becomes easier. And soon she was walking faster. And then running.

She screamed a cry of rage while pointing the tip of the knife toward the cold heart of Melancholia.

For all, it was like time was slowing down. Leaving to all the leisure to taste the horror of the soon tragic end of all those tragedies.

Twilight

jumped

to plant the knife

and took a life

‘’TWILIGHT’’

But it didn't happen!

The blade has never reached its target. It fell unceremoniously on the floor.

Twilight had never reached Mel because she had been stopped dead on her track. She had been tackled in mid-air from all sides by five ponies.

The five mares that had shouted her name, wanting to save her from that fate. Rainbow Dash. Applejack. Rarity. Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie. Her five friends.

Mel looked at them with something that was not thought possible. A genuinely surprised expression.

‘’(What!!! ... ... I didn't plan this at all!)’’

‘’You did it bro. You have really did it. Oh what a relief.’’

‘’In the end, freeing them what the only thing I could do. Fiouuuf. It was nerve-wrecking. Just two or three seconds too late and it would have been a very sad end.’’

Twilight, tackling on the ground by her five friends pushing her down, was struggling like a madmare to get free.

‘’Let me go! Let me go.’’

‘’Never surgarcube. Never.’’

‘’GET OUT OF MY WAY!’’

‘’NO! Forget that. We will hold ya down until our last breath if it stops ya to be a killer.’’

‘’Yes darling, we cannot let you do something that you could never take back. Our Twilight is a pacifist, sweet and wise girl who harbor violence. We never could let you have blood on your hooves and we certainly refuse to let you become a demon.’’

Fluttershy grabbed tenderly and in tear the neck of Twilight.

‘’Especially if it is done in our names. We could never forgive us, it would be too much to bear.’’

‘’But I have to. It's the only way to end that nightmare.’’

Rainbow Dash angrily shoved her hoof on Twilight face.

‘’Idiotidiotidiotidiot. I thought you were supposed to be the nerdy-egghead, then how can you not see you are doing just what that jerk want. Are you that dump to let him win?!’’

‘’Then what are you expect me to do?! You want me to let you die?! Is it what you expect a friend to do?’’

‘’That not what I'd said Twi. And it's not like we blame you. I mean... I mean if we had been in your place then *sniff* then we will have done the same thing as you. Each of us too will have killed him to save our friends. But even so... even so...’’

Pinkie burst in tear that came out as fountains from her eyes.

‘’Even so it will be just too saaaad, bouh hou hou. To know that friendship could lead to that is so, so, I don't even find the words whaaahaaahaaahaaa. But it is because we will have done the same that we know how horrible it will have been if you, if you*sniff*.’’

‘’YOU GIRLS DON'T GET IT. NONE OF YOU DOES.’’

After her fit of anger, she finally stopped struggling and like her friends, she cried too.

‘’You don't know how agonizing it was. He shows me each of your trials. He had seen your anguish, how he broke each single of you. And I was powerless to do anything. All I could do was watch. All I could do, was, watch. You my friends losing all hope and having your deepest beliefs being twisted beyond repair. Yes, I knew I was giving him what he wants but now that I had a chance to do something for you, you wanted me to do nothing? To just watch, again? When you are already so damage?’’

Fluttershy did a soft smile and tenderly caressed the check of Twilight.

‘’I won't sugar coat it. It is true that we are a bit broken. And I am not sure we could ever be repaired. But even if we are broken and we no longer know what to believe does not mean we stop caring about our friends.’’

‘’It's as Fluttershy says. Ya shall know we are not just anypony. We are like six hearts beating as one. So iffin one of us is hurt, we are all hurts.’’

‘’Darling, I may understand how you may think throwing away your morality for us might have been a noble sacrifice, but believe me. It would only have led to more pain. Which I'm sure would have led to even more pain.’’

‘’What we have been trying to say using a lotsy of complexy wordy is... we care about you Twi, and we want you to be fine.’’

‘’Girls! I... I... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I did not knew what else to do.’’

She did not know if it was the physical contacts of her friends or their reassuring voices, probably both, but the buzzing in her head was at last silenced and she went to wail like a baby. While she was being gently comforted by her friends.

Up above, there was Starlight tied down that had seen the whole scene. Her left hoof was no longer bleeding profusely, but was still bleeding. It was still giving her a searing pain and was now feeling very cold. And she didn't care at all. She did a sigh of relief that took out all the tension of that day and she was feeling like she was free of all the worries of the world.

It was that time the electrical claps decided to disappear.

‘’Hun wait wait what, oh come onnNNNNN HAAAAAAA!’’

She fell like a rock, waving her arms wildly like if they were wings. But before she catches the ground, her fall was stopped by the aura of a levitation spell. Twilight and Rarity had combined both of their magic to save her and bring her with the rest of the group.

