CRBA - Episode 4: Destiny's Child

>Be Silver Spoon.
>Walking to lunch with your very best friend, Diamond Tiara.
>Who’s in a huff.
>”Civics is such a snoozefest!”
>You giggle.
>She’s only saying that because Ms. Harshwhinny caught her whispering to you.
>And held her fifteen minutes after for a second offense.
>You hid and waited outside for her, of course.
>She doesn’t notice your laughing, or pretends.
>”I bet I could get her removed from her position if I wanted to.”
“Yeah.”
>You can’t help but smile when you’re around Diamond.
>She’s so...
>Honest
>Not in front of anyone who could hurt her over it, of course.
>But there’s no nonsense to her, she does what she likes and gets what she wants.
>She’s even carrying a handbag instead of a backpack, which was totally off-code.
>Sometimes you wish you were like her.
>Or… were her.
>You’re so ratchet, and not in a cool way.
>When you bring up rappers, your Mom still talks about Soulja Boi.
>She even [spoiler]does the dance[/spoiler].
>You know it’s just to make you uncomfortable!
>Once at a slumber party, Diamond left because the butler didn’t bring food to her room.
>And you were all alone, and it felt like it was your room.
>You jumped on her bed, but it was a waterbed so it wasn’t very exciting.
>That was your secret!
>You, Silver Spoon, were the CHS student who wanted to be another student!
>You wondered how other teens would feel if they had to go through that.

>The hallway’s nearly empty already, so you better hurry.
>Then
>Someone brushes up against you and
>Something cuts you.
>Cuts like a big splinter and you turn to see it’s like rock
>Then it stops hurting but it’s swimming up your shoulder like a freaky worm
>You shriek, turn to catch a face and
>Diamond’s handbag explodes.

>Be Care Root, just finished with lunch and walking back to class.
>You’re in the back of the throng. No rush.
>You’ve had a hell of a weekend.
>With your car totaled, you’re paying insurance out the ass.
>And you’re taking the schoolbus, which only reminds you of your pain.
>But you guess that driving to school got sacrificed somewhere along the way.
>Not knowing where you’re paying for all of this makes it even more insidious.
>You could only really be sure that everything was happening normally if you didn’t use your Stand.
>Which you’re trying to, this time.
>First, you have to learn to spend wisely instead of overpowering opponents with attacks.
>Second, you have to learn how to stop having opponents.
>Which may be working out, for now.
>Derpy asked at lunch if anyone else had been lurking or following you, but they weren’t.
>Not even Trixie, who you were sure you’d have to refuse soon.
>You wonder if there’s something going on.
>Is there a regional test coming up you forgot about, or a big backroom deal thing?
>You realize Derpy hasn’t said anything, and steal a glance at her.
>She’s not there.
>She’s twenty feet back, bent over and listening to a Freshman waving her arms.
>It’s the kid whose watch you returned.
>Whatever Derpy hears, she looks… grave.
>It’s exactly the sort of face you dreaded she’d make when she learned how your Stand worked.
>In seconds she breaks into a run, grabbing your hand on the way past.

>You stumble and almost trip her over, but you right yourself.
>There’s nowhere to run, though, except the sea of jostling students ahead.
“What’s-”
>”Silver’s in trouble! She’s being attacked by a Stand in front of the side-entrance!”
“Which-”
>”The auditorium one! There’s some kind of commotion over it, they’ll do something to her if I don’t get there!”
>With that, your goals crystallize.
>You’re trying to reach the other side of this floor of the school.
>Through a crowd of Stand using high schoolers.
>Groovy.
>You head up to the first corner when a pair of grey-skinned thugs step out.
>They look like the deformed cousins of the last guy you fought.
>One’s built like a trashcan and the other’s Quasimodo with eye contact.
>They speak before you can react, like they rehearsed.
>”Where do you two lovebirds think you’re going?”
>”Think you can slap one of us around and get away with it?”
>You both slide to a halt, still connected at the wrists.
>It’s not something you want to do, but you break contact and bring your fists up.
“｢Timbuk-”
>”｢Spinal Tap!｣”
>Derpy smashes a tiny china teacup on the floor.
>She turns to you as her Stand appears and put hers hands on your shoulders.
>”You can do more than I can. Do whatever you need to.”
>You gulp.
>You nod.
>And her Stand grabs you by the arm and darts you past the two.
>There’s a split second of wind in your ears and your arms cracks a little, but you’re on solid ground on the other side.
>By the time they’ve blinked the dust out of their eyes, it’s back.
>You round the corner at a run and see the crowd ahead, but behind, you hear:
>”This is what you get for standing between me and my SISTER!”

