If tension was tangible, you wouldn’t be able cut this tension in the classroom with nothing less than a water pressure cutter. The girls sat in class in dead silence, none of them even looked at each other much less spoke. Twilight sat at the front of class while everyone else was scattered around in various seats. She opened her backpack and took out a slender, mulberry colored wand. It had a raspberry colored six pointed star and resembled a conductor baton. Other than the star, the wand was unremarkable and looked to be made in rush without any love or care. It was the complete opposite of Rarity’s.

Rarity’s wand wasn’t even a wand, it was a parasol. The handle was black and curved upward for grip, the pole was a deep violet and had a small blue jewel on the bottom, the canopy had white lace covering the top and the tip held a ball shaped crystal with a dark jewel in the center and black wings on the sides. The wand just oozed personality and was designed with such time and care that not a single piece was out of place.

AJ and Pinkie both had a pot of dirt on their desks but both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s desks were bare.

Before the girls could get comfortable with the silence, the door swung open to reveal their teacher Ms. Harshwhinny. As her name implied she was a stern looking woman with a permanent scowl on her face. She had a short blonde hair cut into a professional looking bob cut and cold blue eyes that cut through Fluttershy immediately and froze her blood. Her heels clacked loudly on the linoleum floors as she walked to the front of the class.

“Good morning students, my name is Ms. Harshwhinny. That’s a miss not missus, remember now because I don’t like to repeat to myself.” Ms. Harshwhinny greeted her class.

“The reason I say this is because I see we have a new student today.” she gestured to Fluttershy.

“Come to front of class and introduce yourself.”

Fluttershy raised her hand. “Um...I already met the others earlier today so...”

“That’s funny I don’t recall giving you a question to answer.” Ms. Harshwhinny answered curtly.

“No...I-i was just wanted to...”

“Talk back when I did not ask for your opinion. Now come to front of class.”

Fluttershy nodded and moved quickly to front. She avoided eye contact with everyone in class and took a shaky breath.

“Hello my name is Fluttershy. I’m from Cloudsdale, it’s nice to meet you all.”

“What is your species?” Ms. Harshwhinny pressed.

“I-i guess a fairy.” Fluttershy hid behind her bangs.

“Say that again and this time say it like you’ve spoken to another person before.”

Pinkie raised her hand, leaning on her desk slightly. “I heard her Ms. Harshwhinny, she said...”

“Pinkamena!” Harshwhinny snapped. “I was not talking to you so that means you keep your mouth shut.”

Pinkie frowned and sat back into her seat.

“Again, Fluttershy.”

“A Fairy.” she said as clearly and loudly as she could manage with the growing lump in her throat.

This volume satisfied Harshwhinny and she allowed Fluttershy to sit back down. Fluttershy stared down at her hands hoping to attract as little attention as she could.

Harshwhinny went on with the rest of her lesson.

“Okay, I hope all of you have practiced your magic because I want to see all your results.” She started from the front of class with Twilight.

Twilight grabbed her wand and sat straighter immediately. Harshwhinny placed an apple on her desk.

“I want you to do a simple levitation spell, pick up the apple and place it into my hand.” Ms. Harshwhinny walked back a few paces and held out her right hand.

Twilight nodded and pointed her wand towards the apple. She concentrated her magic into the wand and pointed it at the apple. A bright raspberry aura slowly enveloped the apple. She lifted her wand upwards but the apple remained on the desk. Twilight raised the wand higher to no avail. She stood up from her chair and fully extended her right arm but the apple remained stubbornly on the desk.

Twilight growled in frustration and applied more magic to apple. The aura grew larger and larger but it didn’t even budge. Her magic enveloped the wand and the aura grew brighter. As if taunting her the apple didn’t bother to move. Her magic became blinding bright, the aura spreading to the desk.

“That’s enough, Twilight.”

Before Harshwhinny could finish, Twilight’s wand snapped in half and the apple was crushed into mush. There was even some cracks on the desk. Sweat rolled down Twilight’s face and her chest heaved as she gulped for air. Harshwhinny pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Twilight, for the last time. You need to learn to control your magic.”

“I can do it,” she urged. “It’s just the wand makes it hard to...”

