CRBA, Episode 19: The CMC Go Crusading

Care Root’s Bizarre Adventure, Episode 19: The Cutie Mark Crusaders Go Crusading

>Be Care.
>The week’s almost up.
>It’s been six days and change since Silver tried attacking Sunset, and you’ve met only twice.
>It’s too dangerous to gather all in one place now.
>But, at the same time...
>No one’s attacked you.
>All of the fighting’s stopped almost completely.
>Or the Dazzlings and the Shadowbolts are only fighting between each other.
>Apart from the odd sighting, you haven’t even spoken to the Rainbooms in school.
>It’s like the whole world’s finally leaving you alone!
>And Derpy’s almost gathered up all of the gems, giving you updates each day.
>Three days back, you both decided to stay home from school.
>She was able to swing it with her parents by just being torn up about her sister, and you feel horrible for making her do that.
>But today, it’ll be over.
>No matter who has the gems, as long as you have ｢Spinal Tap｣ on your side, they’ll always come to your team in the end.
>Which also makes Derpy the biggest point of weakness in your team.
>You’d sleep over at her house if you could, or just monitor it 24/7, but that would run you dry.
>You’re afraid to tell her how low you’re getting now.
>What you did with Silver, keeping minor tabs on various people...
>It should at least get you closer to an answer!
>If your future’s still not going to turn out right for you, it’ll be here in the next few days at least!
>You can expect everything to get thrown at you.
>But you won’t back down from that!
>Trixie’s already left, taking your car again.
>If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, you’ll just use ｢Timbuk Three｣.
>Until then, the best thing is to keep away from what’s going on and wait it out.
>If you never hear the details, you can’t have a good or a bad memory about them!
>Your Stand will have to annoy you personally, completely defanged!
>That’s what you’re hoping at least.
>In practice, it’s anxious and makes time stand on end.
>Not all of Trixie’s helpers will be available until after school, and the ones that are will have to dodge around Derpy’s parents coming and going.
>Although Diamond and Mr. Rich will be keeping an eye on the property.
>He offered to just hire some bodyguards, but there was no way that her parents would go for that.
>If they understood the danger they were really in, and how their daughters had lied to them…
>It’s too painful to think about.
>Partly because you wish they would learn about it, so maybe they’d decide to stay when it all blows over.
>If you can just achieve victory and deal with these other groups...
>Maybe you can shoot the gems into space.
>That or fire them into the core of the Earth.
>Then they’ll have no reason to fight you any more.
>From what Silver and Diamond recounted of their fight, Sunset isn’t petty.
>If you just make her task impossible, you think she might still leave you alone.
>It’s only before then that she’ll try to make her move.
>Today.
>God you want to be there.
>Just to hold her around her shoulders and feel her hair brush against you.
>To know that things are still going to be okay!
>Your future hasn’t fallen out yet!
>You’ve even limited how much you’ve been talking on the phone, lately.
>It was never an issue before, but all information had to stop.
>Everything for the last three days has been in the hands of your team.
>Your… your friends.
>The people who can protect her when you can’t.
>The ones who tend the ｢lemon tree｣...!
>You’re grateful to them, more than they know.
>When this is all over, you’ll do what you can for them.
>This, and then the wait to move to France.
>You’ll be just like her father, coming to make her run away with you!
>That’s the destiny you’ll take with her, as soon as you can.
>It’s just the leadup that’s killing you.
>It can’t be any easier for her, to just stay still constantly.
>To wait for some outside attack.
>In a lot of ways it would be easier if both of you were on the move, still looking for these things.
>Well, less strenuous.
>But if you can just let them come to you, and survive whatever comes next...
>Even if one of them was stolen, it would only be about twelve hours before it would come back to her.
>And ever since she was close to all of them in Factory, ｢Spinal Tap｣ has been able to pick out each and every one.
>So long as she’s alive and they’re within Canterlot, they’ll come back to her.
>Which is why you have one gem, in your house.
>The completed one that was under Diamond’s bed.
>The next one was given to Mr. Rich after it was assembled, just before this period of isolation.
>And the final one will be with Derpy.
>Tonight, the three of you will come together, groups and all, and decide what to do with them.
>Just after sundown.
>Only a few hours left, and by the time the sun rises again you can go back to school.
>Eat out with her.
>Smile.
>It’ll be perfect!
>...
>It’s only been six minutes.
>Suddenly, a knock comes on the door.
>You check your phone reflexively, just like you have the last two days.
>No new announcements.
>Definitely no coded RSVPs.
>No to mention it’s pretty early in the morning.
>Couldn’t be a package or anything like that.
>So this is it.
>They wouldn’t try to break into your house in broad daylight, so they’re knocking on the door.
>Except Sunset was more than able to produce a version of you that knew how to get in before.
>You removed the spare key, of course, but if you were personally locked out of the house you’d find a way back in somehow.
>There are natural weak points to it, as a building.
>Windows people can’t see.
>There’s another knock, four hard raps one after the other.
>Like they want to seem like law enforcement.
>You shuffle over to the door and just look out the little window next to it.
>...
>It’s the three girls.
>The ones who attacked you with the arrow when you were trying to escape the Factory.
>The orange one’s knocking while the other two are keeping watch.
>They all turn slightly, and see you looking at at them.
>Their faces are just as serious as they were that night.
>There’s something completely professional and disinterested about the three of them.
>But when they see you, they don’t bring out their Stand.
>They just look a little impatient.
>The orange one gestures a hand at the door, exasperated.
>You frown.
>Fine, whatever this is…
>They don’t have the arrow on them.
