Animus (The Midnight Series)

Extra: What Was Hidden Inside?

Adagio, Sonata, and Aria all came together to synchronize their powers to form into their final and strongest form.

Inside the lockets, however, was another story...

Sunset was floating in an endless space, as if she was in a dream. A dreamless sleep, in which she feared to just fade into, never coming back to what it used to be. She felt an intense vibration while she glided, and it had pulled her down into a non-existent surface. Sunset awoke, and she opened her eyes slowly. Sunset sat up, and she looked around, there was nothing but a large white space. To see nothing but all the colors at once made her focus too heavily, and it made her worry.

Sunset spoke, but no words came out. She tried to speak, she tried to yell, but there was silence.

"What is going on?!" Sunset thought, however, she was able to hear it. Her own voice in her mind. "I can hear my mind?! This is weird." Sunset thought. "I suppose collective consciousness is a thing. But, what about the other's? I should be able to see it all. This must be that locket Adagio had, she absorbed me into it. Great... what now?!"

Sunset felt a heavy vibration under her feet. It made her stumble to remain in balance.

"What the hell is going on?!" Sunset thought. "I hope the others are okay..."

III

After a few moments, Sunset walked a little into the empty space, and she accidentally bumped into something, which scared her. She looked behind her and there was Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy?!" Sunset thought, before her lips moved to lipsync with her thoughts.

"Sunset?" Fluttershy asked in her head. Fluttershy tried talking. But, she couldn't say anything.

"Use your mind to talk." Sunset thought.

Fluttershy thought of it. The entire place was full of whispering, it echoed and filled their ears with Fluttershy's thoughts.

"I'm sorry Sunset... Rainbow Dash?! Is she okay? Where are we? Why can't I stop? She can hear everything?! Don't think of her and Twilight! I love you Rainbow Dash! Where are we? Stop it, stop it, stop it! Stop thinking! Damn it, now she knows, does she know about Rarity and Applejack too?! No! I can't stop! Where are we?! I'm scared! Dashie... I can't believe Twilight did this again?! As smart as she is, she pretty stupid! Wait, stop thinking negative thoughts, please! Stop it, stupid bitch! It is all her fault! Rainbow Dash, please, enough!"

"Stop!" Sunset asked. But Fluttershy was too emotional.

"I'm sorry!" Fluttershy said, all at once and was silenced.

"What did you mean about Twilight and me?" Sunset was thinking, it was heard by Fluttershy. "What did I do?!"

"Well, you did try to defend her, but she's the one doing all this, you're too stupid to see it! After what happened to Spike, I could never forgive her for it!" Fluttershy thoughts couldn't stop blaming Twilight for everything. "Oh no, she heard everything... stop it Fluttershy... behave... please stop it!"

"Fluttershy calm down..." Sunset thought. "I know it's not easy, but please, don't be so worried."

"How can I not worry! Dash is by herself fighting off one of the Dazzlings! I hope she's okay..."

Moments later, Applejack came to them. She was standing outside the conversation, but heard everything.

"Fluttershy, thank you, ah agree with ya." Applejack thought. "Twilight is to blame for this!"

"How can you say that? She's our friend?!" Sunset thought. "It's not what you think!"

"What do ya mean?! Face facts Sunset, she has gone too far with her experiments!" Applejack thought. "Quit defendin' her! She has nothing worth redeeming for, unless she fessin' up in telling us the truth!"

"I know the truth, Applejack!" Sunset continued. "If you would just listen!"

"Ya know what, am done talkin' with ya!" Applejack stated. "Why don't ya tell Twilight to say it!"

"Applejack! Damn it! Would you stop being so stubborn and listen to me?!" Sunset thought.

"Ah see how it is! Ya think ah don't know, but ah do!" Applejack said.

"What are you talking about?!" Sunset asked.

"Duh! You both, together!" Applejack said.

"Just listen!" Sunset requested.

"Am tired of hearin' ya!" Applejack continued.

"Listen to me!"

"No!"

"She was tortured!!!" Sunset yelled.

"What?!" Applejack and Fluttershy thought.

