Equestria Girls: Go, Rainbooms and CMCs, Go!

Rainbow Dash groaned as she picked herself up from the smooth, glowing multi-colored floor. The strange blinking colors surrounding her felt almost alive, pulsating in time with her growing anxiety. She glanced down at the huge glowing metallic orb that had appeared in a flash of light and embedded itself in her chest, its harsh light displaying a bold “5”. Her attempt to pull it off was met with sharp, stinging pain, and she winced.

"What even is this place?" she mutters as her body twitches involuntarily against the confines of her suit.

Suddenly, the large screen on the far wall flickered to life. Relief washed over Rainbow as she saw Sci-Twi and Spike's familiar faces.

"Rainbow!" Sci-Twi called out, her voice crackling with static. "You're—thank goodness—okay! Listen, we don’t have much—"

The screen cut off abruptly, leaving only static. Rainbow cursed under her breath and kicked at the floor. Before she could dwell on it, a new message scrolled across the screen:

“Follow the path correctly, and you’ll pass your trial. Misstep, and the panel will fall—taking you with it. Each mistake costs a life. Lose all 5 lives, and you will disappear forever.”

“Disappear forever? Oh, great. No pressure.” Rainbow said as the floor beneath her dimmed, leaving only a narrow path of brightly lit panels that blinked in a rhythmic sequence. Rainbow swallowed hard, mentally recording the pattern as best as she could before the pattern disappears. It’s the test of memory and precision. Her heart hammered in her chest as she stepped forward.

Her first four steps were steady and precise. On the fifth, her confidence got the better of her, and she stepped on the wrong panel. Instantly, the ground beneath her vanished. She yelped, plummeting into the darkness below. A jarring sensation overtook her and she reappeared at the start, the glowing orb on her chest now displaying a grim 4.

"Okay, okay," she muttered, shaking out her limbs. "I got this. Just focus, Dash."

Attempt after attempt, she advanced further, only to falter again. Each misstep shaved away another precious life. By the time the orb on her chest displayed “1”. Rainbow’s hands trembled and sweat soaked her jumpsuit.

“You can do this,” she whispered to herself. “No way is this how Rainbow Dash goes out.”

Taking a deep breath, she replayed the pattern in her mind and began again. Step by careful step, she inched forward, her focus razor-sharp. Her heart threatened to burst as she reached the final glowing panel. She hesitated, then confidently stepped forward.

The path solidified beneath her feet, and the orb on her chest vanished in a brilliant flash of light. Before she could celebrate, the floor beneath her dropped away. She screamed as she fell. “Not again!” she yelled as she thought she was going to die anyway. That didn’t matter since she instead landed on a roaring-long water slide which slid her down to the light at the end at fast speed.

“Woo-hoo!” Rainbow cheered as she raised her arms in triumph and thrill as she slid right through the ride.

Rainbow Dash gasped as she splashed into the corridor, her heart still pounding from the trial and exhilarated from the ride. The vivid colors of the room she had escaped seemed dull compared to the cold, stark corridor she now found herself in. The smooth, metallic walls reflected her heaving breaths and the flickering light above her. Her jumpsuit clung to her skin, still damp from the slide, and the orb on her chest was mercifully gone.

"Rainbow!" Sci-Twi’s voice called out, pulling Rainbow's attention to her and Spike, who rushed to greet her. Relief flooded Sci-Twi’s face as she grabbed Rainbow's shoulders, her hands trembling. "You made it! I was so worried—"

Rainbow cut her off, her voice cracking from exhaustion. "That was awesome, but what... was that? What’s going on, Twi? Why did I almost die like, four times?"

Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses nervously, glancing at Spike, who sat quietly at her feet. "It’s a long story. Something... or someone brought us here. Each of us has been given a trial. We don’t know why, but if we fail..." She faltered, looking away.

Rainbow finished the thought. "We disappear forever, we’ll never save Sunset and it will be the end of Earth." Her stomach churned as she recalled the sensation of falling into nothingness.

Spike piped up, his voice filled with worry. "You’re not the first one to finish. We finished our own trial. We don’t even know if the others are okay."

Rainbow’s fists clenched. "Then what are we standing around for? We’ve got to help them!"

"I wish we could," Sci-Twi said, frustration evident in her voice. "The system only allows us to watch. I’ve been trying to hack it, but whatever designed this place is way ahead of me. Right now, all we can do is hope they’re as tough as you are."

Rainbow shook her head, her magenta eyes fierce. "No way. Sitting around isn’t my style. Show me where the others are.”

Reluctantly, Sci-Twi led Rainbow to a wall lined with monitors. Each screen shows that their friends and the CMCs still flying in their tubes.

"Good luck, you guys.” Rainbow whispered.

“Oh, and Sunset. Please be okay.” Sci-Twi said as Spike clung onto her ankles.

To be continued…