>｢Timbuk Three｣’s still with you.
>You really shouldn’t be wasting it, but if you need to...
>You twist at the locks, and open the door.
>They haven’t gone anywhere, obviously.
“What?”
>You ask, standing in the doorway.
>”We need to talk, Care.”
>Says the white one.
>It creeps you out that they know your name, but you don’t react.
“What about?”
>”Don’t play dumb.”
>The orange one says.
>”We’ve only got a little time left.”
>Yellow chimes in.
>Isn’t she Applejack’s younger sister?
>You were kind of hoping they wouldn’t know the score for a few more hours.
>If most of your enemies went to school today, not all of them would be able to slip away in time.
>It would be several hours where you wouldn’t have to worry about them.
>”We know you have one of the gems.”
>Orange says, when you don’t respond.
>”Scoots, we’re trying to convince him!”
>The white one moans, putting her head in her hands.
>Orange goes quiet, and White suddenly becomes the focus of the triangle.
>No one moved, and yet all of the gravity of the three has come directly to her.
>”We need to try one more time to get you to hand over your gem. We aren’t going to be responsible for anything bad happening tonight if we can’t just try that first.”
>You stare at her, and she goes on.
>”Please, just - let us come in. While we’re talking, we won’t attack you if you don’t put us in danger first.”
>She does her best to look and sound reasonable.
>In a past life, you would’ve opened the door for her.
>You shake your head.
“It’s pointless. I’m never going to agree to give it over to you, not after all of this. I’m going to get to the bottom of this, and all three of you would be safer staying at home.”
>’Scoots’ seethes and wants to say something, but doesn’t.
>”Then you’ve got nothing to lose by listening to us. We really think that if you can understand why Sunset’s done the things that she’s done, you won’t want to fight against her any longer.”
>Funny that Sunset didn’t show up herself, then.
>She’s always had a habit of using people, but nowadays it’s painted over with a veneer of righteousness.
>Like it’s a good thing.
>You take a breath.
“I’m not letting you or anyone else from her side come in here. Go home.”
>”What if we told you that Derpy’s going to be in trouble if you don’t?”
>White asks, and then recoils at the way you look.
>”I don’t mean because of us! She’s going to be in danger, and if you’d just hear us out, we can explain why everything’s gone so wrong here and how to fix it! If something bad happens, don’t you at least want to be able to say at the end of this that you heard all of the options?!”
>You can’t trust anything they say, and all of you know it.
>But ｢Timbuk Three｣’s been scanning the rest of your house, and there’s been no interference or attempts to get in from anywhere.
>This wasn’t an attempt to distract you, and they don’t have backup for at least fifty feet around your house.
>In fact, they don’t seem to have a car, or anything.
“How did you get here?”
>”Taxi! What’s it matter?!”
>Scoots says.
>”If you won’t let us in, then we’ll leave, but I think it would be better for you if you did. This is the last time we’ll ask.”
>White says, a little dejected.
>As soon as she stops pushing, she seems a little more human.
>They used the arrow on you, but it doesn’t seem like something only they own.
>According to Derpy’s conversations with Twilight, it’s not clear where it’s from at all.
>It strikes you, for the first time, that these kids really are Freshmen.
>They’re still kids, at the age when they start taking offense to having it pointed out.
>Up to now they’ve just been following orders.
>They’ve never directly attacked anyone except Derpy, as far back as you can remember.
>Even if they were trying to trick Diamond and Silver, they were partly the reason that they received that first gem.
>It was a trick, but maybe there was a hope buried in it, that they’d make it.
>They’re just three kids, following orders.
>You want to believe that there’s something good about them.
“But all of this is because Sunset sent you, isn’t it?”
>White nods.
>”She did, but she wanted to send a lot of people besides us. We argued to be the ones to show up ourselves.”
“Why?”
>They all look at each other, transfering thoughts without words.
>Then Yellow becomes the speaker.
>”We’re sorry!”
>All three of them lower their heads a little bit.
>”We didn’t mean to hurt you, or Derpy, or Golden Harvest! We only wanted to make it harder for you to use your powers, and we didn’t know anything would happen! Sunset’s taken all of the blame up to now, and we can’t let her do that any more!”
>A knot tightens inside you.
>They’re kids, dragged into all of this.
>Just like Silver was...
>If none of this had happened, they’d be the same as the Freshmen Derpy helped out.
>You suddenly feel concern for them.
>You told them to stay home already, but it wasn’t like you meant it.
>Now you really care about whether they’ll make it through today.
>If the Dazzlings got their hands on them, or your Stand went crazy again, or Sunset needed to sacrifice them in some last offense...
>You wouldn’t have protected them.
“Why are you doing all of this?”
>You ask, and they look at you blankly.
>White picks the thread back up.
>”We’re not going to tell you from out here.”
>Her voice is insistent.
>You know that they aren’t going to change your mind.
>Not when you’re so close to the finish line.
>But if there’s some chance that you could’ve helped them...
>You open the door the rest of the way.
“You’ll leave when I tell you to, or my Stand will throw you out.”
>They don’t react to that, but they come inside.

>Be Anon, waking up.
>Sonata looks down at you, peacefully.
>Thank god she’s still there.
>Her smile’s small, but present.
>Everything about her is reined-in right now, like it has to be.
>Both of you are still up against the wall - the mattress had to go to blocking the door.
>You lift your head from her lap and check the window.
>Through the brownish grime, you can tell that it’s been morning for a little while.
>Definitely not noon yet.
“Has the third one come together yet?”
>You ask her, voice low.