>You didn’t spend much time around Silver.
>She stayed in her room the whole time you were at her house.
>You knew her, of course.
>Diamond Tiara’s toadie.
>Not that you’d say that to Derpy, of course.
>You’re sure Silver’s a great kid!
>Or she’ll grow up and turn out to be one.
>You just don’t know anything about this scenario!
>And the crowd isn’t helping!
>It’s more like a concert crowd than a bunch of students.
>Everyone’s trying to get a better look in the distance.
>It’s a long hallway, stretching the length of the school.
>If Silver Spoon’s in trouble, it’s on the direct other end of these people.
>Your Stand’s already out, so you make a platform under your feet.
>Effortlessly, it sails you over the sea of heads.
>You have to duck not to hit the ceiling or the lights, though.
>Not stylish, but cheap.
>The crowd becomes more defined with height, and it’s taking up every tile of the floor.
>There are little pockets where a teacher stands, making placating gestures and saying things you can’t make out.
>From your vantage, you can definitely see her down the hallway.
>The crowd stops mingling before they reach her, though.
>A good deal before, in fact.
>You become aware that your fellow students are pointing you out to each other.
>There are the clicks of pictures being taken.
>And also...
>You hear shouting.
>The crowd’s rambunctious, but it’s not violent.
>You scan the crowd for the source.
>”Let me through, you cattle! You’re all going to share an ER if you don’t move!”
>There she is.
>Pushed up against a locker on the outskirts of this headless moshpit.
>Golden Harvest.

>You make another platform underneath of her, and she wobbles as she notices you.
>Everyone sees her rise into the air, and they all stare up at you.
>She doesn’t pay attention.
>”Silver’s in trouble!”
“I know, she’s been attacked by a Stand.”
>”No, she’s got a Stand of her own!”
>...What?
“What?”
>”She’s not strong enough to have a Stand! It’s going to overpower her!”
>You’d never heard of that before.
>[spoiler]How’d you get a Stand this strong, then?[/spoiler]
>She looks around wildly.
>”Where’s Dernier? She’s always been able to calm Silver down.”
“She stayed behind so one of us would make it-”
>Golden swears.
>”Fine, we’ll improvise for her! Move!”
>You nod, and the pair of you zoom over the remaining students, heading straight for Silver.
>And... there’s something next to her.
>On the ground.
>...Is that a body?
>Suddenly, your platform gives out.
>So does hers.
>That doesn’t make sense, there was still time left--
>You tumble to the floor, in front of a sea of onlookers.
>Carrot lands on her feet, and sounds relieved.
>”Thank goodness you’re here. Silver’s my sister. If we can get through to her we can take care of-”
>A Southern accent cuts in.
>”I’m sorry, but no can do.”
>It’s one of the Rainbooms.
>The rural one.
>You look up and see Rainbow Dash next to her, wearing a big overcoat.

>You pick yourself up,  ignoring the smudges and dirt all over you.
“What’s going on?”
>”It’s too dangerous for anyone to go in there right now. We’re here to manage everyone to keep anything reckless from happening.”
>”But if you break up these people and let my little sister through, she can-”
>”I’m afraid we can’t conscion that. We don’t know what could happen, and we don’t want anyone else hurt.”
>You can see past them easily, and yeah, there’s a body.
>Diamond Tiara, scourge of the lowerclassmen.
>The Southern one pulls a quarter out of her pocket, turns and tosses it into the hallway.
>It rusts and explodes.
>Golden keeps talking.
>”I know she isn’t trying to do whatever’s happening. She’s just afraid. I have to be there for my sister!”
>Rainbow, silent until now, steps forward.
>”Look. We’re the experts on this kind of stuff, we’ve got it handled. Until the others get here, we can’t let anyone through.”
“Says who?”
>They all realize you’re here.
>Rainbow’s face darkens.
>With the coat’s help, she looks like a hitman for a moment.
>”Says Principal Celestia.”
>Whose office is just past them.
>She turns back to Golden.
>”Is he also related?”
>Golden’s getting frustrated.
>”No, but he can help! His powers are good for-”
“I think they know what my powers are.”
>Rainbow looks at you.
>It’s like she’s challenging you to make a scene.
>There’s a flash of movement behind her, another shade of blue.
>You break eye contact for a moment and see--
>Trixie?

