6.1: Rainbow Dash trial

Restless, restless, restless.

That was how one pegasus was feeling right now. Restless.

Like Mel had promised, each of Mane 6 had been sent to individual rooms like the one they were before, except they were smaller.

And it was in one of them that Rainbow Dash was, walking in circles around it. Once she had come here, she was not capable of staying still. Oh she had been stressed since a long time but before, she was able to put a brave front for her friends. But now that she was alone, all her depressive feelings came free. She was never good with being alone and not receiving support. Encouragement was in a sort her fuel. So to avoid feeling blue she tried to distract herself by moving the most possible, which in this small room was not a lot. She went walking in circles, fly a few short, very short, lapses and even went to do some wing-push-ups. And that was not even five minutes she was in there. Feeling that she could no longer take anymore, she exploded and shouted toward her captor.

‘’AAAAH COME ON, how long will you make me wait! You are so afraid that I will ace your trial that you want to make me die of boredom, that it! For pete sake, just in the moment where I was feeling my blood boiling with excitement because helloooo, all Equestria is watching me, it is my chance to give to them one of the coolest, awesome and spectacuderful show ever. … … … … You know, I just realized that when there is nopony to hear you bragging, you really look like an idiot. *sigh* I am so tired of waiting, PLEASE SHOW YOURSELF!’’

Right on cue, a screen appear behind Rainbow Dash.

‘’You call, so I appear.’’

‘’GYAAAAAH!!!”

It surprised the hell of out her, making her panic. Afraid, she went running and she tripped on her hooves, fell down and went rolling toward the wall. She was now upside down, her head on the floor, looking annoyingly at Mel. Needless to say, she felt so humiliated.

‘’Why it always happens to me? It’s a curse, it’s must be. And you idiot never do that again, you nearly give me a heart attack!’’

‘’Oh that won’t do. I need you too much.’’

‘’Yeah everypony needs Rainbow. With sunshine. But you, you clearly need them more than the others.’’

‘’But there are some that find their radiance ridiculously flashing for nothing, like if they want to brag about how awesome they are.’’

‘’… … I hate you.’’

She used her wings to fly off then, went to hover in her upright position with her upfront hooves crossing.

‘’Sooo, are we here just to do lame banters or we will get down to business?’’

‘’Right, right, I am here to tell you that your trial will begin. Dash, you’re the first.’’

‘’Sweet, right into the action. Well, although I admit nothing could make me happier to quickly show what I am capable of, if I were at your place, I would have left the best for the last.’’

‘’Oooh such ardor. But does all this bravado is it not a hint that deep down you are afraid and that you want to hide it?’’

Rainbow leaned closer to Mel with the smuggest face she had ever done.

‘’It’s not bravado if it’s a fact.’’

‘’Hahahahaha, oh your arrogance knows no limit. … … No… no you are probably right. You really are extraordinary Miss Rainbow Dash. To deny that would be foolish. But I am not talking about the incredible physical feats you can do… but about how you manage to do them in the first place.’’

‘’Huh what now!?’’

‘’You do not have a blind trust in your talent. When something will be a tough challenge, you know it will be a tough challenge. But regardless, you never find it daunting, quite the contrary, you face it head-on with bravery. And more importantly, under your air of arrogance, you do know the importance of hard-work. That is why you train constantly, working your muscles until they are tired and go to pushing further and further your limit.’’

‘’Hum, well yeah, a victory without challenge has no savor.’’

‘’Yes. And that why Rainbow, you shine so much. You are a living symbol. A symbol that show that with hard-work you can accomplish anything and that no dreams are beyond out of reach.’’

Rainbow Dash just did not understand where Mel was coming. Though she admitted that all this praise was flattering her ego to the highest heights.

‘’But you know Rainbow, I consider that's not even your greatest quality. What so special about you is that you have the genuine desire to teach to other about how be as great as you just because you want to share to them the joy of being proud of yourself. And indeed, I can guarantee you that many ponies look up to you. By seeing you, they start to believe that they can become as awesome as you, or at least close enough, if they just give their all and never give up. Right now I can think of two pegasus in particular. Your confidence is that contagious. That is what I think make you so special. You are a diamond that changes the others into diamonds.’’

Rainbow, before so much praise, could feel her face turning red. Embarrassed, she turned her back from Mel and shyly scratched the back of her head while giggling.

‘’Ohohoho, well I wouldn't say you wrong, I do make this effect to ponies, who could blame them? But even I wouldn't go as far to say I'm as extraordinary as you say... ... that how you would have like I reacted, is it not?’’

Rainbow faced Mel once again, showing that her demeanor from earlier was just an act to mess up with him.

‘’Good try Mel. Good try. But it would take more than praise and compliment to let my guard down.’’

‘’That was not my intention. And everything I have said, I think it. But tell me, are you... sure that what you do is a good thing?’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’I have said too much. You trial will now start.’’

‘’Good. Now do your worst because I am ready to take you on.’’

‘’...You may regret those words. Here how we will proceed. Your trial is an obstacle course.