“That is how Mages use their magic. Even Celestia herself uses a wand! Are you saying you’re better than Celestia?” Harshwhinny pressed leaning down to stare directly in Twilight’s eyes.

Twilight paused and looking down at her feet. “No.”

“Then learn to use a wand or you will continue to stay here.” Harshwhinny turned to the next student.

Twilight sat in seat grabbing the broken pieces of her wand. She sniffled, wiping her tears quickly and turned her attention to the next person showing their magic.

Harshwhinny turned her seemingly permanent glare over to Rarity. Rarity grabbed her wand, slightly trembling in fear.

“I want you to perform a simple illumination spell, Rarity.” She nodded, standing from her seat.

Holding her wand in one hand, Rarity waved her other hand in front the canopy of her parsol. The parasol opened and the jewel on the top shone slightly as if coming to life. Rarity twirled it slowly and closed her eyes in concentration. She held up her wand extending her arm fully.

“Illuminate.” Rarity said almost trancelike.

The jewel began to glow a bright blue spreading throughout the room, until the top of her wand shone like a lighthouse on a stormy night.

Harshwhinny watched on, unimpressed. “Good now hold it.”

Rarity kept her magic concentrated in the jewel, maintaining the light spell.

“Hold it.” Sweat began to bead on her forehead.

“Hold it.” Her face scrunched up in concentration.

“Hold it.” The color of the jewel slowly began to darken. The light was dyed from a brilliant blue to deep wine purple.

“Stop, Rarity we’ve talked about this.”

Rarity’s wand snapped shut and she lowered her arm. Her face still damp from exertion and her azure eyes were filled frustration.

“It’s still an illumination spell, I don’t see what I did wrong.” she crossed her arms in defiance.

Harshwhinny stared unimpressed at Rarity’s reasoning. “Dark magic has not been used for over a millennia and I like to think for good reason.”

“I’m not choosing to use it this is just how my magic works.”

“All Mages use light magic, you can’t just change the rules just because don’t suit your wants.”

“If that’s the case shouldn’t our classes still be segregated.” Rarity retorted.

Harshwhinny’s eyes narrowed. She stomped forward until she was inches away from Rarity. Her blue eyes, seething with rage, glared hard at the teen. Rarity stood her ground and never broke eye contact.

“Use light magic or never go home. Your choice.” Harshwhinny spat venomously.

Rarity said nothing but she sat back in her seat. Her gaze never breaking while her teacher moved on to the other girls in the class. Ms. Harshwhinny moved on to Pinkie and AJ. Without having to be told the two girls grabbed their pots.

Gaian magic was very subtle, it wasn’t flashy like casting spells or flying on wings much too small to really support their body weight. But their strength and endurance was something to be marveled at. In the Olympics they have to separate species with any events revolving running or lifting weights it would be that unfair. But another way their magic would manifest was with plants.

AJ closed her eyes and focused her magic into her hands, flowing throughout the dirt until she found the seed. In her mind she heard the seed’s voice.

“Water, please I’m so thirsty.

AJ went to her backpack and pulled out a bottle of water. She poured in a decent amount and communed with the plant.

C’mon little fella, that should be enough.

I don’t have enough energy to grow.

Ah can help with that.

AJ’s hands were enveloped in soft orange light, much fainter than the aura Rarity and Twilight used to cast spells. It spread throughout the pot and reached the seed. With the added energy the seed sprouted roots that cut through the dirt to have more access to the new magic. The seed grew larger and sprouted a stem. AJ added more magic and the stem continued growing until it exited the dirt. The stem stood tall and bloomed into a beautiful red and purple flower.

AJ, winded from the exertion, held up the new flower in triumph. All the girls in the class gasped in surprise and crowded around her desk.

“That’s amazing, Jacklyn.” Twilight complimented.

“D’aw, it ain’t much. He just needed a little convincing.” AJ said affectionately.

“Are you kidding, that’s so awesome.” Rainbow Dash gushed.

AJ blushed and smiled shyly. This happy atmosphere was broken swiftly by one person’s question.

“Pinkamena, where is your pot? ” Ms. Harshwhinny questioned.

Pinkie’s excited smile faded and she grabbed her barren pot. Harshwhinny glared harshly at Pinkie’s results.