"She was tortured and you assholes won't listen to me!!! What if it were Rarity or Rainbow Dash, you don't even care?! She was being tormented by Adagio and the other two, they electrocuted her day and night just so she could make them all lockets! Would you all turn away now?!" Sunset asked. "They were about to kill Spike, if she didn't comply, and if she tried to reach out for us, they could have done worse!!! How can you not care?! Your best friend was suffering, and you turned your backs on her!!! She didn't want you all to worry or even know because it was too traumatizing for her to think of!!!" Sunset was mad that they both agreed that Twilight was the one who caused everything. Sunset's mind was full of anger. It made Applejack and Fluttershy uncomfortable, and shocked to feel Sunset becoming unhinged. Sunset cried. "I was alone, you know... you all took it upon yourselves to have someone be there for you, but I didn't... my heart was elsewhere..." She felt the hurt and sadness she felt for so long, opening up to everyone. "I'm in love with Princess Twilight... but what does it matter if I can even go and see her now, right?!" Sunset continued. "Now this shit happens... I took pity for our Twilight... I don't care what you think... I was abandoned by both... and I couldn't even confess even I wanted to."

"Sorry..." Applejack thought.

Applejack and Fluttershy came over to her to calm her down. Sunset walked away, but she understood what they meant.

"Maybe Twilight was the cause of everything, but I don't want Twilight to be excluded from our friendship." Sunset said.

"We would never do that to her..." Applejack and Fluttershy thought.

"It was just the lies and secrets she kept away." Applejack said. Sunset turned back, and was angry at them.

"Then why did you keep your relationships a secret then?!" Sunset yelled. "You're mad at Twilight for keeping secrets! What hypocrites!" Applejack and Fluttershy were silenced, they thought of why they did in the first place.

"I kept my relationship a secret because Rainbow Dash requested that I should until everyone was settled and to tell everyone when it was our time." Fluttershy thought.

"Ah felt the same way. Rarity's parents didn't approve of us, but my family just barely accepted us. We were still unsure of everyone else in how they would respond. It stressed Rarity out, so ah kept it hidden for her until she was ready to bring it out to everyone." Applejack said.

"Sorry..." Applejack and Fluttershy apologized.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this to you. I have no reason to... I'm so sorry everyone... but of course, I accept you all..." Sunset came to them and apologized as well. "Because, we all became separated after everything. You all turned to one another for comfort and reliability. I understand. The reason I was upset was because I had no one to turn to, because I loved Princess Twilight, and she wasn't responding, nor was the other Twilight. It could have been the time Twilight was experimenting on her locket. It was until Pinkie Pie felt like we all should come back together."

"We are friends and we should never abandon each other like we did, even if we all have relationships. We should be there to support each other." Applejack thought.

"I agree, I'm so sorry for everything you guys..." Fluttershy said. They all came together and grouped in a hug.

Afterward, Fluttershy heard someone talking.

"Who's there?" Fluttershy asked, as the girls looked around. "Look!" Fluttershy pointed out in the distance and it was Spike. "Spike?!"

"Fluttershy!" Spike said, as he ran to her. Sunset and Applejack were shocked to see him talk.

"Spike! I'm so glad you're okay!" Fluttershy.

"Where's Twilight?" Spike asked.

"Not here. She was still at home, last time I checked." Fluttershy said.

"Poor Twilight. All that stuff was true, she did try to protect me, and you all. I did try to help, but I was being mangled and nearly died." Spike said.

"Oh ya poor thing..." Applejack cried. Sunset felt her sorrow as well.

"That's okay. I'm okay now, but I worry." Spike said.

"We all do..." Sunset said. "We all hope they are all okay."

"Not only that..."

"What?!"

Spike pointed behind them.

Moments later, they felt another presence among them. It was Twilight with the huge eyes and no other facial features. Fluttershy cowardly took hold of Applejack. Both Applejack and Sunset stood to prepare what could be a fight. Spike stood behind them.

"That's it! Who are you?!" Sunset yelled. Twilight walked to them, they backed away, they kept their eyes on her. Twilight used her nails and ripped off her face like it was a plastic mask. Fluttershy screamed, and Applejack and Sunset both were shocked. Twilight revealed herself to be Midnight.

"Surprise, surprise!" Midnight said.

"Midnight!" Sunset yelled.

"You are all incorruptible, however, Twilight was just about to lose her grip on her own soul." Midnight said.

"What do ya mean?" Applejack said.

"It's true. The torment, being abandoned, and love... each and every single one of them came crashing down to where I can finally reach the surface of taking over!" Midnight said.

"Enough! Go away!" Sunset said.

"Sorry, but I will never leave, until I get what's mine!" Midnight continued. "What I want is to be all-powerful!"

"Never!" Sunset yelled. "How are you manifested?!"

"I would tell you, but isn't it obvious... you lost your souls too!" Midnight chuckled.

"What do ya mean?!" Applejack questioned.

"The lockets absorbed your soul, not your power. The one thing that is more powerful than your elements is your spirit. A more darker magic, if you will. So, technically, you're all dead!" Midnight laughed.

"We're... dead..." Fluttershy whispered.