‘’Aha, I see you speak my language.’’

‘’The goal is to arrive at the end of this gauntlet where you will find a button.’’

‘’Heh, a button! What does it do?’’

‘’ It deactivate a bomb. As I had said earlier, I have hidden a bomb in a place that is dear to you. If you don’t finish the race and push the button before the countdown reach zero, the bomb will explode. And the place in question happens to be//

‘’ Oh no need to tell me. After all I will surely succeed with awesomeness and make sure nothing blow-up. So it really does not matter to know//

‘’*sigh* It’s the Wonderbolts academy.’’

Rainbow Dash fell right on the floor. Although it had hurt, she could not notice the pain. All her cockiness was now gone and at its place she had the face of a young kid who had just seen the spookiest thing ever.

‘’Huh!’’

The truth is that she didn’t want to know where the bomb was because it was helping her to make herself believe that nopony was in danger. As stupid as she knew how it sounded. But now… the height on her shoulders seemed so heavy.

‘’Or rather the dormitories of the Wonderbolts, well hidden under the floor. You know that at this hour, many of your
colleagues must be there, sleeping. ‘’

‘’No. Don’t.’’

‘’Feeling not so confident now? Those ponies are after all your friends. Maybe you could even call them brothers and sisters. Can you handle the pressure? If you find it is too much to bear, I can you know just blow them up myself here and now.’’

‘’NO!! Hum, I mean… I’m… I’m not scared. … I’m not scared.’’

But her word didn’t have a lot of weight in them.

‘’Happy to hear it. Now let me give you the details of the track.’’

Another 3D image appeared on the screen. It was a skeletal model of an L-shaped corridor with the feet of the L going straight up while the other part went to the right.

‘’Basically it is separate into three parts, each with their own obstacles. The first one, the corridor that go at the vertical possesses a fake and moveable roof that serve has a barricade that block the passage to the horizontal corridor. To access it, you will have to push the roof with all you got until an opening come for you to go. Basically, it will serve as a test of raw strength.’’

Rainbow Dash was saying nothing but instead was looking at the screen and listening with the upmost concentration. She knew it was no longer the time to jest.

‘’Then once it's done, you will be on the second corridor. Your path will be blocked by two special vault doors that can only be opened by… hehe, that would actually be a surprise. It would be better if you took that test unprepared.’’

Annoyed, she could not help to do a small grunt toward his arrogance.

‘’And finally beyond the two doors is a straight line to the goal. But the wall around you will also be moveable and will try to stop you. You will have to fly fast but also with agility to avoid them without losing speed. I think this one should be the most easy part for you since you are used to flying through obstacles. So did you get it all?’’

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead she was rubbing her right-front hoof on the ground like if she was a bull ready to strike. She was already getting prepared to go into her inner deep well of drive and letting it loose.

‘’Yeah yeah I get it, pushing very hard, a no fun surprise and my usual routine, that about sum it up. I just have one question. How much time I have to reach that button?’’

‘’Seven minutes. That all you will have before the bomb explodes. Do you feel up to the challenge?’’

‘’Like it’s my style to give up before having even begun.’’

Mel did a small smile and the roof of the room open itself up revealing a dark vertical shaft only lighten by light cyan lights on the walls. From where she was, she could not see how far it was going.

‘’Very well Dashie, it is time to see if you can really do anything. The countdown will begin when I say go. Which I just did right now.’’

‘’Wait what! DAMN YOOUUUUUUUUUU.’’

As she was shouting her indignation she went flying straight up, knowing that if she wanted to save her friends, then she didn't have a second to lose. Gaining altitude faster than a rocket, leaving a rainbow trail behind her, she quickly reached the roof in a matter of seconds. Knowing that it was a fake one, she didn’t hesitate and sprinted right to it, her hoofs held before her and as she touched it, instead to be crushed on it, the roof did indeed was pushed up.

‘’It had really worked! It’s just like Mel had said, this roof is really moveable. Now I just have to push higher and higher until I see an opening. *huff*… Oh gosh it’s hard.’’

Although the fake roof was not as heavy as a true roof, it still had a considerable weight. For Rainbow it was like lifting a heavy dumbbell and it was already strenuous for her muscles. Not only she had to flap her wings like crazy for staying in the air but the biggest work was given to her arms who had to push the roof with all the strength they could give, if not more. Rainbow was an athlete but she was principally a flying athlete. Although she had more strength than the average pegasus, that did not mean that she was as strong as somepony who was doing weight training.

‘’*huff**huff* Oh dammit, I really should have worked more on those legs of mine. Once everything is done I promise in the name of Celestia that I will buff everything else instead of just my wings. Damn it, it's... it's just horrible. Do I have still have for long?’’

The roof was indeed going higher but for Rainbow, the pace was painfully slow.

‘’Too slow, too slow, too damn slow, I don't have a second to lose, I must give more strength. Come on. Come, ooooon.’’

So she went to press her shoulders and even her head against the ivory surface and pushed more harder. She was already giving her hardest but now she went even beyond that. And it succeeds, the roof was going up faster. But if before it was strenuous, now it was a true torture.