>Your leg’s been propped up on all of the cushions in the room, and it takes some work to shift positions.
>She shakes her head.
>”Only mine and Dagi’s. Aria’s isn’t complete yet.”
>The more they come together, the more she can sense where they are.
>It makes sense.
>In a thousand years, they must have lost track of each other now and then.
>Their gems might have shattered before, too, for all you know.
“If they have your gem, will they be able to use it?”
>Your face turns grim.
>It’s something that’s been worrying you for the last couple days.
>She looks almost distracted.
>”Yeah, they probably can.”
>Huh?
>She would normally just say if she doesn’t know - it’s nothing like her to be pessimistic.
“But they’re each meant for only one of you, right? You came to Earth with them.”
>”...Mine’s different.”
>She says it quietly, and then nothing.
>No explanation, nothing.
>You just look up at her.
>What on Earth is she not telling you?
>”They’ll be able to gather all the gems up tonight, so I’ll have to go over there and take back mine in a few.”
>What?
“You don’t mean you’re going back to see them alone?”
>She nods.
>”They’ve probably cooled off now.”
“Fuck that! They’re going to kill us!”
>Probably.
>They’re definitely going to use her to figure out where you are.
>It’ll be lights out, then.
>”I’ve got to, Nonny. If I don’t… I don’t know how much longer I can still be myself.”
>It’s true that her skin’s starting to get splotchy.
>Her hair’s changing color a little.
>After a couple of days with the Stand, Aria walked up to her without you able to do anything.
>She just grabbed her by the chin and forced her face up, so they had to look into each others’ eyes.
>She begged that the gem would be able to fix it.
>That was the information they’d received, the ‘parting wisdom’...
>And you sat there.
>You sat there, while every change reversed, and Sonata fell backwards like someone had struck her.
>They weren’t going to accept just timesharing whatever it was, even if it were as easy for her to get rid of it.
>For some reason, they were willing to cut her loose if they had to!
>And you couldn’t stand for that!
>You volunteered to take it yourself - it would probably have fixed your leg for a while, too.
>But they refused.
>They still had a use for you.
>For ｢Nowhere Man｣.
>You’re gritting your teeth again.
>There’s no excuse for treating someone like her that way.
>You’re still the only one who can take it, and...
“I’ll go with you. ｢Nowhere Man｣ can-”
>”It’s not going to be like that, Nonny. We’ll just talk it out. They’ll forgive you.”
“They’re never going to do anything that makes them weaker! They’ll use you to use me if they have to.”
>She has to know that.
>You’re not hiding out here for no reason.
>She’s just pretending that it’ll be okay to not worry you.
>If you hadn’t lost her gem in the beginning...
>If you hadn’t come up against the two girls, you wouldn’t be here!
>”It’ll be okay…”
>The way she says it is soothing, like she’s talking to a child.
>You want to be angry at it, but you can’t.
>Not at her.
“Damn it! They’re going to stop us from being together! They know that I’m a threat to them now, and they’ll never let us just go our separate ways!”
>You hadn’t known it yourself, until you had to do it.
>Sirens are tougher and more together than humans, maybe, so it took a little longer, but...
>When she started showing signs of change, you boiled over.
>They were going to threaten her.
>To force her to do things she didn’t want to.
>She’s not some kind of hostage!
>And that’s how you learned that ｢Nowhere Man｣ was still able to ｢disrupt｣ them.
>It didn’t exactly stop their hearts, but it knocked them out for the moment you needed.
>You were able to convince her to leave them, and escape with her in the car outside.
>After you recalled the ghosts they’d both have come back to, but...
>That was that.
>You broke your contract with them.
>You’ve got a dozen voicemails from family that you haven’t checked.
>The illusion of whatever life you were supposed to be living is gone, now.
>But she isn’t!
>And you won’t let her be!
“If I just keep them down again, we can take both of their gems. Then we can just wait for the right moment! With all three of them we can open a portal to Equestria and go their ourselves - just us!”
>She looks uneasy.
>There’s an aura of hesitation around her.
>But you know that if she leaves without you, it’ll be the end of you!
>If you can’t convince her that you’re more important than her sisters...
“That’s the only future that we still have left! If we can’t go through the portal, they’re going to hunt us wherever we go until they get even. This is our only chance!”
>You take a deep breath, trying to prop yourself up more.
>Your leg slips, and the pain comes back online, but you don’t let it stop you.
>With tears of pain in your eyes, you look at her in the dimness of the room.
”Please, if we go through I’ll do everything I can to make you happy! I’ll take you to the ocean, and try to find a way to live as long as you will!”
>”Nonny, it’s okay.”
“No! Take me with you!”
>Your voice fills the room.
>You’re sure to get a noise complaint soon.
>If they call the cops or something on you, you’ll deal with them.
>You keep expecting to see glimpses of silver and pink out of the windows.
>Even though you did everything you could against them, you know from Adagio that they’re still kicking.
>If you don’t do something, they’ll probably swoop in at the last moment and ruin everything a third time!
>She puts a hand on yours.
>”We’ll still try to talk to them, okay?”
>She looks at you with wide eyes.
>You want her to just come and live in the real world.
>No.
>No, you want to go live with her in hers.
“Okay.”
>You nod.
>Okay.
>You’ll go with her, and protect her as much as possible.
>And then, finally, end this.

>Be Sugarcoat, waiting outside the house.
>You handed Sunset the final piece of the final gem this morning.
>It didn’t get snatched out of your hand, either.
>You’d thought that she’d be upset about ｢Spinal Tap｣.
>Or at least get you to go retrieve it again.
