Animus (The Midnight Series)

Chapter 4: Broken

I

It was about a half an hour when the group reconvened at Twilight's house. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity arrived.

"Hey, what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Don't ask." Applejack suggested.

"Please be silent!" Rarity added.

"Fine." Rainbow Dash grunted.

"You guys are finally here!" Sunset enlightened.

"What's goin' on?!" Applejack asked.

"Look." Sunset requested, as she held up the memory stone. The girls gasped.

"That..." Rarity pointed to it. "What is that?"

"It's the memory stone!" Sunset said. "The memory stone steals a person's memory, and it also can wipe anyone's memory of you." The girls were silent. "It was the time you all forgot about me."

"No, wonder it doesn't ring a bell..." Rarity added. "I simply can't remember when that happened."

"Seriously?" Rainbow Dash interrupted. "I remember it. We all thought Sunset was still bad, so we basically casted her out of our group!" Everyone was awkwardly silent.

"Look, I don't want to be reminded of it. Let's just move on to Twilight!" Sunset suggested.

"Right!" Pinkie shouted.

"The only way to restore Twilight's memory is to destroy it... but..." Sunset stopped in the middle of her sentence.

"But what?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't know how long it's been since that time, it could already be too late, she could have lost everything..." Sunset cried.

"What do ya mean?" Applejack questioned.

"Within three days after the sun sets, the memory that was absorbed into the stone, disappears... forever!" Sunset stated, the girls were worried. "Twilight... could already be gone..."

"Then let's waste no time, let's destroy it now!" Applejack ordered. The girls nodded.

II

The girls gathered together outside. Twilight was still asleep, but she was with them, so they could manifest their power. The girls were grouped in a line, they held their hands together and focused. They felt the surge of power running through them like an electrical current. Sunset transformed into Daydream. The girls remained in their normal form. Sunset levitated, she lifted her hands up, and swung her arms down to where they placed the stone. The stone cracked being engulfed with Sunset's powerful beam of light. It then burst. The stone had opened, several strings of colors aerated from it. The girls could describe them as movie reels. A few of them went into Twilight.

Sunset changed back, and went over to Twilight. Sunset lifted her up by her shoulders. Twilight moaned, and her eyes twitched and opened them slowly.

"Twilight?" Sunset asked softly. Twilight opened her eyes, and they were less frightening than before. They were a sparkling beauty like the stars of the night.

"Sunset..." Twilight spoke softly. "Thank you." Twilight hugged Sunset tightly. The girls smiled, and came in for a hug as well.

"I'm so happy you're back Twilight!" Pinkie enlightened.

"Thanks." Twilight said, as she ruffled her curls. Pinkie purred.

The girls took Twilight inside her house, and sat her down on her couch to rest.

"What happened Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked. "That was so weird."

"I'm so sorry everyone... I didn't mean to cause so much trouble..." Twilight responded with sincerity.

"Twilight?" Sunset asked. "What happened?" Sunset sat down by Twilight, and looked at her. Twilight looked away.

"I-It's nothing..." Twilight said. "Just an accident..."

"What?!" Rarity squandered. "You're not going to tell us?" Twilight was silent. Pinkie Pie jumped into the conversation.

"Twilight? You dropped your element by the curb!" Pinkie said, as she handed it over to Twilight.

"Thanks Pinkie!" Twilight said. Twilight put it back on. "That's much better!" As she looked at everyone. "What?"

"Well, we do deserve an explanation for this Twi?" Applejack requested.

"I said I was sorry..." Twilight said, as she looked down at the floor.

"What's wrong with Spike?" Fluttershy asked. "He's been asleep for awhile?!"

"He's okay." Twilight replied, looking away from the group. "At least... I think so..." Twilight said under her breath.

"What was that?!" Rarity asked.

"Nothing... I'm fine, Spike's fine... and thank you for helping, okay?" Twilight said, as she gave a dishonest smile. The girls knew there was something with her.

"Somethings still fishy!" Rainbow Dash said. "What are you hiding?"

"Look, I'm sorry, but it was just a small accident..." Twilight suggested, as she got up to confront everyone.

"Twilight?" Sunset added. "What is it?"

"Nothing!" Twilight assured, strongly.

Twilight pushed everyone to the door. Applejack cut between her, and confronted her.

"Ah don't believe for one second this was just an accident!" Applejack said, as she walked back to Twilight. Twilight was startled, and walked away while facing her. Twilight was once again, being cornered. "What happened?!"

"N-nothing Applejack... I-I'm serious!" Twilight said hesitantly. "Please don't..."

"Why ya pushing us away?" Applejack said, as she continuously walked up to her until her back was against the wall, and Applejack facing directly in front of her. Sunset reached and held onto her shoulder.

"It's okay Applejack." Sunset said.

"No!" Applejack yelled. "Ah ain't letting this go, after the mess she made, she owes us that much!" Sunset was startled.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't my fault. I had no memory, what was I supposed to do?" Twilight assured.

"Why then?" Applejack continued. "You're seriously goin' to defend her on this?" Applejack asked Sunset.

"That's what I said!" Rainbow Dash commented.

"Shut up, Rainbow Dash!" Sunset said. The girls were all starting to become tense from the argument. "Look, just stop!"

"Am sorry, am honest!" Applejack said. "Ah can't just let Twilight do whatever without fessin' up, there got be somethin' she's hidin'!"

"Enough, Applejack!" Sunset said, as she stood up to her. Applejack looked straight at her and crossed her arms, hoping Sunset would try something.

