E.q.Gee Rule Sixty-three

True to his word, Richie was found on the school soccer field, kicking a soccer ball in the air and counting down from one-hundred.

“So…you're out to take down Sundown Shimmer, correct?” Richie said to Dusk and his group “You're all crazy.”

“It’s up to you if you want to join, Blitz.” Austin said “We ain't asking any more from you.”

“Wait - we aren't? What about getting the dance and sports team on our side?” Bobby reminded.

Richie paused at ninety-one and held the soccer ball in his hands.  “My loyalty isn't free. Neither is theirs….”

Dusk seemed puzzled at Richie's remark “But we need to-”

“I understand you need to win, Dusk. But keep in mind I never said to Sundown that I would join you guys instantly while you were hiding in classroom.”

“You knew we we’re in there?” Ben wondered.

“I’m just that good knowing where things are.” Richie stated. "Its a helpful skill when you need to know where your friends and foes are on the field."

“Really? Then what’s keeping you from joining the dream team?” Austin asked, crossing his arms.

Richie gave a long whistle and storming out onto the field were three tall athletic girls.  However, they appeared to not resemble anything like the girls in halls, being free of makeup and long hair. They donned yellow and blue uniforms with lightening bolts running along their shirts in a striped pattern. On their chests were the words 'WONDER - COLTS' stitched in cursive.

“Oh, nothing...Just simple game of soccer between Dumb-bell’s team and yours – if you win up to five points, you earn my support. Deal?” Richie stated.

“Deal.” Dusk agreed. Simple enough – Richie seemed to be a friendly sort of person, and Dusk’s team had numbers on their side. There didn't seem to be anything that could go wrong.

Richie ran back to join Dumb-bell’s team, while Dusk walked confidently over to his team.

“This should be simple enough guys – we've got the advantage!” Dusk chimed.

“Of what? I can't play soccer…” Ben shrugged, shaking his legs

“I can only play football, not soccer” Bobby admitted.

“What?” Elliot wondered.

“That's when I have to put all of my skill into the game. Skill for me is hard thing to come across.” Bobby explained.

“Okay, Okay – let’s just play alright!” Faye said. “Elliot you'll be goalie, Bobby I’m putting you on offence. Dusk and Ben will guard the back. Me and Austin will be offense-”

“What? Why Am I goalie? I just combed my hair this morning!” Elliot whined.

“Cause you'll ruin it even more if you start running towards the ball….” growled Faye.

“Oh….okay…”

“Sundown, we need to have talk…” Principal Solaris said from across his desk.

“Go ahead, sir…” replied Sundown, taking a seat.

“I’ve heard reports that you have committed acts of bullying and harm towards other students.  There is even one case that says you are planning on doing something very dangerous to this school.”

“Where’s the proof?” Sundown demanded.  Also, who would be brave enough to stand up and say these things about him?

Solaris glared at Sundown, causing the fiery-haired student to shrink back into his seat. “A familiar ‘she’ has made these claims about you. (‘Faye’ mouthed Sundown, angrily) And she apparently was gone from this for some time only to return again a few days later.”

“So…why am I here?” Sundown ask

“You are here because I’m a very concerned about this girl known as Faye Warner – you two have been together for some time – do you know why she would make these claims all of a sudden?”

No…but do you believe them sir?

“She’s possibly she's just mad at me or something ...” Sundown settled, wanting to be free of Solaris's gaze as soon as possible. “To think she would make such claims is awful and unbelievable.”

“Are you sure Sundown?” Solaris inquired before Sundown finished “I've also heard reports in the past of you associating yourself with Sydney and Sarah – also known as Sugar and Spice – who have been committing acts of bullying recently…”

“I assure you sir I’m taking care of them…” Sundown bought up “…they are…difficult but I am trying to make them better people.” Better minions specifically...

“I see….well then if what you do say is true, I will have to investigate the truthfulness in Faye’s claims. You will be still able to run for Fall Formal, but if I find one bit of evidence that is true, your privileges will be revoked. Understood?”

Sundown nodded, then asking “Shouldn't Faye be here, too? It’s her evidence.”

Solaris shrugged “Right…Right…But still Faye has been known to be good person and like you said, it’s unbelievable that she would do this all of sudden.  That means either one of you is lying.”

Sundown held his mouth back from gulping.

“Tell her nothing of our meeting.” Solaris advised turning around and organizing his papers“I will consult her once I have the time. In the meantime I need to talk with Dusk to see if he was offended by your march this morning...”

Sundown stood up from his seat, but he did not leave, instead, he activated his Carnelian Key.

“How about we both consult him?” Sundown hissed, his eyes glowing green.

Instantly, Solaris forgot everything about the evidence and the meeting with Dusk. He felt his body descended into a deep sleep, but little that he knew it was only his mind that fell into a deep sleep.

“You did what?!” Dusk stated.

“Well, I had to show Solaris what he did eventually!” Faye shouted back, her hair and face drenched in sweat, with her back now to goal, after trading places with Elliot “Maybe it would slow Sundown’s progress...or at least get him angry”

“Head’s up!”

Austin’s cry came too late, and the ball zipped right past Faye’s hair and into the goal.

“Ponyfeathers…” Grumbled Dusk.

“I could say the same thing.” added Faye.