>But Care’s learned how to use his monstrous ability too well.
>It doesn’t matter how far away he is any more.
>As long as he has the willpower, he can find and protect his girlfriend.
>For all you know, she’s surrounded by an impenetrable wall of solid light for the next twenty four hours.
>Or he’s got some kind of orbital strike ready to go the second something goes wrong.
>It’s paranoid and giving him too much credit, but he’s definitely scary.
>One random bystander would be nothing without that Stand.
>It’s just his luck that’s pushed him this far!
>Just winding up with very useful abilities!
>In your head, a piece of Indigo’s still saying things like this.
>You can stop him if you have to, you know it.
>But you can’t ruin your opportunity yet.
>Everyone’s been busy this week, ever since Derpy starting spiriting away all of the shards.
>You’ve been giving your people some better training.
>For a person in the right state of mind, one week can be an eternity.
>They’re as prepared as you can make them.
>And even though you can’t count on Twilight to mix any illicit substances for you right now, you’re as prepared as you’re likely to be.
>Finally, Flash comes out.
>It was hell making sure that his father could have his memories altered at the right times.
>｢Midnight Special｣ has been getting passed around to everyone lately, just to keep up with how complicated everything’s gotten.
>But now he’s outside, and probably the most well-rested of any of you.
>The Dazzlings were idiotic and overconfident not to inflict some kind of permanent damage to him while they had the chance.
>They thought they could just use him as a hostage, but since their demands could never be met, he just turned into dead weight!
>”Hey, Sugarcoat.”
>He says, smiling congenially.
“You’ll save time if you just get in the car. Timing this is already hell.”
>You say back.
>He nods, still trying to be nice.
>”Good point.”
>It creeps you out.
>Indigo would’ve thought he was a trooper and clapped him on the back for it.
>And then told you to stop being so damned critical of everything, probably.
>But, hey, she died; shows you what a good judge of character she was.
>You both get in the car.

>Be Care.
“Okay, what’s your argument?”
>You’re all sitting down in your family room.
>You feel like you should offer them a glass of water or something, but screw that.
>They’ve actually introduced themselves, at least.
>Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
>Apple Bloom is definitely the quietest one of the three.
>She has the same drawl as her older sister, and a very serious demeanor.
>Scootaloo seems unhappy with being here, but she’s not nervous.
>It’s like she just wants a fight.
>Or maybe for all of this to be over.
>You can’t tell whose sister she is.
>Sweetie Belle is the voice of reason between the three of them.
>Most likely, she’s the one you’re really going to be talking to.
>And yes, she’s the one who starts.
>”How much do you know about Equestria?”
>Well…
“I know that it’s another world that used to be connected to this one, and that Sunset’s trying to get a portal open to it.”
>”Yes. When human Twilight became Midnight Sparkle, she accidentally separated this one from Equestria. A few days after the Friendship Games, the connection got broken completely. The gems are the only way to generate enough magic to get that connection back.”
>You nod.
“I’ve heard that.”
>Twilight was very torn up about it to Derpy.
>”Then here’s what you don’t know.”
>Sweetie says.
>”Without that connection, our world has no magic, which is something we can live with. But Equestria is in a bad situation, too! Without being linked up to us, we have no idea how bad things might be getting over there - the entire world’s at risk!”
>...You weren’t expecting that.
>You pause for a moment, and think about what that would mean.
“If that’s true, then why wouldn’t they use magic on that end to bridge the gap again?”
>Before they can answer, another thought comes to you.
“And how would you know if things were bad there or not if you’re separated from it? You’re not from Equestria, are you?”
>She shakes her head.
>”I know it’s a lot to believe, but it’s true. In universes that are a few weeks ahead of ours, Sunset’s been able to confirm how things usually happen. We know for a fact that the portal can’t be opened from the other side.”
“But this is a different timeline. Even if the regular ones never played out that way, it could still happen here.”
>Apple Bloom cuts in.
>”It won’t, and we know it, and… and we just can’t tell you how.”
>Sweetie glares daggers at her, but she doesn’t back down.
“Why not?”
>”Because we can’t give up on this! If we can’t get you to do right, we can’t throw our plan away!”
>So it’s something that would hurt them if you knew it.
>A secret that would give you an extra push...
>Sweetie takes back the reins.
>”There are some things we just can’t tell you, and we’re sorry for that. What we can tell you is that more than one country is going to be in danger if we can’t get a portal open again. If the Dazzlings ran away with them, or you really did find a way to destroy them, there’s no telling what would happen.”
>Scootaloo adds something.
>”And if you still say no and anyone else dies, the blood’s going to be on your hands, too.”
>They’re serious about this.
>You can’t spot lies very easily, but being around Trixie and Diamond has given you a sense for...
>Performances, maybe.
>This isn’t one.
>There’s a genuine anger to Scootaloo and a straightforwardness to Apple Bloom that’s throwing the three of them out of harmony.
>They’re conflicted about the way they want to convince you.
>When they were completely certain, they just burst out of nowhere and took you by surprise before you could use your Stand.
>That’s how you know that this situation is different.
“Okay, let’s say I believe you. And I won’t force you to tell me whatever it is you can’t say.”
>That doesn’t mean that what they’re saying is true, though - only that they believe it.
“Why couldn’t Sunset have explained it to me when she told me about Equestria the first time around?”
>They look uncomfortable amongst themselves again.
>Out of harmony.
>Despite that, Sweetie Belle speaks alone again.
>”You’re… dangerous. Single-minded. All you cared about a month ago was whether one student and her family were safe, and you were willing to throw people through walls and amputate their arms to protect them. I’m sure Sunset already said a lot of these things to you.”
