SiE Chapter 17: Back in the ｢ＳＡＤＤＬＥ｣

PREVIOUSLY ON STAN(D)ON IN EQUESTRIA
>Darkness and heat, dominated by a manic grin.
>”You’re just a wayward soul trapped in this world like so many others. The only one of us in Equestria that can’t access his own abilities!”
>Two princesses lay together amongst a terrible scene of distruction.
>”All those ponies. How can I ever lead them now.”
>”Remember what you told me after Twilight and her friends freed me from Nightmare’s clutches? We were meant to rule together, big sister.”
>A train rattles along on its tracks.
>”A prosthetic!”
>“A magic powered robotic prosthetic.”
>”I know! It’s so awesome, but…”
>A council gathered around a round table.
>”We all showed Ms. Glimmer our stands, it’s only fair that she show us hers in return.”
>”That’s-”
>”｢EVERY LITTLE THING｣!”
>The Ponyville marketplace, brimming with ponies, all looking on to see who will emerge victorious.
>”You think with an apology you can hide from the the victims, the law and the consequences of you actions? That’s why I’m here Starlight, to judge you myself!"
>A half lit bedroom in which stands two figures.
>"You and me, Pinkie, we possess the ｢SAME TYPE OF STAND｣!”
>“W-what?!”
>The same crowd from before, now advancing on a single silver maned pony.
>”Hey! Get away from Rainbow Dash!”
>”Yea! You wanna mess with the elements of harmony you’ll have to go through me!”


>In the overwhelming silence of the room, the soft, gentle sound of magic is all but deafening.
>Both you and Dash watch with rapt attention as the unicorn beside her carefully manipulates the complex mechanism in his ethereal grasp.
>Dash winces as the cold metal doppelganger of her wing moves of its own accord. Silent, thanks to one of the many enchantments on the device.
>Seemingly satisfied, the doctor releases the mechanical wing, and it gives a disturbingly natural twitch as it returns to a neutral position folded against her side.
>”All done. We’ll need to monitor it for about a week to make sure the wing fully interfaces, and then we’ll be able to cast a simple disguise enchantment to make it look just like the real thing and send you on your way.”
>Dash nods absentmindedly, instead focusing on her prosthetic wing as she tentatively unfurls it, watching the individual thin metal plates that act as feathers twitch with a disturbing level of realism.
>You wait for the doctor to leave, then turn to Dash and ask the most important question.
“So, what do you think?”
>Dash pouts as she continues to study her new robotic limb.
>”The weight’s ok. Everything looks in the right place…”
>Dash tears her gaze away from her wing and turns to the window sitting at the end of the room.
“You trust it that much?”
>”What’s the worst that can happen? I end up in the hospital?”
>She’s got you there.
>With a quick glance towards the door to make sure there’s no doctors coming, Dash slips out of the hospital bed and trots towards the window.
>It opens without resistance, allowing a fresh afternoon breeze to take the edge off the harsh antiseptic smell of the hospital room.
>You put a comforting hand on Dash’s shoulder as she pauses on the windowsill, and try not to look at the two stories worth of distance between the two of you and the ground.
>With a single push, Dash launches herself into the air.
>For one, heartstopping moment, she hangs there suspended in the air.
>You swear she’s about to fall, and right when it seems that way her wings shoot out, turning her potential fall into a controlled swoop.
>One powerful flap channels all her energy and launches her into the sky.
>With practiced ease and a steady beat of her wings she climbs higher and higher into the air.
>Clouds scream past in a blur as the hospital, and then Ponyville itself, is reduced to a tiny speck below you.
>As Rainbow Dash reaches the apex of her climb she tucks her wings to her side, and surrenders to the gentle tug of gravity as it sends her streaking back down.
>A few powerful flaps speed the process along, sending her rocketing towards the ground with such speed that you see the air in front of her seem to bend.
>And then with a cacophony of colour the barrier breaks, and your vision is awash with an explosion of hues and your ears ring with a crack that echos like thunder.
>Dash waits until the last moment, then kicks her wings out into a sharp bank that puts her parallel to the ground.
>Her path shoots her over the river that meanders through Ponyville, prompting Dash to let out a whoop of excitement as her speed kicks up a spray that catches the light and leaves a trail of her namesake in her wake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjY97KRG4bk

Chapter 17: Back in the ｢ＳＡＤＤＬＥ｣

>Thankfully no-one at the hospital seems to notice Dash’s little excursion or at least, if they do they don’t mention it.
>One pony you’re sure doesn’t notice is the only other occupant of your hospital room; Cheese Sandwich.
