Mahou-Shoujo Sunsetta II: The Tome of Time

The ship, named the "Insert Name Here", has taken off, and is now heading into the shallow space between deep space and Earth. Little do its inhabitants realize what impending danger and stuff awaits them...

"When I woke up yesterday," said Sunset Shimmer, "I didn't think I'd end up in space anytime soon."

"I did," said Maud.

"...In all honesty, I'm already feeling a bit displaced. Let's try to get this over with as soon as possible, alright?"

"Fine with Trixie," said Trixie. "Trixie just remembered she left about three gallons of boiling water on the stove for that turkey she wanted to make today."

"So, where iz it zat we are going?" asked Photo.

"..." Sunset closed her eyes. "Sapphire Spirit, you there?"

"What is it? Make it snappy, I'm in the middle of something."

"...exactly how do I trace the Tome of Time?"

"*pfft* That's easy. Look at your hand."

Looking down, Sunset noticed the compass on her hand had changed. Instead of a letter N at the top, there was a picture of the moon.

"The Tome of Time is actually seven different manuscripts, all bundled into one," explained the Spirit. "You have to find all seven pieces in the correct order, or the Tome will only scatter again, even farther than before. Now, get going, I've only got so long before--"

"Sapphire! Will you clap with the trap and get back to struttin' yo' bad self?"

"*Ugh* Will you shut up, Emerald Essence? I'm in the middle of a call!"

"Ain't my prob, hun, now get back over here! We ain't done 'till t'aint no more money to be made, y'hear?"

"*sigh* what a workaholic. Sorry, Sunset, I've got to get back to work. Call you later, if Emerald Ego ever lets me out of this dive."

Sunset opened her eyes. "We're going to the moon, girls," she said. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for--"

"You know, people don't have to say that every time anyone goes to the moon, Sunset," spat Trixie.

"...sorry."

Sunset sat at the window, looking out at the ever-nearing surface of the moon. "I bet it's really pretty at night," she said. "No atmosphere to block out the stars."

"All the better for the star known as Trixie to shine more brightly!" shouted Trixie.

"Trixie..."

"We've got a call," said Maud.

Sunset turned around. "I almost forgot she was here," she said. "What's up?"

Maud pushed a button.

"|||||\||||/\/|||kkshninnikbibihw can you hear us now?"

"Yeah," said Sunset. "Who is this?"

"Moon operative office. You're cleared for landing. We're sending you the co-ords now. Welcome to Lunus Alpha, otherwise known as the moon, Maho Girls."

"We're expected?" asked Photo. "Zat is not normal."

"Meh, I've seen crazier things," said Sunset.

The Moon Operative Office was located at the bottom of a large crater, next to a couple broken-down lunar rovers. A few other spacecraft were tethered there as well. "I guess the moon's not as lifeless as we thought," said Sunset. "Back in Equestria, Luna was stuck here for a thousand years. I bet this place is the only reason she didn't die of hunger."

"The vice-principal's afraid of space," said Trixie. "She wouldn't be caught dead on the moon."

"No, the other Luna--forget it."

There was a satisfying clunk as the ship docked, and the girls stepped out onto the moon.

They were immediately greeted by a figure in a full-body space suit. "Welcome to Moon Services," it said. "Your suite is ready."

"Suite?" asked Trixie. "Sweet!"

"And she chews me out for bad puns..." muttered Sunset.

They followed the moon man down a series of futuristic tunnels. "In all honesty," he said, "when they said you were coming, I didn't think it was true."

"When who said we were coming?" asked Sunset.

"Classified," said the man. "Here we are. Go ahead. We'll be ready for you in a sec."

He shoved them inside and closed the door. "Try not to breathe too much," he said. "We've been recycling the same air for years, and I had beans last night."

"Pleasent," said Sunset. "So, any idea what we're doing?"

"Not a clue," said Photo. "This iz unexpected, to say ze least."

"And has no one noticed the distinct lack of anyone else?" asked Trixie. "That man might be the only one up here."

"Not likely," said Sunset. "He said someone was expecting us. But who?"

"The Mikah-Hakim," said Maud.

Sunset laughed. "Yeah, right. They blew up back in the first story."

"I mean," said Maud, "the Mikah-Hakim. They're right there."

A portion of the wall slid away to reveal the five cloaked figures from the first story. "Well deducted, Maud," said the middle figure. "I take it you noticed the subtle scent of igneous rock on the floor, similar to the kind we were last seen standing on?"

"No," said Maud. "I saw you walk in while the others were looking at the Earth from that observation window on the way here."

The figure spat. "Way to exploit a plot hole, Maud, but you're too late! In exactly fifteen minutes, this room will void itself of oxygen, at which point, we will be on your ship, piloting it towards the next piece of the Tome of Time!"

"So you know where it is?" asked Sunset. "And if you do, why wait here for us?"

"We actually don't know," said the figure. "But we DO know that you must have some sort of tracking device on your ship, otherwise you wouldn't have made it up here so fast!"

"Actually, no, it's on my hand."

"..."

"..."

"Trixie thinks you should not have told them that."

"Fine," spat the middle Mikah-Hakim. "We'll chop off your hand and take it with us! Weapons out, now!"

The cloaked figures drew their weapons, which, for the sake of laziness, will not be described.

Sunset took a step back. "I don't think so," she said. "Mahou-Shoujo Transfo--"

"Not so fast," said Maud. "The air here is concentrated. A single spark will blow this side of the moon into Space."

"We thought of that," said the Mikah-Hakim. "There's also a chemical in the air that makes it impossible to control peanut butter crackers, and the walls are too mirrored for cameras to function properly! So, ha!"

"It was a trap," said Sunset. "Figures. Looks like we'll have to fight not as the Maho Girls, but as ordinary, useless teenage girls."

"Not entirely," said Maud.

"What do you mean?"

Maud parted her hair. In it was a blue streak.

"Mahou Terra, Transform."

The air was suddenly filled with sand and dust, swirling in a tornado around the emotionless gray girl. The sand hardened into glass, which molded itself around Maud like a semi-transparent suit of orange-gold armor.

"I am Mahou Terra Maud," she said, "and you're about to be terraformed."

"At least one of us has a catchphrase..."

The Mikah-Hakim took a perfectly synchronized step back. "There's a fourth?" said the middle one. "Nobody said anything about a fourth..."

"To my knowledge," said the one to her left, "I'm the only person who talks to you."

"Shut up," said the middle one. "I think this requires a change of tactics, wouldn't you agree? It's time Sunset knew who she was fighting against! But only me, for dramatic effect. You guys get to share your secret identities later."

She stepped forwards and threw off her black robes. "Miss me, Sunset Shimmer?"

Sunset nearly fell over. "Y--you? But how? Why? What?"

"Nice to see you, too," said Diamond Tiara, brandishing a fierce-looking machine gun. "We have so much to talk about."