‘’Fiouf. Thanks girls. I'm glad you are all okay.’’

Fluttershy took the bloody hoof of Starlight and caressed it.

‘’Poor Starlight. What he did to you was so awful.’’

‘’That! Puff, it's nothing, nothing more than a flesh wound. And I now realize that it is a least comforting expression that I thought.’’

To stop the bleeding, Pinkie Pie, with watery eyes, took from the inside of her puffy hair a ribbon for warping present and used it as a makeshift bandage. She could not resist, however, to attach that ribbon as a cute bow tie. Twilight, her, used the little magic left in her to cast a healing spell on the purple unicorn. All her bruises vanished in an instant. Starlight wanted to play it cool and thanks them again but she was hit by a wave of gratitude so big that she did like her friends and burst into tears.

The seven mares all went into a group hug. That for one moment make them forget all the bad things that happen today.

Mel was still sitting at the same position with a dumbfounds expression, listening with a distracting hear what the mares before him was saying. He was so lost he did not even know how he should feel. But when order came back into his brain, a question haunted him.

‘’How did it happen? The machines should not do something I didn't order unless... unless!’’

With a wave of his hoof, a little screen materialized before him. At the same time, a giant one appeared behind the two Diamond Dogs and they got scared to see the big cold eyes of their former boss.

‘’I seeee. It was you two. What a surprise.’’

Before they could even take a step, the floor opened up at their feet and they fall while screaming. They were not sure what happened during their descent, even if they were going down in the first place but they soon found themselves on the open sky of the giant room, flying on blocks. Blocks that didn't lose time to throw them away like garbage at the feet of Mel. The dogs on their stomach opened their eyes and gazed at Mel looking down on them like if he had seen good old friends.

‘’Why hello my dear ex-goons. I presume our deal was not that to your liking if you have come back to ruin it.’’

The two brothers, afraid, crawled backward away from him. The column behind Mel disassembled into little cubes floating beside the gray pony like a personal army of drones. He calmly walked toward the dogs and not once he raised his voice.

‘’You know, the true reason if I had chosen you two as helping hooves was because I was sure you were the kind of guys with too much on their plate to care about other problems. Those who have nothing often don't know how to be caring after all. But that you happen to have enough morality to feel guilty and to dare ruin my show! I had tried to parry every eventuality but that I admit I really, but really, did not see that coming. Now my plan has derailed and I will have to improvise. Nowww... what will I have to do to with you two?’’

‘’No mercy please.’’

‘’I think I should ghuuh!!!’’

He couldn't finish his sentence because both Applejack and Rainbow Dash kicked him at the chest, just where his blue jewelry necktie was, and sends him far from the dogs. A barrier made by Starlight came to protect the dogs and the cowgirl and the flyer stand ferociously before them and Mel.

‘’Ya better not touch a hair of them.’’

‘’Yeah. We maybe refuse to kill you but that will not stop us from changing your visage into the most ugly face in the world.’’

The Diamond Dogs could just not believe what the ponies were doing.

‘’What! You really are going to protect us! After all we have done to you?’’

‘’Don't misunderstand. We still have forgiven you for the beating and the kidnapping.’’

Answered Rainbow Dash.

‘’However, sound like ya'll save us. And in our dictionary, that mean we have debt over you.’’
Answered Applejack.

Twilight and other get all up and stood proudly.

‘’Melancholia, you got your way for far too long. This time we will not let you do as you please. We are all unite and you are alone. We will beat you and we will escape that horrible game.’’

Mel also got back up, coughing from the hit.

‘’*cough**cough* I'm afraid I can't let you do that. Not when I am so close to change the world for the better. Now I would like if you please//

*crack*

‘’What!?’’

After that cracking noise, silence came. Mel lowered his eyes to look at the blue jewel of his necktie and saw that a white crack was running from bottom to top, surely due from the double kick. But then another formed, followed by another and fast, the blue surface was covered by a spider web of fissures.

‘’You can't be serious!’’

The blue jewel exploded into thousands fragments.

‘’... ... Ah shoot. It was supposed to be a surpriseeeee.’’

Something strange happens. It was like the skin of Mel came alive and changed into electrical static. Soon, his whole body followed and he became a living distortion on hooves. The mares and the dogs didn't understand what was happening and all instinctively took a few steps back.

The distortion surrounding Mel intensified and in one instant, vanished into thin air and revealed...

No one's brain was now working properly. They were all sure that their eyes were playing tricks. Or even that reality itself had broken. Twilight too was no exception and the only thing she could say was:

‘’It... can't, be!’’

But it was far too real.

The pony before them tilted his... her head in a playful way, dangling her braided hair and say with a crystal-clear and young voice:

‘’Oh but it is. Now that my disguise is gone, I am sure everypony must be so confuse. Oh well. I guess I now need to do a second introduction.’’

And that pony went to do a bowing to all.

