Sunset Shimmer: War Mage

Two weeks and two days prior to the Congressus Peculiaris, Sunset Shimmer was engaged in battle against a terrible opponent.  Her enemy had mercilessly crushed her allies time and again, laughing at their struggles to survive.  All others had fallen, leaving only Sunset to avenge them.  The battle for a great reward would see only one survivor, the rest facing oblivion.

"Take that," Pixel Bit cried as she unleashed the same combo that had defeated her father.  Her character pummelled Sunset's, a wave of flaming fists leaving her with almost no health.

Sunset desperately attempted to unleash her own combo attack, but she was not familiar with the new style of controller.  She pressed the wrong direction on the pad, causing her character to present his back to the enemy.  She was certain poets would write ditties rather than odes to her character's demise after that.

Pixie showed no mercy as she slammed her warrior into Sunset's to drain the last of her hit points.

"Player 1 wins!" flashed across the screen, the cheer track supplemented by the girl's own shout of triumph.  She accompanied it with a little dance learnt from her Aunty Scootaloo.  She liked to celebrate her victories, though she had gotten much better at knowing when to stop.

"The last slice of apple pie is mine," she crowed.  With a comforting pat to Sunset's head, she added, "You would've won if you'd gotten that combo off."

Sunset ruffled the girl's hair, which was always allowed to flow loose when she was playing.  "It's for the best.  You're still growing up.  I'd just be growing out."

"That sounds like what Aunt Rarity says," Pixie giggled.  She set her controller on the television cabinet and rushed into the kitchen to claim her prize.

Though Pixie still had a couple hours until her bedtime, she was already wearing her pyjamas.  The set of top and bottom were authentic satin, a gift from Rarity, which had gold star clusters and the various phases of the moon in white against a dark blue.  They were so themed as Pixie had inherited her mother's love of viewing the stars and the moon, as well as an interest in Astronomy from Twilight.  Despite their owner's exuberance, they endured well and only needed one repair in their three months of existence.  Rarity knew her niece well.

"You know," Sunset turned to the little devil's parents, "that was probably the most embarrassing defeat I've ever had."

"You get used to it," Button replied, not even trying to hide a smirk.  "I was thinking of setting up a Smash Brothers tournament this weekend.  Should I sign you up?"

"Might as well.  It can't be any worse."

"Do you think she burnt off the extra sugar with the game tournament?"

A 'woo hoo' from the kitchen accompanied by the sound of something breaking answered Sweetie Belle's question.  She heaved herself to her feet to see what had happened.  The loud, fast explanation and apology was not followed by reprimand, so it must not have been expensive.  Button lifted Violet and carried her into the kitchen, stating that he wanted to make sure the lack of a response was actually that his wife was not too upset and not because she was catatonic.

Trixie sat on the edge of Sunset's chair and placed an arm around her shoulders.  "You did your best.  Ignominious defeats happen, and we can only hope all witnesses eventually forget them."

"Or we strangle the witnesses in their sleep," Sunset replied with a small, devilish smirk.  "One person keeps secrets better than two."

Trixie snickered.  "I will be sure to lock my door tonight."

Though uncommon, the entire household was all gathered on the lower floor together, not yet having dispersed for their various activities after the evening dinner.  Something about the cozy togetherness and the excitement of the game tournament had them collected in different, shifting conversations.

Sunset's mobile rang; Pinkie Pie had once again just avoided interrupting something.  It was so common as to cause Sunset to wonder if she used Fae magick to find the perfect dramatic moments.

Before she could even utter a greeting, Pinkie's shrill voice was shouting, "-don't know what happened.  You've gotta check on the others."

"Pinkie, what do you mean?  What others?"

"The other girls.  Some guys attacked Rarity's boutique and burnt it, but she wasn't there, and they tried to kill me, but I took care of them.  Go check on the Apples and Scootaloo.  I'll get to Rarity, Dashie, and Fluttershy."

She disconnected, not giving Sunset a chance to ask more questions.

"Damn it!"  She turned to the kitchen and shouted, "Sweetie Belle, emergency."

That caught everyone's attention.  Sunset recounted Pinkie's alert as she slipped into her boots and grabbed her wallet and keys.  Seeing the white of her friend's cheeks fade to pale, she said, "We've gotta go.  Now."

"What about the rest of us?" Twilight asked.

"Keep an eye on the sanctum.  We'll be back as soon as we can."

Sweetie Belle grabbed her own wallet and boots.  She called "Be good, Pixie, go to bed on time, I'll kiss you goodnight when I get back" as she ran to Sunset's car.