The game so far was one to four.  In the first game, Elliot had blocked the ball with his head, allowing Austin to take the ball and earn their team a goal. However, “Score” and “Dumb-bell”  each won a goal afterwards, with little trouble from Dusk team. “Hoops”, the tallest among the girls on Richie’s four-person team, simply scored a goal from one kick to the ball, sending it  across the field and into the goal while Elliot tried to fix his hair. Even after Faye took Elliot’s spot, they still were losing.

“Okay!” Announced Richie “Last round is a one-on-one between team leaders!”

Dusk was confused at what 'team leaders' meant until he could see everyone else moving to the bleachers.

“Thanks for the support!” Dusk said sarcastically. Bobby gave a happy ‘Your welcoooooooooome!’ back.

After Score, Hoops, and Dumb-bell marched to the bleachers (Dusk found it odd how their names sounded like boys names – and how they looked like boys from distance) Dusk and Richie met at the center of the field, with the ball placed in the center.

“There’s only one way to win….” Richie taunted.

Dusk wanted to give up – he couldn't run well enough in this body, let alone play soccer against a pro. But he had no choice as prince of Equestria.

“I’m not giving up if that what you are asking.” Dusk replied. Not if I can stop Sundown. Not I can get your support. Not if I can get the crown back to Equestria

“Hmm…you really are crazy…” Richie stated. “… the most craziest candidate for Fall Formal that I have seen…”

Before Richie finished, Dusk lunged his right foot in order swipe the ball away from Richie. The maneuver seemed to be successful, but Dusk collapsed as result of losing his balance.  Richie wasted no time in acquiring the ball, rushing around Dusk, and kicking it into the goal.

Dusk didn't bother to get up, wondering why he even bothered to look to Richie for help.  It was a surprise when him came over to lend Dusk a hand.

“Alright – my dance and sports teams will be yours. Anything you need me to do, Dusk?” Richie asked.

“But I lost…” Dusk stated, taking Richie’s hand.

“I know – but hey, I never said I wouldn't help if you didn't win.” Richie informed.

“Why in tar-nation were we wasting time with this game?” Austin demanded, followed by the rest of Dusk’s gang.

“Well, I would only vote for someone in fall formal who is good a sport – someone who never gives up and does the right thing. And now…” Richie threw an arm around Dusk’s neck scratching his hair. “This purple-haired egghead sure is that someone!”

Everyone cheered, but their celebration was interrupted by Solaris’s voice over the intercom.

*Attention Dusk Shine…please report to the principal’s office immediately.  I repeat please report to the principal’s office.*

Faye glanced at her watch “It’s after school hours Wednesday – Solaris never meets with students on these days…”

Still, Dusk followed Principal Solaris’s request with an uneasy feeling forming in her stomach.

As soon Dusk set foot in the principal’s office, (which was the only open door in the empty hallway), Solaris’s hands had reached out for him and pinned him to a wall.  Dusk’s mind was racing with confusion, but Solaris’s grip was so tight he couldn't speak.

He did notice however that Solaris’s eyes were in a misty green form, lacking pupils. He groaned in Zombie-like fashion, his drool spilling onto his red beard.

“I really do hate giving you second chances Dusk…” Sundown hissed, approaching from a dark corner of the room and locking the door to the hallway outside. The Carnelian Key on his chest glowed green, along with his eyes.

“But Faye's efforts to slow me down have backfired. And they will hurt the more either of you try to stop me.” Hissed Sundown.   Dusk still couldn't speak, but he glared at Sundown with angered eyes.

“I’ve got a better idea than having both of us complete in this silly competition, Dusk – why don’t we divide the power of the crown and the key among both of us….” Sundown offered. As a result the possessed Solaris released his grip and Dusk fell to the ground coughing.

“You see what I did to Principal Solaris?  I’m going to do the same thing to everyone you know and love.  I have the key and I already have plenty of the school's support with me.”

“No…” Dusk coughed “They will never follow you.”

“Then I’m going to make them follow me.” Sundown flashed, his eyes glowing greener and more alien. “So I'd advise you and your party to stop hampering my progress. The only reason why I won't kill you is that it won't matter whoever wins fall formal – Equestria and this world are mine to rule. You have two days to go back and warn Prince Solaris…”

Dusk knew that fall formal was two days from now.

“…of my invasion…” Sundown hissed.  And then he vanished.

Solaris’s had released and collapsed backwards.  Dusk fell forwards and held his out as if to touch some portal or to grab Sundown and demand answers.

But there was nothing but air.

Sighing, Dusk dragged the now-released Solaris, who was now snoring happily, back into his chair. Dusk walked through the empty halls, going over and over in his head on why this was happening.

“I just don’t get it…why doesn't he just kill me?” Dusk wondered aloud. “I mean….he could just turn us into frogs, or steal the crown…instead Sundown lets me go about my business.  Doesn't he even know that I have Richie's support now?”

After Dusk reunited with his gang, they planned to meet at a local café tomorrow. The rest of the afternoon was very uneventful for Dusk, who found it similar to most days in his treehouse library back home….

Back in the library, Dusk and Faye (Who decided to sleep in Library with Dusk again) had kept to themselves rather than discussing anything about Sundown or the crown. Though the only time Dusk had left at winning the majority of the high school’s votes was tomorrow and the morning before Fall Formal.