‘’(Gosh it's hurt. It's hurt so much. Please somepony make it stop.)’’

Quickly her face had become red and tears were streaming from her eyes. Every muscle in her body was crying in pain, begging her to giving them just a little moment of rest. But she knew it was forbidden for her.

‘’(I can't stop. I can't even go slower. If I want to save the Wonderbolts then every second is precious. Every second count.)’’

But it was more easily said than done. The temptation to release her push just for an instant was becoming stronger. She could feel her body reaching its limit and that it will soon release its grip any time soon.

‘’(No no no no. I, ghuh... I won't... make it. It's... it's just too hard. I won't make it. I won't make it. Why I must do that? Why it is happening. I'm hitting a wall, I can't go over it. Oh no, my mind... my mind too, I feel it going out! Please somepony, I don't want that my friends die. Please help me. Anypony help me. I... I...)’’

|***|

‘’Nighty-eight. Nighty-nine. One hundred! Good job Fluttershy, you have really surpassed yourself. Ah, don't you all feel much better now.’’

‘’Please... somepony kills me.’’

Rainbow Dash, wearing sports clothes, was looking proudly at her friends Fluttershy who had just done one hundred wing push-ups. An exploit for her. But she was also worried for her since her yellow face was now a red face and her eyes were vacant.

‘’Eeeeeh, right, we maaay have gone a little overboard. Here Fluttershy, take a good sip of my bottle.’’

Rainbow took a plastic water bottle and put it right in the mouth of Fluttershy since she was now too weak to even raise a hoof. She did not lose time to suck all its fresh content in one go like a vacuum to the point that the now empty bottle was all compress from the inside. Dashie looked at what was left of her bottle with a scared look.

‘’Yeaaah, I see you really need it.’’

‘’Thank Dashie. I feel much better now.’’

‘’Glad to hear it. I can't still no believe that you of all pony have come to ask me to help you to do some workout training. Usually it's me that must beg you to do some exercise with me. (Beg you and trailing you by the tail I must add.)’’

‘’Oh well, how should I explain? You remember when the pegasus of Ponyville had to give water to Cloudsale so that it can produce rainclouds?’’

‘’How could I forget. You were so awesome.’’

‘’Well to do that I had to train like I never have before and that was when I had realized that with time I had neglected my body and it was time that I strengthen it more.’’

‘’Attagirl Fluttersy! Maybe you even rejoin me on my flying training session. We could become sports buddy’’

‘’Don't get your hope up, there is no way I will a sportmare. My... body is too frail to even follow your rhythm.’’

‘’Oh! Right, right.’’

‘’Don't make that face, it's just a fact. But think I must stop using that as an excuse. No. No it's more like that I tend too at staying in my comfort zone and never step out of it. So I guess that on what I am truly training or something like that.’’

‘’Fluttershy, you impress me! What had made you think like that?’’

‘’Hehe. What had! It's you silly.’’

‘’Me!’’

‘’It's... a little embarrassing to say but you kinda been somepony I had always admired. You are so brave and strong that I had often wished to be just a little like you. For long I thought it was a silly fantasy but you always encourage me and push me forward again and again. So much that I had started to believe that I can do more than I can already do. All thanks to you.’’

Rainbow, embarrassed, was rubbing her hair.

‘’Oh shush. That sure is special to hear. Well, what can I say if I often make that effect on other ponies. Though I begin to think that question bravery, you may surpass me in that domain.’’

‘’What was the last part?’’

‘’Nothing! Nothing. So, what do you say that we now do ten flying laps around the park?’’

‘’What! You mean there's more! No please, mercy Dashie, mercy.’’

‘’Come on little buddy, just a few more and you will beat your record. You can do it.’’

‘’I try *huft* the best *huft* I can.’’

Scootaloo was in the air, just under Rainbow dash, flapping her wings as fast as a dragonfly. She was trying to reach the encouraging open hooves of Rainbow but she was missing them from just a few centimeters and no matter how much effort she was giving, she could not manage to gain more height. She then felt, exhausted, and fall on the dirt.

‘’Shoot, I was so close.’’

‘’It's alright Scoot, you have worked hard. Maybe it is time to call it a day.’’

‘’Oh please, just a little more. I am feeling confident today.’’

‘’I like your attitude. Alright, let's go once more. Remember, focus more on the rhythm of your wings than about lifting yourself.’’

‘’You got it. And thanks again for tutoring me. To receive lessons from you it's like a dream come true.’’

‘’Well as you recently new honorary sister it is my duty to make sure my little sis can become a flyer as awesome as me.’’

Scootaloo eyes went glittering with awestruck and admiration.

‘’You know, it's strange but when you say it, I have no problem believing it. For as long as I remember I had always believed that I never be able to be, well, a flyer at all. Because... *sigh*... you can see I was born with bad wings.’’

Rainbow was slightly looking away. Everypony had noticed that fact for a long time but they all felted it was a subject too uncomfortable to talk openly.

