Detention Party

"As a teenager you are at the last stage in your life when you will be happy to hear that the phone is for you."

-Fran Lebowitz, Author and Actress

Mathers High School, Carcer City
November 12, 1998
0725 Hours

Dawn was now only breaking over the suburbs overlooking the inner city. A calm fog hangs above all visible areas in any direction. Despite the busy economy of Carcer, it was relatively quiet since people had settled back home from the night shifts at various manufacturing plants, though the plants themselves were being prepared for the morning shift to arrive in an hour. A flock of pigeons were scouring the yards and parks for worms while shitting on park benches.

Not that Thomas Schaffer was planning on sitting on them anyway, for he had places to be and a vision to achieve.

He did not share dreams of most middle class white male adolescents: get a job, married, laid, kids, dog, and fence. While he did consider these aspirations positive things for one to pursue, but just that someone else go for it (except the part about getting laid, though he doesn't tell anyone). What he truly wished to do was to be a real estate mogul so that not only could he acquire a piece of the American dream, he could help others do the same. Each day began with an inspiring quote from Avery Carrington with his daily calendar. He paused for a second, taking in the fresh air away from the industrial zone, then advanced towards his school.

Mathers High School had the most economically diverse student body in the entire state of Liberty, with a colorful range of wealthy and middle-class cleanly trimmed children as well as humble offspring of factory workers and generally poorer immigrants and minorities. Yet, they did not seem to mingle much. If anything, they rarely interacted at all, mostly keeping within social groups, though they almost never sparred with each other. For the most part, there are four prominent groups within the school a newcomer to MHS should probably choose one of.

First are the Athletes, which is straightforward. They love sports. Though many try for different games, football seems to be the largest sub-sector, with many players going with the mentality that it is how they will make their bread and butter. They are generally strong, swift, somewhere in between, but always great in bed (at least that what the ladies in two-week relationships say). Those who decide not to take risks in the professional athletics arena often took positions in the factories, did work logging or mining, or, if they were smart enough to take advantage of sensationalist crowds, they will end up selling exercise tapes in Liberty City.

Fashonistas live, breathe, eat, and secretly sleep with the latest trends. They are predominantly female as per societal expectations of gender roles and generally don't work in factories. Sleepovers in Carcer City have the distinct characteristic of involving various young girls drawing new and outrageous designs for flavor-of-the-week celebrities to wear in style or to fall over in. They are often unfairly characterized as delicate flowers that break easy, but they pride in that one event in 1986 when a group of them were kidnapped by members of the CIA posing as Communist spies in order to maintain fear of the crumbling Soviet Union, but managed to break out and expose the Iran-Contra Affair that tarnished Reagan's administration, which gave the nation something to laugh about. As one might guess, they usually get into the fashion industry, but some have entered child protective services because of their gentle nature towards children and ability to manipulate perverts. Some have even acted in plays or movies, but others end up serving burgers to drunk rednecks looking to blow shit up. Another thing to notice is that fashonistas have a soft spot for male heartthrobs (and its not just the women).

Geeks are constantly going to the ends of the earth (but mostly to the edge of the state) to search for the latest technological innovations, which in the 1990's, was being churned out in the midst of the dot com boom. Oddly enough, some were taking advantage of this economic trend with one even planning to build a social network where people can stalk each other, parade injured animals and deformed children for attention, and argue over the latest sci-fi flicks such as The Mainframe. Many of them can be found hiding within basements, playing Grottos and Gremlins while listening to the Electron Zone. They believe they are riding a technology revolution, and they seem to be right so far. They usually can be found in internet cafes chatting with the guy they sit across from, but they are promising to develop a cure for AIDS.

Mathers High School was quite a melting pot for America's youth to travel to find their purpose in life, which is why Thomas Schaffer, given a second chance by being adopted by Carcer City's most prominent police chief, Gary Schaffer, walked with confidence while walking towards his first class as the sun rose with an orange glow.

...

Top Secret Facility, 25 miles West of Canterlot
1828 Hours

Twilight Sparkle led her friends to the spot Celestia specified in the letter Spike burped out in the middle of the night (it's a miracle his bed survived). She stood in what seemed to be in the middle of the woods west of Canterlot with a confused look on her face while Applejack checked all around them for something off. The setting sun held over the mountain holding Equestria's capital city and shone through the woods behind the six ponies. The group, looking confused, kept their eyes peeled. Rainbow Dash could hardly take the waiting: "So what exactly are we doing here? Does the Princess always have us going into some secret plan?"

With some bizarre timing, two stallions in black suits, sunglasses, and earpieces emerged from the woods to approach the mares. They stood in front of Twilight and nodded to each other. The one with the blonde mane raised his left hoof to his earpiece and it started beeping while red, green, and blue lights cycled through the device. Twilight noticed flashing numbers on the sunglasses of the other supposed guard. Everypony remained relatively silent, and Twilight's friends simply savored the beauty of untouched wilderness.