"Please... just leave!" Twilight requested. Applejack looked back at Twilight, she shook her head and baited everyone to head for the door. The girls headed out, but Sunset quietly shut the door in front of her.

III

The girls were walking down the street.

"Talk about PMS, right guys?!" Rainbow Dash said, as she snickered. Fluttershy sighed heavily. Pinkie Pie smacked her forehead. Rarity rolled her eyes, and Applejack was not happy.

"Seriously?!" Rarity yelled.

"What?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"You're so immature!!! Grow up, will ya!!!" Rarity suggested.

"What's up with you guys, can't take a joke?!" Rainbow Dash asked. Pinkie signaled at Rainbow Dash to pipe down.

"Must you always have a stupid running gag or some sort of zinger! When will you be serious for once!" Rarity continued.

"I am serious! I'm just lightening up the mood, but you always have to be so demeaning!" Rainbow Dash added.

"Now's not the time Rainbow Dash!" Applejack said. "Just stop!"

"Ah c'mon!" Rainbow Dash said. "It wasn't our fault Twilight's going rogue or whatever!"

"Just shut up!!!" Rarity yelled. Everyone stopped to look at Rarity.

"What's your problem?!! Why do you always have to act like such a... BITCH!!!" Rainbow Dash said.

"You watch your mouth there!!!" Applejack said, as she clenched her fists.

"Oh yeah, protect your little girlfriend?! Bring it!!!" Rainbow Dash requested.

"Girls stop it!!! We are all friends!" Fluttershy intervened.

"You two? Seriously?!" Rarity mocked.

"That's it!!!" Rainbow Dash yelled, as she zipped by Applejack and tackled Rarity, and kicked her over to a nearby bush. Rarity got up and was pissed. Rainbow Dash prepared to ram into her again, but Applejack caught her with a rope, and tied both her hands and feet together. "Damn you Applejack!!!"

"Enough!" Applejack said.

"Serves her right!" Rarity said. Rainbow Dash looked toward Fluttershy, she was saddened by her actions, but she called over a squirrel to tackle Rarity's hair. Rarity squealed. Applejack went over to help Rarity, while Fluttershy untied her. When Rainbow Dash was loose, she ran over to push them both in the bush. Rarity got up, and used her magic to push Rainbow Dash away into Fluttershy where they both fell onto the road. Rainbow Dash picked her up, and got her to her feet. Rainbow Dash was furious, and she attempted to run back to them again.

"Rainbow Dash, NO!" Fluttershy screamed. Rainbow Dash ran to them, but Rarity summoned a shield at the right time, and stopped her, as both Applejack and Rarity got up. Her face smashed into it. Rainbow Dash backed away and her nose was gushing out blood. Rainbow Dash held her nose, trying to stop, but it was still coming out. Rainbow Dash felt the tears in her eyes fall, and her hand was soaked. Fluttershy ran to her, and tried to wipe it, but Rainbow Dash shifted away from her. She stopped, until she pulled back her head to sniff it down. Rainbow Dash gasped for air.

"You're gonna pay!!!" Rainbow Dash smiled, as her nose dipped with blood and her eyes matched it.

"Stop it!!!" Pinkie Pie yelled, standing in front of them. "I'm sorry..."

"What are ya talkin' about Pinkie?" Applejack asked.

"I-I... broke your promises... all of you... I'm so sorry..." Pinkie said softly.

"Pinkie... you promised..." Fluttershy said.

"I know... I'm sorry..." Pinkie said.

"They knew?!" Rarity said.

"Know what?! We all already knew, it was only obvious!!!" Rainbow Dash mocked.

"I'm gonna!!!" Rarity insulted.

"Rarity, STOP!" Applejack demanded, as she tugged at Rarity's shoulder. Fluttershy went over to Rainbow Dash.

"I'm leaving! Leave me alone!!!" Rainbow Dash said, as she once again shifted away from Fluttershy, and she walked away on her own.

"Serves her right!" Rarity continued.

Fluttershy grew angry, she gnashed her teeth, and had clenched her fists into her palms, and had called forth birds and told them to prepare for an attack.

"Please, Fluttershy... stop..." Applejack pleaded, as she saw the birds circle around her in the air.

"Stop..." Fluttershy said, as tears streamed down her face, and she ran away.

They all went their own way.

"All I ever wanted was to make everyone happy... I just made things worse..." Pinkie said, as she cried.

IV

Meanwhile, back at Twilight's house.

"Twilight..." Sunset said softly.

"Just go... leave me..." Twilight responded.

"I'm not leaving!" Sunset said.

"Go, I've done nothing but cause pain and misery to everyone! I don't deserve our friendship!" Twilight cried.

"Enough Twilight!!!" Sunset said, as she came up to her. Twilight was frightened.

"I don't want to believe this was your doing." Sunset said.

"Please stop..." Twilight cowardly pushed her back to the wall. Twilight began to cry.

"Please Twilight. I can't leave you, not after what everyone else did. I can't... I just couldn't... I have to know the truth!" Sunset begged, as she felt Twilight's guilt and sadness in her heart as well.

"I'm sorry Sunset... I'm so sorry... You don't hate me do you...?" Twilight asked.

"Nothing will make me hate you Twilight... just trust me, we'll get through it together! No matter what!" Sunset assured. Twilight looked at Sunset. Sunset smiled. Twilight took out her hand, for her to hold. Sunset firmly grasped her hand, and was transferred into her mind.