‘’But I remember like it was today. The day you came into Ponyville. I surprised by luck one of your training sessions and... and was just out of this world. That speed, those loops, those acrobatics, it was just so... so...’’

‘’Awesome.’’

‘’No it was more than that. It had given me hope. You are more than just a mare who can do Herculean tasks, I could immediately see that you were working hard to attend that level. Then I thought that if I was working as hard as you then maybe, just maybe that one day I may be as incredible as you Rainbow, regardless of wings problem or not.’’

At this declaration, Rainbow Dash was speechless.

‘’You know what kiddo, I think that one day you may even surpass me and become more awesome than me.’’

‘’Wha wha wha wha, whaaaat!’’

‘’But if you want it to happen you will have to train. Besides, sappy emotive dialogues had not my cup of tea so what do you say we come back to working those muscles of yours.’’

‘’Ri, right!’’

Scootaloo went to flap her wings again with all she could muster, trying so hard to reach her beloved idol.

‘’That it kiddo, you are so close, just a few inches, just, a, few, inches.’’

She was trying as hard she could, her eyes shut tight and her face was sweating. Everything seemed to show that she would not succeed but then, Scootaloo managed to grab a little bit of more energy and she flew right into the warm embrace of Rainbow.

‘’You did it, you really did it, you beat your record! WHOOHOO!’’

Feeling so proud, she flew high in the sky while turning around on herself with Scoot in her arms, shouting her joy to the blue expanse. Although she didn't notice that she was giving nausea to poor Scoot.

**|**

Rainbow did not know exactly why but in this moment of despair, the images of the two ponies who had a special place in her life came to appear in her mind. Two pegasus that were looking up to her and who claimed to have changed thanks her help. Somehow, just thinking about them was seemingly making, like some sort of magic, her weight less heavier.

‘’(Oh... that right. Them. Scootaloo, Fluttershy. The two ponies Mel says I have influenced the most. These two are really incredible. They were born with serious disadvantages. Disadvantages that were showing that it will have been best for them to give up. But regardless, they were still moving forward without giving up. All because I inspired them. Yeah what a joke. The truth is that it was more me that was inspired by them. I had worked hard sure, but I had already raw talent to help me to be confident. But those two who had nothing, went up with just raw courage. I love surpassing myself but those two takes the cake. Well, I think it is a great time that I finally take example on them. What kind of mentor I would be if I disappoint them.) OooooaAAAAAAAAAAAH.’’

With this battle cry, adrenaline was rushing through her veins, decoupling her strength. The roof was now being pushed at an even faster pace and though it hurt, she was ignoring the agonizing pain coursing through her. But as she was looking at the sliding wall in front of her, she then at last saw appear an opening to the corridor that Mel had previously mentioned. Not even waiting for this opening to be fully revealed, she flew toward it in a burst of speed, the muscles of her hooves thanking her for this sweet release, as the fake roof dropped down behind her.

Still, this ordeal has been so strenuous for her body. When her feet touched the ground, they were too weak to support her weight, making her trip. She had managed with a mix of reflex and desperation to catch herself on her hooves but it only made her stumble once again, falling face first on the hard floor. Enough for making a small stream of blood flowing from her muzzle.

She, however, did not stay put for even more than a second on the ground and used her wings again to propel her own body straight forward. It did not take long before Rainbow could see at the distance a wall but the line in the middle was suggesting that it was more like a vault door. She also saw that before it there was a small column that was more like a pedestal with a screen on top of it. Connecting the dots and quickly understanding that what was on this screen was the way for her to open the door, she landed on it, well more like crumbled on it and grabbing like if her life depended on it, and looked at the words written on the screen with a proximity certainly not good for her eye.

Tell me who I am

Like the rain I fall
Yet more than pegasus have dominion over me

I am a symbol of beauty
Still everypony fears me

I may look tasty
But you will only find bitterness

Who I am

‘’... ... NOOOOOOOOOO! WHY? WHY IT HAS TO BE A RIDDLE OF ALL THINGS WHEN I SUCK SO MUCH AT THIS, I AM NOT A EGGHEAD!’’

Rainbow Dash then went to slap her own face several times to regain the control of herself.

‘’(Stupid, stupid, it's not the moment for that. You cannot use that as an excuse, that surely what that jerk wants. So who cares if you are dumb NO NO, don't say that you are dumb, you are the best prankster in Equestria and that requires brains. You never back down from a challenge and this is a challenge, just another kind so stop being a pussy and start using your head for once. Think Rainbow Dash, think, THIIIIINK.)’’

Like Rainbow had said, it was not that she was stupid, but the domain of intellectual problems was one where she hardly ever goes there. It was more Twilight thing. No, more than that, of all six, she was the one who had the least ability in that. A fact she was seriously regretting now. But having not a second to lose on self-pity she forced her brain to give more juice than usual and started to ponder over the riddle. To ponder at triple speed.