“Did you even try?”

“Yeah I did I just couldn’t hear its voice. I don’t think there’s a seed.” she explained staring at the pot.

Ms. Harshwhinny facepalmed. “Don’t be absurb, of course there’s a seed in there.”

“Then maybe my...”

Ms. Harshwhinny cut her off. “Don’t go blaming your curse for everything. Being a Werewolf should not stop you from being a Gaian. Maybe if you tried focusing on something for more than two seconds, you could make some progress.”

Pinkie sadly placed her empty pot back on her desk. She stared forward and her hair drooped a little, losing a bit of its curl.

Ms. Harshwhinny went on to Rainbow Dash, who was all to eager to show off her magic. She smirked confidently and held out her two hands. Just above them the air grew colder and the water in the air condensed into a small cloud. Adding more magic, the cloud began to darken until tiny droplets of water drizzled down like rain.

“Thank you Rainbow Dash, that’s enough.”

“Really,” she looked up in disbelief “I can go much further than this, maybe I can make snow or maybe lightning and...”

“The point of this school is to help you blend in with the public not to show off. Your speed is already alarming as is but the ability to create lightning will make you stand out like a sore thumb.” Ms. Harshwhinny replied bluntly.

“But...” the cloud grew larger and the raindrops fell more heavily.

“That is enough Miss Dash.” she asserted harshly.

The cloud dissipated only leaving behind a puddle of water. Rainbow frowned deeply but didn’t push any further. Finally Ms. Harshwhinny turned to Fluttershy who was so caught up with watching the girls’ magic she completely forgot about that she would have to display her magic too. She instantly felt her stomach do flips and her heart pounded like she just ran a marathon.

“I can’t do weather magic.” she muttered.

Harshwhinny sighed. “Ms. Shy I doubt even bats could even hear that.”

“I can’t do weather magic.” she spoke up, still avoiding eye contact.

“Ms. Dash can you explain to Ms. Shy how to use weather magic.”

Rainbow got up and sat next to Fluttershy. She give her a kind smile to help sooth the anxious girl.

“Hold out your hands.” Rainbow Dash used her own hands as an example.

Fluttershy complied, slightly shaking nervously.

“Breath.” The two girls took a deep and measured breath.

“Focus on the air, it’s filled with water but right now it needs to change.” Fluttershy tried to sense the water in air. She knew it was there because the air wasn’t dry but she couldn’t feel it.

“And for the water to change it needs to be a little colder, focus on dropping the temperature a little.” Fluttershy felt a strange energy around her, it felt heavy and cold. It was hidden amongst other energies but it was so distinct she was surprised didn’t feel it sooner.

“Can you feel it?” Rainbow looked up at her, but her words were like static to Fluttershy’s distracted mind.

“I think so.” She located the heavy energy, it was behind her near the front of class. A swirl of emotions came into Fluttershy’s mind. Loneliness, sadness, a hint of jealousy, but most of all she felt the bittersweet taste of melancholy.

“Well show it who’s boss. You got the magic and it has to listen to you.” Rainbow Dash created another cloud that immediately began raining.

Fluttershy closed her hands together. A warm yellow glow shone through her intertwined fingers. She envisioned her creation, the magic swirled in her hands before taking form. She opened her hands to reveal a small songbird. It was slightly translucent, showing it was indeed not a living creature. The songbird fluttered its wings and took flight. It flew around the classroom for a while before finding its target.

The bird landed noiselessly on Pinkie’s desk much to her surprise. She glanced at a tired looking Fluttershy, clearly unsure of what to do with the creature. Before she could ask any questions, the bird chirped a happy tune. Pinkie was surprised for a moment before going into deep thought. That tune sounded so familiar but where had she heard it before. The bird continued the song into the chorus causing Pinkie’s face to light up.

“That’s my Granny Pie’s song, I haven’t heard that since I was a kid.” the bird hopped onto her finger.

Everyone’s jaws dropped, while Fluttershy beamed happily at Pinkie’s smile.

“How did you do that?” Twilight asked first.

“I just felt that Pinkie was feeling a little homesick so I wanted her to give a little something from home.” Pinkie smiled appreciatively.

