Of Dreams and Magic

“Behold! The power of science!”

A mechanical arm gripped a drumstick in a metal pincer and proceeded to play a slow musical beat on the drum in front of it. The teenage boy with square glasses smiled widely as he gestured to his exhibit.

“It knows seven scores and is delicate enough to pick up a glass of water!”

Sunset and Twilight stood amongst a few others watching the boy’s experiment with interest. Twilight was studying it habitually as Sunset took it for what it was: a machine playing music. She asked aloud, “It plays well, but does it know more upbeat songs?”

“Hmm,” he said rubbing his chin. “There’s one, give me a second.” He operated a small computer on the side and turned some dials on the switchboard. The robotic arm stopped for a moment before playing a faster beat on the drums.

“Fascinating,” muttered Twilight.

“Sure is. A few more and the first robot band could be formed,” said Sunset.

The song was picking up, too fast as the teenager behind the machine began to panic. Sparks and smoke flowed out of the arm as it sent the drumstick hurtling across the path into a group of people walking by.

“Whoa!”

“Hey!”

“Watch it!”

“Sorry, sorry,” apologized the teenager as he frantically went to repair his machine.

The pair of girls shared a look before continuing off further into the fair. Small booths to large platforms were piled side by side forming a long makeshift street of exhibits inside the west wing of the Diamond Expo.

“That was pretty cool up until it went on the fritz. What did you think, Twilight?” asked Sunset as the two rolled up onto display about a perpetual energy machine with two large ends spinning around quickly.

“I think it could give Pinkie Pie a run for her skills if he calibrated it properly. Otherwise, it’s movement was very fluid. Must have taken a lot of time to work out every kink for one song, let alone several.”

“Of course that’s what you would focus on.”

Twilight crossed her arms. “Of course. One has to appreciate the effort it takes, not just the end result. For example, this perpetual motion exhibit. It spins endlessly using it’s own energy and momentum, so it looks plain and not very fancy. However, how long do you think it takes to design and set up this kind of device?”

Sunset shrugged. “A lot I assume.”

“I’ll accept that. A lot indeed. We have to appreciate all aspects of effort, not just what is flashy and cool.” Twilight nodded in agreement with herself.

“Well. It’s getting pretty flashy for a boring machine,” said Sunset.

“What?” Twilight focused back on the exhibit to see it too was beginning to spark and smoke. The constantly spinning weights on the top snapped off from the base and went flying off into the crowd again. Both girls ducked out of the way as it flew past them.

“Again? Jeez, hope no one got hurt. Let’s go see.” Sunset grabbed Twilight’s hand and pulled her toward the crowd.

“What? W-wait, Sunset.”

The two walked up to the crowd dispersing with a girl in the center sporting a bruise on her arm with the weights on the floor next to her. A girl with light red skin, long bright green hair, and wearing the Crystal Prep school uniform.

Twilight escaped Sunset’s grasp and stood off to the side behind Sunset. “Lemon Zest?”

“Twilight? Twilight Sparkle? Hey man, uh, hey. Didn’t really expect to see you here,” said Lemon Zest as she rubbed her bruised arm. “Dang thing flew outta nowhere. First that stick and now this? Pretty bad luck.”

“Are you okay?” asked Sunset. “Just asking in case you need help.”

Lemon Zest stared at the pair of girls before shaking her head. “Nah man, I’m good. Probably. Sorta. Look, just enjoy the fair.”

A few yells from a ways down the path came before the crowd parted. Rolling fast towards them was a large cart that was modeled after a tank smoking heavily from the inside out. It was only a couple seconds before crashing into the three girls.

“Twilight!”

“Got it,” said Twilight. Her hands shone with lavender light as the rolling tank glowed with the same energy.

Sunset grabbed a shocked Lemon and Twilight by the arms pulling both of them to the side. The rolling cart tank passed by them before crushing another exhibit to pieces. An older man stared at the lettuce strewn about his work and smoking debris in complete silent shock.

“Whoa, nice save, Twi,” said Sunset as she dusted herself off. “I didn’t really expect you to slow it down like that, but cool.”

Twilight breathed in and out slowly collecting her calm. “And what did you expect me to do?”

“You know? I don’t really know. Heat of the moment kind of thing.” Sunset laughed nervously before checking on Lemon. “Hey, uh, Lemon Zest. I know I asked already, but are you okay?”

Lemon Zest stared at Twilight, her gaze on her hands, as she spoke quietly, “You used magic.”

“Um. Is that a yes?”

“You used magic.”

Sunset shared a look with Twilight who returned a shake of her head.

“No. No, I’m not okay. This is the third time today. Today.” Lemon narrowed her eyes as she ground her teeth. “You have magic, Sparkle. Not cool. Is this your doing?”

Sunset stepped between the two. “Whoa, what’s going on?”

“I haven’t done anything,” said Twilight.

“No, it has to be. You used, well, whatever that was. This has to be your fault, it has to. There’s no other reason,” said Lemon, her anger fading.

A crew of uniformed people, armbands denoting them as staff for the building, rushed to try and secure the area. They cordoned off the crash and politely suggested that people vacate the area for now and enjoy another part of the fair.

“Alright.” Sunset pointed to the hallway leading out of their area. “Well, you look okay. Twilight, let’s go.”

“Are you sure?” Twilight and Sunset began walking out.