>The party pony is in a deep sleep recovering from his own wounds, the health monitor beside his bed beeping in a steady rhythm as you and Dash return from your jaunt.
>And as the day starts to wind down Dash decides to follow Cheese's example and get some rest as well.
>You stand there in a silent vigil, watching over Dash, and expecting at any moment to be drawn into her dreams.
>The hours drearily pass by as the slow but steady routine of the hospital’s night shift occur around you.
>The nurses that check up on Dash and Cheese Sandwich pay you no mind (you are intangible to them, after all) as they go about their business.
>At one point one of them draws the curtain around Dash’s bed, reducing your perception to a space barely three paces wide in both directions.
>And still Dash lays there in an evidently restless, and more importantly dreamless sleep.
>Sitting alone in the dark, the passage of time escapes you, leaving you unsure as to whether only minutes or entire hours have passed when the low sound of voices draws you out of your thoughts.
>What little moonlight fills the room lets you make out the vague shape of a pony as they slip into the room and gently close the door behind them.
>With little else to do you elect to watch the mystery pony, who you assume to be a doctor or a nurse, only to see them continue walking into the room without turning on the lights.
>For a moment you wonder if they simply wish to not disturb the two sleeping ponies, but as they approach, you notice the stilted way that they seem to move, and their low murmur, as if the pony were talking to themselves.
>They lurch past Dash's bed, and a knot of worry forms in your gut as you realize they're headed towards the end of the room, where Cheese Sandwich lies, still sound asleep.
>You place a hand on Rainbow's shoulder and gently shake her awake.
>Her complaint about being woken dies in her throat as you bring a finger to your lips to tell her to stay quiet, and instead she just tilts her head and cocks an eyebrow as it to say 'what?'.
>You nod towards the shape of the pony through the curtain as they stumble towards Cheese's bed, and you see her brow furrow.
>"Hey! Who's there?"
>If the pony hears Rainbow's call, they pay no notice to it at they take another handful of shaking steps before jerking to a stop.
>The sound of magic echoes throughout the room as Dash slides out of her bed and the two of you slip through the curtain.
>At the end of the room, illuminated in the moonlight, stands the doctor that checked on Dash's wing earlier in the day.
>Only now his appearance is considerably more frazzled, and you watch as he levitates a mean looking needle over Cheese's prone form.
"HEY!"
>You cross the distance between the two of you in an handful of long strides and grab the doctor by the scruff of the neck before hurling him over your shoulder.
>He sails unceremoniously over Dash's head before slamming into the doors and slumping to the ground.
>The needle previously held in his magical grip clatters to the ground, and for good measure you stamp it under your foot.
>"What the hay was that, Doc?"
>For the first time the doctor seems to recognize Dash's presence, and you watch as his eyes dart back and forth between her and Cheese Sandwich.
>"I have to do it. Have to follow orders. Must follow orders. I must."
>His mantra grows as he slowly stands and starts lurching towards the bed once again.
>"What orders?"
>Dash steps forward and grabs the doctor, holding him steady even as he tries to wiggle out of her grasp.
>"I have to kill him. Have to kill him. My orders. Have to follow."
>"Who's orders? Who wants you to kill Cheese Sandwich?"
>The doctor just repeats his mantra, and wrenches himself out of Rainbow's grasp.
>He stumbles backwards, slamming into the medicine cabinet with the sound of shattering glass.
>"Pet, what is taking so long?"
>The doctor spins around to face the voice calling from the door, and Dash gasps as she sees the shards of glass sticking out of his side and the blood matting his fur.
>"I'm sorry. The other patient, she-"
>The voice sighs, cutting him off.
>"Kill her if she gets in the way."
>"Kill her if she gets in the way..."
>Rainbow takes a slow step backwards as the doctor turns back to face her with vacant looking eyes.
>"Kill her..."
>His horn ignites, and the shards of glass in his side emerge with fresh spurts of blood, before launching at Rainbow Dash.
>Dash whips around, unfurling her new wing as she does and you watch as the bloody shards shatter against the metallic surface of her new limb.
>You spring forward and tackle the doctor to the ground, before wrapping a hand around his horn to stop him using his magic.
>You grab him by the back of the head with your other hand and, satisfied that he's not going anywhere, turn your head to Dash.
"How long have you been waiting to try that trick?"
>Dash shakes a few erent glass shards out of her wing and gives you a sheepish look.
>"Since I got it."
>You shake your head and turn your attention back to the doctor as he gives a particularly violent shake against your grip.
"So, what do we do with him?"
