“For so long I wasn't sure what to do with my life,” Starlight said. “But now I found a purpose and you're all just an obstruction in my path!”

Twilight sighed. “I didn't understand how you felt Starlight, and I'm sorry,” she replied. “But friends or not, those were my classmates and I won't let you hurt them or anyone else!” Athena suddenly appeared and I, along with the other girls, suddenly felt vigor course through our veins.

“Ah reckon it's time we help our friend out and cut this bitch down to size!” Applejack declared as Demeter attacked with an earth-based spell.

“I'm with ya 120%!” Dash grinned. Nike appeared and attacked but her wind attacks didn't seem to affect Starlight. “Aw crap! Wind attacks aren't working!”

Starlight merely brushed off her uniform. “Now it's my turn! Rasputin!” A human figure clad in black appeared and suddenly Rarity was bathed in light.

Her eyes turned to slits and fell backwards. Luckily Pinkie was there to catch her. “Oh no, Queenie!” Pinkie cried.

I looked to Twilight. “Athena has status spells. She can save her!”

“Hang on Rarity!” Athena appeared again and then Rarity was surrounded by a green light before she awoke.

“HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO KILL ME YOU HUSSIE!” Rarity shrieked. “Get her!” Aphrodite appeared and soon Starlight was enveloped in water.

Fluttershy was quick to heal Rarity and Pinkie used her to Persona to heighten our defenses. I was hesitant to attack because I was curious about something.

Starlight coughed out water and glared at us. “Hmph! Not bad...but it's gonna take a lot more than that!” Rasputin appeared again and attacked Applejack with a wind spell, almost knocking her on her butt.

At that point I had an idea. “Applejack, Rarity, when I give the signal, we're going to attack at once!”

“Ah gotcha.”

“If you say so.”

“Now!” The three of us attacked and suddenly it fused into one attack, which appeared to be a large boulder that crashed right into Starlight. It certainly did some damage.

“Of course, fusion spells!” Twilight said, picking up on it quick.

“Her Persona uses wind spells, which are strong against earth elementals, which is why she's going after AJ,” I explained. “But she's weak against AJ as well.”

Starlight managed to get back up but she look weakened. “I can't...I refuse to lose to you again! Not again!” Rasputin appeared once more and suddenly we were enveloped in light...but nothing happened. “No way!”

“One more time,” I said. “Can the rest of you keep her busy?”

“Okie-dokie!” Pinkie said as Comus appeared and the area around Starlight suddenly exploded. To her credit, I was surprised she was still in one piece. Artemis attacked with her bow while Nike attacked Starlight head on. Athena finished off by attacking with her short sword.

“Alright, let's do it!” Applejack yelled.

“Stone Rise!” She, Rarity, and I yelled as our Personas attacked. Starlight was pummeled into the ground again but this time she didn't get up.

“Is...is it over?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight then went over to where she laid and stood in front of her. “I don't understand at all Starlight. What drove you to all this? If you felt so strongly about how you felt about me, then why not talk to me? Talk to your friends?”

There was a small chuckle but as Starlight looked up, there was no defiant look on her face but rather a tired and defeated expression. “I could say the same about you. You were the quiet one, dedicated to school but always by yourself. And yet now all of a sudden you have friends?”

“It's true, we all just met,” Twilight replied. “But in that short time, I can feel like I relate to them somehow. Maybe because they gave me more of a chance than anyone else here ever did.”

“Heh, I guess you're not too bad...for a Crystal Prep student,” Dash smirked.

“But what are we going to do with her?” Rarity asked.

“We can't just kill her…” I looked at Twilight. “You decide.”

Twilight nodded and kneeled down. “What you did was wrong but...it's not too late for you. You just need a friend.”

“I had a friend once…” Starlight said. “Sunburst was his name...we did everything together when we were little... but then he had to move, go to a different school. It turned out he was practically a genius so naturally he went to a better school... Crystal Prep.

“I worked my butt off, did everything I could to have good enough grades to transfer, but once I got there, he had already graduated.

“What's the point of friendship anyway? People you may know and care of eventually leave you behind anyway. I thought things would work out between Sunburst and I...but circumstances drove us apart!”

“Then try again!” Twilight implored her. “Make new friends! And if something comes between you, work it out together!”

“But...what if I can't?” Starlight asked. “What if I fail?”

“You have to believe in yourself,” Twilight replied, holding out her hand. “I believe in you...can you do the same?” Starlight hesitated but then took her hand as Twilight helped her up.

“I don't mean to kill the mood but we have some questions,” I said. “Starting with just what exactly is this place?”

“As you've probably guessed, it's another dimension,” Starlight explained. “One that intersects with our world interestingly enough.”

“So why's it appearing and why are students disappearing?” Applejack asked.

“Someone tore a rift between dimensions and everything's fallen out of balance...hence why it appears here and there. As for the students, I do not know their purpose. The master didn't say.”

“And who is this master?” Twilight asked.

“He never gave us a name...but he is the leader of the Masked Circle.” Starlight replied.

“Masked Circle? Pft, lame name…” Dash muttered.

“I think that's quite enough.”