‘’(It falls like rain so it's not rain, something about weather, I know all about weather, no it's controlled by more than pegasus so it couldn't be that, taste bitter, something that you eat, but what food fall? Wait apple fall! That doesn't make any sense, in what an apple is feared? A symbol of beauty, I know nothing about that, what I will gonna do. Takes upon yourself dimwit! Dress, aerobic figures, no no it’s too obvious that the beauty and fear part must be a metaphor but I am bad in metaphor!)’’

Even her brain was giving her all, Rainbow was still feeling that her thoughts were not going fast enough. So with the strength of her will she make it work even more harder. Normally the brain only use thirty percent of its capacity but it is possible to raise the percentage and sometimes even to go at full capacity just like with a body filling with adrenaline. And that especially true in stressful and dangerous situations.

‘’(Rain cloud thunder, leaf, wait, no, apple sugar tea soup cooper gemstone snowflake star moon, maybe, no, leaf wind flying bird light butterfly animal friend home store leaf ghaaa, body life sun princess pony accomplishment hope victory answer leaf STOP REPEATING THIS DAMN WORD AGAIN AND AGAIN! Smuree, fruilly, krouchou, lali, rogi, mou, blui THEY ARE NOT EVEN WORDS! Why do you have to be such a stupid retarded?)’’

The pressure was starting to get on her nerves to the point that her vision was getting blurry. Until she realized that the true reason was that she was crying. She wiped her eyes with the tips of her right wing and then…

‘’Wait! ...That it. THAT IT!’’

Fast as lightning she typed on the screen to write what she thought was the answer.

TEAR

And the answer was right! As that word was written, the double door separated themselves and sink into the walls. But Rainbow did not wait for the door to open completely and as soon as there was an opening for her, she did like a cannonball and charged right through it. It did not take more than three seconds before she stumbles before another pedestal and another door. On this pedestal there was an incrustation with many little blocks of white and blue color. Seven rows of seven making in total fourthly-nine cubes. No, fourthly-eight cubes since there was one space that was empty. One look was enough for Rainbow Dash to understand what it was.

‘’(A sliding puzzle where I must make the shape of Mel cutie mark! And it's me who we accuse of being a megalomaniac. Don't distract yourself with useless thoughts, GO!)’’

She did not lose time and went to start to move the blocks. At first she was only doing it randomly but since she could only move one at a time she knew she had to do that more fast and especially more efficiently.

In a sense, the frenzy she had been because of the previous riddle has been a nice warm-out for her brain. Her usual ways of thinking could not just cut-up and she knew that. So she had to go beyond what she was normally capable. At least that was what she was telling herself.

So she blocked any useless thoughts for only thinking about the puzzle before her. Her eyes were looking with intensity at the cubes without blinking even once. And soon, she could see patterns in the arrangements, allowing her to not only knew what move she should do but also what future moves she should make after them.

But still feeling that it was not enough, she boosted even more her brain capacity, entering into a state of concentration close to madness. She could probably could not even notice the cold sweat on her skin and that her heart was beating at a painful rate. But because of that, she was solving the puzzle at a record speed. If you knew Rainbow, then you will understand that what she did was nothing short of an exploit. But she could have done it only because the stakes were so high. The cutie mark was nearly formed and there was only a few moves left. She decides she could release her concentration.

‘’(Fiouf. That sure was intense. But for Celestia sake, don't ever ask me to do that again.)’’

The sliding puzzle was at last completed and the door didn't lose time to open. How Rainbow Dash would have liked to take the time to be proud of what she did. But it was a luxury that was not allowed for her and she instead automatically went forward.

‘’Good, this is the last stretch, the obstacle course. And I always fly like a ace on those tracks. Now go and give me your worst WHOOA!!!’’

As soon as she had said that, columns like structures emerge from all four walls, moving like pistons. To avoid hitting them or worse, being rammed by them, she had to use her legendary agility to constantly alter her flying course to slip around those moving obstacles. The tricky part was that because time was of the essence, she had to do it in a way that did not make her lose speed which mean she had to coordinate her trajectory in split-second decisions. A feat the pegasus was feeling very confident. That is until one of those piston came from below, hitting right on the belly and knocking out all the air in her lungs. She nearly could have fallen on the ground if she did not have in-extremis made a nice move that propelled forward

‘’*cough**cough* Heh what give! How can I have made such a beginner mistake, I never do missteps like GYAAH!!’’

Another one had hit her at her right wing. She could still fly but the pain was bothersome.

‘’(Oh no, crap crap crap, all that has been too much for me, I am no longer in top form!)’’

The two previous trials were now taking their toll on Rainbow. The lifting of the fake ceiling had depleted a lot of her strength and energy and the time she had to solve the puzzles was not enough for her to recuperate. And speaking of those, she had to push her brain to the limit to find the answers the fastest possible. In simpler words, she was very tired, physically and mentally. Now Rainbow Dash understood. She understood why Mel had chosen to put what was supposed to be the most easy ordeal right at the end.