>She’s paused in a creeping motion, half-crouched and exiting the Principal’s Office.
>A flash of red disappears up her sleeve.
>Her eyes turn wide at you looking at her, and the crowd behind you.
>She looks like she really doesn’t want to be caught.
>Rainbow’s eyes move to follow yours-
>You return your glance to her.
“You’ve been following me, haven’t you?”
>She humphs, and her attention’s back to you.
>”Why would I do that?”
>Trixie looks down the hallway at Silver, and turns back to you.
>No one’s seen her yet.
“You tell me. You’re the one who’s blocking my way right now.”
>A week ago, those words would never have come out of your mouth.
>Rainbow snorts.
>”You think you can get past me?”
>You sense her power.
>It’s like the potential to summon a Stand, and something else…
>Something under the coat...
>Southern steps in.
>”Hey, now, no need for violence.”
>She puts a hand on Rainbow’s shoulder and turns to you.
>“We had to keep an eye on you to make sure you didn’t go around punching people through walls, that’s all. We didn’t mean to upset you by it.”
>You’re almost certain that’s not true, but you don’t have time to rebut it.
“Fine. No promises, no threats.”
>You stare ahead, and ｢Timbuk Three｣ appears beside you.
“Just make me a path!”
>The two tense, and take a half-step back.
>All eyes are on you.
“Make me a way through!”
>And none are on Trixie.
>The smokebomb hits, and at the same time Rainbow and her friend disappear.
>No, they-
>They shift!
>They’re both on opposite sides of the hall now!
>You run into the smoke before they can register what’s happened.
>Golden follows behind you.

>There’s Silver, sitting with her head in her hands.
>She looks like she’s crying.
>Trixie’s gone, but you were expecting that.
>By the time the smoke’s cleared, you’ve almost reached her.
>A coin sails through the air next to you, layers of brown growing over its surface.
>It’s… the same coin from before!
>｢Timbuk Three｣ bats it away, and it explodes on a locker.
>The locker isn’t damaged, and there’s no heat, but the shockwave manhandles you.
>The Rainbooms are running after you.
>Behind them, the crowd’s wondering whether it can inch forward or not.
>”｢Fineshrine｣!”
>Golden summons her tree, and a dozen creatures flap off of it.
>You look over your shoulder, and she’s stopped, directing black birds with serrated wings.
>She looks at you.
>”Help her!”
>You’re about to say “I don’t know how!”
>But all she would say is “Figure something out!”
>Or “I can’t hold them off for much longer!”
>Up ahead, there’s just the two girls.
>The air distorts around Diamond for a moment, and then a pink purse appears.
>It hangs there, in mid-air, like some sort of guardian.
>You look at the pained Freshman.

>Be Silver Spoon.
>One minute you were waiting outside Ms. Harshwhinny’s door for Diamond.
>The next you’re in the middle of the hall alone, and she’s not moving.
>You can’t remember anything before that.
>There’s just an extra pain draped on top of your mind.
>Like a Chinese finger-trap, the harder you try to think about it the harder it gets.
>You did something wrong, and you don’t know what.
>You know you’re the one who hurt her.
>Were you trying to take her place in a moment of weakness?
>Would you ever go that far...?
>”Silver! You need to calm down, something’s going on and it’s not your fault!”
>It’s your sister’s boyfriend.
>You can’t see him, your eyes are closed.
>You’re afraid you’ll hurt someone else.
>The police are going to come for you, aren’t they?
>”I need you to talk to me, Silver. Tell me you can hear me!”
“Wh-h”
>You sniffle.
>You didn’t realize you were still crying.
>He doesn’t answer.
“Where’s Der-erpy?”
>You make a gross sob-hiccup halfway through her name.
>You’d be so embarrassed if you had to look at yourself right now.
>”She’s… she’s on her way.”
>You fall silent again.
>He’s lying.
“I-I want to go home.”
>There’s another explosion, and you cower.

>So much is happening in the distance.
>You’re doing all of this, aren’t you?
>”S-Silver, you have to calm down.”
>You want to go home.
>You know this is one of those powers everyone has.
>Was it waiting in you, all this time…?
>You try to take a deep breath, and your heart picks up.
>It hammers at you with your own guilt.
>Guilt you deserve.
>You put your head back down and keep crying.
>There’s a whooshing noise.
>”Your sister will be here in just a minute, you just have to-”
>Another explosion.
>It’s the same as the one that hurt Diamond.
>No.
>Who are you kidding?
>It IS the one that hurt Diamond.
>...Is he dead, too?
>”Silver, I need you to stay calm. Do anything that will make you feel calm.”
“St-stay away. I’ll just h-hurt you if you don’t run away from me.”
>There’s a pause.
>He’s hesitating.
“If you stay here, there’ll be another explosion. It’ll kill you. I know it will.”
>”Open your eyes, Silver.”
>You shake your head.
“If she’s not there, I don’t- I don’t know what could…”
>Don’t even look.
>”Open your eyes and I can guarantee everything will be fine.”
>The explosion’s coming any second now.
>”100% percent.”
>You open them.