The eight of us looked towards the edge of the roof as a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was the same masked man we saw at CHS. “After the oath you took, you now spill our secrets? Betrayal will be met with severe consequences…”

Starlight smiled sadly. “What difference does it make? Considering I failed to defeat them I was going to die anyway…”

“Then perhaps I shall do the honors if that's what you truly wish…”

“No you won't!” Twilight said, getting in front of Starlight. “I don't know what you did to poison her mind but she's my friend and if you want her you have to go through me first!”

“Twilight…” Starlight said softly.

“And me too!” Pinkie said.

“...Ah what the hell, I'll give her a chance too!” Dash said. Needless to say, we formed a protective wall around Starlight.

“...Hmph, fine,” the figure said. “If you want her alive so badly so be it. I could kill you all right now but where's the fun in that? I'll leave that to another subordinate…”

“Just what the hell are you trying to achieve?” I asked.

“I don't answer to you wench,” the figure sneered. “It doesn't matter away. Enjoy these precious moments while you still can.” He then disappeared and soon it felt like the sky was clearing.

“We're back in our world now,” Starlight said. She then looked to Twilight. “Did you really mean that?”

“Yes,” Twilight replied. “To be honest, part of what you said kind of reminded me of myself. I was always so focused on school, or projects, or anything that kept my mind busy that I never gave friendship a chance.”

“You're still both eggheads,” Dash stated.

Twilight giggled. “And I'm fine with that.”

“Thank you,” Starlight said. “All of you...and um...sorry about trying to kill you.”

Rarity sniffed. “I'm guessing it won't be the last time.”

“Right now I just wanna change out of this,” Dash said. “But let's take her to the station and hear more from her. Don't worry, you're not under arrest or anything.”

"Considering what I did that could quickly change,” Starlight mumbled.

We were back at the station, in one of the conference rooms with Spitfire as we all explained the previous events. “Damn, now Crystal Prep too?” Spitfire asked. “Just what the hell is going on?”

“You really want to know Captain?” Dash asked. “I won't lie, it'll sound pretty crazy.”

“...Define crazy,” Spitfire said, slowly taking off her shades.

Dash then explained what took place afterwards.

Spitfire was silent for a few moments and her face was hard to read. “So you're telling me not once but twice you wound up in some other dimension filled with demons and there's some secret society that's prophesizing some day of reckoning while kidnapping students by making them disappear? Yeah that's pretty crazy.”

“In other words, you don't believe us,” I stated simply.

“If I said exactly what you said to my boss, I'd lose my badge instantly,” Spitfire said. “Look after the weapons and stuff, I was curious yeah. And I want to believe you but be in my shoes for a moment.”

“Well, Starlight's life might be in danger so we figured this was the best place for her,” Dash said.

“Alright, that's fine.” Spitfire then looked at Starlight. “So explain this ‘Promised Day’?”

“It's the day where supposedly the planets will align with the sun,” Starlight said. “And that the six elements will lead us all to the Promised Land.”

“And you seriously believe this crap?” Spitfire almost snapped.

“I'm an avid reader, I can't help it,” Starlight said sheepishly.

“Six elements?” Twilight asked. “Are we talking like earth, wind, and fire?”

“I'm not sure,” Starlight replied. She looked to us. “I'm sorry, that's all I know.”

“After this, I need a drink,” Spitfire complained. “I'm expecting a lot of calls tonight…”

“We'll get out of your hair then,” I said.

“One other thing,” Spitfire said. “We've gotten reports about certain rumors coming true. Could be a coincidence but... Fleetfoot posted something about her prediction for the upcoming lottery numbers so we'll see what happens.”

“Fleets actually bought a ticket?” Dash asked.

"Nope, but she may soon wish she did.”

As we left the station, we were all silent, not sure where to go from here. It was an odd situation, but it was possible since Starlight was involved in the kidnapping she could have charges brought against her. I then looked at Twilight to break the silence. “Crazy day huh?”

Twilight smiled. “It certainly beats a typical day for me.” She paused for a moment. “Um...can I say something?” We all stopped and looked at her. “I know we only just met but...I want to help you...with whatever you're doing. If you're okay with it that is.”

“You're sure?” Rarity asked.

“I'm involved in this whether I like it or not,” Twilight said. “But it's not about us, it's those who were taken. They didn't ask for this...so I'll do whatever I can to make sure everyone else is safe.”

“Well, Ah think Ah can speak fer all of us when Ah say Ah have no issue with ya joining us,” Applejack said. The rest of us nodded in agreement.

“Guess that means you're on the team now Sparkle,” Dash grinned.

“I'm not sure what to do next but I'm certain we can prepare,” Rarity said. “But it'll have to wait til tomorrow, I'm quite exhausted…”

“Ooh another meet up at Rarity's!?” Pinkie asked. Dash just groaned.

“Does eleven sound more reasonable?” Rarity asked.

“I suppose…” Dash then yawned. “All I know is I got a bed at home calling my name!”

“Oh that's too bad,” Fluttershy said. “Mom wanted to invite you over for dinner. She made her special casserole…”

“...On second thought who am I to turn down Miss Shy's cooking?”

“Alright, we'll meet at Rarity's again tomorrow at eleven,” I said.

We then went our separate ways; Twilight took the bus back downtown. Once I got home I realized I was feeling kind of tired myself. After getting some water and a bite to eat I went upstairs and crashed onto my bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

Author's Note

I love when I can make references to the show. Also if anyone complains I shouldn't have redeemed Starlight I'll just say I pulled a Hasbro.