"Yes, my dear... dead. Left your physical bodies where you were absorbed, and now your souls are stuck inside this locket. However, even if they somehow destroy it, you will not return to your bodies, but be sleeping, silently, dreamless, and alone!" Midnight said. The girls were shocked.

"Twi..." Sunset said. Sunset screamed, she kneeled and cried. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Spike came to her. They all felt the heavy feeling of being lost forever.

"We are not alone!" Applejack said. "We have each other!"

"Maybe in here, but would you be out there? You all barely managed each other's presence seconds ago. In here, can be for an eternity! All your little worthless feelings and relationships, gone!"

"Ah don't care!" Applejack said. "There's nothing stoppin' me from defeating you right here and now!"

"Ah liked to see ya try!" Midnight mocked. Applejack rushed over to her, and tried to punch her. Midnight jumped and swung into the air. "Be honest with me, do you think you can hide what you truly feel?!"

"Shut up!" Applejack continued. Sunset was still kneeling and crying, with Fluttershy holding onto Sunset for comfort and watched Applejack fight Midnight, Spike was also with Fluttershy. "Ya don't know me!" Applejack continued to throw punches, but she couldn't land a single hit.

"Without your element, you are powerless against me!" Midnight continued.

"Everyone, c'mon!" Applejack pleaded.

"What's the point Applejack, we're dead." Sunset said.

"So? Even then, ah don't want to be left here with this one!" Applejack stated.

"Breakin' my heart sugar!" Midnight mocked. Applejack was furious.

"Fight back!" Applejack yelled. "Ya cowards!" Sunset and Fluttershy perked up. Midnight smiled.

"Give it up! Quit trying to play the hero, quit being the man!" Midnight shouted.

"Shut up!" Applejack said.

"Touched a nerve, huh?" Midnight said.

"Stop..." Applejack whispered, she began to tear up in her eyes. She wiped them with her arm. She couldn't control what was inside her mind. She knelt down in shame. "Am not a man! Am a woman! Ah don't know what everyone else's deal, thinkin' am some sort of... just because of my strength... the way ah work around a farm... because ah chose to be with Rarity... people think am... manly... it hurts... ah may not show my feelin's or get all emotional, but ah still feel them like anybody else!" Spike came up to her, and smiled, Applejack smiled.

Sunset and Fluttershy got up, and stood in front of Applejack.

"You're right Applejack, even though we are dead, we can't let her come between us!" Sunset said.

"Thank ya guys!" Applejack said, as she got back up, and stood her ground against Midnight.

"How quaint!" Midnight said sarcastically.

"Whether we like it or not, sharing is caring, and caring brings friendship, and friendship is magic!" Sunset said. The three girls and Spike were gathered in a light, and they were able to transform into their elemental forms. Spike remained in his usual form, but was there with them.

"Impossible! You're away from your bodies, how can you manifest your powers?!" Midnight yelled.

"It's not the gemstones that gave us power, it was in us all along. It's what's inside that matters!" Sunset continued. They all came to her and blasted her with a beam of light. Midnight screeched in agony.

"I'll be back!" Midnight screamed. She faded.

The girls stood together, and they accepted their fate even if they were not able to return to the living, but at least they had each other.

VII

The girls felt another vibration, this time it was electrical. They felt the shock of the surface. They busted out of the lockets. They looked and saw Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash underneath a dome. With the Dazzlings being electrocuted by a lightning bolt. Spike tried to come to Twilight, but he was unable to get her attention.

"Spike, we can't, we're not a part of the living..." Fluttershy said.

"You're wrong!" Spike said. "We can, we just need to find our bodies!" Spike ran to the house, and he found his body laying in the living room. Spike laid beside it and was absorbed into it.

"No way..." Fluttershy said.

"We might be able to find our bodies by focusing." Applejack said.

"You're right! Our elements are connected!" Sunset said. The girls came together, and they focused. They were taken up by a light, and were transported back into their bodies.

VIII

Sunset woke up, her body felt stiff and it was hard to breathe. She felt numb and paralyzed. It took a few moments for her to regain her composure. Sunset tried to walk, but her legs still needed to warm up. Being dead for nearly an hour, made them almost lose function and control of their body.

"Twilight..." Sunset said. After she said that, she felt a boost in herself to get up on her feet, and walk. She opened the bedroom door, and awakened to Rarity's house. "How did I end up here?!" Sunset continued and struggled to walk, but she got better with time.

A few moments later, she heard the door open, and Applejack came in.

"Applejack?" Sunset asked.

"Sunset!" Applejack said, as she came to Sunset for a hug. "We're back!"

"Yes we are!" Sunset said enthusiastically.