They drove to Scootaloo's flat first.  Sweetie Belle called her repeatedly, starting the moment Sunset turned the key in the ignition.  Finally, when they were pulling into her neighbourhood, Scootaloo answered.  Sweetie Belle put her on speaker through the car's Bluetooth system.

"Is everything okay?" Scootaloo asked.  "What's with blowing up my mobile?"

"Why didn't you answer?"

"I was in the shower.  It was a long day today."

"I'm glad you're okay."  The relief in Sweetie Belle's voice was palpable.  "Please do what I'm about to tell you and don't argue:  Grab your wallet and boots and come down.  We're outside.  I think something happened, and you have to meet us now."

"What do you mean?"

Sunset took over the conversation.  "Some guys burnt down Rarity's place while she was gone and attacked Pinkie Pie.  Get your arse down here now.  We'll keep you safe if someone comes after you."

Whether it was the combined urgency in their tones or that she was too tired to argue, Scootaloo assented and was at the car a few seconds later.  She carried a single change of clothes and her skateboard.  As she clambered into the back, she asked, "Okay, what's going on?  Why would somebody be after us?"

"I don't know.  They didn't come to the house, but we do know that they attacked two of our group that aren't really connected except for being part of the old gang, so we're playing it safe.  Sweet Apple Acres is next."

Sunset drove quickly, scanning with Mind magick to avoid the police as she ignored stops, lights, and limits.  Even from the highway, they could see a plume of smoke that all three hoped was something else.  As they passed Pearl's farm, the smoke grew thicker.

She parked on the street, everyone silent as they beheld Sweet Apple Acres.  The main barn, the house, and the garage were all burning, neither the inhabitants nor the culprits anywhere to be seen.  While Scootaloo was looking at the ruins, Sunset used magick to feel for others.  Despite the wide radius she could examine, she felt nothing.

"Sweetie Belle, let's go check it out.  Scootaloo, stay here."

"What?  Why?"

"Someone with sharp eyes needs to be watching for the police or the criminals.  Keep your mobile handy and call mine if you see or hear anything, okay?"

The athlete sighed and gave a reluctant acquiescence.

The two Mages joined hands as they walked across the property.  Though she was worried about destroying evidence, something told Sunset that the police would not be able to help with whatever was happening.  Both friends approached the house, the heat unpleasant but not dangerous from where they stopped.

Without prompting, Sweetie Belle began scanning the building.  Sunset could feel the Focused Mage Sight lensed by the Death Arcanum and already knew what the young woman would find before Sweetie Belle gasped and began crying.

"They're dead.  Gunshots."

Sunset pulled her into an embrace.  "I'll help you if you need it, but we need to try to see who did this."

"Yes, please.  I can't concentrate right now."

Sunset began weaving magick about Sweetie Belle, targeting her distress and hiding it so that the younger Mage could perform the necessary Willworking.  Though she had studied only a little of the Time Arcanum to reach Initiate-level understanding, Sweetie Belle had the skill to review the past hour.  She combined it with her Death Arcanum to target the first death on the property.

A simple mental link allowed Sunset to share her friend's sight of the attack.  Sweetie Belle pulled them both into the distance to view events about forty minutes past, if Sunset correctly understood the input her partner was sharing.

The house was intact.  Granny Smith dozed in the rocking chair while her two oldest grandchildren watched an evening drama.  Big Mac was stretched across the couch, Applejack on a chair next to their grandmother.  Only the sound of a vehicle pulling into their drive disturbed the peaceful family.

"Who in tarnation could that be?"

"Ah'll get it," Big Mac offered as the doorbell rang.

He opened the door to a man in a ski mask pushing him backwards.  The farmer was strong, but he had the universal vulnerability to surprise and fell backwards, landing hard.  When he tried to push himself to his feet, the assailant kicked him in the stomach, leaving the young man on the floor.

"What's goin' on here?" Applejack shouted as the man stormed into their house.  She stood, ready to fight the invader.  Even though she was only sharing a view of the past, Sunset could read her friend's emotions, which were dominated by determination and righteous anger with no small amount of fear.

Unlike the show they had been watching, criminals in real life did not stop to give a speech or to gloat over their acts.  He pulled a gun and ended the family before they had a chance to defend themselves.  Perhaps their only mercy was that their murderer knew what he was doing, and the bullets killed them quickly.  Despite the noise, Granny Smith had not stirred and was the last to go.

The time rushed forward as their vision moved into the yard.  The gunman and two others soaked the buildings with accelerant and set everything ablaze before hopping into their car to leave.  The executions and the arson took less than ten minutes, the attackers not uttering a single word.

They all wore military-style camouflage, small rank insignia on their lapels.  When Sunset looked closely, she could see they were not with the national military, which comforted her in some ways and heightened her concern in others.  All three wore ski masks.  She could not read them whatsoever, as though they did not exist.  None of her Arcana could touch them.