Another one had hit her at one of her lower legs making her tumble but luckily landing her foots on a wave of moving columns, running like dear life on them as they emerged, for then jump and returned to gliding. She was now starting to lose confidence over if she could manage to succeed and it grew worse when her vision was getting blurry and she could feel that her mind was going to faint at any moment. In a last-ditch effort to stay conscious, she had burst a primal scream to grab the last bit of strength left in her.

‘’AHHHHHHH. I WILL NEVER GIVE UPPPPPPPP.’’

With a last burst of speed she managed to avoid all obstacles with instincts that even her did not knew she was capable and at last, exited the corridor to enter a big open room just like the one she was trapped at first, with the only difference was that right in the middle there was a pedestal just like the ones with the riddles, except there was a big square button on it. Not wasting a nanosecond, she flew to it and pushed it and then collapsed on the floor, her goal now accomplished.

‘’Sa... saaafe.’’

Finally, she could feel that she was allowed to relax. She could no longer feel anything in her body and she was inhaling and exhaling like a locomotive. With a slight fear that every breath could be the last. But nothing could erase the profound feeling of pride that she was having and that she was sure was well deserved.

‘’ ... ... well, would you look at that. Look like I did a miracle. Again. Hahaha*cough**cough*... urrgh, probably should not do that, I feel like I could throw up. But still, you can take that you dumpass because I have won, oh yeah, I have won your damn trial. I have saved everypony.’’

She was saying while raising her hoof in a victory sign.

‘’Hell I have even impress myself. Oh gosh it was torture. But nothing, but I said well nothing is impossible when Rainbow Dash set her mind on something. Ohhh I can't wait to tell to all the guys how I have saved them fro... heh! ... ah, aaaaaaaah!’’

At first she didn't had notice until she had raised her eyes but there was in this room a big screen on the wall in front of her. It was turned on. And it was bathing the face of Rainbow Dash with its sickening light. Her face painted with horror.

‘’No... no... why... but...’’

She could not understand what she was seeing. She did not want to understand what she was seeing.

The screen was silently showing a view of the Wonderbolt academy or more precisely, the dorm of the recruits. Consumed in gluttonous flame and a thick column of black smoke raising above it. If this projection had not been on silent mode, Dash could have heard the sirens of the fireponies coming to extinguish the fire though it looked like it could well extinguish by itself since there was already not a lot for it to consume.

Rainbow could no longer breathe. And the exhaustion had nothing to do with that.

‘’I... I'd failed! But, how?’’

In her daze she didn't have saw it but at the bottom of the screen there was a flashing chronometer that had stopped counting. The number on it was twenty-two. No, negative twenty-two.

‘’Twenty-two seconds! I, was, late from twenty-seconds! But... but why? How can it be? I didn't slow down at any moments. I had not given-up until the end and still, after all that I... let everypony down. What did I do wrong?’’

The screen on the wall became blurry until it was only showing static. And another one appeared at the right of the pegasus, showing Mel with his usual and irritating detached attitude.

‘’Don't misunderstand Miss Dash. You did fight valiantly. You have even surpassed my attempt of you. It's just that it was not enough.’’

‘’Youuuu...’’

Filling that word with a cold rage, she wanted to lunge at him but she didn't have the energy to lift herself off the floor. She didn't even have enough to scream. All she could do was filling her eyes with tears of anger.

‘’You monster, how could you do that! The guys... my colleagues... all gone by your fault. And you dare to give me false hope by giving me a impossible challenge. I had given my hundred, no, my hundred and twenty percent, there no way I could have given more.’’

‘’... ...You are right. You are absolutely right. This challenge was designed to be impossible to win. It just gave the illusion that was feasible but realistically speaking, nopony could win it. Not even you.’’

‘’Why... why are you doing that?’’

‘’To teach a lesson. A lesson about not only you but how all of us are more powerless than we think. You see, as I had said before you constantly giving to the world one message. That if you give your all and work hard, you can accomplish anything. And ponies do listen to it and as a result gain more confidence to surpass what they were at their beginning. At first glance, it seems a very good thing. However... too much of this belief can be a very harmful.’’

The blue pegasus wanted to reply but her head had stopped working. So she just listened in silence.

‘’Nothing is truly impossible. You are able to accomplish anything. Now those are pretty words. But in the end, they are so so false. There are things that are just impossible. There are limits that are just insurmountable no matter what you do. We are less in control on our lives than we think. Tragedy and misery on which we can't do nothing. But people choose to deny. They don't want to accept their powerlessness and that there exists such a thing as not rewarded efforts. Why don't we take a look at you Rainbow Dash and on what you have done. Yes, what exactly have you done? You have been given a ridiculous and unfair challenge and yet you didn't have run away from it. You managed to endure an exercise that was not in your zone of comfort. You have excelled in an intellectual challenge even though it was your biggest weakness. Even though your body was failing you, you had managed to get to the goal with sheer force of will. Don't you see? You did more than giving your all, you have surpassed yourself. And yet-

it was not enough.

At this moment, the magenta eyes of the reckless and adventurous pegasus had lost all trace of light in them. It was like seeing the eyes of a dead mare.

‘’It... was not enough!’’