>You hesitate at the not-quite-question.
>She sounds almost apologetic, but she’s still describing you like some kind of ticking time bomb.
>If this is a lie, it’s consistent with Sunset’s.
>So you nod, and let her keep going, to see if you can catch something in it.
>She obliges you.
>”It must be obvious to you that someone who felt they had nothing to lose could do a lot of damage with a power like that. You weren’t a very... healthy person, socially, and it wasn’t easy to predict how you’d react to anything.”
“So you ‘kept me busy’ by threatening the lives of the people I wanted to protect.”
>They kicked the hornet’s nest, prematurely, just to make sure it wouldn’t sting them later?
>Sweetie Belle looks ashamed.
>”We really are sorry about that. But we knew from the nature of your Stand that you’d become more open to discussion and peaceful solutions the more you had to use it. No one was ever in real danger that we couldn’t have stepped in to help.”
>Alright, that’s a bit too much to swallow.
“You can’t tell me you really believe that.”
>All three of them get tenser.
>Apple Bloom takes over again.
>”When Silver Spoon first got her Stand, my sister guarded her to make sure she was alright, and we used our Stand to stop students from getting too close on accident.”
>Scootaloo picks up.
>”When you were attacked by the big grey guy, Sunset herself stayed nearby to keep an eye on you.”
>And then Sweetie finishes, as if all three of their voices were just interchangeable.
>”And the arrow is capable of erasing the memories of those it comes in contact with. With that, we could keep the Rainbooms and the Shadowbolts hidden for most of your fights and keep you safe in secret, if it ever came to that.”
>You think about that.
>It would be a relief to hear, in some ways.
>That all of this was never for real.
>It would be the kind of thing you’d have wished for, at the start of all this, even if it hurt your pride.
>But!
“That’s not true!”
>Even you get taken aback at how high your voice just got.
>But you press on while they’re still surprised.
“When you told Silver that one of the gems was in that abandoned house, you knew perfectly well that the Dazzlings would be inside. You used them to further your agenda!”
>No, that’s not even the worse one!
“Then Sunset tried to destroy my relationship completely and kill Derpy while the Shadowbolts distracted me! There’s no way you can defend that!”
>What have they been trying to sell you all this time?
>Even Sunset to Silver and Diamond, a week back, tried saying these same things.
>And they believed her!
>You feel your anger boiling up in a way that it hasn’t in a long time.
>The whole world’s closing in on you, coming against you again!
>”We were afraid of you!”
>Sweetie’s voice is just as loud as yours, surprisingly.
>It snaps you free of the spiral you were just in, for at least a moment.
>”We didn’t know what to do! We thought that Silver would come tell you about what we’d told her, and you’d go to get the gem yourself! And once you were able to handle everything we threw at you, we ran out of options! Attacking you with everything we had was the only way to wear you out any more!”
>Scootaloo’s voice isn’t raised, but she looks directly at you as Sweetie Belle falls silent.
>”Besides, you’re here still. So is she, and so is Silver Spoon, and so is Diamond Tiara. This was a war, and we were trying to use you. We’re only sorry that we didn’t do a better job, not for what we did.”
>Her words are cold, but this time neither of the two glare at her.
>There’s a lot here that they might not have been told the truth about.
>You find it hard to believe that Sunset was waiting personally to help you out if Fido attacked you.
>You do know that ｢Timbuk Three｣ isn’t the Stand you’re supposed to have.
>She changed something to make sure you got it.
>Which means it’s more likely that she didn’t know what she was getting into when she did it, and she’s been trying to correct for that ever since.
>Not good or evil, just pragmatic.
>If all of this about the other world being in danger is true, that would make the most sense.
>She thought she wouldn’t have any use for you, and wanted you off the table as fast as possible.
>It’s not like they could see into her mind.
>They just believe that she’s in the right, that she’s not able to be ruthless like that.
>You were!
>For Dernier Piege, and the ｢lemon tree of the future｣, you were more than willing to hurt people!
>And you wouldn’t apologize to them for it, either.
“And why did Sunset change my Stand, anyway? Do you really believe her when she said she just wanted to try something different?”
>Scootaloo scoffs.
>”It’s not like that. She had her reasons.”
“What reasons?”
>Sweetie looks at her warningly.
>She doesn’t look back.
>”It doesn’t matter. We’re not here to explain every minute of out plans to you, we’re just trying to stop this from getting any worse!”
>No.
>You won’t let her change the subject.
>Not until you get some answer.
“You don’t know why, do you?”
>Your voice is calmer, now.
“You just believe whatever she tells you. That whatever she’s doing has to be right-”
>”She DIES, asshole.”
>Scootaloo bites back at you.
>For a moment the whole room is silent, and the other two look nervous.
>You don’t even know how to respond.
“She’s not immortal?”
>She took a direct hit from ｢Timbuk Three｣ with no problem, didn’t she?
>Yes, you remember it being a surprise.
>Scootaloo’s still heated.
>”Trying to open the portal is going to make her vulnerable! She has to burn herself out to do it, and once the gems run out and it’s all over, she gets weak and never gets better!”
>Sweetie goes back to being pensive, but Apple Bloom takes over.
>”She’s being honest. We all are. Sunset’s made a lot of mistakes, but none of us want her to die.”
>So...
>So they made a Stand user who had the power to do it for her.
“She wanted to sacrifice me in her place.”
>Not just you.
>Derpy, too.
>Her happiness, and her future.
>”That’s not how it was!”
>Scootaloo’s still holding the mic between the three of them.