"Do ya mind if ah use a phone? Mine is apparently busted..." Applejack asked.

"Of course!" Sunset said.

Fluttershy awakened laying on the floor, her animals surrounded her. They thought she was really gone, so they all gathered together and stayed with her.

They were rejoiced to see her get back up again, although she couldn't move properly, she was slow, and felt stiff. Her animals helped guide her, and for a moment Fluttershy smiled, she was back, and was thankful for everyone for helping her. Fluttershy got up to the couch, and she saw her phone laying on the edge. Fluttershy sat down, and tried to rest for a moment as she was tired and felt heavy. Lifting her arms and breathing felt like a workout.

Fluttershy took a moment to regain her strength, and she was back to feeling normal. She called Rainbow Dash in hopes she would answer her.

After Rainbow Dash came, they were about to go further, but Fluttershy still felt her strength being overworked, which made Rainbow Dash slow down. Even though Rainbow Dash didn't like being slow, she allowed it for the time being, because she loved her, and she was just glad to have her back.

After Rarity and Applejack had one frisky night, they laid together. Snuggling closely, with Applejack being the smaller spoon. Rarity's fingers course through her hair, Applejack felt comforted and relaxed. Applejack remembered to ask Rarity something.

"Rarity?" Applejack asked.

"What is it baby?" Rarity said.

"Whatever happened to my truck?" Applejack asked. Rarity immediately perked up, and remembered what happened. She completely forgot about that chunk of metal. Rarity sat up. "Rarity, what is it?" Applejack sat up with her. Rarity turned away to hide her face.

"I'm so sorry Applejack..." Rarity said calmly. "It all happened so fast..."

"What's wrong?" Applejack said.

"It was blown away by Adagio's power, because Pinkie Pie accidentally ran her over..." Rarity said, hesitantly.

"Pinkie Pie? Rarity, what happened?" Applejack continued.

"Since Aria came over to my place, with your truck, I thought the worst has happened when you cut me off... she arrived with it, and after I tried to fight her, we all took your truck to get to Twilight's house. Pinkie drove, it was raining hard, so we barely could see. Pinkie ran Adagio over, it freaked us out. She just told us to get out of the truck, and Adagio blew it away from the street..." Rarity admitted.

"My Rarity, I'm sorry that happened..."

"I'm the one who should be apologizing! I just lost your truck!"

"Stop it... am just glad you're okay now..."

"Please Applejack... be honest... I know you loved that truck..."

"But... ah love ya more..."

"What?"

"Am serious darling. Ah love ya more."

"Oh Applejack..." Rarity held onto her tightly. "Listen, I will get you a truck, a better one! You have my word."

"That's awfully kind, but ah think it'll be okay..."

"What?! You don't want another one?"

"Well, ah suppose we could go look, but ah don't think it's necessary..."

"Hmmm...." Rarity pouted.

XII

They heard something pull up in the driveway.

"Rarity, ya hear that?" Applejack asked. Applejack got up, she dressed herself, and headed to the front door. Her eyes were shocked. "Rarity?!"

"What is it?!" Rarity asked, from the bedroom.

"My truck... it's here..." Applejack said hesitantly.

"What?!" Rarity choked.

Applejack went to the truck and she saw it all in place, the keys left in the ignition, and was still running. She turned back the key, and allowed it to sleep. Next she heard the van that was parked away from the house, take off in an instant.

"What the...?" Applejack stuttered.

"Applejack!? What's going on?!" Rarity yelled.

"Nothin' my truck is somehow back!" Applejack replied. She tried to look out for the van that took off, but it was gone and out of sight. "Weird..."

XIII

Applejack went back inside. Rarity came out of the bedroom, using a sheet to cover up in.

"Applejack? You said... your truck is back?!" Rarity asked.

"Yeah, it's weird. Also that van that was parked, disappeared." Applejack responded.

"Really?! That is odd... because Adagio and the other two were transferred to a hospital after everything!" Rarity said.

"They were?" Applejack asked. "Then... who could it be?!" Applejack said, she contemplated.

"Let's go to bed, no use thinking about it now, your truck is back. Hopefully not too damaged?" Rarity said.

"No, obviously, it was able to be driven back here..." Applejack commented.

"Well then...?" Rarity huffed. "Bed?"

"Might as well!" Applejack said, with a sigh of relief.

XIV

"Thanks for reminding me Pinkie!" Twilight said.

"You're welcome!" Pinkie enlightened. "So, where are we going with the van?"

"Actually, let's leave it as a surprise for someone at the hospital!" Twilight said.

"Gotcha! Gotcha!" Pinkie replied.

Extra: Maud and Sweetie Belle

"Pinkie, what's going on?" Maud asked.

