A Horse Walks Into a Bar...

Alan peeked over the bush from the edge of the Crystal Prep soccer field. Never thought I’d actually try breaking into a school, he thought. One of his knees dug into the snow covered ground as his eyes scanned the western side of the building.

Next to him, Sunset Shimmer’s hand lost its glow and fell back onto the ground. “Yeah, she’s in there. Of course she’s in there,” Sunset muttered. “I need a bit to recharge... I’m spent already...”

“See anything?” Flash asked.

“Nope... seems empty to me. Only that black car from earlier in the parking lot.” Alan pulled back from the bushes and turned back to his comrades. Sunset twisted strands of her fiery hair between her fingers while Flash scanned the upper windows of the building. “So, do either of you mind filling me in on what makes this Crystal Prep place so special?”

Flash spoke up first, his eyes not stopping their searching. “Well, remember when we told you about the Friendship Games?”

Alan nodded. “Yeah, magic portals, princesses, the works. Did this place have something to do with it?”

“Yeah, kinda...” Flash trailed off.

“When we were facing Crystal Prep in the Games they brought in their best student: Twilight Sparkle.” Sunset said. “This world’s Twilight, before she came to CHS. Anyways, she didn’t really want to participate in the Games but her principal, an awful women by the name of Abacus Cinch, forced her to enter. When she found out that Twilight had been collecting magic she forced her to unleash all of it during the final event of the Games.” Sunset shivered before continuing, “And we all know what happened then.”

“So this Cinch woman was behind the whole portal bit? She’s the one who got Caramella stranded here?” Alan growled and gnashed his teeth together. When he found this Cinch woman he was going to give her a piece of his mind alright.

“Yeah, well, she’s the one who’s ultimately to blame I suppose.” Sunset said. “So, gameplan?”

Flash was the one who spoke up: “Well, I say we go in and sweep the place from top to bottom, start from the basement or storage rooms and work our way to the top most floor. Attic as well, if they have one, but I doubt it. We can skip the classrooms.”

“Huh? How come?” Sunset asked, brow raised.

“Well, the way I see it is that if they’re holding Caramella in there she’s going to be on either the topmost floor or the bottom one. That way she’ll be out of the way with a lesser chance of being walked in on by somebody who’s wandering around when they shouldn’t. I mean, it’s what I do when I don’t want my parents find my, uh... actually, I’m not going to finish that.”

Flash cleared his throat. “Only problem is... well, getting inside itself.” He slumped. “I doubt they just leave their windows unlocked.”

Flash and Alan sighed.

Sunset, meanwhile, eyed the building before turning her eyes over to the black car. “I think I know how we can get inside.”

Alan blinked. “How?”

Sunset bit her lip. “Remember how I was an awful person? Well... you're about to get a taste of the old me. You two go hide in the bushes near the back entrance. Stay absolutely still.”

“What about you?” Flash asked.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be with you guys in a moment.”

Flash looked like he wanted to say more but he only exhaled. “Alright.”

“What do you think she’s planning?” Flash asked.

“How should I know? You’re the one who’s known her longer,” Alan said.

The pair watched as Sunset gingerly made her way over to the car. She put her face up to the driver's side window for a few moments before dropping down and picking up a large rock. She give it an experimental toss, twisting the rock in her fingers as she checked its weight before giving it an appreciative nod.

“You’ve got to be kidding me... She’s not going to do what I think she’s going to do, is she?” Alan asked.

Flash fidgeted. “This explains why I woke up some days with my car halfway across town in Sunset’s driveway. Now I’m glad I kept my windows open...”

Sunset, rock in hand, took aim and threw it straight at the window. The glass shattered and instantly the alarm started shrieking. And yet Sunset wasn’t done. In moments she reached inside and threw the door open before ducking into the car. She rummaged around the interior for only a few moments before pulling herself out and running towards where Alan and Flash were. As she dove into the bushes, the car had somehow started driving forward on its own. Alan watched as It sped forward with its alarms blaring like a banshee before it crashed into a street light with a loud, thunderous bang.

The streetlight exploded. It fell down and landed right on top of the unmarked car, dowsing it in a shower of sparks.

Before anybody could speak they heard the door open. “WHAT THE FUCK?!”

The trio tensed as they watched somebody race down the stairs and into the parking lot. Alan recognized him as the guy who had taken Caramella. He had to resist the urge to run up and punch him in the face.

The man walked over to the car with his hands on his head and shouting curses into the sky. Sunset tapped the boys on the shoulder and gestured towards the still open door. They nodded. All three of them started sneaking their way behind the green-coated man. Sunset cleared the door first, followed by Flash.

Before Alan could close the door behind himself, the man turned around and his jaw dropped. His eyes widened and he fumbled for something in his belt. “Alan, you motherfucker! You goddamn... Arrrrrrrrrgh!” he screamed.

Alan’s eyes widened as he slammed the door shut. His heart went into overdrive and pounded against his chest.

“Alan, did he...?” Sunset asked.

“C’mon!” Alan grabbed Sunset’s and Flash’s wrists and sped down the hallway. They managed to get into a stairwell before he heard the doors slam open, followed by a cry of pure rage.