>”We have no idea how it would go. It was something she had to be very careful about. The arrow’s not safe to use on a person more than once, and you were only chance she could take! And now that we’re here, she’s given up again! She’s going to give herself up again to save Equestria! So if you’re not going to help, then just give us the gem and stay out of it!”
>Her hands are clenched into fists, but she doesn’t summon her Stand.
>She’s fired up, but not stupid.
>Sweetie Belle takes back over.
>”We don’t want to try guilting you into helping us. We know that Sunset’s made some mistakes that are… hard to forgive. But lives are on the line. Even if we don’t want her to die…”
>Her voice trails off, and she has to collect herself.
“How do you know that she’s going to die?”
>You ask, more deadpan than you feel.
>Sweetie answers.
>”Reports from the other universes. But it always ends that way, at the Factory, with the Dazzlings held off at the last-”
“And why would she tell you something like that, if she wasn’t trying to manipulate you?”
>You’re gambling here, a little.
>But you bet that they weren’t in the same room as her when she got these ‘reports’.
>She’s already got them in a position to believe anything she says.
>If she just miraculously happened to survive this time, they’d celebrate and not think to question it.
>Even if they were furiously angry, she’d just disappear off into another world, wouldn’t she?
>”She didn’t tell us.”
>Sweetie says.
“Then how do you know?”
>It can’t just be from some rumor, can it?
>”...We can’t tell you.”
>Oh, come on!
>They think you’re going to buy that?
>The other two don’t even interrupt with something you aren’t supposed to know.
>After a moment, Sweetie continues.
>”If you want to get revenge on Sunset, and keep the people you want to protect safe, and make sure that Equestria’s not threatened any longer, the only way to do all three is to give us the gem and wait for a day.”
>Her words ring in your ears.
>You can’t really appreciate a place you’ve barely heard of and aren’t sure is really in danger, but…
>If everything they’re saying is true, and it could really all be over, wouldn’t you want to take it?
>In that perfect world, where nothing has been a trick, wouldn’t you hand over the gem for a deal like that?
>You feel a little petty, and Sweetie goes on.
>“Once we have it, we can convince Derpy to hand over the rest, and that’ll be the end of it. You won’t have to worry any longer - just wait until your Stand can work normally again, and then we’ll all stay out of each others’ hair.”
>She’s reasonable.
>It’s not just ‘trying to sound’ any more, it’s the real thing.
>If you could trust her, and you believed her words were sincere, then this would be the obvious path.
>Even if you fought Sunset in the past.
>Even if they tried to kidnap Derpy, or kill both of you…
>What’s past is past, and maybe they did have some backup plan to protect you.
>In any case, if letting them win also stopped the threat, and gave you revenge, and made you the bigger person…
>If it meant that there would be a win without a battle, and you wouldn’t have to exhaust ｢Timbuk Three｣ any more...
>And Derpy would be safe...
“Okay.”
>The word comes out quietly.
>Your eyes are on the floor now.
>｢Timbuk Three｣ appears, and goes flying off down the hallway.
“I’ll give it to you, on one condition.”
>All three look at you attentively, not even asking.
>For a moment, there’s a spot of doubt inside of you.
>You shouldn’t forget that they’re dangerous, even if they’re children.
>If this goes south, they might still try to take it by force...
>｢Timbuk Three｣ returns with it after a moment, and it falls into your hand.
“My condition is that you have to try to take it out of my hand.”
>They all look at you, searching your eyes for the trick, but your gaze is steady.
>”Why?”
>Apple Bloom asks, her eyes narrow.
>You keep neutral.
>This is the deciding moment for whether or not you can believe them.
“I believe the things you’ve said. Or, at least, I don’t think you’re lying. Whatever the reason you can’t tell me, I won’t ask you about it. I don’t want to fight you, which is why I’m telling you this.”
>You heft the gem in your palm, and hold it out.
“I could’ve tested you without telling you, but that would’ve been dangerous. If you failed, I would’ve had to react right away, and one of you could get hurt.”
>None of them speak.
>All eyes are on you, urgent.
>They feel like they’re one step away from making everything right.
>And you feel like the person who has to stop them.
“My Stand won’t let me have happy memories right now, unless I distract it by making it do something else. Which means that if what you’re saying is true, and everything will go just like you told me, it won’t let you take this gem from my hand.”
>They balk at you.
>Good.
>They’re listening.
“If ｢Timbuk Three｣ stops you from taking this gem, I’ll use my power to hand it over, and I’ll even let you leave with it. But if it doesn’t, and you can pick it up from my hand right away, then I know that I’d regret giving it to you and you’ll leave without a fight. That’s my condition.”
>They look at you.
>Then at each other.
>For a moment you think that they’re going to attack, but you don’t feel the aura surrounding them.
>No, they’re just deciding who should reach out for it.
>It doesn’t matter, but you don’t rush them.
>The fact that they’re taking this seriously is what you want.
>After a few seconds of silent deliberation, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom move half a foot away from Sweetie Belle on the couch, wathing her hawkishly.
>She takes a deep breath.
>And then reaches out her hand...

>Be Filthy Rich.
>You’ve taken a slight detour this morning.
>It’s not exactly on a whim - you’re a man with a strong sense of intuition.
>And you have a strong feeling that this is important, and you shouldn’t have put it off until now.
>You had the phones of the two Crystal Prep students, Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat.
>It took a ltitle doing, but you were able to crack them open technologically.
>One of them was brand new, and useless
>But the other one was a few years old, and it had a few important things on it.
>The photos and social media were mostly dead ends - both had dried up a few months back.