‘’I am the true identity of the gamemaster. And I am the one that had been the host of all your trials and broadcast all your anguish. The angel of Happy Town

Floral

All of Happy Town was now dead-still.

They were as immobile as statues and they were so aghast that all their mouths were left hanging open since they all forgot how to close them. Yet no sound was coming out from them.

At that plaza where time was frozen, there was on a corner a stack of not-that-well-stacked barrels on precarious balance. It was at this moment it chooses to fall down in a cacophony.

It was like a signal for them.

The silence leaves and in its place came unite screams of bewilderment crossing all the town. It was so strong that the air itself could tear apart. And they no longer could stay immobile and were bumping between each other without noticing and it was dangerously close to be turned into a stampede. For them, this... couldn't just be happening.

One pony was shaking his head in disbelief.

‘’This is a lie, it's as to be a lie! Our Flo is the sweetest of girls, she can do that! It's a dream, it's as to be one.’’

Another was crying hysterically.

‘’Why did she do that? Why did our angel as betrayed us?’’

Another one was angry, or rather was desperately trying to be angry.

‘’Of course our Flo can't do that. It's... it's Mel! That monster must be forcing her to do that, it's as to be. It's as to be.’’

There was only one pony who could not react. Mayor Paternal. Still as still and mouth as agape as when that revelation came. Even though panic was around him, he was deaf to them. His complexion had paled and his iris were shaking with despair.

Back at the ruins of the ancient civilization, the seven mares and the two dogs were just at lost for words. They did not know how to react to those innocents emeralds eyes. But Rainbow was the first to break the silence and flew up in disbelief.

‘’Wowowowowowo, time up. Time up. Did I hear right! The degenerate psycho that kidnapped us, put us into that torture and gave us twisted lessons that nearly broke our minds was... you!’’

At the words of Rainbow, the impossible idea was beginning to sink in for all. Dust was pointing his shaking finger toward the little filly.

‘’Bro... does that from all this time we have taken our orders from a child?’’

To which the child in question answered:

‘’Ohoho. Forgive me all for this... little deception of mine. I had personal reasons for this.’’

This was too weird for the group. And what's more unsettling was that her mannerisms was not that of the young child they had met but they were instead as polite and cordial as that accursed gamemaster. Twilight head jerked in comprehension as she finally understood.

‘’Wait! That jewel! It was a magical jewelry. One that allow you to cast a optical illusion on yourself.’’

‘’You are quite right Miss Sparkle.’’

Flo gently tapped the blue fragments on the ground.

‘’That necktie is, more was, an old heirloom of my family, unique in its kind. Its magic is similar of that of changeling. With it I could take the appearance of anypony I wish. I had just decided to take the appearance of my own brother.’’

‘’But I was sure those magical items have only the power to cast a projection on your own person. That the limit that made them not a popular artifact to make. Then how did you make to sound like him?’’

‘’Oh you mean... like this.’’

They were all taken aback and got spooked. The last word Flo had said didn't just sound a lot like Mel. It was Mel voice to a pitch. It was so jarring. For a moment they really thought that Mel had comeback and took the place of that little filly. Oh wait. He was that little filly!

‘’Impressive is it not. If spreading happiness was not my talent then I will surely get a cutie mark as voice imitation. And when you live with somepony all your life it is even more easier. With that and the necktie, it is no problem to disguise, no, to become him.’’

That was the last straw. They now had to accept that Mel and Flo were only one pony. Starlight could not help but to shake her head in disbelief.

‘’I cannot believe it. You really were Mel from all this time! Even when we had met him for the first time at your house?’’

‘’Yup, that was still me alright. Tell me, have you ever noticed that not once but 'not once' you have seen the two of us together. But don't blame yourself. I have done that way before I meet you. All Happy Town as never noticed that I was playing as him for so long. I know my brother doesn't go out of the house often but still. Oh well, they were never that observant.’’

‘’What! But but but... but if you have taken the place of Mel for that long then... then where in Celestia name is the true Mel?’’

The face of Flo became darker. And her tone was no longer cherry.

‘’He is dead. For more than a year.’’

Mayor Paternal who was already pale was now as white as a ghost.

‘’He's... Mel is dead! For more than a year! No... no it can't be!’’

But that dark expression had disappeared like if it was never there and she even went chuckling to herself.

‘’You know, there's no way you could know about that but right at the start of the game I had played a little... trick to keep the illusion alive until the very end. They all thought my introductory broadcast was me in direct but it was in reality a pre-recorded video that I had made earlier. Not that the citizens of Happy Town could have figured that. Ooooh I wonder, what they feel, now that they realize that all the hateful words toward my brother were in truth all destined to me. Now then.’’

Like her Mel persona, she didn't raise her voice or make threats. Her army of blocks went levitate at her sides.