Twilight levitated her notebook and pencil out of her backpack. She ran at full speed to Fluttershy’s seat. Her eyes shined with excitement, she looked like a little kid in a toy store. Tearing open her notebook, she began on a blank sheet of paper.

“Wait, wait, wait, okay start from the beginning and don’t leave out any details. Even the little ones, everything could be important.” She pulled out her cellphone and pressed play on the recorder.

“I...” Fluttershy started.

“THAT IS ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU GO BACK TO SEATS!!!” Ms. Harshwhinny exclaimed.

Her tanned face turned to deep red. All the girls hurried back to their seats quickly, without protest. Her cold blue eyes cut through Fluttershy, causing her to flinch. She marched to front of class still glaring daggers at the newest student.

“This school,” she took a breath to calm herself, “was built to help creatures blend in. It was not meant to be a circus to show your unnatural abilities to the world. Take this as your final warning, Fluttershy, either learn normal magic or stay here forever because it’s going to be a cold day in Hell before I authorize any dangerous creature to be set loose on Magicka.”

Ms. Harshwhinny grabbed all of her things and headed to door. Before she left she placed an identical wand on Twilight’s desk. Not sparing a parting glance or goodbye Ms. Harshwhinny left the classroom.

The girls sat in awe for a few moments before fully realizing their teacher had just left them alone. Rarity was the first one to grab her things.

“Wait!” Twilight stood in front of the door.

“What’s got ya so worked up all of sudden?” AJ questioned picking up her new plant.

Twilight hesitated, second guessing her decision. She thought it over before continuing her statement. “I need to talk to you all.”

“Well, you have our attention.” Rarity gestured to the door she currently blocking.

Twilight looked around at the girls walking up to her. She shuffled her feet nervously, something was clearly bothering her. Her nervous body language began to unsettle her fellow classmates.

“What is it, Twilight?” Pinkie asked getting antsy just watching her.

Twilight exhaled and turned to the door. She pointed her wand at it and closed her eyes. The wand lit up for a second before going out like an old light bulb, Twilight growled in frustration and focused her magic through her hand to cast a binding spell on the door.

“Okay, that should be good.” Twilight turned back to everyone.

“Will you just tell us what’s wrong already!” Rainbow shouted impatiently.

“Oh right, sorry.” Twilight blushed softly, not realizing she had just left in the dark for a while there.

“Okay, here goes nothing,” she took a deep breath. “You know that old story about the Nightmare Mage that was sent to the moon?”

“Yeah my ma used ta tell me that story when Ah was a kid.” The other girls nodded.

“Why is that story so important?” Pinkie asked.

“I think it’s true.” Twilight said on bated breath.

There was a long pause before Rainbow Dash spoke first.

“Well duh!” she rolled her eyes.

“Ah mean Ah kinda figured it out when Ah got a little older.”

“I mean really Twilight, Princess Luna just disappears then there’s a strange new shadow on the moon.” Rarity shrugged

“It kinda seems obvious when you say it out loud.” Pinkie said bluntly.

Fluttershy nodded.

Twilight gaped shocked, she didn’t expect them to believe her so soon. She had a speech prepared and everything. The new revelation took the wind out of her sails for a bit but she continued with the rest of her findings.

“Well I think she going to escape her prison by this summer.” This statement got more of reaction as the everyone began voicing their disbelief.

“Are you sure Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’ve checked hundreds of books and they all say the same thing. On the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”

“Oh wait, I have an idea.” Pinkie raised her hand.

“Why do we just tell Queen Celestia, she beat her before, right? All she needs to do is get her sun magic and blast that edgelord back to the moon.” Pinkie made fake laser noises with her mouth.

The other girls agreed but Twilight shook her head.

“I told her in person all my findings and she sent me to this school, something about making friends or whatever.” Twilight huffed still sensitive about her brush-off.

“Our leader disregarded a possible threat to national security?” Rarity shouted in disbelief.

Twilight nodded her head apprehensively. Rarity groaned in frustration and despair began to set in the group. Fluttershy felt the mood dipping, she racked her brain about the story she was told as a child. There’s has to be something they could use to save their home.

“Well if she isn’t going to help then it’s up to us.” Pinkie stood tall, looking heroic as possible.