>"Tie him up I guess? I'll get some bedsheets."
>Dash makes her way over to her bed, and draws the curtain back as the doctor once again jerks his head.
>You feel something clamp around your finger, causing you and Dash to yelp in unison as you release your hand.
>The doctor exploits the opportunity, and you hear a cracking sound as he pushes against you before breaking free.
>You stagger backwards, and look down at what's left of his horn, clutched in your fist.
"DASH LOOK OUT!"
>The doctor slams into Dash, knocking her into her bedside table and sending her sprawling onto the ground.
>The table knocks over the empty IV drip next to her bed, not even bothering the doctor as it catches him in the head before clattering on the tiles below him.
>Dash kicks her leg out and catches the the doctor in the chest, pushing him back, before scrambling backwards herself.
>He lunges forward, trying to gore her with the bloody stump of his horn and forcing Dash to slide herself under the bed.
>You take a running leap and, using the doctor as a springboard, catapult yourself over the bed to the other side before kneeling to pull Dash through.
>You both gasp as the doctor rises once again, revealing the hook of the IV stand now embedded in his stomach.
>The doctor attempts to lunge towards Dash only to jerk in place and you see that the base of the IV stand is stuck beneath the toppled bedside table.
>You breathe a sigh of relief as you realize that the doctor is also stuck fast and reach over to Dash.
"Here, give me your hoof."
>Before you can reach her the bed shifts towards you, and you hear Dash gasp as you're pushed away.
>Looking past the underside of the bed you watch as the doctor lurches forward into the bed in an attempt to grab her.
>The doctor lurches forward again, despite the IV drip remaining firmly trapped and as you watch you see blood begin to drip onto the floor as he, either uncaringly or unknowing, tears a ragged gash into his flesh.
>He makes one final swipe at Dash only for his guts flop onto the tiles below with a wet slap.
>His next step falls in a puddle of his own blood, sending it shooting out from under him and causing him to flop onto the ground.
>This time he doesn't get back up, leaving you free to pull Dash through and help her to her feet.
>Dash gags as she spots the doctor's lifeless body, and you put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, let's go get the piece of shit that did this."
>"How exhaustingly cliched."
>The lights snap on, and you and Dash turn around, half blind, towards the source of the voice. >You find a tall mare leaning in the doorway with a disinterested look on her face.
>Her lengthy legs support an equally gaunt frame, and emblazoned on her flank is the image of a setting sun and its trail across the horizon.
>From the expression she gives you, you can tell she's spent a lifetime looking down on others.
>"Oh yea? How's this for cliched?"
>Rainbow steps forward and levels a hoof at the mare.
>"You're going to tell us whatever hole it is you crawled out of."
>You step beside her and cross your arms.
"And we're going to show no mercy sending you back there."
>The mare yawns and looks at the timepiece on her hoof.
>"As quaint as it is letting you believe that you have the upper hand, I'd like to wrap this up."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
>"What I'm talking about is the fact that you don't have a chance of beating me, or my stand for that matter."
>"Oh yea? Why's that?"
>The mare's bored look twists into a slight smile as she looks at you.
>"Because you're both already under ｢ＬＥＦＴＯＶＥＲＴＵＲＥ｣'s control."
>Both you and Dash are too shocked to say something, and you watch as she walks up to Dash and leans in, whisper close.
>"Kill Cheese Sandwich, pet."
>You heal a raspy voice repeat the instruction in your left ear, and you shakily reach a hand up, feeling out what you guess is a face before whatever it is nips at your fingers and forces you to pull your hand away.
>"No. W-we won't."
>"You don't have a choice. Now go on."
>The mare nods over your shoulders, and you feel some inexplicable force tug you towards the end of the room.
>You watch Dash take a jerky step backwards, and not long after you follow suite.
>Rainbow Dash slowly spins around on shaking legs, and it takes all the effort she can muster to throw her head back to look over her shoulder.
>As she does you see a small, grotesk growth just behind Dash's ear, no doubt the mare's stand.
>"Damn it. Do your own dirty work!"
>The mare shrugs at her, and both you and Dash continue your forced death march down the middle of the room.
>"Anon, push me!"
>You're not sure whether she said it aloud or the thought appeared in your mind, buy you follow her request all the same.
>You turn, the entire time feeling as if you're pushing against molasses, and with all the force you can muster shove Dash to the side.
>She collides unflinchingly with the medicine cabinet, causing it to swing open and disgorge its contents all over the tile.
>Vials shatter around Dash's hooves, and followed by satchels of medical equipment.
