It was a quiet day when Sunset woke up. It was about dawn when she went roused. Even though she would have much rather slept in, but she awoke to the consistent sound of wood splintering so, she was curious and went downstairs.

When she got downstairs she noticed that Velvet Breeze and Morning Blade were asleep, Kelia was keeping watch when she heard Sunset walk downstairs.

"How did you sleep, Sunset Shimmer?" Kelia asked Sunset.

"I slept fine. You?" Sunset asked.

"I didn't, but Velvet and Morning fell asleep Round 4:00 last night," Kelia responded.

"Freaky," Sunset simply said.

"To each her own," Kelia responded. "But Marc is outside helping Big Mac buck some apples."

"Alright." Sunset shrugged and walked out.

When she got outside, she saw Big Mac leaning against the barn, bottle of cider in one hand, and the other in his pant pocket. She walked over to him and spoke.

"Hey, Big Mac," Sunset said, catching his attention.

"Hey Sunset, how are ya?" Big Mac asked.

"I'm fine. You?" Sunset replied.

"I'm well. Why ya out here so early?" Big Mac asked.

"I'm looking for Marc," Sunset answered.

Big Mac pointed to the orchard with his free hand and said. "He's bucking apples."

"Hm, does he need any help?" Sunset asked.

"At first no, but to be honest; I'm not sure," Big Mac said. "He's crazy strong, but if you wanna go see if he needs help, be ma guest."

"Okay," Sunset said.

But then they heard singing.

"He, he, he. Oh, child, things are gonna get easier. Oh, child, things'll get brighter. " Marc sang with a few buckets of apples in hand, earbuds in his ears, his phone playing the song he was singing.

"Hey Marc," Sunset said waving to him.

"Oh, hey Sunset, how's that throat?" Marc said turning off his phone and putting it away with his earbuds.

"Better," Sunset answered, rubbing her throat.

"Hey, Big Mac, another few pounds of apples," Marc said handing Big Mac the buckets of apples.

"Thanks, Marc," Big Mac said as he grabbed the buckets and walked away, leaving Marc and Sunset alone.

"So," Marc said trying to break the awkward silence.

"So," Sunset replied.

"You're probably curious about when I knocked out Velvet Breeze?" Marc said.

"Yeah. Why and how did you do what you did that day?" Sunset asked.

"I was in a tight spot, threatened by a trained killer, so I acted on instinct, and that stuff with Celestia is just need-to-know." Marc half lied.

"Hmm, how did you sneak around her and see her perfectly in the foggy afternoon?" Sunset asked.

"Eh, Eagle Vision and luck," Marc answered casually.

"Oh okay-Wait what? Eagle vision!?" Sunset asked in shock.

"Huh, oh yeah!" Marc answered, "A while back in New Jersey, I was almost mugged on my way home as I walked past an ally, but it suddenly kicked in and I sensed the bozo and ran the other way to my house and called 911 and ratted out the thief."

"Oh," Sunset said. "Wait you aren't from Pennsylvania?"

"Nope, I'm from Clifton," Marc answered truthfully "When I was younger I always complained about the fact we didn't live anywhere nicer or famous, even though we were a hop, skip and drive away from Manhattan."

They shared a laugh together.

"Hmmmmm," Marc said deep in thought.

"What is it, Marc?" Sunset asked.

"Nothing, Sunset, just, I've been thinking, that later today is the Friendship Games rematch and I'm just wondering, what are we gonna do if something happens like last time."

"Oh, wait? Friendship games rematch?" Sunset asked, "why?"

Marc shrugged. But these questions will have to wait because Granny Smith just yelled.

"Breakfast! Come an' get it!" Granny yelled.

"Come on, Sunset, we have a looooong day ahead of us," Marc said as he and Sunset went in to have breakfast.

"Hey, Marc." Someone said behind him, stopping him. Marc looked at the house to make sure Sunset was inside. Then he looked for the source of the voice.

"Coulson," Marc said when he saw S.H.E.I.L.D agent Phil Coulson.

"Shadow says hi," Phil said.

"That all?" Marc asked the agent.

"No, I'm here to give you Luna's response."

"What is it?"

"Well, she says to keep your head on a swivel and be careful, that and all you see now is all your gonna get."

"Gotcha, see ya, Coulson," Marc said as the hologram ended and he went inside.

End of act I

Author's Note

So it seems Marc is actually very downhome, yet the Shadow Bolts are back and more dangerous than ever, what do these dreams mean though? Who is Marc Wayne Kurtzman really? What was he doing in his world's Masyaf castle? Only time can tell as you venture onward.

End of act I