The blonde guard broke the silence by declaring that they were now free to pass.

"Where are we going exactly?" Twilight inquired.

A door behind the two guards became transparent and opened to reveal the lobby to some kind of research facility. Concrete walls were decorated with paintings of the princesses fighting Discord, various battles throughout Equestria's history, and three official portraits of Celestia, Luna, and Twilight surrounding the Equestrian flag, which they recognized as the same one from the Hearth's Warming Eve play they were involved in some time ago.

A older stallion with a general's uniform and a graying mane rose from his chair to greet his new visitors, shaking each one of their hooves. "It is certainly lovely to meet you and your famed friends, your Majesty. I am Burning Bush, and I am the head of the military research conducted in this facility."

"The pleasure's all ours" Twilight responded as she cued her curious friends to follow the general through the building. It was surprisingly large, with various weapons and spells being tested and observed by scientist unicorns constantly taking notes. Two unicorns wearing body armor were firing an anti-air cannon at staged targets, with red balls of electricity reaching targets at breakneck speed creating a web of colorful currents arcing around like a disjointed nerve center. Experimental stun guns built for riot police were being tested on volunteers among those working there, and it seemed good fun was had by all.

Burning Bush turned to the purple alicorn and smiled, "This, Princess Twilight, is where progress in our society is made. We are history's actors." She could clearly see that he was proud of the work being conducted within this secret base.

"But does it all have to be for the military as opposed to, say, making lives of other ponies better, Mister Burnin' Bush?" Applejack's question came seemingly out of nowhere.

Burning Bush just chuckled. "Don't you worry there, little lady. We'll get around to it. We don't just build weapons, ya know."

Seemingly in sync with his comment, a door opened revealing some mysterious device being supplied power through various cords placed all over. Engineer Ponies seemed to be running around making sure everything was in shape for whatever they were working on, staring at various lights and meters to make sure whatever experiment they were working on did so according to plan. Within Twilight's peripheral vision was Princess Celestia and Luna walking in to presumably inspect the room.

"Greetings, yer Majesties. Everything is just about ready to begin." Burning Bush proudly trumpeted.

"Oh, my... what exactly is about to begin?" Fluttershy whimpered.

Burning Bush raised an eyebrow "Y'all never told them?"

Celestia nodded to the general and turned to explain: "You all remember the incident with Sunset Shimmer and the portal to the human world in the Crystal Empire currently closed. The engineers have built a working portal to said world that does not require the assistance of the moon, but can be entered any time as long as adequate power is supplied. Early reports suggest an experienced team would be required to properly explore this world, since it is rarely tread by our kind and therefore we know little about it. You six have shown great courage and Twilight is the only one who has ever set foot in the human world, making you ideal candidates. However, we are not willing to take any chances with this operation, so Luna and I are going with you. Any questions?"

The Elements of Harmony simply stood dumbfounded, with Rainbow Dash and Rarity holding their jaws open in surprise. Twilight took a deep breath and spoke clearly "I understand the reasoning behind this endeavor you have called us upon, and I believe that my friends and I should be able to complete this task without problems. But I must ask... ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SPEAK OF ALL OF US GOING IN THERE RELYING ON A MACHINE THAT COULD GIVE OUT ON US?! If all of us go and something bad happens, who's going to run the country. I'm sorry, Celestia. I just don't think its a good idea for either of you to go."

The sun princess sighed and knelt to get on the same level as her student. "I know very well that this is a risky decision, but its one I have to go forward with because even though you are now a princess and have come so far, there is still much for you to learn. You and your friends would be much safer going with us. Besides, if I wish to understand this world for the betterment of Equestria, I have to go myself to know for sure. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Burning Bush reported with optimism "Princesses, this might be the best time to get going today. We have enough power for five hours, but for this first visit, I'd recommend staying for only one hour and staying close to the exit."

Luna responded for all of them, "Excellent work, General. Let us know when we can begin."

Some time passed as the portal charged up with the constant flashing of lights and a loud humming noise spreading from both the device itself and the generators powering it. As the meters inched closer to 100%, a colorful vortex started to form within the ring structure of the device. A group of unicorns similar to the guards from earlier came into the room to place earpieces on each of them in order to keep communications with the engineers in Equestria. While the Princesses were able to have them secure and comfortable with no problems, the rest of the ponies needed help with theirs.

At long last, the power levels reached what they needed to be and the portal was activated. A blinding, yet heavenly light burst through the constantly cycled air of the facility, inviting them all closer.

Twilight was the first to step forward and go in, considering how it wasn't her first time. She looked back at her friends and mentor, calmly smiled, and stepped inside, leaving a trail of lightning crackling around where she once was.