Their car was a standard white sedan, the plates obscured by paper.  Sunset recognised a local rental company's decal in the driver's-side window.

The vision faded.  Despite Sunset's help, Sweetie Belle's emotions were overwhelming her.  She dropped to her knees to sob.  There was no time to mourn, sirens already audible in the distance.  Sunset's mobile began to ring as Scootaloo simultaneously shouted to them from the car.

"Please, Sweetie Belle, we have to go."

Through her distress, the young woman managed a nod.  "Okay."

Sunset hustled them back to the car, placing a Mind barrier around them as they left so that any authorities passing them on the street would forget seeing them.  She drove much more sedately, keeping right at the speed limit and obeying all other traffic laws.  She was unsure how to handle Scootaloo, settling for not speaking to the athlete for the time being.

Scootaloo seemed lost in her own thoughts, anger and fear waring for control of her mind.  She did not ask what the others had seen from their random vantage point some distance from the house, though she obviously had no trouble interpreting her friend's tears.

"I should call Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle said as she finally gained control of herself.

"Call Pinkie Pie.  She can get there faster."

"Okay."

Sweetie Belle had the presence of mind to place the call on speaker again.  Pinkie answered on the second ring.

"Dashie is okay, but they got Fluttershy.  She was at the animal hospital.  They burnt it, too."

"They got Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith and burnt the farm buildings," Sunset said.  "We have Scootaloo.  Apple Bloom is at her university.  Can you you check on her?"

"Will do.  I moved Dashie somewhere safe.  I'll protect her if those bastards come after her.  Did you find anything?"

"No.  We were able to find evidence they rented a car.  They were obviously professionals though, so I'm willing to bet they used fake identification.  We'll try to track them down anyway.  Call me if you find anything.  If Apple Bloom is safe, don't tell her.  Let the police do it."

"How are you so calm?" Sweetie Belle screamed.  "They killed our friends.  Why aren't you upset?"

Scootaloo jolted, worriedly glancing between the two.  She also seemed intrigued to hear Sunset's answer.

"Revenge," Sunset replied.  "I want to catch these monsters, but I have to keep a clear head to do it."

There was quiet on Pinkie's end.  She finally replied, "We can't bring back the people they killed.  I want to cry so badly, but I can't because I have to be ready to protect Dashie and Apple Bloom.  I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle.  I'm not trying to be insensitive; I just want to know why they attacked us, and I want to catch them before they hurt anybody else."

Sweetie Belle sniffled.  "I'm sorry.  I know you guys are sad, too.  I shouldn't have yelled at you."

Had she not needed one hand for the gear shift as they entered the city streets, Sunset would have offered a comforting pat.

"You don't have to be sorry for that.  Once we get them, I'll need you, so go ahead and let it out."

"Sunset's right.  We'll both need you, Sweetie Belle.  I have to go check on Apple Bloom.  Once I know her situation, I'll call you again."

"I appreciate it, but I need to be ready to help, too.  We all will.  I can do my part."

"Keep an eye out."  Pinkie disconnected for her walk through the Hedge.

"We're going to get those sons of bitches," Scootaloo promised, hugging Sweetie Belle from behind.  "They aren't getting away with this.  Let me get my hands on a gun or something, and I'll be right out there."  Her following speech was peppered with foul and violent language that would usually cause Sweetie Belle to cringe.  As it was, the normally passive young woman was nodding.

The cabal had placed several wards and barriers around the house, keyed to allow only people from their circle to pass without giving an alert to the inhabitants.  They found Rarity in the living room.  Pixie and Water Sapphire were cuddled in her lap as Button sat next to them with an arm around his sister-in-law for emotional support.  Her mascara ran down her face, not that she was in a state to care.

"M-My husband.  My p-parents.  My shop.  Everything except my babies and you."  Rarity accepted Sweetie Belle's embrace.  "Who would do this?"

"We don't know yet.  The police are looking into it."  Sunset did not question why Magnum and Cookie had been victims, assuming the attackers had been targeting not only the circle but their families.  Using another mental link, she told the others to check on their families and those of their friends.  They excused themselves to place their calls.

"Rarity, would you like some medicine to help you?" Sweetie Belle offered, only a slight tremor in her voice.  "The stress isn't going to be good for the baby.  Please, do it for him."

Several seconds passed before the broken fashionista answered.  "Yes, I should.  I can't lose anyone else."

Sweetie Belle offered her sister two sugar pills.  A few minutes after she swallowed them, Sunset used magick to lull her friend into sleep.  Rarity's eyelids gradually slipped until she was unconscious.