“Uh beg your pardon, Pinkie, but six teenagers can’t save the world from a thousand year old moon goddess.”

“But we have to do something.” Pinkie insisted.

“Like what, get murdered?” Rainbow shot bitterly.

“Maybe not.” All eyes went to Fluttershy.

She blushed but continued on with her point. “In the story, Queen Celestia didn’t fight Nightmare Moon alone. She used the Elements of Harmony.”

Twilight’s face lit up. “Fluttershy, you’re a genius. All we have to do is find the Elements and bring them to the Queen.”

“And where do we find them?” Rarity asked Twilight.

She paused unsure of how to respond until a smile spread across her face again. “The Castle of The Two Sisters, it was the old home so they could still be there.”

The girls looked amongst each other, agreeing to this plan. They exchanged phone numbers and left the classroom. They had a plan or at least a part of it. It was something, much better than leaving the safety of their world to chance. Unbeknownst to the girls, as they made plans to save their world dark forces were conspiring to destroy it.

Queen Chrysalis sat back in a comfortable black leather chair, it was a large step up from the ancient stone she sat upon in her Hive. Of course she wouldn’t trade that throne for anything but the way this material supported her back was making almost reconsider. The room she sat in was a large office meeting room in a five story building recently cleared out after the business went bankrupt despite this everything still looked as immaculate as when the building was open, table in front of her lined with delicious looking desserts and fresh fruits with which a haughty looking Skyling was indulging in. She looked to be in her twenties and was wearing an old looking Wonderbolt uniform with a large tear in front. A female Mage with white hair, a fancy looking, starry cape and matching hat looked on in disgust.

Had Chrysalis been in a better mood she might of indulged the two’s antics but she was beyond annoyed. This mystery person who had the audacity to call her like was some cheap hired help, obviously knew nothing about her species as she left her no creatures to feed on and considered her to be equals with this riff raff. An amber haired Skyling who was a disgraced Wonderbolt turned assassin, a proud looking Mage who probably had more boasts than actual magic ability, a pack of flea-bitten werewolves who refused to return their human form, and an annoying Gaian child who wouldn’t stop running her mouth for one second.

“Why do you think they called us here, do you think we’re in trouble? I don’t think so I don’t usually leave any witnesses.” The girl was named Nerium Oleander.

Nerium had light pink hair with red highlights tied up into twin pigtails. Her clothes could only be described as closet vomit as everything she wore was chosen at random. A neon green hoop skirt, red sneakers, black leg warmers that she wore on her arms, and a white T-shirt with a kids’ TV character plastered on the front. Everything about her was practically begging for attention, from the way she sat in a chair crisscross like a kindergartener to the fact that as soon as she entered the meeting room she jumped from tangent to tangent like a monkey on speed. From wondering if the world is a simulation to claiming water was a chemical being used to mind control aliens that invaded the planet. With every flap of the girl's mouth, Chrysalis’ patience was ground down to be nearly razor thin.

“Or maybe it’s because...” She finally snapped but was cut off by another voice.

“Will you shut your mouth?” A large female werewolf snarled. “Gods, even newborn pups don’t yap as much as you.”

Nerium turned her head towards the new speaker. The werewolf still resembled human despite her transformation, she still wore clothes and stood on two feet. She was, of course, covered in fur but it was a similar color of human skin but she had wolf like ears that were turned backwards in anger, a long tail the color of the hair on her head, her legs were bent like the hind legs of a dog and large claws on her hands and feet that slightly curved like a cat. Nerium’s expression went from sunny and cheery to a vacant look.

Before anyone could blink Nerium swiped her arm across the werewolf’s neck, causing her flinch back. The she-wolf ran a hand over her throat but felt not blood or pain. She laughed at herself for getting so scared. This little kid barely came up to her chest and had no weapon, what could she possibly do.

Nerium smirked and held up her left arm. She clenched her fist to reveal a long, thin blade that unsheathe from her leg warmer, it was as long as her forearm but had no blood on it. The smirk faded from the werewolf’s face and she began choking violently. Blood erupted from a thin wound the entire length of her throat and she coughed up more blood from her mouth. Her hands went to her throat as she tried in vain to stop the bleeding. The slice was thin but the blade cut so deep into her throat that it severed multiple arteries and blood was leaking into her trachea. Her pack looked on in stunned silence as one their own suffocated on own her blood.