‘’I believe there is a game to finish. Would you please be kind and let me ohhh who I am kidding, of course you won't OMMHF!!!’’

She did not see her coming because she was too distracted but Twilight flew right toward her and tackle her to the ground before Flo could do anything. The alicorn slapped the young filly many times but it was like she was feeling not feeling any hits.

‘’Flo, stop acting like that and stop that madness.’’

‘’Wo, wo. At first you wanted to kill me and now you want to come back to old persuasion now that you know I am a little girl. Are you sure Twilight it should matter?’’

‘’But why are you doing that? If you are not Mel then it makes even less sense.’’

‘’Less sense! All the reasons I had given were all what I was genuinely thinking. This world is corrupted by a false happiness and my brother wanted to open up all our eyes. But everypony mocked him, ostracized him. And because of that he died before he could accomplish his destiny. That it's why... I have decided to reject mine and accomplish his instead of him.’’

Twilight was now so afraid of Flo that a freezing cold took a grip of her heart. It was not her speech devoid of doubts or her tone so neutral. Yet there was something terribly wrong with her, Twilight was thinking. It was her eyes. There were dead and devoid of all sparkles. Exactly like the Mel she constantly plays as. Twi was wondering how it could be possible when the first time they meet, her emerald eyes were... ... were...

That was when it strikes to her. The moment at the spring, the moment at the chapel, the moment at the boarding house. It all came back to her. She doesn't know if it was because not that far she was as empty and mad as the gray pony but now... it was like she could no longer see those memories same way. All this time, they thought Floral was one of the most joyful fillies in the world. That her eyes were shining with so much light. But now Twilight realizes:

‘’(How... how did I not notice that before! It... was just an act. There were no sparkles in her eyes! There never was. This is her real self!) How... how did you become like that?’’

Flo made a frown at that question. With the power of her mind, she sensed a cube to knock Twilight out of her. From where Flo was, a block detached itself from the floor and the earth pony flew with it and looked down at the ponies and dogs.

‘’It's clear I will have to use strength again. And this time... I won't be as gentle.’’

Floating cubes came from everywhere, from all directions. And soon all the room was filled of cubes by the hundreds, maybe even thousands, with Flo flying among the heart of that flock of birds of prey. The white throne came down to float behind her and she went slowly toward it.

The group, feeling so in danger, came together in circles, preparing for the assault. But among them, Dirt, forced himself to be brave, took something from his back pocket. The lighting rod he never gave back. He turned it on.

‘’(It worked once, it can work a second time.) Hey boss. You forgot to reclaim our work tools.’’

And he threw it. Floral had only the time to turn her head toward it before the rod hit her. Lightning went coursing through her body making her convulsing. It made her stumble down from her block and she landed her butt on the throne. Still silently shaking on her chair, the throne activated and the blue circuitry went coursing on her skin but this time the lines shone with a far greater intensity.

Everything went haywire.

The blocks acted like if they were possessed and flew in all directions super fast for then going round and round, forming a tornado of cubes turning around the floating filly convulsing at mad speed.

Blue circuitry also came on the surface of the arena and took more and more expansion. And they will very soon reached the ponies and dogs.

Rarity exclaimed:

‘’What it's happening now?!’’

To which Applejack answered:

‘’Ah don't know but ah won't stay here to find out. Ah propose we run like chickens and go through that door.’’

They all went down the stairs and ran straight toward the open double door. Once they passed it, they did not slow down and continue to run across the huge hall.

Twilight looked back just once to saw the double door closed itself, sealing them from the chaos behind them.

But even as they ran, the blue circuitry still went coursing across walls, floor and ceiling toward them. And it was faster than them. It soon catches back with Applejack and the blue lines went through the skin of her leg. Afraid, she tumbled down, rubbing hysterically her leg like if it could stop the blue lines from spreading further, but they covered her all and when they reached her head, her eyes shone with a bright blue light. The same fate happened to the others and they could no longer move.

At the same time, the monitors across all Equestria also went haywire and their screen distorted so much that the ponies watching them had to cover their eyes.

As for the ponies and dogs, their minds had made one with the machine. And they all converged toward the heart of all. The mind of the one ruling the ruins.

And once there... they could see all. Her deepest secrets. Her past. The reasons why she had become what she is now. They could see

The story before the story

Author's Note

Bet you did not see that coming.

You have no idea how impatient I was to reaveal that plot-twist. I wanted to make sure that it would be not that obvious but also not that coming out-of nowhere. If you go looking back at the previous chapters, you may noticed I had put several hints. Hints that mean nothing by themselves unless you already know the anwser. But now...

Anyway, with that, the segment concerning the game is officialy over. If you have not already guessed, the next chapter will be another backstory one. One concerning Flo and Mel who, I hope, will make sense of everything. I had planned it to be quite long so expect it to take a little while before that chapter being publish.

Hope you will like it. See you soon.