“Wait. Hold on, guys.” Lemon followed behind them as she chewed on a nail. “You guys have magic. You two must see it often, right? Weird stuff happening that’s not really explainable?”

“Yeah, guess we do,” said Sunset.

“Sunset, we had a giant magical battle at camp just a couple weeks ago. Before that was the, um, Friendship Games.” Twilight clasped her hands. “I haven’t had that much experience, no.”

Lemon bit her lip. “But you have some. So, got a question for you girls. You said battle? Was it against a monster?”

The three girls entered one of the expo hallways leading around the building as they walked slowly toward one of the other fair areas. Sunset jabbed a thumb toward a nearby bench and vending machine. Twilight took a seat with Lemon standing near the edge casting glances over her shoulder. Sunset bought a bag of pretzels from the machine.

“I wouldn’t say Gloriosa was a monster—”

“She tried to trap kids at a camp forever,” interjected Sunset.

“—but she did go a little crazy with magic. The amount of magic she had tried to take her over. Too much and a person can become possessed by it. Like I was,” said Twilight.

“Ditto on me as well.”

“Okay, so not her. What about others?” asked Lemon with nervousness. “Like, real monsters.”

Sunset popped her bag of pretzels, which earned her a look from Twilight that said she was clearly not caring for her casualness in this conversation. “I’ve seen a lot of magic, but monsters? Other than my own incident I can only think of the Sirens. Trio of fish demons that hypnotize people into chaos.”

Twilight deadpanned at her. “Fish demons?”

Sunset ate a pretzel. “Do you want to get technical?”

“Yes. Wait, no.” Twilight turned to Lemon. “Why do you ask, Lemon? Not that I don’t enjoy talking to an old, um, acq… schoolmate?”

“Smooth.” Sunset crunched another pretzel.

Lemon wilted under the look of the two girls, her nervousness apparent. “Look, guys, I’m sorry for accusing you, but you two are the only thing that’s made sense in the last several days. I’ve been experiencing, seeing, something and I can’t explain it. It’s following me. I thought it was my imagination, you know? The games were crazy, but you never hear about magic again once it was over.”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, I have noticed that. They were pretty crazy events and no one has heard of them outside of those involved. It’s rather weird.”

“I thought it was a one-time thing too,” mumbled Lemon Zest.

“What’s this about monsters though?” asked Sunset, the casual demeanor slipping away to be replaced by concern. The girl looked like she was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. “No offense, but you’re looking pretty spooked.”

Lemon flung her hands out wide. “That’s cause I am, man! I feel like there’s this bogeyman creeping around the school, my house and even my room. I can see it, occasionally in the corner of my eyes. It’s freaking me out. That’s why I thought it was just me until I saw you had magic. I thought it was like,” Lemon huffed and looked away.

“What?” asked Twilight.

“I thought maybe you were messing with me. Revenge on your old school or something. I know, I know, you’d never do that. Still, this has been bugging me really bad, guys. Bad enough I’m complaining to two girls I barely know.”

Twilight stood up from the bench and held her arms out. “Lemon, I know we aren’t close. Hey, Sunset and I are willing to help however we can. I know it might be a bit awkward, but um. Do you want a hug?”

Lemon looked warily at Twilight before checking around the hallway. No one else was there within sight. The normally joyful girl embraced Twilight for three seconds before stepping back and slapping her cheeks. “Yeah, that was helpful and awkward. Never thought you’d offer a hug, girl. Weird, but it helped.”

A pretzel was crunched loudly. The two stared at Sunset. “What?”

Her pocket vibrated as the beginning of a loud rock metal song rang out. Sunset pulled out her phone and flipped it open. A picture of Rainbow Dash was on the screen. As Sunset swiped the answer button the phone sparked wildly. With a yell she dropped the phone which smoked as it went dead.

“Shoot! What the hay was that?” asked Sunset staring at her completely fried phone. “That’s, I don’t even know. How do you describe losing your phone?”

Lemon stepped back staring wide-eyed at the phone. “That’s the fourth time today. That’s how it’s been happening, guys. Technology going wrong and stuff. I can’t even listen to my music anymore. My headphones, girls. Headphones! I’ve been lucky, I think. Never been hurt bad, but imagine if that was near your ear. Yeah, stuff is scary.”

Sunset cringed. “Okay, I can see how that would be bad. I didn’t sense anything magical though. Did you, Twilight?”

“No,” said Twilight. “One moment we’re talking and the next your phone short-circuits. It is a short-circuit, probably.”

The light of the vending machine flared brightly before the glass shattered. It went dead as sparks played off the broken bulb and black smoke rose to the ceiling. The three girls all got up and backed away from the vending machine.

“Okay. That’s freaky,” said Sunset.

“I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical explanation for all of this,” said Twilight.

“Oh no, not again. Why is this happening to me?” asked Lemon Zest.

All the hall lights flared dark before lighting back up a dim red that pulsated slowly. The grind of metal roared as shutter doors slammed down over the hallway exits behind and in front of them in the distance. A quiet horn beeped above them repeatedly.

Sunset rifled through her bag and pulled out her gem necklace. She gestured to Twilight to do the same and the two girls donned their magical pendants.

“Okay, let’s analyze the situation,” said Twilight in a panic. “The fire shutter doors descended all too rapidly, the lights went into the emergency mode similar to when they have a power outage, and technology near us is going on the fritz.”

Lemon Zest screamed. “We’re trapped!”

A crunch of a pretzel echoed.