‘’This is how life work. There exist situations where no matter what you do or what you may try, it is, just, not, enough. A fact which I suspect that you, above anypony else fear to be true. But now do you still think that there is no hardship that you could not overcome. And do you still think it is a good idea to spread that optimism philosophy when you no longer believe it yourself? Think deeply about what had happened tonight. Think about how you will now see the world and about what you can do about it. That all I ask of you from now on. Farewell Miss Rainbow Dash.’’

The screen disappeared, leaving Rainbow Dash alone. With not even the strength to shout.

To say she was devastated wouldn't be able to do justice to the despair she was in right now. She had lost a lot of her friends in an instant and there was nothing she could have done to change that fate.

‘’Useless. It was all useless. All those efforts would have changed nothing if I did them or not! No, it can't be true, it can't be true. Then why... what was the point of all I did in my life.’’

She could feel the tears starting to flow from her eyes. She wanted to hold them back because she did not want to give him the satisfaction to see her crying. But it was a losing fight and her tear came silently coursing across her cheeks. In a last act of defiance, she stomped her hoof on the floor, again and again, stronger and stronger but it changed nothing.

‘’It's hurt. It's hurt, it's *sniff*... its hurt so much. I never feel so weak and useless. My friends, they, guhhh... they all dead and I should just accept that as fate? I think... I think I will have felt better if they died by my fault.’’

The exhaustion and the feeling of defeat got the better of her. Her eyelids became heavy as lead and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

Her last thought was how she would like to never wake up.

Rainbow Dash trial
You are powerless

The ruins: a isolated chamber

‘’Rainbow Dash! Rainbow, please hang on! Rainbow, Rainbowwwww!’’

As Melancholia as promised, the torment of Rainbow Dash, from beginning to end, didn't go unnoticed from prying eyes. All the country had seen this great heroine struggle, conquer and in the end, lose in a cruel game rigged for failure. And the ponies who had watched did not stay unaffected. Many were horrified to learn that the Wonderbolts just... died in an explosion and many had their hearts broken at the sigh at that poor pegasus. Which by by-product made sure that the words of Mel stay in their head. So they could not help but to seriously ponder them. But there was also somepony else who were watching this diffusion. And that was none other than the princess of friendship herself, poor Twilight Sparkle, writhing in anguish, feeling the pain of Rainbow as it was her own.

When she was brought to this empty and dark room, only illuminated by the pale cyan lights, she had tried her best to be strong and to stay in control of her emotions. But like so many times, it was the presence of her friends that was her moral support. Without them around her, she could feel a wave of panic growing bigger and bigger in her until she was submerged by it and could no longer breathe. How she had wished to have her paper bag with her to blow into it. But all she could do was cower in fear.

Even after the panic attack was gone, the fear did not dissipate. She had listened when Mel had said that they were filmed and that all Equestria was watching them. So Twilight could not help to wonder if she was watched right now by thousand and thousand of eyes looking at her miserable and pathetic self. More she was worrying about that, more she was feeling sick and as a result, she was worrying even more about being watched. It was enough to reawaken old traumas.

You see, when she was a filly under the tutelage of Celestia, she was on adoration before her and her deepest wish was to make her proud . So naturally she was fearful to do mistakes and disappoint her and so she was making her possible to not doing anything wrong. But then one day came through her a thought. What if Celestia could use her magic to observe her even in her daily life. It was nothing more than a silly and childish thought that she had quickly dismissed but as more days come, more she could no longer put that idea out of her head.

It didn't help that her house was one day invaded by a swarm of ladybugs and that her brother Shining Armor had joked that their black spots were extra eyes that were watching you. It was a innocent sibling prank, but Twilight took it seriously and Twilight associated ladybugs with her new phobia of being observed making it even bigger than before.

That fear had become so terrible that she could no longer sleep at night, imagining tons of judging eyes watching her in the dark of the night. If Twilight had not burst in tear into Celestia chamber pleading her to not watching her from distance and if Celestia had not console her for hours to ease the fears of that poor filly, who know how long that phobia may have stayed.

Now today, she had forgotten all about that period of her life, probably because she was ashamed of how silly she was. Her fear of ladybugs has stayed but that was because she had forgotten its true origin. But now, all the stress had made her relapse and her irrational fear came back in strength.

Oh wait. It was no longer irrational. There were thousand of eyes watching her in the dark.

But then a screen appeared before her. One showing her friend Rainbow Dash. One look at her loyal friend was enough to dispel all her fears. Because she was now too busy fearing for her. She galloped to the screen in one second flat and fixed her gaze at a proximity not healthy for her pupils. She saw her friend Rainbow being Rainbow which was helping Twilight to smile once again. She saw her ferociously struggling against the cruel trials throw at her and was cheering her up none stop even though she knew she couldn't hear her.

And she saw her... losing.

Being demolished

Her heart shattered

Losing all hope

And now with a scar in her that might never heal.

The screen had shut down, showing only pitch black.