Water Sapphire was not capable of understanding what was happening and began to cry.  Pixie held him, though she was starting to cry as well.

"Is Uncle Flash dead?"

Sweetie Belle and Button Mash took their daughter and nephew into their arms.  The small group hug was all they could offer.

"He is."

"Why would someone wanna h-hurt him?  Why would they wanna hurt us?  What did we do?"

"I don't know, Pixie."  Button rubbed her back, which usually helped to calm her when she was upset.  It did nothing.  "But I promise, they're not going to hurt you or anyone else, okay?  We'll keep you safe."

"Can you be strong and help with Water Sapphire?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yes, Mummy."

Button asked Scootaloo to take the children into the kitchen and give them some warm milk and a cookie.  They needed the comfort, and the Mages needed them removed to be free to talk.

Lemon Zest scanned mother and baby and pronounced them both physically healthy.  Sunset did what she could to settle the mental turmoil, but it was too deeply rooted to remove completely without risking Rarity's mental health, even though Sunset was an Adept of Mind.

They each received a message from Solstice Cherry, which simply read "All shareholders to a meeting ASAP.  This is not a request."  If the Hierarch was ordering a meeting, something was happening, and the cabal needed to attend.  Rarity was settled for hours, which only left Scootaloo.

She returned from the kitchen, both children munching on their treats.  Though the milk and cookie had soothed Water Sapphire, Pixie was too old to be so easily reassured.  She had managed to stop crying, even forcing herself to smile at her little cousin when he was looking at her.

Scootaloo was similarly putting up a front.  Sunset could see the raw fear mingling with rage and heartache.  As Sweetie Belle hugged her oldest friend again, Sunset pulled two more sugar pills.

"Take these," she ordered, using a bit of magick to override Scootaloo's objections.

The athlete swallowed the pills without complaint.  Sunset did not bother to wait as she had for Rarity.  More magick pushed Scootaloo into sleep as she sprawled onto the couch next to Rarity.  Sunset then put Water Sapphire to sleep.  She placed him between his mother and Scootaloo, hoping the warmth of human contact would forestall any nightmares.  They would move their guests to a bed later.

As she recharged her Mana from the ley line, Sunset asked Karen and Spike to watch over their guests.  Karen's Fae magick would allow her to protect their dreams and persons, and Spike was a comforting presence merely for existing.  He settled onto Rarity's lap while Karen sat on the back of the couch.  Both kept eyes and ears on alert.  By the time Sunset was ready, the others were set to go, and Button Mash was preparing to tuck Pixel Bit into bed.

"Button, you're a member of the Consilium.  You're going to have to come."

"Wait, 'shareholders' includes Sleepwalkers?  What about the girls?"

"Bring them.  They're both Sleepwalkers, and we don't have time to wait for a babysitter.  Spike and Karen can watch over the others and the sanctum."

Sweetie Belle nodded.  "Pixie, boots now.  It's a warm evening, so you should be okay with a light jacket."

Allowing her the extra sugar had been a good thing.  Though she likely would have been able to sleep even without her customary crash, she still had the energy reserve to cooperate.

As she followed the adults to the van, she asked, "I'm going to a Forum on a school night?"

"We're going to call in tomorrow and tell them you're sick.  I know it's lying, but this is an emergency.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mummy."

"Good girl, Pixie.  Want to ride with me?"

The minivan, their largest vehicle, did not seat everyone without a few questionable arrangements.  Sweetie Belle and Button Mash sat in the back with the car seat, Pixie on her mother's lap and buckled into the seat with her.  Because the second middle seat was missing to make the baby seat more accessible, Lemon Zest knelt on the floor next to Twilight, keeping her head just below the window.  Trixie drove, Sunset in the front passenger's seat due to needing the space for her leg.

When everyone was settled, they headed to the Great Hall.  Something was happening, and the hope they would soon have answers stood large on each face.  Even Violet could feel the tension; she had begun crying when they strapped her into her carseat, despite loving rides.  Pixel Bit was uncharacteristically silent, clinging to her mother as she had not done for the better part of a year.  In a way, Sunset envied how the children could show their emotions, wishing she did not have to bury her own rage.

'Thanks for all this anger,' her other self whispered.  'I'll need it when we confront those guys.'

'I shoved it back there to keep a clear head.  You're never coming out again.'

'Try telling me that when we're out of Mana and they're holding a gun to your friends' heads.  We're heading into a battle.  Sooner or later, you're going to beg me for help.  Don't worry, I'll make it easy to punish them.  I'm thinking-'

'I'm not murdering anyone.  No torture, either.  They're monsters, but I won't become one just to get back at them.'

'You're already a monster, Sparky.  By the time this is over, even you won't be able to deny it anymore.'

End Part I