Where Magic Awakens Darkness in Canterlot High

“Again?” Twilight sighed, looking at the writing of Sunset Shimmer in the book with Celestia’s mark upon the cover.

“Does this seem like the work of another banished race or runaway unicorn?” Applejack asked, the six all standing around a table, with Spike sitting infront of the mechanical contraption that would power the mirror again.

“No, but Sunset seems worried. She met this person,” Twilight began, “only a single month and I’m already asked back. But Sunset included the feeling that when she touched him at lunch, she felt a bit of her strength fade. Like something had stolen her magic.” Applejack raised a brow.

“Well how the hay does that work? I thought there was only magic if those people were singing?” Applejack inquired as she looked at the book, inspecting the page.

“Well, what if this is Tirek? Maybe it’s, at the very worst, his human counterpart?” Fluttershy asked as Rarity and Pinkie looked over to her.

“Maybe not. If he’s in Tartarus here, so he may be in prison there, or may not exist there. I don’t know, but if Sunset Shimmer is right and he stole her magic, even just a fraction, who knows what a human might do. If they can’t wield it, then that’s good, but she’ll still need it back.”

Twilight said, Rainbow Dash sighing as she looked at the mirror.

“Just when you could get the most awesome task of defeating what could be a dangerous magic thief, it has to be in that human place! Mother of Celestia, I want to take part in that!” Dash said as Twilight sighed.

“If there’s two of anyone, there will be trouble. Just, please stay patient. I’m only doing this because I have to so Dash, please don’t rush.”

“She’s right, two of anyone can become a confusing ordeal,” Rarity chimed in, shaking her head as the thought of two hers crossed her mind.

“Listen,” Twilight began as she hooked the book up again, letting the mechanical invention take the power inside the book and use it as the power began to flow through the coils and wires as the portal seemed to appear as a small blinking dot, and then grow to the purple tear it was. “If there is danger, they can help, they have, like you. There’s no difference except human bodies. Believe me, there’s always something that world has to combat threats. Even if it’s simple human bodies with a one-trick magic that’s activated a special way, then it’s what can be used.”

Spike looked inside the portal, his eyes wandering as Twilight looked back.

“Be careful everypony,” Twilight said, charging through as Spike huffed.

“Another day on the job, I guess,” Spike muttered as he hopped through, following Twilight as they began their journey to Canterlot High yet again.

As they exited the tear between the worlds, Twilight stood tall as she sighed, looking at her arms and legs again, the sun’s basking orange giving Canterlot High a slight beauty it had never held during the normal daytime. Sunset Shimmer, who just so happened to be outside talking to her friends, the trusty human counterparts, heard Twilight groan as she rubbed her head, Spike walking from behind her.

“Twilight!” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed happily, running over as Pinkie, Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity all smiled, Sunset landing the first hug around her as the others piled on, Twilight giving an odd chuckle as she sighed.

“Alright guys, you missed me, I know.” Twilight said this, trying to give them all a hug as they all let go, smiling.

“Well, we’ve got a party going up in fifteen minutes, and we’ll be staying the night at Pinkie’s again, since she offered so kindly,” Sunset stated as Pinkie smiled.

“I can’t help but enjoy company, especially in a sleepover!” Pinkie squealed as Twilight couldn’t help but smile.

“Well, you can’t help but enjoy the presence of others.”  Twilight added as she looked at Sunset. “Should we head inside, everyone?” Sunset nodded as she waved her hand.

“Come on everyone, let’s relax until this party starts.”

And with that, all of them began to follow, Twilight walking beside Sunset as they walked inside the school, passing the trophy cases and lockers as they came to the gymnasium, with tables set all across. It looked splendid, actually, as a banner with ‘We are the victors!’ hung above the doorway. There were a few people present; DJ Pon3 was at the front, with her trusty turntables and speaker hookups, while Snowflake was at the beverage tables on the opposite side of the room, drinking a glass of punch out of the usual red plastic cups, and others such as Lyra, the Crusaders, and a few more were enjoying their time, with a few teachers there as well, such as Ms. Cheerilee, Assistant Principal Luna, and even Celestia were sitting upon the seating tables, sipping their beverages as they all spoke amongst themselves.

However, William was already at the premises, inside at the least, but he had stayed in the bathroom, trembling. The blue dress pants and white dress shirt were fitting for him, but he wasn’t up about his appearance.

“I’m going crazy,” he mumbled, the voice kept going on and on.