>A bag tumbles from cabinet and slides to a stop at your feet, and you look down to see the word 'defibrillator' emblazoned boldly across the back.
>"That'll do pet."
>Every muscle in your body fights against itself as the voice in your ear compels you to kneel and retrieve the bag.
>"Come on. Pick up the pace."
>Your mind screams as your body follows on autopilot, picking up the bag and placing it on the bed.
>Your unsteady fingers peel back the zipper, and from within you produce two paddles.
"Dash... This stand. I can't..."
>"I know."
>You unwillingly bring the paddles up and place them on Cheese Sandwich's chest.
>Your thumb flicks the switch on the back of the handle, and despite your best efforts you can't stop yourself from depressing the trigger on the inside of the handles.
>There's a short, droning buzz followed by a single loud thwump as Cheese's chest spasms beneath the paddles, his body lifting off the mattress for a moment before flopping back down.
>The condition monitor beside his bed spikes, then lets out a whine as he flatlines.
>The high pitched whine seems to clear your mind, and Dash looks up at the mare.
>"You're not getting away with this."
>"My dear I already have. My job here is done."
"No."
>The mare stops mid turn, and looks back at you.
>"Excuse me?"
>You remain silent, simply smiling at her as your thumbs once again flick the switch on the back of the paddles and, after a moment, you pull the triggers a second time.
>Cheese Sandwich's body jerks in the bed, and after a moment the monitor pips with a slow but steady heartbeat.
>"Why you-"
>You huck the defibrillator at the mare, forcing her to duck and Dash wastes no time in launching herself forward with her wings.
>You grab her as she does, and are effortlessly pulled along as Dash rockets across the room.
>The mare ducks again, avoiding Dash but putting her at the perfect height for you to swing a foot into her side, sending her tumbling into the hallway.
>You drop to the ground as Dash circles around and swing at the mare again, this time with an uppercut that launches her off the ground and straight into Dash's flight path.
>Dash tackles her out of the air and slams her into the ground, the two ponies rolling together in a chaotic tumble of limbs before slamming into the wall.
>The mare shoves herself away from Dash and scrambles to her hooves.
>You eye her warily as Dash also stands, wiping away some blood from her lip as she does so.
>"Come on then. If your stand's so great use it to defend yourself!"
>You step past Dash and grab the mare, going to lift her off the ground only for something to nip at your fingers.
>"Let go of me."
>You release your grip without a second thought, dropping the mare as her concerned expression morphs into a cold grin.
>"You bi-"
>"Stop."
>Dash freezes mid lunge, tumbles to the ground, her venomous expression the only thing left of her bravado.
"Wha-"
>"Quiet."
>The mare waves her hoof and your teeth clatter as your jaw snaps shut.
>"I have to say I'm impressed. Most ponies that realize the power of my stand run away with their tail between their legs, but not you."
>The mare strides past you and walks up to Dash.
>"You threw yourself at my hooves for a taste of more, didn't you pet?"
>The mare draws her hoof up and slams it down on Dash's own, causing her to scream from behind her taunt jaw.
>The mare turns away and walks towards the door of the hospital room before pausing on the threshold and turning back to face the two of you.
>"What was it you said? 'Do your own dirty work'?"
>As you watch you see the darkness beyond the doorway shift, and slowly resolve itself into the shape of a pony behind the mare.
>"That's probably the only good idea you've ever had"
>"Actually, that would be choosing me to co-host the Rainbow Dash Birth-iversary Bash!"
>The shape slaps the mare on the back and causes her to stumble forward in surprise.
>Following her, Cheese Sandwich steps out into the hallway, and looks from you to Dash.
>"N-no! Pet! Defend me!"
>"Keep using your stand."
>Even as the mare's words prompt you to action you feel the same relief you felt before washing over you as your body once again becomes your own.
>"What? How did you-"
>"I put ｢ＲＩＧＨＴＰＯＬＫＡＴＵＲＥ｣ on you just before, now you have to do the opposite of whatever I say!"
>The mare turns to try and look at her back, and as she does you see what looks like the head of an oversized chicken flopping around on a comically floppy neck emerging from her back.
>"So don't reveal your identity to us."
>The mare stops, and her eyes go wide as her lip quivers.
>"W-Wayward Sun. My name is Wayward Sun."
>"Well then Mrs Sun."
>Cheese slides up to Wayward Sun and puts an arm around her shoulder.
>"You're going to keep the details of your employment, including who wanted to kill me and why, a complete and utter secret known only to yourself."

<=To=Be=Continued==

https://youtu.be/NoewpIg6ytI