"Please sis, can you watch over Sweetie Belle for me?! I have to get to my friends before it's too late!!!" Pinkie said, while giving her a look of desperation and puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, but text me, when it's over, please." Maud said, mildly.

"Thank you, I love you so so so much!" Pinkie said, while she gave Maud a warm hug and a kiss. Pinkie left Sweetie Belle with Maud.

Sweetie Belle was a little curious to see Pinkie's sister because she looked gloomy and emotionless unlike Pinkie's usual behavior.

"So, what's up?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"The ceiling." Maud said.

"Haha, that's a good one!" Sweetie Belle said.

"I wasn't joking." Maud said. "The ceiling is above us."

"Oh boy..." Sweetie Belle thought, smiling awkwardly.

Maud took her to Pinkie's room to rest. With everything that was going on, Sweetie Belle was still exhausted and worried of her sister.

"Goodnight." Maud said.

"Hey, Pinkie's sister?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"My name is Maud." Maud said.

"Oh, Maud... I'm worried about my sister... do you think they will be okay?" Sweetie Belle said.

"Without a doubt." Maud said, mildly.

"Okay..." Sweetie Belle said, as Maid closed the door.

Sweetie Belle lied in bed, and was tossing and turning. She was afraid, the lighting was also starting to erupt in the skies. Sweetie Belle shook, and was wide awake with fear.

III

Sweetie Belle opened the bedroom door. She walked down the hallway.

"What are you doing?" Maud said, coming from behind Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle screamed.

"You scared me!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"You're supposed to be sleeping. It is a school night." Maud said.

"Oh yeah, who made you mom?!" Sweetie Bell responded. She then looked into Maud's eyes. Maud leaned over to her, and made her look deeper. Sweetie Belle was frightened. "No, no please! Don't look at me like that!" Maud looked away.

"Are you not tired?" Maud asked.

"No..." Sweetie Belle said.

"Okay." Maud said blatantly. "Let's watch TV."

"Okay?" Sweetie Belle replied.

They sat together and watched the newest series Mr. Stone. Sweetie Belle was mildly into the show, but was not getting sleepy. Maud watched quietly.

"This show is crazy!" Sweetie Belle said.

"It does depict accurate scientific understanding of biology, geology, and physics." Maud said. "I find that interesting."

"You seem to enjoy it!" Sweetie Belle said.

"Of course, I just told you." Maud said.

"Oh..." Sweetie Belle was silenced.

About an hour later, Sweetie Belle yawned.

"You're tired. You should sleep now." Maud suggested.

"No no, I'm okay!" Sweetie Belle stuttered.

"It's a school night, you need sleep." Maud said.

"Listen, I can't..." Sweetie Belle said.

"Why not?" Maud continued.

"I-Uh... I-I..." Sweetie Belle hesitated. "You know what?! I've been meaning to ask about your eyes! That eyeliner and eye shadow you use is killer!" Sweetie Belle awkwardly smiled. Maud continued to stare directly at her. Sweetie Belle held the smile, until she started to break a sweat, streaming down her head.

Maud took Sweetie Belle to the restroom, she had shown her the secrets of using make-up, in which she never showed anyone, not even Pinkie knows about it. Sweetie Bell was fixed up, and she was astonished by how amazing she looked. She may even adopt this new look she has for herself. However, Maud said it was a one time thing.

Maud received a message from Pinkie Pie, saying Sweetie Belle was staying for the night, and Pinkie was somewhere else. Maud was not too pleased with Pinkie's decision, but at least she was okay.

"Pinkie and the others are okay." Maud said.

"Really? That's great!" Sweetie Belle said. "So, when do I go home?"

"You're staying here for the night." Maud said mildly.

"What? Why?!" Sweetie Belle said. "N-not that this night was not enjoyable or anything, but..."

"I believe it has to do with your sister, and Applejack." Maud said.

"Seriously? Again?!" Sweetie Belle was disgusted.

"It's okay." Maud said.

"Okay?! This is just an excuse for them to do naughty things!" Sweetie yelled.

"Understandable." Maud said. "But, you're good to sleep right?"

"How can I sleep, when I know what my sister is up to?!" Sweetie Belle continued.

"Good point. But, you seriously need sleep." Maud suggested.

"I can't!" Sweetie Belle yelled.

"You know, I know a neat trick." Maud said.

"What is it?" Sweetie Belle asked. Maud swung her hand, and bumped Sweetie Belle's side of her neck. She fell, Maud caught her and laid her to sleep in Pinkie's bed.

"Goodnight, small human." Maud said, as she slowly shut the door.

Next Chapter