>It’s bright, but shapes fall into place automatically.
>This is...
>Your living room?
>And in the middle of it, standing and smiling...
>Derpy.
>Was this just a dream?
>Is everything really okay?
>You stand up and stagger toward her.
>She smiles.
“Derpy…”
>You’re okay.
>Everything’s okay...


>Silver drops to a knee and slumps, exhausted.
>She falls unconscious.
>But the purse, hovering in the air, doesn’t detonate again.
>After a moment, it drops to the tile.
>Be Care Root.
>You have a headache, but it’s lightening.
>You take a look at Derpy, the living room, and Silver in the middle of it.
>Then another future moment burns out, and the hologram disintegrates.
>Golden rushes up to you, with the Rainbooms in tow.
>Then she jumps straight past you, and picks her sister up.
>”We need to get them both to a hospital, now!”
>Rainbow zips past you and grabs Diamond.
>She doesn’t argue, or even look at you.
>She wants to save that kid.
>Maybe she’s not an awful person after all.
>”Care!”
>You spin around.
>Derpy shoves her way through the congestion of the crowd.
>”Is she okay?!”
>You throw her a thumbs up.
>”She passed out from exhaustion. I think she’ll be okay now that you’re here.”
>She sees Golden and Rainbow carrying the girls outside, while the other Rainboom holds the door open.
>Then she hugs you, tight.
>You feel much better.

>It takes a couple hours to get word from the hospital.
>Silver’s already up.
>Not happy, but…
>Functional.
>Derpy leaves early to be with her.
>You wonder how all of this happened so suddenly.
>It was too bizarre to be an accident, wasn’t it?
>Maybe you were paranoid.
>But... why did it all happen this way?

>Meanwhile...
>”It didn’t work.”
>Defeat.
>”It wasn’t supposed to work, you dunderhead! We were only supposed to slow him down.”
>Annoyance.
>Unrest in the ranks.
>The other two keep going at it.
>”Don’t call me a dunderhead! We didn’t slow him down at all! Something got in the way!”
>”What could get in the way? We made sure the entire hallway was packed!”
>”Someone broke up Applejack and Rainbow. They got right through!”
>”Well, how was I supposed to know that would happen?”
>”Did you check?”
>”Did you?!”
“Girls! We need to calm down. It won’t work if we aren’t in sync with each other!”
>That makes them calm down.
>”Sorry.”
>”...Yeah. Sorry.”
“The important thing is that we still have the element of surprise. We can prepare better next time, and make his life worse.”
>They get very serious.
>”Alright, then.”
>”Let’s get to work.”

>Her friend was discharged from the hospital almost as soon as she entered.
>Diamond’s still not awake.
>Breathing. Blood pumping.
>But not awake.
>Nobody home, maybe.
>You know that the kids are getting these powers.
>It’s not a secret, every parent knows.
>You just thought...
>You thought you were normal.
>At least that way.
>Enough to keep her alive.
>You would cry, but you’re not a crying man.
>You close your eyes and rub your temples.
>When you open them, there’s a get-well card on the table next to her.
>You could swear it wasn’t there a moment before.
>Or maybe you’re just seeing things.
>You step closer and pick it up.
>It’s generic.
>Inside, there’s no writing, just…
>An arrowhead, taped to the card.
>It looks ancient, and it wriggles.
>You really haven’t had enough sleep lately.
>You reach out to touch it, not knowing why.
>And it breaks free, flying into your arm.
>”You can use it.”
>The voice comes from the doorway, but your eyes are glued to your arm.
>”You can get back at them for doing this to her. Destroy their power, and maybe she’ll wake up.”
>Something new courses inside you.
>It solidifies.
>You understand what your daughter must have felt.
>”Do you want to save your daughter, Mr. Rich? Can you protect her, Filthy?”
“Yes! YES!”
>You shout to the ceiling.
>As you feel the name of this new power impress itself into your mind, you call it out.
”｢JOHNNY CASH｣!”
>And for a moment, in the light and madness of your Stand, you think you see worry flicker over your daughter’s face.
>But it’s just your imagination.

｢TO BE CONTINUED｣

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APGJM37aRy0 [Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart (Stulp Phiction Remix)]

Stand: ｢Tin Cup Chalice｣
User: Silver Spoon
Ability: Exists only in half of one hallway of Canterlot High School. Inside this hallway, large objects, and items which aren’t directly touching a person’s skin, quickly degrade into nothing and reassemble themselves like new, creating shockwaves of psychic energy that explode outward and pull inward again during each cycle. This power is magnified by the user’s fear or willpower, and they can un-target any item in range at will.