Nerium marveled at her weapon like a proud mother. She giggled, giddy with euphoria. Nerium loved nothing more than when she could silence barking dogs herself. The she-wolf dropped to her knees reaching out towards the girl.

“Awwwww, is the poor puppy having some trouble breathing? Well maybe she should thought of that before she was rude to a serial killer.” Nerium cooed watching the tears stream down the dying girl face.

Nerium using with one finger, gently pushed on the she-wolf’s forehead, causing her to fall to the floor. Her body spasmed for a few moments before going still, she was dead. All eyes went wide with horror as Nerium went back to her chair and bit into an unpeeled orange.

“Goddess, that was dark.” Lightning Dust pushed away her plate, completely losing her appetite.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie was not ready for this sudden dark turn, she is beginning to have second thoughts.” Trixie declared in third person, not taking her eyes off the now dead body.

The Diamond Dogs pack began to stir not exactly comfortable with the idea of being in the same room their pack member’s killer. Some growled in anger while others whined in fear, the alpha silenced their thoughts with a single glance. Before anyone else could speak, the lights flickered on and off leaving them in total darkness before turning on to reveal a new person that appeared from nowhere.

She wore a inky black hood that covered her entire body. This new person was extremely tall, nearly towering over Chrysalis. She exuded an aura of malice and darkness, causing everyone to get goosebumps. She lifted her hooded head to reveal a pair of bright yellow eyes and dark skin. She gave them a devilish smile and cleared her throat to speak.

“Good afternoon, my name is Ombré. I brought you all here to offer you a job opportunity.” Ombré’s silky voice boomed in the quiet room.

“My master has been trapped in a magical prison that will be broken in three weeks time and I need to you all to protect her.”

“You need all of us to protect your master, don’t this seem like overkill.” Lightning Dust gestured to the crowded room.

Ombré chuckled softly. “Think of it as insurance, my master was imprisoned for centuries and there are those who want her to never break free.”

“I don’t serve anyone.” Chrysalis hissed in disgust. “Much less some shadowy figure I don’t even know.”

“Oh forgive me, my master is Nightmare Moon.”

“Nightmare Moon!” The alpha scoffed loudly.

“Wasn’t she supposed really powerful, why would she need so much protection?” Lightning Dust shot leaning back in her seat.

“After being freed she will be weak and vulnerable, a millennia in stasis would do that to anyone.” Ombré explained.

“And what’s in it for the Great and Powerful Trixie.” The Mage crossed her arms.

Ombré smirked confidently, “An all powerful Black Mage, I’m sure she could grant your every desire if you were to help free her from her prison.”

Queen Chrysalis thought it over for a moment, this Nightmare Moon could help her spread her drones all over Magicka. Her Hive could feed on all their love for generations to come. With all the power she desired she could bring Celestia herself to her knees. Her mouth watered just thinking about it. And when earned Ombré’s master trust, she would take her out using her new power from all the love she would feast on.

Chrysalis chuckled darkly. “You have the Changeling Swarm’s loyalty.”

“Trixie is in, your master will help her locate her family’s treasure.”

“Hey along as you’re paying good, you got me.” Lightning Dust shrugged.

“Help us spread our pack and we shall help you.” the Alpha replied.

“This sounds like fun, I’ve been looking for some new toys to play with.” Nerium giggled playing with her blade.

Ombré smiled maliciously. Humans were so easy to play, just offer their desires and all common sense goes out the window. She knew this people would betray her later she wasn't a fool, but by the time they do this they would already have served their purpose. She could dispose of them herself once she regained her full power. Ombré could hardly wait, she yearned for the power that was stolen from her but now all the cards were stacked in her favor. Celestia was no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony and there was no power on this barren rock to stop her “Master”.

Now this entire world would now what it means to fear the night.

Author's Note

For all those curious I based Rarity’s wand on Eclipsa’s from Star vs the forces of evil, speaking of which OH MY GOD that finale I’m still recovering from that feels trip. But for the future I’m totally using some of those dark spells they're just too cool to past up .