This... was worse than all Twilight could have imagined. She could not hold back her sorrow and cried like a little filly. But quickly it was soon replaced by cold and venomous rage that was making her bite her lips until they bleed and she could find only one way to free herself from this anger: shout at the one responsible.

‘’Demon, how could you, how could youuu! Rainbow didn't deserve any of that! None of my friends deserve any of that! What give you the right to torment us? You will pay. I will make you pay. Stop hiding and show yourself you degenerate. You are deaf, I had said show yourself before me! Come here Mel, Mel, MELLLLLLLLLL!’’

‘’No need to shout princess.’’

Another screen appeared behind her. A giant one covering the all the area of the wall, showing the diabolical mastermind. As Twilight turned her head to face him, she throws at him a gaze filled with a hatred without names. If look could kill, Melancholia would be nothing more than dust.

‘’Ohhh scary scary. Are you sure so much hatred is worthy of a princess of friendship.’’

‘’If there is one with whom I will never give my friendship, it's you. And for once I don't care if this make me a failure as a princess.’’

She was not sure but it had seemed to her like if the smile of Mel had slightly grew. Which infuriated her even more.
‘’What give you the right to do that? What have we done wrong to deserve such things?’’

‘’All I am doing is just the same thing as you. Teaching lessons.’’

‘’Lessons? Lessons! How can you call that a lesson?! All you have done is... poison the head of Rainbow and take all her hopes and dreams. She could well never get over it. You dare call that a life lesson when all you have given is despair?’’

‘’Yes, exactly. You see, you are sorely mistaken when you say that the goal of life lessons is only to give hope and to help improve ourselves. They are parts of life that are just too real to deny. Painful parts.’’

‘’Again with that. You really love to make that point.’’

‘’I am a realist contrary to the rest of you. That is reason why you and your friends are not that of good life models.’’

‘’I am so tired of that. All I have ever wanted was to make the world a little better, what is so wrong with that? I have never asked to be a role model hell, I didn't even know me and my friends were such important educative figures until today.’’

‘’Yes it's unfair. In the end you are simple ponies with the purest of intentions who just had the bad luck to fall under the eyes of so many. But life is unfair. It doesn't change that, regardless that you want it or not, you are a bad influence under the guise of a good one and that you are making the world more naive than it already is.’’

‘’ (Oh please it's ridiculous. And what next, it will say that I make our poor children more dump?)’’

‘’That it's why I had chosen you for my game. You have managed to become the poster children of the optimist of Equestria and if I can convince you how truly grim life is, then I can convince everypony.’’

‘’Stupid stupid stupid! I can't believe that you put through this torture for such a demented reason. It had never come to you that your pessimism may be as wrong as the optimism that you hate so much?’’

‘’I... I had once my doubts. But not anymore since...’’

‘’Since what?’’

‘’... ... It doesn't concern you. Anyway , like I had shown to Rainbow, there are things that you cannot have any control. So it might be best to accept your fate. You and your friends are destined to be trapped here and to wake up to reality.’’

‘’Never! We will stop you. And if not, somepony else will. You can't expect//

‘’Silence you damn fool.’’

Floating white blocks came from the walls and encircled the lavender alicorn. Bringing bad memories, she sheltered in her wings and wanted to be the most little possible. It did not help that the voice of Mel had now taken a tone so robotic.

‘’For too long we have supported your poisonous influence. For too long we thought your words were brilliance.’’

More screens appeared everywhere, one after the others, and they were all showing a close up of his empty eye. For Twilight to be surrounded by those soulless gazes, it was like her worst nightmare had come true.’’

‘’You shall stop at last to fear pain and to recognize its beauty.’’

One of those screen appeared even at the feet of Twilight which made her jump scare and flew above. For every angle around her, the only things she could see was the iris filled with detached madness staring at her very soul and blocks that could lunge at her at any moment. Hysteria was filling every pore of her being and soon she was crying uncontrollably while Mel continues to barrage her without mercy with his speech devoid of emotions.

‘’Pain is the only thing in my heart. Pain is the only thing I can see. Pain is the only thing to see. All shall bow to its magnificence.’’

Then all light disappeared, leaving the room in a pitch-black darkness. The only thing filling that emptiness... was a childish and chilling whisper.

‘’Don't break-down yet, it had only just begun.’’

Author's Note

At last, 6.1 is here. Sorry to have took so much time, I was in a kind of down period. You know, losing confidence in your writting skill, thinking that the ideas that you created are dump. I'm sure that all of you fanfic writter had been there. (Probably. I hope at least.) Anyway, I won't bother you with that and I reassure you that I have no intention to give up and that I will write all the story until the end.

So here was the first trial. I hope that it had succed to give you a variety of emotions. Next time is Applejack turn. So don't break-down yet, it had only just begun.

~~Oh yeah, on a side note, I will serioulsy search for artis to draw for me a better cover page. Because I had notice that I had the, but~~ the ~~most ugly cover ever made. (At my defense, I had to learn how to use~~ Ilustrator ~~for the first time in my life.) Hope it won't be long.~~[Already done. Thanks a lot to Pridark.]