>They had planned for their phones to get stolen from them, at least as an emergency.
>But there was something!
>GPS data!
>It was constantly on, maybe to make it possible for them to keep track of each other in case they were taken over by one of the three Sirens.
>And although it took some very expensive software to do, you were able to reverse engineer all of it.
>A map, covering a quarter-year, of all the places they went to.
>You didn’t follow up with it, because you were sure that you would be leaving the children right before an attack.
>You owe it to them to help set this right, after everything that’s happened to that family.
>Even these ‘Shadowbolts’ are children, to you, and Sunset Shimmer too.
>If you perform the job cleanly, none of them should have to die.
>But each day that you spent not looking at it, the surprise attack never came.
>And now, at the end of the week, you’ve reached your last chance.
>One of the most frequently visited places is an unimportant storage area.
>There are no large houses or meeting spots nearby, and it’s not for discreet contact.
>Sunny Flare would go to the same point, every time.
>There was something there, among the giant boxes, that it was important for her to visit.
>Maybe it was a red herring, something like a headstone in a graveyard...
>But you had to at least find out for yourself.
>If this was where they were keeping some hidden cache of resources, or a secret weapon...
>It would be more than worth it to take it out from under their noses on the eve of battle.
>You left Diamond to watch over Derpy’s home, with backup from the very nice young adults that Bellatrix Lulamoon scared up.
>And now, after an uneventful drive, you’re here.
>Whatever you find, you don’t want to be missing for long.
>But there’s going to be a reckoning, and this might be the crucial factor in it.
>If you can destroy just one emergency holdout for the enemy today, you’ll have taken a step toward your daughter’s safety.
>So you go wandering in, turning a gate into money and back as you pass through.
>You could just buy this place if you had to, of course.
>But if you bought a place every time it seemed relevant, you wouldn’t be able to think that for much longer.
>There are a lot of two and three-tall crates here, mostly empty.
>Canterlot hasn’t had a large need for transport, thanks to the surrounding farmland.
>Families like the Apples have been the key to the city’s prosperity as far back as history details.
>So if there were anywhere to lay low, it would be here.
>You pull the little gizmo the two girls were carrying out of your pocket.
>It’s dim and unresponsive - there are no gems nearby.
>That would figure.
>｢Johnny Cash｣ hovers close to you as you check the surrounding area.
>There’s nothing simple it can make that would detect life signs, but you’re mostly certain that you’re alone here.
>There’s no one lying in wait for you right now, you’re as sure as you can be of that.
>Which means there are bigger fish to fry right now.
>You need to finish this punctually and get back to your post.
>It’s in about the center of this yard, so it takes a minute to reach.
>And once you do, you find a great big padlock on it.
>It looks like about the best money can buy.
>After you make sure you’re in the right spot, ｢Johnny Cash｣ touches it.
>...Yes, an impressive amount after all.
>You leave it scattered on the ground as your Stand pulls open the door.
>It takes some doing, and it creaks like the dead.
>But eventually it’s open, and you can let in a little light.
>It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust as you step in, but you can see rough shapes.
>It’s not stacked floor-to-ceiling with rations or weapons.
>No, it’s clearly some kind of living space...
>You step further inside.
>There’s a bulky yellow generator in one corner.
>A desk.
>A metal bookshelf, completely stocked.
>Lights along the ceiling, with snaking cords.
>Some equipment you don’t recognize at all further down.
>It’s too dark to make all of it out, but there’s also a bed with a refrigerator next to it.
>And someone in it.
>You thought this might be a place to lay low, but someone’s here right now, in the daytime!
>You’re not sure whether to wake her or not.
>If it’s one of the Shadowbolts, then you should seize an advantage while you have it and restrain her.
>But if.. if they’re so far gone that they’re keeping someone here...
>That would change things.
>You didn’t see any signs of a forced exit when you came in, but...
>No, as you look around, you can see dents in the walls!
>And the lock on the front was locked from the outside.
>There’s no mechanism on the inner door that would let somebody out!
>This is definitely some kind of prisoner, or hostage.
>You step closer, careful not to trip on something in the dark.
>If they’ve tried to escape, they might have some kind of makeshift weapon.
>But they could easily lose track of time in here.
>They may be deeply asleep.
>It’s only your intuition that’s stopping you from turning this whole container into money and getting them to safety.
>If possible, you want to keep up the charade as long as possible.
>As long as they think that what they’re doing here’s gone unnoticed, they won’t panic.
>If there was an alarm system, ｢Johnny Cash｣ already took care of it.
>The only concern is identifying them without scaring them.
>As a somewhat wealthy man, you’ve lived in fear of your daughter being held for ransom before.
>You’ve researched it, as much as you could bear.
>It doesn’t do pretty things to young adults.
>And if this has been going on for months...
>You take the last few steps and let your eyes adjust again.
>There’s a girl, awake, close to the end of high school by the look of her
>Looking at you.
>Wait, no.
>You’ve seen her before!
>”Y-you really shouldn’t have come in here.”
>She says, and her voice is feeble.
>In the low light, you can’t make out any signs of malnutrition, but she’s not healthy.
“Are you alright, young lady? Those girls aren’t here.”
>She looks familiar...
>”Go back outside and… hrgh, lock the door again.”
>She closes her eyes and clenches her teeth.
>A spark of something turquoise blue pops in the air between you.
>There’s some kind of Stand at work, here.
>Just like when your daughter was in a coma, or her friend was trapped in a hallway, alone.
“I’m not going to leave you alone like this. Come outside with me and we’ll deal with whatever’s happened.”
