00 Prologue

She parted the blinds of her window to peek outside. She could see six girls crowding around the statue in the center of the courtyard as they gave their final farewells to the latest member of their group. She’d seen enough and looked away. Using her phone on a secure line, she sent a text to a waiting party. It contained only one word, ‘Go.’

Once she was certain it had been received, she turned her attention to the young girl sitting on the sofa.

“I must say Miss Sunset, you’ve caused quite the commotion today.”

The student bowed her head in shame and spoke in but a whisper. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Really? Now that is something I never thought I would hear from you.”

Sunset looked close to tears.

“I know,” she whimpered.

“I never meant for things to end up like this.” She looked up to the teacher as tears began to make their way down her cheek. “Please, I’m sorry, Principal Celestia.”

No malice, only sincerity, Celestia thought.

She smiled and placed a hand on the youth’s shoulder as she leaned down to level their eyes. “Don’t worry my dear. Everything will be just fine.”

Sunset trembled as she looked her in the eye. Memories from long ago, memories she had thought she burned, suddenly came rushing back. She was overwhelmed. She grabbed Celestia and held her tight.

To her surprise, she felt arms reach around her.

The feeling of warmth and security, the feeling of love, was too much. She couldn’t take it anymore and just let it go. As she cried her heart out on Celestia’s shoulder, the teacher held her tighter in response.

The moment she got that simple message, she began to move. Past the students, the food, and the sound system, she ascended the stage and approached the microphone. After tapping it a few times, she managed to gain the crowd’s attention. Perfect.

“Good evening everyone.” She smiled, all eyes on her. “It has been quite a night, has it not?”

Murmurs and chuckles were heard from those assembled.

“You must have any number of questions, but fret not, for they shall be answered.”

Faint blue light began to emanate from her eyes. As it grew brighter, the assembled students watched; some in fear, some with caution, others yet with awe.

All of a sudden a flash of light engulfed those present. When it cleared the entire student body stood there, dazed.

Luna took a moment to breathe and compose herself. It had been a while since she had to do that on such a large scale, and she had been rather out of practice. She looked around and noted that they still looked to her.

“Well, I think we have had enough for tonight,” she said as she clasped her hands. “Though it has been wonderful, it is time for this party to come to a close. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves, have a good night and I shall see all of you on Monday.”

The students still looked confused, but got the message and began to file out, eagerly talking amongst themselves. Luna smirked as she watched them leave. She definitely still had it.

A while after the last student left the gym, a feminine figure emerged from the shadows on the wall. Her hair was up in a bun and she had on a pair of archaic glasses, but what was really striking was what she was wearing. It was a well fitted, well pressed, midnight blue blazer, and a similarly impressive pair of black slacks. Luna took notice of this and greeted the new arrival.

“Inkwell,” she nodded in her direction, “I take it the other five have have left the premises?”

“Yes, they have. The portal has also closed, but what shall become of them now?”

Luna released a sigh. “They may have to be brought in. You saw it yourself. They will Awaken soon and we have to be ready for that.”

“I suppose it was inevitable,” said the aging instructor.

“Indeed. At the very least, Project Harmony will finally have a purpose once more.” She turned and proceeded towards the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go meet with my sister.”

Inkwell nodded as Luna left the gym.

Luna entered the principal’s office and found the sleeping form of Sunset Shimmer, peacefully resting her head on her sister’s lap.

Celestia looked to Luna as she entered and, in a low voice, said “Since you’re here, that means that the grounds are clear and the deed is done. Well done sister, excellent as always.”

Luna stood there and watched as her sister held Sunset.

“You know, Luna,” Celestia said as she stroked the young girl’s hair. “She was so tired. For so long, she allowed herself to be consumed by her rage. Rage that, if I'm not mistaken, was actually directed towards me." She released a sigh.

Worry found a place on Luna's features. "Tia..."

"The whole thing sounds eerily familiar, if I do say so." She looked to her sister as she said this.

Luna knew very well what she was referring to and began to feel more than a little uncomfortable.

"Tia, what happened to her wasn’t your fault. Like you said, this was a mistake the OTHER Celestia made.”

A wistful smile came upon Celestia. “That’s just it Luna, our Sunset Shimmer, the one native to this side, is a Dreamer. A powerful one at that. I could just as easily have made the same mistakes as my counterpart.”

The two were silent as they contemplated the possibilities. Celestia gently lifted Sunset’s head and replaced her lap with a throw pillow. She approached her desk and brought out a strange, wide-fingered glove.

“Luna,“ she tossed the glove in her sister’s direction. “Could you please bring Sunset home? I have a meeting to get to.”

Luna caught the glove in mid-air, but not with her hand. Instead, the glove floated there enclosed in a dark blue aura. She extended her arm and the glove slipped on. “Of course, Sister.”

She knelt over the sofa and placed the gloved hand on Sunset’s shoulder. Her eyes began to glow and the glove began to hum to life. In a short moment, the two disappeared in a flash of light.

When they had disappeared, Celestia went to the back of her desk and pressed a button that wasn’t there, or at least, wasn’t there in the conventional sense. A flash of golden light emerged from the doorframe and the window frame as the whole room began to descend.