“No you’re not, you just can’t shut me up.” The Allucard in his mind was still pushing on, awakened by the presence of unused magic. As he looked in the mirror, he could see the face of his deranged self; a haunting sight he never saw, because unlike what he was, this was different in every way with bloodshot eyes, scarred skin, and a horrid smile, unsettling in almost every way. “I know who you are, and you know yourself all too well. Except I’m stronger; I can use magic, while you can only use brute strength. You’re a fool if you think you’ll make friends. They’ll destroy you again, and I’ll be the only one you can count on.”

William began to think, his thoughts going to what he wanted, what he dreamed of, and in that instant, it all went silent. As he looked in the mirror, his deranged thoughts had disappeared as he stood up straight, sighing. He didn’t know what shut that voice up, but he just hoped it could keep it silenced for the night. Within seconds, William was walking outside of the bathroom, heading towards the gymnasium as he sighed. Sleekly stepping through the door, the plethora of people there were dancing, having a good time. William never danced. He never had a good time. He almost seemed completely un-fun. However, it all went down as Octavia approached.

“William, how are you?” Octavia chided as she walked over happily, dubstep and hip hop blaring through speakers as William shrugged.

“Feeling just like every other day; same job, no pay. Oh hey, that rhymed.” William mused as he sighed, looking around for a table. Octavia smiled as she held a cup of punch up to her mouth, taking a small sip, her dress having small ruffles on the skirt as William sighed.

“Would you like some punch?” Octavia asked as she looked at him with a smile.

“Yeah. If it could give me a nice silence to the bassline that is currently breaking my brain, sure.”

And with that, Octavia walked away, going to grab him a cup. This seemed unlawfully nice. William however, couldn’t tell anything that was going. To them, he seemed dull, in what is a magic-filled place, and to him, they all seemed normal. Clouded in his mind, he decided to lean against the wall, and relax for a second. And like a two headed penny that has tails with the person flipping always calling heads, his streak of peace was interrupted as Sunset and Twilight walked over to him.

“Oh dear me, is peace not an option?” William asked himself as he put his hand against his face.

“Are we interrupting you?” Twilight inquired, raising a brow as Sunset Shimmer practically slapped her face, putting her palm against her cheek as she sighed.

“No, no, please do say what you’ve gotta.” William didn’t seem so happy, but Twilight not being familiar with his level of sarcasm, walked to him.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle,” she said, holding out her hand. “Sunset Shimmer told me about you.” William looked at her hand with the most confused eyes.

“Well, I had an incident today, with my hand, and I don’t want to end up repeating it.” William parsed.

“Just shake her hand,” Sunset demanded, not extremely stern, but with enough tone to give William the suggestion to do it or face her wrath. And reluctantly, he stuck his hand out, grasping Twilight’s hand as he raised a brow. It didn’t happen this time. Odd enough, but with that out of the way, William shook her hand once, and then let go, returning to his original position.

“Pleased to meet you, William,” Twilight mused as she smiled once, and turned away, walking back to the crowd as Sunset followed, the two conversing and looking back at him. William wasn’t honestly paying attention.

“Were you doing that just to get me here? Because I can say this; I didn’t feel a thing.” Twilight stated as Sunset Shimmer sighed, shaking her head.

“Are you kidding me? I know what happened. Well, I may not know exactly what’s going on, but there’s definitely something weird.” Sunset Shimmer said as the two walked back over to their friends.

“So, what happened?” Rainbow Dash asked, Pinkie sipping punch as Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack were conversing amongst themselves.

“Well, Sunset may be wrong about him, but then again, we won’t know what’s going on until we find the root of the problem.” Twilight answered Rainbow Dash as Sunset Shimmer looked back William wasn’t there anymore: Instead, there was an Octavia with her jaw dropped, and what seemed to be a scared William running to the entrance with a hand on his head.

“Twilight,” Sunset said as she nudged Twilight’s ribs, “William’s running from something.” With that, Twilight looked at the door of the gymnasium, seeing the stranger leave in a rush.

“Girls, come with me,” Twilight announced as they all looked at her, Rarity and Dash seeing the boy run past the threshold and into the hall, and Pinkie Pie raising a brow as she, Fluttershy, and Applejack wondered what exactly was going on in such a rush. Twilight and Sunset had already begun to run after William. With no choice but to see what was going on, the others followed. The run was long, William running outside to the front yard of the school, holding his head, the girls following behind him as he fell to his knees on the grass.