>｢Johnny Cash｣ appears at your side.
>She’s not reassured.
>In fact, she just stares at you with the same urgent expression.
>Trying to force you out.
>More of the blue sparks appear, and she covers her face with her hands.
>”Get out! I can’t save you if you don’t get away from me!”
>She sounds like a hurt child.
>It’s a sound that puts a knife in your heart.
“I’m not afraid of them, or whatever power they gave you. If you can’t control-”
>”’Gave me’?”
>She’s perplexed.
>You try to understand why.
>Maybe she’s not aware of this arrow, and how things have been set up.
>No, if she’s been stuck here all of this time, there’s no way she’d know!
>Then you finally recognize her.
>And you take a step back.
>That’s… not possible.
>You’re mistaken.
>Suddenly the room lights up with great popping bursts of blue will-o’-wisp light.
>You see her completely.
>No, you weren’t getting her skin color wrong in the light.
>Is this some kind of Stand trick?
>There’s no way that she could be in here!
>Some of the light, a thick ellipse like a waning moon, slices for your arm.
>You activate ｢Johnny Cash｣ on instinct.
>But it doesn’t do anything.
>No, more than that, you can feel it being suppressed!
>Yes, suppressed!
>There’s no other way to put it, it’s like this force just pushed your Stand downwards and vaulted over it!
>And the attack connects, burning into your skin.
>It doesn’t leave a mark, or even damage your clothes, but you can feel the pain as sure as anything.
>You stagger backwards, and the exit’s door’s closing, illuminated by bluish light.
>If this is her Stand, all you need to do is incapacitate her to stop it!
>She’s still cowering there on the bed, grunting in pain and hyperventilating.
>You try to summon up a rag soaked in chloroform, but...
>Nothing comes.
>You try harder, straining, and a wet cloth appears in your hand.
>Then you have to dodge to one side as the air lights up with more of these miniature explosions.
>You don’t know what you’re dealing with here, but it isn’t pretty.
>And you don’t know if this is what you tried to get from your Stand or not.
>You just have to go with it!
>You rush forward as the outside light disappears completely.
>It’s not an issue - her face is glowing now.
>More of the explosions pop up like violent fireflies, leaving sunspots behind your eyelids.
>But they don’t touch you.
>She’s holding them back!
>With one jab forward, you press the cloth to her hands.
>They move, and it covers her face.
>There are tears running down her cheeks.
>But she doesn’t calm down.
>When she opens her eyes, they’re not human.
>And then there’s an explosion at your back!
>You can feel it overtake you, like it’s traveling straight up your spinal column to your brain.
>Like being abandoned by an old friend in your hour of need, ｢Johnny Cash｣ disappears from you.
>And in the harsh light and pitch blackness, you pass out.

>Be Care.
>It’s been a few hours since they left, and nothing’s happened.
>Clouds have been gathering steadily.
>There’ll probably be a storm tonight, which is even better.
>You keep watch around the windows, making sure that they don’t come back.
>But up to now they’ve kept their word.
>They wouldn’t guarantee anyone’s safety today, but not even Scootaloo argued.
>You told them to stay home and wait it out themselves.
>They won’t, but you told them.
>And they did their best to convince you, but they left empty-handed.
>It didn’t matter what their words were, in the end.
>None of you could stop this with talk alone, no matter how much you tried to listen to each other.
>What’s calling you is ｢destiny｣ itself, louder than words.
>This is your appointed time to make the big choices of your life.
>A single fork in the road, clearly outlined for you.
>Most people aren’t so lucky.
>As long as you have some of your Stand left...
>No, as long as she can be happy, and no one has to suffer needlessly...
>Then this will all have been worth it.
>You’ll have made the best you could of it all.
>You’re broken out of your reverie by another knock on the door.
>And you take the time to scan again, thoroughly.
>Nobody around, no one in hiding, nothing new in the area at all.
>You’d recreate the exact light from outside your door, but that’s expensive.
>So, once you confirm that it’s a single person, you risk it.
>Twilight.
>She stares at you, mouthing words through the glass.
>You open the door.
>”-Care, I thought your phone would be off, it’s Derpy!”
>Oh no.
“What?”
>You step outside.
>”Things went wrong! I had to get a taxi from CHS to here, I’m sorry I couldn’t talk sooner-”
“What’s happened?”
>You need her to give you that information before she does anything else.
>”Derpy’s not answering her phone! Neither is Diamond, or SIlver, or Trixie! I tried tracking them, but all of the phones are still at her house!”
>Then they’re all fighting, and too busy to communicate.
>Or they all left them behind.
>”I think it’s the Dazzlings! If something’s happened to Derpy, we have to get to her before the end of the day!”
>She pulls something out of her pocket and holds it up.
>The last gem shard.
>”I only just managed to steal this, but if ｢Spinal Tap｣ comes for it, it’ll be for nothing!”
>The world spins underneath of you.
>This is where everything clicks into place.
>The moment you’ve been waiting for, with this siege mentality.
>If not for Derpy, you’d feel relieved.
>If you can get to her, and bring that gem...
>It’ll be a landslide victory, just like that.
>You won’t even have to wait until sunset.
>｢Timbuk Three｣’s already throwing the complete gem to you.
>You catch it and pocket it casually.
>And then step outside, slamming the door shut behind you.
“Come on, get in my car. We’ve got to find them!”
>As long as she’s still fighting...
>As long as she can still be happy by morning tomorrow.
>Everything will be okay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxZceAcZ5l8
[Timbuk Three - Big Shot in the Dark]

｢To Be Continued｣